Formula 1

Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1, and currently officially referred to as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the F�d�ration Internationale de lAutomobile (FIA). The "formula (formula racing)" in the name refers to a set of rules to which all participants cars must comply. The F1 season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix (List of Formula One Grands Prix), held on purpose-built circuits (List of Formula One circuits), and public roads. The results of each race are combined to determine two annual World Championships, one for the drivers (List of Formula One World Drivers Champions) and one for the constructors (List of Formula One World Constructors Champions), with racing drivers, constructor teams, track officials, organizers, and circuits required to be holders of valid Super Licences, the highest class racing licence issued by the FIA.

Formula One cars race at high speeds, up to convert360km/hmphabbr=on with engines revving up to a formula imposed limit of 18,000 rpm (Revolutions per minute). The cars are capable of pulling in excess of 5 g (g-force) on some corners. The performance of the cars is highly dependent on electronics (although traction control and driving aids have been banned since 2008), aerodynamics, suspension (suspension (vehicle)), and tyres (tire). The formula has seen many evolutions and changes through the history of the sport.

Europe is Formula Ones traditional centre, where all of the teams are based, and where around half of the races take place. However, the sports scope has expanded significantly in recent years and Grands Prix are held all over the world.

Formula One is a massive television event, with an aggregate global audience of 600 million people for each race. The Formula One Group is the legal holder of the commercial rights. As the worlds most expensive sport, its economic effect is significant, and its financial and political battles are widely covered. Its high profile and popularity make it an obvious merchandising environment, which leads to very high investments from sponsors, translating into extremely high budgets for the constructors. However, mostly since 2000, due to the always increasing expenditures, several teams, including works teams from car makers and those teams with minimal support from the automotive industry, have gone bankrupt or been bought out by companies wanting to establish a team within the sport; these buyouts are also influenced by Formula One limiting the number of participant teams.