Back At Base S3: 7. Shooting for the Stars

F1: Chequered Flag

BBC

Sports

4.2 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 25 February 2026

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The new year has been rung in and, for Formula 1, 2026 is here at last. The landmark year of change that the teams have been chasing for months. Inside the closely-guarded F1 factories, there are whispers of speculation about the redesigned cars and the potential for a new competitive order. But only when the cars break cover at the first race in Australia will the secret be out at last.

For Kimi Antonelli, a fresh start for 2026 began a little closer to home as the teenager flew the nest and moved into his own house in San Marino. The next milestone in his preparations for the new Formula 1 season is a training camp in Florida with his performance coach Sergi Avila, who already has a long list of physical goals for the Mercedes star.

Back at base, Mercedes reserve driver Fred Vesti has been putting in the work on the driver-simulator to unlock the secrets of the 2026 car. Holly Samos and Sarah Holt went to meet the Danish driver at the team’s Brackley HQ to find out what he’s learned about the new car so far. For Haas driver Ollie Bearman planning for the race season ahead is also now in full swing. He’s on a flying visit back home to Britain to don his 2026 race suit and the new Haas kit at a series of photoshoots. But, like all F1 drivers, he’s already thinking about getting back inside the car and is seeing the new set of technical rule changes as an opportunity.

At Cadillac’s Silverstone base the fledgling team are also counting down to the looming season. There are just over 50 days until the team makes its F1 race debut in Australia and the hustle-and-bustle at the factory is now in fifth gear as Sarah and Holly found out on their latest visit. There is an air of concentration in the race bays as the car build begins, overseen by chief mechanic Nathan Divey. Cadillac Formula 1 team’s CEO Dan Towriss wants to bring an American spin to Formula 1 - and it doesn’t get any bigger than the Super Bowl. The team will unveil the livery for its 2026 car in a TV advert aired during American football’s season showdown - watched by hundreds of millions around the world.

F1: Back at Base is an IMG Production for the BBC, hosted by Rosamund Pike Co-hosts & Executive Producers are Sarah Holt and Holly Samos

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, Music, Radio Podcasts.
0:05.6	Oh, hello. You have chosen a BBC podcast, but before you listen to it, we thought you might like our podcast too.
0:12.1	You might. You might. It is called Sightraught with me, Nick Grimshaw.
0:15.2	And me, Annie Mack. And we talk about the week in music.
0:18.2	All the news, all the cultural happenings in the UK and beyond.
0:22.2	And great guests.
0:23.3	And it's on BBC Sounds.
0:24.7	Yes, where you can also enjoy lots of playlists, music mixes and live radio.
0:29.9	Everything from my six music breakfast show to Radio 3 Unwind.
0:34.5	But obviously start with our podcast, sidetrack.
0:36.3	Obviously.
0:36.7	Obviously.
0:38.2	So if you like music,
0:39.1	listen on BBC Sounds.
0:40.5	Episodes of F1
0:41.7	Back at Base are released weekly
0:43.8	wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
0:46.5	But if you can't wait,
0:48.1	you can listen to the latest episode now,
0:50.3	a week early,
0:51.6	first on BBC Sounds.
0:58.8	Music Now, a week early, first on BBC Sounds. The new year has been rung in with a myriad of fresh starts and resolutions,
	...

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