2025 Formula 1 Season Review LIVE! | Part 2 | 2026 Predictions w/ Karun Chandhok and Sam Ryder

We are still London with a live audience to look back at the 2025 Formula 1 season, with a whole lot of silliness thrown in too of course. Greg, Betty and Christian are joined by superstar musician Sam Ryder and Sky Pad guru Karun Chandhok.

In Part 2, Karun gives us his insight on Dr Helmut Marko’s departure from the Red Bull team given his time as a Red Bull junior, Sam Ryder compares the similarities between sport and music and trying to make it to the top of the tree, and of course, we have a surprise in store for our very own Christian Hewgill.

This episode was recorded with a live studio audience, apologies if it is a bit tricky in some moments to tell what is going on, but hey, that’s part of the fun of doing a live show.

Let Gullivers Travel take care of all the boring bits and book your dream F1 trip with them. Packages are now available for races in 2026! Follow this link to get started: https://bit.ly/4hLvFSp.

Make sure you follow us on all the socials and hit subscribe right here as we are not going anywhere during the winter break.

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There’s so many people, by the way, who come up to me when I go to the American races and go, “I didn’t know Greg was like a radio presenter.” So those lines of the people who don’t listen to your show are wonderful. He did a he did a funeral for a duck. Is it No, don’t worry about it. It’s a long Don’t worry. Google it, Yank. Yeah. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to part two of the Fast and the Curious live. A that was so much better than the first one we had to edit out. Lovely. And now you’ll often hear this when you go to a Grand Prix and there’s the bit where the drivers are running onto the grid as they say, “Anyone who is able to please stand for the country’s national anthem.” So we thought we’d do something similar. So, if you’re able to, please stand for the national anthem. Please sing along. All right. One, two, three. That [ __ ] Thank you, Jesus. You may be seated, ladies and gentlemen. I just feel like I need Crofty now. Go. Welcome along, ladies and gentlemen. It’s round 12. Oh god. Okay, for those for those only listening to the podcast, Greg James has emerged after the break and he appears to be dressed as a bloody vicar. Right. Oh god, what’s happening here? Betty’s Betty’s off. Why don’t I know about this? What’s so Betty’s left? Greg, welcome to the Fast and Curious live. Still plenty to come, but I’m still still order. That’s the speaker, not the order. No. Before we get to some listener questions, we’ve got some Fast and Curious admin to attend to. As some of you may know, Christian Hugel has mentioned quite a few times that he’s getting married to a lovely gay gentleman called David. I mean, I mean, I hope he’s gay. It would put a spanner in the works if not. Have you seen Has David seen the coffee machine video? Oh, the way you were going without them for a while, Curry. Uh, yes. He’s seen the coffee machine video. Yeah, he’s here. He’s up there. He’s not run away yet. No. Did you know about this? He’s here. I think that was a dealbreaker. The coffee machine. In August, David and Christian got engaged. Yay. She got engaged. Why is she not having the this? Can I just say Sam, it’s lovely to have Jesus Christ here. He has risen. Not sure Jesus Christ approves of some of my lifestyle choices, but there we are. We were all thinking that. On this occasion, I think he’s going to turn a blind eye. He really likes the quad. Jesus, you really do like Formula 1, don’t you? Absolutely. Yeah. Right. Okay. We haven’t all been in the same place to say congratulations face to face. Neither of them know this is happening. So, to mark the occasion properly, it’s my pleasure to welcome all of you to the first ever Fast and Curious wedding. Say, Order. Before we get going, is there anyone here who knows of any reason why these two gay gentlemen before me should not be married? Jesus. Anything? No. No. We’re all good. We’re all good. Such is the state of the modern church. The the Grand Prix of Bethlehem is on who got the three wise men. You designed You would design that one, wouldn’t you? I’d design that one. Yeah. It’s definitely the phone. Yeah. Around the bed of hay through the stables. Natimity scene in the middle. Yeah. Inkeeper waving the checkered flag. Alpine is the donkey. Hey, come on. Come on. Right. Ow. I shall be ordaining today’s service. Of course you will. In a dry run for the real thing, which I’m also ordaining. But yeah, I’ve just decided. Okay. Um, this might be legally binding. Uh, but we have taken the liberty of assigning Betty as best man. Best man and dad. Yeah, best dad and best man and best Betty and also lead confetti engineer. Um, Betty, can you please make sure everyone’s got enough confetti? Um, make sure that happens. Some Fast and Curious listeners might remember that when we last had Sam on the show, we did imagine Christian’s wedding and we imagined that it would be soundtracked by the Formula 1 theme um, played by you, Sam Ryder. So, we’ll make that a reality as well. Um, I’ve also written some vows for you. What? James. They’re Greg James vows. Oh, lovely. Um, would you like to walk uh David down the aisle now, please? Christian, I know David didn’t know about this cuz he hasn’t got changed from work. And if he knew this was happening, he’d have absolutely got changed. Christian, please stand. All right. Wait for your uh future husband as he walks down the aisle. And Sam, take it away, please. I died. It’s the candle light remix. Slice, isn’t it? Yeah, it’s lovely. It’s a similar DJ Sammy version of Heaven. Here he comes down the aisle looking absolutely beautiful. Not a dry eye in the house. Betty shaking David’s hand there. with a very strange tradition. Shaking Christian’s hand now as well. Sorry about this. Um, they’ve actually got confetti. Yeah, there’s confetti here. The confetti is being passed around now. Lovely. Okay, thank you very much. Thank you. It was inspired. Jesus, I’m over. Uh, on the actual day, can you have the aisle as a DRS straight, please? Silence, please, in the congregation. Silence, please. Thank you. Getting married here. That’s lovely if we get a little bit of that whole way through. It’s nice. Little bit of that. Jesus. Little bit of that guitar in. Lovely. Christian, please repeat after me. Oh god, I dread something. David, I’m so sorry about this, but I love you. David, just remember I’ve got a career to maintain here. David, I’m so I’m the one just as a vicar. Yeah, train. It’s your job to dick about. Um, right. What was the line? David, I’m sorry about this, but I love you. David, I’m sorry about this, but I love you. Almost as much as I love fast cars in Charlotte. almost as much as I love fast cars and Charlotte Clair. But no Grand Prix or fit Ferrari driver can make my heart beat like you do. But no Grand Prix or fit Ferrari driver can make my heart beat like you do. You are my one, my Formula 1. Wonder if Sam will do that will I am Formula 1 song. I got the Formula next. That’s that’s a that’s the first that’s first dance. Uh David, you are my one my Formula One. That’s very sweet. David, please repeat after me. Christian, I tolerate you. Christian, I tolerate you. Even though in real life I can’t edit you out like producer Jimmy does. Even though in real life I can’t edit you out like producer Jimmy does. And that’s that bit done actually. Karun, I believe you have the rings. I I I went to Poundland on the way. Yes. Thank you. They’re going to Poundland later. Hey, David and Christian. All that’s left me. I love the bum note there. Perfect time. Yeah, I was quite chant. I thought David shouting, “You’ve ruined our wedding.” Before thinking, “What the [ __ ] going on like that?” [ __ ] all thinking what’s going on. It’s like a dream. David and Christian, all that’s left for me to say is by the zero amount of power vested in me by Before the Lights and our good friends at Gulibers Travel and our old friends at NordVPN. Today we celebrate absent friends. NordVPN, I now pronounce you Fiance 1 and Fiance 2. Uh F1 and F2. P1 and P2. You may now they do fit. Yeah. Lovely those. Excellent guess work by me. Thank you. They’re really nice. That’s a really lovely bit of bling that Karine. Yeah. Well done me. Very nice. Someone’s doing well. Someone’s designed some race circuits. You may now kiss each other. Sam, please play them out as they exit the chapel. And as you pass through the congregation, please go wild with the confetti. Let’s do the Mexican Grand Prix version for the Let’s Go. Go. This podcast is [ __ ] bastard service. Was it everything you dreamed of? Yeah. Than you than you thought thing would be. It it was. There are people who think I will actually have the F1 theme music going down the aisle. No. No. Guys, I’m setting some realistic expectations. There’s a line to be drawn in the sand somewhere. I don’t know. Thank you for that, Jimmy. And okay, great. Thank you. That was actually quite sweet though. That was really cool. It was disturbing in many ways, but it was it was something, wasn’t it? It’s it’s worth celebrating both of you have got engaged this year. Fantastic, haven’t you? Yeah. Is that public is now We’ve talked about it before. Imagine Alex is here. And now it’s your turn. Same gag twice. I was thinking that Guliviver’s travels were at the beginning like going to be absolutely livid when they heard this podcast, but I thought you’d made it up to it actually. Wouldn’t they be quite happy? They’ll love that word. Sam, great. Great playing. Great playing. Nice to have a professional here, isn’t it? I sort of feel like after that we should probably talk about bit of Formula 1 again. Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Maybe go back to it. Um, I want to talk about next season. I know we touched on it a little bit, Karun, but what the hell is it going to be like? Cuz I can’t get my head around it. DRS is going I just what what what should we expect? And don’t be as negative as Dom because we don’t need that in our life. I’m a bit of a pessimist. Can I can I can I stay as the vicar by the way? Yeah. Yeah. Just see you. Anyone uncomfortable with that? I feel I really is comfortable. Is it airy? Like are you getting good flow? Yeah, it’s quite nice. Yeah, I’m struggling to just come back into what the podcast is. Yeah, it’s quite hard. Yeah, it’s tricky. That was a really bad use. It’s a hard reset and those two have got married. Anyway, Karine, there’s no DRS anymore. Talk to us about hybrid and um I you know what I think we I think we’ve got to have an open mind, right? There’s there’s been a lot of negativity around what the cars will be like, what the racing be like, and whether the drivers will or won’t like them. Uh, I I think we’ve just got to have an open mind and see, you know, not get too hung up on what the rules are and what the cars are underneath the skin. At the end of the day, it’s still Formula 1. It’s still going to have the best teams, the best drivers, the best tracks, and, you know, hopefully it’ll be entertaining racing. Um, I think what what could happen is one engine manufacturer could get it completely right and and be miles ahead of everyone else. Now, if that does happen, it I think we’ll still have lots to talk about and a good show because let’s say Mercedes are the ones to get it right. You’ll have McLaren, you’ll have Mercedes, you’ll have Williams, um you’ll have Alpine, you know, and you No, I was being there. At least three at least three out of those four teams could be at the front winning. If if Honda are the ones to get it right, I mean, we could have a 45year-old Fernando Lonzo fighting for the championships against Lance Stroll. I see that I see the big L fans in the house. So, really excited about that. Um, so, you know, that’s what I mean. Like, we I think we’ve just got to be open-minded and if Ferrari are the ones get it right, then the Lewis dream could come true. Oh, please. Because wow, lot this season was horrific to watch for if you were a Lewis fan. For Louis. Yeah. Not. Listen, it was the biggest disappointment of the season, wasn’t it, Ferrari? Like, they didn’t win a race. Lewis didn’t even get a podium. That picture of him outside Enzo Ferrari’s house at the start of the year feels like a very, very long time ago. Um, and it’s a shame because, you know, I think as a neutral, everyone wanted to see this work. you know, you’ve got Lewis going to Ferrari, a bold move to make that that switch as a 40-year-old and um you know, chasing that dream of winning in the red car. We all wanted to see it happen and it’s been a nightmare. It’s just not worked, I think, on on on various levels. Um I hope they change something, you know. I I really hope they go for some big drastic changes in the way they are working. You know, obviously the cars are changing, the rules are changing. We know that bit, but I mean like when I say big change, I mean in terms of their working relationship because whatever they did this year wasn’t good enough. And if you just carry on doing the same thing, it won’t be good enough. Um, you know, the car couldn’t have been that bad, right? Llair got seven podiums and had a pretty solid season. I know he didn’t win anything, but he had a a decent season. So I I really think that um you know Lewis and Ferrari have got a lot of work to do over the winter. Kurin, can I ask you a potentially awkward question? Carry on. That’s what this podcast’s all about. Do apparently me. Do you think there’s any discussion to be had about the race engineers at Ferrari? Um I think there’s a lot or is that maybe something that’s I don’t know. I I’d widen that and I think um I think we were talking about it where a couple of guys when we were queuing for the toilets. There we go. Uh were asking me a similar thing about Lewis and I think I think there’s a wider point about the cultural difference. You know, Lewis has only raced for British teams and he’s not raced in F1 for for a non-British team. And I think maybe that cultural change has been harder than he perhaps expected. Um the way they operate is different. I I saw Alan Prost on Tuesday who went from winning world championships at McLaren, you know, British team to going to Ferrari and he was talking about just and it was a while ago, but culturally just how different it is and you know, you look at the years Ferrari were successful is when they had Ross Brawn and Rory Burn and John Todd running it and they ran it like they ran other race teams. Um, so it’s a it is a different team and maybe that’s what I mean. He’s got to adjust the way he operates and works with them. And something I’ve seen banded about a lot this week is that there’s a theory that the the 2022 to 2025 era of cars. You saw drivers like Daniel Ricardo and Lewis Hamilton struggle. theory goes because they’re a harder car to drive if you’re a bit of a last of the late breaker style ring the neck of it style driver which some people say Ricardo was on the late breaking Hamilton was and therefore this new era of car where the ground effect rule is going might play more into a handover Lewis Hamilton. Do you buy into any of that theory Karine? You know, I I I think as the the internet has has gone wild and it’s made and there’s, you know, everyone’s got a website and a column and a podcast and a the everyone comes up with theories and very quickly these theories become fact and it starts spreading and the reality is you you got to look at history and the great drivers including a Lewis Hamilton whenever the rules rules change, they still rose to the top. And I think that the cream will and should always rise to the top. So I I don’t think you can blame the rules. I think ultimately Formula 1 is formula next. You know, we’ve got these rules coming now. Who knows what will come in 2030? And it’s you adaptability and flexibility is that’s that’s one of the strengths of the great drivers. So I just think for whatever reason, it’s not worked for Lewis at at Ferrari. Um, only he will know the truth. And I think we can all come up with theories and the internet can come up with theories, but only he and the team can can truly know what happened. I was chatting to some lads during the interval. I think one of them was called Dan. Where’s Dan? Dan. Yeah, Dan. Dan. Big Lewis Hamilton fan. Is Dan. In fact, Dan, do you want to come here? I’d I’d like just to talk you just to talk to you quickly. Done. Ladies and gentlemen, sorry to put you on the spot, but we had a really nice chat about your sort of way into Formula 1 and your your the reason you love Lewis. Yeah. Uh so when I was at school, my best mate, uh his dad was chief telemetrist for McLaren when Lewis was a driver there. Um and I’ve got on my living room wall a dear Daniel, happy 12th birthday. Love Lewis then. So like I’ve been following him since I was about that tall and you know I was at Silverstone 2024 when he won his first race in two and a bit years and that’s why Kar went oh god when I showed him this tattoo I’ve got for that cuz you know it was my birthday and my misses was there and everything. So, he’s been a big part of motorsport representationally for me as someone who’s Nick’s race and, you know, loving the the the passion, all that. But, yeah, it’s just it’s been gut-wrenching to see him this year and see how negatively he’s been affected by it all and just hope he’s going to get better. Well, let’s let’s talk about that in a second. But actually, just back on your original point that that’s why we love sport because it it’s there throughout your life and those moments you find the sports person that you idolize and you go that’s my guy. And the the torturous thing about sport is that you fall in love with it and you have to follow it through the sad stuff. But then when the when the good stuff happens, I mean, for example, your tattoo, do you want to explain? Do you want to describe your tattoo for the for the viewers and the listeners? I was just saying that um like I said, I’ve followed Lewis since I was little and it’s that that picture, the portrait that we saw of Lewis uh standing on top of his car waving the the Union flag above his his head. Um it just kind of immortalized that that weekend for me. It was my birthday weekend. I’d seen Storms on a Friday night and the MS was there with me for the first time. We’d been to a race together and so just a little bit of ink. How much beer had you had at that point? Uh, I hadn’t had much much beer to be fair. Uh, but I was a bloody emotional wreck when when Lewis crossed that line and I was balling like a baby. So, what’s what do you think? Okay. What do you We know what you want to happen next season, but what do you think is realistic for Lewis next season? Uh, I think, you know, as Kar said earlier, we we’ve got to go into it with a with an open mind. There’s the culture difference that is very evident with Ferrari. Is Lewis gonna have that, you know, influence that we’d like to see him have and and do that? Who knows? Who knows? I think they’re gonna start listening. I I really hope so. And it makes the most logical sense, but then again, this is Ferrari, so who knows? Yeah, we we didn’t actually mention it on the debrief. Um, but we wanted to keep it, you know, Lando based cuz, you know, he just won. But the the the radio message, oh, that was so heartbreaking. the they weren’t listening to him and that and they sort of laughing. Oh, sorry about that. We were just uh I was just boiling some torini. It was that whole, you know, engineer thing was epitomized. Where was it? Was it I can’t remember where it was now, but you know, have a tea break whilst you’re at it. You know, that that that really is it. And you the two track limits in it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Think warn me about the first one. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. doesn’t tell has the last communication is such a big thing, you know, all of what everything that everybody does is all about communication, but particularly in in F1 and when you’re under so much immense pressure all the time. Yeah. You just you need that and he doesn’t have that right now. So, how can he be expected to do his job to the best of his ability when he doesn’t have a crucial part of it? Dan, thanks so much. Done everybody. Karun, do obviously when I saw I didn’t actually pick up on the whole Lewis engineer chat until it was on social media. Do you think that it was misinterpreted in some way or do you think it was as brutal as um I just I just think that’s that’s one of the points of this season. You know, they if you rewind all the way back to Melbourne and there was so many bits of miscommunication. Um yeah, I think don’t forget Lewis has come off the back of an incredibly successful time at Bono. You know, they they really understood each other and that relationship between driver, race engineer, and performance engineer is massively important. Uh it gets to the point, you know, I think in my own time with relationship with engineers, the ones that really work are the ones they can almost read their mind. you know, as you’re sort of coming down the pit lane, you’re offering a bit of feedback and as you’ve got to the pit garage, you’re both thinking of the same things you want changed on the car. Um you you look at um MLAN for example, right? You know, um rewind to 2021 when Lando lost the race in Russia. That wasn’t great communication. They were asking a 21-year-old chasing his first race win with Lewis Hamilton right behind him to make decisions on tires based on the weather. It’s like he’s not going to be able to do that. And they’ve gone on this journey and really improved the way they communicate with Lando. And I think Will Joseph has done a fantastic job of you know working with Lando. Right. What do you want me to tell you and what do you want me to ask you? And they’ve they’ve found a good balance. Um, you know, for those of you ju just to give you some context, up in the commentary box, we have a a setup where I can listen to all the radio of all the drivers all the time. So, you know, with the swearing and all the rest of it, we got a live live feed. And Mercedes are the gold standard. I honestly I I believe in the way they communicate with the drivers. They’re they’re, you know, concise, they’re precise, they give the drivers the right bits of information. and Lewis has gone from that to Ferrari where there’s language and cultural differences and he’s not been able to make it work. Um so to your you asked me the question earlier about the engineer I think there’s a wider thing around how they all communicate but I do yeah but I do think and I don’t maybe they are doing this right but if if I was in Lewis’s position I would go after every race and listen back to how George communicates with Marcus Dudley for example. Yeah. and I just go, “Look, these are the this is how I’d like you to be.” There’s no f I feel like like there’s kind of and I know they’re racing, you know, 250 mph like and but there still is time for some kind of bedside manner like if you listen to Kimmy and Bono like there’s real there’s nurturing. I think it’s about knowing your personality, you know, like GP and Max for example. Yeah. You know, GP puts him in his place pretty quickly, isn’t it? It’s not it’s not sort of polite chat there, but that’s their relationship. That’s their relationship. They’re like brothers, you know? You just that’s just what happens. Um I think and I think they Lewis has got to find his own equation, but I think there’s things you can do to try and fast track that and just try and try and do a bit of work behind that. Yeah, we’ll get our predictions before we finish today’s show. Really fascinating hearing you all chat. Thank you to Dad. And it was just yeah really really nice to nice bit of light and shade from the vicar. We needed that. We needed to come down after the wedding. I think didn’t I sort of halfway through when we were being quite serious about it I looked at the confetti on the floor and thought what are we doing here? So big changes are coming for 2026. Uh we’re also saying goodbye to quite a few big fixtures of F1 at the end of the season. Um it’s the first time we started since we started this podcast that Max Vstappen won’t be the reigning champion. Yuki Cenoda won’t be on the grid. And of course, it saddens me to say as a vicer, it saddens me to say our dearly departed DRS won’t be in use anymore. Now, on the Fast and Curious WhatsApp group the other day, can I just say that the screen’s gone black behind this? Yes. And and that there’s a good reason for that. Sure. Because we are now in mourning. Not think I’d be doing this on the Thursday, but here we go. If you’d like to bow your heads, please do. People actually did. Thank you everybody for being here today as we gather to say goodbye to a very very special part of the Formula 1 world DRS. Since you first appeared in 2011 and once everyone actually understood what the [ __ ] you were, you have been the finest speed boosting flap in all of sports, maybe even the world, actually. You’re way better than cat flaps and cats in general for that matter. He wrote this, didn’t he? No, actually, now I think about it, those flaps you can see opening on the wing of a plane when you look out of the window are also pretty good, but that’s not the point. DRS better than cat flaps. To give you your full name, drag reduction system. Jensen was the first to push your button, and we didn’t make that up. That is true. And you’ve continued to be loved up and down the paddock. We’re still not fully sure Lance Stroll ever really got his head around you, but it was exciting to see you being used properly by Max, Oscar, and Lando this year. You you became part of the Formula 1 furniture and even went on to create your own subculture in Formula 1, the DRS train. God, we love you. a uniquely infuriating part of the sport for both fans and drivers to sit through because you were kind of designed to make overtaken easier, but thanks for being there anyway. We asked the drivers if they had any words to pass on, but they’re all on holiday now. And to be honest, none of them really gave a [ __ ] Uh, we do, of course. So, um, we’re going to read you some moving words from George Russell in Mexico this year to remember you by. It’s quite difficult to get through this bit without getting a bit emotional. Yeah, same. I’m with you. Yeah, really emotional. Ah, yes. Without you, George Russell would never have uttered those beautiful words. I’ve got a [ __ ] McLaren up my ass. A phrase that will long live in all of our hearts because you, our beloved DRS, let Oscar Pastri get right up his ass. I wish we could be near you, well, within one second of you next season. But that’s the narrated line of this. That was good. The FIA have introduced the manual override engine mode which operates within X and Y zones. Jesus Christ. He’s here. That’s the first time I’ve read that bit out loud and I’m already so bored of understanding what it means. So DRS, you move into retirement at approximately 6 to 12 miles per hour, faster than most. Thank you for your role in this ridiculous sport. Speaking of dearly departed, there has been one common trend in the DMs in the last week which I wanted to ask uh a steam panel about. Uh Karine Chandock. Oh no. Helmet Marco is no longer with us in Formula 1. Um this Oh yes, he’s he’s hanging up his helmet. Huh? It’s good that. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Can’t believe a mechanical flap got a funeral and helmet Marco got [ __ ] all mental. That’s mental, is it? He hasn’t died. Yeah, but has he? Is he not? No, he’s not dead. Can we just say for the Pan Barker is leaving Red Bull. He has not died. No, it’s important. But I I’d like to clarify that if he did die, we wouldn’t do a funeral. Really? Yeah. Anyway, just want to be clear on that. Sure. I think we’d do a funeral for most things to be honest. Any Shando back to the departure of a key figure in Formula 1. Uh were you surprised at the timing of this career? This is a this to our listeners seemed like a big deal and certainly obviously big news to have broken in the week since the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Surprise for you? Uh a bit surprised with the timing because I I thought Helmet would never leave. You know, he he was instrumental in bringing them into the sport. um he seemed to win the power struggle against Christian in the summer of the season and um you know it’s it’s kind of a I wonder what Christian thinks of it because it’s sort of five months after he gave Christian the boot he’s gone himself. Uh um but you know what I think Helmer Yeah. Listen, he’s got he’s got antiquated views of the world, isn’t he? Let’s be honest. He’s got a lot of things that he says which you just think that that is just inappropriate in this world. But what you have to what I think people must must give him credit for is he’s he’s been an unbelievable talent spotter. Arguably the best talent spotter the sport has seen in the last two decades. Yeah. You know he was bold enough to take Max Vstappen after one year of car racing and stick him into Formula 1. I mean no one else Toto had passed the opportunity because he didn’t think Max was ready. and and look at the success that Max has delivered for that team. And he brought Tanner Ricardo, Carlos Science, um he brought in Sebastian Vettle, he’s you know, and Helmet did that. Helmet made those calls himself. And I think, you know, people there’s a bigger picture. He was, you know, if you look at his who helmet marker was, right? Incredible racing driver, lost an eye, had to stop driving because of of that accident. you know, he was a qual he’s a qualified lawyer. He’s a patron of the arts. He’s a painter, which a lot of people don’t know about. He he um advised Niki Lauder when he was doing his Ferrari contracts, his end of Ferrari. He advised Nikki Lauder on how to get out of the Ferrari contracts because they were best mates. You know, he’s he’s made an incredible contribution to the sport. I’m not saying he’s everyone’s cup. I’m not saying I agree with a lot of things that come out of his mouth, but I think ultimately you also have to for balance acknowledge the incredible contribution he has made to the sport that there will be I think a lot of listeners to our podcast and viewers to our podcast will see what’s happened to the likes of I know we could name them you know the the Gazlies the Lawsons Nelson Odas who have been in many people’s views quite brutally treated and now obviously Christian Horner has gone home Marco has gone do you think it’s fair to say that maybe the culture of the the brutal driver changes at Red Bull. Do you think it was a culture that maybe needed to move on? No, I think I think that’s what you sign up for. Listen, I was a Red Bull junior driver, right? I my I used to get the phone calls from Helmet when I was in GP2 or for now called Formula 2. You know, Helmet would call me on a Sunday night and go, “That was not good enough.” And as you’re trying to explain what happened, he just you just realize he’s gone. He’s just hung up on you because I think a lot of our listeners feel can’t do that sort of thing anymore. And I think you know what you you knew what you were signing up for. He he without helmets packing none of those drivers would have got to F1 in the first place. None of those drivers would have got to F2 in the first place, you know. So, um you knew what you were signing up for for you know. Nobody nobody forced any of us to sign a contract with Ripple. I remember when I think I I must have been 24 in Valencia. Yeah. 2008 24 and helmet we sat down in a rebel motor home and sort of talking about what I do next and it’s like you’re 24 years old. You are now an old man. You better get on with it. I was like 24. Um but I it’s like I knew what I signed up for. That’s the person you were going to deal with. And I don’t I think if you didn’t expect that then you’re just naive and then that’s that’s a whole different conversation. So I don’t think you know I think Gazzley and and Kafiat and all of these drivers yeah they they they had a tough time and but they wouldn’t have got there without helmet in the first place. Sure. Very interesting to hear you talk about that career. Really good. I’m I actually would like to talk a bit more about you being a junior driver. I think that’s sort of got I’m quite interested by that. So you were 24 and you were told that you were you were you were getting on a bit. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I mean I um so I did two seasons 2007 and 8 as a as a Red Bull junior and then at the end of 2008 I could see there was no way forward into the F1 program. At that stage they had Vettle and Mark Weber in the big team. They had and I could see ahead of me in the queue. Um they had Sebastian Boui and Haimey Algasari I think ahead of me in the queue at the time and I sort of and and we just parted on good terms actually. So we had a year apart in 2009 I I wasn’t on the program. 2010 I got to F1 and sort of you know spoke to Helmet and just said look just want to let you know I’ve done this deal and we actually did a personal endorsement deal. I still did did events. I was one of the few I think who parted terms on parted on good terms with the helmet. Um you know he gave me my first F1 test and Christian was there and um you know they so as I say they were tough as you know helmet was a a tough person who held you to account but I absolutely went into that environment with my eyes open. I think it’s a different context that a lot of especially our younger listeners won’t quite get and and again nowhere near to the extent the Karine has but like carting’s brutal and I experienced that you’re experiencing such brutality at top level sport from such a young age and I think it’s a really interesting concept you do go in with your eyes wide open you do have to grow up really quickly in the sport elite sport is hard right elite sport is hard you I mean you know you you you think Ben stalks seem aren’t taking a load of crap when they’re out there. You know, you got to be mentally hard at the moment. Right. Yes. A lot of it for me. Yeah. But like you’ve got to be mentally tough and that’s you sign up for that. You sign up knowing the Australian press are going to come after you when you go to a tour down. It’s just what you sign up for. Sam, do you do you do you empathize with top level drivers because of your work and the industry you’re in? Because there’s there’s there’s there are there are sort of brutal parallels surely with with your job as well. Well, I was just think as you were saying the sort of helmet telling you you’re an old man now at 24. It’s it’s similar in the I guess the music world. You I remember being at school of all my powers are also into music and it was all our dream to kind of make it one day music. I remember all of us would say, “Man, can you imagine having a flat one day that you paid the rent for from music?” Like all of us would like that was this kind of like holy grail at the top of the mountain that we were chasing. And uh everyone was like, “Well, if if you don’t make it by 25, it’s not going to happen. So, kind of throw in the towel.” And all of my mates did throw in the towel and I didn’t get a kind of I guess a shot until I was 31. So, it was like and and at the beginning I was really self I remember really being really self-conscious about my age because I remember going to the first Brit Awards after lockdown. And I remember meeting Claraara actually and Claraara asked me how old I was and I from radio one in Greg’s works went recently. Yeah. Yeah. Clara Afo and um I remember being like feeling this awful feeling of like being self-conscious to tell her and Clara’s a sweetheart. So lovely. There’s no reason to be like worried. But it was it was a me thing like being embarrassed almost to say, “Oh, I’m 31 years old and I’ve only just I mean I haven’t done anything yet. I’ve just been given an opportunity.” And um I think that that’s something that’s really I know we got I’ve said it before in a few sort of like instances but we worship at this font of youth in the arts. In sport it’s it’s maybe different because there’s this whole host of different factors going on. Um but in music it certainly isn’t like we actually kind of give platforms to people that um that mean that older people are totally cut out and ostracized and made to feel almost that once they’re past that threshold of to be honest a young age of like 25 or whatever they’re on the scrap heap. So if you had any sort of dreams or ambitions sorry like