The Formula One Grand Prix
A race weekend consists of three practice sessions, a qualifying session, and the race itself all happening over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. FP1 on Friday lets the teams assess the car to make sure it runs as it should and performs properly. FP2 is also on Friday and is reserved for longer runs in the car to prepare the drivers and pit-stop teams for the race. FP3 runs on Saturday and makes the drivers concentrate on shorter laps to get ready for the qualifying session. Saturday hosts Qualifying, which is a three-stage race session to set the lineup for Sunday’s race. Each section of qualifying is called Q1, Q2, and Q3 as each number stands for the progressiveness of the qualifying session. Q1 is the first section of Qualifying that lasts 18 minutes and knocks out the five slowest drivers first, then Q2 is 15 minutes and eliminates five more drivers. The final 12-minute Q3 makes the top ten grid slots. The race on Sunday can last about an hour-and-a-half to two hours, depending on if there are red flags stopping the race, or a safety car which slows the drivers to get crashed cars or rubble off the track.
In every race, points are awarded to the top ten drivers across the finish line; 25 points to first place, then escalating down to 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 point for the driver that comes in 10th place. If one of the top ten drivers had the fastest lap at the end of the race, then they get one extra point for the weekend. The driver who has accumulated the most points after the season is over is crowned World Champion of the FIA Formula One Driver’s World Championship and takes home the trophy. In the case of a tie, after a recounting of points, the winner would be whoever had the most wins. If even then there is a tie, the driver who had placed second the most, and so on, would win the trophy. Three of the past world champions are on the grid this year. Max Verstappen has three world titles, Fernando Alonso with two titles, and Lewis Hamilton with seven world titles, tying with retired driver Michael Schumacher who also won seven titles.