December 19, 2024 • 18 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine and D'Arcy Waldegrave for 20th December 2024, Liam Lawson has replaced Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen's teammate for the 2025 F1 season. He joined D'Arcy to discuss his journey to the top.
Piny offers his thoughts on the excitement of the World Darts Championships.
Plus, the lads are in the chamber to discuss how Auckland FC will bounce back from their draw last week.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Howard by News Talk said.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Be how are there?
Speaker 4 (00:22):
And welcome into the final Sports Fix podcast for twenty
twenty four. Hard to believe it is Friday, December twenty already,
with another weekend approaching and Christmas just around the corner.
I'm Jason Pye, I'm Darcy water Grave, and I have
a whole in my heart and a whole of my life.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Now I won't be doing sports fex below and saying now, Jason,
I really enjoyed the back. I can sip back, relax
watch sport, not making notes.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
No that I feel exactly the same way. I must
say watching sport is God intended just on the couch
without having to really remember or analyze it too much,
which I know we're both looking forward to doing over
the next month or so. Huge news broke about ten
o'clock last night. You and I were messaging one another
about Liam Awesome.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Massive, and I believe exactly what I said in the
opinion piece yesterday on the podcast, the reasons why Red
Bull would sign him up to be the number two
behind Max best Steppen, and it was lovely to read
the information and understand that the reason they signed him
was pretty much all those reasons. Ild Me ended out. No,
I haven't got an insideline. I just love Formula one point,
(01:27):
he said, beating his own drum, blowing his own trumpet.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
I don't mind it. I want to get you to
play a bit more of a tune for me when
we're in the chamber. I've got a few questions about
this and what success might look like for Liam Lawson
next year. I've got some thoughts on one of my
favorite sporting events of the year, the darts, and and
lots more besides. As sportsbooks come to an over twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Four and and Liam Lawson joins us shortly.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
How good, How good? Let's get into it. In other news,
Let's get underway, as always, with a look at the
big sports stories around today. That big one, of course,
Liam Lawson has been confirmed for his first full time
drive and Formula one hand to the second Red Bull
seat alongside Max for step for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Now I have an off season to think about it.
I don't even know if I like that, though, because
I just want to get into it. Yeah, I'm just excited.
So yeah, I think it's positive. I have time to really,
you know, let it sink and spend the time and
do the prep, come back strong and ready.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Tim Seifert has played a helping hand in a six
wicket win for the Melbourne Renegage over the hope Art
Hurricanes and the Australian Big Bash. Siford pulled off a
blinder to claim the hurricanes sixth wicket his second catch
and two balls.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
What's right, chatcha catch that's a magnificent take, one handed
down the left side.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
And Tom the Mottspur football boss and posta Cooglo, is
standing by his all in attacking style following a thrilling
four to three win over Manchester United in the quarterfinals
of the League Cup.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
I don't think we could be the same we are
if we didn't sort of maintain that commission around our believes.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
I know people will say, well, you know, taking a
risks and all that sort of stuff, but then weren't
score in four goals and five goals and four goals
of five goals.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
It mean it's the hardest thing the game to do.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Use and a Villion.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
It's Sports Fix with Jason Hine and Dussy Waldgrave and.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
It's a big welcome into the Fix to the sports
story of the year in my humble opinion, entering Formula
One as a driver for Red Bull Racing number two
to world champion Max Versus Steppen, Liam Lawson, welcome to
the program. It's been said by Christian Horner that you
have and elbows out ability. You gain respect through your
(03:45):
ability to race, which I know was touch and go
for a while with some of the Formula one community,
but plainly it's worked really well for you. And this
is something you've picked up right the way through your
career through toyter Racing Series and the like. So he's happy,
You're plainly happy with the aggression that you bring to
Formula one. This is the way forward, I think.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah. I mean it's not something that specifically have a
mindset going into a race that I'm just going to
be the most aggressive person in the in the in
the race. I think everybody has their own sort of
style of racing, style of driving, and you know, mine's
what I've done since I was since I was a kid.
You know, It's got me to this point. So I'm
(04:26):
obviously not going to change it coming into Formula one.
I'm basically going to race, have always race, and that
doesn't mean that I know everything. I know that obviously
there's a lot to be learned, and now I have
an opportunity working with this team and working alongside Max,
it's an opportunity to obviously learn even more and become
a better driver. So but yeah, on sort of my
(04:46):
style of racing, it's it's how it's always been.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
You're well renowned for having an ability to be a
conduit from the car through to your engineer. This is
something that's also been pointed out. That's a lot of
work to do that, and I think part of why
you've got that job the continuation of that, the ability
to transfer information through the sim through the new car
to your engineer, and I presume to Max that would
(05:12):
be not first and foremost, but right up there and
what you need to achieve Liam.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
It's yeah, it's the most important, most important part, and
I think for me fortunately having I say fortunately at
the time it was felt unfortunate, but now looking back,
obviously having multiple years as a reserve driver and working
in the simulator, working alongside the team. It's something that
has completely prepared me for that side, especially the technical
or the engineering side of Formula one, which you don't
(05:37):
really experience in any other category coming up the ranks.
So on that side it felt hard at the time,
but now I'm super thankful going into a year like
next year with the challenges that are our heads. All
those things over the years are going to play a
part in preparing me for a season like this.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Liam, your pathways through to this particular role that you
started off was it Formula Forward way back in the day.
You've gone through Formula three in Asia, euro Formula TRS,
Formula three DTM, Formula two, super Formula tell us about
out the pathways in New Zealand that have aided you
through to get to this role, because to be a
(06:14):
young guy from New Zealand with no money, this is
a rarity to achieve what you've done. So the way
New Zealand has helped you with the series and the
pathways that work, does that something you like?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yeah, for sure. I think there's opportunity in New Zealand
that there's not necessarily in other countries. I think firstly,
the age that we can step into a car is
very young. I was in a former first car at twelve,
so I was still racing a go kart and obviously
I'm five years or four years away from being able
(06:46):
to actually get my license to drive on the road.
But I'm driving a race car on a track at
twelve years old, So that's where I think it starts.
The opportunity. I think motorsport in New Zealand as well,
there's a big passion for it and obviously the tighter
program having the Toyder Racing Series obviously is what Keck
(07:07):
started my whole career and gave me the opportunity to
work with Red Bulls. So for me, it was really
working to get you know, we spent time working to
get to that point and racing in different championships in
New Zealand's got driving cars like form of the first
Formal of Forward is what gave me. You know, Formal
Forward is probably the best thing I ever did when
I was young, just for the type of car. Like
(07:28):
I would give any young driver who's coming out of
go karts the same advice, and that would be to
spend some time, even if you don't race it, just
to drive a Formula Ford and spend hundreds of laps
in one just because it teaches you so much about
card control. And so New Zealand gave me all those opportunities.
And then obviously the big one was doing the Toder
Racing Series and getting the opportunity to effectively race on
(07:51):
the world stage in New Zealand's But obviously because it's
it's in the off season of everything in Europe, it
gets a lot of attention and you have teams like
Red Bull and other teams watching, watching the championship squads
sticks six six.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Well, you know it's Christmas time when you hear this sound. Yes,
today the darts are back the World Championship at Ali
Pally in London, Alexandra Pallace of course by its official name,
compulsory viewing at this time of the year. So much
about the darts that I love. The atmosphere looks absolutely amazing,
(08:29):
surely a bucket list trip for sports fans. The TV
coverage simply superb, the dozens of cameras and the graphics
keeping you right up to date from dart to dart,
leg to leg, set to set. The commentators all former
players themselves, with the ability to blend excitement with their
unique insight, the referees and their lightning quick maths to
(08:52):
add up the scores in milliseconds, the games themselves and
the incredible accuracy with which these players can find tiny
segments of the board consistently and spectacularly under pressure. But
most of all, the players themselves and their per personalities
larger than life characters like Michael van Gowin, Gowin Price,
(09:13):
Peter Wright, and the next big thing in darts, teenager
Luke Littler. He burst onto the scene last year, making
it all the way to the final, and became the
biggest name in sport, well not just this sport, but
in a lot of sport. Anything to do with Luke
Littler on social media was clicked on millions of times
by darts fans desperate to know more about this teenage sensation.
(09:38):
But it was another Luke, Luke Humphries, who claimed the
crown and for a little while anyway, relegated Luke Littler.
A little bit away from the spotlight, it is sporting
theater at its finest and unmissible television over the festive period.
If you need me, I'll be watching the.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Darts the Chamber is now in session on Sportsfex.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Into the chamber we go, and there's really only one
story to talk about today, even though it's been talked
about for quite some time. We had a discussion about
it at length yesterday. He heard Darcy's opinion piece on it.
This is Liam Lawson, of course, getting the full time
drive with Red Bull in twenty twenty five. A couple
of questions I've written down here that i'd like your
opinion on Darcy or maybe an answer to this is
quite a broad question. First of all, twenty twenty five,
(10:23):
what does success look like for Liam Lawson in twenty
twenty five?
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Overall success for him would be for Red Bull to
grasp back the driver's championship, the team's championship first and foremost.
You'd think Verstappan he's looking for five on the bounce,
which I don't believe he's ever been done before. But
the fact that Sergio Peis was essentially ineffective right the
way through the year started off well, got a new contract,
(10:51):
fell apart, Red Bull lost the team's championship and that
cost them twenty million dollars or there or thereabouts. So
for me, success is yeah, play the tail gunner to
Max first Stapen. That make sure that Red Bull get
back to the top with the championship. For the team's
that success all right.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Next question is around the dynamic between your absolute number
one driver for Stappen and your new new number two
driver in Liam Lawson. Will he feel like, I don't know,
a poor cousin within the Red Bull team. Will there
be a lot of resource throw in the way of
the Stappen and not quite as much the way of Lawson.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
It's all about for Stappan. He's the number one driver,
he's the champion, he's been around for a decade, he
wins championship, so you focus primarily on what he brings.
And back in the old day, Piney, you're a number
one driver and this is I'm talking back in the fifties.
If your car broke, he'd jump out and they get
their number two driver and eject him out of the car.
(11:52):
The number one driver climbing the car and carry on racing.
It's not like that anymore. But it is about for Stappen,
and it's about, as I said, a tailgunner, a rear
gunner him looking after that and the designs everything is
fitted to for Stapan's racing style. Even though the setup
will be different in Liam's car, the line share of
the setup is about what Max wants, so he's very
(12:16):
much second fiddle. Likely though Lim is a very similar
driving style to Max Lock. He'll stay in his lane,
He'll know exactly what he has to do. He'll play
at number two driver and learn as much as he
possibly can. But it's definitely the for staff in show.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
All right, And in terms of then podium finishes. For Lim,
he's still presumably allowed to try and get on the podium,
is he doesn't have to follow team orders and just
bow down to what the staffa needs in every race.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Well, in some teams they actually say, look, you're free
to race, we'll let you go. Mclarendon that this year
they were free to race, and some people thought that
might actually cost them the team's championship. It didn't. And
then you get toward the end of the season they've
got someone who's really challenging for the title. Then the
number two driver might be told just to back up
let number one win or vice versa. So hopefully they
(13:04):
let them race at the start of the season, and
then when the crunch they start saying, well, Max has
got a lead, he's been challenged by somebody else for
the title. Your role now, Liam is to support Max Verstappen.
I hope they get to race, and he is a
pure racer, Liam Lawson, and I think Max's as well,
so that would be fantastic to watch, as long as
(13:26):
they don't stuff each other into the scenery.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
Piny all right, and he's my final question for you.
I look at red ball at the start of this season,
and it was for Stappen and Perez and Sonoda and Ricardo.
Three of those four are gone. Lawson's in there obviously,
well Sonoda's still there, but it's not going to get
the top the top drive. How ruthless and cutthroat is this?
And how cautious do we need to be in our
(13:52):
optimism about how long Liam Lawson will be in number
that number two seat in the number one team.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
It's in its hands, isn't it. They don't suffer fools,
they don't suffer losses. There's an extraordinary amount of money
involved in this sport. It's stupid. They want results, they
want success. Look you look exactly at Sigio Perry's raced
very well, it was the number two put the Red
Bull team into a position and indeed they won the
team's championship. He re signed a contract after I think
(14:21):
four podiums in the first five races. I stand to
be corrected on that one signed his new contract for
two years, stopped with a success end of the season,
see you later, and a lot of teams do that.
This whole series, the whole formula is littered with guys
who tried, weren't good enough and got exited stage left.
(14:42):
So yeah, it's in his hands against the results. He stays.
But if he doesn't look over his shoulder, because if
anyone's brutal, it's Red Bull racing and we've seen that previously.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
Great rap, that's great insight for us all. Thanks for
answering my questions.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Now me now, now I'm going to give it back
to you because it's all about they're building a beach
at Mount Smart, which is fantastic, but they looking over
your show. Is there any relief around the fact that
finally there has been a draw and that that weight
of the we win everything streak has gone or is
it more of an irritant to these guys because they're
they're finally playing a game where they haven't won every game.
(15:21):
They had that draw last week. How annoying.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Yeah, great question, and I think they'll all tell you,
you know, of course we want to win every game,
but the realist in all of the knows that that
ain't gonna happen. And look, while while the you know,
the the unbeaten streak, though, the one hundred percent winning
streak was there, it was something to aspire to. Was
it a weight around their shoulders. I'm not sure that
it was anymore though, anymore so than not having conceded
(15:43):
for all those games and then they finally conceded one
against Wellington phenis a couple of weeks ago. Look, I
think what it does demonstrate, though, is that this is
a proper team. This is a team that will be
there or thereabouts at the end. They've almost you know,
we're only seven or eight games in, but they've almost
not guaranteed themselves a spot in the top six, but
certainly taken some giant strides towards being in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Hold on, poney, that's what they're saying about the over
in Australia. At the start of the season. They're a
locking for finals and look what's happened to them. Sorry,
carry on, that's right.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
I don't think the owners though, were going to force
players upon Steve Coriker the same way that Terry Copenan
has had players forced upon him. And you know Steve Coricker,
You've spoken to him a number of times. He's a
very pragmatic guy, knows I think, knows the A League,
which is important as a player and as a coach
of Sydney FC. Look, they should be too good for
Western United tomorrow afternoon. I think life will be a
(16:35):
beach at Mount Smart. But how's the forecast, Arcy.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
I'm not entirely sure. I really don't know. But at
the moment, put it this way, I'm wearing an ear
fight tunga and a singlet. I've been like that all
day and I'm going to carry on regardless of the weather.
My question to here, Pony, would it be acceptable for
me to turn up in a pair of speedos? Now
they've turned that place into a beach.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
I don't think you and speedos is acceptable anywhere, beach
or otherwise. So I think I can probably safely say
that that what you're wearing at the moment is acceptable
dressing down from that probably not so much.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Thank you for this alient advice, mister Pine.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
All right, and that is us in the chamber for
today and.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
For the year.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
This is Sports Fix, your daily dose of sports news,
how in by News Talks.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
Evy, and that is us for Sports Fix for twenty
twenty four. Thank you so much for tuning in across
the year, our maiden year as podcasters, Darcy and I look,
we look forward to a bit of a break from
Sports Fix, as I'm sure you will enjoy as well,
and we'll be back sort of, I don't know, mid
mid to late January dars with a fresh twenty twenty
five look and feel.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
That's the master plan. And if you've enjoyed this, please subscribe.
And when we returned back into your inbox Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday Friday, sports Talk will be back in full action
as well in mid January, that's Monday through to Friday
seven to eight pm of myself or Jason Pine and
of course Piney with Weekend Sport. Although Piney, I don't know,
(18:07):
are you getting any break from in Sport or not?
Speaker 4 (18:09):
No, not from Weekend Sport. I thought we'd carry that
on just as I mean, just in some semblance of
consistency through the summer period. But there's plenty of sport on,
so yeah, we'll look forward to bringing you weekend sport
mid data three dars. It's been an absolute pleasure podcasting
with you through twenty twenty four. Look forward to catching
up in twenty five.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
More fun than I actually expected. Jason Pine, as one
of our former colleagues, used to say, A privilege and.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
A pleasure for more from news Talks at b Listen
live on air or online, and keep our shows with
you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Howard by News Talk said.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Be how are there?
Speaker 4 (00:22):
And welcome into the final Sports Fix podcast for twenty
twenty four. Hard to believe it is Friday, December twenty already,
with another weekend approaching and Christmas just around the corner.
I'm Jason Pye, I'm Darcy water Grave, and I have
a whole in my heart and a whole of my life.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Now I won't be doing sports fex below and saying now, Jason,
I really enjoyed the back. I can sip back, relax
watch sport, not making notes.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
No that I feel exactly the same way. I must
say watching sport is God intended just on the couch
without having to really remember or analyze it too much,
which I know we're both looking forward to doing over
the next month or so. Huge news broke about ten
o'clock last night. You and I were messaging one another
about Liam Awesome.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Massive, and I believe exactly what I said in the
opinion piece yesterday on the podcast, the reasons why Red
Bull would sign him up to be the number two
behind Max best Steppen, and it was lovely to read
the information and understand that the reason they signed him
was pretty much all those reasons. Ild Me ended out. No,
I haven't got an insideline. I just love Formula one point,
(01:27):
he said, beating his own drum, blowing his own trumpet.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
I don't mind it. I want to get you to
play a bit more of a tune for me when
we're in the chamber. I've got a few questions about
this and what success might look like for Liam Lawson
next year. I've got some thoughts on one of my
favorite sporting events of the year, the darts, and and
lots more besides. As sportsbooks come to an over twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Four and and Liam Lawson joins us shortly.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
How good, How good? Let's get into it. In other news,
Let's get underway, as always, with a look at the
big sports stories around today. That big one, of course,
Liam Lawson has been confirmed for his first full time
drive and Formula one hand to the second Red Bull
seat alongside Max for step for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Now I have an off season to think about it.
I don't even know if I like that, though, because
I just want to get into it. Yeah, I'm just excited.
So yeah, I think it's positive. I have time to really,
you know, let it sink and spend the time and
do the prep, come back strong and ready.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Tim Seifert has played a helping hand in a six
wicket win for the Melbourne Renegage over the hope Art
Hurricanes and the Australian Big Bash. Siford pulled off a
blinder to claim the hurricanes sixth wicket his second catch
and two balls.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
What's right, chatcha catch that's a magnificent take, one handed
down the left side.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
And Tom the Mottspur football boss and posta Cooglo, is
standing by his all in attacking style following a thrilling
four to three win over Manchester United in the quarterfinals
of the League Cup.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
I don't think we could be the same we are
if we didn't sort of maintain that commission around our believes.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
I know people will say, well, you know, taking a
risks and all that sort of stuff, but then weren't
score in four goals and five goals and four goals
of five goals.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
It mean it's the hardest thing the game to do.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Use and a Villion.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
It's Sports Fix with Jason Hine and Dussy Waldgrave and.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
It's a big welcome into the Fix to the sports
story of the year in my humble opinion, entering Formula
One as a driver for Red Bull Racing number two
to world champion Max Versus Steppen, Liam Lawson, welcome to
the program. It's been said by Christian Horner that you
have and elbows out ability. You gain respect through your
(03:45):
ability to race, which I know was touch and go
for a while with some of the Formula one community,
but plainly it's worked really well for you. And this
is something you've picked up right the way through your
career through toyter Racing Series and the like. So he's happy,
You're plainly happy with the aggression that you bring to
Formula one. This is the way forward, I think.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah. I mean it's not something that specifically have a
mindset going into a race that I'm just going to
be the most aggressive person in the in the in
the race. I think everybody has their own sort of
style of racing, style of driving, and you know, mine's
what I've done since I was since I was a kid.
You know, It's got me to this point. So I'm
(04:26):
obviously not going to change it coming into Formula one.
I'm basically going to race, have always race, and that
doesn't mean that I know everything. I know that obviously
there's a lot to be learned, and now I have
an opportunity working with this team and working alongside Max,
it's an opportunity to obviously learn even more and become
a better driver. So but yeah, on sort of my
(04:46):
style of racing, it's it's how it's always been.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
You're well renowned for having an ability to be a
conduit from the car through to your engineer. This is
something that's also been pointed out. That's a lot of
work to do that, and I think part of why
you've got that job the continuation of that, the ability
to transfer information through the sim through the new car
to your engineer, and I presume to Max that would
(05:12):
be not first and foremost, but right up there and
what you need to achieve Liam.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
It's yeah, it's the most important, most important part, and
I think for me fortunately having I say fortunately at
the time it was felt unfortunate, but now looking back,
obviously having multiple years as a reserve driver and working
in the simulator, working alongside the team. It's something that
has completely prepared me for that side, especially the technical
or the engineering side of Formula one, which you don't
(05:37):
really experience in any other category coming up the ranks.
So on that side it felt hard at the time,
but now I'm super thankful going into a year like
next year with the challenges that are our heads. All
those things over the years are going to play a
part in preparing me for a season like this.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Liam, your pathways through to this particular role that you
started off was it Formula Forward way back in the day.
You've gone through Formula three in Asia, euro Formula TRS,
Formula three DTM, Formula two, super Formula tell us about
out the pathways in New Zealand that have aided you
through to get to this role, because to be a
(06:14):
young guy from New Zealand with no money, this is
a rarity to achieve what you've done. So the way
New Zealand has helped you with the series and the
pathways that work, does that something you like?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yeah, for sure. I think there's opportunity in New Zealand
that there's not necessarily in other countries. I think firstly,
the age that we can step into a car is
very young. I was in a former first car at twelve,
so I was still racing a go kart and obviously
I'm five years or four years away from being able
(06:46):
to actually get my license to drive on the road.
But I'm driving a race car on a track at
twelve years old, So that's where I think it starts.
The opportunity. I think motorsport in New Zealand as well,
there's a big passion for it and obviously the tighter
program having the Toyder Racing Series obviously is what Keck
(07:07):
started my whole career and gave me the opportunity to
work with Red Bulls. So for me, it was really
working to get you know, we spent time working to
get to that point and racing in different championships in
New Zealand's got driving cars like form of the first
Formal of Forward is what gave me. You know, Formal
Forward is probably the best thing I ever did when
I was young, just for the type of car. Like
(07:28):
I would give any young driver who's coming out of
go karts the same advice, and that would be to
spend some time, even if you don't race it, just
to drive a Formula Ford and spend hundreds of laps
in one just because it teaches you so much about
card control. And so New Zealand gave me all those opportunities.
And then obviously the big one was doing the Toder
Racing Series and getting the opportunity to effectively race on
(07:51):
the world stage in New Zealand's But obviously because it's
it's in the off season of everything in Europe, it
gets a lot of attention and you have teams like
Red Bull and other teams watching, watching the championship squads
sticks six six.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Well, you know it's Christmas time when you hear this sound. Yes,
today the darts are back the World Championship at Ali
Pally in London, Alexandra Pallace of course by its official name,
compulsory viewing at this time of the year. So much
about the darts that I love. The atmosphere looks absolutely amazing,
(08:29):
surely a bucket list trip for sports fans. The TV
coverage simply superb, the dozens of cameras and the graphics
keeping you right up to date from dart to dart,
leg to leg, set to set. The commentators all former
players themselves, with the ability to blend excitement with their
unique insight, the referees and their lightning quick maths to
(08:52):
add up the scores in milliseconds, the games themselves and
the incredible accuracy with which these players can find tiny
segments of the board consistently and spectacularly under pressure. But
most of all, the players themselves and their per personalities
larger than life characters like Michael van Gowin, Gowin Price,
(09:13):
Peter Wright, and the next big thing in darts, teenager
Luke Littler. He burst onto the scene last year, making
it all the way to the final, and became the
biggest name in sport, well not just this sport, but
in a lot of sport. Anything to do with Luke
Littler on social media was clicked on millions of times
by darts fans desperate to know more about this teenage sensation.
(09:38):
But it was another Luke, Luke Humphries, who claimed the
crown and for a little while anyway, relegated Luke Littler.
A little bit away from the spotlight, it is sporting
theater at its finest and unmissible television over the festive period.
If you need me, I'll be watching the.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Darts the Chamber is now in session on Sportsfex.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Into the chamber we go, and there's really only one
story to talk about today, even though it's been talked
about for quite some time. We had a discussion about
it at length yesterday. He heard Darcy's opinion piece on it.
This is Liam Lawson, of course, getting the full time
drive with Red Bull in twenty twenty five. A couple
of questions I've written down here that i'd like your
opinion on Darcy or maybe an answer to this is
quite a broad question. First of all, twenty twenty five,
(10:23):
what does success look like for Liam Lawson in twenty
twenty five?
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Overall success for him would be for Red Bull to
grasp back the driver's championship, the team's championship first and foremost.
You'd think Verstappan he's looking for five on the bounce,
which I don't believe he's ever been done before. But
the fact that Sergio Peis was essentially ineffective right the
way through the year started off well, got a new contract,
(10:51):
fell apart, Red Bull lost the team's championship and that
cost them twenty million dollars or there or thereabouts. So
for me, success is yeah, play the tail gunner to
Max first Stapen. That make sure that Red Bull get
back to the top with the championship. For the team's
that success all right.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Next question is around the dynamic between your absolute number
one driver for Stappen and your new new number two
driver in Liam Lawson. Will he feel like, I don't know,
a poor cousin within the Red Bull team. Will there
be a lot of resource throw in the way of
the Stappen and not quite as much the way of Lawson.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
It's all about for Stappan. He's the number one driver,
he's the champion, he's been around for a decade, he
wins championship, so you focus primarily on what he brings.
And back in the old day, Piney, you're a number
one driver and this is I'm talking back in the fifties.
If your car broke, he'd jump out and they get
their number two driver and eject him out of the car.
(11:52):
The number one driver climbing the car and carry on racing.
It's not like that anymore. But it is about for Stappen,
and it's about, as I said, a tailgunner, a rear
gunner him looking after that and the designs everything is
fitted to for Stapan's racing style. Even though the setup
will be different in Liam's car, the line share of
the setup is about what Max wants, so he's very
(12:16):
much second fiddle. Likely though Lim is a very similar
driving style to Max Lock. He'll stay in his lane,
He'll know exactly what he has to do. He'll play
at number two driver and learn as much as he
possibly can. But it's definitely the for staff in show.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
All right, And in terms of then podium finishes. For Lim,
he's still presumably allowed to try and get on the podium,
is he doesn't have to follow team orders and just
bow down to what the staffa needs in every race.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Well, in some teams they actually say, look, you're free
to race, we'll let you go. Mclarendon that this year
they were free to race, and some people thought that
might actually cost them the team's championship. It didn't. And
then you get toward the end of the season they've
got someone who's really challenging for the title. Then the
number two driver might be told just to back up
let number one win or vice versa. So hopefully they
(13:04):
let them race at the start of the season, and
then when the crunch they start saying, well, Max has
got a lead, he's been challenged by somebody else for
the title. Your role now, Liam is to support Max Verstappen.
I hope they get to race, and he is a
pure racer, Liam Lawson, and I think Max's as well,
so that would be fantastic to watch, as long as
(13:26):
they don't stuff each other into the scenery.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
Piny all right, and he's my final question for you.
I look at red ball at the start of this season,
and it was for Stappen and Perez and Sonoda and Ricardo.
Three of those four are gone. Lawson's in there obviously,
well Sonoda's still there, but it's not going to get
the top the top drive. How ruthless and cutthroat is this?
And how cautious do we need to be in our
(13:52):
optimism about how long Liam Lawson will be in number
that number two seat in the number one team.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
It's in its hands, isn't it. They don't suffer fools,
they don't suffer losses. There's an extraordinary amount of money
involved in this sport. It's stupid. They want results, they
want success. Look you look exactly at Sigio Perry's raced
very well, it was the number two put the Red
Bull team into a position and indeed they won the
team's championship. He re signed a contract after I think
(14:21):
four podiums in the first five races. I stand to
be corrected on that one signed his new contract for
two years, stopped with a success end of the season,
see you later, and a lot of teams do that.
This whole series, the whole formula is littered with guys
who tried, weren't good enough and got exited stage left.
(14:42):
So yeah, it's in his hands against the results. He stays.
But if he doesn't look over his shoulder, because if
anyone's brutal, it's Red Bull racing and we've seen that previously.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
Great rap, that's great insight for us all. Thanks for
answering my questions.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Now me now, now I'm going to give it back
to you because it's all about they're building a beach
at Mount Smart, which is fantastic, but they looking over
your show. Is there any relief around the fact that
finally there has been a draw and that that weight
of the we win everything streak has gone or is
it more of an irritant to these guys because they're
they're finally playing a game where they haven't won every game.
(15:21):
They had that draw last week. How annoying.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Yeah, great question, and I think they'll all tell you,
you know, of course we want to win every game,
but the realist in all of the knows that that
ain't gonna happen. And look, while while the you know,
the the unbeaten streak, though, the one hundred percent winning
streak was there, it was something to aspire to. Was
it a weight around their shoulders. I'm not sure that
it was anymore though, anymore so than not having conceded
(15:43):
for all those games and then they finally conceded one
against Wellington phenis a couple of weeks ago. Look, I
think what it does demonstrate, though, is that this is
a proper team. This is a team that will be
there or thereabouts at the end. They've almost you know,
we're only seven or eight games in, but they've almost
not guaranteed themselves a spot in the top six, but
certainly taken some giant strides towards being in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Hold on, poney, that's what they're saying about the over
in Australia. At the start of the season. They're a
locking for finals and look what's happened to them. Sorry,
carry on, that's right.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
I don't think the owners though, were going to force
players upon Steve Coriker the same way that Terry Copenan
has had players forced upon him. And you know Steve Coricker,
You've spoken to him a number of times. He's a
very pragmatic guy, knows I think, knows the A League,
which is important as a player and as a coach
of Sydney FC. Look, they should be too good for
Western United tomorrow afternoon. I think life will be a
(16:35):
beach at Mount Smart. But how's the forecast, Arcy.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
I'm not entirely sure. I really don't know. But at
the moment, put it this way, I'm wearing an ear
fight tunga and a singlet. I've been like that all
day and I'm going to carry on regardless of the weather.
My question to here, Pony, would it be acceptable for
me to turn up in a pair of speedos? Now
they've turned that place into a beach.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
I don't think you and speedos is acceptable anywhere, beach
or otherwise. So I think I can probably safely say
that that what you're wearing at the moment is acceptable
dressing down from that probably not so much.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Thank you for this alient advice, mister Pine.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
All right, and that is us in the chamber for
today and.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
For the year.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
This is Sports Fix, your daily dose of sports news,
how in by News Talks.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
Evy, and that is us for Sports Fix for twenty
twenty four. Thank you so much for tuning in across
the year, our maiden year as podcasters, Darcy and I look,
we look forward to a bit of a break from
Sports Fix, as I'm sure you will enjoy as well,
and we'll be back sort of, I don't know, mid
mid to late January dars with a fresh twenty twenty
five look and feel.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
That's the master plan. And if you've enjoyed this, please subscribe.
And when we returned back into your inbox Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday Friday, sports Talk will be back in full action
as well in mid January, that's Monday through to Friday
seven to eight pm of myself or Jason Pine and
of course Piney with Weekend Sport. Although Piney, I don't know,
(18:07):
are you getting any break from in Sport or not?
Speaker 4 (18:09):
No, not from Weekend Sport. I thought we'd carry that
on just as I mean, just in some semblance of
consistency through the summer period. But there's plenty of sport on,
so yeah, we'll look forward to bringing you weekend sport
mid data three dars. It's been an absolute pleasure podcasting
with you through twenty twenty four. Look forward to catching
up in twenty five.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
More fun than I actually expected. Jason Pine, as one
of our former colleagues, used to say, A privilege and.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
A pleasure for more from news Talks at b Listen
live on air or online, and keep our shows with
you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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