F1 EXPLAINS: What really happens on the F1 grid – with Oscar Piastri’s engineer and Gordon Ramsay

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?

BEYOND THE GRID: Christian Fittipaldi on racing in an F1 dynasty and the pressure of carrying his family name

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 before the action gets going.

F1 NATION: How Max Verstappen drove ‘like Senna and Schumacher’ in ‘hall of fame’ victory in Sao Paulo

F1 Explains is the official podcast which answers your questions about how the sport works. If you’d like your question answered, send it to [email protected].

To listen to the full episode, hit go on the audio player above – or click here to listen on your preferred podcasting platform.

DISCOVER MORE…

ANALYSIS: Why Alpine have favoured Mercedes’ power units over their own engines for 2026

F1 confirms plans for first ever season launch event at London’s The O2 in 2025

From iconic soundbites to an infamous calendar – Seven memorable Bottas moments that made him a hit with F1 fans

From Schumacher’s engine heartbreak to Webber’s agonising spin – 7 races that proved pivotal in F1 title battles from the 21st century

‘The plan was always to be together’ – Bortoleto on his Sauber arrival, learning from Alonso and the support from Brazil