2 Soft Compounds
2 Soft Compounds
W4 Podcast Studio
Qatar GP: Norris Crumbles, Verstappen Hunts and McLaren’s Biggest Gamble Yet
36 minutes Posted Dec 3, 2025 at 6:00 am.
Season Stakes And McLaren’s Qatar Disaster
The Lap-25 Rule And Safety Car Call
Hard Tyres, Lost Pace, And Missed One-Two
Norris, Piastri, And The Case For Split Strategies
Lusail’s Racing Quality And Driver Demands
Antonelli Backlash And Social Media’s Ugly Edge
Verstappen’s Composure And The Closing Points Gap
Red Bull Stable Politics And 2026 Reset
Williams’ Revival, Sainz Effect, And Vowles’ Vision
Ferrari’s Aero Woes And Short Off‑Season
Testing Logic, Madrid Doubts, And Calendar Creep
Aston Martin, Newey’s Role, And Horner Rumours
Abu Dhabi Variables: Safety Cars, Tactics, Sunset
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36:35
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Show notes

This week on Two Soft Compounds, Rick Houhgton and Damien Reid break down the chaos from Qatar and set the stage for an all-out championship decider in Abu Dhabi.

After another McLaren strategy disaster and a baffling tire call, Verstappen’s title chase is alive, just 12 points behind Norris with everything to play for. The guys debate whether McLaren’s refusal to back a number-one driver could cost them it all, and why Norris may be cracking under the pressure while Piastri quietly circles.

They also tackle the toxic fan fallout over Antonelli’s incident, Red Bull’s rookie shuffle, Williams’ shock rise, and the brewing tension at Ferrari as Hamilton’s frustrations boil over.

With three drivers in contention and Yas Marina’s chaos waiting, this finale could rewrite F1 history.

All that and more, right here on Two Soft Compounds.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Rick Houghton
Studio Engineer & Editor: Roy D'Monte
Executive Producer: Ian Carless
Produced by: W4 Podcast Studio