Singapore Grand Prix Preview & Andretti Rumors Picking Up Steam | Grid Walk September 14, 2023

Things get HEATED on the new episode of Grid Walk and not just because Briana’s AC is currently broken! Briana and Nicole have (almost) recovered from the return of the NFL. Briana shares how the NFL and Formula 1 can learn from each other! This weekend is about to get even crazier because it is an F1 RACE WEEKEND along with the football! (Thank goodness the Eagles play on Thursday.)

Before diving into a bunch of Formula 1 fun, Briana and Nicole take a moment to condemn the recent unacceptable comments made by Helmut Marko. Sergio Perez deserves better.

It is time for the F1 night race, the Singapore Grand Prix! Briana gives you everything you need to know about the track changes made to the Marina Bay Street Circuit. How will this new layout of the Singapore Grand Prix affect the race? Grid Walk also goes over the Pirelli tire graphic! With the 100% rate of safety car at the Singapore Grand Prix will we see every F1 driver start on hard tires and hope for a one stop race?

The battle to avoid an ice bath continues with Grid Walk’s predictions for the Singapore Grand Prix! Have Briana and Nicole been speaking too much because these predictions are getting wild? It is basically a guarantee that the competition will continue to be close after the Singapore Grand Prix. Will Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team end up on the podium with Fernando Alonso? Will Williams Racing driver Alex Albon be able to continue his points streak on the Marina Bay Street Circuit?

Rumor has it, recently rebranded (which is not at all related to this rumor…), Andretti Global will be receiving approval to join the Formula 1 grid from the FIA any day now. This is the perfect opportunity to bring back a Grid Walk favorite, the F1 Ring! The F1 Ring is the best way for the FIA, FOM, Liberty Media, Andretti Global, the 10 F1 Teams (BWT Alpine F1 Team delivering an opposing opinion) to fight it out!

There has been a little bit of a hiatus of Grid Walk’s Formula 1 X pop culture segment, Gossip Grid! Briana and Nicole talk about how the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and WGA (Writers Guild of America) may be affecting Formula 1? What other aspects could have caused the lack of Formula 1 in pop culture? There is some good news, the Gossip Grid hiatus is over! Nicole finally has enough F1 in pop culture to share and it’s a grand return! Nicole’s favorite Twitch streamer named a Sims baby after Max Verstappen??? What is happening during the pit stop of the Brad Pitt F1 movie? What comes in the “Checo Menu” at McDonalds? Mclaren F1 Team’s driver, Lando Norris was spotted wearing a friendship bracelet but what does it say???

Support SAG & THE WGA Strikes: https://www.sagaftrastrike.org/strike-assistance-member-support

https://www.wgacontract2023.org/take-action/stand-with-writers

TWEET NICOLE REFERENCES IN GOSSIP GRID: https://twitter.com/f1trollofficial/status/1697633380551086202

00:00 Welcome to Grid Walk

00:48 NFL Week 1 Reaction

02:15 Things F1 and the NFL Should Learn from Each Other

05:08 Formation Lap

06:36 Helmet Marko Sucks (Again)

09:43 F1 Ring: Andretti Update

22:27 Our Thoughts on the FIA and FOM Continued Dispute

29:43 F1 x Pop Culture

39:20 Gossip Grid

47:53 Singapore GP Preview

54:00 Singapore GP Predictions

58:18 Yellow Sector Notes

**Introduction:**

- Briana Klein and Nicole Katz, the podcast hosts, express their excitement for the new NFL season and share their experiences watching football games.
- They discuss the lack of gossip grids in Formula 1 recently and express their desire for more entertaining content.

**Segment 1: Is the Andretti Bid About to Become Reality?**

- The hosts delve into the ongoing saga surrounding Andretti's bid to join Formula 1 as the 11th team.
- They present a hypothetical F1 ring battle, featuring the FIA, Formula 1 Management, Andretti Global, Alpine, and the other Formula 1 teams, to illustrate the various perspectives and arguments involved.
- They speculate on the political and financial implications of Andretti's potential entry into the sport.

**Segment 2: Why Is There a Pop Culture Drought in Formula 1?**

- The hosts discuss the recent lack of pop culture moments and engaging storylines in Formula 1.
- They highlight the NFL's success in creating lighthearted and social media-friendly content and suggest that Formula 1 could benefit from adopting a similar approach.
- They emphasize the importance of creating relatable and entertaining content to attract a wider audience.

**Segment 3: Singapore Grand Prix Preview**

- The hosts preview the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, focusing on the changes made to the track and the potential impact on the race.
- They analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the top teams and drivers and make predictions for the race outcome.

**Segment 4: Yellow Sector Notes**

- The hosts briefly mention other Formula 1 news and updates that they were unable to cover in detail during the episode.


The hosts, Briana L. Klein and Nicole Katz, acknowledge the ongoing Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America strike and express their support for the striking workers. They emphasize the importance of fair compensation for actors and writers and encourage listeners to learn more about the strike and support striking workers.

Next, the hosts discuss the impact of the strike on F1 media coverage, noting a decrease in celebrity attendance at races and fewer TV shows and movies promoting their projects on the grid. They also mention a recent statement by actor Dak Shepard about the challenges of attending events as an actor during the strike.

The hosts then speculate on other factors that may be contributing to the decline in pop culture interest in F1, including the dominance of Red Bull Racing and the perception that F1 is no longer a new and exciting sport in America. They also discuss the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix and express their hope that it will generate significant celebrity attendance and media coverage.

The conversation then shifts to a segment called "Gossip Grid," where Nicole shares various news and updates from the world of F1 and pop culture. She mentions YouTuber Julian Solomita's recent interest in F1, the filming of the Brad Pitt-主演的 F1 电影, and various branded content initiatives involving F1 drivers.

The hosts also discuss the return of Lando Norris' "Lando.jpg" friendship bracelet and speculate about the meaning of the words written on it. They conclude the segment by expressing their excitement for the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix and making predictions for the race.

In the final segment, the hosts engage in a friendly competition, making predictions for the Singapore Grand Prix. They discuss their choices for the top three finishers, the driver who will finish last, and the team that will score the most points other than Red Bull.

The episode ends with a discussion of various news and updates from the F1 paddock, including the Japanese Grand Prix fan festival, an article about Jogwannu's love of sneakers, the premiere of the AlphaTauri documentary in Venice, Haas' plans for a full upgrade package at the USGP, and Sergio Perez's special helmet for his 250th Grand Prix.

# Key Insights and Perspectives:

- The ongoing Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America strike has significantly impacted F1 media coverage, leading to a decrease in celebrity attendance at races and fewer TV shows and movies promoting their projects on the grid.
- The dominance of Red Bull Racing and the perception that F1 is no longer a new and exciting sport in America may also be contributing to the decline in pop culture interest in F1.
- The upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix is expected to generate significant celebrity attendance and media coverage, potentially revitalizing pop culture interest in F1.
- The hosts express their support for striking actors and writers and emphasize the importance of fair compensation for creative workers.

# Important Quotes and Statements:

- "We are both very pro-union, pro-strike. Please pay your actors and writers fairly. Give them what they want." - Briana L. Klein

- "I think we're getting a little bit of a glimpse of the, in the European heartland of F1, like, if there was no press going on, what actors would actually show up to a random race? The answer is Steve Carell." - Nicole Katz

- "I really hope it's settled by Vegas, because I want to know every bit of promotion. I want to know what movie. There has to have been months of planning of people going to this race, and I'm sure it's gonna be an unbelievably celebrity-studded event." - Briana L. Klein

- "I have scoured the internet in every way possible to give a well-developed gossip grid because we deserve one after this drought." - Nicole Katz

**Gridwalk: The Formula One Podcast**

**Lewis Hamilton Interview:**

* Lewis Hamilton gave an extensive interview to GQ Italy during the Italian Grand Prix.
* He shared his thoughts on various topics, including his racing career and his passion for fashion.

**Charles Leclerc and the Rock Band:**

* Charles Leclerc introduced a rock band to the crowd at an event.
* The hosts express their appreciation for the wholesome and endearing nature of the moment.

**Alpine's Event:**

* Alpine held a three-day event, but the hosts were unable to determine the exact purpose of the event.
* They request listeners to provide more information about the event.

**F1 in Schools:**

* F1 in Schools announced a record number of entries for the current year.

**Red Bull's Giveaway:**

* Red Bull is offering a "Daniel Riccardo Road Trip Giveaway" to their paddock club members.

**F1 Celebratory Merch:**

* F1 is selling celebratory merchandise for Max Verstappen's record of 10 consecutive wins.
* The hosts criticize the design of the merchandise, particularly the lack of consideration for women's fashion.

**Rookie FP1:**

* Frederick Vesey will be driving in the Rookie FP1 session for Mercedes in Mexico.

**McLaren's Digital Ad Screens:**

* McLaren plans to integrate digital ad screens into their car, following the trend set by Alfa Romeo.