1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,907 Speaker 1: from Newstalks edb SO. 3 00:00:13,027 --> 00:00:15,707 Speaker 2: Liam Lawson will make his full time Red Ball Formula 4 00:00:15,747 --> 00:00:19,027 Speaker 2: One debut from eighteenth on the Grid this afternoon after 5 00:00:19,067 --> 00:00:21,947 Speaker 2: being eliminated in the opening qualifying session for the Australian 6 00:00:21,947 --> 00:00:24,907 Speaker 2: Grand Prix and Melbourne yesterday. He struggled for pace and 7 00:00:24,987 --> 00:00:28,347 Speaker 2: Friday's two practices after clipping the wall on the first 8 00:00:28,747 --> 00:00:32,147 Speaker 2: and then a power unit issue limited him to just 9 00:00:32,347 --> 00:00:35,187 Speaker 2: two warm up laps in yesterday's final practice. 10 00:00:35,307 --> 00:00:38,387 Speaker 3: Liam Lawson's in real trouble going into qualifying here. He's 11 00:00:38,387 --> 00:00:41,627 Speaker 3: done a sum total of two laps and if he 12 00:00:41,787 --> 00:00:45,187 Speaker 3: thought it was a battery recharge issue, then it's turned 13 00:00:45,187 --> 00:00:47,867 Speaker 3: out to be a larger power unit problem. The team 14 00:00:47,867 --> 00:00:51,827 Speaker 3: are confirming that it's a pneumatic problem on the air 15 00:00:51,947 --> 00:00:56,267 Speaker 3: system of the power units and there are FIR six 16 00:00:57,667 --> 00:01:00,307 Speaker 3: eight mechanics working on this car. At the moment, the 17 00:01:00,347 --> 00:01:03,347 Speaker 3: floor's coming off, the engine covers are all off. Lawson 18 00:01:03,387 --> 00:01:06,067 Speaker 3: has long since taken his crash helmet off. I think's 19 00:01:06,427 --> 00:01:08,387 Speaker 3: might well be out of the session and that would 20 00:01:08,427 --> 00:01:12,547 Speaker 3: be a real hammer blow going into the first qualifying session. 21 00:01:12,267 --> 00:01:12,667 Speaker 4: Of the year. 22 00:01:12,667 --> 00:01:15,547 Speaker 2: For Liam laws Indeed, he went into qualifying Liam Lawson 23 00:01:15,587 --> 00:01:18,187 Speaker 2: on the back foot failed to advance out of qualifier 24 00:01:18,267 --> 00:01:21,947 Speaker 2: one after twice having to abandon qualifying lap attempts after 25 00:01:21,987 --> 00:01:25,827 Speaker 2: going off the track at Melbourne's Albert Park Circuit. So 26 00:01:25,987 --> 00:01:29,267 Speaker 2: Lando Norris will start on poll with his McLaren teammate 27 00:01:29,547 --> 00:01:33,507 Speaker 2: Australian Oscar Pustree second, and Liam Lawson's Red Bull teammate 28 00:01:33,867 --> 00:01:37,467 Speaker 2: and four time defending world champion Max forstap In third 29 00:01:37,587 --> 00:01:40,547 Speaker 2: on the grid. The race underway at five this afternoon, 30 00:01:40,547 --> 00:01:42,747 Speaker 2: New Zealand time. Let's get you to Melbourne for a preview. 31 00:01:43,027 --> 00:01:47,547 Speaker 2: Bring in highly respected and experienced freelance Formula one journalist 32 00:01:47,547 --> 00:01:51,507 Speaker 2: and broadcaster Chris Medland. You can read him at racer 33 00:01:51,627 --> 00:01:55,067 Speaker 2: dot com and also in Motorsport Magazine and hear him 34 00:01:55,147 --> 00:01:59,187 Speaker 2: on Sirius xf XM radio in the United States. Chris, 35 00:01:59,187 --> 00:02:01,747 Speaker 2: thanks for joining us across New Zealand to preview the 36 00:02:01,747 --> 00:02:04,787 Speaker 2: Australian Grand Prix. Let's start with Liam Lawson. Can you 37 00:02:05,187 --> 00:02:10,267 Speaker 2: summarize the last two days of William Lawson's life for us? 38 00:02:11,227 --> 00:02:11,467 Speaker 4: Yeah? 39 00:02:11,467 --> 00:02:13,067 Speaker 5: I certainly can, and I to be honest, I say 40 00:02:13,107 --> 00:02:17,147 Speaker 5: pretty unfortunate. There was a bit of a learning process 41 00:02:17,147 --> 00:02:19,187 Speaker 5: for him this weekend. He's never driven on this track 42 00:02:19,227 --> 00:02:22,867 Speaker 5: in Melbourne. Albert Parks started toasting Formula two races recently, 43 00:02:23,147 --> 00:02:25,307 Speaker 5: but Liam wasn't racing in Formula two when that happened. 44 00:02:25,347 --> 00:02:27,027 Speaker 5: So all the rookies coming into F one have at 45 00:02:27,107 --> 00:02:30,427 Speaker 5: least raced here in junior categories. Liam hasn't, so on 46 00:02:30,467 --> 00:02:31,827 Speaker 5: the first day he was trying to just get up 47 00:02:31,867 --> 00:02:34,787 Speaker 5: to speed and then the track, and then yesterday for qualifying, 48 00:02:34,867 --> 00:02:37,707 Speaker 5: he was looking to really kind of ramp things up, 49 00:02:37,747 --> 00:02:39,507 Speaker 5: but they had a car issue that was nothing to 50 00:02:39,507 --> 00:02:41,427 Speaker 5: do with him, to do with the power unit, and 51 00:02:41,427 --> 00:02:42,867 Speaker 5: that meant that he didn't run a tall in the 52 00:02:42,867 --> 00:02:45,947 Speaker 5: final practice session, so he was very unprepared for qualifying. 53 00:02:46,347 --> 00:02:48,187 Speaker 5: He was on a decent enough lap that should have 54 00:02:48,187 --> 00:02:50,387 Speaker 5: helped him advance a bit further, but then he had 55 00:02:50,467 --> 00:02:52,147 Speaker 5: a bit of a moment, ended up going off and 56 00:02:52,667 --> 00:02:55,147 Speaker 5: missed out early on. So that's kind of a byproduct 57 00:02:55,267 --> 00:02:57,347 Speaker 5: of the lack of running he's had compared to other 58 00:02:57,387 --> 00:02:59,707 Speaker 5: people because it's just so competitive this season. 59 00:02:59,747 --> 00:03:01,987 Speaker 4: So yeah, pretty tough couple of days for him. 60 00:03:02,107 --> 00:03:04,987 Speaker 2: So if within extrapa light that forward, he's had very 61 00:03:04,987 --> 00:03:07,947 Speaker 2: little experience, I think just for two laps across the 62 00:03:07,987 --> 00:03:10,667 Speaker 2: three practice seasons, and as you say, qualifying didn't go 63 00:03:10,707 --> 00:03:13,587 Speaker 2: as way yesterday either. So how big a disadvantage will 64 00:03:13,587 --> 00:03:15,867 Speaker 2: that be for the race proper this afternoon. 65 00:03:17,507 --> 00:03:19,227 Speaker 5: It would be a very big one in the sense 66 00:03:19,347 --> 00:03:21,827 Speaker 5: if it was dry. But right now I'm talking to 67 00:03:21,827 --> 00:03:24,627 Speaker 5: you and it is hammering down with rain. It's going 68 00:03:24,667 --> 00:03:26,067 Speaker 5: to be a fully wet race as it stands, which 69 00:03:26,067 --> 00:03:27,867 Speaker 5: would be perfect for him, he said, Actually he would 70 00:03:27,907 --> 00:03:30,867 Speaker 5: love some rain because even though it'd be difficult for 71 00:03:30,947 --> 00:03:32,827 Speaker 5: him starting where he is if it was dry, he's 72 00:03:33,107 --> 00:03:35,827 Speaker 5: looking at it pragmatically. Yes, his first race with Red Bull, 73 00:03:35,867 --> 00:03:37,987 Speaker 5: he just needs to gain some experience, and he might 74 00:03:37,987 --> 00:03:39,987 Speaker 5: not be able to move forward very quickly. It's quite 75 00:03:39,987 --> 00:03:42,387 Speaker 5: tough to overtake care in the dry, but that would 76 00:03:42,427 --> 00:03:44,427 Speaker 5: still give him a full race distance to try and 77 00:03:44,707 --> 00:03:46,387 Speaker 5: really get under his belt and just start to build 78 00:03:46,387 --> 00:03:49,067 Speaker 5: that experience up. In the wet, all bets are off, 79 00:03:49,107 --> 00:03:50,707 Speaker 5: So this is exactly what he was hoping for and 80 00:03:50,747 --> 00:03:53,347 Speaker 5: looking for, was something that would really spice things up. 81 00:03:53,827 --> 00:03:57,027 Speaker 2: So his Red Bull teammate four time defending champion makes 82 00:03:57,067 --> 00:03:59,627 Speaker 2: the step and he'll start from third on the grid. 83 00:03:59,627 --> 00:04:03,027 Speaker 2: What did you make of verse last couple of days, To. 84 00:04:02,987 --> 00:04:05,507 Speaker 5: Be honest, very impressive because the Red Bull didn't look 85 00:04:05,547 --> 00:04:08,107 Speaker 5: great when we went to pre season testing in Bahrain 86 00:04:08,147 --> 00:04:10,067 Speaker 5: a few weeks ago. It looked like there's a lot 87 00:04:10,067 --> 00:04:11,827 Speaker 5: of work for Red Bull to do, and even on 88 00:04:11,867 --> 00:04:14,387 Speaker 5: Friday in the practice sessions that we were talking about, 89 00:04:14,747 --> 00:04:16,587 Speaker 5: it didn't look like it was going to be competing 90 00:04:16,627 --> 00:04:18,147 Speaker 5: at the very front end. It looked like it was 91 00:04:18,187 --> 00:04:20,427 Speaker 5: one of the top four cars, but maybe a step 92 00:04:20,427 --> 00:04:22,947 Speaker 5: behind the McLaren and the Ferrari, and even the Mercedes 93 00:04:22,947 --> 00:04:26,187 Speaker 5: could look quite good. Overnight Friday into Saturday, red Bull 94 00:04:26,187 --> 00:04:27,787 Speaker 5: made a really good step with that car, made a 95 00:04:27,787 --> 00:04:30,027 Speaker 5: lot of good progress obviously with the work they've done 96 00:04:30,027 --> 00:04:32,267 Speaker 5: back in their factory, and Max was right in the 97 00:04:32,267 --> 00:04:34,987 Speaker 5: mix of pole position up until the end of qualifying, 98 00:04:34,987 --> 00:04:37,107 Speaker 5: and at that point McLaren just had a little bit 99 00:04:37,147 --> 00:04:39,707 Speaker 5: more in hand to bring out in terms of performance. 100 00:04:40,027 --> 00:04:41,987 Speaker 5: So third place to him on the grid is probably 101 00:04:42,027 --> 00:04:44,907 Speaker 5: exceeding expectations. And he's another one who will be walking 102 00:04:44,907 --> 00:04:46,947 Speaker 5: in here today with a huge smile in his face 103 00:04:47,067 --> 00:04:49,267 Speaker 5: with wet weather, because he really is one of the 104 00:04:49,547 --> 00:04:51,987 Speaker 5: best wet weather drivers in the sport, and he's producing 105 00:04:51,987 --> 00:04:54,307 Speaker 5: brilliant performances in the wet and this is a level 106 00:04:54,347 --> 00:04:56,147 Speaker 5: of when it's raining, it's down much more to driver 107 00:04:56,227 --> 00:04:58,787 Speaker 5: skilled than car performance. So yeah, we could see a 108 00:04:58,787 --> 00:04:59,867 Speaker 5: bit of an epic race. 109 00:04:59,787 --> 00:05:02,587 Speaker 2: Looking forward to George Russell and the Mercedes alongside Mex 110 00:05:02,627 --> 00:05:05,027 Speaker 2: for step and on the grid. They've got a bit 111 00:05:05,067 --> 00:05:07,867 Speaker 2: of history these two, haven't they they have. 112 00:05:07,947 --> 00:05:09,787 Speaker 5: I'm glad you brought that up because I hadn't mentioned 113 00:05:09,827 --> 00:05:12,307 Speaker 5: it on the Max section, But yeah, they had a 114 00:05:12,347 --> 00:05:14,227 Speaker 5: pretty big bit of beef towards end the last season, 115 00:05:14,707 --> 00:05:17,547 Speaker 5: Max was upset that George had essentially tried to get 116 00:05:17,587 --> 00:05:19,507 Speaker 5: him a penalty at the penultimate race of the season 117 00:05:19,507 --> 00:05:22,227 Speaker 5: and actually successfully got him a penalty the Max felt 118 00:05:22,227 --> 00:05:23,787 Speaker 5: was undeserved and he didn't like the way George was 119 00:05:23,787 --> 00:05:26,747 Speaker 5: acting in the steward's room. So then Max went and 120 00:05:26,747 --> 00:05:28,507 Speaker 5: told George what he thought of him and what he 121 00:05:28,547 --> 00:05:31,507 Speaker 5: would do if they were racing side by side on track. 122 00:05:31,547 --> 00:05:33,707 Speaker 5: George didn't like that either, so this war of words 123 00:05:33,747 --> 00:05:36,267 Speaker 5: started and it really carried over got very strong at 124 00:05:36,267 --> 00:05:38,627 Speaker 5: the final race in Abi Dabbi. Obviously, they've had an 125 00:05:38,667 --> 00:05:40,587 Speaker 5: off season where they've not been racing against each other, 126 00:05:40,667 --> 00:05:43,267 Speaker 5: but they still both said, you know, we haven't spoken, 127 00:05:43,267 --> 00:05:45,427 Speaker 5: we're not bothered about being friends. So yeah, those two 128 00:05:45,427 --> 00:05:48,347 Speaker 5: will to will into turn one. That is definitely worth watching. 129 00:05:48,227 --> 00:05:50,667 Speaker 2: Looking forward to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastre as I 130 00:05:50,667 --> 00:05:53,187 Speaker 2: say one and two on the grid. Even though the 131 00:05:53,227 --> 00:05:56,027 Speaker 2: powers that be at McLaren seemed to be downplaying how 132 00:05:56,067 --> 00:05:59,227 Speaker 2: much faster they are than everybody else, how much faster 133 00:05:59,307 --> 00:06:00,867 Speaker 2: are they than everybody else. 134 00:06:02,187 --> 00:06:04,427 Speaker 5: Well, based on qualifying yesterday, about a quarter of a second, 135 00:06:04,467 --> 00:06:06,707 Speaker 5: if not a little bit more, which in modern one 136 00:06:06,787 --> 00:06:09,187 Speaker 5: is actually a big gap. Gaps used to be way 137 00:06:09,227 --> 00:06:10,467 Speaker 5: bigger than that, and it used to be kind of 138 00:06:10,547 --> 00:06:13,787 Speaker 5: less competitive across the field. You'd have some teams that 139 00:06:13,787 --> 00:06:16,307 Speaker 5: were a big step ahead of others. But everything's been 140 00:06:16,307 --> 00:06:17,907 Speaker 5: so close. We've been seeing a difference of like a 141 00:06:17,987 --> 00:06:20,507 Speaker 5: tenth or two here and there. But yeah, Lando put 142 00:06:20,507 --> 00:06:22,907 Speaker 5: it on pole by nearly zero point four seconds, so 143 00:06:22,987 --> 00:06:26,267 Speaker 5: nearly half a second over maxistappening third as the first 144 00:06:26,267 --> 00:06:29,147 Speaker 5: non McLaren car, and that was a really impressive performance. 145 00:06:29,187 --> 00:06:31,547 Speaker 5: But you're right, the team are always going to talk 146 00:06:31,587 --> 00:06:33,347 Speaker 5: it down anyway. They don't want to build pressure on 147 00:06:33,387 --> 00:06:35,107 Speaker 5: themselves by saying, oh, we're the best team with the 148 00:06:35,147 --> 00:06:37,867 Speaker 5: fastest car, because then if you don't win, you look stupid. 149 00:06:37,867 --> 00:06:40,987 Speaker 5: But at the same time, not only McLaren, but Ferrari 150 00:06:41,067 --> 00:06:44,027 Speaker 5: themselves and the Total Wolf yesterday, we're all saying they 151 00:06:44,067 --> 00:06:46,467 Speaker 5: expected more from Ferrari and they just think Ferrari got 152 00:06:46,467 --> 00:06:49,747 Speaker 5: it wrong so far this weekend. Ferrari had very competitive 153 00:06:49,787 --> 00:06:52,947 Speaker 5: going into qualifying, like they could get close to McLaren, 154 00:06:52,987 --> 00:06:54,947 Speaker 5: but they didn't manage to do so, and they ended 155 00:06:54,987 --> 00:06:57,147 Speaker 5: up seven to eight on the grid. So it seems 156 00:06:57,187 --> 00:06:58,507 Speaker 5: to be that they dropped the ball a little bit 157 00:06:58,587 --> 00:07:00,987 Speaker 5: and that's made the gap look even bigger. So the 158 00:07:00,987 --> 00:07:03,347 Speaker 5: good thing about the Formula One nowadays is you go 159 00:07:03,347 --> 00:07:04,947 Speaker 5: from one track to another and the pecking on of 160 00:07:04,987 --> 00:07:06,867 Speaker 5: changes and it means you do not know for certain 161 00:07:07,147 --> 00:07:08,987 Speaker 5: going to each venue who's going to be best. 162 00:07:09,427 --> 00:07:12,067 Speaker 2: You mentioned they're the Ferraris of Charlie Clare in Lewis 163 00:07:12,067 --> 00:07:14,267 Speaker 2: Hamilton seventh and Night, as you wrote in one of 164 00:07:14,307 --> 00:07:16,827 Speaker 2: your pieces that certainly was not in the script. He 165 00:07:16,907 --> 00:07:19,227 Speaker 2: talked there about them dropping the ball what actually happened. 166 00:07:20,947 --> 00:07:23,987 Speaker 5: So essentially, yes, there was an extremely hot day, but 167 00:07:24,027 --> 00:07:25,987 Speaker 5: there wasn't a huge amount of sunshine actually for a 168 00:07:25,987 --> 00:07:27,907 Speaker 5: lot of it, so we had very high temperatures and 169 00:07:28,107 --> 00:07:29,907 Speaker 5: teams were trying to understand how to get the tires 170 00:07:29,947 --> 00:07:32,867 Speaker 5: working in those temperatures. But when the sunshine then disappeared 171 00:07:33,587 --> 00:07:35,347 Speaker 5: when it was out, it would raise the track temperature 172 00:07:35,387 --> 00:07:37,907 Speaker 5: quite a lot. When cloud cover hid it, even though 173 00:07:37,907 --> 00:07:40,147 Speaker 5: the air temperature stayed high, the track temperaure would drop, 174 00:07:40,347 --> 00:07:43,227 Speaker 5: and both drivers suggested that the team didn't really react 175 00:07:43,267 --> 00:07:44,867 Speaker 5: to that very well. They kind of stuck to their 176 00:07:45,067 --> 00:07:48,947 Speaker 5: plan from before qualifying and didn't adapt to the changing 177 00:07:48,987 --> 00:07:51,427 Speaker 5: track temperatures like others did, so that way they didn't 178 00:07:51,427 --> 00:07:53,307 Speaker 5: get the best performance out the tires. And the tires 179 00:07:53,307 --> 00:07:54,987 Speaker 5: are obviously the only thing touching the track to give 180 00:07:55,027 --> 00:07:56,947 Speaker 5: your grip, so if you don't get those working properly, 181 00:07:57,147 --> 00:07:59,027 Speaker 5: you're going to be in trouble. So yeah, they just 182 00:07:59,067 --> 00:08:01,507 Speaker 5: sounded like they didn't quite react properly. But but they'll 183 00:08:01,507 --> 00:08:03,987 Speaker 5: dig into the data after this weekend and see what 184 00:08:03,987 --> 00:08:05,587 Speaker 5: they can learn for the next race in China. 185 00:08:05,627 --> 00:08:09,307 Speaker 2: And Yuki Sono and the Racing Bulls caras fifth on 186 00:08:09,347 --> 00:08:11,627 Speaker 2: the grid, was that the biggest surprise Chris for you 187 00:08:11,747 --> 00:08:13,347 Speaker 2: how high up the grid. 188 00:08:13,147 --> 00:08:15,267 Speaker 4: He is it was. 189 00:08:15,347 --> 00:08:15,507 Speaker 2: Yeah. 190 00:08:15,547 --> 00:08:17,307 Speaker 5: I actually hosted an event with UK on Friday night 191 00:08:17,347 --> 00:08:19,827 Speaker 5: and he'd been fourth in the second practice session that day, 192 00:08:20,427 --> 00:08:22,187 Speaker 5: so he was very popular because he was looking like 193 00:08:22,227 --> 00:08:24,347 Speaker 5: he was sept for a good weekend and he joked 194 00:08:24,387 --> 00:08:26,667 Speaker 5: that he could maybe go and get on the podium 195 00:08:26,747 --> 00:08:28,907 Speaker 5: or something, but even he was saying, you know, top 196 00:08:28,907 --> 00:08:30,667 Speaker 5: five of being credible and a stretch, you know, it 197 00:08:30,667 --> 00:08:33,307 Speaker 5: would be a surprise to get up there, and in reality, 198 00:08:33,787 --> 00:08:36,107 Speaker 5: the racing balls car that he drives that no stage 199 00:08:36,147 --> 00:08:38,427 Speaker 5: had really looked that strong until we got here and 200 00:08:38,467 --> 00:08:41,107 Speaker 5: did second practice, so that did come out of the 201 00:08:41,107 --> 00:08:42,627 Speaker 5: blue a little bit, and certainly to stay up there 202 00:08:42,627 --> 00:08:45,067 Speaker 5: across two days was very impressive. He did say he 203 00:08:45,067 --> 00:08:46,227 Speaker 5: thinks he got a little bit of a toe at 204 00:08:46,227 --> 00:08:47,627 Speaker 5: one point as well, a bit of a slipstream that 205 00:08:47,667 --> 00:08:49,627 Speaker 5: helped his final lap time and got him up to 206 00:08:49,627 --> 00:08:52,227 Speaker 5: fifth place. But it was a very strong performance and 207 00:08:52,427 --> 00:08:54,547 Speaker 5: to be honest, Yuki's probably one of those coming here 208 00:08:54,547 --> 00:08:56,747 Speaker 5: today now going why is it raining? He would want 209 00:08:56,747 --> 00:08:58,147 Speaker 5: it to be a nice, boring, dry race and give 210 00:08:58,187 --> 00:09:01,507 Speaker 5: him a chance to staying there. But he's certainly he 211 00:09:01,547 --> 00:09:03,067 Speaker 5: would have felt he had a point to prove because 212 00:09:03,107 --> 00:09:05,507 Speaker 5: Liam Lawson was given the Red Bull Sea over Yuki 213 00:09:05,707 --> 00:09:07,987 Speaker 5: Red Bullsalm will tension in Lim and the way he races, 214 00:09:08,507 --> 00:09:10,947 Speaker 5: but Uk then is trying to prove them wrong. And 215 00:09:11,027 --> 00:09:12,667 Speaker 5: he's a really likable character that you know, he got 216 00:09:12,707 --> 00:09:14,067 Speaker 5: on very well with Liam. He gets on very well 217 00:09:14,107 --> 00:09:16,107 Speaker 5: with a lot of people in this paddock, and that 218 00:09:16,227 --> 00:09:18,667 Speaker 5: was a popular start. I think to see him at 219 00:09:18,707 --> 00:09:21,347 Speaker 5: least perform well, but people want to see Liam doing 220 00:09:21,347 --> 00:09:22,267 Speaker 5: the same, all. 221 00:09:22,227 --> 00:09:24,027 Speaker 2: Right, Chris. To finish, you've mentioned the rain a number 222 00:09:24,067 --> 00:09:27,027 Speaker 2: of times in rightly so because it is going to 223 00:09:27,067 --> 00:09:29,507 Speaker 2: play huge part today. But how big a part and 224 00:09:29,907 --> 00:09:33,347 Speaker 2: what do you predict for this rice given the weather 225 00:09:33,427 --> 00:09:34,747 Speaker 2: conditions that are expected. 226 00:09:35,947 --> 00:09:38,307 Speaker 5: Yeah, if it stays wet like this, I think we're 227 00:09:38,307 --> 00:09:40,467 Speaker 5: going to have a bit of chaos. Actually this is 228 00:09:40,707 --> 00:09:43,947 Speaker 5: a semi temporary circuit. We're in Albert Park, so you 229 00:09:43,987 --> 00:09:45,747 Speaker 5: know the roads are not always the highest gript for 230 00:09:45,827 --> 00:09:48,027 Speaker 5: in wet weather. There's a lot of painted lines for 231 00:09:48,147 --> 00:09:50,867 Speaker 5: normal road markings that can get very slippery. So I 232 00:09:50,907 --> 00:09:53,587 Speaker 5: think we'll see a few moments, a few incidents, you know, 233 00:09:53,667 --> 00:09:57,107 Speaker 5: drivers going off and I would put money probably right 234 00:09:57,107 --> 00:09:58,987 Speaker 5: now on Max the staff and winning the way he 235 00:09:59,027 --> 00:10:01,267 Speaker 5: adapts to these conditions, just is a level above most 236 00:10:01,267 --> 00:10:04,147 Speaker 5: other people right now. In his prime, Lewis Hamilton would 237 00:10:04,187 --> 00:10:05,867 Speaker 5: be in that mix too, but he's obviously just moved 238 00:10:05,867 --> 00:10:08,347 Speaker 5: teams first time with Ferrari. He still needs to learn 239 00:10:08,387 --> 00:10:11,427 Speaker 5: a lot about that car, how it reacts, how it operates. 240 00:10:12,067 --> 00:10:14,187 Speaker 5: So yeah, I think it's going to be one where 241 00:10:14,227 --> 00:10:16,467 Speaker 5: I would say Max right now is my favorite. From 242 00:10:16,467 --> 00:10:18,707 Speaker 5: third on the grid, the two McLaren drivers should be 243 00:10:18,707 --> 00:10:20,467 Speaker 5: the favorites. They're starting one and two and they have 244 00:10:20,667 --> 00:10:24,067 Speaker 5: potentially the quiggest car, but that advantage will be lessened 245 00:10:24,067 --> 00:10:26,907 Speaker 5: by the wet weather. And obviously they're fighting each other 246 00:10:26,947 --> 00:10:29,467 Speaker 5: as well as fighting Max, which is always a tough 247 00:10:29,547 --> 00:10:32,467 Speaker 5: kind of line to tread. Because you're trying not to 248 00:10:32,667 --> 00:10:34,387 Speaker 5: cause an instant with your teammate. You maybe leave a 249 00:10:34,387 --> 00:10:36,827 Speaker 5: bit more margin, but that leads a bit of uncertainty sometimes, 250 00:10:36,867 --> 00:10:39,227 Speaker 5: and I think it's going to be a really, really 251 00:10:39,267 --> 00:10:40,107 Speaker 5: exciting either way. 252 00:10:40,667 --> 00:10:42,547 Speaker 4: But yeah, i'd probably lean more towards the staff and 253 00:10:42,547 --> 00:10:43,107 Speaker 4: now that it's. 254 00:10:42,947 --> 00:10:45,307 Speaker 2: Wet, all right, Just one more very quick question, Liam Lawson, 255 00:10:45,667 --> 00:10:48,107 Speaker 2: what does success look like for him? You know, eighteenth 256 00:10:48,107 --> 00:10:50,947 Speaker 2: on the grid. Anything higher than eighteen is that succeeds. 257 00:10:52,107 --> 00:10:54,667 Speaker 5: Oh absolutely, and I would expect him to finish hard 258 00:10:54,707 --> 00:10:56,387 Speaker 5: than eighteenth if he sees the checkered flag, And to 259 00:10:56,387 --> 00:10:58,747 Speaker 5: be honest, that's how I constitute success to him. It 260 00:10:58,787 --> 00:11:00,747 Speaker 5: would be just get that experience under his belt. If 261 00:11:00,787 --> 00:11:03,027 Speaker 5: it's raining for time to drive a red Bull in 262 00:11:03,107 --> 00:11:06,107 Speaker 5: wet conditions, you know this will be valuable experience moving forward. 263 00:11:06,347 --> 00:11:06,787 Speaker 4: If it's not. 264 00:11:07,267 --> 00:11:09,027 Speaker 5: As we've been talking about, he didn't have a huge 265 00:11:09,027 --> 00:11:11,387 Speaker 5: amount of time in the car the rest of this weekend, 266 00:11:11,387 --> 00:11:13,147 Speaker 5: so he's missed out on some running and just to 267 00:11:13,187 --> 00:11:15,827 Speaker 5: build up that experience bank so that he can make 268 00:11:15,827 --> 00:11:17,507 Speaker 5: a step forward at the next race, and he'll need 269 00:11:17,547 --> 00:11:19,107 Speaker 5: to do that gradually over a number of races. 270 00:11:19,307 --> 00:11:20,867 Speaker 4: So just to see the checker flag. 271 00:11:20,747 --> 00:11:24,507 Speaker 5: Make sure he's not involved in any major incidents. Being wet, 272 00:11:24,547 --> 00:11:25,907 Speaker 5: I think it means there'll be a lot going on, 273 00:11:25,947 --> 00:11:27,467 Speaker 5: and if he does see the finish then it means 274 00:11:27,467 --> 00:11:29,307 Speaker 5: he's probably going to be having a lot of action 275 00:11:29,347 --> 00:11:31,707 Speaker 5: to deal with and moving forward. So yeah, I just 276 00:11:31,707 --> 00:11:33,107 Speaker 5: think just make sure he keeps his head down and 277 00:11:33,187 --> 00:11:35,267 Speaker 5: keep his nose clean, and that would be a good 278 00:11:35,347 --> 00:11:35,867 Speaker 5: race for him. 279 00:11:36,107 --> 00:11:39,147 Speaker 2: Appreciate your outstanding analysis. Chris, thanks so much for joining 280 00:11:39,227 --> 00:11:40,667 Speaker 2: us across New Zealand today. 281 00:11:41,027 --> 00:11:42,347 Speaker 4: Not a problem, Thanks for having me. 282 00:11:42,427 --> 00:11:45,667 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us, Chris Chriss Midland Deer live from Melbourne. 283 00:11:45,667 --> 00:11:48,787 Speaker 2: Where's you heard? It's hammering down with rain, which is 284 00:11:48,827 --> 00:11:51,987 Speaker 2: going to have a huge say in what happens this afternoon. 285 00:11:52,467 --> 00:11:55,627 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 286 00:11:55,747 --> 00:11:59,027 Speaker 1: to news talks it'd be weekends from midday, or follow 287 00:11:59,067 --> 00:12:00,627 Speaker 1: the podcast on I Hard Radio.