¶ Intro / Opening
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🎵 Music
Five live.
Formula One.
¶ Monaco GP Atmosphere And Track Challenges
What a backdrop we have for our show today. Welcome to Monaco. I'm standing on one of the quays jutting out into the iconic Port Hercule here in Monte Carlo. The music is blaring from the Red Bull Energy Station. and as I look out across the harbour there are boats galore. Little, a little bit bigger, bigger and huge. There are some serious yachts here this weekend, as you might imagine. It is glitz, it is glamour.
I'm Rosanna Tennant, less so glitzy and glamorous, but I am joined by an astounding crew of gentlemen. Harry Benjamin, our lead commentator, has really dressed up for the occasion. French Riviera chic for you today, Mr. Benjamin.
Well I I have got to pop to a yacht this evening and I the dress code was coastal sheet. So I try I'm trying my best. I've swapped the shackets for a a linen blazer. I feel it's very monoco.
You look very monoco. Damon Hill, 1996 World Champion, is also with us. Still looking dapper, Damon.
Uh Rosanna, you done yourself down, you do look wonderful, by the way. So we're all loving each other here. I think Harry, I think the snorkel and flippers maybe was going too far. How about that?
You never know. You never know if you might end up in the harbour here or in the swimming pool on the Red Bull Energy Station. Jolian Palmer is also with us, former Formula One driver. You always look dapper. A sartorial gent if you might uh go as well as you. I'm just so happy to be here with you guys in this iconic location. This is like no other Monaco, isn't it? It is so special.
It's the best, isn't it? I love coming here for a race weekend. I used to love it as a driver. The track is just outrageous. The fact that we still race Formula One round here is Brilliant novelty and I love coming here as a commentator now as well. You know, even from the start of practice you feel like anything can happen at any moment and it's a lot of fun.
You done any hot laps out there?
No, annoyingly not, no. Uh no.
I'm still
I haven't done a lap at this place since 2017, and every year I come, I'm like, can I come and do a hot lap? Can I do a feature? Can I do something? Still not.
By sending Palmer out there. Julian, I was so sad for you. I was listening to uh I'll say a rival podcast in the lead up to this weekend. They give you an absolute roasting, replaying your crash here in Monaco. Uh poor you haunting times, you said.
Yeah, so what it was a kind of like a notorious crash of the race I'd say'cause it was right at the start, teaming down with rain. Uh Dingus Palmer here from like eighteenth just goes and loses it over a over a
Zebra crossing.
And hit the wall on the left, absolute charge down to the barrier of Sandoval and my colleagues love to remind me of it every opportunity. So nice to be here as well with you Rosenna and relive it again.
I said I felt sad listening to you.
Well thanks for.
That's alright, that's okay. Uh Damon, it's such a tricky track to get right. You've got to be in the right frame of mind, you've got to find the rhythm, and you've got to find it early doors here, haven't you?
Yeah, it astonishes me how quickly people get on it uh on this circuit. The the pace is relentless. The track uh improvement a ramping up of the grip on the circuit is uh is something else. It's it's something totally different. So you go out, you do what you think is a good lap time, you think that's that sorted me out, you look at the times, there you are at the top, you come in the pits, make a change, go out, and you're lost. Everyone has gone faster.
Did you have any zebra crossing moments? Any standout uh memories for you when you come here?
Oh well I mean I I had pole position which has gotta be a good stand out memory.
Let's start with my haunting times of
There's there's them there's two types of driver here in Monaco, those those that have hit the wall and those that are going to hit the wall. There's nobody gets out alive out of here, you know, everybody e of any of any stature at all has hit has had a crash here in Monaco. It's impossible to get away with it. And and You know, you think about Nigel when he was famously leading and and he was at Wet and he was in the Jo John Player special uh Lotus and you know.
Tank slapper at top of the hill, that's him, and everyone's wrote him off and then he became world champion. But uh you know it does happen to everyone.
But you mentioned wet conditions there. The weather might play a part. It's it's very I would say steamy uh today. Would anyone agree with that description? A little muddy.
Yeah.
Especially with the blazer on.
You know you can't take it off.
Yeah, she'll like it.
What it does too is it then covers up any sweat patches. So you have to sort of stick with it now.
That's a little more information than I'm sure listeners are...
You've gone past the point of no return in so many ways there, Harry.
I was happy I could provide something.
It's always got this backdrop. It somehow captures the moisture off of the Mediterranean. So the wind blows it, and then you always get this kind of humidity here. And then sometimes it it looks like it's going to rain and it doesn't. So it is a little microclimate place.
But also every year, when you're sort of looking around at the vista that is Monaco, I feel like they squeeze in about five more buildings every year than was here previously. We've got a longer paddock as well'cause we had to make room for the Cadillac hospitality. I think every single bit of hospitality has gained another level as well going upwards.
It's madness.
It's pretty tight, isn't it, in that paddock? It's pretty tight in the harbour and Damon you are actually sleeping out there in the harbour on one of the boats. Tell us what's that? What's that like?
I'm in a boat. So yeah, I'm actually in one of these. It's not really a boat, it's a ship. It's huge.
The Diamond Hell Shack.
And it's uh uh one of the one of the sponsors of Formula One happened to be a cruise uh company. Um and you can probably guess who they are, but anyway they brought one of their cruise ships and that of course has become the um the kind of residue for all of the people who work in Formula One. So they they basically go, we got somewhere to stay, you know, and they don't have to don't have to go on a bus to Cannes or wherever it is to get in a hotel.
That's where we are.
Oh yeah, I did mention.
The invite for us Rosanna got lost in the.
I fall out of bed, have breakfast and then I sort of take two steps and I'm in the paddock. How bad does that make you?
Obrigado.
Like time entertainment on the cruise ship?
Uh entertainment they've got yes, apparently they've got classical pianists. I missed her last night but uh maybe I'm Yeah, jugglers, you know, that sort of thing.
The weekend is still young, Damon. Plenty of time to get involved with that. As you have already heard, we've got a stellar lineup here on the uh the show. Uh coming up we're gonna hear from the championship leader, Kimmy Antonelli.
¶ Antonelli Versus Russell Championship Battle
His challenging teammate George Russell will heal from uh Lando Norris and of course the favourite coming into this weekend, I say of course, maybe you're not thinking it, uh Charles Leclerc, obviously a home hero here, the Monegasque driver. All eyes are on him for many reasons and we'll get into that a little later on in the show. So as I say, Antonelli leading the standings, 43 points clear of his teammate Russell, LeClaire in third.
Three points ahead of his teammate, Sir Lewis Hamilton. Then it's Norris, Piastri, and Max Verstappen making up the top seven. Those are the sort of the sharp-end players on the grid. We've got big news with brands like Gucci coming into the sports. We'll talk about that. One of our team is very excited about that announcement. You'll find out who later. You might be able to guess.
Um is it Andrew Benz?
