Best Race of 2023? Dutch GP Review

The 2023 Dutch Grand Prix was the best race of the season, wasn't it?

We had a mad crowd show up for Max Verstappen's annual fan meet at Circuit Zandvoort. We had mixed weather conditions. As always, different drivers challenged Max Verstappen throughout the weekend - but, as always, just one driver triumphed!

Btw, we have a short byte (a replay) from Dr. Helmut Marko - on the comparison between two of his star drivers, Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel. 

Max Verstappen is now on a 9 race winning streak - a record that he's equalled with Sebastian Vettel and Alberto Ascari. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso finished in second - after missing out on the podium in the last 4 races. Btw, did you notice ALO's moves into Turn 3 all through the race?

Mclaren and Mercedes' challenge fumbled after a wrong/late tyre call in the opening laps of the race. Alpine's Pierre Gasly was one of the few to make the correct call and he was rewarded with a rare podium finish! And of course, Ferrari fumbled with Charles Leclerc (yet again!), in the pits, while the Monegasque fumbled on track, not before being furious on the radio.

Lots of action throughout the field. Liam Lawson's debut was baptism by water. For more such jokes, tune in!

(Season 2023, Episode 44)

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

Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

**Podcast Episode Summary: Dutch Grand Prix 2023**

* The 2023 Dutch Grand Prix was an exciting race with various weather conditions and competitive drivers challenging Max Verstappen.

* Verstappen secured his ninth consecutive race win, equaling the record held by Sebastian Vettel and Alberto Ascari.

* Fernando Alonso finished second, marking his first podium finish in the last four races.

* McLaren and Mercedes faced strategic challenges due to a delayed tire call, resulting in Alpine's Pierre Gasly securing a podium finish.

* Ferrari's Charles Leclerc experienced difficulties during pit stops and made on-track errors, leading to frustration and radio outbursts.

* Williams Racing surprised many with their strong performance, with Alex Albon qualifying in the top five and both drivers finishing in the points.

* Pierre Gasly made the correct tire change call, enabling him to secure a podium finish.

* Fernando Alonso demonstrated strategic sharpness and made decisive moves on the track, particularly at Turn 3.

* McLaren and Mercedes missed the opportunity to capitalize on their qualifying pace due to strategic errors.

* Sergio Perez faced challenges with qualifying and pit stop strategy, leading to a lower finishing position.

* Ferrari continued to face strategic difficulties, particularly during pit stops, resulting in a disappointing race for Charles Leclerc.

* Daniel Ricciardo's crash with Oscar Piastri was unfortunate, and he sustained a hand injury.

* The incident raised questions about who will replace him in future FP1 sessions, as Red Bull must consider rookie driver regulations. # Inside Line F1 Podcast: Dutch Grand Prix Review

## Introduction

The Inside Line F1 podcast delves into the exhilarating 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, widely regarded as the best race of the season. The episode captures the excitement of the event, from the massive crowd turnout to the unpredictable weather conditions and the intense competition among drivers.

## Max Verstappen's Dominance Continues

Max Verstappen's remarkable winning streak continues, extending to nine consecutive victories, equaling the records set by Sebastian Vettel and Alberto Ascari. The Dutch driver faced challenges throughout the weekend, but his unwavering performance secured another triumph at his home race.

## Fernando Alonso's Resurgence

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso made a strong comeback, securing a second-place finish after a series of podium misses. His aggressive moves into Turn 3 throughout the race showcased his determination and skill.

## McLaren and Mercedes' Strategic Missteps

McLaren and Mercedes faced setbacks due to incorrect tire choices in the early stages of the race. This strategic error cost them valuable positions, highlighting the importance of making timely and informed decisions.

## Alpine's Gasly Earns Rare Podium

Alpine's Pierre Gasly made the right call on tire strategy, which propelled him to a rare podium finish. His performance demonstrated the significance of adapting to changing conditions and making calculated decisions.

## Ferrari's Continued Struggles

Ferrari's struggles continued, with Charles Leclerc facing issues in the pits and on the track. The Monegasque driver expressed frustration over the team's mistakes, reflecting the team's ongoing challenges.

## Liam Lawson's Debut

Liam Lawson made his Formula One debut at the Dutch Grand Prix, facing a baptism by water in the wet conditions. Despite a penalty and a spin, he managed to overtake Charles Leclerc and briefly challenge Max Verstappen. His performance provided valuable lessons for the young driver.

## Conclusion

The Dutch Grand Prix delivered an unforgettable race, showcasing the unpredictable nature of Formula One. Max Verstappen's dominance remained unchallenged, while other drivers and teams faced varying fortunes. The episode highlighted the importance of strategic decisions, adaptability, and resilience in the high-stakes world of Formula One racing.

