Grand Prix Formula One / Grand Prix Formula Satu

Formula One, abbreviated to F1, and also known as Grand Prix racing, is the highest class of single-seat open-wheel formula auto racing in the world. The first official "Formula 1" race was held in 1950 in the United Kingdom at Silverstone race track, a former RAF air base in the midlands of England. This track is still featured in the race calendar. (Grand Prix Racing, however,dates back to 1906 when the first "grand prix" took place on 64 miles of public roads near Le Mans, France.) The "formula" in the name is a set of rules which all participants and cars must meet.
.
The F1 season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, held in most cases on purpose-built circuits, and in a few cases on closed city streets. The results of each race combined determine two annual World Championships, one for drivers and one for constructors. The cars race at speeds often in excess of 300 km/h (187 mph). The formula introduces a number of restrictions and specifications that cars must meet, designed, amongst other things, to keep the ever-increasing cornering speeds in safe ranges. From006 engines have been restricted to normally-aspirated V8S with a displacement (capacity) of 2.4 litres (providing around 800 bhp [560 kW] at nearly 20,000 rpm).
.
The performance of the cars is highly dependent on electronics, aerodynamics, suspension and tyres. The formula has seen many evolutions and changes through the history of the sport. There have been many different types of engines; normally aspirated, supercharged and turbocharged, ranging from straight-4 to H16, with displacements from 1.5 litres to 4.5 litres. The maximum power achieved in the history of the series was around 1200 bhp in racing trim, during the 1980s turbo era.
.
Europe is Formula One's traditional centre and remains its leading market; however, Grands Prix have been held all over the world, and with new races in Bahrain, China, Malaysia and Turkey since 1999, its scope is continually expanding. As the world's most expensive sport, its economic impact is significant, and its financial and political battles are widely observed. Its high profile and popularity makes it an obvious merchandising environment which leads to very high investments from sponsors translating into extremely high monetary budgets for the constructor team, however, in recent years several teams have gone bankrupt.
.
The sport is regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), with its headquarters in Place de la Concorde Paris. Its President is Max Mosley. Formula One's commercial rights are vested in the Formula One Group, now owned by Alpha Prema. Although now a minority shareholder, the sport is still generally promoted and controlled by Bernie Ecclestone.