December 1, 2025 • 18 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine for 1st December 2025, Liam Lawson will learn his Formula One fate this week. He impressed last weekend to finish in the points to help his case. NZ Heralds F1 expert Alex Powell joined the podcast to discuss what to expect when Red Bull makes their drivers announcement
Piney has test match fever on the eve of the Blackcaps test against West Indies
Plus, Adam Cooper is in the Chamber to discuss Wellington Phoenix's bounce back win over Adelaide
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcast now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hello there, and welcome into a new week, Welcome into
a new month, and welcome into a fresh episode of
the sports Fix podcast and association with GJ. Gardner Holmes,
New Zealand's most trusted home builder. I'm Jason Pine. On Monday,
December the first, and we will know in a couple
of days the twenty twenty six fate of Liam Lawson
(00:45):
in the Red Bull Stable. Red Bull Racing Boss Lauren
Mickeys has said that the two spots at Racing Balls,
who has them and who will have the seat alongside
Max Forstaffan in Red Bull will be revealed overnight tomorrow night.
New Zealand Time joined on Sports Fix Today by New
Zealand Herald motorsport expert Alex Powell. Is there any scenario
(01:08):
under which Liam Lawson might lose that Racing Balls seat, or,
as is being widely reported, will he keep it and
it'll be Yuki Sonoda who drops out? Alex Powell on
that on the sports Bixs podcast, Adam Cooper pops into
the chamber to talk some Test cricket and a league
football and the Latist and sports news as well, So
let's get into it. In other news, let's get you
(01:33):
underway as always, whe a look at the big sports
stories around today, or some of them. After starting third
on the grid, Max Verstaffan has won his seventh race
of the season Formula One's Cutter Grand Prix. It's a
hat trick of victress hen the kats Are Grand Prix.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Vivet Stafford championship charge shows no sign of relexic.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
That win slashes Lando Norris's championship lead to just twelve
points with only one race to go. The New Zealand
women have claimed victory at the Seven's World Series opening
tournaments in Dubai and Australia's extraordinary run in Dubai is done.
New Zealand are the Shandians in the desert for the
first time since twenty twenty. New Zealand have bet on
(02:17):
Australia twenty nine to fourteen in the final, and even better,
our men won as well, beating Australia twenty six twenty
two in their final, but familiar heartbreak for the Black
Foils for the third straight season, they've come up short
in the Sale GP Grand Final, finishing third. New Zealand
driver Peter Berling says it's tough to take if the
(02:38):
team didn't really care about what we're doing, the kind
of mission we're on, and I think we go through
the hurt we are now, but super close we give
We fell on Tavisels a really good shot for the
Carson quite all our way.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
The sun Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfix with Jason Pine.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
You're listening to the Sports Fix podcast. A positive result
for Liam Lawson as Red Bull gets set to finally
announce its driver lineups for next year. Red Bull Racing
boss Laurrel Mickeys has confirmed the seat alongside Max for
Stappen in the top team and the two spots at
racing balls are to be revealed overnight tomorrow New Zealand time.
(03:15):
That's Tuesday into Wednesday. Liam Lawson bagged at two points
for the Junior team for his ninth placed effort at
this morning's Cutter Grand Prix. He held off Yuki Sonoda
and forced the Japanese driver to settle for tenth, with
the pair reported to be in a battle for one
of the seats at Racing Balls next year. Let's bring
in New Zealand Herald Motorsport expert Alex Powell. Alex, this
(03:37):
is the scenario I've heard most often. Isaac Hadjar will
go from Racing Balls up to Red Bull. Newcomer arvid
linn Blood will come into the Racing Bulls setup. Liam
Lawson will keep his Racing Bulls seat and Yuki Sonoda
will be the one to depart. Are there alternative scenarios
here or does that one feel like the most likely?
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Look that one does feel the most likely. The question
that you really do have to ask yourself with this
whole scenario is what value does Yuki Sonoda bring to
Red Bull? If A Hondaa no longer the engine spy
and b he's not the top team. The answer to
both of those questions then is probably he doesn't bring
a lot.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Can you just explain the Sonoda Honda connection and why
that's been important up till now and will cease to
become so?
Speaker 1 (04:27):
So?
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Motorsport is very expensive, you know, you think back to
you know, anyone who gets there, it's generally they've had
help from somewhere else. You know, see you think of
Liam Lawson, he as a load of generous donators and
benefactors who are behind him. In Sonoda's case, his biggest
backer is Honda, right, so as a Japanese driver, that's
obviously going to be a pretty sold link to have.
(04:48):
They're a huge name in motorsport. But now not only
are they a big name, for the last years they
have been Red Bull's engine supplier. The issue there for
Sonoda is that next week's race and Abu Dhabi will
be their last before they go to Aston Martin. So,
like I said, if Honda not at the table, is
Yuki Sonoda?
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Is there a scenario under which Racing Bulls or Red
Bull Racing decide that Sonoda is a better driver than
Liam Lawson or does that not seem likely?
Speaker 4 (05:17):
It's possible. You have to remember that Laura macki is
who you hinted at before, will have a part to
play in this decision. Has been Uki Sinoda's boss for
the last few years, both at Racing Bulls and at
Red Bull. But what you will have to say against
Sonoda is that the results just aren't there. You know,
if he had been you know, getting podiums every week
the way that someone like Sergio Perez, that who was
never Red Bull backed, he was brought in as a
(05:39):
stopgap and they kept him around so long. Then absolutely
you would argue that Sonoda has done enough to stay
at Rebell, but he just hasn't. He's he trails both
Liam Lawson and Isaac Hadjar in the Driver's Championship and
what's supposed to be a better car.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
He hasn't been able, as you say, to pick out
points consistently in the second Red Bull car. Is there
evidence that Isaac had Jar will be able to?
Speaker 4 (06:02):
No, But there's also suggestion, and I say suggestion, there's
also the very good fact that he won't need to
have evidence because there will be a new car next year.
I mean, I've been on the show so many times
talking about how difficult that RB twenty one is to drive,
but with the new regulations coming in the RB tween two,
well hopefully they're a bit easier. And the Isaac Kadjar's
results and means that he's the one who has earned
(06:22):
the chance to drive it than fair play to him.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
So what will Sonoda's future hold if, in fact, the
most likely scenario as you've outlined it happens and Yuki
Sonoda leaves, where will he end up?
Speaker 4 (06:38):
It's an interesting question. He was asked the other day
would you stay on as Red Bulls reserve driver, to
which she said no, there are no other seats available
on the F one grip, so Honda go to Aston Martin.
So there was a train of thought that will maybe
he will just go there as a reserve driver. That
seat is now filled because Red Bull waited so long
in announcing who were there, But you think of all
the other championships around the world there. He's been linked
(06:59):
to IndyCar because hond the power five of the twelve
teams in that competition. Honda do have a strong priendence
and endurance racing. That maybe he could do for a
year and hope that another seat opens up somewhere so
there won't be a lack of options for him. He's
very clearly a good driver that will pick up a
job somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
How will Liam Lawson reflect on his year with racing balls, Oh.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
It's a good question. I think he'll reflect on the
air overall as potentially one that got away. You know,
he started in that Red Bull car, which was a
lifelong drain and then he had it taken away from
us to two races, and he spent the year having
to rebuild. But if and when he does earn that
call up to remain on the grid in twenty twenty six,
I think he'll be doing it from the most secure
position he's ever been in, So I mean he'll only
(07:42):
be looking.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Upwards apart from the security internally of saying okay, hey
I belong here. Now, what specifically should he be better
at after a full year in Formula one?
Speaker 4 (07:53):
I think the best thing for him now is that
he'll know all the tracks. You know, we've seen him
go back to you know, you think of Brazil where
he did well last year and then he did well
this year as well, So clearly having that experience on
all these different circuits now will count in this favor.
Scott maclachlin said he felt so much more comfortable in
a second year of INDICAR because it's not just the tracks.
It's known the airport and it's knowing the hotel, and
(08:14):
it just means by the time you are ready to race,
you're not really that uncomfortable anymore. You know what you're
doing and you know where.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
You are fascinating times in a sport where you can
never take anything for granted. Alex, thanks for your expertise.
Alex Powell, New Zealand Herald motorsport expert, joining us on
the Sports Fixed podcast Sports TXX. First day of summer
officially today and tomorrow the first day of the first
cricket Test between the Black Caps and West Indies in
(08:40):
christ Church. Three test matches before Christmas. They have been
crammed in somewhat and no Test cricket for us after Christmas.
I still hope that in years ahead we do have
New Year's Test cricket, but for this summer, these are
the tests we have to enjoy. It is a big
twelve to fifteen months coming up, though, for the Test
site tests in England against India here at the front
(09:02):
end of next summer and then that Test tour of Australia.
I sometimes wonder how big the group is that I'm
a part of Test cricket fans, how many of us
still actually exist. With more and more white ball cricket
being played and new followers to the game mainly being
attracted in that fashion, there's ongoing discussion always about the
(09:22):
relevance of Test matches. But if you talk to the players,
a large number of them will tell you just how
important Test cricket still is for them. Great example, Ritchen
Revendra an absolute all format player, but he always talks
about how important Test cricket is to him. And he's
absolutely not in the minority. These guys are realists. Of course,
(09:44):
they know they need to be playing franchise T twenty
cricket to maximize their income, but Test cricket still has
a very special place. I grew up in Wellington and
from the moment I was old enough, really I pretty
much went to every cricket Test at the Basin Reserve.
I saw Martin Crowe and Jeremy Coney get their maiden
Test centuries there. In nineteen eighty four, Crow was out
(10:07):
for exactly one h Coney got an unebeat in one
seventy four to save that Test against England in nineteen
eighty six. I arrived nice and early on Day one
against Australia to make sure I didn't miss Richard Hadley
getting his three hundredth Test wicket. It actually took him
the bat midway through the afternoon session for him to
trap Alan Bord at LBW and bring up that milestone.
(10:28):
Five years after that Martin Crow again. Two ninety nine
in the final Test of the millennium, I watched Matthew
Sincleirs score a double one hundred on Test debut, and
in twenty fourteen I was there as Brendan McCallum scored
that magical three hundred against India. Just a few among many,
many memories, all of them from Test cricket. Still for
(10:50):
me anyway, the best cricket.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfix.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
On the Sports Fix podcast. Time to pop inside the
Chamber to kick around a few sporting issues from the weekend,
joined by News talksb Wellington Sports reader and All Sports
Breakfast host Adam Cooper.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Good weekend, very good, piney, lots of sport, always always good.
But a nice weather here in Wellington too, so it
was a great weekend.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Yeah. And speaking of weather, it was nice here, it
was awful in Auckland yesterday. Contrasting conditions and contrasting results
in terms of the A League. Of course, the two
New Zealand teams meet in the Derby this coming weekend
and they'll go in off quite different form lines, won't they.
The Phoenix. Let's start with them on Saturday in Wellington.
Were you surprised at the way they bounced back so
(11:35):
positively from back to back home losses?
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Very much so, I think you're right. The weather very
much summed up I think what each respective team from
each city was feeling after the weekend. The sun was
shining down on the Wellington Phoenix on Saturday evening at
Sky Stadium, and I think it was very impressive to
see how the team, with just a burst of energy
and a burst of real want I think found you know,
found themselves in. I was lucky enough to be sort
(11:57):
of sitting on the sideline pretty close to that game,
and just from the get go that opening whistle. The
Phoenix had a couple of personnel changes and just one
major lineup to week with Dan Edwards coming in for
his first league start, and I thought he was one
of several players who just propelled this real energy to
the team. And you know, the week before it taken
ninety three minutes for their first shot on goal. I
(12:17):
think it only took what a few minutes for them
to get their first shot on target, and showing that
I think really was signs of encouragement for this phoenix,
and they did spend that week really working out how
to sort of change things in And I know that
the day before they had you know, regrouped at Sky Stadium.
They don't usually go there the day before a game.
Chief the coach had got them to sit up in
(12:38):
the yellow Fever section of the stadium and kind of
ran things through from a fan's perspective. So if that
works or not, something certainly did spark that team to
to give a great energetic performance. And geez, they needed
that before another debby, didn't They absolutely?
Speaker 2 (12:50):
And it was so different, wasn't it. That was the
starkest thing about it was they were really quite mediocre,
quite poor the previous week, as you say, one shot
on target in the ninety third minute. Just the positive
intent that they went out with, and you're right, a
couple of lineup tweaks certainly helped that. And this is
Adelaide United, who are a good side. You know, they've
been one of the competition front runners. Some good players
(13:12):
in there. They've got plenty of goals. It actually could
have been more than than two to one at two
nil up. I thought they had a couple of chances
to go three nill ahead. The goal from Adelaide made
it a bit interesting at the end, but I think
they totally deserve to win that game. So then we
turned our attention to yesterday at go Media, where the
last twenty minutes were just utterly fascical, weren't they with
(13:33):
the rain that came down. But I think we can
still judge the first seventy minutes and for the second
week in a row, I think Auckland FC will be
scratching their heads at why the performance was and what
they would have hoped for.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Yeah, totally We'll given a week ago, Steve Corriker, the coach,
was absolutely fuming about a drawer, not just a loss,
but a draw. I'd hate to think how he responded
to his team in that dress room after that defeat yesterday. Yes,
certainly not something we're used to seeing as Auckland FC
being put on the back foot by anyone in this competition,
but they certainly were yesterday and obviously you know they
(14:06):
tried to rally through and just couldn't quite get there.
So you know, there's I know there's been a bit
of debate rounds. You know, it was one of the
opponent's goals offside or not, but you know that's that's
beside the point. And they come into this derby week
now not being the team that you don't have the
momentum behind them, they have the confidence behind them and
you know they'll have their home advantage. Obviously this weekend,
I'm sure the crowd will be close to capacity, if
(14:28):
not full at Auckland FC, so they're going to have
to rely on the home advantage to see them through here.
So certainly not with momentum and where they're playing on
the field at the moment. So I can't wait for
this one.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
It's going to be great, absolutely, I totally agree from
Wellington point of view, where you and I both reside,
it'll be good to have a bit of jeopardy around
it because I think you know, Auckland FC have won
all four derbies. Yes, there've been some close ones, but
I think this one promises to be one of the
closest of them all. And for the first time the
Phoenix will go into a derby off the back of
(14:56):
a better result than Auckland FC. This is the first
time in Auckland f C's life that they have lost
a game and the Phoenix have won one on the
same weekend. That speaks to the contrasting fortunes last year,
of course, but the fact remains it'll be a real
contest at go media also this week. Of course, it's
the first day of summer today, which means test cricket
(15:17):
only before Christmas, but we'll take what we can get.
How much you're looking forward to watching the black Caps
up against the West Indies over the next three weeks
or so.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Well, regardless something I'm just looking forward to watching Test
match cricket, take away the opponents. It's going to be
great having you know, as you say, just before Christmas,
three of these tests. Will see how many of them
last the distance. I mean, it's a bit hard to
just to know what the interest levels will be like obviously,
you know, predominantly especially these first two tests in christ
Church and Wellington have have weekday scheduling. Obviously a Tuesday
(15:44):
start this week for the first Test, a Wednesday start
in Wellington at the base in Reserve next week. I
think Hamilton might be slightly I was a tott on
that for the third Test that might be slightly more
lucky in some sort of more likely weekend scheduling, but
it's the chance for the black Caps players to prove
themselves with the red ball. Obviously, in terms of a
home summer, there's not going to be many chances this
(16:05):
year other than this series. Is the focus very much
after the Tests turns to the white ball stuff, obviously
primarily the T twenty World Cup too. So you know,
I think, you know, you look across the board, there's
some players who are coming to maybe you know that
the latter stages of their careers. I look from a
Wellington perspective, the likes of the Tom Blundells and the
Devon Conways. How much further are they going to stamp
their names on, you know, the New Zealand Tests line
(16:26):
up going forward? What about those other players that are
challenging for some of those roles, the likes of Will Young,
who's who's tried, who's been there, who's sort of you know,
lost favor a little bit. But with a new coach,
probably a good chance for Robolt to have a look
at some of his options. So I think that that
will sort of be primarily the point of interest. Obviously
the West Indies, I think maybe in terms of the
competitiveness of their tour. It might have peaked with the
(16:47):
t twenties. Obviously they didn't have much to show for
in the one days. And I do sort of wonder
that with the black Caps, particularly the bowling unit, on
their home turfs, you know, they'll probably be quite a
threat to the West Indies.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Yeah, I would imagine that the black Caps would go
on his firm favorite. The other person looking forward to
watching is Came Williamson, who is another coming to the
back end of his career. I think seven or eight
hundred runs all of ten thousand and Test matches. And
after these three, of course there's three in England next year,
two back here or three against India and then that
tour of Australia. So some exciting Test match cricket coming up.
This is a bit of a bit of an appetizer,
(17:20):
I guess you might say before Christmas this year. Coop's
great to see in the chamber. Thanks for stopping in.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
No worry is funny.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news power
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Speaker 2 (17:34):
And that blows the final whistle on the Sports Fix
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A fresh episode for subscribers will appear in your podcast
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(17:56):
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Speaker 1 (18:01):
For more from News Talks EDB listen live on air
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You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcast now on iHeartRadio.
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hello there, and welcome into a new week, Welcome into
a new month, and welcome into a fresh episode of
the sports Fix podcast and association with GJ. Gardner Holmes,
New Zealand's most trusted home builder. I'm Jason Pine. On Monday,
December the first, and we will know in a couple
of days the twenty twenty six fate of Liam Lawson
(00:45):
in the Red Bull Stable. Red Bull Racing Boss Lauren
Mickeys has said that the two spots at Racing Balls,
who has them and who will have the seat alongside
Max Forstaffan in Red Bull will be revealed overnight tomorrow night.
New Zealand Time joined on Sports Fix Today by New
Zealand Herald motorsport expert Alex Powell. Is there any scenario
(01:08):
under which Liam Lawson might lose that Racing Balls seat, or,
as is being widely reported, will he keep it and
it'll be Yuki Sonoda who drops out? Alex Powell on
that on the sports Bixs podcast, Adam Cooper pops into
the chamber to talk some Test cricket and a league
football and the Latist and sports news as well, So
let's get into it. In other news, let's get you
(01:33):
underway as always, whe a look at the big sports
stories around today, or some of them. After starting third
on the grid, Max Verstaffan has won his seventh race
of the season Formula One's Cutter Grand Prix. It's a
hat trick of victress hen the kats Are Grand Prix.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Vivet Stafford championship charge shows no sign of relexic.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
That win slashes Lando Norris's championship lead to just twelve
points with only one race to go. The New Zealand
women have claimed victory at the Seven's World Series opening
tournaments in Dubai and Australia's extraordinary run in Dubai is done.
New Zealand are the Shandians in the desert for the
first time since twenty twenty. New Zealand have bet on
(02:17):
Australia twenty nine to fourteen in the final, and even better,
our men won as well, beating Australia twenty six twenty
two in their final, but familiar heartbreak for the Black
Foils for the third straight season, they've come up short
in the Sale GP Grand Final, finishing third. New Zealand
driver Peter Berling says it's tough to take if the
(02:38):
team didn't really care about what we're doing, the kind
of mission we're on, and I think we go through
the hurt we are now, but super close we give
We fell on Tavisels a really good shot for the
Carson quite all our way.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
The sun Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfix with Jason Pine.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
You're listening to the Sports Fix podcast. A positive result
for Liam Lawson as Red Bull gets set to finally
announce its driver lineups for next year. Red Bull Racing
boss Laurrel Mickeys has confirmed the seat alongside Max for
Stappen in the top team and the two spots at
racing balls are to be revealed overnight tomorrow New Zealand time.
(03:15):
That's Tuesday into Wednesday. Liam Lawson bagged at two points
for the Junior team for his ninth placed effort at
this morning's Cutter Grand Prix. He held off Yuki Sonoda
and forced the Japanese driver to settle for tenth, with
the pair reported to be in a battle for one
of the seats at Racing Balls next year. Let's bring
in New Zealand Herald Motorsport expert Alex Powell. Alex, this
(03:37):
is the scenario I've heard most often. Isaac Hadjar will
go from Racing Balls up to Red Bull. Newcomer arvid
linn Blood will come into the Racing Bulls setup. Liam
Lawson will keep his Racing Bulls seat and Yuki Sonoda
will be the one to depart. Are there alternative scenarios
here or does that one feel like the most likely?
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Look that one does feel the most likely. The question
that you really do have to ask yourself with this
whole scenario is what value does Yuki Sonoda bring to
Red Bull? If A Hondaa no longer the engine spy
and b he's not the top team. The answer to
both of those questions then is probably he doesn't bring
a lot.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Can you just explain the Sonoda Honda connection and why
that's been important up till now and will cease to
become so?
Speaker 1 (04:27):
So?
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Motorsport is very expensive, you know, you think back to
you know, anyone who gets there, it's generally they've had
help from somewhere else. You know, see you think of
Liam Lawson, he as a load of generous donators and
benefactors who are behind him. In Sonoda's case, his biggest
backer is Honda, right, so as a Japanese driver, that's
obviously going to be a pretty sold link to have.
(04:48):
They're a huge name in motorsport. But now not only
are they a big name, for the last years they
have been Red Bull's engine supplier. The issue there for
Sonoda is that next week's race and Abu Dhabi will
be their last before they go to Aston Martin. So,
like I said, if Honda not at the table, is
Yuki Sonoda?
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Is there a scenario under which Racing Bulls or Red
Bull Racing decide that Sonoda is a better driver than
Liam Lawson or does that not seem likely?
Speaker 4 (05:17):
It's possible. You have to remember that Laura macki is
who you hinted at before, will have a part to
play in this decision. Has been Uki Sinoda's boss for
the last few years, both at Racing Bulls and at
Red Bull. But what you will have to say against
Sonoda is that the results just aren't there. You know,
if he had been you know, getting podiums every week
the way that someone like Sergio Perez, that who was
never Red Bull backed, he was brought in as a
(05:39):
stopgap and they kept him around so long. Then absolutely
you would argue that Sonoda has done enough to stay
at Rebell, but he just hasn't. He's he trails both
Liam Lawson and Isaac Hadjar in the Driver's Championship and
what's supposed to be a better car.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
He hasn't been able, as you say, to pick out
points consistently in the second Red Bull car. Is there
evidence that Isaac had Jar will be able to?
Speaker 4 (06:02):
No, But there's also suggestion, and I say suggestion, there's
also the very good fact that he won't need to
have evidence because there will be a new car next year.
I mean, I've been on the show so many times
talking about how difficult that RB twenty one is to drive,
but with the new regulations coming in the RB tween two,
well hopefully they're a bit easier. And the Isaac Kadjar's
results and means that he's the one who has earned
(06:22):
the chance to drive it than fair play to him.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
So what will Sonoda's future hold if, in fact, the
most likely scenario as you've outlined it happens and Yuki
Sonoda leaves, where will he end up?
Speaker 4 (06:38):
It's an interesting question. He was asked the other day
would you stay on as Red Bulls reserve driver, to
which she said no, there are no other seats available
on the F one grip, so Honda go to Aston Martin.
So there was a train of thought that will maybe
he will just go there as a reserve driver. That
seat is now filled because Red Bull waited so long
in announcing who were there, But you think of all
the other championships around the world there. He's been linked
(06:59):
to IndyCar because hond the power five of the twelve
teams in that competition. Honda do have a strong priendence
and endurance racing. That maybe he could do for a
year and hope that another seat opens up somewhere so
there won't be a lack of options for him. He's
very clearly a good driver that will pick up a
job somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
How will Liam Lawson reflect on his year with racing balls, Oh.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
It's a good question. I think he'll reflect on the
air overall as potentially one that got away. You know,
he started in that Red Bull car, which was a
lifelong drain and then he had it taken away from
us to two races, and he spent the year having
to rebuild. But if and when he does earn that
call up to remain on the grid in twenty twenty six,
I think he'll be doing it from the most secure
position he's ever been in, So I mean he'll only
(07:42):
be looking.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Upwards apart from the security internally of saying okay, hey
I belong here. Now, what specifically should he be better
at after a full year in Formula one?
Speaker 4 (07:53):
I think the best thing for him now is that
he'll know all the tracks. You know, we've seen him
go back to you know, you think of Brazil where
he did well last year and then he did well
this year as well, So clearly having that experience on
all these different circuits now will count in this favor.
Scott maclachlin said he felt so much more comfortable in
a second year of INDICAR because it's not just the tracks.
It's known the airport and it's knowing the hotel, and
(08:14):
it just means by the time you are ready to race,
you're not really that uncomfortable anymore. You know what you're
doing and you know where.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
You are fascinating times in a sport where you can
never take anything for granted. Alex, thanks for your expertise.
Alex Powell, New Zealand Herald motorsport expert, joining us on
the Sports Fixed podcast Sports TXX. First day of summer
officially today and tomorrow the first day of the first
cricket Test between the Black Caps and West Indies in
(08:40):
christ Church. Three test matches before Christmas. They have been
crammed in somewhat and no Test cricket for us after Christmas.
I still hope that in years ahead we do have
New Year's Test cricket, but for this summer, these are
the tests we have to enjoy. It is a big
twelve to fifteen months coming up, though, for the Test
site tests in England against India here at the front
(09:02):
end of next summer and then that Test tour of Australia.
I sometimes wonder how big the group is that I'm
a part of Test cricket fans, how many of us
still actually exist. With more and more white ball cricket
being played and new followers to the game mainly being
attracted in that fashion, there's ongoing discussion always about the
(09:22):
relevance of Test matches. But if you talk to the players,
a large number of them will tell you just how
important Test cricket still is for them. Great example, Ritchen
Revendra an absolute all format player, but he always talks
about how important Test cricket is to him. And he's
absolutely not in the minority. These guys are realists. Of course,
(09:44):
they know they need to be playing franchise T twenty
cricket to maximize their income, but Test cricket still has
a very special place. I grew up in Wellington and
from the moment I was old enough, really I pretty
much went to every cricket Test at the Basin Reserve.
I saw Martin Crowe and Jeremy Coney get their maiden
Test centuries there. In nineteen eighty four, Crow was out
(10:07):
for exactly one h Coney got an unebeat in one
seventy four to save that Test against England in nineteen
eighty six. I arrived nice and early on Day one
against Australia to make sure I didn't miss Richard Hadley
getting his three hundredth Test wicket. It actually took him
the bat midway through the afternoon session for him to
trap Alan Bord at LBW and bring up that milestone.
(10:28):
Five years after that Martin Crow again. Two ninety nine
in the final Test of the millennium, I watched Matthew
Sincleirs score a double one hundred on Test debut, and
in twenty fourteen I was there as Brendan McCallum scored
that magical three hundred against India. Just a few among many,
many memories, all of them from Test cricket. Still for
(10:50):
me anyway, the best cricket.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfix.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
On the Sports Fix podcast. Time to pop inside the
Chamber to kick around a few sporting issues from the weekend,
joined by News talksb Wellington Sports reader and All Sports
Breakfast host Adam Cooper.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Good weekend, very good, piney, lots of sport, always always good.
But a nice weather here in Wellington too, so it
was a great weekend.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Yeah. And speaking of weather, it was nice here, it
was awful in Auckland yesterday. Contrasting conditions and contrasting results
in terms of the A League. Of course, the two
New Zealand teams meet in the Derby this coming weekend
and they'll go in off quite different form lines, won't they.
The Phoenix. Let's start with them on Saturday in Wellington.
Were you surprised at the way they bounced back so
(11:35):
positively from back to back home losses?
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Very much so, I think you're right. The weather very
much summed up I think what each respective team from
each city was feeling after the weekend. The sun was
shining down on the Wellington Phoenix on Saturday evening at
Sky Stadium, and I think it was very impressive to
see how the team, with just a burst of energy
and a burst of real want I think found you know,
found themselves in. I was lucky enough to be sort
(11:57):
of sitting on the sideline pretty close to that game,
and just from the get go that opening whistle. The
Phoenix had a couple of personnel changes and just one
major lineup to week with Dan Edwards coming in for
his first league start, and I thought he was one
of several players who just propelled this real energy to
the team. And you know, the week before it taken
ninety three minutes for their first shot on goal. I
(12:17):
think it only took what a few minutes for them
to get their first shot on target, and showing that
I think really was signs of encouragement for this phoenix,
and they did spend that week really working out how
to sort of change things in And I know that
the day before they had you know, regrouped at Sky Stadium.
They don't usually go there the day before a game.
Chief the coach had got them to sit up in
(12:38):
the yellow Fever section of the stadium and kind of
ran things through from a fan's perspective. So if that
works or not, something certainly did spark that team to
to give a great energetic performance. And geez, they needed
that before another debby, didn't They absolutely?
Speaker 2 (12:50):
And it was so different, wasn't it. That was the
starkest thing about it was they were really quite mediocre,
quite poor the previous week, as you say, one shot
on target in the ninety third minute. Just the positive
intent that they went out with, and you're right, a
couple of lineup tweaks certainly helped that. And this is
Adelaide United, who are a good side. You know, they've
been one of the competition front runners. Some good players
(13:12):
in there. They've got plenty of goals. It actually could
have been more than than two to one at two
nil up. I thought they had a couple of chances
to go three nill ahead. The goal from Adelaide made
it a bit interesting at the end, but I think
they totally deserve to win that game. So then we
turned our attention to yesterday at go Media, where the
last twenty minutes were just utterly fascical, weren't they with
(13:33):
the rain that came down. But I think we can
still judge the first seventy minutes and for the second
week in a row, I think Auckland FC will be
scratching their heads at why the performance was and what
they would have hoped for.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Yeah, totally We'll given a week ago, Steve Corriker, the coach,
was absolutely fuming about a drawer, not just a loss,
but a draw. I'd hate to think how he responded
to his team in that dress room after that defeat yesterday. Yes,
certainly not something we're used to seeing as Auckland FC
being put on the back foot by anyone in this competition,
but they certainly were yesterday and obviously you know they
(14:06):
tried to rally through and just couldn't quite get there.
So you know, there's I know there's been a bit
of debate rounds. You know, it was one of the
opponent's goals offside or not, but you know that's that's
beside the point. And they come into this derby week
now not being the team that you don't have the
momentum behind them, they have the confidence behind them and
you know they'll have their home advantage. Obviously this weekend,
I'm sure the crowd will be close to capacity, if
(14:28):
not full at Auckland FC, so they're going to have
to rely on the home advantage to see them through here.
So certainly not with momentum and where they're playing on
the field at the moment. So I can't wait for
this one.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
It's going to be great, absolutely, I totally agree from
Wellington point of view, where you and I both reside,
it'll be good to have a bit of jeopardy around
it because I think you know, Auckland FC have won
all four derbies. Yes, there've been some close ones, but
I think this one promises to be one of the
closest of them all. And for the first time the
Phoenix will go into a derby off the back of
(14:56):
a better result than Auckland FC. This is the first
time in Auckland f C's life that they have lost
a game and the Phoenix have won one on the
same weekend. That speaks to the contrasting fortunes last year,
of course, but the fact remains it'll be a real
contest at go media also this week. Of course, it's
the first day of summer today, which means test cricket
(15:17):
only before Christmas, but we'll take what we can get.
How much you're looking forward to watching the black Caps
up against the West Indies over the next three weeks
or so.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Well, regardless something I'm just looking forward to watching Test
match cricket, take away the opponents. It's going to be
great having you know, as you say, just before Christmas,
three of these tests. Will see how many of them
last the distance. I mean, it's a bit hard to
just to know what the interest levels will be like obviously,
you know, predominantly especially these first two tests in christ
Church and Wellington have have weekday scheduling. Obviously a Tuesday
(15:44):
start this week for the first Test, a Wednesday start
in Wellington at the base in Reserve next week. I
think Hamilton might be slightly I was a tott on
that for the third Test that might be slightly more
lucky in some sort of more likely weekend scheduling, but
it's the chance for the black Caps players to prove
themselves with the red ball. Obviously, in terms of a
home summer, there's not going to be many chances this
(16:05):
year other than this series. Is the focus very much
after the Tests turns to the white ball stuff, obviously
primarily the T twenty World Cup too. So you know,
I think, you know, you look across the board, there's
some players who are coming to maybe you know that
the latter stages of their careers. I look from a
Wellington perspective, the likes of the Tom Blundells and the
Devon Conways. How much further are they going to stamp
their names on, you know, the New Zealand Tests line
(16:26):
up going forward? What about those other players that are
challenging for some of those roles, the likes of Will Young,
who's who's tried, who's been there, who's sort of you know,
lost favor a little bit. But with a new coach,
probably a good chance for Robolt to have a look
at some of his options. So I think that that
will sort of be primarily the point of interest. Obviously
the West Indies, I think maybe in terms of the
competitiveness of their tour. It might have peaked with the
(16:47):
t twenties. Obviously they didn't have much to show for
in the one days. And I do sort of wonder
that with the black Caps, particularly the bowling unit, on
their home turfs, you know, they'll probably be quite a
threat to the West Indies.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Yeah, I would imagine that the black Caps would go
on his firm favorite. The other person looking forward to
watching is Came Williamson, who is another coming to the
back end of his career. I think seven or eight
hundred runs all of ten thousand and Test matches. And
after these three, of course there's three in England next year,
two back here or three against India and then that
tour of Australia. So some exciting Test match cricket coming up.
This is a bit of a bit of an appetizer,
(17:20):
I guess you might say before Christmas this year. Coop's
great to see in the chamber. Thanks for stopping in.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
No worry is funny.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news power
by News Talks AB.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
And that blows the final whistle on the Sports Fix
podcast for today. We greatly appreciate you downloading, listening, and
in particular those of you who subscribe to Sports Fix.
A fresh episode for subscribers will appear in your podcast
feed and around about the same time tomorrow and every
day Monday through Friday. And for more from News Talks
AB Sport, check out Sports Talk weeknights between seven and
(17:56):
eight and on the weekend weekend Sport midday till three
Saturday and again on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
For more from News Talks EDB listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
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