Constructors’ battle ‘more pressure for everyone else’ than McLaren – 2024 Qatar GP Preview with Piastri’s race engineer Tom Stallard

Rain or shine, Monaco put F1's best to the test. Verstappen and Alonso's spectacular last-sector shootout in qualifying and Esteban Ocon's sensational lap made it a Saturday to remember. Sunday was even more dramatic. Tom Clarkson welcomes two Monaco GP veterans - Pedro de la Rosa and Alex Wurz - to review an incredible weekend of Formula 1. They discuss the secret to Verstappen's pole position lap, why Ocon's effort was extra-special, and whether Charles Leclerc's penalty should have been avoided. Moving on to the Grand Prix, the team talk tyres, strategy, and the skill required to race in wet conditions. We hear from Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris and Sergio Perez, who is now 39 points behind his teammate in the World Championship. Mercedes' Head of Trackside Engineering, Andrew Shovlin, explains what the Silver Arrows hope to gain from its new upgrades. Plus, TC, 'The Barcelona Bullet' and Alex explain why the Spanish Grand Prix will be a challenge for the drivers' necks and the teams' upgrade packages.  Play F1 Fantasy and join the F1 Nation World Championship to compete against us and other listeners. Go to F1.com/fantasy to sign up for free. For more on why street circuits are the ultimate test for F1 drivers and strategists, listen to F1's new Formula Why podcast.   This episode is sponsored by:  Athletic Greens: get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/F1NATION. NordVPN: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal https://nordvpn.com/f1nation Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!  MoneyGram: flex your finances using the only digital wallets with real cash access activated by MoneyGram. Learn more at moneygram.com/stellarwallets.

29 Maj 20231h 13min

‘I think there are two teams that’ll be faster than Red Bull in Monaco’. It’s a big statement from Tom Clarkson. He’s been studying the data and explains why the slow, tight corners of Monaco could give Ferrari and Aston Martin an advantage over Red Bull. TC and Natalie Pinkham look ahead to F1’s most famous race and discuss who’ll go well in the Principality. Which Red Bull driver has more momentum – Miami winner Max Verstappen or street circuit specialist Sergio Perez? Could Fernando Alonso’s experience give him the upper hand? Can Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc end his run of bad luck on his home circuit? Plus, Haas boss Guenther Steiner looks ahead to the team’s 150th race in F1, and McLaren CEO Zak Brown talks juggling the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indy 500. Formula 1 is supporting the communities affected by flooding in Emilia Romagna. To add your donation to the region’s emergency fund, go to F1.com/donate This episode is sponsored by: NordVPN: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal https://nordvpn.com/f1nation Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Hello Fresh: go to hellofresh.com/nation16 and use code nation16 for 16 free meals plus free shipping! Shopify: sign up for a one-pound-per-month trial period at shopify.co.uk/nation MoneyGram: convert your digital currency to cash and back again using the only digital wallets with real cash access activated by MoneyGram. Learn more at moneygram.com/stellarwallets.

22 Maj 20231h 4min

Imola is intense. The legendary Italian circuit is home to two teams who want to improve: Ferrari and AlphaTauri. Will they crack under pressure or delight their fans? Tom Clarkson, Natalie Pinkham, Damon Hill and Italian journalist Roberto Chinchero look ahead to the race weekend. Why might the track suit Ferrari? Can AlphaTauri’s Nyck de Vries show what he’s really capable of after a tricky start to his time in F1? Will Mercedes’ long-awaited upgrades bring them into the fight? Can Fernando Alonso repeat one of his most famous F1 wins? Plus, with just 14 points between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, the team discuss why both Red Bull drivers are title contenders this season. This episode is sponsored by:  Caldera Lab: 20% OFF with our code NATION at calderalab.com/NATION  Athletic Greens: FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/F1NATION. MoneyGram: convert your digital currency to cash and back again using the only digital wallets with real cash access activated by MoneyGram. Learn more at moneygram.com/stellarwallets.

15 Maj 202359min

From P9 to P1, Max Verstappen produced a masterclass in Miami as he fought through the field to take his third victory of the season and move 14 points clear of teammate Sergio Perez at the top of the Drivers’ World Championship. Tom Clarkson is joined by former McLaren driver Pedro de la Rosa and De Telegraaf journalist Erik van Haren to dissect the race. Erik shares insight into Max’s frame of mind coming into the weekend after his frustrations in Baku and the influence Max’s father, Jos Verstappen, has on his racing.  Red Bull team principal Christian Horner explains why strategy was the key difference in the battle between his drivers, after they secured their fourth 1-2 of the year. A satisfied George Russell drops by to share his thoughts on an impressive P4 and what to expect from Mercedes’ planned upgrades for the next race at Imola. Lando Norris gives a very honest assessment of McLaren’s lack of performance as they leave the States without any points for the third time this season. Alpine duo Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon both finished in the top 10 for the first time in three Grands Prix and team principal Otmar Szafnauer tells Tom that the upgrades they brought to Azerbaijan are paying off. Plus, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz reflects on his second P5 in a row. Check out F1 Beyond The Grid for in-depth interviews with F1’s biggest names. Plus, you can listen to F1’s new podcast, Formula Why, to hear why there are still more races to come in the United States this season.     This episode is sponsored by: MoneyGram: Convert your digital currency to cash and back again using the only digital wallets with real cash access activated by MoneyGram. Learn more at https://moneygram.com/stellarwallets Heineken Silver is running a sweepstakes to win a VIP experience to the Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix. You must be a US resident aged 21 or over. Click here to enter and see full terms and conditions  NordVPN: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal https://nordvpn.com/f1nation try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!

8 Maj 202351min

He hit the front. He brushed the wall. He took the win. Sergio Perez swept the first F1 Sprint weekend of 2023, taking victories on Saturday and Sunday. Checo tells Tom Clarkson about his ‘intense’ victory. Tom, Damon Hill and ESPN’s Juan Fossaroli review the Red Bull battle in Baku. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s Motorsport Advisor, explains what he feels Perez has learned since joining Red Bull. Former Ferrari Grand Prix-winner Jean Alesi sums up the team’s return to the podium. Esteban Ocon reflects on a frustrating weekend in his upgraded Alpine. Mark Webber, manager of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, reveals how Oscar battled illness to race. Plus, a feature interview with Franz Tost, AlphaTauri’s Team Principal who has announced he will retire at the end of this season after 18 years with the team. Check out F1 Beyond The Grid for in-depth interviews with F1’s biggest names. Plus listen to F1’s new podcast, Formula Why to hear why F1 Sprint weekends like this one are so challenging. This episode is sponsored by:  BetterHelp: find more balance, with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com/f1nation today to get 10% off your first month. F1TV Pro: for a limited time fans in the Netherland, US, Canada and Brazil can trial F1 TV Pro free for 7 days. Simply go to F1TV.com to sign-up and take your race weekend to the next level! Heineken Silver is running a sweepstakes to win a VIP experience to the Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix. You must be a US resident aged 21 or over. Click here to enter and see full terms and conditions Caldera Lab: take your skin care to the next level with Caldera Lab. Get 20% OFF with our code NATION at calderalab.com/NATION

1 Maj 202359min

Finally it’s race week again! After four weeks without Formula 1, Tom Clarkson and Natalie Pinkham look ahead to Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. They discuss proposed changes to the sprint race format, which features for the first time this season in Baku. There’s also big change at Mercedes. James Allison joins the pod to explain why he’s gone back to his previous role as technical director and how that could impact the Silver Arrows going forward this season. Ferrari are fourth in the Constructors’ Standings after a frustrating start to 2023. Can they recover from a point-less weekend in Melbourne to get their championship back on track? And after Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon’s dramatic crash cost Alpine valuable points at the Australian Grand Prix, team principal Otmar Szafnauer tells us why they’re confident of bouncing back. Plus an update on our F1 Fantasy League, the F1 Nation World Championship. Record and email your questions about the season so far to F1Nation@F1.com This episode is sponsored by:  Babbel: go to babbel.com/podcast23 and use promo code F1NATION for an extra three months free. Ibotta:  Right now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta. Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code NATION.

24 Apr 202355min

Introducing Formula Why, a brand-new official F1 podcast about how F1 really works. Episodes weekly from Friday 28th April.  Search your podcast app for Formula Why and hit the follow button to get the first episode fast.

21 Apr 20232min

Red Bull have been unstoppable so far in 2023. They’ve taken three pole positions and three victories in the first three races. So can the reigning World Champions be caught this season? Tom Clarkson is joined by former McLaren driver Pedro de la Rosa and ex-Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley to discuss how the rest of the grid can maximise a month without racing to close the gap. Lapo Elkann, the brother of Ferrari President John Elkann, has urged Ferrari to “wake up” as they sit fourth in the Constructors’ Standings, after a difficult start to the season. Rob shares some intriguing insight into just how high the standards are at Ferrari and how much influence the Italian media has on the team. The guys also discuss the progress made by Williams and whether changes at McLaren will take the team forward. Will Alfa Romeo be title contenders in the near future? Plus, Rob and Pedro answer some of your questions in Ask The Nation. Record and send your questions to F1Nation@F1.com This episode is sponsored by:  NordVPN: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal https://nordvpn.com/f1nation. Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Caldera + Lab: get 20% OFF at calderalab.com by using code NATION at calderalab.com HelloFresh: go to hellofresh.com/50nation and use code 50nation for 50% off, plus your first box ships free!

17 Apr 202356min