Our verdict on F1's new engine direction
About this episode
The Late Braking F1 Podcast weighs in on F1’s new engine direction and the knock-on rule changes, focusing on how the combustion/electrical split is shifting and whether it’s actually improving racing. Hosts debate verdicts using early-season race patterns, Monaco and Barcelona as touchpoints, and explain why energy-management concerns have eased. They also discuss overtake rules, refuelling opposition, and how upcoming 2027–2028 targets (including MG UK and fuel-flow changes) could shape team and driver decisions.
Guess who's back!!! Ben is joined by Harry to discuss their thoughts on F1's newly confirmed 60-40 engine split for 2028, as well as the latest questions surrounding Fernando Alonso's future in the sport. Plus, a wonderful chat with F1 presenter and broadcaster, Christian Hewgill.
Christian's new book Grand Prix 101 is out soon at all major retailers. Amazon UK | Amazon US
Get involved in F1 Fantasy this season! Join the Late Braking league and see if you can beat us... LEAGUE CODE: C6Y6R4ZUY02
Want more Late Braking? Support the show on Patreon and get:
- Ad-free listening
- Full-length bonus episodes
- Power Rankings after every race
- Historical race reviews
- & more exclusive extras!
Don't forget! You can also gift a Late Braking Patreon subscription—perfect for loved ones or your own wish list. Choose anything from 1 month up to a full year of top-notch F1 content: https://www.patreon.com/latebrakingf1/gift
Connect with Late Braking:
- You can find us on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok
- Come hang out with us and thousands of fellow F1 fans in our Discord server and get involved in lively everyday & race weekend chats!
- Join our F1 Fantasy League and see if you can beat us!
- Get in touch any time at [email protected]
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
combustion engines
"It's that the FIA has confirmed plans to increase the role of Formula One's combustion engines over the next two years. So from 2028 power units will produce around 60% of their energy from the engine and 40% from the electrical system compared to the current 5050 splits."
That’s the part of the F1 power system that burns fuel to make power. The FIA is planning to make it contribute more than the electric parts.
“Combustion engines” are the fuel-burning part of F1’s hybrid power unit. In this rules update, the FIA is increasing how much of the total energy comes from the combustion side versus the electrical side.
power units
"It's that the FIA has confirmed plans to increase the role of Formula One's combustion engines over the next two years. So from 2028 power units will produce around 60% of their energy from the engine and 40% from the electrical system compared to the current 5050 splits."
In F1, a “power unit” means the whole hybrid power system. It includes the engine that burns fuel and the electric parts that store and use energy.
In Formula 1, the “power unit” is the complete hybrid engine package: the combustion engine plus the electrical system (including energy recovery and deployment). It’s the core of how F1 meets performance and efficiency rules, not just a standalone engine.
5050 splits
"So from 2028 power units will produce around 60% of their energy from the engine and 40% from the electrical system compared to the current 5050 splits."
This is the rule-based balance of where the power comes from. “50/50” means about half from the fuel-burning engine and half from the electric system.
“5050 splits” refers to the target energy contribution balance in F1 power units: roughly 50% from the combustion engine and 50% from the electrical system. The FIA’s plan shifts that balance toward more combustion energy over time.
MG UK harvesting power
"The transition begins next year 2027 with a 5% increase in fuel flow and MG UK harvesting power rising from 350 to 375 kilowatts. This should see the split move to about 5842 and then a further increase of course in 2028."
MG UK is the electric generator part of the F1 hybrid system. “Harvesting power” is how much electricity it can make from things like slowing down.
MG UK refers to the “Motor Generator” unit used for energy recovery and deployment in F1’s hybrid system, specifically the UK-side component. “Harvesting power” is how much electrical energy it can generate from braking/energy recovery, measured here in kilowatts.
fuel flow
"The transition begins next year 2027 with a 5% increase in fuel flow and MG UK harvesting power rising from 350 to 375 kilowatts."
Fuel flow is how quickly the engine gets fuel. If the rules allow more fuel per second, the combustion engine can make more power.
“Fuel flow” is the rate at which fuel is supplied to the combustion engine. Increasing fuel flow changes how much energy the engine can produce, which directly affects the balance between combustion and electrical contributions under the hybrid rules.
5842
"This should see the split move to about 5842 and then a further increase of course in 2028."
This number is shorthand for the power balance. It means the engine will provide a bit more than half the energy, with the electric system providing the rest.
“5842” is shorthand for the updated energy split the speaker expects after the 2027 transition: about 58% from the combustion engine and 42% from the electrical system. It’s a way to describe how the hybrid balance changes year to year.
Toto Wolf
"I think the people like Toto Wolf, he is a motorsport purist and even though he'll want to retain advantage, I think he understands that the sport still has a reputation to protect and having cars super clip is not part of the image that F1 wants to portray."
Toto Wolff is a top F1 leader. In this discussion, they’re saying he cares about keeping the sport true to its roots, but he also agrees the rules need to change.
Toto Wolff is a prominent Formula 1 team principal and executive known for his strong opinions on how the sport should evolve. Here, he’s framed as a “motorsport purist” who still understands the need to protect F1’s image.
Japan
"I mean, famous last words regarding safety, but it feels like we're in a better spot versus where we were in Japan. For example, Barcelona, it felt like if we were having those issues into turn one..."
“Japan” here just means the races held in Japan. The hosts are saying those races were where they noticed more issues, and the situation has improved since.
“Japan” is used as a shorthand for the Japanese round(s) where the hosts say they saw more of the problematic behavior earlier in the season. They’re framing it as a before/after comparison to explain why they feel safer/steadier now.
full flat out
"Yeah, great, because I think Barcelona, you're basically full flat out two corners before the end of the lap. If they were having those problems like they were in Suzuka, then they'd have run out of energy halfway down the straight."
It means the drivers are basically going as fast as the car will go. In racing, that’s important because if the car has any weaknesses, they show up when you’re pushing it at maximum for a long stretch.
“Full flat out” means the car is being driven at maximum available speed/power for that section of track, with minimal lift or throttle reduction. In F1 discussions, it often matters because sustained high load can reveal problems like energy depletion, overheating, or reliability limits.
run out of energy
"If they were having those problems like they were in Suzuka, then they'd have run out of energy halfway down the straight. I think the changes have been made so far, alleviated those concerns, which I'm glad because that's primarily what they should have done."
It means the car’s “extra power” runs low. In F1, the cars don’t just use fuel—they also have a limited amount of stored energy they can deploy, and if it runs out, the car can’t accelerate as strongly.
“Run out of energy” refers to an F1 car reaching the limits of its energy management—most notably the hybrid system’s usable electrical energy and/or the remaining energy budget for the lap. When that happens, the car can’t deploy as much power, so performance drops and the driver may struggle to maintain pace.
60-40
"Yeah, I would have liked them maybe to be bold enough to go to 60-40 next year, although I do appreciate the point that that might be one year too quick for all of this."
“60-40” is a shorthand for how F1 wants the car to use its power sources—like how much comes from fuel versus the car’s stored energy. They’re saying it might be a bit too soon to change that balance next year.
“60-40” is shorthand for a planned split in F1’s engine/energy usage targets—how much of the lap’s power comes from one source versus another (typically fuel vs. stored hybrid energy). The hosts debate whether moving to that ratio next year is too aggressive, given how long teams need to adapt.
regulations
"I agree with what you said that realistically, I don't think there's much more we can do within the current regulation cycle. There are some things you can adjust and tweak, but fundamentally, this is what we are."
They’re talking about the rulebook for F1 and the time period those rules apply. The idea is that teams can only tweak things so much until the next big rules change.
The hosts are discussing F1’s “regulation cycle,” meaning the multi-year rule period teams must design around. They’re arguing that within the current ruleset, there’s only so much that can be changed—so the best approach is to optimize what teams already have rather than expect a complete reset.
FIA
"Yeah, I agree. Anything I would say, I wish F1 and the FIA hadn't doubled down on the rules quite so much at the very beginning of the year..."
FIA is the organization that makes the rules for Formula 1. If they “double down,” it means they decided to stick with the rules they already chose instead of changing them quickly.
The FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) is the governing body that writes and enforces the rules for Formula 1. When the hosts say F1 and the FIA “doubled down on the rules,” they mean the sport’s rule-making and enforcement side chose to keep the direction they’d already set.
overtake mode
"They're not proposing any changes to sort of overtake mode. So I guess the way or the style of which we're racing with now is likely to remain."
“Overtake mode” is a feature in F1 that gives the driver a short burst of extra speed to help them pass another car. The hosts are saying F1 likely won’t change how that feature works.
In modern F1, “overtake mode” refers to a driver-activated system that temporarily boosts performance to help pass cars. The hosts are saying the rules aren’t proposing changes to that system, so the basic way overtakes are enabled will likely stay the same.
Canada
"I think you reference Canada, for example, that battle with the two Mercedes. That's all mainly down to the overtake ability to chop back and forth."
“Canada” here means the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. The hosts are using it as an example of a race where the passing system led to good fights on track.
“Canada” refers to the Canadian Grand Prix, held at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. It’s being used as an example of a race where the hosts think the current overtake/boost behavior produced strong wheel-to-wheel battles.
super clipping
"The super clipping, as we said, was the main one. So I'm glad that's staying the same because I think for the most part, that's worked..."
“Super clipping” sounds like a special limitation inside the overtake system. The hosts think it was the biggest issue, and they’re glad it isn’t changing because it’s helped create decent racing.
“Super clipping” is a nickname for the specific limitation/behavior that affects how the overtake system delivers its boost in F1. The hosts argue that this “super clipping” was the main problem, and they’re glad it’s staying the same because it’s been producing good racing.
overtakes
"It felt to me like at least with the last couple of races, Barcelona in particular, overtakes started to mean something. I would still like a little bit more on the brakes sort of overtakes."
An overtake is when one car passes another during the race. They’re saying the passing is getting better—more of it is happening in interesting places like braking zones, not just when cars are blasting down straightaways.
In racing, an overtake is when one car passes another on track. The hosts are discussing how overtakes have become more frequent or more meaningful recently, especially around braking zones versus down the straights.
Barcelona
"It felt to me like at least with the last couple of races, Barcelona in particular, overtakes started to mean something."
Barcelona is a famous race track that F1 visits regularly. The hosts are using it as an example of a race where passing on track felt more interesting.
Barcelona is a recurring Formula 1 venue (Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya) used for many seasons’ races and testing. The hosts reference it as a recent example where overtakes have become more significant.
Max Verstappen
"One sort of driver led conversation that's been ongoing throughout the year is Max Verstappen, and whether he will stick around for these regulations next year."
Max Verstappen is one of the best-known F1 drivers right now. The conversation is about whether he’ll keep racing under the new rules next year.
Max Verstappen is a top Formula 1 driver and a central figure in the sport’s current era. Here, the hosts discuss whether he’ll commit to staying for the next set of F1 regulations.
VA engines
"I'll be so good for Stappen quits before race one, but then he comes back because again content. He comes back when F1 has VA engines again."
“VA engines” is a shorthand for a particular engine plan F1 is considering or switching to. The hosts are saying Verstappen might be more willing to continue if the sport moves back toward that engine approach.
“VA engines” refers to a specific F1 engine direction the hosts are contrasting with the current regulations. In this context, they’re implying that Verstappen’s motivation to stay is tied to whether F1 returns to that engine concept.
new style of racing
"…In terms of the regulations and how they've been updated a little bit throughout the year, this new style of racing, are you more on the positive or negative side of things?"
They’re talking about how the rule changes changed the way F1 races look and feel. Over time, teams learn the new setup and the racing becomes more predictable and balanced.
