Paulie :D: Whoa, my screen just did something weird that it hasn't done before. There

Meredith: Mon did too.

Paulie :D: must have been an update. We can edit that part out. Hey everyone. Welcome back to another episode of the Apex F1 podcast. I am Paul. I'm gonna be steering this ship today. And that's my dog throwing a bone on the floor. So hopefully he stops that here real soon. But once again, I am joined by my two good friends. The man that's dealing with a cold front right now in the great state of Tennessee. Josh, how you doing today?

Josh: Doing great. Feels great. Love the the old late fall weather. It's my favorite time of year. love the triple header we just had. We had a lot to talk about. plenty of Formula One news going on. So excited to be here to talk about it.

Paulie :D: Absolutely. Young lady, how are you in beautiful state of Texas?

Meredith: I am good. It's it's not quite fall here yet. we've got this morning it was nice and cool, 50s, but it's back up to almost 80 this afternoon. So I am ready to need a vest.

Paulie :D: That is gross. There was a nice, there

Meredith: It is. It is. But

Paulie :D: was there was a nice little layer of frost on my car this morning, so that was nice.

Meredith: that sounds so nice. I'm going to Philadelphia next week, and it was like the weather's gonna be lovely with highs in the fifties. I was like, a dream.

Josh: Nice. Yeah. It'll be perfect.

Paulie :D: I will be I will leave for Mexico on Thursday morning. So I will be in the ocean getting white girl wasted.

Josh: Excellent.

Meredith: Are you doing a cruise?

Paulie :D: No, we're going on a it's like resort all inclusive.

Meredith: nice. when you said I will be out in the ocean, in my mind I was picturing you on a cruise ship, not just

Paulie :D: No.

Meredith: floating out in the water with your all inclusive cocktails.

Paulie :D: Just like the wonderful song by Zach Brown, what is it, Toast in the Water, ass in the Sand. Yeah, absolutely.

Meredith: Toes in the water, ass in the sand. Yeah. question though. What's your go to swim up bar drink? what's your bevy you're pounding all day?

Paulie :D: You know what? I'm I'm I'm lame. I gotta be honest. I'm just a beer guy.

Meredith: There's nothing wrong with that.

Paulie :D: But normally it's like margaritas or something nice. I'm just beer and just keep coming. Yeah.

Meredith: I like that. What about you, Josh? What's your what's your swim up bar drink?

Josh: So I I usually go for the mini beers, which is a you know what a mini beer is? It's a little it's a it's

Meredith: I love a mini beer. Yeah, I love a mini beer.

Josh: a niche little drink, but it's good.

Paulie :D: I d I no, hang on. S some of us some of us aren't as well traveled as the two of you. What the hell is a mini beer?

Meredith: It's a little shot with liquor 43 and a little topper on

Josh: What is in it? Yeah, it's yeah.

Meredith: it. It's a little sweet little toss it back. Yeah.

Josh: It's all it's straight liquor. every bit of it's liquor.

Meredith: Yeah.

Paulie :D: So then where's the beer part?

Meredith: It looks like a beer because the liquor forty three is like a honey

Josh: It like it has a little head.

Meredith: ear. And then it has a little foam

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Meredith: head on top. But it's like a sweet little

Paulie :D: Huh.

Meredith: toss-it-back shot.

Paulie :D: Interesting.

Meredith: Pretty good.

Paulie :D: All right. Well, now that everyone on this podcast knows and all our listeners know that we're raging alcoholics, let's get right into it. Let's get right into motorsports. Guys, we we we had Mexico, we had Brazil, and some pretty eventful racing. Some yeah, some some headlines. Let's just get into it. Josh, Mexico, Brazil. Tell me your thoughts.

Josh: Well, how can we talk about Mexico without talking about the complete craziest moment I think of the season so far that has nothing to do with actual on-track action? I think we have to start with the exit of the only driver that I've seen exit like that. I think in a very except besides Danny Rick, right? Like that's like the last time I can think of that a driver is just like kicked out mid-season, right? Ocon just. has a blow up apparently after P two or after his second practice session and that's it. They said that's enough. Go you're gone. You're fired. Bye. Have a good day. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out. And Hirakawa was in. Like what a crazy what a crazy turn of events for for Haas.

Paulie :D: Listen, as somebody that's been on the grid for a while, and I said this on the group chat, I think he deserved a better exit. However, you are doing yourself no favors when you throw a child temper tantrum and you're yelling at people. Possibly may or may not have hit somebody. We don't know. But you know, you have to there's hundreds of thousands of people that work for this team. You have to treat them with respect. And Yes, you're the driver. Ultimately it kinda stops with you, kinda somewhat, but you can't you can't treat people like this. Meredith, what what do you think about how that all went down?

Meredith: Don't know. I feel like my my tides have turned because last week, you know, when we recorded, I came on saying that like I thought it was really shitty that a lot of the other drivers weren't showing him respect and support for the fact that he had lost his seat for next year. And, you know, that I thought it was really special that Lewis Hamilton went over and talked to him and addressed it. And you know, that they had that kind of like kinship. And I said, you know, I would hope that any other driver on the grid would understand the pain of what it's like to lose their seat and have a little bit more empathy. And then for a week later for him to lose his seat mid-weekend that doesn't happen on its own and so I knew there had to have been an incident and most of the credible sources that I follow the the consistent red thread story From what I saw, and I know none of this is official from Haas because they said they will not be saying anything further. The most consistent story I saw across a couple of different accounts that I follow was that he was really unhappy that they were yelling in the garage after that there was an altercation between him and Ayo Tomatsu, that at some point someone tried to. leave and someone tried to stop someone from leaving, which at that point it became physical contact. I didn't read anything about punches being thrown, hitting anyone. I didn't read anything about anything about hitting. I I mean, and I know Esteban Ocon said, let me be clear, I did not hit anyone, but from what it sounded like, maybe someone was trying to leave the room from the team. Maybe it was Ayokamatsu and that maybe Esteban tried

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Meredith: to prevent him from leaving. To try to continue to solve it. And at that point, it was like, what's done here? It's done here. So I really hate it for him. I know that SD Bestie is a name for a reason. He's got a lot of fans and supporters. But clearly something severe enough happened. it doesn't even have to get to a physical level when a driver is. actively causing harm to a team. I I think the decision has to be made. I'm proud of Haas for making it. I hate it for Esteban Okan that this is what has, you know, come of the situation. and it'll be interesting to see where he ends up another racing series. But I was really excited for Ryo Hirokawa to get a chance to jump in and drive for him and to get points, which was really cool. and then for for Rafa to be able to to drive and finish out the rest of the season is really exciting.

Paulie :D: Yeah, it's definitely very interesting. Like I said, he deserved a little better exit. I think he he's been a solid name for a while there. you know what he

Josh: You think you think he deserved a better exit? He probably is lucky to even have a seat in at Haas, honestly. I th I thought he probably could have been fired he probably

Paulie :D: I'm not I'm not disagreeing.

Josh: could have been fired three or four times from the Reno and Alpine days. And if he wasn't a Frenchman, he probably would have. He he's a man on thin ice and had been for a a while. He's he's very fortunate to have lasted as long as he did.

Paulie :D: Alright, maybe maybe I'm just more of a sentimental. He's been on he's been on on the grid for so long. He's an established name. granted the the points and the outcomes weren't always there, but he had he had some pretty legendary podiums. So you know he'll he'll go

Meredith: Yeah, I think at the end of the day though,

Josh: yeah.

Meredith: if you're being fired from your seat for your attitude and interactions with the team, do you deserve a better send-off? Because like I think about Danny Rick, who is one of the most loved drivers in F1. He didn't get a nice formalized send-off. They signed him off in Singapore. He landed that fastest lap and they said bye and never to be heard from again. Right. And if that is like one of the most loved men in Formula One gets that

Paulie :D: There, yeah.

Meredith: kind of send-off where, you know, everybody was like, he knows it's his last race. He knows he's being replaced. Let him do the donuts. Let him do the burnout. You know, people wanted that for him and he didn't get it. And that was performance-based. This is worse. This is a removal of the seat due to performance at the end of the season, and then total overall, he's being fired effective immediately for emotional potential physical harm of a team environment. I don't think you deserve any send-off whatsoever if you're being fired midseason for verbal altercations, potentially physical. That is just You'll

Josh: I agree with that.

Meredith: get nothing like it.

Paulie :D: That's fair. I'll tell you one person who's not gonna miss him on the grid, Pierre Gasly. Those guys

Meredith: Not at all.

Paulie :D: those guys have gone at each other's throats for years. So there's one guy that said did not will not miss him at all.

Josh: Or go down the list, Max Verstappen. They got into ek at in Brazil years ago, like during Max one of first one of Max's first couple seasons, they got into a physical altercation at the weigh in after a race in in Brazil. So it this is a long story of of Esteban kind of just being the thorn in the side of quite a few different drivers. So, you know, that's why I say that you know, maybe he was on thin ice for a long time. Has had issues at teams for a long time. So it's it's no secret that he's got a fiery temper. which he's not the only driver to, you know, we've heard the same thing Yuki and even Max at times, but hey, sometimes enough's enough, especially if you lay hands on the team principal. Probably not good.

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Meredith: Or on anyone for that matter. even if it's simply like I'm standing in the doorway and I'm gonna try to block you from getting out, at that point, my safety is compromised. Whether it's my emotional safety or my physical safety, that's compromised. That's out the window. That is something that you can't repair. And maybe it is maybe to Josh's point. Maybe it was maybe little, maybe other little things have been stacking up over time that we haven't seen. maybe there have been smaller situations or flare ups behind the scenes that we haven't really seen or heard as much that made Haas decide this was the final straw. this is a fireable fence and we can't have a team culture that allows this to continue. So I don't know.

Paulie :D: All right, fuck it later, loser. Find someone else to replace that. We won't be missed.

Josh: So so I look

Meredith: Paul, but to the point about like you know, with with like Pierre Gasly, d you know, it c because we are talking about Mexico and Brazil, do y'all think there's any part of that podium with you know that that healed them a little? Like d like Pierre getting Pierre getting the podium with Alpine, you

Paulie :D: The one the one that had

Meredith: know, and and you yeah. Two two.

Josh: last year or the year before? Two years ago.

Paulie :D: Two years ago.

Meredith: Was it two yeah, two years ago? Do you think that

Josh: Yeah.

Meredith: there's any piece of that that like healed a little bit where it was just like, you know what? By God, let it be let it be in the past. Like we're never gonna be friends. But do you think there was anything that that was like this was our final Frenchman send off as teammates and like whatever happens from here, we're just two separate people.

Josh: I don't think that the two of them had any reconciliation, but I could see it from a team perspective because I think, they they understood this was pr well at that time, I guess they had Aachen out already. so it would have been like the last possible double French podium. especially at the time where they were closing the WEC team, closing the the power unit manufacture manufacturing side of of Alpine's team. That that was a great like motivational moment and unity moment for the team. I don't know necessarily it would have been for the drivers. I don't think that they I I still think they hated each other.

Meredith: Fair. Fair point. I was just thinking about, you if

Josh: Yeah.

Meredith: Pierre's probably like, yeah, fuck that guy. I'm glad he's gone. Or if he's like, man,

Josh: Yeah. Yeah.

Meredith: you know what? I'm glad that like in our last season as teammates, we did have that podium together. Like, you know.

Josh: I think I think they've hated each other since the carning days. I've heard the stories. It's like they were at each other's throats since they were children, let alone now they're in the same team together. Could you imagine your arch rival from your youth

Meredith: No. No.

Josh: sports days and that is now the only other guy that you're compared next to? what a

Meredith: It sounds terrible.

Josh: what a crazy dynamic that creates in a team, man. No wonder they struggled for years.

Paulie :D: Yeah, I don't think either I don't think either one of is sending a Christmas card to the other person anytime soon.

Meredith: God no, I don't think they're friends, but I just meant maybe just of a maybe that just when you accomplish something like that, two drivers being on a podium together, that in no normal world would they ever be on the podium, right? there to me, there's some adult human side of me that even if it was a person that I hated, I'd be like, damn, look at us up here. Let's just leave that in the past and

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Meredith: move forward, not carrying any of that baggage. But I guess not. You know what? Let them be petty.

Paulie :D: That's

Josh: Yeah, let'll

Paulie :D: fair.

Josh: be better.

Paulie :D: Any any other off track news going into Mexico?

Meredith: Not really going into Mexico. we we have

Josh: I'm trying to I I'm sure there was a contract extension. I think

Meredith: we have new news from this week, but we'll save that till later.

Josh: I think that's

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Josh: when they had announced that was that the week they announced who the next driver for Haas was gonna be? Did we or was it the week prior? I guess that was part of the build up.

Meredith: It was no, it was the week prior. We already knew Rafa had been announced.

Josh: Okay. So we knew Rafa.

Meredith: Yeah, we knew Rafa had been announced and but when Mexico City came, we didn't know, you know, we knew that Rio Rio Hirocawa was gonna be driving in driving an F P one as per like that was his pre his reserve driver F P one, like a lot of people do their F P ones in Mexico. So we already knew that was gonna be happening. But what we didn't know was coming out of Mexico headed into Brazil, who would be driving. We didn't know if it was gonna be Rio Hirokawa driving again or if it was gonna be Rafa. And so I think that was the the news change up. But I don't think we had any other news heading into Mexico.

Paulie :D: Fair enough.

Meredith: Other than the looming news of is Kimmy gonna win it in Mexico?

Paulie :D: Also, FP one

Josh: That's right, yeah.

Paulie :D: turns out that Colton Herda did not have enough super license points leaving FP one in Mexico. Everybody thought so. And then there was a glitch with the IndyCar website. And they then they go, Spike,

Meredith: god.

Paulie :D: you didn't. So that was

Josh: Yes.

Paulie :D: could could you imagine? Yeah, you're good. No, never mind.

Meredith: imagine being the admin that has to be like, sorry, JK guys.

Paulie :D: I would hate to be the person that had to send that email or that phone call. Yeah, so our math was wrong and there was a glitch with IndyCar and

Meredith: So the math isn't mathing. Math is hard.

Josh: That's terrible. That's terrible.

Paulie :D: Math F Math is very hard.

Meredith: I just but at some point don't you think that someone in his team is like validating all of this, you know, going, No, no, here's how many we have. No, like, do you think there's

Josh: You would think his agent, somebody from the team, his agent, several people would have been like keeping track of that.

Meredith: Yeah, and you'd think that they'd see that in immediate it went for days. Days before it was currently.

Josh: Do you think they do you think they knew internally and they just were hoping that it would die down and they could redact it later with a little bit less fanfare?

Paulie :D: maybe. But you know it's funny, the more

Meredith: Maybe. Maybe they were like, it's Cadillac. They're not finishing races. Nobody gives a

Josh: If yeah.

Meredith: shit.

Paulie :D: It's it's crazy. The more we watch motorsports, at least for me, you you all these people with degrees and making millions of dollars, these are some of the dumbest human beings ever. How do you get the math simple math wrong? I don't I don't seem to understand it. F1, give me a call because I'm dumb, but I'll get the job and I'll fucking figure it out. But that

Meredith: I'll d I'll for God's sakes, like I think my manual tracking of our points from the season is probably more efficient than theirs.

Paulie :D: No, I think yours is wrong 'cause I'm losing and I don't think that's right.

Meredith: Well, you just be glad that you're at least out of the negative now, my guy.

Paulie :D: Yeah, I think I think your math is wrong. We're gonna have to double check that math. But let's get into the race in Mexico. It was looming. We knew it was gonna happen. It was just a matter of getting across that finish line. Kimmy winning his first world title, the youngest winner in F1 history, the first Italian winner since the 70s, I believe, if I have that correct.

Meredith: But I don't know. I'm bad with dates.

Josh: I'd have to I'd have go look. yeah, it's it's a very long

Paulie :D: I I I kinda I I know

Josh: time.

Meredith: In a long time, decades, they'd say.

Paulie :D: I know it I know it's hard to do this, but I was kinda looking at Josh when I said 70s because I know he's a nerd for this stuff. And I and I knew he was gonna

Josh: Yeah, I am and I just don't know.

Paulie :D: have the answer for me. But guys, Kimmy and Tanelli, I know there's stuff that happened in the race, but I just want to focus on Kimmy winning that title and just I I I don't even know how to put it into words. I mean it was

Meredith: just heartwarming.

Paulie :D: my allergies were acting up at that exact moment. It was it was just emotional. Just hearing that emotional radio from him, it was it was it was like nothing nothing I've experienced in a while.

Meredith: What what got you the most? I cause I know my moment that I absolut it sent me over the edge that I like bawling. So what part of the coverage were you like, gosh, my allergies, what was it for you?

Paulie :D: It's it's two moments. It started with when he walked in that morning with his little sister holding her hand and she was all dressed up in that dress and you knew his family was gonna be there. And I was like, that's a moment right there. And then when he crosses the finish line and he's just his hands are in his helmet and you can just you can just see the tears and feel those tears. That's when I was like, damn, this kid just won it.

Meredith: Well w Josh, did you have a moment where you were like, my feels.

Josh: Think I think it was the podium, to be honest for me. It's like, because I was half watching it and half trying to look up some of the other how the penalties were shaken out and stuff at the end of that race. so I was kind of half watching it and then I looked up and I see this like a great podium moment, right? Like you're inside the stadium section, which is already a great podium. And then you've got you've got the new world champion flanked by his idols, right? And like they've hoisted them up on their on their shoulders and it's like this this like ushering in of a new era. I don't know. It was like a really neat, like full circle moment almost. You know, could imagine imagine

Paulie :D: You ch you truly could not have

Josh: that for it's nuts. It's for imagine that like Kimmy's family to see like their child of a son, right? Like there with his idols on top

Meredith: Yes.

Josh: of the world, basically. Like that's just

Paulie :D: You

Josh: a an incredible moment.

Paulie :D: you truly could not have have picked a better podium. a Max Lewis and Kimmy podium. You could not have

Meredith: Agreed.

Paulie :D: you couldn't have written a better one. Cause I don't think it would have had the same effect had it been like Lando Norris and Charles and then Kimmy's on his shoulders. It just it just wouldn't have the same thing.

Meredith: I actually feel like Lando and Kimmy would have had fun. It just wouldn't have been as impactful because Lando get Lando

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Josh: It wouldn't have had the gravity, yeah.

Meredith: gets along with everybody, but I could see Charles being like, that's nice. Give me an his very buttoned poise. That was my attempt

Paulie :D: What was that? What kind of

Meredith: at a Monegasque accent. Show me yours, Paul. Show me your Monegasque accent.

Paulie :D: I'm not I know. They speak French and I don't even know what what I would say.

Meredith: That was as French as I could do. I I won't. It's

Paulie :D: Don't quit your day job.

Meredith: the only way I can afford to go to races. Okay, I will say my tearjerker moment was watching Kimmy run to his dad.

Josh: Yeah. That was a good moment.

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Meredith: him crying on the, as he drove around, that made me super happy. And I was like, how excited. Watching him run to his family. I just literally and I was working the event at Space City Racing Club. So I'm like at the S's magazine table and I'm all, does anybody want to subscribe?

Paulie :D: Ha ha ha.

Meredith: That was that one sent me and then when Max and Lewis lifted him up on their shoulders, that was my other one where I was like, no, I'm getting struck again.

Paulie :D: These allergies are just acting up.

Meredith: Yeah, but I'll tell you guys what, congrats to Kimmy. they're that is incredible. But watching Lewis and Max battle again, like it was 2021 all over again, was like everything I've been living for. And like I know that we all have our downsides to this regulation series of the cars and everything, but like I just think that seeing those two battle for laps on laps, it's like that's what we've been missing. To have that again feels really good. And not to just have it once every eight to ten races. Like literally, like pretty much every weekend, there's at least some really good on-track battles. And especially seeing it with two of my faves. I just like, I was living for that. I really thought that Lewis was gonna be able to pull it out, but I'm super happy. Yeah.

Paulie :D: And and then and they kept it clean for the most part. There weren't too many issues. They w they were respectful with it. I mean, y you know it's something it's words you couldn't say back in twenty twenty one, but

Meredith: And it's words we can't say about Brazil.

Josh: yeah.

Paulie :D: Yeah, we'll get into that here in a second.

Meredith: Yeah. I just I love Mexico City. I think it's such a great race. It just never disappoints. It just never disappoints.

Paulie :D: No, no, no. And and and it's one I think the three of us can unanimously agree we have to go to it. I

Meredith: no doubt.

Paulie :D: think it would be a blast.

Meredith: Yeah, no doubt. I my my my buddy Sean that I went to college with, he was there and he was in the stadium and all weekend he's posting stuff and I was like, I'm so jealous. Like, I have to go. It's it looked amazing.

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Josh: That's cool.

Paulie :D: Yeah. So also, going into this season, I thought a Mercedes driver was gonna win the world title. I didn't think it was gonna be Kimmy, I thought it was gonna be George. And

Meredith: I did too.

Paulie :D: and just that that message that George put out, how just distraught he was. What do you guys think about it?

Josh: It was whiny to me.

Meredith: Loved it.

Josh: it's gre yeah, sure, but why why focus on yourself now with those kind of words when you still have several races left in the sea like in the sears. Like just just be thank just be happy for your team. He c yeah, which exactly. He felt

Meredith: Okay, but I think he felt like he had to. You you when you skip media

Josh: I agree with that. I f I think he felt like he had to, which is probably part of the problem. He felt like he had to say something to the general

Meredith: Yeah.

Josh: public. As an athlete, you just gotta put your head down and say, All right, well, that sucks. I lost, but my team is still winning. I d got to close out. My teammate

Meredith: Yeah.

Josh: got first. that's fantastic for him. you gotta be the the face if he wants to be that team leader, like we've been talking about, you have to be the face of the team and be the one that's the first one up there to say, I'm so glad that Kimmy won. He out you know, outperformed me and everybody else's expectations. The team's doing fantastic. And then at the end of the season, if he wants to reminisce and say, you know what, this was not my great year. I had these this issue d these issues. I had to overcome these hurdles. I just didn't perform my best. This was the hardest season I've ever had. I feel like that's a much better play. I said the same thing last or two years ago when Lewis was moping around in a Mercedes

Meredith: Yeah.

Josh: kit. You know, he he was so sad every week. It was woe is me, the car so bad, I suck so bad, and I I I said the same thing then. I just think that there's a time and a place to reminisce on your performance and mid season is probably not. Where you would want to do that as a professional athlete.

Paulie :D: I would agree though that

Meredith: Yeah, I don't I d I am firmly opposite on this because if you miss me

Paulie :D: But hang on, Meredith. Do you do do you not agree that the timing was off? he should have waited a while. he i it feels like Kimmy's celebrating and then here's George in the corner going, Hmm, look at me. I'm sad. And I'm like, dude, can we just let the kid have fun for a week or a weekend? And

Meredith: I don't think there was anything that discredited Kimmy's win by him posting his his feelings about it.

Josh: No.

Meredith: He had an obligation to share his reflections because he missed media duties, incurring a hefty fine to the team for allowing him out of those duties. And so he he probably has a contractual obligation to do something like that. But within the contractual obligation or within the, team responsibility or whatever, if you're gonna miss a media due to your own emotional response, then you need to own that and be able to share that emotional response. And what I think he did was he did it in a very vulnerable, transparent way that did not feel like a farced bullshit post about I'm so happy for Kimmy. I love you. I love being your teammate. So exciting to see you win. I'm really, that being said, I'm bummed about my season. Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da. He he suffer suffered so many more mechanical failures than Kimmy has this season. I cer just did a quick search. The estimates are between 50 and 80 points lost this season in potential. That could have tipped the scales for George to win a championship. He has every right.

Paulie :D: Also, let's not let's not forget, let's not forget he also didn't do himself some favors with some of his aggressive driving that he did.

Meredith: No, no, no. I'm I'm those 50 to 80 points are purely from mechanical failures that ended his race that he was not in control of. Those other things left aside, every driver has those things. Kimmy had those things. I'm specif, I'm specifically speaking to the mechanical failure where the car

Paulie :D: That's fair.

Meredith: failed him that he was in no control over. And a 50 to 80 point swing could have drastically considered changing that season. And so I do think that the timing. While people would expect that it should just be about pure joy and celebration for Kimmy, I think he did have an obligation to share why he missed those media commitments and why he missed that celebration. So I'm here for it. I'm glad it wasn't a BS. I'd rather it be real and raw if he's gonna have to come out and post something than than him put some PR statement out. Like be your real self. You're a human and you deserve the space to be a human too, because I know that. Everyone says George is one of the most respectful drivers on the grid. Now, whether they like him or not doesn't matter. They all and all the other teams say that George is one of the most respectful drivers on the grid. There's not a bone in my body that doesn't think that he went up to Kimmy the minute he could to congratulate him, tell him how proud he was of him, to say how excited he was from him, and then say, I'm gonna let you have your moment. I'm gonna bounce. I think it's respectful.

Paulie :D: That's fair. I'll give it to you.

Meredith: And y'all know me, I'm not a George fan.

Paulie :D: No.

Josh: No, I hear you. That's that's a good perspective, it's a good take.

Paulie :D: I still think the timing was off, but I I can agree where you're where you're I can see where you're coming from.

Meredith: Yeah. Who could

Paulie :D: All right.

Meredith: possibly say what happens behind closed doors though?

Paulie :D: He

Josh: there's no way to know.

Paulie :D: he threw a fucking hissy fit.

Meredith: I b I don't think he did.

Josh: I I bet he did.

Meredith: I bet he just went into his garage and cried.

Josh: I bet he left. I bet he didn't speak to anybody and just left the circuit. I bet that's probably what did you see I well I will say, did you see some of the comparisons between this Mercedes win and the Mercedes win with Nico Rosberg and Lewis on the team? So evidently when Nico won, Lewis was nowhere to be found either, right? Like there's a parallel between teammates, like have, you know, which whatever. It's like I get it. If my teammate won, I'm not gonna be probably partaking in team celebrations as heavily either, right? that's that guy's time to have his moment. I'm not gonna like I I also lost in a way, so I'm not gonna hang around and take a you know, put a negative spin on a positive for the team, right? So maybe leaving is the best move, but the parallels are still made between Nico and Lewis's championships.

Meredith: Well, I just think it's I think it is an uncanny parallel. Granted, I wasn't a he I wasn't a fan during the Nico Lewis era, so it's like I wouldn't have ever thought of that, but that is wild. And I love that people love this sport so much and know so much more about it than I do to be able to compare some of those things because I'm like, history is repeating itself. The F1 world

Josh: Yeah.

Meredith: is healing.

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Josh: It's it's funny that a lot of the same dynamics exist through time and all these different regulations. It's still at the end of the day a lot of the STEM dynamics that we love are transcend the time that we are in. well else I was gonna say something else. I I bet there our conversation behind closed doors with George is gonna a he's gonna have a lot of questions because he suffered more mechanical failures, he suffered more from a team aspect than Kimmy did. And I'm sure that he wants to know why. And I've seen the conspiracy theories running ra rampant that that you know, I mean that Kimmy

Paulie :D: a hundred percent. A hundred percent.

Meredith: Line up.

Josh: Kimmy was given, you know, the upgrades, Kimmy was given better the better strategy options, better techno, technological or software upgrades to the cars as opposed to just the s the physical upgrades. So there's a lot of little tidbits that like are are, you know, maybe maybe the team favored Kimmy a little more heavily than they would like to admit publicly. I think that's very interesting to think about. Which once again, the the

Paulie :D: hell, we s we s

Josh: parallel to to Nico in the same way. They they they p they the always had the rumors were always that Nico had a better car in sixteen than Lewis. So

Paulie :D: we saw this going into when when the second George signed. George signed with Mercedes. It was Lewis. Lewis was the face of that team. It was all about Lewis. And then Lewis left and you're like, okay, now now George is the face. And then here comes this 20 year old who who gets a Netflix mini s mini documentary who gets all the things. So it I feel like George has always just it feels to me that George is that redheaded stepchild that's just there. And all the focus has not been on him. I feel like I'm not a I'm not his biggest fan, I'm not his biggest supporter, but he he's a little bit he's maybe been a little disrespected by that team.

Meredith: No doubt. I d I think that there's maybe it's not even intentional disrespect. I think maybe disrespect a strong word is a strong word. I think a better word for it may be some there's some bias that's at play. But I think that happens in any sport in any team. We'd be dumb to not to act like that happens in every team. And then like

Paulie :D: And and especially in the

Meredith: That's sports. That's a competition. At the end of the day, gotta score more points to win the game. whoever score more points

Paulie :D: But and and

Meredith: gets a favor.

Paulie :D: and and we can both we can other three of us agree this is a weird sport dynamic because

Meredith: Yeah.

Paulie :D: technically you you both work for the same team but yet it's an individual sport and you're always trying to beat your teammate and yes you're under the same umbrella but your competition so I can I can s understand and sympathize how the psychological aspect is just so weird because you're constantly sharing an office space with your competitor. And yet you guys have to both hold hands and sing Kumbaya and be a part of a team. It that would be such a weird dynamic for me.

Meredith: I think that's the thing. the F1 movie, the way they captured the dynamic between the driver pairing teammates, that to me was one of the best parts of the movie. And like you see it play out now. Like I think about Lando and Oscar, who two guys that I think would genuinely get along and like grab a beer and have fun and hang out, just kind of like two goofy weird guys. Like they'd be friends in any real situation. But Because of the team situation, not good. Lewis and Charles, not good. and I know we're gonna talk about Brazil, but it you're right, Paul. It just creates such a weird dynamic of this is a person who you spend the most time with in the sport, and it's your biggest competitor. Not the other team and the rival, that person. Because if they do better than you, you might not have a seat there anymore. And it's like,

Josh: Mm-hmm.

Meredith: ooh, I don't like that.

Paulie :D: Yeah, and you're both talking strategy, you're both talking, you know, how we're gonna do this, what we're what's plan A, plan B, plan C, and you always know in the back of your mind this guy next to me is out to get me. So that's just incredibly strange. All right, any last final thoughts about Mexico that we want to talk about before we move on to the great country of Brazil.

Meredith: No, just start just start stacking your pennies.

Paulie :D: listen, I already have housing and transportation. I ain't worried about that part.

Meredith: It's the tickets.

Paulie :D: Yeah, it's just the tickets to get there. But listen, I make one phone call and I'd be like, I'll be there and they're like, We'll pick you up.

Meredith: Deal.

Paulie :D: Yeah, I already have I already told my cousin, I said, If I come do this, I'm buying you a ticket, you're coming with me, and you're driving me around town. He's like, Done. I said, Done.

Meredith: That sounds amazing.

Josh: Nice.

Paulie :D: All right. Josh, any last final thoughts on Mexico?

Josh: Mm mm, I've touched what I want to do.

Paulie :D: Fair enough. Let's move on to the great country of Brazil. A track that I always look forward to on the calendar since I became a fan of F of F1. It never disappoints. It always gives us some fun, some headline to look forward to. And once again, it proved that it is just an amazing track. I think personally, let's just do 26 races at that track alone and fuck everything else.

Meredith: I just look forward to

Josh: It's I it's probably

Meredith: the weather forecast. as long as there's rain, I don't give a shit. I was like, I was like,

Josh: It's g it's gonna rain. It's it's always gonna rain at some point.

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Meredith: it is we always say rain is a great equalizer. I'm like, give me rain in Montreal, give me rain in Brazil. I don't care what the fuck else happens the rest of the season. I'm thrilled.

Paulie :D: Hey, hey, listen, I said it on my TikTok and you can go back and look at it. Can anyone explain to me what anything that's more useless than those full wet set of tires? Because when are we gonna use them fucking things? Those things are incredibly useless.

Meredith: I'm I'm not the tire nerd here.

Josh: they have a place. It's just a more of a matter of the FIA doesn't

Paulie :D: When

Josh: want to they don't want to utilize when they could, right? they

Paulie :D: Where?

Josh: won't on a tra a track condition that's super puddled. Like they won't they just won't go out. Like they'll suspend a session before they go out on to that track condition.

Paulie :D: Hey, we'll

Meredith: Yeah.

Paulie :D: suspend we'll suspend racing for too much wet wet water, but we won't suspend anything for a war

Josh: It it it really

Paulie :D: and bombs falling down near the fucking track.

Josh: What well we'll we'll stick with the tire talk for now, but the

Meredith: Ha Well gimme started on the Middle East again.

Josh: Yeah,

Paulie :D: And this is the segment of the podcast where we talk politics. So let's talk about the election,

Josh: Ha ha.

Paulie :D: guys. What are your thoughts? Who did we vote for? But go on, Josh.

Josh: So it it seems like the the concern is more visibility when driving in those conditions versus the the tire compound itself or the traction, right? the the issue's been visibility in with the spray. That that's been what everybody has talked about. they that's why Ferrari and several other teams have been approached by the FIA and Perelli to try to develop a new standard for wet tires. That's why they've looked at spray guards, that's why they've looked at several other options that to try to eliminate the spray issues, but it's just part of it of of these cars with all the downforce they pr produce from the floor. So it is what it is. They just won't go on the full wets. for safety reasons, I guess. I don't know. They it's it just I don't think it's a necessarily the tire itself. I think it's just the the unintended consequences surrounding when they put those on.

Paulie :D: That's fair. But moving on.

Meredith: I just feel like if there's ever a track and a race that it makes sense to have the wet tires out, it's at Brazil. But hearing that it's more about puddling, but there even was a lot of puddling in Brazil this time. I was like, ooh, I was like, ooh, that's kind of scary.

Josh: Yeah, l do you remember well you would probably look at the onboards from this this year. But two years ago when the Alpines had the double podium. I remember watching a lot of the onboards for like a a lot of the race. And it it's absolutely I there's no way that you could see the breaking zones a let alone another car in front of you. It's it's unbelievable the amount of skill it takes

Paulie :D: At that point,

Josh: to

Paulie :D: at that point, you just going based on pure muscle memory of where your breaking points are. because you're right. Some of those onboards,

Josh: Yeah. 'Cause your your visibility's gone.

Paulie :D: some of those onboards, you can't see shit. I'm going, man, I'm scared and I'm watching and I'm just watching a video. But going back to Brazil, we're still on Brazil, going before any headlines leading into Brazil.

Josh: honestly, the one that surprised me the most was of not allowing Hirokawa to r finish out the season

Meredith: To continue.

Josh: for Haas. I I was kind of surprised by that considering he had a points finish in Mexico. You know, he obviously feels good in the car. I I get it to an extent that that Haas wanted to have, you know, their new driver in the car and to get as much experience as he can going into the next year. But I was still part of me was shocked that you would you would go away from the hot hand, right? you usually

Meredith: Yeah.

Josh: let it ride if if the guy's going well, especially when it's Brazil and especially when it's a wet conditions track. I mean, obviously we saw him struggle horrendously throughout the the sessions that he did participate in. It was just it was a struggle to watch him through the race, and it shows you the skill difference between a up-and-coming F2 to F1 driver and a seasoned. F one driver, right? these guys are just in in a completely different world.

Meredith: Yeah, I was also wondering if it was a contract fulfillment issue because Rio Hirokawa drives for WEC as well and it was a WEC championship. So I was wondering if he said and and they did, they did win the championship. So I was I

Josh: Yeah, you're right.

Meredith: was thinking it was probably just the the date. Yeah.

Josh: A conflict issue. That's a good point. But then again, like that that's a really tough spot. Do you go win the WEC championship or do you compete in another Formula One race? Like what

Meredith: Well, I think if you already know but if you already know you don't have a contract for the following year, if they hadn't already signed Rafa and it was still up in the

Josh: Yeah.

Meredith: air, then I'm sure that he would go, Yeah, you know what? mm

Josh: I gotta try, yeah.

Meredith: I gotta try and go for it. But if I'm Rio Hirokawa and I know they've already signed Rafa for the following season, I'm gonna be reserve driver again. I have the potential to win the WEC title for the final race, you know, like I I get it. Like my my priorities would be in the same places as Rio Hirokawa's.

Josh: No, you're right. I hadn't considered his obligations on the WEC side of things, but that is that's actually probably more more likely than not why why he didn't race. Huh.

Paulie :D: Yeah. But getting getting back, getting on now moving on to the on-grid action. quickly before we do that, an an Afton Martin in starting in eighth place, did anybody see that in their bingo card? Because I sure as hell didn't.

Josh: I could have I I probably would have maybe not eighth, but I would have foreseen Alonzo being up there. I mean, the guy's good in the rain and he's been driving since you know, a million years ago. So

Paulie :D: I

Meredith: Let's also talk about the qualifying and how the qualifying sessions

Josh: Yeah.

Meredith: were red flagged and then what what even was Q three? Like d yeah, that's it. So that's what I'm saying. Like I think I I think had there

Josh: Of a couple outlaps that tur turned into, the timing. Look

Meredith: been a full a full Q three, like Q2 was an anomaly as it was. And then I think had there been a full Q three, I'm sorry, but Alonzo would have absolutely been last.

Paulie :D: Yeah, yeah. I I didn't watch I I

Josh: la last is aggressive, but I think not eighth. yeah, okay, sure. I'll give you that. Like tenth. Yeah.

Meredith: Last of the Q3? Yeah, like it would have been last of that last group in Q3. Let's call it what it is.

Paulie :D: I I turned on I turned on qualifying and I turned it on in Q3 and I saw Alonzo and everything. I was like, what the fuck is happening in the world right now? What is going on? But

Meredith: god, and I just like in the week leading up to it, grid penalty, grid penalty, grid penalty, grid penalty,

Josh: Yeah.

Meredith: grid penalty, and I was like, god, so god, what did they say? Like it was they were talking about like so-and-so are starting from like these other countries.

Paulie :D: Yeah, it's like seventy five grit penalty. what the why why do why do we have to go that far? Just say you're starting at the back.

Josh: Well, I love when they do that. I love when they're like, Yeah, you know, Lewis Hamilton will be starting from Singapore. It's my f that's my favorite

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Josh: like like trope

Meredith: Yeah.

Josh: that like people will do, like like 'cause they count how many grid places it would be from like the next last couple races.

Meredith: Yeah. I'm loving that trend.

Josh: I I've loved that since they've I don't know who started doing that, but it's so funny when they say that to me. But I think it was a gr it's

Meredith: Yeah, I love it too.

Paulie :D: But

Josh: a perfect race for them to to do that. I mean wet the wet is the great equalizer. We know there's not gonna be A crazy strategy change, that this is the race to go ahead and take your final components before the last couple races. It's it makes sense.

Paulie :D: And with that said, both Lewis and Max started at the back. And

Josh: And where does where

Meredith: Made their

Josh: was Max at the end of lap one?

Meredith: way up.

Paulie :D: And holy crap, that those guys are incredible. I mean, Lewis made up a bunch of spots too. They both made up a bunch of spots.

Josh: Yes.

Meredith: Yeah. Those are the first two laps. I was like, what?

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Meredith: Like, I was supposed to leave to go watch Joe's golf tournament and head up there. And I'm like, yeah, I'm walking out the door. And then the race is starting. I'm like, yeah, I'm not walking out the door. So I

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Meredith: watched like the first five laps here and then I moved it to my phone because I was like, I'm sad for this. This is amazing.

Josh: Yeah, it was great.

Paulie :D: Yeah. it it's it's crazy just Max that dude ev even in a year where he doesn't win a title, but that dude just nobody can stop him. That dude is an anomaly. Starting at the back and finishing second.

Meredith: It's like it it's like that almost makes him drive better. it's like let's start him from the back in every race and just see what he could do just for a season.

Paulie :D: Also, is maybe maybe maybe it's just me, but I'm kind of getting tired of him always going to the radio and saying this car is undrivable and yet he goes from the back and starts at the or starts at the back and ends at the front. It's like, it's

Meredith: What's his strategy?

Paulie :D: not undrivable, dog, and everybody can s hear your bluff. Shut the hell up.

Meredith: I kinda like it. I don't know. It's like

Josh: I I don't mind it.

Meredith: I think it's just becoming really enjoyable to watch it. Especially at this point in the season where it's like, okay, drivers and construction constructors championship are locked up in the bag. he's just out here proving points. And I I love it. It's it's fun. I know I said it talking about Max and Lewis. Watch watching Max and Lewis both do good makes it fun again. I want I want Max to be competing against my driver so much so that I hate him again. Cause right now I really like Max and I'm really enjoying it. I want him to be so good I hate him again.

Paulie :D: Max, if you're hearing this, we want to hate you again. So figure out a way to make this happen again.

Meredith: He is he's like, I'm doing it. He's like I'm I'm I'm on my up and up. He's like, Y'all watch

Paulie :D: Yeah, and

Meredith: me come out of the gate next season.

Paulie :D: and even if even Lewis, Lewis looked strong, that car looked quick, but i strategy, he had that weird spin out going into the pits, just a couple little things just didn't work in his favor and he he didn't

Meredith: The little the

Josh: H I

Meredith: the watching the rears of the cars twitch in Brazil every time I saw a little duty I'm like, god, what's next?

Paulie :D: Yeah, absolutely.

Josh: Yeah, the the team was like, no and he's like, No, seriously and they're like, and he's like, No, really? And they're like, Okay, fine

Meredith: Really?

Paulie :D: But Isaac gets a podium, Max is finishes in second, and Lando finishes first. So what a great race. Just Isaac getting that podium spot. I'm I'm just so happy for him. He has proven that the second Red Bull seat curse has been broken. That dude that dude's got a very bright future in that team.

Meredith: Agreed. And I think we have to talk about Liam too.

Josh: No, I see him lo I see him leaving that team. Did you not see the slight

Meredith: I do too.

Josh: they did to this man? Right there. That went yeah, hey, can

Paulie :D: When when when when they made him switch positions?

Josh: and he said if he can't pack Salando, can I have my position that can they're they're like they're like

Meredith: yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. No.

Josh: no, we're we're working on it, but we're we're not really.

Meredith: Yeah. I but I agree with you, Josh. I could see that. I could see him I could see him staying at Red Bull another year or two and then moving,

Josh: Yeah.

Meredith: especially if there's movement within McLaren, I could, Oscar has now fired Mark Weber after the Brazilian

Josh: Uh-huh.

Meredith: Grand Prix. So like that's a huge move. Oscar's reportedly unhappy and seeking to leave McLaren, which would be wild. But

Josh: Shocker. Called that last year.

Meredith: Yeah, that's that's that's not shocking at all. One thing that I think was really interesting though is like they literally were baiting Liam to see what he would do in Brazil. And I think we need to talk about Liam's first few laps in Brazil because absolute cinema. Like

Paulie :D: yeah.

Meredith: Phenomenal. Liam's first 10 laps, undeniably amazing. He had an incredible race. He knew he was driving for his seat. I mean, like there, no bones about it. He knew he was driving for his seat. And, you know, I know all the commentators said like it would be the most unjust sacking in F1. And I, after, you know, learning the news about if you win Formula Two, you can't compete in it the following year. I was like, shit, Liam's as good as gone. And then, you know, he had contact with Max in Mexico. And I was like, he's done board. He gone. He just picked out his own coffin, but Brazil saved him. They re-signed him this week. They announced it in the most V-Carb fashion. I, Dennis the Menace, has he has turned me around. And I I am super thrilled they re-signed me.

Paulie :D: I was just gonna say that. I was just gonna say that. We've hated on on on Liam for for many, many of episodes, and that dude just he's won he's won me over.

Meredith: Yeah, he has.

Josh: Do you know why we haven't hated him as much this year?

Paulie :D: 'Cause he's been why, why?

Meredith: 'Cause he's been delivering results.

Josh: No, because he's been nowhere near Sheco Perez to fuck it up.

Meredith: No

Paulie :D: Also, Cheko Paris is nowhere near anyone else to fuck anything up. The co

Josh: I know. That's that's why.

Paulie :D: the team just fucks itself up.

Meredith: Chucko getting a fine at his own home race for throwing out a piece of plastic out on the track.

Paulie :D: Yeah, that that team is just self destructive in and of its own. And now they're trying to sell the team.

Meredith: No.

Paulie :D: so it's just

Josh: Which is why th which is the whole reason why they didn't really want Andretti and Cadillac to have a team to begin with. That was the entire fear at the original output that that

Paulie :D: But it's not just Andretti, it's who it's Mark Walter or g whoever the name g

Josh: I it doesn't mat it doesn't matter. That's why they didn't want to give him a charter. That's why it took several years longer than they expected because they were like, You're gonna sell the team. And they're like, No, we're not. They're like, You're gonna sell the team.

Meredith: I know you. You know you

Josh: Yeah, they're like, You're not gonna stick this out. You're you invested in it, you built it, you got the charter, and you're gonna sell it to the highest bidder.

Meredith: Yeah.

Paulie :D: I guess I I I I can't remember what podcast I was listening to, but there's a pretty wealthy guy out of North Carolina that I might have the money to buy it and still stay in in the US.

Meredith: W wh where where then is their headquarters? And how much money do you need? I've got four thousand dollars.

Josh: they're split between they're split between Indianapolis and Silverstone.

Paulie :D: Yeah, then and apparently they just build a nice ass facility in Indianapolis too, state of the art. So it'll be it'll be interesting to see how that all plays out. can we talk about the podium real quick for a quick second? I am getting sick of Lando doing the whole slamming the bottle thing on the ground. I no, it's no, it's

Meredith: I love it. You can't ever make me. This is one time. One one time the bottle has

Josh: Why, that's a signature move. Yeah, I love it. It's

Meredith: broken.

Josh: No, second time.

Meredith: No, a trophy broke. This is the only time a bottle.

Josh: yeah. that was a trophy. You're right. You're right.

Paulie :D: I I it's just like come on, dude.

Meredith: Okay, let's talk about it. He just

Josh: It's it's okay, no one else has a cool signature move.

Meredith: Yeah, nobody else has a cool signature move. Get get cooler, you fucking nerds. But here's my thing. It was also serendipitous because this is the week after he's going to have to give up the title. he he was world champion for a year. Kimmy became the new reigning world champion the weekend before. He has limited time left with this trophy,

Josh: Not quite a year. Three hundred and twenty four days.

Paulie :D: All right, Mr. Technicalities. He said it's not technically

Josh: I said

Paulie :D: a full year yet.

Josh: it was like three hundred and twenty four days.

Meredith: Yeah, that's and that's what I'm saying. He has limited time left with the with his world champion trophy. So I felt like it was very serendipitous that the next race weekend, Lando would get a win, and which is really cool. It's like, it still shows because I think everybody's like, Lando's washed up or whatever. And it's like, look, he won the title last year. It's a totally different year, totally different regulation, totally different car. Lando's still driving great and performing great. Rough start to the year for McLaren. So kind of like Max, really getting a lot more comfortable with the car. So if the man wants to pop his fucking champagne bottle, so be it. Like if I'm if I'm driving a in an F1 car and I'm one of 22 in the world and I win that race, I'm popping my motherfucking bottles.

Paulie :D: Hop in it, yes, not break the motherfucker.

Meredith: He didn't mean to break it. You think that he's doing that with the idea? Yeah, that's did

Josh: Yeah, he wasn't trying to do that.

Paulie :D: I just think it's dumb.

Meredith: you see his face? He's all And did you see th the the clip champ of like Max behind?

Josh: The fi the firework hit him in the face?

Meredith: Do you have y'all seen with Max behind it where he's all

Paulie :D: No.

Meredith: I gotta find it. I'll text it to you guys. It's so good. It's Max's reaction to turning and seeing Lando holding up the just the top of the bottle. He looks like an evil lab scientist. It's hilarious.

Josh: So did you see when he broke the bottle, he kinda stepped forward a little bit and the firework sparkler thing hit him right in the face?

Meredith: Give him the face.

Josh: Yeah, which which is why he was standing there like this for a second, 'cause it probably s scared shit out of him.

Meredith: Yeah. He was like Yeah.

Josh: He was not having it. Some rough rough podium for the guy.

Meredith: He's like, I'm just happy

Paulie :D: Any

Meredith: to be here, man.

Josh: Yeah.

Paulie :D: All right, as we as we start wrapping up Brazil, any last final thoughts on it?

Meredith: I just love Brazil.

Josh: Yeah, it's a great great track. I love when it rains.

Meredith: Okay, I'm gonna find the image

Paulie :D: É isso.

Meredith: after. I'll find the image after, but his his his his face is iconic.

Paulie :D: We move

Josh: the craziest the craziest part of that weekend, to me, was that was the only

Meredith: Yeah.

Josh: race this year. nice.

Paulie :D: Ha ha.

Meredith: So this is right after, but the moment it happens, he's all Ugh, I'll find it and send it.

Paulie :D: Go ahead, Josh.

Josh: So that was that was the only race of the year without any kind of safety car. No VSC,

Paulie :D: Really?

Josh: no safety no safety car, nothing. Only race of the year so far that we've ha had at least a VSC.

Paulie :D: I feel like there's been other races without one, but I could be wrong. Clearly I'm wrong.

Josh: Nope.

Meredith: No, I No, I'm just like for of all the races to not have a safety car, Brazil, Pouring Rain.

Josh: Yeah. Exact exactly. That's what ex that's what I'm saying. They literally were

Paulie :D: Yeah. That that

Josh: in the in the they were at the beginning of the broadcast, they were like, Yeah, there's a one hundred percent chance for safety car today with the rain. That didn't happen. Bert Milander sitting in his car just trying not to fall asleep.

Paulie :D: Yeah. But we move on from one great track that always gives us fun headlines to I think another one that's really starting to gain a name for itself and gives us some really fun on track action. And that's one of Meredith's favorite races in Las Vegas. She is You're Goin' this year, correct?

Meredith: Yeah, well, ca because we're not going to Abu Dhabi anymore, we fortunately had to wear touchy

Paulie :D: Touchy subject, we're gonna get into it.

Meredith: subject. Very, very pissed at P1 Travel, who offered me a voucher for half of my tickets, but then refunded other people. So P1 Travel, if you're listening, I'm gonna roast you if you don't refund

Paulie :D: Mm-hmm.

Meredith: me. I will go full Karen George on the radio. Okay.

Paulie :D: Not Karen George.

Meredith: I will go Karen George Russell on the radio on them. but yeah, because we're not going to Abu Dhabi, when things first started popping off in the Middle East earlier this year in like March or April, I had the wherewithal to go ahead and book the Airbnb in Vegas again just in case the race or just in case things continued to escalate and in case they canceled the races. And Fortunately, I'm, you know, I book Airbnb's way in advance. I always do. If there's a trip I'm thinking about taking, I go ahead and book an Airbnb as far in advance as I can. Well, I'm very glad I did because we got a heck of a deal on the Airbnb. So we do not even have to get tickets to the race because as you recall from my videos last year, it overlooks the track. and you also do get to have the TV right there. So it's like the best of both worlds. So we were talking about

Josh: Nice.

Meredith: going out on Friday night for qualifying, but Saturday we're definitely just watching from the Airbnb. But very glad to still go experience all of the Vegas race week aesthetic. It's just so much fun. Super excited. We're still getting to do something to celebrate my stepmom's birthday because that was the whole point of us going to Abu Dhabi. So very exciting to still be going to Vegas to do all the activation stuff. So Friday we all fly in, Friday night we may go to qualifying. Saturday during the day, we're gonna go to all the different hotels because all the hotels have different team pop-ups and stuff. So we'll go see all the cars, go do all that fun stuff, and then pick up some dinner, head back to the Airbnb and watch the race, and then fly back Sunday. So easy, quick weekend. It is one of the most accessible weekends in terms of being able to get in and out quickly and to do it in a way that like you control the budget. Like you wanna blow it out of the water, get expensive tickets. get nice hotel rooms, you absolutely can. But there's also so much accessibility off track to the other Vegas style activations. And you can stay in lower price accommodations like we're doing with our Airbnb. And I know that there are even a lot of really affordable hotels too. So I I'd say that in terms of affordability, Vegas is actually one of the more affordable US races, way more affordable than Austin, that's for sure. Like for example, even like grandstand tickets. we were looking at grandstand Stand tickets for Vegas. For qualifying grandstand tickets, we're 300.

Paulie :D: That's not awful.

Meredith: Main grandstand tickets to Coda for F1 are 2,500. Okay. It's absurd. So I just think it's really, it's really affordable. It's such a fun environment to go to, even if you don't gamble or anything. we're not gamblers, but just a really cool spot to see and very, very excited to be going back.

Paulie :D: Yeah, it's awesome. I can't wait. we can't wait to to see your pictures and videos and let us know what you think. But our favorite segment of the show. Josh, let's give us some nerd talk on this. I don't know, it kind of looks like a pig, doesn't it?

Meredith: A pig, it's an upside down pig.

Josh: It's the the upside down pig.

Paulie :D: Tell us about the upside down pig.

Josh: Yeah, so the upside down pick is I I think it might be the bane of this regulation cycle existence.

Paulie :D: We need to make t shirts that say upside down pig. Well, damn.

Meredith: they're already everywhere.

Josh: you yeah, that's that's not a new thing.

Paulie :D: Missed that chance, but go on, Josh.

Josh: So I'm worried about the length of the straights and the limited recharging options throughout throughout Vegas. That that that's gonna be the the sticking point, I think, of this weekend. it's Vegas is is very popular because it has this super long straight down right down the middle of Las Vegas strip, right? and the front and back stretches are both really long. So be interested to see how the cars are able to recharge through the Trickier portions down through where the sphere is, after kind of like right between sector one and two is a little more technical. so they'll be able to recharge through there. But then the second half of that lap is pretty much wide open. So be interested to see how the cars do. it's a night race. Love a night race, especially in Vegas. It's such a cool environment. All the all the lights, the neon. what it's such a cool track, man. I I everybody was everybody

Meredith: It's so cool.

Josh: was so skeptical when when they built it, right? And there were so many complaints from the locals. yeah. And like even

Meredith: God, you remember the manhole incident with Carlos Sainz first year? Ooh.

Josh: leading up where you know, the locals were complaining about it and it was just it was seemed like it was going to be a disaster. Like all the pundits were saying it was going to be terrible. And then it turned out to be one of the best races of the year. Like off

Meredith: Yeah.

Josh: the rip. And then last year it was like, okay, you know what? This might actually be pretty good. And it gave us another absolute banger. So I got really high hopes. I hope that, you know, this being so late in the season that the regulation issues may not be as apparent, you know, that they've got the software to kind of dial in where they can and can't deploy. but yeah, I I really do like this track. It's such a fun one.

Meredith: That's awesome.

Josh: Not only just because it's it's a f it has a great layout as far as what these cars can do. but also just the setting. It's just it it elevates it. Like if you put this track Yeah.

Meredith: Yeah. And also just a night race. It's just like a night race to see an who doesn't love a night race? I I definitely want to go to Singapore to see that one. Like that.

Josh: Yes, yeah.

Paulie :D: As as

Josh: I do it.

Paulie :D: somebody that likes to go to bed early, I'm not a huge fan of it, but I will say it looks freaking amazing when you're watching it on TV.

Meredith: that is another one of the reasons I me, Gam Gam likes to be in bed early. And

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Meredith: last year I really struggled because it's two hours time difference and it's starting like the things are starting at eight PM, which is like ten PM my time, and I'm like so by the time the race ends, it's midnight my time, and then we have an hour walk home and I'm like watching the fireworks

Josh: Yeah. Ugh.

Meredith: all around me and I'm like, I'll just wanna go to bed. And I also had a six a.m. flight home. So this year we didn't do the

Josh: Oof.

Meredith: six a.m. flight, we did an eight a.m. flight, which I don't know. That may be the wrong move because our idea was just get up, beat the airport crowds, and go. And now I'm like, well, with an eight a.m. flight, is that the wrong strategy? But I this is another reason why we're just watching from the Airbnb Saturday night because then it's like we don't have to deal with the crowds. We're just hanging out. We can watch Yeah,

Josh: Yeah. Go right to bed.

Meredith: go right to bed.

Paulie :D: And this was the geriatric portion of the podcast. So thanks for sticking with that. Absolutely.

Meredith: Yeah, so we got swim up bars to bedtime.

Paulie :D: Guys, let's get into my most shredded part of every episode that we have been doing this year. And I I just really don't want to talk about it. I don't want to do it. But I know these two

Meredith: You gotta do it.

Paulie :D: these two nerds are gonna make me do it. So let's get into our predictions for the Vegas Grand Prix. And

Meredith: Before we do predictions, do you want do we want to do a points recap?

Paulie :D: No, I don't because Josh is winning, you're in second, and I'm in like way third. This is this is

Meredith: I think we need to. No. Wrong Wrong Joshua's not winning.

Josh: No, or all.

Paulie :D: this is the part where I where I mute myself and just mute everything.

Meredith: Okay, well, points update after Coda. I took the lead at Coda with 15 points, then Josh 14, you with two. our Mexico predictions, we did not have any we did not do Brazil predictions because life was crazy. But Mexico predictions. y'all both had Kimmy winning and I had Max winning. So I got my point for Max. Wait, what? Did I look up the wrong race results? That yeah, hold

Paulie :D: my my my lawyers are gonna be contacting you guys. We need a recount on this, please.

Meredith: No, we're good. Yeah. I

Josh: Strategy.

Meredith: was like, I was thinking because Kimmy won the world title. I was yes, Max won

Josh: Yeah, he

Meredith: the race. So okay, so yes. So I had Max winning the race and he did win. none of us got second place correct. Lewis was in second, Josh had Charles, Paul had Lando, I had Kimmy. none of us had third correct. Y'all both put Max, I put Lando, and it was Kimmy that came in third. Josh, your shocker prediction was that someone in the top five point scores would be out of the points for that race. That one was not true. Paul, you had that Gasly would be P6 and that there would be two DNFs or DNSs and Gasly was not P6. and I had V Carb double points and that was not true because we had a DNC from Arvid. So the only pony picked up only person who picked up a point was me, four max winning in Mexico. So that brings our total to me sixteen, Josh fourteen, Paul two. Hey, it's not negative and it's not a zero.

Paulie :D: we're gonna have to have real talks about this going into next season and just editing this part out. Just not doing it anymore. Even though this whole thing was my idea, even though this whole idea was my idea from the

Meredith: Well Paul, let's change the mojo. Paul, it was.

Paulie :D: start.

Meredith: It was. But let's change the mojo. How about you do your predictions first to see if that

Paulie :D: No, I don't like this because I always side note, I always kinda chewed off of Josh because he's doing really well and now I can't do that.

Meredith: No, let's start with you then. Maybe that's what you need. Maybe you need to be

Josh: Can't cheat off me.

Meredith: original and have a momentum swing.

Paulie :D: I'm looking, I'm looking, I'm I'm I'm seeing what I want. okay. I don't have a shocker yet, so you're gonna have to give me a moment for that. But I have Charles, Kimmy, and Max. One, two, and three.

Meredith: Charles can be Max.

Paulie :D: Charles Kimmy Maxx, come back to me on a shocker. I don't know what to do for that one.

Meredith: Okay. What do you got, Josh?

Josh: man. I'm trying to think of my a good shocker. Probably Cadillac winning or something.

Meredith: That would be quite the soccer.

Josh: It wouldn't be great. Shocker's always the part that gets me 'cause I always want to pick something that's kinda a little bit ridiculous. Alright, for my podium I will take Kimmy one, Max two, and Lando three.

Meredith: Okay.

Josh: And then I will go with Both McLaren's, both Red Bulls. Top eight. I don't want to say top ten, top eight.

Meredith: Okay. My pony prediction is Max is winning, Kenny in second, Lewis in third. and my chakra prediction is that Oscar Biastri ain't in the points this weekend.

Paulie :D: Whoa. My chakra.

Meredith: I think Oscar's having a bit of a bummer downtime and I don't think Vegas is gonna go so great for him.

Paulie :D: My shocker is that an Audi and an Alpeda will score points.

Meredith: Awesome.

Paulie :D: Alright, so that wraps up the Formula One aspect of the show. last last weekend, moving on to NASCAR. Last weekend, Kyle Larson won his third title. we all saw it happening. He won it right after stage one. So congrats to Kyle Larson on winning that. I really thought this was gonna be Denny's year. I really thought this was gonna be Toyota's year because they had a great start to the year and they just couldn't do much of anything calm. Whatever you want to call it, the chase, the playoffs, they just were flat.

Meredith: No, I agree. I'm excited for Kyle Larson though. I thought the interview he did or the awards thing was really cute with his daughter being like, You told me I sucked at driving and so this one's for you. I thought that was really cute.

Paulie :D: Yeah. Also Carson Hosevar got suspended for the last race by his team. Turns out

Meredith: I am super proud of Aspire for doing that.

Paulie :D: Turns out you can't break check an opponent and still make your team happy.

Meredith: Did you see them analyzing the graph?

Paulie :D: yeah.

Meredith: They show and then they and then you see the steep drop off and they're like, that's break, that's break, that's break, that's intentional.

Paulie :D: yeah, yeah.

Meredith: So I was glad they find them both. I was really proud of Spire Motorsports for saying nope, we're gonna send this out. And I was proud of Spire for making him still show up to every race event for throughout the weekend and making him still show up and One thing that he did that I thought was really cool was that instead of being in the truck, because you know, sometimes they sit in the truck and do their their like their little trailers and they do their signings and autographs and sign the t-shirts and sell the merch, he just instead got out of the trailer and was out front just signing stuff, meeting people. So I'm like, you know what? Good. Good. Learn your little

Paulie :D: Yeah, absolutely.

Josh: Well, that's all right. He doesn't need from my understanding, he doesn't need spire anymore.

Paulie :D: Spirany Timp.

Josh: Well, no. Apparently old Dale Earnhardt Junior is taking him on.

Meredith: That would be wild. But I think he I think he likes

Josh: No, I I saw a clip what?

Meredith: fire.

Josh: I don't know. I just I I'm half fucking around. I saw a clip from Dale Junior's podcast where he said he wanted to put Carson Hosabar in a car next year.

Paulie :D: Interesting, interesting move. Yeah. I'm also curious to see

Josh: I I I don't know how that works, but I d I don't know if you can just race for two deep two different themes, but

Meredith: Yeah. It would be nice to have somebody coach him that understands the personality style and that driving style. I I'm not saying anything about Spire Motorsports coaching staff. I don't know anything about them, but it's very clear that they're like not used to handling s a driver like this. And it would be really cool to see, even if nothing

Josh: A l of loud personality, yeah.

Meredith: more than like a formalized mentorship. to see what he could achieve and grow and mature as. Cause I love him as a driver, but yes, of course he needs to grow up and learn and reflect and grow and change and be a better driver and be a better person that's to be on the ovals with.

Paulie :D: I think I think he's a very talented driver. There's no denying that. He's got a bright future. He just has to work on his maturity. And I think if he goes to a team that's more, I don't know if mature as a team, but someone that just holds him more to a higher standard will be beneficial. Sure, sure.

Meredith: I I do, I know that sounds very I I don't mean that to be degrading to Spire Motorsports at all, but like, you know, you you look at these other teams, you know, like Hendrick Motorsports, where the amount of staffing and resources and stuff they have, like that's very different than a spire motorsport. And I think that like it'd be it just it'd be really cool to see for any driver, any driver who shows promise and talent, you put them but in in a team in an opportunity where there are a lot more resources and we typically see those drivers develop and grow a lot faster. So it would be cool to see where he ends up over the next few years. But

Paulie :D: Yeah. So the other question I have going into the other question I have is what's is Denny gonna race another year? Is he done? Does he think he's got another shot at this? If I don't know. There's a

Meredith: I I have a feeling I have a feeling he's gonna do another. Cause otherwise I feel like he would have had a big send off at at the end of this season. I I feel

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Meredith: like I feel like he's gonna give it one more go and and say this is my final season, I'm gonna lay it all out there because otherwise he wanted he would have wanted to do a burnout, send off, everything. I I I think he's gonna give it one more.

Paulie :D: Yeah, it's it's gonna be very interesting. So any other motorsports thoughts? Because I have one more segment I want to get into before we finish it up for the day.

Meredith: Yes. I did not realize Yamaha as a manufacturer pulled all their motorcycles and did not allow them to race in Qatar at Moto GP. I didn't

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Meredith: realize that. Like, I mean, I know I told you guys that like Mark Marquez was like I took the last flight in and have the first flight out. I don't want to be here. Like I I mean they were very vocal about that, but I did not know that Yamaha said no.

Paulie :D: We're not doing this.

Meredith: We are not doing this. We are not sending any of our bikes. I thought that was crazy. That's the only hot. No, that yeah, absolutely they did. But

Paulie :D: Did they did they get fined for this or anything? Yeah.

Meredith: now rumors are that Mercedes and Ferrari have both told the employees, the team employees, if you do not feel safe traveling, there will not be any repercussions for you on your employment. Yeah.

Paulie :D: That's good. I'm glad I'm glad they're they're coming out and saying that. Because, it is it is scary. what a couple of weeks ago a couple of bombs fell not too far from the track. So it's it's a very real situation and people have families and livelihoods to think about aside from from a sport that, you know, it's it's tough.

Josh: If it wasn't if it wasn't the Middle East and this was let's just say a South American issue, right? If the if these if there was a group in South America that was doing drone strikes and causing unrest in different countries throughout the region, every race would have been moved. Every single race would have been moved immediately. Because

Meredith: Immediately.

Josh: because this is the Middle East and because this is oil capital and because of all the money. that is driven into the motorsports scene from that region of the world, that's the only reason that these races are still on. It it's an absolute it's a disgrace. It's a disgrace

Paulie :D: And I don't think anybody's gonna disagree with you. Yep. That is a hundred percent.

Josh: that that they

Meredith: and

Josh: have decided to cater to to a a small minority of stakeholders over the safety of fans, teams, and drivers. It's it's it's it's

Meredith: Yeah, well I I

Josh: pretty bad.

Meredith: there's a one of the content creators and she's also a writer. She she's incredible. It's her name is i it's Paddock Project. She had she had made a post and she said, I she said she did a report about the announcement about the race moving forward. And if you guys don't follow Tiggy, you absolutely should because she talks about every ounce of the motorsport world. Like she talks about the team aspect, the business aspect of it. She's done a ton of stuff with like Susie Wolf and Formula One Academy. She's just like incredibly well rounded in the way she covers content and the way she does her writing style. And she had done a post about them announcing that yes, we were moving forward. And she said, what are your thoughts? And I commented and I said, I think it's a disappointing choice to not consider both the physical and emotional safety of drivers, employees, and fans. And then I explained the situation about how we bought tickets in February. United has canceled all flights. The other airlines are astronomical, And that we're stuck in a position where we can't get refunded, that, and it's just an unfortunate situation for people who save to try to go to these races and that safety is not top of mind for employees, drivers, or fans. And

Josh: Mm-hmm.

Meredith: I mean, like, had to turn off my Instagram notifications because so many people have liked the comment now that it's I'm like I'm my Instagram notifications are just off because I think that is the general sentiment about it. This is not about Us like the and you can have whatever political view you want to have on the situations in the Middle East. I don't fucking care. No matter where in the world bombs are dropping, public sporting events should not be being held, putting athletes, employees, and fans in danger for the sake of financial gain. I just think it's sickening.

Paulie :D: Yeah, no, a hundred percent.

Josh: Yeah, and it's not just motor it's not just motor sport. the United States was actually supposed to field a a team for the U seventeen World Cup soccer. pulled the team. It was in c it was the the tournament was supposed to be held in Qatar, pulled the team. Like a couple days before the first game, decided, nope, ain't sending them. So it's not just motorsports that are feeling the effects of this. I mean it it's every category of sport that is held in that region. there's so much uncertainty there's so much uncertainty because not only is this a conflict between warring nations that's a little bit more predictable between, two sides. It's also a there's also several proxy groups that are d indiscriminately attacking any bordering s s the nation states. So it's an extremely volatile and unpredictable situation, even more so than just a typical, you know, skirmish. So I it's it's crazy

Paulie :D: Yeah, hopefully

Josh: that that it's continued.

Paulie :D: hopefully everybody Yeah,

Josh: To be allowed to yeah.

Paulie :D: hopefully everybody can be safe and and hopefully it all goes without without any incident. But in my opinion, and I think the two of you can agree, this is a slight little blemish on motorsports that they are putting profit over safety. And it's just a sad reality.

Meredith: And they always will.

Paulie :D: Unfortunately

Josh: Well and I and and I think that this is even more of a reason that we should be applauding the organizers of the Bahrain race, right? That they decided

Meredith: Yes.

Josh: to go ahead and and and pull the plug and to f basically gift another you know, we gifted a Malaysia basically a race, which is, you know, is a huge amount of money influx to a country into a region when a event like that comes to town that hasn't been there in a long time. but

Paulie :D: Yeah, absolutely.

Josh: it it the fact that and Bahrain's a huge player in motorsports. They own McLaren. They own several other teams across other series. So I it's not like they they don't have a biggest stake in it. So the fact that they were able to look at it and

Meredith: Well, and they've already canceled some of the most massive events that they usually have at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. the there the massive one that McLaren always does. Cause McLaren's always everywhere there, but they've already canceled all of those events and things like that. So it's like, how are you in good conscience saying that this should move forward? It's like

Paulie :D: They don't have one.

Meredith: Yeah, well, it's like, it's like somebody I made my TikTok about like, hey, you know, people on travel said I have to sell these tickets because they can't refund me. Turns out they're lying. but I, you know, made a TikTok saying, like, to anybody who is going to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, do you want to buy hospitality tickets for Friday for cheap from me? Because I have four and I need to sell some sell them to get something back, you know. Well, somebody commented on there was like, Qatar Grand Prix just had a very successful Moto GP event. And I'm like, that's not the point. Just because the event ran successfully isn't the point. The point is people feeling safe to go. And when drivers at MotoGP were saying they didn't want to be there and that they started their weekend practicing where to hide and evacuate in the situation of drone strikes, that is not a safe environment for racing to be taking place, any event to be taking place. And you're putting athletes, you are putting employees of those events and fans at risk. And it's like, It's just it's just the situation. I'm I feel like the FIA should have some very, very clear guidelines about no matter where it is, what are the FIA guidelines for if there has been bombs dropped in this proximity or you know, ongoing wars, we don't race there. Like that should just be across all the FIA. Like the I don't know. I'll get honest about it.

Paulie :D: Common sense common sense isn't very common, but switching gears a little bit. We haven't talked about this since July. Josh, what are your thoughts on the US coach leaving for Man United in the world of soccer?

Josh: better now than in three years when we're in the middle of qualifying

Paulie :D: Yeah.

Josh: or getting ready for the World Cup. So better to rip the band-aid off. you know, I mean, we kind of got the better end of the deal because him leaving triggers a ten million dollar buyout clause. So basically his

Meredith: So that's a lot of monies.

Josh: yeah, so his departure, he he was on contract for four months. That's all his contract ran. And it was a four-year contract and it triggered a ten million dollar buyout. So basically it pays for whoever our next coach is. So

Paulie :D: Who would you like to be that coach?

Josh: I don't know. I mean everybody wants to say Pep Pep Guardiola. I I s I don't see it.

Meredith: What what was that name?

Josh: Pep Guardiola, previous manager of Manchester City, the other Manchester team. well pep. Yep, P E P

Meredith: Pep guardiola. Pep,

Paulie :D: P E P Pep pep Guardiola.

Meredith: like put some pep in your step and gardiola

Paulie :D: Yes.

Meredith: like areola but with guard at the front. Okay, what a name. I like it.

Josh: Pretty much. So

Paulie :D: I think if anybody should lay low from coaching for a little while, it's Pep after all the incidents that have come out from Man City.

Josh: Well, where to lay low where where to go but the US?

Meredith: No, we'd say the same about Christian Horner, but look at him trying to make his way back in still. So

Josh: Pep will be back. That's I think that and because of his little bit fall from grace from Man City, he actually potentially could need a rebound. And what better rebound than the US of A? So we'll see.

Meredith: The US of the

Paulie :D: The screaming eagle. I don't know if that's what an eagle sounds like.

Josh: But I am glad that it's happening now instead of into the build up of the qualifying for the next World Cup. So it is what it is.

Paulie :D: Yeah. And hopefully hopefully hopefully Patch can turn Manch Manchester United around 'cause that team has been hot garbage.

Josh: Well, if people ever saying he'll he'll last five months there and then be out of the job and he'll look like an idiot, so we'll see.

Paulie :D: All right, guys.

Meredith: Do we think another hot sport gossip?

Paulie :D: No, I think baseball's in a lockout, they can't come up with a contract. Hockey's in

Josh: They got plenty of

Paulie :D: full steam.

Meredith: No no, not America's floor. boring.

Paulie :D: You listen, you asked. I mean I'm just telling you what's in the world of live live live golf kind

Meredith: just didn't I literally I

Josh: Yeah, l yeah.

Meredith: Houston's Houston is a big baseball city. I it's the Astros, but so I w I I watch the news every morning. I thought I would have heard about a baseball lock lockout, you say?

Paulie :D: the December first is when the contract with the MLBPA expires and they're completely on different ends of the spectrum on coming up with the new contract. So they're for sure it's gonna be so disputed that they're we're gonna myth games this upcoming season in twenty seven.

Josh: No, I

Meredith: That's wild.

Josh: bet they don't.

Paulie :D: I they're so far apart. I think I don't think we get baseball I don't I

Josh: That's how these things start, but

Paulie :D: don't think I I truly truly as a big baseball fan, I truly don't think we get baseball till like April. I think we're gonna lose a month of baseball.

Josh: the the season usually starts in April.

Paulie :D: It starts at the end of March.

Meredith: feels like a technicality.

Josh: Yeah, we'll we'll see.

Paulie :D: But yeah, and then lit lit

Josh: Yeah, I f I feel like they'll have it figured out by February.

Paulie :D: and then live golf just completely just destroyed itself? Does he doesn't that doing

Meredith: Yeah, that's

Paulie :D: anything?

Meredith: dissolved. It's there's the there was a hope of a two point and they said no go, no dice. And so it's Dunskys. It's such a bummer because

Paulie :D: I just don't think it really picked up as much steam as it

Meredith: I had an absolute blast at the event. I loved it. I was like

Josh: I think

Meredith: This I was like, if

Josh: them

Meredith: I was new to golf, I understand people who are super, super, super traditional old school golfers,

Josh: Yeah.

Meredith: I totally get their perspective. But my God, if I was new to the sport and and had never attended a golf tournament and I went to a live golf tournament, like the one that I went to here in Houston, that an absolute blast. And being five feet from the players, you know, you're like it's just so accessible. They're so nice. It like I I did I tell you guys the story about Bryson D. Chambeau. Yeah.

Josh: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Paulie :D: I think so.

Meredith: just like a person who I've hated on the internet for years, and watched and been like this guy's a douchebag. And then to watch him interact with someone's kid and be like, dude, come up and hit my tea shot. just totally different. If I was a beginner into golf, I like I'd I feel like live golf would have done some good for getting people into this sport, but I get the perspective of it. But tough times when you go chase that dough.

Paulie :D: Yeah, they paid all these golfers way too much money and I don't think the return was quite there, especially with the T V contract and I don't know. I don't know too much about it, I just know.

Meredith: Know if I'm being honest, if I was one of them and I got offered that kind of money, guaranteed signing bonus, I'm taking it. I'm gone.

Josh: I'd have been gone on the next train out. I'd have been

Meredith: I don't

Paulie :D: So

Meredith: care if I'm ever playing golf again. you can't,

Paulie :D: So I guess

Meredith: you're blacklisted, you can't come back in. Well, I just made enough money simply by signing

Josh: Okay.

Meredith: this piece of paper that my entire family is set for the next three generations. And After that, if it dissolves, it dissolved. Doesn't matter because I already got my signing bonus. That literally sets my family up for three generations.

Paulie :D: So I guess the question now is is the is what is the the is the PGA just going to welcome them back or are they gonna have to earn their

Josh: Pretty much.

Paulie :D: are they gonna have to earn their ranking points back?

Meredith: Well I bet they make work back up through the ranks.

Paulie :D: Are they gonna have to go back to what what what do they call it? The the Corn Fairy tour?

Meredith: Very

Josh: Q s Q school warfare.

Meredith: Yeah, that'll be interesting.

Paulie :D: That's gonna be the big question, is here you get your world ranking back or nope, go back to the corn ferry and work your way up, dog.

Meredith: I think I would like d

Josh: we'll see.

Meredith: I would like an MBA program that is specifically designed around the MBA of sport. Like, I would love to get a business administration degree related to running sports leagues. That would be incredible. I'd be fast.

Paulie :D: Would you think

Josh: I'm sure it ex I'm sure it exists.

Paulie :D: I thought you were talking about basketball. I heard NBA. Yeah, I heard N. I'm an idiot. But

Meredith: No, no, no. MBA, masters in BA and sports.

Josh: No, B A.

Paulie :D: on that note, guys, that wraps it up for today while Meredith does her research and possibly a cur.

Meredith: I'm gonna go get my NBA in sports administration from Southeast Oklahoma

Paulie :D: It does a whole new cor

Meredith: State.

Paulie :D: and does a whole

Josh: Hell yeah.

Paulie :D: new career chase. Hey, that is a prestigious university in Oklahoma, okay? Prestigious. Somebody says they they some people have said that's an Ivy League school of Oklahoma.

Meredith: Some say.

Josh: Yeah, some will say.

Paulie :D: I don't I don't know who, but some people might say that. On that note, guys, please like, share, rate, review, comment, tell us what you think, what you hate. And we're already starting to have conversations on how to improve and make things better for twenty twenty seven. Those conversations already started, so stay tuned for all that information. But with that, guys, have a great week. Enjoy Las Vegas. Meredith have safe travels. Josh, stay warm out there.

Josh: Yep, I will.

Meredith: Yeah.

Josh: See you guys.