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Harry Benjamin stands in for Nicola this week and is joined by legendary F1 commentator Ben Edwards and Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours class winner Johnny Mowlem to break down a the Singapore Grand Prix and look ahead to the US GP in Austin!  This week's talking points: Russell's nightmare weekend: A spin in the wet Sprint, a start from the back, then a fightback to 7th. Is 2026 turning into a George Russell disaster zone? Antonelli steals third: He ran 6th for most of the race and picked up a black and white flag, then pounced on a squabbling Norris and Hamilton. Kimi can now win the championship in Austin. Should he go for it, or play it safe? Max is back: Three wins in a row, including the Sprint, and a lights-to-flag victory with serious 2023 vibes. Should the rest of the grid be worried about 2027?  Hamilton's strategy gamble: He switched from a two-stop to a one-stop and it all unravelled. Should Ferrari be letting Lewis make strategy calls at all? McLaren's misery: Both cars collided in the Sprint, and Lando got caught out in the Grand Prix. The gap to Red Bull in the constructors' standings is down to just 7 points. Can they hold on to P3? Liam Lawson, best of the rest (again): Another stellar drive to 7th, but still no confirmed 2027 seat. They wouldn't… would they? We need to talk about… Fred Vasseur: The Ferrari board backs him publicly, but the Christian Horner rumours won't go away. Is Fred on his way out? US Grand Prix preview: Could Antonelli become F1's youngest-ever world champion in Texas? Or will Russell's luck finally turn, or Verstappen keep rolling? The Prediction Championship of the World: After Ben's famous top-three call last time, can "Team Guest" climb the table with Johnny's picks? Follow us wherever you get your podcasts 🎧 Find us on socials: @ESSENTIALF1 #F1 #USGP #AustinGP #Verstappen

Max is back! Chaos in Sepang as Verstappen wins in the wet Nicola Hume and legendary F1 commentator Ben Edwards react to a wild Bah-rain Grand Prix. They're joined by BTCC and Formula E presenter Nicki Shields. 2026 cars in the rain: The first wet race for the new-spec cars caused trouble for Ferrari, Red Bull and more. Should the affected cars have been allowed to restart? 2Max Attack: A vintage Verstappen drive gives him his first win of 2026. Can Red Bull's upgrades help them catch McLaren for third in the constructors'? Russell Watch: Mercedes nailed the inters call, but a technical problem put George out of a podium spot. Is his title fight now over? Hamilton's masterstroke: Lewis made the call to stay out on slicks himself, then carved through the field to finish third. Does that take the heat off Fred Vasseur? Alonso magic: Fernando dragged his Aston Martin to P8. Was it a one-off or a turning point? McLaren misery: Slicks at the start, a near-collision between teammates behind the safety car... bad luck or failing upgrades? Midfield madness: Liam Lawson starred early, and Racing Bulls scored another double points finish while Alpine got nothing. Is best of the rest now theirs? Upgrade watch: Mercedes and Ferrari both brought upgrades. Are we in for closer racing at the front? We need to talk about... the safety car rules. Should lapped cars still be allowed to unlap themselves when it costs us a grandstand finish? Singapore preview: The last stop of the triple header brings brutal heat, first-corner drama and big championship stakes. The Prediction Championship of the World: Can Nicki get Team Guest climbing the table? Thank you for helping us pass 1 million on YouTube!  Follow us @ESSENTIALF1 on socials and wherever you get your podcasts.

