Hidden inside F1 factories, engineers use blasts of high-speed air to shape race-winning cars. Wind tunnels are multi-million dollar, high-tech facilities where aerodynamicists experiment. 



What happens in the wind tunnel usually stays in the wind tunnel, but Formula Why is going into this secretive world with Alpine F1 Team's Technical Director, Matt Harman. He tells us why F1 teams use wind tunnels, why they're so secretive and the incredible way the sport's rule makers, the FIA, keep an eye on how much teams use them. 



Christian and Katie also break down the rules about wind tunnels and why teams spend millions to have their own tunnels. 



Got a question for us? We'll answer it! Write or record it, then send it to Why@F1.com



Check out other episodes of Formula Why. Scroll through the feed or use the links below:







Why do F1 drivers need race engineers? with Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu

Why are pit stops so important? 

Why do F1 teams need simulators? with Aston Martin's Stoffel Vandoorne

Why is racing in the rain so difficult? with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade

Why are street circuits the ultimate test? with Mika Hakkinen + Bernie Collins
Tyres, points + car set-up - Your Questions Answered

Why do F1 drivers need to be so fit? with Alexander Rossi + Vettel's former trainer
Why does the USA have 3 F1 races in 2023?

Why is F1 Sprint such a challenge? with Kevin Magnussen

Use the share button and #FormulaWhy to invite a friend to join us on Formula Why.

Why are F1 wind tunnels top secret?

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.

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It's there to keep F1 safe, and it can transform a race. The FIA Safety Car is sent out in poor weather or after a crash to protect marshals, drivers and fans. But there's more to it than meets the eye...



Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne explore the secrets of the safety car: how the decision to use it is made, its purpose on-track and how drivers and strategists can gain an advantage when the SC is deployed.



Safety Car driver Bernd Mayländer tells F1 Explains about his job and the incredible AMG-Mercedes and Aston Martin he drives. Then, Christian climbs into the driver's seat to see the amazing kit the car has on-board.



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:



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

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

F1 race suits, boots, gloves + underwear - 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 stars, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid 
For race previews and reviews from inside the F1 paddock, listen to F1 Nation



Experience Formula 1 live this season

Tickets for races in Texas, Las Vegas, across Europe and around the world are available now. Go to tickets.formula1.com to book your seats

The Safety Car - with driver, Bernd Mayländer

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


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

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


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

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


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

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



Why are F1 wind tunnels top secret?

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