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00:11ДИНАМИЧНАЯ МУЗЫКА
00:44Oh, boy, is it good to be back in Sepang.
00:46We want more tracks that provide racing, and this is a racing serve.
00:52We've seen some great races in the past two years.
00:55I would definitely love the worst qualifying of Spacer for a little bit.
00:59It's massively challenging, physically.
01:01The tires are melting from the moment you leave the built lane.
01:04I've been spending time inside a daydream.
01:07I hope I'm better, I hope I'm better off than I was last week.
01:16We should all be pretty balanced and come to my qualifying.
01:22It's one of the best circuits.
01:25This track is very cool.
01:30Cool to drive, maybe, but not for the tires and certainly not inside that cockpit.
01:35But it was.
01:36Kimi Antonelli, who, after driving it like a grandma a week ago in Baku,
01:42turned it on again.
01:43The upgrade looks to be working on the Mercedes,
01:45but the rest of the top four teams, they're all thereabouts,
01:49and we're an hour away from the start of qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix
01:53here in Malaysia.
01:58Yes, good morning, everybody.
02:00And if you're just joining us for the first time this weekend,
02:03welcome to Sepang here in Malaysia for the Bahrain Grand Prix,
02:08a solution to a problem by the Bahrainis.
02:11And we arrive at a circuit we've not been at since 2017,
02:15one that absolutely everybody loved from a racing perspective,
02:20didn't we, Naomi and Martin Bundle?
02:22It's great to be back.
02:23It is, yeah.
02:24I'm really enjoying the track.
02:25We've had some wonderful races here over the course of time,
02:29and this is the 20th time we've raced here, actually.
02:32It started in 1999, and it's really exciting to be back.
02:36I really enjoyed getting out on the track yesterday afternoon
02:39and watching the cars closely.
02:41It's such a wonderful circuit.
02:42I mean, just the layout of the circuit from a driver's perspective,
02:45we love it, but it also gives you a lot of challenges,
02:48whether that's tyre degradation,
02:49the potential of rain that's always in the sky somewhere,
02:52although we've not had it yet.
02:53That's not what the body's for, by the way.
02:53It's not what the body's for.
02:55It's hot as well.
02:56But it gives you great exciting challenges,
02:57so, yeah, that's why we love to be here.
02:59Well, I mean, that's the thing.
03:00The physical challenge here,
03:01we say that Singapore, because it's a long race,
03:04and because it's just down the road, 180 miles down the road.
03:09But that's at night.
03:10This is in the heat of the day.
03:12There's a bump for qualifying,
03:13but definitely for the race tomorrow.
03:15But track temperatures up towards 60,
03:17and they will chew the tyres as well as the abrasive surface.
03:20Yeah, especially this time of the season,
03:22the drivers are super fit, super fit generally,
03:25and they've got some cooling.
03:27But it won't be easy.
03:28There's a lot of work going on inside the car.
03:30This reminds me a little bit of doing the Daytona 24 hours, actually,
03:34even just doing TV here,
03:36that you kind of can't get enough fluid through your body
03:40before your stomach gives up.
03:42You really...
03:42And the drivers will have the same problem in the race as well,
03:45of just rehydrating.
03:48And having this race and Singapore back-to-back
03:50actually, I think, increases that challenge.
03:53But they'll be absolutely fine.
03:55Everybody will be fine.
03:56I tell you who I respect massively are the fans
03:59who are sitting not under that magnificent covered grandstand there,
04:02but out and about on the grass banks.
04:05Absolutely.
04:05There's plenty of them in as well.
04:07Some good deals for the locals.
04:08Less than $50, by the way, for the weekend,
04:11if you're a Malaysian national,
04:12to come here and enjoy all the action from those grass banks.
04:14In behind us here,
04:15you'll see the cars of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
04:18George Russell last time out.
04:19Closed the gap at the top of the championship to 66 points
04:22with a nigh-on perfect weekend.
04:24Perhaps the best of his career,
04:26just when he needed it,
04:27but maybe a little bit too late.
04:28Could have done with it three or four races ago,
04:30but nevertheless, something to build on.
04:32Yeah, better late than never, I would say.
04:34And it has been a very tough start to the season for George.
04:37For whatever reason,
04:38he's been not feeling 100% himself in the car,
04:40kind of things being very against his own personal instincts.
04:43And now it feels like he's coming to one with the car a little bit more.
04:46And as you say,
04:46Baku was an incredible performance from his side,
04:48over a tenth gap in qualifying,
04:50and then to come across the finish line first.
04:53He's building that momentum that he really needs,
04:55and now it's looking like maybe this championship battle
04:57is not completely over.
04:5866 points is totally doable.
05:00He's not lost.
05:00That's what he said.
05:01Any more with the car.
05:02Absolutely, yeah.
05:03And he's hoping that the upgrades that they've got here,
05:07that are worth probably up to a third of a second,
05:09will play into his driving style as well.
05:12I don't think they quite switched on yesterday,
05:15as I understand it,
05:17last night,
05:18as they hoped with the upgrades on that Mercedes.
05:21But I'm sure they learned enough to tickle it a bit
05:24and get it really working today.
05:26The focus overnight,
05:27definitely we heard from Bradley Law,
05:29the deputy team principal,
05:31was on the simulator,
05:32getting the setup right for those upgrades.
05:35But then Kimi Antonelli banged in a lap,
05:38a 1.36302,
05:39which was about six-tenths better than his teammate George Russell.
05:44And there to explain the differences,
05:47the 1997 world champion,
05:49Jacques Villeneuve.
05:49It's with Anthony Davidson.
05:50Guys, all yours.
05:52Yeah, thanks, Simon.
05:53And yeah, thanks for joining me here, Jacques.
05:55It's usually quite a lonely experience,
05:56so it's nice to have you here.
05:58Had to bring the company.
05:59And you can keep me honest as well,
06:02talking about these two Mercedes from FP3.
06:05Like Simon said,
06:06over six-tenths separated the two of them.
06:08Let's get stuck into it then,
06:09heading down towards the first corner.
06:12Already, as they turn in,
06:13you see some differences with the approach,
06:16with the lines.
06:18Kimi on our left, of course,
06:19George suffering a little bit more understeer,
06:21it seems,
06:21when he gets to the apex.
06:23And he runs wide.
06:24And there on the outside,
06:25it's dusty,
06:26there's less grip.
06:27Too late.
06:28Once you get to that point,
06:30the time is gone.
06:31He misses the chance to be
06:33right near this curb as well,
06:34on the left-hander of turn two.
06:36Kimi just hooks it in a bit tighter,
06:37and that helps to propel him,
06:39as George's still fighting a bit of understeer,
06:41and a lack of grip, generally,
06:42out of that corner.
06:43I'll stop it just on the curb, by the way,
06:45on the exit of this one,
06:46just to see what the time difference is.
06:48Roll it back just the curb there,
06:50as the reference.
06:51And you can see the damage has been done.
06:53The damage has been done,
06:55but it's hard to tell.
06:56Is it understeer,
06:56or is it a way of driving?
06:58I think around the coming corners,
07:00we'll see where that difference comes from.
07:02Okay, so let's play it on towards turn four,
07:04then.
07:04Another corner that's critical for lap time.
07:07Kimi not using quite as much of the track
07:08as George before entry,
07:10but at the apex,
07:11I've spotted this yesterday as well,
07:13even in free practice.
07:14Kimi attacking this curb more than anybody,
07:17and your opinion is that it's because
07:19he's preempting the understeer,
07:20the lack of front in the car.
07:21But you can tell.
07:22Look how much steering angle he is.
07:23Look at the position of his hand.
07:24So you can see that he's turning more.
07:27Look at the angle of the tire.
07:28Normally when you hit the inside apex,
07:29it's because you need front grip.
07:30You need to pivot the car.
07:32And yeah,
07:32he's the only one we've seen going that far into the corner.
07:35And that understeer that George copes with,
07:37or struggles with,
07:38I should say,
07:39in the middle of the corner,
07:40it catches up with you,
07:41as we know as drivers.
07:43Watch for the oversteer,
07:44the snap that he gets,
07:45the dreaded snap when you're on throttle.
07:47And that,
07:48so I roll it on to the next reference point,
07:50this orange Marshall's section on the right there.
07:54You can see how much Antonelli has pulled
07:57just in that one corner,
07:58even more.
07:59And it's visible.
08:00In only three corners,
08:01the same car,
08:02the gap,
08:03the difference in lap time is huge.
08:05And then it becomes very hard to recover.
08:07So at first we saw the time difference.
08:09Okay,
08:09maybe he's salvaging the tires to be quicker in the next section.
08:12No,
08:12it's just that the lap wasn't good at that point.
08:14So then we come to,
08:15I've rolled it on to,
08:16we get to level them up on the exit of turn nine.
08:19So through turn 10,
08:20I think George takes this really well.
08:22Just slow it down for you.
08:23The line is good,
08:24using a lot of the track.
08:25And these kind of corners,
08:27I feel like George all year has been very good at.
08:30These kind of high,
08:31medium to high speed,
08:32carries good speed there.
08:33Kimmy's the one this time,
08:34having a lot of overs here,
08:36this snap that comes his way.
08:38And we'll just pause it one more time there.
08:40Actually,
08:41it's pretty even.
08:42If anything,
08:42George has gained time.
08:43Yeah,
08:44all these corners where you roll through,
08:45where you need a more neutral balance,
08:47where you can't throw the car in.
08:49George has been much better this season.
08:51That's why it played in his hand in Baku.
08:53It's a little bit tougher here.
08:55George is the one suffering with oversteer
08:57in towards turn 14.
08:58And I think from lap to lap,
08:59actually,
09:00I'll just roll it back there
09:00because Kimmy's using,
09:01he's notorious for this this year,
09:03isn't he?
09:03Track limits are his Achilles heel.
09:05And look at this once again,
09:06playing with him on the exit of 14.
09:09But George doesn't lose much time.
09:11Despite that oversteer,
09:12he's still pretty even
09:13in this middle of the sector three
09:16that they're in.
09:17But here's another difference.
09:18Kimmy, once again,
09:19he's turning in very early.
09:21I haven't seen anybody else do this
09:23into the final corner.
09:24Most people have seen...
09:25And be quick.
09:25And be fast.
09:27Yeah, that's the thing.
09:27So it's a very different line of attack here.
09:30George struggling for grip.
09:31Kimmy mid-corner gets the snap of oversteer.
09:33But actually, as we head towards the line,
09:36despite George looking much more messy,
09:39he doesn't actually lose that much time
09:41if I stop at the line there.
09:43So, yeah, pretty much...
09:44Yeah, but that corner is peculiar.
09:46The inside is higher,
09:47and then the outside is flat.
09:48So anyone on the inside
09:49will slide out of the corner.
09:50It's not the quick way around.
09:51What's interesting,
09:52seeing how much understeer,
09:54how much steering angle Antonelli has,
09:56and that became obvious from Monaco.
09:58He has a peculiar way of driving
10:00that only he can drive like this,
10:02and only this car allows him.
10:03And the new regulations.
10:04We've seen how much understeer cars could carry.
10:06Remember Stroll yesterday?
10:07Full lock, black skids on the ground,
10:10and still the car was turning.
10:11So it suited him.
10:12Put him in a Ferrari.
10:13In a Red Bull,
10:14he wouldn't be able to be quick.
10:15It really suits him,
10:16and he's quick like this.
10:17Big words, Jack.
10:18Big words.
10:19That was him that said that,
10:20not me.
10:21Back to you, Simon.
10:22Thanks, guys.
10:23Actually, when you go back
10:24and you think back to qualifying sessions
10:26in the past, Martin,
10:27that final corner
10:28that the guys were just talking about there,
10:31reprofiled midway through,
10:32what, 2015, 16,
10:34it was so much of the lap times
10:36down to that one.
10:37They're just clinging on to those tyres.
10:38Could be a huge factor again today.
10:40Absolutely, yeah.
10:41So you have to sort of babysit them
10:43in the early part of the lap
10:44and then thrash them in the middle
10:46and hope they're still with you by the end,
10:47but it's so frustrating
10:49on a good quality lap
10:50and relatively long lap like this,
10:52heading towards 100 seconds.
10:54You blow it all in the final corner
10:57and you have to sort of start over,
10:58especially as it looks like the tyres
11:00are really only good for one lap
11:02in a true sort of qualifying style.
11:05But, you know,
11:06that's the nature of the game.
11:07Just going back to the championship
11:08from the other side,
11:09so not from George's side,
11:10but from Kimi's side,
11:12it always seemed like a surprise to himself
11:14when he started winning
11:15and strung all of those together
11:16and then it became the norm.
11:18And I wonder, actually,
11:19with the lead that he's got
11:20and defending that from his teammate,
11:23whether the fact that he is,
11:25you know,
11:25he hasn't got that experience there,
11:27but everything's kind of fresh for him.
11:29It wouldn't be as much of a pressure
11:31as, say, it was on Lando last year
11:32when kind of there's a fear element.
11:34Maybe he's immune to it.
11:35Yeah, you want to think that in Formula One
11:38there's always something to prove,
11:39but when you're this young
11:40in a career in Formula One
11:41and you've clearly shown
11:42that you've got a lot of potential
11:43and a lot of talent,
11:45there's not a lot riding on him
11:46having to win this year,
11:47but now that Mercedes
11:48have a competitive package
11:49for the first time in a couple of years,
11:51this was go time for George.
11:53So I think maybe the surprise
11:54from his side came less
11:55from his own ability,
11:56but maybe when was his teammate
11:58going to catch up
11:58because he was the favorite
12:00at the start of the season,
12:01wasn't he?
12:01So Kimi's done an incredible job.
12:03I think now he's just got to
12:04stay focused on the main prize.
12:06He doesn't really have to do much anymore
12:07other than finish second
12:08all the way along
12:09and just average performances
12:11from him will be enough.
12:12But I think he got a little bit spooked,
12:14certainly around tracks like Baku
12:15and there's a few tricky ones
12:16coming up as well
12:17where he doesn't want to mess up
12:19and so he's got to be careful
12:20of not, you know,
12:21getting seized up in the car
12:23when he's concerned
12:23about making mistakes
12:24that will cost him
12:25in the championship.
12:26A lot of the barriers
12:27to hit like the,
12:28like to turn on in Baku,
12:30which was a bit of a basic error
12:31from him.
12:32Yeah, the car just turned in.
12:34It was a fundamental clout
12:35with the barriers,
12:36but isn't it the most wonderful thing
12:38about any sport?
12:39There's always somebody
12:40coming along, isn't there?
12:41The king is dead,
12:42long live the king type thing
12:43or indeed the queen,
12:46whoever's coming along
12:47and there's a new hot shoe
12:49in town
12:50and it sharpens everybody up
12:51and I think that's the same
12:53for all of us
12:54in this business.
12:56And, you know,
12:57I remember magnificent men
12:59that I worked with
13:00like Ken Tyrrell
13:01and Murray Walker
13:02and they loved it
13:03because it kept them young
13:04and sharp
13:06because there's always
13:06some bright young thing
13:08with a new idea
13:08coming along.
13:09But a quick one
13:10to counter that,
13:10actually something
13:11we haven't talked about
13:12this season.
13:12I just thought about it
13:13for the days.
13:14If you're Lewis,
13:15you're going,
13:15hold on,
13:16that was my car
13:17and I gave it away
13:18or whatever,
13:20went to Ferrari
13:20and now Kimi's come in
13:22and he's standing
13:23on the verge
13:24of a championship.
13:24Could have been an eighth.
13:26Yeah.
13:27He won't think too much
13:29about that,
13:29I'm going to imagine,
13:30but it's a fact,
13:31isn't it?
13:31It is a fact.
13:32But Lewis wanted
13:33to drive for Ferrari
13:34and he's loving it
13:35and they're loving him
13:36and he's got a couple
13:38of pounds in his pocket
13:39as well to go along
13:40with it to keep him happy.
13:41So everything's fine
13:42in the Lewis camp.
13:44Okay.
13:44Everything wasn't
13:45particularly fine
13:46in the Gasly camp
13:48last weekend
13:49or the Colin Pinto camp
13:50or the Lando Norris
13:51because of the coming together
13:53caused by Franco Colapinto.
13:54He apologized
13:55but went into his teammate.
13:57Gasly wasn't happy
13:58but he kept his counsel
13:59and Naomi caught up with him
14:01to talk about that
14:02amongst other things
14:03about being inside
14:04the top ten
14:05in the championship
14:06about making his debut here
14:07way back when in 2017
14:10here in Malaysia.
14:12Well, Keir,
14:13welcome back to Sepang,
14:14to Malaysia,
14:15a track that I know
14:15a lot of drivers
14:16love driving at.
14:17So how good is it
14:18to be back?
14:19Yeah, I must say
14:19I'm very happy
14:21this morning,
14:22you know,
14:22walking into the paddock.
14:25It just sort of
14:26brought back
14:26a lot of amazing memories,
14:28you know.
14:29It was a little bit emotional
14:30like to remember
14:31that feeling of
14:32almost, you know,
14:33the first day
14:34at school.
14:35Well, Pierre,
14:36as test and reserve driver,
14:37we normally see you
14:37hanging around the paddock
14:38being frustrated
14:39that you're not racing.
14:40So how pleased are you
14:41that you're now
14:42actually qualifying in racing?
14:43It's unbelievable.
14:45Yeah, for me,
14:45it's a great opportunity.
14:47You know,
14:47I've been working hard
14:49to make it happen
14:50these past few years.
14:51I remember coming
14:52into Formula One.
14:53I was supported
14:55by Red Bull,
14:56but, you know,
14:57I didn't really have
14:58at the time
14:59any, like, management.
15:00Obviously,
15:00my parents came
15:01for the first race.
15:02I called them
15:02on the Monday
15:03and I was like,
15:04you know,
15:04I'm racing this weekend
15:06and my dad at the time
15:08had never flown
15:10for, like, 15 years
15:11and he told me
15:12if you make it to F1
15:13then I'll fly again.
15:15And, yeah,
15:15my parents came
15:16for my first race,
15:18but it was, you know,
15:21jumping into a big world
15:23being still
15:23a pretty small,
15:25small boy.
15:26Great season so far,
15:27particularly this season
15:28we have to say
15:28there have been
15:29a lot of highs already,
15:30nine top tens.
15:31Ultimately,
15:32I was still hoping
15:33we'll get more points
15:34than we have today.
15:36I don't think
15:37we've been very fortunate
15:38with a couple
15:39of different situations
15:40where, sadly,
15:42we've left points
15:43on the table this year.
15:44But in terms
15:44of absolute performance,
15:46I think we made
15:46a clear step forward,
15:48you know,
15:49edging the midfields
15:50and starting the season.
15:52Also, the last few races
15:53we've shown
15:53really good performance.
15:54I've got to pick up
15:55when you're saying
15:56leaving points on the table
15:57and I think Baku
15:58was an example of that,
15:59albeit it's very much
16:00out of your control.
16:01The two Alpines
16:02make contact
16:03and there's a right-hole
16:04kerfuffle
16:05going on a turn wall
16:06including Lando Norris.
16:08I don't believe it.
16:09I don't believe it.
16:10there are so many points
16:12ago.
16:13You can't change the past.
16:15What's done is done
16:16and you've got to take
16:18the lessons
16:18that are important
16:22from these moments
16:22and then just look forward,
16:24move forward.
16:24And I think we're very much
16:26in that mindset
16:27as a team.
16:28We've lost one battle.
16:30We haven't lost the war
16:31and still many races
16:34till the end of the year
16:36to sort of get that
16:38fifth spot in the championship.
16:39Your pole position
16:40in Monza
16:41was just incredible.
16:42I mean,
16:42what a result.
16:43One that I think
16:44most of us didn't see coming,
16:45probably yourself included.
16:46Take us back
16:47into that moment.
16:49I really want some of this.
16:51I really want some of it.
16:52I mean,
16:52that was so good.
16:54Gasly
16:54puts his Alpine on pole.
16:57Give it up
16:58for Pierre Gasly.
16:59That is phenomenal.
17:01He's been threatening
17:01to do that, hasn't he?
17:03All afternoon.
17:03It was very impressive
17:05the way that, you know,
17:06the team handled
17:07the qualifying,
17:08the track position.
17:09The car felt very good.
17:11We managed to find
17:12a really good setup
17:13for that track,
17:14get the tires
17:15exactly in the right window.
17:16And I saw my name
17:18on the screen
17:19and I had to give
17:20another look
17:21because I was like,
17:22is it really happening?
17:25What would constitute
17:26a great result
17:27for yourself
17:27and the team here?
17:28I think objectively
17:30until the end of the year
17:31we got a target
17:32at being best of the rest.
17:34I'm feeling strong
17:35in the car.
17:35I'm feeling confident.
17:36I'm able to drive
17:37the way I want to
17:38and sort of get that trust
17:41and consistency
17:43which I know
17:45once I get that
17:46I know I can be
17:47very strong
17:48inside the car.
17:49Now what I'm looking at
17:50is the next step
17:51which is to close
17:52that sort of gap
17:53we have between
17:54top of the midfield
17:55and the bottom
17:57of this top four
17:58which is not that big.
18:01We're talking
18:01a couple of tenths
18:02but it's enough
18:03to be in that fight
18:05be in the battle
18:06and start aiming
18:08at these sort of results.
18:10And this is something
18:11which hopefully
18:14we'll be able to achieve
18:15at some point in 27.
18:19Well, I would have
18:21quite enjoyed
18:21listening in to the debrief
18:22following Baku.
18:24I wonder what was there
18:25but we saw Steve Nielsen
18:26who was straight
18:27well I was watching it
18:28from home
18:28but I saw him
18:29straight off the pit wall
18:30and over there.
18:31You can imagine
18:31there were a lot
18:32of harsh words exchanged.
18:33Yeah, and you could hear
18:35them from Flavio as well.
18:36He wasn't too pleased
18:37after that incident
18:38and you can understand
18:38why as Pierre explained
18:40they've cost them
18:41a lot of points
18:41and they're very much
18:42in that battle
18:43especially with RB
18:44that is very costly.
18:46They gain a lot of money
18:47based on where they're
18:48in the constructor's title
18:50and so you can understand
18:51why they were frustrated.
18:52From what I understood
18:53he was summoned back
18:54to base
18:55to have a meeting
18:56both with Flavio
18:57and with Steve
18:58as you mentioned
18:59but nothing came of it.
19:00He did a lot of simulator work
19:01and obviously
19:02there was threats
19:03of other consequences.
19:04It seems like
19:05they're just putting it
19:06behind them now
19:06and hoping a mistake
19:07like that
19:08which is so easily done.
19:09It can happen
19:10especially on a bumpy track
19:11like Baku.
19:12See it there.
19:13I think if anyone
19:15would have been really gutted
19:16it would have been Franco himself
19:17because it's a silly mistake
19:18that costs the whole team.
19:20Yeah I mean
19:21it was one of those things
19:22but I mean
19:22how often have we seen it
19:23but charging down
19:24the inside
19:25of Turn 1 at Baku
19:27never ends particularly well.
19:29No you want your driver
19:30to have a go
19:31and your drivers
19:32will make mistakes
19:33as will others
19:34and take you out as well.
19:36That was a fairly
19:38fundamental mistake
19:39that wasn't just
19:40a having a go
19:41kind of mistake
19:43so I can understand
19:44why the team
19:44would be angry about that.
19:48Cost them money
19:48to all the parts
19:50cost them points
19:51which could be
19:51a huge amount of money
19:53and the only trouble is
19:55what you don't want to do
19:56is absolutely
19:57mentally destroy
19:59your driver
20:00because the next thing is
20:01they start getting
20:02all nervy
20:03on the brakes
20:04and then they're either
20:05too slow
20:06or they start having
20:07accidents again.
20:08It's quite a balancing act.
20:10Franco Colapinto
20:11carries over by the way
20:12a five pace
20:12grid penalty
20:13that was 10 seconds
20:14but he couldn't serve it
20:16last weekend
20:17so therefore
20:18it is a grid penalty here.
20:20Actually when you look though
20:21just quickly on Pierre Gasly
20:22look at
20:24someone who is comparable
20:25in terms of records
20:26is Esteban Ocon.
20:27He's getting replaced
20:29next year.
20:29We don't know who by
20:30but it could be his time over
20:31in Formula 1
20:32and yet Pierre Gasly
20:33himself
20:33he just seems to be
20:35one of those guys
20:36he's got real longevity
20:37he's never had
20:38a front running car
20:39you could argue
20:40you know
20:40he had an opportunity
20:41at Red Bull
20:42but it didn't work for him
20:43is he one of those
20:44that's destined to sort of
20:45always be running
20:46in the midfield
20:46or might he get an opportunity
20:48to compete for podiums
20:50you think within this Alpine setup
20:51within these regulations?
20:52Well he's already shown
20:53that he can be a leader
20:54at Alpine
20:55and I think the word
20:56from their side is
20:57you know
20:57obviously Esteban
20:58was here with him as well
20:59he had been here
20:59for a longer time
21:00but Pierre was really showing
21:01that he could give the team
21:02great direction
21:03and motivate
21:04the technical team
21:05and I think that that's
21:06very important
21:06and very valuable
21:07of course as you say
21:08he had an opportunity
21:09at Red Bull
21:09that didn't last very long
21:11and he's been rebuilding
21:12ever since then
21:13I don't know
21:13if the opportunity
21:14will come up
21:15because the teams
21:16are very much locked in
21:17at the moment
21:17with their best drivers
21:18and if the opportunity
21:19comes up
21:20I think they might
21:20consider him
21:21because when everything
21:22comes together
21:23he delivers
21:24look at Monza
21:24what an incredible result
21:26yeah
21:26where do you rate him
21:27in terms of the tiers
21:28of drivers
21:29he's sort of
21:30tail end of the top 10
21:31isn't he
21:31yeah
21:32but he's solid
21:33already given the opportunity
21:34okay
21:35we're going to take
21:36a short break
21:37on the other side
21:38of things
21:38we'll consider
21:39to consider that crash
21:40from the McLaren
21:41perspective
21:42and how it played out
21:43back at the NTC
21:45they weren't happy
21:47with the way
21:48it played out
21:48and in fact
21:49for them as well
21:50neither of their cars
21:52scoring in Baku
21:53that's next
21:53don't go to that
22:03welcome back
22:04welcome back now
22:04as we were talking
22:04about before the break
22:06it was an eventful race
22:08in Baku a week ago
22:09on both cars
22:10neither getting in the points
22:11for very different reasons
22:13now there's a lot
22:14of communication
22:15that goes on
22:16between every team
22:17back at base
22:17from McLaren
22:18to the MTC
22:19and the pit wall
22:20in particular
22:21the chief strategist
22:23Randy Singh
22:24they're always communicating
22:26and let's take you
22:27behind the scenes
22:28and show you
22:28how it played out
22:29last weekend
22:39we're in McLaren
22:40technology centre
22:41mission control
22:41for our Formula 1 team
22:43behind me
22:44you can see
22:44all of the desks
22:45that people will be
22:46filling up with
22:47and they'll be
22:47occupying that
22:48through the race
22:49the idea is that
22:50we're monitoring
22:50what's going on
22:51at the track
22:51and we're supporting
22:52all of the activities
22:53and decisions
22:54that are being made
22:54we have an intercon
22:56system that we can use
22:57to communicate
22:58amongst ourselves
22:59but then also
22:59directly to the track
23:00and you have
23:01dozens of channels
23:02and then different
23:03people will have
23:04different sets of channels
23:05so it's sort of
23:05a full spider's web
23:06and the idea is
23:08that the key people
23:08at the track
23:09are at the centre
23:09of that
23:11celebrating then
23:12a decade of racing
23:13here on the streets
23:14of the Azerbaijan
23:15capital
23:15welcome to Baku
23:20two burnouts
23:21two burnouts
23:24two burnouts
23:30it's lights out
23:31away we go
23:32George Russell
23:32gets away
23:33ahead of Charles Leclerc
23:34and already
23:35Oscar Piastri
23:36making a good start
23:37he's ahead of Charles Leclerc
23:38who's got that inside line
23:39round the first corner
23:40we go
23:41and Isaac Hajar
23:42has dropped a place
23:42to Lando Norris
23:47overtake enabled
23:48Leclerc 0.9
23:49good start
23:50well done
23:52Hajar does have
23:54overtake behind you
23:55Lando Norris
23:56under pressure
23:57from Isaac Hajar
23:58who thinks
23:58no not about Max
24:00thinks about
24:00gaining a place
24:01and does
24:02and easily
24:03breeze past
24:04Lando Norris
24:05there
24:05into turn one
24:06Isaac Hajar
24:07moving up to fourth
24:08Ollie Tom on edge
24:09go ahead
24:10what was the gap
24:12between Lando
24:13and
24:14uh
24:15Hajar
24:15at the start
24:16of the straight
24:16start by
24:180.6
24:19Hajar
24:20past Lando
24:21from 0.6
24:23you develop
24:24tyres
24:25go ahead
24:26can we get
24:288.102
24:28rear left
24:29checked
24:29it's dropping
24:30temperature
24:31Oscar
24:31these red balls
24:32can be a problem
24:32fighting Nick Lark
24:33now
24:34want to try and
24:34keep them
24:35out of range
24:36Stroll's gone
24:37off the track
24:40I think
24:40Lance Stroll
24:41has stopped
24:42roundabout turn
24:4315
24:44in his Aston Martin
24:45George James
24:46is right
24:46good
24:47I think I'd
24:48take it
24:48VSE
24:49I think I agree
24:50I'm not sure
24:51what character
24:51is to stay
24:52now
24:53I mean
24:54if we take it
24:54and then there's
24:55a safety car
24:56we use
24:56five cars
24:57and I think
24:57in second
24:58I'd rather get
24:59and take up
24:59one red ball
25:00than give up
25:01that many
25:02potential
25:02because
25:03it doesn't
25:03a safety car
25:04I agree
25:04just give you a picture
25:05I believe
25:05I believe he is
25:06off the track
25:07so hopefully
25:07we won't see
25:08a safety car
25:09for this
25:11Hamilton
25:11down the straight
25:13up into
25:13sixth place
25:17what do you think
25:18about the soft
25:18first media
25:19at the moment
25:19it does seem to be
25:21the soft gives
25:21a bit of a pace
25:22benefit
25:22I think the soft
25:24looks faster to me
25:24looking across the field
25:28massive lockup
25:29from Lando Norris
25:30at the end of the
25:31straight
25:31Lando Norris
25:32put his brakes on
25:33his tyres locked up
25:35and he has lost
25:36a place
25:36to Pierre Ghazi
25:37and to Kimi Antonelli
25:39as well
25:52he's hit the wall
25:53and that should be
25:54a safety car
25:54Randy
25:56now this
25:57could change
25:58things around
25:58botched this lap
26:01it looks like
26:02he just missed
26:02his brake point
26:04so there's a
26:05recovery vehicle
26:06on track
26:07in turn six
26:08recovery vehicle
26:09on track
26:09and Marshall
26:10is on track
26:11as well
26:12but the good news
26:13is we're on
26:13a better tyre
26:14now
26:14so you've got
26:14Hadjar, Leclerc
26:15and Hamilton
26:15on the medium
26:17race is on
26:18and Max Verstappen
26:19gets the jump
26:19on Oscar Piastri
26:20and Verstappen's
26:21putting pressure
26:22on Piastri
26:22into turn one
26:23and he's dispatched
26:24to Leclerc
26:24and driver
26:25straight away
26:25and the two
26:26Alpines
26:26make contact
26:27and there's
26:28a right-hole
26:29kerfuffle
26:29going on
26:30at turn one
26:31with about five
26:31cars
26:32all involved
26:33including
26:33Lando Norris
26:35are you out
26:36mate?
