F1 Explains

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 to announce the winners. Congratulations to them, and thank you to everyone who entered. You can buy 2025 Miami Grand Prix tickets here. Send your F1 questions to F1Explains@F1.com

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 explain what teams and drivers are doing, why the pre-race countdown is so important and the rules of the F1 grid. McLaren Race Engineer Tom Stallard tells us what he and Oscar Piastri are talking about on the grid. Plus celebrity chef and F1 fan Gordon Ramsay describes the pre-race atmosphere. 'Hi F1 Explains, my F1 question is...' Be part of the podcast. Send your question 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 Experience Formula 1 live Tickets for the end of the 2024 F1 season and the start of 2025 are available now at tickets.formula1.com Discover F1 Unlocked Unseen. Unheard. F1 Unlocked. Dive into exclusive content from F1 experts, redeem epic rewards and enter money-can't-buy competitions. Click here to join for free

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 Parties or a high-speed night out. F1 Explains listeners Kim, Lindsay, Nick, Hayden and Kat asked Katie and Christian to explain how drivers influence strategy during a race, what Team Principals do on the pit wall, and the difference between 'dirty air' and a slipstream. Plus, F1 Explains gave people who attended the Watch Party the chance to win tickets to the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. The competition is now closed. Winners will be announced on a future episode. Good luck to everyone who entered. Tickets courtesy of the Miami Grand Prix You can buy 2025 Miami Grand Prix tickets here 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

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 Daniel from New Zealand asked Mika and Ollie questions about how Ferrari spotted Ollie, how to be fast at your next karting party and how drivers gain confidence. NBA star and F1 fan Sidy Cissoko of the San Antonio Spurs got his question answered too! And, Katie and Christian had a very special surprise for two McLaren fans who travelled from the other side of the world to see the show. You can be part of the podcast! Send your questions to F1Explains@F1.com Special thanks to Ella Clarke and Mark Jones  F1 Explains LIVE at F1 Arcade Washington D.C. - Sunday October 27th Join Christian and Katie at the brand new F1 Arcade Washington D.C. to watch the Mexico City Grand Prix. Watch the race with other F1 fans, enjoy racing simulators, food + drink, and be part of an F1 Explains episode recording. Watch Party starts at 3pm. F1 Arcade Washington D.C., Union Market, 420 Penn St. NE Washington, D.C. Last few 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

Come watch the Mexico City GP with F1 Explains at F1 Arcade Washington D.C. Buy tickets at f1arcade.com/us/watch-parties/mexico-city On 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 be there? We can answer your F1 question. Send it to F1Explains@F1.com, and tell us you're coming to the party Watch Party starts at 3pm on Sunday October 27th. 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

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

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

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

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. It's a mix of studying data, finding improvements, and coaching drivers to go faster on-track. Plus, Tom explains the teamwork among Performance Engineers, Strategists and Race Engineers (the role he currently does with Oscar Piastri). They have to communicate efficiently to get the best result in every qualifying session and race. For more from Tom Stallard, follow F1 Beyond The Grid for an in-depth interview coming soon. F1 EXPLAINS LIVE - AT THE FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2024 Saturday October 19th, 1815 (after F1 qualifying) Circuit of the Americas, Amphitheatre stage near the F1 Fanzone Join Christian, Katie and special guests for a live show - with your chance to put a question to an F1 expert Email F1Explains@F1.com to get involved 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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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 2024 season are on sale now at tickets.formula1.com If you'll be there, let us know at F1Explains@F1.com, and you could be part of the show. Send us your questions for the second half of the season. Thanks for listening in 2024 so far. 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