Episodes
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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 lineOllie Bearman reveals Ferrari's young driver scouting campsOscar Piastri on how F2 prepared him to win in F1Jack Doohan explains braking at 200mphBernie Collins' guide to the F1 pit lanePlanning the F1 calendarHow performance engineers coach drivers to go fasterWhat happens on the grid in the minutes before the race startListen 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 [email protected]
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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
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F1 Explains - answering your questions about Formula 1
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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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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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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
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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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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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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 podcastsF1 Beyond The Grid - exclusive interviews with F1's biggest starsF1 Explains - your F1 questions, answered by expertsDiscover F1 Unlocked
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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 podcastsFor in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars of today and yesteryear, including Luciano Burti, listen to F1 Beyond The GridF1 Explains - drivers, engineers + experts answer your questions about Formula 1Experience F1 live
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Tom Clarkson is joined by F1TV commentator Alex Jacques and Brazilian former F1 driver Ricardo Rosset to dissect a chaotic Sao Paulo Grand Prix, as Max Verstappen produced a masterclass in the rain to climb from P17 and claim his first win in 11 races.
Was this the greatest of Verstappen’s 62 race wins? How did he make his way through the grid in such treacherous conditions? Why was title rival Lando Norris unable to convert pole position into victory? And what does this mean for the Drivers’ World Championship, with just three races and one F1 Sprint left in 2024?
Alpine teammates Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly explain why their sensational double podium is so special to them and how they as drivers made the difference in wet weather, while Team Principal Oliver Oakes joins the pod to discuss what this result means for Alpine after one of their most challenging seasons in F1.
Plus, Tom, Alex and Ricardo reflect on strong performances from George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, and really difficult weekends for Lewis Hamilton and Williams.
Listen to more official F1 podcastsFor in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars listen to F1 Beyond The GridF1 Explains - drivers, engineers + experts answer your questions about Formula 1Experience 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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In the Interlagos paddock, Tom Clarkson is joined by Formula 2 championship leader and McLaren academy driver Gabriel Bortoleto to preview the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil.
Max Verstappen leads Lando Norris by 47 points in the Drivers’ World Championship. With four races and two F1 Sprints left this season, there's a total of 120 points still to race for.
Rain is a possibility in Brazil. A grid penalty is also possible for Verstappen, if he takes a new power unit. What impact could those factors have on the outcome this weekend? Will Max change his approach to racing Lando after being punished in Mexico? And with Ferrari closing the gap in the Constructors’ Standings, and targeting a third win in a row, are McLaren starting to feel the pressure?
You’ll also hear Lewis Hamilton describe what it means to be driving Ayrton Senna’s 1990 title-winning McLaren around the track on Saturday. Plus, having been heavily linked to the second seat at Sauber for 2025, Tom asks Gabriel what he can tell us about his future. -
Tom Clarkson is joined in the paddock by former Haas and Sauber driver Esteban Gutiérrez and F1TV presenter Laura Winter to dissect an action-packed Mexico City Grand Prix won by Carlos Sainz.
After the Spaniard explains why this victory was particularly emotional, Tom, Esteban and Laura discuss how Sainz recovered from losing the lead into turn 1, why he got the better of his teammate Charles Leclerc, and what contribution Carlos has made to Ferrari’s transformation into championship contenders.
Also on the agenda: were Max Verstappen’s two 10-second penalties fair punishment for his moves on Lando Norris? Did Lando show he’d learned from their previous tussle in Austin? You’ll hear what both drivers made of the latest twist in their title fight.
Plus, after very eventful weekends for home hero Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, what will Red Bull Racing be thinking about their driver line-up for 2025? And how could Franco Colapinto have a part to play in any changes?
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars, including Fernando Alonso reflecting on his monumental milestone of 400 Grands Prix, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid F1 Explains - drivers, engineers + experts answer your questions about Formula 1
Be there when the 2024 Formula 1 World Champion is crowned
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Ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix, Tom Clarkson sits down with Ferrari Ambassador Marc Gené to preview a crucial weekend for both F1 World Championships.
In the Drivers' title fight, McLaren's Lando Norris needs a victory. Does he need to be on pole position to avoid needing to overtake supreme defender Max Verstappen, or does the long run to the first corner change the game?
After Ferrari's 1-2 finish at the United States Grand Prix, Marc explains why they're confident the car can perform well again at Mexico's high altitude racetrack and how the team is feeling about a Constructors' Championship challenge.
Plus, Marc and Tom discuss the drivers who need a good result: Sergio Perez who wants to ease the pressure on his place in F1, Williams' Franco Colapinto, who is still trying to claim a place on the 2025 grid, and Fernando Alonso, who is competing in his 400th Grand Prix.
More official F1 PodcastsF1 Beyond The Grid - Fernando Alonso out nowF1 Explains - answering your questions about Formula 1
BE THERE WHEN THE 2024 FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPION IS CROWNED
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In the thick of Ferrari's celebrations after a 1-2 at the United States Grand Prix, Tom Clarkson, F1TV commentator Alex Jacques and F1 stat expert Sean 'Virtual Statman' Kelly ask whether Ferrari can target the Formula 1 Constructors' Championship. Team Principal Fred Vasseur shares his thoughts on a huge result for the Italian team and what this means for the rest of their season.
Was the Texas tussle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris a championship-defining moment? Tom, Alex and Sean debate their wheel-to-wheel battle and the penalty Lando received.
Plus, the team review a hugely difficult weekend for Lewis Hamilton, and impressive performances from Williams' Franco Colapinto and returning RB driver Liam Lawson. -
Tom Clarkson and 1996 World Champion Damon Hill are joined by VCARB’s Liam Lawson ahead of his return to Formula 1 at this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
How long has Lawson’s comeback been in the works? What do Red Bull expect of him in these final six races of 2024? Does he have his eyes on a seat alongside Max Verstappen next year?
Also on the agenda, Liam talks about how Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko has prepared him for the sport’s extreme pressures and what it means to represent New Zealand in F1.
Plus, Tom and Damon discuss the challenges presented by the Circuit of the Americas, expected upgrades for Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari, and what Haas’s new technical partnership with Toyota means for their future.
More official F1 PodcastsF1 Beyond The Grid - in-depth interviews with Formula 1's biggest stars (including Liam Lawson reflecting on his F1 debut in 2023)F1 Explains - answering your questions about Formula 1
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Jock Clear, Head of the Ferrari Driver Academy and Charles Leclerc’s driver coach, joins Tom Clarkson and Natalie Pinkham on F1 Nation to talk all things Leclerc and the latest crop of F1 rookies.
What does the role of driver coach entail? Why is Leclerc having such a strong season in 2024? And does he have everything he needs to become a World Champion?
Jock also explains how he helps rookies like Ollie Bearman get ready for the pinnacle of motorsport, what impact simulators have on their preparation and why there are no shortcuts when it comes to creating opportunities for women in Formula 1.
More official F1 PodcastsF1 Nation - Grand Prix reviews and previews from inside the F1 paddockF1 Explains - answering your questions about Formula 1
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INSIDE DANIEL RICCIARDO’S DEPARTURE AND LIAM LAWSON’S RETURN
In the previous episode of F1 Nation, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner tells Tom Clarkson and Damon Hill why they’ve made the decision to replace Daniel Ricciardo with Liam Lawson at VCARB for the rest of 2024.
OLLIE BEARMAN: JUST GETTING STARTED
Ferrari Driver Academy’s Ollie Bearman shares fascinating insight into his Formula 1 debut and how he’s preparing for his first full season with Haas in 2025 on F1 Beyond The Grid.
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BE THERE WHEN THE 2024 FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPION IS CROWNED
Tickets for the US Grand Prix in Texas, the Las Vegas Grand Prix and F1 ACADEMY weekends in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are available now at tickets.formula1.com -
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner gives Tom Clarkson and Damon Hill the inside story on the decision to replace Daniel Ricciardo with Liam Lawson at RB.
Horner reveals the race when pressure began to mount on the Australian, and why Ricciardo was replaced with six races remaining. With one eye on 2025 and the future of the Red Bull driver line up, is this a chance for Liam Lawson to stake a claim for a permanent race seat?
More official F1 PodcastsF1 Nation - Grand Prix reviews and previews from inside the F1 paddockF1 Explains - answering your questions about Formula 1
Be there when the 2024 F1 World Champion is crowned
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In the Marina Bay paddock, Tom Clarkson, F1 Correspondent and Presenter Lawrence Barretto and Sam Power from Australia’s Channel 10 react to a dominant Lando Norris victory at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Was the McLaren driver’s 20-second winning margin a message to the world, himself, McLaren or championship rival Max Verstappen about what he’s capable of? Or perhaps all of the above? And how much confidence will Norris take from a much better race start?
Lando's race engineer Will Joseph joins the pod to discuss how they produced such a formidable performance and how the whole team are rallying together for his title challenge.
Plus, was Singapore Daniel Ricciardo’s last race in Formula 1? Lawrence tells us what it was like to interview a rather emotional Daniel after the Grand Prix and the guys discuss why Franco Colapinto could be a great option for Red Bull in the near future after the Argentine enjoyed another impressive weekend for Williams.
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Tom Clarkson is joined in the Baku paddock by Oscar Piastri’s race engineer Tom Stallard, Sky Sports F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham and ESPN journalist Juan Fossaroli to dissect Piastri's sensational victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
How crucial was his late-on-the-brakes overtake of Charles Leclerc on lap 20? And why wasn’t the Ferrari driver able to take P1 back?
You’ll hear reaction from both Oscar and Charles to their gripping battle, as well as a very proud Nicole ‘Mama’ Piastri’.
Also on the agenda: why did Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz crash on the penultimate lap? How did Lando Norris finish ahead of championship leader Max Verstappen, despite starting P15? And Juan shares insight into Franco Colapinto’s journey to becoming Formula 1’s first Argentine points scorer since Carlos Reutemann in 1982. -
After more than 30 years in Formula 1, winning an unprecedented 25 World Championships with Williams, McLaren and Red Bull, legendary designer Adrian Newey has signed a multi-year deal with Aston Martin to become their managing technical partner and a shareholder in the company. He’ll start work with the team in March 2025.
Why has Newey chosen Aston instead of Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton? What will he bring to Lawrence Stroll’s team? Do they have everything Newey needs to be successful? How will he work with Fernando Alonso? And is this the signing that will turn Aston Martin into World Champions?
Tom Clarkson asks Aston ambassador Pedro de la Rosa all the key questions about a huge moment in the team’s history, before discussing the other big talking points ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.
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GO INSIDE THE MIND OF ADRIAN NEWEY, ONE OF F1’S GREATEST DESIGNERS
Hear Adrian Newey talk you through his thought-processes when designing Formula 1 cars, how his passion for engineering began and why he’s had so much success on F1 Beyond The Grid with Tom Clarkson. - Show more
