{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Who will be 2026 F1 champion? Damon and Johnny give their verdict","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/who-will-be-2026-f1-champion-damon-and-johnny-give-their-verdict","audioUrl":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/690251e14013c81f9a0d7ba3/e/6962e9d979fe7d5545b8d4eb/media.mp3","description":"Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert are back for the first 2026 episode of their F1 podcast, Stay On Track! They discuss the impact winning the F1 world title will have on Lando Norris (and his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri), and share their view on the mindset Isack Hadjar needs to have going into Red Bull Racing alongside Max Verstappen.They also weigh up which team will get the new regulations right, and who might get them wrong, and what impact multiple exits will have on Red Bull. There's also talk of Lewis Hamilton's pivotal second Ferrari season, plus Hill and Herbert make their champion predictions for 2026...Want to listen ad-free? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today - we even have an 'F1-only' tier!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information."},"annotations":[{"startTime":277.52,"endTime":280.5,"type":"term","title":"turbo","url":"/glossary/turbo","quote":"That was using the turbo to charge the battery. That's not there, but the turbo is still there.","canonicalId":"term:turbo","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A turbo, or turbocharger, is a device that forces extra air into an engine's combustion chamber to increase power output by using exhaust gases to spin a turbine.","simplifiedExplanation":"A turbo is like a fan that pushes more air into the engine to make the car go faster and have more power."}},{"startTime":283.7,"endTime":296.6,"type":"term","title":"battery","url":"/glossary/battery","quote":"And yeah, but the battery's got massive. So it's producing 50% of the horsepower. But I know a lot of the problems that they've been having is the depletion of the battery during the running.","canonicalId":"term:battery","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The battery in a vehicle stores electrical energy to power the starter motor, electronics, and in hybrid or electric cars, it also powers the electric motor.","simplifiedExplanation":"The battery is like a big rechargeable box that gives power to start the car and run electrical parts."}},{"startTime":463.9,"endTime":467.5,"type":"concept","title":"championships","url":"/glossary/championships","quote":"\"I mean, I always thought when Michael won one, one, two, three, four, five championships, he'd have enough, but then he went to one, two more.\"","canonicalId":"concept:championships","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"In motorsports, championships refer to the titles awarded to drivers or teams who accumulate the most points over a season across multiple races. Winning multiple championships is a sign of consistent high performance and dominance in the sport.","simplifiedExplanation":"Championships are like winning the whole season in racing. The driver or team who does the best over many races gets the championship trophy."}},{"startTime":611.9,"endTime":612.5,"type":"brand","title":"Cadillac","url":"/glossary/cadillac","quote":"I don't think it will be Cadillac, but I might be wrong.","canonicalId":"brand:cadillac","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Cadillac is a luxury automotive brand from the United States, known for producing premium vehicles with a focus on comfort and technology.","simplifiedExplanation":"Cadillac is a car company that makes fancy and comfortable cars mostly in America."}},{"startTime":616.4,"endTime":617.0,"type":"brand","title":"Ferrari","url":"/glossary/ferrari","quote":"but it could be Ferrari, let's say.","canonicalId":"brand:ferrari","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Ferrari is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer famous for its high-performance supercars and racing heritage.","simplifiedExplanation":"Ferrari is a famous car company from Italy that makes very fast and expensive sports cars."}},{"startTime":626.8,"endTime":629.6,"type":"brand","title":"McLaren","url":"/glossary/mclaren","quote":"that McLaren are going to continue their form into 26th\nand we really can't do that.","canonicalId":"brand:mclaren","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"McLaren is a British automotive manufacturer known for producing high-performance sports cars and competing in Formula 1 racing. They have a rich history in motorsports and are recognized for their advanced technology and engineering.","simplifiedExplanation":"McLaren is a company that makes very fast and fancy cars, and they also race in big car competitions called Formula 1. They are famous for making cars that go really fast and have cool technology."}},{"startTime":718.8,"endTime":720.6,"type":"concept","title":"Formula One","url":"/glossary/formula-one","quote":"But Formula One is a very, very different thing. So it's the same for the teams.","canonicalId":"concept:formula-one","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Formula One is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the FIA, featuring the fastest and most technologically advanced cars and teams in motorsport.","simplifiedExplanation":"Formula One is a type of car racing with very fast and special cars that race on tracks all over the world."}},{"startTime":722.1,"endTime":725.1,"type":"company","title":"Williams","url":"/glossary/williams","quote":"So the guys at Williams, they were innovating and that meant that they had no book to copy.","canonicalId":"company:williams","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Williams is a British Formula One racing team and constructor known for its history of innovation and success in the sport.","simplifiedExplanation":"Williams is a famous team that builds and races very fast cars in Formula One races."}},{"startTime":755.0,"endTime":759.8,"type":"concept","title":"F1","url":"/glossary/f1","quote":"But F1 is a very, very different pressurized pot to be in.","canonicalId":"concept:f1","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"F1, or Formula 1, is the highest class of single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the FIA. It involves highly advanced technology, intense competition, and significant pressure on teams and drivers.","simplifiedExplanation":"F1 is a type of very fast car racing where the best drivers and teams compete with special cars on circuits around the world. It's a tough and competitive sport."}},{"startTime":999.2,"endTime":1001.7,"type":"concept","title":"karting","url":"/glossary/karting","quote":"because if you're in karting, just for example, you can't buy a better team than the works team.","canonicalId":"concept:karting","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Karting is a form of motorsport using small, open-wheel vehicles called karts. It is often the first step in a racing driver's career and serves as a training ground for higher levels like Formula One.","simplifiedExplanation":"Karting is racing with small, simple cars called karts. Many professional race car drivers start by racing karts when they are young."}},{"startTime":1001.7,"endTime":1007.68,"type":"term","title":"works team","url":"/glossary/works-team","quote":"you can't buy a better team than the works team. You just are able to get into that works team","canonicalId":"term:works-team","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A works team is a racing team that is officially supported and funded by a manufacturer. These teams usually have the best resources, equipment, and drivers.","simplifiedExplanation":"A works team is a race team that is backed by a car company. They get the best cars and help to win races."}},{"startTime":1145.8,"endTime":1148.2,"type":"brand","title":"Red Bull","url":"/glossary/red-bull","quote":"Oh, now? And Red Bull are a very good example. Yes, very much so. They're out there scouting for talent.","canonicalId":"brand:red-bull","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Red Bull is a prominent energy drink brand that also owns and sponsors top-tier motorsport teams, including a successful Formula 1 team known for scouting and developing young racing talent.","simplifiedExplanation":"Red Bull is a company that makes energy drinks and also has famous race teams. They look for new drivers to help them win races."}},{"startTime":1586.32,"endTime":1588.4,"type":"concept","title":"world champion","url":"/glossary/world-champion","quote":"I want to be world champion this year. And I think within about two hours, it was another article that came out in Germany","canonicalId":"concept:world-champion","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The world champion title in motorsports refers to the driver who accumulates the most points over a season in a specific racing series, such as Formula 1. It is the highest achievement for a racing driver in that series.","simplifiedExplanation":"In racing, the world champion is the driver who does the best over the whole season and wins the biggest prize. It means they were the fastest and most consistent racer that year."}},{"startTime":1858.9,"endTime":1894.0,"type":"concept","title":"Adrian Newey","url":"/glossary/adrian-newey","quote":"Well, the immediate person, I mean, we all expect Adrian Newey to have seen through the regulations, as he's famous for doing, and come up with an absolute rocket ship, but, I mean, it's a whole bag of regulations, isn't it?","canonicalId":"concept:adrian-newey","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Adrian Newey is a renowned Formula One car designer known for his innovative and successful race car designs. He has worked with multiple top teams and is famous for finding creative solutions within the regulations.","simplifiedExplanation":"Adrian Newey is a very smart person who designs the fastest and best race cars in Formula One. He is known for making cars that win a lot."}},{"startTime":1875.9,"endTime":1880.2,"type":"term","title":"technical regulations","url":"/glossary/technical-regulations","quote":"I mean, it's a whole bag of regulations, isn't it? 150 pages worth of technical regulations. Describing a modern Formula One car, there's got to be a loophole in there somewhere.","canonicalId":"term:technical-regulations","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Technical regulations are detailed rules set by racing authorities that define the design, dimensions, and performance limits of race cars to ensure safety, fairness, and competitive balance.","simplifiedExplanation":"Technical regulations are the rules that say how race cars have to be built and what they can and cannot have. These rules make sure all cars are safe and the races are fair."}},{"startTime":1880.2,"endTime":1885.8,"type":"concept","title":"loophole","url":"/glossary/loophole","quote":"Describing a modern Formula One car, there's got to be a loophole in there somewhere. Oh, for sure. They will find it.","canonicalId":"concept:loophole","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A loophole in racing regulations refers to an unintended gap or ambiguity in the rules that teams exploit to gain a competitive advantage without technically breaking the rules.","simplifiedExplanation":"A loophole is like a small trick or gap in the rules that lets race teams do something special that others might not expect, helping them go faster or be better."}},{"startTime":1888.9,"endTime":1894.0,"type":"brand","title":"Aston Martin","url":"/glossary/aston-martin","quote":"Oh, for sure. They will find it. The expectation, as I said, then, is Aston Martin will find somewhere. Adrian will have found something.","canonicalId":"brand:aston-martin","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Aston Martin is a British luxury automotive manufacturer known for producing high-performance sports cars and grand tourers. They also compete in Formula One as a constructor, designing and racing their own cars.","simplifiedExplanation":"Aston Martin is a company that makes fancy and fast cars. They also build special racing cars that compete in the top level of car racing called Formula One."}},{"startTime":2103.44,"endTime":2127.4,"type":"concept","title":"FIA","url":"/glossary/fia","quote":"if there's any doubt, and then the FIA will say, that's not what we intended, you're not allowed to do that, and that's a blanket rule that will go across all the teams. Sometimes they will submit some suggestion and they'll go, we're not, you could look at it like that. And then they will not tell the other teams what they're doing. So the FIA are very interesting, kind of God's eye view position","canonicalId":"concept:fia","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) is the governing body for many major motorsport events worldwide, including Formula 1. They set and enforce regulations to ensure fair competition and safety.","simplifiedExplanation":"The FIA is like the referee in big car races. They make the rules and check that everyone follows them so the race is fair and safe."}},{"startTime":2139.9,"endTime":2146.0,"type":"concept","title":"dyno testing","url":"/glossary/dyno-testing","quote":"is when they do the dyno testing for the engine, all that data effectively goes to the FIA, so they can sort of understand what they've been doing, how long they've been doing it for,","canonicalId":"concept:dyno-testing","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Dyno testing involves using a dynamometer to measure an engine's power output and performance characteristics. This data helps teams and regulators understand engine behavior under controlled conditions.","simplifiedExplanation":"Dyno testing is when they use a machine to see how strong and fast a car's engine is working. It helps teams know how good their engine is."}},{"startTime":2281.4,"endTime":2285.8,"type":"brand","title":"Mercedes","url":"/glossary/mercedes","quote":"And you're up against the greats of the sport from the Ferraris of the World Mercedes and Red Bulls and McLarens, for example.","canonicalId":"brand:mercedes","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Mercedes-Benz is a German luxury automotive brand known for its premium vehicles and successful Formula 1 racing team.","simplifiedExplanation":"Mercedes is a car company that makes fancy cars and also races in important car races."}},{"startTime":2420.3,"endTime":2422.0,"type":"concept","title":"combustion","url":"/glossary/combustion","quote":"And you've got to be able to have the right ingredients for the battery to work with the electrification to work with the combustion...","canonicalId":"concept:combustion","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Combustion refers to the burning of fuel inside an engine to create power. In cars, internal combustion engines use gasoline or diesel to generate mechanical energy for movement.","simplifiedExplanation":"Combustion means burning fuel inside the car's engine to make it go. Most cars use this process to turn gas into power that moves the car."}},{"startTime":2426.3,"endTime":2428.0,"type":"concept","title":"aerodynamics","url":"/glossary/aerodynamics","quote":"...but then you need the right aerodynamics.","canonicalId":"concept:aerodynamics","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Aerodynamics in cars refers to how air flows around the vehicle, affecting speed, fuel efficiency, and stability. Good aerodynamics reduce drag and improve performance, especially at high speeds.","simplifiedExplanation":"Aerodynamics means how air moves around a car when it drives. If the car is shaped well, it can go faster and use less fuel because the air doesn't slow it down as much."