Episodes

  • How F1 teams find future stars – with Mercedes

    How F1 teams find future stars – with Mercedes
    Jul 31 2025
    Where do Formula 1 teams spot the drivers of the future? What are they looking for in young racers? And how did Mercedes guide Kimi Antonelli from karting to F1?

    F1 Explains explores junior driver programmes, which exist to find talented young drivers and support them as they climb the motorsport ladder.

    Most F1 teams have these academies. Red Bull signed a young Max Verstappen, Ferrari supported Charles Leclerc and Oliver Bearman, Lando Norris was part of the McLaren programme, and Mercedes developed George Russell, Kimi Antonelli and Esteban Ocon during their junior racing.

    F1 ACADEMY leader Doriane Pin is also part of the Mercedes Junior Driver Programme. She tells Christian Hewgill how Mercedes spotted her and answers your questions on what the team is doing to support her career.

    The Mercedes programme is led by Gwen Lagrue, the man who discovered Russell, Antonelli and Ocon. Gwen explains how he identifies those with the most potential, guides them into junior car racing and decides when they are ready to step up to Formula 3, F2 and, finally, F1.

    Get your question answered on the podcast

    Send your voice notes and emails to F1Explains@F1.com

    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
    Show More Show Less
    48 mins
  • Ask Stefano Domenicali – F1 President and CEO answers your questions

    Ask Stefano Domenicali – F1 President and CEO answers your questions
    Jul 24 2025
    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
    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
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • Esteban Ocon explains F1 training, post-race weigh-ins + racing focus

    Esteban Ocon explains F1 training, post-race weigh-ins + racing focus
    Jul 17 2025
    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
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • Ask Ayao Komatsu LIVE at the British Grand Prix

    Ask Ayao Komatsu LIVE at the British Grand Prix
    Jul 10 2025
    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
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • 75 Years of F1: How the sport arrived and thrived - with Damon Hill + Alex Jacques at the British GP

    75 Years of F1: How the sport arrived and thrived - with Damon Hill + Alex Jacques at the British GP
    Jul 3 2025
    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
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • This Friday: F1 Explains LIVE at the British Grand Prix

    This Friday: F1 Explains LIVE at the British Grand Prix
    Jul 1 2025
    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 min
  • F1 commentary, team radio + qualifying questions - with Alex Jacques + Jolyon Palmer

    F1 commentary, team radio + qualifying questions - with Alex Jacques + Jolyon Palmer
    Jun 26 2025
    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
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • How F1 The Movie was made - with director Joseph Kosinski

    How F1 The Movie was made - with director Joseph Kosinski
    Jun 25 2025
    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
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins