F1 2024 Abu Dhabi GP: McLaren Seal Constructors Title As Norris Dominates

A missile attack on an Aramco distribution facility, around 10 miles from the track, was the main talking point today. Thick black smoke was seen filling the air during Free Practice 1, which delayed Free Practice 2 as Formula 1 and the FIA met with teams to discuss the situation. Martyn Lee and Haydn Cobb talk about the implications of today's events, and analyse the pace we saw on track heading into qualifying tomorrow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

25 Mar 202227min

Autosport's Chief Editor Kevin Turner loves a list and in Part 4 of our new podcast series we're ranking another ten drivers. This time we’re doing it with the help of Karun Chandhok, and Alex Kalinauckas is your host. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

24 Mar 202254min

Luke Smith, Matt Kew and Haydn Cobb join Martyn Lee to look back at the Bahrain Grand Prix, and how three late retirements gave many of the points scorers a better finish on paper than they might have deserved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

20 Mar 20221h 5min

From the Bahrain International Circuit, Luke Smith (F1 Reporter) is joined by Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport) to analyse a thrilling qualifying session. It's still far too early to say if the established order from the hybrid era is ancient history, but there's certainly a different look to the starting grid for tomorrow’s race. Shortly before Qualifying, and 97 days after the controversy of Abu Dhabi, the FIA released their report into how those final laps played out. The full report can be seen on autosport.com, but our team thinks there are still some questions which need answered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

19 Mar 202224min

Jonathan Noble (F1 Editor, Motorsport.com) was watching both Free Practice sessions from trackside today, and spoke to the drivers and team bosses afterwards. He's speaking to Martyn Lee (Head of Podcasts, Motorsport Network) to analyse the form guide as the fuel came out and the soft tyres went on, for some quick laps. Arguably more interesting was to come, when the teams fuelled up and gave us a clue to their long run pace. Are Red Bull and Ferrari REALLY favourites for pole, and how bad are things for Mercedes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

18 Mar 202234min

Autosport's Chief Editor Kevin Turner loves a list and in Part 3 of our new podcast series we're ranking another ten drivers.     This time we’re doing it with the help of someone who has unique insight into the cars these drivers piloted, because we’re joined by Williams Heritage Driver Karun Chandhok. In fact every driver on today’s list drove a car in which Karun has experienced behind the wheel. Alex Kalinauckas is your host. Join us next Thursday when Kevin attempts to put the Top 10 McLaren Drivers in order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

17 Mar 202255min

The countdown is on until a new breed of Formula 1 cars hit the track for the Bahrain Grand Prix.  Just days after the final test, the teams are ready to do battle for real at the Bahrain International Circuit. Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport) and Luke Smith (F1 Reporter, Autosport) stayed out in Bahrain and will be back in the paddock this weekend.  They're joined by our latest recruit to the Autosport F1 team, Matt Kew. We get to know Matt on the podcast today and find out his favourite motorsport moments. With time over the last few days to crunch the numbers, we discuss why Mercedes might genuinely be struggling to dial in the setup of their new car, and not just talking themselves down (here's looking at you 2019, 2020 and 2021!). We discuss why Red Bull and Ferrari were looking strong based on what we witnessed trackside in Barcelona and Bahrain.  The predictable midfield battle, as we have come to know it, looks ripe for a shakeup. The difference from the top to bottom of the timesheets is likely closer than we've seen in recent years, as demonstrated by moments of stronger pace from Haas and Williams during testing. Finally, we discuss some of the news of the week, including today's FIA clarification of the Safety Car rule, and that "ALL CARS that have been lapped by the leader will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap" (our caps) rather than "any cars", the source of so much Abu Dhabi controversy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

16 Mar 202255min

Matt Kew and Luke Smith (F1 Reporter, Autosport) recount their experience of watching the cars over the three days in Bahrain. They talk about how the Mercedes looked like it was struggling to dial-in the handling, how Red Bull grabbed a last minute glory run, and how Ferrari were not-so-quietly confident. With the final day of pre-season testing complete, is porpoising still a thing? What happened to the McLaren brake ducts? Why did Lewis Hamilton say Mercedes are not in contention for a win in Bahrain? And if Mercedes turn up next weekend and put the cars 5th and 6th on the grid, would be we surprised? All of those questions answered on today's podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12 Mar 202227min