BBC F1 presenter Jennie Gow’s entertaining A to Z of Formula 1 is an ideal companion for those who have loved the sport for years and those new to the ultimate motor racing experience…
It might seem the most glamorous job in sports journalism but patrolling the paddock on the weekend of a Formula One Grand Prix is also one of the most demanding.
It is a task which has been carried out with some aplomb since 2011 by BBC 5 Live’s motorsport reporter Jennie Gow, who has now covered over 200 Grands Prix.
“Jennie’s job is to go where angels fear to tread,” writes 1996 world champion Damon Hill. “It takes courage and a lot of hard work to know your stuff.”
Gow herself admits that the grid walk is a “dark art” but reveals some of the tricks of the trade.
“You have several people in your earpiece telling you what’s happening next. Trying to find the person your producer is guiding you towards can be like a game of ‘Where’s Wally?’ All this time you’re trying to avoid being run over by F1 cars getting silently wheeled into place.”
Her book ‘How to Read F1’ was written after Gow suffered a stroke in 2022. This explains why the acknowledgements list unusually includes many health professionals.
Only last week, Gow was present to inaugurate the Frimley Health Stroke Rehabilitation Unit.
I’ve been fortunate with my stroke recovery. ❤️🩹 I’m aware not everyone is as lucky. On #WorldStrokeDay2024 I’m trying to raise awareness of stroke and all those who dedicate their lives to helping people like me! I was delighted to be invited back to @FrimleyHealth for this… https://t.co/p1JH0ffxQg
— Jennie Gow (@JennieGow) October 29, 2024
“I love F1, and I love sharing my passion. Hopefully, by the end of this book, you will love Formula One too,” she writes.
Although packed with facts, this is no fusty tome but a lively excursion through what you need to know to hold your own in even the swankiest paddock. It is set out in handy alphabetical order – from A for Aerodynamics to Z for Zhou Guanyu, China’s first F1 driver.
Incidentally, C is for Champagne. The culprits who originated a waste of that good bubbly are revealed. In 1966, Jo “Seppi” Siffert of Switzerland “accidentally popped his cork“ at Le Mans and this is said to have inspired the American Dan Gurney to do the same. It’s been done at most presentation ceremonies since.
“It’s worth noting that the smell of Champagne and sweat is a pungent aroma that I wouldn’t recommend sniffing,” advises Gow.
It’s always a good sign when you can hear the “voice” of the author and this volume has that aplenty. An authoritative text alongside a characteristic sense of humour.
This book will save you even if you don’t know your Delta from your Diffuser or your DRS.
In F1 of course, this has nothing to do with third umpires and whether the ball pitched in line, rather it stands for Drag Reduction System.
After reading the book, you’ll even be able to trot out the odd word of yer actual French, such as “Parc fermé”. Also know that the plural of Grand Prix is Grands Prix.
Amongst the fascinating facts to be found, there’s the identity of the F1 boffin and the TV personality who were both expelled from the same public school. I won’t spoil the fun.
You’ll find out what flags fly when, how qualifying works, who wears what number and all summarised neatly in a few paragraphs.
There is also a serious side for a sport which has ever-present danger. Some of the entries chronicle tragic events. The day Ayrton Senna was killed in 1994 is described with sensitivity. So too the death of Jules Bianchi 20 years later. The author was present at the latter race and describes that night as “one of my worst in Formula One.”
Such tragedies are now much rarer, but no less painful for that.
The book is attractively designed with line drawings from Jack Smyth.
A few years ago, publishers boasted that one of the virtues of the pocket-size Playfair Cricket Annual was that it was compact enough to fit into the glove compartment in a Rolls Royce.
This book isn’t quite that small but still easily portable with a very high ratio of usefulness to size in its 224 pages. It comes highly recommended in the paddock too.
“This is a great read for old and new fans of F1, one that will inform, educate and entertain you, a truly comprehensive guide,” is the verdict of Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas.
You can’t argue with the experts.
‘How to Read F1’ by Jennie Gow is published by BBC Books, priced £16.99.
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