Alpine rookie Jack Doohan will be sporting a new lid for the Miami Grand Prix, courtesy of Selling Sunset star Jason Oppenheim. The realtor-turned-reality star found fame when his Netflix smash hit debuted the same month as Drive To Survive, and he’s since become a Formula 1 obsessive. The Oppenheim Group owner started attending races in 2023 and quickly struck up a friendship with members of Alpine Racing, including 22-year-old Doohan.
“Excited to announce a special collaboration between The Oppenheim Group and my friend Jack Doohan,” he captioned an Instagram video this week. “We are creating a custom racing helmet for Jack to wear as he competes in the Miami Grand Prix,” the luxury real estate mogul added, asking his 1.5 million followers for “ideas and suggestions to include in the final design.” The deal appears to have been struck between Oppenheim and Doohan’s team directly, rather than Alpine, although the broker has been a guest of the Enstone-based outfit on multiple occasions.
He’s attended half a dozen races over the past two years, and presumably became pally with the Australian when he was a reserve driver with much more downtime to chat to VIP guests. Jason and his twin brother Brett have since become recurring figures in the paddock, along with fellow Selling Sunset cast members Mary Fitzgerald and Romain Bonnet. The foursome have been seen so regularly at American races that it’s clear their passion for the sport is genuine.
While Jason’s deal with Doohan isn’t exactly breaking new ground, it’s a positive sign for Liberty Media. Formula 1 and its key sponsors have made a concerted effort to lure in high-profile figures from the worlds of music, fashion, sports and Hollywood, hoping to convert them into lifelong fans. But Jason isn’t just another paddock ornament, he’s become the blueprint for the ideal celebrity pipeline, and has even taken it a step further by meaningfully engaging with the sport. As F1’s popularity continues to rise, an A-lister simply showing up and posing for a snap is no longer fodder for a news story. Alpine is among the few teams that seem to realize that, and have used their proximity to celebrity to court relevance.
Red Bull Racing receives a Pirelli Pole Position Award from Jason Oppenheim
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
It’s a solid strategy for building goodwill, and if the team’s high-profile investors – including Ryan Reynolds, Michael B. Jordan, Travis Kelce, and Patrick Mahomes – have taught us anything, it’s that sometimes, the best way to stay relevant isn’t through championship points, but cultural capital. For Doohan, the collaboration with the Oppenheim Group won’t move the needle in his career (or save him from the possibility of Franco Colapinto taking his job), but it does boost his name recognition in front of a new audience that F1 has been eager to capture. And in a sport where sponsorships and visibility can be almost as important as raw talent, that’s never a bad thing.
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Yuki Tsunoda is gearing up for a very busy week — both on and off the track. The Japanese driver, who is set to replace Liam Lawson at Red Bull when F1 heads to his home country this weekend, is also launching his clothing brand, Venti Due, set to be available for fans to purchase online, or at a pop-up in Suzuka City.
His first drop features hoodies, crew necks, oversized jerseys, balloon pants, a canvas tote bag and a beanie. The brand motif heavily involves the number 22, along with a maple leaf and the slogan, ‘fast on track, effortless in style.’ Some eagle-eyed fans even spotted a subtle ‘Y’ and ‘T’ in the leaf design. Japanese artist Jinya Yamakawa, who has previously collaborated with the 24-year-old on his helmet designs, is part of the creative team for Venti Due (the brand name translates to ’22’ in Italian). The first drop was set to be released on March 31, however it’s unclear when the site will go live.
Meanwhile, Tsunoda has been preparing for his Red Bull debut after having completed just four seasons at the energy drink giant’s junior team. Although he was initially turned down for the second seat for the 2025 season, he is finally being afforded the opportunity to prove himself alongside four-time world champion, Max Verstappen, after the team dropped Lawson for his poor performances less than three races into the season.
This year was also the first time Tsunoda had stepped into a team leader role, as he partnered 20-year-old rookie Isack Hadjar for Australia and China. As the clear number one driver, he put in some impressive performances, finishing 16th in China and 12th in Australia, while also earning three championship points (compared to Lawson’s zero) — something the higher-ups seem to have noticed and led to the quick, early-season promotion. Though, that second seat may come with some baggage. Hopefully, time will tell if Tsunoda can hold his own so that he might find himself sticking around longer than his former counterparts who have also graced the ‘cursed’ second Red Bull seat.
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When the Miami Grand Prix was added to the Formula 1 calendar on a 10-year contract, F1 purists were skeptical. The race represented everything that they had resisted for years: glitz, extravagance, and an overtly American spectacle. But Miami quickly cemented itself as a marquee event, not just by delivering solid on-track action – but by winning over fans. At the center of its success is Hard Rock Stadium, a venue that has evolved from a traditional NFL stronghold to a year-round hub for major global events — and F1 is at the heart of that transformation.
“No one needs this … but we’re in the business of memory making,” says Tyler Epp, President of the Miami Grand Prix, while chatting at a Dolphins home game last December. We’re talking about the pomp and circumstance surrounding sporting events at the stadium, including the exclusive Members Lounge we’re standing in which transforms into the ultra-luxurious F1 Paddock Club each May. I suspect what he’s actually telling me is that Miami must create extraordinary experiences to keep customers coming back, especially when competing with two other races on American soil.
Epp credits much of the Miami Grand Prix’s quick success to the Dolphins organization and its nearly four decades of experience hosting NFL games. “When we started this three years ago, we were already halfway there. We have these super marketing people, sales people and a lot of other resources, so we should deliver the best Grand Prix on the calendar,” he explains. “The ability to lean on shared services has been a real benefit, but we’ve also had our challenges. We have to build entire grandstands and hospitality venues, and all of our plumbing and power [outside the stadium] is temporary … not to mention, making sure that the grounds don’t ever feel like a parking lot, which has been the mission that Tom Garfinkel [CEO of the Dolphins] talked about from day one.”
Lando Norris celebrates on the podium at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Today, the organization operates as a cohesive unit, with the football side of the business even drawing lessons from F1. Campus operations during Dolphins game days, for instance, are now modeled on logistical successes from the Miami Grand Prix. “We’ve turned into a year-round mega events business,” Epp says. “We start planning the Grand Prix layout in August [the year before] and that’s finalized in November or December. But from a publicity perspective we can’t ever make it look like we’re not planning for a Dolphins championship home game,” he explains. “We always have to assume that the team will be playing in the stadium that weekend, but if the best case scenario doesn’t happen, we have to be nimble enough to move up our timelines.”
Epp also has the benefit of almost a decade immersed in the football world, having worked at the Kansas City Chiefs before moving to Florida. “We’ve been very intentional about never prioritizing F1 over football. But we also understand what a huge opportunity we have, because we’ve now got a sports entertainment business,” he says. Miami’s natural allure as a playground for the rich and famous has been another stroke of good fortune for the team, as countless A-listers have stepped foot in the paddock over the past few years. “There have been some celebrities that no one even knows were here,” Epp says coyly when I ask about rumors that Beyonce and Jay-Z secretly attended the race in 2022. Others have been ultra low key. “Michelle Obama wanted to come and was a guest of Lewis. She showed up right on time, got to experience a session, and was in and out very, very quietly,” he explains. “Then there’s the C-list celebrities who just want to be here because they love racing, but sometimes those people are [the most valuable] because they’ll talk so graciously about the experience, and they still have influence over millions of people online.”
Venus and Serena Williams on the grid
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Handling high-profile guests is an art in itself. If, say, Taylor Swift (whose boyfriend, Travis Kelce, is an investor in Alpine Racing) wanted to attend the race, the process is carefully orchestrated. “The first check is always with F1 to make sure they know about it and we’re all aligned,” Epp explains, noting that “the worst situation is when an agent and a manager are talking to two different parties and playing us against each other.” The second call would be to Swift’s management team. “That’s when we really understand what experience she’s looking for. If she’s bringing her entire family and it’s a big celebration they’re having together, then we’re going to charge you. But if you’re just coming because you want to see the race, which is a great benefit [to us], there’s no charge,” he says.
The VIP experience extends well beyond the stadium, all the way out to the highway. “About five years ago [Dolphins owner] Stephen Ross and Tom introduced a Black Card Express Lane off the Turnpike that you can only drive on with a special pass and takes you right into our luxury parking lot,” Epp says. “You don’t have any interaction with the general population from the time you leave your hotel to the time you get to your seat. It’s all very protected and private … the most important thing is that they’re in an environment where they’re comfortable amongst peers and don’t feel like they’re being looked at.”
Of course, not every guest craves discretion. “There are definitely two types of celebrities: there’s also the person that really wants to make sure that they’re seen, and that’s fine, too. We have a different program for that where we can parade you through the paddock and make sure you’re there on the grid.” The way Epp sees it, there’s a give and take: “We treat them like any other customer, but there’s a lot of value there [for us] so it’s just a question of, ‘What do we need to do to make this work?’”
Managing VIPs isn’t without its challenges, however. The issue that immediately comes to mind for Epp involves guests arriving with a much larger entourage than expected. “Everyone is trailed by a videographer now … even CEOs,” he says. Though it might not seem like a major issue, arriving at the paddock gates with five extra people who don’t have passes can cause some serious headaches in a sport obsessed with red tape.
Donald Trump and Zak Brown
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
Personal security is another critical issue, which came to a head when Donald Trump attended the 2024 Miami Grand Prix and wreaked havoc in the paddock. “Operating this race is extremely difficult from a security standpoint because of all the doors, nooks, crannies and caverns. In that stadium, there are secret hallways that only our guys know, so in the first year, paddock security was not good,” Epp admits. Before Trump’s visit, the Secret Service spent 10 days surveying the venue, however they still ordered major shutdowns in areas of the paddock just a few hours before the race kicked off. “The Secret Service blocked off the walkway in the middle of the paddock for 20 minutes, and the teams were losing it because they were like, ‘I have to cross,’” he recalls. “But speaking completely apolitically, it’s great to have that type of celebrity on the grid. We’re fairly disciplined on not aligning our organization with any political figure — we treat everybody the same, because we want to show that we understand exactly what you need for your visit. Taylor’s going to need different things than Trump needed, and different things than a CEO needs, but we have the ability to execute all of it.”
I ask whether there were any learnings from the Trump visit, but Epp isn’t sure how much would change should the now-President choose to attend the race again this year. “When you’re dealing with world leaders and governmental security, there’s only so much you can do. We just had to try to make the best decisions that we possibly could in the moment … we can’t tell them no, and we never would,” he says.
Haas team members visit the Miami Dolphins NFL team training ground.
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
When I attended the inaugural Miami Grand Prix in 2022, I wrote that the hottest place to see and be seen was a small access road behind the Hard Rock Stadium. In the years since, the F1 paddock has extended beyond that access road to include hospitality structures on the football field and the purpose-built Paddock Club building. But Hard Rock Stadium isn’t just an F1 venue for one week of the year — it’s evolving into something much more integrated.
“We’re still finding our way, and maybe we’ll be having a different conversation in 18 months, but the beauty of it is that it gets to be customer focused,” Epp tells me. The garages are rebranded as the MIA Garage Tailgate post-F1 and are available to rent for pre-game BBQs. Meanwhile, the Paddock Club structure, which connects to the main stadium via a skybridge, has hosted wedding receptions and serves as a lounge for Dolphins members on game day. “We bumped our heads a little bit trying to figure out exactly what the offering was, but we feel like we’ve found a really nice sweet spot,” Epp says of the lounge. “This is not the Paddock Club. This is meant to be a place for passionate fans to get away and relax before the game.”
Ultimately, it all comes down to delivering experiences that last. “We service everybody from the person who saves all their money for one game that they take their kids to every year to [ultra high net worth] individuals, and we have to be able to do that both in the football business and in F1,” Epp says. In a crowded F1 landscape, he’s confident that his team has a unique proposition. “We’re in the memory making business at the end of the day, and we’re trying to create an environment to make special memories that will last a lifetime. That’s our goal.”
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When Liam Lawson needed a logo that encapsulated his personality, his racing style and his heritage, New Zealand-based graphic designers Harris Keenan and Oliver James stepped up to the task. With only three weeks to bring the concept to life last year, the duo set out to create a unique logo that would stand apart from the sleek, monochromatic branding associated with most other F1 drivers. The result is a distinctive emblem that reflects both Lawson’s fiery driving style and his interests off track.
Keenan and James first connected with Lawson after creating the branding for the Los Angeles-based talent agency that represents him. The Red Bull driver curated a mood board, with the help of his team, featuring a mix of streetwear brands, iconic racing visuals and design references from other industries. “We wanted to make sure that the brand was bigger than just racing, and that it could be used for many things in the future,” Keenan explained.
The logo they devised features an illustrated character resembling Lawson with a cheeky grin, a mischievous look in his eye, and a bright pink backwards cap. Interestingly however, the character was originally conceived in Lawson’s head, long before he ever stepped foot on the F1 grid.
“He’s been drawing the character for many years,” Keenan said. “He gave us a little sketch drawing that he did himself… and we wanted to keep it really simple, but we added the cap and the little cheeky grin.”
The initial design featured round, friendly eyes, but after submitting the assets, Keenan had a moment of reconsideration. “I called Liam’s social media manager and said, ‘We need to change the eyes and make them more menacing, more aggressive… because that’s how he drives and how he operates on the track’.” That tiny adjustment helped strike the balance between Lawson’s easygoing personality away from the F1 paddock and his fierce competitiveness behind the wheel.
James said he “loves the dichotomy” of the brand they created. “It’s quite unassuming, it’s a little bit cute and playful, but then on the race track he’s actually this crazy menace, so I like the balance between those two sides of him,” he said.
James also noted that the design brief extended beyond motorsport to Lawson’s other possible pursuits. “He’s very interested in fashion and music as well,” the illustrator explained. “So I think those are the things that they want to grow the brand into eventually.”
The pair also envision the logo evolving over time. “OBB Media was one of our references,” James went on. “They have this character that has developed over time and now becomes an icon in different scenarios. I think Liam and his team liked the malleability of being able to have the character transform or shift into whatever it needs to be in that moment.”
While the initial design phase is complete, Keenan and James believe they’re only scratching the surface of what’s possible. “We want to keep building on it in the future,” James said. “It’s meant to go beyond just being on a helmet, and that’s what we’ve been chipping away at in the background.” Standing out from the pack of sharp, minimalistic logos was also a point of national pride for the duo.
“He’s a Kiwi, we’re both Kiwis… and when we’re on the world stage, we want to make an impact,” Keenan said. “We want to be seen and be heard, so we made sure that this logo was going to stand out and be different from everything else.”
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You know his voice, even if you’ve never seen his face. It’s warm yet urgent, authoritative yet inviting with an unmistakable timbre like the hum of a V8 engine before it roars to life. When the race is calm, his voice is steady and measured, but as the action reaches a fever pitch, he crackles with excitement while delivering each syllable with the confidence of someone who has spent decades living and breathing motorsport. Much more than just a commentator, Leigh Diffey is a maestro who could inject a burst of energy into a tortoise race – and he doesn’t only tell you what’s happening, he makes you feel it.
You’ve heard Diffey’s Australian lilt everywhere. The 100m sprint finals at the Paris Olympics with one of the closest finishes in history? That was Diffey. The Indy 500? You bet, and he was the voice of IndyCar for over a decade. He’s soundtracked NBC’s Formula 1 coverage in the US and continues to lead the network’s slate of motorsport offerings, including NASCAR and the Rolex 24, where I managed to steal a moment of his time during a commercial break.
Leigh Diffey, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, mid-interview during the 2022 IndyCar Portland GP race weekend
Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images
Although the commentary box wasn’t on his radar until early adulthood, Diffey’s ambition grew quickly, and he left the job of a lifetime in Australia to chase an even bigger dream on the other side of the world. However, the 53-year-old’s path to the pinnacle didn’t begin in the paddock, but in a classroom outside Brisbane, where he worked as a schoolteacher in his early twenties and toyed with the idea of a career in farming.
Before Diffey’s dulcet tones were heard around the world, he was juggling an eclectic mix of jobs. “I worked in the fitness industry as a gym and aerobics instructor, I worked on building sites as a chippie’s laborer [Ed. note: a carpenter, in Australian], and I worked at the theme park Warner Brothers Movie World,” he recalls. “This was all at the same time — I was doing everything and anything.” Even as a teenager working on a tomato farm, he absorbed lessons that shaped his work ethic. “I had a tremendous boss who taught me there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”
After taking a job as a physical education teacher at a prestigious all-boys school, Diffey was met by fate when some friends he used to race dirt bikes with asked him to handle public-address announcing duties at a local motorcycle club meet. “I naturally had a very energetic style,” he says, admitting some of his early commentary “probably wasn’t all that factual.” His enthusiasm, however, laid the groundwork for mastering the art of race calling. “My passion helped lead me to all of the other intrinsic elements of making a good race call,” he explains, attributing his storytelling skills to lively conversations around the family dinner table. “Maybe it came to me through osmosis,” he muses.
Doors soon started to open for Diffey as he ascended the ranks in Australia, eventually landing a coveted job that almost certainly would have seen him become one of the nation’s most recognizable figures in sport. “I was a reporter on Sports Tonight covering so many different motorsport categories, and I started to get opportunities abroad really early on in my career. I got the bug for [moving overseas], and I’d met a gentleman in the UK who was very well connected, so I left what could have been the job of a lifetime in Australia to chase the big dream,” he recalls.
That lofty dream was perhaps the loftiest dream possible in the small world of commentating: supplanting the long-time, deeply beloved voice of Formula 1 when he retired in 2001. “I’d convinced myself that I was going to replace Murray Walker, which was a beautiful naivety and youthful exuberance,” he says with a laugh. He even cold-called Bernie Ecclestone to throw his hat in the ring. “I got close, I got to the final three.”
James Allen (now this publication’s president of motorsport business) ultimately secured the role at ITV, where he was the network’s lead commentator for seven years until they lost the broadcast rights in 2008. But I ask Diffey what life might have looked like if he was successful, and dove headfirst into Formula 1 in the early 2000s. “I think it would have been tough purely because I would have been a foreigner stepping in and I was still so young and so green … look at the hardship and the criticism that James faced. He was already part of the team, and he’s English,” Diffey says of the constant comparisons made between other pundits and the late, great Walker . “I’m now well-tenured having lived in the US for over 20 years. I know what it’s like to be a foreigner doing big, big events, but back then … I think it would have been somewhat of a poisoned chalice.”
After a short stint in the UK with the BBC, he moved stateside to join Speed Channel as a play-by-play announcer, before inking a deal with NBC in 2013. The network held F1’s American broadcast rights until 2017, meaning Diffey was the voice of the series for four years. “I really enjoy walking through airports now and seeing kids, and adults, wearing Red Bull shirts or McLaren caps, because even as recently as when we were doing F1 on NBC, that was pretty sparse,” he recalls, noting that the rise of F1 fandom represents a broader victory for all forms of motorsport. “Instead of wearing a New York Yankees shirt, they’re wearing a McLaren shirt, and that’s great for our sport.”
Also great for the sport, in Diffey’s eyes: an American driver in F1: “I would be surprised if you didn’t see Colton Herta in one of the seats,” he predicts when I ask about Cadillac’s 2026 arrival, referring to the IndyCar star who partnered Lando Norris in their junior single-seater careers. “That’s the last missing piece of the puzzle of the American Formula 1 success story: having a [competitive] driver.”
AJ Allmendinger, Leigh Diffey, Calvin Fish, for NBC at Road Atlanta, 2019 IMSA race
Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images
As we speak, Diffey is gearing up for one of the most notoriously grueling challenges in racing: the Rolex 24 at the Daytona International Speedway. “We have a rotating team, so we all tap out and tap in, but you can’t go too far away. You’ve got to keep your eye on the race to maintain the thread of the story,” he explains. During a visit to race control, in the room next door to the NBC booth, I spot blow-up mattresses under desks, makeshift hammocks between workstations and trash cans full of coffee cups. Sleep is hard to come by during an endurance race, so you rest anywhere you can. “We’re either in the back of the booth or we’re in the production trailer,” Diffey tells me. Although there are hundreds of drivers and countless stories to tell, 24 hours is still a lot of airtime to fill. “When there’s not much going on, that’s when you earn your money,” he says with a laugh.
Outside of motorsport, Diffey’s voice has become a staple of Olympic broadcasts, including the most-watched 10 seconds of the Paris Games: the 100m sprint final. “There’s a lot of parallels and crossover between motorsport and track and field,” he says. “With the 100-meter, me and my teammate Ato Bolden, the four time Olympic medalist, will have a pre-set rhythm so that the broadcast is seamless. Typically we’ll have a bit of silence so you can hear the gun and build anticipation, then you get into the race call.”
He goes with his gut and 99% of the time he gets it right, but he’s also the first to admit when he’s made a mistake. “I got it wrong,” he wrote on Instagram last summer after incorrectly identifying Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson as the winner of the 100m final, rather than American sprinter, Noah Lyles. “You’ve just got to go with what your eyes see,” he tells me. With six Olympics under his belt, Diffey hopes to call the 2032 Games in his hometown of Brisbane. “That would be something special,” he says.
His next big challenge, however, is continuing to win over hardcore NASCAR fans unaccustomed to hearing an Aussie accent in the commentary booth. Diffey joined analysts Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte as the series’ lead announcer after IndyCar moved to FOX last year, and he’s already earning rave reviews.
“You’re never going to please everybody, but I was totally honest and open with the fan base by saying ‘I’ve never been to Talladega, I’ve never been to Bristol, I’ve never been to Martinsville.’
“I had this child-like enthusiasm and wonderment, and I think viewers got to see the real me,” he explains. When he headed to the Coke Zero Sugar 400 for his first race in the big chair last August, he made sure his homework was done. “It was tough coming in later in the year when I had already done Supercross, IMSA, IndyCar, the Indy 500, and the Olympics. I prepare best when I compartmentalize. I had so many other things I had to focus on and do a good job with first, especially Paris,” he says. “When it’s finally go-time, I watch every race of the season and write myself notes that I can refer back to.”
Leigh Diffey, Jeff Burton, Dale Jarrett and Steve Letarte speak to media during a press conference at NASCAR Championship 4 Media Day at Phoenix Raceway, 2024
Photo by: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
Diffey quickly earned his stripes in the eyes of NASCAR faithfuls after he energetically declared, “Jeff, your little boy has done it,” when Harrison Burton took home a surprise victory at Daytona during his maiden outing in the booth. “I don’t know if nervous is the right word … I was anxious. I really wanted to have a good start and make a good impression. I told myself what I tell my kids when they have a school exam: just one step at a time. I made sure I’d done my homework because I wanted to do a good job for the company, for the fans, and for myself,” he says, describing Harrison’s win as “one of those epic moments” that he’ll remember forever.
My conversation with Diffey eventually circles back to the idea of legacy. With two young sons growing up on motorbikes, I wonder if he envisions a Diffey dynasty. “Not at all,” he laughs. “Our boys are into so many sports, the motorbikes are just a fun thing on the side.” In fact, his sons’ races might be the only motorsport events where he isn’t calling the shots. “I work most weekends so my wife is a full moto mom. She’s unbelievable,” he says. “She’s the one loading the pickup truck with the bikes, the fuel cans, the ramps and the gear.” Diffey’s role? Keeping quiet. “I get tense when my kids compete,” he confesses. “When I’m at a race, I have to keep my mouth shut.”
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A new plot-heavy trailer for Brad Pitt’s hotly-anticipated movie, aptly titled F1, has dropped.
The two-and-a-half-minute clip finally gives fans an idea of the film’s premise, which centers on a washed-up former F1 driver, Sonny Hayes, who makes a surprise return to the grid several years after suffering a terrible crash. However, it becomes glaringly obvious in the latest teaser that if it were real life, there’s very little chance Hayes would find himself in an F1 seat.
Javier Bardem, who plays the owner of the fictional APXGP team, describes Pitt’s character as a “guy who lives in a van” and a “gambling junkie.” Hayes isn’t in the kind of fighting shape that’s become mandatory for F1 drivers in recent years, even if he won the 24 Hours of Daytona shortly before being recruited by APXGP. His team-mate, rookie driver Joshua Pearce, isn’t a fan of Hayes: “He’s old, he’s such a prick,” actor Damson Idris is heard saying. There’s some serious animosity between the pair, who get tangled up in multiple crashes throughout the season – and a few off-track confrontations too.
Previous trailers have featured clips of real F1 drivers, including a shot of Carlos Sainz during the starting grid in Silverstone and a collision with Esteban Ocon’s Alpine. While it remains to be seen how heavily the drivers will be showcased in the final cut, director Joseph Kosinski said all of the real-life drivers were incredibly gracious.
“They’re all very handsome, charming…and they’re friendly guys. You can see how they all got to where they are,” he told a select group of media earlier this week, including Motorsport.com. “When you say you’re making a movie, there’s going to be some reticence, but when [the drivers] saw how determined we were to make it authentic and represent their sport in the absolute best way we could, they embraced us.
cars being filmed for new F1 film APEX starring Brad Pitt
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
“Working alongside Lewis, and all the other drivers on the grid and to have them play themselves in the film was really remarkable. There’s just no way this film would exist without them.”
Kosinski also addressed some of the unique challenges presented by filming in such a high-pressure environment. “We couldn’t shoot at the track without the race going on, so we had to find 10- or 15-minute time slots between practice and qualifying where we’d have Brad and Damson ready, and the cars warmed up with hot tires ready to go,” he explained. “As soon as practice ended, we’d have cameras already rolling, and I’d have to shoot scenes in these very short, intense, high-speed windows. I don’t think the crowd even realized that Brad Pitt was in the car.”
The Top Gun: Maverick director said there was a “heightened quality” to their shoots, which would ordinarily be stretched out over multiple days, rather than 15-minute windows.
“We were also shooting dramatic scenes on the grid before races,” he recalled. “So, it was a very unique way of working. It was like a live stage play – but in front of thousands of people while shooting at 180 miles an hour.”
F1 hits the big screen in June.
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If you step foot in Melbourne this week, you’ll quickly learn there’s no escaping Oscar Piastri. His face beams down from billboards, sails past on trams, and even greets hungry fans outside Grill’d, where his limited-edition burger has become a nationwide hit for the chain. He also recorded special announcements for the city’s public transport system and will make appearances for brands like Jack Daniel’s and Mastercard in the lead-up to the race. Australia’s golden boy is so inescapable that even his own sister, Hattie, has had enough — a viral TikTok video showed her running into multiple billboards of her big brother on her daily commute. That’s all to say, there’s no question that the nation’s love affair with the McLaren ace is well underway.
It’s easy to forget that 2025 is only Piastri’s third season as an F1 driver; at just 23 years old, he already carries himself with the maturity of a seasoned veteran. He entered the paddock in the shadow of his charismatic fellow countryman, Daniel Ricciardo, after he was booted from the Papaya outfit at the end of 2022. But Piastri immediately made it clear he had no plans to replicate the larger-than-life antics and specific brand of Aussie humor that made Ricciardo a household name. In contrast, Piastri is quiet, but fans have since learned that he’s also hilariously dry and witty. He’s not flashy in any sense of the word either, and he certainly isn’t trying to be someone he’s not.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, and Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 2nd position, celebrate after the Sprint
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
That authenticity has made him a magnet for brands — whether it be a personal deal with Grill’d or his McLaren sponsor obligations with Mastercard. It’s also great timing considering Ricciardo’s decade-long reign as the king of the Australian Grand Prix is coming to an end: there’s a new hometown hero to serve as the face of Aussie motorsport — and he’s plastered on every available billboard, bus stop, and screen.
Piastri is seemingly feeling more confident and at-ease than ever before, and he’s got plenty to be happy about following the announcement that he inked a contract extension with McLaren this week. The length of the multi-year deal was not disclosed, though his current contract runs through 2026. “It’s a great feeling knowing that I’m part of McLaren’s long-term vision,” he said in a press release Wednesday. “I’m very proud to be continuing to represent this legendary team for many years to come. I’m excited to fight for the big prizes as a McLaren driver and after last year’s fantastic achievements, it has made me even hungrier to stay at the sharp end.”
Another Oscar Piastri advert on the tram in Melbourne, Australia
Not only did Piastri become a grand prix winner in 2024, but he played a vital role in helping the team clinch its first constructor’s title since 1998. He and Lando Norris, who also signed a contract extension last year, are one of the strongest line-ups on the grid, meaning fans have a real shot of seeing an Aussie claim victory at Albert Park on Sunday. In the history of the race, no Australian driver has ever stood on the podium, but if anyone can break the so-called curse, it’s Piastri.
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Here for its seventh season, “Drive to Survive” remerges this Friday with a new cast of characters taking center stage. The departure of Guenther Steiner and Daniel Ricciardo — both of whom became household names following the early success of the docuseries — seems to signal a new era for the Netflix hit. With six new rookies joining the ranks, along with some fresh faces among key roles at teams within the paddock, we’re giving you a sneak peek at who was “cast” this latest season as heroes, and the ones you’ll most likely want to hate. *Warning, spoilers!*
Flavio Briatore
Flavio Briatore, Alpine executive advisor, in Netflix’s Season 7 of “Drive to Survive”
Photo by: Netflix
You don’t need to know much about Italian businessman Flavio Briatore to guess how he’s portrayed in the show. The Alpine executive advisor, who was parachuted in to save the flailing French outfit last season, is accompanied by a villainous soundtrack every time he appears on screen. “I’m strong enough, I’m wealthy enough to tell everybody to stay away from me,” he says matter-of-factly when he’s first introduced. “I don’t care. People are jealous of me because I’m not diplomatic. I tell you the truth.”
Briatore didn’t shy away from addressing Alpine’s “s**t” performance throughout the season, telling viewers he plans to save the team by being a “democratic dictator.” He also didn’t hide his disdain for Esteban Ocon, calling the one-time Grand Prix winner a “brat” for lamenting the performance of the car. “For months, Esteban was complaining all the time about the car … I don’t like that. Don’t be a spoiled brat,” he said. “I believed he’d be more focused [but] I believe Esteban has no motivation anymore to drive for us.”
Reserve driver Jack Doohan was promoted to a race seat, replacing Ocon, before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Although the 22-year-old’s dreams were coming true, he couldn’t have looked more terrified as Briatore shared the news. “No more kid s**t, no more nyeh nyeh nyeh. Now Jesus Christ you need to be in the top,” he told the Australian. “The future of the Jack, I control you every millimeter.”
James Vowles
James Vowles, Team Principal, Williams Racing
Photo by: Williams
If there’s one man ‘Drive to Survive’ producers want you to like, it’s James Vowles. The softly-spoken Williams team boss is the MVP of Season 7, as he courts Carlos Sainz with humor and humility in equal measure. “I wake up in the morning and I go to sleep at night thinking of nothing else,” he says of the Spaniard.
We’re introduced to Vowles while he’s running in Oxfordshire with members of the engineering staff (he’s a team player), then a producer compliments his “very good hair” (he’s handsome), and we’re shown an entirely unnecessary clip of him telling a fan: “believe in yourself and you can go anywhere” (he has a heart of gold). Not to mention, Vowles is funny. “Signing a driver has some similarities to dating: you start with texts, then [there’s] dinner, then you end up in a hotel room,” he says, prompting giggles from the producers.
Much of his storyline is focused on his decision to sign the former Ferrari driver, throughout which he’s portrayed as an entirely stand-up guy. Of course, that’s not to say he isn’t a great person, but it’s clear the show is pushing for Vowles to become a new fan-favorite.
George Russell
George Russell in Season 7 of “Drive to Survive”
Photo by: Netflix
I’m convinced that George Russell did something to annoy the “Drive to Survive” producers, because the Brit is catching strays throughout the entire season. The first episode begins with the Mercedes driver telling Ricciardo he’s starting to lose his hair. “You’re balding a little bit here,” he tells the Australian in a throwaway line that could’ve easily been left on the cutting room floor. It’s followed by a shot of Russell sitting down for an interview in shorts and a pair of flip flops, which he asks them not to show (they still do).
When US President Donald Trump appears at the Miami Grand Prix, which is highlighted in the second episode, he excitedly yells, “Trump!” before adding, “Oh my god I really want to see him.” Just a few moments later, he knocks Lando Norris’ cap off his head during the driver’s parade (unprompted) while the McLaren ace talks in a voiceover about being “bullied” as a junior driver. Trying to imply something, producers?
The third episode heavily features Russell as his team boss, Toto Wolff, struggles to decide whether the 27-year-old is ready to be a leader. “Is it harsh to say George still makes too many mistakes?” Will Buxton asks. He eventually gets Wolff’s vote of confidence, but not until we’ve spent almost an entire episode unpacking his flaws on-track.
Lando Norris
Lando Norris gives the cameras a smile in Season 7 of Netflix’s “Drive to Survive”
Photo by: Netflix
Norris is getting the Season 1 Ricciardo treatment, being positioned as the lovable rival to an aggressive Max Verstappen. While the Red Bull Racing driver is introduced as having a “f**k you mentality,” the lovable McLaren driver is seen playing with puppies and taking selfies with fans — it’s all a bit heavy handed. Their friendship, and on-track rivalry, takes center stage in the second episode, where Norris gets candid about his struggles with mental health, which can send him into a “spiral.”
The McLaren driver also addresses his “party boy reputation,” which could have easily been used to portray him as unfocused, but his nose injury in Miami as a result of a night out in Amsterdam is played for laughs. The 25-year-old clinches his maiden victory later that weekend, and is immediately seen making a sweet phone call to his mom.
The show does its best to portray Verstappen as Norris’ polar opposite, but the pair have remarkably similar lifestyles. If anything, the Dutchman’s life sounds pretty fantastic: he picks up a first place trophy, heads home on his private jet and is on his mega yacht sipping gin and tonics by the following day. When the championship is wrapped up in Las Vegas, the pair are as gracious as each other.
“Well done, lucky b*****d. Next year I’ll get you alright,” Norris says to a triumphant Verstappen in the media pen. “I told you already many times, there will be a day [when you win],” the four-time world champ replies. “Let’s celebrate. Let me know where you’re partying and I’ll join you.” It doesn’t get much more civilized than that!
Christian Horner
Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing Team Principal, sits under the lights for the cameras on Season 7, “Drive to Survive.”
Photo by: Netflix
“You’re not portraying me as the villain this season?” Christian Horner asks “Drive to Survive” producers mid-way through the season. At this point in the timeline, the embattled Red Bull boss had already faced accusations of inappropriate behavior in the workplace (he was later cleared of wrongdoing). He’s never been the most likable character, but if he was ever going to have a villain arc, this was the time.
Perhaps for legal reasons, the show doesn’t properly delve into the scandal, or offer any information we didn’t already know. The most we get from Horner are a couple of cryptic voiceovers in the first episode. “The higher you rise, the sharper the knife. I reached the top of my game and I never thought in a million years I’d have a challenge like this in my career,” he says.
The controversy isn’t mentioned again after the first episode, but Horner is seen consistently taking digs at drivers and fellow team principals throughout the season. He calls Zak Brown a “prick,” mocks Vowles, says Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc makes a lot of “mistakes,” suggests Russell often cracks under pressure, and even claimed not to know who Ayao Komatsu was when producers asked for his thoughts on the Haas F1 Team boss, eventually calling the new team principal “vanilla.”
Honorable mentions
The ‘friends of’
The staged conversation between friends is a “Drive to Survive” staple, and there was no shortage of cringe interactions in Season 7. Two of Zak Brown’s pals are roped into asking questions about the performance of McLaren; special mention to his longtime mate, Josh Abelson, for delivering his line “What’s it like having two drivers competing against each other?” like he was auditioning for a high school play. Norris’ pal Max Fewtrell also made several appearances to ask a handful of producer-fed questions, along with one of Liam Lawson’s friends. Shoutout to them all!
The ‘Kardashians’ episode
During the Singapore Grand Prix, Netflix gave vlogging cameras to Russell, Norris, Leclerc, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, and Williams’ Alex Albon. I appreciate them trying a different format, but the drivers were almost always accompanied by a film crew, essentially negating the need for the vlogging equipment. “I heard they mic’d up your girlfriends … you’re becoming a Kardashian,” Sainz says to Leclerc. Aside from Norris’ candor about the anxiety he feels walking into the paddock, and the mania surrounding Albon (he’s a big star in Singapore, and it’s refreshing whenever he’s on screen), there isn’t much to this episode. It’s also noticeably missing any mention of Ricciardo, whose career came to an end that weekend.
Leclerc on the podium at Monza.
Photo by: Netflix
A few final notes
The episode that centers entirely on Leclerc’s victory in Monaco is a fantastic, self-contained story that could have been turned into a two-hour, standalone documentary. It doesn’t feature any new information, but the story is told so beautifully that it’s the episode I’d recommend showing your family and friends who don’t know a ton about F1.
Claire Williams was also a phenomenal addition to “Drive to Survive,” Oscar Piastri is one of the most mature, level-headed drivers on the grid, and if you were expecting a Franco Colapinto storyline, don’t hold your breath, he’s barely mentioned at all!
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Netflix’s “Drive to Survive” gets flack for creating drama — but sometimes, the drama is creating reality. As when, in episode four of the latest season (releasing March 7th), we see Carlos Sainz ghost James Vowles and Williams in June of last summer, prolonging what Vowles assumed was a done deal.
In an episode from the latest season of “Drive to Survive,” aptly titled “Carlos Signs,” cameras follow the 30-year-old Spaniard as he figures out where to go, having been ousted from his Ferrari seat by Lewis Hamilton.
“I honestly didn’t expect it. It leaves me bitter,” Sainz says of being replaced by the seven-time world champion. “I’m going to negotiate and get myself a good deal.” We see Williams’ Vowles, courting the Spaniard, tell the shows producers that Sainz could completely transform the team. “I wake up in the morning and I go to sleep at night thinking of nothing else,” Vowles says.
At the time, the paddock was abuzz with speculation that Sainz would put pen to paper in Barcelona at the Spanish Grand Prix after Vowles was spotted having a confidential meeting with Sainz’s manager, Carlos “Caco” Oñoro. “I really am confident this is a good contract and a good place. I know I’m going to get stronger over the next few races, I’m quite an honorable individual,” Vowles tells Oñoro during the closed-door conversation. “You want a relationship? I want a relationship. Let’s put a piece of paper together that covers it off.”
Carlos Sainz, James Vowles, and Alex Albon at the F1 75 event
Photo by: Getty Images
In the episode, McLaren’s Zak Brown is seen telling Lando Norris that he “busted Caco and Vowles having breakfast.” Norris reveals that his friend and former teammate is still trying to decide between Williams and Sauber (set to become Audi in 2026). “I spoke to Carlos yesterday. In the short term it’s Williams, but longer term Audi,” Norris shares. Word of the deal had even made its way to Red Bull, where communications boss Paul Smith was heard telling Christian Horner that Williams had “pretty much confirmed Sainz.”
Vowles was so confident that the contract would be signed at his hotel that night, he’s seen in the episode telling Williams board member (and Pippa Middleton’s husband) James Matthews that they are “pretty much there.” He then quips to camera, “Signing a driver has some similarities to dating. You start with texts, then [there’s] dinner, then you end up in a hotel room.”
Cut to: Williams team members closing the blinds of a hotel conference room and putting champagne on ice next to Sainz’s soon-to-be-signed contract. More than 20 minutes go by without word from his Sainz’s team. Eventually, it’s revealed that the smooth operator won’t be coming. “You were going to sign for Williams but then changed your mind. What happened there?” a producer asks Sainz, to which he responds, “Flavio [Briatore] called me.” The controversial Italian businessman returned to Formula 1 last spring as an executive advisor to Alpine, and set out to complicate Sainz’s plans.
“Carlos has got doubts. I think he’s evaluating every single team available,” Oñoro is heard telling Vowles on the phone a few weeks later at the British Grand Prix.
Carlos Sainz during pre-season testing in Bahrain
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Meanwhile, we see Sainz probe Alpine driver Pierre Gasly for information about the car’s performance, while Jack Doohan jokes that the Spaniard is acting like “the paddock sl*t” for continuing to weigh up his options. Horner says that Briatore won’t give him the best deal. “Flavio will f**k him 100 per cent, and he’s expensive, which Flavio will hate,” the Red Bull boss is caught by “Drive to Survive” cameras telling colleagues.
As we know now, a few more weeks would pass before Sainz finally signed with Williams in late July, inking a two year deal.
“Congratulations,” Vowles says as his new driver walks into a hotel conference room to make the signing official.
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Gone are the days when Formula 1 mechanics were anonymous figures sweating in the garages. Social media has given these men and women a place to show their faces and their talents — and, in some cases, massive followings. Few built an audience as big as Calum Nicholas.
Better known as @f1mech on Instagram, where he has over 350,000 followers, Nicholas is a senior mechanic at Red Bull Racing. Or, he was, up until recently. For years, he’d been the Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician for the team, responsible for managing specs and logistics on anything that connects the engine into the chassis, like exhaust and cooling systems — as well as, for the past five years, the right rear wheel gunman on the pit crew.
But as the world learned just last week — via an Instagram post, of course — Nicholas has a new job, as a Red Bull Racing ambassador. Which makes sense, given he needed to update his resumé anyways: his book, “Life in the Pitlane” had just published (available May 6 in the US).
Other mechanics have written books (see: Steve Matchett’s “The Mechanic’s Tale” and Marc Priestley’s “The Mechanic”), but Nicholas’ was written while he was still part of a crew changing Pirellis in under two seconds. So how did Red Bull Racing react when Nicholas revealed his plans? ”In short, better than I could have ever imagined,” he says.
”I remember talking to my partner and to my manager and saying: ‘Look, I really want to do this project, but there is a fair chance that Red Bull could turn around and say that I can’t do this and work here’,” Nicholas adds. ”And it was something I accepted when I took on the project. I feel really lucky because I can’t imagine getting away with this anywhere else.”
Calum Nicholas, Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician, Red Bull Racing.
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Did the team ask to read the book before it went to print?
I decided that I was going to do it, and then I was going to go to the team and say, ”I’m doing this and this is what it’s going to be.” And they asked me, “Would you mind if we read it before it was published?” I was so happy that they were being so supportive that I said, “There’s absolutely no problem with you reading it prior to publishing.” But that was after the final draft was done.
No issues were raised by the team after they read the final draft?
Absolutely none. My proviso of doing this project when I first took it on with the publisher was that I’d only do it if I could be honest. And I just had to hope that Red Bull would appreciate that. And no, there haven’t been any issues, as far as I’m aware.
What motivated you to write this book?
I have so many people message me on Instagram and Twitter asking me about careers in the sport. When it first started, I used to try and reply to all these messages. I really always try and make time to offer any advice I can to people that really love the sport. But as the following grew and the amount of messages grew, it became really hard to reply to all of these messages and give people the information they needed. So I thought that perhaps the book was an opportunity for me to offer this advice, and have it available to anyone.
And I felt it could be something that would last. One of the things that I found with social media is that we consume content at such a rate that it doesn’t last. I can’t really think of great content from three, four, or five years ago that makes me say, “Oh yeah, this was actually a really useful tool that people can still go back to.” I felt books still have that connection with people.
Calum Nicholas, Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
You have over 350,000 followers on Instagram. In your book, you write that you saw a growth in followers during 2020. How did you feel about this unexpected increase in attention for you as a person?
At first, more than anything, I was surprised. As time went on and it started to build and build, I started to understand it. With things like “Drive to Survive” becoming so popular, I think it gave the public that little bit of insight that they didn’t have before, into the garages and the teams. They were looking for even more insight, and so I started to give people that. I started to talk about the job and the things that affected those working in the paddock. And that’s how the following grew.
When I think about it now, I just feel really grateful. When we’ve had a bad weekend and you get loads of people saying, “Come on, boys, you’re going to be alright next week” — that support, especially after you’ve achieved a lot under tough circumstances, means a great deal.
Some of the other mechanics and engineers also have large followings. Are you happy that there’s more attention nowadays for those working in the garages?
It’s always nice to know that the work that people do in the garage is appreciated. For me it’s just a part of the growth of the sport. As the sport grows, people want more insight. There’s some great people who have come through the ranks of the sport, and they’re offering insight that people simply didn’t have before. I think it’s a positive. It comes with its responsibilities, but it’s a really nice thing to be able to do.
Is there a danger in here as well, as some mechanics are maybe more in the limelight than others? Can it cause any friction in the garage?
I think there’s never been friction, really, in the garage. With anything you do with a group of people that you become so close to, they’re always going to give you stick about it. But I’ve never felt anyone has been anything but supportive.
Red Bull Racing mechanics with on the left Calum Nicholas, Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
I don’t mind, you know, if people give me stick about stuff. I give them stick about stuff. That’s all fine! You might end up with a nickname like Hollywood or Influencer, or something like that. But other than that, no, it’s never caused any friction.
It’s not the case that anyone is trying to sort of take that limelight away or anything like that. It’s more like, as I expressed in my book, I want the public to know that all of the people I worked with, they’re the best at what they do. It really is a team sport. The constructors’ championship, it exists for a reason. It really is the case that you cannot succeed as an individual in a Formula 1 garage. You need all of the people around you. And it’s important to make sure that everybody knows that.
On X you responded to Sophia Flörsch, who commented on a Motorsport social post featuring a quote from Lewis Hamilton in which he said that, if he was to make a team, it would be diverse from the beginning. Your response was picked up by media. How conscious are you that what you say on social media can become a headline?
