Motorsport words · Intermediate

The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.

I · Intermediate · 32 words · Step 2 of 2

Race weekend format

Sprint Qualifying

The qualifying session for the Sprint, in three periods of 12, 10 and 8 minutes with the same elimination format as Qualifying. It sets the sprint grid.

Also called: SQ
See also: Grid, Qualifying, Sprint

107% rule

A driver eliminated in Q1 whose best lap is more than 107% of the fastest Q1 lap is not classified (unless the track is declared wet), and the stewards decide whether they may race.

See also: Circuit, Classification, Stewards

Reconnaissance lap

A lap from the pit lane to the grid before the race. The pit exit opens 40 minutes before the formation lap for 10 minutes (30 and five for a Sprint). Cars must reach the grid under their own power to start from it.

See also: Pit lane, Grid, Sprint, Formation lap

Racing and strategy terms

Overtake

From 2026, an extra burst of electrical power for the driver. In a race it is activated at the Activation Line if the car was within a set gap (the Detection Gap) of the car ahead at the Detection Line. It is disabled behind the safety car and in low-grip conditions, and the Race Director may disable it.

Also called: Overtake mode
See also: Safety car, Race Director

Energy recovery

The hybrid system that stores and deploys electrical energy. The regulations limit the electrical power of the ERS-K used to propel the car, and the energy recovered on a lap. A driver who abandons a car must shut the ERS down.

Also called: ERS, hybrid

Tyre allocation

The number of tyre sets each driver gets for a weekend: for example, two hard, three medium, eight soft, five intermediate and two wet at a standard weekend. Tyres have to be handed back by set deadlines, and only the allocated tyres may be used.

Low grip conditions

A state the Race Director may declare when the track is slippery. Overtake is disabled and only partial activation of the adjustable bodywork is allowed.

See also: Circuit, Overtake, Race Director

Penalties and officials

Stop-and-go penalty

A penalty in a race: the driver must stop in the pit stop position for at least ten seconds, with no work on the car, and then re-join.

Reprimand

A formal warning for a driver. Five reprimands in a Championship, at least four for driving offences, bring a ten-place grid penalty.

Disqualification

Removal from the results. It can follow a car found underweight or, in a dry race, a driver who did not use two different tyre types.

Pit lane start

A start from the end of the pit lane, behind the cars on the grid, as a penalty (for a breach of parc fermé, for example) or when a car cannot reach the grid.

Race and rule terms

Virtual safety car (VSC)

A neutralisation without the safety car on track, used when double waved yellow flags are needed and people may be in danger. All cars slow and must stay above a minimum time in each marshalling sector, and no overtaking is allowed. When it ends, the panels turn green 10 to 15 seconds after the VSC ENDING message.

Also called: VSC
See also: Circuit, Overtaking, Safety car

Track limits

A driver must make every reasonable effort to use the track. A car has left the track if no part of it touches the track; the white lines are part of the track and the kerbs are not. A driver who leaves may re-join when safe but must not gain a lasting advantage, and may be told to give any advantage back.

Parc fermé

Conditions under which a car may not be changed. From the moment a car first leaves the pit lane in qualifying until the start of the race, no part may be replaced or modified except the work listed in Appendix B2 or approved by the Technical Delegate. A breach means a pit lane start. After the race the cars go to a parc fermé to be checked.

Also called: parc ferme
See also: Pit lane, Qualifying, Pit lane start

Grid penalty

A number of places a driver drops on the grid. They are applied to the grid after qualifying. A driver with more than 15 unserved places starts behind everyone else. Extra power unit elements bring a ten-place penalty for the first and five for each later one.

Out lap

A lap driven from the pits to the start of a timed effort, used to build tire temperature before pushing hard.

Aborted start

When a problem could endanger the start, the Race Director may abort it, and the procedure restarts from the ten-minute signal. Each aborted start or extra formation lap shortens the race by one lap.

Lapped cars

When it is safe, the Race Director may tell lapped cars to overtake the cars on the lead lap and the safety car. Unless it is still needed, the safety car then returns to the pits at the end of the following lap.

See also: Safety car, Overtake, Race Director

Rolling start

A resumption after a red flag in which cars follow the safety car and race when it enters the pit lane, with no overtaking until they cross the line. The alternative is a standing start.

Heat hazard and rain hazard

Declarations that change what teams must do. A Rain Hazard may be declared if rain is more than 40% likely during the Sprint or Race. A Heat Hazard brings driver cooling equipment and extra mass for the cooling.

Car and team terms

Super Licence

The FIA licence a driver needs to race in the Championship. A Free Practice Super Licence is enough for an additional driver in the first two practice sessions.

Strategy terms

Undercut

A pit strategy where a driver stops earlier than a rival, hoping fresh tires let them gain track position.

Overcut

The opposite strategy, staying out longer than a rival to gain an advantage from clean air or tire wear timing.

Track position

How far ahead or behind a car is relative to rivals, often prioritized over outright pace in strategy decisions.

Fuel load

The amount of fuel a car carries, affecting weight and handling especially early in a race.

Tyre degradation

How quickly a tire loses grip and performance over the course of a stint.

Also called: tire degradation

Box

The instruction given to a driver to come into the pits.

Also called: box box

Technical terms

Understeer

A handling issue where the car doesn't turn as sharply as the driver intends, tending to run wide.

Oversteer

A handling issue where the rear of the car loses grip before the front, causing the back to slide.

Setup

The overall configuration of a car's suspension, wings and other adjustable parts, tuned for a specific track.

Also called: set-up
See also: Circuit

Power unit

The engine package. Each driver may use a limited number of its elements in a season: three engines, three turbochargers, three exhaust sets, two energy stores, two control electronics and two motor-generators (MGU-K). An extra element brings a grid penalty. The element list in the 2026 rules has an MGU-K and no MGU-H.

Halo

The protective structure around the cockpit designed to shield the driver's head from debris.

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