F1 Nation

F1 Nation

Formula 1

Updated 3 days ago
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Step inside the Formula 1 Paddock for race previews, reviews, interviews and analysis with Tom Clarkson and expert guests. Get answers to your questions on F1 Explains with Christian Hewgill. Email [email protected] An official F1 podcast. For in-depth F1 interviews, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid

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Episodes (308)

Why Sergio Perez must stay on the F1 grid, Andrew Shovlin on Mercedes pitstop meltdown and David Tremayne on the 2020 season

On the newly renamed 'Perez Nation' Tom Clarkson and Alex Jacques relive an incredible F1 week.They debate if Mercedes might consider George Russell replacing Valtteri Bottas for 2021 (3:53) and hear why victory slipped away with Andrew Shovlin (12:12). Then there's a review of Sergio Perez's stunning last to first win, plus whether it will keep him on the grid for 2021 (20:57), finally hall of fame F1 journalist David Tremayne reflects on the strangest of F1 seasons (31:45). 

Dec 08, 2020 48 min

'All our worst case scenarios at once' Dr Ian Roberts and Alan Van Der Merwe on facing Grosjean's horror crash plus James Key on McLaren's third place chances

TC and Alex are joined by Dr Ian Roberts and Alan Van Der Merwe to hear about making sense of an accident scene with every second counting, practicing for worst-case scenarios, how unseen footage detailed Romain Grosjean's escape after the 53g impact and why they’re not surprised Romain wants to return to racing (6:53). Then hear from McLaren technical director James Key as the team juggle three years worth of car projects at once. (21:49)

Dec 01, 2020 38 min

Lewis Hamilton: the early F1 years as revealed by McLaren's Mark Temple

TC and Alex finally present F1 Nation from the same place and discuss how Renault will cope swapping Daniel Ricciardo with Fernando Alonso (2:01), why the change in safety car will feel strange (5:48) and how will F1 cope with a knight on the grid in 2021 (7:18).Plus TC sits down with McLaren's Principal Car Performance Engineer, Mark Temple (10:27) to reveal the unseen pressures of Lewis Hamilton's early F1 years including: adjusting to fame, coping with Jenson Button, learning to 'drive slowly to go faster', ultimately deciding to leave the team he grew up with and whether Fernando Alonso was faster.

Nov 24, 2020 36 min

Behind the scenes of Lewis Hamilton's title triumph and George Russell reflects on his rollercoaster month

TC and Alex go behind the scenes of a historic triumph for Lewis Hamilton and consider the sports people he now sits alongside after his 7th title victory. (10:39)Then George Russell talks 5k times, advice from Hamilton after Imola, and the painful reality of the Turkish Grand Prix behind the wheel (20:09). Finally TC recalls a trip to the gym with F1 boss Chase Carey (33:11) and explains why you want your tarmac from Shropshire if you're resurfacing a race track. (16:03) 

Nov 17, 2020 37 min

Felipe Massa on taming Turkey, why Hamilton won't retire and the driver market saga continues

TC and Alex discuss the driver market (00.16) including another trademarked Yuki Tsunoda update before three time Turkish Grand Prix winner Felipe Massa talks about his surprise at Lewis Hamilton's domination, Stefano Domenicali's strengths as a manager and whether he'd rather return to Istanbul or Interlagos. (07:19)  Finally TC recounts his many nightmares at the circuit, turn 8 excitement and the 2010 drama is revisited (25:03).

Nov 10, 2020 29 min

Why you should never ignore Daniel Ricciardo and Jody Egginton on how AlphaTauri keep giant killing

TC and Alex debate if Mercedes owe Nico Rosberg for their seven consecutive constructor titles (5:32), find out what Daniel Ricciardo said to F1 journalists after being ignored in the post race press conference (13:22) and Alpha Tauri technical director Jody Egginton explains balancing the demands of next years car with huge rule changes for 2022, how racing cultures differ from country to country and the raw emotion of that Monza win (20:23). 

Nov 03, 2020 36 min

Christian Horner on Alex Albon's future, Romain Grosjean picks his greatest F1 hits and the driver market analysed

TC and Alex consider if Lewis Hamilton's win total can ever be caught with the upcoming rule changes (1:53), then there's a dive into the mailbag to debate the dramatic driver market (4:31), Christian Horner explains how Alex Albon can save his seat (5:26) and finally Romain Grosjean picks his greatest races as he nears the end of his F1 career (22:17).

Oct 27, 2020 34 min

Debating the best-looking F1 car ever, the greatest racing books and the plight of the driver steward revealed

Dario Franchitti starts a debate about the best-looking F1 car ever (6:02), a mailbag question accidentally creates an F1 book club (13:40) and Emanuele Pirro drops by to talk about the harshness of being a elite driver compared to other sports, the energy required to break records, and the conflict of being an F1 steward (19:20). 

Oct 20, 2020 39 min

Understanding Hamilton's progression at Mercedes, why the Nordschleife wants an F1 return and how Ferrari are guiding their next Schumacher

TC and Alex speak to Mercedes trackside performance director Andrew Shovlin (9:06), who describes Lewis Hamilton's personal improvements to reach the win record, and why Red Bull are once again closing the gap as the season progresses. Then veteran German journalist Michel Schmitt (17:49) compares the driving talents of Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, explains how Mick Schumacher is already getting more mainstream press attention than Sebastian Vettel, and why the Nurburgring is dreaming of F1 returning to the Nordschleife.Finally, Ferrari sporting director Laurent Meckies explains why the prancing horse is awash with young talent knocking on the door to F1 (32:25). 

Oct 13, 2020 42 min

Unpacking Honda's shock withdrawal and the F1 Nation guide to the Nurburgring

TC and Alex are joined by F1.com senior writer, Lawrence Barretto to assess Honda’s shock withdrawal. They debate whether the manufacturer has repeated their 2008 mistake (10:32), how will Verstappen respond (12:09), if Red Bull can build their own engine (15:06), why a return to Renault cannot be ruled out (17:37), the knock on effect for the driver line up (18:41), how the entire Milton Keynes outfit will require changes (19:34) and whether this ends Yuki Tsudoda’s F1 chances? (22:52)Then after seven years away, F1 Nation guides you through the challenge of the Nurburgring (27:55).

Oct 06, 2020 35 min

Toto Wolff on his friendship with new F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and the Schumacher racing legacy.

TC and Alex welcome Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff (18:00) to hear why he thinks Ferrari would have blocked him from taking the F1 CEO role, why Stefano Domenicali is perfect for the job, what factors are delaying him re-signing with Mercedes and what Hamilton taking the win record would mean for the Schumacher legacy.PLUS the boys unpack the Russian GP, including ballads with Bottas (7:53), mind games at Renault (11:04), the battle for 3rd in the constructors (14:35) and why Hamilton's reaction to Russia explains a lot about elite sports person mentality (4:12). 

Sep 29, 2020 34 min

Why Alex Albon celebrated his first podium with a candlelit dinner for one and how Kimi Raikkonen's brutal honesty left Abu Dhabi stunned

Alex Albon joins TC to talk overtaking around the outside, forgetting Eminem lyrics 14:35, celebrating his first podium with a dinner for one 19:49, and the 'unwritten rule' of ignoring your friends on track 21:52.  Plus memories of F1's only Grand Prix at Le Mans 6:07, your mailbag questions answered 9:07, and the night Kimi Raikkonen's honesty left TC back peddling at Yas Marina 31:24. 

Sep 22, 2020 33 min

Davide Valsecchi on Ferrari's 'horrible' season, where Leclerc can still improve, and why he's impressed with the new Schumacher in town

TC and Alex reflect on the season so far with a mid-season report on every F1 team and driver (14:57).Then Davide Valsecchi drops in to review Ferrari's campaign, (20:26) unpicks whats putting Giovinazzi under pressure (28:32), why he's so impressed with Mick Schumacher (30:31) and which driver on the grid is back to his very best (24:07).

Sep 15, 2020 34 min

How Pierre Gasly’s junior years explain his resilience, Alain Prost on the true Williams family legacy and what Mercedes will change on the pit wall for Mugello

On the newly renamed 'Gasly Nation' we delve into the Frenchman’s past to highlight when his F1 chances hung by a thread and what pulled him through (10:47) then Andrew Shovlin explains why Mercedes made the race defining error and what they'll change for this weekend (21:50), finally paddock legend Ane Bradshaw (23:56) and four time champion Alain Prost (28:07) reveal the truth about the Williams F1 era. 

Sep 08, 2020 37 min

Jody Scheckter on dealing with a Ferrari crisis and Andreas Seidl on what Bayern Munich taught him about F1 team management

TC and Alex discuss Ferrari's collapse after their worst result in 40 years (1:43). They're joined by 1979 champion Jody Scheckter (12:50) to hear how things were even worse in 1980 before McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl drops by to explain his management philosophy and how it's been informed by Bayern Munich (18:54).

Sep 01, 2020 33 min

Mark Blundell on the end of an era for Williams, how to win in America and who reminds him of Senna on the current grid

This week Tom and Alex are joined by Mark Blundell to hear how to win in America (10:30), why Williams were so good in their heyday (14:10) and which driver reminds him of Senna (20:44). Plus why F1 could return to Indianapolis (3:32) and how Takuma Sato (6:32) owes a lot to the designer of the 2002 Jordan.

Aug 25, 2020 29 min

Christian Horner on Alex Albon the thinker and Max Verstappen the leader

TC and Alex welcome Red Bull team principal Christian Horner (08:38) to hear why he backs 'deep thinker' Alex Albon (15:14), why an experienced team mate would offer nothing extra to Max Verstappen (13:59), and why his team won’t give up on the title. 

Aug 18, 2020 30 min

Nico Hulkenberg on 'wanting a second date' with Racing Point and whether his future lies with Alfa Romeo

TC and Alex are joined by Nico Hulkenberg (14:02) to hear what he made of his welcome from other drivers, why he’d love another ‘date’ with Racing Point and those links to Alfa Romeo for 2021.  Plus Ferrari repeat old mistakes with Charles Leclerc (08:13), why Sebastian Vettel is so on edge with his future sorted (11:05) and Andrew Shovlin on why Merecdes are relishing the challenge to fix their tyre issues before Sunday (30:10)

Aug 11, 2020 35 min

Esteban Ocon on life in a caravan, getting advice from Lewis Hamilton and why Silverstone is definitely not his home Grand Prix

TC and Alex welcome Renault F1 driver Esteban Ocon to hear what lessons he learned from Lewis Hamilton, why he was thinking about tyres before Sunday's race and why he's more Bane than Hannibal Lecter.

Aug 04, 2020 29 min

Eddie Jordan on why he wouldn't sign Sebastian Vettel for Racing Point

TC and Alex are joined by former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan to discuss which drivers he'd like to manage, why he'd favour a young gun over signing Vettel and his memory of breaking into Silverstone to watch the Grand Prix. 

Jul 28, 2020 34 min

Claire Williams on George Russell's champion potential, why Silverstone won't be the same and how the adrenaline returned to Williams

TC and Alex welcome Claire Williams, to discuss the team's painful years, her memories of Williams old champions and why the British Grand Prix will feel incomplete without thousands of fans. Then F1TV's Rosanna Tennant, Will Buxton and Lawrence Barretto reflect on the strangeness of the last three races.

Jul 21, 2020 35 min

Damon Hill on why Vettel shouldn't retire

Tom and Alex are joined by 1996 World Champion, Damon Hill to hear how Sebastian Vettel's driver market problems mirror his own experience, why Fernando Alonso's behaviour will be different during his last F1 chance and why Valtteri Bottas will have to resort to mind games to beat Lewis Hamilton to the title. 

Jul 14, 2020 31 min

Gerhard Berger on how to fix Ferrari

Tom and Alex speak to ten time Grand Prix winner, Gerhard Berger who outlines the changes he'd make at Ferrari; then we hear from Mercedes' Andrew Shovin about his team's reliability concerns and Andreas Seidl details Lando Norris' constant improvement at McLaren.

Jul 07, 2020 33 min

Why Pierre Gasly is ignoring the driver market, how Antonio Giovinazzi intends to handle the pressure and Zak Brown on McLaren’s transitional years

In the last show of pre-season, Tom and Alex welcome Zak Brown to hear why McLaren will require two years before they can return to the front; Antonio Giovinazzi talks about keeping the next generation at bay, and Pierre Gasly tells Rosanna Tennant why he’s ignoring the 2021 driver market and focusing on Austria.

Jun 26, 2020 48 min

Daniel Ricciardo on why Ocon and Norris are key to his future success and Davide Valsecchi explains why F1 drivers should fear Mugello.

Tom and Alex speak to Daniel Ricciardo who re-lives his 'foreign' feeling driving again, then Davide Valsecchi details why he's hopeful for a mega Italian summer of F1 but fears for Ferrari’s season, and finally TC turns quizmaster in Rosanna Tennant's latest challenge.

Jun 19, 2020 41 min