F1 Rumors Swirl & Brazil Grand Prix Preview | Grid Walk November 2, 2023

Where to begin with the Mexican Grand Prix!?!? The world of Formula 1 is far from boring at the moment and this episode of Grid Walk is proof! Briana and Nicole (attempt to) give you absolutely everything that is currently happening in F1 including what is happening in the rumor mill!

There were plenty of moments at the Mexico Grand Prix that inspired Briana and Nicole’s podiums this week! Nicole shares the moments of the Mexican Grand Prix that had her jaw on the floor! Briana brings her podiums of favorite quotes from the Mexican Grand Prix!

Nicole, Grid Walk’s resident Daniel Ricciardo fangirl, is trying to contain her excitement after the events of the F1 race weekend in Mexico. Daniel Ricciardo qualifying P4 was a pleasant surprise. Will Nicole finally be buying Red Bull merchandise (specifically Ricciardo Red Bull merchandise)?

Before diving into the pile of F1 rumors, Nicole and Briana discuss Mercedes’ most recent announcement. Mercedes announced that Chief Technical Officer Mike Elliot has chosen to leave his role. What does this mean for Mercedes going into the 2024 F1 season?

Formula 1 is proving to be a circus with the amount of rumors flying around the paddock this week! Briana and Nicole discuss the tea being spilled in the world of F1 and share how real they think these stories are. Is Formula 1 canceling the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix? Is Audi backing out of Formula 1 before they actually got in? Has Lawrence Stroll sold his shares in the Aston Martin F1 team and is Lance Stroll no longer driving for Aston Martin? Is Fernando Alonso re-retiring? Or is Sergio Perez announcing his retirement? There is a long list of F1 drivers that could possibly replace Checo. Is Carlos Sainz leaving Ferrari?

Lewis Hamilton announced his new non-alcoholic agave beverage, Almavé. What does a non-alcoholic agave beverage taste like? How does Almavé prove that Lewis Hamilton is continuing to build a lifestyle brand?

Grid Walk is celebrating the last F1 Sprint Race of 2023 with a “Sprint” Gossip Grid, giving you everything you need to know about F1 and pop culture at top speed. Which F1 teams were successful Swifties with the release of 1989 (Taylor’s Version)? How is Alex Albon once again being the F1 king of skin care? Who is the target audience of the opening ceremonies of the Las Vegas Grand Prix?

Briana and Nicole continue their competition of F1 predictions with the Brazilian Grand Prix. Will Lewis Hamilton be on the podium again for his second home race of the season? Will either Mclaren driver be on the podium in Brazil? Will Esteban Ocon or Daniel Ricciardo score points this weekend? Will any F1 teams struggle to set up their car with only one free practice session in Brazil?

Grid Walk is a weekly Formula 1 show that releases every Thursday. For daily F1 content follow@gridwalkshow on all social media platforms.

00:00 Instagram Mom, Lewis

01:34 Formation Lap

05:05 Podium: OMG Moments from the Mexico GP

12:19 Ricciardo Won the 2024 Red Bull Seat?

18:28 Podium: Quotes of the Weekend

22:38 Mike Elliot Departs Mercedes

27:31 Will this Hurt the 2024 Mercedes Car?

30:10 F1 Journalist Set F1twt Aflame

33:34 Nico Rosberg Returning?!

34:15 Rumor 1: Abu Dhabi Race Cancelation?

36:05 Rumor 2: Audi Pulling Out of F1?

38:15 Rumor 3: Stroll Selling Aston Martin?

42:19 Rumor 4: The 2nd Red Bull Seat?

45:03 Rumor 5: Carlos Sainz Leaving Ferrari?

46:09 The Business Behind Lewis Hamilton's New Non-Alcoholic Spirit

52:29 Gossip Grid: F1 Pop Culture News

59:10 Poll Results from the Mexico GP Weekend

01:03:57 Predicting & Previewing the Brazil GP

01:13:34 Yellow Sector Notes

**Formation Lab: Mexico City Grand Prix Recap**

* Briana and Nicole discuss the exciting moments from the Mexico City Grand Prix, including Lewis Hamilton's overtake on Charles Leclerc, Daniel Ricciardo's strong qualifying performance, and Sergio Perez's unfortunate DNF.

* They also highlight some memorable quotes from the weekend, such as Ferrari's confidence in their tire strategy, Lewis Hamilton's praise for his own driving, and Esteban Ocon's playful banter with Nico Hulkenberg.

* The hosts then analyze the news of Mike Elliott's departure from Mercedes as Chief Technology Officer, speculating on the potential impact it may have on the team's performance in 2024.

**Sprint Gossip Grid: Mexico City Grand Prix**

* Nicole shares various rumors and speculations circulating in the Formula One community, including the possibility of Audi withdrawing from F1 before officially joining, cryptic tweets by F1 journalists hinting at big driver moves, and the potential for a major shakeup in the driver lineup for the 2024 season.

**Marketing of Lewis Hamilton's Non-Alcoholic Tequila**

* Briana and Nicole discuss the marketing campaign for Lewis Hamilton's new non-alcoholic tequila brand, highlighting its unique flavors and the involvement of renowned mixologists in its creation. They also address the criticism surrounding the drink's high price point.

**Preview and Predictions for Lewis Hamilton Week Two**

* The hosts preview the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix, which marks Lewis Hamilton's second home race of the season. They make predictions for the race, with Nicole aiming to catch up in their ongoing predictions competition and avoid an ice bath in three race weekends.

**L Sector Notes: Team Stories**

* Briana and Nicole provide brief updates on various teams across the Formula One grid, including McLaren's struggles with reliability, Alpine's potential driver lineup changes, and Aston Martin's recent resurgence in form.

**Silly Season Rumors:**

The hosts then delve into the ongoing speculation and rumors surrounding various driver and team changes in Formula One. They mention a cryptic tweet by Spanish journalist Albert Fabrega, which has sparked a flurry of discussions and theories among fans. While they acknowledge the excitement and intrigue surrounding these rumors, they also emphasize the need for caution and responsible reporting, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like driver contracts and team strategies.

**Specific Rumors Discussed:**

1. **Abu Dhabi Race Cancellation:** The hosts consider the possibility of the Abu Dhabi race being canceled and replaced by the Las Vegas Grand Prix as the season finale. They express skepticism about this rumor, given the significant financial investment made by Abu Dhabi to host the race.

2. **Audi's Potential Withdrawal from F1:** The hosts discuss the rumors suggesting that Audi might pull out of Formula One before its planned entry in 2026. They acknowledge that Audi has already invested heavily in the project, but they also point out the recent changes in leadership at Audi and Volkswagen, which could potentially lead to a shift in priorities.

3. **Aston Martin Team Shakeup:** The hosts address rumors about a potential shakeup within the Aston Martin F1 team, including the sale of Lawrence Stroll's stake in the team and subsequent changes to the driver lineup. They express doubt about the likelihood of these rumors materializing, given Stroll's personal investment in the team and the recent technical directive issues faced by Aston Martin.

4. **Second Red Bull Seat Contenders:** The hosts discuss the ongoing speculation surrounding the second Red Bull seat, with several drivers reportedly in contention. They mention names like Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo, Charles Leclerc, and Carlos Sainz, but they emphasize that it's difficult to predict who will ultimately fill the seat.

5. **Carlos Sainz Leaving Ferrari:** The hosts address rumors suggesting that Carlos Sainz might leave Ferrari in the near future. They express skepticism about this possibility, given Sainz's recent strong performances and his apparent contentment with the team.

**Lewis Hamilton's Non-Alcoholic Beverage Brand:**

The hosts discuss Lewis Hamilton's recent launch of a non-alcoholic tequila and agave beverage brand called Almave. They speculate on the taste and potential success of the product, considering the growing trend of non-alcoholic beverages and Hamilton's personal involvement in the project.

**Sprint Race Gossip Grid:**

The hosts conclude the episode with a special "sprint version" of the Gossip Grid segment, focusing on recent news and events in Formula One. They discuss Taylor Swift's release of 1989 (Taylor's Version), the upcoming Keanu Reeves documentary on Ross Brawn, the release date for the Inside the Track documentary series on CNBC, Alex Albon's skincare promotion, and the lineup for the Las Vegas Grand Prix opening ceremony.

**Gossip Grid**

* The opening ceremony for the Las Vegas Grand Prix was a hot topic, with speculation about potential performers ranging from Journey to Keith Urban to J Balvin.
* The Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil will also be part of the festivities, ensuring a true Vegas experience.

**Race Weekend Poll Results**

* Sergio Perez's weekend left many fans sad, with 56% of poll respondents welcoming Daniel Ricciardo back to Red Bull.
* Lewis Hamilton is predicted to overtake Sergio Perez in the championship standings by the end of the season, with 89% of respondents agreeing.
* Ferrari's Mexican Grand Prix weekend was deemed to have maximized their potential, with 67% of respondents choosing this option.

**FP1 Rookie Performances**

* David Schumacher impressed many by outperforming Fernando Alonso in FP1, becoming the only rookie to do so.
* Liam Lawson also had a strong showing, finishing ahead of teammate Pierre Gasly.

**Lewis Hamilton's New Drink**

* 50% of poll respondents expressed interest in trying Lewis Hamilton's new drink, while the other half remained undecided or uninterested.

**Predictions for the Brazilian Grand Prix**

* Mercedes is the favorite to be the fastest non-Red Bull team in Brazil, with 62% of respondents predicting their success.
* Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris are the top picks for P2 and P3, respectively, with both drivers receiving high praise for their recent performances.
* Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon are predicted to finish in the top 10, while Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen are expected to be the last to cross the checkered flag.
* Mercedes and McLaren are the favorites to score the most points among non-Red Bull teams.

**Yellow Sector Notes**

* The Las Vegas Grand Prix is still not sold out.
* Spanish broadcaster Dazan extends their broadcast partnership with F1 through 2026.
* Lewis Hamilton sets the record for podiums in Formula 1 with 197.
* Nico Hülkenberg celebrates his 200th Grand Prix start.
* Mercedes announces a 67% reduction in emissions year over year through the use of biofuel.