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

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