F1 Helps 'Keep Austin Weird': Bob Varsha - 2022 United States GP Preview

'Keep Austin Weird' is the slogan adopted to promote small businesses in Austin, Texas. Legendary American Formula 1 broadcaster Bob Varsha tells us in this episode that Formula 1 at the Circuit of the Americas helps 'Keep Austin Weird'. 

It's the 10th anniversary of the United States Grand Prix - the return of Formula 1 to the USA. And there's lots to look forward to apart from Daniel Ricciardo's off-track shenanigans and Bob's re-appearance on the Inside Line F1 Podcast.

Fancy bat-watching, for example?

Bob narrates the making of the epic Turn 1 - which is aptly called 'The Phil Hill'. And of course, we will also have 'The Andretti' from this weekend onward. 

Here's a very special guest on this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast - previewing the 2022 United States Grand Prix with Soumil Arora. 

(Season 2022, Episode 63)

Follow our hosts: Sundaram Ramaswami, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: Ferrari

# Inside Line F1 Podcast Episode 63: Previewing the 2022 United States Grand Prix with Soumil Arora

### Episode Overview:

- Bob Varsha joins the Inside Line F1 Podcast to preview the 2022 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA).
- Varsha discusses the excitement surrounding the return of Formula One to the United States, with a record crowd expected at COTA.
- He also shares his thoughts on the title race being wrapped up before the USGP, the upcoming FP1 session featuring young drivers, and the ongoing budget cap controversy involving Red Bull Racing.
- Varsha provides insights into the midfield battle between McLaren and Alpine, the potential for Mercedes to win a race before the end of the season, and the farewell appearances of Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher.

### Detailed Summary:

1. **Introduction:**
- Varsha expresses his delight at being back on the show and shares that his cancer is in remission.
- He emphasizes the importance of prostate cancer screening for men and encourages them to get checked regularly.

2. **Excitement for the USGP:**
- Varsha anticipates a great atmosphere at COTA with a record crowd expected.
- He attributes the popularity of Formula One in the US to the unique charm of Austin, which embraces the race in a way that other cities hosting Grand Prix events cannot.

3. **Title Race and Other Intrigues:**
- Varsha acknowledges that the title race being wrapped up may dampen the excitement for some fans, but he highlights that there's still plenty to look forward to.
- He mentions the Constructors' title battle, the midfield fight between McLaren and Alpine, and the potential for Mercedes to secure a race win before the season ends.
- Varsha also points out the presence of young drivers in FP1, including Logan Sargent, Pietro Fittipaldi, and Alex Palou, which adds an element of excitement.

4. **FP1 Focus:**
- Varsha discusses the significance of FP1, especially with several young drivers getting their first taste of Formula One cars.
- He provides context on Alex Palou's situation, explaining his departure from McLaren and subsequent return to Chip Ganassi Racing for IndyCar in 2023.
- Varsha praises Palou's talent and expresses his belief that he will eventually make it to Formula One if he continues to perform well.

5. **Budget Cap Controversy:**
- Varsha acknowledges the ongoing controversy surrounding Red Bull Racing's alleged breach of the budget cap.
- He highlights the challenges in policing the cost cap due to various stipulations and the difficulty in determining how teams spend their money.
- Varsha emphasizes the need for transparency and hopes that the FIA will handle the situation appropriately.

6. **Midfield Battle and Mercedes' Prospects:**
- Varsha discusses the intense midfield battle between McLaren and Alpine, which has added excitement to the season.
- He also expresses his belief that Mercedes is still capable of winning a race before the end of the year, despite their struggles this season.

7. **Farewell Appearances:**
- Varsha mentions the upcoming farewell appearances of Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher, adding an emotional element to the USGP.
- He acknowledges the significance of Schumacher's name in Formula One and hopes that he will continue to be involved in the sport in the future.

8. **Conclusion:**
- Varsha reiterates his excitement for the USGP and encourages fans to attend the event to experience the unique atmosphere at COTA.

# **United States Grand Prix Preview: Circuit of The Americas and Austin's Enchanting Charm**

## **Introduction:**

In this episode, the hosts, Sundaram Ramaswami, Soumil Arora, and Kunal Shah, delve into the excitement surrounding the 10th anniversary of the United States Grand Prix, held at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. They discuss the unique attractions of Austin, including the famous "Keep Austin Weird" slogan, and explore what makes the city and the race weekend so special.

## **Circuit of the Americas:**

- The hosts reminisce about the construction of COTA, highlighting the challenges faced due to the unsettled ground conditions.
- They discuss the track's signature feature, Phil Hill, a 12-story climb up to Turn 1, and whether they will attempt the track walk this year.
- The infamous Austin bumps, a constant source of contention among drivers and teams, are mentioned, and the efforts to mitigate them are acknowledged.

## **Austin's Allure:**

- The hosts enthusiastically recommend various activities and attractions for those attending the USGP weekend in Austin.
- They suggest visiting the street festival, exploring the honky-tonks on 6th Street, and immersing oneself in the vibrant atmosphere of the city.
- The beauty of the Colorado River, Lady Bird Lake, and the University of Texas campus are highlighted as must-see destinations.
- The hosts emphasize the importance of experiencing Austin's weirdness, which contributes to its unique charm.

## **Trackside Delights:**

- The hosts discuss the opportunity to witness the bats emerging from under the Commerce Street Bridge at sunset, an awe-inspiring natural spectacle.
- They recommend enjoying this phenomenon with a gin and tonic from a nearby hotel balcony for an elevated experience.

## **Reflections on the USGP:**

- The hosts express their anticipation for the upcoming race weekend, hoping for an unforgettable event.
- They acknowledge the high expectations for attendance, with Formula 1 anticipating close to half a million spectators.
- The hosts express their gratitude to the guest, Bob Varsha, for sharing his insights and enthusiasm for the USGP.

## **Conclusion:**

The episode concludes with the hosts encouraging listeners to leave a positive rating on their podcast platform and subscribe to the podcast to stay updated on future episodes. They bid farewell to the audience and express their hope that everyone enjoys the USGP weekend.

[00:00.000 -> 00:25.360] Hey folks, welcome back to the InsideLineF1. And it's that time of the year once again,
[00:25.520 -> 00:27.160] where Formula One returns to the USA.
[00:27.320 -> 00:30.400] And luckily for us, it's two races in a calendar year,
[00:30.560 -> 00:32.160] which makes it extra special.
[00:32.320 -> 00:35.200] And this time, we're back at somewhat,
[00:35.360 -> 00:37.680] I wouldn't call it the home of Formula One in the US,
[00:37.840 -> 00:39.400] but because we've been here for a decade now,
[00:39.560 -> 00:41.520] it almost really does feel like home.
[00:41.680 -> 00:43.760] We're going to be back at the Circuit of the Americas.
[00:43.920 -> 00:46.160] And to talk about the race this weekend,
[00:46.160 -> 00:49.880] I am so grateful that we have Mr. Bob Varsha on the show
[00:49.880 -> 00:51.080] once again.
[00:51.080 -> 00:53.840] We had him the last time for the USGP in Miami.
[00:53.840 -> 00:56.000] It's great to have you once again, sir.
[00:56.000 -> 00:58.560] And heading into this weekend, there's
[00:58.560 -> 01:01.480] a weird sense of, I wouldn't say boredom around it,
[01:01.480 -> 01:03.200] but there's this weird feeling that, OK,
[01:03.200 -> 01:05.720] now that the World Drivers' Championship has been wrapped up,
[01:06.120 -> 01:07.840] just what do we look forward to the most?
[01:08.000 -> 01:10.640] And I want to get your take on that, but firstly, for all of our listeners,
[01:10.920 -> 01:13.640] how are you doing, sir? How have you been keeping in the last couple of months?
[01:13.920 -> 01:16.800] Well, it's great to be with you again, Sumil, and I'm doing well.
[01:16.800 -> 01:20.560] I'm proud and happy to say that my cancer is in remission and the doctors are
[01:20.560 -> 01:22.520] optimistic. So, so am I,
[01:22.640 -> 01:25.720] but I would still reiterate to all of the men in my age group
[01:25.720 -> 01:28.280] and even younger out there to get yourself checked
[01:28.280 -> 01:30.840] for prostate cancer, because it's a lot more common
[01:30.840 -> 01:32.320] than people let on.
[01:32.320 -> 01:35.560] And it's even more lethal than breast cancer,
[01:35.560 -> 01:37.360] which gets all the publicity.
[01:37.360 -> 01:39.400] Go out there, get checked, find a good urologist,
[01:39.400 -> 01:40.740] and be well.
[01:40.740 -> 01:42.760] That's great to hear that you're doing extremely fine, sir.
[01:42.760 -> 01:43.600] That's amazing.
[01:43.600 -> 01:49.040] But you've been also consistently working on your show as well, the radio show, where
[01:49.040 -> 01:51.040] when you go to the circuit to talk about Formula One.
[01:51.040 -> 01:55.760] And as I discussed with you before we went recording, you are going to be at the circuit
[01:55.760 -> 01:57.040] this weekend.
[01:57.040 -> 01:59.400] So that is a fantastic thing as well.
[01:59.400 -> 02:01.160] What excites you the most about this weekend?
[02:01.160 -> 02:06.760] Well, you know, I've always thought that sports are best when they're live, when you're actually at the place.
[02:06.760 -> 02:09.600] It's great that television and radio and newspapers
[02:09.600 -> 02:12.200] and what have you can bring the event to the people
[02:12.200 -> 02:14.880] after the fact, or even during the race itself.
[02:14.880 -> 02:17.760] But there's still nothing like being at the event.
[02:17.760 -> 02:20.960] We know that last year, Circuit of the Americas and the United
[02:20.960 -> 02:24.160] States Grand Prix produced an extraordinary crowd,
[02:24.160 -> 02:27.000] close to 400,000 people over the three days.
[02:27.000 -> 02:29.000] From what I'm hearing in Austin,
[02:29.000 -> 02:31.000] they expect to break that record this year.
[02:31.000 -> 02:35.000] They prepared for it to some degree to handle that kind of a crowd.
[02:35.000 -> 02:38.000] Of course, access and egress at Circuit of the Americas
[02:38.000 -> 02:41.000] has always been a real all-day sucker, as it were.
[02:41.000 -> 02:43.000] But I'm just really excited about it
[02:43.000 -> 02:45.800] because Formula One has gotten so popular here
[02:45.800 -> 02:47.320] in the United States,
[02:47.320 -> 02:50.320] across so many different demographic groups
[02:50.320 -> 02:52.520] that it's exciting to see.
[02:52.520 -> 02:55.320] And Austin gets its arms around the race
[02:55.320 -> 02:57.560] in a way that a lot of cities around the world
[02:57.560 -> 02:59.080] that host Formula One can't do it.
[02:59.080 -> 03:01.240] I mean, the Belgian Grand Prix
[03:01.240 -> 03:03.200] is out in the middle of the Ardennes Forest.
[03:03.200 -> 03:05.760] So there's not a town that can really
[03:10.880 -> 03:16.480] add the sort of restaurants and hotels and clubs and excite that Austin can. I mean, the motto at Austin is keep Austin weird. And they do a great job of that on the Formula One weekend.
[03:16.480 -> 03:20.640] So yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. I don't get to the racetrack often,
[03:20.640 -> 03:27.040] but this is going to be fun. And I find it remarkable that this time there's going to be an even bigger crowd
[03:27.040 -> 03:30.720] than last time, which seemed like probably one of the biggest starts we've ever had
[03:30.720 -> 03:31.480] for Formula One.
[03:31.920 -> 03:35.440] But is it a bit of a shame that the title has been wrapped up before we get to
[03:35.440 -> 03:39.640] Austin? Because last year, the context was outstanding, but Stapp and Hamilton in
[03:39.640 -> 03:42.040] the middle of a fight, people are out there to witness it.
[03:42.320 -> 03:47.920] This time, of course, less so, but will that really dampen the excitement heading into the race?
[03:48.120 -> 03:52.120] Perhaps for a certain portion of the fan base, it might.
[03:52.120 -> 03:55.200] But of course, those people probably acquired their tickets a long time ago.
[03:55.200 -> 03:56.800] So what are you going to do, tear them up?
[03:57.000 -> 03:58.720] No, you're going to go to the race, hopefully.
[03:58.920 -> 04:04.160] And for the more informed fans, let's say, there's still so much to be decided.
[04:04.160 -> 04:06.520] The Constructors title is still up for grabs.
[04:06.520 -> 04:08.040] There's a great midfield battle
[04:08.040 -> 04:10.940] between McLaren and Alpine.
[04:10.940 -> 04:13.520] You know, we've yet to see how Mercedes,
[04:13.520 -> 04:16.080] with their incredibly reluctant and troublesome
[04:16.080 -> 04:19.480] race car this year, will react at Circuit of the Americas.
[04:19.480 -> 04:22.240] I'm convinced that they still want to win a race
[04:22.240 -> 04:23.160] before the end of the year,
[04:23.160 -> 04:25.440] and they'll pull out all the stops to do that.
[04:25.600 -> 04:28.760] We're going to see some terrific young talent in free practice.
[04:28.760 -> 04:33.760] One on Friday morning, young American F2 star Logan Sargent will be in the Williams.
[04:34.000 -> 04:38.120] Piantor Fittipaldi, who has dual American Brazilian citizenship
[04:38.320 -> 04:41.800] and a great family name, will be in the Haas.
[04:42.160 -> 04:43.720] And there are others as well.
[04:43.720 -> 04:48.120] The Alex Below, the Spaniard who won last year's NTT IndyCar
[04:48.120 -> 04:50.080] Championship, will be in a car.
[04:50.080 -> 04:51.920] So that's going to be exciting.
[04:51.920 -> 04:53.880] And of course, it's our last chance
[04:53.880 -> 04:58.360] to wave goodbye to Sebastian Vettel and who knows who else.
[04:58.360 -> 05:01.320] Perhaps Mick Schumacher, which would be unfortunate,
[05:01.320 -> 05:04.560] because I think his name, totally aside from the results,
[05:04.560 -> 05:05.520] I think Mick Schumacher's
[05:05.520 -> 05:11.920] name carries such cachet with the American fans who just adored Michael Schumacher, man and boy.
[05:12.480 -> 05:18.720] So there's so much going on in Austin and then there's Austin itself, great musical entertainment,
[05:18.720 -> 05:22.320] so much to see and do. It's going to be a great weekend and I don't think it'll dent
[05:22.320 -> 05:30.640] the turnout at all. I'd be very surprised if it did. Yeah, exactly. And I just actually want to start by talking about FP1, because
[05:30.640 -> 05:34.880] you mentioned such a great point. We've got, of course, Fittipaldi and local Sargent is going to
[05:34.880 -> 05:39.040] get his first taste, if I'm not mistaken, Theopoel Scher is also going to be driving the Sabah,
[05:39.040 -> 05:44.800] which is incredible. But yeah, I'm really confused about the subject of Alex Palloux, because,
[05:44.800 -> 05:46.600] yes, he won the IndyCar Championship last year with Chip Ganassi. We all confused about the subject of Alex Palloux because yes, he won the IndyCar
[05:46.600 -> 05:48.900] Championship last year with Chip Ganassi.
[05:48.900 -> 05:53.060] We all know about the fallout that he had with McLaren and then Ganassi as well.
[05:53.060 -> 05:56.540] And then to cut a long story short, essentially, he's going to be racing with Ganassi again
[05:56.540 -> 06:02.020] for next year, but he's going to be driving a McLaren right now at the circuit of the
[06:02.020 -> 06:03.020] Americas.
[06:03.020 -> 06:05.120] How hard is it to explain to a casual viewer and
[06:05.120 -> 06:08.800] it's one you look forward to the most in terms of his test because he has had a couple of runs
[06:08.800 -> 06:15.040] previously in the 2021 McLaren car but this is just quite something else for him. It is and I
[06:15.040 -> 06:19.680] don't have any problem with it whatsoever. I don't know if Chip does or not but Chip sees the big
[06:19.680 -> 06:29.000] picture. He's got this terrific talent back in his car for next year. I don't think, although I don't know what happened to the counter suit that he filed against Alex Below.
[06:29.000 -> 06:36.000] I assume all that went away when it became clear that Below did not have a seat in Formula One next year.
[06:36.000 -> 06:40.000] And so he came back, knocked on Chip's door, and they're back together again for next year.
[06:40.000 -> 06:50.000] So I'm going to assume that Chip wouldn't have rehired him if he didn't think they could do great things together. Having said that, it's clear that every young driver, particularly those
[06:50.000 -> 06:56.080] born in other countries for whom Formula One was simply day in, day out, enchantment, let's call it,
[06:56.080 -> 07:01.680] you know, their goal is Formula One. And I'm sure, you know, you could walk up and down the pit lane
[07:01.680 -> 07:05.800] at the IndyCar races and say, okay, who wants to go to Formula One?
[07:05.800 -> 07:07.840] And you could fill up a bus in a hurry
[07:07.840 -> 07:10.480] because it's just the nature of the beast.
[07:10.480 -> 07:13.160] The IndyCar series is fun, it's great competition,
[07:13.160 -> 07:15.280] spectacular on the ovals,
[07:15.280 -> 07:18.520] but Formula One is a separate level altogether.
[07:18.520 -> 07:20.640] So I'm sure it's no surprise to Chip
[07:20.640 -> 07:22.520] that Alex Pelot wanted to go there.
[07:22.520 -> 07:24.680] And so, they'll be back together next year
[07:24.680 -> 07:25.000] and Pelot will keep hammering on the door of Formula One until he hopefully gets there I was surprised to chip that Alex Palou wanted to go there. And so, you know, they'll be back together next year
[07:25.000 -> 07:28.360] and Palou will keep hammering on the door of Formula One
[07:28.360 -> 07:29.960] until he hopefully gets there,
[07:29.960 -> 07:32.600] because he's a terrific young driver.
[07:32.600 -> 07:35.080] And for all of our listeners who haven't quite had
[07:35.080 -> 07:37.000] the taste of Palou by watching IndyCar,
[07:37.000 -> 07:38.240] just how good is he?
[07:38.240 -> 07:39.760] Just what can he bring to the table?
[07:39.760 -> 07:41.320] Obviously, it's hard to really look at it
[07:41.320 -> 07:42.520] from the bigger picture right now,
[07:42.520 -> 07:44.440] because it's just an FP1 run,
[07:44.440 -> 07:47.040] and we know that McLaren have contracted drivers for the next few years,
[07:47.040 -> 07:49.200] but just what could he bring on the table,
[07:49.200 -> 07:51.360] along with say the likes of Theo Pochere as well,
[07:51.360 -> 07:52.400] who's getting his first chance.
[07:52.400 -> 07:55.840] And let's not forget Logan Sargent, a home name in Austin,
[07:55.840 -> 07:58.320] and who's already doing pretty decent things in the FITA series.
[07:58.960 -> 08:01.600] And I'm thinking of Filipa Drugovic as well,
[08:01.600 -> 08:03.360] came to the sport, he's got no money,
[08:03.360 -> 08:05.640] he's got no affiliation with
[08:05.640 -> 08:10.400] any constructor, but he's got a reserve role for next year. And I think that's terrific
[08:10.400 -> 08:15.000] because he's another great young driver. You know, what these guys will bring is new blood,
[08:15.000 -> 08:20.400] I guess you would say, you know, a new attitude, a new glimpse into what it takes to be a terrific
[08:20.400 -> 08:24.480] Formula One driver. I mean, obviously the teams have confidence in these guys or they
[08:24.480 -> 08:27.960] wouldn't be putting them in the race cars. It'll be fun to see where they measure up
[08:27.960 -> 08:32.600] against the established stars. I'm trying to think as I'm speaking, I don't know if
[08:32.600 -> 08:37.340] Logan Logan Sergeant has had a run. I'm sure he's tested an older William, but I don't
[08:37.340 -> 08:43.600] know if he's been in the 2022 car this year. I think Pietro Fittipaldi has, I don't think
[08:43.600 -> 08:45.000] Palo has.
[08:45.060 -> 08:46.400] So, you know, it's gonna be interesting.
[08:46.400 -> 08:49.000] There's a lot that goes on in these cars.
[08:49.000 -> 08:52.000] I was looking at video of Mario Andretti,
[08:52.000 -> 08:54.600] who's getting into an old McLaren,
[08:54.600 -> 08:57.480] but I mean a contemporary McLaren hybrid race car
[08:57.480 -> 08:59.960] at WeatherTech Raceway at a vintage event.
[08:59.960 -> 09:03.080] Mario's gonna drive a contemporary McLaren.
[09:03.080 -> 09:04.960] And I'm sure he sat down in that car
[09:04.960 -> 09:05.200] and for one look at in that car and said,
[09:05.200 -> 09:08.400] one look at that steering wheel, and thought, holy smokes,
[09:08.400 -> 09:10.040] what have I gotten myself into?
[09:10.040 -> 09:12.960] But he's Mario Andretti, so he'll be just fine, I'm sure.
[09:12.960 -> 09:15.640] And so I think in the same way, but at the other end
[09:15.640 -> 09:17.480] of the spectrum, that's what these young guys bring in.
[09:17.480 -> 09:18.600] We know about Mario.
[09:18.600 -> 09:19.920] We know he can drive.
[09:19.920 -> 09:21.480] But we don't know what these kids can do.
[09:21.480 -> 09:23.160] Formula 2 is a tough road to hoe.
[09:23.160 -> 09:24.280] They've done well.
[09:24.280 -> 09:28.340] And hopefully, they'll bring new flash to the series.
[09:28.340 -> 09:32.960] I think it's fair to say that there aren't many drivers,
[09:32.960 -> 09:35.040] and I have to be careful about how I say this,
[09:35.040 -> 09:37.240] who are buying their way into Formula 1.
[09:37.240 -> 09:38.280] That's not unusual.
[09:38.280 -> 09:40.220] It's happened throughout the history of the sport.
[09:40.220 -> 09:43.280] But right now, I think the teams up and down the pit lane
[09:43.280 -> 09:45.520] are in a financial situation
[09:45.520 -> 09:49.520] that will allow them to hire whomever they want.
[09:49.520 -> 09:52.240] I think that's a critical difference from some previous years.
[09:52.240 -> 09:57.040] I mean, even Haas is rumored to be getting ready to announce a major new title sponsor
[09:57.040 -> 09:57.600] for the team.
[09:57.600 -> 10:02.160] So these are good days for Formula One right now, and hopefully we'll see that reflected
[10:02.160 -> 10:02.880] on the racetrack.
[10:03.760 -> 10:04.720] That's so true.
[10:04.720 -> 10:07.240] And on the subject of what makes teams
[10:07.240 -> 10:08.840] at a more level playing field
[10:08.840 -> 10:12.460] and at a more healthier financial field is the budget cap.
[10:12.460 -> 10:13.920] And recently there's been rumors
[10:13.920 -> 10:16.260] or now that the FIA has confirmed it,
[10:16.260 -> 10:18.920] an actual breach in spending by Red Bull Racing.
[10:18.920 -> 10:22.080] And we haven't had any consequences announced so far,
[10:22.080 -> 10:24.080] obviously, I mean, according to them,
[10:24.080 -> 10:25.200] it's just a minus spend.
[10:25.200 -> 10:30.880] And by the calculations, it could be something under $7.5 million, which when you consider it,
[10:30.880 -> 10:36.000] is still a sizable amount of money. Now, we don't know if it's actually been spent on catering as
[10:36.000 -> 10:40.240] the entire internet thinks about it. But what do you think should be the penalty for that? Because
[10:40.240 -> 10:44.240] I suppose it's the biggest off-track story that we've got going right now in Formula One.
[10:49.160 -> 10:53.680] Yeah, it is. And that's unfortunate, because it should be about what's going on on the track. But, you know, I've always thought since this cost cap was instituted,
[10:53.680 -> 10:59.000] that it's going to be a terribly difficult thing to police. As most people know,
[10:59.000 -> 11:06.880] it was $145 million last year. It's $140 million this year, but that does not include driver salaries
[11:06.880 -> 11:12.800] and the salaries of the top three management people in your organization, plus a lot of other
[11:12.800 -> 11:18.880] different things. So to me, and maybe it's my legal background, I can just see it would be
[11:18.880 -> 11:27.280] pretty easy to give someone like a team principal a big boost in his salary, which isn't included under the cost cap,
[11:27.280 -> 11:33.360] which somehow finds its way back into the team's bank account to develop some new bits for the car.
[11:33.360 -> 11:39.280] And another of the challenges is that an overspend last year may have created a competitive
[11:39.280 -> 11:43.360] advantage in terms of new parts and new technologies on the car. And that's going to
[11:43.360 -> 11:47.000] continue going forward because a lot of this stuff is homologated.
[11:47.000 -> 11:49.080] So, you know, let's just use blunt words.
[11:49.080 -> 11:50.600] If they cheated last year,
[11:50.600 -> 11:52.480] they're gonna keep getting the benefits
[11:52.480 -> 11:54.520] of that cheating going forward.
[11:54.520 -> 11:55.480] How do you police that?
[11:55.480 -> 11:57.960] How do you know what they spent the money on?
[11:57.960 -> 11:59.280] Lewis Hamilton said this year
[11:59.280 -> 12:01.760] that Mercedes was investigating an improvement
[12:01.760 -> 12:03.000] to the underfloor of the car,
[12:03.000 -> 12:09.480] which is everything in terms of producing downforce on these cars this year. And he said, we were going to run up against
[12:09.480 -> 12:13.920] the cap, so we didn't do it. So when you hear that Red Bull may have spent up to seven and
[12:13.920 -> 12:20.540] a half million dollars over the cap, you can see that that can lead to some real competitive
[12:20.540 -> 12:25.560] advantages. And then there's the procedural violation
[12:25.560 -> 12:27.060] that Aston Martin went through.
[12:27.060 -> 12:29.960] And I'm still not quite clear what's a procedural.
[12:29.960 -> 12:31.840] We're using monopoly money or something.
[12:31.840 -> 12:34.000] They didn't send their forms in in time.
[12:34.000 -> 12:35.120] I don't know what it is.
[12:35.120 -> 12:36.860] And it'll all come clear in time.
[12:36.860 -> 12:40.400] But I suppose it'd be fun to be a fly on the wall
[12:40.400 -> 12:43.360] as the forensic accountants working for the CIA
[12:43.360 -> 12:45.840] are going through line item by line item
[12:45.840 -> 12:47.880] and the team budgets and what they spent things on
[12:47.880 -> 12:50.380] and who the money went to and all that kind of thing.
[12:50.380 -> 12:52.920] And someday a great book will be written about it,
[12:52.920 -> 12:55.720] but fortunately I'm not gonna write that.
[12:55.720 -> 12:58.400] I think it's probably gonna be 30, 40 years afterwards
[12:58.400 -> 13:00.200] where we actually get to know what really happened.
[13:00.200 -> 13:01.280] That's right, right.
[13:01.280 -> 13:03.240] 10 years after everybody is gone.
[13:04.400 -> 13:06.400] And the strange part is the FIA aren't even transparent That's right. Right. 10 years after everybody is gone.
[13:04.240 -> 13:08.160] And the strange part is the FIA aren't even
[13:06.400 -> 13:10.160] transparent about how much
[13:08.160 -> 13:12.080] Red Bull Racing was spent on. And that's
[13:10.160 -> 13:14.400] got me curious because, as you rightly
[13:12.080 -> 13:15.680] mentioned, the benefits carry on.
[13:14.400 -> 13:17.600] Now, we don't know where that money has
[13:15.680 -> 13:19.840] been spent on, but let's just assume it
[13:17.600 -> 13:21.280] has been spent on designing, in
[13:19.840 -> 13:22.640] accordance to a 2022 car, the
[13:21.280 -> 13:24.960] underflow. Let's say they found a
[13:22.640 -> 13:27.920] massive performance benefit in that case.
[13:24.960 -> 13:25.120] Now, how do you define a serious according to a 2022 card, the underflow. Let's say they found a massive performance benefit in that case.
[13:25.120 -> 13:29.400] Now, how do you define a serious violation or not?
[13:29.400 -> 13:31.600] Because ideally, if you've cheated,
[13:31.600 -> 13:33.120] then and Toto Wolff has an argument of saying,
[13:33.120 -> 13:34.360] well, if you've cheated,
[13:34.360 -> 13:36.880] you should not qualify for your championship titles.
[13:36.880 -> 13:38.520] And it's a shame we're discussing all of this,
[13:38.520 -> 13:40.680] but how do you look at it that way?
[13:40.680 -> 13:42.880] Should they be stripped off from the title?
[13:42.880 -> 13:44.520] That's too big a thing to do,
[13:44.520 -> 13:45.280] but surely that is an example. wait. I mean should they be stripped off from the title? That's too big
[13:43.840 -> 13:46.960] a thing to do but surely that is an
[13:45.280 -> 13:49.680] example.
[13:46.960 -> 13:52.720] Well, yeah, I mean I can see the argument
[13:49.680 -> 13:54.800] at least and if it was a major overspend,
[13:52.720 -> 13:56.880] you know, if they spent 25 million
[13:54.800 -> 13:57.760] dollars or something or if they were
[13:56.880 -> 14:00.320] found
[13:57.760 -> 14:02.320] to have manipulated
[14:00.320 -> 14:04.080] the various stipulations of the rule
[14:02.320 -> 14:06.640] about what you can spend your money on
[14:04.080 -> 14:06.900] and they, to use the example I just said,
[14:06.900 -> 14:09.700] if somebody a big raise and find that money filtering back
[14:09.700 -> 14:11.820] into the team's operational budget,
[14:11.820 -> 14:14.980] that would call for a serious penalty.
[14:14.980 -> 14:17.540] And I have to assume the FIA powers that be
[14:17.540 -> 14:19.060] have considered these things.
[14:19.060 -> 14:21.620] What are the penalties going to be?
[14:21.620 -> 14:23.200] A sliding scale is difficult,
[14:23.200 -> 14:26.440] but who knows if this nut or bolt is more
[14:26.440 -> 14:31.880] important to the car than that rear wing or whatever. So it's a huge undertaking, and
[14:31.880 -> 14:36.880] I don't envy the FIA the job of laying out penalties here.
[14:36.880 -> 14:41.260] The countervailing argument might be, well, this is the first year of these new cars,
[14:41.260 -> 14:46.160] and budgeting was difficult, and inflation ran ran rampant and suddenly teams were busting their
[14:46.160 -> 14:51.680] budget for transporting equipment to race sites because everything got so expensive.
[14:51.680 -> 14:56.880] So I suspect there's a lot of negotiation going on and it'll be interesting just to hear what
[14:56.880 -> 15:03.200] the FIA decides is important. Transparency, first of all, everybody remembers 2019 when Ferrari and
[15:03.200 -> 15:09.200] the FIA did a special deal regarding why their engines were suddenly so powerful.
[15:09.500 -> 15:11.100] And nobody wants to see that again.
[15:11.600 -> 15:14.500] It'll be interesting to see what comes out the other end of a negotiation
[15:14.500 -> 15:18.200] over what was spent, what it was spent on and what's appropriate,
[15:18.500 -> 15:20.900] considering the facts of the situation.
[15:20.900 -> 15:23.200] And I honestly have no clue.
[15:24.700 -> 15:27.520] I hope it doesn't overshadow another Max Verstappen
[15:27.520 -> 15:33.040] masterclass because seriously so far this year he's been amazing and I think the one thing that
[15:33.040 -> 15:37.920] all the audiences at the Circuit of the Americas wouldn't want to see is another dominating race
[15:37.920 -> 15:43.040] because yes we all love Max doing what he's doing it's kind of Schumacher-esque isn't it that he's
[15:43.040 -> 15:49.360] winning so many races in a year but it'll be so much fun to see you race this time. And do you reckon we could
[15:49.360 -> 15:54.080] potentially see a race? Because generally, ever since, what is it, the last time we spoke, a
[15:54.080 -> 16:00.320] Monaco that was, we haven't really had a fight per se, have we? No, not much of one. We've had
[16:00.320 -> 16:06.580] some interesting situations, including the rain in Japan and so forth, but now it's been interesting.
[16:06.580 -> 16:11.480] And, you know, in the clear light of day, let's assume there is no, no shenanigans
[16:11.480 -> 16:16.120] going on what Red Bull and Max Verstappen have done this year and Checo
[16:16.120 -> 16:18.780] Perez for that matter is, is extraordinary.
[16:18.780 -> 16:21.860] Remember back in the beginning of the year at Bahrain and Australia and places
[16:21.860 -> 16:23.200] like that, they weren't very good.
[16:23.360 -> 16:27.520] You know, Verstappen scored minimal, if any points over the first three races
[16:27.520 -> 16:31.500] and Charlotte Claire and Ferrari were disappearing up the road, Red Bull.
[16:31.500 -> 16:33.360] And, uh, and particularly Mr.
[16:33.560 -> 16:35.460] Verstappen were able to turn that around.
[16:35.800 -> 16:40.240] They had some rough races along the way, but you know, sooner than later, they
[16:40.240 -> 16:45.920] came forward and won a string of races in a row max maxes up to what, 12 race victories. Now,
[16:45.920 -> 16:51.520] one more will tie the all-time Formula One record done by Michael Schumacher once, I think, and
[16:51.520 -> 16:56.560] Lewis Hamilton twice. And that's the realm in which I like to think we see for Stattman. He is
[16:56.560 -> 17:03.440] among the Hamiltons and the Schumachers and the Sennas and Prosts and Jackie Stewarts and what
[17:03.440 -> 17:08.440] have you. I used to say all the time, and I may have said before on your podcast, that when I was
[17:08.440 -> 17:12.760] covering Formula One and Michael Schumacher and Ferrari were dominating, we were hearing
[17:12.760 -> 17:15.880] all these complaints about, oh, the same guy always wins.
[17:15.880 -> 17:18.560] You know, there's a reason the same guy was always winning.
[17:18.560 -> 17:19.560] And it wasn't just him.
[17:19.560 -> 17:22.960] You know, it was everybody in the factory, it was everybody in the pits, it was the team
[17:22.960 -> 17:30.000] management, it was the strategists, and Verstappen has benefited from some extremely good strategy this year. You know,
[17:30.000 -> 17:34.240] it's the whole package, and I predicted on the air back then that, you know, we complain about
[17:34.240 -> 17:39.600] it now, but someday we're going to want to say, I saw Michael Schumacher at the peak of his powers,
[17:39.600 -> 17:45.000] I saw Lewis Hamilton at the peak of his powers, Senna or Prost or Mansell or,
[17:45.280 -> 17:46.760] you know, whoever it might be.
[17:46.800 -> 17:52.320] So, you know, I take it race to race to use the old cliche and, and wonder,
[17:52.360 -> 17:54.080] you know, what's going to happen next?
[17:54.120 -> 17:56.560] What is it's max going to qualify at the back?
[17:57.000 -> 17:58.120] Is he going to change engines?
[17:58.120 -> 18:01.000] Is he going to have to come through the field as he's done three times this year?
[18:01.400 -> 18:02.960] Is somebody else going to leap forward?
[18:02.960 -> 18:09.440] Is Mercedes going to conquer their problems and get that one win? Which I think in the eyes of many people at Mercedes would be bigger
[18:09.440 -> 18:14.480] than the seasons they've had in the last seven where they swept the titles. If they can come back
[18:14.480 -> 18:20.160] from this very reluctant race car and win a race, I mean, that's something you're going to want to be
[18:20.160 -> 18:25.280] there to say you saw. So, you know, as I say, there's so much going on that makes Formula One
[18:25.280 -> 18:32.240] fascinating. Now, I don't, I don't see Verstappen's continuing ability to come out on top as any kind
[18:32.240 -> 18:38.400] of a minus for the series. And what's surprising because of his dominance is that Charles Leclerc,
[18:38.400 -> 18:42.400] who, as you rightly mentioned, just a couple of minutes ago, was almost poised to win the
[18:42.400 -> 18:46.520] championship by the start of the year, is now on the verge of losing second.
[18:46.960 -> 18:48.400] Now, how do you look at this battle?
[18:48.400 -> 18:51.800] Because Sergio Perez has come clawing back in the last couple of races.
[18:52.120 -> 18:56.240] Firstly, that win in Singapore, then that amazing drive in Japan to force that
[18:56.240 -> 18:58.040] error out of Leclerc on the final lap.
[18:58.400 -> 19:02.520] And last year as well, Perez was pretty handy right here
[19:02.640 -> 19:04.080] at the circuit of the Americas.
[19:04.440 -> 19:07.000] I am just very keen to see how that battle plays out as well
[19:07.000 -> 19:12.000] because suddenly we do have a fight for P2 and that could be the big story for this weekend.
[19:12.000 -> 19:14.000] Sure, absolutely.
[19:14.000 -> 19:18.000] And there are other positions up and down the championship trail that are up there.
[19:18.000 -> 19:23.000] Some guys, as inevitably happens at this time of year, are driving for their careers.
[19:23.000 -> 19:25.040] They're auditioning for better rides. They're doing all the things that happens in all forms of year, are driving for their careers, they're auditioning for better rides,
[19:25.040 -> 19:26.360] they're doing all the things that happens
[19:26.360 -> 19:27.840] in all forms of motorsport.
[19:27.840 -> 19:30.520] But I know one group that is especially
[19:30.520 -> 19:33.560] going to be cheering for Checo Perez this weekend,
[19:33.560 -> 19:35.800] and that's the promoter of the Mexican Grand Prix
[19:35.800 -> 19:38.000] coming up in a couple of weeks, because they're
[19:38.000 -> 19:39.320] going to want to pack that place.
[19:39.320 -> 19:41.040] I'm so impressed with the Mexicans
[19:41.040 -> 19:43.280] and their passion for motorsports.
[19:43.280 -> 19:51.840] That Hermanos Rodriguez Stadium in Mexico City is just going to rock no matter who wins in Austin. And no matter what
[19:51.840 -> 19:57.040] the series as well is, because even for the Formula E races over there, the crowds were massive.
[19:57.760 -> 20:05.200] I mean, I'm sure you can tell first hand over there, because we've got so many people, I think over 100,000, and that's amazing.
[20:06.560 -> 20:07.520] Yes, it truly is.
[20:10.320 -> 20:10.480] And with that, you mentioned such a great point
[20:12.680 -> 20:12.840] about drivers who are driving for their careers.
[20:15.080 -> 20:15.240] We've got Mick Schumacher, who is one of them.
[20:17.040 -> 20:17.200] Obviously, we know that Nicholas Latifi's career
[20:19.280 -> 20:19.440] is unfortunately coming to an end in Formula One.
[20:23.360 -> 20:23.520] Unfortunate for him, fortunate perhaps for the poor pieces of carbon fiber
[20:29.520 -> 20:33.840] that don't have to bear the brunt anymore. But which other driver do you think will be in the spotlight this weekend? Because you mentioned Max Schumacher, you mentioned the weightage of his name, I think he's literally
[20:33.840 -> 20:38.240] driving for his career right now. I mean, poor guy, what is he, 21? And he's in this tough spot?
[20:39.440 -> 20:45.960] You know, it's a fact of sporting life, not just motorsports life, much less Formula One life.
[20:45.960 -> 20:47.960] You're as good as your last race,
[20:47.960 -> 20:52.760] and everybody has a different level of talent
[20:52.760 -> 20:56.000] and resourcefulness and whatever the combination
[20:56.000 -> 20:58.920] of personal assets it takes
[20:58.920 -> 21:01.360] to be a successful Formula One driver.
[21:01.360 -> 21:04.540] And some guys just sort of plateau at a certain level
[21:04.540 -> 21:06.000] and they can't rise any farther.
[21:06.000 -> 21:11.120] And I think Mick Schumacher may be one of those guys. He was good enough to get into Formula One,
[21:11.840 -> 21:16.000] but not good enough to succeed at it, to put up the kind of results. Granted, he's in the,
[21:16.800 -> 21:23.360] in the Haas, which is not the best weapon on the grid, but maybe he's just overdriving the car to
[21:23.360 -> 21:25.920] try to keep up with his teammate Kevin Magnuson.
[21:25.920 -> 21:31.080] He's crashed a lot for a team that doesn't have a big crash budget.
[21:31.080 -> 21:32.760] So you know, maybe he's reached the end.
[21:32.760 -> 21:38.040] The case I often refer to is Jacques Villeneuve, the 97 world champion.
[21:38.040 -> 21:43.220] He raced with moderate success in Formula 3 in Europe and he came to North America,
[21:43.220 -> 21:45.800] you know, since he is Canadian and raced in
[21:45.800 -> 21:53.840] the Atlantic Series where he was in a great team, teamed with a charismatic guy.
[21:53.840 -> 21:55.200] His name just went right out of my head.
[21:55.200 -> 21:56.200] Oh, come on.
[21:56.200 -> 21:57.200] I can see him.
[21:57.200 -> 22:01.600] Anyway, he had a terrific teammate who was well-groomed, multilingual, good looks, fast,
[22:01.600 -> 22:02.600] everything.
[22:02.600 -> 22:05.320] Well, Jacques, I'd have to say, in fact, my partner David Hobbs
[22:05.320 -> 22:07.480] privately used to call him Ratbag
[22:07.480 -> 22:09.320] because he had hair down to his shoulders
[22:09.320 -> 22:10.520] and he would only speak French.
[22:10.520 -> 22:12.200] He only wanted to talk about rock and roll.
[22:12.200 -> 22:14.360] And he had ripped jeans and t-shirts
[22:14.360 -> 22:15.480] and stuff like that on.
[22:15.480 -> 22:18.960] Not exactly the picture of the international racing star,
[22:18.960 -> 22:21.960] but he was, Claude Bourbonnet was his teammate.
[22:21.960 -> 22:23.920] And they, and they raced, you know, close.
[22:23.920 -> 22:28.720] In fact, they took points off of each other so that a guy named David Emperingham came through and took
[22:28.720 -> 22:33.580] the championship. But along during that season, Jerry Forsyth, who was his team owner, also
[22:33.580 -> 22:39.320] had a champ car team and they tested their drivers in this car and Villeneuve blew everybody
[22:39.320 -> 22:45.160] away. You know, as the machinery got fiercer and fiercer, Villeneuve kept excelling and
[22:45.160 -> 22:49.280] excelling. And then of course, he went on and won the Indianapolis 500 for two
[22:49.280 -> 22:54.600] from two laps down without the benefit of a safety car or a yellow flag. And
[22:54.600 -> 22:58.320] then he went on and took pole for his first Formula One race for Williams in
[22:58.320 -> 23:02.940] Australia. And then the year after that, he took the world championship. So, you
[23:02.940 -> 23:08.680] know, there can be a guy who is not exactly much more than a wallflower in a lower level development series and then
[23:08.680 -> 23:12.180] suddenly just blossoms into this superstar. And that's part of the fun too
[23:12.180 -> 23:16.500] is you watch these guys kind of come into their own or you know peter out at
[23:16.500 -> 23:20.400] a certain level. And Formula One is the end of the road. I mean this is it's not
[23:20.400 -> 23:23.780] a finishing school. This is where the guys are supposed to come fully forward.
[23:23.780 -> 23:28.400] Some do. Some find out they they maybe just don't have it.
[23:28.400 -> 23:31.040] Doesn't mean they can't be successful doing something else,
[23:31.040 -> 23:33.200] sports cars, whatever.
[23:33.200 -> 23:37.480] But the sad fact is not everybody is equally talented
[23:37.480 -> 23:39.920] and not everybody can leverage that talent
[23:39.920 -> 23:42.600] and all the other things it takes to be successful
[23:42.600 -> 23:44.800] into a world championship.
[23:44.800 -> 23:46.120] Actually, this has just opened the door
[23:46.120 -> 23:47.360] for such an interesting topic
[23:47.360 -> 23:49.200] because you mentioned it so correctly,
[23:49.200 -> 23:50.720] Formula One is not a finishing school
[23:50.720 -> 23:52.680] and the drivers need to be ready
[23:52.680 -> 23:54.360] and precise when they get there.
[23:54.360 -> 23:56.760] And some really do take the long route,
[23:56.760 -> 23:58.640] as is the case with Nick de Vries.
[23:58.640 -> 24:00.320] I just want to get your take on him
[24:00.320 -> 24:03.040] because this is someone who's actually become
[24:03.040 -> 24:06.720] the first driver to properly do Formula E and then
[24:06.720 -> 24:12.000] come from there and earn his way into an F1 seat. Not like Formula E as a stopgap, he actually went
[24:12.000 -> 24:18.480] in there and became the world champion, then gets back to Formula One, delivers and is this the new
[24:18.480 -> 24:23.200] modern day motorsport, I mean underdog story, you could call it this way because it seems too good
[24:23.200 -> 24:30.560] to be true in a way. Yeah, it is kind of a Cinderella story. And it, of course, blows all of these expensive and
[24:30.560 -> 24:37.120] carefully structured junior training pipelines all to hell because, you know, why are we spending all
[24:37.120 -> 24:41.600] this money trying to find the next superstar when he may be racing somewhere else? I could never
[24:41.600 -> 24:50.140] understand why Nick DeVries, once I got to meet him in Formula E, you know, why isn't this guy who's like 27, 28 years old now, why has
[24:50.140 -> 24:54.140] he not had a sniff of Formula One? I mean, he's terrific. Won the F.E. World
[24:54.140 -> 24:59.240] Championship, as you mentioned, gets a call on the Saturday morning or Friday
[24:59.240 -> 25:03.260] night to to jump in a different race car than he was racing that weekend. And he
[25:03.260 -> 25:06.320] goes out and scores points on debut.
[25:06.320 -> 25:09.360] And all of a sudden, everybody says, wow, look at this is Nick DeVries.
[25:09.360 -> 25:12.880] You know, how did we not notice this before?
[25:13.200 -> 25:16.560] And of course, he gets snapped up once they could shuffle guys around
[25:16.560 -> 25:17.440] and find a place for him.
[25:17.440 -> 25:19.680] So, yeah, he's a he's a terrific guy.
[25:19.680 -> 25:23.360] And he puts the lie to the fact that you need to bring these kids up
[25:23.360 -> 25:26.300] carefully through all kinds of training programs.
[25:26.300 -> 25:29.520] Look around, there are guys out there with the ability and the skill
[25:29.520 -> 25:32.320] and the desire if they just get the opportunity.
[25:32.320 -> 25:35.080] I think DeVries is a great story.
[25:35.080 -> 25:37.200] We had Peter Winso on our show last week,
[25:37.200 -> 25:39.920] and he said that this situation wouldn't have happened
[25:39.920 -> 25:44.000] if teams actually spend time analyzing the way drivers drive.
[25:44.000 -> 25:47.200] Because a lot of the teams, he claims claims that they aren't quite aware of how people
[25:47.200 -> 25:49.880] are doing things and what is the driving style, how do they approach it?
[25:50.120 -> 25:54.660] So they usually just rely on, let's say things like a shootout or weird metrics,
[25:54.660 -> 25:58.140] like, oh, how did they perform in their last season when circumstances are to be
[25:58.140 -> 26:00.900] considered, like which team were they a part of, or for instance,
[26:00.900 -> 26:02.260] how well does the car suit them?
[26:02.700 -> 26:04.500] Or what sort of budget did they bring at the table?
[26:04.740 -> 26:06.400] You think this could be avoided as well
[26:06.400 -> 26:08.200] because now we're facing a time
[26:08.200 -> 26:10.040] where many people enter Formula One
[26:10.040 -> 26:12.140] but they just seem out of place.
[26:12.140 -> 26:14.480] We've seen Yuki Tsunoda be an example of that.
[26:14.480 -> 26:16.880] We've seen Mick Schumacher now be an example of that.
[26:16.880 -> 26:18.160] We're not quite sure how many degrees
[26:18.160 -> 26:19.600] might end up panning out eventually
[26:19.600 -> 26:22.480] but we are increasingly seeing drivers
[26:22.480 -> 26:23.880] out of their depth in a way.
[26:24.840 -> 26:26.160] Yeah, I think that's true.
[26:27.400 -> 26:31.720] You know, isolating talent, picking future stars
[26:32.320 -> 26:34.080] is not something that's easy to do.
[26:34.080 -> 26:38.480] And we have seen in Formula One and elsewhere, teams or team principals
[26:38.480 -> 26:41.600] or whoever it is who can spot these things.
[26:41.640 -> 26:46.000] Think of Peter Sauber, who, you know, owned the Sauber team that became
[26:46.000 -> 26:51.840] Alfa Romeo, had great success before getting to Formula One with his sports car teams and whatnot.
[26:51.840 -> 26:58.960] He had a tremendous ability to spot new talent. He put Kimi Raikkonen into a Formula One Sauber
[26:58.960 -> 27:05.440] after Raikkonen had come from karts and done like less than two dozen races in full-size car, less than two
[27:05.440 -> 27:10.880] dozen races. And he said, okay, let's put this guy in a Formula One car and the rest is history.
[27:11.440 -> 27:16.960] So sometimes it's just luck, you know, a pig finds a truffle or sometimes, you know, it's that
[27:16.960 -> 27:22.960] ability to locate that factor, to focus on what you were just talking about. I mean, all of the
[27:22.960 -> 27:25.240] things together, you know, how well did he do in the
[27:25.240 -> 27:27.160] context of what he had available to him?
[27:27.560 -> 27:28.640] Did he overachieve?
[27:29.140 -> 27:32.120] Did he, uh, you know, does he provide good feedback?
[27:32.120 -> 27:35.480] Does he relate to the car or does he set up the car?
[27:35.480 -> 27:36.680] So it relates to him.
[27:37.240 -> 27:42.380] And we hear all the time about drivers who can be really fast in a race car, but
[27:42.380 -> 27:45.600] if the race car is badly set up, they don't know how to make it
[27:45.600 -> 27:50.560] a better car. And then you get guys like the aforementioned Michael Schumacher, who were
[27:50.560 -> 27:56.560] just superb at setting up their car. And we see drivers in IndyCar, and I won't get into who,
[27:56.560 -> 28:01.360] but there are drivers who set up cars for their teammates because they have an acute sense of
[28:01.360 -> 28:07.480] what it takes to do it. So yeah, I suppose there's a place for elaborate junior
[28:07.480 -> 28:10.440] driver programs if you don't have somebody who can look
[28:10.440 -> 28:14.280] and say, OK, that guy or that girl or whoever it is,
[28:14.280 -> 28:15.800] let's put them in the car.
[28:15.800 -> 28:17.560] If for no other reason than it simply
[28:17.560 -> 28:20.040] opens up the opportunity to gather more information
[28:20.040 -> 28:20.800] on these people.
[28:20.800 -> 28:23.680] I mean, we are time and again, nobody's ready.
[28:23.680 -> 28:29.340] A Red Bull was talking about putting Colton Hurta in a car because they don't have anybody in their extensive
[28:29.340 -> 28:33.760] junior program who they think is ready for Formula One right now. And I thought that
[28:33.760 -> 28:40.100] was extraordinary. But, you know, that appears to be the case or somebody is blowing smoke.
[28:40.100 -> 28:45.680] But one way or another, yeah, it's a it's a unique skill to locate tomorrow's talent.
[28:46.840 -> 28:49.120] Hang on, I just love that you're able to bring out
[28:49.120 -> 28:51.400] so many fun nuggets, because I almost forgotten
[28:51.400 -> 28:52.680] about Colton Hurd for a second,
[28:52.680 -> 28:55.120] because a couple of months ago, that was the big story.
[28:55.120 -> 28:56.720] Colton Hurd out of Formula One,
[28:56.720 -> 28:58.760] is he going to be in the Alfa Dauri?
[28:58.760 -> 29:03.040] And then the way the FIA dealt with super license points,
[29:03.040 -> 29:08.000] you think that was disrespectful to American motorsport? Because they haven't validated enough. No?
[29:09.120 -> 29:14.720] Yeah, very much so. But that's been in place forever. American drivers, by and large,
[29:15.280 -> 29:20.400] around the world are underestimated, undervalued, considered, I don't know,
[29:20.400 -> 29:25.160] soft or mama's boys or whatever. They don't mean to be insulting, but Ron Dennis,
[29:25.160 -> 29:29.720] the longtime and super successful McLaren team principal,
[29:29.720 -> 29:31.440] used to describe the United States
[29:31.440 -> 29:33.720] as the world's largest island.
[29:34.680 -> 29:36.480] Because we did our own thing,
[29:36.480 -> 29:37.780] and we had our own motorsports.
[29:37.780 -> 29:40.680] We didn't get involved in world endurance,
[29:40.680 -> 29:42.680] much less Formula One or MotoGP,
[29:42.680 -> 29:45.520] or all that kind of stuff, with a few notable exceptions.
[29:45.520 -> 29:51.040] But the point was, Americans don't value Formula One. They don't want to come over. They don't want
[29:51.040 -> 29:55.120] to live in the little towns where the factories are. They don't want to mix it up with the teams.
[29:55.120 -> 30:02.240] When Michael Andretti went to McLaren for his less than one season, I saw him at a race and I asked
[30:02.240 -> 30:05.360] him why he was flying back and forth between the United
[30:05.360 -> 30:09.040] States and Europe for the races.
[30:09.040 -> 30:11.620] And he said, because his father did.
[30:11.620 -> 30:15.580] And Mario did that because Mario had a full racing schedule over here and everything down
[30:15.580 -> 30:18.900] to dirt sprint cars, as well as the Indy 500.
[30:18.900 -> 30:22.820] But he also had the benefit of the Concorde and he could go back and forth in two and
[30:22.820 -> 30:23.980] a half hours.
[30:23.980 -> 30:25.760] But Michael didn't want to live near
[30:25.760 -> 30:29.360] the factory, wanted to sleep in his own bed at night. And I said, well, you know what, don't
[30:29.360 -> 30:33.680] you want to know the innards of the car? Don't you want to be in it as much as as possible? And he
[30:33.680 -> 30:40.400] said, they have my number, you know, and the rest, as they say, was history. And it all went sour.
[30:40.400 -> 30:48.160] And I think that's the critical thing that they want from American drivers. They want to come over, race against the young Europeans and Asians and what have you.
[30:48.160 -> 30:51.320] And American drivers didn't do much of that.
[30:51.320 -> 30:54.520] And then you had the case of great American drivers who were turned away.
[30:54.520 -> 30:57.920] Rick Mears tested a Brabham alongside Nelson Piquet.
[30:57.920 -> 31:02.520] And Piquet barred Mears from being hired by the team to hear Rick tell it.
[31:02.520 -> 31:06.000] You know, Jeff Gordon tested for Williams and decided not
[31:06.000 -> 31:11.920] to do that. There's Al Lanzer Jr. tested and decided not to do that. I mean, you can understand
[31:11.920 -> 31:16.240] guys with families and, you know, a comfortable lifestyle here in the United States want to be
[31:16.240 -> 31:21.280] close to that. And then maybe the siren sounds of Formula One don't speak as loudly to them.
[31:22.160 -> 31:26.880] But I think we're seeing a change in that. I think there are youngsters who are ready to go
[31:26.880 -> 31:29.960] and do whatever it takes to get to Formula One.
[31:29.960 -> 31:30.920] And maybe that'll change.
[31:30.920 -> 31:35.920] But my basic point is that they don't have the respect
[31:37.400 -> 31:39.600] that I think American drivers deserve right now.
[31:39.600 -> 31:42.240] The case in point with the NDT IndyCar series,
[31:42.240 -> 31:44.820] you know, scoring as many super licensed points
[31:44.820 -> 31:48.580] as Formula Two over in Europe is, is absurd.
[31:49.060 -> 31:51.760] It's just crazy, but that's the way it is.
[31:51.760 -> 31:55.660] And unless they look at the rule and change it and a top three or five
[31:55.900 -> 32:01.740] point score in IndyCar sure as hell should have a, an FIA super license.
[32:01.980 -> 32:06.240] You know, they should have the golden ticket to go whatever form of motorsport
[32:06.240 -> 32:10.640] they want to around the world because these are clearly superior talents, but not always perceived
[32:10.640 -> 32:17.920] that way. Yeah, such a shame that that happens. Yeah, it is. Now, the one last thing that we want
[32:17.920 -> 32:23.200] to talk about today for the USGP preview is what makes Austin so special. It's so hard to believe
[32:23.200 -> 32:25.360] it, but it's been 10 years since we've had
[32:25.360 -> 32:30.720] this circuit on the calendar. Just what are your favorite memories? And for anyone going to this
[32:30.720 -> 32:35.600] race, just like you are, what would you recommend them to do? Because as you mentioned early on,
[32:35.600 -> 32:39.200] there's just so much in and around Austin, and there must be so much in and around the circuit
[32:39.200 -> 32:45.240] as well to do. Sure. Well, not so much the circuit. It's pretty quiet out there,
[32:45.240 -> 32:47.640] but it is sufficiently close to Austin
[32:47.640 -> 32:52.280] that you can go back and forth without problems each day.
[32:52.280 -> 32:55.420] It must be said, all of the hotels,
[32:55.420 -> 32:57.540] all of the nice ones are downtown.
[32:57.540 -> 32:59.800] You really want to go there, but you want to be there anyway.
[32:59.800 -> 33:01.380] They do a street festival,
[33:01.380 -> 33:07.280] fantastic restaurants, beautiful river, the Colorado River coming through town,
[33:07.280 -> 33:15.280] Lady Bird Lake. And one of my favorite things to do is to go out one evening at sunset and stand
[33:15.280 -> 33:20.640] under the Commerce Street Bridge over the Colorado River and watch the bats come out,
[33:20.640 -> 33:25.720] the fruit bats that come out by their millions. At sunset they fly off
[33:25.720 -> 33:30.520] into the countryside and and feed on insects out in the farm fields and
[33:30.520 -> 33:37.480] whatnot, but it is just this unending cloud of bats that fly out. And it's
[33:37.480 -> 33:41.080] very appropriate, it's coming close to Halloween I suppose, but I do that almost
[33:41.080 -> 33:44.440] every time I go. Now if you want to do it high-end, you go to one of the hotels
[33:44.440 -> 33:48.400] that has a nice balcony overlooking the river
[33:48.400 -> 33:51.560] and grab yourself a gin and tonic or something and watch the bats from there.
[33:51.560 -> 33:53.760] But you don't quite get the effect as they come out
[33:54.120 -> 33:56.520] squealing and flapping and all that kind of thing.
[33:56.520 -> 34:00.280] And you you can't miss it because there'll be a big crowd there with you
[34:00.400 -> 34:01.080] watching it.
[34:01.080 -> 34:04.400] So that's, you know, one of the weird things to do in Austin, which,
[34:04.760 -> 34:05.280] as we said
[34:05.280 -> 34:11.360] earlier, prides itself on being weird. You know, go down to 6th Street and see all the honky-tonks.
[34:11.360 -> 34:16.000] Well, you can't see all of them. There's way too many. The University of Texas campus is very
[34:16.000 -> 34:21.280] impressive. Lots of historical notes at that place. The Longhorns are out of town playing
[34:21.280 -> 34:28.040] football, fortunately. Otherwise, there'd be no place to stay in Austin. And there's great museums and the Texas Capitol
[34:28.040 -> 34:32.000] and so many wonderful, and maybe not so wonderful things
[34:32.000 -> 34:36.360] that make it a part of the whole American story writ large.
[34:36.360 -> 34:38.640] So yeah, I think Boston's a great example
[34:38.640 -> 34:41.160] of what a motorsports weekend can be.
[34:41.160 -> 34:43.280] We'll see if Las Vegas measures up to that.
[34:43.280 -> 34:45.680] Miami is a little bit different,
[34:45.680 -> 34:51.200] although Miami is equally weird, but just in a different way. It's, you know, it is what it is.
[34:51.200 -> 34:55.200] And I hope we don't lose those races where we do have to go out into the countryside
[34:55.200 -> 35:00.960] and enjoy ourselves. But for now, Formula One wants to be near the fans and hopefully they
[35:00.960 -> 35:08.800] respond. Anyway, Austin is great fun. And for you in particular, are you looking forward to the track walk, perhaps, if you get the chance,
[35:08.800 -> 35:13.920] because there's a 12-story climb up into number one? How crazy is that to do?
[35:15.040 -> 35:19.680] I've done that a couple times already. I may give it the go-by. I'm not moving real well right now.
[35:19.680 -> 35:28.520] But yeah, Phil Hill, as they call it, is spectacular. I was around that track doing little stories.
[35:28.520 -> 35:31.040] From the first time they started plowing the earth,
[35:31.040 -> 35:35.000] I went track builders, I made friends with a guy
[35:35.000 -> 35:37.520] who was the lead engineer
[35:37.520 -> 35:40.800] for the architectural firm on site.
[35:40.800 -> 35:43.920] And it was a difficult gestation for that track.
[35:43.920 -> 35:47.680] It's story alone is difficult. They had to dig down 10 or 12 feet
[35:47.680 -> 35:52.120] and fill it with clay because the ground is kind of unsettled.
[35:52.760 -> 35:55.920] And that results in the famous Austin bumps that they have
[35:55.920 -> 36:00.000] tried to repave and scrape off because nobody's happy with
[36:00.000 -> 36:04.040] them. Not MotoGP, not Formula One, but it is what it is. Yeah,
[36:04.040 -> 36:07.200] I think I can do without a walk this year.
[36:07.520 -> 36:08.560] It's a long way around.
[36:09.560 -> 36:10.440] Well, that's for sure.
[36:10.440 -> 36:14.080] And let's hope this weekend goes incredibly well for you, sir, because
[36:14.120 -> 36:18.040] it should be amazing if we could get the chance to listen to your coverage
[36:18.040 -> 36:21.040] back here in India as well, because as you mentioned, so much to look forward
[36:21.040 -> 36:25.120] to, so much racing and for the fans as well. As you mentioned early on,
[36:25.120 -> 36:30.560] I think almost half a million is what Formula 1 are expecting if I'm not mistaken. That should
[36:30.560 -> 36:35.280] be quite the experience and I hope it goes well for this entire weekend. But thank you for joining
[36:35.280 -> 36:40.480] us for this particular episode, sir. I could sit and listen to you the entire day and I hope you
[36:40.480 -> 36:44.800] have a great day of fun this weekend. And folks, thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed the
[36:44.800 -> 36:46.100] USGP weekend as well.
[36:46.180 -> 36:48.240] If you did, or if you are going to as well,
[36:48.300 -> 36:49.480] if you enjoyed this episode,
[36:49.540 -> 36:50.740] you can see I'm flustered by my words
[36:50.800 -> 36:52.540] because I've enjoyed this episode so much.
[36:52.600 -> 36:54.680] But if you did enjoy listening to this one,
[36:54.740 -> 36:56.040] feel free to leave a good rating
[36:56.120 -> 36:57.820] on whatever platform you're listening to.
[36:57.880 -> 37:00.080] And don't forget to subscribe to the podcast.
[37:00.160 -> 37:02.160] Thanks for listening, folks, and enjoy the weekend.
[37:02.220 -> None] Goodbye. you