The Ferrari challenge faded in China. McLaren and Lando Norris were a distant second best. Truth be told, Max Verstappen-Red Bull Racing went unchallenged in the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah re-live the most memorable moments from Formula 1's return to China. The F1 Sprint, qualifying, Sprint Shoot-out and the Grand Prix - Fernando Alonso stood out through ALL those sessions! Carlos Sainz's spin and crash, Lewis Hamilton's setup change that he will never repeat in life, Lando Norris' pole lap for the Sprint, Lance Stroll's lack of focus at the restart, Ricciardo's post-race anger and more.  Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 17) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

5 years and 105 races later, the Chinese Grand Prix is back to host Formula 1. The BIGGEST talking point of the weekend will be the Sprint format - and the sole 60 mins-long practice session for the team-drivers to dial their setup in.  A lot has changed in Formula 1 since the sport last raced in China. For starters, Mercedes aren't dominating, Max Verstappen is now a World Champion along with Red Bull Racing, Fernando Alonso is back...and Ferrari, well, they're still Ferrari - happy to be in the / lead the chasing pack instead of being chased themselves. Tyres will be another key talking point at the Shanghai International Circuit. The last time Formula 1 raced in China, it wasn't just the tyres that were different, but the wheel rims, too. Yes, Formula 1 raced the 13" rims back then (and currently use the 18" ones). The SIC is expected to be front-limited and heavy on tyre wear - will that bring Ferrari closer to Red Bull Racing? If the conditions are cooler, it will aid Mercedes and McLaren. A lot of stats and facts are packed in this episode, happy listening! Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 16) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

Is Ferrari really on the mend? They only scored a 3-4 finish in the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix BUT that finish came at the back of very good tyre degradation...and race strategy.  Now whether you've been following Formula 1 recently or for the past many years, you would know that these are two factors that have usually held Ferrari back on the Sundays. Helmets off to Frederic Vasseur and all of Ferrari for having turned these variables around in their favour. You know what made Ferrari's race strategy and tyre degradation even more impressive? The track was at its hottest on Sunday - and that impacts tyre wear and usage directly. Elsewhere, Max Verstappen won his 57th race in Formula 1; after scoring his 36th career pole on Saturday. Verstappen has been unbeaten in Qualifying in the first 4 races of the season. Is this a new streak building up? Sergio Perez is doing what's expected of him, but how has he turned things around? Who has picked up the pieces in the top-10 each time they were available? Also, why did Lewis Hamilton ask to swap position with George Russell? Why was McLaren unable to challenge Ferrari at Suzuka.  Lots of race discussions...insights, stats and banter with Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah in this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 15) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Ferrari

Former Williams and Ferrari team member and renowned Formula 1 broadcaster, Peter Windsor joins as a guest on the Inside Line F1 Podcast to preview the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix. He is hosted by the show regulars, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah. We are hosting an Inside Line F1 Pitstop at Khar SOCIAL in Mumbai for the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix. This is your chance to meet-interact with like-minded Formula 1 fans in the city and win merchandise via quizzes and conversations.  Limited early-bird tickets available on Paytm Insider. The event will be hosted by Soumil Arora and @f1statsguru (aka Sundaram). In this episoide, the trio discuss a variety of topics - the legendary Suzuka Circuit, the earnest and passionate Japanese fans the importance of Adrian Newey at Red Bull Racing over Max Verstappen Ferrari's puzzling choice of Lewis Hamilton over Carlos Sainz Daniel Ricciardo's struggles against Yuki Tsunoda and since leaving Red Bull Racing and much more. This episode is packed with banter, references from history (given Peter's illustrious experiences), insights and facts.  Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 14) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Mercedes

Fernando Alonso brake-testing George Russell OR was he fair? Williams Racing issuing a brutal team order - Alexander Albon replacing Logan Sargeant for the 2024 Australian Grand Prix. Mercedes' double DNF, Red Bull Racing - could they have won with Max Verstappen or was Ferrari genuinely quick to get pole, which they failed, and win the race by scoring a 1-2. In fact, why was Charles Leclerc comprehensively beaten by Carlos Sainz? Haas' double score, Yuki Tsunoda's points, Daniel Ricciardo's struggles and Sauber's slow stops - a lot of stories from this weekend's 2024 Australian Grand Prix.  Are you also convinced that Sainz's win wasn't the biggest story? For us, it wasn't because Max Verstappen retired and we'd have loved to see if the win was on merit. Sometimes, Formula 1 celebrates a non-Red Bull Racing win...just because. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 13) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Ferrari

Courtesy of the Doohans, Australia's Motorsport royalty, Formula 1 fans will be treated to Formula 1 + MotoGP demo runs through the weekend of the 2024 Australian Grand Prix. Jack Doohan will drive the Benetton Formula 1 car from 2000 to commemorate his father Mick's successes in MotoGP. Mick (Doohan) will be on a production Honda MotoGP bike (2016). Also, the 2024 Australian Grand Prix marks the start of Inside Line Club's race screening events in India. Soumil and @f1statsguru will host an event in Mumbai (Khar) while other cities of India will have race screenings. Yes, breakfast tastes best  when served with Formula 1 action! (Tickets out soon on Paytm Insider; check out our social media handles) At this weekend's 2024 Australian Grand Prix, will the chaos from last year continue? We had three SCs and three Red Flag periods while eight drivers retired. As Soumil mentioned it, this is the only "park" Formula 1 goes racing at. Could Max Verstappen equal his race winning streak of 10 races? Is it really that easy for him and Red Bull Racing? Also, will this two week break have helped Red Bull Racing negotiate truce between all the warring factions? OR will Jos Verstappen's possible return to the Formula 1 paddock (he skipped Saudi Arabia, remember?) cause more news and controversy for the reigning World Champion team? In Bahrain, it was Christian Horner under attack. In Saudi Arabia, it was Helmut Marko. Who's turn might it be in Australia? On-track, Aston Martin, McLaren and Mercedes have to chase Ferrari first - before they set their sights on Red Bull Racing. Will Carlos Sainz return OR will Oliver Bearman get a second shot for Ferrari?  The narrative has expanded to - who will finish P3 in the race AND who will be the non-top-5 team driver to break into Q3? Lots of facts and stats packed into this preview episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast with Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 12) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Mercedes

What a Formula 1 debut weekend for Oliver Bearman! For starters, he didn't crash - and mind you, he had two FPs less than the other 19 races at the world's fastest street circuit. He almost knocked Lewis Hamilton out of Q3, pulled off overtakes in the Grand Prix to score his first points for Ferrari in Formula 1.  And yes, he's scored more points in Formula 1 in 2024...than in Formula 2. Heck, he also won the "Driver of the Day" in Saudi Arabia. Thanks to Bearman, Ferrari now has three drivers in the top-10 of the Drivers' Championship! The 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was the best advertisement for Bearman's candidature for  a Formula 1 seat in 2025. Also in this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah look back at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Just how far up the road is Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing? Will Verstappen be challenged at all on-track in 2024? Will he score another "10 wins on the trot" record OR will he add more to it? Has Sergio Perez accepted that he's only ever going to be the "second-best" driver in the world? Is Mercedes the second-fastest team in 2024 or have they fallen back? Why were McLaren and Mercedes unable to overtake each other? Will the two Red Bull Racing and Ferrari drivers continue to occupy the podium for the races to come? Did Fernando Alonso quality and finish the race out-of-place for Aston Martin? Does Lance Stroll need "how not to crash" lessons still? "Can you bring it back, Lance?" is the most-epic radio message of the season! Why did the FIA not penalise Lando Norris for his apparent jump start? Why did Kevin Magnussen get 2 x 10 second time penalties? Also, Magnussen's heroics helped Haas F1 Team and Nico Hulkenberg score their first point for the 2024 Formula 1 season. In fact, Haas is only the sixth team to score points this season. Alpine's struggles, Daniel Ricciardo's spin and Racing Bulls-Yuki Tsunoda's annoyance with Magnussen's heroics. We've got a lot packed in this review episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 11) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Ferrari

Mohammed Ben Sulayem was jealous of the attention Christian Horner was getting with his scandal. So MBS decided to a scandal or three, for that matter, of his. Yes, it's the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but we expect MBS and the ongoing Red Bull Racing power struggles to take centre stage. Will the Red Bull Racing team agree to internal compromises OR will they implode and fall apart? Let's hope the end to their dominance isn't as rubbish as it seems from the outside. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah dissect the MBS and Red Bull-gate - what exactly is happening, and why? Also, we talk about the teams/drivers that need to do well in Qualifying and in the Race. Yes, 2024 is a 24 race long calendar but it is the early season performances that will give drivers without a contract from next year much leverage. The track itself is gorgeous under the lights, fast...and dizzy-inducing? The teams will bring low downforce configurations and that should change the pecking order in the race. In fact, after Bahrain, one hopes that the chasing pack behind Red Bull is able to chase without many errors. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 10) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Mercedes

Max Verstappen won the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix by a whooping 22 second margin to Sergio Perez. In 2023, a season he absolutely dominated, his victory margin in Bahrain was only 11 seconds. Could this be a sign for a long and boring season ahead? Let's add to the doomsday prediction with this stat - for the first time ever in Formula 1 history there was no retirement at the opening race of the season!  In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah look at some of the off-beat stories from the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix. Why? Because a lot of the stories and narratives seem like just a continuation from 2023. Off-beat stories that you need to know of - Williams' steering dashboard issues, Mercedes' cooling configuration going all wrong + Lewis Hamilton's broken seat, Carlos Sainz wanting a car he could overtake with, Charles Leclerc's imbalanced brake temperatures, Aston Martin's unrealistically large gap to the top-4 and of course, the silly situation between Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda. Max Verstappen dominating, everyone else chasing yada yada. But did the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix reveal a pecking order? Yes, it did so. But do we expect the pecking order to remain unchanged in 2024? Oh, absolutely not. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 09) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

Will Red Bull Racing reveal their decision from the investigation into Christian Horner's alleged misdemeanours at Formula 1's opening race in Bahrain? What's your take, will Horner continue in his role at the World Champion team or will he be asked to go? Of course, any off-track story of such a nature will take attention from Red Bull Racing's RB20, if it continues to dominate Formula 1. But can it, will it? The narratives at the start of the season could well be different from the middle and the end of the long Formula 1 season. In fact, the pecking order itself might be different in Bahrain given the extensive mileage all teams have had in the last week or so. The other key question is about Alpine. Are they really as messed up and slow as the experts are predicting? Will McLaren start the season strong? And what about Mercedes and Ferrari? The 2024 Formula 1 season is finally upon us...and remember, the Bahrain Grand Prix is on a Saturday! Tune in to this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast as Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah look forward to the key stories, talking points and predictions for the upcoming 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix. (Season 2024, Episode 08) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Formula 1

The 2024 Formula 1 season is upon us...almost! Here are our early and bold predictions for the upcoming season. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah lay down their predictions for the 10 Formula 1 teams, the FIA and of course, FOM aka Liberty Media. Will Red Bull Racing continue to dominate on-track? Will they continue to have "driver problems"? Will Lewis Hamilton's last season with Mercedes be a drab or will he actually win/outscore George Russell? Is Ferrari no longer a sloppy team under the leadership of Frederic Vasseur? But wait, we talk of the mid-field and the minnows, too. Will Stake-Kick's investment into Sauber go waste by 2026? Haas' biggest publicity will be on Williams' sidepod, is it? Will Alexander Albon leave Williams to race at Red Bull Racing OR Mercedes? His Thai roots should come handy, we guess. And where does this leave Carlos Sainz Jr.? Also, let's leave Andrea "Kimi" Antonelli alone. (Season 2024, Episode 07) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Ferrari 

How does one get hired as a Team Principal? Is Otmar Szafnauer in touch with Andretti to lead their Formula 1 team? What was the Pink Mercedes saga all about and how painful was it to lose 3rd place in the World Constructors' Championship in 2020?  In our part 2 of the Otmar Szafnauer interview episode, the former Alpine, Aston Martin and Force India / Racing Point chief talks to Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah about several interesting topics on the Inside Line F1 Podcast.  How many teams are sufficient for Formula 1? Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon - two solid midfield drivers that Otmar worked with, how was it with those two? Alpine's lack of a customer team, is that a competitive limitation in Formula 1? And of course, the many heads to Alpine - did that complicate decision making? After a blockbuster Part 1, we're back with Part 2 of the Otmar Szafnauer interview. For those who missed Part 1, hear the episode "Otmar Szafnauer on Lawrence Stroll, Vijay Mallya, Force India, Alpine and more". (Season 2024, Episode 06) Follow our hosts: Soumil Arora, Kunal Shah and Otmar Szafnauer Image courtesy: Formula 1

The GOAT to meet the Prancing Horse - has there been a more shocking driver move in the last many decades? We think not! Lewis Hamilton has finally given in to Ferrari's relentless pursuit to hire him as their star driver. Hamilton will end his dream relationship with Mercedes at the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season and race for the Scuderia Ferrari from 2025. Almost no one saw this move coming. But why is Lewis Hamilton going? What could be the 'release clause' he's triggered in his Mercedes contract? In fact, he just extended his contract with the Silver Arrows less than six months ago. We discuss the sporting and other reasons as to why Hamilton has chosen to make this move. As for Ferrari, why do they so badly want Lewis Hamilton? What's next for Carlos Sainz Jr.? It would be a bummer if he didn't get either of the seats vacant at Red Bull Racing and Mercedes from 2025. He's held his own against the might of Charles Leclerc in Ferrari, what else does he need to do to get himself a fast car? Who will Mercedes replace Lewis Hamilton with? Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the two hotshot drivers are locked in at McLaren for the long term. The other two, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, aren't available either. Does Mercedes want a star driver to replace their departing star? OR will they trust a young gun like Red Bull Racing did with Verstappen many years ago? Apart from Carlos Sainz Jr., the other names doing the rounds are Fernando Alonso and Alexander Albon. But could Mercedes bring Sebastian Vettel out of retirement and if not, give Mick Schumacher's Formula 1 career a second life? Toto Wolff has been very vocal of Vettel and Schumacher's talents. Now that he has a vacant cockpit, will he walk the talk?  In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah discuss all of the above and more. Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 05) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Mercedes

Here's our much-awaited Otmar Szafnauer interview. The entire interview is so good that we decided to split it into two parts. In part 1 and on the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Otmar talks to Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah about his journey into Formula 1, how he was interviewed and hired at Force India. At Force India, Otmar worked his magic - the team was called "pound for pound" World Champion and he proudly explains exactly why. Also known as "best of the rest" for finishing just behind the top-3 teams, Otmar explains the exact budget gap that existed between Force India and the top teams. In fact, Otmar is of the strong opinion that Force India would've been World Champions in Formula 1 had all teams operated on the same budget. In this episode, he also explains why he decided to move on from Force India / Racing Point & Aston Martin despite saving the team from shutting down only a few years ago. Otmar has worked with three billionaires - Lawrence Stroll, Subrata Roy and Vijay Mallya. He explains the difference in working styles between Stroll-Mallya and offers a comment on Stroll Sr.'s view that his son Lance is a future World Champion. If there's one episode that's a must-listen in this off-season, it's this! P.S.: Part 2 will release on 5th February, 2024. (Season 2024, Episode 04) Follow our hosts: Soumil Arora, Kunal Shah and Otmar Szafnauer Image courtesy: Wikipedia

Indian Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan aka King Khan is world famous. But did you know, he's the ONLY actor in the world to have his face on a Formula 1 car? Yes, here's one of our Force India Formula 1 Team specials. Back in the day, SRK, as he's fondly known, starred in Ra.One. As a part of his film's promotions, SRK's photo was plastered on the nose of the Force India Formula 1 car that raced in the  inaugural 2011 Indian Grand Prix. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora chats with Ravikant Sabnavis and Kunal Shah about Force India's maverick marketing activities around the world, their association with Sachin "#MasterBlaster" Tendulkar (yes, we LOVE it when Cricket meets F1), the team's junior driver program, The "One from a Billion Hunt", building Motorsport-themed games for kids at KidZania and exploring a Formula 1-themed rollercoaster ride among others.  Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 03) Follow our hosts: Soumil Arora, Kunal Shah and Ravikant Sabnavis Image courtesy: Force India F1 Team

In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora catches up with Daryl Goodrich, the Director of the "Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story" documentary on Disney+. It's the Formula 1 off-season and there's no better way to get your fix for the sport than by streaming feature stories from the sport itself. You've probably watched the Brawn GP documentary by now just as you probably saw Brawn GP stun Formula 1 by winning the titles in 2009. Tune in to hear Daryl narrate unheard stories from when the documentary was being produced. He shares some of his favourite behind-the-scenes moments from the Brawn GP documentary. He talks about his experiences of working with Keanu Reeves first hand and also about the Brawn GP stories he heard from the famous trio - Ross Brawn, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello.  Our favourite story? When a plumber ended up becoming the team's refueller! Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 02) Follow our hosts: Soumil Arora and Daryl Goodrich Image courtesy: Disney+

Of course, every team would be interested in hiring the legendary Formula 1 car designer Adrian Newey. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, we reveal how a relatively small privateer team called Force India F1 Team had a serious boardroom discussion on hiring Newey. "The best pound for pound World Champion team" was what Force India was labelled after it consistently outperformed its resources season after season and before the faded away into oblivion. One of the team's co-owners, (late) Subrata Roy, did express seriousness in hiring Newey at one of the team's board meetings.   The other story that is revealed in this episode is that of Gautam Singhania (of Raymond fame) being contacted by Collin Kolles to buy the ailing Spyker-Midland operation. It was Singhania who then introduced this opportunity to Dr. Mallya.  In the off-season, the Inside Line F1 Podcast will focus on feature stories from the paddock. In the early part of January, we will re-run some of our Force India F1 Team specials followed by our exclusive interview with the former boss at Force India & Alpine, Otmar Szafnauer.  Tune in! (Season 2024, Episode 01) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

"The winner is never who you think it is!" This is the 11th version of our ever-popular and most-awaited Inside Line F1 Parody Awards. This is also our most-researched episode of the year. But given that it's the off-season, this is probably the least-listened to episode of the season. Sigh!  EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼https://nordvpn.com/insideline Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah discuss some of the most-remembered but also the most-forgotten moments from the 2023 Formula 1 season. There are more than a few category - "FIA Moment of the Year", "Liberty Media Moment of the Year", "Most Forgotten Moment of the Year", "Celebrity of the Year", "Most Awkward Moment of the Year", "Recovery of the Year" and so on. Sit back and enjoy over an hour of absolute banter over the 2023 Formula 1 season. Did we miss out on your favourite memory (or nightmare!) from the season? Catch us on social media and let's know.  Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 66) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

How will one remember the 2023 Formula 1 season? We suspect that it will be more about the stats than the competition itself - that's for Formula 1, the category that Max Verstappen competed in. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼https://nordvpn.com/insideline Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! If you're the type who participates in Formula 1 quizzes, the stats from the 2023 Formula 1 season could either be very easy (which driver won most races?) or very weird (which driver has led more laps in Abu Dhabi than Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc combined?).  This is why Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah recorded the best and weird stats from the 2023 Formula 1 season for the Inside Line F1 Podcast. It's off-season for Formula 1 but we've got tons of content lined up, including an interview with Otmar Szafnauer. Look out for our specials, subscribe, tune in and of course, review and recommend us. (Season 2023, Episode 65) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Mercedes

F1 in Schools, have you heard of F1's efforts to promote STEM among school students? Yes, it is like F1 Academy but for engineers, project managers, marketing and sponsorship managers and so on. It is a unique global platform for the promotion of Formula 1 and partners to a youth market. F1 in Schools is not-for-profit and the only global multi-disciplinary challenge in which teams of students deploy CAD/CAM software to collaborate, design, analyse, manufacture, test, and then race miniature compressed air powered cars made from F1 model block.   EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼https://nordvpn.com/insideline.Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! In the first off-season episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora speaks to Andrew Denford, the Founder and Chairman of F1 in Schools about the program that has been operational for over 20 years.  F1 in Schools is present in over 60 countries and sees over 20,000 schools participating. The engineering challenge, which schools students from age 6 to 19 can participate, involves designing and building a model race car that is made from a block of wood and propelled by compressed air.  The challenge inspires students to use IT to learn about physics, aerodynamics, design, manufacture, branding, graphics, sponsorship, marketing, leadership/teamwork, media skills and financial strategy, and apply them in a practical, imaginative, competitive and exciting way.  Teams must raise sponsorship and manage budgets to fund research, travel and accommodation. This episode will shed light on how youngster can pursue a career in Formula 1...outside of the cockpit. Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 64) Follow our host on Twitter: Soumil Arora Image courtesy: F1 in Schools

