October 19, 2024 • 11 mins
Formula One driver Liam Lawson remains upbeat, despite starting from the back of the grid in tomorrow morning's US Grand Prix in Texas.
The Racing Bulls driver posted the third fastest time in the opening qualifying session, but failed to record a lap in the second session - eliminating him in 15th position.
Lawson was always condemned to start from 20th, after his team incurred a 60-place grid penalty for exceeding the season's engine allocation.
Motorsport expert Bob McMurray joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from Newstalk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Lawson remains upbeat despite starting from the back of the
grid and tomorrow morning's US Grand Prix in Texas. The
Racing Bulls driver posted the third fastest time in the
opening qualifying session, but failed to record a lap in
the second. He was always though, condemned to start from
the back of the grid after his team incurred a
sixty place grid penalty for exceeding the season's engine allocation.
(00:33):
Here's Liam Lawson after his qualifying lap.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Honestly from my site, happy to put the lap together,
to put the performance there and show what I guess,
the speed that I honestly we felt from P one yesterday.
The car felt goods and I knew that being the
first session. If the speed was already there in session one,
we probably had a bit more so.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Fine Formula One expert Bob McMurray is with us. We
had a talkback call or explain the grid penalty to
us a couple of hours ago. Bob, but can you
give us your explanation as to the reason for the
grid penalty?
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Yeah, Hi, piney, Well, yeah, the reason is that so
many bits and pieces have been change to the back
of the car. Pretty much all the shiny bits that
make a noise and all the shiny bits that make
battery go have been changed. And this was due to
penalty's incurred when Daniel Ricardo was driving the car. So
they're getting rid of it all now. And basically Liam
(01:24):
Lawson will start afresh from the next Grand Prix in Mexico,
not this grumd Prix. This scrum Prix is going to
start from the back of the grid, as you've already said,
So for me to go through the whole list, I
get myself confused. Is just about everything you can think
of that they need to change to make the car
ready for the rest of the season. And he's going
(01:45):
to encourage but that's no big deal, not at this
particular race, because he by starting at the back of
the grid, he has had a chance to just get
his thumb in the seat, get used to the thing,
and drive well. And as you saw, if those who
didn't see in the first party qualifying for this week
for tomorrow's race, call it fed third. Now, okay, it's
(02:08):
only in the first qualifying section. Not everybody will have
the engines turned up. Not everybody will have new tars on.
He did, but nonetheless his teammate did not finish anywhere
near third in that same session. So from his point
of view, it's a job done. Onto the next one.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
I was going to ask you how long it'll take
him to get used to the car again, But I
think the answer is not very long at all, bob
By the sounds of that.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
No, No, I mean, I've got to say I had
every confidence in Liam, having seen him come through the
junior ranks and knowing how he drives and all that
sort of thing, but I did not think he would
be third. But it is a little bit skewed because
in the first qualifying those people who are unsure of
getting through the qualifying will put the new tars on
(02:54):
and turn the engines up on all that sort of thing.
Those people who are reasonably sure of getting through, you know,
the McLaren's, Ferrari's red ball, that sort of thing. They
will not detune the engine, but they won't wind it
all the way up. And many of them you started
on used tires. But nonetheless, in Formula one, what you're
always compared against is your teammate and that in that session.
(03:19):
Liam Lawson finished third, as you say, and he was
with a time, let me see, of just zero point
two ninety three away from Maxistappen. But Sunoda finished half
a second flower. That's the thing that Red Bull will
be looking at. That's the thing that Red Bull generally
and the RV team will be very pleased about and
(03:40):
pleased to see. Unfortunately, Fernando Alonso wasn't very pleased with
Liam Lawson. But that's a whole other story.
Speaker 5 (03:48):
What wasn't Fernando Alonso very pleased with Liam Lawson?
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Oh well, he's come out saying all sorts of nasty
little things about him because Liam Lawson was actually he
was he was racing, shall we say, and Fernando Alonso
was trying to get past Liam Lawson in the qualify
in the sprint race. And he's said one statement, I've
got it here. He says he's got six races to
(04:14):
prove himself. But honestly, I'm not sure he's approaching it
the right way. It's his career on the line, not mine.
This is mainly because Liam Lawson would not let him
past and he was fighting his corner and he was
getting in the way of Fernando Alonso fantastically Well, absolutely perfect.
That's what you're supposed to do as a Grand Prix driver,
isn't it stop the guide behind from otorcaps?
Speaker 5 (04:36):
I would have thought so, finished ahead of him, Yeah,
I would have thought that.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah, that finishing a head of a guy who's behind
you from a different team, or even from your own team,
as you've pointed out. Surely that's what motor racing is, Bob.
Speaker 5 (04:50):
Why why is Alonso? Why? Why is Alonso so annoyed?
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Did he think that that that that that Liam Lawson
should bow down to him and let him pass.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
Well, it's coming over a little bit like that, Barby.
But Alonso it is always a bit salty when he's
when he hasn't got a car operating under him as
he would like. And the Acid Martins very definitely not
doing that at the moment. And perhaps the reason is
there what he said, He's got six races to prove
himself and prove himself he needs to do. He needs
(05:18):
to do that sort of thing. Helmet Marco and Christian Horner,
the bosses of rby Red Bull Ra not the RB team,
they will have been burning all over their faces. They
would have been thinking it was fantastic, and so do I.
If you're going to fight with somebody on the track,
fight them. And if you're going to choose a double
world champion who's the eldest driver on the grid and
(05:40):
probably still one of the fastest drivers on the grid
as well, then fight him. It doesn't matter who you're
fighting and how you're fighting. As Liam said, for the Stewarts,
didn't think anything wrong of it, nothing was reported, he
wasn't told off. I think it was wonderful. Frankly, yeah,
now I love it.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I love it. So what will Liam have to do
to retain the seat for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Well, there's a good example of what he did. He's
fighting for his corner and he qualified very well. Now,
yes it is third position, officially third position that could
have been translated if everybody's on the same strategy, probably
could have been translated into being in the top ten,
which would have been absolutely a superb finish. But third
(06:28):
is good enough. That's what he has to do that
grab the car, grab it by the scruff of the neck,
and race as best he can. And while you're at it,
beat your teammate. Beat Yuki Sinoda who is banging on
the door and now Honda are banging on the door
for him to say that he should be replacing Perez
in the main team next year. Well, if Liam keeps
(06:49):
on doing what he's doing now, I think they'll have
a think about that and maybe have a think about
putting lim in there, which I think he can handle
quite easily. Going back to his five races that he
had last year, you might remember he actually over took
Max Restapam in Singer Poor. I think it was so Yeah,
he's he's got the car and they say in the
(07:11):
trade and he's driving very well. Simple.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
Is Sonoda a good driver?
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Well, he was down here in the toy at a
racing series at the same time as Liam Lawson and
Liam beat him flat out. He was, he was in
various He's had a check at history. Shall we say.
He gets very excited in the car, but he's calmed
down a little bit. I don't particularly think he is
the step and teammate material. He would be a good
(07:39):
and is quite a good midfield runner if the car
is good with him. Now it's very difficult to judge
if he's good or not because he hasn't had with Ricardo,
he hasn't had a particularly fantastic teammate to go against.
He's beaten Ricardo quite regularly when he was there first
half of the season, so I'm not so sure. I've
(08:03):
got serious doubts about whether he would ever be a
fantastic grow But the car is not that good either,
so it's difficult to judge. So now he can judge.
He's racing Snoda, is racing against Liam Lawson, and Liam
Lawson is equal opportunity, shall we say, He's a young
guy coming up is Snoda, and as long as he
beats Sunoda, then he's going to take the whole position
(08:25):
for being elevated, as I say to the main team.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
And Tomorrow Morning, Bob, in some ways, does this put
the fact that he's at the back of the grid.
Does it put Lim in a bit of a no
loose situation back of the grid through no fault of
his own? So I guess no real expectation. But he's
shown that actually he's used to being back in the seat.
So is he in a bit of a no loose
situation or is you know, is there plenty to gain
as well for for Liam Tomorrow Morning.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
Well, if he's starting twentieth, then let's say he finishes sixteenth,
that's okay. It depends how he races. If he starts
twentieth and finished his twentieth, then okay, he's not going
to make any great waves and he's to kind of
throw a stone in the puzzle of Formula one, so
to speak, and make ripples. He is going to be okay,
we've done that. That's the first race out of the way.
Now your test starts, Now your examination starts. We could say,
(09:14):
if by some chance he gets and he's quite capable
of doing this, if the car is operating well, and
he's proven today that it is operating pretty well, if
he can get up into the top ten, I'll tell
you what contracts will be. Will be showing themselves in
the various motor huns up and down the pit lane.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Just to clarify the grid penalty one more time, so
it's just for this race. The entire penalty is wiped
at this Grand Prix.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Yes, the penalty was. It actually adds up to about
fifty places if you add up the penalties for each
of the individuals. Bits that have been changed, like the
battery unit, the engine unit, all sorts of things. I mean,
it's some believable the list. It would add up to
a fifty place grid penalty. Now, these stupid grid penalties
(10:06):
were him down a couple of three years ago. You
can only start at the back of the grid, simple
as that. You don't start any further back than that.
And it doesn't matter what other people do. Like other
people will have penalties, he will still start behind them.
What he probably will do, though, is start in front
of Lewis Hamilton, who looks like he's going to start
(10:26):
from the pit lane. Maybe even George Russell as well,
but certainly Lewis Hamilton will start from the pit lane.
So Lim Lawson will start ahead of him and we'll
see how that goes.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Indeed, always love chatting motorsport with you, Bob. Thanks for
your insight and the expertise. I can't wait to see
how Liam goes tomorrow morning. End for the rest of
twenty twenty four as.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
Well, you and me both. Thanks Tony, good on your Bob.
Speaker 5 (10:47):
Thanks and Dave, Bob McMurray.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
There see, you always learned so much when you listen
to Bob talk about motorsport, don't you. He's just so
so knowledgeable, Sit there and listen to him talk motorsport
for ours. Can't wait to see Liam Lawson tomorrow morning
Sex thirty I think It starts the US Grand Prix
in Austin, Texas.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Pine, listen live
to news talks at B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from Newstalk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Lawson remains upbeat despite starting from the back of the
grid and tomorrow morning's US Grand Prix in Texas. The
Racing Bulls driver posted the third fastest time in the
opening qualifying session, but failed to record a lap in
the second. He was always though, condemned to start from
the back of the grid after his team incurred a
sixty place grid penalty for exceeding the season's engine allocation.
(00:33):
Here's Liam Lawson after his qualifying lap.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Honestly from my site, happy to put the lap together,
to put the performance there and show what I guess,
the speed that I honestly we felt from P one yesterday.
The car felt goods and I knew that being the
first session. If the speed was already there in session one,
we probably had a bit more so.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Fine Formula One expert Bob McMurray is with us. We
had a talkback call or explain the grid penalty to
us a couple of hours ago. Bob, but can you
give us your explanation as to the reason for the
grid penalty?
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Yeah, Hi, piney, Well, yeah, the reason is that so
many bits and pieces have been change to the back
of the car. Pretty much all the shiny bits that
make a noise and all the shiny bits that make
battery go have been changed. And this was due to
penalty's incurred when Daniel Ricardo was driving the car. So
they're getting rid of it all now. And basically Liam
(01:24):
Lawson will start afresh from the next Grand Prix in Mexico,
not this grumd Prix. This scrum Prix is going to
start from the back of the grid, as you've already said,
So for me to go through the whole list, I
get myself confused. Is just about everything you can think
of that they need to change to make the car
ready for the rest of the season. And he's going
(01:45):
to encourage but that's no big deal, not at this
particular race, because he by starting at the back of
the grid, he has had a chance to just get
his thumb in the seat, get used to the thing,
and drive well. And as you saw, if those who
didn't see in the first party qualifying for this week
for tomorrow's race, call it fed third. Now, okay, it's
(02:08):
only in the first qualifying section. Not everybody will have
the engines turned up. Not everybody will have new tars on.
He did, but nonetheless his teammate did not finish anywhere
near third in that same session. So from his point
of view, it's a job done. Onto the next one.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
I was going to ask you how long it'll take
him to get used to the car again, But I
think the answer is not very long at all, bob
By the sounds of that.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
No, No, I mean, I've got to say I had
every confidence in Liam, having seen him come through the
junior ranks and knowing how he drives and all that
sort of thing, but I did not think he would
be third. But it is a little bit skewed because
in the first qualifying those people who are unsure of
getting through the qualifying will put the new tars on
(02:54):
and turn the engines up on all that sort of thing.
Those people who are reasonably sure of getting through, you know,
the McLaren's, Ferrari's red ball, that sort of thing. They
will not detune the engine, but they won't wind it
all the way up. And many of them you started
on used tires. But nonetheless, in Formula one, what you're
always compared against is your teammate and that in that session.
(03:19):
Liam Lawson finished third, as you say, and he was
with a time, let me see, of just zero point
two ninety three away from Maxistappen. But Sunoda finished half
a second flower. That's the thing that Red Bull will
be looking at. That's the thing that Red Bull generally
and the RV team will be very pleased about and
(03:40):
pleased to see. Unfortunately, Fernando Alonso wasn't very pleased with
Liam Lawson. But that's a whole other story.
Speaker 5 (03:48):
What wasn't Fernando Alonso very pleased with Liam Lawson?
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Oh well, he's come out saying all sorts of nasty
little things about him because Liam Lawson was actually he
was he was racing, shall we say, and Fernando Alonso
was trying to get past Liam Lawson in the qualify
in the sprint race. And he's said one statement, I've
got it here. He says he's got six races to
(04:14):
prove himself. But honestly, I'm not sure he's approaching it
the right way. It's his career on the line, not mine.
This is mainly because Liam Lawson would not let him
past and he was fighting his corner and he was
getting in the way of Fernando Alonso fantastically Well, absolutely perfect.
That's what you're supposed to do as a Grand Prix driver,
isn't it stop the guide behind from otorcaps?
Speaker 5 (04:36):
I would have thought so, finished ahead of him, Yeah,
I would have thought that.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah, that finishing a head of a guy who's behind
you from a different team, or even from your own team,
as you've pointed out. Surely that's what motor racing is, Bob.
Speaker 5 (04:50):
Why why is Alonso? Why? Why is Alonso so annoyed?
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Did he think that that that that that Liam Lawson
should bow down to him and let him pass.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
Well, it's coming over a little bit like that, Barby.
But Alonso it is always a bit salty when he's
when he hasn't got a car operating under him as
he would like. And the Acid Martins very definitely not
doing that at the moment. And perhaps the reason is
there what he said, He's got six races to prove
himself and prove himself he needs to do. He needs
(05:18):
to do that sort of thing. Helmet Marco and Christian Horner,
the bosses of rby Red Bull Ra not the RB team,
they will have been burning all over their faces. They
would have been thinking it was fantastic, and so do I.
If you're going to fight with somebody on the track,
fight them. And if you're going to choose a double
world champion who's the eldest driver on the grid and
(05:40):
probably still one of the fastest drivers on the grid
as well, then fight him. It doesn't matter who you're
fighting and how you're fighting. As Liam said, for the Stewarts,
didn't think anything wrong of it, nothing was reported, he
wasn't told off. I think it was wonderful. Frankly, yeah,
now I love it.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I love it. So what will Liam have to do
to retain the seat for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Well, there's a good example of what he did. He's
fighting for his corner and he qualified very well. Now,
yes it is third position, officially third position that could
have been translated if everybody's on the same strategy, probably
could have been translated into being in the top ten,
which would have been absolutely a superb finish. But third
(06:28):
is good enough. That's what he has to do that
grab the car, grab it by the scruff of the neck,
and race as best he can. And while you're at it,
beat your teammate. Beat Yuki Sinoda who is banging on
the door and now Honda are banging on the door
for him to say that he should be replacing Perez
in the main team next year. Well, if Liam keeps
(06:49):
on doing what he's doing now, I think they'll have
a think about that and maybe have a think about
putting lim in there, which I think he can handle
quite easily. Going back to his five races that he
had last year, you might remember he actually over took
Max Restapam in Singer Poor. I think it was so Yeah,
he's he's got the car and they say in the
(07:11):
trade and he's driving very well. Simple.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
Is Sonoda a good driver?
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Well, he was down here in the toy at a
racing series at the same time as Liam Lawson and
Liam beat him flat out. He was, he was in
various He's had a check at history. Shall we say.
He gets very excited in the car, but he's calmed
down a little bit. I don't particularly think he is
the step and teammate material. He would be a good
(07:39):
and is quite a good midfield runner if the car
is good with him. Now it's very difficult to judge
if he's good or not because he hasn't had with Ricardo,
he hasn't had a particularly fantastic teammate to go against.
He's beaten Ricardo quite regularly when he was there first
half of the season, so I'm not so sure. I've
(08:03):
got serious doubts about whether he would ever be a
fantastic grow But the car is not that good either,
so it's difficult to judge. So now he can judge.
He's racing Snoda, is racing against Liam Lawson, and Liam
Lawson is equal opportunity, shall we say, He's a young
guy coming up is Snoda, and as long as he
beats Sunoda, then he's going to take the whole position
(08:25):
for being elevated, as I say to the main team.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
And Tomorrow Morning, Bob, in some ways, does this put
the fact that he's at the back of the grid.
Does it put Lim in a bit of a no
loose situation back of the grid through no fault of
his own? So I guess no real expectation. But he's
shown that actually he's used to being back in the seat.
So is he in a bit of a no loose
situation or is you know, is there plenty to gain
as well for for Liam Tomorrow Morning.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
Well, if he's starting twentieth, then let's say he finishes sixteenth,
that's okay. It depends how he races. If he starts
twentieth and finished his twentieth, then okay, he's not going
to make any great waves and he's to kind of
throw a stone in the puzzle of Formula one, so
to speak, and make ripples. He is going to be okay,
we've done that. That's the first race out of the way.
Now your test starts, Now your examination starts. We could say,
(09:14):
if by some chance he gets and he's quite capable
of doing this, if the car is operating well, and
he's proven today that it is operating pretty well, if
he can get up into the top ten, I'll tell
you what contracts will be. Will be showing themselves in
the various motor huns up and down the pit lane.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Just to clarify the grid penalty one more time, so
it's just for this race. The entire penalty is wiped
at this Grand Prix.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Yes, the penalty was. It actually adds up to about
fifty places if you add up the penalties for each
of the individuals. Bits that have been changed, like the
battery unit, the engine unit, all sorts of things. I mean,
it's some believable the list. It would add up to
a fifty place grid penalty. Now, these stupid grid penalties
(10:06):
were him down a couple of three years ago. You
can only start at the back of the grid, simple
as that. You don't start any further back than that.
And it doesn't matter what other people do. Like other
people will have penalties, he will still start behind them.
What he probably will do, though, is start in front
of Lewis Hamilton, who looks like he's going to start
(10:26):
from the pit lane. Maybe even George Russell as well,
but certainly Lewis Hamilton will start from the pit lane.
So Lim Lawson will start ahead of him and we'll
see how that goes.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Indeed, always love chatting motorsport with you, Bob. Thanks for
your insight and the expertise. I can't wait to see
how Liam goes tomorrow morning. End for the rest of
twenty twenty four as.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
Well, you and me both. Thanks Tony, good on your Bob.
Speaker 5 (10:47):
Thanks and Dave, Bob McMurray.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
There see, you always learned so much when you listen
to Bob talk about motorsport, don't you. He's just so
so knowledgeable, Sit there and listen to him talk motorsport
for ours. Can't wait to see Liam Lawson tomorrow morning
Sex thirty I think It starts the US Grand Prix
in Austin, Texas.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Pine, listen live
to news talks at B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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