Episodes

  • What does losing '20 points of downforce' really mean? Plus, McLaren's new suspension analysed
    Jun 19 2025

    On the latest episode of The Race F1 Tech Show, Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson discuss what losing '20 points of downforce' really means, after Lewis Hamilton suffered that fate in Canada, when his Ferrari collided with an unfortunate marmot.


    There's also chat about the revised suspension geometry on Lando Norris's McLaren in Montreal, including what the team hope to accomplish with the change, and why Norris's team-mate Oscar Piastri didn't (and may not ever) run it.


    And finally, in the regular 'Ask Gary' section, our tech chief answers questions on tyre warm up, the increasing complexity of aero shapes, and the idea of forcing teams to reveal design secrets...


    Got a question for Gary? Send it to podcasts@the-race.com


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    45 mins
  • Why didn't the flexi-wing directive shake up the order?
    Jun 3 2025

    With the technical directive reducing the permitted flexibility of the front wings the big talking point of the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, why didn’t it shake up the competitive order as some hoped?


    Former F1 technical director Gary Anderson explains that, and the reasons why he always expected the effects to be more subtle, as he looks back at the big technical stories from the Spanish Grand Prix weekend.


    That includes a look at the steel skid block tests run in Friday practice and the potential impact of the change from titanium for selected races. And whether it makes sense to make such a change given the alternative means to reduce the chance of grass fires ignited by sparks.


    Host Edd Straw also fires listener questions to Gary on a variety of topics, including active suspension, core versus surface tyre temperature and the Venturi effect.


    Got a question for Gary? Send it to podcasts@the-race.com


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    47 mins
  • Red Bull's resurgence + The intriguing strategic variables for Monaco
    May 22 2025

    On the latest episode of The Race F1 Tech Show, host Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson look back on Imola and ahead to Monaco.


    First, they discuss how Red Bull turned the tables on McLaren at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, asking whether this was a track-specific change in the pecking order, or whether Red Bull have made a significant step forward.


    Next, Edd and Gary turn their attention to Monaco, looking at the specific setup that the street track demands and then the debating how the teams will approach race strategy, with two pit stops mandatory for every driver in this year's race.


    And as usual, the final part of the podcast is dedicated to Gary answering tech questions sent in by listeners. This week the selection includes questions on gears, pitstops, underbody aerodynamics, and track evolution.


    Got a question for Gary? Send it to podcasts@the-race.com


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    50 mins
  • Explaining the one weakness in McLaren's dominant race-winning car
    May 8 2025

    With five wins from a possible six in 2025 (plus another victory in the Miami sprint), you might be forgiven for thinking McLaren’s MCL39 is without fault. But listen to drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and its clear the car isn’t always perfect to drive, - especially in qualifying trim, and on this podcast host Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson look at the reasons for that.


    Following that, we’ve been inundated with tech questions from listeners recently, so the rest of the podcast is dedicated to answering them. As ever, it’s an interesting and varied selection, with questions on dirty air, engine modes, brake callipers, visor tear offs, and Lewis Hamilton's current struggles improving with the change of formula for 2026.


    Want to ask Gary a question? Send it to podcasts@the-race.com


    Get 75% off your first month when you join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today - we even have an F1-only tier! Head to patreon.com/therace

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    59 mins
  • F1’s 2026 engine drama - What’s going on?
    Apr 24 2025

    On the latest episode of The Race F1 Tech Show, Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson take a look at the current drama surrounding F1’s 2026 engine regulations, with stakeholders discussing significant changes to the rules aimed at heading off fears about cars repeatedly running out of energy.


    Do these changes suggest the rule direction was wrong in the first place, or are there other factors at play?


    Before that, Gary muses on Lewis Hamilton’s current predicament at Ferrari, and suggests the setup direction he’d push the seven-time world champion in if he was in Ferrari’s engineering team.


    And finally, the episode is rounded out with four excellent questions from listeners, which cover dirty air, how car liveries are applied, Max Verstappen’s recent upshift issue, and whether Renault might be tempted back into the power unit game, should F1 revert to V10 engines one day.


    If you'd like to ask Gary a tech question, email podcasts@the-race.com


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    46 mins
  • How Red Bull managed to win in Suzuka with a tricky car
    Apr 10 2025

    We talk with Gary about Red Bull’s troubles and how it managed to win with a tricky car that took a long time to troubleshoot at Suzuka, and tackle your questions on the minimum weight limit, design drawings and airbox intakes. And with tyre weight a big talking point of late, we discuss whether or not the wheels should be excluded from minimum wight tests.

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    34 mins
  • Ferrari's Chinese GP blunder - The mistakes that led to its double DSQ
    Mar 26 2025

    Ferrari's Chinese Grand Prix weekend fell apart in embarrassing fashion when, after Lewis Hamilton's fine sprint race win on Saturday, both the Briton and team-mate Charles Leclerc were disqualified from Sunday's Grand Prix for excessive skid wear and an underweight car respectively. But how did one of F1's biggest hitting teams find itself in such a position?


    That's the key question answered by former F1 technical director Gary Anderson in this episode of The Race F1 Tech Show.


    Alongside host Edd Straw, Gary also takes a close look at how the rest of the big four teams' cars have performed over the first two races, plus he answers four tech questions sent in by listeners covering underbody airflow, front wing slot gaps, and more.


    If you've got an F1 tech question you'd like answering on the show, send it to podcasts@the-race.com


    Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today - we even have an F1-only tier! Head to Patreon.com/therace

    

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    51 mins
  • 2025 F1 Tech Preview: Comparing the 'Big 4' car concepts + Answering your questions
    Mar 12 2025

    The new season of The Race F1 Tech Show kicks off with a look Formula 1’s big four and the directions they have taken with their 2025 cars.

    Ex-Jordan, Stewart and Jaguar technical director Gary Anderson joins host Edd Straw to run the rule over the top cars based on what we’ve seen during launch season and testing.

    There’s plenty of chat about the suspension geometry, with anti-dive levels a major talking point, as well as the areas of similarity and difference between Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.

    We also answer questions from The Race Members’ Club, which covers a wide range of topics from whet Ferrari’s level of anti-dive is helping new signing Lewis Hamilton to McLaren’s rear instability, and from the suitability of the Bahrain track for testing to Red Bull’s geometry.

    There’s also questions about whether the the practical performance limit under the current regulations is being hit, and the argument for opening up testing now that there’s a cost cap in place.

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    50 mins