Rick and Matt discuss the final race of the 2025 Formula One season in Abu Dhabi, Lando Norris’s first time becoming world champion, and Max Verstappen’s valiant second half of the season, which saw him come within two points of finishing top.

The pair ask: Was this Max’s best ever season?

They also review the F1 highlights of 2025, look ahead to what’s to come in 2026, plus we hear Red Bull chief engineer Paul ‘Pedals’ Monaghan’s assessment of the season.

Also in this episode:

• The key moments which led to Lando Norris’s first world championship win
• Why Max was ‘the most upbeat person’ in the Red Bull camp
• Rick’s favourite F1 memes
• Next season’s Formula One regulation changes explained
• Rick & Matt’s 2026 predictions

Don’t forget to subscribe for exclusive F1 insights, race recaps, and all the gossip from inside the paddock.

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For the entire season Matt Majendie and Rick Edwards are embedded with Max Verstappen and the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team. Matt will be in the pits and in the garage, with the drivers and in the factory, at the debriefs and the strategy session.

Get involved with the show!

Email us: theinsidetrack@bbc.com

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @theinsidetrack_podcast

TikTok: @theinsidetrack_pod

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinsidetrack_podcast

This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.

No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.

Producer: Jon Weeks

Executive Producer: James Cook

Social Media and Video Editor: Georgina Revell

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rick and Matt discuss yet another strong race from Max Verstappen in Qatar, as a tactical pit stop saw Red Bull outwit McLaren.

The pair also discuss all highlights from the Formula One race in Qatar, preview the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, and consider whether Isaac Hadjar is the right man for the job at Red Bull for 2026.

Also in this episode:

• Have the Papaya Rules damaged McLaren’s driver championship title hopes?
• How Carlos Sainz secured the podium
• Will Isaac Hadjar break the ‘curse’ of the Red Bull second seat?
• Rick and Matt share their final race predictions for the 2025 season

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for exclusive F1 insights, race recaps, and all the gossip from inside the paddock.

-

For the entire season Matt Majendie and Rick Edwards are embedded with Max Verstappen and the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team. Matt will be in the pits and in the garage, with the drivers and in the factory, at the debriefs and the strategy session.

Get involved with the show!

Email us: theinsidetrack@bbc.com

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @theinsidetrack_podcast

TikTok: @theinsidetrack_pod

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinsidetrack_podcast

This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.

No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.

Producer: Jon Weeks

Executive Producer: James Cook

Social Media and Video Editor: Georgina Revell

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rick and Matt react LIVE to McLaren’s double disqualification in the Las Vegas GP, and discuss Max Verstappen’s renewed chances of winning the Championship, at just 24 points behind Lando Norris.

The pair also discuss all the drama from the race in Vegas, share insight from Red Bull on their second seat for 2026, and hear from Red Bull strategist Hannah Schmitz on proposed mandatory two-stop races in future Formula One seasons.

Also in this episode:

• Why the Vegas road surface was so tricky to drive on in the wet
• Was Kimi Antonelli’s five-second penalty fair?
• Max Verstappen set to lose ANOTHER engineer
• Matt misses out on a SIX-POINTER in the podcast predictions league

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for exclusive F1 insights, race recaps, and all the gossip from inside the paddock.

-

For the entire season Matt Majendie and Rick Edwards are embedded with Max Verstappen and the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team. Matt will be in the pits and in the garage, with the drivers and in the factory, at the debriefs and the strategy session.

Get involved with the show!

Email us: theinsidetrack@bbc.com

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @theinsidetrack_podcast

TikTok: @theinsidetrack_pod

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinsidetrack_podcast

This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.

No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.

Producer: Jon Weeks

Executive Producer: James Cook

Social Media and Video Editor: Georgina Revell

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.