High Performance Racing

Formula 1 heads into the summer break, so Jake, Otmar and Rob hand out their mid-season report cards, grading every team out of 10 and explaining exactly why.Mercedes earned top marks after the strongest first half of the season, but George Russell's reliability issues sparked a debate over what might have been in both championship battles. They then assess Ferrari, McLaren and an underperforming Red Bull, before turning their attention to Alpine, Racing Bulls, Haas, Audi, Williams and Aston Martin.Plus, they rate the drivers, examine whether Kimi Antonelli's championship lead can still be overturned, and welcome back Bullshit Corner, complete with its own leaderboard and your latest nominations.AG1 👉 Head to http://drinkag1.com/hpracing to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, a month's supply of Omega3 capsules and five travel packs

Lando Norris’ Budapest victory confirms McLaren’s resurgence, but as championship rivals continue to take points off each other, Kimi Antonelli emerges as the biggest beneficiary, extending his lead at the top of the standings to 50 points.Meanwhile, George Russell’s title challenge suffered another setback after a team-related anti-stall issue compromised his start, leading Otmar to question whether Mercedes can overcome their recent run of misfortune.Rob Smedley uses the data to reveal why Aston Martin’s 16-part B-spec upgrade has delivered genuine progress, while Otmar examines the deeper structural issues that have shaped the team’s trajectory over the past five years.The trio also analyse Williams’ difficult weekend, Carlos Sainz’s growing frustrations, and the return of Sepang to the calendar, revisiting Kimi Räikkönen’s infamous 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix strategy gamble.Eight Sleep 👉 If you’re ready to upgrade your nights and unlock more energy in your days, start with Eight Sleep. Use code RACING for £350 off the Pod 5 Ultra here: https://highpfrmc.com/HPR-eightsleep-auAG1 👉 Head to http://drinkag1.com/hpracing to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, a month's supply of Omega3 capsules and five travel packs

Jake, Rob Smedley and Otmar react to a Belgian Grand Prix that reshaped the championship. Twelve months after admitting he'd "probably reached the bottom" at Spa, Kimi Antonelli returns to the same track and delivers a flawless win over Charles Leclerc, extending his title lead to 45 points. George Russell doesn't survive the first corner.Rob takes us into the Engineering Dark Web to explain exactly why George is losing time to his teammate — and Otmar and Rob put the theory to the test that's dividing the Mercedes garage: is this a car problem, a George problem, or both? Toto Wolff says it's "50% the car." George isn't fully convinced. Rob's verdict is blunter still: beat your teammate, or leave.Also in this episode:The Daniel Ricciardo/Max Verstappen parallel that explains exactly what's happening to George right nowWhy Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen's contract clauses both come to a head this weekend in HungaryFernando Alonso's Aston Martin verdict — an 80% new car arrives in Budapest with zero testing, and it might decide whether he staysWhy 400,000 fans at Spa still wasn't enough to save it from the 2028 and 2030 calendarBullsh*t Corner nominations, your questions answered, and the usual dad jokesNew episodes of High Performance Racing every week, subscribe so you don't miss one.AG1 👉 Head to http://drinkag1.com/hpracing to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, a month's supply of Omega3 capsules and five travel packs

Lawrence Stroll's dramatic Force India buyout began with Sergio Perez intentionally pushing his own team into administration to save it. This week, Jake, Otmar and Rob trace Perez's journey from a lonely 14-year-old living in truck-stop motels to his difficult final months at Red Bull, asking what his story reveals about the pressure modern F1 drivers face.The trio also unpack the fallout from Silverstone. Rob explains the clever technical trick Mercedes used to out-engineer their customer teams on the straights, while Jake shares fresh insights from a Monday morning debrief with George Russell at Soho Farmhouse.With Russell cutting Kimi Antonelli's championship lead to just 25 points after the rookie's costly learning moment, they debate whether the title race is now wide open heading into Spa.AG1 👉 Head to http://drinkag1.com/hpracing to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, a month's supply of Omega3 capsules and five travel packsEight Sleep 👉 If you’re ready to upgrade your nights and unlock more energy in your days, start with Eight Sleep. Use code RACING for £350 off the Pod 5 Ultra here: https://highpfrmc.com/HPR-eightsleep-au

