Latest / The Apex / Bahrain GP at Sepang Predictions
Transcript
- Meredith: Hello, everybody, and welcome back to another episode of the Apex Podcast. My name is Meredith, and I am joined by one of my co-hosts today, Paul. How are you today? Paulie :D: I am doing good, wearing my Ferrari hoodie. And super Meredith: I see that. Paulie :D: excited for this Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Meredith: Yeah, I keep wanting to call it the Malaysian Grand Prix, just because like honestly, it it has a good ring to it. The Malaysian Grand Prix and like the Sepang International Circuit is just really legit. But I keep remembering it is still the Bahrain Grand Prix. But I think we've got some exciting stuff to talk about today. It may not be a full episode, but you know, getting together on a little Saturday morning cars and coffee and just chatting about what we think is gonna happen this weekend. Paulie :D: Absolutely. I can't wait. Meredith: And full disclosure. Neither Paul nor I have watched quality yet. So we know the results. Paulie :D: We do yes. Meredith: Yeah, we know the results. We got we know like the standings, but we we don't know anything about it. So we are recording this still without that knowledge. So we want to disclaim that up front that as we talk about things, we have not watched it. We just know the results. And so that I think it kind of makes it little bit more fun. I am gonna be watching it this afternoon with Joe when he finishes golf though. So Paulie :D: Absolutely. Meredith: How familiar are you with this track? Because I had no familiarity with it. I mean, like, 'cause I started watching during COVID, so like twenty twenty. So Malaysia was already off the calendar by the time that I became an F one fan. What about you? Paulie :D: Same boat. I've never I've never seen it. Looks like a pretty awesome track. I just look looking at the layout. It looks like it's it's a pretty tricky track, but I have not seen cars on track. Much like you, I got into it during COVID. So this is gonna be fun. Which is why Meredith: Okay, so that makes it really exciting for us both. Paulie :D: which is why I am heavily debating either going to bed super early, waking up at one a.m. to watch it, or just staying up. Meredith: I'm proud of you either way, and you can do that for the both of us because I surely will not. It's like a rare day if I see past 10 PM. Paulie :D: Unless unless you got an early flight. Meredith: Yes, exactly. Now, like if it's at 2 a.m. and I'm up at 2 a.m., it's because I have a five AM flight and I'm showering and getting ready to go to the airport. So Paulie :D: Absolutely. Meredith: I love racing, but I'm not staying up till two AM to watch racing. Paulie :D: That's fair. Meredith: Yeah. I mean, but I think it's really cool. Like the the the run, I ha obviously had Chat GPT just pull some history for us because, you know, like let's let AI do the work there. I did not realize how long of a run Malaysia had on the calendar. It first appeared in 1999, and the original run was 1999 all the way until 2017. And so even though they're they're, you know, getting derasier this year, it is still considered the Bahrain Grand Prix, not the Malaysian Grand Prix. but I didn't know that it literally ran from nineteen ninety-nine to twenty seventeen. Like that's a that's a nineteen Grand Prix run. I thought it was maybe a few years, but I didn't know it was that many. Paulie :D: Do you know why they got they got taken off the calendar? I'm sure money had something to do with it. Meredith: Yeah, I have no idea. I'm sure it was money and sponsorships, and I'm sure it was also the addition of other circuits. You know, kind of like what we're seeing now, where, you know, the addition of madraing and things like that. I'm I'm sure it's just kind of like the life cycle of motorsport, new circuits being introduced, phasing out old ones. I would also imagine with so many different races that are already when we think about like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, you know, like I think. there's just there's a lot that's already racing in the Middle East, it would be it to me it would be like adding another race to the US. Like that's so much racing in one geographical area. But it is, I mean, just I I was reading, you know, like what are what are the why is it such a legendary track? Because it is one that I've always heard about. But again, because I wasn't ever a racing fan at that time, I just had never seen any races. But it says, you know, it's a really legendary track because it's hot. It's humid. It is notoriously unpredictable. It's got extremely long straights, fast sweeping corners, huge breaking zones, and tropical thunderstorms can completely transform a race there, which we all saw the forecast high pub. We all Paulie :D: Yeah. Meredith: saw the forecast leading into this weekend. And we've always said rain is the great equalizer on this podcast, but I don't know. Have you seen anything about an updated forecast for race day? Paulie :D: No, I have not. I know it's been hot as all hell there and Meredith: Yeah. Paulie :D: it's crazy. Meredith: Yeah. And they were it was supposed to have a ton of rain, but seeing how hot it is, and I don't know if you've seen footage from people who went, apparently they had to issue like a full apology letter because transportation leaving the track yesterday was so bad. Like, yeah, the guy who Paulie :D: Really? Meredith: won that full-time Formula One pass, that he went to all the F1 races last year and then they gave him the F1 pass. I was watching his video this morning. To get to the track from Kuala Lumpur, it was over it was just over two hours to get to the track. Paulie :D: Holy crap. Damn. Yep. Meredith: He took two trains, two buses, and like and then had to stand in the queue. And they were just like not prepared to handle the traffic and people are queuing standing in these lines. And they were not allowed to bring in plastic water bottles. So if they were trying to bring in an empty plastic water bottle, refill it, you couldn't. So all these people were tossing their water bottles and having to get rid of their water bottles after waiting in that long line in the sun. Paulie :D: Man, that that would really suck. Also, a Meredith: I just I can't imagine that. Paulie :D: according to a quick Google search, it got taken off the calendar because of rising hosting costs and declining ticket sales. If I gotta Meredith: Mm. Paulie :D: wait two hours to get inside, yeah, I can see why people don't wanna go. Meredith: yeah. Well, and especially like, you know, like when you go to Monza, you are very well prepared and know that it's out in the field in the middle of nowhere. Like it is old school. Like everybody just kinda knows when you go to Monza, you pack your patience. And like you expect it 'cause it's in the middle of the countryside in Italy. I have geo you know, geography's not my strong suit, I know that. But I would just think that, you know, with it being where it is, like I would think that maybe the the s the structure to get out there were would be a little bit better. Like at Silverstone, Paulie :D: And I mean Meredith: it's a breeze. Paulie :D: Yeah, and I mean we were in Kota last year and sitting in the car waiting to get out of that parking lot was a nightmare. Meredith: Yeah, that's and that wasn't even the worst. That's that was probably Paulie :D: No. Meredith: actually some of the easiest it's ever been. Paulie :D: Well, it helps that you and Joe have it down to a science. Meredith: Yeah. I did. I when I was buying my parking pass this morning I was like, and I'm just gonna I I just am already looking forward to that uncrustable after the race on Sunday. Paulie :D: Yes, yes. Meredith: Yeah. Okay. But back back to the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. I, you know, we did have forecasts for rain this weekend, but obviously it's been very, very, very hot and sunny, but I would imagine it is still really humid. one of the things that it talked about when I was reading about the the Malaysia track and some of the races was that the 2009 race was apparently one of like the most notable ones there because there was so much rain. That it caused the race to be stopped at 31 laps. And it was Jen Jensen Button that won that race. But because they stopped the race halfway through, they still awarded points and declared a winner, but they only awarded half the points. Paulie :D: That's interesting. Meredith: Yeah. So they said, hey, we're we have to, you know, red flag the race. We have to stop the race. Let's call it. Those are the results. But hey, we're still gonna do points. You just get half. I kind of like that. Paulie :D: That is pretty neat. I wonder I mean, hopefully we get some rain tomorrow, but talk about an interesting you know, coming from left field having to stop it at thirty one laps and trying to scramble to figure out what to do. Meredith: Yeah. I don't know. Like it it was it is interesting though, just kind of like reading back of some of like these famous races from Malaysia, like how much rain has played into those. There was another one in 2013 that they call it the famous multi-21 race. I had never heard of this one. but the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix, it says it's one of the most famous races in modern F1 history because Vettel and Mark Weber were running one two for Red Bull. Red Bull had instructed Vettel to maintain position under the multi-21 order, but Vettel attacked Weber anyway and took the win. So Vettel said, F team orders, I'm going. So the multi-21 name came from that's what they said to tell Vettel to stay in position for team orders. He said nope. And it became one of the defining teammate controversies of the Vettel Weber era. And I did not know, I know about that situation. I did not know it was the Malaysia track. So I was like, that's a fun one. Paulie :D: Man, I need to go back and watch some of these races. I can imagine it'd be a great time. Meredith: I know, I do too. I feel like I I feel like I I need ChatGPT to put together like the the top 10 historic F1 races that you can watch and like go watch them. I just read Paulie :D: Absolutely. Meredith: that coffee table book that I text you guys that I got at Marshall's. It is the F1 Legends book. Go go to your Paulie :D: Okay. Meredith: Marshalls or TJ Maxx. It is like a fat coffee table book. It was $22. And it is all about F1 drivers and their legacies. And it's like all the top F one drivers through like to the current standings and reading about some of those older drivers, the history, the photographs are incredible. But you learn about so many of those historical races that you hear about that I'd never, you know, it's just a little bit more detail, it's really cool. Yeah, I loved it. okay, the last Malaysian Grand Prix. Go ahead. Paulie :D: Yeah, that's awesome. Alright. Let's get into No no go ahead, finish it up, finish it up. Meredith: The last Malaysian Grand Prix before racing this year was 2017. Max Verstappen won ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricardo. Verstappen was only 20 years old at the time, and it was his second victory of the season. it says and that is a particularly fun fact given that Verstappen is back at Sepping in 2026, nine years after winning the last F1 race there. So him being on poll is like Kind of like an homage to him winning the last race there in twenty seventeen. So I thought that was a pretty cool fun fact. Paulie :D: And and it also brings up a good point. A lot of these drivers have never been on this track. I mean it's only a handful Meredith: Yeah. Paulie :D: of them that actually have raced here. So they're not really familiar with this. So this is gonna be really interesting. Meredith: Well, and you know what? I was like, d the because one of the things you wanted to talk about was Aston Martin's performance and qualifying. And I was wondering if because Alonzo has driven there so many times and because he's won there a few times, I was wondering if Alonzo was like excited to come back to this track. I know Max likes this track, but I was wondering if like Alonzo was really excited to come back to this track and if it was kind of one of those things where because he has track familiarity, if that maybe played into a little not like home field advantage, but like Like you said, only a few drivers on the grid know this track. So I kinda wonder if that played into Aston Martin's performance in qualifying. Paulie :D: Yeah. Also, Lance is one of those drivers that has been on that track before, so he he knows it. So yeah, it's gonna be really interesting to see what happens tomorrow. But Meredith: Yeah. Paulie :D: Max, Lewis and is it Isaac or is it Kimmy? Meredith: Let me pull it up. I think it's Kimmy. Yeah. Max. So a qualifying order for tomorrow. Max on poll, Lewis Hamilton in second, Kimmy Antonelli in third, Charles Leclerc in fourth, Lando, Oscar, George, Isaac, Pierre, and Gabby. That rounds out our top 10, followed by Lawson, Alonzo in 12, Carlos Sines in 13, Lance Stroll in 14. And then we have Hulkenberg, Behrman, Ocon, Albon, Botas, and Perez. and then Cole Pento and and Lynn Blad. Also, how about me Paulie :D: So on here Meredith: just saying Perez? That felt almost unnatural instead of just saying Checo. Paulie :D: Right. Also, but on the F one app it says Isaac got P three. Meredith: Are you looking at the starting grid? Because there were grid penalties. Yeah, Paulie :D: so that must be why. Meredith: because Isaac has a five place grid penalty. Isaac has a five Paulie :D: That answered the question. Meredith: five place grid penalty. so which is like he got third, but the grid penalty puts him at eight. someone else had a ten place grid penalty and Arvid had a thirty place grid penalty. So he was always gonna, you know, drop on down to dead last. Who was the other one that had a ten place grid penalty? I can't remember. Someone. Yeah, but good penalties. Isaac Hadrari had a phenomenal qualifying. Paulie :D: Yeah, but I I mean, Max, Lewis and Kimmy one, two, three, that's gonna be an amazing I'm I'm curio Meredith: Yeah, that's gonna be so exciting. And Carl's putting on pressure behind Kimmy. Like I think that's that's fun too. I love that Kimmy is sandwiched between the two Ferraris. Paulie :D: Also, it's shocking that George is an eighth. I'm I'm curious to see how George can do or Judge George does. Meredith: Yeah. Well, you know, and what happens up ahead of him, you know, if there's I I will say that one thing that George is very good at, he is good at navigating through some chaos. So I think I think if George has a good start, he could find a hole and move up fast. I I think that could be very, very easy for him, especially because he's been driving really, really well lately. So I think that I mean, just it let imagine you're Lando. You've got Oscar right behind. They know George is behind him. I I could see that if Lando or Oscar has any sort of misstep at the start, I see George coming straight for that, taking advantage of it and immediately going up to fifth and then trying to charge after Charles. I don't want that. Obviously, Paulie :D: Yeah. The qua the Meredith: I don't. Okay. I don't want that for George, but George has been doing really great at starts lately, so Paulie :D: I need I need Lois to do good. I'm wearing this hoodie because Lois is gonna do good. Meredith: Mm-hmm. Joe and I got Joe and I got in bed last night and he he was still out in the living room like shutting it down and I like changed, got ready, brushed my teeth, you know, and I'm like crawling in bed when he walks in and I'm in my Lewis Hamilton shirt. And Joe lifts up his sweatshirt and he was like, I'm in my Lewis Hamilton shirt. So I won't say that Lewis got on front roll because Joe and I both slept in our Lewis Hamilton shirts last night. I'm saying it's correlated. Paulie :D: I'm saying you two better go to sleep and love shirts tonight. Meredith: I can't even wash it. Paulie :D: No, you're not allowed to wash it. Just like that. You two better put it on tonight. Meredith: We have to sleep in the exact same clothes we were in last night. Paulie :D: E exact same position. The way you guys did it, do not change anything. This Meredith: Okay, done. Paulie :D: we're not super sticious on this podcast, but we are a little sticious. Meredith: Yeah, we're we're we're we're we're sort of we're sort of stitchious. Paulie :D: Yeah, yeah, sort of, sort of. Meredith: Well, our resident track talk nerd is not here, which is always a bummer because he's the best at it. But the second best is ChatGPT. so Paulie :D: What was life before AI? Meredith: you know, tough times. Like I was on the phone with my stepmom this morning and she was like, I was talking to Claude, you know, one of the AI, which like she is she's a software developer, so she's like very good at this stuff. She can code, she's a genius. She's got Claude running on eight computers around the house writing software and everything. Well, so earlier this week I was listing some stuff on Facebook Marketplace and I was like, Tammy, it's such a pain in the butt. I gotta take these pictures, list on Facebook, list on Poshmark, list on eBay. She calls me this morning, she's like, Yeah, so I was talking to Claude, and I think we can have Claude just like create you an app to do that for you. Like there are apps that exist, but you'd have to pay for I think I can have Claude just create you an app. And I'm like, What? AI. It's too advanced for me. Paulie :D: I think the crazy part is we're old enough to remember a life before internet and just to see how far we've come from dial up internet and getting yelled at to get off the internet so you your mom can make a phone call to now. Meredith: Yeah. Imagine explaining the concept of a computer lab Paulie :D: Yeah, yeah. Meredith: to a kid. Paulie :D: Yes, yes. Meredith: Okay, so yeah, Paulie :D: but b back to motor sports. Meredith: back to motorsport. We're gonna do a track overview. So the Seping International surface surface circuit is 5.543 kilometers or 3.445 mile circuit designed by Herman Tilk, 15 corners, two enormous straights. So this is what Josh was talking with us about. With those straights being so long, it will be really interesting to see how this regulation of cars does here. just having two enormous straights. So it's it says it's an interesting mix of high speed running, heavy braking, and technical, technical sections. Yeah, Paulie :D: That's what it looks like. Meredith: that is so cool. So it says the overall character is fast, technical, physically demanding, weather sensitive. And I was like, honestly, that's a great summary. but if we kind of just go like going around a lap. Turp turns one and two, super heavy braking. The lap starts with a long run into a very slow, tight right hander. Turn two immediately then switches left. So it's a great opportunity for overtaking, especially into turn one, but cars can run very wide through that second corner, which I foresee happening. I some I see some overtaking at turn one. I see some cars going wide to try to avoid collision. Turns three and five is where we build the speed. Turn three is a fast right, and then you head. Through the flowing middle section where the cars will start generating significant lateral load. Turn six to nine, this is the fast section. this is where set pain really starts to feel like an old school F1 circuit. Several fast sweeping corners put a lot of stress on the tires. So turn six to nine is gonna be all about that tire management. And turn nine is a particularly important corner because it leads into the next acceleration zone. Turns 10 to 12 are the technical sections, so it's a tighter sequence. Turn 11 is really challenging because it's a long, tightening right hander. So getting the car positioned correctly is really, really important coming out of that for the next section. Turn 13 is a long right-hander, one of the more memorable memorable corners at Seppang. Drivers have to balance the car while maintaining the momentum. And then turn 14 is the Malaysia hairpin. Which is a major overtaking opportunity, but heavy braking at the end of the second long straight. And they've got to get a good exit because it feeds directly into the final corner and then the main straight. Turn 15 is your final corner. A long, slow right hander, extremely important for qualifying in racing. A poor exit compromises your entire start-finish straight. So twisty, turning, long straights, a lot of long right handers here. Pull that track map up again. Yeah. That's gonna be spicy. I like it. Paulie :D: I c I can just see Carnage at one one and two. Meredith: Yeah. Paulie :D: 'Cause they're gonna have that Meredith: It'll be Paulie :D: that long straight going into it. It's gonna be picking up a lot of speed with all those cars jumbled up together. this is Meredith: Yeah. Paulie :D: gonna be the more we talk about this, the more I kind of want to stay up for it. Meredith: I you can do it. Get to a red bowl. Paulie :D: I think you should do it with me. It's Sunday. We can just relax Meredith: No, not a chance. Zero chance. Paulie :D: and and sleep in on Sunday. Meredith: Zero chance. I got I got Coda Trivia tomorrow, Space City Racing Club. I can't. Paulie :D: Okay, that's a good excuse. Meredith: I'm also just like not a stayer upper, you know this. We've been friends for we've been friends for almost two years now, Paul. I'm not a stayer upper. Paulie :D: I know I'm trying to try to make you make bad decisions. Meredith: The only time I'm gonna stay up is when we go out at our next race. I'll stay up for that. Okay. Paulie :D: Done. I'll hold you to that. Meredith: Deal. I think actually the part of the track I'm most excited about, like yes, I'm excited for turn one. Cars going wide a little bit, you know, in turn two. I think I'm really excited to see what happens on these straights. this seems like one of those tracks that is wide enough for some really good overtaking down the straights if the cars can deal with it and have the battery life for it. So I think Paulie :D: Yeah. Meredith: we could see some some fun slipstream passes on those straights, particularly a hi. Hi. That is such a cute toy. Hi. Paulie :D: He wanted to show his toy. He said, I want you to I want you to see my toy. Meredith: I would say, like, particularly between Lando and Oscar in those first couple of laps, once we get to those straights and we've got some slipstreaming, I will be interested to see what happens, especially if George can overtake and move up. So Yeah, I'm excited for those straights. Paulie :D: All right. Meredith: biscuits just unplugging my light. She said, I'm gonna lay down right here. She literally did, she just laid down right on top of a pillow on top of a power cord. Paulie :D: Biscuits said you don't need you don't need your life. Meredith: No. any other thoughts on Malaysia or anything that any other drivers that you kind of like you were shocked by? I know I mean Aston Martin, let's talk about those Aston Martins a little bit because I d were they bringing upgrades for the Bahrain Grand Prix? Paulie :D: You know, I'm not a hundred percent sure if they were bringing upgrades, but kudos to them for twelve and fourteen. I think out of Meredith: Yeah, double Q to appearance. Great job, Aston Martin. Again, we are a pro land stroll podcast. Paulie :D: 100%, 100%. The one thing that shocks me the most is I think Isaac Hadjar has broken that Red Bull sick and seed curse. That curse is not a thing. It's done. Meredith: I couldn't agree more and I love it. Yeah, the it's done. I it's so fun to see him performing and driving and especially coming Paulie :D: This is his second Meredith: back from an injury. Paulie :D: his second year in Formula One, has never been on this track and finished and qualified third. I mean, granted, with the penalties and stuff, but still he did Meredith: Yeah. I think it's been amazing. Paulie :D: amazing. Meredith: Yeah. Good it good good on you, Isaac. We're proud of you. And it seems like Paulie :D: Yeah, super. Meredith: it seems like Max and him have a good team dynamic too. Like, no offense. I don't ever s I never saw a world in which Max and Liam would have ever had a good teammate dynamic. I I think there's enough of an age gap between Max and Isaac. I think they're like I feel like that has a good pairing potential. I mean, obviously they're doing great. They're deliberating, so I love it. Paulie :D: Yeah, I would agree. Meredith: Love to Isaac as well. We did also get the you know, we have the official news that Esteban Okan is officially a free agent. He will not be returning to Haas next year. so we know that there will be a new driver in the Haas seat. You know, there's there have been a couple of people that have tested there we we know Jack Dohan tell Jack Dohan tested and and did the seat and And we know that Haas did some coverage of that, but then there was also another test this week with their reserve driver. Who who why am I blanking on his name right now? This is driving me nuts. Paulie :D: It doesn't matter. I I I think it's all said and done, Jack's gonna get that seat. Meredith: I think it's Jack too. but like but the other one, the other one that drove this weekend did testing was somebody who has been their reserve driver and has done well in Formula Two and stuff too. So I don't know, they could just decide to just really throw us off. But like when you're posting Jack Dohan on on your socials the day after it's been announced that Esteban Ocon is a free agent, I I do think that that's just pretty indicative though, you know. Paulie :D: A hundred percent. And it's Ed Esteban still stays within the family because he's going over to WEC with Toyota Gazoo Racing, Racing. Meredith: The up Paulie :D: And we we we know that's a big sponsor of the Hass F1 team. So he's still staying within the family, so good for him. I think he's gonna do really well. Meredith: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I did see said like I think it was She Loves Rooms that posted it that was that like saying farewell to the best nickname on the F1 grid. SD Bestie really is the best one. But it is sad because I feel like he Paulie :D: Hundred percent. Meredith: it like he isn't everyone's best friend, but that like they all they like him, you know? And he's the only one that talks to Lance Stroll Paulie :D: I can't work this time. Meredith: like anytime they're doing the paddy wagon or anything like that. Like SD goes out of his way to like go talk to Lance and I do love that. Paulie :D: We is Lance running out of friends in F one? Meredith: I think Estee was literally his only friend. I'm Paulie :D: Yes. Meredith: like, that makes me sad. I was like, I was texting with my friend Lori about it, and I was like, you know, like I do have a lot of sympathy for Lance. Like, imagine growing up, you're you're the sport nepo baby, you know? Like that would suck to feel that way. And to know that all the other drivers feel that way about you, that would suck. Like, I I g I I have a little, you know, a little sympathy for him. Paulie :D: All right, let's get into predictions. Meredith: Okay, hold on before we get into predictions. One more fun fact. With Max on poll and Lewis in P2, the last time that happened was Abu Dhabi Paulie :D: that's right. Meredith: 2021, which we all know what happened then, and the controversy Paulie :D: Yes. Meredith: that went down. So who knows what tomorrow could bring? If there's rain, if there's just chaos. carnage who could possibly say but I think that that bodes for some really good entertainment tomorrow. Paulie :D: Although I think they are a little bit more mature than they were in twenty twenty one, Max specifically. So Meredith: yeah, I mean they hugged after qualifying today. Paulie :D: I think they'll keep it a little cleaner. Hopefully. Meredith: Yeah. I mean, but it could be that it's not one of them. Like, it could be that another driver on the track, you know, like a safety car could change everything just like Abu Dhabi 2021. So who knows? I'm really excited to see some good racing tomorrow. Well, and I know that it's like it's a little bit different doing our predictions this time because we already know the qualifying order, but sometimes it just is what it is. Okay. We're gonna we're gonna make the best guesses we can based on the information that we have at the time. And at the time here, we finally have qualifying to use. Okay, hold on, I'm gonna write mine down. Paulie :D: Yeah, buddy, I gotta I gotta come up with my predictions. I can't play the ball with you right now. Meredith: Okay. While you write yours down, one other fun fact related Paulie :D: Okay. Meredith: to Abu Dhabi is that even though Formula One has not officially announced it, Stefano Dominicali is saying to multiple media outlets that Qatar and Abu Dhabi are proceeding as scheduled, that they are not going to be moving races to Imola. So we Paulie :D: Say that again? Meredith: That Stefano Domenicali has stated that Qatar and Abu Dhabi will move forward as scheduled at those locations. So Paulie :D: Which is which is good news for you, right? Meredith: which is great news for me because I like now it's the only difference is is that now I I have to buy a flight to to Dubai. So goodbye, goodbye bank account. Paulie :D: I thought you I thought you already had a flight. Meredith: United canceled it. United is not flying Paulie :D: Sons of bitches. Meredith: until March of 2027 to the Middle East because of the ongoing conflict. Paulie :D: Sons. Meredith: So now I have to buy flights instead of using points, which is okay because now we already got all the points back. So we'll use points to book our flight for the Japan race next year. So we were gonna always have to buy one flight, Paulie :D: Hey, yes. Good. Meredith: but I'm like, okay, so now I have to buy an Emirates flight. Rats. Darn, I have to fly on the nicest commercial airline in the world. Rats. Yeah, so I it Paulie :D: no, poor thing, how you're gonna suffer. Meredith: makes me really excited though, because the whole reason we booked Abu Dhabi. was because it's the last F1 or last F1 race of the season, but it's also my stepmom's 50th birthday. And sh Yeah, and we Paulie :D: It's gonna be a blast. Meredith: were like super it's it's Tammy's birthday week, it's Joe's birthday week. And like my dad that she'd already told me if it goes to Italy, we're not going. Cause she was like, your dad doesn't want to travel and go back to Italy for a third time. Like going to the Middle East is like a once in a lifetime thing. So I'm super excited. I ha I told her I said I'm not buying the flight till the F1 announcement is posted. But s multiple blue check verified sources have have posted Stefano Domenicali statements. So fingers crossed, I'm going to do Paulie :D: Yeah, if you book it, book it with insurance. Meredith: Yeah, no doubt. I will definitely book it with the refund. Hey, we're not gonna chew on power cords biscuit. That's a bad choice. These dogs. Paulie :D: All right. Meredith: Okay, who do you have? Paulie :D: I have, I have in first place I got Max. Meredith: Okay. Paulie :D: In second place, I'm gonna go bold here. I got Isaac in second. Meredith: I love that. Paulie :D: In third, I have Kimmy. As much Meredith: Okay. And your shocker? Paulie :D: as I have, as much as I want Lewis to do good. I just have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that they'll find a way to screw it up with race pace or a bad pit stop and it's gonna ruin it for the Ferrari boys. just one Meredith: For just always one bad call away from her days being ruined. Paulie :D: bad call. I have for my shocker, I have two cars will either not start or not finish. And Meredith: Maybe. Paulie :D: I'm gonna go Carlos Science and the Points. Meredith: I love that. I nearly did that. Okay. I also have Max winning. I have Kimmy in second. I have Lewis in third. and I have Aston Martin points. I'm just really channeling it. I want Paulie :D: Whoa both are one. Meredith: I j one, just one. Paulie :D: Okay. Meredith: I I really I really want to see an Aston Martin in the points. I don't know, like I said, I don't know if they brought upgrades or what, or if it's just like familiarity and comfort with this track, but double Q2 appearances. Let's see if we can make the race pace last. That dog is cracking me up. Paulie :D: He wants to be on my lap. The other one is just sleeping, and he just wants to be on my lap. Meredith: Just let it let her let us not Is it a he or a she? Paulie :D: It's a boy. Meredith: It's a boy? It's isn't it's named Penny? Paulie :D: Presley. Meredith: Presley. I was like I I was like Paul, I'm sorry, Penny is not a boy dog name. Paulie :D: Not petty. But you got you got the pee, right? Meredith: Hey Presley, penny for your thoughts. Presley, who do you have winning the Ball Rain Grand Prix at Seppang International Circuit tomorrow? Tell us your thoughts. Paulie :D: He says Max. Meredith: I think he says Max too. Paulie :D: He says although look, he's got an orange collar, so he might be secretly a McLaren fan. Meredith: Or is he Max Dutch Orange? Paulie :D: See, that's another way to look at it. See? Dutch yes. Meredith: The Orange Army. Presley is part of the Orange Army. I didn't know you were like letting the enemy stay with you. What's that phrase? Hiding the enemy, keeping the enemy. No, there was like a military thing Paulie :D: Keep your friends closer and your enemies closer. Meredith: for it when you were like hiding your enemy. I'll think of it sometime. Okay, so we'll get Josh's Paulie :D: We'll we'll come up with it. Meredith: predictions. We'll get his predictions and then and then we'll clip them in for our point system. Paulie :D: All right. Meredith: I'm super excited for the race. I will not be staying up. I'm super proud of you for doing that. It's not for me. That's fine. That's totally Paulie :D: I will be blowing up your phone. I hope you know that. You're gonna wake up Meredith: fine. My phone automatically goes on do not disturb every night at 9 p.m. So I you can text to your heart's Paulie :D: I'm just Meredith: content, and I will get to process them all in the morning when I wake up to watch the race. Yeah. Paulie :D: So sounds like a plan. But switching gears from F1, let's get into the exciting news of this week. Meredith: Which exciting news. We've got so much. I ha d Paulie :D: I'm ex what do you got? I cause mom excited for Chip Genasses new dri new driver. Meredith: yeah, are you kidding me? That's gonna be freaking amazing. Paulie :D: Christian Lumard signed with Chipkinesse Racing, which is honestly a no-brainer. And he Meredith: Yeah, no brainer. Like it is like how how was that not obvious to me? I like that is what I'm like, how was I not seeing that coming? I had no idea where he was going. Zero. Paulie :D: no, the the the rumor mill started about a couple months ago that that's where he was gonna land. But he is gonna be in the legendary car driven by well, used to be Scott Dixon. So we all we've all seen the potential that Christian Lugard has. He did amazing this year in IndyCar. He won a hand what, three races this year, I believe. Meredith: Yeah, and the eighty five hundred. Paulie :D: Well, no, he didn't win the ED500. R Meredith: No who no, he lost. he d wasn't he second place? Who who was it? What was the race that he would Paulie :D: No, no Felix Meredith: lost and he was crying? That was like super sad. Paulie :D: I have no idea. But Felix Russell quiz won the eighty five hundred. Meredith: Felix, that's a I'm thinking of Felix. No, there was a there was a race that Christian Lungard lost and he was crying after and it was such a bummer. Paulie :D: What a baby. But Meredith: I what? If I lost the N500, I wouldn't even get out of my car and be like, no media, no press, crime, assets, the allergies. Paulie :D: You're thinking of David Melukas, because he came in second. You're thinking about that. Meredith: David Malucas, that's who I was thinking of, yeah. Paulie :D: But I I'm super excited. Everybody knows Chip Canassi is just a powerhouse of a team. That's a team that Alex Pelow has been constantly winning. So Meredith: Yeah. Paulie :D: with a machine like Chip Canassi, I cannot wait to see how good or how bad, because there's always that option, Meredith: Yeah. Paulie :D: someone like Christian Bluegar does. Is 'Cause now the lights are brighter. Now the more he's got the bigger focus on him. As to where before it was Pedo taking everything. So Meredith: Right. Paulie :D: now I'm it's does he rise to the occasion, does he kick ass like everyone is predicting? Or does he crumble under the pressure? I cannot wait. I I Meredith: I hope he does so well. I feel like everybody who moves into that Chip Ganasi team just I mean is killing it. Like I I don't know. I think I think they've got some good things going for them right now and I think it's a lot of fun to see. And I I'm really excited to see, you know, I feel like the one thing that Christian Lungard did was that he was very, very vocal about feeling like the team and the car and the setup was specifically designed for Pado and stating that that was a huge disadvantage for him as a driver because it didn't s the car didn't suit him or his driving style. And so I feel like there's maybe a little bit more of an opportunity for him now. like it was very, very clear that at Arrow McLaren Pato was the lead, Pato was the priority. I'm I'm not disagreeing with that. Like I love Pato too, but I think that Christian really sh really showed more pace and more growth than Pato did over the last two seasons. So I'm excited to see him move to a new home that's gonna be a little bit more open to developing that potential. Paulie :D: Or is all the resources gonna go to Alex below and I don't know. It's either way, whichever way Meredith: Yeah, it Paulie :D: you look at it, it's gonna be an interesting year. Meredith: Yeah, but y I think when you look at where you are in your career trajectory, like Alex Pelot doesn't have anything to prove. He's won multiple back to back championships. He is killing it. Like he's shown that he can continue to deliver. We know we have a new car on the horizon. Like, I don't know, I feel like it's is it is it gonna be the same thing where he played second fiddle, you know, kinda like we always talk about with like the Red Bull curse? Like, is it gonna be the same situation? I feel like Chip Ganassi has such a different vibe and they're not just prioritizing the Indy 500. They're prioritizing a season. Yeah, they want to win an Indie 500. No, what team doesn't? They want to win the Indy 500, but Chip Ganasi Racing also prioritizes the full year, the full season. Whereas we know that McLaren's strategy moving forward is prioritizing indie 500. So I think this gives I think this gives him the opportunity to really be part of a team that's looking at a whole season, not one day. That make sense? Yeah. Paulie :D: Yeah. Yeah, it does. It makes it makes perfect sense. So either way, super pumped. I think we need to convince Morgan to be our insider to give us some sort of stuff on what's going on with Chipkinesse. Just pretend like she's a da Yeah. We need to hire her as a spy to be Meredith: She can't give us inside info on the teams. Yeah, who's we're to spy. Paulie :D: be a doctor, but give us the insider information. Meredith: Yeah, no doubt. Paulie :D: Also in NASCAR, they're in Las Vegas tomorrow. Meredith: Hold on, we have one more on IndyCar. Paulie :D: What more in Nidicar? Meredith: The IndyCar officials extended their like the officiating board extended all of them extended their contract through twenty twenty seven. So we will have the Paulie :D: Do you know what? Meredith: same Indy officiating board for next season as we had for the twenty twenty six season, which I think is really important ahead of a regulation change, a a car change that is upcoming. The more consistency you can have in officiating board leading up to regulation changes, I think is just I think that's a very stable for a sport. Paulie :D: I would agree. I would agree. And I I don't have any issues with their officiating. They haven't really done obvious mistakes or anything. Meredith: No. And they're supported they're supported by the FIA. So the FIA, they're not like I it's not like they're governed by the FIA, but the FIA does provide like some sort of support in terms of like helping guide and govern and stuff like that, which I think is unique. Like they're not part of FIA, but they're supported by FIA. I that I think that's a unique, weird thing. Paulie :D: Yeah. I agree. But yeah, like I was saying, La Nascar is in Vegas tomorrow. Meredith: Todd, I love Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Paulie :D: It's a fun track, it's a really fast track and I hope Kyle Larson does not win again. Meredith: Sorry Morgan. I I Paulie :D: Yeah, sorry, Morgan. Meredith: I I just hope for a good race. I'm just excited. And it's also nice because it's kind of one of those things where again, kind of like last weekend, we've got the barrage Grand Prix that's going on in the middle of the night here. Wake up, watch that, have coffee, go about my day, but then have the Vegas race later in the day. That's a good Sunday. Paulie :D: Yes, absolutely. Meredith: That's a good Sunday. My one of my coworkers, her name is Karen, and she does like high traffic venues. And so one of the things she's been working with is all the motor speedways to talk to them about their hygiene products, their you know, their services, the wipers they use in the garage, you know, like for work stuff. And so it is really cool getting to see her like travel around and go to all these motor speedways and like go to the conferences and stuff. I like I'm friends with her on Facebook too. So it's always fun watching her. like be able to go to these motor speedways and go to races and experience it so that she can really make recommendations about the washroom experience. And I did just see a notification on our internal Teams portal yesterday that one of our reps won the business at Coda. So all of the products at Coda, which I was like, that's so cool. I messaged him. I'm like, John, congrats. So Paulie :D: That is awesome. Meredith: All of like the washroom products, the napkins, stuff like that is all gonna be moving to our products here in the next two weeks before Coda. So I cannot wait to get out there and take selfies with like the paper towel dispensers. Paulie :D: You're in the bathroom taking a picture with the toilet. This is ours. Meredith: Well, I worked a food show here in town this week and it was down at N R G Stadium where the Texans play. And that was an account that I won a couple of years ago. And yes, I absolutely did go and take pictures with with the dispensers. And I'm so glad nobody walked in. Cause you can you imagine walking into a public restroom and someone's taking a selfie with paper towel dispensers? Paulie :D: Who's that there's Mom, Meredith: So yes, I will absolutely be selfieing with toilet paper dispensers at Coda. Paulie :D: there's a weird lady in the bathroom taking a picture with toilet paper. Meredith: Everybody who's going to Coda in Austin, I hope that your washroom experience is significantly better than it was before. Hopefully there are paper towels actually available now and toilet paper actually available for you guys. Paulie :D: Please send your reviews to Meredith after you go to Coda. Give give her your auntie's bathroom reviews. Absolut absolutely. Meredith: The good, the bad, the ugly, all of it. Never in my life did I think I would be seeking feedback on bathrooms and the performance of dispensers, but here I am. And it is when I Paulie :D: hey, Meredith: go to like all the Europe races, all of our products are at all the circuits in Europe. So it is funny because it's like I'll always do a LinkedIn post when I get back from like a vacation with all the selfies of me and my torque dispensers. And it's like my two worlds collide. What Paulie :D: my god, that's awesome. Meredith: I get paid to do is sell toilet paper, paper towels, and hygiene products. Where does that money go to go to racing? When I get to the race, what do I find? Our hygiene products. So it really comes in the circle. I'll tell you what, it's not Paulie :D: Absolutely. It comes full circle. Meredith: a shitty business to be in. Paulie :D: Yeah, you you have a great future as a comedian. Well yes. Meredith: Thank you. I'm just I'm just on a roll. Well, we've got an exciting race. We got middle of the night race, Vegas race tomorrow. I'm sure we'll be recording at some point this week, catching up on all of our thoughts. We will get Josh's predictions and make sure we have those in before the race starts. Any other motorsport-related anything you want to talk about? Paulie :D: No, no, I'm super excited. I'm gonna go take a nap so I can get ready for one in the morning. Meredith: Do it. I'm gonna go down and start cooking some lunch. Paulie :D: What's for lunch? It's of unfamiliar to me. Meredith: You know, I don't know. I was just while I was getting my nails done this morning, they were it was like a a cooking channel and they were doing a bunch of like Asian star fries. I think I may do like an Asian star fry. Paulie :D: That sounds good. Save me a plate, I'm on my way. Perfect. Yes, ma'am. Meredith: Okay. I'll see you in 14 hours. Okay, everybody. Well, y'all have a great weekend. We will be back this week to debrief the Bahrain Grand Prix at Malaysia and we'll catch up on all other things racing. And y'all have a great weekend. Bye, everybody. Paulie :D: Take care, everybody. Bye.