Rumor Mill and Future Calendar

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK F one Cckered Flag is sponsored by Cadillac Formula One is all about precision, tiny margins, massive ambition, flat out performance And that's exactly why it's exciting to see Cadillac entering Formula One, bringing an American luxury brand with performance pedigree onto the biggest stage in motorsport. But this isn't just about the grid That same racing mindset, the obsession with engineering, the pursuit of perfection, lives in the Cadillac V sereries lineup, giving you the chance to experience the precision and performance of the grid on the open road Cadillac V series, Distinctive Luxury Performance, enngineered to Thrill Discover the Veries lineup at cadillac dot comot Take the leash off your laptop with the processor that gives you long battery life Work on the go Jump between back to back calls, stay locked in from brewing morning coffee to burning the midnight oil get maximum performance, even when unplugged Finally The freedom to move across the room or across the world is here. Snapdragon That's how Five live, Formula one What a backdrop we have for our show today. Welcome to Monaco. I'm standing on one of the keys jutting out into the iconic port Hercule here in Montecarlo. The music is blaring from the Red Bull Energy station and as I look out across the harbour, there are boats Galore, little, a little bit bigger, bigger and huge. There are some serious yachts here this weekend, as you might imagine It is glitz, it is glamour. I'm Rosanna Tennant, less so glitzy and glamorous, but I am joined by an astounding crew of gentlemen. Harry Benjamin, our lead commentator has really dressed up for the occasion French Rivivera chic for you today, Mr. Benjamin? Well I have got to pop to a yacht this evening and the dress code was coastal chic. So I'm trying my best. I've swapped the shackets for a linen blazer. it's very mononaco. You look very monaco. Damon Hill, nineteen ninety six world champion is also with us, still looking dapper, Damon. Rosan, done yourself Dan. You do look wonderful By the way, so we're all loving each other here. I think Harry, I think the Snorkelland fllippers maybe it was going too far. How about J? never know. You never know if you might end up in the harbour here or in the swimming pool on the Redbel Energy station. Jolian Palmer is also with us, former Formula One driver. You always look dapper A satorial gent if you might go as far.. I'm just so happy to be here with you guys in this iconic location This is like no other Monaco, isn't it? It is so special. It's the best, isn't it? I love coming here for a race weekend. I used to love it as a driver. The track is just outrageous. The fact that we still race forormula one aroundound here is Briiant novelty and I love coming here as a commentator now as well. know E from the start of practice, you feel like Anything can happen at any moment and it's a lot of fun. Youave done any hot laps out there No, annoyingly not, No. No. I've still haven't done a lap at this place since twenty seventeen. and every year I come, I'm like, canan I come and do a hot lap? Can I do a feature? Can I do something? Still not. I think they' prepared to damage the tech proroact by sending Palmer out. My reputation precedes me Joan, I was so sad for you. I was listening to I'll say a rival podcast in the lead up to this weekend They give you an absolute roasting, replaying your crash here in Monaco. Por you haunting times, you said. Yeah. so what it was kind of like a notorious crash of the race I ex was right at the start teeaming gama Rin. Dingus Palmer here from like eighteenth just goes and loses it over over a Zebra crossing And hit the wall on the left, absolute charge down to the barrier of Sand Devar. and my colleagues love to remind me of every opportunity. So nice to be here as well with you Hanner and relive it again. Well I said I felt sad listening to you. Well thanks for the sympathy. That's allright. That's okay. Damon, it's such a tricky track to get right. You've got to be in the right frame of mind, you've got to find the rhythm and you've got to find early doors here, haven't you Yeah, it astonishes me how quickly people get on it on this circuit. The pace is relentless. The track improvement, the ramping up of the grip on the circuit is something else.'s something totally different. So you go out, you do what you think is a good lap time, you think that sorted me out. You look at the times there you are at the top, you come in the pits, make a change, go out, you're lost. Everyone has gone faster. Did you have any zebra crossing moments? any standout memories for you when you come here Oh well, I mean, I have had pole position which has got to be a good standout memory of let's start with my haunting times d po then there's two types of driver here Monaco. those those that have hit the wall and those are going to hit the wall. There's nobody gets out alive out of here and everybody any of any stature at all has had a crash here in Monaco It's impossible to get away with it. And you know you think about Nigel when he was famously leading and he was at wet and he was in the Jon Player special Lotus. and you tank slapper at top of the hill, that's him and everyone's wrote him off. and then he became world Champion. But you know, it does happen to everyone. You mentioned wet conditions there. The weather might play a part. It's very I would steamy today. Would anyone agree with that description? A little, especially with the blazer on cly. You you can take it off sh not' good. What it does do is it then covers up any sweat patches. So youort stick with it there. That's a little bit more information than I' put You've gotone past the point of no return in so many ways there, Harry I'm I can provide something. It it's always got this backdrop. It somehow captures the moisture off the Mediterranean. The wind blows it. and then you always get this kind of humidity here and then sometimes it looks like it's going to rain and it doesn't. So it is a little microclimate place. But also every year, when you're sort of looking around at the vista that is Monaca, I feel like they squeeze in about five more buildings every year than was here previously We've got a longer paddock as well because we have to make room for the Cadilllac hospitality. I think every single bit of hospitality has gained another level as well going upwards. It's madness. It's pretty tight, isn't it in that paddock? It's pretty tight in the harbour. and Damon, you are actually sleeping out there in the harbour on one of the boats. Tell us what What's that like? little sleeping. I' sleep in the harbour. I a So yeah I'm actually one of these it's not really a boat, it's a ship. It's huge. I mean, it's a David Hill ship. And it's one of the sponsors of Formula One happened to be a cruise company and you can probably guess who they are, but anyway they brought one of their cruise ships and that of course has become the kind of residue for all of the people who work in Formula One. So they basically go, weve got someone to stay, you know and they don' to don't have to Go on a bus to Can wherever it is to get in hotels. That's where we are. So ye, I did mention I thought invite for lost the post. I fall out of bed, have breakfast and then I sort of take two steps and I'm in the paddock. How bad does that make you feel? But it might time entertainment on the cruise ship? Enterertainment they've got yes, apparently they've got classical pianists. I missed her last night butbe later but yeah, jugglers, you know that sort of things. The weekend is still young, Davave, plenty of time to get involved with that. As you have already heard, we've got a stellar line upp here on the show. Coming up, we're going to hear from the championship leader, Kimmy Aonlli, his challenging teammate George Russell, with heill from Lando Norris, and of course the favourite coming into this weekend Maybe you're not thinking it. Char Leclerc, obviously a home hero here, the Magask driver, all eyes are on him for many reasons and we'll get into that a little later on in the show. So as I say, Antonlli leading the standings, forty three points clear of his teammate Russell, Leclerc in third, three points ahead of his teammate Syouis Hamilton, then it's Norris, Piastri and Max Versappen making up the top seven The sharp end players on the grid B big news with brands like Gucci coming into the sports. We'll talk about that. One of our team is very excited about that announcement. You'll find out who later. You might be able to guess. Is it Andrew Benz? looves a loafer. he does, loves a loafer. But let's talk about the title fight then between Antonlli and George Russell re pretty tasty in Canada. Jonan, you were there, track side, commentating on it all. It was a bit of a statement of intent maybe for Antonlli. now we know what he's really about. He's got minerals, hasn't he? I loved it in Canada, The sprint. I've never seen anyone push so hard for a sprint win. Probably in the whole time that we've had the spprint format, you've not seen risks being taken for the win that Antonlli took. He bounced over the grass two or three times in a single race or three times, in fact, twice with Russell once then with Norris And you're thinking this is for one point over Russell and it's your teammate as well. So you're laying down some markers here. He didn't get it done, but I loved his enthusiasm to try and win a sprint that other people you speak to him part firly afterwards and you're trying to inject some cheer into them and they're like, yeah, but the race is tomorrow. let's work on that. So loved it. It was a race that I think we all expected George Russell to turn up and state his claim again for the title and Antonll he' certainly made his life really hard. He's such a young driver, Damon, youngest driver. He's winning his first four races on the bounce, first driver to do that. What have you made of his performance this year so far? I think like everyone, I think we've been a bit stunned actually quite honestly. he's been really on the pace. He seems to tidied up his driving risk taking, as you'd expect from a nineteen year old as John was just mentioning there in the races a few heart and mouth moments. You managed to keep it clean and I think that it was the sort of racing that these Young guys have been and girls have been doing since they were five years old, you know, down at the cart tracks and they're taking it to Formula one and he's he's got nothing to lose. He's got nothing to lose. That's the thing. He comes here in Monaco and he's got points advantage. now I feel like he's got something to lose though because he's got a forty three point advantage. So he's I feel like he's had low expectations George has been the driver that's We crowned him basically he didn't be in February you know Mercedes were going to have this unbelievable car. George was going to be the guy naturally to move up and take take the title. but Kimmy's suddenly had this turn of pace and consistency and he's got absolute tenacity. But now I do feel like he's got something to lose because now there is a realistic shot that he can win the title. I mean specifically for Mono You're coming here, you're going to qualifying okay, let's say the Mercedes are both they in with a shot of going on the front row. Kimmy can push a little bit harder. George can't afford to make a mistake.. That's the slight cramp cramp of the style issue for George, I think. I think we were underrated Kimmy Antonlli far too much because you speak to any of the junior commentators commentating on him coming up through the ranks. and obviously he came up quite quickly, head hunted by tootal of the Mercedes, evenven Ferrari tried to handle him at one point, skkipped F three to go into F two. but it was the fact that he's so clinical yes're around the edges and his first year in Formula onene was very up and down. everyveryone' saying speaking to the junior commentators who have been watching him, now that he's found his groove, now he's found his rhythm, his comfort with the car, this new generation. that is a Kimy Antonlli to be quite wary of. And the fact he's got this momentum behind him, I think Monaco will definitely be a challenge because let's face it, it's all about qualifying. However, I think George really has to start finding that extra inch that he's got, that extra tenth of a second. otherwise, Kimmy could well run away with it. He's under pressure, isn't he, George? It's fascinating you talk about Kimmy coming through the ranks because I remember when he did his first FP one in Monzam in twenty twenty four And I was speak to Chris MCarthy who does the Formula twowo commentary. and we were building up, you know this young Italian Was he seventeen at the time And you're like, wow, straight into Mercedes. this is huge. And Chris has watched him all the way through his junior formula. So he's done the due diligence on him and he's like, trust me, this guy is unbelievable. You're going to be stunned with what he can do. And in two laps he put it in the wall. So straight away we don't live faster than anybody.ne amazing in the wall. That's the important sequence. You got to go faster than anyone before you crash. Look Max Verstappen. how many times I remember in Monaco back when he was in what a Torosso here. He was crashing into what everyone was saying is far too aggressive. he needs to clean up is you know a lot got a lot of flack at a young Max Verstnappen and look who he is now one of the greatest of sports ever seen. But he wouldn't have won a title in twenty eighteen because he still made those mistakes in China. he missed a chance to win in in Monaca here. he missed a chance to win. He wouldn't miss those chances now. He's developed as a driver. and that's the interesting point for me with Kimmy is We see him being stunningly quick, super aggressive, loveve the attitude, love the gung ho take it to George. but at some point That willll come back to bite and I feel like Monaco iss the sort of track where would happen as you mentionedlier on N you always have a crash in Monico at some point. Yeah.. And I remember, right? But Max's one was pretty scary, wasn't it? That one the way he went straight on and cent to the first that was unbelievable. So yeah, it can happen, but as I said, he's got a little bit of a cushion and that he can in a way You know, if he goes out to impress, he first of he doesn't need to impress us. We expect him to be up there on the sharp end if the car' up to it He's going to have some other teams to contend with. I mean, I don't think Rbblell are out of it. I don't think that McLaren out of it. I don't think Ferrari are out of it. so it's going to be tight at the sharp end. but Here we're getting coaching from Toto, who'll be getting all the right advice. But mind you, you can say all these things to a young driver and they're not listening to. And also, how hard is it to dial it back to ninety nine percent? He's obviously just going to want to goull beans, surely. Yeah. I think of winning Monaco Grand Prix. It's like spinal tap isn't it? The Ap goes up to twelve. you just needs to wind it back down to ten. But if you can some drivers are like that. they can get to twelve. Other drivers they're at eight and you struggle to get them past that point And so you know, we're interested to find out. it's going to be brilliant watching Well, let's hear from Kimy Antonlli. I spoke to him a little earlier on and I asked him whether he felt that the other drivers on the grid and his teammate George Russell now know a little bit more about how he goes racing and what he's about. This is what he had to say I'm not thinking about championship or anything like that. I just I think about enjoying the driving as much as I can You know, try to do my best, trying to improve Race the bar and Yeah and we'll see where we end up. but yeah, definitely I'm I really want to enjoy you as much as possible every weekend And I want to leave the weekend and say I did everything I could. so that's what I'm going to do. Last year, obviously there were a few whispers about whether you were going to live up to the expectations of Toto and Mercedes. Do you feel that George now knows what you're about, Formula One now knows what you're about, and I guess all the other races know how you now go racing and what to expect Yeah, I mean, u You know, what I What I try to do is You know, I'm not I'm not the kind of guy who backs nextext town, you know, I Whenever I have an opportunity I will go for it. And You know, I think in Canada, I You know, was a really good battle with George but it also showed that No matter the position I amm in the championship, I'm going to go for it. And so of course There will be time where I will need probably to race a bit more, you know thinking a bit more about how I go racing. And probably in some occasion I will have to be satisfied with the position I am U but At the moment, you know, I'm just going for it, of course I need to learn. I'm learning how to manage these aggressiveness as well because I cannot just go all out and just go for it one hundred percent and see what happens. Of course, I want to still race hard but smart, but definitely I'm not the kind of guy who backs out. That was your championship leader, Kimmy Antonelli talking about not backing down, which I guess you have to have as your mindset, sorry, but at crazy in love, my fe can't stop tapping Hry Benjamin, I think you're having the second'veasted crazy in love. They're loveving it,ool. Beyonce, Benjamin, there we go. He's obviously got his elbows out. his teammate, George Russell is going to feel those pointy elbows, I think the most out of everyone on the grid this year. So how does George approach this It's a tricky one. I think he almost felt this championship was going to be his from the off. It looked that way in Australia and obviously things have changed, but id you just have to wipe this slate clean after every race and approach it as a fresh start Yeah, exactly that. he has to just rebuild. I think he can take some solace from Lando last year who had this similar difficult run and M, it Obviously managed to turn it around in the long haul and win the championship, but He actually did well in Canada. He was obviously really unlucky. So he was winning the race, had battery failure and lost potential win might have been second place, but It was more the way for me that he'd been in Miami been beaten pretty comfortably by Kimmy And we all expected George to be winning in Montreal, and it was very close. Even if he was winning, it was super close. So I think he's trying to alleviate the pressure from himself, but as you say, Damon as well, you're forty three points behind. in a way that makes things just so much more sharper in focus because anything else that goes wrong here and the gap suddenly looks like is you know, unrecoverable. Yeah, that is the big problem. That that's the weight on George's mind, I would think is that he knows he cannot carry on dumping loads of points to Kimmy. So this is he's got to start turning this around. And as you said, I think the pace is there. He may have to find another level in himself I think to beat Kimmy, quite apart from the fact that he's got the experience and he's got all that going for him. We haven't seen the peak of Kimmy. Kimmy's like something you plant in the garden and you never know quite how big it's going to get. You know? He's a little shoot at the moment. That's all he is Well, let's hear from George Russell. He's very keen to point out all of the stats and the data from years gone by of drivers who've gone on to win the championship and the troubles they had in the season before that. So let's hear what he had to say. I asked him if he was also going to be dealing with a psychologist or working with a psychologist or a philosopher even to try and get this championship over the line I mean, these things always balanced themselves out at one point And you say, I've got nothing to lose. I'm just going go out, enjoy every single race and it's still in my control If you poll and win every single race From now until the end of the season, you'll win the championship. so U that is that is my goal Of course it was frustrating in Canada, but That's part of race it can't always be sunshine and glory. I was listening to a podcast with Niica Rosberg on it the other day. He was talking about what he had to do to beat Lewis in twenty sixteen, working with a psychologist, a philosopher. Are you working with anyone or are you going to work with anyone to manage this situation which could obviously eventually end up with you winning your maiden title? Yeah, well, I think he was maybe ahead of his time in that regard. I think, you know, I've been working with a performance psychologist for Six years now So this has been very much part of my standard routine and I know at least half the drivers and doing the same. So You know the truth is I'm going about this season as if it as any other season because I'm taking it race by race And that's what leads to the the end goal and I sort of read this Ws I think it was like, from Will Smith or something like this. It was super random. They said when he was a kid he was trying to build this wall with his dad And it looks so daunted the size of his wall and his dad just said just lay brick by brick. By the end you build a wall. And that's the same, you know you do brick by brick, day by day, race by race Then you can achieve that long term goals, cless That's for me. Tomorrow's practice go out there, drive as fast as possible, Saturday, do the same. if I do that every single day, I'm in the race car . see what I want to That was George Russell speaking me a little earlier on in the media pen. Damon, I think we're going to have to release you because we've just heard that Bingo is starting on the cruise ship. So you've got to make a dash for it. Don't want to miss that? I love Bingo. Yeah Legs eleven and all that. Hurry, hurry Great to have you. We'll hear from you over the weekend, David Hill, nineteen ninety six worldorld Champion. And you know what? we've got a like for like, Phillim here. We've got the BBC's F one correspondent Andrew Benson ready to take on the baton. Andrew, great to see you in Monaco. lookingoo dapper. Where is the linen suit, however? I'm not wearing was it Mediterraneanic you said you were wearing coastal shic Benson Yeahah, and the luxury brand I can't afford that. I'm afraid on my salary. He'll take freebies though. Oh, that'. Great to have you with us. Aly no freebies allowed. I know, I know. don't I know the rules. We've been talking about that. HI Harry's going to have to get undressed. Please don't ness me. We've been talking about Kimy Antonlli and George Russell, of course, because they are the ones to beat this year. But Antonelli, first and foremost, of course, as the championship leader What have you made of their battle? The body language this weekend? Are you starting to read into it already? Well there's already some sort of psychology and kidology going on. I went to the George Russells sort of media briefing that he does with the British media. There's five or six of us go generally every Thursday at a Grand Prix And he said, oh, it's Kimmy's to lose now the Championship And And then we went to Santntonelli and he's like I don't give any weight to that line at all. How can I lose something I've not won yet So one's putting pressure on the other. they're both saying they're not feeling any pressure. So it's really Its quite tasty. The only problem is that there's a forty three point gap between Antonlli and Russell The way Antonelli' driving this year That's not going to be easy to make up. Obviously, Norris did it on Piastri last year and Russell was talking about he used that as an example. He was talking about lots of historic Motorating examples where people of A have had bad luck. And lost championships as a result, like Hamilton for example, in two thousand seven, Alonso in twenty twelve, he mentioned both of them But also times when people have come back like Norris last year, for example, and also Verstappen in twenty twenty two against Charlotclc So It's really it's always interesting in these situations, Joellan, isn't it? to see the psychology between the drivers and the way they try to heap the pressure on themselves while trying to give the impression of being sort of veryery nice chaps and not playing any of those silly games at all You always turn up with something in your head that you want to get across to the media whenever you're having these media briefings. And I do think for George is He has been, like I said already, he' sort of been burdened with the pressure of everyone thinking he's going to be champion. So even if you take Canada as an example We all expected him to go and win because he'd won the year before. he'd been on poll the year before that and didn but he was winning. He had taken pole, he won the sprint and he had taken Sprint pole. But the fact that it was even close meant that it felt like he was having a losing weekend, just because it was close and we all expected better from him. But in fact, technically he was doing everything that he needed to do. And that's the difficult thing. I feel like there is know part of him's facing pressure that's difficult because he's not racing the same Kimmy Antonlli as last year. Antonelli's grown as a driver to be really formidable, quick, consistent and a potential champion. this time last year when we all thought that George would be the champion wasn't the case. It's a true test for George Osley. but you talk about comebacks though. I mean, look at last year Max Stppen, he didn't ultimately do it but he came back from a much bigger deficit forty three points and what including this weekend we've got four races in the next five weeks. So having had this sort kind of stop start nature to the beginning of the season, I feel like now is the moment where you've got to start picking off points if you're George Russell, even though you are behind but you can take solace from overcoming such deficits. Yeah, I mean, I think Canada was a really interesting weekend because as Jolian says, Russell on paper did everything right. He wasn't there was definitely nothing set in stone about that victory. Antonelli was all over him in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix, and you could make an argument that as a consequence he was the faster driver. He looked faster until Russell did down final pull up in qualifying on Saturday So Yes, Russell can take Solace from being in front, but at the same time he might be thinking, actually, maybe I should have been further in front. So I would imagine, I don't know what Jordan thinks about this. I would imagine as a racing driver there. someome of those thoughts might have been gnawing at him a little bit even if he won't want to entertain them too much I think so because also the way that he dealt with the Miami weekend, I didn't love it from George's point of view, he sort of wrote it off from the first moment, saying it's not really my track. Kimmy's always been good here Which meant that the next track when you know it is his track, you expect the rolls to be reversed, and it wasn't. I think that's the uncomfortable part of it. but It's all about getting back to an even keel for George and trying to just find his motjo, find the find the best one. And I think the difference is with when you talk about the Verstappen comeback last year, Harry, they're in the same team. So chipping away at someone that's your teammate is difficult. on that though, is there something say you know, you're the racing driver, you're Gorge Rust or Kimy Ananelli, the Toto wolf scenario to this side of things. He's obviously he's had a hand in both of their careers in managing them as well. He's got two drivers going for it. If you're George Russell, are you starting to think are you letting those thoughts creep in of favouritism or vice versa? I don't think there's been any case of favouritism Yet Yet. And maybe you you know, in the back of your mind, you you're wondering, you know, Toto went out of his way to go and sign Kimmy promoted him super quickly. The story of Kimmy being a world Champion at nineteen would be reflect really well on Toto, wouldn't it? But as you said, George is also a prodoteigge of Mercedes, so he's not like he's a signing from elsewhere either and the only moment really that we've seen Toto get on the radio and And intervene was in Montreal. As George actually walks behind us, being flanked by fans. I missed your question. George a quuick question. Do I look chic? chic or? Well, I mean, we've got some changes this weekend. So is this a weekend where George could be on top? I feel like they are definitely not favorites. Let's talk about the changes that we're going to see with these new cars around the track So Yeah Quite a few things are different this weekend from the other races so far. So no straight line mode, for example, that means the wings don't open on the straights then there's various sets many there many and there are various settings in the engine that are a bit different. I think more importantly though, I think at least for myself, I think this could be the closest and most competitive weekend of the year because Ferrari are expected by everybody to be right up at the front. Everyone's been talking them up. McLaren were very strong in Miami and their c has been particularly good in slow speed corners, which this track has a lot of So you could see Both of those things close the gap a little bit on Mercedes, so Ferrari don't have the engine deficit here, for example, that they have everywhere else because This is the least power sensitive circuit as I describeed it in fororemore, which means the engine makes the least difference on lapt timepe So It could be really close, but quite often with these things where people think that things are going to close up It's not quite like that. And actually Ferrari's deficit to Mercedes on average this year over one lap is half a second nearly And that's a lot to change just on circuit characteristics. but Having said that, I do think it'll be a really close fight for Polul. And is it also going to be more exciting, Jolen?ese cars are much more nimble, they're smaller. I know you've been frothing at the mouth since Bahrain's testing sessions. When you saw them out on track, I know you were thinking, gosh, I can't wait get to Monaco to see them throw around that track. I've been really excited for Monaco because the big thing here is it's not going to be an energy management challenge I mean, that's what all the drivers have been looking forward to as well. I saw the cars when they first hit the ground in Bahrain and they look good through through the corners. you know, they are nimble, they're less downforced, they're shortter wheel base, they turn in a little bit sharper, they're more of a handful, which is fun Obviously there's been elements through the first part of the year, especially at the start of the year where energy management was sort of an overriding feature Which is not what you want to do as a driver. You want to go flat out all the time and go as fast as possible. All of that means that this race is going to be great for them. And it's going to change the pecking order slightly as well because there is no energy management. It's flat out driving. In terms of driving styles, maybe that'll favor some over others that don't have to consider slowing down into corners the way they apply the throttle. You know, these things and get back to basics And yeah, I mean, Monaco anyway, the best of T times is brilliant. but I do think these cars is going look great when they hit the track. It's always thrilling here. And of course, it's the most thrilling on a Saturday because of the qualifying session having such huge importance because it's tricky to overtake. But we've got twenty two cars lining up. on the grid or at least taking part in Q one. So Traffic management is going to be vital. and we actually had drivers earlier on in the press conference talking about how radios actually it was Landono Norris, wasn't it? It was current worldld Champion saying how people need to use their radios in the right and proper way this weekend to basically get out of the way if they're on a hot l. Yeah, well two extra cars than what we're used to seeing, but you know what, they have Formula three, Formula two here, which has a bigger feelields. They were even talkking I think at the press conference about should they split Q one into groups, weren't they? But I don't think that was settled on. but particularly in qualifying because ultimately There ain't much overtaken on Sunday, That's where the race result is most nailed on. So it is going to have a huge factor, mainly in Q one. So it's going to be about that relationship between driver and the communication team driver and who's on the pit wall. Interestingly, the pit wall iss obviously sort of inside the above the team garages. So it's not like they're sat in the usual position overlooking the start finish stay Sometimes the GPS can be a bit funny around here as well, but ultimately The driver has to use his mirrors. The mirrors are tiny. someomebody is going to get blocked, many people are going to get blocked. and all of a sudden you've got someone in the wall, a red flag, there's not enough time to get out, and you've got drivers out of position that way who haven't managed to get their lap in the bt, which is why Saturday is always a spectacle in Monaco. Can't wait. C cannott wait for it. It sort of quietly been dropped that two pit stop rule from last year, hasn't it? Thank goodness. Yeah. No one's really chatking about it too much, but it is gone. It is gone. Also going going gone is Janian Palmer. What a sadness. We're losing you now this part of the show. And you built me up and then crushed me down so early on.imited go as well. I no. David Hill's go to Bingo in the piano recital. I'm going to get my Maazdo down to downtown Monton In my little hotel that's probably half the size of his cruiser. Well look, have a wonderful evening. Thank you. Bancoois, we'll see you over the course of the weekend and let's hope it's a great one. If your best finance people are doing expense reports, chasing receipts, or spending time on monthnd clothes, it's time to get BEX AF, a GentTch finance that eliminates that work before it starts. Learn more at brex. com slash AF leash off your processor that gives you long battery light. Work on the go between back to back calls, stay locked in from brewing morning coffee to burning the midnight oils. maximum performance, even when unplugged. Finally, Freedom to move across the room or across the world is here. Snap Dragon That's how Formula One is all about precision, tiny margins, massive ambition, flat out performance And that's exactly why it's exciting to see Cadillac entering Formula One, bringing an American luxury brand with performance pedigree onto the biggest stage in motorsport. But this isn't just about the grids That same racing mindset, the obsession with engineering, the pursuit of perfection, lives in the Cadillac V sereries lineup, giving you the chance to experience the precision and performance of the grid on the open road. Cadillac V series, Distinctive Luxury performance, enngineered to Thrill Discover the V series lineup at cadillac. com Julian Palmer making way then for Dutch broadcaster Nelson Valkenberg. Fantastic. have you joining us on the show? This is a real. Who's who? This show. I can't Oh le. That's what you get in Monaco, right? Wh's? It's glit glass How much is the budget for this podcast? We've spent it all, there's You' here it's all gone. it's all got my jacket. Yes and what a great Great spend that was. Nelson, we've been talking about Mercedes. We sort of almost ruled them out as favourites coming into this weekend because thatort hot topic has been Ferrari coming into the Monaco Grand Prix Of course they've got the home hero of Charle le Cler. We can talk about his contract signing. W you expecting that, especially after the weekend he had in Canada It does make sense when you think about it because where is he going to go? What are the imminent options for him? And he clearly identifies himself with that team And we also know that any contract has Binding and non binding parts and are potential outs. So I think for him it works to have a long term contract that's in the twenty thirties. We might hear twenty thirty one, thirty two, something like that. So it makes sense for him. But he needs a good weekend here Andrew, did you see it coming? the resigning? I mean, it just feels like they haven't really got going the Ferrari team this year. Should we have waited a little longer I didn't see it coming because I thought he was contracted to the end of next year, which I think was the case. but I'm told that there was potential ways for him to get out this year if certain things had gone a certain way. So that makes sense in that sense from Ferrari's point of view to tie him down. and Nelson's absolutely right, there's not really a lot of options for him in the sense Antonnelli and Russell are locked in at Mercedes and the only person who's going get one of them out of there is Max Verstappen. Aando Noris and Oscar Piastri are locked in at McLaren and if you're at Ferari, where else would you go basically? However, I think the concern for Charles Leclerc is he's been at Ferrari since twenty nineteen. He's won eight Grand Prix in eight years nearly? That's not a great return for someone who most people in this paddot believe is probably the fastest driver over one lap I think there is a concern He could just end up never winning a championship because he's been talking about believing in the Ferrari project for as long as I can remember and he's talking about that again today. But when is his project actually going to deliver? This was going to be another year where Ferrari started with positivity and hope and optimism and they've underdelivered yet again likeike they've done every year for well, since two thousand seven effectively. So that's the concern for Leclerc. And there's another problem. He's starting to have difficulties with Lewis within the team. and that's a new sensation for him. Lewis is definitely veryery, very comfortable at the moment. and this weekend is going to prove very interesting to see where Lewis stacks up compared to Charlot leclerc He's clearly still the number one driver in that sense. He's basically part of the family there and part of the furniture, but if he's not always the fastest, it's another problem there for him Claire is a specialist around these streets that he grew up on, of course. Let's hear from the Magasqu driver, having signed an extension to his contract with Ferrari, we asked him sort of why He believes in the project and what's led him to put pen to paper yet again. I mean, it was very clear. I mean, I love the team. I think that's pretty obvious from from the outside. It's been eight years with the formmer one team, ten years with Ferrari as a whole They've been one of the first people to believe in me and to help me to get to where I am today. and I believe in the project most of all. I think with Fred, we have a very, very good relationship and I strongly believe that he iss the person to that will be able to bring Ferari back to the top. It's been Good start of the season, obbviously not as good as what we will want because we want to target the worldorld Championship, but there's been a lot of innovation on the car and I think I mean, we know where we are lacking and that's probably more the engine side We've got a plan coming up and hopefully it will help us to get back to where we want to be. But why? It's because I love this team and because I bitve in the project and for these two reasons. yeah, that's why we continue together. So that was Charleacclerc talking about his freshly inked new contract with Ferrari. Harry, he was talking about you the love for the team. and I guess a lot of people here just only see Charleacclerc in red. It almost feels right that he's extended, Could it just be the wrong thing for his career? I'm sure he was probably imagining himself in Gucci for next year, maybe, but ultimately I don't think that is going to prove any better. What I find interesting is all the points Andrew Nelson made absolutely valid But the point of difference for Chharaca over these years has been who's the boss at that team. And he seems to pure faith in Fred Vassur and where he's leading that team. And you know, Visa hasn't exactly had an easy ride over the last couple of years. You know first years seem to do, okay, secondcond year suddenly questions around this time are creeping in about willill he continue with Ferrari? then he's back for another one. Hamilton absolutely adores.'s gotten well with him since he ran ART in GP two years ago. That is a defining fact to hear for Charla Clazer. He clearly has trust Not only in Feri, but the fact it's Fred Vassseu at the helm of that team. And I think what has been also interesting to see is that I think historically Ferrari in a season have been a bit scared to bring bring big upgrdades, innovate. You know, we're talking all about this spinny rear wing They were one of the first to come with it. they were the first to come with it. and I feel like that's not normally a Ferrari thing to do. They'd be on the back burner there bit and they'd rather just not fail and not try and fail rather than try something and fail. So I think that is a step forward for them and maybe that's the things Leclerc needs to see to keep in sign on. I guess another thing Sean Leclerc needs to see and of course, Lewis Hamilton as well is a win and this weekend could be their greatest chance this season to markark up a win on the board. You're sort nodding along, Nelson. Do you think that because of all the changes that we've spoken about on the show so far with some of the sort of neutering effects of all the energy deployment and the like around the track this weekend, do you think therefore they've got the advantage? Well there is definitely an advantage for Ferrari, the drivability of that engine is quite good smaller turb means that you have Well, some more manageable kicks up the backside, stuff like this. and the drivability will be very, very important come Saturday, which is in my book, I think Harry for you the same the best day of the year, Saturday here in Monaco. And this chassis is quite nimble. It is very let's say very pointy. We've seen always the Ferrari go through its rear tyres But that's not going to be an issue here on the Saturday. If there is a track where they can take very strong end that this Ferrari has to an advantage, the smaller turbo as well, and as you say, the neutering of the Mercedes advantage with the compressure ratio together for them, especially on the Saturday here. But then I'm still not completely convinced it's going to be Charleeclerc because they just have this inkling that Bewis is doing So taking my question. I was going to say, come on then, choose Leclerc or Hamilton. I would choose Hamilton right now and I may lose a lot of money, but that's what Monaco's built upon on the st there Eactly their offers. But I mean I agree with everything else is said s come back to what Andrew said, you know, they do still have a deficit. but I think if anywhere, that can be overcome It's probably at a circuit like this where a driver can really make the difference And they've got two drivers who are pretty good. One is incredibly good around Monaco and the Charleacler at home as well, fueled by that kind of power too with a a little bit of pressure Yeah But he broke his duck, didn't he a couple of years ago where he finally got finally started a race and actually won it. And then you've got Lewis Hamilton who is pretty good as well aroundround Monacot, a street circuit Ace two. So I think I'm with Nelson. there's a good chance if they can qualifying upright and optimize the session. That will be the key. getting an optimal session and qualifying clean laps I don't see We've got Rod over the thinker here just planning his response. A McCim will also be there. Mercedes probably too as well. What do you want me to ask talk about? Sorry Rizannaa? Ferrari and Leclerc and Hamilton? He's just loving the Bruno Mars. I knew he wasn'ting. No, do you think it would be a Leclerc or a Hamilton win if indeed Ferrari do have a? It's a really interesting question. There's no question that Hamilton's been in better form this year so far. It's four all in qualifying. You know, Hamilton was at sixes and sevens last year And he was talking again today about how important it was to work that he'd been doing behind the scenes to get the team to work together in the way that he wants them to work together been talking up how it He's been able to have his input into this year's car design, which I know was something he used to talk about at Mercedes and they used to sort of roll their eyes a little bit at it likes his engineering team now? Yes and he likes his new engineer who he's got this year, which who was meant to be a sort of temporary He' stuck about a fair bit, isn't he? Well I don't think the new guy that they intended to replace him with has arrived yet, but it looks like Hamus was really happy with him. But although it's for all in qualifying, Leclerc does still have a small advantage on average pace And he's so good around here. Now Yes, it's true. Hamilton's also always been so good around here But McLlare is Really, really so good around here. If I if you were to ask me to back one of them too be ahead of the other, I would say Lecler over Hamilton, but Does that mean pole position? I don't know. just I find it really hard to pick this weekend because I don't think Mercedes' advantage is going to be overturned quite so easily. The McLaren, I expect to be really strong here. Norris is really quick around here, so is Piastry. And if you want me to talk about little technicalities for a while, because of the straight line mode not being here, which we talked about earlier. A short while. Yeah All the rear wings,'ve got the opportunity to replace that with little small rear wings in the middle of the rear wing. Everyone's got one except Ferrarri, who seems to have forgotten that that rule loophole exists. Well I would like to move it on to McLaren then because they seem a little bit absent from the conversation when it comes to favourites this weekend. Of course, Mercedes, you've got to talk about as the championship leaders Ferrari seem to have got this favourite status, but McLaren it's a bit of an unknown. What can we expect from them? Lano Norris or Oscar Piastri, who if we could to pick a teammate that? Here I'd definitely go for Lando Norris between the McLaren drivers. and what is interesting is We know the Mercedes engine is quite good on drivability, but what does the McLaren package with their gearbox do here as well? They need to bounce back. If there's ever a team that needs a better weekend than last time out, it's going to be McLaren It's just so weird with McLaren. It's so out of focus, it feels to me. it's never it's always there or thereabouts It will sharp. It's not sharp there yet. U This is more about a driver than anything else. How much commitment are you willing to show to go to get the poull position, to actually do what you need to do here. In that I would always back llando. So it's going to be super interesting to see, in effect, it's maybe not about the cars Saturday is about Nerf about taking the car right up to the guardrail and maybe an inch further referecing Verstappen a couple of years back. Saturday is going to be about that and who is mentally able to do this Two or three timames in a row, but I agree, but it will there not be something at the back of any Mercedes powered driver when they're going around a track where we've had a few engines go by, batteries failing. George Russell last time out Lando Norris and Osca Piatri got back in China. So I just wonder if that reliability question is going to creep in Occasionally, maybe not so much at a track like this, but it's a question you have to think at the back of your mind. Well, it's for the Sunday very important. When every little rattle, everything you hear, you start to think o it's going to stay together. But don't forget, a lot of reedull engines have had issues a lot of Audi engines have had issues. It's not just Mercedes, it's just very obvious when they're in the lead Well Ash, quite like that in a way. likeike that we've got reliability issues rearing their head again in Formula one because I feel like we werere bulletproof for you know a whole generation and you'd have all a full classification. Now, A, usually one car won't make the start the race, and then we'll have seven out by the time we're halfway through. And half them are in the pid lane. start. But to the point you don't think about this when you're doing qualifying because you really just You're in the zone. you need to be in the zone. and you'll see this they'll practice this in FP three. Already, they take way more risks than they would normally do I just don't think on Saturday the car will matter as much than the mental side of it and who will be standing up to the challenge of Monaco Best. So it's the nerve of the drivers, it's the reliability of the car. It's also the strategy and how the team execute the perfect weekend. In Canada, I mean the choice to start on the intermediate tyres, that was a gamble It did not pay off as we all saw, as they saw Do you think they're able to tighten up that sort of execution element of their weekend, Andrew? Well, I think they need to because there's been a sort of consistent series of mishaps, if you like, on various sort of logistical organizational strategic, whatever you want to call it aspects from McLaren if we go back to last year indeed. like Catar for example, when they messed up the strategy, they did it in Miami. They let Antonlli in for the win there where if they kept track position by pitting Norris first he probably would have won the race. and then it happened in Canada with the tre choice, which I got to lift back to the airport with the Mercedes engineers and a couple other people in Montreal And they were just they couldn't believe what they just couldn't believe it what McLaren had done. And I was showing them the justifications that McLaren had used for making that decision and they were like, well, that's not true this is the thing cake do you think I just don't know. To me, made no sense. One car, yes. Okaykay. that's the gamurst. But it with catar, do it with one car. do it one car. Basically It was raining a little bit, but it was basically dry It was the pastri argument over the radio back and forth on the same formation the drivers hadn't been warned. Youve heard the team hadn't been warned. Yeah. I'm sure they'll have gone back over over in the factory as to how that happened, but they need to stop it, keep happening. I think's the main thing. And here it's so important. If something happens, you need to be able to react straight awayay and be bold with your decision making. Well, McLaren has a tendency to be too cerebral, to overthink, to be the most clever kid in the classroom. He's just like me Well, there is an opening maybe at McLaren soon. There's so many people joining. There's no room.s noom. But you just sometimes have to go with your gut feeling and be a racer and just as you say, be decisive and bold. And yes, it was very bold in Montreal, but when the writing was on the wall, they were not decisive. In this, the blame is also a little bit on Piasri for my side because if PiSri knew it was wrong, you force the issue a little bit. And that's not what happened. But I think it's just ingrained. You saw it with Papaya rules last year. they overthink everything and that then becomes a little bit of a problem. Eone has a tendency to make the easy stuff very complicated and McLaren are maybe world champions in that sometimes Well let's hear from Llando Norris and hear how he's feeling coming into this weekend, a race that they really need to get the most out of with both cars I think our run into this weekend this time last year was probably a little bit better than we've had this year. So Maybe not quite to the to the level it was last season, but I think we're optimistic. We still want to come in with hopes of tryrying to achieve a poal and trying to achie a win. that's's still the goals we want to set ourselves. Uh Ferrari and Mercedes have obviously been very strong Mercedes even more so. So We're going ahead ourselves. We're not going to we don't want to be too optimistic, but at the same time, We want to commence our weekends at the minute. I think we've given oursel the chance to C into weekends with the belief that is possible and that's the way we want to stay for now. And when you look at your car's characteristics, do you think The nature of Monaco will suit it Um It's it's just so tough to say. I think You know, we were closer, we were closer. to poll this year in Montreal than we were last time in Montreal when we had a more dominant car U We went on to win in say a similar characteristical track, slow speeds, low grip. track that we have here. So You know, when you just think of those things, we want to kind of gives us confidence when you think of various other things like Just our general performance this year Less so, but we also know where we stand compaing to the other guys, where they' fast, whether're not Um It's true that the Fraaris are not the quickest in the straits, but that's also because they have a lot of downforce and a lot of drag. So It's kind of their own punishment they give themselves, which gives them some advantage and That advantage will definitely show this weekend Okay and final one for Elando, it's McLaren's one thousandth race. Only the second team to reach that milestone. You've done the most starts of any driver former Claren just how proud are you of the part you've played in the team's history U very. U Yeah, I mean, my dream was was to be in F one in the beginning was was to be with McLaren. I don't think at any point I ever thought I'd be the most or the driver in the clarn with the most race stles for them, you know, that's a pretty pretty awesome stat to think of. I'm not I really to be honest, normally I hate sts in general and I hate when people say them. This is one that I'm just proud of for sure It's not like a performance stard. it's just more like a general one and Um That's something, you know, just to see my name alongside so many greats. I know One championship is pretty amazing, but a lot of others and a lot of the people they knows and remembers achieves a lot more. and I certainly want to get to the level that they did. Um for my name to be amongst some incredible drivers in the past is an amazing thing for me to play a small part in Heling McLaren going from where they were a few years ago, which is where no one wants to see McLaren to where we are now has been been an incredible journey that I've been very lucky to be part of Yeah I'm lucky'm lucky boy and I'll be here for many more years at the same time trying to keep McLaren in the position that they are now, which is is winning constructors championships, winning championships for drivers and Yeah, I know how lucky I've been to be part of that journey and I hope that it continues for many more years. That was your reigning worldld champion, Lando Norris on McLaren's one thousandth Grand Prix weekend. Wow. Harry, you look like you've done a thousand Grand Prix. You're looking tired and lethargic. Come on. We've been stood out here for an hour, Rosanne. The linen jackets are taken Harry' ino harbour Blue skies. got got partarties around The setting we've given you and you are just so hard to please A chair wouldn't go miss. You are right. The fame's going to his head was runly We are stood on the most beautiful quy looking out over Port Hercule here in Montecarlo. The sun is behind clouds, so it's a little cooler than it was, but it's been beautiful here and quite a lot of fans here already soaking up the atmosphere, trying to see drivers as they wiggle through the paddock and try not to fall into the harbour that is absolutely jam packed with suuper Yachts, as you might imagine. We're expecting the celebrities this weekend. The grid will be packed. It's going to be a glorious weekend off track and I'm hoping on track as well We've spoken about the big hitters. We've got to include Max Verstappen in that conversation, Nelson. We are outside the Rbull Energy station at the moment, How are you finding Max this season? when you talk to him, obviously with the Dutch media? Is he a little different? What are you getting from your side of things? It is very dependent on how the day goes for him right now. He's wearing his heart on his sleeve. even more so than it used to somehow But he's been very clear about regulations, etcer. but then If you add in a bad weekend, it becomes it becomes a little bit more tessy for him and very black and white sometimes. but you can't really find faold in the commitment and that's what he's going to need on the Saturday. But I'm a little bit worried about and Andrew maybe you'll I have a similar feeling is the drivability of that Ford engine provide some hairy moments in qualifying for Red Bull Yeah I wouldn't sound worried about it. I mean, look, Max is amazing, isn't he? And let's not forget three years ago, he put in one of the great all time poll laps here to snatch the poll and therefore the win as a result. you know No one's talking about rebels potential wins winners, are they, Nelson?? With him in the car, you're just never quite sure. We just not we haven't got a quite clear picture of exactly where Rebble are because they're a bit they're fluctuating a bit this season But this is a sort of race track where if they can get the car in the white right window, he can really come alive It's the bums in the curbs though, isn't it? I think the rearing rearing their head again for Red Bull Vstapp I think that is what kind of hindered them in Canada as well. They got lucky let's face it in the race to be on the podium. So they didn't have, you know it' was great battling with Lewis Hamilson, but they didn't have the pace to sort of be there on merit. So I think with the bumpy nature of Canada the track as well, tryin to change the setup, which then to tweak the ride hype but then that falls out of the window to get the tyres warmed up. It's finding that balance throughout this week and I think could be another issue for R And it is quite bumpy out there. Just a bit. ye. And he was very disappointed about The fact that it's still in Red Bull's DNA That's the bigger issue. Yeah. And he really, really was angry in Montreal. So yeah, just see how that continues. If he struggles here in FP one or two then the interviews become very interesting because yeah, he's starting to draw a line in the sand with Red Bull feel, I feel like about this problem that's been there since I believe twenty twenty three. And I think that's the first time he really started noticing the car not behaving the way he wanted over bumps Yeah it was very clear on Montreal what he thought about it. So let's see here And of course, he's been giving little hints about his future, whether he will or won't stay in the sport. It sounds more positive at the moment that he'll stay. You're nodding your head, Andrew. You don't expect him to leave the sport anytime soon, do you I don't, but I don't know where he's going to be next year if he does stay. Yeah, I agree. I agree I'm not sure. This is where the Merry go round of drivers begins,n't it Silly season in half the grids out of contract. What I mean by that is he can, he's under contract to Rebel till the end of twenty twenty eight, but he definitely will be able to leave unless to have some kind of miraculous turnaround in performance because of a performance clause in his contract, he will be able to leave at the end of this season If he's able to leave And he goes to Tota Wolf and says, I want to come and drive for you Is Total Wolf going to be able to resist that temptation I mean, it all gets a bit sticky because the Mercedes drivers contracts you know They should be locked in given how competitive their car is. But no control all locked in. Exactly' forormula one. anythingthing can be moved if people want to sts from a clarinet. Yeah, exactly. So it could get really tasty. I think my feeling is Verstappen wants to stay He's encouraged by the fact that they're trying to change the rules for next year so the engines are a little bit less sort of energy stared by changing sort of the ratio between internal combustion engine and electrical power It's going in the right direction. So he's making the right noises about staying in Formula onene, but that doesn't mean he's going to stay at Red Bull. But also he's getting a lot from Red Bull kind of outside the car as well. They're sponsoring and funding his GT racing, slapping Red Ball all over the car, allowing that to happen and allowing that to happen anyway as well in his contract. But he's driving a Mercedes in those in those I't he drive a fares would not want him to Yes, but if you're Zach Browning and you have this beautiful new LeMon hypercar that you could also run in Daytona and you say, well, I can give you a couple of GT threes plus, you can do all the endurance races you want. and all my sponsorship dollars are multiplied by having you on my team Zagground is a deal maker. I wouldn't rule it out. There is no sign that that discussion is happening. but Stranger things have happened in this paddock. And plus we forget, obviously the news that GP his race engineer will be going to McLaren at some point by twenty twenty eight That is not insignificant, no matter what they've said, it's not insignificant. That relationship coming to an end, is that a natural time for Verstappen to depart? Yeah, I mean, Lord, we don't know any of this. This is all. It's a sort of thing, you know, But having said that, you know, Totalal' has been trying to get Max Verstappen for two years now It's hard to see him resisting that temptation oppun if the door opens again, let's put that way. But we were so hot and boreered last year when he was on Toto's yacht for a couple of hours. and probably in the end it was about getting a few GT threerees for the Norchlifer. So I mean we can fall into the trap every year. and I think it's a waiting game and we'll just wait and see. We've got to get excited about things, haven't we? It's what we do. Well, this falls nicely into the sort of rumor mill segment of the show. Perhaps some quick fire questions and answers on what we've heard Cadillac not happy with Botas? Is he going to be out midseason? I don't believe that. at all.' not. But he does need to improve his performance to Perez because Perez had a good couple of races on the trot. Botass hasn't been anyhere Christian Horner coming back to Formula One with BYD twelve nonsense. I've been shut down on that rumor mail moment, Okeie dokei. I'd to see a twelfth team though And I think Ful onene needs big personalities back in the game. I think we've lost a few too many over the years. Fne is doing his level best to keep himself in the news at the moment, but there's no prospect of him coming back with BYD. and the What's interesting is the Alpine situation So there was a story on the Booy Sort website that we did last week about Toto Wolf and Mercedes pulling out of wanting to buy that team because they thought that the people who own the American autro company who have got twenty four percent of that team have overpriced it effectively and Renault have now ended any talks about that sale, but Renault only have a veto over the sale of those shares until September What happens after that? We don't know. Renault don't want Hornna anywhere near that team, but from September onwards they can't stop it. Well at least in theory they can't. whether the parent company would be very happy about him being back in the scenario, even if Otro did want to sell to the consortium that he has allegedly put together, we don't know and how that would work out. But for now that's all gone quiet. Feels like your summer break is going be spent sniffing out that story, Andrew. I really hope not, R. Barin and Saudi returning at the end of the year to reshuffle the shutter. Have you heard something about this? OkayK, so I can tell you about this Py, it all depend on the war There's a tentative plan to put Bahrain in between Baku and Singapore if it's possible. But changing the end of the season is much more difficult. The Aber Dhabi Grand Prix dates is basically locked in They don they don't want to move that race that date. it's associated with their national Day, which is earlier in the same week. People were talking about moving Abudhabibi back another week to get Las Vegas to get sorry, not Las Vegas Saudi Arabia in. Abudabibi don't want to move at the moment. So gettingting Saudi in will be much more difficult, but if they can, they will get they will try and squeeze Bahrain in between Bakam and Singapore Butart But if the war carries on, there's even questions about where the backaku can happen because it's close enough to Iran for it to be a potential target. and it is obviously an American owned company that owns this sport. So you know there's a risk there. Yeah then contested airspace that you have to cross. What we haven't kept eyes on is that there are all the team kids including Hundreds of sets of tires still standing Vorraain Airport Everything that they had from testing there is still there because they haven't been able to move it And that is quite interesting fromom a global standpoint, I believe also FOM is working with a couple of scenarios for next year because of course they'd like to start in the Middle East. That is always the plan