Flat Chat with Codders by F1 Racing

As Formula 1 prepares to take another spin of the wheel at Las Vegas, the latest edition of GP Racing magazine is on the news stands, so it's once again time for Codders to Podders, as ever with Mark Gallagher and Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, Alex Kalinauckas. In this month's episode, we ask whether Max Verstappen will be ‘four and done' with Red Bull – and, indeed whether Red Bull will be able to win another world championship in the foreseeable future as their driver academy might not be holding up as well as it once did, despite two and a half decades of success... Are we in the strange situation where Red Bull literally "can't afford" to let Sergio Perez go? Elsewhere the trio chat about their latest feature on Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu, and his favourite climbing wall. Consider this a boulder dash rather than balderdash, as they discuss his engineering background and rising through the ranks within the sport, being Romain Grosjean's race engineer and the awkward timing of his favourite cappuccino... (PS: You can also see a video of the interview on Autosport's YouTube channel!) And finally, marketing comes to the forefront with a deep dive on F1's latest idea, a live show to celebrate their 75th anniversary with all ten team's liveries being revealed at the O2 Arena in February, as well as Monaco being extended on the sporting calendar until 2031. Is the live show an insult to long-standing fans or a brilliant commercial idea? And is Monaco still as important as it used to be? If you prefer to enter an actual retail establishment, make sure your journey isn't wasted. Visit Seymour.co.uk and type your postcode into the store finder to locate your nearest stockist. A Motorsport Network production, "Long-Suffering" Producer: Dre Harrison (Producer's note: Listen all the way to the end!)

Welcome back to Flat Chat! And it's another late one thanks to various movements of people. And in the case of Codders and Autosport Grand Prix Editor Alex Kalinauckas coming back from Mexico, movements of people in the wrong direction at the wrong time… of course, Mark Gallagher joins as well!   The latest edition of GP Racing magazine hit the newsstands just before the US Grand Prix as we look at who's going to be top dog at Ferrari next year, as Mark and Alex ponder what the Vettel-esque mistakes Lewis Hamilton shouldn't make as he prepares to battle Charles Leclerc for supremacy at Maranello. Elsewhere, Pat Symonds is featured as he talks about why multiple teams are struggling to add performance as the season goes on, and why McLaren has waited so long to use its latest floor upgrade.  And of course, there has to be a discussion on driving standards after Max Verstappen doubled down on his aggressive defending against Lando Norris, and received 20 seconds of time penalties during the Mexico Grand Prix. How will they be adjusted ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, and is the FIA being consistent enough with its stewarding?  If you prefer to enter an actual retail establishment, make sure your journey isn't wasted. Visit Seymour.co.uk and type your postcode into the store finder to locate your nearest stockist. A Motorsport Network production, Producer: Dre Harrison

Welcome back to another edition of Flat Chat with Codders, and with two shows in as many weekends, we're almost caught up again! Codders as usual is joined by Mark Gallagher and Autosport's Grand Prix Editor Alex Kalinauckas to catch up with what was a hectic Baku and Singapore double header. In this episode, there's chat about McLaren and the nerves about potentially unsettling their winning car via floor upgrades. Have they stumbled across the right formula for success, as their flexi-wing in Baku may have proved? George Russell is mentioned as well. With Andrea Kimi Antonelli joining in 2025 and with Toto Wolff still eyeing up Max Verstappen with the allure of a potentially great 2026 car, has Russell become the odd man out, despite his strong performances at Mercedes? And Red Bull can't lock the doors down fast enough in MIlton Keynes as they lose two more key members of staff, with Jonathan Wheatley heading to Audi for 2025, and chief strategist Will Courtenay joining McLaren as Sporting Director sometime in 2032 (Codder's words on Gardening Leave, mind). The trio discuss the impact they'll be likely to have on their new teams. All that and a throwback to the days of William Shatner, in October's Flat Chat!  If you don't yet subscribe to GP Racing, head to gpracing.com where print and digital and Autosport Plus packages start at three issues for three pounds. If you prefer to enter an actual retail establishment, make sure your journey isn't wasted. Visit Seymour.co.uk and type your postcode into the store finder to locate your nearest stockist. Producer: Dre Harrison 

It's been a long time coming, but it's finally time for another edition of Flat Chat with Codders, fresh off the back of the Italian Grand Prix, and the gang is back together with Mark "Captain Pugwush" Gallagher and Autosport GP Editor, Alex Kalinauckas! In this edition of the show, the trio discuss McLaren, who have arguably become the best team in F1, and with a genuine chance to capture both Drivers and Constructors titles. But with Charles Leclerc beating both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on the day, is McLaren tripping over their mechanical feet? And will Piastri take the threat of team orders lying down. Murmurs of Mark Webber ring in the background... There's also chat about the news of Kimi Antonelli's Formula 1 debut as he took George Russell's car in Free Practise, only to replicate Safety Car driver Bernd Maylander 10 minutes later and stuff it in the wall of the Parabolica. Is there too much hype for the teenage Italian, and does it put George Russell's future at risk with Toto still talking about the possibility of Max Verstappen joining in the future! And finally a chat about more new faces on the grid right now and in the future, with Franco Colapinto replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams and the PR juggling that Team Principal James Vowles had to go through after upsetting the Schumacher family, as well as Jack Doohan announced at Alpine for 2025. How does Alex think Franco feared on debut in tricky circumstances, and can be F1's answer to Lionel Messi. All that and a surprise phonecall from "Jackie Stewart" in the latest Flat Chat with Codders! If you don't yet subscribe to GP Racing, head to gpracing.com where print and digital and Autosport Plus packages start at three issues for three pounds. If you prefer to enter an actual retail establishment, make sure your journey isn't wasted. Visit Seymour.co.uk and type your postcode into the store finder to locate your nearest stockist. Producer: Dre Harrison 

It's time for June 2024's Flat Chat with Codders for GP Racing Magazine as Codders is joined as ever by Mark Gallagher from New York and Autosport's Grand Prix Editor Alex Kalinauckas! In this edition of the show, the trio talk about the big return of Flavio Briatore to the Alpine team as a "Special Supervisor". What direction is the future of the Alpine team heading in, and what was the thought process of Renault CEO Luca De Meo, especially with the team's current technical shortcomings, with the possibility of them dropping their power units fresh in the news! There's also a big preview for next week's British Grand Prix, with eight-time winner Lewis Hamilton the main focus. Included is a fascinating story about how GP Racing's own photographer Steven Tee used a unique method of analyising the tyre wear of Hamilton's competitors in 2008... ...And finally a deep dive on Yuki Tsunoda as he begins to emerge as RB's Team Leader, just as his team slips to the back of the pecking order via their new upgrade package! If you don't yet subscribe to GP Racing, head to gpracing.com where print and digital and Autosport Plus packages start at three issues for three pounds. If you prefer to enter an actual retail establishment, make sure your journey isn't wasted. Visit Seymour.co.uk and type your postcode into the store finder to locate your nearest stockist. Producer: Dre Harrison

In this month's edition of GP Racing Magazine, Codders is joined by Mark Gallagher and Autosport Grand Prix Editor Alex Kalinauckas come together to chat about the imminent departure of Red Bull chief technical officer Adrian Newey at the end of the 2024 season. With it being a known quantity that Newey and Horner didn't see eye-to-eye on Newey's influence in the team, is it the beginning of the end for the dominant empire?  The trio also talk about Charles Leclerc changing his race engineer as Xavi Marcos is moved to "other projects" within Ferrari, and how it may be a sign of the Monaco driver's continued struggles. Speaking of which, there's also chat about Mercedes' fall from grace as they continue to slide down F1's current pecking order. And finally, a discussion about the possibility F1 might be ditching the hybrids and returning to the days of the loud and proud V8-era. 

In this month's edition of GP Racing Magazine, Codders and Mark Gallagher are joined by new guest pundit Alex Kalinauckas, Grand Prix Editor from our friends at Autosport. On the show this week, a look back at the tragic weekend of Imola 1994 as its 30th anniversary beckons around the corner, where the sport tragically lost both Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, with the hosts talking about how far the sport has come since that horrible weekend.  There's also discussions on Alex's monthly column on the state of Williams, fresh off the disaster that was their Australian GP weekend. Despite the improvements, is their lack of spare chassis a serious problem? And there's a chat about Zhou Guanyu as he finally gets to race in a home Grand Prix this weekend, his journey from Shanghai to Sheffield, and the potential of what he could bring to Sauber via his homeland of China.

In this month's edition of GP Racing magazine, we preview the upcoming F1 2024 season. Has Red Bull got the jump on the pack? Can they make the concepts Mercedes came up with work, or will they discover the same issues? Plus, we talk about the Andretti rejection and how much pressure is Lando Norris under? Find out in today's episode, plus all of the other talking points from March's edition as Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew joins Stuart Codling.       

In this month's edition of GP Racing magazine, it's time we try and have a crack at trying to 'Fix' F1's age-old problems. Stuart Codling is joined by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew as all three try and solve F1's current problems and ask the question can they be fixed at all. We also discuss Sergio Perez's current situation going into 2024 against Max Verstappen and the topic of ‘bad' team names, do we have a new number one? There's plenty to debate and much at stake in this episode.  Find out in today's episode, plus all of the other talking points from the February edition. 

In this months edition of GP Racing magazine we compare Max Verstappen to the other all-time great F1 drivers. Stuart Codling is joined by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew on the podcast to discuss the exclusive club of multiple world champions.  There's plenty to debate, including our front cover which depicts Lewis Hamilton alongside Verstappen inside our virtual smoking lounge or gentleman's club. Sadly we couldn't get both of them in the same room at the same time, but that didn't stop our photoshop experts creating our striking artwork. Find out how it was done, plus all of the other talking points from the January edition.

On this month's edition of the Flat Chat podcast, Stuart Codling is joined by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew to discuss how Max Verstappen joined exclusive club of F1 champions who clinched the title on a Saturday. This month the cover star of GP Racing is Fernando Alonso. We charged our reporter Oleg with the task of finding out what makes him tick, and why Formula 1 is “like a drug to him”.  And around this time of year we like to do a tech analysis of the constructors' championship-winning car. As Matt Kew has written about recently, Red Bull's RB19 doesn't have any one trick up it's sleeve, thereby denying the opposition the opportunity to either complain or copy. On the podcast this month we talk about how Adrian Newey continues hunt for perfection.

On this month's edition of the Flat Chat podcast, Codders is joined as usual by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew. Mark has been to see how the Las Vegas street track is coming along. Whilst there's still work to do, he was left feeling impressed. Also this month, Andrew Benson has written an excellent analysis for GP Racing looking at McLaren's renaissance. Elsewhere, Alex Kalinauckas reports on how he was embedded in the Haas team over the Silverstone weekend to listen in to their top secret engineering debriefs and came away surprised.

On this month's edition of the Flat Chat podcast, Stuart Codling is joined by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew to discuss the unstoppable Max Verstappen. As he continues to break records, it's striking how matter-of-fact Verstappenis about his continued success. Our panellists discuss the question faced by every other team in the paddock: is there any way he can be stopped? Also on the podcast we discuss the recent Monza Grand Prix and what happened afterwards as Carlos Sainz was attacked for his Richard Mille watch. Elsewhere in this issue of the magazine we have an interview with Alexander Wurz, the chairman of the GPDA, and a key figure is driving forward safety in the sport.

The latest Flat Chat podcast from GP Racing magazine weighs up Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc's next move and delves into the chaos at the Alpine F1 team.   The squad formerly known as Toleman, Benetton, Renault, Lotus, Renault again and now Alpine has had many names above the door over the past 40 years. And, recently, plenty of leaders who have been shown the (revolving) door after failing to meet the aspirations of those who ultimately pay the bills.  Ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix team principal Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane became the latest casualties. At the same time it was revealed senior engineer Pat Fry was to become chief technical officer at Williams, amid strong suggestions that a toxic atmosphere created by former CEO Laurent Rossi was a reason for Fry choosing to leave.  GP Racing columnists Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew join editor Stuart Codling to analyse the implications of these latest moves. As Alpine embarks on an ambitious expansion of its road car line-up and accompanying sales, is this a sign Renault Group boss Luca de Meo wants the team to be competitive earlier than its previous 100-race target?  And have the latest departures had as big an impact on staff morale at Enstone as claimed?  The cover story of this month's GP Racing focuses on Charles Leclerc's next moves. While it's unlikely he would move to either Red Bull or Mercedes in the short term, it's clear the relationship with Ferrari is strained.  The Scuderia and its loyal tifosi like to draw parallels between Leclerc and Gilles Villeneuve. Both brave, both occasionally prone to messy mistakes while pushing too hard – and might Leclerc, like Villeneuve, be contemplating a future elsewhere?  This month's GP Racing also celebrates Williams hitting its 800th grand prix with a package including an exclusive interview with team principal James Vowles. The former Mercedes engineer and chief strategist opens up about his fight to get into Formula 1 in the first place, early learnings at a struggling BAR-Honda, his role in changing the face of race strategy, and why the Williams team's new owners aren't looking to cash out any time soon. 

On this month's episode of the Flat Chat podcast, Stuart Codling is joined as usual by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew to discuss the stories in July's edition of GP Racing magazine.   Ahead of the British Grand Prix, we've spoken to Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris and George Russell for this month's edition.  On the podcast we profile Lando Norris as not just a McLaren hotshot but an entrepreneur launching new businesses to connect with his growing fanbase. Also on the podcast is a discussion about the recent investment in Alpine F1, led by the figurehead of Ryan Reynolds, and what it means for the sport. Finally we talk about the consequence of decades of focus from F1 teams into aerodynamic complexity, and how this had led to suggestions that rule makers need to intervene (again) to make overtaking easier.

On this month's episode of the Flat Chat podcast, Stuart Codling is joined as usual by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew to discuss the talking stories in June's edition of GP Racing magazine. A key talking point is the seeming shift in F1 from a young driver's sport to a battlefield for experienced veterans. We explore Fernando Alonso's continued success as he approaches 42, highlighting that, in this adrenaline-fueled sport, age is truly just a number. Rumours are circulating of 33-year-old Daniel Ricciardo's potential move to AlphaTauri, which sparks a conversation about the team's current flux. Mark Gallagher takes us through the after-effects of Dietrich Mateschitz's death, the regime change at AlphaTauri, and its impact on the Red Bull talent pipeline. On another front, the team discusses the challenges presented by an expanding F1 calendar, diving into the potential strain on teams, drivers, and all involved with the sport. With a poignant quote from the Haas team manager serving as a conversation starter, we explore the physical, mental, and logistic challenges that accompany the increasing number of race weekends.

The latest Flat Chat podcast from GP Racing magazine leads on Valtteri Bottas becoming the first and possibly the last F1 driver on the cover with a moustache and mullet. Bottas is the subject of an exclusive no-holds-barred interview (and an unusual photo shoot) in GP Racing this month. Now free of the corporate leash he's enjoying life – and racing – once again. He explains why he rejected advice to ‘be more evil' while at Mercedes and why he's taking a stand for drivers to be able to express themselves. GP Racing columnists Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew join editor Stuart Codling to discuss this latest incarnation of Bottas as well as some of the most recent developments in F1. As senior Ferrari engineer David Sanchez leaves for McLaren, the panel reflect on the chaos which seems to be enveloping the teams currently in the wake of the dominant Red Bull outfit. If former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto was as much a victim of regime change in the boardroom as of operational problems on track, why is his successor Frederic Vasseur – the preferred choice of the new executives – seemingly at loggerheads with CEO Benedetto Vigna? While team principal and senior executive squabble over peripheral topics such as who gets a paddock pass, the team has bigger issues to face: a car concept that may not be working and a lead driver, Charles Leclerc, who may be on the verge of throwing Ferrari over for a better offer when his contract expires. At McLaren, meanwhile, what is the thinking behind yet another management restructure? Having dropped the much-derided 'matrix management' system three years ago in favour of a conventional top-down hierarchy, McLaren's decision to have three technical leaders represents a major pivot. Elsewhere on the grid another team with a new leader, Williams, has enjoyed an unexpectedly positive start to the season considering the latest upheaval over the winter. First impressions are that new boss James Vowles is taking exactly the right approach to dealing with the problems which have pegged Williams back in recent years: measured and diplomatic, but decisive, as befits a leader with a background in engineering and strategy. It's the opposite tactic to that recently adopted by AlphaTauri boss Franz Tost, who seems to be following the playbook of Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur by throwing his backroom staff under the bus…

In this episode, we're getting ready for a new season of racing and looking at the season-preview issue of GP Racing magazine. Our cover features Red Bull, who seem to be the ones to beat based on their form and pre-season test. But with 23 races scheduled, there's still hope for an exciting year of competition. Joining Stuart Codling to discuss the pecking order are special guests Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew. We'll be looking at the second year of the new technical regulations and whether they have succeeded in bringing us closer and more competitive racing. We'll also be discussing Red Bull's penalty for breaking the budget cap in 2021 and whether it will affect their performance this season. Testing has given us a glimpse of what to expect in the season opener, with Red Bull looking fastest, Ferrari close behind, and Mercedes potentially lagging. We'll be exploring how the teams have adapted to rule tweaks that aim to slow the cars down and reduce bouncing. We'll also be discussing the new Aston Martin factory and whether they can manage the logistics of moving in during a month with three GPs. Plus, we'll take a look at the revolving door of team managers and the transition to a football manager-style culture of regular hirings and firings.

The latest Flat Chat podcast from GP Racing magazine analyses a chaotic scene: half of the grid is swapping managers while F1's stakeholders argue over how much it's worth. GP Racing columnists Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew join editor Stuart Codling to discuss the latest developments in F1, from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulyayem vs Stefano Domenicali to the (James) Vowles movement at Williams and much, much more. It's remarkable that Alpine's Otmar Szafnauer, who has been in post for a year, is now the fifth longest-serving team principal in F1. Some have likened the sweeping changes at the top of several teams to a football-style rent-a-manager culture. F1 teams were once run by the individuals whose names were above the door but now, with more corporate involvement, team principals are seemingly now disposable assets answering to higher masters. Our panel asks if this gives managers the time required to effect change – and examines the prospects of former Mercedes strategist James Vowles importing some of that team's winning culture to the struggling Williams organisation. Is $200million now too cheap a buy-in for aspiring new entrants? And is F1 worth the widely mooted figure of $20billion? These two questions are interlinked and the source of the apparent rancour between the FIA and the commercial rights holder, exposed and exacerbated by the FIA's president freely expressing his thoughts on social media. F1's legal department responded with a stiffly worded letter saying commercial matters are not within the FIA's bailiwick – but how accurate is that, given the governing body's role in policing the budget cap which is so vital to F1's commercial ecosystem? Speed is the theme of this month's issue of GP Racing, which courts controversy by assembling an international panel of experts – from journalists to engineers and team managers – to vote on the 50 fastest grand prix drivers in world championship history. While the identity of number one may not provoke too much anger, the list's reach also includes many drivers whose sheer speed over a lap wasn't reflected in race wins and championship trophies. Refocusing the frame of reference on last season, this month's GP Racing also ranks the drivers on the 2022 grid scientifically in speed order and examines the significance of the fastest pitstops of the year. The findings may come as a surprise.

Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel has driven his final grand prix, and the latest Flat Chat podcast from GP Racing magazine examines his career and legacy. GP Racing columnists Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew join editor Stuart Codling to debate the hot topics of Vettel's life in F1. How did the cheeky young hotshoe who liked to quote Monty Python become a four-time world champion – and become public enemy number one after publicly shunning team orders? Why did the German public not take him to their hearts as they did Michael Schumacher? Why did he ultimately fail to emulate the achievements of Schumacher, his childhood hero, despite his attempts to forge a similar path? Vettel is the cover star of this month's GP Racing magazine and he leaves a fascinating legacy – particularly after his final two years in F1 where he reinvented himself as a force for social change. As our panel observes, while he hasn't compelled any of his colleagues to champion the same causes as him, he has supported and helped empower those who wish to speak up for issues they are passionate about. And is he finally done with F1, or will he continue to use his star power to be a positive influence from the sidelines? One driver who sees retirement as a mere speck in the distance is Pierre Gasly. His new boss, Alpine's Otmar Szafnauer, told GP Racing this month that he believes Gasly to be a better bet than the team's original choice, Australian Oscar Piastri. Naturally Szafnauer would say that – but could he be right? And what to make of Gasly's firmly expressed belief that his own best achievements lie in front of him, not in the past? Our panel also debates the latest moves in the team principal market – so many of them that Szafnauer, who joined Alpine at the beginning of last year, is now F1's fifth longest-serving team boss. Have we now entered the era of the rent-a-manager? One thing is for certain: every world championship since 2010 has been won by either Red Bull or McLaren, both of which have been run by the same individuals for many years.

On this month's edition of Flat Chat, we look at McLaren's Aussie swap, with Daniel Ricciardo waving goodbye to a full time race seat, and Oscar Piastri coming in to partner Lando Norris in 2023. Our front cover image features Max Verstappen and we look at how he smashed Formula 1's toughest record.  Plus we uncover a lost interview with the media-shy Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz, who rarely gave journalists access, favouring the spotlight being placed on his team and drivers.

GP Racing's monthly podcast looks at how Mercedes needs Lewis Hamilton more than ever, as they rely on his unique skillset to spearhead Brackley's revival. Stuart Codling is joined by regular co-hosts Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew to explain why those writing-off Hamilton as a spent force don't understand what drives the 7-time champ. Also on the show, the team discuss how Red Bull's deal with Porsche ultimately collapsed, and Matt Kew explains why he thinks auto manufacturers underestimate Formula 1. Plus we send Oleg Karpov to interview Kevin Magnussen at home in Denmark, where he says family life is more important than joining his F1 peers in the tax havens of Monaco or Switzerland.

McLaren has formally announced that it no longer requires the services of Daniel Ricciardo for the 2023 Formula 1 season, leaving the Australian to fight for his future on the grid - the cover story of the latest GP Racing magazine and the lead talking point in this episode of the Flat Chat podcast.  GP Racing magazine editor and host Stuart Codling is joined by columnist Mark Gallagher and Autosport F1 editor Matt Kew to assess why Ricciardo's stock has fallen so far since his Red Bull exit, what tailored approach is required to lift him out of the doldrums, and what he and McLaren must do next as they part ways.  F1 and Netflix star Ricciardo's own drive to survive is the cover story of this month's GP Racing. The eight-time grand prix winner sat down exclusively with our own staff writer Oleg Karpov for a revealing 1-to-1 a year after his well-executed victory in the 2021 Italian GP arrested some of the questions being asked about his form in his first year in papaya, alongside Lando Norris. But even success at Monza this time around will come too late to save his seat at McLaren. The margins of performance to Norris adding up to huge differences over a lap and indeed in the championship fight. The summer break will have also afforded fewer opportunities than before for him to cleanse body and mind, since Ricciardo will have been busy negotiating his severance package from McLaren while looking at other options for 2023. The panel for this edition of the Flat Chat podcast also discuss the changing role of F1's team principals in respect of our GP Racing feature shadowing Aston Martin boss Mike Krack during a race weekend to see precisely what the big wigs' job description entails. Codling, Gallagher and Kew then take a look at Porsche's imminent arrival in F1, following the FIA World Motor Sport Council finally signing off the 2026 power unit regulations. They evaluate the scale of the coup that Porsche's presence will represent for Liberty Media, and also opine on how the famous Stuttgart manufacturer might interact with F1 disruptor Red Bull. 

On this month's edition of Flat Chat, we look at George Russell's career and why Lewis Hamilton says he could be the next British world champion. Our long interview is with David Coulthard, including details of how his late sister inspired his project to find the next female F1 driver. And finally we were on the Silverstone grid to witness 'our Nige' drive his championship winner for the first time since 1992.

As the second half of the 2022 F1 season beckons, the championship fight between Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc is hotting up. The latest Flat Chat podcast from GP Racing magazine investigates the background of what is an old rivalry renewed: Max and Charles locked horns (and wheels) in karting a decade ago but circumstances have prevented them from going toe-to-toe for a title again until now. But who will prevail this time around? This isn't just a battle between Leclerc and Verstappen – it's a resurgent, and sometimes shaky, Ferrari versus the might of Red Bull. GP Racing editor Ben Anderson and columnist Mark Gallagher join host Stuart Codling to discuss the growing rancour between the two teams and the championship protagonists. Verstappen vs Leclerc is the cover story of this month's GP Racing magazine, featuring exclusive insight into these two characters from senior figure who have worked with both of them. You may be surprised to learn which is tipped to lift the trophy at the end of this season. The panel also considers the plight of the number-two drivers up and down the grid. Sergio Perez now has a new Red Bull contract and won the Monaco Grand Prix – but would he have been allowed to do so if he and Max were running one-two? Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are theoretically equal number ones, but how long will this status be upheld? Taking a wider view, given Daniel Ricciardo's struggles at McLaren, would it have been more prudent for him to have remained at Red Bull and picked up scraps from Verstappen's table rather than taking the course which has now led him to McLaren, where he being shown the way by Lando Norris? Sometimes drivers lack the support systems around them to take a long-term view – something which can't be said of Verstappen, who has been guided (and often pushed) in the right direction by his uncompromising father, Jos. The podcast guests also debate the virtues and shortcomings of the media covering grands prix ‘on remote'. There are those who say journalists need to be there to hold the stakeholders to account, and to unpick details that surprise and delight the fans. While that's true, there's also an argument to say remote participation benefits F1's carbon footprint and sometimes elicits better chemistry with drivers.benefits F1's carbon footprint and sometimes elicits better chemistry with drivers.

Mercedes has gone from perpetual winner to rank outsider in the space of a winter – and an aerodynamic phenomenon known as ‘porpoising' is said to be to blame. But what does that actually mean, and how can the team lift itself out of such a drastic competitive slump? On this month's podcast we explore the struggles facing Mercedes and how long it might take to fix. We also report on the forthcoming Miami GP and discuss the future of Aston Martin, given their slow start to the season.

The first F1 Australian Grand Prix in three years is upon us, and the latest Flat Chat podcast from GP Racing magazine kicks off the excitement. GP Racing editor Ben Anderson and columnist Mark Gallagher join host Stuart Codling to discuss the latest developments in F1, and not just the recently announced Las Vegas Grand Prix. After several years of uncertainty Melbourne committed to host the Australian GP for the long term – but several other cities are believed to be contemplating bids. Could Australia, like the USA, host more than one race per season as F1 edges towards a 25-round calendar? Fernando Alonso is the cover star of this month's GP Racing magazine and, in an exclusive interview, he explains how the fire to win grands prix still burns within him. As our panel notes, he seems more mellow and philosophical nowadays when discussing his career. There's no doubt he's still one of the fastest drivers on the grid but, at 40, he's well aware that time is no longer on his side – and that the last two management shake-ups at Alpine have removed the people responsible for hiring him. For all his star quality, now is the time to deliver. One driver particularly coveting Alonso's seat is F2 champion Oscar Piastri. The Australian's sole contribution to his home grand prix will be to act as Alpine's reserve driver. This month's GP Racing features an exclusive interview with Piastri, who is rightly considered to be the best driver not on the current F1 grid. His lightning ascent of the junior ladder has certainly taken his patron team by surprise – and puts him in the same firmament as the likes of George Russell and Charles Leclerc. The opening races of the 2022 season have presented an abrupt shift in the competitive order as the previously dominant Mercedes team struggles. How much of this is down to competitive over-reach – trying too hard to find gains that are too big? And is the W13 a fundamentally flawed car, or one with knockout potential waiting to be accessed? Next year the F1 calendar will include a third US-based grand prix. Las Vegas will host a Saturday-night race on the iconic Strip. Our panel weighs up the significance of this and what it means for other races. Significantly, F1 is acting as promoter – is this a case of the commercial rights holders competing with its own customers? And even if not, what can we read in to the move? Two years ago the race promoters were able to band together to get a better deal from F1 – now they might not be so lucky.

As the second pre-season F1 test gets under way in Bahrain, the latest Flat Chat podcast from GP Racing magazine dives into the latest developments. As the F1 season-preview issue of GP Racing magazine hits the shelves, GP Racing editor Ben Anderson and columnist Mark Gallagher join host Stuart Codling to examine the unexpected controversies already embroiling a season which promised to be revolutionary. Whenever F1 adopts new rules there are winners and losers – and unexpected twists. Our panel considers the unanticipated consequences of the new regulations, from bouncing cars to brutal arguments about innovations. No other new rulebook has been the subject of so much scientific research – including cloud computing facilities far beyond those permitted for the teams – so can it deliver on all the promises? And as some teams fitted major upgrade packages to their cars at the second test, others – including Ferrari – stuck to a gameplan of data-gathering with the original package to maximise understanding of it. Ferrari, as revealed in this month's GP Racing, has reasons to be confident ahead of this hugely important season. Avoiding the temptation to throw upgrades at the car and go for low-fuel ‘glory runs' is strongly suggestive of a team much more at ease with itself than in recent seasons. Our panel also considers the significance of cancelling the Russian Grand Prix. The FIA's response to events in Ukraine was widely criticised for being light-touch, but is there more to this situation than meets the eye? For the commercial rights holder, not only cancelling the 2022 event but annulling the event going forward was a notably decisive act – and one which will have commercial as well as political consequences. In recent weeks Max Verstappen has extended his Red Bull contract until the end of 2028, a deal of unprecedented length in modern Formula 1. What does this tell us about Red Bull's determination to keep hold of him, and the power Max now holds in determining his own future? 

As we await the outcome of the FIA's enquiry into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix debacle, what are the practical steps the governing body needs to take to restore respect and confidence in its people and procedures? And should race director Michael Masi stay or go? In the latest edition of the Flat Chat podcast, GP Racing editor Ben Anderson and columnist Mark Gallagher join host Stuart Codling to discuss the latest developments in a saga which has led to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton considering his future in Formula 1.  The final laps of the 2021 season finale overshadowed what had otherwise been a hugely successful year for F1, with a compelling and dramatic contest for the drivers' championship. Casual viewers tuning in to the Abu Dhabi race will have been left baffled by the bizarre and shambolic turn of events – but how much of the responsibility for that lies with the competitors themselves? This month's GP Racing magazine offers a considered analysis of the season and its contentious conclusion, and takes a look at the first hints of how the new technical package for the 2022 season is shaping up. There's also exclusive interviews with the architects of the constructors' championship-winning car. Mercedes' W12 was described by Lewis Hamilton as “a monster of a diva” and GP Racing examines how the aerodynamic rule changes between seasons turned a dominant technical package into a troubled and temperamental one. Our podcast guests discuss the implications of this for the coming season – as well as debating whether Lewis Hamilton will indeed return to the cockpit. Also in GP Racing this month, Mark Gallagher interviews Jacques Villeneuve to mark the 25th anniversary of his championship-winning season. It's a fascinating tale in which Jacques describes, among other facets of his childhood, how his father used to make him take the controls of the family helicopter when he was just 10 years old.

Today we're talking about the new book from Mark Gallagher, The Business of Winning. Get the inside track on what it takes to succeed in a competitive business with high technology, high finance and immensely high stakes You can order your copy here: https://www.koganpage.com/product/the-business-of-winning-9781398602700 Stuart Codling and Mark are joined by David Coulthard, Dr Cristiana Pace and Neil Martin.

Max Verstappen and Red Bull's commitment to do ‘whatever it takes' to win the F1 title is the hot topic of the latest Flat Chat podcast from GP Racing magazine.  An exclusive interview with Verstappen was the cover feature of November's edition of GP Racing and the tensions in the world championship battle have grown even more feverish since it hit the news stands. GP Racing editor Ben Anderson and columnist Mark Gallagher join host Stuart Codling to debate the latest developments in what is an increasingly bitter fight. Verstappen's on-track conduct has come under fire but his confidence has been bolstered by his team's determination to stand by its man. Red Bull has carried on developing its car for this season regardless of the technical reset to come in 2022 – and on top of committing resources, it has thrown its political weight behind Verstappen as well, firing damaging salvos at its Mercedes rivals. Not yet on the same competitive page as Mercedes and Red Bull but easing ever closer, a resurgent Ferrari seems almost certain to claim third place in the constructors' title this season. That's not where this proud and historic team wants to be but it represents real and slightly unexpected progress after a disastrous 2020. Ferrari's resurgence is due in part to some remarkable performances by Charles Leclerc, cover star of December's GP Racing. Those at the top of the organisation – including Enzo Ferrari's own son – see Leclerc as a rightful heir to heroes of the marque's past such as Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda and Gilles Villeneuve. Do these comparisons cut it? GP Racing has spoken to some of Ferrari's most senior engineers about what makes Leclerc so special – and their belief that he still has room to grow and develop into an even tougher competitor. And as this chapter of the hybrid F1 era draws to a close, Mercedes technical director James Allison has ‘moved upstairs' to become chief technical officer. The latest issue of GP Racing carries a full and frank interview with Allison about his fascinating career – and why he believes being fired from a job can be good for you…  

October's edition of GP Racing features a rejuvinated Sebastian Vettel on the front cover and looks at how he fits into Lawrence Stroll's ambitious plan to make Aston Martin a winning team. Flat Chat podcast host Stuart Codling is joined by Mark Gallagher and Ben Anderson (Editor, GP Racing) to discuss how the Silverstone team is transforming itself with a series of high-profile recruitments and investment into long term success. Also on the podcast today we discuss Formula 1's return to Zandvoort. GP Racing's principal photographer returns to the Dutch dunes for the first time in 36 years. Damien Smith speaks to one of the makers of the Schumacher Netflix documentary, and with Qatar added to the calendar F1 once again navigates the moral maze of racing in a controversial location.

It's 30 years since Michael Schumacher left an indelible calling card on the Formula 1 scene at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, qualifying seventh at a track he'd only previously lapped on a bicycle. And he did it with a minnow start-up team on the verge of collapsing under its debts.  This month's GP Racing, on sale today, celebrates the 30th anniversary of Schumacher's explosive debut and features an exclusive behind-the-scenes view of the weekend with insight from Michael's race engineer, Trevor Foster. Author and GP Racing columnist Mark Gallagher was the Jordan team's press officer at the time, and he joins Flat Chat podcast host Stuart Codling and GP Racing editor Ben Anderson to wind the clock back to that stunning weekend in August 1991.  It's hard to believe that the future seven-time world champion was seen as an inexperienced pay driver at the time. But Jordan had a seat to fill and bills to pay. As Mark relates, he himself didn't see any money until after the end of the season – and only then after Eddie Jordan tried to invoice him for food consumed during the year…  Schumacher quickly found performance in the Jordan 191 car which the incumbent drivers hadn't been able to access – much to the chagrin of Andrea de Cesaris, who became convinced there was something wrong with his own car. Exactly how Schumacher managed to break his clutch on the opening lap, and how De Cesaris came close to catching Ayrton Senna's McLaren for the lead before suffering an engine blow-up, have never been fully explained until now.  The Flat Chat panel also looks at the parallel-but-often-separate career of Mika Hakkinen who, like Schumacher, made his F1 debut in 1991. Mika's rivalry with Michael began in F3 but would in effect go on hiatus for several years as Hakkinen laboured in back-of-the-grid cars and then broke his neck in qualifying for the 1995 Australian Grand Prix.  Once installed in competitive machinery Hakkinen shone, and his rivalry with Schumacher defined an era – until he suddenly decided to quit. How much of that was prompted by fear of further injury, how much by the draining effect of fighting for championships with one of the greatest drivers of all time? 

Why has Carlos Sainz thrived while the other high-profile drivers to have swapped teams this F1 season have struggled? And how has he managed to fit straight in to a Ferrari team which is traditionally difficult political territory, especially when under pressure?  These are just a few of the angles covered in a frank and exclusive interview with Sainz in this month's GP Racing magazine.  An exclusive interview with Sainz is the centrepiece of this month's GP Racing magazine. In the latest edition of the Flat Chat podcast, GP Racing editor Ben Anderson and columnist Mark Gallagher join host Stuart Codling to discuss Sainz's remarkable journey, and what Sainz describes as his “process”. The interview reveals a driver who has never relied on raw talent alone, but who has worked and fought for every break he's had. There's also been evidence of a cultural change within Ferrari, one which is enabling the team to rediscover its form after years of underachievement. Our panel reckons Sainz and Charles Leclerc add up to the strongest driver partnership in Formula 1: if Ferrari can get on par with Mercedes and Red Bull's car technology and race operations, championships beckon… This month's GP Racing also includes exclusive insight into the technical woes Mercedes has been battling with this season, and the innovative technologies which have enabled Red Bull and Honda to unlock latent potential within their hybrid power unit. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says his outfit won't “resign” the season, despite turning off the development taps and applying a final upgrade package at Silverstone. It's managed to nose ahead in the drivers' and constructors' championships but, with Red Bull still bringing vans full of upgrades to each round, can its resistance last? Also on the cover of GP Racing there's an exclusive interview with Esteban Ocon, who has rewarded Alpine's faith in him – that is, a freshly minted three-year contract – with a smoothly executed if circumstance-assisted victory in Hungary. What convinced him to throw over a chance to bid for the second seat at Mercedes to stay with Alpine – and what had he done to impress Alpine so much in the months before that sensational win?

In the July edition of the podcast it's our Silverstone special. Stuart Codling is joined by Ben Anderson and Mark Gallagher to look at the season so far for Lewis, Lando and George. The July issue of GP Racing is out now and you can get it here: https://www.gpracing.magazine.co.uk/

As the latest issue of GP Racing magazine hits the shelves, we congratulate ourselves on the serendipitous timing of putting Sergio Perez on the cover.  Ben had an exclusive interview with Perez and this is the result. It's even more interesting to read in the context of his win last weekend because he talks pretty frankly about how he's struggled to adapt to the car, but he was aware that was the only way he was going to succeed because the team weren't going to adapt the car to suit him.   Codders is joined by Ben Anderson and Mark Gallagher to talk about how Perez has settled in to Red Bull Racing, how F1 teams are coping with the budget cap and we pay tribute to Max Mosley.

What does Valtteri Bottas need to do to achieve his ambition of beating Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton to the F1 world championship?   An exclusive and extraordinarily frank interview with Bottas is the cover feature of this month's GP Racing magazine.    Perhaps it's time for Bottas to consider the long game and explore opportunities elsewhere – at teams which would jump at the chance to learn the secrets of what makes the Mercedes team such an unstoppable winning machine.   This month's GP Racing also examines Aston Martin's threats to take legal action against the FIA over the new F1 floor regulations. Has the team really been collateral in an attempt to hobble Mercedes, or is it simply too early to say definitively what effects the recent changes have had on individual cars?    The evidence from the early rounds suggests the changes have compressed the midfield and one driver thriving at the moment is Pierre Gasly, interviewed exclusively in this month's GP Racing. By developing the car to suit Gasly's strengths rather than expecting him to adapt his style to suit the car, AlphaTauri has taken its performance to another level. But what of the driver in the other car? Yuki Tsunoda's halo seems to have slipped recently…  

As the latest edition of GP Racing hits the shelves of shops that are now actually open, we look at what's really going on with Lewis Hamilton's new contract. We speak to George Russell, the man who might become Lewis's next team-mate… or Valtteri Bottas's new team-mate! And we speak to Daniel Ricciardo, the man of the moment at McLaren.   GP Racing editor Ben Anderson and columnist Mark Gallagher join Executive Editor Stuart Codling to debate what happens next with Lewis Hamilton. Both Lewis and Mercedes have claimed that they're happy with the present arrangement, which is a one-year extension and a plan to get around the table sooner rather than later. But are they really happy?   We've also spoken to Daniel Ricciardo for this month's issue. The partnership between him and McLaren feels like something that's been waiting to happen for some time. He even bought a McLaren road car while he was still driving for Red Bull and he describes his clandestine visit to the McLaren factory in the piece.   There's plenty more in this month's GP Racing, including Mark's superbly crafted and suitably flat out tribute to Murray Walker. And because there's no such thing as too many pictures of old buses being converted as F1 car transporters, there's a new multi-part story covering the history of Lotus. We also have some lovely close-up photography of the notorious Brabham ‘Fan Car'. Remember it was never banned!

Formula 1 bursts back into action next weekend, and the latest Flat Chat podcast from GP Racing magazine digs into what's likely to be an unexpectedly spicy season. GP Racing editor Ben Anderson and columnist Mark Gallagher join host Stuart Codling to debate whether Red Bull's punchy performance during the Bahrain test is all that it seems. Is Mercedes really on the back foot? What version of Valtteri Bottas are we on? Can new Red Bull recruit Sergio Perez succeed where Max Verstappen's most recent team-mates have failed? And will Honda finally win a world championship while still in it? This month's GP Racing also analyses what's going on in a midfield that's been subject to remarkable change, with two teams rolling out entire new identities. Having compared Aston Martin's launch with the infamous 1989 Brit Awards, our panel wonders whether the rebranded team will deliver a better script once it hits the track in anger. After the first test that's still very much open to question… In the magazine Mark Gallagher describes Alpine's plan for the next few seasons as Lazarus, The Repair Shop and Spartacus all rolled into one. New recruit Davide Brivio will be key to ensuring this happens on-track and our panel assesses how he will fit in with a long-established technical operation at Enstone and the expectations of the team's returning star Fernando Alonso. The team also share some personal recollections of the late Murray Walker, a longtime friend of the magazine as well as an occasional cover star – and a much-loved columnist until he finally set aside his typewriter at the age of 92.

‘Flat Chat' is back for February alongside a new edition of GP Racing magazine. Stuart Codling is joined by Ben Anderson and Mark Gallagher to talk about how F1 performed a staggering feat of financial engineering to survive in 2020. What is Jenson Button's actual role at Williams? What is McLaren's connection with Jerry Maguire? And why has the newly rebranded Alpine team ejected longtime leader Cyril Abiteboul? This month's GP Racing also delves into what makes the top four drivers on the grid so much better – and what sets them apart from what is already an elite group. Why has Fernando Alonso made the cut when younger stars such as Daniel Ricciardo haven't?

In the January issue of GP Racing, our cover star is George Russell, and a remarkable series of events ensued in the weeks after we made the decision to focus on him. No sooner had Luke Smith's elegantly crafted cover feature landed in the inbox than George found himself shoehorned into the cockpit of Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes. So it's a victory for the editorial crystal ball. The question is, can George Russell take over when Lewis finally decides to retire. Also this week: The pandemic laid bare a lot of structural weaknesses within F1 and a lot of teams hit financial trouble. You wouldn't have expected McLaren to be among them. When the season actually got going, they were remarkably competitive and they've done a great job to finish third in the constructors' championship. We've taken a look at their journey courtesy of an exclusive interview with Andreas Seidl.

‘Flat Chat' is back for December alongside a new edition of GP Racing magazine. Stuart Codling is joined by Ben Anderson and Mark Gallagher to talk about our extensive one-on-one interview with 7-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton. As the most successful grand prix driver of all time, he's eager to talk about the responsibility he feels to use his in influence for positive change. We ask how the Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 became the fastest GP (lapping Monza at 164mph) and whether it was Ferrari's ‘fault' for pushing them so hard last year. Plus, we talk with Pierre Gasly about his future, whether it will be with Red Bull, and what options Christian Horner could pick.