Inside Line F1 Podcast: Glad Ecclestone hasn't adopted to oval racing!

F1 might have much to learn from how American organisers orchestrate their sports events, we are glad they have not learned and adapted to the 'oval racing' concept.

We try and decode how Lewis Hamilton managed to get himself on the cover of the TIME Magazine - from 'Hammer Time to the TIME', literally.

We spotted Bernie Ecclestone on Instagram. Who would've thought? And no, he wasn't playing Santa Claus! Speaking of Santa, F1's favourite Santa this Christmas is Nico Rosberg.

He's left the most-desirable gift behind, but who will be the lucky recipient? On that note, we wonder how the Toto Wolff-Valtteri Bottas relationship isn't already a conflict of interest.

Wolff has voiced concern for Williams in case Mercedes do poach Bottas. Did he worry about Mclaren at all when they poached Hamilton a few seasons ago?

Rosberg launched his book or photo-album or let's call it photo-book 'Finally' last week. We loved the name and share our guesses of what it could mean for him.

Daniel Ricciardo has already messed up the silly season for 2018 by publicly stating his two-year commitment towards Red Bull. In which case, has he called dibs on the Red Bull cockpit over Carlos Sainz Jr.?

With 3 drivers and 2 cockpits, Red Bull already have a problem for 2018 more than a year before the season has started, the 'problem of plenty'.

Finally, after all those overestimated PR statements, Ferrari admitted that they made a fool out of themselves in 2016. Sergio Marchionne's advice to Sebastian Vettel for 2017 is 'Keep Calm & Drive On'.

Let's hope that the Ferrari-Vettel-Raikkonen trio is able to enthral us in the new season because a Mercedes-Ferrari rivalry with a Red Bull mixer would be absolutely thrilling and just the high that F1 and its fans need.

Season 2016, Episode 45:

Kunal Shah is a former racer who works in the sports business industry. He pens his view on Formula 1 on his personal blog: kunalsf1blog.