Formula Fools

This one’s a little different.

A special Formula Fools throwback episode — part collaboration with We Got The Chocolates, part deep dive into the chaos that is the 2026 regulations.

Because before we even got to Melbourne… we thought we knew what was coming.

We didn’t.

In this episode, you’ll hear a segment from our collab with the Chocs crew — breaking down our Australian GP trip, answering Lee’s questions as a newer fan, and (importantly) exposing just how wrong we were about teams like Williams and Aston Martin heading into 2026.

Then we rewind.

Back to mid-2025 — when the regs were still just theory, hype, and optimism.

This is our original breakdown of what 2026 should have been.

And honestly… it hits very differently now.

⸻

Because on paper, the 2026 regulations sounded like exactly what Formula 1 needed:

Smaller, lighter cars
Less drag, less dirty air
New active aero (goodbye DRS… hello X-mode & Z-mode)
A massive shift to hybrid power — nearly 50/50 electric and combustion
Fully sustainable fuels
A complete reset of the competitive order

It was pitched as the biggest shake-up since the turbo-hybrid era in 2014.

A proper reset button.

⸻

So in this episode, David and Skin break it all down in proper “Fools” fashion:

The Big Changes

Why the cars are getting smaller, lighter, and (hopefully) better to race
What the new active aero actually means — and why it’s basically DRS in disguise
The new manual battery boost system (hello KERS 2.0)
Why energy management is about to become one of the biggest skills in F1

The Engine Shift

The removal of the MGU-H
A much bigger MGU-K (aka way more electric power)
Why drivers might have less power at the end of straights
And how all of this could completely change how races are fought

The Bigger Picture

Why F1 is going all-in on 100% sustainable fuels
How this could actually impact road cars worldwide
And why this regulation cycle is about more than just racing — it’s about relevance

⸻

But the real fun of this episode?

Hearing what we thought would happen…

…compared to what actually happened in Melbourne.

Because this was recorded when:

Williams were apparently building a future title-winning car
Aston Martin looked like a serious threat
And everyone thought they’d nailed the regs

Fast forward a few races…

…and yeah.

Not quite.

⸻

This is Formula Fools at its core:

Learning the sport
Getting things wrong
Figuring it out together

…and having a laugh while we do it.

If you’ve ever wondered why F1 changes its rules, how these cars actually work, or why every new era starts with chaos — this is the episode for you.

And if nothing else…

…it proves one thing:

No one knows anything.
Follow us for more: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook (search Formula Fools). Thanks for listening — and if you got a laugh or learned something, drop a 5-star rating and tell a mate.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2026 season is officially heating up — and the Chinese Grand Prix might have just given us the first real statement of the new era.

In this Formula Fools race review, David and Skin break down an unbelievable weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix — featuring a historic performance from rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli.

Because what he did in Shanghai was ridiculous.

Youngest pole sitter in F1 history — breaking the record previously held by Sebastian Vettel.
Second-youngest race winner ever.
And his first Grand Slam — pole position, race win, and fastest lap.

At 19.

David and Skin dive into how Antonelli managed the entire weekend like a veteran — bouncing back from a small slip in the sprint race and delivering one of the most complete rookie weekends we’ve ever seen.

Seriously… there was a moment where we had to ask if he might secretly be Kimi Räikkönen in disguise.

But the Mercedes story doesn’t stop there.

George Russell also delivered a massive weekend, dominating the sprint race and pushing Antonelli hard in the main event. With Russell only a few points ahead in the standings, we’re suddenly asking a very real question:

Is Mercedes about to dominate this new regulation era?

Or are we about to witness a full-blown teammate battle?

Meanwhile, Ferrari had a fascinating weekend.

Lewis Hamilton grabbed back-to-back poles across the sprint and the main race — a huge sign he might be properly back at the front again. His race pace, starts, and battery management were elite all weekend.

Charles Leclerc was also right in the fight, delivering brilliant wheel-to-wheel battles with Hamilton that showed Ferrari finally have a car capable of racing the Mercedes duo.

Elsewhere on the grid:

Oliver Bearman absolutely smashed the weekend for Haas with a huge P5 — proof that the team might be a genuine midfield force this year.
Cadillac Formula 1 Team showed serious pace but also got tangled in a messy opening-lap incident.
Williams Racing finally grabbed points… and somehow still managed a DNS in the same weekend.
And reigning champions McLaren had a nightmare with a double DNS.

Not ideal.

We also introduce a new segment — “Listen to the Fools” — where we hear from listeners Jay and Kelvin, bringing their own questions and takes into the show.

Plus we hand out our Guru and Fool of the race, debate the growing reliability issues in the new 2026 power units, and ask whether drivers like Max Verstappen are right to be frustrated with the new era of cars.

Finally, we look ahead to Suzuka and the Japanese Grand Prix, where the big questions are:

Can Mercedes continue their early dominance?
Will the new hybrid power units keep causing reliability problems?
And will Suzuka’s brutal layout expose the real strengths and weaknesses of these new cars?

Two races in…

…and this season already feels unpredictable. 🏁
Follow us for more: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook (search Formula Fools). Thanks for listening — and if you got a laugh or learned something, drop a 5-star rating and tell a mate.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2026 Formula 1 season is officially underway, and if Melbourne told us anything… it’s that nobody fully understands these new cars yet.

In this Formula Fools race review, David and Skin break down everything from the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix — including chaos, massive saves, unexpected pace, and a lot of confused drivers.

Because while fans got a wild race… the drivers were not happy.

Multiple drivers slammed the new regulations after the race.
Max Verstappen called the cars “not fun to drive” and “anti-racing.”
Meanwhile Lando Norris joked the grid had gone “from the best cars to the worst cars.”

Why?

The new 2026 power units.

The internal combustion engine power has dropped massively, from around 738 HP in 2025 to roughly 536 HP in 2026, with the rest now coming from electric deployment.

The problem is the battery is being drained down the straights.

At Melbourne we saw cars hit around 308 km/h early on the straight… then drop to roughly 253 km/h by the braking zone while still flat out.

That’s not a lift.

That’s literally running out of power.

Drivers like Oliver Bearman even said the overtake boost button was basically useless at this track compared to circuits like Bahrain.

But from a fan perspective?

The racing was wild.

There were 120 overtakes compared to just 45 last year.

And while some of it might feel slightly “manufactured,” it produced one hell of a season opener.

We also break down the biggest talking points of the weekend:

Mercedes look terrifying

George Russell dominated the race with a cool, controlled performance from start to finish.

And rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli backed it up with a huge P2 — showing Mercedes might have built another monster at the start of a new engine era.

Ferrari’s speed… and strategy

Charles Leclerc delivered some brilliant overtakes, while Lewis Hamilton surged from P7 to the front pack early.

But once again Ferrari’s strategy decisions may have cost them a tighter fight at the front.

Audi’s incredible debut

The new Audi F1 Team shocked the paddock.

Q3 on debut.
Points in their first race.

For a brand-new works project, that’s an unbelievable start.

And yes… Franco’s save

Franco Colapinto produced one of the saves of the weekend — the kind that instantly goes into the highlight reel.

We also hand out our first Guru and Fool of the season, debate why some teams like Williams and Aston Martin still look lost, and ask whether Mercedes were sandbagging all weekend before unleashing the pace in the race.

Finally, we look ahead to China and the next big questions:

Does the new overtake mode work better on Shanghai’s massive straight?
How chaotic will the first Sprint weekend of the new era be?
And which teams already look fragile on reliability?

The 2026 season is only one race old…

…but it already feels unpredictable.
Follow us for more: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook (search Formula Fools). Thanks for listening — and if you got a laugh or learned something, drop a 5-star rating and tell a mate.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the most fascinating careers of the modern grid: Sergio Pérez.

Because Pérez’s résumé doesn’t follow the usual pattern.

Six wins.
Three poles.
Thirty-nine podiums.

That alone tells you something about how he races.

David and Skin rewind to the beginning.

From karting in Mexico to Skip Barber in the US at 14.
From living above a restaurant in Germany while racing Formula BMW…
To runner-up in GP2 in 2010.

He earned his way into F1 with Sauber in 2011 and instantly built a reputation for something rare:

Tyre management.

He could make rubber last longer than anyone else. That became his calling card.

In 2013 he joined McLaren — and no, he didn’t leave for Force India by choice. He was dropped after one season when McLaren reshuffled. That setback sent him to Force India in 2014.

And that move saved his career.

Force India/Racing Point became his home. In 2020 he finished 4th in the championship, dragged that car into podium fights, and delivered one of the wildest wins of the era.

Bahrain 2020.

Spun to last on lap one.
Dead last.
Wins the race.

That’s not normal.

Then came the Red Bull era alongside Max Verstappen.

Two strong seasons. Key role in Constructors’ fights. Multiple wins. Monaco 2022.

Then 2024 fell apart.

The car evolved heavily around Verstappen’s ultra-sharp front end preference. Pérez struggled with the balance window. Confidence dipped. Qualifying gaps widened. And in modern F1, that spiral snowballs quickly.

Off track? In 2018 he literally helped save his team by initiating legal action that pushed Force India into administration — allowing it to be rescued and continue racing.

Most drivers save tyres.

Checo saved a team.

We break down what defines Pérez:

Elite tyre management
Street circuit mastery
Calm execution in chaotic races
Proven ability to support championship campaigns

The big question now?

Is there a late-career return… or is the legacy already written?

Best case? Surprise comeback and one more big Sunday.
Worst case? Career closes without a farewell race.
Most likely? Remembered as the most successful Mexican driver in F1 history — a six-time winner who maximised every opportunity he was given.

He wasn’t the loudest driver of his era.

He was the smoothest.
Follow us for more: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook (search Formula Fools). Thanks for listening — and if you got a laugh or learned something, drop a 5-star rating and tell a mate.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the most quietly successful careers of the modern era: Valtteri Bottas.

Because Bottas is one of those drivers history might undersell.

But the numbers don’t.

10 wins.
67 podiums.
20 pole positions.
Multiple runner-up finishes in the World Championship.

That’s not average. That’s elite.

David and Skin rewind to the early days.

Back-to-back Formula Renault Eurocup champion.
Dominant junior reputation.
Signed by Williams for 2013.

And no — he didn’t jump straight from F3 to F1. He spent 2012 as a Williams test driver before racing full-time in 2013.

By 2014? He finished 4th in the Drivers’ Championship… in a Williams. In the first year of the turbo-hybrid era.

That wasn’t luck. That was consistency and ruthless podium collecting.

Then came the big moment.

Nico Rosberg retires.
Mercedes need a replacement.
Bottas gets the call.

He walks into the most dominant car era… next to Lewis Hamilton.

And here’s the thing.

2018 wasn’t “bad” — it was brutal circumstance. The Mercedes was good, yes, but Hamilton hit another level, and Bottas had multiple wins slip through strategy calls and late-race incidents. He finished winless, but not slow.

Then 2019 and 2020?

Runner-up in the championship twice.

He proved the pace was real.

He just lived his prime next to a seven-time champion.

After Mercedes, he moved to Sauber/Alfa Romeo, becoming a pillar for the Audi transition — steady, professional, consistent. The Audi dream project shifted direction heading into 2026, and Bottas wasn’t retained for the race seat as the long-term reset accelerated.

Off track? The “BottASS” charity campaign completely flipped his public image. Leaning into humour, cycling culture, and personality — a reminder that the quiet Finn had layers.

We break down what defines Bottas:

Elite one-lap speed
Structured, methodical race craft
Team-first mentality
Mental toughness from being Hamilton’s teammate

The big question?

Does he get a late-career return — or is the legacy already complete?

Best case? Surprise comeback in a mentoring role for a developing project.
Worst case? Career fades without a farewell.
Most likely? Remembered as one of the most successful supporting drivers of the hybrid era — the calm enabler behind a championship dynasty.

He wasn’t slow.

He was just racing one of the greatest of all time.
Follow us for more: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook (search Formula Fools). Thanks for listening — and if you got a laugh or learned something, drop a 5-star rating and tell a mate.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.