Alonso's 101st podium, a race win? 2023 Australian GP Preview

Could Fernando Alonso join the ranks of the other Formula 1 legends whose 101st podium finish was actually a race win? Yes, we're manifesting 'Mission 33' for this weekend's Australian Grand Prix. This stat is courtesy @f1statsguru.

In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil and Kunal preview the race Down Under - will the FIA find yet another creative way to take centre stage this weekend? Remember, drivers will have to 'walk' the track and not bike it!

Will another driver be outside of the start grid box and get a time penalty? Will another team not serve a time penalty correctly? How soon before AlphaTauri and Mclaren score points? In fact, could the start to Mclaren's season get any more worse? Will Oscar Piastri out-qualify Lando Norris at his home race?

Will Red Bull Racing let Sergio Perez fight Max Verstappen? In fact, can Perez keep carry forward momentum from Jeddah to Melbourne? How much further up the road will the 'Bulls finish compared to the field? Red Bull's record in Australia hasn't been as strong.

Will drivers continue to complain about the difficult in overtaking at Albert Park, too? Remember, the circuit has 4 DRS zones - the only circuit to have so many.

Will Helmut Marko or Franz Tost throw another salvo at AlphaTauri - from having no confidence in the engineers to another impending name change.

Will Ferrari and Mercedes continue their podium-less streak for a third consecutive race?

Lots to look forward to for this weekend's 2023 Australian Grand Prix.

Tune in!

(Season 2023, Episode 12)

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: Aston Martin Formula One Team

**Episode Overview:**

- The Inside Line F1 podcast discusses the upcoming Australian Grand Prix and speculates on potential race outcomes.


**Key Insights and Perspectives:**

- The FIA's new rule banning drivers from using bikes or scooters to inspect the track is met with amusement and skepticism by the hosts.


- Fernando Alonso's impressive performance in the first two races of the season has reignited hopes among fans that he may achieve his 101st podium finish, which would be a milestone typically followed by a race win.


- Aston Martin, led by Alonso, has emerged as a strong contender this season, while McLaren continues to struggle.


- Red Bull Racing's dominance in the first two races raises questions about how much further ahead they can finish in subsequent races.


- The Australian Grand Prix circuit, Albert Park, is praised for its scenic beauty, fast layout, and fan-friendly amenities.


- Oscar Piastri's impressive qualifying performance in Saudi Arabia has raised expectations for his home race in Australia.


- McLaren and AlphaTauri remain the only teams yet to score points in the Constructors' Championship.


- The hosts speculate on potential rule changes or controversies that the FIA may introduce during the Australian Grand Prix.


- Tire wear and following difficulties are expected to be significant factors in the race.


- The hosts discuss the possibility of a podium finish without Ferrari or Mercedes representation, which would be a rare occurrence.


- Charles Leclerc is aiming for his 25th career podium finish, but the hosts predict he may have to wait longer.


**Important Quotes:**

- "This is our preview on the InsideLine F1 podcast and we are absolutely intrigued to see what Formula One drivers will actually do if they don't get to ride a bike on the circuit." - Soumil Arora


- "Fernando Alonso took his 100th podium and Melbourne could be podium number 101. Are the chickens coming home to roost? Is El Plan on the cards at last?" - Soumil Arora


- "Red Bull Racing was actually the fastest across all the sessions, right? So FP1, 2, 3 qualifying, and then the race. And I wonder if that could be sort of the new benchmark that they have, you know, if that could be the new benchmark that they've accidentally created for themselves when it comes to, hey, how much more can we dominate in a season?" - Kunal Shah


- "This circuit, if you just watch all the onboards, if you watch all the races over here, it just makes you feel so serene Kunal. Really, when I think about it constantly, I think Albert Park, personally for me at least, has to be one of the best F1 street circuits that we've ever had." - Soumil Arora


- "There has been an Australian driver on the grid every year since the year 2000 and so we come yet again to the Australian GP with a home driver but you don't quite feel the same buzz as having someone like Mark Webber or Daniel Ricciardo but I totally get it, it will build up over time." - Soumil Arora


- "But again, it's all about that hoping game with Ferrari at this stage, isn't it, Kunal, where we're all just waiting for that performance to come." - Soumil Arora


- "And then, will we see yet another podium without a Ferrari or Mercedes on it? And I think, again, F1 stats guru had a brilliant stat around this. We've seen the first two races without a Ferrari or a Mercedes on the podium. Will it be a third? And will there be a new stat around that?" - Kunal Shah


**Overall Message:**

The podcast provides an engaging preview of the Australian Grand Prix, highlighting key storylines, potential race outcomes, and intriguing statistics. The hosts offer their expert insights and analysis while maintaining a light-hearted and conversational tone.

[00:00.000 -> 00:24.380] Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the dawn of a new era for Formula 1.
[00:24.380 -> 00:28.900] It is the first time in history that Formula 1 drivers will have to face this paradigm
[00:28.900 -> 00:33.620] shift where their preparations will be absolutely hindered and skewed.
[00:33.620 -> 00:38.640] Will they ever adapt to this big rule change that's just come in and could absolutely shake
[00:38.640 -> 00:40.820] up the future of the sport?
[00:40.820 -> 00:41.820] That's right.
[00:41.820 -> 00:45.600] Welcome to the anti-bike era of Formula One.
[00:45.600 -> 00:48.280] Welcome to the 2023 Australian GP.
[00:48.280 -> 00:53.880] This is our preview on the InsideLine F1 podcast and we are absolutely intrigued to see what
[00:53.880 -> 01:00.080] Formula One drivers will actually do if they don't get to ride a bike on the circuit.
[01:00.080 -> 01:04.560] It's amazing isn't it Kunal that for the first time ever Formula One drivers won't be able
[01:04.560 -> 01:05.600] to use bikes now.
[01:05.600 -> 01:09.120] So can they use these little scooters that we've all used in our childhood
[01:09.120 -> 01:10.240] that tend to hurt our ankle?
[01:10.440 -> 01:11.320] Is that allowed or not?
[01:11.560 -> 01:15.360] My goodness, when you started this episode, I was like, now what rule change
[01:15.360 -> 01:20.080] did I miss given just how many rule changes come while you're asleep, while
[01:20.080 -> 01:23.320] you're taking a shower, while you could be, you know, walking your dog or
[01:23.320 -> 01:28.440] whatever, and I'm like like what rule change is this but yeah I just realized that from the
[01:28.440 -> 01:33.820] Melbourne GP we get literally drivers cannot take mopeds or those electric
[01:33.820 -> 01:39.240] kick scooters or cycles and they have to do a track walk so F1 is saying if we
[01:39.240 -> 01:44.120] call it a track walk you better do a track walk and I get this feeling that
[01:44.120 -> 01:45.240] drivers are just gonna sit in their motorhomes they're not gonna do a track walk and I get this feeling that drivers are just
[01:45.240 -> 01:51.240] gonna sit in their motorhomes they're not gonna do a track walk unfortunately
[01:51.240 -> 01:54.680] track walks take time mind you track walks take around an hour so that's
[01:54.680 -> 01:59.000] really a silly thing to ban from Formula One but hey I'll tell you what's not
[01:59.000 -> 02:04.080] silly at least we try not to be too silly at times I think the silliest
[02:04.080 -> 02:06.480] thing I've done is not introduce ourselves on the show first.
[02:06.480 -> 02:10.480] So if you're just listening in and wondering who are these two folks, well firstly,
[02:10.480 -> 02:11.920] my name is Somal Arora.
[02:11.920 -> 02:15.440] I'm the host of the Indian Racing League broadcasts on Star Sports.
[02:15.440 -> 02:20.960] And I am joined by Kunal Shah, an FIA accredited Formula 1 journalist who works for the Viaplay
[02:20.960 -> 02:26.160] network in Norway and was also the former marketing head of the Sahara Force India
[02:26.160 -> 02:28.720] Formula One team, which is now, of course, Kunal,
[02:28.720 -> 02:32.200] known as the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One
[02:32.200 -> 02:35.860] team or, very politely, the second best team in Formula One.
[02:35.860 -> 02:37.680] And there's something really interesting
[02:37.680 -> 02:39.320] about one of their drivers that we've just
[02:39.320 -> 02:40.680] learned, actually, in the midweek.
[02:40.680 -> 02:41.240] It is.
[02:41.240 -> 02:46.640] And it is none other than F1StatsGuru who you hear pretty much
[02:46.640 -> 02:52.880] every episode on our podcast as well. It is none other than F1StatsGuru who has
[02:52.880 -> 02:58.540] found out a fantastic stat. It's a stat that has literally blown up on the
[02:58.540 -> 03:09.120] internet in the last 24 hours that it went live. It's a stat that I think will be read out on the official broadcast.
[03:09.120 -> 03:13.100] Doesn't matter which territory or language you listen to it on because it is the most
[03:13.100 -> 03:18.880] epic stat surrounding Fernando Alonso who's taken the season by storm, literally speaking.
[03:18.880 -> 03:22.440] Samuel, why don't you tell us what the status?
[03:22.440 -> 03:25.760] I feel so giddy trying to read out this one but here goes. What's
[03:25.760 -> 03:31.760] the commonality between Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen?
[03:32.400 -> 03:39.280] All of them on their 101st Formula One podium ended up scoring a Grand Prix win. Recently,
[03:39.280 -> 03:46.860] Fernando Alonso took his 100th podium and Melbourne could be podium number 101.
[03:46.860 -> 03:48.840] Are the chickens coming home to roost?
[03:48.840 -> 03:51.080] Is El Plan on the cards at last?
[03:51.080 -> 03:55.640] Are we going to see Alonso's first GP win since forever?
[03:55.640 -> 04:00.220] I can't believe this F1 stats guru has absolutely nailed it Kunal.
[04:00.220 -> 04:05.600] He could well be next and who other than F1 stats guru to have found it, I found this stat up.
[04:06.160 -> 04:12.640] He is going to do an Australian GP stats preview later on in the show. So not just it, but this,
[04:12.640 -> 04:20.080] but several other kick-ass stats coming up. And to my mind, I mean, Aston Martin is clearly the
[04:20.080 -> 04:25.680] talk of the season, more so Fernando Alonso, at least at the start of the season, given
[04:25.680 -> 04:29.800] that Red Bull is running away, blah, blah, blah, you guys know the drill, right?
[04:29.800 -> 04:35.240] And to me, if we were to look back 12 months, and that's always hindsight and all of that,
[04:35.240 -> 04:39.840] Aston Martin had a double Q1 exit in Australia last year.
[04:39.840 -> 04:46.920] Now that's the difference 12 months has made to Formula One, to Aston Martin, and to the narrative.
[04:46.920 -> 04:48.920] More importantly, Kunal, 12 months ago,
[04:48.920 -> 04:50.720] Aston Martin had one of their drivers
[04:50.720 -> 04:52.480] riding a scooter in the middle of a track,
[04:52.480 -> 04:54.880] and that's not going to happen ever again, is it?
[04:55.800 -> 04:58.960] You are never gonna let the FIA go by for this,
[04:58.960 -> 04:59.920] and why not?
[04:59.920 -> 05:02.960] I mean, I'd love to do a track walk.
[05:02.960 -> 05:04.960] You know, I've seldom, or rather,
[05:04.960 -> 05:05.720] I've often wanted to do the track run. You know, I've seldom or rather I've often wanted
[05:05.720 -> 05:08.260] to do the track run where the track is open,
[05:08.260 -> 05:09.880] you know, after the official sessions
[05:09.880 -> 05:11.060] for people to go and run in.
[05:11.060 -> 05:13.440] But I think the three times that we wanted to do that,
[05:13.440 -> 05:14.280] it started raining.
[05:14.280 -> 05:16.400] So we did not end up doing the track run.
[05:16.400 -> 05:19.240] And plus the track run was at Spa,
[05:19.240 -> 05:21.060] which has a lot of elevation changes.
[05:21.060 -> 05:23.120] So I was like, I don't think I'm fit enough
[05:23.120 -> 05:24.880] to just run up Orooj Ladakh.
[05:21.080 -> 05:23.160] of elevation changes. So I was like, I don't think I'm fit enough
[05:23.160 -> 05:24.960] to just run up Oroojla that.
[05:25.860 -> 05:30.360] But anyway, you know, going back to Aston Martin,
[05:30.360 -> 05:35.360] it could be Alonso's 101st podium as we know.
[05:35.800 -> 05:40.160] And, you know, just the joy in his mind is so fantastic.
[05:40.160 -> 05:42.200] You know, when you see Fernando Alonso celebrating
[05:42.200 -> 05:44.200] and come to think of it,
[05:44.200 -> 05:48.560] Aston Martin had joined second with Mercedes in the Constructors' Championship,
[05:48.560 -> 05:53.480] which sounds extremely strange because, you know, Aston Martin has just clearly been miles ahead,
[05:53.480 -> 05:59.760] but Stroll's retirement in Saudi Arabia didn't do them very well. And talking of Stroll,
[05:59.760 -> 06:05.360] I mean, yes, he's, you know, he's had his preseason biking accident.
[06:05.360 -> 06:07.840] He's come back from an injury, probably still
[06:07.840 -> 06:09.400] carrying an injury.
[06:09.400 -> 06:14.000] But he has been beaten in both qualifying sessions.
[06:14.000 -> 06:16.880] He has been beaten in the races as well.
[06:16.880 -> 06:19.840] The talk of the town is Fernando Alonso.
[06:19.840 -> 06:22.040] And it just goes to show, even if Stroll sort of does
[06:22.040 -> 06:29.680] a mediocre job, he's just expected to be there and be there about scoring points while Philando Alonso is winning hearts, you
[06:29.680 -> 06:30.680] know, one more time.
[06:30.680 -> 06:35.100] So I'm eager to see, will there be a race where Stroll actually is able to take the
[06:35.100 -> 06:40.460] fight to Alonso, you know, match him in qualifying, beat him there, be up there in the race?
[06:40.460 -> 06:42.440] I don't know, but just hopeful.
[06:42.440 -> 06:44.980] Could this be that race?
[06:44.980 -> 06:49.960] Imagine if in 2017, when Lance Stroll actually actually first came in we would be talking of something similar
[06:49.960 -> 06:55.120] But looking at qualifying from Jeddah, it seems like a possibility. So don't quite rule that out
[06:55.640 -> 06:56.680] 100%
[06:56.680 -> 07:03.560] What I am actually very curious about in terms of winning hearts though Kunal is what Mercedes is going to do because remember
[07:05.680 -> 07:12.080] though Kunal, is what Mercedes is going to do. Because remember, after Bahrain, they wrote such a heartfelt apology to all the fans, as if we owe them something. And then after Saudi Arabia,
[07:12.080 -> 07:15.760] they tried to play it up and they tried to win all the hearts by saying that no, no, no, it's
[07:15.760 -> 07:20.160] Fernando's podium and we don't deserve it. And they're the deserving winners at the end of the
[07:20.160 -> 07:26.160] day. So I'm wondering, at the end of this race, at the end of the Australian GP, just
[07:26.160 -> 07:31.280] what will Mercedes do to try and win all of our hearts? Are they going to send Toto Wolf to rescue
[07:31.280 -> 07:35.280] a kitten from the trees somewhere near by Alpernbach? Because the way things are going right
[07:35.280 -> 07:40.240] now, they seem like more interested in winning our hearts than the races at all. I mean, you know,
[07:40.240 -> 07:47.200] for all the Ferrari fans, you must also be wondering, what did we do wrong that we've never gotten
[07:47.200 -> 07:49.840] a letter ourselves from Ferrari itself?
[07:49.840 -> 07:52.320] Because Ferrari has been cocking up for ever since.
[07:52.320 -> 07:56.080] And going back to that 12-month chat,
[07:56.080 -> 07:59.300] I think Ferrari's last most dominant win
[07:59.300 -> 08:01.520] was in Australia last year when,
[08:01.520 -> 08:04.200] of course, Verstappen had his retirement
[08:04.200 -> 08:05.040] and then we were all like,
[08:05.040 -> 08:08.160] oh my God, Ferrari is just going to run away with all of this. And then we know
[08:08.160 -> 08:16.400] how that whole thing transpired. But sticking to Mercedes, sticking to the silver arrows,
[08:17.360 -> 08:29.460] George Russell, he's been very positive. We've spoken about it before. What can he do? What will he do? Lewis Hamilton, he has eight pole positions here, but just two race wins.
[08:29.460 -> 08:33.860] I don't think he's going to add to either of those stats just yet.
[08:33.860 -> 08:39.660] And maybe another PR overdrive from Mercedes on, you know, in Saudi and in Bahrain, we
[08:39.660 -> 08:41.820] found a lot in the wind tunnel.
[08:41.820 -> 08:45.320] But by the time we came to Australia, we found a lot in the time zone.
[08:45.320 -> 08:47.320] So we got more things from the wind tunnel.
[08:47.320 -> 08:52.480] I mean, they will find things to keep chugging us along,
[08:52.480 -> 08:56.400] if I may call it that, to keep feeding to their fan base
[08:56.400 -> 08:57.720] about all the positivity.
[08:57.720 -> 09:03.000] And after all, you have to keep managing your expectations
[09:03.000 -> 09:03.920] of the fans as well.
[09:03.920 -> 09:05.720] So that's something that could happen.
[09:05.720 -> 09:09.360] But Somil, the one thing on my mind is,
[09:09.360 -> 09:14.360] by how much of a margin will Red Bull Racing win this Sunday?
[09:14.400 -> 09:18.000] Because we saw in Bahrain, we saw in Saudi Arabia,
[09:18.000 -> 09:20.180] they were miles ahead of the rest.
[09:20.180 -> 09:22.160] I mean, if you go back to Bahrain,
[09:22.160 -> 09:24.880] even just having the safety guard
[09:24.880 -> 09:25.360] and they were still
[09:25.360 -> 09:28.760] pulling a second lap and they were finishing up ahead.
[09:28.760 -> 09:32.400] So how much more up the road can they finish?
[09:32.400 -> 09:37.840] Will we see a third team join the podium?
[09:37.840 -> 09:41.420] Because we've seen a Red Bull and an Aston Martin or more like the Red Bull drivers and
[09:41.420 -> 09:43.860] Fernando Alonso take the podium in the first two races.
[09:43.860 -> 09:48.760] Could there just be a repeat of that for, you know, the races in Australia as well?
[09:48.760 -> 09:56.100] And of course, I'm sure at this point, everyone will also keep chugging along or hyping up
[09:56.100 -> 09:58.560] Checo Perez because he has done a great job.
[09:58.560 -> 10:04.720] He, you know, like by all admission, including Christian Horners, Bahrain was his strongest
[10:04.720 -> 10:06.120] race for Red Bull Racing,
[10:06.120 -> 10:08.320] if at all, so at all, right?
[10:08.320 -> 10:09.960] So could that be,
[10:11.200 -> 10:14.680] could that be actually the story coming up as well, Somil?
[10:14.680 -> 10:17.120] So let's see how much ahead on the road
[10:17.120 -> 10:19.240] will, you know, sort of Red Bull Racing finish.
[10:19.240 -> 10:21.680] Seriously, Kunal, I,
[10:21.680 -> 10:24.320] it's just a headache by this point already.
[10:24.320 -> 10:28.760] Imagine two races into the season and you're just thinking, oh goodness, when will this
[10:28.760 -> 10:29.760] end?
[10:29.760 -> 10:32.800] Again, you can clearly tell I'm not a Red Bull Racing fan firstly.
[10:32.800 -> 10:35.120] I just like good racing.
[10:35.120 -> 10:38.840] But we could still end up seeing that Kunal, because you're so right about that.
[10:38.840 -> 10:42.120] Sergio Perez could well be in that hunt, in that fight.
[10:42.120 -> 10:45.600] And I'm just thinking right, after his amazing pace towards the
[10:45.600 -> 10:50.560] end of that race, what if he just stitches that lap together in qualifying? What if he's just up
[10:50.560 -> 10:57.200] ahead of Max Verstappen and genuinely we could get to see a fight on pace and on merit Kunal?
[10:57.200 -> 11:01.040] You think that'll ever happen though? Will Red Bull allow it? Well at the moment they are letting
[11:01.040 -> 11:11.600] the drivers fight which is what we saw in Bahrain but we are going to queue to F1 stats guru stats preview and just one last stat from me before we go there so neither
[11:11.600 -> 11:17.760] Max Verstappen nor Checo Perez have had a pole position at Albert Park or the Australian Grand
[11:17.760 -> 11:25.680] Prix right in fact Red Bull's last pole here was back in 2013, and I believe it was Sebastian Vettel.
[11:25.680 -> 11:28.520] So it will be interesting to see if Red Bull is able
[11:28.520 -> 11:31.260] to take poll and then sort of go ahead and win the race.
[11:31.260 -> 11:34.120] And interestingly, you know, going back to Saudi,
[11:34.120 -> 11:37.040] just for a reference, Red Bull Racing was actually
[11:37.040 -> 11:40.120] the fastest across all the sessions, right?
[11:40.120 -> 11:44.400] So FP1, 2, 3 qualifying, and then the race.
[11:44.400 -> 11:50.480] And I wonder if that could be sort of the new benchmark that they have,
[11:50.480 -> 11:55.000] you know, if that could be the new benchmark that they've accidentally created for themselves
[11:55.000 -> 11:58.080] when it comes to, hey, how much more can we dominate in a season?
[11:58.080 -> 12:02.200] Seriously, I think it's just scary what they're doing at this moment in time.
[12:02.200 -> 12:08.720] But let's just see what the numbers have to say about the upcoming Melbourne GP. So let's go to F1 stats guru for more.
[12:09.840 -> 12:14.240] Hey folks, it's time to do the stats preview of the Australian Grand Prix. My name is Sundaram,
[12:14.240 -> 12:19.200] also known as the F1 stats guru. Let's talk numbers. Now the big fact ahead of this weekend
[12:19.200 -> 12:24.560] is that Alonso could take his 101st podium in Formula 1 and each of the last five drivers to
[12:24.560 -> 12:25.040] take that 101st podium in Formula 1 have and each of the last 5 drivers to take that
[12:25.040 -> 12:29.040] 101st podium in Formula 1 have converted that to a race win.
[12:29.040 -> 12:33.480] Now, it's not going to be that easy for Alonso as we say it, because he'll of course
[12:33.480 -> 12:38.040] require some sort of assistance from the Red Bulls, some sort of issue, some sort of failure
[12:38.040 -> 12:40.280] for him to stand a chance to win the race.
[12:40.280 -> 12:44.200] But let's take a look at Red Bull's history around this particular circuit.
[12:44.200 -> 12:47.520] Red Bull hasn't won the Australian Grand Prix in 11 years.
[12:47.520 -> 12:50.840] They've also not taken pole here in 9 years.
[12:50.840 -> 12:55.520] And in the hybrid era alone, they've taken just 2 podiums here in 7 races.
[12:55.520 -> 12:58.640] Two podiums out of 21 possible podium spots.
[12:58.640 -> 13:02.520] Ouch, that's a record they'd actually want to fix this weekend.
[13:02.520 -> 13:06.220] The other point is that the Australian Grand Prix sees a lot of retirements.
[13:06.220 -> 13:10.640] Every single race in Melbourne has seen a minimum of 3 DNFs and in the hybrid era, there
[13:10.640 -> 13:14.160] have been an average of 5 DNFs every single time.
[13:14.160 -> 13:18.640] So the retirements are there, Red Bull doesn't have the best track record in Melbourne, El
[13:18.640 -> 13:20.960] Plan could very well be possible.
[13:20.960 -> 13:24.920] But even if he doesn't win the race, let's say he puts his car on the podium once again,
[13:24.920 -> 13:28.220] he'll still put his name on the stats books, he'll still put his name in the
[13:28.220 -> 13:34.300] record books by taking a third consecutive podium. And for the oldest driver in six decades,
[13:34.300 -> 13:39.740] 66 years, to take three back to back podiums. The last one to do so was Juan Manuel Fangio
[13:39.740 -> 13:45.440] in the 1957 F1 season. Fangio, a great name for Alonso to be putting his name alongside.
[13:45.440 -> 13:50.000] But that was the stats preview of the Australian Grand Prix. I hope you guys enjoyed it. And
[13:50.000 -> 13:54.040] for more such interesting stats and facts, do follow me on Twitter and Instagram under
[13:54.040 -> 13:57.640] the name F1StatsGuru. I'll see you guys later.
[13:57.640 -> 14:02.880] It's all about that initial stat, isn't it Kunal? The 101st Formula One podium one. I
[14:02.880 -> 14:05.920] know we've spoken about Aston Martin and Fernando Alonso initially,
[14:05.920 -> 14:10.720] but my mind still inadvertently goes there because just thinking of that prospect
[14:10.720 -> 14:16.880] after so many years of waiting, wow, I'll have to calm myself down a little bit. But why don't
[14:16.880 -> 14:22.000] we calm ourselves down by talking about Albert Park? Because this circuit, if you just watch all
[14:22.000 -> 14:29.360] the onboards, if you watch all the races over here, it just makes you feel so serene Kunal. Really, when I think about it constantly,
[14:29.360 -> 14:34.000] I think Albert Park, personally for me at least, has to be one of the best F1 street circuits that
[14:34.000 -> 14:41.040] we've ever had. Not just for the fact that they do serve grandstand tickets that offer views of
[14:41.040 -> 14:47.520] the circuit. They're not like Las Vegas, by the way, who sell $500 tickets with no views of the circuit.
[14:47.520 -> 14:50.080] I know it's like the snake pit at the Indianapolis 500.
[14:50.080 -> 14:52.400] Yes, but there's that.
[14:52.400 -> 14:55.120] There's the fact that we've got amazing green grass nearby.
[14:55.120 -> 14:56.800] The layout is just fast and flowing.
[14:56.800 -> 14:58.320] And just every single time,
[14:58.320 -> 15:00.160] qualified here is just beautiful.
[15:00.160 -> 15:04.360] So just nice and warm feelings about Melbourne all the time.
