Ep26 - FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS GRAN PREMIO DEL MADE IN ITALY E DELL'EMILIA-ROMAGNA 2023... Preview

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

Here's a detailed summary of the podcast episode's transcript:

**News:**

* **Pirelli Tire Changes:** Pirelli is introducing new, tougher tires from the British Grand Prix to address the rapid performance escalation in Formula One cars. The new tires will have different construction materials, but the compounds will remain the same. The FIA pushed for this change as a safety measure, but Pirelli claims it's not a safety concern and is intended to prevent problems later in the season. Teams will test the new tires in FP1 and FP2 at the Spanish Grand Prix.

* **Toto Wolff and Valtteri Bottas Reunion:** Toto Wolff, former team principal of Mercedes, and Valtteri Bottas, former Mercedes driver, are reuniting, though not in a racing capacity. Wolff will serve as Bottas' manager again, a role he held before Bottas joined Mercedes. This move is possible because Bottas is now driving for Alfa Romeo.

* **Alpine Turmoil:** Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi has publicly criticized the team's performance, putting pressure on Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer. Rossi stated that the team should be capable of maintaining its fourth-place position from last year, and he expects Szafnauer to take responsibility for the team's current struggles.

* **Formula One Calendar Changes:** Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula One, has indicated that the calendar may undergo changes to make it more logical and reduce travel. The goal is to regionalize the calendar, with races grouped geographically to minimize long-haul flights. However, existing contracts and date commitments may limit the extent of these changes.

* **Imola Ticket Discounts:** The Imola Grand Prix is offering discounted tickets, suggesting that ticket sales may not be meeting expectations.

**Engine Breaking Team News:**

* Dan has entered three teams into the Le Mans 24-hour endurance event under the Engine Breaking and Braking Engine banners.

* In the prologue race, one of the Engine Breaking team's cars, driven solo by Dimitris of Car and Driver Greece, secured P1.

* The second Engine Breaking team finished in P5 with a clean race, avoiding penalties and track limits issues.

* The third team experienced a crash, resulting in P10.

* Dan has received overwhelming interest in joining his teams for the 24-hour race and has had to create three teams to accommodate everyone.

* The 24-hour race will take place on May 27th, and Dan will be streaming it live on Twitch.

* Dan is also streaming in the week leading up to the race to raise funds for Samaritans, a UK-based suicide prevention hotline.

**Random Fandom:**

This segment was not discussed in the podcast episode.

**Overall Message:**

The podcast episode covers various news and developments in Formula One, including tire changes, team dynamics, calendar adjustments, and ticket sales. Additionally, Dan shares exciting news about his involvement in the Le Mans 24-hour race and his fundraising efforts for Samaritans. I. **Pirelli Tire Changes:**
- Pirelli was expected to introduce a new wet weather tire at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, but there has been no news since February.
- The current wet tires produce excessive spray, reducing visibility and making it difficult for drivers to maintain safe margins.

II. **Mercedes Upgrade:**
- Mercedes is bringing a significant upgrade package to Imola, including new suspension, bodywork, and other components.
- The team hopes the upgrades will improve the car's performance and bring them closer to Red Bull.
- Mercedes is not planning to conduct back-to-back testing of the upgrades, indicating their confidence in the changes.

III. **Alpine's Potential Resurgence:**
- Alpine has shown promising performance in the early races of the 2023 season, with Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon consistently finishing in the points.
- The team has also brought upgrades to Imola, aiming to maintain their competitive edge.
- Alpine could potentially challenge for podium finishes or even race wins if they continue to develop and improve their car.

IV. **Imola's History and Characteristics:**
- Imola has a rich history in Formula One, hosting the San Marino Grand Prix from 1981 to 2006.
- The circuit is known for its challenging layout, featuring a mix of high-speed straights, technical corners, and elevation changes.
- The track surface is often bumpy, adding to the difficulty of driving at Imola.

V. **Qualifying Format Changes:**
- A new qualifying format will be used at Imola, with mandatory tire selections for each session.
- Drivers must use hard tires in Q1, mediums in Q2, and softs in Q3.
- The number of tire sets available to teams has also been reduced from 13 to 11 for this race weekend.

VI. **The Lengthy Event Name:**
- The official name of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is "Formula 1 Qatar Airways Grand Premio del Made in Italy e dell'Emilia-Romagna 2023."
- The lengthy name has been a topic of discussion among fans and media, with some finding it amusing or excessive.

VII. **Dan's Fundraising for Samaritans:**
- Dan is currently fundraising for Samaritans, a UK-based suicide prevention hotline.
- Listeners are encouraged to support Dan's cause by visiting the provided link in the show notes or on the Engine Mode Discord.

VIII. **NordVPN Partnership:**
- The podcast is partnered with NordVPN, offering listeners an exclusive discount on VPN services.
- NordVPN is useful for bypassing potential geographical restrictions on F1 TV and ensuring secure internet access.

IX. **Imola's Past Races:**
- Lewis Hamilton holds the race lap record at Imola from 2020.
- Red Bull employee Helmut Marko holds the track record for Group 7 cars, set in 1972.
- Imola returned to the Formula One calendar in 2020 as a replacement for canceled races due to COVID-19.
- The 2021 race was won by Hamilton, while Verstappen won in 2022.
- The 2020 race featured heavy rainfall and a red flag, while the 2022 race was a Sprint weekend.

X. **Predictions for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix:**
- Daniel Ricciardo predicts Charles Leclerc to win qualifying, with Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, and Sergio Perez completing the top five.
- Dan's podium predictions are Fernando Alonso, George Russell, and Norris.
- The hosts discuss the possibility of an upset, with Alonso potentially winning the race if conditions are favorable.

XI. **Random Team Focus: Alpine:**
- Alpine will be the focus team for this weekend's race, with the hosts providing a report card on their performance.
- The team has shown promise in the early part of the season and could be a contender for podium finishes or even race wins if they continue to improve. # Engine Mode 11: FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS GRAN PREMIO DEL MADE IN ITALY E DELL'EMILIA-ROMAGNA 2023

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## Introduction

* Dan is streaming all week on Twitch to raise money for Samaritans, a UK-based suicide prevention hotline.
* The 24 Hours of Le Mans race is next weekend, and Dan and his team will be participating.
* Dan encourages everyone to support their local butchers and buy high-quality meat.
* He also emphasizes the importance of checking in on friends and family, especially during difficult times.

## Pirelli Changes and Mercedes Upgrade

* Pirelli has made changes to the tires for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, with a new C4 compound replacing the C5.
* Mercedes has brought a significant upgrade to their car, including a new front wing and floor.

## The Alpine Revolution of 2023

* Alpine has made significant improvements to their car this season, with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly both performing well.
* The team is now in a position to challenge for podiums and potentially even race wins.

## Imola in the Past

* Imola is a historic circuit that has hosted many memorable races in the past.
* The track is known for its challenging layout and unpredictable weather conditions.

## Qualifying Changes

* The qualifying format for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix has been changed, with drivers now having two attempts in Q3 instead of one.
* This change is designed to make qualifying more exciting and unpredictable.

## That Event Name

* The official name of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix is extremely long and cumbersome.
* The hosts discuss the challenges of pronouncing the name and suggest some alternative options.

## Conclusion

* The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix is shaping up to be an exciting and unpredictable race.
* With new tire compounds, car upgrades, and a revised qualifying format, there is plenty of potential for surprises.