Why do they say 'box, box, box', not 'pit, pit, pit'? What makes them fume on the radio? How has their job changed in 2026? F1 Race Engineers are the voice in the driver's ear, passing on information, listening to feedback, working together to get the best result possible.

Laura Müller, Race Engineer for Esteban Ocon at Haas, joins Christian Hewgill to laugh a lot and also to answer your questions on F1 car set-up, how teams know how fast their rivals are, how she became a race engineer and why a Safety Car can make her very happy or very annoyed...

F1 Explains is here to answer your F1 questions
Send them to F1Explains@F1.com

Listen to more Official F1 Podcasts
In-depth conversations with big F1 names (including Laura) on F1 Beyond The Grid

Expert opinion every race weekend on F1 Nation - find the latest episode here on this podcast feed

This November, F1 takes over Las Vegas
The Las Vegas Grand Prix returns November 19 - 21, 2026 — and tickets are on sale now! Be there for the fastest weekend of the year. Click here for tickets

Tom Clarkson is joined by F1 correspondent Lawrence Barretto and F1TV expert James Hinchcliffe to reflect on an action-packed Miami Grand Prix weekend.

Kimi Antonelli made it three race wins in a row to extend his championship lead to 20 points. Was this the toughest win of Kimi’s career and what does that tell us about him?

On the other side of the Mercedes garage, how will George Russell be feeling about the title fight after losing out to his teammate again? And what do the guys make of George’s comments about the Miami track not suiting him?

Also on the agenda: why Lando Norris missed out on victory, Charles Leclerc’s final lap spin that cost him a podium, Red Bull’s turnaround and a very special day for Franco Colapinto.

Plus, the guys pay tribute to former F1 driver and Paralympian Alex Zanardi, who has passed away at the age of 59.

And if you’d like to hear Alex Zanardi’s incredible life story, listen to him in conversation with Tom Clarkson on F1 Beyond The Grid back in 2020.

What’s the difference between a ‘Test Driver’ and a ‘Reserve Driver’? Well, who better to answer that than Cadillac Test Driver Colton Herta and Reserve Driver Zhou Guanyu?

Colton and Zhou join Christian Hewgill ahead of Cadillac’s first home race in Miami to answer your questions about Formula 1.

How does F2 compare to Colton’s previous career in IndyCar? What’s it like working with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez? Who replaces a driver if they are injured or ill? How close is simulator performance to the real car? And why do drivers sometimes plunge themselves into ice baths after a race?

Send your F1 questions to F1Explains@F1.com

Experience F1 live in 2026
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 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 Fest
Wednesday 29th April | 4pm | Miami Beach
Special guests: Colton Herta + Zhou Guanyu from Cadillac F1 Team
For details, terms and conditions and to register for free tickets go to f1miamigp.com/fan-fest

Send your F1 questions to F1Explains@F1.com

Experience F1 live in 2026
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

Verstappen'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 podcasts
F1 Beyond The Grid - in-depth interviews with F1's biggest names
F1 Explains - expert answers to your F1 questions

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Cadillac 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 podcasts
F1 Beyond The Grid - in-depth interviews with F1's biggest names
F1 Nation - expert views on the latest F1 news

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 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.

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