High Performance Racing

Kimi Antonelli is finally world champion, and this week Jake, Otmar and Rob get the inside story from two people who were there for all of it.

Gwen Lagrue, the man who first spotted Kimi racing a go-kart in Adria in 2017, joins the guys to explain what made an 11-year-old stand out from everyone else. He also tells them about the phone call he got from Toto on the morning Lewis said he was leaving. Then Mercedes Deputy Team Principal Bradley Lord takes us inside the factory meeting where Toto told Kimi: “Lewis is leaving. It co...

For the first time ever, the guys recorded High Performance Racing in front of a live audience, in a bar in New York City, cowboy hats and all. Well, two of the guys. Rob was meant to be there too, but a bird strike and an engine failure on take-off put a stop to that. So Rob sends his apologies from a very windy beach, and Otmar has an engine-failure story of his own.

Jake and Otmar get stuck into Austin, where Kimi Antonelli put on a masterclass and is now one race away from becoming...

You sent the questions, the guys answered them! And it's the first time Otmar has been trusted with a tablet.

Rob finally answers the question he gets asked more than any other: what really happened to Felipe Massa after 2009? Was it the spring in Hungary, or was it Fernando Alonso? Rob was on the other end of the radio, and he's got the test data to settle it.

Otmar reveals the Christmas phone call from Michael Andretti asking him to be team principal, why he said no, why they never came back, and...

"It feels more like Christian Horner Racing than Red Bull Racing." Just days after hosting the Red Bull leadership for dinner at his house on British Grand Prix weekend, Christian Horner got a text asking him to meet in London. It was supposed to be about marketing. When he walked into the room he saw Helmut Marko, Oliver Mintzlaff and the group head of HR, and he knew.

In this exclusive clip for the High Performance Racing community, taken from his full conversation with Jake and Damian on High Performance, Christian talks about how his 20-year...

Jake's gone AWOL, so Rob and Otmar are running the show on their own this week. What could possibly go wrong?!

Jake phones in from Orlando, where he says he's getting ready to interview Tom Brady (the guys aren't convinced, and reckon he's in a Norfolk Travelodge). Then Rob and Otmar take charge of the Singapore GP reaction. Max Verstappen took the Singapore double, winning both the Sprint and the Grand Prix, and the guys ask whether he really had the best car.

Rob takes them into the Engineering Dark Web to show...

The best drivers in the world were ready to race in Malaysia. Then a software glitch got in the way. Jake, Rob and Otmar ask how F1 can call itself the pinnacle of motorsport when an untested software failure can stop drivers from doing their jobs, and why fans deserve to know what’s happening when things go wrong.

The guys also debate Kimi Antonelli’s 84-point lead, George Russell’s terrible luck, and whether there’s any way back. Rob explains why Red Bull’s latest upgrade could make them a threat everywhere, while Otmar and Rob ta...

Baku belonged to George Russell. He took pole, fastest lap and the win, and led every lap for the first Grand Slam of his career. Otmar tells the guys about the rather unusual gift he showed George after qualifying. Rob explains why one crash on a street circuit can knock a driver's confidence for the rest of the weekend. And the guys do the maths on whether George can still catch Kimi. The answer isn't what you'd expect.

Otmar also tells the story of the Instagram post from Malaysia that nearly got Checo Pérez a f...

Baku is back, and it’s one of the strangest challenges on the F1 calendar. You want maximum downforce through the castle section, then almost none for the longest straight in Formula 1. Get the setup wrong and you’re either slow through the corners or a sitting duck down the straight.

Jake, Rob and Otmar explain how engineers solve that impossible compromise, why driver confidence can be worth more than the numbers in the simulator, and how active aero is changing the game.

They also tackle a much bigger question: has F1 become ente...

£151 million, three years of design, 17 months of construction, 353,000 fans… and four overtakes. Madrid certainly put on a show, but Jake, Rob and Otmar have a question: did anyone remember to build a race track?

The guys debate whether F1 has become too obsessed with bringing the sport to the people, why fans will happily travel for a great race, and why the best circuits on the calendar were built long before computers, simulations and AI got involved. Rob makes the case for old-school tracks like Suzuka, Spa and Monza, while Otmar argues that Tilke has produced som...

Nobody wins from 19th at Monza. Well, Kimi Antonelli did, the internet immediately called it the drive of the decade… and Rob would like a word. He agrees it was brilliant — he just thinks everyone's watching the wrong part of it. 

The guys pull the race apart properly: why the real brilliance happened in the first four laps, why George Russell was a sitting duck long before Kimi ever arrived in his mirrors, and whether Mercedes should have pitted the other car under that virtual safety car.

Jake makes the case that this was a...

It’s Monza week, which means Ferrari fever, Tifosi everywhere and absolutely no pressure whatsoever… Jake and Otmar tackle the big Italian dilemma: would the Tifosi rather see Lewis Hamilton win in red, or Kimi Antonelli win at home? For Otmar, it’s not even close.

The guys debate Mercedes’ ruthless decision to give Kimi an engine penalty at his home race, why Jake thinks that mentality could win them both championships, and whether Ferrari can keep treating Hamilton and Leclerc as equals. Otmar also revisits the chaotic 2020 Monza race that Force India could have won.

Jake and Otmar react to Zandvoort, where McLaren found the answers, Mercedes didn’t, and Ferrari once again left everyone wondering what exactly the plan was.

Otmar explains why Mercedes can’t just throw upgrades at the car every weekend, how teams replay races to find out what they should have done differently, and the simple team orders rule he thinks could save a lot of headaches at Ferrari.

Then there’s Lewis Hamilton. Otmar sets the record straight on his work ethic, while Jake makes the case that Lewis has done something no oth...

Jake, Rob and Otmar go inside the minds of some of Formula 1’s greatest drivers - Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel - to understand what really separated them from the rest.

Rob shares the moment he first realised a teenage Fernando Alonso was something special, why he tried to play down just how quick he was, and what made Alonso such a formidable competitor. Otmar explains the relentless preparation and work ethic that made Sebastian Vettel a four-time world champion, while Rob reflects on what Michael Schumacher was really like inside Ferrari, as a le...

You asked, Otmar answered...and then kept going! The former Force India, Aston Martin and Alpine boss spills all to Jake and Rob for a summer break episode that starts with your questions, moves on to Drive to Survive, and ends somewhere near a polo mallet.

Otmar explains why Ferrari and Mercedes originally said NO to Netflix, and what made them come crawling back. He reveals the strip of tape he stuck across his forehead on the pit wall and why it worked better than any NDA. There's Ron Dennis banning him from sharing a spy...

Formula 1 heads into the summer break, so Jake, Otmar and Rob hand out their mid-season report cards, grading every team out of 10 and explaining exactly why.

Mercedes earned top marks after the strongest first half of the season, but George Russell's reliability issues sparked a debate over what might have been in both championship battles. They then assess Ferrari, McLaren and an underperforming Red Bull, before turning their attention to Alpine, Racing Bulls, Haas, Audi, Williams and Aston Martin.

Plus, they rate the drivers, examine whether Kimi Antonelli's championship lead can still be...

Lando Norris’ Budapest victory confirms McLaren’s resurgence, but as championship rivals continue to take points off each other, Kimi Antonelli emerges as the biggest beneficiary, extending his lead at the top of the standings to 50 points.

Meanwhile, George Russell’s title challenge suffered another setback after a team-related anti-stall issue compromised his start, leading Otmar to question whether Mercedes can overcome their recent run of misfortune.

Rob Smedley uses the data to reveal why Aston Martin’s 16-part B-spec upgrade has delivered genuine progress, while Otmar examines the deeper structural issues that have sha...

Jake, Rob Smedley and Otmar react to a Belgian Grand Prix that reshaped the championship. Twelve months after admitting he'd "probably reached the bottom" at Spa, Kimi Antonelli returns to the same track and delivers a flawless win over Charles Leclerc, extending his title lead to 45 points. George Russell doesn't survive the first corner.

Rob takes us into the Engineering Dark Web to explain exactly why George is losing time to his teammate — and Otmar and Rob put the theory to the test that's dividing the Mercedes garage: is this a car problem, a George problem, or...

Lawrence Stroll's dramatic Force India buyout began with Sergio Perez intentionally pushing his own team into administration to save it. This week, Jake, Otmar and Rob trace Perez's journey from a lonely 14-year-old living in truck-stop motels to his difficult final months at Red Bull, asking what his story reveals about the pressure modern F1 drivers face.

The trio also unpack the fallout from Silverstone. Rob explains the clever technical trick Mercedes used to out-engineer their customer teams on the straights, while Jake shares fresh insights from a Monday morning debrief with George Russell at Soho...

Otmar, Jake and Rob break down the chaotic ending to the 2026 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, live in front of a crowd for the first time ever.

Charles Leclerc took the win as Ferrari and Mercedes made contrasting strategy calls under the late safety car, sparking fierce debate over whether the FIA should have red flagged the race instead.

Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli all played a part in one of the most talked-about finishes of the season, plus Bullshit Corner, dad jokes, and an Ayrton Senna helmet reveal.

What a weekend at the Red Bull Ring. George Russell is officially back after a dominant pole-to-win victory in Austria, turning the 2026 title fight completely on its head and trimming Kimi Antonelli’s championship lead.

In this episode, Jake, Rob, and Otmar break down a thrilling Austrian Grand Prix, from Kimi cracking under pressure to Ferrari’s upgraded engine completely flopping on Sunday. The trio also dissect a paddock bombshell: Max Verstappen’s management having informal chats with McLaren, alongside an exit clause that could trigger before the summer break.

Finally, the guys look a...

With Otmar away, Jake Humphrey and Rob Smedley preview the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix. Rob dives deep into his legendary career, breaking down what it really takes to lead the technical side of an F1 team, the old-school mindset shift he brought to Williams, and what the current team is lacking on track. 

The duo also debated a massive F1 "what if", whether Michael Schumacher would have swept the 2007 and 2008 titles if Ross Brawn hadn’t retired. Plus, Rob reveals the incredible reality behind Felipe Massa’s terrifying 2009 Budapest crash, the chaos of engineering the unpredictable Jean...

Jake, Rob, and special guest Claire Williams react to Lewis Hamilton's emotional 106th Formula 1 victory in Barcelona, debating whether Ferrari and Hamilton are genuine title contenders in 2026.

Rob brings the maths to settle the biggest question in F1 right now - could Hamilton have won without the safety car? - while Claire and Rob go head to head on whether Lewis or Leclerc finishes the season on top. The panel also break down Ferrari's upgrade package, Mercedes' strategy calls, and what the Barcelona result really means for the championship.

Claire gives her honest...

Jake, Rob, and Otmar react to a chaotic Monaco Grand Prix, discussing Kimi Antonelli’s fifth consecutive win, George Russell’s disastrous weekend, and whether the 2026 Formula 1 title race is already over.

Rob and Otmar break down Russell’s chances for the rest of 2026, the ADUO verdict that’s sent shockwaves through the paddock - and why Red Bull being declared F1’s benchmark engine is great news for Mercedes. After yet another podium for Lewis Hamilton, the guys debate his place among the all-time Formula 1 greats.

The trio also look ahead to the Barcel...

Monaco isn't just a race weekend; it's where F1's biggest deals, secrets, and scandals collide. 

This episode dives into the unique pressure of the Principality, from the opulence of Vijay Mallya's legendary boat parties to the corporate politics that saw one host blindsided by Alpine management, only to answer back with a defiant Monaco podium.

