Ted’s Podbook | Verstappen on the brink of third world title

Ted Kravitz is joined by Karun Chandhok and Simon Lazenby to look ahead to the Qatar GP as Max Verstappen aims to clinch his third world title. They discuss where a third title would put him amongst the all-time greats, how long he'll continue racing, and how Mercedes and Ferrari will fare this weekend.

# Qatar Grand Prix: Verstappen on the Verge of Third World Title

## Introduction

As the Formula One circus arrives in Qatar for the second time, the stage is set for Max Verstappen to clinch his third world title. The Dutchman needs just three points to secure the championship, and with a strong lead in the standings, it seems like a formality.

## Verstappen's Accomplishments and Legacy

If Verstappen wins the title in Qatar, he will join an exclusive club of drivers with three or more world championships. This would solidify his status as one of the greatest drivers of all time, alongside names like Ayrton Senna and Lewis Hamilton.

## Verstappen's Motivation and Future Plans

Despite his impending championship victory, Verstappen remains focused on winning races and achieving more success in Formula One. He has expressed a desire to win seven world championships, which would put him in a league of his own. However, he has also hinted at a possible departure from Formula One in the future to pursue other racing challenges, such as Le Mans or the Dakar Rally.

## Mercedes and Ferrari's Prospects

While Verstappen and Red Bull are the clear favorites in Qatar, Mercedes and Ferrari will be looking to finish the season on a high note. Mercedes has struggled for pace all season, but they have shown signs of improvement in recent races. Ferrari, on the other hand, has been more competitive but has been plagued by reliability issues.

## McLaren's Resurgence and Battle with Ferrari and Mercedes

McLaren has emerged as a surprise contender in the midfield this season, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri regularly challenging for podiums. The team is optimistic about their chances in Qatar, as they believe the circuit will suit their car. This sets the stage for an exciting battle between McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes for the remaining podium positions.

## Unique Culinary Experience at the Paddock BBQ

In a unique twist, the Paddock BBQ at the Qatar Grand Prix featured camel meat as the main dish. This was a surprise to many, as camel is not a common delicacy in Formula One circles. It remains to be seen whether this will become a regular offering at future races.

## Conclusion

The Qatar Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling event, with Verstappen on the verge of securing his third world title and several other storylines to follow. The race will also mark the final time that the current generation of cars will be used, as Formula One prepares for a major rule change in 2023.

