Historic Imola, Leclerc's contract doubts and Ricciardo rumours | Taxi for Damon!

On this week's Sky Sports F1 Podcast, Matt Baker hitches a ride with Damon Hill to discuss the highs and lows of the historic Emilia Romagna track (06:53) and whether Ferrari could see any improvements when they return home (16:37). Could Charles Leclerc have his head turned this season by another team? (19:36) And we address the rumours of whether Daniel Ricciardo could replace Nyck De Vries at AlphaTauri? (27:27)

# Formula One: The History and Legacy of the Emilia Romagna Track

**Navigating the Complexities of the Emilia Romagna Circuit**

In this week's Sky Sports F1 Podcast, Matt Baker embarks on a unique journey with Damon Hill, the 1996 Formula One World Champion. Their destination: the historic Emilia Romagna track in Imola, Italy. As they make their way to the circuit, they engage in a captivating conversation about the storied past of Imola, its challenges, and the upcoming race weekend.

**The Allure of Imola: A Circuit Steeped in History**

Imola holds a special place in Formula One history, hosting iconic races and witnessing moments of both triumph and tragedy. Damon Hill shares his personal experiences at Imola, recalling the highs of his victories in 1995 and 1996 and the somber memories of the tragic events of 1994, when Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger lost their lives.

**Ferrari's Return to Home Turf: A Test of Strength**

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix marks Ferrari's first race on home soil this season. After a disappointing start to the championship, all eyes will be on the Scuderia to see if they can turn their fortunes around. Damon Hill analyzes Ferrari's chances, considering the strengths and weaknesses of their car and the unique characteristics of the Imola circuit.

**The Future of Charles Leclerc: A Driver in Demand**

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari's young Monegasque driver, has expressed his desire to remain with the team. However, rumors persist that he may be tempted by other top teams, especially if Ferrari continues to struggle. Damon Hill weighs in on Leclerc's situation, examining the factors that could influence his decision and the potential impact on the Formula One landscape.

**Daniel Ricciardo's Uncertain Future: A Driver in Limbo**

Daniel Ricciardo's future in Formula One remains uncertain after a difficult start to the season with McLaren. Speculation has arisen about the possibility of him replacing Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri. Damon Hill analyzes this scenario, considering whether it would be a suitable move for Ricciardo and how it might affect the dynamics within the Red Bull family of teams.

**The Essence of Formula One: A Sport of Thrills and Disappointments**

The recent Miami Grand Prix divided fans, with some criticizing the lack of excitement. Damon Hill defends the sport, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of Formula One and the beauty of witnessing two drivers battling for the championship. He reminds us that not every race can be a thriller and that the true essence of the sport lies in its ability to produce both exhilarating moments and disappointments.

**Key Takeaways:**

* The Emilia Romagna track in Imola is a historic circuit with a rich legacy, hosting both triumphant and tragic moments in Formula One history.


* Ferrari's return to Italy for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix will be a test of their resilience and ability to overcome their early-season struggles.


* Charles Leclerc's future with Ferrari is uncertain, with rumors of potential moves to other teams if the Scuderia continues to underperform.


* Daniel Ricciardo's future in Formula One is unclear, with speculation about a possible switch to AlphaTauri, but the suitability of such a move remains debatable.


* The essence of Formula One lies in its unpredictable nature, with both thrilling races and disappointing outcomes, reflecting the true spirit of the sport.

In this engaging podcast episode, Matt Baker embarks on an exciting journey with Formula One legend Damon Hill, delving into the iconic Emilia Romagna track and exploring the potential resurgence of Ferrari on home turf. They delve into the intriguing possibility of Charles Leclerc being lured away by another team and address the rumors surrounding Daniel Ricciardo's potential move to AlphaTauri, replacing Nyck De Vries.

Damon Hill shares his unique perspective on the challenges faced by young drivers entering Formula One, emphasizing the rarity of exceptional talents like Max Verstappen, Michael Schumacher, and Lewis Hamilton. He draws parallels between the struggles of Nyck De Vries and the notion that not all drivers are destined for extraordinary success.

The conversation takes a nostalgic turn as Damon Hill recounts the memorable occasion when his father, the legendary Graham Hill, took Prince Charles (now King Charles III) for a thrilling ride around Thruxton. He also reflects on his own experiences racing alongside iconic figures like Fernando Alonso, Nigel Mansell, Alan Prost, David Coulthard, and Jacques Villeneuve.

Damon Hill's admiration for Fernando Alonso shines through as he expresses his desire to have the Spaniard as a teammate, highlighting Alonso's wit, cunning, and entertaining personality. He acknowledges Alonso's potential to continue racing beyond the age of 45 and emphasizes the significance of the upcoming Imola race, where Ayrton Senna tragically lost his life.

When asked about the driver who most impressed him with natural skill, Damon Hill毫不犹豫地选择了Senna，称Senna的圈速令人难以置信。他还提到了马丁·唐纳利，称唐纳利非常有天赋和速度，如果不是因为事故，他本可以成为一名非常出色的F1车手。

The episode concludes with a discussion about the lengthy name of the upcoming Formula 1 race in Imola, officially known as the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Grand Premier del Made in Italy, Emilia Romagna 2023. Damon Hill reveals that it is the second-longest name given to a Formula One race, with the British Grand Prix holding the record for the longest name.