This conversation goes deep into the paddock's "dark arts," revisiting Michael Schumacher's infamous 2006 Rascasse parking scandal, the frantic phone calls to the FIA President, and Ross Brawn's chilling insight into Michael's psychological state. But there's another side t...

In this week's episode of High Performance Racing, Otmar, Jake and Rob break down the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix and the growing tension at Mercedes as George Russell and Kimi Antonelli go wheel-to-wheel.

Was George unlucky, or is Kimi now a genuine title threat? The trio discuss Mercedes’ rules of engagement, whether Toto Wolff needs to step in, and why Antonelli is already being talked about as a generational talent.

Plus, we look at Lewis Hamilton’s breakthrough P2 for Ferrari, what it says about his confidence, why Charles Leclerc may be feeling the pres...

This week, Jake, Rob and Otmar look ahead to the Canadian Grand Prix, and explore why despite regulation changes, the drivers still don't trust their cars.

Looking back at previous regulation changes, Rob and Otmar debate whether 2009 Brawn GP success really about a "double diffuser," or have we been looking at the wrong part of the car for seventeen years?

Rob Smedley peels back the aero layers to reveal the true McLaren-inspired secret that rivals missed, proving why there is never a "silver bullet" in F1, only the total package.

...

Forget the PR spin as Jake, Otmar, and Rob weigh George Russell’s relentless work ethic against Kimi Antonelli’s raw talent, even revisiting the famous PowerPoint deck George used to pitch his way onto the grid. 

The trio dives into the "dark arts" of the driver-engineer bond, from the psychology of delivering bad news to the tactical "slow-walking" of team orders. They also break down the exhausting new reality of mid-race energy management and why the partnership between a driver and their engineer is the ultimate weapon for icons like Max Verstappen.

Otmar...

Is the Red Bull empire finally cracking? Jake, Otmar and Rob break down the 2026 driver market, debate Max Verstappen’s potential move to Mercedes, and discuss how Mark Webber is shaping Oscar Piastri’s future at McLaren.

Fresh from Florida, the guys react to the "Miami madness," with Otmar sharing his experience balancing F1 duties with his new role at Van Amersfoort Racing. They also unpack George Russell’s rise, Kimi Antonelli’s progress, and Ferrari’s ongoing upgrade struggles.

Step inside the garage as Otmar and Rob expose the "Dark Arts”: the high-stakes...

Jake Humphrey, Otmar Szafnauer, and Rob Smedley tackle the biggest power shift currently shaking the grid: the potential collapse of the Red Bull dynasty. With key figures departing and performance wavering, the guys discuss whether Max Verstappen is finally ready to pull the trigger on a move to Mercedes and what that means for the rest of the 2026 driver market.

The conversation shifts from the boardroom to the "underworld" of the paddock, exposing the chaotic reality of life on the road. Moving beyond the headlines, the group explores the "dark arts" of the pit wall, sharing...

In our very first episode, Jake Humphrey is joined by F1 insiders Otmar Szafnauer and Rob Smedley for an unfiltered first look at the 2026 season so far: the boldest regulation reset in modern Formula 1 history.

The trio cut through the early-season noise to assess which teams have genuinely cracked the new formula and which are already playing catch-up. From Mercedes' resurgence, to Aston Martin's alarming early struggles and Hamilton's long-awaited shot at redemption with Ferrari, Jake, Otmar and Rob break down what's real, what's hype, and what the data is actually telling us.

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🚨 First episode out Wednesday 22nd April - follow the show so you don't miss a moment

They say you can’t truly understand Formula 1 without real experts; High Performance Racing brings you the people who actually lived it.

Hosted by Jake Humphrey alongside former Aston Martin & Alpine Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer and ex-Ferrari & Williams Race Engineer Rob Smedley, this brand-new show breaks down the sport's biggest news stories through the eyes of seasoned F1 personnel.

Moving beyond standard race breakdowns, the show offers a front-row seat to the high-stakes world of th...