[00:00.000 -> 00:12.440] Hello everybody and welcome back to the Sky Sports F1 podcast feed and to Ted's pod book
[00:12.440 -> 00:18.800] from Doha, Qatar. Yes, we have left behind the delights of Far East Asia in Singapore
[00:18.800 -> 00:25.920] and Japan and we have come back to the Gulf area to Qatar for the second time we've had the Qatar Grand Prix here
[00:25.920 -> 00:33.520] after a year away after they hosted the World Cup here in 2022. But we are back and happy to be back
[00:33.520 -> 00:38.400] and it's championship weekend. Now to paint the scene of where we are we're actually driving back
[00:38.400 -> 00:51.880] from the circuit. Karun Chandhok is driving back. Say hello Karun. Hello Ted and your listeners. And I'm in the back with Simon, Simon Lazenby, who's also back after a break away from Japan.
[00:51.880 -> 00:55.260] We missed you Simon-san in Japan.
[00:55.260 -> 00:56.260] Thank you.
[00:56.260 -> 00:57.260] That's the honorific, Simon-san.
[00:57.260 -> 01:02.360] Ah yeah, I didn't think I was worthy but I'm very glad to be back.
[01:02.360 -> 01:11.280] And on Championship weekend, and I will just throw some names at you everybody and Simon as well. Brabham, Stuart, PK, Lauda,
[01:11.280 -> 01:19.640] Senna complete the sequence for Stappen. Yes yes yes because surely it will
[01:19.640 -> 01:23.760] happen this weekend although I mean you know the stranger things have happened
[01:23.760 -> 01:26.840] and Max will not finish either races and or
[01:26.840 -> 01:28.760] rather not score the three points he
[01:28.760 -> 01:31.040] needs to complete the third World
[01:31.040 -> 01:32.560] Championship. But that will be a thing,
[01:32.560 -> 01:34.040] won't it? That will be a thing. He will
[01:34.040 -> 01:36.440] join those names to be a three-time
[01:36.440 -> 01:39.120] World Champion in Formula One. I wonder
[01:39.120 -> 01:41.760] if that's slightly sort of crossing a
[01:41.760 -> 01:44.240] Rubicon, if you like, crossing a gate,
[01:44.240 -> 01:48.640] going through a path, making one of you one of the greats. That's certainly what Lewis
[01:48.640 -> 01:52.480] Hamilton had to say, very generous in his praise of Max Verstappen's achievements
[01:52.480 -> 01:55.600] this year, was saying that you know it does make you, winning three
[01:55.600 -> 02:00.040] championships, especially in a row, makes you one of the greats and that was one
[02:00.040 -> 02:07.520] that he felt in relation to his adoration for Ayrton Senna. Do you remember at the time
[02:07.520 -> 02:12.240] when he won, feel free to chip in Karun from the front seat, when he won his third. I think
[02:12.240 -> 02:17.400] he didn't see it as kind of an amazing achievement in itself, but he particularly as a fan of
[02:17.400 -> 02:21.920] Senna was keen to equal that and felt quite emotional about it at the time.
[02:21.920 -> 02:25.540] Yeah, I always go back to Simon Taylor's commentary
[02:25.540 -> 02:31.500] on the season review of 91 when he says Ayrton Senna's third world championship means that
[02:31.500 -> 02:37.960] he has now joined the all-time greats and I think that is still true and yeah maybe
[02:37.960 -> 02:43.120] Lewis saw that same season review. Two is not enough eh? Well not if you're Fernando
[02:43.120 -> 02:46.000] Alonso who's still chasing a third but anyway I'll if you're Fernando Alonso, who's still chasing a third.
[02:46.000 -> 02:49.000] But anyway, I'll tell you about Fernando Alonso in a second.
[02:49.000 -> 02:52.000] But yeah, it sort of seems to be at the moment all about Max.
[02:52.000 -> 02:56.000] And I wonder if there are... Craig Slater actually spoke to Max because he's here for Sky Sports News.
[02:56.000 -> 03:00.000] And he said, you know, there are pros and cons about winning it on a Saturday.
[03:00.000 -> 03:07.940] Maybe it means that you can't go out and celebrate in a big party way because you've got a Grand
[03:07.940 -> 03:14.820] Prix on Sunday, but the pros of settling it on a Saturday is that you can turn up the
[03:14.820 -> 03:18.660] day after, still have a Grand Prix, put your shoulders back and hold your head high and
[03:18.660 -> 03:22.160] say hello, I'm a three-time world champion, rather than have to wait another two weeks
[03:22.160 -> 03:24.220] to get to Austin and do it.
[03:24.220 -> 03:27.560] Yeah, the shackles have come off, haven't they? I mean, not that he seems to be driving
[03:27.560 -> 03:33.400] with any form of pressure at the moment anyway, but he will have more freedom to romp away
[03:33.400 -> 03:34.600] to another win on Sunday.
[03:34.600 -> 03:37.200] He doesn't think about this sort of stuff, does he?
[03:37.200 -> 03:39.200] I don't think. I think he does.
[03:39.200 -> 03:51.360] I think he does in terms of... because when Craig said to him, and I've stolen the line of Craig, Brabham, Stuart, Piquet, Lauda, Senna, Verstappen, I think he was struck
[03:51.360 -> 03:57.080] actually by the significance of that and his, I'm not going to pretend that
[03:57.080 -> 04:00.440] he was welling up, but you know he did say well it's not a bad group
[04:00.440 -> 04:04.540] is it and I never thought I'd get one, well maybe he did, but you know it's a
[04:04.540 -> 04:09.240] pretty good group to be in. Here's a question, how much do you think
[04:09.240 -> 04:16.160] he is motivated by stats? Like do you think he sees you know seven as a target?
[04:16.160 -> 04:21.580] Like does he care about stats? No I think he just wants to keep winning and but he
[04:21.580 -> 04:28.880] also wants to achieve what he's going to achieve in Formula One before going off and doing something else Le Mans, Dakar, Rally, whatever else
[04:28.880 -> 04:33.560] he wants to do, sports cars, anything before he's too old. That's what he's
[04:33.560 -> 04:37.080] told us before. Before his dad's too old. I imagine he wants to do Le Mans with his dad.
[04:37.080 -> 04:43.120] Okay yeah yeah yeah not bad. Maybe he could do it in the Aston Martin
[04:43.120 -> 04:46.000] Valkyrie Le Mans hypercar which has been launched
[04:46.000 -> 04:54.640] and which to say back to Fernando Alonso, did you know that Fernando Alonso has a
[04:54.640 -> 05:01.000] Aston Martin Valkyrie and that he drives down to the local shops and restaurants in it?
[05:01.000 -> 05:07.000] I did not know that. I was conversing with that.
[05:07.000 -> 05:11.300] Yeah, neither did I. And apparently he does. And I said,
[05:11.300 -> 05:15.000] would you, you know, do you not? What? Basically, I said,
[05:15.000 -> 05:18.000] what? He said, he said, yeah, I go down to the to the shops
[05:18.000 -> 05:22.100] in my Valkyrie. Does he have a 3.5 million pound Valkyrie?
[05:22.100 -> 05:23.900] He might do. I mean, he might have put it in his contract,
[05:23.900 -> 05:25.240] but I mean, where do you put the shopping? And I said, surely you'd want to go on the
[05:25.240 -> 05:26.120] racetrack with that.
[05:26.120 -> 05:30.640] He says, oh no, we do the DB7 on the racetrack.
[05:30.640 -> 05:33.520] Was that a joke that I wasn't getting in that Aston Martin
[05:33.520 -> 05:35.560] have come out and said that Alonso will not be doing Le
[05:35.560 -> 05:37.000] Mans in 2026.
[05:37.000 -> 05:38.000] Is it 25 or 26?
[05:38.000 -> 05:38.400] 25.
[05:38.400 -> 05:39.240] 25.
[05:39.240 -> 05:40.760] With Aston Martin.
[05:40.760 -> 05:44.640] And is that him saying to me, is Alonso trolling me and
[05:44.640 -> 05:48.160] basically saying
[05:48.160 -> 05:51.120] they're not allowing me to drive the Valkyrie on a racetrack?
[05:51.120 -> 05:52.120] I hope so.
[05:52.120 -> 05:54.680] I mean, any trolling he's doing of you is, you know.
[05:54.680 -> 05:56.040] Well, it's worth it, isn't it?
[05:56.040 -> 06:01.080] But also, that was in relation to something Adrian Newey said last week, when Newey said,
[06:01.080 -> 06:04.360] yes, 12 Constructors' Championships is good and everything, thank you very much, but it's
[06:04.360 -> 06:05.020] a bit of a shame I never got to work with
[06:05.020 -> 06:08.700] Fernando Alonso, amongst other drivers.
[06:08.700 -> 06:10.620] I think he said Lewis Hamilton as well.
[06:10.620 -> 06:11.620] He said Fernando Alonso.
[06:11.620 -> 06:14.580] Did he say Michael Schumacher?
[06:14.580 -> 06:16.100] There are a couple of other things that he mentioned.
[06:16.100 -> 06:17.580] I can't remember off the top of my head.
[06:17.580 -> 06:20.060] Lewis never drove a Newey car.
[06:20.060 -> 06:20.820] Alonso didn't.
[06:20.820 -> 06:22.500] And Michael didn't.
[06:22.500 -> 06:23.220] So maybe that was that.
[06:23.220 -> 06:25.000] Anyway, listen, they've won the Constructors. And now they're going to win the Driver's Championship. Lewis never drove a new car. Alonso didn't and Michael didn't.
[06:25.000 -> 06:28.400] Maybe that was that. Anyway, listen, they've won the Constructors and now
[06:28.400 -> 06:33.560] they're going to win the Drivers' Championship as well. Mercedes saying
[06:33.560 -> 06:36.920] they're not, if we're talking about Lewis Hamilton, I kind of said, look, you know,
[06:36.920 -> 06:43.120] you spent the last week in the UK at the factory. Did you see at
[06:43.120 -> 06:45.320] the factory a car designed
[06:45.320 -> 06:47.600] for next year that looks like a Red Bull?
[06:47.600 -> 06:49.280] I wanted to say that, because that would have been a good
[06:49.280 -> 06:50.240] question, Simon.
[06:50.240 -> 06:50.920] I didn't.
[06:50.920 -> 06:52.840] I said, have you seen anything spicy that looks like it's
[06:52.840 -> 06:53.920] going to be competitive?
[06:53.920 -> 06:55.920] I should have said, what are they building next year, and
[06:55.920 -> 06:58.240] does it look like a Red Bull?
[06:58.240 -> 07:00.240] You carry on talking to yourself.
[07:00.240 -> 07:01.800] Me and Karun are trying to navigate here.
[07:01.800 -> 07:02.400] All right, sorry.
[07:02.400 -> 07:03.040] We're lost.
[07:03.040 -> 07:04.000] OK, you're lost.
[07:04.000 -> 07:04.480] All right.
[07:04.480 -> 07:08.360] Well, that's fine. Lost in the streets of Doha. Anyway, so Lewis said, I've seen some good plans.
[07:08.360 -> 07:11.280] And I'm inspired, said Hamilton, about what the
[07:11.280 -> 07:14.180] aerodynamicists are telling me for next year's car.
[07:14.180 -> 07:16.280] George Russell's saying we don't expect to be particularly
[07:16.280 -> 07:17.240] strong here.
[07:17.240 -> 07:20.720] And conversely, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, of course,
[07:20.720 -> 07:24.440] second and third in Japan, were saying that they actually
[07:24.440 -> 07:26.200] expect this circuit to suit them very much. And conversely, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, of course, second and third in Japan, were
[07:26.200 -> 07:30.120] saying that they actually expect this circuit to suit them very much.
[07:30.120 -> 07:33.760] And there's only one slow corner, so a speed corner or a low speed corner around here.
[07:33.760 -> 07:37.000] And Lando said, once we get that out of the way, I think we can have a very strong weekend.
[07:37.000 -> 07:39.600] Do you agree, expert driver?
[07:39.600 -> 07:42.440] I think we could once again see them right up at the front.
[07:42.440 -> 07:47.440] I think it'll be hard for Oscar this weekend because there's only one practice session and he's not been
[07:47.440 -> 07:52.880] here before and it's it's a really tough track. I was quite thankful to our friend
[07:52.880 -> 07:57.680] Anthony Davidson who did give me a heads up and say it's probably worth you doing
[07:57.680 -> 08:01.400] some laps on the sim to learn it because it is and I've never been here I've
[08:01.400 -> 08:10.560] never raced here so we both actually spent a bit of time on our sims this week to learn the track and it is really tricky.
[08:10.560 -> 08:18.540] Lando also said, Simon, that he was inspired by the way that the Ryder Cup Europe team
[08:18.540 -> 08:23.900] got off the blocks in such a commanding way and really won.
[08:23.900 -> 08:25.960] Did Europe win the Ryder Cup on day one?
[08:25.960 -> 08:30.400] Oh yeah, oh yeah they nilled them in a session and whilst I was tuning into that
[08:30.400 -> 08:34.440] but also obviously practice from Japan.
[08:34.440 -> 08:36.440] We missed it from weekend, Simon.
[08:36.440 -> 08:38.440] Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm joking.
[08:38.440 -> 08:41.360] Yeah, yeah, they did. They 4-zipped them.
[08:41.360 -> 08:43.360] So he's taken inspiration from that, has he?
[08:43.360 -> 08:44.360] Yes, he has, yes.
[08:44.360 -> 08:47.160] Oh great, well that's good isn't it's good he's their lucky charm
[08:47.160 -> 08:52.080] apparently Lando but he said he had a great he had a great time who else
