The Autosport Podcast

It is 30 years since Gerhard Berger was a team-mate in Formula 1 to Ayrton Senna at McLaren and today the Austrian is very active in motorsport as the boss of the DTM. The series has undergone a huge transformation this year, with a change of regulations to GT3. Berger is also overseeing an ambitious programme to create a 1,000 horsepower electric DTM car as one possible avenue for the future. For this edition of #ThinkingForward, we spoke to the 10-time grand prix winner about his vision for the DTM and what he thinks of the direction of Formula 1. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Formula 1's 2021 pre-season testing was a fast and furious three days in the desert. Unlike recent years with three different tests, or going back to further to unlimited testing, the last three days required an intense plan from the teams. Tyres, fuel loads and new aero parts all had to be evaluated in a vastly compressed time.. For McLaren, the only team moving engine partner, they had to assess their winter efforts to integrate a new Mercedes power unit. So who were the winners and losers? We think Red Bull are a credible threat from the very start of the season unlike recent campaigns. Mercedes are not in dire straits but they never looked comfortable, whether that was a car which wasn't dialed in, to Hamilton making unforced errors. Aston Martin had a tricky test and, whilst Vettel and Stroll are both upbeat, they would have loved more miles to understand the car. Surely Vettel's vast experience means he will have a good idea about the potential of the car, even if they couldn't deliver an ultimate la

For extended articles and analysis from the world of motorsport, become a Plus member and enjoy the very best we have to offer. New subscribers signing up today can use the promo code PODCAST during checkout to save 50% off their first payment. Go to Autosport.com/plus and click ‘Sign In’ at the top of the page, then use promo code PODCAST for that 50% discount. Mercedes Benz returned to the top of the time sheets but not without some drama for Lewis Hamilton. McLaren and Red Bull continue to look like they're having a strong test, despite the RB16B shedding its engine cover in a spectacular moment on the start/finish straight. Plus today we're joined by a special guest from LAT Images . Steven Tee is LAT’s MD and Chief Photographer has attended well over 500 F1 Grands Prix since 1984, working with a multitude of publications, teams, drivers and sponsors along the way. Steven joins us live from Bahrain for an inside look at what it's like being in the pits for testing. Your host Jake Boxall-Legge (Tech

For extended articles and analysis from the world of motorsport, become a Plus member and enjoy the very best we have to offer. New subscribers signing up today can use the promo code PODCAST during checkout to save 50% off their first payment. Go to Autosport.com/plus and click ‘Sign In’ at the top of the page, then use promo code PODCAST for that 50% discount. Today was the first day of Pre Season Testing for the 2021 Formula 1 season. And it was a very sandy day in the desert at the Bahrain International Circuit. Red Bull and McLaren will be going back to their hotels the happiest, whilst Mercedes suffered a blow to their bulletproof image. Your host is Jake Boxall-Legge (Technical Editor, Autosport) is joined by Jonathan Noble (F1 Editor, Motorsport.com) to analyse today's running. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to our latest episode, a dedicated look at the cover feature topic for this week's Autosport magazine, Ferrari's quest to recover from its nightmare 2020 season. This time 12 months ago, Ferrari was preparing to leave the soon-to-be abandoned Australian Grand Prix under a considerable cloud. Its F1000 car had an extreme aerodynamic design to try and increase the number of places where its package was competitive. When winter testing got underway, it was quickly evident that there was something seriously wrong. The Ferrari powered cars languished in the speed trap classification at Barcelona, and in the final minutes of preseason testing, it became clear why the FIA communicated its famous settlement agreement regarding the controversial 2019 power unit. Ferrari suddenly lacked power and its new era philosophy created large amounts of drag. So even when the delayed 2020 season finally got underway, Ferrari knew it was in for a tough campaign. However the 2021 season has started with positivity as F

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Karun Chandhok is your guide to the key issues this season. He answers your questions like: Can anyone stop the Mercedes steamroller? Should Hamilton retire at the end of 2021? Why was Perez the right choice for Red Bull? What does the future hold for Alex Albon? Can Carlos Sainz Jr thrive at Ferrari? What's the ideal amount of races in a Formula 1 season? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Red Bull has become the latest Formula 1 team to show off its 2021 car, which is the RB16B. It’s an updated version of the car that won twice last year, but had various problems that prevented it getting closer to Mercedes overall. Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport) is joined by Jonathan Noble (F1 Editor, Motorsport.com), Luke Smith (F1 Reporter, Autosport) and Jake Boxall-Legge (Technical Editor, Autosport) to go over what we learned from the Red Bull reveal today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we assess the greatest Mercedes grand prix cars, including a rare entry which has a 100% win record! First, a caveat, the cars we're talking about include those which pre-date the F1 championship. As a full works entry in Formula One, Mercedes-Benz might have only entered for two stints, but has dominated both times. Plus we take on two more topics covered in the 11th Feb issue of Autosport magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Earlier today McLaren Racing unveiled the MCL35M, their 2021 challenger which will be driven by Lando Norris and new signing Daniel Ricciardo. After finishing third in the 2020 constructors championship, the team move to a Mercedes power unit. Alex Kalinauckas hears from Jake Boxall-Legge (Technical Editor, Autosport) about his first impressions and key areas on the car to look at. Before the car launch, Autosport's Luke Smith and Jonathan Noble (F1 Editor, Motorsport.com) sat down for a virtual chat with both drivers and team management, and they join us on the podcast to talk about McLaren's chances of moving up the grid in 2021 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It has been another busy week of F1 news as we count down to the 2021 season. On today's podcast we've got news on the F1 Commission proposing an engine freeze from 2022 to 2024. F1 also wants to experiment with sprint races in Canada, Italy and Brazil this year. It would mean qualifying moves to Friday, with Saturday's running being a 100km sprint race, which then defines the starting grid for Sunday's Grand Prix. Finally we discuss the latest news of Fernando Alonso's cycling accident and whether surgery this week will impact his return to F1. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we look into the reviving fortunes of a fallen F1 giant - McLaren Racing. But is it still a sleeping giant? They have consistently improved their results since finishing 9th in 2017 (with Honda power) to third in the constructors table in their final year with Renault. In 2021 McLaren will compete again with Mercedes power units and a new driver in Daniel Ricciardo. What do they have to do to get back on the top step of the podium? Can anyone beat Mercedes whilst being a customer? Perhaps, after all McLaren beat their engine supplier Renault in 2020. We sat down with Zak Brown (Chief Executive, McLaren Racing) to talk about how he's rebuilding McLaren. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The development Formula One has long been waiting for finally occurred on Monday morning when Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team announced that seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will be staying with the team for 2021. The one year deal was a surprising development and creates a blockbuster driver market for 2022, with all three Mercedes contracted drivers (Hamilton plus Bottas and Russell) coming to the end of their respective 2021 deals. On this edition of the podcast we dissect the details of Hamilton's new deal, as well as asking what it means for his future and the team. Joining Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport) today is Jonathan Noble (F1 Editor, Motorsport.com) and Luke Smith (F1 Reporter, Autosport). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shortly after Jonathan Noble finished speaking to Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, he sat down with Alex and Luke around the virtual podcast table to discuss the call. Formula 1's new boss is considering whether a Saturday sprint race could be introduced to freshen up the weekend. He also confirmed that the proposed reverse grids idea is off the table: "Reverse grid is over. That's something I can tell you." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Williams Racing has fallen far from its heights as one of the championship supersquads, and it has regularly pledged its determination to re-tread old ground further up the grid. That tale will be familiar to F1 fans as the team has yet to recapture any of its old gory, but there were signs from the 2020 season that Williams has finally turned the corner and its revival is really on. This week on the podcast we look forward at how they plan to move up the grid, and we look back by ranking the top 10 Williams F1 cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week James Allison (Technical Director, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team) opened up on why the team fear they could trip up with the rule changes for 2021. Is it a bluff? Or perhaps an insight into mindset of a team so used to winning? Also this week, Carlos Sainz Jr said his first appearance in a Ferrari is "a day I will never forget". What did our own Jonathan Noble make of his first 100 laps in a Ferrari? And finally we hear from McLaren about how the majority of their 2021 chassis is brand new because of their move to Mercedes-Benz power. Production Director Piers Thynne told the McLaren website: "Whereas every other team will carry over most of its car from last year into this year, our switch to the Mercedes power unit means that's not the case for us. It's driven a huge amount of change and, essentially, we've been building a new car. The number of new parts on the MCL35M is about the same as when we built the MCL35." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the podcast this week we're looking at how 2021's Technical Regulations are impacting the teams. There are plans to cut downforce levels by 10%, change the floor design and the token system where to control development. We look at the driver line-up changes and how smaller teams will benefit from the budget cap. Also this week JBL, as Autosport's punmaster-in-chief, casts verdict on Renault's rebranding of Alpine as part of their 'Renaulution' event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Carlos Sainz will sample a Ferrari F1 car at the Fiorano Circuit next week in a private test, his first time getting real-world experience of the Ferrari systems. Sainz will want to get embedded with the people and team environment. He will be driving the SF71H. Sainz joins the Maranello team at a time of rebuilding and, despite small changes to the 2021 cars, he will be up against a team mate who has a year of experience in the current car. Plus we discuss what the management changes at Alpine F1 mean for their season, and what Perez can do in a Red Bull car which has the potential to win races in 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the first #ThinkingForward of 2021 we speak to WRC Director Peter Thul about the qualities needed to excel in rally, why WRC is backing F1’s strategy that hybrid engines and biofuels are the future rather than electric and why so many co-drivers end up running teams and federations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to our celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the 1991 motorsport season, which is also the subject of a special feature in this week's Autosport Magazine. 1991 was a special year for Formula 1 with new races in France and Spain, the arrival of Michael Schumacher and Mika Häkkinen, new points allocations plus the first stop/go penalty. In our 1991 special, we argue that Senna's campaign - both on and off track - make it the greatest of his F1 crowns, while Williams co-founder Patrick Head is brutally honest about his team's failings that season. Want Autosport magazine delivered to your door each week? Subscribe today and never miss your weekly fix of motorsport: www.autosportmedia.com/offer/article Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices