Mics Out

Another year of Formula E is in the books, but did the 2023/24 season live up to expectations?

The Mics Out team of Cian Brittle, Tom Brown, and Alice Evans look back over the major off-track talking points from the all-electric series.

How has Formula E progressed commercially? Was it right to draw F1 comparisons earlier this season? And what about the series' move behind a paywall in the UK? Listen on to find out more.

Talking points

The crowd at Silverstone didn't grow for the first time since 2018: did the circuit get its pricing strategy right?

The Mics Out team of Cian Brittle and Tom Brown discuss the attendance at last weekend's race, the off-track restructure going on at Aston Martin, and the scheduling woes currently being experienced by MotoGP.

Talking points:

No motorsport series can claim to have the level of visibility IndyCar will now enjoy from next season in the US. But what does the move to Fox mean for the series?

The Mics Out team of Cian Brittle, Tom Brown and Peter Jones unpack the details of this unprecedented new deal and ponder just how much potential the series now has.

Elsewhere on this week's episode, we discuss Las Vegas' controversial pricing strategy for this year's race and the wider issue of affordability in F1.

Plus, the 'BlackBook Court' is in session with its first case: should Alpine remain a works outfit or scale back their operation to become a customer team.

Talking points:

It's time for the most famous endurance race in the world: the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Mics Out team of Cian Brittle, Tom Brown and Peter Jones dissect the progress made by WEC in recent years and analyse the series' golden era ahead of the iconic race.

The team also offer their thoughts on the confirmed 2026 regulations in Formula One, the current political situation developing in Nascar around the charter agreement, and the confirmed 2025 schedule for Formula E.

Talking points:

The Monaco Grand Prix suffered yet another uninspiring race, while the Indy 500 offered up a thriller that poses question for the wider IndyCar series.

The Mics Out team of Cian Brittle, Tom Brown and Peter Jones discuss whether Monaco is fit for purpose in the modern era of F1, how IndyCar's media rights will be affected by the season so far, and the promising noise coming out of Formula E.

Talking points:

- Is Monaco fit for purpose in this modern era of Formula 1? (5:07)

- Porsche's show of faith in Formula E and what this means for the all-electric series (21:55)

- Using the Indy 500 as a springboard for growth in the wider IndyCar series (29:33)

- Breaking down the current media rights picture in IndyCar (34:41)

- Lancia's return to rallying, Andretti appoints Pat Symonds, and Mercedes' sustainability efforts (40:21)

BlackBook Motorsport’s Cian Brittle, Alice Evans and Peter Jones discuss the record viewership for F1’s Miami race, the progress being made by F1 Academy, and MotoGP’s promising start to 2024.

Talking points:

The most hotly-anticipated transfer outside of the F1 driver market has been confirmed. Where will Adrian Newey go now that his departure from Red Bull has been finalised?

Could a break from the F1 whirlwind be what's needed? Or, will "the most competitive person" Frank Williams has ever met seek a fresh challenge?

The BlackBook team of Cian Brittle, Tom Brown, and Peter Jones analyse the situation, dig into recent deals between Ferrari and HP and F1 Academy and American Express, and reflect on the BlackBook Motorsport Forum.

Talking points:

Opening a UK facility despite being rejected by F1 is a brave move from the US team, but will the series sit up and take notice?

BlackBook's Cian Brittle, Tom Brown, and Peter Jones discuss the likely ramifications, while also diving into rumours of Formula E racing at Silverstone, the release of the 2025 F1 calendar, and previewing the tenth edition of the flagship event for the motorsport business community: the BlackBook Motorsport Forum.

Talking points:

Claire Williams, the former team principal of her family’s eponymous F1 team and one of the most prominent women in the sport, sits down with the Mics Out podcast to discuss her career in motorsport, the challenge of growing female representation, and life after Formula One.

Talking points:

- Returning to the world of F1 through Drive to Survive (0:51)

- Is F1 doing enough to promote women in motorsport? (4:51)

- How F1 has changed since leaving the sport four years ago (9:01)

- Looking at Williams from the outside and the impact of James Vowles (16:12)

- Evaluating the Americanisation of F1 (21:34)

- Having patience during the dominance of Red Bull and Max Verstappen (25:48)

- Expectations for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari in 2025 (28:35)

- Is it more difficult than ever for young drivers to join the F1 grid? (30:48)

- Defining moments from her years leading the Williams team (32:56)

- Favourite drivers to work with during her time in F1 (36:02)

- Reacting to Andretti's bid to join the grid (37:34)

Formula One and MotoGP will now be under the same roof at Liberty Media, but what does this mean for both series? The BlackBook team of Cian Brittle, Alice Evans, and Tom Brown discuss how MotoGP will need to reposition itself, the likely incoming marketing overhaul, and whether this means Liberty is more open to selling F1.

Talking points:

- Discussing Liberty Media's acquisition of MotoGP (4:18)

- How Formula E has revamped its marketing strategy (20:33)

- What didn't work with IndyCar's Thermal Club experiment (34:16)

- How F1 is balancing its lack of competitiveness with an engaging marketing strategy (38:14)