The Inside Line F1 Podcast is a weekly show that adds humour to the otherwise serious world of Formula 1. Hosted by Mithila and Kunal, this podcast offers an alternative view on the sport, business and politics of Formula 1. Our Pits To Podium segment is hosted by Soumil and Kunal. This segment brings to you topical news, previews, race debriefs and feature stories from the world of Motorsport. For your weekly dose of Formula 1 humour, search 'Inside Line F1 Podcast' on your favourite audio streaming app - we are present everywhere on the Internet. Miss us as you wait for our next episode? Engage with us on Facebook (http://bit.ly/insidelineonfacebook) . Music courtesy: Lucien Byfieldt (https://lucienbyfieldt.bandcamp.com/)
Did the new technical directive really make headway for anyone in this race? And should the safety car restart have happened earlier? (Pardon the lack of audio punch in Kunal's track!) Before all else, did Max Verstappen deliberately ram into George Russell as the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix came to a conclusion? He received a 10-second time penalty for "causing a collision", but was Verstappen angry at Russell's driving or Red Bull's decision to put him on the hard tyre at the Safety Car restart, or both? But maybe the fans were entertained because they voted for Max Verstappen as the "Driver of the Day" for the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. At the front, McLaren's Oscar Piastri dominated the race proceedings to score his 5th F1 win of the season. Lando Norris had yet another messy start, while Charles Leclerc ran a different tyre strategy to score yet another podium. Lots of movements in the Drivers' and Constructors' championship after the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. - Fernando Alonso scored points at home - his first points of the season! He's the 18th driver to score points in 2025. - Isack Hadjar jumps Esteban Oon for 9th- Nico Hulkenberg jumps to 11th in the WDC, ahead of Carlos Sainz. - Pierre Gasly jumps Yuki Tsunoda for 14th. - Ferrari jumps to 2nd place in the Constructors' Championship - 165 points- Mercedes is down to 3rd (159 points), Red Bull Racing are 4th (144 points) - Racing Bulls jumps Haas for 7th place (28 points).- Sauber is up to 8th - up 2 places! It was a race of some of the nicest overtakes this season, and controversial ones too. That's why we're now LIVE on the Inside Line #F1 Podcast with Kunal Shah and Soumil Arora. 3 penalty points for Sundaram Ramaswami on missing our show today! Join the conversation and send us your thoughts and comments. (Season 2025, Episode 33) Follow Us: X: https://x.com/insidelinef1pod Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/insidelinef1pod/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3P2RsaP89xP1xvG7twj8pd Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-line-f1-podcast/id632531804 Follow our hosts: ► Soumil Arora: https://www.instagram.com/iamsoumilarora/ ► Sundaram Ramaswami: https://www.instagram.com/f1statsguru/ ► Kunal Shah: https://www.twitter.com/kunalashah #F1 #F12025 #SpanishGP #Barcelona Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A new technical directive comes for the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix - the 9th race this season. Will this be F1 2025 2.0? - Will McLaren retain their lead? We think they have an interesting challenge ahead of them! - Will the 3-point gap in the WDC be closed by Lando Norris this weekend? - Will Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari be able to bounce back? So many questions and so much to look forward to. We're back with another LIVE episode on the Inside Line #F1 Podcast with Soumil Arora and Sundaram Ramaswami. Join the conversation and send us your thoughts and comments. (Season 2025, Episode 32) Follow Us: X: https://x.com/insidelinef1pod Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/insidelinef1pod/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3P2RsaP89xP1xvG7twj8pd Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-line-f1-podcast/id632531804 Follow our hosts: ► Soumil Arora: https://www.instagram.com/iamsoumilarora/ ► Sundaram Ramaswami: https://www.instagram.com/f1statsguru/ ► Kunal Shah: https://www.twitter.com/kunalashah #F1 #F12025 #SpanishGP #Barcelona Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A chaotic race crowned the king of the 2025 Monaco GP - Lando Norris! Norris, who's last win was at the opening round in Australia, closed the gap to Oscar Piastri in the F1 Drivers' Championship to only 3 points. Well, we loved watching the teams put on some super strategic moves, make some tricky calls, and give us the spectacle we deserve at Monte Carlo. But was it too much strategy and too little racing? Join Kunal Shah, Soumil Arora, Sundaram Ramaswami LIVE on the this episode of the Inside Line #F1 Podcast after an eventful Sunday of racing! 1. Why was Ferrari quick in Monaco despite being slow on other circuits? 2. Why did Liam Lawson hold up the pack, and how did that force Williams' hand in race strategy? Lawson's team game helped him and team-mate Isack Hadjar score their best results of the season and in turn, uplift Racing Bulls to 7th place in the Constructors' Championship ahead of Aston Martin. 3. Should George Russell have received a stricter penalty for his defiance of track limits and track position violation? Finally, the battle for 2nd place in the Constructors' Championship between Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing is separated by only 5 points! 4. Why did Max Verstappen wait till the penultimate lap to make his second stop? (Season 2025, Episode 31) Follow Us: X: https://x.com/insidelinef1pod Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/insidelinef1pod/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3P2RsaP89xP1xvG7twj8pd Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-line-f1-podcast/id632531804 Follow our hosts: ► Soumil Arora: https://www.instagram.com/iamsoumilarora/ ► Sundaram Ramaswami: https://www.instagram.com/f1statsguru/ ► Kunal Shah: https://www.twitter.com/kunalashah #F1 #F12025 #MonacoGP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Lando Norris clinched pole position for the second time in 2025 around the streets of Monaco. The Qualifying hour was closely contested between Norris' team-mate Oscar Piastri, Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen and Friday's pace-setter Charles Leclerc. On the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah discuss the 2025 Monaco GP qualifying and the prospects of the mandatory 2-stops in the Grand Prix. Will it be chaotic in the race? We hope so. (Season 2025, Episode 30) Follow Us: X: https://x.com/insidelinef1pod Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/insidelinef1pod/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3P2RsaP89xP1xvG7twj8pd Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-line-f1-podcast/id632531804 Follow our hosts: ► Soumil Arora: https://www.instagram.com/iamsoumilarora/ ► Sundaram Ramaswami: https://www.instagram.com/f1statsguru/ ► Kunal Shah: https://www.twitter.com/kunalashah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We feel it's all about how we watch the race at Monte Carlo. Ferrari might not have their chance at glory around the #MonacoGP this time around in 2025, but boy do we know what to watch out for this weekend. Track characteristics, driver standings, and the outlook from the paddock - we've covered it all in this preview episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast. Don't miss out on the fun trivia and great stats from this track. Which is your favourite one? Join the conversation LIVE with Soumil Arora and Sundaram Ramaswami - it's the second race of the second triple header of the F1 2025 season! Tune in! (Season 2025, Episode 29) Follow Us: X: https://x.com/insidelinef1pod Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/insidelinef1pod/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3P2RsaP89xP1xvG7twj8pd Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-line-f1-podcast/id632531804 Follow our hosts: ► Soumil Arora: https://www.instagram.com/iamsoumilarora/ ► Sundaram Ramaswami: https://www.instagram.com/f1statsguru/ ► Kunal Shah: https://www.twitter.com/kunalashah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Franz Hermann aka Max Verstappen showed once again why he's the GOAT of this generation of Formula 1 drivers. Is Red Bull Racing back to being the fastest team in Formula 1? At least in Imola, they were the class of the field. Can this continue for the rest (or most?) of the season? Based on the radio exchanges between Verstappen-GP, Max wanted to win in Imola...but with a large margin. - Max Verstappen's most-classic and cleanest opening lap/Turn 1 move since many races? - Oscar Piastri's bad luck with McLaren's pit stops & timing of the VSC and SC - Lando Norris' podium that didn't feel like a podium! - Yuki Tsunoda's pit lane start to a points finish in 10th If Ferrari start higher up the grid, do they have the pace to win? - Lewis Hamilton's comeback drive, and Charles Leclerc's frustrations. What can Ferrari do to qualify better!? - Alexander Albon's missed podium opportunity, but fantastic battles with Ferrari. Should Albon have battled differently with Leclerc? The Thai-British driver reckoned that he could've challenged Oscar Piastri for the podium! - Leclerc's radio exchanges with Brian Bozzi on the Ferrari pit wall regarding the possibly penalty in his battle with Albon - Carlos Sainz's lost chance due to an early pit stop What a way to bow out for Imola! Thank you for the entertainment. Tune in! (Season 2025, Episode 28) Follow Us: X: https://x.com/insidelinef1pod Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/insidelinef1pod/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3P2RsaP89xP1xvG7twj8pd Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-line-f1-podcast/id632531804 Follow our hosts: ► Soumil Arora: https://www.instagram.com/iamsoumilarora/ ► Sundaram Ramaswami: https://www.instagram.com/f1statsguru/ ► Kunal Shah: https://www.twitter.com/kunalashah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What's gone wrong at Ferrari? Is this their lowest before they bounce back, that is, if they will? We discuss the 2025 Imola Grand Prix qualifying. In our post-Qualifying show, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah discuss the "fastest lap" session from the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit. Williams' run of pace, Ferrari's tyre warm up issues, Oscar Piastri's repeat pole, Lando Norris' struggles and Max Verstappen making a fight of it, again. In fact, Aston Martin's medium tyre gamble in qualifying must be applauded. It helped Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll participate in Q3 for the first time this season. Tune in! (Season 2025, Episode 27) Follow Us: X: https://x.com/insidelinef1pod Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/insidelinef1pod/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3P2RsaP89xP1xvG7twj8pd Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-line-f1-podcast/id632531804 Follow our hosts: ► Soumil Arora: https://www.instagram.com/iamsoumilarora/ ► Sundaram Ramaswami: https://www.instagram.com/f1statsguru/ ► Kunal Shah: https://www.twitter.com/kunalashah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2025 could well be the last time Formula 1 races at Imola, at least for the foreseeable future. Btw, have you memorised the LOOONG name of the iconic Grand Prix? Imola hosts one of the two races in Italy - the other being Monza. But who will the dear tifosi cheer for - an Italian prodigy in Andrea Kimi Antonelli or the legendary Lewis Hamilton racing for the Italian marquee Ferrari? Imola, Monaco and Barcelona - as we get ready for another triple header, look out for the upgrades teams will bring to this race as we start the "European leg" of the 2025 Formula 1 calendar. Apart from Ferrari & Antonelli, who else has an Italian connection? F1's Drivers' Championship leader Oscar Piastri has claimed he has Italian roots and Racing Bulls' factory in Faenza is about 18 kms away from Imola. Did you know? Haas has an office in America, the UK and a design office in Italy! Imola could well offer a turning point in the 2025 Formula 1 season, and Ferrari would be hoping for a less embarrassing outing at home in front of the tifosi. And of course, Franco Colapinto is in at Alpine in place of Jack Doohan. Let's see how he goes! (Season 2025, Episode 26) Follow Us: X: https://x.com/insidelinef1pod Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/insidelinef1pod/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3P2RsaP89xP1xvG7twj8pd Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-line-f1-podcast/id632531804 Follow our hosts: ► Soumil Arora: https://www.instagram.com/iamsoumilarora/ ► Sundaram Ramaswami: https://www.instagram.com/f1statsguru/ ► Kunal Shah: https://www.twitter.com/kunalashah #F1 #F12025 #ImolaGP #MaxVerstappen #OscarPiastri #FrancoColapinto #Alpine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What a weekend, y'all! Join the conversation LIVE as Kunal Shah, Soumil Arora, and Sundaram Ramaswani get fanboying about what a maddening weekend it has been for racing in Miami! Oh and maybe a not-such-a-big surprise coming from the Alpine garage only 6 races in the season! Jack Doohan out and Franco Colapinto in? What are your thoughts? Send in your thoughts and comments. Tune in! (Season 2025, Episode 25) Follow Us: X: https://x.com/insidelinef1pod Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/insidelinef1pod/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3P2RsaP89xP1xvG7twj8pd Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-line-f1-podcast/id632531804 Follow our hosts: ► Soumil Arora: https://www.instagram.com/iamsoumilarora/ ► Sundaram Ramaswami: https://www.instagram.com/f1statsguru/ ► Kunal Shah: https://www.twitter.com/kunalashah #F1 #F12025 #MiamiGP #MaxVerstappen #OscarPiastri #JackDoohan #Alpine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We are LIVE with the Miami GP Preview Show! Join Soumil Arora & Sundaram Ramaswami on the Inside Line #F1 Podcast for analysis, debate, stats, and maybe some serious Papaya tension - time for a chat in the comments section. Oscar Piastri leads the World Championship, but will the Miami heat and McLaren team dynamics keep him on top? Is Lando Norris ready to bounce back at the scene of his first-ever Grand Prix victory? Can Ferrari finally convert pace into performance? And could this be the weekend where Max Verstappen reminds everyone who the champion is? AND it's the second sprint race of the season. Who will make it count? What's on our minds? The unique challenge of the Miami street circuit (weather, grip & layout) Why drivers aren't huge fans of the venue despite the party vibes Every major livery drop from Ferrari, RB, and Sauber + key car upgrades The Cadillac x Andretti noise and why it's grabbing attention And of course, we lock in our bold predictions for the Miami Grand Prix podium. Tune in! (Season 2025, Episode 24) Follow Us: X: https://x.com/insidelinef1pod Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/insidelinef1pod/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3P2RsaP89xP1xvG7twj8pd Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-line-f1-podcast/id632531804 Follow our hosts: ► Soumil Arora: https://www.instagram.com/iamsoumilarora/ ► Sundaram Ramaswami: https://www.instagram.com/f1statsguru/ ► Kunal Shah: https://www.twitter.com/kunalashah #F1 #F12025 #MiamiGP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Inside Line #F1 Podcast with Franz Tost on the legacy of a Team Principal who shaped F1 champions. It's finally out! Watch the full interview for Franz Tost's most candid and a engaging conversations around his time in Formula 1 that panned over two decades. From mentoring Sebastian Vettel to witnessing the rise of Max Verstappen, and guiding Yuki Tsunoda through adversity, Franz Tost opens up on everything that shaped his career—and Formula 1 itself. Franz has many feathers in his cap, especially having nurtured drivers like Carlos Sainz, Daniel Ricciardo and Alexander Albon and going on to manage the most unique development team in the paddock. He also shares rare stories, deep technical insights, and powerful advice for the next generation of champions.
With all the drama and action starting right from Lap 1, the 2025 Saudi Arabian GP paved the way for Oscar Piastri to take P1 in the race and in the World Drivers' Championship. From the scuffle with Max to the daring and unconventional overtake on Hamilton, Oscar Piastri gave us a show worth watching. AND he becomes the new World Drivers' Championship Leader with 99 points on the board. With great driving dynamics on display, especially with the DRS games throughout, it's been a race worth watching even for the midfield battles. Your live comments riling up Sundaram, and the rest of us pulling Soumil's leg on Sainz's race, this LIVE show of the Inside Line #F1 Podcast is also worth a watch! Miami is next and we finally have a break! By the way, if you haven't watched it yet, you must check out why THE Franz Tost, former Scuderia Alpha Tauri and Torro Rosso Team Principal, thinks Oscar Piastri is World Champion material for the 2025 season! Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/c4wliikiMQI
The 2025 #F1 Saudi Arabian GP Weekend is far from over yet! In this LIVE episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Kunal Shah and Sundaram Ramaswami discuss a dramatic, yet an edge-of-your-seat worthy Saturday qualifying session in Jeddah. Here's where the slightest error could cost you everything — just ask Lando Norris! That being said, it was Max Verstappen at the end who did deliver a sensational lap to take the pole position! Our outlook for the weekend: - Is Lando Norris caving under pressure and will Oscar Piastri keep outshining him the rest of the season? - Will Max Verstappen convert his pole into an unchallenged victory? - Historical data suggests a preference for one-stop strategies during the race, but the softer compounds could prompt teams to reconsider. So how will the teams navigate their tyre and pit stop strategies? - With Russell P3 and Antonelli P5, Mercedes cars have a competitive edge. Does this indicate the team's potential to challenge at the front, especially if they can capitalise on race-day strategies? Will Ferrari find a race defining solution going into Turn 1 tomorrow? Join the conversation! Send in your thoughts and comments too! Who are you rooting for winning the Saudi Arabian GP Race in 2025?
Lando Norris needs to bounce back in form. Period. What's on our minds ahead of this weekend's race? Here's the lowdown from the Inside Line #F1 Podcast - If McLaren is set to dominate Formula 1 in 2025, the sport needs the two McLaren drivers "competing" at the front for wins - without "papaya rules", of course. - Will Red Bull Racing continue to struggle in the heat with their tyre degradation? And hence, will talks of "Max Verstappen leaving" intensify at the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit? - Will Ferrari finally score a podium? And will George Russell continue to impress at Mercedes - and keep Toto Wolff from wooing Max Verstappen? - Who will lead the mid-field charge - Alpine, Williams or Haas? - And finally, will Fernando Alonso finally break his points scoring duck in 2025? Tune in LIVE Yes, it's a triple-header and so are our schedules! But Kunal Shah, Soumil Arora, and Sundaram Ramaswami are back just in time for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Oscar Piastri DOMINATES. Mercedes SHINE. Red Bull STRUGGLE. Yes, we're still talking about this a whole 24 hours later. In this episode of the Inside Line #F1 Podcast, Kunal Shah and Soumil Arora react to everything that went down at the Bahrain International Circuit during the fourth Grand Prix of the 2025 F1 season! The headline: Oscar Piastri delivered a flawless performance to secure his fourth career win, while Lando Norris recovered from a penalty to claim P3. But what about Max Verstappen and Red Bull? But there's always more:
Kunal Shah goes solo as he reacts to the Qualifying session for the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix. Can Lando Norris get on to the podium? Can Oscar Piastri take the lead in the Drivers' Championship for the first time in his Formula 1 career? How did Carlos Sainz out-qualify Lewis Hamilton? Key Qualifying and Race stats for the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix Will the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix be another race won by the pole sitter? Kunal explains why this race might not be another "Qualifying Race" to win; after all, the first 4 races (incl. Sprint in China) have been won by the pole sitter - and via a one-stop strategy. And of course, will there be a bigger story than McLaren's dominance in the race tomorrow?
