Cut To The Race: FormulaNerds F1 Podcast

On this week’s News from the Nerds, Oli takes the host seat and is joined by Sam and Abby as they run through the news following the Spanish Grand Prix.

Alfa have the Key:

Ex-Technical Director of McLaren, James Key, will be joining Alfa Romeo as the Technical Director from September as well as being a part of the Audi works team. The panel talk about the benefits of Key joining Alfa Romeo and what this means for the team.

https://t.co/God0W0XiHn

Is it Adiós to Barcelona?

Rumours have surfaced that the Spanish Grand Prix could be hosted in Madrid in the future as a street track with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya being removed. The trio discuss the possibility and the drivers thoughts on Madrid.

https://twitter.com/Formula_Nerds/status/1666075196476801024?s=20

South Africa’s race dreams could be over:

A return to South Africa for a Grand Prix has been a topic among the rumour mill for many months but reports are saying that talks about the possibility of the country hosting a race have now fallen through. The panel discuss the reports and what it means for other tracks like Spa.

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/will-south-africa-ever-host-formula-one-in-the-future/

Aston Martin look to have bounced back:

Barcelona wasn't a great weekend for Aston Martin compared to the rest of the season, but the team are looking to bring major upgrades to the next race in Canada. The trio dissect Aston Martin's performance and whether they will regain P2 in the championship later this season.

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/aston-martin-confident-of-bounce-back-at-f1-canadian-gp-with-new-upgrades/

Are Alpine going to join the chasing pack:

Alpine had a rocky start to the season but the last few races have proved more positive and now Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly are hopeful the team can continue to improve. The trio discuss the team's performance and whether they're fighting those in front or behind.

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/can-alpine-break-into-the-top-four-battle-in-2023-after-another-great-result-in-spain/

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This week on the Cut to the Race podcast, it’s time for the Spanish Grand Prix race review.

Abby and Sam co-host and co-panel as Oli and James M play hooky; one for an exciting major life event, the other for an unBEElievable reason.

One of the better Spanish Grands Prix in recent memory, returning to the old layout appears to have revitalised the event. The duo of Sam and Abby discuss the track changes and what that means for overtaking and race strategy.

Also, heading into the weekend, Ferrari fell in line with their sidepod concept, Mercedes continues to play it coy and Guenther Steiner brought the funny side out of the stewards.

The panel run through practice and a qualifying that yielded some unusual results, before dissecting a race that was far more interesting than it might have first appeared.

It was an excellent day for Mercedes, whilst Aston Martin flailed and Ferrari faltered. Verstappen was typically in imperious form, but couldn’t escape the disapproval of his team.

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On this week’s News from the Nerds, James M returns to the host seat and is joined by Abby and Sam as they tackle the news ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix this coming weekend, which includes:

Spanish Grand Prix Preview:

Hola, Espana! Formula One returns to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Spanish Gran Prix, where F2 and F3 will also be racing. The panel give a quick preview of the weekend ahead including the track changes of the circuit.

McLaren Make a Step Forward On and Off the Track:

Monaco saw a step forward for McLaren with a double points finish but the team have also made moves off track to improve performance by signing Red Bull’s former Chief Executive Officer as part of their new personnel structure. The trio discuss McLaren’s Monaco performance as well as Rob Marshall joining the team.

F1 Believes Children Are Our Future:

F1 and Sky Sports have created a new initiative that will see three young Formula 1 fans present and commentate over the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, joining the Sky Sports F1 team. The panel give their opinions on the project that aims to bring young fans into the sport.

Not a Happy Homecoming For Leclerc:

The Monaco Grand Prix wasn’t the race that Charles Leclerc would have wanted with a penalty and an unwelcome pace. The trio dissect Leclerc’s comments and the supposed curse that falls upon him in Monaco.

