F1 in numbers: 15 big important stats to impress/repel all your friends

At 3pm on 13 May 1950, the very first Formula One World Championship commenced at Silverstone, UK. It was part of a seven-race season, a far cry from the 24-race slog of today.

And from humble beginnings it's come a long way, from its hay-bales-scattered-around-Silverstone days to memetastic, global phenomenon.

A global phenomenon that likes a good stat. Here are 15 good ones to impress/repel your friends with. Because nothing screams 'F1 fan incoming' than reciting how many races have been held since 1950.

Speaking of which...

1,131

Total number of races (including the Indianapolis 500 races which were part of the World Championships from 1950 until 1960). That's a lot of Sunday afternoon napping, arf arf

787

Number of drivers that have started a Grand Prix, from 41 countries, with 151 of the total represented from the US, 148 from the UK, and 85 from Italy

34

Different Drivers’ World Champions, the youngest Sebastian Vettel aged 23 years, four months and 11 days in 2010, and the oldest Juan Manuel Fangio aged 46 years, one month and 11 days in 1957

115

Different Grand Prix winners. Sadly, none of those were Taki Inoue, Top Gear hero and the self-proclaimed worst driver in Grand Prix history

216

Podium finishers. Nope, no Taki here either, though he comfortably makes the grade when it comes to our top three favourite drivers though, and that’s what matters

107

Different polesitters. Lewis Hamilton holds the record for the most pole positions, having qualified first on 104 occasions, followed by Michael Schumacher in second with 68, and Ayrton Senna in third with 65

77

Circuits raced at across 34 countries. Monza has hosted the most races with 74, followed by Monaco with 70, and Silverstone with 59

11

Circuits that appeared only once on the F1 calendar, including such hits as Casablanca! Berlin! Dallas! Donington, Le Mans, Monsanto, Mugello, Pescara, Riverside, Sebring and Zeltweg make up the others. No doubt there are current tracks you wish were on this list

363,956.169

Kilometres driven since the 1950 British Grand Prix (through to the 2025 Miami Grand Prix), equivalent to nine times around the Earth. Quickly round it, of course. Unless you're - that's right! - Taki Inoue

18

Years, seven months and 15 days. The age Max Verstappen was when he became the youngest driver to ever win a race at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. Heck, we hadn’t even passed our driving test

407

Race starts makes Fernando Alonso the longest serving driver in history, having made his debut back at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix… some 24 years and two months prior

105

Record number of wins, held by Lewis Hamilton. He’s followed by Michael Schumacher with 91, and Max Verstappen who is fast catching up on 64

Seven

Joint record number of Driver Championships, held by Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher. On current form, could be a while (if ever) before Hamilton gets number eight

Nine

Record number of wins from a driver at one circuit, which is Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone. He also holds the record for the most podiums from a single driver at one circuit, claiming 15 at Silverstone. Oh how he must wish every race was there

Eight

Years, 11 days and six months. The longest gap between two pole positions, set by Kimi Räikkönen, from the 2008 French Grand Prix until the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix