F1

Formula One, also referred to as Formula 1 or F1, is often called the "pinnacle of motorsport," and it's one of the oldest racing competitions in the world.

Founded back in 1950, Formula One immediately attracted many fans of fast-paced action, the smell of petrol, and drama-filled races. Despite many drivers previously competing in the "Grand Prix motor racing" series, the Formula One World Championship was first held only in 1950.

The first-ever race was held at the famous Silverstone Circuit in Silverstone, Great Britain, in the oldest race in F1 calendar, the British Grand Prix, which, along with the Italian Grand Prix, which was the seventh and the last race of the 1950 season, is the one of two races held every single season since the Formula One World Championship inception.

Over the years, the competition, which is sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), underwent many regulation changes, which saw the sport shape into how we know it today. And while rules, regulations, and cars changed over the years, some things remained the same.

Scuderia Ferrari is the team that has competed in every single Formula One season, completing over 1000 races. Some of the teams that have their names directly tied to Formula One are also McLaren, named after former driver Bruce McLaren, and Williams, named after former driver Frank Williams. These two teams are the only other teams that have completed over 750 races in F1.

Naturally, these three teams are also among the teams with the most victories, but two more teams from the current grid joined them on that list, as despite not having so many race starts, Red Bull Racing and Mercedes have both had significant periods of dominance in the sport.

But Formula 1 isn't only about teams' achievements but also personal achievements. Some of the most recognized figures in the sport are Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, and two men with seven World Drivers' Championships, Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton.

Yet, the phenom of the 2020s has been Dutch driver Max Verstappen, who is also the youngest driver to ever start a race in a record that may never be broken due to a rule that prevents drivers to compete in a Formula 1 race before being 18. Verstappen completed his first race at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix when he was only 17 years and 166 days old.