that’s it now. It’s interesting because to link this back around my understanding and I’ve not spoken this publicly but my understanding his helmet has left to further his music career proving you are never you are imagine joining credit you know he said you know you’re never too old so I wish him well with that yeah he’s doing Eurovision yeah he is I would love to see helmet say you’re never too old and see that come out of his gothic I believe is his style we wish him well should we take some listener questions love would love to love the listeners Does anyone love the listeners? Does anyone in here have a question? I think we probably need a microphone to your face. So, I’m going to try and stretch it. You might have to meet me halfway as um the back piece once said. Yes. Again, um just based on the segment about saying goodbye to Can I just say you said again because we met earlier, but we haven’t actually featured on the podcast. That would confuse the listeners. What’s your name? Hi everyone, I’m Cla. Hi. Hi again. Hi CLA. Say hi to CLA everybody. Hi again. Hello. Um, from a legacy perspective and saying goodbye to things, do you think not enough was made in terms of saying goodbye to SA and Peter Sala or just the excitement and adrenaline is there for the Audi side of things that are you saying you want another funeral cuz I don’t think we do that. Brilliantly done. No, but just in terms of like, you know, the the things that were being said goodbye to, it just felt like it hasn’t got a lot of coverage elsewhere as well. I think it’s hard. I I the one thing I do enjoy about Formula 1, one of the things I enjoy about Formula 1 is they do celebrate the past and they do a really good job of getting driver ambassadors in who you see in the paddic. And I did like that they invited Peter Sa. I was lucky enough to be in Abu Dhabi. He was in the he was in the paddic a lot. Um, so I I I liked that they invited Peter Saver along. I like they invited him in. I think maybe inevitably you might have seen a bit more made of that if we hadn’t got the first three-way title battle for more than a decade, but uh I don’t know how much it came across at home, but Peter Sa was there. There were some lovely pictures on F1 socials of him tears in his eyes as the as the fireworks went up. So I I do think credit to F1 they they made a good deal of that. And and if we’re being a bit He’s making a pitch for your deal for next year. I was going to say by you know, let’s be honest. They were in F1 for 42 years and won one race. Well, no, I was scared. I was I was There’s that helmet brutality there. Yeah. I genuinely was just about to say it’s not like Williams have left, is it? I Oh, you’ve just took the words out of my mouth. I was genuinely about to say there’s also they aren’t a massive name for the sport. And to to Karun’s point, they did only win one race. What a race it was though with Robert. But I I remember being when I was at channel 4 um I was in the commentary box with David Kulard and Saaba was celebrating must have been the 20 something ann would have been a 35th or 40th something some anniversary at the British Grand Prix I can’t remember what it was and F1 your your friends at F1 put a graphic up on the formation lap celebrating whatever it was for SA and DC just went, “Yep.” Uh, well, I suppose that’s uh 40 years of mediocrity. And I was like, “Wow, DC, that is brutal. You’ve been hanging out with helmet.” Um, bigger headlines, I guess. They are just bigger headlines, I think. Just not as newsworthy. Yeah. I think, you know what? There’s there are lovely people who work at there are lovely people who work at Saur, but they weren’t setting the world of light. And I I’m actually happy and excited to see someone new come along. Oh, it’s definitely it’s better for the sport because let’s be honest, SA we’re never going to win a world championship. It’s better for the sport for a bign name manufacturer like an Audi to come in and go we want to make a a fist of this whether they will let’s find out but it’s Karun’s exactly right but we’re never going to win Audi I think it’s in really exciting yeah I think it’s going to be cool it’s good for Formula 1 to have big names like okay Ford aren’t a full engine supplier they’re helping Red Bull but the likes of Ford the likes of Audi Toyota came back into the sport with ass formula 1 to have these big name manufacturers and it’s better for formula 1 to have Audi than SA but another black card but a cool a cool color but well it’s looking like a cool silvery blacky and red sort of yeah you need a yellow tune back Christian I fully agree more yellow in every more yellow like for our pain it’s nonsense call it Renault like call it Rena make it yellow again call it yellow make it Renault make it rele cla thank you again any more questions so please please please please what is your name Jess Jess. Hi. Hello. Are you sure? Hello. Hi, Jess. Welcome to the Fast and the Curious live. This is the Reverend Greg James. What’s your question? Um, are there any tracks that are no longer on the calendar that you would like to see back on the calendar? I know I’m kind of partial to, and this is before my time, but Adelaide, I’d love to see another Australian race. Um, yeah. So, I um I really liked Malaysia. It was a fantastic track to drive. Uh, I loved racing. I raced in different categories. Brilliant track to drive. Always had good racing. The weather was a bit wild and wacky. Um, it’s just an people were lovely. Nice place to go. Hot and, you know, really humid, but I I that’s the one I I always miss. I think Turkey as well. You know, we we’ve seen some good races in Turkey, but Malaysia is the one that I I I if I had to pick one, um, that would be the one. So, you’d like Adelaide, obviously. I just like more Australian races. I’ve lost sleep. I mean, we go a long way to get there, so you might as well have to race. Exactly. I get it. Three. Why not? You know, thank you. And well done in the ashes so far. Thank it. Feels pretty good. It’s been a week of highs and lows. Mainly highs, I’d say. Yeah. Mainly highs. Uh, thank you, Jess. Any other questions? Who’s got one? Yes. Right in the right in the front. Yes. Um, which tracks would you like removed from the panumbra? Oh, China. Oh, yeah. 100%. It’s only because Did you come to China this year? No. The paddock is completely soulless. I mean, it’s built on swamp land. There’s there’s bugs everywhere. Uh, and you can’t find anybody. They everyone just disappears in these litted buildings. Um, you know, they say the Grand Prix in in Shanghai. It’s like saying we had a London Grand Prix and had it up in Colby or something is, you know, is nothing to do with Shanghai is miles away. Like London stands to the airport. Exactly. Yeah. Like London sounds basically. Yeah. In Essics. So I would immediately Yeah, that’ll be the one. I was I was going to say uh and the drivers love driving it, but it it’s a dull watch. I’m I just can’t be doing with Qatar. It’s a Moto GP track. It’s not It’s not a Formula 1 track for me. So, yeah, I’d get rid of that. Yeah. I think the controversial one really is what do you do with Monaco, isn’t it? Because the race is qualifying. Well, I know I know. I get it. I’m a victimist. I love it. Like qualifying is amazing. But that’s that’s that’s my tax haven. I’ve got a roof to pay for on this church. Um yeah, thank you to our listeners and to their questions. Uh that is nearly it. But before we wrap things up, we did hint a little earlier um at our final driver appearance of the season. Now the chance of getting a driver to join us for a postseason podcast are completely zero. They’ve long checked out. Um I think you should show them this episode as a sales pitch for next year. Like this is not a podcast, is it? Depends to which driver, doesn’t it? Some have come out worse. Dural singing. It can be arranged. Oh my god. Can you imagine? We’re not We’re not getting any help being drivers on after tonight, are we? Um, but we have had a message from one of our favorites. Hello everybody. It’s Ollie here. Just wanted to send you all a quick message. Um, firstly, I hope you’re enjoying the podcast. Secondly, I have got a bone to pick with this specific podcast. Um, rewind a few months, I was in Silverstone on the fan stage. Um, you know, having a whale of a time. First British Grand Prix. It was incredible. Uh, then at one point I get arrested on the stage. I’m sorry to say we have to wrap up the interview time with you anyway. Now, you won’t be racing this weekend. Um, and we do have to say goodbye to you now because you are going to be taken away and questioned. Um, so we’ve got some security here for this is for taking your personal trainers credit card and ordering. I’ve got the number if anyone wants it. I’m sure somewhere it’s too late before I go. Um, for now, Ollie Bman, thank you. And you must now leave the stage. Thank you, Ollie Bman. And good luck this weekend. Thank you very much. Ollie, everybody, Ollie Bman, good luck this weekend. Take him away, guys. Come on. Take him away everybody. That’s it. Take him away. Escort him away. There we are. Really not what I had in the plan for my first fan stage at Silverstone. I’m told it was Greg James’ fault. Um, so Greg, I think in revenge, I’ve got a little something for you. So, um, guys, would you just come in and and grab him? And, um, we’ve we’ve arranged for security to take Greg. Greg James, everybody, take him away. No, you’ve been I’m off the cloth. No, take him away. Take him away. Ollie Bman’s request. Well, thank God he’s gone. Right. Um, well, this has been a lot of fun. Uh, firstly to our wonderful audience here, thank you so much for coming. It’s so appreciated. Guys, give yourselves a round of applause. Sam Ryder, thank you. What? Honestly, you are a total joy, a total f1 geek. We love having you. Thank you for singing at my wedding. Uh I think ladies and gentlemen, you’re still you’re still wearing the ring. Still wearing the ring. Still wearing the ring. It’s very shiny. It keeps catching my eye. Yeah. It’s lovely, isn’t it? See your finger going green as we Yeah. Yeah. Some rider everybody. and to this fountain of Formula 1 knowledge who does proper sports broadcasting and still finds the time to come and hang out with us idiots. Karin Chanduk everybody. Thank you. Thank you so much for just holding this podcast together. Just any time we asked you a serious question, you gave us a good answer. The rest of us, God knows what we were doing up here. But um thank you very much guys. You’re going to be hearing from us sooner than you think because we’ve got plenty of cool little behind thescenes archive from different interviews we’ve done with different drivers. We’re going to be back guys sooner than you think because on our YouTube channel which I hope you will subscribe to. We’re going to be putting out loads of different Fast and Curious Gold episodes on the podcast feed as well and on the podcast feed that are showing some behind thescenes stuff and just the best bits of drivers interviews from the past three seasons. So, we’ve been doing this for three seasons. I know we’re very old though, aren’t we? We are very old. So, um make sure you subscribe and that will keep you going, I think, between now and 2026 season. Should we Should we allow him back to say goodbye? Yeah, probably. Greg, come back. Come and say goodbye. Come and say goodbye. Yeah. Um, he’s got beer. He’s goes out of beer. He thought he was fully Clark kicked back in to his own show. A sweet. A sweet big prediction of food is going to be Oh, yeah. Right. Okay. Go on, Sam. You go first. George Russell. George Russell. Oh, nice. Lovely. I’m going Lando again. I’m going to go Oscar Pastri. He’s going to be back with a vengeance. George Russell. I I’m going to say Oscar Pastri just to be different. Well, I said Oscar Past the other. Oh, I mean like different what I did this year. Different to me this year. I heard you say Oscar Betty. I’m sitting right here. It’s different to me. to me is a great way to they’re different spoken like a true evil super villain. I think we should end there. Thank you so much for being here today. We love you and we love doing this podcast and here’s to another amazing season and merry Christmas.