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Hosted by Michael Kosta of the Daily Show and tech, culture, and F1 commentator Toni Cowan-Brown, this is "Choosing Sides: F1". Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsports to more than one billion fans worldwide, with death-defying races, state-of-the-art machinery, exotic locales, and billions of dollars at stake. But to many Americans who follow only the Big Four sports, it’s still a fairly new sport that offers more questions than answers.
But with now three races in the USA - Miami, Austin and Vegas - Formula 1 is growing in popularity and increasingly being discussed in spaces outside of motorsports. 

In season One, Daily Show correspondent Michael Kosta, got the dirt on teams, their history, and their drivers, from how they came up through the sport to the messy problems they’ve had in recent seasons. In Season Two, he's coming back to the table with more questions, and new co-host, Toni Cowan-Brown, will help Michael figure out what type of fan he is. Unlike other sports, Formula 1 offers a wide range of interesting topics - the gossip, the fashion, the logistics, the technology, the business... you get the point. 
New episodes of "Choosing Sides: F1" drop every Tuesday, beginning March 12th but why not binge Season One with Michael Kosta and Lily Herman in the meantime. 


Choosing Sides: F1

What’s the deal with Formula 1 racing? Is it just a bunch of European adrenaline junkies with a death wish? And how does it differ from something like the American-based NASCAR or IndyCar series? In reality, there’s way more to it. F1 combines some of the world’s great engineering feats, drivers with the athleticism of Olympians, and a captivating billionaire's playground. But while there’s never a dull moment in this sport, how do you even get started as a viewer? Comedian Michael Kosta (The Daily Show) is here to do all of that heavy lifting for you. Each week, F1 expert-in-residence Lily Herman will take him — and you — on a different team’s journey, all in the hopes of figuring out who’s worthy of his — and your — support. From Sports Illustrated Studios and iHeart Media, this is Choosing Sides: F1.
 
The new limited series, launches June 28th, with new episodes dropping every Tuesday. Available on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen!

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This is... "Choosing Sides: F1"

Another week, another midfield team that begins with an "A"! In this latest installment of Choosing Sides: F1, Lily and Michael discuss Red Bull's sister team AlphaTauri and what it even means to be a "sibling" to RBR. They also talk about the team's two very likable drivers, including fan-favorite Pierre Gasly and delightful (and ever off-the-cuff) Yuki Tsunoda. But at this point in both of their careers, these racers are facing a lot of questions — including how long they want to stay at team that'll perpetually be in Red Bull's shadow.

Special thanks to our guests: Ashley Kalita, Magnus Greaves, and Tatiana Calderon.
This episode was produced by Lily Herman and Senior Producer Yochai Maital. Sound Design by Yochai Maital. Mastering by Sela Waisblum. Recording at The Cutting Room Studios by Rob O'Leary II. At SI Studios, Max Miller is Executive Producer and Brannan Goetschius is Head of Audio. At iHeartRadio, Sean Titone is Executive Producer.

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AlphaTauri - Sugar-Free

It's time to dive into a true billionaires' playground! This week, Lily and Michael unpack the bizarre history of Aston Martin (or as it's been known in recent years, Force India, Racing Point Force India, and Racing Point). They talk about the Richie Richies who've made this team what it is today and the strange 2022 Aston Martin driver lineup of Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll. However, because Seb announced his retirement after this year last month, Lily will also introduce Michael to the concept of silly season — a wacky time in the F1 calendar year that's unfolding right as this episode airs.

Special thanks to our guests: Nicole Sievers and Kate Lizotte.
This episode was produced by Lily Herman and Senior Producer Yochai Maital. Sound Design by Yochai Maital. Mastering by Sela Waisblum. Recording at The Cutting Room Studios by Rob O'Leary II. At SI Studios, Max Miller is Executive Producer and Brannan Goetschius is Head of Audio. At iHeartRadio, Sean Titone is Executive Producer.

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Aston Martin - Less Speed, More Stroll

The time has finally come for Michael to meet Williams, the F1 team that has most intrigued him over the course of the season. Will he fall for its rich history and passionate former leader Sir Frank Williams? Or much like the rest of the grid, will he leave Williams in the dust? Tune in to find out.

Special thanks to our guests: Byrd Pinkerton
This episode was produced by Lily Herman and Senior Producer Yochai Maital. Sound Design by Yochai Maital. Mastering by Sela Waisblum. Recording at The Cutting Room Studios by Rob O'Leary II. At SI Studios, Max Miller is Executive Producer and Brannan Goetschius is Head of Audio. At iHeartRadio, Sean Titone is Executive Producer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Williams - The Episode Michael's Been Waiting For

Alfa Romeo is often one of the forgotten "A" names on the grid, but that doesn't make it any less important. In this latest installment of Choosing Sides: F1, Lily tells Michael all about Alfa's strange history as well as its two drivers — one of whom is a favorite of hers. But will Michael agree?

Special thanks to our guests: Tatiana Calderon
This episode was produced by Lily Herman and Senior Producer Yochai Maital. Sound Design by Yochai Maital. Mastering by Sela Waisblum. Recording at The Cutting Room Studios by Rob O'Leary II. At SI Studios, Max Miller is Executive Producer and Brannan Goetschius is Head of Audio. At iHeartRadio, Sean Titone is Executive Producer.

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Alfa Romeo - A Modest Proposal (Lily's Version)

At long last, we've reached the final team on the grid! Ever sowing the seeds of chaos, the Haas Formula 1 team has a short history filled with sketchy sponsors, firery crashes, and radically different drivers. Will it become a last-minute favorite for Michael ahead of our final episode? Listen to find out.

Special thanks to our guests: Alanis King and Elizabeth Blackstock
This episode was produced by Lily Herman and Senior Producer Yochai Maital. Sound Design by Yochai Maital. Mastering by Sela Waisblum. Recording at The Cutting Room Studios by Rob O'Leary II. At SI Studios, Max Miller is Executive Producer and Brannan Goetschius is Head of Audio. At iHeartRadio, Sean Titone is Executive Producer.

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Haas - An Embarrassment of Riches

As we get the finale ready for your waiting ears, we thought we'd take a quick moment to look back at Michael's journey - in his own words. 

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A Quick Pitstop

It's here: The season finale of Choosing Sides: F1. In this episode, Michael and Lily watch a race together and then Michael (at long last!) decides on the team and driver he wants to support as he begins his Formula 1 fan journey. Let's go!

Special thanks to all of our guests this season. This episode was produced by Lily Herman and Senior Producer Yochai Maital. Sound Design by Yochai Maital. Mastering by Sela Waisblum. Recording at The Cutting Room Studios by Rob O'Leary II. At SI Studios, Max Miller is the Supervising and Executive Producer and Brannan Goetschius is Head of Audio. At iHeartRadio, Sean Titone is Executive Producer.

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Season Finale - Chosen Sides

Last season on Choosing Sides, we established unequivocally that F1 is the pinnacle of motoracing. We helped co host Michael Kosta choose his team and driver and then we sent him on his jolly way. But as it turns out, F1’s newest fan is still a little confused. Season 2 co host, Toni Cowan-Brown, thinks she knows what his problem is. He hasn't figured out what kind of F1 fan he is. 

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Choosing Sides F1 - Season 2 Trailer

This is the intro episode to season 2 of choosing sides F1 - a podcast that blends sports, cultural commentary, humor and a deep love for the pinnacle of motorsports. If our first season was all about Michael Kosta's induction into the sport, for season two, Toni Cowan-Brown (Tech and F1 commentator) takes him much deeper down the rabbit hole. 

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Introduction: F1 102

Next year F1 will be celebrating its 75-year anniversary so it's safe to say there is a lot of history in this sport. In this episode, Toni is taking Michael all the way back to the very beginning of F1 to try and make some sense of the puzzle that is this sport. She's invited some very knowledgeable people to help her. Toni and Michael are joined by Matt Bishop who's been in F1 for 30+ years working for McLaren, Aston Martin and was one of the founders of the W Series. James Allen, ex-F1 announcer and now President of Motorsport Business & F1 Liaison at the Motorsport Network Media and Sean Kelly whose work you will most likely know as he is the Chief Statistician to the F1 broadcasters. This is our best attempt at a crash course on the history of F1, how we got here, what's changed and what hasn't.

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The History Buff

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