Enter the Billion-dollar World of Formula One

Enter the Billion-Dollar World of Formula One -of rivals in race strategy or wheel-to-wheel in
For almost every sport, there is a level ofovertaking.
competition that is exclusively reserved for theAs five red lights turn on one by one, and then
best of the best to battle for supremacy. Indisappear to unleash 22 cars releasing anything up
European football it is the Champions League; into 750hp from their V8 engines, roaring down the
men's tennis it is the Masters Cup; and instraight and scampering out of their orderly grid
motorsports, it is widely regarded to be Formulapositions to beat each other round the first
One motor racing.corner of the track - anything from then on till
Putting aside the glamour effect that comes withthe chequered flag is unpredictable in every sense.
it being the richest sport in the world, FormulaSo much is at stake, yet so much can happen:
One exposes itself to be the embodiment of allthe weather, the car performance under
things that define a competitive sport at the veryimmensely sensitive conditions, the timing and
limits of Man's capabilities. Whether it's theduration of the pit-stops to the millisecond, the
painstakingly disciplined level of fitness the 22slightest of mistakes to cause the driver to
drivers have to maintain, or the commitment ofdemolish their own car, spectacular crashes,
hundreds of people who labour all year round toengine failures and punished tyres, and even more
design, build and maintain a set of monstrouslyspectacular wheel-to-wheel action and overtaking.
fast cars that represent the absolute cutting edgeThe instantaneity during a race might be exciting
of technology - it all comes together to form aenough, but in the bigger picture, the rivalry that
spectacular season of ultimate sport.develops between teams and drivers throughout
As every team transport their temporary homes,the season - whether contending for the
equipment and the cars from one race hostchampionship title or simply to be the best of the
country to the next, with an average of tworest - it unravels into a compelling story of
weeks separating races, it is almost like setting uppsychological, technical and strategic superiority,
a completely new stage every time for aset over 18 race weekends. One only has to take
massive show that lasts all weekend. It is thisa glimpse at archive news stories of the 2006 F1
that causes a real build up, beginning from theseason to see how this happens at maximum
Wednesday before the race weekend - intenseeffect!
like a storm brewing. A buzz begins to developLast but not least, there is a magnificent cultural
that creates real fascination, whether you follow itcharm to Formula One, which although is
through news reports, live timing updates ofexperienced in many international sports, F1 really
sessions on the internet, watch it unfold throughembraces the constant change in culture and
television coverage or actually feel it physically forcountry as every race weekend shifts to a new
yourself by attending a race.place. The sport makes a great - and so far very
After a Wednesday awakening, then a Thursdaysuccessful - effort to highlight the host country's
bustle with drivers and mechanics all over theculture, people and hospitality. Again, one can get
place settling into team preparations, and then thea feel for it sitting in front of the TV or following
Friday double practice sessions lasting all day andit through other forms media, but there is no
putting the race weekend into full swing; the maindoubt that you cannot match the experience of
events arrive with Saturday qualifying. That inactually going out there to a new country and
itself is full of thrills and spills, separating the bestimmersing yourself in the colour and vibrancy that
from the rest, and deciding the starting positionstakes over the place. Some of the more
on the grid for the following day's race. But thenenthusiastic countries even make the coming of
Sunday then arrives right at the height oftheir grand prix into a mass celebration that they
anticipation. All set and ready to go, the gruellingtake to their cities and not just local to the
continuous race lasting anything up to two hoursracetrack.
begins. Watching it on a television is a pleasurableBeginning with the now traditional glorious opening
experience if the coverage and commentary isof the season in Melbourne, Australia, through to
good. But tasting the air for yourself before,finishing with the marvellous carnival style finale in
during, and after the race is something no amountBrazil; a different racetrack, a different culture
of words could do justice.and different racing conditions - add the thrill of
Now don't be mistaken - this isn't a motor sportspeed, racing, technological precision, and just pure
where cars simply go round and round a circuit.sporting competition - and you are treated to 18
Unlike most motor sports, F1 makes the most ofintensely vibrant, adrenaline filled, all-consuming,
every competitive factor; from the characteristicsand not to mention star-studded, F1 race
of a track designed to challenge drivers' and cars'weekends that make up a season of great sport.
technical capacity and endurance, to the outwitting