26:37I expect it
26:37will go
26:38yes
26:40is it a safety car
26:42or not
26:42there's boards
26:42and flags
26:43could be a safety car
26:44could be
26:45turn one
26:47there's boards
26:48and flags
26:48everywhere
26:49for a safety car
26:50I think we have to
26:51respect the flags
26:52physical flags
26:52right
26:53there's yellow flags
26:53everywhere
26:54safety car
26:55safety car
26:56Oscar
26:57we'll be using
26:58pit lane
26:58you'll be driving
26:59through the pit lane
27:01Russell into turn one
27:02ahead of Estapen
27:03Piastri holds off
27:04Hadjar
27:04Leclerc holds off
27:05Hamilton
27:06and then Antonelli
27:08Piastri
27:09Piastri locks up
27:10goes straight
27:10on a turn one
27:11and drops
27:12right out
27:13of the podium
27:14places
27:14oh no
27:15careful when you rejoin
27:17careful rejoining
27:18George Russell
27:19for the first time
27:20in his career
27:20leads from start
27:21to finish
27:22George Russell
27:23wins
27:24the Azerbaijan
27:25Grand Prix
27:26so unlucky mate
27:27that first stint
27:28was brilliant
27:28I think we've
27:29learnt a lot
27:30this weekend
27:31and we go to
27:32Malaysia
27:32with a lot more
27:32potential
27:33but I'm sure
27:33you're pretty
27:34frustrated from that
27:36everyone was working
27:37very well
27:37following the race
27:38there was a lot
27:39of exciting racing
27:40going on
27:41and certainly
27:41when Oscar
27:42was holding off
27:43the two Red Bulls
27:44there was a lot
27:44of communication
27:45and people monitoring
27:46what was going on
27:47back here
27:47unfortunately
27:48the result
27:49didn't come to us
27:49but that's what
27:50you get sometimes
27:56yeah a great insight
27:58and a big thank you
27:59to McLaren
28:00for their access
28:00last weekend
28:01it's great to see
28:02how that works
28:03someone that knows
28:03that first hand
28:04is the former
28:05Aston Martin
28:07strategist
28:08Bernie Collins
28:08who's with us
28:09and also was
28:09a performance engineer
28:10and worked out
28:11of the MTC
28:12way back when
28:13but Bernie
28:14you're in a great
28:15position to explain
28:16actually how it works
28:17and how the pit wall
28:19generally tends
28:20to interact
28:21what's the kind
28:22of hierarchy
28:22and what we saw
28:24there
28:24how did it interact
28:27within different teams
28:28yeah I think
28:29it's quite a complicated
28:30structure
28:30all teams have a
28:31slightly different
28:32structure I guess
28:32is the first thing
28:33to say but those
28:34people back in MTC
28:35or any of the
28:36mission controls
28:37across teams
28:38they tend to be
28:39experts in different
28:40areas so you might
28:41have someone looking
28:42at aerodynamics
28:42someone looking at
28:43tires someone looking
28:44at track position
28:45whatever and they're
28:46all feeding information
28:48into the person
28:48on the pit wall
28:49making the decision
28:50generally so there's
28:51lots of these
28:52different trains
28:53of information
28:55on their specific
28:56area all coming
28:57to the pit wall
28:58hopefully at the
28:59right time and
28:59then allowing Randy
29:01or whoever it is
29:02on the pit wall
29:02across all the
29:03teams to make
29:04the final decision
29:05with all of the
29:06little pieces of
29:06information of the
29:07puzzle all together
29:09Bernie I have to say
29:10it's very fascinating
29:11to see just the way
29:12that your brains
29:12operate and the
29:13amount of voices
29:14you've got in your
29:15mind at one time
29:16but also all the
29:16factors you've got
29:17to take into
29:17consideration so
29:18just how much
29:19pressure is there
29:20in that moment
29:20with so much going
29:21on for you to make
29:22such an important
29:23decision
29:24yeah I think there
29:25are a lot of voices
29:26and just to give the
29:26viewers at home a
29:27fee for that
29:28a lot of the people
29:29on the pit wall
29:30who work on both
29:30cars they actually
29:32split up the
29:32signs so in the
29:33McLaren pit wall
29:34you'll have all of
29:35Lando Norris's
29:36information in one
29:37ear and all of
29:38Oscar Piastri's in
29:39the other ear so
29:40it's quite a
29:40complicated system of
29:41how all of the
29:42information is working
29:43and I think there is
29:44big pressure in those
29:45decisions but what
29:46you're trying to do
29:46a bit like we heard
29:48there in the
29:48McLaren one they're
29:49trying to pre-empt
29:50is it going to be a
29:51safety car is it
29:52going to be a BSC
29:53ask in advance of the
29:55situation what will
29:56we do now what will
29:57we do in the next
29:58lap if that sort of
29:59thing happens and
30:00sort of work through
30:01all the different
30:02options together as a
30:04team and you can sort
30:05of get a feeling you
30:06know it's worth saying
30:07to everyone at home
30:08that that is a very
30:08cut down version of
30:10the conversation there
30:10will be so many
30:11conversations going on
30:12across a whole host of
30:14channels like Mark
30:15Temple described at
30:16the top it is really a
30:18spider's web of
30:19information and they
30:20spend a lot of time
30:21getting the right
30:22decision but then also
30:23evaluating the decision
30:24in between these two
30:26races to try and
30:27improve week in week
30:28out Barney
30:30Barney?
