Podcast
F1 Nation
Hosted by Formula 1 · EN
Step inside the Formula 1 Paddock for race previews, reviews, interviews and analysis with Tom Clarkson and expert guests.
Get answers to your questions on F1 Explains with Christian Hewgill. Email F1Explains@F1.com
An official F1 podcast. For in-depth F1 interviews, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid
51episodes
Episodes
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F1 Explains: inside a garage during a Grand Prix
Apr 2300:52:02Tap to summarizeWhat happens in a Formula 1 team's garage during a race? In a world-first episode, recorded inside the Haas garage during the 2025 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... F1 Explains LIVE at the Miami GP Fan FestWednesday 29th April | 4pm | Miami BeachSpecial guests: Colton Herta + Zhou Guanyu from Cadillac F1 TeamFor details, terms and conditions and to register for free tickets go to f1miamigp.com/fan-festSend your F1 questions to F1Explains@F1.comExperience F1 live in 2026Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.comListen to more official F1 podcastsIn-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The GridExpert reaction before and after every Grand Prix on F1 Nation
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What makes the 'perfect' F1 driver?
Apr 2000:51:20Tap to summarizeVerstappen's mentality? Schumacher's teamwork? Alonso's intelligence? Tsunoda's physique? Tom Clarkson is joined by former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer and IndyCar race winner James Hinchcliffe to build the ‘perfect’ F1 driver. They debate the key attributes needed to become the best in the pinnacle of motorsport and which drivers from past and present are closest to perfection. Plus, the guys chat about the possible driver market ramifications if Max Verstappen does leave Red Bull Racing and they share their standout moments from the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix over the years.Listen to more official F1 podcastsF1 Beyond The Grid - in-depth interviews with F1's biggest namesF1 Explains - expert answers to your F1 questionsThis episode is sponsored by:IndeedGet a £100 sponsored job credit at indeed.com/f1nation QuinceRefresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to quince.com/nation for free shipping and 365-day returns.
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F1 Explains: Cadillac's solid start - with Graeme Lowdon
Apr 1600:29:44Tap to summarizeCadillac have made a solid start in F1. The challenge now is to make their car faster. With a long break before the Miami Grand Prix, there's time for hard work at the factory... and for Team Principal Graeme Lowdon to answer your F1 questions.How do Formula 1 teams get all their kit to Grands Prix? What’s the difference between Reserve, Test and Development drivers? And how do team members working at the team's bases in the US and UK during race weekends help the team at the track?Graeme also gives his assessment of Cadillac’s first three races in F1 and tells Christian Hewgill what the team are working on during the April break.Listen to more official F1 podcastsF1 Beyond The Grid - in-depth interviews with F1's biggest namesF1 Nation - expert views on the latest F1 news
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Lambiase leaving: what next for Max + Red Bull? Can McLaren catch Mercedes in '26?
Apr 1200:40:51Tap to summarizeTom Clarkson is joined by former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer and IndyCar race winner James Hinchcliffe to discuss the news that Max Verstappen’s race engineer, GianPiero Lambiase, will leave Red Bull Racing in 2028 and join McLaren as their Chief Racing Officer.What does Lambiase’s departure mean for Red Bull? How will it affect Verstappen’s future at the team? And what will GP bring to McLaren?Plus, the guys are joined by McLaren’s Technical Director of Performance, Mark Temple, who says Mercedes are 'beatable' in 2026 and tells us about the upgrade work being done at the factory before the Miami GP.THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY:Saily: Get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans. Use code F1nation at checkout. Download Saily app or go to to saily.com/f1nation
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F1 Explains: race strategy in 2026 - with Bernie Collins
Apr 900:39:29Tap to summarizeSo much has changed for the 2026 F1 season. How has it affected the job of a race strategist? The new cars and new tyres mean teams have to think differently when planning their pit stops. Race-winning strategist and Sky Sports F1 expert Bernie Collins joins Christian Hewgill to explain it all.Bernie also answers your questions on what F1 teams are doing during the April break in racing, how much it costs to race in F1, and what happens when drivers don't set a time in qualifying.Send us your question, we'll find the best person to answer itEmail F1Explains@F1.comListen to more official F1 podcasts F1 Beyond The Grid - in-depth interviews with F1's biggest names (including Bernie!)F1 Nation - expert race previews, reviews and reaction to breaking news - right here on this feed
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Rivals and stars of the season so far – with Jolyon Palmer + James Hinchcliffe
