From the Paddock

Alex Harrington and Lydia Mee break down the chaotic wet-weather start at Sepang that overshadowed the opening laps of the Bahrain Grand Prix after a software bug left multiple cars struggling for power. The pair also discuss Lewis Hamilton's frustrating race after Ferrari opted to start him on slick tires despite concerns over the conditions. Finally, they explore growing momentum behind a permanent return for Sepang after Malaysia's prime minister confirmed talks with Formula 1 and FIA leadership.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Formula 1 is back at Sepang, and the combination of an abrasive track surface, extreme heat and the demands of the 2026 cars could make tire degradation one of the defining stories of the weekend.Max Verstappen faces an extraordinary run of seven consecutive race weekends across Formula 1 and GT3 competition, while Esteban Ocon faces uncertainty over his F1 future. Fernando Alonso has extended his stay with Aston Martin, and Honda has quietly introduced a turbocharger upgrade that could have implications for the weekend.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

F1 has plenty to talk about after a dramatic weekend in Baku.Franco Colapinto was involved in a costly safety car restart incident that took out Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris, with Alpine issuing another statement condemning the online abuse that followed.George Russell came away with his first career grand slam after dominating in Baku — but a turbo problem on the final lap nearly handed Max Verstappen an opportunity, with Russell eventually taking victory by just 0.196 seconds.And looking ahead, Audi’s Mattia Binotto has confirmed that the next-generation F1 engine is set to move to a V8 layout, with 2030 the earliest potential introduction date. A push-to-pass system is also being discussed as part of the future regulations. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alex Harrington and Lydia Mee discuss Christian Horner's claim that Ferrari would be his Formula 1 "dream" destination if he returned to the paddock. They also break down Lewis Hamilton's Baku safety concerns and celebrate major milestones for Abbi Pulling and Jamie Chadwick as women continue making strides in motorsport.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alex Hamilton and Lydia Mee break down Formula 1's newly announced 2027 calendar, including Monaco's first-ever sprint race, Bahrain replacing Australia as the season opener, and the expansion of sprint weekends from six to ten. They discuss whether these changes will improve the racing experience, what they mean for fans, and why F1 is continuing to push its most divisive format.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.