The Lap Zero Podcast

This week, Antonio and Norman dive into all the action from Formula 1’s Brazilian Grand Prix. From the standout performances to the drama that defined the weekend. They then break down last week’s NASCAR Championship race, revisiting key moments, strategy calls, and how the end of the season shakes up. Tune in as they debate, analyze, and ultimately solidify their viewpoints on where NASCAR stands heading into the off-season, and Formula 1 heads as it nears the end of their season.

The NASCAR season comes to a close at Phoenix, where Denny Hamlin dominates, Ryan Blaney takes the win (somehow we didn’t even realize that at first), and Kyle Larson walks away with the championship. But despite all that action, it just… doesn’t feel right. We talk about the sour taste this finale left in our mouths and break down who’s to blame for it. Then we shift gears to Formula 1, previewing the Brazilian Grand Prix and what to expect from one of the most iconic races on the calendar.

This week on The Lap Zero Podcast, we head to Martinsville for the final round of eight, where William Byron punches his ticket to Phoenix with a clutch win. Blaney falls just one spot short in a must-win scenario, and we break down the Championship 4 — who we want to win versus who we think actually will. Then, it’s off to Formula One in Mexico, where the opening laps turn into a lawn mowing contest. Norris puts on a masterclass drive, and Ollie Bearman delivers a stunning P4 for Haas after a very questionable late VSC.

This week on The Lap Zero Podcast, we head to Austin for the United States Grand Prix! The sprint race kicks off with double trouble for McLaren as both cars get taken out in Turn One, while Lance Stroll sends it from Dallas and wipes out Ocon. Max Verstappen cruises to a sprint win and carries that momentum into Sunday, where Ferrari nails the strategy for once and turns it into a one-stop race—with no hard tires in sight. Lando can’t quite get past Leclerc for second, and Max seals the Grand Prix win to claw back into the championship fight.
Then we shift gears to NASCAR at Talladega for the second race of the Round of 8. Chase Elliott gets caught in the big one and now faces a must-win at Martinsville, while Chase Briscoe punches his ticket to the Championship 4. We break down all the chaos, strategy, and what to expect heading into Martinsville next week.

In this week’s episode, Antonio breaks down Denny Hamlin’s hard-fought win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, diving into what it means for his playoff hopes and how Joe Gibbs Racing continues to stay sharp when it counts. Then, we shift gears to a brief discussion on the future of NASCAR and what Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve O’Donnell’s recent conversation might reveal about where the sport is headed next. Finally, Antonio gives a quick preview of Formula 1’s U.S. takeover as the world’s fastest show heads stateside once again.

In Lap 73, we hit the streets of Singapore where McLaren drama takes center stage and Piastri’s whining over the radio turns heads. Then it’s over to the NASCAR Roval for a wild Round of 12 finale — Chastain’s last-lap gamble on Hamlin ends in heartbreak, and somehow Joey Logano advances despite a rough race. Was it great racing or just elimination chaos? We break it all down.

On Lap 72 of the Lap Zero Podcast, we break down NASCAR at Kansas and how the results set the stage for a high-stakes showdown at the Roval. We also dive into Ford’s decision to keep its LMDh program in-house and what that means for their future in sports car racing. To wrap it up, we head over to Formula 1 and discuss Oscar Piastri escaping a grid penalty ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.

It’s a packed lap this week! We kick things off with the Battle on the Bricks, where penalties are flying faster than Antonio’s Ford takes. Over in New Hampshire, Ryan Blaney locks himself into the next round of the NASCAR playoffs. And in Formula 1, Baku brings chaos in qualifying with more red flags than Norman racks up incidents in iRacing—only for the race itself to fall flat.

On Lap 70 of the Lap Zero Podcast, we break down the tire struggles at Bristol and what they meant for the race, plus Josh Berry’s run of tough luck. We dive into the newly released 2026 IndyCar schedule—what’s fresh, what’s missing, and what it means for the series. Finally, we preview Formula 1’s return to the streets of Baku this weekend.

Lap Zero Podcast – Lap 69This week, we kick things off with Daniel Ricciardo’s new role as a Global Ambassador for Ford before shifting gears to NASCAR at Gateway. We break down the drama between Chase Elliott and Josh Berry, the Larson–Blaney spin, and what it all means for playoff hopes heading into Bristol. On the Formula 1 side, we dive into McLaren’s strategy decisions at Monza and look ahead to how the future F1 calendar could shake out.
 
Want to apologize for our mics on Lap 69!!!