[00:00.000 -> 00:07.120] Hello everyone, welcome to this week's episode where we're going to try something a little
[00:07.120 -> 00:11.880] bit different because I've managed to persuade Damon to allow me into his taxi on the way
[00:11.880 -> 00:13.760] to Heathrow on the way to Imola.
[00:13.760 -> 00:20.000] Yes, it wouldn't take much persuading, I mean, you know, I had to get there anyway, but it's
[00:20.000 -> 00:22.360] just the car is full of cameras.
[00:22.360 -> 00:23.360] It is.
[00:23.360 -> 00:25.680] And we're going to have a nice chat. Yes. Which
[00:25.680 -> 00:31.160] is actually a break from the norm because normally my head is in my phone and I just
[00:31.160 -> 00:37.580] disappear into emails and goodness knows what and then arrive at terminal five. You really
[00:37.580 -> 00:43.000] enjoy the serene peacefulness of the journey to these races, right? You don't want someone
[00:43.000 -> 00:45.040] pestering you for questions.
[00:45.040 -> 00:50.040] No, quite the opposite actually. It's really nice because quite often you're
[00:50.040 -> 00:54.560] travelling and you're on your own and you kind of have to go into the zone, don't you?
[00:54.560 -> 00:59.720] Otherwise it's tedium waiting to arrive. So there's always something to do.
[00:59.720 -> 01:07.280] Listen to podcasts quite often, with the headphones on yeah and sometimes talk to the
[01:07.280 -> 01:13.040] driver yeah of course some interesting people drive cars you know to the airport. Well here we
[01:13.040 -> 01:18.240] are and I thought we'd use this opportunity as well actually to ask what sort of traveller you
[01:18.240 -> 01:22.160] are because obviously you've done you've been on the road for your whole career and also with
[01:22.160 -> 01:28.200] Sky Sports F1 as well so I mean are you someone who loves to arrive at the airport super early, you know, get there in two hours to spare?
[01:28.200 -> 01:32.400] I used to, unbelievably, I used to cut everything to the bone.
[01:32.400 -> 01:33.400] Really?
[01:33.400 -> 01:40.080] And there was one occasion where I was in line to get judged to see whether I would
[01:40.080 -> 01:45.840] qualify to be a driver for Williams. So I was going to have to get to Estoril in time for a test.
[01:46.480 -> 01:53.120] So I was staying at some friend's house in South London and it only takes 40 minutes. In those days
[01:53.120 -> 01:57.360] you could literally park in the car park next door to the, you know, it didn't cost that much.
[01:58.400 -> 02:05.960] Everything was much simpler, traveling wise. So I left it till, you know, I thought plenty of time,
[02:05.960 -> 02:11.720] jumped in the car in Wandsworth and I got stuck in, I mean, it was a Sunday and
[02:11.720 -> 02:15.200] there'd been a football match at Chelsea in Fulham or something like that and
[02:15.200 -> 02:20.840] Fulham was jammed and I was sat in the car and I was thinking this test is
[02:20.840 -> 02:25.280] going to decide my future and I'm gonna miss the flight. So I'm gonna turn up.
[02:25.280 -> 02:26.120] So stressful.
[02:26.120 -> 02:28.200] Can you imagine turning up later
[02:28.200 -> 02:30.600] then Frank Williams and the whole crew are sitting there
[02:30.600 -> 02:33.200] with all the engines running and think, where's the driver?
[02:33.200 -> 02:35.660] I left a bit too late to get the flight.
[02:36.720 -> 02:37.560] Anyway, I made it.
[02:37.560 -> 02:39.280] And the rest is history.
[02:39.280 -> 02:40.760] So I don't do stress anymore.
[02:40.760 -> 02:41.600] Yeah.
[02:41.600 -> 02:42.420] I'm not doing that.
[02:42.420 -> 02:43.260] Leave yourself hours and hours.
[02:43.260 -> 02:44.560] No, that was stress max.
[02:44.560 -> 02:47.000] Right, here's a little bit of the plan then before we're going to talk about. I want
[02:47.000 -> 02:49.720] to talk about what you're up to this week in Imola because you're doing something very
[02:49.720 -> 02:53.720] exciting tomorrow. Then I want to talk a little bit about your history with Imola because
[02:53.720 -> 02:58.920] there's been some great moments but also some moments of sadness and tragedy. Then also
[02:58.920 -> 03:03.560] thoughts on Ferrari returning to Italy this week. First time back in Europe after, well
[03:03.560 -> 03:06.200] first time back in Italy this season.
[03:06.200 -> 03:07.960] And then also at the end, we've got a few people
[03:07.960 -> 03:11.000] who've asked some questions from home.
[03:11.000 -> 03:13.520] But tomorrow, let's start with what you're doing tomorrow.
[03:13.520 -> 03:14.600] You're flying out on a Tuesday,
[03:14.600 -> 03:16.240] normally you'd fly out on a Wednesday,
[03:16.240 -> 03:17.160] but flying out on a Tuesday
[03:17.160 -> 03:19.960] because you're going to Enzo Ferrari's house
[03:19.960 -> 03:22.280] to film a piece for the race this weekend.
[03:22.280 -> 03:26.160] Yes, Enzo Ferrari's house at Maranello,
[03:26.160 -> 03:27.440] which is the track.
[03:28.480 -> 03:31.720] And so there was Enzo's house also in Modena,
[03:31.720 -> 03:35.120] which is where he was from, I believe,
[03:35.120 -> 03:37.680] and where the factory used to be to build cars and stuff.
[03:37.680 -> 03:41.040] And then there's the farmhouse, which is where I'm going,
[03:41.040 -> 03:42.920] which is right next door to the track.
[03:43.840 -> 03:46.880] I mean, pretty cool opportunity to go and see that.
[03:46.880 -> 03:52.720] And I guess what I, because Enzo Ferrari, he's the man, the myth, the legend, isn't
[03:52.720 -> 03:53.720] he?
[03:53.720 -> 03:56.200] I mean, we're still, you know, I mean, how much do you know about him and how much do
[03:56.200 -> 04:00.280] you think maybe going to this place tomorrow will actually allow you perhaps to build even
[04:00.280 -> 04:02.680] more of a kind of character of what he was like?
[04:02.680 -> 04:05.520] I think he's, like I I said he's a legend. I
[04:05.520 -> 04:11.920] mean his career started before the war and then extended through the war and then post-war he
[04:11.920 -> 04:19.040] obviously became the legendary name of and producer of race winning cars and also beautiful sports
[04:19.040 -> 04:26.740] cars that he is today. So you know one of the most famous brands in the world, you know, Ferrari is known everywhere
[04:27.560 -> 04:33.760] and it all took place in this little part of Italy and so I've I've done a little bit of
[04:34.520 -> 04:40.880] learning but I mean there's there's reams and reams of books about Enzo and the things that he got up to and
[04:41.640 -> 04:43.360] I'm also going to meet
[04:43.360 -> 04:45.680] Piero Ferrari as well who is
[04:45.680 -> 04:51.400] said to be his dad was Enzo so he'll hopefully tell me some more
[04:51.400 -> 04:57.680] interesting stories. Yeah so is it true that Enzo invited you to Maranello
[04:57.680 -> 05:05.760] after your father died? Yeah so my dad died in 1975 and about sometime early in 1976 my mum
[05:07.200 -> 05:14.320] tells us we've had a message from Enzo. Wow. And he's offered for you to go to Maranello,
[05:15.120 -> 05:22.480] to Modena to meet him and I was thinking why? I think I was 16, I was thinking I was 15 and I was
[05:22.480 -> 05:30.200] thinking why does Enzo Ferraro want to see me? I had a freak out and I didn't want to go and I said to my mum, can you say no please?
[05:30.200 -> 05:32.240] So I missed the opportunity of meeting Enzo.
[05:32.240 -> 05:35.360] I don't know why I was so concerned about it.
[05:35.360 -> 05:38.040] Well, do you think he wanted to meet you?
[05:38.040 -> 05:39.040] Why do you think he wanted to meet you?
[05:39.040 -> 05:45.520] I think just simply to offer his condolences and also maybe cheer me up a bit and show me something
[05:45.520 -> 05:50.020] interesting. What would have happened if I'd gone? I mean, it would have all been different
[05:50.020 -> 05:57.860] perhaps. I don't know. But there you go. I was a little bit in a difficult place at that
[05:57.860 -> 06:03.180] time so I was a little bit anxious about going to see strange men in Italy.
[06:03.180 -> 06:04.620] That's fair enough. That's fair enough.
[06:04.620 -> 06:07.040] Not that Enzo is strange. can I just clear that up?
[06:07.040 -> 06:10.520] But to me at the time he appeared to be a little bit too much.
[06:10.520 -> 06:13.240] I guess perhaps it showed a softer side of him.
[06:13.240 -> 06:17.920] We obviously know him as this kind of fairly brutal kind of leader and you know very cut
[06:17.920 -> 06:22.520] throat and obviously that story there does kind of show a slightly softer side of him.
[06:22.520 -> 06:26.320] Yes I think I mean also the more you about him, the more you realise he was an
[06:26.320 -> 06:31.280] extraordinary individual. I mean, he's his wartime exploits and, you know, he definitely was someone
[06:31.280 -> 06:43.280] who was thoughtful and I believe he looked after his workforce very well. And so there's lots of
[06:43.280 -> 06:45.160] anecdotes that paint a different picture
[06:45.160 -> 06:51.360] of the kind of ruthless individual who's only interested in winning that I
[06:51.360 -> 06:54.840] think some people thought he was. Okay so that's what you're doing tomorrow
[06:54.840 -> 06:57.760] then obviously you're going to come to Imola for the whole race
[06:57.760 -> 07:02.560] weekend. Obviously we had the tragic events of 94 where we lost Ayrton Senna
[07:02.560 -> 07:09.440] and Roland Ratzenberger in the same weekend. But for you, you've obviously had some good memories there from when you won,
[07:09.440 -> 07:15.280] both in 95 and 96 as well. So how does it feel going back to somewhere like Inver?
[07:15.280 -> 07:22.440] I think you've just summed it up. I mean, it's kind of, it's filled with all sorts of
[07:22.440 -> 07:26.000] memories and experiences, the highs and the lows.
[07:26.000 -> 07:31.960] You can't get to more extreme experiences than we've had at Imola. But also it was
[07:31.960 -> 07:40.040] the first time I went to do a test at a racetrack with the
[07:40.040 -> 07:48.720] regular Williams drivers, Nigel Manson and Riccardo Petrezzi. And so it was a real eye-opener because I was there in the spring, before the season
[07:48.720 -> 07:53.320] had started, and there was just us and a few other teams.
[07:53.320 -> 08:00.240] It was all very kind of a lazy day and there was people opposite the garages, Ferrari fans,
[08:00.240 -> 08:02.240] and they'd all bring their picnics.
[08:02.240 -> 08:04.200] It was all very, very low-key, not like today.
[08:04.200 -> 08:05.200] If you ever turn up with a
[08:05.200 -> 08:07.080] Formula One car today, then everything goes mad
[08:07.080 -> 08:12.660] But in those days it was like something that people did in the town of Imola
[08:12.660 -> 08:18.460] It came out you're gonna go and have a bit of cheese and bread and watch the Ferraris and they'd literally sit there with their
[08:18.460 -> 08:19.120] Picnic yeah
[08:19.120 -> 08:24.520] and the Ferrari would come out and they'd all put up a big cheer every time the Ferrari came out and that was Gerhard
[08:24.520 -> 08:29.760] Berger and John Lacey at the time. So some really extraordinary memories of Formula 1
[08:29.760 -> 08:34.960] in that place as well. Yeah, we made a piece a couple of years ago actually about what it was
[08:34.960 -> 08:40.560] like when you returned in 1995 after the tragic events of 1994 and it was really, really interesting.
[08:40.560 -> 08:47.520] You spoke really well about kind of, you know, really well about the white marble on the tarmac, it really
[08:47.520 -> 08:53.040] evokes memories. But 1995, that was a really important weekend, wasn't it, for the Williams
[08:53.040 -> 08:58.000] team? You obviously were able to win. What did that do for the team going forward?
[08:58.000 -> 09:06.080] I think it, to some small degree, it laid to rest some sort of ghost, I think,
[09:06.080 -> 09:10.920] some sort of stigma perhaps that was attached to that place and
[09:10.920 -> 09:18.240] those events. And I think we all, after that event, we raced very much
[09:18.240 -> 09:23.680] with Ayrton in mind and also Roland in mind, you know, that this is what
[09:23.680 -> 09:25.000] they love doing. And
[09:25.000 -> 09:33.600] we're going to also not forget that and do it to our best potential. So an emotional
[09:33.600 -> 09:37.160] experience going back and winning.
[09:37.160 -> 09:43.360] You were flanked on the podium in 95 by two Ferrari drivers, Gerhard Berger and John Alesi.
[09:43.360 -> 09:45.920] How did the Tifosi take to you being on the
[09:45.920 -> 09:50.240] top step and two Ferrari drivers either side of you? Do you know something, in Italy,
[09:50.240 -> 09:57.120] if you're a Formula One driver, they love you. Really? Yeah, it's just, there's no partisanship.
