Silly Season Headlines & Mid-Season Moments | Grid Walk August 10, 2023

F1 summer shutdown is in full swing! Grid Walk kicks off a little differently this week! Briana receives an important package that sparks an impromptu mail haul! What does one wear to a “black tie optional” event?? (Really, if you know, can you comment lol) You can tell from Nicole’s voice that she is recovering from an exciting weekend at Lollapalooza in Chicago! The weekend was so exciting that Delta canceled her flight so Nicole is not in her usual Grid Walk setting! A canceled flight doesn’t stop Nicole from sharing about the Lana Del Rey and Red Hot Chilli Peppers Grand Prix and all of the F1 fans she got to meet in Chicago!

Tire of Topics is here again to keep all F1 fans informed about the latest headlines of F1 drivers’ silly season! It is only the second week of silly season topics on the tire and Scuderia Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz has been put back on the Pirelli tire! Can Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team just announce a signed contract already?? Is Lando Norris talking to Oracle Red Bull Racing again or is Lando Norris sticking with Mclaren F1 Team? Is Liberty Media pressuring Oracle Red Bull Racing to put “a more competitive driver” in the second Red Bull seat to race against Max Verstappen? What is Alex Albon’s plan for wanting to stay at Williams Racing? How much longer will F1 fans see Max Verstappen at Oracle Red Bull Racing or in Formula 1 in general?

Briana has prepared her Midseason F1 Review Podiums, some of Briana’s favorite moments from the F1 season thus far! Grid Walk loves marketing and business so it is not surprising.

Briana starts with her Favorite F1 Marketing Moments. Did Google Chrome and Mclaren F1 hit it out of the park? What clothing company had a major W with their F1 merchandise? Can we reminisce on the excitement of Celsius Energy Drink and Scuderia Ferrari entering a partnership? Can more makeup companies like Tarte Cosmetics use F1 races for brand trips??

F1 teams have given several jaw dropping Tech Upgrades so far! Briana shares her favorite F1 tech moments that we’ve gotten during the first half of the F1 season. Was Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team’s introduction of the B-Spec car a hopeful moment? Remember all the way back to car launches and the mystery of Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team’s AMR23? F1 fans have to agree that one of the most exciting moments of the season was getting to the floor of Oracle Red Bull Racing’s RB19 at the Monaco Grand Prix!

Even though the paddock is a bit quiet right now Yellow Sector Notes still takes us through the grid (well as much as possible)! Will Mclaren F1 Team let Indy Car Pato O’Ward drive in the free practice rookie session in Mexico? Scuderia Alpha Tauri driver Yuki Tsunoda has dropped merch exclusively in Japan! It is confirmed, Lewis Hamilton’s beloved dog, Roscoe, will make an appearance in the upcoming Brad Pitt F1 movie that Lewis Hamilton is executive producing!

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 Coping with the F1 Summer Break

00:45 Briana Opens Mail03:55 Nicole Went to Lollapalooza

08:47 Tire of Topics: F1 Silly Season Headlines

09:58 Lewis Hamilton's Contract

15:17 Formula 1 Mid Season Review: Marketing Moments

18:47 Silly Season Wishes

19:52 Bring Sebastian Vettel Back

21:45 More Driver Crossovers Please

23:14 Nicole Met F1 Fans at Lollapalooza

26:56 Driver Connections to Red Bull

27:33 Alex Albon Turns Down Red Bull

29:15 Lando Norris Connected to Red Bull Again

33:25 Formula 1 Mid Season Review: Tech Moments

36:52 Max Verstappen Leaving F1?

40:10 More Carlos Sainz Rumors: Audi?

43:47 Yellow Sector Notes

**Gridwalk: F1 Summer Break Shenanigans and Silly Season Speculations**

- Briana and Nicole discuss their summer break activities and fashion choices for a black-tie optional event.

**Silly Season Speculations:**

- The hosts spin the Tire of Topics to select the next topic for discussion.

- **Lewis Hamilton's Contract Extension:**
- Both Hamilton and Toto Wolff have stated that the contract negotiations are ongoing, but there have been no recent updates.
- Briana and Nicole express their anxiety about the delay and speculate about the potential length and terms of the contract.

- **Midseason Review Podiums:**
- Briana presents her top three marketing activations of the season so far:
- Honorable Mention: PacSun's Formula One crop tops
- P3: Google Chrome at the Silverstone GP
- P2: Celsius sponsoring Ferrari for the US races
- P1: Tart doing an influencer brand trip at the Miami GP
- Next week, Nicole will share her midseason review podiums.

- **Wildcard Silly Season Wishes:**
- Briana and Nicole share their hopes and dreams for the upcoming Silly Season:
- Briana wishes for Sebastian Vettel to return to Formula One in some capacity, either as a driver or in an administrative role.
- Nicole would like to see a driver from a different motorsport, such as IndyCar, get a chance to compete in Formula One.

- **F1 Merch in the Wild:**
- Briana shares her encounters with fellow Formula One fans wearing F1 merchandise at Lollapalooza.
- She highlights three interactions:
- P3: A guy rocking the F1 PacSun merch at an Emo Night set.
- P2: Charles Leclerc fan Sarah, who was also wearing the latest Puma x Charles Leclerc collaboration.
- P1: Jamie, a Danny Ricciardo fan wearing a Red Bull Furious Motorsports jersey.

- **Alex Albon's Loyalty to Williams:**
- Briana and Nicole discuss Alex Albon's unwavering support for Williams Racing despite rumors of a potential return to Red Bull as their number two driver.
- They speculate on Albon's reasons for staying with Williams, including his belief in the team and his desire to avoid the turmoil of the Red Bull system.

- **Lando Norris and Alex Albon's Similar Situations:**
- Briana points out the similarities between Albon's situation and Lando Norris's connection to McLaren, his father's former team.
- Both drivers have expressed their commitment to their current teams despite having ties to other teams.

## Lando Norris and the Red Bull Seat:

* Lando Norris has reportedly received multiple offers from Red Bull to join the team when Max Verstappen's contract expires.
* Norris has consistently declined these offers, preferring to remain at McLaren.
* There are indications that Norris may be more open to the move now, potentially setting up a thrilling championship battle between him and Verstappen.
* Liberty Media is reportedly pressuring Red Bull to fill the second seat with a competitive driver, making Norris a prime candidate.

## Tech Moments of the Season:

* P3 Mercedes B-spec car: The anticipation for the reveal of the Mercedes side pods was palpable, and the relief at seeing them finally on track was immense.
* Aston Martin's water slides: The team showcased innovative floor designs during preseason testing, which sparked intrigue and excitement among tech enthusiasts.
* Monaco GP floor pictures: The release of floor pictures after the Monaco GP provided valuable insights into the intricate designs of the cars, leading to a frenzy of analysis and discussion.

## Max Verstappen's Uncertain Future:

* Verstappen has repeatedly expressed his lack of enthusiasm for Formula One, leading to speculation about his potential retirement.
* His dominant position in the sport and long-term contract with Red Bull make his comments intriguing and raise questions about his motivations.
* Some believe Verstappen may be seeking leverage in contract negotiations or desires more freedom to race in other series.

## Carlos Sainz and Ferrari:

* Rumors of a pre-contract agreement between Sainz and Audi have been circulating, causing a stir in the media.
* Sainz's team, Ferrari, has denied these rumors, stating that Sainz is solely focused on negotiating with Ferrari.
* Sainz has expressed frustration with Ferrari's treatment of him as a number two driver despite his strong performances.

## Miscellaneous News:

* Oscar Piastri has released flip-flops, embracing the meme surrounding his Australian slang video.
* Joe Guan Yu visited a Lululemon store in China, showcasing his immense popularity in his home country.
* Alpine's goal to become the "French Ferrari" has been a topic of discussion.
* Roscoe, Lewis Hamilton's dog, will appear in the upcoming F1 movie produced by Hamilton.

The hosts encourage listeners to engage with the podcast by leaving comments, subscribing, and rating and reviewing the episodes. They also invite listeners to share their desired Silly Season headlines on social media.