Inside Line F1 Podcast

If we are treated to a Mercedes vs. Red Bull Racing contest in 2017, it could well be an 'engine vs. aero' battle given Mercedes' superior power unit and Red Bull Racing's aero prowess. But well, Bernie Ecclestone doesn't believe that Mercedes will be challenged this season too. Sigh! On this 'engine vs. aero' debate, we're reminded of Enzo Ferrari's famous quote 'aerodynamics are for people who c...

After bringing to you Nico 'The Hulk' Hulkenberg last week, we bring to you Sergio 'Checo' Perez this week. Tune in to hear Checo's favourite radio message and how he played a prank on his former team, Sauber. And of course, no prizes for guessing which driver's radio he would enjoying listening to the most. Apart from Checo's bytes, Mithila and Kunal discuss how Felipe Massa might just go from Fo...

As the Hamilton vs. Rosberg title battle goes down to the wire, the big question is who will win the 2016 World Drivers' Championship. While the odds may be stacked in Rosberg’s favour, this is Formula 1 – and nothing’s over till it’s over. Could Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing be Lewis Hamilton’s best ally in the ‘duel of the desert'? Here’s a prediction we’re going to stick our heads out and...

The 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix could have given Formula 1 a new World Champion, but it didn't. However, it confirmed a fact that didn't need much confirming - that Max Verstappen is absolute World Champion material. Irrespective of the outcome of the World Drivers' Championship, 2016 will be remembered for the brilliance of Max Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton won his first-ever race in Ayrton Senna's la...

The 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix could be a Grand Prix of firsts for the Mercedes drivers. Lewis Hamilton could win his first-ever Brazilian Grand Prix OR Nico Rosberg could win his first-ever Formula 1 Drivers' Championship. Let's hope the 'best driver' wins. In which case, shouldn't it then be Fernando Alonso? We're loving the suspense and surprise of title fight this season and don't mind it being...

FIA was sneaky in its ways to keep the shoey off the podium. We had an instance where 3 drivers were classified 3rd at least once. Thank you FIA, for embarrassing Formula 1. And thank you (not!) for ensuring the shoey man doesn't find himself on the podium, during the podium. Daniel Ricciardo's shoey was missed in Mexico, but is it time for a new party trick? We're excited to know what it could be...

Mercedes to be challenged in Singapore, really? Or is this yet another Ferrari-inspired pre-race PR hype? Singapore has been tagged as Red Bull Racing’s track, and boy are we excited! Will we get to see some Verstappen vs. Ricciardo action (and will Red Bull Racing let it be a fair fight!)? To keep his championship hopes alive, Nico Rosberg must fight against all odds in Singapore. Forget winning,...

Kimi Raikkonen finally won something - the ‘Driver of the Day’ in the Hungarian Grand Prix. Did Max Verstappen's fans vote for him as a 'thank you' gesture for not overtaking their driver again? And of course, we applaud Lewis Hamilton’s perfect race start - one that took him nearly 10 races to master. Not to forget, his ‘international hand gesture’ to a lesser known Esteban Gutierrez. Nico Rosber...

Lewis Hamilton may have won in Canada, but it was the second time this season he was gifted a victory. First by Red Bull Racing and now by Ferrari – it seems like the entire paddock is conspiring to have Lewis Hamilton as World Champion again! Pity Justin Bieber wasn’t around to celebrate with Lewis on the podium. Max Verstappen or Carlos Sainz Jr. – which future World Champion had a better race i...

Lewis Hamilton must be pissed with Niki Lauda for two reasons - first, Lauda blamed Hamilton for the Mercedes collision and second, Lauda called Max Verstappen the 'talent of the century.' Well, for that compliment, even Sebastian Vettel must be pissed! Max Verstappen's maiden race victory on his Red Bull Racing debut gives us plenty to cheer about. We heard the Dutch national anthem on the Formul...

With a 36-point deficit in the Drivers' Championship, can and will Lewis Hamilton win his fourth title in 2016? Will Nico Rosberg's lady luck shine all season long? While Ferrari vs. Mercedes might seem to be a farce, Nico Rosberg vs. Lewis Hamilton is serious business, say Mithila and Kunal in this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast. Apart from Hamilton's race notes, Rosberg needs to re...

Sebastian Vettel recently said that he fails to understand the 'selfie generation' and social media. This is possibly why he is 'most suited' to replace Bernie Ecclestone as F1's oh-so-important CEO, say Mithila and Kunal in this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast. The leaked payment reports also indicated that Mclaren-Honda were paid nearly $82 million in 2015 - a tad too much to pay fo...

In this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Mithila and Kunal tell you why Ferrari should sign up Max Verstappen at the expense of letting go the yet-to-find-form Kimi Raikkonen. We explain why there's no 'crisis in Formula 1' and wonder what Haas Racing's real pace is. As we THANK GOD that Flavio Briatore isn't Bernie Ecclestone's successor, we wonder if Formula 1 needs a Narendra Modi...

After months of waiting, the 2016 Formula 1 Season is finally here. And while you wait for the five red lights to go out, tune in to the pre-Australian Grand Prix episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast. Mithila and Kunal talk about how Lewis Hamilton is the ONLY one who is seemingly having the best start to the new season already. They also reveal Williams’ strategy to beat Force India while Red Bu...

The new F1 season is approaching alright, but the same old problems seem to be weighing the sport down (again). Sauber is struggling to pay salaries (again) and the probability of a single team dominating 2016 looms large (again). Alonso's age old problems continue (pun intended, again) and so does the midfield teams' struggle to make the most of their budgets (again). In this episode of The Insid...

Before we get to answering 'How to measure a good F1 test?', we tell you why we were missing in action for a few weeks. We also tell you why we love Formula 1 testing as we try and indicate the 'Sign Of Times To Come' (for 2016). Along the way, we also answer a few other questions in this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast: - Why the silly qualifying changes till be delayed till the 2016...

Taking cue from Christian Horner's statements, Mithila and Kunal speculate on 'what if' Lewis Hamilton had raced for Red Bull Racing from 2012. Would he still be a triple World Champion? And what about Sebastian Vettel and of course, Mark Webber? While Horner disclosed that he encouraged Mercedes to sign up Hamilton, we wonder who encouraged Mclaren to partner with Honda. We discuss the influx of...

Taking cue from Christian Horner's statements, Mithila and Kunal speculate on 'what if' Lewis Hamilton had raced for Red Bull Racing from 2012. Would he still be a triple World Champion? What about Sebastian Vettel and of course, Mark Webber? While Horner disclosed that he encouraged Mercedes to sign up Hamilton, we wonder who encouraged Mclaren to partner with Honda. We discuss the influx of new...

**See a video clip of this episode: https://youtu.be/79u1gXSppG8** No, this episode isn't about Lewis Hamilton or his dog Roscoe. But the spotlight is on the underdogs of the sport - the Force India F1 Team and IF they will bull-y Red Bull or Williams this season. Mithila and Kunal offer perspective on the team's ambition to finish 4th in 2016, what it would take to get there and who they will nee...

So it seems that the Ecclestone surname isn’t necessarily a ticket to outstanding business acumen say Mithila and Kunal in the last episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast. And by last, we mean the last of 2015. Happy New Year! They wonder if the Lauda-Hamilton bromance was timed with Lewis-Nicole’s split and if Toto is Formula 1’s ‘crying wolf’! Is Raikkonen capable of aiding Vettel’s title challen...

Alain Prost is rumoured to play a Niki Lauda-type role for Renault when they return as a manufacturer team to Formula 1 in 2016. Would this mean that a Prost-Pastor bromance is in the offing a la Lauda-Hamilton? In a week when Hamilton revealed that he was 'dyslexic', Mithila and Kunal try and figure why he labelled his fellow drivers as 'squares', possibly the most non-aerodynamic of all shapes....

Is that the next title for Lewis Hamilton? Join Mithila and Kunal as they celebrate Lewis Hamilton's third Formula 1 Drivers' Championship and a FANtastic race in the United States of America. In this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, the duo wish the sensational talents of Toro Rosso a long and entertaining career in Formula 1, tell you why Daniil Kvyat can never win the US GP and lau...

Congrats Mercedes for dominating and winning the 2015 Formula 1 Constructors' Championship. Congrats to Sergio Perez and Force India for a well earned podium finish in Russia. But this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast has much much more. Mithila and Kunal wonder if Vladmir Putin's interest in F1 in Russia puts Barack Obama under any pressure to match up at the upcoming GP in America. I...

As we near the Russian GP, Mithila and Kunal put the lesser spoken about Red Bull racer Daniil Kvyat through the 'hot or not' test. They tell you why despite being the ONLY Russian driver on the grid he will still be ONLY second most popular. Apart from the Russian GP, the duo talk about how the fight now and in 2016 could be to stay off the back row of the grid and if Grosjean's signing up with H...

Much against public expectations, it was Sebastian Vettel and NOT Lewis Hamilton who bettered Ayrton Senna's race wins record in Singapore. And this was after clinching a scintillating win under the lights! Join Mithila Mehta and Kunal Shah in this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast as they wonder if this was a Ferrari resurgence or a one-off victory. (Season 2015, Episode 32) They discu...