The Business of Winning

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Charlie Martin, F1's Covid challenge & the birth of composites

Season 1, Ep. 2

Jonathan Legard and Mark Gallagher broadcast in blissful coronavirus-induced lock down. They talk to Professor Martin Elliott about how Formula 1's pit stop prowess has helped to change hospital procedures and why the sport has been able to rise to the challenge of tackling the UK's shortage of breathing aids during the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking of speedy engineering challenges, Mark chats with John Lilley about a remarkable project to return a World War 2 Mosquito multi-role aircraft to the skies over the UK. The People's Mosquito has a Formula 1 link in that the Mosquito fighter-bomber was the first composite structure combat plane, the 'wooden wonder' proving a technology that continues to be used to this day. Finally, colleague Claire Cottingham interviews Charlie Martin who aims to become the first transgender woman to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours sports car race; a very personal story of bravery, adversity and triumph in a sport which is beginning to improve its approach to diversity and inclusion.

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Thursday, September 10, 2020

Talent, Triumph and Tragedy

Season 1, Ep. 7
Esteban Gutiérrez is an impressive man, accomplished racer and important part of the Mercedes-AMG F1 team. A Champion in Formula BMW and GP3, he finished 3rd in GP2 before embarking on a Formula 1 career which witnessed two seasons racing for Sauber before becoming a test driver for Ferrari and latterly Mercedes. He is also an ambitious businessman with a big future in our sport and took time out from his schedule to sit down with Jonathan Legard. Actually face to face and in person, no Zoom involved - remember that?Sam Bradley and Holly Chapman may not yet be famous, but they have already had one big moment in the sun when Mercedes' bosses invited them to represent the team during the Formula 1 podium ceremonies in Austria and Belgium. They share their career journeys and relate what's it's like to be asked by the boss to join Lewis or Valtteri on the top step. Sam's a mechanic on Lewis's car while Holly is responsible for all of Valtteri's power units, but both were equally blown away by the experience.David Tremayne, partner to Joe Saward on Grand Prix Plus, talks to us about his republished biography of Austrian World Champion Jochen Rindt, friend of Bernie Ecclestone, best pal to Helmut Marko and a major part of the 1960's Formula 1 jetset before losing his life at the Italian Grand Prix in 1970. Our sport's only posthumous World Champion.Jonathan and Mark discuss Sebastian Vettel's departure from Ferrari and arrival at Aston Martin together with the news that Fernando Alonso will not be racing for Renault next season - it's going to be renamed and rebranded as Alpine F1. Meanwhile two of Formula 1's biggest names have been going through some major changes, with Sir Frank Williams exiting his team along with daughter Claire, and McLaren announcing that its Woking HQ is being offering for sale to investors in order to raise cash during these difficult times.