SPEAKER_04 0:01

Hello and welcome to Friday Night F4, the official podcast for the British F4 Championship certified by FIA. This week we are at the home of British Motor Racing Silverstone for a very special race weekend as the British F4 Championship takes centre stage in the BRDC International Trophy. Now, way back in 1949, the International Trophy was once one of the events on the motorsport calendar with a roll call of Formula One drivers competing for the prize. From the early 1950s to the late 1970s, Alberto Ascari was the first to lift the trophy before racing legends including Jim Clark, James Hunt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Nicki Lauder, the list goes on, Sir Jack Brabham and Sir Jackie Stewart added their names to the history book. Over the years, Formula 2 and Formula 3000 drivers were eligible to compete before it came to a stop in the early 2000s. That changes this weekend as the international trophy is revived by Silverstone and British F4, and one driver will add their name to that impressive list. While points remain as important as ever when it comes to the battle for the drivers' championship, one driver is destined to walk away with an extra trophy this weekend, with their name written alongside the great. The question is, which of the 32 races lining up on the grid this weekend will it be? What do you think? Heading into Silverstone, the battle for the championship lead is certainly heating up, with the opening nine races of the campaign producing seven yes seven different winners and an impressive 15 different podium finishers, and every team having picked up silverware along the way. I think this reflects two things. The level of talent in this year's championship, which I have to say is as high as I have seen it in recent years, and how close the racing is. On their day, I reckon any of the 30 plus drivers on the grid can end up with silverware. Hmm, it's going to be an interesting one this weekend. And with only three weeks gone so far, there is a long way to go and plenty of opportunity for those drivers who are working hard to climb the rankings to make their mark. Maybe this weekend will be the time when the existing 15 different podium finishers are joined by yet another name. Meanwhile, Driet van Langendonk is the driver that everyone is trying to catch, with the McLaren supportive driver having opened up a 29-point lead, courtesy of two wins and a further two podiums so far. While the Belgian has been excellent, it arguably he is not the informed driver going into this weekend. I think that accolade goes to Lewis Werrell and JHR development after the combination blew away the opposition in the heat at Snetterton or Swetterton as it became known last weekend. Werrell topped nearly every competitive session in Norfolk to move up to second in the standings, with the one race he didn't win still prompting celebrations in the JHR camp as it went to his German teammate Timo Youngling. Behind the top two, four other winners, Ethan Jeff Hall, Ethan Lennon, Joseph Clark and Jarrett Clark will be very keen to add to their silverware and point scores so far. Elsewhere, high-tech teammates Scott Kin Lindblom and Theo Palmer continue to be ones to watch, and they are just two of several drivers to have stood on the podium, albeit just not quite on the top step yet. Other likely players this weekend could be second-year drivers Tommy Harfield, Adam Al-Azzari, and Cole Hewitson, all of whom have yet to really light up their respective seasons. Again, is this reflection of the level of talent this year, particularly from the rookies? Or have they had more than their fair share of bad luck and mishaps so far? I'm not sure. What do you think? Three names that are guaranteed to create some excitement this weekend are the returning F1 Academy trio of Ella Lloyd at Roden, Alba Larson at Chris Dittman Racing, and Emma Felbermeyer at Virtuosi, as they all make a return to the championship, and it is really good to see them all back and more from them later. Throw in two other drivers, a team boss and a championship manager for good measure, and that is a cracking hour coming your way this evening from the BRDC International Trophy Weekend here at Silverstone.

SPEAKER_00 4:50

Coming up on Friday Night F4.

SPEAKER_04 4:52

We hear from Team JHR and more about their impressive domination at Snetterton. I'm joined by the triumvirate of Ella Lloyd Albertson and Emma Feldmeyer to dig into the difference between F4 and the F1 Academy. Eve Lake Grange updates on the weekend and what's coming up, bought next. And Harney Sadiq and Cameron Nelson round off this week's podcast with their thoughts on the season so far and their hopes for this historic weekend. After a blistering weekend in the heat at Snetterton, where driver Lewis Werrell topped almost every session and bagged a nice haul of points, and the team also secured some much needed credits, it's not difficult to see why it was all smiles in the JHR developments awning. Are they still on a high rolling into Silverstone? Team boss Stephen Hunter revealed all. Well, Stephen, uh good to uh catch up with you here at uh Silverstone, which we'll talk about in a moment, but I'm I'm keen to know whether the smiles have been wiped off the faces of everybody yet in the at JHR after that barnstorming weekend at Snetterton.

SPEAKER_01 6:03

Well, it was obviously a good weekend. I think uh it it could have been better. I think that's the truth of the matter. Um genuinely uh I think there's so much potential in the drivers that we're running at the moment, and it's just a case of when the when the when it clicks for them, it clicks for them. That's definitely a circuit that's clicked for uh Lewis, and uh I think uh onwards and upwards with the other three.

SPEAKER_04 6:27

Absolutely, I mean it was a good weekend all round, really, because um Lewis sort of pretty much owned that weekend apart from one session, didn't he? Timo uh had a good session as well. Team points, individual driver points. You know, I mean, I think you're being hard that it could have been could how could it have been better?

SPEAKER_01 6:44

My job is unfortunately it's only good when it's good for everybody.

SPEAKER_04 6:48

Oh, okay. So so this is the other so you've you've got to share the love though, haven't you, around the garage. And talking of which, I mean, and Cameron uh has had uh a good session in FB1 this morning, and he's looking forward to driving this uh GP circuit.

SPEAKER_01 7:01

Yeah, P4 this morning, really positive. Uh Cameron's another one, is uh you just see so much potential in him, and it's just a case of when it clicks, and it's just starting, it just really looks like it's starting to click for him. And uh, you know, during testing, even pre-season testing, he is the actual driver that's done the least amount of testing out of all ours. Uh and it's just piece by piece putting this together because it's a learning experience, and you know, they're all learning at different speeds, different levels, um and and the the understanding comes by really their understanding. So the more they can uh take that information on board, the quicker they get. And it's just really a case of getting that information over to them and getting them further down the line, and once once they're up and running, all four of those are gonna be quick, little headless.

SPEAKER_04 7:52

There's always I'll call it a danger. There's a danger of an expectation right from the start of the season, isn't it? That everybody's gonna be right on it because they're coming in and enthusiastic. And this season, I think the the talent pool that we've got in the championship is is incredible. But we're actually only just getting into that part of the season now where some of the new drivers, particularly, are finding their feet and understanding how it works, aren't they?

SPEAKER_01 8:16

Well, I think you've just used the right word, they're finding their feet, is is even from the karting side, it it what is very difficult for not just the drivers, the parents to understand is this is a completely different level of motorsport. It has very little relevance to karting. Uh that you know, in a go-kart there's no suspension, whereas in a car there's suspension. So everything that they're doing is is is affecting the car itself, and and that understanding uh is the purpose of this series. And uh the more they can understand that, the better they get a knowledge of that, the quicker, again, they will be. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 9:01

You're never going to have four drivers in the garage of of equal ability and talent at the same time. I mean, Lewis has has found a history Snedderton, Cameron's finding it now. Um Timo's had had a bit of success. Harney, you know, has said that he's still getting to grips with the bits, but he knows what he needs to do. In your role, how do you manage that with you know what sometimes I forget these are you know young heads on older shoulders, whichever way around it is, isn't it? I mean, they're they're they're still learning about themselves as well as themselves as racers.

SPEAKER_01 9:35

Well, truthfully, it is I think and I think it's one of the most important things is putting the right people with the right drivers. Um giving them the opportunity to learn from each engineer and and letting them build from that, and it's finding the personalities that that work well together. Uh on top of that, it's finding the the person that that driver's going to listen to the most. And and if you can if you can get those those elements together, you've got a good little uh building block for producing an erasing driver. So it's it's uh not just the car, there's an awful lot more goes on behind the scenes as regards the engineering. And when I say the engineering, a lot of that engineering is engineering the driver.

SPEAKER_04 10:23

What a lovely way of putting it. Oh, I like that. Engineering the driver. I never thought about it like that, but that's a good one. That's a good one. Uh this weekend uh is uh the GP circuit, which is always a challenge and a great one for the for the drivers to uh uh to take on, but also the BRDC International Trophy, which has some incredible names on it going back to the early 50s. I I think every single driver who's going to be on that grid this weekend would like their name to be on that trophy, wouldn't they?

SPEAKER_01 10:54

I'm sure they will. I'm sure they will. I have uh I've got to be honest with you, it with uh with the already added pressure of that on top, and it being race three, uh parts department, I'm sure, are going to be very happy.

SPEAKER_04 11:10

Have you had that conversation already? I mean, is that the sort of build-up conversations that you start to have let's not get giddy, let's just be sensible. It is a race three, but so there's the added bonus.

SPEAKER_01 11:20

We will always concentrate on the championship itself, so um points are points. So it's not necessarily about winning. I mean, if you take probably an average throughout the s the life of Formula at F4, is fifth place in every single race would win you a championship. So it's not always about winning everything, even though it was very nice to win everything at Snatterton. It's it's really about consistency uh and keeping them on circuit. So non-finishers are are obviously massive detriment to a championship. So you've got to try and keep uh not the expectations, possibly the adrenaline down as much as possible with drivers.

SPEAKER_04 12:03

Yeah, absolutely. Um let's let's uh assume, or if you if you'll uh forgive me, assume that Sneston was a kickstarter for for the season. Um this weekend's gonna be an interesting one, as you've mentioned, with that added bonus of the international trophy. For the rest of the season, what circuits are you looking forward to most where you think you and the team are going to bag the most points?

SPEAKER_01 12:28

Um I'll be honest, I don't really have a negative on a circuit. I think it's it's more which drivers like certain circuits and which drivers don't like certain circuits. Um weather conditions have a massive um uh level of of uh whether the ability in the wet is is there yet, or whether it's in the dry, those that have had more running in the wet, and you know, it's been a mixed bag of weather conditions during the preseason side of things. So those that have probably done more early running are gonna have a little bit of an advantage if we get a wet race. So it's it's not really specifically the circuit that is uh of the big benefit, it's more the conditions.

SPEAKER_04 13:11

Yeah, absolutely. Um and just finally, Zanvoort uh up next. I was gonna say you've got a month off, but I suspect you won't be putting your feet up for the next four weeks, will you?

SPEAKER_01 13:20

No, I'm growing tulips, I think.

SPEAKER_04 13:24

Um Zanvoort, yeah, you obviously know Zanvoort, I'm assuming. Um it's a great setting on the beach by the dunes, isn't it? And the those uh those banked corners, do uh, do you mean it's uh it's quite a nice, nice circuit to drive? You're looking forward to that on a team basis.

SPEAKER_01 13:39

I think genuinely, I think Zanvoort's a great circuit. I think it it's maybe a little challenging for a year one single-seater driver, but uh that's the circuit that we're racing on, so away we go.

SPEAKER_04 13:51

Absolutely. Well, congratulations for Snetterton. I know you think you should have done better, but I still think it was a great performance. Well done. And uh I'll keep my fingers crossed for a good uh team performance for all four of your drivers and for you and for the engine. Now you've engineered the drivers, I love that phrase. Uh have a great weekend. Thank you very much. Thanks. Since 2023, the F1 Academy has been helping to develop and prepare female drivers to progress to higher levels of competition. The Academy provides drivers with more track time, racing and testing, as well as support with technical, physical and mental preparations. Based at Formula 4 level, F1 Academy provides young talent in junior categories with access to the fundamental level of experience needed to progress to Formula 3 and join the road to F1. So to have one F1 Academy driver in the F4 Championship is always good to see. To have two is a grand achievement. But to have three on the same grid, well, that seems to say a lot about the status of the British F4 series. It's been a while since I chatted to Alba Larson, and it was good to see her back in an F4 car. Well, Alba, really good to uh see you here at Silverstone. Welcome back to British F4.

