Secrets of Mercedes’ rise to F1 power

It's a news bonanza on the mid-week episode of The Race F1 Podcast as Edd Straw is joined by Scott Mitchell-Malm and special guest Christian Menath from German outlet Motorsport Magazin to unpack several big stories.The first is the shock news that Formula 1 will have a new race director from the Las Vegas Grand Prix as Niels Wittich has stepped down with immediate effect. We discuss what's behind his sudden departure, and Christian explains why there's more to it than the FIA's statement lets on.Next Dan Fallows' impending departure from his Technical Director role at Aston Martin is discussed, before talk turns to rumours that Sauber owners Audi are looking to sell a stake in the team. But who to, and why?And the episode is rounded out with talk about the big shake-up to F1 launch season, with a joint launch event set to take place at London's O2 Arena in February. Edd, Scott and Christian explain why this is happening before turning their attention to Alpine, following the confirmation that the Enstone team will use Mercedes power units (as taking gearboxes and rear suspension) from 2026.Want extra podcast content and to ask questions on the show? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace - we even have an F1-only tier!Get your 2025 calendar from The Race Shop!Follow 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.

13 Nov 202452min

On this episode, with the title fight now effectively settled in Max Verstappen's favour, Edd Straw, Mark Hughes and Ben Anderson discuss what Lando Norris needs to do to move from regular race winner to real championship challenger in 2025.They also look at the collision course Mohammed Ben Sulayem appears to be on with Formula 1’s drivers after the FIA president's clampdown on swearing was met with a firm and united rebuke from the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA).There's also chat about Mercedes' recent form, plus we hear the thoughts of the author Matt Whyman, who recently spent a season-and-a-half embedded within the Silver Arrows' set-up for his revealing new book Inside Mercedes F1: Life In The Fast Lane (published by Penguin Random House, and available now at all good booksellers).And finally, Edd, Mark and Ben answer another batch of questions sent in by The Race Members' Club.Want extra podcast content and to ask questions on the show? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace - we even have an F1-only tier!Get your 2025 calendar from The Race Shop!Follow 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.

11 Nov 202458min

Join Edd Straw and Scott Mitchell-Malm as they discuss Audi/Sauber's decision to sign F2 championship-leader Gabriel Bortoleto to partner Nico Hulkenberg for 2025 and beyond, in the process saying goodbye to Valtteri Bottas, who for a long time looked favourite to retain his seat.Amongst other things, they discuss why Audi/Sauber have opted for youth over experience, whether there's a risk with Bortoleto beginning his F1 career in uncompetitive machinery, why McLaren were happy to let the talented Brazilian go to another team, and what all this means for Bottas' F1 career.Plus, with Zhou Guanyu also out of a drive, they ask what's next for the Chinese driver.Want extra podcast content and to ask questions on the show? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace - we even have an F1-only tier!Get your 2025 calendar from The Race Shop!Follow 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.

6 Nov 202442min

We're dropping a little bonus audio into your feed in between episodes of The Race F1 Podcast, as an example of the type of extra content that's available to those in The Race Members' Club on Patreon.Earlier this week, we asked members on Patreon to leave questions and comments about Edd Straw's Brazilian GP driver rankings, with the aim of giving people a better idea about the process Edd goes through in formulating them (and to hold him to account for all the things he got wrong, of course!).So here's 20 minutes or so of Edd working through questions, having deliberately chosen not to look at them in advance so you get his 'live' reaction to what was being put to him.If you like what you hear and would like more content like this, including our F1 Extra and Book Club bonus podcasts, ad-free versions of The Race's other shows, merchandise discounts and much more, head to Patreon.com/therace to join the ultimate community for motor racing fans: The Race Members' Club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 Nov 202423min

Edd Straw is joined by Scott Mitchell-Malm and Mark Hughes to unpick a very eventful race weekend in Sao Paulo, blighted by bad weather, in which Max Verstappen scored arguably his finest Grand Prix victory yet.They discuss how Max's race, including how he came through from such a lowly grid slot, and look at what his victory means in the context of the title fight. There's also reaction to Alpine's shock double podium and discussion about where Lando Norris and McLaren's race fell apart, plus the guys answer the usual bumper crop of questions from The Race Members' Club.Want extra podcast content and to ask questions on the show? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace - we even have an F1-only tier!Follow 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.

4 Nov 20241h 13min

As F1 heads into the final part of the current triple header in Brazil, Edd Straw is joined by Scott Mitchell-Malm and special guest Lito Cavalcanti (a long-time Brazilian journalist, who may be familiar to some from The Race's Portuguese-language YouTube channel), to answer questions from The Race Members' Club on Sergio Perez’s Red Bull future, or lack of it, Franco Colapinto’s RB chances, whether the constructors' championship would mean more to McLaren or Ferrari, and many more.Want extra podcast content and to ask questions on the show? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace - we even have an F1-only tier!Follow 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.

31 Okt 20241h 5min

Edd Straw is joined by Scott Mitchell-Malm and Mark Hughes to dissect the Mexican Grand Prix - a race in which Max Verstappen was penalised by the stewards for another on-track run-in with title rival Lando Norris. The guys explain why Verstappen was punished this time out (when he wasn't in Austin) and also look at the wider championship implications, with Norris finishing second and Verstappen only sixth.Carlos Sainz's excellent weekend and run to victory is also analysed, along with Sergio Perez's nightmare home outing, Mercedes' mixed run to fourth and fifth, and Yuki Tsunoda's opening lap crash. Plus, Edd, Mark and Scott answer another load of questions from The Race Members' Club.Want extra podcast content and to ask questions on the show? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace - we even have an F1-only tier!Follow 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.

28 Okt 20241h 13min

Formula 1's new-for-2024 racing guidelines were thrust back into the spotlight in Austin, inevitably leading to a flood of questions from The Race Members' Club.Those questions kick off the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast with Edd Straw, Scott Mitchell-Malm and Josh Suttill. They cover what the rules actually say, where you can find them, whether they're fit for purpose and why Max Verstappen is so good at skirting so close to the edge of them. Other topics include whether Franco Colapinto is world champion material, what his performances say about Alex Albon and whether age is catching up to Lewis Hamilton. Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace - we even have an F1-only tier!Follow 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.

23 Okt 20241h 10min