[08:52.080 -> 08:56.440] mr. Ben Ocon and Pierre Gasly hoping for a slightly better weekend Williams
[08:56.440 -> 09:00.440] hoping for a better weekend this weekend after a double DNF last time out in
[09:00.440 -> 09:05.040] Japan as well Valtteri Bottas talking about his ice bath. He really has
[09:05.040 -> 09:10.600] to set up his ice bath and was looking forward to that saying it's very, very hot, need some
[09:10.600 -> 09:15.920] fans feeling the heat. But paying tribute to Valtteri Bottas, to Max Verstappen saying
[09:15.920 -> 09:20.440] that he's out, he's taken his pure speed and he's added experience and maturity and what
[09:20.440 -> 09:25.280] he's doing is extremely impressive. Lance Stroll also asked Martin saying it's strange
[09:25.280 -> 09:28.640] that he had the rear wing failure. They don't have that very much. You don't see rear wing
[09:28.640 -> 09:33.760] failures very much in Formula One anymore and that's something that they are investigating
[09:33.760 -> 09:39.360] and what they want to get on top of and making sure they can and have. Kevin Magnussen and
[09:39.360 -> 09:43.280] Nico Hulkenberg saying they're just doing this one last race with the old car before they get
[09:43.280 -> 09:45.400] their B car, the new car with the upgrades, in Austin. So this one's just sort of get on with it.
[09:45.400 -> 09:50.240] And finally, who else have we missed?
[09:50.240 -> 09:52.080] Ferrari, yes, I knew there was one.
[09:52.080 -> 09:57.440] Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, optimistic but not thinking
[09:57.440 -> 09:58.800] that they are McLaren beaters.
[09:58.800 -> 10:00.360] And that tells you everything, doesn't it?
[10:00.360 -> 10:03.480] On this championship weekend, we're looking at Max Verstappen
[10:03.480 -> 10:07.620] but we're also looking at McLaren's, the fight between McLaren,ers. And that tells you everything, doesn't it? On this championship weekend, we're looking at Max Verstappen, but we're also looking at
[10:07.620 -> 10:11.780] McLarens. The fight between McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes will be as tight as ever. And
[10:11.780 -> 10:17.880] I will leave you, dear podcast listeners, with the news from the Paddock BBQ, the welcome
[10:17.880 -> 10:26.480] BBQ, where the meat dish on offer, obviously Qatar, you know, they don't serve suckling pig or anything like that.
[10:26.480 -> 10:34.240] There was some chicken shawarma around, but the main meat on offer, well, do you want to tell them Simon or shall I?
[10:34.240 -> 10:37.440] I didn't see it, I only saw the shawarma, I have eyes only for shawarma.
[10:37.440 -> 10:40.880] We've left Kroffi behind, haven't we, at the barbecue, as obvious.
[10:40.880 -> 10:43.200] Well I don't think he was eating this because it was camel.
[10:43.200 -> 10:43.700] What?
[10:43.700 -> 10:44.200] Yeah.
[10:44.200 -> 10:44.700] Really?
[10:44.700 -> 10:45.120] Yeah, camel was being served. as obvious. Well I don't think he was eating this because it was camel. What? Yeah. Really?
[10:45.120 -> 10:51.640] Yeah camel was being served. The mighty camel, the mighty camel, the ship of the desert was
[10:51.640 -> 10:59.080] being served and I don't really know A. how I feel about it or B. whether it's a Qatari
[10:59.080 -> 11:03.440] delicacy. I think your listeners need to know whether Crofty would like to eat camel. Maybe
[11:03.440 -> 11:09.680] but if any Qatari listeners could text me or tell me whether camel is a Qatari delicacy,
[11:09.680 -> 11:11.200] I would very much like to know.
[11:11.200 -> 11:12.200] Right, that is it.
[11:12.200 -> 11:17.360] Thank you very much for listening and look forward to having your company on this sprint
[11:17.360 -> 11:19.400] weekend as Karun and Simon get out of the car.
[11:19.400 -> 11:20.400] I must stop.
[11:20.400 -> 11:21.400] Over the weekend.
[11:21.400 -> 11:24.960] It's a sprint weekend, remember, so on Friday it's free practice one and then qualifying
[11:24.960 -> 11:28.280] for the Grand Prix. Saturday it is sprint qualifying
[11:28.280 -> 11:31.480] and then the sprint race and Sunday the Grand Prix. Thanks for listening see you
[11:31.480 -> 11:34.240] throughout the weekend.