The Race F1 Podcast

We ask what Toto Wolff’s version of ‘papaya rules’ should look like as he bids to keep battling Mercedes team-mates George Russel and Kimi Antonelli in line in the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast. Nelson Valkenburg and Scott Mitchell-Malm join Edd Straw to discuss the way the battle could and should be managed on track, and the risks of trying to keep too tight a leash on Antonelli and Russell. We also take listener questions on Ferrari communications, Valtteri Bottas’s struggles, the driving style flexibility of the 2026 car and the chances of the field closing up at the front. There’s also a look at the troubled form of Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon, McLaren’s strategy malaise and the focus of rule changes. Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today.

Bring Back V10s tackles one of F1's roughest title wins hangovers in episode 6 of season 13, with a look back at the sudden downturn in fortunes for one of the 1990s' elite teams.Benetton was on top of the world at the end of 1995, having clinched the constructors’ crown and back-to-back drivers’ world titles with Michael Schumacher. But with Schumacher departing for Ferrari in 1996, the team had a new challenge to prove its success wasn’t just about the driver - and it didn't go very well...Joining Glenn Freeman for a look back at Benetton’s turbulent post-Schumacher period are Matt Beer and Ben Anderson.They discuss the logic behind choosing Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger to lead Benetton's new era, how quickly things got fractious behind the scenes and whether this decline was always inevitable no matter who Benetton picked for its life after Schumacher.Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today.

Alpine announced a major new sponsorship deal on Wednesday, with Italian fashion house Gucci to enter Formula 1 for the first time next year as the team's title sponsor. Jon Noble, who was at the launch event in Paris, joins Edd Straw to explain why this deal is so significant for Alpine (and parent company Renault) outside of the obvious money it will bring. Edd and Jon also discuss Alpine's wider progress this season, as the former world championship winning team - under the leadership of Flavio Briatore - continues its steady rise back up the grid after its rock bottom finish in the constructors' standings in 2025. And finally, Jon explains what impact the new deal might have on the team's driver line-up of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto going forward, as Briatore looks to make another fashion brand a serial F1 winner, after his previous success with Benetton.Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today.

In the first episode of a new regular post-race series, Edd Straw presents his Canadian Grand Prix Driver Rankings and takes questions on what he got right - and what he got wrong...Joining Edd to probe his decision making - and share the thoughts of The Race Members' Club - is Glenn Freeman, who presses Edd on the rationale behind where he ranked the duelling Mercedes drivers, a resurgent Lewis Hamilton, and a clumsy Oscar Piastri.If you want to take issue with Edd's ranking and have your viewpoint discussed on the show, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today.

From Montreal, Edd Straw and Jon Noble are joined by Josh Suttill to discuss a thrilling Canadian Grand Prix in which the world championship battle between Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell really came alive. But did the Silver Arrows' intra-team battle step over the line given Toto Wolff has warned he may put the handbrake on? The guys debate this, as well as discussing McLaren's strange implosion, Lewis Hamilton's revival, Red Bull's mixed outing and all of the race's other big talking points. Plus, there's the usual bumper selection of listener questions to answer.Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today.

As a special bonus, we're making the Thursday edition of our In-Car Insights podcast - usually only available to The Race Members' Club - free for everyone to listen to. Angry reactions to "b******t" speculation, intrigue over F1's supposedly agreed 2027 engine plan, and a whole race weekend to look forward to - it was quite the first day in the Canadian Grand Prix paddock for Edd Straw and Jon Noble. What luck that they had a handy shuttle journey in which to record an episode of In-Car Insights!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.