F1Weekly Podcast # 1121
VEGAS THE LAST BIG PARTY OF THE F1 SEASON, CAN NORRIS CONTINUE DOMINATING? WILL PIASTRI THROW IN THE TOWEL? AND… FERNANDO CAN’T WAIT FOR THE 2026 CAR!
THIS WEEK’S NASIR HAMEED CORNER…MORE VINTAGE BANTER BETWEEN THE HOST AND NASIR HAMEED…THIS WEEK’S INTERVIEW…STEVE ROBERTSON…KIMI RAIKKONEN’S MANAGER.
Olivier Jansonnie named Head of Stellantis Motorsport, Jean-Marc Finot to retire.
VERSAILLES, November 17, 2025 – Olivier Jansonnie is appointed Head of Stellantis Motorsport, effective 2026, January 31st. He will report to Emanuele Cappellano, Head of Enlarged Europe, European Brands and Stellantis Pro One. Olivier will replace Jean-Marc Finot who has elected to retire, they will work together during this transition period.
A graduate from Centrale-Supélec, Olivier Jansonnie is rich in more than 25 years of international experience in motorsport leading technical teams in different categories from LMP1, Hypercar, DTM, WRC, WRX and Cross-Country.
Starting his career at Peugeot Sport in 1998, Olivier moved to Mitsubishi in 2003 leading the development of the Lancer WRC, then contributed as freelance to many programs in WRC or Endurance for Peugeot, including Le Mans 2009 win. In 2012, he became head of vehicle development at BMW, supervising Design Office, Aerodynamics development and Quality engineering for all BMW Group motorsport activities.
Back to Peugeot Sport in 2016 as Technical Director & Automotive Project Director, he led the technical team for Peugeot Sport programs: Cross-Country (Dakar), WRX and e-WRX. Since 2020, he leads the Endurance program for Stellantis Motorsport while being the team principal of the Peugeot Total Energies Team.
“I am pleased to have Olivier Jansonnie leading Stellantis Motorsport in Europe. His strong expertise and wide knowledge of all racing activities will play a critical role in supporting each brand involved in motorsport. I want also to thank Jean-Marc Finot for his dedication to build and develop a strong Stellantis Motorsport team, achieving many victories, 2 world titles and enabling the development of iconic high-performance vehicles across many brands.” said Emanuele Cappellano.
“Motorsport has always been a cornerstone of the automotive industry, shaping the legacy of Stellantis brands through iconic victories. As we enter a new era of global championships, my mission is clear: to cultivate talent and expertise that will keep our brands at the forefront of innovation and performance. I extend my gratitude to Jean-Marc Finot for his support and Emanuele Cappellano for his trust. Backed by our passionate, competitive, and talented teams, I am ready to take on this challenge with determination and make our colors shine brighter than ever,” said Olivier Jansonnie.
Jean-Marc Finot is an automotive and motorsport expert having held multiples positions at Peugeot, PSA, PSA Motorsport then Stellantis Motorsport between 1986 and 2025. During his longtime career in the Group from the 205 GTI to the 9×8, he tuned the 80’s Peugeot GTI, developed the 406 chassis before being head of PSA chassis engineering, then head of Innovation. At Stellantis Motorsport, he won two Manufacturer and two driver titles in Formula E for DS, launched the Endurance and Le Mans program for Peugeot, restarted motorsport activities for Citroën, Lancia, Opel and Maserati, developed the Customer Racing business while supporting the creation of high-performance vehicles platforms for Abarth, Alfa-Romeo, Lancia, Opel, Peugeot, DS and Maserati. His retirement will be effective 2026, Jan 31st.
LUKE BROWNING TO HIT THE TRACK IN ABU DHABI FP1 AND YOUNG DRIVER TEST
Atlassian Williams Racing is pleased to share that Williams Racing Academy Driver Luke Browning will drive Alex Albon’s FW47 in the first free practice session at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and will participate in the end-of-season Young Driver Test.
