F1Weekly Podcast # 1167
ON TODAY’S PROGRAM…
GEORGE BEATS MAX BY 1 TENTH
MAX BEATS 100… HILARIOUS!
HADJAR BEATS THE ODDS OUTQUALIFYING MAX AND BECOMING A TEAM PLAYER!
NORRIS QUESTIONS COLAPINTO’S QUALIFICATIONS AND…
FERNANDO CAUGHT…SCREAMING IN A PAPER BAG!
THIS WEEK’S NASIR HAMEED CORNER… A FANTASTIC CONVERSATION WITH F1WEEKLY LISTENER, EDUARDO ALVAREZ AT THE AUTODROMO HERMANOS RODRIGUEZ IN MEXICO CITY… BRAVO!
GEORGE WINS IN BAKU…
George Russell led from start to finish as he dominated the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The victory reduced the championship lead of his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli to 66 points – from 81 – after the Italian finished fifth, although he had recovered from starting 16th on the grid.
Max Verstappen pushed Russell for the win as he took second place, less than two tenths of a second behind. Fellow Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar completed the podium by finishing third on his return to racing following a wrist injury.
Yet dominance isn’t a word often used when the margin of victory is as small as the gap separating the duo when the chequered flag flew at the end of 51 laps of the Baku City Circuit, four-time champion Verstappen just 0.196s down on the Merc driver having launched a late attack following two safety car interventions.
With that gap ensuring this year’s Azerbaijan GP ranks as the 11th-closest race finish in Formula 1 history, let’s take a look at the events that make up the top 10.
George Russell
It’s been an incredible weekend and probably one of the strongest of my career so far. I really enjoyed that race and that final stint was some of the most fun I’ve had in a Formula One race. We had strong pace throughout and were able to build a good gap, so when the Safety Car came out it was a little frustrating, but around a circuit like Baku that’s always a possibility.
The restart was probably the most stressful moment of the afternoon with Max right behind me, but I managed it well and from there it was all about staying focused and not making any mistakes. In the final stint we were both pushing hard, and whilst it was intense in the car, those are the moments you enjoy as a driver.
I’ve felt comfortable all weekend, and at the moment things seem to be coming naturally behind the wheel. We’re in a good place, but Formula One changes very quickly so you have to keep pushing. The aim is to keep working hard, keep building this momentum and hopefully continue fighting at the front over the races ahead.
Verstappen and Hadjar celebrate double podium in Baku
Team quotes as Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrate both drivers on the podium for the first time in 2026 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrated their first double podium of the 2026 F1 season as Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar finished second and third in Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit.
With both RB22 cars showing great speed on the ultra-fast Baku street circuit, Verstappen in particular made great early passes after the lights went out, quickly advancing from his eighth place starting spot.
As the race went on, mistakes began to happen regularly and the final quarter of the Grand Prix was a chaotic one, with two Safety Car periods happening in quick succession.
That was all the invitation the Oracle Red Bull Racing drivers needed to make a perfectly executed double pit-stop and effectively secure a 2–3 finish. However, with race leader George Russell firmly in his sights, Verstappen never gave up the chance in the final laps and pushed the Mercedes driver all the way to the line, finishing just +0.196s from victory.
As Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrated their best team result of season to date, Arvid Lindlbad also delivered another strong points-scoring drive for Visa Cashh App Racing Bulls.
The British rookie started down the field in 15th place on the grid, but drove a smart and controlled race to avoid the mid-pack chaos late in the race to end the Grand Prix in an excellent seventh place while team-mate Liam Lawson missed the points in 12th
MAX…
“We had a very strong race today. Yesterday, we found an issue with the engine and changed it, so luckily everything was fixed. For most of the race we were on the Medium tyre, which didn’t perform as well as expected, but we still managed to work our way up the field nicely. Once we swapped to the Soft, it felt much better. We had a good first restart and during the last few laps with George, we were pushing flat out. We had good pace and were both pulling away from those behind. On the final lap it got close as we approached the line because George had turbo lag out of T15 due to the yellow flags. We really maximised the result today and we will, of course, keep trying for a win. All in all, it was a fantastic result for the Team to have two cars on the podium; that is exactly what you want to see. I had a lot of fun today.”
ISACK
“You can’t really ask for a better comeback than that. The car has been competitive throughout the week and all over the track, so we had the pace to really challenge and be exactly where we wanted to be. Our approach was key to a strong week; taking it step-by-step allowed me to build confidence, and then the lap time comes with that. Ending it with P3 is a really pleasing result. It was a demanding track to make a return at, but once I got into a flow I felt like I never left. The race was great. I enjoyed myself out there; the car was very nice to drive, and battling with Max was fun too. He’s been so strong all weekend, and I was happy to stay behind him as I knew the Soft was the superior tyre, and he showed that at the end. A double podium is an awesome result. It’s the first in a while for the Team, so I’m very happy for everyone as they deserve it.”
MEKIES
“It was an incredible race from Max, Isack and the whole Team. We finished just one tenth away from the win after 51 laps, secured P2 and P3, in what has been true teamwork to match Mercedes’ pace throughout the race, and confirm the progress we are making. The upgrades clearly worked, and a big thank you goes to everyone on both the chassis and PU side, here at the track and back at the factory, for extracting even more from the package.
It was another excellent drive from Max. He has been flying from the first practice session onwards and it was hard to accept missing the chance to fight for Pole yesterday and starting only P8. But with our typical fighting spirit he came back and passed the others in front on track before his final challenge with George. Isack has had an outstanding weekend since coming back from injury and has taken even another step forward. He raced very cleverly and managed the car perfectly to deliver the best possible result for the Team. It was undoubtedly his best race with us so far, and he finished third on merit and pure pace.
At the beginning of the season, when we were about a second off the pace, this felt very far away, but we are competing at the front now, at least here in Baku. Overall, this has been our best weekend of the season. The whole Team has worked very hard for this double podium, and it is the result of a collective effort from everyone involved.”
Patrick Duflot..very machismo.
Kimi Antonelli
Today was about damage limitation. I took no unnecessary risks at all and focused on maximising the points scored for the team. It was difficult to make progress at times because we were in an overtaking train, but I focused on staying out of trouble and taking the opportunities when they came.
It was one of those weekends where everything doesn’t quite go your way. The pace wasn’t quite there for me today, but given where we started, I have to be happy with P5. I just tried to race the race in front of me, stay patient and bring the car home. We were able to benefit from some of the opportunities that came our way and score as many points as possible.
Luckily, we have another race coming up very soon, so I’m fully focused on that and really looking forward to it.
Tse/Lulham and Stanton/Gamble bag #BattleOfBrands pole positions
+ GT3 championship leaders Collard/Cook share front row with 2 Seas Mercedes-AMG
+ GT4 title contenders spread across the field
Chris Lulham’s late flying lap in a red flag interrupted second GT3 session helped himself and co-driver Kevin Tse claim pole position for British GT’s title showdown at Brands Hatch where Optimum’s Josh Stanton and George Gamble also start GT4’s season finale from class top spot.
2 Seas’ #18 Mercedes-AMG cannot win the GT3 title but might have a hand in the outcome by qualifying immediately ahead of three championship contenders. The Lamborghini of Barwell’s points’ leaders Rob Collard and Hugo Cook shares row one, while Orange/JMH duo Simon Orange and Marcus Clutton – who set Q2’s fastest individual time – line up alongside Morgan Tillbrook and Ben Barnicoat (Optimum) in third and fourth.
Marc Warren’s benchmark Q1 time helped Optimum’s 720S seal Silver-Am spoils in fifth overall.
Stanton, meanwhile, must win to maintain any hope of overturning his 30.5-point GT4 deficit. And he gave himself an excellent chance of at least contending by laying the foundations for class pole. Paddock’s Blake Angliss and Revie Lake made it an all McLaren front row from Pro-Am pace-setters Luke Shaw and Jack Mitchell (Toro Verde) who set fastest time to jump joint championship leaders Jack Collins and Branden Templeton (Century).
GT4’s other three title contenders – Grange/FSR, Innovation and MK – start right behind in fifth, sixth and seventh.
Qualifying began with Collard setting fastest lap provisionally from title rival Tillbrook before Warren’s consecutive quickest times sent Optimum’s McLaren to the top by two tenths. It capped a strong second half of the season for the outgoing GT4 champion who was also the benchmark Bronze in Snetterton and Donington’s qualifying sessions.
