Formula Fools

David Duffin, Mitchell Drennan
  • 5.0 (7)
  • SPORTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Formula 1 for beginners (and the mates pretending they get it). Each week we unpack the history, the headlines and the chaos of F1—with simple explanations, big moments, and just enough opinion to start an argument. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 8H AGO

    Kimi Antonelli: The Kid Who Replaced Hamilton

    Today’s deep dive is on the teenage rocket who stepped into the Lewis Hamilton seat. No pressure. This episode is all about Andrea Kimi Antonelli — 19 years old entering 2026, three podiums already on the board, and driving for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. David and Skin rewind to a junior career that looks like it was fast-forwarded. Son of sportscar racer Marco Antonelli. Scouted by Mercedes in karting. Titles everywhere. Italian F4 champion. ADAC F4 champion. Formula Regional champion. Then — instead of the normal ladder step — Mercedes skip F3 entirely and send him straight into Formula 2. That’s when things get serious. Wet-weather wins. A feature race victory in Hungary. That ridiculous move around the outside at Eau Rouge that made the paddock stop talking mid-sentence. The ceiling was obvious. Then the sport shifted. When Lewis Hamilton announced he was leaving for Ferrari, Mercedes didn’t look outside. They looked at Antonelli — and pulled the trigger. Now in 2026, he sits alongside George Russell, entering a brand-new regulation era with 24 race starts, three podiums, and genuine belief from the team that he’s the long-term guy. We break down what makes Antonelli different: Elite ceiling that Mercedes have publicly staked their future onWet-weather confidence that already looks like a themeA career pattern of “skip the rung, still win”And the mental composure to replace a seven-time champion at 18 And yes — he literally passed his road driving test weeks before making his F1 debut. That happened. The only real question now? Was the promotion perfectly timed… or terrifyingly early? Best case? Mercedes nail 2026 and Antonelli becomes a genuine title contender before he’s 21. Worst case? Inexperience shows and the narrative turns brutal. Most likely? Flashes of brilliance in 2026 — and by 2027 or 2028, we’re talking about him as a full championship threat. He’s not the future anymore. He’s already here. 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.

    27 min

  2. 1D AGO

    Lewis Hamilton: The Standard of a Generation

    In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we tackle the biggest CV in Formula 1 history: Lewis Hamilton. Because at some point, the numbers stop feeling real. 105 wins. 104 pole positions. 202 podiums. Seven World Championships. That’s not a stat line — that’s an era. David and Skin rewind to a junior career that wasn’t just impressive — it was destructive. In 2005, Hamilton won 15 of 20 races in Formula 3. The year after, he took the GP2 title at the first attempt. He didn’t climb the ladder politely — he kicked the door down. McLaren had been tracking him for years. By the time he debuted in 2007, he wasn’t “next up.” He was inevitable. Fast forward nearly two decades and Hamilton enters 2026 not as a farewell tour driver — but as a Ferrari driver. A seven-time champion stepping into the most emotional seat in motorsport. We break down what still makes him dangerous: Qualifying pace that is literally historicalRace management built across 380 Grands PrixThe adaptability to win across three separate team erasThe ability to rise when the moment feels biggest At 41, the only real question isn’t talent. It’s timing. Can Ferrari give him a car capable of fighting at the very front in 2026? Because if they can, history suggests one thing: He will convert it. Best case? Another title fight in red — maybe even an eighth crown that rewrites the record books. Worst case? Mega performances without the machinery to back it up. Most likely? Big moments, headline weekends, and a season defined by how competitive Ferrari truly are. However it ends, one thing doesn’t change: Lewis Hamilton isn’t chasing legacy. He already is one. 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.

    42 min

  3. 2D AGO

    Charles Leclerc: Ferrari’s Fastest Hope

    In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the purest talents of the modern era: Charles Leclerc. Because few drivers have arrived in Formula 1 with as much expectation — and as much pressure — as Charles Leclerc. David and Skin rewind to a junior career that was, frankly, ridiculous. Back-to-back GP3 and Formula 2 champion. A rise described as “practically peerless.” He didn’t just win — he handled chaos, pressure, and even literal car fires on his way up. Ferrari saw it immediately. After one season at Sauber in 2018, Leclerc was promoted to the most pressurised seat in motorsport. Since then, he’s become the face of Ferrari’s modern era — racking up 27 pole positions, 50 podiums, and eight victories. Twenty-seven poles. That number matters. Because it tells the real story: the speed has never been in doubt. We break down what makes Leclerc so compelling: One-lap pace that borders on generationalThe ability to drag performance out of a car on SaturdaysRacecraft that has matured from raw aggression into calculated executionAnd the emotional resilience required to carry Ferrari expectation week after week We also touch on the quieter side of Charles — the pianist, the musician, the calm presence off-track that contrasts so sharply with the intensity of racing in red. Now entering 2026 as Ferrari’s long-term pillar, Leclerc sits at a career crossroads. He’s 28. In his prime. Fast enough to win a championship. The only question left: Can Ferrari give him the car to turn poles into titles? Best case? He leads Ferrari into a new championship era. Worst case? He becomes the fastest driver of his generation without a crown. Most likely? A perennial title threat whose legacy will be tied forever to whether Ferrari match his talent. This isn’t about potential anymore. It’s about finishing the story. 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.

    35 min

  4. 3D AGO

    George Russell: Built for the Big Seat

    In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we break down one of the most calculated careers on the modern grid: George Russell. Because George Russell didn’t just arrive in Formula 1. He planned his way here. David and Skin rewind to Russell’s junior career — BRDC F4 champion, GP3 champion, Formula 2 champion. Back-to-back feeder series titles that stamped him as “next in line.” But the defining detail? The PowerPoint. Before he was a Mercedes race driver, Russell literally presented his case — data, results, trajectory — directly to the decision-makers at Mercedes. No noise. No hype. Just preparation. Then came the hard part. Three seasons at Williams at the back of the grid. Learning, qualifying heroics, dragging impossible cars into Q2 and Q3, and waiting for the call. When the Mercedes promotion finally arrived in 2022, it wasn’t a gamble — it was the next step in a long-term plan. By 2026, Russell enters the new regulation era with five wins, 24 podiums, and seven pole positions. Not hype numbers. Proven numbers. This episode breaks down what makes George different: One-lap precision that consistently extracts more than the car suggestsQuiet tyre management strength in strategic racesThe composure to handle pressure internally and externallyAnd the mentality shift from “future talent” to “team leader” Post-Hamilton, Russell isn’t waiting for opportunity anymore — he is the Mercedes reference point. The only real question left: If Mercedes give him a championship car… does George Russell have the week-in, week-out grind required to turn it into a title? Best case? He leads Mercedes back to the top. Worst case? He becomes the most capable driver of his generation without a championship. Most likely? A consistent winner who stays in the fight every year the car allows it. This isn’t the story of raw chaos. It’s the story of preparation meeting opportunity — and what happens next. 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.

    30 min

  5. 4D AGO

    Oscar Piastri: Calm, Calculated, and Coming for It

    In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we break down one of the most composed young stars Formula 1 has ever seen: Oscar Piastri. Because Oscar’s rise wasn’t loud. It wasn’t chaotic. It was clinical. David and Skin rewind to a junior career that almost looks fake on paper: Formula Renault champion. FIA F3 champion (rookie year). FIA F2 champion (rookie year). Three major titles in three consecutive seasons — a genuine speedrun to Formula 1. And then came the tweet. When Alpine announced him as their 2023 driver without his agreement, Oscar didn’t rant. He didn’t overreact. He simply posted one of the coldest statements in modern F1 history and walked straight into a McLaren race seat instead. Controlled. Precise. Done. From there, the numbers speak quickly. By 2026 he already sits on nine wins, 26 podiums, and multiple pole positions — output that normally belongs to drivers five years deeper into their careers. But this episode isn’t just about stats. We break down what actually makes Piastri dangerous: His tyre management that mirrors his junior consistencyHis Sunday composure under pressureThe ability to quietly convert races without dramaAnd the mental stability that allows him to operate in a two-number-one environment at McLaren Now entering the 2026 regulation era, Oscar isn’t the rookie prodigy anymore. He’s a proven race winner in a front-running team — and fully capable of leading it on pure pace. The real question isn’t whether Oscar Piastri can win races. It’s whether he can sustain championship intensity year after year — especially when the garage next to him is just as fast. Best case? Multiple titles. Worst case? A career full of wins but blocked by timing. Most likely? A decade-long threat who never goes away. He doesn’t shout about it. He just keeps turning up on Sunday. 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.

    36 min

  6. 5D AGO

    Max Verstappen: The Benchmark Everyone Is Chasing

    In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we tackle the most unavoidable name in modern Formula 1: Max Verstappen. Because at this point, Max isn’t part of the conversation — he is the conversation. David and Skin rewind to one of the most unconventional rises the sport has ever seen. No stacked junior trophies. No slow burn through F2. Just raw ability, elite racecraft, and enough confidence to debut in Formula 1 at 17 years old — and immediately start beating drivers with a decade more experience. From his shock promotion to Red Bull and instant win in 2016, through years of scrutiny over aggression and maturity, Max’s story is one of refinement rather than reinvention. The speed was always there. The control came later. And once it did, Formula 1 tilted in his direction. We break down how Verstappen became the ultimate reference point: – ruthless racecraft that converts chances into wins – tyre management that lets him win races from nowhere – consistency so brutal it turns championships into inevitabilities By 2026, Max sits on 71 wins, 127 podiums, 48 poles, and four World Championships — numbers that already place him firmly in all-time great territory, while he’s still in his prime. But this episode isn’t just a victory lap. With a major regulation reset in 2026 and Red Bull entering a new leadership era, we ask the only question that still matters: What happens if Max Verstappen doesn’t have the best car? Does the hunger stay the same? Does the benchmark move again? Or does he simply remind the grid — one more time — why he’s the hardest driver to beat in a generation? This isn’t the story of potential fulfilled. It’s the story of a driver who redefined what the peak looks like — and forced everyone else to aim higher. 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.

    36 min

  7. 6D AGO

    Lando Norris: From Prodigy to World Champion

    Next in our Formula Fools driver deep dive series, we turn to one of the defining drivers of the modern era: Lando Norris. Because Lando’s story isn’t about a late breakthrough — it’s about a career that was always heading here. David and Skin rewind to Norris’ ridiculous junior career, where between 2015 and 2017 he bulldozed nearly everything in his path: British F4, Formula Renault, FIA F3 — often winning titles on his first attempt. By the time he finished second in Formula 2 in 2018, McLaren already knew what they had. This wasn’t just another fast kid — this was a cornerstone. We follow Lando’s rise through McLaren from his 2019 debut, through years of carrying midfield machinery, near-misses, and meme-fuelled frustration, to becoming one of the most complete drivers on the grid. Then came the final step: wins turning into consistency, poles turning into control — and eventually, a World Championship that confirmed what everyone suspected all along. Now in 2026, Norris enters the new regulation era as a champion with elite numbers to back it up: double-digit wins, dozens of podiums, and top-tier qualifying pace. He’s no longer the future of McLaren — he is McLaren. We break down what makes Lando so dangerous: his racecraft under pressure, his one-lap speed, tyre management that’s quietly become elite, and the mental shift required to go from chasing a title… to defending one. This episode isn’t about whether Lando Norris belongs at the top. That debate is over. It’s about what comes next — and whether he can turn one championship into a defining era at McLaren. 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.

    27 min

  8. FEB 10

    2026 F1 Liveries Ranked: Hits, Misses & Absolute Crimes

    The 2026 cars are here. The regulations are brand new. And the liveries? …well, that’s up for debate. We kick things off by explaining why these cars are technically all-new under the 2026 regulations — even if, to the untrained eye, they still look suspiciously similar. Smaller dimensions, sharper surfaces… but does any of that actually make a livery better? Probably not. Then we get stuck into the grid: McLaren Formula 1 Team stick to papaya-and-black — classy, familiar, and potentially iconic… but are they playing it too safe?Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team finally refresh the silver look — zebra details included — and somehow win unanimous praise.Oracle Red Bull Racing drop what might be the best Red Bull livery ever, thanks to that Ford blue.Scuderia Ferrari divide the room completely: timeless 1970s masterpiece… or just “meh”.Atlassian Williams F1 Team refresh without reinventing — safe, clean, but maybe lacking ambition.Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team somehow remove the bits we actually liked.Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team balance edge and elegance better than recent years.TGR Haas F1 Team shock everyone by being either the best-looking car on the grid… or painfully boring. No middle ground.Audi Revolut F1 Team launch into a new era conservatively — genius restraint or massive missed opportunity?BWT Alpine Formula One Team continue the pink-and-blue experiment with mixed results.And finally… Cadillac Formula 1 Team deliver the most controversial livery of the year — split design, movie vibes, and a take so hot it needed historical context from 1999. Some teams get 3s. Some get 1s. They all get judged. This episode isn’t about aerodynamics. It’s about vibes, legacy, boldness — and whether a car looks fast standing still. You will disagree. That’s the point. 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.

    38 min
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5
out of 5
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About

Formula 1 for beginners (and the mates pretending they get it). Each week we unpack the history, the headlines and the chaos of F1—with simple explanations, big moments, and just enough opinion to start an argument. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    David Duffin, Mitchell Drennan
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © David Duffin, Mitchell Drennan
  • Show Website
    Formula Fools

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