1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,827 Speaker 1: from Newstalk zed b. 3 00:00:13,627 --> 00:00:13,867 Speaker 2: Ki we. 4 00:00:13,947 --> 00:00:17,347 Speaker 3: Liam Lawson will be a Red Bull Racing driver for 5 00:00:17,387 --> 00:00:20,867 Speaker 3: the twenty twenty five Formula One season. The team officially 6 00:00:21,307 --> 00:00:24,307 Speaker 3: confirmed late on Thursday night New Zealand Time that he 7 00:00:24,347 --> 00:00:27,547 Speaker 3: will partner full time defending world champion Max for Stappen 8 00:00:27,987 --> 00:00:30,827 Speaker 3: next year. That news came less than twenty four hours 9 00:00:30,867 --> 00:00:34,307 Speaker 3: after Red Ball announced they were parting ways with Mexican 10 00:00:34,387 --> 00:00:38,987 Speaker 3: driver Sergio Perez. Motorsport analyst Eric Thompson is with us 11 00:00:39,067 --> 00:00:41,347 Speaker 3: to run an eye over this and give us some 12 00:00:41,387 --> 00:00:45,787 Speaker 3: deeper analysis. It's either seemed more and more likely over 13 00:00:45,787 --> 00:00:49,067 Speaker 3: the last few weeks or so why would red Ball 14 00:00:49,387 --> 00:00:55,187 Speaker 3: have eventually chosen Liam Lawson over the other candidate, Yuki Sonoda. 15 00:00:55,387 --> 00:01:00,507 Speaker 2: Liam is just a better fit. And also he's spent 16 00:01:00,627 --> 00:01:04,667 Speaker 2: a lot of time in development with the Formula one 17 00:01:04,667 --> 00:01:07,147 Speaker 2: current and loads and loads of those times on the simulator. 18 00:01:07,907 --> 00:01:10,907 Speaker 2: So and he has a great rapport with his engineers. 19 00:01:10,987 --> 00:01:14,307 Speaker 2: In fact, in a recent interview of one of his 20 00:01:14,947 --> 00:01:18,267 Speaker 2: chief engineers, they said they really like Liam because he 21 00:01:18,307 --> 00:01:22,227 Speaker 2: has a really good understanding of how things work. I 22 00:01:22,227 --> 00:01:24,107 Speaker 2: mean a lot of people understand how the things work, 23 00:01:24,187 --> 00:01:26,587 Speaker 2: but to be able to communicate that to your engineer 24 00:01:27,107 --> 00:01:30,667 Speaker 2: to get the best out of a car is incredibly important. 25 00:01:31,147 --> 00:01:35,867 Speaker 2: At that level. Yuki Sonoda can as a one lap maestro. 26 00:01:35,987 --> 00:01:41,667 Speaker 2: He is extraordinarily fast, but consistent, not really you know, 27 00:01:41,707 --> 00:01:44,267 Speaker 2: he's crashed and warm up laps. He's sort of bent 28 00:01:44,347 --> 00:01:46,267 Speaker 2: the car when there's been no need to. And he 29 00:01:46,307 --> 00:01:48,667 Speaker 2: can get a bit lippy on the radio. And well 30 00:01:49,187 --> 00:01:52,867 Speaker 2: Liam actually apologized for flipping the bird, but I think 31 00:01:52,907 --> 00:01:56,227 Speaker 2: he'll be okay after that. Pointy, But he Yuki's a 32 00:01:56,267 --> 00:01:59,387 Speaker 2: little bit doesn't really get on that well with you know, 33 00:01:59,547 --> 00:02:02,147 Speaker 2: other people in the team, not badly, but and also 34 00:02:02,227 --> 00:02:04,787 Speaker 2: he doesn't have that ability. Liam has always had been 35 00:02:04,827 --> 00:02:08,027 Speaker 2: able to have discussion with engineers to improve the car, 36 00:02:08,107 --> 00:02:11,827 Speaker 2: and that's what Red Bull need especially so and where 37 00:02:11,867 --> 00:02:13,547 Speaker 2: I think a few people are missing a trick or 38 00:02:13,547 --> 00:02:16,067 Speaker 2: two is that there's only one more year in that 39 00:02:16,147 --> 00:02:18,227 Speaker 2: car in twenty twenty six. It's a brand new car. 40 00:02:18,227 --> 00:02:20,227 Speaker 2: They have a brand new engine, brand new everything, and 41 00:02:20,267 --> 00:02:23,227 Speaker 2: they reckon Liam has the ability to adapt to the 42 00:02:23,227 --> 00:02:27,427 Speaker 2: brand new car, maybe potentially even quicker than Max the Stappen. 43 00:02:27,747 --> 00:02:31,747 Speaker 3: Wow, Well that that is a high piece of praise. Well, 44 00:02:31,827 --> 00:02:34,307 Speaker 3: let's talk about twenty twenty five. First of all, this 45 00:02:34,427 --> 00:02:37,947 Speaker 3: is a very general question. Et what does success look 46 00:02:38,107 --> 00:02:41,387 Speaker 3: like for Liam next year? If we're talking before Christmas 47 00:02:41,427 --> 00:02:43,707 Speaker 3: in twenty twenty five, which I'm sure we will, what 48 00:02:43,787 --> 00:02:46,147 Speaker 3: will have had to have happened for Liam to call 49 00:02:46,267 --> 00:02:47,987 Speaker 3: twenty twenty five a success. 50 00:02:48,747 --> 00:02:52,547 Speaker 2: I'm regularly getting points for the Manufacturer's Championship. Red Bull 51 00:02:52,587 --> 00:02:55,827 Speaker 2: aren't at the moment looking for him to win a title. 52 00:02:56,027 --> 00:02:57,827 Speaker 2: You know, They've already got a full time title winner. 53 00:02:58,027 --> 00:03:01,507 Speaker 2: They're looking for somebody who can actually get points. You know, 54 00:03:01,547 --> 00:03:05,107 Speaker 2: the points gap between the Stappen and Perez I think 55 00:03:05,227 --> 00:03:08,867 Speaker 2: was two hundred and eighty odd. That was more than 56 00:03:08,947 --> 00:03:15,067 Speaker 2: the total of every other points differentiating every other team. Wow. Now, 57 00:03:15,267 --> 00:03:17,387 Speaker 2: and you know that Red Bull dropped from leading the 58 00:03:17,467 --> 00:03:20,427 Speaker 2: championship at the summer break the Manufacturer's Championship I'm talking 59 00:03:20,427 --> 00:03:25,427 Speaker 2: about to third. That's tens upon tens of millions of 60 00:03:25,587 --> 00:03:28,987 Speaker 2: US dollars in prize money out the door. So they'll 61 00:03:28,987 --> 00:03:32,067 Speaker 2: be looking for Liam to be within four or five 62 00:03:32,147 --> 00:03:35,387 Speaker 2: places of the Stappen and to constantly be picking up points. 63 00:03:35,627 --> 00:03:37,787 Speaker 2: You know, if you can get on the podium, huge 64 00:03:37,787 --> 00:03:39,947 Speaker 2: bonus if he wins a race, Hell I lulia and 65 00:03:39,987 --> 00:03:42,827 Speaker 2: praise the good Lord. But if he finishes the regularly 66 00:03:42,827 --> 00:03:44,667 Speaker 2: in the points, they'll be as happy as so. 67 00:03:44,907 --> 00:03:47,507 Speaker 3: Just on that, then he'll still be able to aim 68 00:03:47,987 --> 00:03:51,507 Speaker 3: for podiums. Team instructions won't prevent him from garde as 69 00:03:51,547 --> 00:03:53,227 Speaker 3: fast as he can and trying to finish as high 70 00:03:53,267 --> 00:03:53,787 Speaker 3: up as he can. 71 00:03:54,547 --> 00:03:56,947 Speaker 2: No, no, not at all. I mean, as long as 72 00:03:57,027 --> 00:04:00,187 Speaker 2: you know the golden rule. Well, there's two golden rules 73 00:04:00,227 --> 00:04:06,067 Speaker 2: actually is one, you do not crash into your teammates. 74 00:04:06,147 --> 00:04:10,307 Speaker 2: That the cardinal sin. And number two, the thing that 75 00:04:10,347 --> 00:04:12,747 Speaker 2: you really want to do. What every teammate wants to 76 00:04:12,787 --> 00:04:16,307 Speaker 2: do is beat his other teammate. And so if Liam 77 00:04:16,387 --> 00:04:18,827 Speaker 2: gets the opportunity, you know, Max might be struggling in 78 00:04:18,907 --> 00:04:21,147 Speaker 2: the car or the car set up, or he's overcooked 79 00:04:21,147 --> 00:04:23,187 Speaker 2: his tires, yet they'll be just going like, go for it. 80 00:04:23,947 --> 00:04:26,027 Speaker 2: That's great, crash into him. 81 00:04:26,067 --> 00:04:28,587 Speaker 3: No, I think that's probably fair. I think that's probably 82 00:04:28,627 --> 00:04:33,467 Speaker 3: a good golden rule inside that team. Though, et there's 83 00:04:33,507 --> 00:04:36,507 Speaker 3: no doubting the picking order Max for Stappen. Four time 84 00:04:36,547 --> 00:04:39,347 Speaker 3: defending world champion Liam Lawson, the new kid on the block, 85 00:04:39,667 --> 00:04:42,787 Speaker 3: how much Red Bull resource will be throwing Max for 86 00:04:42,867 --> 00:04:45,427 Speaker 3: Stappan's way and what would that mean for Liam Lawson. 87 00:04:46,507 --> 00:04:48,707 Speaker 2: What they'll do is they'll build a car for Max. 88 00:04:49,587 --> 00:04:52,907 Speaker 2: But what's becoming more and more evident is Max and 89 00:04:52,947 --> 00:04:55,707 Speaker 2: Liam ax you get on, which is a really good sign. 90 00:04:56,067 --> 00:04:57,987 Speaker 2: And even some people laugh a bit, but you know 91 00:04:58,267 --> 00:05:00,907 Speaker 2: Max's dad, Josta Stafford, can throw his toys out of 92 00:05:00,947 --> 00:05:03,267 Speaker 2: the cot on a semi regular basis and he can 93 00:05:03,307 --> 00:05:06,147 Speaker 2: cause a bit of grief internally. Well, he's come out 94 00:05:06,467 --> 00:05:08,427 Speaker 2: and said Justice Staffer has come out and said he 95 00:05:08,467 --> 00:05:11,067 Speaker 2: lights the cut of Liam's jib. You know, he lights 96 00:05:11,107 --> 00:05:12,747 Speaker 2: the way he'll be a good fit for the team. 97 00:05:12,867 --> 00:05:17,067 Speaker 2: So you know, all those really important political dynamics are 98 00:05:17,107 --> 00:05:19,547 Speaker 2: all aligned. So at least Christian Horner and Marco and 99 00:05:19,587 --> 00:05:22,347 Speaker 2: the Red Bull board, you know, aren't going to be 100 00:05:22,347 --> 00:05:25,867 Speaker 2: worried about a massive clash. But also they say that 101 00:05:26,067 --> 00:05:27,827 Speaker 2: Liam has put his hand up and said he wants 102 00:05:27,907 --> 00:05:31,507 Speaker 2: to learn from Max, learn craft, learn racing, learn how 103 00:05:31,547 --> 00:05:34,267 Speaker 2: to go super quick. But he's also he likes a 104 00:05:34,307 --> 00:05:36,947 Speaker 2: similar sort of car, so in a way that two 105 00:05:36,987 --> 00:05:39,067 Speaker 2: of them will be developed. Being able to develop that 106 00:05:39,107 --> 00:05:41,427 Speaker 2: car in twenty twenty five, which is a huge bonus 107 00:05:41,627 --> 00:05:42,507 Speaker 2: for the whole team. 108 00:05:43,267 --> 00:05:45,387 Speaker 3: Talk to him about twenty twenty six. You mentioned before 109 00:05:45,707 --> 00:05:48,627 Speaker 3: a new car, a new engine, So will Liam be 110 00:05:48,747 --> 00:05:50,387 Speaker 3: a part of that or will he have to show 111 00:05:50,467 --> 00:05:52,907 Speaker 3: in twenty twenty five that he is worthy of being 112 00:05:52,907 --> 00:05:54,187 Speaker 3: a part of twenty twenty six. 113 00:05:54,987 --> 00:05:58,227 Speaker 2: Oh, you'll have to do his bit in twenty twenty five, definitely, 114 00:05:58,787 --> 00:06:00,747 Speaker 2: you know, like he can't if he does a Perez 115 00:06:01,187 --> 00:06:05,427 Speaker 2: and doesn't help the team get manufacturer's points. Yes, he 116 00:06:05,467 --> 00:06:07,267 Speaker 2: will be at risk. And we've all seen what Red 117 00:06:07,267 --> 00:06:09,547 Speaker 2: Bull have been like. You know, they've thrown young guys 118 00:06:09,547 --> 00:06:12,427 Speaker 2: in there before. I think there was debris, Alex Albern, 119 00:06:12,587 --> 00:06:16,507 Speaker 2: Pierre Gasley, to name just a couple. Even Berendon Hartley 120 00:06:16,547 --> 00:06:20,987 Speaker 2: had to go in the team. So you know they're ruthless. 121 00:06:21,107 --> 00:06:24,627 Speaker 2: But Liam has a lot of what I would call 122 00:06:24,747 --> 00:06:29,187 Speaker 2: soft skills that makes the team happy and confident they 123 00:06:29,187 --> 00:06:31,827 Speaker 2: can develop him, you know, and that he can grow 124 00:06:31,867 --> 00:06:34,107 Speaker 2: within the team and be a really big support. And 125 00:06:34,187 --> 00:06:36,227 Speaker 2: it's also the other thing is they'll be looking at 126 00:06:36,787 --> 00:06:38,507 Speaker 2: is Max has sometimes said, you know, if I get 127 00:06:38,587 --> 00:06:40,627 Speaker 2: fined for swearing anymore, I have to do any of this, 128 00:06:41,427 --> 00:06:43,267 Speaker 2: you know, I don't need this. Here's the fourth time 129 00:06:43,307 --> 00:06:46,587 Speaker 2: world championship. So if he decides to walk away, they've 130 00:06:46,587 --> 00:06:50,787 Speaker 2: already got somebody in the team who they're developing. And 131 00:06:50,867 --> 00:06:53,987 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty six the cars will have a lot 132 00:06:54,067 --> 00:06:57,387 Speaker 2: less downforce. And Liam and a couple of the other 133 00:06:57,427 --> 00:07:01,347 Speaker 2: younger drivers in the category have driven cars with a 134 00:07:01,347 --> 00:07:03,867 Speaker 2: lot less downforce than Formula One, so they're quite used 135 00:07:03,867 --> 00:07:07,547 Speaker 2: to cars with very low downforce. So when the new 136 00:07:07,587 --> 00:07:09,827 Speaker 2: car comes into twenty six days, you think that, you know, 137 00:07:10,067 --> 00:07:13,827 Speaker 2: Liam will be positioned quite well, whereas Max may potentially 138 00:07:13,907 --> 00:07:15,787 Speaker 2: struggle a little bit if they remove a whole lot 139 00:07:15,827 --> 00:07:16,627 Speaker 2: of downfalls. 140 00:07:17,227 --> 00:07:22,747 Speaker 3: How much, yeah, how much will Liam Lawson's life change now? Et? 141 00:07:23,787 --> 00:07:29,147 Speaker 2: I think it probably changed palpably when he got the 142 00:07:29,507 --> 00:07:33,467 Speaker 2: sixth race gig this year. I think that's when he knew, right, 143 00:07:33,627 --> 00:07:36,307 Speaker 2: I am, I'm not hanging on by my fingertips in 144 00:07:36,347 --> 00:07:39,467 Speaker 2: this category. I've got a firm grip on that bar 145 00:07:39,747 --> 00:07:42,267 Speaker 2: with two hands, and as long as I don't wreck 146 00:07:42,307 --> 00:07:44,667 Speaker 2: the car on fine. So now he's stepping up onto 147 00:07:44,667 --> 00:07:50,867 Speaker 2: that platform. But now he's really got, you know, a 148 00:07:50,907 --> 00:07:53,387 Speaker 2: bit of a mountain to climb. Yet some people are 149 00:07:53,427 --> 00:07:55,627 Speaker 2: saying and I agree that he's made it to base 150 00:07:55,667 --> 00:07:59,507 Speaker 2: camp at Mount Everest, and you know a lot of 151 00:07:59,547 --> 00:08:02,147 Speaker 2: people can't get to base camp at Mount Everest. That's 152 00:08:02,187 --> 00:08:05,307 Speaker 2: a long way out. Now he's got to keep going, 153 00:08:05,547 --> 00:08:08,507 Speaker 2: so there's still another the mountain. That's but he's got 154 00:08:08,507 --> 00:08:12,547 Speaker 2: all the right mental you know, at the attitude's got 155 00:08:12,547 --> 00:08:15,347 Speaker 2: the right mental attitude and aptitudes for it. You know, 156 00:08:15,427 --> 00:08:17,387 Speaker 2: he can develop. He wants to learn, and that's the 157 00:08:17,387 --> 00:08:18,787 Speaker 2: thing he's always said. I was just here to win, 158 00:08:18,867 --> 00:08:21,267 Speaker 2: but I'm also here to learn, and that, you know, 159 00:08:21,307 --> 00:08:23,267 Speaker 2: as a team principle, that's all you really want to hear. 160 00:08:23,427 --> 00:08:25,387 Speaker 3: It's so interesting because you and I have chatted, and 161 00:08:25,667 --> 00:08:28,107 Speaker 3: I remember thinking at the time that this was something 162 00:08:28,107 --> 00:08:30,467 Speaker 3: that Liam would never be able to bring to the table. 163 00:08:30,467 --> 00:08:34,107 Speaker 3: You talked about Sergio Perez and a huge Mexican backing 164 00:08:34,147 --> 00:08:36,427 Speaker 3: and all those cans of Red Bull that can be 165 00:08:36,507 --> 00:08:41,587 Speaker 3: sold in Mexico, Yuki Sonoda with the Japanese commercial backing 166 00:08:41,627 --> 00:08:43,907 Speaker 3: and all of that. So clearly Red Bull have decided 167 00:08:44,507 --> 00:08:47,707 Speaker 3: that what Liam brings, the soft skills, the ability to learn, 168 00:08:47,947 --> 00:08:51,507 Speaker 3: the ability to develop, is more important than those things. 169 00:08:52,107 --> 00:08:54,427 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I think what made the decision a lot 170 00:08:54,507 --> 00:09:00,667 Speaker 2: easier was Perez probably losing Red Bull more money by 171 00:09:00,747 --> 00:09:04,707 Speaker 2: not collecting points than his sponsorship would have bought next 172 00:09:04,787 --> 00:09:07,587 Speaker 2: year right to the table. And they're just going and 173 00:09:07,587 --> 00:09:09,507 Speaker 2: in limb. And it's also they want to get back 174 00:09:09,547 --> 00:09:12,427 Speaker 2: to investing in youth. You know, they tried to bring 175 00:09:12,667 --> 00:09:15,907 Speaker 2: Daniel Ricciardo in but that didn't work, you know, and 176 00:09:16,187 --> 00:09:18,387 Speaker 2: they're just saying, look, we've got a junior development team. 177 00:09:18,467 --> 00:09:21,307 Speaker 2: Let's get back to promoting junior development drivers. You know, 178 00:09:21,347 --> 00:09:23,947 Speaker 2: they did it with Sebastian Vettel, They've done it with 179 00:09:24,027 --> 00:09:26,867 Speaker 2: Max the staff, and they've tried it with a couple 180 00:09:26,867 --> 00:09:29,827 Speaker 2: of others that hasn't worked. They do work on the 181 00:09:29,827 --> 00:09:32,627 Speaker 2: principle of you know how you and I probably probably 182 00:09:32,667 --> 00:09:34,507 Speaker 2: not you piny, but me, I'm but older than youth 183 00:09:34,747 --> 00:09:36,747 Speaker 2: who learned to swim with my mum and dad. I 184 00:09:36,827 --> 00:09:41,107 Speaker 2: was literally, not figuratively, chucked into the pool and get 185 00:09:41,147 --> 00:09:43,027 Speaker 2: to the get to the side, and you'll be okay. 186 00:09:43,827 --> 00:09:46,467 Speaker 2: That's a red Ball philosophy, is you chuck them in 187 00:09:46,587 --> 00:09:51,307 Speaker 2: and I he's just got just that's one thing Liam's got. 188 00:09:51,307 --> 00:09:53,107 Speaker 2: He may not be the fastest guy on the track, 189 00:09:54,787 --> 00:09:57,227 Speaker 2: you know, you know, he's no Oscar Pastri who won 190 00:09:57,347 --> 00:10:00,907 Speaker 2: every every category. You know, he raced them. But he's 191 00:10:01,067 --> 00:10:04,187 Speaker 2: a the veriusstute young man, and that's what you need 192 00:10:04,187 --> 00:10:07,267 Speaker 2: at that sport, you know, the he's the killability to 193 00:10:07,347 --> 00:10:09,227 Speaker 2: drive a car very very fast. Most of us can 194 00:10:09,267 --> 00:10:12,067 Speaker 2: do that if we spent most of our life doing 195 00:10:12,067 --> 00:10:14,027 Speaker 2: it from the age of seven. But there's that last 196 00:10:14,027 --> 00:10:16,267 Speaker 2: two to three percent. Like I know you've talked about 197 00:10:16,307 --> 00:10:17,987 Speaker 2: other since you shaped four point him and you said, 198 00:10:18,027 --> 00:10:20,507 Speaker 2: at that elite level of sport, it's all in the 199 00:10:20,507 --> 00:10:23,067 Speaker 2: top two percent of your head. And Liam's got that 200 00:10:23,107 --> 00:10:23,587 Speaker 2: in space. 201 00:10:23,747 --> 00:10:26,667 Speaker 3: Yeah, it seems like it. And just to finish on that, like, 202 00:10:26,787 --> 00:10:29,787 Speaker 3: I've never met Liam Lawson, but I've seen a lot 203 00:10:29,827 --> 00:10:34,747 Speaker 3: of him in media situations and you know, in racing situations, 204 00:10:34,787 --> 00:10:38,427 Speaker 3: and he just seems so unaffected by it all, so composed, 205 00:10:38,827 --> 00:10:41,507 Speaker 3: so down to earth, so key. We really, is that 206 00:10:41,627 --> 00:10:44,267 Speaker 3: actually the case? He is that authentic? 207 00:10:45,067 --> 00:10:47,067 Speaker 2: Yes, mate, I've been lucky enough to have been interviewing 208 00:10:47,147 --> 00:10:51,227 Speaker 2: him since about two thousand and six steam maybe and 209 00:10:51,347 --> 00:10:53,147 Speaker 2: also when he went up to China and the F 210 00:10:53,187 --> 00:10:56,867 Speaker 2: three championship are there very articulate. He's a thinker, but 211 00:10:56,907 --> 00:10:59,467 Speaker 2: he's not a deep thinker. You know, he gets lost 212 00:10:59,467 --> 00:11:01,907 Speaker 2: and he goes down his own rabbit holes. He knows 213 00:11:01,907 --> 00:11:03,987 Speaker 2: what he wants and he's you know, and he's quite 214 00:11:04,467 --> 00:11:07,067 Speaker 2: single minded, but in a really good way. Unless somebody's 215 00:11:07,067 --> 00:11:09,107 Speaker 2: got a better option, or a better idea or a 216 00:11:09,107 --> 00:11:12,307 Speaker 2: better alternative. He has the confidence to go with what 217 00:11:12,427 --> 00:11:15,587 Speaker 2: he thinks. But he's also got the ability to listen 218 00:11:15,907 --> 00:11:20,427 Speaker 2: and go okay, that one makes more sense. He handles 219 00:11:20,427 --> 00:11:23,227 Speaker 2: the media very very well. But mind he's been doing 220 00:11:23,267 --> 00:11:25,267 Speaker 2: it for a long time. We tend to forget although 221 00:11:25,307 --> 00:11:27,067 Speaker 2: only at twenty two, he's been in the sport for 222 00:11:27,107 --> 00:11:30,667 Speaker 2: over ten years, you know, at quite an elite level. 223 00:11:30,787 --> 00:11:33,347 Speaker 2: And he's got some good people around him, Grant McDonald, 224 00:11:34,267 --> 00:11:36,787 Speaker 2: Dennis Martin that will help them through. He's got a 225 00:11:36,947 --> 00:11:39,707 Speaker 2: very supportive family, you know, all these again I talking 226 00:11:39,707 --> 00:11:43,787 Speaker 2: about soft skills, and it's all this great support network 227 00:11:43,867 --> 00:11:45,667 Speaker 2: around him. He doesn't have a dad that thinks he 228 00:11:45,747 --> 00:11:48,547 Speaker 2: knows better than his son. You know, his dad hasn't 229 00:11:48,547 --> 00:11:51,267 Speaker 2: tried to coach him. His family's made sure they put 230 00:11:51,267 --> 00:11:54,307 Speaker 2: the right people around him to mentor him and to 231 00:11:54,307 --> 00:11:57,587 Speaker 2: get him ready for everything. So now it's really here's 232 00:11:57,587 --> 00:12:00,987 Speaker 2: your chance. You've got there, paul A Pennon, go for it. 233 00:12:01,667 --> 00:12:04,507 Speaker 3: What an exciting time for him, for his family and 234 00:12:04,547 --> 00:12:07,787 Speaker 3: for motors ball fans and sports fans here in New Zealand. Et. 235 00:12:07,947 --> 00:12:09,947 Speaker 3: Twenty twenty five is going to be quite the watch 236 00:12:10,267 --> 00:12:12,347 Speaker 3: of Formula one for us all. Thanks so much for 237 00:12:12,787 --> 00:12:15,427 Speaker 3: lending us your insight, you're analysis, your expertise. Have a 238 00:12:15,427 --> 00:12:17,507 Speaker 3: great Christmas mote. We'll catch up in twenty twenty five. 239 00:12:18,187 --> 00:12:19,667 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's same to you and your family and all 240 00:12:19,707 --> 00:12:21,347 Speaker 2: your listens too, Mat. I hope they have a glorious 241 00:12:21,387 --> 00:12:22,107 Speaker 2: Christmas New Year. 242 00:12:22,267 --> 00:12:24,787 Speaker 3: Yeah, I hope so too. Et. Eric Thompson there with 243 00:12:25,107 --> 00:12:28,867 Speaker 3: some great insight until Liam Lawson and what success will 244 00:12:28,867 --> 00:12:31,187 Speaker 3: look like for him next year, what he's up against. 245 00:12:31,907 --> 00:12:35,107 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live 246 00:12:35,187 --> 00:12:38,507 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow 247 00:12:38,507 --> 00:12:40,147 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio