Inside Line F1 Podcast Inside Line F1 Podcast

We're onto our 5th Grand Prix in 6 weekends; are you complaining!?
At this weekend's 2024 Belgian Grand Prix, McLaren will be taking on Red Bull Racing in their den at the legendary Spa Francorchamps circuit. Max Verstappen has won 3 consecutive Grands Prix at Spa (yes, we're counting 2021 even though it wasn't really a Grand Prix!). Red Bull Racing-Verstappen have won the last races at Spa despite taking power unit related grid penalties. 
In fact, could this weekend's race be the "Power Unit Grid Penalty" Grand Prix? It wasn't too many years ago when McLaren took a 60 place grid penalty, but those were the days. These days, McLaren is now most-definitely the class of the field. But can they deliver a drama-free race? Mixed weather is expected on Saturday for Qualifying - let's hope McLaren's pit wall gets it right...after receiving sermons and team management lessons from everyone...including those who are nobody in Formula 1 (like us!).
Also, is Ferrari in the right? Will the cooler temperatures bring Mercedes closer to McLaren-Red Bull Racing? While we will see the regular narratives play out, let's remember to enjoy the Spa Francorchamps this weekend - as a race circuit. They don't make circuits like the Spa anymore! 
And of course, Alpine might be set to lose their "works" status by signing up for Mercedes power units from 2025. Let's hope their race weekend management is as spot-on as their new superhero livery. 
Tune in!
(Season 2024, Episode 37)
Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah
Image courtesy: McLaren

We called it! In the week leading up to the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, we had our "we told you so" moment when we predicted an Oscar Piastri win in Hungary.
But what no one could have predicted is "how" he could go about clinching his debut win in Formula 1. The 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix offered edge-of-seat action for various reasons. First, a chasing Max Verstappen in his Red Bull Racing car. Second, Lewis Hamilton being in the mix or thereabouts. And third, obviously, McLaren's pit walls decisions, communications and eventual optics in how they handed the win back to Piastri.
Poor Lando Norris. He was put to the "moral test" on live television, and despite being very very tempted, he did well to make the "right" choice. But what could have happened IF Norris chose to ignore team orders?
In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, F1 StatsGuru and Kunal Shah re-live the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix. They debate the various decisions made by the McLaren pit wall. Could they have handled this situation better? Why did they decide to undercut Oscar Piastri with Lando Norris at the last stop? 
Max Verstappen, who was annoyed and impatient, finished a lowly fifth - after tangling with his arch rival Lewis Hamilton. The Stewards ruled "no action", but was it a racing incident or was Hamilton to blame in this situation? 
In this hour long episode, the trio discusses various stories, narratives, strategies and race outcomes from the epic 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix. Tune in!
(Season 2024, Episode 36)
Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah
Image courtesy: McLaren

Mercedes has never won "three in a row" in this era of Formula 1. Can they claim this stat by winning the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix? 
Based on the 2024 British Grand Prix, Mercedes is one the fastest teams in Formula 1, if not the fastest. But of course, they won the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix only because Max Verstappen-Lando Norris had a fallout on track (and George Russell was 15 seconds behind the lead pair).
Of all the current teams, Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton have the best stats for the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix in the last decade!
Hungaroring was built to mimic the circuit of Monaco, and it isn't surprising that the technical requirements (high downforce!) have labelled this circuit just outside of Budapest as "Monaco without the walls".
Will Red Bull Racing be troubled at the Hungaroring as they were in Monaco? Will McLaren be as quick - as they've been everywhere, and will this be the race they finally start delivering "perfect" races, and what about Ferrari? The team that won in Monaco; will they be back in the fight at "Monaco without the walls"?
The drivers silly season might see some announcements - Esteban Ocon to Haas to be finally confirmed? As for the others, all eyes on Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez - the two big movers in the market. Yes, Perez has a signed contract for the next two season (2025 and 2026), but given his current form and struggles to resurrect, one wonders if Red Bull Racing will take up their option on the "performance clause" that is often rumoured.
Tune in!
(Season 2024, Episode 35)
Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah
Image courtesy: Mercedes

Indian Cricket legend & Formula 1 fan since the ages Ravi Shastri predicted a Lewis Hamilton victory on the Saturday of the 2024 British Grand Prix on the Inside Line F1 Podcast. Ravi, who has previously been a guest on our show, joined us from Silverstone where he was a guest of the Stake Sauber Kick F1 Team.
Soumil Arora hosted Ravi where the duo spoke about athlete mindset and how an "older" star driver like Lewis Hamilton would react to being beaten by a "younger" team-mate aka George Russell. Ravi also told us how he started watching Formula 1 while playing county cricket in England in the 70s and 80s, and Silverstone is special for Formula 1...and for himself.
Did you know? Ravi's original inspiration in Formula 1 was former driver turned broadcaster Martin Brundle.
Also in this episode, Ravi shares his views on the Max Verstappen-Lando Norris rivalry, why he has high hopes from Aussie driver Oscar Piastri and of course, his thoughts on India recently winning the T20 World Cup in the United States of America. Tune in!
(Season 2024, Episode 34)
Follow our host on Twitter: Soumil Arora
Image courtesy: Formula 1

What an emotional win for Lewis Hamilton in front of his home fans at Silverstone! The 2024 British Grand Prix will go down in memory as one of the most-special races in history.
Yes, a British driver won the British Grand Prix for the 30th time in history, but what makes it special is that Hamilton won at home, his 9th such victory, with Mercedes - a team he has actually given up on!
Also, Hamilton-Mercedes won on merit. They were the quickest car on-track. Hamilton's "wing" choices on Saturday and the track temperatures on Sunday played a vital role in his 104th career win in Formula 1. And of course, Hamilton's impeccable driving in mixed weather conditions, too. 
It was heartwarming to see the British fans join Hamilton's family in celebrating this win - one that took 56 races to come. Hamilton becomes the first and only driver with over 300 starts to score a race win in Formula 1. 
In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah re-live the magical British Grand Prix. Were you also surprised when Red Bull Racing weren't the quickest across the changing track conditions? Also, were you surprised when McLaren decided to "invent" race strategy than stick to the norm?
George Russell's retirement, Nico Hulkenberg's mega points score for Haas and several other stories and facts from the 2024 British Grand Prix. Tune in!
(Season 2024, Episode 33)
Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah
Image courtesy: Mercedes

The Lando Norris-Max Verstappen battle will continue at one of Formula 1's most-legendary and oldest circuits on the calendar, Silverstone.
Lewis Hamilton's reaction to the Norris-Verstappen incident from Austria will make headlines. But will he comment at all?
A lot at stake for the title protagonists, Formula 1 and the British fans at this weekend's British Grand Prix. In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, @f1statsguru is back in the studio along side Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah.
Tune in!
(Season 2024, Episode 32)
Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah
Image courtesy: McLaren