Qatar GP 2023 F1 Race Review

Spanners and Trumpets are joined by  Chris ‘Comms’ Stevens and Danish TV journo Kristian "Chaos" Pedersen as they repaint all the white lines on the Lusail Circuit. From killer kerbs to Max’s marvelous championship to enough pitstops to last a whole season, no rallycross antics go unmissed in this, the latest episode of Missed Apex Podcast.

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**Summary of the Missed Apex Podcast Episode: Hot and Tired in Qatar**

**Introduction:**

* The podcast begins with a discussion of the Lusail Circuit's new white lines, killer kerbs, and Max Verstappen's championship victory.
* The hosts introduce themselves and their roles in the podcast: Spanners Ready (host), Matt Trumpets (tire whisperer), Chris Stevens (GT Open commentator), and Kristian "Chaos" Pedersen (Danish TV journalist).

**Main Segments:**

**Whose Fault Is It?**

* The hosts analyze the controversial incidents in the race, including the collision between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in Turn 1 and the crash involving Nico Hülkenberg, Esteban Ocon, and Sergio Perez.
* Spanners Ready and Matt Trumpets argue that Hamilton was at fault for the incident with Russell, while Chris Stevens and Kristian Pedersen believe it was a racing incident.
* The hosts also debate the blame for the Hülkenberg-Ocon-Perez crash, with Spanners Ready and Matt Trumpets placing more responsibility on Ocon, while Chris Stevens and Kristian Pedersen acknowledge mitigating circumstances.

**Hamilton and Russell:**

* The hosts discuss the ongoing tension between Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, highlighting several instances of on-track incidents and disagreements between the two drivers.
* They speculate on whether the gloves are finally off between Hamilton and Russell and whether team orders will be necessary to manage their rivalry.

**The Sprint Race:**

* The hosts praise the sprint race format for providing an exciting spectacle, with Max Verstappen and George Russell battling for the lead and several other drivers making impressive overtakes.
* They discuss the strategic implications of the sprint race, particularly the impact on tire wear and the mandatory three-stop strategy for the main race.

**Max Verstappen's Third World Title:**

* The hosts congratulate Max Verstappen on securing his third Formula One World Championship, acknowledging his dominance and consistency throughout the season.
* They discuss Verstappen's rise through the ranks, his early success in karting and junior formulas, and his eventual promotion to the Red Bull Formula One team.
* The hosts also highlight Verstappen's aggressive driving style and his ability to extract the maximum performance from his car.

**Oscar Piastri's Debut:**

* The hosts briefly mention Oscar Piastri's impressive debut performance for McLaren, where he finished ninth and scored two points.
* They discuss Piastri's potential as a future star in Formula One and his ability to adapt quickly to the demands of the sport.

**Conclusion:**

* The hosts wrap up the podcast by summarizing the key talking points and thanking their listeners for tuning in.
* They encourage listeners to support the podcast on Patreon or through their Tip Jar to help them grow and continue producing high-quality content. Sure, here is a summary of the podcast episode transcript:

**Introduction:**

* The hosts, Spanners, Matt Trumpets, Chris Stevens, and Kristian Pedersen, discuss the unusual track conditions and tire degradation issues at the Lusail Circuit.


**Main Discussion:**

* The shorter stints and high tire degradation led to a race where drivers had to push flat out for the entire Grand Prix, resulting in several retirements and drivers experiencing physical distress.


* This type of racing showcased the athleticism and endurance of the drivers, but also raised questions about whether it is sustainable or desirable for every race.


* The unique circumstances of the race also highlighted the importance of tire management and strategy, with some teams and drivers adapting better than others.


* Oscar Piastri's performance was a highlight, with the McLaren driver showing strong pace and racecraft, although he was ultimately held back by team orders.


* The race also saw several controversial incidents, including Fernando Alonso's off-track excursion and subsequent return to the track in front of Charles Leclerc.


* Aston Martin had a disappointing weekend, with Lance Stroll struggling for pace and Sebastian Vettel missing the race due to illness.


**Conclusion:**

* The hosts wrap up the discussion by emphasizing the importance of driver skill and adaptability in Formula One, as well as the need for a balance between strategy and flat-out racing.


**Additional Notes:**

* The hosts also discussed the impact of the shorter stints on the pit crews, who had to perform more pit stops than usual.


* They also mentioned the potential for rule changes in the future to address the issue of tire degradation and promote more sustainable racing.


* The hosts also joked about the possibility of a "bumper" segment in the podcast, where they would discuss controversial topics or incidents in Formula One.


* The episode ended with the hosts thanking their listeners and encouraging them to support the podcast through Patreon or other means. ## 2022 Qatar Grand Prix: Missed Apex Podcast

**Key Points:**

* Aston Martin's struggles continue with Stroll's poor performance and Alonso's brilliance highlighting the team's issues.

* Stroll's trainer comments suggest he may be losing motivation and could leave the team at the end of the season.

* Aston Martin may shift its focus to the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and Le Mans, where Stroll could compete.

* Sergio Perez's struggles continue, with another poor race in Qatar leading to calls for him to be replaced at Red Bull.

* Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson are suggested as potential replacements for Perez at Red Bull.

* Red Bull should test different drivers in the remaining races to determine the best option for next season.

* The extreme heat and demanding conditions in Qatar contributed to several incidents and driver errors during the race.

* Oscar Piastri's impressive performances in Formula 2 continue, with a sprint race win and podium finishes highlighting his potential.

* Piastri's success adds pressure on Lando Norris, his teammate at McLaren, and strengthens his case for a promotion to Formula 1.

* Chris Stevens believes Piastri's sprint race win is a statement of intent and predicts he will become a future world champion.

**Notable Quotes:**

* "I think it was too. They need a better driver than Stroll to get that car to where it deserves to be." - Alistair McElroy on Aston Martin's need for a better driver.

* "I think the only thing that saved them was starting so high up, and just Alonso's sheer Alonzoness." - Matt "Trumpets" Rutherford on Alonso's performance in Qatar.

* "So what I admit, terrible day for him. Yeah, and I tweeted this, look, because when's he, the last time he got out of Q1? Isn't it something like five Q1 exits in a row?" - Matt Rutherford on Lance Stroll's qualifying struggles.

* "He knows. He's probably been given an ultimatum now." - Christian Pedersen on Lance Stroll's situation at Aston Martin.

* "I mean, first of all, it depends if Strauss is just gonna pull him out of the Formula One team or if he's gonna withdraw from the entire Aston Martin brand altogether." - Chris Stevens on the potential outcomes for Stroll and Aston Martin.

* "So rounding off on Aston Martin, they're going to have to keep Alonso happy. So they've obviously given him promises about next season." - Matt Rutherford on Aston Martin's need to keep Alonso happy.

* "I've got a feeling it's time." - Chris Stevens on the possibility of Stroll leaving Aston Martin.

* "I've been pretty honest about my disappointment at Sergio Perez and how my Sergio Perez fandom isn't going well and I've been upset with the way he's driven." - Matt Rutherford on his disappointment with Sergio Perez's performance.

* "There was actually a driver who got more violations, track limit violations, than Perez." - Chris Stevens on Gasly receiving more track limit penalties than Perez.

* "I like Sergio Perez. I think he's a really, really good racing driver. I think he's really good on tires. I think he's intelligent. He has some craft." - Chris Stevens on his positive opinion of Sergio Perez.

* "Sometimes you just get into a situation where you just can't get out of. And you've seen it before with Formula 1 teams, racing teams in general. Sometimes there's just something just doesn't work and you can't get it back on track." - Chris Stevens on the difficulties of turning around a struggling driver-team relationship.

* "I have a suggestion. If I was Red Bull, I mean, they can't win more this year. They've won it all. So they could just not show up if they won." - Chris Stevens on a potential strategy for Red Bull in the remaining races.

* "Okay, so Matt, I hear you. I hear you on this, right? Why change anything when they've got 1-2 in the championship and the constructors is sorted? But for me, they need to anticipate the fact that next year, Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren could suddenly all be on the same footing as them. Doesn't matter how unlikely that may sound at the moment, they need to prepare for that possibility." - Chris Stevens on the need for Red Bull to make changes despite their current success.