Apr 501:03:21Tap to summarizeTom Clarkson is joined by former F1 driver, Jolyon Palmer, and IndyCar race winner, James Hinchcliffe, to look back on what we’ve learned from the first three races of the season and what we can expect from Miami onwards.The guys discuss the battle between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes, why Oscar Piastri and McLaren were better in Japan, and what they and Ferrari need to do to catch Mercedes.Red Bull Racing find themselves in the midfield battle, so will they regret their decision to not switch full focus to 2026 when Laurent Mekies joined as Team Principal last season? Could Max Verstappen’s frustration benefit his teammate, Isack Hadjar? And with Haas and Alpine above Red Bull in the Constructors’ Standings, is it clear who the fourth fastest team on the grid is?Plus, Hinch thinks Fernando Alonso is the most positive person at Aston Martin right now, Tom suggests a somewhat contentious reason why, and Jolyon isn’t having any of it!THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY...Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/nation BetterHelp: Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com/f1nationIndeed: Get a £100 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/f1nation
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F1 Explains: Commentating on a Grand Prix - with Alex Jacques
Apr 200:32:18Tap to summarizeWho overtook who? Which driver is in the gravel? Formula 1 commentators put on-track action into words. They need to be accurate, fast and entertaining to make sure you always know what's happening. F1TV and Apple TV commentator Alex Jacques is the voice of Formula 1 around the world. He welcomes Christian Hewgill into the commentary box to answer your questions. From the screens he can see and the research he does to the role of co-commentators and finding the right words at the biggest moments, Alex tells all about his job.Send us your questions for episodes on race strategy and race engineersF1Explains@F1.comF1 Nation - weekly episodes every Monday with Tom Clarkson and expert guestsF1 Beyond The Grid - Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies on the 2026 challenge
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Kimi puts pressure on George + McLaren fight back - 2026 Japanese GP Review
Mar 3000:46:34Tap to summarizeF1 correspondent Lawrence Barretto and Aston Martin Third Driver Jak Crawford are Tom Clarkson’s guests in the Suzuka paddock for F1 Nation’s review of the Japanese Grand Prix.Kimi Antonelli made it back-to-back wins to become Formula 1’s youngest ever World Championship leader. How much pressure has he put on Mercedes teammate and title rival George Russell? With Oscar Piastri finishing P2 and Charles Leclerc also on the podium, the guys discuss where McLaren and Ferrari need to improve if they’re to battle Mercedes for wins this season.Elsewhere, there’s plenty of praise for Alpine’s Pierre Gasly after scoring points in every race so far this season. Could they challenge the frontrunners this year? And Lawrence gives us the lowdown on what’s going on at Audi after Jonathan Wheatley’s sudden departure as Team Principal.
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F1 Explains: Tyres - what's new for 2026 and how Pirelli get drivers on track
Mar 2700:26:00Tap to summarizeIs it tyres or tires? Either way, they're very important. The temperature and condition of a driver's tyres have a huge impact on their performance. 2026 sees all-new tires in F1, so what's changed? How do Pirelli choose which tyres to bring to each Grand Prix? How does the company and the FIA ensure tire fairness?Pirelli is the Official Tyre Supplier of Formula 1. The company's Head of Motorsport, Mario Isola, joins Christian Hewgill to answer your questions. Mario explains what's different about this season's rubber, the number of tires Pirelli brings to each race and how they are allocated to the drivers. Why don't F1 tyres have tread? Do all types of tire weigh the same? Who pays for them? Mario has the answers.Send us your questions for episodes on race strategy and race engineersF1Explains@F1.comF1 Nation - Japanese GP Preview out now. Race review coming Monday on this feedF1 Beyond The Grid - Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu on the team's ambitions
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‘George won’t play nice’ in title fight with Kimi – Japanese GP Preview
Mar 2300:55:57Tap to summarizeAs Formula 1 heads to Suzuka, Japan, a teammate battle is brewing. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have driven the pace-setting Mercedes to one win each. How will they race each other this season? How will Mercedes handle their drivers? Max Verstappen has been linked to Mercedes in the past, so are George and Kimi also racing to keep their place in the team? Tom Clarkson, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer and IndyCar race winner James Hinchcliffe talk about the magic of Suzuka, the early season competitive picture and how the race weekend will unfold. Is there ‘magic in the air’ for Ferrari? Can McLaren and Red Bull find more performance? At Haas, is Ollie Bearman driving towards a future in red?This episode is sponsored by Indeed: Indeed: get a £100 sponsored job credit at indeed.com/f1nation
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