Basic beginnings to global exposure: Formula One reaches 1000 races

From the first race at a converted World War II airbase in rural England to this weekend's 1,000th grand prix at the $240 million international circuit in Shanghai, Formula One has come a long way since it all began in 1950.

Silverstone held the first race 69 years ago and the British Grand Prix has remained, with the Italian GP, the only ever-present races on the calendar.

In 70 seasons, Formula One has visited 32 countries across five continents and a street circuit in Vietnam will be the newest addition next year.

Formula One's organisation was bought for $8 billion in 2017 by US media giant Liberty Media and is now listed on Wall Street -- a long way from the early days when tyre and oil companies supplied their products for free in return for having their logos on drivers' overalls.

- Evergreen Ferrari -
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The 1970s featured the rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda and the 1980s saw the emergence of the great Alain Prost and legendary Brazilian Ayrton Senna before