F1 Explains
F1 Explains is an official Formula 1 podcast that answers listener questions about the sport. New episodes are released on the F1 Nation podcast feed in 2026, but previous episodes are available here. Listeners can send questions, voice notes, and messages to the show.
Episodes
F1 Explains is back - in our new home
Go to the F1 Nation podcast feed to hear our first episode of 2026. Christian Hewgill and Lawrence Barretto talk through all you need to know ahead of the new season
F1 Explains has joined F1 Nation for 2026
F1 Explains is moving to the F1 Nation podcast feed for the new season.Get answers to your F1 questions from Christian Hewgill and expert guests, plus race reviews and previews with Tom Clarkson - all in one place.Send your questions about the 2026 F1 season to F1Explains@F1.comSearch F1 Nation on your podcast app, hit follow or subscribe, and you'll get every new episode of F1 Explains
Driving secrets, pit crew cookies, movie star cars + a Team Principal's toilet - The Best of F1 Explains 2025
Lando Norris' driving style, the food which fuels the Haas pit crew, the Apex GP cars from F1: The Movie and the team boss who lets his drivers use his office toilet. F1 Explains covered all this and much more in 2025 as we answered your questions on how the sport works.Christian and the team have chosen their favourite moments from the season, which include a world-first episode recorded inside a
The F1 winter - with James Vowles + Lawrence Barretto
In the months between the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi and the five red lights in Australia, Formula 1 teams are still be racing. They're building in factories, testing on simulators and wind tunnels, working flat-out to get their cars ready for a new era.New car design and power unit rules will change the game in 2026, so the work F1 teams do this winter is more important than ever. Williams Team
Becoming F1 World Champion - with Mika Hakkinen
What does a Formula 1 driver need to become a World Champion? Can they really approach a title decider as if it’s any other race? And is it better to be leading the way or chasing?Ahead of this weekend’s three-way title showdown between Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, two-time World Champion Mika Hakkinen joins Christian Hewgill in the Yas Marina paddock
Ford's Formula 1 return with Red Bull
In a shock reversal of the usual format, this episode of F1 Explains starts with a question that YOU have to answer. It's about an engine company with an incredible winning record in Formula 1. Any guesses?For decades, Ford won in Formula 1. Their engines powered drivers and teams to World Championships. In 2026, the company will return to the grid, partnering with Red Bull on a new F1 engine proj
How Cadillac are getting ready to race in F1
How do you start a brand new F1 team? Does joining at the start of new regulations in 2026 give Cadillac an advantage or disadvantage? What are the team’s goals? Cadillac F1 Team CEO Dan Towriss joins Christian Hewgill to answer your questions and tell us what we can expect from F1’s newest team. Dan also talks about their driver line-up of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, Cadillac’s short and lo
James Hinchcliffe on driving an F1 car + how Laura Winter prepares for an F1 weekend
To answer the latest load of F1 Explains listener questions, Christian is joined F1TV expert James Hinchcliffe, IndyCar race-winner who recently drove an F1 car for the first time, and F1TV lead presenter Laura Winter, who once drove an F4 car but doesn't like to talk about it...Laura and Hinch answer your questions on the differences between F1 and IndyCar machinery, how Cadillac's arrival will c
Ask Haas - with Ocon, Bearman, Komatsu, Mueller + Crone
How many members of an F1 team does it take to answer the latest batch of your questions? 5, as it turns out!Haas drivers Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon, Team Principal Ayao Komatsu, Race Engineer Laura Mueller and F1 ACADEMY driver Courtney Crone sat down with Christian Hewgill at the US Grand Prix in Austin.Ayao took questions about the parts Haas buys from Ferrari, and what he thinks about Cadi
How data helps F1 drivers go faster - with McLaren's Tom Stallard + Jolyon Palmer
When Formula 1 drivers want to go faster, they study squiggly lines on a screen. This is F1 data, showing how drivers accelerate, brake, steer and more. Hidden in the squiggles are the secrets of speed.Tom Stallard, Race Engineer to Oscar Piastri at McLaren, and former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer join Christian Hewgill to decode F1 data. Tom answers your questions on what data is recorded, how it is f
David Coulthard + Mika Hakkinen explain F1 team mate title battles - LIVE at the US Grand Prix
Once McLaren team mates fighting for the Formula 1 World Championship, now legends of the F1 Paddock, Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard know how it feels to be in the middle of a title battle.The pair join Christian Hewgill and F1 Explains listeners live on stage in Austin, Texas, to answer your questions.David and Mika explain how McLaren handled their title rivalry in the late 1990s, compare the
Gabriel Bortoleto explains F1 driving tricks, F2 v F1, steering wheels + driving in the pit lane
What does ‘lift and coast’ mean and why do drivers use this technique? How do they reduce their speed under a Virtual Safety Car? Why do they use a different engine mode when driving in the pitlane? And what do the buttons on an F1 steering wheel do? Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto joins Christian Hewgill in the paddock at the United States Grand Prix to answer your questions.Gabriel also reveals what
Marshals: The ‘first line of safety for F1 drivers’
Without marshals, we wouldn't be able to go racing.In their bright orange jumpsuits, they're hard to miss. Hundreds of them are dotted around the track to ensure the safety of all the drivers competing in every series during a Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend. So how do they keep drivers safe? What roles are different marshals performing at different parts of the circuit? How do they know which flags
The Medical Car: 'the world's fastest ambulance'
When F1 drivers crash, the FIA Medical Car rushes to the scene. It's a high-performance machine with a racing driver at the wheel and a doctor in the passenger seat. The Medical Car crew, Dr Ian Roberts and driver Bruno Correia, answer your questions about their vital jobs. They tell Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill about responding to crashes, assessing driver injuries and the part of a Grand
Alex Albon explains F1 night races, car numbers + helmet designs
How different is driving at night compared to racing during the day? What impact does being a celebrity have on an F1 drivers’ life? How are car numbers decided? And what’s the process behind designing a special helmet?Williams’ Alex Albon joins Christian Hewgill in the Formula 1 paddock to answer your questions. Get your question answered on the podcastSend your voice notes and emails to F1Explai
How strategy is influenced by tyres, drivers, crashes, AI and more – Quickfire Questions with Bernie Collins
What are race strategists doing during a Grand Prix? How are strategies decided for each driver within a team? What happens to that strategy when something unexpected happens, like teammates colliding with each other? And is Artificial Intelligence used when deciding the best tactics for a race?Bernie Collins, former F1 strategist at Aston Martin and McLaren, joins Christian Hewgill in the paddock
Ask a Team Principal with Sauber's Jonathan Wheatley
2025 is a year of change for Jonathan Wheatley. He left Red Bull in the UK to join Sauber in Switzerland. He also stepped up from Sporting Director to Team Principal. Jonathan answers your questions about moving from a World Championship-winning team to one seeking success. He tells Christian how he leads the hundreds of people working at Sauber's factory and at the racetrack, including drivers Ni
Forza Ferrari – Why Ferrari are F1’s ‘most famous’ team
Ferrari is synonymous with Formula 1 around the world. They’ve won more World Championships than any other team in the sport’s history.But is that success why they’re regarded as one of the most iconic names in F1? Or is there more to it?F1 Explains is at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza to find out what makes Ferrari so special.Christian Hewgill is joined by ESPN F1 journalist, Nate Saunders, who
Meet a Formula 1 pit crew - with Haas
The driver hits the brakes. The car stops in the pit lane and 20 people go to work. Wheel guns roar. Tyres spin. The car speeds back into the race. An F1 pit stop is 2 seconds of precision under pressure.F1 Explains meets the people who make lightning-fast pit stops happen. Christian Hewgill puts your questions to Haas pit crew members Matt Thompson, Monique Hurrell and Marcus Farrer.Matt, Monique
How F1 teams find future stars – with Mercedes
Where do Formula 1 teams spot the drivers of the future? What are they looking for in young racers? And how did Mercedes guide Kimi Antonelli from karting to F1? F1 Explains explores junior driver programmes, which exist to find talented young drivers and support them as they climb the motorsport ladder. Most F1 teams have these academies. Red Bull signed a young Max Verstappen, Ferrari supporte
Ask Stefano Domenicali – F1 President and CEO answers your questions
Being the boss of Formula 1 is a big job. F1 teams, drivers, race promoters, sponsors and more than 825 million fans worldwide rely on Stefano Domenicali to lead the sport forwards. It’s a huge responsibility, so how does he keep everyone happy? Speaking to Christian Hewgill, Stefano explains exactly what his job involves and how the role compares to his time as Ferrari Team Principal.He also ans
Esteban Ocon explains F1 training, post-race weigh-ins + racing focus
He's a race-winner, a Haas driver and he lays claim to being the tallest person on the F1 grid (hairstyle permitting). Esteban Ocon joins F1 Explains to answer the latest batch of listener questions.Among the topics in our inbox: how drivers prepare mentally and physically, why they get handed a little paper ticket at their post-race weight check, how being tall affects the job of an F1 driver, an
Ask Ayao Komatsu LIVE at the British Grand Prix
How do F1 teams help new drivers settle in? What are the secrets of Silverstone? Could Taylor Swift help Ollie Bearman go faster? Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu answers these questions and more in the latest F1 Explains live show, recorded at the British Grand Prix.F1 Explains listeners Eilín from Ireland, Maya from New York and honeymooning couple Amie and Sam join Ayao and Christian Hewgill on
75 Years of F1: How the sport arrived and thrived - with Damon Hill + Alex Jacques at the British GP
1996 Formula 1 World Champion, Damon Hill, and F1TV’s lead commentator, Alex Jacques, join Christian Hewgill at the British Grand Prix for an F1 history lesson - 75 years since the World Championship began at Silverstone in 1950.How did the pinnacle of motorsport begin? What did the first World Championship look like in terms of the cars, the calendar and the Constructors? Who were the sport’s big
This Friday: F1 Explains LIVE at the British Grand Prix
F1 Explains will be live on-stage at the British Grand Prix with two special guests: Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu, and F1 legend David Coulthard will join Christian Hewgill to answer your questions. See you there!F1 EXPLAINS LIVE AT SILVERSTONE
Friday 4th July
Main Stage
1115-1145
Free to all British Grand Prix Friday or weekend ticket-holders
Send your questions for Ayao and David to F1Expl
F1 commentary, team radio + qualifying questions - with Alex Jacques + Jolyon Palmer
How do F1 commentators call races? What do F1 team radio messages mean? How do drivers make sure their laps in qualifying are as fast as possible? In this 'mega' episode, F1TV commentary duo Alex Jacques and Jolyon Palmer explain how they do their jobs - the camera shots and data they look at during a Grand PrixAlex and Jolyon also help Christian Hewgill decode F1 team radio messages, and break do
How F1 The Movie was made - with director Joseph Kosinski
Filmed on real F1 racetracks, in the middle of real F1 action, F1 The Movie is the most authentic racing movie ever. Director Joseph Kosinski tells Christian Hewgill how the movie was made - how it all started with an email to Lewis Hamilton, how the team modified real race cars to film the spectacular racing sequences, and how he shot scenes on the grid, on the track and in the pit lane during F1
Planning your F1 trip - choosing a race, buying tickets + picking seats
Watching F1 on TV is incredible. Seeing the action live is even better. With 24 amazing races, different ticket options and viewing positions to choose from, how do you plan a trip to a Formula 1 Grand Prix?Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill speak to Gavin and Megan, F1 fans from Colorado who are going to this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix during their honeymoon. They want advice planning their w
Lando Norris explains F1 driving styles, champagne slams + special helmets
What is a ‘driving style’ and how many different ones are there? What’s the secret to executing a champagne pop on the podium? And how do F1 drivers come up with ideas for special helmet designs and create the final product?McLaren driver Lando Norris joins Christian Hewgill at the Canadian Grand Prix to give you the answers.Lando also tells us what he likes to eat for breakfast, why he has to get
F1's greatest drivers + improving safety | Ask an F1 World Champion - with Sir Jackie Stewart
He's a legend of Formula 1, a three-time World Champion who fought to make the sport safer. Sir Jackie Stewart's good work continues today with his charity Race Against Dementia.Sir Jackie joins Christian Hewgill to answer your questions on how F1 has changed since the 1960s and 70s, the great drivers of the past and how F1 cars and racetracks have become safer over the decades.Lady Helen Stewart,
Rivalry with Schumacher, pre-race meals and F1 life skills - LIVE with Mika Hakkinen in Monaco
Teamwork. Racing. Pasta. We explore all that and more as Mika Hakkinen joins Christian Hewgill and F1 Explains listeners live on-stage at the Monaco Grand Prix.Double World Champion Mika talks about what he learned from racing Michael Schumacher. Their rivalry started as teenagers in karts and continued when they fought for F1 titles in the late 1990s.F1 Explains listeners Lisa, Daniel and Tessa a
The Magic of Monaco - with Mika Hakkinen + Alex Jacques
No room for mistakes. No time to breathe. The Monaco Grand Prix is a unique challenge. Legends win here, but even the greats have failed to complete 78 laps on the narrow streets of Monte Carlo.Christian Hewgill is in Monaco to find out what makes this race special. Monaco winner and two-time F1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen explains why it's such a difficult Grand Prix, mentally and physically. F1
This weekend: F1 Explains LIVE in Monaco
F1 Explains LIVE with Mika HakkinenFormula 1 Monaco Grand Prix 2025Saturday 24th May, 1:30pmF1 Fanzone stageSend your question to F1Explains@F1.com, tell us you're coming and you could be part of the showF1: THE MOVIE starring Brad PittOnly in cinemas June 2025Watch the trailer nowIt's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there!Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.comListen to
Inside The Garage - with Haas F1 Team
What happens in a Formula 1 team's garage during a race? In a world-first episode, recorded inside the Haas garage during the Miami Grand Prix, mechanics, engineers and strategists tell F1 Explains what they do while the cars are racing.How are the pit crew told it's time for a pit stop? How do strategists make their calls? How do mechanics make sure new tyres are ready to go? Christian Hewgill ex
Guenther Steiner on calming rookies, leading a new F1 team, acting with Brad Pitt + building LEGO - LIVE in Miami
How do F1 bosses keep the pressure off young drivers? What's it like launching a brand new team? Former Haas Team Principal and future star of the F1 movie Guenther Steiner answers these questions and more in an episode recorded live at the Miami Grand Prix.F1 Explains listeners Jenny, Joshua and Sydney join Christian Hewgill on-stage to ask Guenther their questions about running an F1 team. Guent
Football stadium to F1 venue: how the Miami Grand Prix happens
Formula 1 races in incredible places. Miami is unique. Home of two-time Superbowl champions the Miami Dolphins, the Miami Open tennis, other world-class sporting events and concerts, the Hard Rock Stadium is transformed into a Grand Prix track where hundreds of thousands of fans enjoy the action both on and off the circuit.Christian Hewgill is in Miami to answer your questions how the event happen
Alpine Team Principal Oliver Oakes answers your questions + Miami live show news
He's a former racer who's now boss of Alpine. Oliver Oakes joins F1 Explains for another 'Ask A Team Principal' special.He tells Christian Hewgill how he deals with feedback from drivers Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan, while keeping hundreds of team members working together.Plus, Oliver explains how he became a Team Principal in Formula 1 after starting out as a driver and team boss in F3 and F2.See
Crashing, downforce, drag + dirty air - Your questions answered by Laura Winter and James Hinchcliffe
How do drivers stay so calm when they’re about to crash? What’s the difference between a slipstream and dirty air? Why do F1 cockpits have small ‘windscreens’? How do you become an F1 presenter? And what exactly is the role of a driver’s press officer? Christian Hewgill is joined by F1TV main presenter Laura Winter and IndyCar race winner James Hinchcliffe to answer your quickfire questions.Get yo
Ask an F1 Team Principal with James Vowles (and surprise guest Alex Albon)
Drivers, sponsors, repairing crashes and making big decisions; Formula 1 Team Principals have a lot to handle. Williams Racing boss James Vowles answers your questions about his job.What does it mean when a team says they're focusing on F1's new rules in 2026? How does James deal with team mate battles? How are Williams supporting young women reach F1? Christian Hewgill asks James these questions
How to drive an F1 car (and why Suzuka is such a challenge) with Pedro de la Rosa
190 mile per hour corners. Heavy braking zones. Twists and turns with no room for error. Suzuka, home of the Japanese Grand Prix, tests Formula 1 drivers' skills to the limit. But what are those skills? What are the 20 drivers actually doing with their hands, their feet, and their eyes, which allows them to drive so fast?Former F1 racer and Aston Martin ambassador Pedro de la Rosa answers your que
The F1 boss group chat, podium picks + running a team - LIVE in Melbourne with McLaren CEO Zak Brown
What does the CEO of a Formula 1 team actually do? What happens in the F1 boss group chat? How are McLaren going to handle their drivers in 2025? Who decides who gets to go on the podium to collect the Constructors' Trophy?Zak Brown answered these questions and more on-stage at the Australian Grand Prix. Christian invited F1 Explains listeners Chloe, Samantha, Lauren and Katy to ask Zak their ques
When F1 drivers move teams - with Valtteri Bottas + Jenson Button
A new car to drive. A new Race Engineer to talk to. When Formula 1 drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz move teams, they have a lot to learn.Mercedes Reserve Driver Valtteri Bottas tells Christian Hewgill about the challenges drivers face when switching sides, from learning buttons on their steering wheel to understanding the voices in their ear. Then, 2009 World Champion Jenson Button ret
Rookie seasons - with Jenson Button + McLaren's Tom Stallard
Faster cars. Brighter spotlight. Higher pressure. A Formula 1 debut is a dream come true, but rookies need to impress, or their first season could be their last...2009 World Champion Jenson Button tells Christian Hewgill the lessons he learned from his first year in F1 with Williams, what the 2025 rookies should try and achieve and the mistakes to avoid. Oscar Piastri's Race Engineer Tom Stallard
Join us and McLaren's Zak Brown in Australia!
Christian's just about to leave for the Australian Grand Prix, but before he goes he's got all the details of F1 Explains LIVE in Melbourne - with special guest, McLaren CEO Zak BrownF1 Explains LIVE at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2025
F1 Fanzone Stage, near the Brabham Grandstand
1130-1200, Saturday March 15th
Got a ticket for the track on Saturday? You can come to the show
If you'll be a
Inside pre-season testing - with Oscar Piastri, Jack Doohan + Laura Winter in Bahrain
Formula 1 teams have one chance to test their cars before the 2025 season. With every lap, drivers and engineers learn more about their new machines. Why is pre-season testing so important, and how do teams get the most out of it?From Bahrain, Christian and Katie are joined by F1TV Lead Presenter Laura Winter, who gives us the lowdown on testing. Then Alpine rookie Jack Doohan, McLaren's Oscar Pia
How F1 teams are getting ready to race - your 2025 questions answered with Lawrence Barretto + Ruth Buscombe Divey
F1 pre-season testing is just days away, and F1 teams are racing to be ready. What's going on inside their factories? How long does it take drivers to be 100% confident in a brand new car? How do strategists get ready for the first race? Plus, who do you root for - the driver or the team?Ahead of the 2025 season, Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne get the answers to these questions and more from
Alonso, Sainz, Wolff + more - The Best of F1 Beyond The Grid 2024
On F1 Beyond The Grid, Formula 1's fastest stars slow down for in-depth conversations with Tom Clarkson.They reveal what it’s like being at the centre of the biggest stories of the season and share fascinating insight into what life is like as a Formula 1 driver, Team Principal, engineer, designer, and more. In this end-of year special, Tom picks his favourite moments from a long list of stellar g
Liam Lawson's racing line, how Ferrari found Ollie Bearman + Oscar Piastri's F2 preparation - The Best of 2024
How do Formula 1 drivers find the fastest way around the track? How do teams scout future superstars? Why is driving in F2 the best way of reaching the top? What really happens on the grid before a race? In 2024, F1 Explains answered these questions and many more sent in by listeners from all over the world.Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne have picked the most fascinating moments from the podca
Avoiding DNFs: how F1 teams keep their cars racing
'To finish first, first you have to finish'. Formula 1 teams can't score points, wins or championships unless their cars make it to the chequered flag. Reliability Engineers like Sauber's Laura Villadelprat work in the garage and the factory to keep the cars on-track and avoid the dreaded DNF (Did Not Finish).Laura explains how F1 teams know when it's time to swap old car parts for new ones, how t
Pato O'Ward on driving 'amazing' F1 cars - in F1 Garage
F1 cars are out-of-this-world to drive, even for experienced racers. Pato O'Ward is a race-winner in IndyCar with Arrow McLaren, but when he jumps in a Formula 1 car as Reserve Driver for McLaren F1 Team, he's blown away. Pato joins Katie and Christian to answer your questions about the differences and similarities between Formula 1 and IndyCar - the cars, the racetracks, the pit stops and more.'H
How Formula 1 takes over Las Vegas
F1 cars are racing on the streets of Las Vegas at more than 200 miles per hour. It’s the most spectacular race of the season, and it takes months of work by a team of more than 15,000 people. Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne are in Las Vegas to find out how Formula 1 takes over the city. Las Vegas Grand Prix VP of Sporting and Race Operations Silvia Bellot explains how public roads, including
Inside the F1 Pit Lane - with Bernie Collins
It's where pit crews go to work, where strategies are decided and where races can be won and lost. Katie and Christian step into the Formula 1 pit lane to put your questions to former Aston Martin Head of Race Strategy Bernie Collins.Bernie explains how the length and speed limit of the pit lane affects race strategy, why every team's pit box is different, what all the screens and buttons on the
Miami GP ticket competition: Christian + Katie announce the winners
F1 Explains gave listeners who attended our live show at F1 Arcade Washington D.C. the chance to win tickets for the 2025 Miami Grand Prix.Courtesy of the Miami Grand Prix, two lucky listeners have won a pair of tickets for the new McLaren grandstand, some exclusive McLaren merchandise and the chance to win a hot lap of the track with a professional driver.The draw was done at random and it's time
What really happens on the F1 starting grid - with Oscar Piastri's engineer + Gordon Ramsay
The clock is ticking. The starting grid is full of people - drivers, engineers, reporters and celebrities. Formula 1 is about to go racing, but there's so much work to do. What happens on the grid in the crucial final minutes before lights out?In the first podcast episode to be recorded on a Formula 1 starting grid before a race, Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne push through the crowds and expl
Strategy, slipstreams + sim racing - LIVE at F1 Arcade Washington D.C.
Want somewhere to watch a Grand Prix with F1 fans, race against your friends and enjoy food and drink? Look no further than F1 Arcade! Christian and Katie recorded a special episode of F1 Explains at F1 Arcade Washington D.C. after the Mexico City GP Watch Party.F1 Arcade is open now in Washington D.C., Boston MA, plus London and Birmingham in the UK. Go to f1arcade.com to buy tickets for Watch Pa
Ollie Bearman, Mika Hakkinen + F1 Explains listeners LIVE at the US Grand Prix
A Formula 1 legend and a brand new star took to the stage at Circuit of the Americas for F1 Explains LIVE. Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne put your questions to 2-time World Champion Mika Hakkinen, and Ferrari Academy Driver and 2025 Haas F1 Team Driver, Ollie Bearman. F1 Explains listeners Rachel from Austin, Texas, Michelle from Cleveland, Ohio, Erin from Los Angeles, California and Ryan and
Join us at F1 Arcade Washington D.C. this weekend!
Come watch the Mexico City GP with F1 Explains at F1 Arcade Washington D.C.Buy tickets at f1arcade.com/us/watch-parties/mexico-cityOn Sunday October 27th, Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne will be hosting a Watch Party for the race, and recording an episode of the podcast. Join us to watch the Grand Prix on big screens with amazing food and drink, plus racing on the F1 Arcade simulators.Going to
An F1 driver's pre-race routine - with Liam Lawson
What do Formula 1 drivers do in the hours before the start of a Grand Prix? VCARB's Liam Lawson tells Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne about his pre-race routine, and how he'll be preparing his body and mind to for his return to Formula 1 this weekend at the United States Grand Prix.Andy and Jess from the UK, and Kathy from California had their questions answered on this episode. Send your ques
Downforce + why F1 cars have wings - with McLaren Aero Specialist Emel Cankaya
F1 cars race round corners at more than 190 miles per hour. Those insane speeds are made possible by downforce - the invisible power which keeps F1 cars on-track. Emel Cankaya is an Aerodynamics Specialist at McLaren. She tells Katie and Christian what downforce is, how F1 cars create it and what the front wing, rear wing and floor of the car do. She also explains how and why F1 teams change their
Overtaking, braking and qualifying - Stoffel Vandoorne answers your questions
What are the rules when F1 drivers go wheel-to-wheel? How do they know when to hit the brakes? Why do drivers wait until the last moment to set their qualifying lap times? Aston Martin Reserve Driver Stoffel Vandoorne joins Christian Hewgill (and Katie Osborne in voice note form) to answer your questions.Send us your questionsLaura from Belgium, Todd from Virginia, Richard from Texas and Luana fro
Coaching F1 drivers - Performance Engineers with McLaren's Tom Stallard
Precision at 200 miles per hour. Millimetre-perfect steering, Millisecond-perfect braking and acceleration. That's what it takes to race in Formula 1. Performance Engineers help the 20 fastest drivers in the world to be their very best.McLaren's Tom Stallard, a former Performance Engineer, tells Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne about the incredible work these engineers do with Formula 1 drivers
Teammates, rivals, sisters: F1 ACADEMY drivers Hamda + Amna Al Qubaisi answer your questions
16 drivers in identical cars, racing wheel-to-wheel on Grand Prix weekends. F1 ACADEMY, the game-changing racing series for female drivers, returns at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix. Hamda and Amna Al Qubaisi are F1 ACADEMY race-winners, teammates and sisters. They answer your questions on staying calm under pressure, racing in different junior categories and how they recover after a race.They tell
How the F1 season is scheduled - with Louise Young
24 spectacular Grands Prix in 21 incredible countries. A Formula 1 season is a world tour. How is it scheduled? F1 Explains gets the inside track from Formula 1 Director of Race Promotion, Louise Young. Her team is responsible for planning the Formula 1 calendar. They decide the order of races, negotiate contracts and work with promoters – the groups who own or operate the racetracks which host ea
Damon Hill on F1 title fights - LIVE at F1 Paddock Club
What does it take to win the F1 World Championship? Is it better to be the leader or the chaser in a title fight? What changes when you become a champion? In a special episode, recorded at F1 Paddock Club, 1996 World Champion Damon Hill reveals all you need to know about winning the sport's ultimate prize - including how teammate rivalry goes beyond the racetrack and onto the dinner table! F1 Expl
Bernie Collins explains powerful pit stops, strategy training + DRS tricks
Why is the 'undercut' pit stop strategy more powerful at some tracks than others? Formula 1 strategists make race-changing decisions under huge pressure. How do they practice? What is a 'DRS train' and how does being in one change a driver's race? Former Aston Martin Head of Race Strategy Bernie Collins answers these questions and more in a quickfire special.Yiorgios in Greece, Carla in Kentucky,
Keeping F1 teams healthy + injury-free - with Faith Atack-Martin
How does a Formula 1 team stay fit, healthy and ready to race? The team's Physiotherapist (or Physical Therapist) treats every member of the team like an athlete, helping pit crew members avoid or recover from injury, keeping engineers active and making sure jet lag doesn't knock mechanics off their game.Faith Atack-Martin from Combine Performance works with Haas F1 Team. She tells Katie Osborne a
FAQs + Live show news
What are the most frequently asked questions sent to the F1Explains@F1.com inbox? We answer three of them on this summer break mini episode. Plus, Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill have news of F1 Explains live shows. We're coming to:
Dutch GP in Zandvoort - August 23-25
US Grand Prix in Austin - October 18-20
Las Vegas Grand Prix - November 21-23
Tickets to all three races and the rest of the 2
Meet the mechanics in an F1 garage - with Kick Sauber
Dozens of people work inside an F1 team garage, and they all have different jobs. Without these mechanics and engineers, the drivers would never get out on-track. Who are they, what do they all do, and how did they get their jobs?In this episode, recorded at the 2024 Canadian and British Grands Prix, Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne speak to three of Kick Sauber's garage team:
Tyre Performance
How Formula 1 teams work - from factory to racetrack
To win in F1, hundreds of people have to work together. From the mechanics at the track to designers at the factory, every team member plays their part. How are F1 teams organised, and why does every team have to build a unique car?Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill go back into the sport's past with F1 Correspondent and Presenter, Lawrence Barretto, who explains how car design has been part of F
Mika Hakkinen on high-speed tracks + driver contract negotiations - LIVE at the British GP
A double F1 World Champion and three F1 Explains listeners joined Christian Hewgill live on stage at the 2024 British Grand Prix. F1 Explains listeners Sophie from Rugby, Ryan from London and Alex from Atlanta Georgia asked Mika Hakkinen about how Formula 1 has changed since his final season in 2001 and how it feels to drive high-speed corners. The 1998 and 1999 World Champion also explains what i
How F1 lap times are recorded
In F1, every thousandth of a second is crucial. Drivers' performances are often separated by less than the blink of an eye, so how are F1 cars timed so accurately?To find out, Christian and Katie speak to James Clarke, a highly-trained F1 timekeeper. James explains the technology on cars and at circuits which make the timing system work, how lap times and race positions are accurately recorded, an
What F1 drivers eat - with Oscar Piastri's nutritionist, Dr Dan Martin
As high-performance athletes, F1 drivers have to eat the right things at the right times. Everything they eat and drink, plus the timing of their meals, is carefully planned by expert nutritionists like Dr Dan Martin from Combine Performance. Dan works with McLaren's Oscar Piastri.Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne find out what an F1 driver's diet is and how it helps them perform at their best.
How F1 helmets are made – with Bell Racing
They’re essential pieces of safety kit, made from specialised materials. But F1 helmets do far more than just protect the driver. F1 Explains explores helmet design, testing and technology with Stephane Cohen, co-CEO of Bell Racing – the company which makes helmets for 13 current F1 drivers. Stephane tells Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill how Bell make helmets that are strong and light, visors
Liam Lawson answers your questions - Ask a Formula 1 driver
What do reserve drivers do? Why are F1 stars weighed after every race? What is the racing line (and how can it help you when doing grocery shopping)? Cindy from California, Ana in India, Pierre from France and lots more F1 Explains listeners sent in questions about the life of an F1 driver. Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne get the answers from Red Bull Reserve Driver, Liam Lawson.Liam explains
Inside the Safety Car - with driver, Bernd Mayländer
It's there to keep F1 safe, and it can transform a race. The FIA Safety Car is sent out in poor weather or after a crash to protect marshals, drivers and fans. But there's more to it than meets the eye...Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne explore the secrets of the safety car: how the decision to use it is made, its purpose on-track and how drivers and strategists can gain an advantage when the S
How F1 video games are so realistic - with EA SPORTS F124
Cars that feel F1-fast. Racetracks that look real. Drivers in detail. EA SPORTS F124, the latest official Formula 1 game, is out on 31 May and it's more lifelike than ever. How do game designers bring the world of F1 to life on your console? Katie and Christian speak to two of F124's creators to find out:
Lee Mather - Senior Creative Designer
Casey Ringley - Senior Game Designer + Vehicle Handling
Ruth Buscombe + Bernie Collins on strategy mistakes, upgrades + how to work in F1
Grand Prix-winning strategists Ruth Buscombe and Bernie Collins are back with Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill to answer another batch of your Formula 1 questions.On the list this week:
Why do teams sometimes get their race strategies wrong?
How are car upgrades planned?
How do you become an F1 race strategist?
What do drivers do to look after their tyres?
What are the T-bars on top of F1 cars
Bernie Collins + Ruth Buscombe on strategy secrets, crazy races + radio riddles
Two race-winning F1 strategists answer your questions on how teams plan their pit stops, what happens if fewer than 10 cars finish a Grand Prix and how teams hide their secrets when they speak to drivers on the radio.Bernie Collins and Ruth Buscombe join Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill for a quickfire episode of F1 Explains. Why do some teams hope they'll finish a lap behind the leader? What h
Guenther Steiner on his hardest decision + the biggest gossip in F1? LIVE in Miami
At the Miami Grand Prix, F1 Explains went live on-stage with former Haas Team Principal and Miami GP Ambassador, Guenther Steiner. F1 Explains listeners Joan from Florida, Amanda from Tennessee and Nick from Washington D.C. asked Guenther questions about the life of an F1 Team Principal and whether Steiner's office door survived being smashed by Kevin Magnussen.Special thanks to Sam Rose, Carla Co
Fernando Alonso, Pedro de la Rosa + Tom McCullough explain F1 car set-up
A Formula 1 car is like a musical instrument: to perform at its best, it has to be tuned. Aerodynamics, suspension, tyres, and transmission can all be changed to suit the racetrack, the driver and the weather.In Miami, Christian Hewgill joins Aston Martin to explore car setup, with driver Fernando Alonso, Ambassador and former F1 racer Pedro de la Rosa, and Performance Director Tom McCullough.Send
