Episode notes
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?
F1: Chequered Flag
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
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20 Aug 2026 · 55 min
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13 Aug 2026 · 30 min
Drifting Ferraris, Kimi Raikkonen Pranks and Supercar Collections
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?
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31 Jul 2026 · 27 min
Chequered Flag Extra: School’s out for summer
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26 Jul 2026 · 41 min
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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.
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25 Jul 2026 · 23 min
Hungarian GP Quali Review: Penalties & Surprises in Budapest
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.
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8 Oct 2026 · 58 minNew
Singapore GP Preview: Software, Sprints & Penalties
Will George Russell be able to recover from the back of the grid in Singapore? The fallout from the software issues in Malaysia continue. Can Max Verstappen keep up his winning form? And what do we make of Singapore being a sprint weekend? Harry Benjamin, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson look ahead to the Singapore Grand Prix. We hear from Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Plus, when will Kimi Antonelli wrap up the drivers’ title? And Harry puts Andrew and Jolyon through their paces with an F1 equivalent of Mastermind.
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3 Oct 2026 · 25 min
Bahrain GP in Malaysia Quali Review: Verstappen v Hamilton Reignited?
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?
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30 Sep 2026 · 50 min
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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.
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