P1 with Matt and Tommy - Our thoughts on the Emilia Romagna GP cancellation

Episode Date: May 19, 2023

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is off after severe flooding in the area, we discuss the decision to cancel the event as well as share our experience being over in Italy.Follow us on socials! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, YouTube and TikTok.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello, everybody and welcome back to the P1 podcast with Matt and Tommy. It feels weird. I haven't said the intro in a while. I feel like we've left our podcast legends, the ones that love the waffle in their ears for a little while. But we've just got back from Italy. So we are just getting used to being back and catching up with everything. And this is kind of what the podcast is about today. We're going to reflect a little bit on what went on over the last few days and answer some quite big questions.

as well as also covering some big things that have been happening around the cancellation and the support that's been going on in the world of Formula One. Indeed, yeah, it's been quite the crazy few days. And yeah, we've been away, recorded our predictions podcast early last week, thinking that we'd release it. And I know a couple of people will have heard that while it's still on there. So you can listen to our predictions from a race that actually hasn't even happened, which is not something we expected to be happening when we recorded it.

Absolutely not. And I think it's worth saying. Our thoughts and our feelings go out to everyone that has been suffering in that Amelia Romagna region. It was crazy. The weather was absolutely unprecedented. It was just such a barrage of craziness over those last few days. And it's been amazing, though, to see the support from everyone in Formula One. I think it's worth mentioning that F1 have recently announced that they will be donating

1 million euros to the relief and so have Ferrari as well. So it's amazing to see that our sport is pitching together to try and help out because the scenes were just crazy. Yeah, it was devastating. Some of the videos that were appearing online all kind of escalated so quickly, didn't it? And yeah, it's a very nice touch from Formula One and Ferrari to donate such a huge amount of money to kind of help the support because it's going to be a big old cleanup and kind of, you know, so much devastation from from that region because I just can't, can't believe the amount

of rainfall they had. It could never have been predicted. I know some people were, I saw some people even tweet like, oh, you know, why are they having the Grand Prix this time of year? Like, you can never predict that you're going to have, you know, like five months of rainfall. in two days. Yeah, just unbelievable and just a really unfortunate and sadly for kind of the region, yeah, like a tragic event as well. And we also, you know, people saying that, a bit of a strange comment because we've had, you know, when we've been transferred around Italy over the last few days,

we've had Italian drivers that have said this is an incredibly rare thing. You know, we were at Fiorano and again, the instructors again were saying like, this doesn't happen. We don't ever tend to cool things off or have these crazy sort of weather incidents. So I don't think, I wouldn't say that it's a mad time of year to host a race at Imola. And also, as we were talking about the support that's been outpouring from Formula One,

Yuki Sonoda as well, cleaning the streets of Fianza. There's been some really sort of heartwarming pictures of him getting involved in the recovery effort and to try and help out where he can, even if it might be a small amount, it's still really nice to see. Yeah, is Yuki obviously driving for Alphatarie? And yeah, Fyenza is where Alfa Tauri are based. And that Fianza, I believe, I think it might have been a couple of weeks ago, had floods before, before this. And then it's kind of happened again in the region. So yeah, it was nice of yuki to like stick around help out and uh yeah just a good egg is yuki senoda a massively good egg is yuki um and yeah the the the messages from all the drivers as well is it was all

really nice to see now a big question a massive question we need to cover was it the correct call to call off the imola emilia romagna grand prix let me try that again and actually say it with my mouth i'm so tired i cannot tell you what Was it the correct call to call off the Amelia Romagna Grand Prix? Yes. Absolutely yes. There's nothing in my mind that says that there should have been any other decision. Yeah, there were these pictures going around the day after.

Oh, it's not raining as hard. Oh, it's actually clearing up a bit. Yada, yada, yada, yada. It's not purely just about the fact that it was completely flooded or improving slightly or whatever. You have to take into account as well that there are, there would be hundreds of thousands of fans heading into that area where there has been already so much devastation. So you have to take that into account that it's not just the 20 cars going round tracks. There's so much more that goes into the world of Formula One and hosting

a Grand Prix. And they made the right decision. It was absolutely for the right health and safety reasons that that race did not go ahead. There's so many videos circulating to suggest that that was the right decisions. Anyone that thinks anything else is clearly putting their racing desires and wanting to see a race before just general human regard. Yeah, well said. This is the thing like I do have to give a lot of respect to Formula One. Obviously, we are critical when when it's fair, but big respect to Formula One because it's not an easy decision to make to cancel a huge sporting event that a lot of people have paid for. We saw what happened with, you know, Spa 2020,

where they were very sort of tried to do everything they could to get the race on. I think a lot of people were, and maybe quite rightly with what's happened in the past, sort of thinking they might do the same thing again. But it definitely was the right call to just kind of make the call straight away during, you know, the worst of the rain and already the kind of effects that's been had. because like you say, it's dried up now to a point there's due rain again, but it's not even just about that.

It would be incredibly irresponsible to run a race. And like you say, have people not just going into the area, but the stress on like the emergency services and everything, they're already probably massively overrun with everything that's happening to then have to be there for a sporting event, in case things happen and it just was completely like 100% the right thing to do even if you know the the Formula One fans among us obviously will of course be disappointed that there's no Formula One race off but like you say there's bigger and important things in life.

There certainly is and props to Formula One I suppose and doing it in a particularly early manner. We know what Formula One can be like and how they leave it to the very last minute to try and obviously get the event ahead, which sometimes is good. And sometimes you think, are they doing it for the right reasons? But I think Formula One,

they acted upon what was being said and the situation that was in front of them. And yeah, they made the right decision, absolutely. Question from Noel F.C. Bayon. What are the chances, Imola gets moved up the calendar and doesn't get cancelled completely? I assume by that you mean just rescheduled.

The murmurs and the chatter that's going on is that it won't get rescheduled just purely because of how busy the calendar is anyway. And also, let's not forget, okay, just because it dries out doesn't necessarily mean that Imola is going to be in a state in which it can be raced in. There needs to be inspections. There needs to be a checking of whether or not there are certain parts of the track that are damaged. Who's going to be paying for that? Can the circuit actually afford that without holding a race?

Remember, Imler has come out of nowhere and back onto the calendar. I'm pretty sure I don't have access to their bank statements that they're not dripping in cash and can just do things to an old circuit like Imola. So I would be very surprised if it gets put on the calendar again. I'd love to see it. And I'd love for the region to get that Grand Prix that they so deserve now after what's happened. But maybe next year. but again, the damages need to be assessed.

Yeah, I don't see any way that this is carrying on. And they've even spoken about refunds already, which would suggest that because I think Formula One, the statement they released, they didn't really say it was cancelled. But realistically how they're going to host this race with the craziness of the calendar and like you say, all the other stuff around it as well. So, yeah, the,

They're already saying that they will refund fans. You can either get your full refund or put it towards a ticket for next year because it is still on the calendar at the moment for next year. So that is another thing. We must say like props to them for doing because we've seen in the past that that's not happened. So I'm glad that could happen for all the fans that came out there. I know, yeah, a lot of people traveled over it.

It's not just people from Italy as well. You know, people traveling over from afar to see the Grand Prix and missing out. So I'm glad that they can at least be refunded. Hopefully that goes ahead. Fingers crossed. I know there was, again, a lot of chatter about insurance policies and extreme weather conditions. It's not always a complete and utter guarantee that that refunds can be given out. But fingers crossed for those that were going out there, they can get their money back.

And I received some tweets of people saying, I was actually heading from America to, you know, to Imala to see their first ever Grand Prix. And you do feel for these people as well that have spent quite a lot of money, potentially, to already be halfway through their travel plans, for this all to be canceled. But as I say, and as I reiterate, it was the right decision. And I'm sure people will understand that.

Next question, and slightly different, I'm wearing a Ferrari shirt because you would have seen that we, well, we put a bit of it on Instagram of being out in Italy and doing some very cool things with Shell and Ferrari. And a question from Laura underscore Amy J. Has Matt recovered yet from the excitement of the Ferrari factory visit? So for those that didn't know or don't follow us on Instagram, yeah, one of the amazing, one of the many amazing opportunities that we got to do was go around the Ferrari factory, which we haven't released any pictures of just yet, but they will be coming soon. The grin, the beam on my face outside of that Ferrari factory, well, the Ferrari sign is,

I don't think you've ever seen me smile as much, Tommy, have you? No. Yeah, when we share those pictures, you'll just see that you literally cannot contain your excitement. It's incredible. But yeah, just there's not unfortunate. and understand it would be like all Formula One factories that we've been to. You can't snap load of pictures inside and everything.

But yeah, we had a picture, didn't we? In front of that iconic, you know, the iconic red building. It's so different to every other factory I've ever been to. And, you know, even as the non-Ferari fanboy of this kind of podcast, I said to you, didn't I, that we've been so fortunate that we've been able to go to a lot of F1 factories, probably most of them. But my word did that one hit different. It's just such a special place.

And you just, you feel the kind of excitement and passion of Ferrari. You do just get like proper caught up in it. It's amazing. Because some people say, ah, the spirit of Ferrari and all of this stuff. And I'm sure there are people out there that go, well, what actually is that? How is that tangible? But when you're in there and you just see them all working on, whether it's the road cars or the motorsport division,

there's just something about it. They still have the heritage. They still have Enzo Ferrari's office and how it was. And I think everyone around it as well, even the tour guys, they're all just so unbelievably passionate about Ferrari to then just experience just a small, tiny droplet of that as the massive Ferrari fan I've been for many, many, many, many, many years since the Michael Schumacher days, to be able to go and do that when it's not a publicly

available thing to do either was sensational. I don't even know what word can really encapsulate what that moment was. We've also done a few other amazing, incredible, unbelievable, cannot believe, I'm even saying out loud kind of things, like going to Fiorano. Yes, you heard that right. Fiorano, probably the most exclusive track in the world. And we again, thanks to Shell and Shell Helix Ultra, big shout out to them, absolute legends, gave us the opportunity, even though it was very, very wet at the start,

towards the end of the day, we were able to go out on the Fiorano track in a Ferrari 296 GTB, which is a very expensive car. Yes, very expensive car. in tricky conditions that I definitely had in the back of my mind. Don't go off. But yeah, it was such an iconic track, isn't it?

Probably the most iconic track that maybe doesn't host actual races, you know, because it's just a test track. But everyone knows it. And yeah, that was incredibly special. You could just tell that every, like, employee there was just, like, so proud to work for them as well. And it was just, yeah, it's just awesome. it certainly was and that wasn't even the end of what we got up to was it we had we filmed some

unbelievable content with charl and carlos we were very lucky on our final day which was technically yesterday to get some time with them and a lot of it will be sitting on the the shell channels but there is one video that we did for p1 and boy is it a good one like genuinely These last few days, and I know some people hate me getting soppy and like, oh, Matt, you're... It was a pinch me at every step kind of moment. Like, it was the most unbelievably special thing to have these exclusive opportunities to go and experience what Ferrari is all about. Of course, some of these things we couldn't film, as Tommy's mentioned, but some of which we did and we can show you at a later date. I know we're kind of teasing this before we can actually know when when this can all go out.

But it's just all thanks to every single person that listens or watches to our stuff. To our stuff. Watches our stuff. I don't know where the two came from. I am so tired. We got home so late last night. It's crazy. But yeah, as you say, you're a Max Verstappan fan.

And yet I can see on your face, you were just like, what is going on? This is amazing. Yeah, yeah. It was. It was just such. amazing event you just did get uh i don't think i've ever been to a a place either where like i mentioned we've been to like factories and stuff but we we kind of drove around marinello and stuff and it is just ferrari everywhere i've i've never been and i've always wanted to go to marinello

just because people have said you know it is just it is an unusual thing to have such a massive brand and historic team in kind of quite an understated like town in in Italy and just the fact that you drive everywhere and there's like you know like a prancing horse statue in the village and Ferrari stuff everywhere and yeah it's just a just a really really cool experience and yeah I can't wait to release that that footage of um us doing some fun videos with Charlene Carlos because yeah

what that was just really really cool there's moments where I was just high-fiving Carlos Science and I was just like that's Carlos Science that we're just like having a laugh with

it was awesome yeah and for those well all of you won't know that Tommy did a bit of piece to camera as well the presenter lad is coming out of him soon so it'll be P1 with Tommy in the next few months I'm sure and we didn't have even mentioned that we had a dinner, a gala dinner in the Ferrari victory room at the Ferrari Museum.

What? Yeah. That was. I was just sat there like, what is going on? We dressed up, didn't we? Again, pictures will come out of us in our proper suit, side of bow tie on. You were looking all slick in your black suit. And again, it was like sat around all the Ferrari cars from old that have won many, many races.

And it was just insane. We had an opera singer come out a few times throughout the evening. The drivers popped in to talk to all of us as well. I think I've never felt more just... Out of place. Why am I here? One more out of place. And two, like, could this be any more Italian that I'm sat eating pasta in the Ferrari Museum

as an opera singer is just like absolutely going for it? Is that the most Italian thing you'll ever experience in your life? It's Ferrari, mate. It's just, it was, yeah, sensational. So I hope you, those that are listening, potentially watching, can feel the beam that's coming through my microphone because, yeah, so special. We will share as much content as we possibly can from this trip because we want to show you all. We want to show you how ridiculous it was.

And me in a Ferrari shirt, a lot of people. Yeah, you and a Ferrari shirt was weird. That was really weird, actually. I'm not sure how I felt about that. I was like, this is supposed to be the other way around. I'm supposed to be. So do you think now your powers, as in Red Bull winning, has now been transferred over to Ferrari?

Because you are, I mean, you are the father of grace, and Grace ruined the 2022 World Championship. So what kind of powers do you have when you wear a Ferrari top? Maybe it's my powers all along. I guess we'll find out in Monaco. Which we are going to. What is, what's like, What is going to Monaco, everyone?

So don't worry, right? We will be doing content. We're doing content out of our ears. I promise you, we will cover as much as we possibly can. We're going to be a lot on Instagram, sharing stories and things that we'll be getting up to whilst there. But also, we want to continue with everything else as well. It will be a sincere juggling act, but one with which we want to do because we love providing you with our washed opinions at all times. But we're going to the Monaco Grand Prix next Thursday.

We're flying out there, which. Huh? Our rare trips outside are we're really going big on them, aren't we? Yeah, we're having this kind of concentrated burst and then we won't go outside for another six months. That's kind of how I see it, Tommy. But I think that pretty much wraps up this little summary, this catch up telling you about the Ferrari stuff

and obviously our thoughts as well on the Imala cancellation and it was the right decision. I don't want to hear anyone else that says anything otherwise because as much as it might be your opinion, it's wrong and we will see you I guess for another podcast slash video very soon Tommy what's your final thoughts and I almost forgot in my lack of sleep final thoughts are yeah just

strange strange week Monaco next and yeah we'll be doing back on the content for Monaco going to try and save the race aren't we with our next video slash podcast so look up for that one we're going to save the Monaco Grand Prix somehow maybe if they watch it or let it be fair they're saving themselves slightly with the whole fact that monaco tv direction is now no more and it's doing being done by f1 for the first time in i don't even know how long ever is it is it if they ever done it no i don't think so that that is going to be

fascinating to see no more lance stroll replays yes well we know that that is going to be will there be enough interesting things on track that we'll even notice we can throw a bucket of water out there or something to make it a bit slippery if necessary. You know what I mean? We'll do it for the people. For the content. For the content. Right, we'll see you very soon for another podcast slash piece of content.

And lots of love. I cannot wait to go to bed again tonight because I'm so tired. Yeah. Bye. Bye. Not slept at all, really. Not at all? Not much, no.

How much did you sleep last night? I got back at like two. Yeah. I could put about seven when Grace got us. I got up at telling I'm still tired P1 is a stack production and part of the Acast

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