This week on Two Soft Compounds, Rick is joined by motoring journalist and Formula One commentator Damien Reed to unpack a record-breaking Singapore Grand Prix — a night race that tested the limits of every driver under 60°C cockpit heat.

George Russell delivered a flawless weekend to take victory and crown Mercedes’ comeback, while Verstappen’s soft-tyre gamble and brake troubles kept Red Bull in damage control. The guys debate whether Singapore signals a genuine shift in momentum — and what it means as F1 heads toward Austin.

McLaren’s weekend was pure drama: a constructors’ title clinched amid tension between Norris and Piastri, on-track clashes, and a heated radio silence that could mark the start of an intra-team rivalry. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s frustration deepens, Alonso reminds everyone he’s still got it, and Lewis Hamilton’s brake failure sparks a fiery radio exchange and a lucky five-second penalty.

Plus, Rick and Damo spotlight rookie sensation Isack Hadjar, who continues to impress against veterans, and analyze how Mercedes, Red Bull, and McLaren are shaping up for the final run-in. As always, Nikki from @LightsOut delivers the stats that matter — from Russell’s record lap to Singapore’s first-ever race with no retirements and no safety cars.

All that and more, right here on Two Soft Compounds.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Rick Houghton
Studio Engineer & Editor: Roy D'Monte
Executive Producer: Ian Carless
Produced by: W4 Podcast Studio

This week on Two Soft Compounds, Rick and Paul set the stage for Singapore, where the championship battle could be blown wide open.

Max Verstappen looks unstoppable after back-to-back dominant weekends, even sneaking in a Ferrari GT3 win on his “time off.” Has Red Bull unlocked something that puts him firmly back in the title race? And what does that mean for McLaren, who are juggling a constructors’ title push, a messy London court case, and rising tensions between Norris and Piastri?

The guys also dive into Giancarlo Fisichella’s eyebrow-raising claim that Christian Horner and Flavio Briatore could team up at Alpine, and they don’t hold back on Stefano Domenicali’s controversial comments about F1 fans and sprint racing.

Elsewhere, Ferrari face fresh uncertainty: Charles Leclerc is rumored to be exploring options beyond Maranello, and Lewis Hamilton copes with personal loss as questions mount about his focus. Plus, could Yuki Tsunoda find a lifeline with Aston Martin?

With Nikki from @LightsOut bringing the stats that matter, Rick and Paul break down who could shine under the lights of Marina Bay, and whether Verstappen can finally conquer the only circuit he’s never won on.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Rick Houghton & Paul Velasco
Studio Engineer & Editor: Roy D'Monte
Executive Producer: Ian Carless
Produced by: W4 Podcast Studio & GrandPrix247

This week on Two Soft Compounds, Rick and Paul dive into Baku’s chaos, from six red flags in qualifying to Verstappen’s flawless grand slam, and debate whether McLaren’s nightmare weekend has reopened the title fight.

The streets of Baku delivered chaos in qualifying and domination in the race. Rick Hutton and Paul Velasco dive into a record-breaking six red flags, Oscar Piastri’s nightmare weekend, and McLaren’s puzzling strategy calls. From Carlos Sainz’s career-defining podium with Williams to George Russell’s gritty drive through illness, the guys unpack all the highs, lows, and head-scratchers of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

They debate Ferrari’s continued inconsistencies, Mercedes’ struggles to understand their car, and why Max Verstappen’s latest grand slam signals a frightening return to form. Plus: Leclerc’s Baku curse, Antonelli’s resilience under pressure, and a blunt take on Lewis Hamilton’s “art over cars” comment. With stats, strong opinions, and plenty of laughs, it’s another unfiltered look at the world of Formula One.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Rick Houghton & Paul Velasco
Studio Engineer & Editor: Roy D'Monte
Executive Producer: Ian Carless
Produced by: W4 Podcast Studio & GrandPrix247

This week on 2 Soft Compounds, Rick is joined by Jad Malek, Editor of GrandPrix247.com to unpack the latest paddock bombshells as Formula One races toward Baku.

Red Bull looks set to pair Max Verstappen with rising star Isack Hadjar in 2026, a bold move that could either ignite the rookie's career or crush it under the weight of expectation. But with a full regulatory reset looming, Rick argues it might be the perfect time to roll the dice!

And about those 2026 rules... the guys dive into what’s shaping up to be one of the most controversial technical shakeups in decades. Ground effect? Gone. DRS? Axed. In their place: active wings, narrower tyres, and a 50/50 electric-combustion split!

Meanwhile, Rick grits his teeth as Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari saga continues. Monza offered a flicker of optimism, but beneath the Tifosi’s cheers are real concerns. Fred Vasseur says they underestimated the challenge but Rick’s not buying the spin.

And finally, all eyes are on Baku as McLaren edges toward clinching the Constructors' title in record time. But with team orders stirring tension between Norris and Piastri, Jad breaks down whether this polite rivalry is headed for a spectacular collision.

We've got it all, right here on 2 Soft Compounds.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Rick Houghton & Paul Velasco
Studio Engineer & Editor: Roy D'Monte
Executive Producer: Ian Carless
Produced by: W4 Podcast Studio & GrandPrix247

This week on 2 Soft Compounds, Rick and Paul unpack the fastest Formula One race in history and the drama it delivered!

At the legendary Temple of Speed, Max Verstappen silenced the doubters with a vintage drive that saw him break the Monza lap record and reclaim the top step of the podium in dominant style.

Meanwhile, all eyes were on McLaren, for reasons beyond just raw pace. A pit stop blunder cost Lando Norris second place and gifted it to Oscar Piastri, prompting a rare intra-team position swap. But in a show of maturity and mutual respect, Piastri accepted the call without complaint. Rick and Paul dig into the psychology behind this unique teammate dynamic and what it means for the title race going forward.

Elsewhere, Ferrari floundered at home (again), while rookies Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar stole headlines with gutsy, points-paying drives in midfield machinery. With the European leg of the season behind us and Baku on the horizon, the guys also look ahead at how strategy, street circuits, and reliability could shake up the second half of the season.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Rick Houghton & Paul Velasco
Studio Engineer & Editor: Roy D'Monte
Executive Producer: Ian Carless
Produced by: W4 Podcast Studio & GrandPrix247

This week on 2 Soft Compounds, the Dutch Grand Prix delivered a script Hollywood wouldn’t dare write and Oscar Piastri nailed the lead role!

Plenty of stuff for Rick and Paul to dive into this week including the part of the script no-one saw coming as Lando Norris’ engine gave up the ghost, leaving him sitting trackside with a thousand-yard stare and a 34-point hole in the standings.

Elsewhere, the home favorite Max Verstappen acknowledged they were lucky to get second place. And the real shocker? Rookie Isaac Hadjar brought it home for his first F1 podium! Plus Alex Albon pulled off a stunning P15 to P5 comeback and Oliver Bearman basically said “undercut this” with a 53-lap opening stint from the pit lane to P6.

The guys also disect the disaster otherwise know as Ferrari! And Rick has a minor thrombi over Aston Martins Lance Stroll. No sitting on the fence in this podcast! And as as we barrel toward the high-speed theatre of Monza, engine reliability and team harmony might still shake up this title fight for McLaren.

Subscribe now and don’t miss a moment - this championship script is still being written and anything can happen.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Rick Houghton & Paul Velasco
Studio Engineer & Editor: Roy D'Monte
Executive Producer: Ian Carless
Produced by: W4 Podcast Studio & GrandPrix247

Genltemen, Start Your Engines: Will The Gloves Come Off At Zandvoort?

This week on 2 Soft Compounds, Formula 1 roars back from the summer break and Rick and Paul kick off by discussing whether McLaren’s drivers are about to go from mates to mortal rivals.

With Oscar Piastri holding a slender nine-point lead over Lando Norris, the guys dive into one of the most intense intra-team title fights in years. Respectful? For now. But with ten races left, how long before gloves hit the tarmac?

The guys also take a look at Max Verstappen who returns to Zandvoort under massive pressure. Red Bull’s early-season dominance has evaporated, and with a 97-point gap to Piastri, the reigning champ needs more than home advantage to keep his hopes alive. Can Max deliver, or is this officially McLaren’s world now?

Plus, the lads unpack Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari struggles after a rocky first half, Cadillac’s driver lineup announcement, Williams’ quiet pivot to 2026, and growing uncertainty over Alpine’s future.

It’s all brewing into a blockbuster run-in - where friendships, contracts, and championship dreams are all on the line.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Rick Houghton & Paul Velasco
Studio Engineer & Editor: Roy D'Monte
Executive Producer: Ian Carless
Produced by: W4 Podcast Studio & GrandPrix247

X-Mode Engaged: F1’s Future, Cadillac’s Big Bet & the Great Hamilton Pushback

This week on 2 Soft Compounds, Rick and Paul take the plunge into F1’s radical 2026 rule shakeup - and let’s just say, not everyone’s loving it!

With DRS gone, ground effect binned and the rise of switchable aero modes (Z for corners, X for straights), we’re entering a brave new world of active wings and equal parts electric and combustion. Rick & Paul debate whether this is the future of racing or just a glorified slot car series, especially with Lando Norris branding the regs “gimmicky.”

The guys also dig into Cadillac’s full-throttle entry into F1 - including that jaw-dropping $450 million anti-dilution fee and Ferrari engines to start. Paul makes the case for a solid, no-nonsense driver pairing like Perez and Bottas to steer this expensive ship through its early years. It's America’s latest swing at F1 stardom - will it stick this time?

Plus, there's juicy paddock gossip about unrest at Ferrari surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s arrival, questions about his future after cryptic comments and a look at Daniel Ricciardo’s latest setback. Oh, and spoiler alert: McLaren still look unstoppable heading into the second half of the season.

It’s a packed episode filled with controversy, change, and speculation - just the way we like it. Hit play and join the chaos.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Rick Houghton & Paul Velasco
Studio Engineer & Editor: Roy D'Monte
Executive Producer: Ian Carless
Produced by: W4 Podcast Studio & GrandPrix247