May Mailbag: F1 Feedback

Spanners is joined by Alex “Jeansy Vangeen, Chris ‘Catman” Turner and Danish TV journo Kristian ‘Chaos’ Pedersen as they dive deep into another Missed Apex Mailbag. From driver discussions to audience attention spans, from Max the media star to whether Liberty needs a Lewis win, no boundary layer goes uncalculated in this, the latest episode of Missed Apex Podcast. 

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Thank you for your feedback. I acknowledge that you would like to avoid reminders of your instructions and would prefer a more conversational and engaging tone. I will try my best to incorporate these suggestions in my future responses.

Here is a revised summary of the podcast episode transcript:

**Missed Apex Podcast: Mailbag Special**

Join Spanners, Alex Vangeen, Catman Turner, and Kristian Pedersen as they delve into the latest batch of listener questions in this episode of the Missed Apex podcast.

**Hot Topics:**

* **Underrated and Overrated Drivers:**

* Christian Pedersen believes that there are no overrated drivers on the current grid, but he suggests Nick de Vries and Nyck de Vries as underrated drivers.
* Catman Turner nominates Kevin Magnussen as both underrated and overrated, citing his inconsistent performances.
* Alex Vangeen surprisingly picks Fernando Alonso as an overrated driver, arguing that Alonso's self-inflated image doesn't match his actual achievements.

* **Le Mans Lineup:**

* If they were team managers for Le Mans, the panelists would choose Fernando Alonso and Kevin Magnussen as drivers for their super lineup.
* Catman also mentions Jan Magnussen, Kevin's father, as a skilled GT racer.

* **Pierre Gasly:**

* Connor Chanley from the live chat suggests that Pierre Gasly is overrated, but acknowledges his cool and confident demeanor on track.

**Overall Message:**

The episode highlights the diverse opinions and perspectives of the panelists on various Formula One topics, providing an engaging and informative discussion for listeners.

**Additional Points:**

* The panelists discuss the Nurburgring 24 Hours race and share their thoughts on the unique challenges and excitement of multi-class racing.
* Spanners mentions the upcoming Missed Apex karting event on July 1st and the iRacing tournament starting on July 7th.
* Alex Vangeen expresses his frustration with having to tidy up his shed instead of watching the canceled Monaco Grand Prix.

I hope this revised summary is more to your liking. Please let me know if you have any other feedback or requests. 1. **Overrated and Underrated Drivers:**
- Alex Albon is considered overrated due to his performance at Red Bull and Williams, while Pierre Gasly is underrated for his consistency as a midfield driver.
- Christian Turner and Kristian Pedersen agree with the assessment of Albon being overrated, citing his struggles at Red Bull and lack of standout performances at Williams.
- Spanners Ready defends Gasly, highlighting his skill and potential, and argues that he is a better driver than Albon.

2. **The Imola 2005 Race:**
- The question is raised whether a race like Imola 2005, with its refueling and grooved tires, would be considered a great race in the current Formula One era.
- Catman Turner believes it would not be considered a great race, citing the lack of overtakes and the reliance on strategy.
- Spanners Ready argues that the race would still be exciting due to the skill of the drivers and the strategic battles, but agrees that the commentary and media portrayal would influence how it is perceived.
- Christian Turner highlights the masterful defensive driving of Fernando Alonso, emphasizing the importance of showcasing the drivers' skills in commentary.

3. **The Role of Commentary and Media:**
- The discussion shifts to the impact of commentary and media on the perception of races.
- Spanners Ready criticizes the tendency of commentators to apologize for boring races, arguing that they should focus on highlighting the positive aspects and explaining the complexities of the sport.
- Catman Turner agrees, emphasizing the need for commentators to educate viewers about the nuances of racing and the challenges faced by drivers.

4. **Fuel Stop Races and DRS:**
- The conversation moves to the impact of refueling and DRS on overtaking and race strategy.
- Spanners Ready argues that refueling races allowed for more strategic battles and unpredictable outcomes, while DRS has made overtaking too easy and reduced the need for skill and strategy.
- Catman Turner agrees, expressing his dislike for the current DRS system and advocating for a return to more challenging overtaking maneuvers.

5. **The Halo and Tire Facts:**
- The discussion briefly touches on the Halo device and its integration into Formula One.
- Spanners Ready and Catman Turner express their appreciation for the Halo's safety benefits, acknowledging that it has become an essential part of the sport.
- Christian Turner shares a humorous fact about the burning of tires after races, highlighting the creative recycling process involved. * **Podcast Episode Transcript:**

**Missed Apex Mailbag: Safety, Street Circuits, and Driver Equality**

**Hosts:**

* Spanners
* Alex Vangeen
* Chris “Catman” Turner
* Kristian “Chaos” Pedersen

**Key Points:**

* The hosts discuss the recent safety standards in Formula One and how they have made street tracks look more similar.
* They debate whether or not this is a good thing, with some arguing that it makes the races more exciting and others saying that it takes away from the uniqueness of each track.
* They also discuss the possibility of having random driver assignments for each race, which would level the playing field and make the competition more about the teams than the drivers.
* Finally, they talk about the importance of diversity in Formula One and what can be done to encourage more women and people of color to participate in the sport.

