Latest / The Apex / 2026 Japan GP Review

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2026 Japan GP Review · The Apex

• The Apex F1 Podcast: Hello everybody, I am Meredith. Welcome back to another episode of the Apex F1 Podcast. I am joined by my co-host today, Josh and Paul. Josh, how are you today? Josh: Doing great, we got nice weather finally, getting warm outside, much pollen, but I'll take what I can get. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, my white car has been like yellow for the last several weeks. There's no such thing as a clean car in these trying times. Josh: terrible. Paul: energy No, allergies are awful. Josh: Mmm. Terrible. Obliterated. The Apex F1 Podcast: Absolutely. Paul, how are you? Paul: I'm wonderful, how are you guys today? The Apex F1 Podcast: Another day in the dream life, you know sitting here talking with my friends about motorsport. What could be better? Talking to my friends. Well, we had an exciting weekend full of racing know that with the Japan start time none of us watched it live time because you know, we're humans you did Paul: just talking to my friends. I did. Yeah, I worked at a hospital overnight, so it was perfect and it wasn't that busy. So, boom, watched it live. The Apex F1 Podcast: and you actually did watch it, not listen to it. Josh: That's not bad. Paul: I yes I watched it not listen there's nothing wrong with listening to a sporting event on the radio we got to bring that back The Apex F1 Podcast: There's not. Bring back the radio. This is a campaign. Bring back the radio. Okay. So you watched it live. Josh and I both watched it on Sunday. were traveling, so we watched it when we got home on Sunday, but we'll jump right in because not a of breaking news coming out from the F1 world right now. So we'll just jump right into the race. Paul: I'm here for it. Yes, absolutely. The Apex F1 Podcast: We'll come to you first since you watched it live. What were your initial thoughts, reactions to the race? Paul: I thought the race, don't want to say it was a dud because it had some fireworks, but ⁓ think was more than what we got. Kimmy is on another level. That kid, we live in a world where a teenager now leads the constructors, the world title championship. What a crazy thought. At 18, 19, however old he was, there's no way I had the maturity enough to handle that. And we have a teenager that's now leading the, one could argue the pinnacle of racing. So good for him. Great for McLaren that they finally finished a race, let alone what Oscar was able to do. And I'm sure we'll get into that, but overall it was good. I thought it was a halfway decent race, better than last year. The Apex F1 Podcast: What about you, Josh? What were your thoughts? Josh: Yeah, much better race than last year's. think all of our racing is going to be better than the years prior, just a little more forgiving on the regulation side. But I say of the three races we've had so far, this was the least ⁓ exciting. think they gave us the least ⁓ little The Apex F1 Podcast: Bye, Yugi. Paul: See, he's getting big. The Apex F1 Podcast: is getting big! Paul: Hey, bud. All right. Go do your thing. The Apex F1 Podcast: Guest appearances brought to you by the Kitty Yuki. Paul: Yes. Go ahead, Josh. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cut you off with my cat's cuteness. Josh: where was I? I think that was the most boring of the races so far, which is, mean, it wasn't about boring race by any means, but it was just the least entertaining of the three. Suzuka, was hoping a little ⁓ for better options throughout the grid. Nobody, well, one started on a different tire than everybody else. One started on a everyone else started medium. And so everyone was on the same strategy. Yeah. Valtteri was on a different strategy, ran the hearts first. The Apex F1 Podcast: Isn't it Botox? Paul: Yeah, both three. Josh: But everybody was going to play the one stop, the medium hard. So I was a little disappointed by the strategy. Offense really is now the time to do that. That dog he's been, he's been laying on the couch. He's been laying on the couch for two hours. What is he doing now? Thanks. Okay. All right. Sorry, buddy. Okay. Um, I know. And then look, he's got this, the chewed up worst toy I've got just Paul: Yes! The Apex F1 Podcast: Today is the episode brought to you by the secret life of pets, the secret life of the apex pets. Paul: he's got the energy now. The Apex F1 Podcast: He's like, I've got post-nap zoomies, dad. Josh: shredded anyway. He loved this is favorite favorite tour. Sorry, Okay. than that, I mean, we had a couple interesting incidents that I think we'll have to talk about a little more. It's like I guess we're doing everybody's just getting involved. The Apex F1 Podcast: I smell that thing through the camera. I feel so sweet. Paul: Yeah, look at him. good boy. Josh: Okay. ⁓ I think we have to discuss and we may want to wait until we get Meredith's thoughts here on our race, but I want to get into the Ollie Baerman, ⁓ incident. think we got to get into that. And be honest, I'll start off with just my briefest thoughts. I think the honeymoon phase is over with these regulations for me. You know, the, rose colored glasses are off and now that we're kind of seeing them for what they ⁓ are, think that this is, there's conversations that need to be had. So thought it fun, but I wish for more. The Apex F1 Podcast: will confess, I dozed off a few times. It was like we had stayed up late and then got up early to go to the airport, came home, got home, got food delivered. We were in our ⁓ by like 1.30 to start race, 1.30 in the afternoon. Great start, really excited. Somewhere in there. I just kind of dozed off a couple of times and I genuinely think that may be the first time ever that I've fallen asleep during an F1 race and think that speaks to kind of what Paul was talking about that it was There some really good moments some bright spots in there in the racing and then there were some that was just like kind of felt like Okay, here's another 10 laps little power nap 10 lap power nap and then I'd wake up and I was like, okay Not much has changed Yeah, but I think overall, you I was really, really, really happy to see the performance of McLaren this weekend. Obviously being both a McLaren and Ferrari fan, I was going to be pumped to see if McLaren could deliver a car this weekend and start and finish races and to be able to score points. So I was really happy with McLaren. It like it felt like did fall off on performance a little bit this weekend, but I mean, I don't see that as being a, it's back. You know, ⁓ I see that being a performance issue over the weekend and plenty of time to get it out back in for Miami. Yeah. Josh: you Yeah, I think it might've been like a setup. I wonder if it was a setup issue since I mean. The Apex F1 Podcast: I think that I saw something on social media that was like they made some minor tweaks to the setup and that he gave feedback that he was not happy with that setup. thought good, strong weekend again for McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari up in there. my spot of the weekend is Pierre Gasly scoring points for the third consecutive race. ⁓ I just so impressed. I never in a million years thought we would see Alpine in points in the first three races of the season. ⁓ So those were definitely some high points for me. I was really, really excited to see that this weekend. Josh: not only to get points for Alpine but to defend for like 25 laps against Max Verstappen. What? The Apex F1 Podcast: It was, and then at the very last lap, they're like, is he gonna, and then he just goes, zoom, and blocked, and I was like. Josh: just just close the door. I was like, ⁓ get up here. Yeah, I was excited for him. The way then yeah. Max is unhappy. The Apex F1 Podcast: And then Max waving. I just, thought that was funny. It does seem like I was a little bit concerned after the first two races that we were going to kind of see Mad Max come back where like when things are not going his way, he has been known to make some aggressive moves and he seems almost like a ⁓ sad point of just like accepting it. ⁓ I know he's made some statements about, know, like there's a lot of good time now before Miami for them to reset and see what they can change and get dialed in. Paul: I guess. The Apex F1 Podcast: I definitely expected to see more of a Mad Max on track and it seems like he's almost at a point of acceptance of like, this just is what it is right now. We're about to have a month break, so be it. No point in stressing my life out. He was very clear about being happy in his personal life and he was like, I'm gonna get to this season and see if it's worth it. also saw something this morning that he has that performance clause in his contract and he is not within a certain place in the championship battle, he... ⁓ gets to get out of his contract with Red Bull and he does not have to notify them of that until October. That's a very long time that he has options to play the field or leave the field. Paul: I don't think we're seeing Max Mad Max on track. I think we're seeing Mad Max off track. Did see him kick that pillar during the scrum? The Apex F1 Podcast: I didn't see it happen. saw the picture after and there is a picture of him and he's looking like this. And then there's just the pillar behind him with the little hole in the wall at the bottom. And he's just like, yeah, I didn't see that. Like what happened? Paul: Yeah. He's frustrated. He's answering questions and then he turns around, kicks the pillar or whatever that is, puts a hole in it, walks away. which we'll get into here in a second on that. The Apex F1 Podcast: YIKED Yeah, well, let's go straight to the Ollie crash, because I think that was the biggest headline coming out of this weekend. Like great for Kimmy, you know, and don't remember what it was called on the internet, but it was the it's like the first time in history that somebody has completed a poll to win conversion and fastest lap two races ⁓ a row, which I thought was a really cool stat. So great bright spot for Kimmy. But I think that the topic was ⁓ and the safety and the crash. So, Josh, come to you first on this one. Josh: Yeah, that's, think the biggest concern coming out of the weekend is he, you know, listening to Carlos signs who is the president of the Grand Prix drivers association. So he's kind of the spokesperson for, for the drivers as far as like, you know, kind of, if you want to say a union, uh, but mostly it deals in safety issues. Um, usually it's like week by week, but you know, with this new regulation cycle, he's been pretty vocal about the potential for an incident like this. And I think watching that incident and thinking about the the way, the where it occurred on the track and the potential for that kind of closing speed to happen again. Like that wasn't even a corner that you usually to expect a car to be in a position like that. Right. So I don't want to fault Franco at all because I think he was just, you know, in a bad place at a bad time and there was nothing he could do about it other than, you know, maybe to give a little more space on that outside. But think the issue is the closing speed. I mean, they were, they were saying it was like a 40 something. commoner an hour closing speed, which is ridiculous in a Formula One car. It caused Ali lose control and have a 50 K, you know, 50 G impact, which is, you know, horrible. And then, know, we saw him, hopefully, luckily he was not injured more than, you know, a bruised knee, but you know, to see any driver get out of a car and limping like that is extremely concerning. And it's concerning this kind of thing could happen again. And I hadn't considered it, but Carlos brought it up that With this, with this runoff areas, Suzuka is wide open. It's a well-known established circuit. There's runoffs, there's gravel traps. You know, some of that inertia was taken away from the car by those means before the impact to the tire barrier. But at circuits where it's a street circuit, know, Las Vegas, Singapore, Baku, these tracks, Baku particularly scares me. There's a of really bad potential for closing speed and there is no runoff. There is no. protection, it is just immediately into a concrete barrier that could seriously injure someone. Think about like the first year we went to Vegas and Lando had that bad wreck down. I don't remember if it was in the race itself or it was in one of the sessions, but he ended up running through one of the straights and very hard into a barrier. And I worry that another incident like that could occur. And I think that Something has to be changed. And the fact that I think the FIA understands that there is an issue they're willing to make adjustments to qualifying, but not make adjustments to the race itself. That says to me that they're, they're trying to double down on these regulations without changing anything. And I think that that's a dangerous stance to take. ⁓ have to be flexible. They have to be willing to make these adjustments for the sake of the drivers and the sake of the racing, or going to throw their head in the sand and something bad could happen. I'm. little frustrated with the FIA's decision on not doing anything so far. So ⁓ hope this incident was a one-off and will change their mind and they will make an adjustment and we won't have to see anything like that again, to be honest. The Apex F1 Podcast: I hope not. think it's also, you know, the crash was the big glaring thing, right? Like, a horrible, horrible incident. ⁓ lucky he walked away. He did with just a limp. You know, were even videos of him getting on the train limping and like putting his suitcase in and limping really bad. And thank God he's got a month to recover. ⁓ now I think the one thing that we're also seeing Carlos and George speak up about is all the other little things. that aren't as massive of a tension of a grab as a crash is, you know, and they're talking about the nerve damage that they're concerned about with the Aston Martin drivers. Like there's just many other little things that have been easy to brush under the rug. And to your point now with something like this that you really can't ignore, how does the FIA not take action on that? You what's the point of an FIA governing body? The whole point of the FIA is to have ⁓ standards for safety of the drivers. And so I'm really glad that we have George and that are speaking up for that Grand Prix Drivers Association and really pushing and advocating for change. ⁓ I hope that they do not let up during this break because I think that that is what the FIA is hoping will happen. That they've got this break until Miami, that drivers are going to have this break and that the attention is going to go off of them. The heat's going to be off of them. And I really hope that the GPDA doesn't let that happen and they continue advocating for the safety of the drivers. I mean, they're the only ones who are going to do it. So hopefully we'll see something. What are your thoughts, Paul? Josh: Mm-hmm. Paul: Now that the rose colored glasses are off, we think that they want it? F1 has always been the place where they try to push the envelope in design and engineering. Do you think they got too overzealous when it came to this and tried to take too big of a bite of the apple and now they're shooting themselves in the foot? Josh: No, I don't think that, I mean, I think that there's always a concern with a new regulation that how far is too far? we go too far? But we've seen this before adjustments are made throughout the season, know, mid season, late season, we could see completely different issues, you know, or know it. could have, these issues could be rectified, right? And we could be moving on to the next issue. So it's, it's unfair to say that this whole regulation set is just well too advanced, right? I think that there is a way to make it work. I think that the energy deployments in the way that it's deployed, it needs to be looked at. And, you know, maybe for the season, we don't do a 50-50 split. go 60-40, 75, you know, 30, whatever we can do to try and make this a little less, because we're right. The biggest issue right now is the drivers are having a hard time getting the car. Because, and what I didn't realize is I thought the drivers were determining where they wanted to deploy the energy. The energy management is not done by the drivers. It is done preset by engineers and it's done by software. The drivers are completely unaware. And that's actually what I, what kind of, you know, makes me more frustrated. The drivers are completely unaware when and where their energy is going to cut out. And I think that's even more dangerous because if the driver himself cannot understand that, how can he mitigate it? Moving out of a racing line, letting an overtake happen when he knows he's out of power. And then you've got several drivers complaining of car is just not recharging fast enough. They're having to let off and coast well earlier into corners. We saw one 30 R which last week I sat here and said, could be really fun of a corner. ⁓ could see racing in it and you bear the cars were losing power before they ever got to one 30 R to even see that be cool. Right. So I, I don't think that the regulations are a complete, you know, disaster or complete wash. think that there's adjustments that need to be made. But I think that the willingness to make them is what I'm fearful of. know, we've got the, we've got formula one itself is, is monitoring their comments on social media. They're deleting comments, they're hiding comments. They don't want the fan base to voice their opinions. They're, they're like when they, they posted Kim Antonelli's pole position lap on from qualifying and they cut away right when the super clipping for lack of a better word, but we all understand what it is. When the super clipping happened and it's like, why are we hiding this? You know, The Apex F1 Podcast: Mm-hmm. Josh: Everyone sees it happening. We can go back and watch it. The data is there. Everybody has access to the telemetry. It's not a surprise that this is happening. I don't know why we're trying to hide it so much. Is there a bigger issue that we don't know of that's causing this that is making this untenable? I don't know. I'm worried about this a little bit. Paul: Well, we got 35 days to or they have 35 days to prove that they're that they're hearing and they're going to do something about it because like you said in other in street tracks, there's not a lot. There's not a very big runoff and that 50 G's could possibly be life threatening had that happened in Baku or somewhere else. Josh: And we haven't even seen these long straights yet where the super-equipping could even reduce speeds even further. know, we have, you know, Monza, there's nowhere to recharge the batteries in Monza. What are we doing there? What are we doing in Baku? There's nowhere to recharge the batteries in Baku. The long straight will sap all the energy. I just, I don't know. The Apex F1 Podcast: Thanks Paul: just saw on Twitter, on Twitter an hour ago, they're Kalapinto for the, or they're the power unit in Kalapinto's car for what Ali Behrman, for Ali Behrman's crash. And I just don't seem to see how the math is adding up on that one. The Apex F1 Podcast: I think. Yeah, I don't see how the math adds up on that one. also, you know, it's like you seen the videos, we've seen the onboards like Colapento did nothing egregiously, aggressively wrong. Like, like Josh said, there could have been a little bit more room on the outside, but that's if something had not happened, nobody would talking about this and nobody would have think that Colapento did anything wrong. it's this is not a Franco Colapento issue. This is a regulation issue. This is something needs to change. ⁓ This is the FIA needs to go back and feel like what is the compromise that the drivers are okay with? Because I feel like I'm having flashbacks to like the Senna docu-series kind of show where like this is what they were screaming for and advocating for was like, this is currently not working and it's not safe and someone will die. And will continue to be dangerous if we get to some of those tracks like that, they do not have extended runoffs. and somebody goes into a concrete barrier at 50 Gs, somebody could die. And they have the opportunity to change that and to change it early in the regulations to be able to say, look, we hear you, safety is the most important thing. We are gonna try to make this right. Like we'll come back, here's what we're willing to do right now. And then we'll keep the door open for conversation if it is still putting drivers in jeopardy. They have to do that, I hope. Josh: Yeah, have to do that. I don't think there is any, hope. I think that this is to the point where there has to be action. Paul: the driver union that Carlos Sainz is a part of, can they play a bigger role in this? Does anybody know? Josh: They don't have any like bargaining power. It's just a of, you know, it. The Apex F1 Podcast: It's using the press and the media to advocate and make appearances, make letters, things like that, and speak to that. Josh: which has not been well received in the past. And like within the last couple of years, it's been like a last summer there was, what was the issue that was last summer that the, was it George posted made that, that, that right up. What was that? He made a write up and sent it to FIA. It was over a safety concern issue and they just told him to go get fucked. So I don't, they, Paul: I got you. Yeah, I can't seem to remember exactly what it was. The Apex F1 Podcast: Something tells me that's not the first time in George's life that he's been told to go get fucked. Josh: Probably not. they told him to go screw off pretty quickly. so that makes me fear. like, you know, it's great that these guys can voice their opinion. And I think it's good that they have an association. But how much power, you know, maybe in the future. The Apex F1 Podcast: But I also think we have to think about who is leading that. And it's Carlos and George that lead that. And Carlos gets out of the car and like, granted, it's not like, yeah, like a knock it out of the park weekend, right? Where he should be talking about his performance and, you know, trying to score points and all this stuff. But for George to get out of the car and for all of his commentary after the race to be about something being wrong with his car. Hey, can we look at that about, you know, with Kimmy according to plan? And can we look at this with Kimmy? Can we look at my car? And it's like. I was really disappointed in George because I felt like he'd had a lot of growth in his leadership. it's like the second something is not going his way, he becomes hostile and angry. I felt like the quote that he said about Max is him right now because Kimmy is winning. And instead of, hey, it is what it is. I didn't get a podium. What a bummer. I'll reflect with the team after. Let me take this opportunity to step into my role as the GPDA leader with Carlos and come up and talk about the safety. Paul: You mean he becomes Karen? Josh: Yes. The Apex F1 Podcast: That's what he should have done as a leader, one of the elected leaders for this committee. He should have stepped up in that moment ⁓ thought, you know what, sucks for me. I'll talk about my role in this race with the team later. I need to use my platform right now to talk about driver safety like Carlos did. That was my thought on that. Paul: Yeah, Karen George is back at it again. Josh: Yeah, and it's like, get it, an safety car ruined your race, but I mean, that doesn't mean that's why would you be concerned about your car being the issue? You saw the strategy and what happened causing this. This isn't a car issue. You weren't head to head with Kimmy and you just didn't have this pace down the straights or whatever. It's like, buddy, you pit on the lap that safety car happened. Like that's ruined. That ruins anyone's race. It's over. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, ask Ferrari. They know a lot about that. Josh: They know a lot about that. They also know a lot about not pinning under safety cars. God, Ferrari. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah. Yeah, I don't know. just, think that overall I'll be very interested to see what happens during this. It's God, I'm trying to remember which content creator posted it. Someone said, I always know there's gonna be a break for F1 and I didn't quite expect to get spring break from F1 this year. And that made me laugh so hard and I cannot remember who posted it right now, but thank you for posting that. That was so funny. I'm hoping they will use this F1 spring break to make some changes, have some difficult conversations. know, ⁓ maybe Carlos George. Carlos and George can get on the same page and prepare joint statement from the GPDA and send it to them for consideration and review and say like, hey, we're open to coming and being a sounding board or for you guys to ask questions. I think that would be really, ⁓ powerful if they were to band together in this and say like, hey, drivers, what do you want us to like advocate for? ⁓ then advocate for that. But I'll be interested over the next few weeks to see what comes out. I would honestly anticipate ⁓ they will not. put out anything until closer to Miami. That's my gut feeling. Josh: Yeah, yeah, I agree. They're not going to want divulge a lot of that information this far ahead. There'll be too much talking around it. The Apex F1 Podcast: and we can't have the people talking. God forbid there'd be talking in the pinnacle of motorsport. Josh: We can't, we cannot have anyone talking. That's why we hide all the c- No one must be dissenting on the Pinnacle. The Apex F1 Podcast: Paul's like, I ain't doing an accent. Paul: No, I can't. I'm not that talented. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yes you are. You've got a face for radio, Paul, remember? Paul: I have a face for radio. God. ⁓ The Apex F1 Podcast: Any other thoughts on the race or any other standout performances or anything like that for you guys? Josh: Yeah, Kimmy is the new Lando at race starts. So congratulations to Kimmy Antonelli being the worst at race starts from the pole position, because that's pretty damn bad. The Apex F1 Podcast: ⁓ god, ⁓ Paul: But I don't know. But he... The Apex F1 Podcast: Kimmy ranked number one at Worst Race Starts for sure. Paul: He admitted to this one, he had a clutch issue, he wasn't where he needed to be and hopefully he could. Josh: Do you see Toto, what Toto used to blame this, which makes no sense to me. Toto said, well, these new kids, we have to teach them how to use a clutch. They've never used a clutch before. It's like, okay, Kimmy's driven cars with clutches. promise you he's driven super cars that have clutches. Also, it's not like a clutch in a road car Toto. It's a button. It's a, well, it's a paddle on the back of the steering wheel. mean, it's not like his foot's down there releasing a clutch. There's, and it's a Paul: What happened? The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, dude. Josh: And it's a double clutch. There's two different bite points. not the same thing, Toto. That's enough. The Apex F1 Podcast: It made me think back to something that there was never much follow up on. Before the F1 season started, Kimi was involved in a high speed crash. Do y'all remember that? In Italy? Paul: Yeah. Josh: Yeah, react to this brand new, the, it? ⁓ The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, where has that story gone? I'd like to circle back to that and figure out, because I remember them being like, well, you know, they could suspend his driver's license and that could have an impact. No, it wouldn't, would it? No, because he has a super license. Paul: They were not. Josh: No we're not. Which you can have us. Paul: Hey, real quick though, Fernando finished the race. Josh: He did. Which means I should have picked that for my predictions because I would have gotten that one. The Apex F1 Podcast: He did. Paul: Hey, look at. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah. Yeah. You Paul: All right, let me ask this. Are we, is anyone else getting tired of Max being all mopey about him not getting his way and the car not being as good? Josh: No, people eventually they'll just stop asking him because he's no, I'm not surprised. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, if they have the same interview over and over and over again, then. Paul: Cause it seems to me like he's just throwing a temper tantrum because he's not getting his way in the car is not where he wants it to be. And it's just like, dude, grow, grow up. Like that's part of racing. You're not always going to have the rocket ship. Josh: He is. what he's had four years of well, but to be fair I mean Lewis kind of whined a bunch too at end of the Mercedes era so Maybe this Paul: and the beginning of the Ferrari era. Josh: Well, I mean, to be fair, that was a pretty shit car. The Apex F1 Podcast: You know, I still don't think Max to Mercedes is dead in the water. I still think there is a chance that if this Red Bull stays a shit box the Mercedes delivers this year, I still think there's a chance that Toto outs George and brings Max in. Paul: I think he's done. I think he's done altogether. don't think he wants, if things don't drastically change for him, I think he's done with F1. Josh: could see him taking a year off. The Apex F1 Podcast: I don't disagree. mean, especially cause he said that. said things are going so well in my personal life. You know, I just have to question like, do I want this? But if we continue to see that Mercedes be the rocket ship McLaren was last year, ⁓ we see Mercedes dominance of all these races, ⁓ don't think that there's an ounce of max that would go, damn, Mercedes looks really, really good. And this is what the regulation cycle is gonna be for a few more years. And maybe I don't wanna go out this way. Maybe I should enforce my clause and see if there's an opportunity with Mercedes. I think Toto would kick George out in a second. Paul: I think Toto's already made that phone call. Hell, look what Toto did with Horner and Alpine. It just came out yesterday or the day before that Alpine is not, they shut down Horner's 24 % bid in buying it because Toto came in and did this. So you know Toto is just stirring the pot in the background. He loves being that asshole. The Apex F1 Podcast: just saying, I still think that there could be a possibility we could see a Max and a Mercedes if Mercedes continues to dominate and he thinks there could be an opportunity to win another championship in a car, in F1. Now, if Max, say the landscape drastically changes throughout this season and ⁓ no longer has a super dominant car and, know, their other teams get acquainted, get things dialed in and it's really competitive, then yeah, maybe so. Maybe, Matt, I don't want this. But if Mercedes is absolutely dominating season, ⁓ and there's an opportunity, I don't see Max wanting to walk away with cards still on the table. Is that the saying, cards on the table, money on the table, something on the table? Championship's on the table. Josh: Yeah, sure. I don't think Max walks away. I don't see him pursuing like a full career in endurance. I he would go to join teams for races here and there, I think he is right now and he's throwing a temper tantrum, but I think that he has opportunity at every single team, whether they want to admit it or not. Somebody would be fired if they didn't take Max for staff and Max wanted to to your team. So I think that he's got opportunities at. Paul: We'll go with that. Josh: I think he has an opportunity at Aston still. So I think he's got several opportunities. I think he's also hopeful that Ford will figure out this powertrain and Red Bull does tend to have some pretty good midseason upgrades. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, I mean, think about last season. Total shit box at the beginning and then look where we were at end of the season. So too early on and you know, only three races in, two less races for us to measure leading into Miami. So I think Miami will be very, very interesting. I'm really sad I'm not going this year. Paul: And this is when, you know, most teams bring their biggest upgrades. So it's going to be interesting to see what they all come up with and what product we get on track in 34 days or 35 days, whatever the countdown is for that. The Apex F1 Podcast: Did you see the video that Tosincheco did about the upgrades they're bringing to Miami? They were like, so how are you guys feeling about Miami? And they're like, massive upgrades, right, man? Massive. I know. It was just like ⁓ 15 seconds pure just them being themselves. And I loved it. ⁓ Paul: ⁓ yeah, something like that. Yeah. And that's. And I think at one point, Valtteri goes, Mercedes, watch out, these upgrades, we're coming after you. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, like I, it was just so good. And just like, feel like both of their senses of humor getting to like play out there getting to drive with a little bit less pressure. They're a new team. They're just trying to get comfortable. They're trying to get the car dialed in. So I just really loved that they're kind of having some fun with it in the media. I also loved that came and was like his quote like, yeah, you know, Paul: Thank The Apex F1 Podcast: Me and Fernando were having a lot of fun in our own little Aston Martin championship in this race. I thought that was funny too. So glad to see that the drivers, while it may not be optimal conditions for them, some of them are trying to make light of it and making the best of the situations that they're in until they have upgrades. Paul: But I know Cadillac came out as a team and said they had a very successful weekend. I mean, they finished what, 17th and 19th, but they were like, it was a great weekend. We got what we wanted. The car is moving in the right direction. So hopefully things kind of start going their way. There is team that just is struggling and that's Williams. ⁓ The Apex F1 Podcast: I know what happened with Alex. must have something must have happened when I fell asleep because ⁓ was like two laps behind. Josh: you ⁓ Paul: Well, then it all, I mean, it all came back from qualifying because he was like, where am I? And like, you know, ⁓ I'm sure it's me, but I've been telling you guys this is what's going on and you're not listening. Yeah. There's, there's trouble in paradise. Josh: They came out and said that they were using it as a practice session. They collection and trying different strategies, different tweaks on the wings. So they kept going back to the garage and he would go a couple laps down. He'd come back out and do a couple laps and go do a pit stop. So he was just kind of, he was just there. Yeah. The Apex F1 Podcast: Just out there for funsies. Paul: Yeah, but you know, James Vowles came outside years ago. We're focused on 26. So 26 is here and. Josh: Yeah, James Vowles lied to you. He meant 27. He's The Apex F1 Podcast: Maybe you should go back to 2025. Josh: Maybe you should have put your eggs in that basket because this basket's not very good. Yeah. Paul: Yeah. The Apex F1 Podcast: Fix this, just fix this basket. It's the only basket we've got for the next few years to fix. Josh: I think he should probably shoot for 2030 when the next regulation cycle changes. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, just like all of a sudden we see Williams being like completely light years ahead. They're like, yeah, we're not a zero. Josh: Yeah, I mean, I'm sure they'll figure it out, The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, it is hard to watch right now though. And I mean, I do really like Alex Albon and I like Karla Sines. I like them as a driver pairing. What I do hate is when drivers that make a really good driver pairing, they're still competitors, right? Like I hate when the team dynamic of what's happening when one is performing and the other is not. kind of ends up pitting the two against each other in the media. Like there was just a clip of Alex and Carlos and they were interviewing Carlos and Alex was kind of, he had kind of stepped back so that they could ask Carlos the question. said something, ⁓ said something in this interview and then Alex's face was just kind of like, you know, he just kind of looks a little lost and then everybody turned it into a meme. And it was like everybody realizing that, or Alex Albon realizing that Carlos Sines is the lead driver and they're going to prioritize him. And it's like, don't, we don't have to create that narrative right now. Again, we are three races in and Williams has been shitting the bed so far. So, you know, they've just got got to get it figured out. Who knows, we didn't expect them to deliver anything last year and then look at them. So maybe they're gonna get a little good spring break or good summer break in there to get some time dialed in and get some things figured out. Paul: Hey, my charen got figured out. Oscar out of nowhere finishing P2. Josh: Yeah. You know what? Very, very good performance out of them. I was already impressed at qualifying, right? Cause the car actually started and then they got to the grid and I was like, Whoa, this is an improvement. ⁓ Pretty neat. very, very good starts. Very, very, very starts. Very impressive on them. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, both have really strong starts. Paul: I really think, had we not gotten that safety car, I think Oscar could have won this race. The Apex F1 Podcast: really felt like he had the pace. ⁓ I felt like he had the pace and I think he could have done it too, but you know, that's a bias. Josh: Absolutely. Paul: But that's racing, right? don't always work out the way you intended and you can't control what the other 21 drivers do behind you. And it's called racing, George. This is what happens. ⁓ being a Karen. Josh: Yes, I'll- The Apex F1 Podcast: But even like Lando was saying after the race, he finished the race and was laughing. He got fifth. That's incredible. He's especially given the race weekends to fifth for McLaren. That's really great. And it's really great data to work off of and lean into. We're only three races in. ⁓ Chill. for Lando to be getting out of the car and laughing and for him to still be so vocal about his concerns about the regulations and the cars, ⁓ I him speaking up. ⁓ I the way that Lando is speaking up from beginning the season to now, I wouldn't say he's like matured a little, but I felt like at the beginning to me, even though I am a Lando fan, it felt like the way he was speaking about it in the media was very whiny earlier on. I feel like this coming into this weekend, I feel like a lot of his media stuff was just more about like, there is an ⁓ sentiment by the drivers that there are things wrong with this regulation. I'm not just saying this because I haven't finished races. Like ⁓ felt like he was just like professionally trying to scream like, I am aware that it looks like I am just saying this because I haven't finished races. And I feel like for him to get out of the car in fifth and like be laughing, being like, yeah, and there's still issues. And like, we just saw what happened. I like we need more drivers to get on board with being vocal about it for the FIA to take this seriously. Paul: Absolutely. The Apex F1 Podcast: Well, any other closing thoughts on Japan before we do points recap? Josh: I'm sure you heard it on the McLaren topic. I'll finish. I'll close that out. Did you hear Oscar's comment after he was like, congratulated with radio? Paul: Nope. Josh: What'd he he says, actually, these are, these things are pretty good when they start. The Apex F1 Podcast: I love that. See, just making light of it. Yes, it's been a crappy start to the season for them, but make light of it, get dialed in, move on. feel like McLaren does that pretty well. It's like somehow they have this magical amnesia potion because ⁓ when papaya rules and things like that are going wrong, they still find a way to just move forward. We move forward. We move forward. I was really happy for Oscar this weekend. Very, very happy for our papaya poppy. Josh: ⁓ Yeah. Yeah. I was glad he needed a win in his column. know, he did. back, especially like the brutal loss last season, you know, having that kind of pulled the rug pulled out from under him and then having, you know, that brutal accident his own home Grand Prix. And then into this, you know, having the do not didn't even start. Yeah. It's just that he needed something. He needed, you know, and podium is fantastic. I think I could have been happy with him to be a points finish. The Apex F1 Podcast: He needed a win. Josh: But I probably didn't say anything about it, you know? The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, no doubt. No doubt. Paul: Absolutely. The Apex F1 Podcast: Any other closing thoughts? Paul: Nope. Once again, the fans show out and do amazing stuff. ⁓ the best part of the weekend is just seeing all the costumes and all the stuff. ⁓ The Apex F1 Podcast: Well, but... Sold out weekend. Joe sent me a really cool video of all these different hats that fans had on that they like made and there was one guy that was the engine. Super cool. People are so smart. Paul: ⁓ hey, I didn't know that I needed this, but Jack Black needs to be at every race. His energy... The Apex F1 Podcast: Love him. Josh: Except for the, it was fake. No, I love the whole Mario Kart thing, but it's bad that we've been making fun of this as being Mario Kart for the last like three weeks. And then all of a sudden it was like, the comment was like, did they, did everyone forget that they had told Black in the, in the movie people that they could come and promote their movie for Mario Kart at this Formula One race. And now everybody's making fun of it and you know, Charles is calling it, you know, it's like, it's like, no, were they. Paul: Also. The Apex F1 Podcast: and then they bring Mario Kart. I love it. Paul: Yeah. Josh: Was somebody like in a back room, like, ⁓ my God, how are we going to make this not sound terrible? The Apex F1 Podcast: How, yeah, they're like, how did we miss this? Paul: Yeah, are the odds that that happens? It was just perfect timing. But yes. Josh: is funny. The Apex F1 Podcast: I don't know, but I feel like you should have to take a course. If you're gonna be the person that waves the flag at an F1 race, you should have to take a course. you should have to prove your worth and prove your demonstration that you can wave that flag eligibility and not, like there were two different ones last season where they just waved it in circles and the whole flag just wrapped up. ⁓ need these extravagant flag waivers, you know? ⁓ Josh: Why is there not like a coach? Paul: Did he, I didn't watch him wave the flag. Did he do a bad job? The Apex F1 Podcast: Very, very normal wave, very normal functional wave. He passes the test. Why are we still having people come in with the flags at these races that cannot wave flags? Paul: Can anything be worse than the Apple CEO a few years ago when he was just like... Josh: Who was the? The Apex F1 Podcast: That's what I'm saying. Like we can't. We can't. There are so many more options. Josh: Who was it last year? it, somebody last year was like leaned out over the track and waving the flag. And it was like a, no, no, no, it was a former, like a former Grand Prix winner. And I want to say, I don't remember, I'll have to look it up. That'll be my homework. But he was like, he was, it was. The Apex F1 Podcast: Were they drunk? I don't know why you sound so fancy when you say Grand Prix. You the Grand Prix, Winnell? That's right, that's right. Can't take the Cotswolds out of Josh. Josh: You're going to pray. Paul: Well, you know, he just came back from Europe a couple of like a couple of weeks ago, so he's still that fanciness. Josh: It is. ⁓ Now I'm about to have my afternoon espresso and hang out. Paul: No. The Apex F1 Podcast: we'll have coffee and a cigarette or something. Josh: ⁓ that does sound good, doesn't it? Paul: He walks around town with a Shalali now because he's that guy in a tweed jacket. The Apex F1 Podcast: Hey, I could see you rocking a barber jacket for sure, Josh. Josh: i have a barber jacket! i love my barber jacket! i bought- i bought cortney one in the god's walls, as a matter of fact. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yes! ⁓ I love that. There's nothing like getting Barbara in the God's folds. Josh: It's not, it's so nice. I love my barber actually. It's very nice. What a quality garment. The Apex F1 Podcast: ⁓ fantastic. Lifetime piece, for sure. Josh: ⁓ it is, absolutely. The Apex F1 Podcast: Okay, so let's do some points recaps based on our predictions. Josh, your prediction for podium was Kimmy George Lewis and shocker was double Williams points. Paul, you had George Charles Kimmy and then McLaren double points. And I had George Lewis Charles double Haas points. So you both pick up a point ⁓ for for Kimmy winning, Paul for McLaren double points. ⁓ Josh: I had no Williams points. The Apex F1 Podcast: And then I picked up a point for Charles, but get a minus one for my shocker prediction because I had double Haas points and we had the Ollibear DNF. So that negates me at zero. Our new current points total, Josh three, Paul two, Meredith two. Josh: Yes? Hold on, time out, time out, time out. I had no Williams points. neither team in. I had neither team in the point or neither car for Williams in the point. So I have an extra point. The Apex F1 Podcast: No Williams points. ⁓ sorry. Okay, that, okay, no Williams points. Sorry, I thought it was a two X. Okay, so this is confusing, because I put two, like neither of the Williams two instead of two X, which is what I put for double, got it. Okay, so ⁓ Josh, that brings you to four points, and and I cumulatively have four points. Josh: Yeah, neither of the two. Paul: Together we're gonna beat them. The Apex F1 Podcast: Together, we can bring Josh down. Okay, awesome. Josh: And I skipped a race. Paul: And that's with him missing a week. The Apex F1 Podcast: Hey, just remember the hot lead that you got last year and then who ended up winning last season? Who did? Who won? Hold on, who won last season? Josh: Well, because I started taking like crazy guesses. Y'all did. I'm not mad about it. I hope we get to the point where I can start taking wild guesses this time. The Apex F1 Podcast: I did, I won. Just watch me, I'm be the red bull of this points prediction season. I'm gonna start off ⁓ cool, calm, no, nothing shocking. And then all of a sudden later in the season, I'm just gonna, poof, nail my predictions. Okay, so, grand points total, four for Josh, two for Paul, two for Meredith. So, I know you were working this weekend and was traveling, so I have not watched the IndyCar race or the NASCAR race, but I know the results as I spoil everything that is good in life by opening social media the second that I wake up. ⁓ So were your thoughts on the IndyCar race, Paul? Paul: Honestly, I heard it was kind of not as exciting as everybody thought. Congrats to Christian Lundgaard. He came second. ⁓ that, I I didn't watch it, but from what I've been able to find on social media, ⁓ had team not had an issue in the pits, he could have possibly, possibly overtaken Alex. And, know, again, Alex Palo wins. Good for him. Somebody's got to dethrone that man. ⁓ And, The Apex F1 Podcast: hell of a race. Josh: Somebody needs to give him a seat in Formula One. The Apex F1 Podcast: I think that. time. Paul: Well, I don't see that happening. He's stuck at Chip Canassi. The Apex F1 Podcast: I feel like that ship sailed. Back to our shipping, sailing analogies. don't maybe ⁓ not, I feel like after all of the drama with Zach Brown and McLaren and all of that, I don't like a Formula One career transition is in the near future for Alex Paloe. I think people rather wait to see how Colton Herta does. ⁓ in F2 to see if he can get promoted to F1 to see what could that transition look like from an IndyCar driver to an F1 car driver. And I think Colton Herda has the better shot at that than Alex Paloe. Although I would love to personally see Alex Paloe in an F1 car. really like him in IndyCar and I think he's needed in IndyCar. Let's talk about Graham Rahal. Rahal Letterman-Racing got third. Like, what? like racing has been off radar without being disrespectful. They've been off the radar. So for him to come in third is absolutely incredible. David Maluch is up here in fourth, Kyle Kirkwood in third, I mean in fifth. ⁓ So think some of same finishers up top that we've seen so far, but Graham Rahal my surprise in the results that I saw. And Santino Ferrucci up in eighth, also a shocker for me. I think Santino Ferrucci A little like, to Santino is kind of like if Yuki and Liam had a child and they drove an Indy car, that is Santino Ferrucci. He's a man of the people. He shotgun that beer last year after that race, which was incredible. So I don't know. Yeah. I didn't, I didn't watch it. I watched the highlights, but I'm, that is that I'll be excited to rest up and watch. It's Tuesday night men's league. So Joe will be gone at golf. So maybe I'll watch it tonight. Paul: I would agree. Also awful showing by Paddow. mean, I mean, he just said ⁓ car had no power, no base. couldn't do anything. He couldn't even defend that. What is it? That Chevy, Aero McLaren car is just awful. And he even said he had the same, very setup to Christian Lundgaard. So it's going to be interesting to see how Christian did so well and Paddow just did so, so bad. ⁓ The Apex F1 Podcast: Don't wanna talk about it. similar setup. Yeah, that was going to be my question. Interesting. Yeah. I mean, Lundgaard is absolutely delivering this season. Let's see where he falls in the standings. Standings. Yeah. Paul: I think he's third and Paddow is sixth. Kyle Kirkwood leads the standings by two points. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, that is crazy how close they are. And then Maluchus is just five behind Lungard, so that's gonna be tight. Lot of season left though. Paul: Absolutely. So. Yeah, I need that. don't know. starting to wonder if Paddle is that bad is that car just that bad? Because it seems like Paddle is only good in ovals and it's I know what that team needs of new, I don't know. It's a lot of I don't knows. ⁓ The Apex F1 Podcast: I don't know. I don't know either, only time will tell. And then I did not watch the NASCAR race, but I did watch the NASCAR highlights. wish every motorsport series would do this, and Apple is starting to with a 30 minute recap, which I love, because I the 30 minute recap from NASCAR that they do, because four hours is a long time to watch a NASCAR race. You know, I love a NASCAR nap. I love a little break in there, but... the do like a 17 minute version like 15 to 17 minute version and then a 30 minute version two of the recaps and I absolutely love that NASCAR does that. First out from the NASCAR race was the Bubba Wallace Carson Hosevar ⁓ accident. Paul: ⁓ yeah. Josh: You mean Carpenter's boyfriend? Carsten Osevar? The Apex F1 Podcast: Like, but Bubba just drove his car straight into the back of host of our he was just like, don't give a and he just ⁓ into the back and host of our just immediately goes sideways. I was like, and that is Paul: And yeah Josh: What's up with Bubba? All I've heard of him this season is just being kind of a loose cannon and just doing stupid shit. what's up? The Apex F1 Podcast: I would imagine that there is, I love Bubba, I do, but I would imagine that there is a part of him that he was the face of 2311 racing for a while. And I would imagine that there is some competition between him and Tyler Reddick and Tyler Reddick having the season he's having. I would imagine that that is weighing on Bubba mentally. But a lot of season left, but hopefully Bubba can get it together. just, I really, really hate it this weekend for him, hated that. Josh: Yeah. Yeah. Paul: He's gone so close too. pretty, he's doing pretty good in the standings. think, ⁓ well, he was, he was higher up, but he's 11th now, but Tyler Reddick is running away with it. It was a fun, it was a fun, I watched a little bit of it. really much ran with it until the very end and he just, he didn't have enough umph towards the end when it mattered the most. So Hendrick Motorsports wins this. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, he's picked up a lot of really good stage points. So, you know. Yeah, but I really like Chase Elliott and we were just talking about Chase Elliott last week and and you know, like he's one of those that like you don't really a ton about a lot. And so I was really excited for him to pick up that win. I really like Chase Elliott. I mean, and I really liked any. I'm not the biggest Joey Logano fan, so anytime he's on the podium, I'm kind of like Joey, you know. But I was really, really happy for Chase Elliott and Martinsville. ⁓ my God, I'd love a grandfather clock. Just classic. Paul: Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, big. I wasn't a big, I'm not a big fan of the short tracks just because it's kind of hard to keep track of what's going on, but. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, see, I like the short track. Sorry, my work phone is ringing. I really like the short tracks. I think it's a lot of fun and a lot of entertainment. Paul: But I know is it next weekend or the weekend after that they're going to Josh's neck of the woods. They're going to Bristol on Sunday, April 12th. Josh: Bristol, baby. The Apex F1 Podcast: You know I love Bristol. Paul: Yeah, that's gonna be a fun track. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, one day I'll get there. One day. Josh: Bristle's always fun. Paul: One day. One day this podcast will pay us to go to races. The Apex F1 Podcast: One day. One day. Josh: That day could be tomorrow. I said that day could be tomorrow. The Apex F1 Podcast: What? It could be tomorrow, Josh. That's right. You're... He's still riding some Hopium highs. Josh: Positivity, good vibes. I'm a froaf. Paul: Josh is just a glass half full kind of guy. The Apex F1 Podcast: Well, we do have the F1 break, it's until Miami, but we do still have some racing coming up. am gonna be out of town for two weeks, so it will just be Josh and Paul holding down the fort. I thought that it would be a really good opportunity for us to kind of do some highlight episodes. Josh took an amazing trip over to Europe and he got to spend some time over at the Silverstone Museum and the F1 arcade. So we that would be some really good content for an episode for him to talk about his experience, the thoughts, and ⁓ any motorsport ⁓ then one of the other weeks we had talked about Paul doing some info on the Freedom 250 for IndyCar. So and then, you know, we'll have had other races with ⁓ IndyCar, NASCAR, and probably some breaking motorsport news that will need to be discussed. I will be... Josh: There's a Wek race in there somewhere too. The Apex F1 Podcast: The WEK season opener is the weekend of the 18th, believe, April 18th. So when I am back on the 20th, that when we'll get to debrief. WEK season opener for Imela, we'll have IMSA Long Beach and NASCAR Kansas. So that'll be a really good comeback episode when I get back and I get to. Josh: That'll be good. Very nice. Paul: We're also gonna give our insight on the Drive to Survive season that just came out, because I have thoughts. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, and I can share you. I will share my thoughts of time. That way you can let know if it contradicts any of your points of view or if we're in alignment. Paul: I'm sure have something to argue about. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yes, but it'll be a fast two weeks while I'm gone and then we'll be reunited! Paul: Yes, Meredith is going to Tahiti because I'm jealous I hope it rains the whole time. Josh: Ooh, I don't, I hope it's super nice. It's that time of year. The Apex F1 Podcast: You know what? It actually does look pretty rainy. I was looking at it. Paul: Josh, I need you to stop being such a nice guy. Josh: Oh, I'm not because I know I'd be mad if you told me I was going on a trip. You hoped it was bad weather and it was bad weather. I'd blame you. Oh, well, hopefully the afternoon shower thunderstorm, know, yeah. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, it's looking pretty rainy guys. yeah, like beach showers. like, we fly into Tahiti and then we're in Tahiti Sunday through Wednesday. And then we leave on Wednesday and then we cruise around the islands there. So I mean, I only looked up the weather in Tahiti. I don't know how far apart these islands are. So we'll see. But at least please let there be good weather in Bora Bora. I want to swim with the dolphins and the stingrays and I just want good weather in Bora Bora if nowhere else. Paul: Can you do me a favor and flip off a stingray when you see it? RIP. Yeah, RIP Steve. Yeah. We haven't forgotten. Yeah, fuck you stingray. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, for Steve. Yeah, I'll do that. I'll do that for you. Don't forget it. Stingrays. But like in a polite way that's like, hey, this is from Paul, not from me, don't come from me. Josh: RRP Steve. Paul: Yeah, yeah, don't kill me. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah. Hey, this is from Paul, not me. I'm just the messenger. Paul: But real quick, fuck you. Hey, you're cute though. The Apex F1 Podcast: I did when I was signing up for that excursion, I was like. Do I want to do that? Paul: I hear they're pretty docile for the most part. They're not really meant to attack, I don't know. It also- Josh: How dangerous. The Apex F1 Podcast: Look, I am paying for the excursion regardless. If I get there and decide I don't want to get in the water with those fucking things I'm not going to, it's my money, I'll spend it how I want to. Paul: Listen, listen, don't do a bunch of acid like he used to do, so. The Apex F1 Podcast: Fret not, I will not. This is a work trip. I'm gonna be taking customers and stuff and, you know, wake up, have breakfast on the boat. Hey, you wanna go to the pearl diving excursion with me today? you wanna go swim with dolphins? You wanna go on the island discovery tour? Be fun. Paul: Yeah. Thank Josh: No, I want to sit by the pool and drink. Thanks, lady. Paul: Yeah. Just don't, if you're gonna drink, if you're gonna drink, just don't drive an SUV and roll it over Tiger Woods. The Apex F1 Podcast: Which is also a fair game. I'm not, no, it's like we're on a cruise ship and then we just go into the port. Josh: He didn't drink, he was stone cold sober. Liquor sober. Paul: He was just on every painkiller you can think of. Josh: He had some undisclosed white pills in his pocket. That's whatever. You know what? I know there were hydrocodones. The Apex F1 Podcast: They were hydrocodone. Paul: They were Percocets, allegedly. I hope you know that I thought about all episode long how I can put a Tiger Woods in there. So it was kind of ⁓ cheap way of throwing it in there. Josh: Yeah. The Apex F1 Podcast: Hey, I'm really proud of you for sprinkling in some of your golf knowledge here. Josh: Sounds good. Paul: That's all I know. a stupid sport. The Apex F1 Podcast: I'm proud of you. Josh: Well, you can start watching now because it's the most master's weekend. The Apex F1 Podcast: Yeah, when does the Masters officially start? Paul: Is that this week? Josh: It's the weekend of the 11th the 12th. So the ninth. The Apex F1 Podcast: Gosh, I'm gonna have to pack a master shirt for this trip now. Paul: I do like that event they hold before, what is it, that Wednesday event where it's like they get the little kids, yeah, the part three contest. ⁓ that's pretty cool. I do enjoy watching that. Josh: The par three contest? Yep, I will be in Augusta on Saturday and Sunday. Paul: ⁓ you're going this year? That's awesome. Josh: I got tickets some by a miracle. Really? Okay, I will. The Apex F1 Podcast: Say hi to my dad, he'll be there. Yeah, my cousin is one of those senior accountants at Augusta National and each year that she works there, I think she gets like one more ticket or something. And so my dad gets to go this year and he's very excited. Josh: Nice, that's cool. Paul: They just have a lot of unrealistic rules and expectations for their patrons to go and watch. Josh: It's a country club from like a long time ago. The Apex F1 Podcast: What do mean? Yeah, I'm like... Paul: There's a dress code, you can't have a cell phone. There's so many weird rules behind it. I was like, that's dumb. Josh: Yeah. The Apex F1 Podcast: There are address codes at every golf course, just so we're clear. I actually really appreciate the cell phone thing if I didn't know that was a real thing, but I, huh? Yeah, I think that's really cool. Like I didn't know that was a thing, but ma'am, what a cool thing to go and experience it and then just be like, no, you're just here and you're present in the moment. Like that's, I think that's cool. Josh: Yeah. It's I said it's neat. Although I do, I- ⁓ yeah. I will say I thought you could bring like a disposable camera. Apparently you cannot. I thought you could bring a disposable camera only on Thursday or only on the only on the Wednesday practice round. Can you bring a disposable camera? Paul: Yeah, I think guys. Uh-uh. The Apex F1 Podcast: hey. This is the only camera you need right there. Paul: So are you watching rounds? are you just watching, are you watching the first round on Thursday? Josh: I mean, yeah, I'll watch it from home. Paul: I didn't know if you were going to watch it there. ⁓ Josh: ⁓ no, no, no, we're driving. work on Friday and Sunday. I'm taking back half on Friday then I'm driving up there on Saturday morning, going to the Saturday afternoon and then going to Sunday. Paul: But that'll be cool. The Apex F1 Podcast: It's going to be so fun. Paul: Pack your sunscreen because you are white. The Apex F1 Podcast: and I have been doing lunchtime tanning where we go out and sit out in sun for like 15 minutes at lunch every day. Cause I'm like, if we show up to Tahiti next week with Elmer's glue, I'm going to be the color of Josh's shirt. So we did lunch tanning. Josh: Nice. Paul, you just wait till mid June when I'm a nice golden Brown from being on the golf course every day. Paul: That's hilarious. Yeah, but your your channel stopped right here Josh: It'll be like right here and then my arms and then my face and that'll be it. Paul: Yeah, absolutely. The Apex F1 Podcast: Do you get the hat line? Josh: Yeah, but I also wear a big brim one most of the time in the summer when it's like real hot so oh Yeah, I'm the big brim hat guy. Ah Okay, I'd wear a strong one The Apex F1 Podcast: I knew you would. ⁓ they're my least favorite. We gotta get you one of the straw ones. Those straw ones are so dope that you can just like change the band out. But I don't know why when I think of those, I think of like the little brown leatherman's golf shoes and the little capris. Like, don't know what this, these things all go together in my mind. Josh: The strength, yeah. I don't know what the whole thing... The Apex F1 Podcast: Well, as per usual, we've digressed. what we do best. Let's get this ship on the train tracks and close out. The boys will ready for you guys for the next two weeks. I will be rejoining on the 20th where we will have lots of fun stuff to talk about. We will have Wek. We will have IMZA. We will have NASCAR. We will have IndyCar, but the boys will be holding it down while I'm gone. Paul: It's gone off the rails. Josh: The ship has crashed. The Apex F1 Podcast: Until then, everybody have a fantastic week and we will all see you all soon. Thanks everybody. Bye. Paul: Take care, guys. Josh: See y'all.