James Allen On F1

60: What the pressure feels inside an F1 team at a title showdown

It’s crunch time in Abu Dhabi, with a three-way fight for the F1 World Drivers Championship. From McLaren’s point of view it didn’t have to be this way. If they had avoided the disqualifications in Vegas, or made a better strategy call in Qatar, they would now be guaranteed their first World Champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2008. As it is Lando Norris will be champion if he finishes third or higher, while Max Verstappen is only 12 points behind him and has chances. Oscar Piastri needs luck to go his way after the crushing disappointment of losing a certain race win in Qatar.  James Allen explores all of this and what it’s like to be in the middle of a title showdown, with someone who was in the thick of it in 2007, when McLaren lost the championship from a position not unlike today’s - former McLaren mechanic now journalist and broadcaster Marc Priestley. And our F1 writer with his ear to the ground, Ronald Vording, joins us from Abu Dhabi. Send your comments or questions to: @jamesallenonf1 on X or jamesallenonf1@autosport.com [jamesallenonf1@autosport.com].  -- A Motorsport Studios production for Autosport

59: Inside the mental battle as F1 2025 reaches crunch point

This week we go inside the minds of the competitors for the F1 World Championship.  We explain some of the things that happened during an intense Las Vegas GP weekend – including the dramatic double disqualification of the McLaren cars that sets up an incredibly tense final two rounds for the World Championship And we look ahead in depth to what happens next. We focus particularly on two areas: which teams will have the best car for the Qatar and Abu Dhabi circuits? And with so much pressure riding on it, what is the mental game here? How do the drivers and their trainers cope with the 11 hour time difference from Vegas to Qatar so they can maintain peak performance? How do they cope with the stress and the pressure? And with McLaren making such a costly mistake in Vegas, how do the leaders make sure the team doesn’t lose confidence? With James Allen in the studio to discuss this we have two real subject matter experts. Nick Harris, who trained and mentored many great drivers in the past 20 years from Mark Webber, David Coulthard and Eddie Irvine to Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg.  And Autosport’s F1 writer who can demystify the technical side, Jake Boxhall Legge.  Send your comments or questions to: @jamesallenonf1 on X or jamesallenonf1@autosport.com [jamesallenonf1@autosport.com]. A Motorsport Studios production for Autosport

58: Meet the leader making F1’s smallest team punch above its weight!

This week, we have the latest in our series of F1 team principal interviews as we meet Ayao Komatsu at the HQ of Haas, F1’s smallest team. What Haas may lack in headcount, they more than make up for in team spirit, as this engaging interview reveals. Ayao has been at Haas since the team debuted in 2016. Last season Gene Haas picked him to succeed the charismatic, but sweary Guenther Steiner as team principal. Ayao was born in Japan and moved to England as a teenager to study English and pursue his dream of working in F1. He rose through the ranks as an engineer with Lotus and Renault, where he worked closely with Romain Grosjean. As a highly competitive F1 season comes to a close, Haas is fighting Aston Martin and Racing Bulls for 6th in the Constructors’ Championship. Ayao reflects on some key decisions taken earlier this season, which have boosted Haas’ recent competitiveness. Ollie Bearman equalled the team’s best ever result with P4 in Mexico and then backed that up with another strong points haul in Brazil. Joining James Allen in the studio for a wraparound chat is former Red Bull and Aston Martin F1 technical leader Dan Fallows. Send your comments or questions to: @jamesallenonf1 on X or jamesallenonf1@autosport.com . Producer: Ben Holmes, Andrea Sidler A Motorsport Studios production for Autosport

57: How influencers are growing F1 audiences in the US

This week we discuss some of the significant developments that took place during the Brazil GP weekend, which saw Lando Norris take command of the F1 Drivers Championship and look ahead to the Las Vegas Grand Prix. In particular we delve into the role influencers are playing on helping F1 to reach new audiences in the United States, enlarging the fan base well beyond the traditional motorsport audiences.  We hear all the time about the growing role of influencers in the coverage of the sport. F1, the teams and brands all now regularly invite them to attend races and interact with the stars. This is especially true of influencers in the US, some of whom have followings as large as mainstream media platforms, among demographics that F1 has not previously reached. How much more growth is there in F1? To find out more about their role and what the life of an influencer is about, James went to meet Brian Muller and Matt Elisofon, who host the popular Red Flags podcast, featuring former F1 team boss Guenther Steiner, to get their take on it.  We also welcome back our F1 writer from the Netherlands Ronald Vording,  For details on how to be part of the prize draw to win the replica Jackie Stewart helmet signed by all 20 living world champions go to https://win.raceagainstdementia.com/ [https://win.raceagainstdementia.com/] Send your comments or questions to: @jamesallenonf1 on X or jamesallenonf1@autosport.com [jamesallenonf1@autosport.com]. = A Motorsport Studios production for Autosport

56: When the World Champion got kidnapped and other F1 tales

This week we meet one of the small group of broadcasters who can call themselves an F1 TV commentator. Alex Jacques is the voice of Channel 4’s F1 coverage in the UK and his commentary is carried on F1 TV in the US and around the world. He works alongside former F1 drivers David Coulthard and Jolyon Palmer.  Alex worked his way up through F2 and the W Series and by 2018 he was a full time F1 commentator.  He was voted Commentator of the Year in the 2022 Broadcast Sports Awards and his voice has appeared in Drive to Survive and F1 video games. Alex’s new book Grid to Glory, highlights 75 key moments from F1’s 75 year history.  But it’s not one anecdote per year, it’s much more interesting than that. He describes the kidnapping of the F1 World Champion driver, the day the F1 drivers went on strike, the Grand Prix that featured just six cars and many other great tales.  Send your comments or questions to: @jamesallenonf1 on X or jamesallenonf1@autosport.com [jamesallenonf1@autosport.com]. A Motorsport Studios production for Autosport