F1 Explains: How Press Officers tell the story
F1 Nation
Formula 1
4.3 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 14 May 2026
⏱️ 39 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
You've seen them standing alongside F1 drivers in TV interviews. They're holding phones, recording every word the driver says. Who are they and what are they doing?
F1 Press Officers and Communications teams arrange the interviews you see and hear every race weekend. They're the link between the team, the drivers, the media and fans around the world.
Sophie Ogg, who was formerly F1 Communications Director at McLaren, joins Christian Hewgill to explain what's involved in the job: dealing with media requests, working with adrenaline-fueled F1 drivers and reacting to breaking news - all with the aim of letting fans know what's going on inside a Formula 1 team.
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Transcript
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| 0:24.1 | towards your heat pump at gov.uk.uk slash clean energy. |
| 0:27.6 | Eligibility criteria applies the website for details. |
| 0:32.2 | When F1 drivers speak to the world's media after a race. |
| 0:37.1 | Kimmy Antonelli, Grand Prix winner, first Italian to win a Grand Prix in 20 years. |
| 0:42.1 | How do you put all of that into words? |
| 0:44.4 | Yeah, I'm speechless, to be fair. |
| 0:47.0 | There's always someone standing next to them. |
| 0:50.2 | They're wearing team kits. |
| 0:51.7 | They're usually pointing a phone at their driver. |
| 0:54.5 | They're possibly holding a water bottle. |
| 0:56.4 | You've probably seen these people on TV. |
| 0:59.2 | Kaleen from South Africa is one of many who has told us she has. |
| 1:04.4 | She asks, who are they? |
| 1:06.1 | And why are they there? |
| 1:07.6 | We have had so many questions about these people, so let's get the answers. |
| 1:12.9 | This is F1 Explains. |
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