In Pursuit of Perfect Pit Stops

On this edition of Talking Bull, legendary F1 driver turned pundit Martin Brundle catches up with Christian Horner about the season so far. We’re still very proud to hold the world record for the fastest Pitstop, we hear from Max Verstappen and David Tsurusaki from ExxonMobil to get a real insight into the importance of it all. Plus we have an exclusive track from The Daily Chiefers and Tommy Swisher to end the episode.

# **Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Podcast: Talking Bull**

## **Episode: The Art of the Pit Stop**

### **Introduction**

- Christian Horner, Martin Brundle, and Alex Albon discuss the importance of pit stops in Formula One racing.
- The team holds the world record for the fastest pit stop, set in Brazil in 2019 with a time of 1.82 seconds.

### **Christian Horner and Martin Brundle Interview**

- Horner and Brundle discuss the challenges of racing during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the lack of crowds and the strict protocols in place.
- They also discuss the team's performance so far in the season, with Max Verstappen having five straight podiums and a win at Silverstone.
- Horner praises Verstappen's driving and consistency, while Brundle highlights the impressive race craft of Alex Albon.

### **Pit Stop Analysis**

- Horner and Brundle discuss the team's pit stop strategy, which has been very successful this season.
- They credit the team's training and synchronization for their quick pit stops.
- Verstappen emphasizes the importance of stopping on the marks and having a well-coordinated team to ensure a fast pit stop.

### **Interview with David Teresaki, ExxonMobil's Global Motorsport Technology Manager**

- Teresaki discusses ExxonMobil's partnership with Aston Martin Red Bull Racing and the role of lubricants and fuels in Formula One racing.
- He explains the unique challenges of developing lubricants for Formula One, including the need for high performance and low toxicity.
- Teresaki highlights the team's recent development of a new wheel gun lubricant that minimizes overspray and protects internal components, while also being biodegradable and low toxicity.
- He also discusses the importance of fuel economy in Formula One and the strides that have been made in this area in recent years.

### **Conclusion**

- The episode wraps up with a brief statement encapsulating the overall message or takeaway from the podcast. **Navigating the Challenges of Remote Work in Formula One: A Conversation with David Coulthard**

**Introduction:**

In this episode of the Talking Bull podcast, host Nicola Hume engages in a candid conversation with David Coulthard, a former Formula One driver and current commentator, about the challenges and adjustments that the sport has had to make in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Coulthard, who has been a part of Formula One for over two decades, shares his unique perspective on the impact of remote work on the sport.

**Coulthard's Experience with Remote Work:**

Coulthard begins by expressing his eagerness to return to the racetrack, having been away from it since the restart of the season. He highlights the emotional toll of watching the races from home, emphasizing the intense longing to be physically involved in the sport. Additionally, Coulthard reflects on his extensive travel and global engagements as a motorsport manager, making the transition to working from home particularly challenging.

**The Impact of Remote Work on Formula One:**

Coulthard acknowledges the difficulties faced by Formula One teams in adapting to remote work. He points out the importance of teamwork and collaboration in the sport, which can be hindered by the lack of face-to-face interactions. Coulthard also touches upon the challenges of maintaining motivation and focus while working remotely, especially for those accustomed to the high-energy environment of the racetrack.

**Coping Mechanisms and Maintaining Connection:**

Coulthard emphasizes the importance of maintaining a sense of connection with colleagues and the Formula One community during these challenging times. He suggests utilizing video conferencing and other technological tools to facilitate virtual team meetings and social interactions. Additionally, Coulthard highlights the importance of maintaining a routine and setting clear boundaries between work and personal life to ensure productivity and well-being.

**Conclusion:**

The podcast concludes with Coulthard expressing his hope for a return to normalcy in Formula One, while acknowledging the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic. He emphasizes the resilience of the sport and its ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Coulthard also encourages fans to stay engaged with Formula One through various digital platforms and to look forward to the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix.

[00:00.000 -> 00:07.000] Hi there, this is Christian Horner.
[00:07.000 -> 00:10.000] You've won the Austrian Grand Prix!
[00:10.000 -> 00:11.000] Hi, it's Alex Albon.
[00:11.000 -> 00:16.000] Hi, I'm Max Verstappen and you're listening to the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Podcast.
[00:16.000 -> 00:20.000] Oh, this feels good!
[00:20.000 -> 00:29.680] It's Talking Bull, the official Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Podcast podcast and we're back with some more exclusive insights into the team. In this episode we want to
[00:29.680 -> 00:33.760] get into one of the most important aspects of a Formula One race. We're
[00:33.760 -> 00:38.240] still very proud to hold the world record for the fastest pit stop set in
[00:38.240 -> 00:43.200] Brazil in 2019 with a time of 1.82 seconds and the team continues to work
[00:43.200 -> 00:47.960] hard on the art and consistently sets the fastest time in each race.
[00:47.960 -> 00:50.280] As you know, every millisecond counts.
[00:50.280 -> 00:51.960] Coming up, we hear from Max Verstappen
[00:51.960 -> 00:54.080] on how important the pit stops are to him.
[00:54.080 -> 00:56.640] We cross to the States to speak with David Teresaki
[00:56.640 -> 00:59.760] from ExxonMobil to find out how their lubricants help
[00:59.760 -> 01:00.800] the whole process.
[01:00.800 -> 01:03.960] Plus, we have an exclusive track from Daily Chiefers and Tommy
[01:03.960 -> 01:05.680] Swisher to end the episode.
[01:05.680 -> 01:10.160] To kick things off this week, Christian Horner and Martin Brundle got together on Zoom for Aston
[01:10.160 -> 01:15.360] Martin. These guys have known each other for years and we had to get them on Talking Bull.
[01:15.360 -> 01:19.680] Over to you Martin. Christian Horner, team principal of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing.
[01:19.680 -> 01:25.920] Christian, that's what you look like without a mask on, is it? I'd forgotten. Yeah, I forgot what you look like as well.
[01:25.920 -> 01:32.320] So yeah, it's nice to be mask-free in our bubble environment here in Milton Keynes.
[01:32.320 -> 01:35.920] Yeah, I mean, it's been pretty weird, hasn't it, Formula One races, but at least we got
[01:35.920 -> 01:40.960] the show on the road and keeping the show on the road with all the protocols and bubbles
[01:40.960 -> 01:50.920] and things stuck up your nose for a Covid test every five days. Yeah, it's a weird existence at the moment and going to the tracks without crowds is
[01:50.920 -> 01:54.400] particularly strange and soulless in many respects.
[01:54.400 -> 01:59.400] But when the car starts running, your focus is drawn into the car and the race and you
[01:59.400 -> 02:03.360] don't really, you don't recognise the, you know, the surroundings aren't there.
[02:03.360 -> 02:09.840] It's only at the end of the race that you feel like you're at an indoor go-kart podium ceremony when there's just a few mechanics,
[02:09.840 -> 02:15.520] you know, around the podium. But the most important thing is we're racing and
[02:15.520 -> 02:19.200] the races have been good so far. I know what you mean about the podium. I've done many of the
[02:19.200 -> 02:24.800] interviews this year and it just feels weird. You've got three guys just had a brilliant race and
[02:24.800 -> 02:25.360] nobody's
[02:25.360 -> 02:29.040] there to appreciate it. There's no atmosphere and I miss that so much.
[02:29.040 -> 02:36.160] Yeah, I've seen bigger crowds at a local car club. You've got the best drivers in the world
[02:36.160 -> 02:40.320] winning Formula One Grand Prixs. But I think the most important thing, I guess, is we're
[02:40.320 -> 02:45.680] getting the broadcast out and people around the world are getting to see Formula 1 and there's
[02:45.680 -> 02:52.000] been some good races so far this year and hopefully many more to come and some crowds
[02:52.000 -> 02:55.920] starting to come back in. Absolutely, we're hearing about that a bit later in the year but you've had
[02:55.920 -> 03:00.960] a great run haven't you, particularly with Max, he's had five straight podiums and of course that
[03:00.960 -> 03:09.520] wonderful win at Silverstone for the 70th anniversary. Yeah, a lot's happened in seven weeks. You know, six races in seven weeks has been pretty intense.
[03:09.520 -> 03:13.680] You know, it's a shame we got the DNF for the first race. You know, without that, I think we'd
[03:13.680 -> 03:18.720] really be 18 points probably closer to Lewis at the moment. But it's been a great run. You know,
[03:18.720 -> 03:22.880] Max is driving out of his skin at the moment. I mean, he's put in some great, you know, Sundays
[03:22.880 -> 03:29.200] so far. So, yeah, we're just fighting hard to get some performance on the car and hopefully with the
[03:29.200 -> 03:32.960] 10 or 11 races that remain, you know, we can close the gap.
[03:32.960 -> 03:38.800] Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, what's his run? Third, second, second, first, second. I mean his
[03:38.800 -> 03:45.600] consistency, his speed and he still has time to remind Giampiero to sanitise his hands or something.
[03:45.600 -> 03:48.680] He wanted some new tyres on the guy, he knew you'd got some.
[03:48.680 -> 03:54.280] I think the problem is that obviously he doesn't have access to all the data that the pit wall
[03:54.280 -> 04:00.160] has which is supported by back here in Milton Keynes during a race and we can see exactly
[04:00.160 -> 04:05.540] the wear life of his tyres, we can see his pace compared to the rivals. What we're plotting
[04:05.540 -> 04:10.100] is not just where he'll come out at that point in time, but of course, what his tyre state
[04:10.100 -> 04:15.420] will be for the rest of the Grand Prix. So he was keen to get off a tyre that felt particularly
[04:15.420 -> 04:20.780] horrible for him at that moment, but there was a bigger picture which he recognised after
[04:20.780 -> 04:21.780] the race.
[04:21.780 -> 04:25.120] Yeah, well, we've certainly seen some feisty drives from him and some feisty overtakes
[04:25.120 -> 04:29.920] from Alex Albon, who especially at Silverstone, I mean that lad's brave isn't he?
[04:29.920 -> 04:30.920] He's not frightened of anything.
[04:30.920 -> 04:33.640] Yeah, I mean Alex's Sundays on the whole this year have been phenomenal.
[04:33.640 -> 04:38.280] I mean some of the passes in Silverstone as you say, round the outside of Cox and some
[04:38.280 -> 04:45.400] really brave, you know, manoeuvres and I think you know his race craft is second to none.
[04:45.400 -> 04:47.940] We just need to get his single lap pace.
[04:47.940 -> 04:49.400] We need to help him with that.
[04:49.400 -> 04:53.080] And we've obviously brought in some changes to try and help him with that.
[04:53.080 -> 04:59.400] So I'm sure he'll come, you know, he's only just been with us 12 months now and it's been
[04:59.400 -> 05:02.280] an interrupted 12 months, obviously with the COVID and so on.
[05:02.280 -> 05:05.640] And I think our car is tricky over a single
[05:05.640 -> 05:09.320] lap. So I think that will come as we also improve the car.
[05:09.320 -> 05:13.520] Yeah, he just needs a better Saturday, which is going to make his Sundays a whole lot easier,
[05:13.520 -> 05:18.840] isn't it? Those overtakes will be for podium spots instead of the recovery spots, really,
[05:18.840 -> 05:20.080] that he's doing so well.
[05:20.080 -> 05:24.760] Yeah, most definitely. I think his race, you know, his racing has been excellent this year.
[05:24.760 -> 05:29.380] I mean, he was unlucky not to win that first race with the strategy we put him on had he not
[05:29.380 -> 05:33.700] been tagged by Lewis. So, you know, it's tough for him. It's tough being, you know, Max's
[05:33.700 -> 05:38.860] teammate who's in the form of his life and, you know, Alex has only got just over a season's
[05:38.860 -> 05:44.420] worth of experience behind him. But, yeah, he's a deep thinker. He's a smart lad. He
[05:44.420 -> 05:45.920] works incredibly hard and I
[05:45.920 -> 05:50.240] think he'll definitely get there. Yeah I know the position he's in from when I was teammates
[05:50.240 -> 05:54.800] of Schumacher and Hakanen and you need a lot of self-belief somewhere there. Your pit stops have
[05:54.800 -> 06:00.800] been outstanding, I mean some sub two seconds. Any changes have you made or is it just finessing?
[06:00.800 -> 06:05.840] Because I thought everybody would be rusty having had so many months off from racing.
[06:05.840 -> 06:10.240] No, I can a red bull just before the stop and that's worth a couple of tenths. So,
[06:10.880 -> 06:16.480] no, I mean the guys they train and train and train and it's like anything, they analyze what they do,
[06:17.520 -> 06:22.720] every element of that stop from where the wheel's placed to where the gun is to, you know, every
[06:22.720 -> 06:25.320] single element that they're trimming hundreds
[06:25.320 -> 06:26.600] and hundreds of a second.
[06:26.600 -> 06:31.980] And it's like synchronized swimming when you see the car come in and it all works.
[06:31.980 -> 06:37.260] You know it's quick when the TV doesn't capture the timing.
[06:37.260 -> 06:42.020] You know you've nailed a quick one because it's sent the system into meltdown or whatever.
[06:42.020 -> 06:47.600] So I think that's the six fastest stops that they've done in all six races this year.
[06:47.600 -> 06:49.960] So it's been a phenomenal effort by them.
[06:49.960 -> 06:54.120] Yeah, I mean the choreography to get that many people around a car and change the wheels
[06:54.120 -> 07:00.360] and tyres in sub two seconds, as a driver, it must feel like you barely stopped and you're
[07:00.360 -> 07:01.520] dropping the clutch again.
[07:01.520 -> 07:02.880] Well, he's just focused on the lights.
[07:02.880 -> 07:04.760] He's not even looking at the wheels to see where they've gone on.
[07:04.760 -> 07:07.560] As soon as that light goes out, he's off.
[07:07.560 -> 07:11.480] So it's the guys, I've actually watched the guys on the gun.
[07:11.480 -> 07:13.320] They're actually getting onto the wheel
[07:13.320 -> 07:15.320] before the car has stopped.
[07:15.320 -> 07:17.300] And you know, you've got to have complete faith
[07:17.300 -> 07:19.360] in your driver on where he's going to stop
[07:19.360 -> 07:21.920] and where he's going to stop in order to do that.
[07:21.920 -> 07:24.840] But as I say, they practice and they take great pride.
[07:24.840 -> 07:25.120] You know, when that list comes out on a Sunday say, they practice and they take great pride, you know,
[07:25.120 -> 07:29.960] when that list comes out on a Sunday evening, there's a huge amount of pride that, you know,
[07:29.960 -> 07:32.800] the guys have smashed in another fastest stop.
[07:32.800 -> 07:38.040] Yeah, I bet. Let's talk Aston Martin. You were due to have a test in the Valkyrie with
[07:38.040 -> 07:40.160] Adrian. Have you managed to do that yet?
[07:40.160 -> 07:44.280] Well, we couldn't socially distance in it. So it got postponed.
[07:44.280 -> 07:46.880] That's the whole point of it, really, I guess.
[07:46.880 -> 07:51.840] Yeah, so it's been postponed to the beginning of September, but the car's running a lot
[07:51.840 -> 07:52.840] now.
[07:52.840 -> 07:55.200] I mean, it's running at all kinds of different test tracks.
[07:55.200 -> 08:00.000] We've got a car at Red Bull Advanced Technology that we're developing the active system.
[08:00.000 -> 08:03.280] That's all turned on and working as it should.
[08:03.280 -> 08:05.200] I think they've run the car up to 300 kilometers
[08:05.200 -> 08:13.920] an hour. And yeah, it's good to see that project really coming to life. And everything, certainly
[08:13.920 -> 08:17.840] from a performance point of view, seems to be as it should be at the moment. So there's
[08:17.840 -> 08:24.320] still quite a bit to do because it basically is a race car that's road legal. So still
[08:24.320 -> 08:25.200] quite a bit to do.
[08:25.200 -> 08:29.520] That initial promise of F1 speeds around racetracks, that's still on target, is it?
[08:29.520 -> 08:37.600] I think it will deliver exactly what it says on the tin in terms of the aerodynamics that
[08:37.600 -> 08:38.600] it's generating.
[08:38.600 -> 08:45.620] So yeah, it's going to be a phenomenal car and obviously it's an important phase now
[08:45.620 -> 08:50.120] as they're into the tuning of the aerodynamics and of the suspension.
[08:50.120 -> 08:55.400] So to make sure that it's balanced and it's handling is as it should be.
[08:55.400 -> 08:59.600] And we've got professional drivers working on that with Aston.
[08:59.600 -> 09:02.080] So busy, busy times with that project.
[09:02.080 -> 09:04.580] I look forward to frightening myself in one of those.
[09:04.580 -> 09:08.800] So DBX launched to the media, got some tremendous write-ups recently.
[09:08.800 -> 09:14.680] I don't know if you got a chance to have a look at them in our frenzy of Formula 1 action,
[09:14.680 -> 09:18.000] but that's gone down really well hasn't it, Nicole, before the SUV?
[09:18.000 -> 09:19.000] It's a great car.
[09:19.000 -> 09:22.840] I mean the drivers had a run in it over the Silverstone weekend and they were both thoroughly
[09:22.840 -> 09:23.840] impressed by it.
[09:23.840 -> 09:29.280] So it's a great looking car. I think it's going to be a winner for Aston Martin so yeah,
[09:29.280 -> 09:33.440] I think we'll see more and more of them hopefully out on the roads now.
[09:33.440 -> 09:35.920] How are you going to close the gap to this Mercedes then?
[09:35.920 -> 09:40.600] Have you got some wonderful news from your aero department or the wind tunnel or the
[09:40.600 -> 09:41.600] modelling or something?
[09:41.600 -> 09:46.040] Well we're working flat out as you can imagine because it's not just this year, it's next year as well,
[09:46.040 -> 09:47.640] with a car being carried over.
[09:47.640 -> 09:49.480] So, yeah, Mercedes, hats off to them.
[09:49.480 -> 09:52.040] They've done a great job all round.
[09:52.040 -> 09:54.440] Their engine's strong, their chassis is strong.
[09:54.440 -> 09:56.960] But, yeah, we've got some good stuff in the pipeline
[09:56.960 -> 09:59.560] and still a long way to go in this championship.
[09:59.560 -> 10:02.160] So, the race is coming thick and fast,
[10:02.160 -> 10:10.280] but I think that if we can get through the next two that are very much Mercedes territory and Monza and Spa, then there's a few tracks
[10:10.280 -> 10:15.320] coming up, a few new circuits as well that could come back to us.
[10:15.320 -> 10:18.680] We see that as an opportunity later in the championship as well.
[10:18.680 -> 10:26.320] What's your position on these tyres when races are dominated by blistering or degradation, does that please you?
[10:26.880 -> 10:32.240] Not really, I mean it's a tricky one isn't it? I mean I think that nobody likes to see one-stop
[10:32.240 -> 10:38.160] races but I think you don't want to hear the drivers having to nurse the tyre to the degree
[10:38.160 -> 10:45.280] that he is. So it's difficult, I mean Pirelli are only competing against themselves. Everybody has
[10:45.280 -> 10:50.580] the same tyre, which I think is a good thing, you know, in Formula One. But yeah, it's never
[10:50.580 -> 10:56.420] good to hear the drivers, you know, complaining to the degree that they are or the tyres,
[10:56.420 -> 10:59.700] you know, having the issues that they sometimes experience.
[10:59.700 -> 11:03.980] Yeah, one driver radioed in and asked his team, how were his tyres? And my heart sank
[11:03.980 -> 11:10.160] a little bit. That wasn't one of your drivers, I hasten to add, but there's so much telemetry on the cars,
[11:10.160 -> 11:14.000] isn't there? I wonder if we've gone a bit too far with that technology.
[11:14.000 -> 11:17.920] Yeah, I mean, they're so advanced now, the technology that we have and the way that the
[11:17.920 -> 11:21.760] driver drives the car is, I mean, you could see at the beginning of the race, just loads of
[11:21.760 -> 11:28.080] humps and totally chilling out. You're driving probably three seconds off the potential of the tyre because he didn't want to
[11:28.080 -> 11:32.080] stress them. You could hear Max's comments, you know, behind him saying that, you know,
[11:32.080 -> 11:36.400] he's just cruising and it was only when Bottas passed the racing point that suddenly he got on
[11:36.400 -> 11:42.640] with the programme a bit more. So, you know, that's, I guess, part of the tactics of Formula 1
[11:42.640 -> 11:45.480] these days. But, you know, I think we all want to see the drivers
[11:45.480 -> 11:47.680] racing flat out every lap.
[11:47.680 -> 11:50.480] Yeah, I would very much agree with you on that.
[11:50.480 -> 11:54.640] So where do you see this season heading now in terms of how many races?
[11:54.640 -> 11:57.640] What's the latest on that in terms of the calendar?
[11:57.640 -> 12:01.600] I think the final parts of the calendar will shape up over the next couple of weeks.
[12:01.600 -> 12:09.060] I think we're looking at 17 races, which is a healthy championship in the end. It looks like we're going to stay in Europe until probably
[12:09.060 -> 12:18.180] end of October, early November. So yeah, I think that 17 races will be a healthy championship.
[12:18.180 -> 12:22.860] It's obviously tough for the guys at the moment because the races are coming thick and fast.
[12:22.860 -> 12:29.200] Tripleheaders are tough for all of us,, especially the heat and so on. That's been pretty gruelling for them. But,
[12:29.200 -> 12:34.800] you know, they're all racers and I think we'd rather be racing than sitting at home locked up.
[12:34.800 -> 12:40.400] Yeah, we're going to end up quite soon having done nine races in 11 weekends and everybody,
[12:40.400 -> 12:44.880] even the fans at home, need the stamina for that one. Have you seen anything in your team where
[12:48.320 -> 12:51.840] they're beginning to struggle with that kind of pace? Not yet. I mean, it's amazing.
[12:51.840 -> 12:56.320] The race team is so much fitter than they used to be 10 or 15 years ago.
[12:56.320 -> 12:58.000] They all look athletic these days.
[12:58.000 -> 13:01.040] You don't see any chubby mechanics anymore.
[13:01.240 -> 13:08.680] They all look primed and they all take their nutrition seriously and because most of you guys are working on the pit stop as
[13:08.680 -> 13:12.720] well, they're all focused about their well-being and I think with the rules
[13:12.720 -> 13:17.240] the way they are with Parc Fermé, the fact that they have to be out of the
[13:17.240 -> 13:22.360] circuit by what 7 or 8 o'clock on a Friday or Saturday night, they get a full
[13:22.360 -> 13:25.480] amount of sleep, they get rested, it's not like your
[13:25.480 -> 13:29.640] time when the mechanics would be doing all-nighters and putting poly engines and race engines
[13:29.640 -> 13:30.640] and warm-ups.
[13:30.640 -> 13:33.240] So it's quite a disciplined regime that we have now.
[13:33.240 -> 13:40.840] So life as a mechanic is much more palatable than it would have been 15 or 20 years ago.
[13:40.840 -> 13:48.960] Yes, because some teams, their mechanics, the race mechanics don't go back to the factory do they, between events I heard? Yeah and to be honest with you, if the cars
[13:48.960 -> 13:52.880] aren't here we don't expect the mechanics to be here, so you know they've got families as well
[13:53.440 -> 14:01.040] and we'd rather them be well rested, so you know they'll be in for obviously a few days between
[14:01.040 -> 14:05.120] this next round of races, but if the cars aren't here there's no reason
[14:05.120 -> 14:08.860] for them to be here. I have to ask you about Sebastian Vettel, the man you won
[14:08.860 -> 14:12.600] four World Championships with. Have you spoken to him? He's obviously going
[14:12.600 -> 14:17.460] through a pretty torrid time. Yeah, you know Seb, we achieved so much
[14:17.460 -> 14:23.560] during that period and it's not nice to see him obviously not in
[14:23.560 -> 14:28.480] a happy place and in saying that he drove a very good race.
[14:28.480 -> 14:32.600] But he looks like he's got the pressure of the world on his shoulders.
[14:32.600 -> 14:38.040] He's visibly aged during the last 12 or 24 months.
[14:38.040 -> 14:44.920] And I think people forget what he has achieved, that he is the third most successful driver
[14:44.920 -> 14:46.080] in the history of the
[14:46.080 -> 14:52.440] sport and he drove some phenomenal races for us. So whatever he chooses to do next, whether
[14:52.440 -> 15:00.000] he takes a year out, decides to stop or moves to another team, that is his decision but
[15:00.000 -> 15:06.200] he needs to do what makes him happy at the end of the day and fulfills him.
[15:06.200 -> 15:09.320] Yeah, we all want to see him happy and doing well.
[15:09.320 -> 15:10.320] And are you satisfied?
[15:10.320 -> 15:13.280] Are you happy with the structure going forward of Formula One?
[15:13.280 -> 15:16.080] I think Formula One's in a pretty decent shape, to be honest with you.
[15:16.080 -> 15:19.400] I mean, all things considered with the crisis and everything, I think the way the teams
[15:19.400 -> 15:24.080] have worked together, where we're not particularly good at most of the time, I think has been
[15:24.080 -> 15:25.440] healthy.
[15:25.440 -> 15:31.940] The Concorde Agreement is going to get signed by everybody. And yeah, I think that the future
[15:31.940 -> 15:36.040] does look, you know, encouraging and promising. We've got new regulations coming, whether
[15:36.040 -> 15:40.720] it's budget caps for next year, technical regs the year after, so new look cars. So
[15:40.720 -> 15:52.080] we've got some new circuits that will be on the calendar that we didn't get to go to this year like Vietnam and Zanvyl. So I think that there's a lot of reason for
[15:52.080 -> 15:55.560] optimism in the future of Formula 1.
[15:55.560 -> 16:00.040] Sounds good. So when you opened your eyes this morning after a decent weekend in Spain
[16:00.040 -> 16:05.840] for Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, what were your thoughts? How are you feeling about the
[16:05.840 -> 16:06.840] season so far for the team?
[16:06.840 -> 16:13.160] How are we going to catch Lewis Hamilton? I got up at 6.30, went for a run and that's
[16:13.160 -> 16:18.000] what's on your mind. You're never satisfied with second place. Even when you win a race,
[16:18.000 -> 16:24.120] you try and understand what it is. A week earlier, obviously we'd won that 70th anniversary
[16:24.120 -> 16:26.720] race and again I was up at 6.30
[16:26.720 -> 16:30.640] the following morning thinking, okay how do we build on this? How do we move it forward? So
[16:30.640 -> 16:36.000] your mind's always looking ahead, it's never looking backwards and I think the motivation
[16:36.000 -> 16:41.920] here is we've got the ingredients of something that if we can just unlock some more potential,
[16:41.920 -> 16:45.200] we're an outsider for this championship but we're still in it.
[16:45.200 -> 16:50.480] We're all hanging on that waiting for you to do that to spice up the races but congratulations
[16:50.480 -> 16:54.480] on the season so far and good to talk to you Christian. Thanks Martin. Yeah we can't wait for
[16:54.480 -> 17:00.080] the rest of the season now. As the guys touched on in their chat there the pit stop is massively
[17:00.080 -> 17:09.320] important to us as a team. We're still very proud to hold the world record set in Brazil in 2019 with a time of 1.82 seconds. Here's Max Verstappen with a bit
[17:09.320 -> 17:13.360] more insight into the wonders of a pit stop. Once you go into the pit lane and
[17:13.360 -> 17:17.280] you do your stop, we are so focused on stopping on the marks.
[17:17.280 -> 17:20.800] The mechanics know exactly of course where to put the wheel gun, that's very
[17:20.800 -> 17:24.320] important to us and then of course we rely on them but I mean it goes so quick
[17:24.320 -> 17:26.200] like if it's 1.8 seconds
[17:26.580 -> 17:30.060] We are like just making sure we do our procedures right and everything
[17:30.360 -> 17:32.920] but you feel when it's a good stop or not and
[17:33.320 -> 17:41.040] I have to say of course the last few Grand Prix's we well also last year we had some really really quick stops
[17:42.000 -> 17:46.000] really quick stops.
[17:51.000 -> 17:56.000] It can make a massive difference, especially when you're close to a car ahead of or the car behind. So it's of course always very crucial that the guys are on it and that you have a good stop.
[17:56.000 -> 17:59.000] I just need to make sure that I stop at the right spot.
[17:59.000 -> 18:06.000] It's also nice that once you come into the box you know that you have a good group of guys waiting for you to change the tires.
[18:11.000 -> 18:14.000] It feels very nice because you feel it's all synchronized.
[18:14.000 -> 18:17.000] So wheels go off and on and you go.
[18:17.000 -> 18:21.000] I literally accelerated while the car was dropping.
[18:21.000 -> 18:29.360] I could feel that the four guns were done. It's better than a three second stop and one guy has a problem, that's for sure.
[18:29.360 -> 18:32.640] So it's clear a pit stop can make or break a race.
[18:32.640 -> 18:37.640] Let's cross to the States now to talk with David Siruzaki, who is ExxonMobil's Global
[18:37.640 -> 18:39.480] Motorsport Technology Manager.
[18:39.480 -> 18:41.560] David, great to talk to you on Talking Bull.
[18:41.560 -> 18:45.480] We're really enjoying getting to speak to some of the people who play a role in Race Day
[18:45.480 -> 18:48.120] who perhaps the fans don't normally get to hear from.
[18:48.120 -> 18:49.320] Can you tell us a little bit
[18:49.320 -> 18:50.600] about your role within the team?
[18:50.600 -> 18:53.960] I'm the Global Motorsports Technology Manager for XIMOBIL,
[18:53.960 -> 18:58.080] and I lead a team of engineers and scientists
[18:58.080 -> 19:01.440] that develop all of our lubricants and fuels
[19:01.440 -> 19:03.520] for any of the racing programs we're involved with.
[19:03.520 -> 19:05.440] So we have a core
[19:05.440 -> 19:10.720] team of guys and girls that are working on motorsports applications and whenever
[19:10.720 -> 19:15.240] we get a unique opportunity like a wheel gun lubricant or a gear oil or an
[19:15.240 -> 19:19.600] upgrade to an engine oil, our team goes to work and we try to find innovative
[19:19.600 -> 19:26.360] solutions. Obviously for an F1 team, fuel and lubricants are going to be very important.
[19:26.360 -> 19:29.660] Why do ExxonMobil partner with the team?
[19:29.660 -> 19:31.880] It's a good question.
[19:31.880 -> 19:38.320] It's a core part of what our research team is doing because we view motorsports as a
[19:38.320 -> 19:44.240] kind of a live test lab and it's a way for us to quickly put products to the test.
[19:44.240 -> 19:46.640] A lot of times in a normal commercial product
[19:46.640 -> 19:49.040] development, it takes sometimes a year
[19:49.040 -> 19:50.760] to do a commercial product development
[19:50.760 -> 19:54.080] because of the external tests that are required
[19:54.080 -> 19:55.840] and third party involvement.
[19:55.840 -> 19:58.840] In this case, we have an application or an engine
[19:58.840 -> 20:02.260] or a wheel gun lubricant, and we can go after it
[20:02.260 -> 20:05.320] with only the testing required for Red Bull and no one
[20:05.320 -> 20:11.220] else and we can get it done very, very quickly without having to worry about what's on the
[20:11.220 -> 20:18.720] outside of it. So it's nice to have only our team working on it and no external requirements
[20:18.720 -> 20:24.120] and we can go at it with a lot of innovative technology. We don't have to worry about commercializing
[20:24.120 -> 20:28.560] it. We don't have to worry about the cost of goods, none of that, it's just about performance.
[20:28.560 -> 20:33.400] And if it helps us in the future to make better products, that's why we do it.
[20:33.400 -> 20:37.640] I would imagine the challenges around the Formula One team and the race season and the
[20:37.640 -> 20:39.840] road changes means that you're kept busy.
[20:39.840 -> 20:46.240] Yeah, we've actually, even though we've been unable to travel to events and unable to be with
[20:46.240 -> 20:51.000] the teams, our team has been busy at work.
[20:51.000 -> 20:55.920] We recently had some discussions with the Honda team in Japan and we sent out samples
[20:55.920 -> 21:01.080] for them prior to their shutdown and hopefully as soon as they get back they can start testing
[21:01.080 -> 21:02.080] again.
[21:02.080 -> 21:05.080] So we've been pretty busy getting ready, really, for 2021.
[21:05.080 -> 21:07.920] That's what our work has been going on right now.
[21:07.920 -> 21:10.760] So everyone's gonna be aware of Rebels' world record
[21:10.760 -> 21:12.400] for the pit stop of 1.82 seconds.
[21:12.400 -> 21:14.480] It's a number that still blows my mind.
[21:14.480 -> 21:15.320] And I know it's wonderful.
[21:15.320 -> 21:17.360] It's continuing to try and beat as well,
[21:17.360 -> 21:20.040] and looking for marginal gains in that area.
[21:20.040 -> 21:22.480] And I understand the wheel gun lubricant
[21:22.480 -> 21:24.540] is something that you guys have been working on
[21:24.540 -> 21:26.480] and has been rolled out this season, is that correct?
[21:26.480 -> 21:33.360] Yeah, yeah, and it's a unique opportunity for us because it's not a normal or typical
[21:33.360 -> 21:36.160] application for a racing lubricant.
[21:36.160 -> 21:40.880] But the guys came to us, I think it was the end of last season, and the problem they were
[21:40.880 -> 21:51.520] having was not necessarily a typical problem that we would be addressing. It came to us as an issue with having over spray and at high temperatures, excess oil
[21:51.520 -> 21:52.960] would shoot out of the gun.
[21:52.960 -> 21:58.520] You can actually see it sometimes on TV when you see some teams, when they pull the trigger,
[21:58.520 -> 22:01.400] you see this oil spray come out of the gun.
[22:01.400 -> 22:05.480] And they didn't like that fact because it got into the goggles of the guys
[22:05.480 -> 22:08.120] working the equipment and the guys around them.
[22:08.120 -> 22:14.600] You also have excess lubricant that gets on them, they don't really like that and they're
[22:14.600 -> 22:15.600] breathing some of that in.
[22:15.600 -> 22:22.760] So that was really the crux of the issue but at the same time it had to be as good as what
[22:22.760 -> 22:25.780] they were using today, if not better.
[22:25.780 -> 22:33.180] So it needed to protect the internal components in addition to not minimizing or not losing
[22:33.180 -> 22:37.160] any torque settings or anything to do with the settings of the gun.
[22:37.160 -> 22:41.180] But at the same time, try to address this high temperature over spray problem.
[22:41.180 -> 22:45.240] I think it might be saying the team had every fastest pit stop this season so far.
[22:45.240 -> 22:47.360] So this product is clearly helping.
[22:47.360 -> 22:50.080] Well, I think one of the outcomes
[22:50.080 -> 22:51.960] that came out of the testing was not only
[22:51.960 -> 22:54.120] did it minimize the over spray,
[22:54.120 -> 22:57.760] we managed to avoid excess over spray
[22:57.760 -> 23:00.260] by going to a very, very stable product
[23:00.260 -> 23:01.840] over wide temperature ranges,
[23:01.840 -> 23:04.360] which was quite unique for a product like that.
[23:04.360 -> 23:08.560] But at the same time protecting all the internal components, but through their
[23:08.560 -> 23:12.540] testing they found the torque settings could be slightly higher, so anytime you
[23:12.540 -> 23:17.120] can tighten that up even that much better, you avoid any potential
[23:17.120 -> 23:23.760] for that to loosen up while they take off or while in the race, so if
[23:23.760 -> 23:26.960] we can help in any little way way that's good for the team.
[23:26.960 -> 23:29.840] And that all flows back into the speed of the pit stop I guess.
[23:29.840 -> 23:36.400] Yeah, yeah absolutely. Any little bit helps and if we're doing a small part in one little area
[23:36.400 -> 23:40.400] that's our contribution. David, what innovations are likely to be addressed in the future in that
[23:40.400 -> 23:46.120] area, do you know? I think one of the things we're working on, because of the unique raw materials that went into this,
[23:46.120 -> 23:49.100] it turns out that the basic raw material
[23:49.100 -> 23:51.580] is a biodegradable component,
[23:51.580 -> 23:56.040] and because of the natural nature of the raw material,
[23:56.040 -> 23:58.680] the toxicity is lower than what you would find
[23:58.680 -> 24:00.380] in a typical lubricant.
[24:00.380 -> 24:02.300] So you've got a very unique product
[24:02.300 -> 24:06.680] that one manages to meet the criteria that they were looking for
[24:06.800 -> 24:12.820] from an overspray and getting on their goggles and getting on their skin, but at the same time
[24:12.820 -> 24:17.140] you've got a biodegradable and low toxicity product, so it's safe for the environment.
[24:17.140 -> 24:24.100] So I think every manufacturing site, almost every industrial site in the world uses an air gun oil
[24:24.100 -> 24:28.620] and if you have the ability to have a product that's biodegradable and has low
[24:28.620 -> 24:32.460] toxicity I think that's a positive thing that could be you know a product
[24:32.460 -> 24:35.600] that could be used in the future. When you got involved in Formula One and
[24:35.600 -> 24:39.020] motorsport did you imagine you'd be thinking about air guns? No not at all
[24:39.020 -> 24:42.980] actually I worked in the industrial product line for many many years and
[24:42.980 -> 24:45.540] this was a familiar area for me,
[24:45.540 -> 24:48.840] but not in the fact that we wanted to minimize overspray
[24:48.840 -> 24:51.240] and wanted to protect the components,
[24:51.240 -> 24:53.720] but at the same time, we ended up with a product
[24:53.720 -> 24:56.080] that was biodegradable and low toxicity.
[24:56.080 -> 24:58.520] So yeah, it was rather unique.
[24:58.520 -> 25:02.640] I mean, the fact that F1 is pushing towards a green future,
[25:02.640 -> 25:05.560] I think it's a nice direction for us to be going in and
[25:05.560 -> 25:09.760] there's other other areas where you could apply that kind of technology it's
[25:09.760 -> 25:13.160] it's quite expensive but you can apply that kind of technology to other
[25:13.160 -> 25:16.680] products. I was gonna say does that then flow back into some of the some of the
[25:16.680 -> 25:19.080] other clients that you work with and some of the other industries you work
[25:19.080 -> 25:23.400] with? It can we haven't introduced a wheel gun lubricant like this to any any
[25:23.400 -> 25:25.120] other team or anyone that
[25:25.120 -> 25:31.760] has asked for it yet, although those wheel guns are used in NASCAR and in road racing
[25:31.760 -> 25:36.800] and all other environments, but no one has really asked us to do that quite yet.
[25:36.800 -> 25:41.800] We have been asked to help improve some of those wheel gun lubricants, but not at this
[25:41.800 -> 25:43.680] level that we did for Red Bull.
[25:43.680 -> 25:45.480] At this point, it's a proprietary
[25:45.480 -> 25:47.000] product for the Red Bull team.
[25:47.000 -> 25:50.720] You mentioned briefly environmental issues there, obviously that's at the forefront of
[25:50.720 -> 25:54.520] everyone's mind at the moment and a big part of that is fuel economy.
[25:54.520 -> 25:57.440] What are some of the huge strides that have been taken in Formula 1 over the last few
[25:57.440 -> 25:58.440] years?
[25:58.440 -> 26:00.400] It's taken some steps in the right direction isn't it?
[26:00.400 -> 26:05.560] We're always looking at fuel economy because it's an obvious advantage that you can have
[26:05.560 -> 26:09.360] but at the same time we're trying to maximize performance.
[26:09.360 -> 26:15.080] So we try to do that by improving fuel economy, improving wear protection but at the same
[26:15.080 -> 26:20.400] time we've got to have a product that performs at the highest levels and needs to be able
[26:20.400 -> 26:25.200] to meet the criteria for the Honda engine guys and they're always pushing the
[26:25.200 -> 26:30.800] envelope on us. They're constantly, the 2021 testing we're doing now is taking us to a new
[26:30.800 -> 26:37.600] level again, both fuel and lubricants and obviously the big push is on performance and in horsepower
[26:37.600 -> 26:42.560] but at the same time we don't want to sacrifice any efficiency or in this case fuel economy.
[26:42.560 -> 26:45.740] And both of those things work hand in hand with race strategy as well, don't they,
[26:45.740 -> 26:48.100] in terms of how a race plays out and the number of stops?
[26:48.100 -> 26:49.460] Oh yeah, absolutely.
[26:49.460 -> 26:50.740] And if you can maximize that
[26:50.740 -> 26:54.060] or minimize the amount of fuel, right, that's helpful.
[26:54.060 -> 26:57.980] And any time we can add that level of performance,
[26:57.980 -> 27:00.700] even if it's a small, small incremental difference,
[27:00.700 -> 27:02.160] it's helpful to the team.
[27:02.160 -> 27:04.660] You guys have been away from the circuits
[27:04.660 -> 27:08.320] since the restart. Are you looking forward to at some stage getting back on
[27:08.320 -> 27:12.000] track? I wish I could be back on the track every time I'm sitting in front of
[27:12.000 -> 27:16.760] the TV watching the races which is breaking my heart. Yeah I mean I
[27:16.760 -> 27:21.320] physically have been on the road for almost 15 years as a global account
[27:21.320 -> 27:27.560] manager and then global motorsports manager So for me to be home since the middle of March
[27:27.560 -> 27:29.520] and literally not stepped in an airport
[27:29.520 -> 27:31.880] since the middle of March is pretty tough.
[27:31.880 -> 27:33.820] And then to have to watch everything on TV
[27:33.820 -> 27:34.920] is pretty tough too.
[27:34.920 -> 27:36.640] Well, David, I hope you get back to a racetrack
[27:36.640 -> 27:37.560] relatively soon.
[27:37.560 -> 27:39.160] Thanks for joining us on Talking Bull.
[27:39.160 -> 27:40.320] Yeah, I appreciate it.
[27:40.320 -> 27:42.160] Well, that's pretty much it for this episode.
[27:42.160 -> 27:43.520] We leave you with an exclusive track
[27:43.520 -> 27:45.000] from Daily Chiefers and Tommy Swisher.
[27:45.000 -> 27:50.000] This is Isolate. Make sure you check out rebelracing.com for all the latest from the team.
[27:50.000 -> 28:08.000] We look forward now to the Belgian Grand Prix at the end of the month. Until then, take care. Trying to see who I'm gon' be today Not your ... I isolate By myself all night and day Iso, iso, isolate
[28:08.000 -> 28:11.000] Iso, iso, isolate Rolling on my own
[28:11.000 -> 28:15.000] Don't hit my phone, no, I don't need it, babe Wake up in the mirror
[28:15.000 -> 28:19.000] Trying to see who I'm gon' be today Not your ... I isolate
[28:19.000 -> 28:23.000] By myself all night and day Iso, iso, isolate
[28:23.000 -> 28:28.400] Iso, iso, isolate Iso, iso, isolate, Switch it up on them like night and day
[28:27.400 -> 28:31.200] They choose up if the price is right, Got shits on me
[28:30.000 -> 28:34.400] they free to lay, When she on my d***, I pitch a fit
[28:33.200 -> 28:37.400] No, I don't need a d***, If you double cross me
[28:36.200 -> 28:40.200] you get hung up, That's a crucifix, yeah
[28:39.200 -> 28:43.800] What a breadwinner dope, Love, sinner, drug, do it both
[28:42.800 -> 28:47.500] No sympathy for no, Lover, she gon' treat him like a dump
[28:47.500 -> 28:49.500] All she get from me is, can't fold for four, uh
[28:49.500 -> 28:53.000] Eddie O's my gate code, I don't take L's, I make those
[28:53.000 -> 28:57.000] In a monkey suit, I'm goin' 8-mo, voices all in my head
[28:57.000 -> 29:00.500] I can bring back the dead, Ben Franklin my friend
[29:00.500 -> 29:02.000] Only me and my friend
[29:02.000 -> 29:05.000] Holdin' your mind, you don't hit my phone, no I don't need a bag
[29:05.000 -> 29:09.000] Wake up in the mirror, tryna see who I'm gon' be today
[29:09.000 -> 29:12.000] Not tryna isolate, by myself all night and day
[29:12.000 -> 29:16.000] Iso, iso, isolate, iso, iso, isolate
[29:16.000 -> 29:20.000] Rolling on my own, don't hit my phone, no I don't need a bag
[29:20.000 -> 29:23.000] Wake up in the mirror, tryna see who I'm gon' be today
[29:23.000 -> 29:27.500] Not tryna isolate, by myself all night and day
[29:27.500 -> 29:31.200] Iso, iso, isolate, iso, iso, isolate
[29:31.200 -> 29:34.900] Isolate, by myself all night and day
[29:34.900 -> 29:38.500] Iso, iso, isolate, iso, iso, isolate
[29:38.500 -> 29:40.600] Play your position like Lego
[29:40.600 -> 29:42.600] Section full of rude n****s and fake n****s
[29:42.600 -> 29:44.400] I'm remixing that d*** with fake coke
[29:44.400 -> 29:46.600] Don't know the way that I lay low
[29:46.600 -> 29:48.000] Ha, this is the season
[29:48.000 -> 29:50.400] I'm with the reaper, killing them all for no reason
[29:50.400 -> 29:53.000] Check my demeanor, pay a dollar that I'm speaking
[29:53.000 -> 29:55.300] Your n***a believe it, uh, might be conceited
[29:55.300 -> 29:58.100] But I need it, I'm by myself so I fit in the creases
[29:58.100 -> 30:00.000] Follow the money like Jesus
[30:00.000 -> 30:01.800] This n***a is evil like demons
[30:01.800 -> 30:03.200] I'm in a dream so she fiending
[30:03.200 -> 30:06.880] Only independent, shopping at Neiman's Sell it' for the high, coppin' for retail
[30:06.880 -> 30:08.480] Did it all alone and off in no detail
[30:08.480 -> 30:12.000] Rollin' on my own, don't hit my phone, no I don't need a bae
[30:12.000 -> 30:15.680] Wake up in the mirror, tryna see who I'm gon' be today
[30:15.680 -> 30:19.360] Rollin' on my own, don't hit my phone, no I don't need a bae
[30:19.360 -> 30:23.040] Wake up in the mirror, tryna see who I'm gon' be today
[30:23.040 -> 30:27.000] Not tryna isolate, by myself all night and day
[30:27.000 -> 30:30.000] Iso, iso, isolate, iso, iso, isolate
[30:30.000 -> 30:34.000] Rolling up my own, don't hit my phone, no, I don't need a pay
[30:34.000 -> 30:38.000] Wake up in the mirror tryna see who I'm gon' be today
[30:38.000 -> 30:41.000] Not tryna isolate, by myself all night and day
[30:41.000 -> 30:45.000] Iso, iso, isolate, iso, iso, isolate Isolate, I so, I so isolate
[30:45.000 -> 30:49.000] Isolate by myself all night, day
[30:48.000 -> None] I so, I so isolate, I so, I so isolate you