The Autosport F1 Podcast

Formula 1 is back! This morning the cars rolled out of the pitlane, with Fernando Alonso waiting at the lights to be the first on track for the first competitive session of the season. Today was a new look to F1 weekends. Free Practice 1 and 2 are now 60 minutes, losing 30 minutes each, and the reduced running did give both sessions more energy. Red Bull continue the strength seen in pre-season testing, whilst Toto Wolff says Mercedes know what they need to fix. Further down the grid McLaren did well but both drivers complained about the car. Is it a bluff? Or has McLaren made a fast car which is difficult to dive on the limit? We discuss all of that and more. The Autosport Podcast is presented by Ariana Bravo alongside Jonathan Noble (F1 Editor, Motorsport.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Autosport is delighted to reveal our plans for expanded coverage from the Autosport Podcast, and a new voice joining the team of presenters. Formula 1 race weekends will now be hosted by motorsport broadcaster Ariana Bravo. Ariana has been a long-time F1 fan and is an experienced motorsport podcaster. Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport) takes a break from hosting duties but will still be part of the Autosport Podcast team contributing his expert analysis from the paddock, as soon as international travel resumes. Each weekend we're also increasing the roster of journalists offering you their unique insight of Formula 1, not only from Autosport but also our sister title Motorsport.com. 2021 also sees the addition of a weekly topical podcast looking at the major motorsport stories from the various series we cover in Autosport Magazine and on autosport.com. Whilst the majority of our listeners tune in for our Grand Prix analysis, many also tell us they want to hear about everything from Touring Cars to NASCAR, MotoGP to Sports Cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2001 Formula 1 season unveiled three shining lights who would take the challenge to Michael Schumacher – but also delivered a harsh lesson in F1’s cut-throat nature to the fourth member, Arrows driver Enrique Bernoldi. It’s a year which should be remembered for many reasons apart from exciting rookies, and today we look back. Kevin Turner (Chief Editor, Autosport) is joined by former Lola and McLaren designer and engineer Mark Williams, and James Newbold (Plus & Engineering Editor, Autosport) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As F1 teams assemble in Bahrain, the countdown to the 2021 season is now being measured in hours, rather than days and weeks. Whilst much has been carried over from 2020 there are still plenty of unknowns. And one of those is how Aston Martin will go this year. They recently unveiled their new branding, livery and a 4-time world champion driver in Sebastian Vettel, at a glitzy launch event. The major talking points from today’s podcast: •With Vettel coming into the team to replace Sergio Perez, can he get podiums this year? And can he win a race? •We look at the car and ask if they have what it takes to overhaul other midfield teams to finish 3rd this year •And if Lawrence Stroll is serious about his goal to be a championship contender, how will the team get there? Autosport's Chief Editor Kevin Turner is joined by Autosport’s F1 Reporter Luke Smith, alongside Autosport’s Grand Prix Editor Alex Kalinauckas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 lap time this week. Your host Jake Boxall-Legge (Technical Editor, Autosport) is joined by Luke Smith (F1 Reporter, Autosport) and Jess McFadyen (Director of Digital Strategy, Motorsport Network). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 (Technical Editor, Autosport) is joined by Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Ferrari held its team launch introducing new hire Carlos Sainz, Jr, who replaces Sebastian Vettel, and its new SF21 machine will be unveiled later this week. To discuss how Ferrari hopes to do better with that car in 2021, what challenges it still faces and also have a look back at some of the best cars that he has produced in Formula One, we're joined by two special guests, Kevin Turner (Chief Editor, Autosport) and Luke Smith (F1 Reporter, Autosport). Your host is Alex Kalinauckas (Grand Prix Editor, Autosport) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices