McLaren to deliver an Oscar-worthy performance at Spa? 2024 Belgian GP Preview

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[00:01:19] This is the preview episode of the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix. Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Kunal Shah and you are listening to the Inside Line Formula 1 Podcast.

[00:01:32] India's best sports podcast as awarded by Hindustan Times. And along with me are my co-hosts.

[00:01:41] Kunal, Kunal, Kunal, Kunal, Kunal, Kunal, wait. I think it's possible that you might have inadvertently taken over the intro. So, I would prefer that you switch back to Samil at your own convenience.

[00:01:53] Okay. That means in the last two minutes of this episode, I'm going to give over to Samil after saying how I need to lead this episode because you all told me to start this episode.

[00:02:07] That was well done. Over to you, Samil. I'll not be a Lando Norris today.

[00:02:13] And I didn't push you out on the first part of the episode as well. It works out perfectly for everyone, right?

[00:02:20] This is the Hungarian. No, not the Hungarian. It's the aftermath of the Hungarian GP, which is the Belgian Grand Prix, the last race of the summer break.

[00:02:29] And as we head into all of this, right, I know we started off by talking about McLaren immediately.

[00:02:34] But I have a question for you, Sundaram.

[00:02:36] What happens if you walk into the den of a lion when he's hungry and irritated?

[00:02:42] What do you think? I have no clue.

[00:02:44] You become lunch, don't you? You become their next meal, right? Of course you do.

[00:02:50] And that's what we're doing this weekend, right? Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris could literally become lunch.

[00:02:54] Because look at the numbers. Look at the stats.

[00:02:56] Last three Belgian Grand Prix won by Max Verstappen.

[00:03:00] The only three drivers in history to win three times at the Belgian Grand Prix.

[00:03:04] Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton.

[00:03:06] And now Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and Max Verstappen.

[00:03:10] And guess what? Last couple of years, he's won even though he took an engine penalty in both of the years.

[00:03:15] In fact, in 2022, he won from 14th on the grid with an 18-second penalty, with 18 seconds of a margin.

[00:03:21] In 23, he won by 23 seconds, even though he started sixth.

[00:03:28] This is home turf if there ever was any, Sundaram.

[00:03:31] Let me narrate the 2023 race once again.

[00:03:34] Go for it.

[00:03:34] He started from P6.

[00:03:36] He started from P6.

[00:03:37] By lap 13, he was in the lead.

[00:03:40] Charles Leclerc was on pole.

[00:03:41] He started on pole.

[00:03:43] So, Max Verstappen did two quick stops.

[00:03:45] He finished the race 22 seconds ahead of his teammate.

[00:03:48] And 32 seconds ahead of the pole sitter, Charles Leclerc, who was in P3.

[00:03:53] This year, it's pretty much not going to be the same way.

[00:03:55] Because the last five races that we've had, all of them have had a margin of less than four seconds.

[00:04:02] And that's the first time we've seen that in nearly two decades.

[00:04:06] So, that's been a very, very long time.

[00:04:08] That we've seen such a close bunch, such closely fought races.

[00:04:13] So, I'm very, very excited for the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix.

[00:04:17] And the last five races, we've not seen the pole sitter convert to a race win, which is, of course, not happened in a decade or whatever you call it.

[00:04:27] But, since you mentioned three Max Verstappen wins, you guys have conveniently not mentioned the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix win.

[00:04:39] The first that the FIA threw at us.

[00:04:42] The race that was run behind the safety car for two laps.

[00:04:47] And then 100% of the points were awarded to Max.

[00:04:52] Didn't George Russell also be on the podium?

[00:04:54] He was second.

[00:04:55] Yeah, he was second. I mean, whoever started wherever, finished wherever.

[00:04:58] Wait, but isn't that a Grand Slam technically?

[00:05:01] Led every lap, said fastest lap and also had pole position?

[00:05:06] Technically, no?

[00:05:07] No, no, no.

[00:05:08] The fastest lap was set by Nikita Mazepin.

[00:05:12] But it was eventually not counted officially.

[00:05:15] It wasn't made official. It was invalid.

[00:05:17] He had the fastest lap indeed, Nikita Mazepin.

[00:05:19] So, you're saying you can actually score a lap, a timed lap, which is the fastest lap under safety car?

[00:05:29] You can.

[00:05:30] Wow.

[00:05:31] Because everyone is not following the same pace.

[00:05:34] Someone is a kilometer per hour quicker or slower.

[00:05:38] Wow.

[00:05:39] I mean, it gives at least one opportunity for Mazepin to be fastest somewhere.

[00:05:42] And the FIA took it away.

[00:05:44] Kunal is stunned.

[00:05:45] Kunal is stunned.

[00:05:46] I'm stunned because what it took Nikita Mazepin to get a fastest lap was a safety car.

[00:05:54] So, safety car slowed it down to F2 or F3 pace and then that's when he's like, I can get a fastest lap now.

[00:06:02] I'm actually wondering how many fastest laps did he have?

[00:06:06] I'm actually, I don't know, checking.

[00:06:08] I have to check.

[00:06:09] I think he hasn't.

[00:06:11] I'm pretty sure he's got one fastest lap.

[00:06:13] But Aeration, Lamont, whatever.

[00:06:17] Actually, Formula 1 World Championship career doesn't say he's got the fastest lap.

[00:06:24] It was invalidated.

[00:06:25] But he did set the fastest lap.

[00:06:27] Invalidated?

[00:06:28] Yes, that's what I said.

[00:06:28] It was invalidated.

[00:06:29] Because it was…

[00:06:31] Nobody got the point.

[00:06:33] Under green flag conditions.

[00:06:35] Finally.

[00:06:36] He did have one fast lap.

[00:06:38] Yeah, okay.

[00:06:40] No, he did have one fastest lap.

[00:06:41] 2022 Bahar Inc. GP.

[00:06:43] He didn't do 22.

[00:06:43] A lap that lasted only two corners.

[00:06:47] 2021.

[00:06:49] Yeah, two corners.

[00:06:50] That's a fast lap.

[00:06:51] 11 seconds ended out of the race.

[00:06:52] That's a quick way to end it.

[00:06:55] That is good.

[00:06:56] But you know what?

[00:06:57] Let's get the discussion back to Max Verstappen now.

[00:06:59] Because the numbers are stunning.

[00:07:02] To win from P14 after taking a grid penalty.

[00:07:06] And then to win from P6.

[00:07:08] And then win by 22 seconds when Leclerc was the pole sitter and he could only manage P3.

[00:07:13] And the reports are that this time out, Verstappen is so confident.

[00:07:16] Or rather, Red Bull are so confident in this being their best track.

[00:07:19] That they're also willing to take an engine penalty here as well.

[00:07:22] Because if not here, where else?

[00:07:23] And that is literally like saying, McLaren, walk into my territory now.

[00:07:28] You are in my house.

[00:07:30] Try and beat me if you can now.

[00:07:31] And it is a home race for Max Verstappen, much as it is a home race for Lando Norris.

[00:07:39] So the two title protagonists, Max is Dutch-Belgian and Lando Norris is British-Belgian.

[00:07:47] So it's a home race for the two of them.

[00:07:49] I know Stoffel Van Doorn is also a Belgian driver who's going to test drive the Aston Martin in the Pirelli test.

[00:07:55] So we have at least three Belgian or whatever Belgian routes drivers this weekend.

[00:08:01] Unless Sudaram throws a boomerang and there you go.

[00:08:05] There we go.

[00:08:06] I know who you're talking about.

[00:08:08] I know who you're talking about.

[00:08:09] Wait, wait, wait.

[00:08:09] So Samuel, you got to go first.

[00:08:10] I have no clue.

[00:08:12] I know the answer.

[00:08:14] I know the answer.

[00:08:14] You need to take a guess.

[00:08:16] My goodness.

[00:08:17] Oh.

[00:08:18] Yes.

[00:08:19] Okay.

[00:08:19] It's someone who has been on the Inside Line F1 podcast.

[00:08:23] It's a small list.

[00:08:24] And he's a very popular driver.

[00:08:25] For all the wrong reasons.

[00:08:27] Logan Sargent?

[00:08:29] No.

[00:08:30] No.

[00:08:31] For all the wrong reasons.

[00:08:32] Try again.

[00:08:33] Someone who's beaten his teammate for the last three races.

[00:08:35] And I'm not very happy with that.

[00:08:37] Oh, that's a good hit.

[00:08:39] Lance Stroll.

[00:08:40] Wow.

[00:08:42] Lance Stroll.

[00:08:42] Lance Stroll is Canadian, Belgian and Russian.

[00:08:45] So Lance Stroll is...

[00:08:46] Yes.

[00:08:47] He's Lance Strollovich.

[00:08:49] So that's where he gets his Russian route from his dad's side.

[00:08:52] But from his mom's side, he gets his Belgian route.

[00:08:54] So yes, this is also his semi-home race in a way you could say that.

[00:08:58] Wait a minute.

[00:08:58] I'm very surprised you forgot Lance Stroll.

[00:09:00] I'm very surprised you forgot Lance Stroll.

[00:09:02] Actually, I'm glad you reminded me of Lance Stroll.

[00:09:05] 2019 Belgian Grand Prix.

[00:09:06] I was sitting in his written media session and my jaws dropped.

[00:09:10] My eyes popped out when Lance Stroll actually said...

[00:09:13] And I know it went viral.

[00:09:15] He said, I do not like the Spa-Francorchamps.

[00:09:18] He actually said that.

[00:09:20] Okay.

[00:09:20] And I can...

[00:09:21] Why would you say that?

[00:09:22] Yeah, yeah.

[00:09:22] He actually said that.

[00:09:23] He said he doesn't like the Spa-Francorchamps.

[00:09:26] And I'm like, really?

[00:09:28] Which driver?

[00:09:29] And I can actually quote.

[00:09:31] Spa has never been my absolute favorite circuit, which is quite unusual because I know most drivers love racing there.

[00:09:38] Those are the words he said.

[00:09:40] I wrote down the quote to use every Belgian Grand Prix weekend.

[00:09:45] In fact, his teammate who he has beaten in the last three races or whatever and outqualified five times out of 13 this year.

[00:09:53] But Fernando Alonso also said something to the tune of...

[00:09:59] It has never been my favorite track.

[00:10:00] It's an incredible circuit, but I'd rather prefer Suzuka or even Silverstone.

[00:10:05] Okay.

[00:10:05] So he said that.

[00:10:07] I don't know if that was just so that he doesn't...

[00:10:10] He sort of toes the line of the strolls.

[00:10:13] Okay.

[00:10:14] But Fernando Alonso also said something very strange.

[00:10:16] He said, I have never been flat out through Eau Rouge.

[00:10:20] So I don't know if Alonso was just bored.

[00:10:22] Rubbish.

[00:10:22] Rubbish.

[00:10:23] Exactly.

[00:10:25] Of course he has been.

[00:10:27] Of course he has been.

[00:10:27] I mean, the modern day Formula One cars are so quick.

[00:10:30] In fact, even Sonny Hayes has gone flat out at Eau Rouge nowadays.

[00:10:34] We've seen those clips as well.

[00:10:35] You don't want to make any more Apex references to Fernando Alonso.

[00:10:40] He was livid after some confusion last time out after qualifying.

[00:10:45] They apparently mistook him for one of the Apex cars or Apex movie, F1 movie cars.

[00:10:51] So he was not happy in Hungary after qualifying.

[00:10:54] Who mistook him?

[00:10:55] The FIA.

[00:10:57] Was it the real FIA or the fake FIA who was acting in the movie?

[00:11:01] I don't know.

[00:11:01] The real FIA.

[00:11:03] The real FIA.

[00:11:03] So he reeled into the fake Park Ferme area.

[00:11:08] He literally got out of his car.

[00:11:10] Then his mechanics came and said, no, no, no.

[00:11:12] You have to take the car back to the garage.

[00:11:14] This is not the actual Park Ferme area.

[00:11:17] Back in.

[00:11:18] Right.

[00:11:18] I remember seeing that clip on Twitter.

[00:11:22] But yes, Kunal said this is a track that he does not like.

[00:11:26] And I mean, of all the tracks that he's raced around, this is one of his bogey tracks.

[00:11:30] He's raced here 18 times.

[00:11:32] Wow.

[00:11:33] He scored just 81 points.

[00:11:35] No wins in his career.

[00:11:37] And he's led only seven laps around this track.

[00:11:39] So I can understand why we might not necessarily see an Alonso masterclass this weekend.

[00:11:45] And I think if I remember correctly, he crashed out of qualifying or practice.

[00:11:49] I think it was FP3 the last time.

[00:11:52] Basically, if I ever have to challenge Fernando Alonso to a race, I have to take him to the

[00:11:57] Spa-Francorchamps.

[00:11:58] Period.

[00:12:02] But you always want to bring in your birthday with a bang, a good bang.

[00:12:06] And it's the day before his birthday.

[00:12:08] So he might as well celebrate it with a podium, hopefully.

[00:12:12] I thought you'd turn around and say he might as well celebrate it with me because he and

[00:12:16] I share the same birthday.

[00:12:17] But okay, why not?

[00:12:19] Yes.

[00:12:19] That too.

[00:12:20] That too.

[00:12:21] Good point.

[00:12:22] Good point.

[00:12:22] Wait, birthday with a bang?

[00:12:23] I'm pretty sure he can't do that at the Olympics now.

[00:12:26] I know I've brought it up the second time.

[00:12:28] But do you guys know about the anti-cardio bets?

[00:12:31] I just have to bring it in.

[00:12:32] Wait.

[00:12:33] Here's a nugget that very conveniently leads us on to the intro because that's how you do it.

[00:12:37] You're extremely sharp, leaving you with a piece of information that you don't want to know about,

[00:12:40] but you still do want to know about.

[00:12:42] But I'll tell you what you do want to know about.

[00:12:44] This is the Inside Line F1 podcast.

[00:12:46] And as Kunal mentioned, we are India's best sports podcast.

[00:12:49] And apart from that as well, one of the top 1.5% of all podcasts across the world, not just on Spotify, but across all platforms.

[00:12:57] My name is Somal Arora.

[00:12:59] I am the voice of the MotoGP Indian Grand Prix and also the Indian Racing League, the Indian Supercross Championship and many other series as well.

[00:13:07] I'm joined, of course, by Kunal Shah, the man who started this podcast and the man who appears on screen for the Viaplay network in Norway and is also a consultant for them.

[00:13:16] And Viaplay are the same people who broadcast Formula 1 in Scandinavia and across multiple countries in Europe.

[00:13:22] If you're there, you might just see him in a couple of races time here.

[00:13:26] Are you appearing?

[00:13:27] Yeah, this weekend.

[00:13:27] You are appearing this weekend.

[00:13:29] Saturday and Sunday.

[00:13:29] Amazing.

[00:13:31] Amazing.

[00:13:32] So there's an opportunity.

[00:13:34] And F1 Stats Crew, of course, is the most followed stats facts page on the internet for Formula 1 content.

[00:13:40] And his stats have been read out by so many people.

[00:13:43] Crofty Laura Winter this weekend on the F1 TV broadcast as well.

[00:13:47] And that stat was about the youngest front row lockout by a single team in Formula 1 history, which McLaren had.

[00:13:54] And they converted that into a 1-2.

[00:13:56] But that very conveniently leads us on to the whole discussion.

[00:14:00] Wait, you were saying something?

[00:14:01] No, no, no, no, no, no.

[00:14:02] That very conveniently leads us to McLaren getting overexcited about the win.

[00:14:08] Because firstly on Twitter, I think they posted this is the third ever 1-2 that we've had in F1 history.

[00:14:14] Something of that sort.

[00:14:15] And they deleted that shortly.

[00:14:18] They put up a wrong stat and they deleted it.

[00:14:20] Today they put up a stat saying Norris and Piastri.

[00:14:24] Yeah, I mean Piastri and Norris finishing 1-2 got it wrong.

[00:14:28] I only watched the race until lap 68.

[00:14:30] Sorry.

[00:14:31] Yeah.

[00:14:32] But Piastri and Norris were the youngest 1-2 in F1 history.

[00:14:35] And everyone went on to correct them because it wasn't.

[00:14:38] The youngest 1-2 in F1 history is Leclerc and Verstappen in Austria 2019.

[00:14:44] And the youngest 1-2 by a team is Riccardo and Verstappen in Malaysia 2016.

[00:14:50] So quite clearly, I think they need a statistician.

[00:14:52] So I have my CV ready.

[00:14:53] And I'm just going to shoot it out to them after this episode is recorded.

[00:14:58] Yes, now it conveniently leads up to what you were saying.

[00:15:02] McLaren, which we should talk about.

[00:15:06] Which is interesting, right?

[00:15:07] As I mentioned early on, the numbers are stacked up against Max Verstappen.

[00:15:12] Well, the odds coming into this race are the past three races aren't.

[00:15:16] Because we have gone three races without Verstappen winning a race for the first time since how long?

[00:15:23] Twenty...

[00:15:23] Twenty-one.

[00:15:24] Twenty-one.

[00:15:24] Twenty-one.

[00:15:26] That's a bit of a bummer.

[00:15:27] And Verstappen is also going to take an engine penalty.

[00:15:29] So if McLaren nail qualifying, which they normally have been doing these days,

[00:15:34] it is going to be a big chance for them to eat into Red Bull Racing's lead.

[00:15:38] And it brings me on to Oscar Piastri, guys.

[00:15:41] Because I am actually backing him to beat Lando Norris once again this weekend.

[00:15:46] On merit.

[00:15:47] Not just after a slightly messed up start.

[00:15:49] Yeah.

[00:15:50] I'll go for that.

[00:15:51] Last year, he...

[00:15:52] In his rookie year in Formula 1,

[00:15:54] out-qualified Lando Norris here at Spa by three-tenths in Q3.

[00:16:01] In fact, wait a second.

[00:16:03] Before we get into the teams,

[00:16:05] ladies and gentlemen, guys and girls,

[00:16:07] we are actually going to the Spa-Francorchamps.

[00:16:09] I think we need to spend a few minutes talking about this legendary circuit

[00:16:15] and why all the drivers,

[00:16:18] barring Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso,

[00:16:20] absolutely love racing at this circuit.

[00:16:25] What's your favourite corner, Salman?

[00:16:28] There are 19 of them, as you know.

[00:16:31] Without a doubt.

[00:16:32] Poohan, 300 km per hour on the entry.

[00:16:35] 300!

[00:16:37] How many people ever get to get to 300 km per hour in their life,

[00:16:41] let alone approach a corner with 300 kph.

[00:16:44] It's madness.

[00:16:45] Okay.

[00:16:46] We have yours.

[00:16:47] Sundaram, what about you?

[00:16:49] Nothing beats Poohan.

[00:16:50] Even when you play the game on the F1 game,

[00:16:53] if you nail that corner,

[00:16:55] it's the most satisfying thing.

[00:16:57] Probably even more than nailing Orooosh Radeon.

[00:17:00] That corner, like Somal mentioned,

[00:17:02] is ultimate satisfaction if you can actually nail it.

[00:17:06] You know, now, clearly, if I just say Poohan,

[00:17:09] which actually is the right answer,

[00:17:10] maybe I would say Poohan or even Blanchiment.

[00:17:12] But if I say Poohan, our listeners will be,

[00:17:15] you know what?

[00:17:15] These guys don't know the other parts of the circuit.

[00:17:18] So one guy said Poohan

[00:17:19] and everyone else has just said Poohan, Poohan, Poohan.

[00:17:23] But I'll tell you what,

[00:17:24] what I love about Spa-Francorchamps

[00:17:27] is the elevation changes.

[00:17:28] I think from turn 7 Malmody,

[00:17:32] when you come down to turn 15,

[00:17:34] it's about 100 meters that you lose in...

[00:17:39] 102.

[00:17:40] 102.

[00:17:41] 0.2, if I remember correctly.

[00:17:44] And...

[00:17:45] Yes.

[00:17:45] And that's bigger.

[00:17:48] That's bigger than the...

[00:17:50] What do you call it?

[00:17:51] The Big Bend Tower in London.

[00:17:53] Yeah.

[00:17:54] Wow.

[00:17:54] There you go.

[00:17:55] So I just love Spa for that.

[00:17:59] And I've luckily been there more than a few times.

[00:18:02] And it's that one circuit when you just go to

[00:18:04] and I feel like I'm in a shrine.

[00:18:07] You know, I touch the tarmac and I'm like,

[00:18:10] hmm, this is that place.

[00:18:12] And like Oscar Piastri said,

[00:18:14] you know, like just driving up Eau Rouge,

[00:18:17] doesn't matter what car you're in.

[00:18:18] It's just very, very special, right?

[00:18:20] I know it's flat and everybody says it's no longer a corner.

[00:18:24] It's no longer a challenge.

[00:18:26] But to just see those cars go up, turn left, turn right,

[00:18:30] turn left again,

[00:18:30] and then go on to the Camel Straight,

[00:18:34] I think that's just so beautiful.

[00:18:36] Again, I think from the exit of La Source,

[00:18:39] all the way to the breaking of Camel Straits,

[00:18:42] it's to Lacombe, the right-hander that comes there.

[00:18:47] It's almost 20 plus seconds of full speed throttle.

[00:18:52] I'm going to enjoy it thoroughly this weekend.

[00:18:54] I'm so glad I'm in the studio both the days

[00:18:57] and I get to see single lap pace and race pace then.

[00:19:00] But genuinely, do you get to watch a lot in the studio?

[00:19:04] Because there's lots of work that you've got to do, right?

[00:19:08] No, but luckily I'm the TV expert.

[00:19:13] So for me, I have to watch everything

[00:19:15] and then be able to decode it pretty much in real time as it happens.

[00:19:20] So to me, it's one of the biggest challenges

[00:19:22] that I have faced in Formula One

[00:19:24] and doing it live television,

[00:19:27] especially in Norwegian where,

[00:19:29] I mean, the show is in Norwegian and I speak in English.

[00:19:31] So to understand what the others are saying in Norsk

[00:19:35] and then still hold my thoughts

[00:19:37] and sort of, you know,

[00:19:39] connect it to what everyone else is saying

[00:19:41] and then present it live broadcast.

[00:19:44] It's a big high.

[00:19:45] Like, but my adrenaline drops not on the Monday after the race,

[00:19:48] but the Tuesday after the race.

[00:19:50] But anyway, it's not about me.

[00:19:51] It's about the Spa-Francorchamps.

[00:19:53] No, it's interesting you mentioned that.

[00:19:55] And I want to spend a second on that

[00:19:56] because when I was working on the Euros

[00:19:59] for the Sony Sports Network in India,

[00:20:01] all the experts and all the producers

[00:20:03] barely had any time because it's all so concentrated, right?

[00:20:06] There's so much action within 90 minutes

[00:20:08] and there's a show to make immediately before and afterwards.

[00:20:11] So many things that you want to prepare,

[00:20:13] so many notes that you've got to make

[00:20:14] so that you barely ever get the chance

[00:20:16] to properly watch the game in proper fashion

[00:20:20] where you can dissect what's going on.

[00:20:22] And with a race like Spa,

[00:20:23] that's so difficult in terms of strategy

[00:20:26] where you've normally got a two-stop.

[00:20:28] So there's so many variables

[00:20:29] at every single moment of the race.

[00:20:31] I can imagine it being such a challenge

[00:20:33] to work on in the studio itself

[00:20:35] where you're concentrating on

[00:20:36] a million different things

[00:20:38] on what's happening in the race

[00:20:39] and what to talk about after the race as well.

[00:20:41] Oh, yeah.

[00:20:42] And I think strategy is one of my strengths

[00:20:44] to be able to decode it real time.

[00:20:48] It's like a game of high-speed chess.

[00:20:50] I'm really bad at slow-speed chess,

[00:20:52] so the real game of chess.

[00:20:53] But if you put me on doing strategy,

[00:20:56] especially explaining it in broadcast,

[00:20:58] why, who did, what, when, why,

[00:21:00] at least I believe it,

[00:21:02] I'm comfortable doing it,

[00:21:03] so I believe I'm pretty good at it.

[00:21:05] I've nailed it a few times

[00:21:06] to explain what's what, what's not.

[00:21:08] And when I watch the race,

[00:21:10] I'm just constantly making notes

[00:21:12] about which lap, what happened,

[00:21:14] how many seconds gap, et cetera.

[00:21:16] You know, the usual things

[00:21:17] which you'd need to do.

[00:21:20] So when you're in the studio

[00:21:21] and you're sort of questioned

[00:21:22] or challenged about certain situations,

[00:21:24] which pretty much nowadays

[00:21:26] happens all the time,

[00:21:27] did happen so much.

[00:21:28] So last year and the year before that.

[00:21:30] So I love doing that.

[00:21:32] And to do that for Spa

[00:21:34] is one of those dreams,

[00:21:36] I would say.

[00:21:37] But this is weird, right?

[00:21:38] Spa happening before the summer break

[00:21:40] because for all along,

[00:21:41] Spa was the race after the summer break.

[00:21:43] And it was actually one of the races

[00:21:44] that Mithila and I used to prioritize traveling to

[00:21:47] because you would almost always

[00:21:49] have some driver market news.

[00:21:51] Then I remember Ricciardo

[00:21:53] leaving Red Bull,

[00:21:54] going to Renault happened,

[00:21:55] just leading into onto Spa.

[00:21:57] Pierre Gasly being asked to leave Red Bull

[00:22:00] and go back to Toronto also happened.

[00:22:02] Then Nico Hulkenberg happened.

[00:22:04] Esteban Ocon.

[00:22:04] Lots of driver discussions have happened.

[00:22:07] And I think this weekend,

[00:22:09] we'll probably hear one or two,

[00:22:10] at least one.

[00:22:10] I think Ocon,

[00:22:12] they're just figuring when to announce it

[00:22:14] from what I understand.

[00:22:15] But Ocon to Haas has pretty much happened.

[00:22:18] And,

[00:22:19] but yeah,

[00:22:20] onto Spa.

[00:22:21] Anything that you guys feel is special about Spa,

[00:22:25] particularly as a circuit?

[00:22:27] I think there are a couple of interesting bits,

[00:22:29] at least in terms of tires,

[00:22:32] because this is the longest circuit on the F1 calendar.

[00:22:36] And literally,

[00:22:37] it needs an exception from the FIA

[00:22:40] because no circuit is supposed to be over 7 kilometers.

[00:22:43] This is 7.004 kilometers.

[00:22:45] So it does require an exception,

[00:22:47] just like Monaco to be on the calendar.

[00:22:50] But the interesting bit is that

[00:22:52] it is so high

[00:22:53] and on,

[00:22:55] on tire stress and tire abrasion.

[00:22:57] So demanding on the tires

[00:22:58] that usually in qualifying,

[00:23:00] you'll see cars going out extremely slowly

[00:23:02] through the lap,

[00:23:03] through the out lap

[00:23:05] because they don't want to cook their tires

[00:23:07] by the time they reach the third,

[00:23:09] the third sector.

[00:23:10] It's also very much possible

[00:23:11] that by the time they,

[00:23:12] on their push lap,

[00:23:14] the second sector is so technical

[00:23:16] and so high speed

[00:23:17] that by the time they make it to the bus stop,

[00:23:19] she can,

[00:23:19] it's very,

[00:23:20] it's very much possible

[00:23:21] that the tires are over.

[00:23:23] So that's going to be a very interesting thing

[00:23:25] to keep an eye on during qualifying.

[00:23:27] The other thing is that

[00:23:28] teams will be doing fewer laps

[00:23:30] throughout the whole race weekend

[00:23:31] because it's such a long lap.

[00:23:33] So at any point in time,

[00:23:35] if you have a little bit of damage,

[00:23:37] it's going to be an ultra long lap

[00:23:40] all the way back to the pits for you.

[00:23:41] So if you crash and you need new parts,

[00:23:44] your race is all but over.

[00:23:47] But...

[00:23:47] No, no, go on.

[00:23:48] You have something to stick around?

[00:23:49] After you.

[00:23:49] Go on.

[00:23:50] No, there's one other thing

[00:23:51] that I want all of you listeners

[00:23:53] to keep an eye on

[00:23:54] after the Belgium Grand Prix,

[00:23:56] right after the checkered flag comes down

[00:23:58] because you're going to see

[00:23:59] the driver entering,

[00:24:00] the winner entering the pit lane

[00:24:02] very, very soon

[00:24:03] after the checkered flag falls

[00:24:05] because something very different happens at Spa.

[00:24:08] They don't do a cool down lap.

[00:24:11] They don't do a victory lap

[00:24:12] around Spa-Franco-Champs.

[00:24:13] You will see the winner

[00:24:15] crossing this finish line,

[00:24:17] taking a U-turn at Lassoas

[00:24:18] and then entering the pit lane

[00:24:20] from the pit exit

[00:24:20] and going in the wrong direction.

[00:24:23] So teams are informed well in advance

[00:24:25] that, you know,

[00:24:26] the top three drivers

[00:24:26] are going to be coming

[00:24:27] in the opposite direction.

[00:24:28] So you need to keep

[00:24:28] all your mechanics

[00:24:29] and all your other parts

[00:24:31] well away from them.

[00:24:33] And that's because

[00:24:34] the track is just that long

[00:24:35] and the cool down lap

[00:24:36] is going to be even longer.

[00:24:38] It could be three,

[00:24:39] three and a half minutes

[00:24:40] and that's going to create

[00:24:41] a lot of broadcast delays

[00:24:42] and it's also one extra lap

[00:24:45] of that much fuel

[00:24:46] for seven kilometers.

[00:24:47] So you won't see this

[00:24:48] at any other track

[00:24:49] but a little piece,

[00:24:51] a little factoid

[00:24:52] I found online.

[00:24:53] So something to look forward

[00:24:54] to this weekend.

[00:24:54] And I think it's a beautiful factoid

[00:24:56] because with a seven point,

[00:24:59] firstly, thank you.

[00:25:00] I didn't know the FIA

[00:25:00] has to make an exception

[00:25:02] for Spa

[00:25:03] because Spa has been

[00:25:05] one of the founding circuits

[00:25:06] of Formula One,

[00:25:07] one of the original five.

[00:25:08] So I never imagined that Spa,

[00:25:10] and of course,

[00:25:10] that was also the older layout

[00:25:13] where rules were different,

[00:25:14] circuits were,

[00:25:15] you know, much longer.

[00:25:16] But I didn't know

[00:25:16] that they needed an exception

[00:25:17] to get Spa on the calendar.

[00:25:20] But interestingly

[00:25:21] about that cool down lap,

[00:25:22] of course, you know,

[00:25:23] the fuel penalty

[00:25:24] for carrying an extra lap's

[00:25:26] worth of fuel

[00:25:26] is higher around Spa,

[00:25:28] seven kilometers over a lap.

[00:25:31] But also,

[00:25:31] I believe over 44 laps,

[00:25:34] the race distance is 308,

[00:25:37] which is already,

[00:25:38] you know,

[00:25:39] a bit more

[00:25:40] than the stipulated

[00:25:41] 300 kilometers.

[00:25:42] Now imagine adding one more

[00:25:44] for the cool down lap.

[00:25:45] It'll be 315 kilometers

[00:25:48] of fuel

[00:25:49] that they need to carry for.

[00:25:50] So I also believe

[00:25:51] it's down to

[00:25:52] one of those things

[00:25:54] about fuel penalty

[00:25:57] that the circuits would carry.

[00:25:58] But since we've reached here,

[00:26:00] we've literally

[00:26:02] not highlighted

[00:26:03] as much

[00:26:04] what are the key stories

[00:26:06] to look forward to

[00:26:07] apart from just Spa

[00:26:08] because Spa is Spa.

[00:26:10] And then

[00:26:11] mixed weather

[00:26:12] expected this weekend

[00:26:13] at least on

[00:26:14] Saturday,

[00:26:15] I believe,

[00:26:16] which means

[00:26:17] McLaren will be challenged.

[00:26:18] They may not be challenged

[00:26:19] on the circuit again.

[00:26:20] They may be challenged

[00:26:21] on the radio,

[00:26:22] definitely on the pit wall.

[00:26:23] I mean,

[00:26:25] after Hungary,

[00:26:26] I can't yet find

[00:26:28] one pundit,

[00:26:29] one journalist,

[00:26:31] one opinion leader,

[00:26:33] one speaker,

[00:26:35] one content creator

[00:26:37] on social media

[00:26:38] who has not given

[00:26:41] McLaren and Andrea Stella

[00:26:42] advice on what

[00:26:44] they should have done

[00:26:44] in Hungary.

[00:26:45] Yeah, we have to.

[00:26:46] I still haven't.

[00:26:47] I still haven't.

[00:26:48] So you'll find that

[00:26:49] tomorrow.

[00:26:49] There we go.

[00:26:53] No, even we have.

[00:26:54] Even we have.

[00:26:55] And they've got to be

[00:26:56] on the top of their game

[00:26:57] this weekend

[00:26:58] more than ever

[00:26:58] because conditions

[00:27:00] at Spa,

[00:27:01] Frank Oshomps,

[00:27:01] as Kunal mentioned,

[00:27:02] are going to be mixed.

[00:27:04] Temperatures are going

[00:27:05] to be low

[00:27:05] and that opens up

[00:27:07] a big window of opportunity

[00:27:09] for one team in particular,

[00:27:11] Mercedes.

[00:27:12] As of their new upgrade,

[00:27:14] we're not quite sure

[00:27:15] where they are

[00:27:15] extremely fast.

[00:27:16] We've not had enough

[00:27:18] of,

[00:27:19] let's say,

[00:27:21] a Citrus Paribus

[00:27:22] kind of race

[00:27:24] where we can

[00:27:25] level off all conditions

[00:27:26] and figure out,

[00:27:27] hey, Mercedes are better

[00:27:27] at a certain type

[00:27:28] of corner,

[00:27:29] be it high speed,

[00:27:30] medium speed,

[00:27:30] or low speed.

[00:27:31] Do they work better

[00:27:32] when there's more

[00:27:34] tire wear or not?

[00:27:35] But one thing's for sure.

[00:27:36] One correlation

[00:27:36] that they themselves

[00:27:37] has mentioned

[00:27:38] and it has been visible

[00:27:40] in the last few races

[00:27:40] as well

[00:27:41] is that whenever

[00:27:42] the conditions

[00:27:43] are cooler,

[00:27:44] Mercedes tend to come

[00:27:45] back into the race

[00:27:46] far more

[00:27:47] and that is also

[00:27:48] going to happen

[00:27:48] not just on Sunday

[00:27:50] but also on Saturday

[00:27:51] as rain is expected

[00:27:53] and conditions

[00:27:53] are going to be mixed.

[00:27:54] With Verstappen

[00:27:55] also taking a good penalty

[00:27:56] and with Sergio Perez

[00:27:58] also competing

[00:27:59] in Formula 1.5,

[00:28:00] that really opens up

[00:28:01] the door

[00:28:02] for McLaren

[00:28:03] versus Mercedes

[00:28:03] for a straight shootout

[00:28:05] until Verstappen

[00:28:06] comes back

[00:28:07] because I'm still

[00:28:07] very confident

[00:28:08] he will.

[00:28:09] This is power.

[00:28:09] You cannot beat

[00:28:10] the king

[00:28:11] in his own den.

[00:28:12] You just can't do that.

[00:28:13] So even though

[00:28:14] he may be starting

[00:28:15] from P11

[00:28:16] if not anywhere lower

[00:28:19] it's going to be

[00:28:20] a fun fight

[00:28:21] between Mercedes

[00:28:22] and McLaren

[00:28:22] until Verstappen

[00:28:23] comes around.

[00:28:24] I love how you've

[00:28:25] conveniently just

[00:28:26] left Ferrari

[00:28:27] out of the picture

[00:28:28] when Ferrari

[00:28:29] actually

[00:28:30] They counted themselves

[00:28:31] in it as well?

[00:28:34] Well,

[00:28:35] Ferrari started on pole

[00:28:36] in the last two years

[00:28:38] just because

[00:28:39] Max Verstappen

[00:28:40] who got pole

[00:28:41] took penalties

[00:28:42] for a power unit

[00:28:43] changed in the last two years.

[00:28:44] So two consecutive years

[00:28:45] or now three consecutive years

[00:28:46] Max Verstappen

[00:28:47] is going to take

[00:28:48] power unit penalties.

[00:28:49] The last two years

[00:28:50] Ferrari started on pole.

[00:28:52] Let's see

[00:28:52] what happens

[00:28:53] this weekend

[00:28:55] especially

[00:28:55] in qualifying

[00:28:56] on Saturday

[00:28:58] but

[00:29:00] which actually

[00:29:01] makes me wonder

[00:29:02] could this also be

[00:29:03] the power unit

[00:29:05] penalty

[00:29:05] Grand Prix

[00:29:06] of the year

[00:29:06] because

[00:29:09] You know what

[00:29:10] we saw a lot of that.

[00:29:12] Was it last year

[00:29:13] or 22

[00:29:14] when we had

[00:29:14] 2022

[00:29:15] I suppose

[00:29:16] Let me just look up

[00:29:17] the number

[00:29:17] Yeah

[00:29:17] 8

[00:29:18] 8

[00:29:19] drivers

[00:29:20] 9

[00:29:20] 9

[00:29:21] 9

[00:29:22] 9

[00:29:22] had taken

[00:29:23] grid penalties

[00:29:24] Just checking

[00:29:24] I can't remember

[00:29:25] Anyway

[00:29:26] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

[00:29:29] 10 drivers

[00:29:30] 1

[00:29:31] Are you sure?

[00:29:34] 50% of the

[00:29:35] It's 9

[00:29:36] 9

[00:29:37] 9

[00:29:37] 9

[00:29:37] Okay

[00:29:38] And in fact

[00:29:40] talking of McLaren

[00:29:41] wasn't this the race

[00:29:42] when

[00:29:44] McLaren had

[00:29:45] 50 and 60

[00:29:46] positions of

[00:29:48] grid penalties

[00:29:48] for all their

[00:29:49] multiple power units

[00:29:50] that they had to

[00:29:51] throw out

[00:29:52] Yes

[00:29:52] You are right

[00:29:53] Imagine

[00:29:54] from there

[00:29:55] from there

[00:29:56] those 60

[00:29:58] 60 place

[00:29:59] grid penalties

[00:30:00] that McLaren

[00:30:01] have sort of

[00:30:02] seen those

[00:30:03] kind of days

[00:30:04] to now

[00:30:05] coming and

[00:30:05] saying

[00:30:06] Guess what

[00:30:07] we'll be quick

[00:30:07] at all circuits

[00:30:08] in all weather

[00:30:09] in all temperature

[00:30:11] See

[00:30:11] You don't

[00:30:12] need to do that

[00:30:13] You don't need to do that

[00:30:15] Kunal

[00:30:15] You don't have to hurt

[00:30:17] a Fernando Alonso fan

[00:30:18] by reminding him

[00:30:18] of his Alonso

[00:30:20] McLaren

[00:30:20] Honda days

[00:30:21] You don't have to do that

[00:30:24] It's funny you mention

[00:30:26] that Sundaram

[00:30:26] because at that point

[00:30:27] McLaren had a

[00:30:28] combined total

[00:30:29] of 3 drivers

[00:30:31] world championships

[00:30:31] within their team

[00:30:33] They now have a

[00:30:34] combined total

[00:30:34] of 3 F1 race

[00:30:36] wins within their team

[00:30:38] It's funny how

[00:30:39] the experience levels

[00:30:40] has really got down

[00:30:41] but the performance

[00:30:42] has come up

[00:30:42] for McLaren

[00:30:43] I like how you say

[00:30:44] 3 F1 races

[00:30:45] not Grand Prix

[00:30:48] We're still carrying

[00:30:49] that start ahead

[00:30:49] But that's a very

[00:30:51] interesting point

[00:30:53] If you consider

[00:30:54] McLaren doing

[00:30:55] again

[00:30:56] doing well

[00:30:56] in qualifying

[00:30:57] if they get a

[00:30:58] 1-2 once again

[00:30:58] that means

[00:31:00] the highest

[00:31:01] that Verstappen

[00:31:02] could start

[00:31:02] is P3

[00:31:03] and if you take

[00:31:04] a grid penalty

[00:31:05] that probably

[00:31:05] pushes him down

[00:31:06] to P13

[00:31:07] So unless

[00:31:08] like you said

[00:31:08] unless he puts

[00:31:09] his car on pole

[00:31:10] the highest

[00:31:12] he's going to start

[00:31:12] is P11

[00:31:13] win

[00:31:13] So it's going to be

[00:31:14] a very difficult

[00:31:16] ordeal for him

[00:31:17] to climb up

[00:31:18] and finish on the

[00:31:19] podium

[00:31:20] especially I would

[00:31:20] say if not win

[00:31:21] because we saw

[00:31:24] that in Hungary

[00:31:26] as well

[00:31:27] they just won't have

[00:31:28] the pace

[00:31:28] as a Mercedes

[00:31:29] definitely not

[00:31:30] the McLarens

[00:31:31] and that straight

[00:31:32] line speed

[00:31:32] is not there

[00:31:33] and you can

[00:31:34] overtake on this

[00:31:35] track especially

[00:31:36] on the Camel

[00:31:37] straight

[00:31:38] but how high up

[00:31:39] he finishes

[00:31:40] in the race

[00:31:40] is going to be

[00:31:41] very very crucial

[00:31:43] because in the

[00:31:44] last race

[00:31:44] McLaren literally

[00:31:45] wiped a win

[00:31:46] close to 30

[00:31:47] points

[00:31:47] of the margin

[00:31:49] that they have

[00:31:49] with Red Bull

[00:31:50] They're currently

[00:31:51] on a 51 points

[00:31:53] cap

[00:31:53] and they would

[00:31:54] love to bring

[00:31:55] that even further

[00:31:56] down

[00:31:57] so it's very much

[00:31:58] possible that

[00:31:59] it might come to

[00:32:00] maybe a 25 or

[00:32:01] 30 points

[00:32:02] difference this

[00:32:03] weekend

[00:32:03] I think Spa will

[00:32:04] reveal a lot

[00:32:05] because it's got

[00:32:06] everything hasn't it

[00:32:07] the slower speed

[00:32:08] corners where

[00:32:09] McLaren didn't

[00:32:09] find themselves

[00:32:10] to be very

[00:32:10] comfortable last

[00:32:11] year

[00:32:11] like the bus

[00:32:12] stop chicane

[00:32:13] and the source

[00:32:13] it's got lots

[00:32:15] of medium to

[00:32:16] high speed

[00:32:16] corners which

[00:32:17] McLaren should

[00:32:17] find favourable

[00:32:18] like Pouhon

[00:32:19] like Eau Rouge

[00:32:20] Radion

[00:32:21] like Piff

[00:32:21] Paff

[00:32:21] like Blanchimo

[00:32:22] it's got a

[00:32:23] perfect mix

[00:32:24] of everything

[00:32:25] and Red Bull

[00:32:26] have been

[00:32:26] bulletproof here

[00:32:27] if you can

[00:32:28] beat them

[00:32:29] here

[00:32:29] you can

[00:32:30] beat them

[00:32:30] anywhere

[00:32:31] this is

[00:32:31] the textbook

[00:32:33] Red Bull

[00:32:33] racing circuit

[00:32:34] so that's

[00:32:35] where I think

[00:32:36] all of the

[00:32:37] eyesight should

[00:32:38] be for this

[00:32:39] weekend

[00:32:39] can McLaren

[00:32:40] really do

[00:32:40] that

[00:32:40] can they

[00:32:41] challenge them

[00:32:41] fair and

[00:32:42] square in

[00:32:42] qualifying

[00:32:43] because in

[00:32:43] the race

[00:32:43] obviously

[00:32:44] it will be

[00:32:45] somewhat

[00:32:45] skewed

[00:32:46] and what

[00:32:47] you always

[00:32:47] want to do

[00:32:50] is have

[00:32:51] that momentum

[00:32:51] going into

[00:32:53] summer break

[00:32:53] you don't want

[00:32:54] to go into

[00:32:56] the summer break

[00:32:56] of a couple

[00:32:57] of bad races

[00:32:58] and then you

[00:32:58] have a lot

[00:32:59] to work on

[00:32:59] and even

[00:33:00] think on

[00:33:00] mentally

[00:33:02] and maybe

[00:33:03] that's the next

[00:33:04] topic of discussion

[00:33:05] one person

[00:33:05] who really needs

[00:33:06] to have a good

[00:33:06] race is Sergio

[00:33:07] Perez

[00:33:07] I actually

[00:33:08] wanted to put

[00:33:08] this point out

[00:33:09] in the last

[00:33:09] race that

[00:33:10] Sergio Perez

[00:33:11] has to have

[00:33:11] a couple of

[00:33:12] good races

[00:33:12] so that he

[00:33:13] has a less

[00:33:14] stressful summer

[00:33:14] break but

[00:33:15] this I think

[00:33:16] we are at that

[00:33:17] stage where

[00:33:17] it's

[00:33:18] you will die

[00:33:18] for him

[00:33:19] but I think

[00:33:20] Kunal

[00:33:20] you know

[00:33:21] even if

[00:33:22] just moving

[00:33:23] on to

[00:33:24] Perez

[00:33:24] actually

[00:33:24] even if

[00:33:27] actually

[00:33:27] yeah

[00:33:27] okay now

[00:33:28] I remember

[00:33:29] since

[00:33:30] Samuel mentioned

[00:33:30] qualifying

[00:33:31] McLaren

[00:33:32] is the only

[00:33:33] team with

[00:33:33] both drivers

[00:33:34] in Q3

[00:33:35] and the only

[00:33:36] other driver

[00:33:36] to actually

[00:33:36] be in Q3

[00:33:37] is Max

[00:33:37] Verstappen

[00:33:38] so the three

[00:33:39] people who

[00:33:39] we really

[00:33:40] want to

[00:33:40] fire in

[00:33:41] qualifying

[00:33:41] have had

[00:33:42] a 100%

[00:33:42] Q3 record

[00:33:43] but the

[00:33:44] one driver

[00:33:45] who has

[00:33:46] not had a

[00:33:47] great record

[00:33:47] in Q3

[00:33:48] is

[00:33:49] Checo Perez

[00:33:50] of course

[00:33:51] we probably

[00:33:52] have moved

[00:33:53] on from

[00:33:53] he's at

[00:33:54] four Q1

[00:33:55] exits in

[00:33:56] the last

[00:33:57] six Grand

[00:33:57] Prix's

[00:33:59] and

[00:34:00] Saturday

[00:34:01] which could

[00:34:02] be mixed

[00:34:03] weather conditions

[00:34:03] the last

[00:34:04] two times

[00:34:05] it was

[00:34:05] wettish

[00:34:06] dampish

[00:34:07] mixed

[00:34:08] weather

[00:34:08] was

[00:34:09] Silverstone

[00:34:09] and Hungaro

[00:34:10] Ring

[00:34:11] and he

[00:34:11] crashed

[00:34:11] both the

[00:34:12] times

[00:34:12] as well

[00:34:14] and

[00:34:15] for Perez

[00:34:16] the pressure

[00:34:17] is of course

[00:34:18] on two

[00:34:18] counts

[00:34:18] first count

[00:34:19] is the

[00:34:20] internal

[00:34:20] whole thing

[00:34:20] the second

[00:34:21] is there

[00:34:22] are eight

[00:34:23] drivers in

[00:34:24] cars who

[00:34:25] can win

[00:34:25] a race

[00:34:27] he's the

[00:34:27] eighth

[00:34:28] driver

[00:34:29] who

[00:34:29] hasn't

[00:34:30] won a

[00:34:30] race

[00:34:31] so there

[00:34:31] is also

[00:34:32] the whole

[00:34:32] statistical

[00:34:33] pressure

[00:34:33] not that

[00:34:34] he's

[00:34:34] going to

[00:34:35] use the

[00:34:36] statistic

[00:34:37] to drive

[00:34:37] him any

[00:34:37] further

[00:34:38] but he

[00:34:38] knows that

[00:34:38] oh my

[00:34:39] god

[00:34:39] we never

[00:34:40] thought

[00:34:40] Lewis

[00:34:40] would win

[00:34:40] this year

[00:34:41] and he's

[00:34:41] won

[00:34:41] we never

[00:34:42] thought Oscar

[00:34:42] would win

[00:34:42] this year

[00:34:43] and he's

[00:34:43] won

[00:34:43] okay maybe

[00:34:44] Russell and

[00:34:45] Norris could

[00:34:45] have won

[00:34:45] of course

[00:34:46] they won

[00:34:46] but hey

[00:34:46] guess what

[00:34:47] both Ferrari

[00:34:47] drivers could

[00:34:48] have won

[00:34:48] and they

[00:34:49] couldn't have

[00:34:49] won and they

[00:34:49] won so

[00:34:50] suddenly it's

[00:34:51] like what

[00:34:51] what what

[00:34:52] I need to

[00:34:53] win I

[00:34:53] have to

[00:34:54] win and

[00:34:54] can he

[00:34:55] get a good

[00:34:55] weekend

[00:34:56] can he get

[00:34:56] out of the

[00:34:56] bag

[00:34:57] will need

[00:35:02] to have

[00:35:03] a plan

[00:35:03] B

[00:35:04] for

[00:35:04] Checo

[00:35:05] Perez

[00:35:05] and I

[00:35:06] think

[00:35:07] maybe

[00:35:08] also a

[00:35:09] plan

[00:35:09] B

[00:35:09] just in

[00:35:10] case

[00:35:11] they get

[00:35:12] beaten

[00:35:12] at

[00:35:12] Spa

[00:35:13] Mercedes

[00:35:14] seem a

[00:35:14] little

[00:35:14] quick

[00:35:15] enough

[00:35:15] and then

[00:35:16] Max

[00:35:16] will be

[00:35:17] like you

[00:35:17] know what

[00:35:17] I'm

[00:35:18] anyway

[00:35:18] getting

[00:35:18] beaten

[00:35:19] the

[00:35:19] upgrade

[00:35:20] in

[00:35:20] Imola

[00:35:20] didn't

[00:35:20] work

[00:35:20] the

[00:35:21] upgrade

[00:35:21] in

[00:35:21] Hungary

[00:35:21] didn't

[00:35:22] really

[00:35:22] work

[00:35:22] which

[00:35:22] means

[00:35:23] maybe

[00:35:24] Red Bull

[00:35:24] has hit

[00:35:25] the peak

[00:35:25] is it

[00:35:26] time for

[00:35:27] me to

[00:35:27] jump

[00:35:28] ship

[00:35:29] McLaren

[00:35:30] sorry

[00:35:30] Mercedes

[00:35:31] and

[00:35:31] Toto

[00:35:31] Wolf

[00:35:31] will

[00:35:32] embrace

[00:35:33] him

[00:35:33] with

[00:35:33] both

[00:35:34] you know

[00:35:34] with

[00:35:35] open

[00:35:35] arms

[00:35:35] and

[00:35:35] whatever

[00:35:36] and

[00:35:37] could

[00:35:37] he

[00:35:38] yeah

[00:35:38] yeah

[00:35:39] Max

[00:35:39] 2025

[00:35:40] in

[00:35:41] Mercedes

[00:35:41] if

[00:35:42] Red Bull's

[00:35:43] down

[00:35:43] trajectory

[00:35:44] or

[00:35:45] whatever

[00:35:45] thing

[00:35:45] continues

[00:35:46] you

[00:35:47] never know

[00:35:47] if he

[00:35:48] says

[00:35:48] you know

[00:35:48] what

[00:35:48] forget

[00:35:48] Carlos

[00:35:49] signs

[00:35:49] you

[00:35:49] need

[00:35:49] to

[00:35:50] sign

[00:35:50] me

[00:35:50] up

[00:35:50] yeah

[00:35:51] my

[00:35:52] whole

[00:35:53] question

[00:35:54] for

[00:35:54] this

[00:35:55] weekend

[00:35:55] in

[00:35:55] fact

[00:35:55] the

[00:35:55] one

[00:35:56] thing

[00:35:56] I'm

[00:35:56] very

[00:35:56] curious

[00:35:57] to

[00:35:57] know

[00:35:58] is

[00:35:58] are

[00:35:58] we

[00:35:59] at

[00:35:59] the

[00:35:59] point

[00:35:59] of

[00:35:59] no

[00:35:59] return

[00:36:00] for

[00:36:00] Sergio

[00:36:00] Perez

[00:36:01] Helmut

[00:36:01] Marco

[00:36:02] has

[00:36:18] seat

[00:36:19] is

[00:36:20] they

[00:36:20] is

[00:36:21] more

[00:36:23] competitive

[00:36:24] more

[00:36:24] McLaren

[00:36:25] because

[00:36:25] it

[00:36:26] seems

[00:36:26] like

[00:36:26] they're

[00:36:26] fighting

[00:36:27] a

[00:36:27] losing

[00:36:27] race

[00:36:28] on

[00:36:28] both

[00:36:28] fronts

[00:36:29] not

[00:36:29] just

[00:36:29] the

[00:36:30] car

[00:36:30] but

[00:36:30] also

[00:36:30] their

[00:36:30] second

[00:36:31] driver

[00:36:31] to

[00:36:32] the point that their lead driver,

[00:36:34] the king, the lion who we all tend to refer

[00:36:36] to as Max Verstappen, is annoyed

[00:36:38] with him on all counts. And the only

[00:36:40] thing that he said after the Hungarian GP was

[00:36:42] we need to do better

[00:36:43] in every single aspect

[00:36:45] as a team. It's unravelling.

[00:36:48] It is. It is unravelling. If you guys

[00:36:50] remember 2011

[00:36:51] pre-season, Robert Kubica

[00:36:54] had a crash,

[00:36:56] injured his arm and then every

[00:36:58] team was so careful about

[00:37:00] where they allowed their drivers to race outside

[00:37:02] of Formula 1.

[00:37:04] Physical racing. He was rallying Robert

[00:37:06] Kubica. 2024

[00:37:07] Hungarian Grand Prix. Helmut Markov

[00:37:10] and Red Bull have turned around and said,

[00:37:12] maybe he's not going to do sim racing on a racing weekend.

[00:37:14] So, not only is

[00:37:16] physical racing not permitted,

[00:37:18] but even sim racing has suddenly

[00:37:20] joined the list of things a driver

[00:37:22] cannot do, especially on

[00:37:24] a Grand Prix weekend. And I mean, I sort of understand

[00:37:26] if it's down to

[00:37:28] relaxing, getting the right

[00:37:30] kind of sleep. Maybe he could do it

[00:37:32] last year because he was not so challenged.

[00:37:33] He had a really competitive car.

[00:37:35] Now, he is being challenged

[00:37:37] with that extra bit of focus and

[00:37:40] sleep and whatever help.

[00:37:41] Maybe all of that together, I guess.

[00:37:43] I really want to bring up a few

[00:37:45] stories of Max Verstappen and how good he

[00:37:47] is around this particular circuit

[00:37:49] by using some of his sim racing stories.

[00:37:52] Now, for all of you who don't know, I used to

[00:37:53] commentate on a lot of iRacing

[00:37:55] special events. I've done

[00:37:57] I think the Daytona 24 Hours,

[00:37:59] Spa 24 as well,

[00:38:01] the iRacing Porsche Sport Super Cup

[00:38:03] as well, among many other things.

[00:38:04] And I've seen Verstappen race

[00:38:07] very closely on the simulator

[00:38:09] in a few races and I've called

[00:38:10] him on that as well.

[00:38:11] And I've had the honour of being able to

[00:38:13] commentate on him doing his great things

[00:38:15] while on a sim rig.

[00:38:17] And one interesting story,

[00:38:19] Spa 24 Hours a few years ago,

[00:38:21] Verstappen won the race

[00:38:22] while his brake pedal failed.

[00:38:25] Spa 24.

[00:38:26] Literally, in the middle of a stint,

[00:38:27] his brake pedal failed.

[00:38:28] But he had accumulated such a big lead

[00:38:30] with his teammates

[00:38:31] that he ended up winning

[00:38:32] and Lando Norris got that car home

[00:38:34] eventually for Team Redline.

[00:38:35] And yes, they are both incredible

[00:38:37] Formula 1 drivers,

[00:38:38] but it takes a lot more than that

[00:38:40] to be good on the sim.

[00:38:41] In fact, at the Hungarian GP weekend,

[00:38:44] they just won the Spa 24 Hours,

[00:38:45] which is one of the hardest

[00:38:47] sim racing races to win anywhere.

[00:38:50] And in the Imola race,

[00:38:52] where Verstappen won

[00:38:53] from Lando Norris

[00:38:54] only by a second

[00:38:56] or two thereabouts,

[00:38:57] he won the 24 Hours

[00:38:59] a Nürburgring,

[00:38:59] which on the simulator

[00:39:01] is just as daunting

[00:39:02] as you can imagine it to be.

[00:39:04] That level of concentration,

[00:39:05] that level of focus,

[00:39:06] that hunger,

[00:39:08] and to be able to replicate

[00:39:09] that across a long stint

[00:39:11] is something that really works out

[00:39:12] at a circuit like Spa,

[00:39:14] where this weekend,

[00:39:15] we are back.

[00:39:16] So, if anything,

[00:39:17] I think the sim racing

[00:39:18] makes Verstappen a better driver.

[00:39:20] And we are just all here

[00:39:22] to witness the results

[00:39:23] of that this weekend.

[00:39:24] Yes, I mean,

[00:39:26] I know you've loved sim racing

[00:39:27] and it's something I would have,

[00:39:29] you know,

[00:39:29] loved to do as well

[00:39:30] if I had more time.

[00:39:32] But at the end of the day,

[00:39:33] if it's taking him away

[00:39:35] from being relaxed

[00:39:36] and sleeping less

[00:39:37] and so on,

[00:39:38] it's only fair.

[00:39:39] I mean,

[00:39:39] much like drivers would be told,

[00:39:41] do not party on a Saturday night.

[00:39:42] You need to sleep and rest.

[00:39:43] Even if you're going to a pub

[00:39:45] but not having a drink,

[00:39:47] go and rest.

[00:39:48] Maybe,

[00:39:48] but anyway,

[00:39:49] who am I to say?

[00:39:50] I'm not a three times world champion

[00:39:51] waiting to get my fourth.

[00:39:53] But,

[00:39:55] having said that,

[00:39:56] and since we've already spoken,

[00:39:58] Checo Perez as well,

[00:40:00] maybe we should get

[00:40:01] some predictions going.

[00:40:03] And I've noticed

[00:40:03] that I usually end up

[00:40:05] asking Somal the first question.

[00:40:07] Okay,

[00:40:07] this time it's on,

[00:40:08] it's for you Sundaram.

[00:40:10] Who do you think

[00:40:11] is taking Paul

[00:40:13] this race weekend?

[00:40:15] Oh,

[00:40:16] no.

[00:40:17] I'm going Piastri.

[00:40:19] I'm going with the person

[00:40:21] who,

[00:40:22] who's on a high

[00:40:23] and who's having,

[00:40:24] I think he's going,

[00:40:26] he's going to come to Belgium

[00:40:27] with a lot of confidence.

[00:40:28] So,

[00:40:29] I'm going Piastri.

[00:40:30] Again,

[00:40:30] that's where the heart is,

[00:40:31] but you can't,

[00:40:32] you can't go beyond Max.

[00:40:35] Max,

[00:40:36] it's a combination

[00:40:37] that's far,

[00:40:38] far too good.

[00:40:39] He might not win the race

[00:40:40] because that Red Bull

[00:40:41] is no longer what it was

[00:40:43] a couple of years ago

[00:40:43] and he will reportedly

[00:40:45] be starting from

[00:40:46] a slightly lower position

[00:40:48] than where he qualifies.

[00:40:49] But nonetheless,

[00:40:50] Verstappen has par for pole.

[00:40:51] Ah,

[00:40:51] it's got to be him.

[00:40:52] It has got to be him.

[00:40:54] Verstappen's taken only one pole

[00:40:56] in Belgium

[00:40:57] and that was in 2021.

[00:40:59] He's only started on pole over there.

[00:41:00] 2021 Belgium Grand Prix.

[00:41:01] That's the only time

[00:41:02] he's taken pole,

[00:41:02] but yes,

[00:41:03] he's won the last.

[00:41:03] Yeah,

[00:41:04] exactly.

[00:41:04] Yeah,

[00:41:04] there's a difference

[00:41:05] in that stat.

[00:41:07] But I think

[00:41:08] I'm going to go with

[00:41:09] Norris.

[00:41:11] Okay.

[00:41:12] Purely because

[00:41:13] I want Norris

[00:41:14] to start on pole

[00:41:16] to get

[00:41:17] a race start

[00:41:19] right for once.

[00:41:20] Samuel has this long list

[00:41:21] of races

[00:41:21] that he's maintained

[00:41:22] of Norris starting on pole

[00:41:24] but messing up the start.

[00:41:26] And I think

[00:41:27] Norris

[00:41:28] has,

[00:41:30] basically by your math,

[00:41:31] it's been five races,

[00:41:34] three Grand Prix,

[00:41:35] two sprints,

[00:41:35] whatever you call it,

[00:41:36] by Lando Norris,

[00:41:37] on the opening lap

[00:41:40] itself,

[00:41:40] has lost the new race.

[00:41:41] In the very recent past,

[00:41:42] that is.

[00:41:43] I'm not even looking

[00:41:44] beyond 23.

[00:41:45] Or rather,

[00:41:46] halfway through

[00:41:48] the 23 season.

[00:41:49] I've not even looked

[00:41:49] at that point.

[00:41:50] I'm just starting off

[00:41:51] at Qatar 2023

[00:41:52] and it all unravels

[00:41:54] from there.

[00:41:55] So,

[00:41:55] I would say

[00:41:57] Norris.

[00:41:57] But that said,

[00:41:58] who is your pick

[00:42:00] for the race win,

[00:42:01] Sundaram?

[00:42:03] The pole sitters

[00:42:04] not won

[00:42:04] in the last five races.

[00:42:06] Do I go by

[00:42:07] my stat

[00:42:08] or what my

[00:42:10] instinct is telling me?

[00:42:11] I think I'm going

[00:42:11] Piastri all the way.

[00:42:12] I'm going

[00:42:14] Kunal's way,

[00:42:15] the way he went

[00:42:15] in Hungary.

[00:42:16] He was so damn sure

[00:42:18] that it's going to be

[00:42:18] Oscar Piastri in Hungary.

[00:42:19] So,

[00:42:21] I'm going

[00:42:22] that route.

[00:42:23] I'm going Oscar Piastri.

[00:42:24] Back-to-back wins

[00:42:25] from McLaren.

[00:42:26] Yes.

[00:42:26] Same.

[00:42:27] Same, same.

[00:42:27] Ditto.

[00:42:28] I mean,

[00:42:28] if Max is getting

[00:42:29] that penalty,

[00:42:30] I'm back

[00:42:31] Piastri to be

[00:42:32] out-qualifying Lando.

[00:42:34] And in that case,

[00:42:35] I feel he's going

[00:42:35] to be the one winning.

[00:42:36] I mean,

[00:42:36] he did it in tough

[00:42:37] conditions last year

[00:42:38] in his rookie season.

[00:42:39] He's now won a race.

[00:42:41] And you see

[00:42:42] how drivers change

[00:42:43] after winning

[00:42:43] their first race.

[00:42:44] You can see it

[00:42:45] with Lando Norris

[00:42:46] since he's won

[00:42:47] after Miami.

[00:42:48] He's become more

[00:42:49] decisive,

[00:42:49] more hungry,

[00:42:50] more direct,

[00:42:51] more sharp.

[00:42:52] You've seen this

[00:42:52] with Max Verstappen

[00:42:53] after he won

[00:42:54] his first race.

[00:42:55] You've seen this

[00:42:56] with Lewis Hamilton

[00:42:56] after he won

[00:42:57] his first race.

[00:42:58] And also,

[00:42:58] Fernando also became

[00:42:59] a totally different

[00:43:00] beast after

[00:43:01] Hungary 2003.

[00:43:02] Piastri is a driver

[00:43:03] that belongs

[00:43:04] in that same list.

[00:43:05] I think he's going

[00:43:06] to be even better

[00:43:07] now.

[00:43:08] That's it.

[00:43:09] You know,

[00:43:10] the reason why

[00:43:11] I have chosen

[00:43:12] Norris,

[00:43:12] apart from that

[00:43:13] silly stat of

[00:43:14] his starts getting

[00:43:15] right,

[00:43:15] is also that

[00:43:16] he will now want

[00:43:17] to come out

[00:43:17] and prove why

[00:43:18] he is that

[00:43:19] number one driver.

[00:43:20] Because McLaren

[00:43:20] has said,

[00:43:21] we don't really

[00:43:21] need to choose

[00:43:22] a number one driver.

[00:43:23] He's going to say,

[00:43:24] you know what?

[00:43:24] even if you

[00:43:25] don't choose

[00:43:26] me,

[00:43:26] I'm going to

[00:43:27] force you

[00:43:27] to choose

[00:43:28] me by taking

[00:43:28] pole and

[00:43:29] whatever,

[00:43:30] right?

[00:43:31] But crucially,

[00:43:33] in fact,

[00:43:34] going back

[00:43:34] to Hungary,

[00:43:36] Lando Norris

[00:43:37] was on pole

[00:43:38] because of a

[00:43:40] toe that he

[00:43:40] got from Max

[00:43:41] Verstappen on

[00:43:42] his fast lap,

[00:43:43] right?

[00:43:43] So having said

[00:43:44] that,

[00:43:44] of course,

[00:43:45] the toe will

[00:43:45] be very crucial

[00:43:46] even at the

[00:43:48] Spa-Franco

[00:43:48] chumps.

[00:43:49] I'd love to

[00:43:49] see if Red Bull

[00:43:50] are on the

[00:43:50] back foot.

[00:43:51] Will they tell

[00:43:51] Checo Perez,

[00:43:53] give Max a

[00:43:54] toe?

[00:43:54] And then that's

[00:43:55] all he is

[00:43:55] supposed to do,

[00:43:56] which is give

[00:43:56] Max a toe.

[00:43:57] But I get a

[00:43:59] feeling it's

[00:44:00] going to be

[00:44:01] a McLaren win

[00:44:02] and I get a

[00:44:03] feeling it's

[00:44:03] going to be

[00:44:04] Piastri winning

[00:44:05] again.

[00:44:05] So Norris on

[00:44:06] pole is what

[00:44:07] I'd go for

[00:44:07] and then

[00:44:09] Piastri winning

[00:44:10] the race is,

[00:44:11] I think.

[00:44:12] It's a clean

[00:44:12] sweep, huh?

[00:44:13] We're not

[00:44:13] jinxing him

[00:44:14] now, are we?

[00:44:14] We're not

[00:44:15] jinxing him

[00:44:15] and can you

[00:44:15] imagine?

[00:44:16] We're all,

[00:44:16] I mean,

[00:44:17] you picked

[00:44:18] Red Bull

[00:44:19] racing for

[00:44:19] the win,

[00:44:20] which I

[00:44:21] get a

[00:44:21] feeling it

[00:44:23] could be

[00:44:23] one of

[00:44:23] their strengths.

[00:44:24] Red Bull

[00:44:24] for the

[00:44:25] pole.

[00:44:25] Yeah, you

[00:44:26] said pole.

[00:44:28] No, it's

[00:44:29] not pole

[00:44:29] anymore,

[00:44:30] technically.

[00:44:31] See, if he

[00:44:31] gets a grid

[00:44:31] penalty, it's

[00:44:32] not pole

[00:44:32] anymore.

[00:44:33] For first

[00:44:34] in qualifying.

[00:44:35] Let's put it

[00:44:36] that way now.

[00:44:38] But what

[00:44:39] else do we

[00:44:40] have for the

[00:44:40] preview?

[00:44:42] What we do

[00:44:42] have for the

[00:44:43] preview is a

[00:44:44] preview of what

[00:44:44] you can get

[00:44:45] if you are

[00:44:46] coming to our

[00:44:47] Inside Line

[00:44:48] F1 pit stop

[00:44:49] at Malat

[00:44:49] social this

[00:44:50] Sunday.

[00:44:51] We are

[00:44:51] back, folks.

[00:44:52] We had

[00:44:52] over 70

[00:44:53] people turn

[00:44:54] up for the

[00:44:55] Hungarian Grand

[00:44:56] Prix at

[00:44:56] Malat and

[00:44:56] each and

[00:44:57] every one of

[00:44:58] you who

[00:44:58] made it

[00:44:59] such a

[00:45:00] special event.

[00:45:01] We had

[00:45:01] such a

[00:45:01] lengthy

[00:45:02] post-race

[00:45:02] interaction

[00:45:03] with so many

[00:45:04] people sharing

[00:45:04] their opinions,

[00:45:05] having tons

[00:45:06] and tons

[00:45:06] of banter

[00:45:06] and even

[00:45:07] Abhishek

[00:45:08] Takle,

[00:45:08] veteran F1

[00:45:09] journalist,

[00:45:09] was also

[00:45:10] able to

[00:45:10] join in

[00:45:10] on the

[00:45:11] fun.

[00:45:11] Well,

[00:45:12] what I can

[00:45:12] tell you for

[00:45:13] sure is that

[00:45:13] the action

[00:45:14] and the fun

[00:45:14] is only going

[00:45:15] to get

[00:45:15] even better

[00:45:16] this weekend.

[00:45:17] So,

[00:45:17] to get

[00:45:18] yourself a

[00:45:19] ticket to

[00:45:20] make yourself

[00:45:20] a part of

[00:45:21] that event,

[00:45:21] all you've

[00:45:22] got to do

[00:45:22] is check out

[00:45:23] the description

[00:45:23] of all of

[00:45:24] our social

[00:45:24] media pages

[00:45:25] or even

[00:45:26] of that of

[00:45:27] this episode

[00:45:27] so that you

[00:45:28] can join in,

[00:45:29] register and

[00:45:29] be a part

[00:45:30] of the

[00:45:30] F1 pit stop

[00:45:31] where F1

[00:45:32] stats guru

[00:45:32] Sundaram and

[00:45:33] myself will be

[00:45:34] hosting.

[00:45:35] There will be a

[00:45:35] fun quiz that

[00:45:36] Sundaram will

[00:45:36] organize and

[00:45:37] as always,

[00:45:38] we will have

[00:45:39] a really fun

[00:45:40] discussion before

[00:45:40] and after the

[00:45:41] race,

[00:45:42] analyzing

[00:45:43] everything

[00:45:43] that has

[00:45:44] just gone

[00:45:44] down.

[00:45:45] And being

[00:45:45] Belgium,

[00:45:46] being all

[00:45:46] that we've

[00:45:46] discussed over

[00:45:47] the course

[00:45:47] of this

[00:45:48] episode,

[00:45:48] there will

[00:45:49] be some

[00:45:50] madness.

[00:45:50] There will

[00:45:51] and there's

[00:45:51] a factoid

[00:45:52] which I'm

[00:45:53] going to

[00:45:53] share,

[00:45:54] which the

[00:45:55] Spa-Franco

[00:45:56] Champs has

[00:45:57] been around

[00:45:57] since the

[00:45:59] 1920s and

[00:46:00] if I remember

[00:46:01] correctly,

[00:46:02] the circuit

[00:46:02] first opened

[00:46:03] for motorcyclists

[00:46:06] before they

[00:46:07] actually opened

[00:46:08] for motorcycles.

[00:46:09] I'm probably

[00:46:10] going to have

[00:46:11] to double check

[00:46:11] that fact.

[00:46:13] What do you

[00:46:13] mean by that?

[00:46:14] Motorcyclists

[00:46:15] before motorcycles?

[00:46:16] No,

[00:46:16] before cars.

[00:46:17] Sorry,

[00:46:18] no,

[00:46:18] motorcycles

[00:46:18] before cars.

[00:46:19] My goodness.

[00:46:20] That's what

[00:46:21] happens 56 minutes.

[00:46:22] Two wheels are

[00:46:23] better than four

[00:46:23] anyway.

[00:46:24] I don't think so.

[00:46:25] spa on two

[00:46:25] wheels would

[00:46:26] be fun.

[00:46:28] Spa on two

[00:46:29] would be fun.

[00:46:29] I mean,

[00:46:29] it's a death

[00:46:30] trap,

[00:46:30] but I'd love

[00:46:31] to do it.

[00:46:32] I'll always

[00:46:33] choose four

[00:46:34] over two,

[00:46:34] but either

[00:46:35] way.

[00:46:39] But yes,

[00:46:40] all of this

[00:46:41] and more is

[00:46:42] going to be a

[00:46:42] part of this

[00:46:42] weekend.

[00:46:43] And folks,

[00:46:44] all you've got

[00:46:44] to do is

[00:46:45] listen to our

[00:46:45] post-race

[00:46:46] review on

[00:46:46] Monday to

[00:46:47] catch up with

[00:46:47] all the action.

[00:46:48] And if you

[00:46:49] are in Mumbai,

[00:46:50] join us in

[00:46:51] Malad for the

[00:46:52] race as well.

[00:46:53] Thank you for

[00:46:53] listening,

[00:46:54] folks.

[00:46:54] We will be

[00:46:54] back shortly.

[00:46:56] Take care.

[00:46:56] Bye-bye.