Formula One (F1) stands as the highest class of international open-wheel, single-seater motor racing, sanctioned by the FIA and widely recognized as the pinnacle of motorsport since its inaugural World Championship season in 1950. Each season features a series of global races, known as Grands Prix, where a sophisticated points system determines two annual champions: one for the driver and another for the constructor (team), with the Constructors' Championship added in 1958. F1 cars are renowned as the world's fastest regulated road-course vehicles, achieving incredible cornering speeds through advanced aerodynamics, especially downforce generated by wings and underbody tunnels.
The first World Championship race was the 1950 British Grand Prix; Giuseppe Farina won the inaugural Drivers' title, though Juan Manuel Fangio soon dominated, securing a record five championships by 1957 that remained unbroken for 46 years. Beyond the thrilling competition, F1 involves significant financial and political battles, with teams incurring substantial annual costs (now under a cost cap), and the sport being owned by Liberty Media since 2017, with the United Kingdom serving as its primary hub for team bases.