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Formula Fools

Formula Fools

By: David Duffin Mitchell Drennan
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About this listen

 Formula 1 for beginners (and the mates pretending they get it). Each week we unpack the history, the headlines and the chaos of F1—with simple explanations, big moments, and just enough opinion to start an argument.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Duffin, Mitchell Drennan
Episodes
  • 2026 Regulations Explained: The Reset Button (with We Got The Chocolates)

    2026 Regulations Explained: The Reset Button (with We Got The Chocolates)
    Mar 27 2026

    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.
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    49 mins
  • Chinese GP Review: The Kimi Antonelli Show

    Chinese GP Review: The Kimi Antonelli Show
    Mar 16 2026
    The 2026 season is officially heating up — and the Chinese Grand Prix might have just given us the first real statement of the new era.In this Formula Fools race review, David and Skin break down an unbelievable weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix — featuring a historic performance from rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli.Because what he did in Shanghai was ridiculous.Youngest pole sitter in F1 history — breaking the record previously held by Sebastian Vettel.Second-youngest race winner ever.And his first Grand Slam — pole position, race win, and fastest lap.At 19.David and Skin dive into how Antonelli managed the entire weekend like a veteran — bouncing back from a small slip in the sprint race and delivering one of the most complete rookie weekends we’ve ever seen.Seriously… there was a moment where we had to ask if he might secretly be Kimi Räikkönen in disguise.But the Mercedes story doesn’t stop there.George Russell also delivered a massive weekend, dominating the sprint race and pushing Antonelli hard in the main event. With Russell only a few points ahead in the standings, we’re suddenly asking a very real question:Is Mercedes about to dominate this new regulation era?Or are we about to witness a full-blown teammate battle?Meanwhile, Ferrari had a fascinating weekend.Lewis Hamilton grabbed back-to-back poles across the sprint and the main race — a huge sign he might be properly back at the front again. His race pace, starts, and battery management were elite all weekend.Charles Leclerc was also right in the fight, delivering brilliant wheel-to-wheel battles with Hamilton that showed Ferrari finally have a car capable of racing the Mercedes duo.Elsewhere on the grid:Oliver Bearman absolutely smashed the weekend for Haas with a huge P5 — proof that the team might be a genuine midfield force this year.Cadillac Formula 1 Team showed serious pace but also got tangled in a messy opening-lap incident.Williams Racing finally grabbed points… and somehow still managed a DNS in the same weekend.And reigning champions McLaren had a nightmare with a double DNS.Not ideal.We also introduce a new segment — “Listen to the Fools” — where we hear from listeners Jay and Kelvin, bringing their own questions and takes into the show.Plus we hand out our Guru and Fool of the race, debate the growing reliability issues in the new 2026 power units, and ask whether drivers like Max Verstappen are right to be frustrated with the new era of cars.Finally, we look ahead to Suzuka and the Japanese Grand Prix, where the big questions are:Can Mercedes continue their early dominance?Will the new hybrid power units keep causing reliability problems?And will Suzuka’s brutal layout expose the real strengths and weaknesses of these new cars?Two races in……and this season already feels unpredictable. 🏁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.
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    47 mins
  • Australian GP Review: Welcome to the 2026 Chaos

    Australian GP Review: Welcome to the 2026 Chaos
    Mar 9 2026
    The 2026 Formula 1 season is officially underway, and if Melbourne told us anything… it’s that nobody fully understands these new cars yet.In this Formula Fools race review, David and Skin break down everything from the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix — including chaos, massive saves, unexpected pace, and a lot of confused drivers.Because while fans got a wild race… the drivers were not happy.Multiple drivers slammed the new regulations after the race.Max Verstappen called the cars “not fun to drive” and “anti-racing.”Meanwhile Lando Norris joked the grid had gone “from the best cars to the worst cars.”Why?The new 2026 power units.The internal combustion engine power has dropped massively, from around 738 HP in 2025 to roughly 536 HP in 2026, with the rest now coming from electric deployment.The problem is the battery is being drained down the straights.At Melbourne we saw cars hit around 308 km/h early on the straight… then drop to roughly 253 km/h by the braking zone while still flat out.That’s not a lift.That’s literally running out of power.Drivers like Oliver Bearman even said the overtake boost button was basically useless at this track compared to circuits like Bahrain.But from a fan perspective?The racing was wild.There were 120 overtakes compared to just 45 last year.And while some of it might feel slightly “manufactured,” it produced one hell of a season opener.We also break down the biggest talking points of the weekend:Mercedes look terrifyingGeorge Russell dominated the race with a cool, controlled performance from start to finish.And rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli backed it up with a huge P2 — showing Mercedes might have built another monster at the start of a new engine era.Ferrari’s speed… and strategyCharles Leclerc delivered some brilliant overtakes, while Lewis Hamilton surged from P7 to the front pack early.But once again Ferrari’s strategy decisions may have cost them a tighter fight at the front.Audi’s incredible debutThe new Audi F1 Team shocked the paddock.Q3 on debut.Points in their first race.For a brand-new works project, that’s an unbelievable start.And yes… Franco’s saveFranco Colapinto produced one of the saves of the weekend — the kind that instantly goes into the highlight reel.We also hand out our first Guru and Fool of the season, debate why some teams like Williams and Aston Martin still look lost, and ask whether Mercedes were sandbagging all weekend before unleashing the pace in the race.Finally, we look ahead to China and the next big questions:Does the new overtake mode work better on Shanghai’s massive straight?How chaotic will the first Sprint weekend of the new era be?And which teams already look fragile on reliability?The 2026 season is only one race old……but it already feels unpredictable.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.
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    1 hr
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