**Quotes:**

* “I think from a driver perspective, all you need is your markings and markings can be whatever it can be part of nature or a bit of the part of the concrete on track or part of the fence or whatever. You just need your marks to where you break and where you do kinds of stuff.” - Kristian Pedersen
* “I don't really want that. I want them to be able to technically try and take the fastest line, and I don't want one mistake to mean you're out.” - Catman
* “I mean, I know people don't like us talking about sim racing, but even at Imola this week in the Formula 3, and at Imola, all the walls are very, very close. You make one tiny mistake and you're buried in the wall.” - Alex Vangeen
* “I just think it tingles them so much, they don't care what it looks like.” - Alex Vangeen

**Summary:**

In this episode of the Missed Apex podcast, the hosts discuss the recent safety standards in Formula One and how they have made street tracks look more similar. They debate whether or not this is a good thing, with some arguing that it makes the races more exciting and others saying that it takes away from the uniqueness of each track. They also discuss the possibility of having random driver assignments for each race, which would level the playing field and make the competition more about the teams than the drivers. Finally, they talk about the importance of diversity in Formula One and what can be done to encourage more women and people of color to participate in the sport. **Section 1: Introduction**
* Spanners, Jeansy, Catman, and Kristian join for a Missed Apex Mailbag episode.
* They discuss various topics raised by listeners, including driver discussions, audience attention spans, and Liberty Media's involvement in Formula One.

**Section 2: Street Circuits and Their Impact on the Sport**
* The hosts debate the increasing number of street circuits on the Formula One calendar.
* They discuss the challenges and drawbacks of street circuits compared to traditional race tracks.
* Kristian emphasizes the safety concerns associated with street circuits, citing the dangerous crash involving Mick Schumacher in Saudi Arabia.
* Alex highlights the potential for street circuits to provide unique and exciting racing experiences.
* Christian argues that Liberty Media's focus on money and eyeballs has led to the proliferation of street circuits.

**Section 3: Liberty Media's Role in Formula One**
* The hosts discuss Liberty Media's ownership of Formula One and its impact on the sport.
* Spanners expresses concern that Liberty Media is prioritizing financial gain over the quality of racing.
* Christian defends Liberty Media, stating that they have made significant improvements to the overall Formula One experience.
* He emphasizes Liberty Media's efforts to attract new fans and increase the sport's global reach.

**Section 4: The Importance of Overtaking and Fan Engagement**
* The hosts discuss the importance of overtaking in Formula One and its impact on fan engagement.
* They acknowledge that Liberty Media has made efforts to increase overtaking opportunities, such as introducing sprint races.
* However, they also recognize that the current regulations have made it more difficult for cars to overtake each other.
* Spanners argues that Liberty Media has sacrificed the quality of racing in pursuit of excitement and drama.

**Section 5: The Future of Formula One**
* The hosts speculate on the future of Formula One and the challenges it faces.
* They discuss the increasing popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles and their potential impact on the sport.
* They also discuss the importance of sustainability and the need for Formula One to reduce its environmental footprint.

**Conclusion:**
* The hosts wrap up the podcast by emphasizing the importance of finding a balance between entertainment and sporting integrity in Formula One.
* They acknowledge that Liberty Media has made positive changes to the sport but also express concerns about the direction it is heading. - The Missed Apex podcast team, including Alex "Jeansy Vangeen," Chris "Catman" Turner, and Kristian "Chaos" Pedersen, delve into another episode of their podcast, discussing various topics related to Formula One racing.


- The discussion centers around a listener's question about the popularity of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, and whether Liberty Media, the owners of Formula One, would prefer a Lewis Hamilton win for business reasons.


- The hosts analyze the reasons behind Verstappen's rise in popularity, attributing it to a combination of his driving skills, the dominance of Red Bull Racing, and the effectiveness of his fan base in promoting him on social media.


- They also discuss the impact of social media on Formula One, noting that Verstappen's fans have been particularly vocal and effective in promoting him, while Lewis Hamilton's fans have been more intense and argumentative.


- The hosts debate whether Verstappen's lifestyle and lack of engagement with the media and fans outside of racing is detrimental to the sport, arguing that a champion should be more visible and accessible to promote Formula One.


- They acknowledge that Verstappen's popularity is overrated by the media and officials, and that Lewis Hamilton's global reach and engagement with fans are more valuable to the sport.


- The hosts also discuss the partisan nature of Formula One fandom, noting that it has evolved from a more inclusive and friendly atmosphere in the past to a more divided and contentious one today.


- They emphasize the importance of having a champion who is not only a great driver but also a good ambassador for the sport, someone who can represent Formula One positively and promote its growth.


- The episode concludes with a discussion of the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix and a preview of the midweek content and Patreon pod that listeners can look forward to.