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**F1 Nation**

Step inside the Formula 1 Paddock for race previews, reviews, interviews and analysis with Tom Clarkson and expert guests.

Get answers to your questions on F1 Explains with Christian Hewgill. Email F1Explains@F1.com

An official F1 podcast. For in-depth F1 interviews, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid

Latest Episodes:

Red carpet F1 stars + backstage stories - F1 75 Live at The O2 Feb 19, 2025

Show notes

All 20 drivers. All 10 teams. 1 epic night in London. F1 Nation goes backstage at F1 75 Live at The O2, and joins the stars of the show on the red carpet.
Tom Clarkson joins presenters Lawrence Barretto and Laura Winter for a post-show debrief. They share stories from rehearsals, what it was like co-hosting in front of 20,000 people, working alongside the hilarious Jack Whitehall, their favourite livery, which music acts they enjoyed, and what they’re now most looking forward to about the new season.
We hit the red carpet to speak to Formula 1 legends including Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill and Mario Andretti.
TC also grabs chats with Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Ollie Bearman, Liam Lawson and more of today's F1 stars.

How Ferrari found Ollie Bearman, Jack Doohan on brakes + Liam Lawson's racing lines - The Best of F1 Explains 2024 Dec 27, 2024

Show notes

How do Formula 1 teams scout their future stars? How are drivers coached to go faster? What really happens on the grid before the start of a race? In 2024, F1 Explains answered these questions and many more sent in by F1 fans from all over the world.
F1 Explains takes your questions and finds the experts to answer them. In this special episode, presenters Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne have picked the most fascinating moments from the podcast's second season:

Liam Lawson on how drivers find the racing line
Ollie Bearman reveals Ferrari's young driver scouting camps
Oscar Piastri on how F2 prepared him to win in F1
Jack Doohan explains braking at 200mph
Bernie Collins' guide to the F1 pit lane
Planning the F1 calendar
How performance engineers coach drivers to go faster
What happens on the grid in the minutes before the race start

Listen to previous episodes of F1 Explains here
Whether you're a new F1 fan or a long-time follower, there's always something more to learn. If you have a question you'd like F1 Explains to answer, send it as an email or a voice note to F1Explains@F1.com
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Alonso, Sainz, Bearman + more - The Best of F1 Beyond The Grid 2024 Dec 18, 2024

Show notes

On F1 Beyond The Grid, the stars of the world's fastest sport slow down for in-depth interviews.
In this end-of year special, presenter Tom Clarkson picks his favourite moments from the dramatic 2024 Formula 1 season. Guests reveal what it’s like being at the centre of the biggest stories of the year, sharing fascinating insight into what life is like as a Formula 1 driver, Team Principal, engineer, designer, and more.
Fernando Alonso reflects on becoming the first driver in F1 history to compete in 400 Grands Prix and why he nearly retired much earlier in his career. Carlos Sainz explains how he recovered from physical and mental setbacks to win multiple races. And Ollie Bearman describes what it was really like making his F1 debut at such short notice in Saudi Arabia.
As well as today’s big names, legends of the past like Juan Pablo Montoya and David Coulthard relive their career-defining moments. Plus, you’ll hear memories of Lewis Hamilton’s time at Mercedes and Bruno Senna’s stories of growing up with his uncle Ayrton, 30 years on from his death.
Thank you for listening in 2024. F1 Beyond The Grid will return in 2025.
To hear the full interviews with the guests featured in this show, click on the links below…
Toto Wolff
Charles Leclerc
Carlos Sainz
Juan Pablo Montoya
David Coulthard
Bruno Senna
Fernando Alonso
Andy Stevenson
Ollie Bearman
Ayao Komatsu
Tom Stallard
Paul Monaghan
Listen to more official F1 Podcasts
F1 Explains - answering your questions about Formula 1

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‘Papaya on top’, Ferrari fall short + Hamilton’s ‘champion’s drive’ – 2024 Abu Dhabi GP Review Dec 09, 2024

Show notes

Tom Clarkson is joined in the Yas Marina paddock by F1TV presenter Laura Winter and Sean Kelly, F1's Virtual Statman, to dissect the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
McLaren are Constructors’ World Champions for the first time since 1998. How have they achieved such a transformation and where can they go from here? We get reaction from race winner Lando Norris, Team Principal Andrea Stella and Director of Trackside Operations, Mark Norris.
Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc both finished on the podium in their final race as teammates but Ferrari missed out on the title by 14 points. Tom, Laura and Sean assess their season and look ahead to the challenges facing both drivers next year.
Plus, we reflect on the end of Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes era and discuss whether he can be a success at Ferrari in 2025.
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
F1 Beyond The Grid - exclusive interviews with F1's biggest stars, including Carlos Sainz.
F1 Explains - your F1 questions, answered by experts
Experience F1 live
Tickets for the 2025 F1 season are available now at tickets.formula1.com
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McLaren v Ferrari, Max v George + Hamilton’s Mercedes goodbye – 2024 Abu Dhabi GP Preview with Pedro de la Rosa Dec 05, 2024

Show notes

Tom Clarkson is joined in the Yas Marina paddock by former McLaren and Ferrari driver, and now Aston Martin ambassador, Pedro de la Rosa to preview the 2024 season-finale in Abu Dhabi.
Who will win the battle between McLaren and Ferrari to become World Champions? How is Lewis Hamilton feeling ahead of his final race with Mercedes? Is Pedro surprised by the war of words between Max Verstappen and George Russell? And will this be Sergio Perez’s final race for Red Bull?
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
F1 Beyond The Grid - exclusive interviews with F1's biggest stars, including Carlos Sainz.
F1 Explains - your F1 questions, answered by experts
Experience F1 live
Tickets for the 2025 F1 season are available now at tickets.formula1.com
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Max’s ‘winning DNA’, Zhou’s joy + Ocon’s Alpine farewell – 2024 Qatar GP Review Dec 02, 2024

