Hosted and Investigated by Margot Hughs

There are bad Formula 1 seasons.

There are disappointing Formula 1 seasons.

And then there are seasons that force a team to look in the mirror and ask a much more uncomfortable question:

Did we misunderstand where we actually were?

That may be the question Williams has been forced to confront in 2026.

Only one year ago, the mood around Grove was almost completely different.

Williams had finished fifth in the Constructors' Championship in 2025.

Carlos Sainz had arrived from Ferrari and delivered podiums.

Alex Albon had continued to establish himself as one of the team's mostvaluable assets.

The team had momentum.

It had credibility.

It had a new technical direction.

It had a new generation of leadership under James Vowles.

And, perhaps most importantly, Williams had something it had notpossessed consistently for years:

belief.

What happens when the passion of Formula 1 stops being about racing—and starts becoming personal? A single mistake, a controversial decision, or one moment on track can unleash thousands of comments, insults, threats, and attacks within minutes. In this episode of Horner Underground, we take a hard look at the darker side of F1 fandom: the bullying, hatred, abuse, and toxic social-media culture surrounding drivers, team principals, teams, and even their families. We examine why rivalry can so quickly turn into personal attacks, how social media amplifies the anger, and what Formula 1, the FIA, teams, drivers, platforms, and fans can do to change the culture. Because behind every helmet, every radio message, and every headline is a human being—and there is a difference between supporting your team and destroying someone you disagree with. Rivalry belongs on the track. Hate doesn't.

Kimi Antonelli: From Anakin to Darth Vader?

Kimi Antonelli has the speed, talent and charm to become Formula 1’s next great champion. But what happens when the boyish smile becomes the face of a World Champion?

In this provocative Bait Question narrative, we explore the Anakin Skywalker comparison and ask whether success, pressure, rivalries and the ruthless politics of F1 could eventually change Kimi—and turn the sport’s newest hero into something much darker.

Will Kimi conquer the championship without losing himself along the way?

The question isn’t whether he can become a champion. It’s what kind of champion he will become.