Podcasts about Australian Grand Prix

The next two weeks are some of the best on the annual Motorsport calendar with the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 hours of Le Mans. For this episode of the Brief we have gone right back to season 1 (2018) to bring you a slice of an episode you may not have heard before - Tim Schenken. Tim is one of only a handful of Aussie’s to race Formula 1 at Monaco and he went on to race sportscars for Ferrari. Working with an emerging Ron Dennis and memories of Bernie Ecclestone, a then relatively new player in F1. Thinking he was being pranked when Enzo Ferrari asked to meet him and the priceless car he turned down the chance to own. Tim went on to have an incredible career working for the Governing Body in Australia then called CAMS and now Motorsport Australia. A respected Clerk of the Course at the Australian Grand Prix who has been awarded and OAM for his services and rightly inducted into the Hall of Fame. If you enjoy this and would like to hear more search for the full Feature Episode with Tim Schenken released back in March 2018.https://www.australianmotorsporthalloffame.com.au/inductees/tim-schenken/ Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's GarageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At this year's season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Bernd Maylander reached a remarkable milestone of 500 races as the FIA Safety Car Driver.Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Bernd reflects on how the Safety Car and his job have evolved since his first race back in 2000 and some of the most iconic races he's been involved in over the last 25 years.He talks through what a Grand Prix weekend looks like for him, the role his co-driver Richard Darker plays and some of the challenges they face – like picking up the leader when the Safety Car is deployed and judging wet conditions. Bernd also reveals what it feels like to have the fastest drivers on the planet right behind him and how he handles them complaining about his speed.This episode is sponsored by: Liquid I.V. - go to liquidiv.com and get 20% off your first purchase with code GRID at checkoutSaily - get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code grid atcheckout. Download Saily app or go to to https://saily.com/grid

Meet Chris Grant, Principal Legal Counsel at the Australian Grand Prix Corporation - the government agency behind two of Australia's biggest motorsport events: the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix and the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island.Chris is one of the few people who successfully crossed the bridge from private practice law into the world of professional sport. After graduating from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Laws and completing exchange programs in Shanghai and Denmark, he cut his teeth at top-tier firm Minter Ellison, where years of grinding through clerkships, graduate rotations, and high-pressure corporate work laid the foundation. A pivotal secondment to the Department of Education opened his eyes to in-house life, and sparked the move that changed everything.He put his hat in the ring for a role at AGPC, beat out the field, and hasn't looked back since, earning multiple promotions in under four years to reach Principal Legal Counsel. He was also named a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Sport & Entertainment Awards 2024, and has spoken on the main stage at the ANZLA Sports Law Conference. On top of all this, Chris gives back as a mentor in the SportsGrad Method program.If you're looking to swap your corporate skills into a career in sport, tune into this week's episode with Chris!We Cover:(03:18) - Interview starts(04:39) - Quick Fire Questions(09:00) - Why Chris wanted to become a lawyer and what his journey looked like(14:21) - How Chris' role at AGPC came about and how the AGPC is structured(18:26) - Chris' growth within the AGPC(20:54) - What Chris' role looks like during and outside of event period(23:24) - How Chris supports different internal departments(25:10) - What 'event week' looked like for Chris at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix(27:53) - Insight into negotiations with F1 Management(31:07) - What collaboration with other F1 promoters looks like(32:50) - How does growth in the Legal Team at AGPC come about(33:28) - What AGPC is doing to deliver the final Moto GP in Phillip Island(35:38) - What does working at Moto GP with AGPC look like?(38:24) - Implications of Moto GP moving to Adelaide on the AGPC(39:29) - What contract negotiations with external partners look like(42:25) - Chris's role in contract negotiations(46:28) - What is the impact of AI that Chris has seen in his role(51:01) - How knowledge of contracts and law helps in grassroots sport committees(52:18) - Chris' involvement in the ANZLA Association(54:39) - What makes it difficult to get a job in sport(55:53) - How Chris decided what career path to take when he was lost for career direction(01:02:03) - What helped Chris stand out in each of his roles(01:03:52) - Impact of mentors on Chris' journey(01:05:16) - How Chris became a mentor in the SportsGrad Method Program(01:06:54) - How to land a job in sports law in the next 30 days(01:09:34) - Biggest " Pinch Me" moment working in sport(01:11:33) - What Chris' life would look like if he didn't land a job in sport(01:12:50) - Which sport is the next to have a 'Drive to Survive' style glow up?(01:14:08) - Question for next guestIf you like this ep, give these a go next:#235: How to be the Head of Legal at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup with Emily Jackson#243: Living the dream at the NFL, IOC & Brisbane 2032 Olympics with Tom Hickey#265: From Westpac to the Adelaide Crows FC in 29 days with Community Engagement ManagerWant a job in sport? Click here.Follow SportsGrad on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokFollow Reuben on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokThanks for listening, much love! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ON TODAYS PROGRAM…   CARLOS SAINZ SAYS IT'S NOT F1 NORRIS SAYS THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WE KNOW WHAT MAX SAYS… THE ROOKIES ON THE OTHER HAND DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER! IS KIMI FASTER THAN GEORGE? AND… FERNANDO'S NEW BABY'S NAME…LEONARD ALONSO JIMINEZ…MACHISMO! THIS WEEK'S NASIR HAMEED CORNER WE HAVE: JOHNNY CECCOTTO JR. AND RIO HARYANTO FORMER F1 DRIVER NEXT WEEK…WE HAVE ZACK BROWN before he joined McLaren and BOB BONNDURANT… Johnny Amadeus Cecotto, aka Johnny Cecotto Jr., was born in Augsburg, Germany, in 1989 and has lived in the Principality for a long time. He is a former racing driver, entrepreneur, aviator, and dad who is happily married to Cristina Boeri de Cecotto. They have two children, a son and a daughter, who are the light of their lives. His mother is Monaco resident jewellery designer Martina Wagner, and his father, Johnny Alberto Cecotto Persello, known as Johnny Cecotto, is a Venezuelan former professional Grand Prix motorcycle and auto racer.   Johnny Cecotto Jr.'s racing career was filled with numerous highlights. He became the youngest driver to win an international Formula 3 race at just 16-years-old, a record that still stands today. He also won the Monaco Formula 2 Grand Prix in 2012, a race that is considered one of the most prestigious in the world. Johnny served as the third driver for Toro Rosso and Force India in Formula 1, a testament to his skill and talent. He also held the record for the most race starts in GP2 history, including several victories, pole positions, and podiums.  Eventually, Johnny left racing to dedicate fully to his booming entrepreneurial career as the founder of Stars Monte-Carlo, a luxury car dealership in the Principality, where he continues his passion for wheels by selling luxurious and super-sport cars. With Stars Formula, a motorsport management company, Stars Capital, an investment firm, and Stars Real State, he has been expanding his portfolio in various fields since 2012, with no end in sight. This was after successfully building his IT company, which had clients like Vodafone and the Nolan Group.   Rio Haryanto, born 22 January 1993 in Surakarta, Central Java, holds a unique place in motorsport history as Indonesia's first and only Formula One driver, and the first Muslim driver to start a Grand Prix. Though his F1 career was brief, just 12 Grands Prix in 2016, Haryanto's journey from Southeast Asian karting circuits to the global Formula One stage was anything but ordinary. Haryanto's career began in karting where he quickly made a name for himself, winning multiple regional championships. He moved to single-seaters in 2008 and took his first major international title in 2009, claiming the Formula BMW Pacific Championship with Meritus. He then climbed the European junior ladder, including spells in GP3 and GP2, developing under the Manor Motorsport umbrella, which would later form his link to F1. His early success in GP3 even earned him a test with Virgin Racing (later Marussia/Manor) at the 2010 Abu Dhabi young driver test. After years on the brink, Haryanto was confirmed as a full-time driver for Manor Racing in 2016, alongside Pascal Wehrlein, the reigning DTM champion and Mercedes protégé. It was a historic moment for Indonesia and a major milestone for Southeast Asian motorsport. Driving car number 88, Haryanto made his debut at the 2016 Australian Grand Prix, but an early incident with Romain Grosjean in practice earned him a grid penalty and set the tone for a challenging campaign. In the race, he retired on lap 18 with a drivetrain issue. Despite often finding himself at the back of the field, Haryanto showed flashes of racecraft and resilience. His best finish came in Monaco, where he brought the car home in 15th, albeit four laps down—but it was still classified! He also beat teammate Wehrlein in China and Spain, though Wehrlein would eventually grab Manor's only point of the season in Austria, highlighting the gulf in car performance and opportunity. While Haryanto had talent, his F1 seat was primarily backed by Indonesian government sponsorship—funds that, partway through the season, were frozen by Parliament due to procedural concerns. Without the financial backing to continue, Manor demoted him to reserve driver after the 2016 German Grand Prix, replacing him with Esteban Ocon. In a twist of fate, both of Haryanto's successors—Ocon and Wehrlein—would go on to race for established teams. Manor, however, collapsed at the end of the 2016 season, closing the chapter on Haryanto's F1 story.

Overdrive: F1 tech, attention drift and the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Mercedes starts the 2026 Formula One season with a one-two in Melbourne, prompting a broader discussion about race-car complexity, driver workload and visibility. David Brown and Paul Murrell also cover cars on screen, faster EV charging, a tiny classic car selling for big money, and whether shrinking attention spans are making everyday driving worse. The episode finishes with a practical road test of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Episode Breakdown F1 season opens with Mercedes — 00:01:02 Driver overload and visibility — 00:03:07 Cars in film and culture — 00:09:42 EV charging moves faster — 00:16:37 Tiny classic, huge price — 00:26:00 Are drivers losing focus? — 00:28:57 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon tested — 00:40:11 F1 season opens with Mercedes George Russell leads Kimi Antonelli home for a Mercedes one-two at the Australian Grand Prix, ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The result opens a wider chat about how modern F1 cars load drivers with information, controls and constant feedback. Brown and Murrell reflect on Oscar Piastri's formation-lap crash and the reality that even the world's most advanced cars can catch drivers out. They also touch on downforce, mirrors, cameras and the old racing art of finding an edge within the rules. Driver overload and visibility From F1, the discussion moves to the limits of attention. Murrell notes how much information elite drivers process at speed, while Brown questions whether more screens and warnings always help. That leads neatly into road cars: camera mirrors, rearward vision and driver aids that can support safety but also add distraction. It is one of the episode's strongest themes. Cars in film and culture A story about Hispano Suiza appearing in a Barcelona-set streaming drama sparks a lively detour into product placement. The pair compare movie cars that became icons with others that gained screen fame without commercial success. The DeLorean, Mad Max Falcon, Monaro, Mini and Kingswood Country all get a run. Their broader point is that cars once carried more cultural aspiration than they do for many younger people today. EV charging moves faster Polestar's updated 3 electric SUV brings quicker charging, more computing power and stronger specs, but the hosts wonder whether the market is already moving beyond it. Public charging access remains as important as headline recharge times. That sets up BYD's latest ultra-fast charging claims. Murrell sees the technology as a possible answer to range anxiety, while Brown notes how quickly EV development is making long product cycles look outdated. Tiny classic, huge price Murrell highlights the sale of a Peel P50 for an extraordinary figure, reviving the old question of what makes a classic valuable. Rarity, novelty and collector appeal clearly matter more than practicality. The pair enjoy the absurdity of a tiny car with no reverse gear and barely any mass. It is a light segment, but it says a lot about classic-car culture. Are drivers losing focus? This is the feature segment: a thoughtful look at whether digital life is reducing attention spans and weakening driving standards. Murrell links phone use, GPS dependence and constant information flow to poorer focus and spatial awareness. Brown broadens the issue to sleep, stress, work pressure and the design of in-car warnings. Their conclusion is clear: better driving now depends as much on managing distraction as on handling the vehicle. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon tested The Wrangler Rubicon is presented as a serious off-roader that has grown larger, dearer and more civilised, but still carries compromises. Brown finds it more usable in daily driving than expected, though wind and tyre noise remain part of the deal. Murrell agrees it is still a niche buy, but one with real off-road credibility and a loyal following willing to forgive its rough edges. It remains an adventure machine first and a commuter second.

The 2026 Formula 1 Season is here! It's Round 2, the Australian Grand Prix - and it's done. Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured his first ever win in F1, ahead of George Russell, and at long last - Lewis Hamilton got a podium in his Ferrari. Let's get into all of the details, plus our very first Bangers & Clangers for the year. My name's Tommo, let's talk about it.

Hot and fresh off the back of the Australian Grand Prix and straight into China! How do you guys think this one will go down with the new regs? China has a couple really long straights.. We know the drivers are trying to work with the FIA to fix the current issues. Will we see more problems in China? Either way, we're excited to watch the 2nd Grand Prix of 2026! Who do you predict will make the podium this weekend? Comment you predictions! Let's go!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1292: Today we unpack Honda's massive $15.7B EV write-down and pivot back to hybrids, Rivian's make-or-break R2 SUV aimed at the mainstream market, and Ford CEO Jim Farley's vow to keep the manual Mustang aliveShow Notes with links:Honda is taking a massive $15.7 billion writedown as it cancels several EV programs and pivots back toward hybrids, underscoring just how quickly the EV demand outlook has shifted.Honda will cancel three planned U.S. EVs — the Honda 0 Saloon, 0 SUV, and Acura RSX — just months before production, as well as reviewing the future direction of the Sony Honda Mobility joint venture. The automaker's Honda Prologue, built by GM in Mexico, could also disappear after its current production run ends in December, with no plans for a Gen 2 vehicle.The Prologue launched in 2024 and sold nearly 39,000 units in 2025. But after the tax credit was eliminated, sales plunged 74% in 2026.Rivian is attempting one of the toughest transitions in the auto industry — moving from a niche EV startup selling $90K adventure trucks to a true mass-market brand.CEO RJ Scaringe calls the upcoming R2 SUV a “make-or-break” product for Rivian as the company tries to scale beyond wealthy early adopters.The R2 launches this spring with a $57,990 version offering up to 330 miles of range, followed by a $45,000 model next year aimed squarely at mainstream buyers.As Rivian's chief software officer put it: “We know there are just two companies in the U.S. who know how to do it: Tesla and us.”While manual transmissions continue disappearing across the industry, Ford CEO Jim Farley says the Mustang will keep its third pedal for as long as the company has a choice.Speaking at the Australian Grand Prix, Farley doubled down on Ford's stance (although it wasn't the most natural phrasing): “Out of our cold, dead hands will we not have a manual Mustang.”Farley framed the decision as part of Ford's identity, saying the brand aims to serve “working people and enthusiast drivers” and keep building cars that aren't boring.Today's show is brought to you by iPacket Value. From accurate MSRP validation to smarter merchandising decisions, iPacket Value replaces guesswork with data-backed clarity.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Izzy Hammond and Harry Benjamin digest the latest F1 trends and biggest discussion points after the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.Are F1 curses real? Are the ‘burger curse' and ‘Red Bull second seat curse' impacting F1?We also celebrate Izzy's favourite Melbourne memes and discuss your hot takes, including the prediction that Aston Martin will win a race in 2026!

We are back and better than ever! We've got all the action from Phoenix to talk about between The O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, IndyCar and the Cup Series were all in the desert over the weekend and Phoenix proved to provide plenty of racing action! We make our picks for the Vegas race and look forward to IndyCar racing around the Cowboy's Stadium in Arlington. NHRA was in Gainesville this past weekend for a sold-out Gator Nationals.And finally, the 2026 F1 season is here and we've got all the drama from this past weekend down under in Australia. The new cars provided a wild start to the race and some interesting finishing results. Thanks for tuning in!

#541 Harvesting & Deployment. We discuss the “Yo-Yo” Australian Grand Prix. Mercedes stun, but are the new cars actually any good? Why you should be watching IndyCar and F2. Plus: questions that need answers and music with F1's Back 2026.

J-Bone previews the 2026 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix after recapping the eye-opening Australian Grand Prix. J-BONE!!! Thank you to my sponsors: Stone Creek Coffee: Get 20% OFF Formula Bone's signature Race Week coffee blend at https://www.stonecreekcoffee.com/RACEWEEK20 Underdog Fantasy: Use promo code FBONE to score $75 in bonus entries when you play your first $5 at https://play.underdogfantasy.com/pc-BOLiNndNjg Shop Formula Bone Merch: https://www.bolenmedia.com/shop/formula-bone Become a Formula Bone YouTube channel member to gain access to exclusive members-only perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAOFSwIi8EXEph8vS805-kQ/join Join 1,000+ members of the Bone Brigade in the Formula Bone Discord: https://discord.gg/YwsAtSCGNX Follow Formula Bone & J-Bone on all social media @FormulaBone & @JaredBorislow Edited by Fernando Gutierrez Graphics by Spencer Hawkins Original music by 7toMidnight Presented by Bolen Media: BolenMedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So the new season is finally here, with the new regulations, new teams, new driver (singular), returning drivers (X2) and new worries about the cars being fast enough, stable enough, capable of lasting for an entire qualifying session (let alone a race) and a whole new order up and down the grid.Well we got a half decent opening to 2026 at least, overtakes with the new moveable aero (don't call it DRS, even though that's what it looks like) and drivers seemingly having to do hardcore maths while working out batter levels and charging/clipping/superclipping levels.This week on the podcast we look back at the Australian Grand Prix, where the new order appears to be the last order but 2 with Mercedes taking the top 2 steps on the podium this time out, but was it as clear-cut as the results say? There was a recovering Max thanks to an issue with the car in Q1 that sent him into the barriers, and some questions over Ferrari's strategy call under a VSC (at least some things don't change!)There's also a look at the other stories circulating round the paddock at the moment, especially concerning the Bahrain & Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and if they're going to happen at all this year, or will the current conflict in the Middle-East leave us without F1 for the entire month of April?Also don't forget to see how you did in the Prediction League and Official F1 Fantasy League too.And if you want to join in with the chat during the races (along with testing, practice and qualifying) head over to our ⁠Discord⁠ where there's always a great crowd of people to watch along with. And on the socials we've got our ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠BlueSky⁠ & ⁠Twitter (or is it X)⁠ and Paul's attempts at Sim Racing on our ⁠Twitch⁠ channel. And if you want to support us you can donate to our ⁠Patreon⁠ as well from as little as £/$/€ 1 per monthEnjoy

Jake and Damian go inside the 2026 Australian Grand Prix — not with lap times and race analysis, but with something rarer: direct messages from the people who were actually there.Jake shares a WhatsApp from Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu on leading through complete uncertainty. A message from Fernando Alonso's number one mechanic on why culture beats performance when nothing is certain. And a voice note from former Williams team principal Claire Williams on what COVID taught her about navigating the unknown.With cars failing on the grid, drivers feeling mixed emotions in the cockpit, and an entirely new era of Formula One rewriting the rulebook overnight, Jake and Damian use the chaos of Australia to ask a question that matters well beyond the paddock: how do you lead, perform and stay steady when everything changes at once?Listen to our full episodes with guests mentioned in this episode: Adrian Newey: https://pod.fo/e/267f99Ayao Komatsu: https://pod.fo/e/37b872Ollie Bearman: https://pod.fo/e/39acadClaire Williams: https://pod.fo/e/2b956bGeorge Russell: https://pod.fo/e/1527c9Fernando Alonso: https://pod.fo/e/1e5849Thanks to our partners:Heights

LADIES AND GENTS! The Australian Grand Prix is over.. Gutted for Oscar Piastri and BUZZING for George Russell.. Mercedes look amazing for the F1 season ahead, do you think anyone can catch Toto Wolff's dream team this year? Thank the lord Ferrari have built an engine that can compete haha, thank you everyone so much for watching and our China race predictions will be live in the next 48 hours SO SUBSCRIBE! You guys are the best, Cant want for the next race this formula 1 season is gonna be INSANE! Comment below your predictions!!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inside Motor Sport recaps a huge weekend at Albert Park, where the Australian Grand Prix delivered major storylines and big emotion. We look at the key moves that shaped the Formula 1 podium, along with reaction from George Russell and Oscar Piastri as they reflect on the intensity of racing in Melbourne. The episode also covers the Supercars Melbourne SuperSprint, highlighted by Brodie Kosteckis dominant run to the Larry Perkins Trophy and the dramatic Race 4 crash that took out Broc Feeney at Turn 1. A sharp and complete wrap of a massive motorsport weekend. https://audio.voxnest.com/stream/bc75dda544e94259a021c20552606b16/www.sportradio.com.au/audio/ims/2026/IMS260310.mp3 https://www.sportradio.com.au/audio/ims/2026/IMS260310.mp3 false info@sportradio.com.au (Thunder Media) Wed 11 Mar 2026 22:57:03 +1000 9:50

The 2026 era of Formula 1 is officially here — and it arrived with heartbreak, controversy, and Ferrari doing Ferrari things.The Australian Grand Prix delivered unbelievable wheel-to-wheel racing in its opening weekend under the new regulations, but the strategy calls from the pit wall in Maranello proved once again that the boys in red have a gift for turning good days into painful ones. We'll break down the full race from start to finish, including the home race curse that continues to haunt Australian drivers and the tension between George Russell and Charles Leclerc that's already bubbling over before we've even left Melbourne.Then there's the elephant on the grid: Max Verstappen has been vocal about his frustrations with the new regulations, and he's no longer singing solo. A growing chorus of drivers are joining him in questioning whether this rule set is actually delivering what it promised. Is the criticism fair this early, or are they just adjusting to a car they haven't figured out yet? We'll talk about it.First race in the books, plenty already on fire. Welcome to 2026.

First it was Hamilton's turn, now it's Dailey's. Like two ships passing in the night so is our recap of the 2025 Australian Grand Prix! Hit that subscribe button and tune in for the full, unfiltered breakdown! You don't wanna miss this!

Dan Prosser and Andrew Frankel reflect on the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, the first round of the new Formula 1 season. Do the new hybrid powertrains make the racing more exciting, or detract from the skill of the driver and the show as a result. Later in the episode Dan and Andrew discuss the terrible state of the UK's roads, plus the new hybrid version of the Lotus Eletre. Find out more about JBR Capital here – https://www.jbrcapital.com Use coupon code Ti10 to get 10% off your Supernatural Car Care order – https://supernaturalcarcare.com/ 

The 2026 F1 season kicked off with a dramatic race in Melbourne, showcasing new regulations and fierce competition. In this episode, Chief Editor Kevin Turner is joined by Autosport writers Jake Boxall-Legge and Stuart Codling to analyse the race highlights, technical insights, and emerging contenders, giving you a comprehensive breakdown of the first race of the year. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to the 2026 Melbourne GP and race highlights 02:24 - Weekend impressions from trackside reporter Stuart Codling 03:52 - Public perception and driver comments on regulations' impact 05:46 - Race start chaos: battery issues and safety concerns 07:36 - Exciting overtakes and early battles between Russell, Leclerc, and Hamilton 09:44 - Deployments, energy management, and qualifying insights 11:43 - Race pace, tyre longevity, and strategy missteps 13:02 - Safety and reliability of new energy deployment systems 15:02 - Team strategies, mistakes, and potential safety issues 18:08 - Mercedes' performance gap and customer engine concerns 21:04 - End-of-race performances and up-and-coming drivers 25:00 - Strategic calls during virtual safety cars and their outcomes 27:49 - Ferrari's performance and predictions for Monaco and beyond 29:23 - Rookie driver Isaac Hadjar's impressive debut and team progress 32:37 - New teams Audi and Cadillac: performances and future prospects 36:15 - Aston Martin's technical issues with Honda power and future outlook 40:03 - Preview of the China GP and the introduction of the sprint race 41:23 - Final thoughts and season expectations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oscar Piastri's burger curse continues with another disastrous result at the Australian Grand Prix, which was won by the driver from King's Lynn.

Mercedes scored a 1-2 finish in the season opening 2026 Australian Grand Prix with George Russell leading team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli across the line. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc claimed third spot, before being engaged in a battle with Russell for the race lead. Should Ferrari have pitted under the Virtual Safety Car? Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah discuss the key talking points and stories from 2026 Australian Grand Prix, the first race of the season at Albert Park in Melbourne.This episode features two veteran F1 commentators from India —Kunal Shah and Soumil Arora —who've been dissecting F1 for years, and trust us, they know their way around a good battle. The episode dissects the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, highlighting the entertaining wheel-to-wheel race despite a dull qualifying. Key discussions include battles among top teams, Audi's strong debut, and strategic elements like energy management and overtaking under new regulations. The hosts debate genuine versus artificial overtakes and discuss broader implications like in-season development and budget caps. The episode closes with optimism for closer racing ahead.YouTube Chapters:0:13 - Intro and live stream vibe0:45 - Race quality vs qualifying expectations1:15 - Lead battles and top-five dynamics2:52 - Overtakes, battery play, and strategy3:55 - Genuine vs artificial overtakes: debate6:31 - New start procedure and pre-race excitement7:22 - Start happenings: Leclerc, Hamilton, Alonso, and others9:25 - Audi debut and Cadillac's strong showing12:12 - Piastri start failure and ERS issues14:04 - Regulation talk and overtaking philosophy24:42 - Ferrari strategy under VSC and pit decisions27:09 - Verstappen in Q1 and potential impact29:03 - Fan perspectives, balanced fandom, and next steps35:49 - Wrap-up stats and tease for next episode #F1 #F12026 #AustraliaGP #MelbourneGP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen to the latest top news from Australia in Nepali, including British driver George Russell's victory at the Australian Grand Prix. - मेलबर्नमा सम्पन्न फर्मुला वानमा ब्रिटिश चालक जोर्ज रसलको जित लगायत आजका प्रमुख अस्ट्रेलियन समाचार छोटकरीमा सुन्नुहोस्।

Spanners, Antonia and Jonno kick the season off in chaotic style as the teams cast off the last of the sandbags and finally show their true colours at the Australian Grand Prix in this, the latest episode of Missed Apex Podcast!Jonno's Alpine stuff https://x.com/jonnyess8/status/2029116567360029158?s=20⭐Missed Apex Tik Tokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@missedapexf1⭐ Spanners https://x.com/SpannersReadyhttps://bsky.app/profile/spannersready.bsky.social⭐ Matt Trumpets https://x.com/mattpt55https://bsky.app/profile/mattpt55.bsky.socialWays To Support Missed Apex:✅ Join our Patreon to gain access to our exclusive Patreon Only Discord Chat + Bonus ContentWe Only Exist Due to Our Patron Support https://www.patreon.com/MissedApex✅ Leave a tip https://missedapexpodcast.com/tipjarOn Tonight's Show:⭐Missed Apex Tik Tokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@missedapexf1⭐ Spanners https://x.com/SpannersReadyhttps://bsky.app/profile/spannersready.bsky.social⭐ Jonathan Simon https://x.com/jonnyess8https://www.instagram.com/jonnyess8/⭐ Antonia Rankin https://www.tiktok.com/@antonia.rankinhttps://www.instagram.com/antonia.rankinGive Spanners Insta a go!!!https://www.instagram.com/spannersreadyKeep an eye out on Netflix!https://www.instagram.com/netflixpodcasts/Give Jono's Insta a go!https://www.instagram.com/jonnyess8/Go say hi to Jonathan's new website!!https://www.jonathansimon.com.au/Follow the fabulous Antonia!!!https://www.tiktok.com/@antonia.rankinhttps://www.instagram.com/antonia.rankin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we going too early to say George Russell will be crowned the 2026 world champion? After his dominant victory in Melbourne, Harry, Jennie and Marc look back at the opening race of the new season and ask just how big Mercedes' advantage over the rest of the field might be. They hear from Russell, his teammate Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton.

Mark Hamilton sits down to discuss the 2026 Australian Grand Prix. Stay tuned for Mark Dailey's take in episode 666! Hit that subscribe button and tune in for the full, unfiltered breakdown! You don't wanna miss this!

On this episode of Nailing the Apex, Tim Hauraney and Adam Wylde discuss Mercedes securing a 1-2 finish in Australia, Did Ferrari make a mistake in Charles Leclerc's strategy? McLaren's struggles and future outlook and who impressed in the midfield? 00:00 Mercedes looks like they are back 05:37 Did Ferrari make a mistake? 14:48 How strong can Ferrari be this season? 23:20 McLaren's slow start to 2026 34:21 Max Verstappen 20th to 6th 39:42 The battle in the midfield is intense 52:22 Lance Stroll got Aston Martin to the checkered flag 59:08 Answering YOUR questions! Follow Nailing the Apex on TikTok, Instagram and Youtube! Instagram - @nailingtheapex TikTok - @nailingtheapex Youtube - @NTAPod Follow Tim Hauraney on Twitter / X: @TimHauraney Follow Adam Wylde on Twitter / X: @AdamWylde Visit https://sdpn.ca for merch and more. Follow us on Twitter (X): @sdpnsports Follow us on Instagram: @sdpnsports For general inquiries, email: info@sdpn.ca Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we've got Harry Styles in our living rooms, chaos on MAFS and a sad birthday tribute for one of our favourites. ☕ One night in Manchester with Harry Styles is officially here. ☕ Ryan Gosling gets an unexpected (and hilarious) visitor on the SNL stage. ☕ A heartbreaking first birthday tribute for James Van Der Beek. ☕ Reality TV chaos as a MAFS villain makes a hasty, controversial exit. ☕ Cody Simpson sparks romance rumors trackside at the Australian Grand Prix. THE END BITSOnce you’ve devoured this morning’s celeb stories, get your daily news headlines from The Quicky here.Find our new Bridgerton podcast in the Watch Party feed on Apple or Spotify.Support independent women's mediaFollow us on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. And subscribe to our Youtube channel. Read all the latest entertainment news on Mamamia... here.Discover more Mamamia Podcasts here.CREDITSHost & Producer: Ash LondonExecutive Producer: Monisha IswaranBecome a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 Formula 1 Season is finally here! It's Round 1, the Australian Grand Prix - and it's done. George Russell lead a Mercedes 1-2 over the line, a tonne went on - there's a lot to go over. Let's get into all of the details, plus our very first Bangers & Clangers for the year. My name's Tommo, let's talk about it.

Formula 1 is officially back — and the 2026 season kicked off with a chaotic and fascinating Australian Grand Prix.In this episode of the Everything Trackside Podcast, Seán, Coops, James, and Mairéad break down everything from the season opener in Melbourne. George Russell took the victory in a race packed with overtakes and strategy battles, while Ferrari once again managed to become their own worst enemies on race day. The team also dives into one of the biggest talking points of the weekend — the new engine regulations. Qualifying in particular sparked major debate, with drivers losing huge speed on straights due to energy harvesting and downshifting mid-straight, something many fans and drivers found frustrating to watch. Despite the qualifying controversy, the race itself delivered plenty of action, with over 120 overtakes compared to just 45 last year, showing that the new era of Formula 1 might still produce exciting racing. The crew also rate the race, discuss the biggest winners and losers from the weekend, debate whether the new regulations need fixing, and look ahead to next week's Chinese Grand Prix.Checkout this amazing video of Lynda Britten - https://youtu.be/kdkXVmnjSI0 

So, Mercedes are going to run away with both the drivers' and constructors' titles… right? After their dominant display in the first qualifying session of the season, Harry, Jennie and Marc pick through the bones of what happened. They hear from many of the drivers and discuss what it all means heading into Sunday's race.

Tim Hauraney recaps the 2026 Australian Grand Prix qualifying. Follow Tim Hauraney on Twitter / X: @TimHauraney Follow Adam Wylde on Twitter / X: @AdamWylde Visit https://sdpn.ca for merch and more. Follow us on Twitter (X): @sdpnsports Follow us on Instagram: @sdpnsports For general inquiries email: info@sdpn.ca Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a long winter, we're finally going racing this weekend in Melbourne. Ahead of the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, Williams Team Principal James Vowles explains how the team has prepared for the weekend, his favourite things about the 2026 regulations, and whether the first race will really tell us who's fastest.James joins Christian Hewgill on the F1 Fanzone stage at Albert Park to look ahead to a mouth-watering new season and to answer questions from F1 Explains listeners Sophie, Victoria and Karen.And James also tells us what jobs he'd give to Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon if they weren't drivers.We want your questions about how Formula 1 works! Email F1Explains@F1.comF1 Explains and F1 Nation have teamed up for 2026. Subscribe to this feed for race previews and reviews every Monday with Tom Clarkson and guests.F1 Beyond The Grid with Carlos Sainz - out now

Magic edge Mavericks 115-114, Lightning drop 4th straight since Olympic break and lose at Winnipeg 4-1, Daniel Berger shot a 9-under 63 and leads after first round of Arnold Palmer Invitational, Orlando City will be on the road to face New York City FC Saturday, F1 season begins with Australian Grand Prix, NASCAR heads to Phoenix Sunday, more in today's 'Sports Page' with Mike Bianchi

Magic edge Mavericks 115-114, Lightning drop 4th straight since Olympic break and lose at Winnipeg 4-1, Daniel Berger shot a 9-under 63 and leads after first round of Arnold Palmer Invitational, Orlando City will be on the road to face New York City FC Saturday, F1 season begins with Australian Grand Prix, NASCAR heads to Phoenix Sunday, more in today's 'Sports Page' with Mike BianchiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are Mercedes really favourites? Can Lando make a successful defence of his title? And are things really that bad at Aston Martin? Just a few of the questions Harry Benjamin, Andrew Benson and Jennie Gow tackle ahead of this weekend's season-opening race in Melbourne. Lando joins us on the pod to tell us whether life has changed since becoming world champion. Lewis Hamilton explains why he's so positive going into the new season. Plus, we hear from one of the new faces on the grid, Arvind Lindblad.

We don’t often get administrators on the pod but as he prepared for one of MA’s biggest weeks of the year Josh kindly swung by the studio. Josh Blanksby has only been in the job for a few weeks but he brings over 20-years experience in the horse racing, wagering, media and hospitality sectors. The former CEO of the Melbourne Racing Club talks about his observations from the first few weeks in the job and gearing up for the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. Why he’s conscious of the balance between grassroots competition and the headline acts.Threats and opportunities; our passionate army of 12,000 volunteers and giving them the support and encouragement to grow their skillset. You’ll get a sense of Josh’s leadership style that he brings to an organisation that is so community-focused and what is transferrable from his prior experience. It’s an open and engaging chat with a leader who is acutely aware of the reigns he’s taken and his commitment to an open-door policy. Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's GarageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Nailing the Apex, Tim Hauraney and Adam Wylde are back to kick off another season of Formula 1 and preview the opening race on the calendar, Australia! 00:00 Disaster start for Aston Martin 16:05 Is George Russell the Drivers' Championship Favorite? 25:33 Oscar Piastri in the mix? 32:49 Lewis Hamilton vs new regulations 38:32 Australian Grand Prix predictions Follow Nailing the Apex on TikTok, Instagram and Youtube! Instagram - @nailingtheapex TikTok - @nailingtheapex Youtube - @NTAPod Follow Tim Hauraney on Twitter / X: @TimHauraney Follow Adam Wylde on Twitter / X: @AdamWylde Visit https://sdpn.ca for merch and more. Follow us on Twitter (X): @sdpnsports Follow us on Instagram: @sdpnsports For general inquiries, email: info@sdpn.ca Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aston Martin are set to have an absolute shambles of a 2026 Australian Grand Prix. NOT the start they wanted. My name's Tommo, let's talk about it.

F1 is BACK! J-Bone previews the season-opening 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne's Albert Park Circuit. J-BONE!!! Thank you to my sponsors: Quince: Go to https://www.quince.com/bone for free shipping and 365-day returns Underdog Fantasy: Download the app and use promo code FBONE to score $75 in bonus entries when you play your first $5 Shop Formula Bone Merch: https://www.bolenmedia.com/shop/formula-bone Become a Formula Bone YouTube channel member to gain access to exclusive members-only perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAOFSwIi8EXEph8vS805-kQ/join Join 1,000+ members of the Bone Brigade in the Formula Bone Discord: https://discord.gg/YwsAtSCGNX Follow Formula Bone & J-Bone on all social media @FormulaBone & @JaredBorislow Edited by Fernando Gutierrez Graphics by Spencer Hawkins Original music by 7toMidnight Presented by Bolen Media: BolenMedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Prosser and Andrew Frankel preview the 2026 Formula 1 season, which gets underway this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix. They discuss the controversial new power unit regulations and the apparent shortcomings of this new era of hybrid powertrains, which teams and drivers appear to be in a strong position, and which teams are in trouble. Use coupon code pod20 at checkout to get 20% off an annual subscription to The Intercooler's online car magazine for the first year! Listen to this podcast ad-free, and enjoy a subscriber-only midweek podcast too. With a 30-day free trial, you can try it risk-free – ⁠https://www.the-intercooler.com/subscribe/⁠ Find out more about JBR Capital here – https://www.jbrcapital.com Use coupon code Ti10 to get 10% off your Supernatural Car Care order – https://supernaturalcarcare.com/

It’s one of the biggest weeks of the year and Rusty is in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix.While the spotlight might be on McLaren’s Oscar Piastri there are Aussies hoping to follow in his footsteps. Countryman James Wharton is back in Formula 3 for a second season but this time he reunites with the Prema Team. He talks about spending summer in New Zealand keeping match fit in Toyota’s ultra competitive Formula Regional class against a third of this year’s F3 field. Living in Italy (he’s been there since before the pandemic) and being away from family & friends in his early teens while focusing on a career in racing. Getting the chance to race in F2 last year and why it’s his clear target for 2027. We also talk Ferrari Academy, whether his rivals in the F3 paddock can remain friends, and the hand picked team he wanted for this year’s championship. Plus the old school set of wheels he keeps back home & why he loves it so much.James is unapologetically focused on the road he’s chosen & that comes through in this fast paced convo. Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's GarageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 Formula 1 Season is finally here!. It's Round 1, and we're kicking off at Albert Park with the Australian Grand Prix. Time for sandbagging over, it's about time we got a real read of who's best, and who's worst. Let's get into all of the details, plus our very first Bangers & Clangers predictions for the year. My name's Tommo, let's talk about it.

All ADF personnel stationed at the air base near Dubai are accounted for following a retaliatory drone strike by Iran; Formula 1 officials have chartered private flights for one thousand 500 personnel to ensure the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne proceeds as scheduled this weekend; Newly released videotaped depositions from the House Oversight Committee show former President Bill Clinton testifying under oath that Donald Trump once spoke of having "some great times" with Jeffrey Epstein; Tonight, skywatchers across Australia will witness a rare "blood moon" as a total lunar eclipse coincides with the final day of Lunar New Year celebrations. THE END BITS Support independent women's media Check out The Quicky Instagram here GET IN TOUCHShare your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice note or email us at thequicky@mamamia.com.au CREDITS Host: Gemma Donahoe Audio Producer: Lu Hill Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Hinchcliffe, Jolyon Palmer and Tom Clarkson look ahead to the first race of the 2026 Formula 1 season, the Australian Grand Prix.Are Mercedes favourites? Are fast-starting Ferrari title contenders? How will McLaren's teammate battle develop now Lando Norris is reigning champion? Can Max Verstappen put Red Bull in the mix? There are so many questions at the start of a new era of racing. Hinch, Jolyon and TC debate it all.Plus, how will Williams and Alpine perform? Can Aston Martin recover after a difficult winter? Is 2026 a big chance for Haas? Which of the new teams – Audi or Cadillac – will have a stronger season? And the team make their pre-season predictions: who will win in Melbourne, and who will be the 2026 F1 World Champion?F1 Nation and F1 Explains have teamed up for 2026Scroll down to find Christian Hewgill + Lawrence Barretto explaining all you need to know about the new F1 seasonThis episode is sponsored by: BetterHelp: sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com/F1NATIONShopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/nation Indeed: get a £100 sponsored job credit at indeed.com/f1nation 

F1TV commentator and former Renault driver Jolyon Palmer joins Tom Clarkson to reflect on pre-season testing, as Formula 1 gets set for a very exciting new era.The teams and drivers have had a shakedown in Barcelona, followed by two, three-day tests in Bahrain, ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March.So what have we learned about the new cars? Which teams look competitive? Who still has a lot of work to do? And what do we think the pecking order is heading to Melbourne?What Next?F1 Nation is back next Monday with our big season preview before the Australian Grand Prix. And F1 Explains returns for 2026 this Friday on the F1 Nation feed. Presenter Christian Hewgill is joined by F1 correspondent Lawrence Barretto to answer your questions about the new cars and regulations. Send them in to f1explains@f1.com

Adam and Dave set a hard alarm clock in Europe to join Neil from Buriram airport and talk about the second and final MotoGP pre-season test: Are Aprilia favourites? Is Marquez struggling? Why have no more riders been announced? And are things really that bad for Yamaha? Plus, our verdict on the future of the Australian Grand Prix. Oriol Puigdemont's article on why the rider contract announcements have been delayed https://es.motorsport.com/motogp/news/equipos-motogp-anuncian-fichajes-2027-motivo-analisis/10799669/ Thanks to Renthal Street for supporting the podcast. Head to the Renthal website for handlebars, sprockets, chains, and more, using the Fit Your Bike tool. www.renthal.com/road/ Sign up for for exclusive content from the MotoGP and WorldSBK paddocks https://patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast We have merch! Get your t-shirts, caps, hoodies and more here: https://paddockpasspodcast.com/shop

…ON TODAYS PROGRAM…   FERNANDO AND THE HONDA CURSE, LAWRENCE STROLL SELLS ASTON MARTIN NAMING RIGHTS FOR 50 MILLION POUNDS. FERRARI ON THE OTHER HAND SHOW OFF NEW SPINNING REAR WING AND, LOOK VERY COMPETITIVE ! MCLAREN AND MERCEDES ARE NOT FAR BEHIND… RED BULL IS STILL A QUESTION MARK?…AND FERNANDO WILL NEED HIS CAMPING CHAIR AS THE GP2 ENGINE THAT FAILED HIM AT MCLAREN, THAT WENT KABLAMO IN THE INDY 500 AND LOOKS TO HAUNT ALONSO FOR ANOTHER LONG SEASON!! STAY TUNED FOR SOME GREAT ONE LINERS FROM MACHISMO… THIS WEEK'S NASIR HAMEED CORNER…MORE VINTAGE BANTER BETWEEN THE HOST AND NASIR…THIS WEEKS SPECIAL GUEST: MARCUS ERICSSON, MARTIN BRUNDLE, AND MIKI MONRAS DE ESPANA…! Indianapolis 500 Veteran Hucul Dies at 79   INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Feb. 20, 2026) – Canadian driver Cliff Hucul, a veteran of three Indianapolis 500 starts in the late 1970s, died Feb. 17 on his farm in his native Prince George, British Columbia. He was 79. Hucul made three consecutive starts in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” from 1977-79. His best finish came as a rookie in 1977, 22nd in the No. 29 Team Canada McLaren/Offenhauser that Hucul bought after Johnny Rutherford drove it to victory in the 1976 “500.” Hucul completed 72 laps before being sidelined by gearbox problems. He qualified on Bump Day for that race despite touching the wall in practice the previous day and suffering two engine failures during the Month of May, a significant pitfall for his low-budget team. Hucul's best qualifying spot was 18th in 1979, his final “500” start. The small-town driver from northern British Columbia learned his craft by racing stock cars and modified sprint cars at local tracks. He then began racing modifieds and supermodifieds in the Pacific Northwest against drivers that included eventual Indianapolis 500 winner and INDYCAR SERIES champion Tom Sneva and his brother Jerry Sneva. Hucul made 24 total USAC and CART starts between 1977-81, with eight top-10 finishes. Hucul's best finish in the standings was 11th in 1979, when he started the season by placing fifth at Ontario Motor Speedway and a career-best fourth at Texas World Speedway. In 1996, Hucul became a paraplegic after an automobile accident when crossing black ice on a highway in British Columbia. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Hucul remained active, managing his farm and mentoring many drivers in the area. He was inducted into the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame for his lifetime contributions to auto racing. Hucul is survived by his son, Kelly, and daughter-in-law, Sylvie; daughter, Michele, and many grandchildren. 2026 BAHRAIN TESTING - WEEK 1, DAY 3 MAX VERSTAPPEN “Looking at the test overall, the Team got in a good number of laps on the first day so we were happy with that. We completed a lot of things that we wanted to test with the new Power Unit and the car in general. Today it was a continuation of that plus also trying to explore a little bit more with the car; you go through so many test items that it continues to change and evolve with everything that you are testing. In general, it is all so new that we are still learning a lot, but the car was good. We also have new tyres, so we spent some time looking at different sets and understanding what we need to improve and be better at. With the power unit, looking at the laps we got on the board, the start that we have had is good. That's exactly what we wanted to do and it was not a given. Whether it will be enough to win races, we don't know, we will just focus on ourselves and try to do the best we can, but there is still massive room for improvement. Finally, with the car, we learnt a lot about what worked and what didn't. Our runs also gave us even more ideas for the afternoon with Isack and then for next week, where we can continue to try new things and different set ups.” ISACK HADJAR “The first week here in Bahrain has gone well. Of course, I had to wait a little before getting in the car after Barcelona, but once I did, we were able to put it to the test and really work through what we need ahead of next week and Melbourne. There are so many things to look at, but we're staying on track with our programme so far. True performance and pace are always hard to judge in pre-season, but we can be happy with the reliability we've had from the power unit this week. There are still things to work on in terms of balance and tyre management, but that's completely normal for this time of year. We're working through it together as a Team to get where we want to be for Australia. I've known the people here for a while now, but it's great to be working with them again in an environment like this." ASTON MARTIN The Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team concluded its testing programme at the Bahrain International Circuit today, with Lance Stroll returning to the cockpit of the AMR26 for the final time before the Australian Grand Prix. Lance did not get on track until late in the morning session due to a battery-related issue that had impacted Fernando's running yesterday. Honda carried out simulations on the test bench at HRC Sakura before the car returned to the track. Due to a shortage of power unit parts, the run plan was very limited and consisted only of short stints. Lance Stroll “It's been a challenging couple of weeks here in Bahrain, and today's limited running wasn't the way we wanted to finish the second test. It's clear the car isn't where we want it to be performance-wise, and we know there's a lot of work ahead in the coming weeks and months. There's a long season ahead, and we'll keep pushing flat out to unlock more performance. I want to say a big thank you to everyone trackside and back at the AMRTC for the work that's gone in so far. It's not where we want to be right now, but I know how determined this team is. We'll stick together, rise to the challenge and keep working until we deliver the performance we are looking for.” WILLIAMS F1 2026 Bahrain pre-season testing – Day 3 James Vowles, Team Principal: Another solid day of running and mileage. It's great to see that across the last six days of testing, we've been predominantly tyre and time limited, and able to complete the full programme that we wanted. That's just a testament to the hard work of the teams, both here and in Grove, making sure that we made up for lost time. 
 No one truly knows where all the performance lies. That's what Melbourne is all about, so I can't wait to go there, to gain a further understanding of where we are. What I know for sure, though, is we have work to do. There's no doubt about it. We've put ourselves on the back foot. But my assurance to everyone is that we have an aggressive programme lining up in front of us in order to make sure that we extract as much performance in this car as possible over the forthcoming months. Carlos Sainz: The past six days of testing in Bahrain has been one of the most interesting and challenging tests that I've been part of, given the new regulations and number of things we had to learn. The progress from day one has been significant, although there are still going to be things to understand and solve at the start of the season. We go into the first half of the year with lower expectations than 2025 knowing that we'll be starting slightly on the back foot. However, I'm really looking forward to getting started and focusing on improving the cars through the year to become more competitive. Bring on Melbourne! Alex Albon: It's been a relatively smooth test here in Bahrain. We got some good mileage under our belts and tested everything we wanted to get out of the car, so I'm feeling more ready for Melbourne. There's still a lot we need to understand and plenty of performance left on the table that we need to extract, but I'm glad the tests went to plan. It's now all about maximising the next few days to prepare for the first race of the year! THIS WEEK'S INTERVIEW WITH MIKI MONRAS... Miki Monrás on battling Bottas and Ricciardo in the late 2000s and the rising cost of junior racing In the late 2000s, Miki Monrás was one of Spain's brightest prospects on the junior single-seater ladder, trading blows with the likes of Daniel Ricciardo, Valtteri Bottas and António Félix da Costa in Formula Renault and GP3. But while his rivals pushed on towards F1 or careers in GTs, the Spaniard's single-seater journey came to an abrupt halt in 2011. Feeder Series caught up with Monrás to reflect on the times he rubbed shoulders with greatness, the challenges of racing in the post–financial crisis era, and life beyond motorsport. By Anabelle Bremner Back in the noughties, the path from karting to Formula 1 looked nothing like it does today. There was no standardised Formula 4, no carefully managed ladder – just a patchwork of championships that rewarded those brave enough, and wealthy enough, to dive straight in. Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 was as deep as it got: 40-car grids stacked with future stars, the proving ground where Pierre Gasly, Nyck de Vries and Lando Norris would come to cut their teeth. But before all of them, it was Monrás in the thick of it. He made his single-seater debut in late 2007, the result of years spent chasing speed. His first taste of racing, in fact, came on two wheels – on a motocross bike, inspired by his father, who had raced professionally in Spain and Europe. At the age of eight, Monrás joined a motocross camp, and it wasn't long before karting came calling. “After the first race, I really enjoyed it,” he recalls. “I remember it was Christmastime and I asked for a motocross scooter and for a go-kart. So I finally got the go-kart, and that's the way I started. Then I started racing in Catalonia, and I just moved through Spain and Europe and all the world championships until formula.” Single-seater racing, however, would prove a unique beast. Shortly before turning 16, Monrás moved straight from karting into Formula Renault 2.0, in which the competition was fierce. “Normally at that age you'd go before to a category not straight to 2.0,” he said. “My first year I was racing with Bottas, I was racing with Ricciardo, I was racing with [Andrea] Caldarelli – really good drivers.… I was racing against people that were already racing for two years in single-seaters. That was a big difference.”His first Eurocup campaign, in 2008, proved a challenging one. He was scoreless for his first five rounds with the Hitech Junior Team (no relation to the current Hitech) before a switch to SG Formula brought him six points in the final two rounds. Valtteri Bottas, then of Motopark Academy, went on to claim that year's title after a close fight involving Ricciardo, Caldarelli and Roberto Merhi. The next year brought Monrás a decidedly better season and three podiums with SG Formula, owned by Mercedes Junior Team advisor Stéphane Guerin. He wound up fifth overall in a season dominated by a fierce three-way fight between Félix da Costa, Jean-Éric Vergne and Albert Costa – the last of whom ultimately took the title. Racing against so much talent at such a young age left Monrás with plenty of perspective on what might have been. “Ricciardo was my teammate. Jean-Éric Vergne was my teammate. I raced with Da Costa, Bottas, with Magnussen, so many people that have been racing each other and winning races,” he said. “[I] think if I changed something at that point, maybe I would be in Formula 1, but who knows. Maybe yes, maybe no. “But at that time, it was really difficult times because it was 2010, '11, '12, where there was also a big crisis in the world, especially in Europe. It was really difficult for Spanish drivers to get the sponsors and the money to race.” The financial squeeze triggered by the 2008 global financial crisis left Monrás and many of his peers in a precarious position. Several teams, such as SG Formula, shut their doors in the wake of the crisis amidst an already shifting landscape in junior racing. “It's been changing a lot from that time until now. When I was racing Eurocup 2.0, one time we were like 48 drivers, I remember. 2008 at Spa. It was a massive level and so many drivers wanted to go in,” he said. “Eurocup was really high level, I would say maybe [comparable] to Formula 4 about the car and the lap times. “Motorsport has changed a lot in the last few years. It's more expensive. At that time, Eurocup was also expensive, but I think Formula 4 is around €700,000 more or less, maybe more now. It's quite expensive. Back then, I think Eurocup was around €300,000 or €250,000, so there was a massive difference. A lot more people could race at that time.” After two and a half years competing in various Formula Renault series, Monrás stepped up to GP3 in 2010. The inaugural season, won by eventual F1 driver Esteban Gutiérrez, came with another steep learning curve. Monrás managed two podiums and a 10th-place finish in the standings, but the step up exposed the limits of what talent alone could achieve in a field packed with hungry, well-backed drivers. “When I raced GP3, that was the first year of the championship, so it was a new championship for all of the teams. I also raced with Arden, which was a new team in the category, so it made it a bit difficult,” he said. “During testing, I remember I was flying in GP3, and then suddenly in some races there was such a huge difference with some other cars and drivers. It was difficult sometimes. … I think this is always present in motorsport in all categories. You will find some kind of differences within cars and teams. It just will always be there.” Challenging as it was, that season had its highs for Monrás. A recovery drive in Spa's characteristic rain remains a fond memory for the Spaniard. “I had a really bad qualifying because there were some yellow flags,” he explained. “Because there were 30 cars, it was easy to find yellow flags if you're waiting for the last minutes in qualifying. I finished [ninth in] race one, and in race two it started raining really heavily after five laps. I went from P10 to P3, nearly fighting for the win in the last lap against Rossi and Tambay. That was a really good race.” After a season in GP3, Monrás moved up a rung on the ladder to Formula Two. At the time, the feeder series landscape was fragmented. GP2 and Formula Renault 3.5 offered established paths to Formula 1, while the MotorSport Vision's FIA Formula Two Championship, which first ran in 2009, aimed to do the same with a more affordable package. “Formula Two at that point was very competitive, economically speaking,” Monrás said. “It was a lot cheaper to race in Formula Two than race in GP2 at that moment or 3.5 because it was like all one team. All the cars were one team with different engineers, and that made it low cost for the time. “A lot of drivers went to it because of that. They were racing in the best tracks, same as World Series and similar to GP2, and the car was competitive. Maybe not as competitive as GP2 or 3.5 because it was a bit slower, but it was really competitive and really fast, on the straight especially.”  “In that time, what they were saying was it was very equal. You had one engineer for three cars, you were sharing data with these three cars, and it was all under the same team. You can always find differences in motorsport. Maybe not a difference to make one car win and one car P15, but you can still always find two-tenths difference in similar cars, and two tenths, sometimes it's a lot of time,” he said. “The cars were on the same team, but each engineer was doing the set-up for his driver. The set-up I was using and maybe the set-up Bortolotti was using, he had won the championship maybe from our different set-ups. Every race, you changed engineers. Every weekend, you were rotating engineers so at the end of the season, everybody worked with everyone.” By 2012, the funding had dried up. Monrás was left sponsorless and unable to compete in Formula Two. He sampled GT racing in the Blancpain Endurance Series and tested with both Audi Sport and Atech GP, but no program materialised. From there, Monrás transitioned into driver coaching and team management – mostly with the AV Formula team owned by his manager, Adrian Vallés – and eventually “moved on” from motorsport around 2017. “I was working also with McLaren Automotive, but it was not motorsport. It was automotive, developing road cars, really competitive cars. After that I decided to stop because I wanted to follow a new career professionally, and I moved onto real estate which I have always been [involved with] because of my family, so that's why I decided to move over,” he said. “I now work in a real estate company which I own with some partners, and that's my day-to-day nowadays.” After years climbing the ladder in lockstep with some of the sport's future stars, Monrás has found a new rhythm – one that's decidedly less fast, but no less his own. Yet his career remains a reminder of the talent that defined an era: a Spaniard who went wheel to wheel with the likes of Ricciardo, Bottas, and Vergne, racing in some of the deepest junior grids of the 2000s and 2010s. In the story of that generation, Monrás may no longer be on track, but he's never far from the memory of it all.