F1 Explains

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Why are F1 wind tunnels top secret? Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

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 Why@F1.com
Check out other episodes of Formula Why. Scroll through the feed or use the links below:

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

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Why do F1 drivers need race engineers? with Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu + Jorn Becker Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

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 Why@F1.com
Check out these other episodes of Formula Why

'Undercuts', red lights + F1 jobs - Your Questions Answered
Why are pit stops so important?
Why do F1 teams need simulators? with 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 Haas driver Kevin Magnussen

Thanks for listening. Please rate and review Formula Why and invite a friend to join in using the share button and #FormulaWhy

'Undercuts', red lights + jobs in F1: Your Questions Answered by Lawrence Barretto + Bernie Collins Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

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 Why@F1.com
Check out other episodes of Formula Why. Scroll through the feed or use the links below:
Why are pit stops so important?
Why do F1 teams need simulators?
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
Thanks for listening. Please leave us a rating and a review. Share the show to help other F1 fans learn more about the sport we all love using #FormulaWhy

Why do F1 pit stops take teamwork? Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

Twenty teammates. Two seconds. 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:

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 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

Got an F1 question for Christian, Katie and our F1 experts? Record or write it, and email to Why@F1.com
Thank you for listening. Please leave us a rating and a review. Share the podcast to help other F1 fans learn more about F1 using #FormulaWhy
For more F1 podcasts, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid and F1 Nation

Why do F1 teams need simulators? - with Aston Martin's Stoffel Vandoorne Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

For learning racetracks to testing new car upgrades, simulators are a vital tool for every team in F1. Katie and Christian talk to four sim experts to explain why.
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 team engineers 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, testing 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 are pit-stops so important in F1? with pit-stop performance experts
Why is racing in the rain so difficult? with F1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade
Why are street circuits the ultimate test? with Mika Hakkinen + former strategist Bernie Collins
Tyres, points + car set-up - Your Questions Answered by F1 experts
Why do F1 drivers need to be so fit? with former F1 driver Alexander Rossi
Why does the USA have 3 F1 races in 2023?
Why is F1 Sprint such a challenge? with Haas F1 driver Kevin Magnussen
Send your F1 questions to Katie and Christian! Record or write them, and send to Why@F1.com
Thanks for listening. Please leave us a rating and a review. Share the show to help other F1 fans learn more about the sport we all love using #FormulaWhy
For more F1 podcasts, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid and F1 Nation

Why is racing in the rain so difficult? - with Mika Hakkinen Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

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 pit stops so important?
Why do F1 teams need simulators?
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
Send your F1 questions to Katie and Christian! Record or write them, and send to Why@F1.com
Thanks for listening. Please leave us a rating and a review. Share the show to help other F1 fans learn more about the sport we all love using #FormulaWhy
For more F1 podcasts, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid and F1 Nation

Why are F1 street circuits the ultimate test? - with Mika Hakkinen + Bernie Collins May 25, 2023

Show notes

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 lined with unforgiving metal barriers are the ultimate test of a drivers’ skill – 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 pit stops at the right time is even more important on the streets.
Check out these other episodes of Formula Why

'Undercuts', red lights + F1 jobs - Your Questions Answered
Why are pit stops so important?
Why do F1 teams need simulators?
Why is racing in the rain so difficult? with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade
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

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 Why@F1.com

Tyres, F1 points + car set-up: Your Questions Answered by Bernie Collins + Lawrence Barretto May 18, 2023

Show notes

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 Why@F1.com 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 Why@F1.com and we'll include it in a future episode.
Check out other episodes of Formula Why. Scroll through the feed or use the links below:
'Undercuts', red lights + F1 jobs - Your Questions Answered
Why are pit stops so important?
Why do F1 teams need simulators?
Why is racing in the rain so difficult? with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade
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 stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid. For race previews and reviews, head over to F1 Nation.

Why do F1 drivers have to be so fit? - with Vettel's former trainer + Alexander Rossi May 11, 2023

Show notes

Insane speed needs incredible strength. If you’ve ever wondered why F1 drivers look so exhausted at the end of a race, here's your answer.
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 shirts…
Check out other episodes of Formula Why. Scroll through the feed or use the links below:
'Undercuts', red lights + F1 jobs - Your Questions Answered
Why are pit stops so important?
Why do F1 teams need simulators?
Why is racing in the rain so difficult? with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade
Tyres, points + car set-up - Your Questions Answered
Why does the USA have 3 F1 races in 2023?
Why is F1 Sprint such a challenge? with Kevin Magnussen
Record or write your questions and send them to Why@F1.com

Why does the USA have 3 F1 races in 2023? - with Alexander Rossi + Leigh Diffey May 04, 2023

Show notes

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?
Check out other episodes of Formula Why. Scroll through the feed or use the links below:
'Undercuts', red lights + F1 jobs - Your Questions Answered
Why are pit stops so important?
Why do F1 teams need simulators?
Why is racing in the rain so difficult? with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade
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 is F1 Sprint such a challenge? with Kevin Magnussen
Record and send your questions to Katie and Christian at Why@F1.com

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