On the Grid: The Inside Track on Formula 1

by Luke Smith

Luke Smith has spent over ten years reporting on Formula 1 from all over the world. The grid is his playground, the track his literal running track. In On the Grid he takes us behind the scenes of the past, present and future of Formula 1, telling its story through the eyes of the people who create it - not just the superstar drivers and larger-than-life team principals, but also the the pit crew, the engineers, strategists, PR gurus, the fans and more.

There's plenty of thrilling drama, cutting-edge technology and glamour, but Smith also shows us the critical mid-race decisions, how that 50-pence screw in the wrong place could cause a £15m car to break down, how F1 has influenced not just the cars we drive but our fridges, life-saving medical equipment and even croissants.

On the Grid brings to life what the sport is really like, revealing the extraordinary minds and characters that give it such colour and intrigue, while also tracing the origins of the sport's traditions and impact beyond the track. For both long-time fans and newcomers, it's the definitive, access-all-areas account of the people, personalities and culture that make F1 stand alone in world sport.

290 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2025