The Race F1 Podcast

Latest Episodes:

In-Car Insights: Ocon's impending Haas exit & more Baku talking points Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

As 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 Kimi Antonelli is getting so right this year and why next year's changes might give George Russell hope of things being a bit more equal in 2027, a preview of what kind of challenge Baku - a circuit of two halves - is going to ask of these F1 cars and the 22 drivers, and Flavio Briatore's surprise threat of intervention.

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)

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What's gone wrong for Piastri in 2026? Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

As 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.

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Is the FIA right to help Alonso and Honda? Sep 19, 2026

Show notes

FIA 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 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.

Tech Show: Why doesn't car compatibility play a bigger role in driver recruitment? Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

In 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.

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Will a Monaco sprint race work? Our reaction to shock 2027 F1 calendar Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

On 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.

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Mailbag: Is Norris '27 title favourite + Why does F1 keep adding soulless street tracks? Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

The 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.

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Spanish GP: Was Lando Norris robbed + How to fix the Madring Sep 13, 2026

Show notes

On 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

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To check out The Tennis Podcast, visit: https://www.thetennispodcast.net/

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In-Car Insights: Reflecting on a busy first day of action at the Madring Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

As 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.

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F1 Rewind: When a young Ayrton Senna drove F1's elite crazy Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

On 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.

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Chaos but no passing? What to expect from F1's first visit to Madring Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

On 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 content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today.

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