F1 reaction test
Five red lights, one per second. Go when they all go out, not before.
Tap to start
Space, click or tap
Press Space or tap the stage to start, then again the moment the signal comes.
- 1--
- 2--
- 3--
- 4--
- 5--
- Best
- -- ms
- Average
- -- ms
- Your record
- -- ms
F1 start · beatthestart.com
ms
Runs in your browser. Nothing is sent: your record stays on this device and a challenge link carries one time.
How the F1 start test works
- Tap the stage or press Space: the lights start coming on.
- Watch the fifth pair light up, then wait. Lights out comes 0.2 to 3 seconds later.
- Go the moment they go out. Five starts give your average and best. A tap before lights out is a jump start.
The F1 start light sequence
| Time | Lights |
|---|---|
| 1 s | 1 of 5 pairs on |
| 2 s | 2 of 5 pairs on |
| 3 s | 3 of 5 pairs on |
| 4 s | 4 of 5 pairs on |
| 5 s | 5 of 5 pairs on |
| 5.2 to 8 s | All out: go |
The rule
No team publishes its drivers' start reaction times, so this page does not invent any. For a calibrated human reference: adults average 231 ms in a lab study (Woods et al., 2015).
Frequently asked questions
How do F1 start lights work?
Five pairs of red lights come on one by one, one more pair every second. When all five are lit, a preset delay of 0.2 to 3 seconds follows, then all the lights go out together. Lights out is the start. Source: FIA recommended light signals.
Why is the delay before lights out random?
If the lights always went out at the same moment, drivers could count and go on rhythm instead of reacting. The random 0.2 to 3.0 second delay forces them to watch the lights. This test draws it the same way, with your browser's cryptographic random generator.
What is a jump start in F1?
Moving before the lights go out. The car's transponder detects it and the stewards hand out a penalty. Here, a tap before lights out is a jump start and that start does not count.
What is clutch mode?
Hold the stage (or Space) while the lights come on and let go when they go out, like releasing the clutch. Releasing is a different movement from pressing, so try both and compare.
Is reacting to lights out harder than to a green light?
It feels harder: you react to something disappearing, after a wait you cannot predict. Compare your times here with the standard test on the same device to see your own difference.