Formula 1: Grand Prix, Qualifying and Race Duration

F1 Grand Prix Overview

• Grand Prix events are festivals of excitement and entertainment spanning 3-4 days.
• The race is the culminating event of a traditional Grand Prix weekend.

Free Practice Sessions

• These sessions occur over a couple of days before race day.
• Teams and drivers use this time to learn the track and experiment with conditions.
• It's crucial for testing different setups and configurations for qualifying and the race.

Qualifying

• Drivers aim to set the fastest possible lap times.
• The qualifying session is divided into three knockout sessions: Q1, Q2, and Q3.
• The fastest driver overall starts the race from Pole Position.
• Remaining drivers line up behind in order of qualifying lap time.

Race Duration

• A Grand Prix distance is 305 km.
• The number of race laps is calculated by dividing 305 km by the length of a single lap and rounding up.
• An exception is if the race exceeds a 2-hour time limit due to stoppages.
• The first car to cross the finish line after the final lap wins.

Championship Points

• Awarded to the top 10 drivers.
• First place receives 25 points, and 10th place gets one point.
• A point is awarded for setting the fastest lap, even to drivers outside the top 10.

Sprint Race Weekends

• This format has one practice session before the competitive weekend.
• It includes sprint qualifying and a shorter race called the F1 Sprint.
• Sprint weekends happen a few times per season at predetermined races.

Sprint Qualifying and Sprint

• Sprint qualifying determines the grid order for the Saturday Sprint.
• The Sprint is a shorter race with no mandatory pit stops.
• Only the top eight finishers in a Sprint get points.

Race Start Procedure

• Cars are moved from garages to the grid 40-50 minutes before the race.
• Mechanics and engineers maintain the cars' condition.
• The formation lap is a reduced-speed tour for systems check and tire warm-up.
• Drivers avoid dirty sides of the track to keep tires clean.

Start Lights

• Five red lights illuminate one by one, signaling the start.
• Drivers focus on the track, reacting to the lights going off.
• Aborted starts can occur due to various issues, including car breakdowns or weather.
• In bad weather, the race may start behind the safety car.

Flags in F1 Racing

• Flags are a quick and simple visual communication method in racing.
• Electronic boards and driver dash displays support the flag system.

Yellow Flags

• Single yellow: Reduce speed, prepare for a hazard, no overtaking.
• Double yellow: Reduce speed significantly, be ready to stop.
• During qualifying, drivers should abandon their lap under yellow flags.
• Yellow with red stripes: Reduced grip ahead due to oil spillage or water.
• Full Course Yellow (FCY): Yellow flag rules apply to the entire track.

Green Flag

• Indicates the track is clear, and racing can resume.

Red Flag

• Indicates to slow down immediately and prepare to stop.
• Is used when the circuit is deemed temporarily unsafe.
• Drivers return to the pit lane slowly and carefully.

Blue Flag

• During practice and qualifying, means faster car(s) approaching.
• During a race, it indicates a driver is about to be lapped- they must allow the faster car(s) to pass

Black and White Flag

• A warning for unsportsmanlike behavior or track limits violations.

Black Flag with Orange Dot (Meatball Flag)

• Indicates the cars have damage and must return to the pits for repairs.

Black Flag

• Signifies disqualification; the driver must return to the pits immediately.

Checkered Flag

• Signals the end of the session/race.
• In the race, it is waved at the finish line for the winner and subsequent drivers.

Safety Car

• Deployed when an incident is too serious for flags alone.
• The car in first place follows the safety car at a reduced speed.
• No overtaking is allowed under safety car conditions.
• Restarts occur after the safety car peels away, with the lead driver controlling pace.

Virtual Safety Car (VSC)

• Neutralizes the race by limiting drivers to a set slower speed.
• Preserves gaps between cars, unlike a full safety car.

Overview of a Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, including free practice sessions and qualifying laps. Qualifying is divided into three knockout sessions: Q1, Q2, and Q3. A Grand Prix distance is 305 km.