F1 Grand Prix Overview

Grand Prix Event Structure

• Takes place over 3-4 days
• Includes practice sessions, qualifying, and the main race

Practice Sessions

• Allow drivers and teams to learn the track and test setups

Qualifying

• Consists of three knockout sessions: Q1, Q2, Q3
• Fastest driver starts from Pole Position

Race Start Procedure

• Cars line up for a formation lap
• Race distance is typically 305 km
• Race starts when 5 red lights go out

Race Scoring

• Points awarded for top 10 finishers
  • 1st place: 25 points
  • Additional point for fastest lap

Sprint Race Weekend

• Occurs a few times a season
• Limited practice sessions
• Includes Sprint Qualifying and Sprint race
• Top 8 in Sprint receive points

Race Start Process

• Cars placed on grid 40-50 mins before start
• Formation lap for system checks and warming tires
• Start indicated by 5 red lights out

Flags & Their Meanings

• Yellow Flag: Reduce speed, no overtaking
• Double Yellow: Significant speed reduction
• Full Course Yellow (FCY): Whole track under yellow conditions
• Yellow with Red Stripes: Reduced grip area ahead
• Green Flag: Clear to race
• Red Flag: Immediate slow down, return to pits
• Blue Flag: Faster cars approaching or letting other cars pass
• Black and White Flag: Warning for unsportsmanlike behavior
• Black Flag with Orange Dot: Car damage, return to pits
• Black Flag: Disqualification
• Checkered Flag: Signals race completion

Safety Car

• Deployed when incidents are severe
• Cars follow safety car at reduced speed with no overtaking
• Ensures tight pack for strategic restart

Virtual Safety Car (VSC)

• Neutralizes race without physical safety car
• Preserves gaps between cars

Summary

• Different flags communicate to drivers during race sessions
• Safety cars manage severe incidents
• Different formats for regular and sprint races, both with qualifying-determined grids