The Autosport F1 Podcast

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

Only a month since the end of the season, the Formula 1 world has been busy with news to digest. Alex Albon will be driving in DTM in 2021 whilst also attending F1 races as Red Bull Racing Reserve Driver. We look at how this will impact his F1 ambitions. What's the latest with the 2021 Formula 1 season calendar? Any how did fans react to Alpine unveiling an interim livery? Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport) is joined by Luke Smith (F1 Reporter, Autosport) and Jonathan Noble (F1 Editor, Motorsport.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's Autosport podcast looks forward at Formula 1's future. There's no doubt Lewis Hamilton is currently F1's dominant force but, when he decides to stop driving, who can take his crown? It will be a tough act for anyone to follow but three of the drivers we've picked in this week's issue of Autosport magazine are discussed on the podcast. In Luke Smith's first cover for the magazine we look at why Sainz, Norris and Russell are our picks of the next generation. Also on this show we review the 2020 Formula 2 season. The title was won by Mick Schumacher but it wasn't a season of domination from the eventual winner, compared to previous years of F2/GP2. However that doesn't mean we shouldn't be excited about the Schumacher name being back on the F1 grid in 2021, and the curious reason why it could be even better for 2022. Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport) is joined by Luke Smith (F1 Reporter, Autosport) and Kevin Turner (Editor-in-chief, Autosport). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Earlier this week Autosport revealed that Suzuki team boss Davide Brivio would depart the reigning MotoGP championship squad and move to Renault's Alpine F1 Team. We ask if a change of management can position the newly rebranded team for success. With Marcin Budkowski leading the team, Pat Fry as Chassis Technical Director and Rémi Taffin as Engine Technical Director, could they mount a challenge in 2021? Or is this more about 2022 and the new regulation changes? Also this week, we talk about Williams changing philosophy and sharing more parts with the Mercedes F1 team. Plus with Australia's season-opener being postponed, Alex pitches his plan for why F1 should return to Silverstone much earlier in the season. Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport) is joined by Luke Smith (F1 Reporter, Autosport) and Jonathan Noble (F1 Editor, Motorsport.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices