1 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Pit Talk, brought to you by Shannon's. 2 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:10,480 Speaker 1: On today's episode, Lewis Hamilton sees no reason for optimism 3 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: all this season after his dire start to life as 4 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: a Ferrari driver and silly. Season starts early with Christian 5 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: Horner and George Russell reportedly exploring each other's availability for 6 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 1: twenty twenty six. My name is Michael Lomonado. It's great 7 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: to have your company and the company of my co host. 8 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: He knows the difference between Miami and Miami Gardens. It's 9 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: Matt Clayton. 10 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 2: Is there a difference, Michael, I guess this is the question. 11 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 2: But race around your favorite stadium car park as I 12 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:40,520 Speaker 2: like to call it, the Miami Grand Prix. But yes, 13 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 2: it's time for fake marinas and all sorts of other nonsense. 14 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 2: But a six am race star on a Monday morning. 15 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 2: For Australians, breakfast Formula one is an underrated thing. 16 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:52,639 Speaker 1: I would say I'm a big fan of the breakfast 17 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: Grand Prix concept. You put your coffee on, you have 18 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: your toast or breakfast or choice perhaps of porridge, something 19 00:00:57,960 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: like that. With the Americans, maybe bacon and eggs if 20 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: you American or pancakes. 21 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, a stack of about fourteen of them. 22 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: Ye, that'll go down easy. You'll be good and sorted 23 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 1: for the six am start to get excited about that. 24 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: Not too bad at all. Certainly we've had worse. But 25 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:16,320 Speaker 1: let's look at the a little bit of a retrospective 26 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 1: and prospective this weekend, because Lewis, Hamilton and Ferrari has 27 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: certainly been one of the major talking points of the 28 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 1: opening five Grand Prix of the season, at first for 29 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: positive reasons, not only of course, because he's one of 30 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: the biggest driving moves of a generation. But he did 31 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: okay in Australia, and then of course one sensationally the 32 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,479 Speaker 1: sprint in China, just the second round of the season, 33 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: and suddenly we all thought, well, here we go, it's 34 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: all clicking into place. Since then, however, it's been a 35 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 1: story of woe, culminating with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, 36 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 1: where he was effectively last in class, last among the 37 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: front runners, had nothing of the pace of teammates char 38 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: La Clair, who finished on a podium for the first 39 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: time this season and ended the weekend by saying no 40 00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 1: reason to think anything will get better for him this Yeah, 41 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: now Lewis Hamilton map is good. Of course, I always 42 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: say he tends towards pessivism when things are not going 43 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 1: his way. So perhaps we shouldn't read that absolutely literally. 44 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 1: But there's been no doubt that this has been more 45 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 1: down than up so far in twenty twenty five. What's 46 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 1: a bird's eye view of how this has been going 47 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:17,799 Speaker 1: so far? 48 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 2: It's funny, is it's the most British thing that Lewis 49 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 2: Hamilton does these days. I always think if you ask 50 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 2: a British person how they are, they say not bad 51 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 2: when they mean good. They always ask, they always answer 52 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 2: with their negative when they trying to be positive. But 53 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:32,400 Speaker 2: I would like to point our listeners towards an excellent 54 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 2: story with the title f on that lessons Learned so 55 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 2: Far on Fox Sports dot com dot A You've written 56 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 2: by a black called Michael Lamonato. The first word of 57 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 2: the Lewis Hamilton section is grim and it's a bit 58 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 2: of a favorite word for you and I discussing many things, 59 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 2: not just Lewis Hamilton. But it's so interesting, isn't it. 60 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 2: How Look, we know the glass tends to skew more 61 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 2: towards more. It's being half empty when Lewis is in 62 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 2: these situations. I mean, it happened at McLaren we're talking, 63 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:58,639 Speaker 2: you know, a decade and a half ago. Now it 64 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:01,680 Speaker 2: happened a very very long time ago. But it's interesting 65 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 2: how you know it's China was round two, won the 66 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 2: first sprint. Everything's happy days now we know. He was 67 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 2: disqualified from the Grand Prix the next day, as was 68 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 2: Charlote Cliff for completely different reasons, one of one of 69 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 2: the Ferrari Bingo car for if I'm playing at home. 70 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 2: But since then it's just been not only has it 71 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:25,359 Speaker 2: been poor, there's a degree of it being comparatively helpless 72 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 2: and hopeless. At the same time, there doesn't seem to 73 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 2: be an answer. He's lost France's the team is trying 74 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:33,639 Speaker 2: very very hard to say the r. I think you're 75 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 2: probably thinking they're wondering what's actually happening here, And I 76 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 2: think it's probably a conflation of two things that yes, 77 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 2: there's a bit of old dog nutrix going on here, 78 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 2: because obviously Lewis is in his forties and it's I 79 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 2: think it's much harder for a driver to make a 80 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 2: big move and perhaps change the way they operate driving 81 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 2: style and what have you the older they get into 82 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 2: their career. Filed under Riccardo Comment, Daniel, We've discussed this 83 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 2: story at infinitum, but I think there's two things happening here. 84 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 2: It's a problematic car that he's finding it very hard 85 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 2: to get his head around. I also think it probably 86 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 2: under sells a little bit just what Charlotte Clair is 87 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 2: doing because I don't think that that car is particularly good. 88 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 2: I think Leclare is doing pretty amazing things in a 89 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 2: car that's not particularly good. But I don't know from 90 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 2: your perspective, But the Hamilton thing, it's all gone very 91 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 2: very south, very very quickly. And from your perspective, is 92 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 2: that a dose of reality for him? Or is he 93 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 2: trying to perhaps temper expectations for the rest of the 94 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 2: season if they can't find a way out of this. 95 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:33,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think there's definitely a degree of the latter. 96 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: I think, like we were already saying, that tends to 97 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 1: be Hamilton's way, even when he seems like he's on 98 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:40,280 Speaker 1: the cusp of some decent results or has had some 99 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 1: okay weekends, He just does tend towards even personal expectation 100 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: management or the psychology of Hamilton, something that is maybe 101 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: a little bit lesser explored, just because he's had so 102 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: much success in the last decade. It's not really something 103 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: you have to think too much about. But I don't. 104 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 1: I've always had the sense he doesn't mind being in 105 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 1: a corner a little bit, you know. I think back 106 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: to the end of his title losing season in twenty sixteen, 107 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 1: where you had to feel like even the team was 108 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: against him. At one point suggested that maybe he was 109 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: getting unequal machinery. Did that actually a little bit of 110 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: Mercedes last year as well, when he was on the 111 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: receiving end of a pretty decent qualifying beating from George Russell, 112 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 1: And then sometimes that makes him lift. So I think 113 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: there's a degree of that. I think it's also making 114 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 1: us assess and there is a there is I guess 115 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 1: a little bit of a Daniel Ricardo parallel here that 116 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,239 Speaker 1: these ground effect rules haven't suited everyone. And the further 117 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: along the line we've got in this regulatory era, and 118 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 1: every team's talked about how it's so hard to add 119 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: performance to these cars without making them harder to drive. 120 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: The further along we've got, the harder they are to drive, 121 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: the more difficult it must be to switch teams. We've 122 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: seen other drivers struggle, admittedly not to this extent. Your 123 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: Carlos Signs did take quite a few races to get there. 124 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: I say quite a few. He still got there by 125 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,919 Speaker 1: the end of the five race run, but clearly was difficult. 126 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: And then there is that element, and you sort of 127 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,359 Speaker 1: mentioned old dog new tricks. There's definitely a learning curve 128 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 1: and that speaks to some of that. But the question 129 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: that we can't answer yet, and I think we probably 130 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 1: won't be able to say definitively until next year because 131 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: if we assume the ground effect rules are part of it, well, 132 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,280 Speaker 1: they're not changing this year. I think that's part of 133 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: the pessimism. But is it just that he's left it 134 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:13,279 Speaker 1: too late in his career to learn not an entirely 135 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: new team, but a new car concept, a new way 136 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 1: of working. You talk quite a lot in Melbourne, didn't 137 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 1: it the season opening Australian Grand Prix, about how him 138 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: and the telemetry is upside down at Ferrari compared to 139 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 1: the way it is at the same It's just one 140 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: example of the different way of working. So all of 141 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 1: those things that are combining to what's being a pretty 142 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: ordinary result. I think it's qualifying for me though, that 143 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 1: it really sums up the difficulty because and this is 144 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 1: going to be one of the interesting battles, wasn't it. 145 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 1: Arguably the quickest driver informing on today, char Leclair has 146 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: so many more poles than he does wins and they're 147 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:44,720 Speaker 1: not all his faults. That's Ferrari's fault, and I think 148 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: that actually underlines how quick Ye is. Rather than the 149 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:50,479 Speaker 1: opposite up against the most prolific pole getter of all time, 150 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: Lewis Hamilton, the guys, he's got more poles than anyone else. 151 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: The qualifying difference between them on average this season is 152 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: just under three tenths of a second zero point two eight. 153 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 1: But if you look at the last three rounds after 154 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,360 Speaker 1: that disqualification in China, where it seems like Ferrari's had 155 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: to rethink the way it's setting up its car, it's 156 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: almost half a second. It's four four seven zero point 157 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 1: four four seven seconds. That's in Formula one. That's enormous 158 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 1: and to the point of where I think it's very 159 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: early to be saying any of this. But if you 160 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: are at Ferrara and you alluded to the same, surely 161 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 1: there are maybe not an alarm bell ringing, maybe the 162 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: blue light before the red light starts going off on 163 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: the roof. 164 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 2: But this is I mean that sort of difference between teammates. 165 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 2: That's the thing that gets teams paying drivers out a 166 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 2: year early to leave their contract again. File under McLaren 167 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 2: and Daniel Ricardo because that was what was going on there. 168 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 2: But you mentioned something really interesting before, where the more 169 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 2: mature this rule set has become, there's a law of 170 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 2: diminishing returns with these things. You're looking for such marginal 171 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 2: gains through a tiny, tiny aperture. Everyone knows that these 172 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 2: rules are going in the bin basically at the end 173 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 2: of this season, and that will provide the definitive answer 174 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 2: as to has Lewis's career gone on the other side 175 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 2: of the hill it is going down or is this 176 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 2: just a byproduct of the machinery and the rule set 177 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 2: that he's been given to work with. We're not going 178 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 2: to have an answer to that until twenty twenty six. 179 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 2: We still have seventeen more round nineteen more rounds to 180 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 2: go kind of account ahead of Yeah, he is hoping 181 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 2: nineteen more rounds, by the way, was considerably longer than 182 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 2: the actual length of the entire season when Lewis deputed 183 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 2: back in two thousand and seven. So if this is 184 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 2: going to be his lot, this is going to be 185 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 2: a really difficult time for both him and the team because, 186 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,200 Speaker 2: let's be honest, Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton, you know, the 187 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 2: biggest most popular brand on the team, on the grid 188 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 2: with seven time world champion who's a legend in his sport. 189 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 2: You marry those two things together. It's an amazing story 190 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 2: for the sport and the fact that Australia got to 191 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 2: see the first laps of that marriage in anger was fantastic. 