F1: Chequered Flag

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen sits down for an exclusive chat with the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson. The Red Bull driver talks about why he extended his contract, his discussions with McLaren, his stunning appearance at the Nurburgring 24 Hours in May, and the new Formula 1 engine rules.

The Chequered Flag team are in Madrid for Formula 1’s first race at its brand-new circuit. Jennie Gow is joined by the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson and former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer to assess Kimi Antonelli’s remarkable momentum, George Russell’s fight to recover his season and Ferrari’s growing tensions. Plus, Andrew sits down with Max Verstappen to discuss his decision to remain with Red Bull.

Harry Benjamin, British racing driver Alex Lynn and F1 journalist Rebecca Clancy look back on a dramatic Italian Grand Prix, from Kimi Antonelli’s extraordinary challenge from the back of the grid to George Russell’s fight for victory. They examine Ferrari’s difficult home race, Max Verstappen’s pace, McLaren’s tense intra-team battle and what the championship picture means heading to Madrid’s brand-new circuit.

What would happen in one of the most anticipated qualifying sessions of the season? The historic Monza took centre stage on qualifying day at the Italian Grand Prix. Would the passionate tifosi be delighted with a Ferrari pole for Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc? With Kimi Antonelli taking a grid penalty, could George Russell capitalise and make ground up in the championship race? Or would we be in for a huge shock? Harry Benjamin is joined by F1 journalist Rebecca Clancy and British racing driver Alex Lynn to look back on a dramatic session, plus hear from the key protagonists.

Formula 1 heads to Monza, where the Tifosi are dreaming of a Ferrari victory and Italian championship leader Kimi Antonelli faces a charge from the back of the grid. Jolyon Palmer and Andrew Benson join Harry Benjamin to assess Mercedes’ title opportunity, Lewis Hamilton’s hopes of a first Ferrari win on home turf, McLaren’s remarkable form and Lando Norris’s new long-term deal. Andrew sits down for a chat with the world champion and we discuss whether Red Bull and Max Verstappen can compete at the front this weekend.

As championship leader Kimi Antonelli and the rest of F1 head to Monza, Harry Benjamin and Nicola Hume are here to investigate why the Italian has cause for concern.

Off the back of Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson’s stand-in success in Zandvoort, they also revisit the most memorable F1 super subs, from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Nicola puts Harry on the spot with her Formula 1 or Formula Fun facts - which are true and which are fake? Plus, have the Backstreet Boys nailed the perfect driver boyband line-up?

Was Kimi Antonelli the weekend’s biggest winner? Lando Norris took the victory, but it was the Mercedes driver who extended his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings after finishing second.

Can George Russell build on a hugely positive day in Zandvoort? After winning the sprint, he was narrowly beaten to pole by Lando Norris in qualifying. Kai Bachini and Marc Priestley reflect on a busy day at the Dutch Grand Prix and hear from both British drivers, as well as Kimi Antonelli, who starts tomorrow’s race in third.

Will Kimi Antonelli extend his championship lead as he chases a first Drivers’ World Championship, or can the chasing pack reel him in? Jennie Gow is joined by Marc Priestley and Kai Bachini to look ahead to the second half of the season. But first, they react to the news that Max Verstappen has signed a new Red Bull contract that will keep him with the team until the end of 2030. Andrew Benson joins from the circuit and we hear from Max himself. They also discuss what to expect from Liam Lawson as he makes his return to Red Bull. Plus, hear how one 12-year-old boy’s dream became a reality!

As the summer break nears its end, Harry Benjamin and Becky Evans debate whether more sprint weekends should be added to the F1 calendar and look ahead to the final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Will it be missed?

Becky also explains what it was like to drift an 850bhp Ferrari, before the pair imagine which F1 drivers would thrive in alternative driving roles and judge the remarkable, and more ordinary, road cars owned across the grid.

Plus, how did former F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen catch out Becky Evans in front of 50,000 people?