2 Soft Compounds

2 Soft Compounds Ep. 3 - Race Week: Who Has The Edge Down Under?!

🏁 Lights Out in Melbourne! The wait is over – Formula 1 is back! This week on Two Soft Compounds, hosts Rick Houghton and Paul Velasco (GrandPrix247) gear up for what could be the wildest F1 season opener in years.

🇦🇺 Australia kicks off the season - and with rain on the radar, chaos could be on the cards! Plus we've got eight all-new driver pairings - who will sink, who will shine and can Lando Norris finally unleash his inner ruthless racer? The guys also discuss Hamilton's Ferrari dream vs. Verstappen’s dominance—is 2025 the year history gets rewritten? And there's some nerdy chat around McLaren & Ferrari’s flexi-wings - banned from Round 9! Could mid-season rule changes shake up the title fight?

With bold predictions, spicy takes, and unfiltered banter, this is your fast-lap guide to the 2025 season opener down under!

👉 New episodes every Tuesday – follow us @TwoSoftCompounds on Instagram to join the conversation!

Podcast Rundown

1️⃣ Welcome & It’s Race Week! – F1 is back after 90 days—let’s dive in!

2️⃣ Australian GP Preview – Why Melbourne is the perfect (and possibly chaotic) season opener.

3️⃣ Flexi-Wing Controversy & Team Sandbagging – Are McLaren & Ferrari hiding their true pace?

4️⃣ Biggest Driver Battles – Hamilton vs. Leclerc, Norris vs. Piastri, and Verstappen’s dominance.

5️⃣ Red Bull & The Rookie Factor – Can Max keep control, and is Liam Lawson a surprise package?

6️⃣ Midfield Watch – Mercedes, Aston Martin, Williams & more—who’s a dark horse?

7️⃣ Australia GP Predictions – Who wins, and what chaos awaits in the first race?

Production Credits:

Presented by: Rick Houghton & Damien Reid
Studio Engineer & Editor: Ben Dover
Executive Producer: Ian Carless 
Produced by: Poddworx Dubai

2 Soft Compounds - Ep 2 - 2025 Pre Season Testing

🏁 Testing, Tyres & Toto's Cannon! This week on 2  Soft Compounds, hosts Rick Houghton and Paul Velasco (GrandPrix247) break down pre-season testing in Bahrain, revealing which teams look hot, which look lost and why McLaren might just be the ones to beat.

They also dig into Hamilton’s smooth start at Ferrari, the latest paddock gossip (including that wild Susie Wolff FIA presidency rumour) and why rookies and sandbagging teams could spice up the grid.

With bold predictions, plenty of banter plus a few spicy takes, this is your fast-lap guide to the 2025 F1 season opener.

👉 New episodes every Tuesday – follow us @TwoSoftCompounds on Instagram to join the conversation!

Podcast Rundown

1️⃣ Bahrain Testing: Fast Laps & Red Flags - Breaking down pre-season testing — who's hot, who's not.

2️⃣ Hamilton at Ferrari: Smooth Operator or Bumpy Ride? First impressions of Lewis in red — is this the car that finally gives him his 8th title?

3️⃣ Rookies, Rivals & Surprise Packages - From rookie debuts to midfield movers — who’s impressing, who’s struggling, and why Haas might be in real trouble.

4️⃣ Susie Wolff for FIA President?! - The wild paddock rumour that’s got everyone talking — would she take on the top job (and should she)?

5️⃣ Aston Martin: Green Machines or Lost Cause? - What’s going on at Aston — are they giving up on 2025 already and waiting for Adrian Newey’s magic touch in 2026?

6️⃣ Looking Ahead to Melbourne. - Final thoughts as the countdown to the first race begins — why this season could be the closest, craziest yet.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Rick Houghton & Damien Reid
Studio Engineer & Editor: Ben Dover
Executive Producer: Ian Carless 
Produced by: Poddworx Dubai

.2 Soft Compounds - Ep. 01 - The 2025 Season Intro

In the very first episode of 2 Soft Compounds, hosts Rick Houghton and Paul Velasco(GrandPrix247) dive into their personal F1 journeys — from childhood karting and Marlboro media days to life in the paddock as a photo journalist and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of motorsport.

The duo also unpack Lewis Hamilton’s shock Ferrari move, take a look at the new rookies hitting the grid and give their hot takes on F1 75 Live - F1's glitzy 2025 season launch at the O2 (spoiler alert: more LEDs than a nightclub!)

With plenty of bold predictions, insider insights, and a few laughs along the way — the 2025 season starts here!

🔧 New episodes every Tuesday – follow us @TwoSoftCompounds on Instagram to join the conversation.

Podcast Rundown 

1️⃣ Meet the Team: Rick and Paul introduce themselves. 

2️⃣ Marlboro Memories & Media Mishaps - Throwback to stories from the golden era of F1 sponsorship, including VIP pit tours and underpaid gigs.

3️⃣ Hamilton to Ferrari: A Move for the Ages - Initial reactions to Lewis Hamilton’s shock switch to Ferrari.

4️⃣ Rookies, Revamps & The 2025 Grid - A look at the fresh faces and teams hoping to shake up the pecking order this season.

5️⃣ The 2025 F1 Season Launch: Glitz, Glam & Booing Fans - Breaking down the F1 75 Live, O2 Arena extravaganza — from Max & Horner boos to Jack Whitehall’s cheeky hosting.

6️⃣ What’s Coming Next: Your Tuesday F1 Fix.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Rick Houghton & Damien Reid
Studio Engineer & Editor: Ben Dover
Executive Producer: Ian Carless 
Produced by: Poddworx Dubai