Inside Line F1 Podcast

Max Verstappen won yet another race in a car that wasn't the fastest. But which car was the fastest in the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix? On Friday, it was the McLaren. On Saturday, it was the Mercedes, but on Sunday, was it the McLaren again? Or the Red Bull Racing car have a slight edge?

We believe it was McLaren's race to win...and they didn't. Yet another race where they didn't maximise their result. M4xsterclass in Qatar was the reason this time. Verstappen ensured he didn't lose the race lead to George Russell at the start and to Lando Norris at the restarts.

Along with Verstappen's 9th win of 2024, it was also his 1-place grid penalty in Qualifying that made the headlines. On Sunday, Norris' "10 second stop-go" penalty was another fiasco that dogged the FIA - did they exaggerate the safety situation by throwing a double yellow flag? Why were they late in deploying the Safety Car to remove Alexander Albon's broken wing mirror?

In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah present to you the review of the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. The unfortunate punctures for Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton, Hamilton's unforced errors in the race, Russell's lack of spatial awareness, Pierre Gasly's 5th place for Alpine, Fernando Alonso scoring in his 400th race in Formula 1 and of course, Zhou Guanyu scoring his and Sauber's first points of the season.

A lot happened in Qatar, on and off track. We dissect the chaos and the racing.

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(Season 2024, Episode 61)

Follow our hosts:  @f1statsguru  & Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: Mercedes

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Why did Formula 1 make a "U" turn on their stance against having an 11th team in Andretti joining the grid? Did Formula 1 "use" Andretti to lure General Motors and Cadillac to the sport? OR did Andretti use GM-Cadillac to get their chance to race in Formula 1? Of course, Andretti will have a team on the grid in 2026, just not with their name on it!

In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah discuss the politics of the "11th team in Formula 1" while wondering if Andretti's playbook to "force" their way into the sport is something other car manufacturers in the world could use!?

McLaren vs. Ferrari, Hamilton vs. Russell, Alpine vs. Racing Bulls vs. Haas, but of course, Leclerc vs. Norris - lots of battles left in the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship. They will be fiercely fought over the next two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

The circuit characteristics of the Lusail International Circuit indicate that it should favour McLaren, but could Mercedes continue their momentum into Qatar? They were quick in the fast and sweeping Silverstone, while of course, Ferrari considers Lusail as one of their "weaker" circuits. Let's see how it rolls in Qatar, which also, is a Sprint weekend.

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(Season 2024, Episode 60)

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: General Motors, Cadillac

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For the second successive year, the Las Vegas Grand Prix delivered an entertaining race. The cold temperatures and the circuit layout brought Mercedes into play and it was George Russell who maximised his chances - in Qualifying, by clinching pole position, and then winning from pole in the Race. Lewis Hamilton, who made two rare errors in Qualifying, finished second in the race after delivering a solid recovery drive from 10th on the grid.

The 2024 Formula 1 season will be remembered in the sport's history. For the first time in history, there are four teams with multiple wins and with 1-2 finishes in the races. And of course, it will be remembered as one of Verstappen's finest Drivers' Championship wins, after all, he's won the title in what is the third fastest car as per the classification.

In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah review the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix. The entertainment, the stars, the overtakes, the degrading tyres, Ferrari's pace but lack of strategy, the Charles Leclerc-Carlos Sainz love-hate relationship, Nico Hulkenberg and Yuki Tsunoda's points scoring ways, Pierre Gasly's third in Qualifying going up in flames, Aston Martin's no score and more.

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(Season 2024, Episode 59)

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

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Should Formula 1 have called this the Sin City Grand Prix!? Can Max Verstappen clinch his fourth F1 world title in Las Vegas? It is the *best* city in the world to celebrate, after all, or so we're told. In fact, there's a chapel in the paddock, too, should any one want to use it.

