Inside F1: Life alongside legends

by Lee McKenzie

From an early age, Lee McKenzie had access to a motorsport world that most are rarely allowed into. From spending time in the paddock as a teen to becoming a highly respected Formula One journalist and presenter, Lee has been at the heart of motorsport for almost twenty years.

On the frontline of one of the most watched sports on the planet and gaining the respect of F1 world champions with her tough but fair interview approach, Lee has shared experiences, hire cars, parties and friendships with a host of drivers from Michael Schumacher to Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel to Jenson Button.

Inside F1 tells the stories of the careers of seven stars of the sport using her personal contact and interviews throughout the years. Lee's unique perspective takes us through the highs and lows, the controversies and crashes that led to some of the biggest and most memorable interviews in recent years. Lee's close relationship with the drivers makes Inside F1 an enthralling behind-the- scenes account of one of the biggest sports in the world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Biography, Audiobook, Memoir

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 5, 2022

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but in the end just a retelling of some drivers careers with some anecdotes

[Willow Rankin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book titled "Inside F1" would make you think this is how the sport of F1 works; everything from the team (the engineers, the principles and the drivers) to the paddock, and even the FIA would be covered.
Instead, what we got was part memoir of Lee McKenzie and part dive into seven race drivers from Lee's career.
It was a good book - however, each chapter became fairly repetitive, and left me wanting more than the drivers. Afterall, it takes a village to win a championship.
Further, (and for me this is the same criticism I have for the Netflix show) the rule changes, the FIA involvement, the race tracks (why are which ones chosen every year, and why are some only appear every so often, and why are some skipped for years at a time) where is this information.
Overall, if you are already a fan of F1 and have been with the sport for the last 10 years, none of this information is new - though does offer different perspectives. But if you are like me, a passing fan and just want to learn more about this sport - you will need to look elsewhere.

[Issyd23 · Rating 3 out of 5]

“You’ve got my number already & I don’t get any text messages from you”if Lee can handle 15yrs of Seb’s flirting she can handle anything 3🏎

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broadcast journalist Lee McKenzie reviews the careers of seven of the most prominent F1 drivers of the 21st century.

If you're a fan of the sport this won't really tell you anything new, but it does offer some interesting insights into the personalities behind the headlines and into the access that broadcasters have - or don't have - to drivers and teams.

[Pea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written piece. I really enjoyed this. Obviously you need an interest in F1 but it is easy to read. You can pick it up and put it down. It is fast enough paced that one doesn’t get bored with the stories and drivers histories.
It gives you an insight to behind the scenes of the races and is honestly written. Lee McKenzie at her best 5/5

[Claire Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book as I love F1. It was a disappointment though. There is some insights that we've not heard before, but very little. I'd say at least 70% of the book is just laying out what happened in different seasons. Anyone who has been a long term fan of the sport knows all this already. In the end I didn't read it cover to cover. I just didn't have the patience. I read the chapters on the drivers that I like most. I would have expected more from McKenzie.

[Rebecca Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to on Audible February 2023.
A great listen for any F1 fan, and made more enjoyable with the authors narration. Loved hearing more in-depth and personal stories about our favourite F1 drivers from Lee’s own personal experiences she has shared with them.

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

( Format: Audiobook )
"Formula 1, what a wonderful world."

This is a second reading of Me McKenzie's fine book about champion drivers of the F1 world, including the story of champion for a minute, Felipe Massa who is now in dispute over his loss of title after it was admitted that an engineered crash had been known about but never acted upon at the time.

As a long time follower of Forrmula 1, this reader has grown fond of the excellent and seemingly spontaneous interviews and comments by the elegant and informed Lee McKenzie. The drivers with whom she spoke seemed to enjoy their conversations, too. Her warm voice and gentle Scottish (easily understood) accent were an added bonus to her TV appearances. So it was with sad surprise that her reading of this, her book about the race world was more jarring than her on screen appearances Still good to hear, though.

Lee McKenzie was present in the Brazilian race in 2008, which Massa won, and for a few moments was belueved to have become World Champion, only to lose it to Hamilton in the last few seconds of the race. And it was really for her chapter on Felipe Masse that I purchased this book - there is plenty by and about the other F1 Champions listed available, but not the much loved Brazillian, now several.years retired who never did gain the title.
This is a book about Lee herself and the World Champions she knew personally and interviewed publicly, and includes, besides Felipe, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel , Jensen Button, Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen, and Louis Hamilton with thumbnails of their backgrounds, their racing and F1 lives with main, often dramatic, events ighlighted.

Very interesting for F1 fans both new and old to relive some of the best highlights of racing this century

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ it was good however it wasn’t what it was advertised as being and the timelines were all over the place which made the book not flow. A lot of the information I already knew and was basically just a retelling of different drivers at different races through out the years so it became very repetitive I was expecting to hear from engineers and other people involved within F1 but we didn’t get any of that.

The timelines made no sense we went from micheal Schumachers era to Lewis Hamilton domination in 2015 then to Sebastian vettel in 2007, it also repeated itself a few times when it came to max verstappens section later in the book as we had already heard the things between him and Lewis in Lewis’ chapter around 150 pages before.

[Kaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Formula 1 so I knew a lot of the stories going in like what happened with Jenson's hand. The first few chapters gave a lot of insights especially into the personalities of the drivers. The last few, however, felt more like a retelling of events. I greatly respect Lee McKenzie as a journalist and so this gave me more of window into the relationships she had with drivers but I wish it gave me more into the inside of the sport as a whole too.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee McKenzie is a very knowledgeable journalist and broadcaster and I found this a very enjoyable insight into F1, particularly some of her own stories and experiences with featured drivers. My only criticism would probably be that it was slightly repetitive as each driver's story overlapped but generally a very good read.

[Fabiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

ottimo libro. sulla Formula Uno, sui piloti che hanno fatto la storia ma soprattutto sulla carriera di una donna nel mondo dello sport.
attraverso i ritratti dei piloti non solo si esplora il mondo automobilistico della Formula Uno ma si percepisce tra le righe la passione che travolge la giornalista.
Bello, bello, bello. Consiglio!

[James! · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely insight from the perspective of a journalist, while mostly a combination of stories from the lives of the drivers, it's lovely to see the memories that she had with them and just a great reminder the sport is so much more than just the drivers who compete each week. I'd probably give it a 3.5!

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee is one of my favourite sports presenters and I love watching her. It's taken me a while to read the book but it was worth the wait. I rather enjoyed hearing her reminiscing on how her interviews with some of the most well-known Formula One drivers. As a Fernando fan I loved reading that chapter a lot. Well worth a read for any Formula One fans out there.

[Marie Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable recap of Lee's encounters with all the greatest current F1 drivers and teams. Interesting tales of a journalist's life behind the scenes from a super entertaining professional.
My best 2022 Christmas present, managed to make it last until the start of the 2023 season 😊

[Gareth Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the personal anecdotes of the events - her take and experiences of some big f1 stories is interesting. Lots of facts/detail (and repetition between drivers) that are well known to f1 fans does not add much for the aficionado but would be needed for casual readers

[Broden Quick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting insight into some of the drivers' personal lives and how they are during interviews. Lee clearly has a good rapport with a lot of the drivers and is a very good sports journalist.
I would say the writing isn't the best, and there is a lot of repetition throughout, but a good read.

[Mezghaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee captured the essence of her work as a sports journalism. She gave us an insight into herself and chapters on the inside news during her work during different f1 eras she worked in.
Must read for aspiring sports journalist and f1 fans

[Atena Ghaibi · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an aspiring Formula 1 Broadcast Journalist, I may be biased in my review, but I loved reading this book - finished it in a day.

Will definitely pick it up again from time to time, in order to refuel my motivation and make my dream career into a reality.

Thank you, Lee McKenzie.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good reminder of the last 20 odd years interspersed with her interviews and recollections.

[Katie Scruton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it! But I feel like I need a follow up with more stories 😍

[Phoebe Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book with lots of insights into legendary driver’s lives. I do wonder why there was no chapter on Nico Rosberg or Kimi Raikkonen though?

[Kirsty Padden-barr]

Loved it, a great insight in to the sport and drivers, and ofcourse Lee's job! A great read!

[Hattie · Rating 2 out of 5]

not very well written, not really what it was advertised to be, and jt all felt quite shallow and repetitive without any technicality

[Sam Wexler · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting read inside a lot of the drivers lives

[Olly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great insight into the world of F1 from one of the best in the business it was great to learn about the personal stories from behind the scenes of F1 a must read for any F1 fan

[Becky_beksta (beks.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good f1 book

[Megan Halligan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. Most of the stories I had already heard though, from having watched her interviews.

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book!!

This is an enjoyable experience! The author is thorough and I enjoyed her insights! Enjoyed getting to know some about her and the drivers she's interviewed.

[M :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

prova a non dire goat per 266 pagine challenge
livello: impossibile