47 episodes

Your questions about Formula 1, answered by the experts. Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill explore our favourite sport with F1 drivers, engineers and the people who make the sport work.

You can send us a question! Record it as a voice note or write it in an email, then send it to F1Explains@F1.com

For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid. For race reviews and previews, listen to F1 Nation.

F1 Explains Formula 1

    • Sport
    • 4.6 • 35 Ratings

Your questions about Formula 1, answered by the experts. Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill explore our favourite sport with F1 drivers, engineers and the people who make the sport work.

You can send us a question! Record it as a voice note or write it in an email, then send it to F1Explains@F1.com

For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid. For race reviews and previews, listen to F1 Nation.

    How F1 video games are so realistic - with EA SPORTS F124

    How F1 video games are so realistic - with EA SPORTS F124

    Cars that feel F1-fast. Racetracks that look real. Drivers in detail. EA SPORTS F124, the latest official Formula 1 game, is out on 31 May and it's more lifelike than ever. How do game designers bring the world of F1 to life on your console? Katie and Christian speak to two of F124's creators to find out:





    Lee Mather - Senior Creative Designer
    Casey Ringley - Senior Game Designer + Vehicle Handling Lead

    Lee explains how photos and radar are used to make sure racetracks look like the real thing. Casey reveals how the brand new Dynamic Handling on F124 and input from Max Verstappen makes the cars better than ever to drive. Plus, Christian tries to put himself in the game...

    EA SPORTS F124 is out on 31 May

    PEGI: 3 • ESRB: E • Mild Language. In-Game Purchases. Users Interact.

    Send us your F1 question and we'll find the expert to answer it
    Write an email or record a voice note and send it to F1Explains@F1.com

    Learn more about F1 with our previous episodes:




    LIVE in Miami with Guenther Steiner + F1 Explains listeners
    Car setup with Fernando Alonso + Aston Martin

    F1 brakes - technology + technique - with Brembo + Jack Doohan

    The job of an F1 Team Principal - with Aston Martin's Mike Krack

    Why F1 teammates are friends + foes - with Valtteri Bottas + Zhou Guanyu

    How Formula 2 + Formula 3 prepare drivers for F1 - with Oscar Piastri

    F1 Academy - with Susie Wolff + Lia Block

    The F1 race start - with Mick Schumacher + strategist Bernie Collins

    Behind the scenes on Drive to Survive - with Exec Producer James Gay-Rees

    Why F1 pre-season testing matters - with Mercedes, McLaren + Alpine

    How F1 teams build their new cars - with Aston Martin Technical Director Dan Fallows

    More Official F1 Podcasts


    For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid 
    For race previews and reviews from inside the F1 paddock, listen to F1 Nation



    Played the game? Now see F1 for real
    Tickets for races in Texas, Las Vegas, across Europe and around the world are available now. Go to tickets.formula1.com

    • 39 min
    When strategy goes wrong, upgrades explained + how to work in F1 - with Ruth Buscombe + Bernie Collins

    When strategy goes wrong, upgrades explained + how to work in F1 - with Ruth Buscombe + Bernie Collins

    Grand Prix-winning strategists Ruth Buscombe and Bernie Collins are back with Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill to answer another batch of your Formula 1 questions.

    On the list this week: 


    Why do teams sometimes get their race strategies wrong?
    How are car upgrades planned?
    How do you become an F1 race strategist?
    What do drivers do to look after their tyres?
    What are the T-bars on top of F1 cars, and why are they different colours?



    Send us your F1 question and we'll find the expert to answer it
    Write an email or record a voice note and send it to F1Explains@F1.com

    Learn more about F1 with our previous episodes:




    LIVE in Miami with Guenther Steiner + F1 Explains listeners
    Car setup with Fernando Alonso + Aston Martin

    F1 brakes - technology + technique - with Brembo + Jack Doohan

    The job of an F1 Team Principal - with Aston Martin's Mike Krack

    Why F1 teammates are friends + foes - with Valtteri Bottas + Zhou Guanyu

    How Formula 2 + Formula 3 prepare drivers for F1 - with Oscar Piastri

    F1 Academy - with Susie Wolff + Lia Block

    The F1 race start - with Mick Schumacher + strategist Bernie Collins

    Behind the scenes on Drive to Survive - with Exec Producer James Gay-Rees

    Why F1 pre-season testing matters - with Mercedes, McLaren + Alpine

    How F1 teams build their new cars - with Aston Martin Technical Director Dan Fallows

    More Official F1 Podcasts


    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



    Experience Formula 1 live in 2024
    Tickets for races in Texas, Las Vegas and across Europe are available now. Go to tickets.formula1.com

    • 42 min
    Strategy secrets, crazy races + radio riddles: Bernie Collins + Ruth Buscombe answer your questions

    Strategy secrets, crazy races + radio riddles: Bernie Collins + Ruth Buscombe answer your questions

    Two race-winning F1 strategists answer your questions on how teams plan their pit stops, what happens if fewer than 10 cars finish a Grand Prix and how teams hide their secrets when they speak to drivers on the radio.

    Bernie Collins and Ruth Buscombe join Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill for a quickfire episode of F1 Explains. Why do some teams hope they'll finish a lap behind the leader? What happens when a driver is told to 'keep their head down'? What words did Ruth struggle with when she moved from an Italian team to a British one?

    Send us your F1 question and we'll find the expert to answer it
    Write an email or record a voice note and send it to F1Explains@F1.com

    Learn more about F1 with our previous episodes:




    LIVE in Miami with Guenther Steiner + F1 Explains listeners
    Car setup with Fernando Alonso + Aston Martin

    F1 brakes - technology + technique - with Brembo + Jack Doohan

    The job of an F1 Team Principal - with Aston Martin's Mike Krack

    Why F1 teammates are friends + foes - with Valtteri Bottas + Zhou Guanyu

    How Formula 2 + Formula 3 prepare drivers for F1 - with Oscar Piastri

    F1 Academy - with Susie Wolff + Lia Block

    The F1 race start - with Mick Schumacher + strategist Bernie Collins

    Behind the scenes on Drive to Survive - with Exec Producer James Gay-Rees

    Why F1 pre-season testing matters - with Mercedes, McLaren + Alpine

    How F1 teams build their new cars - with Aston Martin Technical Director Dan Fallows

    More Official F1 Podcasts


    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



    Experience F1 live in 2024
    Tickets for races in Texas, Las Vegas and across Europe are available now. Go to tickets.formula1.com

    • 46 min
    The hardest decision + the biggest gossip? LIVE in Miami with Guenther Steiner

    The hardest decision + the biggest gossip? LIVE in Miami with Guenther Steiner

    At the Miami Grand Prix, F1 Explains went live on-stage with former Haas Team Principal and Miami GP Ambassador, Guenther Steiner.

    F1 Explains listeners Joan from Florida, Amanda from Tennessee and Nick from Washington D.C. asked Guenther questions about the life of an F1 Team Principal and whether Steiner's office door survived being smashed by Kevin Magnussen.

    Special thanks to Sam Rose, Carla Corbet, Lyndsey Fairburn, Lindsay Krushner, Jamil Russell-Lewis + Jason Gol

    Watch F1 live in 2024
    Tickets for the US Grand Prix in Austin, the Las Vegas Grand Prix and the rest of the 2024 F1 season are available now at tickets.formula1.com

    Catch up with our other episodes




    F1 car setup - with Fernando Alonso + Aston Martin

    Race suits, boots + underwear: what F1 drivers wear - with PUMA

    F1 brakes - technology + technique - with Brembo + Jack Doohan

    The job of an F1 Team Principal - with Aston Martin's Mike Krack

    Why F1 teammates are friends + foes - with Valtteri Bottas + Zhou Guanyu

    How Formula 2 + Formula 3 prepare drivers for F1 - with Oscar Piastri

    F1 Academy - with Susie Wolff + Lia Block

    The F1 race start - with Mick Schumacher + strategist Bernie Collins

    Behind the scenes on Drive to Survive - with Exec Producer James Gay-Rees

    Why F1 pre-season testing matters - with Mercedes, McLaren + Alpine

    How F1 teams build their new cars - with Aston Martin Technical Director Dan Fallows

    More Official F1 Podcasts


    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

    • 37 min
    How to make an F1 car as fast as possible - with Fernando Alonso, Pedro de la Rosa + Tom McCullough in Miami

    How to make an F1 car as fast as possible - with Fernando Alonso, Pedro de la Rosa + Tom McCullough in Miami

    A Formula 1 car is like a musical instrument: to perform at its best, it has to be tuned. Aerodynamics, suspension, tyres, and transmission can all be changed to suit the racetrack, the driver and the weather.

    In Miami, Christian Hewgill joins Aston Martin to explore car setup, with driver Fernando Alonso, Ambassador and former F1 racer Pedro de la Rosa, and Performance Director Tom McCullough.

    Send us your F1 question and we'll find the expert to answer it
    Write an email or record a voice note and send it to F1Explains@F1.com

    Learn more about F1 with our previous episodes:




    LIVE in Miami with Guenther Steiner and F1 Explains listeners

    F1 brakes - technology + technique - with Brembo + Jack Doohan

    The job of an F1 Team Principal - with Aston Martin's Mike Krack

    Why F1 teammates are friends + foes - with Valtteri Bottas + Zhou Guanyu

    How Formula 2 + Formula 3 prepare drivers for F1 - with Oscar Piastri

    F1 Academy - with Susie Wolff + Lia Block

    The F1 race start - with Mick Schumacher + strategist Bernie Collins

    Behind the scenes on Drive to Survive - with Exec Producer James Gay-Rees

    Why F1 pre-season testing matters - with Mercedes, McLaren + Alpine

    How F1 teams build their new cars - with Aston Martin Technical Director Dan Fallows



    More Official F1 Podcasts



    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

    • 30 min
    Suits, boots + underwear: what F1 drivers race in - with PUMA

    Suits, boots + underwear: what F1 drivers race in - with PUMA

    When F1 drivers get dressed for a race, safety is the number one priority. Their gloves, balaclavas, boots, suits and underwear protect them from fire and heat. But race kit can't slow them down. It needs to be light, comfortable and breathable - with a few special features built-in to help them perform at their best. 

    Maurizio Sicco, Consultant at PUMA Motorsport and racewear expert tells Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill all about F1 race kit: how it's designed and tested, and the special requests drivers make for their customised gear. 




    Leading sportswear brand PUMA make race suits for Mercedes, Sauber, Ferrari and Williams, and the brand new PUMA x F1 collection, available now



    Send us your F1 question and we'll find the expert to answer it
    Write an email or record a voice note and send it to F1Explains@F1.com

    Learn more about F1 with our previous episodes:




    LIVE in Miami with Guenther Steiner and F1 Explains listeners
    Car setup with Fernando Alonso + Aston Martin

    F1 brakes - technology + technique - with Brembo + Jack Doohan

    The job of an F1 Team Principal - with Aston Martin's Mike Krack

    Why F1 teammates are friends + foes - with Valtteri Bottas + Zhou Guanyu

    How Formula 2 + Formula 3 prepare drivers for F1 - with Oscar Piastri

    F1 Academy - with Susie Wolff + Lia Block

    The F1 race start - with Mick Schumacher + strategist Bernie Collins

    Behind the scenes on Drive to Survive - with Exec Producer James Gay-Rees

    Why F1 pre-season testing matters - with Mercedes, McLaren + Alpine

    How F1 teams build their new cars - with Aston Martin Technical Director Dan Fallows



    More Official F1 Podcasts



    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

    • 38 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
35 Ratings

35 Ratings

DLHC71 ,

Excellent show for new fans

I’m really enjoying this. As a new fan I have a lot to learn and great to have it explained so well by enthusiastic presenters who interview the experts so well

_M16_ ,

Aimed at new F1 fans, but still interestering

As a long term F1 fan I'm probably not the target audience but I've still learned a few things. However I stopped listening as I find Katie Osborne's voice far too grating.

flintwall ,

Old school review.

We get way too much over enthusiastic mutual back scratching, Hewgill long winded repetitive off topic blather, Katie Osborne speaking so fast she trips over her words delivered in a monotone. Do we really need to be told so often why F1 Explains is so great, unique and the best thing since sliced bread?
Exasperatingly, the outside expert contributors are great -knowledgeable, focussed, ‘down to earth’ and informative. The over active presenters are anything but.

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