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Formula 1

Your questions about Formula 1, answered by the experts. Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill explain F1 with drivers, engineers and more of the amazing people behind-the-scenes.

Send your questions, voice notes and messages to F1Explains@F1.com

An official F1 podcast. For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid. For race reviews and previews, listen to F1 Nation.

F1 Explains

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 podcast's second season:

 • Liam Lawson on how drivers find the racing line

 • Ollie Bearman reveals Ferrari's young driver scouting camps

 • Oscar Piastri on how F2 prepared him to win in F1

 • Jack Doohan explains braking at 200mph

 • Bernie Collins' guide to the F1 pit lane

 • Planning the F1 calendar

 • How performance engineers coach drivers to go faster

 • What happens on the grid in the minutes before the race start

Whether you're a new F1 fan or a long-time follower, there's always something more to learn about F1. If you have a question you'd like us to answer, send it as an email or a voice note to F1Explains@F1.com 

Thank you for listening, for sending questions and for coming to our live shows in 2024. F1 Explains will be back for more in 2025.

Listen to more official F1 Podcasts

F1 Beyond The Grid - in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars

F1 Nation - Grand Prix reviews and previews from inside the F1 paddock

Experience F1 live

Tickets for the 2025 F1 season are available now at tickets.formula1.com

Discover F1 Unlocked

Unseen. Unheard. F1 Unlocked. Dive into exclusive content from F1 experts, redeem rewards and enter money-can't-buy competitions. Click here to join for free

Liam Lawson's racing line, how Ferrari found Ollie Bearman + Oscar Piastri's F2 preparation - The Best of 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 guests.

Fernando Alonso reflects on becoming the first driver in F1 history to compete in 400 Grands Prix and why he nearly retired much earlier in his career. Carlos Sainz explains how he recovered from physical and mental setbacks to win multiple races. And Ollie Bearman describes what it was really like making his F1 debut at such short notice in Saudi Arabia.

As well as today’s big names, legends of the past like Juan Pablo Montoya and David Coulthard relive their career-defining moments. Plus, you’ll hear memories of Lewis Hamilton’s time at Mercedes and Bruno Senna’s stories of growing up with his uncle Ayrton, 30 years on from his death.

Thank you for listening in 2024. F1 Beyond The Grid will return in 2025.

To hear the full interviews with the guests featured in this show, click on the links below…

Toto Wolff

Charles Leclerc

Carlos Sainz

Juan Pablo Montoya

David Coulthard

Bruno Senna

Fernando Alonso

Andy Stevenson

Ollie Bearman

Ayao Komatsu 

Tom Stallard

Paul Monaghan

Experience F1 live

Tickets for the 2025 F1 season are available now at tickets.formula1.com

Discover F1 Unlocked

Unseen. Unheard. F1 Unlocked. Dive into exclusive content from F1 experts, redeem rewards and enter money-can't-buy competitions. Click here to join for free

This episode is sponsored by:

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Alonso, Sainz, Wolff + more - The Best of F1 Beyond The Grid 2024

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 F1 Correspondent and Presenter Lawrence Barretto, and F1TV strategy expert Ruth Buscombe Divey.

Get your F1 question answered in 2025

Send voice notes or emails to F1Explains@F1.com

Listen to more official F1 podcasts

 • 
F1 Beyond The Grid • - exclusive interviews with F1's biggest stars

 • 
F1 Nation • - expert Grand Prix reviews and previews

Discover F1 Unlocked

Unseen. Unheard. F1 Unlocked. Dive into exclusive content from F1 experts, redeem rewards and enter money-can't-buy competitions. Click here to join for free

How F1 teams are getting ready to race - your 2025 questions answered with Lawrence Barretto + Ruth Buscombe Divey

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 Piastri and other key team members explain what happens at testing, and how they gather data ahead of the first race.

Got questions about F1? We'll answer them!

 • Send emails or voice notes to F1Explains@F1.com

 • Let us know if you'll be at the Australian GP - you could be part of our live show

Coming soon to Las Vegas - F1 karting + more at Grand Prix Plaza

 • Race, shop and eat at the home of the Formula 1 Las Vegas GP

 • See iconic cars at F1 X - a brand new 4D exhibition

 • Opens at Grand Prix Plaza, Las Vegas, March 29th

 • Tickets from March 6th at 
grandprixplaza.com • 

 • 
Read more here • on 
F1.com • 

It's all to drive for. Be there

Grandstand seats, general admission + hospitality at tickets.formula1.com
Get closer to the track in Miami with the new Campus Pass - f1miamigp.com

Inside pre-season testing - with Oscar Piastri, Jack Doohan + Laura Winter in Bahrain

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 Brown

F1 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 at the race and have a question for Zak Brown, email it to F1Explains@F1.com - we might be able to make you part of the show

F1 Explains will return with a brand new episode on Friday March 14th

Be at a race this season!

