Your go-to destination for Formula 1 news, interviews and reactions.
F1 Chequered Flag from the BBC offers expert analysis of every F1 race, with exclusive insight into every twist and turn of the F1 season. Each episode brings you in-depth race reviews, breaking down the strategies that shape each Grand Prix and the key players making headlines. Hear from F1 stars like Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris, and the bosses of powerhouse teams like Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren. And get up to speed on the cars and tactics changing the game.
Coming up this season: what will it take for Max Verstappen to win his fifth consecutive world title? Can McLaren retain their lead from the 2024 Constructors Championship? Will Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris take the lead, the two McLaren team-mates turned rivals? How will Lewis Hamilton perform after his shock switch to Ferrari? And what can we expect from this season’s rookie drivers, Oliver Bearman, Kimi Antonelli, Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar and Gabriel Bortoleto?
Stay tuned for the latest F1 updates, straight from the track.
Harry, Andrew and Marc look back at qualifying from Bahrain. They ask what happened to Lando Norris who could only manage sixth, and hear from the top three, as well as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
This episode previews the Bahrain Grand Prix, analyzing team performance, strategic challenges, and potential upgrades. It covers McLaren's race strategy in Suzuka, Ferrari's performance concerns, and the ongoing FIA governance issues. The hosts also discuss tyre degradation, car sizes, and predict the Bahrain race winner.
The episode reviews the Japanese Grand Prix, highlighting Max Verstappen's victory and McLaren's strategy. The panel discusses the key moments, including the pit lane incident and team radio communications, while also examining the performances of other drivers like Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, and rookies Antonelli and Hadjar. They debate McLaren's strategy, question overtaking difficulties, and preview the upcoming Bahrain race.
Harry Benjamin and British racing driver Alice Powell react to qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix. Hear from Max Verstappen after he delivered a stunning lap to secure a surprise pole position. Plus, we discuss McLaren’s chances in the race from second and third, Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari struggles at Suzuka, Isack Hadjar’s seatbelt issues, and Yuki Tsunoda’s disappointment following his first qualifying session with Red Bull at his home race.
The episode previews the Japanese Grand Prix, focusing on Yuki Tsunoda's promotion to Red Bull and the challenges he faces. Guests analyze Red Bull's driver management decisions, the pressure on Tsunoda, and potential team dynamics. The discussion also covers McLaren's strong start and the upcoming race at Suzuka.
With two race wins from two at the start of the 2025 F1 season, McLaren couldn’t have got off to a better start in the defence of their constructors’ world title. So what better time to look back on exactly how they achieved that success in 2024? In this bonus episode of F1: Back at Base - How To Go Racing, Holly Samos and Sarah Holt take you behind the scenes at McLaren as they finally became World Champions again after a 26-year wait. McLaren are one of the most decorated teams in F1, winning ...
This episode reviews the Chinese Grand Prix, focusing on Oscar Piastri's victory and McLaren's overall performance, including Lando Norris's brake issues and the team's dynamic. The discussion covers Ferrari's struggles, Mercedes' improved showing with George Russell, and Red Bull's challenges with Verstappen and rookie driver Liam Lawson. Additionally, the podcast highlights the impressive performance of the Haas F1 team.
This episode of F1: Chequered Flag reviews the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, including Lewis Hamilton's sprint race win for Ferrari, Oscar Piastri's pole position, and George Russell splitting the McLarens in qualifying. The discussion covers tire management, car optimization, and Red Bull's struggles with their second driver, analyzing potential causes and solutions. The hosts also preview the upcoming Grand Prix, making predictions for the race winner.
This episode previews the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, covering sprint qualifying results and weekend expectations. The analysts discuss Lewis Hamilton's surprising pole position, McLaren's unexpected struggles, and Red Bull's performance. They also touch on the midfield battles, rookie performances, and potential strategies for the upcoming sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying, while remembering Eddie Jordan.
The F1: Chequered Flag team pay tribute to Eddie Jordan, who has died at the age of 76. Mark Gallagher, who was part of the management board at Jordan Grand Prix, and Gary Anderson, who designed the very first Jordan Grand Prix car, join Harry Benjamin and BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson. One of the most flamboyant characters in the sport, Jordan achieved rare success as an independent team owner, winning four grand prix between 1991 and 2005. He later became a television pundit, where he was...
Have McLaren set a marker for the season? Former mechanic Marc Priestley and commentator Harry Benjamin join Rosanna Tennant to look back at the Australian Grand Prix. Lando Norris claimed victory. We hear from the Brit, as well as Max Verstappen, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Harry Benjamin and Marc Priestley join Rosanna Tennant to look back at qualifying from Melbourne. It was a good day for McLaren as Lando Norris took pole with Oscar Piastri in P2. We hear from both drivers. Max Verstappen is also on the pod after finishing third, and Lewis Hamilton tells us how he’s still learning to drive his new Ferrari after finishing P9.
With three British drivers racing for three of the top F1 teams, Rosanna Tennant, Harry Benjamin, Andrew Benson and Marc Priestley debate the credentials of each. Is Lewis Hamilton the fastest, backed by his seven world titles? Should Lando Norris be favourite, given he's in the 2024 Constructors' Championship-winning car? Or is George Russell being underestimated due to an underperforming car?
What can we expect from Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari? Will Max Verstappen secure his fifth world championship? And are McLaren truly the favorites for the constructors’ title? As the 2025 F1 season kicks off in Melbourne, Rosanna Tennant is joined by Marc Priestley, Harry Benjamin and Andrew Benson to discuss these questions and more. They also hear from the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen. Plus, Harry sits down with rookie Ollie Bearman as he gears up for his first full...
When will we next see a female driver in Formula One? Eleanor Oldroyd is joined by former F3 driver Alice Powell and BBC reporter Charlotte Simpson to examine why there aren’t any female drivers currently at the sport’s elite level. They look at the existing programmes designed to boost the number of female drivers and ask what more can be done. Leading female driver Abi Pulling talks through her experiences in the sport, while Susie Wolff explains the aims of the F1 Academy in developing female...
This episode recaps the thrilling conclusion of the 2024 F1 season, focusing on McLaren's quest for the Constructors' Championship and Aston Martin's ongoing transformation. Interviews with drivers Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, along with team principals Zak Brown and Andrea Stella, provide insights into the intense competition and future ambitions. The episode culminates in McLaren's victory celebration and a look at Aston Martin's new wind tunnel, highlighting the relentless pursuit of perfection in Formula One.
In just 15 days’ time, the final chapter in the story of the 2024 Formula 1 season will be written. A triple header of races - from the bright lights of Las Vegas to the heat of Qatar and Abu Dhabi – will decide the World Championships. It’s late November, and time for Formula 1 to take up residency in Las Vegas. The sound of engines roaring down the city’s world-famous Strip will soon bring in the crowds. Unlike other races on the calendar, which are organized by local promoters, the Las Vegas ...
The McLaren and Aston Martin Formula 1 teams are preparing for a “Super Sunday” in Brazil. For just the sixth time in the sport’s history, both qualifying and the race are taking place on the same day. Stormy weather is testing the teams’ resources and resolve at the Interlagos Circuit, home to the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The teams and drivers arrive at the track at the crack of dawn, ready to think on their feet in a marathon day ahead. After a well-orchestrated performance in Saturday’s Sprint R...
Rick Edwards joins Jennie Gow, Harry Benjamin and Andrew Benson at the F1 75 launch event. The team look ahead to the start of the new season, discuss the glitz and glamour of this new day in the F1 calendar, and speak to the drivers, including George Russell and Lando Norris, as well as the team bosses, including Toto Wolff, Christian Horner and Fred Vasseur.
There are just five races left to go in the frenetic 2024 Formula 1 season - and the stakes are getting higher. McLaren are still in the hunt for both World titles but, after a penalty for Lando Norris at the U.S. Grand Prix, the team must regroup back at base. The next race in Mexico is vital for the team if they are to keep Norris’ hopes alive in the Drivers’ Championship. The events in Austin saw the British star’s title fight with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen heat up. Will the Mexico race see i...
It’s late September. The seasons are turning – but the wheels of Formula 1 have stopped. There is now a three-week pause before racing resumes at the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. At Aston Martin’s Silverstone headquarters, the cars have made a rare return home. In 2024, the cars travel to 21 countries across five continents - that’s a total 127,000 kilometres in air distance. Head of Build and Car Assembly Mark Gray is the man in charge of logistics and caring for Aston Martin’s racing cars...
Tension is building inside the McLaren factory. The team is closer to a title than they have been for 12 years and, after dramatic races in Zandvoort and Monza, there is much to discuss. Not least the team’s philosophy that allows their drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, to freely race each other. Team Principal Andrea Stella has returned to the factory to consider whether there now needs to be a change of policy. While Stella smooths out any wrinkles caused by the battling teammates, Prod...
The Aston Martin team is preparing to unveil the super signing of the 2024 season. Someone who will shape their Formula 1 cars and - if things go to plan - the team’s future at the front of the grid. But until then the news has to be kept under wraps. In the ultra-competitive world of Formula 1 secrecy is a necessity. The McLaren and Aston Martin teams are also gearing up for a return to racing at Round 15 of the World Championship, the Dutch Grand Prix, held at the seaside circuit of Zandvoort....
There are just 10 races left to go in the 2024 Formula 1 season - the longest season in the sport’s history with 24 grands prix. In this final phase of the season, both Championships - for the world’s best racing driver and team - are still up for grabs. At McLaren headquarters, in the commuter town of Woking just 23 miles outside London, the team is stirring again after the summer shutdown. The historic race team hit form before the summer holidays and has propelled itself into title contention...
In this eight-part series, hosted by actor Josh Hartnett, we have been given unprecedented access to two of the most famous names in Formula 1 - McLaren and Aston Martin. These teams are unlocking the doors to their top-secret factories. It’s a critical moment in their season, but they are letting inside as they fight to the finish line in the final 10 races of 2024. With F1 experts Sarah Holt and Holly Samos as our guides, we will meet the workforce driving them forwards from the heart of their...
For the last three months, we have followed the Williams and Mercedes teams as they prepared and built their cars for the 2024 season. Holly Samos and Sarah Holt have been our guides as we’ve gone with them inside the factories - but now it’s almost time to return to the track. First, the teams have to launch their race cars and reveal them to the rest of the world. Williams have travelled to New York to present their car in front of their American fans and partners. For homegrown driver Logan S...
Lewis Hamilton has returned from the Christmas break with some shocking news for his Mercedes team. His bombshell makes headlines around the world - with some calling it the biggest story in Formula 1 this century. Even if that’s a little far-fetched, there is no doubt that his decision has sent shockwaves through the F1 community. At Mercedes, team principal Toto Wolff is used to having to react quickly - almost as quickly as his drivers on track. The Austrian has to face a barrage of media que...
Inside their high-tech Formula 1 factories, Mercedes and Williams are in a constant cycle of pushing the boundaries in the car build. And the clock is ticking. With just a few weeks to go until the start of the 2024 season, Williams are working overtime as the final components of the car go into manufacture. Team principal James Vowles says these crucial weeks towards the end of January are the busiest time for the workforce at his Oxfordshire facility, bar none. But what will be the very last p...
Back at base, Williams and Mercedes are returning to work after the winter shutdown. Now is the time for new beginnings – and whatever lies ahead for our two teams and the cars they are busy bringing to life inside their high-tech facilities. F1 experts Holly Samos and Sarah Holt are our guides as we catch up with the teams. At Mercedes, there is one very familiar face that everyone is pleased to see - the team’s popular star George Russell. The British racer fell ill at the penultimate race of ...
When it comes to designing and building the new Williams and Mercedes Formula 1 cars for the looming 2024 season, there is precision and, most importantly, there is a plan. There has to be because all 10 teams are facing their first winter shutdown - a new ruling by the sport’s governing body, the FIA. But things don’t always go to plan - and the teams face a race against the clock to finish key bits of the car build before the Christmas holidays. Holly Samos and journalist Sarah Holt are going ...
