Chequered Flag Extra: McLaren’s Meteoric Rise

Jennie Gow sits down for an in-depth conversation with Andy Cowell, the CEO and team principal of Aston Martin, to speak about his career, from the engine man at Mercedes to leading Aston through one of the most exciting periods in its history. From its new factory and wind tunnel to the signing of Adrian Newey, and working with drivers like Fernando Alonso. Heading into new regulations in 2026, could Aston begin to compete at the front of the grid?

Harry Benjamin, British racing driver Sam Bird and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson reflect on the Mexico City Grand Prix. Lando Norris started on pole, but could he convert that to victory? We hear from the British driver as well as title rivals Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen. Plus, how would Ferrari perform after a strong day in qualifying? And who would take our ‘hero of the race’ accolade?

Harry Benjamin and British racing driver Sam Bird reflect on qualifying at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Who would take pole position as the championship battle intensifies? We hear from the three main title protagonists, Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, as we build-up to Sunday’s race.

Harry Benjamin, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer, F1 journalist Rebecca Clancy and the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson preview the Mexico City Grand Prix. Is Max Verstappen in the title fight? And where are things going wrong for McLaren? We hear from their CEO Zak Brown.

Is it unthinkable that Max Verstappen has become some people’s favourite for the drivers’ title? 1996 world champion Damon Hill joins Jennie Gow and Harry Benjamin to reflect on his lights-to-flag victory in Austin. They hear from the four-time world champion, as well as the two McLaren drivers he’s hunting down - Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Has Max Verstappen put himself in the title race? With both McLaren drivers failing to score in the sprint and the Dutchman starting Sunday’s race from pole, Jennie Gow, Harry Benjamin and Christian Hewgill look back on a dramatic day in Austin. They hear from Verstappen, Norris and Piastri.

Will what happened in Singapore change the dynamic between McLaren’s two drivers for the rest of the season? Harry Benjamin is joined by Andrew Benson, Jennie Gow, Jolyon Palmer and Will Buxton to preview the race in Austin. We hear from both McLaren drivers, while George Russell discusses his new Mercedes contract and Haas’s Ollie Bearman sums up his season so far.

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.