Was the Formula 1 Qatar GP Chaotic Good or Chaotic Bad? | Grid Walk October 12, 2023

Formula 1 is basically a traveling circus and the Qatar Grand Prix felt like that but on steroids! The entire weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix seemed like the most chaotic F1 race weekend so far! Briana and Nicole talked about everything that happened in Qatar and more on the new episode of Grid Walk!

Oscar Piastri finished P1 in the Sprint Race in Qatar!! Grid Walk has to take a moment to celebrate this awesome weekend for Mclaren F1 Team’s driver Oscar Piastri! Oscar Piastri was the bright spot in the middle of the chaotic race weekend. Briana shares her favorite Oscar Piastri moments from the Qatar Grand Prix weekend!

Almost every F1 driver appeared to be in rough shape after the grueling Qatar GP. Many F1 drivers were taken to the medical team, needed assistance getting out of cars, or were physically sick. Briana and Nicole discuss what should be done to better protect F1 drivers’ safety. Is the Qatar GP safe enough for F1 to continue racing?

There were several moments from the race weekend that just made us go “uhhhh..WTF?” Can you believe this moment at the Qatar Grand Prix solidified Max Verstappen’s Driver Championship? How was the Drivers Championship Trophy NOT ready for when Verstappen secured the championship after the F1 Sprint Race? Verstappen becoming a champion wasn’t a surprise!

The tire chaos of the Qatar GP went to a new level and it wasn’t the usual F1 tire strategy chaos! Pirelli had to put lap limits on the tires for the Qatar Grand Prix. Why did Pirelli have to implement this rule for Qatar? What the heck are “pyramid curbs?”

Briana & Nicole each have a Qatar GP podium dedicated to a different F1 team! Will Nicole ever learn her lesson when it comes to Scuderia Ferrari? Nicole shares the moments from the Qatar Grand Prix weekend that made her question why she ever put her F1 faith in Scuderia Ferrari? Was it possible for Carlos Sainz to have a worse weekend? Briana shares the moments from Qatar that had her wondering if MoneyGram Haas F1 Team was an actual F1 team?

This seems to be becoming a weekly discussion at Grid Walk, was the Qatar GP the last straw for Sergio Perez’s seat with Red Bull Racing? Briana and Nicole try to answer “should” and “will” Red Bull Racing replace Checo Perez! Is it likely that Red Bull Racing is putting off a Checo Perez announcement until after the Mexican Grand Prix!

Hear the results of the Qatar Grand Prix post-race polls answered by Grid Walk followers! Included in those polls is the FIA’s recent announcement about Andretti! Is it just a matter of time before Liberty Media/Formula One Management announce an 11th F1 team or would it be because they were pressured to do so?

Grid Walk heads Into The Wild to discuss the latest saga of Formula 1 and track limit violations! (Special shoutout to F1 Multiviewer for the track limit violations tracker!) Should track violations even be monitored in F1? If so, how can the FIA be better at monitoring track limits?

Previous Track Limits Discussion Referenced

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 F1 in this Local News

03:50 Formation Lap

06:12 Podium: Best Oscar Piastri Moments of the Weekend

11:01 Driver Safety in Formula One

22:24 Podium: What is Formula 1?

28:24 Why Did the Tires Get Limits at the Qatar GP?

37:01 Podium: Nicole Rants About Ferrari

41:58 Checo Has Another Bad Race Weekend

46:39 Race Weekend Poll Results

56:22 Travis Kelce & Lightning McQueen

58:02 Into the Wild: Monitoring Track Limits

01:02:17 Podium: Is Haas Real?

01:03:55 Yellow Sector Notes

**Race Safety Concerns:**

* Multiple drivers experienced severe physical distress post-race, including blackouts, nausea, and vomiting.
* Lance Stroll reported blacking out for 20-25 laps during the race and required assistance exiting his car.
* Lando Norris revealed that over half the grid sought medical attention after the race.
* The FIA announced an investigation into the issue and promised to implement measures to enhance driver safety.

**Oscar Piastri's Breakout Performance:**

* Secured pole position for the sprint shootout, although it was technically not a pole.
* Won the sprint race, marking his first F1 victory.
* Displayed a humorous and engaging online presence, garnering praise from fans and media.

**Pirelli Tire Restrictions:**

* Pirelli imposed lap limits on all tires due to concerns about tire shredding caused by new pyramid curbs on the track.
* The decision aimed to prevent tire explosions and potential accidents during the race.
* Despite the limitations, the race lacked strategic diversity and excitement.

**Max Verstappen's Championship Victory:**

* Verstappen clinched the championship after Sergio Perez crashed out of the sprint race.
* The abrupt and anticlimactic manner of the championship conclusion drew criticism from some fans and pundits.
* Notably, the trophy for Verstappen's championship win was not prepared, leading to confusion and disappointment.

**Track Limit Controversies:**

* Track limits were monitored and enforced throughout the race, resulting in several drivers losing lap times.
* The strict enforcement of track limits generated debate among fans and experts.
* Some argued that the penalties were excessive and hindered the flow of the race.

**Andretti's F1 Bid:**

* F1 teams and personnel shared their initial thoughts on Andretti's bid to join the Formula One grid.
* The FIA's public pressure for an announcement sparked discussions about Andretti's potential acceptance into the Concorde Agreement.
* The inclusion of Andretti in Formula One remains uncertain, with various factors and opinions influencing the decision-making process.

**Yellow Sector Notes:**

* A segment dedicated to highlighting noteworthy stories from each team on the grid.
* This section provides insights into the performances, challenges, and developments within each team.
* It serves as a comprehensive overview of the race weekend from a team-by-team perspective.

**Race Strategy and Tire Management**

- The hosts criticize the FIA's decision to mandate three pit stops during the race, arguing that it led to a lack of strategy and excitement.
- They also discuss the problems caused by the aggressive pyramid-shaped curbs at the Losail International Circuit, which resulted in numerous tire failures.

**Ferrari's Struggles**

- Klein and Katz analyze Ferrari's disappointing performance at the Qatar GP, particularly Carlos Sainz's failure to start the race due to a grid penalty.
- They express their frustration with Ferrari's ongoing struggles and question the team's decision-making.

**Checo's Crash and Red Bull's Future**

- The hosts discuss Sergio Perez's crash during the race and speculate on its impact on his future with Red Bull Racing.
- They consider the possibility of Red Bull replacing Perez with another driver, such as Daniel Ricciardo or Oscar Piastri.

**Gridwalk Polls**

- The hosts share the results of their post-race polls conducted on social media.
- The polls reveal that the majority of fans believe that the FIA needs to improve its methods for determining race conditions and that Oscar Piastri's performance has been impressive.

**Andretti's Bid for an F1 Team**

- Klein and Katz discuss the ongoing saga of Andretti Autosport's attempt to join Formula One as the 11th team.
- They analyze the challenges facing Andretti and the potential impact of their entry on the sport.

**Track Limits and the FIA's Response**

- The hosts praise the FIA for its improved handling of track limits monitoring during the Qatar GP compared to previous races.
- They suggest that the FIA could further improve its efficiency by utilizing advanced technology.

**Grid Walk:**

* The hosts discuss various topics observed during their walk around the Formula One paddock, including:
* Max Verstappen's special world champion helmet design.
* Lewis Hamilton's cryptic Instagram activity hinting at a new venture.
* Mercedes' upcoming new floor for the USGP.
* Astraea's departure from Ferrari as a sponsor and potential move to Aston Martin.
* Lance Stroll's investigation by the FIA for incidents during the previous race.
* McLaren's record-breaking 1.8-second pit stop.
* Alpine's missed opportunity in signing Oscar Piastri.
* Daniel Ricciardo's last race with McLaren for the season and his upcoming music release.
* Williams' USGP merchandise line.
* Valtteri Bottas' collaboration with a coffee brand.
* Haas' announcement of rookie driver FP1 sessions.
* Pirelli's extension as the tire supplier for Formula One until 2027.

**Discussion:**

* The hosts share their thoughts on the craziest part of the race weekend, acknowledging the numerous noteworthy events.
* They emphasize the importance of reviews and interactions with the podcast in helping them and other listeners.
* They invite listeners to join their daily grid walks on social media platforms and express their gratitude for the support.