The first Formula One season zoomed into action in on 13 May, 1950. It kicked off at Silverstone, a former World War II airstrip in England. This was the start of what would become the premier class of motor racing.

Formula One was the brainchild of the FIA, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. Founded in 1904, they wanted a unified set of rules for racing cars, to standardize competitions across the globe. And in 1950, they finally got it.

Throughout Formula 1 history, the cars remain the icons of the sport. A Formula One car is a beast. Far from being your average family car, there’s just one seat in an F1 car and it’s open-cockpit. The engine is behind the driver and it’s an open-wheel racer. These cars, as you might imagine, are designed for high speed, agility and performance on closed racing tracks.

One of the key areas is in the mechanics. They’ve transitioned from simple manual transmissions to advanced hybrid engines. And with aerodynamics, safety and engine technology evolving hugely throughout the years, these cars are safer, as well as faster, than ever.

There are so many icons that we could focus on. But no conversations of the sports heros would be complete without Juan Manuel Fangio, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. They’ve each got skill, bravery and competitive skill in buckets, leaving indelible marks on the sport.

It really is so hard to choose, but if we had to, we’d say the transition to the turbo era from the late 1970s and the early 1980s. For the first time, the world was seeing a huge oomph in the power of cars, where speed and engineering were both being pushed to the limit.

We just love it when Formula One season rolls around. Put simply, drivers and teams go around the world and race in Grands Prix held in a multitude of countries. Depending on the country, they might be held on purpose built tracks or closed public roads. They rack up points based on where they finish. At the end of it all, there are two titles up for grabs. One for the drivers and one for the teams. Both are highly sought after.

Why yes, it has. Formula One is something of a guinea pig for consumer cars. And much of what we have in our (albeit much slower and less impressive) cars started life in the glamorous world of F1. For example, we can thank F1 for the likes of disc brakes, traction control and hybrid technologies. And we’re sure we can look forward to plenty more innovations along the way.

If you’re as interested in the sport’s present as you are in Formula 1 history, you might just be tempted to place a bet or two. And we’ve got a great spot where you can do just that. Bet365 is a wonderful online sportsbook, with a wide range of F1 markets to suit any bettor. Plus you can use this bonus code bet365 when you sign up for a pretty special welcome offer.