**Podcast Transcript Summary: Formula One's Imola Grand Prix Cancellation**
**Key Points:**
* The Imola Grand Prix in Italy has been canceled due to severe flooding in the region. * Formula One (F1) and local authorities made the decision to cancel the race, prioritizing the safety of fans, teams, and personnel. * The cancellation is a significant disappointment for F1 fans, especially considering the anticipation for the race and the new qualifying tire rules that were set to be implemented. * The decision to cancel the race early is being praised as the correct call, avoiding a situation similar to the controversial Spa race in 2021 where F1 was accused of prioritizing profit over fan and safety concerns. * The flooding in the region has caused significant damage and displacement of people, with the local government calling for the cancellation of the race. * Practical considerations, such as the flooded paddock and lack of medical facilities, made it impossible to hold the race safely. * The new qualifying format, which mandated the use of specific tire compounds in each session, was intended to spice up the racing and encourage different strategies. * The rule changes also included a reduction in the number of tire sets available to teams, potentially impacting race strategies. * The cancellation of the Imola Grand Prix is a reminder of the unpredictable nature of F1 and the importance of prioritizing safety and the well-being of those involved in the sport.
**Overall Message:**
The cancellation of the Imola Grand Prix is a difficult but necessary decision that prioritizes the safety and well-being of everyone involved in Formula One. While it is disappointing for fans, the cancellation underscores the importance of responsible decision-making in the face of natural disasters and the need for flexibility and adaptability in the sport. # Missed Apex Podcast: Imola GP Cancellation Analysis
## Introduction
In this episode of the Missed Apex Podcast, hosts Spanners and Kyle delve into the reasons behind the cancellation of the Imola Grand Prix, exploring the implications and controversies surrounding this decision. They also discuss the potential impact on Mercedes' upgrade package, the upcoming race calendar, and the future of street circuits in Formula 1.
## Cancellation of Imola GP
The cancellation of the Imola GP due to safety concerns raised by the FIA has sparked discussions about the role of random elements in sports and the desire to see professional athletes perform at their best. The hosts emphasize the importance of stability and predictability in Formula 1, arguing that fans prefer to witness the skills of drivers rather than relying on unpredictable factors.
## Mercedes Upgrade Package
Mercedes' highly anticipated upgrade package, which was expected to be unveiled at Imola, has now been delayed due to the cancellation. The hosts speculate on the potential impact of this delay, considering the limited time available for testing and validation before the next race in Monaco. They also discuss the challenges Mercedes faces in assessing the effectiveness of their upgrades without proper track data.
## Upcoming Race Calendar
The hosts express their excitement for the upcoming race calendar, which features a mix of classic and modern circuits. They highlight the potential for great races at tracks like Barcelona, Canada, Red Bull Ring, Silverstone, Hungaroring, Spa, Zandvoort, Monza, Singapore, and Suzuka. They also criticize the current trend of having too many street circuits at the start of the season, arguing that it diminishes the quality of racing.
## Future of Street Circuits in Formula 1
The hosts debate the role of street circuits in Formula 1, acknowledging their glamour and spectacle but also pointing out their limitations in terms of overtaking opportunities and safety concerns. They suggest a more balanced approach, with street circuits scattered throughout the calendar rather than concentrated at the beginning.
## Conclusion
The Missed Apex Podcast provides an insightful analysis of the Imola GP cancellation, exploring the implications for Mercedes, the upcoming race calendar, and the future of street circuits in Formula 1. The hosts engage in a lively discussion, offering their perspectives and inviting listeners to join the conversation through the Mailbag Show and live call-ins.
Raw Transcript with Timestamps
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[00:39.400 -> 00:42.400] Right now, PrizePix will match your first deposit [00:42.400 -> 00:44.320] up to $100. [00:44.320 -> 00:49.480] Just visit prizepix.com slash get100 and use code get100. [00:49.480 -> 00:57.120] That's code get100 at prizepix.com slash get100 for a first deposit matchup to $100. [00:57.120 -> 01:03.720] PrizePix, daily fantasy sports made easy. [01:03.720 -> 01:11.120] You are listening to Miss apex podcast we live at one [01:18.960 -> 01:24.360] well welcome to miss apex podcast not the circumstances under which we would [01:24.360 -> 01:25.440] want to be talking to [01:25.440 -> 01:29.760] you, but we thought we'd just jump on and do a quick reaction to the news that the Imola [01:29.760 -> 01:34.680] Grand Prix is cancelled. It goes without saying that the images we've seen of the surrounding [01:34.680 -> 01:40.280] area look devastating and our sympathies are with the area and we hope that that situation [01:40.280 -> 01:45.920] can be resolved as safely and as quickly as nature and the local services can [01:45.920 -> 01:50.040] allow. We've got Kyle Power just jumping in and joining me. As we've watched the [01:50.040 -> 01:55.760] stories unfold, it's never nice to see towns, residential areas like that just [01:55.760 -> 01:59.920] covered in water and you know the water of that volume is just [01:59.920 -> 02:07.440] can be so devastating. Oh absolutely, it's horrible to see. It's slightly oddly sort of a close to home for me [02:07.440 -> 02:09.480] because I live in a town that floods regularly anyway. [02:09.480 -> 02:13.560] And we had a load of flooding last month and it was scary. [02:13.560 -> 02:14.680] Lucky it didn't reach my house, [02:14.680 -> 02:17.200] but having recently become a homeowner [02:17.200 -> 02:18.040] and seeing all that, [02:18.040 -> 02:20.440] you know, it's people's lives being washed away, [02:20.440 -> 02:21.300] their property. [02:21.300 -> 02:23.280] And yeah, I believe from the region already, [02:23.280 -> 02:28.280] there's been like three people confirmed dead and like 5,000 people evacuated from the area. [02:28.280 -> 02:29.840] So this is serious and it's horrible to see. [02:29.840 -> 02:34.040] So obviously thoughts with everyone around there, but yeah, I haven't been on the [02:34.040 -> 02:37.560] show for a while and it's unfortunate I come back on in these circumstances. [02:37.560 -> 02:37.760] Yeah. [02:37.760 -> 02:38.640] And, um, yeah. [02:38.800 -> 02:43.480] And, and it feels kind of, you know, minor and trivial to start going, oh, well, I, [02:43.960 -> 02:46.720] I didn't get to see the F1 race car race [02:46.720 -> 02:47.560] that I wanted to see. [02:47.560 -> 02:49.360] But obviously we are an F1 outlet [02:49.360 -> 02:50.880] and that's what we're talking about. [02:50.880 -> 02:52.760] And I think as an F1 fan, [02:52.760 -> 02:55.960] not withstanding the fact that bad things do happen [02:55.960 -> 02:59.400] in the world, I think it is okay to be disappointed [02:59.400 -> 03:01.440] that we don't get our F1 race as well. [03:01.440 -> 03:04.920] I don't think the two things there are mutually exclusive. [03:04.920 -> 03:05.520] There was a race that was looking to kind of almost rescue the F1 race as well. I don't think the two things there are mutually exclusive. There [03:05.520 -> 03:10.000] was a race that was looking to kind of almost rescue the F1 season a little bit because [03:10.000 -> 03:16.800] you know, Baku was a dud. I personally enjoyed the Miami Grand Prix, but really from a commercial [03:16.800 -> 03:21.480] point of view, I think F1 was kind of struggling a little bit and it needed a win. [03:21.480 -> 03:25.280] Yes, it was. Oddly, I don't think Imola was a circuit to give it that win, [03:25.280 -> 03:30.160] because it has actually, well, quite ironically, been saved by inclement weather the last couple [03:30.160 -> 03:34.400] of years. But F1 were going to try a couple of new things this weekend to try to spice it up a bit. [03:34.400 -> 03:39.760] So we had the new quali tyre rules, which is where they had to, yeah, they're enforcing using the [03:39.760 -> 03:45.120] hard in Q3, the medium in Q2, and the in Q3 and have also changed the allocation around a little [03:45.120 -> 03:50.480] bit. So rather than 13 sets of tires they're getting 11. So that would have been quite [03:50.480 -> 03:55.280] interesting. Of course we had the Mercedes upgrades, the dangfangled upgrades that we didn't [03:55.280 -> 03:58.560] know if it was going to be good or not. So everyone's just intrigued to see the car. So of [03:58.560 -> 04:03.760] course from a very selfish fan point of view of course it's absolutely gutting. But on the other [04:03.760 -> 04:06.560] hand, on the other hand, even like, [04:06.560 -> 04:08.600] it would have been disappointing if Formula One [04:08.600 -> 04:11.720] would have tried to, rather nefariously, [04:11.720 -> 04:15.120] plow on with their plans to try to get people [04:15.120 -> 04:17.800] into the region and try to get some sort of a race happening [04:17.800 -> 04:18.760] behind a safety car, [04:18.760 -> 04:20.360] just so they didn't have to give a refund. [04:20.360 -> 04:22.760] So I think it would have been more disappointed [04:22.760 -> 04:24.920] in the sport if that would have happened, [04:24.920 -> 04:28.720] than them making the correct call that came rather surprisingly actually. [04:28.720 -> 04:32.480] Very early, yeah. I think that was the correct call and I do want to go into [04:32.480 -> 04:37.200] the Merc upgrades and what they were trying to achieve from the qualifying, but let's start off [04:37.200 -> 04:42.800] with what Formula One themselves said. And like you say, you and I, specifically out of the [04:42.800 -> 04:45.280] Missed Apex crew, were very surprised that this [04:45.280 -> 04:50.880] call got made early. So Formula One sends its thoughts to the people and communities affected [04:50.880 -> 04:56.960] by the recent events in the Emilia-Romagna region. We also want to pay tribute to the work of the [04:56.960 -> 05:01.680] emergency services, and that'll be key, I think, in our conversations of why the race didn't go [05:01.680 -> 05:06.640] ahead. Following discussions between, and I think this is key, the president of the FIA, [05:06.640 -> 05:09.560] so that is Stefano Domenicali, [05:09.560 -> 05:12.940] competent authorities, including the relevant ministers, [05:12.940 -> 05:14.300] so the government is there, [05:14.300 -> 05:16.440] president of the Automobile Club of Italy, [05:16.440 -> 05:18.680] the president of the region, the mayor of the city, [05:18.680 -> 05:20.600] and the promoter of the track, [05:20.600 -> 05:22.600] the decision was taken that it's not possible [05:22.600 -> 05:31.840] to safely hold the event for our fans, teams, and personnel And I think this is probably the key thing, it's not the responsible thing to [05:31.840 -> 05:35.600] do given the situation faced by the towns and cities in the region. It wouldn't be right to [05:35.600 -> 05:40.640] put further pressure on the local authorities and emergency services at this difficult time. [05:40.640 -> 05:50.720] But the reason we were surprised Kyle, because we were chatting and before the decision was made, I think we both thought that they would kind of go down the Spar 2021 [05:50.720 -> 05:55.160] model where they would do everything they could to avoid the refund. So we've seen it [05:55.160 -> 06:00.480] in, we saw it in Australia, they let the fans get to the ground in 2020, when I think it [06:00.480 -> 06:05.120] was becoming increasingly clear that COVID was about to sweep through the world. [06:05.120 -> 06:11.840] And then in Spa, I think you and I were particularly upset at that. And the reason I was upset at Spa [06:11.840 -> 06:17.200] was because at the time, I felt like it was an earnest effort to get the race going, [06:17.200 -> 06:19.920] but then post-race, and it might've been you that turned me bitter, [06:20.960 -> 06:25.880] it looked like everything was designed to do the minimum possible to not do a refund. [06:25.880 -> 06:30.680] And obviously that's a bit of a spurious accusation, but I wasn't expecting this call. [06:30.680 -> 06:32.920] It's the right call and I'm glad it came. [06:32.920 -> 06:33.920] Yeah, absolutely. [06:33.920 -> 06:35.160] I completely agree. [06:35.160 -> 06:38.520] And like you said, we were chatting earlier about, well, they're probably going to do [06:38.520 -> 06:41.200] exactly what they tried to do in Spa. [06:41.200 -> 06:42.200] Australia was slightly different. [06:42.200 -> 06:48.000] It was a pandemic, but again, they had so much time to intervene and it was pretty obvious what was going to happen there. [06:48.000 -> 06:49.000] So they didn't do it. [06:49.000 -> 06:51.440] And yeah, Spa was a little bit disgraceful, really. [06:51.440 -> 06:55.160] I feel sorry for the fans standing there all day in the rain, because look at the conditions. [06:55.160 -> 07:01.040] I, yeah, post looking back on it, I don't think they really ever deeply, truly thought [07:01.040 -> 07:02.600] that they could start the race. [07:02.600 -> 07:07.440] Obviously we can't prove that, but like, okay, put it this way. [07:07.440 -> 07:12.520] If after two laps or whatever it was under the safety car, that just so happened to meet [07:12.520 -> 07:14.440] the minimum requirement. [07:14.440 -> 07:19.120] So the minimum requirement is at least one practice session, and that can be quali, and [07:19.120 -> 07:24.120] then at least, I think, two or three laps, and that can be under the safety car, but [07:24.120 -> 07:25.480] that counts. [07:25.480 -> 07:30.480] So even though they technically did do the minimum, they could have turned around and [07:30.480 -> 07:34.840] said, hey, actually, the fans turned up on a Sunday and didn't see any action. [07:34.840 -> 07:37.900] So Sunday portion of your ticket is refunded. [07:37.900 -> 07:41.080] So if it was about kind of the spirit of it, they could have turned around and did that. [07:41.080 -> 07:44.800] But I think they quietly went, nope, technically we're okay. [07:44.800 -> 07:49.840] So you don't get any refunds. And I did wonder if it was going to go down that route this weekend [07:49.840 -> 07:55.360] because they could have kept saying, oh well, we'll cancel Friday, no practice needed, [07:55.360 -> 08:00.480] after all sprint races only have one practice, we'll cancel Saturday and then have qualifying [08:00.480 -> 08:05.640] and the race on Sunday. So they could have held out all the way until Sunday. And I think that was the worry [08:05.640 -> 08:08.220] that there wouldn't be any clarity. [08:08.220 -> 08:09.320] Yes, exactly that. [08:09.320 -> 08:10.400] And they have done that before. [08:10.400 -> 08:12.600] I can't remember these specific years, [08:12.600 -> 08:15.700] but they've done qualifying on race day morning. [08:15.700 -> 08:17.560] I think they did it in 2004. [08:17.560 -> 08:19.320] They've done it in 2011. [08:19.320 -> 08:21.000] I think various races, [08:21.000 -> 08:22.660] the Japanese Grand Prix a couple of times, [08:22.660 -> 08:24.960] and they've had their hands sort of like forced [08:24.960 -> 08:27.240] to do it on a Sunday. [08:27.240 -> 08:32.100] And yeah, I was fully expecting, and after the Spa debacle, like, if they had then turned [08:32.100 -> 08:35.880] around and just gone, yep, okay, here's a full refund, you didn't get any racing, I [08:35.880 -> 08:39.600] don't think we'd be having these thoughts now. [08:39.600 -> 08:43.920] And I wouldn't have been suspecting them of plotting to do the same thing this time either. [08:43.920 -> 08:47.520] I mean, I think in most people's minds, like, the sort of Formula One management, [08:47.520 -> 08:52.880] sort of the confidence in it is probably at an all-time low amongst fans anyway. But, [08:53.760 -> 08:57.920] yeah, so it's kind of sad that... well, it's not really sad, but we just instantly thought, [08:57.920 -> 09:01.280] like, okay, they're going to try to play this and they're going to try and wriggle out of it. But [09:01.840 -> 09:07.640] again, to use the phrase again, their hands have been forced this time and it's a bit different. It's like a natural disaster, you could say, [09:07.640 -> 09:12.480] which is going on in the region. And just, if you look at the practicalities of it, the [09:12.480 -> 09:16.960] actual getting the cars on the track, on the Waterlogged track, is the tiniest bit of it. [09:16.960 -> 09:19.520] That was the bit which probably was going to pose the least problem. [09:19.520 -> 09:24.120] Yeah. So if you, if you look at the track conditions, actually, like say today, even [09:24.120 -> 09:29.400] though the inside and the media areas and the F2 area was flooded, the track actually looks okay. [09:29.400 -> 09:30.920] You could race on that track. [09:30.920 -> 09:32.000] Yeah, yeah. [09:32.000 -> 09:34.400] But say it stopped raining today. [09:34.400 -> 09:37.240] I mean, I believe the rain's supposed to die down tomorrow, but then it's supposed to rain [09:37.240 -> 09:39.840] on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday again. [09:39.840 -> 09:44.300] Even if it stopped raining like now, the drainage in the area is completely overwhelmed. [09:44.300 -> 09:48.480] So even if it is just spitting and you get one puddle form, there is nowhere for the water to go, so they [09:48.480 -> 09:52.720] can't. They just couldn't run it. It would be constant red flags and safety cars anyway. But [09:52.720 -> 09:57.040] the main aspect of it is, you know, like it's already been mentioned in the statement, [09:57.040 -> 10:00.960] everything the local authorities are probably overrun. You've got the local towns which are [10:00.960 -> 10:05.120] a bit trashed and people being evacuated from, they have to host the, [10:05.120 -> 10:09.200] not just the teams and all of the support staff of Formula One, but the thousands and [10:09.200 -> 10:13.440] thousands of fans going to be defending, sending them onto the region. [10:13.440 -> 10:14.440] Yeah. [10:14.440 -> 10:15.920] And they just can't, they're already at strain. [10:15.920 -> 10:22.280] And the Italian deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, actually sort of like called out [10:22.280 -> 10:25.200] Formula One, well not called out, he sort of said it should be cancelled. [10:25.200 -> 10:29.700] And then once you've got the Deputy Prime Minister of the country saying the event should be cancelled, [10:29.700 -> 10:32.900] I think Formula One, I think that kind of played Formula One's hand for them there. [10:32.900 -> 10:37.300] Yeah, so as much as like, okay, I want this to be Formula One doing the right thing. [10:37.300 -> 10:37.900] I want that. [10:37.900 -> 10:46.040] But like you say, and I'll be honest, yeah, my trust in Formula One in general, in the authorities, isn't where I would like [10:46.040 -> 10:54.320] it to be. Just because I feel a bit jaded by a few things in the last couple of years. [10:54.320 -> 11:00.560] And I don't necessarily think that there's an honest communication with the fan base. [11:00.560 -> 11:05.600] I think it is what suits, and it is a business business and I'm grown up about that kind of thing. [11:11.600 -> 11:16.960] To make the decision to cancel a race and just go, oh bad, it's not happening, here's your money back, is a difficult thing to do. I would like to believe that they did do that. If you put on an event and [11:16.960 -> 11:21.360] then you're not able to put on the event, I always feel like that risk is on the organiser. That's [11:21.360 -> 11:25.200] not on people like you and me who are buying a ticket. So [11:25.200 -> 11:28.880] whilst I want to think that they just turned around and said, hey, let's make sure no one [11:28.880 -> 11:33.360] travels here. Let's make sure no one incurs any expenses apart from all the journalists, [11:33.360 -> 11:39.000] sorry journalists. The Twitter newsfeed is just full of people going, well, I just landed, [11:39.000 -> 11:46.000] off I go. Uncle Joe, I think, drove 400 kilometres. Joe Saywood drove 400 kilometers and he just goes, [11:46.000 -> 11:53.680] oh well, nothing to do, back we go. But you know, they've saved fans setting off and going and [11:53.680 -> 11:57.920] doing that. So whilst I'd like to think that that's them doing the right thing, it's also [11:57.920 -> 12:02.720] very obvious that there was significant government pressure. And this is very different to Spa, [12:02.720 -> 12:05.200] where it was just the fact that the [12:05.200 -> 12:10.480] racing conditions happened to not exist for racing. Here, you could technically possibly [12:10.480 -> 12:16.080] have the racing conditions if it stopped raining or was only light rain on Saturday and Sunday. [12:16.720 -> 12:21.680] But the whole area is basically, we're talking like natural disaster. Well, it is a natural [12:21.680 -> 12:28.160] disaster, isn't it, in the area? Absolutely. Yeah. And so even if they wanted to, and they ignored all the political pressure [12:28.160 -> 12:31.840] and everything to do it, I don't think they physically could do it. But it is nice to [12:31.840 -> 12:35.680] see them do it so early and actually, you know, let's get real. Like, you know, there's [12:35.680 -> 12:40.880] people's lives being completely devastated here and around the whole region. And yeah, [12:40.880 -> 12:44.480] I'd like to think that you've sort of seen this. This is kind of like a kind of a first [12:44.480 -> 12:45.200] for Formula One. [12:45.200 -> 12:46.360] They kind of look around and think, [12:46.360 -> 12:47.520] this would not be right, would it? [12:47.520 -> 12:50.320] Like there is a moral line here, like, no, but- [12:50.320 -> 12:53.200] We'd like to think that's the main reason. [12:53.200 -> 12:55.140] Missiles, fine. [12:56.280 -> 12:59.400] Flood water, obviously, you know, not so good. [12:59.400 -> 13:00.680] Yeah, obviously like forgive us [13:00.680 -> 13:03.240] if we're making kind of a jest of it. [13:03.240 -> 13:05.600] That's, I personally can't help it. I think [13:05.600 -> 13:12.800] it's a psychological problem I have. But also, yeah, it's the fan in me, even in the Australian [13:12.800 -> 13:16.960] Grand Prix in the lead up, I was screaming wrongly, this is why I'm not in charge of [13:16.960 -> 13:21.600] F1, to just get the cars on track, just get the cars going, it'll be fine. And I was like, [13:21.600 -> 13:29.040] I think I even argued at the time, I was like, well, the people that are there, they've already got it. So, you know, I don't see what use [13:29.040 -> 13:34.600] is going to be. No, that's obviously stupid. But I'm itching to have the cars on track [13:34.600 -> 13:40.040] and especially after the last two races we've had, especially with Monaco coming up. I mean, [13:40.040 -> 13:46.560] if you want a triple header to quote unquote, save Formula One, Imola, Monaco, Barcelona, [13:46.560 -> 13:51.960] all great and historic tracks in their own right, but none of them likely without rain [13:51.960 -> 13:54.800] to set the world of F1 on fire. [13:54.800 -> 14:00.320] So yes, I reserve the right to be deeply disappointed that there's no F1 action. [14:00.320 -> 14:02.360] But yeah, the track itself was fine. [14:02.360 -> 14:10.440] But once I think today the picture started coming out of the actual flooded areas and the difference in the river levels, like you say, that's [14:10.440 -> 14:13.760] when you realize the water table is just saturated. [14:13.760 -> 14:19.880] And that is, tinderbox is the wrong word because it's water, but it's a tinderbox of conditions [14:19.880 -> 14:22.680] because it won't take a lot for that to then get flooded. [14:22.680 -> 14:26.160] And apparently the way it works there is obviously [14:26.160 -> 14:28.520] there's tributaries from the mountains [14:28.520 -> 14:30.860] and all those tributaries, [14:30.860 -> 14:32.860] all the rivers that feed into that river [14:34.200 -> 14:36.400] are also flooding further up the chain. [14:36.400 -> 14:37.860] So over the course of the weekend, [14:37.860 -> 14:40.020] you're gonna get all that flood water coming down. [14:40.020 -> 14:44.120] So yeah, overall, everything seemed against it, [14:44.120 -> 14:45.960] yet none of us had faith that they would [14:45.960 -> 14:48.520] do the right thing, but thankfully they have. [14:48.520 -> 14:52.720] And yeah, I'm not going to be ashamed to say that I was surprised when I saw the statement. [14:52.720 -> 14:54.760] I was pleasantly surprised that it's been cancelled. [14:54.760 -> 14:59.320] It's the only time I think I'd be happy a race is cancelled to see it, but as I know [14:59.320 -> 15:00.320] you've done the right thing. [15:00.320 -> 15:01.320] And yeah, I was quite amazed. [15:01.320 -> 15:05.280] But even if they wanted to plow through, if you look at the actual practicalities [15:05.280 -> 15:07.440] of it, it's not possible. [15:07.720 -> 15:10.280] Like, so the teams aren't even set up, the paddocks underwater. [15:10.840 -> 15:13.360] They've all been evacuated out of the area. [15:13.520 -> 15:16.600] You know, this is putting aside the moral and the human issues sort of here. [15:16.920 -> 15:20.680] You've got marshals, you've got support staff, you've got medical staff. [15:20.720 -> 15:22.080] You don't just need a medical helicopter. [15:22.080 -> 15:24.560] You need road routes to hospitals around as well. [15:24.560 -> 15:25.320] So if the roads are flooded, that can't happen. You don't just need a medical helicopter, you need road routes to hospitals round as well. [15:25.320 -> 15:26.920] So if the roads are flooded, that can't happen. [15:26.920 -> 15:30.200] You've got the, like I said, the water level is going to be super high. [15:30.200 -> 15:33.040] So even if there is some sprinkling of rain, that's got no drainage to go. [15:33.040 -> 15:36.120] You get a car go off into the grass, that's going to be a quagmire. [15:36.120 -> 15:38.960] You're not going to get out, it's going to drag loads of mud on the circuit. [15:38.960 -> 15:42.640] So even if they did manage to get a car out on track, one person goes off, that's going [15:42.640 -> 15:50.000] to be a long-term sort of red flag and mud everywhere. You've got all of the medical staff, all of the press, you just can't accommodate [15:50.000 -> 15:54.400] that amount of people and the local towns and hotels. There's just, you know, and besides from [15:55.680 -> 15:59.680] the disaster that's happening, this is a massive economical hit for the region as well, because [15:59.680 -> 16:03.600] they're probably wanting all of this tourism. There's lots of private local restaurant owners, [16:03.600 -> 16:08.240] hoteliers, who are probably, you know, they've got bigger fish to fry at the moment, [16:08.240 -> 16:11.360] but when it all dies down, they've had a big hit in their forecast, [16:11.360 -> 16:13.000] sort of projected sort of earnings. [16:13.240 -> 16:16.560] And if you think, so I don't think it's even possible to run a race. [16:16.560 -> 16:18.280] If you think, and yeah, the fans lose. [16:18.800 -> 16:22.240] Everyone sort of loses, but that's the sort of insignificant story [16:22.240 -> 16:23.240] on the bigger picture, really. [16:23.240 -> 16:26.040] But as a fan, yeah, I'm gutted. [16:26.040 -> 16:29.080] And thing is, with a decision like this, [16:29.080 -> 16:30.560] we're sort of defending it, [16:30.560 -> 16:32.660] but we don't need to defend it from anyone [16:32.660 -> 16:35.080] because you look on social media, [16:35.080 -> 16:39.400] on Twitter, Facebook, even Reddit, [16:39.400 -> 16:41.280] everyone is saying like, [16:41.280 -> 16:43.700] no, this is absolutely the right decision, [16:43.700 -> 16:44.560] take it on the chin. [16:44.560 -> 16:50.440] So we're not going to pack up and leave people without content on Sunday we are doing a listener [16:50.440 -> 16:56.760] mailbag so you can email us feedback at missapex.net with a question or a comment and that will [16:56.760 -> 17:02.200] be discussed amongst our race panel which is Alex Van Jeen, Matt Two Rumpits and Christian [17:02.200 -> 17:08.320] Pedersen. So before you go Kyle because I know you've got a lovely dinner bubbling away, I've got [17:08.320 -> 17:11.040] two questions for you. [17:11.040 -> 17:12.320] What was that qualifying format? [17:12.320 -> 17:16.000] Because somehow that had passed me by. [17:16.000 -> 17:18.680] And also, what was it trying to achieve? [17:18.680 -> 17:20.360] What effect would it have had? [17:20.360 -> 17:21.360] Right. [17:21.360 -> 17:26.320] So basically, they're putting, you could could argue draconian sort of tire rule measures [17:26.320 -> 17:30.720] onto the qualifying format to try to spice the racing up a little bit. [17:30.720 -> 17:32.560] So they're going to limit the teams. [17:32.560 -> 17:37.880] Now, my understanding of this is that they basically stipulate which compound [17:37.880 -> 17:42.560] you have to use per qualifying session, but not how many of that compound, [17:42.600 -> 17:43.240] I don't believe. [17:43.240 -> 17:48.600] So their aim was to, one, I think it was being flown under the banner of, [17:48.600 -> 17:51.900] oh, it's making it more economical and reducing the tire sets, which is, [17:51.900 -> 17:56.000] yeah, I don't really, that doesn't really wash much, but they're trying to [17:56.000 -> 17:56.800] spice the show up. [17:56.800 -> 18:01.000] So basically reducing from 13 sets to 11 sets of tires, but stipulating [18:01.000 -> 18:02.200] what you can use in each session. [18:02.200 -> 18:07.560] So in Q3, everyone has to use the hard tire and they have one more set of hard tyres than they usually would. [18:07.560 -> 18:08.560] Wait, wait, do you mean Q1? [18:08.560 -> 18:09.560] You only get two. [18:09.560 -> 18:11.560] Q1, the first qualifying session. [18:11.560 -> 18:12.560] Yeah, sorry, sorry, sorry. [18:12.560 -> 18:17.800] I make that mistake all the time because I think one should be the highest because first [18:17.800 -> 18:23.440] is the highest in Formula 1. Okay, so no, Q1, the first qualifying session, you are [18:23.440 -> 18:25.440] mandated to use the hardest compound. [18:25.440 -> 18:26.000] Yes. [18:26.000 -> 18:26.320] Yep. [18:26.320 -> 18:26.880] You have to. [18:26.880 -> 18:28.560] And then Q2, you have to use the medium. [18:28.560 -> 18:31.360] And then Q3, you have to use the softs. [18:31.360 -> 18:34.720] But there's not, I don't think there was a stipulation on how many sets you could use. [18:34.720 -> 18:39.680] So, so I think the logic and the theory behind it is that it was Spicen's strategy up, [18:39.680 -> 18:41.280] it's going to force them to use every single tire. [18:41.280 -> 18:49.440] And then more teams should be left with more fresh tires of varying compounds for the race, which might encourage some teams into a two stop [18:49.440 -> 18:51.200] or it was going to be an easy one stop or not. [18:51.200 -> 18:54.640] And then there's another fact in this, which is slightly overlooked because they've reduced [18:54.640 -> 18:58.760] the sets and they're going to do this new restriction on the qualifying compounds that [18:58.760 -> 19:03.080] Pirelli actually went a step softer than planned in the compound range. [19:03.080 -> 19:04.080] Did they? [19:04.080 -> 19:08.560] So nice. And this is something that almost every time, yeah, on the show, I've been harping [19:08.560 -> 19:09.840] on about this for years now. [19:09.840 -> 19:14.080] I just want Bernie to be less risk averse and go for a softer compound range for each [19:14.080 -> 19:14.640] race. [19:14.640 -> 19:18.080] So that could have been spicy and it could have been good, but I actually think there [19:18.080 -> 19:22.800] might've been a bit of an unforeseen drawback here in that you might have teams struggling [19:22.800 -> 19:25.840] to get into Q2 or, or say for instance, a McLaren struggling to get into Q2 or say for instance a McLaren [19:25.840 -> 19:31.320] struggling to get into Q3, they might throw more sets of mediums at it to get through [19:31.320 -> 19:35.200] to Q3 but then be left with no mediums for the race. So it might actually cancel itself [19:35.200 -> 19:36.200] out. [19:36.200 -> 19:37.200] You see that's interesting. [19:37.200 -> 19:38.200] If you know what I mean. [19:38.200 -> 19:43.120] Yeah, so like there was the rule where you had to qualify on the tyre that you started [19:43.120 -> 19:44.120] on but... [19:44.120 -> 19:45.000] Yeah, the Q2 one. [19:45.000 -> 19:46.000] Yeah, the Q... [19:46.000 -> 19:49.000] Oh, that was it, in Q2, wasn't it? [19:49.000 -> 19:53.800] And so that would actually give the top teams an advantage, because not only could they [19:53.800 -> 19:58.280] qualify for Q3 on a slightly harder tyre, say a medium instead of a soft, that would [19:58.280 -> 20:02.560] mean they would have the advantage on starting on a better race tyre, and teams that were [20:02.560 -> 20:08.800] desperately just trying to edge into the top 10 were doomed to start on a disintegrating soft tyre. [20:09.080 -> 20:13.520] And then also like you had this, the vagaries of if you were outside the top [20:13.520 -> 20:17.440] 10, you could choose, but if you were inside the top 10, you couldn't choose. [20:17.440 -> 20:21.960] So if you were somewhere between P8 and P12, there was no incentive for you [20:21.960 -> 20:23.960] to get into the top 10 at all. [20:24.880 -> 20:25.480] Yeah, exactly. [20:25.480 -> 20:29.440] So luckily that rule has been dropped and with these rules, it's a shame. [20:29.440 -> 20:30.040] We've been deprived. [20:30.040 -> 20:30.920] We're not going to see it. [20:30.920 -> 20:34.960] And I don't believe they're going to do it at the next Grand Prix or we don't know. [20:34.960 -> 20:39.800] They may well end up rolling it over and say, okay, next Grand Prix, we're going to try to do this. [20:39.800 -> 20:47.080] But Pirelli, actually that probably can't be done because it's a different compound range and Pirelli doesn't probably have them manufactured, but actually they're reducing [20:47.080 -> 20:48.080] the compound. [20:48.080 -> 20:49.960] So I don't know, it might be possible to roll it over, it might not. [20:49.960 -> 20:51.560] But luckily that sort of rule isn't in there. [20:51.560 -> 20:54.760] So that's what the fans have been deprived of again, is seeing this sort of experiment. [20:54.760 -> 20:58.740] And I know I get quite angsty when they, when they try and experiment, they keep messing [20:58.740 -> 21:00.320] around with the rules and stuff. [21:00.320 -> 21:05.760] But if it results in having more tyres available or forcing, well not forcing, [21:05.760 -> 21:10.240] making a more alternative strategy a more viable option, then I'm all for it. [21:10.240 -> 21:12.960] Is the allocation of ties changing? [21:13.600 -> 21:14.480] Yes, I think so. [21:14.480 -> 21:18.080] So usually they only get like two hards, now they get three sets of hards. [21:18.080 -> 21:18.320] Right, that was my question. [21:18.320 -> 21:20.400] They're trying to give you more of a variety, yeah. [21:20.400 -> 21:23.680] So if they said, right, you've only got your two sets of hards, [21:24.320 -> 21:27.960] try and qualify out of Q1 now on your hards, [21:27.960 -> 21:30.180] a lot of teams would go, pfft, stuff that, [21:30.180 -> 21:33.220] I'll just start 16th and have my hard tyres for the race. [21:33.220 -> 21:37.220] Because the hard is basically the race tyre at the moment. [21:37.220 -> 21:42.220] Exactly, or if a top team goes out and the driver on [21:42.680 -> 21:49.040] slightly cold tyres going into Tamarello on the first lap has a massive lockup, ruins that set of tires, [21:49.440 -> 21:52.760] then in down a set of tires, and that's going to cancel itself out anyway. [21:52.760 -> 21:55.520] And they're going to really compromise themselves for the rest of, for the [21:55.520 -> 21:56.640] rest, potentially the Grand Prix. [21:56.640 -> 22:00.960] If the hard tire is looking like the tire to be on, then, then they're going to want [22:00.960 -> 22:04.240] to keep at least one new set back, but actually that wouldn't really work out [22:04.240 -> 22:05.520] that way because in Q1, [22:06.000 -> 22:09.400] you know, they've got three sets of hards available and you don't want one, [22:09.400 -> 22:12.160] two sets of hards available for the race unless you're going to do a three stop. [22:12.400 -> 22:15.920] So I don't think that was a risk anyway, but still, it would have been [22:15.920 -> 22:17.800] really interesting to see how it plays out. [22:17.800 -> 22:21.320] And particularly in the midfield and the team struggling to get into Q3, [22:21.520 -> 22:23.200] that's where it would have been quite interesting. [22:23.200 -> 22:28.160] And the counter argument that people always come in with is, oh good, it's supposed to [22:28.160 -> 22:33.920] be hard. But actually, I think that as tempting as it is to say, well, don't have any practice, [22:33.920 -> 22:40.060] punish mistakes. When you do that, you actually increase the gap. So the teams that struggle [22:40.060 -> 22:45.280] more are more likely to make a mistake, are more likely to struggle. The teams that are great and [22:45.280 -> 22:51.680] are on it, tend to run away. And it's like changing the regulation set. The longer you [22:51.680 -> 22:57.040] let everything be stable and let everyone to get to their true potential and competitive level, [22:57.040 -> 23:03.040] the closer the racing will end up being. So yeah, having some kind of, basically making [23:03.040 -> 23:06.960] qualifying much, much harder will suit the teams at the top end. [23:06.960 -> 23:08.320] It will spread the gap. [23:08.320 -> 23:13.200] Yeah. And also you're a bit like the regulation changes and the cost caps in now, you're basically [23:13.200 -> 23:18.400] reducing the chances to get it right. So if somebody gets it really right, like Red Bull [23:18.400 -> 23:24.000] have done this year and hats off all credit to them, you're kind of basically stopping chances [23:24.000 -> 23:28.760] for other teams to try and have another go. So yeah, you could argue it's making it more of a meritocracy, [23:28.760 -> 23:34.920] but yeah, for those, it intensifies the pressure massively. And to be honest, as a fan, that's [23:34.920 -> 23:39.140] why I'm not a great fan of these sort of reduced practice sort of sprint weekends so much. [23:39.140 -> 23:43.640] As a fan, I'd rather see some teams get into where they need to be and it'd be optimized [23:43.640 -> 23:48.760] and more of a straight out fight than it was then you might have somebody who's completely unoptimized [23:48.760 -> 23:50.200] and might be a bit off the pace. [23:50.200 -> 23:53.960] It might, yes, you might get a few sort of shakeups and hickety pickety, but I'd rather [23:53.960 -> 23:59.320] see teams that are prepared and it would be more of a, not more of a meritocracy. [23:59.320 -> 24:02.160] That's kind of like the wrong way of saying it, but if you know what I mean, I want to [24:02.160 -> 24:03.160] see teams more prepared. [24:03.160 -> 24:04.160] Yeah. [24:04.160 -> 24:08.320] High quality, high standard. I'm trying to think of a soccer analogy. I'm trying to think like, [24:08.320 -> 24:12.960] well, what if the teams turned up and they didn't know, because there's different sizes of pitches, [24:12.960 -> 24:16.800] what if they didn't know the size of the pitch, the kind of standing, whether it was going to be [24:16.800 -> 24:23.520] a top tier level, like playing on artificial, like playing on concrete, or whether it was going to be [24:23.520 -> 24:29.040] in a bog and they weren't able to prepare. and then you just threw them out there with no training [24:29.040 -> 24:33.440] and you made the matches at random times, even if it meant pulling them out of the pub, [24:34.080 -> 24:38.080] then you don't want to see that. You want to see teams being able to do their homework, [24:38.080 -> 24:42.160] knowing who they're playing, knowing what pitch they're going to be on and just seeing the best [24:42.160 -> 24:46.080] quality that that team can produce. And I think we want to see that in Formula One as well. [24:46.080 -> 24:50.000] We don't want this lottery where we go, right, okay, you're turning up. [24:50.000 -> 24:54.640] And to make that pitch analogy make sense, when they turn up at a track, they don't really [24:54.640 -> 24:58.560] know how the track surface is behaving this year, what the weather conditions are going [24:58.560 -> 25:01.280] to do to their car, the specific weather conditions. [25:01.280 -> 25:06.000] They're so sensitive to heat, to humidity, to altitude, to a resurface [25:06.000 -> 25:13.040] track that do we actually want a random element or do we want to see sports professionals [25:13.040 -> 25:14.040] at their best? [25:14.040 -> 25:17.560] Yeah, we'd rather see some test cricket as opposed to village cricket. [25:17.560 -> 25:21.760] Hey, hey, hey, I will not hear a word against village cricket. [25:21.760 -> 25:22.760] Although it's great. [25:22.760 -> 25:25.600] That's the beeriest way to enjoy a Sunday. [25:25.600 -> 25:26.600] Yes. [25:26.600 -> 25:27.600] Right, okay. [25:27.600 -> 25:31.240] And the very last thing before we go. [25:31.240 -> 25:37.040] So I'm unashamedly a Lewis Hamilton fan, so I was obviously hoping that the Mercedes upgrade [25:37.040 -> 25:39.320] was going to land here and be devastating. [25:39.320 -> 25:50.160] So you know Headcanon, where fans of like a sci-fi thing like they go ah the reason that that plot thing was bad was actually because he'd gone off on a secret mission and [25:50.920 -> 25:56.520] Had gained, you know the respect of the Bears. It's not really in the actual story, but it's like headcanon [25:56.520 -> 26:00.200] It's things that fans do to kind of justify and validate the story [26:00.200 -> 26:04.760] So in my headcanon that Mercedes upgrade was incredible [26:07.440 -> 26:13.260] story. So in my headcanon, that Mercedes upgrade was incredible. Side pods, don't even call them side pods, they were side buildings. These things that were going to be revealed, [26:13.260 -> 26:19.000] they were the best side pods you've ever seen, Kyle. They added 85 points of downforce and [26:19.000 -> 26:30.600] it was the most comfortable 44 World Championship Constructors' Points everywhere. And in fact, journalists were saying, could Mercedes dominance in 2023 ruin F1 after that race? [26:30.600 -> 26:38.000] So that's my headcanon, and I've got two weeks to enjoy that before that's definitely not true in Barcelona. [26:38.000 -> 26:41.000] Well, they could have been the best side pods in the world. [26:41.000 -> 26:42.600] Let's hope we don't end up with a tribute. [26:42.600 -> 26:46.420] So when they come in, so we're going to go. Is that a Tenacious D reference? [26:46.420 -> 26:48.220] That is a Tenacious D pun. [26:48.220 -> 26:49.340] Mate, nice, love it. [26:50.180 -> 26:56.220] Um, so yeah, and it's quite, it's quite a poignant, um, sort of statement, really. [26:56.220 -> 27:00.860] Like Mercedes are probably the ones who have been screwed over the hardest by [27:00.860 -> 27:04.960] this, cause they were desperate, you know, they were, they, they were all [27:04.960 -> 27:05.440] legs in one basket, they were all in. They said, they're not going to do a back to back comparison because they were desperate. They said, you know, they were all eggs in one [27:05.440 -> 27:08.400] basket. They were all in. They said they're not going to do a back-to-back comparison because [27:08.400 -> 27:12.480] they've got limited time. They're going to put both cars on the same deck. And they really [27:12.480 -> 27:18.000] needed some running on a semi-normal track. I say semi-normal, Imola's tight, bouncing over kerbs. [27:18.000 -> 27:20.400] A dry Imola would have been a test. [27:20.400 -> 27:24.400] Yeah, exactly. And also, you know, I think they've got some suspension parts as well, [27:24.400 -> 27:27.520] and it's all about riding the kerbs and they've traditionally struggled over the kerbs, so [27:27.520 -> 27:30.880] it would have been a really great test for it, but now they're not going to be able to [27:30.880 -> 27:34.800] run, they're going to have to go to Monaco, which is going to be pretty hard to validate [27:34.800 -> 27:38.480] it because it's in such a unique sort of thing and the ride height is so much higher, they're [27:38.480 -> 27:41.440] going to have the car up on stilts because it's bumpy, it's a street circuit, they've [27:41.440 -> 27:42.440] got manhole covers to deal with. [27:42.440 -> 27:47.640] They can't test the floor, they can't test the bodywork, it's all about mechanical grip, [27:47.640 -> 27:48.880] isn't it, around there. [27:48.880 -> 27:50.120] And then not to really... [27:50.120 -> 27:52.080] Yeah, and stuff like that. [27:52.080 -> 27:57.520] So, you know, one could argue if they were, if they had their backs up against the wall [27:57.520 -> 28:00.680] in regards to having enough spare parts available, this could be a godsend. [28:00.680 -> 28:04.120] It gives them a chance to make the spare parts, but they don't actually know whether this [28:04.120 -> 28:08.760] package is going to work. What's one of the age-old problems of Formula [28:08.760 -> 28:13.000] 1 is correlation issues between your simulations and when the car actually gets on track. And [28:13.000 -> 28:17.360] these have now not actually been run on track. So if they go and make a load more spare parts [28:17.360 -> 28:20.920] and the package doesn't work, then they're not in a good state, are they? [28:20.920 -> 28:25.080] Let me do some positives. So let me pretend that Monaco doesn't exist for a second. [28:25.080 -> 28:30.480] From this package point of view, it's another two weeks to go, hmm, okay, the things where [28:30.480 -> 28:32.960] we said, Derek, we need an answer now. [28:32.960 -> 28:37.360] We can now go back to Derek and go, was that if given two more weeks and he could go, oh [28:37.360 -> 28:40.520] no, actually, I think we should go in this direction. [28:40.520 -> 28:45.440] Monaco, they could fluke a win because they're not down on straight line speed, you know, [28:45.440 -> 28:47.120] drag's not an issue. [28:47.120 -> 28:54.120] They could fluke a qualifying, you know, just a well-timed Q3 trip to the Rascasse Wall, [28:54.120 -> 28:59.360] as is tradition in Monaco, to nick a pole position, and a win is on there. [28:59.360 -> 29:04.360] And then they get to Barcelona, a track which historically has been kind of almost like [29:04.360 -> 29:09.160] the ultimate test of whether your package is good because it's got a big long straight [29:09.160 -> 29:15.080] it's got like that turn three which is a very kind of a long high downforce [29:15.080 -> 29:19.000] corner it's got a lot of stop-start point and squirt it's got a little bit [29:19.000 -> 29:23.040] of everything and hang on isn't Barcelona normally before Monaco? [29:23.040 -> 29:28.080] Yes it is actually because it's usually the Barcelona Q3, not Q3, Sector 3, [29:28.080 -> 29:30.000] and everyone's like, they're going to be really good in Monaco. [29:31.120 -> 29:34.560] But that doesn't apply this year because they've actually got rid of the chicane [29:34.560 -> 29:37.840] and they're going back to the fast sweeps at the end of the lap. [29:37.840 -> 29:40.240] I'm excited to see if that makes a difference to the racing. [29:40.800 -> 29:41.280] Same here. [29:41.280 -> 29:46.320] So, but, you know, Barcelona's basically, it's all about the aero and Formula 1 is mainly [29:46.320 -> 29:51.120] all about the aero. So it is like where they go to test how they get into their tyre wear. [29:51.120 -> 29:55.440] There's lots of long aero dependent corners. So it is the perfect test, but without having [29:55.440 -> 29:59.040] any sort of validation work done in Imola, I'm saying it's going to turn up to Monaco [29:59.040 -> 30:02.480] without having to really sort of assess their package and then how to set it up. It might, [30:02.480 -> 30:07.160] the car may behave differently. So they realistically, I think, have to wait till now Barcelona, [30:07.440 -> 30:12.480] first Friday practice to see really where they're at on a [30:12.480 -> 30:13.540] representative proper track. [30:13.540 -> 30:14.760] So that's a long time for them. [30:14.820 -> 30:18.880] It might be, but it's not as if, if the Imola didn't work, they [30:18.880 -> 30:20.420] were going to go, okay, C-spec. [30:20.900 -> 30:21.560] Like this is it. [30:21.600 -> 30:25.840] This is the platform that they think they're going to build on. So if [30:25.840 -> 30:29.720] they'd have got a good result at Imola, that's fine. If they'd got a terrible result at Imola [30:29.720 -> 30:35.080] and been nowhere and gone, ah, well, actually, this has failed as well, that was it. I don't [30:35.080 -> 30:39.140] think they were going to come and go, oh, well, we'll just scrap that and start again. [30:39.140 -> 30:46.400] So in a way, they've already taken their shot in the design room. All they've really missed is the validation of it [30:47.520 -> 30:49.800] on track conditions or the validation or not. [30:49.800 -> 30:51.440] So they still don't know, [30:51.440 -> 30:53.320] but if it's a terrible package, [30:53.320 -> 30:54.800] it's a terrible package, who cares? [30:54.800 -> 30:58.480] If it's good, it's still going to be good in Barcelona [30:58.480 -> 30:59.720] and going forward. [30:59.720 -> 31:02.280] And then we're into a more normal [31:02.280 -> 31:03.720] kind of calendar period, aren't we? [31:03.720 -> 31:10.160] Hang on, I'll have a quick look at the calendar. More normal tracks and less sort of showy street tracks. [31:10.160 -> 31:16.040] Stop loading the front of the F1 calendar with with street tracks