F1 The Beginning

Formula 1 or F1 is officially known as the FIA Formula One World Championship and is perhaps the most glamorous, dangerous, thrilling, fast-paced and lucrative of all sports played anywhere in the world today.

It is the highest class of motor sport sanctioned by the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile), the “formula” referring to the rules to which all competing teams must abide, dictating size of engine, aerodynamic capabilities, even car dimensions, the “One” or “1″ confirming its status as the top motor race of all.

The season currently exists of 12 teams each with two drivers each and a reserve driver, contesting a series of races in cities and on purpose-built circuits worldwide, each determining at its climax a Drivers Championship and a Constructors Championship.

With its roots in European Grand Prix Motor Racing in the 1920s and 30s, Formula One was devised and born in its current stage in 1946 when the “formula” by which competing teams had to abide was drawn up. The first non-championship races were held that year.

The World Drivers’ Championship however was not formulated until 1947 as rules for this Championship were disbanded following the outbreak of World War II.

Its first race was held in the United Kingdom at the world-famous Silverstone circuit in 1950, and preceded significant milestones in the sport’s inception – a championship for constructors following in 1958.

The very first F1 World Champion was an Italian Giuseppe Farina in his Alfa Romeo in 1950, pipping his team mate, the Argentinean Juan Manuel Fangio to the top honour. However Fangio won his own title the following year in 1951 and again in 1954 through 1957. Indeed his 5 World Championships were to stand until one Michael Schumacher took his sixth title in 2003.

The UK’s Sir Stirling Moss was competitive in the early days however was not quite able to win a title himself – bringing later the dubious honour of being hailed the greatest driver that ever lived without winning the title. Fangio, on the other hand, is considered the “grand master” of the sport for his dominance in the first decade of the new sport.

The earlier cars were produced by road car manufacturers such as Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Maserati and were front-engined with narrow tires and a 1.5litre supercharged or a 4.5litre engine – a classic example being the Alfa 158 in which Farina and Fangio won their early titles.

For a few years, concerns over the cars saw Formula Two rules adopted bringing less powerful cars to the grid; however a new Formula One was adopted to set a limit of a 2.5litre engine for the 1954 Championship. Mercedes-Benz introduced now-commonplace features in its engines such as fuel injection and an enclosed streamlined body.

However in 1955 the manufacturer withdrew following the Le Mans disaster, when a car left the track and killed the driver and 84 spectators, injuring a further 100.

But a mid-engined car introduced in the 50s was to herald a new feature of Formula One – technological innovation. Cooper Car Company introduced a mid-engined car and in it Australian Jack Brabham won Championships in 1959, 1960 and 1966 and by 1961 all competitors adopted the mid-engined set-up in their vehicles.

It would be 1958 before the UK had its first Formula One World Champion, the title being won in a Ferrari driven by Mike Hawthorn however the UK’s

World Champions Brabham, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, John Surtees, Graham Hill and Denny Hulme would see British teams and Commonwealth drivers win twelve of thirteen Championships between 1962 and 1973.

Further technological breakthroughs were made again by Lotus who introduced the first monocoque chassis and introduced sponsorship to their vehicles in 1968 when Imperial Tobacco added their livery to the cars.

Aerodynamic downforce also played a huge part in the development of the sport and today, these innovations are standard across the grid.

However the sport exploded into the stratosphere in the 1970s when current owner Bernie Ecclestone opened up commercial rights for the sport and made the sport the multi-billion dollar industry it is today.