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  • Published: 24 February 2026
  • ISBN: 9781761357916
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 336
  • RRP: $36.99
Categories:

Formula One: The World's most brutal Sport




Get behind the scenes of the world's most gruelling and thrilling sport with an expert who has covered Formula One for more than 20 years – plus a Foreword from F1 legend Guenther Steiner.

Formula One is the world’s most brutal sport.

For the drivers, it’s the millions of dollars spent for a shot at making it to the top, with the real possibility of being washed-up before they even finish school. It’s the violent physical forces inherent in racing the fastest cars, with cockpit temperatures soaring to 60 degrees Celsius. And it’s the gruelling mental vice-like squeeze in constant international travel, celebrity and expectation for superhuman results from yourself, your team, and almost a billion people who watch the sport across the planet.

For the teams, it’s a 24/7 commitment and a multi-billion-dollar spend to design, manufacture, and race two cars around the globe every two weeks; with exceptional results demanded from all areas of these well-oiled, precision operations – be they technical, mechanical, commercial, and logistics. Don’t deliver? You’re out, and the voracious beast rolls on.

Stewart Bell, who has covered the sport for more than 20 years, takes you behind the scenes – and gives you the full picture of what it’s like to be inside the sport, well beyond what you might have seen on Netflix’s blockbuster show: Formula 1: Drive To Survive.

  • Published: 24 February 2026
  • ISBN: 9781761357916
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 336
  • RRP: $36.99
Categories:

About the author

Stewart Bell

Stewart Bell is one of Formula One’s most prolific media professionals. After falling in love with the pinnacle of motorsport while trackside at Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit as a teenager, Stewart gave it all for a life in the fast lane – one that demands constant development under pressure, but delivers thrilling, fulfilling work.


Having covered F1 for over 20 years across print, digital, social, and television, Stewart has created features, news, scripts and more for a variety of clients including Formula 1, The Associated Press, Sky Sports UK, Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, News Corp Australia, The Times of India, Top Gear, Motor Sport, GQ, Esquire, Daily Mail, and many more. His style combines enthusiasm, expertise, and attention to detail in equal measure. Away from the keyboard, Stewart loves time with his family and friends, great coffee, swimming, and live music of all types.