On this week’s show Damon returns to look back on an intense Spanish Grand Prix with Tom and Natalie. They discuss Hamilton’s 100th pole - and his response to Damon’s hyperbolic tweet about him! - plus the Briton’s strategic victory over Verstappen in the race. They also discuss that spicy start, Mercedes team orders, and TC shares some interesting behind-the-scenes observations on the title protagonists. Then there’s chat on Leclerc, Ricciardo and Gasly, plus reaction to the surprising thing th...
May 11, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this week’s episode of The Nation, TC and Pinks look back on the Portuguese Grand Prix and Hamilton vs Verstappen Round 3. Joining them (from an airport in the Algarve) to discuss how Hamilton bounced back from an early mistake to take victory is F1.com Senior Writer Lawrence Barretto, who also gives his views on Ferrari’s form and Raikkonen’s error. Then French journalist Julien Billiotte, for the country’s best selling motorsport magazine Auto Hebdo, joins to discuss Alpine’s upsurge in for...
May 04, 2021•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast After a weekend without F1, TC and Damon look ahead to the Portuguese GP with special guest, F1 race winner and notorious prankster Gerhard Berger. Together they share some of their most memorable moments and hilarious anecdotes from the race - including several massive shunts, a famous overtake and Ayrton Senna’s maiden win. Then they look ahead to this year’s race and the next instalment of Hamilton versus Verstappen, before another instalment of Ask Damon, this week with a theme of racing dri...
Apr 27, 2021•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast Well, what a race that was! After a terrific Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Damon, Natalie and Tom discuss all the important issues - including the latest shift in the Verstappen vs Hamilton rivalry, and why we saw SO many driver errors. There’s also chat on Lando Norris, Ferrari, Yuki Tsunoda, and of course that massive shunt between George Russell and Valtteri Bottas. And it wouldn’t be an episode of F1 Nation without another round of Ask Damon! To ask the Champ a question, however silly, send a v...
Apr 20, 2021•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this week’s show TC and Pinks discuss whether this season will see a return of the classic Ferrari-McLaren rivalry, in the company of Felipe Massa’s former Ferrari engineer Rob Smedley. Then Italian correspondent Davide Valsecchi joins to help preview the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, with the trio giving their podium predictions and more! Don't forget, if you want to ask Damon a question, send a voice note to askdamonhill@gmail.com
Apr 13, 2021•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this week’s pod, with Natalie on hols, Damon and TC take a closer look at the Mercedes vs Red Bull rivalry, and how it compares to Williams’ legendary battles with Benetton in the mid-90s. Then Pedro De La Rosa joins the boys to give his view on Alonso, Sainz and all things Spanish in F1, not to mention share some fantastic anecdotes. And finally we have another edition of Ask Damon, where the Champ answers YOUR questions... Want to ask Damon a question? Send a voicenote to AskDamonHill@gmail...
Apr 06, 2021•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast After a breathless F1 season opener in Bahrain, Damon, Natalie and Tom pick apart the big talking points - including Max Verstappen surrendering the lead back to Lewis Hamilton, and just where the victory ranks in Hamilton’s best races. There’s also chat on Norris, Ricciardo and Sainz, some more Yuki Tsunoda love, plus the second instalment of Ask Damon. Oh, and keep an ear out for a cameo from Sky pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz too... If you want to ask Damon a question, send a voice note to ask...
Mar 29, 2021•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the first episode 2021, Tom Clarkson and new team mates Damon Hill and Natalie Pinkham preview the upcoming F1 season – with plenty of laughs along the way. Dutch broadcaster Jack Plooij joins to discuss Max Verstappen’s chances of dethroning Lewis Hamilton, the gang discuss Valtteri Bottas’s cheeky appearance in Drive to Survive, plus Damon faces his first fan question in the brand-new ‘Ask Damon’ segment. If you want to ask Damon a question, send a voice note to askdamonhill@gmail.com...
Mar 23, 2021•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast F1 Nation, your weekly dose of light-hearted F1 chat and fun, returns for a new season on March 23. And this year there’s a new presenting crew! Tom Clarkson returns with two new co-hosts – 1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill and Sky Sports F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham. Be sure to hit the follow button so you don’t miss an episode!
Mar 19, 2021•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the closing episode of 2020 TC and Alex welcome Ross Brawn to hear his thoughts on a year like no other (07:54) then Rosanna Tennant returns to review the season and set one last challenge. (28:25) Finally as Alex bids farewell to F1 Nation we hear both the highlights and the occasions when things didn't go to plan when making the podcast. (59:43)
Dec 15, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the newly renamed 'Perez Nation' Tom Clarkson and Alex Jacques relive an incredible F1 week. They debate if Mercedes might consider George Russell replacing Valtteri Bottas for 2021 (3:53) and hear why victory slipped away with Andrew Shovlin (12:12). Then there's a review of Sergio Perez's stunning last to first win, plus whether it will keep him on the grid for 2021 (20:57), finally hall of fame F1 journalist David Tremayne reflects on the strangest of F1 seasons (31:45)....
Dec 08, 2020•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC and Alex are joined by Dr Ian Roberts and Alan Van Der Merwe to hear about making sense of an accident scene with every second counting, practicing for worst-case scenarios, how unseen footage detailed Romain Grosjean's escape after the 53g impact and why they’re not surprised Romain wants to return to racing (6:53). Then hear from McLaren technical director James Key as the team juggle three years worth of car projects at once. (21:49)
Dec 01, 2020•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC and Alex finally present F1 Nation from the same place and discuss how Renault will cope swapping Daniel Ricciardo with Fernando Alonso (2:01), why the change in safety car will feel strange (5:48) and how will F1 cope with a knight on the grid in 2021 (7:18). Plus TC sits down with McLaren's Principal Car Performance Engineer, Mark Temple (10:27) to reveal the unseen pressures of Lewis Hamilton's early F1 years including: adjusting to fame, coping with Jenson Button, learning to 'drive slowl...
Nov 24, 2020•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC and Alex go behind the scenes of a historic triumph for Lewis Hamilton and consider the sports people he now sits alongside after his 7th title victory. (10:39) Then George Russell talks 5k times, advice from Hamilton after Imola, and the painful reality of the Turkish Grand Prix behind the wheel (20:09). Finally TC recalls a trip to the gym with F1 boss Chase Carey (33:11) and explains why you want your tarmac from Shropshire if you're resurfacing a race track. (16:03)...
Nov 17, 2020•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC and Alex discuss the driver market (00.16) including another trademarked Yuki Tsunoda update before three time Turkish Grand Prix winner Felipe Massa talks about his surprise at Lewis Hamilton's domination, Stefano Domenicali's strengths as a manager and whether he'd rather return to Istanbul or Interlagos. (07:19) Finally TC recounts his many nightmares at the circuit, turn 8 excitement and the 2010 drama is revisited (25:03).
Nov 10, 2020•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC and Alex debate if Mercedes owe Nico Rosberg for their seven consecutive constructor titles (5:32), find out what Daniel Ricciardo said to F1 journalists after being ignored in the post race press conference (13:22) and Alpha Tauri technical director Jody Egginton explains balancing the demands of next years car with huge rule changes for 2022, how racing cultures differ from country to country and the raw emotion of that Monza win (20:23).
Nov 03, 2020•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC and Alex consider if Lewis Hamilton's win total can ever be caught with the upcoming rule changes (1:53), then there's a dive into the mailbag to debate the dramatic driver market (4:31), Christian Horner explains how Alex Albon can save his seat (5:26) and finally Romain Grosjean picks his greatest races as he nears the end of his F1 career (22:17).
Oct 27, 2020•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dario Franchitti starts a debate about the best-looking F1 car ever (6:02), a mailbag question accidentally creates an F1 book club (13:40) and Emanuele Pirro drops by to talk about the harshness of being a elite driver compared to other sports, the energy required to break records, and the conflict of being an F1 steward (19:20).
Oct 20, 2020•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC and Alex speak to Mercedes trackside performance director Andrew Shovlin (9:06), who describes Lewis Hamilton's personal improvements to reach the win record, and why Red Bull are once again closing the gap as the season progresses. Then veteran German journalist Michel Schmitt (17:49) compares the driving talents of Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, explains how Mick Schumacher is already getting more mainstream press attention than Sebastian Vettel, and why the Nurburgring is dreaming of F1 ...
Oct 13, 2020•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC and Alex are joined by F1.com senior writer, Lawrence Barretto to assess Honda’s shock withdrawal. They debate whether the manufacturer has repeated their 2008 mistake (10:32), how will Verstappen respond (12:09), if Red Bull can build their own engine (15:06), why a return to Renault cannot be ruled out (17:37), the knock on effect for the driver line up (18:41), how the entire Milton Keynes outfit will require changes (19:34) and whether this ends Yuki Tsudoda’s F1 chances? (22:52) Then aft...
Oct 06, 2020•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC and Alex welcome Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff (18:00) to hear why he thinks Ferrari would have blocked him from taking the F1 CEO role, why Stefano Domenicali is perfect for the job, what factors are delaying him re-signing with Mercedes and what Hamilton taking the win record would mean for the Schumacher legacy. PLUS the boys unpack the Russian GP, including ballads with Bottas (7:53), mind games at Renault (11:04), the battle for 3rd in the constructors (14:35) and why Hamilton's reaction...
Sep 29, 2020•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Alex Albon joins TC to talk overtaking around the outside, forgetting Eminem lyrics 14:35, celebrating his first podium with a dinner for one 19:49, and the 'unwritten rule' of ignoring your friends on track 21:52. Plus memories of F1's only Grand Prix at Le Mans 6:07, your mailbag questions answered 9:07, and the night Kimi Raikkonen's honesty left TC back peddling at Yas Marina 31:24.
Sep 22, 2020•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC and Alex reflect on the season so far with a mid-season report on every F1 team and driver (14:57). Then Davide Valsecchi drops in to review Ferrari's campaign, (20:26) unpicks whats putting Giovinazzi under pressure (28:32), why he's so impressed with Mick Schumacher (30:31) and which driver on the grid is back to his very best (24:07).
Sep 15, 2020•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the newly renamed 'Gasly Nation' we delve into the Frenchman’s past to highlight when his F1 chances hung by a thread and what pulled him through (10:47) then Andrew Shovlin explains why Mercedes made the race defining error and what they'll change for this weekend (21:50), finally paddock legend Ane Bradshaw (23:56) and four time champion Alain Prost (28:07) reveal the truth about the Williams F1 era.
Sep 08, 2020•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC and Alex discuss Ferrari's collapse after their worst result in 40 years (1:43). They're joined by 1979 champion Jody Scheckter (12:50) to hear how things were even worse in 1980 before McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl drops by to explain his management philosophy and how it's been informed by Bayern Munich (18:54).
Sep 01, 2020•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week Tom and Alex are joined by Mark Blundell to hear how to win in America (10:30), why Williams were so good in their heyday (14:10) and which driver reminds him of Senna (20:44). Plus why F1 could return to Indianapolis (3:32) and how Takuma Sato (6:32) owes a lot to the designer of the 2002 Jordan.
Aug 25, 2020•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC and Alex welcome Red Bull team principal Christian Horner (08:38) to hear why he backs 'deep thinker' Alex Albon (15:14), why an experienced team mate would offer nothing extra to Max Verstappen (13:59), and why his team won’t give up on the title.
Aug 18, 2020•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC and Alex are joined by Nico Hulkenberg (14:02) to hear what he made of his welcome from other drivers, why he’d love another ‘date’ with Racing Point and those links to Alfa Romeo for 2021. Plus Ferrari repeat old mistakes with Charles Leclerc (08:13), why Sebastian Vettel is so on edge with his future sorted (11:05) and Andrew Shovlin on why Merecdes are relishing the challenge to fix their tyre issues before Sunday (30:10)
Aug 11, 2020•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC and Alex welcome Renault F1 driver Esteban Ocon to hear what lessons he learned from Lewis Hamilton, why he was thinking about tyres before Sunday's race and why he's more Bane than Hannibal Lecter.
Aug 04, 2020•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast TC and Alex are joined by former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan to discuss which drivers he'd like to manage, why he'd favour a young gun over signing Vettel and his memory of breaking into Silverstone to watch the Grand Prix.
Jul 28, 2020•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
