Formula101

The Pit Stops

Precision, choreography, and teamwork. From once being almost comically unsafe and inefficient, pit stops now represent perhaps two of the most intense seconds of a race for any Formula 1 team. Like most things in motor racing, they're high in risk, demanding extreme skill, focus and millimeter accuracy. In this episode, Gom and Das explore how the likes of McLaren, Red Bull and Williams have perfected their wheel gun ballets, consistently servicing their machines faster than most of us tie our shoelaces. From coded radio calls to outrageous wheel nut budgets, these are the ins and out (laps) of Formula 1 pit stops.

The Movies

Formula 1 racing has often produced storylines that even Hollywood would consider a little too fanciful. The drama, the high stakes, the larger-than-life personalities, the heroes and the villains, and the ever-present danger - is it any wonder that the silver screen's storytellers have long been captivated by the world of motorsport? In this episode, Gom and Das chat about a few motion pictures that have shone a light on racing. From tales about Ford and Ferrari, to Lightning McQeen, Nikki Lauda and James Hunt - what are some must-see movies to immerse yourself in the energy and drama of motorsport?

The Power Units

What gets a Formula 1 car going? Like, reeeaaaallllly going - from zero to a hundred km/h in 2.5 seconds? Their cutting-edge, turbocharged, hybrid power units, of course. In this episode, Gom and Das delve into the beating hearts of the most spectacular machines on the planet. After understanding the basics of how internal combustion engines work, they explore the sources of all that screaming, roaring, whirring and magic. How do turbochargers improve the engines, what's an MGU-K and MGU-H, and how do they impact the races we watch? What was so special about those old-timey V10 and V8 engines, and what can we expect to see (and hear) in the future?

The Safe Side

Romain Grosjean's fiery crash in Abu Dhabi stopped hearts around the globe, but it certainly wasn't the first time a Formula 1 car had gone up in flames. In 1976, Niki Lauda was pulled from a similar burning wreckage at the Nürburgring, when his Ferrari crashed at the German Grand Prix. But while Ro-Gro climbed out of his car suffering minimal burns, the Super Rat's injuries were horrific, having only escaped by being bravely rescued by three of his fellow drivers, and narrowly cheating death. Throughout Formula 1's history, many of its competitors have not been so lucky. In our latest episode, Gom and Das explore the evolution of safety in Formula 1 racing. From carbon fibre and Kevlar helmets, to HANS devices and halos - in this episode, we learn about the progress and evolution that helps to keep our heroes safe.

The Flow

Downforce, drag, wings and diffusers! Gom and Das break down one of the most important aspects of a Formula 1 car, the aerodynamics. How can something as simple as the air we breathe have such a huge impact on car performance? What are the invisible forces that help to improve lap times and win races? How do the teams harness it all in their quest for the most coveted trophies in world motorsport? And what does it all have to do with one of the greatest underdog stories the sport has ever seen?