The Autosport Podcast

Ariana Bravo is joined by Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport) to analyse the results of qualifying at Circuit Of The Americas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ariana Bravo is joined by Jake Boxall-Legge (Technical Editor, Autosport) to look at the pace on Friday in Austin.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we head into the final round of the season, today's guests are W-Series driver coaches Jonny Kane and Warren Hughes. Both professional racing drivers, they began working with the championship this year, but have a long standing partnership dating back to their days competing together at Le Mans in the early noughties. Megan White spoke to them ahead of the season finale doubleheader in Austin this weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's all at stake this weekend when any one of five drivers could win the championship. We take a look at everything you need to know before the BTCC action this weekend with Tom Howard, Marcus Simmons, and special guest David Addison (ITV BTCC Commentator). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Formula 1 and Motorsport Network today announced the results of the 2021 F1 Global Fan Survey. Conducted in 15 languages across the Motorsport.com platform, and receiving feedback from 167,000 fans in 187 countries, the 2021 survey is the largest single sports survey ever analysed by Nielsen Sports. Luke Smith (F1 Reporter, Autosport) is here to discuss fan favourite teams, drivers and the overall state of the sport. He's joined by James Allen (President, Motorsport Network) and Charles Bradley (Editor-in-chief, motorsport.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today (Saturday October 16) is a sad day for motorsport fans everywhere because it's the 10th anniversary of the tragic accident which claimed the life of Dan Wheldon, the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and 2005 IndyCar Champion. Dan died on October 16, 2011 at the Las Vegas Motorspeedway. Charles Bradley (Editor-in-chief, motorsport.com) and David Malsher (US Editor, motorsport.com) are joined by six-time IndyCar Champion Scott Dixon.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ariana Bravo is joined by Luke Smith (F1 Reporter, Autosport) and Jess McFadyen (Director of Digital Strategy, Motorsport Network) to analyse who mastered the wet conditions of Istanbul Park. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ariana Bravo is joined by Haydn Cobb (Editor, Autosport.com) to analyse today's qualifying action and what it means for tomorrow's action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ariana Bravo is joined by Jonathan Noble (F1 Editor, motorsport.com) to analyse the action from the first day at Istanbul Park. Recent form has seen McLaren win in Italy and come close to winning in Russia but, as Jon explained on the podcast recently, the form book hasn’t changed dramatically and the Mercedes/Red Bull are the faster cars in normal conditions. But was that the case today? Listen to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week It's sixty years since one of the greatest grand prix teams took its first victory when Team Lotus won the 1961 United States Grand Prix with Innes Ireland driving the Lotus 21. It was the first win for Team Lotus as a works outfit although privateer cars had won races previously. What better excuse to talk about one of the great grand prix teams and we're delighted to be joined by Clive Chapman today. Clive is the son of Lotus founder Colin Chapman and Managing Director of Classic Team Lotus. Clive joins us from their Norfolk HQ where many of their iconic grand prix cars are kept running. Kevin Turner (Chief Editor, Autosport) and Clive chat about the history of the team, and the Top 10 cars they raced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The four finalists who will contest the 2021 Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award have been selected. Aston Martin joined the Award in 2019. Previous winners include 2009 F1 world champion Jenson Button, 13-time grand prix winner David Coulthard, current F1 drivers Lando Norris and George Russell, triple Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti, and 2014 World Endurance champion Anthony Davidson. Kevin Turner (Chief Editor, Autosport) is joined by Marcus Simmons and Ian Titchmarsh to discuss why these are four finalists. German and Italian Formula 4 points leader Ollie Bearman, FIA F3 racer Jonny Edgar, Euroformula Open title contender Louis Foster and GB3 championship favourite Zak O’Sullivan are the finalists. None have been in the Award before. The winner will be announced at the Autosport Awards on 19th December.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport) is joined by Kevin Turner (Chief Editor, Autosport) and Jonathan Noble (F1 Editor, motorsport.com) to discuss Lewis Hamilton’s achievement of 100 Grand Prix victories. We talk about Schumacher’s 91 wins and at what point Hamilton looked able to beat it, where this ranks in his list of achievements and how crucial the move from McLaren to Mercedes was. We also explore how Hamilton has kept himself motivated, his greatest rivals and how Hamilton navigated regulation changes to stay at the very top. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ariana is battling with a cold which means she’s lost her voice, so her producer Martyn Lee is off the bench to host the show today with Luke Smith (F1 Reporter, Autosport) and Jess McFadyen (Director of Digital Strategy, Motorsport Network) to look back at a race which will ultimately be remembered for a major milestone for the record books but, in the immediate aftermath, is more about the broken heart of one driver who was looking good for a maiden F1 win. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

*No spoilers* 2021 really is the season which keeps on giving! With a top three nobody could have predicted before qualifying. Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport) describes the pole position result as a ‘shock’ and has good reasons why.  In the press conference after qualifying, Alex says the pole sitter admitted this is the one circuit he wouldn’t want to be on the front row for, especially if there is a headwind. However we’re set up for an unmissable race tomorrow.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ariana Bravo is joined by Stuart Codling (Executive Editor, GP Racing) to look at the two practice sessions earlier today, with Saturday’s running looking increasingly like it will face disruption from rain. Red Bull has confirmed Max Verstappen will take a new power unit and therefore start from the back of the grid, so they focused on long run pace. In the past Verstappen has driven from 19th to 5th at this circuit. The same power unit change also applies to Ferrari with Charles Leclerc.  Whilst the front of the grid might be easy to forecast this weekend, it was as tight as ever in the midfield today. Overtaking is possible in Sochi if drivers can get a good slipstream and have a decent speed offset from the car they’re following, so we could see plenty of moves up the field on Sunday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're entering a period of change for the top level junior single seater categories in the UK.  British Formula 4 has launched the careers of Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Colton Herta since its creation in 2015. But next year there's a new car, new engine and new organiser. Stephen Lickorish and Stefan Mackley present a two-part special about the future of young drivers working their way up the motorsport ladder. Our very special guest Karun Chandhok explains why it's so important for junior single seaters to thrive, and why he took up the offer of Motorsport UK to help guide the new era of Formula 4. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This weekend (17-19 September) the Goodwood Revival returns to Goodwood Motor Circuit in West Sussex.  But this isn’t just a day out in period dress, you can watch the greatest cars and drivers recreate the glamour or motor racing as it used to be.  Jenson Button will make his historic racing debut on Friday and Sunday. Expect wheel-to-wheel racing around this classic circuit, which is now more famous for hosting classic events than it was when used for contemporary racing or testing. Kevin Turner (Chief Editor, Autosport) is joined by Goodwood legend Marcus Pye to discuss the confirmed races and biggest battles you’ll want to know about before this weekend. Marcus also gives us his circuit guide, corner by corner, and the best spots to watch the action  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new Netflix documentary on Michael Schumacher that offers an intimate portrait of the seven-time Formula 1 world champion is released today.  You can read Jonathan Noble's review online here, and listen to today's podcast for a discussion about the documentary. Martyn Lee is joined by Jon and James Allen (Motorsport Network President, F1 Journalist and Schumacher biographer) to look at why the Schumacher family gave their blessing to this project. The movie features plenty of Formula 1 footage but stands out for how many home movies are used to show the human being rather than the character created by the media at the time. Netflix not only obtains rare footage of interviews throughout his career but also new interviews with his family, as they talk about how life has changed following Michael's accident in 2013. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ariana Bravo is joined as usual by Jess McFadyen (Director of Digital Strategy, Motorsport Network) and two new voices to the Autosport podcast. Haydn Cobb (Editor, Autosport.com) stands in for Luke this week, and we have a special guest with Harry Benjamin. Harry is a motorsport commentator for multiple series, including those on the F1 support calendar in 2021, and also host of the Motormouth Podcast.  No spoilers here, but once again Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen wanted the same piece of race track, but how did it turn out this time? And which team will be partying long into the night after a long-awaited return to the top step of the podium?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ariana Bravo is joined by Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport) as they're both in the Monza paddock to talk to the drivers and team bosses following today's Sprint Qualifying. Find out why a 2mm clutch error caused Lewis Hamilton a major headache, why the winner isn't technically a winner, and how the McLaren drivers could be the wildcard in the championship battle between Max and Lewis tomorrow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices