Formula 1 Racing with Ara: FAQ Edition

We are now in the 2nd Semester and 2022 whether you like it or not. When I first started as an eighth grader in media studies, I didn’t know what I was going to do in the class since I’ve never been much of a writer. My biggest passion is Formula 1, a European sport that isn’t very popular in the United States, so I decided to write a column talking about Formula 1. In my first article I gave an overview of the sport. My next story featured race results. Looking back now I realize that when I first started I didn’t explain the sport very well and there were some questions that I didn’t answer so here we are. Welcome to the FAQ edition of Formula 1 Racing with Ara.

Is there a “season” that Formula 1 has? (like a volleyball season or something)

• Yes, there is a season in Formula 1, but it’s a little different than a volleyball season. Most of the time the first race of the season, or the pre-season testing, takes place in the beginning of February to March. The season ends with the last race which normally takes place near the end of November going into December. This past 2021 season started with the pre-season testing on the 12-14 of March, and the season ended with the Abu Dhabi grand prix on December 10-12. 

How many races are there in a season, or year?

• The amount of races that take place in season vary every year along with the dates. It all depends on the current state of the track and the country that hosts the race. This coming year will be the longest season ever with 23 races!

How are the races hosted? (are they like the olympics or random or whoever pays the most)

• There are many other countries that host races during one season. The tracks that are used for the grand prix all have a sort of contract thing that is like an agreement with the FIA to have a certain amount of races at that track in a certain amount of coming seasons. However, there are some countries that host more than one race. Italy and the United States will be hosting two races this year, that is why there is an agreement with the track officials and not the countries officials. SO…it’s not random, it’s not like the Olympics, not exactly who pays the most, more like who has the best track. 

Why are there no women on the F1 circuit? 

• So I won’t deny that there are no women currently on the grid. That’s just a fact, but you have to know that women aren’t banned. There have been multiple women that participated in the sport in past years, but it has been over thirty years since. Why? No one really knows why. There is the W series which consists of only female drivers, and the other levels of the formula series have seen multiple female drivers in recent years, but none of them have reached Formula 1. Some say it’s an issue with sponsors, some sponsors don’t want women in the sport because it will give them bad publicity. Sadly there are fans and other people in our world that don’t believe that women deserve to participate in motor racing. Even though it’s very difficult for women to make it into motor racing there are still a few that do make it in such as Danica Patrick (only win by a woman in an IndyCar Series race) and Jamie Chadwick (won both seasons of W series that have been held)

How does the F3, F2, F1 work and how many levels are there?

• A comparison that I like to use is the downstairs math classes. You start out in 6th math, then you go to 7th math, Pre-algebra, and the best math class for the nerds is Algebra. If you compare the formula series to the math classes Formula 1 would be Algebra (the best), Formula 2 is Pre-Algebra, Formula 3 is 7th math and then there is Formula Regional, Formula 4, and the rest of the karting series’. I’m not going to give a very in depth explanation of formula regional, formula 4, and the karting series’ because they get very complicated. Formula 3 are drivers that have advanced from the other series. Depending on what the teams decide some of the formula 3 drivers advance to formula 2 while others are either kept or ousted. Same thing for formula 2 except drivers, if they are good enough,  would advance to Formula 1. The points system for F3, F2, and F1 are all pretty much the same with only some slight differences. Another career option for drivers if any of the formula series teams don’t give them a driving spot on the team is the move to Indycar, Nascar, W series (for female drivers), or they can be a reserve/ testing driver for a team. 

Who is your favorite driver and car?

• A more personal question, I like it. My personal favorite driver is Lando Norris, a driver for McLaren, which is my favorite team. Norris is my favorite driver because when I first became a fan I saw Norris and thought this is F1’s future champion. This past season Norris proved that he is capable of winning the championship and I do hope that he receives a title win sometime in the near future. I do recognize that there are some more experienced, better drivers on the grid-such as Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and the older greats Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso-but they are not my favorites. I would rather see Lando winning races, or even Russell and Schumacher. 

Do F1 drivers have interesting hobbies other than driving cars?

• While this is a good question I’m afraid that I don’t have a very good answer. Most, if not all, F1 drivers keep their private lives private. Which is understandable, these people are like other famous athletes, they are just playing their sport and the fans don’t need to know all of the other things that athletes do in their lives besides the sport that they play. I will say that some drivers are known to be decently good enough at other sports. Daniel Ricciardo enjoys the USA and has said that he enjoys basketball and American football. Others like Pierre Gasly enjoy English football (soccer for the Americans).

If you have any other questions feel free to leave them in the comments section and I will answer them in the next edition of my column.