Formula 1 podcast: From Fernando Alonso's busy 2018 calendar to Nico Rosberg associating with Hot Wheels

Toyota and the World Endurance Championship (WEC) have done the unthinkable. They successfully lobbied to move the date of the Japanese round of the WEC to accommodate Fernando Alonso’s Formula 1 commitments. Clearly, it isn’t Mclaren alone who are swayed by Alonso’s talent, power and fandom. [caption id=“attachment_4000725” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Fernando Alonso. Reuters[/caption] Alonso’s racing calendar for 2018 has gone viral. It seems that the Spaniard is trying to make up for all the racing laps he missed thanks to the Honda at the back of the Mclaren. Also, would we ever get to see an Alonso-Hamilton pairing at Mclaren? The sport and Mclaren are known to take u-turns at their own will. Finally, Hot Wheels’ signing of Nico Rosberg as their ‘Global Brand Ambassador’ has come two years too late. They would have definitely benefited more when Rosberg went hot-wheelin’ his Mercedes against Lewis Hamilton. In the off-season, there’s definitely more boardroom action (read political) and Zak Brown’s suggestions that Formula 1 should make rules for the sport and not the manufacturers is spot on. Nigel Mansell’s advise that Formula 1 should work hard to ensure that no manufacturer leaves, let alone Ferrari is sensible too. Let’s hope there’s an early resolution so we can focus on the sporting action once it resumes. Tune in to listen to the full podcast: Subscribe to the Inside Line F1 Podcast on iTunes and audioBoom for your weekly dose of Formula 1 humour