Sure, here is a detailed summary of the podcast episode transcript:
**Introduction**
* Joe Saward, a veteran F1 journalist, joins the podcast to provide insights and analysis on the current Formula One season.
* He emphasizes the importance of building and maintaining strong relationships with team members and sources within the paddock to gather accurate information.
* Joe highlights the pressure journalists face when criticizing teams, as it can lead to teams refusing to speak to them.
**Red Bull's Dominance**
* Joe believes that Red Bull's dominance in the 2023 season is due to a combination of factors, including a highly motivated team, particularly those still upset about the cost cap controversy in 2021.
* He suggests that Red Bull may have been using the cost cap punishment as motivation to prove their superiority.
* Joe discusses the ongoing debate surrounding the cost cap, emphasizing that the regulations are still being defined and clarified.
* He cautions teams against exceeding the cost cap limit, as the FIA is determined to enforce severe penalties for violations.
**Ferrari's Struggles**
* Joe expresses concern over Ferrari's poor performance in the first race of the season, particularly Charles Leclerc's engine failure.
* He speculates that there may be an internal investigation within Ferrari to determine the cause of the engine problems.
* Joe questions the appointment of Fred Vasseur as Ferrari's new team principal, given his lack of experience in leading a top Formula One team.
* He suggests that the political dynamics within Ferrari may be affecting the team's performance and that internal discord could emerge if the situation does not improve.
**Aston Martin's Spending**
* Joe addresses the rumors of Aston Martin potentially exceeding the cost cap in 2021, but he believes that the team likely did not breach the regulations.
* He explains that teams have the flexibility to allocate funds across different financial years, allowing them to save some money for future projects.
**The Future of the 2023 Season**
* Joe predicts that Red Bull's dominance may continue throughout the season, given their current advantage and the difficulty for other teams to catch up.
* He acknowledges that there is a possibility of other teams experiencing unexpected successes or failures, which could shake up the championship standings. **Summary of the Formula One Podcast Episode:**
1. **Reliability Issues Plague Ferrari:**
- Ferrari has been experiencing reliability issues, with Charles Leclerc's car suffering from wheel brow problems in qualifying.
- Joe Saward suggests that these issues may be due to a cultural problem within the team, where basic tasks seem to fall apart under pressure.
- The team needs to address this issue, potentially through better leadership and a more inspirational leader.
2. **Aston Martin's Alleged Copying of Red Bull's Car:**
- Sergio Perez's comments about Aston Martin copying Red Bull's car sparked a debate.
- Saward acknowledges that copying ideas from other teams is common in Formula One, but it requires cleverness and skill to avoid being caught.
- He believes Aston Martin's new car is impressive, but it's still behind Red Bull in terms of race pace.
3. **Underperforming Teams:**
- Several teams, including McLaren, Alpine, and Alfa Romeo, underperformed in the first race of the season.
- Saward expresses surprise at Alpine's poor performance and McLaren's continued struggles.
- He also notes that Alfa Romeo, which had a good car last year, was nowhere to be seen.
4. **Mercedes' Struggles:**
- Mercedes, the dominant team in recent years, has had a poor start to the season.
- Saward believes that the team may have been too focused on fixing last year's problems and missed the mark this year.
- He suggests that Mercedes may need to make changes to their approach and consider a different design concept.
5. **The Importance of Race Pace:**
- Saward emphasizes the importance of race pace over qualifying pace in Formula One.
- He highlights that Red Bull's dominance in the first race was due to their superior race pace, despite Max Verstappen not having a significant advantage in qualifying.
6. **Dan Fallows' Role at Aston Martin:**
- Saward discusses Dan Fallows' move from Red Bull to Aston Martin and his impact on the team.
- He explains that Fallows is a highly valued engineer who was fought over by teams due to his expertise.
- Aston Martin's new car is a testament to Fallows' abilities, but it remains to be seen if they can continue to develop the concept successfully.
7. **Mercedes' Engineering Team:**
- Saward discusses the challenges of identifying the key engineers responsible for a team's success.
- He notes that Mercedes has a large team of engineers, and it's difficult to determine who is making the biggest difference.
- He mentions James Allison and Mike Elliott as two prominent names at Mercedes, but suggests that there are many other talented engineers behind the scenes.
8. **Toto Wolff's Influence at Mercedes:**
- Saward acknowledges Toto Wolff's significant influence at Mercedes as the team principal.
- He believes that Wolff ultimately has the final say in major decisions, even if the engineers may have different opinions.
9. **McLaren's Financial Situation:**
- Saward discusses McLaren's financial struggles and the impact it may have on the team's performance.
- He notes that the team has many rotating sponsors but questions whether they are paying substantial sums of money.
- He believes that McLaren needs to deliver on-track performance to attract and retain sponsors.
10. **Rookies' Performance:**
- Saward praises the performances of the rookie drivers in the first race, including Logan Sargent, Nick DeVries, and Oscar Piastri.
- He highlights Sargent's impressive lap one and his potential as a talented driver.
- He also acknowledges DeVries' karting achievements and his long journey to Formula One.
11. **Lando Norris' Future at McLaren:**
- Saward expresses concern about Lando Norris' future at McLaren, given the team's recent struggles.
- He believes that Norris may be running out of time if he wants to compete for championships. # Missed Apex Podcast Episode 123: Joe Saward
## Summary:
### Introduction:
* The podcast begins with a discussion about the upcoming 2023 Formula One season and the potential for a grid filled entirely with talented drivers.
* Veteran F1 scribe Joe Saward joins the hosts to provide his insights on the topic.
### Pay Drivers in Formula One:
* The conversation centers around the declining presence of pay drivers in Formula One.
* Saward argues that the current grid is the least pay-driver-y grid in history, with all drivers possessing genuine talent.
* He attributes this to the increasing costs associated with carbon fiber damage, making it less financially viable for teams to field pay drivers.
### Lance Stroll's Performance:
* The hosts discuss Lance Stroll's impressive performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix despite suffering from broken hands.
* Saward commends Stroll's determination and motivation, noting that he has had more chances than most drivers to prove himself.
* However, Saward also highlights the need for Stroll to consistently perform at a high level to avoid being labeled as a pay driver.
### The Talent Level of the 2023 Grid:
* The discussion shifts to the overall talent level of the 2023 grid.
* Saward believes that all the drivers on the grid are talented, but some have had more opportunities than others to showcase their skills.
* He emphasizes the importance of drivers getting enough time to prove themselves, as some may take longer to adapt to Formula One.
### The Future of Pay Drivers:
* The hosts speculate about the future of pay drivers in Formula One.
* Saward predicts that the number of pay drivers will continue to decline due to the increasing costs associated with running a Formula One team.
* He also notes that sponsors are becoming more selective in their partnerships with drivers, preferring those with genuine talent and potential.
### Conclusion:
* The podcast concludes with a discussion about the upcoming races and the potential for exciting battles throughout the 2023 Formula One season.
* Saward expresses his enthusiasm for the season and his belief that it will be one of the most competitive in recent memory.