Checo and Hugh Bird on the driver and race engineer dynamic

Nicola Hume speaks to Mexican driver Sergio ‘Checo’ Perez and his current race engineer Hugh Bird all about their working relationship . They discuss about how they were initially paired together and why they work well together.

They look back at how they’ve dealt with certain challenging moments during the season and they also share what each of them likes to do to relax off-track.
Also, in our 'Oracle Red Bull Racing in 100 Objects' section, both Hugh and Checo have brought with them an item that is significant to them.

They also answer tons of questions submitted via the @HPPoly socials and finally, Hugh and Checo work together to identify different F1 circuits in the HP Poly Challenge.

## **Checo Perez and Race Engineer Hugh Bird Discuss Their Partnership**

- Checo Perez and his race engineer, Hugh Bird, have been working together for three years.
- They have a strong relationship both on and off the track.
- They are similar in age and have similar interests, which helps them connect.
- They are also very open and honest with each other, which is essential for a successful working relationship.
- They have a shared passion for racing and a strong desire to win.
- They are both very competitive and always looking for ways to improve.
- They are also very supportive of each other, both during good times and bad.

## **Checo Perez's Journey to Formula One**

- Checo Perez started racing go-karts at a young age.
- He quickly moved up the ranks and began racing in Formula One in 2011.
- He has raced for several teams throughout his career, including Sauber, McLaren, Force India, and Red Bull.
- He has won several races and has finished on the podium many times.
- He is currently driving for Red Bull and is one of the top drivers in the world.

## **Hugh Bird's Journey to Formula One**

- Hugh Bird started his career as a data engineer.
- He moved up to the role of race engineer in 2020.
- He has worked with several drivers throughout his career, including Max Verstappen and Checo Perez.
- He is currently the race engineer for Checo Perez at Red Bull.

## **Checo Perez's Favorite Things to Do Outside of Racing**

- Checo Perez enjoys spending time with his family.
- He also enjoys playing golf and kayaking.
- He is a big fan of football and supports Club America.

## **Hugh Bird's Favorite Things to Do Outside of Racing**

- Hugh Bird enjoys spending time with his family.
- He also enjoys playing golf and cycling.
- He is a big fan of cricket and supports the England cricket team.

## **Checo Perez and Hugh Bird on the Importance of Trust**

- Checo Perez and Hugh Bird believe that trust is essential for a successful working relationship.
- They are both very open and honest with each other, which helps to build trust.
- They also have a shared passion for racing and a strong desire to win, which helps to unite them.

## **Checo Perez and Hugh Bird on Their Goals for the Future**

- Checo Perez and Hugh Bird are both focused on winning the Formula One World Championship.
- They are also working to improve the performance of the Red Bull car.
- They are both confident that they can achieve their goals. # Talking Bull Podcast Episode Summary:

## The Essence of a Successful Formula One Driver

- **Staying True to Yourself:** In a world where expectations are rife, drivers must remain authentic and steadfast in their approach. This authenticity allows them to stay true to their strengths and navigate the challenges of the sport.

- **Balance Between Data and Instincts:** The role of a race engineer revolves around finding the right equilibrium between data analysis and trusting the driver's instincts. While data provides valuable insights, the driver's subjective feedback is crucial in understanding the car's behavior and making informed decisions.

- **The Journey of a Race Engineer:** Becoming a race engineer often involves a non-traditional path. A general engineering degree, combined with hands-on experience in various departments, can lead to opportunities in the field.

## The Excitement of the Las Vegas Grand Prix:

- **A Highly Anticipated Event:** The Las Vegas Grand Prix is generating immense buzz, promising to be a spectacle both on and off the track. The unique atmosphere of Las Vegas adds to the allure of the race, making it a highly anticipated event in the Formula One calendar.

## HP Poly Challenge:

- **Testing Formula One Knowledge:** The HP Poly Challenge engaged the drivers in a fun activity to test their knowledge of Formula One tracks based on audio clips. The challenge showcased their expertise and provided a lighthearted moment during the interview.

## Behind the Scenes of a Simulator Session:

- **Intense Focus and Dedication:** During simulator sessions, drivers exhibit intense concentration and focus as they work through various setup items and development aspects. These sessions often span several hours, demonstrating the dedication and commitment required to excel in Formula One.

The podcast provided an insightful glimpse into the world of Formula One, offering perspectives from both a driver and a race engineer. The discussions highlighted the importance of authenticity, the balance between data and instincts, and the excitement surrounding the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix. The HP Poly Challenge added a touch of friendly competition, showcasing the drivers' knowledge and camaraderie. Overall, the episode provided a comprehensive and engaging overview of the Formula One experience.

