Learn Formula One: Part 2

The second installment of a series which is intended to help people who are newcomers or maybe even just curious about Formula One to understand what is going on and what all the fuss is about. With any luck at all, next time you flick onto a race you will understand a little of what you're seeing.

This edition is a step up from part one which was a basic outline of the racing and the cars involved.

Flags.

Formula One races, like almost all forms of motorsportare controlled by different coloured flags. These flags will appear at the side of the circuit waved by course marshals. Green flags appear after wreckage or debris from an accident has been cleared. It indicates that normal racing and overtaking is allowed. A yellow flag will be waved if a car becomes stranded or there is an accident in the race. Overtaking is not allowed in an area where yellow flags are shown. Sometimes two yellow flags will be waved. This informs drivers that there are marshals on the circuit and that they should actively slow down and be prepared to actually stop where they are.

Other flags which are shown in Grands Prix are those such as the black flag, which indicates that the driver shown it must return to the pits, they have been disqualified. A black and white striped flag is rarely used but it acts as a warning for particularly robust drivers who are behaving unsportingly. A black flag with an orange spot in the centre indicates a driver has damage to their car which may be a hazard, they must return to the pit lane to have it removed.

A blue flag will be shown to backmarkers who are about to be lapped by faster cars. Slower drivers may pass three of these flags before a penalty is imposed on them. Marshals will show this flag at pit lane exits as well to inform a driver leaving the lane that a faster car is approaching. When oil, debris or rain is on the circuit unexpectedly marshals will inform drivers the circuit is slippery with a red and yellow striped flag. The chequered flag signifies that the race or current session has ended. A red flag will stop the race or session, whether it has come to an end or not.

Pit Lane.

The pit lane contains all of the equipment and the personnel which make up the team during a race or session. Drivers can make pit stops in the race to change their tyres and refuel their cars. Drivers may not enter the pit lane if the red lights are on or if the safety car his just been deployed. Each team has a pit box where the car stops to receive service. Only one car may stop at a time from each team. Team pit crews may only come into the box when their car is coming in on that lap. Formula One cars are limited to a speed limit in the pit lane, at most race tracks the speed limit is 50mph.

Pit Stops.

Grand Prix cars drive into what appears to be a human garage when they make pit stops. There are two men for every wheel on the car, there are two men needed to operate the refuelling rig, another man holds a fire extinguisher in case the car catches fire. There are also men to hold up the car at the front andthe rear. Someone from the team will stand by and monitor the stop and most teams still have a lollipop man to tell the driver when it is safe to leave the pit lane. If a car has been damaged it usually needs a front wing change. Three men are required to make this happen. A total of as many as 20 men service cars making a stop. It is the man who operates the lollipop's responsibility to let his cars leave safely and not in close proximity to another car travelling down the pit lane.

Safety Car.

The Safety Car in Formula One is usually called out for particularly messy accidents or if a car spins and stalls in the middle of the circuit. If rain comes quickly andheavily during a race then the safety car may come out to control the speed of the Grand Prix while drivers change tyres to suit. In rare circumstances Grands Prixwill begin behind the safety car until standing water on a drenched circuit are cleared to allow safe racing. The safety car procedure usually follows as so:

An accident will occur or some other incident. A board will come from marshal posts with the letters SC on it. The safety car will appear on the circuit after turn 2 to pick up the field. The cars must remain in formation on the circuit until they are told the slower cars can overtake to assume correct race order. When the safety car is deployed, new rules state that drivers must activate an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) device which controls average speed. Cars will then be allowed into the pit lane.

The safety car has flashing lights on its roof and where an ordinary cars head and fog lights are. When these lights go out it means that the car is going off the circuit at the end of this lap. The race leader is handed pace car duties until the start/finish line is crossed when racing will resume. Overtaking before the line is crossed is illegal.

ECU.

The ECU is the Electronic Control Unit and is now an FIA standardised device for monitoring and controlling all electronic aids and functions in the Formula One car. It is sealed by the FIA andteams are not allowed to tinker with the device or enhance it in any way. It controls engine mapping and it also controls various speed limiters including the pit lane limiter and the safety car button.

FIA.

The FIA or Federation Internationale de L'automibiles is the world governing body of motorsports and with their cycle counterpart, the FIM, they control racing globally. They decide rule changes, sanctions for misdemeanors and issue licenses for drivers and decide safety measures. Currently the president of the FIA is Max Mosely and he is advised by a group of delegates from each country involved in motorsport.

Points Scoring.

Drivers are awarded points in the Drivers World Championship but teams are also awarded points for themselves as a manufacturer. The points allocated in races are as follows:

1st - 10

2nd- 8

3rd - 6

4th - 5

5th - 4

6th - 3

7th - 2

8th - 1

Both driver and team receive points. So if Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen were to come first and second in a race. Hamilton would receive 10 points, Kovalainen 8 but Mclaren would receive 18 points in total.

With this second installment, I hope that a greater understanding is beginning to form in the minds of those who are unfamiliar with Grand Prix racing. It can be a little confusing trying to track all of the action. Bear with it, and have this information in mind and perhaps it will become clear, and maybe enjoyable.

See:

Learn Formula One - Part 1