It’s Always Sunny In Formula 1 | Austrian Grand Prix Preview & Predictions | Grid Walk June 29, 2023

This Week On the ALEX ALBON (#23) episode of Grid Walk! It’s always sunny in Formula 1… at least somewhere across the multiverse! In this universe the gang attempts to cover everything happening in the world of F1!

BWT Alpine F1 Team has two superheroes and a dude from Philly in the headlines providing us with the first true valuation of an F1 team since the sale of Williams Racing! Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and Michael B. Jordan are part of an investment group that has acquired a 24% stake in BWT Alpine F1 Team for $218 million. This would give BWT Alpine F1 Team an evaluation of just under $1 BILLION! Does this mean we can now confidently say that some F1 teams are worth more than a billion dollars? What does this tell us about the current bid price for parties interested in joining the F1 Grid, is it enough?

Gossip Grid is back to give you a look into the lives of the paddock elite (when it comes to F1 and pop culture)! Nicole catches us up on F1 in pop culture which is basically what Lewis Hamilton did during his week off! BWT Alpine F1 Team driver Pierre Gasly was spotted at a Coldplay concert belting out what song? Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team driver Lewis Hamilton headed to Paris Fashion Week to support Pharrell Williams at his first show as Creative Director of Louis Vuitton Menswear. Zhou Guanyu is a driver for Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake AND a brand ambassador for Dior! Zhou Guanyu supported Dior at Paris Fashion Week from the front row of their show. Blink and you might miss Lewis Hamilton's cameo in Stormzy’s newest music video! Ice T wants to make sure you don’t miss his support for Lewis Hamilton! How did Ice T clear up any confusion on Twitter? Lewis Hamilton hopped on a helicopter so he didn’t miss which performance at Glastonbury?

Even though it is only June, it is time to start talking about F1 Silly Season, as the silliness is obviously brewing! Will we see any announcements from Scuderia Ferrari regarding extensions for their drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr.? Will Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team and Lewis Hamilton announce an extended contract at Silverstone? Oracle Red Bull Racing is definitely causing a lot of the SILLY! Has Nyck de Vries’s fate for the 2024 F1 season already been decided? Will Yuki Tsunoda be called up to replace Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen’s teammate? Will Daniel Ricciardo be returning to the F1 grid with Scuderia AlphaTauri?Briana and Nicole bring you a preview of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix! Briana breaks down the latest Pirelli tire graphic! Will we finally get a qualifying session without rain? This weekend the Red Bull Ring will feature a Spring Race which means a Spring Shootout! Will Max Verstappen top the podium in Spielberg? Will Sergio Perez be able to silence the haters? Can Williams Racing and Alex Albon stay in the points like they did at the Canadian Grand Prix?

Could we see an Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team driver, Fernando Alonso or Lance Stroll on the podium? Will Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team remain in the fight?

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 It’s Always Sunny in Formula 1

01:49 Alpine’s New Investors

20:16 Expanding the F1 Grid

27:51 Gossip Grid: F1 in Pop Culture

32:24 Silly Season is Here

33:42 Carlos Sainz & Charles Leclerc Extension Talk

36:03 Lewis Hamilton’s Contract

36:40 The Red Bull & AlphaTauri Seats

44:57 Briana Pitches the 2023 Red Bull Lineup

47:01 Austrian Grand Prix Preview

52:50 Austrian Grand Prix & Sprint Predictions

59:50 Yellow Sector Notes: One Story From Each Team

"Gridlock: Alpine's New Investors, F1 Team Valuations, and Ryan Reynolds' Marketing Potential"**

* Alpine F1 Team has secured a significant investment from a group led by Hollywood celebrities Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney, and Michael B. Jordan, along with various financial investors.

* This investment values Alpine at approximately $900 million, making it the first time since the sale of Williams that an F1 team's valuation has been publicly disclosed.

* The valuation of Alpine highlights the remarkable growth and financial health of Formula One teams in recent years, with the value of a mid-tier team quadrupling in just three years.

* Ryan Reynolds' involvement in Alpine has sparked discussions about the potential for increased marketing opportunities and fan engagement for the team.

