Podcast · Sport
by BBC Radio 5 Live · English · Sport
F1 Chequered Flag from the BBC offers expert analysis of every F1 race, with exclusive insight into every twist and turn of the F1 season. Each episode brings you in-depth race reviews, breaking down the strategies that shape each Grand Prix and the key players making headlines. Hear from F1 stars l
4 Oct 2026 · 37 min
Could Max Verstappen take his first win of the season or would Kimi Antonelli and George Russell fight back in a dramatic race in Malaysia? Harry Benjamin, British racing driver Sam Bird and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson sum up the delays and drama at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
3 Oct 2026 · 25 min
Will we get a repeat of Max Verstappen & Lewis Hamilton’s epic 2021 battle into turn one at Sepang? Harry Benjamin is joined by British racing driver Sam Bird and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson to reflect on qualifying at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The team also analyse the performance of title rivals Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Who will take the vital advantage going into Sunday’s race?
30 Sep 2026 · 50 min
Can Kimi Antonelli bounce back from his Baku blip or is George Russell still in the title fight? Harry Benjamin, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson look ahead to the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The team discuss why the race is happening, and why Sepang is a driver favourite. Plus, Harry speaks with Oscar Piastri about his McLaren struggles this season and why the new rules have meant he has had to adjust his driving style.
26 Sep 2026 · 47 min
Has George Russell rediscovered his mojo after a lights-to-flag victory in Baku? Rosanna Tennant is joined by Marc Priestley and Harry Benjamin to reflect on the race and Russell’s impressive performance. Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel is also on the pod to give his take on the day. Plus, we hear from Russell, Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli.
25 Sep 2026 · 25 min
Can George Russell convert pole into his first race win since June? Marc Priestley and Harry Benjamin join Rosanna Tennant as Russell put in a near-perfect lap while Kimi Antonelli crashed out in Q1. We hear from both Mercedes drivers, as well as Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri, who start second and third respectively.
23 Sep 2026 · 47 min
Can Kimi Antonelli extend his championship lead as F1 heads to Baku this weekend? Rosanna Tennant is joined by Harry Benjamin and Marc Priestley to look ahead to a race that is expected to suit Mercedes. They discuss the relationship between the young Italian and his race engineer, Pete Bonnington, and hear from Kimi about how that partnership is developing. We also hear from Lando Norris, who remains firm in his belief that the VSC is having too much influence on the outcome of races. Plus, Arvid Lindblad joins the pod for his regular catch-up with Harry.
17 Sep 2026 · 28 min
Harry Benjamin and Becky Evans give you a flavour from Silverstone as Max Verstappen attempts to overtake 100 go-karters at a special exhibition event. One of the 100 karters is our very own, Becky Evans! What would her strategy be against Verstappen? Harry speaks with the four-time world champion about this unique challenge, plus he chats with Red Bull performance engineer, Richard Cooke, and some of the other competitors including streamer, Pie Face, and professional mountain bike rider, Matt Jones.
13 Sep 2026 · 38 min
Harry Benjamin, Alice Powell and Rebecca Clancy assess the twists and turns of the Spanish GP as the virtual safety car plays a vital part, leading to contrasting fortunes for Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris. The team also praise Max Verstappen, question George Russell’s strategy and ask if the new Madring circuit was a success.
12 Sep 2026 · 25 min
Harry Benjamin and Alice Powell review the first qualifying session at the brand-new Madring ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. They assess how Lando Norris, Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen handled the challenge of Formula 1's newest circuit. Could Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton bounce back after a disappointing race in Italy? Plus, with tyre strategy, overtaking and the crucial opening lap all in focus, what can we expect from Sunday’s race?
11 Sep 2026 · 27 min
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen sits down for an exclusive chat with the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson. The Red Bull driver talks about why he extended his contract, his discussions with McLaren, his stunning appearance at the Nurburgring 24 Hours in May, and the new Formula 1 engine rules.
10 Sep 2026 · 41 min
The Chequered Flag team are in Madrid for Formula 1’s first race at its brand-new circuit. Jennie Gow is joined by the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson and former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer to assess Kimi Antonelli’s remarkable momentum, George Russell’s fight to recover his season and Ferrari’s growing tensions. Plus, Andrew sits down with Max Verstappen to discuss his decision to remain with Red Bull.
6 Sep 2026 · 32 min
Harry Benjamin, British racing driver Alex Lynn and F1 journalist Rebecca Clancy look back on a dramatic Italian Grand Prix, from Kimi Antonelli’s extraordinary challenge from the back of the grid to George Russell’s fight for victory. They examine Ferrari’s difficult home race, Max Verstappen’s pace, McLaren’s tense intra-team battle and what the championship picture means heading to Madrid’s brand-new circuit.
5 Sep 2026 · 24 min
What would happen in one of the most anticipated qualifying sessions of the season? The historic Monza took centre stage on qualifying day at the Italian Grand Prix. Would the passionate tifosi be delighted with a Ferrari pole for Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc? With Kimi Antonelli taking a grid penalty, could George Russell capitalise and make ground up in the championship race? Or would we be in for a huge shock? Harry Benjamin is joined by F1 journalist Rebecca Clancy and British racing driver Alex Lynn to look back on a dramatic session, plus hear from the key protagonists.
3 Sep 2026 · 30 min
Formula 1 heads to Monza, where the Tifosi are dreaming of a Ferrari victory and Italian championship leader Kimi Antonelli faces a charge from the back of the grid. Jolyon Palmer and Andrew Benson join Harry Benjamin to assess Mercedes’ title opportunity, Lewis Hamilton’s hopes of a first Ferrari win on home turf, McLaren’s remarkable form and Lando Norris’s new long-term deal. Andrew sits down for a chat with the world champion and we discuss whether Red Bull and Max Verstappen can compete at the front this weekend.
27 Aug 2026 · 30 min
As championship leader Kimi Antonelli and the rest of F1 head to Monza, Harry Benjamin and Nicola Hume are here to investigate why the Italian has cause for concern. Off the back of Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson’s stand-in success in Zandvoort, they also revisit the most memorable F1 super subs, from the sublime to the ridiculous. Nicola puts Harry on the spot with her Formula 1 or Formula Fun facts - which are true and which are fake? Plus, have the Backstreet Boys nailed the perfect driver boyband line-up?
23 Aug 2026 · 38 min
Was Kimi Antonelli the weekend’s biggest winner? Lando Norris took the victory, but it was the Mercedes driver who extended his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings after finishing second. Jennie Gow is joined by Marc Priestley and Kai Bachini to look back on a busy race at Zandvoort. Plus, we hear from Norris, Antonelli and George Russell.
22 Aug 2026 · 27 min
Can George Russell build on a hugely positive day in Zandvoort? After winning the sprint, he was narrowly beaten to pole by Lando Norris in qualifying. Kai Bachini and Marc Priestley reflect on a busy day at the Dutch Grand Prix and hear from both British drivers, as well as Kimi Antonelli, who starts tomorrow’s race in third.
20 Aug 2026 · 55 min
Will Kimi Antonelli extend his championship lead as he chases a first Drivers’ World Championship, or can the chasing pack reel him in? Jennie Gow is joined by Marc Priestley and Kai Bachini to look ahead to the second half of the season. But first, they react to the news that Max Verstappen has signed a new Red Bull contract that will keep him with the team until the end of 2030. Andrew Benson joins from the circuit and we hear from Max himself. They also discuss what to expect from Liam Lawson as he makes his return to Red Bull. Plus, hear how one 12-year-old boy’s dream became a reality!
13 Aug 2026 · 30 min
As the summer break nears its end, Harry Benjamin and Becky Evans debate whether more sprint weekends should be added to the F1 calendar and look ahead to the final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Will it be missed? Becky also explains what it was like to drift an 850bhp Ferrari, before the pair imagine which F1 drivers would thrive in alternative driving roles and judge the remarkable, and more ordinary, road cars owned across the grid. Plus, how did former F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen catch out Becky Evans in front of 50,000 people?
6 Aug 2026 · 44 min
Harry Benjamin reflects on the first half of the season - school parents evening style! Accompanied by classroom favourite, former British racing driver Alice Powell, and the feared and revered BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson. Who has been the A* driver so far this year? Who must do better and who will be most improved in the second half of the campaign?
31 Jul 2026 · 27 min
Harry Benjamin and Nicola Hume dive into F1’s silly season, debating Max Verstappen’s future. Could the four-time world champion leave Red Bull, and if so, where? How would this impact other driver-market moves? Plus, what do the drivers get up to in the summer break… using our own imagination of course. And we analyse Toto Wolff’s “Teletubbies” comment by asking the important question - which driver would be which Teletubby?
26 Jul 2026 · 41 min
Harry Benjamin, Jennie Gow, British racing driver Alice Powell and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson react to an action-packed Hungarian GP. Lando Norris started on pole. Could he convert that to victory? Ferrari looked like the favourites coming into the weekend. Could they deliver on their promise heading into race-day? And what about championship leader Kimi Antonelli and his Mercedes team? The team dissect it all plus hear from the key drivers, including Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen.
25 Jul 2026 · 23 min
Harry Benjamin and British racing driver Alice Powell react to a dramatic qualifying at the Hungarian GP. Who would take pole position? Could Mercedes continue their domination, or would Ferrari deliver on their potential? Plus, post-qualifying penalties dominate the agenda. And Jennie Gow speaks with some of the main protagonists.
23 Jul 2026 · 57 min
F1 has its last outing before the summer break. Kimi Antonelli is the in-form driver following his victory in Belgium. He leads the drivers’ championship by 45 points. Can anyone stop him? Lewis Hamilton had a chaotic race at Spa, but could the Ferrari have strong pace this weekend, and could the seven-time champion challenge for victory and continue his title challenge? Jennie Gow is joined by the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson as well as F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling and W Series race-winner Alice Powell to look ahead to the weekend. Plus, Harry Benjamin sits down with Carlos…
19 Jul 2026 · 33 min
Could Mercedes have experienced two more contrasting races? Kimi Antonelli claimed his sixth victory of the season to extend his championship lead over Lewis Hamilton to 45 points, while George Russell's afternoon was over before he'd even completed the opening lap. Harry Benjamin, Sam Bird and Rebecca Clancy look back on a dramatic race and assess what it means for the title fight. They hear from race winner Antonelli, a frustrated Russell after his early retirement, and second-placed Charles Leclerc.
18 Jul 2026 · 16 min
Can Kimi Antonelli convert pole position into his sixth win of the season? The Italian edged out Charles Leclerc in a thrilling qualifying session at Spa, with Lando Norris setting the third-fastest time, but a 10-place grid penalty will see him start from 13th. We hear from the top three and look ahead to the race.
16 Jul 2026 · 43 min
Why won't the Max Verstappen rumours go away? And is F1 really considering bringing back mid-race refuelling? Andrew Benson, Harry Benjamin and Jolyon Palmer get stuck into those topics and more as they look ahead to the Belgian Grand Prix. They also hear from Oscar Piastri, who says there's still belief at McLaren that they can turn their season around. Plus, should Formula 1 come up with a solution to stop races finishing behind the safety car?
10 Jul 2026 · 24 min
Do we believe Oscar Piastri when he says McLaren can fight for this year's world championship? Harry and Becky are at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where they catch up with the McLaren driver to discuss the title race and the rumours linking Max Verstappen with a move to Woking. They're also joined by Alisha Palmowski, fresh from her F1 Academy victory at Silverstone, and debate whether Formula 1 should consider alternatives to prevent races from finishing behind the safety car.
5 Jul 2026 · 31 min
In this special edition of the pod, Damon Hill joins Rosanna Tennant and Harry Benjamin live on stage at Silverstone to reflect on a thrilling British Grand Prix in front of a packed audience. Charles Leclerc claimed his first victory in almost two years after Kimi Antonelli's race was compromised by a wheel failure, meaning Ferrari have now won two of the last three Grands Prix. We hear from Leclerc, and the team also unpick the confusion that unfolded in the closing laps as the race finished behind the safety car.
4 Jul 2026 · 28 min
Is there any stopping Kimi Antonelli? The young Italian followed up his Sprint victory by taking pole position for Sunday's Grand Prix. Rosanna Tennant is joined by Harry Benjamin and Andrew Benson to look back on a busy day at Silverstone. They hear from Antonelli, as well as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
F1 Chequered Flag from the BBC offers expert analysis of every F1 race, with exclusive insight into every twist and turn of the F1 season. Each episode brings you in-depth race reviews, breaking down the strategies that shape each Grand Prix and the key players making headlines. Hear from F1 stars like Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris and the bosses of powerhouse teams like Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren. Plus keep up to speed on the cars and tactics changing the game. Stay tuned for the latest F1 updates, straight from the track. F1 Chequered Flag: Home of Formula 1. Subscribe for the latest F1 updates, straight from the track.
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