If anyone knows Porsche’s winning formula, it’s Jochen Mass.

For more than a decade, he raced sports cars with the factory team, competing in seven Le Mans 24 Hour races and winning multiple world championship races.

Mass joins us for the first in our new podcast series, recalling his early days with the outfit, when the Porsche Development Centre consisted mainly of wooden sheds; and the development of the 956 and 962 with the legendary engineer, Norbert Singer.

He describes the fearsome concentration needed to drive the Nürburgring in a Group C sports car; working with team-mates including Stefan Bellof and Bobby Rahal, and explains why Porsche’s IndyCar never achieved its potential.

He’s frank, funny and doesn’t pull his punches. Sit back and enjoy.

Motor Sport Magazine Podcast 2021 Season

Podcast: Jochen Mass | Porsche's winning formula

Much of Brian Redman's endurance legend was forged at the wheel of Porsche's greatest machines.

The self-effacing Lancastrian won the Spa 1000Km four times, took three victories at the Daytona 24 Hours and has a brace of Sebring and Nürburgring overall winner trophies.

Redman joins us to give more insight into Porsche's winning formula, recalling how his impressive early privateer appearances got him a seat at the works team, his experience of being a team-mate to Jo Siffert and Pedro Rodriguez and what it was like to drive for a brand in relentless pursuit of performance.

He also compares Stuttgart with his other famous employer – Ferrari – and explains why Porsche engineers told him he was their "favourite driver".

Podcast: Brian Redman | Porsche's winning formula

Tim Schenken left Australia as national hillclimb champion at the age of 22 and returned 20 years later, having competed in F1, raced the Porsche 917/10 to victory at Zandvoort, Nürburgring and Hockenheim, and found himself detained in a Florida police station alongside Ronnie Peterson.

Now Clerk of the Course for the Australian Grand Prix (when it returns), Schenken focuses on his career with Porsche in the latest Motor Sport podcast from our Porsche's winning formula series.

He describes his early sacrifices, including at a wet Spa where his tea couldn't afford wet tyres; the "easy to drive" 917/10; and his endless disappointment at Le Mans.

There's also time to reflect on the challenge of getting to F1 and that story from Daytona, 1972, where he and Peterson found themselves on the wrong side of the law, and without their passports, just hours before a race.

Podcast: Tim Schenken | Porsche's winning formula

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown is on a mission to return the Formula 1 team to title-winning form, while also seeking success in IndyCar, Extreme E and at Le Mans. In Motor Sport's latest My big break podcast series, he tells Chris Medland about the moments that took him from growing up as a racing fan in California, to joining a select club of F1 team bosses.

Brown recalls meeting Mario Andretti as a youngster and the F1 veteran's advice that set him off on a racing career. He explains how he discovered his talent for marketing while trying to recruit sponsors, and growing that ability into a multi-million-dollar business that became the world's largest marketing company.

An opportunistic phone call to legendary F1 marketeer John Hogan helped fuel Brown's JMI business and also brought him in contact with McLaren, beginning a relationship that would ultimately see him take control of the racing operation.

Brown explains his decision to sell JMI and to turn down chances to work for Bernie Ecclestone and Liberty Media before McLaren came calling in 2016, revealing why he decided to join and how he has turned the team around, helped by his most radical decision made early in his tenure.

Zak Brown | My big break

If it hadn't been for a long lunch with Niki Lauda, a willingness to swap grand prix racing for NASCAR, and a vision for a US F1 team, it's unlikely Guenther Steiner would have found himself leading Haas in Formula 1.

In this episode from Motor Sport's My big break series, Steiner tells Chris Medland about the make-or-break moments that brought him to his current role.

He describes his move to Jaguar's F1 team from Ford's World Rally team — at the behest of Lauda — and his rapid disillusionment at the corporate structure. He returned to the paddock with newly-formed Red Bull, and then transferred to its US division to set up a NASCAR team.

The American life suited Steiner so much that the Italian-born 56-year-old ended up co-founding a successful composites company and championing the idea of a US-based Formula 1 team, which brought him into contact with Gene Haas....

Guenther Steiner | My big break

Helio Castroneves says that destiny guided his glittering IndyCar career that's crowned by a record-equalling four Indy 500 wins, but the path to glory was far from straightforward.

He speaks to Chris Medland in the opening episode from season two of our Big Break podcast series, charting the make-or-break moments that shaped top-level racers, engineers and managers.

Ahead of this year's Indy 500, Castroneves recalls his early dreams of racing in Formula 1, graduating from karting in Brazil to living in Milton Keynes in British F3, and then the conversation with his sponsor that brought him to the unfamiliar ladder to IndyCar.

That journey was studded with challenge, tragedy and a court case with Emerson Fittipaldi — plus a 14-week run to victory on Dancing with the Stars, that is credited with bringing an extra 1m viewers to IndyCar.

Now in search of a record-equalling fifth Indy 500 win, Castroneves says that the sky's the limit, with no thoughts of retirement. When we’re in this business [of racing], it’s our life, it’s what we do, it’s the air that I breathe," he says.

Helio Castroneves | My big break

Kamui Kobayashi showed so much potential as a go-karting teenager that Toyota locked him into a ten-year racing contract at the age of 14.

In our new My big break podcast episode, the Le Mans winner looks at the key moments that shaped his career, including that initial deal which took him all the way to Formula 1 — only for the team to announce that it was pulling out of the series after his third race.

Kobayashi tells Chris Medland about his grand prix debut and the “crazy” battle with Jenson Button who would be crowned world champion at the chequered flag.

He explains how he secured his return to the grid with Sauber, and why he doesn’t regret his year spent at the back of the grid with Caterham.

Now back with Toyota and set to compete in this weekend’s Le Mans 24 Hours, Kobayashi describes his new joint driver and team principal role, as well as how he sees himself helping to shape the future of motor racing.

Kamui Kobayashi | My big break

If a young Valtteri Bottas and his dad hadn't spotted the sign for a go-kart race in Finland, then the Alfa Romeo driver may never have got on track, let alone partnered Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.

In the latest podcast from our My big break series, Bottas joins Chris Medland to reveal the make-or-break moments that brought him to Formula 1. He explains the key role that porridge power played ahead of his go kart debut, the local sponsors that bankrolled his fresh tyres, and the tests that took him from the Finnish go-karting championship to an F1 seat with Williams — via a rocky GP3 season. 

When Nico Rosberg retired from F1, Bottas moved from to Mercedes — and he suggests that he used his own money to buy out the Williams contract — only to be handed the Herculean task of being team-mate to Hamilton. Bottas describes how it took its toll, and reveals that he was on the brink of quitting at the end of the 2018 season before a restorative walk in a Finnish forest saw him change his mind.

Now at Alfa Romeo, Bottas talks of the hope that he can win again with the team. "I don't see a limit," he says. "I'm absolutely loving F1."

Valtteri Bottas | My big break

The season dawned with the launch of a new generation of Formula 1 cars and, 22 races later, saw Max Verstappen crowned world champion after a dominant season.

But why did Ferrari's challenge falter — and why won't the team get the cure that it needs? How did Mercedes turn its season around? And what did Red Bull gain — or lose — from breaching the cost cap?

Mark Hughes, Chris Medland and Damien Smith form our expert panel to look back over the year and the crucial moments that shaped the 2022 season.

As well as the championship battle, they discuss the legacy of Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo as the drivers leave the grid for 2023, look back over the fortunes and futures of all ten teams.

2022 F1 season review with Mark Hughes, Chris Medland and Damien Smith

Which F1 overtake stood out in a season of action-packed racing? Williams reserve driver Jack Aitken and Channel 4 Formula 1 commentator Alex Jacques join Chris Medland to review the shortlist of brilliant and brave moments that had crowds on their feet. Hear their expert verdicts on moves that include Lewis Hamilton's three-wide pass at Silverstone and Sebastian Vettel taking on Kevin Magnussen at the US Grand Prix, then have your say by voting in the Motor Sport Season Review Awards on our website before December 22 to have a chance of winning £2,000 Goodwood season tickets.

F1 overtake of the year 2022, with Jack Aitken, Chris Medland and Alex Jacques

Red Bull won the F1 Constructors' Championship and powered Max Verstappen to the drivers' title too. But was it the best Formula 1 team in 2022?

Our season review podcast shows why that question isn't as foolish as it sounds, as Le Mans champion and former Toyota grand prix driver Allan McNish joins Chris Medland and F1 presenter Lawrence Barretto to discuss the strongest teams of the season.

Joining Red Bull on our shortlist is Mercedes, which put in a Herculean effort to recover and win after a poor start to the season; Ferrari, which had the pace to beat Red Bull in several races; and Alpine, which consistently racked up the points.

Hear what our expert panel has to say and then make your choice in the Motor Sport Season Review Awards. Vote by December 22 and be in with a chance of winning £2,000 Goodwood season tickets.

F1 team of the year 2022 with Allan McNish, Chris Medland and Lawrence Barretto

Legendary F1 car designer Patrick Head returns to our Engineering the Greats podcast for series 2, produced in association with Scalextric.

He picks up where he left off last time with the story of Williams' dominant 1993 season.

Head pulls back the curtain on the fascinating story of that year: of how the team secured Adrian Newey's services, why boss Frank Williams didn't want Damon Hill to partner Alain Prost, and how the cutting-edge FW15C car could have had even more exotic technical tricks, had Williams not been outmanoeuvred in a classic FIA showdown.

Patrick Head | Engineering the Greats s2

Gary Anderson joins Rob Widdows for the latest in our Engineering the Greats podcast series. The former Jordan designer tells how he started working life as a builder, then got his big break in F1 with Brabham as an engineer.

Moving on to McLaren, he worked with James Hunt and Alain Prost and was then in IndyCar before Eddie Jordan called him back to the UK — and F1 — where he would make his name designing the legendary Jordan 191.

Gary Anderson | Engineering the Greats

Steve Hallam, who has worked with Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell and Mika Häkkinen joins Rob Widdows for another Engineering the Greats podcast in association with Scalextric.

From race engineering Senna to his first wins in F1, to witnessing Mansell’s inimitable racing style in its early years and being at the centre of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso’s fiery 2007 championship fight, the British engineer has had long a career at the very top.

Hear him describe what it takes to work and succeed day in, day out with legends of grand prix racing.

Steve Hallam | Engineering the Greats

As trailblazers go in motor sport, there aren't many that can match up with the groundbreaking achievements of Leena Gade, who joins Rob Widdows for our Engineering the Greats podcast series, produced in association with Scalextric.

On her Le Mans debut with Audi in 2011 Gade became the first female race engineer to win at La Sarthe. She She would mastermind wins again in 2012 and 2014, sealing her place as one of Le Mans' engineering greats, before working in GT racing, IndyCar and now Extreme E.

In the latest instalment of our podcast series, Gade opens up on what it was like to be in the centre of the Audi winning machine.

Leena Gade | Engineering the Greats at Le Mans

For success matched only by sheer diversity, few can hold a light to engineering ace Tony Southgate.

Designer of Bobby Unser's Indy 500-winning Eagle 68 car, a key contributor to the trailblazing ground-effect Lotus 78 and the creative mind behind Jaguar's Le Mans-conquering XJR-9, the Coventry native has marked himself out as one of racing's great lateral thinkers.

Along the way, Southgate worked with some of its greatest drivers, including Mario Andretti, Pedro Rodriguez and Dan Gurney.

In the newest episode of our podcast series, in association with Scalextric, Southgate pulls back the curtain on some of motor's sport seminal moments.

Tony Southgate: Creating an Indy 500 winner, the Lotus 78 and conquering Le Mans with Jaguar

For over 50 years, Dick Bennetts has been central to some of racing's greatest stories.

From giving Ayrton Senna his famous Formula 3 break, to communicating engineering feedback via hand signals with young prodigy Mika Häkkinen, and gaining respect for Nigel Mansell through his spectacular touring car cameos, Bennetts has lived and breathed motor sport through some of its most thrilling moments.

In the final installment of Engineering the Greats series 2, in association with Scalextric, Bennetts gives true insight into the link between driver and engineer.

Now a stalwart of the BTCC, the New Zealander also talks about what makes the series great, analyses the respective styles of his superstar drivers Colin Turkington and Jake Hill as well as explaining what he would do to make the championship even better.

Bennetts also expands on how his West Surrey Racing team could have dominated with Tom Kristensen, and explains why he turned down working for Ron Dennis at McLaren.

In another fascinating episode of Engineering the Greats, Bennetts' memories of a brilliant life in racing are not to be missed.

Dick Bennetts: Discovering Senna, Häkkinen’s hand signals and Mansell’s Mondeo

F1 World Champion, four-time IndyCar title-holder and Daytona 500 winner, Mario Andretti is the first guest in a special podcast series marking 100 years of Motor Sport‘s publication

Andretti has been a regular in Motor Sport‘s pages for more than half that time, and is still making headlines, with plans to be the first to test the Andretti F1 car, if the team is granted a place on the grid.

He joins Rob Widdows to recall a career that made him one of the sport’s all-time greats, from watching Stirling Moss and Alberto Ascari as a spectator, to meeting Colin Chapman, succeeding in F1, and then racing against his son.

Mario Andretti: Centenary Stories

A five-time grand prix winner who partnered the likes of Niki Lauda and Alain Prost, John Watson came achingly close to winning the 1982 Formula 1 World Championship.

He's our latest guest in a special podcast series marking 100 years of Motor Sport‘s publication, as he charts a changing era of F1 when Lauda and Mario Andretti introduced new levels of professionalism and ruthlessness to the sport.

In a series of fascinating and funny tales, Watson covers driving for Bernie Ecclestone's Brabham team, witnessing Lauda's influence, and seeing the emerging talent of Prost. The driver who still holds the record for winning a grand prix from furthest back on the grid (22nd place) also tackles the art of overtaking and gives his predictions for the future of racing.

John Watson: Centenary Stories

Charged with getting the best out of Felipe Massa as his race engineer, Rob Smedley helped the Brazilian to get within a whisker of the F1 world championship.

He was also the head of vehicle performance at Williams and is now working for Formula 1’s promoters, looking to make the technical side of the sport more accessible to fans.

In the final Motor Sport podcast of 2019, he talks through his career: discovering a “baby” Fernando Alonso testing in F3000; his years at Ferrari, plus his thoughts on Williams’ current predicament.

We also ask what happened after he made the famous “Fernando is faster than you” radio call.

Motor Sport Magazine Podcast 2019 Season

Rob Smedley podcast: working for Eddie Jordan, the Ferrari years, and a "baby" Alonso

Patrick Head is the engineering genius who played a crucial role in Williams' success in the 1980s and 1990s. In the latest of our Engineering the Greats series, he talks about starting his career, working with top drivers, including Nigel Mansell, and the future of the current Williams team.

Patrick Head | Engineering the Greats

In a career with Hesketh, Williams and Benetton - to name a few - Frank Dernie helped haul F1 into the digital era, pioneering the use of data loggers, active suspension and extensive wind tunnel testing. He also worked with many the legends of the sport, including Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell and Michael Schumacher. In the latest from our podcast series, he tells us what it takes to engineer the greats.

