The Autosport F1 Podcast

Jake Boxall-Legge (Technical Editor, Autosport) joins Martyn Lee to explain THOSE Mercedes sidepods, or rather lack of them, and what it means for the development race in 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Autosport's Chief Editor Kevin Turner loves a list and in Part 2 of our new podcast series we're ranking another ten drivers. Just like the first which counted down the Top 10 Ferrari drivers, you'll no doubt have an opinion on this one too. This week it's the youngest team on our mini-series, Red Bull Racing.  Kevin is joined by Grand Prix Editor Alex Kalinauckas and F1 Reporter Luke Smith. Thanks to the Autosport Podcast sponsor, BetterHelp online therapy.  We talk about BetterHelp a lot on this show, and this month we’re discussing some of the stigmas around mental health. Many people think therapy’s for so-called crazy people. But, therapy doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you. It means you recognize that all humans have emotions, and we need to learn to control them, not avoid them. And we’ve been taught that mental health shouldn’t be a part of normal life. But that’s wrong too. We take care of our bodies with the gym, the doctor and nutrition. We should be focusing on our minds just as much. BetterHelp is customized online therapy that offers video, phone and even live chat sessions with your therapist, so you don’t have to see anyone on camera if you don’t want to. ● It’s much more affordable than in-person therapy and you can be matched with a therapist in under 48 hours. ● Give it a try and see why over 2 million people have used BetterHelp online therapy Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/autosport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we're joined by professional racing driver, TV commentator and MotorsportUK board member Karun Chandhok. We're looking ahead to the Bahrain test this week and discussing what was learned from Barcelona. Should the teams have foreseen the porpoising issue? And can teams fix any issues completely within the timescale and the budget restrictions? Karun also talks about how international sporting bodies have taken a stance against Russian and Belarusian athletes. He discusses, from his perspective as a driver, the role of professional sportspeople as influencers and role models. Finally we look at the driver line-ups following Max Verstappen's long term commitment to Red Bull Racing, and which driver pairings he thinks are the ones to watch this year. Karun is joined by GP Racing magazine editor Ben Anderson and your host, Alex Kalinauckas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the most successful constructor in Formula 1 history, and its only ever-present force since 1950, Ferrari has had its fair share of top-line drivers during its world championship history. Autosport takes on the task of ranking its very best from the past 71 years. Alex Kalinauckas is joined by Matt Kew and, of course, Kevin Turner to argue about which drivers deserve their place in the Top 10. Thank you to today's podcast sponsor BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month by using this link, which also let's the know you heard about BetterHelp on the Autosport Podcast: www.betterhelp.com/autosport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tom Howard is fresh off the plane from Sweden with his full review of how Kalle Rovanperä took an emphatic victory to take charge of the championship. The 21 year old decided on muted celebrations, after giving his support to the people of Ukraine currently under Russian invasion, exactly 21 years after his father Harri took his only World Rally Championship victory at the same event.    In contrast, Elfyn Evans had a weekend to forget. A 10 second time penalty caused by him leaving the designated course, whilst recovering from crashing over a snow back on the final corner, would just be the start of his pain. To discuss that and a lot more, Martyn Lee joins Tom Howard to look back at memorable weekend of motorsport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mercedes put in some quick laps to top morning and afternoon sessions, with drivers running two by two, and both Red Bulls not far behind.    For anyone hoping the new regulations might mean the competitive order was thrown up in the air will be disappointed. But for followers of Formula 1, you won't be surpirsed that the status quo is a good place to start when decoding the timesheets from testing.    Maybe it's a sign that many of the teams are talking up Ferrari, or are they trying some smoke-and-mirrors to divert attention off their own cars.    Joining Martyn Lee to discuss all the action from the final day of the first pre-season test is Luke Smith (F1 Reporter, Autosport) and Haydn Cobb (Editor, Autosport.com).   Formula 1 says it will not hold the Russian Grand Prix scheduled for 25 September "in the current circumstances" following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: “On Thursday evening Formula 1, the FIA, and the teams discussed the position of our sport, and the conclusion is, including the view of all relevant stakeholders, that it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances.”   The promoter of the Russian Grand Prix confirmed the contract to hold the race had been suspended, but also asl fans not to seek refunds for tickets as "it is still possible that the round will take place and will be held as previously scheduled".     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AL UNSER JR has lived a double life - supreme racing talent and self-inflicted personal turmoil. He won two CART championships and won the Indianapolis 500 twice. It's rare for someone so successful in their motorsport career to open up on struggles with addiction, depression and abuse. His new book "Al Unser Jr: A Checkered Past" is a brutally honest look at some of the stories which racing fans will know, and some which he has never talked about before. Growing up in Indycar with a famous surname he was put on a pedestal. Nephew to Bobby, son of Al. The story of 'Little Al' would too often leave the pages of Autosport for the tabloids to chart the fall from grace of an American darling. JAMES NEWBOLD asks about how he was able to supress his anger at Emerson Fittipaldi after his crash in the 1989 Indy 500, and win an award for sportsmanship, when he had to fight every natural urge not to retaliate. He says what he thinks of the current crop of teams and drivers, and who impresses him the most. He also talks about the process of writing his book alongside noted author JADE GURSS and how he had to stop several times because he was in tears. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Day 2 of F1 pre-season testing saw global events overtake what was happening on track, with drivers and teams speaking out against the Russia/Ukraine conflict.  Meetings between organisers will soon communicate Formula 1's stance on the planned race in Sochi. Martyn Lee is joined by Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport) and Jake Boxall-Legge (Technical Editor, Autosport) to dig into the timesheets and work out what's really going on. We've been trackside again today and observing how some of the cars are suffering with high speed instability,  in a throwback to the 1980's ground effect cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to a bonus episode of the show featuring some exclusive content from the subscriber area of Autosport.com. Autosport Plus  Red Bull was the first Formula 1 team to launch its 2022 season, but is the last to actually show off its new car. Finally unveiling its RB18 to the world on the first day of pre-season testing in Barcelona, here's what can be seen from the radical new challenger Max Verstappen will defend his 2021 title with. For a 50% discount on your first payment to the exclusive Autosport Plus subscriber area, using the code PODCAST at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Autosport Podcast will bring you coverage of Formula 1 testing at the end of every day of track action. On today's podcast we're looking at the first day of testing (officially a shakedown) and how any fears about early reliability were quickly dispelled. Eight teams achieved over 100 laps as they executed their individual run plans with little drama and no red flags to interrupt sessions. Martyn Lee is joined by Jake Boxall-Legge (Technical Editor, Autosport) and Haydn Cobb (Autosport.com Editor) to talk about what it was like trackside, and also analyse some of the technical aspects of the Red Bull RB18 which made it's first real appearance today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices