Meet a Formula 1 pit crew - with Haas
The driver hits the brakes. The car stops in the pit lane and 20 people go to work. Wheel guns roar. Tyres spin. The car speeds back into the race. An F1 pit stop is 2 seconds of precision under pressure. F1 Explains meets the people who make lightning-fast pit stops happen. Christian Hewgill puts your questions to Haas pit crew members Matt Thompson, Monique Hurrell and Marcus Farrer. Matt, Monique and Marcus explain how they became part of the pit crew, what happens during a stop, and what they do for the rest of the race weekend. Get your question answered on the podcast Send your voice notes and emails to F1Explains@F1.com It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there! Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com Listen to more official F1 podcasts In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation
28 Aug 24min
How F1 teams find future stars – with Mercedes
Where do Formula 1 teams spot the drivers of the future? What are they looking for in young racers? And how did Mercedes guide Kimi Antonelli from karting to F1? F1 Explains explores junior driver programmes, which exist to find talented young drivers and support them as they climb the motorsport ladder. Most F1 teams have these academies. Red Bull signed a young Max Verstappen, Ferrari supported Charles Leclerc and Oliver Bearman, Lando Norris was part of the McLaren programme, and Mercedes developed George Russell, Kimi Antonelli and Esteban Ocon during their junior racing. F1 ACADEMY leader Doriane Pin is also part of the Mercedes Junior Driver Programme. She tells Christian Hewgill how Mercedes spotted her and answers your questions on what the team is doing to support her career. The Mercedes programme is led by Gwen Lagrue, the man who discovered Russell, Antonelli and Ocon. Gwen explains how he identifies those with the most potential, guides them into junior car racing and decides when they are ready to step up to Formula 3, F2 and, finally, F1. Get your question answered on the podcast Send your voice notes and emails to F1Explains@F1.com It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there! Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com Listen to more official F1 podcasts In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation
31 Juli 48min
Ask Stefano Domenicali – F1 President and CEO answers your questions
Being the boss of Formula 1 is a big job. F1 teams, drivers, race promoters, sponsors and more than 825 million fans worldwide rely on Stefano Domenicali to lead the sport forwards. It’s a huge responsibility, so how does he keep everyone happy? Speaking to Christian Hewgill, Stefano explains exactly what his job involves and how the role compares to his time as Ferrari Team Principal. He also answers your questions about the cost cap, the calendar, the points-scoring system, the sport’s growth in the US and why Formula 1 is entering a new era in 2026. And with so many exciting new additions to the sport in the last few years - like F1 Sprint, the spectacular Las Vegas Grand Prix, the trailblazing F1 ACADEMY, and F1 The Movie - what does Stefano think the next big thing for Formula 1 will be? Get your question answered on the podcast Send your voice notes and emails to F1Explains@F1.com NET ZERO F1 is on-target to be Net Zero by 2030. The sport has reduced its carbon emissions by 26% since 2018. Read more here. F1 THE MOVIE starring Brad Pitt NOW PLAYING Get tickets now It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there! Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com Listen to more official F1 podcasts In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation
24 Juli 33min
Esteban Ocon explains F1 training, post-race weigh-ins + racing focus
He's a race-winner, a Haas driver and he lays claim to being the tallest person on the F1 grid (hairstyle permitting). Esteban Ocon joins F1 Explains to answer the latest batch of listener questions. Among the topics in our inbox: how drivers prepare mentally and physically, why they get handed a little paper ticket at their post-race weight check, how being tall affects the job of an F1 driver, and whether fireproof underwear is comfortable. Esteban also talks about working with his Haas race engineer Laura Mueller, how drivers sense when it's time to change tyres during a wet race, his pre-race rituals and how he keeps his concentration while racing. Get your question on the podcast! Send your voice notes and emails to F1Explains@F1.com F1 THE MOVIE starring Brad Pitt NOW PLAYING Get tickets now It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there! Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com Listen to more official F1 podcasts In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation
17 Juli 36min
Ask Ayao Komatsu LIVE at the British Grand Prix
How do F1 teams help new drivers settle in? What are the secrets of Silverstone? Could Taylor Swift help Ollie Bearman go faster? Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu answers these questions and more in the latest F1 Explains live show, recorded at the British Grand Prix. F1 Explains listeners Eilín from Ireland, Maya from New York and honeymooning couple Amie and Sam join Ayao and Christian Hewgill on-stage. They ask Ayao how Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman adapted to their new team, the differences between rookies and experienced drivers, and how F1 stars stay focused during a race. Will Ayao use Christian's idea of playing his drivers' favourite songs over the radio to give them a boost? Watch this space... Get your question on the podcast! Send your voice notes and emails to F1Explains@F1.com F1 THE MOVIE starring Brad Pitt NOW PLAYING Get tickets now It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there! Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com Listen to more official F1 podcasts In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation
10 Juli 21min
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 the first World Championship look like in terms of the cars, the calendar and the Constructors? Who were the sport’s biggest superstars in the early decades? What have been the biggest technological advances? How has safety improved over time? Alex takes us through the defining moments of each era, how Formula 1 transformed into the spectacle it is today and what we can expect in the future. And Damon talks about his life in Formula 1 – how he went from watching his World Champion father Graham as a child to following in his footsteps by winning the title in ’96, his epic rivalry with Michael Schumacher, being teammates with the legendary Ayrton Senna – and how the sport is so different now to when he was racing. Get your question on the podcast! Send voice notes and emails to F1Explains@F1.com F1: THE MOVIE starring Brad Pitt NOW PLAYING Get tickets now It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there! Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com Listen to more official F1 podcasts In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation
3 Juli 52min
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 1115-1145 Free to all British Grand Prix Friday or weekend ticket-holders Send your questions for Ayao and David to F1Explains@F1.com Get your question on the podcast! Send voice notes and emails to F1Explains@F1.com F1: THE MOVIE starring Brad Pitt Only in cinemas June 2025 Get tickets now It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there! Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com Listen to more official F1 podcasts In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation
1 Juli 1min
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 they look at during a Grand Prix Alex and Jolyon also help Christian Hewgill decode F1 team radio messages, and break down how teams approach qualifying. Get your question on the podcast! Send voice notes and emails to F1Explains@F1.com F1: THE MOVIE starring Brad Pitt Only in cinemas June 2025 Get tickets now It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there! Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com Listen to more official F1 podcasts In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation
26 Juni 29min
