F1Weekly Podcast # 1121

VEGAS THE LAST BIG PARTY OF THE F1 SEASON, CAN NORRIS CONTINUE DOMINATING? WILL PIASTRI THROW IN THE TOWEL? AND… FERNANDO CAN’T WAIT FOR THE 2026 CAR!

THIS WEEK’S NASIR HAMEED CORNER…MORE VINTAGE BANTER BETWEEN THE HOST AND NASIR HAMEED…THIS WEEK’S INTERVIEW…STEVE ROBERTSON…KIMI RAIKKONEN’S MANAGER.

Olivier Jansonnie named Head of Stellantis Motorsport, Jean-Marc Finot to retire.

VERSAILLES, November 17, 2025 – Olivier Jansonnie is appointed Head of Stellantis Motorsport, effective 2026, January 31st. He will report to Emanuele Cappellano, Head of Enlarged Europe, European Brands and Stellantis Pro One. Olivier will replace Jean-Marc Finot who has elected to retire, they will work together during this transition period.

 

A graduate from Centrale-Supélec, Olivier Jansonnie is rich in more than 25 years of international experience in motorsport leading technical teams in different categories from LMP1, Hypercar, DTM, WRC, WRX and Cross-Country.

Starting his career at Peugeot Sport in 1998, Olivier moved to Mitsubishi in 2003 leading the development of the Lancer WRC, then contributed as freelance to many programs in WRC or Endurance for Peugeot, including Le Mans 2009 win. In 2012, he became head of vehicle development at BMW, supervising Design Office, Aerodynamics development and Quality engineering for all BMW Group motorsport activities.

Back to Peugeot Sport in 2016 as Technical Director & Automotive Project Director, he led the technical team for Peugeot Sport programs: Cross-Country (Dakar), WRX and e-WRX. Since 2020, he leads the Endurance program for Stellantis Motorsport while being the team principal of the Peugeot Total Energies Team.

“I am pleased to have Olivier Jansonnie leading Stellantis Motorsport in Europe. His strong expertise and wide knowledge of all racing activities will play a critical role in supporting each brand involved in motorsport. I want also to thank Jean-Marc Finot for his dedication to build and develop a strong Stellantis Motorsport team, achieving many victories, 2 world titles and enabling the development of iconic high-performance vehicles across many brands.” said Emanuele Cappellano.  

“Motorsport has always been a cornerstone of the automotive industry, shaping the legacy of Stellantis brands through iconic victories. As we enter a new era of global championships, my mission is clear: to cultivate talent and expertise that will keep our brands at the forefront of innovation and performance. I extend my gratitude to Jean-Marc Finot for his support and Emanuele Cappellano for his trust. Backed by our passionate, competitive, and talented teams, I am ready to take on this challenge with determination and make our colors shine brighter than ever,” said Olivier Jansonnie.

Jean-Marc Finot is an automotive and motorsport expert having held multiples positions at Peugeot, PSA, PSA Motorsport then Stellantis Motorsport between 1986 and 2025. During his longtime career in the Group from the 205 GTI to the 9x8, he tuned the 80’s Peugeot GTI, developed the 406 chassis before being head of PSA chassis engineering, then head of Innovation. At Stellantis Motorsport, he won two Manufacturer and two driver titles in Formula E for DS, launched the Endurance and Le Mans program for Peugeot, restarted motorsport activities for Citroën, Lancia, Opel and Maserati, developed the Customer Racing business while supporting the creation of high-performance vehicles platforms for Abarth, Alfa-Romeo, Lancia, Opel, Peugeot, DS and Maserati. His retirement will be effective 2026, Jan 31st.

LUKE BROWNING TO HIT THE TRACK IN ABU DHABI FP1 AND YOUNG DRIVER TEST

Atlassian Williams Racing is pleased to share that Williams Racing Academy Driver Luke Browning will drive Alex Albon’s FW47 in the first free practice session at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and will participate in the end-of-season Young Driver Test.

Luke joined the Williams Racing Driver Academy in April 2023 following his stand-out 2022 season where he secured the GB3 Championship and won the 2022 Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award. Since joining the Academy he has continued this upward trajectory, winning the Macau Grand Prix in 2023, also taking pole position and the fastest lap, and finishing the 2024 FIA Formula 3 season in third with two race wins and a podium in Monaco.

