Last week, Nav sparked a question during our Canadian GP recording: why does McLaren, a family-friendly brand, carry a Velo sponsorship when tobacco advertising is banned? That question kicked off this episode of Grand Pricks. We dive into Formula 1’s commercial evolution, from its roots as a nationalistic sport fuelled by engineering pride, through the tobacco-fuelled sponsorship boom of the late 60s, to Bernie Ecclestone’s reign turning F1 into a global entertainment powerhouse. Was Ecclestone a visionary or just a power-hungry dictator? We unpack the sport’s corporate growth in the 80s and 90s, the decline of tobacco sponsorships, and the rise of digital media, spotlighting Lewis Hamilton’s social influence challenging the old guard. We also look at how F1 is growing worldwide, dealing with environmental and money challenges, and how Liberty Media is trying to update the sport with streaming, social media, and big events, while trying to keep the spirit of racing alive. We’ll be back next week with a new episode covering the Austrian Grand Prix so make sure to stay tuned! Follow us on socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grandprickspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandprickspodcast/ X: https://x.com/grandprickspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Grandprickspodcast Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This weekend, Formula 1 returned to North America for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, and after a break last week, the drama was back in full force. Lando Norris faced an unfortunate DNF after an intense battle with teammate Oscar Piastri, attempting to overtake for P4, while Mercedes had their long-awaited redemption arc, as George Russell secured the team's first win of the 2025 season. His rookie teammate, Kimi Antonelli, clinched P3, becoming the third-youngest driver to ever stand on an F1 podium. With the threat of a race ban closing in on him, Max Verstappen kept his racing clean after his contact with Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix and split the silver arrows for P2. But this caused us to debate: is he grand, or just a prick? Off-track, we dive into the rumours swirling around Ferrari. Could team principal Frédéric Vasseur be on the chopping block? And is Lewis Hamilton heading into his final season? Plus, our Grand Pricks podium picks and everything you didn’t see behind the scenes. We’ll be back next week with our full reaction and analysis of the Austrian Grand Prix! Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it. Follow us on socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grandprickspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandprickspodcast/ X: https://x.com/grandprickspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Grandprickspodcast Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Behind the glamour and glory of Formula 1 lies a history forged by danger, heartbreak, and loss. Since its inception in 1950, the sport has delivered moments of brilliance, as well as devastating tragedy. For decades, drivers raced at the limit, knowing that a single crash could end not just a career, but their life. In this episode of the Grand Pricks podcast, we take a deep dive into how safety in F1 has evolved across the decades, from an era where fatalities were unfortunately routine to the groundbreaking innovations that have saved lives and reshaped the sport into what it is today. While fatalities in F1 are rare now, thanks to tireless efforts in engineering and regulation, understanding the sport’s dark past is crucial to appreciating just how far it’s come and the courage it still takes to line up on the grid. We’ll be back next week with our Canadian Grand Prix race episode, so make sure to subscribe and stay tuned! Follow us on socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grandprickspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandprickspodcast/ X: https://x.com/grandprickspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Grandprickspodcast Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Hola! This weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona delivered plenty of drama both on and off the track. A technical directive targeting flexi-wings was enforced, expected to hit McLaren hard. But the Papaya squad had other plans. They dominated the weekend with a double podium: Piastri clinched his fifth win of the season, and Norris followed closely in P2. Verstappen had a strong start in his Red Bull and went for a bold three-stop strategy. But late in the race, chaos struck. The safety car hit the track when Antonelli’s engine gave out, forcing his retirement. On the restart, the team ordered Verstappen to give a position back to Russell, only for him to (allegedly) retaliate by colliding with the Mercedes driver. The stewards weren’t impressed, handing Verstappen a 10-second penalty that dropped him from P5 to P10. Leclerc secured P3 for Ferrari, while Hamilton came in P6. Thanks to consistent performances, Ferrari has now leapfrogged into second place in the Constructors’ standings, behind the dominant McLaren. Mercedes follows in third, while Red Bull slips further after another point-less weekend for Tsunoda in the second seat. Off-track, we also dove into the debut of the F1 Academy docuseries on Netflix and unpacked the ongoing challenges women face in breaking into Formula 1. Of course, we ended the episode with our iconic Grand Pricks podium picks. There’s no race next week, but don’t worry—we’re dropping a deep-dive episode all about safety in F1. Hit subscribe so you don’t miss it! Follow us on socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grandprickspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandprickspodcast/ X: https://x.com/grandprickspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Grandprickspodcast Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

It’s the Monaco Grand Prix, where glitz, glamour, and chaos collide on one of the toughest circuits in F1. This year brought even more spice with the FIA enforcing a two-stop rule for the first time in Monte Carlo history. Local hero Charles Leclerc looked set for a fairy-tale weekend, but it was Lando Norris who stole the spotlight, snatching pole in qualifying and converting it into a flawless race win. Oscar Piastri joined the action on the podium in P3, while Leclerc still gave his home crowd something to cheer about with a strong P2 finish for Ferrari. Strategy was the name of the game, with teams like Racing Bulls and Williams playing smart — backing the field behind them and ultimately securing valuable points. Unfortunately, those same tactics spelled disaster for Mercedes, who walked away empty-handed. Rookie Liam Lawson finally broke through and bagged his first points. We break down all the major talking points from this electric weekend — from the tense exchanges between Lewis Hamilton and his Ferrari engineer to the off-track drama of the infamous Monaco diamond heist involving Team Jaguar. Don’t forget to subscribe — we’ll be back next week with all the heat from the Barcelona Grand Prix. You won’t want to miss it. Follow us on socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grandprickspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandprickspodcast/ X: https://x.com/grandprickspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Grandprickspodcast Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

We’re kicking off the first race of the European triple-header with the Imola Grand Prix! Or should we say Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix? Honestly, we’re still not totally sure what the difference is. This weekend brought the drama. Qualifying on Saturday saw two big crashes – Yuki Tsunoda in the Racing Bulls and Franco Colapinto, whose debut for Alpine didn’t quite go as planned. The race didn’t disappoint either, with a virtual and a full safety car shaking things up, when Esteban Ocon and home-hero Kimi Antonelli both retired. Verstappen put his Red Bull on top, overtaking Piastri in his McLaren. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s weekend was more of a slow burn. After a tough qualifying, it looked like they might be stuck in their heads – but they pulled off a clean, steady recovery and both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc bagged some solid points. Off the track, there was plenty of spice too. We unpack Anthony Hamilton’s controversial role with the FIA, Christian Horner’s still-uncertain future with Red Bull, and Flavio Briatore stirring things up at Alpine. Make sure to subscribe – we’ll be back next week with a brand new episode diving into all the action from the Monaco Grand Prix. You won’t want to miss it. Follow us on socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grandprickspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandprickspodcast/ X: https://x.com/grandprickspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Grandprickspodcast Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The Grand Pricks podcast is back with another deep dive – and this time, we're unpacking the ever-evolving world of F1 regulations. For all the new fans out there, we’re breaking down why these rules change, how often, and who’s calling the shots behind the scenes. In this episode, we zero in on the major regulation overhaul of 2022 – complete with a special ‘Reem-friendly’ analogy to make it all click – and explore how those changes have reshaped car performance and shifted team dominance. Are these rules really about safety, or is it all for the entertainment? It’s the perfect time to brush up, especially with fresh regulations coming in 2026, and some updates appearing in the next few races. Grand Pricks will be back for the upcoming triple-header, kicking off at the iconic Imola circuit, so don’t forget to subscribe! Follow us on socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grandprickspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandprickspodcast/ X: https://x.com/grandprickspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Grandprickspodcast Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This week on the Grand Pricks Podcast, we’re diving into all the chaos and controversy of the Miami Grand Prix. From Saturday’s sprint race, where 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli made history as the youngest driver to take pole, to Lucky Lando Norris clinching a surprise sprint race win, the weekend delivered on every front. McLaren came out strong with two double podiums as Oscar Piastri secured his third consecutive win at the Miami GP, followed by teammate Norris in P2. Meanwhile, it was a rough ride in the midfield. Tensions flared over team radio as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc voiced frustration at Ferrari’s delayed strategy call, which may have cost Hamilton a shot at P6 against Antonelli. We break down all the biggest race highlights, the off-track drama surrounding FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, and why drivers are pushing back on being sidelined in key decisions affecting the sport. Plus, we reveal our Grand Pricks Podium picks of the week. We’ll be back during the break with a deep dive into current F1 regulations, how they've evolved, and what changes are on the horizon for 2026. Follow us on socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grandprickspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandprickspodcast/ X: https://x.com/grandprickspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Grandprickspodcast Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Just because there was no F1 race this weekend doesn’t mean The Grand Pricks podcast is taking a break. We’re back with another deep-dive episode — and this time, we’re talking all about tyres (even if Reem isn’t thrilled about it). In this episode, Nav and Issy take Reem — and you — through the history of F1 tyres, the different types used in every race, how they’ve evolved under changing regulations, and how they factor into driver and team strategies. It’s everything you need to know to get up to speed before the Miami Grand Prix. Make sure to subscribe! We’ll be back next week with a brand-new race episode, sharing our live reactions, breaking down all the behind-the-scenes drama, and of course, revealing our picks for the Grand Pricks Podium! Follow us on socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grandprickspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandprickspodcast/ X: https://x.com/grandprickspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Grandprickspodcast Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix took place this weekend and it did not go down without any drama. Although Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen went head to head after a thrilling qualifying, a five-second penalty handed Piastri the win, putting him at the top of the Driver’s Championship standings. Charles Leclerc also secured Ferrari’s first podium of the season, while Lewis Hamilton’s struggles in red continued. In this episode, we give you our live reactions to the race, including the moment that Saudi Arabia continued its perfect record of safety cars, and a breakdown of all the behind-the-scenes drama, including Lando Norris losing his edge, Alpine crashing out, and as always, our picks of the Grand Pricks podium.  We’ll be back next week during the summer break with a deep dive into tyres—yes, tyres! We’ll explain how they impact driver performance and the strategies that shape every race, just in time before F1 returns for the Miami Grand Prix. Follow us on socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grandprickspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandprickspodcast/ X: https://x.com/grandprickspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Grandprickspodcast Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.