Why is it called Formula 1? What the “formula” and the 1 mean

What “formula” means

A formula is a set of technical rules that a car must comply with to be allowed to race in its class. It lays down what the design may be, what engine is allowed and which parts are permitted. A car that doesn’t fit the formula doesn’t take the start.

In 2026 the FIA — the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile — is responsible for the rules of Formula 1: the technical, sporting and financial regulations. How this works in practice is explained in the chapter “Teams, drivers and cars”.

Where the 1 comes from

The number shows rank: Formula 1 is the main, top formula. It didn’t get its number straight away.

1. 1946. The FIA’s sporting commission approved a new main formula for Grands Prix: engines of up to 4.5 litres without forced induction or up to 1.5 litres with a supercharger. At first it was called Formula Internationale.
2. 1948. The FIA added a second formula, for engines of up to 2 litres without forced induction or up to 500 cc with a supercharger. The old one became known as Formula I and the new one as Formula II.
3. 1950. Formula 1 got its World Championship, and by the time it began the FIA had also introduced an international Formula III, for cars with engines of up to 500 cc.

A formula and a championship aren’t the same thing: in 1952 and 1953 the World Championship was run with Formula 2 cars.

When the first World Championship was held

The first World Championship was held in 1950. The first race was the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on 13 May 1950: Nino Farina won, and Alfa Romeo cars took the top three places. The details are on the page for that race.

The first season had seven races, including the Indianapolis 500. Points went to the top five — 8, 6, 4, 3 and 2 — plus one for the fastest lap. Farina became champion, as the 1950 season page shows. The Constructors’ Championship was added in 1958, and every champion since the first season is listed in the article “F1 champions by year”.

The championship’s official name

The full name is the FIA Formula One World Championship. It has two titles: world champion among drivers and among constructors, meaning the teams. The rounds of the championship are Grands Prix, and the FIA regulations call them exactly that: FIA Formula One Grand Prix competitions.

How F1 differs from Formula 2, Formula 3 and Formula E

The main difference is the cars. In Formula 1 each team must design the key parts of its car itself, above all the monocoque, and can’t buy them from a rival; that is why the teams are called constructors. In Formula 2 and Formula 3 everyone has the same car.

From 2026 the power of a Formula 1 power unit is split roughly equally between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. Formula 2 and Formula 3 are steps for young drivers on the way to Formula 1; how the whole ladder works is explained in the article “How to become an F1 driver”. A detailed comparison of Formula 1 and Formula 2 is in a separate article.

Who runs Formula 1

Formula 1 is run by two parties with different roles. The FIA is responsible for the sporting organisation and the rules, while the commercial rights are managed by a company, Formula One World Championship Limited.

• The FIA, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, was founded in 1904 as the AIACR and has had its present name since 1946. Under the 2026 regulations the championship is the property of the FIA, and at each event the stewards enforce the rules.
• The Commercial Rights Holder is Formula One World Championship Limited. The FIA has granted it the exclusive right to the commercial side of the championship, and it appoints the promoter of each event. Since 23 January 2017 the Formula 1 group has been owned by Liberty Media.
• The Concorde Agreement is an agreement between the FIA, Formula 1 and the teams. The ninth such agreement, signed by all 11 teams, runs until 2030.

Why is F1 called “the pinnacle of motorsport”?

Because the FIA says so itself: in the 2026 regulations, the first objective of the rules is to maintain the championship as the pinnacle of motorsport. In Russian-language writing about racing, Formula 1 also has an unofficial nickname, “the royal races”, but no FIA document gives it any “royal” status.