Luke joined the Williams Racing Driver Academy in April 2023 following his stand-out 2022 season where he secured the GB3 Championship and won the 2022 Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award. Since joining the Academy he has continued this upward trajectory, winning the Macau Grand Prix in 2023, also taking pole position and the fastest lap, and finishing the 2024 FIA Formula 3 season in third with two race wins and a podium in Monaco.
As part of the Williams Racing Driver Academy’s proud tradition of giving young talent a path into F1, Luke has regularly driven in the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) and simulator programmes with the aim of preparing him for the future. He has balanced this with a successful FIA Formula 2 campaign, currently occupying third position in the standings and going into the final two races of the season in a fierce battle for the title.
Luke Browning: “It’s going to be an unforgettable weekend in Abu Dhabi fighting for the Formula 2 title while getting back behind the wheel of the FW47, and it’s a challenge I’m going to relish. The Young Driver Test will give me a final opportunity to help the team prepare for 2026 and I’m looking forward to being part of a Formula 1 weekend for the last time this season. Thank you to everyone at the Driver Academy and Williams for the trust once again.”
Sven Smeets, Sporting Director, Atlassian Williams Racing: “Luke’s development continues to impress us, and we are looking forward to closing the season with him behind the wheel of the FW47. We have an incredibly talented group of drivers in the Williams Racing Driver Academy, and it is important for us to give them the opportunity to progress as they move up the ladder. These final sessions of the season will give Luke another valuable chance to learn from Alex and Carlos, the wider team, and further embed with our trackside operation as he looks towards a bright future.”
Mighty Sunbeam 1000 HP to Make Post-Restoration Debut at 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
Harry Segrave beside the Sunbeam 1000 HP. (Photo: Courtesy of the National Motor. Museum)
PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA (November 12, 2025) — The mighty Sunbeam 1000 HP, the first car to achieve a land speed record of 200 mph, has been asleep for over 90 years. But a team of restorers at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, England, is now in the process of gently waking this giant—and if all goes as planned, the restored beast will make its US debut at the 2026 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance before attempting a centennial run at Daytona the following spring.
“The process of restoring a one-off car like this takes real dedication,” noted Concours Chairman Sandra Button. “There is no pattern to be followed. It takes time and research, effort and expertise. We are thrilled to know that the National Motor Museum intends to send the restored car to Pebble Beach, to share with enthusiasts here.”
The Sunbeam 1000 HP was built to compete in the race for speed. The 100 mph barrier was first broken in 1904, and then it took more than two decades to reach 150 mph—a record Malcolm Campbell achieved in July of 1925 at the wheel of a Sunbeam 350 HP. The Sunbeam 1000 HP, crafted around two of the marque’s powerful 22.4-liter Matabele aero engines placed to the fore and aft of the vehicle, came into being less than two years later and proved to be revolutionary. Driving it on the smooth sands of Daytona Beach on March 29, 1927, Harry Segrave recorded a speed of 203.79 mph.
“This car has been at Beaulieu since before I was born and feels like a member of the family, but one I never expected to run again,” said Ralph, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu. “Watching the restoration take place has been fascinating as it has revealed so much I never knew about the car. It will be quite a thrill to have the car at Pebble Beach and is a great opportunity for us to wave the flag for the National Motor Museum!”
The car’s restoration is now well underway. The rear engine has already been disassembled, re-machined, restored, and refitted into the frame—and it was first fired up before an adoring crowd at the Beaulieu International Autojumble in early September. The museum team is now focused on restoring the front engine. When that, too, is back together and in place, the bodywork, which has already been restored, will be reinstalled.
“Over the last three and a half years, the Museum’s team have worked tirelessly to make the mighty Sunbeam 1000 HP roar again, with help from a wide range of supporters, stakeholders and heritage engineering specialists,” said Jon Murden, Chief Executive of the National Motor Museum. “Having experienced the first of the car’s remarkable engines running once more, we are all now thrilled at the prospect of the Sunbeam returning to the United States for the first time in a century.”
