Why is there a formation lap?

[Merc fan]

What is the point of a formation lap? Just to warm brakes and tyres?

[ShadownINja]

Wonder if it's related to the rolling start as seen in some races but perhaps in F1 they used to have rolling starts?

[DWP]

Never had rolling starts in F1. The formation lap is the last chance to make sure all is well on car. If they just started the engine and sat there while the grid cleared, then went off, if there was a problem you would discover it as you were in the middle of a huge drag race.

[speedychrissie]

it is also one last chance to find out of any surprises on the first lap. eg oil on the track etc.

Obviously not really required in F1, but potentially very useful in other series without hundreds of people looking after each driver and no radios to relay that info to those drivers.

[Fire99]

I like the formation lap as you can feel the tension build as all the cars find their grid positions and then waiting for the lights.

[Andy 308GTB]

The formation lap maybe be necessary to allow the marshalls to ensure that nothing has been left on the grid by the army of mechanics, press & hangers on - before cars find them at racing speed.

[ginettag27]

As a driver you should also be sighting the marshall posts, as they'll be showing green flags, to show where each marshall post is, relative to each other. (in addition to track condition, already mentioned and checking the car out)

[Taita]

Also allows Chief Marshal to verify that all flag posts are visible from track. Prevents 'I didn't see the waved yellows so I overtook' claims from competitors

[timbob]

I remember reading back in the 1960s about a "dummy grid" 200 or 300 metres back down the track. The cars would then roll forward to the real grid, take their places, and then start. Does anyone know when this was extended to be a whole formation lap?

[Dracoro]

In F1 there's probably a safety aspect, cold tyres and brakes really don'y work well so a formation lap gets everything warmed up.

Cold start could mean carnage at the first corner

Also with no air flow cooling, the time between starting up the engines and everyone getting off the grid ready for the start would mean most the cars would overheat and not go anywhere

[anonymous-user]

I thought the original name was the Sighting Lap, last chance to look at the track check marshal stations etc, and the name has just got corrupted by common use of the word formation.

[anonymous-user]

Dracoro said:

Also with no air flow cooling, the time between starting up the engines and everyone getting off the grid ready for the start would mean most the cars would overheat and not go anywhere

That's right. While the cars are driving around the formation lap, all the mechanics and engineers are literally legging it back down the pitlane to their garages. It would be impossible to start the race at that point.

[profstoff]

Cars used to form on the grid. Wait for five minutes or so. Grid was cleared, drivers started their engines, national flag waved and off they would go. The problem arose when a driver could not start his engine and you'd get the field of cars flying past a stationary one. If two didn't start it was mayhem. They then went to a dummy grid (mid 70s???)to ensure that all non-starters were out of the way. When and why that became a formation lap I can't remember.

[mikee boy]

Safety:

making sure the drivers know the position of all the marshal posts
allowing drivers to be familiar with any changes since qualifying (incl weather and cement)

Practicality:

Making sure all the cars are performing and up to temperature before the 'off'. There's no point having a failed car on the grid if it can be helped.

[anonymous-user]

profstoff said:

Cars used to form on the grid. Wait for five minutes or so. Grid was cleared, drivers started their engines, national flag waved and off they would go.

That wouldn't work now, the cars do not have onboard starter motors. So they have to be started before clearing the grid.