In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah preview the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix. What next will Verstappen say about the Las Vegas Grand Prix? Will winning in Las Vegas make him like the race a little bit more? It's a street race, and a low grip one at that, will this bring Charles Leclerc and Sergio "King of the Streets" Perez into form? Formula 1's unpredictability is at an all-time high and fans need enjoy this phase...and appreciate it.

The "longest race" in Formula 1 will offer a lethal mix of racing and entertainment. In fact, tickets are still up for grabs should any of our listeners be interested in experiencing this race live...and see the possible crowning of a World Champion.

Lando Norris' target lays ahead - with Verstappen 62 points in the lead, however, if Leclerc finds form and claims another street race win, it could be the battle for P2 in the Drivers' Championship that could entertain us in the final "night race" triple header of the 2024 Formula 1 season. Of course, given how exciting things are, we just don't want the season to end, do you?

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(Season 2024, Episode 58)

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

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Formula 1 graduates-to-be Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman have *one* thing in common in their season as team-mates in Formula 2, and that's Prema - the team they race for in the premier feeder series to Formula 1.

Fun fact - Prema has helped 20 drivers graduate from the junior series to Formula 2...and ultimately Formula 1. Their list of graduates is illustrious and it includes drivers such as Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, Esteban Ocon, Mick Schumacher, Robert Kubica, Pierre Gasly and several more.

Prema's Rene Rosin joins Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah on Inside Line F1 Podcast to discuss the team's 41 year old history, developing junior drivers for every team on the Formula 1 grid, the business of racing in Formula 2 and more.

After announcing their much-awaited foray into IndyCar, could Formula 1 be next for Prema? Rene Rosin shares the team's ambitions, growth plans and above all else, the passion they go racing with every single weekend, in every single racing series they participate in.

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(Season 2024, Episode 57)

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah

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We get it. Lando Norris is probably bitter at how his Drivers' Championship challenge is turning out to be. But how could he not identify what a great drive Max Verstappen put in, in the wet weather, to go from P17 at the start to P1 at the finish. Even Verstappen's arch-rival, Lewis Hamilton, doffed his hats off to Max for a mega race. Let's add Fernando Alonso, Charles Leclerc and even Nico Hulkenberg to that list, and mind you, these are stand-out "wet weather" racers in their own right.

"It's not talent, just luck" will continue to haunt Norris, we guess, but that's already the quote of the season for us. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah dissect Norris' luck in Interlagos, thanks to the various inconsistencies of the FIA. In fact, Norris must consider himself lucky to not get a "sporting penalty" for not following the Race Director's instructions on the "aborted start". Were the FIA too lenient on the McLaren driver?

Elsewhere, Ferrari's lack of fight, Haas' no points score, and of course, Alpine's double podium - that's discussed in this hour-long episode, including the multiple crashes seen through the weekend. Btw, what did you think of Lance Stroll's strange "got caught" in the gravel trap moment on the formation lap of the 2024 São Paulo GP? It was the most Lance Stroll thing to do, reckons @f1statsguru.

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(Season 2024, Episode 56)

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

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Ferrari has won 3 races in a row only two times in the last 2 decades - in 2008 and then in 2019. Could they do the unthinkable and win again at Interlagos? The final race of the ongoing triple header, the 2024 São Paulo GP, is upon us, and of course, it's also a Sprint weekend format.

Lando Norris needs to out-score Max Verstappen by 12 or more points every race weekend to clinch the Drivers' Championship in Abu Dhabi. While it's a tall order already, could Verstappen's driving antics lead him to score a self-goal aka a DNF? While we hope that there are no unnatural ways to decide this year's championship, a DNF will certainly make things even tighter for Norris-Verstappen and Formula 1.

In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah look forward to this weekend's 2024 São Paulo GP. Will Haas continue to shine? Btw, they're the only team on the grid to have both drivers as previous pole sitters at Interlagos. The circuit and its history is unmatched, and of course, it's known for the overtaking possibilities it offers. But how aggressive will Verstappen's defence be?

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(Season 2024, Episode 55)

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: Mercedes

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The 2024 Formula 1 season is turning on its head, and how. It's almost as though we don't want this season to end. Red Bull Racing was the fastest in the first third of the season, McLaren followed in the second third. Could Ferrari be the fastest in the last third of the season? It might just be so, and if it is so, how high can Ferrari and their drivers finish in the World Championship? Ferrari has overtaken Red Bull Racing for second place in the Constructors' Championship. Can Ferrari catch McLaren?

Carlos Sainz dominated in Mexico, maybe literally for the first time in his Formula 1 career. He was untouchable in Qualifying, and then in the Race. But did Max Verstappen cost Lando Norris a fair shot at victory by messing it up early race? Were Verstappen's time penalties justified? We hope the penalties in Mexico weren't a hangover of the penalties Verstappen didn't get in the previous races! And of course, Charles Leclerc honestly admitted why he couldn't match Sainz throughout the weekend in Mexico City. Btw, a great "catch" by Leclerc while Norris chased him down for second place on the podium.

In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah review the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix. Haas' double points score, the time penalties for Red Bull Racing drivers, Liam Lawson vs. Sergio Perez + Lawson's "finger" salute, Pato O'ward's random IndyCar vs. F1 reference and more. Absolutely love how Zak Brown photobombed Ferrari's post-race celebrations photo, and Sainz returned the favour.

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(Season 2024, Episode 54)

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: Ferrari

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"Monaco levels of downforce, Monza levels of top speed" - this phrase will be overused for the weekend of the 2024 Mexico City GP!

Will the "high altitude" impact the pecking order? Long straights followed by low speed corners, will McLaren bounce back? Or will Ferrari continue to be the class of the field? Will these two teams and their drivers take points away from Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen?

Also, could this race be Sergio Perez's final race in Formula 1? Will Red Bull Racing be forced to drop the Mexican should they lose P2 to Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship?

In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah preview the 2024 Mexico City GP. Outside bets for this weekend's race - Haas, and maybe, Williams also?

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(Season 2024, Episode 53)

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

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Ferrari's 1-2 finish in the 2024 United States Grand Prix needs to be celebrated, for the result itself, and how Ferrari set themselves up for victory. After mid-season struggles with bouncing, Ferrari backed their "Monza" upgrade to deliver in Austin, and it did. Ferrari was the quickest car around the Circuit of the Americas.

Charles Leclerc shot off into the lead after Max Verstappen ran Lando Norris wide on Turn 1 of the opening lap. LEC was not to be caught after this race winning move. As for Carlos Sainz, he used Ferrari's superior tyre degradation to undercut Verstappen and end his 7 race streak of no-podium finishes! In fact, Verstappen-Red Bull Racing's handling of Sainz's potential undercut threat was a clear indication of who their target was - Lando Norris, their title rival.

The resurfaced COTA offered lesser tyre degradation and turned the race into a single-stopper; and after their round of stops, Norris was, once again, required to chase Verstappen on-track and overtake him. Verstappen put up a mega defence, as he always does, and again, as he always does, stretched the rule book to ensure Norris was put in a difficult spot - yield and back off, or overtake off-track. Norris took the bait, and pulled off the overtake off-track. McLaren left the ruling to the FIA Stewards, who penalised Norris (5 seconds time penalty), but let Verstappen, who was also off-track during their skirmish, escape scot-free! Of course, all hell has broken loose on social media, with fans highlighting the FIA's inconsistencies over the years, and also, judgments favouring Verstappen.

In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah discuss the 2024 USA Grand Prix, Verstappen-Norris and why the FIA ruled the way they did, Verstappen's knowledge of the "rules of on-track engagement", Liam Lawson & Franco Colapinto's mega drives to out-score their experienced team-mates, and of course, Haas' super successful home race at COTA.

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(Season 2024, Episode 52)

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: Ferrari

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