It could be the last-ever Dutch Grand Prix, and Max Verstappen's final home race. Tom & Chris preview a potentially wet, sprint-format Zandvoort, plus Cadillac's shock team-boss change and a top 6 separated by just nine points over the last 4 Grand Prix.

In this episode: why Cadillac swapped Graeme Lowdon for Marcin Budkowski mid-season, whether McLaren's Hungary upgrade travels, the incredibly tight top-six title fight of recent races, Aston Martin & Honda's new engine, silly-season latest, our sprint-weekend predictions, and a mailbag on sim racing and ghost cars.

Chapters 0:00 – Intro: first race back 1:46 – Cadillac's shock team-boss change 13:24 – Dutch GP preview: Zandvoort's farewell 17:01 – McLaren, Ferrari & a title race in nine points 21:45 – Aston Martin & Honda's engine gamble 23:38 – Silly season & Max's last home race 25:35 – Predictions 30:28 – Mailbag: sim racing, ghost cars & deltas 39:46 – Wrap-up

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Back of the Grid is a weekly F1 podcast by fans, for fans, with Tom & Chris. New episodes every Tuesday.

#F1 #DutchGP #Verstappen

Only one driver made our S tier this season, but is it who you would expect?

It's summer break, so Tom & Chris dust off the tier maker and rank every 2026 F1 team and driver from S ("top tier") to D ("shouldn't even be here").

In this episode: with the driver market gone quiet, we go team by team from Cadillac at the back to a Mercedes side that's built the fastest car on the grid but can't stop it from breaking. Every call is backed by qualifying and race head-to-heads plus the average qualifying gap between each teammate pairing. Expect strong opinions on Verstappen's current form, Antonelli's record setting run, where Russell really landed, Hamilton vs Leclerc, and why Williams and Aston Martin ended up where they did.

🏁 Build your own tier list and send it to us: https://tiermaker.com/create/2026-f1-rankings-15262159 🔮 Free Prediction League — get in before Dutch GP qualifying: https://backofthegrid.com 🎮 Grid Rival F1 & IndyCar fantasy leagues: https://backofthegrid.com/fantasy 💜 Patreon (includes our community Discord): https://patreon.com/backofthegrid 📱 @BackOfTheGridF1 on X, Instagram & Facebook

Back of the Grid is a weekly Formula 1 podcast by fans, for fans. Hosted by Tom King and Chris Evans. New episodes every Tuesday through the season.

#F1 #Formula1 #F1TierList

Is Stefano Domenicali right that F1 fans don't understand, or even care about, the sport's technology? We get into it. Plus a wild calendar shake-up as Malaysia returns (sort of), and talk of a German GP comeback.

In this episode: Domenicali says the wider fanbase doesn't grasp the power-unit rules — so we ask whether that's fair, or just a soundbite for the shareholders. We dig into the engine-regulation vetoes and MBS's push to claw control back from the teams, the strange "Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia" that finally brings Sepang back, the packed run-in with Abu Dhabi and Qatar still in doubt, Hockenheim's bid to bring back the German GP, and the mystery Silverstone/COTA announcement.

Chapters: 0:00 Intro & our first-ever missed review 1:17 Domenicali: are F1 fans 'too dumb' for the tech? 9:25 Engine reg vetoes & MBS's power play 13:44 Malaysia's back… as the 'Bahrain GP in Malaysia' 19:55 Calendar chaos: triple-header, Abu Dhabi & Qatar doubts 22:17 A German GP return? Hockenheim's push 24:32 Free-to-air, Sky & the F1 TV multi-screen game-changer 28:04 Silverstone & COTA's mystery announcement 30:35 Wrap-up & send us your questions

🌐 Prediction league & more: backofthegrid.com ❤️ Patreon (includes our community Discord): patreon.com/backofthegrid 📲 Follow @BackOfTheGridF1 on X, Instagram & Facebook

Back of the Grid is a weekly Formula 1 podcast, by fans, for fans, hosted by Tom King & Chris Evans. New episodes every Tuesday through the season.

#F1 #Formula1 #BackOfTheGrid

Lewis Hamilton got five seconds for a 50/50 first-lap incident. Charles Leclerc practically ran Oscar Piastri off the road at the end of the Kemmel Straight and got nothing. We're not sure the stewards watched the same race we did.

In this episode, Chris and Tom review the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, the last one at Spa for a couple of years. George Russell's afternoon ends before turn six and his frustration with his power unit boils over, Kimi Antonelli takes a sixth win of the season with a drive well beyond his years, Isack Hadjar carves from P21 to P6, and Franco Colapinto pulls off the move of the race that F1's TV direction somehow forgot to show us.

Plus: our Prediction League and Fantasy results, and a look ahead to Hungary where Aston Martin's B-spec car is going to change everything. Allegedly.

CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro - Goodbye to Spa, for now 1:45 Russell's first-lap retirement & deployment woes 6:50 Should Mercedes have taken the engine penalty here? 11:14 Antonelli wins again — the mature championship drive 12:26 Ferrari's pace: Leclerc keeps it honest 13:59 Leclerc crowds Piastri — and gets nothing 17:31 The Hamilton/Russell penalty: policing the outcome 21:41 Hamilton's race unravels: pit lane chaos & damage 25:22 Verstappen's podium and a perfect Hadjar tow 26:12 Hadjar P21 to P6 — drive of the weekend? 29:28 Norris & McLaren's strategy miss 33:06 Bortoleto's run continues, Hulkenberg's doesn't 34:19 RB vs Alpine, and Haas' upgrade that wasn't 35:27 Driver of the Day 36:04 Move of the Day 37:48 WTF Moment:v TV direction, Perez's halo passenger & Stroll's DRS 45:49 Prediction League results 47:19 Fantasy League standings (F1 Fantasy & Grid Rival) 48:13 Hungary preview — the great Aston Martin hype 53:43 Our Hungarian GP predictions 57:46 Wrap up (and a very strange episode next week)

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Back of the Grid is a weekly Formula 1 podcast made by fans, for fans. New episodes every Tuesday during the season.

#F1 #BelgianGP #Formula1

The Verstappen-to-McLaren rumours refuse to die down and this week they got louder. Plus: F1 could run 10 sprint weekends in 2027, Aston Martin's big upgrade is delayed to Hungary, and we preview a brutal Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.

In this episode: Mark Weber's denial that Oscar Piastri is being replaced, why Red Bull's talent exodus makes a Verstappen exit feel more plausible (all speculation at this stage, nothing confirmed), what a McLaren hypercar detour could look like for Max, Stefano Domenicali's push for more 2027 sprints, Aston Martin's delayed upgrade, our Belgian GP storylines and predictions, and a mailbag question on the Middle East calendar situation.

🏁 Predictions: https://backofthegrid.com get yours in before qualifying! 🏆 Fantasy & Grid Rival https://backofthegrid.com/fantasy 💬 Join the conversation: https://patreon.com/backofthegrid 📱 @BackOfTheGridF1 on X, Instagram and Facebook

#F1 #BelgianGP #MaxVerstappen

Charles Leclerc delivered Ferrari's 250th race win, but it's the FIA's farcical safety car finish that everyone's talking about.

In this episode, Tom and Chris dig into the safety car controversy that ended the race under caution despite fans being told a final lap was coming, the FIA president's awkward driver parade cameo, and a controversial track-limits penalty for Antonelli. Then it's onto the race itself: Leclerc's much-needed win, Russell's home podium, Antonelli's reliability heartbreak, and Verstappen's rear-end snap at Stowe that ended his race early. Plus Drive of the Day, Move of the Day, and this week's Predictions League and Fantasy results.

⏱ Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:40 WTF: Silverstone's safety car finish controversy 15:11 WTF: MBS's Lego kart parade drama 20:13 WTF: Antonelli's track limits penalty & Sainz's harsh call 26:53 Race review: Leclerc ends his drought with Ferrari's 250th win 33:56 Mercedes: Russell's stellar recovery & Antonelli's bad luck 38:01 Red Bull nightmare: Verstappen's spin and retirement 42:49 Midfield battle: RB, Alpine, Williams & Cadillac's new livery 45:19 Drive of the Day & Move of the Day 49:11 Predictions League & Fantasy results 51:48 Outro & Belgian GP preview

🔗 Links Prediction League & Fantasy: backofthegrid.com Patreon (includes our community Discord): https://patreon.com/backofthegrid

Back of the Grid is an F1 podcast by fans, for fans, hosted by Tom King and Chris Evans. New episodes every Tuesday in season.

#F1 #BritishGP #Formula1

Should Russell's pole have even counted? We break down the yellow-flag row that overshadowed Austria, plus his bounce-back win, Verstappen's Red Bull revival, and a British GP preview.

In this episode, Tom and Chris review the 2026 Austrian GP: the controversial pole that had the whole paddock asking questions, George Russell's important win, Antonelli's mistake-strewn afternoon, Red Bull's upgrade step for Verstappen, Ferrari's latest strategy headache with Hamilton, and a chaotic Racing Bulls team-orders call. Then we look ahead to Silverston. Can the 2026 cars handle a proper high-speed circuit, and is this the weekend Russell finally breaks his home curse?

0:00 Intro & what's coming up 0:27 Austrian GP review: did Russell's pole count? 10:45 Russell converts pole into a win 13:17 Antonelli's messy weekend 16:48 Verstappen & Red Bull's upgrade step 24:18 The penalty trap on Norris's engine fix 27:21 Ferrari's strategy blunders strike again 31:32 Racing Bulls' team-orders mess 34:03 Midfield report: Audi, Williams, Aston & Cadillac 38:29 Silly season: where next for Pérez? 41:03 Driver of the Day 42:58 Move of the Day 45:05 Award: the camera gimmicks (drone & "head cam") 52:06 Prediction League results 54:05 F1 Fantasy & Grid Rival update 55:34 British GP preview: Silverstone storylines 1:03:13 Our Silverstone predictions 1:07:13 Your questions (mailbag) 1:12:55 Wrap-up & sprint weekend reminder

🏁 Prediction League (free to play, win prizes): https://backofthegrid.com 🎮 Grid Rival fantasy (F1 & IndyCar): https://backofthegrid.com/fantasy 💜 Patreon — includes our community Discord: https://patreon.com/backofthegrid 🎧 Prefer video? Watch here: [https://youtube.com/@backofthegridF1

Follow @BackOfTheGridF1 on X, Instagram & Facebook.

Back of the Grid is a weekly F1 podcast by fans, for fans, hosted by Tom King and Chris Evans. New episodes every Tuesday in season.

#F1 #AustrianGP #BritishGP

Ferrari are flying and Mercedes can't stop breaking down! Can Hamilton make it two wins in a row at the 2026 Austrian GP? We preview race week at the Red Bull Ring.

In this episode: the Monaco saga rumbles on (Mercedes withdraw their review, McLaren keep pushing), F1's new engine catch-up rules and why Red Bull are contesting them, Haas silly season heating up, Magnussen's NASCAR debut, plus full Austria storylines and our predictions.

CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:48 Monaco: The Latest 3:35 F1's Engine Catch-Up Rules (ADUO) 9:19 Haas To Drop Ocon? 16:53 Magnussen's NASCAR Debut 18:02 Austrian GP Storylines 26:28 Our Predictions 31:16 Prediction League & Wrap-Up

🏁 Play our Prediction League: https://backofthegrid.com ⭐ Patreon — includes our community Discord: https://patreon.com/backofthegrid 📱 @BackOfTheGridF1 on X, Instagram & Facebook

Back of the Grid is a weekly Formula 1 podcast by fans, for fans, hosted by Tom King and Chris Evans. New episodes every Tuesday in season.

#F1 #AustrianGP #Formula1