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/home-hero-leclerc-rues-missed-opportunity-in-monaco/

Schumacher to Hit Track as Mercedes Predict Further Struggles:

Mick Schumacher will be driving the W14 in Barcelona for a Pirelli tyre test whilst Toto Wolff has predicted a data-collecting race for Mercedes, despite upgrades in Monaco. The panel talk about Schumacher’s F1 chances and whether Mercedes will be able to fight at the front this weekend.

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/toto-wolff-on-mick-schumachers-difficult-future-in-formula-one/

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To enter this competition and have a chance to win an incredible George Russell Mercedes Bundle courtesy of Formula Model Shop (www.fms.store), follow these simple steps:

On this week’s Cut to the Race podcast, Oli is joined by Abby, James M and Sam as they review the Monaco Grand Prix, tackle a special edition of the FormulaNerds quiz and announce a competition for listeners.

The quartet dissect the Monaco Grand Prix weekend that saw mixed conditions around the streets of the Principality. With red flags in every free practice session and in Qualifying, the panel discuss what has to be one of the most exciting Saturday’s of the season. 

Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso battled it out for pole with a shock Q1 exit by Sergio Perez and a surprising second-row line up for the race with Alpine showing their pace this weekend.

The panel then tackle Grand Prix Sunday, giving their race ratings and their infamous FormulaNerds National Anthem reviews. Throughout the race there were some key incidents, most notably with Nico Hulkenberg and Lance Stroll on the opening lap.

Towards the end, rain arrived over the circuit. The quartet dissect the laps that saw a lot of chaos and drama as drivers went from slicks to wet tyres and more close calls occurred.

Give it a listen for the panel’s review of the Monaco weekend and keep an eye out for the competition announcement!

This show is sponsored by FormulaModelShop – Official Formula1 Gifts Shop, Online & Instore. Visit  www.fms.store or pick up instore

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This week on News from the Nerds, Oli takes a spin in the host seat and is joined by Abby and Sam to run through the top news ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix. On this week’s agenda:

Monaco Grand Prix:

After the cancellation of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Formula 1 is back racing on the streets of Monte Carlo. But the weather is looking to make it a wet weekend across all on-track sessions, so will we get a replica of last year's race? F2 and F3 are also racing in Monaco, with it being F3's first time at the street circuit.

https://www.formulanerds.com/features/could-this-years-monaco-grand-prix-end-up-like-last-year/

Honda Finds a New Home:

Honda has confirmed its partnership with Aston Martin to be the power unit supplier for the British team from 2026 onwards in a bid for Aston Martin to be a self-reliant works team as they chase their ambitions in F1. Will Aston Martin and Honda's partnership put them ahead of Mercedes for good?

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/aston-martin-f1-confirm-works-honda-power-unit-partnership-from-2026/

AlphaTauri is Not For Sale:

Helmut Marko of Red Bull Racing has put to rest the rumours surrounding the sale of AlphaTauri after Red Bull admitted that the second team costs too much. Is retaining AlphaTauri as a second team to Red Bull the right decision?

Ferrari and Wolff Deny Hamilton Rumours:

The rumour mill has also focused on Lewis Hamilton as of late with rumours that he will be joining Ferrari due to Mercedes lack of a competitive car. But Toto Wolff has squashed the rumours, denying Hamilton's move to Ferrari. Is there any truth to these rumours?

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/toto-wolff-hits-back-at-latest-hamilton-to-ferrari-rumours/

https://twitter.com/SmilexTech/status/1661306441091670016?s=20

FIA Introduce New Rule Under Yellow Flags:

The FIA have announced a new directive to make racing stricter when it comes to double yellow flags. A new speed restriction will be put in place from this weekend's Monaco Grand Prx and onwards.

https://www.fia.com/news/fia-insights-developing-new-delta-double-yellow-flag-zones

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This week on News from the Nerds, host James M is joined by Abby and Sam as they run through all the major talking points before a weekend in Imola.

Is Imola under threat?

It’s a full motorsport weekend in Imola with F1, F2 and F3 returning but the weekend is under threat with the adverse weather in the Emilia-Romagna region. However, if the race goes ahead, we’ll see a new qualifying format in terms of tyres.

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/could-the-emilia-romagna-gp-be-cancelled/

Bottas is hopeful

Valtteri Bottas moved to Alfa Romeo last year and despite having only four points, Bottas is hopeful that Alfa Romeo’s upgrades for Imola will help the team achieve more points and the win that he’s seeking.

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/valtteri-bottas-still-dreams-to-win-races-in-formula-1/

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/bottas-imola-f1-upgrades-can-hopefully-help-fight-for-points/

McLaren aren’t there yet

McLaren have had a rocky start to the season and Andrea Stella has pinpointed a root of the problem in the team’s infrastructure and hopes the new facilites being built will be a turning point. An F1 analyst also weighs in on the team’s drivers and whether Lando Norris could be in trouble.

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/andrea-stella-reveals-reasons-behind-mclaren-struggles/

Drivers are already under pressure

The rookie drivers of Logan Sargeant and Nyck de Vries are under pressure already from their teams ro perform with threats of being replaced for one whilst Franz Tost believes rookies deserve a fair chance.  

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/alphatauri-team-principal-explains-his-three-year-rule-for-rookies/

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/vowles-sargeant-must-be-more-consistent-during-f1-weekends/

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/nyck-de-vries-f1-seat-at-risk-if-his-performance-doesnt-improve-soon/

Ferrari are heading home

Ferrari are heading home in Imola for a home race and have their sights on improving performance after more upgrades in the work and Charles Leclerc’s faith in Fred Vasseur’s decisions.

This show is sponsored by FormulaModelShop – For all your racing teamwear, models and Gifts. Visit  www.fms.store or pick up instore

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This week on News from the Nerds, the usual trio of James M, Sam and Abby digest all the biggest headlines following the second running of the polarising Miami Grand Prix, including Laurent Rossi’s explosive comments about his Alpine team. In this week’s show, we cover:

Aston Martin Honda?

F1 is heading towards a new era of engine regulations in 2026 and currently, six prospective power unit manufacturers have signed up. All but one has a works deal in place already – Honda. The Japanese car giant has found recent success with Red Bull, but it will need to find a new home come the end of 2025. Where might they land? An early front-runner has emerged…

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/honda-looking-increasingly-likely-to-stay-in-f1-but-who-with/

Crisis at Alpine

It’s been a disappointing start to the F1 season for the team based at Enstone – hoping to solidify last year’s P4 in the Constructors’ Championship and take the fight to the top three, Alpine have found themselves slipping back – and being usurped altogether by the upstart Aston Martin team. What does Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi have to say about it? It certainly doesn’t make for pretty listening

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/otmar-szafnauer-has-his-say-on-laurent-rossis-amateurish-comments/

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/szafnauer-alpine-have-gained-on-some-rivals-from-last-season/

A false re-start for Mercedes?

How do you solve a problem like… Mercedes’ no-pod approach? The former champs have seemingly been stuck in a holding pattern since the start of last season. Can they get out of it, and to what cost? Only time will tell, but it’s a game of try and try again for the Brackley-based outfit

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/hamilton-mercedes-upgrade-will-take-steps-forward/

Red Bull dominating – but boring?

The talking point to beat all talking points this season – is Red Bull’s excellence ruining the show? Our panel has their say after comments from Martin Brundle and others

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/f1latestnews/perez-we-simply-didnt-have-the-pace-compared-to-verstappen-at-the-miami-gp/

F1 intros here to stay?

What is it they say about Marmite? The ‘Americanised’ build up to the Miami Grand Prix rubbed some up the wrong way, but might they have to get used to it elsewhere on the F1 calendar too? It’s starting to look that way. Following on from the Miami Race Review show, the trio analyse the merits and demerits of an F1 leaning ever more into “the show”

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Join Oli and panellists Abby, James M, and Sam as they deliver an electrifying analysis of the F1 Miami Grand Prix in this week's episode of Cut to the Race. From Max Verstappen's sensational victory to the nail-biting battle between Red Bull teammates, the panel provides exclusive insider insights into every key moment of the race.

But that's not all! The panel takes on the FormulaNerds Quiz, shares their infamous National Anthem ratings, discusses the new pre-race driver introductions, and rates each driver's performance in this jam-packed episode.

Whether you're a die-hard F1 fan or new to the sport, Cut to the Race is the ultimate podcast for racing enthusiasts. Tune in for heated debates, expert analysis, and plenty of insider gossip. Subscribe, rate, and review now to stay up to date on all the latest F1 news and analysis. And don't forget to listen until the end to find out the panel's pick for driver of the day.

This show is proudly sponsored by FormulaModelShop – your one-stop-shop for Official Formula1 Gifts online and in-store. Visit www.fms.store or pick up in-store today. Don't miss out on this action-packed episode - hit the download button now!

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This week on News from the Nerds, host James M is back like Baku. He’s joined by Abby and Sam as they run through all the major talking points before a weekend in Miami.

Welcome to Miami...Again:

Formula 1 returns to Miami this weekend for round five of the season. With a strong battle between Red Bull teammates Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, the panel discuss whether they think Perez can bring the title fight to Verstappen as well as the new pre-race driver show before the Miami Grand Prix.

Newey is staying at Red Bull:

Red Bull announced this week that Adrian Newey, the team's Chief Technology Officer, has signed an extension in his contract to remain with the team for several more years. The trio talk about Newey staying at Red Bull and his impressive talents in designing championship-winning cars.

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/legendary-designer-adrian-newey-signs-red-bull-extension/

Changes afoot to make Ferrari great again:

Ferrari are recruiting more staff to make the team great again after a rough start to the season. A key figure in Ferrari's sights is Red Bull's Enrico Balbo. The panel discuss Ferrari's goals and the upgrades they'll be bringing this weekend in Miami.

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/f1latestnews/leclerc-admits-that-red-bull-are-in-a-league-of-their-own-despite-his-improved-performance-in-baku/

Mercedes to bring upgrades in Imola:

Toto Wolff has confirmed Mercedes are bringing upgrades to Imola to help form a "good baseline" in the team's development to move further up the grid. The trio dissect the new upgrades of the Silver Arrows and whether they can gain some performance.

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/toto-wolff-reveals-imola-and-2024-upgrades-for-mercedes/

A new team has made a bid for F1:

Reports have stated that LKYSunz has made their bid to join Formula 1 from 2026 with a focus on fusing youth culture with the current popularity of F1. The panel talk about the potential new team and what it could mean.

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/surprise-disruptor-contender-announces-2026-f1-bid/

This show is sponsored by FormulaModelShop – Official Formula1 Gifts Shop, Online & Instore. Visit  www.fms.store or pick up instore

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This week on the Cut to the Race podcast, it’s time for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix review (part 2, sort of). Host Oli was joined by his regular panel of Abby, James M and Sam for a special one-off episode dedicated to F1’s maiden Sprint Saturday.

This show is sponsored by FormulaModelShop – Official Formula1 Gifts Shop, Online & Instore. Visit  www.fms.store or pick up instore

Now, they’re back for the big one – the actual Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, including potentially the best national anthem review yet.

Also on the agenda, the team tackle an uncharacteristically sedated race in the streets of Baku. They can’t all be 8/10 or better, but surely, we could have expected more.

Sergio Perez capped of a strong weekend, where he capitalised on an off-form teammate in Max Verstappen, but can he keep it up for the remainder of the season? Might we get another 2016, or are we destined for a 2019?

Ferrari appear to have returned to form – at least in qualifying, and on Charles Leclerc’s side of the garage…

What do the quad make of the sunshine and rainbows at Aston Martin? Are they legitimate, and have the team turned it around in the popularity stakes?

Lastly, the panel pull apart the scary and unacceptable pit lane incident involving Esteban Ocon and a gaggle of photographers. Are the FIA taking it seriously enough, and is what happened symptomatic of a distracted organisation?

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