This one’s a little different.

A special Formula Fools throwback episode — part collaboration with We Got The Chocolates, part deep dive into the chaos that is the 2026 regulations.

Because before we even got to Melbourne… we thought we knew what was coming.

We didn’t.

In this episode, you’ll hear a segment from our collab with the Chocs crew — breaking down our Australian GP trip, answering Lee’s questions as a newer fan, and (importantly) exposing just how wrong we were about teams like Williams and Aston Martin heading into 2026.

Then we rewind.

Back to mid-2025 — when the regs were still just theory, hype, and optimism.

This is our original breakdown of what 2026 should have been.

And honestly… it hits very differently now.

⸻

Because on paper, the 2026 regulations sounded like exactly what Formula 1 needed:

• Smaller, lighter cars
• Less drag, less dirty air
• New active aero (goodbye DRS… hello X-mode & Z-mode)
• A massive shift to hybrid power — nearly 50/50 electric and combustion
• Fully sustainable fuels
• A complete reset of the competitive order

It was pitched as the biggest shake-up since the turbo-hybrid era in 2014.

A proper reset button.

⸻

So in this episode, David and Skin break it all down in proper “Fools” fashion:

The Big Changes

• Why the cars are getting smaller, lighter, and (hopefully) better to race
• What the new active aero actually means — and why it’s basically DRS in disguise
• The new manual battery boost system (hello KERS 2.0)
• Why energy management is about to become one of the biggest skills in F1

The Engine Shift

• The removal of the MGU-H
• A much bigger MGU-K (aka way more electric power)
• Why drivers might have less power at the end of straights
• And how all of this could completely change how races are fought

The Bigger Picture

• Why F1 is going all-in on 100% sustainable fuels
• How this could actually impact road cars worldwide
• And why this regulation cycle is about more than just racing — it’s about relevance

⸻

But the real fun of this episode?

Hearing what we thought would happen…

…compared to what actually happened in Melbourne.

Because this was recorded when:

• Williams were apparently building a future title-winning car
• Aston Martin looked like a serious threat
• And everyone thought they’d nailed the regs

Fast forward a few races…

…and yeah.

Not quite.

⸻

This is Formula Fools at its core:

Learning the sport

Getting things wrong

Figuring it out together

…and having a laugh while we do it.

If you’ve ever wondered why F1 changes its rules, how these cars actually work, or why every new era starts with chaos — this is the episode for you.

And if nothing else…

…it proves one thing:

No one knows anything.

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.

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.

In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the most quietly successful careers of the modern era: Valtteri Bottas.

Because Bottas is one of those drivers history might undersell.

But the numbers don’t.

10 wins.

67 podiums.

20 pole positions.

Multiple runner-up finishes in the World Championship.

That’s not average. That’s elite.

David and Skin rewind to the early days.

Back-to-back Formula Renault Eurocup champion.

Dominant junior reputation.

Signed by Williams for 2013.

And no — he didn’t jump straight from F3 to F1. He spent 2012 as a Williams test driver before racing full-time in 2013.

By 2014? He finished 4th in the Drivers’ Championship… in a Williams. In the first year of the turbo-hybrid era.

That wasn’t luck. That was consistency and ruthless podium collecting.

Then came the big moment.

Nico Rosberg retires.

Mercedes need a replacement.

Bottas gets the call.

He walks into the most dominant car era… next to Lewis Hamilton.

And here’s the thing.

2018 wasn’t “bad” — it was brutal circumstance. The Mercedes was good, yes, but Hamilton hit another level, and Bottas had multiple wins slip through strategy calls and late-race incidents. He finished winless, but not slow.

Then 2019 and 2020?

Runner-up in the championship twice.

He proved the pace was real.

He just lived his prime next to a seven-time champion.

After Mercedes, he moved to Sauber/Alfa Romeo, becoming a pillar for the Audi transition — steady, professional, consistent. The Audi dream project shifted direction heading into 2026, and Bottas wasn’t retained for the race seat as the long-term reset accelerated.

Off track? The “BottASS” charity campaign completely flipped his public image. Leaning into humour, cycling culture, and personality — a reminder that the quiet Finn had layers.

We break down what defines Bottas:

• Elite one-lap speed
• Structured, methodical race craft
• Team-first mentality
• Mental toughness from being Hamilton’s teammate

The big question?

Does he get a late-career return — or is the legacy already complete?

Best case? Surprise comeback in a mentoring role for a developing project.

Worst case? Career fades without a farewell.

Most likely? Remembered as one of the most successful supporting drivers of the hybrid era — the calm enabler behind a championship dynasty.

He wasn’t slow.

He was just racing one of the greatest of all time.

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.

In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack the youngest gun on the 2026 grid: Arvid Lindblad.

Because not many 18-year-olds walk into Formula 1 with a timeline they predicted themselves.

In 2021, a 14-year-old Lindblad told Lando Norris:

“Remember me. I’ll see you in five years.”

Five years later — he’s on the grid.

That’s not manifestation. That’s planning.

David and Skin rewind to why Red Bull didn’t care that he “only” finished 6th in F2.

Because the headline stat isn’t the whole story.

Before F2, Lindblad:

• Dominated British karting
• Won the WSK Super Master Series (OKJ)
• Took WSK Euro Series and Final Cup titles
• Joined the Red Bull Junior Team at just 13 years old

This isn’t a late bloomer. This is a long-term project.

And the reason he got the seat over guys who finished ahead of him?

Ceiling.

Red Bull don’t just promote championship positions — they promote potential. Raw pace. Adaptability. The ability to handle pressure early.

Lindblad has been trusted with TPC runs, FP1 sessions, and serious simulator work before even starting a Grand Prix.

That’s internal belief.

By 2026, he lines up for Racing Bulls — officially stepping into the Red Bull pipeline spotlight.

We break down what makes Lindblad different:

• Fearless self-belief (he’s been calling this since he was a kid)
• Elite karting foundation
• Early Red Bull backing
• Big-moment confidence

The obvious question?

Can he translate junior pace into week-in, week-out F1 performance with the world watching?

Best case? He smashes the rookie year and instantly becomes a long-term Racing Bulls leader.

Worst case? The step up is brutal and adaptation takes longer than Red Bull patience allows.

Most likely? Flashes of ridiculous speed, a few rough weekends, and a season that screams “future weapon in development.”

He didn’t arrive by accident.

He said he’d be here.

And now he has to prove why.

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.

In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the grid’s fastest-rising young names: Franco Colapinto.

Because Colapinto’s F1 story so far hasn’t been a straight line.

It’s been opportunity.

Drafted mid-season.

Thrown into FP1.

Called up again.

Moved teams.

Confirmed for 2026.

He just keeps getting the call.

David and Skin rewind to why that’s not random.

Franco left Argentina young and built his career in Europe — no comfort zone, no local-only ladder. He climbed properly.

• Spanish F4 Champion
• Strong progression through FIA Formula 3
• FIA Formula 2 development with academy backing
• Joined the Williams Driver Academy in 2023

And then it accelerated.

Silverstone FP1 in 2024.

Mid-season F1 debut with Williams.

Then another call-up at Alpine.

Then confirmation for 2026.

Teams don’t keep doing that unless you’re quick — and calm under pressure.

Off track? In 2024 he won Argentina’s Olimpia de Oro, the country’s top national sports award.

That’s not a niche motorsport trophy.

That’s your whole country saying: “You’re the one.”

By 2026, he’s part of BWT Alpine Formula One Team — not as a one-race substitute, but as a confirmed driver trying to convert opportunity into permanence.

We break down what defines Colapinto right now:

• Rapid adaptability
• Composure when thrown into chaotic situations
• A proven ability to seize limited chances
• Raw pace that keeps him inside academy conversations

The big question?

Can he turn moments into consistency?

Best case? Alpine take a step forward and Franco becomes a steady points scorer with the odd headline weekend.

Worst case? The car stays tough and he spends 2026 fighting just to justify the seat.

Most likely? A growth year — flashes of real quality, more confidence, and a push to turn “the guy who got the call” into “the guy who stayed.”

He’s not here because of one lucky break.

He’s here because every time he’s been thrown in… he’s handled it.

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.

In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the most hyped young talents on the grid: Gabriel Bortoleto.

Because not all junior résumés are built the same.

Some drivers win races.

Some win championships.

Bortoleto won back-to-back FIA titles as a rookie.

2023 — FIA Formula 3 Champion (rookie).

2024 — FIA Formula 2 Champion (rookie).

That’s rare air.

David and Skin rewind to how a Brazilian kid built his career through Europe rather than staying local — aggressive planning, stacked grids, and zero shortcuts.

He didn’t just scrape titles either.

He won them calmly. Strategically. Clinically.

Full-season control. Tyre management. Championship composure.

That’s why teams paid attention.

And when Fernando Alonso — yes, that Fernando Alonso — backs you through his A14 management company and publicly calls you one of the most complete young drivers he’s seen?

That hits different.

By 2025 he’s in F1 with Sauber.

By 2026 he’s part of the full works transformation into the Audi F1 Team.

And that changes the conversation.

He’s not a placeholder.

He’s part of a foundation.

We break down what makes Bortoleto dangerous:

• Championship temperament across full seasons
• Intelligent race management
• Rookie-year dominance under pressure
• A smooth driving style suited to long-term development

The real question now?

Can junior dominance translate into F1 consistency while Audi build their new-era project?

Best case? Audi rise quickly and Bortoleto becomes their long-term spearhead.

Worst case? The project takes too long and momentum stalls.

Most likely? Steady development through 2026, flashes of real quality, and a reputation growing quietly behind the scenes.

Brazil has been waiting for its next front-running star.

Audi might be betting they’ve just signed him.

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.