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What a weekend! So much to talk about from the first corner tussle that probably cost Lando Norris the race, to Lewis Hamilton's tea-break and the star that was born in Miami. And as if that wasn't enough our special guest this week is Mr Sniff Petrol, Richard Porter who has some fascinating F1 stories to share. Plus we look ahead to Imola. Nicola is on a jolly in Paris, so Claire Cottingham sits in with the oracle, Ben Edwards and Producer Jim. 

This week everyone is working from home as it is a holiday weekend, but the racing doesn't stop and Jeddah provided the backdrop to some heat in the desert for the Saudi GP along with an appearance from F1's latest A-list fan, Jennifer Lopez. Joining Ben Edwards and Nicola Hume to chat through the weekend is BBC 5 Live's Jennie Gow. We also take a look ahead to the Miami GP with some interesting predictions. Don't forget to follow us so you don't miss an episode. 

Bahrain did not disappoint and it might just be BTCC Champion and Legend, Jason Plato's favourite new race. He joins Ben Edwards and Nicola Hume to give us some really interesting thoughts on the F1 grid from a racing driver's perspective and shares his predictions for the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix this coming weekend. Plus he's been in Enzo Ferrari's legendary apartment and shares the very unique item he found in it. Please don't forget to follow us so you don't miss an episode. 

This week we have not just one, but two of the voices of F1 together as BBC 5 Live commentator Harry Benjamin joins Ben Edwards and Nicola Hume in the Midweek F1 studio to take a look back at Suzuka. Was it a McLaren mistake that handed Max victory and what is Nicola's 20,000 Euro question? Plus we'll take a look ahead to Bahrain and Harry tells us why he thinks it's going to be like 2014 all over again. Don't forget to follow us wherever you listen to your podcasts so you don't miss an episode. 

What a weekend in China! You literally win some and lose some! Joining Ben Edwards and Nicola Hume this week is motorsport television presenter and journalist Louise Goodman. Louise has been in the sport a long time and knows everybody. In fact her old boss was Eddie Jordan and she shares a couple of great stories that could only have happened to EJ! We take a look ahead to Suzuka which is shaping up to be another interesting race. Can you believe it will only be Race 3! Don't forget to follow Midweek F1 so you don't miss an episode. 

What a start to the new F1 season! The early start was definitely worth it for a crazy first race and joining Ben and Nicola to dig through all the action and look ahead to China is YouTuber, inventor and massive F1 fan, Colin Furze. 

Join Ben Edwards, Nicola Hume and our very first guest, Vicki Butler-Henderson for the Melbourne Season Opener preview on the Midweek F1 podcast. It's going to be a Formula One season to remember, and Midweek F1 is your essential guide between every single race. This week it's all about the runners and riders ahead of the first race in Australia. Plus of course, plenty of conversation about the Italian Stallion and the Dutch Destroyer! Don't forget to hit the follow button so you don't get left in the pits! 

The 2025 F1 season is going to be a big one. There's so much to talk about with the driver team moves, the rookies and F1's 75th anniversary and who better to talk about them than F1 commentary legend, Ben Edwards and F1 team podcast host, Nicola Hume. Make sure you follow us now and don't miss a thing! 

Lando Norris wins in Budapest to become F1 2026's FIFTH different Grand Prix winner — and McLaren look like they're back in championship contention. 

Nicola and Ben are joined by F1 reporter and author Rachel Brookes to break down all the drama from the Hungaroring, tell us what really happened with Sky F1 and look ahead to Zandvoort.

🟠 Papaya Rules Return — Oscar Piastri leads off the line only for team orders to hand the advantage to Norris. Was McLaren favouring Lando all along?

🟠 McLaren's Budapest Upgrade — Are they now a genuine championship threat or is this track-specific?

🏎️ Hamilton's Costly Penalties — Ferrari looked to have the beating of Mercedes all week. Did the FIA cost Lewis a crucial chance to close the gap to Antonelli?

😬 Russell's Nightmare — From 5th to 20th on lap one. Good recovery to 7th or another nail in his championship coffin? George is now 59 points behind Antonelli.

💪 Hulkenberg Finally Scores — The Hulk lights up the best-of-the-rest battle. Is he doing enough to keep his seat at Audi?

🔮 Silly Season EXPLODES — Max to McLaren? Russell to Red Bull? Sainz to Audi? We discuss who's on the move and Rachel tells us where she thinks Max is really going. 

🇳🇱 Dutch GP Preview — A farewell to Zandvoort as it leaves the F1 calendar. Can McLaren make it three in a row at Norris's home race?

🏆 Prediction Championship of the World — Ben picks the top THREE in Hungary! The standings are shaking up. Rachel Brookes makes her picks for Zandvoort.

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Essential F1 — the podcast for fans who love the sport, the stories, and the drama behind the racing.

George Russell's weekend went from bad to worse: slower than teammate Kimi Antonelli all weekend, punted off by Hamilton on lap one, and now 50 points adrift in the championship. Can he salvage his season before the summer break?

Jennie Gow steps in for Nicola as she and Ben Edwards break down an absorbing Belgium Grand Prix. 

Kimi Antonelli bags his sixth win of the season and looks utterly untouchable. Charles LeClerc grabbed second but escaped a controversial defence on Oscar Piastri — should he have been penalised? Plus, Max Verstappen secures another podium but those McLaren rumours just aren’t going away.

Joining the show is legendary TV producer Andy Wilman (Top Gear, The Grand Tour, Clarkson's Farm) with a fascinating story about one of the all-time greats, ‘el Maestro’, Fangio. 

Plus we take a look at: 

• Aston Martin's dire form — Fernando Alonso finishes two laps down
• The tight midfield battle: Alpine vs Racing Bulls vs a resurgent Audi
• Isaac Hadjar's remarkable run and what it means for Red Bull's second seat
• Hungarian GP preview and summer break driver market speculation
• The Prediction Championship of the World standings update

Drop your Hungary predictions in the comments!

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Congratulations to F1's newest winner, Kimi Antonelli, who put in a blistering shift to win the Chinese GP. And he was joined on the podium by his team-mate George Russell, Bono and Lewis Hamilton who looked like a proud dad.

Lewis said that it was some of the best racing he's ever experienced and Ferrari are back in form, but could they have had both cars on the podium rather than letting the drivers battle it out? Joining Ben Edwards and Nicola Hume to discuss this and lots of other talking points from this weekend is BBC 5 Live and Sky F1 Lead Commentator, Harry Benjamin.

01:10 Welcome
01:30 Ben's race roundup
04:06 Lewis Hamilton is back, but could Ferrari have split the two Mercedes?
06:55 Another stellar drive from Ollie Bearman. Bigger things in 2027?
10:55 Alpine have race pace. Are they the best of the rest?
13:14 Where are Red Bull's Wings?
16:20 Even worse than Red Bull, what has happened to McLaren?
19:43 Arise Kimi Antonelli! Faultless first podium. Could he win the title?
24:12 What do we think of the season so far?
29:47 We need to talk about Aston Martin
36:33 Looking ahead to the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka
38:09 Prediction Championship Of The World! 

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Formula One returned for 2026 with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne. New Season and new rules set the scene for an interesting race from the the start. 

Joining Nicola Hume and Ben Edwards for the debrief is broadcaster and host of the BBC's F1: Back At Base, Holly Samos. 

Ferrari are back. Charles Leclerc on the podium, but could they have won? Welcome Arvin Lindblad. What a debut from the only rookie. It was a terrible Saturday followed by a sensational Sunday from Max Verstappen, but he Mebourne curse struck again for Oscar Piastri and 5th for Lando Norris. Did McLaren overcook it in 2025?
Meanwhile, Mercedes are back. Toto Wolff is smoother than ever, but they didn't have it all their own way and as the new regulations are here, what do we think of the 2026 F1 style? We talk about the fact that drivers are now having to back off in qualifying. Is this right? And there's no time to rest as it's the Chinese F1 Grand Prix this weekend in Shanghai with the first Sprint race. Could this circuit give us a good idea of what is to come this year? The team share their predictions for the Chinese Grand Prix. 

With the biggest change in rules for years, there's a lot of new stuff to get our heads around for Formula One this season. Ben, Tommo and Vicki are here to tell you about all the tech including aero, energy recovery and boost.

New Season. New Rules. New Studio! We are back with Essential F1 - the Formula 1 podcast that's essential for everybody who's into F1. The Oracle - Ben Edwards, is here to guide us through what will be a very interesting season, with the biggest set of rule changes in a generation. Joining Ben to discuss what pre-season testing has shown us and to run through all the teams, is ‪@TommoMcCluskey‬ and the legendary Vicki Butler-Henderson steers us through the 2026 chicances. And fresh from testing, Producer Jim has a few points for Ben & Tommo to discuss. 

Congratulations to Lando Norris, the 10th British driver to become Formula 1 Champion.

With the whole season coming down to the last race, Lando, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri were all in contention. All Lando needed to do was keep his cool, and that's exactly what he did to win the title and 2025 F1 Drivers' Championship. 

As it's last episode of Midweek F1 for the 2025 season we thought we'd get out of the studio and head to YouTuber and F1 Superfan, Colin Furze's incredible bunker to take a look back at Lando's road to becoming 2025 F1 Champion and what we can expect in 2026, with all the changes that are coming. 

It's been an equally nail-biting end to our Prediction Championship Of The World and we'll find out whether Ben Edwards, Nicola Hume, The Guests or Producer Jim has won.

We'd like to thank everybody that has listened to Midweek F1 this year and wish you all the best for the festive season. Please don't forget to subscribe and we'll see you in 2026. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Midweek F1 Team. 

What a weekend at Lusail for the Qatar Grand Prix! 

McLaren had it in the bag, but what went wrong and what does this mean for the final race of the season? This is even more like a Hollywood F1 movie than the actual Hollywood F1 movie. 

Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen have all had an incredible 2025 season in their own way and any one of them could be crowned Formula 1 Champion this weekend. 

Joining Ben and Nicola to discuss everything and share some incredible F1 driver stories of his own is Top Gear and Grand Tour genius, Andy Wilman. 

Don't forget to hit the follow button so you don't miss an episode. 

What a weekend in the desert of Nevada for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. McLaren F1 will certainly hope that what happened in Vegas stays in Vegas. Although it wasn't the most exciting race of the year, there's lots to talk about between now and next weekend in Qatar. 

Thanks to both McLaren's being disqualified, the Driver's Championship battle goes on. Could Max Verstappen achieve the seemingly impossible? What about Kimi Antonelli's astonishing drive, holding off Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc to help George Russell to the podium, and talking of rookies, we take a look at who's who in F2 and could be on the F1 grid in 2026. 

Joining F1 commentary legend, Ben Edwards to discuss all of the above and try and answer Producer Jim's questions is BBC 5 Live's Jennie Gow, and F1 YouTuber, Podcaster and all-round nice guy, Tommo McCluskey. 

And of course we look ahead to the penultimate race of this season in Qatar, where Lando Norris could win his first Formula 1 Driver's Championship...or not. 

What a race weekend in Brazil, overtaking for fun, crashes and penalties! 

It looked like a clean start then turned into an early safety car, and the restart was bonkers with Piastri, Antonelli and Le Clerc going three wide, with Le Clerc out as a result.  Then there was a virtual safety car, Max got a puncture and changed tyres, he then ripped through the field.  Piastri got a 10 second penalty for a restart overtaking move.  Then everyone over took everyone, pits galore and Lando won again. Oh and throw in a stand out drive from Kimi Antonelli holding off Max to second place! Just a few things to discuss. 

Joining Ben Edwards and Nicola Hume in the hotseat this week is Sky F1's Rachel Brookes. 

Please don't forget to follow us wherever you listen so you don't miss the final three episodes of this season. 

It's advantage Lando Norris as he leads the 2025 F1 Championship by 1 point after a fantastic race weekend in Mexico. And we've got not just one, but two voices of Formula 1 in the studio this week as we welcome back BBC 5Live and Sky commentator Harry Benjamin to join Ben Edwards and Nicola Hume. 

The Mexico GP was like a Rallycross race with so many people on the grass, and then lots of penalties, interesting tyre strategies and what about that Virtual Safety Car! So much to discuss along with a look ahead to Brazilian GP at Interlagos - will Max Verstappen dominate again? And of course podium predictions. 

As always Producer Jim has chosen some storylines from the weekend to discuss including the first corner crush, Max and Lewis kissing, Ollie Bearman not messing about, George Russell's potty mouth, Oscar Piastri's gameplan and whether that Virtual Safety Car cost Max Verstappen second place. 

Plus Harry Benjamin tells us about how meeting Martin Brundle for the first time didn't quite go to plan. 

Don't forget to follow us wherever you listen to your podcasts so you don't miss an episode of Midweek F1. 

The Cowboys were out in force for the United States Grand Prix in Austin this weekend and the Sheriff was most definitely Max Verstappen with a sprint race win followed by a Grand Prix victory. 

The drama started a day early in Austin with a first lap crash in the sprint race that took out both McLarens, compounded by Max winning again!  Giving him a further 8 point swing in the championship. Then on Sunday he did it again, making it a 23 point swing! To further compound McLaren’s frustration Ferrari at last had a good race with Charles LeClerc nipping into second starting on fresh tyres. Norris had to overtake Leclerc twice on track either side of pitstops but finally got it done right at the end.  While this was going on Piastri was having a very quiet race down in 5th.  

All of which means we now have a three-way fight for the drivers championship! Things are really hotting up as we get into the last sector of the season and joining Ben Edwards and Nicola Hume to give you the lowdown on the F1 hoedown is presenter of the BBC Chequered Flag 'Back At Base' podcast and former pitlane reporter, Holly Samos. 

