Inside the F1 driver's bubble: The hidden team of experts behind every F1 star

Becoming a Formula 1 driver – let alone achieving success – doesn't simply come down to the competitor. It would be an impossible task to undertake alone, which is why every racer has an intricate team of people working alongside them every step of the way.

Every point, podium, championship, and even the simple act of making it to lights out requires a remarkable amount of work not just from the individual, but from everyone that has helped them get to that stage, from race engineers to performance coaches.

Any driver will tell you that F1 isn't just about the relatively short time they spend on track – it's the hours in debriefs, the simulator work back at their team's base, the gym sessions, the media duties.

In our latest series, F1.com will speak to the people who enable the sport's stars to thrive at each of these tasks and more, delving into the support they provide and just how large a network is necessary to help them reach the top and stay there.

We will add each feature to the list below as we showcase each role – check back here or at F1.com for updates.

Inside the F1 driver's bubble

1. How sports psychologists help the drivers maximise their performance

2. Carlos Onoro explains his vital role as Carlos Sainz's manager

3. What does a Formula 1 race engineer actually do?

4. Esteban Ocon’s performance coach explains how he helps the Haas racer maximise his potential

5. Stoffel Vandoorne details his role as a Formula 1 reserve driver with Aston Martin

6. Mercedes’ Deputy Team Principal Bradley Lord explains how he helps drivers work with the media