The Autosport F1 Podcast

It feels like our series on the top Formula 1 drivers of each keeps decade gets harder. More races and drivers make the selection tougher and the 1970s is no exception.

As usual, we’ve considered many factors, including level of success, machinery at their disposal, longevity and how highly the drivers were rated by their contemporaries. Success outside the relevant decade is not considered.

Perhaps the greatest absentee in this list is four-time 1970s GP winner Gilles Villeneuve. He was undoubtedly one of the best drivers by the end of the decade but was only just getting into his stride as the 1970s came to an end – be sure to check out our upcoming 1980s list if you’re a fan of the great French-Canadian…
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The 2026 Canadian Grand Prix will be remembered for its chaos, freneticism and a dominant fourth win in a row for Kimi Antonelli. Kevin Turner is joined by jake-Boxall Legge to analyse and dissect the action.

From the early race battle between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, to the disaster that was McLaren. Midfield heroes who shone, and a certain Ferrari that didn't, and of course, another that did, with Lewis Hamilton's epic charge on Max Verstappen.

We also look to the next race, the jewel in the crown of F1, the Monaco Grand Prix and who should stand to gain!
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Autosport Editor-in-Chief Kevin Turner sits down with renowned motorsport writer Maurice Hamilton to revisit one of Formula 1’s most extraordinary flashpoints – the drivers’ strike at the 1982 South African Grand Prix. As tensions simmered between the drivers and the FIA, the introduction of controversial superlicence terms by president Jean-Marie Balestre prompted a united response from the grid. Led by Niki Lauda, the drivers took a stand that would see them barricade themselves in protest, exposing deep fractures in the sport’s governance and a breakdown in communication that defined the standoff. Hamilton and Turner explore how the dispute unfolded, the hastily brokered agreement that followed, and why confusion lingered over what had actually been resolved. The episode also reflects on the wider context of a tumultuous 1982 season, one overshadowed by tragedy. The deaths of Gilles Villeneuve and Riccardo Paletti, along with the career-ending injuries sustained by Didier Pironi, underscored the dangers of the era and left an indelible mark on Formula 1 history.
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The 2007 season was one of the most contentious in Formula 1 history, and the ‘Spygate’ scandal was its biggest story. 

In the latest of our new From the Archive series, experienced F1 journalist Maurice Hamilton – who witnessed the events in the paddock as they unfolded – and host Kevin Turner look back at the time when a Ferrari employee handed sensitive documents to McLaren’s chief designer, triggering a series of events that would also involve Fernando Alonso and result in the biggest fine in F1 history. 
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By definition, winning a Formula 1 championship requires excellence and a consistently high level of performance. But which are the best of the best from the 76 drivers’ title successes so far?  

When it comes to the crunch, we’ve favoured crowns won with cars that weren’t the best over dominant seasons. While pumping in win after win in the best car is harder than the greats make it look and some campaigns have been near perfection, there is something special about a fight against the odds, which pushes the drivers to dig deep, particularly when that effort is rewarded. 

Putting in a great season is about optimising the car and circumstances every time out – or close to it. If done with the best car, the result is win after win. But if done in a lesser machine, a bit of luck is sometimes required to get the job done – or some intra-team rivalry with your chief opposition… 

Kevin Turner is joined by Stuart Codling and journalist Damien Smith to try to put these epic campaigns into a top ten order.
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