HILL & HERBERT: Damon and Johnny on testing secrets and mad car launches
The Race F1 Podcast
The Race Media Ltd
4.5 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 7 February 2026
⏱️ 54 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
With F1 pre-season in full swing, Damon and Johnny return with another episode of Stay On Track, and this time they’re discussing car launches and testing from a driver’s perspective. They share some weird and wacky stories from their own careers, including the time Damon was almost sacked during a car launch and the time Johnny inadvertently found himself part of a space opera! They also discuss how testing has changed over the years, and debate whether the current restrictions on testing have limited opportunities for drivers to experiment with new driving techniques - something that could be a big factor this year, with the new regulations…
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Athletic |
| 0:02.7 | I'm going to half a chocolate chip just to create controversy. |
| 0:08.5 | Coming up on this episode of Stay on Track. |
| 0:11.5 | I mean, Frank didn't exactly splash out on anything to do with marketing. |
| 0:15.1 | He wasn't that kind of. |
| 0:16.2 | Frank Williams, who was famous for spending every penny on the car. |
| 0:20.0 | And it was like a machine gun. |
| 0:21.7 | Oh, yeah. |
| 0:22.1 | So when it started to read the spit, it would go, |
| 0:24.6 | he took the opportunity of claiming I'd breach the contract. |
| 0:30.1 | And I hadn't even started driving for him yet. |
| 0:33.2 | So I was in breach of contract before I even had the launch. |
| 0:36.2 | So we did all the testing in Hereth, I think it was. I do remember we took all the fuel out because we weren't very quick. We had a lot of problems. We weren't going any quick with no fuel in it? In the oil. Yes, low fuel. You're something else. I just sort of point that out. Yes, I know. Well, there was a after. Maybe that's why you were going wrong. |
| 0:55.5 | That's why I get stopping. |
| 1:10.4 | You're going to be talking. Yes. I say BS? You know that expression? |
| 1:11.9 | Yes. |
| 1:12.5 | When the flag drops, the BS stops. |
| 1:15.7 | Well, the flag hasn't dropped it, hasn't been. |
| 1:17.3 | No, I know. |
| 1:18.1 | But it's already started. |
| 1:18.7 | Now we've got this is, we're into launch season. |
| 1:21.1 | We are. |
... |
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