[00:00.000 -> 00:23.480] You folks must all be aware of that famous dialogue, if you want something bad enough,
[00:23.480 -> 00:30.700] the universe will do everything it can to get it to you. Max Verstappen has broken the record. Actually, he's tied
[00:30.700 -> 00:35.500] the record. Maybe that's what I want for him to break the record. But no matter what happens,
[00:35.500 -> 00:39.820] everything can go wrong around him. It might rain on the second lap, he might make a mistake
[00:39.820 -> 00:49.200] in qualifying, he might go on the wrong strategy and be 14 seconds down and two cars away from the race leader. Yet regardless of all of that at the end of
[00:49.200 -> 00:53.840] it all the universe might break apart, people might die of hunger and the world
[00:53.840 -> 00:58.200] might be shaking and the Sun will not shine but Max Verstappen will win a race.
[00:58.200 -> 01:02.500] That's what seems to be happening these days. He's finally tied Sebastian
[01:02.500 -> 01:06.080] Vettel's record and it's just not sinking in yet. It is
[01:06.080 -> 01:10.240] wrong. It just does not make sense, Kunal. Sebastian Vettel's record has been equal. This
[01:10.800 -> 01:15.440] is not right. It's very fabric. I don't like the words that I'm speaking.
[01:16.160 -> 01:29.080] Why? Records are meant to be broken, rewritten. Imagine this, you know, forward seven days from now, which is after the Monza race.
[01:29.080 -> 01:31.560] And you'd be like, a new record has been made.
[01:31.560 -> 01:34.120] Max Verstappen now has 10 wins in a row.
[01:34.120 -> 01:36.880] And then imagine this after Singapore, you're going to say 11.
[01:36.880 -> 01:39.280] And what will happen by the end of the season?
[01:39.320 -> 01:40.880] Will he have 20 wins?
[01:40.880 -> 01:41.960] Is that what we're going to say?
[01:41.960 -> 01:44.440] Is that the record that we are all looking at?
[01:44.440 -> 01:45.640] And I actually love it
[01:45.640 -> 01:49.800] I mean different track different conditions different rivals same winner
[01:50.040 -> 01:50.540] Yeah
[01:50.540 -> 01:55.260] And isn't it kind of interesting Sundaram that no matter what happens no matter what the circumstances are
[01:55.320 -> 01:59.820] Vastapan even on some of his worst weekends still comes out on top
[01:59.820 -> 02:08.800] I think that's the mark of a champion know that your worst days are still better than all the other ones. Not just as a driver, but as a combination with the team and driver.
[02:08.800 -> 02:11.080] It's beyond me, actually.
[02:11.080 -> 02:14.440] I don't even know what more can be said about it.
[02:14.440 -> 02:16.000] That's a very interesting point that you made,
[02:16.000 -> 02:18.440] because that's what I was also going to mention.
[02:18.440 -> 02:23.160] Yesterday probably was one of the most trickiest races for Red Bull this season,
[02:23.160 -> 02:25.520] and still they went on to win it.
[02:25.520 -> 02:31.240] And under changeable conditions, the driver and the team, they stuck it together and they
[02:31.240 -> 02:35.360] made the right strategic call. They didn't mess it up in the pit stops, and still he
[02:35.360 -> 02:41.560] won the race. And which is amazing to see nine consecutive race wins equaling Sebastian
[02:41.560 -> 02:48.920] Metal and something positive for the Ferrari fans as well. The first driver to do it was Alberto Ascari 70 years ago but I have a very
[02:48.920 -> 02:53.480] interesting fact to put out straight away. Every single time a driver has won
[02:53.480 -> 02:59.240] three nine consecutive races that was the last time they won a title. Ascari
[02:59.240 -> 03:05.520] in 1953, Vettel in 2013 and Verstappen has 1-9 right now. This is courtesy one of my
[03:05.520 -> 03:09.880] followers on Instagram, Daksh Kothari. So I think this is one of the best stats
[03:09.880 -> 03:15.280] from this weekend. Wow! But we actually spoke of everything they got right and
[03:15.280 -> 03:19.920] Saumil actually asked the question even when he has a bad weekend. Seriously guys
[03:19.920 -> 03:26.220] I can't think of when last Max Verstappen has had a bad weekend. I can't think of when last Maxwell's tap and has had a bad weekend. I can't think of it this year
[03:26.880 -> 03:28.880] Maybe I can't think of it last year
[03:29.600 -> 03:30.680] 2021
[03:30.680 -> 03:34.200] Jeddah qualifying great lap and Zidane
[03:34.200 -> 03:39.520] I that's the only memory I have and I'm sure everybody who listens and you guys know that I really can't remember a lot of
[03:39.520 -> 03:41.480] Things when it comes to Formula One
[03:41.480 -> 03:44.600] No, there was also one race earlier in all year all in the year
[03:44.600 -> 03:45.840] I think it was Jeddah this year
[03:45.840 -> 03:49.520] where Max had a technical issue, but that doesn't even matter because it feels like
[03:49.520 -> 03:52.000] a different championship on its own.
[03:52.000 -> 03:56.400] And the interesting part is for Sergio Perez, where do we go with this?
[03:56.400 -> 04:01.320] A certain victory eventually gone wrong, but let's get to all of that in a second.
[04:01.320 -> 04:04.240] Let's firstly tell you who we are and what we do.
[04:04.240 -> 04:05.740] This is the Max Verstappen
[04:05.740 -> 04:09.800] Gossip Club where we almost gather every single weekend to talk about the same thing, about
[04:09.800 -> 04:14.380] Max Verstappen breaking another record, winning another race and then going on to talk more
[04:14.380 -> 04:21.240] about the F1.5 championship, which is my favourite. But this is the Inside Line F1.5 podcast,
[04:21.240 -> 04:26.240] where the world's number one, or rather India's number one Formula 1 podcast and one of the top five in the world. Slowly we are going to get to world number one, well, not the India's number one Formula One podcast, but one of the top five in the world.
[04:26.240 -> 04:28.520] Slowly, we are going to get to world number one as well,
[04:28.520 -> 04:29.520] very, very quickly.
[04:29.520 -> 04:32.220] But we've also had so many great guests
[04:32.220 -> 04:33.280] on the podcast recently,
[04:33.280 -> 04:36.340] including the man who has been a part of this domination
[04:36.340 -> 04:39.040] from Red Bull at a very instrumental part,
[04:39.040 -> 04:41.200] Helmut Marko was on the show a few weeks ago
[04:41.200 -> 04:44.700] to talk about the difference between Max and Seb.
[04:44.700 -> 04:46.160] Why don't we hear what's the
[04:46.160 -> 04:50.400] difference between these two drivers because at the moment at least on the record front they're
[04:50.400 -> 04:57.360] tied in. Let's listen to Helmut. Sebastian and Max they've contributed to 79 of the 100 wins that
[04:57.360 -> 05:02.640] Red Bull Racing has had. Two fines both made by you. What do you see as the difference between
[05:02.640 -> 05:10.480] the two of them Dr Marco? First of? First of all, they are different characters, both completely focused on racing and they had
[05:10.480 -> 05:19.520] an unbelievable talent. Maybe Max is more natural, Seb is going into the smallest detail. To be an
[05:19.520 -> 05:25.280] engineer with him was not a nice time. If you want something he was and he was looking and looking at it.
[05:25.280 -> 05:34.320] There was no nothing what was by accident. Everything was clearly planned and also executed
[05:34.320 -> 05:43.440] in this way. Main difference maybe Max does it more easy. It's more natural but those are great
[05:43.440 -> 05:45.320] drivers no doubt. Welcome back in folks and it's hard to disagree. It's a natural, but Bose are great drivers, no doubt.
[05:45.320 -> 05:48.200] Welcome back in folks and it's hard to disagree.
[05:48.200 -> 05:52.280] It's a bit of a controversial take from Hilbert that Max is a little bit more natural.
[05:52.280 -> 05:54.440] But let's talk about it a little bit later.
[05:54.440 -> 05:56.080] Firstly, my name is Somal Arora.
[05:56.080 -> 05:58.920] I am the host of the Indian Racing League on Starsports.
[05:58.920 -> 06:02.320] The couple of voices you're going to hear along with me, firstly, are Kunal Shah, the
[06:02.320 -> 06:10.160] former marketing head of the Force India F1 team, who's also an F1 consultant and expert for the Viaplane network in Norway. And of
[06:10.160 -> 06:16.040] course, F1 stats guru himself, Sundaram Ramaswamy, who's now also a part of the WTF1 team of
[06:16.040 -> 06:21.320] content creators. And with Maxfirst App and Sundaram, things often get heated. In our
[06:21.320 -> 06:25.680] last event that we had for the Zanvod GP back here in Mumbai, people
[06:25.680 -> 06:30.480] were fighting and cussing because they just couldn't quite accept how good Max Verstappen
[06:30.480 -> 06:31.480] was.
[06:31.480 -> 06:34.920] That's usually what happens. And I think people were extremely passionate this time
[06:34.920 -> 06:39.920] out considering the fact that he had achieved such a historic landmark. It was a very historic
[06:39.920 -> 06:44.200] race for Red Bull in that sense. And I think that's the fun part of what happens at these
[06:44.200 -> 06:48.560] events. People get to share their opinions, they get to discuss with each other and also be a little
[06:48.560 -> 06:53.600] passionate and that's what I think is one of the highlights of our event and that was great to see
[06:53.600 -> 06:59.440] as well. And all things considered Kunal, we saw Max doing Max things but that came in at the back
[06:59.440 -> 07:05.600] of a crazy race. How often do you have the rain coming just on the second lap? I mean, this weekend,
[07:05.600 -> 07:10.800] we had a driver swap in the middle. We had some crazy qualifying sessions, Ferrari being
[07:10.800 -> 07:15.600] disappointed. Oh, Williams back in the top three. What more could you ask for?
[07:15.600 -> 07:23.680] Rain, a lot of rain. And as Max Verstappen has pointed out, since Baku, rain has impacted or,
[07:23.680 -> 07:35.120] you know, we've had at least one wet session at pretty much every race on the calendar so climate change is for real in fact we had one race cancelled if you remember because of rain.
[07:35.460 -> 07:42.920] But it was a brilliant race I mean I was wondering if if the rain came in a little earlier one lap earlier.
[07:46.320 -> 07:54.320] came in a little earlier, one lap earlier. Could we finally have had a situation where every driver drives in to the pit? And, you know, memory of Hungary 2022 or 2020, was it? I can't remember,
[07:54.320 -> 07:58.400] 20, 21, yeah, whatever. But, you know, that wasn't the case because that was just on the formation
[07:58.400 -> 08:06.400] lap. But I think it was one of the best races I have seen. We couldn't predict what was literally going to happen. I
[08:06.400 -> 08:12.880] mean, what, five or six stops to go ahead and win the race eventually by Max Verstappen, but we had
[08:12.880 -> 08:19.040] George Russell lead, we had Checo Perez lead. There are so many narratives. I mean, this
[08:19.040 -> 08:25.280] review episode and the Monza preview episode are so close to each other that the narratives will keep changing,
[08:25.280 -> 08:31.600] but the winner remains the same. Yeah, it's kind of scary how things eventually go about with
[08:31.600 -> 08:38.000] Max Verstappen, but there were other critical parts. Guys, what do we tackle first? Do we want
[08:38.000 -> 08:43.040] to firstly talk about Alex Albon because I am dying to talk about Alex Albon, or do we firstly
[08:43.040 -> 08:49.840] want to go and talk about Pierre Gasly? What's the biggest surprise? What do you think Sindram?
[08:49.840 -> 08:54.440] Definitely has to be Williams because I think that's one of the most beautiful stories from
[08:54.440 -> 08:59.560] the season as well, apart from Aston Martin and McLaren. For the longest time, it seemed
[08:59.560 -> 09:04.400] that Williams always had a car that would do well on low downforce circuits. And somehow
[09:04.400 -> 09:10.360] they come up with a car that does well on a circuit that is rated third in terms of downforce
[09:10.360 -> 09:13.960] after Monaco and Budapest, the Hangaroring.
[09:13.960 -> 09:18.240] And this is something which is still unclear for the larger fraternity or the community
[09:18.240 -> 09:19.240] in Formula 1.
[09:19.240 -> 09:24.640] How did Williams manage to put up a car that was constantly good in the wet as well as
[09:24.640 -> 09:26.320] in the dry across all three
[09:26.320 -> 09:31.600] days. And this is something that really surprises me while Ferrari on the other end are faltering
[09:31.600 -> 09:36.880] when it comes to race strategies, Williams really stick on to one strategy and they're able to
[09:36.880 -> 09:44.000] execute it well. And how many times have we seen Alex Albon pull a long stint? Millions,
[09:44.000 -> 09:47.520] millions of times. But this Kunal is the same Williams we
[09:47.520 -> 09:53.280] saw a couple of years ago, not even have their car ready for pre-season testing. So it's fun.
[09:53.280 -> 09:58.640] And you know a car is doing well when Sergeant Logan, no disrespect, can also get into Q3.
[09:58.640 -> 10:03.360] He couldn't quite manage the winds of Q3 though, it was probably a bit too high for him and
[10:03.360 -> 10:05.000] eventually ended up bowing out
[10:05.000 -> 10:09.480] over there. But it speaks volumes. And you know the fun part, after the qualifying session,
[10:09.480 -> 10:15.120] when Alex Albon was asked what exactly went right, he said, I think it was the wind. We got a really
[10:15.120 -> 10:19.760] good headwind and eventually that helped out our car. Is he channeling the God ether,
[10:19.760 -> 10:25.760] channeling the winds, making sure that the William goes well, because that's unheard of.
[10:25.760 -> 10:28.920] I'll tell you on a technical point what actually worked was
[10:28.920 -> 10:31.000] the Williams was able to fire up the tires
[10:31.000 -> 10:34.360] and keep them in a window, which made them so competitive.
[10:34.360 -> 10:36.080] Because the question that Sundaram asked
[10:36.080 -> 10:38.560] is the question that everybody had on their minds.
[10:38.560 -> 10:40.800] What on earth is the Williams doing
[10:40.800 -> 10:43.960] on such a high downforce sensitivity circuit,
[10:43.960 -> 10:45.840] being so high up the ranks. It was,
[10:45.840 -> 10:51.280] you know, good flashback from the old days of what Williams could do. And mind you, Samuel,
[10:51.280 -> 10:56.160] this is not the same Williams team that actually didn't have the car ready a couple of, you know,
[10:56.160 -> 11:00.560] years ago in pre-season testing, with all due respect, because yes, that did happen with
[11:00.560 -> 11:05.000] Williams. James Wawel's and the engineering brilliance he's able to bring
[11:05.000 -> 11:11.240] in. And that's what Williams essentially needs. They need an engineer that's able to engineer
[11:11.240 -> 11:16.560] the team back to their glory days or closer to their glory days. Don't pardon me for the
[11:16.560 -> 11:21.880] pun probably just happened by itself. But yes, I think, can you imagine Williams doing
[11:21.880 -> 11:26.400] what they did still becomes a bigger talking point, unfortunately,
[11:26.400 -> 11:29.920] than Pierre Gasly actually getting it right.
[11:29.920 -> 11:35.880] He made the perfect tire switch call just the way Checo Perez did and he made it work
[11:35.880 -> 11:36.880] on merit.
[11:36.880 -> 11:40.520] Before we get to Gasly though, we need to flex about something a little bit Kunal.
[11:40.520 -> 11:41.520] We called it.
[11:41.520 -> 11:42.520] We called it.
[11:42.520 -> 11:48.140] In the stories to watch for, for the second half of the season, we called that Alex Albon will be qualifying in the top five somewhere.
[11:48.140 -> 11:52.500] We did not know it would be Zandvoort. That was totally off the charts.
[11:52.500 -> 11:56.740] We said Las Vegas. We said Monza. Monza's coming up next. So watch out for that one.
[11:56.740 -> 12:01.620] But Zandvoort, that's, I've not pronounced it correctly. I've been so sure that I've
[12:01.620 -> 12:08.460] forgotten how to say the name of the circuit properly. But the point being, it's quite, it's, it doesn't even add up.
[12:08.460 -> 12:09.680] It doesn't even make sense.
[12:09.680 -> 12:10.680] And you're so right.
[12:10.680 -> 12:15.600] We just have to talk about Pierre Gasly because that is something scary that Alpinum, it's
[12:15.600 -> 12:18.180] all the mismanagement is able to get a podium.
[12:18.180 -> 12:19.600] And we don't care about it as much.
[12:19.600 -> 12:20.600] Isn't it Sundaram?
[12:20.600 -> 12:21.600] I mean, exactly.
[12:21.600 -> 12:26.000] And the fact that he, he pulled the right call at the very perfect time.
[12:26.000 -> 12:33.000] He started from P12 and he is among the very few drivers, I think there was Perez, there was Sunoda, Lawson and Magnussen
[12:33.000 -> 12:36.000] and even Leclerc who pulled into the pits after the very first lap.
[12:36.000 -> 12:44.000] And he was able to stay within the top 4, top 5 through the duration of the race, which is extremely good to see.
[12:44.000 -> 12:49.000] And the fact that Alpine got a double points finish for the first time in close to three months
[12:49.000 -> 12:53.040] especially after what what they've been going through over the past couple of
[12:53.040 -> 12:57.320] weeks is a great start to the second half of the season it's a good way to
[12:57.320 -> 13:01.560] the rest of the season. And you know Pierre Gasly actually started the summer
[13:01.560 -> 13:09.120] break also on a high he was I think third in the sprint in Spa if I remember correctly. So he started this, he ended you know he
[13:09.120 -> 13:12.040] started the summer break and sort of ended the summer break on on the high
[13:12.040 -> 13:17.000] and always getting a podium in the Grand Prix is far bigger than getting a podium
[13:17.000 -> 13:20.880] in the sprint even if Formula One tells you otherwise ladies and gentlemen
[13:20.880 -> 13:25.320] remember the Grand Prix on Sunday is still the most important race.
[13:25.320 -> 13:32.840] And I think what really benefited Gasly was yes, the correct call that he made to switch
[13:32.840 -> 13:34.680] to the inters, right.
[13:34.680 -> 13:39.760] And then classic what we've seen this season, if you get track position, it's so difficult
[13:39.760 -> 13:45.000] to overtake because the cars are so closely matched to each other that you are able
[13:45.000 -> 13:50.120] to hold on to the track position. On top of that you had a circuit like Sunfoot
[13:50.120 -> 13:54.920] which is narrow, the cars are wide, beautiful circuit but it makes it
[13:54.920 -> 14:00.440] easier for you to also hold position if you had to unless you had Fernando
[14:00.440 -> 14:04.880] Alonso chasing you for position because then Fernando would do whatever it takes
[14:04.880 -> 14:05.680] at turn three to get position. And you called it, you really called it in the Fernando Alonso chasing you for position because then Fernando would do whatever it takes at
[14:05.680 -> 14:07.640] turn three to get position.
[14:07.640 -> 14:11.000] And you called it, you really called it in the pre-race show Kunal where you actually
[14:11.000 -> 14:16.280] said that Fernando Alonso will make a move down at turn three and turn four and he did
[14:16.280 -> 14:17.280] just that.
[14:17.280 -> 14:22.320] So let's talk about him for a very, very quick second because I, we sort of knew that by
[14:22.320 -> 14:29.200] the now created Aston Martin, there could be a chance of something better happening in there. But this was a little unheard of. And amidst all the chaos,
[14:29.200 -> 14:33.440] it's always great to see Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin being the sharpest ones of the lot. So,
[14:33.440 -> 14:39.520] even though the car may not be thereabouts for Aston Martin, it's good to see that they're there,
[14:39.520 -> 14:43.600] at least in terms of strategic calls after what was a bit of a debacle in Monaco as well. So,
[14:43.600 -> 14:46.240] good to see Fernando Alonso back on the podium.
[14:46.240 -> 14:51.120] And on the other hand, where Aspen Martin was sharp this time out, McLaren and Mercedes,
[14:51.120 -> 14:55.520] well, McLaren and Mercedes together, this feels like a throwback thing as well.
[14:55.520 -> 15:00.360] But McLaren and Mercedes together, both of them unable to get things done, which is a
[15:00.360 -> 15:02.040] bit of a disappointment.
[15:02.040 -> 15:09.040] Because when we saw the results from qualifying, when we saw the pace that both Landonauts and Oscar Piastri were carrying after all the support
[15:09.040 -> 15:13.480] from all the orange t-shirt wearing fans out here and even the curbs for that matter, it
[15:13.480 -> 15:17.640] just was strange that they weren't quite able to get something out. It's like the momentum
[15:17.640 -> 15:19.400] has been stunted a little bit Sundaram.
[15:19.400 -> 15:24.140] No, it's not about the case of momentum, I would say. They did extremely well in qualifying.
[15:24.140 -> 15:29.760] But the fact is they were not able to make the right call once again it's all about strategy it's about making the
[15:29.760 -> 15:34.880] correct call and unfortunately McLaren and Mercedes were one of those teams that
[15:35.440 -> 15:40.720] waited a bit too long to pit. They waited until lap three, Russell actually waited until lap four
[15:40.720 -> 15:45.720] and that's one of the main reasons why they fell down the grid and they really couldn't make their way up.
[15:45.720 -> 15:50.560] They did make it to 6th and 7th, but that was one of the main reasons why the rest of
[15:50.560 -> 15:52.880] the race wasn't the greatest for them.
[15:52.880 -> 15:58.000] They were somewhere in between the sort of strategies that the top teams like Aston Martin
[15:58.000 -> 16:03.840] and Red Bull did, and what Williams executed, and that was the bad place to be in.
[16:03.840 -> 16:05.920] They really did not recover from that at all.
[16:05.920 -> 16:11.040] Yeah, they were in like literally strategies, no man's land or no woman's land if I have to
[16:11.040 -> 16:17.840] be woke about it, right. But the truth is, it was so surprising, both McLaren and Mercedes,
[16:17.840 -> 16:23.440] again, tremendous experience, they had quicker cars, right. But there was a point of time
[16:23.440 -> 16:26.720] when they were where there were eight teams running in the top 10.
[16:26.720 -> 16:32.080] The only two teams that didn't have cars running in the top 10 were McLaren and Mercedes. In the
[16:32.080 -> 16:37.520] case of McLaren, they split strategies because Lando Norris, literally, I think it was lap three
[16:37.520 -> 16:43.760] or lap four, he went onto the radio and he screamed at McLaren because they were arguing.
[16:43.760 -> 16:45.280] McLaren was saying, you are quicker on the slicks now already than McLaren because they were arguing. McLaren was saying you are
[16:45.280 -> 16:51.120] quicker on the slicks now already than the others on the inters and I think he had a flashback from
[16:51.120 -> 16:58.080] Russia 2021 where he literally, he used some words I will not use on the podcast right and then he
[16:58.080 -> 17:08.800] said guys box Lando inters now and he drove into the pits. He literally ordered the teams to actually make a stop
[17:08.800 -> 17:09.760] and give him the inters.
[17:09.760 -> 17:11.520] And that's what sort of got him there.
[17:11.520 -> 17:14.040] But again, the cars had enough pace
[17:14.040 -> 17:16.680] to find themselves back into the points
[17:16.680 -> 17:18.080] with all the other interruptions
[17:18.080 -> 17:21.220] and all the other changing conditions that happened.
[17:21.220 -> 17:30.040] But I think McLaren and Mercedes both let their drivers down by not being the sharpest when it came to strategy. And it's just
[17:30.040 -> 17:34.920] a matter of one lap isn't it how your judgment can be slightly tainted in one
[17:34.920 -> 17:38.600] lap. We saw this with Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen as well where Sergio was
[17:38.600 -> 17:42.840] able to come out 14 seconds ahead of Max with a couple of cars and Joe Guan
[17:42.840 -> 17:45.160] Yu also very randomly in the middle
[17:45.160 -> 17:46.440] between all those two as well.
[17:46.440 -> 17:49.860] But it's amazing how one lap can make all the difference.
[17:49.860 -> 17:51.820] And eventually, in the grand scheme of things,
[17:51.820 -> 17:53.840] it didn't really add up for both of them.
[17:53.840 -> 17:56.040] But I find it interesting how Formula One is all
[17:56.040 -> 18:00.120] about partially luck as well, because it's all about feel.
[18:00.120 -> 18:03.720] And what we also discussed in 2021 after the Russian GP,
[18:03.720 -> 18:09.360] I remember very distinctively, was that you can't fault Antononautas for the process of using his instinct to make a call
[18:09.360 -> 18:13.040] on something quite like that. So in the same way, I don't think you can fault the drivers for what
[18:13.040 -> 18:17.920] they did, just that sometimes it works out for you and sometimes it doesn't. When it doesn't
[18:17.920 -> 18:22.720] work out, it's for Sergio Perez. Let's just talk about the elephant in the room, shall we Sundaram?
[18:23.000 -> 18:32.000] Let's just talk about the elephant in the room, shall we Sundaram? Yet again, unfortunate qualifying where he got caught out by a bit of a poor strategy call in hindsight.
[18:32.000 -> 18:38.000] I think at the moment in time, it is very tricky to tell what the conditions were like when he went out for a double run on the soft compound tyres.
[18:38.000 -> 18:45.160] But at the end of the day, facts are facts, people will remember the results and P7 wasn't quite the best to start off with in qualifying.
[18:45.160 -> 18:49.720] So maybe next time when we go to Monza, two qualifying Checo gets another chance.
[18:49.720 -> 18:51.200] That's exactly what happened this time.
[18:51.200 -> 18:56.400] So it's happened at the British Grand Prix as well, where in changeable conditions, he
[18:56.400 -> 19:00.200] was sent out first and he probably lost out compared to the others.
[19:00.200 -> 19:01.360] And this time that's what happened.
[19:01.360 -> 19:03.640] So he's started lower down on the grid.
[19:03.640 -> 19:10.320] And it seems all the bad luck and all the all the fumbles that happening at that side of the garage and everything is perfect
[19:10.880 -> 19:15.920] when it happens with Verstappen. And Perez went off track, there was a little fumble in the pit
[19:15.920 -> 19:22.880] stops as well. And Perez wasn't given the priority when it came to switching on to Slicks. I know a
[19:22.880 -> 19:26.200] lot of people questioning this. How was Verstappen given the priority
[19:26.200 -> 19:28.000] considering Perez was leading?
[19:28.000 -> 19:29.960] But if you look at the bigger picture,
[19:29.960 -> 19:33.000] it was a historic moment for Verstappen.
[19:33.000 -> 19:34.760] If they had given Perez the priority,
[19:34.760 -> 19:36.360] probably he would have been ahead.
[19:36.360 -> 19:40.560] But Verstappen was on the record equaling Reyes.
[19:40.560 -> 19:42.440] And you also have to keep him happy.
[19:42.440 -> 19:45.540] He is the person who's gonna be winning the title this year.
[19:45.540 -> 19:50.300] And I definitely feel in the longer run, Perez is expendable, Verstappen's not.
[19:50.300 -> 19:52.300] And Ferrari, sorry, and not Ferrari.
[19:52.300 -> 19:54.100] We got to wait till we talk of Ferrari.
[19:54.100 -> 19:56.940] And Red Bull also want to make these records.
[19:56.940 -> 20:01.040] They want to be remembered forever for, and you know, that the fact that they made these
[20:01.040 -> 20:04.940] records and if Max is getting them the records, why not?
[20:04.940 -> 20:09.520] Clearly it didn't matter where Checo finished and they gave him the opportunity to finish second, right?
[20:09.520 -> 20:18.000] The funniest thing, you know, the most perez thing happened to Checo, right? Just before the red flag,
[20:18.000 -> 20:22.480] when he came into pit, if you remember, he came into pit and then the race was red flagged,
[20:22.480 -> 20:29.200] so he was stuck in the pit lane, he couldn't leave because the pit lane was red. He actually aquaplaned in the pit lane,
[20:29.200 -> 20:36.320] he brushed his right-hand side front wheel, right? And not only did he cause damage to,
[20:36.320 -> 20:40.720] of course, his rear wing and his right front, but that brushing is what actually
[20:41.760 -> 20:46.040] slowed him, oh no, didn't slow him down in time for the pit lane entry.
[20:46.040 -> 20:49.160] And that's why he actually got a speeding, whatever,
[20:49.160 -> 20:51.200] pit time penalty, a five second time penalty.
[20:51.200 -> 20:53.720] But yeah, just Perez things with Sergio.
[20:53.720 -> 20:56.000] Similarly, just Leclerc things with Charles,
[20:56.000 -> 20:56.840] that's what happened.
[20:56.840 -> 20:59.080] Imagine we're talking of mixed conditions,
[20:59.080 -> 21:01.320] everybody's trying to come and pit and think,
[21:01.320 -> 21:02.480] and Ferrari is what?
[21:02.480 -> 21:05.360] They're not even ready with interns for their drivers.
[21:05.360 -> 21:12.080] Yeah, it's a madness, madness all the way through. But I think Leclerc also on Saturday was showing
[21:12.080 -> 21:16.560] the world why he's a perfect fit for Ferrari, because he ended up making the same mistake at
[21:16.560 -> 21:21.600] the same corner four times. Classic, that's what the team does as well in the grand scheme of
[21:21.600 -> 21:29.840] things. It's a perfect fit, the way things are going about. But what I don't like is the fact that he's taken this long to realize that at Ferrari,
[21:29.840 -> 21:34.400] you've got to guide the team and maybe grab them by the jugular and make them do things.
[21:34.400 -> 21:39.520] It's finally taken him, how many years has it been? 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, five years at Ferrari
[21:39.520 -> 21:44.160] to realize that he has to direct them after qualifying one. And that's the lesson he's
[21:44.160 -> 21:46.640] learned from Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Vettel.
[21:46.640 -> 21:49.920] But maybe folks, that's the reason why we're,
[21:49.920 -> 21:51.160] that's the reason why Ferrari
[21:51.160 -> 21:52.360] and winning a championship over there
[21:52.360 -> 21:54.280] is just such a valuable thing for all the drivers,
[21:54.280 -> 21:55.720] why there is so much allure.
[21:55.720 -> 21:58.160] Because doing it as a driver, that's one thing,
[21:58.160 -> 22:00.960] but doing it as a driver and also chief strategist,
[22:00.960 -> 22:03.400] that sums it up, it's an achievement unlike any other.
[22:03.400 -> 22:08.080] So look like he's getting there actually, finally. Absolutely. I mean, he put out a very strong
[22:08.080 -> 22:12.960] message after qualifying, after they narrowly, narrowly got into Q2. And I think he took it a
[22:12.960 -> 22:17.840] little bit too far in the race as well. He was directing the team what they had to do in
[22:17.840 -> 22:22.080] qualifying. And he was also directing the team what they had to do in the race. But he didn't
[22:22.080 -> 22:30.160] give them enough time to come out with the tires. Because what happened apparently, Leclerc was just entering the final corner when he realized
[22:30.160 -> 22:34.720] it's raining way too much. And he decided to just dive into the pit. And that's when he radioed in
[22:34.720 -> 22:39.360] that I am coming into the pits. And they didn't have enough time to bring out the tires. And
[22:39.360 -> 22:46.320] once again, they fumbled at Sandford. And how is it that Ferrari is the only team that
[22:46.320 -> 22:47.560] didn't have tires ready?
[22:47.560 -> 22:50.680] It's not that Charles was 90 seconds ahead of the pack
[22:50.680 -> 22:53.240] and he came in before the other 19 drivers.
[22:53.240 -> 22:55.400] It was obvious they were going to come in.
[22:55.400 -> 22:58.560] I mean, they just found a way to fumble it.
[22:58.560 -> 23:01.000] It doesn't matter if it's Vasseur, Binotto, Ariba,
[23:01.000 -> 23:03.480] Ben, Dominicali, whoever.
[23:03.480 -> 23:05.680] But Ferrari will just find a way to do Ferrari
[23:05.680 -> 23:06.680] things.
[23:06.680 -> 23:11.040] Maybe they just want to finish all their mistakes before they go for a glory run this weekend
[23:11.040 -> 23:13.240] in Monza in front of the Tifosi.
[23:13.240 -> 23:16.120] And can you imagine finishing P5 with Carlos Sainz?
[23:16.120 -> 23:20.840] And Carlos Sainz says, we actually delivered a perfect race for my side of the garage.
[23:20.840 -> 23:28.460] I mean, that's 50% of the race perfectly delivered instead of the possible 100%. But before we
[23:28.460 -> 23:32.280] end, we should talk about Daniel Ricardo, that strange looking
[23:32.280 -> 23:35.720] crash, which he said he had to either hit the wall or hit PS3.
[23:35.720 -> 23:38.000] I'm glad he hit the wall. I'm sure everybody would have chosen
[23:38.000 -> 23:41.200] the wall. But poor chap, he's now probably out. And the
[23:41.200 -> 23:44.760] biggest headache I wish that Daniel Ricardo's crash will
[23:44.760 -> 23:45.540] create for
[23:45.540 -> 23:52.400] Red Bull is who to put in the FP1 sessions because Nick DeVries did one FP1 session in
[23:52.400 -> 23:55.960] Bahrain so that's one strike for Alpha Tauri.
[23:55.960 -> 24:02.500] Liam Lawson, he still didn't do an FP1, he did an FP3 which means in Monza, FP1 is both
[24:02.500 -> 24:05.840] of Alpha Tauri's FP1 sessions over in Dunmuth.
[24:06.160 -> 24:12.280] Now, if Liam Lawson drives more races than Monza, if he drives in Singapore,
[24:12.280 -> 24:17.640] let's just assume, then he's no longer a rookie, which means Red Bull Racing has
[24:17.640 -> 24:23.000] to look at somebody else altogether, not Sebastian Buemi to put as a rookie in
[24:23.000 -> 24:24.400] the car for FP1.
[24:25.800 -> 24:28.000] Yeah, that's a problem to actually have as well.
[24:28.000 -> 24:33.320] But on the crash for a quick second, I know it's a tricky one to dissect because
[24:33.320 -> 24:36.680] eventually the poor lad has broken his hand and that's really a shame about what
[24:36.680 -> 24:41.160] happened. And I don't think you can fault him for what he was doing at that moment
[24:41.160 -> 24:42.640] because then he tried to steer it away.
[24:42.640 -> 24:48.200] And I know it's a basic racing thing where you have to take your hands away from the wheel and I think he did the right
[24:48.200 -> 24:51.680] thing because of course he would have gone into Piastri and that's not what we want so
[24:51.680 -> 24:56.440] fair sacrifice to make but before that when you look at the onboard I know I'm in the
[24:56.440 -> 25:00.680] most comfortable position in the world in a beautiful room with the AC running I'm sitting
[25:00.680 -> 25:05.200] on a lovely chair great laptop totally great totally great day. But in that car,
[25:05.200 -> 25:08.480] when the conditions are so tricky, it's hard to make that judgment. But nonetheless, heading
[25:08.480 -> 25:14.160] into the corner, it seemed like there was ample of room on the inside line and Piastri was also parked
[25:14.160 -> 25:19.120] just outside the white line, which is normally where you shouldn't really go, right? You shouldn't
[25:19.120 -> 25:23.360] really go outside the circuit as well. So say what you want about the crash eventually, just was
[25:23.360 -> 25:27.080] a bit of a strange loss of control in the first place that eventually caused it
[25:27.080 -> 25:31.880] and that for me Kunal is a strange one for someone like Daniel Ricardo
[25:31.880 -> 25:36.120] who's so experienced. So mistakes can happen for me in the best ones. Correct.
[25:36.120 -> 25:41.920] Yeah he did make a mistake and that's why he had enough momentum to go on the
[25:41.920 -> 25:45.800] outside of the circuit but not correct and take the inside line and
[25:45.800 -> 25:47.180] avoid PS3 altogether.
[25:47.180 -> 25:50.960] He did make a mistake and that's where he lost control eventually.
[25:50.960 -> 25:55.880] And then it was like, now that I've lost control, what do I hit and who do I miss?
[25:55.880 -> 25:57.200] And that's the decision he had to make.
[25:57.200 -> 26:03.200] But great for Liam Lawson to actually, you know, he's never driven on the slicks.
[26:03.200 -> 26:06.400] He's never drawn a qualifying in mixed conditions.
[26:06.400 -> 26:08.960] He's never done a race where there were five or six pit stops.
[26:08.960 -> 26:12.360] So this is like baptism by water for Liam Lawson.
[26:12.360 -> 26:18.720] That was a Lawson joke.
[26:19.680 -> 26:20.120] I tried.
[26:22.720 -> 26:26.840] No, but I think, I think Liam Lawson has three main takeaways from the race.
[26:26.840 -> 26:30.840] I mean, like I said, it was a wet race and under changeable conditions.
[26:30.840 -> 26:33.140] Firstly, he did not make a mistake.
[26:33.140 -> 26:37.340] He did have a penalty, but which wasn't because of his own fault.
[26:37.340 -> 26:40.140] Secondly, he managed to overtake Charles Leclerc.
[26:40.140 -> 26:43.140] But yet again, Leclerc had floor damage.
[26:43.140 -> 26:46.760] And momentarily, he was able to get past Max Verstappen
[26:46.760 -> 26:47.760] as well.
[26:47.760 -> 26:52.160] So, in probably one of the most trickiest rookie races, I think he fared pretty well.
[26:52.160 -> 26:53.400] He did, yeah.
[26:53.400 -> 26:57.000] And even though the qualifying time might be very far off, it's a good start.
[26:57.000 -> 27:00.920] At least he has one more race in Italy before he can try his hand out.
[27:00.920 -> 27:04.720] And Daniel Ricciardo will be calling in large store to ask for tips, like, buddy, how do
[27:04.720 -> 27:07.840] you drive with a broken hand? Tell tell me more because I can't wait to
[27:07.840 -> 27:14.040] get back in this car but craziness all around and as is always the case would no matter
[27:14.040 -> 27:18.480] what happens no matter what we discuss at the end of it all Max Verstappen wins and
[27:18.480 -> 27:24.480] let just let's that uh my god I can't think properly because he's corrupted my mind with
[27:24.480 -> 27:25.320] all the success.
[27:25.320 -> 27:29.720] But let that be the takeaway of this entire episode of this entire weekend that no matter
[27:29.720 -> 27:32.480] what happens in the world, Verstappen is going to be the winner.
[27:32.480 -> 27:35.100] But is that going to be the case in Italy?
[27:35.100 -> 27:39.640] That we shall discuss in our Italian GP preview episode, which comes out in a couple of days
[27:39.640 -> 27:40.640] time.
[27:40.640 -> 27:42.140] So stay tuned for that one, folks.
[27:42.140 -> 27:46.920] That's it for everyone right here on the Inside Line F1 podcast for the Zanvod review.
[27:46.920 -> 27:48.080] See you in a couple of days.
[27:48.080 -> 27:49.080] Have fun, bye bye.
[28:03.320 -> 28:05.320] you