Ferrari is Back?! Why Red Bull Struggled at the Singapore GP | Grid Walk September 21, 2023

Max Verstappen DIDN’T WIN the Singapore Grand Prix??? Oracle Red Bull Racing WASN’T on the podium??? Scuderia Ferrari and Carlos Sainz are the ones that ended Max Verstappen race win streak?!?!!? This all sounds like a fever dream but it is SO REAL and Grid Walk can’t wait to talk about the Singapore Grand Prix! You know that Briana and Nicole were celebrating Lewis Hamilton in P3!

WOW can every Formula 1 race be like the Singapore Grand Prix?? The Singapore Grand Prix showed how exciting it can be if just one F1 team was able to consistently compete with Oracle Red Bull Racing! So is Alpha Tauri driver Liam Lawson in trouble with Oracle Red Bull Racing after he kept Max Verstappen from advancing to Q3 on Saturday? Prepare yourself, Briana and Nicole don’t have much sympathy for George Russell.

Podium moments of every F1 race weekend are a Grid Walk tradition! Briana kicks off the Singapore Grand Prix Podiums with her favorite special liveries, helmets, etc.! Where were all of the sparkly helmets for this year’s Singapore Grand Prix?? Can Williams Racing keep using the Gulf livery and race suits all year??? Nicole shares her favorite F1 quotes from the Singapore Grand Prix! It seemed like every F1 driver had to talk about how Godzilla was on the Marina Bay Street Circuit. Should Grid Walk start a count for the amount of times Nicole will now quote Max Verstappen’s “absolutely shocking experience?” Briana also shares her favorite F1 Media Moments from the Singapore Grand Prix weekend! Shoutout to whoever on the Scuderia Ferrari social media team that put together the Oppenheimer video edit! How did Oracle Red Bull Racing show that they can have fun even during a rough weekend?

Okay, let’s get real about Oracle Red Bull Racing and the Singapore Grand Prix. Grid Walk talks about all of the variables that contributed to Oracle Red Bull Racing’s “downfall” at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. Did the FIA’s latest technical directive play a part? What we do know is Oracle Red Bull Racing implemented an upgrade to that just didn’t work! Are all F1 fans really going to have to wait until the Japanese Grand Prix to find out if Oracle Red Bull Racing’s dominance is over? When are we going to get a permanent F1 Juniors broadcast?

It may not technically be F1 Silly Season but there have been plenty of headlines that sound like F1 Silly Season! There are 4 (including the second Oracle Red Bull Racing seat…Sorry Checo) that Grid Walk considers up in the air for the 2024 F1 season. Will the Alpha Tauri drivers next year be Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo? After his recent success will Liam Lawson NOT be in an F1 car next year?

Grid Walk’s F1 race predictions competition continues! Briana and Nicole are both very competitive but they can agree that they are willing to lose every prediction and take an ice bath for every remaining race to be as exciting as the Singapore Grand Prix! Does Briana or Nicole have faith that Scuderia Ferrari and Carlos Sainz can continue their success in Japan? What will happen with Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team or BWT Alpine F1 Team?

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 Formation Lap

05:16 Singapore GP Reaction

16:36 Race Weekend Podium: Best Singapore Special Liveries, Helmets, & Merch

19:14 Why Did Red Bull Struggle at the Singapore GP?

29:30 Briana Unboxes Special Red Bull Cans???

34:06 Race Weekend Podium: Best Quotes

37:42 3 Drivers for 2 AlphaTauri Seats

49:23 Race Weekend Podium: Media Moments

53:33 Japanese Grand Prix Predictions

01:00:49 Yellow Sector Notes

# Gridlock Podcast Episode 35: Singapore Grand Prix Review and Japanese GP Preview

### Introduction:

* Briana L. Klein and Nicole Katz, the hosts of the Gridlock podcast, express their excitement over someone other than Max Verstappen winning a race.
* They discuss the rarity of Red Bull not being on the podium and acknowledge that it felt like a dream.

### Singapore Grand Prix Review:

**Red Bull's Underperformance:**

* Briana and Nicole analyze the factors that contributed to Red Bull's poor performance in Singapore.
* They speculate that it was a combination of a failed upgrade, poor strategic choices, and bad luck during the safety car period.
* The hosts highlight the significance of Red Bull's strategy error in not splitting their drivers' tire strategies, which put them at a disadvantage during the safety car.

**The Impact of the Technical Directive:**

* The hosts discuss the possibility that the recent technical directive aimed at regulating porpoising may have played a role in Red Bull's struggles.
* However, they note that Red Bull has had ample time to test and adjust their car to comply with the directive, making it unlikely to be the sole cause of their issues.

**Mercedes' Strategy and George Russell's Performance:**

* Briana and Nicole analyze Mercedes' decision to swap Lewis Hamilton and George Russell's positions during the race, which ultimately cost Russell a chance at victory.
* They criticize Mercedes' handling of the situation and suggest that they should have made the decision earlier or stuck with their original strategy.
* The hosts also discuss Russell's struggles in Singapore, including his crash and his perceived lack of mental fortitude under pressure.

**Charles Leclerc's Sportsmanship:**

* Briana and Nicole commend Charles Leclerc for his sportsmanship in allowing Carlos Sainz to pass him and take the lead, despite Leclerc's desire to win his home race.
* They highlight the significance of Leclerc's gesture, given his challenging season and Ferrari's struggles.

### Japanese Grand Prix Preview:

**Technical Directive's Influence:**

* The hosts speculate on whether the technical directive will continue to affect Red Bull's performance in the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix.
* They suggest that Japan will provide a clearer indication of the directive's impact, as it is a more traditional circuit compared to Singapore's unique characteristics.

**Red Bull's Response:**

* Briana and Nicole discuss the possibility of Red Bull bouncing back in Japan and regaining their dominance.
* They emphasize the importance of the Japanese Grand Prix for Red Bull, as it is Honda's home race and a crucial event for their partnership.

**Predictions:**

* The hosts make their predictions for the Japanese Grand Prix, acknowledging that it is difficult to predict after Red Bull's unexpected setback in Singapore.
* They express their hope for another exciting race with unpredictable outcomes.

**Favorite Quotes of the Singapore GP Weekend:**

1. **Pierre Gasly, Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez, Lando Norris, and Fernando Alonso's Comments on the Lizard:**
- Drivers' amusing reactions to a lizard on the track, with quotes like "There's a lizard thingy on turn eight."
- Fernando Alonso is suspected of running over the lizard, leading to Aston Martin's poor performance.

2. **Max Verstappen's Post-Qualifying Radio Message:**
- Verstappen's dramatic and angry radio message expressing shock and frustration with his qualifying experience.
- His passionate outburst has become a fan favorite and is likely to be remembered for its intensity.

3. **Liam Lawson's Response to a Fan's Question:**
- A fan asks Liam Lawson if he is in trouble with Red Bull after his qualifying performance.
- Lawson's iconic response, "Not yet," highlights the uncertainty surrounding his future in Formula 1.

**Silly Season Rumors and Speculations:**

1. **Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo's Potential Move to AlphaTauri:**
- Reports suggest that Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo may join AlphaTauri for the 2024 season.
- This move would leave Liam Lawson without a seat, sparking discussions about his future in F1.

2. **The Dilemma of Red Bull's Second Driver Seat:**
- Red Bull faces a dilemma in choosing a driver for their second seat, with several talented drivers in contention.
- The team's decision will impact the driver lineup for both Red Bull and AlphaTauri.

3. **Sergio Perez's Uncertain Future:**
- Sergio Perez's future in Formula 1 is uncertain, with rumors of him seeking opportunities outside Red Bull.
- Several teams, including Alpine, Haas, Alfa Romeo, and Williams, could potentially offer him a seat.

**Predictions for the Japanese GP:**

1. **Podium Predictions:**
- Nicole predicts Carlos Sainz in P2 and Charles Leclerc in P3, while Briana predicts Lewis Hamilton in P2 and Lando Norris in P3.

2. **Last to Cross the Checkered Flag:**
- Nicole predicts Valtteri Bottas as the last driver to finish, while Briana predicts Logan Sargent.

3. **Team to Score the Most Points (Not Named Red Bull):**
- Both Nicole and Briana predict Mercedes to score the most points among the teams other than Red Bull.

**Additional Highlights:**

1. **F1 Juniors Broadcast:**
- The F1 Juniors broadcast during the Singapore GP was praised for its engaging and informative content.
- The hosts' ability to explain complex concepts in a simple and entertaining manner was appreciated by viewers.

2. **Ferrari's Oppenheimer Edit:**
- Ferrari's creative video edit, inspired by the movie "Oppenheimer," was well-received by fans.
- The video demonstrated Ferrari's willingness to embrace pop culture and engage with its audience in innovative ways.

3. **Red Bull's Max Verstappen Podcast Tweet:**
- Red Bull's humorous tweet announcing the return of the Max Verstappen podcast was praised for its cleverness and timing.
- The tweet generated positive feedback from fans and highlighted Red Bull's social media prowess.

**Gridwalk: Singapore Grand Prix**

**Yellow Sector Notes:**

* Lewis Hamilton nominated for People's Sexiest Athlete of the Year.
* Hamilton drops special plus 44 line for Japanese GP in collaboration with local artist.
* Joe Guan Yu teases upcoming collaboration with famous Japanese streetwear designer.
* Esteban Ocon releases S.E. Bessie-themed merchandise.
* Alpine to be sponsored by Xbox starting this weekend.
* Max Verstappen to sport a special helmet for the Japanese GP.
* Rumors of Ferrari bringing a significant floor upgrade for the Japanese GP.
* Williams to continue running their Golf livery, while McLaren to continue with their stealth livery.
* Lando Norris releases Mexico GP merchandise.
* Adidas and Hugo Boss in a bidding war for AlphaTauri title sponsorship for 2024.

**General Discussion:**

* Hosts express excitement for the upcoming Japanese GP.
* They discuss the various merchandise and collaborations released by drivers and teams.
* They speculate on the potential outcomes of the bidding war for AlphaTauri's title sponsorship.
* The hosts thank their listeners and encourage them to engage with the podcast through comments and social media interactions.