Cheers! Just listen this week and that will make sense, trust us..
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 88
Turns out we were able to get a quick show in this week - amazingly we even managed to talk about Formula 1 for a few minutes too.
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 87
This week neither of us was feeling great, but we didn't let that stop us and soldiered on to make sure that we got you a show no matter what!
Ford said this week that they have no plans to return to F1, which one of us thinks is actually a bigger deal than the other.
We look at where Esteban Gutierrez may have blown it last season.
It's looking more likely that Paddy Lowe will be returning to Williams, and will also own a stake in the team.
Ferrari wrote another letter.
McLaren is renaming their 2017 car, and Renault wants to have a relationship with Nico Hulkenberg...
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 86
It really wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Formula 1 felt a seismic shift this past week. The sacking of Bernie Ecclestone from the role he has held over Formula 1 for 40 years may have been expected to many, but yet still came as a surprise to all who follow the sport. What happened this week was arguably one of the biggest events in Formula 1 in the last 30 years. We discuss what happened, why it happened and wonder where the sport goes from here.
There were other stories this week though - Pirelli is concerned that the racing won't be great this year.
Filipe Massa will test a Formula E car.
Esteban Ocon will not serve as a Reserve Driver for Mercedes.
Stewards have new guidance for assessing penalties - and we're not sure it's better.
And it's the end of the line for Manor.
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 85
This week we got an answer to a burning question that we know has been at the forefront of everybody's mind - what has Pastor Maldonado been up to?
Turns out he's still holding out for a "competitive" race seat, which is why he was apparently in talks with the virtually defunct KV racing to get an IndyCar seat - as long as he didn't have to drive on ovals... Pastor says that he also had talks with Sauber but couldn't come to an agreement and was hopeful that Nico Rosberg's retirement would have led to an opportunity for him to join a competitive team...
As everyone had pretty much expected by now - Valteri Bottas is moving to Mercedes and Filipe Massa's retirement has ended almost before it could actually begin.
The Halo is done, although we don't know if F1 will actually adopt it.
Every track will be making changes for this year's new rules - while the BRDC insists that it hasn't activated the exit close to get out of hosting the British GP.
And Franz Tost thinks Formula 1 should roll out e-races...
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 84
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 83
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 82
Happy New Year! We're back from vacation and ready to go.
This week we have word that Max Chilton will be remaining with Chip Gnassi racing for the 2017 IndyCar season.
Could Liberty Media try and introduce a cost cap to F1?
More annual reviews...
Pat Symonds has left Williams, Suzy Wolf received and MBE, and Filipe Massa - appears to be coming out of retirement right after he left for retirement...
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 81
We're getting ready to join F1 on our respective mid-winter breaks. Just a reminder there won't be a show next week, but we'll be back right after the New Year.
Patricia got to pay a visit to Puma's North American Headquarters this week, Puma provides team wear for several teams.
One of the check boxes needed for Liberty Media's takeover of F1 got ticked this week.
Drivers are completing their year-end reviews for their team's HR departments.
Fernando Alonso says that he's committed to McLaren.
Mercedes won't announce a new driver before the and of the year, and Toto Wolf after saying that he wouldn't consider Valtteri Bottas to replace Nico Rosberg - is considering Valterri Bottas to replace Nico Rosberg, which might bring a recently retired Williams driver back to Williams...
And - we made Sauber a verb...
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 80
This week we're officially bringing the 2016 Formula 1 season to a close - and start off talking about Indycar... There's an F1 tie though, Alexander Rossi's Indy 500 winning car was presented to the IMS Museum this past week.
In F1, the return of the French Grand Prix was officially announced with races resuming at the Circuit Paul Ricard in 2018.
Is Paddy Lowe headed to Williams?
After saying Mercedes wouldn't consider Fernando Alonso, Toto Wolff says that Mercedes is considering Fernando Alonso. Meanwhile Fernando's manager Flavio Briatore says that Fernando Alonso isn't leaving McLaren...
Finally, we dive into the Bloke and A Bird vault and pull up or predictions for 2016 to see how we did, and it turns out we were better than we thought...
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 79
As the week ended we had this week's show fully planned out, everything was all planned out and we were going to have a in depth conversation about the tactics in play last weekend in Abu Dhabi - and then a certain newly minted World Champion destroyed all of our plans.
We're pretty sure that Mercedes was left saying something similar this past week as Nico Rosberg's sudden announcement that he was retiring from Formula 1 pretty much trashed their plans for the entire offseason and into the 2018 season. However, if you watched their Twitter feed from the last 3 days, the team is certainly having as much fun as possible with the announcement.
The Strategy Group met this week and sorted out next year's calendar, 20 races instead of 21, which means that teams have to get through the season on just 4 engines. Monza will be returning in 2017, and Bernie says that France will be back in 2018 and after learning who owns the circuit we really don't understand why it didn't come back sooner...
Finally, McLaren looses yet another long time sponsor and partner, somebody is already lined up to take their place, but still...
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 78
And with that we reach the last race of the season, and it was certainly one of the better races in Abu Dhabi.
But before we get to that we have news that Montreal is probably going to happen next year, Malaysia probably won't happen after 2018 - and Imola is still trying to get on the calendar. We'll know more in a few days.
McLaren has a new boss - who has to go find a title sponsor.
Sauber confirms a driver, but the future of another is still in limbo.
We say farewell to Jenson Button.
And we have a special intro to this week's race...
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 77
As the F1 season heads towards then end of another season we start to say farewell to favorite drivers - and maybe favorite tracks?
Is Bernie Ecclestone correct? Is Singapore going away? Interlagos doesn't seem too concerned if they loose F1.
Last week's race certainly had no shortage of events - but the most notable had to be Filipe Massa's walk down the pit lane.
And once again we fix all of F1's problems...
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 76
We're sorry...
We fully planned on doing a show last week but life got in the way and we pretty much ran out of hours in the weekend. Honestly, we're thankful that we didn't have a race to watch too, because we don't know when we would have gotten to see it.
We had a lot planned for last week, so this week we're giving you a longer show to make up for last week.
Obviously we discuss the end of the Mexican Grand Prix. While it was rather exciting at the end, it also wasn't one of F1's finer moments. Why did Max Verstappen get a penalty and not Lewis Hamilton - we'll tell you. We'll also tell you why Sebastian Vettel's penalty wasn't the same as the one gifted to Max, and why sometimes you should be careful for what you wish for.
Ross Brawn's been everywhere the last two weeks it seems - but it's still not clear if he'll be getting an office with FOM.
Drives are finally being sorted for 2017 - and why Jolyon Palmer now has a confirmed seat for 2017 - he now should consider some media consulting.
And what does a rhinoceros have to do with Sao Paolo?
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 75
Last week we talked about the real reason Ross Brawn left Mercedes - this week Toto Wolf says that he's not mad at Ross.
Sir Frank Williams is in hospital recovering from pneumonia, we wish him a speedy recovery.
Malaysia is considering dropping F1 due to declining attendance - and Austin wants to move to a new date, or have Mexico move to a new date.
It's been a few weeks since Bernie delivered a head shaking moment - but not to worry he delivered.
Things are still unclear in the mid-grid drivers market, and this week is the Mexican Grand Prix.
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 74
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 73
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 72
It's been long two weeks since our last show - but we're back!
The 2016 IndyCar season has wrapped up - and we know what Alexander Rossi will be doing in 2017 (hint - it won't be in Formula 1), and another team has decided to throw their lot in with Honda based on past partnerships and not current performance.
Over in F1 - Sergio Perez is confirmed for Force India in 2017, for real this time.
Chase Carey says F1 can't be run as a dictatorship - but can't be run by committee. Which not sure what that leaves him.
Maurizio Arrivabene got in trouble in Singapore - or did he?
Monisha Keltenbourne disappoints Patricia - again...
Malaysia was a great race - that Patricia missed...
And we still have a title race on our hands....
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 71
You don't get a lot of us this month as we found the demands of life pulling us a way from our Podcast Studio - no show next week or the week after, but we'll be back in time for Suzuka and Japanese Grand Prix.
We're still talking about the recent sale of F1 to Liberty Media. There's still a lot of questions being asked about what Liberty's strategy will be and what Bernie Ecclestone's role will be.
We were expecting several questions about the driver's market to get answered this week - but none of them were.
F1 is back at the night race that started it all. Others have tried to copy it, but none have done it better than Singapore under the lights.
The Bloke and A Bird Show Episode 70
We go away for a week and things go insane...
Monza signs a three year deal - Imola takes them to court
Mass announces his retirement, Jenson Button announces that he has a new contract, but isn't driving, and isn't retiring.
Renault says that the'll announce drivers by Singapore, unless they decide not to.
Red Bull/Toro Rosso's new phenom starts a rumor and gets in trouble.
Oh yeah and Formula 1 was sold...