Episode's summary
In the latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast, presented by Atlassian, Edd Straw is joined by Scott Mitchell-Malm and Nelson Valkenburg to discuss the Singapore Grand Prix. Max Verstappen made it three victories in a row by adding a sprint/grand prix double at Marina Bay to his win in Malaysia, but once again it was Ferrari’s strategy that proved the big talking point. So how did it all play out and did it cost the Scuderia a shot at victory or merely another podium spot? Edd, Scott and Nelson tackle that question, plus round up the weekend's other big talking points, including question marks around Mercedes' upgrades, McLaren's clashing drivers, and much more. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast, presented by Atlassian, Edd Straw is joined by Scott Mitchell-Malm and Nelson Valkenburg to discuss the Singapore Grand Prix. Max Verstappen made it three victories in a row by adding a sprint/grand prix double at Marina Bay to his win in Malaysia, but once again it was Ferrari’s strategy that proved the big talking point. So how did it all play out and did it cost the Scuderia a shot at victory or merely another podium spot? Edd, Scott and Nelson tackle that question, plus round up the weekend's other big talking points, including question marks around Mercedes' upgrades, McLaren's clashing drivers, and much more. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Singapore GP: How Ferrari gave Verstappen an easy route to first Marina Bay win
ListenedIn the latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast, presented by Atlassian, Edd Straw is joined by Scott Mitchell-Malm and Nelson Valkenburg to discuss the Singapore Grand Prix. Max Verstappen made it three victories in a row by adding a sprint/grand prix double at Marina Bay to his win in Malaysia, but once again it was Ferrari’s strategy that proved the big talking point. So how did it all play out and did it cost the Scuderia a shot at victory or merely another podium spot? Edd, Scott and Nelson tackle that question, plus round up the weekend's other big talking points, including question marks around Mercedes' upgrades, McLaren's clashing drivers, and much more. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In-Car Insights: F1's latest software woes & Verstappen's sprint pole
ListenedThe Race F1 Podcast, presented by Atlassian, brings you the Friday edition of our In-Car Insights podcast - usually only available to The Race Members' Club. Join Edd and Jon, not in a car this time, but in a cafe, as they discuss a fresh software issue that once again exposed the 2026 regulations during sprint qualifying. The conversation also covers Verstappen’s sprint pole, George Russell’s strong performance, and the questions facing Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes’ upgrade package. There's plenty of off-track news for Edd and Jon to pick over too, including Williams' James Vowles making the case for changing the cost-cap rules. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening), sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
F1 Rewind: How his Dad's F1 failure made Max Verstappen an F1 great
ListenedPeer into the Red Bull garage on an F1 race weekend and the chances are you’ll see Max Verstappen’s dad, Jos, somewhere in the background, keeping a close eye on his son. But how much do you know about the part Jos played in Max becoming the driver he is today? In the latest episode of The Race F1 Rewind, Edd Straw and Mark Hughes explore how Jos - himself once regarded as the hottest young prospect in F1 - used the learnings of his own underwhelming Grand Prix career to help guide his son to the top of the sport. You’ll learn where Jos’s and Max’s careers map and then diverge, why ‘control’ was at the heart of the project, who the real driving force in Max’s climb was, and why ‘the Verstappen blueprint for success’ is not one that others should look to replicate… Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Where's the Antonelli hype? Buxton and Daly have their say on F1's champion-elect
ListenedOn the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, presented by Atlassian, Edd Straw is joined by special guests Will Buxton (IndyCar commentator and host of Up to Speed & Speed with Harvick and Buxton) and Conor Daly to discuss the Malaysia fallout, champion-elect Kimi Antonelli, and America's F1 driver conundrum. First up, Edd, Will and Conor take a wider look at the farcical Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia start scenes, and whether it proved that drivers are no longer properly in control of their cars. Next up, they look ahead to Singapore, and ask whether Red Bull and Max Verstappen can carry their brilliant form to Marina Bay and - as Kimi Antonelli edges closer to the championship - whether the Italian's remarkable season is getting the recognition it deserves. And finally there's discussion on IndyCar star Colton Herta's Formula 2 campaign, which was supposed to provide a springboard to F1 with Cadillac, but hasn't gone quite to plan. Does the situation emphasise that getting an American driver into F1 has…
Mailbag: Is the Red Bull recovery real?
ListenedIn the latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast, presented by Atlassian, Edd Straw is joined by Scott Mitchell-Malm to answer more of your correspondence. In the mailbag this time are questions about whether Red Bull's pace is real, how Lewis Hamilton is able to look after his tyres so well, where the Bahrain Grand Prix sits in the farcical races ranking, and much more. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bahrain GP: Was farcical Malaysia start avoidable + How Verstappen shocked rivals
ListenedOn the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, presented by Atlassian, Edd Straw is joined by Jon Noble and Scott Mitchell-Malm to discuss the Malaysia-hosted Bahrain Grand Prix. It was a race that'll be remembered for Max Verstappen taking his and Red Bull’s first victory of 2026, but it was also one marred by chaos at the first attempt to start it. So what caused the farcical scenes that played out? That's the key question tackled in part one of the podcast, before Edd, Jon and Scott explain Verstappen and Red Bull's supreme - and somewhat shock - pace this weekend, ask whether Ferrari's tyre blunder cost Lewis Hamilton a shot at victory, and unpack all of the race's other big talking points. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In-Car Insights: Mercedes upgrades talk of the pitlane in Sepang
ListenedAs a bonus, we're making the Thursday edition of our In-Car Insights podcast - usually only available to The Race Members' Club - free for everyone to listen to. Join Edd and Jon on their long and eventful drive back from the Sepang paddock as they debrief on a very fruitful day of news chasing. Figuring out the upgrades Mercedes is bringing and what Honda has secretly already brought was high on their list. Plus how Esteban Ocon and Haas are publicly handling their split and plenty of fallout from Baku clashes. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening), sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tech Show: How F1 design teams are harnessing AI power
ListenedIn the latest episode of The Race F1 Tech Show, host Edd Straw sits down with Pierre Baqué, CEO and co-founder of artificial intelligence (AI) engineering design platform Neural Concept (a technology partner of Racing Bulls), to discuss how its ‘Engineering AI’ platform complements traditional CFD workflows in the F1 car design process. Edd is also joined by former F1 technical director Gary Anderson to look ahead to the technical challenge of F1’s return to Sepang in Malaysia, plus Gary answers questions from listeners on Red Bull’s car degradation, tyre tracking, and ‘party modes’. If you'd like to ask Gary a tech question, send it to podcasts@the-race.com Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What's really behind Ferrari's unusual Vasseur backing?
ListenedIn the latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast, presented by Atlassian, we discuss what was behind Ferrari's unusual public statement in support of team boss Fred Vasseur, and look ahead to this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix - in Malaysia. On the ground in Sepang, Edd Straw is joined by Jon Noble to explain the motivation behind Ferrari's words on Vasseur, and whether they'll have the intended impact. Edd and Jon also discuss Fernando Alonso committing to F1 for one more year, whether Esteban Ocon's Haas replacement is a done deal, and what to expect on-track this weekend at a circuit F1 hasn't visited since 2017. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening), sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. We're giving away two 3-day tickets to the 2026 F1 USGP! To be in with a chance of winning, simply subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here (Entrants must be a US resident and over the age of 18. Full T&Cs apply) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mailbag: Will Aston Martin win a title before Ferrari?
ListenedIt's time for another post-race mailbag episode of The Race F1 Podcast, presented by Atlassian, where we answer the questions you've sent in. This week, Josh Suttill - fresh off a two-plane journey back from Baku - joins Edd Straw to tackle topics including whether Adrian Newey's Aston Martin will win a world title before Ferrari. There are also questions about Esteban Ocon's time in F1 - as he nears the Haas exit door - why track surfaces are ripping up so easily this season, and whether Baku proves Red Bull does indeed have the best internal combustion engine, among other topics. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening), sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. We're giving away two 3-day tickets to the 2026 F1 USGP! To be in with a chance of winning, simply subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here (Entrants must be a US resident and over the age of 18. Full T&Cs apply) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Azerbaijan GP: Has Baku revived F1 title battle + Should Colapinto be banned?
ListenedEdd Straw is joined from Baku by Scott Mitchell-Malm and Josh Suttill to discuss the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. It proved a race in which George Russell finally got back to winning ways, but it wasn’t easy with Max Verstappen finishing just two-tenths behind. But does this mark a breakthrough for Russell and is there still time for him to thrust his way back into the title race? We discuss those questions and dig into all of the race's big talking points - including Lando Norris's suggestion that Franco Colapinto deserves a ban for his Turn 1 restart wipeout... Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening), sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. We're giving away two 3-day tickets to the 2026 F1 USGP! To be in with a chance of winning, simply subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here (Entrants must be a US resident and over the age of 18. Full T&Cs apply) To check out the Lanterne Rouge Cycling Podcast, visit: https://shows.acast.com/lanterne-rouge-cycling-podcast Hosted on Acast.…
F1 Rewind: The F1 driver who was Alonso before Alonso
ListenedWhen Fernando Alonso eventually decides to hang up his helmet, he'll rightly be remembered as one of the finest drivers as his generation - but also as someone who could and probably should have won even more, had he made some different career choices. And that description could just as easily be applied to a driver from an earlier era of F1: John Surtees. As Edd Straw and Mark Hughes discuss on the latest episode of The Race F1 Rewind, Surtees was - in many ways - the Fernando Alonso of his day: blindingly fast but also driven by passion and principle - often to his own detriment. Listen in as Edd and Mark explore Surtees's career through the Alonso lens, explaining the parallels between these F1 greats and why statistics will never do them justice. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening), sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. We're giving away two 3-day tickets to the 2026 F1 USGP! To be in with a chance of winning, simply subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here…
In-Car Insights: Ocon's impending Haas exit & more Baku talking points
ListenedAs a bonus, we're making the Wednesday edition of our In-Car Insights podcast - usually only available to The Race Members' Club - free for everyone to listen to. Join Scott Mitchell-Malm and Josh Suttill on foot as they make their way out of the Baku F1 paddock and head for a nearby park. Scott's first day back involved him chasing the news that Esteban Ocon is set to exit Haas at the end of the season - with Ferrari junior Rafael Camara now favourite to take that seat - so he talks you through the digging he did behind the scenes, what Ocon did say (and reads between the lines of what he didn't say), and compares that to some of the other driver exits he's experienced previously. That was the day's biggest driver market development, but it wasn't the only one - with Isack Hadjar now confirmed at Red Bull for 2027. So that leaves Fernando Alonso's seat as the one real unknown for 2027. Is there any chance of a stunning departure? Josh thinks the answer is a firm *no*. There's also more insight on just what…
What's gone wrong for Piastri in 2026?
ListenedAs F1 heads to Baku, scene of his second F1 win in 2024 and the start of his championship tilt starting to unwind in 2025, we ask what’s happened to Oscar Piastri this year? On the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, presented by Atlassian, Edd Straw is joined by Ben Anderson and Samarth Kanal to discuss the McLaren driver's struggles and look ahead to this weekend's race in Azerbaijan. Edd, Ben and Samarth also chat about the long-awaited Williams upgrade and ask if it can improve the car enough to end a points drought that stretches back to Monaco in early June. Plus, we share our thoughts on who should be considered the favourite this weekend, at a circuit where every team will face energy challenges. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening), sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. We're giving away two 3-day tickets to the 2026 F1 USGP! To be in with a chance of winning, simply subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here (Entrants must be a US resident and over the age…
Is the FIA right to help Alonso and Honda?
ListenedFIA president Mohammad Ben Sulayem grabbed the headlines during the recent Madrid Grand Prix weekend with his support of the need for changes to help Aston Martin’s struggling engine supplier Honda - and therefore ensure Fernando Alonso stays in F1. But is it fair to grant Honda and Alonso special support? In the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, presented by Atlassian, Edd Straw is joined by Glenn Freeman and Jon Noble to answer that question, discuss the wider situation around ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities), and debate whether the FIA president should be getting involved in keeping a driver on the grid. Edd, Glenn and Jon also discuss Alpine’s latest big name technical appointment, explain why Melbourne isn't in a position to host the first race of the 2027 season, and share their thoughts on the recent Max vs 100 event at Silverstone, in which Max Verstappen was tasked with defeating 100 karters from a back of the grid start. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free…
Tech Show: Why doesn't car compatibility play a bigger role in driver recruitment?
ListenedIn lots of sports, data and analytics play a huge role in recruitment, ensuring teams sign players that are compatible with a coach or team’s style of play. So why doesn’t it happen more in F1 - especially when drivers often struggle with a new car’s characteristics when moving teams? That’s the main topic of debate in the latest episode of The Race F1 Tech Show, as host Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson discuss whether teams should sign drivers based on their suitability to deal with certain car characteristics. Gary also has his say on F1’s underwhelming debut race at the Madring, and why overtaking around the track was always going to be hugely difficult with the current generation of cars, plus he answers listener questions on braking systems, PU penalties and flip-top wings. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening), sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. We're giving away two 3-day tickets to the 2026 F1 USGP! To be in with a chance of winning,…
Will a Monaco sprint race work? Our reaction to shock 2027 F1 calendar
ListenedOn the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, presented by Atlassian, we react to the news that F1 is upping the sprints to 10 in 2027, with the season starting and finishing with the two-races-per-weekend format and Monaco, of all places, getting that treatment for the first time. Is this just another step towards sprints being ubiquitous, and if it is, will that change F1 for better or worse? Joining Edd Straw to answer those questions and debate the 2027 F1 calendar in general are Josh Suttill and special guest Nelson Valkenburg, F1 commentator for Viaplay Netherlands. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening), sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. We're giving away two 3-day tickets to the 2026 F1 USGP! To be in with a chance of winning, simply subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here (Entrants must be a US resident and over the age of 18. Full T&Cs apply) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mailbag: Is Norris '27 title favourite + Why does F1 keep adding soulless street tracks?
ListenedThe latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, presented by Atlassian, is the first of our regular post-race mailbag shows, with Edd Straw joined by Ben Anderson to tackle listener questions sent in after the Spanish Grand Prix. Among the topics covered this time are whether F1 should consider allowing no-stop strategies, why F1 keeps adding soulless street circuits at the expense of classics, and whether Lando Norris should be considered the 2027 title favourite. There are also questions about Franco Colapinto's season so far, whether the latest generation of F1 cars is flattering Kimi Antonelli (and hurting George Russell), McLaren's pit stop problems, and a pair of F3 prospects, namely recently crowned champion Ugo Ugochukwu and Audi junior Freddie Slater. If you'd like to ask a question (and get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening), sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. We're giving away two 3-day tickets to the 2026 F1 USGP! To be in with a chance of winning, simply…
Spanish GP: Was Lando Norris robbed + How to fix the Madring
ListenedOn the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, presented by Atlassian, Edd Straw is joined on the ground in Madrid by Jon Noble and special guest Diego Mejia to review the first Spanish Grand Prix to be held at the Madring. Kimi Antonelli emerged victorious again, but only with the assistance of a Virtual Safety Car that couldn’t have been more badly timed for Lando Norris. So, was Norris robbed? And with that being one of the only moments of note in a race devoid of overtaking, should F1 already be worried about the Madring? Those questions are tackled, plus there's chat about whether we should give the title to Antonelli now, whether Max Verstappen might have won if he wasn't forced to relinquish a position to Lewis Hamilton early on, and whether this was the best grand prix of Franco Colapinto's career. Presented by Atlassian Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. To check out The Tennis Podcast, visit:…
In-Car Insights: Reflecting on a busy first day of action at the Madring
ListenedAs a bonus, we're making the Friday edition of our In-Car Insights podcast - usually only available to The Race Members' Club - free for everyone to listen to. In the latest episode Jon and Edd reflect on a busy first day of action at the brand-new Madring, where high grip and rapidly evolving conditions opened up a different kind of challenge for the teams and drivers. They also discuss how the drivers approached the day, how Arvid Lindblad was caught out, and why qualifying could turn into a track limits and traffic nightmare. Plus Edd shares his experiences of watching trackside, and explains why the TV coverage doesn't do justice to some parts of the track. If you like what you hear - and we're confident you will - head to Patreon.com/therace to sign up to The Race Members' Club and enjoy these bonus episodes (and much more besides) on every grand prix weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
F1 Rewind: When a young Ayrton Senna drove F1's elite crazy
ListenedOn the latest episode of The Race F1 Rewind, Edd Straw and Mark Hughes examine the formative years of Ayrton Senna's F1 career, and a time when the Brazilian regularly ruffled the feathers of more established drivers with his scintillating speed and unusual single-mindedness. While his later championship-winning years with McLaren were where his megastardom was cemented, Edd and Mark explain how Senna's three seasons at Lotus (from 1985 to 1987) provided the crucial foundation for his legendary career and set the template for the 'young driver in a hurry' prototype since replicated by modern F1 greats. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chaos but no passing? What to expect from F1's first visit to Madring
ListenedOn the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, Edd Straw is joined by Glenn Freeman and IndyCar favourite Conor Daly to look ahead to the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the brand-new Madring in Madrid. The track has been described by drivers as hectic, dangerous and Macau-like - but will it be as big a success as the hype promises, and what kind of racing should we expect? The guys discuss the circuit's unique characteristics - including its signature banked corner, La Monumental - and how it compares to other venues, past and present. Conor also explains how drivers approach a race at a new circuit, and what they'll be doing as the weekend unfolds to make sure they're extracting maximum speed. Before the Madrid chat, there's also a chance to catch up on Ferrari's driver management conundrum, after Lewis Hamilton complained about the team lacking rules of engagement and needing to fix that after Monza. Does something need to change? Edd, Glenn and Conor offer their perspectives. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra…
Italian GP driver rankings: Leclerc hits rock bottom
ListenedKimi Antonelli made up 18 places to win his home race in Monza, while Charles Leclerc crashed out spectacularly at the end of lap two. Unsurprisingly, the latter is bottom of Edd Straw's driver rankings this week - but will Antonelli be top? In our latest driver rankings podcast, Josh Suttill grills Edd Straw on how he ordered the drivers after the Italian Grand Prix, armed with questions sent in by The Race Members' Club. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Italian GP: Ferrari's bruising home outing + Has Antonelli killed Russell's F1 title chances?
ListenedEdd Straw is joined by Josh Suttill and Jon Noble, fresh from the Monza paddock, to review the Italian Grand Prix. It proved a race where the home fans went home happy, despite an abject race for Ferrari, thanks to a virtuoso drive to victory from local hero Kimi Antonelli. Was this the weekend that Antonelli killed off any hope of Mercedes team-mate George Russell beating him to the world title? And is Antonelli's star power changing the nature of the tifosi's support at Monza? Those are two of the questions tackled in the podcast. Edd, Jon and Josh also look in detail at Ferrari's miserable home outing, which saw Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc come together at Turn 2 before the latter crashed out in dramatic fashion. Hamilton wasn't pulling any punches when he spoke to Jon after finishing a disappointing sixth - but where do the Scuderia go from here? Verstappen's brilliant run to third, Gasly's shock pole position and Tsunoda's strange start are also discussed, while the guys also tackle plenty of…
In-Car Insights: Unpacking a day of explosive politics and intriguing track action at Monza
ListenedAs a special bonus, we're making the Friday edition of our In-Car Insights podcast - usually only available to The Race Members' Club - free for everyone to listen to. In the latest episode Jon and Josh discuss everything they learned in the Monza paddock on Friday. They begin with an exclusive bit of news gleaned from running the track - that there's resurfacing work going on down at Turn 1, with new asphalt being laid - before discussing an intriguing day of track action that saw Ferrari do enough to keep the home fans dreaming and Haas emerge as the surprise midfield package. Jon admits he didn't watch much of FP2, having spent much of the afternoon digging through FIA regulations and International Court of Appeal procedures after Alpine's Flavio Briatore detonated a bombshell in the team principal press conference, questioning the independence of the judge involved in the Pierre Gasly Monaco podium case. In short, if you want the clearest read on Monza’s Friday picture and the controversy threatening to…
Tech Show: Is Mercedes at risk in F1's development war?
ListenedIn the latest episode of The Race F1 Tech Show, Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson discuss F1 2026's intriguing development war. Following Toto Wolff's comment that Mercedes can't respond to McLaren’s Formula 1 resurgence with an urgent upgrade because it hasn’t “got the money”, Edd and Gary ask whether the Silver Arrows has erred in its development strategy and leaving itself open to being out-developed by rivals. There's also talk about McLaren's decision to bring its rotating 'H-wing' to Monza and about how Alpine's recent upgrade package will influence the midfield's own development battle. We also hear the latest news about the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL), which races at Imola this coming weekend, and Gary tackles YOUR tech questions, including those on battery safety, TPC testing, and the five-second start procedure delay. If you'd like to ask Gary a tech question, send it to podcasts@the-race.com Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to…
Will Ferrari's engine upgrade give it the edge in Monza?
ListenedEdd Straw is joined by Ben Anderson and special guest Lawrence Barretto to look ahead to the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, and a big weekend for home favourites Ferrari. The Scuderia is introducing its latest engine upgrade this weekend, but will it give them the boost it needs to contend for victory? Edd, Ben and Lawrence also discuss how all the teams - and in particular Ferrari - might approach the issue of towing in qualifying, and how the 2026 regulations will impact the type of racing we'll see at Monza. They also debate how championship leader Kimi Antonelli will approach his home race, given he's set to start from the back of the grid. The Italian hasn't had the best of fortune on home soil to-date, but will that change this weekend, or will George Russell be able to capitalise gain ground on his Mercedes team-mate in the title race? Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening - sign up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more…
Is Norris even better in 2026?
ListenedIs Lando Norris performing even better this season than in his title-winning campaign last year? That's one of the questions tackled in the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, which follows the news that the 2025 champion has extended his McLaren deal through the 2030 season. Mark Hughes and Valentin Khorounzhiy join Edd Straw to assess how Norris has improved as a driver, and how his 2026 campaign contrasts with that of team-mate Oscar Piastri's. Before that, we round up some recent news stories, including Franco Colapinto's new deal with Alpine, F2 points leader Nikola Tsolov's recent Red Bull test, and the FIA's ADUO ruling. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
F1 Rewind: How Vettel's Ferrari dream was stolen from him
ListenedIn the very first episode of our new F1 history podcast, The Race F1 Rewind, hosts Edd Straw and Mark Hughes look back at Sebastian Vettel’s six-year stint with Ferrari and a partnership that promised much, but delivered nothing like what was hoped for. Driven by the romantic dream of replicating the golden era of his hero Michael Schumacher, the four-time world champion arrived at Maranello in late 2014 ready to lead the team to new glories, only to find that his footing was already being undermined by internal wrangling and political upheaval at the Scuderia. Edd and Mark explain the timeline of events and extraordinary behind-the-scenes details that meant Vettel never stepped into the supportive environment he thought he was joining. They outline how Vettel came to leave Red Bull, how Ferrari's incumbent star Fernando Alonso was blindsided by his team's secret talks with Vettel, how the rapid turnover of senior leadership continually impacted the German's standing, and how the sudden promotion of young…
Hamilton's apology, Monaco appeal latest, and Domenicali vs hardcore fans
ListenedLewis Hamilton has apologised for his in-race outbursts towards his Ferrari team at Zandvoort, but did he really need to? That's one of the topics up for discussion in the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, in which host Edd Straw is joined by Jon Noble and Glenn Freeman to round up the latest F1 news. Also on the agenda, we delve into what’s going on with the Red Bull and McLaren appeal against Pierre Gasly’s Monaco podium, update on the 2027 F1 calendar and how it might evolve, and reflect on the latest backlash-triggering comments from F1 boss Stefano Domenicali about F1's rules. There's also chat about Williams, with the Grove team's season of woe hitting a new low in Zandvoort after Carlos Sainz drove into team-mate Alex Albon. Jon recently sat down with James Vowles to try and understand exactly why things have gone so badly wrong, and he reveals what Williams's team boss had to say... Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today.…
Dutch GP: Who hit a new driver rankings low in Zandvoort?
ListenedLando Norris made it back-to-back wins with a masterful victory at Zandvoort - so he’s a shoo-in as number 1 in our post-race driver rankings, isn't he? And how low will Max Verstappen rank after his messy exit from his home race? In our latest driver rankings podcast, Ben Anderson probes Edd Straw on how he ordered the drivers after Zandvoort, armed with questions sent in by The Race Members' Club. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dutch GP: Was this Norris's greatest victory in F1?
ListenedEdd Straw is joined by Jon Noble and Samarth Kanal to review an entertaining Dutch Grand Prix. World champion Lando Norris made it back to back wins with a brilliantly-executed race drive at Zandvoort, but was it the Briton's best-ever win, and does this mean the McLaren driver is in the title hunt, or did the Mercedes and Ferrari drivers getting in each others way distort the picture? They also dissect the race's other big talking points, including Mercedes’ late team order swap between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton's angst at Ferrari’s reluctance to issue team orders, Max Verstappen’s costly error in tricky conditions, and Nico Hulkenberg’s spectacular avoidance of a massive accident. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In-Car Insights: What we learned from F1's first day back
ListenedAs a special bonus, we're making the Thursday edition of our In-Car Insights podcast - usually only available to The Race Members' Club - free for everyone to listen to. In this episode - more accurately described as near-the-track insights - Edd Straw and Jon Noble recap the biggest storylines from a jam-packed as F1 2026 returned from its summer break at the Dutch Grand Prix. They discuss Max Verstappen's new contract - and why Carlos Sainz signed his - plus what F1's newest team boss, Marcin Budkowski, had to say, and how Liam Lawson's feeling ahead of his surprise Red Bull Racing return. If you like what you hear, simply head to Patreon.com/therace to sign up to The Race Members' Club and enjoy these bonus episodes (and much more besides) on every grand prix weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tech Show: The secrets of driver-in-the-loop simulators
ListenedWe have a special episode of The Race F1 Tech Show for you this week that includes a feature length interview with an F1 simulator pioneer. The driver-in-the-loop simulator, or DIL, as it’s called, has become a key tool for Formula 1 teams in the 21st century. They were once in-house projects, but as the technology has evolved companies have emerged to provide state-of-the-art driver in loop simulator hardware to supply not only F1 teams, but also other racing teams and even private individuals across their product range. Dynisma, based in Bristol in the UK, has emerged as the most significant supplier to Formula 1 teams, and in this episode Edd Straw talks to company founder Ash Warne, a key pioneer of driver-in-loop simulator technology with McLaren who later worked for Ferrari. In the interview, Warne explains the key technological demands that make such simulators as accurate as possible, how they are used and how their use has evolved over the years. He also talks about the importance of latency and…
Driver market moves, Cadillac's shock change & who Mercedes should fear - Our Dutch GP F1 predictions
ListenedF1's summer break is nearly over! The Race F1 Podcast looks at all the big storylines heading into the Dutch Grand Prix, including whether George Russell still has any hope of a title shot, and whether it's Ferrari or McLaren that Mercedes should fear most going into the second half of the season. Nelson Valkenburg and Ben Anderson join Edd Straw to make their predictions on both form and the remaining 2027 driver market questions. Should we expect any bombshells? The big news of mid-summer was the shock sacking of Cadillac team boss Graeme Lowdon. We also delve into everything we've learned about the team's situation since the events of last week and look at the bigger picture questions about the power balance there. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Coming soon... The Race F1 Rewind
ListenedComing soon, a new sister show to The Race F1 Podcast focusing on F1 history: The Race F1 Rewind. In each episode, Edd Straw and Mark Hughes will hit the rewind button and dive into an exciting chapter in F1 history before hitting fast forward again and explaining the lasting impact of the story, topic or person today. Having attended over 800 grands prix between them, we can't think of two better hosts to guide listeners back in time and add colour to the moments that mattered and we look forward to bringing you episode 1 soon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Driving Style Secrets: We answer your questions about five 21st century greats
ListenedAs a bonus in the feed, we're bringing you our Driving Style Secrets Q&A episode. Driving Style Secrets is a podcast series available exclusively in The Race Members' Club on Patreon. In Season 3, which finished recently, Edd Straw and Mark Hughes took a deep dive into the driving techniques of five of F1's 21st century greats: Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg - and here they answer questions from the Race Members' Club about each of them! Edd and Mark start things off by discussing who, out of our five drivers covered, dealt with Lewis Hamilton the best. They then go on to discuss how Fernando Alonso's driving style saves tyres, how much of a driving style is deliberate versus instinctive, how each driver's technique evolved over time, why Raikkonen's career arc was linked to tyre philosophy changes, and what would have happened had Vettel gone up against Hamilton at Mercedes. There's also an explanation for why the fastest F1 drivers rarely exhibit flashy…
Are these F1 conspiracy theories actually true? - The Undercut with Damon Hill and Mark Hughes
ListenedThere's been plenty of extraordinary conspiracy theories throughout Formula 1 history - but are some of them actually true? Mark Hughes and 1996 world champion Damon Hill dissect some of the most interesting F1 conspiracies in the latest episode of The Undercut. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Has F1 become anti-innovation?
ListenedTo many, Formula 1 is about engineering genius, so why does the governing body, the FIA, so often outlaw bold new ideas after they appear? Has grand prix racing become anti-innovation, or is it essential for 'the show' to control technical development? On this episode of The Race F1 Podcast, which was inspired by a question sent in by someone in The Race Members' Club on Patreon, Edd Straw is joined by Samarth Kanal and Mark Hughes to debate whether F1 has got the innovation balance right or wrong, and to hypothesise on what would happen if the FIA relaxed the rules and allowed the teams to innovate as they wish, provided they stuck to the cost cap... Here's the full listener question from StevieNoises that inspired the episode: Why is F1’s strategy so anti-development? Ferrari’s exhaust wing is banned for 2027 and, to quote from The-Race.com ‘although the FIA was satisfied that the designs fully compiled with the regulations, it was mindful that if things were left untouched there was a risk of things…
Tech Show: Why Mercedes should fear McLaren in F1's second half
ListenedIn the latest episode of The Race F1 Tech Show, we evaluate two teams that took major steps forward before the summer break: McLaren and Aston Martin. Edd Straw is joined by former F1 technical director Gary Anderson, who explains why McLaren's approach to upgrades should pay it back in the second half of the season, and why Lando Norris' stunning Hungary victory shouldn't be a track specific one-off. Next, Gary discuss his old team, Aston Martin, and the performance step it was able to make with a heavily upgraded car. Gary explains the bold aerodyanmic choices Adrian Newey has taken with the car, and why it affords the team plenty of headroom for improvement. And finally, Gary answers another batch of questions from listeners on differences in deployment between drivers, the 2027 rules, upgrade scheduling, hybrid technology evolution and F1’s ultimate rules. If you'd like to ask Gary a question, send it to podcasts@the-race.com Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The…
What next for Aston Martin, Alonso and Honda after big F1 leap?
ListenedAfter its nightmare start to 2026, Aston Martin finally showed signs of a revival in Hungary after putting a big upgrade on the car. So has Adrian Newey finally got the Silverstone-based team on the right track, or will there be more bumps in the road, even with a new Honda power unit on the way? On the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, Edd Straw is joined by Josh Suttill and Jon Noble to assess Aston Martin's current position and expected trajectory, and how that might impact Fernando Alonso’s future. Plus, we round up the latest F1 news, including how the 2026 and 2027 calendars are shaping up amid continued conflict in the Middle East and why a significant FIA figure has spoken out against F1's power unit manufacturers... Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Race Business: How Flavio Briatore turned a 'very bad idea' into a $150 million F1 deal
ListenedAlpine's executive advisor and de facto team boss Flavio Briatore, is the latest guest on The Race Business's 'In Conversation With...' series. He talks about how Team Enstone has gone from an $80 million valuation to a $3.5 billion valuation, how highly he rates Pierre Gasly, why he thinks there needs to be 24 sprint races and explains how he turned a 'very bad idea' into a $150 million title sponsorship deal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Scripted for TV?! F1's driver radio moaning problem
ListenedDo F1 drivers need to cut back on complaining over team radio, or is it just a consequence of radio traffic being so easy to hear these days? Edd Straw is joined by Glenn Freeman and special guest Conor Daly on the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast to delve into driver etiquette and whether things need to change. There's also talk of whether things have gone too far with F1's blue flags rules after the Oscar Piastri/Carlos Sainz flashpoint in Hungary, and whether F1 could take lessons from IndyCar. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Driver Rankings: Which surprise name did we rank P1 for Hungary?
