Ayrton Senna's Lotus years, by Ibrar Malik

As we mark the upcoming 26th anniversary of Ayrton Senna's passing, most will undoubtedly dwell upon the more celebrated cornerstones of his extraordinary career. His obliteration of the opposition during qualifying at Monaco '88, or the race at Donington Park '93. His compelling personality which shone through during interviews. Or what might have been with Williams had he not tragically met his untimely death at the '94 San Marino Grand Prix. This blog aims to be slightly different, by briefly looking at Senna's formative years at Lotus.

Coming into 1985, the Norfolk-based team had not won a race since the sudden death of its charismatic founder, Colin Chapman, in December 1982. Lotus had endured a turbulent '83 season. But it bounced back superbly to become a regular frontrunner again during '84, enjoying its most successful season since 1978. The newly-released book, Team Lotus: Beyond the Colin Chapman Era, details precisely how the team achieved this. But by the end of '84, it seemed a key ingredient to elevate Lotus back to the winner's circle was missing. Enter, Ayrton Senna – Lotus's new signing for 1985. 

Senna was widely touted as a future world champion following his stellar performances within the unfancied Toleman during 1984

The Evolution Of Silverstone, by Leasing Options

Now that the future of Silverstone as a Formula 1 track has been assured, it’s a perfect time to look back at how the track has changed since 1948.

Leasing Options has created an animation to show all of the many changes that Silverstone has undergone since racing began on the track, explained what the key changes were and listed our top five Silverstone Formula 1 moments.

The evolution of the Silverstone track

Key dates in Silverstone’s history
1948 - The First Grand Prix
The first grand prix at Silverstone took place in 1948, but the course was somewhat different and more terrifying than it is today.

1984 Austrian Grand Prix review for Motor Sport Magazine

Matthew Lamb [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]

Home advantage is an odd thing in motorsport. Nigel Mansell used to say - likely with typical melodrama - that the inspiration of his home crowd would gain him half a second per lap. Alain Prost too could barely stop winning his home round.

But there are others for who nothing it seems ever goes right in their own land. And the recently departed Niki Lauda, when he was entering his native Austrian Grand Prix in 1984, was one such. Thirteen years after making his F1 debut there, at the magnificent Osterreichring, his best home result was a distant second.

Yet that time things came right for him. It wasn't entirely straightforward, nor indeed entirely luck. Rather it owed much to Lauda's legendary cunning and racecraft - in more senses than you might think.

In my latest classic grand prix retro review for Motor Sport Magazine's website, I tell the extraordinary tale of this race. You can have a read here: https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/history/f1/never-underestimate-niki-lauda-1984-austrian-f1-grand-prix

Plus you can check out my previous classic grand prix articles for Motor Sport here, here and here.

Inside Line F1 Podcast - The James Hunt Exclusive

The Inside Line F1 Podcast returns after a sunny summer break from the beaches of Greece. In this week's episode, we commemorate 25 years since James Hunt's death and who better than his son Freddie to narrate stories, incidents and the passion of the 1976 Formula 1 World Champion.

Did Rush add to Hunt's popularity? And what if social media existed back in the Hunt-Lauda era? Know more in our Hunt exclusive episode.

We also talk to Freddie about his racing career, plans to follow his famous father into commentary and the impact of having a name as famous as 'Hunt' in the world of Motorsport. Tune in!

(Season 2018, Episode 26)
Subscribe to the Inside Line F1 Podcast on iTunes and on audioBoom (RSS feed) for your weekly dose of Formula 1 humour

Ayrton Senna - His Final Hours, by Ibrar Malik

Here is the latest guest blog posts by Ibrar Malik, about his forthcoming book 1994 – The Untold Story of a Tragic and Controversial F1 Season. This book will aim to offer much additional insight into this turbulent season and much else besides. You can find much more detail on this on his website at: www.1994f1.com.

