What is the 'formula' in Formula 1 racing? - Things You Know But Not Quite | Amazing Facts

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The first true modern automobile was born in 1886—Carl Benz applied for a patent for his vehicle powered by a gas engine in January 1886.
By 1894, people in France began organising formal automobile racing competitions.
By the early 1900s, international car racing events were being organised but mainly in Europe.
In the beginning, these racing competitions were about taking cars from one town to another in a limited amount of time.
This, then, gave way to endurance racing which was meant to test the durability of equipment and endurance of participants.
These events became an opportunity for car manufacturers to showcase their fastest and most powerful vehicles.
However, because early races were held on public roads, accidents were common, resulting in the deaths of both drivers and spectators.
As a result, the governing body of the racing sport began imposing critical limitations on the format of the cars in terms of power, weight, and size.
Only cars complying with this “formula” of rules could compete.
So, Formula in car racing = The set of rules to which all participants’ cars must conform.
Plans for a Formula One drivers’ championship were discussed in the late 1930s but were shelved because of World War II.
When the war ended, the motorsports governing body set out several categories—formulas based on the cars already in existence at the time.
Formula Two was invented shortly after Formula One as a junior category, with a smaller engine capacity.