The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka delivered for us! Join the conversation LIVE with Kunal Shah and Soumil Arora! In this episode, we dive into the big questions surrounding McLaren's race strategy:
We're live once again post 2025 F1 Suzuka GP Qualifying! — Join our conversation on everything from FP1 to qualifying and what it means for Sunday's race.
Let's talk all things Japanese GP 2025! It's shaping up to be one of the most intense weekends and it's only the third one of the season. Yuki Tsunoda makes his long-awaited Red Bull Racing debut, but can he handle the pressure at his home race? In this episode of the Inside Line #F1 Podcast, Kunal Shah, Soumil Arora, and Sundaram Ramaswami bring up the biggest storylines heading into Suzuka, from Red Bull's new livery to Ferrari's ongoing struggles and the critical importance of qualifying at Suzuka. What's in store for this episode? ✔ Yuki Tsunoda's Red Bull debut – What it means for Japan & his career ✔ Suzuka's resurfacing & tyre management – Will cold conditions shake things up? ✔ Suzuka: A driver's ultimate test – Why Qualifying is everything ✔ Our bold predictions – Who's winning & who's in trouble? We also discuss team dynamics, potential standout performances, and what to expect from drivers like Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris, and Liam Lawson. Who will conquer Suzuka, and who's in for a rough weekend?
Kush Maini is making history! As Alpine's newest Formula 1 Test & Reserve driver, the Indian sensation joins us for an exclusive deep dive into his F1 dream, the highs and lows of F2, and what's next for his racing career. While we take a short break from the F1 2025 season, join in on this exclusive from the Inside Line #F1 Podcast his conversation with Kunal Shah as they get to chat on:
The Inside Line F1 Podcast is LIVE again after the 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix is done and what a tough day at the office for strategists and race engineers! Join in on our conversation LIVE and drop your thoughts and reactions in the chat. Kunal Shah, Soumil Aroa, and Sundaram Ramaswami aka @f1statsguru are here to catch up with you once again on what has been the progress of this Sunday's race. We saw a pit stop strategy rumble from every team, but Piastri's much deserved third career win comes after the misery of Melbourne, along with a little bit of a reliability question mark for Norris despite the dominance. It still was a field day for McLaren - it's still their 50th 1-2 finish in an F1 race! Back to back podiums for Russell - could it mean the resurgence of Mercedes this year? Even Andrea Kimi Antonelli has overtaken the man he replaced, in the drivers' championship! (for now!) and becomes Driver of the Day! That man, Lewis Hamilton, possibly was pitted a bit too late. However, Charles Leclerc still put in a great result despite the front wing damage! And so much radio entertainment from Ferrari once again. Oh, and did we see a flexi front wing on Yuki Tsunoda's car? Double points for Haas, with Oliver Bearman picking off drivers down the order and we also had a fight to watch out for between the rookies Isack Hadjar and Jack Doohan! So much to take in, so little time! Join the conversation with us and send in your thoughts and comments in the chat! Stay tuned for more as we'll be back with another livestream after the race on Sunday.
Oscar Piastri has finally taken a pole this weekend. But is there even more to this weekend's run at the Shanghai International Circuit? From the hustle by George Russell to split the McLarens, the frenzy over the flexi wing technical directive, and even Isack Hadjar out-qualifying Yuki Tsunoda, it's been a roller-coaster of a weekend! These are some of the things Kunal Shah and Soumil Arora are pondering about for sure: * Why did Lewis not take pole after a great performance and Sprint win? * Why did Lando Norris make the same mistakes? * Why did Oscar Piastri and the McLarens not perform so well in Sprint Qualifying and the Sprint Race? * Who among the rookies has a winning chance this weekend? Join the conversation with us and send in your thoughts and comments in the chat! Stay tuned for more as we'll be back with another livestream after the race on Sunday.
The first race of the 2025 Formula 1 season had its fair share of drama and chaos, even before racing started! Yes, we had 4 rookies (5, if you count Alonso!), Carlos Sainz and eventually even title hopeful Oscar Piastri spin out on the wet track. Also, we had Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton lead Ferrari and call the team's race tyre strategy from the cockpit. And how can we forget - Papaya Rules kicking in as early as Race 1! Who'd have thought!? McLaren & Lando Norris won in dominant fashion - when the track was dry-ish, and when it was wet. Are these ominous signs for the season ahead? Oscar Piastri kept Norris honest, despite & won the local crowd's cheers for driving in forward...and in reverse modes. George Russell sneaked in an invisible podium for Mercedes, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli drove a sensational race on debut to finish 4th - while surviving the changing weather conditions & pulling off overtakes. Finally, 7 out of the 10 teams scored points in the 2025 Australian Grand Prix. After stellar performances in Qualifying, Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Racing Bulls' Yuki Tsunoda failed to score points in the Race due to their team's questionable tyre strategy. While technical issues held us from going LIVE on YouTube, we did switch strategies to come back with our reactions today. We'll surely bring upgrades to the next show! Until then, join Kunal Shah, Soumil Arora, and Sundaram Ramaswami aka @f1statsguru in conversation about what went down at Albert Park today for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix.
And just like that, Qualifying for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix is DONE! We finally have our first pecking order of the season—who delivered, who crumbled, and who just sent a massive warning to the rest of the grid - let's talk it out. Like the F1 teams' upgrades, we're also excited to do our very first LIVE show of the season. No edits, no script. Just instant, unfiltered takes. McLaren locks out the front row, Ferrari gets out-qualified by a Williams, and a rookie outshines a veteran—all in one session! What does this mean for race day, and did we just get our first real glimpse of the season's pecking order? We want to hear from YOU too! Drop your reactions in the chat right now—who's your biggest winner and biggest letdown from Qualifying?
The 2025 F1 season is HERE! After months of anticipation, Formula 1 roars back to life in Melbourne this weekend. The Inside Line F1 Podcast is BACK to regular programming, and the 2025 Australian Grand Prix is already throwing up some huge talking points! New teams, new driver lineups, shifting team dynamics, and fresh headlines—there's a lot to unpack ahead of the season opener at Albert Park Race strategies, track conditions and predictions aside, what should we expect from the season opener? We're setting the stage for a season like no other! And guess what? On Inside Line's Hot Takes: Kunal, Sundaram, and Soumil lock in their bold predictions for the Australian GP—and we're keeping score all season long!
The 2025 F1 season is about to begin, and pre-season testing has given us the first glimpse of what's to come. But how much of it is real? What can we learn? Who's sandbagging? What is kept hidden? We've got the inside scoop! To break it all down, we're joined by none other than Craig Scarborough—the go-to technical expert in motorsport—alongside Soumil Arora, Kunal Shah, and F1 Stats Guru. Together, we uncover the secrets behind the 2025 grid and learn what's really going on under the surface. We analyse: ✅ Which teams are truly competitive & who's bluffing? ✅ F1 cars are looking too similar—are they really? ✅ What the 2025 season could bring: Surprises, dark horses & contenders? ✅ What are the problems teams are trying to solve with their designs? ✅ What are the technical insights that no one else could possibly cover? ✅ Who's playing it safe vs. who's gone all-in? ✅ Who are the favourites and what's the pecking order?
In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil has the eye on the biggest risks teams face, how testing failures impact the season, and why Lewis Hamilton's first Ferrari test is way tougher than Vettel's or Alonso's debut! Btw, no Formula 1 car suffered from reliability issues on the first day of the pre-season test, but the Bahrain International Circuit did! There was a circuit wide power outage for almost an hour. A very good day to everyone who started the day early today to watch F1 cars go round a track over and over again! But some more questions WILL be answered as the sessions begin today! ✅ McLaren's 2025 direction – Dynamic technical? ✅ Can Alpine bounce back from last year's pre-season testing failures? ✅ Do bad tests mean a doomed season? ✅ Who is rooting for the rookies? ✅ How can the teams sharpen their skills throughout the season?
F1 2025 Pre-Season Testing is here! But how much do testing times really tell us?
The biggest Formula 1 season launch event in history just wrapped up at The O2! In this season opener for 2025, Kunal, Sundaram, and Soumil dive deep into F1 75 LIVE. Why did F1 host the event? Was it a success? We break down the brand-new 2025 liveries: Which teams nailed the design? Which ones played it too safe? And which livery had us completely divided? Oh and you can spot a new livery for the InsideLine F1 Podcast too! But that's not all! We also take a nostalgic trip down memory lane as each host reveals THREE of their all-time favourite F1 liveries—from legendary Ferrari reds to unforgettable McLaren colour schemes. It's the ultimate design geek-out session for every motorsport fan! Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 00:47 - F1-75 Thoughts and Recap 10:43 - FIA booed - Thoughts? 17:20 - Hot or Not? 21:55 - Stake Kick Sauber 24:55 - Williams 29:47 - Racing Bulls 33:57 - Haas 36:43 - Aston Martin 39:14 - Alpine 45:45 - Mercedes 51:02 - Red Bull Racing 55:41 - Ferrari 58:35 - Sundaram's Bold Prediction 59:23 - McLaren 1:01:35 - Kunal's Favorite McLaren reveals 1:03:30 - Soumil's Top 3 Liveries 1:06:10 - Sundaram's Top 3 Liveries 1:08:20 - Kunal's Top 3 Liveries Don't miss this unmissable season opener as we kick off the 2025 F1 season in style!
Who is Arvid Lindblad and why is he so crucial to Red Bull Racing's future driver plans in Formula 1? What is Red Bull Racing's plan for "life after Max Verstappen"? Soumil Arora and @f1statsguru sat down for a heartfelt conversation with Red Bull's junior driver Arvid Lindblad. Arvid spoke about his Motorsport journey, his "promise" to Lando Norris, knowing Max Verstappen and in general, being one of the most-successful racers in Formula 3 who will step up to Formula 2 in 2025 with Campos Racing.
At our season kick-off event in Mumbai in mid-January, your Inside Line F1 Podcast hosts Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah were joined by FIA-accredited Formula 1 journalist Abhishek Takle to share early and bold predictions for the 2025 Formula 1 season. On this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, you *will* hear bold predictions for the 10 teams, Formula 1 and of course, the FIA. The most-common and popular bold prediction of our hosts-guest and the engaged audience was "Lewis Hamilton winning a World Championship with Ferrari in 2025", but could Haas become Toyota sooner rather than later? Which Red Bull / Racing Bulls driver get the swap, and who will get the axe? And finally, Franco Colapinto replacing Jack Doohan isn't a "bold" prediction, even if it may happen "early" in the season. Lots of banter, insights and conversations in this loooong episode.
Vitantonio Liuzzi's love for Formula 1 is unmatched and infectious; his love story with Formula 1 is next to none. Tonio went from being World Karting Champ one year to making his Formula 1 debut in the next; and beating the then 4-times Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher in go-karts. Tonio proudly calls himself the "start up" driver for Formula 1 teams after racing with "start ups" Red Bull Racing, Force India and HRT. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Tonio shares his journey through Formula 1, the highs-lows and why he is so proud of his appointment as FIA's Driver Steward. For the geeks, Tonio's story on how the f-duct ruined his career in the sport is one definitely worth listening to!
