Secrets of Mercedes’ rise to F1 power

Edd Straw is joined by a host of guests to review Alpine's 2024 F1 car launch and cast an eye over its new challenger: The A524. First up, Edd is joined on-site in Enstone by Damien Smith, who shares his thoughts on the launch event itself, which the Anglo-French team held at its UK base. After that, Edd catches up with Mark Hughes and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson, who pick over the finer details of the largely black machine and help answer the question of whether all the major changes the team have made will add up to a more competitive showing in 2024.FEBRUARY IS FREE! Join The Race Members Club and have a free month on us! Click here to sign upFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 Feb 202442min

Scott Mitchell-Malm joins Edd Straw to round up the latest news and look back at the latest pair of F1 launch events. First, Edd reports back from the Sauber/Stake F1 Team launch event in London, where the team took the covers off the striking black and fluro green C44. We hear from technical director James Key, drivers Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas, and team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi, while former F1 technical director Gary Anderson provides a technical assessment of the new car. After that, Scott and Edd turn their attention to Williams - and drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant - after the team revealed a brand-new livery (if not a new car) at a season launch event in New York. And before we cover both launches, there's also a news update about Christian Horner being placed under investigation by Red Bull.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or AndroidClick here to join The Race Members' Club and have the opportunity to ask a question on the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 Feb 20241h 1min

Scott Mitchell-Malm and Glenn Freeman join Edd Straw to discuss the news that Formula 1 has rejected the bid for a new General Motors-backed Andretti Global entry, despite the FIA’s prior approval. They meticulously pick through the reasons F1 gave for rejecting the American team's bid for a grid slot (and the validity of those reasons), explain what the Andretti camp's reaction has been, and debate what's likely to happen next in this long-running saga. They also discuss the optics of the rejection, whether they feel it was fair, and how it's likely to be viewed by fans, many of whom were clearly keen to see an 11th team on the grid.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or AndroidClick here to join The Race Members' Club and have the opportunity to ask a question on the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 Feb 20241h

Edd Straw joins Mark Hughes and former Jordan and Jaguar technical director Gary Anderson to pore over images of the first F1 car to break cover in 2024: The Haas VF-24. They discuss the design direction the American team have taken with their new machine, and whether any of the changes made are likely to propel them up the grid, after a disappointing 2023. Before that, we bring you the latest on Lewis Hamilton's blockbuster move to Ferrari for 2025, with Edd and Mark reporting back the thoughts of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who faced some tough questions about the Briton's exit and who might replace him in his first briefing with the media since the switch was announced.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or AndroidClick here to join The Race Members' Club and have the opportunity to ask a question on the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 Feb 202442min

Mark Hughes and Scott Mitchell-Malm join Edd Straw to discuss the seismic news that Lewis Hamilton is to switch from Mercedes to Ferrari for 2025. They outline the likely reasons why Hamilton has decided to make such a move, what it says about Mercedes, and what this means for the driver market, with outgoing Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz now looking for a drive and Mercedes looking to fill a seat.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or AndroidClick here to join The Race Members' Club and have the opportunity to ask a question on the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 Feb 202459min

Legendary race engineer Rob Smedley, famous for working with Felipe Massa at both Ferrari and Williams, is our very special guest for this episode of The Race F1 Podcast. He joins fellow North-Easterner Mark Hughes and host Edd Straw for a wide-ranging chat on the topic of engineering in F1, including how the task has changed in the past 25 years, why there are fewer and fewer 'generalist' engineers these days, and just what it takes to develop a good driver-race engineer relationship.Rob also fills us in on what he's been doing since leaving his role at Williams, including his experiences of working with Formula 1 to develop new TV graphics, and his new karting initiative, which aims to make motor racing a more viable proposition for youngsters of all backgrounds.And before signing off, Rob also gives us his thoughts on Felipe Massa's legal proceedings around the outcome of the 2008 world championship, and in particular that controversial race in Singapore.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or AndroidClick here to join The Race Members' Club and have the opportunity to ask a question on the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

29 Jan 20241h 10min

Scott Mitchell-Malm joins Edd Straw to discuss the news that Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc have committed their long-term futures to McLaren and Ferrari respectively. They explain why they've both put pen to paper at this particular point in time (particularly when, in Norris' case, there was still a lot of time left on his existing contract), why their teams have chosen not to reveal the length of their new deals, and what this means for the driver market going forwards, now two big names are off the table.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or AndroidClick here to join The Race Members' Club and have the opportunity to ask a question on the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26 Jan 202437min

Gary Anderson, co-host of The Race F1 Tech Show and former technical director for the Jordan, Stewart and Jaguar teams, joins Edd Straw and Ben Anderson to pick a key priority for each of the 10 teams on the 2024 F1 grid to address in the coming season.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or AndroidClick here to join The Race Members' Club and have the opportunity to ask a question on the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

22 Jan 20241h 18min