The Parc Fermé F1 Podcast

F1’s 2026 era has officially hit the track in Barcelona—and the first battle wasn’t lap time, it was reliability. In this episode, we break down the “mileage wars,” who ran into early trouble, why Williams missed the shakedown entirely, and how the new engine “loophole” debate is already heating up. Get the essential testing wrap-up, the real winners and losers, and what to watch heading into Bahrain.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Groundhog Day Reflections
02:43 Formula One Testing Overview
05:44 Team Performances and Insights
08:34 Mileage Wars: Who Stood Out?
11:34 Green Flags, Yellow Flags, and Red Flags
14:17 Predictions and Future Outlook
23:19 The Debate on Closed Doors in F1
26:00 Compression Gate: The Controversy Unfolds
33:00 Christian Horner's Potential Comeback
38:58 Alpine's Future: Hope or Hype?
45:21 Alpine's Challenges and Williams' Strategy
49:06 Assessing Williams' Pre-Season Performance
50:23 Driver Program Updates and Team Dynamics
53:00 Pre-Season Metrics: What Really Matters?
57:55 Fun in Racing: A Call for Creativity
01:04:42 Celebrity News and Its Impact on F1

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In this episode, Todd and Grace discuss the upcoming F1 season, focusing on the latest news, team preparations, and testing insights. They explore the impact of weather on testing, the importance of reliability, and the introduction of new power units. The conversation also touches on lap counts as indicators of performance, off-track developments, and marketing strategies to engage fans.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
02:39 Weather and Personal Updates
05:30 Patreon Support and Podcast Overview
08:26 2026 Season Preview and Testing
11:15 Team Performances and Testing Insights
13:52 Red Bull's Engine Debut and Performance
16:46 Audi and Cadillac's Testing Challenges
19:37 Headlines and Highlights from Testing
22:17 Security and Media Access at Testing
24:33 The Marketing Strategy of Formula One
26:20 Team Dynamics and Shakedown Importance
28:53 Aston Martin's Expectations and Pressure
30:36 Christian Horner's Potential Stake in Alpine
33:42 Ryan Reynolds and Alpine's Future
37:24 McLaren's New Partnership with Puma
38:39 Cadillac's Team Building and Driver Strategy
42:33 Audi's Ambitious Goals for 2030
47:00 Aero Leadership and Team Dynamics
47:58 The Importance of Boardroom Support
49:30 Five-Year Plans and Realistic Expectations
50:36 McLaren's No Team Orders Philosophy
51:51 Fairness vs. Competitive Advantage in F1
53:26 Team Communication and Driver Dynamics
56:41 Alvin's Cats: 24 Hours of Daytona and Beyond

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Join Grace and me as we discuss Ferrari's change of race engineer for Hamilton, Haas F1's new livery and why the Australian Shepherds are mad. We chat about Cadillac, Red Bul Racing Bulls and even quibble about the engine loophole for 2026! 

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In this episode, Todd and Grace discuss the latest developments in Formula 1, including Audi's debut with their 2026 car, the challenges posed by new regulations, and the excitement surrounding the upcoming launch season. They delve into the significance of driver number changes, the appointment of Victor Martins at Williams, and Idris Elba's involvement in Formula E. Oh, we also talk about paint, weight and Ozempic. 

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to the Offseason
02:56 Audi's 2026 Car Debut
05:44 Building Expectations for Audi
08:43 The Reality of F1 Integration
11:14 Audi's Shakedown Success
14:06 The Launch Season Begins
16:44 The Evolution of Car Launches
19:37 Anticipating the 2026 Season
23:18 The Evolution of F1 Team Launches
28:21 Weight Limit Controversies in F1
33:33 Driver Development and Team Dynamics
39:02 Driver Numbers and Branding in F1
40:22 The Significance of Racing Numbers
45:13 Merchandising and Branding in Racing
49:48 Idris Elba and Formula E
54:37 The Future of Formula 1 and Team Dynamics

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In this episode, Todd and Grace discuss the latest developments in Formula 1, focusing on the off-season preparations for the 2026 season. They delve into Cadillac's new driver lineup, the strategic importance of reserve drivers, and the shifting dynamics within Red Bull and McLaren. The conversation also covers the implications of the new regulations, including active aero changes and the future of power units, while addressing the controversial topic of gamification in the sport.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Off-Season Preparations
02:47 Cadillac's 2026 Driver Lineup and Strategy
05:42 The Role of Reserve Drivers in Formula One
08:28 Red Bull's 2026 Lineup and Team Dynamics
11:23 McLaren's Strategic Hiring and Future Directions
21:38 The Role of Will in McLaren's Strategy
26:40 2026 Regulations and Active Aero Changes
38:06 Gamification of Racing: Boost Buttons and Strategy
41:31 Ferrari's Early Commitment to 2026 Regulations
42:20 Ferrari's Strategic Dilemmas
46:35 The Importance of Testing in F1
47:27 Pierre Gasly's Tribute to Schumacher
49:11 Social Media and F1 Tributes
49:57 Upcoming F1 Developments
55:16 Listener Questions and Insights
01:00:12 Lewis Hamilton's Challenges with Ground Effect Cars