That's all for the on-track action from the 2023 Formula 1 season. But the action will continue on the Inside Line F1 Podcast into the off-season of the sport. We've got a few Team Principals lined up as guests followed by Daryl Goodrich (Director of the Brawn GP documentary) and Andrew Denford (from F1 in Schools). But in this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, Kunal Shah and @f1statsguru review the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Was the race fitting as a finale for the 2023 Formula 1 season? Or was it underwhelming at best? Frankly, the Feature Race of Formula 2 in Abu Dhabi was far more fun! EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼https://nordvpn.com/insideline Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Max Verstappen's 19th win of the season, his overtaking of Sebastian Vettel's win tally of 53 races, his leading more than 1,000 racing laps this season and more. The 2023 Abu Dhabi was yet another race of dominance by Verstappen and Red Bull Racing. However, it was also another classic for Sergio Perez. Checo lost positions yet again, this time due to a post-race time penalty! It's the third consecutive race in which he's lost positions on the final lap! McLaren's missed opportunities with Lando Norris and their slow stop giving George Russell and Mercedes vital track position and points in their battle for P2 against Ferrari, Charles Leclerc's Sainz-esque approach to clinch P2, Tsunoda-Hamilton's last lap scrap and Fernando Alonso's brake-testing of Hamilton. A lot happened in the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix even if the overall race wasn't as exciting. 'Tyre management' was the name of the game, unfortunately. Btw, did you notice the new podium at the Yas Marina Circuit? Also, AI was in action for 'track limits' this race. Lots to talk about, lots to tune in for! (Season 2023, Episode 63) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Mercedes

Red Bull Racing may have wrapped up a 1-2 finish in the Drivers' Championship for the first time in their Formula 1 history, but the battle for 4th in the Drivers' Championship is still wide open. Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc are separated by 12 points for P4. Similarly, the battle for the 2nd in the Constructors' Championship is tightly contested. Ferrari and Mercedes are separated by 4 points only. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼https://nordvpn.com/insideline Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! And finally, if the minnows interest you (which we are sure they do!), then only 16 points separated Williams in 7th to Haas in 10th. Yes, they might not be heavy points scorers, but this is Formula 1 and in Abu Dhabi, you never know what result is thrown up!  In this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal preview the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It's the 15th race in Abu Dhabi - time flies! But what do you remember the most about the Yas Marina Circuit? The pit lane tunnel exit? Or the fact that it is one of the most-expensive circuits to be ever built...with little to offer for on-track entertainment? Also, if you're worried that Formula 1 will be over and done with after Abu Dhabi, worry not. The start to the 2024 Formula 1 Season will only be 97 days after the chequered flag drops in Abu Dhabi.  A Red Bull Racing-Max Verstappen win might be certain. And if so, Red Bull Racing will only be 1 win behind Williams' all-time race wins in Formula 1 (114). Also, Verstappen will overtake Sebastian Vettel to be the third-highest race winner in the sport - after Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher. Of course, he will extend his current record of most wins in a season to 19! But will Sergio Perez lose a spot on the final lap of a race for the third consecutive time? Can Ferrari finally perform in Abu Dhabi? They have scored neither a pole position nor a race win here ever! If they score pole on Saturday, it will be their 250th pole overall. Who will win the qualifying head-to-head in Mercedes? George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are both tied 11-11.  Haven't we already given you all the reasons for tuning in to this weekend's 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and of course, this episode, too? (Season 2023, Episode 63) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Mercedes

What a race, just what a race! The inaugural 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix was Formula 1 hitting a jackpot, at least on-track. Just the way a manhole hit Carlos Sainz on-track on Thursday. If the racing is good, do we forget the teething issues that Formula 1 faced in Las Vegas? Well, at least, in the first half of this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, we've chosen to do so. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼https://nordvpn.com/insideline Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! When last did we see the top-3 battle for the lead of the race in the way Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez do so in Las Vegas? Could Charles Leclerc have won the race if not for the second Safety Car? Why could Sergio Perez not keep the lead of the race ahead of Leclerc? How is it that Ferrari suddenly had better tyre wear than all their rivals, Red Bull Racing included? Why did Ferrari choose to not pit Leclerc under the second SC, just as Red Bull Racing did? Was Max Verstappen justified in taking pot shots at the Las Vegas Grand Prix overall? And of course, his shots at everyone who came in his firing range of opinions about everything Formula 1? How did Lance Stroll and Esteban Ocon recover from a Q1 elimination to a top-5 finish? Also, is the five-second time penalty justified or should the FIA necessitate a swap on-track? Just how was the racing so good? How did McLaren mess up the weekend? How was Red Bull Racing unbeatable despite being only-second quickest in both, the slow speed and straightline? And finally, the key insight as to why Red Bull Racing and several other finishers in the top-10 chose fresh rubber for the Safety Car restarts. Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah bring to you our 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix review episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast. Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 62) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

Formula 1's most-hyped Grand Prix in history is here - the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Yes, we mean in history. In fact, this race could change the course of Formula 1's business in the future. It's the first time that Liberty Media turns 'race promoter' for a Formula 1 race.  The 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix is so much more than just Formula 1. Fans will experience engagement and entertainment like never before. This race does have a 5-day paddock pass because there are activities spread over five days - from Wednesday to Sunday. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼https://nordvpn.com/insideline Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Did you know? Formula 1 is hosting a post-race 'recovery brunch' on Sunday. No, it's not for the drivers, who will race at odd-hours of the day and in cold temperatures. It's for the (paying) fans and patrons.  The 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix will be the longest race in terms of lap distance @ 309.9 kms. We harbour a guess as to why the long distance and yes, it is got to do something with the number of laps for the Grand Prix. On Tuesday, there's the 'Swing to Survive' golf tournament between Formula 1 drivers (Gasly, Albon, Sainz and Norris) and golf stars. Wednesday will see a grand opening ceremony followed by Thursday-Friday-Saturday of on-track action. Yes, the race is on a Saturday so bring back all your on-track action by a day! Will the cold weather bother Pirelli's ever-so-sensitive tyres? Will the high-speed circuit configuration favour a few teams over the others? Will reliability be an issue for the power units? And yes, can Lewis Hamilton out-score Sergio Perez by 6 points to keep his hopes for P2 in the Drivers' Championship alive? (Season 2023, Episode 61) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: F1 Las Vegas on Twitter

