P1 with Matt and Tommy - Our reaction to the Ferrari F1 car launch

Episode Date: February 13, 2024

The red car's back, it looks great, so let's talk about it! Plus, we wonder how Ferrari will fare under the continuing stewardship of Frédéric Vasseur. WE'RE GOING BACK ON TOUR! Tickets for our April live shows are available right here: https://www.tegeurope.com/events/p1-with-matt-tommy/You can sign up to our Patreon here! You'll get access to exclusive episodes you won't hear anywhere else, every P1 episode ad-free, full driver interview videos, early access to tickets and more!Follow us on socials! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello everybody and welcome back to the P-1 podcast with Matt and Tommy. We are here very much closing in on the start of the season. And we are here to reflect on the beautiful, wonderful red scarlet team of Ferrari today. And we have a lot to dive into today, Tommy. It was a long car launch. We need to really dissect quite a few key moments and key points here because there was so much to process that we genuinely don't know where to start. There was so much going on sarcasm, but based on...

I love how you clarify that. Yeah, sarcasm. Based on Twitch, we might actually have a disagreement for the first time ever, so all the people that like us having a rare disagreement, this might be the day. Yeah, and look, Tommy, that's quite, you know, confident from you. Because not only is it a disagreement, but it's a disagreement about Ferrari. So, you know, let's fight. I've got the swords ready.

Let's really get this going. I guess first thoughts, talk about the car. Of course, Ferrari have gone for a slightly different design this year. They've got some nice yellow accents. They've got some stripes down the side of the car. And I think it's a very clean car. I don't think it's completely and utterly like, oh my God, that is a 10 out of 10 Ferrari

because Bog standard default a Ferrari is an 8 out of 10 anyway because it's red and it's Ferrari. So it's still a gorgeous looking car. I don't think it's my favourite ever Formula One Ferrari car that I've seen, but it's certainly something I can appreciate with the fact that there isn't much carbon. There is still elements of it, but it merges quite nicely, I think, with the red anyway.

And they've tried. You know, they've done a bit of white, bit of yellow. It's, yeah, it's a good looking car. Yeah, they've tried to do something different. At least the fear that we had of it being all carbon or mainly carbon certainly isn't the case. maybe done similar to Aston Martin in the fact that they've hidden little pockets away which was nice. I'm glad they've not done what they did last year with the carbon where they had those big kind of cutouts on the side pod which looked really really horrible.

They've done it a lot better to have it around the exhaust. Yeah, just looking at it, I'm not a huge fan of the yellow and white. I like that they've tried something different. To me, it's a downgrade on how the car looked before. I like that they've tried something different. It's not for me, but I appreciate them trying to mix it up a little bit. Yeah, mate, they got, Shell are probably like, yo, our load goes yellow. Do you want to throw in a little yellow stripe just to, you know, give us a little nod there as well?

So, yeah, interesting. I mean, it's still not a bad livery by any stretch of the imagination. Oh, no. When you say it's a downgrade, it's from like a 9 to an 8.5 or something. Is that kind of the downgrade? Maybe a 7. The more I see the lines, the more I don't like. Yeah, it's the lines for me.

I just don't, I just, I don't think they match the car very nicely. Cool, well, no one asked. So, um, fair, you're a large opinion. That's great. Yeah, exactly. P. P.1 Patreon member AMG Piper asks, how sad does it make Matt and all the other Ferrari fans that the car launch was over faster than

any Ferrari pit stops last season and possibly in this coming season. Thanks for really throwing in the pit stops there as well, MG Piper. That's really good. It brings back a lot of great memories. I am, yeah, I'm a little bit devastated, to be honest with you, that it was a one and a half minute video, mainly because the expectation after the brilliant car launch they did last year, I wasn't expecting a carbon copy and for them to do it again, but I was expecting more than what we were given. Now, I have to be consistent in this because I roasted Hasse, I roasted Aston Martin for it, so I have to do the same for Ferrari. If I turn around and go, well, Ferrari, actually, they're setting the trends here. Yeah, minute and a half video. That's exactly what we all want. So no,

I am disappointed because I was like, I woke up this morning, feeling a bit loosey-goosey, ready. I was like, Ferrari car launch is coming. We're going to get at least 20 minutes, bit of word from the drivers, bit of Fred as well, throw that in there, maybe a car on a, who knows, but that was the beauty, the mystery of it. Then we saw YouTube premiering in 15 minutes and I was like, premiere interesting, but maybe it's as live or something.

But no, it turned out to be a minute and a half video, which I'm not happy with. I don't like the fact the teams are going down this route. I think it's sad for Formula One. I think it's if they genuinely feel like there is no point in doing it, it's not worth the money. I don't know, I feel it's a little bit of a sad time for Formula One. I don't want an hour-long car launch.

There is a perfect medium of a car launch. I will always say that. it is hard to get it right. But for me, it's sad that Ferrari have gone from an absolute 10 out of 10 banging car launch last year to here's a video of a minute and a half. Yeah, for me, this is the thing we disagreed about on the stream, that I'm not, I don't think it's the end of the world that they've done a short launch this time, the fact that essentially not much has changed,

you do wonder how much not having this big song and dance about the new season, when things are the same. You wonder if them inviting all the press down when they've just had this big Lewis Hamilton announcement is the best idea because Carlos would have just been bombarded with questions all day about it and it'd probably been a bit annoying for him. Not saying that that's a reason not to do a car launch,

but the thing is there's no... They can just say no to the press. Yeah, I know they can. But I appreciate like, and I said this yesterday on the Austin Martin launch, a team like steak, it's new, there's something to shout about, whereas when same driver line up, there's no major rule change, there's not a huge amount that's changed. They did, in my opinion, one of the best launches of all time,

maybe even the best, because I think it just really just captured Ferrari perfectly in that it's all about the passion of Ferrari, the excitement, and, you know, that whole sort of like, they had the car out on track and it made it really exciting. but do they need to do that every year and especially when something's not changed then I'm not going to yeah it's not the end of the world in my opinion

fight me I don't say it's not the end of the world but like I know you're saying you don't like it as much but but what I would say is next year they're going to have Lewis Hamilton in the team and yes if they did a one minute car lunch I'd be annoyed because it's like something new and exciting so like

Oh, I would throw my desk out the window if they do a one-minute video for Lewis Hamilton joining the team. Yeah, exactly. So, like, next year is the time to do something a bit new. But what was new last year? True. What was so special about last year? Exactly. It's not like it was a new driver line up. Nothing like that.

He won. P1. First. Yeah, exactly. So there wasn't anything, you know, brand new that they were launching then. And I think the thing that kind of upsets me a little bit, like, I'm not going to go over the top about this. I'm not going to lose sleep. just like, ah, I was ready for a car launch about Ferrari, especially after last year. It didn't

happen. It's that they're there. They are literally there doing almost exactly the same as what they did last year. It's not like they aren't there or they're not shaking down. They are literally doing all of that. They're just going to put it on social media rather than a live stream. Now, I'm sure there was a decision around that, but that's what upsets me is that the Tofosia literally there. They will, you know, they are going to see exactly, well, I'm very lucky and Lucky, jealous. They are very lucky to be there and have a little look. And I think they're the best fan base in the world. You know, they just turn up wherever Ferrari go.

But yeah, I think it's just because they are literally there. And, you know, you gave us an amazing thing last year. You know, I know you're saying next year is also a great opportunity for it. But every year is, this year's our year, you know? Come on. Where's the mottoes and stuff, Ferrari? Where's the belief? But yeah, that's my two pence or maybe 20 pence on that. Jones RF 873 comes in with

why are all teams doing a short car launch? I think it goes back to them weighing up, is there any point? What is there to gain? And perhaps they did take Tommy's view of, well, we did it last year, we don't need to do it again this year, and we can do it next year.

Saves a bit of money, fine. Ferrari is strapped for cash now that they've signed Lewis Hamilton, so maybe they are trying to save... Maybe they are trying to save a few pennies here and there. But no, as I say, will keep saying. It's a shame that the car launches, you know, they are doing, you know, an animation of it or the car rolling out here and there everywhere, fine. But that's just for like social media traffic driving and hitting numbers and that sort of stuff. I don't know.

Formula One for me, car launches is part of, it's, I'm a stickler for just what it's, what it's, what it's used to be like and what it, you know, what I'm used to in the sense of car launches are part of the start of the Formula One season, even if they might be rubbish, it's still part of the the build-up to it. So yeah, now that we're in this social media world and everything is very fast and very snappy and one minute this and 30 seconds of that, that's the kind of route that it seems

that some teams are going as well. Yeah, but then I guess it's not always, you know, the thing that always comes out in car launches is like, oh, remember when the Spice Girls launched the McLaren and stuff, it's like, that was one time in the 90s, like can you name any other McLaren launch or anything that happened?

it was probably quite similar in terms of like one year maybe it was quite quick and they just put some pictures in the newspaper and then the next year yeah it was this like fancy launch so I think it changes like year on year you do wonder how much it is a victim of the internet and maybe the teams need to realize that the internet are never happy in terms of you know you watch the live streams and it's people just going show the car show the car share the car the haters shout the loudest exactly and then now these teams are sort of going okay here's a two minute video and we'll show the car immediately we're kind of like well where's the car launch so i get i get i get that side of it um you do wonder yeah like it's teams weighing up the option of if it's worth it maybe but then it's all in one one day here's an idea that say like they do that big thing in vagus where they're trying to like hype up why don't they just have like a car launch day on a weekend and then and then because everyone's everyone's car launches at different times anyway obviously like you know we're complaining that V-cab was at 6 a.m or blah blah blah but then equally like people in america would have missed

this launch and are going to wake up and see the pictures way later like if you knew that all 10 teams are going to release their car at the same time uh you don't see anything and then on the Bahrain pit straight or somewhere they have a big launch event and yeah it'd be super cheesy but all the teams can then have that moment where they take the covers off and then you also don't get that kind of low feeling of when you have had a 20 minute alpine launch and you don't like the car or over because there'll be someone next and then or like or if the car's the same or or whatever So like if they did a launch all together, you do wonder like maybe that could be something they go down.

You never know. Like the way Formula One is going. I think to counteract that, counteract that obviously teams want to have their own moment in the spotlight. I think that people would pick and choose which ones they want to go and see. Also, a livery could very much steal the whole show. And then Alpine don't even get a moment's chatter on social and things like that. Because they do want to have that.

And that's an incentive to not paint the whole thing in carbon fiber. So there's a good incentive to be like, well, actually put some effort in and do something cool. And then you might get noticed. So there we go. We've fixed it. Oh my God. What was in your coffee this morning? Jeez.

Disagreements. So there's an absolutely pop-off. But no, I think in theory that would be great from a Formula One fan's perspective to have like a whole day dedicated to car launches. But I just feel as though teams will be like, no, we want to have. It's our day. It's our day, okay? Like, if I want the sales director of flipping whatever to come up and speak about how good our sales have been in the last year,

then we will. It'd be an hour launch and 30 minutes in the middle. It's just like Alpine's turn, and they have 30 minutes where the CEO's just trying to, you know, and the team that are next are like, come on. You can just imagine, like, at this sort of hypothetical scenario that you're thinking of, you know, oh, it's in Las Vegas or wherever it might be, and it looks incredible.

All right, Alpine, it's your turn. and Alpine just bring in conference centre curtains to put up and like really beige walls. Yeah, we need to do a traditional lot. This is what feels like Alpine. Anyway, sorry, enough Alpine slander. There have been other bad car launches as well. Right, moving on.

Sam Ducky Douglas. Is it giving you Lightning McQueen or McDonald's vibes? Um, it doesn't give me McDonald's vibes. I think that's a bit harsh. Okay, it's a bit yellow. does that make everything that's ever been yellow, apparently, yes. Red and yellow is just that thing, isn't it,

where everyone says McDonald's. I think Lightning McQueen vibes maybe, because, you know, a car and they're both cars. But it doesn't really give me either. It gives me Ferrari vibes, because Ferrari is a very strong brand. So I won't disrespect it with the McDonald's comparison. But Lightning McQueen is a legend, so, you know, sure.

Yeah, there'll always be McDonald's. Probably why Ferrari maybe haven't used the yellow in the past. we saw them implement it quite well in my opinion in that like mons are special i prefer that the way they did it then to to this one um but yeah it's there's always going to be internet memes as soon as you use yellow and and red but it's not the first thing i thought of it was just kind of like oh they've gone for a bit more yellow these yellow and white white stripes which um look i think look really cool on the the racuits i was obviously saying that I'm not a huge fan of it on the car.

I don't think it's implemented as well as it could be, but the racets, I think, look banging. The racuits are fire. The helmets look great as well for the drivers. But yeah, still a very decent looking car, but maybe not perfect. And finally, Malk 10407, asking the big questions here, is this the new championship-winning car?

Yes, categorically, yes. Absolutely. There is no doubt in my mind now. delusion levels have been filled up to 1,000. And I am so ready for another year of happiness and easy watching for Ferrari. And most importantly, Charlotte LeClaire, I see no problems for the next year, maybe even two, maybe five. I feel like Ferrari have turned a corner now with Fred. Finally, the Fred, you know, aura, the Fred presence, the Fred powers are sinking into Ferrari now.

and 2024 is going to be the first year we see that. I'm trying to think of an automobile that began with F to be like the Fred Fiat. Not part of Fiat anymore, are they? I can't think of one. Everyone in chat would just be like, obviously this, but I literally can't think of one. Yeah, maybe a quick launch.

Ferraris. Forrest. Definitely not got a bizarre history with Ford. The, yeah, the whole thing with, maybe the car launch is, maybe they're going for the whole, be a bit more low key and not make a big song and dance about it. And then Charlotte Claire, pole position in Bahrain. And your predictions wrong when he finishes that he's having to spend.

I don't care. I don't know, wait. No, I do care about that part. Shut up. But I don't care if he gets an equal amount of polls and wins. If he wins all 24 and also gets 24 polls, I'm absolutely fine by that. And then I'll also have 24 polls in the year.

Anyway, that is the end of that. Thank you so much to everybody. watching and listening. Tommy, what is your final thoughts? Final thoughts are Frank has just come in the room, so we'll get a little bit of Frank. Oh, no, he's gone. Oh, no, he's here. He's got an invisibility. There we go. There he is. This is great audio content for all the podcast listeners, but Frank, what your final thoughts? That is his opinion of two-minute car launches, clearly. Yeah, he's not happy. He slept through it probably.

our big yawn as well love that all right well thank you for fron frank for yawn and for your final thoughts and tommy as well and yeah we'll see you very soon lots of love p1 live show tickets are available bye bye make sure you follow us on all of our socials we're matt p1 tommy on twitter tick to twitch and instagram you can also sign up to our patreon at the link in the episode notes for ad-free episodes full video interviews and extra bonus episodes for us little as $5 a month. Finally, make sure you're following us on Spotify. See you soon.