From the Paddock

F1 has a problem.As uncertainty surrounding the Middle East continues, F1 is reportedly evaluating three emergency options to save its season finale—including a Las Vegas double-header and substitute races in Europe. Alex Harrington and Lydia Mee explain what's on the table and what happens next.The team also examines Max Verstappen's future after talks involving McLaren, Red Bull's ongoing staff exodus, and why Ferrari's first major engine upgrade failed to deliver in Austria.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lewis Hamilton’s struggles at Ferrari weren’t just about performance—he was dealing with a serious neck injury behind the scenes. Now, after finally getting a win, the spotlight shifts to what comes next. Red Bull is betting big with its largest upgrade of the season as pressure builds around Max Verstappen, while extreme temperatures in Austria have triggered an FIA heat warning. Between performance shifts and dangerous conditions, this race could change everything.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

F1 heads into the Monaco Grand Prix with added intrigue as teams arrive having identified a loophole created by recent FIA rule changes, with teams including Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren already appearing to take advantage on the low-speed, high-downforce street circuit. In this episode, Alex and Lydia break down the removal of last year’s mandatory two-stop rule, what that means for this weekend, and which drivers to watch heading into one of the most unique races on the calendar. They also get into Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari contract extension ahead of his home race, Lewis Hamilton’s improving form, and Formula 1’s continued push in the United States with a long-term extension for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gucci has just become the first luxury fashion house to ever title sponsor a Formula One team. From 2027, Alpine will race as Gucci Racing Alpine Formula One.New colors, new identity, a whole new Gucci racing division has been created. Hosts Alex and Lydia explore the new partnership, why it’s significant and why Gucci may need Formula 1 more than it needs Gucci. We also explore the luxury takeover in Formula 1 over the years with brands such as Louis Vuitton, Tag Heuer, Moet, LVMH and more all synonymous with the motorsport. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of From The Paddock, hosts Alex and Lydia explore why Max Verstappen’s podium result at the Canadian Grand Prix was the unhappiest of his career so far. Verstappen has had issues with the 2026 Red Bull Racing Formula 1 car and the new FIA regulations this season and has struggled to get results in driver standings, with the race in Montreal being his first podium so far this season. Alex and Lydia also take a look at the fine George Russell was given for removing the headrest of his Mercedes F1 car after breaking down during the Grand Prix and whether or not the FIA should police these incidents. Finally, the team break down what each individual Pirelli tyre compounds are, how they work and when they get used and why the wrong choice cost McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Pastry during the race in Montreal. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christian Horner has reportedly held a series of meetings with Chinese EV giant BYD — including with their vice president Stella Li at the Cannes Film Festival. BYD want to enter F1, either as a brand new 12th team or via a stake in Alpine. Hosts Alex and Lydia get into why this story is controversial on three levels — the geopolitics, the EV-versus-V8 contradiction, and the Ron Dennis parallel from 2016.We also take a step back from the silly-season noise and get into why Montreal is genuinely one of the best weekends on the calendar. The track's Expo 67 origin story, the Wall of Champions, the Gilles Villeneuve legacy, the bagel war, Schwartz's smoked meat, and what's been overhauled at the venue after the 2024 paddock flooding fiasco.And finally it is the Canadian GP Preview Round 5, Sprint weekend at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Mercedes are bringing their first major upgrade package of the year, McLaren are arriving on the back of a Miami sprint win and a double podium, and Ferrari have more upgrades coming after their Miami package. We walk through what to watch, where Russell stands with his championship lead now 20 points behind Antonelli, and lock in predictions.