Liam Lawson has failed to finish on his Formula One debut for Red Bull at the Australian Grand Prix, spinning out of control with 10 laps to go.
His crash occurred after a late rain shower created chaos with the decision to keep him on medium tyres.
Motorsport expert Eric Thompson joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Liam Lawson has failed to finish his first race with
Red Bulls Senior team at the Australian Grand Prix. He
hit the wall with around ten laps to go in
a chaotic race in Melbourne.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Orslatto's gone into the Barrus ass William Lawson at turn two,
bort Alatto at turn thirteen and they have both come
to a standstill.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Challenging weekend for Liam Lawson coming to terms with the
car teammate Max for Staff and took second place after
a tussle with eventual winner McLaren's Lando Norris. Motorsport analyst
Eric Thompson is with us on News talks 'B and
Sports Talk ET. Always good to get your take on
things like this. How will Liam Lawson first of all
(00:56):
be feeling Do you think after the weekend.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
You'll be a bit annoyed? Actually? And if there's one
thing about Liam, what Christian Horner and doctor Marco Helmet
Helmut Marco think of him as his resilience and his
mental strength. You know he's you know, he's not the fastest,
outright sort of pure talented driver on the grid. But
(01:20):
he's very very good. But it's that mental fortitude, so
he'll be going away thinking, yes, things didn't quite work
out for me. I did no running in free practice
FP three, no running at all, So a whole practice
Sesson session on a circuit that he didn't know Poney
had never been on before, had no experience of in
any sort of vehicle, So missing that, I think, and
(01:42):
that's when the things started to get a bit difficult
for him. And then that torrential rate on race day
and he was normally very good in the where but
the one good thing and as Christian Horner has come
out and International Pression said, he set the second fastest
lap time of all the drivers in the dry when
(02:04):
the race was dry. So he'll be hanging onto that
pony and just going yep I can when things are
going right, I'm as fast, if not faster than most
of the pack.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
How much of what happened over the last three days
et was out of Liam Lawson's control, I.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Would say quite a lot of it. First of all
the weather number two, that the recharging system and the
battery's going flat and FP three, so no running time
at all. And also they rolled the dice and left
them out there on a set of tires that hopefully
hoping that the track would dry. It didn't, so he
was the only one on sort of intermediate tires and
(02:44):
the pouring rain, so of course he just aquiplaned and
stood off and hit the wall. So yeah, you know,
some people tell it was his mistake, you know, he
stood off. No, they rolled the dice. You know, if
that had worked by and the sun had come out
and that track had dried at that stage, he was intent,
(03:04):
so he could have easily challenged for a top five
if it'd suddenly gone dry. But that's the way it is.
So if it works, you look like, you know, you're magnificent,
and if it doesn't, you know, you look like a
bit of a well, you know, you should have come
in from the tires. But it's the whole team. It's
not just he doesn't make the decisions all on his own.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Speaking of the team aspect of this, can you just
clarify for me the car that Liam's in, is it
identical to Verstappens.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
Pretty much, And at the moment they're trying to change
it because in the first couple of practices. It was
noted and you could see watching it, fans watching you
could see that that's the Staffens car had a different
nose on to Lim Lawson's car. So they're trying to
work out to get the car to suit Limb and
because of the lack of practice sessions pre season or
(03:54):
between the seasons, you know, they've cut way way way
way way way way back on testing and all that
sort of stuff, so they couldn't really get the car
set up before the Australian gone pre four Lawson. So
it's a little bit like we've got to try and
get the cast working for him and the way he
drives whilst you're practicing for a race.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
But difficult indeed, indeed, because it's still important, isn't it
that Liam performs well across this season because apart from
obviously Max Forstappen being you know, their man for the
drivers Championship, Lilliam still has to pick up points, doesn't
he for Red Bull to help them in the constructors Championship.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Absolutely, Bony, You've nailed it, because all teams are worried
about I mean, they like it when the driver wins
the championship for them, but all they're worried about is
the Constructors' Championships or the teams Championships because that's where
the money comes from. That tens upon tens of millions
of euros comes from that. And with Red Bull dropping
(04:53):
from first in the constructors Championship in twenty three to
think it was third last year in twenty twenty four,
there was a difference of about I think it was
thirty eight million euro You know, that's it's not jump change.
That's not what you find in the soop draw. So
Liam Liam is expected to be within I think Christian
(05:14):
Horner and Hami Marcus said, you know, within something like
five to seven tenths of the second of Max to Stappen.
But this is his first hit out. He goes to
China next weekend again circuit he's never been on, so
that'll be interesting. But I reckon he'll be given probably
a good five to six races before you know, like management,
(05:37):
media will probably be having a go soon. But you know,
the people who actually make the decisions, you know they're
going to give him a bit of a chance. So
it's just it's the first hit out and nothing really
went well. I mean, you've got to look all through
all the categories, you know, with the rain and the
weather and stuff. Especially on that day, it was just
a and that Maltain's circuit Pinty is a weird, weird place.
(06:00):
It's a public road, so it's got a crown in
the middle of the road, which means you know, it's
not purpose built track. It's got off camber corners and
it's just got white lines everywhere. And the people are
complaining with all the advent around the lake park, with
the cycle tracks and all those sort of things. It's
more white lines and more colored line surfer rains. You're
(06:21):
hiding to nothing on that circuit.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yeah, and you've brought up a good point in terms
of what China will be like. It'll be different, right,
more of a I guess a traditional race track, but still,
as you've said, one that is unfamiliar to Liam, right.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Yeah, still unfamiliar. But that has never really been an issue.
I think what the major problem was at Melbourne with
the weather and at being a street circuit. Now he won't,
you know, like you'll be on the simular. He'd already
been on the simulator loads of times anyway. But it's
a purpose built racetrack, so he'll feel more comfortable, more
at home, and I think he'll bounce back really really well.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
You mentioned before that they're likely to give him five
or six races before they start making a genuine assessment
of him. Fortunately for Liam Lawson et and you'll know
this Formula one fans aren't quite as patient, are they.
They want instant results, instant gratification. And for those who
already had expressed doubts about Liam Lawson being given the seat,
(07:20):
they've got four or haven't they over the weekend. I
certainly hope Liam Lawson stays off social media.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Mate.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Social media these days is a bit hard to stay off,
but I think, but I guess I said, he's his
own man. You know, he's got this incredible resilience because
you know, it's one thing about young motorsport people on
two wheels or four wheels or even three wheels on
the traits and ATVs, they will start so young, and
they're doing it from a very early age, and that's
the pressure is right on from the start because there's
(07:50):
an awful lot of money involved. He'll be right on
the fall of the cars just didn't work this weekend.
I'm still quite happy with you know what he did
sitting the second pastest lap time during the race points.
That's what his engineers and what Halma Marco and Christian
Hornan will be looking at. You know, he gets on
(08:13):
well with makes the staff and you know there's no
grief there to just be put it this way. Fine,
you I reckon, if you're going to have a crap race,
get it out of the way first. Yes, and that
punch on, mate.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Punch on, absolutely, And you're so right et. It wasn't
like he's stuffed up royally, you know, it wasn't like
you know, there was a combination of circumstances as you've
said that led to what transpired over the weekend. And
it wasn't just Liam. You know a lot of other
far more experience drivers also had trouble there yesterday in
those horrendous conditions. I was just going to ask you
(08:46):
finally about the number two spot at red Ball, because
it feels in many ways like the most difficult seat
in Formula One is am I off the mark there
on the market.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
And I'm just laughing with you. Somebody I've heard it
called the poison challenge. Yes, you know that it's the
Cursed Seat and Formula one, loads and loads of analogies
and if you look at the history of the drivers
that have gone through it, you almost have to start going.
(09:20):
But it's also the most prized. You know, they have
had a you know, with their seat at Red Bull
or a seat at Perrari. You know, it's fantastic. But
there's one interesting thing that you touched on about how
lots of other people had issues. You've got to feel
for young Isaac Hadja at the racing balls went off
(09:40):
in the warm up, you know, so and Fernando Alonso
chucked it away. So you know, you just got to
look at some of the others color signs, you know,
great talented drivers that have been around for a long time.
They stuffed it up. And but Liam didn't stuff it up.
