Happy Lando Norris Day! 2023 British Grand Prix Review

Lando Norris, what a drive, what a race! The first four and the last eight laps of the race were absolute platinum class. How on earth did Lando Norris in a Mclaren on the hard tyre keep a charging Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes on the soft tyre at bay?

Also, could Norris have challenged Max Verstappen at the restart had he taken the soft tyre? Post-race, Norris was still convinced that soft was the tyre to be on and not the hard!

How on earth did Alexander Albon manage to out-score the Ferraris? Williams' 800th Grand Prix couldn't have hoped for a better result. And of course, how on earth did Ferrari lose ground? The Italian team were so lost on strategy that Carlos Sainz even forgot what Plan B stood for!

Mercedes consolidated their second place in the Constructors' Championship with yet another podium but without a funny radio exchange between Hamilton and their pit wall. And finally, Aston Martin have gone two races without scoring a podium - their longest non-podium streak of the season.

Tune in!

(Season 2023, Episode 35)

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

Image courtesy: Mclaren

**Title: The Thrilling British Grand Prix: McLaren's Triumph, Ferrari's Mishaps, and Aston Martin's Struggles**

**Introduction:**

The British Grand Prix at Silverstone was a captivating spectacle, filled with unexpected twists and turns. Lando Norris, in his McLaren, delivered a stunning performance, securing a podium finish and leaving the Formula One world in awe. The race also witnessed the rise of Williams, the strategic blunders of Ferrari, and Aston Martin's ongoing challenges. Join us as we delve into the key moments and storylines that unfolded at Silverstone.

**McLaren's Resurgence:**

Lando Norris' remarkable drive and McLaren's strategic prowess propelled the team to a podium finish, marking a significant resurgence for the British outfit. Norris' decision to switch to hard tires proved to be a masterstroke, enabling him to fend off a charging Lewis Hamilton on soft tires in the closing stages of the race. McLaren's upgrades also played a crucial role, with the team demonstrating impressive cornering efficiency and tire management.

**Williams' Resurgence:**

Williams Racing celebrated their 800th Grand Prix in style, with Alex Albon delivering a standout performance. Albon's overtake on Carlos Sainz was a highlight of the race, showcasing his aggressive driving style and the team's growing competitiveness. Williams' strong showing at Silverstone suggests that they are capable of challenging for points consistently and potentially even securing podium finishes in the future.

**Ferrari's Strategic Blunders:**

Ferrari's struggles continued at Silverstone, with the team making a series of strategic errors that cost them a potential victory. Their inability to manage tire degradation effectively and their puzzling strategy calls, including forgetting their planned strategy options, hindered Charles Leclerc's chances of challenging for the win. Ferrari's woes were compounded by Carlos Sainz's underwhelming performance, further highlighting the team's need for improvement.

**Aston Martin's Ongoing Challenges:**

Aston Martin endured a disappointing weekend at Silverstone, failing to score any points and extending their streak of non-podium finishes. Fernando Alonso's frustration was evident in the media pen, as he chuckled upon hearing that McLaren had overtaken Alpine in the Constructors' Championship. The team's struggles can be attributed to their inability to keep pace with the midfield rivals, who have made significant progress with their upgrades. Aston Martin urgently needs to address these issues and find a way to extract more performance from their car.

**Conclusion:**

The British Grand Prix was a thrilling spectacle that showcased the ever-changing dynamics of Formula One. McLaren's resurgence, Williams' impressive display, Ferrari's strategic blunders, and Aston Martin's ongoing challenges were the key narratives that emerged from Silverstone. As the season progresses, it will be fascinating to see how these teams respond to the evolving landscape of the sport and the intense competition that lies ahead. **Title: A Thrilling British Grand Prix and the Intriguing Midfield Battle in Formula One**

The British Grand Prix was a captivating race that showcased the excitement and unpredictability of Formula One. The first four and last eight laps of the race were particularly thrilling, highlighting the fierce competition among the drivers.

One of the key talking points was Lando Norris' remarkable performance in his McLaren, managing to hold off a charging Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes on the soft tire. This strategic move by Norris raised questions about whether he could have challenged Max Verstappen at the restart had he chosen the soft tire as well. Post-race, Norris remained convinced that the soft tire was the better choice, despite Hamilton's aggressive pursuit.

Another highlight of the race was Alexander Albon's impressive performance, outscoring the Ferraris and securing valuable points for Williams in their 800th Grand Prix. This unexpected result further emphasized the competitiveness of the midfield in Formula One.

Meanwhile, Ferrari faced strategic challenges during the race, with Carlos Sainz even forgetting what Plan B stood for. This costly error highlighted the team's struggles in adapting to changing circumstances.

Mercedes consolidated their second place in the Constructors' Championship with another podium finish, but the race was not without its moments of drama. Hamilton and the Mercedes pit wall engaged in a tense radio exchange, adding to the excitement of the race.

Aston Martin, on the other hand, experienced a disappointing weekend, failing to secure a podium finish for two consecutive races, marking their longest non-podium streak of the season.

The podcast also discussed the ongoing debate surrounding the effectiveness of the new regulations in Formula One. While the regulations have led to more competitive racing in the midfield, teams like McLaren have benefited from their extensive wind tunnel time, raising concerns about the impact on teams with limited resources.

The hosts acknowledged the exceptional performance of Max Verstappen, who has dominated the season so far, while also highlighting the struggles of his teammate, Sergio Perez. Perez's inability to consistently perform at the same level as Verstappen has raised questions about his confidence and the team's support.

The podcast concluded with a look ahead to the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, which promises to be another thrilling event. The hosts discussed the potential for different teams to perform well on the unique track layout, including Aston Martin and McLaren. They also mentioned Daniel Ricciardo's upcoming test in a Red Bull car, adding an intriguing element to the race weekend.

Overall, the podcast provided an insightful and engaging analysis of the British Grand Prix, highlighting the key moments, controversies, and talking points of the race. The hosts' enthusiasm and knowledge of Formula One made for an informative and entertaining discussion.

[00:00.000 -> 00:26.560] I genuinely don't think that there is one reason in the world to hate Landon Norris. Come on, how can you?
[00:26.560 -> 00:28.160] Did you look at his post-race interview?
[00:28.160 -> 00:30.560] Did you hear what he said about Lewis Hamilton?
[00:30.560 -> 00:34.960] About how his dreams have been complete of getting to race at the British GP and stand
[00:34.960 -> 00:36.560] on the podium here.
[00:36.560 -> 00:41.280] And then just the joy of him popping the champagne even before Max Verstappen got the golden
[00:41.280 -> 00:43.240] Silverstone winner's trophy.
[00:43.240 -> 00:44.640] I can't hate the man anymore.
[00:44.640 -> 00:47.880] Come on. I mean, I used to wonder why is this guy the way he is what's the
[00:47.880 -> 00:52.520] hype? Nah I think now things are changing aren't they? Should we just rename this
[00:52.520 -> 00:57.160] to the Lando Norris fan club podcast now? Come on Kunal I think it's a good idea
[00:57.160 -> 01:01.040] right after the high that we've gotten this weekend? I would love to do that but
[01:01.040 -> 01:08.000] the minute we show any allegiances any any fandom, any love for any driver,
[01:08.000 -> 01:15.000] the other side, you know, the warring faction suddenly gets up saying, where is your unbiased approach, etc.
[01:15.000 -> 01:21.000] But the truth is, I have yet to come across somebody who says, I don't like Lando Norris.
[01:21.000 -> 01:26.000] So maybe there isn't a warring faction here or a rival fan club as we would put it.
[01:26.000 -> 01:30.480] Yeah, but deep down, we are all still Fernando Alonso fans on this podcast,
[01:30.480 -> 01:33.840] aren't we Sundaram? I know it's a weekend to forget. We're not going to talk about Fernando
[01:33.840 -> 01:37.280] anymore after this. Let's just let it slide. We still are, right?
[01:38.000 -> 01:41.920] We still are the Fernando Alonso fan club. At least from this side, it's going to be
[01:41.920 -> 01:47.200] that sort of bias always. But I mean, you can't hate Landon Orris.
[01:47.200 -> 01:54.320] The guy is such a fun loving driver and he also delivers the goods when the opportunity arises.
[01:54.320 -> 01:58.800] So yesterday was that particular situation and he did extremely well.
[01:58.800 -> 02:01.280] We're also the Alex Albon fan club as well.
[02:01.280 -> 02:02.640] Now we're slowly turning into one.
[02:04.800 -> 02:07.680] I think there's no point admitting that we're not right.
[02:07.680 -> 02:12.080] Because the way things are going at the moment, P8 in qualifying, P8 in the race, and just
[02:12.080 -> 02:14.680] the quality overtake on my old favorite.
[02:14.680 -> 02:19.720] I'm still sort of adapting to the trauma that Carlos Sainz is having these days.
[02:19.720 -> 02:21.220] But that was an overtake.
[02:21.220 -> 02:23.640] That is what Formula One is all about, Kunal.
[02:23.640 -> 02:28.760] Where even a Williams celebrating their 800th race in the 799th race with a special delivery
[02:29.040 -> 02:30.640] can do something so dramatic as that.
[02:30.720 -> 02:32.640] It's that's what Formula One is all about.
[02:33.120 -> 02:34.760] That is what Formula One is all about.
[02:34.800 -> 02:37.400] In fact, this is the Formula One fan club.
[02:37.720 -> 02:39.640] But if there are any driver clubs out there,
[02:39.680 -> 02:43.040] Saumur, you're a member of the Carlos Sainz driver club, the Landon Norris fan club.
[02:43.080 -> 02:46.800] Please don't tell the world. Don't tell the world, don't tell the world, not about Carlos Saenz.
[02:46.800 -> 02:52.400] Then there's the Alexander Albin fan club. And then I know you're a Max Richtapin and
[02:52.400 -> 02:59.520] a Lewis Hamilton fan as well. And you're a Fernando. Basically, I think you're a fan of 19
[02:59.520 -> 03:05.600] drivers on the grid. And that's what makes you and all of us neutral. You know, we talk good about them and
[03:05.600 -> 03:14.320] we have to and yes, the limelight is on Lando Norris. How on earth did he and McLaren and Oscar
[03:14.320 -> 03:19.920] Piastri do what they did at Silverstone? Yeah, I mean, we will decode that, yes, but that's the
[03:19.920 -> 03:25.000] main question. It was amazing. How did they do what they did? How did Williams do what they did?
[03:25.000 -> 03:27.680] How did Ferrari end up not doing anything?
[03:27.680 -> 03:29.280] And what eventually happened to Aston?
[03:29.280 -> 03:31.240] Actually, no, Ferrari did do quite a fair things.
[03:31.240 -> 03:37.720] They forgot the strategy number or the alphabet, which was meant to happen at some point anyway.
[03:37.720 -> 03:40.280] What did Aston Martin not end up doing eventually?
[03:40.280 -> 03:42.040] But there's so much to talk about.
[03:42.040 -> 03:45.520] But firstly, folks, we have to tell you who we are. This is
[03:45.520 -> 03:51.840] the InsideLineF1 podcast. We're one of the top 2.5% podcasts in the world and of course one of the top
[03:51.840 -> 03:55.760] Formula One podcasts in the world as well. Hate saying that kind of feels like self-bragging but
[03:55.760 -> 04:01.520] sometimes you've got to tell the numbers right. You have made a Ferrari blooper archer.
[04:01.520 -> 04:05.000] We were top 2.5 seven years ago.
[04:05.000 -> 04:07.480] Now we've broken into the top 1.5.
[04:07.500 -> 04:12.040] So it's at plan A, plan B, plan C, plan CX, whatever, but yeah,
[04:12.080 -> 04:12.900] we have.
[04:13.120 -> 04:15.840] Hey, lovely. So that's an even better way to celebrate.
[04:15.880 -> 04:17.040] My name is Saman Arora.
[04:17.120 -> 04:21.120] I'm the host of the Indian Racing League on Starsports and I've also done lots
[04:21.120 -> 04:24.680] and lots of other stuff in the world of motorsport. Joining me is of course,
[04:24.720 -> 04:29.280] F1 stats guru Sundaram, who is now a part of the WTF1 talent roster as well.
[04:29.280 -> 04:34.800] His stats have been done by Crofty on the Sky F1 broadcast so many times as well and so you better
[04:34.800 -> 04:39.360] follow him on social media for knowing the story behind the numbers and also Kunal Shah, former
[04:39.360 -> 04:49.200] marketing head of the Force India F1 team, an FIA accredited journalist for the Viaplay network and this weekend Kunal you were also the expert on the Viaplay TV
[04:49.200 -> 04:52.240] network right? I said expert with a connotation, sounds like more fun.
[04:52.240 -> 04:58.320] Expert. Yeah, oh yeah I actually was on camera this weekend for Viaplay in
[04:58.320 -> 05:04.080] Norway. It was a lot of fun, I got to literally sit with lots and lots of data
[05:04.080 -> 05:06.160] like I used to do in the good old days
[05:06.720 -> 05:12.480] and dissect what's happening, why is it happening, why will certain things not happen etc.
[05:12.480 -> 05:17.760] Which is why you know it'll be great to add on a lot of data points to the questions you asked,
[05:17.760 -> 05:22.240] why did McLaren do, oh how did McLaren do what they did, how did Ferrari do, what happened to
[05:22.240 -> 05:27.860] Ferrari eventually and Albin and just so many exciting narratives.
[05:27.860 -> 05:29.340] Oh my God, that was, you know,
[05:29.340 -> 05:33.220] if we were to just call Formula One
[05:33.220 -> 05:36.820] as everything below, you know, P2 in a race and below,
[05:36.820 -> 05:38.700] I think it was probably the most exciting race.
[05:38.700 -> 05:41.420] It's the fourth time in succession.
[05:41.420 -> 05:46.600] So four races in a row, we've had a different driver from a different team
[05:46.600 -> 05:48.600] finish in P2.
[05:48.600 -> 05:51.080] We've had, I think, Fernando Alonso there.
[05:51.080 -> 05:52.360] We had Charles Leclerc there.
[05:52.360 -> 05:53.680] We had Lewis Hamilton there.
[05:53.680 -> 05:55.680] And now we had Lando Norris.
[05:55.680 -> 05:57.400] Exactly.
[05:57.400 -> 05:58.080] How did that happen?
[05:58.080 -> 06:02.600] That's exciting to actually dig in through and debate that.
[06:02.600 -> 06:04.480] Let's get to that right away.
[06:04.480 -> 06:05.520] Because Sundaram,
[06:05.520 -> 06:11.360] let's focus on this aspect right, if you take Max Verstappen away, Formula 1 is literally having
[06:11.360 -> 06:17.920] its most golden period where it could be either of McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari or even Aston Martin
[06:17.920 -> 06:22.720] and sometimes even Williams pitching in there knows somewhere in the middle as well in that
[06:22.720 -> 06:26.880] whole fight. What more could you ask for? Honestly, what more could you ask for?
[06:27.440 -> 06:32.320] That's why I think this is the most competitive grid that we've seen in quite a while.
[06:32.320 -> 06:37.280] And the fact that literally all teams are scoring, I think all the teams have already scored points
[06:37.280 -> 06:42.880] this year, which is some sort of a rarity that you don't tend to see a lot. And the fact that
[06:42.880 -> 06:46.440] you see a team like Williams actually being strong around certain circuits
[06:46.440 -> 06:48.280] is so nice to see.
[06:48.280 -> 06:51.680] And sort of fortunes that McLaren have had,
[06:51.680 -> 06:54.240] I mean, pre-season testing, they were literally nowhere.
[06:54.240 -> 06:56.000] We had Craig Scarborough on the podcast
[06:56.000 -> 06:58.640] and he was disappointed or surprised
[06:58.640 -> 07:01.280] at the direction McLaren went.
[07:01.280 -> 07:02.640] And the way they've turned that around
[07:02.640 -> 07:04.700] just by a couple of upgrades.
[07:04.700 -> 07:09.640] And what I'm really happy to see is those upgrades were finally delivered to
[07:09.640 -> 07:13.280] Oscar Piastri as well and even he is able to show the sort of performances
[07:13.280 -> 07:17.320] that Lando was able to do in Austria and I think the biggest takeaway for me I
[07:17.320 -> 07:22.560] think a lot of questions were around if that pace was just a one-off in Austria
[07:22.560 -> 07:27.600] but the fact is Austria and Silverstone are so contrastingly different circuits.
[07:27.600 -> 07:30.840] One with many long straights and slow corners
[07:30.840 -> 07:32.480] where traction is more important.
[07:32.480 -> 07:35.680] And here in Silverstone, downforce is more important
[07:35.680 -> 07:37.720] because you have so many high-speed corners.
[07:37.720 -> 07:39.680] And McLaren has been dominant,
[07:39.680 -> 07:40.820] and I wouldn't say dominant,
[07:40.820 -> 07:43.640] but I would say they were really quick across both circuits.
[07:43.640 -> 07:46.320] So it's not just luck, it's pure pace.
[07:46.320 -> 07:52.560] And it's great to see many teams actually trying to chip in to that P2, P3 battle.
[07:52.560 -> 07:52.960] It's great.
[07:53.960 -> 07:55.000] Hey, P1 battle.
[07:55.040 -> 07:57.400] We're only commentating on Formula 1.5.
[07:57.440 -> 07:58.960] F1 does not exist anymore.
[07:59.160 -> 07:59.960] That's a different league.
[08:00.240 -> 08:02.200] We have to give 30 seconds to Max Verstappen.
[08:02.320 -> 08:04.040] I think let's clear the obligation right away.
[08:04.400 -> 08:07.000] Watered right at the start as well. Amazing.
[08:07.000 -> 08:11.000] Totally calm when the restart, when the first start happened and he got passed by Landon Norris.
[08:11.000 -> 08:13.000] That's the sign of a champion.
[08:13.000 -> 08:18.000] Wasn't phased all along and he didn't take two qualifyings to make sure that his qualifying was correct.
[08:18.000 -> 08:20.000] Unlike his teammates.
[08:20.000 -> 08:22.000] So, that's the 30 seconds of glory that Max Verstappen deserves.
[08:22.000 -> 08:26.400] Man, just leave this sport. You have nothing to prove, my friend. Go away.
[08:26.400 -> 08:27.680] But let's...
[08:27.680 -> 08:31.280] No, no, no. He should go on and make history.
[08:31.280 -> 08:31.840] No, come on.
[08:31.840 -> 08:36.240] You know, do the whole streak and remember, win all the races he can.
[08:36.800 -> 08:39.440] I loved it. You know, let me put it this way.
[08:39.440 -> 08:42.000] Qualifying was another Max Verstappen special.
[08:42.000 -> 08:44.560] He was two and a half tenths ahead of Lando Norris.
[08:44.560 -> 08:48.760] But those two and a half tenths ahead of Lando Norris, but those two and a half tenths was Maxwell Stappan.
[08:48.760 -> 08:53.760] There was literally, there was turn six and turn 15
[08:54.480 -> 08:58.120] where he made up on all his time against Lando Norris.
[08:58.120 -> 09:02.080] So, actually the way I was reading the data,
[09:02.080 -> 09:05.160] Norris could have almost been on pole, right?
[09:05.160 -> 09:07.520] But it was Max Verstappen who could eke out that.
[09:07.520 -> 09:08.360] And I love it.
[09:08.360 -> 09:09.440] I mean, you know, we all,
[09:09.440 -> 09:11.400] I'll put it in our personal perspective.
[09:11.400 -> 09:13.160] We all strive to be the best version
[09:13.160 -> 09:15.240] of ourselves every day, right?
[09:15.240 -> 09:17.280] Imagine you actually do that
[09:17.280 -> 09:19.880] and you achieve your goals and targets
[09:19.880 -> 09:22.280] every single day that you do that.
[09:22.280 -> 09:24.080] Max is doing exactly that.
[09:24.080 -> 09:28.040] It's superhuman effort to do that across different circuits,
[09:28.040 -> 09:31.320] across different challenges, variables,
[09:31.320 -> 09:34.000] weather conditions, all of that.
[09:34.000 -> 09:37.480] That's why I absolutely love what Max Verstappen is doing.
[09:37.480 -> 09:40.320] And let's remember, I was enjoying the same thing
[09:40.320 -> 09:42.040] when Lewis Hamilton was doing what he was doing,
[09:42.040 -> 09:44.680] when Sebastian Vettel was doing what he was doing,
[09:44.680 -> 09:47.080] when Michael Schumacher was doing what he was doing, when Sebastian Vettel was doing what he was doing, when Michael Schumacher was doing what he was doing.
[09:47.080 -> 09:52.080] And it's about watching a man and his machine in sync,
[09:52.280 -> 09:55.780] in unison, beating everyone they can.
[09:55.780 -> 09:58.240] That too with an injured hand, Sundaram.
[09:58.240 -> 09:59.800] Supposedly he does have an injured hand,
[09:59.800 -> 10:03.240] but it doesn't really seem to be affecting his driving.
[10:03.240 -> 10:05.680] I think he's generally in a very nice mood,
[10:05.680 -> 10:09.440] as we kind of came to know in the post-race press conference.
[10:09.440 -> 10:11.080] Of late, he's been in a nice mood.
[10:11.080 -> 10:13.360] There's literally not a lot of swearing and everything.
[10:13.360 -> 10:15.080] But two important stats.
[10:15.080 -> 10:17.120] I wouldn't say one is particularly important.
[10:17.120 -> 10:19.080] One is a little useless, in my opinion.
[10:19.080 -> 10:23.640] The fact is Max Verstappen has won the last 13 races that
[10:23.640 -> 10:25.280] have happened on clockwise circuits.
[10:25.280 -> 10:31.520] And I initially thought this was a very useless stat, but the fact is he's really going for
[10:31.520 -> 10:35.840] it and the next four races are also on clockwise circuits and it really does not look like
[10:35.840 -> 10:37.760] that he's going to be stopping anytime soon.
[10:37.760 -> 10:39.400] He's going to be taking all the records.
[10:39.400 -> 10:41.800] He's going to be going past all the milestones.
[10:41.800 -> 10:48.360] And another important milestone is Verstappen has won the last five races from pole position and the last time that actually
[10:48.360 -> 10:53.560] happened was Michael Schumacher in 2000-2001. No other driver has had five
[10:53.560 -> 10:58.800] consecutive poles and converted them to race wins. Wonderful what a stat. Ask the
[10:58.800 -> 11:05.440] clerk about it. Ask the clerk about it. Clearly. My word. But yeah, the clockwise point.
[11:05.440 -> 11:06.720] It's interesting you mentioned that.
[11:07.040 -> 11:08.800] We also need to now dig down and find out
[11:09.160 -> 11:12.960] what's the streak for the most number of consecutive wins at any clockwise circuit.
[11:12.960 -> 11:14.680] Because now Red Bull are breaking the game.
[11:15.120 -> 11:15.920] He already owns it.
[11:16.360 -> 11:19.280] He already, I think he did that, I think
[11:20.040 -> 11:22.840] 8 was the record which Alberto Ascari set in 19,
[11:23.440 -> 11:24.400] in the early 1950s.
[11:24.400 -> 11:26.080] I forget right now the exact season. But 8 was the record and Alberto Ascari set in the early 1950s. I forget right now the exact
[11:26.080 -> 11:32.720] season, but eight was the record and Verstappen is now on 13. Incredible. Man, that is some digging
[11:32.720 -> 11:40.080] to do, dude. Which is why Max Verstappen should stay. I would love to see, imagine whoever
[11:40.080 -> 11:46.040] challenges Max Verstappen and is able to beat him and win. Imagine the rise of that story,
[11:46.040 -> 11:49.760] the rise of that hero, the rise of that theme. That's the story. That's the narrative that
[11:49.760 -> 11:54.800] I'm now going to look out for. Do I want him beaten? No, but the whole journey for somebody
[11:54.800 -> 11:59.480] to get there, it's the same thing, right? The way Max became a Hamilton beater, who
[11:59.480 -> 12:05.040] is going to be the Verstappen beater? Could it be Lando Norris? Could it be Oscar Piastri? Lots of
[12:05.040 -> 12:10.640] narratives from the British Grand Prix. My mind still goes back into how did McLaren do it. And
[12:10.640 -> 12:16.960] McLaren, actually there are two very interesting data points. Their old spec car, before all the
[12:16.960 -> 12:23.680] upgrades came, in Barcelona, which is again a high-speed sequence circuit, they were really
[12:23.680 -> 12:30.240] quick out there as well. But they were in the lower side of the top 10. In Silverstone with the upgrades
[12:30.240 -> 12:34.000] they were at the sharper end of the top 10. That's one point.
[12:34.000 -> 12:38.800] Second is they actually had the best cornering efficiency of the top five
[12:38.800 -> 12:44.520] teams. And the difference is like for example Mercedes has a 23% cornering
[12:44.520 -> 12:46.680] efficiency with their setup from qualifying.
[12:47.120 -> 12:48.920] But McLaren had a 20.
[12:49.120 -> 12:51.880] So Mercedes at 23, McLaren at 26.
[12:51.880 -> 12:52.880] So even with the three.
[12:53.200 -> 12:55.680] What does cornering efficiency like properly properly mean?
[12:56.040 -> 13:01.520] It means that McLaren were actually quicker in the high speed sections.
[13:01.520 -> 13:04.120] How do you measure when you say somebody is quicker in a high speed section?
[13:04.400 -> 13:06.720] You can measure them lap time wise,
[13:06.720 -> 13:08.080] you can measure them percentage wise.
[13:08.080 -> 13:10.300] So when you do an absolute percentage,
[13:10.300 -> 13:11.960] it was actually Mercedes,
[13:11.960 -> 13:14.320] I still remember till they came to Maggots,
[13:14.320 -> 13:16.080] Becketts and Chapel,
[13:16.080 -> 13:18.780] George Russell was almost a little bit ahead.
[13:18.780 -> 13:22.640] It was 0.02 seconds ahead of Landon Norris.
[13:22.640 -> 13:25.920] It was in through the high speed sections and through store that Lando Norris. It was then through the high-speed sections and through
[13:25.920 -> 13:32.800] Stowe that Lando Norris made up 90% of his two-tenths on George Russell. So anyway, it
[13:32.800 -> 13:37.360] was this high-speed cornering efficiency that worked in qualifying. It's the same high-speed
[13:37.360 -> 13:43.120] cornering efficiency that helped Lando Norris keep Lewis Hamilton at bay. We could see Lewis
[13:43.120 -> 13:47.100] Hamilton try different lines, different corners, but Lando could
[13:47.100 -> 13:48.580] just hammer it in there.
[13:48.580 -> 13:54.740] And the one question, you know, Lando said going on the hard was the wrong tyre.
[13:54.740 -> 13:55.940] I have two ways to look at it.
[13:55.940 -> 13:56.940] We will never know.
[13:56.940 -> 13:58.900] Now it's just an opinion.
[13:58.900 -> 14:04.240] Firstly, if he was on the soft, then the question is, could he have challenged Max Verstappen
[14:04.240 -> 14:05.400] for the win? Because he was very, very close on the question is, could he have challenged Max Verstappen for the win?
[14:05.400 -> 14:08.960] Because he was very, very close on race pace as well.
[14:08.960 -> 14:12.760] But even if he would have challenged, I still believe Max would have overtaken him on track
[14:12.760 -> 14:16.000] because it's just Red Bull is a far more efficient car.
[14:16.000 -> 14:21.480] But on the hards, for him to keep Lewis Hamilton on the soft behind was pretty epic.
[14:21.480 -> 14:29.820] And one of the only reasons he could do that is the McLaren was actually better in switching on their tires, the hard tire, whereas Lewis's soft tires
[14:29.820 -> 14:32.920] after a couple of laps of chasing Lando were short.
[14:32.920 -> 14:36.840] I have an interesting point on this because this is something even Crofty mentioned on
[14:36.840 -> 14:42.320] the broadcast that McLaren is pretty good in switching on their tires, but I think there's
[14:42.320 -> 14:45.080] another aspect to it. McLaren this year have had
[14:45.080 -> 14:49.600] high tire degradation issues as well on a couple of circuits. So
[14:49.600 -> 14:55.000] maybe that's the reason why McLaren went that way for choosing hard tires. And if
[14:55.000 -> 15:00.360] you look at the circuit characteristics, Silverstone is a very abrasive circuit, a
[15:00.360 -> 15:04.400] track that's very hard on the tires. So maybe that also helped. I mean their
[15:04.400 -> 15:09.560] disadvantage kind of became their advantage in this particular scenario.
[15:09.560 -> 15:11.400] It could have probably helped Ferrari as well.
[15:11.400 -> 15:16.680] But in recent races, they've been saying that they've been able to manage their tire degradation.
[15:16.680 -> 15:20.160] And unfortunately, that turned out to be their disadvantage this time, because Leclerc was
[15:20.160 -> 15:21.960] not able to switch on his tires at all.
[15:21.960 -> 15:24.560] So I think that's probably another way of looking at it.
[15:24.560 -> 15:31.280] Yeah, that's true. And I believe McLaren's rise and form was down to upgrades. Yes,
[15:31.280 -> 15:36.720] motivation, British fans. Yes. But it was also down to circuit characteristics and very crucially
[15:36.720 -> 15:44.080] circuit temperatures. So it was a very lethal mix that came together to get them the positions that
[15:44.080 -> 15:45.040] they did. I mean it took
[15:45.040 -> 15:49.100] them one race to double their points tally and overtake Alpine in the
[15:49.100 -> 15:54.040] Constructors Championship. And while that was happening Fernando Alonso was
[15:54.040 -> 15:57.600] laughing in the background when Oscar Piastri got told that they have beaten
[15:57.600 -> 16:01.640] Alpine in the Constructors Championship at least for now. That is poetry in
[16:01.640 -> 16:07.000] motion. Fernando Alonso is still holding up those grudges. But on that McLaren front for one second, I think they didn't even have a choice.
[16:07.000 -> 16:12.000] They were on the mediums initially. And the 15 lap mark is such an awkward range to be right.
[16:12.000 -> 16:15.000] Slightly out of range for the softs if you're pushing that hard.
[16:15.000 -> 16:19.000] Slightly out of range for the hards as well. Because it's too short for that period as well.
[16:19.000 -> 16:24.000] And eventually it worked out but imagine being on the pit wall for that strategy call.
[16:24.000 -> 16:27.720] Oh come on, that is a tricky, tricky place to be.
[16:27.720 -> 16:30.040] Something that Ferrari have been in before.
[16:30.040 -> 16:33.360] Come on guys, it's finally happened.
[16:33.360 -> 16:38.620] Ferrari have forgotten what their plans A, B, C, D, whatever they might have been are.
[16:38.620 -> 16:41.320] It was meant to happen at some point, it has happened right now.
[16:41.320 -> 16:42.480] I am amazed.
[16:42.480 -> 16:44.400] The British GP keeps on giving.
[16:44.400 -> 16:46.560] And it was the driver who actually
[16:46.560 -> 16:49.960] remembers everything, who forgot their strategy options.
[16:49.960 -> 16:51.960] If it was Shah, you could have probably been like, yeah,
[16:51.960 -> 16:52.880] that's OK.
[16:52.880 -> 16:55.400] But it was the chief strategy officer at Ferrari
[16:55.400 -> 16:57.960] who actually forgot the strategy options.
[16:57.960 -> 17:00.080] And it was a bummer.
[17:00.080 -> 17:03.240] I mean, Ferrari read so many things wrong.
[17:03.240 -> 17:05.280] They read the tire degradation rate wrong.
[17:05.280 -> 17:09.520] They actually didn't use their tires as much. That's what Frederick Wasseur said.
[17:10.800 -> 17:16.160] Which is why when George Russell kept going on the soft, and then they pitted Leclerc on the medium,
[17:16.160 -> 17:20.320] the only reason they actually did that, and I said this on the Wireplay show as well,
[17:20.320 -> 17:30.440] was to try and force George Russell to pit. But guess he did not pit and that's it that was the end of Ferrari's strategy and then everything
[17:30.440 -> 17:35.720] just went the Ferrari way as it should have yeah. Have you guys seen any sort of
[17:35.720 -> 17:39.920] street fight where one person tries to intimidate the other person okay they've
[17:39.920 -> 17:42.440] thought about this all along when they go to a fight from another person they're
[17:42.440 -> 17:47.280] like I will stand my ground so they puff their chest and they'll be like, okay, fight me.
[17:47.280 -> 17:50.520] And the other person throws a punch. And then they're confused because they haven't thought
[17:50.520 -> 17:54.840] about what happens when the other person throws a punch. And Ferrari quite simply just couldn't
[17:54.840 -> 17:59.880] really deal with it. It's amazing that they forgot that Mercedes also have a really great
[17:59.880 -> 18:11.120] sensor in the car, which is called a driver. and the driver did a good job. Russell did a terrific job on those soft tires. How many laps did he go? One second. He went 28
[18:11.120 -> 18:18.960] laps on those soft tires when Pirelli's prediction or Pirelli's suggestion was that it should last,
[18:18.960 -> 18:24.160] it could probably last only 15 laps and he's really outdone the soft tires in that sense.
[18:24.160 -> 18:29.440] And I know Leclerc was trying to force a move or trying to force a pit stop of from
[18:29.440 -> 18:33.400] George Russell and I was actually tracking Leclerc's times at the time at
[18:33.400 -> 18:36.560] that point and also looking at the track temperatures. Track temperatures had gone
[18:36.560 -> 18:43.480] higher up Leclerc had switched to hards. It was in Ferrari's kitty to literally
[18:43.480 -> 18:46.600] turn on the tires and force Russell into a pit stop.
[18:46.600 -> 18:51.320] It did not happen. For some reason it did not happen. And I don't know if it's probably
[18:51.320 -> 18:56.640] because of Pirelli's new construction tires which are more, what do you say, more stronger
[18:56.640 -> 19:02.560] in that in the construction. If that kind of didn't work in their favor. But unfortunately
[19:02.560 -> 19:09.920] Ferrari once again have dropped it. And how? And how? Because this one year ago was their race weekend.
[19:09.920 -> 19:15.760] And sure, things have changed, cars have changed, upgrades keep on coming along, cars get faster,
[19:15.760 -> 19:22.720] there's more ways to gain time, but remember one year ago, they legitimately took pole position and won the race here.
[19:22.720 -> 19:25.760] Let's say 60% on merit because Max Verstappen
[19:25.760 -> 19:29.680] had that issue with the wing stuck underneath their car. This can't be happening. Come on,
[19:29.680 -> 19:35.040] they just can't be the fourth fastest team here this weekend. And also that move when Alex Albon
[19:35.040 -> 19:39.200] overtook Carlos Sainz around the outside that, come on, that shouldn't be happening.
[19:39.200 -> 19:46.600] That I'll tell you what I had, I have this in my notes for today's episode. I had written, Albon overtakes Sainz best.
[19:46.800 -> 19:48.000] And that's exactly what I've written.
[19:48.200 -> 19:51.800] I think that was the best overtake of the race.
[19:52.000 -> 19:56.600] Because the corner in which he actually went past Sainz is such a high speed corner.
[19:56.800 -> 19:58.200] You do not brake into that corner.
[19:58.400 -> 20:00.800] And Albon still had the guts to do it.
[20:01.000 -> 20:02.000] And it came off clean.
[20:02.200 -> 20:03.000] It came off clean.
[20:03.200 -> 20:09.840] And even Gasly with that battle with Sainz as well. Where Gasly took first Carlos Sainz around the outside at Lougheed itself and then
[20:09.840 -> 20:16.480] Sainz with the move at Copse. Holy wow! That is why you watch racing in the first place. Gasly
[20:16.480 -> 20:21.520] wasn't pleased. Gasly was not pleased with that in the post-race pen. He had a little bit of a
[20:21.520 -> 20:25.520] moment with Sainz. I don't know if people have seen that, but he was not pleased with signs pushing him
[20:25.520 -> 20:26.520] off track.
[20:26.520 -> 20:28.700] Hey, signs or Stroll?
[20:28.700 -> 20:31.640] Because I think that Sundaram was the move of the race.
[20:31.640 -> 20:32.640] Lance Stroll.
[20:32.640 -> 20:35.560] I mean, that, say what you want.
[20:35.560 -> 20:36.800] He is the ultimate entertainer.
[20:36.800 -> 20:41.400] I know people get pissed off when I say this, but I think he's the driver who adds the most
[20:41.400 -> 20:43.400] value to their team in Formula 1.
[20:43.400 -> 20:49.680] Genuinely, it's not Max Verstappen carrying Red Bull Racing, it's not Alex Albon carrying Williams, it's Lance Stroll carrying
[20:49.680 -> 20:53.840] Aston Martin. Because let's not forget his contribution is so great off the track,
[20:53.840 -> 20:59.200] had he not been someone else's son, the team wouldn't have been alive. So yes, yes, in that
[20:59.200 -> 21:07.280] sense, yes. But I was really trying to figure out after Stroll and Gasly's incident yesterday What is the reason that this happens?
[21:07.280 -> 21:12.960] And one of the things that was floating through my mind is that this year we've seen very less retirements in general
[21:13.260 -> 21:18.840] Okay in terms of retirements from collisions. We unfortunately, I mean fortunately, unfortunately
[21:18.840 -> 21:20.840] We don't have the likes of Mazepin, Latifi,
[21:20.960 -> 21:28.120] Mischu, Marker and all the likes and this year you have more experienced drivers who are driving you don't see a lot of retirements.
[21:28.120 -> 21:31.920] We've also seen two races that did not have a single retirement which is a very
[21:31.920 -> 21:36.260] rare thing in Formula One and then you have Stroll going off the curbs and
[21:36.260 -> 21:41.360] literally t-boning Gasly and then sending him to into a retirement and I
[21:41.360 -> 21:47.720] think that was really poor judgment from Stroll on both occasions. I think even when okay, I think that's 50-50 call when he overtook
[21:48.720 -> 21:50.720] Gasly, what corner was it?
[21:51.240 -> 21:52.720] After the
[21:52.720 -> 21:59.320] Bellington straight? No, sorry, Hanger straight. After the Hanger straight. So I think that was a little bit of a controversial pass
[22:00.560 -> 22:02.280] Stroll probably
[22:02.280 -> 22:09.000] definitely needed a penalty from the stewards there and fortunately for him, he didn't get a penalty for passing Ghazali off track limits.
[22:09.000 -> 22:13.000] But yeah, the move after that, probably not the wisest thing to do.
[22:13.000 -> 22:18.000] But dude, what sort of precedent is that set out that this is not a penalty?
[22:18.000 -> 22:25.360] After we've had a million track limits penalties just a week ago, where they have been constantly putting a human to police everything,
[22:25.360 -> 22:28.720] they've gone out there and made another stupid human mistake at the end of the day. Well,
[22:28.720 -> 22:34.160] racing is meant to be great, there's always, always some sort of grey area in there but if
[22:34.160 -> 22:38.800] you have sort of set a black and white precedent that hey going off track is not allowed just one
[22:38.800 -> 22:42.960] week ago, how is it that a driver can go off track and then push someone else and go past it?
[22:43.840 -> 22:47.000] I think we all should just beat up the stewards every single week.
[22:47.000 -> 22:50.520] We should just have a five minute segment where we beat up the stewards and move on.
[22:50.520 -> 22:54.640] Just satisfy our mental problems with them and then just go ahead with it.
[22:54.640 -> 22:55.760] It's a perfect punching bag.
[22:55.760 -> 23:01.480] No, I think this does set a bad precedent going forward because especially for a team
[23:01.480 -> 23:02.480] like Alpine.
[23:02.480 -> 23:07.720] They also have a bad president to be very honest.
[23:12.240 -> 23:12.280] It does set a bad precedent in that sense that if Alpine later on goes, uh,
[23:14.400 -> 23:14.680] and passes someone else outside track limits,
[23:17.640 -> 23:21.600] they are going to be going back to those two words and they're going to be telling them, see Lance Stroll did this in Britain. Why are we being penalized?
[23:21.600 -> 23:22.320] And in that sense,
[23:22.320 -> 23:27.040] that's why we ask for more consistency in the application of the rules.
[23:27.040 -> 23:33.840] Just last week when we had what close to 1200 potential violations, 83 laps deleted in the
[23:33.840 -> 23:34.840] race itself.
[23:34.840 -> 23:39.680] And then you go and have this, which I think was pretty straightforward that Stroll should
[23:39.680 -> 23:41.100] have given the place back.
[23:41.100 -> 23:47.360] But yeah, I think we're giving it just way too much attention then it probably deserves. So let's actually give some attention to Aston
[23:47.360 -> 23:51.760] Martin if we have a couple of minutes for that. The reason being it seemed like
[23:51.760 -> 23:55.840] a couple of weeks ago that they were the big thing and yes deep down we are still
[23:55.840 -> 23:59.280] Fernando Alonso fans like we mentioned at the start. That's not going to change.
[23:59.280 -> 24:02.320] The reason why is not just what happens on the track but the fact that he was
[24:02.320 -> 24:08.400] laughing in the press conference room or the media pen when Oscar Piastri got told that McLaren have pipped Alpine.
[24:08.400 -> 24:13.280] But the thing is, on track, it is a little bit problematic the way things are going, Sundaram.
[24:13.280 -> 24:17.680] And I don't think that it's a lot to do with Aston Martin getting slower.
[24:17.680 -> 24:22.800] It's just that other teams have also caught up with time so much that suddenly their upgrades
[24:22.800 -> 24:24.880] and their pace doesn't quite seem to be as good anymore.
[24:24.880 -> 24:28.480] And that's remarkable because now we get to know that there's just not them in that fight. There's
[24:28.480 -> 24:32.640] also McLaren around, there's also Alpine around, Williams sometimes will be poking their nose in.
[24:32.640 -> 24:38.720] So if anything, I think the stakes are higher and more than anything they need two quality drivers
[24:38.720 -> 24:43.040] to strike the pace out of that car, not one. Oh that's a brilliant point that you made because
[24:43.040 -> 24:50.400] I think we've kind of realized and even the other teams have realized that Aston Martin made most of their pace advantage to the through
[24:50.400 -> 24:55.920] the first half or first few races of the season and once every team started bolting on their
[24:55.920 -> 25:01.440] upgrades each and every team literally became faster even for a couple of races so we've seen
[25:01.440 -> 25:08.420] Alpine doing well, Mercedes doing well, Ferrari doing well and now McLaren is catching them and all of a sudden all the hype and all the
[25:09.040 -> 25:15.680] all the talk about Fernando Alonso's number 33 and all the other different rumors that were doing the rounds, they've all
[25:16.160 -> 25:20.400] it's all gone into silence right now and it kind of screams in that sense that
[25:20.680 -> 25:28.000] Aston Martin are probably not the second fastest team anymore and it's going to be interesting to see what they do in the next couple of races.
[25:28.000 -> 25:31.660] Hungary might be probably in their favor but it's going to be very interesting to see how
[25:31.660 -> 25:35.980] they get back into the midfield fight.
[25:35.980 -> 25:39.480] I think Hungary is definitely going to be one of those tracks.
[25:39.480 -> 25:40.480] They are back.
[25:40.480 -> 25:43.840] I think Hungary is also where McLaren are probably going to struggle.
[25:43.840 -> 25:46.720] With all the data again.
[25:46.720 -> 25:48.440] That's my daughter saying hi to everybody.
[25:48.440 -> 25:52.080] But with all the data, McLaren.
[25:52.080 -> 25:54.040] One second.
[25:54.040 -> 25:57.800] The point is she's unhappy because you said McLaren will struggle.
[25:57.800 -> 26:00.000] Why are you breaking a young girl's heart Kunal?
[26:00.000 -> 26:01.000] Come on.
[26:01.000 -> 26:03.640] Everyone, everyone wants to see them do well.
[26:03.640 -> 26:08.160] But I think it's interesting that he mentions that as well, Sundaram, because at the moment
[26:08.160 -> 26:12.360] as things go right now, Silverstone stands to be more of a mixed circuit.
[26:12.360 -> 26:15.760] We've got lots of high speed corners, but still three major straights where you can
[26:15.760 -> 26:16.760] make up that time as well.
[26:16.760 -> 26:19.680] Even though McLaren isn't quite the best in the world over there, but a couple of slow
[26:19.680 -> 26:21.680] corners here and there, we can do your thing.
[26:21.680 -> 26:24.000] But at Hungary, it'll be an even bigger test.
[26:24.000 -> 26:28.240] If anything, that will be revealing so much about where the grid stands as well. And traditionally,
[26:28.240 -> 26:32.160] it's been the last race before the half year, halfway mark of the season. This time, not so
[26:32.160 -> 26:35.760] much because we're having Belgium before that as well. But there's just so much that we're getting
[26:35.760 -> 26:40.000] to learn about where the grid stands and also how the lower midfield stacks up as well. That
[26:40.000 -> 26:43.840] makes it such a good year. I think we're in the golden period of Formula One, if anything.
[26:43.840 -> 26:48.800] Golden period behind Max Verstappen. I'm sure a lot of people don't particularly find it
[26:48.800 -> 26:54.080] interesting that he's winning these many races that too without much of a competition.
[26:54.080 -> 26:58.480] But the fact is that behind him, there is really a lot happening. And we can probably get a couple
[26:58.480 -> 27:03.120] of hints as to who might be strong, like for example, Aston Martin might be strong in Hungary.
[27:03.120 -> 27:07.480] Alex Albon has literally gone on record to say that Hungary might not be our strongest
[27:07.480 -> 27:10.680] circuit, it doesn't really suit our car and we might be able to come back in
[27:10.680 -> 27:14.120] Belgium but the fact is we really don't know at this point, no one really knows
[27:14.120 -> 27:18.160] because there's a lot of upgrades that teams are bringing in for every race especially
[27:18.160 -> 27:22.520] around this particular time, teams like Ferrari, Mercedes could really be in the
[27:22.520 -> 27:30.840] mix because they have such different operating windows and I think we'll just get to see what happens closer to race day and
[27:33.280 -> 27:35.320] This is one for the point, you know this
[27:35.320 -> 27:35.720] Yeah
[27:35.720 -> 27:43.920] I really think that the regulations are working to some extent and probably not also working to in another extent because
[27:46.720 -> 27:51.040] and probably not also working to in another extent because teams like McLaren and the others who've had more time in the wind tunnel they are able to make gains on track when they're able to bring
[27:51.040 -> 27:56.400] their upgrades so in that sense you might be able to say that the regulations are working but a team
[27:56.400 -> 28:02.960] that's actually copped a wind tunnel penalty does not seem to be phased or affected by that
[28:02.960 -> 28:05.800] by that penalty at all. Yeah.
[28:05.800 -> 28:06.800] Yeah.
[28:06.800 -> 28:10.440] And I think it's sort of counterproductive in a way, the fact that we're having these
[28:10.440 -> 28:15.800] regulations because you need more wind tunnel time and also more spending ability to catch
[28:15.800 -> 28:19.360] up with Red Bull Racing that certainly Mercedes and Ferrari don't have.
[28:19.360 -> 28:24.680] So perhaps we're in that situation where Red Bull are just stuck at the top.
[28:24.680 -> 28:27.520] It's a plateau of sorts where nobody can really catch up because there's not enough
[28:27.520 -> 28:31.720] money to catch up and if they do really well in year two and then finish second
[28:31.720 -> 28:34.640] they eventually will not have enough winter time to catch up as well. So I
[28:34.640 -> 28:38.280] find it interesting. I think that's where the sliding scale arrow will play its
[28:38.280 -> 28:41.440] part over the course of the next few years and to see how teams develop it.
[28:41.440 -> 28:45.640] But I think it's working. It's working. A few weeks ago, I think in Miami,
[28:45.640 -> 28:47.840] we were talking about the product not being fun enough,
[28:47.840 -> 28:49.560] about something really missing.
[28:49.560 -> 28:51.960] It helps that the tracks that we've come to since then
[28:51.960 -> 28:54.640] have been very open, that you are able to pass over there.
[28:54.640 -> 28:56.320] And there has not been much of a problem.
[28:56.320 -> 28:58.920] So you can actually see drivers and teams pushing hard
[28:58.920 -> 29:00.600] and not worrying about conserving.
[29:00.600 -> 29:02.160] Long may this continue, honestly,
[29:02.160 -> 29:04.000] because the last three, four weeks have just
[29:04.000 -> 29:05.000] been amazing for Formula 1. Just one more stat to add to that, because the last three, four weeks have just been amazing for Formula One.
[29:05.000 -> 29:10.000] Just one more stat to add to that, because we've been talking about how competitive the midfield is.
[29:10.000 -> 29:16.000] Five teams have actually led the opening lap this season, which we don't tend to see a lot.
[29:16.000 -> 29:19.000] And the last time we actually saw more than five teams.
[29:19.000 -> 29:24.000] Yeah. So there was Red Bull, Aston Martin, Mercedes, Ferrari, and now McLaren.
[29:24.000 -> 29:31.500] They've led the opening lap of race this season and the last time five or more teams led an opening lap was in 2009.
[29:32.020 -> 29:34.020] There were seven teams that time.
[29:34.020 -> 29:35.180] Yeah
[29:35.180 -> 29:37.100] Including Force India.
[29:37.100 -> 29:44.060] Including Force India, including Toyota and now we have five teams and the other point is we're just ten races into the season and
[29:44.300 -> 29:50.640] six teams have already taken a podium. Not bad dude, not bad. It's yeah I think let's
[29:50.640 -> 29:54.600] just forget Max honestly. Acknowledge the greatness and forget him but you can't
[29:54.600 -> 29:58.960] forget him for one simple reason. What he's doing at the moment Sundaram is
[29:58.960 -> 30:07.920] something that his team mate just cannot by any means keep up with. It's... I don't even know how do you describe it. It's
[30:08.880 -> 30:14.640] strange to see Sergio Perez being reduced to a has-been in this whole equation where he's just
[30:15.520 -> 30:20.640] someone you get to 30 minutes after having chatted about every other team. That's just not
[30:20.640 -> 30:26.600] Sergio Perez. That's not who we know, really. And the way things are working out in qualifying, his inability
[30:26.600 -> 30:29.520] to work the tires up and get them in the right operating window,
[30:29.520 -> 30:31.640] and how consistently it has bitten him, I
[30:31.640 -> 30:33.120] wonder if it's just that now.
[30:33.120 -> 30:36.880] Because it seems, surely it can't happen for five races in a row, right?
[30:36.880 -> 30:37.380] Surely.
[30:37.380 -> 30:39.720] It can't be the same problem all over again.
[30:39.720 -> 30:44.240] This time, of course, it was that he got caught out by the track
[30:44.240 -> 30:45.160] evolving in qualifying, and he just wasn't caught out by caught out by the track evolving in qualifying
[30:45.160 -> 30:47.080] and he just wasn't there at the right place at the right time.
[30:47.080 -> 30:51.080] But nevertheless, it's just absurd.
[30:51.080 -> 30:55.160] And imagine how much mental pressure that generates, especially when you're in a team
[30:55.160 -> 30:59.520] at Red Bull Racing, that is known to put the axe out very, very quickly.
[30:59.520 -> 31:03.880] So at what point does he start to lose confidence in that regard?
[31:03.880 -> 31:05.680] Because surely that you can't still have
[31:05.680 -> 31:11.600] confidence to that same level if you're just five races down without getting into Q3 especially in
[31:11.600 -> 31:16.000] a car that's dominating and winning the constructors championship single-handedly with the other
[31:16.000 -> 31:22.000] driver. I think that's the biggest pain point for him at this point of time and having these sort of
[31:22.000 -> 31:26.080] situations doesn't really bode well for him, especially in a team like Red Bull.
[31:26.080 -> 31:28.520] It has been known for chopping and changing,
[31:28.520 -> 31:30.920] especially when there's a difficult period for a driver.
[31:30.920 -> 31:32.840] And although Christian Hanna and Helmut Macher
[31:32.840 -> 31:36.520] do say repeatedly that we are completely backing him,
[31:36.520 -> 31:39.760] we have seen them, what do you say,
[31:39.760 -> 31:43.400] remove drivers or demote them to the junior team,
[31:43.400 -> 31:44.760] despite saying all those things.
[31:44.760 -> 31:45.600] And what Perez
[31:45.600 -> 31:48.240] I think is really lacking right now is a little bit of momentum.
[31:48.240 -> 31:54.680] And we said those very same things, it's surely he's not going to miss Q3 after it happened
[31:54.680 -> 31:59.120] the second time but then third, fourth, fifth, it's happened for five consecutive races and
[31:59.120 -> 32:03.840] he's only and that's actually trickling, that's actually carrying forward to the race as well
[32:03.840 -> 32:11.400] because in the last five races he's just taken 51 points. Verstappen on the other hand, he's taken 136 points.
[32:11.400 -> 32:16.320] So it's really not working for him and he's actually gone on record to say that we have
[32:16.320 -> 32:21.660] a few ideas on what we need to fix and he specifically did not say that it's his own
[32:21.660 -> 32:25.440] mistake or some fault in his driving. So he says that we need
[32:25.440 -> 32:30.800] to change a couple of things. I'm in the simulator this week to try and find a few fixes to that.
[32:30.800 -> 32:36.560] But it's going to be really crucial for him to get into Q3 firstly and then put a good qualifying
[32:36.560 -> 32:43.440] spot in Hungary. And guess what, Daniel Ricciardo is going to be in the car tomorrow. And that is
[32:43.440 -> 32:46.560] going to be fun to evaluate to see how well he does
[32:46.560 -> 32:51.600] in a modern day Formula 1 car and I'm sure, I'm sure when Helmut Marko came on the show
[32:51.600 -> 32:55.680] and he mentioned that Ricardo is doing that test and they're going to evaluate him,
[32:55.680 -> 33:00.560] Red Bull will be keeping all their eyes peeled on there because it's not a problem right now
[33:00.560 -> 33:05.040] but eventually when the others will catch up, when McLaren's pace will be more consistent,
[33:05.040 -> 33:10.760] when Mercedes will finally find out if their car is good or not, they will need two drivers.
[33:10.760 -> 33:14.920] And in the top five teams, Red Bull and Aston Martin don't quite have a balanced lineup,
[33:14.920 -> 33:18.480] which will eventually bite them, even though right now they're very close by in the top
[33:18.480 -> 33:20.080] three, right, eventually those three teams.
[33:20.080 -> 33:22.680] But yeah, I wonder, I wonder how it's going to play out.
[33:22.680 -> 33:23.960] But Hungary is next.
[33:23.960 -> 33:24.960] That's going to be a ton of fun.
[33:24.960 -> 33:25.200] And by the way, folks, if you are in Mumbai for to play out. But Hungary is next. That's going to be a ton of fun.
[33:25.200 -> 33:27.620] And by the way, folks, if you are in Mumbai for that race,
[33:27.620 -> 33:29.960] Versova Social is the place to be.
[33:29.960 -> 33:31.480] So join us for that one.
[33:31.480 -> 33:33.880] And if you turned up for our British GP show
[33:33.880 -> 33:40.120] last time out at Car Social, all 107 of you, guys, thank you.
[33:40.120 -> 33:42.480] It really was so much fun to interact and talk
[33:42.480 -> 33:43.440] Formula 1 with you.
[33:43.440 -> 33:45.000] And we hope that you'll be back for more.
[33:45.000 -> 33:52.000] So check out the link in the description to see how you can sign up and get tickets for the Versova social event for the Hungarian GP as well.
[33:52.000 -> 33:58.000] But in the meantime, you stay in touch with us, follow us on all our social media handles, subscribe to the Inside iNF1 podcast,
[33:58.000 -> 34:01.000] share it with your friends, family members or anyone who might love Formula One.
[34:01.000 -> 34:06.400] And we'll be back rather soon for the Hungarian GP preview. Take care folks, bye.
[34:18.880 -> 34:20.940] you