F1 2026 Pre-Season Testing in Bahrain is complete, and the early signals from Formula 1 testing are fascinating. In this F1 podcast episode, we break down Lewis Hamilton's second season with Ferrari, Red Bull's long-run pace, Aston Martin's shocking lack of speed and reliability, and the biggest testing takeaways heading into the new season.

But the real question…

Is anyone actually showing their hand?

We debate who's sandbagging (and whether you can ever really tell during F1 testing), why Aston Martin looked alarmingly off the pace, and whether that Ferrari rear wing that literally flips its configuration is genius innovation or peak 4D chess.

We also get into:

🔴 Ferrari's new rear wing design and what it could mean for Hamilton's title push 🟠 Lando Norris and McLaren's early pace signals 🔵 Red Bull's long-run consistency (because of course…) ⚫ Mercedes' progress in the new generation of cars 🎙 What drivers are actually saying about this latest generation of Formula 1 machines

Are these cars better to drive? Worse? Faster? More unpredictable? The drivers have opinions — and we break them down.

Testing is the season before the season. Lap times lie. Fuel loads hide secrets. And every team swears they're "just running their own program."

Sure.

If you're looking for bold takes, data-driven analysis, and an unapologetically American perspective on Formula 1, welcome to Formula: America.

👉 Watch the full video breakdown on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@formulaamerica

📲 Follow us on Instagram for race week clips, news reactions, and F1 debates: @formula_america

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Let's go racing. 🇺🇸🏁

In this episode we break down the growing controversy around the Mercedes engine loophole, what the Barcelona shakedown actually told us (and what it didn't), and which of the new F1 liveries are hits… and which ones should've stayed in the design lab.

And then there's the bombshell nobody saw coming: Lewis Hamilton and Kim Kardashian — because apparently F1 needed more chaos off track too.

Technical drama, preseason hype, internet-breaking headlines, and a few strong opinions along the way. Just another normal week in Formula 1.

🎙️ Hit play, follow the show, and make sure you're following us on Instagram @Formula_America for clips, takes, and all things F1—done the American way.

The offseason might be "quiet," but Formula 1 clearly didn't get the memo.

We're officially halfway through the break and there's already plenty to unpack — fresh livery launches hitting the grid, the Barcelona shakedown looming large, and early clues about who's sandbagging… and who absolutely isn't.

We break down what teams are really looking for in Barcelona, why these early runs matter more than fans think, and what signals to watch before testing even begins.

Plus:

• Lewis Hamilton gets a new race engineer at Ferrari — what does that mean for his adaptation and Ferrari's 2026 mindset?

• Livery season is here — who nailed it, who missed, and who's already playing the hype game.

• And the big question everyone's whispering about… is Christian Horner actually making a return, or is this just peak paddock chaos?

We're back, we're fired up, and the road to lights out in 2026 has officially begun.

👉 Follow us on Instagram @formula_america 👉 Subscribe and follow on YouTube for full episodes, clips, and breakdowns 👉 If you love F1 with an American edge — you're in the right place 🇺🇸🏎️

Let's go.

We poured some drinks, dropped the filters, and went straight into the most controversial Formula 1 takes from Reddit, social media, and the internet's darkest corners.

This is raw, unfiltered F1 talk—explicit language, strong opinions, and zero concern for PR-friendly narratives. It's loud, honest, and absolutely not safe for work.

If you want clean analysis, skip this one. If you want real F1 fans saying what everyone's thinking after a few drinks… welcome to After Dark.

The F1 season may be over, but the chaos is just getting started.

In this off-season mega recap, we break down everything that's exploded across Formula 1 since the checkered flag fell earlier this month. From Helmut Marko's stunning exit from Red Bull to the controversies, power struggles, and political fallout left in his wake — this episode dives straight into the deep end of the paddock drama.

We also tackle the 2026 engine war, where multiple teams are formally raising complaints against Red Bull and Mercedes, accusing them of exploiting a potential loophole to squeeze extra power out of their future power units. Is it innovation? Is it rule-bending? Or is this the first shot fired in the next great F1 arms race?

Add in off-season maneuvering, behind-the-scenes tension, and what it all means for the future of the grid — and you've got an episode packed with insight, speculation, and straight-up racing energy.

👇 Don't miss it

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• Leave a review if you're riding with Formula: America

Because the racing never really stops — it just moves behind closed doors. 🏎️🔥

The desert lights were bright, but the drama? Not so much. Still, history was made in Abu Dhabi as Lando Norris clinched his FIRST World Championship, but not without having to earn it in the end!

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen delivered an absolutely flawless weekend — pole position, dominant race pace, zero mistakes. The guy led almost the entire Grand Prix… but came up two tiny points short of a fifth straight title. And considering he clawed his way back from a 104-point deficit, that alone is insane.

We also broke down Ferrari's late-season spark, with Charles Leclerc suddenly finding enough pace to nearly blow up Lando's title hopes all on his own. Plus, Yuki Tsunoda's comical — and chaotic — attempt to play wingman by slowing Lando down… along with the highly questionable penalty the stewards slapped on him afterward, and MORE!

Buckle up America, because THIS. IS. IT!!! The final race of the 2025 Formula 1 season and we've got an ALL-OUT STREET FIGHT for the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

Three drivers. One crown. Max Verstappen hunting for his 5th straight title, a run that would tie Michael freakin' Schumacher… VS. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the McLaren duo coming in HOT, hungry, and absolutely ready to rip the throne out of Max's hands. This is the heavyweight bout we've been waiting for all season. 🔥🏆

But the drama doesn't stop there…

We dive into the shocker of the week: Yuki Tsunoda OUT for 2025 — and suddenly Isack Hadjar is in the big seat while Arvid Lindblad gets the call-up to Racing Bulls.

Then we roll into our bold predictions, controversies, championship math, who needs a miracle, who's about to choke, and who's about to rise like a blistering sun over the desert skies of Abu Dhabi.

This is the FINAL SHOWDOWN. The fireworks. The send-off. The moment the whole season was built for.

🎙️ Tune in, fire it up, and ride with us into the season finale. And make sure to FOLLOW @Formula_America, leave a 5-star review, and share the show with a friend so we can keep this American F1 takeover rolling!

LET'S GO!!! 🔥🏁

Strap in, America—because the Qatar Grand Prix was supposed to be a snoozefest… until McLaren woke up and chose chaos. An early safety car dropped in, the entire field dove into the pits, and McLaren said, "Nah, we're good."

Spoiler: They were not good.

By refusing to pit, they handed Max Verstappen the Golden Ticket to cruise straight to victory. Oscar Piastri? He drove like an absolute superhero—one of the best races of his career—but strategy roulette meant P2 was all he could salvage.

And now? We roll into the FINAL race with three drivers separated by just 16 points. This championship is going FULL American Gladiators in the finale and we are here for it. 🇺🇸⚔️

Meanwhile, Ferrari continues to emotionally pulverize their drivers. Carlos Sainz snagged his second podium of the year, and secured P5 in the constructors for Williams!

This episode is pure energy, pure chaos, and pure Formula: America.

🎧 Tune in now and ride the roller coaster with us. 💬 Drop a comment and let us know who YOU think takes the title in the finale! 📲 Follow us on Instagram @Formula_america ⭐ And don't forget to rate the show—5 stars like a dominant Verstappen win.

The Formula: America squad is BACK and fired up for one of the biggest weekends of the entire season. Qatar isn't just another stop on the calendar — this one could decide the championship.

After that wild double DSQ in Vegas, Lando Norris rolls into Lusail with just a 24-point cushion over both Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri… yes, you heard that right: a three-way title chase with two rivals tied behind him.

And Qatar is serving up maximum chaos potential: 🔥 A Sprint Race AND a Grand Prix — a mountain of points on the table. 🔥 McLaren may be forced to run the car higher after the Vegas ride-height drama. 🔥 Hot track, brutal tire wear, and strategy that could flip the championship on its head.

This weekend? Lando could lock down the whole damn thing… —or— We could leave Qatar with all three drivers neck-and-neck heading into the final race.

Buckle up, America. It's about to get rowdy.

Don't miss this one. Hit FOLLOW, smash that SUBSCRIBE, and share the show with your F1 crew. Help us push Formula: America to the front of the grid — one episode at a time.

Buckle up — we just survived a wild, chaotic, Vegas-level Grand Prix. Qualifying came in like a monsoon, and Lewis Hamilton shocked the world by putting his Ferrari dead last on pure pace — the first time in his entire career.

Then the race dropped the hammer on lap 1: Gabriel Bortoleto went kamikaze into Turn 1, taking out Lance Stroll and triggering carnage in the pack.

But if you thought that was wild — Kimi Antonelli just laughed in the face of strategy. He pitted early for hard tires, then ran nearly the entire race (48 laps!) on that same set, telling his tires in the cockpit: "Please, just hang on." His grit (plus McLaren's post-race mess) landed him on the podium.

The bombshell of the night? Both McLarens disqualified. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were stripped of their results after post-race checks found their skid planks wore below the minimum thickness.

That move shakes the championship: Max and Oscar are now tied on points, with Lando's lead cut to just 24 points — heading into the penultimate race in Qatar, everything is back on the table.