Business of Speed Podcast

Justin Bell is a world championship-winning driver, the son of five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell, a motorsport broadcaster, and someone who will tell you exactly what he thinks whether you ask or not. That combination made this one of the most honest conversations we've had on Business of Speed.We go deep on what it's really like to be a second-generation driver — not the PR version, the actual version. Justin talks about discovering racing at the Formula Ford Festival as a teenager, getting humbled by Mika Häkkinen in his 25th race, and the gap between raw speed and the mental infrastructure to maximize it. He draws a direct line from his own career to Lando Norris and explains why both of them could have become "almost men" without the right support.Justin reveals for the first time that a heart attack at 44 played a role in his transition from driving to broadcasting. He explains his philosophy of live TV: that you should be on the verge of getting fired every broadcast, and why modern motorsport commentary has lost its edge. He also breaks down how he pitched his show at the Wynn, why fashion became a strategic brand decision, and the story about a 10-million-follower creator who couldn't sell tires versus a 30K account that moved real product.If you care about motorsport, personal brand, and what it actually takes to build a second career after the helmet comes off, this one's for you

Tom Blomqvist has won the Rolex 24 at Daytona twice, claimed the IMSA DPI championship, and raced in DTM, Formula E, and IndyCar. He also broke Lewis Hamilton's record as the youngest Formula Renault UK champion. In this conversation with Lali Michelsen, he tells the full story for the first time in one sitting.Tom grew up between England, Sweden, and New Zealand as the son of World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist. He talks about what his father actually taught him (it wasn't driving technique), how a surprise birthday party in Indonesia rescued his entire career, and why a single crash in IndyCar became the most embarrassing moment of his professional life.He also explains why New Zealand keeps producing world-class drivers from a talent pool of 20 kids, what Balance of Performance actually does to manufacturer competition in IMSA, and why grassroots racing costs have gone from expensive to genuinely absurd.Plus: the motorsport marketplace he's building, breaking a rib playing golf, and why Max Verstappen is the most naturally gifted driver he's ever raced against.0:00 Growing Up the Son of a Rally Legend4:07 Two Schools of Racing Dads7:06 Why New Zealand Produces So Many Elite Drivers9:23 From Karting to Formula Renault: Breaking Hamilton's Record16:21 The Brutal Economics of Junior Racing21:51 A Birthday Party That Changed Everything28:47 DTM, Formula E, and the IndyCar Reckoning37:15 IMSA, Meyer Shank Racing, and Two Rolex 24 Wins41:26 Balance of Performance: The Real Story45:37 Life Beyond Racing: Investing, Golf, and a New Venture51:46 Favorite Track and the Most Talented Driver He's Faced

In this episode, Vincenzo and Lali sit down with the founder of The Paddock Journal, the Substack-turned-physical-magazine bringing fashion, culture, and editorial storytelling to the world of F1. Esmé breaks down how she went from pitching a Laura Winter feature to major publications (and getting rejected) to launching her own brand that had Alpine Stars knocking on her door within months.We get into all of it: why physical media is making a comeback in a short-form video world, how the F1 industry itself is paying attention to what she's building, the moment at the Dutch Grand Prix where she realized she had a real business, and why she thinks "imposter syndrome" needs to be deleted from our vocabulary entirely.Plus, Esmé reveals her biggest move yet: The Paddock Journal Atelier, a fashion showroom and shopping experience launching at the Monaco and Silverstone Grand Prix this year.Whether you're building a media brand, trying to break into motorsport, or just want proof that asking for what you want actually works, this one's for you.Connect with Esmé and The Paddock Journal: Website: thepaddockjournal.com Instagram: @thepaddockjournal

Shami Kalra had $10 left in his bank account, no food in the house, and a wife who told him she'd had enough. That Friday night, he designed two watches in Photoshop. By Thursday, he'd taken his first $1,000. Within 30 days, $50,000. He didn't even have a product yet.That was the birth of Omologato — the motorsport watch brand built by a fan who couldn't afford a hamburger at Silverstone, let alone the $7,000 watches roped off behind VIP barriers.In this episode, Shami tells us the full story: 20 years working for people he hated, the moment his wife forced a change, launching on Shopify with no money, and how a cold introduction to Chip Ganassi at Le Mans turned into a phone call, a partnership, and a spot on the podium when Alex Palou won the Indianapolis 500.We get into:Why he flew to the south of France for a 2.5-hour meeting instead of doing a Zoom callThe swimming pool watch dial born from COVID isolation and what it taught him about hope and belongingSupporting drivers from age 9 who are now knocking on the door of Formula 1The FIA blocking him on social media for advocating for a disabled marshal at Le MansMeeting Mario Andretti behind the bins at a race and Tony Kanaan at ThermalHis dream of owning an IndyCar team — and how close it came to being a 2025 realityWhy kindness is not a weakness, toxic people are insecure, and karma always collectsShami also shares stories about Juan Pablo Montoya, Roger Penske, Scott Dixon (who lives a mile away), Tom Kristensen, Luke Browning, and why the greatest people in racing are the ones who stand up when you walk over to say hello.

Marshall Pruett spent nearly two decades as a crew member and race engineer before walking into a media center in 2005 with no credentials and total imposter syndrome. Twenty years later, he's the most trusted voice in IndyCar and IMSA journalism, and in this episode he explains exactly how that happens and why most people in this space never figure it out.