
Tech Show: Why doesn't car compatibility play a bigger role in driver recruitment?
The Race F1 PodcastShow Notes
In lots of sports, data and analytics play a huge role in recruitment, ensuring teams sign players that are compatible with a coach or team’s style of play. So why doesn’t it happen more in F1 - especially when drivers often struggle with a new car’s characteristics when moving teams? That’s the main topic of debate in the latest episode of The Race F1 Tech Show, as host Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson discuss whether teams should sign drivers based on their suitability to deal with certain car characteristics.
Gary also has his say on F1’s underwhelming debut race at the Madring, and why overtaking around the track was always going to be hugely difficult with the current generation of cars, plus he answers listener questions on braking systems, PU penalties and flip-top wings.
Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening), sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today.
We're giving away two 3-day tickets to the 2026 F1 USGP! To be in with a chance of winning, simply subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here (Entrants must be a US resident and over the age of 18. Full T&Cs apply) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from The Race F1 Podcast
In the latest episode of The Race F1 Rewind, Edd Straw and Mark Hughes dig into the truth about Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari exit in 2006, which brought the curtain down on a period of unprecedented dominance that included five drivers’ and six constructors’ world titles and 72 Schumacher victories. They explain the circumstances around the news breaking and explore the conspiracy theory that Schumacher was pushed out, before hitting the fast forward button and speculating on what might have happened if Schumacher had never left.
As F1 heads to Austin’s Circuit of The Americas, Mercedes faces a huge test not only of its troubled upgrade, but also of its 2027 prospects, with rivals Red Bull and Max Verstappen proving the combination to beat in recent races.
In the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, sponsored by Skinceuticals, former Red Bull team boss Christian Horner joins Edd Straw and Jon Noble for a wide-ranging and feature-length conversation. He reflects on building Red Bull Racing from a disruptive underdog into a multi-championship powerhouse, the leadership style that shaped that success, and why he got forced out. He also explains his non-negotiables for returning to the sport, what Max Verstappen brings to a team, and his thoughts on whether Adrian Newey will prove a success at Aston Martin. There’s also a number of surprise revelations - including one about Fernando Alonso - plus Horner tells the real story of how those recent Ferrari rumours came about…
In the latest edition of The Race F1 Tech Show, Edd Straw and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson take a closer look at Red Bull's recent performance gains and explain Mercedes' upgrade troubles, and look ahead to what both situations mean for 2027.
We get the inside story of the new Rwanda F1 circuit in the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast. Edd Straw is joined by Jon Noble, who recently visited the site where the recently announced African Grand Prix will take place in the early 2030s.