Inside Line F1 Podcast

At the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix, the heat and tyres were expected to halt Mercedes' dominant run once again. However, Mercedes-Hamilton delivered their strongest performance of the season to further their championship advantage. The race was also proof that two-stop races won't always be a belter!  Such has been Mercedes' form in the 2020 Formula 1 season, that Max Verstappen finishing second in a race is definitely an over-achievement. The 2020 Spanish Grand Prix was no different - as Hamilton led from the start to score yet another dominant win, Verstappen snucked into P2 at Turn 1. Valtteri Bottas' chase could go only as far as P3 while Sebastian Vettel exposed Ferrari's race management abilities yet again. Join Soumil and Kunal's race debrief of the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix in our Pits To Podium (https://bit.ly/5thingsHungary) segment. Also back on the Inside Line F1 Podcast (https://bit.ly/insidelinef1pod) is Mithila - with her unique stories, views and assessments of the current affairs of Formula 1. Tu

Could Mercedes be challenged by Max Verstappen-Red Bull Racing at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix, too? From how we see it, there might be a small chance. And if are you Max Verstappen, that's probably enough. For starters, the track temperature will be warmer - teams are used to testing at the Circuit de Catalunya in February and racing in May. The mid-August summer could see higher than normal track temperatures - one of the few factors that can rattle the otherwise robust Mercedes cars. And of course, the higher downforce and flowing nature of the circuit that loads the front-left tyre. Also in our Pits To Podium (https://bit.ly/pitstopodium) segment, we discuss possible tyre strategies for the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel's new chassis, Sergio Perez's return, George Russell's Saturday heroics and the ultra competitive mid-field battle. Tune in to hear our '5 things to watch for' for this weekend's race. (Season 2020, Episode 38) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora (https://twitter.com/ia

At the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing delivered a superlative performance backed by a bold strategy to halt Mercedes' dominant run in 2020 and score their first victory of the season. In this Pits To Podium (https://bit.ly/pitstopodium) segment, Soumil and Kunal discuss Verstappen's max-imum drive, Pirelli's 'ballooning' tyres, Mercedes' blisters and Charles Leclerc's Alonso-esque climb to fourth. And of course, what does Valtteri Bottas need to do to change his fortunes? Is Sebastian Vettel the recipient of 'The Kimi Raikkonen' treatment from Ferrari? We decode lap times to try solve the mystery of Nico Hulkenberg's suspicious third pit-stop and more. Tune in! (Season 2020, Episode 37) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora (https://twitter.com/iamsoumilaroraa) and Kunal Shah (http://www.twitter.com/kunalashah) Music courtesy: Lucien Byfieldt (https://lucienbyfieldt.bandcamp.com/)

Could the FIA be setting a new precedent in Formula 1 after their ruling in the Renault-Racing Point protest? Picture this for 2021: a team could copy a rival's car (the Racing Point way!), pre-pay €400,000 as a penalty to the FIA, start the season with -15 points and go racing! In this Pits To Podium (https://bit.ly/pitstopodium) segment, Soumil and Kunal discuss the ruling - one that still allows Racing Point to retain their competitive advantage. Will Mercedes be implicated at some stage? How deep can this protest against Racing Point's copying of Mercedes' W10 go? Tune in! Btw, here's our '5 things to watch for' episode for the upcoming 70th Anniversary Grand Prix (https://audioboom.com/posts/7651189-70th-anniversary-gp-5-things-to-watch-for) ! (Season 2020, Episode 36) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora (https://twitter.com/iamsoumilaroraa) and Kunal Shah (http://www.twitter.com/kunalashah) Music courtesy: Lucien Byfieldt (https://lucienbyfieldt.bandcamp.com/) Image: Racing Point

The 70th Anniversary Grand Prix will be Formula 1's second-ever back-to-back race at the same venue. In this Pits To Podium (https://bit.ly/pitstopodium) segment, Soumil and Kunal discuss the 5 things to watch for in the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix. Will Mercedes embarrass their rivals one more time? Can Pirelli's soft tyres induce different tyre strategies that could bring Max Verstappen in the mix for P2 at least? Will Racing Point recover to be the kings of the mid-field or will it be Mclaren yet again? Also, will Formula 1 treat us to some special content to celebrate this feat? Could Nico Hulkenberg end up racing for more than one team in 2020? Will teams opt for a lower downforce setup for the second race at Silverstone? Tune in to get a round-up of the stories to look forward to for the 2020 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone. (Season 2020, Episode 34) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora (https://twitter.com/iamsoumilaroraa) and Kunal Shah (http://www.twitter.com/kunalashah) Music cou

