F1 EXPLAINS: How drivers and teams master the adrenaline-filled start to a Grand Prix

The start of a Formula 1 Grand Prix demands extraordinary skill from the drivers and quick decisions from the team strategists, with 20 cars vying for position as they go from 0 to 120 mph in just five seconds.

In the latest episode of F1 Explains – the official podcast that answers your questions about the sport – hosts Katie Osborne and Christian Hewgill tackle this topic head on with help from some special guests.

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Joining the pair are Mercedes reserve driver and former Haas racer Mick Schumacher, who explains what happens in the cockpit, and former Aston Martin Head of Race Strategy Bernie Collins, who reveals how the race start affects a team’s plan for tyres and pit stops.

“I love the start,” says Schumacher, who started 43 races for Haas in 2021 and 2022 before becoming Mercedes’ reserve driver. “The start is one of the places I felt most confident and comfortable. It’s one of the most exciting moments of the race.”

Collins adds: “It’s the one point where you can’t do anything. You’re like a spectator. You can’t interact with the driver – they’re so focused on what they’re doing.”

To hear more from Schumacher and Collins in the latest episode of F1 Explains, tap the audio player above or click here to listen on your preferred platform.

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To get your questions answered you can send a question about any F1 topic to F1Explains@F1.com. The podcast team will find the best person in the paddock to give the answer.

All episodes of F1 Explains are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all other major podcast apps. New episodes are released every Friday.