Twenty-four years ago today Formula One lost one of its greatest ever drivers. Ayrton Senna's passing was felt across the globe, especially Brazil, which declared three days of official mourning. He had been the world's most famous racing driver and his death was broadcast live on television in front of millions. The grief felt was on par with the deaths of Princess Diana or JFK, and he is still sorely missed among F1 fans even 24 years on. The loss of Roland Ratzenberger a day earlier had been profoundly shocking, however, Senna's passing was another order of magnitude. It turned a shocking situation into the biggest crisis F1 had faced in recent times.

Ayrton Senna was a unique champion and is still adored by F1 fans today.

Senna was a complex, charismatic yet contradictory character who evoked strong emotions within others - qualities which were evident during the final hours of his tragically short life. The death of Roland Ratzenberger during qualifying for the 1994 San Marino GP, the first death at a race meeting in 12 years, deeply affected Senna. Indeed, the Brazilian commandeered an official FIA car to visit the accident himself as he wanted to understand what lessons could be learnt for the safety of others. It was something the triple world champion would be chastised for before the race.

Roland Ratzenberger - 24 Years On, by Ibrar Malik

Here is the latest guest blog posts by Ibrar Malik, about his forthcoming book 1994 – The Untold Story of a Tragic and Controversial F1 Season. This book will aim to offer much additional insight into this turbulent season and much else besides. You can find much more detail on this on his website at: www.1994f1.com.

F1 is filled with irony, but the hand it dealt Roland Ratzenberger on 30th April 1994 was a particularly cruel blow - even by the sport's standards.

Ratzenberger was popular among other F1 drivers and drove to that fateful San Marino GP with JJ Lehto.

The Austrian, just weeks into his dream job, was attempting to qualify for his second Grand Prix with the new and underfunded Simtek team. During a fast lap he had a minor off-track excursion and instead of coming into the pits to check for damage he weaved the car, perhaps trying to judge for himself. Believing the front wing was OK, Ratzenberger carried onto another quick lap. That would prove to be a fatal error.

Baku Qualifying - Expecting the expected

It looked in advance like it was happening again. And it did happen again. Just not in the way we thought it was happening again.

Lewis Hamilton stunned on his way to another pole position
Photo: Octane Photography

In yesterday's practice Mercedes struggled, and the story seemed familiar. A low grip, temporary track. Slow corners. The car struggling apparently to get its tyres in range. Montreal, wherein it had bounced back in just those sort of circumstances, was by the looks of things a one-off.

Yet, when it mattered, not a bit of it. Come this morning's running silver was back on top in that highly familiar way. But in another as-seen part of the tale it looked that of the Merc pair Valtteri Bottas - like in Sochi and Monaco - was the better equipped in such moments. Come qualifying though, not a bit of that either.

Lewis Hamilton on a track that requires brave shaving of walls and acrobatic skills was again on another level even of the two Mercs. At last providing a bit that makes sense. And Mercedes more generally looked even further ahead of the rest than before.

Montreal Qualifying - The empire strikes back

It could hardly have been in a less appropriate place. But in usually-madcap Montreal, normality returned.

Lewis Hamilton - and Mercedes - struck
back in Montreal's qualifying
Photo: Octane Photography

It was the sort of track that had been tripping previously-imperious Mercedes in 2017 - low grip; slow turns; softest tyre compounds. But the silver team might be learning at last.

Practice running suggested it was at least in the game this time; unlike in Monaco its pace didn't evaporate as the weekend went on. And in qualifying the story got more familiar, with the Mercs growing in potency as the hour went on.

And Lewis Hamilton - who'd especially struggled in the circumstances outlined - claimed pole position by acing the Montreal track. That last bit being something altogether more usual. Ever the showman he saved by far his best for last too.

Inside Line F1 Podcast - Red Bull Gives You Wings, But No Brakes

As we approach the 2017 Spanish Grand Prix, all eyes will be on Red Bull Racing. Will their upgrades make them a front running team for 2017? And Red Bull might give you wings, but they clearly aren't giving Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo good brakes.

IF ONLY Niki Lauda's statement that Spain is where the season 'resets' would mean a reset of the 80 points deficit for Red Bull Racing. The RB13 is unlucky for some, at this moment.

In this week's episode, Mithila and Kunal discuss how Formula 1 might be an art-craft class after the FIA introduced new regulations for driver identification. With 30 new venues showing interest in hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix, can we and will we ever have 52 races in a year ever? And finally, there's enough proof that you can take Formula 1 away from Bernie Ecclestone, but not Bernie Ecclestone from Formula 1. Tune in!

Subscribe to the Inside Line F1 Podcast on iTunes and audioBoom for your weekly dose of Formula 1 humour.

(Season 2017, Episode 17)

Inside Line F1 Podcast - McLaren Saved Formula 1 From A Honda Destruction

Thank you McLaren for vetoing a Red Bull Racing - Honda partnership a few seasons ago. IF not, we'd have had 6 GP2 cars (or worse!) racing in Formula 1. By the way, there's talk of Mercedes helping Honda with their power-unit. This is after Bernie Ecclestone suggested that Mercedes helped Ferrari. If that's the case, why not help Renault too? Or better, let's just give everyone Mercedes engines.

In this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Mithila and Kunal discuss Fernando Alonso's Indy 500 preparations, Ecclestone-Vettel's friendship, Lauda's support of every Hamilton challenger, Renault's 2030 F1 concept and IF Fernando Alonso will retire his McLaren-Honda in the upcoming Russian Grand Prix too.

Tune in!

(Season 2017, Episode 16)

Subscribe to the Inside Line F1 Podcast on iTunes and audioBoom for your weekly dose of Formula 1 humour.

Inside Line F1 Podcast - The Best Driver Did Not Win

As the Hamilton vs. Rosberg title battle goes down to the wire, the big question is who will win the 2016 World Drivers' Championship. While the odds may be stacked in Rosberg's favour, this is Formula 1 - and nothing's over till it's over. Could Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing be Lewis Hamilton's best ally in the 'duel of the desert'? Here's a prediction we're going to stick our heads out and make - respective of the outcome, when fans look back on the season they'll probably believe that 'the best driver did not win'.

Niki Lauda thinks that Max Verstappen could be the greatest ever Formula 1 driver - but he needs to be "careful" on his way. Cute that Lauda still thinks that Max will listen to him. As we all know, Max Verstappen listens to NOBODY! Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz admits that the drivers themselves don't understand Formula 1's rules. What hope do we ordinary mortals have then?

Bernie Ecclestone said some pretty interesting (and scandalous) things last week. He said Singapore "was just an airport" before Formula 1 happened and talked about Americans and their short attention spans. Bernie proposed a new double header race format and we tell you what we think about it. Of course, as fans, we're thrilled!

Mithila's wish for Abu Dhabi is for fans to be treated to a serious Hamilton vs. Rosberg wheel to wheel battle on track. Could there be a better way to decide the World Championship? Formula 1 bids goodbye to two great drivers, Felipe Massa and Jenson Button. Finally, we make a confident prediction about Verstappen in Abu Dhabi. Tune in!

(Season 2016, Episode 39)

Japanese GP Report - Everything's coming up Rosberg

It is our contradictions that make us interesting. Even as rational beings we often rely on explanations that have no more basis than hocus pocus. Even in F1, that most empirical of activities.

Nico Rosberg triumphed yet again
Photo: Octane Photography

But we can understand why, particularly after a weekend such as this for the Japanese Grand Prix. When things are going your way, they go your way. Somehow. And it continued that way when it mattered for our most unlikely of world championship interlopers called Nico Rosberg.

The rounds tick down; he remains on top. Things continue to go his way. Somehow.

But it would be wrong to suggest this one owed at all to fortune. Nico's was not a race but a weekend dominated in the finest style. Almost from a wheel being turned at the start of Friday practice he appeared on another level. Every session he topped. And all this with the drivers' championship pressure cranked up to 11. Not for the first time you suspect long-held assumptions about him are being recalibrated. His more entrenched critics will point out no doubt that ho hum Nico in his one trick won from the front. Maybe so (albeit it's a harsh criticism), but as Martin Brundle pointed out a few rounds back, he keeps getting to the front.

