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Otmar Szafanauer tackles how Ferrari should handle integrating Lewis Hamilton in the first episode of The Race’s brand new podcast series: The Team Principal Podcast
Lewis Hamilton’s potential move to Ferrari in Formula 1 has been a major topic in the 2025 pre-season, with questions arising about how team principal Fred Vasseur would integrate the most successful F1 driver in history into the new team. This scenario is explored in the debut episode of The Race’s latest podcast series, The Team Principal Podcast. Team principals in F1 bear significant responsibilities, including managing star drivers, supervising car design, securing sponsors, overseeing finances within the budget cap, and coordinating race weekend operations. The podcast offers exclusive insights and stories from former team principal Otmar Szafnauer, who brings a wealth of experience from his tenure at Racing Point, Aston Martin, and Alpine F1 teams. Szafnauer emphasizes the crucial behind-the-scenes work done at the factory, which forms the foundation for success on race weekends. As a key figure in team management, the team principal’s role lies in uniting the organization and ensuring smooth operation across all departments. Joining forces with guests from the F1 world, the podcast delves into the complexities of leading a modern Formula 1 team and provides a valuable perspective on the sport.