F1 Nation

F1 Nation is back for 2026 and we're teaming up with F1 Explains - the podcast which answers your questions about the sport.
On Mondays F1 Nation will bring you expert reaction to F1 action, and insider views on breaking news from Tom Clarkson, Jolyon Palmer, James Hinchcliffe + more F1 insiders.
On Fridays, F1 Explains will tackle your questions on the sport. Christian Hewgill gets the answers from drivers, team bosses and the men and women who work behind the scenes. Send your questions to [email protected]
F1 Nation and F1 Explains - all in one place. New episodes start on Monday February 23rd

F1TV experts Jolyon Palmer and James Hinchcliffe join Tom Clarkson in the Yas Marina paddock after Lando Norris was crowned Formula 1 World Champion for the first time.

He was 34 points adrift after round 15, so how did Lando complete such an incredible comeback in this title fight? Has he broken the mould in terms of what we imagine a World Champion to be like? And how will being champion change Lando? 

You’ll hear reaction from the man himself, as he talks about turning his ‘struggles into strengths’ and winning this title 'the Lando way’. His race engineer Will Joseph also joins the pod to discuss how they overcame a challenging first half of the season and where they go from here.

On the other side of the garage, Oscar Piastri came home in P2 but fell short of the title by 13 points. Why did Oscar lose out after leading the championship for most of the season? What does he need to work on to take the next step? And is there a chance that Oscar will become second favourite at McLaren now that Lando has a title to his name? 

Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for his eighth race win of the season, but misses out on what would have been a fifth title in a row by just two points. Could Max and Red Bull have done anything differently to put more pressure on McLaren in this race? Has this been Max’s best season in Formula 1? And will Red Bull’s transformation in the second half of the year give Max more reason to commit his long-term future to the team?

Listen to more official F1 podcasts
In-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars on F1 Beyond The Grid
Your F1 questions answered by the experts on F1 Explains

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F1 correspondent and presenter Lawrence Barretto joins Tom Clarkson in the Yas Marina paddock to reflect on a high-stakes qualifying for Sunday’s title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The three title contenders make up the top three on the grid – with Max Verstappen on pole, championship leader Lando Norris in second and Oscar Piastri in third.

How can Max make life difficult for Lando and Oscar behind? What can we expect from the McLaren drivers at the start into turn 1? Will team orders come into play? And what impact could the likes of George Russell in P4 and Charles Leclerc in P5 have on the fight at the front?

F1TV experts Jolyon Palmer and James Hinchcliffe join Tom Clarkson in the Yas Marina paddock to preview this weekend’s thrilling three-way title showdown at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Just 16 points separate the top three of Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. So what does each driver need to win the title? And how will each of them approach such a huge occasion?

The guys discuss all the different scenarios that could shape the outcome of this title fight  and whether the McLaren drivers will help each other if in a position to do so.

Plus, Tom, Hinch and Jolyon react to Red Bull’s announcement that Isack Hadjar will replace Yuki Tsunoda for 2026.

F1TV commentator Jolyon Palmer and Alpine Reserve Driver Paul Aron join Tom Clarkson in the Lusail paddock to reflect on another huge twist in this year’s title race. 

The guys talk about the decisive moment of the Qatar Grand Prix, when everyone except both McLaren drivers pitted under the Safety Car and Max Verstappen took full advantage to ensure the championship fight goes down to the season-finale in Abu Dhabi. 

What was McLaren’s thinking behind that strategy? Why did it cost them victory? And how should they have reacted differently?  

Tom, Jolyon and Paul also discuss why Oscar Piastri was back to his best in Qatar and why Lando Norris wasn’t quite at the level he’s shown in recent weeks.

And with just 16 points now separating Lando, Max and Oscar, what will their mindset be in the build-up to this mouth-watering title showdown at the Yas Marina Circuit?

Also on the agenda: Carlos Sainz’s incredible performance to secure his second podium for Williams, another weekend to forget for Ferrari and a strong result for Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin following the news that Adrian Newey will become their Team Principal in 2026.

Listen to more official F1 podcasts
In-depth interviews with F1's biggest stars on F1 Beyond The Grid
Your F1 questions answered by the experts on F1 Explains

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY...

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