Formula 1 Spa Recap & Silly Season Storylines | Grid Walk August 3, 2023

F1 has officially entered summer break but Grid Walk hasn’t! So don’t worry Episode 28 is the first episode you’ll be getting throughout the entire F1 Summer Break! Grid Walk will give you the Formula 1 fix you’re missing!Briana and Nicole deliver a one of a kind Spa Summary, definitely opposite of the weather from the Belgian Grand Prix. Once again Max Verstappen tops the podium at P1. It seemed like Oscar Piastri was finally cracking the secret of catching up to Oracle Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen during the F1 Sprint Race. If only Oscar Piastri was able to race on Sunday and we got to see even more competition with his Mclaren F1 Teammate Lando Norris. Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team came to the Belgian Grand Prix with some pretty big upgrades. How will Mercedes drivers’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell perform when the rest of the upgrade is installed at the Dutch Grand Prix?It has been a rough few weeks for BWT Alpine F1 Team. Most recently it was announced that Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer and Sporting Director Alan Permane will be leaving the team. Technical Director Pat Fry is also departing BWT Alpine F1 Team for the same role at Williams Racing. BWT Alpine F1 Team has the double DNF at the British Grand Prix that let Mclaren F1 Team leapfrog them in the Constructor’s Standing. Then at the Hungarian Grand Prix it was another double DNF for Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon. Is there any hope for BWT Alpine F1 Team??The Tire of Topics returns to decide which F1 drivers’ silly season headlines and rumors Briana and Nicole will discuss! Has a recent sponsorship change at Scuderia Ferrari revealed the faith of Carlos Sainz Jr.? Where do you even start with the Oracle Red Bull Racing #2 seat? The second Red Bull seat currently belongs to Sergio Perez but with the removal of Nyck de Vries and return of Daniel Ricciardo should Sergio Perez be nervous?? What about the other Scuderia Alpha Tauri driver Yuki Tsunoda?? Williams Racing is one of the F1 teams with a rookie! Logan Sargeant has yet to score a point. Did MoneyGram Haas F1 Team driver Nico Hülkenberg’s decision to go platinum blonde was to get more attention?It isn’t a secret that Spa is Briana and Nicole’s least favorite circuit but they still managed to deliver podiums this week! Nicole delivers shares moments from the weekend that made her smile but it is all off track because the Belgian Grand Prix makes her nervous. Has Scuderia Ferrari and Oracle Red Bull Racing started the F1 Sticker Wars? Susie Wolff shared the major announcement that all F1 Academy races will now be broadcasted! Briana shares how the coverage of the Belgian Grand Prix would have been different if it wasn’t right before the start of the F1 Summer Break! Shouldn’t tifosi be celebrating a Scuderia Ferrari and Charles Leclerc podium much louder? Can we please get a deeper diver into Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team upgrades?? 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 F1 Summer Break is Here03:49 Belgian Grand Prix Race Recap04:00 Red Bull is too Fast08:02 Oscar Piastri Had a Break Out Race16:15 Mercedes Upgrades24:15 Podium: Happy Spa Moments26:33 More Changes at Alpine33:26 Pat Fry to Williams35:42 Alpine Team Principal Rumors39:29 Podium: Questions We Have to Wait For45:57 Tire of Topics: Silly Season47:05 The Second Red Bull Seat51:17 Carlos Sainz54:29 Nico Hulkenburg57:10 Podium: Summer Break Media Coverage58:15 Yellow Sector Notes

**Race Recap:**

* Red Bull's dominance continues, with Max Verstappen winning every race so far this season.
* Mercedes brought a significant upgrade to their car, resulting in improved performance and Lewis Hamilton securing the fastest lap.
* Ferrari's result at Spa was met with mixed reactions, with some fans expressing optimism for Charles Leclerc's championship chances.
* Alpine underwent a major shakeup, with the departures of team principal Otmar Szafnauer, sporting director Alan Permane, and technical director Pat Fry.

**Key Insights and Perspectives:**

* The reliability of cars has improved significantly compared to last season, leading to fewer DNFs and a more competitive field.
* The lack of crash-prone drivers has contributed to the reduced number of incidents on track.
* Oscar Piastri's impressive performance at Spa, including a top-three finish, has generated excitement and anticipation for his future in Formula One.
* Lando Norris' reputation as a rain specialist has been questioned due to inconsistent performances in wet conditions.
* Mercedes' strategic decisions, particularly during pit stops, have hindered Lewis Hamilton's ability to secure podium finishes.
* The porpoising issue faced by Mercedes is attributed to their high downforce setup, which provides speed but requires precise adjustments.

**Controversies and Memorable Moments:**

* The penalty imposed on Lewis Hamilton in the sprint race at Spa remains a contentious topic, with fans and pundits debating its fairness.
* The sticker wars between Ferrari and Red Bull added a lighthearted element to the weekend, with team members playfully placing stickers on each other's cars and personnel.
* The announcement that the remaining F1 Academy races will be shown live, coinciding with Formula One events, was welcomed by fans eager for more coverage of the feeder series.

The hosts, Briana L. Klein and Nicole Katz, discussing the recent leadership changes at Alpine F1 Team. They speculate on the reasons behind the departures of Otmar Szafnauer, Alan Permane, and Pat Fry, and consider the potential impact these changes may have on the team's performance. They also discuss the appointment of former Aston Martin technical director, Dan Fallows, as Aston Martin's new technical director.

The hosts then shift their focus to Alex Albon's recent performances for Williams F1 Team. They praise Albon's driving and express their hope that he will continue to score points and bring success to the team. They also discuss the possibility of Albon moving to a top team in the future.

Next, the hosts discuss the various rumors and speculations surrounding the driver market for the 2023 Formula One season. They consider the possibility of Sergio Perez leaving Red Bull Racing and discuss potential replacements for him, including Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson, and others. They also discuss the contract negotiations of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc with Ferrari and the possibility of Sainz leaving the team.

The hosts then discuss Nico Hulkenberg's recent comments about his desire to return to Formula One and the possibility of him joining Red Bull Racing or AlphaTauri. They also discuss the recent hair dye change of Nico Hulkenberg and speculate on the reasons behind it.

The podcast concludes with a segment called "Yellow Sector Notes," where the hosts discuss various news and developments from the Formula One world. They discuss Mercedes' announcement that their F2 title contender, Frederik Vesti, will drive FP1 in Mexico City later this year. They also discuss Max Verstappen and Lando Norris's attendance at Tomorrowland, Lance Stroll and Oscar Piastri's participation in a Pirelli tire test, Sophia Flörsch becoming the first female driver to score points in F3, and Susie Wolff's announcement that the F1 Academy will be broadcast for every race going forward.

**Key Insights and Perspectives**

* The hosts speculate that the leadership changes at Alpine F1 Team may have been caused by disagreements between the departing executives and the new team owners.
* The hosts believe that Alex Albon has the potential to become a top driver in Formula One and hope that he will continue to perform well for Williams.
* The hosts discuss the various rumors and speculations surrounding the driver market for the 2023 Formula One season and consider the potential impact these changes may have on the teams involved.
* The hosts believe that Nico Hulkenberg is a talented driver who deserves a chance to return to Formula One and speculate on the possibility of him joining Red Bull Racing or AlphaTauri.
* The hosts discuss various news and developments from the Formula One world, including Mercedes' announcement that Frederik Vesti will drive FP1 in Mexico City, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris's attendance at Tomorrowland, and Susie Wolff's announcement that the F1 Academy will be broadcast for every race going forward.

**Controversies and Insightful Moments**

* The hosts briefly discuss the controversy surrounding the departure of Otmar Szafnauer from Alpine F1 Team and speculate on the reasons behind it.
* The hosts also discuss the possibility of Carlos Sainz leaving Ferrari and consider the potential impact this could have on the team.

**News and Updates:**

- Joe Guan Yu's love for playing Mario Kart as Peach is revealed, adding a touch of fun and personality to the often-serious world of F1.
- Daniel Ricciardo and his sponsor Optus join forces to support young innovators with a $64,000 grant program, inspiring the next generation of talent in STEM fields.
- Gunther Steiner's culinary skills take center stage as he impresses with his guacamole, adding a lighthearted moment to the podcast.

**Summer Break Plans:**

With the F1 summer break in full swing, the hosts discuss their plans for filling the Sundays without races. They encourage listeners to share their own summer break activities and engage with the podcast community.

**Social Media Engagement:**

Listeners are encouraged to follow, like, and subscribe to the podcast on various social media platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and Threads. Engaging with the podcast through comments, reviews, and shares helps the show reach a wider audience and connect with fellow F1 enthusiasts.

**Consistency During Summer Break:**

Despite the F1 summer break, the Gridwalk podcast remains committed to delivering weekly episodes every Thursday. The hosts express their gratitude for the continued support of their listeners and look forward to connecting with them throughout the break.