McLaren’s Backing the Wrong Driver — And F1’s Still Scared of Rain

It’s the Belgian Grand Prix, and what a weird, wet, and very delayed weekend it was! We kick off with the big-picture take: is Spa still fit for modern Formula 1? Between constant rain delays and growing safety concerns, we debate whether one of the sport’s most iconic tracks still deserves its place on the calendar, or if tradition is holding F1 back. In other news, it was the first Belgian GP without Christian Horner on the pit wall, with Laurent Mekies stepping in as team principal. The optics were noticeable, but did it make a difference? Ferrari’s upgrades were disappointing to say the least, and Elle and Pat get into a fiery debate about Ferrari's current standing and their future. Are they just a mid-field team? Meanwhile, McLaren continues its charge: Oscar Piastri smashed the sprint shootout lap record, took pole, and extended his drivers’ championship lead while also making a serious case as the team’s true No.1. We also touch on: The most stacked F1 jet ride to Spa (Alonso, Bearman, Piastri, Bortoleto and Bottas), Lance Stroll being Lance Stroll and a quick look ahead to Hungary GP this coming weekend. Plus a very exciting Green flag Thinking about your next car? Check out Nero Financial’s car financing options. Smart, simple, and stress-free. https://nerofinancial.com.au/paddock43/ Book your next adventure with Adrenaline and use code PADDOCK10 for 10% off! 🏁 Welcome to Paddock 43 – The Formula 1 Podcast That Keeps It Real! 🏎️💨If you love F1 drama, race breakdowns, driver gossip, and unfiltered opinions, you’re in the right place! Paddock 43 is your go-to podcast for everything happening on and off the track .🚥 What You’ll Get Every Week: ✅ Race Recaps & Analysis – Who dominated, who bottled it, and what it means for the championship. ✅ Breaking F1 News & Rumours – Driver transfers, team drama, FIA chaos—nothing’s off-limits. ✅ F1 Lifestyle & Behind-the-Scenes – From team principals to race engineers, we break it all down. ✅ Hot Takes & Debate Segments – lets get controversial Unlike other F1 podcasts, we bring the energy, the humour, and the unfiltered takes—just like chatting F1 with your best mates. Subscribe & Never Miss an Episode! 🔔💬 Join the Paddock 43 Community: 📲 Follow us on Instagram (@paddock43podcast) & TikTok (@Paddock43Podcast) for BTS, F1 Memes, Live Q&As, and Breaking News Updates.🎤 Got a question or F1 hot take? Drop it in the comments—we might feature it in the next episode!🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube – Hit that follow button so you never miss a race-week recap!🏁 Welcome to Paddock 43—where F1 meets the fans. Let’s race! 🏎️💨@ellebaillieu