March 15, 2025 • 6 mins
Liam Lawson will make his Red Bull Formula One debut from 18th on the grid, after being eliminated in the opening qualifying session for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Kiwi rally driver Hayden Paddon joined Piney ahead of the race to discuss Lawson's journey.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZB. Another of our elite drivers, all beit
in a rally cars, Hayden Padden, who last year one
a second straight European Rally Championship, the latest achievement in
his storied and ongoing career. Hayden patterns with us how
do you reckon Liam will be feeling ahead of his
first start in the full time seat this afternoon.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Hayden obviously is a massive opportunity for Liam, and I
guess that the first emotion will be excitement. You know,
it's a very big opportunity that he's got there and
something he's obviously worked very hard to achieve. So excitement,
but I guess for that comes you know, pressure. You know,
it's a very cut threat world of any professional sport,
(00:49):
and you know, while you want to enjoy the moment,
you know how much pressure there is to perform as well.
So I'm sure there'll be mixed emotions.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
How do you deal with those mixed emotions? Because you've
landed on a really interesting point. Yeah you're excited, of
course you are, but it is cut throat. There are
only twenty of these seats. So how do you how
do you assess his ability to balance those emotions effectively.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
I think just put the helmet on. What happens in
a lot of motor support, You put the helmet on,
and you trust your instincts, and you trust your natural
skill and what say, you've got there in the first
place to go out and do the job. And you know,
adrenaline as a very powerful tool. I want to get
in that sort of moment and get the tunnel vision
(01:31):
and I guess, do what you do best. Then you
just got to trust and bank yourself really. So yeah,
he's obviously very talented. That's what's got on there. Now
he's got to make sure he enjoys the moment and
lets her talent do the talking.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
In any car, in any form of motorsport, are there
qualities that all good drivers have in common.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I think at the end of the day, you've got
to be patient as one of the biggest factors. It
takes a long time to get to the top of
any sport, particularly motorsport. But you know, you've got to
be willing to dig that much deeper. You've got to
be willing to take risks. Maybe some others aren't prepared
to take and you've got to be a good team player,
you know, despite Formula one other being one person in
the car or any former motorsport. You know, you've got
(02:15):
to work well with your engineers, your teammates. It's about
that whole package. And you know, New Zealand's got some
very good training tools at a disposable here through lights
of the Motorsport Academy and things. It helps young drivers
loan some of those traits from an early early age.
And yeah, you just got to again trust and those
things that we've planted.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Well, i've lost you there. You're still there aiding, yeah, yep, yep,
sorry mate, I yep, I just lost you near the
end of that sentence. I think I've got it that
all good Formula one cars they can reach top speeds
of what three hundred and seventy five k evert speed
around three twenty during a race and rally cars you're
also flying pretty close to the line. How much of
a factor does fear play.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
None, I'd say, you know, we all get very comfortable
in our own environments. So you know, despite three hundred
and fifty plus klometer sounding fast, you know, when you
do it often enough, or you naturally want is a
race drivers, you want to go faster, so you know,
it's just what you adapt to, what you used to.
And to be honest, you know, whilere is an element
(03:21):
of fear that creates the adrenaline that we need and
that we throve off. You can't be focused on the fear.
If you're worried about the fear, then you're simply not
going to drive fast. So it's not a factor at all.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
It take you, as a driver, you know, a bit
of time to get to that point where there wasn't
any trepidation anymore.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
It comes with time, not earlier life. You know. I
guess just once that novelty factor wears off and you
get used to something and becomes a lot more natural
there you just you become more relaxed and more comfortable
in your surroundings and that's when things often happen a
lot easier as well.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
And in the car. Look, I don't know, but there
must be at those speeds some some fairly serious adrenaline,
you know, willing to pump itself through yours. But you've
talked a couple of times they're about staying calm again,
is that a challenge in something that only comes with experience.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Definitely, like everyone's different, of course, you know how you
control your body and your heart raids and your mindset.
Some people need to pump themselves up, some people need
to calm themselves down. So you know that is a
very personalized aspect of it. But again the more you
do it, the easier it becomes, becomes sick and acre
to it. It almost becomes like riding bike the more
(04:35):
often that you're doing it. So you know, particularly for
Liam at the start of it, obviously he's done a
couple of half seasons former one now, but you know
as a season progresses, he's going to get more and
more comfortable and fast and naturally, and that's where you've
got to be patient. You're going to be patient with
the process because you know he we are a very
competitive person. He'll want results straight away and that's where
you have to be obviously patient to give those results.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
How do you reckon you'd go on an F one,
No good.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
I prefer a bit of gravel and a roof over me,
so growing up on the gravels since I was a kid.
So three different skill sets, but obviously very excited to
see what Lean's going to do this weekend and obviously
we want the key weis to be up there at
the front, so it's going to be pretty excited.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Yeah, looking forward to it. You've had a bit on
as well. You took part in the Race of Champions
in Sydney last weekend. How do you enjoy that?
Speaker 2 (05:24):
I loved it. It was an awesome event, different formats
to what we used to and probably didn't quite perform
how I would have liked, but yeah, it's just a
cool event. Obviously, now we get into our rally season
Starned in Australia next week as well in Canberra and
another busy season and head on the gravel.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Yeah, I see the Australian Rally Championship is in your sight.
So is that your main focus for twenty twenty fives?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yeah, this stage it is. It's an unticked box. It's
something we haven't taken on before, so I love the
idea of a new challenge and something that hasn't been
done before, and obviously possible was the last key we
to go over there and win the championship, so we'd
love to go over and try and do something similar,
but Yeah, it's going to be a big challenge and
we haven't given up on Europe. You know, the budget
hasn't quite allowed to go back there at the moment
(06:06):
this year, but we are still in talks to try
and get back overbody.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
That's good to hear and something completely different. Ambassador at
the New Zealand Golf Open, how did you enjoy that?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Let's just saying driving a race car is easy than
playing golf, but no, I love it. You know, the
New Zealand possessally one of my supporting highlights of the
week in terms of you know, when all the ambassadors
get together and you know, we just have fun and
when you're on the course with the pros, it really
opens your eyes about how bad you your own golfers,
but just also just how good they are. And it's
(06:36):
just a it's a cool weekend. It's a pretty teticular
beatdrop to good man Hayden.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
We'll all be glued glued to our TVs to watch
Liam this weekend and looking forward to seeing how you
go in twenty twenty five as well. Thanks for taking
the time for.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
A chat mate, great appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Thank you, no, thank you Hayden. Hayten padd And on
News Talk Shad Best for more from Weekend Sport with
Jason Fine. Listen live to News Talk Shad be weekends
from midday, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZB. Another of our elite drivers, all beit
in a rally cars, Hayden Padden, who last year one
a second straight European Rally Championship, the latest achievement in
his storied and ongoing career. Hayden patterns with us how
do you reckon Liam will be feeling ahead of his
first start in the full time seat this afternoon.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Hayden obviously is a massive opportunity for Liam, and I
guess that the first emotion will be excitement. You know,
it's a very big opportunity that he's got there and
something he's obviously worked very hard to achieve. So excitement,
but I guess for that comes you know, pressure. You know,
it's a very cut threat world of any professional sport,
(00:49):
and you know, while you want to enjoy the moment,
you know how much pressure there is to perform as well.
So I'm sure there'll be mixed emotions.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
How do you deal with those mixed emotions? Because you've
landed on a really interesting point. Yeah you're excited, of
course you are, but it is cut throat. There are
only twenty of these seats. So how do you how
do you assess his ability to balance those emotions effectively.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
I think just put the helmet on. What happens in
a lot of motor support, You put the helmet on,
and you trust your instincts, and you trust your natural
skill and what say, you've got there in the first
place to go out and do the job. And you know,
adrenaline as a very powerful tool. I want to get
in that sort of moment and get the tunnel vision
(01:31):
and I guess, do what you do best. Then you
just got to trust and bank yourself really. So yeah,
he's obviously very talented. That's what's got on there. Now
he's got to make sure he enjoys the moment and
lets her talent do the talking.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
In any car, in any form of motorsport, are there
qualities that all good drivers have in common.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I think at the end of the day, you've got
to be patient as one of the biggest factors. It
takes a long time to get to the top of
any sport, particularly motorsport. But you know, you've got to
be willing to dig that much deeper. You've got to
be willing to take risks. Maybe some others aren't prepared
to take and you've got to be a good team player,
you know, despite Formula one other being one person in
the car or any former motorsport. You know, you've got
(02:15):
to work well with your engineers, your teammates. It's about
that whole package. And you know, New Zealand's got some
very good training tools at a disposable here through lights
of the Motorsport Academy and things. It helps young drivers
loan some of those traits from an early early age.
And yeah, you just got to again trust and those
things that we've planted.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Well, i've lost you there. You're still there aiding, yeah, yep, yep,
sorry mate, I yep, I just lost you near the
end of that sentence. I think I've got it that
all good Formula one cars they can reach top speeds
of what three hundred and seventy five k evert speed
around three twenty during a race and rally cars you're
also flying pretty close to the line. How much of
a factor does fear play.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
None, I'd say, you know, we all get very comfortable
in our own environments. So you know, despite three hundred
and fifty plus klometer sounding fast, you know, when you
do it often enough, or you naturally want is a
race drivers, you want to go faster, so you know,
it's just what you adapt to, what you used to.
And to be honest, you know, whilere is an element
(03:21):
of fear that creates the adrenaline that we need and
that we throve off. You can't be focused on the fear.
If you're worried about the fear, then you're simply not
going to drive fast. So it's not a factor at all.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
It take you, as a driver, you know, a bit
of time to get to that point where there wasn't
any trepidation anymore.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
It comes with time, not earlier life. You know. I
guess just once that novelty factor wears off and you
get used to something and becomes a lot more natural
there you just you become more relaxed and more comfortable
in your surroundings and that's when things often happen a
lot easier as well.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
And in the car. Look, I don't know, but there
must be at those speeds some some fairly serious adrenaline,
you know, willing to pump itself through yours. But you've
talked a couple of times they're about staying calm again,
is that a challenge in something that only comes with experience.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Definitely, like everyone's different, of course, you know how you
control your body and your heart raids and your mindset.
Some people need to pump themselves up, some people need
to calm themselves down. So you know that is a
very personalized aspect of it. But again the more you
do it, the easier it becomes, becomes sick and acre
to it. It almost becomes like riding bike the more
(04:35):
often that you're doing it. So you know, particularly for
Liam at the start of it, obviously he's done a
couple of half seasons former one now, but you know
as a season progresses, he's going to get more and
more comfortable and fast and naturally, and that's where you've
got to be patient. You're going to be patient with
the process because you know he we are a very
competitive person. He'll want results straight away and that's where
you have to be obviously patient to give those results.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
How do you reckon you'd go on an F one,
No good.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
I prefer a bit of gravel and a roof over me,
so growing up on the gravels since I was a kid.
So three different skill sets, but obviously very excited to
see what Lean's going to do this weekend and obviously
we want the key weis to be up there at
the front, so it's going to be pretty excited.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Yeah, looking forward to it. You've had a bit on
as well. You took part in the Race of Champions
in Sydney last weekend. How do you enjoy that?
Speaker 2 (05:24):
I loved it. It was an awesome event, different formats
to what we used to and probably didn't quite perform
how I would have liked, but yeah, it's just a
cool event. Obviously, now we get into our rally season
Starned in Australia next week as well in Canberra and
another busy season and head on the gravel.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Yeah, I see the Australian Rally Championship is in your sight.
So is that your main focus for twenty twenty fives?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yeah, this stage it is. It's an unticked box. It's
something we haven't taken on before, so I love the
idea of a new challenge and something that hasn't been
done before, and obviously possible was the last key we
to go over there and win the championship, so we'd
love to go over and try and do something similar,
but Yeah, it's going to be a big challenge and
we haven't given up on Europe. You know, the budget
hasn't quite allowed to go back there at the moment
(06:06):
this year, but we are still in talks to try
and get back overbody.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
That's good to hear and something completely different. Ambassador at
the New Zealand Golf Open, how did you enjoy that?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Let's just saying driving a race car is easy than
playing golf, but no, I love it. You know, the
New Zealand possessally one of my supporting highlights of the
week in terms of you know, when all the ambassadors
get together and you know, we just have fun and
when you're on the course with the pros, it really
opens your eyes about how bad you your own golfers,
but just also just how good they are. And it's
(06:36):
just a it's a cool weekend. It's a pretty teticular
beatdrop to good man Hayden.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
We'll all be glued glued to our TVs to watch
Liam this weekend and looking forward to seeing how you
go in twenty twenty five as well. Thanks for taking
the time for.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
A chat mate, great appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Thank you, no, thank you Hayden. Hayten padd And on
News Talk Shad Best for more from Weekend Sport with
Jason Fine. Listen live to News Talk Shad be weekends
from midday, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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