
F1 Explains
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.
Latest episodes

Oct 18, 2024 • 32min
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 questions to F1Explains@F1.com
F1 EXPLAINS LIVE - in Austin Texas + Washington D.C.
Saturday October 19th - F1 Explains LIVE at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix 2024, Circuit of the Americas.
With special guests:
Ollie Bearman - Ferrari Academy Driver, 2025 Haas F1 Team Driver
Mika Hakkinen - 2-time Formula 1 World Champion
Free to all Saturday/weekend ticket-holders. No reservation or extra ticket required. Circuit of the Americas, Amphitheatre Stage, Saturday October 19th, 6:15pm after F1 Qualifying
Sunday October 27th - F1 Explains LIVE at F1 Arcade Washington D.C.
Join Christian and Katie at the brand new F1 Arcade Washington D.C. for the Mexico City Grand Prix Watch Party.
Watch the Grand Prix with other F1 fans, enjoy racing simulators, food + drink, and be part of an F1 Explains episode recording after the race
Watch Party starts at 3pm. F1 Arcade Washington D.C., Union Market, 420 Penn St. NE
Washington, D.C.
Buy tickets at f1arcade.com/us/watch-parties/mexico-city
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid
For race previews and reviews from inside the F1 paddock, listen to F1 Nation
Be there when the 2024 Formula 1 World Champion is crowned:
Tickets for the end of the 2024 F1 season and the start of 2025 are available now at tickets.formula1.com

Oct 10, 2024 • 33min
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 downforce set ups for each racetrack, and how she got her job in Formula 1.
F1 Explains listener Brigit in New York asked us to explain downforce. If you'd like your question answered, send it to F1Explains@F1.com
F1 EXPLAINS LIVE - in Austin Texas + Washington D.C.
Saturday October 19th - F1 Explains LIVE at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix 2024, Circuit of the Americas.
With special guests:
Ollie Bearman - Ferrari Academy Driver, 2025 Haas F1 Team Driver
Mika Hakkinen - 2-time Formula 1 World Champion
Free to all Saturday/weekend ticket-holders. No reservation or extra ticket required. Circuit of the Americas, Amphitheatre Stage, Saturday October 19th, 6:15pm after F1 Qualifying
Sunday October 27th - F1 Explains LIVE at F1 Arcade Washington D.C.
Join Christian and Katie at the brand new F1 Arcade Washington D.C. for the Mexico City Grand Prix Watch Party.
Watch the Grand Prix with other F1 fans, enjoy racing simulators, food + drink, and be part of an F1 Explains episode recording after the race
Watch Party starts at 3pm. F1 Arcade Washington D.C., Union Market, 420 Penn St. NE
Washington, D.C.
Buy tickets at f1arcade.com/us/watch-parties/mexico-city
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid
For race previews and reviews from inside the F1 paddock, listen to F1 Nation
Be there when the 2024 Formula 1 World Champion is crowned:
Tickets for the US Grand Prix in Texas, the Las Vegas Grand Prix and F1 ACADEMY weekends in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are available now at tickets.formula1.com

Oct 3, 2024 • 31min
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 questions
Laura from Belgium, Todd from Virginia, Richard from Texas and Luana from Switzerland had their questions answered on this episode. Send yours to F1Explains@F1.com
F1 EXPLAINS LIVE - at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix
With special guest, Ollie Bearman - Ferrari Academy Driver and 2025 Haas F1 driver + more to be announced
Saturday October 19th, 1815 (after F1 qualifying)
Circuit of the Americas, Amphitheatre stage near the F1 Fanzone
Join Christian, Katie and guests for a live show - with your chance to put a question to an F1 expert
Email F1Explains@F1.com to get involved
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid
For race previews and reviews from inside the F1 paddock, listen to F1 Nation
Be there when the 2024 Formula 1 World Champion is crowned:
Tickets for the US Grand Prix in Texas, the Las Vegas Grand Prix and F1 ACADEMY weekends in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are available now at tickets.formula1.com

Sep 26, 2024 • 36min
Coaching F1 drivers - Performance Engineers with McLaren's Tom Stallard
Tom Stallard, a former Performance Engineer with McLaren, shares fascinating insights into Formula 1. He describes how performance engineers optimize driver performance using data analysis and real-time feedback. The conversation touches on the critical teamwork between performance engineers, strategists, and race engineers, showcasing the blend of technical skill and psychological support. Tom also discusses the transition challenges drivers face when switching teams, offering a glimpse into the demanding world of F1.

Sep 19, 2024 • 22min
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 Christian Hewgill how F1 ACADEMY has changed their careers, and the support they get from Formula 1 teams and drivers through the Red Bull Racing Pepe Jeans and Visa CashApp Academy Programmes. Plus, the story of when the sisters clashed on-track and in the stewards’ room, post-race.
You can watch F1 ACADEMY action on the series YouTube channel or F1TV
Get the latest on the season on f1academy.com or by following F1 ACADEMY on Instagram
Next up: listen to our episode with F1 ACADEMY boss Susie Wolff and driver Lia Block
Send your questions to F1Explains@F1.com and we'll answer them in a future episode
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid
For race previews and reviews from inside the F1 paddock, listen to F1 Nation
It's all to drive for in 2024. Be there:
Tickets for the US Grand Prix in Texas, the Las Vegas Grand Prix and F1 ACADEMY weekends in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are available now at tickets.formula1.com

Sep 12, 2024 • 40min
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 each Grand Prix.
Louise explains how the F1 season is scheduled, how new races are chosen, and how Grands Prix are planned to allow freight to be moved sustainably using ships.
Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill ask Louise where F1 is going next, whether some races could rotate in the future, and what the key ingredients are for a great Grand Prix.
F1 Explains listeners Chris in Queensland, Cameron in Canada, Chrissy in the US and Bear from California had their questions on the F1 calendar answered in this episode. If you have a question about how Formula 1 works, send it to F1Explains@F1.com
You might find your answer in a previous episode:
F1 title fights - with 1996 World Champion Damon Hill
How F1 teams stay fit, healthy + ready to race
Meet the mechanics in an F1 garage - with Kick Sauber
How F1 teams work - from factory to racetrack
LIVE at Silverstone with Mika Hakkinen + F1 Explains listeners
How F1 lap times are recorded - with an official F1 timekeeper
What F1 drivers eat - with Oscar Piastri's nutritionist, Dr Dan Martin
How F1 helmets are made - with Bell Racing
Ask a Formula 1 Driver – Liam Lawson answers your questions
Inside the FIA Safety Car - with driver, Bernd Mayländer
How F1 video games are so realistic - with EA SPORTS F124
LIVE in Miami with Guenther Steiner + F1 Explains listeners
Car setup with Fernando Alonso + Aston Martin
F1 race suits, boots, gloves + underwear - with PUMA
F1 brakes - technology + technique - with Brembo + Jack Doohan
The job of an F1 Team Principal - with Aston Martin's Mike Krack
Why F1 teammates are friends + foes - with Valtteri Bottas + Zhou Guanyu
How Formula 2 + Formula 3 prepare drivers for F1 - with Oscar Piastri
F1 Academy - with Susie Wolff + Lia Block
The F1 race start - with Mick Schumacher + strategist Bernie Collins
Behind the scenes on Drive to Survive - with Exec Producer James Gay-Rees
Why F1 pre-season testing matters - with Mercedes, McLaren + Alpine
How F1 teams build their new cars - with Aston Martin Technical Director Dan Fallows
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid
For race previews and reviews from inside the F1 paddock, listen to F1 Nation
It's all to drive for in 2024. Be there:
Tickets for the US Grand Prix in Texas, the Las Vegas Grand Prix and the rest of the 2024 F1 season are available now at tickets.formula1.com

Sep 5, 2024 • 28min
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 Explains listener Lilly from Amsterdam joins Christian Hewgill and Damon on-stage to ask her question. To have your F1 question answered on a future episode, send it to F1Explains@F1.com
Special thanks to Tom Perkins, Charlene Nyantekyi, Jodie Porter, Jordan Franckeiss, Davide Demontis, Phil Hornby, Hollie Cruise, Suzanne Simmonds, Neil Medland, Buzz Allan, Seb Hancock and Karl McClumpha.
F1 Paddock Club - the ultimate trackside hospitality
Experience premium track views, delicious food, open bars, daily Pit Lane Walks and more. Click here for packages
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid
For race previews and reviews from inside the F1 paddock, check out F1 Nation

Aug 29, 2024 • 31min
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, Luana in Switzerland, Chad in Tennessee, Katherine in Illinois, April in Toronto, John in Minnesota, Lennon in New Jersey and Ken in Ohio had their questions answered in this episode. Send yours to F1Explains@F1.com
You might find your answer in a previous episode:
How F1 teams stay fit, healthy + ready to race
Meet the mechanics in an F1 garage - with Kick Sauber
How F1 teams work - from factory to racetrack
LIVE at Silverstone with Mika Hakkinen + F1 Explains listeners
How F1 lap times are recorded - with an official F1 timekeeper
What F1 drivers eat - with Oscar Piastri's nutritionist, Dr Dan Martin
How F1 helmets are made - with Bell Racing
Ask a Formula 1 Driver – Liam Lawson answers your questions
Inside the FIA Safety Car - with driver, Bernd Mayländer
How F1 video games are so realistic - with EA SPORTS F124
LIVE in Miami with Guenther Steiner + F1 Explains listeners
Car setup with Fernando Alonso + Aston Martin
F1 race suits, boots, gloves + underwear - with PUMA
F1 brakes - technology + technique - with Brembo + Jack Doohan
The job of an F1 Team Principal - with Aston Martin's Mike Krack
Why F1 teammates are friends + foes - with Valtteri Bottas + Zhou Guanyu
How Formula 2 + Formula 3 prepare drivers for F1 - with Oscar Piastri
F1 Academy - with Susie Wolff + Lia Block
The F1 race start - with Mick Schumacher + strategist Bernie Collins
Behind the scenes on Drive to Survive - with Exec Producer James Gay-Rees
Why F1 pre-season testing matters - with Mercedes, McLaren + Alpine
How F1 teams build their new cars - with Aston Martin Technical Director Dan Fallows
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid
For race previews and reviews from inside the F1 paddock, listen to F1 Nation
It's all to drive for in 2024. Be there:
Tickets for the US Grand Prix in Texas, the Las Vegas Grand Prix and the rest of the 2024 F1 season are available now at tickets.formula1.com

Aug 22, 2024 • 42min
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 and Christian Hewgill how she looks after the staff who travel to races all over the world, and how her job involves everything from filling water bottles to white-water rafting.
Kelly from Birmingham, UK inspired this episode of F1 Explains. You can suggest a topic for a future podcast by emailing your question to F1Explains@F1.com
You might find your answer in a previous episode:
Meet the mechanics in an F1 garage - with Kick Sauber
How F1 teams work - from factory to racetrack
LIVE at Silverstone with Mika Hakkinen + F1 Explains listeners
How F1 lap times are recorded - with an official F1 timekeeper
What F1 drivers eat - with Oscar Piastri's nutritionist, Dr Dan Martin
How F1 helmets are made - with Bell Racing
Ask a Formula 1 Driver – Liam Lawson answers your questions
Inside the FIA Safety Car - with driver, Bernd Mayländer
How F1 video games are so realistic - with EA SPORTS F124
LIVE in Miami with Guenther Steiner + F1 Explains listeners
Car setup with Fernando Alonso + Aston Martin
F1 race suits, boots, gloves + underwear - with PUMA
F1 brakes - technology + technique - with Brembo + Jack Doohan
The job of an F1 Team Principal - with Aston Martin's Mike Krack
Why F1 teammates are friends + foes - with Valtteri Bottas + Zhou Guanyu
How Formula 2 + Formula 3 prepare drivers for F1 - with Oscar Piastri
F1 Academy - with Susie Wolff + Lia Block
The F1 race start - with Mick Schumacher + strategist Bernie Collins
Behind the scenes on Drive to Survive - with Exec Producer James Gay-Rees
Why F1 pre-season testing matters - with Mercedes, McLaren + Alpine
How F1 teams build their new cars - with Aston Martin Technical Director Dan Fallows
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid
For race previews and reviews from inside the F1 paddock, listen to F1 Nation
Experience F1 live in 2024
Tickets for the US Grand Prix in Texas, the Las Vegas Grand Prix and the rest of the 2024 F1 season are available now at tickets.formula1.com

Aug 1, 2024 • 18min
FAQs + Live show news
This mini session dives into frequently asked questions from fans, addressing curious concerns about F1's unique intricacies. Excitement builds for the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, alongside plans for engaging live shows in Austin and Las Vegas. The hosts share personal anecdotes and discuss the critical telemetry data that drivers analyze during races, revealing how it shapes their strategies. Audience interaction is emphasized, encouraging listeners to submit their questions and be part of the fun!
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