[15:04.360 -> 15:08.800] It is, and I actually didn't like the changes they made last year to turn 9 and 10. I loved that
[15:09.360 -> 15:12.880] corner at the, you know, I love the barrier at the exit of the corner. But anyway,
[15:12.880 -> 15:18.240] that's been changed. Yeah. But this is the 37th year in Australian Grand Prix is happening.
[15:18.240 -> 15:22.560] And you said, is this by far the best street circuit? I don't know what the organizers at
[15:22.560 -> 15:25.200] Baku or Saudi Arabia have to say. Everybody's
[15:25.200 -> 15:30.080] trying to find these monikers, world's fastest street circuit and world's most green street
[15:30.080 -> 15:34.800] circuit and world's most sustainable and you know Baku will say world's most entertaining
[15:34.800 -> 15:39.280] street circuit. But I agree, I mean Australia comes as a street circuit but also with a lot
[15:39.280 -> 15:46.300] of heritage. So you know 20 years down the line we'll probably look back at Baku with all the historic heritage as well.
[15:46.300 -> 15:50.680] But importantly, Albert Park is the only circuit
[15:50.680 -> 15:52.140] with four DRS zones.
[15:52.140 -> 15:55.260] That's how much they're focusing on getting close action.
[15:55.260 -> 15:57.260] It's not that easy out there.
[15:57.260 -> 16:00.140] And to me, Albert Park always, you know, was like,
[16:00.140 -> 16:01.900] that's what starts the season.
[16:01.900 -> 16:03.140] But technically, you know,
[16:03.140 -> 16:10.320] they don't pay as much as the Middle Eastern Sheikhs. So we have the Middle Eastern races that start and end the season, right?
[16:10.320 -> 16:18.960] And Albert Park has the circuit or has the rights to the Australian Grand Prix till 2037, right? So
[16:18.960 -> 16:28.100] if Oscar Piastri is going to race in Formula 1 till 2037, which I really hope he does because it is his debut race, debut home race.
[16:28.100 -> 16:33.180] The Australian fans will have a local driver to cheer all the way till then since Daniel
[16:33.180 -> 16:35.980] Ricciardo was no longer there.
[16:35.980 -> 16:42.420] And talking of Piastri, McLaren are due their 400th podium overall in Formula 1.
[16:42.420 -> 16:45.600] I'm not sure it's coming this weekend but you know the
[16:45.600 -> 16:50.640] Piastri vs Norris battle took a turn for the good when Piastri out qualified Norris in
[16:50.640 -> 16:57.120] Saudi Arabia. So who could score McLaren's 400th podium? Somil.
[16:57.120 -> 16:59.860] It certainly doesn't look like it's going to be either of these two considering the
[16:59.860 -> 17:05.680] way the car has been going so far. But on that Oscar Piastri thing, well it's interesting isn't it
[17:05.680 -> 17:12.800] Kunal that there has been an Australian driver on the grid every year since the year 2000 and so we
[17:12.800 -> 17:18.640] come yet again to the Australian GP with a home driver but you don't quite feel the same buzz as
[17:18.640 -> 17:23.440] having someone like Mark Webber or Daniel Ricciardo but I totally get it, it will build up over time.
[17:23.440 -> 17:29.600] What we have seen with Oscar Piastri does seem to be very interesting though but I think if we have to end this episode on
[17:29.600 -> 17:34.800] one note and one question, unfortunately it's not going to be how many overtakes Oscar Piastri can
[17:34.800 -> 17:40.240] make and where they qualify because considering their current form Kunal, by which lap will they
[17:40.240 -> 17:46.920] DNF? Or how long will their pit stops be? I mean, McLaren were the fastest in the pit stops in 22.
[17:46.920 -> 17:49.600] And suddenly, even the pit stops are in complete disarray.
[17:49.600 -> 17:53.240] So let's see if McLaren are able to resurrect form.
[17:53.240 -> 17:55.520] I mean, there are two teams yet to score points,
[17:55.520 -> 17:57.160] Alfa Tauri and McLaren.
[17:57.160 -> 18:00.200] In fact, McLaren are dead last in the Constructors'
[18:00.200 -> 18:01.360] Championship.
[18:01.360 -> 18:04.040] Will they be dead last even after the Australian Grand
[18:04.040 -> 18:04.540] Prix?
[18:04.540 -> 18:08.340] By which race will Alfa Tauri and McLaren also score points?
[18:08.340 -> 18:13.560] And interestingly, will this be yet another race where there are some or
[18:13.560 -> 18:16.920] the other news from the Red Bull camp about Alfa Tauri?
[18:16.920 -> 18:20.200] I mean, the latest news is, hey, we need to change the name of Alfa Tauri to
[18:20.200 -> 18:22.400] something else for marketing reasons, right?
[18:22.400 -> 18:31.280] So hey, why did you change it from Toro Rosso to Alfa Tauri anyway? Because Checco Perez, oh sorry, Sebastian Vettel anyway calls it a Toro
[18:31.280 -> 18:36.640] Rosso. So, you know, just confusing us with all these names and of course driver lineups,
[18:36.640 -> 18:43.920] given that they can change the driver lineups however they want. And, you know, go on.
[18:43.920 -> 18:46.000] What's the new name going to be Kunal?
[18:46.000 -> 18:48.000] Have they given any indication?
[18:48.000 -> 18:50.000] Red Bull sister team.
[18:50.000 -> 18:54.000] Because they went from being a B team to a sister team.