it's [31:16.040 -> 31:19.160] starting to upset me. You're setting yourself up for a fall aren't you? [31:19.160 -> 31:21.920] Yeah exactly and if they do this again for the next two or [31:21.920 -> 31:30.720] three years then they're just saying okay we accept that every season we're gonna have fans screaming at us for for non-amazing races [31:30.720 -> 31:37.040] when look at what's coming up okay so Barcelona I will defend Barcelona as the as not quite the low [31:37.040 -> 31:43.680] end of the good classic F1 tracks because Hongaroring manages to get by on that long [31:43.680 -> 31:48.680] straight and it's a lot tighter than a lot of the other tracks. Then you've got Spain, sorry, then you've [31:48.680 -> 31:53.720] got Canada which is the best temporary or hybrid temporary track. I know people [31:53.720 -> 31:57.480] argue with me but it's a classic and it has potential to throw up classics. [31:57.480 -> 32:01.800] The Red Bull Ring is a great race track. I didn't like it at first but it has [32:01.800 -> 32:06.300] it's grown on me. Silverstone, Hungaroring, Spa, Zandvoort. [32:08.560 -> 32:10.120] We had a great race last year though, didn't we? [32:10.120 -> 32:10.960] I can't remember. [32:10.960 -> 32:11.800] I can't remember Zandvoort last year. [32:11.800 -> 32:13.080] Yeah, it was a brilliant race where the, you know, [32:13.080 -> 32:16.880] the, yeah, the two Mercedes were going [32:16.880 -> 32:18.360] for the one-stop strategy in the end. [32:18.360 -> 32:20.000] The memory of the safety car at the end [32:20.000 -> 32:21.680] that sort of somewhat ruined it. [32:21.680 -> 32:23.720] And that was all bubbling up really nice. [32:23.720 -> 32:29.600] Yeah, so Zandvoort, again, if Pirelli get the tyre compounds correct and it gives an [32:29.600 -> 32:34.160] open strategy, so what I personally think it should have is a, is a nailed on safe [32:34.160 -> 32:36.280] two stop and a risky one or a risky three. [32:36.280 -> 32:36.720] That would be good. [32:36.720 -> 32:36.920] Yeah. [32:36.960 -> 32:37.240] Great. [32:37.240 -> 32:40.280] Either side, if Pirelli get the compounds right, then potentially any track has the [32:40.280 -> 32:41.920] potential to throw up a great race. [32:41.920 -> 32:48.720] And this is why Hungaroring usually throws up great races because it's such a high energy track on the tyres that it usually forces a two-stop. [32:48.720 -> 32:52.800] So we usually get some strategy variation in there or somebody trying a one-stop and Silverstone, [32:52.800 -> 32:57.840] again, high load on the tyres and a place where you can overtake. So yes, we have some potential [32:57.840 -> 33:03.120] great races coming up and, and yeah, Red Bull Ring, it's 80% of DRS zone, [33:03.120 -> 33:05.280] with some amazing overtaking opportunity. [33:05.280 -> 33:06.280] It's unique. [33:06.280 -> 33:07.280] It's unique. [33:07.280 -> 33:09.960] The type of racing you get at the Red Bull Ring is unique, and that's great. [33:09.960 -> 33:12.120] And the same with Monza. [33:12.120 -> 33:14.880] That's got something very different and special about it. [33:14.880 -> 33:15.880] Singapore. [33:15.880 -> 33:20.840] Now, if you said to me, keep one street circuit for what a street circuit is supposed to be, [33:20.840 -> 33:22.320] I'll take Singapore. [33:22.320 -> 33:25.160] Because there you've got the glamour under the lights, [33:25.160 -> 33:33.220] it's visually spectacular and just because of 2017 and the start at 2017 with the Ferraris, [33:33.220 -> 33:35.200] for that it can have a place on the calendar forever. [33:35.200 -> 33:39.840] Suzuka is back as well on the calendar so that's great, looking forward to that. [33:39.840 -> 33:50.320] But imagine if this was the start of the season, okay, if I scroll up here on the calendar, we say, okay, start of the 2024 season, race one, Spain, race two, Canada, race three, [33:50.320 -> 33:57.440] Red Bull Ring, race four, Silverstone, Hungara Ring, Spa, Zandvoort, Monza, Singapore, Japan. [33:57.440 -> 33:58.860] That is a killer. [33:58.860 -> 34:00.920] That's a killer start to the F1 season. [34:00.920 -> 34:02.160] F1 are mad. [34:02.160 -> 34:05.600] Yeah, well, it's almost like proper tracks, like Formula 1 used to be, [34:05.600 -> 34:09.440] used to get sort of at the start of the season. We didn't have so many of these races. I mean, [34:09.440 -> 34:14.720] you know, Baku can have, as usually, thrown up some amazing races. Australia now, the changes [34:14.720 -> 34:19.200] to the circuit are better and stuff like that. So, so, you know, it's just unfortunate safety [34:19.200 -> 34:25.640] cars kind of ruin, ruin races that we've had. But yeah, definitely Formula One of old, you'd kind of look at [34:25.640 -> 34:27.840] the lineup and schedule, be like, Oh yeah, that's going to be a good race. [34:27.840 -> 34:28.840] That's going to be a good race. [34:28.840 -> 34:30.360] So yeah, I, I agree. [34:30.360 -> 34:34.800] I'd like to see them sort of get out of this rabbit hole of just getting loads of street [34:34.800 -> 34:39.720] circuits and what we classify as inverted commas, unrepresentative circuits right at [34:39.720 -> 34:40.720] the start of the calendar. [34:40.720 -> 34:41.720] Scatter them, scatter them. [34:41.720 -> 34:44.640] Do that, do that and then have Miami. [34:44.640 -> 34:45.400] No one's going to complain [34:45.400 -> 34:50.480] about Miami. Yeah, have that. Anyway, look, I know you've got a fabulous dinner to get [34:50.480 -> 34:55.200] off to, but I think I'd like to get to the point where we can, we don't normally do kind [34:55.200 -> 35:01.840] of reacting to things, shows, but my schedule's a little bit more settled at the moment. I [35:01.840 -> 35:09.600] love the fact that we can just jump on and have a chat. Hopefully, the listeners don't consider this spam and think it might be a worthwhile thing to do every now [35:09.600 -> 35:15.440] and then. Like we say, we've got the Mailbag Show coming on Sunday. Feedback at mistapex.net with [35:15.440 -> 35:20.320] your questions or comments so you lead the conversation. As soon as the internet and [35:20.320 -> 35:27.000] my house get sorted, we're going to start doing the live call-ins again because they were absolutely brilliant last season. Also I think we're [35:27.000 -> 35:31.680] gonna try and get Mike Caulfield early next week as well and then we're into [35:31.680 -> 35:37.080] Monaco where someone else will lead that race review. But I'll be back for [35:37.080 -> 35:42.040] Barcelona. Until we see you next, work hard, be kind and have fun. This was [35:42.040 -> 36:12.920] Missed AX Podcast. Looking for a fun way to win up to 25 times your money this football season? [36:12.920 -> 36:18.400] Test your skills on Prize Picks, the most exciting way to play daily fantasy sports. [36:18.400 -> 36:22.440] Just select two or more players, pick more or less on their projection for a wide variety [36:22.440 -> 36:24.920] of statistics, and place your entry. [36:24.920 -> 36:26.440] It's as easy as that. [36:26.440 -> 36:32.840] If you have the skills, you can turn $10 into $250 with just a few taps. 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