At the Williams factory in Grove, Oxfordshire, James Vowles is in his first winter as team principal of the nine-time champions.

It is a time, he says, of “enormous change” with the team “pushing everything to the limit”.

In Brackley, Northamptonshire, Wolff is preparing for his 12th season as Mercedes team principal.

The team have secured eight consecutive constructors’ championships and seven drivers’ titles during his tenure – but they did not win a race in 2023.

Wolff acknowledges they have a “long fight” ahead.

“You have simulations, the aerodynamic wind tunnel gives you certain numbers for downforce, but you never know until you hit the track,” he says. “And, basically, our views… they change from week to week. So one week we believe ‘this is really good work that we found’, and then you get some setbacks.

“I’m curious to hit the road in Bahrain and see where we really are.”

The first four episodes of the series – narrated by Joseph Fiennes – are available on BBC Sounds now, with the final four released on Sunday, 25 February.