As part of the Williams Racing Driver Academy’s proud tradition of giving young talent a path into F1, Luke has regularly driven in the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) and simulator programmes with the aim of preparing him for the future. He has balanced this with a successful FIA Formula 2 campaign, currently occupying third position in the standings and going into the final two races of the season in a fierce battle for the title.

Luke Browning: “It’s going to be an unforgettable weekend in Abu Dhabi fighting for the Formula 2 title while getting back behind the wheel of the FW47, and it’s a challenge I’m going to relish. The Young Driver Test will give me a final opportunity to help the team prepare for 2026 and I’m looking forward to being part of a Formula 1 weekend for the last time this season. Thank you to everyone at the Driver Academy and Williams for the trust once again.”

Sven Smeets, Sporting Director, Atlassian Williams Racing: “Luke’s development continues to impress us, and we are looking forward to closing the season with him behind the wheel of the FW47. We have an incredibly talented group of drivers in the Williams Racing Driver Academy, and it is important for us to give them the opportunity to progress as they move up the ladder. These final sessions of the season will give Luke another valuable chance to learn from Alex and Carlos, the wider team, and further embed with our trackside operation as he looks towards a bright future.”

Mighty Sunbeam 1000 HP to Make Post-Restoration Debut at 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance 

Harry Segrave beside the Sunbeam 1000 HP. (Photo: Courtesy of the National Motor. Museum)

PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA (November 12, 2025)­­­­ — The mighty Sunbeam 1000 HP, the first car to achieve a land speed record of 200 mph, has been asleep for over 90 years. But a team of restorers at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, England, is now in the process of gently waking this giant—and if all goes as planned, the restored beast will make its US debut at the 2026 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance before attempting a centennial run at Daytona the following spring. 

 

“The process of restoring a one-off car like this takes real dedication,” noted Concours Chairman Sandra Button. “There is no pattern to be followed. It takes time and research, effort and expertise. We are thrilled to know that the National Motor Museum intends to send the restored car to Pebble Beach, to share with enthusiasts here.”

 

The Sunbeam 1000 HP was built to compete in the race for speed. The 100 mph barrier was first broken in 1904, and then it took more than two decades to reach 150 mph—a record Malcolm Campbell achieved in July of 1925 at the wheel of a Sunbeam 350 HP. The Sunbeam 1000 HP, crafted around two of the marque’s powerful 22.4-liter Matabele aero engines placed to the fore and aft of the vehicle, came into being less than two years later and proved to be revolutionary. Driving it on the smooth sands of Daytona Beach on March 29, 1927, Harry Segrave recorded a speed of 203.79 mph.

 

“This car has been at Beaulieu since before I was born and feels like a member of the family, but one I never expected to run again,” said Ralph, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu. “Watching the restoration take place has been fascinating as it has revealed so much I never knew about the car. It will be quite a thrill to have the car at Pebble Beach and is a great opportunity for us to wave the flag for the National Motor Museum!”

The car’s restoration is now well underway. The rear engine has already been disassembled, re-machined, restored, and refitted into the frame—and it was first fired up before an adoring crowd at the Beaulieu International Autojumble in early September. The museum team is now focused on restoring the front engine. When that, too, is back together and in place, the bodywork, which has already been restored, will be reinstalled.

 

“Over the last three and a half years, the Museum’s team have worked tirelessly to make the mighty Sunbeam 1000 HP roar again, with help from a wide range of supporters, stakeholders and heritage engineering specialists,” said Jon Murden, Chief Executive of the National Motor Museum. “Having experienced the first of the car’s remarkable engines running once more, we are all now thrilled at the prospect of the Sunbeam returning to the United States for the first time in a century.”

 

John, the second Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, was a motoring pioneer, who campaigned for the rights of early motorists. In the 1950s, his son Edward founded what is now the National Motor Museum to honor him, and that museum shares a long history with the Pebble Beach Concours. Edward first showed a car—his 1913 Alfonso Hispano-Suiza—at Pebble Beach in 1981, and the following year, he donated the Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy, which the Concours presents annually to the best British car shown on its competition field. Ralph, the current Lord Montagu, was in attendance at the Concours this year.

 

To learn more about the National Motor Museum and its efforts to restore the Sunbeam 1000 HP, go to www.nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/USA.