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:

Listen 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

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.

F1 Beyond The Grid - exclusive interviews with F1's biggest stars, including Carlos Sainz.

F1 Explains - your F1 questions, answered by experts

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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?

F1 Beyond The Grid - exclusive interviews with F1's biggest stars, including Carlos Sainz.

F1 Explains - your F1 questions, answered by experts

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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.

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

F1 Explains - your F1 questions, answered by experts

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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?

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

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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?

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

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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.

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

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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.

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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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.

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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