}},{"startTime":2752.16,"endTime":2757.44,"type":"car","title":"Daewoo Statesman","url":"/cars/daewoo/statesman","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/0_Daewoo_Statesman_1.jpg","quote":"...amilton, one of the elder statesmen and the elder statesman himself, Fernando Alonso. What do we expect from ...","canonicalId":"car:daewoo:statesman","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Daewoo Statesman is a luxury sedan produced by the South Korean automaker Daewoo in the 1990s, based on the Holden Statesman from Australia. It represents an attempt by Daewoo to enter the premium car market with a vehicle offering comfort and size at a competitive price. It might be discussed due to its rarity and unique position as a luxury car from a brand better known for economy vehicles.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Daewoo Statesman is a big, comfortable car made by a Korean company a long time ago. It was meant to be fancy and nice to ride in, kind of like a car for important people. People might talk about it because it’s not very common and was a special kind of car for its time.","imageAttribution":"Benespit (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":2807.4,"endTime":2814.2,"type":"term","title":"sprint race","url":"/glossary/sprint-race","quote":"Moments of, you know, he won the sprint race in China. Yeah.","canonicalId":"term:sprint-race","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A sprint race in Formula 1 is a shorter race held during a race weekend that determines the starting grid for the main Grand Prix. It offers additional points and is a relatively recent addition to the sport.","simplifiedExplanation":"A sprint race is a short race that happens before the main race in Formula 1. It helps decide where drivers start in the big race and can give them extra points."}},{"startTime":3018.0,"endTime":3020.0,"type":"term","title":"horsepower","url":"/glossary/horsepower","quote":"\"I was used to motorbikes with a lot of horsepower and the wheel...\"","canonicalId":"term:horsepower","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Horsepower is a unit of measurement that indicates the power output of an engine, showing how much work it can perform over time.","simplifiedExplanation":"Horsepower tells you how strong a car's engine is, or how much power it has to make the car go fast."}},{"startTime":3291.4,"endTime":3293.0,"type":"concept","title":"Nürburgring","url":"/glossary/nurburgring-ab05d53b-79fd-416b-b4e6-e35f80a14244","quote":"I want to do Le Mans. I want to do Nürburgring.","canonicalId":"concept:nurburgring-ab05d53b-79fd-416b-b4e6-e35f80a14244","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Nürburgring is a famous motorsports complex in Germany known for its challenging Nordschleife track, often used for testing car performance and endurance racing.","simplifiedExplanation":"Nürburgring is a famous race track in Germany that is very hard to drive on because it has many twists and turns."}},{"startTime":3291.4,"endTime":3293.0,"type":"concept","title":"Le Mans","url":"/glossary/le-mans","quote":"I want to do Le Mans. I want to do Nürburgring.","canonicalId":"concept:le-mans","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Le Mans refers to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a prestigious endurance race held annually in France where teams race for 24 hours straight to test durability and speed.","simplifiedExplanation":"Le Mans is a very long car race that lasts a whole day, where drivers and cars try to go as far and as fast as possible without breaking down."}},{"startTime":3935.76,"endTime":3945.28,"type":"car","title":"Ford Dark Horse","url":"/cars/ford/mustang","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/1966_Ford_Mustang_coupe_white_001.jpg","quote":"...estion marks over Reborn. I think I would say the dark horse here is George Russell who performed brilliantly,...","canonicalId":"car:ford:mustang","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Ford Mustang is an iconic American muscle car known for its powerful performance and sporty design since its introduction in the 1960s. It has a significant cultural impact and remains popular among enthusiasts for its blend of performance, style, and affordability. It might be discussed due to its ongoing relevance in automotive culture and motorsports.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Ford Mustang is a famous fast car from America that lots of people love because it looks cool and goes really fast. It’s been around for many years and is known for being fun to drive. People talk about it a lot because it’s one of the most popular sports cars.","imageAttribution":"Hans-Jürgen Neubert (CC BY 4.0)"}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"The Race Media Ltd","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/who-will-be-2026-f1-champion-damon-and-johnny-give-their-verdict/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}