Pondering Papaya: A McLaren F1 podcast

Papaya Rules on today's show ladies and gentlemen...whatever that means. After an enforced break that saw the host have a flight cancelled and lose his passport, Pondering Papaya is back to dissect the fall out from the Italian Grand Prix. Joining Sam to do just that is DNF1 podcast host Adam Burns and F1 content creator Sarah McKenzie-Foley. Enjoy!

You want a mid-season review? We’ll give you a mid-season review. An almost two-hour show looking at all 14 races of the F1 season so far. What themes do we notice? What races have we forgot? And what can it tell us about what’s to come when F1 returns. Joining Sam is the Independent’s F1 correspondent Kieran Jackson, the Mirror’s F1 correspondent Daniel Moxon and Quadrant producer/F1 content crea...

On the final day of the Behind the Papaya week, we are speaking to McLaren’s Director of Sustainability Kim Wilson. Kim told us the challenges all F1 teams face in being sustainable and how McLaren are using cutting edge technology to lead the charge. Have a question for the show? Email inbox@ponderingpapaya.com. You can also reach us on socials @ponderingpapaya on all the major platforms.

On day five of the Behind the Papaya week, we are speaking to the team that look after McLaren's cars once they stop racing. With McLaren arguably more proud of their history than any other team, it is a great task to keep their vast catalogue up and running but you will hear from the team that does just that. Have a question for the show? Email inbox@ponderingpapaya.com . You can also reach u...

On day four of Behind the Papaya week, we spoke to Amanda McLaren, sole child of team founder Bruce McLaren. When Bruce lost his life, Amanda was just four but as she got older, she was able to appreciate the incredible life her father led and the enduring legacy he left on the world. Have a question for the show? Email ⁠ inbox@ponderingpapaya.com ⁠ . You can also reach us on socials @ponderingpap...

On day three of Behind the Papaya week, we are speaking to Henry Chilcott who from May 2017 to July 2020 was McLaren's Group Marketing Director and during his tenure, Henry helped to make the Woking side one of the most marketable teams on the F1 grid. Now working at Formula E, Henry took time out of his busy schedule to chat with us all things McLaren and what makes Zak Brown so good and what...

It's a very special week here on Pondering Papaya as we take you behind the scenes of the McLaren team. Each day we are going to be bringing you an interview with someone who either worked with the team or had a special connection to it and they will give you a fascinating insight into what life at the MTC is like. On today's episode, we will be hearing from McLaren's former Pit Stop P...

Welcome to a very special week here on Pondering Papaya as we take you behind the scenes of the McLaren team. To kick the week off, we are revisiting some of our previous interviews that older listeners may already have heard but fear not as there will be two brand new episodes on Thursday and Friday. Each day we are going to be bringing you an interview with someone who either worked with the tea...

Oscar Piastri registered another P2 in his career but a slow pit stop may have robbed his chance of victory. To discuss that and more, Sam is joined by F1 Reporter at the GRID Network Esha Azeem and Pit Debrief Content Writer Magdalena Put. Have a question for the show? Email inbox@ponderingpapaya.com . You can also reach us on socials @ponderingpapaya on all the major platforms.

After their first one-two in three years in Hungary, #McLaren are back to try and repeat the trick in Spa and with an incoming Max Verstappen grid penalty, there is every chance they could do just that. Joining Sam on today's episode is the Independent's #F1 correspondent Kieran Jackson (@kieranrjackson) and F1 content creator FP1Will (@FP1Will). Have a question for the show? Email inbox@p...

Oscar Piastri is an #F1 race winner! A tense end left a sour taste in the mouth but #McLaren did earn their first one-two since 2021. To dissect all the action from the #HungarianGP, Sam Cooper was joined by DNF1 Podcast host Adam Burns and YouTuber LawVS . Have a question for the show? Email inbox@ponderingpapaya.com . You can also reach us on socials @ponderingpapaya on all the major platforms.

Tempers are being to flare between #McLaren and Red Bull as Zak Brown kept up his rather one-sided war of words with Christian Horner. To discuss that and look ahead to the Hungarian Grand Prix, Sam was joined by F1 content creator Sarah McKenzie-Foley ( link to her work here ) and #F1 journalist Rory Mitchell ( link to his work here ). Have a question for the show? Email inbox@ponderingpapaya.com...

A potential one-two became P3 and P4 after some crucial strategy errors from McLaren cost both drivers. Instead of the usual race review, we're live from the Silverstone paddock to give you a recap of the sessions as they happened. Joining Sam for free practice is the Mirror's F1 correspondent Daniel Moxon , for quali it's Crash.net's Lewis Larkam and for the race itself it's t...

High drama turned into disaster for McLaren and Lando Norris in Austria as a late collision with Max Verstappen sent the McLaren out of the points and out of the race. To unpack all the aftermath, Sam was joined by Quadrant producer and F1 YouTuber Matt Amys. There is also time for a preview of this weekend's race at Silverstone. Have a question for the show? Email inbox@ponderingpapaya.com ....

With one race down of the triple header, we’re bringing you a bumper pod today with a look back on Spain as well as a preview of this weekend’s race in Austria. Joining Sam to recap all the action from Barcelona is Peter Mujuzi from McLaren Fan TV and FormulaNerds’ Senior Editor James Phillips. Have a question for the show? Email inbox@ponderingpapaya.com . You can also reach us on socials @ponder...

McLaren are in good form but they arrive at a circuit that has not treated them well of late. With no points last season, no podium since 2011 and no win since 2005, can Lando and Oscar break that streak this weekend? To answer that and more, Sam is joined by host of the DNF1 Podcast Adam Burns. Have a question for the show? Email inbox@ponderingpapaya.com. You can also reach us on socials @ponder...

Amanda McLaren is the only daughter of Bruce McLaren, the team's founder way back in 1963. When Bruce lost his life, Amanda was just four but as she got older, she was able to appreciate the incredible life her father led and the enduring legacy he left on the world. Have a question for the show? Email inbox@ponderingpapaya.com . You can also reach us on socials @ponderingpapaya on all the maj...

In what was a race for the ages, McLaren came away wondering what could have been with Lando Norris not able to pit Max Verstappen to the win. To discuss the race in detail, Sam Cooper was joined by F1 journalists Daniel Valente (@F1GuyDan) and Ed Spencer (@EdSpencer99). Have a question for the show? Email inbox@ponderingpapaya.com . You can also reach us on socials @ponderingpapaya on all the maj...

There are bogey tracks and then there is McLaren in Montreal... Having failed to score a point since 2014, Sam is joined by F1 content creator Sarah Mckenzie and journalist Jasmine Hughes to discuss whether McLaren can lift their Canada curse this weekend. You can find Sarah's work here while you will find more of Jasmine's work here Mark Hamilton of the Scuderia F1 podcast also jumps on t...

The Monaco GP wasn’t exactly a thriller but it was nevertheless a great result for Oscar Piastri who scored his third podium for the team. To discuss that and more, Sam Cooper was joined by #F1 commentator Kai Bachini and FormulaNerds Senior Editor James Phillips. Have a question for the show? Email inbox@ponderingpapaya.com . You can also reach us on socials @ponderingpapaya on all the major plat...

Formula 1 takes to the iconic streets of Monte Carlos this weekend for the 70th edition of the Monaco Grand Prix. As McLaren lifted the covers on a stunning Ayrton Senna inspired livery, Sam was joined by Motorsport Week journalist Pablo Suárez and the Score’s F1 correspondent Daniel Valente to discuss that and more. Friend of the show Matt Amys also stops by and you can watch his excellent video...

The 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 takes place this weekend with two McLaren cars on the second row. To get a full rundown of the race and why it so huge, Sam enlisted the help of IndyCar journalist Archie O’Reilly to find out if McLaren have a shot of winning it. To find more of Archie's excellent work, click here . Have a question for the show? Email inbox@ponderingpapaya.com . You ca...

It was a case of so close and yet so far for McLaren as Lando Norris just missed out on catching Max Verstappen in Imola. Joining Sam to dissect the action is Managing Editor of the Women In A Man's Race Magazine Kimberley Wyllie and Total-Motorsport.com ’s F1 journalist Adam Dickinson so let’s get straight into it. That’s finally uploaded so thanks again both! Let me know any links you want i...

After a year away, Formula 1 returns to Imola for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. To preview the action as well as a look back on the impact of Ayrton Senna, Sam is joined by F1 journalist Rory Mitchell (@RoryMitchell) and the Grid Gab's Paul Landry. Make sure you follow Rory and subscribe to the Grid Gab here. Have a question for the show? Email inbox@ponderingpapaya.com . You can also reach u...

Lando Norris a Formula 1 race winner. Say it again, Lando Norris is a Formula 1 race. Joining Sam to recap a stunning race in Miami is Quadrant producer Matt Amys (@mattamys) and DNF1 host Adam Burns (@Adenski). Have a question for the show? Email inbox@ponderingpapaya.com . You can also reach us on socials @ponderingpapaya on all the major platforms.