FP1

FP1 (Free Practice 1) is the first practice session of a Formula 1 race weekend, where drivers and teams spend one hour testing their cars and preparing for qualifying and the main race.

Think of FP1 as a warm-up session before the real competition begins. When Formula 1 teams arrive at a racing circuit, they need time to get their cars working perfectly for that specific track. Every circuit is different - some have long straight sections, others have tight corners, and track conditions can change from year to year.

During this one-hour session, drivers can complete as many laps as they want. Teams use this time to check that all their car's systems are working correctly and to fine-tune the car's setup. This includes adjusting things like the car's balance, suspension, and aerodynamic parts to make the car as fast as possible for that particular track.

The track surface is often "dirty" at the start of FP1, meaning there's less grip because other cars haven't been running on it yet. As more cars complete laps, the track becomes "rubbered in" and provides better grip, which typically leads to faster lap times throughout the session.

Teams also use Free Practice 1 to test new parts on their cars. They might try different front wing designs or other aerodynamic components to see if they make the car faster. All this testing helps engineers collect valuable data about how the car performs.

FP1 is also important for rookie drivers. Formula 1 rules require each team to give a young, inexperienced driver at least one FP1 session during the season. This gives promising drivers their first taste of driving a real F1 car during an official session.

The information gathered during FP1 influences everything that happens next in the race weekend, from qualifying strategy to tire choices for the main race.