Talking Bull

Latest Episodes:

Max Verstappen: Four Time World Champion Dec 26, 2024

Show notes

At the end of a dramatic season, newly crowned four-time world champion Max Verstappen joins Nic for a live recording of Talking Bull, straight from MK7 at the Oracle Red Bull Racing technology campus.

We celebrate Max’s 4th Driver’s Championship victory in a row; plus we look at Max’s highlights of the 2024 race season, including smashing through the field at a very wet Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Oracle Red Bull Racing’s new 2025 driver… Liam Lawson Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

We're at the Oracle Red Bull Racing technology campus in Milton Keynes, and speaking to the team’s new driver for 2025… Liam Lawson.

Liam has been part of the Oracle Red Bull Racing Junior team since 2019 and he talks about his excitement about being announced as the new driver for Oracle Red Bull Racing, and how it feels to be part of a team with such legacy and success. He runs us through his hopes and dreams for next season on the track as he will be teammates with 4-time world champion, Max Verstappen.

He talks about his pride of representing New Zealand, how he’d love to be in a remake of ‘Cars’ and he gives Oracle Red Bull Racing fans some hints about what to expect from him.

Zero Gravity Pit Stops and Donuts on a Skyscraper: Meet The Heritage Dream Team Dec 05, 2024

Show notes

Oracle Red Bull Racing are famous for the amazing stunts they put on with their retired F1 cars - from Checo driving the RB7 through a Las Vegas casino, to David Coulthard doing donuts on the helipad of a skyscraper - and today we meet the dream team that get to bring these ideas to life!

Joining Nic in the Talking Bull studio are Heritage team manager Tony Burrows, No. 1 Mechanic Mark “Crunch” Lenton, and No.2 Mechanic Thibaut Conand to answer questions like “who thinks of all these stunts” and “has a stunt ever come close to going seriously wrong?” (spoiler: no it hasn’t!).

The team also reflect on their relationship with the main racing team, from Crunch’s memories of being on lollipop duty as a pit crew member, to how the team share knowledge and skills today so that everyone can get the best performance out of the cars.

Plus we take your questions from the Paddock - could an F1 car ever drive upside down? And just how challenging was the zero gravity pit stop stunt to pull off?

Meet The Sim Racing World Champions: Frederik Rasmussen and Jarno Opmeer Nov 21, 2024

Show notes

Nic meets legends of Sim Racing Frederik Rasmussen and Jarno Opmeer, who will compete for Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing in the 2025 F1 Sim Racing World Championship.

Nic will find out from current World Champion Frederick how it feels to have won the Championship after so many years with the team, and will hear from two-time World Champion Jarno how it feels to have joined the team at this iconic time.

She also delves deeper into the F1 Sim Racing world - finding out about the practicalities of training, prep and kit. What does it take to be an F1 Sim Racing World Champion? Just how long do the racers get to prep for each race? And how realistic are the races they run?

Plus we take questions from fans from around the world, submitted via Oracle Red Bull Racing’s fan site, The Paddock.

The Fast and the Curious: Betty Glover and Christian Hewgill Nov 07, 2024

Show notes

F1 superfans Betty Glover and Christian Hewgill join Nic to talk about their podcast (with Radio 1 breakfast presenter Greg James), The Fast and the Curious.

Find out about the early days of their podcast, and how they balance fun and facts when speaking to F1 teams like Oracle Red Bull Racing. Christian and Betty also share their favourite moments interviewing Max and Checo - and reveal what they really think about Max’s dominance in recent years.

Plus the team answer your questions - submitted via the Oracle Red Bull Racing fan site The Paddock - including “if you could each pick one role to do on race day at Red Bull Racing, what would it be and why?

Award-winning Pit Stops: Calum Nicholas, Jon Caller and Sam Vincent Oct 24, 2024

Show notes

Nic is joined by Jon Caller, Sam Vincent and Calum Nicholas from the Oracle Red Bull Racing pit crew to find out what it takes to win the coveted DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award.

Just how much practice do they put in off-season, and how do each of them prepare for a pit stop on race day?

She’ll also hear how stunts like changing tyres in the dark - or in zero gravity! - can help the team develop their skills, and what it takes to earn a place on this incredible team.

Plus the guys will answer your questions - submitted via the Oracle Red Bull Racing fan site, the Paddock.

Izzy Hammond On Joining The Heritage Team Oct 14, 2024

Show notes

Our newest recruit to the Heritage team Izzy Hammond talks about her experiences travelling the world on the show car circuit and what it’s like growing up with a famous racing dad.

Izzy will recall how she accidentally got the best view of the start of the Silverstone Grand Prix, the pressure of being on fire extinguisher duty during a show car run, and how she discovered her love of F1 - not through her dad, Richard Hammond - but through the Netflix series Drive To Survive.

She’ll also reveal the most outrageous and inventive place she’d like to do a show car run, and will answer listener questions from Oracle Red Bull Racing’s fan site, The Paddock.

Bringing Home P2 in Singapore: Watching the Grand Prix Live from the Factory Sep 26, 2024

Show notes

This week we’re live from the MK7 arena at the Red Bull Technology Campus in Milton Keynes to watch Max bring home P2 at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Ahead of the race, Nic speaks to Strategist Guillaume Ducreux about what to expect and finds out how a new DRS zone might affect laptimes round the Marina Bay circuit.

Post-race, Nic catches up with fans from across the world who have travelled to Milton Keynes to watch the race in an incredible, immersive environment. Plus Aimee from the events team shares the unique ethos of the event and how to find out about future race screenings at MK7.

And Nic speaks to Oracle Red Bull Racing Ambassador Michael Timbs who was actually out in Singapore for the race and knew first hand just exactly how hot it was!

Nurturing Young Driving Talent: Liam Lawson and Guillaume “Rocky” Rocquelin Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

Nicola Hume is joined in the Talking Bull studio by Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson and Head of the Driver Academy, Guillaume “Rocky” Rocquelin, to find out how the team nurtures young drivers.

Nic will find out how the Driver Academy operates on a day-to-day basis: from talent spotting, to preparing young drivers to move into an F1 car and ensuring they’re ready to meet the physical demands required. She’ll also hear about the relationship between the drivers and their coaches - how they look after all aspects of the driver’s development, delving right into their sleep and nutrition to get the best out of each and every race. They’ll also discuss how it feels to be on the subs bench as a racer, and how you keep race-fit in spite of not racing every weekend.

And Rocky reveals how he knows a world champion racer the second they walk into a room - the answer may surprise you!

David Coulthard on 20 years of Red Bull Racing Aug 29, 2024

Show notes

As part of the celebrations of 20 Years of Red Bull Racing, Nic is joined in the Talking Bull Airstream by the driver that achieved the team’s first ever podium - the legend David “DC” Coulthard.

DC remembers the excitement of the early days of the team, and the hug that Christian Horner gave him when they achieved that first podium. He also reflects on how much he loved racing during that era and how he would prepare himself for a race.

He also steps back in time to recall the iconic voices of motorsports that inspired his move into commentary, and what he thinks it takes to make a great commentator.

And he celebrates the achievements of the team in the years that followed - describing Max as one of the most talented people in the world.