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Episode 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?
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Emails and voice notes welcome - F1Explains@F1.com
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"F1 Explains: how a Grand Prix gets started" is an episode of F1 Nation. Runtime 24 min. Published June 12, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.
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Quick FAQ
- When was this episode published?
- June 12, 2026.
- How long is this episode?
- 24 min.
- What podcast is this from?
- F1 Nation. Browse the full back catalog on the show page.
- What does this episode cover?
- F1 Nation covers motorsports. This episode runs on the show's regular cadence.