John, the second Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, was a motoring pioneer, who campaigned for the rights of early motorists. In the 1950s, his son Edward founded what is now the National Motor Museum to honor him, and that museum shares a long history with the Pebble Beach Concours. Edward first showed a car—his 1913 Alfonso Hispano-Suiza—at Pebble Beach in 1981, and the following year, he donated the Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy, which the Concours presents annually to the best British car shown on its competition field. Ralph, the current Lord Montagu, was in attendance at the Concours this year.
To learn more about the National Motor Museum and its efforts to restore the Sunbeam 1000 HP, go to www.nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/USA.
RED BULL AND FORD POWER UP FOR 2026 WITH A JOINT SEASON LAUNCH IN THE USA
Oracle Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls will launch their 2026 Formula One campaigns together at the home of Ford, Detroit, Michigan.
On January 15 the two teams will join Ford Racing to launch their respective liveries for a new generation of cars, ahead of a regulation-changing season, while also introducing Red Bull Ford Powertrains ahead of its debut as a power unit manufacturer.
Paying homage to Ford’s heritage, Red Bull has chosen to introduce this landmark season in Detroit, celebrating a partnership that has delivered the first ever Red Bull Ford Powertrains power unit.
In 2026, together with Ford, Red Bull will roar into action as a power unit manufacturer, a project that encapsulates the Red Bull spirit, that has defied convention since it first took to the track 21 years ago. The 2026 Red Bull Season Launch will celebrate that ethos.
Laurent Mekies, CEO and Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing said:
Red Bull Ford Powertrains era represents not only a bold step into the future, but a powerful expression of what’s possible when world-class engineering, innovation, and passion come together. To see the energy, precision, and scale behind this project is inspiring. It’s the culmination of several years of collaboration between two great names in motorsport. We’re incredibly excited to begin this new chapter, driven by the same determination and excellence that defines both Ford and Red Bull.”
Jim Farley, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company, said: “Since we announced our return to F1 with Red Bull, the Ford team have been working night and day to get ready for 2026. But this is about so much more than just the racing. It is about how we use our learnings from F1 to make our cars and trucks better for our customers. What we will learn together with Red Bull will define the technologies of the future and that is what excites me most about this relationship.”
Peter Bayer, CEO of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, said: “We’re incredibly excited to welcome Ford back into the world of Formula One. With over 125 years of heritage, innovation, and absolute dedication to performance, Ford embodies the same competitive spirit that drives our team. This partnership brings together global brands united by a love of racing and a commitment to pushing boundaries. As a member of the Red Bull family and together with our title partners; Visa and Cash App, we see huge opportunities to join forces and connect with a new generation of fans and showcase the future of performance and mobility on a global stage. Launching this new era in Detroit, the birthplace of Ford, makes it all the more special.”
One of the Most Important Formula One Cars in Existence
In advance of RM Sotheby’s VIP dinner at The Peninsula in London on Friday, 31 October, guests were treated to the unveiling of a very special car: the 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix Winning McLaren MP4/6.
Piloted by Ayrton Senna to one of the most memorable and impressive Grand Prix victories in the history of Formula One, this car left an indelible mark on all who were fortunate enough to watch the race, a feat of both man and machine that gave Senna his first home victory in Formula One.
On hand to unveil the car were Chris Harris and Manish Pandey, writer of the famed 2010 documentary Senna. Guests were treated to a short discussion about the importance of this car within Senna’s career.
Following its display in London, the car will be shown at RM Sotheby’s auction during Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week next month.
GOODYEAR AND TOCA SIGN MULTI-YEAR BTCC PARTNERSHIP EXTENSION.
Goodyear and TOCA – Organiser of the British Touring Car Championship – have today (13 November) announced the renewal of their long-standing partnership through to the end of 2031.
Goodyear has been the official tyre partner of the BTCC since 2003, as well as holding title sponsor rights for most of that period. This latest agreement takes the relationship to a near 30-year collaboration – making it one of the longest-standing and most iconic partnerships in motorsport.
Tyre choice often plays a decisive role in race strategies, and it will continue to do so over the coming years through Goodyear’s standard and option tyres at BTCC events, further underscoring Goodyear’s integral contribution to the championship.
As Goodyear continues to innovate in tyre technology and enhance fan engagement, the renewed agreement reinforces the company’s commitment to delivering exceptional performance on track and unforgettable experiences off of it. Together with TOCA, Goodyear aims to help shape the future of the BTCC, the UK’s premier motorsport championship.
“We are delighted to extend our collaboration with TOCA to support the BTCC, a championship that continues to grow and engage an ever-expanding fan base,” said Mathias Kipp, Director, Racing, Goodyear EMEA. “This almost three-decades-long partnership is ready to write new chapters. Goodyear is committed to supporting the series’ development through the performance our tyres and by creating new opportunities for fans, who remain at the heart of our strategy.”
“I am extremely proud of the partnership between Goodyear and the BTCC,” said Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive. “We are delighted that one of the longest-standing, most loyal and successful collaborations will be heading to a near 30-year milestone, and long may it continue after that. This partnership will continue to innovate and deliver, both on-track and off-track, to the huge benefit of drivers, teams and fans alike.”
ATLASSIAN AND WILLIAMS UNVEIL VEGAS LIVERY, CELEBRATING THE POWER OF ROVO AI.
- Williams to race in special all-black livery, celebrating title partner Atlassian and their AI-powered solution Rovo.
- The two brands previously collaborated to bring a 2002-themed livery to the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
- Williams’ partners are hosting several tech-forward activations during the Grand Prix week – including a fan zone presented by Zoox, and an Airia AI conference.
Williams will bring a special-edition all-black livery to Las Vegas, in the latest celebration of title partner Atlassian and their ground-breaking AI teammate Rovo.
The striking livery features rainbow accents and is designed to bring out the bright lights of the Strip, while also celebrating the speed and power offered by Atlassian’s Rovo.
As the AI-powered solution at the centre of the Atlassian System of Work, Rovo connects knowledge, people, and workflows so teams move faster. It is one of the many technical tools that Williams has added to its arsenal since it partnered with Atlassian back in March 2025. Through the partnership, Atlassian are supporting Williams to drive complete transformation across their system of work – creating efficiencies, improving prioritisation, and breaking down silos, all in pursuit of improved lap time.
This is the second Atlassian livery that Williams has run this season. The first livery, showcased at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, was a 2002 throwback design which celebrated the two organisations’ shared vision and passion for teamwork. During the weekend, Carlos Sainz brought home Williams’ first ever Sprint podium. His third-place result was the second podium Williams has celebrated in 2025, the team’s most successful season since 2016.
This spectacular one-off look will form part of a suite of tech-forward activations hosted by Williams partners and taking place during the Las Vegas Grand Prix week. Other activations will include:
The Las Vegas Fan Zone, presented by autonomous ride hailing partner Zoox at Brooklyn Bridge, New York New York. Fans will be able to check out the livery in all of its glory – plus try Williams’ simulators, hear from the team, and get excited for race day
A talk hosted by AI Orchestration Partner Airia, featuring Team Principal James Vowles, and exploring the impact of AI adoption in one of the world’s most high-tech sports.
James Vowles, Team Principal, Atlassian Williams Racing: “This striking livery is the latest celebration of our work with partners Atlassian, who are helping to accelerate our tech transformation and bring Williams right back to the cutting edge. There could not be a more iconic place to unveil this than in Las Vegas, one of the most tech-forward cities in the world.”
Sorin Cheran, Chief Information and Analytics Officer, Atlassian Williams Racing: “In the midst of a busy F1 season, we need to drive improvements and find solutions quickly. Rovo helps us to search through files, data and information on our Atlassian system, ultimately allowing us to upgrade faster and find that all-important laptime. This is essential if we want to achieve our goal: to get back to the front and win multiple World Championships.”
Find out more about Rovo, and how Atlassian’s Teamwork collection is helping Williams get back to the front of the grid: Rovo.com