In the Fast Lane: F1 and MotoGP

We close out Season 3 of In The Fast Lane with a look ahead to the 2023 Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix™ with AGPC CEO Andrew Westacott, who joins hosts Matt Clayton and Michael Lamonato along with our AusGP Access members to discuss the unprecedented interest in next year's event (03:17), Oscar Piastri's prospects in year one at McLaren (07:35), the extension of Melbourne's contract to 2035 and whether the race was a chance to move to Sydney (12:49), the 2023 music line-up headlined by Birds of Tokyo and Sneaky Sound System (18:45), the must-see areas and activities for first-time Grand Prix™ patrons (25:30), how fans can get up close to F2® and F3® in their debuts in Melbourne (29:00), and what the coming years have in store at Albert Park (32:39).

David Coulthard, two-time Australian Grand Prix™ victor and winner of 13 Formula 1® races, joins hosts Matt Clayton and Michael Lamonato to talk about whether Red Bull's 2022 season is the strongest in its history (01:43), Max Verstappen's controversial defiance of team orders with Sergio Perez in Brazil (04:24), the importance of finishing runner-up in an F1® season (08:06), his earliest memories of the first year in Red Bull Racing's history in 2005 (11:22), the legacy left by retiring four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel (17:50) and whether he expects to see Daniel Ricciardo back in F1® after 2023 (20:25).

Freelance MotoGP™ journalist, podcaster and analyst Simon Patterson joins hosts Matt Clayton and Chris Vermeulen to talk about Pecco Bagnaia's world championship win for Ducati and Alex Rins taking victory in Suzuki's final MotoGP™ race in Valencia (02:41), and recap the 2022 season with a game of 'Fact or Fiction?' discussing whether Fabio Quartararo or Yamaha lost the 2022 title (06:05), if Marc Marquez remains the sport's benchmark after a winless season (12:18), Jack Miller's standing in the sport at the end of his Ducati tenure (15:00), who is the fastest rider in MotoGP™ (17:05), Remy Gardner's departure from the premier class (18:14) and whether 21 sprint races for 2023 is a good thing (19:46).

The Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix of 2022 will go down as an instant classic, with Suzuki's Alex Rins taking his first victory for almost two years. Hosts Matt Clayton and Chris Vermeulen wrap up a breathtaking race in front of Phillip Island's biggest crowd in 10 years (01:45), while we catch up with a host of riders including Marc Marquez, Jack Miller, Fabio Quartararo, Pecco Bagnaia, Remy Gardner and many more, live from the Fan Forum Stage at the Island (15:12).

After Fernando Alonso started a record-breaking 350th Formula 1® race at last weekend's Singapore Grand Prix, we chat to his first team principal and former Minardi owner Paul Stoddart about how he reflects on his five-year run at the helm of one the sport's backmarker teams (04:37), the race to get to the grid for his first race as team boss in Australia in 2001 (09:16), his earliest memories of working with Alonso that season (12:25), the famous 2002 Albert Park race where Mark Webber finished fifth on debut (15:31), his memorable TV interview during the controversial 2005 United States Grand Prix (23:04) and his pride at the growth of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne (27:22).

F1® is desperate for an American driver to help boost the sport's popularity in the 'States. But should the rules be bent to allow Colton Herta onto the grid without a superlicence? F1® journalist and broadcaster Chris Medland joins hosts Matt Clayton and Michael Lamonato to talk through the background to the Herta story (02:10), what Nyck De Vries' debut for Williams at Monza tells us about the depth in European talent (10:14), if Jack Doohan is a chance to race for Alpine if Pierre Gasly sticks with AlphaTauri (17:31), and suggests ways to fix the grid confusion caused by mass engine and gearbox penalties (20:36).

Australians Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri are at the heart of one of the biggest Formula 1® 'silly season' stories in years. To make sense of a wild week of news on Ricciardo's future and Piastri's path to a full-time race seat, Scott Mitchell-Malm from the-race.com joins hosts Matt Clayton and Michael Lamonato to discuss where things unravelled for Ricciardo at McLaren (03:58), his options to race on or sit out in 2023 (07:09), McLaren's role in the failed relationship (13:13), the pressure Piastri will face when he debuts (17:37), how Piastri declining an Alpine seat is seen in the paddock (20:26) and the impact of the contractual tug-of-war between Alpine and McLaren on his reputation (24:06).

The 2022 F1® season is in its mid-season break – which means it's over to you to ask the questions! Hosts Matt Clayton and Michael Lamonato discuss a wide range of listener questions, including which F1® teams of the past they'd like to see on the 2022 grid (03:00), the verdict on F1® Sprint races after two seasons (05:36), the impact of the 2022 regulation changes (09:33), the best race of the season so far (12:22), what rule changes could benefit the sport (19:22), the impact F2® and F3® will have on the Australian Grand Prix from 2023 (23:34), if Mercedes can win a race or the constructors' title this year (29:50), which drivers and teams have impressed the most in 2022 (35:14) and who would win a go-kart race of the current grid in equal machinery (38:16).

Formula 1® mind coach Don Macpherson joins hosts Matt Clayton and Michael Lamonato to discuss his book 'How To Master Your Monkey Mind' (01:53), how he became involved in F1® through Sir Jack Brabham and which drivers he has worked with (07:00), the emotions of being alongside David Brabham at the tragic San Marino Grand Prix of 1994 (09:30), how drivers have become more aware of the benefits of using mind management techniques (17:15), Charles Leclerc's well-publicised emotional reactions to adversity (20:20), which drivers on the 2022 grid maximise the mental side of the sport (25:50) and how aspiring F1® drivers are employing mind-coaching techniques as early as karting (30:42).

This episode contains content that may be distressing to some listeners. If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Scuderia AlphaTauri F1® driver Yuki Tsunoda joins hosts Matt Clayton and Michael Lamonato to talk about the beginnings of his European motorsport journey in 2018 (02:40), adjusting to life far away from Japan (05:35), repairing his confidence after a challenging F1® rookie season (07:48), his relationship with teammate Pierre Gasly and THAT Silverstone crash (14:35) and his excitement of F1® returning to Suzuka for this October's Japanese Grand Prix (18:32), while we wrap up Sunday's French Grand Prix won by Max Verstappen (21:43).