F1Weekly Podcast # 1171
ON TODAYS PROGRAM…
KIMI IS NOW UNSTOPPABLE!
FERRARI GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER
MAX INSISTING THE CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE AND …
FERNANDO SAYS….IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO TODAY THAT FLAVIO TAUGHT THE BAND TO PLAY!
THIS WEEK’S NASIR HAMEED CORNER… TRIBUTE TO PHIL HILL AND…INTERVIEWS WITH A.J.FOYT AND TONY KANNAN
AND YES WE DO NEED YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO KEEP THIS PROGRAM ON THE AIR, JUST CLICK ON THE SUPPORT F1WEEKLY TAB YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO.
It was a perfect way to end the weekend, it was an incredible team effort, especially from strategy to believe in me and go for one-stop.
Today was a really important victory.
The perfect way will be to finish off [the Championship] in style and then just enjoy the rest of the season. I’m aware it is close, but the mindset doesn’t change. I want to finish the season on a high, to go into 2027 with high hopes.
What an incredible feeling. After Friday, I don’t think any of us expected to be standing here with the win, so to turn the weekend around like this is really special. The car felt great today, and I was able to control the race, but it definitely wasn’t easy. There was pressure throughout and I knew I couldn’t afford to make a mistake. I just tried to stay calm, focus on each lap and execute the race.
A huge thank you to everyone here at the track and back at Brackley and Brixworth. We kept working after a difficult Friday and never gave up. To repay all that work with a victory feels amazing. I’m very proud of what we achieved today.
George…
It was another difficult day for me today. I just didn’t have the pace and I’m unsure why that is. My first stint wasn’t great, and I was struggling initially on the Medium tyre but after the pitstop my pace felt stronger and I felt I could make some progress. However, once I caught up with the McLaren of Piastri, I just couldn’t overtake and ended up stuck behind him for the remaining laps of the race.
The time penalty from the opening lap cost me a couple of places but overall, the pace just wasn’t good enough today for me to be fighting at the front. The lack of performance is something me and the team will look at and work on over the next couple of days. Hopefully we can make some improvements ahead of next weekend in Mexico and come back stronger for the rest of the season.
Toto…
That was an exceptional drive from Kimi. He and the team didn’t put a foot wrong all afternoon, showing strong pace throughout along with making all the right decisions strategically. What makes today particularly satisfying is where we came from on Friday. We didn’t look like we had a car capable of winning this race, but the team kept working, made good decisions and turned the weekend around. That is a credit to everyone here in Austin and back in Brackley and Brixworth.
For George, it was a more difficult afternoon, and the result doesn’t reflect the pace we know he has. He was hindered by a five-second time penalty that dropped him behind the McLarens and then he got stuck behind Piastri. We will look at this weekend overall, understand what we could have done differently and work together to make sure he can have a stronger weekend in Mexico.
Charles…
t was a fun race and I really enjoyed it, particularly the start and the battle with Max (Verstappen) on lap 1, and later on with Lando (Norris) and Max again. Our pace was quite strong, and our strategy was good, but it was not enough for the win today.
We brought good upgrades to the car and have been going in a direction that I quite like. It makes me feel confident with the car so I’m optimistic. It’s all about optimising what we have for the upcoming races, with the target of converting our progress to a win.
Lewis…
Today was a strong team effort, with a solid strategy and great execution. I want to thank everyone here and back at the factory for their continued hard work which is helping us get closer. The balance in the race still wasn’t quite where I wanted it, but the pace was there and we were closing in the final stint. Without the VSC late on, I believe we’d have had a real shot at a double podium. That’s racing though, and there’s plenty to take from this weekend. The focus now is on starting strongly in Mexico and putting ourselves in the fight from the very first session.
The USGP…
The race in Austin offered Antonelli a first chance to clinch the trophy and become F1’s youngest ever driver at 20 years old, but the Italian needed an unlike combination of results.
He at least did his part and after a spectacular start from pole position, giving Red Bull’s Max Verstappen no chance, Antonelli benefitted from a one-stop strategy and cruised to victory.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari was second after overtaking Verstappen with six laps to go. The Dutchman had to settle for third following victories in the past two races in Malaysia and Singapore.
