Hungary for more of Daniel Ricciardo - 2023 Hungarian GP Preview

All eyes on Daniel Ricciardo this weekend. After all, he's making a comeback to Formula 1 at the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Admittedly, it's an AlphaTauri, so will Ricciardo exit in Q1...and still out-qualify Yuki Tsunoda? A bittersweet moment that would be. 

We're hosting a live race screening for Formula 1 fans in Mumbai for the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Where: Versova SOCIAL

When: 23rd July, 5.30 pm onward (IST)

Soumil Arora will host a pre/post race interaction & F1 quiz for all attendees.

Get your tickets on Paytm Insider.

Also, all eyes on Mclaren. Can their form from Austria and Silverstone continue at the Hungaroring? Their upgrades have brought them into play for P2 - and they've got another upgrade planned for Hungary. 

As for Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing, they will continue to break records. But the one record Sergio Perez needs to break is that of not featuring in Q3 for five consecutive races. Yes, in the same car that his team-mate has scored pole positions in.

'Monaco without the walls' 'A go-kart circuit' 'Tight and twisty' are some of the many descriptions you will hear during the weekend of the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Tune in!

(Season 2023, Episode 36)

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

Image courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool

# Inside Line F1 Podcast: Episode 36 - Hungarian Grand Prix Preview

## Introduction:

* Daniel Ricciardo's return to Formula 1 with AlphaTauri is a major talking point.
* The podcast team discusses the impact of Ricciardo's move on the grid and his potential performance.
* They also highlight the upgrades that McLaren has brought to their car and the expectations for their performance in Hungary.
* Sergio Perez's qualifying struggles and his need to break the record of not featuring in Q3 for five consecutive races are discussed.

## Hungarian Grand Prix Circuit:

* The Hungaroring is described as "Monaco without the walls," "a go-kart circuit," and "tight and twisty."
* The track's characteristics make it challenging for overtaking, leading to exciting battles on the track.
* The circuit has hosted Formula 1 races for 38 years, and the podcast team expresses their desire to have Zolt Baumgartner, the only Hungarian Grand Prix driver, as a guest on their podcast.

## Memorable Moments from the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix:

* Esteban Ocon's victory from 10th on the grid.
* George Russell's pole position.
* Ferrari's comical strategy of moving to hard tires.
* Nicholas Latifi topping FP3 but being eliminated in Q1.

## McLaren's Performance and Upgrades:

* McLaren's recent upgrades have shown promise, but the team admits that they still have weaknesses to address.
* The Hungarian Grand Prix will be a test for McLaren's upgrades, as the circuit's characteristics are different from Austria and Silverstone.
* Aston Martin's potential performance in Hungary is also discussed, given their strengths in high to medium-speed corners.

## Daniel Ricciardo's Return to AlphaTauri:

* The podcast team predicts that Ricciardo may not make it out of Q1, but they see it as an opportunity for him to prove himself against Yuki Tsunoda.
* The potential for Ricciardo to move to Red Bull Racing in 2025 is mentioned, but it is considered a distant possibility at this point.

## Sergio Perez's Qualifying Struggles:

* Perez's poor qualifying performances have been a major issue for Red Bull Racing.
* The podcast team speculates on whether Perez can overcome his qualifying troubles and make it into Q3 in Hungary.
* The impact of the new tire allocation format for qualifying on Perez's performance is also discussed.

## Predictions for the Hungarian Grand Prix:

* The podcast team makes bold predictions for the race, including Sergio Perez winning from pole position.
* They also discuss the possibility of McLaren joining the battle for P2 and Aston Martin's chances of success.

## Live Race Screening in Mumbai:

* The podcast team announces a live race screening event for the Hungarian Grand Prix in Mumbai.
* Details about the event, including the venue, time, and activities, are provided.

## Conclusion:

* The podcast team wraps up the episode by emphasizing the excitement surrounding the Hungarian Grand Prix and the anticipation for the upcoming race.
* They encourage listeners to join them for the live race screening event in Mumbai or to tune in to the podcast for the race review on Monday.

