How Formula 1 teams work - from factory to racetrack

To win in F1, hundreds of people have to work together. From the mechanics at the track to designers at the factory, every team member plays their part. How are F1 teams organised, and why does every team have to build a unique car?

Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill go back into the sport's past with F1 Correspondent and Presenter, Lawrence Barretto, who explains how car design has been part of F1 since the very beginning. Then, Mercedes Head of Communications Bradley Lord talks about the different departments of an F1 team and how they all contribute to on-track performance.

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Find the answer in our previous episodes

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LIVE at Silverstone with Mika Hakkinen (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/d1e18a88ae46…) + F1 Explains listeners

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How F1 lap times are recorded (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/fa3604137dcd…) - with an official F1 timekeeper

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What F1 drivers eat (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/369adcdd3de7…) - with Oscar Piastri's nutritionist, Dr Dan Martin

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How F1 helmets are made (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/e6b1d5f5097c…) - with Bell Racing

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Ask a Formula 1 Driver (podfollow.com/f1-explains/episode/5268cf85857e…) – Liam Lawson answers your questions

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Inside the FIA Safety Car (eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=ht…) - with driver, Bernd Mayländer

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How F1 video games are so realistic (eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=ht…) - with EA SPORTS F124

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LIVE in Miami with Guenther Steiner (eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=ht…) + F1 Explains listeners

• Car setup with Fernando Alonso + Aston Martin (eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=ht…)

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F1 race suits, boots, gloves + underwear (eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=ht…) - with PUMA

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F1 brakes - technology + technique (eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=ht…)- with Brembo + Jack Doohan

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The job of an F1 Team Principal (eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=ht…) - with Aston Martin's Mike Krack

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Why F1 teammates are friends + foes (eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=ht…) - with Valtteri Bottas + Zhou Guanyu

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How Formula 2 + Formula 3 prepare drivers for F1 (eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=ht…) - with Oscar Piastri

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F1 Academy (eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=ht…) - with Susie Wolff + Lia Block

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The F1 race start (eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=ht…) - with Mick Schumacher + strategist Bernie Collins

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Behind the scenes on Drive to Survive (eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=ht…) - with Exec Producer James Gay-Rees

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Why F1 pre-season testing matters …