The History of F1 Explained

F1 history is rewritten every year as drivers and teams break records, set new standards, and wow fans across the world. Formula One has come a long way since the inaugural seven-race World Championship in 1950. These days, it’s a 24-race global phenomenon and fans bet on F1 more than they ever have before.

But how much do you know about the sport? Bettors are always looking for an edge and knowing more about its history is all part of your research before you place those crucial bets.

This guide will walk you through the early history of Formula 1, reveal some weird and interesting facts about the sport, and point you in the right direction for placing your first F1 bet.

How Formula 1 began

To understand how F1 began, we need to understand the concept of “formulas”. Formulas in racing are sets of rules that govern how races are conducted and how cars are constructed.

The “formula” effectively ensures fair play among competitors. In 1946 the first formula was agreed, as teams and drivers from the pre-war World Manufacturers' Championship and European Drivers' Championship came together. Car racing was effectively put on hold during the Second World War but motor enthusiasts were keen to start up again as soon as the conflict ended.

The first season got underway in 1946 but there was no organised championship. The sport had to wait until 1950 for the World Championship of Drivers (as it was then known) to launch.

Four constructors fielded cars in the inaugural F1 season: Maserati, Alfa Romeo, ERA and Bugatti. By 1950 there were an eye-watering 30 teams.

The FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) had overseen and sanctioned motor racing since 1904 and continued to rule as the governing body for F1. The sport has maintained its premier formula throughout its history but the FIA has implemented wide-ranging changes over this time.

Italian Giuseppe Farina won the first official F1 Drivers' Championship in 1950, followed by Argentina's iconic Juan Manuel Fangio a year later. The Constructors' Championship didn't launch until 1958, when British team Vanwall topped the standings after an 11-race season.

Safety took a back seat in the early years of F1. Drivers had to accept the risk to life that came with racing cars. Marshalls have been used since the inaugural season but here are the dates that other safety precautions came into effect:

• Helmets | 1952 – Drivers wore cloth caps and goggles in the first two F1 seasons before cork helmets became mandatory in 1952. Carbon fibre helmets were introduced in 2001.
• Fire resistant clothing | 1975 – There is a serious risk of fire in F1 but it wasn't until 1975 that drivers were required to wear fire-resistant suits. Before that, they had to wear overalls but there was no requirement for them to be fire resistant.
• Seat | 1981 – Of course there were seats back in the 1940s when drivers first raced in Formula One but it wasn't until 1981 that these seats became "survival cells". An F1 seat effectively protects the driver and is made from 6mm ultra-strong carbon fibre and Kevlar. The seat is meant to be indestructible.
• Safety car | 1993 – Gf1 introduced a permanent safety car for all grands prix in the early 1990s to manage traffic and car speeds during incidents. The first safety car was used at the 1973 Canadian Grand Prix.
• Halo | 2018 – The halo is a ring that forms above the driver's helmet and effectively acts as a roll cage and barrier in case of flying debris. It was introduced after Jules Bianchi's death in 2014 following a crash.

Other safety upgrades include:

• Pitlane speed limit | 1994
• Barriers | 1994
• Driver headrest | 1996
• Accident data recorder | 1997
• Head and Neck Support (HANS) device | 2003
• Ban on refuelling | 2010
• Driver facing camera | 2016
• Biometric gloves (with fire protection) | 2018 (2021)

Past Formula 1 Winners and Champions

Here’s a list of the previous F1 world champions stretching back to the first championship in 1950.

As of 2024, Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher jointly hold the record for the most F1 world championships, with seven apiece. Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio won all five of his world titles in the 1950s, while Max Verstappen emulated Sebastian Vettel in winning four straight titles in the 2020s.

Standout F1 facts and statistics

Formula One is more than 75 years old, so it’s no surprise that some amazing stats and facts have emerged from the sport down the decades. From the first race to the latest F1 champions, here are some fun facts to impress your friends with.

