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Formula 1, without the assumed knowledge.
Eight short chapters take you from lights out to tyre strategy, then the glossary and explainer library handle every unfamiliar term.
2026 terminology: Corner Mode and Straight Mode are the current public names. Early FIA material called them Z-Mode and X-Mode; DRS is no longer the active system.
The objective
Twenty-plus drivers race for two linked titles. Drivers score individually; the two cars entered by each constructor combine their points for the teams' championship.
A Grand Prix weekend
Practice lets teams learn. Qualifying sets the provisional Sunday grid. Selected weekends add a shorter Sprint and its own qualifying session. The Grand Prix is the main points-paying race.
The car
A Formula 1 car combines a turbo-hybrid power unit, carbon-fibre survival cell, highly developed suspension, open wheels and aerodynamics that generate downforce.
The 2026 reset
Movable front and rear wings switch between Corner and Straight modes. Overtake Mode gives an eligible chaser extra electrical deployment; Boost Mode is a separate tactical command.
Tyres and pit stops
Drivers balance grip against tyre life. A stop loses track position but supplies fresh performance, so timing and traffic can create an overtake without the cars passing on track.
Flags and neutralisations
Yellow flags warn of danger. A Virtual Safety Car slows everyone to a time delta, a physical Safety Car bunches the field, and a red flag stops the session.
How points are won
The highest eligible finishers score under the current FIA tables. Sprint points use a separate scale, and shortened races can use reduced points.
How to follow your first race
Choose one driver, watch the timing gaps and tyre compounds, and keep the official schedule open. You do not need to understand every radio message to follow the main contest.