How lengthy is an F1 race? Laps, time, distance defined

Formulation 1 followers will discover that each grand prix lasts each a special variety of laps and size of time, which makes it not like another motor racing classes on this planet.

It’s because the sequence runs to a particular distance reasonably than period of time – just like the Le Mans 24 Hours, 12 Hours of Sebring and extra – because of the varied circuits its calendar holds. That is to make sure each race is roughly the identical size, as a result of 70 laps round Silverstone may take double that of 70 laps in Montreal.

So as a substitute of a clock within the nook of the stay feed, it’s a lap depend to inform followers how shut the race is to ending.

Many various elements due to this fact contribute to how lengthy an F1 grand prix is as some have taken shut to 5 hours to complete whereas others are finished in simply over 60 minutes. So right here is the whole lot to know in regards to the guidelines round race size, controversy that has occurred over time and extra.

F1 race weekend format

Earlier than figuring out about how lengthy an F1 grand prix is, it is very important first be clear in regards to the weekend’s format and what comes earlier than the race.

For a conventional weekend the sequence begins with two, one-hour observe periods on a Friday. It offers groups a very good likelihood to run completely different automotive set-ups, full testing programmes, check out upgrades and if it’s a new observe – like Las Vegas in 2023 – then Friday is a chance to study extra in regards to the circuit.

There’s then a 3rd and closing observe session on Saturday and that is a chance for groups to begin testing their one-lap tempo forward of qualifying later within the day, which determines the grid for Sunday’s grand prix.

Nevertheless, 2021 noticed the introduction of the dash race format. This occurs on choose weekends within the 12 months and over 2023 there have been six: Austin, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil and Qatar. This was introduced in as an alternative choice to the standard weekend, as there’s racing on Saturday and Sunday.

So on a 2023 dash weekend, a observe periods begins issues on Friday however that’s the solely observe session of the weekend. What follows on Friday is qualifying for Sunday’s grand prix, with dash qualifying after which the dash race on Saturday.

What number of laps are there in an F1 race?

Each F1 race has a special variety of laps as a result of the minimal size of a grand prix is 190 miles (305 kilometres) so they’re given the scheduled variety of excursions it takes to roughly attain that mark.

This implies grands prix on smaller tracks have extra laps than these on larger ones – for instance Zandvoort is just 2.6 miles (4.259km) in size which is nearly half that of Spa-Francorchamps. In consequence, the Dutch Grand Prix is 72 laps whereas the Belgian GP is simply 44, but drivers full the identical race distance at each occasions.

Nevertheless, there’s an exception to this rule and that’s Monaco whose minimal race distance is 160 miles (257km). Whereas it’s the calendar’s smallest circuit at simply over two miles (3.337km), additionally it is a gradual lap as Max Verstappen’s common pace when he gained the 2021 race was 98mph in comparison with 179mph for his victory in Bahrain, which additionally had a security automotive and due to this fact impacted the general complete.

This meant a number of years in the past when F1 automobiles have been slower than they’re as we speak, it was powerful to finish 190 miles round Monaco whereas working to the two-hour time restrict grands prix are given.

Monaco additionally has essentially the most variety of laps (78) of any circuit, but drivers are nonetheless solely finishing 160 miles which additional highlights why it must run to a decrease minimal distance.

Dash races are actually an element as nicely. This can be a 62-mile (99.8km) sprint which primarily makes it a shortened model of the Sunday race, with roughly a 3rd of the factors being awarded.

Identical to the grand prix, dash races can fluctuate within the variety of laps relying on the circuit. There have been simply 11 for the dash race at Spa in 2023, versus 24 laps on the Purple Bull Ring with Baku (17), Circuit of the Americas (19), Losail (19) and Interlagos (24) differing as nicely.

Scheduled distance of each F1 grand prix in 2024

How lengthy does an F1 race take?

Though every race has a scheduled variety of laps, it’s nonetheless towards a clock to get the complete distance finished.

That’s as a result of F1 has two hours to finish the scheduled distance from lights out, however for differing elements whether or not it’s a number of security automobiles, gradual laps and so on, generally it can’t be accomplished throughout the time restrict. Subsequently, if a race hits two hours then the grand prix finishes on the finish of the following full lap no matter what number of excursions have been accomplished.

Picture by: Patrick Vinet / Motorsport Photographs

A marshal waves the purple flag

As well as, that two hours is just given for observe time but the race may come to a halt due to a purple flag. Subsequently, in case of such F1 has a three-hour window to get two hours of observe time accomplished from the second the grand prix has formally begun.

However often, races attain the scheduled distance with out coming near the time restrict. As seen under, the grands prix in 2023 have roughly taken 90 minutes for the race winner to take the chequered flag.

*Complete time consists of any stoppages

Picture by: Jake Grant / Motorsport Photographs

Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing RB19, 1st place, leads Sir Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W14, 2nd place, because the chequered flag is waved

This rule was carried out after the controversial, rain-hit 2021 Belgian GP which was merely a two-lap procession behind the protection automotive as situations have been deemed unsafe to race in. Regardless of no precise racing laps being accomplished underneath inexperienced flag situations, all F1 wanted on the time was no less than two excursions behind a security automotive for half factors to be awarded.

It put the sequence underneath the cosh as a result of some accused F1 of simply making an attempt to get to that two-lap minimal earlier than awarding factors, as a substitute of discovering different alternate options in order that followers may truly watch some racing. It was due to this fact laborious for some to name it a ‘race’, regardless of a major chunk of factors being awarded.

Picture by: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Photographs

The automobiles beneath marquees throughout the purple flag interval

What’s the longest race in F1 historical past?

The well-known 2011 Canadian GP holds the report for being the longest F1 race in historical past at 4h04m39.537s. That day Montreal was hit by heavy rainfall and it was that unhealthy the race needed to begin underneath a security automotive.

Inexperienced flag situations didn’t arrive till 5 laps in the place Sebastian Vettel led the grand prix however Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber collided at Flip 1 of their battle for fourth. It price each drivers a number of positions and on lap seven when trying to climb again up the order, Hamilton was put into the pitwall by then McLaren team-mate Jenson Button as visibility proved powerful, and the 2009 world champion couldn’t see him coming by means of.

This triggered one other security automotive interval and Button used it as a chance to modify to intermediate tyres with situations enhancing. Nevertheless it was not so easy for the McLaren driver as he was first given a drive-through penalty for dashing behind the protection automotive, earlier than heavier rain quickly fell which means he needed to change again to full wets.

The rain turned tougher and by lap 19 one other security automotive interval was known as, earlier than the grand prix bought red-flagged six excursions later due to the situations. It was then suspended for simply over two hours till the climate started to enhance once more.

One other security automotive interval led the primary eight laps after the restart, however inexperienced flag situations solely lasted one tour. It’s because the protection automotive was as soon as once more required as Fernando Alonso collided with Button at Flip 3 which left a puncture on the McLaren however the Ferrari automotive within the wall.

Button due to this fact pitted and was down in twenty first when the race restarted three excursions afterward lap 40. However upon the restart, Button together with his brisker tyres coped with the situations significantly better than others as he quickly progressed by means of the order and was 14th by lap 44.

From this level on the race was uninterrupted and Button in the end claimed essentially the most unlikely of victories, after Vettel ran vast at Flip 6 on the ultimate lap to present the McLaren driver the race lead. Button subsequently took the chequered flag after a report six security automotive intervals and a purple flag interval.

The 2011 Canadian GP additionally belongs to the record of F1 information that can by no means be damaged. Within the aftermath, F1 launched a four-hour time restrict for grands prix to be accomplished – later lowered to a few for 2021 – which means no race can exceed that of Montreal in 2011.

Picture by: Erik Junius

The 2021 Belgian GP is F1’s shortest ever race

What’s the shortest race in F1 historical past?

The 2021 Belgian GP holds the report for the shortest F1 race in historical past at 3m27.071s, which triggered Hamilton to say followers have been “robbed” of a grand prix.

After over three hours of delays and suspended begins, the protection automotive lastly led drivers out of the pitlane which formally commenced the race. Two laps have been accomplished behind the protection automotive earlier than the race bought suspended throughout a 3rd lap and to not be resumed, which handed victory to Verstappen.