...a defintion of the pinnacle of motorsport
Formula One, abbreviated to F1 and also known as Grand Prix racing, is the highest class of single-seat open-wheel formula auto racing. It consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, held on purpose-built circuits or closed city streets, whose results determine two annual World Championships, one for drivers and one for constructors.
The cars race at maximum speeds in excess of 320 km/h (200 mph), but from 2006 a new regulation has been implemented to slow down the cars considerably. From this year on normally-aspirated V8 engines with a displacement of 2.4 litres, provide the F1 racing cars with roughly 750 horsepowers at nearly 20,000 rpm. Engines need to last for two races and special emphasis is put on electronics, aerodynamics, suspension. and tyres.
The formula has seen many evolutions and changes throughout its history. The power of Formula one cars have ranged from normally-aspirated straight-4 cylinders engines to supercharged V12 engines, the levels of displacement have ranged from 1.5 liters to 4.5 liters, and the maximum reached power throughput has been around 1200 horsepowers.
 Formula one has become the world's most expensive sport, its economic impact is significant, and its financial and political battles are observed across the world. High profile and ever increasing popularity makes the Formula 1 circus a lucrative merchandising environment with high level investments from sponsors absorbed by the extremely high monetary budgets of the teams. The sport is regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, with its headquarters in Place de la Concorde, Paris. President Max Mosley leads the organisation which generally is promoted and controlled by the official commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone through a variety of his and his wife’s corporate entities
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