* "I know the fact that they're all contracted to rebel anyway. So the fact that Ricardo has been announced to Alpha Tauri doesn't actually mean anything for now because he could still well end up in the Red Bull next year. Perez does have a contract for next year, but I really, really think they need to make a change there." - Chris Stevens on the complex driver contract situation at Red Bull.

* "What was going on? What juice had he been sipping?" - Chris Stevens on Pierre Gasly's aggressive driving in Qatar.

* "I've no idea, but he's shoving people off track, he's shoving himself off track to try and get moves done that he knows he's not going to be able to keep." - Chris Stevens on Gasly's driving style.

* "He was just being so wild out there and ended up losing out on points because he was another driver to accrue track limits penalties along with Albon as well." - Chris Stevens on Gasly's penalties.

* "It is amazing. It's like when you are, it's 3am, you're absolutely drunk off your mind, you see the taxi that's going to be able to take you home and he just wanders over to it like that, like a homing beacon, right?" - Matt Rutherford on Stroll's post-race behavior.

* "And the conditions so extreme." - Matt Rutherford on the challenging conditions in Qatar.

* "Luckily, next year's race is in December December should be significantly cooler then." - Chris Stevens on the expected cooler conditions for next year's Qatar Grand Prix.

* "So I think mentioning dispatches, I thought Synoda and Albon both like trading blows with each other, racing people really well, lots of action up and down the track." - Matt Rutherford on the exciting racing in Qatar.

* "A hot and sweaty evening in Qatar and a late night here in the UK. So I will get to the podium slightly quicker than usual." - Matt Rutherford on the time constraints of the podcast.

* "I think that's a really good showing." - Christian Pedersen on Oscar Piastri's performance in Formula 2.

* "He keeps habitually putting it, regardless of where Norris is, Piastri is on the podium a bunch. He's on the front row a couple of times. He's in that top five in qualifying. He is making it hard to ignore him." - Matt Rutherford on Piastri's consistent performances.

* "What he is doing at the moment is giving us a drumbeat of results." - Matt Rutherford on Piastri's impressive results.

* "Chris Stevens. Sorry if I can just add the clip with Piastri from, was it in Austria, where they flew?" - Matt Rutherford on a memorable moment involving Piastri.

* "So kind of similar to Christian, but specifically for me, Piastri's sprint win, I think it's a real statement of intent for Piastri, the fact that he's come in, he's won something before Norris, that is the biggest statement that has been made there and if there were any doubts about this kid being a future world champion then they are completely silenced now I think." - Chris Stevens on Piastri's potential as a future world champion. # Missed Apex Podcast Episode Summary: Qatar Grand Prix 2021

**Introduction**

* The podcast begins with the hosts discussing the unusual circumstances surrounding the Qatar Grand Prix, including the track preparation and the FIA's response to tire issues.

**Missed Apex Awards**

* Spanners: Praises the FIA for their quick and effective response to the tire issues, which prevented a potentially dangerous situation.
* Matt: Commends the FIA for their efficient handling of track limits violations, using technology to provide rapid and accurate assessments.
* Christian: Criticizes the FIA for not implementing a system to detect track limits violations in real-time, which would help to eliminate confusion and ensure consistency in penalties.

**Negative Aspects**

* Christian: Expresses his frustration with the excessive penalties issued for minor track limit infringements, arguing that the FIA needs to find a better way to manage this issue.

**Positive Aspects**

* Matt: Praises the exciting and unpredictable nature of the race, highlighting the strategic challenges faced by the teams and the thrilling battles on track.
* Spanners: Agrees with Matt, emphasizing the unique spectacle of the race and the opportunity it provided for drivers to push their cars to the limit.

**Controversies**

* The hosts discuss the controversy surrounding the track limits regulations, with Christian arguing that the FIA needs to implement a more effective system for enforcing them.

**Insights and Perspectives**

* The hosts provide insightful analysis of the race, discussing the strategies employed by the teams, the performance of individual drivers, and the implications of the results for the championship standings.

**Overall Message**

* The podcast concludes with the hosts emphasizing the importance of safety in Formula One and praising the FIA for their handling of the tire issues. They also highlight the unique and exciting nature of the Qatar Grand Prix, which provided a memorable spectacle for fans around the world.