The Autosport F1 Podcast

*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

This weekend at Monza sees the second sprint race format, so Friday afternoon was all about setting the grid for Saturday’s sprint qualifying.  The pole sitter tomorrow isn’t officially on pole, instead he earns the title of ‘speed king’. Ariana Bravo is in the paddock in Italy and she’s talking to Jonathan Noble (F1 Editor, motosport.com) about the action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What better way to get in the mood for an Italian Grand Prix at Monza, than an Italian who has driven the track. We’re joined by Vitantonio Liuzzi. Enjoying drives for the newly birthed Red Bull Racing team, Toro Rosso, Force India and HRT, on the podcast today he looks back at a Formula 1 career which he says was often defined as being in the right place at the wrong time. Tonio talks about what it's like to race at Monza with the passion of the fans behind you, his best lap around Monza, why he credits Michael Schumacher as the key to his early success, the events which stopped him from rising up to be a team leader in a main Red Bull seat and remembering the famous Turn 1 crash which took out Nico Rosberg.   Finally he tells us why 2010 was the year he drove most of the season with just one hand on the wheel, and his duties this weekend as an FIA steward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's Autosport podcast, we're bringing you something from our sister podcast channel Gravel Notes. Tom Howard talks to Molly Taylor who is currently competing in Extreme E and this weekend's WRC Acropolis Rally Greece. Molly reveals how a facetime call from Nico Rosberg got her interested in Extreme E, how successful female drivers can inspire a generation of young girls who see them as role models, and she previews this the WRC action this weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices