F1 Nation

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 back at base during a race weekend help the team at the track? Cadillac Team Principal Graeme Lowdon joins Christian Hewgill on F1 Explains to answer your questions about the sport. Graeme also gives his assessment of Cadillac’s first three races as an F1 team and tells Christian what the team are working on during the April break.

Tom 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 Max 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

So 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 it Email F1Explains@F1.com Listen 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

Tom 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/f1nation Indeed: Get a £100 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/f1nation

Who 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 engineers F1Explains@F1.com F1 Nation - weekly episodes every Monday with Tom Clarkson and expert guests F1 Beyond The Grid - Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies on the 2026 challenge

F1 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.

Is 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 engineers F1Explains@F1.com F1 Nation - Japanese GP Preview out now. Race review coming Monday on this feed F1 Beyond The Grid - Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu on the team's ambitions

As 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

It's the heart of F1, a circus of speed which tours the racetracks of the world. Drivers mingle with VIPs and engineers. Mechanics push tyre trollies past crowds of reporters and camera crews. Inside hospitality buildings, Team Principals meet sponsors and guests. To enter this exclusive area you usually need a paddock pass, but F1 Explains can get you in... Christian Hewgill is your guide for a tour of the F1 Paddock to answer your questions about what happens there during a Grand Prix weekend. Send your questions to F1Explains@F1.com F1 Nation and F1 Explains have teamed up for 2026 Get weekly race reviews and previews right here on this podcast feed Exclusive in-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid Latest: How Jacques Villeneuve shook up F1 Coming soon: Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu on Ollie Bearman's future

F1TV commentator and former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer joins Tom Clarkson in the Shanghai paddock to reflect on an action-packed Chinese Grand Prix. Kimi Antonelli became the second youngest Grand Prix winner in F1 history, leading George Russell to the second consecutive Mercedes 1-2 of 2026. So can Kimi fight his more experienced teammate for the title this year? Kimi’s race engineer Pete ‘Bono’ Bonnington joins the pod to share what this victory means to them and where the Italian goes from here. Lewis Hamilton claimed his first Grand Prix podium for Ferrari, after an epic battle with teammate Charles Leclerc for third place. After a strong start to the new era of F1, is Lewis back to his best? Why did he have the better of Charles in China? And have we seen more evidence that Ferrari can fight with Mercedes for wins this year? The guys also discuss another big result for Ollie Bearman at Haas, double points for Alpine, a fighting performance from Carlos Sainz in the Williams and more difficult weekends for McLaren, Red Bull and Aston Martin.

What do the red flashing lights on F1 cars mean? When do drivers attack and defend? How do F1 mechanics fix crashed cars so quickly? F1 Explains answers your questions after the first race of 2026. F1 Correspondent and Presenter Lawrence Barretto joins Christian Hewgill to explain battery recharging, the way drivers are using Boost and Overtake modes, and what the new active aero front wings have in common with electric toothbrushes... And, after Mercedes showed their speed in Australia, we look at how power unit manufacturers work with their customer teams. Get your question answered on the podcast Send your questions to F1Explains@F1.com F1 Explains + F1 Nation have teamed up for 2026 Find the latest race previews and reviews on this feed - 2026 Chinese GP Preview out now with Tom Clarkson and Jolyon Palmer This week on F1 Beyond The Grid Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss talks about launching the team

'Mercedes will have less of an advantage... I think there's some magic in the air for Ferrari'. Tom Clarkson and Jolyon Palmer chat through the big talking points ahead of the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix

Tom Clarkson is joined in the Albert Park paddock by former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer and Channel 10’s Richard Craill to reflect on an entertaining season opener in Melbourne. Mercedes took the first victory of this new era of Formula 1, with George Russell leading Kimi Antonelli to a 1-2 finish. George might be the favourite to become World Champion, but could Kimi challenge him for the duration of the season? Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished third, ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton in fourth. Can they take the fight to Mercedes this year? And could we see Hamilton back on the top step? Plus, the guys discuss how far behind Red Bull and McLaren are, a sensational F1 debut from Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad, points for Audi in their first race, and why there may be signs of encouragement for Aston Martin after a very challenging start to the season. F1 Nation and F1 Explains have teamed up for 2026 Scroll down to find Williams Team Principal James Vowles answer your questions This episode is sponsored by: Indeed: get a $75 sponsored job credit at indeed.com/podcast

After a long winter, we're finally going racing this weekend in Melbourne. Ahead of the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, Williams Team Principal James Vowles explains how the team has prepared for the weekend, his favourite things about the 2026 regulations, and whether the first race will really tell us who's fastest. James joins Christian Hewgill on the F1 Fanzone stage at Albert Park to look ahead to a mouth-watering new season and to answer questions from F1 Explains listeners Sophie, Victoria and Karen. And James also tells us what jobs he’d give to Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon if they weren’t drivers. We want your questions about how Formula 1 works! Email F1Explains@F1.com F1 Explains and F1 Nation have teamed up for 2026. Subscribe to this feed for race previews and reviews every Monday with Tom Clarkson and guests. F1 Beyond The Grid with Carlos Sainz - out now

