F1 Explains

Teamwork. Racing. Pasta. We explore all that and more as Mika Hakkinen joins Christian Hewgill and F1 Explains listeners live on-stage at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Double World Champion Mika talks about what he learned from racing Michael Schumacher. Their rivalry started as teenagers in karts and continued when they fought for F1 titles in the late 1990s.

F1 Explains listeners Lisa, Daniel and Tessa ask Mika their questions on whether the friendships between today’s drivers affect how they race on-track and what skills Mika took from F1 into life post-racing.

Plus Mika talks about his favourite race day foods and signs a special piece of artwork for a fan in the crowd.

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COMING SOON: F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali - send your questions on his job running Formula 1

F1: THE MOVIE starring Brad Pitt
Only in cinemas June 2025
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It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there!
Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com

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In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid
Expert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation

No room for mistakes. No time to breathe. The Monaco Grand Prix is a unique challenge. Legends win here, but even the greats have failed to complete 78 laps on the narrow streets of Monte Carlo.

Christian Hewgill is in Monaco to find out what makes this race special. Monaco winner and two-time F1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen explains why it's such a difficult Grand Prix, mentally and physically. F1TV Commentator Alex Jacques tells us about the history of the race, and about the brand-new tyre rule which will change things this year.

Plus, Christian tours the track to ask F1 fans why they think Monaco is magical and discovers that nearly everyone at the race this weekend has the same name...

F1 Explains has won a global podcast award!
GOLD in the SPORTS PODCAST category at the New York Festivals Radio Awards.
We couldn't make this podcast without you. Thank you for listening and sending your questions to [email protected]

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

F1 Explains LIVE with Mika Hakkinen
Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix 2025
Saturday 24th May, 1:30pm
F1 Fanzone stage
Send your question to [email protected], tell us you're coming and you could be part of the show

F1: THE MOVIE starring Brad Pitt
Only in cinemas June 2025
Watch the trailer 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

What happens in a Formula 1 team's garage during a race? In a world-first episode, recorded inside the Haas garage during the Miami Grand Prix, mechanics, engineers and strategists tell F1 Explains what they do while the cars are racing.

How are the pit crew told it's time for a pit stop? How do strategists make their calls? How do mechanics make sure new tyres are ready to go? Christian Hewgill explains it all from an exclusive position surrounded by data screens, engineers and equipment.

Plus, we listen in to team radio channels, learn what F1 tyres are recycled into after each race, resist the urge to eat the pit crew's mid-race treats and rub shoulders with a rock music legend...
 

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

How do F1 bosses keep the pressure off young drivers? What's it like launching a brand new team? Former Haas Team Principal and future star of the F1 movie Guenther Steiner answers these questions and more in an episode recorded live at the Miami Grand Prix.

F1 Explains listeners Jenny, Joshua and Sydney join Christian Hewgill on-stage to ask Guenther their questions about running an F1 team. Guenther explains how to keep experienced drivers motivated and names the drivers he thinks will help the new Cadillac get off to a strong start in F1 next season.

Plus, Guenther's role alongside Brad Pitt in this summer's F1 movie, fun with LEGO and Christian gets some parents in the crowd to make a shocking admission...
 

Experience the Miami Grand Prix for yourself in 2026!
Keep watching F1MiamiGP.com and tickets.formula1.com for information on race tickets

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

Formula 1 races in incredible places. Miami is unique. Home of two-time Superbowl champions the Miami Dolphins, the Miami Open tennis, other world-class sporting events and concerts, the Hard Rock Stadium is transformed into a Grand Prix track where hundreds of thousands of fans enjoy the action both on and off the circuit.

Christian Hewgill is in Miami to answer your questions how the event happens, meeting Miami GP President Tyler Epp, plus John Murphy and Kathy Nowak, who oversee building the racetrack, the one-of-a-kind F1 paddock inside the stadium itself and the campus with its marina, yachts, and beach club.

Experience the Miami Grand Prix for yourself in 2026! Keep watching F1MiamiGP.com and tickets.formula1.com for information on race tickets

See F1 Explains LIVE with Guenther Steiner at the Miami Grand Prix
Friday May 2nd - 1:45pm
Hard Rock Stadium, 300 Level
Free to all Grand Prix ticket-holders

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

Join us at a Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2025
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He's a former racer who's now boss of Alpine. Oliver Oakes joins F1 Explains for another 'Ask A Team Principal' special.

He tells Christian Hewgill how he deals with feedback from drivers Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan, while keeping hundreds of team members working together.

Plus, Oliver explains how he became a Team Principal in Formula 1 after starting out as a driver and team boss in F3 and F2.

See F1 Explains LIVE with Guenther Steiner at the Miami Grand Prix
Friday May 2nd - 1:45pm
Hard Rock Stadium, 300 Level
Free to all Grand Prix ticket-holders
Email [email protected] with your question for Guenther, and you could be part of the show

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

Join us at a Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2025
Go to tickets.formula1.com to book your seat

How do drivers stay so calm when they’re about to crash? What’s the difference between a slipstream and dirty air? Why do F1 cockpits have small ‘windscreens’? How do you become an F1 presenter? And what exactly is the role of a driver’s press officer? 

Christian Hewgill is joined by F1TV main presenter Laura Winter and IndyCar race winner James Hinchcliffe to answer your quickfire questions.

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Thanks to F1 Unlocked, you can win an amazing F1® Partner prize bundle, which includes: £100 F1® Store voucher, 2025 Miami Grand Prix poster, Puma F1® Racing Jacket, Hot Wheels F1® diecast bundle and a LEGO F1® collection bundle

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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

Join us at a Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2025
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Drivers, sponsors, repairing crashes and making big decisions; Formula 1 Team Principals have a lot to handle. Williams Racing boss James Vowles answers your questions about his job.

What does it mean when a team says they're focusing on F1's new rules in 2026? How does James deal with team mate battles? How are Williams supporting young women reach F1? Christian Hewgill asks James these questions and more in an interview which is hilariously interrupted by Alex Albon. It's safe to say this episode really lifts the lid on what happens behind the scenes in an F1 Team Principal's office...

Get your question answered by an F1 expert
Big or small, if you've got a question we'll find the best person to answer it.
Send your email or voice note to [email protected]

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

Join us at a Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2025
Go to tickets.formula1.com to book your seat

190 mile per hour corners. Heavy braking zones. Twists and turns with no room for error. Suzuka, home of the Japanese Grand Prix, tests Formula 1 drivers' skills to the limit. But what are those skills? What are the 20 drivers actually doing with their hands, their feet, and their eyes, which allows them to drive so fast?

Former F1 racer and Aston Martin ambassador Pedro de la Rosa answers your questions on the incredible abilities of F1 drivers. He tells Christian Hewgill how they hit corner apexes perfectly, brake and accelerate precisely and how they develop their racing instincts.

Ask us something, and be on the podcast
Big or small, if you've got a question we'll find an expert to answer it.
Send your email or voice note to [email protected]

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

Join us at a Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2025
Go to tickets.formula1.com to book your seat