Formula 1 cars, explained for rookies (with Max Verstappen)

These are more than cars. They’re science experiments.
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I love Formula 1. This isn’t just a car race, it’s a massive group science competition. Ten teams are all fighting to be first, and on every team there are hundreds of people, spending millions of dollars, all working together to push technology to its limit.

In this video, we’re gonna show you what it takes to build and drive some of the fastest and most expensive cars in the world. We’ll give you rare access into a factory in England where they build these cars and into a garage in Bahrain where they race them. This is Formula 1 cars, explained!

One note because it’s important to me you never be confused about what is paid for and what isn’t: Oracle comped my flights, but didn’t have any say in the editorial and didn’t see the episode before it went live. The Red Bull F1 Team did not pay me, had no say in the editorial, and didn’t see the episode before publish either. Everything I say here is entirely my own.

Chapters:
0:00 What is a Formula 1 car?
1:13 What do F1 cars look like?
3:08 What’re the rules for F1 cars?
4:12 Where do they keep old F1 cars?
4:53 What’s the goal of F1?
5:30 How does an F1 car go so fast?
7:26 … Can I sit in an F1 car??
9:06 How is an F1 car built?
11:55 How is an F1 car painted?
12:42 How does an F1 engine work?
15:45 Sneak peak: Red Bull’s new engine sound
16:34 How do you race an F1 car?
17:40 What does it feel like to drive an F1 car?
18:30 OH NO
18:51 What does an F1 steering wheel look like?
19:22 What is a pit stop?
20:02 What are F1 tires like?
20:28 How do you WIN an F1 race?
22:08 Why care about Formula 1?
23:18 Thank you :)

Corrections:
4:59 Track direction should go the other way!
5:38 Track direction goes the other way. Sorry about that.

Bio:
Cleo Abram is an Emmy-nominated independent video journalist. On her show, Huge If True, Cleo explores complex technology topics with rigor and optimism, helping her audience understand the world around them and see positive futures they can help build. Before going independent, Cleo was a video producer for Vox. She wrote and directed the Coding and Diamonds episodes of Vox’s Netflix show, Explained. She produced videos for Vox’s popular YouTube channel, was the host and senior producer of Vox’s first ever daily show, Answered, and was co-host and producer of Vox’s YouTube Originals show, Glad You Asked.

Additional reading and watching:

Gear I use:
Camera: Sony A7SIII
Lens: Sony 16–35 mm F2.8 GM
Audio: Sennheiser SK AVX and Zoom H4N Pro

Music: Musicbed

—
Welcome to the joke down low:

What do you get when dinosaurs crash their cars?
Tyrannosaurus wrecks

Find a way to use “tyrannosaurus” in a comment to let me know you’re a real one who made it to the end of the description :)

[carlostonebanks]

I have no idea how many US viewers know how "huge" it is that Cleo got this. There are international sports journalist veterans that could only DREAM of this sort of access. Props to you, Cleo!

[DelaneySeamus]

I don't understand how you have managed to keep a die hard formula one fan engaged for an entire video covering the basics. But you sure did. Incredible

[NickTheKangaroo]

Cleo, I have absolutely no idea how you managed to score this inside look into F1...my inner child could barely contain my excitement for the full 24 minutes. I hope to see more of this F1 content in future!

[Kuroneko]

I am not kidding you. This video gave me goosebumps because what you are doing in this video is a dream for many F1 fans.

[bsmarques]

I follow Formula 1 for almost 20 years. This is one of the most complete, easy to understand and in depth video I've ever seen. A truly amazing video, Cleo, thank you!

[Listoric]

I'm a long time F1 fan (30+ years) and this is probably one of the best summaries and quick documentaries about what's fascinating about the sport ever. Really, really well done.

[jameshampton]

I've followed F1 for 50 years. Never heard a better presentation of team performance and what goes on behind the scenes. Well done and well put together.

[johnnysmith]

I've watched almost every F1 race since around 1988 and have to say that Cleo has absolutely nailed this video. Great, great work.
Also, that one RB car that has a really different paintjob to all the rest - RB3 from 2007 British GP - not a successful car but it has thousands of tiny photos of 'fans' all over it, one of which is my dad (I got him that as a birthday present)!

[dnfriedman]

This is what I would have liked Netflix's drive to survive series to have been about.

[deetybaby]

The access you were given is a testament to how well you’re respected. The video you’ve produced justifies that respect.

[blaketurner]

30+ years an F1 fan. I still learnt and experienced new unique little nuggets. This is hands down the most comprehensive and easily understood, yet also in-depth intros to F1.

What I love the most. Cleo, your absolute wonder and joy experiencing and appreciating the value of your experience and access caught in this video. Your excited skip and dance heading to engine testing, the subtle absolute attention (your eyes and expression) listening to the engineer explaining the engine testing, the childlike glee stealing your attention back to the changes in the engine sound. Those little details take this from the realm of just another die hard factory visit, to sharing the intense privilege and uniqueness of the experience. Huge respect.

Thank you 🙃

[marcio]

Die hard F1 fan for 30y here, and this is easily one of the best videos ever made about it . Immediately subscribed

[maurocandiago]

I'm 42 years old and I'm a F1 fan since I was 9. I can tell that this is one of the best videos I've ever seen.

[BlueOnVinyl]

CLEO AND MAX TOGETHER?!? my worlds are colliding 😭

[diegobarretoc]

This is by far one of the most engaging and comprehensive videos of F1 that I have ever seen, not only on YouTube but in my life. Such an honest, fresh and enjoyable journalism for viewers. Cheers Cleo!

[carlosgarcia-acevedo]

Just watched your episode and I had blast. As a lifelong F1 fan I can appreciate your enthusiasm and energy while making it. Not everybody can transmit what really goes on behind the scenes and you have done a mega job. Thank you, thank you, thank you !!!!

[csabraxas]

Im 116 years old and have been watching f1 since I was twice and I have to say, without a doubt, this is the best video thats ever been made since the invention of space and time.

[huntd]

One of th best explanations of f1 I have seen. I have been an f1 fan for almost 40 years and this is a must watch video

[stratonarrow]

This is not only your best video, but it’s the best piece of media I’ve seen on formula 1 in years. Well done! As a longtime fan, it’s been such a blast seeing f1 become popular in the US. It truly is the marriage of what is possible with engineering and human talent in the car.

[ragemydream]

Dear @F1. This is the type of content we want to see. Thank you Cleo for making this. I hope this brings new fans to F1 and appreciate the technical and logistical talent that goes into F1, not just the fastest driver.