Please don't forget to follow us wherever you listen to Midweek F1 so you don't miss an episode. 

SILVERSTONE DELIVERED CHAOS AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT.

The 2026 British Grand Prix had everything—a first-time winner, championship drama, controversial penalties, technical failures, and an FIA safety car decision that's got the whole paddock talking. This is Essential F1 Episode 11, and we're breaking down every moment.

Kimi Antonelli came into Silverstone with a 25-point championship lead and left with his title hopes looking shakier than ever. A technical problem dropped him from a potential win to 10th, and then the FIA slapped him with a 5-second penalty for track limits while he was battling car issues. Is this where the 2026 championship turned?

Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc FINALLY won a Grand Prix again—making him the fourth different winner of the 2026 season. Ferrari are building momentum, and Mercedes should be worried.

Joining Nicola Hume and Ben Edwards this week is the brilliant Jennie Gow—F1 reporter, author, and friend of the show—live from the Silverstone paddock with all the insider takes.

IN THIS EPISODE:

🏁 Antonelli's Nightmare Weekend Started on pole, got jumped by both Ferraris, fought back to second, then a technical problem and harsh penalty ruined everything. We dig into whether this is the turning point in the championship battle.

🏆 Leclerc's Breakthrough Win Ferrari's first victory since... when? Charles managed the race beautifully and finally got the luck he deserved. Are Ferrari genuine title contenders now?

🇬🇧 Hamilton's Home Heartbreak Lewis jumped Antonelli at the start and looked set for a podium battle—then a jump start penalty changed everything. He still salvaged third, but was a win stolen from him?

😤 Verstappen's Red Bull Frustration Max crashed out late with a technical failure and he was NOT happy. The Red Bull physio drama continues. Could this finally push him towards McLaren?

🚨 FIA Under Fire That late safety car staying out until the final lap, plus Antonelli's controversial penalty—we discuss whether the FIA got it wrong and what needs to change.

📈 George Russell's Lucky Break A chaotic race, a slow puncture, an extra pit stop, and somehow George ends up second. Was this the result that kickstarts his championship charge?

👏 Colapinto's Mega Drive Franco started 19th and finished 9th, ahead of teammate Pierre Gasly. Alpine cling onto 5th in the constructors by a single point. The battle for best of the rest is TIGHT.

🔮 Belgium GP Preview We look ahead to Spa-Francorchamps where Oscar Piastri won last year. Can Antonelli bounce back at a track where he only finished 16th in 2025?

🏅 Prediction Championship of the World Ben finally scores points! The standings are tightening up. Jennie makes her picks for Belgium—can Team Guest climb the table?

We are back after a hot and humid weekend in Singapore and we welcome back Mr Sniff Petrol himself, Richard Porter to the studio. It was every man for himself this weekend, with smooth George Russell sailing onto the podium and a well earned club sandwich, while Lando Norris went for the 'just push them out of the way' approach with both Max Verstappen and his own team mate Oscar Piastri. Just what do you do with the two McLaren drivers? Producer Jim has lots of questions and we will look ahead to the American Formula 1 Grand Prix with predictions from the whole team. Plus listen out for a great story from Richard Porter involving Fernando Alonso, a microwave and a 90's pop band! It's all on this week's Midweek F1 podcast with Ben Edwards and Nicola Hume and please don't forget to subscribe. 

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix threw the 2025 F1 play book out of the window with a record number of red flags during qualifying, a Williams on the front row, Liam Lawson in third and a terrible start from Oscar Piastri. Plus DRS trains, possible rain, poor pitstops but in front of it all was Max Verstappen taking his second victory in a row. Does this mean that McLaren should be worried? 

Joining F1 guru Ben Edwards, is Jennie Gow sitting in for Nicola and visiting us fresh from The Fast And Curious podcast is Christian Hewgill to give us his take on Baku and look ahead to the Singapore Grand Prix. 

Producer Jim has lots of questions to ask. 

Piastri jumped the start, then nearly stalled, everyone streamed past and he was last before crashing on cold tyres.  Has the heat of the championship battle finally got to Mr Chill?
 
Lando Norris missed out on a golden opportunity to capitalise on Oscar’s crash, found himself stuck in a DRS train before a lengthy pit stop lost him an all-important 2 seconds to jump Tsunoda and Lawson.  Is this a second track that doesn’t suit Mclaren or is the worm turning?

After nearly taking each other off at turn 1, it was a very solid result for Mercedes pair.  Did Toto’s public telling off last week do the trick?

After a couple of bad weekends the smooth operator was back!  Amazing qualifying and race performance from Carlos Sainz to bag his first Williams podium.  Could this be just the start for Carlos and Williams?
 
