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Old 14 May 2019, 01:59 (Ref:3903612)   #1
Terry S
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Terry S should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Why is it called the "formation lap"?

It intrigues me that the cars come out and are lined up on the grid in starting order, or "formation".

Then they go off on a lap most commonly called "formation lap". But they were already in formation on the grid.

So why is it called a formation lap?
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Old 14 May 2019, 04:46 (Ref:3903622)   #2
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bludvl_x19 should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridbludvl_x19 should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridbludvl_x19 should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridbludvl_x19 should be qualifying in the top 3 on the grid
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Originally Posted by Terry S View Post
It intrigues me that the cars come out and are lined up on the grid in starting order, or "formation".

Then they go off on a lap most commonly called "formation lap". But they were already in formation on the grid.

So why is it called a formation lap?
Because the lap prior to a race start is called the formation lap. For races that have a National Start sequence, they also get an observation lap, which is the initial lap out of the pits.

State level races don't generally get the observation lap, so they only get a formation lap.
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Old 14 May 2019, 05:03 (Ref:3903626)   #3
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So why is it called a formation lap?
Because they lap the circuit in formation.
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Old 14 May 2019, 07:36 (Ref:3903639)   #4
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I always knew it as the "warm up lap ". It's only comparatively recently I've noticed the term "formation lap".

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Old 14 May 2019, 08:54 (Ref:3903653)   #5
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MGDavid is going for a new lap record!MGDavid is going for a new lap record!MGDavid is going for a new lap record!MGDavid is going for a new lap record!MGDavid is going for a new lap record!MGDavid is going for a new lap record!
'green flag lap' anyone?
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Old 14 May 2019, 09:18 (Ref:3903658)   #6
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I believe it's a good example of a "faux ami", a word common to French & English which has a different meaning in the two languages.


In French, the native language of the FIA, & in this context, "formation" means "training".
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Old 14 May 2019, 12:40 (Ref:3903691)   #7
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'green flag lap' anyone?
Or occasionally, 'first crash lap'. I did used to suggest the old FFord had a red flag lap as it was likely to be the flag they were going to see next...
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