 Grandstands, general admission + hospitality at tickets.formula1.com

Join us and McLaren's Zak Brown in Australia!

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 explains how he and the team supported Oscar in his rookie season, and answers your questions about how new F1 drivers adapt to racing the fastest cars on the planet.

Get your question answered on the podcast!

Send emails and voice notes to F1Explains@F1.com

F1 Explains LIVE at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2025

 • With special guest, McLaren CEO Zak Brown

 • F1 Fanzone Stage, near the Brabham Grandstand

 • 1130-1200, Saturday March 15th

Official Formula 1 podcasts

Reaction to every race on F1 Nation

In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid

Experience F1 live in Las Vegas

New ticket options, expanded grandstands and lower prices for 2025

Find out more at F1LasVegasGP.com

Rookie seasons - with Jenson Button + McLaren's Tom Stallard

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 returns to the podcast to share his experiences of moving from Williams to Honda to McLaren. 

Send us your F1 questions

Drivers? Cars? Something else you want to know more about?

Send your email or voice note to F1Explains@F1.com

Listen to more official F1 podcasts

In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid

Expert reaction on F1 Nation

Join F1 Unlocked and win Miami GP tickets

Weekend tickets + more for you and three friends are up for grabs

Enter here 

Terms and conditions apply. Entries close 2 April

When F1 drivers move teams - with Valtteri Bottas + Jenson Button

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 questions, including whether Zak will be celebrating success with more tattoos or shoeys.

Send us your F1 questions

Drivers? Cars? Something else you want to know more about?

Send your email or voice note to F1Explains@F1.com

Listen to more official F1 podcasts

In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid

Expert reaction on F1 Nation

 

Join us at a Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2025

Go to tickets.formula1.com to book your seat

The F1 boss group chat, podium picks + running a team - LIVE in Melbourne with McLaren CEO Zak Brown

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 questions on the incredible abilities of F1 drivers. He tells Christian Hewgill how they hit corner apexes perfectly, brake and accelerate precisely and how they develop their racing instincts. 

Ask us something, and be on the podcast

Big or small, if you've got a question we'll find an expert to answer it.

Send your email or voice note to F1Explains@F1.com

Listen to more official F1 podcasts

In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid

Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation

Join us at a Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2025

Go to tickets.formula1.com to book your seat

How to drive an F1 car (and why Suzuka is such a challenge) with Pedro de la Rosa

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 and more in an interview which is hilariously interrupted by Alex Albon. It's safe to say this episode really lifts the lid on what happens behind the scenes in an F1 Team Principal's office...

Get your question answered by an F1 expert

Big or small, if you've got a question we'll find the best person to answer it.

Send your email or voice note to F1Explains@F1.com

Listen to more official F1 podcasts

In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid

Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation

Join us at a Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2025

Go to tickets.formula1.com to book your seat

Ask an F1 Team Principal with James Vowles (and surprise guest Alex Albon)

Passionate fans. Spectacular racing. A new home hero to cheer. Formula 1 has a long history in the United States. 2023 is a new chapter, with races in Miami, Austin and Las Vegas. 

Katie and Christian go back through the decades to tell the story of F1 in the US. Then it’s time to explore the present and the future with former F1 commentator Leigh Diffey, former US F1 driver Alexander Rossi and two passionate F1 fans who’ve recently discovered the sport. Why are they and millions of others across the States falling in love with F1? Why is the sport more popular than ever? Why is having a US driver to cheer for so important? 

Check out other episodes of Formula Why. Scroll through the feed or use the links below:

'Undercuts', red lights + F1 jobs - Your Questions Answered

Why are pit stops so important?

Why do F1 teams need simulators?

Why is racing in the rain so difficult? with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade

Tyres, points + car set-up - Your Questions Answered

Why do F1 drivers need to be so fit? with Alexander Rossi + Vettel's former trainer

Why is F1 Sprint such a challenge? with Kevin Magnussen

 

Record and send your questions to Katie and Christian at Why@F1.com

Why does the USA have 3 F1 races in 2023? - with Alexander Rossi + Leigh Diffey

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