Antonelli is now 123 points ahead of team-mate George Russell, with 125 points left on the table. He will claim the title in Mexico next week if he finishes at least in ninth.
However, if your name is Max Verstappen and your car handled like a shopping cart with a broken wheel for 56 laps, the post-race debrief is going to be incredibly spicy.
Even though Verstappen managed to drag his RB22 to a third-place finish behind race-winner Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, the Dutchman was absolutely furious with Red Bull’s execution on Sunday.
The frustration had been brewing all afternoon. After spending a chunk of the race screaming about being stuck in the dirty air of his teammate Isack Hadjar and dealing with an “undriveable” braking issue, Verstappen let the pit wall have it the second the checkered flag wave
Audi to establish first U.S. production site in Georgia, investing $4 billion and creating 4,500 jobs.
Audi is taking a major step in its global growth strategy with plans to establish its first U.S. production site in Georgia. The company intends to invest around $4 billion and create approximately 4,500 jobs. Construction of the plant, designed for an annual production capacity of up to 200,000 vehicles, is scheduled to begin in 2027, with production planned to start in the early 2030s. With premium SUVs tailored to North American customers and manufactured locally, Audi aims to unlock significant growth potential in one of the world’s most important premium markets. The planned investment intends to mark a long-term commitment to the United States and to establish North America as a third major pillar of Audi’s global production network alongside Europe and China.
Growing in America, for America.
As the world’s second-largest premium market, the U.S. offers significant growth potential for Audi. Establishing local production is a key element of a broader growth strategy focused on customer needs, a compelling product portfolio and a more competitive business model. The planned investment is part of a long-term strategy for profitable growth.
“We have much greater ambitions for Audi in America. The United States is one of the world’s most important premium markets, and we have not yet realized our full potential. We are determined to change that — with premium products, a stronger brand and a competitive local production base. This is about building a stronger Audi business in America — not only about building a factory.”
Building Audi’s first U.S. production site.
“Building a new plant from the ground up allows us to rethink manufacturing from day one. We can design highly efficient and flexible production processes, integrate advanced technologies and develop a strong local supplier network. Our ambition is to establish a benchmark for premium manufacturing that strengthens Audi’s global production network.”
“Georgia has built a reputation as a place where global companies come to shape the future of their industries. Audi’s decision to establish its first American manufacturing plant here is another defining moment in that journey. We are proud to welcome one of the world’s most iconic automotive brands to Georgia. Together, we have an opportunity to create lasting economic prosperity, open new doors for our communities and help shape the next generation of American automotive manufacturing.”
Strengthening Audi’s global competitiveness.
A stronger presence in North America will help Audi build a more balanced and resilient global business, reduce exposure to trade and currency risks, and create additional opportunities for profitable growth.
Germany and Europe will remain the industrial backbone of Audi, with their engineering expertise, technological capabilities and production competence. The expansion in North America complements the existing production network and supports Audi’s long-term ambition to strengthen its competitiveness worldwide.
Audi’s future will not be secured by cost reductions, increased efficiency and outstanding technology alone. We need the courage to invest, to pursue new opportunities and to make decisions that will shape our company for decades to come. This planned investment demonstrates our determination to do exactly that.”
Verstappen fights to third in the United States Grand Prix.
After back-to-back wins in Bahrain and Singapore, a third victory on the bounce was out of reach for Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday, but the four-time world champion fought hard to finish third and extend his recent run of podium finishes to six at the Circuit of The Americas.
As Mercedes driver and Drivers’ Championship leader Kimi Antonelli dominated the race from start to finish, Verstappen endured a difficult race from second place on the the grid and was fighting the RB22 for the duration of the Grand Prix.
The Dutchman hung on to second place for as long as he could, but with the car noticeably struggling with its tyres as the race got into the final quarter, he eventually lost the position to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and had to settle for the final step of the podium at the finish, +17.485s behind the victor.
Thanks to another podium however, Verstappen moved closer to the top three in the Drivers’ Championship. He now sits on 236 points, just five adrift of Lewis Hamilton in third and six behind current second-placed driver George Russell.
Similar to Verstappen, Isack Hadjar also struggled significantly during the Grand Prix and wasn’t able to capitalise on his third place qualifying position and eventually finished the race in sixth place.
Visa Cash App Racing Bulls had both drivers inside the top 10 in qualifying and Liam Lawson drove a strong race in Texas to convert that into a points-scoring result with ninth place, while Arvid Lindblad missed the points in 12th.
Max..
“It wasn’t the strongest race for me, as there were a lot of things that didn’t work out and we seemed to experience different problems. The biggest question mark is why the tyres didn’t really work, while the harder compounds actually did really well, so that’s something to analyse. We struggled with engine consistency throughout the race, which we’ll need to work on, but it’s still a podium, so if you look at the beginning of the year and where we are now, we’ll take that. We’ve had quite a few podiums in a row, but at the same time, our target is always to be first, and we want to win more. It’s nice to see that we are now third in the Constructors’ Championship. The target for the rest of the year will be to keep that position. It’ll be tough, but we’ll keep working.”
Isack…
“It’s been a frustrating end to the weekend. We didn’t have a great start and lost two positions to both of the Ferraris, but from then on we settled into a rhythm and found really strong pace in the first stint. I felt good on the Soft tyre and I was lapping similar to the leaders, so the performance was there. I’ve been working so hard on the race pace, so it was good to see it in action. As the race went on, the tyre degradation was more manageable, so we moved onto a one-stop strategy. Unfortunately, we faced a system issue in the pit lane which really compromised us for the rest of the race. We did a good job to keep P6 and bring a few points to the Team from what was an up-and-down weekend.”
ALISHA PALMOWSKI WINS F1 ACADEMY CHAMPIONSHIP IN AUSTIN!
Red Bull Racing Academy Programme driver secures F1 Academy title in Texas, becoming first Red Bull Academy Programme driver to win the championship.
Alisha Palmowski has been crowned F1 Academy Champion for 2026, sealing the title at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, during the United States Grand Prix weekend. The 20-year-old Briton clinched the championship in the Reverse Grid race after finishing P2, completing a remarkable second season in the series and making history as the first driver from the Red Bull Academy Programme to win the F1 Academy title. Alisha seals the title with three races to go.
Alisha’s journey to the F1 Academy title began in karting in 2018, where she twice finished as Junior Vice Champion in the Daniel Ricciardo Series (2020 and 2021). She then recorded 10 podiums in the Ginetta Junior Championship before being named a BRDC Rising Star in 2024. She also made an impressive single-seater debut that year, scoring three wins, two pole positions and 11 podiums to finish as GB4 Championship Vice Champion. The results earned her a Wild Card appearance in the F1 Academy round in Lusail, where she finished fifth in the only race held that weekend.
Her performances earned her a call-up to the Red Bull Academy Programme ahead of the 2025 season, and she made an immediate impression in her rookie F1 Academy campaign with Campos Racing. The British driver won the Reverse Grid Race on her series debut in Shanghai and went on to record four podium finishes, finishing fifth in the Drivers’ Championship with 73 points.
Alisha’s growing control, confidence and pace earned her a second season racing in Red Bull colours with Campos, and she immediately announced her title credentials with pole position and a P2 finish at the season opener in Shanghai. She stepped up her challenge at the next round in Montreal, again taking pole position and claiming victory in two of the weekend’s three races.
A third win followed in the Feature Race at Silverstone, in front of her home crowd, before she claimed her fourth victory of the season in the Zandvoort Feature Race. With four pole positions and five podium finishes heading into Austin, Palmowski arrived in Texas with a 48-point lead in the standings and, with a champions drive from P8 to P2 in the Reverse Grid race put the title out of reach.
Alisha Palmowski, F1 Academy Champion and Red Bull Racing Academy Programme driver, said: “It’s incredible. Honestly, I don’t know what to say. I’m just trying not to cry.
There has been so much hard work going on behind the scenes, not just from myself, but from all the people behind the camera that you don’t see. They’ve lived it day and night with me throughout the whole year. We’ve worked so hard as a team, Campos Racing and Red Bull Racing, and we’ve really left no stone unturned. It’s been a really special journey.
I started racing when I was eight or nine years old and it was just me and my parents. My dad was my mechanic, and my mum came to every single race I’ve ever done. They’ve made so many sacrifices and really put their lives on pause to allow me to live my dream. I’m just so glad to repay them.
