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High Performance Racing

High Performance Racing

High Performance 7 Episodes Jul 22, 2026

High Performance Racing is a Formula 1 podcast hosted by Jake Humphrey, alongside former Aston Martin & Alpine Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer and ex-Ferrari & Williams Race Engineer Rob Smedley. The show breaks down the sport's biggest news stories through the eyes of seasoned F1 personnel, offering insider perspectives and technical breakdowns. It moves beyond standard race coverage to provide unfiltered banter and uncovered moments from the paddock.

Episodes

Mercedes Rift? Russell's Disaster, Kimi Redemption & Aston's 80% HUGE Upgrade (E14)
Mercedes Rift? Russell's Disaster, Kimi Redemption & Aston's 80% HUGE Upgrade (E14) Jul 22, 2026 1:21:30 Jake, Rob Smedley and Otmar react to a Belgian Grand Prix that reshaped the championship. Twelve months after admitting he'd "probably reached the bottom" at Spa, Kimi Antonelli returns to the same track and delivers a flawless win over Charles Leclerc, extending his title lead to 45 points. George Russell doesn't survive the first corner.Rob takes us into the Engineering Dark Web to explain exact
Otmar on Saving Force India, Checo’s Red Bull Exit & Aston Martin’s 2026 Nightmare (E13)
Otmar on Saving Force India, Checo’s Red Bull Exit & Aston Martin’s 2026 Nightmare (E13) Jul 15, 2026 1:40:57 Lawrence Stroll's dramatic Force India buyout began with Sergio Perez intentionally pushing his own team into administration to save it. This week, Jake, Otmar and Rob trace Perez's journey from a lonely 14-year-old living in truck-stop motels to his difficult final months at Red Bull, asking what his story reveals about the pressure modern F1 drivers face.The trio also unpack the fallout from Sil
Why The British GP Should Have Been Red Flagged | Silverstone SPECIAL
Why The British GP Should Have Been Red Flagged | Silverstone SPECIAL Jul 7, 2026 55:31 Otmar, Jake and Rob break down the chaotic ending to the 2026 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, live in front of a crowd for the first time ever.Charles Leclerc took the win as Ferrari and Mercedes made contrasting strategy calls under the late safety car, sparking fierce debate over whether the FIA should have red flagged the race instead.Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli all pla
Verstappen to McLaren? Rob & Otmar Discuss If It Could EVER Happen
Verstappen to McLaren? Rob & Otmar Discuss If It Could EVER Happen Jul 1, 2026 1:19:59 What a weekend at the Red Bull Ring. George Russell is officially back after a dominant pole-to-win victory in Austria, turning the 2026 title fight completely on its head and trimming Kimi Antonelli’s championship lead.In this episode, Jake, Rob, and Otmar break down a thrilling Austrian Grand Prix, from Kimi cracking under pressure to Ferrari’s upgraded engine completely flopping on Sunday. The
Austria Preview, Schumacher's Lost Titles & Why F1's Penalty System is BROKEN
Austria Preview, Schumacher's Lost Titles & Why F1's Penalty System is BROKEN Jun 24, 2026 48:25 With Otmar away, Jake Humphrey and Rob Smedley preview the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix. Rob dives deep into his legendary career, breaking down what it really takes to lead the technical side of an F1 team, the old-school mindset shift he brought to Williams, and what the current team is lacking on track. The duo also debated a massive F1 "what if", whether Michael Schumacher would have swep
Can Hamilton ACTUALLY Win the Title? Claire Williams Gives Her Verdict
Can Hamilton ACTUALLY Win the Title? Claire Williams Gives Her Verdict Jun 17, 2026 1:05:40 Jake, Rob, and special guest Claire Williams react to Lewis Hamilton's emotional 106th Formula 1 victory in Barcelona, debating whether Ferrari and Hamilton are genuine title contenders in 2026.Rob brings the maths to settle the biggest question in F1 right now - could Hamilton have won without the safety car? - while Claire and Rob go head to head on whether Lewis or Leclerc finishes the season o
Antonelli DOMINATES Monaco, Red Bull Engine ADUO Shock & What Next for Russell?
Antonelli DOMINATES Monaco, Red Bull Engine ADUO Shock & What Next for Russell? Jun 10, 2026 1:05:02 Jake, Rob, and Otmar react to a chaotic Monaco Grand Prix, discussing Kimi Antonelli’s fifth consecutive win, George Russell’s disastrous weekend, and whether the 2026 Formula 1 title race is already over.Rob and Otmar break down Russell’s chances for the rest of 2026, the ADUO verdict that’s sent shockwaves through the paddock - and why Red Bull being declared F1’s benchmark engine is great news
Schumacher’s Rascasse Moment, Boat Parties & Spy Photographers: Monaco Preview
Schumacher’s Rascasse Moment, Boat Parties & Spy Photographers: Monaco Preview Jun 3, 2026 1:05:28 Monaco isn't just a race weekend; it's where F1's biggest deals, secrets, and scandals collide. This episode dives into the unique pressure of the Principality, from the opulence of Vijay Mallya's legendary boat parties to the corporate politics that saw one host blindsided by Alpine management, only to answer back with a defiant Monaco podium.This conversation goes deep into the paddock's "d
Kimi vs George HEATS Up & Hamilton’s Best Ferrari Weekend Yet?
Kimi vs George HEATS Up & Hamilton’s Best Ferrari Weekend Yet? May 27, 2026 50:19 In this week's episode of High Performance Racing, Otmar, Jake and Rob break down the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix and the growing tension at Mercedes as George Russell and Kimi Antonelli go wheel-to-wheel.Was George unlucky, or is Kimi now a genuine title threat? The trio discuss Mercedes’ rules of engagement, whether Toto Wolff needs to step in, and why Antonelli is already being talked about as a g
Mercedes’ Upgrade GAMBLE Explained & the Canada Crash That STILL Divides Rob & Otmar
Mercedes’ Upgrade GAMBLE Explained & the Canada Crash That STILL Divides Rob & Otmar May 20, 2026 1:11:18 This week, Jake, Rob and Otmar look ahead to the Canadian Grand Prix, and explore why despite regulation changes, the drivers still don't trust their cars.Looking back at previous regulation changes, Rob and Otmar debate whether 2009 Brawn GP success really about a "double diffuser," or have we been looking at the wrong part of the car for seventeen years?Rob Smedley peels back the aero layers to
Is Kimi More Talented Than George Russell? & CRAZY F1 Airplane Stories
Is Kimi More Talented Than George Russell? & CRAZY F1 Airplane Stories May 13, 2026 57:01 Forget the PR spin as Jake, Otmar, and Rob weigh George Russell’s relentless work ethic against Kimi Antonelli’s raw talent, even revisiting the famous PowerPoint deck George used to pitch his way onto the grid. The trio dives into the "dark arts" of the driver-engineer bond, from the psychology of delivering bad news to the tactical "slow-walking" of team orders. They also break down the exh
Could Oscar Piastri REPLACE Max Verstappen & Otmar’s WILD Flavio & Horner Story
Could Oscar Piastri REPLACE Max Verstappen & Otmar’s WILD Flavio & Horner Story May 8, 2026 1:15:01 Is the Red Bull empire finally cracking? Jake, Otmar and Rob break down the 2026 driver market, debate Max Verstappen’s potential move to Mercedes, and discuss how Mark Webber is shaping Oscar Piastri’s future at McLaren.Fresh from Florida, the guys react to the "Miami madness," with Otmar sharing his experience balancing F1 duties with his new role at Van Amersfoort Racing. They also unpack Georg

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