Glossary

Every term the commentators use, in plain English. Each links to the lesson that explains it properly.

40 of 40 terms

107% rule: A driver slower than 107% of the fastest Q1 time may not start the race unless the stewards allow it. Learn more in “Qualifying, explained” →
Aerodynamic testing restrictions: Wind-tunnel and simulation time allocated on a sliding scale: the lower a team finished, the more it may test. Learn more in “The cost cap and the development race” →
Blue flag: Shown to a driver about to be lapped: let the faster car through. Learn more in “Flags, safety cars and red flags” →
Boost: A button giving the driver manual control of energy deployment anywhere on the lap, to attack or defend. Learn more in “Overtaking in 2026: Straight Mode, Overtake Mode and Boost” →
Compound: The rubber mix of a tyre, from the hard C1 to the soft C5. Three are chosen for each race and labelled hard, medium and soft. Learn more in “Understanding tyres” →
Constructor: A team that designs and builds its own car. The Constructors’ Championship adds up both of its drivers’ points. Learn more in “What Formula 1 actually is” →
Corner Mode: The default active aero setting with wing flaps closed for maximum downforce. Learn more in “Aerodynamics and active aero” →
Cost cap: The annual limit on what a team may spend on its car: $215 million in 2026, with driver pay excluded. Learn more in “The cost cap and the development race” →
Countback: How ties on points are broken: most wins, then most second places, and so on down the order. Learn more in “Points and championships” →
Degradation: The loss of tyre performance through wear and heat over a stint. When it suddenly accelerates, that is the cliff. Learn more in “Understanding tyres” →
Dirty air: The turbulent wake behind a car, which costs a following car downforce and overheats its tyres. Learn more in “Aerodynamics and active aero” →
DNF: Did Not Finish. The car retired from the race. A driver who covers enough distance can still be classified despite retiring. Learn more in “Points and championships” →
Downforce: Aerodynamic force pressing the car onto the track so the tyres can grip harder in corners. Learn more in “Aerodynamics and active aero” →
Drive-through: A penalty served by driving through the pit lane at the speed limit without stopping. Learn more in “Penalties and the stewards” →
DRS: Drag Reduction System, 2011-2025: a rear-wing flap that opened for a car within a second of the one ahead. Replaced in 2026 by Straight Mode and Overtake Mode. Learn more in “Overtaking in 2026: Straight Mode, Overtake Mode and Boost” →
Formation lap: The slow lap before the start that warms tyres and brakes, after which the cars line up on the grid. Learn more in “How to watch a race” →
Gap and interval: Gap is the time to the race leader. Interval is the time to the car directly ahead. Learn more in “How to watch a race” →
Grid penalty: A drop of a set number of places on the starting grid, often for exceeding the power unit component allocation. Learn more in “Penalties and the stewards” →
Lift and coast: Lifting off the throttle before the braking point to save fuel, cool the brakes or recharge the battery. Learn more in “Overtaking in 2026: Straight Mode, Overtake Mode and Boost” →
MGU-H: Motor Generator Unit - Heat. Recovered energy from exhaust gases via the turbo, 2014-2025. Removed for 2026. Learn more in “The 2026 power unit” →
MGU-K: Motor Generator Unit - Kinetic. Recovers energy under braking and drives the rear wheels. 350 kW in 2026. Learn more in “The 2026 power unit” →
Overcut: Staying out longer than a rival and using clear air to build enough time to come out ahead after your own stop. Learn more in “Pit stops and strategy” →
Overtake Mode: Extra electrical energy and power for the next lap, unlocked by being within one second of the car ahead at the detection point. Replaced DRS. Learn more in “Overtaking in 2026: Straight Mode, Overtake Mode and Boost” →
Parc fermé: The period, from qualifying onward, when teams may no longer change a car’s set-up beyond a short list of permitted adjustments. Learn more in “How a race weekend works” →
Pit window: The range of laps in which a stop makes strategic sense, given tyre wear and the gaps around a driver. Learn more in “Pit stops and strategy” →
Pole position: First place on the starting grid, earned by the fastest time in Q3. Learn more in “Qualifying, explained” →
Power unit: The whole propulsion system: combustion engine, turbocharger, MGU-K, battery and control electronics. Learn more in “The 2026 power unit” →
Red flag: The session is stopped and cars return to the pit lane. Tyres may be changed before a restart. Learn more in “Flags, safety cars and red flags” →
Safety car: A car that leads the field at reduced speed during a serious incident. No overtaking; the field bunches up behind it. Learn more in “Flags, safety cars and red flags” →
Slipstream: The low-drag pocket directly behind a car on a straight, which lets a follower gain speed. Learn more in “Aerodynamics and active aero” →
Sprint: A roughly 100 km Saturday race held on six weekends in 2026, scoring points for the top eight. Learn more in “How a race weekend works” →
Stewards: The FIA-appointed panel, including a former driver, that investigates incidents and decides penalties at each event. Learn more in “Penalties and the stewards” →
Stint: The laps a driver completes on one set of tyres, between pit stops. Learn more in “Pit stops and strategy” →
Straight Mode: The active aero setting with front and rear wing flaps open for low drag. Any driver may use it in FIA-designated zones. Learn more in “Overtaking in 2026: Straight Mode, Overtake Mode and Boost” →
Super Licence: The FIA licence every F1 driver must hold. Penalty points are recorded against it. Learn more in “Penalties and the stewards” →
Track evolution: The track getting faster through a session as rubber is laid down. It is why the last laps of qualifying are usually quickest. Learn more in “Qualifying, explained” →
Track limits: The white lines are the edge of the track. Leaving it with all four wheels, especially to gain time, can be penalised. Learn more in “Penalties and the stewards” →
Undercut: Pitting before a rival so that faster laps on fresh tyres put you ahead after they stop. Learn more in “Pit stops and strategy” →
Virtual safety car (VSC): Every driver slows to a set pace with no car on track, so the gaps stay roughly the same. Learn more in “Flags, safety cars and red flags” →
Works team: A team that builds its own power unit as well as its chassis, or is the manufacturer’s official partner. Teams that buy engines are customer teams. Learn more in “What Formula 1 actually is” →