INSIDE THE SPORT

Formula 1, which began in 1950, is the world's most prestigious motor racing competition and the world's most popular annual sporting series. In 2015, the FIA Formula One World Championship recorded a global audience of tens of millions of viewers across over 200 territories, from March to November, and with 21 races planned for 2016, the series will now span 21 countries across five continents. 

2015 FORMULA 1 GRAN PRÉMIO DE MEXICO

Formula One World Championship Limited is part of the Formula One group, founded by Chief Executive Officer, Bernie Ecclestone, and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championship. In 2016, 11 teams, each responsible for designing and constructing their own car, will contest the FIA Formula One World Constructors' Championship, with each team fielding two drivers who will individually compete for the FIA Formula One World Drivers' Championship.

THE CAR

A Formula 1 car is built around a carbon fibre chassis and must weigh a minimum of 702kg including the driver, all engine fluids and camera equipment (but not fuel). The chassis has to pass extensive crash testing by the FIA. To promote fuel efficiency, drivers are limited to using 100kg of fuel between the start of the race and the chequered flag.

THE TYRES

Formula 1 racing features a single tyre supplier, Pirelli. For 2016, every driver will have access to three dry-weather tyre compounds per Grand Prix. This follows Pirelli's addition of a fifth tyre to its 2016 dry-weather range, the ultrasoft. The total number of sets that can be used during free practice, qualifying and the race remains at 13. Pirelli will now nominate two mandatory race sets for each car, with one further set of the softest compound tyres at each event kept for use in Q3 (the third segment of qualifying) only. The teams will then have to nominate in advance which tyres they wish to make up the remaining 10 sets for the race weekend.