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 --> 00:00:13,987 Speaker 1: from News Talks ed B about Max. 3 00:00:13,707 --> 00:00:17,947 Speaker 2: Vers Stafford fastest of anybody in the first sector. Half 4 00:00:17,987 --> 00:00:21,627 Speaker 2: a second up already Laws It pops it up into 5 00:00:21,787 --> 00:00:24,867 Speaker 2: second He's only a tenth away. And the racing bulls 6 00:00:24,987 --> 00:00:28,267 Speaker 2: as antinaty can't pit the racing balls of the Kiwi 7 00:00:28,587 --> 00:00:31,627 Speaker 2: Max for Stafford up into eighth gear to the top 8 00:00:31,867 --> 00:00:34,867 Speaker 2: and porel position for Max for Stafford. 9 00:00:35,107 --> 00:00:40,507 Speaker 1: Here in Baku, Liam Lawson wanna Dryam Lawson at Carlos 10 00:00:40,507 --> 00:00:41,587 Speaker 1: site on the Frondra. 11 00:00:41,667 --> 00:00:44,587 Speaker 3: What a good hit we've gone for tomorrow. It has 12 00:00:44,667 --> 00:00:48,987 Speaker 3: been eighteen thousand, eight hundred and eighty days since a 13 00:00:49,067 --> 00:00:52,187 Speaker 3: New Zealander last stood on a Formula One podium. That 14 00:00:52,267 --> 00:00:54,827 Speaker 3: could change as early as tomorrow morning, though, as William 15 00:00:54,867 --> 00:00:59,187 Speaker 3: Lawson qualified third for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, more than 16 00:00:59,227 --> 00:01:02,667 Speaker 3: fifty one years on from Denny Holm winning the Argentine 17 00:01:02,707 --> 00:01:06,507 Speaker 3: Grand Prix in nineteen seventy four, Lawson will start on 18 00:01:06,547 --> 00:01:09,467 Speaker 3: the second row at the Baku City Circuit as the 19 00:01:09,507 --> 00:01:13,547 Speaker 3: best qualifying result of his Formula one career so far. 20 00:01:14,067 --> 00:01:16,427 Speaker 3: Those are the opening few lines of the article. We 21 00:01:16,467 --> 00:01:19,307 Speaker 3: woke to this morning on enz heerl dot co dot nz, 22 00:01:19,827 --> 00:01:24,387 Speaker 3: written by motorsport expert and journalist Alex Powell. Alex should 23 00:01:24,387 --> 00:01:28,507 Speaker 3: call it a chaotic qualifying session? Can you explain that 24 00:01:28,587 --> 00:01:30,467 Speaker 3: to us afternoon? 25 00:01:30,507 --> 00:01:32,907 Speaker 4: Piney you checks in the mail for reading that intro out. 26 00:01:33,827 --> 00:01:37,147 Speaker 4: I mean to be short. There were six red flags 27 00:01:37,187 --> 00:01:39,867 Speaker 4: through the three qualifying sessions, which is just the most 28 00:01:40,067 --> 00:01:42,427 Speaker 4: that there has ever been in a single Formula one 29 00:01:42,507 --> 00:01:46,627 Speaker 4: qualifying session. The previous record was five, which had happened twice. 30 00:01:46,667 --> 00:01:49,427 Speaker 4: But to go six, six drivers basically hit the wall 31 00:01:49,787 --> 00:01:52,187 Speaker 4: and ruin their own session and any chance of qualifying 32 00:01:52,227 --> 00:01:54,347 Speaker 4: as something good as they can, and that just left 33 00:01:54,347 --> 00:01:56,747 Speaker 4: anyone who didn't hit the wall having to sort of 34 00:01:56,787 --> 00:01:59,587 Speaker 4: start stopping and going to try and get their own 35 00:01:59,667 --> 00:01:59,987 Speaker 4: laps in. 36 00:02:00,747 --> 00:02:05,307 Speaker 3: How much then did that play into Liam Lawson's hands. 37 00:02:05,347 --> 00:02:07,907 Speaker 4: It's a very interesting question because obviously that last session 38 00:02:08,027 --> 00:02:11,027 Speaker 4: Q three had both Charlotte Clerk of Ferrari and Osco 39 00:02:11,027 --> 00:02:14,827 Speaker 4: Pastre hit the wall and trigger separate red flags. So 40 00:02:14,987 --> 00:02:17,787 Speaker 4: that time there was suspecion that was going to start 41 00:02:17,827 --> 00:02:20,427 Speaker 4: raining and had started to drizzle, and what both leam 42 00:02:20,507 --> 00:02:22,867 Speaker 4: laws and Isser Cadjo's Teama had done was they got 43 00:02:22,907 --> 00:02:25,387 Speaker 4: him set an early lap and then the clerk at 44 00:02:25,427 --> 00:02:27,547 Speaker 4: the wall red flag as the rain sudd to fall, 45 00:02:27,627 --> 00:02:30,027 Speaker 4: and that basically meant had it kept raining, no one 46 00:02:30,027 --> 00:02:34,067 Speaker 4: will be able to better those times, unfortunately or unfortunately rather, 47 00:02:34,907 --> 00:02:36,467 Speaker 4: while they were waiting for the red flag to clear, 48 00:02:36,507 --> 00:02:38,347 Speaker 4: the rain stopped and then so that was sort of like, 49 00:02:38,427 --> 00:02:41,547 Speaker 4: well will they be able to keep these times up? 50 00:02:41,867 --> 00:02:43,627 Speaker 4: And then what lem Laws actually was he came out 51 00:02:43,627 --> 00:02:45,667 Speaker 4: and bettered that time anyway, So to say it's down 52 00:02:45,707 --> 00:02:47,747 Speaker 4: to the red flags would just be a complete fabrication. 53 00:02:47,867 --> 00:02:48,827 Speaker 4: This was all his merit. 54 00:02:49,947 --> 00:02:52,387 Speaker 3: So I mean, this is tremendous, isn't it. You know, 55 00:02:52,467 --> 00:02:56,267 Speaker 3: he's had a steadily improving season from what most of 56 00:02:56,347 --> 00:02:59,947 Speaker 3: us can see. This this is terrific, isn't it To 57 00:03:00,027 --> 00:03:02,507 Speaker 3: qualify third on the starting grid? 58 00:03:03,507 --> 00:03:05,307 Speaker 4: Absolutely it is. I mean it's his best as oh 59 00:03:05,307 --> 00:03:08,227 Speaker 4: it's racing balls, equal best result after Yuki Sinoda did 60 00:03:08,227 --> 00:03:10,907 Speaker 4: it in Brazil last year. But as Liam Lawson will 61 00:03:10,907 --> 00:03:12,307 Speaker 4: be the first one to point out, you don't get 62 00:03:12,347 --> 00:03:14,587 Speaker 4: any points for qualifying, you don't get any points of practice. 63 00:03:14,627 --> 00:03:17,907 Speaker 4: But the positive areas that he has been rapid all weekend. 64 00:03:18,707 --> 00:03:21,627 Speaker 3: Tell us about the track then, and what Liam will 65 00:03:21,627 --> 00:03:25,307 Speaker 3: have to do to retain or even improve his group position. 66 00:03:25,507 --> 00:03:28,307 Speaker 3: Are there lots of opportunities for others to pass him 67 00:03:28,587 --> 00:03:30,987 Speaker 3: or for him to pass or what's the what's the 68 00:03:31,027 --> 00:03:32,947 Speaker 3: course like so. 69 00:03:33,067 --> 00:03:35,747 Speaker 4: Back who is a very interesting track. Sector is one, 70 00:03:35,867 --> 00:03:38,027 Speaker 4: so it's a traditional sort of street track, which means 71 00:03:38,067 --> 00:03:39,787 Speaker 4: you sort of think, okay, it's going to be tight 72 00:03:39,867 --> 00:03:41,147 Speaker 4: for me, narrow, there's not going to be too many 73 00:03:41,147 --> 00:03:43,907 Speaker 4: opportunities to pass. Sector one and two would definitely like that. 74 00:03:44,027 --> 00:03:45,787 Speaker 4: Sector one. There is a lot of sort of ninety 75 00:03:45,787 --> 00:03:48,867 Speaker 4: degree turns which you can't sort of take at full toddle, 76 00:03:48,907 --> 00:03:50,827 Speaker 4: and that's where a lot of guys ran into trouble 77 00:03:51,387 --> 00:03:54,147 Speaker 4: heading the warm and getting those red flags. Sector three, though, 78 00:03:54,307 --> 00:03:56,627 Speaker 4: is flat out you get the very long back straight 79 00:03:56,707 --> 00:03:59,227 Speaker 4: where you do have a lot of opportunity to overpass, 80 00:03:59,547 --> 00:04:02,947 Speaker 4: to overtake rather and I think promisingly for Len Lawson, 81 00:04:02,987 --> 00:04:05,547 Speaker 4: he was the quickest through Sector three in both of 82 00:04:05,627 --> 00:04:07,867 Speaker 4: the Friday sessions. I haven't actually looked at last night 83 00:04:07,947 --> 00:04:10,307 Speaker 4: because I was just too wrapped up in getting a 84 00:04:10,307 --> 00:04:12,267 Speaker 4: story to get it. But there are definitely good signs 85 00:04:12,307 --> 00:04:14,547 Speaker 4: that he will be able to potentially move up. However, 86 00:04:14,547 --> 00:04:17,507 Speaker 4: he does have maxistappen in front of them, So whether 87 00:04:17,587 --> 00:04:20,107 Speaker 4: or not he'll be able to get around his former teammate, 88 00:04:20,147 --> 00:04:23,107 Speaker 4: I would be very doubtful, but there is definitely enough 89 00:04:23,187 --> 00:04:25,107 Speaker 4: there for him to have a very good result tonight. 90 00:04:25,907 --> 00:04:28,107 Speaker 3: He hasn't raised Formula one on the circuit, but he 91 00:04:28,147 --> 00:04:31,787 Speaker 3: does have Formula two experience here, so. 92 00:04:31,787 --> 00:04:33,947 Speaker 4: I mean, funnily enough, has lasted with the Tobacco back 93 00:04:33,947 --> 00:04:36,507 Speaker 4: in twenty twenty two he did get third. I think 94 00:04:36,547 --> 00:04:38,867 Speaker 4: he qualified a bit further down, was able to pull 95 00:04:38,907 --> 00:04:43,507 Speaker 4: off some overtakes during that sort of sprint race. So yeah, 96 00:04:42,787 --> 00:04:46,467 Speaker 4: it's not a circuit where he's underprepared for anything like that. 97 00:04:46,507 --> 00:04:48,307 Speaker 4: He does have the experience on it, which I think 98 00:04:48,387 --> 00:04:50,987 Speaker 4: has already shown over the last couple of days. 99 00:04:51,787 --> 00:04:53,547 Speaker 3: I guess when you look at at a grid in 100 00:04:53,587 --> 00:04:55,587 Speaker 3: Formula one at the moment, you expect to see the 101 00:04:55,707 --> 00:05:00,267 Speaker 3: McLaren's up there near the front, Lando Norris seventh, oscar 102 00:05:00,307 --> 00:05:04,067 Speaker 3: Ps three ninth on the grid. That doesn't really help Liam, 103 00:05:04,107 --> 00:05:06,387 Speaker 3: does it Having the two fastest cars behind. 104 00:05:07,387 --> 00:05:09,987 Speaker 4: No, But I mean we've seen Lando Norris be quick 105 00:05:10,027 --> 00:05:12,587 Speaker 4: on the Friday and the little bit and the third 106 00:05:12,587 --> 00:05:15,947 Speaker 4: and final practice yesterday, But McLaren have sort of battled 107 00:05:16,387 --> 00:05:18,267 Speaker 4: not just this week, we think to the last race 108 00:05:18,307 --> 00:05:20,827 Speaker 4: as well at Monza, trying to be able to be 109 00:05:21,027 --> 00:05:24,027 Speaker 4: fast on these sort of low downforce circuits where you 110 00:05:24,147 --> 00:05:26,587 Speaker 4: basically can just fly like and that's why we've seen 111 00:05:26,587 --> 00:05:29,267 Speaker 4: Maxistaffer come into it with two pole positions in a row. 112 00:05:29,307 --> 00:05:31,867 Speaker 4: And of course the win at Monza, whether or not 113 00:05:31,907 --> 00:05:34,667 Speaker 4: the McLaren's will have the race pace to get around 114 00:05:35,307 --> 00:05:39,267 Speaker 4: enough traffic to overtake Lan Wilson, I wouldn't be too 115 00:05:39,267 --> 00:05:42,067 Speaker 4: surprised because they are just two very fast cars. But 116 00:05:42,107 --> 00:05:44,347 Speaker 4: also let's not forget we've got Isaac Hadgard down in 117 00:05:44,387 --> 00:05:46,867 Speaker 4: P eight Sandwich between them. So I mean, if he 118 00:05:46,907 --> 00:05:48,867 Speaker 4: can play the team game the way Lanlilson did for 119 00:05:48,947 --> 00:05:50,827 Speaker 4: him and Monaco, he should be able to at least, 120 00:05:50,947 --> 00:05:52,747 Speaker 4: or hope you be able to at least keep Piastre 121 00:05:52,827 --> 00:05:53,307 Speaker 4: off his back. 122 00:05:53,907 --> 00:05:55,987 Speaker 3: We always looked on we thought Isaac had yarb because 123 00:05:56,347 --> 00:05:59,107 Speaker 3: you are continually telling me that we need to compare 124 00:05:59,147 --> 00:06:01,787 Speaker 3: Liam against his teammate. Others are as well, but some 125 00:06:01,827 --> 00:06:03,907 Speaker 3: of them not as as stude as you. So how 126 00:06:03,947 --> 00:06:08,387 Speaker 3: did Isaac go? And you know is it like, is 127 00:06:08,427 --> 00:06:09,987 Speaker 3: Liam a better driver than Isaac Hadja. 128 00:06:11,347 --> 00:06:13,867 Speaker 4: It's hard to say Hagi didn't do too flashy. He 129 00:06:13,947 --> 00:06:17,587 Speaker 4: didn't so other than Q one last night, Limb has 130 00:06:17,587 --> 00:06:20,067 Speaker 4: been faster than Hajar all weekend. Whether or not that's 131 00:06:20,107 --> 00:06:24,107 Speaker 4: down to experience Abaku, who knows Haji did complain about 132 00:06:24,107 --> 00:06:27,667 Speaker 4: the high winds during qualifying. Is lim a better driver? 133 00:06:28,787 --> 00:06:31,747 Speaker 4: It's the window is such a it's such a small 134 00:06:31,787 --> 00:06:34,387 Speaker 4: sample szed to compare, and Hagi does have the better results. 135 00:06:34,387 --> 00:06:36,227 Speaker 4: But whether or not that's down to the blow that 136 00:06:36,387 --> 00:06:38,587 Speaker 4: Limb's taken to his confidence after what's happened this year 137 00:06:38,667 --> 00:06:40,507 Speaker 4: or not, it's probably for him to say. 138 00:06:41,547 --> 00:06:44,027 Speaker 3: Yuki Sonoda's had an unhappy time, hasn't he since he 139 00:06:44,067 --> 00:06:46,067 Speaker 3: took over the second Red Bull seat? But he had 140 00:06:46,067 --> 00:06:48,867 Speaker 3: a He's what six on the grid, that's a that's 141 00:06:48,907 --> 00:06:52,027 Speaker 3: a rare top team for hims. They'd be reasonably happy. 142 00:06:52,027 --> 00:06:52,987 Speaker 3: What are Yuki Sonoda? 143 00:06:54,467 --> 00:06:56,587 Speaker 4: Yuki Snow's actually had quite a weird season. So the 144 00:06:56,627 --> 00:06:59,307 Speaker 4: issues with being Maxi Stappins team over the last couple 145 00:06:59,307 --> 00:07:01,267 Speaker 4: of years we saw with Sergio Periz and I mean 146 00:07:01,307 --> 00:07:03,707 Speaker 4: two races with Lim Lawson was that they actually qualified 147 00:07:03,707 --> 00:07:06,627 Speaker 4: really poorly. The race pace was there, Yuki Snow's another 148 00:07:06,627 --> 00:07:09,427 Speaker 4: way around. He doesn't actually qualify that badly. He just 149 00:07:09,427 --> 00:07:11,347 Speaker 4: goes backwards in the race. So whether or not he 150 00:07:11,467 --> 00:07:15,587 Speaker 4: is still six come the check and flag tonight will 151 00:07:15,627 --> 00:07:17,707 Speaker 4: be very interesting to see. But like we saw it Monza, 152 00:07:17,747 --> 00:07:19,627 Speaker 4: he went backwards and ended up tangling with laws and 153 00:07:19,987 --> 00:07:21,147 Speaker 4: sort of ruined his own race. 154 00:07:22,267 --> 00:07:24,347 Speaker 3: Question for you on text, here can max the stap 155 00:07:24,347 --> 00:07:27,507 Speaker 3: and still win the driver's title mathematically? 156 00:07:27,587 --> 00:07:30,547 Speaker 4: I'm sure he probably could. I have not done those sums, however, 157 00:07:30,667 --> 00:07:34,267 Speaker 4: I would be amazed if McLaren continued to have runs 158 00:07:34,347 --> 00:07:37,067 Speaker 4: like this where they're not consistently scoring at the front 159 00:07:37,067 --> 00:07:39,187 Speaker 4: of the grid to drop enough points that opened it 160 00:07:39,267 --> 00:07:41,267 Speaker 4: for this happened, but you never know. This is motorsport 161 00:07:41,907 --> 00:07:42,267 Speaker 4: all right. 162 00:07:42,307 --> 00:07:44,587 Speaker 3: Back to Liam then to finish. If he does in 163 00:07:44,627 --> 00:07:48,107 Speaker 3: fact get on the podium, how should we regard that achievement? 164 00:07:49,427 --> 00:07:53,027 Speaker 4: Ah, I mean it would be fantastic for him. That's 165 00:07:53,267 --> 00:07:56,187 Speaker 4: you first and foremost. So I mean, in isolation, it's great, 166 00:07:56,187 --> 00:07:58,627 Speaker 4: it's has best results until it's not. In the year 167 00:07:58,667 --> 00:08:01,347 Speaker 4: obviously gets a chance to better it. I think if 168 00:08:01,387 --> 00:08:03,147 Speaker 4: he can do it from where he is now, on 169 00:08:03,307 --> 00:08:07,107 Speaker 4: hold P three or even improve. I think it would 170 00:08:07,147 --> 00:08:08,827 Speaker 4: be one of the sporting stories of the year, just 171 00:08:08,867 --> 00:08:11,387 Speaker 4: because of the context of what's gone into everything that's 172 00:08:11,387 --> 00:08:12,387 Speaker 4: happened to him this year. 173 00:08:13,867 --> 00:08:16,587 Speaker 3: All right, well, well, we will certainly be watching eleven 174 00:08:16,587 --> 00:08:18,947 Speaker 3: o'clock start tonight New Zealand time. Is that correct? 175 00:08:19,507 --> 00:08:21,347 Speaker 4: Yeah? Early one? 176 00:08:22,547 --> 00:08:24,227 Speaker 3: And how long does a race normally takes? So I 177 00:08:24,267 --> 00:08:26,867 Speaker 3: think people who want to push through, so how long 178 00:08:26,907 --> 00:08:28,707 Speaker 3: will they have to stay up for a couple of hours? 179 00:08:29,507 --> 00:08:31,107 Speaker 4: About an hour and a half normally if there's no 180 00:08:31,107 --> 00:08:33,027 Speaker 4: red flags, iuch mean, there's no guarantee. We might have 181 00:08:33,107 --> 00:08:35,307 Speaker 4: seen them all last night. But if anyone feel about 182 00:08:35,347 --> 00:08:37,187 Speaker 4: heading the wall, I imagine that will delay things a 183 00:08:37,227 --> 00:08:37,587 Speaker 4: little bit. 184 00:08:38,107 --> 00:08:41,187 Speaker 3: All right, manageable then manageable. I noticed that you were 185 00:08:41,227 --> 00:08:44,107 Speaker 3: still filing your stories at about half past two this morning, 186 00:08:44,107 --> 00:08:46,547 Speaker 3: so I appreciate you you're getting up and having a yard 187 00:08:46,547 --> 00:08:48,827 Speaker 3: to us. Look forward to reading your race analysis on 188 00:08:48,867 --> 00:08:51,387 Speaker 3: the Herald website in the paper in the next twenty 189 00:08:51,387 --> 00:08:53,947 Speaker 3: four hours or saying thanks for your time, yes, Bunny, 190 00:08:54,307 --> 00:08:57,027 Speaker 3: Well the best. Alex pale Reata at enziherld dot co 191 00:08:57,187 --> 00:09:00,667 Speaker 3: dot nz a Studo Motive Sport analysis eleven o'clock tonight 192 00:09:00,707 --> 00:09:05,547 Speaker 3: the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with Liam Lawson starting from third 193 00:09:05,747 --> 00:09:08,187 Speaker 3: on the grip that is the highest he's ever qualified. 194 00:09:08,427 --> 00:09:10,987 Speaker 3: Max for Stappen and Carlos Signs are on the front 195 00:09:11,067 --> 00:09:14,267 Speaker 3: row of the grid in Red Bull and William's respectively, 196 00:09:14,387 --> 00:09:18,227 Speaker 3: Kimmy and Toonelli and the Mercedes alongside Liam Lawson is fourth, 197 00:09:18,427 --> 00:09:21,667 Speaker 3: then George Russell, Yuki Sonoda, Orlando Norris, the first of 198 00:09:21,667 --> 00:09:25,787 Speaker 3: the McLaren's, Isaac Hadger, Liam Lawson's racing Balls, teammate Oscar 199 00:09:25,827 --> 00:09:29,507 Speaker 3: Piastre and charl Leclair in the Ferrari making up the 200 00:09:29,507 --> 00:09:30,227 Speaker 3: top ten. 201 00:09:31,387 --> 00:09:34,547 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live 202 00:09:34,667 --> 00:09:37,947 Speaker 1: to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow 203 00:09:37,987 --> 00:09:39,547 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio