On Sundays We Talk Japanese GP

Lexi and Rachel are back to break down a high-speed weekend at Suzuka. We’re getting into the full race replay, from the technical demands of the track to the standout performances that shifted the 2026 standings.

Beyond the track action, we’re catching up on the latest paddock news and the "hot goss" making waves this week. We also dive into our usual segments, checking in on the chaos of "Finding Flavio" and sharing the latest updates from the Formula Run Club. 

 Follow for Weekly F1 Content
Stay up to date with On Sundays We —your go-to Formula 1 podcast for race previews, race recaps, F1 news, and paddock hot goss all season long.

Join the F1 + Running Community
Follow @onsundayswepod for F1 updates, behind-the-scenes content, and Formula Run Club.

Support the Show
Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more F1 fans find us.

💌 Contact & Collabs

rmonsundayswe@gmail.com

llonsundayswe@gmail.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:09

Okay, I started it. Hello. I didn't realize you started it.

SPEAKER_01 0:14

Hi! Hi! Welcome to Sundays Wee a Formula One podcast. I'm Rachel. I'm Lexi.

SPEAKER_00 0:24

We are a little sleep deprived. Yeah, we we went to a watch party last night for the Japan Grand Prix. Watch party might be a generous term. Yeah. Well, there were a decent amount of people there. There was a watch party at midnight on a Saturday at a brewery. Um, and it wasn't as crazy as the last one we went to, which was actually really lovely because we were able to talk. Able to talk, able to get seats, and honestly, a lot of girlies there. So many girlies.

SPEAKER_01 0:56

Some really well-dressed girlies.

SPEAKER_00 0:57

Yeah, like Rach and I thought we were gonna roll up and be like the bell of the ball as far as outfits are concerned, and we were not.

SPEAKER_01 1:04

We were not, we were underdressed in our hockey jerseys, our McLaren and um oh my god, Red Bebel hockey jerseys.

SPEAKER_00 1:15

It was uh it was fun though, and we are a little sleepy, um, but that's okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:20

No, it was so worth it. I think we figured, yeah, might as well last race for what four weeks?

SPEAKER_00 1:27

I think it's even more than that. If five weeks, I think it's five weeks. We yeah, we'll we're fully diving into some other racing avenues just because why not?

SPEAKER_01 1:39

I think we're gonna have to explore NASCAR and IndyCar. Except there's only one IndyCar race. But three NASCAR? Did we say three NASCAR?

SPEAKER_00 1:47

Yeah, and we need to look further into it because I guess there's like different levels of different NASCAR races. I really don't know. We know nothing, so we will get back to everyone. Maybe this will turn into a racing podcast. Woohoo!

SPEAKER_01 2:00

We are open to all series. Yeah. If anyone wants to invite us to races, we're willing to learn. Yes, we love it. Willing to learn and cover any content. Very competitive over here. Very competitive.

SPEAKER_00 2:12

Other news, if you were wondering what you guys are doing on this huge break, we have a podcast room to uh paint and yeah, so we'll probably make some fun content out of it.

SPEAKER_01 2:24

Uh we just got some new chairs that you can't see, but they're bright orange velvets to be fun.

SPEAKER_00 2:30

It'll be great. Stay tuned. There's a cool rug. Yeah, that's that's and yeah, that's what we got so far.

SPEAKER_01 2:36

That's all we got so far. We'll get some artwork. It's it's going to be great. So reveal will come. Yeah, reveal will come.

SPEAKER_00 2:45

It's great. Um, lots of things to talk about.

SPEAKER_01 2:48

Oh my gosh. Honestly, so much content. We kind of had to like pair it back. The just even off the grid content is off the charts at the moment, like how much is happening.

SPEAKER_00 2:57

Yeah, pretty exciting. Um, the thing that's top of my mind, I'm gonna jump around here. We know that that Tamagotchi Bruce is dead. It has to be dead. There's no way it survived.

SPEAKER_01 3:08

I guess like uh or hot gos that kind of qualifies hot gos. But yeah, starting off our hot goss content strong. That video was so funny. We just had to do a little refresh, refresh watch. But yeah, it has to be named. When I hear the name Bruce, I always think of Bruce Springsteen, but it's obviously after Bruce McLaren.

SPEAKER_00 3:29

Yeah, I did not put two of that together until Rachel spoke to Bruce McLaren.

SPEAKER_01 3:33

And they did not know what a Tamagotchi was, which makes sense.

SPEAKER_00 3:35

They are not millennials, but that's also hilarious. Umvinced that that Tamagotchi's dead right now. R.I.P. Bruce.

SPEAKER_01 3:45

Well, they couldn't take care of it while they were driving. And poor Cass. I mean, she can't discipline them, apparently, the Tamagotchi.

SPEAKER_00 3:54

So I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 3:54

Whoever Cass is was supposed to take care of it. Um, but yeah, no, I the funniest part was when Lando's face went like so sad and dark, whereas like you can't overfeed it, or and then it'll refuse to eat and it will die. Yeah, and then they're just like, and then and then Oscar's like, we're back, we're back, we're back. We're moving on. So cute. But yeah, really enjoyed that. Loving that they're not head-to-head race, not racing each other.

SPEAKER_00 4:20

Right now, yeah. And also, um, Drive to Survive really made them the first couple episodes, like kind of feel like they're like besties. No, which is the vibe.

SPEAKER_01 4:31

No, that's the vibe that we want from Oscar and Lando. And I I understand when you're battling for World Drivers Championship, that you're maybe not gonna be the best of friends and just be cordial.

SPEAKER_00 4:44

But love it, the boys are back, the boys are back, the boys are back, they are back. Thank God.

SPEAKER_01 4:49

Thank God we will we will talk about that. Yes, McLaren. Good on them. Hello, welcome back. Welcome. Um, but I guess okay, number one, devastating, but we did not see Kim in the paddock.

SPEAKER_00 5:03

Yeah, and then we had a moment where we were like, is she an incognito?

SPEAKER_01 5:08

And um Oh my god, I was dying.

SPEAKER_00 5:11

Yeah. Lex was like, what do you think she's in? Like a closet? Yeah, it was like, is she Taylor Swifting? Is she in like a little orange cart? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:22

I mean, because I well, in my mind, I was like, is she hiding in hospitality? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But she would still need to get in and probably have a paddock pass. So I don't think she was there.

SPEAKER_00 5:31

There's literally no way that she would have showed up. We that we would have heard about it.

SPEAKER_01 5:35

But it's just wild. She was in, she's in Japan.

SPEAKER_00 5:38

They were seen at a bridal shop. Well, yeah, shopping around. He was doing the the anthro husband chair thing. Oh, yeah, sitting outside.

SPEAKER_01 5:48

Well, and I think I heard somewhere that someone said that she was maybe maybe Skims was carried in the shop and so like wanted to check it out. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 5:57

Can we just please get an F1 Skims collab? Like, if all this drama is happening, I'm gonna I'm gonna keep asking. This is the like the fourth time I've asked. I would love a little matching PJ set. Oh, don't even get me started on jammies. I can't wait to get my jammies. I'd be wearing those all the time. You'd never see us another F1 merch ever again. Yeah, Rachel has jeans on today, and I literally said you should put pajama pants on.

SPEAKER_01 6:23

Well, no one can see us, but all my leggings are dirty. Yeah. I've been actually working out, so been running. So all my leggings were dirty.

SPEAKER_00 6:32

Oh, also, you should tell everyone, we should tell everyone what we're wearing. Because no one can see us.

SPEAKER_01 6:37

Okay, a little merch plug before we move on to our next. Yes. Um, I am currently wearing I am so sad that I don't think that she's making merch anymore, but it's the Sunday fangirls collection that I think was started by Tony Cowen Brown. Tony Cowan Brown. Um, yeah, and it's a Sunday fangirls t-shirt, the future of fandom. Stay tuned. It's one of my favorite shirts.

SPEAKER_00 7:03

I walked in and was like, what is that? I need it. So cute. I think I don't, I think they're yeah, sorry. I'm gonna have to eBay. I'm gonna have to eBay eBay it, I guess. Um, I don't have anything very exciting on. I did wear, oh no, I have dog drool on me, but that's okay. Or egg salad. It's a vibe or egg salad, yeah. Either, either way. Um Red Bull. I think this is from Abercrombie. Very comfy. Those are the best. Yeah, no, and they are they kind of stopped making things now. No, thank goodness I got it. Thank goodness. Yeah, and then you know, nothing else exciting going on because like we said, we were up really late. Up really late. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:38

I think if this podcast somehow takes off, we would love to continue to promote any small businesses or any F1 content creators that are making merch. So we'll we'll attempt to do that.

SPEAKER_00 7:51

Yeah, we at the end of the day love clothes. So love clothes. That's you know, uh love merch. On the topic of clothes, Max, Maxi Max. Oh, Max's little alfatari. Yes, he looked so good.

SPEAKER_01 8:07

I didn't even honestly, I didn't even look at the clothes. It was a very on-trend monochromatic.

SPEAKER_00 8:13

That's what it looked like.

SPEAKER_01 8:15

It was kind of very Lewis inspired. I feel like Lewis will do like a good monochromatic.

SPEAKER_00 8:19

Yes. Look, yes, yes. And uh it looked, it looked like cozy, kind of that like 90s boxy style sort of thing going on.

SPEAKER_01 8:28

You just know he does not enjoy doing the head.

SPEAKER_00 8:31

I know, and that's what makes it even better because he looked so good. He looked really polished, yeah. Really polished.

SPEAKER_01 8:37

Yeah, I would say, oh, the other thing. Well, speaking of looks, Carlos got a haircut, yeah, and you know, he did do well, so the argument is it did help his weight. But he shed some weight and he went faster. But I yeah, I mean he still looks great. He looks great. It actually doesn't look that it doesn't look bad.

SPEAKER_00 9:02

It's just kind of jarring that he's and that poor person who took the photo of him on the scooter.

SPEAKER_01 9:08

Oh my god, his hair just like off to one side.

unknown 9:12

Oh no.

SPEAKER_01 9:13

The other thing, um, the other thing too, okay. So I guess when Lewis was at Mercedes, he started bowling a bowling tradition.

SPEAKER_00 9:20

Yeah, in Japan's, yes. And George, the Duchess, has taken it upon himself to continue the tradition.

SPEAKER_01 9:29

Which I love I love that for him. And he is now the more tenured driver of the team. But I'm also like, maybe George you should come up with a new tradition.

SPEAKER_00 9:37

Like, yeah, I mean he didn't or key, I don't know. It's hard to tell if G A uh George Russell, G R, was what I was trying to say. General admission. G A G R uh really enjoys anything most of the time because he tries to do that like cool guy thing, but it actually comes off funny, but he doesn't mean it to be funny. Right. And he that was what was happening with the bowling. Trying to play it cool, trying to be competitive. Yes, but it was hilarious when he was like, and then Carlos just showed us. I guess he's gonna come back to Mercedes as an engineer.

SPEAKER_01 10:13

I loved that so much. Well, and then the other funny thing was then Lewis kept the tradition going at Ferrari. Oh, okay. And Charles Ferrari and Fred. I got a gutter ball. Like I'm dying. That would be me. I can relate.

SPEAKER_00 10:28

You're from the Midwest, you have to be good at bowling. Is that a requirement? Maybe it's more Wisconsin. I'm also bad at bowling. Do you remember when we went bowling that one time at work and we were so bad? Yes. And we were like so competitive, and yeah, anyway.

SPEAKER_01 10:43

We were just around for a good time for the bowling, but anyway, love love that they're keeping bowling traditions.

SPEAKER_00 10:49

They're they're having team bonding outings, and that's great. And we get to see it.

SPEAKER_01 10:52

And we get to see it.

SPEAKER_00 10:53

Thank you, social media managers.

SPEAKER_01 10:54

Thank you, social media managers, the real MVPs, the real MVPs.

SPEAKER_00 10:59

Well, and then George too with Sogo. Oh, heartwarming. Like, if you are not a George Russell fan and you saw that real, and your heart was not tugged in just the right little places, you are a monster. Because that was the sweetest thing.

SPEAKER_01 11:19

It was so cute. Just the fact that he learned English. He started carding.

SPEAKER_00 11:26

He started carding. He drew him a picture, which I wish they had showed us. I really want to know what the picture looked like. And George, I am so sad that you didn't tea pose with that poor boy. I guess he did last year.

SPEAKER_01 11:38

I think George is very over the T-pose, but it was just funny because I don't know where his little arms just went.

SPEAKER_00 11:43

Yes, it was so cute. I watched that reel probably like seven times.

SPEAKER_01 11:47

It was a good one. And I truly to your point, sometimes I think George, God bless him, is like just trying to be Mr. Perfect, people pleaser, kind of not that he's not genuine, but you can just tell he's trying hard, which again, I appreciate. I can relate. But you can just see the genuine smile on his face when he's talking to him and giving him all those high fives. And it was so hugs.

SPEAKER_00 12:12

It was so sweet. It like really made me be like, Oh George, I hope you do well in the race just for Sogo. Just for Sogo. And my husband. But mostly Sogo.

SPEAKER_01 12:23

But mostly Sogo. No, it was a really feel-good moment.

SPEAKER_00 12:27

Oh my god, and we didn't even put in here the tiny drivers. And then did you see? I think I said it to you this morning. Did you see the picture of Sogo with the tiny drivers? And he's doing the depot. What?

SPEAKER_01 12:38

It's so cute. Stop it. Okay, we'll have to pull that. I can't. It's well, and two of the tiny drivers are girls. I know. Which I love. I love it. So I think we did see Charles with his tiny driver and then Lando with his little mini me, which was so sweet. But you know what we didn't see, Lex? And I'm so sorry to bring this up. We didn't see Max with his tiny driver.

SPEAKER_00 13:01

That would have been really sweet. And I feel like Max would have liked that. Like that would have been really funny.

SPEAKER_01 13:05

I think that might have lifted his spirits though. Maybe Max needed to see.

SPEAKER_00 13:10

Max needs a little pee, he needs a little lily, and he needs a little little tiny driver. I cannot find it. It's okay.

SPEAKER_01 13:18

We'll we'll find it later, but I can't wait to see Sogo with the Tiny Drivers.

SPEAKER_00 13:22

Yeah, no, the Sogo with the Tiny Drivers is so cute. The tiny drivers in general. Like the the the children of F1 are really adorable. Really cute. Again, well, yeah, can't wait to even see Lily.

SPEAKER_01 13:33

Yes, eventually.

SPEAKER_00 13:34

Eventually, maybe we'll see.

SPEAKER_01 13:35

Whenever we can see Lily. I think again, like so much good content this week. This is like literally just the shortest of snippets, but I was it get to know the F1 drivers video where Bodas was talking about um how he kind of has a pet. Nigel. Nigel the Badger. Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 13:54

No, it was it was the get to know the drivers. Nigel the Badger. It was injured. Well, he casually mentions Yeah, what does he say? He says something like, I sort of have a pet badger, and then they just move away from it and they bring it back, and they're like, We just need to talk more about this badger, and why did you not say anything about it and tell us more about a badger in Monaco? Like, I didn't know there were badgers in Monaco. Is it in Monaco? Yes. Because I thought initially it was in Australia, and we looked it up and it was Monaco. Oh my god. Wow.

SPEAKER_01 14:26

I didn't really know. I guess we could verify. I forgot verify now, but we did we did look it up. I but it was just really funny. There was like cat a cat food dish and a picture of Nigel like through the door. It was like in the glass.

SPEAKER_00 14:39

It was in his dump, like his photo dump.

SPEAKER_01 14:42

Sneakily in there. I can't remember who pulled it out. You can't get past us though. Um I'm just looking up where Botas lives.

SPEAKER_00 14:52

He has a house in Monaco, and then he has his whole little wine situation.

SPEAKER_01 14:56

It was probably in Monaco. But anyway, love the Nigel sighting. And then, oh Arvid. This is not like gossip, and we could talk about it later. Um oh okay. Can confirm Nigel the Badger lives in Monaco. He's in Monaco. He's in Monaco. So funny. Yeah, again, weird animal to beat. Anyway, I don't know. And eats cat food. Like there's so many funny things that are going on here with this. Ooh.

SPEAKER_00 15:24

Faltery Bow Toss. If you're listening, would wear a Nigel the Badger shirt. We need Nigel merch. Tiffany. Tiffany, get on making him a Nigel helmet.

SPEAKER_01 15:34

Ooh!

SPEAKER_00 15:35

Because that helmet he had this weekend was so sick. And we never saw it because. Well, it could also be an homage to the honey badger.

SPEAKER_01 15:44

It always comes back. Yes. Always comes back to Danny. Always comes back to Danny.

SPEAKER_00 15:50

Danny.

SPEAKER_01 15:51

Um, okay, sorry. I was we could talk about this later too. I assume it's after the race. I don't know when this clip was. I don't have the context. But Arvid was like kind of patting his car and gave it a little kiss.

SPEAKER_00 16:04

Okay, I took that, and maybe it was after the race, now that you say that. I totally thought it was before the race, like when he was like about to hop in his car. Oh, it could have been. And he was doing like a you know ritualistic like treat me, I treat you well. Treat me well. Treat me well. Yes. But maybe it was after the race.

SPEAKER_01 16:21

Well, if it was before, it obviously worked. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:24

Garbage.

SPEAKER_01 16:25

At least for qualifying.

SPEAKER_00 16:26

I mean, where did he where did he end up?

SPEAKER_01 16:28

I honestly can't remember off the top of my head. But we could look it up.

SPEAKER_00 16:33

Oh, he was in P14.

SPEAKER_01 16:34

So not that exciting. Everyone was very close, but very close. Very, very close. I think the only other thing, I mean, celebrities in the paddock. Again, I think there could have been more that we did not see, but the super Kim. Like Kim in the closet. But the Super Mario movie was doing a promo. And so it was like Brie Larson, which she didn't look like herself. I did not recognize her. We did not recognize her. She looked great.

SPEAKER_00 17:03

We were like, who is that woman? And then did John recognize her? I don't. I I think maybe I didn't know. You confirmed. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:11

You guys both had a moment where you were like, oh yeah, Brie Larson. She had long dark hair and sunglasses on. And she normally I feel like is like a dirty blonde. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:18

But definitely. So what is even her what is she in the movie? I don't know. Because I know Anya Taylor Joy is the Peach. Is Peach and Jack Black is Bowser. Is Chris Pratt Mario? That sounds right. That sounds like that's what's happening in the trailer because I know I saw the trailer, but we'll have to go to the scene. Yeah, we'll have to go do some movie digging.

SPEAKER_01 17:42

But I I told you this. It literally just occurred to me this morning how kind of like wild and like kind of messed up that is that the drivers have been comparing driving this season to Mario Kart, and now there is a Mario Kart Super Mario Bros. movie that was at the paddock.

SPEAKER_00 18:04

And they were at the paddock, yeah. They just it's it's funny. I'm sure this is not it, but I like to think that the the FIA is just like or the F F1, not FIA, but the F1's just like leaning into it, which I know is not the case, but that would be hilarious. I think that would be smart if they did. I agree, but I think they're trying to skirt around it. Yes, like them changing, was it Max's or Charles' um steering wheel to like a Mario Kart? Charles, yeah. That was that was that was funny. Like I want more of that, and that would have been really funny too, but I don't, I don't, I'm sure that's not the case. No, I'm sure they had this planned forever.

SPEAKER_01 18:43

Because all those radio messages regarding Mario Kart from drivers are all not featured on the telecast. So again, just embrace it. Give us more radios. That's all we want. Honestly, give us more radios. That's all we want. I uh wish that we would get those even when you're watching, and I understand it'd be a lot to track, but even when you're watching the driver's view, yeah, but we also aren't watching the we haven't die uh down downloaded. We haven't subscribed, we haven't subscribed to Apple TV, so we don't know all of the fancy new features that are on the yeah, we're like hanging on to F1 TV as long as we're gonna be.

SPEAKER_00 19:22

I guess technically we watched it on Apple last night because or this morning because we were at the watch party. True. But it was hard to hear. I mean, we we could hear, but it wasn't like Yes, and we didn't, but we also weren't watching the driver viewpoints. We were watching the driver viewpoints on uh F1 TV. F1 TV.

SPEAKER_01 19:40

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, which saved saved the night actually. So anyway, maybe there is a way you can listen to all the driver radios.

SPEAKER_00 19:47

I doubt it, but I'm like that would be because isn't it isn't it Carlos that talks the most with his engineer? I remember seeing something say it was like the time per race that every driver and Carlos is like a third more than everyone else. So if you just put on Carlos's always strategizing, yeah, man. Put on put on Carlos's POV and you're just like talk to the entire race.

SPEAKER_01 20:14

Honestly, would love that so much that would make my heart so happy. Well, Carlos chit chat. Well, we'll also go over there's like not that much news because a lot of it I think relates to things that we're talking about during the race. But I do you want to cover the Max story?

SPEAKER_00 20:31

Yeah, I mean he had a dry or a journalist, and he walked in the room and basically said, I'm not saying anything until he leaves. And the journalist said, Because I asked the question about Brazil and Abu Dhabi, and Max said, Yes, he needs to leave, and like we'd not talk until the journalist left. And it sounds like the journalist did leave, but now other people I saw are other journalists are saying that they're gonna boycott Max. Like, and then Max is like obviously thrilled about it because we all know Max hates the media part of it. Hates the media part. So that's kind of fun. And also, come on, Max, just like I you know, I I mean, I get it, I love it, it's part of your whole thing, but I I understand that yes, some of the times being a journalist, you have to ask cringe questions, or they're really repetitive, but they're literally just trying to do their job.

SPEAKER_01 21:30

And I'm not saying that some of them aren't pushing buttons or pushing the limits, but I'm like, come on, dude.

SPEAKER_00 21:36

Yeah, like this this person obviously rubbed Max the wrong way, but um I think he's just on edge right now. I agree because looking at even um, I sent you the one this morning that Red Bull reposted, which it was like official Red Bull posted him and Daniel in Japan from like 2018. Yes, which is super. Fun, but he's like a completely doing samurai school. Yes, and he's like a completely different person. And even looking at um watching Drive to Surve, we watched the last episode of Drive to Survive last night, and even just his attitude then, and they don't even interview him, he's just like in the episode.

SPEAKER_01 22:17

It's like I get it, he's having a really tough start to the season, but no, well, and that was last year when he was actually doing well at the end.

SPEAKER_00 22:29

So I'm just and had also had a tough year, honestly. I mean, he came out on top, didn't win, but like did great. But he had a tough start. We might as well talk about this now because I I told you there was something that I wasn't sure if you Oh I Oh my god, I just realized Rachel did not prep me, but she was like, You might die, and I think I might know. I think I might have seen it and I might have like forgotten it, like just pushed it away into the back of my the back of my brain.

SPEAKER_01 22:55

Oh, I woke up this morning and I must have been half asleep because my husband left for work and he was like, Did you see what Max said? And I was like, What? No, I'm lying in bed, and he's like, Max is gonna retire after 2026. And I was like, No, I did. But I know But I will say, we just need to take this with a grain of salt. But there is an ESPN headline that says Max first happened, considering retiring from F1 at the end of 2026. But even then, I think they just took his words and misconstrued it.

SPEAKER_00 23:34

Well, and of course it's a it's a clickbait, which I get, but I did see. And I'm sorry, it's considerable. Bro, that's what I was gonna say. I did see something else that worded it slightly differently, and they did basically say that he's over it. And here's the thing he might be. Like he said, he's done his little, you know, four World Drivers champions, and he won, and now he has his racing team, which he clearly likes, and like his family, and he's not doing well this season. Yeah. I don't want him to retire, obviously. He's so young, he has like so much more time. But I also like he must look at Lewis and be like, ugh.

SPEAKER_01 24:14

Well, I was gonna say, I feel like all the previous big winners have stayed around a while. Like Sebastian was still around, Lewis is still around, and Sebastian Vettel was definitely floating around.

SPEAKER_00 24:29

And and it is one of those things where like he could absolutely hang on and just like get the money and stay on Red Bull and Coast, but that's not his thing at all. And he has he loves racing, clearly. And we watched like two minutes of his via play documentary, and like he clearly loves coaching and developing and whatever. So I wouldn't be surprised if that were actually going to happen. Yeah. Um, I don't remember if his contract is legit up this year or not, but I'm sure we'll hear more rumblings about that. I think it's like maybe 2028. Also, I'm really wondering, like, obviously, I'm a Red Bull fan, so I'm gonna keep bringing up Max. But I am wondering because of how last year so drastically changed with Laurent after Horner left, and now it's new regs, they're not doing well. Him and Isaac are doing the different arrow on their car, and they're tweaking things, and we have time now, but like what what is like it's been three races, we have five weeks. Like, what is going to end up happening with them? I'm very like interested, and I feel like if I were Max, yes, I can be frustrated, yeah, whatever. But I would also be interested to be like, how is this going to play out? What's going to happen? Yeah. I I I would be really surprised and really sad as a Max fan if he just like gave up now.

SPEAKER_01 25:59

It's been three races. Right. They're gonna have a whole month where they're gonna work on the car, which it does sound like if teams are behind, it will benefit them. So I know we were talking about last time that maybe it'll work against them because they aren't gonna have the cars on track to actually see how they're reacting to things that they're adapting to, but it does sound like the time is going to be good for all.

SPEAKER_00 26:22

So yeah, and I mean, if if you're up again, like I mean, it's just hard because it's like Aston Martin, horrible, horrible season. Williams is having a horrible season, and we all were very excited about what that was gonna look like. And then there's Cadillac, who like they're just you know, we're giving them a pass. It's their first time ever.

SPEAKER_02 26:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:43

And I mean, they're at least having a good time.

unknown 26:47

Are they?

SPEAKER_00 26:48

I don't know. I mean, Valkyrie and Nigel is pretty chill, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:55

I don't know if Cheko's having a good time.

SPEAKER_00 26:56

Is Cheko ever having a good time?

SPEAKER_01 26:58

It's hard to know. Man never says a thing.

SPEAKER_00 27:01

Never says a thing. Um oh, speaking of Cheko, him and his wife looked so cute. So good.

SPEAKER_01 27:08

She had that white good outfit. White trench coat. I mean, he was wearing, oh, he did have that cool sweatshirt on. He liked that sweatshirt. The Cadillac.

SPEAKER_00 27:16

All the Cadillac merch is so good. Anyway, they looked amazing. They looked incredible. So maybe he was having a good time then.

SPEAKER_01 27:22

I he looked happy with his sweetie little wife. She's so cute. Um, I was going to say to, we were talking about. I had like a good transition teed up.

SPEAKER_00 27:34

Sorry, I the Max Red Bull rant came out of nowhere.

SPEAKER_01 27:39

No, uh I felt very impassioned. Yes, this is an organic conversation. This is our podcast. We can do it. The Diet Coke's hitting. It's hitting, it's coming for you. But I was gonna say, okay, so the oh, we were talking about McLaren um or Jackie Baby. I wasn't saying I think Red Bull, let's give it some time. I think they could come back a little bit because McLaren, again, finally started to look good. But then we were gonna talk about the Lando battery situation.

SPEAKER_00 28:08

Yes, Rachel, please tell us about the Lando battery situation. I had questions. We talked about it last night, but tell tell me everything.

SPEAKER_01 28:17

I don't, again, bare bones little research here, but I guess typically you get two batteries per season, which honestly is not that much.

SPEAKER_00 28:26

I know. I just saw what you typed. Oh, I'm like, oh my god, that's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 28:31

Well, and I guess they get a third one this year in 2026, because of all the rules and regulation changes. Again, makes sense. But he's already on his third battery in three races.

SPEAKER_00 28:44

How long do these batteries last? Is it like a Prius kind of battery situation where it's like every, you know, however many years you have to change it? I mean, obviously it's like way more intense than that. I don't know. Because if we're going so battery powered, it seems crazy that they only have three and he's already on it. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 29:02

The third Grand Prix. So the next battery that he has to change, he will get a 10 or could face a 10 place grid penalty.

SPEAKER_00 29:12

I don't know why, but in my brain, the like little Lando Norris, you know, the like the little meme of him like sleeping. Yes. That like popped into my vein. Oh poor guy. Poor guy. And his Tamagotchi's probably dead. Bruce.

SPEAKER_01 29:26

It's fine. He has already achieved his dream. He is a world drivers champion, which is why we last night were watching the race and we're like, okay, you'd think we'd be getting worked up about this a little bit more because our drivers are not necessarily doing the greatest.

SPEAKER_00 29:42

And we are we are dying inside, but we're staying on, you know, the glass half full route. Yes. Right now.

SPEAKER_01 29:50

Cause again, they have still proved themselves and have won world championships. Now I realize Lando only has one, Max has four, but still I rest my case.

SPEAKER_00 30:01

Yeah, and no, we're we're not doing great. Um, but Lando, okay, wait, I'm interested though, and maybe we can look into this for next time we chat, but I wonder how many batteries everyone else has used.

SPEAKER_01 30:16

I think I saw that maybe um Gabby is also about to reach a battery limit.

SPEAKER_00 30:25

Um because if they're still I feel like every day I wake up and it's like FIA looking into new reg. If everyone's on their last battery, then why are we not changing like I just I don't I don't know enough to know, and it just doesn't make sense to my little brain.

SPEAKER_01 30:46

I think we can come back to that because I just did a quick Google and nothing that I wanted to come up came up. Okay, but we can check and see. I assume most everyone is still on their first battery, but I think I saw someone else is at least on their second as well, and I can't remember who it is.

SPEAKER_00 31:02

Okay, well, two out of twenty-two isn't two out of twenty two. Awful, but anyway, not bad.

SPEAKER_01 31:08

Um the only other thing I wanted to say about Lando that I forgot to talk about was remember last time we were talking about the Y3 Adidas Mercedes Wolf Collab, and there was the balaclava. Yes. Oh yeah. Literally, Lando must, I don't know what they were doing. They were playing one of those games like heads up or something. Yeah, yeah. And Lando's holding up a phone and it says balaclava.

SPEAKER_00 31:35

Yes, and and throw back to Rachel and I not able to save balaclava is the dessert. Man, balaclava right now.

SPEAKER_01 31:44

I know we need a sweet, we'll get a sweet treat after this. Sweet treat. We'll figure it out. Um, anywho, on to the race. We'll try to keep the practice content short, but um free practice one, Alonzo did not participate because he had a baby. I guess that could have been F1 gosser news, but it just perfect felt fitting. So yeah, highlight of practice. Honestly. Uh, but yeah, Jack Crawford was the one taking over for him because they have to have a certain amount of non, I don't know if it's rookies or non basically they just have to have it's like different people who have to like a different amount of yes, I think it's super season. Yeah, I can confirm. Well, we can do a fact check. But so Jack Crawford was taking over for Alonzo in free practice one. So congrats to Fernando, one of four drivers, I think, on the grid now. Yeah, Cheko, Max, Nico. Nico, Alonzo, Alonzo, yeah, okay. One of four drivers. Okay, one of four drivers. Um, I think really the only kind of other thing that was really that was funny is speaking of Perez. Um George Russell almost ran into Perez, and there literally the quote was something to the extent of like that must be Perez. Yeah, obviously. And I died inside. Oh, the Duchess. George knows.

SPEAKER_00 33:18

Oh, George No, Cadillac. Cadillac.

SPEAKER_01 33:22

I also thought too, and I I took a picture of it because it was just so funny. So I guess it it's extra, you know, I don't I don't want to say ironic necessarily, but it's extra funny, coincidental. Suzuka, I guess, is a hard track to overtake on. Now the call cars are obviously smaller this year, but there was the moment where there was the three cars wide passing each other, and it just looked like so beautiful. Like it looked like a very like synchronized moment.

SPEAKER_00 33:49

Yeah, it's a nice little photo. It does, it makes it look like everyone's just getting along. So it's zooming by Charles, Piastri, and an Alpine.

SPEAKER_01 33:58

I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 33:59

I would assume it's Ghastly, but I guess it's I mean Pierre, Pierre and Flavio must be thrilled.

SPEAKER_01 34:07

Oh, with the race results?

SPEAKER_00 34:08

Yeah, with everything.

SPEAKER_01 34:09

Yeah, it was a great weekend. Yeah, they're like like Alpine. It was a great weekend. Um I think to no one's surprise, practice won George, Kimmy, and oh well, Lando.

SPEAKER_00 34:23

Lando was third, which was very exciting.

SPEAKER_01 34:25

Um, and Oscar was fourth. So just something to make note of. I would say just a couple other highlights. I'm kind of just combining like all of free practice basically, because not too much happened. But Charles had a lot of I was calling it bobbling. Bobbling, yeah. Bobbling, which is so interesting because he even had some comments after qualifying or after practice, he was talking about it, that he's always been a pro at qualifying. I feel like he, especially last year, would always do overall really well in qualifying, and then you know, Ferrari just would mess up the strategy. They would Ferrari would Ferrari, yeah, and somehow mess up the strategy. But basically, it's just seems like the new regulations are not suiting his typical driving style with the battery. Um, I and the battery and the super clipping, I feel like we can talk about it because I think it also relates to Ollie later on in the race. But so I'm kind of jumping ahead because we're gonna talk about qualifying.

SPEAKER_00 35:36

I feel like we can move on to quality if you wanted to talk about the battery. Did you want to talk?

SPEAKER_01 35:41

I'll I'll talk about it then. But I think the only other couple things is yeah, Lando had a ton of car issues, so he just had very few laps compared to others. So again, thought it was cool that he actually ended decent in the rest. Yeah. Um, but he had a hydraulics issue and an ERS issue. And then I hate to say this, but in hindsight, I'm like, oh, this was so foreshadowing. But a lot of people had issues on the spoon curve as they were calling it, but Ollie had a huge slide going into the spoon curve. Foreshadowing. I hate to say it, but George. George again, the commentator of the Duchess, the commentator of F1 was like, oh, that was a great save. Yeah, yeah. Georgie, George, George, Georgie, George, George. Um, but that's pretty much it. I think moving on to quality. Okay, so number one, the mega jewels. Which honestly sounds like something you would scoop up in Super Mario Bros.

SPEAKER_00 36:48

I do have I do have to share where is it? Um, Rachel said something that made me laugh so hard last night. She was like, I don't understand megajels. And then, oh, it was lap 34. Rachel said, I need to understand megajouels. I can't even spell it. I can't and she like couldn't stop talking about megajules and somebody. So anyway, we'll let's talk about megajouels.

SPEAKER_01 37:11

Um, okay. So again, all this is related to battery, and then we can kind of talk about the super clipping too. But so basically, we're they the FIA reduced the mega joules from nine to eight for the Japanese Grand Prix during qualifying. Um, so reducing the permitted megajoules of energy recovery during Formula One, I'm like, I'm all over the place.

SPEAKER_00 37:38

I'm like, cut this. No, yeah, no, that's fine. I was gonna say, okay, if we talk about mega joules, I think it's important to note too that this was after practice before qualifying. They changed this regulation because people were going it so slow into this specifically the spoon turn, right?

SPEAKER_01 37:57

Yes, yeah. So again, reduction in qualifying. So they did from nine megajoules to eight megajoules. So this reduces super clipping by decreasing the amount of energy that the MGUK must harvest while at full throttle. Full throttle. So it's basically like reducing the need for the car to divert power away from the rear wheel, rear wheels to charge the battery, which I thought was really interesting.

SPEAKER_00 38:27

Yeah, and everyone was saying, like, are they actually listening to the drivers or are they just doing this because they're going so slow? And it'll be interesting to see what ends up happening. We'll get into Ollie. Yeah. Clearly, there's some, you know, just safety concerns.

SPEAKER_01 38:47

Well, so I guess, and I was like, I the super clipping term that was also throwing me off. So, like the clip is when the car stuff like has a noticeable drop in top speed because the engine power is used to charge the battery rather than propelling the wheels, aka slow on the straights. Yes, yeah, yes. So that just like leads to potential like overtaking issues. So this is why it relates back to Charles, even too. So that's why he was saying like he was pushing the limits during qualifying, like that's what he does best, especially on the corners. But there was more super clipping that they suffered, and so it actually like ended up hurting him, like going into the straights. Yeah. I think I'm explaining that to the best of my ability.

SPEAKER_00 39:34

Yeah, I mean, I think you're I think that's the gist of it. And then again, we can get into it a little bit more why it relates back to Ollie's crash.

SPEAKER_01 39:42

Um but yeah, again, I did not understand anything related to megajules and still might not either.

SPEAKER_00 39:50

Yeah, well, it's it's basically the mega mega jewels is a unit of of energy measurement and it's relating to the battery. Yes. So basically they made the battery less important for qualifying, but Charles still was saying that he isn't qualifying as well as he was in the down ground effect era. Yes. Because of his racing style. 100%.

SPEAKER_01 40:14

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So thought that was interesting. Uh, we'll continue to talk about it. I'm sure there's gonna be like such an ongoing conversation.

SPEAKER_00 40:22

Well, they're probably gonna change the rules again.

SPEAKER_01 40:26

Yeah, they did have a huge statement that the FIA released. I don't know if I put it in my notes, but essentially saying that they are going to address it over the break and get off our backs. Like, we don't have any details, but we are gonna be readdressing it. So that's also, I guess, good why we're not having a couple races.

SPEAKER_00 40:49

Yeah, we'll see what happens.

SPEAKER_01 40:50

We'll see what happens.

SPEAKER_00 40:51

Okay, Q1. Um, we had Kimmy, Leclerc, the Duchess, Hammy, Hulkenberg, Gabby, Max, Liam, and Isaac. And then the eliminated drivers were Alex, Ollie, VB, Checo, Lance, and Alonzo. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:14

I thought this was interesting. Crofty said it on. I was listening to the Sky Sports broadcast, and Crofty said, it looks like Noah's Ark two by two by two, but it literally was Albon and Signs, Bodas and Perez, Stroll and Alonzo, and even like Piastri and Norris were next to each other, and the hosses were next to each other. The red racing bowls next to each other.

SPEAKER_00 41:38

Everyone just like right with their teammate.

SPEAKER_01 41:41

Literally, everyone right with their teammate. I thought this was interesting too. They said that Alex Alban out of that bottom six was the only one to get out of Q1 at all this year, which is fascinating. Yeah, I mean, I guess there's only I guess not surprising for Kedlock or I mean Aston Martin, geez. Geez Louise, because they made it through the whole race. They did. Well, Lance didn't, but one of the cars did.

SPEAKER_00 42:08

Lance did not, Alonzo did, and all yeah, there was only the Ollie crash, and then Lance was in the pit for like the last 15 laps or something. We're getting ahead of ourselves.

SPEAKER_01 42:21

Um we tend to do that, but I thought this Max 2, just to give yourself some hope, that Max had the fastest lap in Suzuka track history last year.

SPEAKER_00 42:32

Yeah, that doesn't, yeah. Doesn't that lift your spirits out? Yes, yes, yes. Um, George Russell was doing his George Russell thing um and saying that his car was not aerodynamical, meaning like his back tires were like flipping all over the place.

SPEAKER_01 42:48

Yes. Yep. Yeah, he was six tenths off of Kimmy.

SPEAKER_00 42:53

Yeah, which, you know, not bad.

SPEAKER_01 42:55

So I feel like this was the start of there's something wrong with George's car. And truly, like 100% seems like commentators were like, yeah, there is something definitely off with it.

SPEAKER_00 43:08

Oh, it was also very different than the last two qualifying that we saw with him. Yeah. Well, I guess I guess last qualifying he had that weird little like stint where he just didn't go or he just like was coasting. Oh so I don't know, but yeah, it was interesting to hear that from him. And then um, what was the other?

SPEAKER_01 43:27

Oh, um This was before we between after Q1, before we got to Q2. This was when Alex was complaining about Yes, it's not his it's it's not his car, it's his driving style.

SPEAKER_00 43:39

Which made me so sad. It a he does he I forgot he always has like those sassy radios because we don't hear them. Sassy and like slightly self deprecating. Yeah, and like why are you guys like like you said earlier, why are you guys talking about this on the radio?

SPEAKER_01 43:55

Because um one of Rachel, I believe, is the journalist name was. Asking him about it, and he was like, I'm not gonna talk about it. I'm happy with my driving. I just need to look at the data. And then I think it was Jensen after the fact was like, Well, then why is he even bringing it up on the radio? Like, we can hear the radio.

SPEAKER_00 44:16

Right. If you feel that, you know, it clearly he's like self-conscious about it or something. Yes, I don't know. I mean, Carlos is a good driver, so it's like he now is has competition on his team.

SPEAKER_01 44:29

Um, and then two, they just showed Charles with like visualizing the Oh yeah, that was like after Q1, right before Q2.

SPEAKER_00 44:37

That was hilarious, so sweet. John had some funny things to say about that. He was like, is he playing piano music in his head? Honestly, maybe a little soundtrack in his mind.

SPEAKER_01 44:48

Um okay, and then going into Q2. So the drivers that were eliminated in Q2, and then we can talk about it, but number 11, Max Force to Happen. Um, 12, Ocon, 13, Hulkenberg, 14, Lawson, 15, almost said Colson. That's not right. And then number 16 was signs. Um, again, nothing like too much to report, but George was behind Piastri, um, and George was on a new set of tires. So that's when they were like, okay, like absolutely something is wrong.

SPEAKER_00 45:33

This is when I thought the McLaren's looked really good. They were like, zoom. Yeah, I was like, and I was like, yes.

SPEAKER_01 45:40

It's not just Mercedes and Ferrari. Because I think Piastri ended in third at the end of Q2 and Lando in sixth.

SPEAKER_00 45:48

Yeah, it was it was Kimmy, LeClaire, Oscar, Lulu Hammy, the Duchess, Lando, Pierre, Gabby, Isaac, and Arvid. Yes, which that was a nail biter. Yes, because it was like, is Nico gonna knock out Max? And then he didn't make it, and then they were like, is Arvid gonna knock out Max? Because Max, they were saying the Red Bulls basically that was like as fast as they could go. I don't remember who was saying that. One of the commentators was like, There will they're on new tires, like this Which literally they're doing everything that they can. Right, and so it's not enough, yeah. It's not enough, but Arvid got him, which could for good for Arvid. Good for Argent. He he kissed his car or whatever.

SPEAKER_01 46:34

So this is where that worked, but I will say, yes, so Lynn Blad pushing out Max was crazy, but then Hadjar also made it into ninth.

SPEAKER_00 46:44

Yeah, no, Hajar Isaac had a great weekend again, another great weekend.

SPEAKER_01 46:49

I yeah, again, just really interesting and reminding ourselves, Max had a different arrow package, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:58

And he has a grumpy attitude, and he has a grumpy attitude.

SPEAKER_01 47:01

Oh, he needs to fix his attitude. Literally so grumpy. And then going into Q3. So the starting order Antonelli, Russell, Piastri, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Gasly, Hajar, Bordoletto, and Lynn Blad. I think, again, just so much talk that something was off with George's car. Um, I think really, other than that, Lewis got a checkered flag for being too slow.

SPEAKER_00 47:30

Which get it together, Lewis. Yeah, come on, Lulu. Come on, Lulu.

SPEAKER_01 47:35

Kim may not be there, but you know, you got a job to do, buddy. Maybe that's why he didn't do well. Because Kim, not that she's been there at all before, but he she was in the country and he was like, why isn't she here? Distracted, distracted.

SPEAKER_00 47:47

The Kardashian cursed.

SPEAKER_01 47:49

Distracted and distraught. Distracted and distraught. I think the only other funny thing I saw like in the Q3 was they were showing a shot of a mechanic like bent down with a tire cover, like stroking the tire cover at Ferrari. Like, it's okay, like you've got this.

SPEAKER_00 48:04

You can make it to the end. Yeah, if Arvid's uh strategy of kissing the car, then maybe they're on something.

SPEAKER_01 48:12

Just gotta like literally whisper to your tires. You gotta kiss your car. Yeah, yeah. You gotta just make sure they feel lost.

SPEAKER_00 48:21

Loved and appreciated. Okay, Grand Prix. Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 48:29

100%.

SPEAKER_00 48:30

Okay, cool.

SPEAKER_01 48:31

Um, Suzuka is a 3.6 mile circuit. And then I guess it has 18 corners, and it was a 53 lap race again, just to keep the hope alive. Lex Max won last year, and the last person I think to win the race other than Max was Valtry in 2019. Damn, which is crazy. So this is a very dominant track for Max. Yeah. So I guess I'm like, shoot, that is maybe a little worrisome. A little worrisome. Um, I again any to any chance to talk about Daniel Ricardo will bring it back. But the first winner of this race was in 1987, Gerard Berger. Gerard Berger is Heidi Berger's dad. And I don't know, but the last time we checked, that was Danny's girlfriend.

SPEAKER_00 49:26

Yes, which you know we had to plug. Had to plug Danny Rick because at this point we our favorite drivers are sad.

SPEAKER_01 49:35

So number three. Number one. The curse. The curse. The curse. The curse. But yeah, and then I think truly the only other oh, I did see there was a woman with I think some kids. They were wearing McLaren uh kimonos.

SPEAKER_00 49:53

Oh, that's cute. I know it was really cute. I missed that. It's like uh love a fun themed outfit. Love it. Um, yeah, we did watch this race together, like we said earlier. That was really fun. This is the first race we've watched together since Brazil. Yeah, last year. Yeah, so that was nice.

SPEAKER_01 50:12

It was really fun. Um, yeah, it was despite yeah.

SPEAKER_00 50:16

I mean, I yeah, it was the last, oh god, it was like the it felt like the last 50 laps. Like it was just us sitting there watching Lando and Max just like chase down people and never getting anywhere. Uh, but but there was a lot that happened.

SPEAKER_01 50:32

Well, the first lap was action-packed, and they didn't even show the race replay until they felt like 10 laps in.

SPEAKER_00 50:40

Yeah, that was another thing that we wanted to bring up was like how funny and how messed up the broadcast was. Oh my god. Because they didn't put the the lineup up for a really long time, too. And then they kept just like screw I mean, they even had like the dates wrong for the next race.

SPEAKER_01 51:00

Well, drivers kept like going up and down sporadically.

SPEAKER_00 51:04

At one point Nico went up like four spots and then went back down, and we were like, what's wrong going on?

SPEAKER_01 51:10

What's wrong with Nico? The answer was nothing, and then at the very, very end, they had Miami Grand Prix was at like the end of May. Yeah, they like swap, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 51:21

They like swapped dates. So yeah, that was kind of funny. Um, and kept us on our toes.

SPEAKER_01 51:26

Well, and at one point during qualifying, there was like a random shot clipped in of a McLaren like going backwards. It was weird. It was weird, and it didn't make sense, and that's when I was like, they're pumping out fake information. Yeah, we were like, what the heck is that? I don't know what's going on. But someone needs to get it together.

SPEAKER_00 51:46

Yeah, so our should we should we say our podium and then we can get into like oh yeah, um, the race winners?

SPEAKER_01 51:56

Yeah, yeah. So I mean Antonelli won the race, Oscar got second, LeClaire got third. So I guess fun to see a little variety on the podium with Oscar and the McLaren up there.

SPEAKER_00 52:09

It's basically Rachel's favorite drivers. And by favorite, I mean her least favorite drivers.

SPEAKER_01 52:17

Do we want to talk about Kimmy right now? We can wait. Let's I I let's do you want to get more or less fired up? Well, I'll we'll talk about it later. We can, I think we'll work, we'll work our way towards.

SPEAKER_00 52:31

So I will say this race, we had a lot of ranting going on. Yeah. My husband John is a very big George Russell fan. He loves the Duchess, he is a stan, he him and Sogo are kindred spirits. He ranted that entire race, just in general, about all kinds of things. He was not pleased. Like the whole ride home, he was just we woke up this morning. He's like, I feel so bad for George.

SPEAKER_01 52:57

He was just like really upset. Even though, well, what did he end up getting? He got fourth place.

SPEAKER_00 53:03

Yes, but it was the whole he pitted, and then there was a safety car. Yes. And he was kind of the only one that got like that bit of bad luck. Everyone else just went ahead and used it as an opportunity to take their pit stop. And George Russell basically was implying that they would have run won the race. Like George would have won the race if there, if the safety car had been a different time.

SPEAKER_01 53:28

Yeah, I which I'm like, maybe there's some truth to that, but like I guess we'll never know. But I I still think Kimmy would have won. He was a liar. He won by almost 14 seconds. That is wild. That's why that's why I'm like, oh my gosh, Toto is absolutely thrilled because this is reading Little Max First Happen. Not quite. Because there's been certainly times where he's finished like 30 seconds ahead of even second place. But I'm like, oh, this is what Toto has literally been looking for his entire career is someone who's young, he invested in, who is just dominating. But I do think again, George would have come a lot closer, at least giving given um Antonelli a run for his money.

SPEAKER_00 54:13

I just wonder what it's gonna keep being like. Like, is it gonna keep being just like Antonelli every single race? Well good for him if that's the case, but I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 54:24

I mean, like but here's the deal though, is he's still making mistakes. Like his we should talk about the start because his start was not good.

SPEAKER_00 54:33

The Mercedes were just sitting there, like it was truly we were like, What is happening? Like we were less even enthused that the McLaren's like zoomed out of there and were more just like confused that Mercedes was just dead. Dead. It like did they had a Max Verstappen start.

SPEAKER_01 54:50

Well, because after like lap one, Piastri was in first, Leclerc in second, Norris in third, and then Russell was in fourth, Hamilton fifth, Antonelli was in sixth place.

SPEAKER_00 55:04

And then freaking Pierre just like hung out.

SPEAKER_01 55:06

Pierre seventh, Hajar eighth, Lindbad ninth, and then first happen in tenth.

SPEAKER_00 55:12

But again, Pierre finished the race in P7. Like he truly like hung out in P7 the whole time. And I know there was like movement and whatever, but it just it really felt like that whole race was Lando trying to catch Hamilton, then Lando trying to catch George Russell, then Max just trying to catch Pierre, and Pierre was just hanging out. Pierre like was so far away from everyone. Everyone was just like it was the last how I mean like I think Max was following Pierre for like 50 laps. Like, I'm not even kidding.

SPEAKER_01 55:41

It was a long time, a long time. Again, Alpine doing doing decently well. I did think it was interesting too. Ferrari, from what we've seen, even the first two races, rocket starts. Yeah. And again, and McLaren did that this time. They did it was almost like McLaren took that over. Yeah, which was great to see. Again, exciting to see a third team in the mix. I okay, I did also have this in my notes. I was like, oh no, again. I was like, everyone started the race, and no one had DNF'd at lap 19, and then 22. Lap 12. Isn't that Yuki Sonoda's number?

unknown 56:22

Ugh.

SPEAKER_01 56:23

Oh no. Yuki put a curse. Yeah, it's the two of them. Yuki. It's all Yuki's fault. Um, but yeah, so this was interesting. This, I think the most shocking. A, the crash was just horrifying. So scary. The one where he just like slides in front of was he like went all the way up and slid in front of Colapinto.

SPEAKER_00 56:47

Yes, yes, and apparently it was because of the the mega jewels. Go back to the clipping.

SPEAKER_01 56:54

Yes. So I guess a closing speed. I've I think it was like a closing speed of 50 kph, um, which caused Behrman like deploying it was caused because he was deploying extra electrical power, the boost mode, and Cola Pinto was going so much slower. Um because he was charging, I think his energy had been depleted, and it ended up being 50 G impact, which is again like 50 times the force of gravity. Which when you're going around corners, it's like three to five G's like with your neck. Can you imagine? No, and that's why 50 G's.

SPEAKER_00 57:32

Well, and that's why it was so scary to see him limping. Because first of all, the crash just like physically like it visually looked bad. Like it just looked horrifying. Like I was surprised, I was like waiting for the car to catch on fire kind of bad. Truly. Then he gets out and you're like, okay, okay. Then he just like kind of collapses and like limps off. Yeah. And then you're like, what the heck? And then they're kept saying contusion, contusion, which Rachel, oh, what is a knee?

SPEAKER_01 57:57

So Ollie is okay. He has a right knee contusion, and I googled it because not a doctor. Um, it's like bruising of your knee.

SPEAKER_00 58:07

But we're laughing because it's not it's not funny. No, but it sounds so much worse. Like I thought the man was gonna lose his leg or something.

SPEAKER_01 58:16

Yeah. No, he is fine. He just has a bruised knee. He's got what five weeks, he can recover.

SPEAKER_00 58:22

Yeah, he'll he's he's young, he's gonna be fine. He, thank God, is okay, because that was truly scary. And that's why I am very much interested to see what the FIA is going to do with these regulations. Yeah. Because if this is what I know Fernando Alonso has been kind of, you know, snipping about um like the safety concerns, and I think some of the other drivers have too. Carlos was speaking out a lot about it as well, right? But it's like, what are they going to do? And then also, like, of course, we want them to go fast, of course we want them to do this overtake. But this race, and we knew this was gonna be a very different race than the other two tracks, just because of, you know, it's the third one, it has the different kinds of like straights and and corners, but it was really frustrating, not just because I'm a Max fan and Rachel is a Lando fan, but it was very interesting to just see how people could not overtake each other. Yeah, but then they would, and then they would immediately flip back.

SPEAKER_01 59:22

Well, but the fun of the racing is that they're doing this strategically, like on turns and corners, but almost all the overtaking was on the straights, which is which again is fine, it's just not as exciting.

SPEAKER_00 59:33

It was just weird, and then it was almost like the broadcast couldn't even decide who and what to show because everyone was doing it on the straights at the same time. Like when George Russell finally overtook, was it um who was it that he was overtaking at the end? Not him, was it Leclerc? I think Leclerc, and then like all of a sudden it was like immediately they switched back, and then you knew the race was done, and that was like dang.

SPEAKER_01 59:57

It's just again, the battles are fun, but a lot of times someone will overtake. There was multiple times where someone overtook and then it it just doesn't stick, and then there's no like going back at it.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:12

Yeah, like everyone keeps saying it's like yo-yo racing, but it doesn't even feel like yo-yo racing, it almost just feels like it's just they do it and then they stop, and then they can't keep up.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:22

Yeah, at least at the end, in the beginning, it felt more again exciting.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:26

They were they were closer together, yeah. And and everyone was pretty close. It was like obviously Kimmy was like sailing away, and then Pierre had a really large gap with Lando, and then there was another pretty, pretty larger gap, I think like later on in the midfield. Oh, Lawson and and Max. Oh, sure. So P8 and P9.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:46

Well, I don't know. I just to your point, gonna be very interesting what they decide to do. I think Lando was asked essentially along the same lines, like what he thought about it. And it I'm gonna read this for Baden, but it says Norris, as long as the fans enjoy it, that's all that matters. And then the reporter says the drivers need to enjoy it as well. And Norris goes, clearly not. And I just want to say to Formula One, to the FIA, I feel like we're probably all on the same page that part of the fun of watching the drivers race is their skill set. Yes, the overtakes, yes, but it's how much fun they're having on track before and after. Like that's why everyone loves the freaking Lego race. When Ollie the cooldown room. The cooldown room. Well, when that uh pre-race video with Ollie and Esteban driving the Toyota, yeah. So fun. That sounded so Minnesota when I said Toyota. Um, but but that's we want the drivers to have fun on the racetrack. It's not fun watching Max suffer and be freaking miserable.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:53

Like, yeah, and it's like we we love, like, don't get us wrong. Of course, we love the social media content, like the the Bruce the Tamagotchi, hilarious. Yeah, but wouldn't it be cooler to see an occ an Oscar Lando little battle situation out on the track, or like George and Kimmy battling it out, or like the the race, um, was it China? Wasn't it last race where it was like for the Ferraris were just like battling, battling, battling? That was great.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:22

Yeah, yes, that was great. And they did say they had fun doing that.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:26

Charles Lewis, it was it has been really fun to see. Yeah, he's clearly have a much better attitude than he has, and so yeah, I agree with anyway. All that to say I agree with what you're saying.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:37

Well, it just seems like there's so many ups and downs and so many inconsistencies. Because yes, to your point, Charles and Lewis were having fun battling, but then again, it's like Max can't freaking pass Pierre. So, like, I don't know what's going on, but we have to figure it out. And by we, I mean the FIA inform you. I mean we can figure it out. Research. We'll do research in the month. I was gonna say, get Danny Rick back. Oh. I mean, you know that's always going to put a smile on my side.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:07

This is a very side note. I know we're talking about the race. Um, I'm excited for our little NASCAR engine car venture. Did that just make you think of that? Because I said that Danny needs to be a NASCAR driver. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:20

He would totally fit the vibe.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:23

Um, but you mentioned this earlier too. But so 22, the crash happened. George pitted, I think, on lap 21 or 22.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:33

Uh lap 18. Charles came out of the pit. I think it was lap 18.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:39

Like he literally just pitted, and George was shouting something that I could not understand. But so mad. He was pissed.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:46

It was something like this is bull. And then he said something like, FR luck, these last two races. And then um, what's his engineer's name? Mark Marco? Marcus? Marcus. Marcus was like, Yes, see what you can do. It was basically everyone was like, Yeah, that was horrible luck. And it was, it really was. Um, that was also when we had the conversation for whatever reason about Toto and is Toto his real name. Well, guess what his name is? Well, I know, but it could have Torgo Christian wolf. So that was fun.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:23

That was such a fun little revelation.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:26

Yeah, that must have been during the virtual safety car. I why were we talking about that? Because I think they were showing Toto's reaction or something. Oh, the other thing that I really enjoyed about the safety car was when they showed the um they showed the stewards sweeping the debris off the track. And they were all they were oh yeah, you guys. I was in the bathroom. They got up and they were sweeping in sync with these crazy looking brooms. It was very fun. We were giggling about it, John and I. And then um oh, that's when John kept ranting about Lewis. He was just so mad. He was mad for George.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:08

Which uh I I understand when your driver's having a bad day. You you take it out on anyone and everyone that is within his wake or proximity. So I totally understand. I I don't think there's too much left to talk about of of the race. We already talked about like as Antonelli, the new verse sap and because he was so far ahead of everyone else. I think the graphic broke on lap 36. 100%.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:33

That's what my notes said.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:34

Yep. Good old Jack Black was waving the flag.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:37

Yeah, that was fun. Um, yeah, lap 51, the Duchess took over Leclerc, and then Leclerc immediately overtook George Russell. Yep, on 53. Yeah, and that was like, okay, well, the the it's over.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:50

That was John's last straw.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:52

Yeah, he was yeah, he was pretty he like chugged a beer then. He was like not having a great time.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:57

He did go up and get it, yeah. He hit another beer. Um, but final top 10, Antonelli number one, Piastri two, LeClaire three, Russell four, Norris five, Hamilton six, um, Ghastly seven, Verstappen eight, Lawson nine, Ocon ten. We already read that off, but just felt like it was important to read that off again. And the whole spread, it looked like was within a minute of each other about finishing.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:26

A lot less DNFs and everyone started. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:30

Which on race three, again, only one DNF from like a kind of technical. I actually don't know how Stroll got out, but yeah, I I honestly didn't even look because I don't we don't care. Um sorry, sorry to all the strollies out there.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:47

Um if there are strollies out there, please reach out. I would love to talk.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:52

Honestly, would love to hear why you like Lance. Like what I've talked about this so many times. Everyone knows that I Kimmy is not my favorite. I don't dislike him, but I am here always to listen to anyone preach or give reasons why their driver is their favorite driver.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:12

I think that I should get my nephew Charlie to come on the pod and tell you what together a PowerPoint Kimmy because he loves Kimmy. I'm here for it. He also loves Ollie, and I don't know if he knows about Ollie's wreck yet because they're on spring break, and I don't think they watched. Oh, he's gonna be devastated.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:29

The whole room was devastated when that happened.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:32

We didn't even talk about, okay, so wait, did we talk about on the last pod episode about John's prediction about Ollie in P5? Um, I don't remember.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:44

I don't know if we did actually.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:46

Well, John had, we were like, you know, what's your race prediction? And you know, we ask all of our people. And my husband and my nephew said literally the same thing. They didn't know this. Um, so they told me separately. Um they wanted, they said George Russell P1 and Ollie Bearman P5, which we didn't, just so everyone knows, we didn't go ask, hey, what's your prediction for P5? No, they just they just felt the need to include that, but both of them did it, which is very cute, very funny, and poor Ollie.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:17

Maybe we just need to ask people instead of who's winning the race, just ask our friends and family members, who do you think is gonna get P5? Maybe that's that maybe that's the move. Maybe that's the new move. I love it. The new move. Um, it was again overall a pretty solid race, very exciting start. Congrats to Oscar. Um, I thought his quote was funny where he's like, Well, when we start, these things were pretty good.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:41

I know he is like on a roll with these quotes.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:46

And he won Driver of the Day. Yes, which he definitely deserved. Which we both panicked when we were actually like able to vote. Yeah, and everyone were like, I think I picked Charles, and I was like, Why did I not not pick Oscar?

SPEAKER_00 1:08:58

I picked I picked Mac.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:00

We just wanted to give it a few.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:01

I just thought I just was like, he he needs something, he needs to know someone supports him somewhere.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:06

I'm sure he's really at the edge of his sheet. Yeah, with the drivers. Yeah, he's really caring about the day. It's like geez. Um, I think too, this like had me cackling. But the first teenager to lead the drivers championship is Kimmy Antonelli.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:24

Kimmy Antonelli. Um, and he did the Usain bolt.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:28

Yes, he did, and then couldn't even jump into the mosh pair.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:32

I know. He like barely could get his little feet, but he didn't he winked at the screen. He did wink at the screen, and and it was so funny because, like we said, there were a lot of girlies in the room with us, and everyone was like freaked out.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:46

It was all like corruption. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:48

We were like, like it gave it gave me a little bit of an ick.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:53

And then Rachel's like, he didn't even fluff his hair, but then we got really distracted because Oscar he fluffed his hair and it it didn't. It doesn't, it's not, it's not Charlotte.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:05

To be fair, I my hair, I would be red in the face. Like I would look awful after I was racing. So I we shouldn't even be commenting, but his hair did need a fluff, and it and he did do it.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:17

Yeah, it it it is not like the Carlos Sainz No, or Shunder of the World as well VR with his little headband. Maybe Oscar needs a little headband.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:28

Maybe his hair is long enough. Maybe he needs a headband. Maybe honestly, maybe Carlos also needs a headband. We only need headbands.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:36

Um we like a male headband.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:38

We like a male headband. I think that's pretty much it.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:42

The only other thing, because I see it on your notes, and this was totally a John Rant. He was like the Lewis and Kimmy need to swap so that the Italian team needs an Italian, and then Lewis can come back to Mercedes.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:57

Honestly, well, because the Ferrari fans are already so passionate. Can you imagine they're like, imagine if there was an Italian driver on Ferrari?

SPEAKER_00 1:11:10

Well, also, John didn't know who the Tefosi were. What? Yeah, I had to we that's why he ranted so much on the way home. But we went, we had a whole little, you know, history lesson. I should probably get him to listen to um choosing sides with Lily. Oh, yeah. Yes, you should have it. It's just an interesting, it's a the a good introductory podcast. Podcast in general. I wish they would update it.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:41

Did just Google, because I was curious. I was like, what does Tefosi mean? And I guess it literally is Italian word for passionate sporting fans or super fans, particularly referring to the dedicated followers of Scuderia Ferrari Formula One team. Um, okay. It highlights fevered behavior, extreme devotion, and loyalty of fans who fill the stadiums with red. Great. There we go. The defosi.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:08

Yeah, but I think that's it. And then since we have five weeks, we'll be doing some. Well, mostly Rachel and I need to practice our podcasting skills. So follow along.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:19

Yeah, thanks for your patience with us, y'all. We will do better.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:23

Our husbands are starting to give us uh crap for not having an episode released, but we will mass release some things. But we'll we'll do some. We're gonna go out down this NASCAR indie car journey. We have Drive to Survive to talk about via play, Max's documentary.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:40

I'm sure there'll be F1 news that pops up. Hopefully. I hope it's not an entire dry spell. Hopefully, we get some news. Yeah. But we'll continue to find things to yeah, we're gonna put our brains together.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:54

If Flavio shows up, I will let everyone know. He did not show up this week.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:58

Oh, we yes, finding Flavio. No, there was no exciting. There was nothing.

SPEAKER_00 1:13:05

But Alpine was, you know, pure P7. Yeah. That's great for them.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:10

Maybe we'll do something with our formula run club in the time off. We can think of some fun little like ideas, exercises.

SPEAKER_00 1:13:20

Yeah, we we did pretty good with our predictions. You killed it. I killed it, and then we can't remember if Rachel picked Oscar for P3 or P5.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:29

So yeah, I had Oscar. I can't remember. We'll listen to the podcast with our editing. We can confirm. But either way, I needed to run like one to three miles.

SPEAKER_00 1:13:38

So And I'm still working on my 22 miles from well, the max DNF. And I think I've gotten up to like 16. Great. Or something. You're killing it.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:50

Well, that's because you picked Lewis in P5 and you have no mileage this week. That was spot on.

SPEAKER_00 1:13:55

Yeah. So congrats. So I'll keep working on my 22 miles. Chipping away at the 22 miles.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:00

But yeah, we're just again so excited to be here. So excited to continue to uh hone this craft and hobby of the stay tuned for yeah, the our thoughts on Drive to Survive, maybe some other shows. We'll get the Formula Run Club.

SPEAKER_00 1:14:21

We'll get a cool um logo that our friend Taylor made for us that is very neat. Shout out to Taylor. Yeah, so that'll be cool.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:30

But yeah, it'll be great. More content to come. Maybe you'll see our faces at one point. Maybe as well. Maybe. Um, okay, signing off. We'll see you. See you next Sunday. See you next Sunday. Bye.