Brilliant questions, fascinating answers. F1 Explains explores how our favourite sport really works. In 2023, Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill put your questions to drivers, engineers, strategists, designers and many more of the people who do great work behind the scenes. At the end of the podcast's first season, Katie and Christian have picked the things they loved learning the most, including the advantages and disadvantages of having F1-ready neck muscles and how the sport's rulemakers keep an eye on teams at their factories. You'll hear from some of our favourite guests including Gemma Fisher, who turbocharged F1 pit stops, DRS expert and race strategist Ruth Buscombe and motorsport scientist Dr Diandra Leslie-Pelecky. Thank you very much for listening to F1 Explains in 2023. Join us in 2024, and send us a question to answer. Write or record your question using the voice memo app on your phone, then email it to [email protected]. F1 Expl

‘Being here in person is incredible’. ‘Insane. It blows my mind’. ‘It’s a different and amazing experience’. We love watching F1 on-screen, but this episode is all about why going to a Formula 1 Grand Prix is next level. Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne head to the grandstands at the 2023 US Grand Prix to hear why seeing F1 live is a must-do for any F1 fan. Whether it’s seeing how fast the cars really are, the chance to buy exclusive merch or getting to meet your favourite driver, a weekend at the track is full of unforgettable experiences.  Ready to go? You can buy official Formula 1 tickets for the 2024 season at tickets.formula1.com Not sure which race to choose? F1.com Destination Guides will help you decide Want to get even closer? <a hre

How do teams and drivers get ready for a track they've never been to before? It takes complex calculations, decades of data and a dash of racers' instinct. F1 Explains has the full answer as we prepare to head to Las Vegas. Plus, who gets which garage in the pit lane? What happens in 'parc fermé', what's an 'anti-stall' and which drivers are interview chatterboxes?  Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill put more of your questions to race-winning F1 strategist Bernie Collins and F1 Correspondent &amp; Presenter, Lawrence Barretto: Why F1 drivers walk the track before they race on it Why engine suppliers make a big difference How teams are using AI to plot race strategy Why F1 teams change their names We love answering your F1 questions! If you have something you'd like Christian, Katie and our team of experts to dive into, record a voice note or write us a message and email it to [email protected] <br

How do F1 drivers find the fastest way around a racetrack? Why do the stars of our sport use special drinks bottles? Do some F1 teams have No 1 and No 2 drivers? Race-winning F1 strategist Bernie Collins and F1 Correspondent and Presenter Lawrence Barretto return to answer your questions in another quickfire special. Plus, why do F1 tracks get grippier, what really goes on in F1 hospitality and how does the bonus point for fastest lap work? If you have a topic you'd like Christian, Katie and our team of F1 experts to explain, record a voice note or write us a message and email it to [email protected] We might have answered your question on a previous episode: LIVE at the US Grand Prix - with F1 Explains listeners + David Coulthard The incredible l

A Formula 1 legend, F1 fans with questions and a loud Texas crowd. F1 Explains took to the stage at the Circuit of The Americas for our first ever live show! Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill welcomed former McLaren, Red Bull and Williams driver David Coulthard to COTA's Amphitheatre stage. F1 Explains listeners Crystal from New York, Sammi from Massachusetts and Amanda from Tennessee brought their questions about F1 teammates, reaction times and training. You'll hear why F1 drivers backsides are so important and discover DC's hidden talent for singing... If you have an F1 question you'd like us to answer, record it as a voice note or write it in an email and send it to [email protected] Special thanks to Jordan Henley, Isabelle Hutt, Mark Jones and the stage team at Circuit of The Americas.

Priceless cars, team headquarters, crucial equipment, thousands of spare parts, tyres, fuel... and the Team Principal's favourite coffee. Every item F1 teams need to compete is moved from race to race by an amazing team of logistics experts. Formula 1's Global Logistics Partner, DHL, moves the sport around the world. It's a year-round, tight deadline task which is being achieved more sustainably than ever before - using bio-fuelled trucks and efficient freighter aircraft. Paul Fowler, DHL Vice President of Global Motorsport, tells us how the company gets F1 from track to track. Giorgia Tirabassi, DHL Trackside Co-ordinator - reveals the behind-the-scenes work to make sure F1 teams have everything they need in time to race, and how she handles the unexpected challenge of a last-minute delivery Every Formula 1 team has its own logistics staff. Alfa Romeo's Deputy Head of Race Part Logistics, Josef Pfandl, explains how he moves tens of

High-speed corners or tricky hairpins? Flat-out straights or tight chicanes? Every Formula 1 racetrack is a unique challenge for the drivers and teams, and the work to create them is a blend of artistry and engineering. F1 Explains how F1 circuits go from a sketch on a piece of paper, through state-of-the-art digital simulation, to reality. What are the challenges of building a racetrack? How are they designed to allow close racing, overtaking and interesting strategy? Christian and Katie put your questions on track design to the team from Apex Circuit Design, who were behind the Miami International Autodrome: Dafydd Broom - Managing Director Andrew Wallis - Engineering Director We want to answer your F1 question. Record a voice note on your phone or write us an email and send it to [email protected] Check out our previous episodes: <a href="http

Ferrari is red, Red Bull is blue... F1 car liveries are much more than paint and stickers. They're part of a team's identity, they're worth money to sponsors and they can even affect how the car performs on track.  F1 Explains how F1 car liveries are created with the help of two experts: Markus Höpperger tells us how Alfa Romeo's livery is designed and how paint schemes, sponsor placement and graphics are chosen McLaren's Louise McEwen explains why the team turned papaya and how they decide when to run special liveries like the 'chrome', 'Triple Crown' and 'stealth' looks from 2023. Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne talk paint, carbon fibre, sponsors and stickers and explore how liveries can affect laptimes on-track. We want to answer your F1 question. Record a voice note on your phone or write us an email and send it to [email protected] Check out our previous episodes: <a href="https://podfo

Formula 1 is a high-speed, high-stress sport. Staying cool, ignoring distractions and recovering from setbacks requires huge mental strength, composure and resilience. How do F1 drivers cope? How do they make sure their minds are in the right condition? What support and training do they get to help them? F1 Explains with the help of two expert guests: Pete McKnight - performance coach who gets F1 drivers mentally ready to race. Performance Director for Hintsa Performance David Coulthard - 13-time F1 winner on the mental strength he developed during his racing career Katie and Christian explore how drivers get into the zone before a race by sticking to a routine, how they respond to defeats and mistakes, and why every driver has to believe that they are the best on the grid. If you have an F1 question you'd like answered, write or record it and email it to [email protected] We covered the physical fitness required to race

Each one is different, but they're all high-tech pieces of equipment made of military-spec materials, designed to work in extreme conditions. F1 steering wheels do so much more than turn the car.  Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne explore steering wheels with the help of two expert guests: Jose Manuel Lopez, Mclaren Principal Race Engineer Jolyon Palmer, former F1 driver with Renault and GP2 champion Jose and Jolyon tell us how wheels are designed, what all the buttons do, how drivers learn their wheels, how they make sure their unique wheel works best for them, and what happens if a driver hits the wrong button.  If you have an F1 question you'd like answered, write or record it and email it to [email protected] Level-up your F1 knowledge with our previous episodes: DRS - how F1's overt

Who decides where F1 teams do their pit stops? How do F1 cars and racetrack corners get their names? How much is F1's prize pot? Race-winning strategist Bernie Collins and award-winning F1TV commentator Alex Jacques are back with Katie and Christian to answer more of your questions. Along the way you'll hear which F1 car is named after a team founders' wife, the different ways F1 corners get their names, and why drivers leave it until the last possible moment to do their qualifying laps. We'd love to answer your question about F1. Whatever the topic, record it as a voice note or write it in an email and send it to us at [email protected] Listen to our other quickfire question specials: Trophies, travel + 'pace in the car' - with Will Buxton + Bernie Collins <a href="https://podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/34755c12cb9a29592

How do F1 race starts work? Can you score a podium in F1 Sprint? What are the rules on teams sharing reserve drivers? You ask, F1 Explains with the help of F1TV commentator Alex Jacques and F1 strategist Bernie Collins.  The team explains why F1 Grands Prix start when five red lights go out, explore the history of F1 race starts, and Alex reveals the secrets to commentating on the action-packed opening moments of a race.  Plus, how is a top 3 finish in F1 Sprint officially recorded, which teams have deals to share their reserve drivers, why are F1 rule changes announced years before they come into effect, and how do race strategists like Bernie work out how fast their car will be in a race? Send Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill your latest Formula 1 question and F1 Explains will tackle it in a future episode. Write an email or record and attach a voice note and send it to [email protected] F1 Explains tackles a different F1 topic every week. Check o

It's the innovation which transformed F1 racing. DRS, the Drag Reduction System, gives drivers a better chance of overtaking. Why was it introduced? How does it work? What's the best way to use it? F1 Explains with the help of three experts, who tell Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne all about this fascinating subject: McLaren Aerodynamics Specialist Emel Cankaya works on designing DRS systems. She explains the physics of DRS, why it makes cars go faster and the rules on DRS design Alfa Romeo's Head of Race Strategy Ruth Buscombe studied DRS at university. She tells us how DRS is controlled and how it has changed F1 racing for strategists Former Renault F1 racer Jolyon Palmer puts us in the cockpit to explain DRS driving and overtaking F1 Explains tackles a different F1 topic every week. Check out our previous episodes using the links below: <a href="https://podfollow.com/f1-explains/

They're round, they're black, they keep you on the track. Tyres are one of the most important parts of a Formula 1 car, but getting the best performance from them requires tireless work from drivers, teams and engineers. Three tyre experts join Katie and Christian to explain all you need to know about F1 tyres: Former F1 racer Jolyon Palmer explains why tyres are so important to drivers Mario Isola, Head of Motorsport for official F1 tyre supplier Pirelli, tells us why different tyre compounds are chosen for each race weekend and why F1 tyres wear out McLaren's Director of Race Engineering, Hiroshi Imai, explains how F1 teams choose which tyres to use and the tyre rules they must not break You ask, F1 Explains! Send your F1 question - as an email or a voice note - to [email protected] F1 Explains tackles a different F1 topic every week. Check out our previous episodes using the links below: </d

Racing more regionally. New power for the F1 Paddock. Game-changing fuels for F1 cars and, potentially, your car. Big things are happening to help make Formula 1 more sustainable. Christian and Katie ask F1's Head of Sustainability, Ellen Jones, why re-organising the race calendar for 2024 will help reduce the sport's carbon footprint. Ellen also reveals how F1's trialling new ways of reducing the amount of energy used at races and developing a game-changing sustainable fuel with potential to transform the way we all travel in the future.  McLaren's CEO, Zak Brown, and Sustainability Director Kim Wilson reveal how Lando Norris' race seat and the lake outside their factory are helping them cut carbon.  We'd love to answer your F1 question. Record or write it, then email it to [email protected] Why not listen to another episode? Trophies, travel +

Why don't F1 drivers get to keep their trophies? How do F1 people cope with travel? What do drivers actually mean when they talk about having 'pace in the car'? Bernie Collins, former F1 strategist, and Will Buxton, F1TV presenter, are back with Christian and Katie to answer these questions and more. Bernie tells us about a time a driver was allowed to keep a special trophy, while Will explains how drivers avoid jet lag during the Singapore night race. We'd love to answer your F1 question. Record or write it, then email it to [email protected] Why not listen to another episode? Your F1 Car Questions Answered by Bernie Collins + Will Buxton Why are F1 wind tunnels top secret? <a href="https://podfollow.com/formula-why/e

Why are some F1 cars faster than others? Why do some upgrades work and some don't? Why don't F1 teams all just copy the fastest car?  F1TV presenter and Drive to Survive star Will Buxton, and former Aston Martin Head of Race Strategy Bernie Collins join Katie and Christian to answer those questions in more in a quickfire Formula Why special all about F1 cars. You'll hear what upgrading an F1 car has in common with online clothes shopping, why copying a successful car is like trying to cook without a recipe, and why F1 drivers get weighed after every single race. Why not listen to these other episodes? Why are F1 wind tunnels top secret? Why do F1 drivers need race engineers? with Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu <a href="https

Hidden inside F1 factories, engineers use blasts of high-speed air to shape race-winning cars. Wind tunnels are multi-million dollar, high-tech facilities where aerodynamicists experiment.  What happens in the wind tunnel usually stays in the wind tunnel, but Formula Why is going into this secretive world with Alpine F1 Team's Technical Director, Matt Harman. He tells us why F1 teams use wind tunnels, why they're so secretive and the incredible way the sport's rule makers, the FIA, keep an eye on how much teams use them.  Christian and Katie also break down the rules about wind tunnels and why teams spend millions to have their own tunnels.  Got a question for us? We'll answer it! Write or record it, then send it to [email protected] Check out other episodes of Formula Why. Scroll through the feed or use the links below: Why do F1 dri

They're the voice in the driver's ear, guiding them through every lap. F1 drivers can't compete without their race engineers, but why are they so important? Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu and his race engineer Jorn Becker join Formula Why to answer your questions. Why do engineers speak like they do? Why do they use some words and not others? Why are all F1 Team Radio messages in English? Zhou and Jorn explain the secrets of a great driver/race engineer team.  We want to answer your questions on Formula Why! Record or write them, and send them to [email protected]  Check out these other episodes of Formula Why 'Undercuts', red lights + F1 jobs - Your Questions Answered Why are pit stops so important?  <a href="https://podfollow.com/formula-wh

Why can pitting a lap earlier than your rival be a race-winning move? Why do F1 cars have red lights on the back? How do drivers remember all their race plans at 200mph? How do people get to be F1 Team Principals, strategists or reporters? Former Aston Martin Head of Strategy Bernie Collins and F1 Chief Correspondent Lawrence Barretto are back with Christian and Katie on Formula Why to answer these questions and more in a quickfire special. Got an F1 question you'd like us to answer, or a message about the podcast? Record it as a voice note or write it in an email and send it to [email protected] Check out other episodes of Formula Why. Scroll through the feed or use the links below: Why is racing in the rain so difficult? with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade W

Two seconds. Twenty teammates. Total teamwork. F1 pit stops are iconic, but why are they so important, and why are they so difficult to do perfectly? Who's on the pit crew, and what does each person do? Katie and Christian get the answers from: Gemma Fisher - the human performance specialist who revolutionised F1 pit stops Connor Swan - Alpine F1 Team's Pit stop Performance Co-ordinator Kevin Magnussen - Haas F1 Team driver  Christian and Katie break down an F1 pit stop - from the role of the driver, to the mechanics who fit the tyres - and how the crew works together to get the car back on track in the shortest possible time. Check out other episodes of Formula Why. Scroll through the feed or use the links below: Why do F1 teams need simulators? with Aston Martin Reserve Driver Stoffel Vandoorne, Alpi

Formula 1 teams couldn't do without them and drivers spend hours using them. Simulators are a vital tool for every team in F1, but why? Katie and Christian talk to four sim experts to explain all. Stoffel Vandoorne, Aston Martin's reserve driver, took a break from a long day in the sim to tell us why they're so useful for racers. Alpine's Technical Director Matt Harman breaks down how teams use them to test new parts and car set-ups. Motorsport scientist Dr Diandra Leslie-Pelecky explains how simulators work and why they're so realistic. Plus a chat with Red Bull Racing Esports star Sebastian Job, who went from winning on video games to working in the real Red Bull F1 simulator, working on race weekend set-ups for Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen. Check out other episodes of Formula Why. Scroll through the feed or use the links below: Why is racing in the rain so diff

In F1, rain always means drama. Drivers fight to stay on track. Their skills are pushed to the limits. Why is steering, braking, and racing so much harder in the rain? Formula Why has the answers. After a quick guide to F1's wet weather tyres, motorsport scientist Dr Diandra Leslie-Pelecky explains why it's so hard to keep control on a wet racetrack. Haas F1 Team Race Engineer Mark Slade tells us why F1 teams have to put total faith in their drivers when the rain comes down. Plus, double Formula 1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen returns to explain why rain tests a driver's body, mind and reflexes and what it takes to win races in the rain. Check out other episodes of Formula Why. Scroll through the feed or use the links below: Why are street circuits the ultimate test? with Mika Hakkinen + Bernie Collins <a href="https://podfollow.com/formula-why/episode/68a35f58d61a1a88

No room for error. No time to breathe. When F1 races on city streets – like in Monaco, Miami or Singapore – drivers and strategists face a challenge like no other. Double F1 World Champion and street race-winner Mika Hakkinen joins Christian and Katie to answer why low grip, narrow streets, and punishing metal barriers make racing on the streets the ultimate test of a drivers’ test – and why spilt drinks and moving boats can make it even harder. Plus, Aston Martin’s former Head of Strategy Bernie Collins returns to Formula Why to tell us why making a pit stop at the right time is even more important on the streets. Check out our previous episodes on driver fitness, F1 Sprint and F1 in the USA, plus our quickfire 'Your Whys Answered'. Follow, rate and review Formula Why on your podcast app, share it with a friend using #FormulaWhy and tell us what topics you'd like us to explore. Write or record your questions and email them to [email protected]

Why do F1 winners get 25 points? Why do tyre-smoking lock-ups happen? Why do F1 cars change for every race? This week on Formula Why we're answering some of the questions you've sent in to [email protected] so far. Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne are joined by former Aston Martin Head of Strategy Bernie Collins and F1 Correspondent and Presenter Lawrence Barretto to explore the whys, the hows and the whats. Along the way we learn why F1 cars haven't always had four wheels, why tyre warmers aren't just for warming tyres and why Lawrence takes an extra suitcase to every Grand Prix. Got a question about how F1 works? We'd love to hear it. Write it or record it as a voice note, then send it to [email protected] and we'll include it in a future episode. Thanks for listening. Check out previous episodes of Formula Why on F1 Sprint, F1 in the USA and why drivers need to be so fit. For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid. For race pre

Insane speed needs incredible strength. If you’ve ever wondered why F1 drivers look so exhausted at the end of a race, this is why.  Katie and Christian find out why F1 drivers need elite levels of fitness, why their necks, legs and cores need to be so strong and why staying hydrated is so important. Racing scientist Dr Diandra Leslie Pelecky talks through the ‘extremes’ F1 drivers experience. Sebastian Vettel’s former trainer Antti Kontsas of Hintsa Performance explains the real reason neck strength is so important. Former F1 driver Alexander Rossi returns to Formula Why to talk F1 training, to ruin Christian’s dreams of ever being an F1 driver, and why super-fit F1 drivers have problems when shopping for clothes… 

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?   Coming up on Formula Why, Katie and Christian will explore driver fitness, racing in the rain plus F1 experts will answer your questions. Record and send your question to [email protected]

Less prep. More pressure. In 2023, F1 Sprint is more thrilling than ever. Listener Crystal from New York wants to know why F1 Sprint is such an exciting challenge for F1’s teams and drivers. Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill explore the answer with Haas F1 Team’s Kevin Magnussen and his race engineer, Mark Slade. Kevin and Mark had an F1 Sprint weekend to remember in 2022. Kevin took a stunning pole position, leaving Mark facing a huge restaurant bill! Then, former Aston Martin Head of Race Strategy, Bernie Collins, tells us why tyre choice, overtaking and avoiding pit-stops are crucial to Sprint success. Plus, Christian and Katie have all you need to know about the changes to F1 Sprint for 2023, including the new Sprint Shootout session on Saturdays. Welcome to Formula Why. Whether you’re new to F1 or a life-long fanatic, Formula Why is for everyone who wants to know more about how the sport works. Send us your F1 ‘why’ question, and we could answer it on a futu

The more you know about Formula 1, the more you'll love it. Join Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill for Formula Why, the official F1 podcast for every fan who wants to know how the sport really works. Write or record and send your 'why' questions to [email protected] and we'll get F1 experts to answer them on a future episode.