Digest

This episode of The Athletic F1 Podcast dives into a range of questions from the Race Members Club, focusing on the Monaco Grand Prix and its aftermath. The discussion covers Lewis Hamilton's performance compared to George Russell, the possibility of Max Verstappen joining Mercedes, and the impact of Perez's crash on Red Bull's budget. The podcast also explores the role of Helmut Marco within Red Bull, the competitiveness of the 2023 season, and the future of Alpine. The hosts discuss the potential for rule changes in 2026 and the need for a more nuanced penalty system for consistent rule breakers. The episode concludes with a debate about the future of the Monaco Grand Prix and whether it needs to be modernized to accommodate the current generation of F1 cars.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the hosts, Ed Straw, Mark Hughes, and Glenn Freeman, and the topic of the podcast: answering questions from the Race Members Club.

00:02:57

Lewis Hamilton's Performance

This Chapter discusses Lewis Hamilton's performance compared to George Russell, exploring whether Mercedes is favoring Russell and whether Hamilton's skills are declining. The hosts analyze the car's characteristics and how they might favor Russell over Hamilton.

00:11:51

Max Verstappen to Mercedes?

This Chapter examines the possibility of Max Verstappen joining Mercedes in 2026, considering Red Bull's recent struggles and the potential for a shift in the power balance. The hosts discuss the motivations of Verstappen and his manager, Jos Verstappen, and whether Toto Wolff would be interested in pursuing this move.

00:17:19

Mercedes and Aston Martin's Upgrades

This Chapter explores the suggestion that Mercedes and Aston Martin, who share a wind tunnel, are struggling to implement upgrades effectively. The hosts discuss the potential reasons for this, including the quality of the data produced by the wind tunnel and the teams' interpretation of that data.

00:21:12

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00:22:16

Helmut Marco's Role

This Chapter examines the role of Helmut Marco within Red Bull, comparing his relationship with Christian Horner to that of Niki Lauda with Toto Wolff. The hosts discuss Marco's influence on driver development and whether his style is still relevant in modern F1.

00:31:00

Cost Cap Impact of Perez's Crash

This Chapter analyzes the financial impact of Perez's crash in Monaco on Red Bull's cost cap. The hosts discuss the cost of the damage and how it might affect the team's ability to bring upgrades later in the season.

00:35:22

Driver Pairings and Constructor Championship

This Chapter explores the impact of strong driver pairings at McLaren and Ferrari on the Constructor Championship. The hosts discuss whether Red Bull can afford to keep Sergio Perez, who is underperforming compared to the other top drivers.

00:53:55

Monaco Grand Prix and F1's Future

This Chapter examines the impact of the Monaco Grand Prix on the overall sentiment towards the sport. The hosts discuss whether the race has outgrown the circuit and whether changes need to be made to improve overtaking opportunities.

Keywords

Q&A

• Is Mercedes deliberately favoring George Russell over Lewis Hamilton?

  The hosts don't believe Mercedes is deliberately favoring Russell, but they acknowledge that it's natural to prioritize the driver who is staying with the team. They also point out that the car's characteristics might favor Russell's driving style.

• Could Max Verstappen join Mercedes in 2026?

  The hosts believe it's unlikely, despite Red Bull's recent struggles. They suggest that Verstappen is not as keen on the move as some of the people around him, and that Red Bull will likely regain their dominance on conventional tracks.

• Why are Mercedes and Aston Martin struggling to implement upgrades effectively?

  The hosts suggest that the issue might lie in the teams' interpretation of the data produced by their shared wind tunnel, rather than the wind tunnel itself. They also point out that teams have changed their data analysis methods under the new regulations.

• What is Helmut Marco's role within Red Bull, and is he irreplaceable?

  Marco is the motorsport advisor for Red Bull Racing, known for his blunt approach and his influence on driver development. The hosts believe that his role is unique and that it's unlikely another team would replicate it.

• How will Perez's crash in Monaco affect Red Bull's budget?

  The hosts believe that the crash will have a financial impact on Red Bull, but it's unlikely to fundamentally change their plans for the season. They suggest that teams budget for unexpected damage and that Red Bull will likely adjust their spending accordingly.

• Will the gap in pace between Verstappen and Perez hurt Red Bull in the Constructor Championship?

  The hosts believe that it will, as Perez is underperforming compared to the other top drivers. They question whether Red Bull can afford to keep Perez, but it seems that he will be staying with the team for another year.

• How will the Monaco Grand Prix impact the overall sentiment towards F1?

  The hosts believe that the race further exposed how F1 has outgrown Monaco, particularly in terms of overtaking opportunities. They suggest that changes need to be made to the circuit to make the race more exciting.

• Would running the Monaco circuit backwards improve overtaking?

  The hosts don't believe that simply reversing the circuit would significantly change the overtaking opportunities. They suggest that other changes, such as adding a new section of track, would be more effective.

• How soon will Oli Bearman replace Kevin Magnussen at Haas?

  The hosts believe that Magnussen will likely see out the season, but that Bearman could replace him permanently in 2025. They suggest that Magnussen is on thin ice due to his recent incidents.

• Do we need harsher penalties for consistent rule breakers?

  The hosts believe that the current penalty point system needs to be overhauled to take into account incidents that are honest mistakes. They suggest that drivers should be given penalty points for minor offenses, even if they don't receive a penalty for the incident itself.

Show Notes