The Pit Talk

‘Lando a worthy champion, but he’s not F1 driver of 2025’

It’s the morning after the night all of Lando Norris’ dreams came true as he was crowned Formula One world champion.
Robert Doornbos and Chris McHardy are back in their hotseats - albeit a little bleary eyed - as they run the rule over the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Lando may have won the war but Max Verstappen took the battle on the day clinching an eighth Grand Prix of the year. With that in mind, who really is the Driver of 2025?
The guys also assess what went wrong for Oscar Piastri in the final nine races of the season, wonder what might have been had Christian Horner been given the boot earlier and ponder what’s next for Lewis Hamilton who is a complete shadow of his former self.
Robert also looks into his crystal ball as the conversation invariably turns to what next with testing for 2026 just around the corner. And we tell you who on the pit wall is expecting “mayhem” with all the regulation changes!

Max Power: McLaren’s ‘Doha Disaster’ sets up Abu Dhabi F1 title decider

The tagline says it all: ‘all roads lead to Abu Dhabi.’ And so the 2025 Formula One season comes down this: a three-way shootout at Yas Marina Circuit to determine the destination of the Drivers Championship.
McLaren’s inexplicable decision not to pit in Qatar allows Max Verstappen to win the Grand Prix, and move to with 12 points of Lando Norris.
In this episode, Robert Doornbos and Chris McHardy speculate on what might be going on inside the corridors of power at McLaren, and ponder what might just transpire in the UAE capital as the race for the Drivers Championship gets ready for it’s final, thrilling lap.

Las Vegas GP shocker: Farce or foul-play at McLaren? New Hamilton-Ferrari theory

Robert Doornbos and Chris McHardy are back in their hotseats as they try to make sense of a controversial Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Disqualifications for both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have blown the race for the Drivers Championship wide open. Did McLaren have a genuine case to answer for or were there ‘other forces’ at play? The guys debate that, and give a break down of the technical infringements that could derail their title dreams.
Is there more to Lewis Hamilton’s constant bemoaning  at Ferrari than meets the eye, and which team was offered to Robert back in the day as Toto Wolff lands a lucrative windfall at Mercedes.

Brazil GP: Lando 58-Point Swing, Piastri Penalty & Ferrari Nightmare

The Brazilian Grand Prix 🇧🇷 never disappoints — and this one had it all.
Lando Norris continued his incredible late-season surge, taking a perfect 33-point weekend and pulling off a 58-point swing on teammate Oscar Piastri to seize control of the championship race. But while McLaren celebrated, Ferrari endured a nightmare weekend to forget, and Max Verstappen fought back from the pit lane to the podium.
From the Senna S controversy and Ferrari’s meltdown to Max’s tyre strategy and Yuki Tsunoda’s pit-stop chaos, Robert Doornbos and Chris McHardy dissect every major story from Interlagos and look ahead to what promises to be a wild Las Vegas Grand Prix under the lights.
 

David Coulthard exclusive: ‘Schumacher was NEVER wrong’, Kimi’s natural talent & bold Aston Martin claim

Robert Doornbos and Chris McHardy welcome their first guest to the Pit Talk podcast. A Formula One great, this man boasts 246 starts, 62 podiums and 13 Grand Prix victories to his name. Introducing David Coulthard.
In this sit down interview, ‘DC’ opens on a range of subjects. From his friendship with Eddie Jordan to his admission that he lacked one key ingredient needed to be world champion, a quality Michael Schumacher had in spades.
He also discusses the changing face of F1, his love of steering wheels and backs up Robert’s assertion that Kimi Raikkonen is one of the the true great of the sport from a talent perspective.
Coulthard also weighs in on the Drivers Championship tussle and makes a bold prediction when it comes to the team to watch in 2026.

Mexico GP Review | Lando Dominates, Oscar Cracks, Lewis Snaps!

Happy Halloween from The Pit Talk Podcast! 🎃
Chris McHardy and Robert Doornbos are back at Mille Miglia Café in Dubai to unpack a chaotic Mexico Grand Prix — one that saw Lando Norris produce a career-defining drive to become the new World Championship leader, and Oscar Piastri’s title challenge finally come undone.
From Leclerc’s lucky escape at Turn 1, to Max Verstappen’s podium recovery, and a frustrated Lewis Hamilton questioning everything from penalties to his own team, the guys cover it all. Robert calls out Ferrari’s fortune, Hamilton’s engineer drama, and what went wrong with the virtual safety car that robbed fans of a thrilling finale.

US GP Review | ‘Meek’ Piastri, Max living ‘rent free’ & F1 WAGs

Chris McHardy and Robert Doornbos are back in the hotseats as they reflect on a US Grand Prix utterly dominated by one man: Max Verstappen.
Robert explains why Oscar Piastri’s recent travails may be terminal. For this season at least. Plus it’s not good news for McLaren’s other title contender, Lando Norris, as Robert makes a damning claim.
What of George Russell’s new Mercedes contract, a new found fascination with F1 “WAGs” and Christian Horner’s “talks” with Ferrari? The guys discuss it all, PLUS Robert weights in on the big one: who is going to win this 2025 Drivers Championship? Look away Papaya fans

Singapore shocker: McLaren’s Papaya Rules favour only one man

Robert Doornbos and Chris McHardy are back in the hotseats as they reflect on a controversial Singapore Grand Prix. Yet more proof that McLaren are “favouring” Lando Norris as Oscar Piastri is again left asking ‘why me’? Robert gives his verdict on the Papaya Rules threatening to undermine McLaren’s season, and leave the door ajar for four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
The guys also discuss the cooling vests that irked Max so much, with Robert sharing the extreme lengths he adopted to stay in peak physical condition and withstand the unique demands that F1 places on its drivers.

Azerbaijan GP Review & Max’s Grand Slam Shakes Up Title Fight

Baku delivered chaos and controversy. Max Verstappen smashed the field with a ruthless grand slam – pole, every lap led, fastest lap, race win – his sixth clean sweep to equal Lewis Hamilton and throw himself back into the title fight. 
 

‘McLaren’s team orders akin to match fixing’ | Schumacher’s Ferrari clause

Robert Doornbos and Chris McHardy run the rule over a controversial Italian Grand Prix in the latest episode of the Pit Talk Podcast powered by Ethara.
Robert doesn’t hold back in his assessment of McLaren’s decision to let Lando Norris pass team-mate Oscar Piastri late on in Monza after a pit stop howler. Part and parcel of racing or is a rule change needed?