Lewis Hamilton's win at the 2020 British Grand Prix was probably the most-dramatic and luckiest of his career. After all, the six-times World Champion crossed the finish line with only 3 working wheels on his wagon! Unfortunately for Valtteri Bottas and Carlos Sainz Jr., they suffered a far worse fate with similar tyre troubles. Pirelli will be bringing a set of tyres that are a step softer than the ones used in the first race at Silverstone. Will this be a cause of concern for Formula 1? Also in this Pits To Podium (https://bit.ly/pitstopodium) segment, Soumil and Kunal discuss Charles Leclerc's surprise podium for Ferrari - is he punching far above his weight? Are Racing Point the biggest underachievers of the season yet? Can Valtteri Bottas resurrect his title aspirations? Were the FIA correct in penalising Alexander Albon for his tangle with Kevin Magnussen? All this and more in our post-race debrief of the 2020 British Grand Prix. Tune in! (Season 2020, Episode 33) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil

Mercedes' domination has been confirmed for the 2020 Formula 1 Season. But as we look forward to the 2020 British Grand Prix, the question is - how far ahead are they of the competition? Will we see aggression or frustration for Valtteri Bottas? The back-to-back races at Silverstone are to Lewis Hamilton's advantage - could he extend his gap in the Drivers' Championship?  In our Pits To Podium segment, we tell you why the battle for P2 in the Drivers' and Constructors' Championship could be where the entertainment is. Max Verstappen vs. the Mercedes drivers followed by Racing Point vs. Red Bull Racing vs. other protesting teams. But what about Ferrari, how far back will they be on a circuit with fast-flowing corners? In fact, will the circuit characteristics give Mclaren an advantage over their midfield rivals? And of course, it will continue to be worse for all Ferrari-powered teams. All this and more in our '5 things to watch for' series for the upcoming British Grand Prix. Tune in! (Season 2020, Episode

Ever wondered what's it like to work in Formula 1? We have kickstarted a special series - 'Working In F1', that will bring to you paddock personalities who tell you exactly how it is to work in Formula 1. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast (https://link.chtbl.com/ilf1p) , we have William Ponissi (Senior Communications Manager, Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN) who explains the role of media and communications in a Formula 1 team. Will-P, as he's been fondly called since his days with the Force India F1 Team, explains the joys, the challenges and the hectic schedules that come along with the job. Are you interested in a media and communications role in Formula 1 or with a Formula 1 team? Will-P shares his pre-Formula 1 journey and explains how one can build eligibility. And of course, we ask him how it is to work with the charismatic Kimi Raikkonen! Tune in! (Season 2020, Episode 32) Follow our hosts on Twitter: William Ponissi (https://twitter.com/WillPonissi) and Kunal Shah (http://www.twitter.com/kuna

Did you have a jaw-dropping moment too when Max Verstappen crashed into the barriers while on his way to the grid of the 2020 Hungarian Grand Prix? Helmets off to the Red Bull Racing mechanics! And of course, to Max for a brilliant opening lap and for fending off Valtteri Bottas' podium charge. Did you enjoy the opening race chaos that ensued thanks to the changing weather conditions? Did Haas' wet tyre option shock you, too? Did Ferrari's decision to put Charles Leclerc on the soft tyre not surprise you? Btw, exciting wheel-to-wheel battles between Leclerc and Norris-Sainz. Didn't you expect Sebastian Vettel to hold his own against Alexander Albon? Did you cheer Lance Stroll's drive to fourth place? Or were you disappointed that the Racing Point cars missed scoring a podium! And of course, did you cheer for yet another Lewis Hamilton masterclass? There's a lot more in our Pits To Podium (https://youtu.be/tMJ_AeiHLWY) race debrief that you will enjoy. Tune in to relive the key moments from the 2020 Hungaria

Lando Norris' last lap moves have made headlines and even memes! In fact, Norris & Mclaren's execution seems just so Hollywood-like - with Norris' engineer giving precise instructions over the pit-to-car radio. And of course, 'Scenario 7' will be remembered for the time to come. Are we in for another Mclaren treat in Hungary, too? This episode is an Inside Line F1 Podcast (https://bit.ly/insidelinef1pod) and Pits To Podium (https://bit.ly/5thingsHungary) special. Look out for the '5 things to watch for in the 2020 Hungarian Grand Prix' and the paddock stories we've been tracking - 'Drop A Driver, Hire Vettel', that being the theme for a few teams. Does Lawrence Stroll need a reality check or do we? Tune in! (Season 2020, Episode 30) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Mithila Mehta (https://www.twitter.com/mith_m) , Soumil Arora (https://twitter.com/iamsoumilaroraa) and Kunal Shah (https://www.twitter.com/kunalashah) Music courtesy: Lucien Byfieldt (https://lucienbyfieldt.bandcamp.com/) Image: F1's YouTube

The 2020 Styrian Grand Prix confirmed our fears - Mercedes will dominate Formula 1 for yet another season while Max Verstappen will be the closest challenger. In this Pits To Podium (https://youtu.be/oaSqVRbG4G8) segment of our show, we discuss how the mid-field teams and drivers entertained throughout the second race at the Red Bull Ring. Also in this episode: we discuss the hashtag battle that was eventually settled in favour of the #StyrianGP, Hamilton's pole position followed by dominant win, Bottas' battle with Verstappen, Alexander Albon's worrying gap to the top-3, Sergio Perez's charge from 17th, Carlos Sainz Jr.'s qualifying form, Mclaren's team work followed by Lando Norris' last lap fireworks (again!) and Stroll-Ricciardo's incident. And of course, Ferrari's double retirement triggered by Charles Leclerc's impatient move. Tune in! (Season 2020, Episode 28) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora (https://twitter.com/iamsoumilaroraa) and Kunal Shah (http://www.twitter.com/kunalashah) Music cou

Yes, that's the ONE clause that will come handy for Renault IF they are unable to deliver to Fernando Alonso's expectations. None of Renault's previous drivers have been as vocal about the team's inability to deliver a strong package season after season. But we all know that it will be different with the mercurial Alonso - in the media and on radio! He gives his best and doesn't settle for any less in return. Let's see how Renault rise up to the occasion. But can Alonso-Renault win again in Formula 1? OR will Alonso make up the numbers like Kimi Raikkonen (err!)? Anyone expecting the latter is probably unaware of Alonso's prowess, determination and approach to Motorsport and Formula 1. Join us on this Pits To Podium (https://bit.ly/2ZPqqcH) segment of our show as we welcome the former double World Champion back to Formula 1. In this episode - F1 is the BIG winner in the Alonso-Renault reunion, why Renault couldn't/didn't wait for a junior driver, why betting on Renault under the new regulations might not be

Unsurprisingly, Mercedes are the class of the field this season, too. But the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix did expose a few chinks in their armour. We discuss them in our Pits to Podium (https://bit.ly/2020austriangpdebrief) race debrief along with the other talking points - Hamilton-Albon's incident, Vettel's spin, Leclerc & Norris' charge to the podium. Finally, we wonder if Racing Point should be pleased with a non-podium finish. And there's more in this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast: we explain the context behind Romain Grosjean's 'unacceptable that Lewis Hamilton earns $40mn' statement. Should we still be surprised by Red Bull Racing's decision to favour Max Verstappen over others? Finally, should Sebastian Vettel have received penalty points for not wearing his mask? Such are the times we live in. (Season 2020, Episode 27) Here's what's in store for you in this episode: 0:00-3:00 - Same circuit, same team-drivers but we WON'T have the same podium in Race 2 in Austria or the 2020 Steier

Will Honda bring Red Bull-Verstappen into the title fight? Will the Black Arrows create history? And then what about the Pink Arrows? Will they lead the mid-field battle? Not just Ferrari, it'll be Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari that'll create headlines. Let's hope we see 'vintage Seb!' At least 6 drivers will fight for 7th place in the Drivers' Championship - each with a hope to race in a better car come 2021. Also in this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast (https://bit.ly/insidelinef1pod) : will the uncertainty of the 2020 Formula 1 calendar favour some over the others? Likewise for the long off-season, would certain drivers have benefited from a 'pause and reflect' approach? Is Formula 1 ready to let Kimi Raikkonen retire? And finally, will Bernie Ecclestone be banned from entering the Formula 1 paddock? Tune in! (Season 2020, Episode 26) Hear our previous episode: 22 predictions for the 2020 Formula 1 season (https://audioboom.com/posts/7523268-22-predictions-for-2020-formula-1-season) Here's what's i

2020 is a year of landmarks - Formula 1's 70th year and also, '50 Years of Sauber' in Motorsport. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, we discuss our interview with the architect of Sauber Motorsport, Mr. Peter Sauber. Also in this episode, we share the Pits To Podium segment where we celebrated Sauber's journey through Motorsport and Formula 1. Tune in! (Season 2020, Episode 25) Here's what's in store for you in this episode: 0:00-3:00 - F1's 70 years, Paul Ricard's 50 years and Sauber's 50 years - don't their commemorative logos look similar? 3:00-6:00 - We discussed '50 years of Sauber' with Peter Sauber. You can read the full interview on our blog (https://www.firstpost.com/sports/peter-sauber-interview-saubers-architect-on-early-beginnings-foray-into-f1-kimi-raikkonen-as-team-celebrates-50-years-in-motorsport-8531951.html) Gist of our interview - why Sauber chose Kimi Raikkonen over Red Bull in 2001, Sauber's secret to attracting solid technical partnerships and Sauber's most under-rated ac