ListenedLando Norris became the fifth different winner this season with a surprise win in Budapest - but was it enough to earn him the top spot in our rankings as well? Val Khorounzhiy joins Edd Straw to probe him on how he ranked the drivers’ performances after the Hungarian Grand Prix - including where he placed Carlos Sainz after the Spaniard's controversial clash with Oscar Piastri under blue flags. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hungarian GP: How Norris and McLaren surprised themselves with victory
ListenedEdd Straw is joined by Jon Noble and Josh Suttill to dissect the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest. Ferrari was the odds on favourite after Friday practice, but in the end it was Lando Norris and McLaren who emerged victorious - to their own surprise. We explain how and why McLaren came on so strong on Saturday and Sunday, discuss whether Ferrari had only themselves to blame for losing victory, and examine why championship-chasing Mercedes was not in the running this weekend. Plus, we discuss Verstappen's superb run to second place, Russell's poor start, and the controversial blue flag drama that impacted Oscar Piastri’s race before his retirement. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
(Not) In-Car Insights: Edd and Josh on Aston's promising start with its upgraded car
ListenedAs a special bonus, we're making the Friday edition of our In-Car Insights podcast - usually only available to The Race Members' Club - free for everyone to listen to. In this episode - more accurately described as on-foot insights - Edd Straw and Josh Suttill recap Friday's action at the Hungaroring, which included the first running for Aston Martin's heavily upgraded car. They also look at Ferrari’s strong pace, McLaren and Red Bull’s mixed day, Mercedes’ struggles, and the tight midfield fight involving Racing Bulls, Audi, Williams, Alpine, and Haas. Plus, there’s an update on the circuit surface, the turn one bump, tyre strategy, and why qualifying could be all about getting the perfect lap in tricky conditions. If you like what you hear - and we're confident you will - head to Patreon.com/therace to sign up to The Race Members' Club and enjoy these bonus episodes (and much more besides) on every grand prix weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bring Back V10s: We answer your questions on classic liveries, V10 era video games, and the best 'worst' team
ListenedAnother season of Bring Back V10s is coming to an end, and as usual we're rounding things off by handing the power over to our audience to ask us anything about F1's V10 era. Host Glenn Freeman is joined by Edd Straw and Matt Beer to tackle questions about Gerhard Berger at Williams, classic liveries teams should bring back, which version of Silverstone was the best, Alex Zanardi at BMW Williams, Kimi Raikkonen's 2003 title charge, and remastering V10 era computer games. Plus, hilarity ensues as Edd gives a ridiculously comprehensive answer when he's asked who would win a championship of the last classified team from each season of the V10 era... Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why Hungary weekend is make or break for Alonso
ListenedFernando Alonso’s F1 future is in the spotlight as Aston Martin arrives in Hungary with the first phase of a massive upgrade package that could define the rest of its season. Edd Straw is joined by Josh Suttill and special guest Alex Kalinauckas (of The Athletic), to break down whether Aston Martin can deliver the step forward Alonso needs - and whether it could shape his decision to stay in Formula 1. The guys also dig into the scale of Aston Martin’s problems, the pressure on Adrian Newey and the wider technical team, and why this weekend has become such a crucial test of the team’s direction. Plus, they look ahead to the wider Hungarian Grand Prix storylines, including whether George Russell should realistically be expected to turn the tables on Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli given his issues in Belgium, and whether Ferrari will be able to capitalise on Lewis Hamilton’s incredible Hungaroring record to upset the Silver Arrows. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The…
Driver Rankings: How did we rank Russell after his nightmare weekend?
ListenedWe're back with another driver rankings podcast following the Belgian Grand Prix, where there were contrasting fortunes for the two Mercedes once more. But where did our own Edd Straw rank George Russell after early contact with Lewis Hamilton forced him out of the race? And who has claimed this week's top spot in the rankings? Ben Anderson quizzes Edd on how he ranked the drivers in Spa, backed up as ever by questions from The Race Members' Club. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Belgian GP: Antonelli heaps more misery on struggling Russell
ListenedEdd Straw is joined by Ben Anderson and Val Khorounzhiy to dissect the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. Kimi Antonelli took his win tally for the season to six with his win at Spa, while team-mate George Russell had another weekend to forget. So how big a hit have the Briton's title chances taken? Edd, Val and Ben also look at two controversial stewards' decisions involving Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton earning a penalty but Charles Leclerc avoiding the same fate. Did the stewards get it right? Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.