🏎️ Formula 1 Grand Prix
Gentlemen and ladies, start your engines! In this Formula 1-inspired retro, we’ll race through wins, pit stops, and acceleration points to tune our team’s performance for the next lap. Ready to reach the podium?
Template Columns
🟢 Green Light Actions
Share the new strategies or practices we should start to accelerate our team’s performance.
Base column: Start🛑 Pit Stop Pauses
List the habits, roadblocks, or detours we need to stop for a smoother race.
Base column: Stop🏁 Full Throttle Wins
Highlight the strong moves and tactics we should keep going full speed with.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Formula 1 Grand Prix retrospective uses a racing theme to help teams identify new actions, remove blockers, and celebrate what’s working to optimize future performance.
When to use this template
Use this retrospective when your team needs a fast-paced, energizing review to fine-tune how you operate, especially after completing a major sprint, launch, or milestone.
How to facilitate
Kick off with a brief explanation of the Formula 1 racing analogy and what each column represents to set the tone and context.
Invite everyone to take a minute and individually reflect on the past sprint or project, jotting down thoughts in each category: green light actions, pit stop pauses, and full throttle wins.
Have team members add their notes to the respective columns anonymously to encourage honest input.
Take a tour through each column as a group, discussing entries aloud to clarify, build understanding, and spot patterns.
Facilitate a collaborative conversation to prioritize green light actions and address the most pressing pit stop pauses as improvement opportunities.
Celebrate the full throttle wins as a team, reinforcing successful behaviors and teamwork.
Assign owners for top action items, ensure clarity, and close with a quick team pulse on how the retro went.
Pro Tips
Tie action items to measurable improvements to ensure your retro leads to real change.
Encourage team members to relate items to the racing motif for extra engagement—think 'lap times' or 'teamwork in the pit lane'.
Allocate slightly more time for discussion in 'pit stop pauses' if the team is facing roadblocks.
Reserve a few minutes for positive reinforcement to keep motivation high.
Rotate the facilitator each session to keep perspectives fresh.
FAQ
What if team members aren't familiar with Formula 1?
Briefly explain the racing terms and focus on the underlying meanings. It's about speeding up, stopping problems, and continuing effective actions.
How do we make sure action items get followed up after the retro?
Assign a clear owner and timeline for each action. Review progress regularly in team meetings until addressed.
How can we encourage honest feedback in the 'Pit Stop Pauses' section?
Allow anonymous submissions, and reinforce a blame-free environment so people feel comfortable sharing blockers or challenges.
Can we use this format for non-software teams?
Absolutely. The racing metaphor works for any team looking to improve collaboration, processes, or outcomes.
At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective