F1 Explains

F1 cars are racing on the streets of Las Vegas at more than 200 miles per hour. It’s the most spectacular race of the season, and it takes months of work by a team of more than 15,000 people.  

Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne are in Las Vegas to find out how Formula 1 takes over the city. Las Vegas Grand Prix VP of Sporting and Race Operations Silvia Bellot explains how public roads, including the famous Las Vegas Strip, are transformed into a racetrack with miles of special lights, safety barriers and fences. She reveals the challenges of racing in the non-stop entertainment capital of the world, including re-opening the track to regular traffic in-between the F1 action. 

Katie and Christian answer your questions about the Las Vegas Strip Circuit – the layout, the track surface and the barriers.  Then, Christian heads to the grandstands to talk to fans who are loving watching F1 live in Vegas.  

If you want to experience the Las Vegas Grand Prix for yourself, you can place your deposit for 2025 tickets now at f1lasvegasgp.com/2025-deposits/. Plus, coming in Spring 2025, an F1 Drive karting track and other special events in Grand Prix Plaza.

 
'Hi F1 Explains, my F1 question is...'
Be part of the podcast. Send your question to [email protected]

Listen to more official F1 podcasts

F1 Beyond The Grid - exclusive interviews with F1's biggest stars

F1 Nation - expert Grand Prix reviews and previews

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It's where pit crews go to work, where strategies are decided and where races can be won and lost. 

Katie and Christian step into the Formula 1 pit lane to put your questions to former Aston Martin Head of Race Strategy Bernie Collins.

Bernie explains how the length and speed limit of the pit lane affects race strategy, why every team's pit box is different, what all the screens and buttons on the team pit wall are for and what it's like to be in the pit lane during a Grand Prix.


'Hi F1 Explains, my F1 question is...'
Be part of the podcast. Send your question to [email protected]

10 Teams, 20 Drivers, 1 Massive Season Launch
A groundbreaking season launch event at London’s The O2 – featuring all the teams, their drivers and team bosses, plus top entertainment – ahead of the 2025 campaign.
18.02.25!


Listen to more official F1 podcasts

F1 Beyond The Grid - exclusive interviews with F1's biggest stars

F1 Nation - expert Grand Prix reviews and previews

Discover F1 Unlocked
Unseen. Unheard. F1 Unlocked. Dive into exclusive content from F1 experts, redeem rewards and enter money-can't-buy competitions. Click here to join for free

F1 Explains gave listeners who attended our live show at F1 Arcade Washington D.C. the chance to win tickets for the 2025 Miami Grand Prix.

Courtesy of the Miami Grand Prix, two lucky listeners have won a pair of tickets for the new McLaren grandstand, some exclusive McLaren merchandise and the chance to win a hot lap of the track with a professional driver.

The draw was done at random and it's time to announce the winners. Congratulations to them, and thank you to everyone who entered.

You can buy 2025 Miami Grand Prix tickets here.

Send your F1 questions to [email protected]

The clock is ticking. The starting grid is full of people - drivers, engineers, reporters and celebrities. Formula 1 is about to go racing, but there's so much work to do. What happens on the grid in the crucial final minutes before lights out?

In the first podcast episode to be recorded on a Formula 1 starting grid before a race, Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne push through the crowds and explain what teams and drivers are doing, why the pre-race countdown is so important and the rules of the F1 grid.

McLaren Race Engineer Tom Stallard tells us what he and Oscar Piastri are talking about on the grid. Plus celebrity chef and F1 fan Gordon Ramsay describes the pre-race atmosphere.

'Hi F1 Explains, my F1 question is...'
Be part of the podcast. Send your question to [email protected]

Listen to more official F1 podcasts

F1 Beyond The Grid - exclusive interviews with F1's biggest stars

F1 Nation - expert Grand Prix reviews and previews

Experience Formula 1 liveTickets for the end of the 2024 F1 season and the start of 2025 are available now at tickets.formula1.com

Discover F1 Unlocked
Unseen. Unheard. F1 Unlocked. Dive into exclusive content from F1 experts, redeem epic rewards and enter money-can't-buy competitions. Click here to join for free

Want somewhere to watch a Grand Prix with F1 fans, race against your friends and enjoy food and drink? Look no further than F1 Arcade! Christian and Katie recorded a special episode of F1 Explains at F1 Arcade Washington D.C. after the Mexico City GP Watch Party.

F1 Arcade is open now in Washington D.C., Boston MA, plus London and Birmingham in the UK. Go to f1arcade.com to buy tickets for Watch Parties or a high-speed night out.

F1 Explains listeners Kim, Lindsay, Nick, Hayden and Kat asked Katie and Christian to explain how drivers influence strategy during a race, what Team Principals do on the pit wall, and the difference between 'dirty air' and a slipstream.

Plus, F1 Explains gave people who attended the Watch Party the chance to win tickets to the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. The competition is now closed. Winners will be announced on a future episode. Good luck to everyone who entered. Tickets courtesy of the Miami Grand Prix
You can buy 2025 Miami Grand Prix tickets here

Listen to more official F1 podcasts

A Formula 1 legend and a brand new star took to the stage at Circuit of the Americas for F1 Explains LIVE. Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne put your questions to 2-time World Champion Mika Hakkinen, and Ferrari Academy Driver and 2025 Haas F1 Team Driver, Ollie Bearman.

F1 Explains listeners Rachel from Austin, Texas, Michelle from Cleveland, Ohio, Erin from Los Angeles, California and Ryan and Daniel from New Zealand asked Mika and Ollie questions about how Ferrari spotted Ollie, how to be fast at your next karting party and how drivers gain confidence.

NBA star and F1 fan Sidy Cissoko of the San Antonio Spurs got his question answered too!

