Verstappen + Antonelli? Our take on F1's next big driver moves
About this episode
Max Verstappen’s future is the ultimate F1 puzzle, and recent rumors linking him to McLaren have sent the driver market into overdrive. Edd Straw, Nelson Valkenberg, and Josh Sutill dissect the behind-the-scenes talks between Verstappen’s camp and Zak Brown, exploring why a 2028 move might be on the table. The team also debates the tantalizing prospect of a Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli pairing at Mercedes, analyzing how the young Italian's rapid rise could motivate the four-time world champion to stay in the sport longer.
After news broke in Austria that Max Verstappen's management have met with McLaren, we explain what’s really going on behind the scenes when it comes to the four-times world champion’s Formula 1 future.
Joining Edd Straw, to discuss what it all means for the wider driver market, are Josh Suttill and special guest Nelson Valkenburg, F1 commentator for Viaplay Netherlands.
There's also another batch of listener questions to tackle, with the future of the Williams drivers, Isack Hadjar's form, Russell's in-race pace fall-off and more on the agenda.
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Max Verstappen
"And amid rumours about Max Verstappen and McLaren, what's really going on behind the scenes when it comes to the four times world champion's Formula One future, and what does it mean for the driver markets?"
A highly successful Formula 1 driver from the Netherlands who won multiple world championships with the Red Bull team. He is famous for his incredible speed and aggressive driving style.
Max Verstappen is a Dutch Formula 1 driver who debuted in 2015 as the youngest driver in F1 history at age 17. Driving for Red Bull Racing, he secured multiple World Championships, establishing himself as one of the most dominant and aggressive drivers of the modern era.
McLaren
"And amid rumours about Max Verstappen and McLaren, what's really going on behind the scenes..."
A famous British company that makes high-performance supercars and races in Formula 1. They are known for their bright orange ("papaya") cars and a long history of winning championships.
McLaren is a British supercar manufacturer and historic Formula 1 team founded by Bruce McLaren in 1963. Known for pioneering carbon-fiber chassis technology in both racing and road cars, McLaren is one of the most successful constructors in F1 history.
Zak Brown
"Zach Brown, you know, has to look after the interests of the team. And that includes, I think, taking an approach from, you know, the best driver in Formula One."
The boss of the McLaren Formula 1 team. He is an American businessman who is famous for bringing lots of big sponsors to the team and expanding McLaren into other types of racing.
Zak Brown is an American businessman and former professional racing driver who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Racing. He is widely credited with revitalizing McLaren's commercial portfolio, securing major sponsorships, and expanding the brand into IndyCar, Formula E, and Extreme E.
Ayrton Senna
"Yeah, this Verstappen move story, which looks like it could go on for another year or so, it's kind of the equivalent of the center potentially leaving McLaren stuff in the early 90s, isn't it?"
A famous race car driver from Brazil who won the Formula 1 championship three times. He is remembered as one of the fastest and most passionate drivers in history.
Ayrton Senna was a legendary Brazilian Formula 1 driver and three-time World Champion, widely regarded as one of the greatest racing drivers of all time. His intense rivalry with Alain Prost and his peerless wet-weather driving skills defined F1 in the late 1980s and early 1990s before his tragic death in 1994.
hybrid deployment
"Mercedes winning most of the races, McLaren not being able to match Mercedes, even on what seems to be deployment."
This is how a modern Formula 1 car uses its electric battery power to get an extra speed boost. Drivers and engineers have to plan exactly when to use this electric boost so they don't run out of battery on the long straightaways.
Hybrid deployment in modern Formula 1 refers to the strategic release of stored electrical energy from the Energy Recovery System (ERS) to the rear wheels via the MGU-K electric motor. Teams must carefully manage how and where this extra horsepower is delivered over a lap to maximize lap time and prevent running out of electrical power before the end of a straight.
Mercedes-AMG GT3
"And probably it was all about the AMG GT3 for the Nordschleife and settling that deal. And they must have had a big laugh about that at our expense."
A race-only version of Mercedes' sports car built to compete in endurance races around the world. It uses a very loud and powerful V8 engine instead of the hybrid engines found in Formula 1.
The Mercedes-AMG GT3 is a dedicated customer race car built for global sports car racing. It is powered by a legendary, naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine that is highly praised for its thunderous sound and durability.
Nordschleife
"And probably it was all about the AMG GT3 for the Nordschleife and settling that deal. And they must have had a big laugh about that at our expense."
A famous, extremely long, and dangerous race track in Germany that winds through a forest. It is known as one of the ultimate tests for both race cars and everyday sports cars.
The Nordschleife is the legendary 20.8-kilometer northern loop of the Nürburgring in Germany. Nicknamed 'The Green Hell' by Jackie Stewart, it features over 70 corners, massive elevation changes, and is widely considered the most challenging and dangerous racetrack in the world.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
"Now there's no doubt. Like when you've got some performing, like the level he is, you know, why would a two or three look anywhere else?"
A young Italian racing driver who is considered one of the next big superstars in Formula 1. He was signed by the Mercedes team at a very young age because of his incredible talent.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli is a highly touted Italian racing driver who rose rapidly through the junior single-seater ranks, skipping Formula 3 entirely to debut in Formula 2. Highly backed by Mercedes-AMG F1, he is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young prospects since Max Verstappen.
Ferrari Off
"...id. And then it suddenly like, bang, I signed for Ferrari off I go. And that's the thing that we could we could..."
The Ferrari FF is a high-performance luxury car made by Ferrari. Unlike most of their low-slung sports cars, this model has a hatchback shape, four seats, and all-wheel drive, making it more practical for everyday driving and bad weather. It is powered by a very large, powerful engine and was built to be both fast and spacious.
The Ferrari FF is a grand tourer produced from 2011 to 2016, notable for being the Italian manufacturer's first production model to feature four-wheel drive. It features a unique "shooting-brake" hatchback body style that allows it to comfortably seat four adults while offering usable cargo space. Powered by a front-mid-mounted V12 engine, it was designed to combine supercar performance with all-weather practicality.
Mount Panorama Circuit
"Oh, and by the way, I have a team racing at the Mount Panorama in Bathurst. Max, you want to do different things?"
A famous race track in Australia built on public mountain roads. It has very steep hills and narrow sections with concrete walls right next to the track, making it incredibly challenging to drive fast.
Mount Panorama Circuit, located in Bathurst, Australia, is a world-famous public road-based racetrack known for its extreme elevation changes and narrow, wall-lined mountain section. It is home to the Bathurst 1000 and Bathurst 12 Hour endurance races, demanding immense bravery and precision from drivers.
James Vowles
"What's happening to Williams and are James Valls' days numbered? They look like they were improving and in the midfield, but seem to be the third slowest car."
The team boss of Williams Racing. Before taking this job, he was the chief race strategist for the highly successful Mercedes team.
James Vowles is a British motorsport engineer and the Team Principal of Williams Racing. Prior to joining Williams in 2023, he was the long-time Motorsport Strategy Director at Mercedes, where he played a pivotal role in their dominant championship run.
Carlos Sainz
"But unfortunately, just not at the car and just endless amounts of issues really for both of them, just sessions to session."
A Spanish Formula 1 driver who has won races for famous teams like Ferrari. He is known for being very smart, analytical, and great at helping teams develop their cars.
Carlos Sainz Jr. is a Spanish Formula 1 driver known for his analytical approach, smooth driving style, and strong technical feedback. The son of double World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz, he has raced for Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren, and Ferrari, securing multiple Grand Prix victories.
Volkswagen Group
"Do you think the new Volkswagen round of layoffs, which are rumoured to be some of the largest in automotive history, will impact Audi's commitment to F1?"
A massive German company that owns and makes many of the world's most famous car brands, including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, and Lamborghini.
Volkswagen Group (VAG) is a German multinational automotive manufacturing corporation and one of the largest automakers in the world. It manages a diverse portfolio of brands including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Ducati.
energy harvesting
"You're worried more about deployment and harvesting and you're taking into account your tire wear."
This is how the race car recharges its hybrid battery while driving. It captures energy that would normally be wasted when the driver steps on the brakes or from the hot exhaust gases.
Energy harvesting in Formula 1 is the process of capturing kinetic energy under braking (via the MGU-K) and heat energy from exhaust gases (via the MGU-H) to recharge the hybrid system's battery. Efficient harvesting is critical for maintaining maximum electrical power deployment throughout a race distance without draining the battery.
thermal degradation
"Could you tell me a ranking of the top teams in thermal deck, for example?"
This is when a race car's tires get too hot and lose their grip. It makes the car slide around more and go slower, even if there is still plenty of rubber left on the tire.
Thermal degradation (often abbreviated as 'thermal deg') refers to the loss of tire grip caused by the rubber overheating beyond its optimal operating temperature window. Unlike mechanical wear, which physically scrapes rubber away, thermal deg chemically alters the tire surface, temporarily or permanently reducing traction.
ground effect
"It seems like the switch to flat bottoms has solved many of Lewis Hamilton's issues under the ground effect here."
A design trick where the bottom of the car is shaped like an upside-down wing to suck the car down onto the road. This helps the car go around corners much faster, but it can make the ride very stiff and bumpy.
Ground effect in automotive aerodynamics refers to the generation of downforce by designing the car's underbody as a Venturi tunnel. This sucks the car to the track, dramatically increasing cornering grip but making the car highly sensitive to ride height and track bumps.
Hyundai i20
"Talking about drawing the curtain, people will love this. Mel and I last year raced a I-20 Hyundai or two years ago against Carlos Sainz in a Ferrari"
The Hyundai i20 is a small, practical hatchback car built by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai. It is designed for daily city driving, offering good fuel economy and a compact size that is easy to park. It is a common, affordable vehicle that is popular in Europe and other parts of the world.
The Hyundai i20 is a subcompact hatchback designed primarily for the European, Asian, and oceania markets, offering practical and efficient everyday transportation. It has gained significant enthusiast appeal through its successful involvement in the World Rally Championship (WRC) and the release of the high-performance i20 N variant. In the podcast, it is referenced as a modest, everyday vehicle contrasted against a high-end supercar.
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