[00:00.000 -> 00:04.800] Welcome back to Talking Bull brought to you by HP Poly. I'm Nicola Hulme. Now, on this podcast,
[00:04.800 -> 00:09.440] I'm allowed to travel to Milton Keynes, to the Oracle Red Bull Racing Factory, where I kind of
[00:09.440 -> 00:13.840] have a little mooch around the corridors to see who I find. And I just happen to have bumped into
[00:13.840 -> 00:19.040] some very cool people today. So, I am joined by Sergio Checo Perez and his race engineer,
[00:19.040 -> 00:26.240] Hugh Bird. Welcome. Thank you for being here. This is actually really cool to have you both together.
[00:26.320 -> 00:29.120] I mean, Hugh, you don't normally do interviews like this, do you?
[00:29.200 -> 00:30.880] Try and keep a low profile.
[00:30.960 -> 00:33.200] I mean, Checo, by all means, help him out.
[00:33.280 -> 00:36.040] If you've got any advice when it comes to interviews, things like that,
[00:36.120 -> 00:38.960] feel free to give him little tips and things like that.
[00:39.040 -> 00:42.560] I look after him. I can see that he's a bit nervous, so...
[00:42.640 -> 00:45.000] I make sure I look after him.
[00:45.160 -> 00:47.720] How long have you two been working together?
[00:47.880 -> 00:51.840] This is our third year now, so, yeah, disappearing quickly.
[00:52.000 -> 00:53.880] Yeah. Time flies by.
[00:54.040 -> 00:56.320] Are you friends outside of racing as well?
[00:56.480 -> 00:59.760] Do you have a WhatsApp group and speak to each other often?
[00:59.920 -> 01:03.200] Yeah, we've got the car crew WhatsApp group.
[01:03.360 -> 01:05.440] Keep in touch fairly regularly.
[01:05.440 -> 01:09.000] I mean, we see each other very much more than our wives.
[01:09.000 -> 01:09.840] So yeah.
[01:09.840 -> 01:10.680] Oh, really?
[01:10.680 -> 01:11.000] Yeah, yeah.
[01:11.000 -> 01:12.320] It's a very loving relationship.
[01:12.320 -> 01:14.800] Yeah, we have a lot of, I mean, I
[01:14.800 -> 01:17.440] don't know how many weekends a year we get to see each other.
[01:17.440 -> 01:19.760] So yeah, we will.
[01:19.760 -> 01:22.280] And then in the factory between makes it.
[01:22.280 -> 01:25.280] Yeah, so I hear that you call Hugh Big Bird.
[01:25.280 -> 01:30.200] Yeah, Big Bird because that's his nickname in Mexico, it's how they call it,
[01:30.200 -> 01:36.680] which means, yeah, Big Bird. Pajarote. Yeah, you know. Yeah, because your surname's
[01:36.680 -> 01:39.040] Bird and you're quite a tall guy, which you can't actually notice because
[01:39.040 -> 01:48.000] you're sat down, but you are a very tall guy. Yep, it has been noted. So I want to sort of dive back a bit into your time here at Red Bull.
[01:49.000 -> 01:55.000] So on like an average day, I mean you're here at the factory now, but how often are you here at the factory, Checo?
[01:56.000 -> 02:02.000] A bit too much. Yeah, I mean very much before every weekend or after every weekend.
[02:03.000 -> 02:08.000] Before every weekend or after every weekend. And we do sim sessions most of the time, debriefs,
[02:08.000 -> 02:14.000] and also great marketing activities every now and then.
[02:14.000 -> 02:16.000] Yeah, like today.
[02:16.000 -> 02:17.000] Like today, yes.
[02:17.000 -> 02:22.000] Yeah, we're doing the sim, so in between we do a bit of marketing.
[02:22.000 -> 02:24.000] It's so intense when we're at the track.
[02:24.000 -> 02:26.240] It's really the only opportunities we get to properly sit down, debrief weekends, gyda'r gweithgaredd o'r gweithdai. Mae'n anodd iawn pan rydyn ni ar y trac. Mae'r unig cyfle i ni
[02:26.680 -> 02:28.520] i gyd ymuno'n iawn, i ddod i'r ystafellau,
[02:28.600 -> 02:30.480] i fynd i'r deunydd rydyn ni angen
[02:31.120 -> 02:32.920] i analysu beth sydd wedi digwydd
[02:33.800 -> 02:34.840] a'i adeiladu yn y dyfodol.
[02:35.440 -> 02:37.760] Yw'n ymwneud â phopeth i gyd?
[02:37.840 -> 02:39.640] Felly, os ydych chi'n mynd i mewn i'r cyfres,
[02:39.720 -> 02:40.720] ydych chi'n ei wneud gyda'ch gilydd,
[02:41.120 -> 02:42.320] neu ydych chi'n rhaid i'ch gilydd
[02:42.400 -> 02:43.560] ymgyrchu'n un ar un ar un?
[02:43.640 -> 02:47.000] Oes popeth wedi'i wneud fel partneriaeth? Ie, pan ddod i'r ffactoria, rydyn ni-gynhyrchu, neu yw'r holl beth sy'n cael ei wneud fel partneriaeth?
[02:47.000 -> 02:50.000] Ie, pan ddod i'r ffactori, rydyn ni'n gwneud y gynhaliad ychydig
[02:50.000 -> 02:53.000] ac yna ddweud i'r mewniwyr eraill,
[02:53.000 -> 02:56.000] rwy'n credu bod yn bwysig bod Treco yn cyrraedd y gysylltiad
[02:56.000 -> 03:00.000] a gwneud yn siŵr bod gynnwys arbennigau gyda'ch gynhaliad
[03:00.000 -> 03:03.000] neu problemau rydych chi'n cael gyda'r car,
[03:03.000 -> 03:06.780] y cyd-gynhyrchu, sut mae'r car yn gynhyrchu, or issues you're having with the car balance, with how the car's performing, the relevant parties are briefed
[03:06.780 -> 03:09.340] and everyone's in the same loop.
[03:10.240 -> 03:13.160] So let's dive even further back.
[03:13.160 -> 03:16.800] So I want to talk about when you first got into racing.
[03:16.800 -> 03:18.640] So were you one of the little kids
[03:18.640 -> 03:21.420] that jumped in a go-kart pretty much straight away?
[03:23.580 -> 03:24.420] Yeah, pretty much.
[03:24.420 -> 03:26.760] As soon as I had the opportunity, I went for it.
[03:28.280 -> 03:31.000] But I was around five, six years old
[03:31.520 -> 03:33.680] when I first started,
[03:33.760 -> 03:36.720] when I first had a chance to jump into a go-kart.
[03:37.400 -> 03:41.480] But even when you're five, six years old, like it's quite fast racing, isn't it?
[03:41.480 -> 03:44.360] That even like a little five-year-old, you're going quite fast.
[03:44.360 -> 03:45.720] Yeah, yeah.
[03:45.720 -> 03:48.800] I mean, now my son is doing a bit of karting
[03:48.800 -> 03:50.960] and you see the speeds they go through, you know?
[03:50.960 -> 03:53.560] And like, he cannot ride a bicycle yet,
[03:53.560 -> 03:56.400] but he can drive so fast a go-kart.
[03:56.400 -> 03:59.200] So, yeah, it's quite impressive, you know,
[03:59.200 -> 04:04.200] to see that sort of speeds that the kids start doing.
[04:04.440 -> 04:09.000] That's what I was gonna ask, if it was gonna something that's going to feed through down to your children,
[04:09.000 -> 04:12.000] if you're going to get your children into karting, but obviously it's happening.
[04:12.000 -> 04:15.000] Yeah, I mean, he's doing it just for fun.
[04:15.000 -> 04:22.000] For now, you know, it's up to him what he wants to do.
[04:22.000 -> 04:27.320] But so far he seems to enjoy it. But also football, also golf,
[04:27.320 -> 04:29.880] so all sorts of sports.
[04:29.880 -> 04:32.960] Which again, are your favourite sports as well, right? Football and golf.
[04:32.960 -> 04:33.960] Yeah.
[04:33.960 -> 04:35.680] Yeah. So your favourite team is?
[04:35.680 -> 04:36.680] America.
[04:36.680 -> 04:41.640] Oh, okay. Yeah, fair enough. Yeah. So if you weren't a driver, would you have gotten into
[04:41.640 -> 04:42.640] football, do you think?
[04:42.640 -> 04:47.120] I'd love to, but I don't think I was good enough to succeed.
[04:48.240 -> 04:53.280] So golf, I would probably say, is your perfect way of calming down, right?
[04:53.800 -> 04:57.800] Not really, because we are so competitive, you know, that
[04:58.960 -> 05:00.240] we always want to do well.
[05:00.240 -> 05:05.000] But obviously we have certain talent, you know, that we gotta know that.
[05:05.000 -> 05:08.000] But in golf, you know, it's such a mental game.
[05:08.000 -> 05:10.000] It's a bit like our sport.
[05:10.000 -> 05:13.000] But it's so different.
[05:13.000 -> 05:17.000] I mean, as your career, you're driving 200 miles an hour.
[05:17.000 -> 05:21.000] And then to chill out, you're going for a nice relaxing game of golf,
[05:21.000 -> 05:25.000] maybe a couple of sandwiches, you know, completely different things.
[05:25.000 -> 05:29.000] Yeah, I mean, the way, especially the way we played in Mexico,
[05:29.000 -> 05:32.000] it's a little bit different because it's a little bit more chill,
[05:32.000 -> 05:38.000] more fun with friends, with mates,
[05:38.000 -> 05:42.000] some tequila involved as well, so it's a little bit different.
[05:42.000 -> 05:43.000] Of course, of course.
[05:43.000 -> 05:47.000] I mean, as we're recording this, we are just coming off the summer break as we're recording this.
[05:47.200 -> 05:50.680] So have there been some terrible food temptations?
