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High Performance Racing

High Performance Racing

Written by: High Performance
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They 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 breaks down the sport's biggest news stories through the eyes of seasoned F1 personnel.


Moving beyond standard race breakdowns, the show offers a front-row seat to the high-stakes world of the Formula 1 paddock, from team analysis & technical breakdowns to the unfiltered banter of the pit wall.


High Performance Racing delivers the insider perspectives and uncovered moments that the cameras miss, straight from those who have built careers in the most competitive sport in the world.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

High Performance
Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Mercedes’ Upgrade GAMBLE Explained & the Canada Crash That STILL Divides Rob & Otmar
    May 20 2026

    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 reveal the true McLaren-inspired secret that rivals missed, proving why there is never a "silver bullet" in F1, only the total package.


    The trio shifts to the high-stakes "chaos" of the 2026 regulations. Otmar explains why the current uncertainty is a goldmine for teams brave enough to find marginal gains now, while the group warns why Canada’s infamous "Wall of Champions" is an even deadlier psychological trap for drivers struggling with this generation of cars.


    We also get an unfiltered look at the evolution of Sergio Perez. Otmar shares stories from the Force India garage, revealing how Checo’s instinctive "superpower" for tire management forced even Nico Hulkenberg to rebuild his racecraft.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Is Kimi More Talented Than George Russell? & CRAZY F1 Airplane Stories
    May 13 2026

    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 exhausting new reality of mid-race energy management and why the partnership between a driver and their engineer is the ultimate weapon for icons like Max Verstappen.


    Otmar shares perspective-shifting lessons from his Force India days on why treating a world champion like a normal human being is the rarest, most effective skill in the paddock.


    It’s an unfiltered look at the grit, intellect, and invisible friction required to survive the F1 pressure cooker and lead the grid.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    57 mins
  • Could Oscar Piastri REPLACE Max Verstappen & Otmar’s WILD Flavio & Horner Story
    May 8 2026

    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 George Russell’s rise, Kimi Antonelli’s progress, and Ferrari’s ongoing upgrade struggles.


    Step inside the garage as Otmar and Rob expose the "Dark Arts”: the high-stakes, invisible side of Formula 1. From the extreme lengths teams go to for emergency spare parts to Michael Schumacher’s specific race-day rituals, the pair offer a unique technical and human perspective on the logistical chaos behind the pit wall.


    The trio also debate the future of F1 engine regulations, Otmar’s push for a return to V8s, and his bid to launch a 12th F1 team. It’s an hour of technical honesty, untold history, and a rare look at the human cost of chasing the podium.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 15 mins
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