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Formula Fools

Formula Fools

By: David Duffin Mitchell Drennan
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About this listen

 Formula 1 for beginners (and the mates pretending they get it). Each week we unpack the history, the headlines and the chaos of F1—with simple explanations, big moments, and just enough opinion to start an argument.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Duffin, Mitchell Drennan
Episodes
  • Chinese GP Review: The Kimi Antonelli Show

    Chinese GP Review: The Kimi Antonelli Show
    Mar 16 2026
    The 2026 season is officially heating up — and the Chinese Grand Prix might have just given us the first real statement of the new era.In this Formula Fools race review, David and Skin break down an unbelievable weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix — featuring a historic performance from rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli.Because what he did in Shanghai was ridiculous.Youngest pole sitter in F1 history — breaking the record previously held by Sebastian Vettel.Second-youngest race winner ever.And his first Grand Slam — pole position, race win, and fastest lap.At 19.David and Skin dive into how Antonelli managed the entire weekend like a veteran — bouncing back from a small slip in the sprint race and delivering one of the most complete rookie weekends we’ve ever seen.Seriously… there was a moment where we had to ask if he might secretly be Kimi Räikkönen in disguise.But the Mercedes story doesn’t stop there.George Russell also delivered a massive weekend, dominating the sprint race and pushing Antonelli hard in the main event. With Russell only a few points ahead in the standings, we’re suddenly asking a very real question:Is Mercedes about to dominate this new regulation era?Or are we about to witness a full-blown teammate battle?Meanwhile, Ferrari had a fascinating weekend.Lewis Hamilton grabbed back-to-back poles across the sprint and the main race — a huge sign he might be properly back at the front again. His race pace, starts, and battery management were elite all weekend.Charles Leclerc was also right in the fight, delivering brilliant wheel-to-wheel battles with Hamilton that showed Ferrari finally have a car capable of racing the Mercedes duo.Elsewhere on the grid:Oliver Bearman absolutely smashed the weekend for Haas with a huge P5 — proof that the team might be a genuine midfield force this year.Cadillac Formula 1 Team showed serious pace but also got tangled in a messy opening-lap incident.Williams Racing finally grabbed points… and somehow still managed a DNS in the same weekend.And reigning champions McLaren had a nightmare with a double DNS.Not ideal.We also introduce a new segment — “Listen to the Fools” — where we hear from listeners Jay and Kelvin, bringing their own questions and takes into the show.Plus we hand out our Guru and Fool of the race, debate the growing reliability issues in the new 2026 power units, and ask whether drivers like Max Verstappen are right to be frustrated with the new era of cars.Finally, we look ahead to Suzuka and the Japanese Grand Prix, where the big questions are:Can Mercedes continue their early dominance?Will the new hybrid power units keep causing reliability problems?And will Suzuka’s brutal layout expose the real strengths and weaknesses of these new cars?Two races in……and this season already feels unpredictable. 🏁Follow us for more: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook (search Formula Fools). Thanks for listening — and if you got a laugh or learned something, drop a 5-star rating and tell a mate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    47 mins
  • Australian GP Review: Welcome to the 2026 Chaos

    Australian GP Review: Welcome to the 2026 Chaos
    Mar 9 2026
    The 2026 Formula 1 season is officially underway, and if Melbourne told us anything… it’s that nobody fully understands these new cars yet.In this Formula Fools race review, David and Skin break down everything from the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix — including chaos, massive saves, unexpected pace, and a lot of confused drivers.Because while fans got a wild race… the drivers were not happy.Multiple drivers slammed the new regulations after the race.Max Verstappen called the cars “not fun to drive” and “anti-racing.”Meanwhile Lando Norris joked the grid had gone “from the best cars to the worst cars.”Why?The new 2026 power units.The internal combustion engine power has dropped massively, from around 738 HP in 2025 to roughly 536 HP in 2026, with the rest now coming from electric deployment.The problem is the battery is being drained down the straights.At Melbourne we saw cars hit around 308 km/h early on the straight… then drop to roughly 253 km/h by the braking zone while still flat out.That’s not a lift.That’s literally running out of power.Drivers like Oliver Bearman even said the overtake boost button was basically useless at this track compared to circuits like Bahrain.But from a fan perspective?The racing was wild.There were 120 overtakes compared to just 45 last year.And while some of it might feel slightly “manufactured,” it produced one hell of a season opener.We also break down the biggest talking points of the weekend:Mercedes look terrifyingGeorge Russell dominated the race with a cool, controlled performance from start to finish.And rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli backed it up with a huge P2 — showing Mercedes might have built another monster at the start of a new engine era.Ferrari’s speed… and strategyCharles Leclerc delivered some brilliant overtakes, while Lewis Hamilton surged from P7 to the front pack early.But once again Ferrari’s strategy decisions may have cost them a tighter fight at the front.Audi’s incredible debutThe new Audi F1 Team shocked the paddock.Q3 on debut.Points in their first race.For a brand-new works project, that’s an unbelievable start.And yes… Franco’s saveFranco Colapinto produced one of the saves of the weekend — the kind that instantly goes into the highlight reel.We also hand out our first Guru and Fool of the season, debate why some teams like Williams and Aston Martin still look lost, and ask whether Mercedes were sandbagging all weekend before unleashing the pace in the race.Finally, we look ahead to China and the next big questions:Does the new overtake mode work better on Shanghai’s massive straight?How chaotic will the first Sprint weekend of the new era be?And which teams already look fragile on reliability?The 2026 season is only one race old……but it already feels unpredictable.Follow us for more: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook (search Formula Fools). Thanks for listening — and if you got a laugh or learned something, drop a 5-star rating and tell a mate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr
  • Sergio Pérez: The Tyre Whisperer

    Sergio Pérez: The Tyre Whisperer
    Mar 4 2026

    In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the most fascinating careers of the modern grid: Sergio Pérez.


    Because Pérez’s résumé doesn’t follow the usual pattern.


    Six wins.

    Three poles.

    Thirty-nine podiums.


    That alone tells you something about how he races.


    David and Skin rewind to the beginning.


    From karting in Mexico to Skip Barber in the US at 14.

    From living above a restaurant in Germany while racing Formula BMW…

    To runner-up in GP2 in 2010.


    He earned his way into F1 with Sauber in 2011 and instantly built a reputation for something rare:


    Tyre management.


    He could make rubber last longer than anyone else. That became his calling card.


    In 2013 he joined McLaren — and no, he didn’t leave for Force India by choice. He was dropped after one season when McLaren reshuffled. That setback sent him to Force India in 2014.


    And that move saved his career.


    Force India/Racing Point became his home. In 2020 he finished 4th in the championship, dragged that car into podium fights, and delivered one of the wildest wins of the era.


    Bahrain 2020.


    Spun to last on lap one.

    Dead last.

    Wins the race.


    That’s not normal.


    Then came the Red Bull era alongside Max Verstappen.


    Two strong seasons. Key role in Constructors’ fights. Multiple wins. Monaco 2022.


    Then 2024 fell apart.


    The car evolved heavily around Verstappen’s ultra-sharp front end preference. Pérez struggled with the balance window. Confidence dipped. Qualifying gaps widened. And in modern F1, that spiral snowballs quickly.


    Off track? In 2018 he literally helped save his team by initiating legal action that pushed Force India into administration — allowing it to be rescued and continue racing.


    Most drivers save tyres.


    Checo saved a team.


    We break down what defines Pérez:


    • Elite tyre management
    • Street circuit mastery
    • Calm execution in chaotic races
    • Proven ability to support championship campaigns


    The big question now?


    Is there a late-career return… or is the legacy already written?


    Best case? Surprise comeback and one more big Sunday.

    Worst case? Career closes without a farewell race.

    Most likely? Remembered as the most successful Mexican driver in F1 history — a six-time winner who maximised every opportunity he was given.


    He wasn’t the loudest driver of his era.


    He was the smoothest.

    Follow us for more: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook (search Formula Fools). Thanks for listening — and if you got a laugh or learned something, drop a 5-star rating and tell a mate.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
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