F1 Nation

Formula 1 is heading to a brand-new circuit in Madrid this weekend, as the Madring hosts the Spanish Grand Prix for the first time. Tom Clarkson and F1TV lead commentator Alex Jacques discuss the unique challenges this track will present the drivers, why we could be treated to a chaotic race and which teams will be competitive there. Jacquesy tells Tom why George Russell can still stop his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli from becoming World Champion, despite the Italian’s 66-point lead at the top of the standings. And you’ll hear what Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had to say at media day in Madrid, after their tense opening lap battle in Monza.

Tom Clarkson is joined by Lawrence Barretto and Davide Valsecchi to analyse an extraordinary Italian Grand Prix, which saw Kimi Antonelli climb from 19th on the grid to become the first Italian Formula 1 driver to win their home race in 60 years. How did Antonelli complete such an incredible comeback? Where does his victory rank among the greatest drives in F1 history? And what will be going through George Russell’s head after failing to capitalise on Kimi’s grid penalty? Lewis Hamilton has suggested that Ferrari need to introduce rules of engagement after he felt Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc pushed him off into the gravel at Turn 2 on the opening lap. The guys share their thoughts on that incident, what they think caused Leclerc’s race-ending crash on the following lap and how Team Principal Fred Vasseur needs to address the situation between his drivers. Also on the agenda: how did Max Verstappen secure his fifth podium of the season? Did McLaren exceed expectations in Monza? And what does Pierre Gasly’s remarkable pole position tell us about Alpine’s progress? THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY: IM8 Give your body what it deserves with IM8! Go to IM8HEALTH.com/nation and use code NATION for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets plus ten percent off your order. #im8health

What’s the difference between a high-speed track and a low-speed track? What challenges do both types of circuit present drivers? How does driving style and car setup differ between the two? Christian Hewgill is joined by former F1 driver and F1TV pundit Jolyon Palmer to answer your questions about speed.

Tom Clarkson, Jolyon Palmer and James Hinchcliffe turn their attention to the Temple of Speed for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix. With championship leader Kimi Antonelli taking a grid penalty at his home race, can the Mercedes driver still fight his way through the field to win? How big an opportunity is this for George Russell? Can Lando Norris make it three wins in a row, or will Monza expose McLaren's weaknesses? And after going two races without a podium for the first time this season, can Ferrari find form again and give the Tifosi a race to remember? There's also reaction to Franco Colapinto extending his contract with Alpine for 2027 and the team remember when Jolyon upset Fernando Alonso at Monza. Listen to more Official F1 Podcasts In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid - Charles Leclerc coming soon! Expert answers to your questions on F1 Explains This episode is sponsored by: IM8 Give your body what it deserves with IM8! Go to IM8HEALTH.com/nation and use code NATION for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets plus ten percent off your order. #im8health

He spent more than a decade in the F1 pit lane, winning multiple World Championships and seven consecutive DHL Fastest Pit Stop Awards, but former Red Bull Racing mechanic Calum Nicholas has never faced your Formula 1 questions... until now! Calum joins IndyCar race-winner James Hinchcliffe and Christian Hewgill to explain what pit crew members do when they're not changing tyres, how they know to be ready for a stop, and why their every move in the garage is being watched by the sport's rule-makers, the FIA. Hinch gives us a guide to the cost cap which limits how much teams can spend. Then, in a new and unlikely-to-be-repeated feature, we translate F1 terminology to that used in North American racing. Get your question answered on the podcast Send it to F1Explains@F1.com Want more Hinch? He's one of many big names on F1 Beyond The Grid And he gives his expert opinion on F1 Nation

Tom Clarkson is in the Zandvoort paddock with F1 correspondent Lawrence Barretto and F1TV expert Alex Brundle for reaction to a chaotic Dutch Grand Prix. Back-to-back wins for Lando Norris means he’s now 83 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli with 11 races to go, so is the McLaren driver back in the title fight? Despite being behind him for most of the weekend, Kimi Antonelli got the better of his Mercedes teammate George Russell on race day. Why didn’t George have the pace when it really mattered? Were Mercedes right to issue team orders to get George out of Kimi’s way in the closing stages? On the topic of team orders, Lewis Hamilton was very frustrated that Ferrari didn’t ask Charles Leclerc to let him past. Did that cost Hamilton a podium? And what does his fiery team radio and post-race reaction tell us about the seven-time World Champion’s mindset? Plus, the guys discuss home race heartbreak for Max Verstappen after he crashed out on lap one, the impact Fernando Alonso’s second points finish of the season will have on his future with Aston Martin, and a dramatic end to the weekend for Williams as Carlos Sainz crashed into teammate Alex Albon. Listen to more Official F1 Podcasts In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid - Sergio Perez coming soon! Expert answers to your questions on F1 Explains This episode is sponsored by: Hexclad Find your forever cookware @hexclad and get 10% off at hexclad.co.uk/NATION ! Offer excludes bundles and other items already on sale. #hexcladpartner Betterhelp You don't have to navigate life's changes alone. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/F1NATION IM8 Give your body what it deserves with IM8! Go to IM8HEALTH.com/nation and use code NATION for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets plus ten percent off your order. #im8health

After the huge success of the LEGO Drivers’ Parade at Miami in 2025, the driveable LEGO cars returned at Silverstone for this year’s British Grand Prix. And this time, all 22 drivers had their own car to race in – creating even more chaos than the first time! Who designed and built the cars? Where does the construction happen? What contribution do the F1 teams make to the creation of the cars? And how are they powered? Christian Hewgill is joined by Senior Designer from the LEGO Group, Jonatan Jurion – who shares brilliant insight into how these extraordinary vehicles come to life and the fascinating facts about them – including the number of bricks used and the top speeds they can reach.

Max Verstappen has signed a new deal with Red Bull Racing that will see him stay with the team until the end of 2030 at least. Why has he committed his future to Red Bull? How significant is this for the team? And what does Max’s decision mean for the driver market in general? Tom Clarkson is joined by F1 correspondent Lawrence Barretto in the Zandvoort paddock to answer the key questions.

Tom Clarkson, Jolyon Palmer and James Hinchcliffe look forward to the return of Formula 1 at the Dutch Grand Prix. Kimi Antonelli leads the F1 World Championship by 50 points, but his rivals are still in the fight. The guys discuss whether the young Italian can continue his stellar season under growing pressure in the second half of the year. After some 'sloppy' mistakes in recent races, can Ferrari challenge Mercedes? Will Lando Norris, our most recent race-winner, become a factor in the title fight? Also in this episode, what's behind a change of Team Principal at Cadillac? And will Aston Martin make another leap forward at Zandvoort? This episode is sponsored by: Claude Ready to have an AI that can tackle real work? Try Claude Cowork today — Claude.ai/nation . Betterhelp You don't have to navigate life's changes alone. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/F1NATION IM8 Give your body what it deserves with IM8! Go to IM8HEALTH.com/nation and use code NATION for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets plus ten percent off your order. #im8health

Tom Clarkson is joined in the paddock by F1TV expert and IndyCar race winner, James Hinchcliffe, to reflect on the Hungarian Grand Prix. Lando Norris converted pole position to take his first Grand Prix victory of the season and his first as a World Champion. Why was Lando back on top in Budapest? Is he driving better this year than last year when he won the title? And can he now regularly fight with Mercedes and Ferrari to defend that title in 2026? Max Verstappen was pleasantly surprised to finish P2 and secure his third podium in the last four races. So how did Max end up on the rostrum? And what did Tom and Hinch think of his incredible overtake of Lewis Hamilton on lap 16? It was another mixed weekend for Mercedes. Kimi Antonelli climbed from seventh on the grid to third, extending his championship lead further, while George Russell suffered an anti-stall issue at the start before fighting back for a points finish. How different will Kimi and George’s mindsets be going into the summer break? Plus, the guys discuss a missed opportunity for Ferrari and a much better weekend for Aston Martin, whose upgrades helped Fernando Alonso reach Q2 for the first time this season. THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY... HexClad: Find your forever cookware @hexclad and get 10% off at hexclad.co.uk/NATION ! Offer excludes bundles and other items already on sale. #hexcladpartner IM8: Give your body what it deserves with IM8! Go to im8health.com/nation and use code NATION for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets plus ten percent off your order. #im8health

Neck training, positive energy and Belgian mussels are on the menu as Red Bull Test and Reserve Driver Yuki Tsunoda joins Christian Hewgill on stage in Belgium. Yuki answers questions from F1 Explains listeners about why F1 drivers need to be physically fit, the advice he'd give his rookie self, what he learned from teammates including Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, and his favourite race weekend food. Send your questions, we'll get you the answers Emails and voice notes welcome - F1Explains@F1.com Thanks for listening to F1 Explains so far in 2026. We'll be back after the summer break WIN TICKETS FOR F1 IN MADRID Official F1 Podcasts are giving you the chance to win one pair of weekend grandstand tickets for the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix 2026 You must be 18+ to enter. Competition closes on 31 July 2026. To enter and for full terms and conditions, visit f1.com/podcast-win-madrid

With chassis set to be more important than power unit at the Hungaroring, will Ferrari have a more competitive car than Mercedes in Budapest? If so, who will come out on top between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton? And could George Russell benefit as he looks to close his 50-point gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli? F1 correspondent and presenter Lawrence Barretto joins Tom Clarkson in the paddock to answer the key questions ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Tom and Lawrence also discuss what we can expect from the big upgrades Aston Martin are bringing to this race and how they could shape Fernando Alonso’s decision on his future. Plus, will McLaren and Red Bull be in the mix for victory? WIN TICKETS FOR F1 IN MADRID Official F1 Podcasts are giving you the chance to win one pair of weekend grandstand tickets for the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix 2026 You must be 18+ to enter. Competition closes on 31 July 2026. To enter and for full terms and conditions, visit f1.com/podcast-win-madrid THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY... IM8: Give your body what it deserves with IM8! Go to im8health.com/nation and use code NATION for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets plus ten percent off your order. #im8health

Tom Clarkson is joined by race-winner Kimi Antonelli, F1TV lead presenter Laura Winter and two-time Le Mans podium finisher Alex Brundle to review the Belgian Grand Prix. Kimi converted pole to secure his sixth win of the season and move 45 points clear at the top of the World Championship. 12 months on from last year’s Belgian Grand Prix, one of his most challenging weekends of the 2025 season, how has the 19-year-old made such an incredible transformation? Kimi joins us in the Mercedes motorhome to reflect on his victory and a close fight with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. You’ll also hear reaction from George Russell, whose DNF after a collision with Lewis Hamilton on lap 1 leaves him 50 points adrift of Antonelli. What do the guys make of that incident, the comments George has made about his car’s problems and where he goes from here? Tom, Laura and Alex also discuss how surprised they were by Ferrari’s pace, Max Verstappen’s third podium of the season, and whether Lando Norris could have won without his grid penalty. Listen to more official F1 podcasts Drivers, in-depth on F1 Beyond The Grid Your questions answered by experts on F1 Explains - right here on the F1 Nation podcast feed This episode is sponsored by: IM8 - give your body what it deserves with IM8! Go to IM8HEALTH.com/nation and use code NATION for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets plus ten percent off your order. #im8health

How do drivers enable Overtake mode and active aero? What’s the secret to a quick flying lap? And how do they know when to launch on a practice race start? Williams' Carlos Sainz and Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto join Christian Hewgill in the F1 paddock to answer your questions about Formula 1. You’ll also hear how they find the perfect balance between clean and dirty air when following another car, their race weekend routine and whether everyday normal driving in road cars has any impact on their racing. Plus, Gabi puts an end to the podcast's pasta-based controvesry, and Carlos responds to a claim made by his manager and cousin Carlos Onoro on a recent episode. Got a question for an F1 driver? Send emails and voice notes to F1Explains@F1.com Listen to more official F1 podcasts In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid - including Carlos Sainz + Gabriel Bortoleto Expert race previews and reviews - right here on the F1 Nation podcast feed

Tom Clarkson is joined by former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer and IndyCar race winner James Hinchcliffe to preview this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix. Having failed to score points in two of the last three Grands Prix due to car problems, Kimi Antonelli has seen his championship lead cut from 66 points to just 25. So what is the biggest threat to Kimi’s hopes of becoming World Champion this year? His teammate George Russell, Ferrari or Mercedes’ reliability issues? On a recent episode, Jolyon suggested that Ferrari need to back Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc if they’re to fight Mercedes for the title. After Leclerc’s victory at Silverstone, has his opinion changed? The guys also discuss an ‘upset’ Max Verstappen, why things could get ‘spicy’ at Racing Bulls, and Carlos Sainz’s reaction to a disappointing weekend for Williams at the British Grand Prix. You’ll also hear their podium predictions for Spa and how wet weather could mix things up. Listen to more official F1 podcasts Drivers, in-depth on F1 Beyond The Grid Your questions answered by experts on F1 Explains - right here on the F1 Nation podcast feed This episode is sponsored by: Leesa - go to Leesa.com for 25% off select mattresses PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code NATION, exclusive for our listeners. IM8 - give your body what it deserves with IM8! Go to IM8HEALTH.com/nation and use code NATION for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets plus ten percent off your order. #im8health

