1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from Newstalk zed B. 3 00:00:12,827 --> 00:00:16,027 Speaker 2: Lawson remains upbeat despite starting from the back of the 4 00:00:16,067 --> 00:00:18,587 Speaker 2: grid and tomorrow morning's US Grand Prix in Texas. The 5 00:00:18,707 --> 00:00:20,827 Speaker 2: Racing Bulls driver posted the third fastest time in the 6 00:00:20,827 --> 00:00:22,987 Speaker 2: opening qualifying session, but failed to record a lap in 7 00:00:23,027 --> 00:00:25,747 Speaker 2: the second. He was always though, condemned to start from 8 00:00:25,747 --> 00:00:28,027 Speaker 2: the back of the grid after his team incurred a 9 00:00:28,107 --> 00:00:33,627 Speaker 2: sixty place grid penalty for exceeding the season's engine allocation. 10 00:00:33,707 --> 00:00:36,067 Speaker 2: Here's Liam Lawson after his qualifying lap. 11 00:00:36,147 --> 00:00:38,427 Speaker 3: Honestly from my site, happy to put the lap together, 12 00:00:38,507 --> 00:00:40,347 Speaker 3: to put the performance there and show what I guess, 13 00:00:40,347 --> 00:00:42,947 Speaker 3: the speed that I honestly we felt from P one yesterday. 14 00:00:42,987 --> 00:00:45,067 Speaker 3: The car felt goods and I knew that being the 15 00:00:45,067 --> 00:00:48,187 Speaker 3: first session. If the speed was already there in session one, 16 00:00:48,227 --> 00:00:49,227 Speaker 3: we probably had a bit more so. 17 00:00:49,347 --> 00:00:52,227 Speaker 2: Fine Formula One expert Bob McMurray is with us. We 18 00:00:52,267 --> 00:00:54,787 Speaker 2: had a talkback call or explain the grid penalty to 19 00:00:54,947 --> 00:00:56,507 Speaker 2: us a couple of hours ago. Bob, but can you 20 00:00:56,507 --> 00:00:59,547 Speaker 2: give us your explanation as to the reason for the 21 00:00:59,587 --> 00:01:00,467 Speaker 2: grid penalty? 22 00:01:02,267 --> 00:01:05,027 Speaker 4: Yeah, Hi, piney, Well, yeah, the reason is that so 23 00:01:05,107 --> 00:01:07,227 Speaker 4: many bits and pieces have been change to the back 24 00:01:07,267 --> 00:01:09,227 Speaker 4: of the car. Pretty much all the shiny bits that 25 00:01:09,267 --> 00:01:11,867 Speaker 4: make a noise and all the shiny bits that make 26 00:01:11,907 --> 00:01:16,187 Speaker 4: battery go have been changed. And this was due to 27 00:01:16,267 --> 00:01:21,067 Speaker 4: penalty's incurred when Daniel Ricardo was driving the car. So 28 00:01:21,067 --> 00:01:24,507 Speaker 4: they're getting rid of it all now. And basically Liam 29 00:01:24,547 --> 00:01:28,587 Speaker 4: Lawson will start afresh from the next Grand Prix in Mexico, 30 00:01:28,707 --> 00:01:30,747 Speaker 4: not this grumd Prix. This scrum Prix is going to 31 00:01:30,747 --> 00:01:32,587 Speaker 4: start from the back of the grid, as you've already said, 32 00:01:33,027 --> 00:01:35,547 Speaker 4: So for me to go through the whole list, I 33 00:01:35,627 --> 00:01:38,987 Speaker 4: get myself confused. Is just about everything you can think 34 00:01:39,027 --> 00:01:41,627 Speaker 4: of that they need to change to make the car 35 00:01:42,067 --> 00:01:45,907 Speaker 4: ready for the rest of the season. And he's going 36 00:01:45,947 --> 00:01:48,187 Speaker 4: to encourage but that's no big deal, not at this 37 00:01:48,267 --> 00:01:51,707 Speaker 4: particular race, because he by starting at the back of 38 00:01:51,707 --> 00:01:54,827 Speaker 4: the grid, he has had a chance to just get 39 00:01:54,867 --> 00:01:57,107 Speaker 4: his thumb in the seat, get used to the thing, 40 00:01:57,467 --> 00:02:00,107 Speaker 4: and drive well. And as you saw, if those who 41 00:02:00,147 --> 00:02:04,427 Speaker 4: didn't see in the first party qualifying for this week 42 00:02:04,587 --> 00:02:08,587 Speaker 4: for tomorrow's race, call it fed third. Now, okay, it's 43 00:02:08,627 --> 00:02:12,347 Speaker 4: only in the first qualifying section. Not everybody will have 44 00:02:12,427 --> 00:02:16,067 Speaker 4: the engines turned up. Not everybody will have new tars on. 45 00:02:16,547 --> 00:02:20,187 Speaker 4: He did, but nonetheless his teammate did not finish anywhere 46 00:02:20,227 --> 00:02:24,267 Speaker 4: near third in that same session. So from his point 47 00:02:24,307 --> 00:02:27,627 Speaker 4: of view, it's a job done. Onto the next one. 48 00:02:27,867 --> 00:02:29,467 Speaker 2: I was going to ask you how long it'll take 49 00:02:29,507 --> 00:02:31,107 Speaker 2: him to get used to the car again, But I 50 00:02:31,107 --> 00:02:32,907 Speaker 2: think the answer is not very long at all, bob 51 00:02:32,907 --> 00:02:33,587 Speaker 2: By the sounds of that. 52 00:02:34,587 --> 00:02:36,827 Speaker 4: No, No, I mean, I've got to say I had 53 00:02:36,827 --> 00:02:39,307 Speaker 4: every confidence in Liam, having seen him come through the 54 00:02:40,147 --> 00:02:42,947 Speaker 4: junior ranks and knowing how he drives and all that 55 00:02:42,987 --> 00:02:44,747 Speaker 4: sort of thing, but I did not think he would 56 00:02:44,787 --> 00:02:47,387 Speaker 4: be third. But it is a little bit skewed because 57 00:02:47,427 --> 00:02:51,307 Speaker 4: in the first qualifying those people who are unsure of 58 00:02:51,427 --> 00:02:54,467 Speaker 4: getting through the qualifying will put the new tars on 59 00:02:54,787 --> 00:02:56,747 Speaker 4: and turn the engines up on all that sort of thing. 60 00:02:57,147 --> 00:03:00,187 Speaker 4: Those people who are reasonably sure of getting through, you know, 61 00:03:00,227 --> 00:03:02,947 Speaker 4: the McLaren's, Ferrari's red ball, that sort of thing. They 62 00:03:03,027 --> 00:03:05,827 Speaker 4: will not detune the engine, but they won't wind it 63 00:03:05,827 --> 00:03:07,747 Speaker 4: all the way up. And many of them you started 64 00:03:07,787 --> 00:03:13,147 Speaker 4: on used tires. But nonetheless, in Formula one, what you're 65 00:03:13,187 --> 00:03:19,547 Speaker 4: always compared against is your teammate and that in that session. 66 00:03:19,587 --> 00:03:22,427 Speaker 4: Liam Lawson finished third, as you say, and he was 67 00:03:23,387 --> 00:03:26,107 Speaker 4: with a time, let me see, of just zero point 68 00:03:26,107 --> 00:03:31,267 Speaker 4: two ninety three away from Maxistappen. But Sunoda finished half 69 00:03:31,267 --> 00:03:34,707 Speaker 4: a second flower. That's the thing that Red Bull will 70 00:03:34,747 --> 00:03:37,507 Speaker 4: be looking at. That's the thing that Red Bull generally 71 00:03:37,547 --> 00:03:40,827 Speaker 4: and the RV team will be very pleased about and 72 00:03:40,947 --> 00:03:45,707 Speaker 4: pleased to see. Unfortunately, Fernando Alonso wasn't very pleased with 73 00:03:45,907 --> 00:03:47,667 Speaker 4: Liam Lawson. But that's a whole other story. 74 00:03:48,507 --> 00:03:50,947 Speaker 5: What wasn't Fernando Alonso very pleased with Liam Lawson? 75 00:03:51,587 --> 00:03:54,907 Speaker 4: Oh well, he's come out saying all sorts of nasty 76 00:03:54,947 --> 00:03:58,307 Speaker 4: little things about him because Liam Lawson was actually he 77 00:03:58,387 --> 00:04:02,747 Speaker 4: was he was racing, shall we say, and Fernando Alonso 78 00:04:02,827 --> 00:04:05,547 Speaker 4: was trying to get past Liam Lawson in the qualify 79 00:04:05,747 --> 00:04:11,147 Speaker 4: in the sprint race. And he's said one statement, I've 80 00:04:11,147 --> 00:04:14,187 Speaker 4: got it here. He says he's got six races to 81 00:04:14,227 --> 00:04:16,747 Speaker 4: prove himself. But honestly, I'm not sure he's approaching it 82 00:04:16,827 --> 00:04:20,267 Speaker 4: the right way. It's his career on the line, not mine. 83 00:04:20,667 --> 00:04:23,227 Speaker 4: This is mainly because Liam Lawson would not let him 84 00:04:23,267 --> 00:04:26,467 Speaker 4: past and he was fighting his corner and he was 85 00:04:26,507 --> 00:04:31,747 Speaker 4: getting in the way of Fernando Alonso fantastically Well, absolutely perfect. 86 00:04:31,747 --> 00:04:33,787 Speaker 4: That's what you're supposed to do as a Grand Prix driver, 87 00:04:33,867 --> 00:04:36,507 Speaker 4: isn't it stop the guide behind from otorcaps? 88 00:04:36,827 --> 00:04:39,307 Speaker 5: I would have thought so, finished ahead of him, Yeah, 89 00:04:39,587 --> 00:04:42,467 Speaker 5: I would have thought that. 90 00:04:42,227 --> 00:04:44,467 Speaker 2: Yeah, that finishing a head of a guy who's behind 91 00:04:44,467 --> 00:04:46,227 Speaker 2: you from a different team, or even from your own team, 92 00:04:46,227 --> 00:04:50,347 Speaker 2: as you've pointed out. Surely that's what motor racing is, Bob. 93 00:04:50,147 --> 00:04:53,347 Speaker 5: Why why is Alonso? Why? Why is Alonso so annoyed? 94 00:04:53,347 --> 00:04:55,587 Speaker 2: Did he think that that that that that Liam Lawson 95 00:04:55,587 --> 00:04:57,587 Speaker 2: should bow down to him and let him pass. 96 00:04:58,227 --> 00:05:00,467 Speaker 4: Well, it's coming over a little bit like that, Barby. 97 00:05:00,547 --> 00:05:03,107 Speaker 4: But Alonso it is always a bit salty when he's 98 00:05:03,707 --> 00:05:06,187 Speaker 4: when he hasn't got a car operating under him as 99 00:05:06,227 --> 00:05:08,867 Speaker 4: he would like. And the Acid Martins very definitely not 100 00:05:09,027 --> 00:05:12,947 Speaker 4: doing that at the moment. And perhaps the reason is 101 00:05:12,947 --> 00:05:15,227 Speaker 4: there what he said, He's got six races to prove 102 00:05:15,267 --> 00:05:18,867 Speaker 4: himself and prove himself he needs to do. He needs 103 00:05:18,907 --> 00:05:22,067 Speaker 4: to do that sort of thing. Helmet Marco and Christian Horner, 104 00:05:22,147 --> 00:05:25,707 Speaker 4: the bosses of rby Red Bull Ra not the RB team, 105 00:05:26,067 --> 00:05:28,867 Speaker 4: they will have been burning all over their faces. They 106 00:05:28,907 --> 00:05:31,387 Speaker 4: would have been thinking it was fantastic, and so do I. 107 00:05:31,387 --> 00:05:33,467 Speaker 4: If you're going to fight with somebody on the track, 108 00:05:34,027 --> 00:05:36,027 Speaker 4: fight them. And if you're going to choose a double 109 00:05:36,067 --> 00:05:40,107 Speaker 4: world champion who's the eldest driver on the grid and 110 00:05:40,387 --> 00:05:42,907 Speaker 4: probably still one of the fastest drivers on the grid 111 00:05:42,947 --> 00:05:45,947 Speaker 4: as well, then fight him. It doesn't matter who you're 112 00:05:45,947 --> 00:05:50,427 Speaker 4: fighting and how you're fighting. As Liam said, for the Stewarts, 113 00:05:50,467 --> 00:05:53,667 Speaker 4: didn't think anything wrong of it, nothing was reported, he 114 00:05:53,787 --> 00:05:57,427 Speaker 4: wasn't told off. I think it was wonderful. Frankly, yeah, 115 00:05:58,467 --> 00:05:59,627 Speaker 4: now I love it. 116 00:05:59,667 --> 00:06:02,787 Speaker 2: I love it. So what will Liam have to do 117 00:06:02,987 --> 00:06:05,467 Speaker 2: to retain the seat for twenty twenty five. 118 00:06:06,427 --> 00:06:09,627 Speaker 4: Well, there's a good example of what he did. He's 119 00:06:09,667 --> 00:06:13,387 Speaker 4: fighting for his corner and he qualified very well. Now, 120 00:06:13,507 --> 00:06:16,547 Speaker 4: yes it is third position, officially third position that could 121 00:06:16,627 --> 00:06:20,947 Speaker 4: have been translated if everybody's on the same strategy, probably 122 00:06:20,947 --> 00:06:24,467 Speaker 4: could have been translated into being in the top ten, 123 00:06:24,987 --> 00:06:28,587 Speaker 4: which would have been absolutely a superb finish. But third 124 00:06:28,667 --> 00:06:30,667 Speaker 4: is good enough. That's what he has to do that 125 00:06:30,867 --> 00:06:32,867 Speaker 4: grab the car, grab it by the scruff of the neck, 126 00:06:33,187 --> 00:06:36,307 Speaker 4: and race as best he can. And while you're at it, 127 00:06:36,427 --> 00:06:39,827 Speaker 4: beat your teammate. Beat Yuki Sinoda who is banging on 128 00:06:39,867 --> 00:06:42,587 Speaker 4: the door and now Honda are banging on the door 129 00:06:42,627 --> 00:06:46,027 Speaker 4: for him to say that he should be replacing Perez 130 00:06:46,147 --> 00:06:49,027 Speaker 4: in the main team next year. Well, if Liam keeps 131 00:06:49,027 --> 00:06:51,467 Speaker 4: on doing what he's doing now, I think they'll have 132 00:06:51,467 --> 00:06:54,587 Speaker 4: a think about that and maybe have a think about 133 00:06:54,627 --> 00:06:57,347 Speaker 4: putting lim in there, which I think he can handle 134 00:06:57,547 --> 00:07:01,067 Speaker 4: quite easily. Going back to his five races that he 135 00:07:01,107 --> 00:07:04,107 Speaker 4: had last year, you might remember he actually over took 136 00:07:04,427 --> 00:07:07,627 Speaker 4: Max Restapam in Singer Poor. I think it was so Yeah, 137 00:07:07,667 --> 00:07:11,507 Speaker 4: he's he's got the car and they say in the 138 00:07:11,547 --> 00:07:14,627 Speaker 4: trade and he's driving very well. Simple. 139 00:07:15,467 --> 00:07:16,747 Speaker 5: Is Sonoda a good driver? 140 00:07:18,707 --> 00:07:20,107 Speaker 4: Well, he was down here in the toy at a 141 00:07:20,187 --> 00:07:22,787 Speaker 4: racing series at the same time as Liam Lawson and 142 00:07:22,827 --> 00:07:27,227 Speaker 4: Liam beat him flat out. He was, he was in 143 00:07:27,347 --> 00:07:30,307 Speaker 4: various He's had a check at history. Shall we say. 144 00:07:30,467 --> 00:07:32,547 Speaker 4: He gets very excited in the car, but he's calmed 145 00:07:32,547 --> 00:07:35,947 Speaker 4: down a little bit. I don't particularly think he is 146 00:07:36,387 --> 00:07:39,507 Speaker 4: the step and teammate material. He would be a good 147 00:07:39,587 --> 00:07:44,587 Speaker 4: and is quite a good midfield runner if the car 148 00:07:44,667 --> 00:07:47,587 Speaker 4: is good with him. Now it's very difficult to judge 149 00:07:48,027 --> 00:07:51,347 Speaker 4: if he's good or not because he hasn't had with Ricardo, 150 00:07:51,427 --> 00:07:55,107 Speaker 4: he hasn't had a particularly fantastic teammate to go against. 151 00:07:55,587 --> 00:07:58,707 Speaker 4: He's beaten Ricardo quite regularly when he was there first 152 00:07:58,707 --> 00:08:03,227 Speaker 4: half of the season, so I'm not so sure. I've 153 00:08:03,267 --> 00:08:05,627 Speaker 4: got serious doubts about whether he would ever be a 154 00:08:05,667 --> 00:08:08,827 Speaker 4: fantastic grow But the car is not that good either, 155 00:08:08,867 --> 00:08:11,387 Speaker 4: so it's difficult to judge. So now he can judge. 156 00:08:11,467 --> 00:08:14,987 Speaker 4: He's racing Snoda, is racing against Liam Lawson, and Liam 157 00:08:15,067 --> 00:08:19,667 Speaker 4: Lawson is equal opportunity, shall we say, He's a young 158 00:08:19,707 --> 00:08:22,747 Speaker 4: guy coming up is Snoda, and as long as he 159 00:08:22,787 --> 00:08:25,427 Speaker 4: beats Sunoda, then he's going to take the whole position 160 00:08:25,587 --> 00:08:29,387 Speaker 4: for being elevated, as I say to the main team. 161 00:08:29,427 --> 00:08:32,067 Speaker 2: And Tomorrow Morning, Bob, in some ways, does this put 162 00:08:32,227 --> 00:08:33,507 Speaker 2: the fact that he's at the back of the grid. 163 00:08:33,547 --> 00:08:34,787 Speaker 2: Does it put Lim in a bit of a no 164 00:08:34,867 --> 00:08:36,947 Speaker 2: loose situation back of the grid through no fault of 165 00:08:36,947 --> 00:08:39,347 Speaker 2: his own? So I guess no real expectation. But he's 166 00:08:39,347 --> 00:08:42,707 Speaker 2: shown that actually he's used to being back in the seat. 167 00:08:42,827 --> 00:08:44,227 Speaker 2: So is he in a bit of a no loose 168 00:08:44,227 --> 00:08:47,147 Speaker 2: situation or is you know, is there plenty to gain 169 00:08:47,227 --> 00:08:49,267 Speaker 2: as well for for Liam Tomorrow Morning. 170 00:08:49,667 --> 00:08:52,747 Speaker 4: Well, if he's starting twentieth, then let's say he finishes sixteenth, 171 00:08:52,907 --> 00:08:55,867 Speaker 4: that's okay. It depends how he races. If he starts 172 00:08:55,907 --> 00:08:59,107 Speaker 4: twentieth and finished his twentieth, then okay, he's not going 173 00:08:59,147 --> 00:09:01,827 Speaker 4: to make any great waves and he's to kind of 174 00:09:01,827 --> 00:09:03,907 Speaker 4: throw a stone in the puzzle of Formula one, so 175 00:09:03,947 --> 00:09:07,067 Speaker 4: to speak, and make ripples. He is going to be okay, 176 00:09:07,187 --> 00:09:09,147 Speaker 4: we've done that. That's the first race out of the way. 177 00:09:09,387 --> 00:09:13,947 Speaker 4: Now your test starts, Now your examination starts. We could say, 178 00:09:14,307 --> 00:09:17,627 Speaker 4: if by some chance he gets and he's quite capable 179 00:09:17,627 --> 00:09:19,947 Speaker 4: of doing this, if the car is operating well, and 180 00:09:19,987 --> 00:09:23,387 Speaker 4: he's proven today that it is operating pretty well, if 181 00:09:23,387 --> 00:09:26,587 Speaker 4: he can get up into the top ten, I'll tell 182 00:09:26,627 --> 00:09:30,667 Speaker 4: you what contracts will be. Will be showing themselves in 183 00:09:30,707 --> 00:09:34,387 Speaker 4: the various motor huns up and down the pit lane. 184 00:09:35,667 --> 00:09:37,627 Speaker 2: Just to clarify the grid penalty one more time, so 185 00:09:38,067 --> 00:09:41,067 Speaker 2: it's just for this race. The entire penalty is wiped 186 00:09:41,387 --> 00:09:42,387 Speaker 2: at this Grand Prix. 187 00:09:43,227 --> 00:09:47,507 Speaker 4: Yes, the penalty was. It actually adds up to about 188 00:09:47,507 --> 00:09:50,907 Speaker 4: fifty places if you add up the penalties for each 189 00:09:50,947 --> 00:09:53,627 Speaker 4: of the individuals. Bits that have been changed, like the 190 00:09:54,267 --> 00:09:57,947 Speaker 4: battery unit, the engine unit, all sorts of things. I mean, 191 00:09:58,267 --> 00:10:00,867 Speaker 4: it's some believable the list. It would add up to 192 00:10:01,147 --> 00:10:06,027 Speaker 4: a fifty place grid penalty. Now, these stupid grid penalties 193 00:10:06,067 --> 00:10:08,027 Speaker 4: were him down a couple of three years ago. You 194 00:10:08,067 --> 00:10:10,507 Speaker 4: can only start at the back of the grid, simple 195 00:10:10,507 --> 00:10:13,067 Speaker 4: as that. You don't start any further back than that. 196 00:10:13,587 --> 00:10:18,227 Speaker 4: And it doesn't matter what other people do. Like other 197 00:10:18,267 --> 00:10:21,707 Speaker 4: people will have penalties, he will still start behind them. 198 00:10:21,747 --> 00:10:23,747 Speaker 4: What he probably will do, though, is start in front 199 00:10:23,787 --> 00:10:26,107 Speaker 4: of Lewis Hamilton, who looks like he's going to start 200 00:10:26,107 --> 00:10:28,547 Speaker 4: from the pit lane. Maybe even George Russell as well, 201 00:10:28,747 --> 00:10:30,987 Speaker 4: but certainly Lewis Hamilton will start from the pit lane. 202 00:10:31,027 --> 00:10:34,867 Speaker 4: So Lim Lawson will start ahead of him and we'll 203 00:10:34,867 --> 00:10:35,747 Speaker 4: see how that goes. 204 00:10:36,107 --> 00:10:38,667 Speaker 2: Indeed, always love chatting motorsport with you, Bob. Thanks for 205 00:10:38,707 --> 00:10:40,667 Speaker 2: your insight and the expertise. I can't wait to see 206 00:10:40,667 --> 00:10:42,827 Speaker 2: how Liam goes tomorrow morning. End for the rest of 207 00:10:43,027 --> 00:10:43,987 Speaker 2: twenty twenty four as. 208 00:10:43,867 --> 00:10:47,107 Speaker 4: Well, you and me both. Thanks Tony, good on your Bob. 209 00:10:47,147 --> 00:10:48,187 Speaker 5: Thanks and Dave, Bob McMurray. 210 00:10:48,227 --> 00:10:50,627 Speaker 2: There see, you always learned so much when you listen 211 00:10:50,667 --> 00:10:53,547 Speaker 2: to Bob talk about motorsport, don't you. He's just so 212 00:10:53,547 --> 00:10:57,387 Speaker 2: so knowledgeable, Sit there and listen to him talk motorsport 213 00:10:57,387 --> 00:10:59,387 Speaker 2: for ours. Can't wait to see Liam Lawson tomorrow morning 214 00:10:59,387 --> 00:11:01,947 Speaker 2: Sex thirty I think It starts the US Grand Prix 215 00:11:01,947 --> 00:11:03,427 Speaker 2: in Austin, Texas. 216 00:11:03,987 --> 00:11:07,187 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Pine, listen live 217 00:11:07,307 --> 00:11:10,587 Speaker 1: to news talks at B weekends from midday, or follow 218 00:11:10,627 --> 00:11:12,227 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio