Ted's Podbook | First Sprint of the season at Azerbaijan GP

Ted Kravitz has been looking ahead to the Azerbaijan GP and what storylines we can expect from the fourth race of the season. He discusses what the new format of the Sprint weekend will look like, Max Verstappen's negative reaction to it, how Ferrari's Laurent Mekies will replace Franz Tost as AlphaTauri team principal, James Alisson's return to Mercedes and the big question surrounding the weekend: whether Fernando Alonso is dating Taylor Swift!

# Ted's PodBook: Unveiling the Azerbaijan GP and Formula One News

Ted Kravitz's podcast, Ted's PodBook, returns after a four-week hiatus, providing insights into the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix and other Formula One developments.

## Sprint Weekend Format

The Azerbaijan GP introduces a new format, a sprint weekend, with six such events scheduled for the 2023 season. The format includes one practice session on Friday, followed by qualifying for the Grand Prix. Saturday features qualifying for the sprint race and the sprint race itself, while Sunday hosts the traditional Grand Prix race.

## Max Verstappen's Perspective

Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, expressed his reservations about the sprint weekend format, preferring the traditional Saturday qualifying and Sunday Grand Prix format. He also raised concerns about driver and team burnout due to the increased intensity of the sprint weekends.

## Team Principal Changes

Franz Tost, the long-serving team principal of AlphaTauri, will step down by the end of the year, with Laurent Mekies, Ferrari's current Sporting Director, taking over the role. This move has sparked discussions about a potential brain drain at Ferrari, but Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz remain confident in the team's capabilities.

## Mercedes' Leadership Reshuffle

Mercedes has announced a leadership reshuffle, with Mike Elliott moving to the role of Chief Technical Officer and James Allison returning to the position of Technical Director. This change aims to galvanize the team and improve the performance of the W14 car.

## Driver Perspectives

Fernando Alonso remained tight-lipped about the rumored relationship with Taylor Swift, while Carlos Sainz expressed lingering frustration over the penalty that cost him a podium finish in Australia. Yuki Tsunoda emphasized the need for a double espresso to prepare for the intense Saturday schedule, and Oscar Piastri discussed the potential advantage Formula Two graduates might have in the sprint qualifying format.

## Circuit Updates

The Turn One area at Silverstone has undergone resurfacing, replacing gravel with asphalt to enhance safety following Zhou Guanyu's accident last year.

## Broadcast Schedule

Ted Kravitz provided the broadcast schedule for the Azerbaijan GP:

- Friday: Free Practice 1 at 1.30 pm local time
- Friday: Qualifying for the Grand Prix at 5 pm local time
- Saturday: Qualifying for the sprint race at 1.30 pm local time
- Saturday: Sprint race at 5.30 pm local time
- Sunday: Azerbaijan Grand Prix at 3 pm local time

With the new sprint weekend format and various team dynamics in play, the Azerbaijan GP promises excitement and unpredictable racing. Ted's PodBook offers an informative preview of the upcoming event, capturing the atmosphere and providing insights from drivers and team personnel.