The 2019 Season Preview

On this edition of Talking Bull - the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Podcast, our drivers Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly interview each other, we speak to Christian Horner about his thoughts on the season ahead plus we have an exclusive track from Flawes.

**Episode Summary: Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Podcast**

* **Hosts:** Nicola Hume, Christian Horner, Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly

* **Key Points:**

* **Season Preview:**
* New car, new drivers (Pierre Gasly and Max Verstappen), and new rules for the 2019 Formula One season.
* Gasly joins Red Bull Racing after a successful stint at Toro Rosso, while Verstappen enters his fifth season in F1 at just 21 years of age.
* The team aims to close the gap to their competitors and achieve more consistent performances across different tracks.

* **Driver Interview:**
* Verstappen and Gasly engage in a lighthearted interview, discussing their preparations for the season, their favorite go-karting tracks, and their thoughts on the new regulations.
* They also reveal their helmet design coordination and share their excitement about working together.

* **Christian Horner Interview:**
* Horner provides insights into the team's atmosphere, the impact of the new regulations and power unit supplier (Honda), and his expectations for the upcoming season.
* He emphasizes the importance of consistency and aims to see both cars performing competitively across various tracks.
* Horner also discusses the team's approach to managing their young drivers, stating that they will be treated the same as previous drivers.

* **Key Lessons from 15 Years in F1:**
* Horner reflects on his 15 years as team principal, highlighting the importance of adaptability, flexibility, and open-mindedness in a constantly evolving sport.

* **Life Away from Formula 1:**
* Horner shares his passion for animals, revealing that he has over 40 animals, including goats and donkeys, at his home.
* He also expresses his preference for quality over quantity regarding the number of races in a season, stating that 21 or 22 races feel like the upper limit.

* **Red Bull Advanced Technologies:**
* Horner discusses the Valkyrie project, a collaboration between Aston Martin and Red Bull Advanced Technologies, and expresses his excitement about the car's performance.
* He mentions that he hopes to test drive the Valkyrie later in the year.

* **Wings for Life Charity:**
* Horner highlights the importance of the Wings for Life charity, which focuses on finding a cure for spinal cord injury and damage.
* He expresses the team's full support for the charity and looks forward to working with them throughout the year.

* **Message to Fans:**
* Horner concludes the podcast by expressing his excitement for the 2019 season, emphasizing the new ingredients that will spice things up, including the new driver lineup and the Honda engine.
* He encourages fans to get behind Pierre Gasly and Max Verstappen and anticipates a thrilling season of Formula One racing.

* **Additional Highlights:**

* Exclusive track, "Don't Count Me Out" by Floorsong, is played at the end of the podcast.
* The podcast features a segment called "60 Seconds with," where team members are briefly introduced. In this episode, Dario Itzo, a racing technical advisor for ExxonMobil, shares his passion for Formula 1 and his role in testing fuel and lubricants.

* **Overall Message:**

The podcast provides an informative and engaging preview of the 2019 Formula One season from the perspective of the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team. It offers insights into the team's preparations, goals, and expectations, while also highlighting the dedication and passion of the individuals involved.