Show notes

Tom Clarkson is joined in the paddock by F1TV’s lead commentator Alex Jacques and Haas Test and Reserve Driver Pietro Fittipaldi to reflect on an action-packed Qatar Grand Prix that has set up a season-finale showdown for the Constructors’ Championship.
How did Max Verstappen go from fighting a Haas in Saturday’s F1 Sprint to winning Sunday’s Grand Prix? Was Lando Norris’s 10 second stop-go penalty too harsh? And with just 21 points now separating leaders McLaren and second-placed Ferrari in the standings, who’s more confident of becoming World Champions at the final race in Abu Dhabi?
Plus, you’ll hear reaction from Zhou Guanyu after he scored Sauber’s first points of the season and the newly crowned F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling.
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
F1 Beyond The Grid - exclusive interviews with F1's biggest stars.
F1 Explains - your F1 questions, answered by experts
Experience F1 live
Tickets for the 2025 F1 season are available now at tickets.formula1.com
Discover F1 Unlocked
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Constructors’ battle ‘more pressure for everyone else’ than McLaren – 2024 Qatar GP Preview with Piastri’s race engineer Tom Stallard Nov 28, 2024

Show notes

Tom Clarkson is joined by Oscar Piastri’s race engineer, Tom Stallard, at the Lusail International Circuit ahead of a crucial weekend in the Constructors’ Championship.
McLaren lead Ferrari by just 24 points in the Constructors’ Standings. With the Qatar Grand Prix featuring the final F1 Sprint of the season, 103 points still on offer in the last two rounds of 2024, and Red Bull also in the mix, it’s still all to play for.
McLaren haven’t been World Champions since 1998, so are they feeling the pressure? Will they return to winning ways in Qatar after a double podium and Sprint victory here last season? Who’s their biggest threat for P1? Why has Piastri had weaker results since his win in Baku? And how does this fight compare to Stallard’s experiences as an Olympic rower?
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
F1 Beyond The Grid - exclusive interviews with F1's biggest stars, including Tom Stallard on life as an Olympic rower and how he became a race engineer
F1 Explains - your F1 questions, answered by experts
Experience F1 live
Tickets for the 2025 F1 season are available now at tickets.formula1.com
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How ‘ultimate driver’ Verstappen is ‘improving every year’ – 2024 Las Vegas GP Review with Max’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase Nov 25, 2024

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by T-Mobile, official 5G partner of F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Tom Clarkson is joined in the paddock by F1 correspondent and presenter Lawrence Barretto to celebrate Max Verstappen becoming a four-time World Champion at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Was this Verstappen’s best title? How does he compare to other sporting greats? And what can he still go on to achieve in Formula 1? His race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase tells the guys why this championship was more ‘emotional’ than he expected, while Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner explains how Max has made the difference this season.
Tom and Lawrence also discuss what Lando Norris will have learnt from his title fight with Verstappen and what we can expect from their battles in 2025.
Plus, was George Russell’s phenomenal victory in Vegas a ‘statement’ to Toto Wolff? And were Ferrari’s mistakes a first real ‘test’ of Fred Vasseur’s new culture at the team?
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
F1 Beyond The Grid - exclusive interviews with F1's biggest stars
F1 Explains - your F1 questions, answered by experts
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Will Vegas crown Verstappen in his 'best ever' season? Las Vegas GP Preview with Giedo van der Garde Nov 18, 2024

Show notes

Get ready for high-speed racing in a spectacular city - and it could be a title-decider. Tom Clarkson and Natalie Pinkham welcome former F1 driver and Dutch TV broadcaster Giedo van der Garde to preview the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen can seal his fourth Formula 1 World Championship, joining the list of drivers who have celebrated titles in Las Vegas. How will he approach the race? Can challenger Lando Norris keep his hopes alive?
The Constructors' Championship is tight at the top. Will McLaren extend their lead? Do the streets of Vegas suit Ferrari? Can Alpine score another big points haul or will Haas and RB fight back in the mighty midfield battle?
Plus, reaction and analysis to the arrival of a new FIA Race Director, the departure of Aston Martin's Technical Director, Alpine's future Mercedes engine deal, Valtteri Bottas' new tattoo and F1's incredible 2025 season launch.

Listen to more official F1 podcasts

F1 Beyond The Grid - exclusive interviews with F1's biggest stars
F1 Explains - your F1 questions, answered by experts

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Gabriel Bortoleto on his ‘dream’ F1 deal, Alonso’s guidance + racing for Brazil Nov 11, 2024

Show notes

Brazil’s newest Formula 1 driver Gabriel Bortoleto joins Tom Clarkson, 1996 World Champion Damon Hill and former Brazilian F1 racer Luciano Burti to discuss his rise to the pinnacle of motorsport with Sauber in 2025.
Why has Bortoleto chosen Sauber? Why have they chosen him? And what does this mean to fans in Brazil?
Gabriel also talks about the influence his manager, two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso, has had on his career, whether this announcement takes the pressure off his Formula 2 title challenge, and which driver on the current grid he admires the most.
Plus, Tom, Damon and Luciano discuss what's next for Sauber’s outgoing drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, and the impact Bortoleto’s move has on the rest of the driver market.
Listen to more official F1 podcasts

For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars of today and yesteryear, including Luciano Burti, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid
F1 Explains - drivers, engineers + experts answer your questions about Formula 1

Experience F1 live
Tickets for the end of the 2024 F1 season and the start of 2025 are available now at tickets.formula1.com
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