F1 Nation

They're the racing series which prepare drivers for Formula 1. F2 and F3 are where Kimi Antonelli, Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, Gabriel Bortoleto and many more F1 stars have honed their skills behind the wheel. How are these categories different, what do the drivers drive, and what does it take to win?
2026 Formula 3 champion Ugo Ugochukwu tells Christian Hewgill the key to topping a competitive field of 30 drivers, what he learned from racing on F1 weekends and how he hopes to make the step up to F2 and beyond.
Formula 2 Technical Director Pierre-Alain Michot answers your questions on how the F2 car is different to F1 machinery. He also explains how the updated F2 car for 2027 will give drivers the best possible preparation for F1.
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Tom Clarkson, Jolyon Palmer and James Hinchcliffe look ahead to this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.
The guys reflect on how different Kimi Antonelli’s European leg of the season was this year compared to last, before discussing how much the Italian’s success this season is down to his own progress and how much can be attributed to George Russell’s struggles.
With Lewis Hamilton now over 100 points adrift of championship leader Antonelli, are his title hopes now over? If so, how should Ferrari approach the rest of this year? After their strong pace in Madrid, what are McLaren’s chances of fighting Mercedes for victory? Oscar Piastri’s championship challenge started to fall apart with a DNF in Baku last year, so will he bounce back? And what can we expect from Williams’ upgrades this weekend?
Plus, after Max took just 14 laps to beat 100 karters at Silverstone last week, Tom, Jolyon and Hinch remember the craziest races they’ve been involved in and discuss whether Max can take his first F1 win of the season in Baku.
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Every driver wants to stand above their rivals, hear their national anthem, life the trophy and spray the champagne on the Formula 1 podium. It's a moment of celebration which takes careful planning and is governed by strict rules... like a wedding... in race suits.
We've put your podium questions the two people who work together to make it all happen: Linda Boudabous – Master of Ceremonies and Special Operations Co-ordinator at the FIA, and Katalin Bukor – Head of Ceremonies & Protocol at Formula 1.
They tell Christian Hewgill about broken trophies, keeping VIPs dry and what happens when real champagne can't be sprayed on the podium. 
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Tom Clarkson is joined by journalists Albert Fabrega and Julianne Cerasoli to reflect on the first Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring circuit.
The Virtual Safety Car came at just the wrong time for race leader Lando Norris on lap 15, costing him victory after he’d made a great start from pole. Could McLaren have pre-empted the VSC? Why did Lando pit after the VSC ended? Could he have stayed out on the medium tyre?
Tom, Albert and Julianne discuss those talking points and you’ll hear reaction from McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella.
Kimi Antonelli capitalised on Lando’s misfortune to take his eighth victory of the season and move 81 points clear of Mercedes teammate George Russell at the top of the World Championship.
And Max Verstappen came home in P2 for his sixth podium of the year. But could he have won the race if Red Bull hadn’t asked him to let Lewis Hamilton past after their opening lap incident?
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY:

IM8
Give your body what it deserves with IM8! Go to IM8HEALTH.com/nation and use code NATION for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets plus ten percent off your order. #im8health

How did the Madring come to life? What makes it such a unique track compared to the rest of the F1 calendar? And why is ‘La Monumental’ the corner everyone’s talking about?
As we head to the heart of Madrid for the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend, Christian Hewgill has been finding out more about F1's newest circuit.
He's joined by F1 correspondent Lawrence Barretto, who was Carlos Sainz's passenger as he drove the very first lap of the track earlier this year, and the Madring’s Chief Operating Officer, Carlos Jimenez, to answer your questions about this exciting new challenge for the drivers.