McLaren special with Norris and Piastri | Can Mercedes challenge Red Bull?

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

## **Spanish Grand Prix Review**

- **Matt Baker:** Hello everyone, welcome to this week's podcast. We've got a special episode for you this week. I've managed to gatecrash Sky F1 filming day and ahead of this year's Ashes, Sky F1 and the Sky cricket team have come down here to film a cricket match. Joining us are team McLaren, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

- **Lando Norris:** I'm very good, thanks, how are you?

- **Matt Baker:** I'm very well, thanks. How was the cricket, first question?

- **Lando Norris:** How was the cricket? I mean, we lost. It's a sad thing but it was actually really fun.

- **Matt Baker:** And obviously a slightly disappointing result. Just talk about that.

- **Lando Norris:** We can move on from that because Lando Norris fans have been in touch with some questions. Quite a few, actually, so thank you very much, Lando Norris fans.

- **Matt Baker:** Thank you. And they on Twitter want to know, if a bad result on race weekend, is it very hard to get over, or how do you get over it in your downtime?

- **Lando Norris:** Depends a little bit on the reason for the result. If it's definitely through my own doing, a lot longer to get over.

- **Matt Baker:** Is that a case of doing things in your downtime, like golf or kind of stuff that's just away from racing that's completely different, and that takes your mind off things?

- **Lando Norris:** Sometimes, like sometimes you just want to know, like yeah, sometimes you just want to stop thinking of it, so you can, it takes the emotion out of it.

- **Matt Baker:** When you poach someone from another team is it kind of like I don't know signing a striker from another team in football, is it do you get that kind of buzz and that thrill from going, oh, you know, we've got, you know, Rob Marshall from Red Bull.

- **Lando Norris:** Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't have used the football analogy, but I think, yes, I mean, I don't know these guys, I guess, personally.

- **Matt Baker:** Kaylee on Twitter would like to know, when is Lando gonna revive Lando.jpg?

- **Lando Norris:** I think your last post was in April. It was. Is there a bank of photos maybe? Oh, there's a lot. Are there? There is, yeah. I don't know why I just started it because I wanted to. Dip in, dip out.

- **Matt Baker:** Miles on Twitter would like to know, have you ever had a sweaty visor and confused it for rain?

- **Lando Norris:** I don't think I have. I don't know where I would have, it must have been working hard to sweat that much in Barcelona.

- **Matt Baker:** Now one thing I want to talk to you about and Jack does as well on Instagram is about the Vegas track.

- **Lando Norris:** I just don't think people realize just how cool it's gonna be. Like you're driving in Vegas, like streets of Vegas.

- **Matt Baker:** Can you, as a Formula One driver, because there's not many of you who get to do the game and also get to drive a Formula One car, will that experience of driving it on the game genuinely help your knowledge and experience of the track?

- **Lando Norris:** Yeah, no, absolutely. I think by the time it comes, we'll also have it on actual simulator.

- **Matt Baker:** Lando, we'll let you go. There's some kids over there who I think want one more bowl. Bowl me out again. Yeah, off you go. Thanks Appreciate it. Pleasure

- **Matt Baker:** Oscar welcome to the Sky Sports F1 podcast. How you doing?

- **Oscar Piastri:** Very good. Thank you

- **Matt Baker:** What is it about the sport that you like? I mean, how much have you played?

- **Oscar Piastri:** So, like, before I started racing, I played a fair bit, and then even whilst I was racing.

- **Matt Baker:** This is where it could happen.

- **Oscar Piastri:** This is where it could happen.

- **Matt Baker:** So look, it was Spain this weekend, and Saturday qualifying was obviously great for the team and you got into Q3 and then obviously perhaps a slightly more disappointing race. Where do you see McLaren being at the moment in terms of race pace?

- **Oscar Piastri:** I think so, yes. I think qualifying on Saturday was pretty unexpected to be that high up on the grid.

- **Matt Baker:** What about those upgrades that we hear are coming? Is it either Austria or Silverstone? What are you hoping is going to come from those upgrades?

- **Oscar Piastri:** Hopefully a pretty decent step in performance I would say.

- **Matt Baker:** Okay, we're going to try and get through as many fan questions as possible because I know that loads of people have sent them in, basically until you're needed on the cricket pitch.

- **Matt Baker:** The first one's actually from Lando Norris Fans. So there you go. What are the biggest differences between working in F2 and F1?

- **Oscar Piastri:** So everything but the driving aspects, honestly is the biggest differences.

- **Matt Baker:** And even the driving, it's the best drivers in the world. So that's certainly not an easy part either. Yeah, well now you obviously I think what we seven or eight rounds in How do you reflect on having a year away from the sport?

- **Oscar Piastri:** I think there was positives and negatives from from having the year off Obviously the negative being I'm a racing car driver and I want to race cars.

- **Matt Baker:** Ashley on Twitter would like to know, if you weren't a driver in the team, what else would you be doing?

- **Oscar Piastri:** I'd probably want to be an engineer.

- **Matt Baker:** You've got quite a direct influence on the performance for the weekend as well.

- **Oscar Piastri:** So yeah, there's that element of pressure and competition, but also it's highly technical, which I like as well.

- **Matt Baker:** What were your A-levels?

- **Oscar Piastri:** Maths, physics, and computer science.

- **Matt Baker:** Michael on Twitter would like to know, what do you guys do to prepare yourself for a race any traditions?

- **Oscar Piastri:** Not really any traditions, I think all of us on the grid have like a routine before we get in the car

- **Matt Baker:** Do you look at what other drivers are doing?

- **Oscar Piastri:** No matter how small, everyone's trying to look at what other people are doing. Is that the case?

- **Oscar Piastri:** I mean, I've seen him doing it before, but I think every driver has their own routine.

- **Matt Baker:** Yeah, I can see the chilled. I'm getting the chilled vibes. If you're like this before a race, you're fine.

- **Oscar Piastri:** Yes, exactly, yeah. I'm pretty low energy before a race, I think.

- **Matt Baker:** Katie would like to know when is Lando going to get Oscar on the golf course?

- **Oscar Piastri:** He actually offered me to come and, well he offered a spot for me on I think was Wednesday before Barcelona.

- **Matt Baker:** Are you one of those, I mean, obviously I know you're cricket, you know, you're pretty good at cricket. Are you someone who was always good at sport at school?

- **Oscar Piastri:** I think before I started racing, I was decent at most of the sports I did.

- **Matt Baker:** Lucas would like to know if you could drive in any era of F1, which would it be and why?

- **Oscar Piastri:** I mean, I think the cars from sort of the mid-2000s to 2010s, so the V10s, V8s, lighter cars. I think that's probably the era I would have chosen.

- **Matt Baker:** Okay, thank you very much to Lando and to Oscar, but I found Rachel and Damon, who are gonna help me look back at the Spanish Grand Prix.

- **Damon Hill:** Hello to you both, you well?

- **Matt Baker:** Very good, very good, thank you. Yeah, I'm a bit sore after running around after a cricket ball, very good, thank you. Yeah, I'm a bit sore after running around after a cricket ball, very good, thank you. Yeah, I'm a bit sore after running around after a cricket ball.

# Formula One Spanish Grand Prix Review and Analysis

## Overview:

The Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya provided thrilling moments and strategic battles, offering insights into the competitive landscape of the 2023 Formula One season. Mercedes showcased significant progress with a two-three finish, while Red Bull maintained dominance with Max Verstappen's victory.

## Mercedes' Resurgence:

- Mercedes displayed encouraging signs of improvement with Lewis Hamilton finishing second and George Russell securing third place.
- The team's upgrades, particularly to the side pods and underbody, appeared to unlock more potential in the car.
- The positive result boosted morale and provided a springboard for further development throughout the season.

## Red Bull's Continued Strength:

- Max Verstappen's commanding victory highlighted Red Bull's ongoing dominance, extending his lead in the Drivers' Championship.
- Despite Mercedes' gains, Red Bull remains the team to beat, with further updates expected to enhance their performance.

## Ferrari's Struggles:

- Ferrari faced challenges in Spain, with Carlos Sainz Jr. finishing fourth and Charles Leclerc retiring due to a power unit issue.
- The team's struggles raised concerns about their direction and ability to compete with Red Bull and Mercedes.

## Aston Martin's Disappointing Performance:

- Aston Martin's anticipated strong showing at Barcelona failed to materialize, leaving Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll outside the top ten.
- The team's performance raised questions about their competitiveness and the effectiveness of their upgrades.

## Impact of Wind Tunnel Time and Cost Cap:

- The impact of wind tunnel time and cost cap restrictions on team development strategies was discussed.
- Teams must carefully balance their resources to maximize performance while adhering to the budget limitations.

## Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes Contract Talks:

- Lewis Hamilton's contract negotiations with Mercedes were a topic of discussion.
- The focus is on the team's future plans, support for Hamilton's ambitions, and the possibility of an ambassadorial role beyond his driving career.

## Conclusion:

The Spanish Grand Prix provided a glimpse into the evolving dynamics of the 2023 Formula One season. Mercedes' resurgence, Red Bull's continued strength, and the struggles of Ferrari and Aston Martin set the stage for an intriguing battle for supremacy in the upcoming races.