Formation lap, is a lap before a Formula One race begins, in which the drivers go around the track at a slow speed (usually between 50 and 120 km/h (30 and 75 mph), and, in some cases, behind the safety car. Any car which fails to leave the grid before the last qualifier has moved away is required to start from either the pit lane or the back of the grid.
The lap is to ensure that track conditions are safe, and that there are no dangerous problems with the cars (including the safety car) or the circuit. The parade lap either leads to a rolling start, standing start, or back to the grid. Short circuits often have two of these laps.
The lap also allows the cars to warm up their tyres, which is crucial in order to be competitive during the race. Drivers will often attempt to warm up the tyres more quickly during the lap, by steering slowly from side to side, and may sometimes also warm their brakes.