On the starting grid

In Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport, only twenty drivers compete, but each has a world-class team behind them. In Lights Out, journalist Luke Smith takes us behind the scenes of F1 past, present, and future, looking at it through the eyes of those who create it, including the essential fans.

He introduces us to the thrilling dramas, cutting-edge technology, nerve-wracking pressure, and unique atmosphere. We learn how a fifty-pence screw in the wrong place can cause a fifteen-million-pound car to break down, and how F1 influences not only the cars we drive, but also life-saving medical equipment and even croissants, as well as how an F1 racing circuit is built from scratch.

Lights Out shows us what it is like to work in a sport that subjects those involved to immense pressure and is inherently dangerous; it brings us closer to the personalities behind the drama and machinations, and assesses how Formula 1 is addressing criticism regarding inclusivity and environmental impact.

For long-time fans and newcomers alike, this is a comprehensive, multi-faceted look at why Formula 1 is so unique in world sport.