(10:00):
That's the thing he didn't. You know. It's just a
combination of if anything can go wrong, here's a list
of five and unfortunately limbs sort of Tickno. Five.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Yeah, yeah, well, as you say, et get it out
of the way early punch on. There are twenty three
more events to go. As Bob McMurray said to me
on the radio on Saturday, this is day two of
seventy two. It's a long season, isn't it. So up
to China and let's say for better things. Great to
get your analysis tonight. Thanks for joining us on on ZB.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Always a pleasure, pint, thank you, no, thank you.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Eric, Eric Thompson there with a real ability to put
things into terms we can all understand.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to News Talk
zed B from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Liam Lawson has failed to finish his first race with
Red Bulls Senior team at the Australian Grand Prix. He
hit the wall with around ten laps to go in
a chaotic race in Melbourne.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Orslatto's gone into the Barrus ass William Lawson at turn two,
bort Alatto at turn thirteen and they have both come
to a standstill.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Challenging weekend for Liam Lawson coming to terms with the
car teammate Max for Staff and took second place after
a tussle with eventual winner McLaren's Lando Norris. Motorsport analyst
Eric Thompson is with us on News talks 'B and
Sports Talk ET. Always good to get your take on
things like this. How will Liam Lawson first of all
(00:56):
be feeling Do you think after the weekend.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
You'll be a bit annoyed? Actually? And if there's one
thing about Liam, what Christian Horner and doctor Marco Helmet
Helmut Marco think of him as his resilience and his
mental strength. You know he's you know, he's not the fastest,
outright sort of pure talented driver on the grid. But
(01:20):
he's very very good. But it's that mental fortitude, so
he'll be going away thinking, yes, things didn't quite work
out for me. I did no running in free practice
FP three, no running at all, So a whole practice
Sesson session on a circuit that he didn't know Poney
had never been on before, had no experience of in
any sort of vehicle, So missing that, I think, and
(01:42):
that's when the things started to get a bit difficult
for him. And then that torrential rate on race day
and he was normally very good in the where but
the one good thing and as Christian Horner has come
out and International Pression said, he set the second fastest
lap time of all the drivers in the dry when
(02:04):
the race was dry. So he'll be hanging onto that
pony and just going yep I can when things are
going right, I'm as fast, if not faster than most
of the pack.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
How much of what happened over the last three days
et was out of Liam Lawson's control, I.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Would say quite a lot of it. First of all
the weather number two, that the recharging system and the
battery's going flat and FP three, so no running time
at all. And also they rolled the dice and left
them out there on a set of tires that hopefully
hoping that the track would dry. It didn't, so he
was the only one on sort of intermediate tires and
(02:44):
the pouring rain, so of course he just aquiplaned and
stood off and hit the wall. So yeah, you know,
some people tell it was his mistake, you know, he
stood off. No, they rolled the dice. You know, if
that had worked by and the sun had come out
and that track had dried at that stage, he was intent,
(03:04):
so he could have easily challenged for a top five
if it'd suddenly gone dry. But that's the way it is.
So if it works, you look like, you know, you're magnificent,
and if it doesn't, you know, you look like a
bit of a well, you know, you should have come
in from the tires. But it's the whole team. It's
not just he doesn't make the decisions all on his own.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Speaking of the team aspect of this, can you just
clarify for me the car that Liam's in, is it
identical to Verstappens.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
Pretty much, And at the moment they're trying to change
it because in the first couple of practices. It was
noted and you could see watching it, fans watching you
could see that that's the Staffens car had a different
nose on to Lim Lawson's car. So they're trying to
work out to get the car to suit Limb and
because of the lack of practice sessions pre season or
(03:54):
between the seasons, you know, they've cut way way way
way way way way back on testing and all that
sort of stuff, so they couldn't really get the car
set up before the Australian gone pre four Lawson. So
it's a little bit like we've got to try and
get the cast working for him and the way he
drives whilst you're practicing for a race.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
But difficult indeed, indeed, because it's still important, isn't it
that Liam performs well across this season because apart from
obviously Max Forstappen being you know, their man for the
drivers Championship, Lilliam still has to pick up points, doesn't
he for Red Bull to help them in the constructors Championship.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Absolutely, Bony, You've nailed it, because all teams are worried
about I mean, they like it when the driver wins
the championship for them, but all they're worried about is
the Constructors' Championships or the teams Championships because that's where
the money comes from. That tens upon tens of millions
of euros comes from that. And with Red Bull dropping
(04:53):
from first in the constructors Championship in twenty three to
think it was third last year in twenty twenty four,
there was a difference of about I think it was
thirty eight million euro You know, that's it's not jump change.
That's not what you find in the soop draw. So
Liam Liam is expected to be within I think Christian
(05:14):
Horner and Hami Marcus said, you know, within something like
five to seven tenths of the second of Max to Stappen.
But this is his first hit out. He goes to
China next weekend again circuit he's never been on, so
that'll be interesting. But I reckon he'll be given probably
a good five to six races before you know, like management,
(05:37):
media will probably be having a go soon. But you know,
the people who actually make the decisions, you know they're
going to give him a bit of a chance. So
it's just it's the first hit out and nothing really
went well. I mean, you've got to look all through
all the categories, you know, with the rain and the
weather and stuff. Especially on that day, it was just
a and that Maltain's circuit Pinty is a weird, weird place.
(06:00):
It's a public road, so it's got a crown in
the middle of the road, which means you know, it's
not purpose built track. It's got off camber corners and
it's just got white lines everywhere. And the people are
complaining with all the advent around the lake park, with
the cycle tracks and all those sort of things. It's
more white lines and more colored line surfer rains. You're
(06:21):
hiding to nothing on that circuit.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yeah, and you've brought up a good point in terms
of what China will be like. It'll be different, right,
more of a I guess a traditional race track, but still,
as you've said, one that is unfamiliar to Liam, right.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Yeah, still unfamiliar. But that has never really been an issue.
I think what the major problem was at Melbourne with
the weather and at being a street circuit. Now he won't,
you know, like you'll be on the simular. He'd already
been on the simulator loads of times anyway. But it's
a purpose built racetrack, so he'll feel more comfortable, more
at home, and I think he'll bounce back really really well.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
You mentioned before that they're likely to give him five
or six races before they start making a genuine assessment
of him. Fortunately for Liam Lawson et and you'll know
this Formula one fans aren't quite as patient, are they.
They want instant results, instant gratification. And for those who
already had expressed doubts about Liam Lawson being given the seat,
(07:20):
they've got four or haven't they over the weekend. I
certainly hope Liam Lawson stays off social media.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Mate.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Social media these days is a bit hard to stay off,
but I think, but I guess I said, he's his
own man. You know, he's got this incredible resilience because
you know, it's one thing about young motorsport people on
two wheels or four wheels or even three wheels on
the traits and ATVs, they will start so young, and
they're doing it from a very early age, and that's
the pressure is right on from the start because there's
(07:50):
an awful lot of money involved. He'll be right on
the fall of the cars just didn't work this weekend.
I'm still quite happy with you know what he did
sitting the second pastest lap time during the race points.
That's what his engineers and what Halma Marco and Christian
Hornan will be looking at. You know, he gets on
(08:13):
well with makes the staff and you know there's no
grief there to just be put it this way. Fine,
you I reckon, if you're going to have a crap race,
get it out of the way first. Yes, and that
punch on, mate.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Punch on, absolutely, And you're so right et. It wasn't
like he's stuffed up royally, you know, it wasn't like
you know, there was a combination of circumstances as you've
said that led to what transpired over the weekend. And
it wasn't just Liam. You know a lot of other
far more experience drivers also had trouble there yesterday in
those horrendous conditions. I was just going to ask you
(08:46):
finally about the number two spot at red Ball, because
it feels in many ways like the most difficult seat
in Formula One is am I off the mark there
on the market.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
And I'm just laughing with you. Somebody I've heard it
called the poison challenge. Yes, you know that it's the
Cursed Seat and Formula one, loads and loads of analogies
and if you look at the history of the drivers
that have gone through it, you almost have to start going.
(09:20):
But it's also the most prized. You know, they have
had a you know, with their seat at Red Bull
or a seat at Perrari. You know, it's fantastic. But
there's one interesting thing that you touched on about how
lots of other people had issues. You've got to feel
for young Isaac Hadja at the racing balls went off
(09:40):
in the warm up, you know, so and Fernando Alonso
chucked it away. So you know, you just got to
look at some of the others color signs, you know,
great talented drivers that have been around for a long time.
They stuffed it up. And but Liam didn't stuff it up.
(10:00):
That's the thing he didn't. You know. It's just a
combination of if anything can go wrong, here's a list
of five and unfortunately limbs sort of Tickno. Five.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Yeah, yeah, well, as you say, et get it out
of the way early punch on. There are twenty three
more events to go. As Bob McMurray said to me
on the radio on Saturday, this is day two of
seventy two. It's a long season, isn't it. So up
to China and let's say for better things. Great to
get your analysis tonight. Thanks for joining us on on ZB.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Always a pleasure, pint, thank you, no, thank you.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Eric, Eric Thompson there with a real ability to put
things into terms we can all understand.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to News Talk
zed B from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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