How many of you have ever been to or seen a Formula One race event? Unfortunately, not many of us will experience the thrill and high sensory events crowned the Formula One. Formula One (or F1) is defined as "the highest class of open-wheeled auto racing" by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the leading motorsport's world governing body. The word "formula" refers to a set of rules to which all participants and vehicles must conform. Maybe something more recognizable would be the name "Grand Prix," which stands for the F1 championship race, a phenomenal race held on built circuits, and in some extra-exciting cases on closed city streets! Imagine the top expert drivers from around the world, paired with the most technologically advanced racing cars on the planet, meeting for the ultimate goal of winning. There are two different annual leagues in this event, for the drivers (World Drivers Championship) and the vehicles' constructors (Worlds Constructors Championships). Winning one of these titles is one of the highest honors in the automotive world. 

The team at Bristow's is indeed slightly car-obsessed, and we wanted to share some love and knowledge about F1 racing with you, our loyal customers. So let's go through three of the top F1 racing tracks that are active today to gain a sense of the sport—beginning with perhaps the most recognizable racetrack- the Monaco Grand Prix. 

Monaco Grand Prix

The iconic and timeless event, the Monaco Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco), has been the auto racing destination since its birth in 1929. And the best part? This prestigious track and course have remained the same ever since. The race consists of a narrow path laid out in the streets of Monaco, with many elevation changes and tight corners as well as a tunnel, making it one of the most demanding tracks in Formula One. Given the royal family of Monaco attending and overseen by the past three generations of Monaco's royal family, this specific Prix has been crowned the Royalty of Auto Racing. 

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada

This Canadian circuit has been home to the Canadian Grand Prix for the past three decades! That alone speaks immense volume. The official F1 racing site describes this circuit as unique and complete with an unconventional setting. It includes an "unorthodox design that includes a hairpin, two straights, two sharp turns, and a serpentine curve that has resulted in numerous crashes and accidents." Due to the frequent number of crashes, one can imagine the importance of brakes. Given that this track is packed with stop-starts, the vehicle's anchors are hard at work. The entire city of Montreal and its residents, the Montrealais, fully embrace their Grand Prix weekend. The quaint and charming city turns itself into the ultimate F1-loving party town as the countdown to the race begins. Mother Nature herself turns up for this Grand Prix, with the greenery surrounding the city in full bloom; it makes this setting magical. 

Marina Bay- Singapore 

In 2008 the Marina Bay track had the honor to host the first-ever night-time race in F1 history. Imagine the famous skyline of the city as the background for the first-ever night race. Magical. The Marina Bay Grand Prix – the 15th round of that season – proved a massive hit with the teams and drivers, while Renault's Fernando Alonso claimed a controversial victory. It notes that this specific course (5.063km) is one of the most physically demanding courses of the season. Marina Bay comes with plenty of bumpy street surfaces, and then adding in the Singapore humidity is a challenging combination. On the course, there are 23 tight corners to navigate through, giving the wheels a workout. The circuit also boasts a unique feature called the Turn 18, which sees the drivers pass underneath a grandstand! Imagine the race cars right below your feet! 

We hope our enthusiasm and love for F1 racing were conveyed in this blog for you! Take the time to learn more about what the art of racing consists of, and we would love to know what you find! On that "fast" note (see what we did there), the entire team at Bristow's Auto Repair is here for all your summer vehicle needs. We specialize in BMW and Porsche service and repair and would love for you to make your check-up appointment with some of our most qualified auto mechanics in the Tacoma region today. With our two-year, 24,000-mile warranty, your vehicle is in the best hands. Please make your appointment with us today!

We look forward to seeing you soon & cheers to summer!