F1 race pit team performing a tire change (Martin Barraud/KOTO - Adobe Stock)
You are cheering from the packed bleachers as 20 compact open-cockpit one-seater racing cars blitz past as a flurry of noise mixes with the smell of rubber; this is Formula One (F1), and the Grand Prix race has just begun.
In Europe, most auto racing is governed by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FiA), whose headquarters is in Paris, France. In addition to advocating for automotive interests and safety, the FiA oversees hundreds of motorsport competitions around the world. The organization regulates and judges a large variety of events, from maintaining land speed records to esports, karting activities, rally races, historic car series, endurance events and the world-famous F1 circuit races.
F1 Racing circuit (AA+W - Adobe Stock)
A circuit in F1 parlance is the paved route that the cars will race on. This may be at a specially built track or along public streets that have been closed for the race. These routes vary in length, but an F1 race is almost always 305 kilometers long, so the race covers multiple laps along the circuit to complete the requirement. One exception is the Monaco Grand Prix, which is only 260km long.
The F1 World Championship is the world’s premier auto race series and has a prestigious history. Its origin lies in the old European Grand Prix motor races that began in 1901 which expanded and became increasingly popular until the outbreak of World War II in 1939. Following the war, the old automobile organization was re-branded as the FIA and the “International Formula” brought together the various Grand Prix races under a single series. The first F1 World Championship race was held in 1950 at Silverstone in the U.K.
The formula in F1 racing refers to the required car specs. These include crash test standards, a mandatory safety cell for the cockpit and fuel, engine restrictions, the type of tires and physical details like the car’s size and weight (with the driver). F1 car engineers use these standards to design a racing vehicle that adheres to the regs while also innovating for better performance.
Teams are owned by car manufacturers or private companies and have numerous additional sponsors. Drivers choose a number and use it on their vehicles during their entire career, although the reigning champ may choose to use the number one. Fans may be loyal to a team or a driver, neither or both, it just depends on why they watch. Some fans love the driver drama or love to follow drivers from their home country. Others are fans because of the technical auto innovations or race weekend excitement.
2025 F1 Teams and Drivers
Alpine | Pierre Gasly (10), Jack Doohan (7)
Aston Martin | Lance Stroll (18), Fernando Alsono (14)
Ferrari | Charles Leclerc (16), Lewis Hamilton (44)
Haas | Esteban Ocon (31), Oliver Bearman (87)
Kick Sauber | Nico Hulkenberg (27), Gabriel Bortoleto (5)
McLaren | Oscar Piastri (81), Lando Norris (4)
Mercedes | George Russell (63), Andrea Kimi Antonelli (12)
Racing Bulls | Isack Hadjar (6), Yuki Tsunoda (22)
Red Bull Racing | Max Verstappen (1), Liam Lawson (30)
Williams Racing | Alexander Albon (23), Carlos Sainz (55)
F1 race weekends are held all over the world from March until November and follow the same general schedule.
Friday
FP1 & FP2 – “Free Practice” sessions let the driver get to know the track while the team can test run new setups for their car.
Sprint Qualifying – Sometimes FP2 is replaced with this set of short races to determine the starting order for the next day.
Saturday
FP3 or F1 Sprint – On special “Sprint weekends,” FP3 is replaced with an extra exciting, 100-kilometer race called the F1 Sprint.
Qualifying – This is a series of three short races (Q1, Q2, Q3) that determine the starting order for the Grand Prix.
Sunday
Grand Prix – The main event! A 305-kilometer race requiring at least one pit stop for a full tire change. They last roughly two exhilarating hours and end with the infamous checkered flag.
There can be many race weekend events (cachou34 - Adobe Stock)
At each Grand Prix in the series, drivers who finish in the top 10 are awarded points based on their placement. There are chances to earn extra points for the driver with the fastest lap (and in the top 10) and the winners of a Sprint.
The driver with the most points during the year’s series will earn the Driver’s Championship title. Because drivers are paid employees, they do not win cash prizes from the FiA. Instead, they will usually receive bonuses from their team or from sponsors. In addition, drivers can use wins to negotiate higher-paying contracts in the future.
The big money is won with the Constructor’s Championship. This is a financial award given to the team with the highest points across both their drivers. The amount of money up for grabs depends on the revenue FIA received for F1 races that year; it is typically a multi-billion-dollar sum. Roughly 50 percent of this revenue is put into a prize pot. At the end of the season, teams are each distributed a percentage of the yearly pot based on both their total points ranking and some preferential bonuses. The prize money stakes are accepted by all teams and reestablished in a periodic negotiation known as the Concorde Agreement.
F1 Racing teams compete for both Driver’s Championship and Constructor’s Championship titles. (Tom Merton/KOTO - Adobe Stock)
Formula 1 events can be expensive, but they will often include access to all races happening on the course that day (or weekend). For example, you may get to also watch Formula 2 (F2) or Formula 3 (F3) events; these are second and third-tier feeder teams. There are 24 worldwide races across the F1 championship series, and here are a few within road-tripping distance of those stationed in Germany.
June 27-29, 2025. Austrian Grand Prix | Red Bull Ring, Spielberg
July 25-27, 2025. Belgian Grand Prix | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Aug. 29-31, 2025. Dutch Grand Prix | Circuit Zandvoort
Sept. 5-7, 2025. Gran Premio D’Italia | Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Budget Options
Try getting tickets to a Formula E race instead. Gaining popularity, these races are only for high-level electric racing cars.
Go to a local race at the Nürburgring in the northern Rhineland-Pfalz (nuerburgring.de), the Hockenheimring near Heidelberg or Norisring in Nürnberg.
Attend a Rally. The rougher sibling to F1, rally car races are time trials across dirt or mixed-use roads. The Central European Rally is in October near Passau.
Check the schedule of FiA events. Note that the website doesn’t provide venue links; you must do a quick web search to buy tickets.