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Alex and Lydia take a look at McLaren team principal Zak Brown’s letter to the FIA arguing F1 should ban one company from owning two teams. The obvious target is Red Bull, but the more pressing one is Mercedes' rumoured Alpine move. They explore what the letter contained, Ben Sulayem's response, and what this could mean for the whole grid.Elsewhere, Alex and Lydia explore Verstappen's Nürburgring heartbreak. Max Verstappen led the Nürburgring 24 Hours for much of the race before a driveshaft failure with 3.5 hours to go ended his victory hopes. We recap the race, look at his odd run of GT3 bad luck this year, and ask what these weekends spent on the Nordschleife tell us about his future in F1. Finally, Fernando Alonso has just taken delivery of a one-of-one Pagani Zonda in Monaco — complete with a custom Recaro child seat matching his 2026 helmet design, made for his newborn son Leonardo.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Alex and Lydia break down the reasons why F1 cars are slower in 2026 - and why it's by design by the FIA. The changes by the FIA which include new hybrid energy demands, have been criticised by some fans and even drivers but there's a few reasons why the change is good. They also dive into why a return to V8 powertrains in 2030 or 2031 may hit Cadillac's Formula 1 team hard and how Susie Wolff’s Charlotte Tilbury deal helped transform F1 Academy’s commercial appeal and open the door to a wider wave of major non-traditional motorsport sponsors.If you want F1 analysis with context, debate, and the biggest storylines from the paddock, this episode has you covered.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we discuss the F1 driver-market dominoes surrounding Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, and Carlos Sainz Jr., break down how performance clauses work, and explore why Formula 1 is closing in on the NFL.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we discuss Charles Leclerc’s new £15M yacht and what it says about the growing wealth gap in Formula 1, the FIA’s decision to bring back V8 engines by 2031, and why Kimi Antonelli’s three straight wins may be changing the balance of power at Mercedes alongside George Russell.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Alex and Lydia break down a massive Miami Grand Prix weekend — from Apple’s early F1 broadcast rollout and what it could mean for the sport in the U.S., to Kimi Antonelli’s breakout statement win under pressure. They unpack how Antonelli held off Lando Norris to take his third straight victory in Miami, continuing a remarkable start to the season, while McLaren’s double podium with Norris and Oscar Piastri raised real questions about whether the team has finally found its footing. They also dive into Ferrari’s frustrating afternoon, including the late-race drama that ended with Charles Leclerc hit with a 20-second post-race penalty, dropping him to P8.Big takeaways from Miami: Antonelli is no longer just the future — he’s a real title threat right now; McLaren looks genuinely back in the fight at the front; Ferrari’s race execution remains a major talking point; and Miami may have given us the clearest picture yet of how the 2026 pecking order is starting to form.If you want F1 analysis with context, debate, and the biggest storylines from the paddock, this episode has you covered.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we break down a week where Formula 1’s identity feels like it’s shifting in real time... from viral marketing misfires to $95,000 trackside cabanas, to a Miami Grand Prix that might literally get struck by lightning.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Liberty Media’s takeover of MotoGP, rising numbers, and Christian Horner’s Jerez appearance raise the question of whether two-wheel racing is about to get the F1 treatment.Christian Horner’s next move may be less about becoming a team boss again and more about buying into the rapidly rising value of F1 teams.Miami will show whether F1’s latest regulation tweaks, McLaren’s upgrades, and the Russell vs Antonelli battle can reshape the early 2026 season.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of From the Paddock, we’re making sense of a chaotic F1 pause that still delivered plenty of action. We catch up on how drivers spent the unexpected cancellation break, from training and travel to downtime away from the pressure of race weekends, before diving into the biggest stories shaping the sport’s next chapter. First up: the latest 2026 regulation tweaks introduced ahead of Miami. We break down what changed, why it matters, and how the updates could impact teams, car design, racing strategy, overtaking, and the balance of power when F1’s new era begins. Then, we spotlight Doriane Pin’s historic Mercedes F1 test at Silverstone, where she became the first woman to drive a Mercedes Formula 1 car. We discuss the significance of the milestone, what it says about Mercedes’ investment in her development, and what the test could mean for her future pathway toward the top levels of motorsport. Finally, we look ahead to the planned return of the Turkish Grand Prix in 2027. Istanbul Park has long been a fan favorite thanks to its fast, flowing layout and iconic Turn 8, and we break down why its comeback could be a major win for drivers, fans, and the F1 calendar.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.