CSB - Eric Thompson: Formula 1

Motorsport writer Eric Thompson joins Craig Cumming to chat Liam Lawson's almost definite chance at a full-time drive and the Dutch GP this weekend following a short summer break.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's talk motor racing now, and the pressure at red
Bull for Perez and Ricardo has risen again as Liam
Lawson is definitely going to have an F one seat
in twenty twenty five within the Red Ball Racing team.
That's the news on the headlines, which is excited. Well,
it's very exciting joining us now Eric Thompson to talk
about this. Good morning, Eric, how are you good?

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Thank you, craigy yourself.

Speaker 1 (00:22):
Wow, that's big news. I mean we've been hoping for this,
but you know, it sounds like Liam Lawson is going
to be in one of the seats next year.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
That's great news. I mean, it's great news that Helmut
Marco announced in the German publication klain Zutang that Lawson
would definitely have a seat at red Ball. So it's
one of four cars next year. But one interesting thing
is Helmut's been saying that Alma Marco all year, but

(00:49):
and then when Christian Horner, who actually signs the contracts
with the drivers, is still a little bit reticent about
you know, he hasn't said no, and he's been really
flementary about Lawson, especially when he had those five races
and scored the Red Bull Junior Team's first points of
the season and stuff like that. But until Christian Horner

(01:10):
comes out and says he's definitely going to drive next year,
you know, I'm hopeful, really really hopeful, because he's certainly
got the talent, but it really needs the two of
them to actually say he's going to get the seat.
But you know, Helmut Marco is saying it on a
regular basis now and it's going in print. It's not

(01:31):
you know, sources said that Helmet said this. This is
him actually been directly quoted in publications, so that can
only be a complete positive note for it. And I
actually think it might actually be Perez who might lose
his seat because he has just not greg done his
job at all in the last ten races, and Christian

(01:53):
Horner will be pulling his hair out. Because what's important
to the teams is the Constructors Championship points, not so
much to drivers because all their money there are millions
and millions of euros at the end of the season,
is paid out on where the team finishes in the
Constructors Championship. And because Perez hasn't been backing up the Stappen,

(02:15):
his massive points lead has been eating away and McLaren
and Ferrari a breathing down Red Bull Racing's neck. So
that's going to be really interesting this weekend to see
where the Prez steps up.

Speaker 1 (02:27):
Yeah, they're in Holland obviously home for Max forstepping. They've
had a bit of a summer break that we see. Well,
they've been much done over that time. I'm sure there's
you know, the world there will be. Do you think
it's gonna translate onto the racing track from the changes
that we made, because this is probably the closest we've
had if one what you know, maybe six or seven years,

(02:47):
Oh easily.

Speaker 2 (02:47):
We've had six different winners. I can't remember the last
time there's been six different winners and we only have,
as you rightly said, Crag halfway through the season. There's
another ten or eleven races to go, including this weekend.
I say, so good Lord, you know he's knowing what
to do. In Verstaffen's lead has been munched at. You know,
there's still a bit of daylight. There's seventy odd points

(03:09):
between him and Norris, but from Norris to about Perez,
so second to about sixth, really really close racing and
Zandbort's an old school track that was off the calendar
for many years. They revamped it, brought it back. You know,
you have to have a big set, shall we say,
to go quick around there. And Vestaffan's won there three times.

(03:31):
It's his home race, so he's going for his four
straight wins, so I reckon he'll be on fire. But
to your point, over the season's not a lot's been
done to the cars. There was a little bit of
concern about the changing of the break bias on the
Red Bull cars and the if I haven't given any
penalties out, but that's basically laid down the rules that
you can't have the break bias. It just balances the

(03:52):
car a little bit better. You know, they're looking for
hundreds of the second in these cars these days.

Speaker 1 (03:57):
Yeah, it's unbelievable. I mean it's interesting too to getting
better quickly. Just say, I mean the dynamics and the
teams now because things are getting closer. We're seeing the
staff and not being happy. We've seen you know, Ferraris
dropped away, but now obviously DRIs being up there I
took past through the dynamics of the team is very
different because of the situation. So that's what I love
seeing as well.

Speaker 2 (04:16):
I think it's been fantastic because the staff and you's
so right, has been so dominant. Now he's getting past,
he's being beaten, and he's just turning into the oik
he was when he's racing. Yes, yes, just hunting people off.
You know, it's just like you're in my way, I'm
just going to drive through you. It reminds me of
the days and some of your listeners at the Center

(04:36):
and Prost and Mantle days with you know, they were
just firing people off the track like it was Dodgems.
And it just goes to say that this hasn't quite
got the mentality yet to be super strategic and just
wait for his chance. He'll just go I'm coming through.
And so that's going to be really interesting the second
half of the season.

Speaker 1 (04:57):
Yes, there will be a c of orangs this week.
You appreciate your time morning, Eric.

Speaker 2 (05:00):
Do you have a great weekend, Same to you. What
was a pleasure? Thanks, Greg?

Speaker 1 (05:03):
There we go, Eric Thompson, yep. Our fingers crossed about
Liam Lawson in the future,