Glossary
What does DNF mean in F1?
Answer
DNF stands for 'did not finish'. It marks a driver who started a Formula 1 race but did not reach the chequered flag, usually after a crash, a mechanical failure, or the team retiring the car. On live timing it often appears as RET.
What DNF means
DNF means "did not finish": the driver took the start but their race ended early, most often through an accident, a technical problem, or a precautionary retirement.[1] It describes the car stopping rather than the final result order, so a retired car can still be classified, and even score points, if it had already completed 90% of the winner's distance.[2]
Related reading
Related reading
Sources
- [1]F1 glossary (Formula1.com) (formula1). Accessed 2026-06-19.
- [2]What DNS, DNF, DNQ and DSQ mean in F1 (Flow Racers) (flowracers). Accessed 2026-06-19.
Published 2026-06-19