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 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from News Talks ed B. 3 00:00:13,187 --> 00:00:17,627 Speaker 2: George russellers looks an absolute certainty for pole so far 4 00:00:17,947 --> 00:00:21,907 Speaker 2: this Saturday here at Albert Park, Mister Saturday comes good 5 00:00:22,347 --> 00:00:26,187 Speaker 2: and takes provisional pole. It's a Mercedes want to with 6 00:00:26,387 --> 00:00:29,907 Speaker 2: Kemey out tonally at the front row. Isaac hatyall still 7 00:00:29,987 --> 00:00:33,707 Speaker 2: out there this first race for Redford. Where does he starts? 8 00:00:34,307 --> 00:00:37,907 Speaker 2: Starts in Dirk place, ahead of the Ferrari, ahead of 9 00:00:37,947 --> 00:00:39,187 Speaker 2: the McLaren. 10 00:00:39,187 --> 00:00:42,187 Speaker 3: Surprises up and down the grid. Lo's of storylines heading 11 00:00:42,227 --> 00:00:45,107 Speaker 3: into today's race. Plenty of interest of course in New 12 00:00:45,227 --> 00:00:47,667 Speaker 3: Zealand about how Liam Lawson is going to go for 13 00:00:47,747 --> 00:00:50,107 Speaker 3: the season ahead. He will start eighth on the grid. 14 00:00:50,147 --> 00:00:53,827 Speaker 3: George Russell and Kimmy Antonelli, the two Mercedes drivers at 15 00:00:53,867 --> 00:00:57,747 Speaker 3: one and two, Isaac Hedger, charl Leclear and the Ferrari. 16 00:00:57,787 --> 00:01:00,907 Speaker 3: Then Oscar Piastre and Lando Norris five and six, the 17 00:01:00,907 --> 00:01:04,627 Speaker 3: two McLaren's, Lewis Hamilton and the Ferrari. Seventh on the grid, 18 00:01:04,907 --> 00:01:08,107 Speaker 3: Liam Lawson eighth and his teammate Arvid G Lindblad, the 19 00:01:08,147 --> 00:01:11,627 Speaker 3: other Racing Bulls driver ninth on the grid to break 20 00:01:11,627 --> 00:01:14,267 Speaker 3: down qualifying and look ahead to the race itself. We're 21 00:01:14,347 --> 00:01:17,587 Speaker 3: joined by Australian Formula one broadcaster, the voice of F 22 00:01:17,627 --> 00:01:20,947 Speaker 3: one in Australia, James Baldwin. James, thanks for joining us. 23 00:01:21,027 --> 00:01:23,707 Speaker 3: Let's start at the front. George Russell is on pole 24 00:01:23,787 --> 00:01:28,307 Speaker 3: for Mercedes teammate Kimmy Antonelli alongside. Is that a sign 25 00:01:28,787 --> 00:01:30,787 Speaker 3: that Mercedes is going to be the team to beat 26 00:01:30,827 --> 00:01:32,947 Speaker 3: this year under the new regulations? 27 00:01:33,787 --> 00:01:34,347 Speaker 4: Thanks Jason. 28 00:01:34,427 --> 00:01:38,227 Speaker 5: Yeah, great to be with you and what a great time. 29 00:01:38,427 --> 00:01:41,187 Speaker 5: Finally as a Formula One fans around the world can 30 00:01:41,307 --> 00:01:44,867 Speaker 5: finally see the true pace of these twenty twenty six 31 00:01:44,947 --> 00:01:48,907 Speaker 5: cars and the teams that may have been sandbagging a 32 00:01:48,987 --> 00:01:51,987 Speaker 5: little bit in testing and free practice sessions ahead of 33 00:01:52,587 --> 00:01:57,067 Speaker 5: qualifying yesterday. And I tell you what, Mercedes are looking 34 00:01:57,307 --> 00:02:01,067 Speaker 5: exceptionally good. Oh he's totally surprised by that. 35 00:02:01,307 --> 00:02:02,627 Speaker 4: Probably not really. 36 00:02:03,547 --> 00:02:06,187 Speaker 5: I think the way that the team has been sort 37 00:02:06,227 --> 00:02:09,507 Speaker 5: of aiming towards this new rule set change has been 38 00:02:09,587 --> 00:02:12,547 Speaker 5: that they were trying to be as dominant as possible, as. 39 00:02:12,587 --> 00:02:13,587 Speaker 4: Quickly as possible. 40 00:02:14,027 --> 00:02:16,107 Speaker 5: The surprise, I think to many people is just that 41 00:02:16,187 --> 00:02:20,067 Speaker 5: Ferrari haven't quite got enough pace at least yet in 42 00:02:20,187 --> 00:02:24,427 Speaker 5: qualifying to get into that top podium position just yet. 43 00:02:24,867 --> 00:02:27,467 Speaker 3: One of the book shocks, Max was stapping crashing out 44 00:02:27,507 --> 00:02:30,507 Speaker 3: early and qualifying. What happened and how much does that 45 00:02:30,587 --> 00:02:32,467 Speaker 3: shake up the complexion of today's race. 46 00:02:32,987 --> 00:02:34,267 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's a good question. 47 00:02:34,627 --> 00:02:38,347 Speaker 5: And going down the main straight into turn one, he 48 00:02:38,907 --> 00:02:41,947 Speaker 5: applied the brakes basically and then the rear axle locked 49 00:02:42,027 --> 00:02:43,667 Speaker 5: up and you can see on the replay. If you 50 00:02:43,667 --> 00:02:45,907 Speaker 5: haven't yet watched it, I encourage you to do so. 51 00:02:46,787 --> 00:02:49,667 Speaker 5: He just lost control of the rear of the car 52 00:02:49,747 --> 00:02:53,667 Speaker 5: as he prepped going to turn right into that first turn, 53 00:02:53,707 --> 00:02:56,747 Speaker 5: and the car spun around on him entering the barriers. 54 00:02:56,787 --> 00:03:00,227 Speaker 5: It looked like after the incident that may have hurt 55 00:03:00,227 --> 00:03:03,787 Speaker 5: his hands or his wrists. The front axle collected the 56 00:03:03,827 --> 00:03:06,787 Speaker 5: barriers there, but in true Max of staff and he 57 00:03:06,867 --> 00:03:10,107 Speaker 5: sort of just brushed it off immediately. And I think 58 00:03:10,187 --> 00:03:13,907 Speaker 5: for Red Bull, of course sad that they aren't towards 59 00:03:13,987 --> 00:03:17,227 Speaker 5: the front for them. But if maxis Staffin drives anything 60 00:03:17,267 --> 00:03:20,267 Speaker 5: like he has done for his Formula One career, he 61 00:03:20,347 --> 00:03:21,987 Speaker 5: will not be remaining at the back of the pack 62 00:03:22,067 --> 00:03:22,627 Speaker 5: for very long. 63 00:03:22,747 --> 00:03:25,787 Speaker 3: All right, Well, Oajac Hadja is up in third on 64 00:03:25,827 --> 00:03:28,787 Speaker 3: the grid, isn't he So it's not a I mean, 65 00:03:28,907 --> 00:03:31,387 Speaker 3: obviously you don't want to lose your top driver or 66 00:03:31,627 --> 00:03:33,107 Speaker 3: have them start at the back of the field, but 67 00:03:33,187 --> 00:03:36,307 Speaker 3: not an absolutely catastrophic day for red Bull. 68 00:03:37,027 --> 00:03:39,747 Speaker 5: No, that's certainly true, and I think if anything to 69 00:03:39,827 --> 00:03:43,787 Speaker 5: take away from qualifying, specifically for Isaac Hadja, red Bull 70 00:03:43,907 --> 00:03:47,747 Speaker 5: may have finally broken this curse so to speak of 71 00:03:47,787 --> 00:03:50,707 Speaker 5: trying to find a driver that can be comparable to 72 00:03:50,707 --> 00:03:53,827 Speaker 5: Maxis Staffin, Because up until the point of where Max 73 00:03:54,307 --> 00:03:57,307 Speaker 5: had his issue in qualifying, all the way through the 74 00:03:57,347 --> 00:04:00,707 Speaker 5: free practice sessions, Isaac Hajar was there or thereabouts or 75 00:04:00,707 --> 00:04:05,027 Speaker 5: even ahead of Maxis Staffen in timings and certainly with 76 00:04:05,187 --> 00:04:08,307 Speaker 5: the race simulations, the qualifying simulations that the team would 77 00:04:08,307 --> 00:04:11,347 Speaker 5: have been running in those times, I think everyone would 78 00:04:11,387 --> 00:04:16,187 Speaker 5: be quietly happy with his performance, especially compared to this 79 00:04:16,227 --> 00:04:18,907 Speaker 5: time last year where he didn't even start the race. 80 00:04:19,307 --> 00:04:23,307 Speaker 5: So for him, he'll be wanting to remedy that, I 81 00:04:23,347 --> 00:04:26,147 Speaker 5: suppose and be looking to finish on the podium in 82 00:04:26,227 --> 00:04:27,467 Speaker 5: his first race for Red Bull. 83 00:04:27,627 --> 00:04:30,747 Speaker 3: The Australian crowd, of course, will be watching Oscar Piastri closely, 84 00:04:30,827 --> 00:04:34,027 Speaker 3: starting fifth on the grid. What are his chances of 85 00:04:34,307 --> 00:04:35,707 Speaker 3: fighting for a podium finish. 86 00:04:36,267 --> 00:04:38,427 Speaker 5: I spoke with Oscar a couple of days ago and 87 00:04:38,907 --> 00:04:41,067 Speaker 5: he is quietly confident. 88 00:04:41,267 --> 00:04:41,667 Speaker 4: I think. 89 00:04:41,707 --> 00:04:44,947 Speaker 5: I mean this is we haven't had an Australian driver 90 00:04:45,067 --> 00:04:48,067 Speaker 5: successfully stand on the podium. We had Daniel Ricardo in 91 00:04:48,067 --> 00:04:51,067 Speaker 5: twenty fourteen, but then he was disqualified through a fuel 92 00:04:51,067 --> 00:04:55,627 Speaker 5: flow issue. So for us as Australians in that home 93 00:04:55,707 --> 00:04:57,627 Speaker 5: crowd sense we're all behind Oscar. 94 00:04:57,667 --> 00:04:58,827 Speaker 4: He's quietly confident. 95 00:04:59,147 --> 00:05:01,627 Speaker 5: It looks like he's got a better understanding of this 96 00:05:01,787 --> 00:05:05,027 Speaker 5: car than his teammate Lando Norris, who just wasn't. 97 00:05:04,787 --> 00:05:07,107 Speaker 4: Able to get to grips with the way it was. 98 00:05:07,027 --> 00:05:11,107 Speaker 5: Performing, certainly through the first sector of this track, whereas 99 00:05:11,107 --> 00:05:14,947 Speaker 5: Oscar was getting faster and faster. So we're quietly confident. 100 00:05:14,947 --> 00:05:16,747 Speaker 5: We don't want to put the mockers on him, of course, 101 00:05:16,827 --> 00:05:21,147 Speaker 5: but he is probably hoping to try and remedy last 102 00:05:21,227 --> 00:05:24,267 Speaker 5: year where in the last couple of lapses the rain 103 00:05:24,387 --> 00:05:27,307 Speaker 5: fell on turn thirteen, he's spun off onto the grass 104 00:05:27,467 --> 00:05:29,267 Speaker 5: and so he'll be wanting to get one up on 105 00:05:29,347 --> 00:05:31,147 Speaker 5: his teammate come race one today. 106 00:05:31,227 --> 00:05:33,467 Speaker 3: All right, let's talk about our man, Liam Lawson eight 107 00:05:33,747 --> 00:05:36,907 Speaker 3: on the grid. How did you evaluate his qualifying performance? 108 00:05:37,787 --> 00:05:41,027 Speaker 5: Liam is in a position that is sadly for him, 109 00:05:41,307 --> 00:05:44,387 Speaker 5: probably well under the microscope, and it's not necessarily his 110 00:05:44,627 --> 00:05:47,707 Speaker 5: driving that is doing that. It's the young rookie from 111 00:05:48,387 --> 00:05:51,987 Speaker 5: Great Britain, Arvid Lynnblad, who is the only rookie this 112 00:05:52,027 --> 00:05:54,827 Speaker 5: season in twenty twenty six, but is also his teammate. 