#McLaren's changes – it's our Spring Break wrap

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F1 NATION: Red Bull's dominance Williams' improvement McLaren's changes it's our Spring Break wrap

With three consecutive wins to start the season, Red Bull look at their dominant best at the moment – but can anybody catch them? That is the question being answered by host Tom Clarkson and his guests on this week’s episode of the F1 Nation podcast. Clarkson is joined by former Formula 1 driver and now Aston Martin ambassador Pedro de la Rosa, as well as ex-Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley, as they give their verdict on whether Red Bull are truly “catchable”. BEYOND THE GRID: Jonathan Palmer on qualifying as a doctor, reaching the F1 grid, and working with Senna Smedley, who was the voice in Felipe Massa’s ear from 2006 until his retirement in 2017, gives us an insight into the standards expected at Ferrari, following calls from Lapo Elkann, the brother of the team's President John Elkann, for them to “wake up” after a start to the season that has left them fourth in the constructors' standings. Also on the agenda this week is Williams, with Smedley detailing the progress the Grove outfit have made, as he reveals that data shows them to be one of the top three most improved teams this season. De la Rosa also reviews the changes made at his former team McLaren, as well as their start to the year, while Smedley explains what attributes his former Ferrari colleague, Andrea Stella, has that will make a successful Team Principal for McLaren. They also review the state of affairs at Alfa Romeo, after a slow start to the season. The trio look at Andreas Seidl’s role in leading their transition until Audi come into the sport in 2026, as well as the impact of Luca Furbatto’s departure for Aston Martin. Lastly, Smedley and De la Rosa answer some interesting questions sent in by the fans, with both explaining why the drivers still need pit boards, despite all the technology in Formula 1. FULL TRANSCRIPT: Read every word from Jonathan Palmer's captivating Beyond The Grid interview Want to get your question answered by the F1 Nation gang on a future episode? Simply record it as a voice note and email it to F1Nation@F1.com. Tune into the latest episode of F1 Nation by hitting go on the audio player above – or by clicking here to listen via your preferred podcasting provider. via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

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Formula 1 launches new Formula Why podcast to answer fans questions about the sport

Why do F1 drivers need to be so fit? Why are street circuits the ultimate test? Why are F1 Sprint weekends such a challenge? Formula Why, a new podcast from Formula 1, is here to answer these questions and much, much more… Formula Why is a soon-to-be-launched weekly show for fans who want to know more about how F1 works, with each episode answering a ‘why?’ question – such as ‘why is racing in the rain so difficult?’ – across a broad range of topics. F1 NATION: Red Bull’s dominance, Williams’ improvement, McLaren’s changes – it’s our Spring Break wrap It will be hosted by American motorsport reporter Katie Osborne, who has covered IndyCar, NASCAR and more recently F1, and British presenter Christian Hewgill, who has interviewed dozens of F1 drivers for the BBC and on the independent podcast, The Fast and The Curious. Episodes will be released on Fridays and feature people who make F1 work, including drivers, strategists, trainers, race engineers, technical directors, and pit stop experts. Formula Why is a brand-new podcast here to answer fans questions about the sport “If you’re like me and Christian, you think F1 is one of the greatest sports in the world, and the more you know about it, the more you love it,” said Osborne. “There can be a whole lot to get your head around when it comes to F1. Formula Why is here to help. “As a journalist, Formula Why is a perfect blend of passion and curiosity all wrapped into a podcast. Being able to have conversations about a sport I am enthused about, all while being able to dig deeper and find answers to not only my questions, but questions from those in our Formula 1 community, is such a treat. PERSONALITY TEST: Which F1 team should you support in 2023? “Whether you’ve been following F1 for years or you are new to the sport, Formula Why is an inclusive show that will help everyone feel like they have a better grasp on inner workings of F1, both on and off track.” Hewgill added: “Anyone who knows even the tiniest bit about me knows I am a passionate Formula 1 fan. It means I get asked questions about the sport almost every day of my life! “To be working with Formula 1, the sport I’ve loved since I was a kid, on an official podcast that answers all of those questions and more, is a total dream come true. Katie is amazing – we’re going to have a lot of fun.” WATCH: Laughs, confusion and pure drama as Leclerc and Sainz take on ‘Goggle Games’ Formula Why will join in-depth interview podcast Beyond The Grid and race analysis show F1 Nation in the official F1 podcast line-up, with the first episode coming on Friday April 28 via all major podcast apps. In the meantime, check out a preview in the player above or click here to listen. If you want to get involved in Formula Why, you can suggest a question for the podcast to answer by recording a voice note and emailing it to Why@F1.com. Main Christian Hewgill image credit: courtesy of Charlotte Alex via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

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BEYOND THE GRID: Yuki Tsunoda on AlphaTauri idolising Fernando Alonso his relationship with Pierre Gasly and much more

On this week’s episode of Formula 1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Tom Clarkson is joined by Yuki Tsunoda, with the AlphaTauri driver opening up about his start to the season, swapping helmets with his idol Fernando Alonso, his relationship with Pierre Gasly, why he loves being famous and much more. Tsunoda is the latest world championship hopeful to come from Japan’s conveyer belt of Formula 1 drivers, having gone from Japanese F4 to driving for AlphaTauri in four years, joining the Italian outfit at the start of the 2021 season. F1 NATION: Red Bull's dominance, Williams' improvement, McLaren's changes – it's our Spring Break wrap And Tsunoda gives us an insight into his relationship with his Team Principal, Franz Tost, revealing what he is like to work with, as he lifts the lid on what the Austrian said to him following his clash with team mate Gasly at Silverstone last year. With Gasly now at Alpine, Tsunoda is now the lead driver at AlphaTauri and he reflects on their performance so far this year, his relationship with his new team mate Nyck De Vries, as well as why he prefers the vibe within the team this season. He also explains how he is trying to improve each year, by becoming much calmer on the team radio this season, as well as becoming fitter than ever, thanks to the help of Michael Italiano – Daniel Ricciardo’s former trainer. The Japanese racer also spoke to Clarkson about how he came to idolise Alonso, and what he learned from the Spaniard’s defence on Lewis Hamilton at the Hungaroring in 2021, and how that helped him defend from the seven-time world champion in Turkey later that year, as well as Kevin Magnussen earlier this season in Saudi Arabia. TECH TUESDAY: 0.3s per lap and a sign of things to come – AlphaTauri's latest floor upgrades analysed Lastly, Tsunoda explains to Clarkson why he “definitely” enjoys being famous, as it comes with certain perks, as well as what he tells people he does for a living. To hear Tsunoda's Beyond The Grid interview, hit go in the player above, or head here to catch it on your preferred platform. via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com