James Hinchcliffe, Jolyon Palmer and Tom Clarkson look ahead to the first race of the 2026 Formula 1 season, the Australian Grand Prix. Are Mercedes favourites? Are fast-starting Ferrari title contenders? How will McLaren’s teammate battle develop now Lando Norris is reigning champion. Can Max Verstappen put Red Bull in the mix? There are so many questions at the start of a new era of racing. Hinch, Jolyon and TC debate it all. Plus, how will Williams and Alpine perform? Can Aston Martin recover after a difficult winter? Is 2026 a big chance for Haas? Which of the new teams – Audi or Cadillac – will have a stronger season? And the team make their pre-season predictions: who will win in Melbourne, and who will be the 2026 F1 World Champion? This episode is sponsored by: BetterHelp: sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com/F1NATION Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/nation Indeed: get a £100 sponsored job credit at indeed.com/f1nation

Boost your knowledge ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Christian Hewgill and F1 Correspondent + Presenter Lawrence Barretto run through the key terms and new rules of the sport's new era. Plus we answer your questions on how drivers will recharge their brand new batteries, how the arrival of Cadillac will change qualifying and the new advanced sustainable fuel powering the new cars. We want your questions about how Formula 1 works! Email F1Explains@F1.com F1 Explains and F1 Nation have teamed up for 2026. Subscribe to this feed for race previews and reviews every Monday with Tom Clarkson and guests. And check out the new season of F1 Beyond The Grid. New episodes start Wednesday 4th of March with Carlos Sainz

F1TV commentator and former Renault driver Jolyon Palmer joins Tom Clarkson to reflect on pre-season testing, as Formula 1 gets set for a very exciting new era. The teams and drivers have had a shakedown in Barcelona, followed by two, three-day tests in Bahrain, ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March. So what have we learned about the new cars? Which teams look competitive? Who still has a lot of work to do? And what do we think the pecking order is heading to Melbourne? What Next? F1 Nation is back next Monday with our big season preview before the Australian Grand Prix. And F1 Explains returns for 2026 this Friday on the F1 Nation feed. Presenter Christian Hewgill is joined by F1 correspondent Lawrence Barretto to answer your questions about the new cars and regulations. Send them in to f1explains@f1.com

F1 Nation is back for 2026 and we're teaming up with F1 Explains - the podcast which answers your questions about the sport. On Mondays F1 Nation will bring you expert reaction to F1 action, and insider views on breaking news from Tom Clarkson, Jolyon Palmer, James Hinchcliffe + more F1 insiders. On Fridays, F1 Explains will tackle your questions on the sport. Christian Hewgill gets the answers from drivers, team bosses and the men and women who work behind the scenes. Send your questions to F1Explains@F1.com F1 Nation and F1 Explains - all in one place. New episodes start on Monday February 23rd

F1TV experts Jolyon Palmer and James Hinchcliffe join Tom Clarkson in the Yas Marina paddock after Lando Norris was crowned Formula 1 World Champion for the first time. He was 34 points adrift after round 15, so how did Lando complete such an incredible comeback in this title fight? Has he broken the mould in terms of what we imagine a World Champion to be like? And how will being champion change Lando? You’ll hear reaction from the man himself, as he talks about turning his ‘struggles into strengths’ and winning this title 'the Lando way’. His race engineer Will Joseph also joins the pod to discuss how they overcame a challenging first half of the season and where they go from here. On the other side of the garage, Oscar Piastri came home in P2 but fell short of the title by 13 points. Why did Oscar lose out after leading the championship for most of the season? What does he need to work on to take the next step? And is there a chance that Oscar will become second favourite at McLaren now that Lando has a title to his name? Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for his eighth race win of the season, but misses out on what would have been a fifth title in a row by just two points. Could Max and Red Bull have done anything differently to put more pressure on McLaren in this race? Has this been Max’s best season in Formula 1? And will Red Bull’s transformation in the second half of the year give Max more reason to commit his long-term future to the team? Listen to more official F1 podcasts In-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars on F1 Beyond The Grid Your F1 questions answered by the experts on F1 Explains THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY... Aura Frames: For a limited time, go to AuraFrames.com to get $35 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames. Just use promo code NATION at checkout. Indeed: F1 Nation listeners can get a $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com/nation F1 Store: Treat the F1 fan in your life this festive season with exclusive gear from the Official F1 Store. Shop now at f1store.formula1.com

F1 correspondent and presenter Lawrence Barretto joins Tom Clarkson in the Yas Marina paddock to reflect on a high-stakes qualifying for Sunday’s title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The three title contenders make up the top three on the grid – with Max Verstappen on pole, championship leader Lando Norris in second and Oscar Piastri in third. How can Max make life difficult for Lando and Oscar behind? What can we expect from the McLaren drivers at the start into turn 1? Will team orders come into play? And what impact could the likes of George Russell in P4 and Charles Leclerc in P5 have on the fight at the front?