We're back — and we might disappear on you again just as fast. Nick, Todd, and Rohit return from an extended hiatus to make sense of the most chaotic F1 season in recent memory. With entirely new cars, new engines, new teams, a new broadcaster (Apple TV, baby), and a grid that looks nothing like it did a year ago, there's no better time to dust off the mic.

The guys debate whether the 2025 season — and Lando's championship — even felt real without the podcast to back it up, what the switch to Apple TV means for the sport's growth, and whether Drive to Survive still matters now that the actual racing is more dramatic than any producer could dream up. Plus: the nightmare fuel that is 2026 race starts, Aston Martin's historically bad car, the eternal question of Fernando Alonso's retirement, and a deep dive into which F1 drivers map onto Mario Kart characters.

Hot takes, season predictions, and the return of Rohit's puns. Tread lightly, listener — for every review you leave, that's one more episode we're doing this season.

00:00 – We're back (maybe)

01:03 – Lando won... did it feel real without the pod?

04:00 – The F1 Movie: Where does it land on the Rush scale?

10:04 – Show format changes & the future of ExhaustNotes

11:21 – Drive to Survive: does it still matter in 2026?

13:45 – Apple TV takes over F1 broadcasting

17:13 – Would a Drive to Survive-style show work for other motorsports?

22:00 – Aston Martin blood magic & Lawrence Stroll sacrifices

24:03 – 2026 race starts explained (it's going to be chaos)

29:25 – RIP Yuki on the grid / his San Francisco farewell tour

31:32 – The season ahead: new cars, new teams, new everything

39:05 – F1 drivers as Mario Kart characters 🍄

45:10 – Cadillac, Alpine, Audi & the mid-table power rankings

51:41 – Constructors & Drivers Championship predictions

57:18 – Rookie watch & dark horse picks

1:00:54 – How many drivers will win a race in 2026?

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In this episode of the Exhaust Notes F1 Podcast, Rohit, Todd, and Nick discuss the latest happenings in Formula 1, including personal updates, hot takes, and predictions for the future of the sport. They dive into the significance of Nico Hulkenberg's recent podium finish, the emotional impact of racing moments, and the implications of Christian Horner's departure from Red Bull Racing. The conversation jumps into leaked news about a surprising new contract, the futures of Max Verstappen, Christian Horner, and Red Bull Racing, as well as the dynamics of team changes, and the role of team principals in shaping the sport's success.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

02:50 AI Hot Takes and Predictions

05:34 Nico Hulkenberg's Historic Podium

08:40 The Emotional Impact of Sport

11:19 Team Dynamics and Celebrations

14:07 The Long Wait for a Podium

16:51 Nico's Career Journey

19:38 The Role of Christian Horner

22:09 Red Bull's Future and Team Dynamics

30:41 The Legacy of Christian Horner

32:08 Driver Changes on the Horizon

33:35 Aston Martin's Future and Driver Dynamics

35:35 Red Bull's Hard Reset: What Lies Ahead?

38:11 Max Verstappen's Contract and Future Prospects

41:17 The Impact of Driver Development at Red Bull

45:12 Max's Competitive Spirit and Future in Racing

48:35 The Role of Media and Public Perception

51:04 The Engineering Challenges in Formula One

55:39 Race Penalties and Their Justifications

—–––– Check Out Our Other Shows: —––––

For the Formula 1 Fans --> Exhaust Notes: https://exhaustnotes.fm

For the Fitted Hat Fans --> Crown and Stitch: https://crownandstitch.com

For the Cars & Sneakers Fans --> Cars & Kicks: https://carsxkicks.com

For the Creators --------> Outside The Box: https://podcasts.apple.com/id/podcast/outside-the-box-convos-with-creators/id1050172106

—–––– EXCLUSIVE DEALS FOR YOU FROM OUR PARTNERS —––––

[Links contain affiliate links, we may receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking a link. A great way to support the pod!]

—––––—––––—––––—––––—––––—––––—––––—––––

Our podcast is proudly...

Livestreamed with StreamYard: https://streamyard.com?pal=6514386237915136

Recorded on Riverside: http://www.riverside.fm/?via=sneakerhistory

Distributed By Captivate: https://bit.ly/3j2muPb

Get in Touch:

Todd - todd@exhaustnotes.fm

Rohit - rohit@exhaustnotes.fm

Nick - nick@exhaustnotes.fm

For advertising inquiries: podcast@sneakerhistory.com

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.

Monaco is the home of one of the most prestigious races in all of motorsports, but it's not nearly as exciting as it once was. Don't worry, "The Peasants of Monaco" are here to offer unsolicited and underqualified improvements to make this celebrity-obsessed race competitive on the track again.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Race Recap

02:23 Max's Bold Overtake and Championship Implications

10:48 The State of Formula One Cars and Racing Dynamics

14:47 The Future of Formula One Regulations

20:54 Innovative Ideas for Enhancing Race Competitiveness

26:42 Motivation and Aspirations in Racing

27:09 Analyzing Race Performance and Team Dynamics

28:41 Midfield Battle: Williams and McLaren's Rise

30:29 Challenges of Racing in Monaco

32:31 The Unique Nature of Monaco's Street Circuit

34:42 TV Coverage and Viewer Experience

37:40 Qualifying Challenges in Monaco

39:10 Innovative Qualifying Formats

41:40 Unwritten Rules of Monaco Racing

44:18 Historical Context of Monaco Wins

48:09 The Unpredictability of Monaco Racing

—–––– Check Out Our Other Shows: —––––

For the Formula 1 Fans --> Exhaust Notes: https://exhaustnotes.fm

For the Fitted Hat Fans --> Crown and Stitch: https://crownandstitch.com

For the Cars & Sneakers Fans --> Cars & Kicks: https://carsxkicks.com

For the Creators --------> Outside The Box: https://podcasts.apple.com/id/podcast/outside-the-box-convos-with-creators/id1050172106

—–––– EXCLUSIVE DEALS FOR YOU FROM OUR PARTNERS —––––

[Links contain affiliate links, we may receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking a link. A great way to support the pod!]

—––––—––––—––––—––––—––––—––––—––––—––––

Our podcast is proudly...

Livestreamed with StreamYard: https://streamyard.com?pal=6514386237915136

Recorded on Riverside: http://www.riverside.fm/?via=sneakerhistory

Distributed By Captivate: https://bit.ly/3j2muPb

Get in Touch:

Todd - todd@exhaustnotes.fm

Rohit - rohit@exhaustnotes.fm

Nick - nick@exhaustnotes.fm

For advertising inquiries: podcast@sneakerhistory.com

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.

Mentioned in this episode:

That Time Intro