F1Weekly Podcast # 1173

ON TODAYS PROGRAM…

MERCEDES CROWNED WORLD CHAMPIONS

NORRIS WINS IN A FAST MCLAREN

MAX DOES WHATY HE DOES

OCON WAS REALLY JUST AZ PAIN IN THE ASS!

 

THIS WEEK'S NASIR HAMEED CORNER... HISTORY OF THE HUNGARIAN GP, WE HAVE AN INTERVIEW WITH FORMER F1 DRIVER JJ LEHTO, BRAZIL GP TRIVIA…

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LANDO...

"It was a very tough race, very, very tough," said Norris. "Obviously, not the best of launches off the line, but a lot of challenges today, obviously with the conditions. Going onto slicks in the wet is always tough, especially when you're pushing for the lead and trying to catch up a little bit. So the main thing today was I just kept it cool and I didn't make any mistakes. And I had the pace when I needed to. So it was good. Nice to be back on the top step, and what a place to do it as well.

Verstappen and Hadjar second and third in Brazilian Grand Prix!

Oracle Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen delivered one of the drives of the 2026 F1 season to power through the field from 21st place on the grid to finish second in the Brazilian Grand Prix as team-mate Isack Hadjar joined him on the podium at Interlagos on a superb day for the team.

After replacing the power unit in his RB22 prior to a rain-lashed qualifying session on Saturday, Verstappen knew he would be starting the Grand Prix from the back of the grid in 21st position. The Dutchman has a history of delivering special drives at the historic Brazilian circuit however, and today was no exception.

As the Grand Prix started on a damp track following earlier rain, Verstappen scythed through the field. By end of Lap 1, he was already in P13 and continued overtaking rivals to advance to P8 by the end of Lap 5 and then second place once the pit stop strategies took effect and newly minted world champion Kimi Antontelli spun his Mercedes.

A late rain shower created a difficult finale to the Grand Prix, but Vertsappen avoided any issues to secure the runner-up position behind dominant race winner Lando Norris of McLaren.

One spot behind Verstappen was team-mate Isack Hadjar, who capitalised on a fifth place grid start and drove another strong and smart race in stressful conditions to secure his third podium finish of the season, after third places in Monaco and Azerbaijan, and secure the double podium for Oracle Red Bull Racing.

After starting from third place on the grid after driving brilliantly in the downpours of Saturday's qualifying, Visa Cash App RB's Liam Lawson wasn't able to mount a podium challenge, but was rewarded with a good points haul for his efforts after coming home in eighth place.

His team-mate Arvid Lindblad didn't enjoy a great qualifying session, but drove a fighting race in the Grand Prix and only just missed the points in 11th place.

QUOTES

Oracle Red Bull Racing

MAX VERSTAPPEN – 2nd

"Starting P21 and making our way up to P2 was a crazy result! We had a lot of fun in the first stint, with great pace and quite a few overtakes, so I was really happy with that. When we switched to slicks, we struggled with a lot of oversteer, which made the car difficult to drive, so I felt there was potentially more in it. Once we switched back to the intermediates, things improved again. 

"To finish second here is fantastic. Hopefully, next year we can start a bit further up the grid, but racing in the wet always gives you more opportunities and that certainly helped us today. We scored some important points for the team in the Constructors’ Championship, so we need to keep pushing, learn from this weekend and carry that momentum into the remaining races."

ISACK HADJAR – 3rd

"It was such a demanding race, with incredib