The History of Racing: A Focus on the Formula One Grand Prix

360 kilometers per hour, 21 international high-speed circuits and 20 of the world’s most talented drivers, only one event fits this description and it is the Formula One Grand Prix. The action-packed and thrilling motorsport series boasts 500 million fans who are enthralled by the high-stakes and high-speed environment, here in Bahrain, the Sakhir Race is consistently one of the nation’s favourite events. Formula One may be referred to as the pinnacle of motor racing by many, because it has the fastest single-seater cars in the world, but the hearts of fans are touched by the enigmatic drivers, the never-ending rivalries and the drama that erupts on track. In honour of Lewis Hamilton’s record breaking 100th pole that took place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, let’s take a look at motorsport’s most memorable moments.

The first official Formula One Grand Prix took place at the classic Silverstone Circuit in the United Kingdom in 1950, the cars were much slower yet dangerously fragile, but the brave-hearted drivers took their places on the grid as they competed in the historic race. One driver emerged victorious, and that was the legendary Nino Fangio in an Alfa Romeo. The season consisted of only 7 races in various locations in Western Europe and one race in America. The sport has since evolved from teams striving to reach top speeds without concern for much else, however nowadays modern cars are technologically advanced and are not only made to be mind-numbingly fast, but also takes safety and agility into account.

Throughout it’s colourful history, the Grand Prix has been dominated by legendary teams and drivers, currently we are witnessing the sovereignty of Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. Since the turbohybrid era began, teams poured millions of dollars into adapting to the new regulations but none could rival Mercedes as it began it’s golden streak in 2014. However, in 1988 the unforgettable McLaren MP 4 driven by both Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost won 15/16 races that year, showcasing the true engineering marvel that the car was. However, when remembering the greatest names in racing history, it is impossible to forget Michael Shumacher who won 91 Grand Prix’s in his career, 71 of those with Ferrari, the cult-like fan base that the team affectionately calls the ‘Tifosi’ will always cherish the days that the bright red car charged past the finish line.

Although F1 has been loved by numerous generations, Netflix now produces the popular reality-TV show ‘Drive to Survive’ which follows the teams and the drivers around the world as they embark on the journey to the World Championship. It can only be described as an excellent show, which can serve as a great introduction to anyone interested in the magnificent world of motorsport.

By Anoushka Subin 12A