Change is all-pervasive in Formula 1, whether it is the hundreds of small design changes made to a car during the course of a year, or the fact that the individuals employed within Formula 1 are likely to work for eight different teams during the course of their careers. The teams themselves have an average lifetime of less than six years (115 constructor teams since 1950!) and are frequently either dissolved or acquired by other teams, creating a constant state of flux.

There are many explanations for the constant pace of change that pervades Formula 1. Not least is the incessant search for technological advantage. As a consequence, many radical ideas have disrupted the evolution of the Formula 1 car. These have included such developments as gas turbines, four-wheel drive and six-wheel cars.

In Formula 1 regulation not only responds to and tempers technological advances, it also causes change. There regulation can be a contentious issue and often the focus of political manoeuvring by the teams to try to ensure that changes benefit their own situation and disadvantage their competitors. The pressures for regulation can be grouped around three key areas: safety, competitive racing and cost reduction.