Too close to call? 2025 British Grand Prix Preview - with David Tremayne

0:00This episode is sponsored by IM8. Looking after yourself doesn't necessarily have to mean adding more and more things to your day. If anything, for me, the simpler I can make something, the better. And that's what I really like about IM8's Daily Ultimate Essentials. Co-founded by David Beckham and built by leading doctors and researchers, it combines 16 supplements designed to support 9 major organ systems, all in one drink. I don't need a drawer full of different bottles or a complicated regime. It's just one drink I take each morning. And I like knowing I'm giving my body a good foundation for the day ahead.

0:37In fact, a clinical trial conducted by the San Francisco Research Institute found that 95 % of people who tried IM8 for 12 weeks reported feeling more energy. And if you want to simplify your supplements too, I've found IM8 a really easy way to cover a lot of bases, and I definitely recommend giving it a try. Go to im8health.com slash nation right now, or click on the link in the description and use the code nation for a free welcome kit, five free travel sachets, plus 10 % off your order. That's code NATION at im8health.com slash NATION. Code NATION at im8health.com slash NATION. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

1:23This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This episode is sponsored by Honda. Since its first Formula One victory in the 1965 Mexico Grand Prix, Honda has always taken what's learned on the track and used it to build better cars for everyone. From pushing limits in F1 to engineering the next generation of hybrids like the Prelude Hybrid and Civic Sedan Hybrid, Honda proves that racing doesn't just inspire innovation, it drives it. And that idea of taking lessons from the racetrack and applying them to road cars has always been a part of Honda's DNA. Decades of engineering in the demanding world of Formula One have helped shape the performance and efficiency you see in Honda's road cars today.

2:13And now that same thinking is shaping the next generation of hybrids as well. Cars like the 2026 Prelude Hybrid and Civic Hybrid show that electrification can be both efficient and genuinely fun to drive. The 2026 Prelude Hybrid and Civic Sedan Hybrid are engineered for fun. from the racetrack to your driveway. Learn more about the Prelude and Civic and the latest innovations at Honda.com. Fall into paradise with Apple Vacations. Book from September 25th through October 22nd and save up to 55 % on vacations to Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Central America, and top domestic destinations. Whether you're dreaming of a beach escape with the family or relaxing getaway for two, now's the perfect time to plan some time together.

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3:13Full credit to McLaren. I really, really like the fact that they let them race. I just can't separate the two of them right now. Having seen Lando win the Australian Grand Prix, I'm sure Oscar would like to return the compliment. welcome everyone to silverstone for f1 nations preview of the british grand prix i'm tom clarkson and joining me here in the paddock is f1 hall of fame journalist david tremayne great to have you on the show david your features on the f1 website are essential reading what have you got planned for us this weekend 1995 british grand prix won by jay herbert the race in which Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill had a coming together, didn't they?

3:59Indeed so. In which Michael was very unhappy and Damon wasn't very happy either. And they both got reprimanded by the stewards which was interesting. Brilliant. And that comes out on Sunday? I think so. Yeah. Sunday morning, I guess. Well, look forward to reading that. The British Grand Prix is always a huge weekend for the sport and never more than now as it celebrates its 75th birthday. the first ever race taking place here at Silverstone in 1950. So let's look at the main talking points ahead of the weekend. Let's begin with McLaren. Oscar Piastri leads Lando Norris by 15 points at the top of the World Championship.

4:41Oscar has five wins to Lando's three. David, who do you think is going to have the advantage this weekend? I think McLaren is, but if you're asking me which of the two of those, I think it's incredibly difficult to tell. I mean, this is what is so fantastic about this year. And you've got two totally different kind of drivers. I loved it. There was something on Instagram the other day that had nine images of Oscar. Eight of them were identical. And it was all sort of Oscar wins, Oscar loses, Oscar retires. Just like no difference in expression. I can't actually remember what the final one was, but it was something sort of arcane, but he was actually smiling and happy.

5:26And you sort of think that tells you so much about Oscar's character because he'd make a hell of a poker player. Then you've got Lander, who's got this totally honest streak, which sometimes I wish he didn't for his own good. But it's great that there's a sportsman who's honest about how he feels, whether he's up, whether he's down. I think in many ways that transmits to other people sometimes what his weaknesses might be. And I think that might give them an advantage over him. But these two, I love the way Lando picks himself up, dusts himself off, bang. I mean, he did a great job last time out.

6:04Fantastic job. And it was wonderful to see them racing. And I really salute McLaren after Canada that they still let them race. And that says a lot about what they think of their drivers and actually how they behave. because it was an accident and andro stella said something which i thought was interesting about it was a misjudgment but he talked about the suction that you get obviously the slipstream but how powerful it can be and possibly that was a factor as well which you don't take into advantage immediately so whatever they're both it would mean so much to lando wouldn't it to win here home Grand Prix.

6:45Of course he's finished second third fourth fifth and sixth but never won his home race. Do you think David that the fast sweeps of Silverstone there isn't really a faster track in Formula 1 will it make it harder for them to go nose to tail like they were in Austria? I don't know I think you know the general feeling as we you and I were discussing this morning that update seems to have made the rocket ship from 2023 an even bigger rocket ship this year I think they'll still be very close and of course the other thing I was going to say is having seen Lando win the Australian Grand Prix I'm sure Oscar would like to return the compliment I think we're in for a fantastic even if it was just down to those two we'd be in for a fantastic weekend well and the car looks fantastic in its chrome livery this weekend special for the British Grand Prix.

7:38Well, let's move on to Ferrari. If we think McLaren are favourites, what about last year's winner of the British Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton? He's been on the podium here at every race since 2014. He's a nine-time winner of the British Grand Prix. What chance this time around? I don't know, because in a way last year, you might not have given him a great chance. he's Lewis only ignorant people write him off in my opinion because once Lewis gets that car going the way he wants I mean as you could see Canada was a lot closer I think they're going to struggle here slightly more than they did in Canada and that seems to be the feeling within the team Why do you think they're going to struggle?

8:25Just because I don't think the car is going to be as suitable in the quick stuff but we'll see won't we the floor that they had in Canada was obviously better I know Lewis isn't still absolutely confident in the breaks which you've used quite heavily a couple of places here so I'd be surprised if they're challenging McLaren but there is David there is something about Lewis Hamilton and Silverstone I'm reminded when I think of Lewis here I'm reminded of Mansell and the effect that the home crowd had on nigel mansell all those years ago there's something about the british fans and lewis that's that ray he would deny it of course because he and it's his job to be at 10 tenths every race but this i don't know the the performance comes from nowhere for him nigel always used to reckon it was worth half a second a lap or something like that i mean you know take what you want from any of those kind of things but i think it's probably it's more to do with just a feeling of huge well-being.

9:24It must be like that when everybody loves you. I think it must just be something when you come in feeling really good about yourself that boosts you. And it's almost like you can walk on water sometimes. What about Charles Leclerc? He's finished on the podium in three of the last four races, which is a tremendous record. Can he get on the podium, even if a win looks hard? But if, let's say, the McLaren drivers are favourites for one and two, could a Ferrari, be it Hamilton, or Leclerc, be the third guy? I think it's possible, yeah. I mean, it depends. It so much depends on what the Red Bull's like here.

10:02And we have to remember that Max was disadvantaged in qualy and started seventh last week. So, and then, of course, he got taken out. So we don't really know what the modified Red Bull is like. I think it's going to be very quick here because Max always is so I would suggest if Max has a halfway decent car he's probably the primary final podium position winner maybe even better than that we just don't know yet do we but it ought to be possible Charles is in very good form isn't he the form of his life you would have to say it's just a shame that the car seems to have taken that step back since last year and Red Bull have got further upgrades on the car here at Silverstone they bought the first swathe of them to Austria last weekend as you say we we didn't see what they could do more coming here so I feel this is a defining moment for Red Bull just in terms of their 2025 season if suddenly they're on the same pace as as McLaren we've got a championship well we've got a championship anyway you only need two cars to have a good championship and Oscar and Lando are going to provide that but if if max is going to challenge them i think we will know this weekend yeah and i mean it was interesting last week that helmet bless him was his usual frank self and said we've given up on the championships we've conceded them but there is the interesting um question of where max goes um i know christian's sick and tired of discussing it how destabilizing is it for for a team red bull when you know their lead guy is being constantly linked to a to a rival it's got to be of course it's going to be it's the same with fred i mean i had a conversation with fred fred vasser yeah in canada and said listen you should just not take any notice of us as a genre um the media just forget it you know but it's very hard not to when people are talking about you losing your job and everything else that's got to be destabilizing and then when people are talking about the guy that i mean we all know how much difference max makes at red bull when you're talking about him possibly leaving if nothing else it's just irritating and at the constant same questions from people and everyone in the factory is sort of going to be thinking well is he or isn't he it just creates an uncertainty that you don't need oh and there's a similar effect i I guess, on Mercedes and particularly George Russell, who doesn't have a contract for 2026.

12:37But also Kimi. You know, it makes you sort of think, here's Kimi, who I think has done a fantastic job this year. Here's Kimi after a bit of a mistake, probably the first serious one he's made this year. Well, are they going to have this guy or not? When are we going to find out? And for George, I mean, George, of course, we have to discuss as a potential winner if the Mercedes works properly here. do you think it will work better in the cooler conditions and let's not forget it was a mercedes it was a mercedes one two on the grid here last year with hamilton then winning the race but are we going to get those conditions here yesterday was roasting so it depends how cool you need it to be i think george is another candidate for the third podium position though and i think george has done a fantastic job this year which is why again i feel sorry for him with all these questions about whether is he going to be replaced at Mercedes by Max?

13:37Would it be him and Max? I mean, would you put those two together and think you were going to have a quiet life? It would be box office. Box office, yeah. I don't know. I think that sub-story actually adds even more substance to this weekend. more intrigued, isn't it? You've observed racing drivers over many decades now. Toto Wolff believes that the uncertainty surrounding George Russell is helping to elevate his performance, keeps him sharp, keeps him wanting to prove something. Do you still feel that or do you think he's now losing faith? No, I think that inevitably is I'll show everyone. I don't know many racing drivers who like being put in that position.

14:28Most of them like A, to feel comfortable in a team and B, everything to revolve around them. That's when you get the best out of people. I feel a little sorry for George Russell because what has this man got to do to prove his worth as a number one driver? The last two seasons, he's been the stronger of the two Mercedes drivers when he had Lewis Hamilton alongside him. he's done some barnstorming drives this year even when there were all sorts of problems electronic problems going on in Bahrain he still brought the car home on the podium I think it's tough I think it's really tough for him to potentially be not only without a Mercedes drive but if Max does go is it a direct swap with Max does George Russell then go to go to Red Bull with all the uncertainty surrounding their their new power train for next year or is he suddenly somewhere else and so no longer fighting at the front George is a number one no question and I kind of like his sassy attitude as well you know George is charming most of the time but he doesn't suffer fools and he likes things done his way so he can you know he's got the number one attitude I think god he's done enough to prove himself like a Williams you know some of the performances there and then you're right you know what he's been doing at Mercedes this year fantastic job whoever goes to let's say Max leaves Red Bull which I'm not sure that he will of course but suppose he does whoever goes there it doesn't matter who it is they would have really big shoes to fill and would they have a car that they can actually drive?

16:16I think Max likes it so much on the nose, but I think a lot of what they've had to do to that car to get the balance with the right aero and everything else is where they've struggled in the last year. So what will their next year's car be like anyway? And it won't have the Honda engine. There's so many questions that you would think George has waited all this time And to get a really good Mercedes, this year he's got probably the best one they've done in the ground effect era. To see all that potentially coming undone would be soul-destroying. Early screenings have audiences raving. F1 the movie is absolutely incredible.

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17:24This episode is sponsored by IM8. Looking after yourself doesn't necessarily have to mean adding more and more things to your day. If anything, for me, the simpler I can make something, the better. And that's what I really like about IM8's Daily Ultimate Essentials. Co-founded by David Beckham and built by leading doctors and researchers, it combines 16 supplements designed to support nine major organ systems, all in one drink. I don't need a drawer full of different bottles or a complicated regime. It's just one drink I take each morning. And I like knowing I'm giving my body a good foundation for the day ahead.

18:01In fact, a clinical trial conducted by the San Francisco Research Institute found that 95 % of people who tried IM8 for 12 weeks reported feeling more energy. And if you want to simplify your supplements too, I've found IM8 a really easy way to cover a lot of bases, and I definitely recommend giving it a try. Go to im8health.com slash nation right now, or click on the link in the description and use the code nation for a free welcome kit, five free travel sachets, plus 10 % off your order. That's code NATION at im8health.com slash NATION. Code NATION at im8health.com slash NATION. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

18:47This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

19:03Now, what about Williams? They've only scored one point in the last three races after that double DNF, did not finish in Austria. Is performance and reliability a concern coming into their home race? Well, half the thing with Williams, to be honest, is that they never tell you what the problems were, which to me suggests some sort of power plant issue, which I think they've had on Alex's car twice now. They've undoubtedly done a very good job to get where they are. Somebody said to me, we've done the, I think they described it as the easy stuff. I know what they meant, but it was like bringing things up to date with some of the technology they've got there, etc., etc.

19:50They're, I would say, a solid midfield team now. But, yeah, the reliability thing's worrying. Both drivers, they've got a really cracking pair of drivers there. Alex is doing a fantastic job. Carlos, too. both have a lot to prove don't they well have you been surprised by Albon so far this year he has been the faster of the two Williams drivers no doubt about that I don't think I have been no I'm pleased for him because you're worried that you know if Carlos came in and was immediately quicker it would kind of raise question marks but I look back to what 2018 F2 and Lando won the first race didn't win anymore George won the championship with several wins but I thought the guy who came across as the best fighter in a race was Alex and it's interesting that I'd like to see Alex back in a top-line car and I hope Williams can turn theirs into one but I think he's done a great job and Carlos I'm a big fan of Carlos it took him a while but he was matching Charles at Ferrari we shouldn't forget that I think he's got everything he needs as well and they're both super determined and that's exactly what Williams needs to lift the team and push it forward I like the fact that they're both pretty equal you're right that Alex has had the upper hand but Carlos isn't that far behind so I'm looking forward to that battle going on all year and that's what you need to bring a team forward well they were the first team to convert all of the wind tunnel program to the 2026 and and they started the season very strongly as we hit the halfway point now it feels like everyone else has closed the gap and I think the second half of this year is going to be tough uh for them but let's hope that that Silverstone uh lends itself more to the strengths of that car they they've scored points here for the last two seasons I think the fast sweeps it does seem to be a better car through faster corners than the sort of point and squirt slower stuff.

21:55So would you be putting money on A. Williams in the points? Possibly. I'll tell you who I would put money on being in the points. It's RB. Racing Bulls. I mean, what can we say about Isaac Hadja? I mean, I think he's the find of the season. We should go back to Kimi in a minute. But I think, to be honest, I was surprised when he got promoted. I was quite looking forward to him and Yuki in the team as the two most outspoken drivers over the radio. We all remember what befell him in Australia when Kimi admitted that he nearly lost it as well at the point when he's added. I think he's... I can't see he's done any wrong this year.

22:48He's really, really impressed me because he's just always there. And Liam, I got a lot of time for him. I believe he had a little bit of driving instruction recently in Canada from somebody I'm quite well acquainted with who was doing some filming with him. It was funny because my son Tom was doing something with Honda with him and then ended up driving this funny little off-road vehicle with Liam. I think they had a really good weekend, a lot of fun. But he looked really good in Austria, didn't he? He really did. Best result in Formula 1. Like he was really confident in the car, possibly for the first time.

23:26And good for him, because I think he's, I rate him. And I hope he doesn't go the way some of the others do, where they nearly kind of grabbed hold of it and then it slipped away. That's another team in which hopefully the two of them will keep pushing each other, because that's exactly what you want. Look, final thoughts, David, on Haas. They're bringing upgrades this weekend. And Oli Behrman has said what they're trying to do is just increase the size of the performance window. He said it's very peaky, that car thus far. Time will tell whether these upgrades deliver that. But let's talk about Behrman, another rookie this year, doing his first full season at least.

24:07Have you been impressed by him? Big fan of his. I think he's got huge confidence. He's a very nice guy. I would expect him to be doing his best here. And I think he and Esteban, I think he might have been a surprise to Esteban, to be honest. But I like Esteban very much. I think he's a nice guy and I think he's quick. Again, that's two good guys. If the car works, I think they'll be fast. But let's hope it does work. It's, of course, a big weekend for the Behrman family because Ollie's brother Thomas is racing in Formula Four this weekend. So nervous parents. Yeah, bless them. and from a strategy point of view an interesting development for this season is that Pirelli have gone one step softer than last season they've got the c2 c3 c4 as their range so it'll be intriguing to see whether it's a one stop or a two and of course last year's strategies were muddied a bit by the wet weather so the teams are going to be learning somewhat this weekend aren't they yeah and if I can just go back to Kimi because I don't think I should allow myself not to be.

25:12I actually met him for the first time here last year. And it was funny because I'd I'd had a very emotional hug with Lewis's mum immediately afterwards. Then I went looking for Anthony. He was upstairs at Mercedes. But Kimi was talking to Roberto Chinchero on the on the stairs. So I went and had another emotional hug with Anthony and then came downstairs and Roberto introduced me to Kimi. And, you know, you get introduced to some drivers and it's yeah, whatever from then he was just charming and engaging immediately and thinking back if you can remember back to when you were that age I was never anything like that smart never have been not even when I was 30 or 40 he struck me as being such a calm confident outgoing guy and He's never done anything to dissuade me from that opinion.

26:07He can be very quick. And to be nearly as quick as George at some places, and sometimes quicker, that's a good sign. And I hope that he gets the chance to get his second season and show people what he can do. But I think what he's done so far this year is pretty good in a car that's not always that easy to drive. Well, just think back to his performance in Japan, that the sprint pole in Miami that podium in Montreal as well he's the progress is there I thought what he did overnight in Japan was stunning because he said he had no confidence the first couple of sessions and suddenly he'd listened to what Valtteri said and just thought it all through and it clicked and that's another sign isn't it if a guy can you can't make a slow guy quick but sometimes a quick guy has to slow down a little bit to pick it up and I think he got his head around what he was doing right and wrong and I thought that was a sensational performance all right David it's been a wonderful chat we're going to do podium predictions now we kind of touched on this earlier one two three please Lando or Oscar um I think Max will be the third one yeah Lando or Oscar are you going to put what order are you putting the McLarens in well whichever one it happens to finish with I don't know I mean honestly I don't know.

27:28Normally, I'd have an opinion. But that's what I think is wonderful about this, because they're so well matched. There's one thing about Oscar that I've been told is that he is brilliant through fast corners, very much like his manager, Mark Webber, was back in the day. Just wonder whether that might get, I mean, not saying Lando's slow at all, and it is incredibly close to call. But I wonder whether that might give Oscar an edge this weekend, just his pace through Cops, Maggots, Beckett's. But then again, Lando's pretty good in high-speed stuff as well. We're going to have a cracking race. That's one thing.

28:02We are going to have a cracking race. I'm pretty sure it's going to be won by a McLaren. But I just can't separate the two of them right now. And I think that's what's... I mean, it was very good for the sport that Lando won last time out. Because if it becomes one-sided, it won't be as interesting. And as I said earlier, full credit to McLaren. I really, really like the fact that they let them race. And if they were ever going to say Papaya Rule, say you win this weekend and you don't, that possibly would have been then. But I think it's such an incredible thing for a company to say, no, they can still race.

28:38Well, David, thank you very much for coming on the show. It's been great to chat. You can keep across all the action here at Silverstone by going to F1.com or the official F1 app. And in selected countries, you can watch all the sessions live on F1 TV. Lando Norris is my latest guest on F1 Beyond the Grid. That's available on your podcast app now. Enjoy the weekend ahead. Thank you very much for listening. And we will, of course, be back on Monday from the Silverstone Paddock with our review of the British Grand Prix. F1 Nation is produced by Formula One and Audioboom Studios.

29:28This episode is sponsored by Honda. Since its first Formula One victory in the 1965 Mexico Grand Prix, Honda has always taken what's learned on the track and used it to build better cars for everyone. From pushing limits in F1 to engineering the next generation of hybrids like the Prelude Hybrid and Civic Sedan Hybrid, Honda proves that racing doesn't just inspire innovation, it drives it. And that idea of taking lessons from the racetrack and applying them to road cars has always been a part of Honda's DNA. Decades of engineering in the demanding world of Formula One have helped shape the performance and efficiency you see in Honda's road cars today.

30:13And now that same thinking is shaping the next generation of hybrids as well. Cars like the 2026 Prelude Hybrid and Civic Hybrid show that electrification can be both efficient and genuinely fun to drive. The 2026 Prelude Hybrid and Civic Sedan Hybrid are engineered for fun. From the racetrack to your driveway. Learn more about the Prelude and Civic and the latest innovations at Honda.com. fall into paradise with apple vacations book from september 25th through october 22nd and save up to 55 on vacations to mexico the caribbean hawaii central america and top domestic destinations whether you're dreaming of a beach escape with the family or relaxing getaway for two now's the perfect time to plan some time together travel through september 30th 2027 start planning your getaway today at applevacations.com or contact your travel advisor

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