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. 

Send your voice notes and emails to [email protected]

Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com

In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid

Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation

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?

Send your voice notes and emails to [email protected]

F1 is on-target to be Net Zero by 2030. The sport has reduced its carbon emissions by 26% since 2018. Read more here. 

NOW PLAYING

Get tickets now

Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com

In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid

Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation

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.

Send your voice notes and emails to [email protected]

NOW PLAYING

Get tickets now

Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com

In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid

Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation

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...

Send your voice notes and emails to [email protected]

NOW PLAYING

Get tickets now

Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com

In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid

Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation

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.

Send voice notes and emails to [email protected]

NOW PLAYING

Get tickets now

Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com

In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid

Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation

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!

Send your questions for Ayao and David to [email protected]

Send voice notes and emails to [email protected]

Only in cinemas June 2025

Get tickets now

Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com

In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid

Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation

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.

Send voice notes and emails to [email protected]

Only in cinemas June 2025

Get tickets now

Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com

In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid

Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation

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.

Find a screening near you at f1themovie.com

Send voice notes and emails to [email protected]

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

Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com

Watching F1 on TV is incredible. Seeing the action live is even better. With 24 amazing races, different ticket options and viewing positions to choose from, how do you plan a trip to a Formula 1 Grand Prix?

Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill speak to Gavin and Megan, F1 fans from Colorado who are going to this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix during their honeymoon. They want advice planning their weekend - what to take to the track, where to sit, and what to do besides watching the races.

F1 Experiences is the closest you can get to Formula 1, with pit lane walks, track tours and photos with the F1 World Championship trophy. Find out more at f1experiences.com

Send your questions and messages to [email protected]

You can buy tickets for F1 in 2025 and 2026 at tickets.formula1.com

The 2026 F1 Calendar is out now - choose your race here 

F1: THE MOVIE - in theatres June 25th / June 27th (US)

Find a showing - f1themovie.com

What is a ‘driving style’ and how many different ones are there? What’s the secret to executing a champagne pop on the podium? And how do F1 drivers come up with ideas for special helmet designs and create the final product?

McLaren driver Lando Norris joins Christian Hewgill at the Canadian Grand Prix to give you the answers.

Lando also tells us what he likes to eat for breakfast, why he has to get up so early on race day, his guilty pleasures, what he’d be if he wasn’t an F1 driver, and why he wants to become World Champion.

Send voice notes and emails to [email protected]

Only in cinemas June 2025

Get tickets now

Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com

In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid

Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation