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 --> 00:00:12,027 Speaker 1: from News Talk SEDB. 3 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:17,107 Speaker 2: Talking Formula One on the program now, Liam Lawson yesterday 4 00:00:17,187 --> 00:00:19,387 Speaker 2: picked up his first points of the season. 5 00:00:19,707 --> 00:00:20,387 Speaker 3: This battle is. 6 00:00:20,387 --> 00:00:23,107 Speaker 2: Still going on behind Liam laws and will make it 7 00:00:23,147 --> 00:00:26,267 Speaker 2: to the line just ahead oh Volley Fairman who plays 8 00:00:26,307 --> 00:00:29,947 Speaker 2: the final points place and finished four tenths ahead of 9 00:00:30,187 --> 00:00:34,867 Speaker 2: Max for Stafford. We joined it now by Michael Lemonato 10 00:00:35,227 --> 00:00:38,507 Speaker 2: is Formula one writer if I credited to Boot Out 11 00:00:38,507 --> 00:00:44,107 Speaker 2: of Australia talking about the Formula One Michael, welcome on borderways. 12 00:00:44,107 --> 00:00:46,867 Speaker 2: Great to talk race cars with you. So have we 13 00:00:46,987 --> 00:00:49,747 Speaker 2: learned anything after Sprinton qualifying yesterday? 14 00:00:50,827 --> 00:00:51,467 Speaker 3: Well, we've learned. 15 00:00:51,507 --> 00:00:53,427 Speaker 4: I think that a lot of the lessons we gained 16 00:00:53,467 --> 00:00:55,067 Speaker 4: in Australia are still. 17 00:00:54,787 --> 00:00:56,107 Speaker 3: Holding, even if it's very different. 18 00:00:56,147 --> 00:00:59,667 Speaker 4: Fact that is, Mercedes is very fast, perhaps a less 19 00:00:59,707 --> 00:01:03,747 Speaker 4: so in charge, more conventional circle, but also accounting for 20 00:01:03,827 --> 00:01:06,187 Speaker 4: the fact that every team learned quite a bit in 21 00:01:06,347 --> 00:01:08,427 Speaker 4: album was able to optimize things a little bit more, 22 00:01:08,707 --> 00:01:11,827 Speaker 4: I think we can say after the sprint that Ferrari's 23 00:01:11,987 --> 00:01:15,627 Speaker 4: race pace isn't so far though it was interesting to 24 00:01:15,627 --> 00:01:18,947 Speaker 4: hear Charlotte Clair look afterwards about acknowledging that, but then 25 00:01:18,987 --> 00:01:21,347 Speaker 4: saying they don't really know why and they can't explain it. 26 00:01:21,387 --> 00:01:22,947 Speaker 4: So there's a bit of up and down in that 27 00:01:23,027 --> 00:01:25,307 Speaker 4: as well. And then we've got a bit of a 28 00:01:25,347 --> 00:01:28,267 Speaker 4: gap to McClaren, but then a massive gap to Red 29 00:01:28,307 --> 00:01:30,547 Speaker 4: Bull Racing. At least at a track like this, they're 30 00:01:30,587 --> 00:01:32,947 Speaker 4: pretty much down in the midfield. They were out qualified 31 00:01:32,947 --> 00:01:36,187 Speaker 4: by Alpine and that was the same in the Spring Maximus. 32 00:01:35,867 --> 00:01:38,347 Speaker 3: To haven't really downcast after the sprints thing. 33 00:01:38,867 --> 00:01:40,787 Speaker 4: Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong. They've 34 00:01:40,787 --> 00:01:42,707 Speaker 4: got no pace cutters and work, no bounds. There's a 35 00:01:42,787 --> 00:01:46,467 Speaker 4: huge list of problems. So still the same order. I 36 00:01:46,507 --> 00:01:49,187 Speaker 4: think from Australia we've learned a little bit more about 37 00:01:49,187 --> 00:01:51,627 Speaker 4: the detail and where exactly those cars are all sitting 38 00:01:51,627 --> 00:01:52,107 Speaker 4: in China. 39 00:01:52,787 --> 00:01:56,027 Speaker 2: What also we picked up that Liam Lawson given half 40 00:01:56,027 --> 00:01:59,547 Speaker 2: a chance, isn't that bad a pedler and his decision 41 00:01:59,947 --> 00:02:03,627 Speaker 2: or his team's decision to run a hard compound during 42 00:02:03,667 --> 00:02:07,227 Speaker 2: that it worked pretty well for him. Maybe the safety 43 00:02:07,267 --> 00:02:09,467 Speaker 2: car kind of helped or maybe it handed. I'm not 44 00:02:09,507 --> 00:02:11,187 Speaker 2: really sure. At the end of that, where did you 45 00:02:11,227 --> 00:02:14,027 Speaker 2: see that going? Because you think he could have lasted 46 00:02:14,107 --> 00:02:15,907 Speaker 2: a bit longer. Maybe he could have come and I 47 00:02:15,907 --> 00:02:16,747 Speaker 2: accidently don't know. 48 00:02:16,867 --> 00:02:21,347 Speaker 4: Michael, Yeah, it's tough to say because he's essentially held 49 00:02:21,347 --> 00:02:23,467 Speaker 4: the position that he had before the safety car at 50 00:02:23,507 --> 00:02:26,267 Speaker 4: the flag but bend he didn't get caught out in 51 00:02:27,067 --> 00:02:29,507 Speaker 4: the pit stop drama. Of course, most cars pitted, so 52 00:02:29,587 --> 00:02:32,227 Speaker 4: the pit lane was very busy. Having started on the 53 00:02:32,307 --> 00:02:34,987 Speaker 4: hard tire meant that did he need to pit anyway, 54 00:02:35,067 --> 00:02:36,427 Speaker 4: so he may as well have had to go. 55 00:02:36,547 --> 00:02:37,587 Speaker 3: But it was. 56 00:02:37,467 --> 00:02:40,027 Speaker 4: Interesting to see because that would have been around sixteen 57 00:02:40,107 --> 00:02:43,747 Speaker 4: laps deep into the sprint. His tires were still feeling 58 00:02:43,787 --> 00:02:46,667 Speaker 4: pretty aged by the time the race three started. A 59 00:02:46,667 --> 00:02:48,787 Speaker 4: couple of drivers passed the music but still scored points, 60 00:02:48,987 --> 00:02:51,187 Speaker 4: which is important for racing books. But that does mean 61 00:02:51,827 --> 00:02:54,507 Speaker 4: he's got one fewer heart going into the Grand Prix, 62 00:02:54,987 --> 00:02:58,787 Speaker 4: and given how high tire usage was in that sprint, 63 00:02:59,107 --> 00:03:00,907 Speaker 4: including as I said, on him and the hard tire, 64 00:03:01,147 --> 00:03:03,107 Speaker 4: we'll have to see how that pans out for him 65 00:03:03,187 --> 00:03:05,747 Speaker 4: in the Grand Prix. But considering that points on the 66 00:03:05,747 --> 00:03:07,867 Speaker 4: board are in, they saw a chance to get points 67 00:03:07,867 --> 00:03:09,387 Speaker 4: in the sprint. He got that point in the spring, 68 00:03:09,427 --> 00:03:10,707 Speaker 4: or I got a couple of points in the sprint. 69 00:03:11,307 --> 00:03:13,667 Speaker 4: The outcomes kind of there and now I touched them 70 00:03:13,667 --> 00:03:15,547 Speaker 4: to see what they can make of the raids as far. 71 00:03:15,427 --> 00:03:18,467 Speaker 2: As surprises and qualifying. Look, we look at the top 72 00:03:18,547 --> 00:03:21,747 Speaker 2: six cars. We all saw that coming. Pierre Ghastly has 73 00:03:21,787 --> 00:03:25,307 Speaker 2: got to be a surprise mentioned in the Lpene popping 74 00:03:25,347 --> 00:03:28,107 Speaker 2: in ahead of the Stepen. But you look at the 75 00:03:28,147 --> 00:03:33,787 Speaker 2: performance of Bearman of Holkenberg. They put in a pretty 76 00:03:33,827 --> 00:03:37,107 Speaker 2: good show, didn't they. Unless I forget Esteban Ochen. We 77 00:03:37,227 --> 00:03:38,547 Speaker 2: love the Harsh team. 78 00:03:39,267 --> 00:03:43,387 Speaker 4: Yeah, well, three eleven places in an open Nico Holgenberg 79 00:03:43,427 --> 00:03:44,507 Speaker 4: and all of them. I have to try and to 80 00:03:44,507 --> 00:03:46,507 Speaker 4: remember what it was in Australia, but all of them 81 00:03:46,547 --> 00:03:49,667 Speaker 4: really narrow. I think it was true thousandths of a 82 00:03:49,707 --> 00:03:51,347 Speaker 4: second that he missed out on a top ten. So 83 00:03:51,427 --> 00:03:53,707 Speaker 4: how are the actually doing? I think a lot better 84 00:03:53,747 --> 00:03:56,667 Speaker 4: than pre season expectations suggested they would be there right 85 00:03:56,707 --> 00:03:59,667 Speaker 4: on the cusp. Of course got points last weekend as. 86 00:03:59,507 --> 00:04:01,427 Speaker 3: Well, so they're looking really good. 87 00:04:01,467 --> 00:04:03,467 Speaker 4: But Alpine, as you say, a little bit of a 88 00:04:03,467 --> 00:04:07,067 Speaker 4: surprise based on Australia where they were kind of just 89 00:04:07,067 --> 00:04:08,867 Speaker 4: a bit nowhere. But then I guess we should remember 90 00:04:08,907 --> 00:04:10,947 Speaker 4: that Australia being a bit nowa was also a bit 91 00:04:10,987 --> 00:04:13,347 Speaker 4: of surprise because they looked good in pre season testing, 92 00:04:13,427 --> 00:04:16,747 Speaker 4: so this feels a bit more. It's probably a little 93 00:04:16,747 --> 00:04:19,067 Speaker 4: bit better a Vidly qualifying a red Bull Racing guard, 94 00:04:19,107 --> 00:04:21,947 Speaker 4: but being in the top ten probably feels a bit 95 00:04:21,947 --> 00:04:24,067 Speaker 4: more where Alpines thought they would be in hoped they 96 00:04:24,067 --> 00:04:25,907 Speaker 4: would be at the start of the season. He executed 97 00:04:25,907 --> 00:04:27,907 Speaker 4: really well. I think when you give Pierre Gasly a 98 00:04:27,947 --> 00:04:30,387 Speaker 4: car he can drive, he tends to get the most 99 00:04:30,387 --> 00:04:31,987 Speaker 4: out of it if it doesn't have too many problems, 100 00:04:32,227 --> 00:04:34,867 Speaker 4: and that's exactly what happened here, comfortably out qualified and 101 00:04:34,907 --> 00:04:37,027 Speaker 4: his teammate Franco Colofindo, who did get out of Q 102 00:04:37,187 --> 00:04:39,387 Speaker 4: one though it's a little bit of success for him there. 103 00:04:39,387 --> 00:04:42,027 Speaker 4: And then all of the Benmen and Estevanokon. He's an 104 00:04:42,107 --> 00:04:45,627 Speaker 4: increasingly I think interesting comparison. Even early in the season 105 00:04:45,867 --> 00:04:47,147 Speaker 4: Bemen in another top ten. 106 00:04:47,547 --> 00:04:49,427 Speaker 3: He really looks like he stepped. 107 00:04:49,107 --> 00:04:51,147 Speaker 4: Up from last year when he was clearly fast. But 108 00:04:51,227 --> 00:04:53,187 Speaker 4: we haven't really seen any big mistakes in him this 109 00:04:53,267 --> 00:04:55,867 Speaker 4: year in the way we did last year, and he's really. 110 00:04:55,667 --> 00:04:56,987 Speaker 3: Shading Estevaocon Now. 111 00:04:57,027 --> 00:04:59,267 Speaker 4: I know Achon thinks he would have made the top 112 00:04:59,307 --> 00:05:01,467 Speaker 4: ten had the yellow flag not come out late. 113 00:05:01,387 --> 00:05:04,107 Speaker 3: For Gabrielle bortolto Inqujune and he was up. 114 00:05:04,227 --> 00:05:05,307 Speaker 4: We don't know if he would have made it, but 115 00:05:05,347 --> 00:05:07,147 Speaker 4: he certainly was up on his best lap time up 116 00:05:07,187 --> 00:05:10,027 Speaker 4: to that point. But it's just again that he's being 117 00:05:10,067 --> 00:05:13,147 Speaker 4: beaten by this driver much younger and much less experienced 118 00:05:13,187 --> 00:05:15,907 Speaker 4: than him in a brand new car. Where well, it's 119 00:05:15,947 --> 00:05:17,947 Speaker 4: a bit up for debate, but generally speaking we think 120 00:05:17,987 --> 00:05:19,747 Speaker 4: experienced drivers have a bit of an edge when the 121 00:05:19,827 --> 00:05:23,027 Speaker 4: rules change like this. It's an interesting position to rock 122 00:05:23,107 --> 00:05:24,707 Speaker 4: on to be and still very early days. Of course, 123 00:05:24,707 --> 00:05:27,067 Speaker 4: we're only halfway through the second round of the season, 124 00:05:27,507 --> 00:05:30,267 Speaker 4: but that's a sort of developing storyline already. I think 125 00:05:30,267 --> 00:05:30,867 Speaker 4: this year. 126 00:05:31,067 --> 00:05:36,027 Speaker 2: Interesting theory though, that the new drivers, especially the singular 127 00:05:36,107 --> 00:05:38,707 Speaker 2: rookie in the park, they don't know what the other 128 00:05:38,787 --> 00:05:40,987 Speaker 2: cars were like, so this is all they know in 129 00:05:41,107 --> 00:05:44,787 Speaker 2: Formula One, so if anything, when it comes to adaptation, 130 00:05:44,947 --> 00:05:46,787 Speaker 2: they're probably in the box seat. 131 00:05:46,867 --> 00:05:49,987 Speaker 4: Michael, I think there is a degree of that. Like 132 00:05:49,987 --> 00:05:52,227 Speaker 4: we've seen Arvid Lindblad, that one rookie. He's been pretty 133 00:05:52,227 --> 00:05:53,747 Speaker 4: good this year. He's had a bit of a patchy 134 00:05:53,787 --> 00:05:56,587 Speaker 4: weekend this weekend but I think that really stems from 135 00:05:56,587 --> 00:05:58,547 Speaker 4: the fact that he was out of practice one practice 136 00:05:58,587 --> 00:06:00,627 Speaker 4: session I think it was about fifteen minutes in and 137 00:06:00,907 --> 00:06:03,667 Speaker 4: laps just counters so much with these cars because they're learning. 138 00:06:03,427 --> 00:06:06,507 Speaker 3: So much every lap. I think, actually, I think the. 139 00:06:06,547 --> 00:06:08,907 Speaker 4: Rookie thing count the younger drivers have tended to be 140 00:06:08,907 --> 00:06:11,787 Speaker 4: good like. We haven't seen that the younger guys suddenly disappear. 141 00:06:11,787 --> 00:06:13,827 Speaker 4: In fact, we've probably sent the opposite for most of them. 142 00:06:14,067 --> 00:06:17,987 Speaker 4: But I think it's the drivers who understand how they 143 00:06:18,067 --> 00:06:21,067 Speaker 4: drive the car who are the ones getting the most 144 00:06:21,107 --> 00:06:22,827 Speaker 4: out of it, because they're the ones who can adapt. 145 00:06:22,827 --> 00:06:24,907 Speaker 3: It's the drivers perhaps who have. 146 00:06:24,987 --> 00:06:27,147 Speaker 4: Historically just got in the car and driven it and 147 00:06:27,187 --> 00:06:30,787 Speaker 4: I don't know why they're fast, who can't unpick their 148 00:06:30,907 --> 00:06:33,187 Speaker 4: driving styles to make sure they work with his car. 149 00:06:33,307 --> 00:06:34,907 Speaker 3: We can still see a lot of learning going on 150 00:06:34,987 --> 00:06:35,467 Speaker 3: in that sense. 151 00:06:35,507 --> 00:06:38,107 Speaker 4: Anyway, I think it was interesting to hear it may 152 00:06:38,107 --> 00:06:39,867 Speaker 4: have been Oliver Baerman. Now they cast me to run 153 00:06:39,947 --> 00:06:41,667 Speaker 4: back to a couple of days ago who were sort 154 00:06:41,667 --> 00:06:44,147 Speaker 4: of saying, you know, he's last lap in qualifying. He 155 00:06:44,227 --> 00:06:45,667 Speaker 4: just thrashed the car like he would have been an 156 00:06:45,667 --> 00:06:48,307 Speaker 4: old car and went slower, so it's things like that 157 00:06:48,627 --> 00:06:51,067 Speaker 4: where drivers have to if they understand what they're doing, 158 00:06:51,307 --> 00:06:54,067 Speaker 4: they're getting games. But if they're not understanding how their 159 00:06:54,147 --> 00:06:57,627 Speaker 4: driving style communicates with these cars, then they end up 160 00:06:57,667 --> 00:07:00,507 Speaker 4: a bit lost. I think that that'll unfold them more 161 00:07:00,627 --> 00:07:02,587 Speaker 4: subtle sizes we get in the more races we go to. 162 00:07:03,107 --> 00:07:08,947 Speaker 2: To the Australasians Oscar prestree first, this is well, I'm 163 00:07:08,947 --> 00:07:10,867 Speaker 2: not quite sure what to make of Oscar and he's 164 00:07:10,867 --> 00:07:13,987 Speaker 2: probably scratching his head as well, but look he's on 165 00:07:14,027 --> 00:07:16,787 Speaker 2: the grid. He's sitting in fifth place. Do you feel 166 00:07:16,827 --> 00:07:20,787 Speaker 2: this room for him to move? Of course, Lando Norris 167 00:07:20,907 --> 00:07:24,027 Speaker 2: and defence of his championships not looking great at his 168 00:07:24,107 --> 00:07:27,507 Speaker 2: only early doors right there and thereabouts. From an Australian 169 00:07:27,547 --> 00:07:29,147 Speaker 2: point of view, where does Oscar sit? 170 00:07:30,147 --> 00:07:31,907 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean it's good first of all for him 171 00:07:31,907 --> 00:07:34,027 Speaker 4: to have got some laps on the board after crashing 172 00:07:34,027 --> 00:07:34,267 Speaker 4: out of. 173 00:07:34,267 --> 00:07:37,227 Speaker 3: The Conoissan's laughs last week, so he started he sees him. 174 00:07:37,227 --> 00:07:38,907 Speaker 4: He's got a couple of points as well, so good 175 00:07:38,947 --> 00:07:42,907 Speaker 4: news for him. But unfortunately the story of this weekend 176 00:07:42,907 --> 00:07:45,267 Speaker 4: has been On the one hand, McLaren feels like they 177 00:07:45,267 --> 00:07:47,987 Speaker 4: have made progress based on last week and qualifying times 178 00:07:47,987 --> 00:07:50,867 Speaker 4: suggest they have. They've got closer to Mercedes, but there's 179 00:07:50,907 --> 00:07:52,027 Speaker 4: still nowhere near Mercedes. 180 00:07:52,027 --> 00:07:53,467 Speaker 3: And this is the problem. They're in this sort of 181 00:07:53,987 --> 00:07:55,867 Speaker 3: singular group of just him. 182 00:07:55,667 --> 00:07:58,267 Speaker 4: And Lando Dorris feeling from Osco Piastri's perspective, that are 183 00:07:58,267 --> 00:08:01,267 Speaker 4: a little bit behind Ferrari at this race, certainly ahead 184 00:08:01,267 --> 00:08:03,067 Speaker 4: of Red Bull. They were roughly on par with Red 185 00:08:03,067 --> 00:08:07,387 Speaker 4: Bull in Melbourne, and that's just reflected of where the 186 00:08:07,467 --> 00:08:09,027 Speaker 4: car is. And I think you sort of listened to 187 00:08:09,107 --> 00:08:12,387 Speaker 4: Lando and noros Roscopyastri talk they're not so unhappy with 188 00:08:12,427 --> 00:08:14,907 Speaker 4: the car. Slot of the car is driving badly. This 189 00:08:14,987 --> 00:08:16,547 Speaker 4: is just where it is, you know, it's just not 190 00:08:16,667 --> 00:08:19,067 Speaker 4: as fast, doesn't have the same group, still doesn't have 191 00:08:19,107 --> 00:08:21,347 Speaker 4: the same power of the Mercedes. But then they've closed 192 00:08:21,347 --> 00:08:23,107 Speaker 4: that gap a little bit by understanding the endine a 193 00:08:23,107 --> 00:08:27,067 Speaker 4: little bit more so. Unfortunately without some chaos up front, 194 00:08:27,147 --> 00:08:29,307 Speaker 4: and we do have teammates starting side by side with 195 00:08:29,387 --> 00:08:32,347 Speaker 4: Mercedes and Ferrari, which does tend to sometimes break chaos. 196 00:08:33,027 --> 00:08:35,227 Speaker 4: A podium is probably out of the question for McLaren 197 00:08:35,227 --> 00:08:37,427 Speaker 4: this week. And then, like you say, bad news for 198 00:08:37,507 --> 00:08:40,507 Speaker 4: Landa Norris's title defense, because right now it's going to 199 00:08:40,507 --> 00:08:42,667 Speaker 4: need some big steps from McLaren just to get into 200 00:08:42,707 --> 00:08:43,147 Speaker 4: that mix. 201 00:08:43,667 --> 00:08:46,827 Speaker 2: We're joined by Michael Lamonatto from Fox Sport. And if 202 00:08:46,867 --> 00:08:53,587 Speaker 2: I accredited Formula one writer Liam Lawson squeezed and Q 203 00:08:53,907 --> 00:08:57,427 Speaker 2: two couldn't quite get up. He possibly could have done, 204 00:08:57,547 --> 00:09:00,987 Speaker 2: but of course, as you touched on before, Colopento drove 205 00:09:01,027 --> 00:09:03,507 Speaker 2: off the track and that kind of scuppered as chances 206 00:09:03,507 --> 00:09:06,827 Speaker 2: because those laps were getting faster and faster edge you'd 207 00:09:06,827 --> 00:09:08,627 Speaker 2: expect toward the end of Q two. 208 00:09:09,867 --> 00:09:10,707 Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly right. 209 00:09:10,747 --> 00:09:13,827 Speaker 4: The yellow flag prevented quite a few drivers in that 210 00:09:13,947 --> 00:09:16,107 Speaker 4: Q two zone from progressing, so he didn't get the 211 00:09:16,147 --> 00:09:19,027 Speaker 4: ultimate order I suppose of exactly where everyone since in 212 00:09:19,107 --> 00:09:20,747 Speaker 4: terms of paste. But I think it's been positive for 213 00:09:21,027 --> 00:09:23,107 Speaker 4: Liam and for Racing Bulls that they are. 214 00:09:23,307 --> 00:09:24,987 Speaker 3: In that mix. You know, it's always feels like. 215 00:09:24,947 --> 00:09:27,507 Speaker 4: A a bit of a guessing game trying to place 216 00:09:27,547 --> 00:09:29,067 Speaker 4: that team at the start of the season, because you 217 00:09:29,107 --> 00:09:30,467 Speaker 4: know they're never going to be quite on Red Bull 218 00:09:30,507 --> 00:09:33,187 Speaker 4: Racing's pace, but occasionally they kind of look like they're 219 00:09:33,187 --> 00:09:35,827 Speaker 4: actually very close, especially when regulations change like this and 220 00:09:35,827 --> 00:09:38,267 Speaker 4: they inevitably buy a lot of a lot of parts 221 00:09:38,267 --> 00:09:41,267 Speaker 4: from their sister team, so that's sort of interesting in 222 00:09:41,307 --> 00:09:43,787 Speaker 4: its own case. But yeah, he's been moving in really positively. 223 00:09:44,107 --> 00:09:45,427 Speaker 4: He's been getting a lot out of the car. I 224 00:09:45,427 --> 00:09:47,707 Speaker 4: think the test, of course is against Lind Bladd and 225 00:09:47,787 --> 00:09:49,947 Speaker 4: like we've said, it's been probably half a step behind 226 00:09:49,947 --> 00:09:51,787 Speaker 4: this weekend. But as long as you can keep ahead 227 00:09:51,787 --> 00:09:54,507 Speaker 4: of him, because Red Bull's been quite impressed with Lind 228 00:09:54,507 --> 00:09:57,147 Speaker 4: Baz or rookie they reckon his He's roughly where Isaac 229 00:09:57,187 --> 00:09:58,427 Speaker 4: Kadjar is and obviously Hadja. 230 00:09:58,227 --> 00:10:00,587 Speaker 3: Has been promoted to the senior team. Then that'll be 231 00:10:00,627 --> 00:10:04,147 Speaker 3: really important for Lawson to rebuild his reputation. 232 00:10:04,187 --> 00:10:06,027 Speaker 4: I guess, not that he has a bad reputation, but 233 00:10:06,027 --> 00:10:08,427 Speaker 4: obviously the battering last year, having to change teams and 234 00:10:08,467 --> 00:10:10,747 Speaker 4: having to rebuild himself a little bit, because I think, 235 00:10:10,747 --> 00:10:13,947 Speaker 4: as we've said before, notwithstanding Red Bulls under different management 236 00:10:13,987 --> 00:10:16,427 Speaker 4: these days, very rare for a driver to go quite 237 00:10:16,507 --> 00:10:17,027 Speaker 4: in fact. 238 00:10:16,867 --> 00:10:18,387 Speaker 3: Unheard of for a driver to go back to the 239 00:10:18,427 --> 00:10:19,907 Speaker 3: senior team. So to continue his. 240 00:10:19,827 --> 00:10:21,867 Speaker 4: F one career in the next couple of years, he's 241 00:10:22,027 --> 00:10:23,667 Speaker 4: likely going to have to find it outside the Red 242 00:10:23,667 --> 00:10:26,467 Speaker 4: Bull family. So every little success he has now will 243 00:10:26,507 --> 00:10:27,147 Speaker 4: contribute to that. 244 00:10:27,787 --> 00:10:32,707 Speaker 2: Angry Max first steppen and sitting down like he's got 245 00:10:32,707 --> 00:10:36,467 Speaker 2: his teammate right next to him. But watching him tear 246 00:10:36,587 --> 00:10:39,827 Speaker 2: through the I'm sure they don't like it, but off 247 00:10:39,867 --> 00:10:42,547 Speaker 2: the grid watching them tear through everybody else, at least 248 00:10:42,547 --> 00:10:45,547 Speaker 2: we get some good entertainment, even though Max is entirely 249 00:10:45,667 --> 00:10:47,827 Speaker 2: unhappy with what he's got underneath him. 250 00:10:48,627 --> 00:10:50,587 Speaker 4: Yeah, of course, he'd much prefer not to have to 251 00:10:50,587 --> 00:10:52,227 Speaker 4: be doing that. To be fair, most of his comeback 252 00:10:52,267 --> 00:10:55,187 Speaker 4: was because he had a terrible start. I guess that's 253 00:10:55,187 --> 00:10:57,467 Speaker 4: the second time a Red Bull drivers had a terrible start, right, 254 00:10:57,467 --> 00:11:00,267 Speaker 4: because Lawson had one in Melbourne. It'd be interesting to 255 00:11:00,267 --> 00:11:01,987 Speaker 4: see if there is a link there. But he was 256 00:11:02,027 --> 00:11:03,627 Speaker 4: down the twentieth by the first lap, so I had 257 00:11:03,707 --> 00:11:06,587 Speaker 4: quite a few cars to pass. But he was getting up, 258 00:11:06,627 --> 00:11:09,347 Speaker 4: finishing just outside the points in nine. But it felt 259 00:11:09,387 --> 00:11:11,827 Speaker 4: like already at that point it was kind of topping 260 00:11:11,907 --> 00:11:13,707 Speaker 4: out a little bit, that the pace was getting harder 261 00:11:13,707 --> 00:11:15,987 Speaker 4: and harder to manage it because he was getting too faster. 262 00:11:15,787 --> 00:11:18,467 Speaker 3: And faster cars. The safety car of course help necessarily either. 263 00:11:19,187 --> 00:11:21,147 Speaker 3: It'll be interesting to see in the race today. Starting 264 00:11:21,307 --> 00:11:22,427 Speaker 3: in the same place. 265 00:11:22,387 --> 00:11:23,987 Speaker 4: He was a little bit closer, he was less than 266 00:11:23,987 --> 00:11:26,387 Speaker 4: a second off pole, which is I mean that sort 267 00:11:26,387 --> 00:11:28,667 Speaker 4: of illustrates to you. Red Bull Racing is normally contending 268 00:11:28,667 --> 00:11:30,267 Speaker 4: for pole to be just less than a second off. 269 00:11:30,267 --> 00:11:32,387 Speaker 3: It is nothing to shout about. 270 00:11:32,467 --> 00:11:35,747 Speaker 4: But he's, as you said, really downcast. Doesn't love where 271 00:11:35,787 --> 00:11:38,307 Speaker 4: the cars at. The team suggested that it could be 272 00:11:38,347 --> 00:11:41,827 Speaker 4: actually because this track is let's say, more normal in 273 00:11:41,867 --> 00:11:44,747 Speaker 4: the sense the energy, the electrical energy is not at 274 00:11:44,747 --> 00:11:47,227 Speaker 4: a massive premium. The cars are actually working really well 275 00:11:47,227 --> 00:11:48,787 Speaker 4: with this track as opposed to Melbourne, where it was 276 00:11:48,827 --> 00:11:51,547 Speaker 4: all about the battery. But there's a lack of advantage 277 00:11:51,587 --> 00:11:52,987 Speaker 4: in Red Bull in that that Maybe the Red Bull 278 00:11:52,987 --> 00:11:55,347 Speaker 4: engine is very good at recovering energy and that's why 279 00:11:55,347 --> 00:11:58,427 Speaker 4: it looks competitive in Melbourne. But maybe this is actually 280 00:11:58,467 --> 00:12:00,987 Speaker 4: more where it really is at an average track. That 281 00:12:01,107 --> 00:12:04,107 Speaker 4: obviously Boat's even worse considering the average track is more 282 00:12:04,107 --> 00:12:07,107 Speaker 4: common over the course of the season. But get more information, 283 00:12:07,147 --> 00:12:09,067 Speaker 4: as is the case with this year and the new 284 00:12:09,147 --> 00:12:11,267 Speaker 4: ruled over the first couple of races. 285 00:12:11,187 --> 00:12:14,787 Speaker 2: Touched on the battery and how that is working. I 286 00:12:15,067 --> 00:12:18,147 Speaker 2: find it a distraction for the drivers. I don't know 287 00:12:18,187 --> 00:12:20,627 Speaker 2: if they need to be concentrating on that as opposed 288 00:12:20,627 --> 00:12:23,907 Speaker 2: to just driving. Is there any truth in my heart take. 289 00:12:26,067 --> 00:12:29,747 Speaker 4: To a degree like some drivers are paying more attention 290 00:12:29,827 --> 00:12:31,427 Speaker 4: to that they said this is that in Melbourne that 291 00:12:31,467 --> 00:12:34,267 Speaker 4: they were paying more attention to just having the battery 292 00:12:34,267 --> 00:12:36,307 Speaker 4: at the right level at the right time. I think 293 00:12:36,307 --> 00:12:38,227 Speaker 4: it's going to be very track dependent in China. It 294 00:12:38,227 --> 00:12:40,507 Speaker 4: seems like that's much less the case. In qualifying it 295 00:12:40,547 --> 00:12:41,027 Speaker 4: certainly was. 296 00:12:41,107 --> 00:12:42,587 Speaker 3: You know, we talked about Oliver Baman a little bit 297 00:12:42,627 --> 00:12:43,067 Speaker 3: earlier and. 298 00:12:43,267 --> 00:12:45,547 Speaker 4: He decided on his last qualifying lab not to think 299 00:12:45,587 --> 00:12:47,667 Speaker 4: about the management and ended up going slower. So I 300 00:12:47,667 --> 00:12:50,027 Speaker 4: think in qualifying it is, and that to my mind 301 00:12:50,107 --> 00:12:52,747 Speaker 4: is still a problem because qualifying, even in China, where 302 00:12:52,787 --> 00:12:55,347 Speaker 4: if you look at an onboard lap it looks close 303 00:12:55,427 --> 00:12:58,147 Speaker 4: to normal, you can still see areas where the car 304 00:12:58,227 --> 00:13:00,107 Speaker 4: is just really not being pushed towards limits. And I 305 00:13:00,147 --> 00:13:02,467 Speaker 4: think that is a shame in the race though, based 306 00:13:02,507 --> 00:13:03,947 Speaker 4: on the sprint, and we'll wait and see with the 307 00:13:03,987 --> 00:13:05,787 Speaker 4: Grand Prix as well today because that'll of course look 308 00:13:05,787 --> 00:13:07,947 Speaker 4: a little bit differ. And I think it's less sod 309 00:13:07,987 --> 00:13:10,347 Speaker 4: at track like this where the battery over the course 310 00:13:10,387 --> 00:13:12,627 Speaker 4: of a race he is just able to recharge itself 311 00:13:12,667 --> 00:13:14,507 Speaker 4: without the drivers having to do anything different. 312 00:13:15,227 --> 00:13:17,347 Speaker 3: In that case, they kind of race pretty much normally. 313 00:13:17,387 --> 00:13:18,307 Speaker 3: Of course we got this. 314 00:13:18,507 --> 00:13:20,547 Speaker 4: The boost button that we saw a lot of overtaking 315 00:13:20,547 --> 00:13:22,867 Speaker 4: between Hamilton and Russell is just one example. I expect 316 00:13:22,867 --> 00:13:25,747 Speaker 4: that to still play a role, but as long as 317 00:13:25,747 --> 00:13:29,067 Speaker 4: that doesn't mean that they're overthinking that. I don't see 318 00:13:29,067 --> 00:13:31,507 Speaker 4: that as too much different in TRS, which admittedly wasn't 319 00:13:31,547 --> 00:13:34,187 Speaker 4: the mostal cat kind of racing anyway, but I was 320 00:13:34,267 --> 00:13:36,267 Speaker 4: understood and it has become part of the show over 321 00:13:36,307 --> 00:13:38,867 Speaker 4: more than a decade. I'm hopeful that this race will 322 00:13:38,867 --> 00:13:41,987 Speaker 4: actually look more normal, both from us the spectator point 323 00:13:42,027 --> 00:13:44,187 Speaker 4: of view, but also from the drivers in the cockpit 324 00:13:44,187 --> 00:13:44,627 Speaker 4: point of view. 325 00:13:44,627 --> 00:13:46,067 Speaker 3: But we'll have to wait and see and. 326 00:13:46,027 --> 00:13:49,347 Speaker 2: Last quite literally but not least, pulling up the tail, 327 00:13:49,467 --> 00:13:53,707 Speaker 2: you what you'd expect this Cadillac, A devastated Aston Martin. 328 00:13:53,747 --> 00:13:56,987 Speaker 2: I don't know how the year is bowling out Williams 329 00:13:56,987 --> 00:13:59,987 Speaker 2: as well. That'd be a little downcast around that. But 330 00:13:59,987 --> 00:14:03,307 Speaker 2: I suppose we've got to celebrate Vulthori Botas because he's 331 00:14:03,347 --> 00:14:06,267 Speaker 2: coming and he's put a Cadillac ahead of Aston Martin's 332 00:14:06,467 --> 00:14:08,707 Speaker 2: great news, and he's such a great human and a 333 00:14:08,747 --> 00:14:11,987 Speaker 2: wonderful drive. I'm ready please for him. 334 00:14:12,187 --> 00:14:14,227 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's really good to see Botass back on the grid. 335 00:14:14,267 --> 00:14:16,307 Speaker 4: It always felt like his career didn't finish in the 336 00:14:16,347 --> 00:14:18,707 Speaker 4: right way, having been dropped back to the Souber team, 337 00:14:18,707 --> 00:14:21,427 Speaker 4: which just got less and less competitive. 338 00:14:20,867 --> 00:14:22,827 Speaker 3: Because he went and even Sergio in Paris. 339 00:14:22,827 --> 00:14:24,227 Speaker 4: I think for his own sake, he doesn't want that 340 00:14:24,267 --> 00:14:26,107 Speaker 4: Red Bull chapter to have been his last. 341 00:14:26,667 --> 00:14:29,147 Speaker 3: Lots of problems for his card. None for veltry Botas, 342 00:14:29,227 --> 00:14:29,747 Speaker 3: which is good. 343 00:14:29,747 --> 00:14:31,707 Speaker 4: That does seem like and this post for every team, 344 00:14:31,707 --> 00:14:35,227 Speaker 4: but especially the brand new team Cadillac. The more laps 345 00:14:35,267 --> 00:14:37,547 Speaker 4: they get building into the weekend, generally, the better that 346 00:14:37,667 --> 00:14:39,427 Speaker 4: car is going to go, which is not that surprising, 347 00:14:39,507 --> 00:14:41,587 Speaker 4: it is self evident. But I think we've got the result. 348 00:14:41,627 --> 00:14:44,307 Speaker 4: He with Botas out qualifying Lance Stroll to say more 349 00:14:44,307 --> 00:14:46,547 Speaker 4: about the Cadillac than it does Lance Stroll. I'll leave 350 00:14:46,547 --> 00:14:48,667 Speaker 4: that to your imagination, because Lance strolls more than half 351 00:14:48,667 --> 00:14:50,387 Speaker 4: a second slower than Fernando or Lonzo is a couple 352 00:14:50,427 --> 00:14:52,787 Speaker 4: of places up the grid. But the bottom line is, 353 00:14:53,147 --> 00:14:56,067 Speaker 4: I mean, well, certainly Aston Martin did not want to 354 00:14:56,067 --> 00:14:58,107 Speaker 4: be here, to not expect to be here. Way at 355 00:14:58,107 --> 00:15:02,027 Speaker 4: the back competing competing with the new team, the team that's. 356 00:15:01,947 --> 00:15:04,307 Speaker 3: Entered one and a half races so far in its history, 357 00:15:04,947 --> 00:15:08,067 Speaker 3: that is grim. There'll be thankful for the longer. 358 00:15:07,747 --> 00:15:10,427 Speaker 4: Break we're about to get in April because the two 359 00:15:10,827 --> 00:15:12,987 Speaker 4: Middle Eastern rounds have been canceled. I've like give them 360 00:15:12,987 --> 00:15:15,867 Speaker 4: a chance to at least replenish their spa, their spare 361 00:15:15,907 --> 00:15:16,747 Speaker 4: parts stocks. 362 00:15:17,307 --> 00:15:18,187 Speaker 3: And then Williams as well. 363 00:15:18,187 --> 00:15:19,707 Speaker 4: You touched on there. This is absolutely not the way 364 00:15:19,707 --> 00:15:21,307 Speaker 4: they thought that you started this season. The car is 365 00:15:21,387 --> 00:15:24,267 Speaker 4: really overweight. That's the first problem, but it also just 366 00:15:24,307 --> 00:15:26,467 Speaker 4: seems like the car generally isn't that good. It's not 367 00:15:26,507 --> 00:15:28,907 Speaker 4: producing the same kind of grip. I'm Alex Aldon was 368 00:15:28,987 --> 00:15:31,307 Speaker 4: very unhappy, described it as terrible in one word on 369 00:15:31,347 --> 00:15:34,227 Speaker 4: his pull down lap. So those three teams, well, no, 370 00:15:34,267 --> 00:15:36,667 Speaker 4: I should say two of those teams Aston Mardon Williams 371 00:15:36,867 --> 00:15:40,547 Speaker 4: with serious problems, but Cadillac I still think performing pretty 372 00:15:40,587 --> 00:15:42,307 Speaker 4: much in the way you'd expect a new team to 373 00:15:42,507 --> 00:15:45,107 Speaker 4: not quite there one hundred percent, but by the end 374 00:15:45,147 --> 00:15:46,507 Speaker 4: of the year I'd expect them to be looking much 375 00:15:46,547 --> 00:15:47,147 Speaker 4: more consistent. 376 00:15:47,347 --> 00:15:49,627 Speaker 2: I'm really happy for the teams. I'm not happy for 377 00:15:49,667 --> 00:15:51,787 Speaker 2: Formula One that they've got to not be in the 378 00:15:51,787 --> 00:15:54,547 Speaker 2: Middle East. But I'm happy that the hard working guys 379 00:15:54,547 --> 00:15:56,827 Speaker 2: and girls who earn nothing actually get a bit of 380 00:15:56,867 --> 00:15:59,747 Speaker 2: time off to speak with their families. And I reckon 381 00:15:59,867 --> 00:16:05,107 Speaker 2: you could outqualify Lance Stroll. Michael, thanks very much for 382 00:16:05,147 --> 00:16:05,987 Speaker 2: your time, mate. 383 00:16:06,707 --> 00:16:08,787 Speaker 3: Thank you Matte anytime, and it. 384 00:16:08,787 --> 00:16:11,547 Speaker 2: Will be too because I'll be pestering again. Trust me 385 00:16:11,627 --> 00:16:14,147 Speaker 2: to love what you have to say, and I think 386 00:16:14,187 --> 00:16:17,867 Speaker 2: you should to. Michael Lamonateou is a Formula one writer 387 00:16:18,387 --> 00:16:19,827 Speaker 2: out of Fox Sport. 388 00:16:20,227 --> 00:16:23,427 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 389 00:16:23,547 --> 00:16:26,827 Speaker 1: to news Talks at b weekends from midday, or follow 390 00:16:26,867 --> 00:16:28,467 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.