Crucially, however, Tse improved on his final run to move one hundredth shy of Collard. Lulham therefore had a realistic shot at securing a place on the front row whilst the likes of Barnicoat – who earlier paced Free Practice and Pre-Qualifying – started four tenths down.
Optimum’s McLaren was first to hit the front before being shuffled back to second by Clutton who set his time just before Ross Gunn’s accident at Clearways hastened a red flag period. Four minutes – time for two flying laps – remained when Q2 restarted.
Cook couldn’t beat Clutton’s individual best but did enough to briefly give Barwell pole before 2 Seas’ Mercedes-AMG lapped three tenths quicker than anyone else. That suspect effort was quickly scrubbed for gaining an advantage at Turn 6, but Lulham learnt his lesson next time around to take top spot by just under a tenth on the combined classification.
His individual time was two hundredths slower than Clutton whose earlier effort – which pipped Barnicoat by 0.006s – remained unchallenged and ultimately moved Orange/JMH up one spot from where Orange initially qualified.
Brown and Warren slipped to fifth behind their Optimum team-mates in the final shake up and share row three with Century’s BMW driven by their Silver-Am rivals Jonathon Beeson and Charles Clark, while Alex Martin and Jarrod Waberski have work to do from seventh if they’re to challenge their Barwell team-mates for the title.
Gunn, who was on course for individual fastest time before his accident, and Andrew Howard are also overall title contenders. They round out the top eight on what will be the latter’s 157th and final British GT start.
DOBLE TAKES MAIDEN
‘RACE TO POLE’ VICTORY
Silverstone success for PMR squad
LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing’s Mikey Doble took his first Qualifying Race victory in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone today (26 September).
Doble started from pole position after a superb lap in the earlier qualifying session, but a rapid getaway from Daryl De Leon put the WSR BMW ahead as the young pair led the field into Copse for the first time.
Championship leader Ash Sutton had only qualified a frustrating 17th, and his weekend worsened when the four-time champion spun his NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus on the opening lap of the Qualifying Race.
With Sutton and title rivals Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK – Ford) and Tom Ingram (Team VERTU – Hyundai) all buried in the pack, the race opened the door for a different group of drivers to fight at the front.
De Leon’s advantage didn’t last long, however, as Doble blasted his Audi A3 Saloon by down the back straight on lap three, whilst teammate Aiden Moffat also closed in on the now second-placed BMW.
Dexter Patterson (Steal Seel with Power Maxed Racing – Audi) came out on top of an eye-catching battle with Sam Osborne (NAPA Racing UK – Ford) at the lower end of the top ten on lap six, before a safety car intervention followed just two laps later.
The interruption came after debutant Osamu Kawashima beached his Team VERTU Hyundai in the gravel, as the Japanese driver continued adapting to BTCC machinery and the demands of Britain’s most competitive motorsport championship.
The top three remained consistent for much of the contest until De Leon faded with three laps to go, allowing Moffat’s Audi to slip through into second while Team VERTU’s Tom Chilton (Hyundai) grabbed third.
Doble took the chequered flag to secure his maiden Qualifying Race win, leading teammate Moffat home for an impressive LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing one-two.
De Leon ended up fourth behind Chilton, whilst Daniel Lloyd (Restart Racing – Hyundai) and Josh Cook (Speedworks Corolla Racing – Toyota) rounded out the top six finishers.
Charles Rainford (WSR – BMW) and Adam Morgan (CPRL – Mercedes) were next in the order with the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport Toyota duo of Árón Taylor-Smith and Gordon Shedden completing the top ten.
Sutton could only recover to finish 15th but still takes his commanding 115-point advantage over teammate Cammish into tomorrow’s penultimate race day of the season, while reigning champion Ingram sits a further seven points adrift.
With six races of the season remaining, Sutton’s pursuit of a record-breaking fifth Drivers’ title could well be decided at Silverstone’s Super Sunday, with the action getting underway from 1030 on ITV4.
Mikey Doble, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing, said: “I consider myself a bit of a Silverstone specialist now. I always do well here. With Aiden [Moffat] backing it up with a P2 for the team, it’s so great for us to have a front-row lockout like that. I’ve always known that if I’m in the right car I’ll perform, and I think it’s safe to say that this year I am in the right car.”
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Qualifying Race – Silverstone
1. Mikey Doble, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing – Audi 18 laps
2. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing – Audi +2.526s
3. Tom Chilton, Team VERTU – Hyundai +3.049s
4. Daryl De Leon, WSR – BMW +4.437s
5. Dan Lloyd, Restart Racing – Hyundai +5.088s
6. Josh Cook, Speedworks Corolla Racing – Toyota +5.649s
7. Charles Rainford, WSR – BMW +7.815s
8. Adam Morgan, CPRL – Mercedes +7.985s
9. Árón Taylor-Smith, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport – Toyota +8.658s
10. Gordon Shedden, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport – Toyota +9.004s
11. Dexter Patterson, Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing – Audi +9.303s
12. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU – Hyundai +10.129s
13. Lewis Selby, NAPA Racing UK – Ford +10.716s
14. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK – Ford +11.627s
15. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK – Ford +11.979s
16. Ryan Bensley, Speedworks Corolla Racing – Toyota +12.438s
17. Daniel Rowbottom, CPRL – Mercedes +14.617s
18. Lewis Gilbert, WSR – BMW +19.882s
19. Nick Halstead, Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing – Audi +22.714s
20. Nicolas Hamilton, Team VERTU – Hyundai +23.383s
21. Sam Osborne, NAPA Racing UK – Ford +25.524s
22. Chris Smiley, Restart Racing – Hyundai +1 lap
DNF. Osamu Kawashima, Team VERTU – Hyundai – 6 laps
Penalties:
Josh Cook received a written reprimand in the Qualifying Race at Silverstone, for an incident involving Árón Taylor-Smith – click here for report.
Ash Sutton claims record breaking fifth BTCC title
NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton made motorsport history at Silverstone earlier today (27 September) by winning a record breaking fifth BTCC title.
Running since 1958, the British Touring Car Championship is the third oldest motorsport championship in the world, with only Formula 1 and NASCAR boasting longer histories in the sport.
Andy Rouse and Colin Turkington had been tied four-time winners of the famous old trophy until Sutton joined those tin-top legends back in 2023.
With time and undoubted ability on his side, the 32-year-old has been a true master at work throughout 2026, scoring an incredible nine wins and 19 podiums so far.
Not only is the monster tally of silverware startling in its own right it was also enough to secure this year’s laurels during the penultimate event of the season – a feat not accomplished since Alain Menu 1997’s championship win.
Sutton’s win from 12th on the grid at Silverstone today was one that will live long in the memory, as will the celebrations that followed.
Sutton wasn’t the only story of the day as Aiden Moffat and Tom Ingram also won a race apiece – the former enjoying one of the best weekends of his BTCC career and the latter proving he’ll be ready to try wrestling back the title next season.
Alliance Racing/Ford and NAPA Racing UK moved into an unassailable lead of both the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ and Teams’ standings, whilst Dexter Patterson clinched the Jack Sears Trophy for 2026.
The Independents’ fight will go down to the wire at the season finale with Mikey Doble and his LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing squad looking to fend off a gaggle of challengers.
So, three unmissable races around the legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit will close out the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in two weeks’ time (10/11 October), but for now it’s all about Ash Sutton – a phenomenal winner of a record five BTCC titles.
Moffat claims maiden 2026 win
LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing’s Moffat stood victorious in the Silverstone opener, becoming the eleventh driver to stand triumphant this year.
The Scotsman started second as teammate Doble led the way in the PMR-run squad’s front-row lockout, but it was the #16 who had the better launch, taking the lead into Copse.
Grabbing top spot at the first corner, Moffat would lead until the chequered flag as the Audi A3 Saloon duo took a commanding one-two.
Celebrations continued for the PMR Audi stable, as Dexter Patterson (Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing) clinched the Jack Sears Trophy to take his first title since joining the BTCC paddock.
Team VERTU’s Tom Chilton completed the podium. The #3 Hyundai followed fellow Surrey-racer Doble to the line as both stood on the podium for the second race in a row.
Sutton secures title with 56th career victory
NAPA Racing UK’s Sutton won from 12th on the grid in the second encounter at Silverstone, to take an unassailable lead on his way to an incredible and unprecedented fifth BTCC title.
The #116 started the second race of the day from the sixth row of the grid, ascending to the front of the field by lap nine of the 22-lap race.
Despite only needing a single point to secure the title, that was never going to be the way in which the sensational Sutton wanted to make history.
A flurry of passes took place during his charge through the order with his final move by early leader Daryl De Leon being a wonderful advert for everything that Sutton is about, as he slightly moved to the left before jinking sharply to the right and down the inside of the BMW on the run to Copse.
The Ford Focus Titanium man cruised to the finish, even having time for a burnout across the line, as his NAPA Racing UK squad celebrated wildly.
Behind, Adam Morgan (CPRL – Mercedes) climbed from eighth on the grid to the second step on the podium, with Charles Rainford (WSR – BMW) completing the rostrum positions after starting the race alongside Morgan.
Ingram triumphs in wet Silverstone finale
Team VERTU’s Ingram claimed the honours in Round 27 of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, standing on the top step of the podium for the first time since Thruxton back in July.
Starting from the front row, Ingram initially dropped back down to fourth. After finding a rhythm in the heavily rain-affected race, the #80 made his way through the field and took the lead from Moffat (LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing – Audi) at just over half-race distance.
Moffat, starting from pole position and having already taken a win in the day’s opening race, reclaimed his lead on lap six after initially falling behind Árón Taylor-Smith (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport – Toyota) and Daniel Rowbottom (CPRL – Mercedes) on the opening tour.
Sutton finished second after a charge from ninth on the grid, whilst Moffat completed the podium.
Fourth on the road went to the Toyota of Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Gordon Shedden as the Scot gained eight places throughout the wet contest, closing in on Independents Trophy leader Doble (LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing – Audi) ahead of the Brands Hatch season finale.
Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, said: “I don’t think this is going to sink in. Everything has been pretty special today, in every way, and it’s actually been an emotional one. I’ve been trying to hide it for a lot of the day. There was a phase where I probably could have got the title won in race one, but that wasn’t the true Ash style to go and get the fifth. So, I spiced it up a little bit and made sure it went to race two. Like I said, I wanted to do it in the true Ash style, and I hope I have done.
“The fifth feels like the most special. There’s a full force of people behind us, so it’s great to reward them. We’ve done it in such a manner, and it’s going down in the history books for many reasons. Of course, the first title was always going to stick with me, but this is above and beyond.
“To have my boys here today has been very special. I promised Sonny when he was born that I’d get him a championship, which we did in 2023. And, ever since Hadley’s been born, I’ve owed him one, so I’ve just paid that debt, and now we can celebrate!”
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Silverstone
- Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing 22 Laps
- Mikey Doble, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing +0.092s
- Tom Chilton, Team VERTU +1.582s
- Josh Cook, Speedworks Corolla Racing +4.184s
- Daryl De Leon, WSR +5.442s
- Gordon Shedden, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +8.202s
- Charles Rainford, WSR +8.986s
- Adam Morgan, CPRL +12.097s
- Árón Taylor-Smith, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +17.549s
- Daniel Rowbottom, CPRL +17.787s
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Silverstone
- Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK 22 Laps
- Adam Morgan, CPRL +5.449s
- Charles Rainford, WSR +8.467s
- Daryl De Leon, WSR +9.861s
- Daniel Rowbottom, CPRL +10.308s
- Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +12.606s
- Árón Taylor-Smith, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +13.079s
- Tom Ingram, Team VERTU +13.684s
- Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing +15.314s
- Josh Cook, Speedworks Corolla Racing +19.401s
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Silverstone
- Tom Ingram, Team VERTU 22 Laps
- Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +4.123s
- Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing +11.312s
- Gordon Shedden, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +11.621s
- Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +14.150s
- Tom Chilton, Team VERTU +15.907s
- Josh Cook, Speedworks Corolla Racing +15.994s
- Árón Taylor-Smith, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +16.712s
- Daniel Rowbottom, CPRL +18.632s
- Adam Morgan, CPRL +20.228s