Formula 1
FORMULA 1
Man and machine have been quite the notable duo over the past century and beyond. Formula 1 is an encapsulation of this fantastic synergy, where ultra-modern technology is pushed to the very limits to create lightning-fast four-wheelers capable of breaking previously unbreakable records. Drivers spend years honing their dexterity at the wheel in the hopes of showcasing their talent on the ultimate platform of car racing: Formula 1.
Your first step to Formula 1 online betting is to understand what the sport entails, what its history says and what the future holds. Although Formula 1 has been in full gear ever since 1950, it’s never too late to learn about the sport and try some online betting in the meantime.
WHAT IS FORMULA 1?
Formula 1 is a series of races held worldwide that features the fastest cars in the world; more specifically, open-cabin, open-wheel, single-seater, four-wheeled autos.
The name ‘Formula 1’ holds two meanings. The word ‘formula’ refers to the rules and parameters that constructors of the car, its mechanics and its drivers have to follow as members of Formula 1. The word ‘one’ refers to the FIA’s — Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, the governing body of motor sport — grades, which take into account the racing tracks, the approved vehicles and the drivers’ licences.
As you can see, there are several restrictions and requirements that must be satisfied before a driver and their car could feature in Formula 1. As a federation of the world’s leading motoring organisations, the FIA promotes safe and sustainable mobility for all drivers around the world, and it regularly amends Formula 1 rules to keep the sport in line with these values.
FORMULA 1 BEHIND THE SCENES
Formula 1 isn’t a one-man show. That is quite a common misconception, and the truth is that hundreds of people are responsible for the team’s performance: engineers, mechanics, designers and aerodynamicists, among others. Large Formula 1 teams have as many as 1,000 employees, if not more.
The spotlight, however, shines brightest on the driver. Formula 1 drivers are fit and very healthy athletes who require top-notch reflexes and high stamina. Operating their vehicle is far from an easy task, as it requires high levels of concentration, dexterity and self-belief.
Fun fact: did you know that Formula 1 drivers lose weight at the end of a race? This is because a copious amount of energy is expended in throttling the pedals, focusing on the track and countering the G-force on bends. G-force is the pull that drivers experience when accelerating or turning around a bend or corner. Although a driver’s body is strapped tightly in the seat, their neck and legs are liable to swaying, which could potentially complicate the driver’s efforts at manoeuvring the car. Countering the G-force uses up quite a lot of energy, which is why drivers must be in good physical condition to partake in a race.
FORMULA 1 FORMAT
The Formula 1 season takes place on a select few street circuits around the world, and it features 10 teams of two drivers, all gunning for precious points. Before a race, drivers perform several testing sessions to get in gear for the knock-out qualification sprint, divided into three stages: Q1, Q2 and Q3.
In each stage, drivers will be looking to advance to the next phase by setting the fastest lap-time possible. The five slowest cars are eliminated in Q1, and the same happens in Q2, leaving only 10 cars to compete in Q3. There, they will have 12 minutes to repeat the process and set a new lap time. This will determine their final grid position on race day.
FORMULA 1 POINTS SYSTEM
Seeing as Formula 1 is a series of races, winners of single races have to perform just as well in other races too if they are really vying to clinch the title. Although it isn’t necessary to win every race in the series, it is important to gather as many points as possible throughout the competition.
The distribution of points in Formula 1 has been subject to numerous changes over the years, so it’s always a good idea to keep abreast of the latest announcements released by the FIA through the LV BET Sports Blog.
The current system dictates that drivers must finish within the top ten positions to obtain points — ranging from one point for the 10th-place driver to 25 for the first-place driver. Points are awarded for the Drivers Championship and the Constructors Championship as long as the cars finish in the top 10 spots.
FORMULA 1 HISTORY
Although auto racing began in the mid-19th century, the first Formula 1 series began in the 1920s, and it was called the European Championship of Grand Prix. The first races didn’t have most of the regulations enforced nowadays, since the first rules only came into effect after World War II.
The first World Championship race was held in 1950 in Silverstone, the United Kingdom, which saw Giuseppe Farina become the victor in his Alfa Romeo. Argentinian Juan Manuel Fangio went on to dominate the competition in the years following Farina’s 1950 victory, winning the title in 1951 and in 1954 through to 1957. His record of winning five World Championship titles remained until Michael Schumacher clinched his sixth title in 2003. The German also went on to win his seventh just a year later.
Participating in Formula 1 races during the 20th century was far from harmless. The safety measures incorporated in contemporary Formula 1 races were completely foreign during that time, and this meant that many drivers suffered grievous and sometimes even fatal injuries during collisions.
Thankfully, the severity of accidents has declined noticeably over the years, and this is the fruit of both technological innovation and the FIA’s upping of safety standards. Car manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to minimise the severity of injuries in their builds, whereas the FIA is constantly driving the point home that driver safety should be the number-one priority.
BEST FORMULA 1 DRIVERS
Several Formula 1 fans are lucky enough to have lived to see some of the best Formula 1 drivers in the world. Unfortunately, racing legends of the likes of Ayrton Senna and Juan Manuel Faggio are no longer with us, but they remain etched in the history books of this timeless sport.
Senna was the Brazilian superstar of Formula 1. He won three Formula 1 titles in his career, the first being in 1988 and the last in 1991 — becoming the youngest three-time champion of that year.
Another Formula 1 top-dog is Englishman Lewis Hamilton, whose debut in the competition saw him partner with the Spanish go-getter Fernando Alonso. Hamilton went on to win several Formula 1 titles over the years, thus solidifying his spot as one of the best British drivers of all time.
FORMULA 1 BETTING MARKETS
The largest online sports betting sites will be sure to offer you the best odds on Formula 1 markets, but they’re not much use without knowing what the markets really entail. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most popular Formula 1 betting markets.
OUTRIGHT BET
This is the simplest bet you could place, since all it does is aim to predict the winner of the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Betting on the big favourites won’t offer much of a payout, but placing a bet on an underdog might net a significant amount should they end up winning.
FUTURES BET
Seeing as Formula 1 consists of two championships — the Drivers’ Championship and the Constructors’ Championship — bets could be placed on which driver or constructor will be the victor at the end of the season. As you could imagine, you’ll need to wait a while until this bet is settled, especially if it’s placed before the season begins.
PODIUM FINISH BET
This bet looks to predict that the chosen driver will finish in any of the top three positions. Do note that the payout will still be the same if the driver finishes in the first position as opposed to the third.
PROPOSITION BET
Also known as prop bets, these types of bets can take many forms, and you’ll need both knowledge and luck to be successful with them. For instance, a prop bet might look to predict the winning driver’s nationality.
POLE POSITION BET
This bet looks to predict which driver will qualify for the first slot in the starting grid. As we mentioned above, this will depend on the driver’s performance in the races leading up to the final one, so make sure to research the past performances of your chosen driver or car.
ONLINE FORMULA 1 BETTING — BET ON FORMULA 1 AT LV BET!
Top-rated sportsbook sites aren’t very easy to come across, but it seems that you’ve managed, after all. LV BET doesn’t only offer the best Formula 1 odds around, but it does so through a slick user interface that is extremely simple to use. We offer betting markets on all the major sporting events happening around the globe, but this isn’t to mention lesser-known sports too.
If all you’re looking for is Formula 1 betting advice, the LV BET Sports Blog should be right up your alley. Our expert writers make sure to cover all the latest sporting news, announcements as well as betting advice that punters of all experience levels can refer to.
