Grand Pricks

Red Flags & White Lies: F1 and Red Bull Without Horner, Verstappen's 2025 Comeback & The Curse of the Second Seat

Red Bull Racing has long been known in Formula 1 for its ruthlessness, aggressive decision-making, and win-at-all-costs mentality, the very traits that built one of the sport’s most dominant eras. With Max Verstappen securing four consecutive Drivers’ Championships by 2024 and the team claiming back-to-back Constructors’ titles in 2022 and 2023, Red Bull defined modern F1 dominance. But somewhere along the line, that dominance began to slip. Rival teams closed the gap, the grid became more competitive, and for Red Bull, second place was never going to be acceptable.The 2025 Formula 1 season brought chaos, controversy, and headline after headline for the Milton Keynes outfit. Just two races into the season, Liam Lawson was abruptly demoted from the senior team to its sister outfit, Racing Bulls, switching seats with Yuki Tsunoda. Once again, the infamous Red Bull “second seat” lived up to its cursed reputation, as Tsunoda also struggled to extract consistent performance from the car.Verstappen’s own start to the 2025 season was filled with frustration. By the halfway point, he found himself nearly 100 points behind Lando Norris in the Drivers’ Championship standings, hampered by an inconsistent and difficult car that prevented him from performing at his usual dominant standard. For the first time in years, his title defence looked out of reach. But you can never discount Max Verstappen. What followed was one of the most remarkable comeback charges in recent F1 history, as he clawed back points race after race, ultimately finishing the season just two points shy of another world championship.And then came the biggest shock of all. After 20 years at the helm, Team Principal Christian Horner was dramatically dismissed amid the team’s underperformance and a scandal that had followed him since February 2024. He was replaced by former Racing Bulls Team Principal Laurent Mekies, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a significant power shift within the organisation.Now, as Red Bull enters the 2026 season with sweeping regulation changes, its first in-house power unit project, a refreshed driver line-up featuring Isack Hadjar alongside Verstappen, and new leadership at the top, the team stands at a crossroads. Can Red Bull reclaim its dominance in this new era of Formula 1, or were the cracks exposed in 2025 signs of a deeper decline?Featuring real race commentary, driver clips, narration, and in-depth discussion, this episode breaks down the drama, the politics, the comeback, and the future of one of F1’s most ruthless teams.About the Series: Over ten episodes, Grand Pricks explore every 2025 Formula 1 team in depth, unpacking the drama, decisions, and defining moments, both on track and behind closed doors. Starting from last place in the Constructors' Championship to first, we reveal the stories you didn't see on race day.New episodes weekly. Subscribe now.Follow us on socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grandprickspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandprickspodcast/X: https://x.com/grandprickspodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrandprickspodcastHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Red Flags & White Lies: How Ferrari Broke Lewis Hamilton and Turned a Legendary Partnership into a 2025 Disaster

Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton. Two of the biggest names in Formula 1 history. One partnership that was supposed to change everything.When Lewis Hamilton made the shock move to Ferrari for the 2025 season, it felt like destiny, a seven-time world champion joining the most iconic team in F1. A legacy move. A title-winning dream. But instead of glory, Ferrari’s 2025 season unravelled into chaos.Hamilton himself has called it a “nightmare” season, plagued by strategy blunders, communication breakdowns, and growing tension with his race engineer. Alongside him, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s long-time golden boy, continues to shoulder frustration as he heads into his eighth season with the team in 2026, still chasing an elusive world championship.In this episode, we break down Ferrari’s leadership confusion, questionable strategy calls, and the immense pressure facing team principal Fred Vasseur from both the boardroom and the tifosi. From race-day disasters to off-track dysfunction, we ask the hard questions:Has Ferrari failed Lewis Hamilton? Is this partnership already beyond saving? And could 2026 decide not just Ferrari’s future, but the end of Hamilton’s legendary F1 career?In Maranello, the red flags are impossible to ignore, and Ferrari’s truth is finally catching up with them.About the Series: Over ten episodes, Grand Pricks explores every 2025 Formula 1 team in depth, unpacking the drama, decisions, and defining moments, both on track and behind closed doors. Starting from last place in the Constructors' Championship to first, we reveal the stories you didn't see on race day.New episodes weekly. Subscribe now.Follow us on socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grandprickspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandprickspodcast/X: https://x.com/grandprickspodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrandprickspodcastHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Red Flags and White Lies: Williams F1’s Comeback From P9 to P5, James Vowles’ Vision & the Road Back to Glory

Williams Racing is one of Formula 1’s most historic teams. Competing in the sport since 1978, the team has secured nine Constructors’ Championships and seven Drivers’ Championships, earning its place as one of F1’s true legacy outfits.But the road since those glory days has been far from easy. Years of financial instability and on-track struggles culminated in 2020, when the Williams family sold the team to Dorilton Capital. By the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season, Williams finished P9 in the Constructors’ Championship with just 17 points, a stark reminder of how far the team had fallen from its championship-winning past.The turning point came with the appointment of James Vowles as Team Principal in 2023. With a clear long-term vision focused on rebuilding infrastructure, culture, and performance, Williams began laying the foundations for a proper revival. That vision accelerated in 2025 with the arrival of race winner Carlos Sainz, who joined Alex Albon to form one of the strongest driver line-ups in the midfield.The results followed. Williams ended the 2025 season in P5 in the Constructors’ Championship, scoring over 100 points, achieving multiple double points finishes, and securing two podiums, both delivered by Carlos Sainz. For the first time in years, Williams wasn’t just rebuilding, it was competing again.While James Vowles has been clear that championships are still a long-term goal, the momentum is undeniable. This episode tells the story of how Williams rediscovered its direction in 2025, why the comeback is real, and what still lies ahead on the road back to Formula 1’s front-running battles.Featuring real driver and team interviews, race radio, and behind-the-scenes moments, this is the story of Williams F1 finding its way back into the fight.About the Series: Over ten episodes, Grand Pricks explore every 2025 Formula 1 team in depth, unpacking the drama, decisions, and defining moments, both on track and behind closed doors. Starting from last place in the Constructors' Championship to first, we reveal the stories you didn't see on race day.New episodes weekly. Subscribe now.Follow us on socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grandprickspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandprickspodcast/X: https://x.com/grandprickspodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrandprickspodcastHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Red Flags & White Lies: Racing Bulls’ Rise in F1, Liam Lawson’s Red Bull Demotion and Redemption, and Isack Hadjar’s Breakout Season

Racing Bulls has always been known as Red Bull Racing’s sister team, a junior outfit designed to develop young talent and prepare future Formula 1 champions like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. But under new leadership, that identity is starting to shift.In this episode of Grand Pricks, we unpack Racing Bulls’ transformation across the 2024 and 2025 Formula 1 seasons. After a difficult 2024 campaign that ended with P8 in the Constructors’ Championship, the team entered 2025 determined to fight higher up the midfield under team principal Laurent Mekies. With rookie Isack Hadjar and experienced driver Yuki Tsunoda, the season started positively, before everything changed just two races in.Liam Lawson was abruptly demoted from Red Bull Racing and swapped with Tsunoda, a move that sent shockwaves through the F1 paddock and reshaped Racing Bulls’ season. What followed was a slow but impressive resurgence.Hadjar unlocked his potential with a standout rookie campaign, securing Racing Bulls’ first podium since 2023 and earning a promotion to Red Bull for the 2026 season. Lawson also rebuilt his reputation, delivering consistent points finishes, contributing to a rare double-points result in 2025, and securing a new contract with Racing Bulls for 2026.The drama didn’t stop on track. Midway through the season, Christian Horner was sensationally sacked, triggering major leadership changes across Red Bull’s F1 teams. Laurent Mekies stepped up to become Red Bull team principal, while Alan Permane took charge at Racing Bulls, continuing the vision of developing young drivers while making the team genuinely competitive.With Racing Bulls finishing P6 in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship, the foundations are firmly in place for an even stronger future. Featuring real race audio, driver clips, in-depth analysis, and discussion, this episode tells the full story of Racing Bulls’ rise and why they are no longer just Red Bull’s feeder team.About the Series: Over ten episodes, Grand Pricks explore every 2025 Formula 1 team in depth, unpacking the drama, decisions, and defining moments, both on track and behind closed doors. Starting from last place in the Constructors' Championship to first, we reveal the stories you didn't see on race day.New episodes weekly. Subscribe now.Follow us on socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grandprickspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandprickspodcast/X: https://x.com/grandprickspodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrandprickspodcastHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Red Flags & White Lies: Aston Martin’s Newey Era, Alonso’s Title Dream, and the Fight Back To The Top in F1 2025

Aston Martin is one of Formula One’s most ambitious teams, but ambition alone doesn’t win championships.Owned by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin returned to the F1 grid in 2021 with bold long-term goals of becoming a championship-winning team. Early signs of promise came in 2023, when two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso delivered eight podium finishes, marking the team’s most competitive season to date.However, momentum quickly faded. As rivals like Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren surged ahead, Aston Martin struggled to keep pace. Despite Alonso’s experience and pedigree, the team has yet to secure a race win since its debut. Meanwhile, teammate and team owner’s son Lance Stroll has achieved only three career podiums, none with Aston Martin, and neither driver has returned to the podium since 2023.So what went wrong?This episode explores Aston Martin’s performance decline, internal challenges, and the major leadership shake-up designed to reset the team’s trajectory. With legendary engineer Adrian Newey having joined in 2025 and stepping into the role of Team Principal in 2026, alongside Andy Cowell becoming Chief Strategy Officer, Aston Martin is clearly betting big on the future.While 2025 has been framed as a “survival season,” the real focus lies on 2026 and the upcoming regulation changes, a potential turning point that could redefine the team’s fortunes. As Lawrence Stroll famously put it, “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” and building a title-winning F1 team is no different.This is the story of how Aston Martin fell to P7 in the 2025 standings, why their championship hopes remain uncertain, and whether Fernando Alonso’s dream of a third World Championship is still alive.One thing is clear: For Aston Martin, failure isn’t an option.About the Series: Over ten episodes, Grand Pricks explore every 2025 Formula 1 team in depth, unpacking the drama, decisions, and defining moments, both on track and behind closed doors. Starting from last place in the Constructors' Championship to first, we reveal the stories you didn't see on race day.New episodes weekly. Subscribe now.Follow us on socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grandprickspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandprickspodcast/X: https://x.com/grandprickspodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrandprickspodcastHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.