

Inside Line F1 Podcast
Inside Line F1 Podcast
Hosted by FIA-accredited print-TV journalists and popular Motorsport commentators, the Inside Line F1 Podcast is a weekly show that offers an alternative view on the sport, business and politics of Formula 1. You probably know us from our famous Helmut Marko interview! And yes, we've made Indian Cricket legend Ravi Shastri narrate his Formula 1 stories - twice. On our channel, along with lots of Formula 1 banter, you will find race reviews, previews, interviews and features through the Formula 1 season...and in the summer/winter breaks. Join thousands of Formula 1 fans on our verified WhatsApp broadcast channel for frequent interactions and engagement with us. Our show hosts: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru, Mithila Mehta & Kunal Shah. Formula 1 drivers on our show: Mika Hakkinen, Nico Rosberg, Charles Leclerc, David Coulthard, Karun Chandhok, Romain Grosjean, Valtteri Bottas, Lando Norris among others. Broadcasters on the Inside Line F1 Podcast: Peter Windsor, Steve Slater, Ben Edwards, Bob Varsha, Atle Gulbrandsen, Matthew Marsh among others. We are an independent Formula 1 podcast available everywhere on the Internet - search 'Inside Line F1 Podcast' on your favourite audio streaming app. Miss us as you wait for our next episode? Follow us on Instagram. Hosts: Soumil Arora, Mithila Mehta & Kunal Shah Stats: Sundaram Ramaswami (aka @f1statsguru) Data: Nithyanand Ram Music courtesy: Lucien Byfieldt Millions of listeners seek out Bingepods (Ideabrew Studios Network content) every day. Get in touch with us to advertise, join the network or click listen to enjoy content by some of India's top audio creators. studio@ideabrews.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 22, 2025 • 45min
Hamilton wins hearts, Piastri wins pole - Qualifying & F1 Sprint Reactions - 2025 Chinese GP Review
Oscar Piastri has finally taken a pole this weekend. But is there even more to this weekend’s run at the Shanghai International Circuit? From the hustle by George Russell to split the McLarens, the frenzy over the flexi wing technical directive, and even Isack Hadjar out-qualifying Yuki Tsunoda, it’s been a roller-coaster of a weekend! These are some of the things Kunal Shah and Soumil Arora are pondering about for sure:* Why did Lewis not take pole after a great performance and Sprint win?* Why did Lando Norris make the same mistakes?* Why did Oscar Piastri and the McLarens not perform so well in Sprint Qualifying and the Sprint Race?* Who among the rookies has a winning chance this weekend?Join the conversation with us and send in your thoughts and comments in the chat! Stay tuned for more as we’ll be back with another livestream after the race on Sunday.🔥 Join us for all the predictions, insights & bold takes ahead of the Chinese GP! 🔥📲 Follow for more F1 deep dives & race breakdowns: https://rb.gy/cev1bwFollow Us:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/insidelinef1pod/ X: https://x.com/insidelinef1podPodcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3P2RsaP89xP1xvG7twj8pd?si=9e4ffde1a84044afApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-line-f1-podcast/id632531804📲 Subscribe & turn on notifications for all Inside Line’s F1 Podcast's 2025 coverage! 🔔🛑 Subscribe for more F1 insights: https://podfollow.com/inside-line-f1-podcast👉 Subscribe for more exclusive F1 content💬 Follow us on social media: @insidelinef1podTune in!(Season 2025, Episode 12)Follow our hosts: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru & Kunal ShahImage courtesy: McLaren Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 19, 2025 • 35min
FIA's forced rule tweak, McLaren-Norris-Piastri's biggest test yet - 2025 Chinese GP Preview
🏁 The 2025 Chinese Grand Prix is here, and the stakes have NEVER been higher! 🏁McLaren is on fire. Ferrari is struggling. Red Bull is searching for answers. And Oscar Piastri needs a big weekend to keep his title hopes alive. Yes, the season is 24 races long, but Lando Norris has already pulled a gap in the drivers' championship. In this episode of The Inside Line F1 Podcast, we preview the biggest storylines heading into Round 2 of the F1 2025 season:🔹 McLaren’s True Test: Can Lando & Piastri keep the momentum? Can they dominate Formula 1 like their rivals Red Bull Racing and Mercedes have?🔹 Ferrari’s Strategy Nightmare: Can Hamilton & Leclerc bounce back?🔹 FIA’s New Rule Change: Will It Shake Up the Grid?🔹 Sprint Weekend Returns! More Drama Incoming?🔹 Can Red Bull Fight Back or Is Verstappen Alone Again?Will Piastri recover from Australia? Can Ferrari stop making questionable calls? And is McLaren REALLY the team to beat in 2025?The second race of the 2025 season is here, and the stakes couldn’t be higher! McLaren enters as the team to beat after a dominant start in Australia, but can they handle the pressure of being the hunted instead of the hunters? Lando Norris is on fire, but Oscar Piastri needs a big weekend after missing out on his home win. Could team orders already be in play at McLaren?Meanwhile, Ferrari is facing serious questions—Hamilton’s debut was filled with frustration, Leclerc’s race fell apart, and now the team is under pressure to prove they can fight back. With Red Bull still chasing McLaren’s pace and Mercedes hoping to step up, this Sprint weekend could reshape the early title battle.And just as teams are settling in, the FIA has dropped a mid-season rule change targeting flexible rear wings. Could this shake up the pecking order? Will Ferrari or McLaren be hit hardest?Plus, with only ONE practice session before Sprint qualifying, rookies like Doohan, Bearman, and Hadjar will be thrown into the deep end once again. This could be chaos!🔔 Subscribe & stay tuned for live reactions after Sprint, Qualifying & Race!📌 CHAPTERS:00:00 - 02:15 - Welcome to Chinese Sprint Weekend02:15 - 08:19 - Lando vs. Piastri – A Title Battle Already?08:19 - 10:45 - Sprints and Rookie Watch10:45 - 11:40 - Upcoming Live Episodes11:40 - 20:00 - FIA Rule Change Explained20:00 - 22:30 - Shanghai Circuit Breakdown 22:30 - 26:22 - 5 Big Things To Look For26:22 - 32:30 - Predictions Galore32:30 - 34:02 - Final Thoughts & upcoming LIVE episodes 🔥 Join us for all the predictions, insights & bold takes ahead of the Chinese GP! 🔥📲 Follow for more F1 deep dives & race breakdowns: https://rb.gy/cev1bwFollow Us:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/insidelinef1pod/ X: https://x.com/insidelinef1podPodcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3P2RsaP89xP1xvG7twj8pd?si=9e4ffde1a84044afApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-line-f1-podcast/id632531804📲 Subscribe & turn on notifications for all Inside Line’s F1 Podcast's 2025 coverage! 🔔🛑 Subscribe for more F1 insights: https://podfollow.com/inside-line-f1-podcast👉 Subscribe for more exclusive F1 content💬 Follow us on social media: @insidelinef1podTune in!(Season 2025, Episode 11)Follow our hosts: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru & Kunal ShahImage courtesy: McLaren Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 16, 2025 • 49min
THIS is why we LOVE Formula 1 - 2025 Australian Grand Prix Review
The first race of the 2025 Formula 1 season had its fair share of drama and chaos, even before racing started!Yes, we had 4 rookies (5, if you count Alonso!), Carlos Sainz and eventually even title hopeful Oscar Piastri spin out on the wet track. Also, we had Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton lead Ferrari and call the team's race tyre strategy from the cockpit.And how can we forget - Papaya Rules kicking in as early as Race 1! Who'd have thought!?McLaren & Lando Norris won in dominant fashion - when the track was dry-ish, and when it was wet. Are these ominous signs for the season ahead? Oscar Piastri kept Norris honest, despite & won the local crowd's cheers for driving in forward...and in reverse modes.George Russell sneaked in an invisible podium for Mercedes, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli drove a sensational race on debut to finish 4th - while surviving the changing weather conditions & pulling off overtakes.Finally, 7 out of the 10 teams scored points in the 2025 Australian Grand Prix. After stellar performances in Qualifying, Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Racing Bulls' Yuki Tsunoda failed to score points in the Race due to their team's questionable tyre strategy. While technical issues held us from going LIVE on YouTube, we did switch strategies to come back with our reactions today. We'll surely bring upgrades to the next show!Until then, join Kunal Shah, Soumil Arora, and Sundaram Ramaswami aka @f1statsguru in conversation about what went down at Albert Park today for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix.📲 Subscribe & turn on notifications for all Inside Line’s F1 Podcast's 2025 coverage! 🔔🛑 Subscribe for more F1 insights: https://podfollow.com/inside-line-f1-podcast👉 Subscribe for more exclusive F1 content💬 Follow us on social media: @insidelinef1podTune in!(Season 2025, Episode 10)Follow our hosts: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru & Kunal ShahImage courtesy: McLaren Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 15, 2025 • 40min
