Ep36 - Dutch GP

The boys celebrate one whole year of podcasts while looking back at the Dutch GP and a look forward to Monza!

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**Race Weekend Review**

* **Qualifying:**
* Wet qualifying session with intermediate tires.
* Liam Lawson eliminated in Q1, but showed promise for his second session in the car.
* Notable eliminations in Q1 included Bottas, Magnussen, Ocon, and Zhou.
* Lewis Hamilton surprisingly knocked out in Q2, struggling to find grip and peak tire performance.

* **Race:**
* Verstappen dominates from pole position, leading every lap.
* Leclerc and Sainz finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively, for Ferrari.
* Russell recovers from a poor start to finish 4th for Mercedes.
* Alonso drives a strong race to finish 5th for Alpine.
* Norris and Ricciardo finish 7th and 9th, respectively, for McLaren.
* Tsunoda scores points for AlphaTauri with an 8th-place finish.
* Vettel and Stroll round out the top 10 for Aston Martin.

**Random Fandom Reports**

* **McLaren:**
* Blake: Disappointed with the team's performance, particularly Lando Norris's race.
* Dan: Pleased with Ricciardo's performance before his retirement, but concerned about the team's overall pace.

* **Aston Martin:**
* Blake: Encouraged by the team's progress, especially Fernando Alonso's strong drive.
* Dan: Mixed feelings, with Vettel showing good pace but Stroll struggling.

**Monza Preview**

* Potential for another exciting race with DRS zones and high-speed straights.
* Red Bull and Ferrari expected to be strong again.
* Mercedes hoping to bounce back from a disappointing Dutch Grand Prix.
* McLaren and Aston Martin aiming to continue their recent momentum.

**Wrap-Up**

* Overall, an entertaining race with plenty of action and drama.
* Verstappen continues to extend his championship lead.
* Several teams show signs of progress, while others struggle.
* Excitement building for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza. **Summary of the Dutch Grand Prix and a Look Ahead to Monza**

- The podcast begins with the hosts celebrating one year of podcasting and reflecting on the Dutch Grand Prix.
- The race was held in wet conditions, leading to several overtakes and position changes.
- Max Verstappen won the race, with Fernando Alonso finishing second and Pierre Gasly taking the final podium spot.
- Sergio Perez finished fourth but was penalized for a pit lane speeding violation, dropping him to fifth.
- Alex Albon had a strong race for Williams, finishing eighth after a long stint on the soft tires.
- Logan Sargeant retired from the race due to a hydraulics failure.
- The hosts discuss the performance of the different teams, with Red Bull, Aston Martin, and Alpine showing strong pace.
- Ferrari struggled in the race, with Carlos Sainz Jr. finishing outside the points.
- The hosts preview the upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where they expect Ferrari to be more competitive.

**Key Insights and Perspectives:**

- The hosts emphasize the importance of strategy and tire management in wet races, as seen in the Dutch Grand Prix.
- They also highlight the impressive performance of Pierre Gasly, who drove a strong race to finish on the podium.
- The hosts discuss the potential impact of the new floor that Aston Martin introduced at Zandvoort, which seemed to improve their straight-line speed but compromised their high-speed cornering performance.
- They also mention a technical directive that was issued to Aston Martin regarding their front wing, suggesting that the team may have found a way to circumvent the regulations.
- The hosts express their belief that Ferrari could be more competitive at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, given their strong performance on high-speed tracks in the past.

**Controversies and Particularly Insightful Moments:**

- The hosts briefly mention the controversy surrounding Sergio Perez's pit stop, with some suggesting that Red Bull may have sabotaged his race. However, they ultimately conclude that it was likely a miscommunication or a mistake in strategy.
- They also discuss the incident involving Kevin Magnussen, who was penalized for falling more than 10 car lengths behind the safety car. The hosts express their surprise at this penalty, as it is not something that is typically seen in Formula One.

**Overall Message and Takeaway:**

- The overall message of the podcast is that the Dutch Grand Prix was an exciting and unpredictable race, with several teams showing strong performance.
- The hosts also provide insights into the strategies and tactics used by the teams, as well as the potential impact of technical developments on the outcome of the race.
- The podcast concludes with a look ahead to the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where the hosts expect Ferrari to be more competitive and challenge for the win. **Summary of the Podcast Episode Transcript:**

**Introduction:**

- The hosts, Dan and Blake, celebrate one year of their podcast and discuss the Dutch Grand Prix and look forward to the upcoming race at Monza.

**Main Discussion:**

**Dutch Grand Prix Review:**

- Mercedes showed signs of improvement, particularly in the final stint of the race, but they still face fundamental struggles.
- The midfield was tight, making overtaking difficult.
- Mercedes' strategy was criticized for being reactive rather than proactive, leading to lost opportunities.

**Aston Martin and McLaren Report Cards:**

- Aston Martin: Alonso had a strong race and finished P2, while Stroll struggled. The team's strategy was praised, and they are considered to be in contention for a Constructors' Championship.
- McLaren: Lando Norris qualified P2 but had a disappointing race due to strategy calls. Oscar Piastri had a solid recovery drive to finish in the points. The team's overall performance was hindered by operational issues.

**Fraud Watch:**

- The F1 social media and graphics team are nominated for Fraud Watch for incorrectly stating the record for the longest time between first and last career podiums.
- Mercedes and McLaren's pit walls are also nominated for their questionable strategy calls during the race.

**Good Boy Award:**

- Gasly receives the Good Boy Award for his impressive performance and podium finish.
- Lawson is also mentioned for his solid debut race.

**Monza Preview:**

- The alternative tire allocation for Monza is making a return, which could lead to strategic chaos.
- Mercedes is expected to be strong at Monza due to their car's characteristics.
- Red Bull and Ferrari are also contenders for the win.

**Conclusion:**

- The hosts wrap up the episode by thanking their listeners and expressing their excitement for the upcoming Monza race. # Engine Breaking: One Year Anniversary Special

## Introduction

- The podcast celebrates its one-year anniversary while reflecting on the Dutch Grand Prix and looking forward to the upcoming Monza Grand Prix.


## Monza Curse:

- The podcast highlights a peculiar trend in recent years, where the previous year's winner of the Monza Grand Prix has faced a DNF (Did Not Finish) in the subsequent race.


- The hosts speculate on whether this "Monza curse" will continue this year, especially considering Max Verstappen's victory in Monza last year.


## Random Fandom:

- The hosts engage in a random team selection for the upcoming Monza Grand Prix, assigning themselves teams to analyze and report on in the next episode.


- Dan selects Ferrari, while Elliot is assigned Alfa Romeo.


## Conclusion:

- The hosts express their gratitude for a successful year of podcasting and look forward to continuing the journey, despite their occasional technical difficulties.


- They invite listeners to join them for a potential live race watch along on YouTube during the Monza Grand Prix.


- The hosts encourage listeners to support local butchers and enjoy the Bavarian beers during the race weekend.