Friends of Morston Church | Morston Mardle 2025 Review

Supporting All Saints Church, Morston

The 3rd 'Morston Mardle' - Saturday 10th October 2026

'Formula 1 - Behind the Scenes' with Dr Pete Tibbetts

Dr Pete Tibbetts - Photo (c) Richard Longley

Fast cars, forensic fuel analysis and a fascinating glimpse into the high-octane world of Formula One.

Morston Village Hall was certainly firing on all cylinders on Saturday 10th October, as the latest Morston Mardle welcomed Dr Pete Tibbetts for an enthralling evening exploring the world of Formula One. Far removed from the familiar television images of glamorous drivers, champagne celebrations and cars flashing past at improbable speeds, Dr Tibbetts took the audience behind the scenes to reveal the extraordinary amount of science, organisation and painstaking attention to detail that keeps the world’s most prestigious motor racing series on track.

Dr Tibbetts brought impressive credentials to the proceedings, having worked as an analytical chemist and official for the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body responsible for overseeing the sport. As Formula One’s fuel analyst, he occupied a world in which the difference between compliance and a breach of the regulations could come down to the tiniest chemical detail. He was also well known for his work as a co-driver in the Formula One Safety Car, sitting alongside the experienced driver Bernd Mayländer as they took to the circuits to control the field when racing conditions demanded it.

His presentation began with the remarkable logistical undertaking involved in staging a Formula One season. With races taking place across the globe, the sport is an almost year-round operation involving teams, equipment, personnel and a seemingly endless stream of planning. Getting everything and everyone to the right place at the right time is a formidable exercise in international coordination. The cars may be the stars of the show, but behind every Grand Prix lies an immense and highly organised operation in which timing, precision and preparation are everything.

The sheer volume of rules governing modern Formula One was another revelation. The sport’s regulations run to many pages, covering virtually every conceivable aspect of the cars and their operation. Behind the apparent simplicity of a race is an extraordinary web of technical requirements, checks and procedures. Pete illustrated the level of scrutiny involved with fascinating diagrams, graphic information and examples of the minute detail that he and his colleagues had to investigate to ensure that the rules were being followed.

The talk was brought vividly to life by a splendid collection of behind-the-scenes photographs and video footage. We were treated to glimpses of the teams at work, offering an insight into the busy, highly specialised environment that surrounds a Grand Prix weekend. The images brought home just how much activity takes place beyond the television cameras, and how many people contribute to making each race happen.

Then came the Safety Car experience, which provided perhaps the evening’s most visceral entertainment. Through video footage taken from Pete’s own perspective, the audience was whisked around the straights, bends and hairpins of various circuits. This was no gentle Sunday afternoon drive through the Norfolk countryside. The corners arrived at an alarming rate, the straights seemed to disappear in a flash, and the whole experience offered a thrilling appreciation of the precision and concentration required when travelling at speed on a Grand Prix circuit.

The evening was also particularly timely, with Formula One entering a new chapter in 2026 through the introduction of advanced sustainable fuels as part of its new technical regulations. Pete’s discussion of this developing area provided a fascinating glimpse of how the sport is adapting to changing technological and environmental priorities. The challenge is to maintain the performance, excitement and competitive spirit that make Formula One so compelling while moving towards more sustainable solutions.

The subject prompted some lively interest from an enthusiastic and knowledgeable audience, whose questions during the concluding Q&A demonstrated just how effectively Pete had brought this complicated world to life. The discussion provided a fitting end to an evening that managed to be both entertaining and genuinely informative, particularly given the high level of chemistry involved and the exhaustive FIA rulebook.

So, another highly successful Morston Mardle drew to a close, leaving us better informed about the science, organisation and sheer complexity behind the spectacle of Formula One. We may never look at a Grand Prix quite the same way again. The next time a car flashes across our television screens, we might spare a thought for the fuel analyst, the technical regulations and the army of people working behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly.

As ever, the Morston Mardle was about more than the talk itself. The occasion was another opportunity for people to come together, enjoy good company and share an evening of discovery in the welcoming surroundings of the Village Hall. Thanks go to Dr Pete Tibbetts for such an absorbing presentation, and to everyone who helped make the event a success: those who prepared the once-again delicious canapés, staffed the bar, donated raffle prizes, and undertook the essential work of setting up and clearing away the hall.

The Morston Mardle 2026 raised over £1,400.00, (a fabulous fundraising effort), which will go towards the essential maintenance and repair of All Saints Church, Morston, Norfolk, preserving this historic landmark.

If you would like further information on our events (or would like to participate in future ones) please do not hesitate to contact us at the email address below..