Frank Dernie | Engineering the Greats

John Barnard pioneered technologies that underpin the modern Formula 1 car, and was first to use a carbon fibre chassis at McLaren where he won titles with Niki Lauda and Alain Prost.
At Ferrari, he developed the semi-automatic gearbox that won the first time it was raced.
In this podcast, Barnard reveals more about working with the top drivers of the era, as well as larger-than-life team bosses, including Enzo Ferrari, Ron Dennis and Flavio Briatore.

John Barnard | Engineering the Greats

A designer who has worked with drivers including Graham Hill, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet, Jack Brabham and Ayrton Senna, Gordon Murray knows plenty about what it takes to engineer a Formula 1 great. In the final episode of our podcast series, he reveals some of the secrets to a winning partnership, and talks about his current projects, plus the future of motoring.

Gordon Murray | Engineering the Greats

Gerhard Berger joins Ed Foster for the first of our new series featuring Ferrari's F1 drivers.
Berger is one of the only drivers to leave Ferrari on his terms after both of his stints with the Maranello outfit. He reveals the pressure, the pranks and the privilege of driving for F1's longest-standing team.

Motor Sport Magazine Podcast 2020 Season

Gerhard Berger | Driving for Ferrari

It's every F1 driver's dream to get a seat with Ferrari... unless the car turns out to be as bad as the 1992 contender. In the latest from our Ferrari podcast series, Ivan Capelli describes the emotion and intensity of signing for the team as an Italian - and how it all unravelled during an "unreal", tense and extremely uncompetitive season

Ivan Capelli | Driving for Ferrari

When Stefan Johansson took the lead at Imola in his second race for Ferrari, he couldn't hear his engine over the roar of the crowd. In the latest from our 'Driving for Ferrari' series, Johansson describes the emotion of racing for the team in the mid-1980s; the contrast with McLaren's clinical approach; and the one question Enzo Ferrari asked him before he joined. Plus - his plan to improve the racing in F1.,

Stefan Johansson | Driving for Ferrari

Derek Bell shares his vivid memories of his time at Ferrari, which began when he caught the eye of Enzo Ferrari as a young F2 driver in 1968 and soon found himself touring Maranello and having lunch with the Commendatore.

But in a case of being in the right place at the wrong time, Bell describes being the victim of a pared-back Ferrari race programme.

He turned to sports cars, where once more he was seen by Enzo, in a privately-entered Ferrari 512. Another call from Maranello saw him line up for his first Le Mans race in 1970. And the rest is glorious history.

Derek Bell | Driving for Ferrari

He joined Ferrari as a test driver, partnered Michael Schumacher in his final year with the team and went on to win the 2008 F1 championship... for a few seconds.
Felipe Massa is our latest Motor Sport podcast guest, bringing tales of being part of the Maranello machine; of challenging for the title, then becoming the unmistakable number 2 driver, with the famous radio message, "Fernando is faster than you".
It's the inside story of a rollercoaster career at Ferrari from one of the most popular Formula 1 drivers in recent times.

Felipe Massa | Driving for Ferrari

A World Sportscar Champion; Le Mans 24 Hours winner; Formula 1 driver and now a trusted voice to millions in the Sky F1 commentary box. Martin Brundle is inducted into the Motor Sport Hall of Fame this year, in recognition of his exceptional career behind the wheel and the microphone.

In this podcast, Brundle looks back at his racing career; his commentary break filling in for a missing James Hunt, and learning the ropes from fellow Hall of Fame inductee, Murray Walker, whose advice he follows to this day. He talks about the struggle to keep up to date with F1 in the digital age and why he's secretly pleased that Covid put a temporary halt to his trademark grid walk.

Podcast: Martin Brundle | Motor Sport Hall of Fame 2020

Motor Sport magazine has been reporting on motor racing since 1924. This series of podcasts centre around Formula 1 and include star guests such as Mario Andretti, Christian Horner, BBC's Lee McKenzie, Sky's Martin Brundle and Sir Stirling Moss. 

Popular tracks by Motor Sport magazine