What really happens on the F1 grid before a race

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?

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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.

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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.

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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 F1Explains@F1.com.

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