This segment is about how updated regulations changed the on-track product—how cars race, how overtakes happen, and how competitive balance settles over a season. The hosts frame it as a “new style” that evolves as teams adapt.
turbo-hybrid split
"…the reason the sport went for the rules in the first place was very sound, you know, to having good intentions of doing the turbo-hybrid split, wanting to attract big name manufacturers."
In F1, the cars use a turbo engine and also a hybrid system that stores and reuses energy. The “split” is how the rules decide the balance between the gas engine and the electric part, which changes how the car drives and races.
“Turbo-hybrid split” refers to the way Formula 1’s power units are structured around a turbocharged engine plus hybrid energy recovery. The “split” is the balance of how much power comes from the combustion side versus the hybrid (electric) side, which affects performance and strategy.
engine suppliers
"…when it wasn't that long ago, when it looked like we might just have Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault as the three engine suppliers…"
In F1, teams don’t always build their own engines from scratch. “Engine suppliers” are the companies that provide the engine/power-unit technology to teams, and fewer suppliers can mean less variety and competition.
In Formula 1, “engine suppliers” are the manufacturers that provide the power-unit technology to multiple teams. The speaker is pointing out that having only a few suppliers (e.g., Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault) can limit competition and variety in the field.
flip-flop overtaking
"…in the first couple of grand prix, I thought the flip-flop overtaking was a bit too much. I think the last few races have really felt a nice balance to me…"
“Flip-flop overtaking” means passes that don’t really stick—cars keep trading positions back and forth. It usually suggests the rules or car behavior are making it easier to gain and lose position quickly.
“Flip-flop overtaking” describes a pattern where cars swap positions repeatedly rather than making clean, decisive passes. In F1 discussions, it often implies the racing format or power/energy rules are causing short bursts of advantage that lead to frequent re-overtakes.
flip-flop style of racing
"[1485.8s] as maybe some of these adjustments have come in, because as you say, the flip-flop style of racing, [1491.9s] whilst I'm not dead against it, I do enjoy when overtakes are meaningful."
This is a way of describing races where the lead changes a lot, but mainly because of pit stops and strategy. It can mean overtakes happen in bursts instead of constant, side-by-side racing.
A “flip-flop” style of racing is when track position changes hands frequently in a predictable pattern, often driven by pit stops and strategy rather than sustained on-track battles. In practice, it can make overtakes feel less like driver skill and more like timing the stops.
Miami
"[1508.4s] but certainly they felt like an ensign. I agree, and I actually think Miami and Canada [1515.0s] were a pretty good balance as well."
They’re talking about the Miami race and saying it felt like a good balance for passing and racing. It’s the F1 event held in Miami.
Miami is mentioned as one of the races where the hosts felt overtaking and overall race balance were in a good place. In F1 context, this refers to the Miami Grand Prix held at the Miami International Autodrome.
Australia
"[1521.8s] I certainly think Australia and China, it felt too easy for me. The flip side to that is,"
They’re talking about the Australian race and saying it didn’t feel as hard or exciting for passing as it should. It’s the F1 event in Australia.
Australia is mentioned as a race where the hosts felt overtakes happened “too easy,” implying the racing spectacle wasn’t as challenging. In F1 context, this refers to the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.
China
"[1521.8s] I certainly think Australia and China, it felt too easy for me. The flip side to that is,"
They’re referring to the race in China and saying it didn’t feel as challenging for passing. It’s the F1 event held in Shanghai.
China is referenced as another Grand Prix where the hosts felt the racing felt too easy, suggesting less resistance to overtaking. In F1 coverage, “China” usually means the Shanghai circuit used for the Chinese Grand Prix.
bring back refuelling campaign
"[1609.1s] Yeah, I won't get started on the bring back refuelling campaign, because that's another one [1614.0s] I'm dead against. Oh, no, and it's just, for a start, it's just dangerous, and I give any argument"
They’re talking about a push to return to refuelling during the race. That would mean more pit stops and strategy changes, and it also raises safety concerns because refuelling happens while cars are moving and crew are close by.
The “bring back refuelling campaign” refers to calls to reintroduce in-race fuel stops in Formula 1. Modern F1 races are typically run with enough fuel to avoid refuelling during the race, so adding it would change strategy, pit-stop timing, and potentially the risk profile of pit lane operations.
Formula One
"It doesn't feel like you're at a Formula One race. It feels like you're with the greatest of respect to other series."
Formula One is the highest level of open-wheel racing. It’s the series with the most advanced race cars and strict rules, and here they’re comparing the vibe of an F1 weekend to other kinds of racing.
“Formula One” is the top tier of open-wheel motorsport, where teams race single-seat cars under standardized technical rules. In the context of the transcript, it’s used to contrast the typical F1 race experience with the smaller, more “touring car”-like feel at certain venues.
Silverstone
"So Silverstone next up for me in a few weeks time, which of course I'm looking forward to."
Silverstone is a famous race track in the UK that hosts Formula One. It’s known for being fast and exciting, and it’s the next big race they’re looking forward to.
Silverstone is a major Formula One circuit in the UK, known for fast corners and high-speed sections that reward aerodynamic efficiency and traction. The hosts mention it as the next stop, tying it to championship storylines and British fan interest.
Lano Norris
"in the context of this season and the championship, you've got Lano Norris going for back-to-back British Grand Prix wins."
That’s Lando Norris, a Formula One driver. They’re saying he could win the British Grand Prix two races in a row.
“Lano Norris” refers to Lando Norris, a McLaren driver in Formula One. The transcript frames him as a contender for back-to-back British Grand Prix wins, making him central to the segment’s championship discussion.
British Grand Prix
"in the context of this season and the championship, you've got Lano Norris going for back-to-back British Grand Prix wins... Lewis Hamilton having just won, looking for a 10th British GP win."
The British Grand Prix is Formula One’s race in the UK. Here, they’re talking about it because several drivers have big goals for the weekend.
The British Grand Prix is the Formula One race held in the UK, traditionally at Silverstone. In this segment, it’s used as the anchor for multiple drivers’ win-chasing narratives (back-to-back wins, first wins, and a record-chasing 10th win).
George Russell
"You've got George Russell going for a first, and of course, Lewis Hamilton having just won..."
George Russell is a Formula One driver. They’re talking about him as a possible winner at the British Grand Prix for the first time.
George Russell is a Formula One driver, associated with Mercedes. In this segment, he’s discussed as aiming for a first British Grand Prix win, which is used to build excitement around the upcoming race.
Lewis Hamilton
"and of course, Lewis Hamilton having just won, looking for a 10th British GP win."
Lewis Hamilton is one of the most successful Formula One drivers ever. They’re saying he’s aiming for his 10th win at the British Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton is a top-tier Formula One driver known for record-setting results. Here, the hosts mention him after a recent win and discuss his push for a 10th British Grand Prix victory, which is a major milestone in F1 history.
McLaren
"I've been saying this all season. They're struggling, but given the recent evidence we've had of the last few years, you can't rule out McLaren"
McLaren is an F1 team. They’re saying you shouldn’t count McLaren out of winning races, even if things have been tough recently.
McLaren is a Formula One constructor/team with a long history of race wins and championships. The hosts say you can’t rule out McLaren, tying the brand to their broader argument about who can realistically win in the current season.
B spec
"It's almost going to be like when occasionally back in maybe the early [3330.4s] 2000s, you actually carried a car over from season to season, almost put a B spec on it. [3335.7s] I feel like we might as well do that with this car. AMR 26B, I think is what we're looking at here."
“B spec” means a revised version of the race car. Instead of only small tweaks, it usually brings bigger changes to try to fix problems.
“B spec” in F1 is shorthand for a revised specification of the car—often a substantial update—built to address weaknesses seen earlier in the season. It’s more than a minor upgrade package, and it can include major aerodynamic and technical changes.
AMR 26B
"So [3319.4s] does this end up being a brand new car basically? I think so. I'm pretty confident they'll bring an [3325.0s] entirely new looking car. It's almost going to be like when occasionally back in maybe the early [3330.4s] 2000s, you actually carried a car over from season to season, almost put a B spec on it. [3335.7s] I feel like we might as well do that with this car. AMR 26B, I think is what we're looking at here."
AMR 26B is Aston Martin’s updated Formula 1 car. The “B” usually means a bigger redesign meant to improve speed, not just tiny tweaks.
AMR 26B is the specific Aston Martin F1 car update the hosts are discussing. In F1, a “B” spec typically means a major revision intended to fix performance problems rather than just small incremental changes.
Alpine
"I was going to reference 2022. Now, their position in 2022 wasn't as bad as it is now, [3383.2s] but they started off 2022 with the last set of regulations pretty poorly. That car was not good [3388.9s] at the start of the year, and the Alpine was, which Alonso was driving."
Alpine is an F1 team. Here, the hosts mention it as the team that was doing better than Aston Martin at the start of 2022.
Alpine is the Formula 1 team and car brand the hosts reference when talking about who was performing well during 2022. In this context, they’re contrasting Aston Martin’s early-season struggles with Alpine’s stronger performance.
Aston Martin
"That car was not good [3388.9s] at the start of the year, and the Alpine was, which Alonso was driving. By the end of the year, [3393.8s] we've got Vettel in the Aston Martin and Alonso going side by side over the finish line in Suzuka."
Aston Martin is the F1 team involved in this story. The hosts talk about how its car performed in 2022 and how they think it can improve this season.
Aston Martin is the Formula 1 team the hosts are discussing, including its 2022 and current-season performance. They mention Vettel driving for Aston Martin and describe the team’s progress relative to the grid.
Suzuka
"By the end of the year, [3393.8s] we've got Vettel in the Aston Martin and Alonso going side by side over the finish line in Suzuka. [3399.9s] They've got their way back up to that end of the grid and obviously then 23 speaks for itself."
Suzuka is a well-known Formula 1 race track in Japan. The hosts are using it as an example of a dramatic, close finish in 2022.
Suzuka is the Japanese circuit where the hosts place a key 2022 moment: Alonso and Vettel running side-by-side at the finish. It’s a famous F1 venue known for high-speed corners and a strong reputation for close racing.
Ferrari
"Vett's on it looking exactly like a Mercedes or a Ferrari. [3453.1s] Ferrari. Pink pan for racing point. Welcome back. It's been a clear plan from Aston Martin this year"
Ferrari is a top Formula 1 team. In this moment, it’s used as a visual comparison for how the updated car might look.
Ferrari is mentioned as another comparison point for the expected look of the updated Aston Martin car. The hosts are using Ferrari’s identity as shorthand for a certain design/livery style.
Mercedes
"Vett's on it looking exactly like a Mercedes or a Ferrari. [3453.1s] Ferrari. Pink pan for racing point. Welcome back. It's been a clear plan from Aston Martin this year"
Mercedes is another F1 team. Here it’s mentioned just to compare the look of the updated Aston Martin car to Mercedes.
Mercedes is referenced as a visual/branding comparison for what the hosts expect the Aston Martin update to look like. They’re essentially saying the car’s livery or design cues will resemble Mercedes or Ferrari.
Racing Point
"Vett's on it looking exactly like a Mercedes or a Ferrari. [3453.1s] Ferrari. Pink pan for racing point. Welcome back. It's been a clear plan from Aston Martin this year"
Racing Point is an F1 team name from the past. The hosts are making a quick comment about its distinctive pink look.
Racing Point is referenced via its former identity and color association (“Pink pan”) in a quick livery-style joke. It’s not a technical discussion—just a brand/visual comparison.
improve this car by one tenth
"They're not doing the same thing as Cadillac who are clearly just at the moment, how can we improve this car by one tenth? How can we improve this car by two tenths?"
They’re talking about shaving off tiny amounts of time on a lap—like 0.1 seconds. In racing, even that small change can mean a big difference in where you finish.
In F1, “one tenth” usually refers to a small lap-time improvement (0.1 seconds) that can significantly change competitiveness. The host contrasts incremental development—tiny gains—with larger performance steps that might be needed to move from the midfield to the front.
Austria
"but also for how they do in Austria in seven days time. Quick note on Austria, by the way, and we'll mention this in the preview as well."
Austria is where the next F1 race is happening. The host is saying they’ll cover the race, but not qualifying, for that weekend.
Austria hosts a Formula 1 race at the Red Bull Ring, and it’s known for a mix of heavy braking and traction-focused corners. The host is talking about upcoming coverage for the Austrian race weekend, including the absence of a qualifying review.
qualifying review
"Whilst as always there will as always be a race review for Austria, there's not going to be a qualifying review, which I appreciate is a bit of a rarity."
A qualifying review is a podcast segment that breaks down how cars performed in the qualifying session—typically focusing on lap times, track position, and key moments that determine the starting grid. In F1 coverage, qualifying often matters as much as the race because it sets the odds for overtaking and strategy.
mid-season driver swap
"Second one up, the mid-season driver swap. So, we're not just talking about if there's one race, for example, that someone's subbing due to injury or ban or whatever, but an actual replacement mid-season of any driver on the grid."
It means a team changes drivers partway through the season. Instead of a one-race fill-in, it’s a real replacement that affects who drives the car for the rest of the year.
A mid-season driver swap is when a team replaces a driver during the current racing season, not just for a one-off situation. In F1, this can happen due to injury, disciplinary actions, or contractual/performance reasons, and it changes who drives the car for the remaining races.
super-licensed points
"Oh, gosh. That's a terrible noise from my wife on that. Okay, on a scale of 1 to 10, how likely is it we get a mid-season driver swap? ... But you need to be a little bit better, Valtteri, because Colton Herter is, I mean, he's there always. Needs a super-licensed points to be fair. He needs a super-licensed points."
To drive in F1, you need an FIA Super Licence. You earn it by getting enough points from certain racing results—if a substitute driver doesn’t have the points, they can’t step in.
In F1, a driver needs a Super Licence to race, and that licence is earned by accumulating “Super Licence points” through recognized junior series and other FIA-approved results. If a replacement driver doesn’t have enough points, they can’t legally take the seat.
FP3
"Yeah. I think as well with Barcelona, it looked a bit better from Bottas's side. I think he was only two temps away from Perez and qualifying. He did have quite a few older parts on the car based on the brakes completely failing in FP3 on him."
FP3 stands for the third free practice session before qualifying and the race. Teams use it to test the car, and if something breaks there—like brakes—it can carry over into the rest of the weekend.
FP3 is “Free Practice 3,” the third practice session of an F1 race weekend. It’s one of the key sessions where teams test setups and reliability, so a problem like brake failure in FP3 can strongly affect how the car behaves later in qualifying and the race.
older parts
"I think he was only two temps away from Perez and qualifying. He did have quite a few older parts on the car based on the brakes completely failing in FP3 on him."
It means the team is using parts that aren’t brand-new. Sometimes that’s because of reliability, timing, or upgrade priorities, and it can make the car less competitive.
“Older parts” in F1 usually means components that have been used before or are not the latest-spec upgrades. Teams sometimes run older parts due to supply limits, reliability concerns, or because they’re prioritizing other areas of development.
brakes completely failing
"He did have quite a few older parts on the car based on the brakes completely failing in FP3 on him."
It means the car’s braking system stopped working properly. That’s a big deal because you can’t test the car or drive safely, and it can affect the rest of the weekend.
When the brakes “completely fail,” the car can lose effective braking force, which is dangerous and also ruins the session’s data. In F1, brake failures can come from hardware issues (like hydraulics or calipers) or setup/temperature problems, and they often force teams to change plans for qualifying and the race.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.