F1: Chequered Flag
BBC
Your go-to destination for Formula 1 news, interviews and reactions.
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. And get up to speed on the cars and tactics changing the game.
Coming up this season: what will it take for Max Verstappen to win his fifth consecutive world title? Can McLaren retain their lead from the 2024 Constructors Championship? Will Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris take the lead, the two McLaren team-mates turned rivals? How will Lewis Hamilton perform after his shock switch to Ferrari? And what can we expect from this season’s rookie drivers, Oliver Bearman, Kimi Antonelli, Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar and Gabriel Bortoleto?
Stay tuned for the latest F1 updates, straight from the track.
Location:
London, United Kingdom
Genres:
Sports & Recreation Podcasts
Networks:
BBC
Description:
Your go-to destination for Formula 1 news, interviews and reactions. 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. And get up to speed on the cars and tactics changing the game. Coming up this season: what will it take for Max Verstappen to win his fifth consecutive world title? Can McLaren retain their lead from the 2024 Constructors Championship? Will Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris take the lead, the two McLaren team-mates turned rivals? How will Lewis Hamilton perform after his shock switch to Ferrari? And what can we expect from this season’s rookie drivers, Oliver Bearman, Kimi Antonelli, Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar and Gabriel Bortoleto? Stay tuned for the latest F1 updates, straight from the track.
Language:
English
Episodes
Chequered Flag Extra: Steiner, Verstappen & Will Cadillac Be Competitive?
4/24/2025
Special guest, former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner, speaks with Harry Benjamin about his career. Harry is also joined by the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson to talk more about Max Verstappen’s Saudi Arabian GP penalty and the fallout from that. Plus, Harry and Andrew discuss Audi’s F1 chances and whether Cadillac will be competitive.
Duration:00:38:38
Saudi Arabian Grand review
4/20/2025
Harry, Sam and Andrew look back at the race in Jeddah that saw Oscar Piastri win his third race of the season. We hear from the McLaren driver who now leads the championship, as well as Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
Duration:00:41:30
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix qualifying review
4/19/2025
Harry Benjamin, Sam Bird and Andrew Benson look back at qualifying from Jeddah as Max Verstappen claimed pole and Lando Norris crashed out. We hear from both drivers, as well as Oscar Piastri and George Russell.
Duration:00:29:54
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix preview
4/18/2025
Abbi Pulling and Andrew Benson join Harry to preview the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, diving into the intra-team dynamics at McLaren as both drivers battle for the championship title. We hear from both drivers and Max Verstappen, whose future at Red Bull is under growing scrutiny.
Duration:00:53:10
Bahrain Grand Prix review
4/13/2025
Harry, Andrew and Marc look back at Oscar Piastri's lights to flag win in Bahrain. What happened to Lando Norris? And are we now seeing the true performance of the Red Bulls? We hear from the top three, as well as Max Verstappen.
Duration:00:38:50
Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying review
4/12/2025
Harry, Andrew and Marc look back at qualifying from Bahrain. They ask what happened to Lando Norris who could only manage sixth, and hear from the top three, as well as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
Duration:00:30:43
Bahrain Grand Prix preview
4/10/2025
Andrew, Harry and Jennie are back to look ahead to events in Bahrain this weekend. They ask what have we learnt from the first three races of the season and hear from Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri. And Andrew brings us up to date with what is happening at the FIA after a bumpy few days for the governing body.
Duration:00:39:26
Japanese Grand Prix Review
4/6/2025
Harry Benjamin, Jennie Gow and British racing driver Alice Powell reflect on the Japanese Grand Prix. The team discuss Max Verstappen’s brilliant drive, McLaren’s strategy, plus hear from the top three as well as Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda.
Duration:00:37:59
Japanese Grand Prix Qualifying Review
4/5/2025
Harry Benjamin and British racing driver Alice Powell react to qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix. Hear from Max Verstappen after he delivered a stunning lap to secure a surprise pole position. Plus, we discuss McLaren’s chances in the race from second and third, Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari struggles at Suzuka, Isack Hadjar’s seatbelt issues, and Yuki Tsunoda’s disappointment following his first qualifying session with Red Bull at his home race.
Duration:00:28:21
Japanese Grand Prix Preview
4/3/2025
Eleanor Oldroyd, BBC F1’s Jennie Gow and former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley look ahead to the Japanese Grand Prix. The team also discuss Red Bull’s latest driver swap, where Yuki Tsunoda replaces Liam Lawson just two races into the season. Harry Benjamin sits down with Tsunoda ahead of his home race, and we also hear from former Haas boss Guenther Steiner and former Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari on the situation. Plus, Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton give their thoughts ahead of the third round at Suzuka.
Duration:00:53:05
Back At Base S2: Bonus 1. Inside The Championship
3/26/2025
With two race wins from two at the start of the 2025 F1 season, McLaren couldn’t have got off to a better start in the defence of their constructors’ world title. So what better time to look back on exactly how they achieved that success in 2024? In this bonus episode of F1: Back at Base - How To Go Racing, Holly Samos and Sarah Holt take you behind the scenes at McLaren as they finally became World Champions again after a 26-year wait. McLaren are one of the most decorated teams in F1, winning 21 World titles in total, and in this bonus episode hear exclusive interviews with Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Andrea Stella, Zak Brown, and more insight from those driving the championship from inside the McLaren Technology Centre and how they plan to do it all again in 2025 and beyond.
Duration:00:43:11
Chinese Grand Prix Review
3/23/2025
Harry Benjamin, McLaren Formula E driver Sam Bird and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson react to Oscar Piastri’s win at the Chinese Grand Prix. The team discuss team orders at McLaren, hearing from both drivers. We also hear from George Russell, talk about Ferrari and get the thoughts of Max Verstappen on Red Bull’s struggles.
Duration:00:43:13
Chinese Grand Prix Sprint & Qualifying Review
3/22/2025
Harry Benjamin is joined by McLaren Formula E driver Sam Bird and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson to reflect on Lewis Hamilton’s sprint win at the Chinese Grand Prix – his first victory as a Ferrari driver. We also look ahead to Sunday’s race where Oscar Piastri starts on pole position – his first for a grand prix in his career. Hear from Piastri and team-mate Lando Norris, as well as Mercedes’ George Russell.
Duration:00:32:04
Chinese Grand Prix Preview
3/21/2025
Harry Benjamin is joined by racing driver Alice Powell and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson to react to sprint qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix, plus look ahead to the weekend’s action. We hear from Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who took a surprise pole position for Saturday’s sprint, as well as McLaren’s Lando Norris and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Duration:00:33:02
Eddie Jordan Tribute
3/20/2025
The F1: Chequered Flag team pay tribute to Eddie Jordan, who has died at the age of 76. Mark Gallagher, who was part of the management board at Jordan Grand Prix, and Gary Anderson, who designed the very first Jordan Grand Prix car, join Harry Benjamin and BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson. One of the most flamboyant characters in the sport, Jordan achieved rare success as an independent team owner, winning four grand prix between 1991 and 2005. He later became a television pundit, where he was known for his outspoken views and ability to break major news stories.
Duration:00:38:18
Australian Grand Prix Review
3/16/2025
Have McLaren set a marker for the season? Former mechanic Marc Priestley and commentator Harry Benjamin join Rosanna Tennant to look back at the Australian Grand Prix. Lando Norris claimed victory. We hear from the Brit, as well as Max Verstappen, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Duration:00:34:53
Australian Grand Prix Qualifying Review
3/15/2025
Harry Benjamin and Marc Priestley join Rosanna Tennant to look back at qualifying from Melbourne. It was a good day for McLaren as Lando Norris took pole with Oscar Piastri in P2. We hear from both drivers. Max Verstappen is also on the pod after finishing third, and Lewis Hamilton tells us how he’s still learning to drive his new Ferrari after finishing P9.
Duration:00:32:41
Australian Grand Prix: Battle of the Brits
3/14/2025
With three British drivers racing for three of the top F1 teams, Rosanna Tennant, Harry Benjamin, Andrew Benson and Marc Priestley debate the credentials of each. Is Lewis Hamilton the fastest, backed by his seven world titles? Should Lando Norris be favourite, given he's in the 2024 Constructors' Championship-winning car? Or is George Russell being underestimated due to an underperforming car?
Duration:00:22:06
Australian Grand Prix Preview
3/13/2025
What can we expect from Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari? Will Max Verstappen secure his fifth world championship? And are McLaren truly the favorites for the constructors’ title?
As the 2025 F1 season kicks off in Melbourne, Rosanna Tennant is joined by Marc Priestley, Harry Benjamin and Andrew Benson to discuss these questions and more. They also hear from the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen.
Plus, Harry sits down with rookie Ollie Bearman as he gears up for his first full season in Formula 1.
Duration:00:56:36
Rebalancing the grid: female drivers in F1
3/12/2025
When will we next see a female driver in Formula One? Eleanor Oldroyd is joined by former F3 driver Alice Powell and BBC reporter Charlotte Simpson to examine why there aren’t any female drivers currently at the sport’s elite level.
They look at the existing programmes designed to boost the number of female drivers and ask what more can be done.
Leading female driver Abi Pulling talks through her experiences in the sport, while Susie Wolff explains the aims of the F1 Academy in developing female drivers. We also hear from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri on what the future may hold.
Duration:01:23:32