What a weekend at the Red Bull Ring. George Russell is officially back after a dominant pole-to-win victory in Austria, turning the 2026 title fight completely on its head and trimming Kimi Antonelli’s championship lead.In this episode, Jake, Rob, and Otmar break down a thrilling Austrian Grand Prix, from Kimi cracking under pressure to Ferrari’s upgraded engine completely flopping on Sunday. The trio also dissect a paddock bombshell: Max Verstappen’s management having informal chats with McLaren, alongside an exit clause that could trigger before the summer break. Finally, the guys look ahead to a massive homecoming at Silverstone, where Lewis Hamilton chases a historic 10th British GP win and the pod prepares for their huge live show in front of 300,000 fans.AG1 👉Head to http://drinkag1.com/hpracing to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, Vitamin D3 + K2 and five travel packsEight Sleep 👉 If you’re ready to upgrade your nights and unlock more energy in your days, start with Eight Sleep. Use code RACING for £350 off the Pod 5 Ultra here: https://highpfrmc.com/HPR-eightsleep-au

With Otmar away, Jake Humphrey and Rob Smedley preview the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix. Rob dives deep into his legendary career, breaking down what it really takes to lead the technical side of an F1 team, the old-school mindset shift he brought to Williams, and what the current team is lacking on track. The duo also debated a massive F1 "what if", whether Michael Schumacher would have swept the 2007 and 2008 titles if Ross Brawn hadn’t retired. Plus, Rob reveals the incredible reality behind Felipe Massa’s terrifying 2009 Budapest crash, the chaos of engineering the unpredictable Jean Alesi, and a highly questionable new entry into Bullshit Corner. Want to guide the next episode? Reply in the comment below with your questions for Rob and Otmar, or nominate an F1 moment for Bullshit Corner!  AG1 👉Head to http://drinkag1.com/hpracing to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, Vitamin D3 + K2 and five travel packsEight Sleep 👉 If you’re ready to upgrade your nights and unlock more energy in your days, start with Eight Sleep. Use code RACING for £350 off the Pod 5 Ultra here: https://highpfrmc.com/HPR-eightsleep-au

Jake, Rob, and special guest Claire Williams react to Lewis Hamilton's emotional 106th Formula 1 victory in Barcelona, debating whether Ferrari and Hamilton are genuine title contenders in 2026.Rob brings the maths to settle the biggest question in F1 right now - could Hamilton have won without the safety car? - while Claire and Rob go head to head on whether Lewis or Leclerc finishes the season on top. The panel also break down Ferrari's upgrade package, Mercedes' strategy calls, and what the Barcelona result really means for the championship.Claire gives her honest take on George Russell's season, Fernando Alonso's future at Aston Martin, and what it actually takes to beat Lewis Hamilton as a teammate.Plus: Claire takes her shot at Bullshit Corner, taking aim at online criticism, keyboard warriors, and why less than 10% of what really happened at Williams has ever been made public.AG1 👉 Head to http://drinkag1.com/hpracing to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, Vitamin D3 + K2 and five travel packs

Jake, Rob, and Otmar react to a chaotic Monaco Grand Prix, discussing Kimi Antonelli’s fifth consecutive win, George Russell’s disastrous weekend, and whether the 2026 Formula 1 title race is already over.Rob and Otmar break down Russell’s chances for the rest of 2026, the ADUO verdict that’s sent shockwaves through the paddock - and why Red Bull being declared F1’s benchmark engine is great news for Mercedes. After yet another podium for Lewis Hamilton, the guys debate his place among the all-time Formula 1 greats.The trio also look ahead to the Barcelona Grand Prix, and whether the championship is truly still up for grabs.Plus: Rob makes his case for keeping Monaco on the 2026 F1 calendar in ‘Bullshit corner’ - and defends his socks!