Claim OwnershipF1: Chequered Flag
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F1 Chequered Flag from the BBC offers expert analysis of every F1 race, with exclusive insight into every twist and turn of the F1 season. Each episode brings you in-depth race reviews, breaking down the strategies that shape each Grand Prix and the key players making headlines. Hear from F1 stars like Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris, and the bosses of powerhouse teams like Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren. And get up to speed on the cars and tactics changing the game.
Coming up this season: what will it take for Max Verstappen to win his fifth consecutive world title? Can McLaren retain their lead from the 2024 Constructors Championship? Will Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris take the lead, the two McLaren team-mates turned rivals? How will Lewis Hamilton perform after his shock switch to Ferrari? And what can we expect from this season’s rookie drivers, Oliver Bearman, Kimi Antonelli, Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar and Gabriel Bortoleto?
Stay tuned for the latest F1 updates, straight from the track.
65 Episodes
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Ben Edwards, reigning F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling & the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson react to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Would the race be as dramatic as qualifying? Would polesitter Max Verstappen secure his second successive victory? And would Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris fight back up the grid in the title battle? We hear from Verstappen, Norris and Piastri.
1Ben Edwards, reigning F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson reflect on a chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Who would take pole? Would Verstappen continue to compete at the front following his win in Italy? And how would Piastri and Norris perform as the McLaren’s battle for the title? We hear from the key protagonists as well as a couple of surprise performers.
Jennie Gow, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson look ahead to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Will Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s title battle intensify in Baku, with McLaren team orders dominating the headlines? We hear from both Norris and Piastri, as well as Max Verstappen, who answers whether he thinks Red Bull are back in the hunt at the front of the grid following his win in Italy.
Harry Benjamin and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson reflect further on the story dominating Formula 1 following the Italian Grand Prix – McLaren team orders. Should they have swapped Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris? We answer your questions and ask whether the move was fair. Plus, we go behind the scenes on a race gantry, finding out what it is like to control the lights for a grand prix, hearing from F1’s official race starter, Rebecca Lee.
Harry Benjamin and British racing driver Alice Powell reflect on a dramatic Italian Grand Prix. Could McLaren challenge polesitter Max Verstappen for victory at Monza? Would team orders come into play as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri battle for the championship? We hear from the key drivers of the day, plus the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson.
Harry Benjamin, Jennie Gow and British racing driver Alice Powell reflect on qualifying at the Italian Grand Prix. Who would take pole position as the battle for the championship intensifies? We hear from the top three and discuss the fastest lap in Formula 1 history. Plus, how would Ferrari perform on home soil, as Lewis Hamilton looks to overcome a five-place grid penalty?
Jennie Gow is joined by former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson to look ahead to the Italian GP. We hear from McLaren’s Australian star, Oscar Piastri, who sits down for an in-depth chat with Rick Edwards to speak about topping the driver standings and his title chances. Where does Lando Norris now stand in the championship fight after his retirement at the Dutch GP? We’ll hear from the Brit. Plus, the team talk about Ferrari following their double retirement in the Netherlands. Can Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc bounce back at their home race?
Rosanna Tennant, Harry Benjamin & reigning F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling react to a dramatic Dutch Grand Prix. Who would take a vital victory in the battle for the championship? We hear from the key protagonists, including McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, as well as four-time world champion Max Verstappen. We also discuss the big winners and losers from the weekend, and ask how important this race will be in the context of the season.
Rosanna Tennant, Andrew Benson, Harry Benjamin & Abbi Pulling react to qualifying at the Dutch Grand Prix. Who would take pole position in the battle between the McLaren drivers? We hear from both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Plus, could Lewis Hamilton get his season back on track in the Ferrari following a disappointing first half of 2025? We also get the team’s predictions ahead of Sunday’s grand prix.
Rosanna Tennant, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer & the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson look ahead to the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. We hear from both McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, as their championship battle intensifies. Can Lewis Hamilton turn around his tough start to life at Ferrari? And will home hero Max Verstappen return to winning ways for Red Bull? Plus, we discuss Cadillac’s driver announcement for 2026 as Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez return to the grid.
Steve Crossman is joined by British racing driver Sam Bird and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson to get an insight into exactly who Lando Norris is, as he challenges for the 2025 drivers’ title. What makes the British driver tick? How has he got to the top of the sport? And can he become a champion? Plus, hear from Norris himself as well as some of those who know him best, including friend and former team mate Carlos Sainz and McLaren team principal Andrea Stella.
Jennie Gow sits down for an in-depth chat with F1’s Deputy Race Director, Claire Dubbelman, to speak about her role and how to get more women involved in motorsport. Claire discusses her career to date and how she became part of the race director team alongside Rui Marques. From controlling the chequered flag to directing safety car driver, Bernd Maylander, Claire discusses exactly what a race director does. Plus, Claire speaks passionately about female participation in motorsport and how she hopes her high-profile role in F1 will encourage more women to get involved in the sport.
Harry Benjamin sits down for an in-depth chat with 1996 F1 world champion, Damon Hill, to speak about his career and the release of his new documentary, Hill. Damon, who has been part of the 5 Live F1 team this season, discusses the influence of his father, legendary two-time world champion Graham Hill, and how his death affected him. He also details his initial love of motorbikes, how he worked his way into F1, and that world title triumph in 1996.
How valuable could that win prove to be for Lando Norris as Formula 1 pauses for its summer break? Harry Benjamin, Sam Bird and Jennie Gow look back at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Norris saw off a late charge from Oscar Piastri to reduce the deficit to his teammate in the championship to nine points. They hear from both McLaren drivers, and a very dejected Charles Leclerc, who finished fourth having started on pole.
Lewis Hamilton called himself "useless" after a frustrating qualifying left him 12th on the grid, while teammate Charles Leclerc took pole. Harry Benjamin is joined by Jennie Gow and Sam Bird to discuss a mixed day for Ferrari. They also hear from Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who line up second and third for Sunday’s race.
Steve Crossman is joined by Jennie Gow, Harry Benjamin, Sam Bird and Andrew Benson to preview the Hungarian Grand Prix. They dive into the growing rivalry at McLaren as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri continue their charge for the title. We hear from both drivers. Williams’ Carlos Sainz sits down with Steve to reflect on life in F1. Plus, why does Harry Benjamin have a catchphrase to start every race?
Has Oscar Piastri regained the upper hand over McLaren teammate Lando Norris following his win at Spa? 1996 world champion Damon Hill joins Harry Benjamin to dissect a dramatic Grand Prix weekend in Belgium. They reflect on the key moments that defined the race, evaluate what it means for the balance of power at McLaren, and hear from the top three finishers. Plus, they get reaction from Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
Can Lando Norris convert his qualifying pole into a race win? 1996 world champion Damon Hill joins Harry Benjamin to look back at both the sprint race and qualifying from Spa. They hear from the top three and a very dejected Lewis Hamilton.
What does Laurent Mekies’ appointment mean for Red Bull and Max Verstappen’s future? Harry Benjamin is joined by Andrew Benson, Rebecca Clancy and Alisha Palmowski to preview the Spa weekend and break down the ongoing drama at Red Bull. They hear from the new team principal and Max Verstappen.
Harry Benjamin and the BBC F1’s correspondent Andrew Benson are joined by former Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari to speak about the situation at Red Bull. What next for the team following Christian Horner’s removal as team principal? And what next for their star driver Max Verstappen? Plus, we hear what new Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies is like to work under, and whether he’ll be able to turn the team’s fortunes around.
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hopefully not anytime soon.
Rosanna is a moron. Need more Jenny.
Why can’t this woman breathe and speak properly at the same time like a normal person?
Harry's right about kmag. Idk what this rubbish is about it showing there's "no rules." He was penalised, wasn't he? Those are the rules. Cry more.
What an amazing interview with Jenny and Lewis! beautiful!!
A complete car crash of a programme. Words like "I was completely switched off for a moment then" sums up the complete lack of production values. Utter rubbish.
Leclerc defense against Hamilton at Monza for first place in 2019... clear example of though defense 😂. com'on guys you are supposed to be the experts 😉
Love this show, but some of those cuts/edits are frustrating - skipping back and repeating, especially. Can I assist with editing?
broken link
Broken link
Doesn't work.
Thank you all for entertaining us this year. Enjoy your break and have a great festive season.
I'm neutral. F1 has got boring and too expensive to engage with be it at the circuit or on TV. I'm out.will watch something that I can actually afford to watch
Why was there no lead up to Monza?
I bet everyone is thinking that performance difference could be worth investigating. But nobody is game to say it. It's odd.
why is this on the Checkered Flag podcast??
The mixed up grid due to rain during quali always always makes for an interesting race. Alonso starting p2, Lewis on podium, fun midfield scraps, and the fight for first between Max and Carlos in the final 10 laps. VSC early and then, a timely safety car for Carlos and Lewis. Great.race!
umm F1???
Why not go somewhere quite without the music in the background. It's annoying, I don't want to 'be there in the paddock'...... I want your debrief without the annoying background bustle! I'm not even going to listen anymore, I'll turn you off full stop. Shame as I usually enjoy what you have to say, but I can't hear properly. Sort it out BBC f1!
Typo in the title. shouldn't it be Review? Great show as usual.