\ud83c\udfce How it works<\/h3>\n
F1<\/strong> is the most elite level<\/strong> of car racing in the world. While NASCAR enthusiasts may disagree, comparing the two is like apples to oranges. If NASCAR were a marathon, F1 would be a sprint. A sleek, glorious, international sprint.<\/p>\n F1 drivers usually get their start<\/strong> in go-karting at a pretty young age (we\u2019re talking grade school) and then work their way up through various feeder systems to reach the top.<\/p>\n The F1 season runs<\/strong> from March to November, with somewhere north of 20 races \u2014 each called a Grand Prix \u2014 held across five continents. Drivers usually practice on Friday, qualify for starting positions on Saturday and race on Sunday.<\/p>\n SOURCE: MOHD RASFAN\/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The \u201cformula\u201d in Formula One <\/strong>refers to an FIA-mandated<\/a> set of rules that all teams must follow when constructing their cars, and teams employ hundreds of engineers and mechanics to make their two cars the best they can be while also satisfying the requirements.<\/p>\n But, plot twist <\/strong>\u2014\u00a0F1 introduced new technical regulations last season<\/a>, which ushered in all-new designs. For the 2023 season, cars are expected to be slightly different in <\/a>\u201cmicro-areas<\/a>\u201d as more changes to the technical regulations were announced.<\/p>\n SOURCE: FORMULA ONE<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Driving an F1 car isn\u2019t as easy as it looks.<\/strong> Vehicles can hit a max speed of about 360km\/h or 223 mph<\/a>, which means that throughout an approximately 90-minute race, drivers endure G-forces similar to what astronauts experience in a rocket launch.<\/p>\n Drivers must have<\/strong> particular body attributes and skills to fit the F1 mold: slim but muscular, not too tall, ridiculously strong necks<\/a> and insanely quick reflexes<\/a>. Because of that, F1 drivers have one of the weirdest training regimens<\/a> in sports. It\u2019s not for the faint of heart<\/a>.<\/p>\n SOURCE: GIUSEPPE CACACE\/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Max Verstappen, Red Bull: <\/strong>Fresh off his second consecutive World Drivers\u2019 Championship, Dutch superstar Verstappen is no doubt the driver to beat once again. But his actions over the years<\/a>, still have many rooting against him.<\/p>\n Sergio \u201cCheco\u201d P\u00e9rez, Red Bull: <\/strong>Verstappen\u2019s teammate finished close behind in third last season, putting a target on Red Bull\u2019s back entering this year\u2019s slate. Nicknamed \u201cMexico\u2019s Minister of Defense<\/a>,\u201d for being a good teammate to Verstappen, don\u2019t be surprised to see P\u00e9rez top some podiums this season.<\/p>\n Charles Leclerc, Ferrari: <\/strong>The face of arguably the most famous team in F1, Leclerc lived up to the hype, finishing second last season. He was born and raised in Monte Carlo, Monaco \u2014 the site of F1\u2019s most popular race \u2014 and the sport has been a part of the 25-year-old\u2019s life from an early age.<\/p>\n Sir Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes: <\/strong>One of the most well-known names in F1, the Brit had a disappointing 2022 as the seven-time World Champion (tied for the most of any driver) failed to secure any wins or pole position<\/a> finishes.<\/p>\n Oscar Piastri, McLaren: <\/strong>The Australian rookie certainly made his mark<\/a> after dramatically switching to McLaren from Alpine, where he was a reserve driver in 2022. Time will tell if the young buck can leave an impression on the track, too.<\/p>\n Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo: <\/strong>The first full-time Chinese F1 driver in history, Zhou Guanyu had a solid rookie season last year. Now the 23-year-old will be looking to beat the sophomore slump and notch his first win.<\/p>\n SOURCE: MARK THOMPSON\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Lance Stroll, Aston Martin: <\/strong>After years without much red and white representation on the grid, <\/strong>the 24-year-old has been putting the SOURCE: FORMULA ONE<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Qualifying (aka how the race order is decided) is set for today at 10 a.m. ET <\/strong>and then the real fun <\/strong>begins with tomorrow\u2019s 10 a.m. ET Bahrain Grand Prix <\/strong>(airing on ESPN in the U.S., TSN4 in Canada), the first of 23 races this season<\/a>. It\u2019s lights out and away we go.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\u2699\ufe0f The engineering<\/h3>\n
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\ud83d\udcaa The athletics<\/h3>\n
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\ud83e\udd29 Names to know<\/h3>\n
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\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 The Canadian<\/h3>\n
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team<\/del> country on his back. In 2017, Stroll became the first Canadian to reach the podium<\/a> since Jacques Villeneuve in 2001. Magnifique.<\/em><\/p>\n\ud83d\udcfa How to tune in<\/h3>\n
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