Formula 1 has released a beginner’s guide explaining how the 2026 season works, aimed at making the sport more accessible to newcomers.
In recent years, Formula 1 has experienced a surge in popularity, with unprecedented attendance figures at race weekends and record-breaking numbers across the board. To help new fans understand the sport, F1 has published a concise guide analyzing all the key updates and explaining how the upcoming season will operate.
A guide for new F1 fans
“Formula 1 is not just a race. It’s a high-tech battle of engineering, strategy, and speed. At the forefront are 22 highly skilled athletes, supported by thousands of brilliant minds. From cutting-edge cars to pit stops that last around two seconds, every detail counts. Year after year, race after race, Formula 1 evolves continuously. It’s all worth racing for. Let’s keep up with the pinnacle of motorsport,” says the introduction in the video.
Twenty-four races, twenty-two cars
“Formula 1 is a global championship held across a mix of street circuits and purpose-built tracks worldwide. The 2026 season features 24 races, with 11 teams entering two cars each. Each car is a unique creation, designed and built from scratch by each team to meet strict technical regulations. This is the ‘formula’ of Formula 1. Throughout the year, teams constantly refine their cars, searching for incremental improvements that could decide a race.
Formula 1 combines human talent and advanced technology. Competitions run for two championships: the Drivers’ Championship and the Constructors’ Championship. Results count doubly—for glory on track and for financial rewards that fund future performance. Since 2021, all this must happen under a strict budget cap, limiting how much teams can invest and making efficiency just as important as innovation.”
Race weekend format
“A race weekend follows a precise schedule. It begins with three practice sessions to study the track and fine-tune the car. Then comes qualifying, a three-part challenge that sets the starting grid. Slower drivers are eliminated in Q1 and Q2, leaving the fastest 10 to fight for pole position in Q3.
On race day, cars line up on the grid according to qualifying results, from fastest to slowest. The race, called a Grand Prix, covers 305 km, where strategy, driver skill, and unexpected events combine to determine the outcome.
Some weekends also feature a Sprint format, replacing part of practice with a short, intense race with no pit stops, awarding points to the top eight finishers. A Sprint qualifying session sets the grid for the 100 km Sprint race, increasing pressure with less preparation time.
The Grand Prix starts with one of the sport’s most iconic moments: five red lights illuminate, engines roar, and when the lights go out, 22 cars launch toward the first corner, where strategy will begin to shape everything that follows.”
Redesigned power units and a new way to overtake
“The cars are as much a spectacle as the race itself. At their core is a 50/50 hybrid power unit combining a turbocharged engine running on advanced sustainable fuel with an electric motor that delivers instant power.
Overtaking at 360 km/h is an art. Drivers use the slipstream, the low-pressure zone behind another car, to close the gap. If they are close enough at a detection point, they can activate overtake mode to boost top speed. They can also use a battery boost anywhere on the lap, in attack or defense, adding another level of high-speed strategic decision-making.
But overtaking isn’t just technology. It helps start the move, but execution depends on judgment, timing, and courage at maximum speed.
Drivers and engineers constantly manage energy, recharging the battery to attack or defend positions. Aerodynamics is equally critical: front and rear wings generate downforce for stability in corners, then flatten on straights to reduce drag and exceed 320 km/h.
At these speeds, physical stresses are extreme: over 4G in braking and cornering, and about 2G during acceleration.”
Pirelli tires make the difference
“In dry conditions, teams must make at least one pit stop, entering the pit lane at limited speed to change tires. Pit stops are feats of speed and precision: all four tires are changed in roughly 2 seconds. Every fraction counts. A perfect stop can gain positions, a slow one can lose them.
Tires range from soft to hard compounds, with medium in between. Softs are faster but wear quickly; hards last longer but offer less performance. In dry races, at least two different compounds must be used. In wet conditions, intermediates are suited for light rain, while full wets handle heavy showers. Choosing the right tire at the right moment can decide the race.
Behind the scenes, teams are vast organizations. Hundreds of people contribute: designers, aerodynamicists, strategists, and analysts, led by team principals making crucial decisions under pressure. Every lap you see is the result of thousands of invisible decisions.
Everyone works to maximize performance and climb the championship standings. Victory comes by crossing the finish line first under the checkered flag. Points are awarded to the top ten finishers based on their final position.
Consistency is key. Championships are built on solid, continuous results as much as on wins. At the end of the season, the driver and team with the most points win their respective championships, and their name or emblem is engraved on the trophy alongside all historical Formula 1 winners.
Formula 1 is a sport where speed meets science, and small details make a huge difference. Now that you know the basics, the cars, the formats, and the strategy, you’re ready to explore the world’s most advanced racing series.”
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