History of F1

The first ever race is believed to be the 31Km Velocipede race. This took place in Paris in the year 1887. That was the first powered race. The average speed was 37mph or 58kph. Very different to the speeds of today. the first official race was from Paris to Bordeaux and took place in 1895. Before the turn of the century races were becoming very common and Paris was its base. As the craze was becoming more intense the first rules were drawn up for the Paris to Amsterdam race in 1898. Manufacturers were creating bigger and more powerful cars and so they separated into two classes lightweight and heavyweight. 

Until 1903 races were driven on normal roads. they were not closed off to the public either. So in 1903 when a race was abandoned in the Paris to Madrid race as to many pedestrians were being killed enclosed race tracks were used.

The first grand prix was in 1906 and many tracks sprouted in the continent. The world was came shortly after and so the sport dwindled for a while until after when in America they opened Indianapolis 500 which rekindled the flame for the sport and more tracks were built as the sport became more popular, great races like Le Mans 24 hour race was born.