Fasten your Couch Belt

Inside Grand Prix is a 16-part series about Formula One races that acts like a dummy’s guide to F1. Every episode aims to explore a different track from around the world — Kuala Lampur,Berlin,Sydney and soon,New Delhi. Featuring the sights and sounds of each city,the show begins with demographics such as temperature,cost of living,favourite teams and culture. But alluring travel promotions aside,the episode also aims to explore technical aspects of the F1 tracks. It also features commentaries from drivers revealing pros and cons,and their personal take on the circuit. The third episode of the series,featuring Malaysia,explores other aspects of the sport such as drivers,their backgrounds,along with what it takes to make it to the big league,with commentary from the FIA Institute in Austria and its young recruits.

Who’s in it?

Who isn’t in it? From F1 legends such as Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton to FIA trainer Alex Wurz,the show aims to explore all elements that make the sport exciting.

What’s hot?

To the unenthusiastic eye,Formula One races might seem like a bunch of drivers going around in circles. However,listening to professionals,such as Nico Rosberg from Mercedes GP,talk about the strenuous training,which is “not unlike running a marathon”,is extremely interesting. Did you know that at any given point and time during a race,a driver’s neck,shoulders,arms and legs are subjected to 40,000 kilos of weight from the car while their bodies steadily dehydrate? So,even though the audience may romanticise the ordeal by imagining them in beautiful cars,having an adrenalin rush every time they cross 250 km per hour,life inside an F1 car is not as glamorous as it seems.

What’s not?

The show aims to inform hardcore fans and budding enthusiasts about the workings of the sport. But technical aspects — such as length of the track,number of laps and turns,highest speed — are old news for cohorts and too technical for novices. Another segment featuring the players talk about their machines gets too patronising. In an episode that has Schumacher showcase his car,the driver only talks about elementary aspects such as the wheels,the boost button on the steering wheel and the rear wing that increases a car’s chances to overtake. That’s not enough as it concerns one of the world’s most celebrated racers. Lovers of the sport will want a peek under the hood.

Should you be watching it?

With the F1 coming to India,the sport has definitely generated immense interest. Watch it if the Indian F1 is going to be your introduction to the sport,and you would like to be on the same page as your peers,who have been following it for years. But don’t take it for granted that you won’t need to know more,because there’s a lot you might still not understand.