logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2023
52m 45s

Neck strength secrets, wind tunnel watch...

FORMULA 1
About this episode
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 why@F1.com.

F1 Explains Season 1 is available to listen to now:

For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest names, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid. For race previews and reviews, head over to F1 Nation.

Up next
Jul 3
75 Years of F1: How the sport arrived and thrived - with Damon Hill + Alex Jacques at the British GP
1996 Formula 1 World Champion, Damon Hill, and F1TV’s lead commentator, Alex Jacques, join Christian Hewgill at the British Grand Prix for an F1 history lesson - 75 years since the World Championship began at Silverstone in 1950. How did the pinnacle of motorsport begin? What did ... Show More
52m 14s
Jul 1
This Friday: F1 Explains LIVE at the British Grand Prix
F1 Explains will be live on-stage at the British Grand Prix with two special guests: Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu, and F1 legend David Coulthard will join Christian Hewgill to answer your questions. See you there! F1 EXPLAINS LIVE AT SILVERSTONE Friday 4th July Main Stage 111 ... Show More
1m 10s
Jun 26
F1 commentary, team radio + qualifying questions - with Alex Jacques + Jolyon Palmer
How do F1 commentators call races? What do F1 team radio messages mean? How do drivers make sure their laps in qualifying are as fast as possible? In this 'mega' episode, F1TV commentary duo Alex Jacques and Jolyon Palmer explain how they do their jobs - the camera shots and data ... Show More
29 m
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2022
REVISITED: Martin Brundle on the best F1 cars of each decade
Season 5 of F1: Beyond The Grid starts with a brand-new episode on Wednesday 16th March. With just days to go before we see the new 2022 cars go wheel to wheel, we revisit an episode from 2020 when Martin Brundle joined Tom to discuss the best F1 cars he’s ever driven. The Briton ... Show More
1h 6m
May 2023
‘F1 is a mental game’ – this week on BTG
Who’s Tom’s F1 Beyond The Grid guest this week? Hit play to find out, then share using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Listen to the latest F1 Nation for reaction and analysis after the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix from former F1 stars Pedro de la Rosa and Alex Wurz. Plus, to hear why street circuit ... Show More
1m 48s
Jun 2023
Stefano Domenicali: driving F1 forward
What does the future hold for Formula 1? New races? New teams? New rules? F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali answers all these questions and many more in an intriguing chat with Tom Clarkson.  Domenicali knows what success tastes like. He won multiple World Championships as ... Show More
55m 29s
Feb 2023
Who’s winning, who’s worried? 2023 F1 Season Preview
F1 Nation is back with a new signing and big questions for the 2023 F1 season. Legendary test and race driver Pedro de la Rosa joins Tom Clarkson, 1996 World Champion Damon Hill and Natalie Pinkham to unravel pre-season testing and work out who’ll be at the front at the Bahrain G ... Show More
1h 33m
Jul 2023
Mario Illien: powering F1 champions
Engineer or artist? Mario Illien is both.  The Swiss engine designer powered McLaren to glory in the 1990s, and helped make F1’s current hybrid engines the most efficient in the world. Working in isolation for up to 18 hours a day, Mario has spent decades using exotic materials t ... Show More
54m 43s
May 2022
Alexander Rossi: twists, turns and tragedy on the road to F1
Growing up in Northern California, a young Alexander Rossi dreamed of racing in Formula 1. His route was not an easy one. Along the way he experienced false starts, unfulfilled promises, behind the scenes power moves and the tragic loss of his friend and teammate Jules Bianchi. A ... Show More
53m 36s
Dec 2021
Horner, Leclerc, Ricciardo + more in The Best of 2021
2021 gave us amazing action on the racetrack, and captivating conversations on F1 Beyond The Grid. For this special episode, Tom Clarkson has picked his favourite moments from the past year. Red Bull’s Christian Horner explained how Max Verstappen evolved from teenage sensation t ... Show More
1h 4m
Mar 2023
Shocks at the start - Bahrain GP Review ft Newey, Stroll, Schumacher + Sargeant
Fernando Alonso’s podium, Charles Leclerc’s retirement, Red Bull’s pace advantage; the 2023 F1 season started with some shocks. We hear from Max Verstappen and Alonso, then Red Bull’s victorious Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey tells Tom Clarkson and Natalie Pinkham there wer ... Show More
49m 54s
Jul 2023
Home heroes + Red Bull records – British GP review ft Lando’s dad, Horner + Albon
Two British drivers on the podium. A record-equalling 11th straight win for Red Bull. The 2023 British Grand Prix will go down in history. Max Verstappen took his sixth win in a row at Silverstone, but McLaren stole the headlines with Lando Norris' first home podium and Oscar Pia ... Show More
51m 20s