And, Katie and Christian had a very special surprise for two McLaren fans who travelled from the other side of the world to see the show.

You can be part of the podcast! Send your questions to [email protected]

Special thanks to Ella Clarke and Mark Jones 

F1 Explains LIVE at F1 Arcade Washington D.C. - Sunday October 27th
Join Christian and Katie at the brand new F1 Arcade Washington D.C. to watch the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Watch the race with other F1 fans, enjoy racing simulators, food + drink, and be part of an F1 Explains episode recording.
Watch Party starts at 3pm. F1 Arcade Washington D.C., Union Market, 420 Penn St. NE
Washington, D.C.
Last few tickets at f1arcade.com/us/watch-parties/mexico-city

Listen to more official F1 podcasts

Be there when the 2024 Formula 1 World Champion is crowned:Tickets for the end of the 2024 F1 season and the start of 2025 are available now at tickets.formula1.com

Come watch the Mexico City GP with F1 Explains at F1 Arcade Washington D.C.

Buy tickets at f1arcade.com/us/watch-parties/mexico-city

On Sunday October 27th, Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne will be hosting a Watch Party for the race, and recording an episode of the podcast.

Join us to watch the Grand Prix on big screens with amazing food and drink, plus racing on the F1 Arcade simulators.

Going to be there? We can answer your F1 question. Send it to [email protected], and tell us you're coming to the party

Watch Party starts at 3pm on Sunday October 27th.

F1 Arcade Washington D.C., Union Market, 420 Penn St. NE
Washington, D.C.

Buy tickets at f1arcade.com/us/watch-parties/mexico-city

Listen to more official F1 podcasts

Be there when the 2024 Formula 1 World Champion is crowned:Tickets for the end of the 2024 F1 season and the start of 2025 are available now at tickets.formula1.com

What do Formula 1 drivers do in the hours before the start of a Grand Prix? VCARB's Liam Lawson tells Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne about his pre-race routine, and how he'll be preparing his body and mind to for his return to Formula 1 this weekend at the United States Grand Prix.

Andy and Jess from the UK, and Kathy from California had their questions answered on this episode. Send your questions to [email protected]

F1 EXPLAINS LIVE - in Austin Texas + Washington D.C.

Saturday October 19th - F1 Explains LIVE at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix 2024, Circuit of the Americas.
With special guests:

Free to all Saturday/weekend ticket-holders. No reservation or extra ticket required. Circuit of the Americas, Amphitheatre Stage, Saturday October 19th, 6:15pm after F1 Qualifying

Sunday October 27th - F1 Explains LIVE at F1 Arcade Washington D.C.
Join Christian and Katie at the brand new F1 Arcade Washington D.C. for the Mexico City Grand Prix Watch Party.
Watch the Grand Prix with other F1 fans, enjoy racing simulators, food + drink, and be part of an F1 Explains episode recording after the race
Watch Party starts at 3pm. F1 Arcade Washington D.C., Union Market, 420 Penn St. NE
Washington, D.C.
Buy tickets at f1arcade.com/us/watch-parties/mexico-city

Listen to more official F1 podcasts

Be there when the 2024 Formula 1 World Champion is crowned:Tickets for the end of the 2024 F1 season and the start of 2025 are available now at tickets.formula1.com

F1 cars race round corners at more than 190 miles per hour. Those insane speeds are made possible by downforce - the invisible power which keeps F1 cars on-track.

Emel Cankaya is an Aerodynamics Specialist at McLaren. She tells Katie and Christian what downforce is, how F1 cars create it and what the front wing, rear wing and floor of the car do. She also explains how and why F1 teams change their downforce set ups for each racetrack, and how she got her job in Formula 1.

F1 Explains listener Brigit in New York asked us to explain downforce. If you'd like your question answered, send it to [email protected]

F1 EXPLAINS LIVE - in Austin Texas + Washington D.C.

Saturday October 19th - F1 Explains LIVE at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix 2024, Circuit of the Americas.
With special guests:

Free to all Saturday/weekend ticket-holders. No reservation or extra ticket required. Circuit of the Americas, Amphitheatre Stage, Saturday October 19th, 6:15pm after F1 Qualifying

Sunday October 27th - F1 Explains LIVE at F1 Arcade Washington D.C.
Join Christian and Katie at the brand new F1 Arcade Washington D.C. for the Mexico City Grand Prix Watch Party.
Watch the Grand Prix with other F1 fans, enjoy racing simulators, food + drink, and be part of an F1 Explains episode recording after the race
Watch Party starts at 3pm. F1 Arcade Washington D.C., Union Market, 420 Penn St. NE
Washington, D.C.
Buy tickets at f1arcade.com/us/watch-parties/mexico-city

Listen to more official F1 podcasts

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

What are the rules when F1 drivers go wheel-to-wheel? How do they know when to hit the brakes? Why do drivers wait until the last moment to set their qualifying lap times? Aston Martin Reserve Driver Stoffel Vandoorne joins Christian Hewgill (and Katie Osborne in voice note form) to answer your questions.

Send us your questions
Laura from Belgium, Todd from Virginia, Richard from Texas and Luana from Switzerland had their questions answered on this episode. Send yours to [email protected]

F1 EXPLAINS LIVE - at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix
With special guest, Ollie Bearman - Ferrari Academy Driver and 2025 Haas F1 driver + more to be announced
Saturday October 19th, 1815 (after F1 qualifying)
Circuit of the Americas, Amphitheatre stage near the F1 Fanzone
Join Christian, Katie and guests for a live show - with your chance to put a question to an F1 expert
Email [email protected] to get involved

Listen to more official F1 podcasts

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