Football has had fake fans and fake crowd noise in their TV-only formats. Should Formula 1 follow suit? Does Formula 1 actually need crowd noise in their broadcast? In fact, do you distinctly hear crowd noise while watching the sport on TV? We discuss the considerations that might go into making a decision on whether or not to add fake crowd noise to Formula 1's TV broadcast. Also in this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast (https://bit.ly/insidelinef1pod) , we discuss the impact of Andy Cowell's departure from Mercedes, Daniel Ricciardo's positioning in Formula 1 and why it's necessary for his career and how there's a limited sale in Formula 1 and most of us might not be invited. Did you know that Red Bull Racing are on the same path as Williams and Mclaren have been since their inception? Finally, will face masks sport sponsor logos once we resume racing in Austria? Tune in! (Season 2020, Episode 24) ANNOUNCEMENT: We've launched a video channel - Pits To Podium (https://www.youtube.com/channel/U

F1 2020's driver ratings have created a furore among fans. Whether it's Valtteri Bottas' 99 rating in the awareness column or Lance Stroll's pace rating being better than Esteban Ocon's or that Romain Grosjean's overall rating is better than Kevin Magnussen's - the driver ratings have brought us more laughs than a serious discussion. Btw, Nicholas Latifi's overall low rating and Alexander Albon's rating being lower than his Alpha Tauri counterparts are the few ratings that make some sense. There's more in our Pits to Podium (https://bit.ly/3e6osdM) segment in this week's show. Tune in! (Season 2020, Episode 23) Here's what's in store for you in this episode: 0:00-7:00 - Where F1 2020, the video game, stands within Formula 1's marketing funnel for new fans 7:00-end - The obnoxious, controversial and outrightly bizzare 'driver ratings' introduced in the F1 2020 video game  Subscribe via our magic link (https://bit.ly/insidelinef1pod) that will identify your device/OS and throw up the best possible app/platf

Valtteri Bottas - what have you just done? By confirming Mercedes' lack of interest in Sebastian Vettel, you've literally just blown F1's best off-season talking point to pieces. Thanks, but no thanks for the anti-climax to the Vettel-Mercedes saga. We understand that you needed the clarity, but maybe the fans didn't? Carey & co. will have to find another big ticket story to keep fans engaged in this long off-season. But honestly, were you one of those who really believed that Mercedes would field a Vettel-Hamilton pairing in 2021? Also in this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast (https://bit.ly/insidelinef1pod) , we talk about Formula 1's masterstroke of a marketing idea to host Ferrari's 1000th Grand Prix at their home circuit in Mugello. Sorry MotoGP, but Formula 1 is first love. Should circuits waste money trying to fill up the empty stands? We tell you why Silverstone's 'cardboard fan' idea might not be a smart one. Will Formula 1 fly ALL reserve drivers to the races in 2020? And finally, Renault a

The 2020 Formula 1 season is GO! We're about a month away from the first race of the revised season and the ONE question on Formula 1's mind is - how do we make sure that the second race at the same circuit isn't predictable? It's strange that they aren't worried about the first race being predictable, too. In this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast (https://bit.ly/insidelinef1pod) , we tell you 3 whacky experiments Formula 1 may never try irrespective of how boring races may get. Also in this episode, we discuss the challenges teams and drivers will need to overcome during the short and much-cramped 8 race schedule. We go braggin' in our 'we told you so' section about our predictions that have come true in F1 2020. We push Formula 1 to consider using the Wednesday between races to run experiments on-track and via free-to-air television + social media broadcast. And finally, how would you rate Liberty Media's performance as new owners of Formula 1? Tune in! (Season 2020, Episode 21) Here's what's in

Formula 1 and the FIA have made one of their most sublime moves in recent times on the teams - a budget cap and handicap for aerodynamic development. They've also introduced two new terms that we will hear for the rest of time - glide path (for the budget cap) and sliding scale (for the aero cap). But the ONE THING we don't ever wish to have added to the budget cap is driver salaries. Also in this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast (https://bit.ly/insidelinef1pod) , why the Dutch Grand Prix should never be without the fans (or TV-only), how Lawrence Stroll's paternal and business instincts need to have a clear demarcation and we bet that Formula 1 will offer more track time to teams before the first race of the 2020 Formula 1 season. Tune in! (Season 2020, Episode 20) Here's what's in store for you in this episode: 0:00-3:00 - The Mercedes-Aston Martin, Lawrence Stroll-Toto Wolff rumour and could it finally give us a Lewis Hamilton-Lance Stroll partnership? 3:00-6:00 - The budget cap should never include d