High Performance Racing
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
Why Ferrari Should Have OVERRULED Lewis Hamilton & Jake Goes MISSING! (E26)
Jake's gone AWOL, so Rob and Otmar are running the show on their own this week. What could possibly go wrong?!Jake phones in from Orlando, where he says he's getting ready to interview Tom Brady (the guys aren't convinced, and reckon he's in a Norfolk Travelodge). Then Rob and Otmar take charge of the Singapore GP reaction. Max Verstappen took the Singapore double, winning both the
F1’s Software FARCE & Rob Reveals Why Red Bull Are NOW So FAST (E25)
The best drivers in the world were ready to race in Malaysia. Then a software glitch got in the way. Jake, Rob and Otmar ask how F1 can call itself the pinnacle of motorsport when an untested software failure can stop drivers from doing their jobs, and why fans deserve to know what’s happening when things go wrong.The guys also debate Kimi Antonelli’s 84-point lead, George Russell’s terrible luck,
Russell UNTOUCHABLE, Max Wants Hadjar’s Upgrade & Aston SLOWER Than F2 (E24)
Baku belonged to George Russell. He took pole, fastest lap and the win, and led every lap for the first Grand Slam of his career. Otmar tells the guys about the rather unusual gift he showed George after qualifying. Rob explains why one crash on a street circuit can knock a driver's confidence for the rest of the weekend. And the guys do the maths on whether George can still catch Kimi. The an
Why Baku Is A NIGHTMARE for Engineers, Kimi's Title Odds & Alonso's EXIT Plan (E23)
Baku is back, and it’s one of the strangest challenges on the F1 calendar. You want maximum downforce through the castle section, then almost none for the longest straight in Formula 1. Get the setup wrong and you’re either slow through the corners or a sitting duck down the straight.Jake, Rob and Otmar explain how engineers solve that impossible compromise, why driver confidence can be worth more
The Madring Verdict! How Does a Track THAT BAD Get Approved? (E22)
£151 million, three years of design, 17 months of construction, 353,000 fans… and four overtakes. Madrid certainly put on a show, but Jake, Rob and Otmar have a question: did anyone remember to build a race track?The guys debate whether F1 has become too obsessed with bringing the sport to the people, why fans will happily travel for a great race, and why the best circuits on the calendar were bui
What REALLY Made Kimi So Good At Monza? Rob Breaks Down The Difference (E21)
Nobody wins from 19th at Monza. Well, Kimi Antonelli did, the internet immediately called it the drive of the decade… and Rob would like a word. He agrees it was brilliant — he just thinks everyone's watching the wrong part of it. The guys pull the race apart properly: why the real brilliance happened in the first four laps, why George Russell was a sitting duck long before Kimi ever arrived
Mercedes’ RUTHLESS Kimi Call, Hamilton's Monza Dream & Cadillac's Big Problem (E20)
It’s Monza week, which means Ferrari fever, Tifosi everywhere and absolutely no pressure whatsoever… Jake and Otmar tackle the big Italian dilemma: would the Tifosi rather see Lewis Hamilton win in red, or Kimi Antonelli win at home? For Otmar, it’s not even close.The guys debate Mercedes’ ruthless decision to give Kimi an engine penalty at his home race, why Jake thinks that mentality could win t
Why Ferrari's No.1 Driver Problem Could Cost Lewis Hamilton an 8th Title
Jake and Otmar react to Zandvoort, where McLaren found the answers, Mercedes didn’t, and Ferrari once again left everyone wondering what exactly the plan was.Otmar explains why Mercedes can’t just throw upgrades at the car every weekend, how teams replay races to find out what they should have done differently, and the simple team orders rule he thinks could save a lot of headaches at Ferrari.Then
What ACTUALLY Made Schumacher, Alonso & Vettel F1 Greats (E18)
Jake, Rob and Otmar go inside the minds of some of Formula 1’s greatest drivers - Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel - to understand what really separated them from the rest.Rob shares the moment he first realised a teenage Fernando Alonso was something special, why he tried to play down just how quick he was, and what made Alonso such a formidable competitor. Otmar explains
What F1 Teams REALLY Hide From Netflix Drive to Survive (E17)
You asked, Otmar answered...and then kept going! The former Force India, Aston Martin and Alpine boss spills all to Jake and Rob for a summer break episode that starts with your questions, moves on to Drive to Survive, and ends somewhere near a polo mallet.Otmar explains why Ferrari and Mercedes originally said NO to Netflix, and what made them come crawling back. He reveals the strip of tape he s
The Mid Season Report! Winners, Losers & Biggest Disappointments (E16)
Formula 1 heads into the summer break, so Jake, Otmar and Rob hand out their mid-season report cards, grading every team out of 10 and explaining exactly why.Mercedes earned top marks after the strongest first half of the season, but George Russell's reliability issues sparked a debate over what might have been in both championship battles. They then assess Ferrari, McLaren and an underperforming
Time to Back Lewis OVER Leclerc? & Rob’s Exclusive Data on Aston's Upgrade (E15)
Lando Norris’ Budapest victory confirms McLaren’s resurgence, but as championship rivals continue to take points off each other, Kimi Antonelli emerges as the biggest beneficiary, extending his lead at the top of the standings to 50 points.Meanwhile, George Russell’s title challenge suffered another setback after a team-related anti-stall issue compromised his start, leading Otmar to question whet
Is It the Car or George? Inside Mercedes' Spa Fallout
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
Checo’s Red Bull Truth, His Force India Miracle & Aston Martin’s NEW Car
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
The British GP Ending Was A DISGRACE
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
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
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
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?
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
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?
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
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
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
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
Verstappen’s Exit Plan, Aston Martin’s Collapse & Ralf Schumacher’s Raisins
Jake Humphrey, Otmar Szafnauer, and Rob Smedley tackle the biggest power shift currently shaking the grid: the potential collapse of the Red Bull dynasty. With key figures departing and performance wavering, the guys discuss whether Max Verstappen is finally ready to pull the trigger on a move to Mercedes and what that means for the rest of the 2026 driver market.The conversation shifts from the b
What Has F1 Lost From Its Past? | 2026 Regs, Mercedes Dominance & Hamilton's Comeback
In our very first episode, Jake Humphrey is joined by F1 insiders Otmar Szafnauer and Rob Smedley for an unfiltered first look at the 2026 season so far: the boldest regulation reset in modern Formula 1 history.The trio cut through the early-season noise to assess which teams have genuinely cracked the new formula and which are already playing catch-up. From Mercedes' resurgence, to Aston Martin's
Introducing High Performance Racing: with Jake Humphrey, Otmar Szafnauer & Rob Smedley
🚨 First episode out Wednesday 22nd April - follow the show so you don't miss a momentThey say you can’t truly understand Formula 1 without real experts; High Performance Racing brings you the people who actually lived it.Hosted by Jake Humphrey alongside former Aston Martin & Alpine Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer and ex-Ferrari & Williams Race Engineer Rob Smedley, this brand-new show brea
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