The Autosport F1 Podcast

Formula One will have new power units from 2025 that will run on 100% sustainable fuels.  So how big a change is that going to be? As great as the shift from V8s to hybrids? And while many governments around the world seem to speak today only of electric cars as the future, how powerful a message will Formula One be sending that the future of cars and mobility doesn't have to be all-electric? To help us answer this, we spoke to Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto and his F1 fuel partner István Kapitány, Shell’s Global Executive Vice president for mobility. Your host as always on #ThinkingFoward is James Allen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Monday 6th September and a breaking news episode on today’s podcast. Ariana is currently flying from the Netherlands to Italy to prepare for hosting this weekend's TV coverage, so you've got Martyn to introduce the news today. Well it's the announcement we thought was coming but you never know until it's a done deal. George Russell will be driving the Mercedes-Benz next to Lewis Hamiton and Valtteri Bottas will join the Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team in 2022 at the start of what the Swiss outfit says is a multi-year deal. The Finn's departure from Mercedes has been expected for some weeks, and a return to Williams was also a potential option before it became clear that his destination was Alfa Romeo. Kimi Raikkonen's retirement announcement on Wednesday was the first in a series of pieces of the driver market puzzle fall into place. Confirmation from Mercedes that George Russell is to join the world champion team as replacement for Bottas will follow this week. Bottas is reunited at Alfa Romeo with team principal Fred Vasseur, with whom he worked at ART in F3 in 2009 and 2010, and in GP3 in 2011, when he won the championship. Despite the strong contribution of Bottas over the years, the prospect of promoting Russell from Williams ultimately proved irresistible for Mercedes and team boss Toto Wolff. The Austrian was involved in Bottas's management before a conflict of interest obliged him to step back. Wolff has long stressed that he wanted to ensure that his former protege found a new seat should Russell be given the nod for the Mercedes drive, and said after Bottas's move to Alfa was announced that "he would absolutely have deserved to stay" in 2022. The news that Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas will join Alfa Romeo next year is the first key move in Formula 1's 2022 driver market. In an exclusive interview with Autosport, team boss Fred Vasseur explains why the Finn he last worked with a decade ago has the traits his team needs for 2022, as F1 enters its brave new era. You can read all of that in the Plus section of Autosport.com. We think it's the best motorsport writing out there, but judge for yourself with half price access. New subscribers who sign 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. Thanks for listening today, we’ll be back soon. Read more: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/valtteri-bottas-to-drive-for-alfa-romeo-f1-team-in-2022/6661658/ Wolff: Bottas would have deserved 2022 Mercedes F1 drive https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/wolff-says-bottas-would-have-deserved-2022-mercedes-f1-drive/6661703/ Why Alfa Romeo has picked Bottas to be its 2022 F1 "leader" https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/why-alfa-romeo-has-picked-bottas-to-be-its-2022-f1-leader/6661657/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Formula 1’s return to Circuit Zandvoort is all thanks to the Max Verstappen fever from his home fans, but did they go home delighted or despondent? Ariana Bravo is joined for our review podcast by Luke Smith (F1 Reporter, Autosport) and Jess McFadyen (Director of Digital Strategy, Motorsport Network)  to analyse all the action down the grid.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ariana Bravo and Matt Kew are both at Circuit Zandvoort to witness the action and passion from Verstappen’s orange army. No spoilers here, but it was a tight fight for pole, although Matt argues why a technical issue and driver error robbed one of the Top 3 of a large chunk of time.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ariana Bravo is joined by Jonathan Noble  (F1 Editor, motorsport.com) to look back at F1's return to Zandvoort. Friday was regularly interrupted by red flags due to car failures and driver error, which will add to the tension of the weekend as teams try to gather data ahead of qualifying. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calling Sunday’s track action a ‘race’ is stretching the definition according to many of those who sat through hours of delays, only to see the absolute minimum done to achieve a result. However, an official classification and podium ceremony was held after the shortest race in the history of Formula 1®. Despite that, there’s a surprising amount of questions our readers and listeners want answered. Listen to today’s podcast as Ariana Bravo is joined by Luke Smith (F1 Reporter, Autosport) and Jess McFadyen (Director of Digital Strategy, Motorsport Network) to discuss a controversial day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ariana Bravo is joined by Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport) to look back at how the grid came together on an eventful Saturday at Spa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Formula 1 teams are back in action after the summer break and today was two practice sessions which told us quite a lot about the possible form. Ariana Bravo is joined by Jonathan Noble (F1 Editor, motorsport.com).  There’s good news for drivers who have been able to announce contract extensions, and bad news for teams who are facing the prospect of grid penalties as they exceed their allocation of three power units for the season.  The midfield battle looks tight once again, and can Alpine keep their momentum of a victory last time out?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

15A fourth consecutive Toyota victory was by no means certain as, with hours to spare, the #7 car was secretly hiding a potential show stopping issue. Tom Howard talks to our man at the track, Gary Watkins, to find out how Toyota avoided a repeat of previous fuel pickup issues. A podium for Alpine sets them up well for the future, and some strong times for the Glickenhaus cars showed they were on the pace when the track conditions suited them. All that and a lot more on today's Autosport podcast. You can read all our coverage of Le Mans here: https://www.autosport.com/le-mans/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Newbold is joined by sportscar legend Gary Watkins to preview the 89th running of the world's most famous endurance event. The 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours marks the dawn of a new era for the world's oldest and most famous endurance race, as the Hypercar class replaces LMP1 as the top of the endurance racing pyramid. Toyota goes into the event aiming to take a fourth straight victory, having been the dominant force at Le Mans since the withdrawal of Porsche in 2017.  Whilst they might be favourites, Gary explains why you shouldn't be surprised if Glickenhaus pull off an unlikely victory. When is the Le Mans 24 Hours? Date: Saturday 21st August 2021 – Sunday 22nd August 2021 Start time: 3:00pm BST, 4:00pm local time Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices