Japanese Grand Prix Review with Bryson Sullivan (NaturalParadigm) | Grid Walk September 28, 2023

This is a very special episode of Grid Walk as Briana and Nicole welcome their inaugural guest, Bryson Sullivan (NaturalParadigm)! Bryson is an engineer and motorsports enthusiast so Grid Walk is honored to have him join the podiums and recap of the Japanese Grand Prix!

The trio discusses the reality of Oracle Red Bull Racing’s “return” to the top (not that Oracle Red Bull Racing ever really left it). F1 constantly feels like a reality TV show so Briana’s podium of Reality TV Show Moments of the Japanese Grand Prix is incredibly on brand! Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team and BWT Alpine F1 Team calling team orders creates the perfect recipe for great reality television. It seems that the F1 camera crew are fans of The Office?? Nicole shares her Most Memorable Quotes of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend! How did Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen continue his streak of “colorful language?” What are the realistics options for Liam Lawson and a seat in Formula 1?

Did you know that Max Verstappen doesn’t like podcasts??? Well then he’ll miss Grid Walk’s discussion of Oracle Red Bull Racing clinching the Constructors' World Championship at the Japanese Grand Prix! It seems like it is inevitable that Max Verstappen will secure the Drivers’ World Championship at the Sprint Race for the Qatar Grand Prix.

There seems to be drama afoot at Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, we all heard it on the team radio at the Japanese Grand Prix… It’s time the conversation about George Russell leaves the F1 group chat and is part of Grid Walk. Did George Russell forget that he is teammates with 7 time World Champion Lewis Hamilton? If George Russell wants Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team to secure second in the Constructors' World Championship it is time to get real about driving “for the team.”

Nicole delivers a JAM PACKED Gossip Grid, giving you everything you need to know about Formula 1 and pop culture! The Puma x Formula 1 Suzuka collection is a MUST HAVE! Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team’s driver Lewis Hamilton and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver Zhou Guanyu both had awesome collaborations with artists for the Japanese Grand Prix! Did Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc audition to model for Scuderia Ferrari?? Why is Jamie Foxx driving an F1 car in Las Vegas? How can Formula 1 learn from what was once the NO FUN LEAGUE a.k.a the NFL? Taylor Swift broke the internet and basically everything this weekend when she attended Arrowhead Stadium to cheer on Travis Kelce. Somehow the craziest part of this is, the NFL leaning into a female audience?! What does the NFL’s social media and viewership numbers from Sunday show about what happens when a league caters to their female fanbase?

Did Sergio “Checo” Perez solidify losing his Oracle Red Bull Racing seat at the Japanese Grand Prix? Does Oracle Red Bull Racing care about their second seat being competitive to Max Verstappen? Why does Lando Norris feel like the elephant in the room of this conversation?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

04:46 Red Bull Wins it All

07:30 Welcome to the Show Bryson

08:54 Podium of the Race Weekend: Reality TV Show Moments

14:22 George Russell Side Bar

19:09 Podium P1

23:04 Mercedes Driver Drama

29:56 Gossip Grid: F1 Pop Culture

39:06 Podium of the Race Weekend: Best Quotes

42:40 Liam Lawson's Performance

44:41 Who Will Get the Williams Seat?

52:03 Thank You, Bryson!

53:03 Soapbox: Taylor Swift and the NFL

58:09 What F1 Can Learn from the NFL

01:02:31 Pinball Sergio Perez

01:08:23 Yellow Sector Notes

**Gridwalk Episode 36: Wow! Oh my Gosh, for Me, That's Our ESPN Episode.**

- The episode kicks off with a game of "Two Truths and a Lie" related to recent sports news. The answer to the lie is that 7% of the NFL's posts on Sunday were about Taylor Swift, but they accounted for 56% of the engagement, not 30% as originally stated.

- The hosts discuss the NFL's embrace of female fans and fangirls, which Formula One could learn from.

- Bryson Sullivan, a tech enthusiast and engineer, joins the show as a guest for the Japanese GP podium segments.

- Red Bull has wrapped up the Constructors' Championship, making it likely that Max Verstappen will secure the Drivers' Championship soon.

- The dominance of Red Bull's car is unprecedented, leading to speculation that it may be the most dominant car in Formula One history.

- The episode delves into the drama between Sebastian Vettel and Aston Martin, with questions about Vettel's future in Formula One and whether he might retire or pursue other racing opportunities.

- The hosts debate the possibility of Vettel becoming an ambassador for Formula One, given his humanitarian efforts and his embodiment of the sport's values.

- The discussion shifts to the challenges of racing at the Monaco Grand Prix circuit. The hosts consider whether Monaco's place on the calendar is justified, given the lack of overtaking opportunities and the growing popularity of new circuits like Las Vegas and Miami.

- The episode concludes with a brief mention of the upcoming holiday season and a promotion for Coastal Farm and Ranch, a store offering unique gifts and winter gear.

### George Russell's Strategy:

- Briana expresses her disappointment in George Russell's strategic decisions during the Japanese Grand Prix.
- She argues that Russell should have prioritized the team's Constructors' Championship position by allowing his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, to pass him and gain more points.
- Nicole agrees, stating that Russell's focus on his own result may have hindered the team's overall performance.

### Teamwork and Selfishness:

- Briana highlights the inherent selfishness of drivers and the need for them to prioritize the team's success.
- She emphasizes that Russell's decision to prioritize his own race over the team's strategy was detrimental to Mercedes' Constructors' Championship aspirations.

### Lewis Hamilton's Long-Term Strategy:

- Nicole points out that Lewis Hamilton has a long-term contract with Mercedes and that antagonizing the team with selfish behavior is not a wise strategy.
- She believes that Hamilton needs to focus on building a positive relationship with the team and working together to achieve success.

### F1 Collaborations and Fashion:

- The hosts discuss various collaborations between F1 teams and drivers with fashion brands and celebrities.
- They highlight the unique designs and merchandise released by Lewis Hamilton, Joe Guan Yu, and others.
- They also mention the appearance of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc at a fashion show in Milan.

### Lewis Hamilton's Watch Collaboration:

- Briana talks about Lewis Hamilton's collaboration with IWC to design a limited-edition watch.
- She describes the watch's intricate design and its significance to Hamilton's passion for timepieces.
- She mentions that only 44 pieces of the watch were made, reflecting Hamilton's iconic car number.

### Jamie Foxx's F1 Commercial:

- Nicole shares her excitement about seeing Jamie Foxx driving an F1 car in a commercial for Bet MGM.
- She expresses her disappointment in not being able to find the commercial online and encourages listeners to send her the link if they find it.

### Travis Kelce's Mercedes Fandom:

- Briana reveals that Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, is a Mercedes fan.
- She mentions Kelce's attendance at the Miami Grand Prix in 2022 and his interaction with Lewis Hamilton.

### Favorite Quotes from the Japanese Grand Prix:

- The hosts share their favorite quotes from drivers and team members during the Japanese Grand Prix.
- Briana highlights Max Verstappen's colorful response to questions about Red Bull's success, which she describes as "very evocative."
- Nicole chooses Fernando Alonso's comment, "You fed me to the lions," as a powerful expression of his frustration with his team's strategy.
- They also discuss Liam Lawson's post-race radio message, in which he enthusiastically credits his performance to the caffeine he consumed before the race.

### Liam Lawson's Performance and Future Prospects:

- Briana and Nicole analyze Liam Lawson's impressive performance as a substitute driver for AlphaTauri.
- They discuss the challenges he faced, including the short notice and the car's lack of competitiveness.
- They speculate on Lawson's chances of securing a full-time seat in Formula One next year, considering the uncertainty surrounding Yuki Tsunoda's future and the potential for Daniel Ricciardo to move to Red Bull.

### Logan Sargent's Struggles at Williams:

- The hosts express concern about Logan Sargent's performance at Williams, particularly his involvement in several crashes.
- They highlight the financial implications of these crashes for a team operating under a cost cap.
- They suggest that Sargent may be losing his seat to Liam Lawson due to his inability to deliver consistent results and avoid costly mistakes.

### Mick Schumacher's Absence from the Grid:

- Briana expresses her disappointment at Mick Schumacher's absence from the Formula One grid.
- She believes that Schumacher has the talent and potential to succeed in the sport.
- She hopes that he will find a seat in a team that can provide him with the opportunity to showcase his abilities.

### Max Verstappen's Dislike of Podcasts:

- Nicole discusses Max Verstappen's aversion to podcasts and his comment that they make him fall asleep.
- She acknowledges that Verstappen's dominance on the track has led to the popularity of the "Max Verstappen podcast" meme.
- She emphasizes the importance of celebrating Verstappen's achievements while also encouraging him to embrace the podcasting format.

### Oscar Piastri's Social Media Presence:

- Briana praises Oscar Piastri's social media presence, particularly his humorous interactions with his mother.
- She highlights Piastri's ability to engage with fans and create entertaining content.
- She expresses her excitement about Piastri's first podium finish in Formula One.

### Taylor Swift's Impact on the NFL:

- The hosts discuss the recent news of Taylor Swift's appearance at a Kansas City Chiefs game, where she was seen sitting next to Travis Kelce's mother.
- They emphasize the significance of this event in attracting female fans to the NFL, which has traditionally been dominated by male viewership.
- They highlight the potential financial benefits and increased engagement that come with embracing a diverse fan base.

**NFL and Taylor Swift**

* Swift's presence at the game generated 109 million impressions and 8.66 million engagements on social media.
* The NFL's post about Swift received 7% of the total post engagement, highlighting the significant interest in her appearance.
* The Chiefs' blowout victory over the Bears drew 24.3 million viewers, surpassing the viewership of primetime games, largely due to Swift's attendance.
* Red Zone, a program that showcases highlights from multiple games, broke away from a touchdown drive to show Swift cheering in the stands.
* Travis Kelce's jersey sales surged into the top five in the league, and his podcast surpassed most murder podcasts in the rankings.

**Implications for Formula One**

* F1 should take note of the NFL's success in attracting female fans through Swift's appearance.
* Female fans are lucrative, and F1 can benefit financially by marketing to them.
* The NFL's willingness to embrace Swift's fan base sets a positive example for F1.

**CODA and Friendship Bracelets**

* The hosts discuss a previous episode in which they highlighted CODA's use of friendship bracelets as a marketing strategy to target female fans.
* They draw parallels between this example and the NFL's success with Taylor Swift, emphasizing the importance of targeted marketing to specific demographics.

**Emotional Impact of Taylor Swift's Appearance**

* Briana expresses her excitement and disbelief at the NFL's embrace of Taylor Swift and her fan base.
* She appreciates the NFL's recognition of female fans and feels seen as a fan herself.
* The NFL's actions have made Sundays her favorite day of the week, and she hopes to see more integration of football and Swift in the future.

**F1's Potential to Attract Female Fans**

* The hosts emphasize the need for F1 to do more to attract female fans.
* They suggest that F1 could invite Taylor Swift back to CODA or consider inviting her to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show.
* They acknowledge that Swift has turned down the Super Bowl in the past but express hope that she might reconsider in the future.

**Perez's Uncertain Future at Red Bull**

* The hosts discuss Sergio Perez's recent struggles and speculate on his future with Red Bull.
* They believe that Red Bull is likely considering replacing Perez with another driver, given his inconsistent performance.
* They suggest that Red Bull may sign three drivers to evaluate their options before making a decision.
* They anticipate an announcement regarding Perez's future before the start of the next season.

**Potential Driver Moves**

* The hosts speculate on possible driver moves in the upcoming season.
* They mention the possibility of Lando Norris leaving McLaren and joining Red Bull, citing rumors of contract discussions.
* They acknowledge that this scenario is just speculation but find it intriguing.