From the Paddock

Alex Harrington and Lydia Mee break down the chaotic wet-weather start at Sepang that overshadowed the opening laps of the Bahrain Grand Prix after a software bug left multiple cars struggling for power. The pair also discuss Lewis Hamilton's frustrating race after Ferrari opted to start him on slick tires despite concerns over the conditions. Finally, they explore growing momentum behind a permanent return for Sepang after Malaysia's prime minister confirmed talks with Formula 1 and FIA leadership.

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Formula 1 is back at Sepang, and the combination of an abrasive track surface, extreme heat and the demands of the 2026 cars could make tire degradation one of the defining stories of the weekend.

Max Verstappen faces an extraordinary run of seven consecutive race weekends across Formula 1 and GT3 competition, while Esteban Ocon faces uncertainty over his F1 future. Fernando Alonso has extended his stay with Aston Martin, and Honda has quietly introduced a turbocharger upgrade that could have implications for the weekend.

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F1 has plenty to talk about after a dramatic weekend in Baku.

Franco Colapinto was involved in a costly safety car restart incident that took out Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris, with Alpine issuing another statement condemning the online abuse that followed.

George Russell came away with his first career grand slam after dominating in Baku — but a turbo problem on the final lap nearly handed Max Verstappen an opportunity, with Russell eventually taking victory by just 0.196 seconds.

And looking ahead, Audi’s Mattia Binotto has confirmed that the next-generation F1 engine is set to move to a V8 layout, with 2030 the earliest potential introduction date. A push-to-pass system is also being discussed as part of the future regulations.

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Alex Harrington and Lydia Mee discuss Christian Horner's claim that Ferrari would be his Formula 1 "dream" destination if he returned to the paddock. They also break down Lewis Hamilton's Baku safety concerns and celebrate major milestones for Abbi Pulling and Jamie Chadwick as women continue making strides in motorsport.

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Alex Hamilton and Lydia Mee break down Formula 1's newly announced 2027 calendar, including Monaco's first-ever sprint race, Bahrain replacing Australia as the season opener, and the expansion of sprint weekends from six to ten. They discuss whether these changes will improve the racing experience, what they mean for fans, and why F1 is continuing to push its most divisive format.

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Madrid’s first Formula 1 Grand Prix was billed as a major new chapter for the sport — but did it live up to the hype?

In this episode of From the Paddock, Alex and Lydia break down everything that went wrong, from fan complaints and track facilities to a controversial security incident involving a photographer and a race that left plenty of F1 fans disappointed.

The team also looks ahead to McLaren’s ambitious plans beyond Formula 1, as Lando Norris gets behind the wheel of the team’s new hypercar ahead of its World Endurance Championship campaign. Could Norris eventually chase motorsport’s elusive Triple Crown?

And finally, Alex and Lydia discuss FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s comments about Fernando Alonso and whether Formula 1 should do more to help struggling teams — or whether teams simply have to live with getting things wrong.

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In this episode of From the Paddock, Alex and Lydia give an overview of Madrid's brand new Madring circuit–including what to expect this weekend, environmental challenges, and complaints from local residents.

We also break down Fernando Alonso shutting down suggestions of an announcement at his home race, telling reporters "not soon".

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Kimi Antonelli stunned the Monza crowd with a victory from 19th on the grid, raising new questions about Mercedes' driver hierarchy and championship strategy. Alex and Lydia also break down Lewis Hamilton's frustration with Ferrari after another clash with Charles Leclerc and examine exactly what caused Leclerc's frightening 50G crash during the Italian Grand Prix.

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Lewis Hamilton stole the spotlight ahead of the Italian Grand Prix by arriving at Monza in his restored Ferrari F40. Alex Harrington and Lydia Mee discuss the remarkable story behind the legendary car, break down the slipstream and teammate tactics set to shape qualifying at Monza, and explain why Formula 1 could shorten race distances from 2027 as part of ongoing engine regulation changes.

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Lewis Hamilton could be set for a new Ferrari contract, with reports suggesting an announcement is coming before Monza. Alex and Lydia discuss what it means for Hamilton's future, break down Lando Norris' new McLaren extension and the incredible gift that came with it, and explore why Hollywood is suddenly embracing motorsport with racing-themed films popping up everywhere.

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Dr. Kristen Holmes, Whoop’s Head of Human Performance, joins “From the Paddock” to talk optimizing drivers’ capability and how the fitness company collaborates with Ferrari to build “bulletproof” competitors.

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In this episode of From the Paddock, Alex and Lydia walk through Max Verstappen's dramatic lap-one crash. The duo discuss Lando's back-to-back wins and the contrast in team orders between Mercedes and Ferrari.

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Max Verstappen is staying at Red Bull until 2030, and the reported numbers are staggering. Alex and Lydia discuss the eye-watering contract, the presentation that convinced Verstappen to stay, and how his decision triggered a domino effect across the Formula 1 grid, leaving only a handful of major driver questions unanswered.

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Reports suggest Carlos Sainz has turned down a Williams contract extension, potentially opening the door to future opportunities elsewhere on the grid. Plus, Alex and Lydia discuss concerns over Madrid's new F1 circuit ahead of its debut race and the latest reports surrounding Aston Martin's Aramco sponsorship plans.

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Cadillac can't stay out of the headlines. Alex and Lydia dive into the team's surprise decision to replace Graeme Lowdon with Marcin Budkowski after just half a season, and discuss why the move has raised so many questions across the paddock. They also break down reports of a federal investigation tied to Cadillac owner Mark Walter, what's been confirmed, what's still unknown, and whether either story could impact the team's future in Formula 1.

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Lewis Hamilton's trading card empire. Oliver Bearman's Monaco bike café. Jody Scheckter's 2,500-acre organic farm. Nelson Piquet's logistics tech company. David Coulthard's £90 million media business. Alex and Lydia explore five Formula 1 drivers who turned their success on the track into thriving business empires away from racing.

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In this episode of From the Paddock, Alex and Lydia break down three of the biggest stories in Formula 1. Despite reportedly signing a deal with Cadillac, Sergio Perez's management has apparently held preliminary talks with Williams.

Meanwhile, a journalist claims Red Bull reportedly paid Helmut Marko €8 million as part of a confidentiality agreement after his departure.

Liberty Media's latest financial results show F1 revenue down 38% from last year. Is the sport actually struggling, or is there a much bigger story behind the numbers? We unpack the impact of cancelled races, calendar changes, team payments, fan engagement, and what it all means for the rest of the 2026 season.

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Oliver Bearman has finally responded to the Aston Martin rumors, and his message couldn't be much clearer: Ferrari is still the dream.

Alex and Lydia discuss Bearman's future, whether Aston Martin could tempt top drivers in the years ahead, and what Fernando Alonso's next move might look like. They also break down Adrian Newey's confidence that Alonso will stay, despite Alonso himself offering a much more complicated answer.

Then it's time for some summer shutdown fun as they look at what Formula 1's biggest names are doing during the two-week break, including Sardinia yacht trips, simulator sessions, Ibiza parties and Lewis Hamilton's adorable new puppy.

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Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff are making headlines once again after being spotted together in Sardinia, and Alex and Lydia unpack what the timing could mean for Verstappen’s future at Red Bull.

The pair then turns to Fernando Alonso, reacting to David Croft's comments about the Spaniard's Aston Martin contract and discussing who could eventually replace him.

They also look at Carlos Sainz's decision to spend the summer break reflecting on his Williams project after a difficult start to 2026.

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Ferrari looked like the fastest team in Hungary on Friday, but by race day everything unraveled.

Alex and Lydia get into Ralf Schumacher’s harsh post‑race comments and whether he’s right, including if Ferrari should have told Leclerc to back off to protect Hamilton from that five-second penalty.

Plus, they explain the blue flag system controversy that contributed to one of the race's biggest incidents.

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