Michael Schumacher delivered a spellbinding performance that recalled his most memorable victories but Fernando Alonso claimed the championship.
Formula 1 articles archive
The Formula 1 world championship began in 1950 and is considered the world’s leading form of single-seater motorsport. The 2024 F1 season is the 75th time the world championship has been held.
A world drivers’ champion has been crowned every year since the series began. Since 1958 a world constructors’ championship title has also been awarded.
The most successful F1 drivers in history are seven-times world champions Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher. In 2021 the former became the first and so far only driver to date to win 100 grands prix.
While Schumacher retired from F1 at the end of 2012, Hamilton continues to race. His rival world champions in the series are Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso.
There are 10 teams active in the championship, each of which field cars for two drivers. Each team is required to design and build the majority of its cars but may source some parts including engines, gearboxes and certain other components.
Ferrari has won the F1 constructors’ championship more times than any other team, with 16 titles. It is also the only team which has competed in every championship since the first season of Formula 1.
The Formula 1 calendar typically runs from March to November each year. Pre-season tests take place in February and March, and a post-season test is usually scheduled for late November or December.
A championship now includes over three times as many rounds as early seasons did. Seven rounds counted towards the first world championship – including the Indianapolis 500, despite it being run to different rules – but a record-breaking 24 races are scheduled on the 2024 F1 calendar. The series visits Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Asia and Australasia. It has not raced in Africa since 1993.
Two organisations are responsible for running F1. The Federation Internazionale de l’Automobile (FIA), based in Paris, France, administers and governs the sport. Its commercial rights are leased to Formula 1 Management (FOM) which was purchased by the US-based Liberty Media in 2017.
Index of F1 articles on RaceFans:
Advantage Alonso as Schumacher retires at Suzuka
2006 Japanese Grand Prix review
Posted onFernando Alonso knows that only misfortune is likely to keep him from a second consecutive world championship after winning in Japan.
Prizes for places, not points
Posted onMichael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso are tied in the championship battle. But as many are pointing out, Schumacher actually leads the championship as he has seven wins this year to Alonso’s six. This is perfectly logical – and it leads to a logical question: Instead of using ‘most highest finishes’ as a tie-breaker, why not … Continue reading Prizes for places, not points
Tyre bore
Posted onWatching the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying this morning immediately made me think of Mark Hughes’ piece in Autosport this week. I enjoy his writing very much – it’s deeply analytical, reasoned and persuasive – and this one was no different even though I don’t agree with him: It was proved again at Shanghai last weekend: … Continue reading Tyre bore
Review: “Unless I’m very much mistaken: My autobiography” by Murray Walker
Posted onMurray Walker must be the most famous person associated with Formula 1 who is not one of the drivers. Bernie Ecclestone may have all the money and power – but even he lacks the public profile of the national institution that is Murray Walker. After laying down his microphone for the final time at the … Continue reading Review: “Unless I’m very much mistaken: My autobiography” by Murray Walker
All tied at the top as Schumacher wins in China
2006 Chinese Grand Prix review
Posted onMichael Schumacher beat Fernando Alonso to the chequered flag in China to put the pair level on points in the lead of the championship.
“The Cruel Sport” (Robert Daley, 2005)
Posted onHaving recently looked at Dr Stephen Olvey’s “Rapid Response” on safety in CART racing, I thought it would be a good time to review a similar book on the dangers of earlier Formula One. The Cruel Sport was first published in 1963. Journalist and photographer Robert Daley covered F1 for the New York Times but … Continue reading “The Cruel Sport” (Robert Daley, 2005)
“Schumacher: The Life of the New Formula 1 Champion” (Timothy Collings, 1994)
Posted onCarrying on our recent theme of Michael Schumacher book reviews, this very early book dates back to the winter of 1994 when the German had just seized his first world championship. This book makes especially interesting reading in the light of everything Schumacher has accomplished in the 12 years since his first World Drivers’ Championship. … Continue reading “Schumacher: The Life of the New Formula 1 Champion” (Timothy Collings, 1994)
Trackside: Guess Schu?
Posted onLast week’s Trackside was about some German guy retiring. Michael something. Bit of a dab hand at the old Formula One. Enjoy! Related links Autotrader.co.uk – Trackside: Schumacher – was his best yet to come? (external) Tags: f1 / formula one / grand prix / motor sport / michael schumacher
‘First black Formula One driver…’
Posted onInevitably enough, no sooner has Lewis Hamilton’s name been linked with an imminent to switch to Formula One than the stories hailing the ‘first black Formula One driver’ have cropped up.
Schumacher starts his swansong with Monza win
2006 Italian Grand Prix review
Posted onMichael Schumacher got the dream result he wanted before announcing his retirement from Formula One.
“I don’t consider F1 a sport anymore” – Alonso
2006 F1 season
Posted onFernando Alonso reacted strongly to the controversial qualifying penalty which has relegated him from fifth on the grid to tenth.
So much for safety
Posted onMax Mosley’s 1994 refuelling rules have gone up in smoke. Twelve years after the reintroduction of refuelling and the reaction to the disasters at the San Marino Grand Prix, three important rules governmening how refuelling would be made ‘safer’ after Imola have all been dropped. These were Mosley’s words after Imola 1994:
Massa grabs first win as Alonso soaks up pressure from Schumacher
2006 Turkish Grand Prix review
Posted onWhat should have been a textbook cruise to maximum championship points for Michael Schumacher fell apart and handed his grateful team mate a maiden grand prix win.
Alonso, Schumacher and Senna: Three great first laps
Posted onWhen you think of great first laps in Formula 1 you inevitably bring Ayrton Senna’s at the 1993 European Grand Prix to mind. But last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix saw a pair of scintillating starts – and I reckon one of them was better than Senna’s. Let’s take a look at all three in detail. … Continue reading Alonso, Schumacher and Senna: Three great first laps
Button achieves his impossible dream with breakthrough win in Hungary
2006 Hungarian Grand Prix Review
Posted onJenson Button emerged from a chaotic Hungarian Grand Prix to score his first ever win in Formula One in 115 attempts.
Schumacher halts Alonso’s winning run after first-lap pile up at Indianapolis
2006 United States Grand Prix review
Posted onMichael Schumacher took a straightforward win in the United States Grand Prix after a first-lap crash wiped out several competitors.
Alonso edges further ahead of Schumacher with sixth victory
2006 Canadian Grand Prix Review
Posted onFernando Alonso stretched his winning streak to four consecutive triumphs with an emphatic victory in Montreal.
Alonso grabs Monaco win as Schumacher recovers to fifth
2006 Monaco Grand Prix review
Posted onFernando Alonso took his first win in the Monaco Grand Prix after all the other competitors dropped out of contention. Kimi Raikkonen and Mark Webber suffered car failures – and Michael Schumacher was sent to the back of the grid after a controversial qualifying session. It was a surprisingly lively Monaco Grand Prix with shock … Continue reading Alonso grabs Monaco win as Schumacher recovers to fifth
The supercars that make F1 look slow
Posted onFormula One is in danger of losing some of its status as an ultra-high speed sport, as modern supercars put greater speeds in the hands of mere mortals than F1 cars can achieve. The ?â?ó?óÔé¼?í?é?¼1,000,000 (?âÔÇÜ£810,000) Bugatti Veyron, built by the Volkswagen Group, raised the bar for production car top speeds to 407 kph (253 … Continue reading The supercars that make F1 look slow