30:30Barney
30:31sorry that's the name
30:33of my sister's dog
30:34anyway Bernie I can
30:36see in front of you
30:36you've got the
30:37the tyre allocation
30:38now we saw Charles
30:40Leclerc running the
30:40hards in that third
30:43practice session and
30:44Max giving up a set
30:45what's that going to
30:46mean for qualifying and
30:48for the race itself
30:49yeah I think there's a
30:50few things on the tyre
30:51allocation as you know
30:52Sam and I try and keep
30:53on top of what tyres
30:54they're running in
30:55different bits of
30:55qualifying I think that
30:57the two that you picked
30:58out are the most
30:59interesting Verstappen
30:59and Leclerc both go
31:01into the race with
31:02only with two with one
31:03set of hard compared to
31:04everyone else's two
31:05sets of hards now we'll
31:07talk about the race
31:08obviously more tomorrow
31:09but if we think of what
31:10that means for qualifying
31:11today for qualifying
31:12today it means that
31:13Max Verstappen and
31:15Charles Leclerc have
31:16five sets of soft tyre
31:18whereas the majority of
31:20the rest of the field
31:21only have four sets so
31:22they have an extra set of
31:23soft tyres should they
31:24choose to use them
31:25today we're expecting it
31:27to be a single lap on
31:28those soft tyres and
31:30that will mean that if
31:31they have any instant
31:31any lock up any yellow
31:34flags red flags that
31:35ruin their lap they have
31:36another set to put on
31:37so slight advantage to
31:38say at the moment to
31:39Charles Leclerc and
31:40Max Verstappen the
31:42others with four sets
31:43should be okay but it
31:44will be really interesting
31:45who gets the most out of
31:46the soft in this session
31:47we've seen in FP3
31:49McLaren didn't get that
31:50soft to work for them
31:51having a look through the
31:52data it seemed to be all
31:53in high speed so they
31:55need to improve that
31:56section of the lap but
31:57that's soft from McLaren
31:58and get the most out of
31:59it but I think there is
32:00more to come from McLaren
32:02so can they close that
32:03gap to Kimi Antonelli
32:04Bernie I know there's
32:05300 centres on the
32:06cars I think a team
32:07collects one and a half
32:09terabytes of data a
32:10weekend and pit wall
32:11garage and back at the
32:13base as we saw I know
32:14there's a bit of latency
32:15in that as well if we're
32:16in Australia or something
32:17but with all of that
32:18knowledge and data is
32:20there any space left for
32:22your gut feeling and
32:24instinct and what wins
32:25out on the pit wall
32:26yeah I think like you
32:28say Morten we try to
32:29base the majority of our
32:30decisions on data and we
32:32try to have as much
32:33pre-emptive as we can but
32:35I think you know this
32:36race weekend is a good
32:37example where they're
32:39going into the race with
32:40not all the data they
32:40would like they don't
32:41know everything about
32:42the tyres most people
32:43haven't even ran the
32:44hard tyre that they're
32:45going to spend most of
32:46the race on so you are
32:47trying to use some data
32:49that you have but also
32:50what do you think is
32:51realistic about how that
32:53hard tyre is going to
32:53react and perform on the
32:55day and I think the
32:56biggest example of where
32:58sort of the person on the
32:59pit wall makes a
33:00difference over the data
33:01is those changeable
33:02conditions inter-wet
33:03conditions you know
33:04that's why we see people
33:05put their hand out on the
33:06pit wall you feel the
33:07wind pick up a bit or
33:09get a bit shaded and
33:10that's where the person on
33:11the pit wall I think
33:12really really makes a
33:13difference and you know
33:14also we talk about all the
33:15sensors on the car but as
33:16you know Martin the most
33:17expensive sensor in that
33:18car are the two drivers so
33:20you get the feedback from
33:22them that may not always
33:23show up in the data
33:24screens in front of you
33:25thanks Bernie sorry for
33:27getting your name wrong I'll
33:28buy you a wine later
33:29apologies with regards to
33:32what we've seen again this
33:33weekend and also he's a
33:34catcher onto the podium
33:36having had five weeks out
33:39with the damaged wrist and
33:40then straight back on it
33:41and again he was right up
33:42there yes he was three
33:43tenths of his teammate but
33:45he's there or thereabouts
33:46every single Saturday it
33:47would seem nowadays very
33:48impressive from him I mean
33:50being again up against Max
33:52Verstappen who's probably
33:53the best driver on the grid
33:54at the moment in Formula
33:55One and to be as close as he
33:57was in Baku after having
33:58spent more than two months
33:59out of the car you've got to
34:01take your hats off to him I
34:02mean fantastic job
34:03obviously that wasn't
34:05exactly the best operation
34:06of that first stint for him
34:08he shouldn't probably have
34:09gotten into the window with
34:10the tyres quicker because he
34:11did ultimately have that
34:12moment where they asked Max
34:13to be allowed past and that
34:15should not necessarily have
34:16happened but once he got the
34:17tyres into the operating
34:18window he was there putting
34:19pressure on Max and if we can
34:20keep seeing stuff like that
34:21from him it'll be great for
34:22him but also great for the
34:23team to have two consistent
34:25drivers in the points which
34:26hasn't happened for a while
34:27with Red Bull he's done
34:28brilliantly I was worried for
34:29him when you take time out
34:31like that sometimes you can
34:32just slip off the radar and
34:34lose your way a little bit
34:35especially in a complex car like
34:37this and he's come back on
34:39fire it's great to see tough as
34:40old boots there we go wise head
34:42on young shoulders however
34:43you want to dress it up
34:44talking of a wise head but on
34:46slightly older shoulders at the
34:48age of 45 Fernando Alonso has
34:51signed an extension to his
34:53contract returns to place he won
34:55in 2012 I talked to him we'll
34:59hear from that that great
35:00champion in a couple minutes
35:01time
35:11welcome back just about 15
35:13minutes to go to the start of
35:14qualifying Fernando Alonso
35:16everyone pleased about this has
35:18taken on an option to continue
35:20racing in 2027 and I caught up
35:24with him on Thursday about it
35:36well Fernando first of all
35:38congratulations thank you new
35:40contract 24 years in in in
35:43Formula one almost a life
35:45sentence I was gonna say above my
35:47I should imagine a reasonably
35:48healthy paycheck what was it that
35:50made the decision for you that
35:52swayed you to stay on and
35:53motivates you still I thought
35:55about it and I said look you
35:56know I still prefer to be in the
35:59cockpit than watching the TV at
36:01home I still feel that this team
36:03has everything to succeed we have
36:05great facilities we have great
36:07partners we have a incredibly
36:09talented personnel you know the
36:11design office Adrian you know
36:13leading the team Lawrence with his
36:16vision about you know giving
36:18everything you know to the team to
36:20succeed
36:21you had to wait a long time to get
36:22into an Adrian Newey car I think
36:24potentially after just one iteration
36:26of that it's worth waiting a bit
36:28longer isn't it is that is that one
36:29of the things as well absolutely I
36:31think Adrian knows how to you know
36:34overcome the difficulties and we saw
36:37this year already you know how bigger
36:40step we made in Hungary with the
36:42chassis so now it's about the glue in
36:44everything a little bit better
36:45especially with the power unit you know
36:47to try to find more performance for
36:48next year I think Honda proofs many
36:50times that they can you know build a
36:52you know a strong engine we started
36:56with the back foot yes this year but I
36:58think it's worth giving a second
36:59opportunity a lot of the car to try and
37:02more to come I know thank you think
37:04you know your son could come to a few
37:05races and watch his watch his dad into
37:08your 50s potentially yeah have you thought
37:10that far ahead or you just is it just
37:12year by year let's just see where we're
37:14at I don't feel it next year is going to
37:15be the last I feel competitive I feel the
37:19fire inside that you know I need to keep
37:21you know proving things and testing
37:23things if you are not competitive and if
37:25you are beating every weekend you know by
37:28your teammate and similar cars and things
37:31like that okay you raise your hand and
37:32said I lost a little bit of the speed or I
37:34lost the motivation none of the two did
37:38happen yet so the day that happens you
37:40know I will be the first one to stop in
37:42the past when it did happen you went
37:43across and tried Indy 500 you've won
37:46Le Mans you won the world endurance
37:47championship you've won a couple of
37:49titles here is he now fully focused on
37:51Formula One motorsport is is wider than
37:54Formula One and it's beautiful and I
37:56experienced you know those series as you
37:59mentioned it now and they were you know
38:00incredible experiences for me and
38:03somehow learning from zero from the
38:05specialist on those series you know
38:07made me a more complete driver so I don't
38:09think that is against your Formula One
38:12experiences is adding probably something
38:15do you think though within this rule
38:17cycle you can win a championship in this
38:19team if not I will I will not keep on
38:21going if I if I was not thinking that
38:23that possibility exists somehow I will not
38:26renew the contract it's actually quite a
38:29special track the years my first goal
38:31first podium and three wins with three
38:33different manufacturers maybe not on the
38:35cars this year yeah nice to be back
38:37nice to be back a stream stream circuit
38:40you know wonderful for Formula One I
38:42don't know this year with the current
38:43rules it's gonna be as fun as used to be
38:45but yeah I love the fun and it's gonna be a
38:49challenge for for the cars and for
38:50drivers great to have you continue
38:52thanks for your time appreciate it
38:53cheers for me thanks
38:59yeah love Fernando 24 years will be in the
39:02sport let's guess walk down this pit
39:04lane and I'm going to talk about what he's
39:06achieved actually when you think about it
39:08got within a tenth and a half of the top
39:10ten by the way hello Anthony in that third
39:13and final practices he's won here three
39:15times with three different manufacturers and
39:19also you've got his first podium and his
39:21first pole position here that probably
39:23making the difference isn't it but just
39:25as a general all about Fernando staying as
39:27well it's good news for Formula One it's
39:30great news for the team obviously he's a
39:32he's a gem there and it's great that he
39:35can remain in that team that he's he has
39:38decided to stay because it was his
39:40decision and I think it's a benefit for
39:42F1 benefit for us as the media and
39:46definitely a benefit for the team
39:47it's that thing isn't it stick or twist
39:49it's just hoping that Adrian it's not
39:50really Adrian because they they're happy
39:52with the progress they're making with the
39:53chassis it's secure and it's getting the
39:56Honda right yeah that seems to be the the
39:58remaining Achilles heel they've obviously
39:59made upgrades to both the chassis and the
40:02engine the season so far and it seems like
40:04the engine is still the side that they're
40:06really struggling on and that's costing
40:07them a lot of time and what a season I
40:10mean the hopes are really high I mean how
40:12much brain power money you name it can you throw at
40:16it and then it's gone so dismally so I think
40:18great news for him to carry on I mean I
40:20remember when Fernando started racing in
40:22Formula One I was only six years old and to
40:25think he's gonna race well into his 46th year
40:28and at a level that you know he's still
40:30proving that he's got so much talent he's
40:32one of those drivers that always has
40:33something extra in the bag when he goes
40:35wheel to wheel racing with him you you know
40:37you've got to be scared because he's going
40:38to be so smart he's got that controlled
40:40aggression about him and can I just say you
40:42look really cool in that future side
40:45honestly right guys let's get in here
40:47let's let's talk about so what about the
40:49hopes of Ferrari after a difficult couple of
40:53weeks on and off the track have the are they
40:55going to feature today do you think Anthony I
40:57think they can fare pretty well and
40:59particularly Lewis Hamilton he didn't get a
41:01he didn't get a fair run at it did he in
41:03that just walked past yeah I mean he'll be up
41:06there too I'm sure but he he had a better run a
41:10better chance in FP3 he did his lap right at
41:12the end of the session as did Antonelli and
41:15a few others but Hamilton's run his best
41:18lap time came on a set of old tires and we
41:21have to take that into consideration and
41:23Lewis was surprised about his lap time we
41:26were in the commentary box property myself
41:28and and the team said it was a good job on
41:31those old soft as well we talked about
41:33Isaac but it is max on a party thing with
41:36those two Mercedes on the evidence we've
41:38seen so far I think the most encouraging
41:40thing for the Red Bulls is that they've
41:41shown that across the board this weekend
41:43they've been the most consistent and of
41:45course one lap pace is going to be what
41:46matters here they've shown in free practice
41:48one they've got it the question is going to
41:49be what are they going to look like across
41:50the board but today I think they're best of
41:52the rest definitely it's a driver circuit and
41:55especially in qualifying Simon drivers track and
41:57you can never therefore discount Max
41:59Verstappen you know exactly how good these
42:01upgrades are we beginning to see that from
42:04them in the in the last hour of practice in
42:06Mercedes yeah I mean this is what they hoped
42:08that they would do that would put them on
42:10par with McLaren and who have been pretty
42:13recently the best team in medium to high
42:16speed cornering like we saw in Zanfork for
42:19example Budapest Madring the McLaren was the
42:22car to beat and maybe it's maybe it's achieved
42:25that maybe it's gone even further than they had
42:27hoped who knows well with regards to McLaren
42:30yeah they were almost a second off you said
42:31you didn't buy it you didn't buy it I don't
42:34they're not a second off no no not a second off
42:36and because there are similarities you're
42:38saying between the ones that those two tracks
42:41either side of the summer break that Lando
42:42won at are they going to feature well are you
42:45asking me or I'm asking you both well I think
42:47that they could feature I think of the four
42:50top teams they're probably slightly the weakest
42:52average from what we've seen this weekend so
42:53far in terms of single lap pace but keep an eye
42:56on them I think that all the top four teams
42:58are in it with a chance it's going to be a
43:00really exciting qualifying can't wait I can't
43:02wait we've had to wait nine years haven't we
43:04since we've seen a qualifying session for
43:06Formula One here at Sepang and for the
43:09moment we're none the wiser as to who will
43:12prevail Mercedes the favorites but hopefully
43:15those other three major teams hot on their
43:18heels that's next don't go anywhere
43:26oh boy is it good to be back in Sepang we
43:29want more tracks that provide racing and
43:31this is a racing circle
43:34we've seen some great races in the past
43:36too I would definitely love the words
43:39qualifying of space over your wrist
43:41massively challenging physically
43:43the melting from the moment you leave the
43:45bit lane I've been spending time inside a
43:49daydream I hope I'm better I hope I'm better
43:53off than I was last week
43:58we should all be pretty bowed and comfortable
44:00by qualifying
44:04it's one of the best circuits
44:07this circuit is very cool
44:48this circuit is very cool
44:59because we're just gonna invite you to
44:59this is the first thing that's going to be
44:59it's the second part of the show
44:59one of the guests on the show
45:01and we're going to watch it
45:21ДИНАМИЧНАЯ МУЗЫКА
45:33ДИНАМИЧНАЯ МУЗЫКА
46:03ДИНАМИЧНАЯ МУЗЫКА
46:08ДИНАМИЧНАЯ МУЗЫКА
46:12ДИНАМИЧНАЯ МУЗЫКА
46:14ДИНАМИЧНАЯ МУЗЫКА
46:15Yeah, they've got to get their lap in, keep their tyres together.
46:18The track feels old school, which is weird, really, isn't it?
46:21Because it was not that long, I've seen it was one of the brand-new ones in Formula 1.
46:25But it's got some challenges, and as you said, the track is not exactly like a billiard table,
46:31and that is a good thing, as far as I'm concerned.
46:33And always here, given the rain expected, and we saw over the previous 19 races here that it was quite
46:43frequent,
46:44it's quite an open surface, it's quite a grippy track in that respect, but it does tear the tyres to
46:50shreds.
46:50But that's something to be managed, to be managed over one lap today, and to be managed over many more
46:57laps tomorrow.
46:57Flavours of Bahrain wherever you look around the circuit, and I don't just mean the shawarma stand,
47:02the Bahraini culture is very much in evidence, as are a huge amount of Formula 1 fans.
47:09It's absolutely packed here.
47:10Great to see.
47:11The sport has grown in popularity since we were last at this circuit,
47:15and you can really tell, with a local fan base that are massively keen and massively passionate,
47:21especially for the two Mercedes drivers.
47:23Their fuel supplier is the Malaysian National Energy Company,
47:28and Kimi Antonelli and George Russell have godlike status around here,
47:33and one of them, Martin Brundle, might just find themselves on pole,
47:36given the performance of that car so far.
47:38Yeah, they put a new package on.
47:39Yes, they didn't deliver them exactly what they were looking for,
47:42but I'm sure they tuned it up a bit overnight.
47:46This is great lateral thinking here, with the Bahraini Grand Prix being held in Malaysia.
47:50It reminds me of the pandemic, when incredibly Formula 1 put 34 races on,
47:56when very few other sports in the world were taking place.
47:59So, we can't go to the Middle East, or we couldn't earlier on in the year.
48:03Sounds like we are definitely going to Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
48:05As of today, that's been confirmed and announced.
48:08So, great lateral thinking.
48:10Here we are, Bahrain have parachuted everything in,
48:13and we got ourselves a track back that we missed.
48:18Absolutely.
48:19Hats off to Sheikh Salman, the Crown Prince,
48:21who had the idea to bring the race to Malaysia this year.
48:2569 days ago, it was confirmed, and here we are on qualifying day.
48:30The Constructors' Championship, and I'm sure from a Bahraini point of view,
48:34they'd like McLaren to have a few more points on the board,
48:37given that they are the majority owners of the team that Zac Brown heads up.
48:41Ferrari, second place to Mercedes on 538 in the Drivers' Championship.
48:46The reigning champion, Lando Norris, finds himself fourth at the moment.
48:49It is a 66-point gap between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
48:54Now, Arvid Lindblad will start from the back of the grid.
48:58He's got multiple new components for a power unit to exceed his allocation,
49:02and there are two other drivers facing grid penalties as well.
49:05Isaac Hadjar, five places for a new internal combustion engine,
49:09and Franco Colopinto, who's also got a new internal combustion engine,
49:13plus five places for being a little bit too careless at the restart
49:16and causing a collision in Baku.
49:18So, 15 in total for him.
49:20One, I think, is fully deserved.
49:22The other, obviously, it's painful when you get engine penalties
49:26through no fault of the driver, especially in a year like this,
49:29where we've got a brand-new power unit with 47% hybrid electric
49:34and 53% internal combustion engine with sustainable fuel.
49:39And we have seen some run.
49:41We're going to see some more yet this year of power unit penalties,
49:45but that is to stop the wealthy teams,
49:49and cost cap does this to a certain extent anyway, to a large extent,
49:52but just throwing brand-new motors at the car every day
49:55like we used to do in the bad old 80s and 90s.
49:59Car number 44, Lewis Hamilton,
50:01who was on pole the last time we came to the Sepang circuit.
50:04It was Mercedes on pole with Lewis,
50:06from Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari with Red Bull,
50:10three and four on the grid that year.
50:12Now, two Haases out on track, Esteban Ocon and Oli Behrman.
50:16Both Haas cars progressing from Q1 in Baku
50:20for just the second time in the last 11 races,
50:23the other one being Monza.
50:24Esteban Ocon is a free agent
50:26and not being retained by Haas for next season.
50:30Fernando Alonso is not a free agent
50:32and is being retained for another year at least by Aston Martin,
50:36along with his teammate Lance Stroll.
50:38And it's Aston Martin that have been occupying the back row recently.
50:43However, Fernando Alonso was 12th fastest in the final practice session,
50:48put in a really, really impressive lap.
50:50I wonder, could he roll back the years and make a difference here today?
50:53Well, this is not so much about raw power or super high-speed corners.
50:58This is about keeping tyres intact for quite a tortuous lap
51:02that's approaching 100 seconds.
51:05And, yeah, it's an altogether different challenge,
51:07so he might be able to make a difference out there.
51:10Right, Bernie Collins at Sky Race Control is keeping tabs on the tyres.
51:16What's your favourite occupation on a Saturday afternoon?
51:18It's my only occupation on a Saturday afternoon, Crofty, I think.
51:22I was just going to come in quickly.
51:23You're talking about the two Haas cars.
51:25Ocon will see you just starting that lap now in a soft.
51:27Likely, I think, that the Haas, as you say,
51:30having struggled to progress,
51:31will do three runs in this Q1 session on the soft tyre.
51:35Now, that leaves them very limited later on,
51:37but the first thing you need to do in Q2 is get there,
51:40so that's their priority at this stage.
51:41Others waiting in the garage, try and do two runs most likely.
51:45Maybe try multiple laps in the first run,
51:48but we know that this soft tyre is delicate.
51:50And unlike Baku, you don't want to get too close to the car in front here.
51:55Yes, you might pick up a slipstream along one of the long straights,
51:58but you are going to be severely disturbed
52:00through some of the high-speed corners.
52:02Yes, I mean, if you can get a distant tow,
52:05on the back straight, as it were, before the final corner,
52:08and then on the pit straight,
52:10you'll take it, but you won't go looking for it
52:13because in corners like this,
52:14you need all the downforce you can get.
52:16And you want to be a good five, seven seconds behind the car in front
52:20so you're not driving in to disturbed air.
52:24Nice shot there of the Haas accelerating out of nine towards ten
52:29and never-ending sort of right-hander.
52:33And eventually, you get down to this massively quick left-hander.
52:40And this is a clumsy corner.
52:42You have to wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
52:44Look at that.
52:44It's washing towards the outside.
52:46Pick up the throttle.
52:47And then this is the penultimate straight,
52:50the back straight, as I called it,
52:52be on the right-hand side for a left-hand corner
52:55to open the angle of that corner.
52:57Back end of the car dancing under braking,
52:59having to correct in the middle.
53:01And as soon as through your hands and your backside,
53:03you can feel the grip.
53:05You start feeding in the 1,000 horsepower.
53:071.38.8 is the first time on the board from Esteban Ocon,
53:11his teammate Oli Behrman.
53:12They can't go quite as fast.
53:14A couple of tenths down with a 1.38.9.
53:17And there's a queue now.
53:19The track was just empty apart from two Haas cars,
53:22and now everyone wants to come out at the same time.
53:25They'll have their run plans.
53:27They'll send a couple out, clean the track up,
53:29and then we'll all go out at the same time.
53:31This is going to be a long, long lap
53:33because they'll try to keep the tyres as cool as possible.
53:36So let's just talk about Esteban Ocon for a moment.
53:39Not in the seat next year.
53:41He is a former race winner in Formula One.
53:44It's not a surprise that Haas aren't keeping him.
53:47Has he done enough, though, to warrant an...
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