The wait is over, Formula 1 is back, and so is the Cooldown Rundown. Sam and Ryan kick off the 2026 season by breaking down everything to watch for in the year ahead: new regulations, new teams, and a few new segments for the show.

With lights out in Melbourne right around the corner, the guys share their early season predictions and what they think (and hope) will happen at the Australian Grand Prix.

Grab a cold one and settle in for this episode of the Cooldown Rundown.

Season 8 of Drive to Survive is here, and the boys are diving straight into the first four episodes. The global phenomenon from Netflix once again pulls back the curtain on the drama, rivalries, and storylines that shaped the 2025 Formula One season.

In this episode of Cooldown Rundown, Sam and Ryan recap each installment, unpack the narratives Netflix chose to spotlight, and share their unfiltered reactions to how the season is being framed so far. What did they nail? What felt overproduced? And which storylines are already stealing the spotlight?

Grab your favorite drink and settle in, it’s time to break it all down.

Preseason testing in Bahrain is officially in the books and the grid is starting to take shape ahead of lights out in Melbourne.

Across three days, teams pushed reliability, pace, and innovation to the limit. Ferrari and Mercedes turned heads with strong long runs, aggressive setups, and intriguing aero developments, while others, including Aston Martin, left Bahrain with real question marks.

In this episode, Sam and Ryan break down the biggest storylines from Round Two of testing:

• Is Ferrari back?
• Where does Mercedes truly stand?
• Which midfield teams impressed and who should be worried?

With Australia up next, the countdown to race day is on. Grab a drink and settle in for a full paddock deep dive as the 2026 Formula One season gets closer to go time.

Episode 1: The 2026 F1 Season is HERE!

The Cooldown Rundown is officially back on the grid! After a long winter break, Sam and Ryan dive headfirst into the most anticipated season opener in years.

In this return episode, we’re breaking down all the action from the first round Pre-Season Testing in Bahrain. Who’s looking like the title contenders, which teams are sandbagging, and who is in serious trouble? Plus, we settle the most important debate of the year: Which team won the 2026 livery launch? From championship-winning throwbacks to controversial new color schemes, we rank the best and worst looks on the grid.

So, grab a cold one, turn up the volume, and join the conversation as we get you fully up to speed for the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship in this week’s episode of the Cooldown Rundown.

The season finale delivered a blockbuster finish and a brand-new world champion. With a podium in Abu Dhabi, Lando Norris sealed his first Formula One title, edging out Max Verstappen by just two points. Max dominated the weekend from pole to victory, but the margin wasn’t enough to extend his championship streak.

Sam and Ryan unpack the chaos and consequences: What’s next for Oscar Piastri at McLaren? Who looks strongest heading into the 2026 regulation shake-up? And is there finally light at the end of the tunnel for Ferrari?

Crack open a cold one and dive into all the drama in this episode of Cooldown Rundown.

Lando Norris looked poised to clinch the Drivers’ Championship at the Qatar Grand Prix until strategy chaos turned everything upside down. McLaren’s decision to skip the early safety car pit stop for both drivers cost them the race and handed Max Verstappen another shot at his fifth world title. Now, all eyes are on Abu Dhabi, where Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri face off in a thrilling three-way championship battle. Sam and Ryan break down McLaren’s strategy blunders, the psychological toll on the drivers, and make bold predictions for the season finale. Grab a cold one and buckle up for this episode of Cooldown Rundown.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix may not have delivered nonstop wheel-to-wheel chaos, but it delivered something even bigger: a massive shift in the title race. After a wild, rain-soaked qualifying session, Max Verstappen wasted no time slipping past Lando Norris into Turn 1 and never looked back. Hours later, the shockwave hit—both McLaren cars were disqualified for excessive plank wear.

Suddenly, Max and Oscar sit just 24 points behind Lando with only two race weekends to go.

Sam and Ryan unpack the twists, the psychological fallout, and what this shake-up means for the final sprint to the championship. Grab a cold one and settle in for another episode of the Cooldown Rundown.

Brazil never lets us down and this year’s Grand Prix kept that legacy alive. Lando Norris stretches his championship lead to 24 points with just three races left, Max Verstappen claws his way from pit lane to the podium, and Ferrari fans suffer heartbreak with a double DNF that stunned the paddock. Between safety cars, fearless overtakes, and rookies stepping up big, this race had everything. Sam and Ryan break down all the chaos, strategy swings, and momentum shifts you need to know. Crack open a cold one, it’s time for the Cooldown Rundown.

The Mexico Grand Prix delivered it all, chaos, rage, and pure racing brilliance. From a wild Turn 1 dive that saw four cars fighting for space, to late-race duels that kept us on edge, it was one of the most electric weekends in recent memory. Lando Norris put on a dominant show to reclaim the top spot in the championship, edging out teammate and rival Oscar Piastri by a single point. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen keeps chipping away with another podium finish. Sam and Ryan break down every twist and turn, the highs, the controversies, and the classic FIA head-scratchers. Crack a cold one and dive into this episode of The Cooldown Rundown. 

It was a scorcher in Texas, but the real heat came from the championship fight. A double DNF for McLaren in the sprint race, a blazing-fast Max Verstappen, and believe it or not a solid Ferrari strategy made for one wild weekend. Grab a cold one and join Sam and Ryan as they break down the action, unpack the chaos, and look ahead at what it all means for the rest of the season in this week’s episode of the Cooldown Rundown.