The player drives a Formula One car in a time trial on one of four race tracks, each of these tracks has a different difficulty level. Difficulty is gauged by the length of the course, the number of cars and oil slicks on the track, and the number of bridges to cross.
The player views the race from a top-down perspective, and the screen scrolls from right to left.
The joystick's button is the throttle: Depressing it accelerates, and releasing it decelerates.
Pressing the joystick leftward applies the brake.
Grand Prix is a time trial, and the competing cars are obstacles rather than competition for the finish line. The player's car can outpace the other cars, but if it collides with one, its speed drops lower than that of the impacted car.
Driving over an oil slick causes the player's car to skid slightly sideways, but does not slow it down.
Once every mile, the player crosses a bridge over blue water. Colliding with a wall of the bridge will stop the car, and the player must gain speed again.