The Race F1 Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Why F1 is braced for more yo-yo racing in Belgium Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Energy concerns are once again dominating discussion as F1 heads to the power-hungry Spa-Francorchamps circuit for the Belgian Grand Prix, so should we expect another weekend of yo-yo racing and drivers complaining?

On the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, Edd Straw is joined by Mark Hughes and Nelson Valkenburg, of Viaplay Netherlands, to explain the set-up and deployment headaches facing the teams this weekend and to debate whether Ferrari will be the team to take the fight to Mercedes once more.

With weather forecasts for Spa looking mixed, the prospect of a first proper wet race under this regulation set is also discussed, plus we examine where the true momentum in the Antonelli versus Russell title race lies, and whether there might be a shift in Belgium.

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To refuel or not to refuel - The dilemma hanging over F1's future Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

F1 seems destined for a V8 engine future, but with a push to make the cars considerably lighter at the same time, could that mean a return of in-race refuelling?

On the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, Edd Straw is joined by Jon Noble and Josh Suttill to debate whether bringing back fuel stops would be a good or bad idea for F1.

They also discuss whether FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem's suggestion of appointing an independent engine manufacturer is workable, plus we explain what's going on with the safety probe into revolving rear wings and ask whether Ferrari have got a jump on the rest of the field by arranging a filming day at the Madring, ahead of the first ever race at the Spanish circuit in September.

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Race Business: How Williams went from $200 million sale to being worth $2.5 billion Jul 12, 2026

Show notes

In the latest exclusive 'In Conversation With...' interview from The Race Business, The Race co-founder Darren Cox sits down with Matthew Savage, Chairman of Dorilton Capital, to uncover the business strategy behind transforming the legendary Williams F1 team. From the $200 million acquisition in 2020 to a staggering $2.5 billion valuation today, Savage explains how a long-term investment horizon, the impact of the cost cap, and the "Netflix" effect turned the team’s fortunes around.

We dive deep into the reality of private equity in Formula 1. Why are institutional investors and high-net-worth families rushing into the sport? Is F1 the new NFL? Savage discusses the challenges of transforming a 50-year-old family business, the "siloed" nature of modern F1 teams - acting as media, hospitality, and engineering entities simultaneously - and why he continues to reject multiple buy-out offers every single week.

Beyond the financials, we explore the team’s bold ambition to win two championships within the next six years, the importance of retaining the Williams heritage, and the role of team principal James Vowles in navigating the team’s technical and cultural evolution. Whether you’re an F1 superfan or a business strategist, this conversation reveals what it truly takes to build a contender in the most competitive sport on Earth.

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Bring Back V10s: The cult heroes who helped shape F1's V10 era Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

Bring Back V10s celebrates some key names from F1's V10 era who aren't necessarily remembered purely for their outright achievements behind the wheel.

Before Season 13 draws to a close, we decided to borrow English football's 'Barclaysmen' social media trend, picking out drivers who made a memorable impression on the V10 era without ever really being considered in the top echelon of drivers.

Glenn Freeman, Edd Straw, Matt Beer and Ben Anderson all did their best to grapple with the concept, and got to pick two drivers each. But we didn't share our choices beforehand, meaning everybody needed to bring back-ups.

So get ready for a nostalgic chat about occasional race winners, plucky backmarkers, unlikely title contenders, nomadic journeymen, and - somehow - even an F1 world champion!

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Leclerc's return to form, Verstappen's worries, SC changes & Stroll's strange driving Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

After a tricky start to the season, Charles Leclerc showed Ferrari what they were missing as he returned to top form at Silverstone. But how did he haul himself out of the hole he was trapped in, and does this mean Leclerc is now finally on top of this generation of cars? In the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, Edd Straw is joined by Ben Anderson and IndyCar driver Conor Daly to answer those questions and more.

Edd, Ben and Conor also discuss Max Verstappen's mindset following his latest 'super dangerous' off in Britain, plus there's chat about how F1 should amend its safety car rules, whether Kimi Antonelli's aggressive driving approach will cost him in the long run, and what was behind Lance Stroll's strange Silverstone showing.

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Driver Rankings: Who did we rank as the British GP's best driver? Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

Our rankings podcast returns following the British Grand Prix, where Mercedes suffered only their second defeat of the season. But does that automatically make Charles Leclerc a shoo-in for number 1 in Edd Straw's driver rankings? This week's interrogator-in-chief Josh Suttill probes Edd on how he ranked the drivers, backed up as ever by questions from The Race Members' Club.

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British GP: Revitalised Leclerc wins - but did F1 ruin the finale? Jul 05, 2026

Show notes

Charles Leclerc hit back after his poor run of form with victory in the British Grand Prix. But where did his and Ferrari’s unexpected turn of pace come from, was there any hope a win without Antonelli hitting trouble while rapidly closing in on the lead, and was he fortunate to avoid a last-gasp challenge after the late safety car?

Edd Straw is joined by Jon Noble and Josh Suttill to answer all of those questions, plus they debate the other big talking points from a busy Silverstone weekend, including more anger for Max Verstappen and mixed feelings for the home drivers.

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Tech Show: Assessing Red Bull's recent upgrade and the reason for Cadillac's brake 'cooking' Jul 02, 2026

Show notes

On the latest episode of The Race F1 Tech Show, Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson take a close look at the upgrade package introduced by Red Bull in Austria, and try to diagnose the reason behind Cadillac's race-wrecking brake issues.

We also hear from Cadillac's reserve driver Zhou Guanyu, who tells Edd all about his recent outing testing tyres for Pirelli and provides an update on the team's 2026 progress and developments behind the scenes.

And finally, Gary tackles questions from listeners on what elements constitute a power unit and whether McLaren have an underlying gear ratio issue.

If you'd like to ask Gary a tech question, send it to podcasts@the-race.com.

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Verstappen + Antonelli? Our take on F1's next big driver moves Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

After news broke in Austria that Max Verstappen's management have met with McLaren, we explain what’s really going on behind the scenes when it comes to the four-times world champion’s Formula 1 future.

Joining Edd Straw, to discuss what it all means for the wider driver market, are Josh Suttill and special guest Nelson Valkenburg, F1 commentator for Viaplay Netherlands.

There's also another batch of listener questions to tackle, with the future of the Williams drivers, Isack Hadjar's form, Russell's in-race pace fall-off and more on the agenda.

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Driver Rankings: Who was the most impressive driver in Austria? Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

George Russell and Max Verstappen returned to the front in Austria - but will either of them claim the coveted top step of the podium in our driver rankings, or will it go to someone else entirely? Matt Beer, armed with questions from The Race Members' Club, joins Edd Straw to run the rule over his Red Bull Ring driver rankings, including whether he got the top two in his rankings the right way around and whether one driver is being unreasonably picked on when it comes to deciding who comes last...

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