* The episode explores the challenges Alpine faces in improving its marketing and fan base, including a lack of clear identity and a perceived corporate safety approach.

* The hosts discuss the ongoing debate surrounding the expansion of the F1 grid, with the FIA pushing for more teams and the current teams resisting due to concerns about diluting the value of their franchises.

* The episode concludes with a segment called "Gossip Grid," which covers recent fashion-related activities of F1 drivers during Paris Fashion Week, including Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris, and Lewis Hamilton.

**Additional Points:**

* The episode emphasizes the growing importance of marketing and fan engagement in Formula One, with teams seeking new ways to attract and retain fans.

* The valuation of Alpine serves as a benchmark for the financial strength of F1 teams and the potential for future investment opportunities.

* The hosts acknowledge the challenges faced by Alpine in improving its marketing and fan base, suggesting that the team needs to find a way to differentiate itself and create a stronger identity.

* The discussion on grid expansion highlights the complex dynamics between the FIA and the F1 teams, with both sides having valid arguments for their respective positions.

* The "Gossip Grid" segment provides a lighthearted look at the off-track activities of F1 drivers, offering a glimpse into their personal lives and interests.

# Formula One: The Austrian Grand Prix and Silly Season Speculation

## Gossip Grid:

- Nicole Katz and Briana L. Klein discuss various Formula One-related topics, including:
- Ferrari's contract negotiations with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
- Rumors of Lewis Hamilton signing a contract extension with Mercedes at the British Grand Prix.
- The uncertain future of Alex Albon, Yuki Tsunoda, Daniel Ricciardo, and Liam Lawson in the Red Bull and AlphaTauri teams.

## Silly Season Speculation:

- The hosts delve into the ongoing driver movement rumors and potential lineup changes for the 2024 Formula One season.
- They consider the possibility of Yuki Tsunoda moving up to the Red Bull team, Alex Palou joining AlphaTauri, and Daniel Ricciardo returning to Red Bull or taking a seat at AlphaTauri.
- Nicole expresses her desire for a chaotic and entertaining Red Bull lineup featuring Max Verstappen, Yuki Tsunoda, Alex Palou, and Daniel Ricciardo.

## Pirelli Tire Graphic Analysis:

- The hosts analyze the Pirelli tire graphic for the Austrian Grand Prix, noting the increased stress on the rear of the car.
- They predict that this could benefit Mercedes and hinder Ferrari and Aston Martin.
- They also discuss the unique characteristics of the Red Bull Ring circuit, which features a mix of slow, medium, and fast corners, as well as long straights.

## Predictions for the Austrian Grand Prix:

- Nicole and Briana share their predictions for the upcoming race, taking into account the weather forecast, the performance of different teams and drivers, and the circuit layout.
- They express their hope for a dry qualifying session to allow for a proper evaluation of team upgrades.

**Predictions for the Sprint and Grand Prix:**

* **Sprint:**
* Team with the most points: Mercedes
* Last to receive the Goofy Sprint medal (P3): Lewis Hamilton
* Last in the points (P8): Esteban Ocon

* **Grand Prix:**
* P1: Max Verstappen
* P4: Sergio Perez
* P4 (just missing the podium): Fernando Alonso
* P7: Esteban Ocon
* P10 (last in the points): Alex Albon

**Team Scoring Predictions:**

* Most points in the bottom half of the standings: McLaren

**Yellow Sector Notes:**

* Checo Pérez to do a show run in the RB7 through the streets of Madrid on July 15.
* Mercedes hires two prominent engineers from Ferrari's engine division.
* Lance Stroll believes he should be knighted.
* Ferrari had a filming day to test upgrades.
* Esma Noghan went on vacation with Mick Schumacher.
* Oscar Piastri played cricket in Australia with the Sky Sports team.
* Williams to have a special 800th GP livery at Silverstone.
* Jensen Button to do show runs at Silverstone in the 1992 title-winning FW14B.
* Joe and Nicole attended the Berlin Special Olympics.
* Haas to use the Austrian Grand Prix as a test session.
* Yuki Tsunoda added to the list of Red Bull drivers driving at the Red Bull event in Germany in September.

**Question of the Week:**

* What do you want to see Ryan Reynolds do with Alpine?