F1: Chequered Flag

There are just 10 races left to go in the 2024 Formula 1 season - the longest season in the sport’s history with 24 grands prix. In this final phase of the season, both Championships - for the world’s best racing driver and team - are still up for grabs. At McLaren headquarters, in the commuter town of Woking just 23 miles outside London, the team is stirring again after the summer shutdown. The historic race team hit form before the summer holidays and has propelled itself into title contention for the first time in over a decade. British star driver Lando Norris and Australian ace Oscar Piastri are raring to go racing again but first they are paying a visit to the team back at base. That’s not to say the summer break wasn’t without competition. Norris has been playing golf with McLaren’s American CEO Zak Brown, with mixed results. Piastri has used the time out of the cockpit to recover from an injury that he sustained on track. Only one of them has been going full throttle during the holidays, and that’s the boss - Zak, who travelled to California to get behind the wheel. Meanwhile, in rural Northamptonshire - 80 miles north of McLaren’s F1 factory - the Aston Martin team is also returning to work after the summer break. The 2024 season marks the culmination of a radical transformation for the team, which is preparing to unveil the latest phase of its supersize F1 factory. For team principal Mike Krack, the regeneration going on back at base is an opportunity of a lifetime. F1 experts Sarah Holt and Holly Samos visited to get a very behind-the-scenes tour of the new facilities. Aston Martin drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are also preparing for the next race - the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Stroll has been at the factory working on the team’s simulator. Alonso, who will reach his 400th Grand Prix start in the next 10 races, is using all his experience to also guide the team forwards. For McLaren, the 2024 season is also one of opportunity. It has been 26 years since the team won the coveted Constructors’ Championship but, this season, the team is closing in on champions Red Bull for the crown while Norris is also hunting down Max Verstappen, who leads the Drivers’ Championship. The season has been a thriller for fans and, at Formula 1’s headquarters in London, the sport’s CEO and President Stefano Domenicali is also revelling in a phenomenal year. But what will the final 10 races bring? F1: Back at Base is an IMG Production for the BBC Hosted by Josh Hartnett Co-hosts & Executive Producers are Holly Samos and Sarah Holt The Producers are Alasdair Cresswell, Joe Aldridge and Jack Winstanley The Senior Producer is Ollie Kneen The Executive Producer for IMG is Steve Tebb The Story Editor and Scriptwriter is Sarah Holt The Showrunner is Holly Samos The Commissioning Editor at the BBC is Stevie Middleton

In this eight-part series, hosted by actor Josh Hartnett, we have been given unprecedented access to two of the most famous names in Formula 1 - McLaren and Aston Martin. These teams are unlocking the doors to their top-secret factories. It’s a critical moment in their season, but they are letting inside as they fight to the finish line in the final 10 races of 2024. With F1 experts Sarah Holt and Holly Samos as our guides, we will meet the workforce driving them forwards from the heart of their operations. The detailed work going on back at base has driven McLaren into contention for both World titles in 2024. British star driver Lando Norris is chasing down Red Bull’s reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, for the coveted Drivers’ Championship. This is Norris’ first title campaign and we will be with him every step of the way, from his first day back at work following F1’s summer break to after the chequered flag falls at the season finale in Abu Dhabi. This is a huge season of growth for Norris, and his Australian teammate Oscar Piastri. The drivers reveal just why in this series. At Aston Martin there is also change in the air. The team, owned by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, is in the final phase of building a supersize F1 headquarters on the fringes of the famous Silverstone racetrack, home of the British Grand Prix. The work going on at the evolving Aston Martin Racing Technology Campus is on a scale never seen before in F1. Holly and Sarah are given a VIP tour of the new facilities and speak to drivers Lance Stroll and double world champion Fernando Alonso about how the transformation is fuelling the team’s future ambitions. But it’s not only the factory making headline news, so too is the arrival of the team’s “Super Signing”. Aston Martin won the race to sign the most-wanted name in Formula 1. We were there to speak to the top-secret signing before the news broke to the rest of the world’s media. Formula 1 never stands still. The race for perfection continues around-the-clock at the factory. At McLaren, Piastri and Norris are set the task of working together to collect enough points to win a first Constructors’ Championship for McLaren since 1998. The effort to turn around the famous team’s fortunes has relied on the skill and commitment of hundreds of staff working back at base. Overseeing operations is McLaren CEO Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella. But, as the season reaches its climax, all they can do is watch and wait. The fate of the team now lies in the hands of the drivers but taking on reigning champions Red Bull and arch-rivals Ferrari is no small feat. As the flag falls on a thrillin 2024 season, will there be commiserations or celebrations back at base? F1:Back at Base was created and produced by Holly Samos and Sarah Holt and is an IMG Production for the BBC.

Rosanna Tennant, McLaren Formula E driver Sam Bird, BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson, and Harry Benjamin reflect on qualifying for the Qatar GP, as well as the sprint race. The team hear from Max Verstappen, George Russell, Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton. Plus, after their last minute switch securing a one-two in the sprint, Rosanna speaks with McLaren team principal Andrea Stella.

Rosanna Tennant, former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley, BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson, and Harry Benjamin take a more considered look at Max Verstappen’s fourth world title, as well as preview the Qatar GP. The team hear from the Dutchman and Lando Norris. Plus, who will come out on top in the constructors’ championship? A disappointed Lewis Hamilton gives his views after sprint qualifying, and Rosanna chats to Abbi Pulling, with the Brit on the verge of clinching the F1 Academy title.

Alice and Harry join Rosanna to look back at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. They reflect on a special evening that saw Max Verstappen claim his fourth world title. Max and his Red Bull boss Christian Horner are on the pod. And we discuss the race and hear from the top three finishers.

Harry and Alice join Rosanna to look back at qualifying from Las Vegas. They hear from the top three drivers as well as Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.

Andrew Benson sits down with Max Verstappen for an in depth chat. They cover an array of topics including his driving style, a tricky season for his Red Bull team and what the future may hold. Along with the rest of the BBC F1 team, they look ahead to the weekend and hear from Kevin Magnussen.

Rosanna and the team look ahead to this weekend’s race. They discuss the championship permutations and debate whether Verstappen will win his fourth title here. We hear from Verstappen and his title rival Lando Norris. And they ask what is going on at the FIA after race director Niels Wittich was removed from his role.

Harry and the team look back at the sprint race from Interlagos. It was won by McLaren’s Lando Norris after he swapped positions with teammate Oscar Piastri in the closing stages. We hear from both McLaren drivers as well as Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.

Harry Benjamin, McLaren Formula E driver, Sam Bird, and BBC F1 correspondent, Andrew Benson, react to an action-packed Mexico City Grand Prix. The team discuss the battle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, and the penalties Verstappen received. Plus, hear from Carlos Sainz after his second victory of the season. Is the battle truly on between McLaren and Ferrari for the constructors’ championship?

Harry Benjamin, McLaren Formula E driver, Sam Bird, and BBC F1 correspondent, Andrew Benson, reflect on qualifying at the Mexico City Grand Prix, where Carlos Sainz took pole. Are Ferrari the favourites heading into the race? And what next in the battle for the title, with Max Verstappen qualifying in second and Lando Norris third?

Jennie Gow is joined by former F1 driver, Jolyon Palmer, and the BBC’s F1 correspondent, Andrew Benson, to look ahead to the Mexico City Grand Prix. The team discuss Lando Norris’ controversial penalty last time out in Austin, hear from both Norris and Max Verstappen, plus discuss whether the title battle is still on with just five rounds remaining of the 2024 F1 World Championship

Jennie and the team look back at the race from Austin. They hear from the two Ferrari drivers who finished on the top two steps of the podium. And ask whether the driver’s championship race is still on after Max Verstappen beat Lando Norris to third.

Jennie and team look back at qualifying from Austin. They hear from the top three drivers and ask whether Lando Norris can convert his pole to a race win.

Eleanor Oldroyd is joined by the BBC team out in Austin to look ahead to the weekend’s action. With just six races to go, they debate whether Lando Norris can still catch Max Verstappen and land his first driver's title. Former Haas boss Gunther Steiner is on the pod to give his take on the Max Verstappen swearing controversy. James Vowles talks Williams' progress since he took over as team principal. And Andrew Benson has some breaking news regarding Red Bull.

Rosanna Tennant, McLaren Formula E driver, Sam Bird, and Harry Benjamin look back on qualifying at the Singapore GP. The team hear from polesitter Lando Norris, as well as Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo.

Rosanna Tennant, BBC F1 correspondent, Andrew Benson, and Editor-in-Chief at Autosport, Rebecca Clancy, preview the Singapore GP. The team discuss the title battle. Will Red Bull struggle again this weekend? And will Lando Norris continue to close in on Max Verstappen in the drivers’ championship? Hear from both drivers, as well as previous race winner, Oscar Piastri.

Jennie Gow and Harry Benjamin are joined by F1 Academy championship leader, Abbi Pulling, to reflect on qualifying at the Italian GP. They discuss Lando Norris’ pole position, and whether Max Verstappen can recover from seventh. Plus, hear from Andrea Kimi Antonelli, after the 18-year-old Italian was confirmed as a Mercedes driver for 2025.

Jennie Gow, Harry Benjamin and Editor-in-Chief at Autosport, Rebecca Clancy, look ahead to the Italian GP. Do we have a championship battle on our hands? We hear from both Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. Plus, the team discuss Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s FP1 crash, and Andrew Benson sits down with Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff.

Alice, Harry and Rosanna look back at the Dutch Grand Prix. They consider whether that was Lando Norris’ best drive as he took his second win of the season. We hear from Lando, as well as Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. And, is it ok to suggest the drivers' championship is on?