EXCLUSIVE: Specific Sport speaks to the star-studded host line-up of International’s new F1 podcast Up To Pace.
Co-hosts Jolie Sharpe, Will Buxton, Naomi Schiff and David Coulthard on the Up To Pace podcast (Picture: Matt Crossick/International)
System 1 followers will not be wanting podcast choices today as the game continues to growth, although one standard possibility was misplaced final yr following the demise of beloved broadcaster and former group proprietor Eddie Jordan. The late, nice Irishman’s System For Success present, which he co-hosted with David Coulthard, was a well-liked pay attention however ended after 100 episodes following Jordan’s demise in March final yr.
However now, 13-time F1 race-winner Coulthard is again within the podcasting sport as a part of a quartet of hosts employed for International’s new providing, Up To Pace. The previous McLaren and Pink Bull racer will co-host the brand new bi-weekly providing alongside Sky Sports activities pundit Naomi Schiff, former F1 TV host and ongoing Drive to Survive star Will Buxton and social media content material creator extraordinaire Jolie Sharpe.
Podcasting, Coulthard informed Specific Sport shortly after recording for Up To Pace’s first episode had wrapped, has turn into one thing of a ardour venture after having fun with the format along with his earlier present. “I had a toe within the water with FFS when Eddie Jordan was nonetheless with us, and it was one thing that I grew to like,” mentioned the Scot.
“I say that not as a result of it took me some time to get my head across the podcast, however it was often because I had a love-hate relationship with Eddie, god relaxation his soul. It actually gave me a form of perception into not simply the enjoyable that may be had in rising an viewers, however really reacting to a special viewers than the one that will be classically watching what I’d be doing or a part of the present that I am concerned in via Channel 4.”
Explaining that System For Success had been sunsetted “out of respect for Eddie and the enjoyable that we had”, Coulthard added: “There had been a passing of time, and this was the appropriate factor and too thrilling a chance to not come and be a part of the group right here within the studio and hopefully be capable to speak to an viewers differently – a wider viewers as properly, which is a mirrored image of System 1 proper now – and be guided by them.”
It’s also a return to the F1 beat for Buxton who, after a few years presenting for F1 TV, hung out out of the paddock in 2025 having accepted the lead commentary function for IndyCar throughout the pond. “And I am nonetheless doing Drive to Survive as properly,” he identified, forward of the favored Netflix docu-drama’s new season which releases on February 27.
He added: “What was pretty final yr as properly was having the ability to be a fan of System 1 for the primary time in 25 years and to take that step out and watch it with these form of childlike eyes once more. Simply pure enjoyment. I like this sport and to have the chance to get along with two individuals in DC and Naomi that I knew very well, to get to know Jolie for the primary time as properly. And to have this group collectively, you possibly can’t flip that down.”
Sharpe will not be as well-known to conventional motorsport followers however has constructed up an enormous social media following because of a knack for understanding what kind of content material a contemporary sport viewers desires to see. “It is a huge achievement and one thing I am actually pleased with,” she mentioned, sparking laughter from Coulthard and Buxton as she added: “Who would have informed me a yr in the past that I’d be sat right here with these two idiots?”
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The within monitor on F1 ️ Up To Pace is out there each Monday and Thursday on International Participant, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. First episode Feb 16 ️ @wbuxtonofficial @naomischiff @davidmarshallcoulthard @joliegracesharpe @globalplayer #F1 #Formula1 #UpToSpeed
authentic sound – Up To Pace – Up To Pace
The trio traded jokes all through the complete interview, the chemistry between them apparent – although Schiff was absent attributable to journey commitments. “All of us actually praise one another,” Sharpe added. “You’ll be able to inform simply by being on a name with us after an exhausting day of simply fixed filming, and we’re nonetheless laughing. I feel that is actually particular. You’ll be able to’t faux that, we will not fake that.”
The 2026 season, with new laws which threaten to utterly upset the stability of energy on the grid, will certainly present greater than sufficient storylines to maintain the dialog flowing. And even with all their collective expertise of F1, they enter the brand new marketing campaign with the identical sense of intrigue that the remainder of us are carrying.
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Buxton mentioned: “Till you hit the monitor in Australia for that opening race of the season, none of us know. Not one of the groups actually know. And that is what occurs once you get an enormous regulation change like this. It’s a clear sheet of paper for everyone. It’s a step into the unknown for everyone. As a result of it is not simply the automobiles, it is the engines as properly this yr.
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“The drivers are having to relearn how they drive. The groups are having to relearn how they engineer their automobiles. It is a step into the unknown for everyone. In order Jolie says, at a time when the game is as massive as it’s and as standard as it’s, we’re hopefully going to be right here each week to have the ability to inform and educate, but in addition to entertain individuals of their studying about System 1.”
Up To Pace with David Coulthard, Will Buxton, Naomi Schiff and Jolie Sharpe is out there wherever you get your podcasts on Mondays and Wednesdays.
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