Midseason Mayhem: Horners Exit, Max's Future and McLaren's Championship Battle.

This week on Two Soft Compounds, Rick and Paul unpack a jaw-dropping first half of the 2025 Formula One season. McLaren has gone from dark horses to dominant force, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris locked in a tense title scrap that’s friendlier in the press than it is on track.

Over at Red Bull the guys discuss a team in meltdown. Christian Horner’s high-profile exit and a rumored £60 million settlement have sparked a mass technical exodus, and Jos Verstappen’s “this team will explode” prophecy is unfolding in real-time. With Max’s future now up in the air, Paul and Rick ask the big question: could the reigning champ really walk away before 2026?

Elsewhere, Rick's favortie team, Ferrari, continue to flatter and frustrate and Paul has some choice words about Toto's handling of George Russel. Plus there's chat about Cadillac’s looming arrival for 2026 which just stirred the driver market pot even more.

As we head to Spa for the Belgian Grand Prix, the gloves are coming off. Will McLaren keep it civil? Will Red Bull survive the implosion? And is Max Verstappen about to trigger the biggest silly season shock of all time? Tap in to Two Soft Compounds for all the F1 drama and debate you crave!

Production Credits:

Presented by: Rick Houghton & Paul Velasco
Studio Engineer & Editor: Roy D'Monte
Executive Producer: Ian Carless
Produced by: W4 Podcast Studio & GrandPrix247

Going, Going, Gone! Horner Ousted In Red Bull’s Radical Shake Up

The Formula One world has been thrown into chaos with the stunning announcement that Christian Horner has been sacked as Red Bull team principal and CEO after 20 years at the helm. What seemed unthinkable just days ago has become reality, sending shockwaves through the paddock and raising profound questions about the future of the sport's dominant team.

This special episode of Two Soft Compounds dives deep into the bombshell news, exploring the multiple theories behind Horner's sudden dismissal. From the disappointing performance at the British Grand Prix to Jos Verstappen's eerily prophetic warning from March 2023 that "this team is going to implode" under Horner's leadership, Rick & Paul unpick the complex web of factors that may have led to this momentous decision. The recent exodus of key personnel – including Adrian Newey, Rob Marshall, and Jonathan Wheatley – looms large in our analysis, particularly after their skills helped rival teams outperform Red Bull at Silverstone.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Rick Houghton & Paul Velasco
Studio Engineer & Editor: Roy D'Monte
Executive Producer: Ian Carless
Produced by: W4 Podcast Studio & GrandPrix247

British GP: Rain, Rage & Redemption - Norris Doubles Up, Red Bull Slides & Hulk Pops His Podium Cherry.

This week on Two Soft Compounds, Rick is joined by Grandprix247 editor Jad Malek alongside motorsport journalist and F1 TV commentator, Damien Reid, as the three dive into a soaked Silverstone showdown that flipped the championship script and gave fans one of the best races of the season. With rain clouds looming and strategies unraveling, it was Lando Norris who danced through the chaos to take back-to-back wins and lead a commanding McLaren 1-2 - cementing their rise from underdogs to undisputed title contenders.

The guys discuss how it wasn’t all smooth sailing at McLaren. Oscar Piastri’s uncharacteristic frustration over a 10-second penalty exposed rare emotion from the Australian and leave Rick asking if the iceman has lost his cool? Congratultions from Rick also for one of his favorites, Nico Hülkenberg who finally ditched his “nearly man” tag with a fairytale podium. There's plenty of chat about whether the Jonathan Wheatley effect has kicked in already at Sauber.

Lots to talk about with Red Bull also as the guys discuss how Verstappen’s low-downforce gamble backfired in the rain. And Ferrari fumbled (again), losing GPS tracking on Hamilton mid-race and Mercedes made tire choices even Rick's nan would’ve questioned. Plus, with Adrian Newey lurking on Aston Martin’s pit wall the 2026 driver and tech market just got juicier.

Next up: Spa. A legendary track, a tightening title fight and a McLaren team that suddenly looks unstoppable. Buckle up and catch it all on Two Soft Compounds.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Rick Houghton & Paul Velasco
Studio Engineer & Editor: Roy D'Monte
Executive Producer: Ian Carless
Produced by: W4 Podcast Studio & GrandPrix247