Michael and Matt catch up with 1978 Formula 1 world champion and Cadillac director Mario Andretti to get the latest on the American team's preparation for 2026, its hand in the driver market and where the next American driver will come from. We also unpack the turmoil at Alpine after losing its team principal and dropping Aussie young gun Jack Doohan.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, and welcome to Pit Talk, brought to you by Shannon's.
On today's episode, Jack Tuin is turfed by Alpine for
reserve driver Franco Cola Pinto ahead of this weekend's Emelia
Romania Grand Prix, and we catch up with nineteen seventy
eight world champion Mario Andretti to get the latest on
his Cadillac Teams driver search. My name's Michael Lomonado. It's
(00:20):
great to have your company and the company of my
co host. Believe me, he's written in a Cadillac hundreds
of times thousands.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
It's Matt Clayton Heavens in the back seat, Michael, as
the song title will tell you. But yeah, look, it's
good to be talking a little bit of f one
because anyone who followed the MOTORGP weekend in France A
needs a good line down and I need something to
write about that's not rain and chaos and long lap
(00:47):
penalties and other things. And as I was saying to
our colleague Greed of Vimulan on this week's Motor GP
pod yesterday, you know, when you're covering one of these
races and you get the notification from race direction that
something's happened on track regular motor GP race you get
ten twelve of those. There were one hundred and sixteen
of them from Lamont on Sunday, and so my screen
looked like a Rulette weel, just spinning, spinning, spitting, spitting
(01:09):
the entire time while I trying to make sense of
the silliest Grand Prix of all time. So hopefully a
little more sanity this weekend at Emma lib it's looking
forward to get stuck into it.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, well, luckily it was at least a weekend off
Formula One. You didn't have too much ridiculousness to keep
up with, at least on the track. Plenty of ridiculousness
off the track, especially if you are at Endstone where
Alpin is based, and they've decided that Jack Dowan will
be out of the car for at least the next
five Grand Prix in favor of reserve driver Franco colb Pinto.
It's the story we've seen coming for a little while,
(01:38):
rumors of which were circulating just after the previous Grand
Prix in Miami. We mentioned them at the very end
of the last podcast. But things move very quickly and
not aided I think by the US time zone very
inconvenient for us, but it means that Jack Dowin is
out of a driver now. Interestingly, though, Matt, what I
didn't see coming, considering this had been rumored for so
long was this five race trial concept that they've given
(02:00):
color Pinto. They say they'll reassess things between the Austrian
and British Grand Prix, which is a double header, so
I'm a little bit dubious about how much they would
change at that point, but nonetheless they say it's five
Grand Prix and in the meantime, to quote the press release,
Jack Dolan will be the first choice reserve driver. What
do you make if it's.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Not great podcast content?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
But I'm shaking my head through every single thing that
you just said. Then, But the five race thing, I mean, uncharitably,
I could say, are they just waiting for the sponsor's
checks to clear in the Instone Bank account to see
whether they extended for longer than five races? But this
to me, We'll talk about doing Olli Oaks and a
million other things in the next five minutes. But it's
(02:42):
been pretty obvious from day one that Cola Pinto was
going to end up in that seat at some point,
So why are we bothering with this five race pretense?
Is it just to perhaps let Jack Dowan's tires down
a little more softly, But then after publicly not backing
him before the season started and then him feeling like
he was walking the green or for the best part
of the season when he was actually in the car,
(03:03):
I don't understand while we're doing this sitting on the
fence thing with Colopinto, because it's pretty clear that he
was going to be in the car at some point.
What possible reason is there for there only to be
some sort of five race thing unless there's some fine
printings and contracts. But I wanted to ask you this
because your output on Fox sports dot com dot au
after we had recorded last week's podcast. I can imagine
(03:24):
you looking at your phone first thing on Tuesday or
here cock com. No take us inside those next few days,
because the doing story was one that we saw coming
from a mile off, and it was what it was.
But then things just got progressively nuttier as the days
went on for the back end of last week, and
you were probably at a point where, I mean you
can detail the timeline of last week, you probably thought
(03:44):
anything is possible. At this point, I'm prepared to believe
just about anything, because none of these stories made any sense,
and after the doing one, most of them were ones
we just could not see coming.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Yeah, I've got to the point now with LPNE where
you would believe anything if you could tell me anything
that they've got planned, and I'd have to take it
at least half seriously because of things like this week
and even the history of the last year. But the
week actually started on in quite unpredictable fashion, which was
on Tuesday morning out time or Tuesday whatever time zone
they were operating in at the time, there was confirmation
(04:14):
the team Vincible Olive Oaks had stepped down resigned rather unexpectedly.
The team said it would be making no comment on
it at the end of the press release, and no
comment subsequently has been given, at least by the team.
Heavily rumored to center around a disagreement with Flavio Briatore,
who's the executive advisor to the Reno CEO regarding alpine matters,
(04:36):
a disagreement over these driver choices about the jack doan
move we all thought or saw coming, which ultimately came
the subsequent day, and while I do believe there was
a level of disagreement with the way the driver decision
was being made, and you can then reflect back on
a lot of the political language Oliver Oaks has been
using all year about sort of half heartedly backing Jack
Doan while also leaving the door open to a decision
(04:56):
being made later. What we subsequently discovered was that the
personal reasons that they quoted in the press release, which
is always quite easy get out clause, well there might
be something in it because Friday our time, so I
guess Thursday in Europe was revealed by the UK Telegraph
that his brother and business part of William Oakes, had
been arrested for transferring criminal property and he'd be found
(05:19):
with quite a lot of cash on his person. I
think that was on the Thursday before the Miami Grand Prix.
On the Friday he was charged and on the Saturday
he was before the magistrate and is now in custody
as far as I know, hasn't been granted bail or
anything like that. So relatively serious their business partners, because
they're both directors of high Tech Grand Prix, which is
the junior team that fields cars in Formula two and
(05:40):
Formula three, among other junior categories, also co directors of
the holding company by the same name, and the last
we know, and of course, now that he's no longer
Lpnteam principally has I guess, no responsibilities to be anywhere
in particular. But the last we know is that he
flew to Dubai and is yet to reserves at least
in the UK or anywhere publicly with the Everything subsequent
(06:03):
now is interpretation, but one would assume that given they're
both directors of a company, he'd at least be wanted
for questioning. Considering, you know, his brother was also found
at the same area as the factory at Silverston Park,
we assume he must have been near or at work
at the time. But it certainly does cast everything back
into doubt in a way that to me Matt feels
(06:23):
very reminiscent of f one of a different era, the
era of bailiff's impounding equipment and all this sort of stuff.
The good news, I guess from Alpine's perspective is that
with all of Oaks having already resigned, it's sort of
now any connection to this which seems to mostly a
revolver at a minimum around the high Tech ron pri
or the people involved at high Tech rome pro. We
don't know if the business itself is actually involved beyond
the people running it. That Alpine can keep a certain
(06:45):
amount of distance from it. But nonetheless it does involve
F two and F three and I haven't I haven't seen.
I'm not animilar at the moment, obviously, But there's speculation,
of course about how high Tech might or might not
be able to continue beyond now, whether or not there'll
be delays to getting too Mula or competing in the
rest of the season at et cetera, which would be
a blow to obviously all the young drivers who are
reliant on high Tech being of the stepping stone up
(07:05):
to the dream of Formula one. But it's been a
pretty dramatic twist to what we thought was a pretty
straightforward cashed up driver usurping Australia not cashed up driver situation.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Anytime the word bailiffs comes up in a Formula one conversation,
let alone links to Russian olive arts and sacks of
cash and everything, it's very very nineteen eighties. Pre Qualifying
Formula one.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Not critty qualifying one.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
I like that pre qualifying f one that's a separate podcast.
We need to do your favorite pre qualifying memories. But
it's just they're two separate stories that just happened to
share personnel.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
That's the first thing.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
But getting back to your point that anything feels believable
at this point, it just does with this particular team,
because they've given us no reason to believe that if
you inserted the same story with other teams, we would
dismiss them out of hand initially as we well, that's
clearly not happening, or that's not happened. But because of
the way this Alpine team has been run and continues
(08:04):
to be run over the past few years, it feels
like this is the team that this sort of thing
is most applicable to, despite their being separate stories. But
I'm curious, So what's the way forward from here? I mean,
like you said before, Alping can distance itself from the
Oaks high tech stuff because it is a separate story.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Oaks is no longer under their employer. That's fine.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
What are Alpin doing from here, given that they're electing
to shut at their own engine program at the end
of this year to go with a customer somewhere else
You've now got Franco Colopinto and all of the associated
sponsorship dollars that come into the team to go alongside
Pierre Ghastly, Flavier Briatore is going to be taking a
more central role if he wasn't already in the way
that the team is being run on a day to
(08:43):
day basis. Should Flavio Briatore be running a Formula one
team in twenty twenty five based on the past. I'll
leave that for history to decide, but I have certain
thoughts on that. The whole thing seems very f one
of a bygone era, but not f on twenty twenty five,
and I'll be super keen to see how the two things.
How is the message managed this weekend at Imola and
(09:04):
then actually what's going on behind the scenes, because the
whole thing right now it doesn't feel very Formula one
to me. It feels like we've moved on from this
sort of thing and it's entertaining and it generates headlines
and it keeps you up until I'm told hours trying
to make sense of it from the other side of
the world. But is this Formula one in twenty twenty five,
because doesn't feel like it to me.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Yeah, it's really an interesting point as well, because F one.
You know, the reason we fremen this nostalgically or otherwise
about pre qualifying F one and so on is that
it was F one of a very different time when
sort of weird and odd behavior and necessarily criminal behavior
or anything like that. Just like you know, chances in
F one just having to go was possible because F
(09:41):
one was far less professional, far less exclusive in environment,
and far less profitable because it was easy to get involved,
lose all your money and then get out LP. Now, weirdly,
despite being backed by one of the world's biggest car
manufacturers in Reno, it is the Reno Works Team. We
shouldn't forget that just because it runs under the Alpine brand,
which is a boutique calm manufacturer wholly owned by Reno.
(10:04):
Shouldn't be behaving like this in this era, you know,
because in this era is all about informed on stability
and being profitable and slowly building up. I think Williams
is a great example, despite not being a works team,
but you know, was at rock bottom not that long ago,
but because it just has some solid investment because they
can only spend so much in F one. These times
you can find sponsors because that F one's quite popular.
(10:25):
It shouldn't be that hard to just make gradual steps forward,
and yet what we've seen from Alpine for the last
few years is just constant one step forward, two steps backwards.
You know, the team can argue that maybe Franco Kolopindo
will be a step forward on Jack doing it remains
to be seen. I guess that's what They've given him
many five races, but it's another step backwards in terms
of the acclimatization of a new driver. He's at least
(10:48):
five races behind Jack because he also doesn't have the
benefit of preseason testing. Plus he's got the pressure of
another five races. That's a step backwards. They've lost another
team Bridges well, okay, maybe out of their control, but
the fact they needed a new team principle in the
first place was because of the the administrative set up
with Flavierbritory at the top. Need to reshape the team,
a team that had been reshaped roughly every year for
the last three years.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Oh hang on, I've got sorry, mid sentence, We've got
to pull the curtain back a little bit.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
Here.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
You sent me possibly the funniest message you've sent me
for a while last week, where you said, here is
a list of Alpedes team principles, probably as I don't
even know if this goes back as far as you've
been doing f one for Fox and alone for anybody else,
but it's a list like you could add all of
the other team principal changes for all of the other
teams in that same window, and I'm not sure that
they would add up to as many of this if
(11:34):
you've got that list handy, just lest anyone forget, Yes, actually,
who's been an Alpine team principal? You and I haven't
been asked yet, but it's probably on the cards given
the way things are going. Walk us through that list
of team principles, because you know, I feel like sort
of pouring a drink out for some of these guys
because they didn't get much of a didn't get much
of a go, did they.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Yeah, this dates back to twenty twenty, so the last
year of Reno just before it turns this into the
Alpine brand in twenty twenty one. That last year was
headed by Cyril Avitable remember him a long time ago
in the world Rally Championship. Now I was twenty twenty.