I’ve learned so much in the last 18 months to two years with Red Bull Racing. I’ve learned about things I didn’t know I didn’t know, so I’ve developed so much, not only as a driver but as a person as well. I think I’ve matured so much in the last 12 months and, yeah, it’s just a dream come true.”
Laurent Mekies, CEO and Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, said: “First of all, congratulations to Alisha on winning the F1 Academy Championship. This is a fantastic achievement and one she thoroughly deserves after an outstanding season.
Ever since joining the Red Bull family two years ago, she has consistently demonstrated the qualities we value most in young drivers: exceptional talent, a strong work ethic and a relentless desire to improve. She has represented our colours superbly in F1 Academy, and this title is the result of the commitment, determination and professionalism she has shown throughout her journey.
Alisha joined us with immense natural ability and has continued to develop every aspect of her driving, refining her speed, racecraft and consistency along the way. F1 Academy has provided an important platform for that development, and she has made the most of every opportunity.
We are incredibly proud of what she has achieved and look forward to continuing to support her as she takes the next steps in her career.”
Atlassian Williams F1 Team Reserve Driver Luke Browning to drive FW48 during FP1 sessions in Mexico and Brazil
Williams Reserve Driver Luke Browning to complete the team’s final two mandated rookie FP1 sessions, driving Alex Albon’s FW48 in Mexico and Carlos Sainz’s car in Brazil
It will be Luke’s first time in the FW48 since Williams’ lightweight chassis upgrade, giving him first-hand understanding of the new package
Knowledge gained will feed directly into his simulator work, supporting the team’s progress behind the scenes
Luke Browning: “Each session teaches you something new, and I will take every bit of learning I can from this to keep pushing my development and the team forward.”
Atlassian Williams F1 Team is pleased to confirm that Reserve Driver and Academy member Luke Browning will complete the team’s final two mandated rookie FP1 sessions at the Mexican and Brazilian Grands Prix – driving Alex Albon’s FW48 in Mexico before taking over Carlos Sainz’s car in Brazil.
Luke will step into the FW48 for the first time since the introduction of the lightweight chassis upgrade in Baku, giving him a first-hand understanding of the new package and what it brings in terms of performance and learning. The knowledge he gains from these outings will feed directly into his simulator work, supporting the team’s progress behind the scenes.
With these final two sessions, Luke will have driven in all four of Williams’ mandated FP1 rookie sessions this season, which is a mark of the team’s trust in him, his progression as a driver, and part of Williams’ proud tradition of giving young talent a pathway into F1. The Driver Academy supports drivers on every rung of the motorsport ladder, bringing emerging drivers into the programme and supporting each driver as they advance toward the highest levels of competition.
This year, Luke has taken on the role of Reserve Driver for Atlassian Williams F1 Team while racing for Team Kondo Racing in Super Formula, Japan’s premier single-seater series and widely considered the second-fastest in the world behind Formula 1.
As Reserve, Luke plays an important role in helping to push the team forward in Formula 1’s new regulations era. In addition to race weekend stand-by duties, Luke continues to help develop the car through data analysis and simulator work.
Luke Browning: “I’m happy to be back in the FW48 and grateful to be trusted by Atlassian Williams F1 Team with all four of the team’s rookie FP1 sessions this year. It’s a great opportunity to get more laps in the car, while building my understanding of the new package and bringing useful data and feedback back to Grove. Each session teaches you something new, and I will take every bit of learning I can from this to help keep pushing my development and the team forward.”
Sven Smeets, Sporting Director:“Luke continues to prove himself as a valuable part of the team, both through his simulator work and his performances on track. Giving him the chance to get behind the wheel of the FW48 across two race weekends is an important step in his development and a natural progression. It’s valuable for us to have consistency in the driver across all four of our rookie test sessions, as it allows us to improve the correlation between the data we gather on track and our simulator work. We have a talented group of young drivers in the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy, and we’re pleased to continue providing opportunities like this to support their progression and development.”
Fernando…
“We were quite competitive today and were having a strong race, but the damage to our car compromised everything for us. It felt like we were chasing down a potential points-scoring position as we were running in P12 with a damaged car. The damage was sustained from contact on lap one when Alex [Albon] hit us going into Turn 11. We carried on, but eventually had to pit for a new front wing and that dropped us down the order. We have some positives to take from this weekend despite the result today.”
