Chequered Flag Extra: McLaren’s Meteoric Rise

Harry Benjamin and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson discuss McLaren’s constructors’ title victory. We talk about their rise from worst team at the start of 2023, to two-time champions by the end of 2025. But now that this title is wrapped up, how will they manage the ongoing battle for the drivers’ championship between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris?

Are tensions starting to simmer at McLaren despite the team clinching their tenth constructors’ championship? Harry Benjamin and Sam Bird look back on the race and hear from both McLaren drivers after they made contact on the first lap. Team principal Andrea Stella joins the pod to put the team’s achievements into perspective. Plus, we hear from race winner George Russell and runner-up Max Verstappen.

Can Max Verstappen keep his winning streak alive? The Dutchman lines up second on the grid, just behind Mercedes’ George Russell for Sunday's race. Harry Benjamin, Sam Bird and Jennie Gow review qualifying from Singapore and hear from the top three drivers.

Jennie Gow is joined by Ruth Buscombe, Andrew Benson and Edward Russell for a special live podcast in Singapore. The team discuss racing in Singapore and the 2025 title fight. Plus, they are joined by a couple of special guests – F1 Academy driver Alisha Palmowski, and Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley.

Can Lando Norris continue to narrow the gap to McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri as F1 heads to Singapore? Eleanor Oldroyd is joined by Jennie Gow and Andrew Benson to discuss the championship rivals at McLaren and whether Red Bull's Max Verstappen has forced himself back into the title picture. We hear from Norris, Piastri and Verstappen.

Harry Benjamin & the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson discuss McLaren’s messy Baku weekend, Max Verstappen’s title hopes, Christian Horner’s Red Bull departure and Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin comments. Plus, Harry sits down for an in-depth chat with Williams driver Alex Albon, who speaks about his career to date, and why Williams have had an upturn in form under James Vowles.

Ben Edwards, reigning F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling & the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson react to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Would the race be as dramatic as qualifying? Would polesitter Max Verstappen secure his second successive victory? And would Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris fight back up the grid in the title battle? We hear from Verstappen, Norris and Piastri.

Ben Edwards, reigning F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson reflect on a chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Who would take pole? Would Verstappen continue to compete at the front following his win in Italy? And how would Piastri and Norris perform as the McLaren’s battle for the title? We hear from the key protagonists as well as a couple of surprise performers.

Jennie Gow, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson look ahead to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Will Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s title battle intensify in Baku, with McLaren team orders dominating the headlines? We hear from both Norris and Piastri, as well as Max Verstappen, who answers whether he thinks Red Bull are back in the hunt at the front of the grid following his win in Italy.

Harry Benjamin and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson reflect further on the story dominating Formula 1 following the Italian Grand Prix – McLaren team orders. Should they have swapped Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris? We answer your questions and ask whether the move was fair. Plus, we go behind the scenes on a race gantry, finding out what it is like to control the lights for a grand prix, hearing from F1’s official race starter, Rebecca Lee.