How has F1 changed since Damon Hill won the World Championship? What happened to make him report rival Michael Schumacher to the stewards? Why does he share an unusual car number record? 30 years after his title-winning season, Damon joins Christian Hewgill on stage at the British Grand Prix to answer these questions and more from F1 Explains listeners. Lyndsey from Maine and Toby from Manchester ask Damon about making his F1 debut relatively late in life, and what his former team Williams need to do to return to the front of the grid. F1 Explains LIVE at the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix Special guest Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Reserve Driver F1 Fanzone Stage | 1025 am | Friday 17th July Send questions to F1Explains@F1.com - we could make you part of the show Listen to more official F1 podcasts In-depth interviews on F1 Beyond The Grid - including Damon Hill Expert race previews and reviews - right here on the F1 Nation podcast feed

Tom Clarkson is joined by F1TV commentary duo, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer and lead commentator Alex Jacques, to reflect on a dramatic British Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc capitalised on more misfortune for championship leader Kimi Antonelli to take his first victory since Austin in 2024. After such a difficult run of races, why was he back to his best and how significant is this win for Charles? Reliability issues mean Antonelli has seen his championship lead cut from 66 points to just 25 over the last three rounds, but is he leaving Silverstone happier than George Russell despite the Brit taking home P2 and closing the gap to Kimi? Jolyon, Alex and Tom share their thoughts on George’s continuing struggles against his teammate and the team radio message from Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff at the end of the race. Plus, the guys discuss why Lewis Hamilton might be ‘scratching his head’ despite securing a fourth podium finish of the season and gaining more ground on Antonelli. Listen to more official F1 podcasts Lando Norris on F1 Beyond The Grid Your questions answered by experts on F1 Explains - right here on the F1 Nation podcast feed This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp - Don’t let stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com/f1nation Shopify: You put in the work. Time to get paid like it. Free trial at shopify.com/nation Give your body what it deserves with IM8! Go to IM8HEALTH.com/NATION and use code NATION for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets plus ten percent off your order. Anthropic : For problems worth solving — get started with Claude at Claude.ai/nation

What makes one Formula 1 driver faster than another? How does an F1 team work out when and where to bring upgrades to their car? What happens when one team thinks an opponent has broken the rules? How do the 11 F1 Constructors vary in size? And what difference does that make to performance? Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu welcomes Christian Hewgill into his motorhome office at Silverstone to answer your questions about Formula 1. DAMON HILL JOINS F1 EXPLAINS LIVE AT THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX 1996 World Champion Damon Hill will be joining Christian on the Silverstone main stage at 1020 BST on Saturday 4th July, so come along and watch if you’re at the race!

Tom Clarkson and F1TV Lead Commentator Alex Jacques look ahead to F1 Sprint and the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Will Mercedes' George Russell win in front of his home crowd to close the championship gap? Can Kimi Antonelli hit the ground running on an F1 Sprint weekend and return to the top step of the podium? Will the upgraded Red Bull allow Max Verstappen to challenge for victory on Silverstone's fast corners and long straights? After Ferrari's 'reality check' in Austria, will Silverstone suit their car better? Tom and Alex also discuss how Racing Bulls have become regular points-scorers. Listen to more official F1 podcasts Lando Norris on F1 Beyond The Grid Your questions answered by experts on F1 Explains - right here on the F1 Nation podcast feed

Tom Clarkson is joined in the Red Bull Ring paddock by F1TV experts James Hinchcliffe and Alex Brundle to analyse the Austrian Grand Prix. George Russell got back to winning ways for the first time since the season-opener in Australia. He retakes second place in the championship standings, reducing the gap to leader Kimi Antonelli to 40 points. How did George overcome the threat of Max Verstappen in the Red Bull? What does this win mean for his title challenge? And how impressive was his racing IQ to take pole position? On the other side of the garage, Kimi Antonelli overcame a tricky start and brake issues to finish third. But with George taking 28 points out of his lead over the last two races, how will Kimi be feeling about his own title hopes? Verstappen secured his best result of the season with P2, so why was he back in contention at the front and does this mean he’ll be consistently competitive going forward? Plus, the guys discuss a frustrating race for Ferrari after winning last time out in Barcelona and whether pressure is building on McLaren having also been off the pace in Spielberg. This episode is sponsored by: IM8: Give your body what it deserves with IM8! Go to IM8HEALTH.com/NATION and use code NATION for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets plus ten percent off your order.