Lando Norris HAS to win, Daniel Ricciardo's last F1 race? 2024 Singapore GP Preview

[00:00:22] [SPEAKER_00]: We've had a false start because there was no countdown.

[00:00:25] [SPEAKER_00]: Either way, is that what's going to happen as we can a false start at the Singapore Grand Prix?

[00:00:35] [SPEAKER_00]: Ladies and gentlemen, we normally have a 5 second countdown before we say your life.

[00:00:40] [SPEAKER_00]: And so I don't have both wondering did we miss the countdown but clearly we both didn't?

[00:00:45] [SPEAKER_00]: And we are life.

[00:00:46] [SPEAKER_01]: And we are life. Wow, okay. Welcome, ladies and gentlemen to the Inside Line F1 Podcast.

[00:00:51] [SPEAKER_01]: This is the Singapore GP Preview episode that you are listening to.

[00:00:55] [SPEAKER_01]: And there are a lot of talking points.

[00:00:57] [SPEAKER_01]: I will come to a lot of streaks ending or breaking in a second but first we need to tell you who we are.

[00:01:04] [SPEAKER_01]: Let's just get all the introductions housekeeping duties away because when we get into the racing, I know for a fact, we are not going to be stopping.

[00:01:12] [SPEAKER_01]: When when it comes to all the discussions. So then we're missing F1 stats, who are for this particular episode but he will be back for the review.

[00:01:20] [SPEAKER_01]: Konalsha is here along with me, former marketing head of Force India and also a TV expert on screen nowadays as well for the via plane at work in Norway.

[00:01:30] [SPEAKER_01]: Alongside his duties as working as a TV producer there.

[00:01:33] [SPEAKER_01]: And of course, my name is Salmanerora. I'm the voice of the Mori G. Pindon Grand Prix, the Indian racing league, in its super cross racing league, you name it.

[00:01:41] [SPEAKER_01]: And everything in the motorsport, touchfoot, I've had the opportunity to talk about this.

[00:01:46] [SPEAKER_01]: But now I get to talk about two night races in a row because I was in Chennai a few weeks ago for India's first day of a night street race and then we come to Singapore.

[00:01:55] [SPEAKER_01]: But the narrative here is a bit different and this is the one moment I've been waiting for the last hour and a half because, Konalsha, let me ask you a couple of questions.

[00:02:04] [SPEAKER_01]: And this is where I want your reaction on this.

[00:02:07] [SPEAKER_01]: You know that was happen as never one of the race here, right? Clearly.

[00:02:11] [SPEAKER_01]: That is correct. And you know that Leckler has never converted his pole here to a win.

[00:02:17] [SPEAKER_00]: That is also correct.

[00:02:19] [SPEAKER_01]: And Mercedes I've been here since COVID.

[00:02:23] [SPEAKER_00]: I will, yes, that is correct.

[00:02:25] [SPEAKER_01]: But and McLaren haven't won here forever basically.

[00:02:28] [SPEAKER_01]: That is all here.

[00:02:29] [SPEAKER_01]: 15 years, that's the number.

[00:02:31] [SPEAKER_01]: But while these are the top four, we're counting out a really big team who have some sort of numerological

[00:02:37] [SPEAKER_01]: and, I'm going to say spiritual connection. But yeah, the subsums are so clearly coming to life here.

[00:02:43] [SPEAKER_01]: You remember the last time the Renault Formula 1 team won a street race.

[00:02:49] [SPEAKER_00]: The European member has to be Fernando Lanzo, Flavia Brietari, Nelson P. K. Junior,

[00:02:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Singapore, Singapore, 2008.

[00:03:02] [SPEAKER_00]: Yes, it was back.

[00:03:04] [SPEAKER_00]: Naomi Campbell.

[00:03:08] [SPEAKER_01]: The first Singapore Grand Prix with Flavia Brietari since 2008, I think the band is coming together.

[00:03:14] [SPEAKER_01]: Let's not count out for the win this time.

[00:03:17] [SPEAKER_01]: That's the one street the we need to focus on.

[00:03:20] [SPEAKER_00]: And in this case, of course guys, we're joking. This is also a chasm before you all think that we are cooking up some matchfixing race fixing story.

[00:03:28] [SPEAKER_00]: The truth is, Estebano Con is on his way out as we know. So it's not that there's a driver waiting for a contract.

[00:03:38] [SPEAKER_00]: And we know the he helped in, you know, driver situation for next year as well as Galsli and Jack Duan.

[00:03:46] [SPEAKER_00]: But yes, the band is coming together.

[00:03:48] [SPEAKER_01]: You've been feeling scared, we don't.

[00:03:51] [SPEAKER_00]: I hope not. I really hope not. I mean, I really wish Flavia was banned from the Singapore paddock.

[00:03:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Much like everything was banned from all the paddocks in the world, even if he's a genius in Formula 1 because of the way he's painted this sport for life and but anyway.

[00:04:09] [SPEAKER_00]: This is not about Flavia. This is about the the greatness the original night race.

[00:04:15] [SPEAKER_00]: That's the one word we are going to keep that that's the one term we are going to keep being told on the broadcast.

[00:04:22] [SPEAKER_00]: Every single day of the broadcast this weekend because we've got night races. The last night race was in Jeddah.

[00:04:30] [SPEAKER_00]: Sure, of course. That's been a long time. But we've also had lots of street traces like Formula 1 is now said, you know, Charlotte Claire is a king of the streets with a hundred points scored on street traces.

[00:04:43] [SPEAKER_00]: Wow.

[00:04:44] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah. Anyway, so Singapore. Great spectacle of Montesport absolutely I believe that I've been to so many of them earlier on that I'm like, wow, there's one race I really want to attend.

[00:04:56] [SPEAKER_00]: It's Singapore.

[00:04:58] [SPEAKER_01]: How come how come because we've got last week is now which is the greatest grand spectacle not just in Formula 1 but if you would have believed F1 anywhere in the world,

[00:05:12] [SPEAKER_01]: it's a good circuit.

[00:05:13] [SPEAKER_01]: But even though I mean, I've spoken to so many Formula 1 fans who travel the globe and have the privilege of doing so, they still love Singapore.

[00:05:21] [SPEAKER_01]: Even though there are other flashier brighter, more most spectacular races and why is that the case? Like what's up with this place?

[00:05:29] [SPEAKER_00]: That's a great question. I think just because they were the original ones to actually start treating race weekend as a weekend or celebration or weekend of entertainment.

[00:05:42] [SPEAKER_00]: These started to have headline acts pretty much every day of the race weekend, so that was a part of the race ticket itself. Also I love these three traces where you don't have to bother about parking, you take a, you know, metro and you walk a couple of stations and you're up there and in general, you know,

[00:05:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Singaporeans, very friendly people, great city, lots of heat humidity and so on and I still feel it's definitely one of the hallmark races over the years.

[00:06:08] [SPEAKER_00]: And there's a, there's a physical challenge, there's a mental challenge for the drivers and there's also a mechanical challenge because even though Baku was a street race where we come from Baku was low medium downforce,

[00:06:21] [SPEAKER_00]: Singapore street race 90 degree corners, low corners, low to medium speed pretty much all of them except for the last two turns which is high speed, but Singapore has a lot of high downforce as well.

[00:06:33] [SPEAKER_00]: So different, different things that Singapore throws up. So I would definitely say anyone considering Singapore, that's that one race to attend.

[00:06:43] [SPEAKER_01]: And it's weird right? Because the moment you say high downforce, you think, or Red Bull is going to be back in condition.

[00:06:49] [SPEAKER_01]: This has been maxed with happens bogey track. He's never one here.

[00:06:53] [SPEAKER_01]: In fact, he was knocked out of Q2 this time last year and Liam Losson went through in Q3.

[00:06:59] [SPEAKER_01]: That's how bad of a circuit it's been for him overall. And then consider the fact that Sergio Perez has won a race here in 2022.

[00:07:07] [SPEAKER_01]: And Max was happy as in one race here at all. And Perez comes in being the closest Red Bull driver to a win in the last race.

[00:07:15] [SPEAKER_01]: I don't know how this is spanning out. I mean, that's Red Bull and their conundrums. And that's only one part of four different teams who could win it.

[00:07:23] [SPEAKER_01]: And Max realistically has won one hand on the championship. But as we were discussing before the episode went like that,

[00:07:30] [SPEAKER_01]: I could be slipping away here.

[00:07:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Yes, in fact, a similar and I absolutely believe guys and girls that the Singapore Grand Prix weekend is that one critical weekend for Lando Norris and his championship hopes.

[00:07:45] [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, and one of which is break it down mathematically. The gap between the two drivers, Lando Norris, P2, Max or Stappen P1 is 59 points as we know.

[00:08:00] [SPEAKER_00]: There are seven races remaining, out of which four are Grand Prix, which means 26 possible points, which means 26 into four is 104 points.

[00:08:11] [SPEAKER_00]: And there are three races remaining, which is a sprint and the Grand Prix format, which means three times the sprint and Grand Prix score, which is 26 points in the Grand Prix win with the fastest lap and eight points for the sprint win is 34 points that one could score.

[00:08:28] [SPEAKER_00]: Which means there are 26 points available. And the gap is 59 points. Okay, if we were to try and understand what some of us just said about just being a Max or Stappen Boki track or Red Bull Boki track last year, this was the only race they didn't wear in color signs one.

[00:08:47] [SPEAKER_00]: One of the reasons is the track is extremely bumpy and the minute Red Bull has to lower their car they struggle even more. So they've been struggling the last seven eight races as well.

[00:08:57] [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, Max hasn't had a win for seven races, which is what the first time in 2020 and he's also not had a podium for a long since then, which is for the first.

[00:09:08] [SPEAKER_00]: I remember writing the stat just a second. So Max, is this worse? No podium streaks in this like 2019 or something. Okay, so what happens? Imagine if Lando Norris wins and takes the fastest lap.

[00:09:24] [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, we had a McLaren winning in Baku and we had a McLaren taking the fastest lap. PS3-1 Norris took the fastest lap. Now imagine Lando winning this weekend, taking those 26 points.

[00:09:38] [SPEAKER_00]: And Max, I'm not saying there'll be a DNF, I'm not hoping or wishing for these kind of battles to be settled by a DNF but if Red Bull is down to being the fourth fastest and Max is say seventh or eighth.

[00:09:52] [SPEAKER_00]: Could there be a near 20 points wing in the drivers championship, Somal? And if that were to happen, it could well be 39 points as a gap with six races to go.

[00:10:07] [SPEAKER_00]: That's doable. Yeah, that's doable. And imagine if that was to happen 39 points gap with six races but how many points would then be available? If we were to extrapolate that it'll be 180 points available after the Singapore Grand Prix.

[00:10:23] [SPEAKER_00]: So for Lando Norris' title hopes, the Singapore Grand Prix is the most critical race of the season. His execution, his luck, McLaren's execution strategy, pit stops, luck, pace, everything has to be spot on.

[00:10:42] [SPEAKER_01]: And interesting point on that as well. This is actually one of the last of the irregular circuits, if I may put it that way after that we go to traditional racing circuits.

[00:10:55] [SPEAKER_01]: Some of which suit Red Bull more than anything else. We're going to Mexico City, we're going to Brazil, we're going to Qatar, we're going to Abu Dhabi. So, kids, we've been good.

[00:11:05] [SPEAKER_01]: We also go to Austin, which is a normal racing circuit where Ed Bull are also getting new upgrades, which should help them out. I think everyone will be getting new upgrades there because it's a month after the service and a month after Singapore. So everyone has a good amount of time to manufacture the components, ship it out and everything.

[00:11:21] [SPEAKER_01]: When in the middle is also Las Vegas, so I think Singapore Las Vegas, two of the only irregular circuits where McLaren generally have outperform Red Bull this year at these sort of places. And Ferrari has been the best of all of them. Don't know if they will be again this weekend. But to loop it back down to Lando Norris, I want to bring it to McLaren and the way they behave now as constructors leaders, if that's the right thing.

[00:11:46] [SPEAKER_01]: First time since 2014 that they're leading the constructors world championship, it's a humongous achievement considering how they were down in the doldrums a few years ago and none of us gave them any hope whatsoever.

[00:11:59] [SPEAKER_01]: But again, the point remains, there are young teams, they've not been in this situation before. A lot of the people that are part of this team now. Should they change the way they approach the championship now that they've in a way secured the constructors lead to now,

[00:12:13] [SPEAKER_01]: because that's the one possible or should they just carry on with papaya rules, whoever gets the lead into turn one is the one who controls it. I'm conflicted in this whole scenario here.

[00:12:24] [SPEAKER_01]: What's the one you conflicted about? Let's break that down. My conflict is now that you're a constructors championship leader. Now that you've got that secured and it looks like your cars consistently are performing Red Bull everywhere.

[00:12:37] [SPEAKER_01]: And there is a theoretical chance of land over in the championship. Do you carry on with your moral ethical way of doing business, which is whichever driver has the advantage heading into turn one, we give them the lead and give them priority and make sure that they keep the position.

[00:12:52] [SPEAKER_01]: Or do you actively nudge this battle towards land over? Because there is a chance you could win the double. Where do you start out this?

[00:13:00] [SPEAKER_00]: Well, the way I see it is they haven't won the drivers' championship. The constructors championship. Yes, they're in the lead. It's a 20 point lead. It's a massively lead. I would say, but it could all be wiped out. I mean, we saw that one Ferrari and one Red Bull got taken out just in Baku.

[00:13:16] [SPEAKER_00]: Right. So as these races come at us fast and hard, I think McLaren will not really need to change their approach. They will prioritize scoring with both cars. The maximum they can. That'll be point number one.

[00:13:31] [SPEAKER_00]: And why in the process of doing that if there is scope to help land on Norris score more against Maxwell's step and then they will pursue that. That's very, very clear. They will want to win the constructors. They are already in the lead. They need to literally change nothing.

[00:13:50] [SPEAKER_00]: And even when it comes to giving land on Norris priority, it could be that PSRQs up a second spot for landota to finish second and then settle himself for third.

[00:14:02] [SPEAKER_00]: But it doesn't seem like PSRQs are going to have to end up giving up the racepin for land on Norris. So lots of F-sen parts out play at play out here.

[00:14:10] [SPEAKER_01]: My point exactly, where does the if line end? Does it end on the race? When does it end on second place? Because this is the confusing part. If Oscar legitimately gets P1 and we're in a hungry like scenario again, where the team have put out land. I mean, hypothetically, but something around those lines could happen where Oscar finds himself in P2 got the race lead on his own. But then landota cycle out ahead will McLaren still do what they didn't hungry, which is.

[00:14:41] [SPEAKER_01]: Which is little and to get behind Oscar. And given the racepin, I'm really conflicted here because according to their ethical way of doing things, Oscar should get the win.

[00:14:55] [SPEAKER_00]: But that's a million dollar question. And I think this is where it's all going to start getting messy. Because McLaren will want to play fair and they will want to play fair with both their drivers.

[00:15:05] [SPEAKER_00]: And I have crit respect for the 1997 shocks we love for champion. But he said, Oscar wasn't quick in the first part of the season so he could use your give up points in the second part of the season to me. I think that's bullshit.

[00:15:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, if anything the trajectory that Oscar P.S. Ria has shown in the last seven races mind you he has been the only driver to lead the last seven races.

[00:15:30] [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, he scored multiple wins and he scored the maximum number of points compared to Norris Hamilton and even Max were stepping.

[00:15:40] [SPEAKER_00]: And in fact, if you were to compare him to Max was stepping. Okay, Max he scored 41 points more than Max was stepping.

[00:15:50] [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so P.S. Ria's got 135 points nor is as 104.

[00:15:56] [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so my point is it is at some point going to get messy. But I think Singapore is where that if factor comes in even hard if Max is running seven eight or whatever and there is that scope to give more points to Lando.

[00:16:10] [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe much later we'll try and do that this weekend to Oscar just goes to show will they actually push Oscar to giving up a race when or not.

[00:16:23] [SPEAKER_01]: And will they be in contention for a race when or not is going to be an interesting talking board because streets are normally where Ferrari have been the best and they have one monocle they almost won.

[00:16:39] [SPEAKER_01]: And there's a very fun piece of inside that Carlos signs give after qualifying in Baco he said look look is the best at maximizing the way a cart turns from a straight line to a 90 degree corner because according to him and I'm very amazed to know this because I haven't heard this from any other racing driver.

[00:16:59] [SPEAKER_01]: There's a certain skill in making sure that your car. I hope I'm undertaking this correctly is able to break as much as possible as hard as possible and then turning it as sharply as possible which is what 90 degree corners need you to do.

[00:17:11] [SPEAKER_01]: It's like flat straight and then flat left or flat right and that turn around time between doing so letting off the break and turning in the car.

[00:17:18] [SPEAKER_01]: That micro detail is where Charlotte clerk is the best and that allows it's something that the Ferrari is also allowed him to be the best at which is why he's got pole for so many years in Baco.

[00:17:29] [SPEAKER_01]: And these are similar types of corners in a way that you see in Singapore in a lot of places.

[00:17:35] [SPEAKER_01]: So there's another little variable to add in here and Carlos simply said that that whole subsector of driving look look is the best we just can't compete in Singapore has a lot of that now.

[00:17:47] [SPEAKER_00]: Lots of low speed corners 90 degrees every mood for 90 degree corners last year remember they modified that but it's still lots of emphasis on traction getting up and close to the wall.

[00:18:00] [SPEAKER_00]: And lots of drivers have spoken to over the years they've always said it's not about how quick you go or add a street circuit.

[00:18:07] [SPEAKER_00]: It's about how much time you leave on the table.

[00:18:11] [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so every time you're ramping up and carrying momentum through Q1 Q2 Q3 it's more about being able to go closer to the walls to extract more lap time.

[00:18:22] [SPEAKER_00]: You already know you can do that it's a part are you able to do that when it matters the most and I think that's where we had a very close qualifying session last year I remember there was signs Russell and

[00:18:36] [SPEAKER_00]: Lecler less than less than a tent between all three of them which I think is you know an indicator of the fact that it's going to be very close this weekend.

[00:18:46] [SPEAKER_00]: In fact will it be three teams in the mix or will it be four teams because I think McLaren and Ferrari will definitely be in the mix when it comes to cities it's all about whether they're able to nail their setup and get their car in their window and you know the getting that car in the window is so critical that everyone when it's not there just talks like we are actually

[00:19:06] [SPEAKER_00]: quick which is couldn't get the window and hence we got out of balance.

[00:19:10] [SPEAKER_00]: George Russell on the hard compound in Baku certainly came alive on the medium he was nowhere so it is the same tire compound

[00:19:19] [SPEAKER_00]: this weekend as well much as it was in Monsa and in Baku so you can't really rule them out either and on those one lap qualifying

[00:19:30] [SPEAKER_01]: based moments they were phenomenal which is another interesting point they got p3 and Monsa and qualifying with George even though they had a compromise practice

[00:19:39] [SPEAKER_01]: They were good in qualifying there as well and Russell was able to extract a lot and then we come to Singapore but track

[00:19:46] [SPEAKER_01]: Track position is so crucial you just can't count them on maybe not for the battle for the win but somewhere around there they could also influence things so much

[00:19:54] [SPEAKER_01]: and then there's Lewis who in my opinion has the greatest Singapore GP qualifying lap ever 2018 so yeah this is that as well that he was in his best meditative

[00:20:05] [SPEAKER_00]: So Lewis Hamilton status if you ask me I think some of those laps when you see them you just identify saying my goodness you're so much in the zone so much being one with the car and the driver

[00:20:19] [SPEAKER_00]: So lots of lots of you send a bud set could happen but Singapore in itself someone we should probably talk of what makes this circuit so special so

[00:20:28] [SPEAKER_00]: One of the first things is these races round over one hour forty five minutes and it's so these are long races okay even though corners are now down from 23 to 19 and a lap is extra

[00:20:40] [SPEAKER_00]: The average cornering speeds are probably the slowest of the season lots of bumps and the slow speed is where the challenge comes when it comes to traction

[00:20:50] [SPEAKER_00]: Managing your tires and in fact even break cooling and wear and tear and so on and that's why I said you know

[00:20:56] [SPEAKER_00]: It's also a mechanical challenge for for the teams as it is a you know of his governmental challenge for the drivers because

[00:21:04] [SPEAKER_00]: You go up to 60 degree centigrade in in the cockpit 70 80 percent humidity in fact Friday and Saturday this weekend is expected to be a rain dot weekend

[00:21:14] [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, lots of thunderstorms expected and the humidity in general in Singapore so high and I've experienced this first hand

[00:21:21] [SPEAKER_00]: Is that for hours after the rain has actually stopped everything can still be wet because hey guess what it's not dry. It's it's not dry and a heart it's hot and humid

[00:21:31] [SPEAKER_00]: So different geographical different climatic conditions that throw up as a challenge as well and I think the one streak that could be broken is I think we've gone eight races without a safety car

[00:21:47] [SPEAKER_00]: But Singapore has always had a safety guy in every single race

[00:21:52] [SPEAKER_00]: And in fact in the last six races there have been 11 instances of the safety car so lots of start and stop lots of

[00:22:01] [SPEAKER_00]: Race interruptions from a strategy from a driver point of view as well that we have to factor in when it comes to the single race this weekend

[00:22:10] [SPEAKER_01]: Exactly so much switching around could happen here. This is where the team that's also the best tactically terms of the strategies going to have a really good time

[00:22:19] [SPEAKER_01]: Which is where Red Bull generally have been very good. McLaren I've gotten better recently. There's like I love that there are so many elements

[00:22:27] [SPEAKER_01]: There've been after talk about it and considering who's going to win a race because it's no longer hey there the fastest car they're going to win anyway

[00:22:33] [SPEAKER_01]: It's so many micro elements that are coming together

[00:22:36] [SPEAKER_01]: And then we're also now we're also not touching up a bone surgery or medicine off because he's been incredible around here

[00:22:44] [SPEAKER_01]: Weirdly the conference seems to be back after just one race. He's now the leading driver in terms of momentum in the Red Bull race in camp

[00:22:51] [SPEAKER_01]: And Red Bull could be decent around here. We don't even know how that's going to play on it drivers. For the first time was that the least likely of those eight weirdly

[00:23:03] [SPEAKER_01]: Or does he rank around piece six hero for us to learn Hamilton for the win here?

[00:23:08] [SPEAKER_00]: I think now he it all depends where Red Bull ranks in terms of the fastest constructor on Sunday

[00:23:16] [SPEAKER_00]: But I definitely get a feeling that

[00:23:20] [SPEAKER_00]: They're running more experiments with max trying to get a more comfortable and

[00:23:26] [SPEAKER_00]: That's probably where they are and like I said in the in the Baku review episode

[00:23:31] [SPEAKER_00]: That's also a Christian honor hinted to at one point of time saying we'll have to check what set up seren and why max was so much behind

[00:23:40] [SPEAKER_00]: Check out pairs in itself, but the interesting point summaries

[00:23:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Red Bull was supposed to have a special delivery this race weekend

[00:23:51] [SPEAKER_00]: Which on performance grounds they have decided to not pursue can you imagine no one could have scripted such a turnaround

[00:24:01] [SPEAKER_00]: A twist in the tail in the 2024 formula one season and the reason why I say twist in the tail is because racing balls

[00:24:10] [SPEAKER_00]: Which is definitely not as quick as Red Bull racing is has already launched a new delivery

[00:24:18] [SPEAKER_00]: Mercedes has already launched a new delivery commemorating their title sponsor 50 at the Euro celebrations

[00:24:24] [SPEAKER_00]: Perred Bull decided that even 10th or whatever we can get or two-tense by not having a new delivery

[00:24:32] [SPEAKER_00]: We will save that with you know, wait saving coming from the change in paint

[00:24:38] [SPEAKER_01]: It really is the end of an error now, isn't it?

[00:24:43] [SPEAKER_01]: I think it's a dreadful not doing special deliveries

[00:24:45] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, oh yeah absolutely and I said this in the via play brought gust and Baku

[00:24:49] [SPEAKER_00]: It's not that the impact of Adrian Newy is being felt now. No, it's too soon for any of that to happen

[00:24:56] [SPEAKER_00]: But how soon Red Bull gets out of this challenge or this engineering problem is going to be a factor of the

[00:25:06] [SPEAKER_00]: It's going to matter that they don't have a train new way to go and ask and solve these problems with

[00:25:12] [SPEAKER_00]: And Manish Bandai who's of course a dear friend and you know the writer producer for lucky

[00:25:19] [SPEAKER_00]: Who is on our show couple of years ago. He said something very interesting, you know, he said how much of the current car or this evolution of cars

[00:25:27] [SPEAKER_00]: 18, 1920 have been a dream newy designs

[00:25:31] [SPEAKER_00]: We won't know it's of course a team. It's no longer just one person designing the car

[00:25:35] [SPEAKER_00]: But is it that the chief architect of the car the driver the engineer was given the most fundamental

[00:25:42] [SPEAKER_00]: You know engineering for the car has that engineer moved on and the people who've not built the car trying to fix a car that is not there's technically or not there's but they're design or they're engineering production

[00:25:57] [SPEAKER_00]: Interesting, interesting think of it that way as well

[00:26:00] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I mean think of it like a like a painting right or even a song that you're creating someone has an initial vision that they've put out

[00:26:09] [SPEAKER_01]: Now there's someone brought in to fix it which is why I mean we can relate to a car itself right a mechanic

[00:26:17] [SPEAKER_01]: Can fix the problem

[00:26:20] [SPEAKER_01]: But a mechanic cannot redesign the problem the way the engineer can so in a way there are engineers working on the car

[00:26:27] [SPEAKER_01]: But it's not their engineering vision

[00:26:30] [SPEAKER_01]: It's a weird predicament that Red Bull finds itself in and

[00:26:38] [SPEAKER_01]: As we've seen the midfield as well there are questions hanging around Daniel Ricardo's future and

[00:26:45] [SPEAKER_01]: I was legitimately shocked when he said this before the episode because they're really let go of now

[00:26:50] [SPEAKER_00]: So Helmer Marka actually said this on why I play and I know this because I coordinated that interview and I figured what we should ask him

[00:26:57] [SPEAKER_00]: He said that there is an announcement coming between Singapore and Austin

[00:27:02] [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, which pretty much means that it is a Liam loss of an announcement

[00:27:07] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't believe they're gonna announce anything else

[00:27:11] [SPEAKER_00]: And one of the reasons why they're also doing that is because it's in Los Angeles contract that he will raise in one of the Red Bull cars in 2025

[00:27:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Which is also why sour and Alpine and Williams being interested in Los and they didn't let go of him

[00:27:29] [SPEAKER_00]: That's what they being read about. Now the question is could Singapore be Daniel Ricardo's last race or will this just be an announcement that

[00:27:36] [SPEAKER_00]: Los and will raise from 2025 which means could the next seven races be Daniel Ricardo's last seven races in Formula One

[00:27:46] [SPEAKER_00]: And if you would ask me and you know some outlets have also reported that Liam loss in contract also says that he will raise a minimum of five races in 2024

[00:27:57] [SPEAKER_00]: Which means you know could be could be actually see a classic Red Bull driver swap

[00:28:04] [SPEAKER_00]: Where Ricardo will be made test and reserve and Liam loss and gets that seat and frankly of loss and getting that seat in 2025 or any way and that decision is made

[00:28:15] [SPEAKER_00]: Why don't they just give him to seek now because Red Bull contracts are different than contracts with other teams

[00:28:21] [SPEAKER_00]: Where for example, Ocon cannot be let go by Alpine just yet because the contract says he will raise the season there

[00:28:30] [SPEAKER_00]: But with Red Bull their contracts are different which is why they're able to do these mid-season swap

[00:28:34] [SPEAKER_00]: At least that's my understanding otherwise how would they do these mid-season swaps and it's right

[00:28:39] [SPEAKER_00]: So could it be Daniel Ricardo's last race?

[00:28:43] [SPEAKER_00]: I guess so I'm not sure it's it's been tough to actually pick someone between him and Sonoda

[00:28:49] [SPEAKER_00]: But Sonoda just I think early part of the season just to remember what Jackson will know quoted you know early part of the season

[00:28:56] [SPEAKER_00]: Sonoda was the driver to watch for and Daniel Ricardo was just taking more time

[00:29:01] [SPEAKER_00]: So could be you know, could Daniel just be another marketing asset for the fundraising which in itself is also

[00:29:08] [SPEAKER_00]: You know very worthy one to have in Formula One

[00:29:11] [SPEAKER_01]: Exactly, well that's one possibility

[00:29:14] [SPEAKER_01]: We know for sure this will be Kevin Magnus and Celas Formula One race in Singapore

[00:29:18] [SPEAKER_01]: He is back racing for has which means that all of a bare mid-step's odd

[00:29:23] [SPEAKER_01]: But I'm bringing up Kevin and Bearman here because it reminds me of substitutes

[00:29:28] [SPEAKER_01]: And trying to call up into is one driver. I really want to have my eye on because if I remember correctly Williams

[00:29:35] [SPEAKER_01]: Was it here? No, there was hungry with the top of free practice session

[00:29:39] [SPEAKER_01]: We should see how Williams are this week and after that point's finishing back coup because there are people doubting him for the scene in 25 particularly sour

[00:29:48] [SPEAKER_01]: But as virtual stats went shone clearly is very directly pointed out on Twitter X

[00:29:53] [SPEAKER_01]: That the same hypos created around Nick Diffres as well after his one of performance in Monza 2022

[00:30:00] [SPEAKER_01]: I think we should wait this race and the ones after that will really give us an answer which is why the team principle of sour

[00:30:08] [SPEAKER_01]: We ask about and said that we will make our decision in a few weeks

[00:30:12] [SPEAKER_01]: I think these few races are going to be very fun for the entire driver market

[00:30:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Yes, I think so that's a very good point that the entire driver market will probably have a different outlook

[00:30:26] [SPEAKER_00]: You'll probably have those two seats and ounces

[00:30:28] [SPEAKER_00]: But you know it's great to exercise caution on Franco colopinto and how well he's done et cetera

[00:30:35] [SPEAKER_00]: If it was just Monza that he did well at I would have probably been on the side restaurant Kelly is but Baku's a different beast

[00:30:41] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a so it is never driven on before

[00:30:44] [SPEAKER_00]: But he still managed to do extremely well and what really impressed me apart from him just not qualifying Alpen

[00:30:50] [SPEAKER_00]: Was that he ran the regular strategy in the top 10 the medium are and not the reverse and still scored points

[00:30:58] [SPEAKER_00]: So that's point number one and

[00:31:01] [SPEAKER_00]: On the on the F on nation podcast journalist from Argentina actually said it very give a very good example he said

[00:31:09] [SPEAKER_00]: This is like in a video game you go from easy which was Monza to medium, which is Baku to Singapore, which is hard

[00:31:16] [SPEAKER_00]: And I think one of the things that that will hit colopinto the most in Singapore is just the heat and humidity and physical and mental fitness that he needs

[00:31:25] [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so let's also be a little more I would say relaxed on him and little more lenient with him on judging him

[00:31:34] [SPEAKER_00]: But you know I would still say that he's already shown what he's able to do in a formula one car

[00:31:40] [SPEAKER_00]: Which means if he gets a short for next year

[00:31:43] [SPEAKER_00]: So be it that's just how formula one works, you know all you need is the foot in the door

[00:31:48] [SPEAKER_00]: And when you show that you are worthy to be in the room and people also think as well

[00:31:55] [SPEAKER_00]: Probably a given one shot and then you got to prove yourself again. I would say you know which is what didn't happen in Nick Diffries's case

[00:32:02] [SPEAKER_00]: He did not end up proving himself again. So co-opinto is definitely the the driver to watch for and something as simple as just him not getting eliminated in Q1

[00:32:11] [SPEAKER_00]: At a circuit like Singapore would be crucial even if he's a little far off from Alexander Alben for example

[00:32:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, such small yeah so small wins. I would say you should go ahead and you have to remember I mean for for formula two drivers

[00:32:29] [SPEAKER_00]: They don't really have that much yet lag management to do yes formula two races in Melbourne

[00:32:35] [SPEAKER_00]: Which is what they did at the start of the year, etc

[00:32:38] [SPEAKER_00]: But primarily formula one sorry formula two races in Europe and the Middle East where the times on differences are not as much

[00:32:46] [SPEAKER_00]: So not only will call up into have to you know get used to the heat and humidity in Singapore, whether there's also jet lag management right

[00:32:53] [SPEAKER_00]: And even those Singapore runs on European time which means you will have breakfast in the afternoon and you know lunch just but you know just past midnight

[00:33:04] [SPEAKER_00]: And that's why the race is a nitrace and so on there is still jet lag involved

[00:33:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Because I think from Baku to Singapore is over 7,000 kilometers that they're gonna travel and so on so lots of interesting challenges for colopinto to rise up to I would say

[00:33:20] [SPEAKER_01]: Singapore is the only one weekend where my parents would hate there are travel for formula one because that that holds schedule at sleeping at four o'clock in the night and waking up at 12 o'clock in the afternoon

[00:33:29] [SPEAKER_01]: That's going to be normal here for everyone and it's weird

[00:33:33] [SPEAKER_01]: I didn't have sleep sleep later the voice of formula one in Asia on a podcast and he was I think we did and he was selling us this whole story about how

[00:33:42] [SPEAKER_01]: Was it you guys could have the forcing the 18 that once got disrupted by some roadworks happening nearby and then everyone had to go and

[00:33:50] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean the rest of the world thought it was 11 o'clock in the morning. It's a good time to get roadworks done but the McLatter engineers were just in the middle of their sleep

[00:34:00] [SPEAKER_00]: That was actually my story because we were there and Andy Stevenson who's a sporting director also had asked in martin

[00:34:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Hotels have maintenance work that's happening etc. They started their maintenance work. What was their Singaporean morning time, but that was deep sleep time for everyone in Formula One

[00:34:20] [SPEAKER_00]: The the rockers had created after the first night itself because you need to sleep

[00:34:25] [SPEAKER_00]: You know pretty much go to sleep at four o'clock wake up at 12 o'clock

[00:34:28] [SPEAKER_00]: As remember breakfast times were set up differently at the hotels specifically for the formula one things because hey who gets breakfast after 12 o'clock in the afternoon and sometimes it's only as early as 10 that you need to finish breakfast in the morning

[00:34:41] [SPEAKER_00]: And so that's always always the challenge in fact

[00:34:44] [SPEAKER_00]: I remember Steve Slater having a brilliant answer as to what happens if the

[00:34:50] [SPEAKER_00]: You know what happens if the lights go out in Singapore in the night race and what the

[00:34:56] [SPEAKER_00]: What the organizers have done to help with that and another interesting insight he gave is after

[00:35:02] [SPEAKER_00]: How the lights and and the direction is set up in a way that in case a driver spins on track

[00:35:07] [SPEAKER_00]: They also know which way is the correct way to drive and they're not driving in the other directions

[00:35:13] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to link to that episode in this description

[00:35:15] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a must here for all Formula One fans wanting to know how the Singapore Grand Prix came about why the layout is the way it is and why

[00:35:26] [SPEAKER_00]: The initial layout was a little different and why there are so many 90 degree corners and so on

[00:35:32] [SPEAKER_01]: It's insane, but you know you've only got to be there working at one of these races to realize the operational

[00:35:41] [SPEAKER_01]: Operational headaches that these people need to solve and I just got a glimpse of that in Chennai a few weeks ago when we had

[00:35:47] [SPEAKER_01]: In the first seven night street race and that was at a formula for level

[00:35:51] [SPEAKER_01]: But the political strings that you need to pull to make sure that you get the streets

[00:35:56] [SPEAKER_01]: The amount of labor you need to make sure that the track is made up in time

[00:36:01] [SPEAKER_01]: And then the right amount of and the right qualifications of engineers as well. Look at make sure that the track is well

[00:36:09] [SPEAKER_01]: Secured in terms of all the safety needs like the catch fence in these people probably like the concrete barriers need to be stuck in properly in every single place

[00:36:17] [SPEAKER_01]: Curves need to be bolted down 100% and then the homologation to come at such a last bullet

[00:36:21] [SPEAKER_01]: And all these little things and delivering food out of the truck it's circuit as well because we all are so concerned with getting the circuit made that we can sometimes forget basic things like washrooms like food

[00:36:32] [SPEAKER_01]: Like sanitation and these things are all

[00:36:36] [SPEAKER_01]: Things when Singapore is a benchmark globally for any sort of street race

[00:36:40] [SPEAKER_01]: It just blows my mind about how good of an event this is and how consistently we have it on and how it always delivers

[00:36:48] [SPEAKER_01]: And another major thing that makes it so interesting to watch is variation during qualifying as well because

[00:36:54] [SPEAKER_01]: Last year a perfect example of our street circuits evolve the track evolution and dust being cleared out and gripping laid down

[00:37:02] [SPEAKER_01]: Q1 best lap time a 1 minute 32 by the time we got to Q3 the pole lap was a late one minute 30 that's roughly almost what a second and a half more than that

[00:37:13] [SPEAKER_01]: Claude now know a qualifying so these are things that will be very very important which means if you're the last driver on track

[00:37:18] [SPEAKER_01]: In qualifying there is a good chance you might just end up getting pole if you stitch it all together and you know from Friday to Sunday

[00:37:25] [SPEAKER_00]: Which is Friday free practice to the Sunday race

[00:37:29] [SPEAKER_00]: There's almost a three to four second track evolution and what that means is for teams and drivers to assess

[00:37:36] [SPEAKER_00]: The evolution pick up the extra grip use it to their advantage from the cars and their systems and sensors to also

[00:37:44] [SPEAKER_00]: Get used to the evolution that you know nicely explained solmol but I know you are dying to get to the predictions park because this is Carlos signs is only when last year

[00:37:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Right of in on merit or when that he engineered while sitting in that car

[00:38:03] [SPEAKER_00]: What's your prediction who is going to get pole this weekend?

[00:38:08] [SPEAKER_01]: P.H. Street Oscar P.H. Street can't okay so impressed him so impressed okay, maybe I'm gonna find not great but

[00:38:16] [SPEAKER_01]: Oscar P.H. Street is I will pick

[00:38:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Charlotte Claire for pole position this weekend. Okay, so who's going to win this weekend for you?

[00:38:27] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean look, Lord doesn't have the best record in converting his pole positions at any other circuit

[00:38:32] [SPEAKER_01]: So I mean Singapore is also going to be similar story in my eyes now I'm a clarinet just seem to be the whole package now and

[00:38:39] [SPEAKER_01]: You need Singapore is a circuit with mental strength and nailing moments like the start are so so important

[00:38:46] [SPEAKER_01]: And that's someplace where I feel Oscar has the edge so I'm going

[00:38:51] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to be clarinet and then I'm going Oscar rather than look look over Oscar in this case

[00:38:57] [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so I'll tell you what I'm thinking there are four DRS zones. There is always DRS trains in Singapore over taking is very difficult

[00:39:06] [SPEAKER_00]: One of the things that can happen is if you take the race leader you're able to control the pace at the front

[00:39:11] [SPEAKER_00]: And then pick it up based on when you need to pit and so on

[00:39:17] [SPEAKER_00]: I get a feeling Ferrari will actually convert that this weekend

[00:39:21] [SPEAKER_00]: They did that very well in Monaco if at all they're running in the front for Ferrari and the McLaren drivers

[00:39:29] [SPEAKER_00]: And if Ferrari is leading at the front, they will be able to manage the race and use two cars against two cars

[00:39:35] [SPEAKER_00]: Two cars against one car and pull off the wind so I'm going to go with a nuclear pole

[00:39:40] [SPEAKER_00]: And maybe a nuclear wind in itself

[00:39:43] [SPEAKER_00]: And then he's going to get out of the car and say oh my god, who would have thought I would win Monaco, Monza and Singapore

[00:39:49] [SPEAKER_01]: That would be so much even if he can't get it done though, that will be mind-blowing

[00:39:54] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, he's like the clarinet has had four consecutive podiums

[00:39:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Which is his best is actually been five consecutive podiums only five mind you

[00:40:04] [SPEAKER_00]: Which was back in 2022 so it'll be it'll be interesting to see what the clarinet is able to do

[00:40:15] [SPEAKER_00]: Singapore because it will be cooler this you know when you race at night, it is much cooler the track conditions as well as opposed to racing in

[00:40:24] [SPEAKER_00]: The afternoon as we've seen most of the other races so that's going to be a factor that hopefully brings Mercedes closer in as well

[00:40:31] [SPEAKER_00]: Which by the way, Mercedes to me with their new delivery looks like the green-assed and Martin

[00:40:35] [SPEAKER_01]: So we're a little bit more nice to do

[00:40:39] [SPEAKER_00]: And Hamilton's 350 as a win while George Russell has won the head to head and qualifying this year, so that's going to be

[00:40:48] [SPEAKER_00]: That's a 350 at race start. Sorry. Yeah, he's a passing the original kimi

[00:40:55] [SPEAKER_01]: What? Come on, there's only one

[00:40:58] [SPEAKER_00]: You know what exactly there should be

[00:41:00] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, there should be just one kimi not original kimi

[00:41:03] [SPEAKER_00]: McLean is last win 2009. It could be that 50 at one to this we can finally live of course been waiting for that 50 at one to for a long time

[00:41:12] [SPEAKER_00]: But if at all Lando notice like we explained has to have an impact on the driver's championship

[00:41:18] [SPEAKER_00]: He has to nail that train and McLean has to nail a one to for anything to happen and the start as well

[00:41:26] [SPEAKER_00]: Well, and the start of course, how can we forget PS3's wins two wins both have come from P2

[00:41:33] [SPEAKER_00]: And it's going to be landstrolls 160 first race, which is matching

[00:41:41] [SPEAKER_00]: Athens and our and Mika Hackenon

[00:41:44] [SPEAKER_01]: Elite company to be a part of her

[00:41:48] [SPEAKER_00]: Nico Halkenburg finished 11th for the seventh time in 17th races in Baku

[00:41:54] [SPEAKER_00]: Can he go one better?

[00:41:57] [SPEAKER_00]: Incredible right

[00:41:58] [SPEAKER_00]: And I want to see Mcs where it's happened and even checkup it has his margins to to the winner

[00:42:05] [SPEAKER_00]: Because in months 37 seconds off hungry was 21

[00:42:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Sound food was 23 in Baku he was 20 seconds behind checkup it has before that crash

[00:42:16] [SPEAKER_00]: So lots of catching up for Mcs where it's happened in fact he's never won single-bore

[00:42:22] [SPEAKER_00]: And he's only I remember the stat. He's only led three laps and Antonio Chio will not see has led more laps in Singapore

[00:42:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Yes, then Mcs were stopping

[00:42:37] [SPEAKER_01]: Mental

[00:42:38] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think that was 20-19 or something

[00:42:40] [SPEAKER_01]: But let's see so many permutations and accommodations combinations this weekend

[00:42:45] [SPEAKER_01]: Clearly I'm excited for the race this time out

[00:42:47] [SPEAKER_01]: And we've decided who our money is on

[00:42:50] [SPEAKER_01]: Let us know who you think's gonna win the Singapore Grand Prix

[00:42:53] [SPEAKER_01]: By reaching out to us on our social media platforms

[00:42:55] [SPEAKER_01]: But thank you for listening to this episode folks

[00:42:57] [SPEAKER_01]: We'll be back all three of us for the race review on Monday

[00:43:01] [SPEAKER_01]: See you in the back one, bye bye