Mmm, loves a loafer he does. Loves a loafer. Um but let's talk about the title fight then between Antonelli and George Russell because it got pretty tasty in Canada. Jolyon, you were you were there, track side, commentating on it all. Um It was a bit of a statement of intent maybe from Antonelli. Now now we know what he's what he's really about.
He's got minerals, hasn't he? I l I loved it in in Canada. The sprint. I've never seen anyone push so hard for a sprint win. Probably in the whole time that we've had the sprint format, you've not seen risks being taken for the win that Antonelli took. He bounced over the grass uh two or three times in a single race. Uh well three times in fact, twice with Russell, once then with Norris. And you're thinking this is for one point over over
Russell and it's your teammate as well, so you're laying down some some markers here. He didn't get it done but I loved his his enthusiasm to try and win a sprint that other people you speak to them in part firme afterwards and you're trying to inject some cheer into them and they're like, Yeah, but the race is tomorrow.
Let's work on that. So loved it. It was a a race that I think we all expected George Russell to turn up and and state his claim again for the title and Antonelli certainly made his life really hard.
He's such a young driver, Damon, youngest driver. He's winning his first four races on the bounce, first driver to do that. What have you made of his performance this year so far?
Like everyone, I think we've been a bit stunned actually, quite honestly. He's been really on the pace. He he seems to have tidied up his driving, risk taking as you'd expect from a nineteen year old as Jolin was just mentioning there in the races, a few heart and mouth moments but He managed to keep it clean and I think that it was the sort of racing that these
guys have been and girls have been doing since they were five years old, you know, down at the cart tracks and they're taking it to Formula One and he's he's got nothing to lose. He's got nothing to lose. That's the thing. He comes here in Monaco and he's got points advantage.
Uh yeah but now I feel like he's got something to lose though, because he's got a forty three point advantage. So he's i I feel like he's had low expectations. Right. George has been the driver that's we've we crowned him basically, didn't we, in February. You know, Mercedes were gonna have this this unbelievable car.
George was going to be the guy naturally to move up and take take the title. But Kimmy's suddenly had this turn of pace and consistency and he's got absolute tenacity. But now I do feel like he's got something to lose because now there is a realistic shot that he can win the title.
I mean specifically for Monaco. You're coming here, you're you're going to qualifying and okay, let's say the Mercedes are both, they are in with a shout of King on the front row. Kimmy can push a little bit harder. George can't afford to make a mistake. That's the slight cramp, cramp of the style issue for George, I think.
¶ Antonelli's Aggression And Russell's Pressure
I think we all underrated Kimi Antonelli far too much because you speak to any of the junior commentators commentating on him. coming up through the ranks and obviously he came up quite quickly, headhunted by Total for Mercedes. Even Ferrari tried their hand on him at one point, skipped F3 to go into F2. But it was the fact that he's so clinical, yes, raw around the edges, and his first year in Formula One.
was very up and down. But everyone's saying, speaking to the junior commentators who have been watching him, now that he's found his groove, now he's found his rhythm, his comfort with the car, this new generation, that is a Kimi Antonelli to be quite wary of. And the fact he's got this momentum behind him
I think Monaco will definitely be a challenge because let's face it it's all about qualifying. However, I think George really has to start finding that extra inch that he's got, that extra tenth of a second, otherwise Kimmy could well run away with it.
He's under pressure, isn't he, George? It's fascinating you talking about Kimmy coming through the ranks, because I remember when he did his first FP1 in Monza in t in twenty twenty four. And I was speaking to Chris McCarthy who does the the Formula Two commentary and we were building up, you know, this young Italian
Uh was he 17 at the time? And you're like wow straight into Mercedes, this is huge. And Chris has watched him all the way through his junior formula. So he's done the the due diligence on him and he's like, trust me, this guy is unbelievable. You're gonna be stunned with what he can do. And in two laps you put it in the wall.
I'll be signing them.
That's the important sequence. You've got to go faster than anyone before you
And look, Max Verstappen, how many times I remember in Monaco back when he was in what a Torosso here, he was crashing into the wall, everyone was saying he's far too aggressive, he needs to clean up his act. You know, a lot uh he got a lot of flack that a young Max Verstappen. And look who he is now, one of the greatest the sports ever seen.
But he wouldn't have won a title in twenty eighteen because he still made those mistakes. In in China he missed a chance to win. In uh in Monaco here he missed a chance to win. He wouldn't miss those chances now. He's developed as a driver. And that's the interesting point for me with Kimmy is We've seen him being stunningly quick, super aggressive, love the attitude, love the the gung ho, take it to George. But at some point
That will come back to bite, and I feel like Monaco's the sort of track where that'll happen. As you mentioned earlier on, Damon, some you always have a crash at Monaco at some point.
Yeah.
Right?
But Max's one was pretty scary, wasn't it? That one where he went straight on in Santa Bot the first that was unbelievable. Um so yeah, it d it can happen. But as I said, he's got a little bit of a cushion in that he can in a way, you know, if he goes out to impress
He does first of all he doesn't need to impress us. We expect him to be up there on the on the sharp end if the car's up to it. Um he's gonna have some other teams to contend with. I mean I don't think Red Bull are out of it, I don't think the McLaren are out of it, I don't think Ferrari are out of it. So it's gonna be tight up the sharp end, but Here'll be getting coaching from Toto, he'll be getting all the right advice.
But mind you, you can say all these things to a young driver and they're not listening.
Also, how hard is it to dial it back to ninety nine percent? He's obviously just gonna wanna go for beans, surely. Yeah.
A chance of winning Monaco Grand Prix, yeah.
It's it's like spinal tap isn't it? The amp goes up to twelve and you just need to wind it back down to ten. Um but if you can you know some drivers are like that, they can get to twelve, other drivers you they're at eight and you struggle to get them past that point. But um so you know we're we're interested to find out. It's gonna be brilliant watching.
¶ Kimi Antonelli On Not Backing Down
Well let's hear from Kimmy Antonelli. I spoke to him a little earlier on and I asked him whether he felt that the other drivers on the grid and his teammate George Russell now know a little bit more about how he goes racing and what he's about. This is what he had to say.
I'm not thinking about championship or anything like that. I just think about enjoying the driving as much as I can and try to do my best, trying to improve.
Uh last year obviously there were a few whispers about whether you were gonna live up to the expectations of Toto and and Mercedes. Do you feel that George now knows what you're about? Formula One now knows what you're about, and I guess all the other races know how you live. now go racing and what to expect.
you know, what I what I try to do is you know, I I'm not I'm not the kind of guy who backs backs down, you know, I Whenever I have an opportunity I will go for it and you know i think in canada
You know, it was a really good battle with George and but also showed that uh no matter the position I am in the championship I'm gonna go for it. And uh so So of course there will be time where I will need probably to race a bit more, you know, thinking a bit more about how I go racing and probably in some occasion I will have to be satisfied with the position I am. Um but at the moment uh you know I'm just going for it. Of course.
I need to learn I'm learning how to manage this aggressiveness as well. Uh because I cannot just go all out and uh just go for it hundred percent and see what happens. Of course I wanna still race hard but smart, uh but definitely I'm not the kind of guy who uh back south.
That was your championship leader, Kimmy Antonelli, talking about not backing down, which I guess you just have to have as as your mindset. Sorry, a bit of crazy love. My feet can't stop tapping. Harry Benjamin, I think you're having a lot of things.
Crazy and love, they're loving it a little bit.
¶ George Russell's Championship Mindset
Beyonce Benjamin, there we go. Um he's obviously got his elbows out. His teammate George Russell is going to feel those pointy elbows, I think, the most out of everyone on the grid this year. So how does George approach this? Um it's a tricky one. I think he almost felt this championship was gonna be his from the off. It looked that way in Australia and obviously things have changed, but do you just have to wipe the slate clean after every race? and approach it as a fresh start.
Y yeah, exactly that. He has just rebuild. I think he can take some solace from Lando last year who had this similar difficult run and obviously managed to turn it round in the long haul and and win the championship but He actually did well in Canada. He was obviously really unlucky. So he he was winning the race, had uh battery failure and and lost a potential win, might have been second place. But it was more
Yeah.
the way for me that he'd been in Miami
been beaten pretty comfortably by by Kimmy and we all expected George to to be winning in in Montreal and it was very close. Even if he was winning, it was super close. So I think he's trying to alleviate the pressure from himself but as you say Damon as well you're forty three points behind in a way that makes things just so much more sharper in focus because anything else that goes wrong here and the gap suddenly looks like it's is you know, un unrecoverable.
Yeah, that is the big problem. That's the that's the weight on George's mind, I would think, is that he knows he cannot carry on dumping loads of points to Kimmy. Uh so this is he's gotta start turning this around. And as you said, I think the pace is there. He may have to find another level in himself, I think, to beat Kimmy. Quite apart from the fact that he's got the experience and he's got all that going for him. We haven't seen the peak.
of Kimmy. Uh Kimmy's like a uh something you plant in the garden and you never know quite how big it's gonna get. Uh he's a middle he's a little shoot at the moment, that's all he is.
Well, let's hear from George Russell. He's very keen to point out all of the stats and the data from years gone by. of drivers who've gone on to win the championship and the troubles they had in the season uh before that. So let's hear what he had to say. I asked him if uh he was also going to be dealing with a a psychologist or working with a psychologist or a philosopher even to try and get this championship over the line.
I mean these things always uh balance themselves out at one point and as you say I've got nothing to lose, I'm just gonna go out, enjoy every single race, and it's still in my control. You know, if you poll and win every single race. From now until the end of a season you'll win the championship. So um that is that is my goal. Of course it was frustrating Canada but as part of racing it can't always be sunshine and glory.
Yeah.
I was listening to a podcast with Nico Rosberg on it the other day and he was talking about what he had to do. to beat Lewis in 2016, working with a psychologist, a philosopher. Are you working with anyone or are you going to work with anyone to manage this situation which could obviously eventually end up with you winning your maiden title?
Yeah, well I think he was maybe ahead of his time in in that regard. I think you know I've been working with a performance psychologist for six years now. So this has been very much part of my
Thank you.
standard routine and I know at least half the drivers are doing the same. So you have a true Uh I'm going about this season as as if it was any other season because I'm taking it race by race. and that's what leads to the end goal and I sort of read this quotes. I think it was like from Will Smith or something like this. It was super random. He said when he was a kid his he was trying to build this wall with his dad and it looked so
Daunting the size of his wall and his dad just said, just lay brick by brick. And by the end you build a wall. And and that's the same, you know, you do a brick by brick. day by day, race by race, then you can achieve that that long term goal. So that's that's for me. Tomorrow's practice, go out there, drive as fast as possible. Saturday do the same. And if I do that every single day I'm in the race car.
and then achieve
That was George Russell speaking to me a little earlier on in the media pen. Damon, I think we're gonna have to release you because we've just heard that bingo is starting on the cruise ship, so you've got to make a dash for it. Don't want to miss that. Yeah, yeah. Legs eleven and all that. Hurry, hurry.
Great to have you. We'll uh hear from you over the weekend. David Hill, 1996 World Champion. Uh and you know what? We've got a like for like fill in here. We've got the BBC's F1 correspondent Andrew Benson uh ready to take on the baton.
¶ The Antonelli-Russell Psychological Battle
Andrew, great to see you in Monaco looking dapper. Where is the linen suit, however?
I d I'm not wearing was it Mediterranean sheik you were you said you were wearing? Coastal sheik, yeah.
Cheek Benson.
Um yeah, and the the luxury brand I have I can't afford that, I'm afraid, on my salary.
He'll take freebies though. Oh I say. Um great to have you with us. I I know, I know, don't you? I know the I know the rules. Um we've been talking about yeah Harry's gonna have to get undressed. Um
Right.
It's me. Um we were talking about Kimmy Antonelli and George Russell, of course, because they are the ones to beat this year. But Antonelli first and foremost of course as the championship leader. What have you made of their battle? The the body language this weekend? Are you starting to read into it already?
There's already some sort of psychology and kidology going on. I went to the George Russell's um sort of media briefing that he does with the British media. There's five or six of us go generally every Thursday at a Grand Prix. And he said, oh, it's Kimmy's Deloze now the championship. And um but then we went to see Antonelli and he's like, I don't give any weight to that line at all. How can I lose something I've not won yet?
So w one's putting pressure on the other. They're both saying they're not feeling any pressure. Um so it's really getting quite tasty. The only problem is that there's a forty three point gap between Antonelli and Russell and
The way Antonelli's driving this year, that's not going to be easy to make up. Obviously Norris did it on Piastri last year and Russell was talking about, he used that as an example. He was talking about lots of historic motor racing examples where people of A have had bad luck.
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But also times when people have come back, like Norris last year, for example, uh and also Verstappen in twenty twenty two against Charles Leclerc. So it's really inter it's always interesting in these situations, Jolion, isn't it, to see the psychology between the drivers and the the way they try to heap the pressure on themselves while Trying to give the impression of being sort of very nice chaps and uh not playing any of those silly games at all.
You always turn up with with something in your head that you want to get across to the media whenever you're having these media briefings. I do think for George it's He has been like I said already, he's he's sort of been burdened with the pressure of everyone thinking he's gonna be champion. So even in if you take Canada as an example We all expected him to go and win because he'd won the year before, he'd been on poll the year before that.
He he didn't, but he was winning. He had taken pole, he won the sprint and he had taken sprint pole. But the fact that it was even close meant that it felt like he was having a losing weekend just because it was close and we all expected better from him. But it in fact Technically he was doing everything that he needed to do and that's the difficult thing. I feel like there is a
you know, part of him that's that's facing pressure that's that's difficult because he's not racing the same Kimi Antonelli as last year. Antonelli's grown as a driver to be really formidable, quick, consistent and a potential champion. Th this time last year when we all thought that George would be the be the champion wasn't the case.
It's a true test for George though, isn't it? But you talk about comebacks though. I mean look at you know, last year with Maxis Stapanier didn't ultimately do it, but he came back from a much bigger deficit than forty three points. And what including this weekend we've got
four races in the next five weeks. So having had this sort of kind of stop start nature to the beginning of the season, I feel like now is is the moment where you've got to start picking off points if you're George Russell, even though you are behind, but he can take solace from From overcoming such deficit.
Yeah.
Yeah, I mean I think Canada was a really interesting weekend because as Jolyan says, Russell on paper did everything right. He wasn't there was n definitely nothing set in stone about that victory. Antonelli was all over him in both the sprint and the Grand Prix. And you could make an argument that as a consequence he was the faster driver. He looked faster until Russell did that final poll up in qualifying on Saturday. So
Yes, Russell can take solace from being in front, but at the same time he might be thinking, actually maybe I should have been further in front. So I would imagine I don't know what Jolene thinks about this, but I would imagine as a racing driver Some of those thoughts might have been gnawing at him a little bit, even if he won't want to entertain them too much.
Yeah, I think so because I also the way that he dealt with the Miami weekend I didn't love it from George's point of view. He sort of wrote it off from the from the first moment saying it's not really my track. Kimmy's always been good here. Which meant that the the next track when you know it is his track you expect the the roles to be reversed and it wasn't. I think that's the uncomfortable part of it.
It's all about getting back to an even keel for George and trying to just find his mojo, find the find the best form. And I think the difference is with the when you talk about the Verstappen comeback last year, Harry, they're in the same team. So chipping away at someone that's your teammate
Uh well on that though, is there something, say say, you know, you're the racing driver, you're George Rusty or Kimmy Antonelli, the Toto Wolf scenario to this side of things. He's obviously, you know, he's had a hand in both of their careers in managing them as well. He's got two drivers going for it. If you're George Russell, are you starting to think are you letting those thoughts creep in of favouritism or vice versa?
I don't think there's been any any case of favoritism
Yeah.
Yet and I it maybe you're you know in the back of your mind you're you're wondering, you know, Toto went out of his way to go and sign uh Kimmy promoted him super quickly. The story of of Kimmy being a world champion at nineteen would be Yeah, it would reflect really well on Toto, wouldn't it? But as you said, George is also a protege of Mercedes, so he's not like he's a signing from elsewhere either. moment really that we've seen Toto get on the radio and uh and intervene was in uh in Montreal.
As George actually walks behind us, being flanked by fans.
Ask your question.
George, quick question.
Do I look chic? Crystal chic or not? Um
¶ Ferrari's Monaco Advantage And Leclerc Contract
Well I mean uh we've got some changes this weekend, so is this a weekend where George could be on top? I feel like they are definitely not favourites. Let's talk about the changes that we're gonna see with these new cars around the track.
So yeah. Quite a few things are different this weekend from the other races so far. So no straight line mode for example, that means the wings don't open on the straights. Um then there's various settings. Yeah,'cause there aren't that many and there are various settings in the engine that are a bit different. I think more importantly though, I think at least for myself, I think this could be the closest and most competitive weekend of the year because
Ferrari are expected by everybody to be right up at the front. Um everyone's been talking them up. Um McLaren were very strong in in Miami and their car's been particularly good in slow speed corners, which this track has a lot of.
So you could see both of those things close the gap a little bit on Mercedes. So Ferrari don't have the engine deficit here, for example, that they have everywhere else because this is the least power sensitive circuit as they describe it in Formula 1, which means the engine makes the least difference on laptop. So it could be really close, but quite often with these things where people think that things are gonna close up
It's not quite like that and actually Ferrari's deficit to Mercedes on average this year over one lap is half a second nearly. And that's a lot to change just on circuit characteristics. But Having said that, I do think it'll be a really close fight for Poles.
And is it also going to be more exciting, Jolien? These cars are much more nimble, they're smaller. I know you've been frothing at the mouth since Bahrain's testing uh sessions. When you saw them out on track, I know you were thinking, gosh, I can't wait to get to Monaco to see them throw around that track.
I've been really excited for Monaco because uh the the big thing here is it's not gonna be an energy management challenge.
Yeah.
I mean that's what all the drivers have been looking forward to as well. I saw the the cars when they first hit the ground in Bahrain and
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Look good through through the corners, you know. They they are nimble, they're less downforced, they're shorter wheelbase, they turn in a little bit sharper, they're more of a handful, which is fun. Obviously, there's been elements through the first part of the year, especially the start of the year, where energy management was
sort of an overriding feature, which is not what you want to do as a driver. You want to go flat out all the time and go as fast as possible. All of that means that this race is going to be great for them. And it's going to change the pecking order slightly as well because there is no energy management. It's flat out driving.
In terms of driving styles, maybe that'll favour some over others that don't have to to consider slowing down into corners, the way they apply the throttle, you know, these things they can get back to basics. Yeah, I I mean Monaco anyway at the best of times is is brilliant, but I do think these cars is gonna look great when they hit the track.
It's always thrilling here and of course it's the most thrilling on a Saturday because of the qualifying session having such huge importance because it's tricky to overtake. But we've got twenty-two cars lining up on the grid or at least taking part in in Q1. So
Traffic management is gonna be vital and we actually had drivers earlier on in the press conference talking about how radios actually it was Lando Norris, wasn't it? It was currently Uh well champion, um saying how people need to use their radios in the right and proper way this weekend to basically get out of the way if they're on a hot lap.
Yeah, well two two extra cars than what we're used to seeing. But you know what, they have Formula three, Formula Two here which has a bigger field. They were even talking I think at the press conference about should they split uh Q one into groups, weren't they? Uh but I don't think that was uh settled on. But particularly in qualifying because ultimately
There ain't much overtaking on Sunday. That's where the race result is most nailed on. So it is gonna have a a huge factor, mainly in Q one. So it's gonna be about that relationship between driver and and the communication between driver and who's on the pit wall.
Interestingly the pit wall is obviously sort of inside the above the team garages so it's not like they're sat in the usual position overlooking the start-finish trait. Sometimes the GPS can be a bit funny around here as well, but ultimately a driver has to use his mirrors. The mirrors are tiny.
Somebody is gonna get blocked, many people are gonna get blocked, and all of all of a sudden you've got someone in the wall, a red flag, there's not enough time to get out, and you've got drivers out of position that way who haven't managed to get their lap in the bag, which is why Saturday is always a spectacle in Monaco.
Can't wait, cannot wait for it. Uh it's sort of quietly been dropped that two pit stop uh rule from last year, hasn't it? No one's really chatting about it too much, but it is gone. It is gone. Also going going on is Jonian Palmer. What a sadness. We're losing you now at this part of the show.
And you built me up and then crushed me down so early on.
Субтитры сделал DimaTorzok
Pingo as well.
No, David Hill's going to pingo in the piano recital. I'm gonna get my Mazda down to downtown Monton in my uh little hotel that's probably half the size of his cruiser.
Well look, have a wonderful evening. Thank you. Bonsoirée. We'll see you over the course of the weekend and let's hope it's a great one. Jolian Palmer making way then for uh Dutch broadcaster Nelson Valkenberg. Uh fantastic to have you joining us on the show. This is a real Who's who? This shark.
But that's what you get with Monaco, right? The who's who.
It's glitzing.
How much is the budget for this podcast?
We've spent it all there's a no-
Well you're here, so it's all gone.
I still got on my jacket.
Yes, and what a great great spend that was. Um Nelson, we've been talking about Mercedes. Um we sort of almost ruled them out as favourites coming into this weekend because
¶ Charles Leclerc's Commitment To Ferrari
That sort of hot topic has been Ferrari coming into the Monaco Grand Prix. Of course they've got the home hero of Charles Leclerc. We can talk about his contract signing. Were you expecting that? Especially after the weekend he had in Canada.
Um it does make sense when you think about it because where is he gonna go? Wha what are the imminent options for him? And he clearly identifies himself with that team. And we also know that any contract has n binding and non-binding parts and there are potential outs. So I I think for him it works to have a long term contract that's in the in the twenty thirties. We might hear twenty thirty one, thirty two, something like that. So it makes sense for him. But he needs a good weekend here.
Andrew, did you see it coming, the re signing? I mean it just feels like they haven't really got going, the Ferrari team this year.
I didn't see it coming but'cause I thought he was contracted to the end of next year, which I think was the case, but I'm I'm told that there was potential ways for him to get out this year if if certain things had gone a certain way.
So that makes sense in that sense from Ferrari's point of view to tie him down. And Nelson's absolutely right. There's not really a lot of options for him in the sense that Antonelli and Russell are locked in a Mercedes and the only person who's gonna get one of them out of there is Max Verstappen.
Um Lando Norris and Oscopiastria locked in at McLaren and if you're at Ferrari where else would you go, basically? However, I think the concern for Charles Leclerc is he's been at Ferrari since twenty nineteen, he's won eight grand prix in is it eight years nearly? That's not a great return for someone who most people in this paddock believe is probably the fastest driver over one lap. And I think there's a concern that.
He could just end up never winning a championship because for he's been talking about believing in the Ferrari project for as long as I can remember and he's talking about that again today. But when is this project actually going to deliver? This was gonna be another year. where Ferrari started with positivity and hope and optimism and they've under delivered yet again like they've done every year for a well since 2007 effectively. That's the concern for Laclair.
And there's another problem. He's starting to have difficulties with Lewis within the team and that's a new a new sensation for him. Uh Lewis is definitely Very very comfortable at the moment and and this weekend is going to prove very interesting to see where Lewis stacks up compared to Charles Leclerc and
He's clearly still the number one driver in that sense. He's he's basically part of the family there and part of the the furniture. But if he's not always the fastest, it's it's another problem there for him.
Leclerc is a specialist around these streets that he grew up on, of course. Let's hear from the man Monegasque driver. Having signed an extension to his contract with Ferrari, we asked him sort of why he believes in the project and what's led him to put pen to paper yet again.
I mean it was very clear. I mean I I I love the team. I think that's pretty obvious from from the outside. It's been uh eight years with the Formula One team, ten years with Ferrari as a whole. They've been one of the first uh people to believe in me and to help me to get to where I am today. And um and I believe in the project most of all. I think with uh Fred we have a a very, very good relationship and I strongly believe that he's the person to
uh that will be able to bring Ferrari back to the top. Um it's been A good start of the season, obviously not as good as what we will want because we want to target the world championship. But there's been a lot of innovation on the car and I think I mean we know where we are lacking and that's probably more the engine side.
We've got a a plan coming up and hopefully uh it will help us to get back to where we we want to be. But uh but why? It's because I love this team and because I believe in the project and and for these two reasons um yeah, that's why we continue together.
So that was Charles Leclerc talking about his freshly inked new contract with Ferrari. Harry, he was talking about you know the love for the team.
¶ Ferrari's Winning Potential In Monaco
And I guess a lot of people here just only see Charles Leclerc in red. It almost feels right that he's extended, but could it just be the wrong thing for his career?
I'm sure he was probably imagining himself in Gucci for next year maybe, but ultimately I don't think uh that's gonna prove any better. What I find interesting is all the points Andrew Nelson made absolutely valid. But the the point of difference for Charlocler over these years has been who's who's the boss at that team. And he seems to have pure faith in Fred Vasseur and where he's leading that team.
And you know, Versuch hasn't exactly had uh an easy ride over the last couple of years. You know, first year seemed to do okay. Second year suddenly questions around this time are are creeping in about will he continue with Ferrari, then he's back for another one. Hamilton absolutely adores him, has bit got on well with him since he ran ART and GP two years ago. So I think that is a a defining factor here for Charlotte Clay is that he clearly has trust
not only in Ferrari but the fact it's Fred Vasur at the helm of that team. And I think what has been also interesting to see is that I think historically Ferrari in a season have been a bit scared to you know bring bring big upgrades, innovate. You know, we're talking all about this spinny rear wing.
And they were one of the first to to come with it. They were the first to come with it. And I feel like that's not normally a Ferrari thing to do. They'd be on the back burner a fair bit and they they'd rather just not fail. r and and not try and fail rather than try something and fail. So I think that is a a step forward for them and maybe those that's the things Leclerc needs to see to to keep and sign on.
I guess another thing Charlecler needs to see and and of course Lewis Hamilton as well is a win and this weekend could be their greatest chance this season to mark up a win on the board. You're sort of nodding along Nelson. Do you think that because of all the changes that we've spoken about on the show so far with some of the sort of neutering effects of all the energy deployment and and the like around the track this weekend, do you think therefore they've got the advantage?
Well there is definitely an advantage for Ferrari. The drivability of that engine is quite good. The smaller turbo means that you have Well, some more manageable kicks up the backside, stuff like this and and the drivability will be very, very important come Saturday, which is in my book, I think Harry for you the same the best day of the year. Saturday here in Monaco.
And this chassis is quite nimble. It is very, let's say very pointy. We've seen always a Ferrari go through its rear tires, but that's. that's not going to be an issue here on the Saturday. If there is a track where they can take the very strong end that this Ferrari has to an advantage the smaller turbo as well and as you say the neutering of the the Mercedes advantage with the compression ratio.
It could come together for them, especially on the Saturday here. But then I'm still not completely convinced it's going to be Charles Leclerc because I just have this inkling that Lewis is doing
You're taking my question, I was going to say, come on then, choose Leclerc or Hamilton.
would choose Hamilton right now and I may lose a lot of money but that's what Monaco's built upon on
Exactly thereafter. But I mean I I agree with everything else is said, but come back to what Andrew said, you know, they do still have a deficit. But I think if anywhere that can be overcome, it's probably at a circuit like this where a driver can really make the difference. And they've got two drivers. Who are pretty good. One is incredibly good around Monaco in the form of Charles Leclerc at home as well, fueled by that kind of power too.
A little bit of pressure.
Yeah, but he broke his duck, didn't he, a couple of years ago where he finally got finally started a race and actually won it. And then you've got Lewis Hamilton who who is pretty good as well. Um around Monaco, a street circuit ace two. So I I think I'm with Nelson there's a good chance if they can hook qualifying upright and optimise the session, that'll be the key. Getting an optimal session and qualifying clean laps, I don't see. McClane will also be there, Mercedes probably too as well.
What do you want me to ask to talk about? Sorry, Rosanna. Ferrari and Leclerc and Hamilton.
He's just loving the Bruno Mars. I knew he wasn't listening. Um no, do you think it would be a Leclerc or a Hamilton win if indeed Ferrari do have the advice?
It's a really interesting question. There's no question that Hamilton's been in better form this year so far. It's four all in qualifying.
You know, Hamilton was at sixes and sevens last year and uh he was talking again today about how important it was the work that he'd been doing behind the scenes to get the team to work together in the way that he wants them to work together. He's been talking up How he's been able to have his input into this year's car design, which I know was something they used to talk about at Mercedes and they used to sort of roll their eyes a little bit at it. Um
His engineering team now.
Uh yes and he likes his new engineer who he's got this year, which who was meant to be a sort of temporary Yeah, well he's I don't think the new guy that they intended to replace him with has arrived yet, but um it looks like Hamilton's really happy with him. But although it's four all in qualifying, Leclerc does still have a small advantage on average pace, and he's so good around here. Now
Thank you.
Yes, it's true. Hamilton's also always been so good around here. But Leclerc is really, really so good around here. If I ha if you were to ask me to back one of them to be ahead of the other, I would say Leclerc over Hamilton. But Does that mean pole position? No no no. I I just I I find it really hard to pick this weekend'cause
I don't think Mercedes advantage is going to be overturned quite so easily. The McLaren I expect to be really strong here. Norris is really quick round here, so is Piastri. And if you want me to talk about little technicalities for a while, because of the straight line mode not being here, which we talked about earlier.
All the um rear wings, they've had the op they've got the opportunity to replace that with little small rear wings in the middle of the rear wing. Everyone's got one, except Ferrari, who seemed to have forgotten that that rule loophole exists.
¶ McLaren's Underestimated Monaco Challenge
Well I would like to move it on to McLaren then because um They seem a little bit absent from the conversation when it comes to favourites this weekend. Of course, Mercedes, you've got to talk about as the championship leaders. Ferrari seem to have got this favourite status, but McLaren, it's a bit of an unknown. What can we expect? expect from them. Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, who who if we're gonna pick a teammate there
Here I'd I'd definitely go for Lando Norris, uh between the McLaren drivers. And what is interesting is we know the Mercedes engine is Quite good on driveability, but what does the McLaren package with their gearbox do here as well? They need to bounce back. If there's ever a team that needs a better weekend than last time out, it is uh it's going to be McLaren. It's just so weird with McLaren. It's so out of focus it feels to me. It's it's never it's always there or thereabouts. But
It's no shock, eh?
It's not sharp there yet. Um but this is more about a driver than anything else. How much commitment are you willing to show to go to to get the pole position, to actually do what you need to do here? In that I would always back Lando. Um so it's going to be super interesting to see. In effect it's maybe not about the cars.
Saturday is about nerf, about taking the car right up to the guardrail and maybe an inch further, referencing Verstappen a couple of years back. Saturday is going to be about that and who is mentally able to do this. Two or three times in a row.
I I agree, but it will there not be something at the back of any Mercedes powered driver when they're going round a track where we've had a few engines go Bob, batteries failing. George Russell last time out, Lando Norris and Oscar Piashri what back in China. So I just wonder if that reliability question is gonna creep in occasionally, maybe not so much at a track like this, but it's a question you have to think of the back of your mind.
Well it's for the Sunday very important when every little rattle, everything you hear, you start to think, Oh, it's gonna stay together. But don't forget, a lot of Red Bull engines have had issues. Uh a lot of Audi engines have had issues. It's not just Mercedes, it's just very obvious when they're in the lead.
I like I quite like that in a way, like that we've got reliability issues rearing their head again in Formula One'cause I feel like we went we were bulletproof for you know, a whole generation and you'd have all a full classification. Now, A, usually one car won't make the start of the race and then we'll have seven out by the time we're halfway through.
And half of them are in the pit lane for the start. But to the point I you don't think about this when you're doing qualifying because you really just You're in the zone. You need to be in the zone. And you'll see this, they'll practice this in FP3. And already they take way more risks than they would normally do. I I d I just don't think on Saturday the car will matter as much than than the mental side of it and who will be standing up to the challenge of Monaco Bet.
¶ McLaren's Strategic Pitfalls And Overthinking
So it's the nerve of the drivers, it's the reliability of the car, it's also the strategy and how the team execute the perfect weekend. In Canada, I mean the choice to start on the intermediate tyres, that was a gamble. It did not pay off as we all saw, as they saw. Uh do you think they a they're able to tighten up that sort of execution element of their weekend and
Well, yeah.
I think they need to because there's been a sort of consistent series of mishaps, if you like, on various l sort of logistical, organizational, strategic, whatever you want to call it. uh aspects from McLaren if we go back to last year in in indeed. Like Qatar for example, when they messed up the strategy, uh they did it in um Miami. They let Antonelli in for the win there, where if they'd kept track position by pitting Norris first he probably would have won the race.
Uh and then it happened in Canada with the tire choice, which um I got a lift back to the airport with the Mercedes engineers uh and a couple of other people in Montreal and they were just they couldn't believe what they just couldn't believe it what McLaren had done. And uh I was showing them the justifications that that McLaren had used for making that decision and they were like, Well that's not true. Um
Is it overthinking?
I I I d I just don't know. It I uh to me it made no sense. One car, yes. Okay. Yeah. Basic it was raining a little bit, but it was basically dry.
But it was the piastre argument over the radio back and forth on the second formation that
I'm sure they'll have gone back over it over in the in the factory as to how that happened, but they need to make they need to stop it, keep happening, I think is the main thing.
And here it's so important. If something happens, you need to be able to react straight away and be bold with your decision making.
Claren has a tendency to be too cerebral, to overthink, to be the c most clever kid in the in the classroom.
Just like me.
Well there's an opening maybe at McLaren soon.
So many people joining, there's no room.
But you just sometimes have to go with your gut feeling and be a racer and just as you say be decisive and bold and and yes it was very bold in in Montreal but when it the writing was on the wall they were not decisive and In this the blame is also a little bit on Piasterie from my from my side because if Piastri knew it was wrong, you forced the issue a little bit.
And and that's not what happened. But I think it's just ingrained. You saw it with papaya rules last year. They overthink everything and that then becomes a little bit of a problem. Just F one has a tendency to make the easy stuff very complicated. And McLaren are maybe world champions in that sometimes.
¶ Lando Norris On McLaren's 1000th Race
Well let's hear from Lando Norris and hear how he's feeling coming into this weekend, a race that they really need to to get the most out of with both cars.
I think our our run into this weekend, uh this time last year was uh probably a little bit better than we've had this year. So maybe not quite to the to the level it was last season, but um I think we're optimistic. We we still wanna come in with hopes of uh Trying to achieve a poll and trying to achieve a win, that's still that's still the goals we wanna set ourselves. But um Ferrari and and Mercedes have o obviously been very strong. Mercedes even more so
Uh we're not getting ahead of ourselves, we're not kind of we don't want to be too optimistic, but at the same time, um we wanna come into our weekends at the minute. I think we've given ourselves the chance to Come into weekends um with the belief that it's possible and uh and that's the way we wanna we wanna stay for now.
Rydyn ni'n mynd i chi'n gwybod bod yr ydych chi'n gwybod bod yr ydych chi'n gwybod bod yr ydych chi'n gwybod bod yr ydych chi'n gwybod
Um it's it's just so tough to to say. I think um you know we were close we were close uh
to poll this year in Montreal than we were last time in Montreal when we had a more dominant car. Um we went on to win in uh say a similar characteristic of track, slow speeds, low grip um track that we have here. So You know, when you l think of those things, we wanna it kinda gives us confidence when you think of various other things like just our general performance this year, um, less so, but we also know where we stand comparing to to the other cars, where they're fast, where they're not um
It's true that the Ferraris are are not the quickest in the straits, but that's also'cause they have a lot of downforce and a lot of drag. So it's kind of their their own punishment they give themselves, which gives them some advantage and that advantage will we'll definitely show this weekend.
Okay, and final one for me, Lando. It's McLaren's one thousandth.
Race.
Um only the second team to reach that milestone. You've done the most starts of any driver for McLaren. Just how proud are you of the part you've played in the team's history?
Uh very. Um Yeah, I mean my dream was to was to be an F one in the beginning, was uh was to be with McLaren. Um I don't think at any point I ever thought I'd be the most Or the driver in McLaren with the most race styles for them, you know, that's a pretty uh a pretty awesome start to think of. I'm not, I really to be honest, normally I hate stats. in in general and I I hate when people say them, but um this is one that I'm I'm just proud of, uh for sure.
It's not like a performance stat, it's just more like a a general one and um that's something, you know, to just uh to see my name alongside so many greats so I know One championship is is pretty amazing but a lot of others and a lot of the m the people that everyone knows and remembers achieved a lot more and I certainly wanna get to the level that that they did but um
for my name to be amongst uh some incredible drivers in the in the past is is a is an amazing thing for me to play a small part in
helping McLaren go from where they were a few years ago, which is where no one wants to see McLaren to um where we are now is been uh been an incredible journey uh that I've been very lucky to be part of. So Um yeah, I'm a lucky I'm a lucky boy and uh I'll be here for many more years at the same time trying to to keep McLaren in the position that they are now, which is is um winning constructors' championships, winning championships for drivers and
Um yeah, no I've I know how lucky I've been to be part of that journey and um I hope that it continues for many more years.
That was your reigning world champion, Lando Norris on McLaren's one thousandth Grand Prix weekend. Wowie. Harry, you look like you've done a thousand Grand Prix. You're looking tired and lethargic. Come on.
Yes, we've been stood out here for an hour, Rosanna. The linen jackets
Oh reason. Monaco Harbor Blue Sky Parties around.
I mean what a setting we've given you and you are just so hard to please.
A chair wouldn't go.
I missed.
The flames going to his head was on around so.
We are stood on the most beautiful quay looking out over Port Hercule here in Monte Carlo. Uh the sun is behind clouds, so it's a little cooler than it was, uh, but it's been beautiful here. And uh quite a lot of fans here already soaking up the atmosphere, trying to see drivers as they wiggle through the paddock and try not to fall into the harbour that is absolutely jam-packed.
with super yachts as you might imagine. We are expecting the the celebrities this weekend. The grid will be packed. It's gonna be a glorious weekend off track and I'm hoping on track as well.
¶ Max Verstappen's Red Bull Frustrations
Um we've spoken about the big hitters. We've got to include Max Verstappen in that conversation, Nelson. We are outside the Red Bull energy station at the moment. How are you finding Max this season when you talk to him? Obviously with the Dutch media. Is he a little different? What are you getting from your side of things?
It is very dependent on how the day goes for him right now. I he's he's wearing his heart on his sleeve, m even more so than he used to. somehow but he's been very clear about regulations, etcetera. But then if you add in a bad weekend it becomes
It becomes a little bit more testy for him, very black and white sometimes. But can't really find fault in the commitment, and that's what he's going to need on the Saturday. What I'm a little bit worried about, and Andrew, maybe you'll you'll I have a similar feeling is the drivability of that Ford engine could provide some hairy moments in qualifying for for Red Bull.
Yeah, I wouldn't say I'm worried about it. I mean look, Max is amazing, isn't he? Um and let's not forget three years ago he put in one of the great all time poll laps here to snap the polls. Um and therefore the win as a result. Um so
I you know, no one's talking about Rebel as potential wins winners are they, Nelson? But with him in the car you're just never quite sure. We'd we just w we're not we haven't got a quite clear picture of exactly where Rebel are because they're a bit fli they're fluctuating a bit this season. Um but this is a sort of race track where if they can get the car in the white win right window he can really come alive.
It's the bums and the curbs though, isn't it, that I think are uh the rearing rearing their head again for for Red Bull and and Verstappen. And I think that is uh what kind of
hindered them in Canada as well. They got lucky, let's face it, in the race, to to be on the podium. So they didn't have you know, it was great battling with Lewis Hamilton, but they didn't have the the pace to sort of be there on merit. So I think with and the bumpy nature of Canada the track as well, China changed the setup which then
to tweak the ride height but then that falls out of the window to get the tires warmed up. It's finding that balance throughout this weekend that I think could be another issue for Red Bull.
And it is quite bumpy out there.
Just a bit.
Yeah.
That's that's the bigger issue, isn't it?
And he really, really was angry in Montreal. So yeah, just see how that continues. If he struggles here in FP one or two, then the interviews become very interesting because yeah he's st starting to draw a line in the sand with Red Bull I feel like about this
this problem that's been there since I believe twenty twenty three. I think that's the first time he really started noticing the car not behaving the way he wanted over bumps. And yeah he was very clear on Montreal what he thought about it. So let's see here.
¶ Verstappen's Contract And F1 Transfers
And of course he's been giving little hints about his future, whether he will or won't stay in the sport. It sounds more positive at the moment that he'll stay. Uh you're nodding your head, Andrew. Uh you don't expect him to leave the sport any time soon, do you?
I don't but I don't know where he's gonna be next year if he does stay.
Amen.
Yeah, I agree. I agree. I'm not sure.
This is where the merry go round of drivers begins, isn't it? Silly season half the grid's out of contract.
What I mean by that is he can he's under contract to Rebel till the end of twenty twenty eight, but he definitely will be able to leave uh unless they have some kind of miraculous turnaround in performance. Because of a performance clause in his contract, he will be able to leave at the end of this season. If he's able to leave and he goes to Toter Wolf and says, I want to come and drive for you
Is Total Wolf gonna be able to resist that temptation? I mean it all gets a bit sticky because the Mercedes driver's contract
You know?
But no contract is locked in.
Exactly, this is Formula One. Anything can be moved if people want it in
Goes for McLarenet.
Yeah, exactly. So it could get really tasty. I think my feeling is Verstappen wants to stay. He's encouraged by the fact that they're trying to change the rules for next year so the engines are a little bit less sort of uh energy staffed um by changing the sort of the ratio between internal combustion engine and electrical power. Um It's going in the right direction. So he's making the right noises about staying in Formula One, but that doesn't mean he's going to stay at Red.
But also he he's getting a lot from Red Bull kind of outside the car as well. They're sponsoring and funding his GT racing, slapping Red Bull all over the car, allowing that to happen and allowing that to happen anyway as well in his contract.
But he's driving a Mercedes in those G in those G. Yes.
Didn't he drive a Ferrari?
Would not want him to?
Yes, but if you're Zach Brown and you have this beautiful new Le Mans hypercar that you could also run in Daytona and you say well I can give you a couple of GT3s plus you can do all the endurance races you want and all my sponsorship dollars are multiplied by having you on my team. Zach Brown is is is a deal maker. I wouldn't rule it out. Uh d there is no sign that that discussion is happening but And stranger things have happened in this paddock.
And plus we forget obviously the news that GP, his his race engineer, will be going to McLaren at some point by twenty twenty-eight. That is not insignificant. No matter what they've said, it's not insignificant. That relationship Coming to an end, is that a natural time for Verstappen to depart?
Yeah, I mean look we don't know any of this. It's the sort of thing, you know but having said that, you know, Total Wolf's been trying to get Max Verstappen for two years now. It's hard to see him resisting that temptation if the opportunity if the door opens again, let's put it that way.
But we were so hot and bothered last year when he was on Toto's yacht for a couple of hours. And probably in the end it was about getting a few G T threes for the Nordschleife. So yeah, I mean we can fall into the trap every year and I I think it's a waiting game and we'll just wait and see.
¶ F1 Rumor Mill And Calendar Changes
We've got to get excited about things, haven't we? It's what we do. Um well this falls nicely into the sort of rumour mill segment of the show. Perhaps some some quickfire questions and answers on uh what we've heard. Uh Cadillac not happy with Bottas, is he gonna be out mid season?
I don't believe that.
Nah, it's not having but he does need to improve his performance in comparison to Perez because Perez has had a good couple of races on the trot and Botas hasn't been anywhere.
Christian Horner coming back to Formula One with BYD a twelve.
Absolute nonsense.
I've been shut down on that rumour mill moment. Okie dokie.
I'd like to see a twelfth team though. And I think Form One needs big personalities back in the game. I think we've lost a few too many over the years.
Ron is doing his level best to keep himself in the news at the moment, but there's no prospect of him coming back with BYD and And uh what's interesting is the Alpine situation. So um there was a story on the BBC Sport website uh that we did last week about Toto Wolf and Mercedes pulling out of um wanting to buy that team because they thought that the uh the people who own the American Otro company who have uh got twenty-four percent of that of that team
have overpriced it effectively and Renault have now ended any talks about that sale. But Renault only have a veto over the sale of those shares until September.
What happens after that, we don't know. Renault don't want Horner anywhere near that team, but from September onwards they can't stop it. Well at least in theory they can't. Whether the parent company would be very happy about him being back in the scenario, even if Otro did want to sell to the consortium that he has allegedly put together, we don't know and how that would work out, but for now that's all gone quite.
Feels like your summer break is gonna be spent sniffing out that story, Andrew. Uh Boryan and Saudi returning at the end of the year to reshuffle the schedule.
I've heard something about this.
Okay, so I can tell you about this. So uh obviously it all depends on the war. There's a tentative plan to put Bahrain in between Baku and Singapore, if it's possible. But changing the end of the season is much more difficult. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix date is basically locked in. They will they don't they don't want to move that race, that date. It's associated with their national day which is earlier in the same week.
Rydyn ni'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd i'n mynd. Sorry, not Las Vegas, uh Saudi Arabia are in. Abu Dhabi don't want to move at the moment. So getting Saudi in will be much more difficult, but if they can they will get spar they will try and squeeze Bahrain in between Baku and Singapore. But
But if the war carries on, there's even questions about whether Baku can happen, because it's close enough to Iran for it to be a potential target and it is obviously an American owned company that owns this sport. So there's you know there's there's a risk there.
Yeah then contested airspace that you have to cross. What we haven't kept eyes on is that there are all the team kits, including hundreds of sets of tires, still standing at Bahrain Airport. Everything that they had from testing there is still there because they haven't been able to move it. And that is quite interesting.
From a from a from a global standpoint, I believe also FIO FOM is working with a couple of scenarios for next year. Because of course they'd like to start in the Middle East. That is always the plan. After Ramadan for this year is done the placement of that.
But nobody's sure. Nobody's sure what they can do. So imagine trying to make a calendar for everyone for next year. You'll have to have a couple of different plans including, I would think, a second race in China if the worst case scenario unfolds.
¶ Monaco Grand Prix Race Predictions
Well, plenty to keep across in the coming months. Uh I want a one driver prediction, please, to win the race this weekend. Harry, I'll start with you.
Lo besamos.
Andrew Benson.
George Russell.
Hallo Samanten.
Yeah.
Because we're gonna get it wrong.
Well, you're gonna have to join us to find out. Uh I'm going to say George Russell because he needs a good weekend for the championship to keep it alive. Otherwise we have a runaway winner, don't we, at this point.
And how about this one? Peress to make Q2.
Ah, you know what? Wouldn't be shocked.
Cute story.
So hang on, you're winding up. We've not even touched on Gucci.
Well yes, true. And guess which team member's most excited about it? Andrew Metson.
I did manage I'm not really allowed to mention sponsorship stories but I did manage to shoehorn that into the Alpine story last week'cause of course they are gonna sponsor Alpine next year. Other fashion brands are available as are other title sponsors.
And commentators are really excited about how to call all the races with Gucci around the track. Uh well Harry, Andrew and Nelson, thank you so much for being the last men standing with me. We've had many contributors over the course of the show. Hopefully you've enjoyed our preview.
The race gets underway at 2 o'clock on Sunday and our coverage will begin at 1.30 on 5 Live. We'll have commentary of all the other sessions on BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website. This has been an IMG production for BBC Radio 5 Live, but Right now we need to head off and find the biggest and the best yacht offering the greatest party, I feel.
Damon's actually just sent that bingo is kicking off and we should all join him.
Two fat ladies, I'm there. This has been an IMG production for BBC Radio Five Live.
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