Driver F1 facts

• German Ernst Loof holds the record for the shortest F1 career in history when he drove two metres before breaking down at the 1953 German Grand Prix
• In November 2024 Max Verstappen broke Michael Schumacher's old record of 896 consecutive days sitting atop the F1 championship standings
• Valtteri Bottas boasts the highest top speed in F1 history, having driven 234.9 mph on the long straight at the 2016 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
• Esteban Ocon (5) holds the unwanted record for the most driving penalties in a single race (2023 Austrian Grand Prix)
• Lewis Hamilton boasts the record for the most consecutive race starts in F1 history with 265 grands prix spanning from 2007 and 2020

Team F1 facts

• Ferrari is the only F1 constructor to field cars in more than 1000 grands prix (1098 as of 2025)
• Brawn boasts the highest win percentage of any constructor, with a 47.1% win rate from its single season in F1 (2009)
• Former British constructor Arrows holds the unfortunate record of the most F1 starts (383) without a race win
• As of 2025, Mercedes has the best one-two finish rate of any F1 team, at 18.9%
• In 2004 Ferrari set the most fastest laps ever in a single season, with 14 from 18 races (77.8%)

Grand Prix F1 facts

• The 1965 Italian Grand Prix at Monza was arguably the most exciting race of all time, with 41 overtakes for the lead
• Stirling Moss holds the record for the longest winning time in a grand prix of 5 min 12.75 seconds, set at the 1958 Portuguese Grand Prix
• There have been five grands prix to feature zero overtakes, including two in the 2021 F1 season (Monaco and Belgium)
• The 2005 Bahrain Grand Prix holds the record for the hottest air temperature at the start of a race, at 42.5c

How to bet on F1

Knowing the history of F1 is one of the best ways to get ahead of the game and improve your bet choices at the next grand prix. Bettors spend hours researching racetracks, drivers and teams, with the aim of getting an edge on the odds. You can bet on a multitude of F1 odds markets at BetMGM when signing up today. Here are the steps you need to follow:

• 1. Join BetMGM – First, head over to BetMGM or download the app, and click on the sports welcome offer to sign up. You’ll need to provide an email and create a password to get started.
• 2. Enter your details – Next, enter your personal details and complete ID verification to ensure you’re of gambling age and are permitted to bet on sport.
• 3. Make a deposit – After this, head to the deposit section of BetMGM and make a deposit. Remember to deposit the minimum amount required to trigger your welcome offer, if you want to take advantage of it.
• 4. Check out the F1 odds – Once your account is active, head to the BetMGM home page or main page on the app, and find the F1 odds in the sidebar. Take a look at the latest race odds, outright bets and specials.
• 5. Choose your odds – Find the odds you want to bet on and click on the price to open your bet slip. Enter your stake in the slip.
• 6. Place your bet – Finally, double check you’re happy with your stake and your potential rewards. Then hit ‘Place Bet’ to complete the process.

After this, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the race. You can also bet on F1 live via BetMGM and time your bets to perfection during the race!

Types of F1 bet

Here are the main types of F1 bet you can place at BetMGM:

• Race winners – A simple bet on who you think will win a grand prix. You can often spot likely F1 winners by looking at the qualifying results.
• Podium place – BetMGM offers odds next to the race winner odds on whether a driver will make the podium (finish first, second or third). These odds are shorter than the race winner odds but you have a greater chance of winning the bet.
• Fastest lap – Bet on which driver will record the fastest lap. It's not always the race leader who wins this.
• Pole position – Back a driver to win qualifying and start from pole position for the big race
• Sprint race – F1 has a series of Saturday sprint races dotted throughout the season and you can bet a driver to win these
• Drivers' Championship – Bet on the outright market of which driver will win the world title. Max Verstappen won the championship four seasons straight between 2021 and 2024
• Constructors' Championship – This battle is sometimes more competitive than the Drivers' Championship. In 2024 McLaren won the Constructors' Championship despite Red Bull's Verstappen winning the world title. Bet on the team, not the driver, you think will win the overall title

Wondering where to place your next bet? Check out our F1 betting tips page for the latest ahead of the next grand prix.