[00:00.000 -> 00:20.000] I can't contain my excitement.
[00:20.000 -> 00:21.440] This cannot be true.
[00:21.440 -> 00:24.420] This just is not real.
[00:24.420 -> 00:26.540] You know, it's been a week, but it still hasn't
[00:26.540 -> 00:32.960] quite sunk in. Daniel Ricciardo is going to be back in an Alfa Tauri. I never thought
[00:32.960 -> 00:37.040] about that. I knew for a certain fact that Nick Tafris would be out there, but this,
[00:37.040 -> 00:43.320] yeah, a little bit left field. I think we might say he's a lot hungry for more, isn't
[00:43.320 -> 00:45.020] he Kunal? Low hanginghanging fruit, I know.
[00:45.020 -> 00:46.680] But sometimes you've got to do what you've got to do, right?
[00:46.680 -> 00:49.000] Like the Alpha Tauri, very low-hanging fruit for Ricardo as well.
[00:49.000 -> 00:52.160] But you have to take it up sometimes.
[00:52.160 -> 00:58.800] I should have guessed that you will actually use hungry for more when it came to this weekend's
[00:58.800 -> 01:00.680] race preview episode.
[01:00.680 -> 01:03.160] I was wondering what are you going to sort of pun on.
[01:03.160 -> 01:05.000] And that was, of of course hungry for more.
[01:05.000 -> 01:11.000] But is Alpha Tauri really a low-hanging fruit for Daniel Ricciardo?
[01:11.000 -> 01:16.000] Because, you know, when I was making some notes of talking of Ricciardo, yes, he's back.
[01:16.000 -> 01:20.000] We know the whole thing that they want to put Perez under pressure.
[01:20.000 -> 01:22.000] They want to give Ricciardo the chance to shine.
[01:22.000 -> 01:26.400] They want to test Yuki Tsunoda and give him a reference point.
[01:26.880 -> 01:33.780] But when or where will Daniel Ricardo qualify this weekend? And I actually wrote down in our predictions.
[01:33.780 -> 01:36.740] He's gonna be out of Q1. That's my prediction.
[01:36.740 -> 01:42.080] Come on, please, please, please don't be a sadist to every single one listening. Nobody wants to hear that. Come on.
[01:42.120 -> 01:48.920] But hey Sundaram, is Alpha Tauri has to be the lowest of the low-hanging fruits, right? Like if you're P10, how low
[01:48.920 -> 01:54.840] can the low-hanging fruit be? And I feel like, although I hate to say or hear what Kunal
[01:54.840 -> 01:59.720] has just said, he might have, he might have a sense of sensibility in that point.
[01:59.720 -> 02:04.200] I mean, I'm sure when Nick DeVries is not in Alpha Tauri anymore, and it's nice to have
[02:04.200 -> 02:05.880] that sort of a character in Formula 1
[02:05.880 -> 02:06.440] once again.
[02:06.440 -> 02:08.280] But to be very honest, I think we've
[02:08.280 -> 02:11.560] seen Ricardo struggling a fair bit with McLaren as well.
[02:11.560 -> 02:13.760] Now he's just going to struggle with an Alpha Tauri.
[02:13.760 -> 02:14.680] It's no different.
[02:14.680 -> 02:17.080] Oh, here we go.
[02:17.080 -> 02:19.000] Here's every single one of our listeners
[02:19.000 -> 02:22.240] that make us the top 1.5% of all podcasts in the world,
[02:22.240 -> 02:23.600] leaving in a second.
[02:23.600 -> 02:24.100] That's it.
[02:24.100 -> 02:24.600] They're gone.
[02:24.600 -> 02:25.140] Right?
[02:25.140 -> 02:25.640] Yes.
[02:25.640 -> 02:27.480] Yeah.
[02:27.480 -> 02:29.240] They're like, you guys don't deserve
[02:29.240 -> 02:31.480] more lessons for this episode.
[02:31.480 -> 02:34.600] But I'm going to just pick on what Sundaram said.
[02:34.600 -> 02:37.520] Imagine, at the moment, Lando Norris
[02:37.520 -> 02:40.360] kicked Daniel Ricciardo into retirement.
[02:40.360 -> 02:43.440] I really hope it doesn't end up being
[02:43.440 -> 02:46.720] Yuki Sonoda, who kicks him into a second retirement, sabbatical, whatever you call it. I really hope it doesn't end up being Yuki Sonoda who kicks him into a second retirement,
[02:46.720 -> 02:52.320] sabbatical, whatever you call it. I really hope. I mean, I know Japan is a very small
[02:52.320 -> 02:57.960] listener base, so I can say this, but it's a bit more embarrassing if it's Yuki Sonoda
[02:57.960 -> 03:01.880] who's sort of, you know, been the reason why you couldn't do what you could do at Al Fatawi.
[03:01.880 -> 03:05.000] I mean, right now, everyone is dreaming, Ricardo
[03:05.000 -> 03:10.540] and Red Bull Racing in 25, but that is so distant in the future.
[03:10.540 -> 03:15.140] Is it really though Sundaram, because Sergio Perez, the way he's performing all the spotlight
[03:15.140 -> 03:19.840] apart from P18, P19, where we expect Ricardo to realistically be, the spotlight will be
[03:19.840 -> 03:24.720] on him and Sergio Perez, because that's the biggest comparison we're all looking for.
[03:24.720 -> 03:25.280] And qualifying records, as you pointed out in all of your stats so far, that doesn't him and Sergio Perez because that's the biggest comparison we're all looking for and qualifying
[03:25.280 -> 03:29.840] records as you pointed out in all of your stats so far that doesn't really look very good for
[03:29.840 -> 03:36.000] Sergio does it? Oh it really doesn't but I really think the whole plan with Daniel Ricardo I mean to
[03:36.000 -> 03:41.760] be on a very serious note the plan with Ricardo is really multi-layered and long term there's
[03:41.760 -> 03:45.000] the other rumors doing the rounds at Yuki Tsunoda might move to
[03:45.000 -> 03:52.040] Aston Martin in 2026 because Aston Martin is partnering up with Honda. So maybe Yuki
[03:52.040 -> 03:56.360] is not there in the long term plans of Red Bull and Red Bull really don't need a number
[03:56.360 -> 04:01.520] one driver at this point of time because they have max tied down till 2028. So what they're
[04:01.520 -> 04:05.360] really looking forward to is a strong number two driver who gives them
[04:05.360 -> 04:07.640] a lot of options on race day.
[04:07.640 -> 04:10.120] And we've seen the sort of camaraderie
[04:10.120 -> 04:12.800] or the sort of friendship that Ricardo,
[04:12.800 -> 04:16.720] or partnership that Ricardo and Verstappen are able to have
[04:16.720 -> 04:17.220] on track.
[04:17.220 -> 04:18.260] And that's something that they're really
[04:18.260 -> 04:19.320] missing right now.
[04:19.320 -> 04:22.160] So I think Ricardo, at some point of time,
[04:22.160 -> 04:23.880] is going to be in that Red Bull seat.
[04:23.880 -> 04:31.120] Maybe 2024, if Perez is qualifying or race performances continue the way they're going.
[04:31.120 -> 04:38.720] And they would really like, I mean, even Riccardo is in that stage of his life where he's probably happy to be in a front running car, maybe at some point of time.
[04:38.720 -> 04:41.600] And he wouldn't really mind being the number two driver.
[04:41.600 -> 04:49.000] You also have to remember that he probably rejected a lot of other teams further down in the grid last year. So what
[04:49.000 -> 04:53.080] really is his incentive of joining AlphaTauri this year unless there is
[04:53.080 -> 04:56.760] some talk to be back in Red Bull at a later date? I think the incentive is
[04:56.760 -> 05:00.640] very very clear. He gets to compete against a driver who's beaten Max Verstappen
[05:00.640 -> 05:05.680] in equal machinery twice in 2018. That's Yuki Tsunoda my friends he's the only
[05:05.680 -> 05:10.560] man who's done it so far not Sergio but hey you need to give some context some context on that
[05:11.280 -> 05:15.680] are the monster truck races and a couple of other weird vehicles but it's okay he beat Max for
[05:15.680 -> 05:22.240] Stappan in equal machinery it's important remember but this folks is the Insideline F1 podcast
[05:22.240 -> 05:26.720] welcome along we're one of the world's top 1.5% of all podcasts
[05:26.720 -> 05:32.080] and my name is Somal Adora. I'm the host of the Indian Racing League on Star Sports and the two
[05:32.080 -> 05:37.760] voices you hear alongside me, firstly the last voice you heard, F1 Stats Guru Sundaram. He is
[05:37.760 -> 05:42.560] again a part of the WTF1 talent roster and his stats have been read out by Krofty on the Sky
[05:42.560 -> 05:46.520] F1 broadcast so many times I've actually lost count.
[05:46.520 -> 05:49.200] Also the other voice that you heard at the very beginning and the next voice you are
[05:49.200 -> 05:53.960] going to hear after me, Kunal Shah, the former marketing head of the Sahara Force India Formula
[05:53.960 -> 05:58.920] One team, now working as a motorsport and Formula One consultant at the Viyaplane network
[05:58.920 -> 06:03.720] in Norway, but he's also on camera sometimes to talk about Formula One and to explain it
[06:03.720 -> 06:04.720] to all the people.
[06:04.720 -> 06:05.040] So let's get to Formula One and let explain it to all the people. So,
[06:05.040 -> 06:09.520] let's get to Formula One and let's get to Hungary, Kunal. Because in the last few weeks,
[06:09.520 -> 06:13.920] you've spoken a lot about qualifying on air in Norway, and you've spoken a lot about gaps and
[06:13.920 -> 06:19.120] how it's such an important thing to nail down. This weekend, more than anything, qualifying has
[06:19.120 -> 06:25.000] to be super tricky because we've seen great battles at Hungary, but only very few people can get past,
[06:25.000 -> 06:26.500] notably Fernando Alonso.
[06:28.440 -> 06:29.760] Notably Fernando Alonso.
[06:29.760 -> 06:31.480] And when we talk of Hungary,
[06:31.480 -> 06:36.160] that, you know, Okonwin that happened in 2021,
[06:36.160 -> 06:39.600] will be remembered more for what Fernando Alonso did
[06:39.600 -> 06:42.120] to hold up Lewis Hamilton, right?
[06:42.120 -> 06:44.040] But Hungary, great circuit.
[06:44.040 -> 06:46.220] You're gonna hear a lot of drivers say things like,
[06:46.220 -> 06:48.260] it feels like a go-kart track.
[06:48.260 -> 06:50.980] You're driving on, some of the engineers will say,
[06:50.980 -> 06:53.780] this is like Monaco, but without the walls.
[06:53.780 -> 06:56.100] What that really means is that the setup
[06:56.100 -> 06:58.780] and the downforce requirements at Hungary
[06:58.780 -> 07:01.540] are very, very similar to Monaco.
[07:01.540 -> 07:04.820] Passing is very difficult, which is what I sort of like.
[07:04.820 -> 07:05.840] I, you know, I've,
[07:05.840 -> 07:11.600] our regular listeners would know that for me, the battle on track is more important than an actual
[07:11.600 -> 07:17.520] overtake. But I realized that I'm probably from an older era of Formula One when I wish for that.
[07:17.520 -> 07:23.920] But it is a, it is a beautiful circuit by itself. It's the 38th year that we're going to have a race
[07:23.920 -> 07:26.000] in Hungary, which I think is pretty fantastic.
[07:26.000 -> 07:36.000] And you know guys, we're still trying to get Zolt Baumgartner, the only Hungarian Grand Prix driver ever, as a guest on our podcast.
[07:36.000 -> 07:43.000] So hopefully, he gets there soon enough. We were trying to get him for this episode, didn't happen. We'll see when we get him next.
[07:43.000 -> 07:47.520] It's a fun way to manifest, isn't it Sundaram?
[07:47.520 -> 07:52.880] I hope that does happen. I mean, coincidentally, I was speaking about Zolt Baumgartner to one
[07:52.880 -> 07:58.240] of my colleagues recently at work. But I actually want to do a little rewind to last year's
[07:58.240 -> 08:01.600] Hungarian Grand Prix. And I want to know if you can, I mean, I hope you remember what
[08:01.600 -> 08:05.720] happened last year, but I want to know what your favorite moments from last year's race were. I'm just
[08:05.720 -> 08:09.640] gonna read out a few just that it's easy to remember so what's that been spinning
[08:09.640 -> 08:14.160] out on his way to winning the race from 10th on the grid. Was it George
[08:14.160 -> 08:19.760] Russell's pole position, Ferrari's comical strategy to move on to hards or
[08:19.760 -> 08:25.000] was it something else? What else happened last year?
[08:25.000 -> 08:27.000] Now, Hamilton starting alone was 21.
[08:27.000 -> 08:29.000] Wasappil spinning and winning was definitely.
[08:29.000 -> 08:31.000] What else are we missing here Kunal?
[08:31.000 -> 08:33.000] You are definitely missing something.
[08:33.000 -> 08:35.000] Think Williams.
[08:35.000 -> 08:37.000] Think Williams.
[08:37.000 -> 08:39.000] Now this is where you know.
[08:39.000 -> 08:41.000] Last?
[08:41.000 -> 08:43.000] Williams. Nicholas Latifi.
[08:43.000 -> 08:44.000] Was it?
[08:44.000 -> 08:46.500] Yes, that was the last. Gotifi. Did he do something?
[08:46.500 -> 08:47.500] Gotifi was…
[08:47.500 -> 08:49.500] The last time he scored a point.
[08:49.500 -> 08:51.000] The last time he scored a point. Yes.
[08:51.000 -> 08:52.500] No, no, no.
[08:52.500 -> 08:53.500] Fp3.
[08:53.500 -> 08:55.500] He topped Fp3.
[08:55.500 -> 08:57.500] He topped Fp3.
[08:57.500 -> 08:59.500] Oh, goodness.
[08:59.500 -> 09:00.500] Wow.
[09:00.500 -> 09:02.000] What a thing to celebrate.
[09:02.000 -> 09:04.500] He topped Fp3 only to be eliminated in Q1.
[09:04.500 -> 09:06.000] I am pretty sure of that stat.
[09:06.000 -> 09:11.000] Yes. He didn't score points. But yes, he topped FP3.
[09:11.000 -> 09:20.200] But you know, Hungary has had three different race winners from three different teams in the last three years.
[09:20.200 -> 09:26.560] We had Verstappen in 22. By the way, he started eighth at that time. We had Ocon in 21. I think
[09:26.560 -> 09:31.120] he started 10th or something. And there was that famous race where Lewis was the only driver taking
[09:31.120 -> 09:38.080] the start. And then in 2020, we had Lewis Hamilton, which makes it three different drivers for three
[09:38.080 -> 09:42.880] different teams. So will it be McLaren this weekend? That's what everybody's been talking
[09:42.880 -> 09:48.480] about. And third of their third upgrade is, I mean, they said they're going to have their upgrades
[09:48.480 -> 09:49.480] over three races.
[09:49.480 -> 09:52.640] McLaren, this is the third race.
[09:52.640 -> 09:57.440] Oscar Piazza and Lando Norris have both said that these upgrades solve only 30% of our
[09:57.440 -> 09:58.440] weaknesses.
[09:58.440 -> 10:00.960] 70% are still to go.
[10:00.960 -> 10:02.680] But all eyes on them.
[10:02.680 -> 10:09.660] Can they legitimately join the battle for P2 at a track whose characteristics
[10:09.660 -> 10:14.560] are so different from Austria and Silverstone, the last two races that we had?
[10:14.560 -> 10:19.040] Yeah, and that'll be interesting, right? Because I remember talking about this in our British
[10:19.040 -> 10:23.400] GP review, Sundaram, about how Hungary will be the biggest test. And we went on about
[10:23.400 -> 10:26.960] it quite a fair bit about how McLaren have actually nailed
[10:26.960 -> 10:29.420] a couple of really different types of circuits
[10:29.420 -> 10:30.920] in the last couple of races.
[10:30.920 -> 10:32.640] Austria being one with really long straights
[10:32.640 -> 10:35.680] and slow corners, the UK being a circuit with, again,
[10:35.680 -> 10:38.460] lots of high-speed corners and a couple of really
[10:38.460 -> 10:40.480] quick straights that come up and then follow along
[10:40.480 -> 10:41.640] with a lot of high-speed corners.
[10:41.640 -> 10:43.600] But this one will be a tricky challenge
[10:43.600 -> 10:49.440] because there are tons of low to medium speed corners. And realistically, McLaren have been very out
[10:49.440 -> 10:53.600] there and saying that, okay, our straight line speed isn't quite what makes us the best.
[10:53.600 -> 10:57.520] And Hungary only has one proper long straight. I think it's around 700 odd meters, if I'm not
[10:57.520 -> 11:02.480] mistaken. I think it once used to be one of the longest straights in F1, but that's like 100 odd
[11:02.480 -> 11:05.040] years ago. But the point being,
[11:09.440 -> 11:13.520] these corners right here, the second and the third sector that we have at the Hungarian GP circuit, that will be a true test of McLaren. And the way things function all the way through in the race
[11:13.520 -> 11:19.280] will be such an interesting thing to decode. And I wonder how good Aston Martin here as well,
[11:19.280 -> 11:24.160] because they are now meant to be good at these high to medium speed corners. And then suddenly
[11:24.160 -> 11:28.380] all the other teams have caught up and then their pace just sort of looks mediocre.
[11:28.380 -> 11:32.440] This weekend will answer so many questions that we've had in our head and that for me
[11:32.440 -> 11:36.900] makes it such an exciting Sunday because not only will we get to know more about Ricardo,
[11:36.900 -> 11:41.180] not only will we get to know more about how can Sergio Perez climb back up from another
[11:41.180 -> 11:45.040] Q2 qualifying position, but also so much more on just who really is all
[11:45.040 -> 11:48.000] the way through from P3 to, I don't know, P15.
[11:48.000 -> 11:50.160] It's that big of a mixed up grid.
[11:50.160 -> 11:51.680] Absolutely right.
[11:51.680 -> 11:56.760] This weekend is going to answer a lot of questions, especially from Daniel Ricardo's point of
[11:56.760 -> 12:02.240] view, from Sergio Perez's point of view, will he finally get over his qualifying troubles?
[12:02.240 -> 12:06.480] And if McLaren really has a very quick car. I mean Hungary is a
[12:06.480 -> 12:11.760] different challenge altogether, it's a different circuit, but it'll also answer if Aston Martin
[12:11.760 -> 12:17.280] are a team who are still in the fight for second position because if you remember before Monaco,
[12:17.280 -> 12:22.800] we were considering Monaco and Hungary as one of the prime circuits for Fernando Alonso to get his
[12:22.800 -> 12:29.800] 33rd race win and everything's pretty much gone silent. So if this weekend they struggle, then things look very, very
[12:29.800 -> 12:33.160] difficult for Aston Martin and Fernando.
[12:33.160 -> 12:37.200] Your mission, mission 33. Yes.
[12:37.200 -> 12:43.960] Mission 33. Yes, mission 33 is definitely on. But I wouldn't say it's very optimistic
[12:43.960 -> 12:48.300] at this time. I mean, on paper, probably this circuit does kind of favor Aston Martin.
[12:48.300 -> 12:50.900] But I think we'll only get closer to qualifying.
[12:50.900 -> 12:52.100] Well, on paper…
[12:52.100 -> 12:57.500] You know what? On paper… Sorry, sorry, Soumit. I have to say this. On paper…
[12:57.500 -> 13:01.200] And if you go back, you know, I said Monaco without walls.
[13:01.200 -> 13:04.700] I'm sure you guys remember what happened in qualifying in Monaco.
[13:04.700 -> 13:11.600] Fernando Alonso… First, it was Ocon who took provisional pole. Alonso almost just narrowly beat him.
[13:11.600 -> 13:22.620] And then less than a tenth was Max Verstappen in the wall. Literally, we had three different teams in the top three in qualifying.
[13:22.620 -> 13:28.600] And will Saturday turn out to be more exciting in Hungary than Sunday, for example?
[13:28.600 -> 13:36.880] I'm excited to see. And you know, when Fernando is sort of right now feeling a little low with whatever the kind of circuits that have gone and upgrades, etc. coming in.
[13:36.880 -> 13:48.000] Could he be in contention for something at the front row? Because this whole low to medium speed corners work so well for Aston Martin. I'd love to see what they are able to do.
[13:48.000 -> 13:51.360] I think we also have a little bit of rain forecast this weekend.
[13:51.360 -> 14:00.240] Again? Who's been doing the rain dance? Because there's been, I think, pretty much every race, there's something or the other that's coming up with…
[14:00.240 -> 14:08.500] I mean, I don't mind the rain dance. But the last four races, Sommel, have seen four different teams being second fastest.
[14:08.500 -> 14:10.500] McLaren was the new one added to the list.
[14:10.500 -> 14:19.000] I think now, finally, there'll be a repeat. I don't think outside Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren.
[14:19.000 -> 14:26.560] And who did I miss? Aston Martin. I don't think there's a fifth team unless a Williams suddenly springs a surprise and says, guys, guess what?
[14:26.560 -> 14:32.240] We are now back in the mix. This new tyre construction is working to our advantage or something.
[14:32.240 -> 14:36.960] But yeah, like you guys are saying, lots of questions that will be answered this weekend.
[14:36.960 -> 14:45.360] Guys, if it ends up being Williams this weekend, who is the second fastest team, I'm just not going to continue doing the podcast for a couple of
[14:45.360 -> 14:50.800] weeks because I'll need to digest that for two weeks at least before saying anything at all.
[14:50.800 -> 14:55.200] Now that's not going to happen, no chance. But it'll be fun to watch how it eventually goes
[14:55.200 -> 15:00.160] about. And it'll be fun to watch it together if you're in Mumbai because we're doing another
[15:00.160 -> 15:05.320] live event for again the Hungarian GP at Warsaw was social now that's near
[15:05.320 -> 15:09.120] Andheri again very accessible by the Metro as well and in case you want to
[15:09.120 -> 15:12.180] join us you can check out the link in the description and you would want to
[15:12.180 -> 15:15.880] because there is going to be a really fun pre and post race show that we can
[15:15.880 -> 15:19.560] engage and interact about the race together and as always a Formula One
[15:19.560 -> 15:23.880] quiz prepared by F1 stats guru himself so let's hope it's a really fun race on
[15:23.880 -> 15:26.360] Sunday but I think honestlyaram, we should also
[15:26.360 -> 15:29.800] start to make the other Q8, these events for Saturday
[15:29.800 -> 15:31.800] as well, because these days, qualifying
[15:31.800 -> 15:33.160] have been super interesting.
[15:33.160 -> 15:35.640] And I know at the start, we mentioned about Sergio Perez
[15:35.640 -> 15:37.080] about where he will qualify.
[15:37.080 -> 15:39.960] I think this has to be one of the best qualifying
[15:39.960 -> 15:42.440] sessions of the entire year for two reasons.
[15:42.440 -> 15:44.960] Firstly, the grid has been so well bunched up.
[15:44.960 -> 15:47.920] I think it's been a couple of times, at least three, four times that we've seen the
[15:47.920 -> 15:54.240] grid in under one second of the overall poll time. That firstly is mind blowing considering
[15:54.240 -> 15:59.440] where the gaps were at the start of last season. But also the fact is in Hungary, it is that
[15:59.440 -> 16:03.880] extra bit vital. So a certain number of drivers might be pushing that much harder because
[16:03.880 -> 16:08.640] we all know that not everyone is Fernando Alonso and not everyone can pass around the all-side of turn
[16:08.640 -> 16:13.280] three. It's just not possible for everyone. Oh absolutely. Qualifying once again is going to
[16:13.280 -> 16:18.800] be very exciting to see and I think in the recent seasons, if you compare the recent seasons,
[16:18.800 -> 16:25.120] this year's qualifying has been very much more closely fought amongst many drivers in that sense.
[16:25.120 -> 16:26.960] There was also Lando last time out.
[16:26.960 -> 16:29.320] So I'm very excited to see what happens
[16:29.320 -> 16:32.080] in qualifying, the sort of characteristics
[16:32.080 -> 16:33.280] of the Hangaroring.
[16:33.280 -> 16:35.600] Also kind of tip it in that favor.
[16:35.600 -> 16:38.720] So Saturday is going to be very exciting to see what happens.
[16:38.720 -> 16:41.360] But what I'm also very interested to see
[16:41.360 -> 16:52.860] is the fact that we're going to have car numbers 1, 2, 3 three four on the grid once again for the first time in the hybrid era oh
[16:52.860 -> 17:00.100] yes good point good point any guesses when that last happened one two three
[17:00.100 -> 17:05.240] four let me let me think okay that must have been 2013. Absolutely.
[17:05.240 -> 17:06.240] Absolutely.
[17:06.240 -> 17:13.560] The last race of 2013, the last race of 2013, because back then number one was Vettel, number
[17:13.560 -> 17:18.800] two was Weber, number three was Alonso and number four was Felipe Massa.
[17:18.800 -> 17:20.880] Wait, so you're making it clear, right?
[17:20.880 -> 17:26.360] Weber was number two, not in the team dynamic, but just in the car number sense.
[17:26.360 -> 17:27.960] Yes. Yes. Race number. Yes.
[17:27.960 -> 17:29.320] Okay. Good to know. Very nice.
[17:30.800 -> 17:34.440] That's a crazy one, isn't it? It's been what? Ten odd years since that happened.
[17:34.640 -> 17:35.120] Yes.
[17:36.520 -> 17:43.120] And that's not the only real change, is it? Because in qualifying, we're also now having a pseudo new format, aren't we?
[17:48.400 -> 17:55.440] having a pseudo new format, aren't we? Yes, there is. They're going to use hard for Q1, mediums for Q2, softs for Q3, Formula 1s doing all these. They want to keep changing these things.
[17:55.440 -> 18:00.000] This time, they say, we're going to test if we can actually reduce the overall number of tires
[18:00.560 -> 18:05.040] used, number of sets used during a weekend, make it more sustainable, etc,
[18:05.040 -> 18:06.040] etc.
[18:06.040 -> 18:08.160] So it's not down to entertainment for once.
[18:08.160 -> 18:12.880] But this is where Checo Perez is like, my goodness, guys, you guys are only going to
[18:12.880 -> 18:13.960] make it tougher for me.
[18:13.960 -> 18:18.520] I mean, imagine there is just one qualifying session this weekend, which will have this
[18:18.520 -> 18:21.720] alternative tire allocation.
[18:21.720 -> 18:22.720] That's what Formula One calls.
[18:22.720 -> 18:24.360] I love these Formula One abbreviations.
[18:24.360 -> 18:31.200] This one reads ATA or ATA. So my daughter is very excited because that's her nickname. And this is now called the
[18:31.200 -> 18:37.760] ATA qualifying session that we will have on Saturday. Not bad. From what I see, sorry,
[18:37.760 -> 18:42.800] from what I see, there's a little bit of rain forecast for Saturday as well. So Sergio Perez
[18:42.800 -> 18:46.480] is really going to be questioning why does it have to be me always?
[18:48.360 -> 18:51.600] Like that Mario Balotelli t-shirt as well. Like when he scored one goal, he just
[18:51.920 -> 18:55.200] pulled his head up and said, why always me? No, but even if it is dry,
[18:55.280 -> 18:58.440] I think realistically, this is the one last thing that we should discuss,
[18:58.680 -> 19:01.720] that it's just going to be tougher for a driver like Sergio Perez,
[19:01.720 -> 19:04.680] who's lost on confidence or even someone like Daryl Ricardo,
[19:04.680 -> 19:09.400] because now you've got to set your first lap on hards and the way things are,
[19:09.400 -> 19:14.360] some teams are just not able to get some tyres worked up. That just normally happens. Again,
[19:14.360 -> 19:19.280] we are able to see, it's a really tricky trend that you can't really comment on who exactly
[19:19.280 -> 19:22.920] favours what but we are going to discover this in qualifying because normally since
[19:22.920 -> 19:27.000] everyone uses softs, it becomes very easy to check what the qualifying pace is.
[19:27.000 -> 19:30.920] But now that some teams will have to go for hard and mediums, we'll also figure out, okay,
[19:30.920 -> 19:34.440] can a certain team like for instance, can a Williams really warm up their hard tires
[19:34.440 -> 19:36.280] well enough to get out of Q1?
[19:36.280 -> 19:41.060] Because on the soft, they might have chairman Q, like let's say Q2 pace, but they just might
[19:41.060 -> 19:42.760] not be there with the hard compound tires.
[19:42.760 -> 19:45.020] And so the grid might be artificially
[19:45.520 -> 19:48.680] arranged in a way that isn't representative of the proper qualifying pace, Sundaram.
[19:49.120 -> 19:53.480] Oh, absolutely. And that also kind of takes us back to what happened at the British Grand Prix.
[19:54.040 -> 19:59.900] McLaren were able to switch on their hard tires more quickly than Lewis Hamilton was probably able to extract from a soft tire.
[19:59.900 -> 20:08.760] So every team has a different level of degradation or warming up. And that's going to be very interesting to see if teams like Williams can get out
[20:08.760 -> 20:11.640] of a Q1 or even Haas can get out of Q1.
[20:11.680 -> 20:16.000] So in that sense, it's going to be quite interesting to see what pans out during
[20:16.000 -> 20:20.520] qualifying. But I also have to mention that there's going to be special focus on
[20:20.520 -> 20:24.880] Max Verstappen this time out because he's won the last five races from pole position.
[20:28.000 -> 20:33.080] And if he wins, if he takes pole this this time that's going to be his sixth consecutive pole and if he wins it it's going to level the all-time
[20:33.080 -> 20:37.840] record for most consecutive wins from pole which was done by Michael Schumacher
[20:37.840 -> 20:45.560] in the early 2000s. Six. Wow. You know the driver with most poles here is Lewis Hamilton
[20:45.800 -> 20:51.920] He's got eight poles. Of course max is six poles have come across six different circuits
[20:52.120 -> 20:54.560] but these kind of numbers are just
[20:55.320 -> 20:59.280] Staggering in every way, you know, it's like you get a dominant car you hit another gear
[20:59.480 -> 21:04.960] You're in a different mental zone and all you do is go in and out in and out and perform and what I love is
[21:04.960 -> 21:06.360] You know different conditions,
[21:06.360 -> 21:09.320] different rivals, different situations,
[21:09.320 -> 21:10.460] different characteristics,
[21:10.460 -> 21:15.320] and Max in that Red Bull is able to come up strong,
[21:15.320 -> 21:17.640] come up ahead compared to everybody else.
[21:17.640 -> 21:20.120] And, you know, we also spoke of, you know,
[21:20.120 -> 21:22.720] you guys explained very well of how qualifying order
[21:22.720 -> 21:25.720] might not be representative of actual pace.
[21:25.720 -> 21:26.840] What this also does,
[21:26.840 -> 21:29.920] this whole alternative tire allocation in my view,
[21:29.920 -> 21:34.080] is it limits race strategy
[21:34.080 -> 21:37.280] because you are forcing teams and drivers
[21:37.280 -> 21:39.080] to use certain sets at certain times,
[21:39.080 -> 21:41.560] which then means that when you go into the race,
[21:41.560 -> 21:44.920] you have limited tires to choose from
[21:44.920 -> 21:45.920] when it comes to wanting to
[21:45.920 -> 21:51.300] use alternative strategies. But I'm guessing, you know, Formula One will keep testing these
[21:51.300 -> 21:59.120] formats and try and find a way and give us something better along the way. But predictions,
[21:59.120 -> 22:05.760] qualifying predictions, I'm not going to make a race prediction. We know what it is. My qualifying prediction and this is a dichotomy.
[22:06.720 -> 22:16.960] If Daniel Ricciardo exits in Q1, but exits ahead of Yuki Tsunoda, is that a win?
[22:17.680 -> 22:25.540] I mean, is that like a bittersweet moment or what? So he's beaten Yuki in qualifying, which is what Red Bull would want, but he's out of Q1.
[22:26.240 -> 22:30.160] Hmm, I think it's good, isn't it? It's a start.
[22:30.720 -> 22:32.720] Is it not?
[22:32.840 -> 22:35.220] A start of more Q1 eliminations?
[22:35.220 -> 22:37.220] I don't know.
[22:37.220 -> 22:40.720] I mean, the Alpha Tauri has its limitations.
[22:40.720 -> 22:44.960] And I read the first comment underneath that video on YouTube and the one person,
[22:44.960 -> 22:45.280] I don't
[22:45.280 -> 22:49.520] know who their name was but if you're listening to this my friend you've nailed it he said that's
[22:49.520 -> 22:54.080] the biggest understatement that you could possibly give in all of Formula One that the Alpha Tauri
[22:54.080 -> 22:59.200] has limitations. It's going to be interesting I think I am I hate to say this but I also feel
[22:59.200 -> 23:03.520] that it's going to be a Riccardo Q1 exit but more importantly guys where do we think Sergio
[23:03.520 -> 23:10.140] Perez qualifies because I think with the new format and Sergio Perez's existing problems, if it's dry, I
[23:10.140 -> 23:13.900] don't think he's going to be on Q2. What do you think, Sundaram?
[23:13.900 -> 23:17.980] I'm making a very bold prediction this time. He makes it into Q3.
[23:17.980 -> 23:21.300] Yay! Well done, my friend.
[23:21.300 -> 23:26.740] Okay, why don't I top it up? He will be on pole and he will win this race from pole.
[23:26.740 -> 23:32.700] So, Red Bull will get 12 races on the trot that win record of McLaren.
[23:32.700 -> 23:36.580] I mean, they won, what, 20 out of the last 21 races.
[23:36.580 -> 23:39.300] That's the kind of crazy numbers they're coming up with.
[23:39.300 -> 23:43.780] But, you know, another Twitter handle actually did this comparison.
[23:43.780 -> 23:49.280] Biggest points differences between F1 teammates after 10 rounds since 2010.
[23:49.280 -> 23:58.180] And in the top 5 rankings there, the second ranking was where Stapin Perez, 99 points, which is this season.
[23:58.180 -> 24:08.080] Third was Alonso Stroll, which is 93 points again this season. So, I don't know, I mean, just using
[24:08.080 -> 24:14.880] numbers is troll as good as Checo Perez or has Perez had as bad a season as Lance Troll?
[24:15.920 -> 24:22.080] I think he's better. I think he really is better because he's allowing Fernando Alonso to open up
[24:22.080 -> 24:25.720] a new side of himself. You see, that's what the best teammates are there for.
[24:25.720 -> 24:29.320] They enable the others to be better human beings and better people.
[24:29.320 -> 24:32.120] And so he's opening up this mentor side of Fernando Alonso.
[24:32.120 -> 24:35.400] I think you have to look at it from a bigger human perspective, Kunal.
[24:35.400 -> 24:37.360] Don't judge Lance Stoller just the racing.
[24:37.360 -> 24:39.880] It's more about what happens off the track.
[24:39.880 -> 24:42.920] Understand the bigger picture, my friend.
[24:42.920 -> 24:47.680] And that's all the banter and bullshit we're going to do today. And the banter and bullshit we're gonna do today.
[24:47.680 -> 24:51.500] And the banter and bullshit we'll do on Sunday I would love to be there this Sunday but I'm
[24:51.500 -> 24:55.940] not there this Sunday I will be there next Sunday I will be at our race screening for
[24:55.940 -> 25:00.480] Spa but more on that later right now all eyes on Hungary.
[25:00.480 -> 25:14.000] Yes indeed folks so if you are in Mumbai, check out the link in the description of this episode to know how you can join us for our Hungarian GP F1 pit stop where there's just so much more than just a proper race screening as well.
[25:14.000 -> 25:26.060] Well, that's been us from the Inside Line F1 podcast. We'll be back with the Hungarian GP review on Monday. And also, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share it with any friends or family members who might enjoy this.
[25:26.060 -> 25:27.940] See you on Sunday, folks, if you're in Mumbai.
[25:27.940 -> 25:30.940] And if you're just listening and watching along across the globe, see you on Monday.
[25:30.940 -> None] Bye bye. you