F1 Explains

Latest Episodes:

Car liveries: paint, decals, special designs + performance Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

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 Why@F1.com
Check out our previous episodes:

The mental pressure of F1 - with David Coulthard
Steering wheels - how they're designed + what the buttons do
DRS - how F1's overtaking aid works and why it matters
Tyres - an engineer, a driver and a designer explains why they matter
The 2024 F1 calendar - why it helps make F1 more sustainable
Wind Tunnels - the top secret tools where cars are created
Race engineers - the voices on F1 Team Radio, with Zhou Guanyu
Pit stops - two seconds of total teamwork
Simulators with Aston Martin's Stoffel Vandoorne
Racing in the rain with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade
Street circuits with Mika Hakkinen + Bernie Collins
F1 driver fitness with Alexander Rossi + Sebastian Vettel's former trainer
F1 in the USA - why the US has 3 races in 2023
F1 Sprint weekends with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen

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.

The mental pressure of F1 - with David Coulthard Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

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 Why@F1.com
We covered the physical fitness required to race in F1 on a previous episode featuring Sebastian Vettel's former trainer. Listen to that here
Other previous episodes:

Steering wheels - what the buttons do + how drivers learn them
DRS - how F1's overtaking aid works and why it matters
Tyres - an engineer, a driver and a designer explains why they matter
The 2024 F1 calendar - why it helps make F1 more sustainable
Wind Tunnels - the top secret tools where cars are created
Race engineers - the voices on F1 Team Radio
Pit stops - two seconds of total teamwork
Simulators with Aston Martin's Stoffel Vandoorne
Racing in the rain with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade
Street circuits with Mika Hakkinen + Bernie Collins
F1 in the USA - why the US has 3 races in 2023
F1 Sprint weekends with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen

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.

Steering wheels: how drivers learn their buttons Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

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 Why@F1.com
Level-up your F1 knowledge with our previous episodes:

DRS - how F1's overtaking aid works and why it matters
Tyres - an engineer, a driver and a designer explains why they matter
The 2024 F1 calendar - why it helps make F1 more sustainable
Wind Tunnels - the top secret tools where cars are created
Race engineers - the voices on F1 Team Radio
Pit stops - two seconds of total teamwork
Simulators with Aston Martin's Stoffel Vandoorne
Racing in the rain with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade
Street circuits with Mika Hakkinen + Bernie Collins
F1 driver fitness with Alexander Rossi + Sebastian Vettel's former trainer
F1 in the USA - why the US has 3 races in 2023
F1 Sprint weekends with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen

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.

Box box boxes, F1 car names + prize money - Your Questions Answered by Bernie Collins + Alex Jacques Sep 14, 2023

Show notes

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 Why@F1.com
Listen to our other quickfire question specials:

Trophies, travel + 'pace in the car' - with Will Buxton + Bernie Collins
F1 cars, upgrades + 'copycats' - with Bernie Collins + Will Buxton
Tyres, Championship points + car set-up - with Bernie Collins + Lawrence Barretto
'Undercuts', red lights + F1 jobs - with Lawrence Barretto + Bernie Collins

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.

Start secrets, Sprint stats + super subs - Your Questions Answered by Alex Jacques + Bernie Collins Sep 07, 2023

Show notes

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 Why@F1.com
F1 Explains tackles a different F1 topic every week. Check out our previous episodes using the links below:

DRS - how F1's overtaking aid works and why it matters
Tyres - an engineer, a driver and a designer explains why they matter
The 2024 F1 calendar - why it helps make F1 more sustainable
Wind Tunnels - the top secret tools where cars are created
Race engineers - the voices on F1 Team Radio
Pit stops - two seconds of total teamwork
Simulators with Aston Martin's Stoffel Vandoorne
Racing in the rain with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade
Street circuits with Mika Hakkinen + Bernie Collins
F1 driver fitness with Alexander Rossi + Sebastian Vettel's former trainer
F1 in the USA - why the US has 3 races in 2023
F1 Sprint weekends with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen

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.

DRS: how the Drag Reduction System has changed F1 racing Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

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 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

Write, record and send your F1 question to Why@F1.com and we will answer it in a future episode.
F1 Explains tackles a different F1 topic every week. Check out our previous episodes using the links below:

Tyres - an engineer, a driver and a designer explains why they matter
The 2024 F1 calendar - why it helps make F1 more sustainable
Wind Tunnels - the top secret tools where cars are created
Race engineers - the voices on F1 Team Radio
Pit stops - two seconds of total teamwork
Simulators with Aston Martin's Stoffel Vandoorne
Racing in the rain with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade
Street circuits with Mika Hakkinen + Bernie Collins
F1 driver fitness with Alexander Rossi + Sebastian Vettel's former trainer
F1 in the USA - why the US has 3 races in 2023
F1 Sprint weekends with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen

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.

Why tyres matter so much in F1 - with Pirelli + Jolyon Palmer Aug 24, 2023

Show notes

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 why@F1.com
F1 Explains tackles a different F1 topic every week. Check out our previous episodes using the links below:

The 2024 F1 calendar - why it helps make F1 more sustainable
Wind Tunnels - the top secret tools where cars are created
Race engineers - the voices on F1 Team Radio
Pit stops - two seconds of total teamwork
Simulators with Aston Martin's Stoffel Vandoorne
Racing in the rain with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade
Street circuits with Mika Hakkinen + Bernie Collins
F1 driver fitness with Alexander Rossi + Sebastian Vettel's former trainer
F1 in the USA - why the US has 3 races in 2023
F1 Sprint weekends with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen

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.

Why will the 2024 F1 calendar help make the sport more sustainable? Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

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 the team cut carbon.
We'd love to answer your F1 question. Record or write it, then email it to Why@F1.com
Why not listen to another episode?

Trophies, travel + 'pace in the car' - Your Questions Answered
Your F1 Car Questions Answered by Bernie Collins + Will Buxton
Why are F1 wind tunnels top secret?
Why do F1 drivers need race engineers? with Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu
Why are pit stops so important?
Why do F1 teams need simulators? with Aston Martin's Stoffel Vandoorne
Why is racing in the rain so difficult? with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade
Why are street circuits the ultimate test? with Mika Hakkinen + Bernie Collins
Tyres, points + car set-up - Your Questions Answered
Why do F1 drivers need to be so fit? with Alexander Rossi + Vettel's former trainer
Why does the USA have 3 F1 races in 2023?
Why is F1 Sprint such a challenge? with Kevin Magnussen

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.

Trophies, travel + 'pace in the car' - Your Questions Answered by Will Buxton + Bernie Collins Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

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 Aston Martin 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 Why@F1.com
Why not listen to another episode?

Your F1 Car Questions Answered by Bernie Collins + Will Buxton
Why are F1 wind tunnels top secret?
Why do F1 drivers need race engineers? with Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu
Why are pit stops so important?
Why do F1 teams need simulators? with Aston Martin's Stoffel Vandoorne
Why is racing in the rain so difficult? with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade
Why are street circuits the ultimate test? with Mika Hakkinen + Bernie Collins
Tyres, points + car set-up - Your Questions Answered
Why do F1 drivers need to be so fit? with Alexander Rossi + Vettel's former trainer
Why does the USA have 3 F1 races in 2023?
Why is F1 Sprint such a challenge? with Kevin Magnussen

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.

F1 cars, upgrades + 'copycats' - Your Questions Answered by Will Buxton + Bernie Collins Jul 13, 2023

Show notes

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
Why are pit stops so important?
Why do F1 teams need simulators? with Aston Martin's Stoffel Vandoorne
Why is racing in the rain so difficult? with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade
Why are street circuits the ultimate test? with Mika Hakkinen + Bernie Collins
Tyres, points + car set-up - Your Questions Answered
Why do F1 drivers need to be so fit? with Alexander Rossi + Vettel's former trainer
Why does the USA have 3 F1 races in 2023?
Why is F1 Sprint such a challenge? with Kevin Magnussen

Why don't you send us a question? Record or write them, then email to Why@F1.com
For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid. For race previews and reviews, head over to F1 Nation.

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