Mercedes Falters at the Brazil GP | Grid Walk November 9, 2023

Alright so technically the Brazilian Grand Prix was an F1 race weekend…however Grid Walk would much rather focus on the off track activities from São Paulo! But don’t worry Briana and Nicole do talk about the Brazilian Grand Prix. What made Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team so slow in São Paulo? How many days left until Mercedes fans say goodbye to the W14?

Another F1 race weekend means Grid Walk race podiums! Lewis Hamilton once again turned the paddock into a runway. Briana celebrates the second Lewis Hamilton week of the year by ranking all of Lewis’ fits from Brazil. The Brazilian Grand Prix brought F1 fans some emotional radios. Nicole shares her podium of the best quotes from the Brazilian Grand Prix! How did Aston Martin sum up Mercedes’ race? Why is Charles Leclerc “so unlucky?”

After every single F1 race weekend Grid Walk shares polls on Instagram (@gridwalkshow) - make sure you follow to share your vote! Briana and Nicole chat about the results of the polls from the Brazilian Grand Prix. Was Max Verstappen just toying with Lando Norris at the start of the Brazilian Grand Prix? How many DNFs are “too many” DNFs? Has Aston Martin made their comeback or was this a one-off result?

The latest makeup brand to see the potential in motorsports is Anastasia Beverly Hills. It has been announced that Bianca Bustamante is racing at the Macau Grand Prix in Formula 4 and welcoming some new sponsors, including Anastasia Beverly Hills! How does Anastasia Beverly Hills coming in as a sponsor demonstrate the power of the female fanbase in motorsports? Will other makeup companies see the potential of motorsports like Anastasia Beverly Hills, e.l.f., and Tarte cosmetics have already?

Grid Walk is an F1 podcast but the latest collaboration with NASCAR driver & Columbia Sportswear ambassador, Bubba Wallace and Star Wars HAD to be discussed! What special livery and race suit did 23XI have for the NASCAR Cup series finale at Phoenix Raceway? What major Star Wars celebrity appeared in the Columbia Sportswear advertisement with Bubba Wallace? What Star Wars characters were at the Phoenix Raceway?

Grill the Grid Walk Host is back! Is Nicole better at pictionary than F1 drivers? Briana takes some of the prompts from one of F1’s Grill the Grid segments and quizzes Nicole. Will Nicole be able to name the F1 vocabulary based on the F1 drivers’ drawings?

F1 is officially headed to Nevada for the first Las Vegas Grand Prix! There is so much hype around the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Next week’s Grid Walk will be a guaranteed, jam-packed Las Vegas preview! However, U2 is already celebrating the F1 grand prix from the Las Vegas Sphere! How do we get Bono to be a commentator on an F1 race? How were Lewis Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo, Charles Leclerc, and Max Verstappen already welcomed to Las Vegas?

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

03:28 Mercedes is so Draggy

10:05 Lewis Hamilton Fashion of the Brazil GP

15:09 Best Radios of the Brazil GP

19:39 Poll Recap of the Brazil GP

28:42 1989 Cardigan

29:24 Beauty Brands Motorsports Sponsorship Trends

37:12 Star Wars x Bubba Wallace Sponsorship

41:30 Grill the Grid Walk Host: Pictionary

48:34 People’s Sexiest Man Alive Reaction

52:00 Bono & U2 Introduce F1 Drivers

57:05 Yellow Sector Notes

**Mercedes' Struggles:**
- Mercedes' W14 car continues to underperform, with its draggy design hindering its performance.
- Data from the Brazilian Grand Prix highlights the significant time loss in Sector 3, particularly in comparison to faster drivers like Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.
- The team's struggles are evident in their lack of pace, with George Russell finishing 19th in terms of speed at the finish line.

**Lewis Hamilton's Fashion Statements:**
- Hamilton's fashion choices during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend were praised, with his custom-made Senna-inspired outfit being a particular highlight.
- His other outfits, including the soccer tracksuit and the botanical flower fit, also received positive feedback.

**Best Quotes of the Race Weekend:**
- George Russell's "Help me" radio message perfectly encapsulates Mercedes' struggles and the general sentiment of frustration among fans.
- Fernando Alonso's engineer's comment, "Mercedes are dying," reflects the team's poor performance and the growing concerns about their competitiveness.
- Charles Leclerc's "Why am I so unlucky?" radio message sums up his unfortunate season, marked by numerous retirements and setbacks.

**Race Weekend Polls:**
- A poll on Instagram revealed that 100% of respondents believed Max Verstappen was toying with Lando Norris at the start of the race.
- Opinions were divided on whether five or more DNFs in a race is too many, with 44% saying it is and 44% saying there is no such thing.
- 78% of respondents agreed that F1 racing during the NFL window is a personal problem, not a general issue.
- 60% of respondents were unsure if Aston Martin's strong performance was a one-off result or if Mercedes had an off week.
- A tie between "We know he isn't staying in the Red Bull seat" and "Made him look good" emerged in a poll about whether the end of the race excitement helped Sergio Perez's reputation.
- McLaren was the overwhelming favorite in a poll asking who would be the fastest non-Red Bull team at the upcoming Vegas GP.

**Marketing Moments:**
- Anastasia Beverly Hills' sponsorship of Bianca Bustamante marks a significant investment in motorsports by a beauty brand.
- The brand's logo is prominently displayed on Bustamante's race suit and the car livery, demonstrating their commitment to the partnership.
- Star Wars' collaboration with McLaren, featuring a limited-edition helmet and race suit inspired by the iconic Darth Vader character, is another example of successful brand integration in motorsports.

**Grilled and Gridlocked Host:**
- Nicole attempts to guess F1 concepts based on drawings by F1 drivers, adding a fun and interactive element to the podcast.

**Yellow Sector Notes:**
- Each team's noteworthy stories from the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend are briefly discussed.

**Upcoming Episodes:**
- The next episode will be a Vegas GP preview, covering various aspects of the race, including business, sponsorship, viewership, and on-track analysis.
- A bonus mini-episode about the upcoming Brawn documentary series is also planned.

**Anastasia Beverly Hills and Bianca Andreescu:**

* Anastasia Beverly Hills, a makeup brand, is sponsoring Bianca Andreescu, a Canadian tennis player, for a one-off race in November.
* The hosts praise the collaboration, noting the significance of a non-traditional brand recognizing and supporting the motorsports audience.
* They highlight the importance of brands like Anastasia Beverly Hills investing in motorsports, as it indicates that the sport is gaining recognition and support from a broader demographic.

**Elf Cosmetics and Catherine Legge:**

* The hosts also mention Elf Cosmetics' sponsorship of Catherine Legge at the Indy 500, which they consider another example of a successful non-traditional brand partnership in motorsports.
* They commend Elf Cosmetics for maximizing the sponsorship by involving Legge in various activations, such as bringing her into their store and filming additional content.
* The hosts emphasize the significance of the Indy 500 as a major event and the impact of Elf Cosmetics' involvement as a female-focused brand.

**Tarte Cosmetics at the Miami GP:**

* The hosts discuss Tarte Cosmetics' brand trip to the Miami GP, highlighting the investment and recognition that the brand showed by inviting influencers and creating unique experiences for them.
* They note that Tarte Cosmetics' presence at the Miami GP demonstrates the growing interest of non-traditional brands in Formula One and motorsports in general.

**Star Wars and Columbia's Partnership with Bubba Wallace:**

* The hosts express excitement about the collaboration between Star Wars and Columbia, a clothing brand, which resulted in a unique livery and outfit for Bubba Wallace's car and himself at a recent NASCAR race.
* They praise the creative and visually appealing aspects of the partnership, such as the X-Wing-inspired car and Wallace's Star Wars-themed flight suit.
* The hosts also mention the involvement of R2-D2 at the race, which added to the overall excitement.

**Grill the Gridwalk Hosts:**

* The hosts engage in a fun segment where one of them sends frantic texts to the other when Formula One releases Grill the Grid content on YouTube.
* Nicole attempts to guess what different drawings represent, which are related to Formula One phrases.
* The hosts provide commentary and insights on the drawings and the drivers' performances in the challenge.

**Jason Kelce as a Finalist for Sexiest Man Alive:**

* The hosts react to the news that Jason Kelce, an American football player, is a finalist for People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.
* They express surprise and amusement at the news, considering Kelce's lack of awareness about his popularity among female fans.
* The hosts discuss the potential impact of Kelce winning the title and the significance of having a football player on the cover of People magazine.

**U2 and the Las Vegas GP:**

* The hosts mention U2's residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas and Bono's comments about Formula One, comparing it to rock and roll.
* They discuss the possibility of Bono providing commentary during the Las Vegas GP weekend and speculate on which drivers he might introduce in a similar manner to how he introduced his band members.

**Yellow Sector Notes:**

* The hosts provide updates and news from around the Formula One paddock, including contract extensions, partnerships, and upcoming events.
* They highlight the significance of AlphaTauri's partnership with the Japanese franchise Gundam, which is considered a major cultural brand in Japan and globally.
* The hosts also mention Haas's review of the results of the USGP, citing concerns about track limits and the need for equitable enforcement.

### Track Limit Penalties and FIA Hearing

- Track limit penalties were inconsistent during the race, leading to criticism and speculation about the FIA's handling of the situation.
- The FIA held a hearing to address the issue, with teams and drivers presenting their perspectives.
- The outcome of the hearing is yet to be announced, and it remains to be seen if the FIA will acknowledge the inconsistencies and take corrective action.

### Vegas Grand Prix Preview

- The upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix is highly anticipated, and fans are eager to see the race take place on the new street circuit.
- The hosts encourage listeners to share their questions and topics of interest for their preview of the Vegas GP.

### Listener Engagement and Support

- The hosts express their gratitude for listener support, including subscriptions, likes, comments, and reviews.
- They emphasize the importance of these interactions in helping others discover the podcast and appreciate the positive impact it has on their well-being.
- Listeners are encouraged to join the daily grid walks on various social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and threads.

### Airplane Week and Book Reading

- Briana mentions that she needs to catch up on her reading during airplane week.
- The hosts bid farewell to the listeners, expressing their hope that they will join them for the next gridwalk.