192 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 2: I love the fact that we got to have that 193 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 2: slice of history. There's a lot of pressure on everybody 194 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 2: involved here for the sport, for Ferrah, for Hamilton. This 195 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 2: needs to work as a narrative, particularly if we're going 196 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 2: to go into the final season of a rule set. 197 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,560 Speaker 2: We've talked about this on previous podcasts, where one of 198 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 2: two things tends to happen. You end up with this 199 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 2: really fraught championship fight between two teams at different stages, 200 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 2: like in twenty twenty one, but more usually you end 201 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 2: up with a team that gets it very over a 202 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:22,199 Speaker 2: right and everyone starts to switch the tap off for 203 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 2: next year. So if we do have what looks to 204 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 2: be an intra team McLaren fight with occasional cameos from 205 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 2: Maxiwstapp and the rest of the way, the Hamilton Ferrari 206 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:33,440 Speaker 2: story is perhaps not a story for winning races, but 207 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 2: it's something else to watch that's very, very high profile 208 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 2: behind what might be battles for victories. If this doesn't work, Yes, 209 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 2: we know there's an end date to this particular rule set, 210 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 2: and perhaps that's the what solves these problems for both parties. 211 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 2: But now nineteen more rounds of this and it's escalated 212 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 2: so quickly. It was three rounds ago that it was 213 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 2: all fantastic and he was winning a sprint, and you 214 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 2: mentioned that qualifying deficit. Since that it's not that's not 215 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,680 Speaker 2: tenable as a storyline even at that for the remaining 216 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 2: nineteen rounds, the littlone if it gets worse, and there's going 217 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 2: to have to be a hell of a lot of 218 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 2: patients from both parties here to try and engineer their 219 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 2: way out of something. For a team where if you're Ferrari, 220 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 2: you're not winning this year's championship. You're not winning the drivers, 221 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 2: you're not winning the constructors, they will certainly be having 222 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 2: much more of an eye on twenty six before too long. 223 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 2: So how does that play into the equation when you've 224 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:31,080 Speaker 2: got such a high profile signe to the team who's 225 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 2: really struggling relative to the guy that he's racing against. 226 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 1: It's not really a scenario that I think too many 227 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:39,440 Speaker 1: people countenance. For a couple of reasons, there was always 228 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: a risk right that he was going to go to 229 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 1: Charlotte Clair's team. LaClair's so embedded there, knows it inside out, 230 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: has a habit of being able to get the most 231 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 1: out of it when the cars just in its sweet spot, 232 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,120 Speaker 1: and we're starting to see that now. Actually, in fact, 233 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:54,679 Speaker 1: I think he's getting performance out of this despite it 234 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:56,319 Speaker 1: perhaps not being in sweet spot. He's now at the 235 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 1: level where he's able to force it into that zone 236 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 1: when the cart doesn't even want to be in there, 237 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: which I think is part of the problem. But I 238 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: just or I certainly I didn't think, and maybe it 239 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 1: was a naive of me that the only outcomes are 240 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:08,839 Speaker 1: really going to be Lewis Hamilton's going to go there 241 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 1: get the second win. He may yet next year and 242 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 1: either match or beat Leclaire, or alternatively, it would be 243 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: like almost a passing of a baton sort of scenario 244 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: where Okay, Laclaiir would have the upper hand for most 245 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 1: of the time, but Hamilton would would play a great 246 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: team game, He'd win some races for Ferrari, he ticked 247 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,839 Speaker 1: the box. Maybe there was no championship involved, whatever, but 248 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: it would at least be somewhat satisfying end to his story. 249 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: Lewis Hamilton bowing out and again, look we're five races in, 250 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: but this does illustrate how confounding this performance gap has been. 251 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 1: But the idea of him going to Ferrari, getting belted 252 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:48,239 Speaker 1: for two years and then bowing out just doesn't really compute. 253 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 1: I'd hate to see it. It is not me speaking 254 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 1: from any biased perspective, but a legend of the sport 255 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 1: going out that way, even existing in that way, I 256 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 1: just think doesn't really work. So you really see what 257 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 1: happens here. But I think there is a to draw, 258 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,559 Speaker 1: perhaps another not quite parallel, but an example here. I 259 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: think part of the element is that it's difficult to 260 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 1: drive Ferrari car, as you mentioned earlier on because this 261 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 1: isn't the step forward the team thought they were going 262 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 1: to have from last year in the car was relatively 263 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:19,199 Speaker 1: easy to drive, was probably the fastest car. In fact, 264 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:21,000 Speaker 1: by the end of the year, it hasn't worked so far, 265 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: and we did learn last few things can change pretty quickly, 266 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: so who knows. By the end of the year, maybe 267 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: some of these problems are solved. But Chal knows how 268 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 1: to set up this car. He's figured out rather how 269 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: to set up this car in spite of itself, essentially 270 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 1: to put it mechanically in a position where he can 271 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 1: get some performance out of it. It's difficult, but he's 272 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 1: managing it. And by performance I mean just scraping in 273 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: for third in Saudi Arabia. It's the other part of 274 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 1: this is that Ferrari generally is underperforming, so it's not 275 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 1: all necessarily on Hamilton Lewis just doesn't have those tools, 276 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 1: and I'm sort of reminded, maybe most viscerally, but this 277 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 1: happens from time to time. When Max forstaff and joined 278 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:56,079 Speaker 1: Red Bull Racing in twenty sixty, he was beaten, of 279 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:58,240 Speaker 1: course in qualifying immediately by Daniel Riccardo had been there 280 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 1: for so long, but his response afterwards was I just 281 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: didn't know how to make this car better in the 282 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: way Daniel couldney. He looked afterwards the way Ricardo had 283 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:07,079 Speaker 1: changed front wing levels or whatever, and he said, Oh, 284 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 1: if I knew that, it would have been obvious. Lewis 285 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 1: doesn't have any of those tools at the moment, and 286 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 1: he's in a car that just isn't working, so there's 287 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: probably reason to be more optimistic than he is. But nonetheless, 288 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:20,719 Speaker 1: that gap is enormous. I think that's the thing. It's 289 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:22,719 Speaker 1: really going to need team and driver to close. It 290 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 1: needs a car to get better before Lewis can probably 291 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: be thinking about himself improving. 292 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean a couple of thoughts here. I think 293 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 2: Leclaire is so accustomed to bending a Ferrari against its 294 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 2: will or exceeding its performance curve because he's basically done 295 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:42,439 Speaker 2: at the entire time he's been there. And I think 296 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 2: this is a weird thing to say for a guy 297 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 2: who's won Grand parin is one of the best qualifiers 298 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 2: we've ever seen. I still think he's a little bit underrated, 299 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,559 Speaker 2: which is a silly things. I think he's an absolutely 300 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 2: spectacularly good driver who's never really been in a position 301 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:57,319 Speaker 2: to win the big prize at someone of his talent 302 00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 2: probably deserves, but on a wider level, and we were 303 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 2: to talking about previous Mercedes Championship fights personally for me 304 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 2: that run into the end of twenty twenty one, when 305 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 2: Lewis had his back absolutely against the wall in the 306 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 2: final year of that rule set, that changed how I 307 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,680 Speaker 2: felt about him as a driver, because I thought what 308 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 2: he did in those final five races of that year 309 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 2: was absolutely spectacular. I thought that was the best Lewis 310 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 2: Hamilton we've ever seen because everything had to go right, 311 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 2: but he had to make it go right, and Valorie 312 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 2: Bosj has kind of checked out at that point. He 313 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 2: was fighting, fighting a bit of a lone hand. He 314 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 2: was unbelievably good and I think it was an end 315 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:38,360 Speaker 2: of season performance that probably deserved a World championship. And 316 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 2: then Abu Dhabi and you and I sending each other 317 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 2: sighing text messages at three am or whatever it was. 318 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 2: But there was a little part of me after that 319 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 2: that kind of felt like the old Lewis. It was 320 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 2: like the death of the old Lewis in a lot 321 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 2: of respects. I don't think he's quite had that sustained 322 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 2: level of just not commitment, but the hunger, and there's 323 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 2: a bit of weariness that's crept in over the last 324 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 2: couple of years, and that when you've had as much 325 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 2: much success as he's had, you don't get out of 326 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 2: bed to finish fourth. You don't get out of bed 327 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 2: to finish fifth. He hasn't been in that mindset since 328 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 2: because of what happened in twenty one, and to my mind, 329 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 2: when he moved to Ferrari, this was for me. It's like, 330 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 2: all right, he needed maybe a change of scenery to 331 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 2: get out of where he'd been for so long, to 332 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 2: sort of kick that old Lewis back into gear again. 333 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 2: And so far, at least, it's all been a little 334 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 2: bit too difficult. And you know, I'm not prepared to 335 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 2: rule a line through a guy with us who's had 336 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 2: the success that he's had and as talented as he is. 337 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 2: But the more time ticks by, both this season and 338 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 2: in terms of the calendar, because he's going to be 339 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 2: a forty one year old next year, you do wonder 340 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 2: if it's going to be there any more than intermittently. 341 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 2: And that's not what he went to Ferrari for, and 342 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 2: that's certainly not for what Ferrari paying for. 343 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a lot of the questions that we're trying 344 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: to be asked last year, but he was using the 345 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 1: Mercedes car to keep a decent gap to them that 346 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 1: under pulling Mercedes car, they now at the door, aren't they? 347 00:15:57,560 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 1: And you can only probably hold them at the door 348 00:15:59,920 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: for a few more months, I think, till next season. 349 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 1: Surely he'll get the benefit of that. Even this season 350 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 1: gets worse somehow, But if it's if next year under 351 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: new rules, you can't make it work. Relative to Leclear, 352 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 1: there are going to be some really serious evaluations or 353 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: reevaluations about this whole latter phase of his career. Ferrari 354 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 1: switch of course chief among them. But only five races 355 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: in like you say, nineteen rounds to go, nineteen rounds 356 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 1: to go, nineteen five sprints, plenty of time for him 357 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: to bounce back. Matt. Let's look now at move of 358 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 1: the week brought to you by Shannon's only Moto GP 359 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 1: over the course of the weekend in her at the 360 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: return to Europe, the return to regular timing. Very excited 361 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:43,800 Speaker 1: about that. A couple of standout moves. I think I'll 362 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 1: let you kick us off. 363 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 2: I am going to go with something that we haven't 364 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:49,520 Speaker 2: seen for a really long time because I so enjoyed 365 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 2: seeing this guy back up to the front again. I'm 366 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 2: going for a lap one term one of the sprint 367 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 2: race at Hareth where Pole sit at Fabio Quaturra. I'll 368 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 2: say that again, Poles at Fabio Coutura after one of 369 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 2: the best Motor GP qualifying laps I have seen for 370 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 2: a very very long time. Was absolutely mesmerizing. What he 371 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:10,640 Speaker 2: did on Saturday, got beaten off the start by Mark 372 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:14,160 Speaker 2: Marquez into term one and center pass on Marquees. That's 373 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 2: the sort of pass that you send where you're thinking 374 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 2: it might be a while until I'm back on the 375 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:21,439 Speaker 2: front row or at least on Pole again. Completely clean, 376 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 2: completely decisive, completely caught Marquez out. He said afterwards, I 377 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,400 Speaker 2: thought that was done and was pretty stunned to see 378 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 2: Quatro come through. It was a brilliant weekend for him, 379 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:35,399 Speaker 2: generally obviously finishing on the podium in the Grand Prix, 380 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 2: but I think of all the good things he did 381 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 2: that weekend, that was the standout one because it's like, 382 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 2: I'm not fighting for a championship here, this is my moment. 383 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 2: I've done something pretty amazing, and by the way, here's 384 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 2: how good I can be when I'm in a position 385 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,919 Speaker 2: to do something. So it was for nostalgic reasons it 386 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 2: was really really nice to see. But in terms of 387 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 2: clean and clinical and opportunities, that was the absolute move 388 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,439 Speaker 2: of that herth weekend for me. But it sounds like 389 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 2: by your intro that you might have another one stashed 390 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:01,159 Speaker 2: up for me. 391 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:03,680 Speaker 1: Well, nothing as a dramatic as that, because you're right. 392 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:06,399 Speaker 1: It was one of those great lap one moments. Was 393 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,359 Speaker 1: not where everyone had to try and put their cards 394 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:11,160 Speaker 1: down at once and suddenly had a higher card than 395 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 1: Mark obviously was expecting, and it was great to see 396 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:15,399 Speaker 1: him at the front again. But for me this was 397 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: more about the outcome, which was Alex Marquerz moving on. 398 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 1: This is the Yuni and yer I guess taking first 399 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: place off Guadrares. It ended up being after Mark christ 400 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 1: out of the race. It was a pretty clinical move. 401 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 1: It was nothing too exciting. It was into the first corner, 402 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:29,159 Speaker 1: but he had to get it done because Fabia was 403 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: in such a successful mood this weekend, let's say. But 404 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 1: I liked that when Mark went down this race was 405 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:36,920 Speaker 1: up for grabs, and it could have been up for grabs. 406 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:39,679 Speaker 1: I guess between three different riders, between Alex and Fabia 407 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 1: and maybe even Peco Banyaya, considering that he is in 408 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 1: the championship contention on the same bike as Mark Markerez, 409 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: but only one of them really stepped up and said 410 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 1: it is going to be my race, and it was 411 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 1: Alex And it's actually so I had to think back 412 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:53,679 Speaker 1: and he had won a sprint. We're talking about this beforehand, 413 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 1: but it almost surprised me. This was his first victory 414 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:57,920 Speaker 1: and this is him taking the lead of the championship 415 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 1: as well, maybe because he's had such a would start 416 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: to the year. Generally it felt like it had to 417 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: have already happened. But him to win his first Grand Prix, 418 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,199 Speaker 1: I just thought that that move very straightforward, but a 419 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 1: great outcome for him, an important one potentially in the 420 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 1: context of the championship. 421 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think for him it's interesting, like when you've 422 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 2: been the nearly man for so long, I mean, you 423 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 2: forget He's a Murder three and Motor two world champion. 424 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:21,200 Speaker 2: He's a very very accomplished writer. He just happens to 425 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 2: have one of the greatest hit history living in the 426 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 2: same house as him growing up. Of all the things 427 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 2: you have to deal with. But this was the first 428 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:31,160 Speaker 2: time you felt that. All Right, Mark's crashed out, he's 429 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:33,680 Speaker 2: back in the pack. This is the best opportunity he's 430 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 2: ever going to have when you've never done it before 431 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:38,440 Speaker 2: and you've been a murder GP for as long as 432 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:42,360 Speaker 2: he has when that moment arrives. Is the writer going 433 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:44,160 Speaker 2: to be ready for it? That's always a question for me. 434 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 2: And Quatro is not a guy who generally makes mistakes. 435 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 2: He's incredibly difficult to pass, and we know Herretha's a 436 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 2: pretty tough track to pass at the best of times, 437 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 2: even if you're on it to catty like Alex was 438 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:58,119 Speaker 2: so spotted his chance, took it and then completely cleared 439 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 2: off and won that race in a matter befitting a 440 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 2: guy who'd won eleven Grand Prix. Not one outstanding performance. 441 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 2: Don't think it'll be the last this season, but yeah, 442 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 2: don't mind that selection by you at all. 443 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:12,400 Speaker 1: Let's we've got now back to matters in Formula one, 444 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 1: Matt because the other one of the other little interesting 445 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:18,280 Speaker 1: stories of this little break between the opening five rounds 446 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 1: and the Miami Grand Prix, which is this weekend, comes 447 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:24,439 Speaker 1: from the race, which is reported that Christian Horner and 448 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 1: George Russell have been having some off the record chat, 449 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 1: some little communications. Not sure if Whatsapple was involved or 450 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 1: not about twenty twenty six availability. So this is the 451 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:38,919 Speaker 1: driver market certainly firing up early. The background context of this, 452 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 1: of course is Max with Stafford, who we've been talking 453 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 1: about pretty much since last year, since it was clear 454 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 1: that the wheels were beginning to wobble on the Red 455 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 1: Bull car, that he could perhaps trigger an early exit 456 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:52,360 Speaker 1: before the end of his contract, which currently is due 457 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:54,720 Speaker 1: to expire in twenty twenty eight. A little bit of 458 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: security perhaps from Christian Horner for his team by talking 459 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 1: to another front running driver, should Max for staff and quit. 460 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 1: Also interesting in that report was the idea that well 461 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 1: Max's exit clause could be triggered by the middle of 462 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 1: the year, and I think too unusual about that, but 463 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 1: the claim that it could require him only to be 464 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:13,679 Speaker 1: outside the top two in the Driver's Championship. I'd suggest 465 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 1: that if Red will sign that contract, probably need to 466 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 1: get some new lawyers involved. But it certainly sets us 467 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:22,360 Speaker 1: up for a pretty interesting silly season to perhaps climax 468 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 1: a little bit earlier than those sort of late September 469 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 1: October months. 470 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:27,800 Speaker 2: Not gonna be as silly as last year. Mostly this 471 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 2: won't be. But look, I think it's from a red 472 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 2: bull point of view, it is smart because if you 473 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 2: just take the question of, well, if Max for Stapfan's 474 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 2: not going to be in your car for next season 475 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 2: for whatever reason, breaking a clause or retiring or doing 476 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 2: whatever he's going to do, you look at the rest 477 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 2: of the grid and say, who would you want in 478 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:49,160 Speaker 2: that team that you might be able to get your 479 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:51,480 Speaker 2: hands on. Now, the correct answer to this question last 480 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:53,679 Speaker 2: year was Carlos Science, which you know you and I 481 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:57,040 Speaker 2: have discussed at infinitum, But who is the next guy 482 00:21:57,119 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 2: that you would want? And it seems to be a 483 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 2: very sensible discussion to open. You do wonder how much 484 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:10,560 Speaker 2: of this is a bit of Horner Toto Wolf destabilization, 485 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 2: getting the Netflix bloome mic in there and let's discuss 486 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 2: that line and get a whole episode out of for 487 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 2: the next series of Drivers of Vibor. You wonder if 488 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,360 Speaker 2: there's a little bit of that going on there as well. 489 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:22,400 Speaker 2: But in terms of who you would target to take 490 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 2: over that seat, it's a sensible name to throw into 491 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 2: the mix. The question that i'd have and for George 492 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 2: if he was on this podcast, which is not. But 493 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 2: I'll ask you instead, is that an advance that you 494 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 2: absolutely want right now? Going into a rule set for 495 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:41,439 Speaker 2: next year where Red bulls a new engine partner. We 496 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:43,480 Speaker 2: know what happened to the last time Formula One had a 497 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 2: big engine change, but Sodas did rather well out of 498 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:48,360 Speaker 2: that back in twenty fourteen, so you have to wonder 499 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 2: how much that factors into the equation. And given what's 500 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:54,240 Speaker 2: gone on so publicly with Red Bull over the past 501 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:56,359 Speaker 2: couple of years, with oh, look there's another driver in 502 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 2: red Bull overalls that seems to be every two or 503 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 2: three races quite chaotic. Would you want to go to 504 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 2: Red Bull Racing? And of all the drivers that would 505 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 2: go to Red Bull Racing other than just putting Fernando 506 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 2: a lot So in there because he's the master of 507 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 2: being in the right place at the wrong time. If 508 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 2: you're George Russell, would you like to go there? Because 509 00:23:14,359 --> 00:23:17,119 Speaker 2: I don't see right now how that's a better option 510 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 2: than where it is your thoughts. 511 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: I think that's such a great question because it was 512 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:24,120 Speaker 1: only about twelve months ago. I guess when we were 513 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:26,159 Speaker 1: first talking about the idea that Max with Stafford might 514 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 1: be leaving Red Bull more for political reasons than anything 515 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 1: else in fact, and he was linked to Mercedes largely 516 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:33,359 Speaker 1: because Toto Wolf has made it no secret of the 517 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:35,919 Speaker 1: fact he'd love to see him in a Mercedes. And 518 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:37,679 Speaker 1: then it took a little while, but the question was asked, well, 519 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:39,800 Speaker 1: hang on, Mercedes had a dreadful a couple of years 520 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 1: under these rules, and redneral Racing the previous season won 521 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:44,359 Speaker 1: every race but one, Why on earth would he go 522 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 1: to Mercedes? And it's just interesting how quickly that equation 523 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 1: is flipping. I'm not sure it's one hundred percent flipped yet, 524 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:53,400 Speaker 1: because maybe you could argue Red Bull and Mercedes right 525 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:55,880 Speaker 1: now are in quite a similar place competitively, but you're right, 526 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 1: the applook is certainly in mercedes favor. And there are 527 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 1: a couple always to break down why these conversations might 528 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 1: be happening, other than it just being prudent to avail 529 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:08,320 Speaker 1: yourself of all the options. And one is of course, 530 00:24:08,320 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 1: that Maxwithstappen leaves two Mercedes, in which case one of 531 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 1: the drive is going to be displaced, and it's almost 532 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 1: certainly not going to be Andrea Kimi Antonelli, considering how 533 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 1: well hyped he is and how solid a start he's 534 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 1: had to his career, it's probably going to be George Russell, 535 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 1: in which case you get a straight swap scenario. Everyone's 536 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 1: kinder happy, relatively happy. But what's really interesting to me 537 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:32,440 Speaker 1: is that if Max were to quit and he would 538 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 1: go to Aston Martin, because there's some momentum there, maybe 539 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:38,639 Speaker 1: not behind the car at the moment, but behind the team. 540 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: Obviously a lot of money being spent their brand new 541 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 1: facilities and putting a new wind tunnel, and most of all, 542 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:46,679 Speaker 1: Adrian Newey, the former chief technic officer of Red Bull Racing, 543 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:49,920 Speaker 1: is now designing next year's car, as well as the 544 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 1: Hondomotor tie up, which is obviously one that maxwith Stapfen 545 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:55,840 Speaker 1: has worked pretty well. There seems to be maybe at 546 00:24:55,920 --> 00:25:00,120 Speaker 1: least as many reasons to go there next year as Mercedes, 547 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 1: even if right now that team is not proving that 548 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:04,440 Speaker 1: it's capable of being at the front. But if that's 549 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:07,720 Speaker 1: the case, then that question absolutely comes into play, doesn't it, 550 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:10,159 Speaker 1: Because suddenly it's Red Bull Racing in need of a driver, 551 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:13,880 Speaker 1: trying to convince other drivers to come into the team, 552 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,480 Speaker 1: and if I were George Russell, I would be saying no, 553 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 1: because what reason is there other than a ludicrous paycheck, 554 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 1: which Total Wolf could probably match, because if he's got 555 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:24,639 Speaker 1: no one else he doesn't want to lose. George Russell 556 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:26,719 Speaker 1: I could actually see by the end of this year 557 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 1: or by the mid season break whenever these moves might 558 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:32,239 Speaker 1: be made that rather than as Mercedes was last year 559 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 1: scrambling to replace Lewis Hamilton, even if Total Wolf insists 560 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 1: it took only five minutes to decidden his replacement. And 561 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:41,159 Speaker 1: it's Red Bull Racing again going oh, well, who's gonna 562 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: go in this car? Now? 563 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 2: Well, what you're actually saying, if you read between the 564 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 2: lines here, is that Maxis Stappen will go to Aston 565 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 2: Martin and then Lance Stroll end up at Red Bull Racing. 566 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 2: And given that the Red Bull Racing car this year 567 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 2: is basically a Q one car in anyone's hands other 568 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 2: than Verstappen, then Lance Stroll will be out in Q 569 00:25:58,359 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 2: one and the world keeps turning because that's what happen 570 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:02,920 Speaker 2: with Lance Stroll, as we know based on our previous podcast. 571 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 2: But isn't it interesting you just said they're tried to 572 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:09,800 Speaker 2: convince someone to go to Red Bull Racing eighteen months 573 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:13,360 Speaker 2: after they were winning every race but one in the season. 574 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 2: And here we are where you've got to a position 575 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 2: where the when the greatest asset in a team of 576 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:23,640 Speaker 2: that size, with that much compedigree and that much money 577 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 2: to behind it is one driver. It shows you how very, 578 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 2: very tenuous this is. And so you go back a 579 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 2: previous era where they also had a four time world 580 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,119 Speaker 2: champion in the car at a particular time named Sebastian Vattal. 581 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:40,640 Speaker 2: The reason that Vattle leaving after twenty fourteen to go 582 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:42,879 Speaker 2: to Ferrari wasn't as big of a blow as it 583 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:45,399 Speaker 2: was because they had Daniel Riccardo there and he was ascendant, 584 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:47,639 Speaker 2: and it was twenty fourteen, and he's winning races and 585 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 2: he's happy to be there, and he's the only guy 586 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:53,920 Speaker 2: winning races that's not driving Mercedes that year. The thought 587 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 2: of Sebastian Vettle not being in a Red Bull for 588 00:26:56,560 --> 00:26:59,640 Speaker 2: twenty fifteen was unthinkable at the end of twenty thirteen. 589 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 2: So things can escalate super super quickly here. The curious 590 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:07,119 Speaker 2: part about it for me is Vastapan's never been the 591 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:08,640 Speaker 2: sort of guy to me that's going to hang around 592 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 2: in Formula one on the Great Kimmy Rerchen and superannuation 593 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:14,879 Speaker 2: to it. He's going to be a guy who gets in, 594 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:17,879 Speaker 2: does he's winning, doesn't necessarily care where he sits in 595 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:20,439 Speaker 2: the pantheon, a great World champions, wins a lot of stuff, 596 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:21,879 Speaker 2: and then goes off and does things with the rest 597 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 2: of his life because he doesn't need the rest of 598 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:27,880 Speaker 2: what Formula one he is. It's really curious whether would 599 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:30,800 Speaker 2: he want to leave and try and win somewhere else 600 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 2: to almost I'm sure you have the belief that he 601 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:34,919 Speaker 2: could do that, But is that the sort of thing 602 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:38,000 Speaker 2: that motivates him enough to want to go and tie 603 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:40,119 Speaker 2: get tied in with as you said, Adrian Nuey and 604 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 2: Honda in a different address and try to win there. 605 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:44,399 Speaker 2: Or is he just going to be the sort of 606 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:47,280 Speaker 2: guy because I'm twenty nine years old, that's all fine, 607 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:49,399 Speaker 2: You'll never see me in the paddock again. Sort of 608 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:51,600 Speaker 2: a guy. So it's different, you know, you look at 609 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:54,040 Speaker 2: the different personalities in this case. Sebastian Vatta was a 610 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:55,760 Speaker 2: guy who was always in love with F one and 611 00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:59,000 Speaker 2: the things that are around it and hung around probably 612 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:00,639 Speaker 2: a little bit too long in the but you couldn't 613 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:02,600 Speaker 2: begrudge him that because of the success that he had, 614 00:28:02,680 --> 00:28:06,200 Speaker 2: and he turned into this statesman like spokesperson for the sport, 615 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:08,040 Speaker 2: and I think left the sport in a better place 616 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:10,640 Speaker 2: than when he arrived. He's a different cat to for Stappan. 617 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:14,680 Speaker 2: And so you do wonder if the Stappens next movie 618 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 2: is sideways or out where. I don't think that was 619 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:19,399 Speaker 2: ever a question for Veattle in that time when he 620 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:21,359 Speaker 2: was a four time world champion at red Bull Racing 621 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:22,160 Speaker 2: a decade ago. 622 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:25,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, even the prospect of a sabbatical has been raised, 623 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 1: perhaps with no great impetus, let's say, behind it, but 624 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 1: it has been raised. And my first instinct was people 625 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 1: love just to say sabbati. It was in the Mika 626 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:38,000 Speaker 1: Hacken and took a quote marks sabbatical. 627 00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 2: He's still on his, isn't he? 628 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 1: He's still on Equally, maybe he'll replace him at Red Bull. 629 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 1: I believe he had a Red Bull time at some point, 630 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:47,800 Speaker 1: but you know that loves to be raised. But then 631 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 1: I think you know exactly as you outlined, but Stappan's 632 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:53,880 Speaker 1: motivation is wildly different to what you might expect for 633 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:56,680 Speaker 1: a young four time world champion. He doesn't really not 634 00:28:56,760 --> 00:28:59,120 Speaker 1: really made in the same mold as as Sebastian being 635 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 1: a great analogy there, and has a kid on the 636 00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:03,960 Speaker 1: way this year, which is something that sort of struck 637 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:06,880 Speaker 1: me earlier. Maybe he does want some time off, you know, 638 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 1: maybe he can he does. He obviously obviously has the 639 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:12,280 Speaker 1: Cachet's a four time world champion, presumably won't add to 640 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 1: that this year. But I guess you never know four 641 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 1: time world champion to take a year off, suss out 642 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 1: who's going to do well under the next regulations next year, 643 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:23,320 Speaker 1: and then just force his back into wherever it is. 644 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:27,600 Speaker 1: I just couldn't totally discount that. I mean, stranger things 645 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:28,760 Speaker 1: have happened in Forbid one. 646 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:32,520 Speaker 2: Well, because he's so sort of direct and everything. There's 647 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:34,480 Speaker 2: not much sort of you know, fluff around in the 648 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:36,680 Speaker 2: periphery with Max. He's the sort of guy that could 649 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 2: absolutely do that, sit out for a year and then 650 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:41,680 Speaker 2: just pick the phone up. Every team principle is answering 651 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:43,720 Speaker 2: that court. It's like, I've seen what you're doing. It's 652 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 2: going really well. There's potential for upside, how about it? Yeah, 653 00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:48,880 Speaker 2: that would be a that'd be a contract that would 654 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:50,760 Speaker 2: be signed in five minutes. We all know that, yes, 655 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:53,840 Speaker 2: and so he's still young enough to do that. He 656 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:56,960 Speaker 2: has the power and the pedigree to do something like that, 657 00:29:57,040 --> 00:29:58,680 Speaker 2: and probably the belief too. Yeah. 658 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,160 Speaker 1: And a lot of contracts are up next year. They're 659 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:02,680 Speaker 1: not this year. A lot of them are up at 660 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:04,920 Speaker 1: the end of twenty six, precisely for that reason, because 661 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 1: drivers want to keep their options open under those new rules. 662 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:10,160 Speaker 1: Maybe his option is just to come back into the sport. 663 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 1: It would be a fascinating twist on a story of 664 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: all assumed would end at one of two teams. Perhaps 665 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:17,160 Speaker 1: it ends at none of those two teams. And it's 666 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:20,320 Speaker 1: still Red Bull Racing looking for yet again a driver 667 00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:23,040 Speaker 1: to fill one of its cars. Apps trying to argue 668 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 1: the point mat. Before we wrap up, let's look at 669 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:29,040 Speaker 1: the crystal ball, brought to you by Complete Home Filtration. 670 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:31,520 Speaker 1: He said. Nineteen f one grand free still to go, 671 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:34,480 Speaker 1: Plenty of Moto GP rounds, lots of supercars rounds, a 672 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:37,040 Speaker 1: lot of motorsports still to go. It is only the 673 00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:40,000 Speaker 1: end of a start of back. What are you predicting 674 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:41,200 Speaker 1: in your crystal ball this week? 675 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:43,360 Speaker 2: I did tease this with you before we got on. 676 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 2: I've gone deep in the deep in the archives here, 677 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:48,400 Speaker 2: but of f on trivia for you, I've given the 678 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:52,200 Speaker 2: crystal ball a good polish for this week's episode. My 679 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:55,640 Speaker 2: crystal ball is telling me that Oscar Piastre is going 680 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 2: to become the first Australian to win three consecutive Grand 681 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:02,640 Speaker 2: Prix since and I'll let you finish this, since when and. 682 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:07,840 Speaker 1: Who three consecutive Grand Prix. Now I know that Alan 683 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:10,680 Speaker 1: Jones won two consecutively because I think I've brought that 684 00:31:10,760 --> 00:31:13,560 Speaker 1: stat a couple of weeks ago in nineteen eighty. It 685 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:16,560 Speaker 1: couldn't well, I'm going to just guess that it must 686 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 1: be Alan Jones. 687 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:20,480 Speaker 2: I'll put you out of your misery here. So Alan 688 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:23,120 Speaker 2: Jones in nineteen seventy nine and one in Germany, Austria 689 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:26,160 Speaker 2: and the Netherlands. So that was the last time it happened. 690 00:31:27,280 --> 00:31:30,560 Speaker 2: Mark Webber won two in a row once, Daniel Rocado 691 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:33,920 Speaker 2: won to in a row. Also once. Jones won two 692 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:36,840 Speaker 2: or more races in a row three times. I did 693 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:40,560 Speaker 2: it in nineteen eighty, had two doubles in nineteen eighty 694 00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:42,360 Speaker 2: and he also won if you go the first race 695 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:44,240 Speaker 2: in nineteen eighty one. He actually won the last two 696 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:46,120 Speaker 2: of eighty in the first race of eighty one. But 697 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:49,720 Speaker 2: that'd be a good stat for you if it's twenty one, 698 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:52,560 Speaker 2: forty six years since an Australia won three Grand Prix 699 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:54,440 Speaker 2: in a row. If you're wondering what the record is, 700 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:56,040 Speaker 2: and I know you are because you like these sorts 701 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:58,680 Speaker 2: of things. Sir Jack Brabham won five Grand Prix in 702 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:02,240 Speaker 2: a row in nineteen sixty, including one at a circuit 703 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:04,560 Speaker 2: that I didn't know existed in Portugal, so that was 704 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 2: a little bit of a deep a little bit of 705 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:08,560 Speaker 2: a deep dive in forex for you. But yeah, my 706 00:32:08,640 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 2: crystal ball's telling me that we're going to have the 707 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 2: first time in Australian wins three consecutive Grand Prix in 708 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 2: forty six years this weekend. 709 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:17,240 Speaker 1: I like it a lot, you know. I love a 710 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:20,160 Speaker 1: good stat and you've found some very good ones there 711 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:23,040 Speaker 1: and made my prediction look totally under as a result. 712 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:23,840 Speaker 1: But I'm a big fan. 713 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:26,760 Speaker 2: I did probably spend at least five more minutes on 714 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 2: mine than. 715 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:29,160 Speaker 1: You have, so I like it. I'm all for it. 716 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:32,640 Speaker 1: I'm raising the game. My prediction is very in a 717 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:35,840 Speaker 1: very similar way. I haven't predicted specifically the outcome. I 718 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:39,080 Speaker 1: suspect part of the prediction is to predict Thedoscopyastri. Yes, 719 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:42,360 Speaker 1: we'll win this weekend, but that's only because my prediction 720 00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:44,840 Speaker 1: is there will be a record low number of references 721 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:48,120 Speaker 1: to the safety car that helped Lando Norris win last year, 722 00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:50,600 Speaker 1: because I think the story this week it's all going 723 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:54,120 Speaker 1: to be about our Lando going back to Miami where 724 00:32:54,120 --> 00:32:56,880 Speaker 1: he won his first Grand Prix. No asterisk required one 725 00:32:56,920 --> 00:32:59,320 Speaker 1: that totally because he led it the whole time. Don't 726 00:32:59,320 --> 00:33:01,880 Speaker 1: remember started from pol who could possibly rememberho started from 727 00:33:01,920 --> 00:33:04,400 Speaker 1: pole last year and he won it totally on THERI. 728 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:06,160 Speaker 1: He did have a very good race. The McLaren car 729 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:08,040 Speaker 1: was fast in the second half of that race, but 730 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:11,360 Speaker 1: we should not forget that it was Oscar Piastri was 731 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:13,920 Speaker 1: the fast McLaren driver. Had he pitted only one lap later, 732 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 1: he would have won that Grand Prix. 733 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:18,000 Speaker 2: And isn't it so funny? Like at the time I 734 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:20,160 Speaker 2: remember that because it was a Monday morning, obviously we 735 00:33:20,280 --> 00:33:23,440 Speaker 2: were kicking ourselves, going, oh man, that's a first Grand 736 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:27,280 Speaker 2: Prix win. That's just gone completely begging through no fault 737 00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:29,680 Speaker 2: of his own. It's different if you don't achieve that 738 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 2: Grand Prix win because you've made a mistake. This was 739 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:35,400 Speaker 2: one of those just complete confluence of circumstance and when 740 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:37,480 Speaker 2: you hadn't won one before us Oh, man, is this 741 00:33:37,560 --> 00:33:39,200 Speaker 2: guy going to win one? Because at the first half 742 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:41,200 Speaker 2: of last year you didn't necessarily think that was going 743 00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:44,360 Speaker 2: to happen. But isn't it funny how Miami last year 744 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:46,840 Speaker 2: was like, Oh, this McLaren team's turned up, haven't they? 745 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:48,320 Speaker 2: And then do you look what happened for the rest 746 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:50,320 Speaker 2: of the year. That was the thirty point of last year. 747 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:54,040 Speaker 2: But hopefully twelve months on Oscar gets what perhaps he 748 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:55,760 Speaker 2: should have got this time last year. 749 00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:58,240 Speaker 1: I think that should be the story this weekend. We'll 750 00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:00,440 Speaker 1: wait and see if it is. But that's all the 751 00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:02,520 Speaker 1: time we have for Pittalk today. You can subscribe to 752 00:34:02,560 --> 00:34:05,080 Speaker 1: Pittalk wherever you get your favorite podcasts, and you can 753 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 1: leave us a rating and review as well. This weekend 754 00:34:08,120 --> 00:34:10,800 Speaker 1: is the Miami Formula One Grand Prix at six am 755 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:13,799 Speaker 1: Monday Australian Eastern Standard time, and you can keep up 756 00:34:13,840 --> 00:34:15,279 Speaker 1: to date with all the latest F one news as 757 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:18,319 Speaker 1: well as Supercars ad Werdo TP news at Foxsports dot 758 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:21,200 Speaker 1: com dot Au from Matt Clayton and me Michael Lomonado 759 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:23,879 Speaker 1: thanks very much for your company. We'll catch you next week.