Max Verstappen may be running away with wins and re-writing records and history books in 2023, but there is so much more to this season than Verstappen's heroics. Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso, two of the several others who deserved their share or praise and limelight from the 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah review the F1 Sprint and Grand Prix that was hosted at Interlagos. The temperature effect was at play, yet again, as we saw teams with different fortunes and outcomes through the three day weekend. Either way, Interlagos entertained. Yes, built on land unsuitable for housing, Interlagos is definitely most-suitable for racing; irrespective of the race format. The F1 Sprint entertained, as did the Grand Prix. In fact, the last lap drag race between Alonso and Sergio Perez was super fun, too. Are Mercedes going backwards? Did Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri's opening lap retirement and subsequent rejoining after the Red Flag expose yet another flaw in Formula 1's rule book? They joined the 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix a lap down...despite starting from the pit lane on the same lap. Yuki Tsunoda was another such hero through the weekend. In the AlphaTauri, Tsunoda was battling the likes of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. If anything, Mercedes faced a Ferrari-esque race in Sunday's Grand Prix. Usually, Mercedes go quick in race trim, but that wasn't the case at Interlagos. Lots of narratives and fun moments from the 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Tune in and re-live most of them.  (Season 2023, Episode 60) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Aston Martin F1 Team

3 races to go for the 2023 Formula 1 season to conclude...or make that 4 if you are one of those who counts a Sprint as an extra race! Btw, is it the Brazil Grand Prix or the Sao Paulo Grand Prix - what name did you grow up to? Interlagos is a very popular racing venue. It stands for 'between the lakes' in Portuguese. If there's one circuit we don't mind the Sprint at, it's this. Lewis Hamilton's charge to the front in the Sprint and Grand Prix in 2021 is still fresh in our memory. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah preview the 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Will we see a different team step up to claim P2 behind Max Verstappen? Will Verstappen's dominant win-all-races continue at Interlagos? Yes, Red Bull Racing messed it up at Interlagos last year. But most Formula 1 teams don't repeat mistakes.  But what do the stats say? As @f1statsguru points out, the pole sitter of the Hungarian Grand Prix has gone to win the Sao Paulo Grand Prix since many years. If this trend continues, Lewis Hamilton will win top honours this Sunday. In this episode, the trio talk about the unique characteristics of Interlagos, expectant weather this weekend, Williams' chances and if Aston Martin's decline in form and results will continue. We've see three different pole sitters in the last three years - remember Kevin Magnussen? And we've had three different race winners in the last three years. Let's see who takes top honours this weekend...two times over! Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 59) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

The irony of it...! Daniel Ricciardo's perfect audition for Sergio Perez's seat at Red Bull Racing came at Perez's home race! A race in which Perez made an audaciously overambitious move at Turn 1 of the opening lap; a move that he thought would make him win the race. Instead, he found himself launched mid-air after colliding with Charles Leclerc's Ferrari.  In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah review the 2023 Mexican Grand Prix. Max Verstappen won both the races in Mexico - with rocket-like starts, to start with. Lewis Hamilton finished second to Verstappen again, only that this time around, his Mercedes W14 was legal. Yes, it passed all post-race scrutineering. After clinching yet another pole position, Charles Leclerc finished 3rd for Ferrari. From 1-2 at the start, Ferrari settled for 3-4 at the chequered flag. Did Ferrari's strategy for Carlos Sainz make sense to you? They let Lewis Hamilton undercut him in the pit stops. And of course, Ferrari's mis-reading of the crossover between the  medium & hard tyre - a crucial choice they made the restart. Did we witness 'Hammer Time' by Hamilton in Mexico? He drove a solid race on the medium tyre while his team-mate George Russell had yet another lacklustre outing. Russell only just fended off a resurgent Daniel Ricciardo in the AlphaTauri. Ricciardo's six points helped AlphaTauri jump two places in the Constructors' Championship. But did it also propel Ricciardo's chances at Red Bull Racing? Poor races from Perez only make the case to replace him stronger. Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg's tussle for 10th, Yuki Tsunoda's missed opportunity and of course, Lando Norris' recovery from a Q1 exit to 5th place at the chequered flag. Yes, Norris finished 12 places higher than his start position but he ended his 4-race podium finishing streak thanks to his errors in qualifying. A lot happened in the 2023 Mexican Grand Prix, including a fan brawl in the stands. Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 58) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

Will 'plank gate' continue to be a thing as Formula 1 reaches Mexico City for this weekend's 2023 Mexico Grand Prix? Yes, we think so - and it should be so. Is Formula 1 too complex for FIA to police it fairly? And 'fairly' is the word, especially with 50% of the cars scrutineered post-race in Austin failed the test. Does this system need to evolve, and if so, what's the most fair way to do so given Formula 1's logistical schedules? In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah discuss what sets the Circuit Hermanos Rodriguez apart - and why 'altitude' will be the buzzword this weekend.  The race to finish in P2 behind Max Verstappen is heating up. In the last 6 races, 4 different drivers have finished in P2. If Lewis Hamilton hadn't been disqualified in the 2023 United States Grand Prix, the number would've been 5. Also, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the 2023 Mexico Grand Prix weekend are landmark days in Formula 1 history. Btw, this will be the 1099th Grand Prix in the history of the sport.  Will Ferrari's struggles in Mexico continue? Will Red Bull-Max Verstappen's dominance continue? They've won four out of the last five races. Will we see a new pole sitter for the eight year in succession? And of course, will Logan Sargeant celebrate his first Formula 1 point in Mexico? Lots to look forward to this weekend and in our 2023 Mexico Grand Prix preview podcast.  Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 57) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

Lewis Hamilton drove a mega race at the Circuit of the Americas. Yes, the 2023 United States Grand Prix certainly gave fans a lot of hope - that Max Verstappen's Red Bull might well be challenged in the near future. However, several hours post-race (when most fans were asleep!) the FIA deemed that Hamilton's Mercedes was illegal - as it had excessive plank wear than permitted in the regulations. As a result, Hamilton was disqualified and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc joined him on this list. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah discuss the 2023 United States GP. The Sprint weekend did make it tough for the teams to fine tune their setup - in fact, four out of ten teams had setup issues. Haas & Aston Martin chose to start from the pit lane while Mercedes and Ferrari were too low and faced disqualification. But why does the FIA conduct post-race checks? How do they choose what cars to check and what do they eventually check? This topic is fairly technical but Soumil-@f1statsguru do well to explain the situation. Finally, the disqualifications saw a significant change in the final race result and the drivers who ended up scoring points. After 18 races in his debut season, Logan Sargeant finally scored his first race point! We are probably Lance Stroll's biggest critics, but credit where it's due - from the pit lane to the points is always a super result, especially when there are no mid-race interruptions.  There's a lot packed into this show, enjoy it!  (Season 2023, Episode 56) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Mercedes

It's been 200 races since the start of the hybrid-turbo era of Formula 1. Yes, believe it or not, about a fifth of all races in Formula 1 history have been powered by power units...and not engines. How was the hybrid-turbo era fared for Formula 1 and some of its most-important stakeholders? Whilst discussing this milestone, @f1statsguru also hosts a mini-quiz on this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast. The quiz actually highlights how lacking Formula 1 has been in the hybrid-turbo era. Beg to differ with our views? Let's know via our Instagram page. And of course, this long episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast also sees Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah preview the upcoming 2023 United States Grand Prix. COTA marks the start of a triple header and will host a Sprint format weekend for the first time. Will Max Verstappen win his first race as a three times World Champion? OR will McLaren's surge at the front continue and will they finally conquer the Verstappen-Red Bull Racing barrier? All eyes on Logan Sargeant and Haas F1 Team - the second of their three home Grands Prix this season. And of course, for Liberty Media, too.  Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 55) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

Seriously, how entertained were you by the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix? For starters, it delivered a great F1 Sprint. Then for the Grand Prix, FIA and Pirelli mandated stint lengths to avoid tyre failures. But even with so many stops, was the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix entertaining...at all? Max Verstappen won, the McLarens finished second and then the rest of the grid featured. The Mercedes' tangled on the opening lap with Lewis Hamilton accepting full blame for the incident, but did George Russell-Hamilton have a pre-race agreement for the soft-starting Hamilton? Lance Stroll's physio-pushing ways, Williams' score in the F1 Sprint vs. Alfa Romeo's double scoring in the Grand Prix, McLaren's 1.8 second fast World Record F1 pit stop, the humidity knocking out the fittest athletes on the planet, literally speak and more. The 2023 Qatar Grand Prix had a lot of narratives but litle on-track entertainment that we will remember the race for. Irrespective of whether you agree with Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah in this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, this episode is a must-hear for their banter, insights and Soumil's 'daddy jokes'. Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 54) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: McLaren

We expect discussions and dissonance around Andretti's entry in Formula 1 to hijack all stories from the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, including Max Verstappen's impending 3rd Formula 1 World Championship. But does Formula 1 need an 11th team? We're split in our judgment and opinion. On sporting grounds, we agree that an 11th team will do wonders for Formula 1 and upcoming young talent. But from a business perspective, it's tricky - that's where we had peak disagreement despite having no vested interests in Andretti's entry.  Why should the existing 10 teams agree to devalue their business? Why is Andretti interested in Formula 1 only now? Is the FIA pressurising Liberty Media to enter into an agreement with Andretti by making their (acceptance) stance public? Lots of interesting discussions that will hopefully give you a better understanding of the messy situation that Formula 1 faces with Andretti. And of course, this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast is also the official preview episode for the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix. A sprint race weekend, a fast-flowy circuit, and is resurfaced, re-kerbed and will offer a challenge via different track temperatures and of course, the first time running of the ground-effect cars. Will Ferrari's better tyre degradation prevail? Is Mercedes' claim that Ferrari have better tyre degradation since the summer break true? Will McLaren continue to eat into Aston Martin's points gap to 4th place? We reckon McLaren will continue to be the team closest to Red Bull Racing this weekend, too.  A new circuit, different challenges...and lots of sports washing. Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 53) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Andretti Global Cadillac

The 'driver silly season' for the 2023 Formula 1 season was barely a season at all, let alone be silly. But you can't call us silly for calling out Logan Sargeant's lack of performances this season.  Are we sharing an opinion on Sargeant's season, yes? Are we backing it up with data, absolutely, yes. But why would Williams be backing their driver who isn't performing? Their car is progressing up to the midfield and so should both their drivers, isn't it?  How has Logan Sargeant performed against George Russell in his first year at Williams? And what about Nicholas Latifi? We all know his stats aren't impressive against the mighty Alexander Albon.  In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah discuss Logan Sargeant's performances in 2023 or lack thereof, what Williams' future should be in 2024 and more. Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 52) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Williams Racing

Sergio Perez's driving went from bad in Singapore to worse...in Suzuka. Red Bull Racing were cheeky with Perez's double retirement and time penalty...in Suzuka. McLaren scored their best result of the season, a double podium,...in Suzuka. Fernando Alonso finally lost his cool with Aston Martin on the radio...in Suzuka. The tension brewed over between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell...in Suzuka. Max Verstappen resumed to his dominant winning ways...in Suzuka. Alpine had a team-mate fall-out on the last lap of the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix...in Suzuka. And of course, Sebastian Vettel started a 'bee hotel'...in Suzuka. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah review the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix. Yes, we're a day late than usual but Soumil was busy with MotoGP's Grand Prix of India. Psst! He was the 'voice of MotoGP' in India. Lots of fun stories from the paddock, championship narratives and facts-stats packed into this episode of our podcast. If you missed our race screenings for the last couple of races, we'll be back our events in Mumbai from the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix. Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 51) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Aston Martin Formula One Team

The Formula 1 circus travels Far East to race in Suzuka, one of the most-legendary circuits on the calendar. The Japanese Formula 1 fans are special for their love for the sport transcends team-driver boundaries.  But of course, they've got Yuki Tsunoda to cheer for, for yet another race. But will he be there in 2024? Should an extension announcement come this weekend? The key question, though, is - will Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen resume their dominant ways? OR has the 'flexi' technical directive literally slowed them down this much?  Will Charles Leclerc bounce back at Ferrari? We can't recollect when last was he out-qualified and out-scored by a team-mate for three races in row. Yes, Carlos Sainz has been in splendid form post-summer break. What about Aston Martin? Will McLaren catch them by the end of the season in the Constructors' Championship? And of course, Alpine needs to resurrect form and luck as well, not necessarily in that order though. Suzuka is a gorgeous circuit, the corners are iconic, technical and fast-flowy. There's every reason that the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix will be a belter! Tune in. (Season 2023, Episode 50) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

OMG! It actually happened, Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen's record-breaking race-winning streak ended in Singapore. Singapore remains Verstappen and Red Bull Racing's unconquered frontier for yet another year. Remember 1988 and McLaren's race-winning streak then? Ferrari broke the streak back then. In 2023, it's Ferrari that broke Red Bull-Verstappen's race winning streak. Above all else, the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix was an absolute thriller. Four cars were battling for the race win in the last 4 laps of the race. When last did we see that in recent times?  In this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah dissect the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix. How did Carlos Sainz win this race for Ferrari? We explain his 'smooth operation'. Just why was Carlos Sainz driving so slow in the first half of the race?  Why did Red Bull Racing have a sub-standard car in Singapore. How did McLaren score yet another podium with Lando Norris? Why did Mercedes pit George Russell and Lewis Hamilton under the VSC (courtesy: Esteban Ocon)? Helmets off to Liam Lawson and Oscar Piastri for scoring points on their Singapore debut. And of course, an ode to the fantastic qualifying session from Saturday, we discuss that, too. We love Singapore, don't you, too? Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 49) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Ferrari

Max Verstappen is yet to win in Singapore. Will we repeat this stat after the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix though? Heck, VER is yet to take pole position at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. In fact, Red Bull Racing's last pole was in 2013 (Sebastian Vettel). However, there's more belief that VER will extend his record-breaking race winning streak to 11 wins this Sunday. But also, Singapore might be his toughest race to win...yet. Firstly, VER's five race winning streak of 2022 ended at Singapore. Could it be a repeat this year? Of course, this could be for no fault of his own, as we saw in 2022. Secondly, will the driver breaking VER's ongoing race winning streak become popular or unpopular for breaking the streak? Yes, it is about who breaks the streak. If it's Sergio Perez, he will be unpopular, however, if it's any other driver, he'll be a popular one! The perils of racing along side Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing, we guess. The Marina Bay Street Circuit features a new layout this weekend. Williams believe that the new layout will be more suitable to the FW45 than the old one. The organisers have replaced four 90 degree slow corners with a 400 metre long straight. They say that the layout change is to accommodate ongoing developments on the streets of Singapore, or is it really? They do anything these days to boost 'overtaking' in Formula 1. A high downforce circuit that's tough on it's tyres. Add to it the physical challenge for the drivers - the heat and humidity. Throw in the usual narratives, but also, the nearest home race for Zhou Guanyu and Alexander Albon. C'mon, Alfa Romeo Racing, if there's a race to announce Zhou's extension, it's this! This weekend's going to be another epic Formula 1 race, and our race preview, will bring you closer to the upcoming race...and the sport. Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 48) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

Have you ever wondered, what IF the lights go off mid-race at the Marina Bay Circuit? How does a driver reorient himself with the direction of the race after a spin?  Well, it's race week for the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix. We've got some of the best Singapore Grand Prix stories with Steve Slater, the 'voice of F1' for Star Sports, Fox Sports and many more. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah are in conversation with Steve Slater, who was a consultant with the Singapore Grand Prix organisers for several years. Why are so many corners 90-degrees? Why is the Singapore Grand Prix a 'night race'? Yes, lots of fun questions and insights from Steve himself. Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 47) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Steve Slater, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

The 2023 Italian Grand Prix was just how Formula 1 races should be. No, seriously! There were no overtakes, but there were edge-of-seat on-track battles. And yes, that's how Formula 1 should be. The focus should be on the battles, whether or not they result in an overtake. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah discuss the 2023 Italian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen's awesome 10 race wins in a row record, Carlos Sainz's entertaining driving, Sergio Perez's recovery and Alexander Albon's DRS train. This race was also the second of the 'ATA' or Alternate Tyre Allocation races, basically, teams had fewer sets of tyres to use. How did the ATA work? Did it spice up the action OR was it status quo for Formula 1? Alpine's double no-score, Lewis Hamilton's recovery drive with Mercedes and more. Lots to tune in to. (Season 2023, Episode 46) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

The 'Temple of Speed' and the 'Tifosi' - will this unique love affair and emotion be rewarded with success this weekend at the 2023 Italian Grand Prix? That's what the tifosi and their beloved Scuderia Ferrari would be hoping for. But given Ferrari's form, the tifosi might be better off staying at home! In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah preview the 2023 Italian Grand Prix. Will Max Verstappen claim the record for 10 successive wins in Formula 1? Or can someone actually halt his race-winning streak? Of course, the 'curse of Monza' is yet to be broken. But VER losing due to the Monza curse would be pure cruel! But which team will be second-fastest at Monza? McLaren and Aston Martin have had a straightline speed deficit. Will their upgrades bring them into play? If Ferrari keep fumbling, is Mercedes the default team to claim P2? Could Williams have an outside chance given their recent recovery? Lots of narratives and emotions will be at play this weekend in Monza, and maybe some rain, too? Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 45) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Ferrari

The 2023 Dutch Grand Prix was the best race of the season, wasn't it? We had a mad crowd show up for Max Verstappen's annual fan meet at Circuit Zandvoort. We had mixed weather conditions. As always, different drivers challenged Max Verstappen throughout the weekend - but, as always, just one driver triumphed! Btw, we have a short byte (a replay) from Dr. Helmut Marko - on the comparison between two of his star drivers, Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel.  Max Verstappen is now on a 9 race winning streak - a record that he's equalled with Sebastian Vettel and Alberto Ascari. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso finished in second - after missing out on the podium in the last 4 races. Btw, did you notice ALO's moves into Turn 3 all through the race? Mclaren and Mercedes' challenge fumbled after a wrong/late tyre call in the opening laps of the race. Alpine's Pierre Gasly was one of the few to make the correct call and he was rewarded with a rare podium finish! And of course, Ferrari fumbled with Charles Leclerc (yet again!), in the pits, while the Monegasque fumbled on track, not before being furious on the radio. Lots of action throughout the field. Liam Lawson's debut was baptism by water. For more such jokes, tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 44) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

It can't get bigger than this! The annual Max Verstappen fan meet, also known as the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, will be the biggest Max Verstappen celebration at a race venue till date. Will Max Verstappen continue his dominant run (duh!) or can someone challenge him this weekend? Zandvoort comes closest to downforce sensitivity after Budapest and Monaco. If those races are anything to go by, the Dutch Grand Prix should be a closely fought battle, at least on Saturday. How close will the drivers be in Q1? Zandvoort is also the second-shortest circuit after Monaco. And it's got a short-tight pit lane (13 second time loss); the pit lane speed limit is lowered to 60 kmph. 'Momentum' will be the key talk this weekend, after a three weekend long summer break. Who will hit peak momentum again and who might take time? Let's see how they roll in Zandvoort; 10 races in 13 weeks is a busy time, so early momentum picking would be key. Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 43) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

The summer break is over! It finally is RACE WEEK! From now till the end of the 2023 Formula 1 season, there are more 'race weeks' than non-race weeks. Yes, you can do the math. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah tell you the key stories to watch F1 for after the summer break. Yes, Max Verstappen-Red Bull Racing's dominance might be boring for a few fans, but there's so much more of the season that will unravel over the next half of the season. If the sporting side of Formula 1 interests you, here are a few stories to pick from. What race will Max Verstappen not win? Will Aston Martin get back on the podium & where will Mclaren's recovery eventually lead them to? Finally, will Ferrari go 2 tenths quicker as promised/predicted by Frederic Vasseur? If the political side interests you, here are some stories to pick from. The results of the 2022 budget cap and related breaches will be announced soon enough. As will the fate of the 11th and 12th teams in Formula 1, if so.  If you like rookie drivers, which rookie will get a chance in FP1 and in which race? Could a rookie usurp one of the many race seats that are yet to be extended for 2024? In fact, driver contract extensions will be a story - the most-interesting one of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes, of course.  Basically, there are tons of narratives and stories that will headline in the second-half of the season. If you wish to add to our list, tag us on social media (@insidelinef1pod) and let's know. Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 42) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Mclaren

We are only half way through the 2023 Formula 1 season - and just so many stories, narratives and off-track incidents have shared the limelight.  In this summer break, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah got together in a studio in Mumbai to record the mid-season review episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast. Do you remember the multiple time penalties that Esteban Ocon received in the first race of the season? What about the time when Formula 1 cars were too wide for the grid boxes? And of course, the track limits penalties in Austria. Apart from Max Verstappen-Red Bull Racing's dominant show, a lot has happened in the 2023 Formula 1 season and some of the funniest-whackiest bits have made it to this mid-season review episode.  Also in the summer break, we celebrated Jehan Daruvala's illustrious Motorsport career @ Khar SOCIAL. Along with the podcast, the Inside Line Club's Pitstop events have seen tremendous growth this year. Thank you for your continued patronage - online and offline! Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 41) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora,@f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

Ravi Shastri, India's Cricketing legend and World Championship winning team member, was Formula 1's official guest at the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix. Of course, you will remember him from his cameo on F1 TV's broadcast from Spa.  In collaboration with Formula 1, Ravi Shastri was a guest on the Inside Line F1 Podcast. In this episode, Ravi discusses with Soumil Arora his passion for Formula 1 and how it started over four decades ago. He talks about his favourite team-drivers & how intensely entertaining Formula 1 is. Join our most-special Inside Line Club's Pitstop event till date! Jehan Daruvala will share his Motorsport stories at our event on Wednesday, 9th August from 6.00 pm onward. Tickets on Paytm Insider. See you at Khar SOCIAL. Ravi also shares how Martin Brundle's much-revered commentary shaped his own commentary style for Cricket. Soumil made Ravi wear his coaching hat to discuss careers of drivers such as Charles Leclerc, Daniel Ricciardo, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. What advice would he give them after all? Tell us what your favourite Ravi Shastri-F1 story is on our social media handles and why it isn't about his bond with Mika Hakkinen!  Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 40) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora Image courtesy: Formula 1

After going fastest in Qualifying on Friday, Max Verstappen won the F1 Sprint on Saturday. He followed that up with a dominant display in the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday - a race that he won comfortably from 6th place. Yet another race winning trophy was broken, but only after Verstappen equalled a record held by Fernando Alonso; that of winning a race from maximum different grid starting positions (9).  In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah review the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix - with stats inputs from @f1statsguru. We discuss the relationship between Gianpiero Lambiase and Max Verstappen - and their entertainment over the radio at Spa. Does GP speak as though he's Verstappen's biggest rival whilst being his most-able wingman and ally? McLaren's loss of pace, Ferrari's podium with Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz's opening lap error, Oscar Piastri's podium in the F1 Sprint followed by a start incident at La Source and more. Also, Alexander Albon's overtaking moves, Yuki Tsunoda's point for 10th place and in general, the joy of racing around the magnificent Spa Francorchamps. Btw, did Nico Rosberg half-jinx McLaren at Spa?  Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 39) Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

Should Eau Rouge be changed? Safety will be a key discussion each time we visit the iconic Spa Francorchamps...and till such time the circuit does make changes to one of the best Formula 1 corners on the calendar. But really, does Eau Rouge need a change?  We're hosting live race screenings for Formula 1 fans in Mumbai for the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix. Where: Malad and Dadar SOCIAL When: 30th July, 5.30 pm onward (IST) Soumil Arora, Kunal Shah, Sundaram Ramaswami and Siddharth Shah will host a pre/post race interaction & F1 quiz for all attendees. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil, @f1statsguru and Kunal preview the upcoming 2023 Belgian Grand Prix. Will Max Verstappen-Red Bull Racing continue their winning ways? Will Sergio Perez 'ace' both qualifying sessions? But what about P2? The battle for P2 has gotten ever-interesting. As Aston Martin has dropped off, Mclaren have risen through the ranks. We believe that track position is often the key deciding factor in which team-driver finishes just after the Red Bull(s).  And of course, it's the Sprint format this weekend. This means that all three days of the Grand Prix weekend will have on-track action that matters. And of course, which team will get their setup choices wrong in the lone FP1 this weekend? Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 38) Follow our host on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Mercedes

Max Verstappen is breaking Formula 1 records with Red Bull Racing. Lando Norris is breaking Formula 1 trophies for Max Verstappen! We're hosting live race screenings for Formula 1 fans in Mumbai for the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix. Where: Malad and Dadar SOCIAL When: 30th July, 5.30 pm onward (IST) Soumil Arora, Kunal Shah, Sundaram Ramaswami and Siddharth Shah will host a pre/post race interaction & F1 quiz for all attendees. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah review the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix where admittedly, the Saturday was definitely more exciting than the Sunday.  Max Verstappen running away at the start, Oscar Piastri jumping into P2, Lewis Hamilton's pole position, Zhou Guanyu being overzealous on the brakes and more. Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 37) Follow our host on Twitter: Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

All eyes on Daniel Ricciardo this weekend. After all, he's making a comeback to Formula 1 at the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix. Admittedly, it's an AlphaTauri, so will Ricciardo exit in Q1...and still out-qualify Yuki Tsunoda? A bittersweet moment that would be.  We're hosting a live race screening for Formula 1 fans in Mumbai for the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix. Where: Versova SOCIAL When: 23rd July, 5.30 pm onward (IST) Soumil Arora will host a pre/post race interaction & F1 quiz for all attendees. Get your tickets on Paytm Insider. Also, all eyes on Mclaren. Can their form from Austria and Silverstone continue at the Hungaroring? Their upgrades have brought them into play for P2 - and they've got another upgrade planned for Hungary.  As for Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing, they will continue to break records. But the one record Sergio Perez needs to break is that of not featuring in Q3 for five consecutive races. Yes, in the same car that his team-mate has scored pole positions in. 'Monaco without the walls' 'A go-kart circuit' 'Tight and twisty' are some of the many descriptions you will hear during the weekend of the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix. Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 36) Follow our host on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

Lando Norris, what a drive, what a race! The first four and the last eight laps of the race were absolute platinum class. How on earth did Lando Norris in a Mclaren on the hard tyre keep a charging Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes on the soft tyre at bay? Also, could Norris have challenged Max Verstappen at the restart had he taken the soft tyre? Post-race, Norris was still convinced that soft was the tyre to be on and not the hard! How on earth did Alexander Albon manage to out-score the Ferraris? Williams' 800th Grand Prix couldn't have hoped for a better result. And of course, how on earth did Ferrari lose ground? The Italian team were so lost on strategy that Carlos Sainz even forgot what Plan B stood for! Mercedes consolidated their second place in the Constructors' Championship with yet another podium but without a funny radio exchange between Hamilton and their pit wall. And finally, Aston Martin have gone two races without scoring a podium - their longest non-podium streak of the season. Tune in! (Season 2023, Episode 35) Follow our host on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah Image courtesy: Mclaren