A race of three parts, carnage at turn one, and a podcast first — nobody scored a single prediction point! Nicola Hume is joined by F1 commentary legend Ben Edwards and special guest, former BBC F1 presenter Holly Samos, to unpack a wild weekend in Azerbaijan — plus look ahead to a long-awaited return to Sepang for the Bahrain Grand Prix (in Malaysia!). And make sure you listen to Holly's amazing Kimi Antonelli story! ON THE AGENDA: Kimi's qualifying nightmare — into the barrier at turn one, out of the session, 16th on the grid… then a fightback to 5th. Great save, or championship wobbles creeping in? RUSSELL WATCH — at LAST a positive George story! On it from FP1, pole by over half a second, and he finally gets a slice of 2026 luck. Mr Saturday won on a Saturday! Is this the start of a Norris-style title fightback? RETURN OF THE ISACK — Hadjar comes back swinging, picking off Norris and Leclerc before hassling his own teammate for third. With Max stuck behind Piastri for 10 laps, should Red Bull have made the switch? VINTAGE VERSTAPPEN — 8th to 3rd in seven laps, rockets off both safety car restarts, and misses the win by ONE TENTH. Surely a Red Bull victory is coming before the season's out? McLAREN MELTDOWN — upgrades, a nearly-stellar Piastri drive, then matching turn one offs and Lando wiped out in the restart carnage. Is the championship challenge officially over? No points!! MENTAL MIDFIELD BATTLE — Colapinto causes chaos at the restart, Lindblad takes out Lawson, and Haas sneak into the points. Does Colapinto deserve a ban? And has "best of the rest" slipped away from Alpine? UPGRADE WATCH — McLaren, Red Bull, Audi, Williams and Cadillac all brought new bits. Who leaves Baku happiest? WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT… ASTON MARTIN — Alonso barely out-qualifying a Cadillac and a double retirement. Is anything salvageable this season? HOLLY'S AMAZING KIMI ANTONELLI  STORY — the master of F1 access on what it was really like spending pre-season with Antonelli. SEPANG RETURNS! F1's first visit in nine years… and rain forecast for race day. Buckle up. THE PREDICTION CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD — after a historic zero-point round, what do we reckon for this weekend.  Hit that follow button, like, and subscribe. Follow us @ESSENTIALF1 on all the socials. #F1 #bahraingp #sepangcircuit

Lando Norris was robbed thanks to the VSC. Nicola Hume and Ben Edwards unpack a disappointing Madrid Grand Prix, and they're joined by former racing driver and legendary motoring presenter Vicki Butler-Henderson to deliver her annual grades on the entire class of 2026 so far — every driver, every team, no hiding place! In this episode Hamilton vs Verstappen at turn one: incident or advantage? Could Max Verstappen have won? The Lando VSC robbery — should pit stops be banned under VSC? Ferrari watch: Hamilton's retirement and Leclerc's gamble Midfield battle: Racing Bulls 77 v Alpine 68 Should Mercedes make a decision and back Kimi for the title? How did they manage to get a brand new circuit so wrong? Baku preview and Hadjar's return The Prediction Championship of the World Vicki Butler-Henderson's Back to School report on the class of 2026 Thanks for listening and please hit the follow button wherever you listen.  Find us @EssentialF1 on socials.

Ferrari Meltdown, Russell Robbed & Colin Furze Joins Us | Essential F1 Grazie Monza! Sixty years of waiting, and Italy finally has a home winner again. Kimi Antonelli started P19 after a power unit grid penalty, made 25 overtakes, set the fastest lap and became the first Italian to win his home Grand Prix since 1966 — and the Tifosi absolutely lost it. Nicola Hume and the Godfather of F1 commentary Ben Edwards break down one of the wildest Italian Grands Prix in living memory, joined by YouTube legend and lifelong F1 fan Colin Furze, who brings a Mugello story and a moped sliding-doors moment you won't want to miss. In this episode: 🏆 Kimi's masterclass — P19 to the top step. Lucky VSC pit stop or the greatest Italian GP victory of all time? 🔴 Ferrari's nightmare — Two cars nearly collecting each other at Turn 1, Leclerc's massive off at the Parabolica, and the VSC call that never came for Lewis. Sixth place, fading tyres, and a very big question: could heads roll? 😤 How did George Russell not win that? — Pole missed by a whisker (cue the Toto screen punch), a lead built the hard way against Verstappen, then reeled in and passed with three laps to go. 🐂 Max is still Max — Nobody had him on the podium. Red Bull nailed the VSC call and he battled everyone. Still the best on the brakes? 🇫🇷 Alpine in dreamland — Gasly's stunning pole lap and P7, Colapinto's recovery drive from the gravel to P9. Is this the catalyst to hunt down Racing Bulls? 🔄 Red Bull seat switcheroo, part two — Tsunoda scraps to P10, Lawson languishes in P14. Has either helped their 2027 case? ⚙️ The 2026 regs verdict — Slipstreaming is king again, but is this racing or gimmick? Colin gives us his take. ⚠️ We Need To Talk About… Haas — A brilliant start to the season and not a single point since Monaco. What's gone wrong at a team we all love? 🇪🇸 Madrid preview — A brand new 3.4-mile circuit, 20 turns, a spectacular banked corner and roughly a 1:32 lap. Nobody has real data. Are we in for a shock winner? 🔮 The Prediction Championship of the World — The toughest pick of the year, and the table is tightening. Predictions table: Nicola 46 · Producer Jim 39 · Ben 36 · Team Guest 26 Drop your Madrid predictions in the comments — top three and fastest lap. As Colin says, it doesn't cost anything to subscribe, and it genuinely helps us keep going. Hit the bell and follow us wherever you get your podcasts. Find us on socials: @EssentialF1

F1 is back — and Zandvoort sent itself off in style. 🇳🇱 Nicola and Ben are joined by the legendary Louise Goodman to unpack a Dutch Grand Prix that had everything: a Russell sprint masterclass, Lando Norris making it two in a row, and Max Verstappen celebrating his shiny new Red Bull contract with a first-lap trip into the barriers. On the agenda this week: Russell watch — sprint pole converted, sprint won, then mugged at the restart and forced to wave Antonelli through. Rear gunner or still a title contender? Norris on the charge — outscoring Kimi in both races and hunting down that championship lead on used hards. Have the 2026 regs finally clicked at McLaren? Ferrari being very Ferrari — quick in race trim, nowhere in qualifying, shouting on the radio, and very nearly taking each other out on the last lap. The Red Bull seat switcheroo — Hadjar's summer boxing mishap, Lawson's promotion, and Tsunoda's move to Racing Bulls. Aston Martin — Alonso doing Alonso things for P9. Can they reel in Williams? The 2027 driver market — Verstappen re-signed, Williams keeping both, and a whole lot of question marks at Alpine, Haas, Audi and Cadillac. You told us about James Vowles — we read out your (extremely spicy) messages on whether he'd have been sacked by now in any other sport. Louise's top 5 F1 fanbases, a proper Zandvoort story as we say goodbye to the circuit, and the latest on Jason Plato's BTCC troubles from Donington. Plus a look ahead to Monza, and the Prediction Championship of the World — where Ben's comeback rolls on and Nicola scored a big fat zero. 🥲 Current standings: Nicola 46 · Producer Jim 38 · Ben 36 · Team Guest 21 Don't forget to follow, hit the bell, and find us wherever you get your podcasts. 📱 @ESSENTIALF1 on all the socials.

Lando Norris wins in Budapest to become F1 2026's FIFTH different Grand Prix winner — and McLaren look like they're back in championship contention.  Nicola and Ben are joined by F1 reporter and author Rachel Brookes to break down all the drama from the Hungaroring, tell us what really happened with Sky F1 and look ahead to Zandvoort. 🟠 Papaya Rules Return — Oscar Piastri leads off the line only for team orders to hand the advantage to Norris. Was McLaren favouring Lando all along? 🟠 McLaren's Budapest Upgrade — Are they now a genuine championship threat or is this track-specific? 🏎️ Hamilton's Costly Penalties — Ferrari looked to have the beating of Mercedes all week. Did the FIA cost Lewis a crucial chance to close the gap to Antonelli? 😬 Russell's Nightmare — From 5th to 20th on lap one. Good recovery to 7th or another nail in his championship coffin? George is now 59 points behind Antonelli. 💪 Hulkenberg Finally Scores — The Hulk lights up the best-of-the-rest battle. Is he doing enough to keep his seat at Audi? 🔮 Silly Season EXPLODES — Max to McLaren? Russell to Red Bull? Sainz to Audi? We discuss who's on the move and Rachel tells us where she thinks Max is really going.  🇳🇱 Dutch GP Preview — A farewell to Zandvoort as it leaves the F1 calendar. Can McLaren make it three in a row at Norris's home race? 🏆 Prediction Championship of the World — Ben picks the top THREE in Hungary! The standings are shaking up. Rachel Brookes makes her picks for Zandvoort. 🔔 Hit the bell and follow us wherever you get your podcasts📱 Find us on social media: @EssentialF1Essential F1 — the podcast for fans who love the sport, the stories, and the drama behind the racing.

George Russell's weekend went from bad to worse: slower than teammate Kimi Antonelli all weekend, punted off by Hamilton on lap one, and now 50 points adrift in the championship. Can he salvage his season before the summer break? Jennie Gow steps in for Nicola as she and Ben Edwards break down an absorbing Belgium Grand Prix.  Kimi Antonelli bags his sixth win of the season and looks utterly untouchable. Charles LeClerc grabbed second but escaped a controversial defence on Oscar Piastri — should he have been penalised? Plus, Max Verstappen secures another podium but those McLaren rumours just aren’t going away. Joining the show is legendary TV producer Andy Wilman (Top Gear, The Grand Tour, Clarkson's Farm) with a fascinating story about one of the all-time greats, ‘el Maestro’, Fangio.  Plus we take a look at:  Aston Martin's dire form — Fernando Alonso finishes two laps down The tight midfield battle: Alpine vs Racing Bulls vs a resurgent Audi Isaac Hadjar's remarkable run and what it means for Red Bull's second seat Hungarian GP preview and summer break driver market speculation The Prediction Championship of the World standings update Drop your Hungary predictions in the comments! 🔔 HIt the FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode. 📱 Follow us @ESSENTIALF1 on socials.

SILVERSTONE DELIVERED CHAOS AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT. The 2026 British Grand Prix had everything—a first-time winner, championship drama, controversial penalties, technical failures, and an FIA safety car decision that's got the whole paddock talking. This is Essential F1 Episode 11, and we're breaking down every moment. Kimi Antonelli came into Silverstone with a 25-point championship lead and left with his title hopes looking shakier than ever. A technical problem dropped him from a potential win to 10th, and then the FIA slapped him with a 5-second penalty for track limits while he was battling car issues. Is this where the 2026 championship turned? Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc FINALLY won a Grand Prix again—making him the fourth different winner of the 2026 season. Ferrari are building momentum, and Mercedes should be worried. Joining Nicola Hume and Ben Edwards this week is the brilliant Jennie Gow—F1 reporter, author, and friend of the show—live from the Silverstone paddock with all the insider takes. IN THIS EPISODE: 🏁 Antonelli's Nightmare Weekend Started on pole, got jumped by both Ferraris, fought back to second, then a technical problem and harsh penalty ruined everything. We dig into whether this is the turning point in the championship battle. 🏆 Leclerc's Breakthrough Win Ferrari's first victory since... when? Charles managed the race beautifully and finally got the luck he deserved. Are Ferrari genuine title contenders now? 🇬🇧 Hamilton's Home Heartbreak Lewis jumped Antonelli at the start and looked set for a podium battle—then a jump start penalty changed everything. He still salvaged third, but was a win stolen from him? 😤 Verstappen's Red Bull Frustration Max crashed out late with a technical failure and he was NOT happy. The Red Bull physio drama continues. Could this finally push him towards McLaren? 🚨 FIA Under Fire That late safety car staying out until the final lap, plus Antonelli's controversial penalty—we discuss whether the FIA got it wrong and what needs to change. 📈 George Russell's Lucky Break A chaotic race, a slow puncture, an extra pit stop, and somehow George ends up second. Was this the result that kickstarts his championship charge? 👏 Colapinto's Mega Drive Franco started 19th and finished 9th, ahead of teammate Pierre Gasly. Alpine cling onto 5th in the constructors by a single point. The battle for best of the rest is TIGHT. 🔮 Belgium GP Preview We look ahead to Spa-Francorchamps where Oscar Piastri won last year. Can Antonelli bounce back at a track where he only finished 16th in 2025? 🏅 Prediction Championship of the World Ben finally scores points! The standings are tightening up. Jennie makes her picks for Belgium—can Team Guest climb the table?

George Russell finally puts together a complete race weekend—and takes victory in Austria!After a rollercoaster season, Russell held off pressure from both Max Verstappen and championship leader Kimi Antonelli to claim a crucial win at the Red Bull Ring. But was he a bit lucky with those yellow flags in qualifying? And can he carry this momentum into his home race at Silverstone? In this episode, Nicola Hume and Ben Edwards are joined by former McLaren mechanic, author, F1 commentator and Wheeler Dealers star Marc Priestley to dissect a pulsating Austrian Grand Prix and look ahead to the British GP. We cover:🏆 George Russell's season-saving Austrian victory😬 Antonelli's wild first lap—three off-track moments!📈 Verstappen and Red Bull finally clicking with 2026 regs🔥 Racing Bulls double points finish (despite Lawson's car catching fire!)🤦 Ferrari's baffling strategy turns P2/P3 into P5/P8❓ We need to talk about Lando Norris...🇬🇧 British Grand Prix preview—can Lewis win a TENTH Silverstone?🎤 Marc's stories from Lewis Hamilton's early McLaren days Plus the Prediction Championship of the World continues—and F1 2026 remains predictably unpredictable! 🔔 Follow us so you never miss an episode! 📱 Follow us on social media: @ESSENTIALF1🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts

Lewis Hamilton is a Grand Prix winner again—and this time in Ferrari red!After 686 days without a victory, the seven-time world champion finally stood on the top step at Barcelona, finishing a massive 19 seconds clear of George Russell's Mercedes. But was it the Ferrari upgrades, the strategy, or something else entirely? We discuss. In this episode, Nicola Hume and Ben Edwards are joined by motoring journalist, author and former Top Gear scriptwriter Richard Porter to break down a dramatic Spanish Grand Prix and look ahead to Austria. We cover:🏁 Hamilton's emotional return to winning ways with Ferrari🇬🇧 The first all-British podium since 1968🔧 George Russell's weekend—brilliant qualifying, questionable strategy💔 Charles Leclerc's tough spell continues with another DNF📈 Alpine's double points and their Monaco penalty appeal🤔 McLaren's puzzling form—Norris strong, Piastri struggles🏆 Championship chat: Is it now Antonelli vs Hamilton for the title?😬 We need to talk about Cadillac...🇦🇹 Austrian Grand Prix preview and predictions Plus the Prediction Championship of the World takes a dramatic turn as nobody scores any points at Barcelona! 📱 Follow us on social media: @ESSENTIALF1🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts 💬 Drop your Austrian Grand Prix predictions in the comments below! #F1 #Formula1 #LewisHamilton #Ferrari #SpanishGP #Barcelona #EssentialF1 #F1Podcast #GeorgeRussell #Antonelli #AustrianGP

The Monaco Grand Prix delivered drama, heartbreak, and a pit lane speed gun having the weekend of its life. Nicola Hume and Ben Edwards are joined by F1 legend Mark Blundell to break down all the talking points from the streets of Monte Carlo. In this episode: 🏎️ Tale of Two Red Bulls — Max's cruel luck versus Hadjar's breakthrough podium. Should Red Bull actually feel positive? 🏎️ Ferrari Friction — Lewis bags another P2 while Charles crashes at a safety car restart and loses his cool with the team. How does Vasseur handle this? 🏎️ Mercedes Meltdown & Kimi's Masterclass — George Russell's nightmare weekend versus Antonelli silencing every doubter who said Monaco would expose him 🏎️ Racing Bulls on the Rise — Lawson's stellar drive and Lindblad pulling off an actual overtake at Monaco 🏎️ We Need to Talk About... Lance Stroll — When should Aston call time? 🏎️ Le Mans 24 Hours Preview — Former winner Mark Blundell gives us the inside track on this weekend's endurance classic 🏎️ Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix Preview — What does it take to succeed at the Circuit de Catalunya? 🏎️ Prediction Championship of the World — The standings are shaking up! Nicola leads on 37 points, but Ben's comeback is officially ON with a fastest lap point. Drop your Barcelona predictions in the comments!

F1 delivered a brilliant weekend of racing at the legendary Circuit Gilles Villenueve in Montreal. The Canadian Grand Prix had driver battles, tyre strategy disasters, two legends back on the Podium and amazing marshalls. Joining Ben Edwards and Nicola Hume to dissect all the action from Montreal, is BBC & Sky F1 Commentator, Harry Benjamin.  Plus we look ahead to the iconic Monaco Grand Prix and see how the prediction championship is going for Ben, Nicola and our guests.  Ben's race summary McLaren's horror show Two amazing Mercedes races in one weekend Lewis Hamilton is back!  Both Red Bulls had a decent weekend Well done Franco Colapinto Time for the keyboard warriors to chill out? Let's talk about Oscar Piastri Monaco coming up Monaco predictions  As ever, please hit the follow button and tell all your F1 friends about the podcast and we'll be back after Monaco.

As we have some time between the Miami GP and Canadian GP, we are filling the gap with an exclusive interview with Haas F1 Team Principal, Ayao Komatsu. We were honoured to be joined by Ayao to chat about his life in F1, how the Haas 2026 season is shaping up and so much more, including: How to say Ayao Komatsu properly! Haas F1 performance so far this season Preparation for the 2026 Formula 1 season? The most important things to running a successful F1 team? Are the tweaks to the new rules working for you or against you? How are you finding the Ferrari power unit? Does it still feel like we are in the development stages of the Championship? Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon getting to grips with the new car? Do younger F1 drivers have an advantage because they never drove the older cars? What’s your personal relationship with your drivers? Do you have a WhatsApp group for the three of you?! How did it feel coming from the engineering side to taking over from Gunther Steiner as the boss? Where did your own F1 journey start? How did you get to F1 from university? Working with Takuma Sato at BAR Honda Your relationship with Roman Grosjean The 2020 crash at the Bahrain GP How did Roman Grosjean get out of that burning car? Haas plans for the Montreal GP & Monaco GP Will the new regulations make a difference in Monaco? How Ayao and Ben met Please don't forget to follow us and tell all your F1 mates about Essential F1. We couldn't do it without you and thank you for all your support.  #f1 #haasf1 #ayaokomatsu #olliebearman #estebanocon #mclaren #mercedesf1 #ferrari #redbullracing #williamsf1 #racingbulls #astonmartin #audif1 #alpine #cadillac #landonorris #oscarpiastri #lewishamilton #charlesleclerc #maxverstappen #isackhadjar #carlossainz #alexalbon #liamlawson #arvidlinblad #fernandoalonso #lancestroll #nicohulkenberg  #gabrielbortoleto #pierregasly #francocolapinto #sergioperez #valtteribottas  #kimiantonelli #georgerussell #canadiangp #monacogp

The 2026 F1 season is back with a dramatic race in Miami. It looks like the teams have been very busy, even if some of the drivers haven't! Kimi Antonelli become the first ever F1 driver to win his first three races from his first three pole positions and has definitely put George Russell in the shade. McLaren showed that they've still got it with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris both putting in strong perforrmances and guess who's back! Max Vertsappen has stopped moaning about everything and seemed much happier, plus it was great to see Williams back in the room after a dreadful start to the season. It was a bank holiday, so everyone is at home, but to discuss all this and more, we welcome a new guest to Essential F1, racing driver, driver coach and F1 commentator, Alice Powell. Lots to discuss including:  Ben's Miami round upAre Max Verstappen and Red Bull back?Can Ferrari actually get a win this season?Might McLaren be Mercedes' closer competitor now?Can Williams get back to their 2025 form? Kimi Antonelli wins again. Is this Piastri all over again or is he 2026 World Champion? George Russell is not happy. Is it just because of this circuit?Miami was bonkers, but what were the most bonkers bits?A tribute to Alex Zanardi We need to talk about Isack Hadjar A look ahead to the Canadian Grand PrixPrediction Championship Please don't forget to follow us and make sure you join us next week as we welcome Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of Haas F1 to the studio for a special in-depth interview with Ben and Nicola. If you have a question for Ayao email [email protected]  #miamigp #f1#mclaren #mercedesf1 #ferrari #redbullracing #williamsf1 #haasf1 #racingbulls #astonmartin #audif1 #alpine #cadillac #landonorris #oscarpiastri #lewishamilton #charlesleclerc #maxverstappen #isackhadjar #carlossainz #alexalbon #estabanocon #liamlawson #arvidlinblad #fernandoalonso #lancestroll #nicohulkenberg #gabrielbortoleto #pierregasly #francocolapinto #sergioperez #valtteribottas