[09:57.120 -> 10:08.320] Obviously, they love Ferrari, they want Ferrari to win, but they're so enthusiastic for the sport that you get, they say grande, grande hill, so they're so
[10:08.320 -> 10:15.720] up about anybody racing in Formula 1 that I don't think they take it too unkindly. I
[10:15.720 -> 10:21.240] mean if you've upset them in a particular way then they will boo you, as we've heard
[10:21.240 -> 10:27.040] at Monza a few times. But generally, it's all good natured stuff.
[10:27.040 -> 10:29.840] Is that, is it one of the best places to go racing, Italy?
[10:29.840 -> 10:30.680] For that reason?
[10:30.680 -> 10:31.500] Yeah, I think so.
[10:31.500 -> 10:36.500] I think it has, I mean, there's been more races in Italy,
[10:36.500 -> 10:39.200] I think, Grand Prix in Italy, than anywhere else.
[10:39.200 -> 10:42.240] So it does have a longer history
[10:42.240 -> 10:44.440] than perhaps Great Britain does.
[10:44.440 -> 10:47.480] But the great thing about all these experiences
[10:47.480 -> 10:48.300] is they're different.
[10:48.300 -> 10:52.240] They have a slightly different texture and flavor to them.
[10:52.240 -> 10:54.800] So if you go to Britain, you will get the British experience
[10:54.800 -> 10:56.360] and if you go to Italy, you get the Italian one
[10:56.360 -> 10:59.440] and it's just, you know, it is a stunningly beautiful
[10:59.440 -> 11:02.200] country when it's not raining.
[11:02.200 -> 11:04.280] Yes, which I think it might be raining a little bit
[11:04.280 -> 11:05.400] this week.
[11:05.400 -> 11:11.880] Just a bit. What sort of makes Imola special and stand out, say, from Monza? Is there anything
[11:11.880 -> 11:19.240] kind of unique about Imola, if that makes sense? Yeah, well, you get the Milanese crowd,
[11:19.240 -> 11:27.400] you know, the AC Milan kind of supporters who come out at Monza, but in Imola it's much more
[11:27.400 -> 11:32.160] rural. I get the feeling it's more rural and also you have these corners like the
[11:32.160 -> 11:37.520] the Ravazza, I think it is, where you have people's houses. They
[11:37.520 -> 11:43.240] back onto the track and you see people setting up in the
[11:43.240 -> 11:46.000] houses themselves. They've got a great view of the circuit.
[11:46.000 -> 11:58.000] And then you've also got these lovely meadows, you know, so it's kind of, it's right on the edge of a beautiful city.
[11:58.000 -> 12:07.520] And town, I think it is similar. But, and the the vibe is is is great and I love the fact it's
[12:07.520 -> 12:13.200] got undulation so you've got the you know big drops out of corners and then climbs coming out
[12:13.200 -> 12:18.080] of Tosa and stuff that does make it an exciting place to drive. Yeah definitely. I've got a
[12:18.080 -> 12:24.320] question here from F1Table at home he said you won twice at Imola, Monza, Hungary and Buenos Aires
[12:24.320 -> 12:30.880] along with three times at Spa. Was there something about classic tracks that you really liked as a driver?
[12:31.440 -> 12:35.680] I think there are some circuits which don't inspire. I mean, there are some circuits where
[12:35.680 -> 12:40.480] I won't mention their names, but to drive them, you're kind of going, oh, you know,
[12:41.280 -> 12:47.400] where is the thing you can get your teeth into? And so maybe it is the more difficult ones.
[12:47.400 -> 12:50.400] I mean, when I first went to Suzuka, I was terrified.
[12:50.400 -> 12:53.400] I literally went around and I thought, this is going to bite.
[12:53.400 -> 12:55.800] If you go off here, it's going to be a whopper.
[12:55.800 -> 12:59.000] And I think maybe I had to focus harder.
[12:59.000 -> 13:02.400] I was a little bit more intense about what I was doing.
[13:02.400 -> 13:08.000] So circuits, the anodyne ones, typically the newer
[13:08.000 -> 13:14.080] ones, I found less interesting. I like the ones that had bumps and ripples and little things you
[13:14.080 -> 13:20.240] could find out for yourself. I like Hockenheim as well. Hockenheim was obviously the same designer
[13:20.240 -> 13:28.320] as Zandvoort and Suzuka. So, you know, there are things about bumpy old tracks which
[13:28.320 -> 13:35.640] I found more stimulating, I think. Yeah, yeah. And also things, particularly when we look
[13:35.640 -> 13:40.400] at the newer tracks we've got in F1 today, we've got like Tamburello, Peritella, Rivazza,
[13:40.400 -> 13:45.040] these names of corners. And at the moment, it's turn one, turn two, turn ten
[13:45.040 -> 13:48.720] isn't it? Yeah. In those modern tracks and it doesn't have the same... Well you can call them
[13:48.720 -> 13:55.680] Uno, Due, Tre if you like. Okay. But or you could call them Rigatoni, Spaghetti, Ravioli
[13:55.680 -> 14:01.920] which is what I think Murray Walker used to call them that. No he didn't. But you know what can you say
[14:01.920 -> 14:06.400] about, I mean Tamburello is obviously famous because it's tragic, you know, it had a change.
[14:06.400 -> 14:11.400] But it was a great corner. I mean, you know, I do think we've lost something.
[14:12.000 -> 14:13.400] I think the cars are a lot safer.
[14:14.100 -> 14:19.700] I think, you know, it's a shame to have lost that run down to Tosa.
[14:19.700 -> 14:25.920] When we used to come out of Tamburello, you'd flap from the chicane, round this big curve,
[14:25.920 -> 14:30.560] and then a slight kink, and then you'd brake into Tosa over 200 miles an hour, and the car would
[14:30.560 -> 14:37.280] really stop into that corner from a great speed. It was a great overtaking place, and you got a
[14:37.280 -> 14:43.920] great hillside with all the fans on the side there. It was, you know, some of Nigel Mansell's
[14:44.720 -> 14:45.760] exploits down there, you know, you've of Nigel Mansell's exploits down there.
[14:45.760 -> 14:49.880] You know, you've got Nigel Mansell trying to uptake Gerhards, doing a 360 on the grass
[14:49.880 -> 14:54.080] and then carrying on and then uptaking him later. I mean, fantastic stuff.
[14:54.080 -> 14:54.580] Yeah.
[15:04.320 -> 15:09.160] Dan on Twitter would like to know, well, I don't know if he's going this week, he said what's
[15:09.160 -> 15:12.760] the local area like? Any nice shops or restaurants?
[15:12.760 -> 15:17.240] Well this is a little bit of my weak spot because when I was racing I used to spend
[15:17.240 -> 15:21.760] most of my time, I did go out to some restaurants, I went to a fantastic little one and I don't
[15:21.760 -> 15:28.240] know the name of it but it was literally a kitchen in someone's house and the family would be in the kitchen
[15:28.240 -> 15:32.120] and there'd be a few chairs and tables and it was down one of the back streets
[15:32.120 -> 15:36.320] and you just walk in as a side door, no fanfare at all and you go in it but
[15:36.320 -> 15:42.320] the food was fantastic. There are shops, you'd have to ask my wife, she used to go there.
[15:42.320 -> 15:46.560] So I spent most of my time at the circuit.
[15:46.560 -> 15:49.440] Mark Threlfall When you were driving, did you go out for
[15:49.440 -> 15:55.360] dinner much of a race weekend? Was that something that was part of your schedule? Now I'm thinking
[15:55.360 -> 16:00.400] that the weekends are so long in terms of those days for drivers now. I can't imagine Lewis going
[16:01.280 -> 16:02.480] to dinner every night. Neil Hamilton
[16:02.480 -> 16:09.800] Yes, we used to go out for dinner. Yes, absolutely. We used to look forward to it, but the schedule is tight, so if you're preparing for your
[16:09.800 -> 16:17.600] race weekend, sometimes you're just too tired. You have to find somewhere, go there, but
[16:17.600 -> 16:25.840] yes, it was part of the routine a little bit, but I think now it's just that I think the organisation for
[16:25.840 -> 16:32.800] someone like Lewis to go to a restaurant, you have to book it out.
[16:35.920 -> 16:42.240] Okay, very interesting. I want to get into now what this week's going to be like for Ferrari.
[16:43.040 -> 16:45.040] Ferrari have had, let's call it a disappointing
[16:45.040 -> 16:50.480] start to the season. So they're 146 points behind Red Bull in the championship, fourth in the
[16:50.480 -> 16:57.040] constructors. You know, we know that in Italy, Ferrari is kind of religion, the Tifosi kind of
[16:57.040 -> 17:03.280] follow, follow them like a football team. It's a really strong feeling. What do you expect the
[17:03.280 -> 17:05.920] fans and the media are going to be like this week when Ferrari
[17:05.920 -> 17:13.040] come home as it were? Well you're talking about Enzo, it is called the Autodromo Enzo Idino Ferrari,
[17:13.040 -> 17:18.880] it's their track and I believe on the very first race that happened there, an early race
[17:18.880 -> 17:25.280] there was won by an Alfa Romeo and Enzo was in a deep, thick fog.
[17:25.280 -> 17:27.040] After that, there was a little shouting and screaming
[17:27.040 -> 17:28.320] that went on after that.
[17:28.320 -> 17:30.520] So they do want to win Ferrari.
[17:30.520 -> 17:33.360] Our at home, that's their showcase place,
[17:33.360 -> 17:38.200] so close to the factory and the birth of Ferrari.
[17:38.200 -> 17:42.160] But I think in some senses, the storm has blown over.
[17:42.160 -> 17:47.000] I mean, there will be a massive attention, but in
[17:47.000 -> 17:52.760] some senses people have already been forewarned about the problems they've got and they understand
[17:52.760 -> 18:00.600] that changes are afoot. I don't think anybody's expecting or demanding that Ferrari start
[18:00.600 -> 18:09.800] winning. They can see how strong the Red Bull is. There's a chance they could be good at MLO. It's not got the 180 degree corners
[18:09.800 -> 18:16.860] which are more difficult for them. They seem to be quite good out of some of the
[18:16.860 -> 18:24.560] slower corners. Similar in some ways to Melbourne, I suppose. So we don't know.
[18:24.560 -> 18:26.800] They could be a bit better this weekend.
[18:27.920 -> 18:33.600] Yeah, weather dependent, of course. Yeah, yeah, we definitely could get a wet race this weekend.
[18:34.480 -> 18:39.920] Christian Horner said that he feels that others have perhaps under-delivered compared to where
[18:39.920 -> 18:44.400] they were last year. Do you agree? Do you think, actually, when you look at Ferrari and Mercedes,
[18:45.360 -> 18:47.920] they've just not come to the party in the same way that Red Bull have?
[18:47.920 -> 18:53.040] Well, never one to knowingly... I'm choosing my words carefully.
[18:54.720 -> 19:00.160] Christian's someone who likes to rub salt in the wounds. He doesn't tend to say things
[19:00.160 -> 19:08.480] without knowing the consequences of the impact of his words. So, you know, saying that everyone else has underperformed, he's right.
[19:08.480 -> 19:14.600] You know, the Red Bull and that team have produced an absolute beach of a car.
[19:14.600 -> 19:19.200] They've exploited whatever loopholes around regulations.
[19:19.200 -> 19:23.920] So it's a legal car, but it's beautifully put together.
[19:23.920 -> 19:26.720] I was watching Max in Miami drive that thing
[19:26.720 -> 19:30.920] and I just think that car can do anything he wants to that car, it's so beautifully
[19:30.920 -> 19:36.360] balanced. So yeah, everyone else has underperformed, he's right.
[19:36.360 -> 19:41.440] Yeah, and what about Charles Leclerc? He's come out this week and said how much he wants
[19:41.440 -> 19:49.480] to say with Ferrari. Do you think that his eyes are going to start being turned? And, you know, obviously, we don't know what the Lewis contract situation
[19:49.480 -> 19:55.720] will be in the coming months. Can you see his head being turned over this sort of course
[19:55.720 -> 19:59.240] of this season? I think he's rather stuck at Ferrari for a bit. I don't know. I mean,
[19:59.240 -> 20:09.200] I would I would say he's he's never really been in an extended campaign for the championship.
[20:09.200 -> 20:15.000] There have been moments and it's been good and then they've faded.
[20:15.000 -> 20:23.240] He's also had these blots on his copybook with the qualifying, the Banzai lap that goes
[20:23.240 -> 20:24.800] wrong and stuff.
[20:24.800 -> 20:28.800] When you look around at the top teams, who they have in their teams,
[20:28.800 -> 20:30.880] they're probably content with what they've got at the moment.
[20:30.880 -> 20:33.280] I'm not sure there's anywhere else for him to go.
[20:34.240 -> 20:37.040] Red Bull, I doubt it. Mercedes, well, he's still one.
[20:37.760 -> 20:40.800] I think we're sure that Toto will be sticking with Lewis
[20:41.360 -> 20:43.360] until Lewis decides he's not going to race anymore.
[20:44.560 -> 20:47.080] And I think Charles is a perfect fit for Ferrari.
[20:47.080 -> 20:54.920] So I think he's there for the long term until they give him a car that he can go for a championship
[20:54.920 -> 20:55.920] with.
[20:55.920 -> 21:00.640] I mean, Aston Martin are a coming team, possibly.
[21:00.640 -> 21:06.800] If it all goes, if it continues to be dire at Ferrari, then maybe he'll look elsewhere,
[21:06.800 -> 21:08.920] but I think he's better off where he is.
[21:08.920 -> 21:09.920] Yeah.
[21:09.920 -> 21:13.240] What about the start that Fred Vasseur has made as team principal?
[21:13.240 -> 21:17.520] It's a big week for him, obviously, coming back to Italy, being in charge of Ferrari.
[21:17.520 -> 21:20.000] How do you think he'll be feeling?
[21:20.000 -> 21:27.560] It's a bit like someone threw a grenade at him, isn't it, when he arrived, you know, he's trying to put the pin back in.
[21:27.560 -> 21:33.160] But everything's been real, it's been a real baptism of fire for him, I think.
[21:33.160 -> 21:41.720] But I think he's got the, what's the expression, it's his demeanor and his character is such
[21:41.720 -> 21:48.960] that I think he can see the funny side, Actually, he seems to be quite philosophical about it
[21:49.000 -> 21:52.440] and he knows that it's an impossible job
[21:52.440 -> 21:54.980] and it's ridiculous to expect someone to arrive in a team
[21:54.980 -> 21:56.800] and then instantly produce results.
[21:56.800 -> 22:00.320] He's gonna take time and he's still settling in
[22:00.320 -> 22:04.040] and no doubt he'll make his effect known
[22:04.040 -> 22:06.960] gradually over time and I think he's
[22:06.960 -> 22:15.280] starting to show that. So I don't think he's got anything to be concerned about. I think
[22:15.280 -> 22:20.440] they've got to give him a good couple of seasons to be able to have any effect in the team.
[22:20.440 -> 22:29.880] Things cannot happen immediately. I mean there's's some things you can do, such as procedures, race procedures, which he's got so much experience of being on the pit
[22:29.880 -> 22:34.920] wall. He's someone who can have an effect and say to the team, well, why do you do this
[22:34.920 -> 22:38.960] that way? But they do fantastic pit stops, you know, Ferrari. So they've got some of
[22:38.960 -> 22:45.280] their strategy and stuff is quite good. So, they're not too weak in their department.
[22:45.280 -> 22:52.160] Obviously, the Monaco experience was lamentable and a few races, Silverstone, I'm thinking
[22:53.600 -> 23:00.240] as well with Ferrari and Charles de Klerk, who felt like he was hard done by by strategy moves,
[23:00.240 -> 23:05.520] but he can calm the ship on that department very quickly I think. But
[23:05.520 -> 23:11.880] you know producing, changing methodology, methodologies, what's the word?
[23:11.880 -> 23:18.080] Methodologies! Methods! Changing the way the practice is in the factory and
[23:18.080 -> 23:24.600] producing bits and bobs, that's harder to do and takes a lot and it won't
[23:24.600 -> 23:26.320] see the benefit of that for another year.
[23:26.320 -> 23:32.480] Yeah, okay, very interesting. Alright, let's move on to a few questions from people at
[23:32.480 -> 23:36.760] home. And the first one's actually an interesting one because this was actually off the back
[23:36.760 -> 23:40.640] of a tweet that you put out during the Miami Grand Prix. So I'll go with Duncan's tweet
[23:40.640 -> 23:48.680] first. He said the Miami Grand Prix divided fans and pundits alike over if the race was exciting or not. Do you think this week's Grand Prix will please most people
[23:48.680 -> 23:52.320] with the upgrades coming? And I think he's obviously spoken about the upgrades there,
[23:52.320 -> 23:56.960] but I also think this weekend we're going back to a very traditional Formula One race
[23:56.960 -> 24:02.600] weekend. No sprints, no glitzy glamour of Miami. This is just a kind of old school Formula
[24:02.600 -> 24:09.920] One race in a traditional weekend. People say there's no glitz and glamour. We're going to Italy and there's Ferrari and there's
[24:09.920 -> 24:17.360] the fans and you don't get a more spectacular show than that, I don't think, in the sport. I mean,
[24:17.360 -> 24:23.840] it is the thing that has attracted everyone else to Formula One is the traditional events
[24:24.800 -> 24:26.320] are what people have seen around the world
[24:26.320 -> 24:28.040] and go, we want that in our country as well.
[24:28.040 -> 24:33.640] So you've got a different kind of audience perhaps in America who very recently have
[24:33.640 -> 24:35.840] been turned on to the sport.
[24:35.840 -> 24:42.040] I mean, let's be honest, the interest in Formula One has grown massively in America, but a
[24:42.040 -> 24:45.240] lot of the fans are new to the sport and they don't necessarily
[24:45.240 -> 24:50.360] know the depth of the sport which you get when you come to Europe and the
[24:50.360 -> 24:55.860] European fans. I think that's the good thing about our sport, it
[24:55.860 -> 25:01.400] doesn't take place in the same venue all the time, it changes venue every Grand
[25:01.400 -> 25:09.600] Prix and it changes country and changes culture. So it's got that mixture of experiences which I really like about it.
[25:09.600 -> 25:14.800] And some fans who are perhaps new to the sport,
[25:14.800 -> 25:18.400] because of Netflix, let's say, and they're younger,
[25:18.400 -> 25:22.160] and maybe they turned on about Abu Dhabi time,
[25:22.160 -> 25:24.400] which was the most thrilling.
[25:24.400 -> 25:25.000] If it turned out wrong for some people, it turned out right for others, turned on about Abu Dhabi time, which was the most thrilling.
[25:25.000 -> 25:27.720] If it turned out wrong for some people,
[25:27.720 -> 25:29.600] it turned out right for others.
[25:29.600 -> 25:32.080] But it was an incredibly exciting season.
[25:32.080 -> 25:35.000] And to expect that every time, we've
[25:35.000 -> 25:38.040] kind of set ourselves up a little bit for a fall,
[25:38.040 -> 25:42.120] because how do you deliver that level of intensity every time?
[25:42.120 -> 25:47.760] And this is more typical Formula 1, where you have a team that's got an advantage
[25:47.760 -> 25:50.080] and you're waiting for them to slip up
[25:50.080 -> 25:53.480] and for someone else to slip in and, you know,
[25:53.480 -> 25:54.640] take the glory.
[25:55.820 -> 25:58.760] There will be races, there'll be exciting races
[25:58.760 -> 26:00.120] between now and the end of the season
[26:00.120 -> 26:02.520] and things will not always go to plan.
[26:02.520 -> 26:03.480] You just got to stick with it.
[26:03.480 -> 26:05.200] It's, you know, like a nil-nil draw.
[26:05.200 -> 26:10.080] Sometimes in football you get that. Miami, who could have predicted? No yellow flags,
[26:10.080 -> 26:13.760] no red flags, no breakdowns. That was... Everyone finishing.
[26:13.760 -> 26:16.720] That was a freak race. That was literally a freak race.
[26:17.520 -> 26:22.880] Yeah. And because the tweet you put out during the race, during Miami, it said,
[26:22.880 -> 26:25.840] some people are not enjoying this race, which tells me they don't understand Formula 1.
[26:25.840 -> 26:28.480] This is two guys fighting it out to become world champion.
[26:28.480 -> 26:30.800] And that was brewing for the whole race, wasn't it?
[26:30.800 -> 26:31.280] Yeah, it was.
[26:31.280 -> 26:32.560] The perism for Safford.
[26:32.560 -> 26:36.320] Yeah, I mean, deep down in my heart, I kind of knew that Max had him.
[26:36.320 -> 26:37.280] Yeah, yeah.
[26:37.280 -> 26:38.320] And we all did.
[26:38.320 -> 26:40.960] But you could see him coming.
[26:40.960 -> 26:42.560] But something could have happened.
[26:42.560 -> 26:42.880] Yeah.
[26:42.880 -> 26:43.760] Something could have happened.
[26:44.640 -> 26:46.240] You know, safety car could have happened. Yeah. Something could have happened. You know, safety car could have happened.
[26:46.240 -> 26:46.480] Yeah.
[26:46.480 -> 26:50.720] So, and that was what we were watching. These are the guys who are in contention for the world title.
[26:51.600 -> 26:56.800] Perez was, Sergio was, he was on the back foot a little bit,
[26:56.800 -> 26:59.920] but how can he be on the back foot when he's on the front row?
[27:01.920 -> 27:04.640] And, you know, Max has to work his way through the field.
[27:07.920 -> 27:08.680] On paper, it shouldn't have happened that way, but, you know Max has worked his way through the field. On paper it shouldn't have happened that way but
[27:13.200 -> 27:14.400] you know you could argue that Max got a little bit lucky that the medium was
[27:17.360 -> 27:31.440] suffering as badly as it did. A tweet here from Wouldn't Send Nasty, which is a very interesting Twitter handle.
[27:31.440 -> 27:35.560] Likelihood of Danny Rick replacing Nick DeVries at Alpha Tauri.
[27:35.560 -> 27:40.400] This story sort of brewed didn't it at the end of last week over the weekend.
[27:40.400 -> 27:46.720] What do you make of that? Well, it had a seat fit, I think, at Alpha Tauri, and so that's set chins wagging.
[27:46.720 -> 28:01.280] And realistically, what has Daniel Ricciardo got to gain by going up against either Nick or Yuki Tsunoda in an Alpha Tauri?
[28:01.280 -> 28:05.160] He's been there, he's done that. He's not after that. I don't think he'll I think there's not
[28:05.320 -> 28:07.800] There's nothing more to this than if there is a
[28:08.400 -> 28:10.400] need for a reserve driver
[28:10.680 -> 28:13.280] situation then he might he might jump in but
[28:14.280 -> 28:15.840] I
[28:15.840 -> 28:19.960] Can't see him. He's already said that he's not interested in doing a
[28:20.600 -> 28:23.640] Middling team. He only wants to to be in a car that can win
[28:23.920 -> 28:29.000] What have you made of Nick de Vries' start to the season? Because it hasn't been, I think,
[28:29.000 -> 28:31.720] particularly if you look at Miami, he went straight into the back of Lando Norris, didn't
[28:31.720 -> 28:36.040] he, at the start. But I guess we've only had five races and he's getting used to driving
[28:36.040 -> 28:42.200] this car. Can you make, not excuses, but can you understand the perhaps slowest start that
[28:42.200 -> 28:43.200] he's had?
[28:43.200 -> 28:46.080] Yeah, I can understand that. He's had a lot to deal with.
[28:46.080 -> 28:53.200] It's quite different to being asked to jump in a car in Monza at very short notice.
[28:53.200 -> 28:58.960] Nobody's expecting anything, you know, you're free to cope with whatever you've got with.
[28:58.960 -> 29:04.480] And he did a fantastic job and that's why he got his second chance in F1, or first chance in F1.
[29:05.920 -> 29:07.360] job and that's why he got his second chance in F1, or first chance in F1.
[29:12.160 -> 29:18.160] I think some of the races he's been to, some of the circuits we've been to, but not all of them, and had them into Miami, and the cars, there were tricky conditions. It's very competitive
[29:18.160 -> 29:29.120] now, the spread is tiny in qualifying, he's under a lot of pressure. I think you don't know what someone's...
[29:29.120 -> 29:33.360] When I started in F1 I looked a bit shaky as well when I first got my chance.
[29:33.360 -> 29:37.120] I think all of us in any walk of life when you start doing a new thing, you know,
[29:38.400 -> 29:41.280] some of us don't have the eyes of the whole sport or the world on us.
[29:41.280 -> 29:44.320] And it just doesn't stop, it doesn't give you a chance to catch your breath.
[29:44.960 -> 29:46.240] Yeah, and it just doesn't stop. It doesn't give you a chance to catch your breath. So
[29:53.760 -> 29:59.280] now that said, the ones who can cope with that and arrive in the sport and suddenly do something mind-blowing like Max Verstappen, like the Michael Schumachers and the Lewis's and stuff,
[30:00.000 -> 30:09.440] they somehow stand out. And perhaps, you know, the fact that Nick is struggling a bit is normal,
[30:09.440 -> 30:13.920] you know, it doesn't mean he can't, he won't be a very good racing driver but he might not be the
[30:14.480 -> 30:21.440] entrepreneur category. Yeah, okay. Question from me actually now and I saw this was on your
[30:21.440 -> 30:29.800] Instagram over the coronation weekend, you put up a picture of Prince Charles and your father on Instagram, or Prince Charles as he was back then, because
[30:29.800 -> 30:34.160] your dad took him for a spin around Thruxton. And you put up this picture, I just wondered
[30:34.160 -> 30:36.160] if you could recount any of that story.
[30:36.160 -> 30:46.240] I did mention that the security people were slightly anxious about it, you know, the future king of England is going to be taken around by this this rayfish looking
[30:48.080 -> 30:54.640] you know, Dick Dastardly type, who my dad was, but yeah he was in safe hands. He loved the
[30:54.640 -> 31:02.400] experience as far as I can recall. I was very young at the time but yeah he got his experience.
[31:02.400 -> 31:06.360] He didn't take up motor racing though after that, I noticed.
[31:06.360 -> 31:07.360] Yeah.
[31:07.360 -> 31:11.120] Did your father do that with a lot of, did he do it with any other royal family or celebrities
[31:11.120 -> 31:12.840] I imagine he would have done?
[31:12.840 -> 31:16.680] Yeah, it's one or two, but no.
[31:16.680 -> 31:19.800] I don't think he made a habit of it, I think.
[31:19.800 -> 31:25.280] But I've been with him around Thraceland in a Mini, I think it was.
[31:25.280 -> 31:29.440] It might have been the same time, I can't remember.
[31:29.440 -> 31:32.400] I'm afraid I can't remember precisely.
[31:32.400 -> 31:41.600] But yeah, people would love to have had a go around a racetrack with Graham Hill.
[31:41.600 -> 31:42.600] I bet.
[31:42.600 -> 31:43.600] I bet.
[31:43.600 -> 31:44.600] Yeah.
[31:44.600 -> 31:47.760] He probably, you see, he did get up to a lot of stuff that I'm just finding out about now.
[31:51.120 -> 31:55.200] It's a brilliant photo and it's a really amazing photo. Right, how long have we got?
[31:55.200 -> 31:57.680] We've got a few more minutes, we can squeeze in a few more questions.
[31:58.400 -> 32:03.920] A question here from Ewan on Instagram. Out of the current grid, who would you most like as a
[32:03.920 -> 32:05.440] teammate?
[32:05.440 -> 32:07.000] I think Fernando Alonso.
[32:07.000 -> 32:10.480] Yeah, well particularly after the last couple of weekends where he's been coaching.
[32:10.480 -> 32:14.640] Yeah, well I don't expect him to coach me but I think he would be hysterically funny
[32:14.640 -> 32:22.840] because I know he's going to be cheeky, you know, so you'd have to have your wits about
[32:22.840 -> 32:28.600] who I think if you were going to be Fernando's team-mate. But, okay, let me think of another one, who would I most
[32:28.600 -> 32:35.280] like to be a team-mate? I don't know, I just think he amuses me. I think he is cunning
[32:35.280 -> 32:41.240] and smart and funny and probably wouldn't be quite so funny if you're beating him.
[32:41.240 -> 32:48.480] No. I feel like, I mean, Martin did a great interview with him last week, last weekend, and he looks like he's in a really good place doesn't he? I
[32:48.480 -> 32:53.360] think this would be the ultimate time to be with Fernando as a team mate. Yeah, I think
[32:53.360 -> 32:56.600] he can go out on a hike, can't he? You know, if he doesn't win another title I think he
[32:56.600 -> 33:02.080] can go out and say, listen, that was my potential, everyone knows what my potential was and it
[33:02.080 -> 33:09.680] wasn't realised, it wasn't fulfilled, and I think he's admitted in the past as much that he accepts
[33:09.680 -> 33:15.840] that the way he went about things was to do with that or had an influence on it.
[33:15.840 -> 33:20.480] But you know you should never, you know we've done this before, you sort of
[33:20.480 -> 33:31.920] talk about him as if he's about to retire. He might keep going till he's way over 45, you don't know. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Final question from Dahlwood on Instagram. Which driver did you
[33:31.920 -> 33:39.760] race against that truly blew you away in terms of natural skill? Senna, obviously. Senna would be the
[33:39.760 -> 33:45.080] one. He did some lap times. I mean, I wasn't with him for long enough to know,
[33:45.080 -> 33:50.080] but I just saw a couple of sessions we were with together
[33:52.240 -> 33:54.640] when I was like, how am I gonna find a second?
[33:54.640 -> 33:57.800] That was quite a lot.
[33:57.800 -> 34:01.120] So yeah, that was a bit of an eye opener.
[34:02.080 -> 34:05.240] I would say people that we haven't necessarily
[34:05.240 -> 34:07.320] seen enough of, there was obviously,
[34:07.320 -> 34:08.840] I wasn't teammates with Johnny Herbert,
[34:08.840 -> 34:10.640] but Johnny was obviously one of the superstars,
[34:10.640 -> 34:12.440] but I was teammates with Martin Donnelly,
[34:12.440 -> 34:16.360] and Martin Donnelly was incredibly talented and fast,
[34:16.360 -> 34:19.440] and he would have been a very good Formula One driver
[34:19.440 -> 34:20.880] if it wasn't for his accident.
[34:20.880 -> 34:21.780] Yeah.
[34:21.780 -> 34:28.320] So, I mean, I'm not suggesting that the other people I was teammates with weren't good,
[34:28.320 -> 34:38.240] but they've got to be good to get to that level. You've had Nigel Mansell, Alan Prost,
[34:38.240 -> 34:45.680] David Coulthard, Jack Villeneuve, his teammates. It's quite a list. It's quite a list, yeah. We'll go with Senna.
[34:45.680 -> 34:48.560] It feels fitting on the weekend that we're going to Imola.
[34:48.560 -> 34:50.880] Well, Damon, thank you very much for letting me jump in your taxi.
[34:50.880 -> 34:52.080] We are almost at Heathrow.
[34:52.720 -> 34:57.200] I thought I'll send you off with the name of this weekend's Formula 1 race.
[34:57.200 -> 34:58.240] I don't know if you've been across that.
[34:58.240 -> 35:00.160] I have. Well, I'm trying to remember it.
[35:00.160 -> 35:01.680] Well, would you want to try?
[35:01.680 -> 35:02.800] Go on, you tell me what it is.
[35:02.800 -> 35:06.880] Okay, the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Grand Premier
[35:06.880 -> 35:10.960] del Made in Italy, Idel Emilia Romagna 2023.
[35:10.960 -> 35:13.920] Yes, and apparently that isn't the longest name for a Grand Prix.
[35:13.920 -> 35:14.400] Really?
[35:14.400 -> 35:16.560] The longest name was the British Grand Prix,
[35:16.560 -> 35:18.960] one of the first races which was the British Grand Prix.
[35:18.960 -> 35:19.280] Right.
[35:19.280 -> 35:20.560] And it had an even longer name.
[35:22.000 -> 35:25.040] If we've got another half an hour, I'd be able to find it on my phone.
[35:25.040 -> 35:29.960] But yeah, apparently that is only the second longest name given to a Formula
[35:29.960 -> 35:34.760] One drift. That's fascinating. It just trips off the tongue doesn't it? It just does.
[35:34.760 -> 35:38.400] For all of our team on air this weekend I do slightly sympathise with them.
[35:38.400 -> 35:41.840] I think if we just say Imola, people know what we're talking about.
[35:41.840 -> 35:45.960] Have a good weekend, enjoy Enze's house tomorrow. I will, yeah.
[35:45.960 -> 35:46.960] Look forward to seeing that on the show.
[35:46.960 -> 35:47.960] Thank you, Matt.
[35:47.960 -> 35:48.960] Cheers.
[35:48.960 -> 35:49.960] Good chat.
[35:49.960 -> None] Thank you.