The formula behind the fastest cars

There are 20 Grand Prix (grand prize in French) races in the 2012 season,where 24 drivers (two each from 12 teams) compete. The Airtel Indian Grand Prix is the 17th race this year,followed by Abu Dhabi,US and Brazil. Results of each race are combined in a points-based system,according to which the leading driver and team are awarded points at the end of the year. It’s an expensive affair; the biggest edge is with carmaker-backed teams such as Ferrari,Mercedes and McLaren,who have the support of a company’s entire R&D infrastructure.

What is a race like?

The F1 race weekend runs from Friday to the final race on Sunday. Two practice sessions on Friday are followed by another on Saturday to let drivers understand the track conditions. Saturday then has three qualifying runs that determine who starts from which position. The first qualifying session eliminates the slowest 7 drivers,followed by a second session where 7 more are eliminated. The 10 fastest drivers fight to start from pole position in the last qualifier.

What is the India connection?

One of the biggest and fastest-growing economies in the world,India’s success is believed to be critical for F1’s future. The expensive sport needs a large market in order to attract big-ticket sponsors and investments. With a single sport—cricket—dominating the mindspace of Indians,F1 organisers see immense potential in the country. The liquor baron Vijay Mallya-led Sahara Force India team was the first to put Brand India on the F1 map in 2008 and the team has been performing consistently ever since. Three years later,infrastructure major Jaypee Group brought F1 home with a dedicated race circuit it built in Greater Noida. Jaypee has an initial contract to hold the race for 5 years.

Two Indian drivers—Karun Chandhok and Narain Karthikeyan—have driven in F1 so far,though the 2012 season will only see Karthikeyan in the driver’s seat with Team HRT.

Who should you look out for?

Sebastian Vettel,Red Bull Racing: The 25-year-old,youngest-ever F1 champion will be looking for a hat-trick this year after clinching the driver’s title in 2010 and 2011. The German is leading this season as well,but Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso is close on his heels. Said to have started amateur karting at age 3 and first entered a competition at 8,Vettel’s consistent performance could make him the next motorsport legend.

Fernando Alonso,Scuderia Ferrari: With two driver’s championships under his belt (2005,2006),the Spaniard is a seasoned driver who has every chance to win the title this year as well. He started F1 early as well,at age 19,the same as Vettel.

Narain Karthikeyan,HRT: The homeboy will look to make this year’s Indian GP a memorable affair for his fans by scoring his first points for the season. He started in 2005 with Jordan and then was a Williams F1 test driver in 2006 and 2007. After a stint with stock car racing in the US,Karthikeyan returned to F1 with the HRT team in 2011,and has signed with them again for the 2012 season.

How competitive is F1?

From the days of complete dominance by Michael Schumacher and Ferrari from 2000 to 2004,F1 has undergone several changes to ensure competitiveness and make sure big-budgeted teams don’t have an unfair advantage. In 2005,the points system was changed,awarding more points to drivers lower down the order. Then,rules were put in place to limit the number of engines teams could use per season and the number of gearboxes they were allowed. Teams also mandatorily have to use two different types of tyres per race,thus ensuring at least one pit stop,with each pit stop changing the race dynamics. This season has Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso almost neck and neck going into the Indian Grand Prix.