Inside Line F1 Podcast - Pokemon GO Monsters At Formula 1 Races?

With Jenson Button's help we've cracked the perfect idea to bring younger audiences to F1 races – install Pokemon Go monsters at every Grand Prix! Maybe they're already working on this and decided to live test in Singapore on the perfect target audience, Max Verstappen. Yes, we are referring to the 'Godzilla' on track. Although, this novel idea of ours may lead to more jaywalkers on track - like the marshal in Singapore (but seriously, shouldn't the FIA be penalised for this incident?)! After encountering the Hulk at the start of the race on Sunday, young Verstappen did have the perfect teenager of a weekend.

Nico Rosberg won in Singapore, but the race went down to the wire. In an attempt to bring Lewis Hamilton back on the podium, did Mercedes jeopardise Rosberg's win? What if the situations were reversed? There'd be carnage!

It was also Rosberg's 200th Formula One start – and another driver's 300th, tune in to find out who. As the Drivers' Championship battle continues, we're not taking sides yet - 6 races or nearly 1/3rd of the season yet remaining. But Ferrari, what were they thinking? Or were they thinking at all? After being butted off the podium, maybe Kimi Raikkonen tipped the Singapore cops about Maurizio Arrivabene's cigarette butt, we think.

Ferrari praised Raikkonen's race as a 'World Champion' effort, but they didn't act like a World Champion team. We'd not blame them though; it's been nearly a decade since their last crown. While we missed Raikkonen's uncomfortable waving on the podium and the mumbling, the Iceman did get some overtaking practice in Singapore along with some opportunity for to play his radio classics.

We thank Red Bull Racing for allowing us to enjoy the Max Verstappen vs. Daniil Kvyat battle on-track without issuing team orders. Although, we were almost certain to hear back a 'NO' had they instructed Kvyat to move over. In some ways, did this 'personal' battle help Kvyat get some closure on the unceremonious demotion? Let's hope so. And of course, thank you to Red Bull Racing for livening up the last 14 laps of the race with a well though of tyre strategy for Daniel Ricciardo, who is increasingly becoming our choice for the 'Driver of the Season' and should've won 'Driver of the Day' in Singapore.

We are impressed by Niki Lauda's humour, top marks for his comeback to Max Verstappen on their ongoing "psychiatrist" banter. A new but expected power struggle seems to be brewing in Formula 1 between Bernie Ecclestone and Chase Carey, which way will things go? Carey's biggest short-term task will be to retain Fernando Alonso after 2017. In the meanwhile, we're happy to enjoy some hilarious jokes at Mr. Chase Carey's expense. Are we the first ones to do so?

NASCAR has named a race 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles', will Formula 1 ever get so cool? And if it ever thinks of doing so, let's call the Singapore Grand Prix night race the 'The Dark Night'! Finally, we congratulate Alex Zanardi, a true champion and remember one of our greatest - Keep Fighting Michael! Tune in!

(Season 2016, Episode 30)

Inside Line F1 Podcast - VES vs. RIC In Singapore, Possible?

Mercedes to be challenged in Singapore, really? Or is this yet another Ferrari-inspired pre-race PR hype? Singapore has been tagged as Red Bull Racing's track, and boy are we excited! Will we get to see some Verstappen vs. Ricciardo action (and will Red Bull Racing let it be a fair fight!)?

To keep his championship hopes alive, Nico Rosberg must fight against all odds in Singapore. Forget winning, he's not been on the podium here since eight years! At the same time, he had his 'first-ever' wins in Spa and Monza in the last fortnight, can he keep up that trend? We hope his 'FOMO' drives him to the top step on Sunday.

Lewis Hamilton is good for Formula 1 and for our podcast. The last episode should have been called 'Lewis Hamilton's Team-Mate Wins In Italy' to get more people to tune in! In a lot of ways, Rosberg is fighting not only Hamilton, but an entire mentality in the paddock (and the million fans) who believe that Hamilton is meant to be World Champion.

Max Verstappen and Niki Lauda had a public face-off, will they visit a psychiatrist together to bond? Glad we're reminded that Verstappen is still a teenager by his typical teenage back answering. Given the lacking bromance between Lauda and Verstappen, we are glad that Verstappen didn't sign with Mercedes. But for how long can they remain apart?

We welcome the new owners of Formula 1 to Formula 1 and to the Inside Line F1 Podcast, of course. The new owners say they will evolve the business model of F1 to generate more revenue. We think they should also fix the regulations that don't allow us too much competition these days. They've picked up the profitable business of Formula 1, but will they be able to make the eco-system of Formula 1 stable and profitable too?

Also, will the American owners be at their toughest best when negotiating with the Russian Grand Prix organisers? Official Live Streaming (rather than just Official Live Timing) is the next big introduction that Formula 1 should make. Just btw, MotoGP has had theirs since almost a decade!

Speaking of the spirit of competition, did Mercedes actually help Ferrari improve? And if so, Ferrari were foolish to not seek help from Red Bull Racing too. Luckily they weren't so foolish so as to seek help from McLaren!

It certainly looks like a season of retirements - Massa, possibly Button and now Ecclestone too? Or will Ecclestone's be a sabbatical genuinely? One thing's for sure, we aren't retiring any time soon.

Tune In!

(Season 2016, Episode 29)

Inside Line F1 Podcast - Both Mercedes Drivers Got Lucky In Spa

Yes, we're the first ones to say it - both Mercedes drivers got lucky in Spa. Nico Rosberg won his 20th Grand Prix because of Lewis Hamilton's grid penalties. In the same breath, we've got to agree that Hamilton was lucky to make it to the podium (from P21) thanks to the Safety Car period and the red flag. Though we wonder why Lewis Hamilton didn't win the 44 lap Grand Prix, if 44 is his lucky number! Only 9 points separate the duo, which way will the remainder of the season go?

Formula 1 returned after the summer break with a bang at Spa - it was a race of collisions and crashes (mostly into Ferraris). Was Vettel at fault at the first corner? Vettel should have a 'How to Overtake Max Verstappen' class with mandatory attendance for Raikkonen.

Max Verstappen has been accused of dangerous driving, but of course the FIA won't do anything about it. He's THE crowd puller, at the moment. Though Niki Lauda believes that Max needs to visit a psychiatrist! Lauda says that he will call Jos if Max does not listen - Parent Teacher Meeting for the teenager in Monza? Also, did the young sensation not win the 'Driver of the Day' in Spa because his entire Orange Army was at the race track? Of course, Hamilton did find support in his Barmy Army.

Force India love affair with Spa continued, though Hulkenberg may have been robbed of a podium finish. The team's survival is in question if Sergio Perez moves teams in 2017. Maybe finishing 4th in the Constructors' Championship will earn them the deficit.

Will Kevin Magnusen be fit for Monza - and if not, will Renault make the popular decision of getting Carmen Jorda to drive? And was Fernando Alonso's P22 to P7 more noteworthy than Hamilton's recovery drive? With newer talent gaining popularity and faster cockpits, will Alonso have a chance for his final flourish at all?

Over the summer break, we learnt that Bernie Ecclestone plans to sell Formula 1's radio messages (with a premium charge for listening to Raikkonen's radio?). On that note, Minttu signed up for a lifetime of realtime Raikkonen humour! Hamilton hung out with Nicole over summer, and she was a real-life Pussy Cat (Doll). Also, our favourite moment of the summer break, Ricciardo calling bullshit on Hamilton's tweet!

Nico Rosberg has never won at Monza, will it be yet another 'first' for him? And will Hamilton equalise Fangio and Senna's record for maximum poles? There's a lot of Formula 1 this week and on our podcast, tune in!

(Season 2016, Episode 27)

Inside Line F1 Podcast - Max Verstappen Obeyed Team Orders

Max Verstappen vs. Daniel Ricciardo seems more fun than the battle of the Mercedes drivers. Well, it will seem so till Red Bull Racing decide to play favourites. Since the flavour of the season is 'Verstappen', did Nico Rosberg get penalised for pulling a Max Verstappen on Max Verstappen? Well, he learned it the hard way that NO ONE overtakes Max Verstappen! And on that note, we tell you why Verstappen obeying a team order isn't too bad (for him) after all.

