The Main Straight Podcast

By F1 in Schools

F1® in Schools presents, The Main Straight! An exciting podcast hosted by comedian and F1 E-Sports Presenter, Tom Deacon. On the first Monday of every month Tom will be giving you the ins and outs of F1 in Schools around the world with each episode bringing you a special guest!

Season 2 Episode #6: Mitchell Fong, The PMI Educational Foundation

In this episode, Tom Deacon dives deep into Project Management with Mitchell Fong, Board Chair of the Project Management Institute Educational Foundation (PMIEF). Discover how F1 in Schools leverages PMIEF's mission to enable youth to realize their potential and transform lives through project management. Mitchell shares insights on how competitors can craft a winning strategy for the Aramco F1 in Schools World Finals, and what it truly takes to manage a successful project from start to finish. Tune in to understand the mechanics behind high-octane performance and get inspired by how mastering project management can lead to incredible achievements in future careers!

​SEASON 2 EPISODE #5: Sven Smeets, Sporting Director, Williams Racing

In an exciting episode of The Main Straight, host Tom Deacon speaks with Sven Smeets, Sporting Director at Williams Racing. Responsible for the sporting governance of the Williams Racing team, he is instrumental in supporting the drivers, as well as ensuring that the optimal culture is in place to achieve success. Here, Sven shares his advice on how F1 in Schools students can achieve their dream roles, the lessons he has learnt, and provides an unmissable behind-the-scenes insight into his role within the iconic Williams Racing.

SEASON 2 EPISODE #4: Computational Fluid Dynamics with Ansys

You may not have heard of computational fluid dynamics, CFD for short, or, if you’re currently competing in F1 in Schools, you might be a whiz in the field already, but whatever your skill level, this episode of The Main Straight is sure to be an interesting listen. Host Tom Deacon chats to the team at Ansys, the official CFD partner of F1 in Schools, to learn about the software that has transformed the ability of F1 and F1 in Schools teams alike to test their car's performance before it gets anywhere a racetrack.

SEASON 2 EPISODE #3: Paul Monaghan, Chief Engineer for Oracle Red Bull Racing 

Being Chief Engineer for one of the best teams in F1 history sounds like a dream role for thousands of F1 in Schools students, and in this unmissable episode of The Main Straight, Tom Deacon speaks with the one and only Paul Monaghan to find out just what it takes to achieve such phenomenal success. Covering everything from his career journey to the work involved in creating a car and team that delivers 21 wins in a single season, this episode is a must-listen.

SEASON 2 EPISODE #2: F1 in Schools 2024 Technical Regulations

Hot on the heels of the release of the brand-new technical regulations for the Aramco F1 in Schools 2024 World Finals, host Tom Deacon catches up with with the fantastic Gary Anderson, Chair of Judges at F1 in Schools and former Jordan and Jaguar F1 Technical Director, and the team at Off the Track to discuss what’s new, what’s stayed the same, and what’s going to pose a challenge for competitors. 

SEASON 2 EPISODE #1: F1 in Schools x Autodesk

As the official CAD partner of F1 in Schools, Autodesk powers the designs of our future engineers and pioneers, with thousands of F1 in Schools students choosing Fusion 360 to create their cars every year. And in this special episode, host Tom Deacon catches up with Mike Westlake, Senior Manager GTM Strategy, and Donny Wong, Manufacturing Specialist (and F1 in Schools alum), to find out why. 

EPISODE #11: Aramco F1 in Schools 2023 World Finals: The Review

In this exclusive collaboration episode, The Main Straight comes together with Off The Track to discuss everything that happened at the Aramco F1 in Schools 2023 World Finals! Featuring an exclusive interview with the newly-crowned World Champions, Recoil Racing, this episode provides a 360° look at the event from the perspective of a team, a judge, and the hosts themselves - makng it your one stop listen to catch up and deconstruct everything that happened in Singapore this September.

EPISODE #10: Aramco F1 in Schools 2023 World Finals: The Preview

If you’re wondering what’s in store for Singapore, this episode of The Main Straight is for you. Covering everything you need to know about the Aramco F1 in Schools 2023 World Finals this September, host Tom Deacon chats to David Howes, Director of Communications & Events, and Nelson Vale, Head of International Operations to find out what’s coming up at this year’s event.

EPISODE #9: Re-United

More than STEM, F1 in Schools creates careers in an incredible array of industries - and you’d be hard pressed to find a team that typifies this better than UK Competitors Unity. Competing in both the 2017 World Finals in Malaysia and 2018 World Finals in Singapore, they illustrated that different strengths and individual passions make for the strongest of teams, and the most diverse of careers. From securing roles in the Williams Academy to launching a tech start-up, each member has carved their own path, with the help of one shared passion - F1 in Schools.

EPISODE #8: SUSTAINABILITY IN MOTORSPORT (FORMULA 1 X THE EARTH PRIZE)

In a thought-provoking discussion around the ever-increasing importance of sustainable thinking in motorsport, engineering, and education, host Tom Deacon speaks with the person leading the Sustainability Strategy of Formula 1® itself - Ellen Jones - and Erina Wan Zul, an F1® in Schools’ alum who now sits on the prestigious The Earth Prize Youth Board. Between these current and future drivers of change, we hear about the incredible work F1 is doing to make the sport green, clean, and accessible to all, and the ways in which the next generation of engineers looks set to make an impact on our planet and our people.

EPISODE #7: THE MAIN PRIZE (TEAM HYDRON, ARAMCO F1 IN SCHOOLS WORLD CHAMPIONS 2022)

This week’s episode has a record-breaking number of guests as we speak to all six members of Hydron - our 2022 World Champions! Join us as we hear Will, Alastair, Ben, Alex, Tim, and Andrew discuss what it takes to reach that place on the podium; and the highs and lows they experienced on the way. From last-minute engineering changes and internal disputes, they tell host Tom Deacon about some of the behind-the-scenes dramas that happened on their journey to Silverstone, and the unwavering passion and incredible teamwork that got them there.

EPISODE #6: ANDREW BROWN (HEAD OF R&D AT ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO COGNIZANT F1 TEAM)

This month’s episode of The Main Straight is a special one. Why? Because our guest for episode 6 is the Head of R&D at ⁠Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team⁠, Andrew Brown.
Giving an unmissable insight into what goes on behind the scenes of a Formula 1 racing team, Andrew chats to host Tom Deacon about what it takes to engineer one of the world’s most powerful cars, the career journey that led him to the top of the motorsport industry, and the role F1 in Schools can play in helping you get there too. Tom also catches up with Max from F1 in Schools AKA PDC to hear about how the team is gearing up for this year’s incredible World Finals in Singapore.

EPISODE #5: WOMEN IN MOTORSPORT

In this months episode of The Main Straight, Tom chats to Frederique Trouvé. With a career spanning over 19 years within the FIA and a decade of her life spent dedicated to her role at F1 in Schools France, Frederique shares the reasons behind her love for running the competition in France and her passion to get more women to work in motorsports. Tom also reunites with his 2022 World Finals Co-host, Amy Martin to discuss her experiences with F1 in Schools as a woman and what the future brings for her as a result of getting involved.

EPISODE #4: TECHNICAL REGULATIONS 2023

On episode 4 of The Main Straight, Tom dives into the imminent release of the 2023 technical regulations with Head of International Operations, Nelson Vale. Our Chair of Judges, Gary Anderson brings his unique perspective and vast motorsport experience to the table, giving us an in-depth look at his career in Formula 1 and what's to look forward to in the future engineering of F1 in Schools cars. We also talk about the next location for the ARAMCO F1 in Schools World Finals.

EPISODE #3: F1 IN SCHOOLS UK NATIONAL FINAL 2023

Coming at you with a mid month special recorded directly from the Lenovo F1 in Schools UK National Final 2022 at Autosport International. Tom takes a break from the show to focus on hosting the event, so Max takes the mic and gets all the gems from the teams along with exclusive interviews with ScarbsTech and Head of Research & Development for Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team, Andrew Brown.

EPISODE #2: ROB SHEPHARD, SCARBOROUGH UTC

Happy New Year! New year, new month and new episode! In episode 2 of The Main Straight, Tom interviews Scarborough UTC's Rob Shephard who has taken his teams to multiple National and World events. Rob tells us all about what its like to be a teacher involved with F1 in Schools and aims to inspire other teachers to get involved in the STEM challenge.

EPISODE #1: THE MAIN MAN

In our first podcast, Tom Deacon interviews Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman of F1 in Schools, about his journey in creating the most exciting STEM challenge. This will cover the entire 22-year journey that began in Brighouse, UK, and has seen F1 in Schools travel around the world providing opportunities for young people to showcase their STEM skills. Co-host, Max Fearnley discusses with Tom all things F1 in Schools and brings you the latest news from around the world.