Podcast Episode

F1 Regulation Changes:

We are now four races into the 2026 F1 season and we have gotten a good look at how the new regulations are affecting teams. As always, new regulations cause each team to build new cars from scratch which changes the competitive balance between teams. Mercedes has unanimously built the most superior car with George Russell or Kimi Antonelli winning every single grand prix so far. Meanwhile, teams that were dominant last year like Red Bull and McLaren have struggled at the start of the season. 

So far, the new regulations have shown ups and downs for the sports of F1. Active aero and Manual Override Mode have created a lot more overtakes during races. There have been many cases of yoyo racing, which means a lot of cars were able to get enough energy to repass a car that just overtook them. 

However, there have been many signs that show these new regulations make the sport feel slower and more dangerous. The average top speeds of cars were slower by about 30 km/hr compared to last year. In addition to this, lap times are also slower. Last year, Max Verstappen set a poll time in Miami of 1:26. 204. This year Kimi Antonelli set a poll time of 1:27.789 on the same track. The cars are just slower, and it takes away from the identity of creating the fastest car possible. 

There have also been signs that these new regulations are causing races to be more dangerous for drivers. During the Japanese Grand Prix this year, there was a section of the track where Alpine’s Franco Colapinto was recharging his battery, hence driving slower. Behind him, Haas’ Oliver Bearman was deploying his power and moving at a much faster pace. The drastic difference in speed caused Bearman to take evasive action which resulted in him crashing and experiencing up to 50g. 

Though the new regulations have shown sparks of positivity, there are still many issues that the FIA needs to address, both for entertainment and safety. 

LIV Golf:

For the past few years, the PGA Tour and LIV golf have been rivals. Backed by the funding of the Saudi Arabia government, LIV paid many PGA tour players like Bryson Dechambeau and John Rahm large sums of money to leave the PGA tour and play for LIV. There were many seasons of controversy and failed attempts at creating a less polarized dynamic between the tours. 

Now, according to the Wall Street Journal, the Saudi Arabia government is planning to cut all funding from the LIV tour. This ultimately leaves the PGA Tour as the unanimous primary golf tour and leaves many big name players a painful road back. 

NCAA Transfer Portal and NIL:

Paying college athletes through NIL and use of the transfer portal has exponentially been growing. Michigan’s win in the March Madness marked the first team to win with a starting lineup of only transfers. Indiana’s championship team was backed by many transfers who followed Kurt Cignetti from James Madsion. It is indisputable that college sports as a whole are transitioning into an era where college athletes are treated more like professionals and can be paid and transferred from team to team.