Grand Pricks

Red Flags and White Lies: Haas’s Rise from Underdog to Midfield Contender Under Ayao Komatsu

Haas F1 Team, the first American-owned Formula 1 outfit in decades, has experienced a turbulent journey since its debut in 2016, marked by sharp highs, painful lows, and constant reinvention. Now, the team finds itself in a very different position. After finishing P7 in the Constructors’ Championship in 2024 and P8 in 2025, Haas has emerged as a genuine midfield contender, setting a strong competitive foundation as it continues to roll out crucial upgrades.Recent seasons have brought major structural changes. In 2024, Ayao Komatsu replaced Guenther Steiner as Team Principal, ushering in a quieter but more methodical leadership style. Alongside this shift, Haas strengthened its financial and technical footing through new partnerships, including one with Toyota, signalling a more stable and ambitious future.The team also refreshed its driver lineup for 2025, signing former Alpine driver Esteban Ocon and rookie Ollie Bearman. The pairing has delivered a mixed bag of results, flashes of promise alongside inevitable setbacks, highlighted by Bearman’s stunning P4 finish in Mexico, one of the standout performances of Haas’s modern era.But with Formula 1’s sweeping 2026 regulation changes looming, the key question remains: Will Haas be able to keep up with the rest of the midfield as teams redirect time and resources toward future seasons, or will they struggle to maintain momentum and fall behind? In this episode, we examine Haas’s 2025 campaign in the context of its past, and explore what the data and decisions suggest about what comes next.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 and White Lies: Kick Sauber’s Redemption Arc and the Road to Audi’s 2026 F1 Takeover

Kick Sauber emerged as one of the surprise stories of the 2025 Formula 1 season. While the team ultimately finished P9 in the Constructors’ Championship, their campaign was defined by significant progress and standout moments, including a shock podium finish for Nico Hülkenberg, his first in 15 years in Formula 1. With multiple points finishes across the season, Kick Sauber amassed 70 points, a remarkable 66-point increase compared to their 2024 total.The team’s on-track resurgence has been matched by major off-track changes as preparations accelerate for Audi’s full takeover in 2026. Former Red Bull Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley has joined as Team Principal, while ex-Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto takes on the dual role of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer. These leadership appointments signal a clear long-term vision for transformation and competitiveness.Kick Sauber also began a new chapter with an entirely fresh driver lineup, pairing experienced driver Nico Hülkenberg with highly-rated F1 rookie Gabriel Bortoleto. The combination of proven consistency and emerging talent has played a key role in the team’s 2025 progress.In this episode of Red Flags and White Lies, we revisit Kick Sauber’s struggles in 2024, analyse their breakthrough 2025 season, and assess whether the foundations now in place, including leadership, talent, and Audi backing, could realistically position the team as Formula 1 championship contenders by 2030.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 and White Lies: Alpine's Dramatic Fall and the All-or-Nothing Gamble

Alpine F1's 2025 season was a catastrophe in slow motion. Once a respectable midfield contender, the French Formula 1 team bet everything on 2026 and beyond, sacrificing their present for an uncertain future. The gamble backfired spectacularly, leaving them dead last in the F1 Constructors' Championship.Behind the scenes, chaos reigned. Upper management imposed relentless restrictions, mid-season driver swaps shattered team morale, and ruthless decisions became the norm. All in pursuit of a promised land that may never materialise.At the center: Flavio Briatore, the controversial figure once banned from Formula 1 for his role in the infamous Crashgate scandal, now back as Executive Advisor. Leading on track was Pierre Gasly, Alpine's veteran driver, alongside rookie Jack Doohan, who was replaced mid-season by Franco Colapinto.In this debut episode of Red Flags and White Lies, a new weekly F1 documentary series from Grand Pricks, we reveal Alpine's 2025 implosion: the political maneuvering, broken promises, and desperate choices that sent the team spiraling to the bottom of the grid.About the Series: Over ten episodes, we 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.

F1 2025 End of Year Exam: It’s time to test if Reem has retained any F1 knowledge this year or not!

Class is officially in session…It’s time for the Grand Pricks F1 2025 End of Year Exam, and Reem is in the hot seat. After a full season of Formula 1 chaos, race weekends, and deep-dive episodes, the big question remains: did any of it actually stick?Reem is put through a proper grilling based on what we’ve covered this year, including tyres, regulations, safety rules, and the biggest moments of the 2025 season. The exam pulls directly from our educational episodes and real race scenarios, leaving very little room to escape.Spoiler alert: revision may not have happened. Listeners can play along at home and see how they’d do before the answers are revealed. If you want to attempt the exam yourself, you can access it here, DM us for a copy, or head to our Instagram to download the exam paper via the link in our bio.This episode wraps up the season in true Grand Pricks style with questionable answers and plenty of F1 chaos.We’ll be back next week with a brand-new special Grand Pricks F1 series, and we’ll keep posting regularly right through to the start of the 2026 season. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss out!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.

Abu Dhabi GP: Lando Norris takes the Championship but Max Verstappen wins the race!

It’s the final countdown (dun dun dun dun daaa…) and the 2025 season comes to a close under the lights of Abu Dhabi with a nail-biting showdown between Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri.Lando clinches his first World Championship with a P3 finish, securing the title while Max storms to victory in the race itself. Verstappen ends the season with eight wins, just edging out the McLaren duo, who finish with seven each.In this episode, we break down Norris’s standout season and the emotional scenes after he sealed the championship. We get into how the papaya team orders shaped Piastri’s season, and whether McLaren may have over-protected their title contender…We also dive into the other contenders in the fight including Verstappen’s crushing dominance in the second half of the season, Piastri’s sharp, calculated overtakes, and a few controversial radio messages that have fans divided.Off-track, we unpack the swirling rumours around Lewis Hamilton’s potential retirement after ending his 18-year podium streak, plus Max’s controversial post-race press questions, and more.We’ll be back next week with Reem’s final-year exam now that the season is over, and stay tuned for special content during the break before 2026. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!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.