Yet another flat weekend for Ferrari, even Baku master LeClerc struggled.  Is it time to draw a line under 2025 and hope for the best with the new regs? What the hell is going on at Ferrari?

But a very good weekend from Tsunoda and Lawson. It felt like they were racing for the F1 careers, but have they done enough? Will we see them next year?

And we'll take a look at the next race in the 2025 Formula 1 calendar, which is the glamour of Singapore. 

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What a weekend at the 2025 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen nails the fastest pole position lap of all time that looked unlikely up until Q3, Then some elbows out action at the first corner, Charles Leclerc nicks 3rd off Oscar Piastri, and they have a punchy battle, Rookies under achieving, rookie’s over achieving.  Then throw in undercuts, overcut pit strategies, comings together for the stewards to mull over and a McLaren team call that nearly ends in tears. All of which ends with Lando Norris outscoring Oscar by 3 points cutting Piastri’s championship lead down to 31 points. But Max and Red Bull ARE BACK! So much to talk about with Ben Edwards, Nicola Hume and this week's special guest, Louise Goodman. #formula1 #maxverstappen #charlesleclerc #landonorris #oscarpiastri #isackhadjar #italiangp

It was an incident packed race on the beach in Zandvoort for the Dutch Formuia One Grand Prix and after that Mclaren oil leak it looks like Lando Norris' F1 Championship has just gone up in smoke. Ferrari had a shocker as well, but we saw a rookie on the podium, with Isack Hadjar's third place. 

So much to discuss with this week's special guest, BBC 5 Live's Jennie Gow, who pulls no punches on what she thinks. Plus we'll take a look ahead to the legendary Italian Grand Priz at Monza next weekend. Can the Tifosi bring Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc some much-needed luck?

And you won't believe how close the predicition championship is this week. It can only be the Midweek F1 podcast with F1 guru, Ben Edwards and Talking Bull's, Nicola Hume! Don't forget to hit the follow button so you don't miss an episode and follow us on our socials for more F1 content.

Joining Ben Edwards, Nicola Hume and Producer Jim in the guest seat this week is F1 YouTuber and Nicola's Red Bull podcast co-host, Tom McCluskey, known to millions as Tommo. 

The Hungarian Grand Prix may not have been the most exciting race of the 2025 Formula One season, but there are plenty of things to discuss including Ferrari's horror show, Lando v Oscar, Alonso's Sunday driving, and whether Lewis Hamilton has lost his love for racing. Plus Harold the meme guy was there! 

it also looks like Renault may be considering the sale of Alpine, but could this be the natural place for Christian Horner to make his F1 Paddock comeback? After the summer break the next race in the calendar is the Dutch Grand Prix and all the team share their predictions for the podium at Max Verstappen's home race. 

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Joining Ben and Nicola for the lowdown from the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa is Martin Donnelly, who is the inspiration for Brad Pitt's character, 'Sonny Hayes', in F1: The Movie.

The Belgian Grand Prix weekend was an interesting one with lots of weather, safety car, and pit lane starts but did it all become a bit of a damp squib? Ben, Nicola and Producer Jim have lots to discuss including Oscar Piastri's dominant drive over Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton's remarkable comeback and Red Bull's first race with a new boss. 

Martin Donnelly is our special guest and he tells us about how the late Eddie 'EJ' Jordan got him into Formula 1 before a horrific accident in 1990 ended his motor racing career. It is that accident which is the backstory of 'Sonny Hayes' in F1: The Movie, and Martin explains how a random phone call led to him being a key part of the film. 

Plus we'll take a look ahead to the last F1 race before the summer break which is the Hungarian Grand Prix. 

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A home hero, the incredible Hulk and horrendous weather - the British Grand Prix had it all and delivered one of the best races of the season so far. F1 oracle, Ben Edwards, and Red Bull F1 presenter, Nicola Hume are joined by Sky F1 presenter Rachel Brookes to talk about all the major stories from Silverstone, including Nico Hulkenberg’s amazing first podium finish, Oscar Piastri’s 10 second penalty, and what effect that might have on the championship battle with British Grand Prix winner Lando Norris.  Plus the truth about the Max Verstappen to Mercedes rumours, and a look forward to the next round in Belgium at another classic venue, Spa-Francorchamps. Don't forget to hit the follow button so you don't miss an episode.  #midweekf1 #podcast #landonorris #nicohulkenberg #ocsarpiastri #maxverstappen #lancestroll #f1 #formulaone #f1news #f12025 #grandprix

Kimi Raikkonen's former F1 Race Engineer Julien Simon-Chautemps joins Ben Edwards and Nicola Hume on this week's episode of Midweek F1 to give his unique perspective on the Austrian Grand Prix. 

