F1 Explains
Episodes
Car liveries: paint, decals, special designs + performance
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
The mental pressure of F1 - with David Coulthard
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Formula 1 is a high-speed, high-stress sport. Staying cool, ignoring distractions and recovering from setbacks requires huge mental strength, composur...
Steering wheels: how drivers learn their buttons
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 steer...
Box box boxes, F1 car names + prize money - Your Questions Answered by Bernie Collins + Alex Jacques
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 strategi...
Start secrets, Sprint stats + super subs - Your Questions Answered by Alex Jacques + Bernie Collins
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 he...
DRS: how the Drag Reduction System has changed F1 racing
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ge...
Why tyres matter so much in F1 - with Pirelli + Jolyon Palmer
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 performan...
Why will the 2024 F1 calendar help make the sport more sustainable?
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 mak...
Trophies, travel + 'pace in the car' - Your Questions Answered by Will Buxton + Bernie Collins
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
F1 cars, upgrades + 'copycats' - Your Questions Answered by Will Buxton + Bernie Collins
13 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Why are F1 wind tunnels top secret?
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hidden inside F1 factories, engineers use blasts of high-speed air to shape race-winning cars. Wind tunnels are multi-million dollar, high-tech facili...
Why do F1 drivers need race engineers? with Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu + Jorn Becker
29 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 impo...
'Undercuts', red lights + jobs in F1: Your Questions Answered by Lawrence Barretto + Bernie Collins
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ra...
Why do F1 pit stops take teamwork?
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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? ...
Why do F1 teams need simulators? - with Aston Martin's Stoffel Vandoorne
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Why is racing in the rain so difficult? - with Mika Hakkinen
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ha...
Why are F1 street circuits the ultimate test? - with Mika Hakkinen + Bernie Collins
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 challen...
Tyres, F1 points + car set-up: Your Questions Answered by Bernie Collins + Lawrence Barretto
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
Why do F1 drivers have to be so fit? - with Vettel's former trainer + Alexander Rossi
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Why does the USA have 3 F1 races in 2023? - with Alexander Rossi + Leigh Diffey
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Why are F1 Sprint weekends such a challenge? - with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen + strategist Bernie Collins
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Less prep. More pressure. In 2023, F1 Sprint is more thrilling than ever. Listener Crystal from New York wants to know why F1 Sprint is such an exciti...
Know more about F1, with Formula Why
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The more you know about Formula 1, the more you'll love it. Join Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill for Formula Why, the official F1 podcast for ever...