Nico Rosberg might need a sports psychologist, but he's got Niki Lauda by his side till he gets one helping him cope with the 62 points swing in his Drivers' Championship battle. The Formula 1 bromance continues over free ice-cream! While Mercedes' pit-stop blunder added to Rosberg's disaster, we wonder if fans would've cried 'controversy' had the same happened to their ever-favourite Lewis Hamilton.

With 'wet starts' being reinstated in Formula 1, Rosberg might not entirely be pleased. On a more serious note, we've seriously got to look at and support Daniil Kvyat. Are we caring too much about his racing career over his mental well being?

Are Sergio Perez and his sponsors being foolish in looking for options outside of Force India? Would Williams or Renault actually be a better bet for him?

After thousand of quotes from the drivers and management, Ferrari admitted their car was just 'slow'! Thank you for being honest.

Williams are publicly pursuing Jenson Button. We talk about the polygamous ways of our sport. Will they have a Button-Massa, Button-Bottas or Button-Perez combination? Well, so long as they keep Jenson Button in the sport.

Bernie Ecclestone's job, now weren't we the first ones to say it had to be an insider's job? Ecclestone's helicopter pilot was of course upset. After all, it is known that the CEO of the sport takes off in his helicopter and leaves the circuit way before the race ends! Imagine going to the races, but not getting to see the action till the end.

Finally, Mick Schumacher. He's enjoying attention from Ferrari and Mercedes at the same time. We can't recollect which other driver has enjoyed attention from these rivals teams publicly.

Tune in!

(Season 2016, Episode 26)

Inside Line F1 Podcast - HAM & VES, F1's Dream Team?

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, what rock stars! Both drivers were on top if their game at the British Grand Prix. Can any constructor manage to pull off the dream team pairing of Hamilton and Verstappen?

Hamilton nearly collided with the Safety Car, clearly he is most susceptible to crash with another Mercedes when it is leading! After Max Verstappen's gutsy overtake on Nico Rosberg, his popularity among British fans has risen exponentially. Speaking of popularity, Verstappen won the 'Driver of the Day' award again - seems Verstappen and his fans outperformed Hamilton and his fans!

The radio ban continues to make news, after Nico Rosberg was penalised for breaking rules. Will breaking the radio ban become the newest strategic weapon for teams? If so, which team will be the first to do so? Rosberg also visited the stewards for the third time in eight days, what’s going on there.

Rosberg was endlessly booed on the podium, revenge for fans or bad sportsmanship? Niki Lauda breached the bro code by trash talking Hamilton and then conveniently 'retracted' his statements. Kimi Raikkonen signed a new contract with Ferrari and happy to have disappointed some people by doing so (this includes Kunal!). Honda finally admitted that no other F1 team wanted to partner with them and we wonder why (not!). Lastly, Formula 1's legendary driver Pastor Maldonado found a way to bring himself in the news again.

Tune in!

(Season 2016, Episode 24)

Team orders should remain last resort for Mercedes as driver rivalry takes another turn, by Ewan Marshall

"Brainless" Toto Wolff exclaimed, reacting to yet another chapter in the infamous rivalry between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. The Mercedes chief was clearly incensed by the last lap tangle at the end of a thrilling Austrian Grand Prix which cost the team a certain one-two and six points in the constructors' championship. And rightly so! After all, the fallout could have been much worse had stewards decided to make an example of Rosberg for his robust attempts at defending.

How do you solve a problem like Lewis and Nico?
Photo: Octane Photography

The Hamilton-Rosberg rivalry is at a crossroads like never before, as the season reaches a crucial stage and as pointed out in an earlier article, this is not the first time the duo have clashed on track, nor the last should previous trends continue. The fact that these antics make Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost's time together look tepid will provide much food-for-thought among the Brackley hierarchy

Wolff warned of severe consequences for the pair, including the possible introduction of team orders. Although similar threats have been made in the past, this was the first time it was delivered with venom, by a man running fast out of options to maintain the 'open racing' policy, employed over the last three years.

While it could be business as usual by the time the cars roll out for practice at Silverstone, it appears that the team has lost patience and could be forced into uncharted territory in a bid to stamp out this behaviour once and for all - with the Austrian calling together senior management for crunch talks.

Inside Line F1 Podcast - Will The Real Lewis Hamilton Please Stand Up

If he has any hopes of winning his third championship on the trot, the real Lewis Hamilton needs to stand up - show us the quick racer he is, minus the distractions (music, movies and Penelope Cruz). Meanwhile Niki Lauda was spotted sharing ice cream with Nico Rosberg, where was Lewis in all of this? Maybe they made Lewis wait in the car!

Hamilton is smartly planning his retirement with Mercedes - he will be building supercars and doing demos, basically becoming the next David Coulthard? With autonomous cars likely to be the biggest threat to Formula 1, guess all drivers need retirement plans (not just Fernando Alonso!).

Apart from hanging out with Lauda, Rosberg has been doing various other things we thought are Hamilton's speciality. This includes hanging out at exotic destinations (Ibiza), posing with private jets for no apparent reason, fanboy moments with Hollywood stars and pissing off Formula 1's sponsors. Hopefully, the next Lewis-inspired move he pulls off is winning a World Championship.

Strange things are happening in Formula One. Hamilton and Rosberg's relationship has never been better, thanks to some dubious bonding in a Monaco swimming pool. The poster boy of capitalism, Bernie Ecclestone, is planning to do away with bonus payments for the big teams. The silly season rumours continue to fly, will Kimi stay or go?

More speed but less races, should we be excited about the 2017 season? Or is it all a marketing hoax? Britain may have voted to Brexit, but when will Formula One get the big Ecc-xit? Mclaren-Honda and Fernando Alonso continue to make a joke of themselves on and off track and we are happy to laugh along. With the 2016 Austrian Grand Prix coming up, we predict that the Red Bull Ring might need to be renamed as Mercedes Ring.

Tune in!

(Season 2016, Episode 22)

Inside Line F1 Podcast - Ban The DRS, Not The Radio

The radio ban is unfair, and Lewis Hamilton will agree. How can you expect drivers to race and solve engineering puzzles at 300kmph? For all the stupid rules Formula 1 has, DRS continues to live on. In this week’s episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, ban DRS and not radio, we say! And till then, Lewis will be happy to know that the radio ban does not extend to Snapchat!

Formula 1 went wrong with their map, letting a country that's more in Asia host the European Grand Prix. Guess money can buy anything in this sport! If Baku becomes a night race, we won't get to see the pretty castles - through we are no longer sure if they were just giant print outs of castles? We also deconstruct the entire incorrect engine mode saga (Mercedes, so stupid).

Formula 1's favourite bromance has gone further downhill after Lauda openly criticised Hamilton’s race at Baku. Nico Rosberg is not just copying Hamilton's car setup, but he's also copying helmet manufacturers. Hamilton has managed to get Mercedes to sponsor his acting films, smart guy. But just what does he have to do to get Penelope Cruz's attention?

Sebastian Vettel should be appointed as the Official Joker of Formula One - as Bernie Ecclestone's successor, we mean. Perhaps Heineken will consider a sponsorship with Ferrari because the team seems drunk all the time - they still think they can win the Constructors' Championship! Vettel made Ferrari change their pitstop strategy mid-race, so obviously it's him running the team and not Arrivabene. Could Sergio Perez have won the race if not for his gearbox penalty? Alonso is having a 'luxury retirement' at McLaren, is that why the team has just appointed a lifestyle partner?

Lastly, Red Bull Racing had a forgettable outing in Azerbaijan, but it seems that Daniel Ricciardo chose to forgive and forget while renewing his contract. Or is this a hint that Ferrari will renew the always struggling Kimi Raikkonen?

Tune in!

(Season 2016, Episode 21)