logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2018
27m 45s

Formula One engineer Caroline Hargrove

Bbc Radio 4
About this episode
<p>How do you convince Formula One racing drivers that they are speeding round the race track at Le Mans when, in fact, they are sitting in a simulator in the McLaren offices in Woking? Apparently it’s all about getting the vibrations right. Racing drivers really do drive by the seat of their pants. They’re also highly attuned to the sound f the engine and ... Show More
Up next
Jul 8
Dame Pratibha Gai on training atoms to do what we want
Chemical reactions are the backbone of modern society: the energy we use, the medicines we take, our housing materials, even the foods we eat, are created by reacting different substances together. If we zoom in, it’s the atoms within these substances that rearrange themselves to ... Show More
28m 23s
Jul 1
Catherine Heymans on the lighter side of the dark universe
Have you ever considered the lighter side of dark matter? Comedy has proved an unexpectedly succesful way to engage people with science - as today's guest knows first-hand. Astrophysicist Catherine Heymans is a Professor at the University of Edinburgh and the current Astronomer R ... Show More
28m 34s
Jun 24
Tim Coulson on how predators shape ecosystems and evolution
As a young man, traveling in Africa, Tim Coulson - now Professor of Zoology at the University of Oxford - became seriously ill with malaria and was told a second bout would probably kill him. Aged only 20, this brush with his own mortality led him to promise himself he would writ ... Show More
28m 36s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2022
Danica Patrick: winner, leader, competitor
F1 was her ‘goal’ once upon a time, but she made history in IndyCar and NASCAR. Danica Patrick’s early racing career followed the course of so many F1 stars: karting championships, a teenage move to Europe, an impressive result at the prestigious Formula Ford Festival, and meetin ... Show More
59m 41s
Oct 2023
How F1 racetracks are designed
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 p ... Show More
44m 32s
Aug 2023
DRS: how the Drag Reduction System has changed F1 racing
It has given us more action, more overtaking and more chances to change the race with strategy. DRS, the Drag Reduction System, can help F1 drivers get in position for a race-winning overtake. Why was it introduced? How does it work? What's the best way to use it? F1 Explains wit ... Show More
37m 36s
Apr 2022
Steve Nichols: engineering domination for McLaren
Creator of an iconic F1 car, with an inside view of a ferocious racing rivalry: Steve Nichols has witnessed some extraordinary things. The American engineer designed the McLaren MP4/4, the car which stormed to 15 wins in 16 races in 1988. He tells Tom Clarkson the story of the MP ... Show More
1h 31m
Nov 2023
New track prep, pit lane positions, track walks + AI strategy? Your Questions Answered by Lawrence Barretto + Bernie Collins
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 happen ... Show More
47m 59s
Mar 2024
Mick Schumacher + Bernie Collins explain the F1 race start
20 F1 cars. 5 red lights. 0.2 seconds to react. 5 seconds to 120 mph. The start of a Formula 1 Grand Prix demands extraordinary skill from the drivers and quick decisions from the team strategists. Katie and Christian explore the start of a race with Mercedes reserve driver and f ... Show More
35m 32s
Nov 2023
Racing lines, driver drinks + 'No. 1 drivers' Your Questions Answered by Bernie Collins + Lawrence Barretto
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 q ... Show More
46m 45s
Sep 2023
The mental pressure of F1 - with David Coulthard
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 ... Show More
49m 26s
Oct 2023
Jessica Hawkins: F1 history maker | 'The car is like a spaceship!'
Matt Baker is joined by British racing driver Jessica Hawkins after she became the first woman in five years to test an F1 car. The Aston Martin ambassador reflects on her experience behind the wheel and explains how it compares to the simulator. She also discusses the barriers f ... Show More
34m 31s
Feb 2024
Netflix Drive to Survive: behind the scenes
The latest season of Drive To Survive is another fascinating look inside Formula 1. How is the show planned, filmed and edited? How do the producers decide what stories to tell? What does the future hold for the series? To find out, Christian and Katie speak to Drive to Survive's ... Show More
35m 7s