HOW TO BECOME A F1 DRIVER

 

HOW TO BECOME A F1 DRIVER

By : Nur Aliah binti Rusdi ( AM2211012781)


Formula One 2023 Driver Line-Up 





WHAT IS FORMULA ONE ?


Formula One Official Logo

Formula One (F1) is a one of popular motorsport that known to global that unfortunately can cause the life of driver through an extreme accident that happened. Its one of the high class of single seater racing that race through open-wheels tire and on street circuit and permanent race track. F1 Grand Prix had been held since 1946 or 1947 according to what you thought the “real” Grand Prix is. While the Championship of F1 had been held since 1950. In F1, they are 10 teams with 2 driver for each team that competed.  For the drivers, they must started their career at a young age because of the career path that must be followed by all of the driver that want to be in the F1.




CAREER PATH TO FORMULA ONE

As we know, the path that for achieved something beyond the range it’s a long drive. The ups and downs in our career is what teach us to be mature to handle the problem in our own. Just like other sport, Formula One driver have their own path to earn their spot in Formula One racing league. Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3 are all formula racing leagues.


Lewis Hamilton starting his career with karting

Firstly, they must start their driving career with karting. Karting is known as go-karts or shifter carts. the karting is depend on the driver in which part they compete, such as single seater or double seater. The race been held through scaled down circuit.


Livery in Formula Four

Next, Formula Four (F4) is the newest is newest tier in formula racing that been introduced in 2014. Their pattern of driving is mostly the same as karting but the big difference that we can see is for F4 is that karting have a side mirror for the driver. Not only that, they cost less than the other formula racing.

For Formula Three (F3), they drive less powerful cars but with competing many drivers and most of them just compete as “ feeder series ” for F1. They train to get their place in F1 driver one day.


Felipe Drugovich , Champion for Formula Two 2022

Just like F3, Formula 2 (F2) are very exciting races and the driver are training and trying to get a spot in F1. They are the second highest tier in formula racing that gone through multiple of changes of several occasions for over the years.


Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2022

Last but not least, Formula One (F1) is the ultimate and highest tier in Formula Racing League. They are the most powerful, most prestigious, and most technologically advanced and the fastest car that competed in formula racing. The car can drive up until 300 km/h.




COST THAT NEED TO BE A FORMULA ONE DRIVER

Every sport need allocation money to been the in them. F1 is one of the most expensive in the world. Why? Well, maybe it can cost $10,000,000 from karting to F1. For karting, it can cause $60,000 + a year without any outside backing or sponsorship. Most of driver that compete through formula racing are rely on external funding to reach to the top.


Lewis and Anthony Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton father, Anthony Hamilton willing to work 3 different jobs at the starting of his son career so that he could make to the F1. His hardship been paid off as Lewis won the most (tied with Michael Schumacher) tittle holder of World Champion.




CHARACTERISTIC THAT MUST HAVE FOR DRIVER IN FORMULA ONE


Aryton Senna and Gerhard Berger


1. superior at reflexes

There’s not lying when we say that F1 driver is the most fit person in the world. Why? Well, it’s because of good their reflexes is. Its can be because when you drive a car that goes to 300km/h, you need a very good at reflexes so that accident may not occur.


2. committed

Make sure that you’re committed and not do it just for fun or part-timing because not only this sport but most of the sport require their athlete to always work hard so that the success is within their grasp.


3. build relationship with teams & sponsorship (teamwork)

The way that this sport need 2 drivers per team shows that working as a teamwork is a must. So, the drivers must build a relationship with their teams mates and sponsorship and not to forget with the engineer.




ROUND IN GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP


Circuit de Monaco

There's actually 5 round in F1. It's started with practice 1, practice 2, practice 3, qualifying and the actual race. So how they actually work? Let's get to know about it! 


     

    1. Practice Round      

    

Red Bull Racing pit stop

      In the practice round, all the teams must have all of the checklist of operation to execute that include track-specific mechanical setup, low fuel qualifying runs and high-fuel race simulations, as well as testing the condition of tire and any new or upgraded parts added to the car.



    2. Qualifying Round

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Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas

 For qualifying round, the round will be determine the starting order for the race. The driver that have limited amount of time to complete as many laps as possible, with the fastest lap time will determining their starting positions. The faster the driver at qualifying round then the ratio for them to won the Grand Prix at certain place is not possible. It's also not impossible if the driver won the podium even if they starting their position at the back of the race. 




3. Race

         

Sebastian Vettel at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2022

      The race is where the driver race each other around the circuit for 190 miles (305km) for 2 hours or  sometimes for 4 hours depending on the red flags means that race is suspended due to a crash.




       FLAG AND THEIR MEANING IN FORMULA ONE RACES

       Formula One has different type of flag that carry specific meaning for the driver.


Checkered flag at the finishing line

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      For the red flag, it means that the race or the session for that day is suspended because of accident that occur. Whilst the green flag means the racing is being resume. 

      Yellow flag used to warn the drivers of the hazard on the track so that, they have to be careful of the track in front of them. But, it's depending on how many flag that been waved, one or two yellow flag. If there's only one, that means the driver should "reduce their speed, don't overtake, and be prepared to change the direction". They will be punished if they speed-up their speed if they passed through yellow flag area. Furthermore, if there's two yellow flag it gave the meaning of  "reduce your speed insignificantly, don't overtake, and be prepare to change the direction or stop" because it means "there's a hazard that effect most or partly of the track and marshals working on or beside the track".