113 00:05:55,507 --> 00:05:58,667 Speaker 5: And Arvid all the way through the weekend was exceptionally 114 00:05:58,867 --> 00:06:02,427 Speaker 5: impressive and in the qualifying in Q one rather he 115 00:06:02,507 --> 00:06:06,627 Speaker 5: outqualified Liam. But for Liam to then outqualify RV that's 116 00:06:06,707 --> 00:06:11,027 Speaker 5: exceptionally important for his mental state and also for the 117 00:06:11,107 --> 00:06:13,867 Speaker 5: team to realize who, you know, the more senior driver 118 00:06:14,027 --> 00:06:17,347 Speaker 5: is I suppose for this weekend. I mean, we all 119 00:06:17,427 --> 00:06:21,667 Speaker 5: love Liam. He is an exceptional talent and although the 120 00:06:22,947 --> 00:06:27,227 Speaker 5: quick trip to Red Bull Racing last year yielded him 121 00:06:27,227 --> 00:06:29,507 Speaker 5: going back to racing Bulls, it may have well and 122 00:06:29,587 --> 00:06:32,147 Speaker 5: truly saved his racing career because he does find himself 123 00:06:32,147 --> 00:06:34,747 Speaker 5: in this race seat again this year. Whether or not 124 00:06:34,827 --> 00:06:37,787 Speaker 5: Red Bull will take him back in the future is 125 00:06:37,867 --> 00:06:40,147 Speaker 5: yet to be seen, but he's still a Formula one driver. 126 00:06:40,467 --> 00:06:43,627 Speaker 5: He's still got exceptional pace and the way that the 127 00:06:43,707 --> 00:06:46,427 Speaker 5: regulations are working this year, Jason. There's more tactical and 128 00:06:46,507 --> 00:06:49,867 Speaker 5: strategic things that drivers can do from the cockpit of 129 00:06:49,907 --> 00:06:53,187 Speaker 5: their own car, including using straight line mode, which is 130 00:06:53,347 --> 00:06:57,187 Speaker 5: changing the way that the wings both front and rear operate, 131 00:06:57,387 --> 00:07:00,987 Speaker 5: and also an electrical boost mode too, and Liam's got 132 00:07:01,227 --> 00:07:03,507 Speaker 5: a wise head on those shoulders, so it'll be interesting 133 00:07:03,507 --> 00:07:06,027 Speaker 5: to see how he deploys those this weekend if. 134 00:07:05,947 --> 00:07:08,387 Speaker 3: We just out a little bit, James, in terms of 135 00:07:08,387 --> 00:07:12,267 Speaker 3: the overall season, what does Liam Lawson need to show 136 00:07:12,307 --> 00:07:15,227 Speaker 3: this year or do this year to really establish himself 137 00:07:15,707 --> 00:07:17,827 Speaker 3: as a long term Formula One driver. 138 00:07:19,067 --> 00:07:22,627 Speaker 5: The short answer is he needs to outperform Avid in 139 00:07:22,667 --> 00:07:27,227 Speaker 5: almost every race, as Avid's a rookie for this season, 140 00:07:27,587 --> 00:07:30,547 Speaker 5: but also because these cars are brand new, that might 141 00:07:30,747 --> 00:07:34,987 Speaker 5: be more difficult than we think, certainly because Arvid doesn't 142 00:07:35,027 --> 00:07:38,507 Speaker 5: have a reference point of last year's cars to get 143 00:07:38,627 --> 00:07:41,307 Speaker 5: to groups with like the rest of the drivers do, 144 00:07:41,387 --> 00:07:45,307 Speaker 5: including Liam. But if he is to remain in at 145 00:07:45,387 --> 00:07:48,227 Speaker 5: least in Racing Bulls, he would need to outperform. But 146 00:07:48,427 --> 00:07:51,307 Speaker 5: I would say if there's any opportunity for him to 147 00:07:51,827 --> 00:07:54,867 Speaker 5: grab some top five finishes this year, and I would 148 00:07:54,907 --> 00:07:59,347 Speaker 5: say probably racing Bulls are probably the fifth fastest team 149 00:07:59,387 --> 00:08:03,147 Speaker 5: that looks like at the moment after a Ferrari Red Bull, 150 00:08:03,307 --> 00:08:09,427 Speaker 5: McLaren Mercedes. So he'll be fighting around that sixth seventh place. 151 00:08:09,547 --> 00:08:11,267 Speaker 5: But if you can get fifth, and if you can 152 00:08:11,467 --> 00:08:15,307 Speaker 5: send some overtakes, especially on some of those other top teams, 153 00:08:15,347 --> 00:08:17,547 Speaker 5: then I think if you're starting to establish himself. But 154 00:08:17,667 --> 00:08:20,107 Speaker 5: I think the confidence he has already, the fact that 155 00:08:20,107 --> 00:08:22,987 Speaker 5: he's still in the sport is a big thing. 156 00:08:23,027 --> 00:08:24,307 Speaker 4: It's a brand new year for him. 157 00:08:24,587 --> 00:08:27,227 Speaker 5: We don't have to think about him being promoted and 158 00:08:27,267 --> 00:08:30,627 Speaker 5: then demoted back to RB. He can just be a 159 00:08:30,747 --> 00:08:34,307 Speaker 5: racing driver in this team and with any luck, maybe 160 00:08:34,387 --> 00:08:36,907 Speaker 5: he gets a promotion at some point back to the 161 00:08:36,907 --> 00:08:40,587 Speaker 5: team or he finds a home somewhere else in the 162 00:08:40,587 --> 00:08:41,427 Speaker 5: next couple of years. 163 00:08:41,547 --> 00:08:43,707 Speaker 3: All right, let's circle back to the race today. To 164 00:08:43,787 --> 00:08:46,867 Speaker 3: financial Albert Park can be very tricky for overtaking. How 165 00:08:46,947 --> 00:08:48,827 Speaker 3: much of this race is going to be dictated by 166 00:08:48,907 --> 00:08:50,667 Speaker 3: grit position and by the start. 167 00:08:51,787 --> 00:08:54,067 Speaker 5: It's a great question, to be honest, Jason and I 168 00:08:54,187 --> 00:08:56,947 Speaker 5: just don't know, because these cars are brand new and 169 00:08:56,987 --> 00:09:00,827 Speaker 5: we've never seen them in a racing format. Track position 170 00:09:00,907 --> 00:09:04,667 Speaker 5: is always incredibly important. So those sort of towards the 171 00:09:04,707 --> 00:09:07,267 Speaker 5: top ten will be having a much better time. Of course, 172 00:09:07,267 --> 00:09:09,467 Speaker 5: Cadillac is brand new this year, so we've got an 173 00:09:09,507 --> 00:09:12,707 Speaker 5: eleventh team and two extra cars, so twenty two cars 174 00:09:12,787 --> 00:09:16,947 Speaker 5: now will be circulating the Albert Park circuit. What will 175 00:09:16,987 --> 00:09:19,187 Speaker 5: be interesting in my mind is whether or not we 176 00:09:19,227 --> 00:09:22,947 Speaker 5: see a one or a two stop strategy for tires. 177 00:09:23,147 --> 00:09:26,747 Speaker 5: Come the race this afternoon and form my mind, I 178 00:09:26,827 --> 00:09:30,267 Speaker 5: think we're probably going to be looking at an interesting 179 00:09:30,347 --> 00:09:34,307 Speaker 5: way of this battery usage and how we regenerate the 180 00:09:34,347 --> 00:09:38,027 Speaker 5: battery for the drivers to use this boost mode. So 181 00:09:38,307 --> 00:09:40,987 Speaker 5: for my mind, who knows which is exciting in its 182 00:09:41,027 --> 00:09:42,707 Speaker 5: own way. Youre going to be honest because Formula one 183 00:09:42,747 --> 00:09:45,547 Speaker 5: has been you know, a little bit samey for the 184 00:09:45,627 --> 00:09:49,267 Speaker 5: last sort of six years especially, But to go racing 185 00:09:49,587 --> 00:09:52,147 Speaker 5: with these brand new set of regulations with one new 186 00:09:52,227 --> 00:09:54,507 Speaker 5: driver on the grid, but the return of two other 187 00:09:54,587 --> 00:09:58,627 Speaker 5: drivers and a whole team is simply just exciting. 188 00:09:58,787 --> 00:10:00,387 Speaker 3: Yeah. I can't wait to see how it plays out. 189 00:10:00,387 --> 00:10:03,307 Speaker 3: Great to get your analysis and your expertise. James, thanks 190 00:10:03,307 --> 00:10:04,107 Speaker 3: so much for joining us. 191 00:10:04,227 --> 00:10:07,147 Speaker 1: Good on you mate, Thank you for more Weekends Sport 192 00:10:07,227 --> 00:10:10,027 Speaker 1: with Jason Fine. Listen live to news talks at B 193 00:10:10,307 --> 00:10:13,947 Speaker 1: weekends from midday, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio