The English name of Formula One is: "Formula 1". Formula is translated as equation, but its true meaning is "regulation", that is, the basic concepts of racing are stipulated by competition rules, and a simple competition car is manufactured according to the competition rules... At present, there are competition cars in the world with the basic concept of "sports car", but the basic concept of formula racing is different from them. In short, it is a single-seat (monopost) racing car with exposed tires (openwheel). In the family of formula racing, Formula One is the pinnacle of this type of competition.
The latest Formula One racing regulations (1999), the maximum width of the car is 180cm. The distance between the overhang of the front wheel and the center of the front wheel is within 120cm, and the distance between the overhang of the rear wheel and the center of the rear wheel is within 50cm. The engine is required to be naturally aspirated, 4-stroke with a maximum displacement of 3000cc, and no more than 12 cylinders. The maximum horsepower of this type of engine has not been officially announced, but it is estimated to be between 750-800 horsepower. The car combined with this engine and a carbon alloy chassis (an original product independently developed by each team) will be able to compete in high-speed races of about 300 kilometers a year. This is the Formula One racing competition, also known as the "F1 Grand Prix". Why is it called "Grand Prix"? It is the transliteration of Grand Prix. Grand Prix means grand prize in French.
One more point, the body of a Formula One car is made of carbon alloy, and the competition requires that the weight of the car should not be less than 600kg with the driver on board. It is not difficult to see that the challenge of Formula One racing is not to require the car to have the maximum power, but to make this lightweight car produce high sports performance.
From the first car race in history in 1894 (from Paris to Lyon) to 1900, the word "Formula" did not appear. The car competition at that time was very simple. They were divided into groups based on combustion method (gasoline engine and steam engine) and the number of seats. At that time, cars had at least two seats, and it was not until the late 1920s that single-seat racing cars appeared. This development was facilitated by the invention of the rearview mirror, which can replace the "co-pilot" to alert the driver that someone is about to overtake.
In 1904, the FIA ??(International Automobile Federation) was established. This international organization had to formulate rules to ensure the safety of drivers and spectators. At the same time, the FIA ??guided motorsport in a direction conducive to the development of road cars and, therefore, specified competition rules in the history of motorsport. From 1907 to 1939, almost every possible rule was formulated, including minimum weight, maximum weight, fuel consumption and cylinder diameter limits, but after 1939, the most commonly used limit was engine cylinder volume, which was first introduced in 1914 Years have attracted people.
"Formula" was first used by the FIA ??in 1904 (limiting maximum weight) to distinguish it from small cars, as an alternative racing car of a different type from small cars. But the term "Formula One" didn't appear until after World War II. The FIA ??Formula One World Championship was founded in 1950. The first car race belonging to the FIA ??Formula One World Championship was the British Grand Prix, which was held at Silverstone in the United Kingdom on May 13, 1950.