Then in twenty one they didn't have strictly a team principal,
but they had davidev Brivio you might remember and continue
to remember in fact, from Moto GP and Marsin Boukowski,
(12:14):
who was also in charge various split roles in twenty
twenty one. Then from twenty twenty two they ditched them
for odd Marsavnau. He lasted only till the middle of
twenty twenty three, when Bruno Faman, who was previously in
charge of the end of Division, took over. He lasted
for only one year, until the middle of twenty twenty four,
at which point Oliver Oaks took over. He lasted only
until the middle of twenty twenty five, or not even
(12:34):
in fact, because it's only May twenty twenty five and
now it's Flavio Briatore for all intents and purposes. The
press release was unclear whether or not they'd be seeking
a new team principle or whether he would just step
into the role he already seems to be undertaking. So
what's that that is only three, four, five, six, seventeen
principles in five years, so like one every nine months
or so.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Cyril Avitible was six team principles ago, which is absolutely
crazy because the reason I remember that so well is
he was so important in Daniel Ricardo's time there, of
course at redou and then when Daniel moved across a
Red Bull for nineteen that feels like five lifetimes ago.
And we can laugh at the length of the list
and various bit like Bruno Famine to me never looked
(13:16):
like he actually wanted to do it, but it was like,
come on, mate, you need to take one for the team.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
So it kind of felt like his tenure there.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
But as much as we can laugh about it, it
just speaks to the complete chaos that a team that
could and should be better than this because it has
the resource and the name in the backing of the
car company, They've almost done the worst possible job with
the most possible tools to do it with. When you
look at how some of these other companies, Williams is
a great example here because rock bottom results wise, but
(13:45):
you can see the way they have methodically built their
way up into being a credible Formula one team and business.
And that word credible is not a word that you
could use it any sentence that has the word alp
did it following all beforehand at the time being given
the way things are going there, Look, we know that
immiler this weekend. Colopino's in the car. We know he
was quick last year. We knew he hit a lot
(14:06):
of things towards the end of last year. So of
all the circuits to come back to, when you've not
done a preseason and you've not driven the car and
it's probably going to be cold because it's immilar in May,
and it's probably going to rain at some point, well, boy,
I hope they've I hope the dust pan and brush
is ready because they may be needing it a little
bit this weekend because that's a really tough one to
come back to.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Yeah, just one or two points to wrap up. I
think it's worth reflecting on the fact that, as we've said,
this is Reno's works team. It's a manufacturer has the
money to put into Formula One if it wants. It
doesn't have to. Obviously, it's already started its engine program,
which was the only thread that connected it throughout its
history in Formula One, even when it was opening and
closing It's works team. At this point, after all those
team principles, all these changes, someone has to ask a
(14:48):
whether or not the team's adequately funded. And it doesn't
have to be because the team is welcome to be
sold plenty of buyers. But if it really genuinely doesn't
want to sell the team, as the CEO has said,
then surely some the responsibility for this mess has to
be sheeted home to the CEO is ultimately allowing these
decisions to be made because the team is a mess,
and it reflects badly on the brand and reflects badly
unfortunately all the good people who work there, because Alpine's
(15:11):
historic team at Enstone, a lot of people have worked
there for a long time. A lot of people have
worked there in a newer capacity as well, obviously, and
they deserve a better go at it than they're getting unfortunately.
I think that's interesting. And then on the Franco Colopinto note,
you know, it's unfortunate that this oh, I'm sort of
into minds, you know, is it better or worse that
he knows it's five races or just everyone knows it's
(15:31):
five races and they won't say it publicly, as is
the case with Jack doin, but I can't help but
reflect on the fact that you know, last year he
started to struggle. Wh there are a lot of rumors
about his situation. He was much better when it was
sort of a win win situation, when there was no
chance in getting a cease on the grit and he
just had to go out and have a good time.
But I certainly hope he does well. And this is
not because I mean, I'd love to see Jack doing
the car obviously, but he's worth a shot in F one.
(15:54):
He deserved a better shot than this, but he's where
the shot in F one. I certainly hope as well.
The Australian fans give and I know they will because
Straining fans are relatively even minded, a fair minded people,
I think. And I just draw the contrast between some
of the negative stuff we've seen unfortunately chasing Jack in
the last few rounds and some fans, a minority of
fans from Argentina who have been behaving pretty poorly, and
(16:15):
I think we certainly don't need to stoop to that.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Level before you morve us on because we can talk
about LP for possibly the next three and a half hours.
Here's here's a scenario for you. So we've got this
five races with Colo Pinto. Let's just say, and we
don't wish this pot anybody here. Let's say it doesn't
go very well. Let's say it goes really quite badly.
Now we know Alpline have about seventeen reserve drivers on
the book. Books like cush Mine will give you getting
(16:38):
a call up mid season if this goes wrong? What
happens here? If this doesn't work with Colopinto, Let's just
say that the results are the same as what Jack
doing was doing or worse. You're in this five race situation.
Can you go back to a driver that you've already
elbowed out of the way and said, look, we don't
think you're up to it, and actually we never really
properly publicly backed you anyway in Jack? Do it as
you get someone that's gone through their driver account me,
(17:00):
do you stick with Colopinso if things aren't going too well?
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Or what is box C?
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Assuming there is another box to pick at this point,
because all I've done here is leave themselves open to
if this doesn't work, then what And I don't really
I don't think there's any good outcomes for anybody in
that situation. Should this not work, It's almost like they've
given him the five races. What if this doesn't work?
And then what do they do? Because the thing's chaotic? Now,
(17:25):
what happens if they need to go to Plan C
by the time we get halfway through this season, because
that's roughly when these five races will be over.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Yeah, it's a good question. I mean there's Paul Arron
as well on their roster. Who is the most credible
among the many on there that hasn't already had a
shot at F one Among Jack Doing and Franco Colopindo
F two results last year, did only one season of
F two. He's sitting at this year to be the
reserve driver. He had one feature ace victory, a couple
(17:55):
of a good few potems. It did finish third in
the championship standing, so nothing to sniff out. I mean,
that's about as well as any of the other driver. So
it's better than Franko Colapinto, I think managed, even though
that's because he was pulled out of the season halfway
through last year. So he's as worthwhile as shot as
any I guess he was dropped by the Mercedes program
a couple of years ago, though he was a former
Mercedes junior, so sort of take from that what you will.
(18:17):
Alpines clear decided that it's those skin of bit's nosen
to be fair. Mercedes sort of its pathway is full,
you know, it's got Antonelli in there. It thinks to
Addrussels the long term bat it doesn't really need a
driver who's on the cusp of F one, so it
doesn't it's not necessarily a reflection on him. But then you know,
you're facing the prospect of having a third driver in there.
Let's just say, by the end of the European season,
so by the end of Italian Grand Prix, and what
(18:38):
if all of them are just about as good as
one another, you know, and what a waste of time
that is. You know, the team says, okay, it's all
targeted at twenty twenty six, when it hopes to take
a big step for it wants the right driver lineup.
But maybe the right driver is the driver who would
have got the full season to prepare for twenty twenty six,
and that driver's not going to exist by the end
of the year at this point. So yeah, it's all
like you say, I'd be really interested to see how
(18:58):
they control or to control the message this weekend and
then obviously how it plays out over the next five
races and possibly beyond that depending on the decision making.
But they're certainly starting from a suboptimal position, I think
for whatever their target.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
Is, for good luck to them.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Before we move on, Matt to our chat with Mario Andretti,
we're going to get, of course, to move of the week,
brought to you by Shannon's Supercars and Motor GP in
action over the course of the weekend MODOGYP in France,
Supercars down in Tasmania and what caught your eye this weekend.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
There was a bit going on in the Lamar MotoGP
race that I mentioned earlier off the top, but I'm
going to go for something that was more significant than chaotic,
in that we had young Spaniard Firmin Aldeger six races
into his Motor GP career, twenty year old rookie in
one of the most chaotic Grand Prix we've seen for many,
many years, with a last few laps overtake on Pedro Costa,
(19:54):
the old inverted Cobbas Spanish rising star on a KTM. Yeah,
taking his first Grand Prix podium on a day where
plenty of experience heads made absolutely ridiculous mistakes and people
called the strategy wrong. To have the clarity of thought
and the composure to be able to steer through all
that craziness led the race at one point to take
(20:16):
his first Grand Prix podium on a day where a
lot of guys who probably should have could have done
better didn't. I think a it was significant in the
moment to pass a cost to take that podium place,
but also what that means for the future. Yeah, he's
not a fantastic bike. We know how good that took
AUTI GP twenty four is, but history will show this
was his first Grand Prix on a Grand Prix podium,
(20:37):
on a day where it was very very easy to
drop the ball. The pass was significant. What it means
going forward was possibly more significant because his arrow after
a first couple of wobbly races, has just been vertical
since then. Really really impressive, really impressive overtake and a
good execution on a day where lots of things could
have gone wrong. But slightly less mad when I say
slightly than Lemon was obviously the Zupercars in tas I'm
(21:00):
assuming that's where you're going for yours.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
No, actually I was going to because there was three
races to pick from and there was plenty of action
in Tasmania. The hairpin is a guaranteed action generator down there.
But actually I have a remarkably similar pick. It's firm
and aldegaer. But it was from the sprint, the battle
for his first inverted Commas podium. I still don't know
how to refer to sprint statistics in either of our sports,
(21:22):
but his battle with Quaatearo, I liked it. It was relatively brief,
well last only round about one lap, but I loved
the little bit of intimidation Quadao put on him, and
that he served directly back to him for his first
podium of description first middle as we call it, like this,
and then you'd get the real one the next day,
which is very good. But I just loved the because
it was also Quaduro's home race and he was on pole,
(21:44):
and you know, that was his big weekend, and he
was totally was totally unawed by that situation. He knew
what he wanted, he knew how the pace to get there,
he knew he had to put up a tough fight,
and Quaarao made that very clear, and he did it,
and he nailed it, and it was clean. It was
you know, as to the line is, I guess you
can get with a little bit of contact in Moto GP,
but it was ultimately clean. I just thought that was
(22:05):
such a gutsy move, well executed and such a well
deserved podium.
Speaker 5 (22:08):
Man.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
As always, when a rookie driver gets their first podium
on a sprint in either sport, I'm very pleased when
they get the real deal the next day, so he
can stop putting an asterisk against the distant.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Yes, Oscar piastri Quitar sprint race rookie year. Yes, we
don't go through that he's been on the podium. No,
he hasn't been on the podium. We don't have that conversation.
The thing that made that it's a really good pick
because the other factor here is that Quatao's at home
and he's fighting like crazy to keep this podium. And
you could hear the annoyance of the ground over the
top of the bikes once Aldea got himself into third place,
(22:38):
and that's one of those ones. If that's gone wrong
and he ends up put panting Fabio off the track,
your public enemy number one at Lamov for probably the
rest of your career. So given the stakes, if that
had gone wrong, that's a very astute pig value.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Yeah, so that just pip some of the supercars action.
But I love a good rookie who's strutting this stuff
on the world stage, so it had to be that
for me. Let's move on now, Matt to our chat
with Mario Andretti, the nineteen seventy eight world champion. It
was great to catch up with him in the aftermath
of the Miami Grand Prix. Of course, as in the background,
his Cadillac team, on which he is a member of
(23:10):
the board, is building up to its first season next
year with the new rules in twenty twenty six. It
has a factory split across three different at least three
different locations, might actually be a fourth last checked between Europe,
the UK and the United States. But of course, the
big question as we head into the silly season in
Formula One among the current teams is how Cadillac will
(23:31):
play its hand filling those two seats. Plenty of rumors
about who could be filling them, so we go straight
to the source in our chat with nineteen seventy eight
Formula one world champion Mario Andretti.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Mario, it's good to see you.
Speaker 6 (23:42):
Thank you, my pleasure, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
The focus of this interview is, of course, the Cadillac project,
which the countdown is well and truly on for. We
saw the team launch or the brand launch at the
Miami Grand Prix just a week or so ago, and
it's probably less than seven months now. I suppose still
preseason testing next year whoever's hunting, which means barely half
a year until Cadillacs first Kyle hit the track. How
are you feeling about the team's readiness working against the
(24:07):
clock but also from the sidelines yet to obviously started
racing inform one?
Speaker 5 (24:12):
Well, uh, I think, well, the project is ongoing, has
been ongoing, so I think, uh, you know, from our
standpoint from what I see, and I think we're pretty
much say on schedule.
Speaker 6 (24:30):
I don't think there's any panic at the moment.
Speaker 5 (24:35):
So yeah, you know, everyone realize, everyone knows what we're
facing the headline, you know, the deadlines and on and
so forth. So no matter where you stand on any
project in a sport, that you always could use more time,
But the bottom line, I think we're on We're everything
(25:01):
is progressing.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
I'm sure that the to do list gets only slightly
shorter in the month. Stick via very very quickly, Mario.
But I guess a key question for a lot of
fans is that everyone wants to know about the team's
driver lineup, because you know, we're in a situation there's
relatively few contracts up for renewal at the moment, and
Cadillac has two seats that are up for grabs, And
(25:23):
part of the willingness to know what's going on for
all the fans is there's these rumors at Sergio Perez
is fairly far down the road of agreeing a deal,
and so talk to us a little bit about Sergio.
Where does it stand with him? And I'm also wondering,
because he's got such a strong Latin American backing, is
he a good fit for this team as it starts
to form its identity, because you are starting with a
(25:44):
blank sheet of paper at the moment, aren't you.
Speaker 5 (25:46):
Well, Matt, all I can tell you is that he's
certainly one of the drivers that's been considered. He has
to be. I cannot divulge us to where we are
with any commitment whatsoever. I think we want to keep
that luxury to ourselves until we feel that we have
(26:09):
scanned the entire spectrum of availability, if you will. I
think that's a prudent thing to do. So, Yeah, what's
encouraging is that there there is really, uh some good
(26:32):
reaction to.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
Individuals that want to join. That's a. That's a I
think that's a good thing for us.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
And then then at the same time, uh, the choice
is somewhat limited. You know, let's face it, a lot
of the great talents already under contract. Uh so, but
fortunately still there are a few out there, three or four,
maybe three that certainly deserve consideration. And all of this
(27:09):
has been locked upon very seriously. There's some conversation going
on somewhere and some other where some other places. No,
So that's as far as I can tell you, quite honest,
just to be fair, to be fair to everyone.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
So since this project has started, or since it started,
even in its endretty phase of the bid, there's been
a lot of talk about it offering a chance to
a or an if one chance rather to an American driver.
And I think we will get it though, you've got
to find the right one, don't. You can't just pick
any American who knows how to drive a car and
put him into Formula one.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
The preparation needs to be correct.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
But why has that been such an important part of
the mission and why does it continue to be part
of something that may form the future of Catallacs.
Speaker 4 (27:53):
Driver Liner Well, I.
Speaker 5 (27:54):
Think, you know, in a truly international series, our series
very internationally, if you look at uh, the roster there
is they are more foreigners than than than you know,
than the homebred uh talent. So h But Formula one again,
(28:17):
every event except you know, US is obviously enjoying three events,
but every other event is happening somewhere else some other continents,
in other country and there's a lot of national pride
goals with that and uh and since we haven't had
a lot of participation as of latent Formula one.
Speaker 6 (28:40):
I think to have a vehicle, to have a team
really truly.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
Consider you know, American, I think that the yeah, that
the idea of trying to uh uh to look at
probably bring in some talent from here is for real.
But at the same time, you know, especially when you're
(29:07):
starting out, you have to try to consider the team itself,
you know, go on merit if you will. If we
feel that right at the moment, we might wait a
season or so before we bring in an American, So
be it so. As I said, the idea, or the
(29:29):
optimum idea would be if we could definitely say, yes,
we have the American already and at one point maybe
we might have thought so, but we want to keep
that option open, if you will, I think it's really
important to try to arm the team the best way possible,
especially going.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
In well and you know we're talking about American drivers
just there. I think a lot of our listeners would
be pretty astonished to know that you're still the most
recent American Formula On Grand Prix winner if I'm I'm
remembering correctly what Zan vote in seventy eight, if I've
got my history books right. But I mean, look, I
mean the US. We know how big A contributed to
the US is to the global motorsport fabric, but not
(30:09):
so much to F One for decades. So from your perspective,
where are all the American drivers? Like we know they exist,
But what's this disconnect with Formula one being about? And
I guess the other question with Cadillac coming in, how
does Cadillac potentially act as a bridge between that possible
disconnect with these good American drivers and Formula one, because
it doesn't make sense that you're the most recent Grand
(30:32):
Prix winner in Formula one what forty seven years ago?
Speaker 5 (30:35):
Well, yes, but yes, to answer your your the initial
part of the question is the fact that in America
you have series at the highest, at the top level
where you could have a full career and be totally satisfying.
Speaker 6 (30:52):
Let's base it.
Speaker 5 (30:53):
You know, you have the Endycar Series, you have NASCAR,
the stock cars, and you have IMSA, you know with
the sports borough type. So it's probably the only country
that can offer someone really at top level career, if
you will in motorsport. So you have that and that's why,
(31:14):
you know, Formula One has not been front and center.
But at the same time, many of the European teams
have not looked at our talents very you know, with
a lot.
Speaker 6 (31:29):
Of very favorably.
Speaker 5 (31:31):
So I think that I like to think that there
are some young talents that actually are looking, would would
like to look at opportunities if they exist, and I
think I like I like to say that we will
open that door, you know, with time, as time comes.
I mean we're talking about you know, having Formula three,
(31:54):
Formula two in our portfolio and and and maybe you know,
even create some of our own like we've done an IndyCar,
We created champions in a in the lay Series and
all of that and brought them on at that level.
(32:15):
So you know, it's a process. But at the same time,
I think we will create a way of maybe embracing,
you know, some of the talents and not being embraced
at the moment.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
So one drilled down that, I guess because it sort
of suggests that without have like maybe that gap between
the US and its homegrown scene and European motorsport has
got too large. And I remember some comments from of
course your son Michael, who when he was in F
one in the nineties, and he made the comment more
recently as well that he felt there was a certain
kind of snobbery about drivers from the US. Do you
(32:52):
think that very much still exists, It sounds like you do.
And what's it going to take to break that down?
Is it just getting them in there or does it
need to be a broad the cultural shift you can
influence of course, you stepping across two worlds.
Speaker 4 (33:04):
I guess personally, well, I.
Speaker 5 (33:06):
Can tell you you know firsthand. I mean I've experienced
that I've never felt snopped, you know, in Formula one.
I you know, I beg to differ with Michael quite honestly.
I mean, you earn your way. I mean it's a
way of earning the respect and and you know, I again,
I enjoyed it.
Speaker 6 (33:27):
I felt at home immediately.
Speaker 5 (33:29):
I was fortunate to be with a top team, you know,
started out my first experience with Lotus and Ferrari and uh,
you know and on. But at the same time, I
again I always felt and I do to today. You know,
I feel very much at home. I mean I'm just talking.
(33:50):
I mean I have a lifetime friendships with mechanics and
just felt the Beakie just this morning, you know, from England,
you know, and we're talking, you know, with about dance
and all the you know, the mechanics that been with
me throughout you know, the championship years and otherwise have
(34:14):
Italian mechanics that work with us and have experience that
we want together. So you know, more sports is you know,
it's worldwide obviously, but still a family. There's a family
feeling to it. I know, I could walk up and
down the Paddock and Lamont and probably out of twenty teams,
(34:40):
maybe fifteen of them, there's someone.
Speaker 6 (34:43):
That I worked with, you know. So that's what it is.
Speaker 5 (34:47):
You know, I always again feel at home very much.
And again it's all about, you know, respect and earning
the respect.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
I know it takes you a low wall the walk
from one end of the padic to the other at
any circuit aria. But we were talking about US drivers
and how important they are to fun's popularity in the US.
But at the same time, I mean, the US has
now got three races that are basically all sold out
Austin and Vegas and our Miami coming on. The sport
really seems to be in a good place at the
(35:19):
in the US at the moment. So from your perspective,
how is F one viewed there in the sporting landscape,
Because we know how big the US and how the
big sports in the US soak up a lot of
the oxygen. How is F one perceived now within the US?
And do you think an American driver is the thing
that takes it over the top or is it already
riding this wave of popularity anyway.
Speaker 6 (35:40):
Well, I think it's definitely writing a wave of popularity.
Speaker 5 (35:43):
Not quite unprecedented, but you still have to feed that.
And as I said, I think there's a lot of
national pride the fact that we have three races here.
Why not have the opportunity, you know, to cultivate and
have some of the US fans root for American.
Speaker 6 (36:05):
Drivers at one point.
Speaker 5 (36:07):
So I think, like I said, all of this is
looking forward to the future, if you will, But these
are the things to work towards, I think, because it's
all positive. And if you have a bubble like we
do here, you have to keep feeding that bubble.
Speaker 6 (36:29):
You don't want to let a birth.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
I like that a lot.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
I want to come back to the Cadillac team now,
I suppose because we've seen over the last six months
in particular, or since the confirmation was made at the
end of last year, there are a lot of experienced
heads joining the team now. It's certainly building up, and
like I said, that countdown is on. Next year is
totally up in the air with a big regulation change.
That's the case for every team. So what are those
(36:52):
experienced guys in the team telling you is realistick to
achieve or is that just an impossible question when there
are so many uncertain He's well.
Speaker 5 (37:02):
You know, as you said, you know, everyone who started
with a clean sheet of paper, which I think for
a startup team, it's probably the best time.
Speaker 6 (37:11):
To get involved, if you will.
Speaker 5 (37:15):
So yeah, yeah, but you know, anyway you look at it,
you know, there's no guarantee. Everyone is doing the level
best to try to conform. And and you know, reading
regulations is like a lawyer reading the law about proper
interpretation and don't leave anything on the table, you know.
Speaker 6 (37:40):
So that's all.
Speaker 5 (37:41):
I mean, that's what it is across the board. And
you know, I think we're very fortunate to have a
lot of experience already the team individual that I've started
teams before, so that's very valuable, as you can imagine.
And then the other thing that's really interesting, guys is
(38:03):
the fact that I get almost daily letters from young
lads just out of university. I you know, I want
to pursue the career of aerodynamosis, so this and that,
could I please, you know, would consider us joining the
Cadillac team, and uh and all that, and I mean
(38:26):
I love that, I love that you know, to have
that sort of interest out there that exists within young
lads that are looking forward to a career and and
they would love to even get started with us. I mean,
there's something good about that. And I mean there are apprenticeships,
(38:46):
you know, and then we're looking at all of that.
We're looking at the very seriously at you know, some
of these requests and so on and so forth. So
on the inside here what we're experiencing, there's a lot
of positive energy all around, so that I think is
(39:08):
very important.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
Murray, before we let you go, there's one that I'd
like to finish on because it's probable that the first
race for the team will be Melbourne next year. Obviously
no calendar confirmed, but where a fingers crossed that's going
to be the case. But look, the team's not going
to carry the Androdi name in the end. But for you,
how proud of a moment will it be when that
first Cadillac car rolls out of pit lane and lines
(39:30):
up on the grid for its first Grand Prix. Given
it's been such a journey to get there, that moment,
that first race must be something that's been in front
of mind for you for quite some time.
Speaker 6 (39:40):
Now, Well, I'll tell you why.
Speaker 5 (39:42):
I will feel very very please, very proud because I
go back the late sixties when I was I remember
at Riverside, California, canam Race, and I just bonded with
the Zora Dante, who was the Belgian who created I
(40:03):
think that would consider the father of the Corvette, and uh,
he and I being immigrants, you know, myself of Italy
and from Belgium, we sort of came together and uh,
and we were already, you know, somewhat pretty well set
up in the sport. And I kept saying to Zora,
(40:26):
Zora must get General Motors into Formula one and this
is historic, it's coming and uh and the excitement that
I see within the company on the technical.
Speaker 6 (40:42):
Side is pure, pure joy, I'm telling you.
Speaker 5 (40:46):
And that's what I that's the part that I really
like the most, that uh, everyone is looking forward to
and uh, when General Motors is ready to put forth
all of they can contribute, you know, technically to the sport,
it's not a bad thing for or not only for America,
(41:08):
but for the sport itself.
Speaker 1 (41:10):
It is going to be a big moment, like you say,
for the sport, for everyone watching probably hopefully in Melbourne
as well, so no bad thing. Mario, the nineteen seventy
eight form one world champion, thank you so much for joining.
Speaker 6 (41:20):
Us, so we'll have a beer together.
Speaker 4 (41:23):
I hold you to it.
Speaker 3 (41:24):
You're in.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
That was out chat with nineteen seventy eight world champion
Mario Andredie was great to see him. He's in great form.
For a man who's sort of overseeing the setting up
of a Formula one team, it's no small feet, but
he was well up for it.
Speaker 2 (41:38):
Man eighty five years old and so sharp and so
locked in and knows exactly what's going on. I love
the energy and I love just how on top of
everything he was. He's one of those guys to me
like you and I have been doing this for too far,
too long in my case and long long but not
as long in your case. But you get so cynical
(41:59):
when you talk to people because it's just as part
of the job. He's a proper legend in this space,
and it's not often that you get, you know, full Wow,
I'm sitting here having a chat with a guy with
the CV that he's got. Because we're talking about this
off air, it's easier to list the things he hasn't
won than the things that he has, because this guy
has rated one absolutely everything, and to see him so
(42:20):
involved in a new startup at the age and stage
of his life that he is, it's it's super cool
that we've got this link back to Formula ones past.
Speaker 4 (42:27):
I think.
Speaker 1 (42:27):
Yeah, well, his attention will be turning inevitably to the
Indy five hundred, which is in a couple of weeks,
I think, and that's one of the many events he's
known for, and the IndyCar Series, et cetera, a tampcar
whatever it is. Out of the time, our attention will
be turning to Himilo, whether you Emilia Romania Grand Prix
were taking place this weekend or to give it its
full and formal name, the Formula one A w S
grum Premi or Dalla made in Italy da Milia Romania
(42:49):
twenty twenty five rolls off the tongue?
Speaker 4 (42:51):
Does that? That's podcast finished? In fact taken back story,
we are done.
Speaker 2 (42:56):
Yes, that's the first hint of the race. You've just
got out there.
Speaker 1 (42:58):
But yes there's a little bit of a preview before,
of course, we get to the action.
Speaker 4 (43:01):
This weekend.
Speaker 1 (43:02):
This is an important first race in an important set
of triple Header Grand Prix because we go from here
to Monaco then in particular, and is there something we'll
be talking about in a couple of weeks the Spanish
Grand Prix, where there'll be some rule tweaks to the
flexibility of front wings some teams, in particular Red Bull
Racing is hoping we'll clip McLaren's wings a little bit.
But it's also I think where we're probably going to
see the last big upgrades for the season, given so
(43:24):
much attentions on twenty twenty six. So Matt, in a
brief way before we look to our crystal ball, of
course and wrap this up, who are you looking at
most this weekend to get at the beginning of an
indication of where this season is going, if it is
to go anywhere other than McLaren domination.
Speaker 2 (43:37):
Yeah, I think you mentioned the key point there is
that the time for bringing significant upgrades in terms of
money and spend and man hours and what have you,
that's starting to come to a close. So you've got
this triple header. Hear you mentioned the Spanish you know,
the front wing flexibility, you know, could sack that we've
got ourselves into. I guess and Redbell hoping that it
might clip McLaren's wings. But to my mind, who's bringing
(44:01):
things for the first part of this European season. Is
this the last shot of anybody perhaps getting in the
way of these two McLaren drivers fighting for what seems
to be an inevitable enter team fight for the world championship.
Curious to see what Ferrari does home territory. We know
that it's been a little bit underwhelming so far. No
sprint this weekend, so no Lewis Hamilton Cano is at
(44:21):
the front end of sprints. But to my mind this
is they will not want to have a race here
just for face saving purposes. That's been as chaotic and
a bit anonymous as some of these races have been.
And I'm looking at Charlclair here because these guys done
well here in the past. Is this a race where Ferrari,
to my mind, like there's a gap here for the
(44:42):
second best team in the sport. We know who the
best team is, there's a gap yere to be filled
for the second best team. If Ferrari's going to inhabit
that for the rest of the season, this kind of
feels like a key weekend to stake your claim for that,
and then maybe you're in the mix to take a
few wins here and there before this season finishes. But
from your point of view, other than let's just past
McLaren as a side topic here, is there anything else
that's really catching your eye, because you know, look, we're
(45:04):
at round seven and this season is very, very long,
but it gets late early, if you know what I mean,
in terms of getting towards twenty twenty six and the
rule changes coming in.
Speaker 1 (45:12):
Yeah, I think that's a great way to sum it up, really,
because it does feel like we're already at that final
cycle of developments because of the attention of twenty twenty six.
I think Ferrari, as you said, is a big one.
They never like to confirm, and they're bringing updates and
then when they do they're trying and play them down.
But I believe there'll be some this weekend. They do
tend to bring them for their home races anyway, and
boy do they need them. It'll be interesting to see.
It seems like fundamentally the problem is how low they
(45:33):
can run the car they're disqualified from China. When they
were looking okay and they look pretty awful ever since then.
But I think the other one really is Red Bull
Racing because it's been interesting to look back on their
opening few races are opening six races. There's clearly speed
in that car as there was last year. I suppose
it's not that different, but evidently very specific conditions in
which it can be unlocked in qualifying pretty well. You know,
(45:54):
Maxistappens got half the polls this season, but it's about
managing it in race pace. I know they've got some
upgrades coming. They've also took them down a bit, saying
they're more progressive rather than revolutionary. That's not surprising again
in the final years of these rules, but it'll be
important not just for the team's sense of competitiveness, obviously
that's a big part of it. They don't on this
season just to be a waste behind McLaren, but also
(46:16):
because of that second driver situation. You know, Yuki Sinoda
has been there for four races now. He has scored
some points so reasonably quick in qualifying until you get
to Q three pretty much. Then he sort of hits
a bit of a brick wall when Max can find
you know, the typical extra three tents or whatever.
Speaker 4 (46:29):
It is in Q three and.
Speaker 1 (46:30):
Then subsequently in the race is sort of just buried
lower each of the top ten. Can't do too much
from there. They need him to start scoring sooner rather
than later. We've talked before about how you know, Max
Forstaffand's ongoing commitment to that team could hinge on its
constructors Championship position. It's third, but it's only I think
about eleven points ahead of Ferrari, which isn't much considering
Ferrari has two drivers. We know it capable of fighting
(46:50):
at the front if the car is worthwhile. And then
there's also a rumor it will be Max finishing in
the top two of the driver's championship, which I think
is pretty much already gone. They've got to make peace
with that. So they've got to hope that contractual clause
is in the constructor's title standing. So I think there's
a lot on the line for Red Bull. They've really
hinged a lot on that rule change in Spain. I
think there's a little bit more optimism than a reality
(47:12):
in it, but we'll wait and see. Stranger things have happened,
But yeah, I think they need to show something now
and not just hope for the rule changes because we
can't also get you know, it'll be round nine the
Spanish Grand Prix. They haven't come by surprise. McLaren's been
preparing for those rule changes as much as any team,
so even if it hamstrings them a little bit, it's
not going to be as if the car they were
racing the weekend before suddenly banned. It'll only be I
(47:32):
think a smaller shake up, if anything. So an interesting
scene set I think in quite a picturesque location.
Speaker 2 (47:38):
To fantastic track. It's one of those ones. I think
this is where you realize that four bulla ones moved on,
because I still think of Imiler in its sort of
nineties heyday and early two thousands, when you know the
famous Fernando Alonso Michael Schumacher race there where we first
looked at ALONSI went, oh boy, like this guy's got
championship qualities about him. But the track almost looks a
little bit small for the cars these days, they're incredibly fast,
(48:00):
their incredibly impressive performance wise, but that's when you know
you're in Formula one and twenty twenty five because these
cards are so big and wide. Now that the track
looks a little bit narrow in old school. But we
were talking about this yesterday on the Bikes podcast. Given
you're a man who likes to corner numbers rather than
corner names, I'm going to revel I'm going to revel
in some of the names of these fantastic corners and
(48:21):
Immalla this weekend with Rivatsa and Aquaminerali and all these
other great corners, you'll just be calling the turd four.
Speaker 3 (48:26):
But that's another discussion.
Speaker 1 (48:28):
Ah, I'm an ordered man. You might have to soak
them up. Because this is the last year of Imola's
contract and we'll wait for news on whether it's going
to get a new deal, whether it's rotating or not,
whether it's just off the calendar potentially this week, but
we'll wait and see. However, Fine wants to play that.
And on that note map, before we wrap up, we've
got to go to the crystal ball, brought to you
via complete home filtration. Just one race this weekend. It
(48:50):
is the Immediat Romagna Grand Prix. What are you predicting for?
This doesn't have to be this weekend, as we say
every week, but what are you predicting?
Speaker 3 (48:57):
My crystal ball?
Speaker 2 (48:58):
And I'm only going to mention this because it's been
so good lately, has been absolutely on fire at the
start of the season, complete rubbish. Let's never discuss that again.
But given that I'm on a bit of a run
with this, I've just worked out that it's about forty
one kilometers down the Alto Strada from Bologna to Imola.
So I'm predicting Kimmi Antonelli's first Formula One podium this
weekend at the most home of home Grand Prix. We
(49:21):
know Mercedes has had George Russell on the podium four
times in six Grand Prix, which is testament to the
great season that he's having, but I don't think it
shows the performance gap between Russell and Antonelli, because Antonelli
has been particularly good. I think this weekend is the
weekend he stands on the rostrum in a Grand Prix
for the first time. But clearly my crystal ball is
better than yours. But I'll give you a chance to
(49:42):
redeem yourself. What are you seeing in your crystal ball
for this weekend?
Speaker 1 (49:45):
I think this one must be certain assume well, I
certain assume he's going to be at the track, But
I think this weekend Jack Dewan is going to get
more screen time than he ever has this season by
some tactical snitching from the TV director crossing to him.
Every time Franco Colopindo's on track in the garage, you
can be looking determined and serious with their headphones on.
I assume we'll be considering he's the preferred reserve driver.
(50:06):
He must be at the track, So I think we're
going to see a lot more of Jackdomin than we're
used to on the televisions unfortunately, but hey, maybe in
five races we'll see him back in the cockpit.
Speaker 4 (50:16):
Who's to say.
Speaker 1 (50:17):
And on that note, that's all the time we have
for pit Talk today. You can subscribe to Pittalk wherever
you get your favorite podcasts, and you can leave us
a rating and review as well.
Speaker 4 (50:24):
This weekend it's just Formula one.
Speaker 1 (50:26):
It's the Emlia Romagna Grand Prix with lights out at
eleven pm on Sunday, and you can keep up to
date with all the later steff one news as well
as news from the worlds of supercars and MotoGP at
Foxsports dot com dot Au from Matt Payton and me,
Michael Lomonado, thanks very much for your company, and we'll
catch you next week.
Hello, and welcome to Pit Talk, brought to you by Shannon's.
On today's episode, Jack Tuin is turfed by Alpine for
reserve driver Franco Cola Pinto ahead of this weekend's Emelia
Romania Grand Prix, and we catch up with nineteen seventy
eight world champion Mario Andretti to get the latest on
his Cadillac Teams driver search. My name's Michael Lomonado. It's
(00:20):
great to have your company and the company of my
co host. Believe me, he's written in a Cadillac hundreds
of times thousands.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
It's Matt Clayton Heavens in the back seat, Michael, as
the song title will tell you. But yeah, look, it's
good to be talking a little bit of f one
because anyone who followed the MOTORGP weekend in France A
needs a good line down and I need something to
write about that's not rain and chaos and long lap
(00:47):
penalties and other things. And as I was saying to
our colleague Greed of Vimulan on this week's Motor GP
pod yesterday, you know, when you're covering one of these
races and you get the notification from race direction that
something's happened on track regular motor GP race you get
ten twelve of those. There were one hundred and sixteen
of them from Lamont on Sunday, and so my screen
looked like a Rulette weel, just spinning, spinning, spitting, spitting
(01:09):
the entire time while I trying to make sense of
the silliest Grand Prix of all time. So hopefully a
little more sanity this weekend at Emma lib it's looking
forward to get stuck into it.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, well, luckily it was at least a weekend off
Formula One. You didn't have too much ridiculousness to keep
up with, at least on the track. Plenty of ridiculousness
off the track, especially if you are at Endstone where
Alpin is based, and they've decided that Jack Dowan will
be out of the car for at least the next
five Grand Prix in favor of reserve driver Franco colb Pinto.
It's the story we've seen coming for a little while,
(01:38):
rumors of which were circulating just after the previous Grand
Prix in Miami. We mentioned them at the very end
of the last podcast. But things move very quickly and
not aided I think by the US time zone very
inconvenient for us, but it means that Jack Dowin is
out of a driver now. Interestingly, though, Matt, what I
didn't see coming, considering this had been rumored for so
long was this five race trial concept that they've given
(02:00):
color Pinto. They say they'll reassess things between the Austrian
and British Grand Prix, which is a double header, so
I'm a little bit dubious about how much they would
change at that point, but nonetheless they say it's five
Grand Prix and in the meantime, to quote the press release,
Jack Dolan will be the first choice reserve driver. What
do you make if it's.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Not great podcast content?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
But I'm shaking my head through every single thing that
you just said. Then, But the five race thing, I mean, uncharitably,
I could say, are they just waiting for the sponsor's
checks to clear in the Instone Bank account to see
whether they extended for longer than five races? But this
to me, We'll talk about doing Olli Oaks and a
million other things in the next five minutes. But it's
(02:42):
been pretty obvious from day one that Cola Pinto was
going to end up in that seat at some point,
So why are we bothering with this five race pretense?
Is it just to perhaps let Jack Dowan's tires down
a little more softly, But then after publicly not backing
him before the season started and then him feeling like
he was walking the green or for the best part
of the season when he was actually in the car,
(03:03):
I don't understand while we're doing this sitting on the
fence thing with Colopinto, because it's pretty clear that he
was going to be in the car at some point.
What possible reason is there for there only to be
some sort of five race thing unless there's some fine
printings and contracts. But I wanted to ask you this
because your output on Fox sports dot com dot au
after we had recorded last week's podcast. I can imagine
(03:24):
you looking at your phone first thing on Tuesday or
here cock com. No take us inside those next few days,
because the doing story was one that we saw coming
from a mile off, and it was what it was.
But then things just got progressively nuttier as the days
went on for the back end of last week, and
you were probably at a point where, I mean you
can detail the timeline of last week, you probably thought
(03:44):
anything is possible. At this point, I'm prepared to believe
just about anything, because none of these stories made any sense,
and after the doing one, most of them were ones
we just could not see coming.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Yeah, I've got to the point now with LPNE where
you would believe anything if you could tell me anything
that they've got planned, and I'd have to take it
at least half seriously because of things like this week
and even the history of the last year. But the
week actually started on in quite unpredictable fashion, which was
on Tuesday morning out time or Tuesday whatever time zone
they were operating in at the time, there was confirmation
(04:14):
the team Vincible Olive Oaks had stepped down resigned rather unexpectedly.
The team said it would be making no comment on
it at the end of the press release, and no
comment subsequently has been given, at least by the team.
Heavily rumored to center around a disagreement with Flavio Briatore,
who's the executive advisor to the Reno CEO regarding alpine matters,
(04:36):
a disagreement over these driver choices about the jack doan
move we all thought or saw coming, which ultimately came
the subsequent day, and while I do believe there was
a level of disagreement with the way the driver decision
was being made, and you can then reflect back on
a lot of the political language Oliver Oaks has been
using all year about sort of half heartedly backing Jack
Doan while also leaving the door open to a decision
(04:56):
being made later. What we subsequently discovered was that the
personal reasons that they quoted in the press release, which
is always quite easy get out clause, well there might
be something in it because Friday our time, so I
guess Thursday in Europe was revealed by the UK Telegraph
that his brother and business part of William Oakes, had
been arrested for transferring criminal property and he'd be found
(05:19):
with quite a lot of cash on his person. I
think that was on the Thursday before the Miami Grand Prix.
On the Friday he was charged and on the Saturday
he was before the magistrate and is now in custody
as far as I know, hasn't been granted bail or
anything like that. So relatively serious their business partners, because
they're both directors of high Tech Grand Prix, which is
the junior team that fields cars in Formula two and
(05:40):
Formula three, among other junior categories, also co directors of
the holding company by the same name, and the last
we know, and of course, now that he's no longer
Lpnteam principally has I guess, no responsibilities to be anywhere
in particular. But the last we know is that he
flew to Dubai and is yet to reserves at least
in the UK or anywhere publicly with the Everything subsequent
(06:03):
now is interpretation, but one would assume that given they're
both directors of a company, he'd at least be wanted
for questioning. Considering, you know, his brother was also found
at the same area as the factory at Silverston Park,
we assume he must have been near or at work
at the time. But it certainly does cast everything back
into doubt in a way that to me Matt feels
(06:23):
very reminiscent of f one of a different era, the
era of bailiff's impounding equipment and all this sort of stuff.
The good news, I guess from Alpine's perspective is that
with all of Oaks having already resigned, it's sort of
now any connection to this which seems to mostly a
revolver at a minimum around the high Tech ron pri
or the people involved at high Tech rome pro. We
don't know if the business itself is actually involved beyond
the people running it. That Alpine can keep a certain
(06:45):
amount of distance from it. But nonetheless it does involve
F two and F three and I haven't I haven't seen.
I'm not animilar at the moment, obviously, But there's speculation,
of course about how high Tech might or might not
be able to continue beyond now, whether or not there'll
be delays to getting too Mula or competing in the
rest of the season at et cetera, which would be
a blow to obviously all the young drivers who are
reliant on high Tech being of the stepping stone up
(07:05):
to the dream of Formula one. But it's been a
pretty dramatic twist to what we thought was a pretty
straightforward cashed up driver usurping Australia not cashed up driver situation.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Anytime the word bailiffs comes up in a Formula one conversation,
let alone links to Russian olive arts and sacks of
cash and everything, it's very very nineteen eighties. Pre Qualifying
Formula one.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Not critty qualifying one.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
I like that pre qualifying f one that's a separate podcast.
We need to do your favorite pre qualifying memories. But
it's just they're two separate stories that just happened to
share personnel.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
That's the first thing.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
But getting back to your point that anything feels believable
at this point, it just does with this particular team,
because they've given us no reason to believe that if
you inserted the same story with other teams, we would
dismiss them out of hand initially as we well, that's
clearly not happening, or that's not happened. But because of
the way this Alpine team has been run and continues
(08:04):
to be run over the past few years, it feels
like this is the team that this sort of thing
is most applicable to, despite their being separate stories. But
I'm curious, So what's the way forward from here? I mean,
like you said before, Alping can distance itself from the
Oaks high tech stuff because it is a separate story.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Oaks is no longer under their employer. That's fine.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
What are Alpin doing from here, given that they're electing
to shut at their own engine program at the end
of this year to go with a customer somewhere else
You've now got Franco Colopinto and all of the associated
sponsorship dollars that come into the team to go alongside
Pierre Ghastly, Flavier Briatore is going to be taking a
more central role if he wasn't already in the way
that the team is being run on a day to
(08:43):
day basis. Should Flavio Briatore be running a Formula one
team in twenty twenty five based on the past. I'll
leave that for history to decide, but I have certain
thoughts on that. The whole thing seems very f one
of a bygone era, but not f on twenty twenty five,
and I'll be super keen to see how the two things.
How is the message managed this weekend at Imola and
(09:04):
then actually what's going on behind the scenes, because the
whole thing right now it doesn't feel very Formula one
to me. It feels like we've moved on from this
sort of thing and it's entertaining and it generates headlines
and it keeps you up until I'm told hours trying
to make sense of it from the other side of
the world. But is this Formula one in twenty twenty five,
because doesn't feel like it to me.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Yeah, it's really an interesting point as well, because F one.
You know, the reason we fremen this nostalgically or otherwise
about pre qualifying F one and so on is that
it was F one of a very different time when
sort of weird and odd behavior and necessarily criminal behavior
or anything like that. Just like you know, chances in
F one just having to go was possible because F
(09:41):
one was far less professional, far less exclusive in environment,
and far less profitable because it was easy to get involved,
lose all your money and then get out LP. Now, weirdly,
despite being backed by one of the world's biggest car
manufacturers in Reno, it is the Reno Works Team. We
shouldn't forget that just because it runs under the Alpine brand,
which is a boutique calm manufacturer wholly owned by Reno.
(10:04):
Shouldn't be behaving like this in this era, you know,
because in this era is all about informed on stability
and being profitable and slowly building up. I think Williams
is a great example, despite not being a works team,
but you know, was at rock bottom not that long ago,
but because it just has some solid investment because they
can only spend so much in F one. These times
you can find sponsors because that F one's quite popular.
(10:25):
It shouldn't be that hard to just make gradual steps forward,
and yet what we've seen from Alpine for the last
few years is just constant one step forward, two steps backwards.
You know, the team can argue that maybe Franco Kolopindo
will be a step forward on Jack doing it remains
to be seen. I guess that's what They've given him
many five races, but it's another step backwards in terms
of the acclimatization of a new driver. He's at least
(10:48):
five races behind Jack because he also doesn't have the
benefit of preseason testing. Plus he's got the pressure of
another five races. That's a step backwards. They've lost another
team Bridges well, okay, maybe out of their control, but
the fact they needed a new team principle in the
first place was because of the the administrative set up
with Flavierbritory at the top. Need to reshape the team,
a team that had been reshaped roughly every year for
the last three years.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Oh hang on, I've got sorry, mid sentence, We've got
to pull the curtain back a little bit.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
Here.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
You sent me possibly the funniest message you've sent me
for a while last week, where you said, here is
a list of Alpedes team principles, probably as I don't
even know if this goes back as far as you've
been doing f one for Fox and alone for anybody else,
but it's a list like you could add all of
the other team principal changes for all of the other
teams in that same window, and I'm not sure that
they would add up to as many of this if
(11:34):
you've got that list handy, just lest anyone forget, Yes, actually,
who's been an Alpine team principal? You and I haven't
been asked yet, but it's probably on the cards given
the way things are going. Walk us through that list
of team principles, because you know, I feel like sort
of pouring a drink out for some of these guys
because they didn't get much of a didn't get much
of a go, did they.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Yeah, this dates back to twenty twenty, so the last
year of Reno just before it turns this into the
Alpine brand in twenty twenty one. That last year was
headed by Cyril Avitable remember him a long time ago
in the world Rally Championship. Now I was twenty twenty.
Then in twenty one they didn't have strictly a team principal,
but they had davidev Brivio you might remember and continue
to remember in fact, from Moto GP and Marsin Boukowski,
(12:14):
who was also in charge various split roles in twenty
twenty one. Then from twenty twenty two they ditched them
for odd Marsavnau. He lasted only till the middle of
twenty twenty three, when Bruno Faman, who was previously in
charge of the end of Division, took over. He lasted
for only one year, until the middle of twenty twenty four,
at which point Oliver Oaks took over. He lasted only
until the middle of twenty twenty five, or not even
(12:34):
in fact, because it's only May twenty twenty five and
now it's Flavio Briatore for all intents and purposes. The
press release was unclear whether or not they'd be seeking
a new team principle or whether he would just step
into the role he already seems to be undertaking. So
what's that that is only three, four, five, six, seventeen
principles in five years, so like one every nine months
or so.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Cyril Avitible was six team principles ago, which is absolutely
crazy because the reason I remember that so well is
he was so important in Daniel Ricardo's time there, of
course at redou and then when Daniel moved across a
Red Bull for nineteen that feels like five lifetimes ago.
And we can laugh at the length of the list
and various bit like Bruno Famine to me never looked
(13:16):
like he actually wanted to do it, but it was like,
come on, mate, you need to take one for the team.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
So it kind of felt like his tenure there.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
But as much as we can laugh about it, it
just speaks to the complete chaos that a team that
could and should be better than this because it has
the resource and the name in the backing of the
car company, They've almost done the worst possible job with
the most possible tools to do it with. When you
look at how some of these other companies, Williams is
a great example here because rock bottom results wise, but
(13:45):
you can see the way they have methodically built their
way up into being a credible Formula one team and business.
And that word credible is not a word that you
could use it any sentence that has the word alp
did it following all beforehand at the time being given
the way things are going there, Look, we know that
immiler this weekend. Colopino's in the car. We know he
was quick last year. We knew he hit a lot
(14:06):
of things towards the end of last year. So of
all the circuits to come back to, when you've not
done a preseason and you've not driven the car and
it's probably going to be cold because it's immilar in May,
and it's probably going to rain at some point, well, boy,
I hope they've I hope the dust pan and brush
is ready because they may be needing it a little
bit this weekend because that's a really tough one to
come back to.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Yeah, just one or two points to wrap up. I
think it's worth reflecting on the fact that, as we've said,
this is Reno's works team. It's a manufacturer has the
money to put into Formula One if it wants. It
doesn't have to. Obviously, it's already started its engine program,
which was the only thread that connected it throughout its
history in Formula One, even when it was opening and
closing It's works team. At this point, after all those
team principles, all these changes, someone has to ask a
(14:48):
whether or not the team's adequately funded. And it doesn't
have to be because the team is welcome to be
sold plenty of buyers. But if it really genuinely doesn't
want to sell the team, as the CEO has said,
then surely some the responsibility for this mess has to
be sheeted home to the CEO is ultimately allowing these
decisions to be made because the team is a mess,
and it reflects badly on the brand and reflects badly
unfortunately all the good people who work there, because Alpine's
(15:11):
historic team at Enstone, a lot of people have worked
there for a long time. A lot of people have
worked there in a newer capacity as well, obviously, and
they deserve a better go at it than they're getting unfortunately.
I think that's interesting. And then on the Franco Colopinto note,
you know, it's unfortunate that this oh, I'm sort of
into minds, you know, is it better or worse that
he knows it's five races or just everyone knows it's
(15:31):
five races and they won't say it publicly, as is
the case with Jack doin, but I can't help but
reflect on the fact that you know, last year he
started to struggle. Wh there are a lot of rumors
about his situation. He was much better when it was
sort of a win win situation, when there was no
chance in getting a cease on the grit and he
just had to go out and have a good time.
But I certainly hope he does well. And this is
not because I mean, I'd love to see Jack doing
the car obviously, but he's worth a shot in F one.
(15:54):
He deserved a better shot than this, but he's where
the shot in F one. I certainly hope as well.
The Australian fans give and I know they will because
Straining fans are relatively even minded, a fair minded people,
I think. And I just draw the contrast between some
of the negative stuff we've seen unfortunately chasing Jack in
the last few rounds and some fans, a minority of
fans from Argentina who have been behaving pretty poorly, and
(16:15):
I think we certainly don't need to stoop to that.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Level before you morve us on because we can talk
about LP for possibly the next three and a half hours.
Here's here's a scenario for you. So we've got this
five races with Colo Pinto. Let's just say, and we
don't wish this pot anybody here. Let's say it doesn't
go very well. Let's say it goes really quite badly.
Now we know Alpline have about seventeen reserve drivers on
the book. Books like cush Mine will give you getting
(16:38):
a call up mid season if this goes wrong? What
happens here? If this doesn't work with Colopinto, Let's just
say that the results are the same as what Jack
doing was doing or worse. You're in this five race situation.
Can you go back to a driver that you've already
elbowed out of the way and said, look, we don't
think you're up to it, and actually we never really
properly publicly backed you anyway in Jack? Do it as
you get someone that's gone through their driver account me,
(17:00):
do you stick with Colopinso if things aren't going too well?
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Or what is box C?
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Assuming there is another box to pick at this point,
because all I've done here is leave themselves open to
if this doesn't work, then what And I don't really
I don't think there's any good outcomes for anybody in
that situation. Should this not work, It's almost like they've
given him the five races. What if this doesn't work?
And then what do they do? Because the thing's chaotic? Now,
(17:25):
what happens if they need to go to Plan C
by the time we get halfway through this season, because
that's roughly when these five races will be over.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Yeah, it's a good question. I mean there's Paul Arron
as well on their roster. Who is the most credible
among the many on there that hasn't already had a
shot at F one Among Jack Doing and Franco Colopindo
F two results last year, did only one season of
F two. He's sitting at this year to be the
reserve driver. He had one feature ace victory, a couple
(17:55):
of a good few potems. It did finish third in
the championship standing, so nothing to sniff out. I mean,
that's about as well as any of the other driver. So
it's better than Franko Colapinto, I think managed, even though
that's because he was pulled out of the season halfway
through last year. So he's as worthwhile as shot as
any I guess he was dropped by the Mercedes program
a couple of years ago, though he was a former
Mercedes junior, so sort of take from that what you will.
(18:17):
Alpines clear decided that it's those skin of bit's nosen
to be fair. Mercedes sort of its pathway is full,
you know, it's got Antonelli in there. It thinks to
Addrussels the long term bat it doesn't really need a
driver who's on the cusp of F one, so it
doesn't it's not necessarily a reflection on him. But then you know,
you're facing the prospect of having a third driver in there.
Let's just say, by the end of the European season,
so by the end of Italian Grand Prix, and what
(18:38):
if all of them are just about as good as
one another, you know, and what a waste of time
that is. You know, the team says, okay, it's all
targeted at twenty twenty six, when it hopes to take
a big step for it wants the right driver lineup.
But maybe the right driver is the driver who would
have got the full season to prepare for twenty twenty six,
and that driver's not going to exist by the end
of the year at this point. So yeah, it's all
like you say, I'd be really interested to see how
(18:58):
they control or to control the message this weekend and
then obviously how it plays out over the next five
races and possibly beyond that depending on the decision making.
But they're certainly starting from a suboptimal position, I think
for whatever their target.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
Is, for good luck to them.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Before we move on, Matt to our chat with Mario Andretti,
we're going to get, of course, to move of the week,
brought to you by Shannon's Supercars and Motor GP in
action over the course of the weekend MODOGYP in France,
Supercars down in Tasmania and what caught your eye this weekend.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
There was a bit going on in the Lamar MotoGP
race that I mentioned earlier off the top, but I'm
going to go for something that was more significant than chaotic,
in that we had young Spaniard Firmin Aldeger six races
into his Motor GP career, twenty year old rookie in
one of the most chaotic Grand Prix we've seen for many,
many years, with a last few laps overtake on Pedro Costa,
(19:54):
the old inverted Cobbas Spanish rising star on a KTM. Yeah,
taking his first Grand Prix podium on a day where
plenty of experience heads made absolutely ridiculous mistakes and people
called the strategy wrong. To have the clarity of thought
and the composure to be able to steer through all
that craziness led the race at one point to take
(20:16):
his first Grand Prix podium on a day where a
lot of guys who probably should have could have done
better didn't. I think a it was significant in the
moment to pass a cost to take that podium place,
but also what that means for the future. Yeah, he's
not a fantastic bike. We know how good that took
AUTI GP twenty four is, but history will show this
was his first Grand Prix on a Grand Prix podium,
(20:37):
on a day where it was very very easy to
drop the ball. The pass was significant. What it means
going forward was possibly more significant because his arrow after
a first couple of wobbly races, has just been vertical
since then. Really really impressive, really impressive overtake and a
good execution on a day where lots of things could
have gone wrong. But slightly less mad when I say
slightly than Lemon was obviously the Zupercars in tas I'm
(21:00):
assuming that's where you're going for yours.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
No, actually I was going to because there was three
races to pick from and there was plenty of action
in Tasmania. The hairpin is a guaranteed action generator down there.
But actually I have a remarkably similar pick. It's firm
and aldegaer. But it was from the sprint, the battle
for his first inverted Commas podium. I still don't know
how to refer to sprint statistics in either of our sports,
(21:22):
but his battle with Quaatearo, I liked it. It was relatively brief,
well last only round about one lap, but I loved
the little bit of intimidation Quadao put on him, and
that he served directly back to him for his first
podium of description first middle as we call it, like this,
and then you'd get the real one the next day,
which is very good. But I just loved the because
it was also Quaduro's home race and he was on pole,
(21:44):
and you know, that was his big weekend, and he
was totally was totally unawed by that situation. He knew
what he wanted, he knew how the pace to get there,
he knew he had to put up a tough fight,
and Quaarao made that very clear, and he did it,
and he nailed it, and it was clean. It was
you know, as to the line is, I guess you
can get with a little bit of contact in Moto GP,
but it was ultimately clean. I just thought that was
(22:05):
such a gutsy move, well executed and such a well
deserved podium.
Speaker 5 (22:08):
Man.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
As always, when a rookie driver gets their first podium
on a sprint in either sport, I'm very pleased when
they get the real deal the next day, so he
can stop putting an asterisk against the distant.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Yes, Oscar piastri Quitar sprint race rookie year. Yes, we
don't go through that he's been on the podium. No,
he hasn't been on the podium. We don't have that conversation.
The thing that made that it's a really good pick
because the other factor here is that Quatao's at home
and he's fighting like crazy to keep this podium. And
you could hear the annoyance of the ground over the
top of the bikes once Aldea got himself into third place,
(22:38):
and that's one of those ones. If that's gone wrong
and he ends up put panting Fabio off the track,
your public enemy number one at Lamov for probably the
rest of your career. So given the stakes, if that
had gone wrong, that's a very astute pig value.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Yeah, so that just pip some of the supercars action.
But I love a good rookie who's strutting this stuff
on the world stage, so it had to be that
for me. Let's move on now, Matt to our chat
with Mario Andretti, the nineteen seventy eight world champion. It
was great to catch up with him in the aftermath
of the Miami Grand Prix. Of course, as in the background,
his Cadillac team, on which he is a member of
(23:10):
the board, is building up to its first season next
year with the new rules in twenty twenty six. It
has a factory split across three different at least three
different locations, might actually be a fourth last checked between Europe,
the UK and the United States. But of course, the
big question as we head into the silly season in
Formula One among the current teams is how Cadillac will
(23:31):
play its hand filling those two seats. Plenty of rumors
about who could be filling them, so we go straight
to the source in our chat with nineteen seventy eight
Formula one world champion Mario Andretti.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Mario, it's good to see you.
Speaker 6 (23:42):
Thank you, my pleasure, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
The focus of this interview is, of course, the Cadillac project,
which the countdown is well and truly on for. We
saw the team launch or the brand launch at the
Miami Grand Prix just a week or so ago, and
it's probably less than seven months now. I suppose still
preseason testing next year whoever's hunting, which means barely half
a year until Cadillacs first Kyle hit the track. How
are you feeling about the team's readiness working against the
(24:07):
clock but also from the sidelines yet to obviously started
racing inform one?
Speaker 5 (24:12):
Well, uh, I think, well, the project is ongoing, has
been ongoing, so I think, uh, you know, from our
standpoint from what I see, and I think we're pretty
much say on schedule.
Speaker 6 (24:30):
I don't think there's any panic at the moment.
Speaker 5 (24:35):
So yeah, you know, everyone realize, everyone knows what we're
facing the headline, you know, the deadlines and on and
so forth. So no matter where you stand on any
project in a sport, that you always could use more time,
But the bottom line, I think we're on We're everything
(25:01):
is progressing.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
I'm sure that the to do list gets only slightly
shorter in the month. Stick via very very quickly, Mario.
But I guess a key question for a lot of
fans is that everyone wants to know about the team's
driver lineup, because you know, we're in a situation there's
relatively few contracts up for renewal at the moment, and
Cadillac has two seats that are up for grabs, And
(25:23):
part of the willingness to know what's going on for
all the fans is there's these rumors at Sergio Perez
is fairly far down the road of agreeing a deal,
and so talk to us a little bit about Sergio.
Where does it stand with him? And I'm also wondering,
because he's got such a strong Latin American backing, is
he a good fit for this team as it starts
to form its identity, because you are starting with a
(25:44):
blank sheet of paper at the moment, aren't you.
Speaker 5 (25:46):
Well, Matt, all I can tell you is that he's
certainly one of the drivers that's been considered. He has
to be. I cannot divulge us to where we are
with any commitment whatsoever. I think we want to keep
that luxury to ourselves until we feel that we have
(26:09):
scanned the entire spectrum of availability, if you will. I
think that's a prudent thing to do. So, Yeah, what's
encouraging is that there there is really, uh some good
(26:32):
reaction to.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
Individuals that want to join. That's a. That's a I
think that's a good thing for us.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
And then then at the same time, uh, the choice
is somewhat limited. You know, let's face it, a lot
of the great talents already under contract. Uh so, but
fortunately still there are a few out there, three or four,
maybe three that certainly deserve consideration. And all of this
(27:09):
has been locked upon very seriously. There's some conversation going
on somewhere and some other where some other places. No,
So that's as far as I can tell you, quite honest,
just to be fair, to be fair to everyone.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
So since this project has started, or since it started,
even in its endretty phase of the bid, there's been
a lot of talk about it offering a chance to
a or an if one chance rather to an American driver.
And I think we will get it though, you've got
to find the right one, don't. You can't just pick
any American who knows how to drive a car and
put him into Formula one.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
The preparation needs to be correct.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
But why has that been such an important part of
the mission and why does it continue to be part
of something that may form the future of Catallacs.
Speaker 4 (27:53):
Driver Liner Well, I.
Speaker 5 (27:54):
Think, you know, in a truly international series, our series
very internationally, if you look at uh, the roster there
is they are more foreigners than than than you know,
than the homebred uh talent. So h But Formula one again,
(28:17):
every event except you know, US is obviously enjoying three events,
but every other event is happening somewhere else some other continents,
in other country and there's a lot of national pride
goals with that and uh and since we haven't had
a lot of participation as of latent Formula one.
Speaker 6 (28:40):
I think to have a vehicle, to have a team
really truly.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
Consider you know, American, I think that the yeah, that
the idea of trying to uh uh to look at
probably bring in some talent from here is for real.
But at the same time, you know, especially when you're
(29:07):
starting out, you have to try to consider the team itself,
you know, go on merit if you will. If we
feel that right at the moment, we might wait a
season or so before we bring in an American, So
be it so. As I said, the idea, or the
(29:29):
optimum idea would be if we could definitely say, yes,
we have the American already and at one point maybe
we might have thought so, but we want to keep
that option open, if you will, I think it's really
important to try to arm the team the best way possible,
especially going.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
In well and you know we're talking about American drivers
just there. I think a lot of our listeners would
be pretty astonished to know that you're still the most
recent American Formula On Grand Prix winner if I'm I'm
remembering correctly what Zan vote in seventy eight, if I've
got my history books right. But I mean, look, I
mean the US. We know how big A contributed to
the US is to the global motorsport fabric, but not
(30:09):
so much to F One for decades. So from your perspective,
where are all the American drivers? Like we know they exist,
But what's this disconnect with Formula one being about? And
I guess the other question with Cadillac coming in, how
does Cadillac potentially act as a bridge between that possible
disconnect with these good American drivers and Formula one, because
it doesn't make sense that you're the most recent Grand
(30:32):
Prix winner in Formula one what forty seven years ago?
Speaker 5 (30:35):
Well, yes, but yes, to answer your your the initial
part of the question is the fact that in America
you have series at the highest, at the top level
where you could have a full career and be totally satisfying.
Speaker 6 (30:52):
Let's base it.
Speaker 5 (30:53):
You know, you have the Endycar Series, you have NASCAR,
the stock cars, and you have IMSA, you know with
the sports borough type. So it's probably the only country
that can offer someone really at top level career, if
you will in motorsport. So you have that and that's why,
(31:14):
you know, Formula One has not been front and center.
But at the same time, many of the European teams
have not looked at our talents very you know, with
a lot.
Speaker 6 (31:29):
Of very favorably.
Speaker 5 (31:31):
So I think that I like to think that there
are some young talents that actually are looking, would would
like to look at opportunities if they exist, and I
think I like I like to say that we will
open that door, you know, with time, as time comes.
I mean we're talking about you know, having Formula three,
(31:54):
Formula two in our portfolio and and and maybe you know,
even create some of our own like we've done an IndyCar,
We created champions in a in the lay Series and
all of that and brought them on at that level.
(32:15):
So you know, it's a process. But at the same time,
I think we will create a way of maybe embracing,
you know, some of the talents and not being embraced
at the moment.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
So one drilled down that, I guess because it sort
of suggests that without have like maybe that gap between
the US and its homegrown scene and European motorsport has
got too large. And I remember some comments from of
course your son Michael, who when he was in F
one in the nineties, and he made the comment more
recently as well that he felt there was a certain
kind of snobbery about drivers from the US. Do you
(32:52):
think that very much still exists, It sounds like you do.
And what's it going to take to break that down?
Is it just getting them in there or does it
need to be a broad the cultural shift you can
influence of course, you stepping across two worlds.
Speaker 4 (33:04):
I guess personally, well, I.
Speaker 5 (33:06):
Can tell you you know firsthand. I mean I've experienced
that I've never felt snopped, you know, in Formula one.
I you know, I beg to differ with Michael quite honestly.
I mean, you earn your way. I mean it's a
way of earning the respect and and you know, I again,
I enjoyed it.
Speaker 6 (33:27):
I felt at home immediately.
Speaker 5 (33:29):
I was fortunate to be with a top team, you know,
started out my first experience with Lotus and Ferrari and uh,
you know and on. But at the same time, I
again I always felt and I do to today. You know,
I feel very much at home. I mean I'm just talking.
(33:50):
I mean I have a lifetime friendships with mechanics and
just felt the Beakie just this morning, you know, from England,
you know, and we're talking, you know, with about dance
and all the you know, the mechanics that been with
me throughout you know, the championship years and otherwise have
(34:14):
Italian mechanics that work with us and have experience that
we want together. So you know, more sports is you know,
it's worldwide obviously, but still a family. There's a family
feeling to it. I know, I could walk up and
down the Paddock and Lamont and probably out of twenty teams,
(34:40):
maybe fifteen of them, there's someone.
Speaker 6 (34:43):
That I worked with, you know. So that's what it is.
Speaker 5 (34:47):
You know, I always again feel at home very much.
And again it's all about, you know, respect and earning
the respect.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
I know it takes you a low wall the walk
from one end of the padic to the other at
any circuit aria. But we were talking about US drivers
and how important they are to fun's popularity in the US.
But at the same time, I mean, the US has
now got three races that are basically all sold out
Austin and Vegas and our Miami coming on. The sport
really seems to be in a good place at the
(35:19):
in the US at the moment. So from your perspective,
how is F one viewed there in the sporting landscape,
Because we know how big the US and how the
big sports in the US soak up a lot of
the oxygen. How is F one perceived now within the US?
And do you think an American driver is the thing
that takes it over the top or is it already
riding this wave of popularity anyway.
Speaker 6 (35:40):
Well, I think it's definitely writing a wave of popularity.
Speaker 5 (35:43):
Not quite unprecedented, but you still have to feed that.
And as I said, I think there's a lot of
national pride the fact that we have three races here.
Why not have the opportunity, you know, to cultivate and
have some of the US fans root for American.
Speaker 6 (36:05):
Drivers at one point.
Speaker 5 (36:07):
So I think, like I said, all of this is
looking forward to the future, if you will, But these
are the things to work towards, I think, because it's
all positive. And if you have a bubble like we
do here, you have to keep feeding that bubble.
Speaker 6 (36:29):
You don't want to let a birth.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
I like that a lot.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
I want to come back to the Cadillac team now,
I suppose because we've seen over the last six months
in particular, or since the confirmation was made at the
end of last year, there are a lot of experienced
heads joining the team now. It's certainly building up, and
like I said, that countdown is on. Next year is
totally up in the air with a big regulation change.
That's the case for every team. So what are those
(36:52):
experienced guys in the team telling you is realistick to
achieve or is that just an impossible question when there
are so many uncertain He's well.
Speaker 5 (37:02):
You know, as you said, you know, everyone who started
with a clean sheet of paper, which I think for
a startup team, it's probably the best time.
Speaker 6 (37:11):
To get involved, if you will.
Speaker 5 (37:15):
So yeah, yeah, but you know, anyway you look at it,
you know, there's no guarantee. Everyone is doing the level
best to try to conform. And and you know, reading
regulations is like a lawyer reading the law about proper
interpretation and don't leave anything on the table, you know.
Speaker 6 (37:40):
So that's all.
Speaker 5 (37:41):
I mean, that's what it is across the board. And
you know, I think we're very fortunate to have a
lot of experience already the team individual that I've started
teams before, so that's very valuable, as you can imagine.
And then the other thing that's really interesting, guys is
(38:03):
the fact that I get almost daily letters from young
lads just out of university. I you know, I want
to pursue the career of aerodynamosis, so this and that,
could I please, you know, would consider us joining the
Cadillac team, and uh and all that, and I mean
(38:26):
I love that, I love that you know, to have
that sort of interest out there that exists within young
lads that are looking forward to a career and and
they would love to even get started with us. I mean,
there's something good about that. And I mean there are apprenticeships,
(38:46):
you know, and then we're looking at all of that.
We're looking at the very seriously at you know, some
of these requests and so on and so forth. So
on the inside here what we're experiencing, there's a lot
of positive energy all around, so that I think is
(39:08):
very important.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
Murray, before we let you go, there's one that I'd
like to finish on because it's probable that the first
race for the team will be Melbourne next year. Obviously
no calendar confirmed, but where a fingers crossed that's going
to be the case. But look, the team's not going
to carry the Androdi name in the end. But for you,
how proud of a moment will it be when that
first Cadillac car rolls out of pit lane and lines
(39:30):
up on the grid for its first Grand Prix. Given
it's been such a journey to get there, that moment,
that first race must be something that's been in front
of mind for you for quite some time.
Speaker 6 (39:40):
Now, Well, I'll tell you why.
Speaker 5 (39:42):
I will feel very very please, very proud because I
go back the late sixties when I was I remember
at Riverside, California, canam Race, and I just bonded with
the Zora Dante, who was the Belgian who created I
(40:03):
think that would consider the father of the Corvette, and uh,
he and I being immigrants, you know, myself of Italy
and from Belgium, we sort of came together and uh,
and we were already, you know, somewhat pretty well set
up in the sport. And I kept saying to Zora,
(40:26):
Zora must get General Motors into Formula one and this
is historic, it's coming and uh and the excitement that
I see within the company on the technical.
Speaker 6 (40:42):
Side is pure, pure joy, I'm telling you.
Speaker 5 (40:46):
And that's what I that's the part that I really
like the most, that uh, everyone is looking forward to
and uh, when General Motors is ready to put forth
all of they can contribute, you know, technically to the sport,
it's not a bad thing for or not only for America,
(41:08):
but for the sport itself.
Speaker 1 (41:10):
It is going to be a big moment, like you say,
for the sport, for everyone watching probably hopefully in Melbourne
as well, so no bad thing. Mario, the nineteen seventy
eight form one world champion, thank you so much for joining.
Speaker 6 (41:20):
Us, so we'll have a beer together.
Speaker 4 (41:23):
I hold you to it.
Speaker 3 (41:24):
You're in.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
That was out chat with nineteen seventy eight world champion
Mario Andredie was great to see him. He's in great form.
For a man who's sort of overseeing the setting up
of a Formula one team, it's no small feet, but
he was well up for it.
Speaker 2 (41:38):
Man eighty five years old and so sharp and so
locked in and knows exactly what's going on. I love
the energy and I love just how on top of
everything he was. He's one of those guys to me
like you and I have been doing this for too far,
too long in my case and long long but not
as long in your case. But you get so cynical
(41:59):
when you talk to people because it's just as part
of the job. He's a proper legend in this space,
and it's not often that you get, you know, full Wow,
I'm sitting here having a chat with a guy with
the CV that he's got. Because we're talking about this
off air, it's easier to list the things he hasn't
won than the things that he has, because this guy
has rated one absolutely everything, and to see him so
(42:20):
involved in a new startup at the age and stage
of his life that he is, it's it's super cool
that we've got this link back to Formula ones past.
Speaker 4 (42:27):
I think.
Speaker 1 (42:27):
Yeah, well, his attention will be turning inevitably to the
Indy five hundred, which is in a couple of weeks,
I think, and that's one of the many events he's
known for, and the IndyCar Series, et cetera, a tampcar
whatever it is. Out of the time, our attention will
be turning to Himilo, whether you Emilia Romania Grand Prix
were taking place this weekend or to give it its
full and formal name, the Formula one A w S
grum Premi or Dalla made in Italy da Milia Romania
(42:49):
twenty twenty five rolls off the tongue?
Speaker 4 (42:51):
Does that? That's podcast finished? In fact taken back story,
we are done.
Speaker 2 (42:56):
Yes, that's the first hint of the race. You've just
got out there.
Speaker 1 (42:58):
But yes there's a little bit of a preview before,
of course, we get to the action.
Speaker 4 (43:01):
This weekend.
Speaker 1 (43:02):
This is an important first race in an important set
of triple Header Grand Prix because we go from here
to Monaco then in particular, and is there something we'll
be talking about in a couple of weeks the Spanish
Grand Prix, where there'll be some rule tweaks to the
flexibility of front wings some teams, in particular Red Bull
Racing is hoping we'll clip McLaren's wings a little bit.
But it's also I think where we're probably going to
see the last big upgrades for the season, given so
(43:24):
much attentions on twenty twenty six. So Matt, in a
brief way before we look to our crystal ball, of
course and wrap this up, who are you looking at
most this weekend to get at the beginning of an
indication of where this season is going, if it is
to go anywhere other than McLaren domination.
Speaker 2 (43:37):
Yeah, I think you mentioned the key point there is
that the time for bringing significant upgrades in terms of
money and spend and man hours and what have you,
that's starting to come to a close. So you've got
this triple header. Hear you mentioned the Spanish you know,
the front wing flexibility, you know, could sack that we've
got ourselves into. I guess and Redbell hoping that it
might clip McLaren's wings. But to my mind, who's bringing
(44:01):
things for the first part of this European season. Is
this the last shot of anybody perhaps getting in the
way of these two McLaren drivers fighting for what seems
to be an inevitable enter team fight for the world championship.
Curious to see what Ferrari does home territory. We know
that it's been a little bit underwhelming so far. No
sprint this weekend, so no Lewis Hamilton Cano is at
(44:21):
the front end of sprints. But to my mind this
is they will not want to have a race here
just for face saving purposes. That's been as chaotic and
a bit anonymous as some of these races have been.
And I'm looking at Charlclair here because these guys done
well here in the past. Is this a race where Ferrari,
to my mind, like there's a gap here for the
(44:42):
second best team in the sport. We know who the
best team is, there's a gap yere to be filled
for the second best team. If Ferrari's going to inhabit
that for the rest of the season, this kind of
feels like a key weekend to stake your claim for that,
and then maybe you're in the mix to take a
few wins here and there before this season finishes. But
from your point of view, other than let's just past
McLaren as a side topic here, is there anything else
that's really catching your eye, because you know, look, we're
(45:04):
at round seven and this season is very, very long,
but it gets late early, if you know what I mean,
in terms of getting towards twenty twenty six and the
rule changes coming in.
Speaker 1 (45:12):
Yeah, I think that's a great way to sum it up, really,
because it does feel like we're already at that final
cycle of developments because of the attention of twenty twenty six.
I think Ferrari, as you said, is a big one.
They never like to confirm, and they're bringing updates and
then when they do they're trying and play them down.
But I believe there'll be some this weekend. They do
tend to bring them for their home races anyway, and
boy do they need them. It'll be interesting to see.
It seems like fundamentally the problem is how low they
(45:33):
can run the car they're disqualified from China. When they
were looking okay and they look pretty awful ever since then.
But I think the other one really is Red Bull
Racing because it's been interesting to look back on their
opening few races are opening six races. There's clearly speed
in that car as there was last year. I suppose
it's not that different, but evidently very specific conditions in
which it can be unlocked in qualifying pretty well. You know,
(45:54):
Maxistappens got half the polls this season, but it's about
managing it in race pace. I know they've got some
upgrades coming. They've also took them down a bit, saying
they're more progressive rather than revolutionary. That's not surprising again
in the final years of these rules, but it'll be
important not just for the team's sense of competitiveness, obviously
that's a big part of it. They don't on this
season just to be a waste behind McLaren, but also
(46:16):
because of that second driver situation. You know, Yuki Sinoda
has been there for four races now. He has scored
some points so reasonably quick in qualifying until you get
to Q three pretty much. Then he sort of hits
a bit of a brick wall when Max can find
you know, the typical extra three tents or whatever.
Speaker 4 (46:29):
It is in Q three and.
Speaker 1 (46:30):
Then subsequently in the race is sort of just buried
lower each of the top ten. Can't do too much
from there. They need him to start scoring sooner rather
than later. We've talked before about how you know, Max
Forstaffand's ongoing commitment to that team could hinge on its
constructors Championship position. It's third, but it's only I think
about eleven points ahead of Ferrari, which isn't much considering
Ferrari has two drivers. We know it capable of fighting
(46:50):
at the front if the car is worthwhile. And then
there's also a rumor it will be Max finishing in
the top two of the driver's championship, which I think
is pretty much already gone. They've got to make peace
with that. So they've got to hope that contractual clause
is in the constructor's title standing. So I think there's
a lot on the line for Red Bull. They've really
hinged a lot on that rule change in Spain. I
think there's a little bit more optimism than a reality
(47:12):
in it, but we'll wait and see. Stranger things have happened,
But yeah, I think they need to show something now
and not just hope for the rule changes because we
can't also get you know, it'll be round nine the
Spanish Grand Prix. They haven't come by surprise. McLaren's been
preparing for those rule changes as much as any team,
so even if it hamstrings them a little bit, it's
not going to be as if the car they were
racing the weekend before suddenly banned. It'll only be I
(47:32):
think a smaller shake up, if anything. So an interesting
scene set I think in quite a picturesque location.
Speaker 2 (47:38):
To fantastic track. It's one of those ones. I think
this is where you realize that four bulla ones moved on,
because I still think of Imiler in its sort of
nineties heyday and early two thousands, when you know the
famous Fernando Alonso Michael Schumacher race there where we first
looked at ALONSI went, oh boy, like this guy's got
championship qualities about him. But the track almost looks a
little bit small for the cars these days, they're incredibly fast,
(48:00):
their incredibly impressive performance wise, but that's when you know
you're in Formula one and twenty twenty five because these
cards are so big and wide. Now that the track
looks a little bit narrow in old school. But we
were talking about this yesterday on the Bikes podcast. Given
you're a man who likes to corner numbers rather than
corner names, I'm going to revel I'm going to revel
in some of the names of these fantastic corners and
(48:21):
Immalla this weekend with Rivatsa and Aquaminerali and all these
other great corners, you'll just be calling the turd four.
Speaker 3 (48:26):
But that's another discussion.
Speaker 1 (48:28):
Ah, I'm an ordered man. You might have to soak
them up. Because this is the last year of Imola's
contract and we'll wait for news on whether it's going
to get a new deal, whether it's rotating or not,
whether it's just off the calendar potentially this week, but
we'll wait and see. However, Fine wants to play that.
And on that note map, before we wrap up, we've
got to go to the crystal ball, brought to you
via complete home filtration. Just one race this weekend. It
(48:50):
is the Immediat Romagna Grand Prix. What are you predicting for?
This doesn't have to be this weekend, as we say
every week, but what are you predicting?
Speaker 3 (48:57):
My crystal ball?
Speaker 2 (48:58):
And I'm only going to mention this because it's been
so good lately, has been absolutely on fire at the
start of the season, complete rubbish. Let's never discuss that again.
But given that I'm on a bit of a run
with this, I've just worked out that it's about forty
one kilometers down the Alto Strada from Bologna to Imola.
So I'm predicting Kimmi Antonelli's first Formula One podium this
weekend at the most home of home Grand Prix. We
(49:21):
know Mercedes has had George Russell on the podium four
times in six Grand Prix, which is testament to the
great season that he's having, but I don't think it
shows the performance gap between Russell and Antonelli, because Antonelli
has been particularly good. I think this weekend is the
weekend he stands on the rostrum in a Grand Prix
for the first time. But clearly my crystal ball is
better than yours. But I'll give you a chance to
(49:42):
redeem yourself. What are you seeing in your crystal ball
for this weekend?
Speaker 1 (49:45):
I think this one must be certain assume well, I
certain assume he's going to be at the track, But
I think this weekend Jack Dewan is going to get
more screen time than he ever has this season by
some tactical snitching from the TV director crossing to him.
Every time Franco Colopindo's on track in the garage, you
can be looking determined and serious with their headphones on.
I assume we'll be considering he's the preferred reserve driver.
(50:06):
He must be at the track, So I think we're
going to see a lot more of Jackdomin than we're
used to on the televisions unfortunately, but hey, maybe in
five races we'll see him back in the cockpit.
Speaker 4 (50:16):
Who's to say.
Speaker 1 (50:17):
And on that note, that's all the time we have
for pit Talk today. You can subscribe to Pittalk wherever
you get your favorite podcasts, and you can leave us
a rating and review as well.
Speaker 4 (50:24):
This weekend it's just Formula one.
Speaker 1 (50:26):
It's the Emlia Romagna Grand Prix with lights out at
eleven pm on Sunday, and you can keep up to
date with all the later steff one news as well
as news from the worlds of supercars and MotoGP at
Foxsports dot com dot Au from Matt Payton and me,
Michael Lomonado, thanks very much for your company, and we'll
catch you next week.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com