      But, for the blue flag means ordering the driver to allow the approaching car through at the "earliest opportunity". For white flag carry the meaning to the driver to slow their speed because of the slower moving vehicles ahead or on the track. Then, yellow and red strips means that the track is slippery for the drivers so they have to be careful while black with an orange circle means that there's driver on the track that has mechanical issue.

      Black and white flag is the warning for the driver for their unsportmanlike behaviour while black flag means that the driver had been disqualify. Last but not least, the checkered flag for when the driver finish the finishing line and means the race has finished.





    COMPANY OR MANUFACTURED THAT PARTICIPATED IN FORMULA ONE


Ferrari drivers through the years


      As we know, there are 10 teams with 2 drivers for each teams in Formula One League. Teams or as we call them as brand, company or manufactured compete each other to hold the tittle of World Champion. Scuderia Ferrari had been competing in Formula One since 1950 which it is from the start and they got a lot of benefit from there. McLaren Formula 1 team since 1966. Whilst, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team since 1970 . Williams racing had been competing in Formula One since 1978. Scuderia AlphaTauri since 1985 while BWT Alpine or previously known as Renault F1 Team since 1986. Alfa Romeo f1 team stake since 1993. Oracle Red Bull Racing since 1997. Williams racing since 1978. Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team since 2018 and last but not least, MoneyGram Haas F1 team since 2016 and consider rookie in Formula One League.




      FAMOUS FORMULA ONE CHAMPION THAT I KNOW


Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher is a German former racing driver who competed in Formula One up until 2012. He had been raced for Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari and Mercedes. He been tied with Hamilton for 7 times World Champion tittles from 1994 to 1995 and 2000 to 2006. Held the most wins (91), pole positions (68), and the fastest laps (77). Schumacher had been known as always to push his car to their limit during the races. The controversial during races always following around him like a puppy due to accident during races. He had been collided twice in the final season for the decided tittle with Damon Hill at Australia Grand Prix 1994 and later with Jacques Villeneuve at European Grand Prix 1997. Unfortunately, Schumacher had suffered severe brain injury in skiing accident in December 2013. Now, he been relocated at his home for medical treatment and rehabilitation privately.





Lewis Hamilton 

          Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton is a British racing driver that currently competing in Formula One in Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team since 2013. He making the history for making the first black driver to race in F1. He been tied with Michael Schumacher for the most tittle holder for World Champion from 2008 to 2009, 2014 to 2015 and 2017 until 2019. With holds the record for the most wins (103), pole positions (103) and podium finish (191). Hamilton joined McLaren for the first 6 years in his Formula One racing experience.




Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel is the youngest driver when he won 2010 championship. He won his tittle with Renault since 2010 until 2013. His villain era in Red Bull Racing always makes the other driver have fear that can be seen through their eyes. Never afraid to speak up his mind and always support the woman driver throughout his career makes him such an angel.






Max Verstappen 

Max Emilian Verstappen or Max Verstappen is a Belgian-Dutch racing driver. He become the 2021 and 2022 Formula One World Champion competing in Red Bull Racing. He is the son of driver, Jos Verstappen which actually had been abusing his entire lives to become a F1 driver mentally and verbally. He becoming the youngest-ever driver and the first Dutch driver to win Formula One Grand Prix in Spanish Grand Prix 2016 at the age of 18. Verstappen become the 34th Formula One World Drivers' Champion and the first Dutch driver to win the Formula One World Championship when he won in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2022. 







      BEST FORMULA ONE DRIVER ( IN MY OPINION )

Sebastian Vettel ( danke seb <3 )


Red Bull Era Of Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel is a German racing who competed in Formula One. Just recently announcing his retirement after 2022 season. Why does he is the best Formula One driver? It is because how down to earth person he is and always be the sunshine in raining day. Not to mention his desire to win in every race and he will do anything in his power to make it happen. Breaking records in Formula One history left and right probably his favourite past time activity. Media will always doubt his skills but he always making comeback to silence all the doubter that always talks bad about his driving skills.  





MY CURRENT FAVOURITE DRIVER IN FORMULA ONE

Charles Leclerc


Charles Leclerc

Charles Marc Herve Perceval Leclerc or Charles Leclerc is the first driver for Ferrari for season 2022 until now. Out of everything, he is the kindest soul to ever exist because how modest and thoughtful he is. Like a lot of people saying, "God's really make a man and send Charles Leclerc as an apologize".


Italian Grand Prix 2019

      Not to forget, this young driver is in his own mission. One of the main reason he is my favourite driver it is because even with the least competitive car, yet he still a lot of head with his performance. Not only that, his capability of dazzling array of skills to scorching the pole position. His never gave up easily even when his car caught on fire twice in Sliverstone Grand Prix.Why? 


      

Charles Leclerc helmet for Monaco Grand Prix

      Well, because this young and talented driver is racing in honor of his late father, Herve Leclerc. Charles in one of his interview say that in his father last breath, he had to lie to say that he got spot in Ferrari to drive in Formula One because it was his father biggest dream to see his own son to compete in that championship. Next year, he really got that spot in F1 but in Alfa Romeo teams. Also, he race dedicated to his mentor and godfather, Jules Bianchi Formula One driver who died in 2015 in race. He was hoping that he can makes them proud with his performance through the years. 

                                                                                            

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