Russell for champion? Are Ferrari back? Your questions answered! | 2026 F1 season preview
About this episode
The podcast dives into the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 season with insights on major rule changes, new team entries like Cadillac and Audi, and engine supplier shifts including Honda to Aston Martin and Ford aiding Red Bull. Betty Glover shares her fresh experiences from F1 testing, highlighting the unique paddock atmosphere and mixed driver reactions to the new cars. The hosts discuss the complexity of the new regulations but emphasize that the essence of racing remains, encouraging fans to focus on the excitement of the sport rather than technical details. Predictions and team evaluations also feature prominently.
Greg, Betty and Christian give their predictions about who they think has the best chances in 2026. Coming up, Betty gives us a debrief of what life was like in the paddock at the Bahrain tests, Greg has made friends with a team principal, and Christian has a WORLD EXCLUSIVE format for ranking the teams.
Make sure you follow us on all the socials and hit subscribe right here because the 2026 season is just around the corner!
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Formula One
"This is the Formula One podcast that speaks to the biggest names in the sport. They are fast and we are curious."
Formula One is a type of car racing where the fastest and most advanced cars race on tracks around the world to see who is the best driver and team.
Formula One is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the FIA. It features the fastest circuit-racing cars in the world and a global championship series.
F1 TV
"So I have joined the Formula One TV, well, the F1, I don't know why I called it Formula One, the F1 TV team."
F1 TV is a special service where you can watch Formula One races live on your computer or phone, with extra videos and features that make watching more fun.
F1 TV is the official streaming service for Formula One, providing live race coverage, onboard cameras, team radios, and exclusive content to fans. It offers a more immersive experience of F1 racing beyond traditional broadcasts.
Formula 1
"pop up on F1 Twitter and on threads, because I look at threads every now and then, and there are people who are like, fans of the Fast and the Queer is going, go on, Betty, go on, do the testing on F1 TV."
Formula 1 is a type of car racing with very fast cars that race on tracks all over the world. It's the top level of car racing and lots of people watch it.
Formula 1 (F1) is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the FIA. It features the fastest circuit-racing cars in the world and is known for its global races, advanced technology, and intense competition.
Honda
""On the engine side of things, Honda have gone to Aston Martin, Ford have come in to help Red Bull...""
Honda is a Japanese car and engine maker that helps race teams by providing engines; they are now working with Aston Martin.
Honda is a Japanese automaker that has been a key engine supplier in Formula 1, recently shifting its engine partnership from Red Bull to Aston Martin for the 2026 season.
Pirelli
"old Pirelli's that have been wasted that are too big now. Would you like to know a little facts? A lot of Formula One tyres are melted down and genuinely a lot end up as, for things like kids play areas... Thanks to our friends at Pirelli for that."
Pirelli is a company that makes tires, including special tires used in very fast car races like Formula One.
Pirelli is an Italian tire manufacturer known for producing high-performance tires, including those used in Formula One racing. They are recognized for their innovation and quality in both racing and consumer tires.
Aston Martin
"I think Aston Martin are in a world of pain. The one thing that I think everyone is also trying to stress though is that Adrian Newey will get this team into a better place."
Aston Martin is a famous British car company that makes fast and fancy cars. They also race cars in Formula One.
Aston Martin is a British luxury car manufacturer known for high-performance sports cars and its involvement in Formula One racing.
Adrian Newey
"Adrian Newey is this super designer who has had success wherever he's gone. He left Red Bull. He signed to Aston Martin to all this spectacular fanfare."
Adrian Newey is a famous car designer in Formula One racing. He makes the cars faster and better and has worked with some of the best teams.
Adrian Newey is a renowned Formula One car designer known for his innovative and successful car designs. He has worked with multiple top teams including Red Bull and Aston Martin.
Red Bull Racing
"He left Red Bull. He signed to Aston Martin to all this spectacular fanfare."
Red Bull Racing is a top team in Formula One car racing. They have won many championships and made some of the best racing cars.
Red Bull Racing is a Formula One racing team known for multiple World Championships and innovative car designs. Adrian Newey was a key designer for them before moving to Aston Martin.
Ferrari
""You know, it's got such a, it's like Ferrari. It's as well thought of almost as, you know, it's Ferrari Aston Porsche.""
Ferrari is a famous car company from Italy that makes very fast and expensive sports cars. They are well known for racing and winning many competitions.
Ferrari is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer renowned for its high-performance vehicles and rich motorsport heritage, especially in Formula 1.
Porsche
""It's Ferrari Aston Porsche. It's that those sorts of things.""
Porsche is a car company from Germany that makes fast and sporty cars. They are famous for their racing history and cool designs.
Porsche is a German manufacturer of high-performance sports cars, SUVs, and sedans, famous for models like the 911 and its racing pedigree.
Cadillac
"The thing is with Cadillac is they got miles in and at this stage,"
Cadillac is a car brand from America that makes fancy and comfortable cars. They also race their cars in long races.
Cadillac is a luxury vehicle brand from the United States, known for producing premium cars and SUVs. Cadillac has also been involved in motorsports, including endurance racing.
Williams
""The issue, I think, with Williams is that they're just very overweight, so they've got to sort the weight out, basically.""
Williams is a famous racing team that builds and races very fast cars in Formula 1. They have to make their cars light and fast to win races.
Williams is a British Formula 1 racing team known for its history in motorsport and engineering expertise. They compete at the highest level of open-wheel racing and face challenges such as car weight and performance.
Audi
"Audi are saying, we're coming in to win, right? We're not coming in to be a mid-table team."
Audi is a car company from Germany that makes fancy cars and races in big car competitions.
Audi is a German automotive manufacturer known for its luxury vehicles and participation in motorsport, including Formula 1 and endurance racing.
team principal
"They've basically got two great team principals in Jonathan Wheatley and Matteo Venotto. That role is split across the two."
A team principal is like the boss of a racing team who makes big decisions and helps the team do well in races.
A team principal is the person responsible for managing a motorsport team, overseeing operations, strategy, and leadership during races.
Buick Grand National
"...make an annoying point? You know, like people on Grand National Day where they pick a colour. I think it might be..."
The Buick Grand National is a special car from the 1980s that was really fast and looked cool because it was all black. People liked it because it was powerful but didn’t look like a typical sports car. It’s often talked about because it’s a unique and interesting car from that time.
The Buick Grand National is a high-performance version of the Buick Regal produced in the 1980s, famous for its turbocharged V6 engine and aggressive blacked-out styling. It gained a cult following for its impressive speed and unique presence during a time when muscle cars were less common. It's often discussed for its blend of muscle car performance with a more understated, almost stealthy appearance.
petrol head
"he's a proper, he's a proper petrol head, is Jonathan Wheatley."
A petrol head is a person who really loves cars and knows a lot about them.
A petrol head is an informal term for someone who is very passionate and knowledgeable about cars and motorsports.
Haas
"I was really impressed with Haas. Some people saying that they might be the sort of Williams role of best of the rest."
Haas is a racing team in Formula 1 that is smaller and spends less money than the biggest teams but still races well.
Haas F1 Team is an American Formula 1 racing team known for its smaller budget compared to top teams but competitive presence in the midfield.
Alpine
"And actually credit to Alpine, who nobody seems to be putting in the bottoms. And last year, they were absolutely s***."
Alpine is a racing team in Formula 1 that is part of the Renault car company.
Alpine is a Formula 1 team owned by Renault, competing as a works team with a focus on performance and development.
Mercedes engines
"It really appears that they've got the s*** together a little bit. Buying Mercedes engines was controversial because, you know, Wayne should make your own engines."
Mercedes makes the engines that some Formula 1 teams use to power their cars.
Mercedes engines are power units supplied by Mercedes-Benz to various Formula 1 teams, known for their performance and reliability.
McLaren
"Everyone's losing their heads over the top four. Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren."
McLaren makes very fast sports cars and has a team that races in Formula 1, the top car racing series.
McLaren is a British automotive manufacturer and Formula 1 team known for producing high-performance sports cars and competing at the highest level of motorsport.
podium
"are going to get on the podium in Melbourne, which I don't agree with, but can you imagine?"
The podium is the place where the top three racers stand after a race to get their awards.
In racing, the podium refers to the top three finishing positions where drivers stand to receive trophies and celebrate after a race.
paddock
"Toto Wolf and George Russell have been strutting around that paddock with the confidence of people that know that they're okay."
The paddock is the place at a race track where the race teams park their cars and work on them.
In motorsports, the paddock is the area where teams set up their garages, hospitality, and work on their cars during a race weekend.
Lewis Hamilton
"Anyway, the Ferrari thing is interesting to me because can someone please tell Lewis Hamilton that everything's going to be okay?"
Lewis Hamilton is a very famous race car driver who has won many championships in the fastest car races in the world.
Lewis Hamilton is a British Formula 1 racing driver widely regarded as one of the greatest in the sport's history, known for his multiple World Championships.
driver adaptability
"different drivers can adapt to different things, and Max is just the king of adaptability. He's just insane."
Driver adaptability means how well a race car driver can get used to new cars or rules quickly to race better.
Driver adaptability refers to a racing driver's ability to quickly adjust to new cars, regulations, or track conditions, which can provide a competitive advantage.
testing
"we were testing it, because that's what you do in testing. It does what it says on the tin. ... actually it is testing. So can you just try and some stuff out, please? We're just workshopping."
Testing is when race teams try out their cars and new ideas on the track before the real races to see what works best.
In motorsports, testing refers to the process where teams try out new parts, setups, and strategies on track before the official races to improve performance and reliability.
sandbagging
"Question here from Charlie, who says, how much can team sandbag during testing, i.e. could Lance Stroll win in Melbourne?"
Sandbagging means pretending your car is slower than it really is so other teams don't know how fast you can go.
Sandbagging in racing is when a team deliberately hides their true performance during testing or qualifying to mislead competitors about their actual speed.
drivers
"Let's do a chart show, a rundown of your 321 constructors and drivers. Okay. So who's winning the constructors and who's winning the drivers?"
Drivers are the people who drive the cars in Formula One races. They try to win races and be the best driver of the year.
Drivers in Formula One are the professional racers who compete in the races, aiming to win individual races and accumulate points towards the Drivers' Championship.
constructors
"Let's do a chart show, a rundown of your 321 constructors and drivers. Okay. So who's winning the constructors and who's winning the drivers?"
Constructors are the teams that make and race the cars in Formula One. They compete to see which team is the best over the whole season.
In Formula One, constructors are the teams that build the cars and compete in the championship. The Constructors' Championship is awarded to the team with the most points accumulated by its drivers over the season.
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