Hard Compound

What? You thought Monza 2020 was wild? Please. Join Brian and Patrick on the Hard Compound, an American take on Formula One. Another content-rich episode. We provide all the analysis, plus predictions for the next race.  Why this race will (forever) change Max Verstappen One of us was really wrong about the Halo How Zak Brown took McLaren from "GP2" to Monza 1 and 2 in just a few years R...

The Dutch Grand Prix played out exactly as expected, but the news before and since has been quite the shock. Kimi retires, Bottas booted, Russell still in stasis. (No, wait. Russell now officially with Mercedes in 2022, wow!) Join Brian and Patrick on the Hard Compound, an American take on Formula One. Our picks for Monza (old versus young) Why we hope de Vries gets that (expected) open Alfa seat...

We cannot explain what happened in Belgium. We know only that it always rains there, it is bitter cold even in August, and that its people are forced to dip their fries in mayonnaise. None of this makes sense to us, especially the race result. Join Brian and Patrick on the Hard Compound, an American take on F1. This week: George Russell on the podium! In a Williams! Kinda.  FIA just makes stuff up...

Join Brian and Patrick on the Hard Compound, an American take on F1. This week: Best drivers for the first half of 2021? The fans got it right.  Rankings for every driver in F1 2021. EA got it...less right.  We are still thinking about that Alonso defense of Hamilton at Hungaroring, which went on lap after lap after lap and allowed his teammate, Ocon, to get his first win. Aston's brilliant m...

Join Brian and Patrick on the Hard Compound, an American take on F1. This week: Ocon wins! Alonso puts on a masterclass! Williams points! Then points again! But, wait. There's more! So many big stories from Hungary 2021 and from the first half of the Formula 1 season.  We discuss why Toto Wolff will re-sign Bottas, not sign George Russell. Our big predictions for the second half of the season...

Join Brian and Patrick on the Hard Compound, an American take on F1. This week: Can reverse grids work in Formula One?  Will next year's spending cap favor the lean, scrappy (poor) teams?  We look back at that 1981 season ending race in...Las Vegas!  We can't wait for Miami Grand Prix Gasly and Yuki's great chemistry The rise of energy drink sponsors in Formula One Biased British F1...

Join Brian and Patrick on the Hard Compound, an American take on F1. This week: Ruthless Lewis is back!  The Stewards punted.  Bad day for the Brits. Worse day for Red Bull. Awfulest of weekends for Checo.  Alonso put on a lights out masterclass.  Leclerc was the best driver on the grid at Silverstone.  Has Riccardo (finally) unlocked that McLaren’s speed? Patrick’s engineering 101 this week: DRS....

Join Brian and Patrick on the Hard Compound, an American take on F1. This week: Which team should the (new) American F1 fan choose to cheer for? We make the case for every team in Formula One.  For American F1 fans, Haas is "the righteous choice." But there are many caveats. So many caveats. Our surprise anti-pick: Ferrari Our non-surprise anti-pick: Mercedes Obvious pick: Red Bull, the...

Join Brian and Patrick on the Hard Compound, an American perspective on F1. This week: Old man conspiracy brain: Russell will be out of F1 in 2022 Hamilton’s contract, Ocon’s contract, Lando’s crazy good season Don’t be fooled, Riccardo is still struggling We somehow avoided a ticket on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Engineering segment: explaining brake lock-ups to new F1 fans  Crazy prediction: B...

Join Brian and Patrick on the Hard Compound, an American perspective on F1. This week: Lewis Hamilton's record is not the same as Tom Brady's George Russell made a deal with the devil – and sided with the Daleks The joys of watching Gasly and Norris  Verstappen is the best driver on the grid and has been for at least the past 2 years. How America will dominate F1 – from the business and...

Join Brian (dad) and Patrick (son) on the Hard Compound, an American perspective on F1. This episode: America dominates beer. When do we dominate F1? We discuss why it's very unlikely -- on the driver side. On the business side, America's takeover of Formula 1 has already commenced.  Streaming F1TV on the way back from Charleston and witnessing that horrific Grosjean crash That crash. Ev...