Ferrari out-qualified by Williams, Racing Bulls & Mercedes - Qualifying Reactions from 2025 Australian GP
And just like that, Qualifying for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix is DONE! We finally have our first pecking order of the season—who delivered, who crumbled, and who just sent a massive warning to the rest of the grid - let's talk it out.Like the F1 teams' upgrades, we're also excited to do our very first LIVE show of the season. No edits, no script. Just instant, unfiltered takes.McLaren locks out the front row, Ferrari gets out-qualified by a Williams, and a rookie outshines a veteran—all in one session! What does this mean for race day, and did we just get our first real glimpse of the season’s pecking order?We want to hear from YOU too! Drop your reactions in the chat right now—who’s your biggest winner and biggest letdown from Qualifying?💬 What are YOUR predictions for the Australian GP? Drop them in the comments below! 👇📲 Subscribe & turn on notifications for all Inside Line’s F1 Podcast's 2025 coverage! 🔔🛑 Subscribe for more F1 insights: https://podfollow.com/inside-line-f1-podcast👉 Subscribe for more exclusive F1 content💬 Follow us on social media: @insidelinef1podTune in!(Season 2025, Episode 09)Follow our hosts: Soumil Arora & Kunal ShahImage courtesy: Ferrari Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 12, 2025 • 36min
Big Storylines That Will Shape the Season Opener | 2025 Australian GP Preview
The 2025 F1 season is HERE! After months of anticipation, Formula 1 roars back to life in Melbourne this weekend. The Inside Line F1 Podcast is BACK to regular programming, and the 2025 Australian Grand Prix is already throwing up some huge talking points! New teams, new driver lineups, shifting team dynamics, and fresh headlines—there’s a lot to unpack ahead of the season opener at Albert ParkRace strategies, track conditions and predictions aside, what should we expect from the season opener? We’re setting the stage for a season like no other! And guess what? On Inside Line’s Hot Takes: Kunal, Sundaram, and Soumil lock in their bold predictions for the Australian GP—and we’re keeping score all season long! 👀🎙️ PLUS: Your questions answered! We take on fan questions in covering everything from team strategies to Melbourne’s unique circuit challenges. You too can join the conversation and drop in your questions on our social media or comment on YouTube! 💬 What are YOUR predictions for the Australian GP? Drop them in the comments below! 👇📲 Subscribe & turn on notifications for all Inside Line’s F1 Podcast's 2025 coverage! 🔔🛑 Subscribe for more F1 insights: https://podfollow.com/inside-line-f1-podcast👉 Subscribe for more exclusive F1 content💬 Follow us on social media: @insidelinef1podTune in!(Season 2025, Episode 08)Follow our hosts: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru & Kunal ShahImage courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 3, 2025 • 1h 9min
Inside the F1 2025 Pre-Season Test with Scarbs F1: What We’ve Learned with Craig Scarborough
The 2025 F1 season is about to begin, and pre-season testing has given us the first glimpse of what’s to come.
But how much of it is real?
What can we learn?
Who’s sandbagging?
What is kept hidden?
We’ve got the inside scoop!
To break it all down, we’re joined by none other than Craig Scarborough—the go-to technical expert in motorsport—alongside Soumil Arora, Kunal Shah, and F1 Stats Guru. Together, we uncover the secrets behind the 2025 grid and learn what’s really going on under the surface.We analyse:✅ Which teams are truly competitive & who’s bluffing?✅ F1 cars are looking too similar—are they really?✅ What the 2025 season could bring: Surprises, dark horses & contenders?✅ What are the problems teams are trying to solve with their designs?✅ What are the technical insights that no one else could possibly cover?✅ Who’s playing it safe vs. who’s gone all-in?✅ Who are the favourites and what's the pecking order?📺 Watch now and get the expert breakdown of F1 2025 before the first race weekend in Australia!Craig Scarborough, Soumil Arora, Kunal Shah, and F1 Stats Guru break down the most crucial details every F1 fan needs to know after F1's pre-season test in Bahrain.🛑 Subscribe for more F1 insights: https://podfollow.com/inside-line-f1-podcast👉 Subscribe for more exclusive F1 content💬 Follow us on social media: @insidelinef1podTune in!(Season 2025, Episode 07)Follow our hosts: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru & Kunal ShahImage courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 26, 2025 • 7min
When F1 pre-season testing has gone wrong...
