How data helps F1 drivers go faster – with McLaren’s Tom Stallard and Jolyon Palmer

When Formula 1 drivers want to go faster, they study squiggly lines on a screen. This is F1 data, showing how drivers accelerate, brake, steer and more. Hidden in the squiggles are the secrets of speed.

Tom Stallard, Race Engineer to Oscar Piastri at McLaren, and former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer join presenter Christian Hewgill on the latest episode of F1 Explains to decode the data and explain how teams and drivers use it.

Stallard describes what data is recorded, how it is fed back to the teams by hundreds of sensors on each car, and how engineers analyse thousands of pieces of information every race weekend.

Former Renault F1 racer Palmer explains how F1 drivers study their own data to find improvements, what they can learn from looking at their team mates and rivals’ data, and the data drivers need to know during Qualifying and Grands Prix.

The full episode of F1 Explains is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all other podcast apps, or you can listen using the player above on this page.

F1 Explains is the award-winning official F1 podcast which answers your questions about the sport. You can send your questions to F1Explains@F1.com.