Free Practice No More? | Australian GP Predictions | Grid Walk March 30, 2023

Grid Walk is an F1 podcast but Briana and Nicole HAD to talk about the University of Miami Men’s Basketball team making it to the NCAA March Madness Final Four! It is a historic moment for the Miami Hurricanes making Briana and Nicole proud alumni.There is an upcoming 25 day F1 race hiatus due to the cancellation of The Chinese Grand Prix. Grid Walk announces Formula 1 Goes On Spring Break. After the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, for 25 days, Briana and Nicole will be sharing reviews of Formula 1 sponsors! Make sure to follow the Grid Walk show on all social media platforms!The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix has brought all of the teams to the outback to race! There is an incredible amount of buzz online about fan-favorite (one of Nicole’s favorites) Daniel Ricciardo’s presence at this weekend’s activities. Briana and Nicole discuss the marketing power of the Daniel Ricciardo and Oracle Red Bull Racing combination. Daniel Ricciardo will not be driving on the grid but another Australian, Oscar Piastri, will be. Will Mclaren F1 Team try to use their new Aussie’s charisma to their advantage?Briana and Nicole continue their season-long competition with their picks and predictions for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. Will Max Verstappen reclaim P1 on the podium? Will Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team or Scuderia Ferrari just miss the top 3? Out the the back of the grid which team, Williams Racing, Scuderia AlphaTauri, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake, MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, or Mclaren F1 Team, will score the most points?CEO of Formula One Group Stefano Domenicali recently made statements about changing the current set up of free practice during race weekends. Briana has come up with some creative solutions that could replace the current format. Somehow Nickelodeon’s DoubleDare comes up?Nicole ends this week’s Grid Walk episode with a special trip to Australian and current Oracle Red Bull Racing Reserve Driver Daniel Ricciardo.Grid Walk is a weekly Formula 1 show that releases every Thursday. For daily F1 content follow @gridwalkshow on all social media platforms.

**Grid Walk: Episode 20 - Daniel Ricciardo Week**

**Overview**

This episode of the Grid Walk podcast focuses on the upcoming Australian Grand Prix and the surrounding Formula One news. The hosts, Briana L. Klein and Nicole Katz, discuss Daniel Ricciardo's return to Australia, McLaren's struggles, and a recent PR blunder by Stefano Domenicalli regarding free practice sessions. They also make predictions for the race and engage in a lighthearted segment where Briana proposes various unconventional ideas to replace free practice.

* Daniel Ricciardo's return to Australia as a non-driver has generated excitement and media attention.

* McLaren is facing challenges, including the departure of key personnel and ongoing car issues.

* Stefano Domenicalli's comments about potentially eliminating free practice sessions sparked controversy and discussion.

* The hosts make their predictions for the Australian Grand Prix, with varying picks for the winner, podium finishers, and other categories.

* Briana presents several creative and humorous ideas to replace free practice sessions, such as having teams compete for practice time based on their championship positions or adding an endurance race to the weekend format.

**Memorable Quotes**

* "We're heading into F1 Spring Break, so we've put together a very interesting content plan on social media." - Briana L. Klein

* "This course has been fun. I have seen a lot of TikToks of like European fans that are like what time do we have to wake up? Six o'clock in the morning like that's that's nuts!" - Nicole Katz

* "I don't like their Australian GP merch so like even when I was like, oh this will be like a cool thing they could do for Oscar It's like not my favorite." - Nicole Katz

* "I understand. I'm still up by three points after Bahrain, and we're gonna hope that we don't make the same predictions and then a reminder to everyone what is on the line here is the loser at summer break will have to do the next prediction segment from a peloton which neither of us wants to do." - Briana L. Klein

* "I'm just really relieved that we didn't have the same picks." - Nicole Katz

* "Well, we had a PR safety car this week, which to those listening, just means that someone in the world of F1 makes a PR blunder." - Briana L. Klein

* "I think that every race weekend, we should add more sessions and there should be a super sprint." - Briana L. Klein

### Discussion on Practice Session Changes:
- The hosts discuss four proposed changes to the practice sessions:
- **Skills Challenge:** Introduce skills challenges during practice, awarding points for tasks like fastest pit stop or best reaction time.
- **Scaled Practice Times:** Reduce the overall practice time but award points based on performance, incentivizing teams to maximize their limited time.
- **Double Qualifying:** Add an additional qualifying session for each race type (sprint and Grand Prix), increasing the importance of qualifying and potentially creating more strategic opportunities.
- **Endurance Break:** Introduce a weekend format where teammates share driving duties, emphasizing teamwork and endurance.

### Evaluation of Proposed Changes:
- The hosts assess the feasibility and potential impact of each proposal:
- **Skills Challenge:** While entertaining, it may be logistically challenging and could detract from the primary purpose of practice sessions, which is data collection and car setup.
- **Scaled Practice Times:** This idea could add excitement and encourage teams to push the limits, but it might compromise the reliability and safety aspects of the sport.
- **Double Qualifying:** Adding more qualifying sessions could increase the spectacle and strategic elements, but it might also lead to more congestion on track and potential incidents.
- **Endurance Break:** The endurance format could showcase teamwork and driver versatility, but it may require significant changes to the car design and race strategy.

### Concerns and Considerations:
- The hosts acknowledge the need for innovation in Formula One, but they emphasize the importance of maintaining the integrity and core principles of the sport:
- **Data Collection:** Practice sessions are crucial for teams to gather data, fine-tune their cars, and make informed decisions for the race. Eliminating or significantly reducing practice time could compromise the safety and performance of the drivers and teams.
- **Driver Development:** Practice sessions provide opportunities for young and reserve drivers to gain experience and prepare for future races. Reducing practice time could limit their development and hinder the growth of future talent.
- **Unintended Consequences:** The hosts caution against making drastic changes without thoroughly considering the potential unintended consequences, such as increased costs, logistical challenges, and a diminished fan experience.

### Conclusion:
- The hosts conclude that while innovation is essential for the growth and evolution of Formula One, any changes to the weekend format must be carefully evaluated and implemented in a way that preserves the core values and integrity of the sport. They emphasize the need for a balanced approach that respects the history and traditions of Formula One while embracing progress and innovation.