Skip to content
Artwork for F1 Nation
F1 Nation · June 12 · 24 min

F1 Explains: how a Grand Prix gets started

Five red lights go out and the race is on! The start of a Formula 1 Grand Prix is a high-pressure moment - not just for the drivers, but for the woman who controls the start. Rebecca Lee is the Head of Single-Seater Operations at the FIA and the F1 Permanent Starter. She joins Christian Hewgill to answer your questions about the race start procedure. What are the rules at the start of a race? How does she keep everyone safe? Most excitingly, how does she decide when to push the button which turns the lights off, and send 22 Formula 1 cars into battle? Send us your F1 questions - we'll find the best person to answer them Emails and voice notes welcome - F1Explains@F1.com Listen to more official F1 podcasts F1 Nation's preview and review of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix is on this feed Alex Albon talks making Williams history on F1 Beyond The Grid Keep up with the Formula 1 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix Follow @F1 on social media Download the F1 app or visit F1.com

0:00-24:57

transcript

No transcript — this publisher did not publish one.

show notes

Five red lights go out and the race is on! The start of a Formula 1 Grand Prix is a high-pressure moment - not just for the drivers, but for the woman who controls the start.

Rebecca Lee is the Head of Single-Seater Operations at the FIA and the F1 Permanent Starter. She joins Christian Hewgill to answer your questions about the race start procedure. What are the rules at the start of a race? How does she keep everyone safe? Most excitingly, how does she decide when to push the button which turns the lights off, and send 22 Formula 1 cars into battle?

Send us your F1 questions - we'll find the best person to answer them
Emails and voice notes welcome - F1Explains@F1.com

Listen to more official F1 podcasts
F1 Nation's preview and review of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix is on this feed
Alex Albon talks making Williams history on F1 Beyond The Grid

Keep up with the Formula 1 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
Follow @F1 on social media
Download the F1 app or visit F1.com

links3