Best F1 tracks 2024: Top circuits ranked
Your complete guide to some of the finest race tracks on the Formula 1 calendar.
What makes Formula 1 so special is the range of different circuits an countries the paddock visits over the course of a year. All corners of the globe are visited on a yearly basis, meaning fans can get to sample the F1 atmosphere for themselves. Some tracks have taken on an almost mythical status in how they are perceived by fans. A good track usually offers a variety of challenges to drivers and has a combination of fast sweeping bends and sharp turns where overtaking is prevalent. A lot of new circuits have been added to the schedule over the past few years, mainly street venues. However, we all know the classics are the best… RadioTimes.com rounds up our top five circuits on the 2024 calendar. 5. Suzuka, Japan Traditionally held towards the back end o the season, the Suzuka circuit is probably the best motor racing venue in Asia, and has been hosting F1 for over 30 years. It is the only track on the F1 calendar to have a “figure-of-eight” layout with a bridge and underpass making it a unique venue. It combines sweeping and twisting corners in the early part of the lap to high-speed daredevil corners – notably the ferocious 130R where cars approach the left handed kink at approaching 200mph. Suzuka was the venue for flashpoints in the notorious Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost rivalry – in 1989 the two collided at the final chance and Senna was disqualified, handing Prost the title. A year later, with Senna needing to better Prost’s result to claim the title, the took each out on the first corner of the first lap! 4. Silverstone, Britain Britain often considers itself the home of Formula One and Silverstone is the F1 equivalent of Mecca with thousands upon thousands flocking to Northamptonshire every summer. Silverstone has undergone a few layout changes in its history with the current track being used every year since 2011. Like many of the great circuits, it offers varying challenges – the new stadium section where the race starts is a great spot for overtaking an opportunism. However, Copse corner – where Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton collided in 2021 sending the Dutchman into dizzying accident – marks the start of one of the most exhilarating parts of any Grand Prix track. The right-hander is taken at close to 190mph before a quick left-right-left section of Maggott’s, Becketts, and Chapel, leads to the Hangar Straight. It still remains an historic part of the F1 tapestry and is definitely one of the race venues until at least the end of 2024. 3. Monza, Italy The ultimate test of pure F1 power comes from Italy with Monza another historic circuit on the calendar. The venue has held a race every year apart from 1980 due to renovations. The track features one of the longest start-finish straights in the sport and the first chicane is always a test, particularly on the opening lap, with so many cars funnelling through a narrow space. Cars can reach speeds of well over 200mph while the long Parabolica curve to end the track is a challenge for drivers. Accompanying races at Monza are the “Tifosi” – the most loyal F1 supporters around and die-hard fans of Ferrari. As such, any time the Scuderia wins a race there is special – the last occurrence being in 2019 when Charles Leclerc took the chequered flag to the roar of the grandstand. 2. Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve, Canada In terms of margin for error, Canada is perhaps the least forgiving circuit of them all and the danger factor is why the track is so popular. Situated on the man-made Notre Dam Island in Montreal, the Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve is a wild mix of fast long straights, tight chicanes and sweeping turns. The “Wall of Champions” is the most famous (or infamous) section of the circuit where even the very best of the best caught out. It is on the exit of the final chicane before the start/finish straight and is adorned with the words “Bienvenue au Quebec” (Welcome to Quebec). The barriers are built incredibly close to the track and carrying a fraction too much speed will lead to a crash. Arguably the greatest Grand Prix of all time took place here as well in 2011, when Jenson Button won a rain-interrupted marathon on the final lap after battling from last place. 1. Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium The ultimate F1 circuit has to be the legendary Spa which has been an F1 staple for much of the sport’s 70-year history. At 4.3 miles, it is the longest track on the calendar and one of the most thrilling for drivers and spectators in terms of corners. From the tight La Source hairpin which has been the scene of many opening corner incidents, to the undulating and sweeping thrill of Eau Rouge, and the maximum speed left hander at Blanchimont. The track is huge test of a driver’s acumen and certainly rewards bravery. To make it even more exciting, the Grand Prix is notorious for often being rain-affected – the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix saw one of the biggest first-lap pile ups in the history of the sport due to bad visibility from the rain. Drivers love it and fans are always enamoured too with the circuit a staple of the calendar. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Most F1 points in a season: Highest driver points totals in history
RadioTimes.com brings you the top five F1 driver season points totals in history.
At the end of each Grand Prix, drivers who finish in the top ten are allocated points that count towards their championship standing. While the order is ultimately what matters, the number of points accumulated over a calendar year is often a good indicator of how dominant a driver has been. The current points system lends itself to high totals, with 25 points available for a win. That goes down to one point for tenth position. Here are the top five points totals in the history of the sport and here’s a word of warning – you might think you’re seeing double, but you’re not! RadioTimes.com brings you the top five driver season points totals in history. 5. Sebastian Vettel – 397 (2013) Sebastian Vettel's dominance in 2013 should not be underplayed. The Red Bull driver won his fourth consecutive F1 Drivers' Championship by a record margin (155 points over Fernando Alonso) and scooped a number of other records along the way. The German amassed 397 drivers' points - the most ever at the time - with 13 wins from 19 races in a season that also saw him win nine races on the bounce - a record later broken by Verstappen. 4. Lewis Hamilton – 408 (2018) Vettel's record would stand for five years before being broken by Lewis Hamilton in 2018. Hamilton was a four-time world champion already, but he wrote his name into the history books further by finishing with 408 points after winning 11 of the 21 races that season. He overturned a mid-season points deficit to beat Vettel to the title and break his points record. 3. Lewis Hamilton – 413 (2019) A year later, a dominant Hamilton went one better on his way to a sixth world championship. The Brit showed remarkable consistency as he finished in the points in all 21 races, winning 11, and totalled an outstanding 413 points. The following year he would go level with Michael Schumacher by winning the F1 Drivers' Championship for a seventh time. 2. Max Verstappen – 454 (2022) Second on the list is Verstappen's outstanding 2022 campaign. Despite a rocky start, which saw him retire from both the first and third races, a record 15 wins from 22 races helped him go well beyond Hamilton's 2019 total as he established himself as the new force in F1. 1. Max Verstappen – 575 (2023) Victory in Austin last year saw Verstappen break the points record he set during the previous campaign – a remarkable achievement with five races left. He was totally dominant last term, wrapping up a third consecutive world championship after just 15 races. Red Bull's star man clinched 19 race wins and 21 podium places in 22 races in 2023. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Most F1 world championships by drivers: Who has won most titles?
Which drivers have won more world championship titles than any other in the history of Formula 1?
At the end of their careers, F1 drivers are remembered chiefly for their title hauls. The first driver to be crowned F1 world champion was Nino Farina in 1950 and since then, another 33 drivers have become part of F1’s immortal club. It is the ultimate reward for the sacrifices that drivers make and their ability behind the wheel. The current champion is Max Verstappen, who has won each of the last three titles in F1 and is a hot favourite to continue that streak. He has not yet cracked the top five list of all-time, however. RadioTimes.com brings you the list of the most successful F1 drivers of all time, with Messrs Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton still out in front at the top. =4. Sebastian Vettel – four world titles Vettel was sport’s dominant force in Red Bull’s first golden period at the start of 2010s. The German was already regarded as a prodigious talent prior to lifting his first title and was then the record holder for youngest pole-sitter and race winner after a jubilant 2008 Italian Grand Prix. Heading into the 2010 finale, Vettel was in a four-way battle with Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, and Lewis Hamilton. Despite starting the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 15 points adrift of Alonso, a dramatic race meant Vettel became the then-youngest-ever world champion. He utterly dominated the 2011 season before another close season in 2012 saw him defeat the Spaniard by just three points. 2013 was another one-horse race with Vettel winning his final title by 155 points – to date the biggest margin in the history of the sport. He retired at the end of 2022 following a below-par year with Aston Martin. =4. Alain Prost – four world titles Prost was huge figure in the sport during the 1980s and 90s and his rivalry with McLaren team mate and legendary figure Ayrton Senna saw the sport enter a new stratosphere. Senna took more headlines because of his flamboyant and aggressive style but Prost was a world class operator himself,. "The Professor's" smooth driving style and calmness under pressure saw him take four titles with McLaren (1983, 1985, and 1989) and Williams (1993). The most famous of his titles came in 1989 with Prost and Senna’s relations strained by this point. The Frenchman felt McLaren gave preferential treatment to Senna and that ultimately led to him leaving the team he was so successful with. Not without a bang though. In the penultimate race of the 1989 season, he collided with Senna in an attempt to block an overtake. Prost retired and Senna got going again. However, as Senna was assisted by marshals in his restart, he was disqualified from the race which handed Prost the title. 3. Juan Manuel Fangio – five world titles The original dominant force of Formula One was Argentina's Juan Manuel Fangio, who won titles with Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Mercedes, and Ferrari. “El Maestro” may have been in his 40s when he won all his world titles but age was no barrier as he won 24 of the 51 Grand Prix he entered. His on-track rivalry with Stirling Moss garnered much interest as Formula One tried to build its profile. No matter what car he was thrown into, he also had the pace to succeed and it wasn’t until 2002 that his haul of world titles was matched. =1. Michael Schumacher – seven world titles Still regarded by many as the greatest F1 driver of them all, Michael Schumacher was the figurehead of the sport through the '90s and noughties. After debuting for Jordan in 1991, Schumacher won his first title in 1994 in controversial circumstances. A collision with Damon Hill in the final race of the season at the Adelaide street circuit in Australia saw both cars retire, with much of the F1 entourage blaming Schumacher for veering across Hill’s path. He repeated the feat a year later before joining Ferrari in 1996. It wasn’t until 2000 that Schumacher won his first title with the Italian team and his success ushered in a period of unprecedented domination. Records tumbled with the German winning five years in a row – his Ferrari was untouchable despite attempted challenges from elsewhere. He retired in 2006 before reversing his decision in 2010 to race for Mercedes for the next three years. Sadly, Schumacher suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2013 while skiing and he is still recuperating, with few details disclosed to the media. =1. Lewis Hamilton – seven world titles Brit Hamilton was viewed by many as a potential superstar before he made his F1 bow in 2007 for McLaren – several years after meeting then-team boss Ron Dennis and telling him he’d like to drive one day. Hamilton was partnered with defending double world champion Fernando Alonso and showed blistering pace in his first year, narrowly losing out to Kimi Raikkonen. 2008 saw him pick up his first championship in the most dramatic end to a Grand Prix in the history of the sport. Felipe Massa won the Brazilian Grand Prix in front of his home fans and looked like he was about to pip Hamilton by the smallest of margins to the title. However, in a rain-affected race, Hamilton overtook Timo Glock’s Toyota on the last corner with Glock’s car struggling on dry-weather tyres. A jubilant Hamilton snatched the title by a point to raucous scenes in the McLaren garage. He would have to wait six more years to win his second title – in his second year driving for Mercedes – in 2014. The Brit has won six of the last nine titles and was denied an historic eighth in 2021 at a memorable Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for all the wrong reasons. At 38 years old, Hamilton is in the latter years of his career but will be desperate to push for a record-breaking eighth title. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
F1 drivers with the most podium finishes in history
Which Formula 1 drivers have been doused in champagne more than any other?
It is a rite of passage for any Formula 1 driver hoping to climb up the ranks and become a world champion – finishing on the podium. At the end of every Grand Prix, the top three finishers are invited to take part in a podium ceremony where they receive their trophies from selected dignitaries. Then, once the winning national anthems have been played, part of the F1 tapestry involves rivers uncorking a bottle of champagne and spraying each other in jubilation. It is a sight that never fails to capture the magic of F1 and some drivers have made it their business to be in the top three as often possible. RadioTimes.com brings you the top five podium makers. Check out more Formula 1 coverage: F1 calendar 2023 | How to watch F1 on TV | F1 beginner's guide | F1 highlights | F1 presenters | F1 on Channel 4 5. Fernando Alonso – 106 podiums Alonso is the most experienced F1 racer in history, so it seems only too right that he makes the top five of drivers finishing on the podium. For the vast majority of his F1 career, he has fought close to the front of the grid, winning two titles in 2005 and 2006 with Renault. His first taste of the podium came in the 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix in just his second outing for Renault. His last came in Zandvoort in 2023, meaning he also holds the record for longest gap between first and most recent podium. 4. Alain Prost – 106 podiums Prost was the most successful driver through the 1980s and 1990s and it was rare to see him slide out of the top three during his entire career. The Frenchman achieved is first podium in 1981, finishing third in the 1981 Argentine Grand Prix, a season that would see Prost also win his first race. When driving for McLaren between 1984 and 1989, it was difficult to knock him out of the top three. Only mechanical faults in the British and Italian Grand Prix of 1988 prevented him from finishing in the top two and he bowed out in the same way, finishing in the top three in 12 of 16 races en route to the 1993 title. 3. Sebastian Vettel – 122 podiums Vettel took 122 podiums throughout his sparkling career and first emerged into the post-race celebrations in the 2008 Italian Grand Prix when his Toro Rosso won surprisingly in changeable weather conditions. After that, he was a magnet to the podium and in 2011, he collected trophies in 17 of 19 races – a fourth place in the German Grand Prix and retirement in Abu Dhabi prevented him from getting a clean sweep. 2013 proved to be another trophy-laden year for Vettel and again, he was denied a full year of podium finishes by two races – a pair of fourth places in China and Spain. Vettel’s final podium came in the 2021 Azerbaijan Grad Prix and was denied another that season in Hungary for a disqualification due to issues with his fuel sample. 2. Michael Schumacher – 155 podiums Schumacher first stepped onto the podium in just his eighth race, as he came home third in the 1992 Mexican Grand Prix for Benetton. It was the first of 155 podiums the legendary German would go on to achieve during his career and he would achieve the feat every year up until his first retirement in 2006. Schumacher holds the record for most number of podiums in a single season. In 2002, he finished in the top three in every single race. His made the decision to come out of retirement to drive for the new Mercedes team on 2010 and the three years he spent there did not go to plan. However, his sole (and final) podium came in the 2012 European Grand Prix at the Valencia street circuit. It was undoubtedly one of the most popular results of that particular season. 1. Lewis Hamilton – 197 podiums Hamilton did what very few other drivers have done and finished on the podium in his very first race as an F1 driver, finishing third in the 2007 Australian Grand Prix. In fact, every one of his first nine races saw him step onto the podium with the number one spot coming in Canada and the USA that year. 103 of his 197 podiums have been on the top step and it seems inevitable he will make it to 200 if the Mercedes car can improve upon its below-par year in 2023. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Our complete round-up of the best F1 drivers in history.
F1 has produced plenty of global superstars in its 74-year history with many of its stars becoming household names. The sport lends itself to a certain mystique. After all, it isn’t like football where any member of the public can play five-a-side themselves. Those who compete at a certain time are the only ones in the world. They are unique figures 776 drivers have taken part in F1 Grands Prix over the years with a select few becoming “Hall of Fame” worthy. RadioTimes.com brings you our round-up of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time. 10. Sebastian Vettel Vettel perhaps doesn't get the credit he deserves due to the fact his F1 career ended in relative mediocrity at the end of 2022. However, for four years at Red Bull, he was virtually untouchable, particularly in 2011 and 2013 when he won the title with several races to spare. The German – a former protege of Schumacher – was an excellent frontrunner and often dominated races in which he started on pole. A move to Ferrari did not yield in any further success but the German in certainly a great of the sport. 9. Fernando Alonso It was always going to take a special driver to knock Michael Schumacher off his perch following five straight titles with Ferrari, and Alonso proved exactly that in his Renault in 2005 and 2006. The Spaniard was a driving prodigy and showed plenty of ability, driving for the notoriously slow Minardi in 2001. He moved to Renault in 2003 and two years later, the French manufacturer was standing on the top step of the podium. A mixture of recklessness and bad career decisions – notably joining McLaren in 2007 to race alongside rookie Lewis Hamilton – meant that he never achieved another tile win. However, he had a few of close shaves with Ferrari, finishing second in both 2010 and 2012, just three points behind Vettel in the latter. 8. Sir Jackie Stewart Scotsman Stewart won three world championship titles in the 1970s and did that whilst driving for two different teams. He won the 1969 championship with Matra before switching to Tyrrell where he enjoyed great success in 1971 and 1973. “The Flying Scot” was a superbly talented operator and managed to win a total of 27 races in 99 starts. His greatest contribution has been to driver safety however. Stewart was committed to making the sport safer and was instrumental in the addition of barriers and medical crews to be present at tracks, as well as seat belts and full frontal crash helmets. 7. Niki Lauda Lauda’s rivalry with flamboyant Brit James Hunt is probably the most significant element of the Austrian’s career, so much so that it hit the big screen in 2013 following the release of “Rush”. While the focus of that film was more on Hunt, it was Lauda who was the most successful of the two, winning three titles in the space of nine years. It is Lauda’s bravery that makes him standout following a 1976 crash at Nurburgring which nearly cost him his life. The Austrian suffered severe burns as well as losing most of his right ear, but he fought his way back to fitness and took the 1977 championship with Ferrari. Seven years later, after retiring from action once, he won another title with McLaren. 6. Alain Prost Frenchman Prost was the ultimate smooth racer as well as being a studious character – he earned the nickname “the Professor” during his career. Prost is one of only five men to have won at least four F1 world titles and he managed to do so under the backdrop of the sport’s most famous ever rivalry between himself and Ayrton Senna. The two had their controversial moments, in particular at the Japanese Grand Prixs of 1989 and 1990 when the duo each secured a title following collisions. Prost was a master behind the wheel and ended his career on a high in 1993. He returned after a year long sabbatical to join Williams and breezed to a fourth title. 5. Juan Manuel Fangio Fangio dominated the sport during the 1950s and was the sport’s original poster-boy. He was largely untouchable during his time in the sport and notably won titles driving for four different manufacturers (Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Ferrari, and Mercedes). Fangio was often the oldest driver when racing and didn’t claim his first title until he turned 40 in 1951, proving that he could match the young upstarts against him. 4. Max Verstappen The frightening thing about Verstappen being fourth on this list is that he is only 26 years of age and still has potentially another decade at the top. The Dutchman is a three-time world champion with the last two years being officially the most dominant by one driver in he sport’s history. Making his debut or Toro Rosso at just 17, the fiery competitor made waves early on and won his first race for Red Bull in 2016 on debut. It took a few years more development for him to become a title challenger but he successfully dethroned Lewis Hamilton in 2021 by overtaking the Bit on the final lap of the final race in Abu Dhabi. In time, he could rise to number one on this list. 3. Ayrton Senna For all the wonderful memories Senna gave F1, the words accompanying his career will be “what if?”. The Brazilian was arguably the most naturally talented driver the F1 world has ever seen. He seemed to have an innate understanding of where the grip was and that was evident in early races when he was over performing with slower cars. His rivalry with Prost as mentioned defined F1 in the late 80s and early 90s and Senna successfully won three titles with McLaren. His early death driving for the much-fancied Williams team was a huge shock to the sport and his life was immortalised in the “Senna” documentary released in 2010. Senna’s charisma, outspokenness and sheer talent still make a fan’s favourite to this day. 2. Michael Schumacher One of two seven-time world champions the sport has ever seen is the legendary Michael Schumacher, who was the sport’s dominant force in the 2000s. His first two titles though came in the mid 90s driving for Benetton and the German proved to be a fiery competitor as well as a master of wet weather. That increased ten-fold when he won five titles in a row between 2000 and 2004 driving for Ferrari. Records were tumbling left, right and centre during those days. Schumacher knew how to produce moments when they mattered and his strict fitness regime saw him become a pioneer of the sport – taking F1 drivers to a new level of athleticism. The saddest part of Schumacher’s story came post-retirement. He suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling in a skiing accident in 2013 and he is still recovering to this day, with few details disclosed about his condition. 1. Lewis Hamilton The man who tops the majority of the record charts is the 38-year-old from Stevenage, who exploded onto the F1 stage in 2007. Within two years of driving in the sport, he was a world champion and was argubaly the most exciting newcomer to the sport since Senna. Hamilton had to bide his time before winning another title and earned it is 2014 following a switch to Mercedes, the start of a wonderful partnership where he would take six more crowns with the Silver Arrows. Hamilton’s aggressive driving style has endeared him to fans and while the naysayers will point to him having the best car, he has proven his talent over the years. An eighth world title would put him out in front in terms of the sport’s greatest and he is still hungry for more to this day. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
F1 drivers with the most pole positions in history
While there is an obvious importance placed on Sunday for race day, Saturday qualifying is just as vital in order to have as big a chance of possible as winning the race. With overtaking so difficult in modern F1 due to the wideness of the cars, a lot of drivers and teams’ hopes rest on their qualifying performance. Therefore, it is vital to master the art of setting a quick lap time. The driver who laps the quickest time in qualifying on a Saturday starts on pole position, meaning they have a clear run to the first corner. Some drivers mastered the art of setting quick lap times under pressure. RadioTimes.com brings you the top five F1 pole-sitters of all time. 5. Max Verstappen – 35 poles Ok, for the past few years, Verstappen has been aided by having far and away the best car on the grid. But a driver still must pedal it around quickly and efficiently and Verstappen certainly has done that. He has had a habit of dashing the hopes of other teams and drivers just when they think they have got top spot secured. In 2023, he started on pole in 12 of 22 races and won every race on which he was frotn of the grid. 4. Sebastian Vettel – 57 poles When Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel were dominating F1 between 2010 and 2013, the German qualifying on pole position was almost an inevitability. His first pole came in 2008 with Toro Rosso (the sane weekend he grabbed his first win) but Vettel became a qualifying titan when he was promoted to the senior Red Bull team in 2009. 2011 was the high point for the four-time world champion, qualifying first in an incredible 15 of 19 races. He was also the top dog in 2013, the year he won the title by 155 points, coming first in nine of the 19 races. 3. Ayrton Senna – 65 poles Senna was a demon in qualifying and over 40% of his Grand Prix starts saw him begin the race on pole position. The Brazilian, widely regarded as the most naturally talented F1 driver of all time, frequently laid down a marker for the race ahead during qualifying sessions. His maiden pole came in the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix, the same weekend he scored his first win and he had the highest number of pole position in six of the following eight seasons. Senna was particularly dominant driving for McLaren alongside Alain Prost in 1988 and 1989 – he topped the charts in 26 of the 32 races over those two years. Poignantly, his final pole position came in the weekend where his death sent shockwaves around the world – he was the fastest driver at Imola in 1994 with his new Williams car. 2. Michael Schumacher – 68 poles For all his titles and race wins, Schumacher wasn’t necessarily the most lethal in Saturday qualifying. The German took pole in just over 22% of his race starts but his longevity saw him break Senna’s record in the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix. Despite the perhaps surprising lack of poles, he put in some incredible laps when it mattered. His pole lap in the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix, where he out-qualified Damon Hill by half a second, was superb as was his effort in the 2003 Austrian Grand Prix, where he prevented Kimi Raikkonen from scoring a maiden pole despite making a mistake early on. Schumacher excelled more often in races (ultimately when it matters most) but he was still a fine operator in qualifying 1. Lewis Hamilton – 104 poles Unsurprisingly, it is Hamilton who sits top of the tree with 104 poles. The 38-year-old has been a mainstay at the top of the F1 grid for the last 15 years and first earned pole position in the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix. Like others in this list, it was the same race where he scored his first victory and Hamilton has continued to excel in qualifying. He has had the most number of poles in a season nine times, which is a record, and his most fruitful year came in 2020 when he was the man to beat in 10 of 17 races. His best qualifying lap was arguably at the Singapore GP in 2018 where he broke the lap record time, with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff describing it as “stardust”. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How does F1 qualifying work? Format, rules and Sprint
Your complete guide to F1 qualifying, including details about the format and rules.
An F1 weekend would not be complete without qualifying on a Saturday as drivers compete to be as a high on the grid as possible for Sunday’s race. Ultimately, for an F1 driver to become a world champion with races wins on Sundays, they have to perform strongly in qualifying on Saturdays. What is the best way to ensure they succeed? Qualify as far up the grid as possible so they have little to no traffic to navigate. Qualifying is just as important and just as thrilling as race day in F1 and is often a good indicator of how a car is likely to perform when the lights go out. Watch Formula 1 qualifying live on Sky Sports Legendary Argentine racer Juan Manuel Fangio took the first-ever pole position in F1 with his Alfa Romeo 158 at the 1950 British Grand Prix and in the following 72 years, qualifying sessions have provided almost as much drama as the races themselves. Over the years, the format of qualifying has altered and for around a decade, it has operated a “knock-out” style format. RadioTimes.com brings you all the details you need to know about F1 qualifying. Check out more Formula 1 coverage: F1 calendar 2024 | Watch F1 on TV | Listen to F1 on radio | F1 highlights | F1 presenters | F1 on Channel 4 How does the F1 weekend work? Drivers usually arrive on Thursday to undertake a day of media ahead of the race weekend. Then, Friday is when the on-track action commences. There are two free practice sessions on Friday afternoon with teams getting some valuable lap times under their belts ahead of qualifying and race day. Engineers and data analysts can observe the performance of the cars in these sessions and relay to the drivers what is good and bad. The car can be adjusted accordingly while strategies for qualifying the race can also be decided. Tyre degradation and aerodynamic performance are just two of the factors considered while drivers will look to learn the circuits once more – usually 12 months after they have last raced there. A third free practice takes place on Saturday morning before qualifying in the afternoon to decide the starting grid order. Sunday morning will see a short warm-up session before the Grand Prix, set over a pre-determined number of laps, commences in the early afternoon. View Green Video on the source website How does F1 qualifying work? Qualifying is split into three stages with five drivers knocked out in each of the first two sessions before the top ten drivers battle for pole. This format was introduced in 2006 and has been in place ever since with a few minor tweaks here and there. All drivers on the grid will have 18 minutes to set their lap times in the first qualifying session, with the five slowest drivers eliminated – they will start 16th to 20th on the grid. Lap times are then reset before qualifying two gets under way a few minutes later. This is a slightly shortened session at 15 minutes with the next five slowest drivers eliminated. They start between 11th and 15th. Finally, the third session will determine who starts on pole. Once again, all lap times are reset ahead of a 12-minute shootout with the top ten on the grid determined thereafter. What is F1 Sprint qualifying? The Sprint qualifying/race format was introduced for selected races back in 2021 and has added a new dimension to the F1 weekend. Qualifying which usually takes place on Saturday is shifted back to Friday evening. Then, Sprint qualifying, which is a shortened version of an F1 race, takes its place on Saturday afternoons. The race is usually a third of the length of a standard F1 race and pit stops are not mandatory – it is as the name suggests, a sprint for the finish line and the finishing order will be used to determine the starting grid for Sunday’s full race. Points are also awarded to the top eight drivers from eight points down to one. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Formula 1 tyres spend most of race day in cosy warm blankets – but why do drivers need warm tyres to begin with?
Before the start of every race, cars are lined up on the grid receiving final checks before they action commences. A noticeable feature is the tyres, or more specifically, the blankets that cover them while they lie stationary on the grid. Additionally, before the race begins proper, cars will undertake a formation lap where they follow the safety car in grid order at a slow speed in order to warm-up the tyres. Tyres have become an increasingly important aspect of F1 and you will rarely go five minutes without hearing commentator or pundit refer to them. Regardless of their age or their compound (hard or soft tyres), they have to be warm for drivers to feel comfortable and RadioTimes.com will explain why. Check out more Formula 1 coverage: F1 calendar 2024 | Watch F1 on TV | Listen to F1 on radio | F1 highlights | F1 presenters | F1 on Channel 4 Why do drivers warm up their tyres? Very simply, warmer tyres are grippier on the tarmac and that is essential when driving a car which can be chucked around corners at 190mph. When lining up on the grid before the start of a race, the tyres are wrapped up in covers – acting almost like a blanket – in order to preserve as much heat in them as possible. Watch Formula 1 live on Sky Sports During the warm-up laps before a race, drivers will “weave” their cars when going at slower speeds in order to inject more heat into the tyres. The weaving creates extra movement and load on the tyres which subsequently warms up the rubber. By contrast, some drivers compare driving on cold tyres to driving on sheet ice, and lap times set immediately after pit stops are usually slower with more caution being exercised. View Green Video on the source website What type of tyres are available to drivers? Pirelli are the current manufacturers of F1 tyres and have been the sole supplier in the sport since 2011. For 2023, there are seven types of tyres available to use for a race weekend. Two sets are for driving in wet weather conditions while there are five types for dry weather. Of those five compounds, three will be selected for use for a race weekend, and the choice depends on the circuit’s characteristics. The three are graded as “soft”, “medium”, and “hard” tyres and drivers must use at least two types during a race, which is where the strategy comes into play. They are colour coded so the viewer knows which tyre is on which car. Every car must use at least two of those tyre compounds throughout a race, but it is their choice as to when and where. This does not apply if there is rain and the specialised wet weather tyres are required. Soft tyres are grippier and drivers can set quicker lap times. They are favoured by cars near the front of the field who want to set the pace. However, harder tyres are more durable and lead to a car needing fewer pit stops. If a usually quick driver has had a poor qualifying session then they may look to gamble on playing the long game with their tyres. Teams who often find themselves near the back of the grid will opt to start on harder tyres to try to stay out on track as long as possible with a view to earning points. Decisions on which tyres to use will also depend on the characteristics of the circuit and the temperature of the tarmac. More heat on track will wear tyres down so harder rubber is more commonly used. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
What do F1 flags mean? All 10 flags explained – from red to blue
We all know what the chequered flag means in Formula 1, but what are the other nine colours all about?
To ensure the smooth running of any F1 race, a series of flags are in operation to communicate messages to drivers on circuit so they can react accordingly. Circuit marshals – who are some of the unsung heroes in motor racing – are stationed all around the track and they are the first people to react if there is an accident, breakdown, or spillage of oil, for example. Ten different coloured flags are used in Formula 1 and are easily identifiable to drivers. RadioTimes.com defines what they all mean and what situations they can be used in. Check out more Formula 1 coverage: F1 calendar 2024 | Watch F1 on TV | Listen to F1 on radio | F1 highlights | F1 presenters | F1 on Channel 4 What do F1 flags mean? All 10 flags explained Chequered flag The one synonymous with motor racing and the one every driver wants to see. The chequered flag is waved to indicate the end of a motor race and is first waved to the winning driver. Normally an FIA (the sport’s governing body) official waves the flag but occasionally a celebrity will be given the honour – the likes of David Beckham and Serena Williams have done so before. Yellow flag This is to indicate an upcoming hazard, such as a crash or a car that has pulled up due to a mechanical fault. Drivers must slow down and no overtaking is permitted until they have encountered a green flag. Additionally, if there are double-waved yellow flags then drivers should be expected to slow down significantly or potentially stop. This is for more serious incidents. Green flag The green flag is waved to drivers who have bypassed the yellow flag zone. It is also used to indicate an incident has been cleared. Drivers will then return to normal on-track conditions. Red flag This is used for when an incident is serious enough for the session to be halted. Generally, it is waved when there is a crash so serious that a driver needs to be extracted from the car or when multiple cars are involved and the clear-up operation will visibly take time. Drivers are instructed to slow down for the rest of the lap and head to the pit lane. Inclement weather conditions can also lead to the red flag being deployed. Officials may take the decision to suspend the session if torrential rain means the action cannot proceed safely. Blue flag The blue flag is used when a fast car approaches a slower car to “lap” them – meaning their pace advantage has seen them complete an extra lap in the same session. The slower car must yield after the flag has been waved or face a penalty. View Green Video on the source website Red and yellow striped flag Otherwise known as the oil flag, this is used to warn drivers of an upcoming slippery surface, usually due to an oil leak from another car. It can also be used to warn of any standing water on the track so drivers can prepare to slow down more than they usually would. Black and orange circle flag When a car has a mechanical problem which could potentially endanger them or anyone else, the black and orange flag (sometimes called the “meatball flag”) is waved to the driver in question, along with the number of their car, so they know to return to the pit lane. This is often for any loose bits of trim (front wing, rear wing, etc) that could fly off the car. If the mechanics can fix the car to a satisfactory level, then the driver will be allowed to rejoin the circuit. Black and white diagonal flag This is a “warning” flag to drivers for unsportsmanlike conduct, such as dangerous driving, overtaking under yellow flag conditions, or exceeding track limits. Again, it will also be accompanied by the driver’s car number. Black flag A rare sight these days but a black flag is waved to drivers who seriously breach the sporting regulations or ignore previous warnings and flags. The driver in question must come into the pits and end their participation in the session, akin to a red card in football. The last recorded use of this was in the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix when Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella were both shown black flags for leaving the pit lane under red light conditions. Amazingly, in 1969, Al Pease was disqualified from the Canadian Grand Prix for driving too slowly! White flag This is to warn drivers that a slow moving vehicle is on the circuit such as a tow truck or an ambulance. It is also used at the end of practice sessions where drivers will commonly pull up on the grid and practice their launches ahead of a race. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
What is the red light on the back of an F1 car?
We're here to help you solve the mystery of the red light on Formula 1 cars.
While F1 cars are special machines in their own right, there are some more minor and mundane features that are not too dissimilar to every day cars that are driven on roads up and down the land. For every front front and rear wing for example, you have a standard set of wing mirrors. And all F1 cars are equipped with a red light at the back which can flash. They may forgettable but are a very important safety feature of a modern Formula 1 car. And after all, driver safety is of paramount importance and one of the biggest differences between now and 1950 when the sport began. The red light serves two primary functions and RadioTimes.com will take a look at what exactly they are. Check out more Formula 1 coverage: F1 calendar 2024 | Watch F1 on TV | Listen to F1 on radio | F1 highlights | F1 presenters | F1 on Channel 4 Why is the flashing red light used during wet races? Quite simply, the light is there to alert drivers behind that a car is in front of them, like in a road car. Even light rain can be extremely difficult to drive in with all the spray flying up from the road as well as rain marks on the driver’s helmet visor. And, obviously, with cars being open cockpits, there are no windscreens to wipe. Think about how challenging it can be to drive on a motorway in wet conditions doing 60-70mph. Then times that by nearly three and that is what the experience of wet weather driving in F1 is like. Cars are so difficult to spot in front and the red light offers a hugely important visible aid to drivers to avoid massive accidents from potentially occurring. View Green Video on the source website What does the red light mean in clear conditions? In general, the red light is used in dry conditions only in qualifying or practice sessions and is used to indicate a car is slowing down or coasting along towards the pit lane. A car usually does this when it has completed a qualifying lap and is slowing down before returning to the pit lane. Conversely, it may be saving its tyres ready to attack a full-speed qualifying lap. Cars also deploy the red light when they are using the Energy Recovery System (ERS). This, in an incredibly complex manner, converts unused kinetic and thermal energy into extra power to use later in the lap. However, in order for this to work, the car will slow down and thus the red light will flash. Does the light flash any other colour? Very occasionally, there will be a green light on the back of an F1 car. This is to indicate there is a “rookie” driver who does not currently possess a full FIA Super Licence. Drivers can race in F1 only if they are granted a Super Licence by the FIA (the sport’s governing body). However, a driver is permitted to drive the car if they have met all the qualifications of a Super Licence but don’t yet have the licence – in the same way that someone who passes their driving test will not get hold of their driving licence straight away. Alex Albon, currently driving for Williams, is a recent example of this and his car featured a green light when making his debut in the sport back in 2019. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How long does an F1 race last? Number of laps per race explained
We round up the all the time limits and rules regarding the length of Formula 1 races, including the number of laps per race.
One of the reasons why F1 is the ultimate test of driver skill is endurance, with drivers’ concentration and physical ability tested for around 90 minutes. F1 drivers are supreme athletes who have over time, developed an ability to deal with G Forces and blazing hot temperatures at certain venues. Drivers are subjected to long races and with the number of races growing each year and a season last from March to December, it is even more vital they are refreshed and ready. Watch Formula 1 live on Sky Sports Races a set to a number of pre-determined laps depending on how long the circuit is and RadioTimes.com will take a deeper dive into a how long a Grand Prix takes to complete. Check out more Formula 1 coverage: F1 calendar 2024 | Watch F1 on TV | Listen to F1 on radio | F1 highlights | F1 presenters | F1 on Channel 4 How long does an F1 race last? Every race on the F1 calendar is designed to last approximately 90 minutes, though some will invariably last longer or shorter. The minimum distance a Grand Prix can be held over is 190 miles (305km), the only exception being Monaco, which runs at 160 miles (260km). All circuits are varied in terms of their length and overall speed meaning a different number of laps are required for completion of the minimum distance. The traditional formula used for calculating the number of laps is 305 (the minimum distance of a Grand Prix in kilometres) divided by the length of one lap (in kilometres). For example, the track at Spa is 7km long. 350 divided by 7 leaves us with 43.5 and rounded up, that sets the Belgian Grand Prix at 44 laps. In terms of time, races have a two-hour window for completion. A race will end in that time window even if the pre-determined number of laps are not completed. However, if inclement weather conditions halt a race, or there is a bad crash which leads to a red flag, then the race can last up to three hours from the point at which it started. View Green Video on the source website How many laps in each F1 Grand Prix? Here is the list of all races due to take place in 2024, listed from fewest to most laps: Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium – 44 laps Jeddah Corniche, Saudi Arabia – 50 laps Las Vegas GP – 50 laps Baku City, Azerbaijan – 51 laps Silverstone, Britain – 52 laps Monza, Italy – 53 laps Suzuka, Japan – 53 laps Circuit of the Americas, United States – 56 laps Shanghai, China – 56 laps Sakhir, Bahrain – 57 laps Miami Autodrome, Miami GP – 57 laps Lusail, Qatar – 57 laps Albert Park, Australia – 58 laps Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi GP – 58 laps Marina Bay, Singapore – 62 laps Imola, Emilia Romagna GP – 63 laps Catalunya, Spain – 66 laps Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Canada – 70 laps Hungaroring, Hungary – 70 laps Red Bull Ring, Austria – 71 laps Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico – 71 laps Interlagos, Sao Paulo GP – 71 laps Zandvoort, Netherlands – 72 laps Monte Carlo, Monaco – 78 laps What are the longest and shortest races ever recorded? The longest ever Formula One race was in 1951 – the French Grand Prix held at the Reims-Gueux circuit. The track, which stopped hosting F1 races in 1966 and has since been partly demolished, was 4.85 miles long as drivers were tasked with completing 77 laps. Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio won the race en route to his first-ever driver’s title, in a time of three hours and 22 minutes. At the other end of the scale, the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix was the shortest race of all time. Atrocious weather conditions meant the start of the race was severely delayed and only a couple of laps were held behind the safety car before it was canned. Half points were awarded as Max Verstappen crossed the line to win after just over three minutes of “racing”. Only three other races in the history of the sport have lasted under an hour, all due to bad weather while the shortest race to complete the full distance was the 2003 Italian Grand Prix with Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher winning in one hour and 14 minutes. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How fast is an F1 car? 0-60mph stats and top speed
We round up some of the facts and figures to pin down exactly how fast an F1 car can really go.
Just how fast do these Formula 1 rocket ships go? We take a closer look at all the important stats an F1 car can record It is the dream of so many young children across the world – to drive an F1 car. Not only for the glitz and glamour of being involved in a sport that takes you to all corners of the globe, but for the sheer exhilaration of driving cars that are feats of outstanding engineering. Watch Formula 1 live on Sky Sports F1 has long been classed as the top level of motorsport and one reason for that is, maybe quite obviously, the fact they are the fastest cars in the world around a race track. Enormous engines are coupled with lightweight chassis to create the sort of blink-and-you’ll-miss it monsters that zip around. RadioTimes.com details below the speed at which an F1 car can travel and how quickly they accelerate from a standing start. Check out more Formula 1 coverage: F1 calendar 2024 | Watch F1 on TV | Listen to F1 on radio | F1 highlights | F1 presenters | F1 on Channel 4 How fast is an F1 car? The modern F1 car can reach speeds of roughly 220mph on average when bombing down long straights. The fastest speed ever recorded in a race was from Valtteri Bottas’s Mercedes in the 2016 Mexican Grand Prix when he reached a startling 231mph, though certain conditions have to be met for that to happen. In terms of raw speed, F1 cars are not the quickest cars in the world – that gong belongs to IndyCars which compete in the United States. That is down to the fact that F1 cars are more reliant on downforce which slows them down in a straight line, but they are dynamite when going round corners. To put it into perspective, the fastest road legal car to ever drive around the Top Gear test track was a Ferrari SF90 Stradale in a time of one minute and 11 seconds. The Renault car which Fernando Alonso drove in the 2004 F1 World Championship went around in 59 seconds. View Green Video on the source website F1 cars 0-60mph speed The classic metric for measuring the acceleration of any car, from your gran's Nissan Note to the hottest new Bugatti, is the speed it takes to go from a standing start to 60mph. The fastest hyper cars in the world can hit that level of acceleration in blistering times typically ranging between 2.8 and 2.3 seconds. One or two cars, including the Koenigsegg Gemera, claim to have breached the two-second mark with an outrageous 1.9 seconds from 0-60mph. Formula 1 cars' acceleration time from 0 to 60mph is approximately 2.6 seconds. I know, ever so slightly disappointing, right? As mentioned above, while F1 cars are obviously rapid, their key strengths lie in being able to take corners at outrageous speeds, far superior to anything you'd be allowed to drive on an actual road. How big are the engines in F1 cars? Currently, Formula One cars use 1.6 litre V6 engines which are turbocharged to give them maximum power. They are hybrid powered as the sport seeks to become more environmentally friendly and cut carbon emissions. In years gone by, engines were much bigger with some of the cars in the 1990s using V12 engines – meaning there are 12 cylinders instead of six. However, current F1 power units can produce 1,000bhp (break horsepower) and cars right now are as quick as they ever have been. That is partly down to the sophistication of the engine and aerodynamics, but also down to the weight of the cars – there is a maximum limit of 798kg (minus fuel). What is DRS? DRS (Drag Reduction System) is an overtaking aid for drivers that was introduced ahead of the 2011 season, in order to increase the number of overtakes on the track. Each circuit on the calendar will have two (or sometimes more) designated DRS zones, usually on long straights where cars get to their fastest. The following driver must be within a one second gap of the car in front to activate DRS, which is operated by a button on the steering wheel. This opens up a flap in the rear wing, akin to a letterbox, meaning the aerodynamic drag is reduced and the car can travel around 10mph faster than the one in front. Critics of DRS believe it has become too powerful and is leading to “artificial” overtaking which doesn’t require any real driving skill. However, there are no plans to scrap the aid and its power varies from track to track. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
What is the spec of a 2024 F1 car? Weight, height, engine size
All the crucial details you need to know about Formula 1 cars' dimensions.
What sort of regulations are F1 cars bound by? The early part of the calendar year is always an exciting time for F1 fans and participants, as it signifies the launch of brand new cars. Ten teams in total devote a day in the calendar to releasing their new machinery, which they hope will take them to success in the upcoming season. Designing an F1 car is a mammoth process and is a real tester for those at the forefront of the operation. The sport is heavily regulated in terms of the car specifications, to ensure that there are no overwhelming discrepancies between the teams at the top and teams the bottom. While there will always be standout cars, such as the Red Bull which has taken Max Verstappen to multiple championship successes, all cars have to adhere to certain criteria to be allowed to race. RadioTimes.com will take a closer look at what those are. Check out more Formula 1 coverage: F1 calendar 2024 | Watch F1 on TV | Listen to F1 on radio | F1 highlights | F1 presenters | F1 on Channel 4 How heavy can an F1 car be? Ahead of 2023, the regulations were slightly adjusted so the car is lighter than 2022 and previous years. Every car on the grid must weigh a minimum of 796kg, meaning designers will be scouring across their machinery to try and shave off as much unnecessary weight as possible. The figure of 796kg is minus the fuel allocation, which can take a car to above 900kg if filled to the brim. Over the years, F1 cars have become more lightweight yet stronger as the technology has increased. Most of the bodywork is made of carbon fibre which is both extremely strong and also light. View Green Video on the source website What is the height and width of an F1 car? Formula One cars must be no longer than 200cm wide and 95cm tall. While there is theoretically no maximum length, several rules set indirect limits on those dimensions, meaning every F1 car looks very similar. In terms of the ride height, cars were generally 30-35mm off the ground in 2022 under new regulations to create “ground effect” – meaning the centre of gravity of a car was lowered to give better grip around corners. However, a common theme of the 2022 season was “porpoising” – where a car would visibly bounce up and down when driving on long straights in particular. To combat that, cars were raised by 15mm in 2023. How big can F1 engines be? All cars in 2024 must be fitted with 1.6l V6 turbocharged hybrid engines from the manufacturer of their choice. This is a reduction from the V8 2.6l engines used between 2006-13 and 3l V10s that were used pre-2006. This is why cars are nowhere near as loud as they used to be. The reduction in engine size is part of the sport’s drive to be more carbon neutral and use less emissions. Engines produced between 750 and 1,000bhp (brake horsepower) and anywhere between 130 to 145 litres of fuel are burned during the race. Refuelling is not allowed during the race so cars tend to be much slower in terms of race pace compared to qualifying as they are carrying a heavy load. What else is new? A number of minor regulation changes have been brought in to make the sport safer and more competitive. In terms of safety, all roll hoops must have a rounded top to lessen the chances of car digging into the ground if it overturns. This is introduced followed a scary crash involving Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu at the British Grand Prix where it took a considerable amount of time to extract him from the car. The reflective surface of wing mirrors is being extended from 150mm to 200mm to give drivers more visibility during races. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Formula 1 drivers are always using DRS to get ahead of the game – but what does it actually mean?
DRS has become a common point of contention in F1 over the years, but what does it entail? What makes motor racing such an exciting sport for the spectator? Lots of things if we’re being honest, but wheel-to-wheel racing and overtaking would be a commonly selected answer. No-one wants to see processional Grands Prix where the result is essentially a rehash of qualifying. Some of the sport’s finest moments have come from daring overtakes where drivers put their cars and bodies on the line for extra points. In order to increase the number of overtakes during a race, the system was launched in 2011 and has received mixed reviews ever since. Supporters say racing is more exiting and unpredictable as a result while critics believe the system provides “artificial” excitement. RadioTimes.com will explain what exactly DRS is and how it works in F1 to help you get to grips with one of the common pieces of jargon. Check out more Formula 1 coverage: F1 calendar 2024 | Watch F1 on TV | Listen to F1 on radio | F1 highlights | F1 presenters | F1 on Channel 4 What does DRS stand for? DRS stands for Drag Reduction System - a system that was introduced to the sport back in 2011 in order to promote overtaking. It acts like a boost or an aid for drivers to safely overtake a competitor when they are close by. The system can only be used in specially designated DRS activation zones (usually one or two zones per race) and is only used when a driver is within one second of the car in front. To activate the system, the driver simply pushes a button which opens up a section of the rear wing, which reduces aerodynamic drag and increases the straight-line speed of the car. View Green Video on the source website This makes it possible for the driver to quickly make up ground on the car just in front of them at a faster pace than normal thus allowing them to overtake, while the car in front is not allowed to use DRS, unless they themselves have an interval of less than a second to the car in front of them. DRS is the only part of the car's body that can be adjusted in the middle of a race, as per regulations brought in in 2013. There are a few other restrictions on the use of DRS in Formula 1, including that it cannot be activated on the first two laps after the race start, while there are some situations where the race director may decide to disallow its use for a specific race if conditions are judged to be unsafe. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Most dangerous tracks on the F1 calendar
We round up some of the most infamous tracks on the Formula 1 calendar.
One of the defining characteristics of Formula One has always been that it is dangerous, and like all other forms of motorsport, certain circuits on the calendar are particularly hazardous to negotiate. Safety has become a paramount feature in F1 and cars today are stronger than they ever have been. Gone are the days when fatalities were a regularity as car and track designs are more geared towards the sport being as safe as possible. Despite that, some circuits do possess big risks for drivers due to certain corners or the tightness of the track. Here are five circuits that unleash the inner daredevil of an F1 driver. Check out more Formula 1 coverage: F1 calendar 2023 | How to watch F1 on TV | F1 beginner's guide | F1 highlights | F1 presenters | F1 on Channel 4 5. Red Bull Ring, Austria The Red Bull Ring is a classic F1 circuit in the picturesque Styrian mountain range — but it can prove to be treacherous for drivers. It's a pure power circuit with several long straights and sharp braking points and any mistake will punish drivers to the max. There are big gravel traps to stop spinning cars from smashing into the tyre barriers, but with speeds of 200mph regularly being reached, one mistake could be very costly. The long uphill section towards the tight turn two hairpin has seen some big incidents in the past, with unsuspecting drivers being t-boned by cars that have flown onto the grass. Watch Formula 1 live on Sky Sports 4. Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium Part of the appeal of Spa — a true favourite among drivers and fans alike — is the undulating and tricky nature of the circuit. The most iconic corner is the sweeping downhill to uphill Eau Rouge at the beginning of the track where a car’s handling is tested as much as the engine's power. Sadly, it has claimed lives in motor racing and it was only four years ago that Formula 2 (a support series to F1) driver Anthoine Hubert died there following a massive shunt. The blind summit of the corner adds to the challenge, while the thrilling Blanchimont which comes towards the end of the lap sees a driver do 190mph on a left hander. In 2001, Prost driver Luciano Burti flew straight off and his car was buried underneath a tyre wall, knocking him unconscious. View Green Video on the source website 3. Monaco GP Monaco is the original street circuit and used to be a unique challenge to drivers, racing through a city compared to a standard race track. It is full of tight and twisty corners with seemingly inches between the cars and barriers as they fly around. It is notorious for cars bumping into one another as they jockey for position early on and in 2000, the race had to be restarted after an incident blocked a section of the course just after the casino. The fastest section is through the tunnel halfway into the lap as the track sweeps right-handed, and 2009 champion Jenson Button was once ruled out of the 2003 race following a very heavy crash coming out of the tunnel. 2. Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore The Singapore Grand Prix is contested at night time which adds a new challenge in itself, as drivers have to be extra alert on the track when trying to make overtakes. With 23 safety car periods in 13 races at Singapore, it has the distinction of being interrupted by the safety car once per race. Heat and humidity is also a big issue for drivers in the race, which is usually too hot to take place during the daytime. Like Monaco, it is a street circuit but, in terms of speed carried throughout, it is a very different challenge. 1. Jeddah Corniche, Saudi Arabia This track has only been on the F1 calendar since 2021 but is already notorious for being one of the most dangerous tracks in the sport. Branded as the “fastest street circuit in the world”, cars are recording average speeds of 160mph per lap, which coupled with the tight barriers means it can be a tricky one for drivers. Several drivers have commented about the track's suitability to host F1 races, particularly after Mick Schumacher was hospitalised following a huge crash in the 2022 event. Even though changes were made for the 2022 edition, it has still drawn strong criticism from drivers due to the vicious kerb and sweeping corners with close barriers. If you’re looking for something else to watch, check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.