Our most-awaited season-ending episode is here - the Inside Line F1 Parody Awards. Most drivers say that our F1 Parody Awards are the best; better than the FIA Gala Awards, of course. "The winner is never who you think it is" is the key phrase to remember as you tune in to this episode. We've got 10 categories and several nominees. There's a 100% chance that your favourite teams-drivers have at least one nomination, if not, a category win. Tune in! See you in 2025...
"Negotiations are ongoing. I am positive that there will be a decision & announcement this week." "Yes, this is the first time share holders are involved (in a driver decision)." Inside Line F1 Podcast's Kunal Shah spoke to Red Bull's Dr. Helmut Marko about 2025 driver line-ups for both Red Bull-owned Formula 1 teams, celebrating Max Verstappen's fourth win, strengths and areas of improvement for all Red Bull contracted drivers for 2025 (including Verstappen) and Arvid Lindblad's future in Formula 2, and hopefully, Formula 1...with Red Bull Racing.
Welcome to the season finale review episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast! Join us as we review the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP—a race that had it all! McLaren ends a 26-year drought with a historic Constructors' Championship win
6, if not 7, drivers racing in the 2024 Formula 1 Season will be enjoying a farewell at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz, Franco Colapinto, Kevin Magnussen, Zhou Guanyu, Valtteri Bottas...and maybe, Sergio Perez? And of course, three drivers haven't had a farewell in 2024 - Daniel Ricciardo, Logan Sargeant and Esteban Ocon. Luckily, we will see OCO back in Formula 1 with Haas in a tyre test after Abu Dhabi. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah preview the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 9 out of the last 12 races have been won from pole, and 11 (of these 12) have been won from the front row. Half of the 10 Constructors' Championship standings could change after this Sunday's race - McLaren vs. Ferrari for P1, while Alpine, Haas and Racing Bulls are battling for P6. The lesser hyped battle is the one for P2 in the Drivers' Championship between Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc. Could Norris go from battling Max Verstappen for P1 to losing P2 to Leclerc? This is the 2024 Formula 1 season and stranger things have happened. But for everyone's sake (and sanity), let's hope that all battles are settled fairly and justly...and without the intervention of the FIA. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 62) Follow our hosts: @f1statsguru & Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Max Verstappen won yet another race in a car that wasn't the fastest. But which car was the fastest in the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix? On Friday, it was the McLaren. On Saturday, it was the Mercedes, but on Sunday, was it the McLaren again? Or the Red Bull Racing car have a slight edge? We believe it was McLaren's race to win...and they didn't. Yet another race where they didn't maximise their result. M4xsterclass in Qatar was the reason this time. Verstappen ensured he didn't lose the race lead to George Russell at the start and to Lando Norris at the restarts. Along with Verstappen's 9th win of 2024, it was also his 1-place grid penalty in Qualifying that made the headlines. On Sunday, Norris' "10 second stop-go" penalty was another fiasco that dogged the FIA - did they exaggerate the safety situation by throwing a double yellow flag? Why were they late in deploying the Safety Car to remove Alexander Albon's broken wing mirror? In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah present to you the review of the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. The unfortunate punctures for Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton, Hamilton's unforced errors in the race, Russell's lack of spatial awareness, Pierre Gasly's 5th place for Alpine, Fernando Alonso scoring in his 400th race in Formula 1 and of course, Zhou Guanyu scoring his and Sauber's first points of the season. A lot happened in Qatar, on and off track. We dissect the chaos and the racing. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 61) Follow our hosts: @f1statsguru & Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Mercedes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why did Formula 1 make a "U" turn on their stance against having an 11th team in Andretti joining the grid? Did Formula 1 "use" Andretti to lure General Motors and Cadillac to the sport? OR did Andretti use GM-Cadillac to get their chance to race in Formula 1? Of course, Andretti will have a team on the grid in 2026, just not with their name on it! In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah discuss the politics of the "11th team in Formula 1" while wondering if Andretti's playbook to "force" their way into the sport is something other car manufacturers in the world could use!? McLaren vs. Ferrari, Hamilton vs. Russell, Alpine vs. Racing Bulls vs. Haas, but of course, Leclerc vs. Norris - lots of battles left in the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship. They will be fiercely fought over the next two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. The circuit characteristics of the Lusail International Circuit indicate that it should favour McLaren, but could Mercedes continue their momentum into Qatar? They were quick in the fast and sweeping Silverstone, while of course, Ferrari considers Lusail as one of their "weaker" circuits. Let's see how it rolls in Qatar, which also, is a Sprint weekend. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 60) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: General Motors, Cadillac Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For the second successive year, the Las Vegas Grand Prix delivered an entertaining race. The cold temperatures and the circuit layout brought Mercedes into play and it was George Russell who maximised his chances - in Qualifying, by clinching pole position, and then winning from pole in the Race. Lewis Hamilton, who made two rare errors in Qualifying, finished second in the race after delivering a solid recovery drive from 10th on the grid. The 2024 Formula 1 season will be remembered in the sport's history. For the first time in history, there are four teams with multiple wins and with 1-2 finishes in the races. And of course, it will be remembered as one of Verstappen's finest Drivers' Championship wins, after all, he's won the title in what is the third fastest car as per the classification. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah review the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix. The entertainment, the stars, the overtakes, the degrading tyres, Ferrari's pace but lack of strategy, the Charles Leclerc-Carlos Sainz love-hate relationship, Nico Hulkenberg and Yuki Tsunoda's points scoring ways, Pierre Gasly's third in Qualifying going up in flames, Aston Martin's no score and more. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 59) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Should Formula 1 have called this the Sin City Grand Prix!? Can Max Verstappen clinch his fourth F1 world title in Las Vegas? It is the *best* city in the world to celebrate, after all, or so we're told. In fact, there's a chapel in the paddock, too, should any one want to use it. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah preview the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix. What next will Verstappen say about the Las Vegas Grand Prix? Will winning in Las Vegas make him like the race a little bit more? It's a street race, and a low grip one at that, will this bring Charles Leclerc and Sergio "King of the Streets" Perez into form? Formula 1's unpredictability is at an all-time high and fans need enjoy this phase...and appreciate it. The "longest race" in Formula 1 will offer a lethal mix of racing and entertainment. In fact, tickets are still up for grabs should any of our listeners be interested in experiencing this race live...and see the possible crowning of a World Champion. Lando Norris' target lays ahead - with Verstappen 62 points in the lead, however, if Leclerc finds form and claims another street race win, it could be the battle for P2 in the Drivers' Championship that could entertain us in the final "night race" triple header of the 2024 Formula 1 season. Of course, given how exciting things are, we just don't want the season to end, do you? Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 58) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Formula 1 graduates-to-be Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman have *one* thing in common in their season as team-mates in Formula 2, and that's Prema - the team they race for in the premier feeder series to Formula 1. Fun fact - Prema has helped 20 drivers graduate from the junior series to Formula 2...and ultimately Formula 1. Their list of graduates is illustrious and it includes drivers such as Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, Esteban Ocon, Mick Schumacher, Robert Kubica, Pierre Gasly and several more. Prema's Rene Rosin joins Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah on Inside Line F1 Podcast to discuss the team's 41 year old history, developing junior drivers for every team on the Formula 1 grid, the business of racing in Formula 2 and more. After announcing their much-awaited foray into IndyCar, could Formula 1 be next for Prema? Rene Rosin shares the team's ambitions, growth plans and above all else, the passion they go racing with every single weekend, in every single racing series they participate in. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 57) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We get it. Lando Norris is probably bitter at how his Drivers' Championship challenge is turning out to be. But how could he not identify what a great drive Max Verstappen put in, in the wet weather, to go from P17 at the start to P1 at the finish. Even Verstappen's arch-rival, Lewis Hamilton, doffed his hats off to Max for a mega race. Let's add Fernando Alonso, Charles Leclerc and even Nico Hulkenberg to that list, and mind you, these are stand-out "wet weather" racers in their own right. "It's not talent, just luck" will continue to haunt Norris, we guess, but that's already the quote of the season for us. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah dissect Norris' luck in Interlagos, thanks to the various inconsistencies of the FIA. In fact, Norris must consider himself lucky to not get a "sporting penalty" for not following the Race Director's instructions on the "aborted start". Were the FIA too lenient on the McLaren driver? Elsewhere, Ferrari's lack of fight, Haas' no points score, and of course, Alpine's double podium - that's discussed in this hour-long episode, including the multiple crashes seen through the weekend. Btw, what did you think of Lance Stroll's strange "got caught" in the gravel trap moment on the formation lap of the 2024 São Paulo GP? It was the most Lance Stroll thing to do, reckons @f1statsguru. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 56) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ferrari has won 3 races in a row only two times in the last 2 decades - in 2008 and then in 2019. Could they do the unthinkable and win again at Interlagos? The final race of the ongoing triple header, the 2024 São Paulo GP, is upon us, and of course, it's also a Sprint weekend format. Lando Norris needs to out-score Max Verstappen by 12 or more points every race weekend to clinch the Drivers' Championship in Abu Dhabi. While it's a tall order already, could Verstappen's driving antics lead him to score a self-goal aka a DNF? While we hope that there are no unnatural ways to decide this year's championship, a DNF will certainly make things even tighter for Norris-Verstappen and Formula 1. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah look forward to this weekend's 2024 São Paulo GP. Will Haas continue to shine? Btw, they're the only team on the grid to have both drivers as previous pole sitters at Interlagos. The circuit and its history is unmatched, and of course, it's known for the overtaking possibilities it offers. But how aggressive will Verstappen's defence be? Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 55) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Mercedes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The 2024 Formula 1 season is turning on its head, and how. It's almost as though we don't want this season to end. Red Bull Racing was the fastest in the first third of the season, McLaren followed in the second third. Could Ferrari be the fastest in the last third of the season? It might just be so, and if it is so, how high can Ferrari and their drivers finish in the World Championship? Ferrari has overtaken Red Bull Racing for second place in the Constructors' Championship. Can Ferrari catch McLaren? Carlos Sainz dominated in Mexico, maybe literally for the first time in his Formula 1 career. He was untouchable in Qualifying, and then in the Race. But did Max Verstappen cost Lando Norris a fair shot at victory by messing it up early race? Were Verstappen's time penalties justified? We hope the penalties in Mexico weren't a hangover of the penalties Verstappen didn't get in the previous races! And of course, Charles Leclerc honestly admitted why he couldn't match Sainz throughout the weekend in Mexico City. Btw, a great "catch" by Leclerc while Norris chased him down for second place on the podium. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah review the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix. Haas' double points score, the time penalties for Red Bull Racing drivers, Liam Lawson vs. Sergio Perez + Lawson's "finger" salute, Pato O'ward's random IndyCar vs. F1 reference and more. Absolutely love how Zak Brown photobombed Ferrari's post-race celebrations photo, and Sainz returned the favour. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 54) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Ferrari Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"Monaco levels of downforce, Monza levels of top speed" - this phrase will be overused for the weekend of the 2024 Mexico City GP! Will the "high altitude" impact the pecking order? Long straights followed by low speed corners, will McLaren bounce back? Or will Ferrari continue to be the class of the field? Will these two teams and their drivers take points away from Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen? Also, could this race be Sergio Perez's final race in Formula 1? Will Red Bull Racing be forced to drop the Mexican should they lose P2 to Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship? In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah preview the 2024 Mexico City GP. Outside bets for this weekend's race - Haas, and maybe, Williams also? Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 53) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ferrari's 1-2 finish in the 2024 United States Grand Prix needs to be celebrated, for the result itself, and how Ferrari set themselves up for victory. After mid-season struggles with bouncing, Ferrari backed their "Monza" upgrade to deliver in Austin, and it did. Ferrari was the quickest car around the Circuit of the Americas. Charles Leclerc shot off into the lead after Max Verstappen ran Lando Norris wide on Turn 1 of the opening lap. LEC was not to be caught after this race winning move. As for Carlos Sainz, he used Ferrari's superior tyre degradation to undercut Verstappen and end his 7 race streak of no-podium finishes! In fact, Verstappen-Red Bull Racing's handling of Sainz's potential undercut threat was a clear indication of who their target was - Lando Norris, their title rival. The resurfaced COTA offered lesser tyre degradation and turned the race into a single-stopper; and after their round of stops, Norris was, once again, required to chase Verstappen on-track and overtake him. Verstappen put up a mega defence, as he always does, and again, as he always does, stretched the rule book to ensure Norris was put in a difficult spot - yield and back off, or overtake off-track. Norris took the bait, and pulled off the overtake off-track. McLaren left the ruling to the FIA Stewards, who penalised Norris (5 seconds time penalty), but let Verstappen, who was also off-track during their skirmish, escape scot-free! Of course, all hell has broken loose on social media, with fans highlighting the FIA's inconsistencies over the years, and also, judgments favouring Verstappen. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah discuss the 2024 USA Grand Prix, Verstappen-Norris and why the FIA ruled the way they did, Verstappen's knowledge of the "rules of on-track engagement", Liam Lawson & Franco Colapinto's mega drives to out-score their experienced team-mates, and of course, Haas' super successful home race at COTA. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 52) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Ferrari Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Formula 1 is back again! And of course, to make up for the weeks of no racing, we're straight into a triple header of races in the Americas. It is expected that all teams will bring upgrades to Austin, after all, they've been working through the autumn break. Will the upgrades change the pecking order? Can Red Bull Racing's upgrades bring it back in the fight with McLaren? In fact, will McLaren's upgrades face the same fate as their rivals? Basically, not deliver performance, for a change! In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah preview the 2024 United States Grand Prix. After a series of outlier circuits, Formula 1 will race at a traditional racing venue, the Circuit of the Americas. The elevation into Turn 1, the twisty Sector 1, the high downforce Sector 3 - the COTA has taken inspiration from several iconic corners and connected them to make their own layout. How will Liam Lawson fare against Yuki Tsunoda? Also, it's an "F1 Sprint" weekend, which means Lando Norris can take more points off Max Verstappen, but can he, will he? The last time he scored back-to-back race wins in his Motorsport career was in 2017! Will Ferrari continue to be in the reckoning? Will Mercedes' upgrades give them the performance boost to join the fight at the sharp end? Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 51) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is Formula 1 playing "reverse psychology"? After years of complaining that "24 races are too much", we're in another break period where one might feel that Formula 1 could've well slotted in a Grand Prix between Singapore and Austin - the 25th Grand Prix of the season. Also, the much-anticipated 10-car "rookie" race post-season was given a no-go by the FIA. After the Andretti-fiasco, that would've seen Formula 1 teams lose money to the 11th team, the FIA has taken yet another decision that would've cost the teams extra revenue...in the off-season. Make no mistake, the "rookie race" is to give rookies a chance, yes, but above all else, it is about making more money...that too in the off-season. Either way, a 10-car race seems just very odd! The break also means that Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah have brought upgrades to the Inside Line F1 Podcast. We're trialing them in audio-video from this episode onward; your feedback will be helpful. YOU, our dear listener & viewer, are our best sensor!
The 2024 Singapore Grand Prix - was this Daniel Ricciardo's last Formula 1 race? If so, it's unfair that Ricciardo and his legion of fans didn't get a chance to bid him a proper farewell at a race and on-track. Truthfully, a decision doesn't seem to be have been made; and Red Bull's driver move could be more towards retaining Liam Lawson for the long term, than dropping Daniel Ricciardo. And of course, Ricciardo's performances have been wanting, no doubt. Also, the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix was another stand-out event, but not so much so the racing itself. McLaren's Lando Norris dominated every day of the race weekend; also, he went unchallenged, by his rivals and his team-mate, Oscar Piastri. If Ferrari hadn't bottled qualifying, maybe they could've taken the fight to the McLarens, unlike Red Bull Racing-Max Verstappen who were thrilled to qualify and finish second. Red Bull Racing cheekily used Racing Bull's Ricciardo to take the "fastest lap" of the race away from Norris, thereby taking away a key championship point. It's all within the rules and regulations, but against the spirit of the sport? The trio, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah discuss the various stories from Singapore, including Max Verstappen's win against the FIA's silly punishments. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 49) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Frankly, the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix is Lando Norris' best chance to make BIG inroads into Max Verstappen's 59 points lead in the Drivers' Championship. If McLaren score 1-2 (Norris-Piastri), and they're capable of doing so, they will score their 50th 1-2 in Formula 1 history. But crucially, if Max Verstappen 7th or 8th (assuming Red Bull Racing is the fourth fastest car + all cars finish), then Norris could out-score Verstappen by nearly 20 points. 6 races remain after Singapore, and a 35-something lead will seem far more surmountable, especially since 3 rounds have the Sprint + Grand Prix format (34 points per round). Hence, the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix will either thrown the door wide open for Norris in the Drivers' Championship OR shut it a bit more firmly. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah preview the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix. They discuss the circuit's characteristics and why this race is special for Formula 1 teams and drivers - it offers a physical, mental and mechanical challenge like no other. Also, will McLaren use "papaya rules" even more firmly if Norris *has* the chance to score big against Verstappen, even if that means asking Piastri to give up a race win!? Lots of stories and narratives to play out this weekend, starting with our 2024 Singapore Grand Prix preview episode. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 48) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices