Australian GP Driver Ratings
About this episode
Matt and Tommy dive into their driver ratings for the Australian GP, tackling the challenges of assessing performances amid new regulations and technical issues. They discuss standout moments like Sergio Perez's gritty battle in a struggling Cadillac, Franco Colapinto's impressive reactions avoiding a crash, and Pierre Gasly's strong points finish despite Alpine's struggles. The hosts debate how to fairly grade drivers affected by car failures or penalties, emphasizing the complexity of rating drivers in a season full of variables. Fan ratings often align with their assessments, adding another layer to the discussion.
The most controversial series in F1 podcasting™ is back! Join us as we base some definitive, not-to-be-argued-with ratings for each of the 22 drivers, based off almost zero information.
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Formula One
"and disagree with us with whatever we grade every single 22 of the Formula One drivers out of 10."
Formula One is a type of car racing with very fast and special cars driven by the best drivers in the world.
Formula One is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the FIA, featuring the fastest and most technologically advanced cars and the world's top drivers.
battery
"What's a driver? What's a battery? What's a harvesting?"
The battery in these race cars stores electricity that helps the car go faster when needed.
In Formula One, the battery stores electrical energy recovered from braking and other systems, which can be deployed to provide extra power during the race.
harvesting
"What's a battery? What's a harvesting? So take the ratings as always with a pinch of salt"
Harvesting means collecting energy when the car slows down so it can be used later to help the car go faster.
Harvesting in Formula One refers to the process of recovering energy, usually through regenerative braking systems, which is then stored in the battery for later use.
race
"So I'm kind of more with Perez on this one in the fact that it's a race and if they're fighting for a position, then fight for position."
A race is when drivers try to go faster than others to win.
A race is a competitive event where drivers compete to finish a set course in the shortest time or in the best position.
derating
"problems qualifying, as I mentioned, on the Perez grade. He experienced basically derating."
Derating means the car's engine is made to produce less power to keep it safe and avoid damage during the race.
Derating refers to the reduction of an engine's power output by the control systems, often to protect the engine or manage temperature and reliability during a race or high-stress conditions.
DNF
"come up with a word for it, but for Bottas, yeah, it's very hard to grade. Of course, he DNF'd as well."
DNF means the driver couldn't finish the race because something went wrong, like a crash or car problem.
DNF stands for 'Did Not Finish,' indicating a driver or car that was unable to complete a race due to mechanical failure, accident, or other issues.
stop Go Penalty
"take into account, just to clear up some confusion, that his Colopinto and Go Penalty, which was, of course, a stop Go Penalty, wasn't anything to do with that start that we saw,"
A stop Go Penalty means the driver has to stop their car in the pits for a short time as a punishment during the race.
A stop Go Penalty is a race penalty where a driver must enter the pit lane, stop at their pit box for a set time, and then rejoin the race, usually for rule infractions.
front wing
"He still had damage to his front wing and was able to hold off Ocon after that little wheel-to-wheel action."
The front wing is a part at the front of a race car that helps it stick to the track better when turning.
The front wing is an aerodynamic part at the front of a racing car designed to generate downforce and improve handling.
wheel-to-wheel action
"He still had damage to his front wing and was able to hold off Ocon after that little wheel-to-wheel action."
Wheel-to-wheel action means two cars are racing very close next to each other, trying to pass or block.
Wheel-to-wheel action refers to close racing where two cars are side by side, often competing aggressively for position.
two-stop strategy
"They went for a two-stop strategy, which was an aggressive one. But at the same time, I do genuinely put the car performance of Audi up..."
Two-stop strategy means the driver will stop two times during the race to change tires or fix the car.
A two-stop strategy in racing means the driver plans to pit twice during the race to change tires or make adjustments, balancing speed and tire wear.
Q3
"in P10, you know, making Q3 and then having that problem with the car, of course, but then still had a very solid race"
Q3 is the last part of qualifying in Formula 1 where the fastest drivers try to get the best starting spots for the race.
Q3 refers to the third and final qualifying session in Formula 1, where the fastest drivers compete for the top starting positions on the grid.
NA (Not Applicable)
"if a driver does not start due to their own doing, then they'll get a not applicable and NA because I think that's the best way to not skew the averages"
NA means we don't give a score to a driver if they didn't start the race because it wasn't their fault.
NA or Not Applicable is used here to indicate that a driver who did not start the race due to no fault of their own should not be rated to avoid skewing performance averages.
pit lane
"...he was one of those that managed to jump in the pits with a few other drivers before they closed that pit lane for the Bottas incident..."
The pit lane is like a special garage area during a race where cars stop to get new tires or fix things quickly so they can keep racing fast.
The pit lane is a designated area at a race track where cars can stop for refueling, tire changes, repairs, or adjustments during a race. It is a critical strategic element in motorsports.
soft tyres
"All he could do was stick on some soft tyres and show that in his opinion, and mine, he's better than everyone else and could just breeze past everyone"
Soft tyres are special racing tires that stick better to the track, helping cars go faster, but they don't last as long.
Soft tyres are a type of racing tire compound that provides more grip but wears out faster, allowing drivers to achieve faster lap times temporarily.
rookie tax
"Easily a 10. I think, yes, there is a bit of rookie tax on there. It's not even rookie tax, it's first race tax. The guy has never done a Grand Prix start before and he made it into third on the first lap."
Rookie tax means that new drivers usually make some mistakes or have a harder time when they start racing at a high level. It's normal and part of learning.
Rookie tax is a term used to describe the typical challenges and mistakes that new drivers face when starting in a high-level racing series like Formula One. It refers to the learning curve and occasional errors expected from inexperienced drivers.
Grand Prix
"It's not even rookie tax, it's first race tax. The guy has never done a Grand Prix start before and he made it into third on the first lap. How many rookies have we seen take their front wing off or do silly things at the start of races?"
A Grand Prix is one race in the big Formula One racing season. Drivers race at different places, and each race counts toward who wins the whole championship.
A Grand Prix is a single race event in the Formula One World Championship. Each Grand Prix is held at a different race track around the world and contributes points toward the overall championship.
intervals
"And we didn't talk about this in the main race podcast. I don't think we actually spoke about it at all in the watch along unless we might have done it was like 3.15 in the morning when we started talking. So maybe I've just forgotten. The intervals. Why are they done to one decimal place all of a sudden? Oh, I've got a controversial opinion on that one. So should we get into it? Oh, you've got a controversial opinion. Okay. Well, first and foremost, I'm going to say mine and then we're going to maybe argue again. But I don't like it. I like the thousands and the hundreds and the other one. So for me, that's the same as what you'd see at a track where they just go 2.9, 2.5, 2.1, whatever. I like the fact that I don't know. It's weird."
Intervals are the time differences between cars during a race, showing who is ahead and by how much.
In racing, intervals refer to the time gaps between drivers, often shown in seconds to measure how close or far apart they are on track.
qualifying
"Right, let's head to Alex Albon, qualified 15th finished 12th."
Qualifying is like a time trial where drivers try to be the fastest to decide who starts the race in front.
Qualifying is the session before a race where drivers compete to set the fastest lap time to determine their starting position on the grid.
P12
"Right, let's head to Alex Albon, qualified 15th finished 12th."
P12 means the driver finished the race in 12th place out of all the racers.
P12 means finishing in 12th position in the race. 'P' stands for position and the number indicates the place.
mechanical issue
"Even if it was absolutely gutting that he had that mechanical issue because he was running."
A mechanical issue means something in the car broke or stopped working properly, which can make the car slower or stop it from finishing the race.
A mechanical issue refers to a failure or problem with a car's components that can affect performance or cause retirement from a race.
burnout
"...Did you see the burnout at the end of him getting annoyed? That's something we saw that Fernando Alonso do..."
A burnout is when a car's wheels spin fast but the car doesn't move much, making smoke and noise. Drivers sometimes do this when they are upset or celebrating.
A burnout is a driving maneuver where the driver spins the wheels while the car remains stationary or moves slowly, often producing smoke and noise, usually to show frustration or celebrate.
VSC
"...Ferraris VSC Blunder, which I will call it VSC Blunder because it definitely was, allowed him to easily be catapulted into second..."
VSC means Virtual Safety Car. In races, when there's a problem on the track, instead of sending a real safety car, they use VSC to slow all cars down safely.
VSC stands for Virtual Safety Car, a system used in racing to slow down the cars on track without deploying a physical safety car. It helps maintain gaps between cars and ensures safety during incidents.
exit curb
"the 100 kilowatts more that he didn't expect at that part of the track. The exit curb thing, obviously, that is him driving."
The exit curb is a small raised edge on the outside of a turn on a race track. If a driver hits it, it can make the car bounce or lose grip, which can cause accidents.
An exit curb is a raised section at the edge of a race track corner exit, designed to define track limits and sometimes to discourage drivers from cutting corners. Hitting the exit curb can unsettle the car and cause loss of control.
customer teams
"...how Mercedes so far clear in a supposed engine formula with exactly the same engine as other customer teams. That's a question that I'm sure will continue to go on and on..."
Customer teams are race teams that buy engines from big companies like Mercedes instead of making their own engines.
In Formula 1, customer teams are those that buy engines or other components from a manufacturer rather than building them in-house. These teams rely on suppliers like Mercedes for their power units but may not receive the same level of support or latest upgrades as the factory team.
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