It’s something that has been happening for a while. Like I said, with that kind of publicity, you just have to accept that it does come with a responsibility. Ultimately, the team has had a lot of faith in me to allow me to do what I’ve been doing. And my responsibility to them is to ensure that I’m not out there bringing the team into disrepute. So while everybody’s happy for me to share honest opinions, I just accept that that comes with a responsibility.
And I don’t have a problem with journalists wanting to pick up on the things I say and spark a conversation about it. But it’s hard to not have a grievance when people try to create clickbait out of something that’s not. These people aren’t idiots. We all understand that using a certain picture or a snippet of a sentence is a way to get clicks on articles. And it’s frustrating.
But at the same time, I also accept that, unfortunately, that’s where we are. We’re in the world of the news cycle. So yeah, like I say, you just have to pay attention and think about what you’re saying and how you’re saying it, and try not to give people the opportunity to misconstrue what you mean.
Talking about social media and policies, you write in the book you haven’t signed and agreed to the team’s social media policy. Have you signed it now?
Not yet. [laughs] I will. I’ll get to it!
Max Verstappen and Calum Nicholas, Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Max has always been very vocal about how demanding the F1 calendar is nowadays, especially for people like mechanics. You describe the 24-race calendar in your book as a great burden now that you are 35. Can you explain how demanding the calendar is for those working for the teams?
Yes, so I said it was a great burden in comparison to when I joined the sport. When I did my first full season in the paddock, I was 23. And back then, I would have happily done 24 or 25 races. I would have said: “Hey, bring it on!”
I have a young daughter now, and all of these things. When I was younger and didn’t have those responsibilities, the sacrifices I made in my personal life to go racing were just my sacrifices. But at some point, I had to accept those sacrifices were also being made by others around me — my partner and my daughter. For the last six years, they’ve both made huge sacrifices to allow me to do what I love.
How did you manage to combine the 24 race calendar with family life?
It’s really tough. Look, 24 races last year [added up to] 190-odd days that we were away, from the time you go to pre-season testing to getting back after the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi. It’s really tough.
I think that most of us with young families, the first thing we’ll probably say is having really understanding partners is key! I never let that question go without saying that, for sure. Because it’s the only way that it’s really possible.
Other than that, it’s an understanding that you’re doing it because you love it. If you’re a talented engineer, technician, or mechanic, you can make more money outside of racing. The people who stick it out, who are there in the paddock doing it year in and year out, they’re doing it because they love it.
And it’s a really hard thing to stop once you realize how great it can be. Once you fall in love with the sport, you’re in love with it and you accept that you’ll be making those sacrifices for a while.
Calum Nicholas, Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
It’s a good thing that your book doesn’t fall under the International Sporting Code because I spotted the F-word a couple of times.
Well, I very much wanted to write the book the way that I am. I’m not going to get into the whole debate about profane language, but for me – yeah, I’m glad! I don’t think I’ll incur a fine! [laughs] The rules only mentioned speech; I don’t think they said anything about writing it down, so I should be fine. Maybe with the audiobook I can be in trouble! [more laughter]
How much swearing is there actually going on in the garage?
To be fair, we’re not bad! We’re really not! Like you don’t get people shouting and swearing in anger. If anything, it’s people giving each other grief and banter, things like that. So often when you hear people swearing, it’s with a smile on their face. I don’t know if that makes it better or worse!
Wait! Are the new rules affecting the garage as well? [laughs] Like, surely no one’s going to have to wear a microphone to monitor swearing! I don’t think that’s going to happen…
You also write about diversity and inclusion in your book. How much work do you think is still needed in Formula 1 on this front?
Firstly, I’d say that Formula 1 is a very small snapshot of motorsport as a whole. Certainly in the UK, my experience has actually been that Formula 1 tends to be a more diverse environment than many junior categories. As you expect, Formula 1 brings together a lot more people from all over the world than smaller series and junior categories do. So it’s not necessarily a Formula 1 issue. It’s an issue that affects Formula 1.
It’s the motorsport industry as a whole that needs to be looking at pathways and taking down barriers. And these barriers, they’re different for different people. There’s not a blanket way of solving everybody’s problems. It’s looking at sometimes very specific, very small things, a lot of which can be solved with things like money.
I’ve spoken before about the geographic barrier in UK motorsport. Most of the motorsport industry in the UK is concentrated in a specific region — often rural areas, and certainly not in our big cities. Meanwhile, the country’s ethnically diverse population tends to reside in big cities. This creates a barrier rooted in transport and geography. And these factors do have an impact, but realistically, they can be overcome with money.
Calum Nicholas, Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Another key area is apprenticeships. I’m a huge advocate for apprenticeships and making them more accessible — not just for Formula 1 teams, but making those accessible throughout the pyramid of motorsport that we talk about when we talk about junior categories. I think this could have a significant impact, if we can find funding for things like that. I think that would help create more natural diversity.
In the book you mention taking on other challenges in motorsport like Le Mans, which you did twice before, but also WRC and Dakar. Are those in your future?
[It’s] like when drivers talk about the Triple Crown and things like this. I’ve always loved things like rally, and I loved my time in the WEC paddock. All of these things I look at as possibilities for the future. If I could choose one, it would be to do a Dakar. Physically, it would be an incredible challenge, and I’m sure I’d learn a whole new skillset by doing things like Dakar and rally.
As I said in the book, I have a policy of “Always say yes.” When there’s an opportunity to do something and learn something, I try and jump at it. It was something that was really useful for me early in my career. Whether that meant traveling long hours or sleeping in my car, I’d always try and make these things happen. While for the most part I’m past sleeping in the car [laughs], any new opportunity can always be exciting. So yeah, I never rule anything out.
Have you considered a career in broadcasting?
It’s certainly something I’ve considered. Right now, we are one foot in front of the other, and I’m really excited to see what 2025 holds. But yeah, like I said, I don’t rule anything out.
Are you getting used to being referred to not just as a Red Bull Racing team member, but also as a book author?
You know what? It’s really hard! I remember when we first announced the book to the public, my manager was saying to me: “You should change your bio to say ‘author.’” And I was like: “Oh God, it’s going to take a minute for it to sink in.”
Honestly, the other day, when I got the first physical copy of the final proof for myself, I sort of held it for a while and I was like: ‘Wow man, this is really cool! I started a project two years ago and now I’m an author!’ But it is still sinking in, I have to say.
“Life in the Pitlane: My Journey to the Heart of F1” by Calum Nicholas is available for pre-order on Amazon in hardback, audio, and eBook now.
Book cover of “Life in the Pitlane” by Red Bull Racing ambassador Calum Nicholas
Photo by: Piatkus
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Erwin Jaeggi
Formula 1
Culture
Red Bull Racing
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