Formula 1 is officially back — and the 2026 season kicked off with a chaotic and fascinating Australian Grand Prix.

In this episode of the Everything Trackside Podcast, Seán, Coops, James, and Mairéad break down everything from the season opener in Melbourne. 

George Russell took the victory in a race packed with overtakes and strategy battles, while Ferrari once again managed to become their own worst enemies on race day. 

The team also dives into one of the biggest talking points of the weekend — the new engine regulations. Qualifying in particular sparked major debate, with drivers losing huge speed on straights due to energy harvesting and downshifting mid-straight, something many fans and drivers found frustrating to watch. 

Despite the qualifying controversy, the race itself delivered plenty of action, with over 120 overtakes compared to just 45 last year, showing that the new era of Formula 1 might still produce exciting racing. 

The crew also rate the race, discuss the biggest winners and losers from the weekend, debate whether the new regulations need fixing, and look ahead to next week’s Chinese Grand Prix.

Checkout this amazing video of Lynda Britten - https://youtu.be/kdkXVmnjSI0 

🏁 In this episode:

• George Russell’s race-winning performance
• Ferrari’s strategy mistakes… again
• The controversial new engine behaviour in qualifying
• Race ratings and standout drivers
• Early season championship implications
• Looking ahead to China

📊 Join our Fantasy & Predictions Leagues:
FANTASY

https://fantasy.formula1.com/en/leagues/join/P6DCIJSCL08 - P6DCIJSCL08 

PREDICTIONS

https://f1predict.formula1.com/en/leagues/join/P6YSOPCIE10 - P6YSOPCIE10 

📖 Pre-order Slicks Magazine Issue 3:
https://slicksmag.com

Use code ETS10 at checkout for 10% off

🎙 Follow Everything Trackside for race previews, reviews, and weekly F1 discussion. - linktr.ee/everythingtrackside 

The F1 season roars back to life in Melbourne 🇦🇺

In this episode, Seán, Mairead, SOK and Coops break down everything you need to know ahead of the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.

We cover:
🏁 Track characteristics & overtaking zones
🌦️ Melbourne weather outlook
🔧 Latest team performance & car development updates
🔥 Driver predictions for pole & podium
🎲 Wild race forecasts (and the infamous “curse of the Australian GP”)

Plus — don’t forget to:
✅ Join our F1 FANTASY League - https://fantasy.formula1.com/en/leagues/join/P6DCIJSCL08
Code: P6DCIJSCL08

✅ Join our F1 PREDICTIONS League - https://f1predict.formula1.com/en/leagues/join/P6YSOPCIE10

Code: P6YSOPCIE10 
✅ Pre-order Slicks Magazine Issue 3 & use code ETS10 for 10% off - slicksmag.com

Lights out in Melbourne starts here.

#F1 #AustralianGP #Melbourne #F1Preview #F1Predictions #Formula1

The 2026 Formula One season is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in modern F1 history — and we’re breaking it down team by team.

Join Seán, Annika, SOK & James, as we analyse preseason performance, new driver lineups, technical innovations, and the strategic decisions that could define the championship battle.

From emerging contenders like Audi and Cadillac to the ongoing dominance fights between Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren, this episode dives deep into car development, reliability concerns, management changes, and bold season forecasts.

Expect expert insight, heated debates, and some wild predictions as we answer the biggest question ahead of lights out:

Who actually wins F1 in 2026?

🚥 Topics covered:

• Preseason team performance analysis
• Driver battles & championship contenders
• New F1 car innovations & regulations
• Surprise teams for 2026
• Bold predictions & season forecasts

Perfect for hardcore F1 fans and new viewers gearing up for the season.

Get your copy of SLICKS MAGAZINE at slicksmag.com - use code ETS10 at checkout for 10% off your order

IndyCar driver Conor Daly joins the podcast to tell the real story behind a professional racing career — from towing a karting trailer with his dad to testing Formula One machinery and fighting for opportunities at the highest level of motorsport.

Growing up racing against future IndyCar champion Joseph Newgarden, Conor climbed the American ladder before taking his shot in Europe with dreams of Formula One. After becoming a test and reserve driver with Force India Formula One Team, one championship moment changed everything — and ultimately redirected his career back to America.

In this episode, Conor opens up about:

• The brutal reality of chasing Formula One
• How driver development programs changed motorsport
• The financial barriers young drivers still face
• Mental performance, pressure, and social media toxicity
• IndyCar vs F1 vs NASCAR — what really separates them
• Why IndyCar may be entering its most competitive era ever

Plus, Conor shares behind-the-scenes insight into race engineers, near-wins at the Indianapolis 500, career “sliding door” moments, why adversity often creates opportunity in motorsport, and gives his prediction for the 2026 F1 World Champion.

If you’re a fan of Formula One, IndyCar, or racing culture — this is a must-listen conversation.

Pre-season testing has delivered serious drama.

In today's episode we break down the hype around Scuderia Ferrari and the unusual rear-wing design getting everyone talking, while things look far less convincing for Aston Martin.

There’s also a lively debate over the ruling that Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team would have until August to fix their engine if it’s deemed illegal — a decision that splits the room and gets surprisingly heated.

Elsewhere, we discuss the challenges teams are facing with sustainable fuels, why newcomers Audi have impressed, the safe but steady start from Cadillac, and why Alpine F1 Team could be shaping up as the best of the midfield.

Check out Slicks Magazine at slicksmag.com and use code ETS10 at checkout for 10% off your order

Ireland’s most successful Formula 1 driver, John Watson, joins the show to relive his greatest racing stories — from his incredible Detroit ’82 victory charge to life inside McLaren.

Watson shares candid memories of racing alongside legends like Niki Lauda and Alain Prost, while reflecting on the brilliance of Ayrton Senna, James Hunt, and Nigel Mansell.

A masterclass in F1 history from Ireland’s greatest ever driver — packed with paddock stories, rivalries, and iconic moments.

Check out Slicksmag.com and use code ETS10 at checkout for 10% off your order

Follow us on all socials: linktr.ee/everythingtrackside

Preseason testing in Bahrain is done — and the 2026 F1 season is already throwing up surprises 👀

We break down reliability concerns 🔧, driver reactions to the new regulations, and what the early data is telling us about Mercedes, McLaren, Williams, Aston Martin, Alpine — plus Cadillac’s headline-grabbing debut 🇺🇸🔥

Who looks quick? ⚡

Who looks nervous? 😬

And who might already be in trouble? 🚨

Plus:

• Engine headaches and performance whispers 🔊
• The best (and worst) liveries on the grid 🎨
• Ranking British drivers 🇬🇧
• Our favourite chaos merchants in F1 🌀
• And a fun dive into the youngest race winners in history 🏆

Insightful, opinionated, and occasionally unhinged — everything you need to make sense of Bahrain testing before lights out 🏁

Follow us on all socials - linktr.ee/everythingtrackside

Check out SLICKS Magazine @ slicksmag.com - use code ETS10 at checkout for 10% off your order

Preseason testing in Bahrain is done — and the 2026 F1 season is already throwing up surprises 👀

We break down reliability concerns 🔧, driver reactions to the new regulations, and what the early data is telling us about Mercedes, McLaren, Williams, Aston Martin, Alpine — plus Cadillac’s headline-grabbing debut 🇺🇸🔥

Who looks quick? ⚡

Who looks nervous? 😬

And who might already be in trouble? 🚨

Plus:

• Engine headaches and performance whispers 🔊
• The best (and worst) liveries on the grid 🎨
• Ranking British drivers 🇬🇧
• Our favourite chaos merchants in F1 🌀
• And a fun dive into the youngest race winners in history 🏆

Insightful, opinionated, and occasionally unhinged — everything you need to make sense of Bahrain testing before lights out 🏁

Follow us on all socials - linktr.ee/everythingtrackside

Check out SLICKS Magazine @ slicksmag.com - use code ETS10 at checkout for 10% off your order

Ferrari are fastest. Lewis Hamilton looks happy. Mercedes won’t stop running.

We’re not saying anything… but we’re saying everything.

In our first proper in-season podcast of the year, we unpack the F1 pre-season shakedown: who impressed, who stayed quiet on purpose, and who may have just sent the rest of the grid on a wild goose chase.

From engine mileage stats and rookie runs to Adrian Newey’s latest aerodynamic madness, this is Everything Trackside’s first deep dive into the 2026 Formula One season.

Hope, hype, and healthy scepticism—served trackside.

Follow us on all socials @EverythingTrackside

Visit Everythingtrackside.com for more daily motorsport news and articles

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This week on Everything Trackside, Seán, Mairead and Coops sit down with one of Irish motorsport’s true trailblazers — Derek Daly.

From jumping off a school bus in Dundrum and laying hands on a Brabham with a shamrock on the door, to lining up beside James Hunt on an F1 grid just 13 months after Formula Ford, Derek’s story is as Irish as it is unbelievable.

In a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation, Derek takes us through:

• 🇮🇪 Growing up in Dublin with no racing circuits, no money, and a very big dream
• 🏁 Santry stock cars, Mondello Park, Belfast-built Formula Fords and mining iron ore in Australia to fund a career
• 🚀 The fastest rise to Formula One in history — from Formula Ford to F1 in just 13 months
• 🍀 Full-circle moments involving Sydney Taylor, James Hunt, Eddie Jordan, and the tight-knit Irish motorsport community
• 📸 His favourite F1 memory — and why it’s not about trophies, but about the people beside him
• 🇺🇸 Life after F1: IndyCar, near-fatal injury, comeback, Sebring victories, and finding a second adrenaline rush in broadcasting
• 🎙️ Building a legendary broadcasting career on instinct, storytelling, and “the gift of the gab”
• 📖 His upcoming autobiography, Serial Survivor — a lifetime of chaos, courage, and coincidence captured at last
• 🧠 High-performance lessons from motorsport, now shared with corporate audiences around the world
• 👨‍👦 Being a racing dad, coaching without pushing, and watching Connor Daly forge his own path
• 🌱 The future of Irish motorsport, with glowing praise for Alex Dunne and the next generation flying the tricolour

It’s a story packed with grit, graft, good fortune, and that unmistakable Irish ability to talk your way into — and out of — just about anything.

Whether you’re an F1 diehard, an Irish motorsport fan, or someone who loves a great underdog story, this is one episode you won’t want to miss.

☘️ Three Irish voices, one Scot, and a whole lot of racing history.

Follow us on all socials @EverythingTrackside

Visit Everythingtrackside.com for more daily motorsport news and articles

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.