Ep20 - Australian GP Preview - Episode Summary and Transcript

Please note that the summary is generated based on the transcript and may not capture all the nuances or details discussed in the podcast episode.

Summary

## Episode Transcript Summary:

**McLaren Musical Chairs**: McLaren has made significant changes to its technical leadership, including the departure of Technical Director James Key.

**Technical Directive 039**: The FIA introduced and later removed TD 039, which aimed to reduce porpoising by regulating the mounting method of the underfloor plank and skid plates.

**Domenicali Wants To What?!**: Stefano Domenicali, the CEO of Formula One, expressed support for canceling free practice sessions, citing their limited value to the public.

**Farewell Porsche, We Hardly Knew You**: Porsche's brief involvement in Formula One ended as the Volkswagen Group decided to focus on other projects.

**Blake Pisses Himself**: An unfortunate incident involving Blake's consumption of dodgy corner shop meatballs.

**Statos And Lawnies Galore**: A reference to the iconic Statos rally car and lawnmowers, highlighting the diverse range of topics covered in the podcast.

**Australia Preview**: The upcoming Australian Grand Prix and the drivers' past experiences at the circuit.

**Random Fandom Drop**: The hosts discuss their favorite teams and drivers, acknowledging their biases and striving for honest feedback.

**Surprise**: A hidden surprise is mentioned, encouraging listeners to find it in the comments section on YouTube. # Formula One Australian Grand Prix Preview and Memorable Moments

## Introduction

The hosts take a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about their experiences at the Australian Grand Prix and sharing anecdotes from previous races. They discuss the excitement and challenges of the Melbourne track, including the infamous "Lonnie" tradition and the chaotic 2016 qualifying session.

## Memorable Moments

* **2015 Australian GP:** Hamilton dominates qualifying and the race, finishing 35 seconds ahead of Vettel.
* **2016 Australian GP:** The introduction of the "Devil Take the Hindmost" qualifying format, which was confusing and unpopular.
* **2017 Australian GP:** Stroll makes his F1 debut, and Lance Stroll's car loses GPS positioning during the race.
* **2018 Australian GP:** Leclerc's impressive performance in his first race for Ferrari, and the introduction of the bonus point for fastest lap.
* **2019 Australian GP:** Bottas beats Hamilton in equal machinery, and the first race with the new bonus point for fastest lap.
* **2020 Australian GP:** The event is canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
* **2022 Australian GP:** Leclerc takes pole and wins the race, while Verstappen retires from the race.

## 2023 Australian Grand Prix Preview

* The circuit has been revamped since the COVID-19 break, with the removal and reinstatement of a DRS zone into the fast left-right section.
* The race will have two DRS detection zones and two activation zones each.
* The tire allocation is C2, C3, and C4, one step from the hardest compounds.
* The hosts predict a low-degradation one-stop race, but hope for some surprises.

## Conclusion

The hosts wrap up the podcast by expressing their excitement for the upcoming Australian Grand Prix and their hopes for an entertaining and unpredictable race. In this podcast episode, the hosts engage in a lively discussion centered around the upcoming Australian Grand Prix and share their thoughts and predictions for the race. They also delve into various Formula One-related topics, including:

**McLaren Musical Chairs:** The hosts discuss the recent changes in McLaren's driver lineup, with Daniel Ricciardo's departure and the arrival of Oscar Piastri. They speculate on the potential impact of these changes on the team's performance.

**Technical Directive 039:** The hosts analyze the FIA's new technical directive aimed at curbing the excessive bouncing (porpoising) experienced by some teams' cars. They discuss the potential implications of this directive on the competitive landscape and the challenges teams may face in adapting to the new regulations.

**Domenicali Wants To What?!:** The hosts react to FIA President Stefano Domenicali's suggestion of introducing sprint races at all Grand Prix weekends. They debate the pros and cons of this proposal, considering factors such as fan engagement, driver safety, and the overall structure of the race weekend.

**Farewell Porsche, We Hardly Knew You:** The hosts bid farewell to Porsche, which recently announced its withdrawal from its planned partnership with Red Bull Racing. They speculate on the reasons behind this decision and discuss the potential implications for both Porsche and Red Bull.

**Blake Pisses Himself:** The hosts recount a humorous incident involving co-host Blake Pesses, who accidentally urinated on himself during a previous Australian Grand Prix weekend. They share their reactions to the incident and poke fun at Blake's misfortune.

**Statos And Lawnies Galore!:** The hosts discuss the concept of "statos" and "lawnies," which refer to extreme forms of fan behavior involving setting off fireworks and damaging someone's lawn, respectively. They express their disapproval of such actions and emphasize the importance of responsible and respectful behavior among fans.

**Random Fandom:** The hosts introduce a new segment called "Random Fandom," where they randomly select a Formula One team and discuss various aspects of that team's history, performance, and current situation. In this episode, they select Alpine as the randomly chosen team.

**Alpine Preview:** The hosts provide a brief preview of Alpine's performance in the upcoming Australian Grand Prix. They discuss the team's recent struggles and express their hopes for a strong showing in Melbourne.

**Streaming Plans:** The hosts share their plans for live streaming content related to the Australian Grand Prix weekend. They mention streaming practice sessions, qualifying, and the race itself, as well as playing video games such as Euro Truck Simulator and F1 2022.

**Open Lobbies:** The hosts express their intention to host open lobbies in F1 2022, allowing listeners to join and race against them. They encourage listeners to participate and engage with them during these online sessions.

**Q&A:** The hosts acknowledge that they did not receive many questions from listeners during their Twitter Q&A session. They invite listeners to submit questions for a potential Q&A segment after the Australian Grand Prix.

**Australian Slang:** The hosts conclude the episode by sharing some Australian slang terms, such as "haro" (meaning "cheerio") and "big up Steve Irwin" (a tribute to the late wildlife expert).

Overall, the podcast episode is characterized by its lighthearted and entertaining tone, as the hosts engage in banter, share anecdotes, and provide their insights on various Formula One-related topics.