Formula 1 was inaugurated for the first time in 1950 and has been entertaining gearheads for the last six decades. For those who know nothing about the racing sport, a typical Formula 1 season is composed of a series of races that are commonly referred to as the "Grand Prix." This series of races are held in different parts of the world on public and circuit roads. The winners are evaluated using a point-based system that determines the best constructors and drivers during the course of the season.

Updated April 2022: With the 2022 season of Formula 1 races already in full swing, we've updated this list to include even more unique facts about the world's most popular motorsport competition every fan should know.

The traditional base for the Formula 1 sport is in Europe, but it has a global appeal and is particularly huge in the United States. The cars are costly to build, and there's a lot of money that's involved in Formula 1. Ferrari, as a constructor, has enjoyed success in Formula 1 by winning six consecutive titles. Mercedes is trying to catch up with the record, but it will be an uphill task if competition is anything to go by.

There are some little-known facts that only a true Formula 1 fanatic would have at their fingertips. These facts are fascinating, even for a person who doesn't follow the sport.

Related: These Are The Best-Paid Drivers In Formula 1 Right Now

22 Formula 1 Got Its Start After WWII

1950 Alfa Romeo 158 Alfetta
Via Wikimedia Commons:Nationaal Archief

While the first auto races took place well before WWII, Formula 1 didn't officially begin until 1946. The first race took place in Turin, Italy, at Valentino Park, where a driver in an Alfa Romeo 158 would take first place. That driver, Achille Varzi, made this race part of his fantastic comeback after his drug-fueled past.

Though the first race took place in 1946, the first world championship wouldn't be until 1950. During the championship race on May 13th, 14 teams and several independent drivers took to the track, with Giuseppe Farina taking home the victory.

21 Formula 1Teams Have Up To 600 Members

Carlos Sainz With The Redbull Formula 1 Team
Via: Pinterest

Formula 1 teams may seem like a tight-knit group from the crew pit, the chief, and the driver, but the reality is that Formula 1 teams have many more crew members than just that small group.

In fact, most of the team members work behind the scenes to ensure a successful race. For example, engineers must work to improve the performance of each component of the vehicle constantly. Plus, PR people, managers, and reserve drivers round out the team.

20 Formula 1 Cars Have 25 Buttons On The Steering Wheel

Formula 1 Steering Wheel Via wikimedia Commons:Interiot SamH
Via wikimedia Commons:Interiot SamH

If you think your modern steering wheel is complicated, the Formula 1 drivers have it worse. Their steering wheels can have upwards of 25 buttons on them. Each button and switch controls every aspect of the car, allowing the driver ultimate control. It is even said the wrong button can cost a race.

To put it into perspective, some buttons change the way the brakes function, allowing for the balance to be shifted in split-second situations. These changes can allow the car to perform differently from corner to corner. Talk about control!

19 Formula 1 Cars Accelerate From 0 To 100 MPH And Hit Back To Zero Within 4 Seconds

Alpine A
Via Lukas Raich / Wikipedia

Imagine accelerating to 100 mph and returning to zero in just 4 seconds. You might not survive if you have a heart condition. The effect is like feeling your body being squeezed with an invisible force. Breath control is essential in such a situation, and F1 drivers have to go through several drills to prepare for G-Force.

Formula 1 cars are capable of such a record because they have to abruptly brake when they approach corners and then accelerate immediately, as it's a game of speed and time. Stamina and overall physical fitness come into play when the drivers are experiencing the force.

18 Average Basic Cost Of An F1 Car Is $12 Million Without Basic Components

Haas Team Celebrate P5 With Magnussen Bahrain 2022 After The Race
via Haas F1 Team Media

Formula 1 racing isn't for everyone, and you'll need to have the backing of a multi-billion dollar company to participate. The average cost of a Formula 1 car is $12.2 million, and that's when some components haven't been factored in. It even gets worse if the racecar is involved in a crash, as it can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair it.

The main participants also spend around $320 million a year on their cars which isn't cheap. Team cars can consume up to 200,000 liters per year, which runs at the cost of $450,000. The engine has to be the highest cost because it can only be used in 5 races.

17 Brake Discs Can Reach 1,000 Degrees Centigrade

01 Disk Brakes
Via: wheelwell.com

Formula 1 racecar brake discs are made from indestructible carbon fiber. According to Askmen, the brake discs can reach up to 1,000 degrees centigrade. This high temp is the same temperature as molten lava. Extreme braking situations produce such a great force that the tear ducts of the driver squirt water.

The brake discs have seen numerous improvements over the years, and engineers are going past the boundaries of what was seen as impossible just a decade ago. In 2016, Formula 1 attempted to make 1,200 holes in a single brake disc. The holes are meant to cool the air, as they can get sweltering. F1 brake discs used to have just about 100 holes a couple of years ago.

16 Engine Can't Be Turned When It's Cold

Cooper T81 blue No. 32 side view
Via: Wordpoint.com

According to F1Technical, it's nearly impossible to turn an F1 engine when it's cold and has already been tuned. It'll be impossible to turn the engine because of the high tolerance level of the racecar. The engine is usually preheated before being fired up. This mechanism would require that there's an external heater pump.

The gearbox also needs to be on par with the operating temperatures, even before the first gear is engaged. This drawback is one of the reasons why it would be impossible to put a Formula 1 engine in an average car. It would always be a challenge to start the vehicle because of the preheating engineering.

15 Revs Up To 15,000 RPM While Normal Vehicles Go Only Up To 6,000 RPM

F1 Starting grid
via 3OneSeven

The naturally aspirated engines for Formula 1 cars haven't changed over the years and have been consistent with the output. A typical vehicle can achieve up to 6,000 RPM, while a Formula 1 racecar can achieve twice as much. This is made possible because of the power that's produced by the engine.

Before the 1980s, most Formula 1 engines were limited to 12,000 RPM because the valves were closed with metal springs. They were replaced by Pneumatic valve springs from Renault, which naturally had a high rising rate. Almost every Formula 1 race car is manufactured with the same technique, enabling them to achieve up to 20,000 RPM.

Related: 15 Formula 1 Cars That Destroyed The Competition

14 Each Car Has 80,000 Assembled Components

RedBulls Formula 1 Cars Engine
Via: Formula1.com

Every piece of engineering has a function and has been well-thought-out to the last detail. According to Sky Sports, the average Formula 1 race car comprises more than 80k components. These components need to be pieced together with a high level of accuracy for the Formula 1 car to perform to the highest standards.

A Formula 1 car might look simple to an outsider, but it takes a lot of work and resources to come up with one. There's a 99.9 percent requirement that the components have to be fixed with accuracy if the racecar performs to its optimum. There's no margin for error when it comes to Formula 1 vehicles.

13 The Crew Can Change Tires And Refuel In 3 Seconds

Red Bull Pit stop
essentiallysports.com

Imagine how long it would take you to change all the tires on your car and refuel it. Probably 2 hours? According to Motorsports.com, the average F1 crew takes about 3.0 seconds to change the tires. This time is essential because constructors are also gauged at the end of the season.

For the driver, it means he'll focus more on time to complete the race. The fastest tire-change record was broken in 2016 when Massa's pit crew changed the tires in 1.92 seconds. They beat Red Bull, who had held the record at 2.05 seconds. Try looking up the video on YouTube. It doesn't seem to take even a second to the naked eye.

12 F1 Engine Lifespan Is Less Than 7 Races

Honda F1 V12
Via Pinterest

The engine of a Formula 1 race car isn't that of a typical one found in a Toyota that can give you 200,000 miles without a sweat. According to F1Technical, a typical Formula 1 engine can't last more than seven races. The participants set aside a sizable budget just for the development of the engine.

The tolerance and the capabilities of the F1 engines are on another level. They're engineered to get the best out of them, even if it means functioning just for a few hours. The high level of precision that goes into building the engines means they're more subject to wear and tear. A good question to ask yourself is why F1 cars with such small engines can produce over 800 HP?

11 The Weight Of A Formula 1 Car Mustn't Be Under 728 KG Without Fuel

Ferraris 2022 f1-75 Formula 1 Car On Track
Via: Formula1.Com

The 728 KG permissible weight includes the driver but not when the car has fuel. A significant majority of Formula 1 cars are made from composite carbon fiber, making them very light.

The 728 KG threshold is also when the F1 cars are already fitted with dry-weather tires. Before 2014, most cars couldn't meet this requirement and had to add ballast to make up the difference. Ballast was the ideal choice to be used because it could easily be fitted into any part of the racecar, which is integral in linear weight distribution. This weight, in turn, lowers the center of gravity of the car for better stability on the track.

10 The Average Driver Loses 3kg In One Race

Alex Albon and Max Verstappen
Via: Red Bull

This fact could be seen as the perfect way to lose weight for someone who loves cars. The unfortunate reality is not everyone can drive a Formula 1 race car, even if you can afford to take it for a ride. The main reason why Formula 1 drivers lose up to 10 lbs is the unbearable temperatures in the cockpit.

Temperatures can reach up to 110 degrees in the cockpit. A Formula 1 driver has to wear two different sets of clothing. The first one is a fireproof suit, just in case the race car catches fire, while the other is the regular racing suit. The physical impact of the G-Force also affects weight loss.

9 A Driver Loses 3 Liters During A Race

Alex Albon In The RedBull Formula 1 Car Cockpit
Via: Formula1.Com

This water loss is also because of the temperature levels in the cockpit. According to Telegraph, the average F1 is equipped with 1.5 liters of water in the car, which is hooked to the helmet. This, in most cases, isn't enough to keep the drivers hydrated for long enough. One can't help but wonder how the drivers manage to race for 2 hours straight without taking breaks.

F1 drivers don't like racing in hot temperatures. The Singapore circuit is one of the toughest globally because temperatures can reach up to 100 degrees with 70% humidity. You can just imagine the temperature in the cockpit! It takes a lot of endurance and physical fitness to be a Formula racecar driver.

8 Tires Lose 0.5 KGs During A Race

Pirelli F1 Tires
Via: FIA

It's not only the drivers affected when it comes to weight loss. According to Mydriftfun, Formula 1 car tires lose 1.5 lbs during the race. This loss is because of the wear and tear from the high speed and the abrupt breaking. The G-Force doesn't spare the tires.

A good Formula 1 car with bad tires doesn't stand a chance when it comes to competition. The leading supplier of Formula 1 tires is Pirelli, famous for its dry-weather components. A typical road tire could last over 10k miles, but an F1 tire can manage only 74 miles, which also depends on the elements used.

7 A Driver Can Survive The Impact of 100 MPH To Standstill In 2 Seconds

Michael Schumacher F1 Abu Dhabi crash
Via: Getty Images

Formula 1 cars aren't all about speed and performance. They're one of the safest cars in the world. There have been a lot of F1 crashes over the years, and a good number of them haven't been anywhere near-fatal. The vehicles are also horribly uncomfortable, and it takes a lot of endurance to race for hours without being fatigued.

According to Wired, an F1 driver can survive an impact that involves the car going from 100 mph to a standstill in 2 seconds. There are hundreds of safety regulations that a vehicle has to pass for it to be eligible for Formula 1 racing. The driver's cockpit should be protected as much as possible.

Related: Formula 1: 5 Best Tracks & 5 That Fans (And Drivers) Hate

6 Helmet Among The Toughest In The World

Michael Schumacher Helmet on
Via michael-schumacher.de

According to Formula1, the most prominent injury threat involves head and neck trauma. Formula 1 has tried to mitigate this kind of injury by setting very high standards with the drivers' helmets. The first condition is that a Formula 1 Helmet must be extremely light.

This development presents the challenge of coming up with a product that can also be as tough as it needs to be. To ensure that the helmets meet the strict requirements, they have to undergo a couple of fragmentation and deformation tests. Carbon fiber is the primary material used to make Formula 1 helmets because of its robustness. The outer shell consists of two layers, with carbon fiber making most of the material.

5 Three People Named "Hill" Have Won The World Championship

Graham Hills
Via Race Fans

The "Hill" name is synonymous with success in Formula 1. The world championship is a coveted prize, and that's why teams spend millions of dollars trying to capture it.

There have been three different people named "Hill" who have won the Formula 1 World Championship. The most famous of them all has to be Graham Hill, who changed the narrative of the sport. He's among one of the oldest people to win a World Championship, as he did so at the age of 36. He's won the title twice and was even featured in the movie Grand Prix, which I would highly recommend if you love Formula 1. He embodies the sport in his lifestyle and everything he does.

4 52 Drivers Have Lost Their Lives Racing

Jules Bianchi F1 crash
Via: Getty Images

As much as Formula 1 cars are among the safest in the world, there are some calamities drivers can't avoid. There have been a total of 52 recorded deaths as a result of Formula 1 car accidents. The oldest driver to have died was 50-year-old Chet Miller, while the youngest was Ricardo Rodriguez, who was 20.

The accidents have led to stricter safety measures. There were no accidents between 1994 and 2015, and the latest one involved Jules Bianchi after he was in a coma for more than nine months. The 2000s is the only decade in the history of Formula 1 where there were no deaths. We hope there will be no more tragic fatalities in the sport as safety continues to improve.

3 Only 1 Female Driver Has Managed To Score A Point

Lella Lombardi
Via sport.de

Formula 1 is predominantly a male-dominated sport, and there haven't been a lot of women involved. There have been a few Formula 1 female drivers in the past, but many of them didn't have the necessary talent to compete at the highest level. The most successful driver was named Lella Lombardi.

She had a 3-year career in which she drove for Williams, March, and RAM F2 teams. She managed to qualify for a total of 12 out of the 17 races she participated in. She scored half a point in the 1975 Spanish GP, a feat that no other female has been able to achieve up to today.