[05:50.680 -> 05:56.080] Because as a driver, weight is very important, making sure that you stick to the same weight.
[05:56.080 -> 05:57.880] So surely the summer break is a bit of a challenge.
[05:57.880 -> 05:59.800] I haven't discussed that with Hugh yet.
[05:59.800 -> 06:04.120] I think we need to do some adjustments.
[06:04.120 -> 06:05.480] Yes.
[06:05.680 -> 06:07.960] But other than that, all good.
[06:08.160 -> 06:10.000] It was quite enjoyable.
[06:10.200 -> 06:15.360] Yeah, obviously, it's you have like a bit of time to go up, but then back down.
[06:15.560 -> 06:20.240] So the more you put in, the more you have to put it back out.
[06:20.440 -> 06:24.480] Yeah. I mean, you're actually quite different in terms of things that you do
[06:24.680 -> 06:25.720] outside of F1, because I hear that you you're actually quite different in terms of things that you do outside of f1
[06:25.720 -> 06:31.320] So I hear that you go kayaking. Is that right? Yeah, kayaking is your kayaking?
[06:31.620 -> 06:34.320] Well, I've done it for the last 20 plus years
[06:35.720 -> 06:38.180] Yeah, just I grew up by rivers and that was
[06:38.780 -> 06:42.660] The done thing that was what all my friends did and that's what how we spent our summers
[06:43.580 -> 06:46.840] more recently long-distance marathon kayaking.
[06:47.000 -> 06:49.600] Wow! What is that?
[06:49.760 -> 06:52.560] Tell them about your preparation that you've done for the last six months.
[06:52.720 -> 06:57.640] I was training for a race at Easter, the DW devised us to Westminster.
[06:57.800 -> 07:03.720] So that's a 200k race from Wiltshire, finishing opposite Big Ben.
[07:03.880 -> 07:05.240] Takes hopefully under 24 hours, but not a given. from Wiltshire finishing opposite Big Ben.
[07:08.920 -> 07:09.920] Takes hopefully under 24 hours, but not a given.
[07:12.280 -> 07:16.840] Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to take part. The conditions weren't particularly nice.
[07:16.840 -> 07:19.160] I wasn't deemed experienced enough,
[07:19.160 -> 07:21.920] or my crew wasn't deemed experienced enough.
[07:21.920 -> 07:23.960] But yeah, it's an awesome race.
[07:23.960 -> 07:28.800] I did it with my wife four years ago in 27
[07:28.800 -> 07:35.920] hours and you just flat out, yeah, go. See, this is what I mean by complete opposites,
[07:35.920 -> 07:40.720] because I mean, you're driving mega fast and then chilling out with golf. You're mostly sitting on
[07:40.720 -> 07:45.120] comms chatting to Checo during a race and then you go out and go 27 mile
[07:45.120 -> 07:50.320] kayaking or whatever you're doing. That's complete opposite people. But you seem to merge and work
[07:50.320 -> 07:55.920] together really nicely. It seems to work quite nicely, right? Yeah. I mean, we have a very similar
[07:55.920 -> 08:03.040] way of life, you know, we like through the stages with similar age and similar, how would you say,
[08:06.440 -> 08:08.640] and similar, how would you say, a style of life, you know? It's also family man.
[08:08.640 -> 08:15.040] So we go through the same issues, same enjoyments and so on.
[08:15.040 -> 08:19.040] So when it comes to, so like when you joined Red Bull, for example,
[08:19.040 -> 08:21.040] was there someone higher up that went,
[08:21.040 -> 08:24.040] actually, I think Hugh would be a really good person for you to work with
[08:24.040 -> 08:26.000] and you kind of got paired up that way? Or did you meet a few different race engineers A oedd rhywun yn y cyfan sydd wedi mynd, ac rwy'n credu, y byddai Huw yn y person iawn i chi weithio gyda ni, a chafodd eich cymryd ymlaen y ffordd honno,
[08:26.000 -> 08:29.000] neu a oeddech chi'n gwrthwynebu â rai engineiraid gwahanol
[08:29.000 -> 08:31.000] a yna ddweud yna beth y byddwch chi'n ymgyrchu gyda'i well?
[08:31.000 -> 08:32.000] Sut mae'n gweithio?
[08:32.000 -> 08:35.000] Y tîm wnaeth y penderfyniad.
[08:35.000 -> 08:37.000] Roeddwn i'n gweithio ar Max's Car ar y pryd,
[08:37.000 -> 08:42.000] ac mae'r cyfle wedi'i hyrwyddo i'r rôl hon,
[08:42.000 -> 08:43.000] yn unig, yn yr un pryd,
[08:43.000 -> 08:45.040] wrth i Checo ymuno. Felly roeddwn i'n y rôl honno, yn unigol, ar yr un pryd roedd Checo yn mynd i mewn.
[08:45.040 -> 08:48.640] Felly roeddwn i a'r rôl yn arwain ar y team,
[08:48.640 -> 08:50.920] a'r rôl ar y pryd,
[08:50.920 -> 08:53.040] a dweud y rôl honno.
[08:53.040 -> 08:57.040] Mae cyfansoddau'n anodd i chi ystod y seswn hwn,
[08:57.040 -> 09:00.640] gan gynnwys y cyfansoddau,
[09:00.640 -> 09:03.080] sut y gysylltais i chi ymdrechu â hynny?
[09:03.080 -> 09:05.600] A sut y gysylltais i'w helpu i' hynny? Ac Huw, sut ydych chi'n helpu'n ymddiriedd â'r
[09:05.600 -> 09:09.440] ymgyrchau hynny? Rydyn ni'n ystyried ymlaen, rydyn ni'n mynd drwy'r hyn, rydyn ni'n ymddisglu'n
[09:09.440 -> 09:15.360] agored beth sy'n gynnwys y cyfansoddau hynny, os oes pethau y gallwn eu hyfforddi gyda'r
[09:15.360 -> 09:20.240] car, ymddygiadau rydyn ni'n eu cymryd, sut rydyn ni'n sefydlu'r car, sut rydyn ni'n
[09:20.240 -> 09:26.080] weithredu'r car ar y trac, whenever there's been something which hasn't gone our way,
[09:26.080 -> 09:27.360] I try and make sure we learn from it
[09:27.360 -> 09:30.560] and limit the risk of that affecting us in the future.
[09:30.560 -> 09:33.920] I mean, there have been some really exciting moments
[09:33.920 -> 09:34.560] this season though,
[09:34.560 -> 09:36.320] and now we're coming off the back of the summer break.
[09:36.320 -> 09:38.720] How are you feeling about getting back on track?
[09:39.520 -> 09:40.240] Yeah, good.
[09:40.240 -> 09:43.120] I think definitely we needed that summer break, you know,
[09:43.120 -> 09:45.360] because there are times where you are in a great moment
[09:45.360 -> 09:47.360] and you don't really want to stop.
[09:47.360 -> 09:51.560] But now we felt like the last few races,
[09:51.560 -> 09:54.320] I mean, the last two were a lot better.
[09:54.320 -> 09:57.800] We were on the podiums and so on,
[09:57.800 -> 10:00.560] but we had a few tricky moments, like you said,
[10:00.560 -> 10:05.200] you know, in qualifying, in tricky conditions,
[10:05.360 -> 10:07.840] and we haven't got the maximum.
[10:08.000 -> 10:11.840] So I think now it really feels good to be back racing
[10:12.000 -> 10:14.840] in these next ten races.
[10:15.000 -> 10:17.560] We've been working really hard to try to figure out
[10:17.720 -> 10:21.320] which direction we can take that can work better for us,
[10:21.480 -> 10:24.160] because we obviously had a very strong start to the season,
[10:24.320 -> 10:27.400] so we want to get back to that level
[10:27.400 -> 10:29.760] and we've been working on that.
[10:29.760 -> 10:32.720] Yeah, I mean, it was a very strong start to the season,
[10:32.720 -> 10:34.480] but now this second half of the season
[10:34.480 -> 10:36.860] will include your home race.
[10:36.860 -> 10:40.100] So how does that feel, the moment that you go back home
[10:40.100 -> 10:43.300] and you have basically the whole of Mexico behind you,
[10:43.300 -> 10:45.480] screaming your name, waving the flags.
[10:45.480 -> 10:48.800] How does that feel, the moment that you arrive at home?
[10:48.800 -> 10:51.520] It feels great, you know, I think I'm very lucky
[10:52.720 -> 10:54.240] to have that sort of support
[10:55.560 -> 10:57.760] that very few drivers in the world get to experience,
[10:57.760 -> 10:59.720] you know, because it's just tremendous.
[10:59.720 -> 11:02.840] But there's still a lot of races to go.
[11:02.840 -> 11:04.560] We take it race by race.
[11:04.560 -> 11:06.640] So you've driven with a lot of other teams as well,
[11:06.640 -> 11:10.360] but how does your time with Red Bull differ to other teams?
[11:10.360 -> 11:11.720] Do they work differently?
[11:11.720 -> 11:14.040] Yeah, obviously every team work very different
[11:14.040 -> 11:16.520] and focus on very different aspects.
[11:16.520 -> 11:18.920] And the cars are very different as well.
[11:18.920 -> 11:23.480] The way you drive, the way you look after the tires,
[11:23.480 -> 11:24.320] how you brake.
[11:24.320 -> 11:26.920] So there are a lot of things that when you come to a team,
[11:27.080 -> 11:29.720] you're just constantly learning from them,
[11:29.880 -> 11:33.000] because although you're still in Formula 1,
[11:33.160 -> 11:34.720] it's a very different world.
[11:34.880 -> 11:37.680] And at Red Bull, when I came,
[11:37.840 -> 11:41.840] I found out that a lot of things were done differently.
[11:42.000 -> 11:47.680] But there's also a lot of fun, a lot of of pressure because we all have to deliver to our maximum.
[11:48.880 -> 11:54.240] But at the same time, it's about having good fun, good time and enjoying the moment.
[11:54.240 -> 12:00.480] Yeah. I mean, from my perspective, you know, I've never driven a car 200 mile an hour,
[12:00.480 -> 12:05.760] and that would frighten the life out of me. So have you ever experienced driving a car
[12:05.760 -> 12:11.600] that fast to kind of understand what Checo's body is going through, what's going on in his head?
[12:11.600 -> 12:16.560] Have you ever experienced that? No, not at all. One of the peculiar things about my job is that
[12:16.560 -> 12:21.200] quite often I'm telling Checo to do things slightly differently, but with absolutely no
[12:22.080 -> 12:27.720] experience of that first hand. I present him with some data, look, you could be doing this, try doing this,
[12:27.720 -> 12:29.160] it'll be a faster way to go around that corner,
[12:29.160 -> 12:32.600] but yeah, never experienced it for myself.
[12:32.600 -> 12:33.840] Would you want him to?
[12:33.840 -> 12:36.640] I'd love to, I'd love to sit back
[12:36.640 -> 12:40.640] and tell him how to do it through the computer.
[12:40.640 -> 12:42.440] They should do like one random race
[12:42.440 -> 12:46.360] where they just get the race engineers driving the cars and the drivers controlling
[12:46.360 -> 12:50.880] everything. I'd love to do that because the driver is like fully on the limit
[12:50.880 -> 12:58.680] and then your race engineer will come and just make it faster. I'll just give
[12:58.680 -> 13:05.200] you my laptop. Yeah exactly that will be a lot easier.
[13:08.640 -> 13:09.160] So, well, I don't know if you know this, but when you Google your name,
[13:12.360 -> 13:12.520] it actually comes up King of the Street Circuit.
[13:13.600 -> 13:14.600] Are you aware of that? No, I wasn't.
[13:14.600 -> 13:17.600] I mean, because I mean, you are you're very, very good at the street circuit.
[13:17.600 -> 13:21.720] But it does make me wonder what your day to day driving is like,
[13:21.760 -> 13:24.160] like when you're just driving your normal car.
[13:24.160 -> 13:26.320] Do you ever get done for speeding?
[13:26.520 -> 13:27.600] Not really.
[13:27.800 -> 13:30.800] Very rarely because I always I hate paying penalties.
[13:31.000 -> 13:32.440] Oh yeah, fair enough.
[13:33.040 -> 13:36.840] I already have to deal with my penalties here at Red Bull, you know.
[13:37.040 -> 13:38.240] So
[13:38.440 -> 13:45.080] and on the streets, no, I always chill out and I don't drive very fast.
[13:45.280 -> 13:46.040] What is it with you?
[13:46.240 -> 13:51.000] Like there is something that happens with you when you land on a street circuit
[13:51.000 -> 13:55.200] and you drive on a street circuit, you seem to just completely come into your own
[13:55.400 -> 13:59.200] and just feel so incredibly comfortable on these circuits that are so tight.
[13:59.400 -> 14:00.600] The corners are so tight.
[14:00.800 -> 14:05.760] What is it about that compared to a track that just makes you feel so comfortable?
[14:06.960 -> 14:13.440] We seem to like more the streets just around it, you know, and we seem to get on better
[14:14.240 -> 14:22.160] on how the car performs to our side, to our likeness. And I think, yeah, it's a bit to do
[14:22.160 -> 14:27.000] with that. Do you two have like a secret language to communicate with each other,
[14:27.000 -> 14:30.000] that nobody understands apart from yourselves?
[14:30.000 -> 14:33.000] Well, he's good at understanding my English, you know.
[14:33.000 -> 14:39.000] Some people wouldn't understand what I mean when I describe the car,
[14:39.000 -> 14:43.000] but he will understand what I mean with it.
[14:43.000 -> 14:46.000] That's what you think, but actually I'm asking Woody in the background a lot.
[14:46.000 -> 14:48.000] So Woody is the one that understands it.
[14:48.000 -> 14:53.000] You say something on the radio, Woody is a performance engineer working with us.
[14:53.000 -> 14:56.000] I go on the radio to him, Woody did he catch that?
[14:56.000 -> 14:58.000] Yeah, he just said that.
[14:58.000 -> 15:02.000] Okay, you know, you're always finding new things.
[15:02.000 -> 15:06.560] So here on Talking Ball we have something called Oracle Red Bull Racing's 100 Objects,
[15:06.560 -> 15:10.840] which is where the guests come in and bring something that means something to them within
[15:10.840 -> 15:12.440] their time here at Red Bull.
[15:12.440 -> 15:17.080] I mean, we've had the Constructor's Trophy, we've had something as simple as a laptop.
[15:17.080 -> 15:21.840] Adrian Newey brought in his legendary red notebook, which was really awesome.
[15:21.840 -> 15:23.640] So I can see you have some items here.
[15:23.640 -> 15:24.880] Hugh, I'm going to start with you.
[15:24.880 -> 15:25.760] What have you brought in? a oedd yn awdurdod iawn. Gallaf weld eich bod chi'n cael rhai eitemau yma. Hugh, rydw i'n mynd i ddechrau gyda chi. Beth wnaethwch chi'n ei gynnwys?
[15:25.760 -> 15:29.040] Ie, fe wnaethom un o'n ffotograffau o'n rhan o'r tîm,
[15:29.040 -> 15:31.000] dyma mewn gwirionedd 2021,
[15:31.000 -> 15:32.680] felly ar ddiwedd pob seswn.
[15:32.680 -> 15:34.480] Yr holl gweithredwyr ymweld,
[15:34.480 -> 15:36.880] y mechanegwyr, y mecanegwyr,
[15:36.880 -> 15:38.200] y cyfrifoldeb, y cyngor,
[15:38.200 -> 15:40.240] pob un sy'n rhan o'r cyrcws
[15:40.240 -> 15:41.840] sy'n dod â ni,
[15:41.840 -> 15:42.560] byddwn yn ymgyrchu,
[15:42.560 -> 15:43.480] byddwn yn ymgyrchu,
[15:43.480 -> 15:44.720] byddwn yn ymgyrchu,
[15:44.720 -> 15:47.520] ie, ychydig o ffotograffau y flwyddyn. Yn y ffordd, sy'n rhedeg, ac rydyn ni'n cymryd ffotograff. Ie, rydyn ni'n cymryd ffotograff.
[15:47.520 -> 15:48.920] Yn y ffordd, mae'n ymdrech i
[15:48.920 -> 15:50.480] nad yw'r bobl o'r ffactoriad
[15:50.480 -> 15:52.720] oherwydd mae'n ymwneud â'r bobl
[15:52.720 -> 15:54.960] rydyn ni'n ei weld yn y ffotograffau honno.
[15:54.960 -> 15:55.760] Ond ie, mae'n bob amser
[15:55.760 -> 15:58.000] gwych o fomentau ar ddiwedd yr ym mis.
[15:58.000 -> 15:59.440] Cofiwch y gwyliau,
[15:59.440 -> 16:00.960] i fod yn y ffordd yma gyda ni.
[16:00.960 -> 16:03.600] Ie, a oes gennych hynny'n fframio'n ymwneud â'r ateb?
[16:03.600 -> 16:05.880] Wel, mae gen i'r rhan fwyaf o'r rhai ar fy nghaf. Mae'n cymryd ffotograff, ond mae'n bob amser yno. on this journey with us. Yeah. Do you have that framed at home? Well, I've got a big pile of them on my desk.
[16:05.880 -> 16:09.200] They sort of accumulate up, but they're always there.
[16:09.200 -> 16:10.040] I love that.
[16:10.040 -> 16:12.880] But we're going to add that into our pile of 100 objects.
[16:12.880 -> 16:14.600] Checo, what have you brought in with you?
[16:14.600 -> 16:17.160] I got my helmet for Singapore
[16:17.160 -> 16:21.480] because it's where I'm going to do my 250 Grand Prix,
[16:21.480 -> 16:23.960] which is pretty special because, I mean,
[16:23.960 -> 16:27.600] to think back at those 250, it's a lot of
[16:27.600 -> 16:36.160] years in the sport. It goes pretty fast. It's only when you see it, you realize the amount
[16:36.160 -> 16:40.960] of races, the amount of years you've been in the sport.
[16:40.960 -> 16:43.840] Are there any particular sort of... Because there's pictures on there, aren't there?
[16:43.840 -> 16:46.960] Yeah, there are some pictures of my good moments in the sport. Are there any particular sort of like, because there's pictures on there aren't there? Yeah, there are some pictures of my good moments in the sport.
[16:48.640 -> 16:50.720] Is there any picture that particularly stands out to you?
[16:51.920 -> 16:59.680] Well, when I won in Monaco, it's here. My podium, first podium in Mexico.
[16:59.680 -> 17:00.320] Oh yeah.
[17:00.320 -> 17:07.000] Really stands out. My first ever win in Formula 1.
[17:08.600 -> 17:10.200] Yeah, I think those are the...
[17:13.400 -> 17:14.600] Yeah, and then at the back, there are so many pictures.
[17:16.600 -> 17:16.800] Oh, yeah, in the 250.
[17:19.600 -> 17:19.800] There are a lot of pictures from my previous cars
[17:23.000 -> 17:24.800] or most of my cars that I've been driving.
[17:29.240 -> 17:32.160] I mean, it's something personal that it's good to have, you know, and in a few years time, look at it.
[17:32.160 -> 17:34.040] Yeah, so when you're done with each race,
[17:34.040 -> 17:35.960] because normally every helmet's probably
[17:35.960 -> 17:37.320] a little bit different with every race,
[17:37.320 -> 17:38.480] but with a special helmet like that,
[17:38.480 -> 17:40.840] I'm guessing it will have pride of place
[17:40.840 -> 17:42.240] somewhere at home, won't it?
[17:42.240 -> 17:43.780] Oh yeah, it does, certainly.
[17:44.800 -> 17:46.080] Yeah, I take it home.
[17:46.080 -> 17:49.600] I normally keep one or two,
[17:49.600 -> 17:52.520] and especially this one, you know,
[17:52.520 -> 17:54.960] because it has a very nice meaning.
[17:54.960 -> 17:55.800] Yeah.
[17:55.800 -> 17:58.280] Do you have to have a couple of different ones
[17:58.280 -> 17:59.200] of that version,
[17:59.200 -> 18:00.560] or do you just have the one helmet
[18:00.560 -> 18:01.840] for the whole race weekend?
[18:01.840 -> 18:04.640] No, we normally need to have two
[18:04.640 -> 18:07.600] because if it rains or something.
[18:07.600 -> 18:08.440] Yeah. Yeah.
[18:08.440 -> 18:10.040] Because then it's a different visor, isn't it?
[18:10.040 -> 18:10.400] Yeah.
[18:10.400 -> 18:12.560] If it's sunny or if it rains or... Yeah.
[18:12.680 -> 18:13.120] Yeah.
[18:13.120 -> 18:14.120] Interesting.
[18:14.120 -> 18:15.720] But normally when you do a special edition,
[18:15.720 -> 18:18.040] because it's always so much in a hurry,
[18:19.560 -> 18:20.680] it's only one.
[18:20.680 -> 18:21.880] So if it rains or something,
[18:21.880 -> 18:23.880] then you have to race with another helmet.
[18:23.880 -> 18:25.280] Oh, no. OK.
[18:25.280 -> 18:26.320] Yeah, it has happened before.
[18:26.320 -> 18:28.840] So we hope it has to be perfect weather for that helmet.
[18:28.840 -> 18:30.520] Yeah, exactly.
[18:30.520 -> 18:35.000] Well, in Singapore, we had rain last year, so I think it's the first time we had rain
[18:35.000 -> 18:39.680] in about, I don't know how many years, but yeah, you never know with the weather.
[18:39.800 -> 18:40.720] Oh, fingers crossed.
[18:40.720 -> 18:45.840] And actually, well, we've given you a bonus object as well, because it was quite
[18:45.840 -> 18:50.800] a nice thing to bring in an object that meant something to the both of you. So we do have
[18:50.800 -> 18:57.920] the Baku trophy here. So who would like to tell me a bit about how it felt to win this trophy as
[18:57.920 -> 19:10.800] a pair, as a team that day? It felt great. You know, it was a great race. I tried to fight with Max and it just felt like
[19:10.800 -> 19:15.960] we were so much on the limit to each other, pushing each other so much. Touched the walls
[19:15.960 -> 19:22.440] a few times. Turned 16, I think. You found out pretty early about it.
[19:22.440 -> 19:26.160] You didn't mess up, I came on the radio. I asked you what had happened.
[19:26.320 -> 19:28.560] It was quite a big hit.
[19:28.720 -> 19:30.800] I touched the wall quite hard.
[19:30.960 -> 19:34.560] And I was trying to figure out that the car was fine
[19:34.720 -> 19:37.200] before I would communicate to Huguen.
[19:37.360 -> 19:39.160] He was on the radio, so like,
[19:39.320 -> 19:41.040] yeah, we saw about what happened in 16,
[19:41.200 -> 19:43.840] so tell us from your side what happened.
[19:44.000 -> 19:45.800] Cool. But, yeah.
[19:45.800 -> 19:49.920] But yeah, it was a great day.
[19:49.920 -> 19:50.760] Yeah.
[19:50.760 -> 19:51.600] Certainly.
[19:51.600 -> 19:53.000] Again, king of the street circuits.
[19:53.000 -> 19:53.840] Do you know what I mean?
[19:53.840 -> 19:54.760] Yeah.
[19:54.760 -> 19:56.000] There's something about street circuits
[19:56.000 -> 19:57.920] where you just seem to do so well.
[19:57.920 -> 20:00.280] Hugh, how does that feel, seeing that trophy set there?
[20:00.280 -> 20:02.280] Yeah, it's spectacular.
[20:02.280 -> 20:04.080] Baku, Checo's record there,
[20:04.080 -> 20:06.000] and Checo's record with the team atda'r tîm yma,
[20:06.000 -> 20:08.000] wedi bod yn ddau i ddynion.
[20:08.000 -> 20:10.000] Dwi'n credu ei fod yn y podiwmau gynhyrchu
[20:10.000 -> 20:12.000] yn Baku,
[20:12.000 -> 20:14.000] a dyna
[20:14.000 -> 20:16.000] yn ei ddysgwyr iddo,
[20:16.000 -> 20:18.000] ar y stryd.
[20:18.000 -> 20:20.000] Yn bwysig i fwy,
[20:20.000 -> 20:22.000] ond i fwy,
[20:22.000 -> 20:24.000] yn Baku, mae'n sbectaculo.
[20:24.000 -> 20:26.960] Mae gennym nifer o gwestiynau sydd wedi dod o to win again in Baku, it's spectacular. Now we have got a whole load of questions that have come in
[20:26.960 -> 20:30.880] from HP Poly's social media because they put up a post saying has anyone got any
[20:30.880 -> 20:33.040] questions? So we do have quite a lot so we're going
[20:33.040 -> 20:35.200] to start with question number one that's on a video.
[20:35.200 -> 20:39.120] Hey Sheko, Maxwell here living in Dubai and I wanted to ask you
[20:39.120 -> 20:42.880] excluding Monaco, what is the most challenging track on the calendar this
[20:42.880 -> 20:44.960] year? And also whilst we're here, what is your
[20:44.960 -> 20:46.000] favourite tequila-based cocktail?
[20:46.000 -> 20:47.000] Thank you.
[20:48.000 -> 20:51.000] Okay, we'll do the track question first and then we'll move on to tequila.
[20:52.000 -> 20:55.000] So what's your most challenging track apart from Monaco?
[20:58.000 -> 20:59.000] Good question.
[20:59.000 -> 21:02.000] It's really down to where you are with the car, you know,
[21:02.000 -> 21:06.000] because I found from my experience in the sport that although
[21:06.000 -> 21:11.600] you don't like certain tracks, you haven't done well, that sometimes with the car you
[21:11.600 -> 21:18.800] are at, it's actually very good at that one. So it's really where you are with the car,
[21:18.800 -> 21:23.440] which stage, how you're feeling comfortable. But if you're not feeling really comfortable
[21:23.440 -> 21:31.000] with the car, let's say into a high-speed circuit, then the worst place to go is Silverson or
[21:31.200 -> 21:32.880] Spa or stuff like that.
[21:33.080 -> 21:34.440] So
[21:35.280 -> 21:37.120] it can be pretty challenging, you know,
[21:37.320 -> 21:43.040] but it's a circuit that I used to love and I really have had a great, great success
[21:43.240 -> 21:48.840] there, but yeah, it's just depends where you are at the time.
[21:49.040 -> 21:51.520] And what is your favourite tequila based cocktail?
[21:51.720 -> 21:54.720] Unless you just go straight tequila, you seem to me like a straight tequila.
[21:54.920 -> 21:58.600] I like it very plain, you know, just with
[21:58.800 -> 21:59.880] sparkling water.
[22:00.080 -> 22:03.040] Oh, yeah, I like it clean.
[22:03.240 -> 22:06.500] Because, I mean, there's a whole different way that us Brits do tequila.
[22:06.500 -> 22:07.000] Yeah.
[22:07.000 -> 22:08.500] I mean, how do you feel about that?
[22:08.500 -> 22:12.500] Yeah, no, I... some... but sometimes they're too sweet.
[22:12.500 -> 22:13.500] Right.
[22:13.500 -> 22:17.500] And I feel like it loses the taste of the tequila.
[22:17.500 -> 22:19.500] Okay, fair enough.
[22:19.500 -> 22:22.500] Do you have a favourite tequila-based cocktail, Hugh?
[22:22.500 -> 22:24.500] I would just go for a Margarita.
[22:24.500 -> 22:25.040] Oh, fair enough, yeah. Yeah, I'm fair. That's fine, okay? I would just go for a margarita.
[22:25.040 -> 22:25.960] Oh, fair enough, yeah.
[22:25.960 -> 22:27.000] Yeah, I'm very...
[22:27.000 -> 22:28.200] That's fine, okay.
[22:28.200 -> 22:32.240] It's good, margarita is good, but very sweet.
[22:32.240 -> 22:35.000] You cannot have that many because then the day after
[22:35.000 -> 22:36.400] can be a bit difficult.
[22:36.400 -> 22:37.240] Yeah.
[22:37.240 -> 22:39.680] I don't go for the tequila, but when we were in Mexico,
[22:39.680 -> 22:42.680] there's Mezcal Negronis from a local restaurant
[22:42.680 -> 22:44.880] and they're pretty lethal and pretty good.
[22:44.880 -> 22:45.280] Yeah.
[22:45.280 -> 22:48.640] Actually, when you go to Mexico, do you take him to the good local places?
[22:48.640 -> 22:51.840] Yeah, I always do a team lunch. I take the whole team.
[22:52.720 -> 22:54.400] Because you know exactly where you're going and what you're doing.
[22:55.120 -> 23:00.240] For dinner, but no alcohol allowed.
[23:00.240 -> 23:00.320] Yeah.
[23:00.320 -> 23:01.680] Because it's very close to the race.
[23:01.680 -> 23:04.240] Yeah, of course. Of course. Wait until afterwards.
[23:04.240 -> 23:04.640] Exactly.
[23:06.000 -> 23:08.000] Question number two.
[23:08.000 -> 23:11.000] Hi, Tcheko, hi you. This is Tom from Germany.
[23:11.000 -> 23:14.000] And my question is, you guys worked with different drivers
[23:14.000 -> 23:16.000] and different race engineers before.
[23:16.000 -> 23:20.000] What is it that makes your relationship so special
[23:20.000 -> 23:24.000] and what do you do on and off the track to improve it?
[23:24.000 -> 23:25.000] Thanks for having me and good luck for the rest of the season. Cheers. and what do you do on and off the track to improve it?
[23:25.000 -> 23:26.400] Thanks for having me and good luck
[23:26.400 -> 23:27.560] for the rest of the season.
[23:27.560 -> 23:28.800] Cheers.
[23:28.800 -> 23:29.640] That's a nice question.
[23:29.640 -> 23:32.520] So what makes your relationship so special
[23:32.520 -> 23:35.280] compared to working with anybody else?
[23:35.280 -> 23:38.160] One of the good things about us is the age,
[23:38.160 -> 23:40.520] that we are very similar age.
[23:42.440 -> 23:50.000] And Hugh, you know, you could see that he hasn't been in the job as a race engineer for many, many years.
[23:50.000 -> 23:55.000] So I'm like his first driver as a race engineer.
[23:55.000 -> 24:07.400] But I think the good thing about it is the age and the syntony that we have in our lives out of the sport. And I think one of the good things about us is that
[24:08.120 -> 24:10.680] we tend to have a very bad day,
[24:11.360 -> 24:14.520] let's say a bad quali, where everything is against us.
[24:14.520 -> 24:18.560] And we can, I mean, most people I've known
[24:18.920 -> 24:23.640] will go down really deeply and probably still
[24:24.120 -> 24:27.080] couldn't be thinking about what's next,
[24:27.080 -> 24:28.160] you know, which is Raze.
[24:28.160 -> 24:34.320] And I've seen it before with you, like we have a bad day and we learn from it,
[24:34.600 -> 24:37.760] but straight away we are already thinking how we're going to come out of it,
[24:37.760 -> 24:42.520] you know, and that's something great to have in our relationship
[24:42.520 -> 24:46.560] because it's like we never lose faith in each other,
[24:46.560 -> 24:52.800] you know, like we're here together and we're always looking forward to the next target.
[24:52.800 -> 24:56.880] And I think that's something that makes us very bulletproof, you know, because we've
[24:56.880 -> 25:06.640] had some tough times in our history of three years, but we always somehow managed to get out of it and with a lot of success.
[25:06.640 -> 25:10.720] So I think it's some sort of good dynamic in that regard.
[25:11.400 -> 25:12.520] Is there anything you want to add to that?
[25:12.520 -> 25:14.440] Yeah, it's a journey we're going on together,
[25:14.440 -> 25:17.440] and invariably there will be challenging moments.
[25:17.960 -> 25:20.240] But yeah, I'm always amazed.
[25:21.200 -> 25:24.800] We'll have a bad session and then you come bouncing back in the next day
[25:24.800 -> 25:25.360] and it
[25:25.360 -> 25:30.520] really just feeds that energy. Then I see you up for the race. Yes, I'm up for it as
[25:30.520 -> 25:34.560] well. Let's go and push on and go and enjoy the journey.
[25:34.560 -> 25:37.800] It's a level of trust, I guess, isn't it? That you can trust in each other.
[25:37.800 -> 25:45.400] Yes, certainly, because it will be very easy to blame each other, you know, and just put the blame on him or him on me.
[25:45.720 -> 25:50.200] But we we're here as a team and I think we have a very strong team.
[25:51.600 -> 25:55.040] With Woody, Jeff, I know, like,
[25:55.760 -> 25:58.120] we have that passion of, OK,
[25:59.200 -> 26:01.800] we didn't have a good day or we didn't perform to our best.
[26:03.480 -> 26:07.160] We probably didn't get the maximum of my driving
[26:07.160 -> 26:09.840] or from the setup or from whatever,
[26:09.840 -> 26:11.880] but we have a new opportunity tomorrow,
[26:11.880 -> 26:13.200] so we just go for it.
[26:14.240 -> 26:16.000] So we've got some more questions here
[26:16.000 -> 26:18.480] that's come in on social media via HP Polly.
[26:18.480 -> 26:20.600] This is from Eve in Mexico.
[26:20.600 -> 26:23.320] Is there a race that you watched as a child
[26:23.320 -> 26:25.760] that made you fall in love with racing?
[26:25.760 -> 26:27.120] If so, what was it?
[26:27.120 -> 26:33.840] I remember my first ever race that I watched was with my dad.
[26:33.840 -> 26:37.920] And that was when Ayrton had his big accident.
[26:37.920 -> 26:41.200] He was quite shocked, you know, when that happened.
[26:41.200 -> 26:45.200] And I still remember that day.
[26:45.200 -> 26:46.440] You know, we were a massive,
[26:46.440 -> 26:50.000] my dad was a massive Ayrton fan.
[26:50.000 -> 26:52.040] And yeah, when that happened,
[26:52.040 -> 26:55.280] that was quite like a strange day for the family.
[26:55.280 -> 27:00.280] And yeah, it's when I actually fall in love with the sport.
[27:01.000 -> 27:04.600] It's a bit strange, but it's when that happened.
[27:04.600 -> 27:06.680] Is there anything in particular that made you want to get
[27:06.680 -> 27:07.880] into Formula One?
[27:07.880 -> 27:09.440] Is there any particular race that you watched
[27:09.440 -> 27:11.640] or something that kind of caught your eye
[27:11.640 -> 27:13.040] when you were younger?
[27:13.040 -> 27:13.880] Yeah.
[27:13.880 -> 27:14.700] Ended up working at Red Bull, you know?
[27:14.700 -> 27:17.320] Well, I was always watching Formula One
[27:17.320 -> 27:19.960] with the family, Sunday afternoons.
[27:19.960 -> 27:22.040] More often than not, dad would have a little snooze
[27:22.040 -> 27:24.520] and I would be watching it.
[27:24.520 -> 27:27.520] I think it was really then going to y British at Brands Hatch
[27:27.520 -> 27:29.840] pan oedd yn profi'r ffordd cyffredin o fuddsoddi,
[27:29.840 -> 27:33.520] cael y ffynedd, y sain,
[27:33.520 -> 27:35.920] y sylwadau gwych o'r holl bethau
[27:35.920 -> 27:38.960] sy'n mynd i weithio ymlaen i fuddsoddi
[27:38.960 -> 27:40.720] y ffordd cyffredin a'r ffordd cyffredin Formula 1.
[27:40.720 -> 27:42.880] Dyma o'r Nash yng Nghymru.
[27:42.880 -> 27:45.960] Mae'n dweud, Formula One. Okay, this is from Nash in Mexico. He says, what is your last thought
[27:45.960 -> 27:48.480] before the clock hits the last second
[27:48.480 -> 27:50.340] prior to the start of a race?
[27:50.340 -> 27:53.300] So do you have like a mantra or do you think of your kids
[27:53.300 -> 27:55.560] or is it something funny that pops into your head
[27:55.560 -> 27:57.360] to kind of relieve the stress?
[27:57.360 -> 28:00.600] Is that when the last light comes for the race start?
[28:00.600 -> 28:02.720] Yeah, so before the lights go out,
[28:02.720 -> 28:03.800] what's going through your head?
[28:03.800 -> 28:06.920] Oh, you're just thinking to be on the,
[28:06.920 -> 28:08.940] to do your procedures right,
[28:10.600 -> 28:12.800] and to have the best possible reaction
[28:12.800 -> 28:16.520] to just to go for it and gain some places
[28:16.520 -> 28:19.940] or maintain the position if you're on pole.
[28:21.480 -> 28:24.680] Yeah, when you're driving or when you are in the car,
[28:24.680 -> 28:27.920] especially on those moments, you forget that you are a dad,
[28:27.920 -> 28:31.920] that you have family, you know, you forget about anything.
[28:32.200 -> 28:34.400] This is from Sienna in California.
[28:34.400 -> 28:37.280] Since being teammates, what's the one piece of advice
[28:37.280 -> 28:40.320] that you have learnt from each other?
[28:40.320 -> 28:41.840] Is there anything that you've learnt from each other
[28:41.840 -> 28:43.880] from working together over the last three years?
[28:44.120 -> 28:49.600] I'd say to stay cool in the tough moments, you know, with Hugh.
[28:49.600 -> 28:56.720] He normally is like a machine, you know, like it doesn't matter if it's all gone really bad or really good.
[28:56.720 -> 29:05.000] It's like just staying plain, you know, and don't show so much emotions in that regard.
[29:05.400 -> 29:06.480] I'll probably say the opposite,
[29:06.480 -> 29:10.000] that for me, there is a time and a place for a bit of passion
[29:10.000 -> 29:12.680] and to celebrate the successes.
[29:15.160 -> 29:17.360] This is from Wursti, who says,
[29:17.360 -> 29:20.760] since none of us will ever drive an F1 car,
[29:20.760 -> 29:22.680] what would be the one piece of advice
[29:22.680 -> 29:26.160] that you would give us so that we can go faster in a go-kart?
[29:27.680 -> 29:32.800] Just press the right throttle, the right pedal. That's it. That's it. Just hope for the best.
[29:32.800 -> 29:38.640] Exactly. Solid advice. Yeah. Yeah. It will work. Hopefully. You'll go faster.
[29:39.280 -> 29:41.120] I mean, that's true. Somewhere. Somewhere.
[29:42.880 -> 29:45.480] This is from Alicia in Texas, who says,
[29:45.480 -> 29:48.680] in your opinion, what personality trait or quality
[29:48.680 -> 29:52.080] does a successful driver have that sets them apart
[29:52.080 -> 29:53.240] from the rest of the pack?
[29:53.240 -> 29:56.600] So is there anything that you would say that's about you
[29:56.600 -> 29:59.400] that makes you different from everyone else on the grid?
[30:00.200 -> 30:02.720] I think we are all different and we all have to,
[30:02.720 -> 30:06.320] I think it's good to be yourself because when you come to Formula One
[30:07.200 -> 30:11.760] a lot of teams, a lot of media, a lot of pressure on you and everyone wants you to be
[30:13.280 -> 30:20.240] some way, you know, but staying loyal to yourself, to do what you feel is best for you.
[30:20.240 -> 30:26.680] I think that's the biggest thing you can have, you know, and it doesn't matter if you're very successful or not.
[30:26.680 -> 30:28.640] You, at least you are yourself.
[30:28.640 -> 30:31.520] And that's very important to keep, you know,
[30:31.520 -> 30:34.640] and don't change because they tell you that
[30:34.640 -> 30:36.760] this is a way it will work for you.
[30:36.760 -> 30:38.520] At the end of the day,
[30:38.520 -> 30:41.320] we all know what's the best way for us.
[30:41.320 -> 30:44.520] And you only learn through the years
[30:44.520 -> 30:47.120] and through experience to stay yourself.
[30:47.120 -> 30:51.840] And that's the biggest thing I'll say. Yeah, would you say like when you started racing,
[30:51.840 -> 30:58.160] it's quite easy to get lost in what's expected of you rather than just being you and going on
[30:58.160 -> 31:06.960] your own journey? Yeah, yeah, a lot of time. And even in Formula One through the years that like I say a lot of people a lot of teams a lot of
[31:08.920 -> 31:13.040] Surrounding and they think that this is the only way you can be successful, you know
[31:13.760 -> 31:16.760] But there are a lot of other ways that you can be successful
[31:17.640 -> 31:24.920] and I think obviously learning from yourself improving yourself, but I cannot say at the end of the day
[31:24.920 -> 31:25.080] It's very important that you stay yourself learning from yourself, improving yourself, but at the end of the day,
[31:25.080 -> 31:28.720] it's very important that you stay yourself
[31:28.720 -> 31:29.680] through your career.
[31:29.680 -> 31:31.200] That's nice, I like that.
[31:31.200 -> 31:33.560] This is from Jay Jesus, who says,
[31:33.560 -> 31:36.320] with the increasing emphasis on data analysis
[31:36.320 -> 31:39.840] and simulation, how do you find the right balance
[31:39.840 -> 31:44.400] between relying on data and trusting your instincts?
[31:44.400 -> 31:45.400] I mean, I guess when it comes
[31:45.400 -> 31:48.640] to data that's where you would come in and you would say you need to take this
[31:48.640 -> 31:54.000] corner in this particular way but then you're the guy on the track who's like
[31:54.000 -> 31:57.960] no I know I want to take this corner this way how do you know which way to
[31:57.960 -> 32:04.000] lean? Well that's a major part of my job trying to find that balance so it does
[32:04.000 -> 32:06.520] start with Checo's subjective feedback and that's a major part of my job, trying to find that balance. So it does start with Checo's subjective feedback,
[32:06.520 -> 32:07.800] and that's guiding what we're doing,
[32:07.800 -> 32:08.880] where we're going with the setup.
[32:08.880 -> 32:13.200] But then I'm trying to marry that up with the data.
[32:13.200 -> 32:17.920] And if I can explain why the balance in term five
[32:17.920 -> 32:19.920] was like this, the previous corner,
[32:19.920 -> 32:21.080] something else had happened,
[32:21.080 -> 32:22.960] and, or there was a gust of wind,
[32:22.960 -> 32:25.160] and maybe that's corrupted some of his feedback,
[32:25.320 -> 32:27.720] then maybe trust more the data.
[32:27.880 -> 32:30.960] And if it reinforces what Checo is saying,
[32:31.120 -> 32:36.200] then it's all a bit of a challenge to find the balance between the two.
[32:36.360 -> 32:39.520] I mean, there must have been a few moments where Hugh said to you,
[32:39.680 -> 32:42.880] you should take this like this, and you go, no.
[32:43.040 -> 32:46.040] Yeah, a lot of times, you know,
[32:46.040 -> 32:48.000] because at the end of the day, you are in the car
[32:48.000 -> 32:52.440] and you are trying to explain how you're feeling it,
[32:52.440 -> 32:56.160] you know, but he can see other things like he just explained.
[32:56.160 -> 32:59.880] So it's always finding that compromise.
[32:59.880 -> 33:00.760] Yeah, fair enough.
[33:00.760 -> 33:02.880] Did you study at university
[33:02.880 -> 33:05.080] to then sort of end up as a race engineer? I studied a sort of general engineering degree. Right. Iawn, ddawch chi ymstudio ym Mhrifysgol i ddimdod o fewn, fel raci'r engineir.
[33:05.080 -> 33:08.560] Dwi'n ymstudio ymdrechion mewn brifysgol mewn cyfnod mewn gynhyrchiadau.
[33:08.560 -> 33:12.640] Nid oes unrhyw beth yn ymwneud â'r cymdeithas, nid ydw i'n ymwneud â'r cymdeithas.
[33:12.640 -> 33:17.760] Ac yna, mae wedi bod, dwi nawr, 11 mlynedd yn Red Bull.
[33:17.760 -> 33:19.680] A wnaiff eich ddysgu fy ngwlad?
[33:19.680 -> 33:23.520] Felly dywedoddwch chi y byddwch chi'n ymwneud â'r gwaith yma yn Red Bull, ac yna fe wnaethwch chi weithio'ch ffordd i ddod i mewn i fod yn raci'r engineir?
[33:23.520 -> 33:25.840] Ie, felly yn fy mhynau diwethaf ar y brifysgol,
[33:25.840 -> 33:29.760] ddod i weithio ar weithgaredd y grŵp dynamig y fynedig,
[33:29.760 -> 33:31.560] a datblygu'r sysbensi.
[33:31.560 -> 33:34.200] A wnaeth e hynny am ddwy a hanner a hanner a hanner blynedd,
[33:34.200 -> 33:36.000] a dod i mewn i'r simulator.
[33:36.000 -> 33:39.240] A wnaeth e hynny am ddwy a hanner a hanner a hanner blynedd,
[33:39.240 -> 33:41.320] pan oedd yna'r testau yr ystafell yn mynd,
[33:41.320 -> 33:44.400] felly roedd gen i ddigon o profiad trawsleidio ar y pryd.
[33:44.400 -> 33:47.760] Ac yna, ie, dod i mewn iôl y perfformiad-ynghywyr
[33:47.760 -> 33:51.120] ar y car Maxis, ac yna rôl ynghywyr y cerddoriaeth.
[33:51.120 -> 33:53.080] Oherwydd bydd yna llawer o bobl sy'n clywed y podcast hon
[33:53.080 -> 33:56.160] a bydd yn gwybod sut i ddechrau gweithio yn F1
[33:56.160 -> 33:59.640] heb mynd i ddechrau fel drifwr o'r oedol o'r fath o'r fath, yw'n gwybod.
[33:59.640 -> 34:01.960] Felly rwy'n credu os ydynt eisiau gweithio mewn ynghywyr,
[34:01.960 -> 34:07.000] mae'n dda iawn i ddod o'r lle mae ymgywyru hwyr wedi dechrau i ychydig i'r lle ydych chi.
[34:07.000 -> 34:11.000] Ie, nid yw'n sgiliau sy'n dysgu ar y brifysgol.
[34:11.000 -> 34:16.000] I ni, mae'n cael y sgiliau academaidd,
[34:16.000 -> 34:19.000] ac yna ddysgu'r syniadau.
[34:19.000 -> 34:23.000] Dysgwch am un car F1 pan ydych chi yma, gweithio gyda'r tîm.
[34:23.000 -> 34:26.900] A'n mynd i mewn move on to the HP Poly Challenge,
[34:26.900 -> 34:29.920] how are you both feeling about Vegas?
[34:29.920 -> 34:34.380] Because the build up to Vegas right now is huge, right?
[34:34.380 -> 34:37.600] I mean, everywhere you look up on social media
[34:37.600 -> 34:39.560] about F1, about the races and stuff,
[34:39.560 -> 34:42.980] Vegas is just like this huge thing that's approaching.
[34:42.980 -> 34:45.120] I mean, it's not just going to be an awesome race,
[34:45.120 -> 34:46.480] but it seems like the atmosphere
[34:46.480 -> 34:48.680] is gonna be bonkers, isn't it?
[34:48.680 -> 34:49.840] Sounds insane, yeah.
[34:49.840 -> 34:50.680] Yeah.
[34:50.680 -> 34:51.520] Yeah.
[34:51.520 -> 34:52.560] How do you feel about it?
[34:52.560 -> 34:54.480] I think it's gonna be the biggest event
[34:56.000 -> 34:59.280] in sports in the world, you know, because, yeah.
[34:59.280 -> 35:01.800] I just think it's gonna be huge, the event,
[35:01.800 -> 35:06.440] and Vegas, you know, I've been a lot of time to Vegas with friends.
[35:06.440 -> 35:11.440] And, I mean, it's a great place, you know,
[35:14.240 -> 35:16.680] to, it's a great combination also
[35:16.680 -> 35:18.720] to have the sport with Vegas.
[35:20.120 -> 35:24.240] Yeah, I think if we have a good race there,
[35:24.240 -> 35:26.520] it's one of those races that you really want to do well.
[35:26.680 -> 35:29.800] Yeah. That's quite hard to train with,
[35:29.960 -> 35:31.360] because I know at the moment we're chatting to you
[35:31.520 -> 35:34.400] while you're in the middle of doing a lot of sim stuff.
[35:34.560 -> 35:38.240] So I'm guessing you've been driving a lot of that on the sim
[35:38.400 -> 35:42.520] to try and do the Vegas track, because no one's properly driven it yet.
[35:42.680 -> 35:43.800] That's yet to come.
[35:43.960 -> 35:47.600] So in six weeks or so time, we'll be back in
[35:47.600 -> 35:50.480] and we'll do a dedicated Vegas prep session.
[35:50.480 -> 35:51.400] Oh, and no pressure,
[35:51.400 -> 35:53.960] but apparently it's Christian Horner's 50th birthday
[35:53.960 -> 35:55.240] while you're out in Vegas.
[35:55.240 -> 35:57.680] So, because he mentioned it on this podcast.
[35:57.680 -> 35:59.760] So he's like, I'm out there for my 50th.
[35:59.760 -> 36:03.120] So maybe get him a nice present, something like that.
[36:03.120 -> 36:04.120] It's a street circuit.
[36:04.120 -> 36:08.200] Exactly.
[36:08.200 -> 36:10.600] Talking Ball is brought to you by HP Poly.
[36:10.600 -> 36:14.920] Poly provide best-in-class communications hardware solutions for the Oracle Red Bull
[36:14.920 -> 36:19.160] Racing team, both at the track and back at the factory.
[36:19.160 -> 36:24.480] Their premium audio and video products allow the team to focus on what they do best, winning
[36:24.480 -> 36:26.080] world championships.
[36:26.080 -> 36:30.720] To find out more about what Poly can offer your business, visit their website at poly.com.
[36:30.720 -> 36:36.880] Ensure you have your best meeting, anywhere, anytime, every time. Now, back to the podcast.
[36:37.520 -> 36:41.600] So, on this podcast, we also have the HP Poly Challenge. They are our sponsors of the podcast.
[36:41.600 -> 36:46.280] They are the leaders in video and voice. So we've done a few different versions of this challenge.
[36:46.280 -> 36:49.240] What I need you to do is pop in your poly in ears.
[36:49.240 -> 36:51.160] So just pop them. They are fresh ones.
[36:51.480 -> 36:53.080] Yes, please.
[36:53.080 -> 36:55.560] And what you will hear
[36:55.560 -> 36:58.160] are three Formula One tracks.
[36:58.800 -> 37:02.800] And I need you to work as a team to see if you can guess the three tracks.
[37:02.800 -> 37:05.360] Are you ready? Yeah. Okay, let's do it.
[37:23.360 -> 37:24.360] Budapest?
[37:24.360 -> 37:26.000] Monaco? Which one? I was thinking Budapest. There were a lot of straights.
[37:26.000 -> 37:28.000] It was a reasonable drag to turn one.
[37:28.000 -> 37:31.000] Yeah, it's quite slow with a turn one.
[37:31.000 -> 37:39.000] Yeah, I did wonder whether it was Baku but starting, not on the start-finish line, on the line.
[37:39.000 -> 37:41.000] But it wasn't that long, no?
[37:41.000 -> 37:44.000] Yeah, I don't think the RPM was quite high.
[37:44.000 -> 37:45.240] No, it was line, control line.
[37:45.400 -> 37:47.040] But it wasn't that long, no?
[37:47.200 -> 37:50.080] Yeah, I don't think the RPM was quite high enough.
[37:50.240 -> 37:51.240] No.
[37:52.240 -> 37:55.680] I can tell you as a clue, you have already raced it this year.
[37:56.640 -> 37:57.640] No Jeddah.
[37:59.320 -> 38:00.320] No Melbourne.
[38:03.240 -> 38:06.000] No Miami. No Miami. No, Miami.
[38:06.000 -> 38:07.000] No.
[38:07.000 -> 38:09.000] So it must be...
[38:09.000 -> 38:10.000] Hungary?
[38:10.000 -> 38:12.000] I would have said Hungary.
[38:12.000 -> 38:13.000] You're going Hungary?
[38:13.000 -> 38:14.000] Yeah.
[38:14.000 -> 38:16.000] Final answer?
[38:16.000 -> 38:17.000] That's wrong.
[38:17.000 -> 38:19.000] Which drug was it?
[38:19.000 -> 38:21.000] Baku.
[38:21.000 -> 38:22.000] It was Baku.
[38:22.000 -> 38:23.000] I should always...
[38:23.000 -> 38:24.000] I'm swearing!
[38:24.000 -> 38:26.800] I should always stick to what I believe in, you see?
[38:26.920 -> 38:28.480] It wasn't a long enough drag to tell.
[38:28.600 -> 38:31.320] You both got to a point where you were discussing it and I was like,
[38:31.440 -> 38:32.440] oh, maybe.
[38:32.560 -> 38:34.120] We just doubted too much.
[38:34.240 -> 38:37.400] I don't think the clip started on the control line, it must have started.
[38:37.520 -> 38:40.160] Yeah, and the curving, I mean, it was an obvious one.
[38:40.280 -> 38:41.880] OK, right, clip number two, you ready?
[38:42.000 -> 38:45.040] Yeah. OK, here we go.
[39:03.560 -> 39:07.000] I thought it was Bahrain until that last last corner. No it was quite fast it was Bahrain until that last corner.
[39:07.000 -> 39:09.000] No, it was quite fast.
[39:09.000 -> 39:11.000] Quite fast during one.
[39:11.000 -> 39:13.000] Do you want a clue on this one?
[39:13.000 -> 39:14.000] Yeah.
[39:14.000 -> 39:16.000] You haven't raced this one yet. Not this year.
[39:16.000 -> 39:19.000] You're both taking this really seriously and I kind of like it.
[39:19.000 -> 39:22.000] It's a very serious game.
[39:22.000 -> 39:29.840] Not Singapore, not Japan, not Austin.
[39:29.840 -> 39:31.320] Not Mexico.
[39:31.320 -> 39:33.680] Could be Mexico.
[39:33.680 -> 39:35.160] It's Mexico.
[39:35.160 -> 39:37.440] It's the correct answer.
[39:37.440 -> 39:40.960] The moment that just triggered in your head was, it's not Mexico.
[39:40.960 -> 39:42.040] Yes, it is.
[39:42.040 -> 39:42.800] Yes, it is.
[39:42.800 -> 39:43.200] Well done.
[39:43.200 -> 39:44.240] OK, so last one.
[39:44.240 -> 39:45.340] Let's see how you do, because you've only got Okay, so last one, let's see how you do,
[39:45.340 -> 39:46.940] because you've only got one right so far.
[39:46.940 -> 39:48.980] So let's see if you can get the final one right.
[39:48.980 -> 39:50.260] Here we go, this is the last one.
[39:50.260 -> 40:16.040] ♪♪ I think this one's on you.
[40:16.040 -> 40:17.040] Oh, really?
[40:17.040 -> 40:18.040] Oh, okay, no pressure.
[40:18.040 -> 40:19.040] What did you say?
[40:19.040 -> 40:20.040] It's on you.
[40:20.040 -> 40:22.800] I got lost after about three apexes.
[40:22.800 -> 40:26.040] So it's very similar to Monza.
[40:26.040 -> 40:29.040] You activate the RS on the main straight,
[40:29.040 -> 40:31.400] you have quite a bit, it's quite a bit slow.
[40:34.720 -> 40:36.360] Jeddah?
[40:36.360 -> 40:39.160] Nailed it, yes, it's Jeddah.
[40:39.160 -> 40:40.000] I was just about to say,
[40:40.000 -> 40:41.560] I'm not giving you any clues on this one,
[40:41.560 -> 40:43.840] but you absolutely got it, well done, well done.
[40:43.840 -> 40:45.600] So you got two out of three. That was good.
[40:45.600 -> 40:47.960] We should have got the three, but yeah, never mind.
[40:47.960 -> 40:48.560] Never mind.
[40:48.560 -> 40:51.840] Is that the concentration face that he makes while you're driving on the simulator?
[40:51.840 -> 40:55.360] It was just this real concentration face you had going on.
[40:56.720 -> 40:59.000] I want to say thank you so much for joining me,
[40:59.000 -> 41:03.440] because I know you're going straight back to the sim to go and have another full sim session.
[41:03.560 -> 41:06.020] When you do a sim session, how long do you normally
[41:06.020 -> 41:07.100] have a go on one track?
[41:07.100 -> 41:09.760] How long do you normally spend?
[41:10.600 -> 41:13.820] Normally do two, two and a half hours on the track,
[41:13.820 -> 41:14.660] that sort of time.
[41:14.660 -> 41:16.380] So like you did one track this morning,
[41:16.380 -> 41:18.480] you'll do another track this afternoon kind of thing?
[41:18.480 -> 41:20.920] Yeah, we'll work through 10, 15 setup items,
[41:20.920 -> 41:22.980] development items, yeah.
[41:22.980 -> 41:25.440] Thank you very much for joining me here on Talking Bull. It's
[41:25.440 -> 41:30.800] been fabulous chatting to you. Enjoy race weekend this weekend and we'll see you again next time.