F1 ฉบับเริ่มดู

What F1 is

Formula 1, or F1, is the fastest and most expensive single-seater, open-wheel racing series in the world. There are about 24 races a year in many countries, and each one is called a Grand Prix. The results of every race add up to two titles: the Drivers' Championship (the driver with the most points) and the Constructors' Championship (the team whose two drivers score the most points together).

Every team builds its own car to the same FIA rules, so no two cars are the same. That makes the car as important as the driver, which is why some years one team wins almost everything and other years the title goes down to the last race.

How a race weekend works

A normal weekend takes three days.

1. Friday: practice, FP1 and FP2. About 60 minutes each. Teams try set-ups and tyres and collect data.
2. Saturday: FP3, then qualifying. Qualifying sets the starting order for Sunday.
3. Sunday: the race. About 305 km (Monaco is shorter), and it must finish within two hours.

Qualifying: Q1, Q2, Q3

Qualifying has three parts. Everyone tries to set their fastest single lap, and the slowest cars in each part are knocked out and start near the back. With 22 cars from 2026, Q1 and Q2 each drop 6 cars, leaving the last 10 to fight for the top places in Q3. The fastest driver in Q3 takes pole position, the front of the grid.

Sprint weekends

At some tracks (about six a year) the weekend changes to the sprint format. There is only one practice session, then Sprint Qualifying and a Sprint race of about 100 km on Saturday, before normal qualifying for Sunday's main race. The Sprint pays the top 8: 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points.

How points work

Sunday's race pays the top 10.

The extra point for the fastest lap was dropped from 2025. If two drivers finish the season on the same points, the one with more wins is ahead, then more second places, and so on.

What the flags mean

• Green: the track is clear, race on.
• Yellow: danger ahead, slow down and no overtaking. Two yellows waved together means serious danger, be ready to stop.
• Red: the session is stopped and every car returns to the pit lane.
• Blue: a faster car is about to lap you; let it by.
• Yellow with red stripes: slippery track, such as oil or gravel.
• White: a slow vehicle on track, such as a medical car.
• Half black, half white: a warning for unsporting driving.
• Black with an orange circle: the car has a dangerous problem and must pit to fix it.
• Black: disqualified, leave the race.
• Chequered: the end of the session.

As well as flags, there is the Safety Car (SC), which leads the field at a slow pace after an accident, and the Virtual Safety Car (VSC), with no car in front but every driver held to a set slower pace.

Tyres and pit stops

Pirelli makes the tyres for every team. Each race weekend gets three dry compounds, marked by the colour on the sidewall.

• Red (soft): the most grip and the fastest, but wears quickly.
• Yellow (medium): in between.
• White (hard): slower but lasts longest.
• Green (intermediate): for a damp track.
• Blue (full wet): for heavy rain.

In a dry race every car must use at least two different dry compounds, so each driver has to pit at least once. The best crews change all four tyres in about two seconds. Choosing when to stop is called strategy, and it often decides a race more than overtaking on track does.

What changed in 2026

2026 brought the biggest rule change in years.

• New power units. Power is split close to half and half between the combustion engine and electric power, the electric motor is much stronger, the exhaust energy recovery unit (MGU-H) is gone, and the fuel is 100% sustainable.
• Active aerodynamics. The front and rear wings change angle: a low-drag mode on the straights for speed, a high-downforce mode for corners. The old DRS is gone.
• Overtake mode. A car close behind can use extra electric power for a short time, to make passing easier.
• Smaller, lighter cars. A shorter wheelbase, a narrower body and a lower minimum weight.
• 11 teams. Cadillac joined as a new team, and several teams changed engine supplier.

Words you will hear

How to start watching

• Start with highlights. A few minutes of race highlights teach you the drivers and teams quickly; then watch a full race.
• Pick someone to follow. Choosing a driver or team to cheer for makes it much more fun. Many Thai fans follow Alex Albon, who races under the Thai flag.
• Watch qualifying too. It is short, every second counts, and it tells you who has the advantage on Sunday.
• Check the Thai time. European races are usually in the evening or late at night in Thailand; Asian and Australian races are usually in the afternoon.
• Use an official channel. Who shows F1 in Thailand can change each year, so check the latest announcement before you watch.