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

Just as we were uploading our Dutch GP Analysis, Williams breaks the news that Logan Saregant will be replaced at the team with immediate effect, with F2 and Williams Academy driver Franco Colapinto taking over for the rest of the season, including this weekend's Italian Grand Prix. On this emergency edition of the Autosport Podcast, Bryn Lucas is joined by Sam Hall to discuss the shocking news. There's chat on whether Williams should have kept Logan on to see out the season, and what his future may hold now he's been released from the team. There's also a deep dive on Franco himself, whether this cameo could set him up for an F1 seat in 2025 or beyond, and some of the other rumoured names that didn't get in like Mick Schumacher or Liam Lawson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

27 Aug 202423min

After some, a bit of sun, and some dodgy clutches, the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix produced a surprise result of a different kind - Lando Norris dominating proceedings with a 22-second victory, the largest seen in the sport since Max Verstappen's 33-second feat at Hungary last year. But how did Lando in particular land such a devastating defeat on Red Bull? Bryn Lucas is joined on the Autosport Podcast by Jake Boxall-Legge and Filip Cleeren to break down all the action from Zandvoort. It includes how McLaren's new upgrade made a big impact on their car, how Red Bull may have lost some direction in their own development, as well as Mercedes and how the sport's in-form team struggled across the weekend. There's also a small look forward to Monza and how a different style of track may placate Red Bull's problems, and what to expect from Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes debut. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

27 Aug 202447min

Derek Warwick had a decorated racing career, starting 146 Formula One races, as well as winning the World Sportscar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In a special edition of the Autosport Podcast, Kevin Turner sits down with the man himself to debate and form a list of his 10 greatest races, based on his personal performances, the equipment avaliable, and their importance and career significance. From the Le Mans win in 1992 in the Peugeot 905 he shared with Yannick Delmas and Mark Blundell, to the human element of fear and compassion that came with his 1990 Spanish GP, Warwick's played a role in some of the most iconic Motorsport moments, and it's all covered in this Top 10. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

22 Aug 20241h 16min

After a month-long Summer Break, Formula 1 returns this week for the first of the final 10 races to close out the 2024 season. Round 15 of the Championship sees the sport head to the Dutch GP at Zandvoort, a tight, technical circuit with banking up to 19 degrees high. Stuart Codling and Ronald Vording join Bryn Lucas to discuss all the news that dropped during the Summer Break and preview the race itself. This includes the US Department of Justice opening an anti-trust investigation against Liberty Media after their refusal to let Andretti enter the sport, and the consideration of Rwanda joining the calendar in the future, potentially at the Dutch AND Belgian GP's expense. Also previewing the Dutch GP, the trio discuss comments that Zak Brown has made to Autosport on whether he can handle "Two Number Ones" in the McLaren camp, whether Mercedes can continue to make gains after winning three of the last four Grand Prixs, and how teams are planning upgrades in the back half of the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

20 Aug 202459min

In the final set of episodes for Series 2 of "Driven To Succeed", Kevin Turner sits down with British GT Star and 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Champion Adam Smalley. In this interview, Kevin sits down with Adam coming off his debut in the 24 Hours of Spa Endurance Race, and chats about the differences in racing GT3 cars in an Endurance setting as opposed to a traditional manner, what it's like sharing the car and garage with a team of fellow drivers, and whether a push for Le Mans is now on the cards. There's also a great story of how Adam got into Motorsport via a family holiday and a karting track, and who inspired Adam to get where he is today as a racing driver. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

9 Aug 202423min

With 14 races down and 10 to go in the F1 2024 Season, Bryn Lucas is once again joined by Alex Kalinauckas and Ronald Vording to talk at length about the season so far and what may be still to come for the rest of 2024. There's a conversation about Red Bull's dominance and early pessimism about the season evaporating as McLaren leads the charge to bring down their status as the field's best, as well as Mercedes sneaking into the conversation after winning three out of the last four heading into the break, and where Ferrari have come up short after starting the year well. Also, Alpine's struggles continue as Bruno Famin steps down as team prinicpal for Oliver Oakes, their fifth team prinicpal in as many years, and asking if F1 should be radically changing the regulations in 18 months time, just as the field begins to converge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

6 Aug 202450min

On this episode of the Autosport Podcast, News Editor Sam Hall sits down with 2024 Formula 2 championship contender, Hitech GP's Paul Aron. In this extended interview, Sam asks Paul about how the dynamics of the field have changed with the series debuting its brand new car, and how teams like their own, Campos and Invicta have begun to challenge for wins at the front. There's also a chat about Paul's own aspirations, from his difficulties during the British Grand Prix weekend, to him and the Mercedes Driver Academy parting ways and how that's affected his own push for a Formula 1 seat, as well as his opinion on whether more drivers in F2 should be getting the opportunity to drive in F1. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 Aug 202431min

It was an intense Belgian Grand Prix, a strategic race at its core that had the surprise of George Russell perfecting a one-stop strategy to leap to the front of the queue and hold off Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri in a dramatic finish... ...Or so we thought. After a couple of checks with the FIA scrutineering department, Russell was disqualified from the race with a car that was underweight by 1.5 kilogrammes. Alex Kalinauckas and Ronald Vording join Bryn Lucas on the Autosport podcast to break down just how impressive Russell's drive was, why he was ultimately DQ'ed from the race and pondering if Piastri missed another chance at a McLaren victory. In the aftermath of the race, F1's driver market took some massive steps forward Carlos Sainz announced his contract with Williams for 2025 onwards, whilst Sergio Perez was confirmed to be staying at Red Bull. But is Williams the right, or best, team for Sainz? And should Red Bull have made a different decision, with Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson in the wings? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

30 Juli 202456min