GP Racing Podcast: Inside Vettel's Aston F1 adventure
Sebastian Vettel’s journey to career redemption in British Racing Green is the cover story of the latest GP Racing magazine and the lead topic of the latest Flat Chat podcast.
The four-time world champion has reconnected with some old Formula 1 friends at Aston Martin and the effect has been transformative. Always funny and engaging off-track – until circumstances drove him to miserablism at Ferrari – Vettel has found his voice again in his new environment and thrown himself into social activism. He’s also taken up the challenge of leading the team to deliver on new owner Lawrence Stroll’s aspirations of world championship glory.
GP Racing editor Ben Anderson and columnist Mark Gallagher join host Stuart Codling to explore how the Silverstone-based team is undergoing a radical transformation after years of instability and under-investment. With a new factory coming and a new name on the gates, this is a team which should be going places.
Investment in facilities is just one of the levers Stroll is pulling. Vettel has been a big-name recruitment but others are arriving, including former McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh, as part of a strategy to turn Aston Martin into a billion-dollar technology business.
The podcast guests also take a look back at the success of the recent Dutch Grand Prix and the message that sends to F1’s commercial rights holders, who recently announced a new deal with Qatar. Someone has to pay to host grands prix, whether that is the ticket-buying fans or wealthy governments looking to put their country on the sporting map. Is there an argument for holding races without fans, as a pure TV spectacle? Many drivers and F1 purists would disagree…
And as Netflix ‘drops’ a new feature-length documentary devoted to the life of Michael Schumacher, this month’s GP Racing features an exclusive interview with the makers of the film. Our panel weighs up the success of the project, and Netflix’s increasing interest in Formula 1 as a whole. Might the streaming giant look to acquiring the broadcast rights at some point? And even if not, who might be next for the big-screen documentary treatment?
Vettel hails Whitmarsh as "strong" signing for Aston Martin F1 team
F1 and FIA set to discuss timetable revamp procedures
NASCAR bans Chastain Martinsville wall-ride manoeuvre
NASCAR has decided to ban the wall-ride manoeuvre made famous by Ross Chastain at Martinsville that secured him a place in the Championship 4.
Gasly: Mindset for Alpine is "completely different" to Red Bull F1 move
Pierre Gasly says he has a "completely different" mindset for his Alpine Formula 1 move thanks to lessons taken from his failed stint at Red Bull in 2019.
GTD Pro win a “proper send-off” for retiring IMSA stalwart MacNeil
Winning the GTD Pro class at the Daytona 24 Hours was a fitting way for Cooper MacNeil to retire from racing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, says team-mate Jules Gounon.
The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate
Alpine’s signing of Pierre Gasly alongside Esteban Ocon revives memories of a famous all-French line-up, albeit in the red of Ferrari, for BEN EDWARDS. Can the former AlphaTauri man's arrival help the French team on its path back to winning ways in a tribute act to the Prancing Horse's title-winning 1983?
The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate
Alpine’s signing of Pierre Gasly alongside Esteban Ocon revives memories of a famous all-French line-up, albeit in the red of Ferrari, for BEN EDWARDS. Can the former AlphaTauri man's arrival help the French team on its path back to winning ways in a tribute act to the Prancing Horse's title-winning 1983?
How do the best races of F1 2022 stack up to 2021?
OPINION: A system to score all the grands prix from the past two seasons produces some interesting results and sets a standard that 2023 should surely exceed
Who were the fastest drivers in F1 2022?
Who was the fastest driver in 2022? Everyone has an opinion, but what does the stopwatch say? Obviously, differing car performance has an effect on ultimate laptime – but it’s the relative speed of each car/driver package that’s fascinating and enlightening says ALEX KALINAUCKAS
Why F1's nearly man is refreshed and ready for his return
He has more starts without a podium than anyone else in Formula 1 world championship history, but Nico Hulkenberg is back for one more shot with Haas. After spending three years on the sidelines, the revitalised German is aiming to prove to his new team what the F1 grid has been missing
The potential-laden F1 car that Ferrari neglected
The late Mauro Forghieri played a key role in Ferrari’s mid-1960s turnaround, says STUART CODLING, and his pretty, intricate 1512 was among the most evocative cars of the 1.5-litre era. But a victim of priorities as Formula 1 was deemed less lucrative than success in sportscars, its true potential was never seen in period
Why Vasseur relishes 'feeling the pressure' as Ferrari's F1 boss
OPINION: Fred Vasseur has spent only a few weeks as team principal for the Ferrari Formula 1 team, but is already intent on taking the Scuderia back to the very top. And despite it being arguably the most demanding job in motorsport, the Frenchman is relishing the challenge
The crucial tech changes F1 teams must adapt to in 2023
Changes to the regulations for season two of Formula 1's ground-effects era aim to smooth out last year’s troubles and shut down loopholes. But what areas have been targeted, and what impact will this have?
Are these the 50 quickest drivers in F1 history?
Who are the quickest drivers in Formula 1 history? LUKE SMITH asked a jury of experienced and international panel of experts and F1 insiders. Some of them have worked closely with F1’s fastest-ever drivers – so who better to vote on our all-time top 50? We’re talking all-out speed here rather than size of trophy cabinet, so the results may surprise you…
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