In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil has the eye on the biggest risks teams face, how testing failures impact the season, and why Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari test is way tougher than Vettel’s or Alonso’s debut!Btw, no Formula 1 car suffered from reliability issues on the first day of the pre-season test, but the Bahrain International Circuit did! There was a circuit wide power outage for almost an hour. A very good day to everyone who started the day early today to watch F1 cars go round a track over and over again! But some more questions WILL be answered as the sessions begin today! ✅ McLaren’s 2025 direction – Dynamic technical?✅ Can Alpine bounce back from last year’s pre-season testing failures? ✅ Do bad tests mean a doomed season?✅ Who is rooting for the rookies?✅ How can the teams sharpen their skills throughout the season?🛑 Subscribe for more F1 insights: https://podfollow.com/inside-line-f1-podcast👉 Subscribe for more exclusive F1 content👉 Join our conversation: What caught your eye on Day 1 of the 2025 Formula 1 Pre-Season Testing session? Drop your reactions in the comments.💬 Follow us on social media: @insidelinef1podStay tuned with us as we look at developing storylines throughout the season:Watch: Kunal’s break down on what REALLY matters in F1 Testing Can Red Bull dominate again? Or will McLaren & Ferrari close the gap? Mercedes’ new W16 F1 concept – Have they fixed their problems?Tune in!(Season 2025, Episode 06)Follow our hosts: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru & Kunal ShahImage courtesy: Haas F1 Team Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 25, 2025 • 5min
F1 2025 Pre-Season Testing: What REALLY Matters & What to Ignore
F1 2025 Pre-Season Testing is here! But how much do testing times really tell us? 🤔 From Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari debut to McLaren vs. Red Bull, in this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Kunal Shah breaks down what matters and what doesn’t from Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain!There’s so much to analyse, but what are we looking forward to the most? Here’s a lowdown on what we know will keep us hooked for this week!✅ What is F1 pre-season testing? Why do teams do it?✅ How to analyse a team’s performance in testing – Reading between the lines! ✅ Does strong testing = a strong season? ✅ Can teams get more testing time if they face issues? 🤯✅ What are Ferrari & McLaren focusing on? (Radical new designs + Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari debut!) 👉 Subscribe for more exclusive F1 content: https://rb.gy/cev1bw 👉 Join our conversation: Who do YOU think will be the fastest in Bahrain’s pre-season testing? Drop your predictions in the comments below. It doesn’t end there. The conversations on F1’s 2025 pre-season testing this week will continue. But as the season picks up, we will be reflecting on things to MUST watch out for in the 2025 season:• Max Verstappen’s hunt for a 5th title – Will Red Bull stay dominant?• McLaren’s rapid 2024 development – Can they continue this momentum into 2025?• Ferrari’s 2025 season preview – Can Leclerc & Hamilton fight for wins?• Mercedes comeback? – Is the W16 finally competitive?• Aston Martin & Alpine’s midfield battle – Who takes the lead? • Are we witnessing the next gen of superstars? - Can rookies like Bearman, Antonelli & Doohan make an impact?🛑 Subscribe for more F1 insights: https://podfollow.com/inside-line-f1-podcast💬 Follow us on social media: @insidelinef1podTune in!(Season 2025, Episode 05)Follow our hosts: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru & Kunal ShahImage courtesy: Formula 1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 20, 2025 • 1h 15min
F1 75: The Good, The Bad, The Legendary!
The biggest Formula 1 season launch event in history just wrapped up at The O2! In this season opener for 2025, Kunal, Sundaram, and Soumil dive deep into F1 75 LIVE. Why did F1 host the event? Was it a success? We break down the brand-new 2025 liveries: Which teams nailed the design? Which ones played it too safe? And which livery had us completely divided?Oh and you can spot a new livery for the InsideLine F1 Podcast too! But that’s not all! We also take a nostalgic trip down memory lane as each host reveals THREE of their all-time favourite F1 liveries—from legendary Ferrari reds to unforgettable McLaren colour schemes. It’s the ultimate design geek-out session for every motorsport fan!Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 00:47 - F1-75 Thoughts and Recap 10:43 - FIA booed - Thoughts? 17:20 - Hot or Not? 21:55 - Stake Kick Sauber 24:55 - Williams 29:47 - Racing Bulls 33:57 - Haas 36:43 - Aston Martin 39:14 - Alpine 45:45 - Mercedes 51:02 - Red Bull Racing 55:41 - Ferrari 58:35 - Sundaram's Bold Prediction 59:23 - McLaren 1:01:35 - Kunal's Favorite McLaren reveals 1:03:30 - Soumil's Top 3 Liveries 1:06:10 - Sundaram's Top 3 Liveries 1:08:20 - Kunal's Top 3 LiveriesDon't miss this unmissable season opener as we kick off the 2025 F1 season in style!👉 Subscribe for more exclusive F1 content: https://rb.gy/cev1bw👉 Join our conversation: Drop your favourite livery in the comments.🛑 Subscribe for more F1 insights: https://podfollow.com/inside-line-f1-podcast💬 Follow us on social media: @insidelinef1podTune in!(Season 2025, Episode 04)Follow our hosts: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru & Kunal ShahImage courtesy: Formula 1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 snips
Feb 17, 2025 • 50min
Red Bull's Arvid Lindblad on the Inside Line F1 Podcast
Arvid Lindblad, the youngest ever F3 race winner and an ambitious Red Bull junior driver, shares his exciting journey in motorsport. He discusses his rapid rise within the Red Bull Driver Academy and makes a promise to Lando Norris. Arvid reveals his aspirations for Formula 2 in 2025 and reflects on the emotional milestones of his career. The conversation delves into the support from mentors and the camaraderie among young drivers in the competitive F1 environment, all while anticipating thrilling future performances.