[18:54.000 -> 18:56.000] But their performances went down to being a D team.
[18:56.000 -> 18:58.000] So, I'm not pretty sure of that.
[18:58.000 -> 19:03.000] And you know, qualifying.
[19:03.000 -> 19:07.860] Let's see how qualifying lines up because the last three races have
[19:07.860 -> 19:11.920] seen three different pole sitters, if I remember.
[19:11.920 -> 19:18.160] And the last three races have also been won by three different drivers.
[19:18.160 -> 19:21.640] There was Leclerc, Bottas, and then Vettel.
[19:21.640 -> 19:26.320] And the last three races in Australia have also been won from position one, two and three. So
[19:26.320 -> 19:31.840] interesting numbers out there. And in fact, Raikkonen's win in 2013, which was at Lotus,
[19:31.840 -> 19:38.080] he won from seventh on the grid. So it'll be interesting to see how qualifying sort of lines
[19:38.080 -> 19:43.600] up and if any of the drivers are out of place. And when I say any of the drivers, it typically means
[19:43.600 -> 19:49.360] if the Red Bull Racing drivers end up being out of place, right? Because up until now in 22, only the Red Bull
[19:49.360 -> 19:55.280] drivers have scored a pole position, right? But another interesting anomaly, Samuel, is that while
[19:55.280 -> 20:01.120] Ferrari have botched up several other things, they have been the quickest in the pit stops.
[20:01.120 -> 20:07.320] They've done a 2.2 and a 2.1 pit stop. So it doesn't matter when they pit,
[20:07.320 -> 20:09.440] because their usual challenge is when they pit.
[20:09.440 -> 20:11.960] But when they have pitted in 23, they've
[20:11.960 -> 20:14.760] registered the fastest pit stop of a race.
[20:14.760 -> 20:16.800] Have they?
[20:16.800 -> 20:17.440] Interesting.
[20:17.440 -> 20:21.720] So things are moving at least in some right direction.
[20:21.720 -> 20:23.120] But it's good to see generally.
[20:23.120 -> 20:25.520] But again, it's all about that hoping
[20:25.520 -> 20:29.680] game with Ferrari at this stage, isn't it, Kunal, where we're all just waiting for that performance
[20:29.680 -> 20:35.920] to come. And so, just for the sake of putting his name out there, I know we all tend to forget about
[20:35.920 -> 20:40.160] him every single time. We've also forgotten that he's a Grand Prix winner, but I just want to put
[20:40.160 -> 20:44.480] his name so that we don't forget he exists. Carlos Sainz, good. We've got his name in the episode,
[20:44.480 -> 20:49.040] brilliant. But on the subject of Ferrari, I'm intrigued to see how Charles Leclerc gets
[20:49.040 -> 20:53.120] disappointed this weekend as well, because something or the other, unfortunately, is
[20:53.120 -> 20:57.360] ending up going wrong. But I certainly hope that doesn't quite happen this time, because
[20:57.360 -> 21:01.200] Jeddah looked intriguing. Tire wear is going to be an interesting topic as well over here,
[21:01.200 -> 21:08.240] Kunal, because Alex Albon last year managed to get a monster stint out of his tyres at Albert Park and that is
[21:08.240 -> 21:13.240] genuinely a very very hard thing to do at this circuit and I think the big buzz
[21:13.240 -> 21:17.680] word we're also gonna hear from all the drivers is going to be the the following
[21:17.680 -> 21:20.400] because it becomes so hard to follow over here at the street circuit and
[21:20.400 -> 21:24.040] normally gaps do tend to open up and drivers have to manage their tyres but
[21:24.040 -> 21:27.600] to what extent will they have to with these new cars I'm pretty
[21:27.600 -> 21:31.600] intrigued by that but that just makes me wonder who will be following the other
[21:31.600 -> 21:35.880] person Perez or Verstappen who's your money on Kunal because I at this time
[21:35.880 -> 21:41.200] I'm betting for another Perez win weirdly Wow I hope a Perez win as well I
[21:41.200 -> 21:46.920] mean it's lovely to just see Verstappen be challenged. He's extremely superior in the car.
[21:46.920 -> 21:49.360] And if Perez actually is able to match him and beat him,
[21:49.360 -> 21:51.960] of course, I know this is where Verstappen fans will be like,
[21:51.960 -> 21:54.400] but hey, dude, remember he had like a, you know,
[21:54.400 -> 21:55.320] he started 15th.
[21:55.320 -> 21:56.360] And I understand that.
[21:56.360 -> 21:57.800] I mean, you know, but it's great to see
[21:57.800 -> 22:00.040] if there are just going to be two drivers competing,
[22:00.040 -> 22:02.440] that we have two drivers competing, right?
[22:02.440 -> 22:04.520] But talking of the tire, you know,
[22:04.520 -> 22:07.460] Oscar Piastri ran the hard tire for all
[22:07.460 -> 22:10.080] but the opening lap in the last race as well.
[22:10.080 -> 22:13.280] So tire antics and tire strategy
[22:13.280 -> 22:14.600] will be something we can see.
[22:14.600 -> 22:16.560] I also want to ask this question,
[22:16.560 -> 22:20.560] what next will the FIA do to interfere
[22:20.560 -> 22:23.640] with the regular narratives of a Grand Prix?
[22:23.640 -> 22:25.880] Because they always find these things,
[22:25.880 -> 22:27.560] they either give a penalty, take it back,
[22:27.560 -> 22:31.760] or give a penalty later on in hindsight, et cetera, et cetera.
[22:31.760 -> 22:35.720] So it's all down to understanding what next could the FIA do.
[22:35.720 -> 22:38.040] And one of the things you spoke of following
[22:38.040 -> 22:42.040] that I think is already seeds being pruned for,
[22:42.040 -> 22:50.240] seeds being sown for what could be a mid-season change or a directive that comes in is, you know, Verstappen and
[22:50.240 -> 22:54.880] Leclerc both said in Saudi Arabia that following was an issue and, you know,
[22:54.880 -> 22:59.360] ghosts of 2021 actually came back to them when they couldn't really, you know,
[22:59.360 -> 23:06.080] follow other cars and the wake was sort of bothering them and stuff like that, right?
[23:09.920 -> 23:11.600] So will that be something that we hear more of in Australia? That's something I'm eager to hear of
[23:11.600 -> 23:14.480] that is becoming increasingly difficult to follow cars,
[23:14.480 -> 23:16.100] even though these are ground effect cars,
[23:16.100 -> 23:18.520] because the teams have clawed back
[23:18.520 -> 23:21.040] a lot of aerodynamic loss
[23:21.040 -> 23:23.240] via the aerodynamic surfaces, right?
[23:23.240 -> 23:25.840] So, and then of course, will a team get a time penalty
[23:25.840 -> 23:27.680] three times out of three races?
[23:27.680 -> 23:29.120] Three times out of three races,
[23:29.120 -> 23:31.900] will a driver be outside of the start grid
[23:31.900 -> 23:35.400] and they then get a start grid infringement penalty?
[23:35.400 -> 23:37.960] So lots of things to look forward to this weekend,
[23:37.960 -> 23:40.360] apart from of course, the fact that the race
[23:40.360 -> 23:42.960] is an absolute different time zone.
[23:42.960 -> 23:45.120] And this is where, where you know if you guys
[23:45.120 -> 23:50.780] go back to our episode last year with Michael Italiano he explained how you
[23:50.780 -> 23:56.320] know driver scope with time zones and there is a jet lag protocol and and very
[23:56.320 -> 24:00.580] fascinating stuff this is why you need to keep listening to the inside line F1
[24:00.580 -> 24:08.840] podcast we normally have some exciting stories all the time. Exactly and in April we're gonna have David Kulthar on the podcast as well we're going to
[24:08.840 -> 24:12.680] have Driven International they explain how they actually come up with all these
[24:12.680 -> 24:16.480] amazing circuits like Yasmarina and the Hyderabad Street Circuit
[24:16.480 -> 24:23.480] and also a couple of other really interesting guests including, well I think I'll keep it a suspense actually
[24:23.480 -> 24:27.560] let's wait for that episode to drop and then I'll tell you who's going to come on the show.
[24:27.560 -> 24:31.320] But let's hope that this is a good weekend where we get to see some good racing.
[24:31.320 -> 24:35.660] And let's just hope that Red Bull Racing are finally able to crack their biggest challenge
[24:35.660 -> 24:37.320] of the entire weekend.
[24:37.320 -> 24:40.920] Which member of the team actually goes up to collect the Constructors Trophy?
[24:40.920 -> 24:41.920] Should be fun this one.
[24:41.920 -> 24:42.920] It will.
[24:42.920 -> 24:45.200] And if Max Verstappen is on the podium this weekend,
[24:45.760 -> 24:54.800] he would have scored his 80th podium in Formula One, which means that he would equal Ayrton Senna's
[24:54.800 -> 25:01.040] tally of 80 poles. So there will be a bit of sentiment around that. Verstappen, if I remember
[25:01.040 -> 25:06.160] correctly, is five race wins away from Ayrtonon. His total race wins tally in Formula 1.
[25:06.160 -> 25:08.880] So I expect that to also sort of somewhere
[25:08.880 -> 25:10.920] tally in the season.
[25:10.920 -> 25:14.800] And then, will we see yet another podium
[25:14.800 -> 25:18.320] without a Ferrari or Mercedes on it?
[25:18.320 -> 25:20.200] And I think, again, F1 stats guru
[25:20.200 -> 25:21.960] had a brilliant stat around this.
[25:21.960 -> 25:25.040] We've seen the first two races without a Ferrari or a Mercedes on the podium. Will it be a third? And will there be a new stat around this. We've seen the first two races without a Ferrari or a Mercedes
[25:25.040 -> 25:30.320] on the podium. Will it be a third and will there be a new stat around that? Leclerc is waiting for
[25:30.320 -> 25:36.400] his 25th career podium in Formula 1. I get this feeling he's going to have to wait a little longer
[25:36.400 -> 25:41.360] than this Sunday. Let's hope so. Let's hope that in the end, whatever happens, we get to see a good
[25:41.360 -> 25:46.720] race after quite a while. Thank you then folks for listening to our Australian GP preview.
[25:46.720 -> 25:51.040] We hope that you enjoyed this episode and if you did, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,
[25:51.360 -> 25:56.160] leave a good rating and share this episode with other friends and family members who would love
[25:56.400 -> 26:03.240] listening more about Formula One as well. Until then, have a fun time, enjoy the race and we shall be back on Monday.
[26:00.440 -> 26:04.200] Have a fun time, enjoy the race and we shall be back on Monday.