The Bloke and a Bird Show Episode 112

This has been a difficult weekend for us, but this show is how we're trying to get things back in place.

Because we didn't get to really talk about Spa last week - that's where we focused...  Actually we focused on the McLaren-Honda circus, because that's where the activity really is.

We still don't know if we're looking at a McLaren-Renault, Toro Rosso - Honda pairing for 2018 or if something else is going to happen.

It doesn't appear that Honda will be out completely, but beyond that, who knows....

Posted on September 4, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 111

F1 is back this week as the F1 show rolls into Spa Franchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix.

Before the race we got word that the FIA plans to roll out some form of cockpit head protection to the junior serious - because if it's good enough for F1, then it's good enough for the junior formulas.

Jenson Button says that he'll be racing next year, but we don't know where.

Like video games - F1 is launching an esports series.

Kimi Raikonnen, Sebastian Vettel, and Stoffel Vandorne both have contracts for next year - and Stoffel got the bonus of grid penalties too.

Toto Wolff says that the team didn't speak with Sebastian Vettel regarding a seat but they are working on contingencies so that they don't have another Rosberg situation.

And Pirelli insists that their tires are safe this weekend....

Posted on August 27, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 110

This week McLaren put forth a proposal for a Grand Prix in Woking UK, along with a new street circuit the Woking International Circuit.  McLaren doesn't believe that there are any obstacles to their plan other than all of the obstacles possible...

We learned about what Charlie Whiting did on his vacation this year...

Chase Carey explains how TV and Formula 1 have a complicated relationship.

Looking for a job? Force India and Renault Sport F1 may both have positions available.

Renault held up their development efforts in order to get things ready for Silverstone.

Toro Rosso won't be getting Honda engines next year.

Marcus Erickson things he's ready for a competitive team.

We learned a lot about the two seater F1 car (it's really and old Tyrel)

And Sebastian Bordais has the green light to return to racing.

Posted on August 20, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 109

We're deep into summer break and things have gotten quiet, but we still found a bit to talk about this week.

It turns out Formula 1 hasn't been using champagne in it's podium ceremonies since 2015 - but thanks to a new deal with Carbon, it's back.

The French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard will have a chicane in the long straight, because passing.

Drivers are getting their mid-season reviews over the next few weeks from both team bosses, journalists, and of course themselves.

And F1 bosses say they don't need to get V8s to make engines exciting - we say make the racing better first.

Posted on August 13, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 108

We're back from Mid-Ohio and IndyCar and what a weekend it was.  The race wasn't that great but it was still a good weekend trackside.

IndyCar is known for providing an incredible level of fan access and this past weekend was no different.  If you haven't been over to our Facebook page to check out some of the photos and video from the weekend- what are you waiting for?

In other series - the LMP1 division of WEC is down to a field of just one team with Porsche announcing that they will follow Audi and shift from WEC to FormulaE for 2018 joining Jaguar, Renault, Mahindra, and now Mercedes as they shut down their DTM team in exchange for FormulaE.

There's a new twist in the Honda story, with confirmation that the deal with Sauber is off and a meeting this past week with Red Bull's Helmet Marko.  Could Toro Rosso be the next Honda powered team?

There were good manners and bad manners at last week's Hungarian Grand Prix...  And Paul DiResta said his shoes were too small...

Posted on August 6, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 107

This week we're admittedly all over the place as we bounce from F1 to IndyCar and then back to F1. But since we're headed to the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio next week we had to turn out attention to IndyCar too this week.

Before the weekend ended last week we got a chance to watch the British Grand Prix, and while there was some excitement towards the end - overall it was a pretty meh race...

Pirelli isn't sure they'll be able to figure out what caused Seb's tire to fail - and shockingly we didn't see "Angry Seb" over that tire failure.

We know why Mercedes has been having gearbox issues - they've been trying to hard.

Honda tells us why they are struggling - because not everything can be figured out in a simulator no matter what Patricia thinks.

McLaren won't be getting engines from Ferrari or Mercedes (or probably Renault) if they dump Honda.

Cosworth might be coming back to F1.

The Halo is coming to F1 for 2018 like it or not.

Silly season news - we've already got drivers confirmed for 2018, talks have started with other drivers.

Alexander Rossi is back on an Indycar podium

And Daniel Ricciardo may be starting to regret the whole shoey thing...

Posted on July 23, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 106

This week - you asked and we answered, and as a bonus we even answered correctly!

You asked us about points, and we give you the lowdown on how points are awarded, from what the scale is to the difference between the drivers and constructors championships.  As an added bonus we talk about race distances too.

In other news - Nico Rosberg's Drivers Championship trophy was lost in the mail for a few days - our guess is that it was shipped via DHL.

Are you a Snapchat user? F1 has a new partnership with Snapchat.

Sauber has an new boss, and he's trying to figure out the whole Honda thing.  It doesn't sound like Longbow Financial thought real highly of the Honda deal.

Kimi Raikonnen is doing his best, no matter what Sergio Marchione says, oh andFerrari doesn't want to hire Fernando Alonso again.

Danil Kyviat wants a confirmation from Red Bull that he'll have a seat in the organization next year.

The FIA says - no, Valteri Bottas didn't jump the start in Austria.

The BRDC has no intention of selling Silverstone to FOG.

And the first run with the new "shield" concept wasn't a roaring success...

Posted on July 16, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 105

This week - more talk of a new team for 2019, this one from somebody who previously launched a bid to start a team.

We're closing in on the date for Silverstone to exercise it's exit clause.  All signs point to them doing so, but that might not be a bad thing for the track or the sport.

The power unit working group met - and there were some new attendees at the meeting.

Renault is still struggling.

Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, Baku - need we say more?

Carlos Sainz Jr thinks he won't be driving for Toro Rosso next year, Christian Horner thinks otherwise.

Posted on July 9, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 104

First off - an apology to Channel 4's Karun Chandhok. Please don't be made at us, we really love your reporting on Channel 4....

IndyCar's Mikhail Aleshin had some visa issues which impacted his return to the series from LeMans.  

Ron Dennis is done at McLaren - completely and totally.

Silly Season has started and Toto Wolff had dinner with Fernando Alonso's manager Flavio Briatore in Baku and while they spoke about Fernando, they absolutely didn't talk about Fernando coming to Mercedes in 2018.  Nope, not at all.

Toto Wolff calls Eddie Jordan's comments about Petronas and UBS ending their sponsorship in 2018 and that Mercedes would sell the team "Fake News," but Eddie isn't backing down - about saying something....

Honda is "relieved" McLaren scored points in Baku - McLaren's not quite as thrilled.

There was the bump heard round the world last weekend - more to come on that one.

Force India has placed it's drivers on the naughty step back at the factory.

And in MotoGP - if you don't cross the finish line on your motorcycle, you haven't actually finished the race... 

Posted on July 2, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 103

We're back!  It was a great week off but now we have a lot to talk about...

We don't normally discuss LeMans, but take a former F1 driver, a hand gesture and a blown clutch - well that gets our attention.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed will be celebrating Bernie Ecclestone.

Honda's still blowing up engines, and McLaren isn't amused.

Monisha Keltenborne - well we have a lot on her this week.

Is a rename coming for Force India?

Danill Kyviat is upset at people again.

Rumors from Eddie Jordan....

We got our first look at the 2018 calendar.

And could there be another Malaysian Grand Prix?

Posted on June 25, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 102

This week Apple updated Garage Band, so we're crossing our fingers that our recording goes well.

The FIA and F1 will be looking for ways to make racing better.

Portugal could be coming back to the F1 calendar.

Felipe Massa is open to staying in F1 longer.

Romain Grosjean explains why he's not giving up his seat in FP1 this year.

Toto Wolf says that no matter what Eddie Jordan is saying, Mercedes isn't getting ready to just become an engine supplier.

Kimi Raikonnen says that there's no #1 driver at Ferrari yet.

McLaren reads the riot act to Honda (and so does Fernando)

There are some changes happening this weekend in Montreal, and Ralf Schumacher doesn't like Fernando Alonso's kart track...

Posted on June 11, 2017 .

The Bloke and a Bird Show Episode 101

We get side tracked by donuts briefly this week but manage to get it back under control.

Fernando Alonzo didn't miss race in Monaco, and beside why should he - He's shown us that he doesn't need to be in an F1 car to have a Honda engine blow up on him....

The Indy 500's Rookie of the Year is - Surprise - Fernando Alonso...

Max Chilton says that F1 could benefit from IndyCar style spotters...

Nikki Lauda says this season is all over.

Mercedes can't figure out why Lewis' car isn't working right.

Honda might not have an engine upgrade ready for Montreal, but McLaren says that aerodynamically the car is doing good.

VJ Mallya is upset at Gene Haas.

Formula One Group wants more races, and they want the everywhere.

And Esteban Gutiarrez is back in a race car - just not in F1.

Posted on June 4, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 100

It was such a busy week this week that we didn't even realize that this was our 100th show until after we finished recording.

You didn't miss anything by us being off last week - there wasn't a whole lot happening.  This week however, even without Indy we would have had a full show.

Surprise! F1 fans don't want gimmicks to "improve the show"

Pastor Maldonado has crawled out of his cave to tell us that it's his choice that he's not in F1 and not because nobody trusts him with their car.

Ross Brawn is putting his own stamp on F1 (again).

Sauber will do anything for cheap engines.

Force India is upset over how they were penalized for their numbers.

Lewis Hamilton is channeling Lightning McQueen.

Did Ferrari favor Seb over Kimi?

Scott Dixon had an amazing shunt at Indianapolis - and walked away.

Oh and another Honda engine blew itself up on Fernando Alonso...

Posted on May 29, 2017 .

No Show Week of May 21

Sorry folks, this week was a full one for both of us and it bled into the weekend.

We just don't have enough time to get a show recorded this week, but have no fear we'll be back next weekend!

Posted on May 21, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 99

Happy Mothers Day to all the Mothers out in our audience.  Oh, and if you're still looking for a Mother's Day gift - how about subscribing Mom to our show?

IndyCar insists that it's not trying to poach drivers from other series.

Chase Carey says lots of place want to host an F1 race.

Jean Todt wants a third term as FIA President

Haas says their brake system is complicated

Toto Wolf says that Lewis' problems in Sochi were complicated - but Lewis says the problem is fixed.

Honda's problems are far from fixed.

And there were some changes to the DRS zones for this week's race in Barcelona.

Posted on May 14, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 98

This week we start off with talking about IndyCar - not that there was anything really happening in IndyCar last week other than Fernando Alonso getting his first opportunity to get behind the wheel of an IndyCar at Indianapolis.

We also have reaction to Bernie Ecclestone's sympathy tour a few weeks ago - and the comments we got weren't in support of the things he had to say.

We do however support Monisha Kaltenborn's comments about a franchise system for team owners - a concept we've like for a few years now.

The Russia GP was dull - again.

Renault is delaying their engine upgrades.

And we think Romain Grosjean has made a significant turn in how he's viewed by his fellow drivers...

Posted on May 7, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 97

This week we have a question from Phil...  We don't know the answer but we think our guess is pretty good...

Force India thinks they figured out the aero bit that isn't working on their car - turns out its not the one we were hoping it would be.

It's confirmed, Sauber will be ditching their supply of leftover Ferrari engines and instead get newer but potentially worse engines from Honda in 2018.

The Strategy Group met this week, and it turns out even they're not happy with Honda's performance.

The Strategy Group approved banning t wings and shark fins - next year. They also approved standing starts after red flag periods - but we don't know when.

And Charlie Whiting told the teams that they need to change their paint jobs starting in Barcelona.

Changes were made to Turn 2 in Sochi to try and convince drivers to stay on the track, and it'll be at least 3 years before Sochi becomes a night race.

Finally, NCL's new ship Norwegian Joy will feature a two level Ferrari branded go kart track...

Posted on April 30, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 96

This week we hear a little from the guy that Fernando Alonso will be replacing on the grid for the Indianapolis 500.

Bernie Ecclestone tries to remind us that he's still relevant to F1 - while at the same time complaining about how he's not being treated like he's not still relevant to F1.

VJ Mallya's been arrested, and then was released.

We know why Valteri Bottas' performance in Bahrain was so disappointing, and Lewis takes the blame for his penalty.

Pascal Wherlin is feeling better than he thought he would - oh and he wants to go back to the Race of Champions.

Lance Stroll still hasn't finished a race - but it's not his fault.

We're having flashbacks to 2015 with McLaren-Honda, especially after this week's test.

Changes are coming to Montreal's Circuit Giles Villeneuve, and Renault has created their vision for the future of F1.

Posted on April 23, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 95

As usual, Patricia goes away for a week and the paddock explodes...

The FIA is going to create a Hall of Fame - what are your suggestions for nominees?

Liberty continues to undo Bernie Ecclestone's impact.

Bernie might buy Interlagos - and now he says that FOM charges organizers too much money even though he was the one who negotiated all of those deals.

Malaysia is leaving F1 - but Turkey may be coming back?

No, really, Honda has truly misjudged the competitiveness of modern Formula 1.

Fernando Alonso really is skipping Monaco for the Indy 500. Are you going to watch Indy this year, and will you be doing so because of Fernando?

Congratulations to the Wolff family on the birth of their new son - we assume that if Mercedes didn't have a super cool creche they're going to soon...

And Congratulations to the Williams family on the announcement that Claire is expecting - we suspect that the Williams Heritage Collection will be an ideal location to raise the newest member of the family!

Posted on April 16, 2017 .

The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 94

Before we look back at last week's race, we participated in a different sort of race this weekend at the Great Lakes Science Center. By adopting the F1 strategy of find the limits of the rules and push right up to the edge we designed a "car" that raced to a commanding victory.

Did this year's Australian Grand Prix feel short to you? Well it was the shortest Australian Grand Prix ever.

Fernando Alonso thinks this year's McLaren Honda is the slowest car on the grid - but at least Honda can upgrade the engine - something that Sauber can't look forward to with their late model Ferrari.  This is the same Sauber that thinks that it's realistic for them to score points, and apparently the same Sauber that has been talking to Honda about an engine supply.

Red Bull isn't expecting a significant engine upgrade until Montreal.

Did Mercedes loose Australian Grand Prix or did Ferrari win it - what do you think?

Lewis Hamilton doesn't need a physical trainer, and Lance Stroll thinks that we're all just jealous of him...

Posted on April 2, 2017 .