1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,279 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Pit Talk, brought to you by Shannon's. 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 1: On today's episode, Formula one announces it's twenty twenty six calendar, 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: with Australia as the first round and the twenty twenty 4 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: six Silly Season hots up ahead of this weekend's Canadian 5 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: Grand Prix. My name's Michael Amonado. It's great to have 6 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 1: your company and the company of my co host. You 7 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: knows exactly where he'll be on the eighth of March 8 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: twenty twenty six. It's Matt Clayton. 9 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 2: Hello, Michael, good to join you, Good to join everybody, 10 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 2: and happy Australia Day. Has I'm calling today because yes, 11 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 2: we are first place on the calendar for twenty twenty six, 12 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:35,239 Speaker 2: our righteous place on the calendar, where we like to be, 13 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:37,880 Speaker 2: and of all the years to have the first Grand 14 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 2: Prix the season, I don't think there's been a better 15 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 2: one to have the first Grand Prix this season for 16 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,840 Speaker 2: quite some time. The next year where we've got effectively 17 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 2: a brand new formula that's going to debut at Albert 18 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,919 Speaker 2: Park and a new team and all sorts of newness. 19 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 2: So it's a good year to be in pole position 20 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 2: and very much looking forward to it once we get 21 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 2: through the remaining three hundred and forty seven races of 22 00:00:57,960 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 2: this season. 23 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 1: It is weird how that Formula one announces these calendars 24 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: so early. We get this little bit of all twenty 25 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: twenty six, you get all the little sugar hits from it, 26 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 1: the first race in Madrid. If they finished building the 27 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: circuit in time, I hope they've only just started and 28 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: all that kind of thing, and then you're gonna go, oh, 29 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: hang on, there's still more than half of this year 30 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 1: to go. It's the championship to decide. 31 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 2: As you would say, it's the entire two thousand and 32 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 2: six season still remaining in twenty twenty five. That's always 33 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 2: one of your favorites, and you actually say it because 34 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 2: it's correct, such as the expectionon of Formula one these days. 35 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 1: Yes, it'll be the earliest Australian Grand Prix since almost 36 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: thousand six five, actually no longer than that was the 37 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 1: last time we held a race. This year, it'll be 38 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: interesting because we've got used to we're just talking about 39 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,759 Speaker 1: this before we started recording. We've got used to later 40 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 1: certainly Australian Grand Prix considering it had that run where 41 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 1: it wasn't really the first race of the season, but 42 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: also seasons generally starting a little bit later in the year. 43 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: We're not talking about a lot couple of weeks here 44 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: or there, but as I am at you're based in Melbourne, 45 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: you know that a couple of weeks in March can 46 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: make a tremendous difference in climatic conditions at Albert Park. 47 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: We've got used to kind of well, obviously this year 48 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: was very mixed conditions for the Grand Prix, but it 49 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: can be very up and down. But you know, to 50 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: my mind, an eighth of March, first weekend of March 51 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,959 Speaker 1: debut brings much greater risk of really quite a hot. 52 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 2: Race, oh massively. So when we're talking about this off air, 53 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 2: I couldn't remember the exact year, but it was when 54 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 2: Honda had its second team, super Aguri, one of the 55 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 2: great motorsport names in Formula One for a while there, 56 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 2: and they turned up for the first race in Melbourne 57 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 2: with an all black livery and all black overalls. And 58 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 2: I think it was about thirty seven degrees on race 59 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 2: day and I remember looking at Takubasato as coming back 60 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 2: from the driver's parade and just shook my head. I said, you, 61 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,519 Speaker 2: poor bastard, because this is going to be a very, 62 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 2: very difficult Sunday. And he just looked and said who 63 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:46,639 Speaker 2: decided this? We both laughed about it. I think both 64 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 2: their drivers melted by about half distance. But yeah, I 65 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 2: mean Melbourne. Melbourne summers tend to skew later, I reckon 66 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 2: as the decades have gone on. So yeah, packtic onscreen 67 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 2: for next March. It's going to be hot. 68 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,359 Speaker 1: Yes, I like the idea that maybe teams will need 69 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 1: a regular livery and a Melbourne livery if we're going 70 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: to move deeper and deeper towards summer where everyone just 71 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:11,359 Speaker 1: runs white reflective cars and everyone just as cool as possible. 72 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 2: Good luck with that. 73 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 1: There's something in that. But at a timely moment, as 74 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: we are in this weekend break between the Canadian between 75 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 1: the triple Head we just had and this weekend's Canadian 76 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 1: Grand Prix, to reflect on well the significance of twenty 77 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: twenty six, because while it's still a long way to go, 78 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: the significant changes coming next year to the regulations. We're 79 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: talking obviously the chassis regulations, also the engine regulations are 80 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 1: things the teams are already well turning their attention to 81 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: some teams Williams most publicly aren't even thinking about this 82 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 1: year's car anymore. So you see there is reason to 83 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: start talking about twenty twenty six early. For the front runners, 84 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 1: the decision making is very much in our front of mind. 85 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: How much are we going to allow the tap to 86 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: continue running on twenty twenty five, how many weeks perhaps 87 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: even days for some of them, and how much are 88 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: we going to simply commit to getting ahead next year? 89 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: Because the changes are that big it means the Australian 90 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 1: Grand Prix will be the first round for these big changes. 91 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: A lot of uncertainty about the effect that's going to 92 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: have on the racing. There always is that kind of 93 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: trepidation or cautious cautiousness for some teams that had of 94 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 1: big rule changes. That's part of the politics of F one. 95 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: But Matt, these are really pretty significant changes to the 96 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,599 Speaker 1: way we understand formula and today. The ground effects here certainly, 97 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 1: but even if we think about the regulations before that, 98 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: because we're having this new concept of movable body work, 99 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 1: depending where you are on the circuit, really different idea 100 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 1: about what these cars should. 101 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 2: Look like from next year well, and even how they race, 102 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 2: and I think that's the key thing for me is that, 103 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 2: you know, we always talk about Albert Parkers being a 104 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,839 Speaker 2: bit of an outlier, and that's a semi permanent street 105 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 2: circuit in a public park. The only one that's kind 106 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 2: of equivalent is Canada. Funny that we're mentioning Canada before 107 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 2: because it's a similar setup in terms of being close 108 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 2: to the city, semi permanent street circuit and what have you. 109 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:58,799 Speaker 2: It's definitely not representative of modern day Formula one. And 110 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 2: as much as we like in Australi season opener, you 111 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 2: look at the way this calendar has shaken out, it's 112 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 2: going to take some time for the early returns on 113 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 2: what these twenty twenty six rule changes have done, simply 114 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 2: because I think these first three rounds are pretty unusual 115 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 2: as far as Formula one goes. We know that China's 116 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 2: an unusual circuit for a modern track Suzuka. Part of 117 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:18,840 Speaker 2: what we love about Suzuka is that it is so 118 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 2: odd school and Melbourne's a really unusual street track. So 119 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,039 Speaker 2: I think we you know that there's going to be 120 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 2: some sort of overreaction positive or negative to how the 121 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 2: Australian Grand Prix plays out as far as these twenty 122 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 2: six rules go, and who's good and who's not, who's 123 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 2: got the concept right and who's got the concept wrong. 124 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 2: I think what we've now got is next year will 125 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 2: be this sort of slow burn. You'll come out of 126 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 2: the back end of testing. Everyone thinks they've got a 127 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 2: bit of an idea as to everyone sits. I don't 128 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 2: think that picture is going to emerge until probably four 129 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 2: or five rounds in. Now. Melbourne's such a strange track 130 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 2: to open the season as far as getting a red 131 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 2: on a your rule set goes. So, yeah, you were 132 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:56,840 Speaker 2: talking before, how there's some teams that I was going 133 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 2: to say, turn the tap off a twenty twenty five 134 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 2: and not even sure it was turned one Aston Martin 135 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,039 Speaker 2: or Williams after about round three when they went ooh, 136 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 2: our car's fast. But it's going to take us some 137 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 2: time to understand what Melbourne means next year. It's going 138 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 2: to take us some time later in the season to 139 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 2: look back at Melbourne and go, ah, that was a 140 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: portion of what was to come, or that was such 141 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 2: an outlier that it bears no relevance to the season 142 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 2: that follows. So super interesting to see how that shakes out. 143 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 2: But one of the other things you mentioned before is 144 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 2: that Melbourne's been this debut site for so many of 145 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 2: the great drivers over the history of the Australian Grand 146 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 2: Prix at Albert Park. But it's not often that we 147 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 2: get a new team and that's going to be super 148 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 2: interesting and I dare say there'll be a rather large 149 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 2: contingentive hotel rooms being booked by Cadillac Credit Cards in 150 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 2: the short term in Melbourne because now that we know 151 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:50,480 Speaker 2: that it's going to be the it's going to be 152 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 2: the first race of twenty twenty five, I'm sure all 153 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:53,839 Speaker 2: the good and great of Cadillact will be down there 154 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 2: for that very very big moment when they become this 155 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 2: Wealth team. 156 00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:00,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly right, and means we'll have a cross at 157 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 1: least two categories, with Supercars being on the calendar as well. 158 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: The General Motors and Ford Rivalry continuing forward partnering with 159 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: red Bull Power Trains next year for red Bull's in 160 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: house power unit project. And it seems like over the 161 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: last year or so, for as long as Ford's been 162 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: involved there, they've been increasingly involved there. I think it's 163 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: fair to say, having started at what looked like really 164 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 1: just a bit of a branding exercise. It's increasingly become 165 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 1: a technical partnership. Don't know how much will be interesting 166 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 1: to see actually once they do start, how much where 167 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: that division sits for me at the moment, and the 168 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: way they still try and salad is it's more advisory 169 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 1: and using their tools and their knowledge there rather than 170 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: actually being hands on in the construction of these engines. 171 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: I'll be interested to see when we get to next 172 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: year how much real involvement Ford has and whether we 173 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 1: do start to consider this or of a fifty to 174 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 1: fifty project or where that division lies. That's its own 175 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:54,119 Speaker 1: sort of fun element of next year, because the engines 176 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: will be a big part of this. You know, we 177 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: could cast our minds back quite a long time now 178 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: to when we last change the engine formula and it 179 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: was I mean that was much more significant naturally ASPIRATEDB 180 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: eights that had been the same for quite a long time, 181 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 1: to the power units we know today. And it was 182 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: all over the shot, which is why they're banking on 183 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: so much testing next year. And it'll be interesting to 184 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: see if the same thing happens. 185 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 2: Well, you remember twenty fourteen we got to the Australian 186 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 2: Grand Prix and very famously Red Bull hadn't completed a 187 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 2: race distance. Yes, that's a four preseason testing. The car 188 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:26,679 Speaker 2: just kept blowing itself to pieces. And that was Daniel 189 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 2: Ricardo's first year with Red Bull, and I think one 190 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 2: of the most surprising aspects of him finishing second in 191 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 2: that twenty fourteen Australian Grand Prix and then losing that 192 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 2: podium was I think they were all astonished the car 193 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 2: even got to the end because during preseason testing, you 194 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 2: remember Sebastian Vattal I think retired about three laps into 195 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:44,559 Speaker 2: that race, and everyone said, well, of course, because that's 196 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 2: what they've done the whole way through a very extensive 197 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 2: preseason testing program. We'd come off four seasons of Red 198 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,560 Speaker 2: Bull domination. Sebastian Battle won the last nine races of 199 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 2: twenty thirteen for Red Bull. Then we get to Melbourne 200 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 2: to restart this new engine formula. Red Bull's absolutely nowhere 201 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 2: and Mercedes wipes the floor with everybody for a year, 202 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 2: which we certainly didn't see coming twelve months prior. So 203 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 2: I think that's really interesting when you look at it 204 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:09,560 Speaker 2: in the context of what's going to happen for twenty six. 205 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 2: And we talk about this being a clean sheet of paper, 206 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 2: there's recent history that does show you that the whole 207 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 2: thing can be completely turned upside down season on season 208 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 2: for whichever manufacturer gets it right in the background now 209 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:24,439 Speaker 2: and then deploys that on the track. For twenty six 210 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 2: Mercedes weren't winning, you know, they won a race. They 211 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 2: weren't winning races plural In twenty thirteen and then for 212 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 2: what the best part of the next three seasons, they 213 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 2: basically won every single Grand Prix that Daniel mccardino didn't 214 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:39,199 Speaker 2: win over those couple of seasons. He was the outlier 215 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:41,839 Speaker 2: and it was became a Hamilton Rosberg World Championship for 216 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 2: a couple of years, just overnight. So that's what makes 217 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 2: next year so interesting, the start of the story. But 218 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 2: it could be a really different story to what we've 219 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 2: become accustomed to in recent times. 220 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: And Melbourne will get the right to host all of 221 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: that at the start of the calendar. The calendar, just 222 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 1: to sum this one up, looks pretty similar this year's one. 223 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 1: It is missing Imola, as had been for s shadow. 224 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 1: No one wants to talk about that openly for whatever reason, 225 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: but its contract has not been renewed, at least at 226 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 1: this point. It will be the final Grand Prix in Barcelona, 227 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: though we expect that race in Madrid to get the 228 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 1: Spanish Grand Prix title if in fact it happens. I suppose, 229 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: and also the final Dutch Grand Prix, organizer of Zandward 230 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: electing not to have the contract extended beyond next year, 231 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 1: largely because of the cost of hosting a Grand Prix, 232 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: so that'll be a more significant party than it already is. 233 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 1: Looking at how that race is run, I suspect next year, 234 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:31,439 Speaker 1: although we still of course get their second last race 235 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:32,079 Speaker 1: later this year. 236 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 2: I'm still curious as to, you know, what that paddic 237 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 2: at Zandvortz, like, how they're going to fit a twelve 238 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 2: four Bula one team and then they can barely fit 239 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 2: eleven of the bed there at the moment, so they 240 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 2: might have to take turns or something. I'm not sure 241 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 2: what's going to happen there, but it would be the 242 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 2: smallest paddic on the f on calendar I would have thought, 243 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 2: and it's an effort to get everything in there at 244 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,080 Speaker 2: the best of time, so Cadillac might be under a 245 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 2: tarpaull it out in the car park, but they can 246 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 2: deal with that next year. 247 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: Let's move on now to Move of the Week, brought 248 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: to you by Shannon's Man. Now, it's funny how a calendar, 249 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 1: speaking of calendars, have been moving in some kind of 250 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 1: alignments this year. F one off MotoGP and supercars on. 251 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 1: It's the opposite. This weekend, just F one and then 252 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 1: we're back to it the following weekend. I know you 253 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: kept a keen eye on MotoGP proceedings over the course 254 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 1: of the weekend, So what's your move of the week. 255 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 2: You can always tell whether we've come off a motor 256 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 2: GP weekend or an F one weekend when we're doing 257 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 2: one of these podcasts, because you're the guy that's looking 258 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 2: bright eyed and bushytail today and I look like a 259 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 2: man who didn't really sleep for three days, which is 260 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 2: pretty much correct after doing Moto GP at Aragon last weekend. 261 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 2: But Move of the Week, I could say that moving 262 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 2: Aragon three months forward in the calendar for where it 263 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 2: normally is probably deserves Move of the Week. But I'm 264 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:40,839 Speaker 2: going to go with I'm getting a little bit lateral 265 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:44,319 Speaker 2: with these moves. I'm going with a move from hopeless 266 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 2: I'm going with a move from hopeless to hopeful because 267 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 2: that was pretty much Piccabanyaya's Aragon Grand Prix. Now, you 268 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 2: would have seen this on the weekend. He qualified reasonably well, 269 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 2: started in fourth place, He finished twelfth in the sprint 270 00:11:57,160 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 2: on complete merit. Nothing strange happened run off, no one 271 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 2: punted him, nothing like that. He was just really really 272 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 2: slow and really really uneasy with the way that bike 273 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:09,679 Speaker 2: was handling. And we've seen over the course of this 274 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 2: year he's really struggling for front end feel on that bike. 275 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 2: And Peco's one of those riders that I've said this before. 276 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 2: He needs to understand what's beneath him in order to 277 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:19,559 Speaker 2: push it, and he's not prepared to push it when 278 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 2: he doesn't, and he's been completely lost with that Decati 279 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 2: for the best part of this season. What a difference 280 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 2: twenty four hours make. They put a bigger front brake 281 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 2: disc on his bike for the race day, which came 282 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 2: about four hundred grams heavier apparently, and the disc is 283 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 2: fifteen millimeters smaller. The weight distribution of that bike and 284 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 2: his ability to push it into the corners. All of 285 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:42,439 Speaker 2: a sudden, he's fighting for podium places. He's up there 286 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,959 Speaker 2: with Alex Marquez, he's fighting off Pedro Costa. He finishes 287 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 2: a very, very credible third in the Grand Prix. Now 288 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 2: I'm not saying a fifteen millimeter to break disc turns 289 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 2: him from being it also ran into a championship contender, 290 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,080 Speaker 2: but he actually looked like Peco Baniel this weekend for 291 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 2: the first time all season, and he's two far behind 292 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 2: Mark Marquees to probably challenge for this year's championship without 293 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 2: Mark helping him. But now I seem to think there 294 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:07,960 Speaker 2: might be a roadback for him to be more like 295 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 2: he was in twenty twenty four when he was absolutely fantastic. 296 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 2: And he won't win the championship, but I think he's 297 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 2: going to be challenging for race wins because he's got 298 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 2: his confidence back, and a confident Peko is a very 299 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:20,680 Speaker 2: very fast Peko. And so that's my move of the week. 300 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:22,559 Speaker 2: It's a move back to a guy who's a two 301 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:24,960 Speaker 2: time world champion being a contender for race wins again, 302 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:28,200 Speaker 2: because we've not really seen that all season. So I 303 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 2: know that's taking the move of the week a little 304 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 2: bit left field for this podcast, but that's why I'm here. 305 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 2: You probably won't have something as convoluted as that in mind, 306 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 2: but I'm curious to see where you're going. 307 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, I was tempted to go with the Moto GP 308 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 1: move because I really enjoyed watching the sprint when Mark 309 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:44,559 Speaker 1: Markez didn't have a great start but inevitably gotten to 310 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 1: the lead. The commentary line that's the end of the 311 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 1: competition with den Labs still to go on to go 312 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: to the lead. He's really appreciated that. But no, I 313 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 1: will stick with Sufikse and I've got a couple of contenders, 314 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 1: and I think I've said a lot of leader. I 315 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 1: think in a really close second place. I want to 316 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 1: go with Ryan Woods, pass on teammate Chas Mosta in 317 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 1: race one of the weekend on the polsit of chasms 318 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 1: that I should say, as well as his teammate for 319 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: his first win. I thought it was a really great 320 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:09,959 Speaker 1: which was a great breakthrough weekend in fact, couple of 321 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: rounds because it was his first podium last time out 322 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 1: in Tasmania as well, but this weekend obviously the first 323 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:17,680 Speaker 1: poll and the first victory on a weekend it was 324 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: otherwise pretty significantly compromised by technical problems, but I thought 325 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: that was a great moment for him. Obviously he's a 326 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: young gun rising through the ranks. Were really starting to 327 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: see his potential this year. An emotional win as well, 328 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: but I think beating him on purely the emotional stakes 329 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 1: and going with old hand at the sport. James Courtney's 330 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 1: podium finish at the end of the weekend iigus for 331 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: a couple of reasons. One not really expecting to see 332 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 1: him on the podium very much this year racing for BRT, 333 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: although they're slowly on the up, getting to grips with 334 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 1: the gentry regulations as well. But I really liked in 335 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: particularly his description of this moment after the race, which 336 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 1: was it was a safety card that brought him into contention, 337 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: so that that's part of it. Then obviously needed the 338 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 1: pace from there, but he passed Ryan Wood as it happens, 339 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 1: to get into third plays but then kind of played 340 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 1: with him a little bit to make sure cam Waterers 341 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 1: could come and then battle Ryan and allow James Courtney 342 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 1: to get away and hold onto that third place. He 343 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 1: said that racecraft that comes with experience was really crucial 344 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: to make sure that could happen, because cam Water is 345 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: obviously quick enough over the course of this weekend. And 346 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 1: he was also super emotional about it, not just because 347 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 1: of his contribution to getting the team out of the podium, 348 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: but also this is his last season. It's a very 349 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 1: long goodbye to with this year. He knows every time 350 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 1: he goes to a racetrack it's his last one. I 351 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: thought that was a really nice moment for him and 352 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: for the supercars, and I really liked again his description 353 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: of the way he executed it. So for me, that 354 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 1: is move of the week. 355 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a good one, and I like an old 356 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 2: guy still got it story. That's one of my favorite 357 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 2: things in motorsport where someone you know that the clock 358 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 2: is about to strike twelve, but they've still got that 359 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 2: one magic performance left in them, or you know, using 360 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 2: their brain to get a result that perhaps the younger 361 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 2: version of themselves might not have been able to achieve. 362 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 2: I love that sort of stuff. So very good, very 363 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 2: good suggestion by you. Enjoyed that. 364 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 1: Yes, he was a good one. Let's move on now, Matt, 365 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: to a subject completely different. We have already talked a 366 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: little bit about twenty twenty six in the sense of 367 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: the calendar and what we're expecting, but we're now getting 368 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 1: into silly season territory, I think because we can just 369 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: a outspy the mid season break at the end of 370 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: July typically when we start talking about a lot of 371 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: driver contracts. Now there aren't a lot of seats open 372 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 1: in Formula One, but some really key ones and perhaps 373 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 1: more to the point, some key drivers who are on 374 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 1: the sidelines looking to get back onto the grid. Veltri 375 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 1: Botas and Sergio Perez at the very top of that list. 376 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: About five hundred odd Grand Prix starts between them. I 377 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 1: think it's sixteen wins between them if memory serves as well. 378 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 1: So a lot of experience there that has been sidelined 379 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 1: on a year that I think we've seen maybe a 380 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 1: little bit of an over correction in terms of how 381 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: much youth entered the sport this year after last year. 382 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: Absolutely note, nobody on the grid to start the year. 383 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: All good to see. Nonetheless, the advantage for them is 384 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: that there are two new seats on the grid next 385 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 1: year with Cadillac. As we've already mentioned, it seems like 386 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: they are in pretty tight competition for potentially just one seat, 387 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 1: depending on whether or not the team wants to go 388 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:06,119 Speaker 1: with youth in the mix there. I want to start 389 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:08,680 Speaker 1: with Cadillac because then we can look perhaps at LP 390 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: in a second where it seems like the second seat 391 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:13,399 Speaker 1: might be very much in play, depending on how you 392 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 1: want to read it. But Cadillac clearly does need some 393 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 1: experience there, doesn't it. This is something that they've been 394 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:21,159 Speaker 1: increasingly open about that they want an experienced hand to 395 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: help guide them. They've got a lot of experienced personnel 396 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: in the team. But is there any one of these 397 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 1: two drivers between bot Ass and Pairs that stands out 398 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 1: to you as a leader in contention for this seat. 399 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's funny, it's an a orb question, and my 400 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 2: answers seat just to be awkward for you mostly, I 401 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 2: think so. So much of this will come down to 402 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 2: what is their philosophy on the second seat. Does it 403 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:46,120 Speaker 2: need to be a young driver and an experienced driver, 404 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 2: does it need to be an American? What is the 405 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 2: makeup of the second seat? And then that, to me 406 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,639 Speaker 2: determines which of the two veterans that are available that 407 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 2: are in contention for this that you take. Because I 408 00:17:57,240 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 2: think you know, there's a certain commercial appeal I guess 409 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,120 Speaker 2: that comes with Sergio Perez that we've seen before where 410 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 2: the whole raft of Mexican related businesses that are ready 411 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 2: to jump on board that will give the project some 412 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 2: credibility and a good kicker log than the cars will 413 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 2: look terrific, and so on and so forth. Valterie botas 414 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 2: to me, is a guy who the speed depends on 415 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 2: whether you're whether you've got an arm round his shoulder 416 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:23,120 Speaker 2: or not. I think if he's made to feel wanted 417 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:25,239 Speaker 2: and loved in an integral part of the project, I 418 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 2: still think that his potential pace is probably greater. Now. 419 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:32,400 Speaker 2: Whether that ticks the box of being a team leader 420 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 2: and a front man, which is almost more important for 421 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:36,919 Speaker 2: a startup like this is remains to be seen. But 422 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:39,879 Speaker 2: to my mind, I think they almost need to employ 423 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 2: the second driver first, if that makes sense. I know 424 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:44,439 Speaker 2: it sounds a little bit convoluted, but depending on the 425 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 2: identity of your second driver, I think that will you 426 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 2: know that second driver is not going to have all 427 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:50,920 Speaker 2: the boxes ticked, and I think what boxes are left 428 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 2: unchecked will then determine which of those two veterans is 429 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:57,200 Speaker 2: probably best suited for the first the first driver role, 430 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:00,200 Speaker 2: you do need an experience head that's pretty clear gives 431 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:02,880 Speaker 2: you some instant credibility, but I think each of them 432 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 2: have divergent strengths, and the second driver identity for me, 433 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 2: probably answers the question of the first one. So I 434 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 2: know I haven't answered your question, So now'll throw it 435 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:13,239 Speaker 2: back on you. If you're if you've got the check 436 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 2: book at Cadillac, where are you going here? Because they're 437 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 2: both in a similar age and range of their careers, 438 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:20,840 Speaker 2: they've done a similar amount of winning. But they're not 439 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 2: the same driver, are they? 440 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:25,600 Speaker 1: No, they're not' The've got some pretty significant differences between them. 441 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:27,959 Speaker 1: To my mind, Feltrie Bodas, if you're getting him, you're 442 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,680 Speaker 1: getting him because he's got really great pure speed over 443 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 1: a one lap really was for me to We've got 444 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 1: twenty pole positions, I think, all of them against Lewis Hamilton. 445 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: Don't think you had any before you arrive in Mercedes 446 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 1: and Lewis Hamilton the most prolific qualifier of all time. 447 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:43,440 Speaker 1: That's nothing to sneeze at. Where Sergio Perez, certainly in 448 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:46,160 Speaker 1: his midfield days, I think they're sort of now we're 449 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:48,359 Speaker 1: looking a little bit back on his Red Bull tenure 450 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 1: in a slightly different light now that it's clear that 451 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 1: almost no one is able to race in the second scene, 452 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:56,679 Speaker 1: and that team doesn't totally discount everything that happened there. 453 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 1: But I think it means we can perhaps bring to 454 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 1: the four a little bit more those great midfield performances 455 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 1: we saw before he turned up to Red Bull Racing, 456 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:05,320 Speaker 1: or maybe even some of those performances we saw in 457 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one when he was kind of thereabouts for 458 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:09,800 Speaker 1: most of the year, certainly didn't have those kind of 459 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 1: form slumps we saw more reasonably so those race performances. 460 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,239 Speaker 1: Really squeezing a lot out of a midfield car and 461 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 1: limited opportunities is sort of his strength in that equation. 462 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 1: You know, there's a reason you would pick either of them, 463 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:24,159 Speaker 1: because you do want to know. If you want to 464 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 1: exactly where a car is, you'd go with Botas, right, Like, 465 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 1: if you want someone to absolutely validate the developments putting 466 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: being placed on that car, or in this case of 467 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:33,920 Speaker 1: the first car you've ever made, you'd go Botas. But 468 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:35,920 Speaker 1: if you want to make the most of your opportunities 469 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 1: in the race, you'd kind of pick pairs. So why 470 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 1: I think this is such an interesting position. It seems 471 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 1: to me that Paris has been the front runner for 472 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:44,200 Speaker 1: a little while. You know, we talked to Mario and 473 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:46,200 Speaker 1: Dready about this on the podcast a couple of weeks 474 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 1: ago now, and he didn't say it, but he said, 475 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 1: you'd absolutely he absolutely has to be in the mix. 476 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: I think where his words said your pairs or words 477 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,680 Speaker 1: to that effect, not least because if you're big selling 478 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:58,919 Speaker 1: yourself as the American team, obviously by the America that 479 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:04,119 Speaker 1: means the United States, it obviously tremendous Mexican population in 480 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 1: the US, Mexico as borders the US. Like there's an 481 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,920 Speaker 1: affinity there that works, that makes sense when you're considering 482 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:13,840 Speaker 1: Perez is not only support a base, but sponsorship dollars. 483 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 1: So for me, I can kind of see the argument 484 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: for pairs maybe being a little bit stronger. Pretty lineball call. 485 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:21,840 Speaker 1: But what I think is kind of interesting here is 486 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 1: there's this second seat option now opening up potentially at 487 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 1: Alpine with Flavio Butore for the first time he said, well, 488 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 1: I go Colopindo hasn't been that great so far in 489 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:34,320 Speaker 1: replacing Jack Dow And maybe that means Jack comes back. 490 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 1: Who knows, Maybe that means they put Paul Aaron the 491 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:38,640 Speaker 1: car later on, who knows. So there's a long way 492 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:40,679 Speaker 1: to go on that road, but it clearly means that 493 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:43,400 Speaker 1: there's a bit more up in the air for next year, 494 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 1: doesn't it. And it kind of also means that if 495 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 1: one of these two drivers misses out next to year, 496 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 1: Perez or Botas, there's this additional option. I thought it 497 00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:52,680 Speaker 1: was interesting Botas talking to Beyond the Grid the F 498 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:55,399 Speaker 1: one podcast saying it was an option, saying there had 499 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 1: been talks there last year and a little bit this 500 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 1: year as well, but then also mentioned, well, I don't 501 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 1: have heaps of personal spongor, but I have some for 502 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:05,920 Speaker 1: the right opportunity. Is this sort of I think even 503 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 1: between Paris and Botas a little bit of uncertainty about 504 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 1: taking the plunge there. 505 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:12,639 Speaker 2: It's also super interesting with Alpine as a team is 506 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:14,640 Speaker 2: of course they're going to be running Mercedes power units 507 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:17,879 Speaker 2: next year. We talked before about twenty fourteen where it 508 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 2: became this engine formula overnight where all of a sudden, 509 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 2: rebel weren't winning anything because they had a I can't 510 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 2: even remember what the branding of an Infinity tag or 511 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:29,280 Speaker 2: something or other. I mean, I know that it broke 512 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 2: a lot, and so that wasn't really helping them at 513 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 2: that point, and Mercedes became the engine to have, so 514 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 2: being an Mercedes customer next year with the potential upside 515 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 2: that that could bring for someone like Alpine. You remember 516 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 2: in the early days of the V six turbo hybrids 517 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 2: that Williams that have been pretty much know where the 518 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 2: old Martini liveried Williams with Massa and Botas. Funnily enough, 519 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 2: they suddenly were really competitive in the early stages of 520 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 2: that new engine formula. The chassis was fine, it was 521 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:57,399 Speaker 2: no better than a midfield chassis. The engine was so 522 00:22:57,600 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 2: good relative to everything else. All of a sudden they're 523 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 2: sniper for podiums where they hadn't been for years. So 524 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:05,119 Speaker 2: you're thinking, okay, yes, it'd be nice to get in 525 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:07,159 Speaker 2: on the ground floor where a brand new start up 526 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 2: and you can put your imprint on that team. If 527 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 2: you end up at Alpen, you might have a car 528 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 2: that all of a sudden is sniping for potential podiums 529 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:16,440 Speaker 2: and you could perhaps look a little bit better than 530 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:19,879 Speaker 2: the team potentially is so for either of these two drivers, 531 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 2: I don't know if there's necessarily a wrong answer, but 532 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:23,679 Speaker 2: one of them is going to be more right than 533 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,080 Speaker 2: the other. And that's the hardest part to try. And 534 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:27,880 Speaker 2: you know you've got to thread the needle with these two, 535 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:30,399 Speaker 2: don't you. If I was framing the market, I would 536 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 2: say that Perez would be the favorite for all of 537 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 2: the reasons that you mentioned, plus perhaps the commercial appeal 538 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 2: and something you just said then I think is really 539 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:42,160 Speaker 2: relevant in that when Sergio Prez was so poor next 540 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:44,679 Speaker 2: to Max Fstappen last year and even in twenty twenty three, 541 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:47,360 Speaker 2: to a degree, everyone just shrug their shoulders and said, look, 542 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:49,959 Speaker 2: he's washed, it's done with him. But as time has 543 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:54,399 Speaker 2: gone on by, his stocks have risen through obsensia in 544 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 2: a lot of ways because he's not been there. And 545 00:23:57,560 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 2: now you get to see how much all of the 546 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 2: other drivers that have the misfortune of b Max Vestappen's 547 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:05,199 Speaker 2: teammate struggle in a car that's really, really difficult. So 548 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,880 Speaker 2: Perez has almost looked better by not doing anything, and 549 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:11,399 Speaker 2: perhaps that puts him in the box seat, But to 550 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:14,200 Speaker 2: my mind, I'm actually more interested, I've got to say 551 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:16,160 Speaker 2: in who gets the second seat and what that means 552 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:19,439 Speaker 2: going forward, because whoever you choose out of Botas and Perez, 553 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:22,159 Speaker 2: they're only a short term solution. They're not going to 554 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 2: be there for the long haul. They might help to 555 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 2: shape the future of that team, but they're not going 556 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 2: to be part of it necessarily. 557 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:29,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, it'll be really interesting to see with this one. 558 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: Lands Pot has has suggested by August some of these 559 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:33,400 Speaker 1: decisions will be made, so we'll have to wait too 560 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:35,879 Speaker 1: long to find out. But maybe you'd like to predict it, 561 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:38,600 Speaker 1: Matt in the Crystal Ball for to you buy complete 562 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 1: home filtration before we wrap this one up Formula one 563 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 1: in action this weekend, you can predictor in twenty six 564 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 1: you could have predicted the calendar last week. Neither of 565 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 1: us did. That's fine, what are you going with? 566 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:50,080 Speaker 2: We couldn't even predict when the calendar was coming out. 567 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:54,359 Speaker 2: Thet's where we're going, But well, I'm gonna the crystal 568 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 2: ball is pointing me towards Montreal and it's the sphere 569 00:24:57,840 --> 00:24:59,680 Speaker 2: at the hairpend That looks a bit like a crystal ball, 570 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:05,200 Speaker 2: doesn't it. But I'm going to I'm going with the 571 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:08,000 Speaker 2: Redux of Suzuka and Imola here, and I'm saying Max 572 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 2: Ofstapan's going to win the Canadian Grand Prix. He's won 573 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:12,919 Speaker 2: the last three, so that's not exactly going out on 574 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:16,119 Speaker 2: a limb. But it feels that this is a weird 575 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 2: track and that look, McLaren hasn't won here since twenty twelve. 576 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:21,200 Speaker 2: How's this for a stat? Ferrari has won in Canada 577 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 2: once in twenty eighteen, since the last of Michael Schumacher's 578 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 2: hat trick in two thousand and four. As that for 579 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:30,720 Speaker 2: a stat for you? So you know that's a four 580 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:33,040 Speaker 2: to three TV standard death. That's how far back that's going. 581 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:37,720 Speaker 2: But so I have a feeling that this is a circuit. 582 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:39,720 Speaker 2: It's a weird circuit Canada. It's all about how you 583 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,160 Speaker 2: ride the curbs on so many points of this track. 584 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:44,720 Speaker 2: Max has been tremendous around here in the past. It's 585 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 2: also really narrow. It's a really hard track on which 586 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:51,120 Speaker 2: to pass big drs zone down the back straight there, 587 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 2: but we've known that car has been strong in that 588 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 2: regard in the past. Now it's an asterisk. I think 589 00:25:56,320 --> 00:25:58,360 Speaker 2: if Max kulath I was on pole, which he certainly can, 590 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:00,240 Speaker 2: I think he wins the race in a sauzuo Uca 591 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:03,679 Speaker 2: slash Imla style Grand Prix win. I don't think it 592 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:05,240 Speaker 2: means he's in the fight for the Championship. I just 593 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:07,199 Speaker 2: don't think he is at all. But he's going to 594 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:09,480 Speaker 2: win occasional races for the rest of twenty twenty five, 595 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 2: and this strikes me as being one of them. But 596 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:14,640 Speaker 2: what is the spherical ball telling you? 597 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:17,720 Speaker 1: Well, last week I predicted that it was going to 598 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:20,200 Speaker 1: be Filipe Drugovich in the Aston Martin car. That doesn't 599 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 1: seem like it's going to happen. Sounds like Blancetroll is 600 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:24,760 Speaker 1: going to make it back for his home race, and 601 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:27,879 Speaker 1: good for him if that's the case. My prediction, bold 602 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:29,359 Speaker 1: as it is, is that he's going to come back 603 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 1: and be triumphed. It's gonna be a little bit of pain. 604 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:33,520 Speaker 1: That's okay, less pain than he apparently was last time. 605 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:36,199 Speaker 1: He's going to qualify sixteenth on the grid. I going 606 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:40,399 Speaker 1: to forget that he was even involved Grand Prix. Pity 607 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:43,239 Speaker 1: for him, but at least he gets to participate. But 608 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 1: that's where he's on average been qualifying this year, just 609 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: a head or just out of Q one, I should say, 610 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:52,119 Speaker 1: so good things in store for him. 611 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 2: Always good to aim high for your home races. 612 00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 1: Well maybe you can get into Q two. Let's see 613 00:26:57,600 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 1: how he goes. Good luck to hear my hope. Of 614 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:01,359 Speaker 1: course he is feeling better. The surgery has been a 615 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:03,399 Speaker 1: success on that risk. But that's all the time we 616 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 1: have for pit Talk today. You can subscribe to pittok 617 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 1: wherever you get your favorite podcasts, and you can leave 618 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:10,920 Speaker 1: us a rating and review as well. This weekend is 619 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:13,920 Speaker 1: the Formula one Canadian Grand Prix, with lights out at 620 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:17,119 Speaker 1: four am Eastern Time on Monday. If it makes you 621 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:19,840 Speaker 1: feel any better, qualifyings at six am on Sunday, so 622 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:21,720 Speaker 1: if you really want to watch something live, that might 623 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 1: be best. But you can keep up to date with 624 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 1: all the lates stef One, Supercars and rodogp news at 625 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:28,919 Speaker 1: Foxsports dot com dot Au from Matt Clayton and me, 626 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:31,640 Speaker 1: Michael Amanato. Thanks very much for your company. We'll catch 627 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:32,320 Speaker 1: you next week.