You've saved his shots to your camera roll. You've zoomed in on Charles Leclerc's jawline because of them. Now, Milkshake goes one-on-one with the man behind the camera.

In the latest edition of Milkshake's interview series, The Sweet Take, we caught up with the paddock's favorite F1 photographer, Michael Potts. With eight years of trackside experience capturing Formula 1's most breathtaking moments, Michael's lens has given us an intimate look at the sport we love. From heart-stopping crashes to champagne celebrations, he's been there for it all - and we got him to spill the tea on what really happens beyond the pit lane in the glamorous world of F1 photography.

‍Watch the full interview on YouTube or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to catch every juicy detail!

From Slippers to Success

Michael's journey into F1 photography began in Azerbaijan 2018, when he arrived so last-minute that he covered the entire race weekend in slippers (yes, really). But what cemented his passion for F1 photography was capturing the now-infamous collision between then-teammates Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen - a pivotal moment that Michael believes changed the trajectory of Ricciardo's career at Red Bull.

"Having that moment, that brilliant piece of action that no one else caught, was kind of infectious," Michael shared. "Going back into the media center that afternoon, knowing that you've got the shot - that was the feeling that I really wanted to recreate, week in, week out."

The Red Bull Rookie Rollercoaster

The 2024 season has already delivered major drama with the Red Bull driver swap between Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda. Michael gave us the behind-the-scenes perspective on the paddock tensions, describing the stark difference in how Helmut Marko and Christian Horner engaged with the two drivers.

"Both of them were next to Yuki, both of them giving him advice," Michael noted of Yuki's first race weekend back in the car. "It was interesting to see that there was much more involvement from both of those in Yuki."

Lewis at Ferrari: A Match Made in Motorsport Heaven

The buzz around Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari has been electric, and Michael believes it just feels right.

"This one just feels like the Formula One story coming to an apex," he told us. "Lewis' look, his image is outstanding. And Charles as well, there's a very nice balance between the two - Charles's white helmet, Lewis' yellow. Both of them are Ferrari colors."

Michael predicts the excitement will reach new heights at Imola: "When we go to Imola, it's going to explode. That's going to be such a big race with the Tifosi."

The Cadillac Bombshell: Checo's Next Move?

In a juicy exclusive that you're hearing first from Milkshake, Michael dropped a bombshell about Sergio Perez's future: "I heard that he had already signed for Chev, but I don't know if my source is 100% accurate."

Michael believes Checo would be a perfect fit for the new Cadillac team entering F1: "He comes with oodles of money and lots of experience. And I think people are now realizing that he wasn't as bad as that Red Bull made him look."

As for who might join Perez at Cadillac? Michael suggested American IndyCar stars Colton Herta or Pato O'Ward could be in the running, with O'Ward bringing "an absolutely massive following in Mexico." Michael noted that if they go with Checo, "they've got to go for someone who's a bit younger and with a bit of personality. I think they need to be a bit risky with that second seat."