Paddock 43: An F1 Podcast

A little Christmas message to our lovely listeners from Pat before we re-ignite the chat about 2026 regulations. Last episode of the season until we recommence before pre-season testing!! The FIA’s 2026 Formula 1 regulations are here... and they’re massive. Smaller cars, active aero, 50/50 hybrid power, and fully sustainable fuel will change the sport forever. In this Paddock 43 mini, we break down what’s coming, why the rules matter, and how it will shape the grid from Mercedes and Ferrari to Red Bull. Whether you’re a die-hard F1 fan or planning your first trip to Albert Park, this is everything you need to know before the biggest reset since 2014.

The season finale gave us EVERYTHING. Lando Norris is your new Formula 1 World Champion, Max defends with everything he has, Charles goes full send, and Oscar Piastri closes out one of the best seasons we’ve ever seen from an Aussie, even if it didn’t end in a win. In this episode, we break down Abu Dhabi GP. Lando becoming World Drivers Champion, Max’s defensive heroics, Leclerc’s late-race surge, and Oscar’s season-long brilliance that turned him into a future World Champion in waiting.

Qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has set the stage for an absolutely wild final race of the season. Max Verstappen on pole. Lando Norris P2. Oscar Piastri just behind and Australians were staying up for this one. We break down everything from quali, why this track is traditionally won from the front row, how a single safety car could flip it, and whether this race has already been decided before lights out. We also cover:     •    the Lewis Hamilton crash in FP3 and spin in Q1     •    McLaren team dynamics     •    Constructors money battles     •    The final race ever with DRS before the X-Mode/Z-Mode era begins in 2026 This is the championship decider. Anything can happen in Abu Dhabi tonight. 🎧 Listen now before the race. Based on live reactions recorded straight after quali. (Recorded from the car outside the Today Show studio)

The Qatar Grand Prix blew the championship wide open, and with one race left, everything comes down to the fallout from one moment: the Lap 7 Safety Car. We break down how that decision and the chaos that followed may have cost Oscar Piastri the entire championship. We dive deep into the Lando vs Oscar tension, McLaren’s strategy roulette, and whether team orders should have been used. Plus: how Max Verstappen managed to turn Qatar into a massive advantage heading into the final round. We also unpack the penalties, the tyre drama, and the midfield surprises that no one saw coming. And of course a very big kudos to Carlos Sainz. This is your ultimate Qatar GP debrief; messy, dramatic, hilarious, and full of receipts as we head into what could be the wildest championship finale in years!

The Las Vegas Grand Prix gave us everything: controversy, shock disqualifications and a massive twist in the championship fight. This week on Paddock 43, we break down McLaren’s double disqualification and what it really means for Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and the rest of the drivers’ standings. We dig into Max Verstappen’s Vegas win, how it sets up Red Bull heading into the final rounds, and who we actually think will become the 2025 Drivers’ Champion. We also get into Mercedes and why Kimi Antonelli was our Driver of the Day, and Pat drops a very bold prediction about George Russell. To wrap, we look ahead to the Qatar GP, make some spicy predictions, and talk about how this weekend could shape the final showdown in Abu Dhabi, and of course we wrap it up with our Green Flag and Red Flag.