F1 2025 Japan GP Saturday: Verstappen Steals Pole As McLaren Stumble

A bonus podcast here to help preview the greatest race of them all, the 24 Hours of Le Mans! If you want even more WEC coverage, check out the Autosport Racing Podcast channel for more! Autosport Editor-In-Chief Kevin Turner sits down with Sportscar Correspondent Gary Watkins to preview the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours.Gary points out why Ferrari and Toyota are the current favourites after initial testing, the Balance of Performance given for the race, and of course, Ferrari winning the first three races of the World Endurance Championship in 2025 so far. There's also a discussion on the teams on the outside looking in, such as Alpine after their podium at the 6 Hours of Spa, Porsche and their dominance across the pond in IMSA, BMW's blistering raw speed, and Wayne Taylor Racing pairing up with Cadillac as they cross over the pond themselves. And can Aston Martin make an impression at their return to the great race?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

10 Kesä 29min

Autosport Editor-In-Chief Kevin Turner sits down with Haydn Cobb and Filip Cleeren to review what was a shocking end to the Spanish Grand Prix. Max Verstappen’s crash into George Russell tops the billing as the trio ponder whether Max truly hit George intentionally, whether the 10-second penalty was an appropriate punishment for his act. And was Red Bull partly to blame in what led up to it? There’s also discussion on McLaren’s comfortable 1-2 victory, Ferrari’s disparity between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, and Nico Hulkenberg’s incredible P5 finish for Kick Sauber.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

4 Kesä 35min

Autosport Editor-In-Chief Kevin Turner sits down with News Editor Ed Hardy and Business Correspondent Mark Mann-Bryans to review the controversial 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, as well as looking ahead to this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.  Lando Norris’ brilliant pole lap and victory are mentioned, but the mandatory 2-stopper becomes the main point of contention, with Max Verstappen referring to it as nearer “Mario Kart” than racing. Is he right? Did the 2-stop change work? Is there another way to help Monaco as a race, or is it a “like it or lump it” race? Barcelona’s also discussed, with the upcoming flexi-wing tests on the agenda, as well as the excessive tyre wear and its potentially difficult future with the Madrid GP looming over the horizon.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

28 Touko 24min

Autosport Editor-In-Chief Kevin Turner sits down with Jake Boxall-Legge and Ronald Vording to review F1's final race in Imola, as well as look ahead to this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix. Discussion on the show includes how Red Bull's latest upgrade package made the difference as Max Verstappen led from Turn 2 to victory, how the new C6 tyre affected multiple teams in the field like Mercedes and Aston Martin, and Franco Colapinto's difficult return to F1 with Alpine. There's also a look ahead to Monaco, where the trio debate how the teams will adapt to a mandatory 2-stop race, whether Monaco is still an important race for the sport, and who will take victory on the streets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

20 Touko 42min

As a sneak-peek into the first episode of a brand new series on the Autosport Retro Podcast channel, Editor-In-Chief Kevin Turner sits down with journalists, broadcasters and friends of the show to discuss what they think is their favourite F1 season of all-time. On Episode 1, we have former F1 driver, turned historic racer and broadcaster, Karun Chandhok and his favourite season - 1997.  It was a season likely to be most remembered with one of F1's most intense rivalries as Ferrari's Michael Schumacher went head to head with Williams' Jacques Villeneuve. The season-defining crash at Jerez and the incredible triple tie in qualifying is mentioned, as well as some of the under-appreciated stories of the season, such as a preview to Mika Hakkinen's future success, and Heinz-Harald Frentzen replacing Damon Hill at Williams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

16 Touko 34min

Kevin Turner sits down with Jake Boxall-Legge, Stuart Codling and Ben Hunt to preview this weekend’s Emilia-Romagna GP, in what could be the final Grand Prix at the iconic Imola circuit. With its contract status up in the air, has F1 outgrown the track? Also included in our preview - Is it too early for McLaren to play team orders with the threat of Max Verstappen still looming? There’s more insight to Ferrari’s struggles, as well as Ben discussing the state of Williams coming off their strongest weekend since James Vowles took over. And finally, on F1’s 75th Anniversary, what are our journalists favourite F1 races? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

14 Touko 28min

In a special edition of the podcast, Dre Harrison sits down with F1 writer Jake Boxall-Legge and News Editor Haydn Cobb to break down two shock stories from Alpine's F1 Team. Last night, Oliver Oakes has resigned as Alpine team principal with immediate effect, with executive advisor Flavio Briatore taking his duties on an interim basis. Flavio released a statement earlier today dismissing rumours that there was a rift between the pair and instead cited "personal reasons" for Oakes departure. Also announced this morning was that Alpine reserve driver Franco Colapinto will be taking Jack Doohan's seat for at least the next five races, starting with next weekend's Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Dre, Jake and Haydn discuss whether Doohan was unfairly dropped from the team after a rocky start to life in F1, whether Colapinto will be an improvement in the short-term at Alpine, the managerial merry-go-around from Enstone after hiring their sixth team principal in five years, and ponder what could be coming next for a team that seemingly cannot avoid drama. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

7 Touko 35min

Mark Mann-Bryans and Emily Selleck review an entertaining 2025 Miami Grand Prix. It was a dominant display at the front from McLaren with Oscar Piastri winning, with the team finishing over 30 seconds ahead of any other car. Emily and Mark review how McLaren beat polesitter Max Verstappen and ask questions of Lando Norris' timid combat with the Dutch driver. There's also a review of Ferrari's radio meltdown as Lewis Hamilton vented over a delay in swapping positions with teammate Charles Leclerc, and their frustration in fighting a losing battle with Williams on track.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

5 Touko 10min