S13 E8: The rise of Williams-BMW

S13 E8: The rise of Williams-BMW

Author: The Race Media Ltd June 25, 2026 Duration: 1:09:49

Bring Back V10s looks back on the first two years of the Williams-BMW partnership in 2000 and 2001, with the help of our members!


We asked them what they wanted to know about how this partnership started across its first two years, and from that we created a list of subjects for Glenn Freeman to put to Edd Straw and Mark Hughes to explore what was going on both on track and behind the scenes.


We cover the expectations ahead of BMW's F1 return in 2000, and why there was tension between the two parties from the very beginning. We look at how the first year laid the foundation for the huge step that came from BMW in 2001 with its incredible P80 engine, and if Williams did enough on the car side to hold up its end of the bargain.


We also discuss Williams's three drivers during this time, looking at how Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya fit into the sometimes divided dynamic between team and engine supplier, and wonder what Jenson Button could have achieved if he'd stayed on board for 2001. 


Get bonus F1 podcasts, extra content and ad-free listening, sign-up to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today.


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There’s a particular roar that defined a generation of Formula 1, a sound that’s now a memory. Bring Back V10s-Classic F1 stories isn’t just about nostalgia for that engine scream; it’s a thorough, engaging exploration of the era it powered. Host Glenn Freeman, alongside a rotating panel of expert guests from The Race Media Ltd, meticulously unpacks the period from 1989 to 2005. This was a time when the sport’s drama was as intense off the circuit as on it, featuring colossal rivalries between legends like Senna, Prost, and Schumacher. Each episode serves as a detailed time capsule, revisiting the races, the politics, and the personalities that made this a golden age. You’ll hear stories about established superstars and the rise of future greats like Alonso and Raikkonen, blending major headlines with forgotten details that even ardent fans may have missed. The conversation in this sports podcast goes beyond mere results, capturing the atmosphere and the raw, unfiltered character of F1 during these pivotal years. It’s for anyone who wants to understand not just what happened, but how it felt and why it still matters. Tune in for a deep, thoughtful, and often surprising retrospective that brings the V10 epoch back to life in vivid detail.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Bring Back V10s - Classic F1 stories
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