Reviewed by Richard Tutin
When we watch a sporting event, we mostly see the players or in the case of motor racing the drivers. While they are the stars of the show because they are in the forefront, behind them are many whose talents and efforts keep the show on the road.
Formula 1 (F1) specialist journalist Luke Smith takes us, in this book, behind the scenes and introduces us to the other side of the world of formula car racing. While the drivers are important, those who look after the cars, check the vehicle and driver performance and keep pit lane humming are rarely written about in great depth. Smith changes that in this volume.
He also mentions those who put up the money and invest in the teams each year. Formula 1 racing is an expensive sport. It is often called “The Billionaire Boys Club” because of the large sums needed to keep a team on the road as the F1 juggernaut moves through its annual schedule of 21 races covering 5 continents. Those who are involved often go above and beyond the limits of human endurance to keep the cars on the track so that races can be won.
Smith also discusses the ever-changing world that F1 currently experiences. Along with safety measures that have been introduced over the years in response to some very tragic accidents, the F1 world has had to respond to issues such as the size of its carbon footprint and the scale of its emissions as teams move around from race to race with cars, staff and equipment. Smith does not shy away from asking the hard questions on this issue with team bosses and F1 race management.
He addresses the place of women in the sport. There has been, in recent years, a steady increase in the number of women who have invested their time and money to become drivers, engineers and race strategists. Smith introduces the reader to the F1 Academy that is dedicated to training women in some of these fields. He also shows how the sport is showing that members of the LGBTQ+ community also have a place within the ranks of Formula racing.
Smith often becomes introspective since he sees himself as an active member of the F1 community. He follows the teams from race to race and covers the airmiles to keep up with developments in technology and driver changes. This leads him to consider his contribution to the emissions debate as well as counting the social cost of missing out on family events and milestones as he pursues his racing passion around the world.
He shows readers the commitment and appetite that is needed to be part of this form of car racing. Unlike many other famous car races, Formula 1 is unique in that it can claim that it is a world competition. Its participants come from many different countries and cultures. The thing they have in common is their passion and commitment to put a very expensive vehicle on the track and race it like there’s no tomorrow.
Luke Smith is a Formula 1 and motorsport journalist based in Bexhill-on-Sea. He is currently a Senior Writer covering Formula 1 for The Athletic. His work regularly features in the New York Times as he follows the sport’s travelling circus.
On The Grid – The Inside Track on Formula 1
by Luke Smith
(2025)
Simon & Schuster
ISBN 9781398532472
$34.99; 289pp