1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,280 Speaker 1: Formula One twenty twenty six season kicks off in Melbourne today. 2 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: Liam Lawson, Well, he'll be hoping for a change in 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 1: favor after the same race last season saw and finished 4 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: well last. 5 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 2: I learned a lot. Last year was a very important 6 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 2: season for me, especially to survive it. I think that's 7 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:18,920 Speaker 2: been something that I've learned a lot from so on 8 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 2: that side, I'm grateful to have done that and feel 9 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 2: a lot better going into this year. 10 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: Alex Powell, Herald's sports reporter in Melbourne this weekend. Alex, 11 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 1: good morning, good to have you on the show. 12 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 3: Thank you mate. 13 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: How's it looking. 14 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 3: It's actually been a really tricky start to the year 15 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 3: for everyone. I mean there's new cars, there's new regulations 16 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 3: that's dictated how you can build them, so no one 17 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:43,600 Speaker 3: really knows how it's going to go. Today's going to 18 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 3: be the first time we actually see these cars and 19 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 3: sort of race situation on track, so I think we're 20 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 3: all just waiting with data breath to see how they'll go. 21 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: I was reading yesterday about Aston Martin only able to 22 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: do twenty five laps because of vibration issues. 23 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, Aston Martin been a real sort of head case 24 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:05,400 Speaker 3: all pre season they've completely changed their engine manufacturer, so 25 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 3: they're now with Honda. They've just had an issue after 26 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 3: a show. After issue, they've suggested that they might just 27 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 3: do the formation lap in Melbourne and then retire, which 28 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 3: would be crazy to not even officially start the race. 29 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:19,120 Speaker 3: So it's again, it's another one of those things that 30 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 3: we're just waiting and seeing how it's actually going to 31 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 3: go once racing begins later this afternoon. 32 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 1: So what is that? How do you get into that position? 33 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: How long did they have to make the cars for 34 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:31,400 Speaker 1: the regulations? 35 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, so we knew they'd been coming in for a 36 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 3: couple of years, but basically teams had to balance last year. 37 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:38,960 Speaker 3: Do they want to be competitive and win in twenty 38 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:41,320 Speaker 3: twenty five and put everything into tween twenty six or 39 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:43,039 Speaker 3: go the other way around and try and compete in 40 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 3: twenty twenty five. That's right, Yeah, just hold themselves off 41 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 3: for this year. Assen Martin kind of did neither, so 42 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 3: they were a bit competitive last year and then now 43 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 3: they've sort of just given everything away. Fernando Alonso, who's 44 00:01:57,440 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 3: they've senior drivers, a two time world champion. He just 45 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 3: looks absolutely devastated whenever he does anything with the media 46 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 3: because he knows they just don't have a car it's 47 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 3: going to be able to compete at all. 48 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: From what you've seen, and I know you've been talking 49 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: to him, is Liam looking sound and confident. 50 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 3: Liam's a very confident guy. Just by who he is. 51 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 3: That does come across as arrogance to some people, but 52 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:24,399 Speaker 3: he is just He's one of the most self believing 53 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 3: people I've ever met. I think he has personally everything 54 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 3: he needs to have a really good season. But again, 55 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 3: it's all going to come down to the car. Like 56 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 3: that is just the repeat message you're getting from not 57 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 3: just Liam but all the drivers. We don't know what 58 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 3: the car is going to be like in comparison to 59 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 3: everyone else. 60 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: I guess it makes it more exciting, does it. 61 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's why they've done it. I mean, there was 62 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 3: so much criticism over the last few years about Formula 63 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 3: One and being so predictable. No one really overtakes anyone 64 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 3: on track. We had breakfast out at Mercedes yesterday and 65 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 3: COMMI inside, he is about nineteen years old, was saying, 66 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 3: But what they've done with the new regulation changes is 67 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,519 Speaker 3: you're going to get more overtaking in areas of tracks 68 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 3: that you just didn't in the past and so from 69 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 3: a fans point of view, that's great, but there are 70 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 3: a lot of you know, traditionalists who are really anti 71 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 3: it because it's just not the racing they're used to. 72 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 3: So I mean it's going to be really good for neutrals. 73 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: Appreciate your time this morning, Alex. Go back to bed. 74 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: Alex Powell, the Herald Sports supporter in Melbourne for us 75 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: IF one kicking. 76 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 3: Off for more from Earlily Edition with Ryan Bridge. Listen 77 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 3: live to News Talks at B from five am weekdays, 78 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,359 Speaker 3: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.