F1 Explains

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Ask Stefano Domenicali – F1 President and CEO answers your questions Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

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
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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

Esteban Ocon explains F1 training, post-race weigh-ins + racing focus Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

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

Ask Ayao Komatsu LIVE at the British Grand Prix Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

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

75 Years of F1: How the sport arrived and thrived - with Damon Hill + Alex Jacques at the British GP Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

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

This Friday: F1 Explains LIVE at the British Grand Prix Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

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

F1 commentary, team radio + qualifying questions - with Alex Jacques + Jolyon Palmer Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

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

How F1 The Movie was made - with director Joseph Kosinski Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

Filmed on real F1 racetracks, in the middle of real F1 action, F1 The Movie is the most authentic racing movie ever.
Director Joseph Kosinski tells Christian Hewgill how the movie was made - how it all started with an email to Lewis Hamilton, how the team modified real race cars to film the spectacular racing sequences, and how he shot scenes on the grid, on the track and in the pit lane during F1 race weekends.
F1 The Movie – in cinemas June 25th internationally, June 27th in North America
Find a screening near you at f1themovie.com
Get your question on the podcast!
Send voice notes and emails to F1Explains@F1.com
F1: The Movie on official F1 podcasts
Brad Pitt tells F1 Beyond The Grid how he became his character Sonny Hayes
Damson Idris + Kerry Condon talk about preparing for their roles on F1 Nation
It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there!
Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com

Planning your F1 trip - choosing a race, buying tickets + picking seats Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

Watching F1 on TV is incredible. Seeing the action live is even better. With 24 amazing races, different ticket options and viewing positions to choose from, how do you plan a trip to a Formula 1 Grand Prix?
Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill speak to Gavin and Megan, F1 fans from Colorado who are going to this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix during their honeymoon. They want advice planning their weekend - what to take to the track, where to sit, and what to do besides watching the races.
F1 Experiences is the closest you can get to Formula 1, with pit lane walks, track tours and photos with the F1 World Championship trophy. Find out more at f1experiences.com
Send your questions and messages to F1Explains@F1.com
You can buy tickets for F1 in 2025 and 2026 at tickets.formula1.com
The 2026 F1 Calendar is out now - choose your race here
F1: THE MOVIE - in theatres June 25th / June 27th (US)
Find a showing - f1themovie.com

Lando Norris explains F1 driving styles, champagne slams + special helmets Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

What is a ‘driving style’ and how many different ones are there? What’s the secret to executing a champagne pop on the podium? And how do F1 drivers come up with ideas for special helmet designs and create the final product?
McLaren driver Lando Norris joins Christian Hewgill at the Canadian Grand Prix to give you the answers.
Lando also tells us what he likes to eat for breakfast, why he has to get up so early on race day, his guilty pleasures, what he’d be if he wasn’t an F1 driver, and why he wants to become World Champion.
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

F1's greatest drivers + improving safety | Ask an F1 World Champion - with Sir Jackie Stewart Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

He's a legend of Formula 1, a three-time World Champion who fought to make the sport safer. Sir Jackie Stewart's good work continues today with his charity Race Against Dementia.
Sir Jackie joins Christian Hewgill to answer your questions on how F1 has changed since the 1960s and 70s, the great drivers of the past and how F1 cars and racetracks have become safer over the decades.
Lady Helen Stewart, Jackie's wife, was once his timekeeper. She stood at the side of the track with a stopwatch to record his lap times. In 2014 they learned she has dementia, a brain disease which can affect memory, thinking and behaviour. Sir Jackie explains how his charity funds research to find a cure.
Formula 1 is proud to support Race Against Dementia
The global charity, founded by Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, funds pioneering research into the prevention and cure of dementia. Find out more at raceagainstdementia.com
Get your question on the podcast!
Send voice notes and emails to F1Explains@F1.com
COMING SOON...
Lando Norris and Esteban Ocon - send in your questions for our Ask an F1 Driver specials with two Grand Prix winners.
F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali - send your questions on his job running Formula 1.
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

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