How to Follow Formula 1: A Simple Guide
New to F1? Learn how race weekends work, what qualifying means, and where to watch live, all in plain English.
Formula 1 basics in two minutes
Formula 1, often called F1, is the top class of single seater car racing. Twenty drivers from ten teams race on circuits around the world across a season. Each race is called a Grand Prix. Drivers score points based on where they finish, and the driver with the most points at the end of the season becomes World Champion. Teams also score points together for a separate team title.
A Grand Prix weekend has a fixed rhythm. Friday and Saturday bring practice sessions where teams test the car. Saturday brings qualifying, a timed shootout that decides the starting grid. The fastest driver starts at the front, in pole position. Sunday brings the race itself, usually around ninety minutes of flat out racing with pit stops for fresh tyres.
To follow Formula 1 well, learn the weekend pattern first. Race start times change with every country, since the calendar moves across time zones all season. The Fawa News agenda lists sessions with times in your local zone, so you always know when lights go out.
How to watch Formula 1 live on Fawa News
- Open the agenda. Go to /agenda/ to see the coming race weekend sessions.
- Pick the session. Check practice, qualifying or race times, shown in your local time zone.
- Open the event page. When our licensed stream feed carries that session, the live player loads right on the page.
- No player? The event page still shows the schedule, so you know exactly when to come back.
Tip: Qualifying decides the grid and is often as exciting as the race. Do not skip Saturday.
Qualifying, pit stops and race strategy
Qualifying runs in knockout stages. The slowest drivers drop out in each stage until ten are left to fight for pole position. Grid position matters a lot, because overtaking is hard on many circuits. A good Saturday often decides a good Sunday.
In the race, every driver must make at least one pit stop to change tyres. Teams pick soft, medium or hard tyres, trading speed for life. Strategy around pit stops is half the sport: stop early for fresh rubber or stay out and defend track position. Safety cars, which bunch the field up after crashes, can turn a race upside down in seconds.
Formula 1 FAQ
Where can I watch Formula 1 live?
Open the Fawa News agenda, find the Formula 1 session you want, and open its event page. If our licensed stream feed carries that session, the live player appears there.
What is qualifying in F1?
Qualifying is a timed session where drivers set lap times. The fastest driver takes pole position and starts the race at the front of the grid.
When do F1 races happen?
Most Grands Prix happen on Sunday afternoons local time, which means very different hours around the world. The agenda shows every session in your local time zone.
How long is a Formula 1 race?
Most races run close to ninety minutes, plus pit stops and any safety car periods.
What is DRS?
DRS is a flap on the rear wing that a driver can open in set zones to go faster and try to overtake the car ahead.