Speed Read F1: The Technology, Rules, History and Concepts Key to the Sport

by Stuart Codling

Strap yourself in and fill the tank with high octane! Speed Read: F1 is loaded with all the information you’ll need to get into the world of blinding speed called Formula 1. You’ll get the history of the sport, biographies of major drivers and figures who have dominated the sport in its long and storied history, and a rundown of the incredible technology that makes these cars so fast that they stay glued to the road.

You may not guess it, but the world’s premiere automobile racing series takes the Formula One name from the set of rules governing the class. Plans for a Formula One drivers' championship were floated in the late 1930s, but shelved until after World War Two. In 1946 the first F1 races were held, but it wasn’t until 1950 that the details for a true world-championship series were hammered out.

It was a long road from the 1930s to now for this great sport; one marked by glory, championships, iteration, technology, and speed. Don’t be intimidated by this incredible culture, dive into F1 Racing today!

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Cars

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2017

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 4 out of 5]

lThe book is very slight. The topics are discussed from history, through development to the present. A subject is discussed in detail only when the author has a particular interest in it, like the often toxic rivalry between certain drivers. Apart from reading Jensen Button's excellent How To Be An F1 Driver: My Guide To Life In The Fast Lane and the really disappointing The Mechanic: The Secret World of the F1 Pitlane, I knew nothing about formula 1 racing. I have a much better grasp on it now. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
__________

Notes on reading This is like a primer for F1 racing. The companies, the cars, the drivers ( their egos, and their rivalries) - the circuits and the endless trade off of power and speed for safety. I think it is probably ok for someone at the beginning of learning about racing, like me, but it's probably too basic for the knowledgeable fan.

I can't get that week's racing in Daytona out of my head. It was more being with a real racing driver at real races, but it was also doing three laps in the Corvette myself. I just want to know more even if I never get another chance myself. I want to go racing so much I dream about it at night. Or perhaps I dream about K and don't want to admit that I'm not really over him at all.

I am chatting to a guy with a Lamborghini in NY and I've never been in a Lamborghini so.... But since likes cruises and I like sailing yachts and - dealbreaker - he wants to go for a week in August to Italy to see Andrea Bocelli in opera and I can't stand opera, I don't think we are a match. I did enjoy Bocelli singing Amazing Grace in the plaza of the Duomo di Milano on Easter Sunday though. But then I knew the words

I'm also chatting to another guy who has a pickup (I like pickups a lot), cooks for his dogs once a day or else buys them cheeseburgers and went to school with K, the racing car driver. But I don't think I'm built for life on a farm in Florida though. Can't see me shovelling the shit in his horse barn or being nice to hens in a coop when I'm used to noisy and overbearing wild fowl.

[Sushmita ʚɞ · Rating 5 out of 5]

very informative if you're a Formula 1 fan that wants to know more.

[Brian Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent structure, good illustrations, meaningful insight... an ok book for someone already sure that they're interested F1.

[G Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

clear. concise. and easy to understand.

[Sandy Xu · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent introduction to Formula 1, but it kind of dragged at some parts while skipping over other parts that should’ve been talked about more. Like I’m sorry but I didn’t need so many chapters on Ecclestone. Also (not the fault of the book) this was published in 2017 so some of the facts were outdated but obviously that’s just because I read it now instead of when it was just released. Anyways, still had a good time reading and learning more!

[Renee Ruple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a great read for getting into the f1 series. Short sections in each chapter made it formative without tangents to explain one part. It helped me understand the back story of the sport and other aspects as new rules and designs of cars come out.
Recommend for someone looking to help with a quick understanding before a deep dive into teams and other books on the F1 series.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good but dated book about F1. It does give great background information on the technology, the racing circuits, and what a racing weekend is like. The glossaries in each section are good too. Basically, it provides solid information for someone just getting into F1 who wants some history and to understand more easily what's going on.

[Daniel Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and with just enough information to inform but not overwhelm about the world of F1, including the history, technology, famous rivalries and tracks. Perfect for a beginner but don't expect current season information.

[Santiago Roman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very complete guide for a newbie. Covers technical, commercial and historical aspects of the F1 world.

[michael boron · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOX,BOX,BOX

An awesome, checkered flag in depth overview of Formula 1 up to the recent past

No safety car required!!

Drive to survive season four

Green Flag drops on 3/11

[niki · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,75

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really informative, explains everything very clearly if you’re a new F1 fan -which i am not - good illustrations.

[Adrianna Hładun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ciekawe wprowadzenie do świata F1, rzeczywiście w pigułce. Szkoda, że nie ma aktualizacji tej pozycji. Piekne ilustracje.

[Lydia Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the info is a little out of date, but its still a good read for anyone just getting into f1. I bought it because my family was just getting into the sport and none of us knew anything. It helped us get the base knowledge we needed and then we googled all the new rules and tech that wasn't in the book. So if you're an expert, its not the book for you. But if you're a newbie, it is helpful.

[Kappa · Rating 2 out of 5]

swift and precise.

[Betsy Myers]

I won this book via Good Reads First Reads. I am giving this book to my brother for a Christmas gift. He enjoys all types of car racing.

[☆ Iga ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Polecam fanom F1, jednak polskie wydanie zawiera dużo literówek.