Lando Norris is now only 15 points behind Oscar Piastri in the Drivers Championship, so is Max Verstappen now too far away to challenge the McLaren pair for the Championship?  What about the school boy error from Kimi Antonelli and what is going on at Alpine? Liam Lawson is back in the points, while Yuki Tsunoda is still struggling at Red Bull so is it the car or the driver? 

Plus we look forward to the next round which is the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and Julie, Ben, Nicola and Producer Jim share their predictions, plus Ben gives us his review of F1 - The Movie. 

While Nicola is on a jolly at Le Mans, Claire Cottingham is back to join the guru Ben Edwards and our special guest, Formula E host, Nicki Shields to chat through a compelling Canadian F1 Grand Prix and take a look ahead to the Austrian GP. 

We have a fourth Grand Prix winner this season! Mr George Russell saw off early pressure from Max and controlled the race from the front.  Meanwhile it was all going on behind him, we had Kimi’s amazing opening lap pass on Piastri, Hulkenberg doing the business again over taking a Red Bull and a Ferrari strategy horror show, and the McLaren pair clashing, taking out Norris and not making the podium for the first time this season!  

Whilst we’ve all been talking up Hadjar Kimi Antonelli has been learning and then bang third place whilst defending from the championship leader, and he’s only 18! Ferrari once again look all over the place, plan A,B or C didn’t work and they end up looking bang average once again.  How do you solve a problem like Ferrari? 

And the big one, the McLaren clash and are out of the top three for the first time this season. Could this be the start of 2024 in reverse for them? Plus another honourable mention for Nico Hulkenberg, another brilliant drive.  Could he be the big winner of the flexi wing rule change? 

Piastri is now 22 points ahead of Norris and 43 ahead of Max, is this now the time for Mclaren to back Oscar?

All this and more on this week's Midweek F1 podcast. Please don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts from. 

Well that was quite some weekend in Spain to wrap up the triple header! 

So much to discuss, and while Ben Edwards is away, fellow F1 commentary voice Harry Benjamin joins Nicola Hume and YouTube legend and massive F1 fan, Colin Furze who is back in the guest seat to chat through all the major talking points including:

-Turn One
-Return of the Hulk
-What happened after the safety car?!
-Should Max Verstappen have got a black flag?
-Are Ferrari back or just Charles Leclerc?

It's a tough dilemma this week for Max super-fan and official Red Bull podcast host, Nicola! Plus we take a look ahead to Canada with the Prediction Championship of the World! 

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George Russell finally puts together a complete race weekend—and takes victory in Austria!

After a rollercoaster season, Russell held off pressure from both Max Verstappen and championship leader Kimi Antonelli to claim a crucial win at the Red Bull Ring. But was he a bit lucky with those yellow flags in qualifying? And can he carry this momentum into his home race at Silverstone?

In this episode, Nicola Hume and Ben Edwards are joined by former McLaren mechanic, author, F1 commentator and Wheeler Dealers star Marc Priestley to dissect a pulsating Austrian Grand Prix and look ahead to the British GP.

We cover:
🏆 George Russell's season-saving Austrian victory
😬 Antonelli's wild first lap—three off-track moments!
📈 Verstappen and Red Bull finally clicking with 2026 regs
🔥 Racing Bulls double points finish (despite Lawson's car catching fire!)
🤦 Ferrari's baffling strategy turns P2/P3 into P5/P8
❓ We need to talk about Lando Norris...
🇬🇧 British Grand Prix preview—can Lewis win a TENTH Silverstone?
🎤 Marc's stories from Lewis Hamilton's early McLaren days

Plus the Prediction Championship of the World continues—and F1 2026 remains predictably unpredictable!

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The tame racing driver who never speaks has plenty to say in this week's episode as Ben Collins joins Ben Edwards and NIcola Hume to discuss the jewel in the F1 crown - Monaco. But was it really a great race or just a 78 lap drivers' parade? Plus he shares a great story about Jeremy Clarkson that he probably shouldn't be telling us. 

Probably the biggest first corner of the year in terms of potential positions gained, and no repeat of Max at Imola on Piastri this time despite being side by side, was he put off by Lando lock up or thinking championship? 

First lap rookie ruck, Antonelli and Bortolotti clash on track, should Bortoleto have seen Kimi coming or was it a naive lung from Antonelli? 

The new two pitstop rules allowed Racing Bulls and Williams to use teammates to back the pack up to allow clean pitstops. Clever or destroying the F1 spectacle? 

What has Fernando got to do for his first points?  Qualified 6th, then retired with engine trouble.  Despite that is this further proof Fernando and Aston are back?  

Nightmare weekend for George Russell.  So frustrated he cuts a corner to overtake thinking he’ll get 10 second time penalty but gets drive through. Interesting tactics or awful cheat?  

Special mention for Lando Norris who seems to have exercised the demons in Monaco, season defining for him do we think?  Also how do McLaren manage this with Max so close in the championship?  

Don't forget to follow Midweek F1 so you don't miss an episode.

It's exam season, and after an action-packed Formula One race weekend in Italy, Vicki Butler-Henderson is back in the guest chair, armed with her big red pen and some exam results for all the drivers and teams so far this season. Some of her grades may well surprise you, so feel free to leave your own F1 grades in the comments! 

Ben and Nicola also have plenty to discuss from Imola including:

Max Verstappen's first corner
Lando Norris 4th to 2nd
Lewis Hamilton's Tifosi delight
Charles Leclerc frustration
Isack Hadjar - The Tyre Whisperer
Adrian Newey's lunchtime lecture 

Plus a look ahead to Monaco - is it a bit of a boring race unless it rains?

And please don't forget to follow so you don't miss an episode of Midweek F1.

Lewis Hamilton is a Grand Prix winner again—and this time in Ferrari red!

After 686 days without a victory, the seven-time world champion finally stood on the top step at Barcelona, finishing a massive 19 seconds clear of George Russell's Mercedes. But was it the Ferrari upgrades, the strategy, or something else entirely? We discuss.

In this episode, Nicola Hume and Ben Edwards are joined by motoring journalist, author and former Top Gear scriptwriter Richard Porter to break down a dramatic Spanish Grand Prix and look ahead to Austria.

We cover:
🏁 Hamilton's emotional return to winning ways with Ferrari
🇬🇧 The first all-British podium since 1968
🔧 George Russell's weekend—brilliant qualifying, questionable strategy
💔 Charles Leclerc's tough spell continues with another DNF
📈 Alpine's double points and their Monaco penalty appeal
🤔 McLaren's puzzling form—Norris strong, Piastri struggles
🏆 Championship chat: Is it now Antonelli vs Hamilton for the title?
😬 We need to talk about Cadillac...
🇦🇹 Austrian Grand Prix preview and predictions

Plus the Prediction Championship of the World takes a dramatic turn as nobody scores any points at Barcelona!

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💬 Drop your Austrian Grand Prix predictions in the comments below!

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The Monaco Grand Prix delivered drama, heartbreak, and a pit lane speed gun having the weekend of its life. Nicola Hume and Ben Edwards are joined by F1 legend Mark Blundell to break down all the talking points from the streets of Monte Carlo.

In this episode:

🏎️ Tale of Two Red Bulls — Max's cruel luck versus Hadjar's breakthrough podium. Should Red Bull actually feel positive?

🏎️ Ferrari Friction — Lewis bags another P2 while Charles crashes at a safety car restart and loses his cool with the team. How does Vasseur handle this?

🏎️ Mercedes Meltdown & Kimi's Masterclass — George Russell's nightmare weekend versus Antonelli silencing every doubter who said Monaco would expose him

🏎️ Racing Bulls on the Rise — Lawson's stellar drive and Lindblad pulling off an actual overtake at Monaco

🏎️ We Need to Talk About... Lance Stroll — When should Aston call time?

🏎️ Le Mans 24 Hours Preview — Former winner Mark Blundell gives us the inside track on this weekend's endurance classic

🏎️ Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix Preview — What does it take to succeed at the Circuit de Catalunya?

🏎️ Prediction Championship of the World — The standings are shaking up! Nicola leads on 37 points, but Ben's comeback is officially ON with a fastest lap point.

Drop your Barcelona predictions in the comments!

F1 delivered a brilliant weekend of racing at the legendary Circuit Gilles Villenueve in Montreal.

The Canadian Grand Prix had driver battles, tyre strategy disasters, two legends back on the Podium and amazing marshalls. Joining Ben Edwards and Nicola Hume to dissect all the action from Montreal, is BBC & Sky F1 Commentator, Harry Benjamin. 

Plus we look ahead to the iconic Monaco Grand Prix and see how the prediction championship is going for Ben, Nicola and our guests. 

• Ben's race summary
• McLaren's horror show
• Two amazing Mercedes races in one weekend
• Lewis Hamilton is back! 
• Both Red Bulls had a decent weekend
• Well done Franco Colapinto
• Time for the keyboard warriors to chill out?
• Let's talk about Oscar Piastri
• Monaco coming up
• Monaco predictions 

As ever, please hit the follow button and tell all your F1 friends about the podcast and we'll be back after Monaco. 

As we have some time between the Miami GP and Canadian GP, we are filling the gap with an exclusive interview with Haas F1 Team Principal, Ayao Komatsu. 

We were honoured to be joined by Ayao to chat about his life in F1, how the Haas 2026 season is shaping up and so much more, including:

• How to say Ayao Komatsu properly!
• Haas F1 performance so far this season
• Preparation for the 2026 Formula 1 season?
• The most important things to running a successful F1 team?
• Are the tweaks to the new rules working for you or against you?
• How are you finding the Ferrari power unit?
• Does it still feel like we are in the development stages of the Championship?
• Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon getting to grips with the new car?
• Do younger F1 drivers have an advantage because they never drove the older cars?
• What’s your personal relationship with your drivers?
• Do you have a WhatsApp group for the three of you?!
• How did it feel coming from the engineering side to taking over from Gunther Steiner as the boss?
• Where did your own F1 journey start?
• How did you get to F1 from university?
• Working with Takuma Sato at BAR Honda
• Your relationship with Roman Grosjean
• The 2020 crash at the Bahrain GP
• How did Roman Grosjean get out of that burning car?
• Haas plans for the Montreal GP & Monaco GP
• Will the new regulations make a difference in Monaco?
• How Ayao and Ben met

Please don't forget to follow us and tell all your F1 mates about Essential F1. We couldn't do it without you and thank you for all your support. 

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The 2026 F1 season is back with a dramatic race in Miami. It looks like the teams have been very busy, even if some of the drivers haven't! Kimi Antonelli become the first ever F1 driver to win his first three races from his first three pole positions and has definitely put George Russell in the shade.

McLaren showed that they've still got it with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris both putting in strong perforrmances and guess who's back! Max Vertsappen has stopped moaning about everything and seemed much happier, plus it was great to see Williams back in the room after a dreadful start to the season.

It was a bank holiday, so everyone is at home, but to discuss all this and more, we welcome a new guest to Essential F1, racing driver, driver coach and F1 commentator, Alice Powell.

Lots to discuss including: 

Ben's Miami round up
Are Max Verstappen and Red Bull back?
Can Ferrari actually get a win this season?
Might McLaren be Mercedes' closer competitor now?
Can Williams get back to their 2025 form?
Kimi Antonelli wins again. Is this Piastri all over again or is he 2026 World Champion? George Russell is not happy. Is it just because of this circuit?
Miami was bonkers, but what were the most bonkers bits?
A tribute to Alex Zanardi
We need to talk about Isack Hadjar
A look ahead to the Canadian Grand Prix
Prediction Championship

Please don't forget to follow us and make sure you join us next week as we welcome Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of Haas F1 to the studio for a special in-depth interview with Ben and Nicola. If you have a question for Ayao email info@thecontentworks.com  #miamigp #f1#mclaren #mercedesf1 #ferrari #redbullracing #williamsf1 #haasf1 #racingbulls #astonmartin #audif1 #alpine #cadillac #landonorris #oscarpiastri #lewishamilton #charlesleclerc #maxverstappen #isackhadjar #carlossainz #alexalbon #estabanocon #liamlawson #arvidlinblad #fernandoalonso #lancestroll #nicohulkenberg #gabrielbortoleto #pierregasly #francocolapinto #sergioperez #valtteribottas

This year's Japanese Grand Prix was definitely more interesting than last year's. Kimi Antonelli's wins makes him the youngest driver to top the F1 leaderboard and puts George Russell in quite an awkward place. 

Great to see McLaren back on the podium after such a bad start to their season and does this mean that we have a Championship fight coming up, but what about Max Verstappen? Another weekend where he has been very critical of the new regs, but would he be so negative if he had a better car. 

To discuss all this and more, F1, Formula E and BTCC presenter, Nicki Shields joins Nicola and Ben in the studio this week. 

01:10 Ben's Japanese Grand Prix Round Up
03:35 Mac are back, but could Piastri have won?
05:12 Ollie Bearman's accident has raised questions about the new regs
08:35 Kimi Antonelli looked untouchable, what does this mean for team dynamics?
11:55 Well done Pierre Gasly, holding off Verstappen. Is this the level Red Bull are at now?
15:06 Leclerc and Hamilton battling is great to watch, but is it costing them valuable points?
17:01 Are the 6 drivers who could all potentially be the 2026 F1 Champion?
18:20 We need to talk about the under-achievers
22:08 Let's look ahead to the next race, which is now Miami
25:30 Miami Grand Prix predictions

Don't forget to follow us so you don't miss any of our Essential F1 content and share your thoughts in the comments. 

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