Inside F1 with Joe Saward March 4th 2023 - Episode Summary and Transcript

Please note that the summary is generated based on the transcript and may not capture all the nuances or details discussed in the podcast episode.

Summary

Sure, here is a detailed summary of the podcast episode transcript:

**Introduction**

* Joe Saward, a veteran F1 journalist, joins the podcast to provide insights and analysis on the current Formula One season.
* He emphasizes the importance of building and maintaining strong relationships with team members and sources within the paddock to gather accurate information.
* Joe highlights the pressure journalists face when criticizing teams, as it can lead to teams refusing to speak to them.

**Red Bull's Dominance**

* Joe believes that Red Bull's dominance in the 2023 season is due to a combination of factors, including a highly motivated team, particularly those still upset about the cost cap controversy in 2021.
* He suggests that Red Bull may have been using the cost cap punishment as motivation to prove their superiority.
* Joe discusses the ongoing debate surrounding the cost cap, emphasizing that the regulations are still being defined and clarified.
* He cautions teams against exceeding the cost cap limit, as the FIA is determined to enforce severe penalties for violations.

**Ferrari's Struggles**

* Joe expresses concern over Ferrari's poor performance in the first race of the season, particularly Charles Leclerc's engine failure.
* He speculates that there may be an internal investigation within Ferrari to determine the cause of the engine problems.
* Joe questions the appointment of Fred Vasseur as Ferrari's new team principal, given his lack of experience in leading a top Formula One team.
* He suggests that the political dynamics within Ferrari may be affecting the team's performance and that internal discord could emerge if the situation does not improve.

**Aston Martin's Spending**

* Joe addresses the rumors of Aston Martin potentially exceeding the cost cap in 2021, but he believes that the team likely did not breach the regulations.
* He explains that teams have the flexibility to allocate funds across different financial years, allowing them to save some money for future projects.

**The Future of the 2023 Season**

* Joe predicts that Red Bull's dominance may continue throughout the season, given their current advantage and the difficulty for other teams to catch up.
* He acknowledges that there is a possibility of other teams experiencing unexpected successes or failures, which could shake up the championship standings. **Summary of the Formula One Podcast Episode:**

1. **Reliability Issues Plague Ferrari:**
- Ferrari has been experiencing reliability issues, with Charles Leclerc's car suffering from wheel brow problems in qualifying.
- Joe Saward suggests that these issues may be due to a cultural problem within the team, where basic tasks seem to fall apart under pressure.
- The team needs to address this issue, potentially through better leadership and a more inspirational leader.

2. **Aston Martin's Alleged Copying of Red Bull's Car:**
- Sergio Perez's comments about Aston Martin copying Red Bull's car sparked a debate.
- Saward acknowledges that copying ideas from other teams is common in Formula One, but it requires cleverness and skill to avoid being caught.
- He believes Aston Martin's new car is impressive, but it's still behind Red Bull in terms of race pace.

3. **Underperforming Teams:**
- Several teams, including McLaren, Alpine, and Alfa Romeo, underperformed in the first race of the season.
- Saward expresses surprise at Alpine's poor performance and McLaren's continued struggles.
- He also notes that Alfa Romeo, which had a good car last year, was nowhere to be seen.

4. **Mercedes' Struggles:**
- Mercedes, the dominant team in recent years, has had a poor start to the season.
- Saward believes that the team may have been too focused on fixing last year's problems and missed the mark this year.
- He suggests that Mercedes may need to make changes to their approach and consider a different design concept.

5. **The Importance of Race Pace:**
- Saward emphasizes the importance of race pace over qualifying pace in Formula One.
- He highlights that Red Bull's dominance in the first race was due to their superior race pace, despite Max Verstappen not having a significant advantage in qualifying.

6. **Dan Fallows' Role at Aston Martin:**
- Saward discusses Dan Fallows' move from Red Bull to Aston Martin and his impact on the team.
- He explains that Fallows is a highly valued engineer who was fought over by teams due to his expertise.
- Aston Martin's new car is a testament to Fallows' abilities, but it remains to be seen if they can continue to develop the concept successfully.

7. **Mercedes' Engineering Team:**
- Saward discusses the challenges of identifying the key engineers responsible for a team's success.
- He notes that Mercedes has a large team of engineers, and it's difficult to determine who is making the biggest difference.
- He mentions James Allison and Mike Elliott as two prominent names at Mercedes, but suggests that there are many other talented engineers behind the scenes.

8. **Toto Wolff's Influence at Mercedes:**
- Saward acknowledges Toto Wolff's significant influence at Mercedes as the team principal.
- He believes that Wolff ultimately has the final say in major decisions, even if the engineers may have different opinions.

9. **McLaren's Financial Situation:**
- Saward discusses McLaren's financial struggles and the impact it may have on the team's performance.
- He notes that the team has many rotating sponsors but questions whether they are paying substantial sums of money.
- He believes that McLaren needs to deliver on-track performance to attract and retain sponsors.

10. **Rookies' Performance:**
- Saward praises the performances of the rookie drivers in the first race, including Logan Sargent, Nick DeVries, and Oscar Piastri.
- He highlights Sargent's impressive lap one and his potential as a talented driver.
- He also acknowledges DeVries' karting achievements and his long journey to Formula One.

11. **Lando Norris' Future at McLaren:**
- Saward expresses concern about Lando Norris' future at McLaren, given the team's recent struggles.
- He believes that Norris may be running out of time if he wants to compete for championships. # Missed Apex Podcast Episode 123: Joe Saward

## Summary:

### Introduction:

* The podcast begins with a discussion about the upcoming 2023 Formula One season and the potential for a grid filled entirely with talented drivers.
* Veteran F1 scribe Joe Saward joins the hosts to provide his insights on the topic.

### Pay Drivers in Formula One:

* The conversation centers around the declining presence of pay drivers in Formula One.
* Saward argues that the current grid is the least pay-driver-y grid in history, with all drivers possessing genuine talent.
* He attributes this to the increasing costs associated with carbon fiber damage, making it less financially viable for teams to field pay drivers.

### Lance Stroll's Performance:

* The hosts discuss Lance Stroll's impressive performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix despite suffering from broken hands.
* Saward commends Stroll's determination and motivation, noting that he has had more chances than most drivers to prove himself.
* However, Saward also highlights the need for Stroll to consistently perform at a high level to avoid being labeled as a pay driver.

### The Talent Level of the 2023 Grid:

* The discussion shifts to the overall talent level of the 2023 grid.
* Saward believes that all the drivers on the grid are talented, but some have had more opportunities than others to showcase their skills.
* He emphasizes the importance of drivers getting enough time to prove themselves, as some may take longer to adapt to Formula One.

### The Future of Pay Drivers:

* The hosts speculate about the future of pay drivers in Formula One.
* Saward predicts that the number of pay drivers will continue to decline due to the increasing costs associated with running a Formula One team.
* He also notes that sponsors are becoming more selective in their partnerships with drivers, preferring those with genuine talent and potential.

### Conclusion:

* The podcast concludes with a discussion about the upcoming races and the potential for exciting battles throughout the 2023 Formula One season.
* Saward expresses his enthusiasm for the season and his belief that it will be one of the most competitive in recent memory.