
92 episodes

The Race F1 Tech Show The Race
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4.8 • 92 Ratings
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Journalist Edd Straw and former F1 technical director and car designer Gary Anderson are here to guide listeners through the wonderful world of Formula 1 technology. With the help of special guests they’ll discuss and explain everything from how F1 cars are engineered to go faster, to the science behind cutting-edge aerodynamics and the complexities of engine development. They’ll also discuss the latest design trends shaping the 2022 grid, speak to some of the famous names behind classic F1 innovations, and answer fans’ burning F1 tech questions.
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2023 in review: Is the Red Bull RB19 the best F1 car of the modern era?
With the end of the season just around the corner, host Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson present part one of our technical review of 2023, which deals with Red Bull's all-conquering RB19 - undoubtedly the car of the season, but should it be regarded as the best of the modern era? We debate that question, assess its various strengths and minimal weaknesses, and ask how much development potential is left in the concept.
Before that, Edd and Gary weigh up everything that happened in Las Vegas, with a particular focus on how and why a water valve cover was lifted by Sainz's Ferrari, and whether the rules around his subsequent penalty need looking at.
And finally, Gary answers a trio of questions from listeners on the merits of push to pass versus DRS, the location of air intakes, and the difference half a millimetre of ride height can make to a car's handling.
The Race F1 Tech Show, brought to you by Aramco.
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Why are so many teams suffering big performance swings from race to race?
The latest episode of The Race F1 Tech Show takes an in-depth look at the key technical talking points from the Brazilian Grand Prix. Host Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson begin by taking a look at Fernando Alonso’s extraordinary defence (and then attack) of Sergio Perez’s Red Bull, and the way the Spanish veteran used all the tools available to him within his car to secure a hard-fought podium finish.
After that, Edd and Gary discuss one of this season’s big tech topics: Why some teams are experiencing such big swings in performance, from race-to-race and circuit-to-circuit. Using the contrasting fortunes of Aston Martin and Mercedes as examples, they try to unpick the key reasons for fluctuations, ask why some teams suffer more than others, and dig into why Red Bull stay so consistent.
And, as ever, the show is rounded out by Gary answering several questions from listeners, which this week are on forcing teams to share data, moveable aero, and endplates.
The Race F1 Tech Show, brought to you by Aramco.
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Explaining Austin’s ‘plank’ drama & Mercedes’ important upgrades
On this week's show host Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson dive straight into the topic of those dramatic disqualifications to Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in the US Grand Prix. Gary explains how each car came to have excessive wear to the planks on the car's underfloor, why the plank is there in the first place, and why it was surprising the two teams came to be in the situation.
After that, Edd and Gary discuss the major upgrades that Mercedes introduced in Austin, which tech chief James Allison described as a 'bellwether' for 2024. Gary gives his thoughts on the direction the team appear to be moving in, and whether the team's disqualification with Hamilton says anything about the benefits the package seems to have brought.
There's also chat about the brake issues Aston Martin suffered in Austin, and how they affected the team's desire to assess their own package of upgrades. And in the final instalment of 'upgrade watch', Gary gives his thoughts on the package of parts Haas brought to their home event, and why he was confused by their approach.
As ever, we close out the show with a pair of questions from listeners, which this time are on battery technology and whether outdated wings and floors are recycled.
The Race F1 Tech Show, brought to you by Aramco.
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Andretti and the tech challenge of starting a new F1 team from scratch
On this episode, host Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson dive into the subject of Andretti's bid to get a team onto the F1 grid, looking specifically at the technical challenges that they'll face if granted the final green light.
Having been heavily involved in starting the Jordan F1 project from scratch in 1991, Gary is well placed to comment on what's needed, even if he concedes it's a considerably tougher task in the modern era.
Edd and Gary also cast an eye over events from the Qatar Grand Prix, and in particular the tyre and track limits issues that arose as the weekend unfolded. Gary gives his opinion on what played out and how problems were dealt with, and also comments on the extreme temperatures the drivers did battle with and how the FIA may go about solving the problem.
And finally, Gary answers a selection of questions from listeners, including one on which part of an F1 car costs the most to develop but delivers the smallest performance benefit...
The Race F1 Tech Show, brought to you by Aramco.
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Will anyone catch Red Bull + your questions answered
Can anyone catch Red Bull? That’s the question everyone is asking in F1 and as it’s long been clear that won’t happen this year, what about in 2024?
With McLaren on form at Suzuka, Mercedes struggling and Ferrari the only team other than Red Bull to win this year, it’s far from clear which will be best-placed next season.
Gary discusses the Mercedes weaknesses shown at Suzuka, delves into Ferrari’s inconsistency and pays tribute to McLaren’s remarkable turnaround.
He also tackles a bumper crop of your questions covering set-up parameter, tyre pressure magic, active suspension, practice run plans and much more.
The Race F1 Tech Show, brought to you by Aramco.
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Why F1's latest flexi wing clampdown matters
Flexible bodywork: It's been a big talking point in F1 for years, with the rules technically outlawing it, but the teams forever drawn towards exploiting 'aeroelasticity' for performance gain.
On this week's episode of The Race F1 Tech Show, host Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson dig into the subject, ahead of the new technical directive issued to teams by the FIA ahead of the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix.
Amongst other things they discuss what the new directive says, what it aims to stamp out, why a certain amount of flexibility in wings and other bodywork is allowed (but others isn't), and who stands to benefit or lose on track.
Before that, Gary opines on why we saw a return of porpoising at Monza, and gives his view on the various intra-team on-track battles we saw, having witnessed with many in his own career on the pit wall.
And there's also time for Gary to answer another batch of YOUR questions, including ones on part sharing between teams, running repairs, and bespoke engines.
The Race F1 Tech Show, brought to you by Aramco.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Reviews
Great insight
Always great to listen to what an expert like Gary Anderson has to say on contemporary events and f1 history alike
Good Podcast but Gary is quite biased
Good knowledge and overall very good podcast but my goodness Gary is very biased it would seem against Hamilton. The current drivers are very good and all have positives and negatives. To hear a podcast where a presenter clearly has a bias is pretty annoying and I tend to not listen as often or just turn off throughout. It’s a shame there’s so much opinion rather than people being objective as I think it’s reasonable to expect.
F1 tech at its best!
If you’re interested in what makes the quickest cars quick and the slowest cars slow, the relative merits of a design change, or why certain aspects of car design are crucial to performance, this is the podcast for you!