SPEAKER_07 15:06

Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 15:07

Good to see you. Um you're here to take part in the BRDC International Trophy as well, aren't you? Which is have you seen the trophy?

SPEAKER_07 15:13

I actually haven't, though. I feel like it brings bad luck seeing trophies before you race, just in general.

SPEAKER_04 15:20

Have you always thought that? Are you superstitious?

SPEAKER_07 15:23

Because n not really superstitious, but like in carding, I've just if I had by accident seen the trophies before a race, I feel like it gone bad. So I just feel like sometimes it's gone good anyway, but I just feel like it brings unlocked.

SPEAKER_04 15:40

Okay, yeah. Well, um I'll it's fantastic. It's about this big, it's really heavy, and the list of names on it is quite incredible. I wish people could see your face, the smile at the the th what would it mean to you to put to put your name on that trophy?

SPEAKER_07 15:55

Um I mean to put my name on any trophy um is a is a really big achievement, uh, but I think so many great people have done um this championship and have put their name on it, so it's it's a it's a big achievement to be able to do that. Um and it's hard to to do. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 16:18

Absolutely. It's gonna be a close fought uh competition this weekend, isn't it? Now and let's talk about the fantastic journey that you're having uh in F1 Academy. That is an exciting time for you.

SPEAKER_07 16:32

For sure. Um it's my second year in F1 Academy, first one with Ferrari, um, and just yeah, first one with Ferrari in general. Um so it's it's very exciting. I'm training a lot, I'm working a lot harder um in general when I'm in my Nilo at the factory, working on the simulator, working on the physical side, getting ready for the next step. Um and just you know, a lot is happening. Uh last year was very busy with doing two two things, F1 Academy and the almost the full British F4 uh schedule. This year I'm not doing the full, which is uh a bit nicer um in a way because I have a bit more time to prepare. Uh so I feel very prepared now that I've been to the track before. I'm gonna I've been to Sanford before, so I feel more prepared than I did last year. Last year was a bit rushed, everything was rushed. I still feel very busy in general. There's a lot of things going on, especially with F1 Academy, but it's a bit nicer this year.

SPEAKER_04 17:35

You've got some time to yourself.

SPEAKER_07 17:37

Not really, to be honest, no.

SPEAKER_04 17:40

Tell me why. I mean, how busy is F1 Academy? How does it differ between British F4 and F1 Academy? What is different?

SPEAKER_07 17:50

A lot of things is different. The simple thing about us driving doing an F1 weekend makes a huge difference. I know what British F4 did it last year on Silver Zone. It must have been an amazing race, and now F1 Academy is going to SilverZone this year. Um, but just in general, the fact that we're driving during F1 weekends, there's so much noise, there's so many fans, which is amazing. But it can also distract a bit from the driving, and you need to really be good at focusing on the driving when it counts. Obviously, doing Thursday here in British F4, we maybe do a track walk, maybe check the seat, nothing really other than that. Doing an F1 Academy week, there's so much more happening. Um, on a Thursday it's media day, which means we're usually there at 8 a.m. and we usually go at at 8 a.m. or 8 p.m. in the evening because there's just so much happening, like there's so many interviews or media stuff that we have to do. At the same time, we still have to do the track walk and the debrief and checking the seat. The same things as we would do in British at four, but on top, we have all the media and all the the pictures and all this stuff, which can be a bit it's really fun. I enjoy it. Um, but obviously on Friday when the the the on-track action starts, that's when you just gotta yeah, really close and just close all the noise, you know. You have to um just focus on the driving from then on.

SPEAKER_04 19:19

Yeah, I I'm I'm interested, you're doing media interviews all day, which means you probably get a high number of the same questions.

SPEAKER_07 19:27

A little bit, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 19:28

Do you give the same answers or do you change uh the answer depending on the the media outlet?

SPEAKER_07 19:33

I try to change it up a bit. Obviously, sometimes when people ask what are your expectations for the weekend, it's often a little bit the same thing, but I try to change everything up a little bit, otherwise it's very boring. Um also just having to say the same things on and on again. Um so yeah, I try to change it a bit depending on who who's asking, uh how I feel in an interview. I try to f to change it up a bit, and yeah, like during Montreal, I had at least um 10 interviews that one day on on Thursday and some meet and greet just during the weekend. But it's not only during the weekend that Bridges F4 and F1 Academy is different. Um there's a lot of stuff going on off track as well. And I know it's probably the same here in Bridges F4, like all drivers they prepare a lot, they do a lot of simulator and physical training and mental training. Um, but I feel that being with an F1 team puts that extra bit of pressure, but also you need to work a bit harder because they manage um and keep an eye on everything, which is amazing to have that support, but it also means that you work a bit harder. Um I think uh I I work very hard to even get to the point where I can call myself a Ferrari driver. Um, but now I need to keep working to be able to feel proud at at the same time.

SPEAKER_04 20:57

Right, and I think you should feel proud. I mean, yeah, you mentioned it's a big thing to say I'm in a I'm a Ferrari driver. I mean I just I noticed your your nails. You've got Ferrari painted nails, haven't you? Which is which is very cute. Um does does being a Ferrari driver in itself bring added pressure?

SPEAKER_07 21:15

For sure. I mean Ferrari is the most winning team in Formula One history. That itself adds some pressure that you have to perform, you have to to do good, um you you have to not make mistakes. But obviously, Ferrari, the people that are around me in the Ferrari Driver Academy are very good at also taking that pressure off because it's not I'm not in Formula One yet, you know. There's um it's still a learning cur curb and I still have a lot to learn and have a lot of time to develop as a driver. So I I'm still allowed to make mistakes, uh, like I did in Shanghai, and then we learn from these mistakes. Um, so I feel like I have a very good team around me to make sure that I never Put too much pressure. Uh um obviously there is pressure, but without the pressure it would be boring, you know. The pressure's only there because it means something for you to you.

SPEAKER_04 22:12

Could you be the first female driver on an F1 grid in Ferrari?

SPEAKER_07 22:18

I hope so. That's the plan. Um I think so. Um I hope I'm not the first and only one. You know, I hope there's a lot more to follow. Um and then we one day will have more of a 50-50 grid. That would be amazing. Um that's what I'm trying to do off track as well, trying to inspire the next generation. But it it is my ambition to get to Formula One, it's also Ferrari's ambition. Ferrari wants to not only have me in in F1 Academy, which I think sometimes is a misunderstanding. It's not just in F1 Academy. They want to continue working with me afterwards, I think. As obviously I need to still perform, and performance is what drives um a team like Ferrari. So if you don't perform, then you're out, of course. That makes sense. But um the ambition is that if I keep performing, if I keep developing, then yes, then the goal is to go all the way.

SPEAKER_04 23:14

Fantastic. Now you mentioned Shanghai, you've been Shanghai and Montreal so far. It sounds really exciting and exotic flying around the world to all these. Is it or is it? Is it just hard work and living out of a suitcase?

SPEAKER_07 23:27

Um, it is really fun to travel the world, and but at the same time when we're we're on track during a weekend, it's honestly a bit the same no matter where we are. The tracks are different, yes, but paddock is more or less the same. Um so if you're in Shanghai or Montreal, there's not the biggest difference when you're inside. But then the cool thing is that we have to be there a bit earlier to change the jet lag and to get used to the time zone and stuff. So we normally have some days where we can go and explore a bit, and that's why it's really cool that we go to all these places because then we get to explore the culture and really see some different parts of the world that I wouldn't get to see if I wasn't driving in F1 Academy.

SPEAKER_04 24:09

You're having a great life, aren't you?

SPEAKER_07 24:11

Yeah, it's amazing. It uh may sound like it's hard sometimes, obviously, um being a young athlete, um, but it's also so enjoyable. I love doing this, I love racing over the world. Um, and I think I'm very lucky to be one of the ones who get to do this also here in in Silverstone um with British F4. It's an amazing tide field, and I'm just really excited to get on track.

SPEAKER_04 24:37

Fantastic. Well, listen, have a great weekend here at Silverstone and with the rest of your time uh with Ferrari. Um, I think you're an amazing ambassador for them, and I think they must be very proud of you as well. Um now share something uh with me and uh and our listener. Tell us something that people don't generally know about you.

SPEAKER_07 24:58

That's because I feel like I share most of my life on the internet, so I feel like there's not much that I keep for myself. Um something that people don't know. Um I feel like people don't see how um emotional I get during a weekend. You know, emotions go up and down and it's it can be hard to manage, but it's also something that is very beautiful about racing. You know, you live a whole life, you go all through all the emotions during a race weekend when it goes good, when it goes bad. When you win, all of these, you know, when you have your wins, all of the the times you have had mistakes, it just kind of comes together and it just feels even better when you then do good. Um and I think maybe people don't people maybe see me as a very polite and sweet person, which I am, I I would say so. But I also can get very mad, and and when I get mad I become very focused and determined on how I can do something better.

SPEAKER_04 26:06

Well, I'm glad you brought the sweet and nice Albert to talk to me today. Have a fantastic weekend, really good to catch up with you. Thank you. And another returnee joined me next, Emma Felbermeyer, dropped by the F4 Race Centre studio, straight after FP1. Well, Emma, really good to see you. Thank you for coming in to see us. You were just reminding me that the last time we spoke was last year, but but by phone, because I was remotely interviewing you when you were at Zandvoort. Exactly. You've got a better memory than me. Well done, well done, fantastic. Um now, Silverstone this weekend, lots to talk about. Um, but first of all, uh the F1 Academy, which uh is an amazing opportunity for you. How is that going? Well I know it's going very well because you're in second place at the moment, aren't you?

SPEAKER_06 26:51

Yes, I am.

SPEAKER_04 26:53

And well done for that. How is it going? How exciting is it?

SPEAKER_06 26:57

It's going okay today. We had a strong first race. Um after that we were leading the championship, getting the win in the future race. So the start was really good. Round two was a bit more difficult. Mistake from my side in race one at the start, stalling, um, then race two, I got turnarounds. But then race three, we had a podium with P2. Um so I think everyone sees the potential is there, the pace is there, but we just need to put it together in the right time. Um, I mean it's the same for everyone, it's difficult for everyone. So I just need to, yeah, as I said, put it together, prepare myself for everyone round as much as possible, um, as we don't get a lot of track time before qualifying, which is sometimes quite difficult. Um, but so I'm happy with how it's going so far, the support I got, and that yeah.

SPEAKER_04 27:52

Okay. Are you are you pleased with your performances so far? I mean you're obviously improving as you go along. I mean P2 is pretty pretty good, um, but are you pleased with your performances so far?

SPEAKER_06 28:02

I think the racing is quite good, um, especially in racing and defending, overtaking. The improvement I've done from last season is huge. Um so the preparation I did over the winter helped me quite a lot to gain confidence, speed, and just improve my racecraft. So that stuff I would say I'm quite happy about. I think on one lab in qualifying there is some room for improvement. But overall I'm okay. I'm not I'm not I don't say it's like perfect, but I don't say it's bad. So it's okay.

SPEAKER_04 28:39

That's a good place to be. Now the the cars are sort of similar but subtly different, aren't they? Uh in in terms of the aero, and you've got a different you've got a softer tire, I think, that you race with. So how when you jumped in the car uh this weekend, um uh you know, today, uh how were you managing to juggle the difference? You're having to relearn the British F4 car again.

SPEAKER_06 29:02

I'd say I had to learn it again.

SPEAKER_04 29:04

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 29:05

I was like, I stepped into the car first lap and it was like these are two different cars. Because in our car we are not allowed to change as much on the setup as in the British Formula 4 car, and so we are reduced on that, and that's why we also have we don't have such a strong front, um which is sometimes hard to handle, yeah, especially when you get the hard front now in British F4. Um that's something I struggle a little bit to adapt. But the first session was okay, um, but after getting used to it, I think that then you can really make a step forward again.

SPEAKER_04 29:46

On a circuit like the Grand Prix circuit here at Silverstone, uh with a fast call, like going into turn one, uh of course, up here, or you know, that quick right-hand up where you go into the left-right flicker, Maggot and Beckett. I how different is your approach in a British F4 car than it would be if you were in your F1 Academy car?

SPEAKER_06 30:05

I think the approach is pretty much the same, carrying as much speed as possible through it. Um still having a bit more I think with the application of the pedals is a bit different, being a bit smoother, just to keep the car as much as possible settled in this car here now. Um with the front being so aggressive, it's just sad. You have to be much smoother, maybe. Okay really do it on a certain point you want to do it, so I feel like if you do it a bit too late turning in, for example, it has a lot of um yeah, it can have a lot of effects. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 30:51

I mean uh useful to be here this weekend and I'm sure it's it's possibly while you're doing it, could be because the F1 Academy is back here with the Formula One Grand Prix in July, isn't it? Um now that you take all that in your stride now because you're part of that F1 paddock. What is that like to be part of the F1 paddock with all of those those top drivers?

SPEAKER_06 31:13

It's great to be part of a Formula One team, I'd say, and the F1 paddock. I mean we are in a different paddock, so we have our own personal space, I'd say, which is quite nice because in the F1 paddock there's always a lot going on, so having some time to yeah, calm down a bit is quite important, but still um experiencing all the races, the qualifying, the team's emotions, and also the hard work they are putting into the race weekend is great to see. Um especially what mechanics are doing and all the people you maybe don't really see on the TV or when you out a person out of the racing world just watching races. Um it's really nice to see the effort they put into the into the race weekends.

SPEAKER_04 32:09

Did you get to meet many of the F1 drivers?

SPEAKER_06 32:11

I meet Nico Holkenberg and Gabriel Bottoletto obviously like every race weekend I do. Sometimes I see the others the other drivers around. Um I took pictures with them already. I mean, I'm still a fan of them, you know, not only about Audi, but I'm still a huge fan of F1 in general, so getting to see the the other drivers is really cool.

SPEAKER_04 32:41

D do you sometimes have to pinch yourself when you're in the F1 paddock and thinking I'm part of this, I'm I'm driving with an F1 team?

SPEAKER_06 32:49

Definitely, yeah. Um also this year it was I'd say even more special compared to last year. I mean this year I represent the Ari Revolute Formula One team, last year I did the Kicksauver. But being the first one who really represents the F1 team is really special. I mean I'm part of the driver development program. Um the same as Freddie Slater. So as being part of such a big program with a lot of thought into it, and also besides Freddie Slater who's a great driver, um, just shows that I really have a good support on and off track.

SPEAKER_04 33:33

It sounds really exciting, but I guess you live out of a suitcase travelling around, don't you? But do you feel there's extra pressure on you because you're with the F1 Academy and that there's a lot of perhaps I possibly a lot of expectation about what you might be able to achieve?

SPEAKER_06 33:49

I'd say so. Um this year is definitely a bit more pressure I feel compared to last year. I mean last year was my first year in F1 Academy, but also the first year driving an F4 car, so there was a lot to learn on the car side, and then there was so much to learn. Also in an F1 Academy weekend, you know, driving on a weekend with Formula One, the track changes so much. Um, you don't get a lot of track time. So getting both in one year to learn was quite tough for me. So this year I feel much more prepared, um, but I do feel the more pressure, but I feel like I can handle it a bit more than I did last year. Um so I know what to expect, I know what the team expects, and I also know what I expect. Um so I think at the moment I can handle it quite well. Um obviously there's always room for improvement, and I'm not gonna be plus with any of my weekends and to stop developing and improving. That's why I do this championship. Just to learn as much as possible with a different grid, with more people on the grid. With probably it's harder to race here as there are over 30 cars on the grid. Whereas on an F1 Academy race, there are only 18 drivers, so the difference is huge.

SPEAKER_05 35:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 35:20

One mistake can have bigger effects than I'm used to, so just I'm here to learn as much as possible, and as I said, I'm not gonna be blessed with any of my weekends.

SPEAKER_04 35:34

Are you going to be the next female F1, full F1 driver?

SPEAKER_06 35:41

F1 driver?

SPEAKER_04 35:43

In full Formula One. Are you going to be the next next female in a Formula One car on the grid alongside you know the names of today?

SPEAKER_06 35:54

To be honest, I don't think so. Um I mean I always like to be realistic and do every every step in one year. Um this year I want to win a championship in F1 Academy, but I also want to perform well in the Italian F4 Championship and also in these two rounds of British. So I'd like to just keep my my mind and thoughts on every weekend rather than looking so far into the future because that can happen so much. And in the end, there are only 22 male drivers on an F1 weekend. Um so maybe I am, maybe I'm not. Um I don't want to think about anything and then being really disappointed. So that's why I just say no for now. Uh I don't say it's not possible.

SPEAKER_04 36:49

A very good answer. A very good answer.

SPEAKER_06 36:51

Just in this year, it's not realistic. No, of course. So that's why I just say now, no for now, and we'll have a look at the future.

SPEAKER_04 37:01

We'll see what the future holds. Absolutely. This weekend uh race three is for the very historic and prestigious BRDC International Trophy. I don't know if you've you've seen the trophy, it's quite big and it's very heavy and very shiny. I saw it. Yeah, uh, and it has some incredible names on it going back to the 1950s. What would it mean to you if your name was put onto that because you won race three on Sunday?

SPEAKER_06 37:29

It will mean a lot. I mean, joining a list of incredible drivers is always nice to be part of, you know. Um, but still it's not my end goal for this for this um weekend. I mean, I think everyone, every driver wants to win every weekend, but you also need to see just uh personal improvement and yeah, in the end I'm here for learning as much as possible and just showing my potential. And if I'm if my potential is good enough this week, then it's great. If it's not, I have to keep learning and improving.

SPEAKER_04 38:10

That's a very good attitude, and I wish you really uh the very best of luck uh this weekend. Um I have been asking everybody um today as I've been walking around the paddock and speaking to people too, to get them to share something with me uh and the listener um that they might not know about you. Tell me something that people don't know about you. Um I wish they could see the smile on your face. You could slightly worried look.

SPEAKER_06 38:38

I don't really know. Um for me it's all about driving. Okay. And I just say it, I hate media.

SPEAKER_04 38:49

Well, you're very good at it, and it's been a pleasure talking to you.

SPEAKER_06 38:52

You wouldn't have guessed it from uh I mean I enjoy it at the moment, but still my priority is always on driving, and that's also the thing I enjoy the most and what makes the most fun to me. So that's also the important bit, isn't it?

SPEAKER_04 39:08

Absolutely. Unfortunately, it goes with the territory, as they say, doesn't it? Well, uh you wouldn't uh I wouldn't have noticed that you hated doing the media interviews because you've been an absolute pleasure to chat to. Have a fantastic weekend uh this weekend and the very best of luck with the rest of the season uh in F1 Academy.

SPEAKER_06 39:24

Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_04 39:25

Completing the F1 Academy lineup is Ella Lloyd, no stranger to F4, and like the others, getting used to living out of a suitcase as her racing career develops. Well, Ella, really good to uh see you again. Um, you've been having a whale of a time, haven't you, with the F1 Academy. I I caught up with you early in the season to say living out of a suitcase, what's that like?

SPEAKER_08 39:48

Yeah, it's hard work. Suitcase is always heavy, always over the limit, but no. It's great to be able to obviously compete in F1 Academy and British F4. Um, obviously only doing selected rounds this year, but it's great to get the kind of track um experience and yeah, do extra laps.

SPEAKER_04 40:06

So comparing the two, F4 and F1 Academy, what are the big differences?

SPEAKER_08 40:13

Yeah, I think obviously it's an F4 car. Um it's got a different front and rear wing, which kind of gives a different aero balance, and then kind of Canvas and Castors are limited in F1 Academy compared to British. Um, but I think it's pretty similar to be fair. The tire compounds are a little bit different, um, but I think overall kind of car feel and balance is pretty similar. Um, so I can definitely take what I learned from Academy back to British and from British then back to Academy. So it definitely compliments itself.

SPEAKER_04 40:43

I think I remember saying to you once before, you know, how were those F1 Academy weekends? And you just said busy, busy, busy.

SPEAKER_08 40:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 40:50

Lots going on. What do you have to do? What's your schedule look like for an F1 Academy weekend?

SPEAKER_08 40:56

Yeah, so obviously F1 Academy's um obviously on the F1 weekends we've got a lot more media, a lot more fans. Um, yeah, it's kind of obviously we have the media day on the Thursday, um, which is kind of get a lot of stuff done on that day then, um just all the little bits, and then throughout the weekend, you know, I'll do some padded club appearances for McLaren um just to talk to their guests um and their sponsors, which is quite nice. Um, and then yeah, obviously we've got autograph signing sessions like British F4, um, and then yeah, just like little bits of media really. It's just kind of packed with media stuff, uh also you know, you get to have some good track knowledge and experience of you know, so many good tracks and yeah, and uh being F1, the F1 Academy, uh mixing with some of the great names and the top names, what's that like?

SPEAKER_04 41:48

I mean, i are you are you looking to take selfies all the time or are people photographing you?

SPEAKER_08 41:53

Yeah, it's obviously amazing to be in the F1 paddock with so many inspiring people. Um, but yeah, my focus is obviously on the weekend and kind of driving, so that's my focus. But yeah, I get a lot of people asking me for pictures um and for autographs throughout the weekend, which is nice, and obviously to see myself inspiring, you know, the next generation then is amazing.

SPEAKER_04 42:17

Yeah, so what about the the current uh crop of F1 drivers? Have you have you had any banter with them?

SPEAKER_08 42:22

Oh uh no, not really. Um obviously, and with McLaren, so kind of see Lando and Oscar, we do some media stuff together, so kind of they're the two main drivers that I get to speak to, and yeah.

SPEAKER_04 42:35

Yeah, I mean particularly at Lando both of them. In fact, you can remind them of their days in F4. I think both of them at uh uh one was it? Lando, I think. I might have done the last interview with him at the end of the season that he was in F4 from what I remember. Yeah, he was a lot younger looking then. Um did just been to uh Montreal, Shanghai was the uh the first uh round of the season. How was that going for you?

SPEAKER_08 43:00

Yeah, obviously we had an issue in free practice, which kind of we only had two laps at the end, which were kind of um decent then um and didn't have an issue with, so obviously struggled them um going into qualifying. I think on set one we were doing pretty good, and then set two I kind of clipped the wall, which ended our quality session there. So starting well, P16 in nearly all the races, um I kind of fought my way through. Um I did some good overtaking. I went from P16 to P6, I think, in the first race, from P16 to P7 in the second race, and then from P16 to P9 in the last race. So we were constantly moving forward and making overtakes, which was nice, and we had faster slap on race two, so the pace was there, and obviously, if I didn't clip the wall, I think we could have had a much better weekend. Um but obviously it's my mistake um and I kind of worked for it in the races um and obviously scored some points.

SPEAKER_04 43:55

Yeah, absolutely. I was I was looking, did did you get a penalty? Yeah, I did get a penalty.

SPEAKER_08 44:01

In the second race. Well, I was going overtaken, going into the corner, into the final corner, and there was a few cars ahead, and I was powering out, and there was a like a safety carboard. I'm not sure whether they left, but they certainly slowed down on the exit, which I couldn't see the safety car board. Um, and I just clipped the rear of the one car and I'll see. It was more of a racing incident, but yeah, we forget about that.

SPEAKER_04 44:27

I think that's what it says on the on the record, isn't it? It's a racing incident, but nonetheless. We'll put that one, but that's gone there. That's where where is um F1 Academy off to next?

SPEAKER_08 44:36

Uh yeah, Silverstone.

SPEAKER_04 44:38

Yeah, oh of course, yeah, it's in July.

SPEAKER_08 44:40

Yeah, so we race year start of July, first week, I think. So yeah, looking forward to that.

SPEAKER_04 44:46

Yeah, third to the fifth or something, something like that, isn't it? Yeah, absolutely. Oh well, this is a good good time to have a to reacquaint yourself with the circuit, isn't it?

SPEAKER_08 44:53

Exactly, yeah. That was the kind of the whole point. Um British F all come to the tracks before F1 Academy do, so to be able to get you know the extra track knowledge, the racing experience before we kind of race you will be good and will be key to take into F1 Academy.

SPEAKER_04 45:10

What's it like? Because I I remember when we first met, you know, a couple of years or so ago, um, I mean probably the F1 Academy probably wasn't, you know, uh it maybe been in the plan, but it wasn't confirmed then. What's it like now for you to be able to sit there and say I'm a McLaren driver?

SPEAKER_08 45:27

Yeah, it's obviously amazing to kind of be representing McLaren and being a part of the driver development programme and to be able to race in papaya um is amazing and obviously to have such amazing support from the team. Um yeah, very grateful for the support and obviously a huge you know experience and kind of learning for me then to be a part of such a big team and get to kind of learn a lot from everyone involved then.

SPEAKER_04 45:56

Yeah. Are you are you settled with motorsport now? Because I know you've got interest in in lots of different sports, haven't you? Historically.

SPEAKER_08 46:04

Yeah, definitely. I think obviously I did show jumping and ski racing before, um, they were more hobbies. I kind of didn't want to do them as a you know, for the rest of my career. Um and then yeah, I've obviously done motorsport now for a few years and I feel definitely settled and kind of this is what I want to do for my career, and yeah, hopefully I can make a you know living out of it.

SPEAKER_04 46:27

Yeah, does that give you the biggest buzz? I mean, going downhill on a on a two planks of wood, which is how I see skiing, frightens the living daylights out of me. So that that would be as as risk-taking as I would do. Do you do you get the biggest buzz out of out of motorsport?

SPEAKER_08 46:40

Yeah, definitely. I enjoy a lot of sports, um, especially dangerous ones. So yeah, motorsport is definitely dangerous, and I like going fast and like being on the limit, so it definitely gives me the buzz and to kind of want to keep pushing.

SPEAKER_04 46:56

So, what dangerous sport would you like to do? But but may maybe your mum wouldn't let you. But what would you like to do?

SPEAKER_08 47:04

Um, I don't know, I've done quite a lot of sports to be fair. Um, I think one would be um I always wanted to be a jockey or to have a go of a racehorse, which is pretty dangerous, I think. Yeah, um, yeah, that was one my mum didn't let me do. Oh, think show jumping was the limit.

SPEAKER_04 47:22

Yeah, no, actually, if you've ever stood on a race course, particularly during the the flat season, I mean they're going sort of 35-40 miles an hour in some cases as horses, aren't they? Yeah, that no, no, I don't fancy that either. No. So I'm not doing I'm not doing skiing and I'm not doing I'm not being a jockey. So um this weekend the the international trophy is is uh is up for grabs. Um some amazing names on that trophy, as I've been saying to everybody. What would it mean to you if you could be lifting that trophy on Sunday and knowing that your name was going in the record books on the BRDC International Trophy?

SPEAKER_08 47:59

Yeah, of course it would be amazing if I could. Um I think obviously the aim is to, um, but I think as long as we keep chipping away and keep improving and you know, wherever we start in the races, you know, make good progress. I think that's kind of the main main aim then to take away from this weekend.

SPEAKER_04 48:16

Absolutely. Uh I just finally I'm sure that uh throughout all of the interviews you do and you do masses now with uh I know with the with the F1 Academy and you're now very practised at it, which is good. Um you get asked the same questions all the time, don't you? I'm I'm sure. However, um and I'm sure you share stuff on on social media with people who follow you. What tell me something that people wouldn't know about you?

SPEAKER_08 48:38

Oh, I got asked this question the other day actually.

SPEAKER_04 48:41

Oh no, I thought I might have had an original question as well.

SPEAKER_08 48:44

Um I don't know. I think most people would know now that I didn't do karting and that I came from show jumping and obviously ski racing, but a lot of people don't know. Um, but I think I don't really know what else, to be honest. I think that's kind of the main thing that shocks people who don't know. Um but I'm not really sure.

SPEAKER_05 49:07

Okay.

SPEAKER_08 49:08

I don't know. What would people not know about me?

SPEAKER_04 49:11

You have to have a think about that one then. Does your mum your mum still travel with you? Does she pack your bags for you? Or do you have to go?

SPEAKER_08 49:18

Oh god, no. Yeah, I pack your bags. You wouldn't trust your mum to pack your bag for you.

SPEAKER_04 49:22

No, she might be listening to this.

SPEAKER_08 49:23

It's okay. She can come and plait my hair, man.

SPEAKER_04 49:27

So your mum can plait your hair but not pack your bags.

SPEAKER_08 49:29

Yeah, don't you?

SPEAKER_04 49:30

We've learned that about you. Fantastic. Really good to see you again. Have a fantastic weekend.

SPEAKER_08 49:37

Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 49:38

After lots of planning, the BRDC International Trophy Weekend is here, much to the delight of championship manager Eve Lake Grange. I asked her what makes Silverstone and this trophy event so special?

SPEAKER_00 49:51

Well, I mean, in terms of the circuit, obviously it's the Grand Prix circuit. So uh for our drivers, they're obviously going to hope to race here as they uh continue emulate their sort, you know, their F1 heroes. So I think that's really special. In terms of the international trophy, I mean that has got drivers such as Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, uh Mark Weber. So those are previous winners. So I think for them to have their name on the trophy with such grates is pretty special.

SPEAKER_04 50:17

It is. I mean, uh if if nothing else happens, just to be a driver with your name on a trophy engraved on a trophy like that, wow. Yeah, that is quite something. I mean that possibly tops everything this weekend, doesn't it? Or can we say no? Of course, championship points are important, but that that's that's really important. Now, uh, we've got three, not one, not two, but three F1 Academy drivers this weekend. Wow, you're showing off now.

SPEAKER_00 50:42

I know, no, it's honestly it's so nice to welcome them back. Um, you know, we love having uh the girls as part of the uh of the lineup, so um it's nice to see that they can still fit us into their calendars.

SPEAKER_04 50:52

Yeah, absolutely. Ella, Albert, and Emma who are all going to put on a on a good show. And of course, Emma is currently running in second place, isn't she, in the F1 Academy. Really good to see them all back, and it's interesting as well to see them go away and do that and come back and see how they've changed, as well.

SPEAKER_00 51:08

Yes, absolutely, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 51:09

Living out of suitcases and flying around the world. Doesn't sound like fun at all. Actually, it probably does, doesn't it? Talking of flying around the world, we've got um we've not you know, after we've we've put all 32 cars back in their boxes and sent them on the way and we've had a great time here. It's the summer break, which is a bit of a misnomer for you, isn't it? Because it's no break at all.

SPEAKER_00 51:32

Yeah, I'm flying off somewhere warm and putting my feet up. No. Uh no, the work never stops. Uh there is no such thing as a break, I don't think. Um, but it is certainly uh it will slow down a bit. This month has been crazy with three race weekends. Um, so yeah, it will be nice to just uh take stock and yeah, look forward again.

SPEAKER_04 51:54

And in terms of looking forward, the next weekend is by the seaside.

SPEAKER_00 51:58

Yes, yes over at Zandvoort. Oh my goodness, that still feels like a million miles away, but that is the next one, isn't it? Yes, Zandvoort. We very we love Zandvoort. Yes, and I'm hoping for some sunshine.

SPEAKER_04 52:08

Yes, yeah, we've we've had both over the last couple of years. Yeah. Torrential rain and factor 50. Yes. Sun cream needed, haven't we? The drivers like Zandvoort as well because there's those two banked sections which uh which always bring out the best in the in the um uh the drivers who are risk takers, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_00 52:26

That's a nice way of putting it. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 52:28

And and and the layout at Zanvoort is good. It f I mean it's an old F1 circuit, obviously. And it always feels like, you know, the international, it's like coming to Silverstone, isn't it? It's a proper F1 circuit, and that brings out the best in people.

SPEAKER_00 52:40

Yes, absolutely. I think so.

SPEAKER_04 52:41

It brings out the best in you as well, doesn't it? But you don't get any chance to go shopping, do you, in in anywhere nearby?

SPEAKER_00 52:48

No, no. We do we do always wander down to the seaside uh and have a you know, it depends depending on which weather it's given us, it's whether we look at it from the car or whether we actually get out uh and have a look.

SPEAKER_04 52:59

But you know I you know I've got this picture of of you and Flora building sand castles in the sand dunes. Because there are sand dunes aren't we before you actually get down to it? Yeah. If it's nice, will you go paddling?

SPEAKER_00 53:10

Uh maybe, maybe.

SPEAKER_04 53:14

We must just remind people, of course, that on Sunday uh there is a first as well. There's a grid walk.

SPEAKER_00 53:19

I know, isn't that exciting? Yes, we have got a grid walk for our fans. So I'm really excited to see uh who turns out. Uh and I think again it's that feeling of uh giving our drivers the experience of something that they will obviously do later on in their careers, hopefully. So it's yeah, it creates that buzz and makes it feel that bit more exciting.

SPEAKER_04 53:41

And for those fans coming down, that's about 45 minutes. A half-hour session, isn't it? It's 45 minutes before lights go out. So have a look at the timetable and and make sure that uh you can come and see that, which would be great. And gives everybody to take some pictures close up with drivers, cars, grid.

SPEAKER_00 53:58

It's the kind of access that we're not always you know privileged to be able to give. So yeah, I think it's a great one for fans to come to and just get up up close to the action.

SPEAKER_04 54:06

Up close to the driver. I think it says rub shoulders with the drivers in the cars. I did rub shoulders with the car, but I I I I know what he meant. Um so is it's not just Zanvoort that's in your mind during the summer break, is it? I mean, you're you're thinking further ahead than that, aren't you? What else is going on? Any any secrets you can let us into? You always tease us with something like the drivers. When we were at Sneterton, you said, Oh, I can't tell you, but we've got a couple of drivers. And now we know how exciting it is with those drivers coming in. Anything else going on?

SPEAKER_00 54:33

Um no. Uh don't we call it exciting? I mean, basically it is uh planning mode, would you believe, for 2027?

SPEAKER_05 54:41

Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_00 54:42

Yeah, when I say it never stops, it never stops. But I mean that in itself is exciting. I think to be able to look forward and start thinking ahead and planning what what new things or better things or whatever it is that we can do, I think that's always we don't ever stop.

SPEAKER_04 54:58

No, but what better things can we do? This season is turning out to be an absolute cracker. How do you improve on that?

SPEAKER_00 55:05

Yeah, to be honest, it is getting harder every year to try and to try and elevate it. I think you know the team do we work really hard and I think we do a really good job. So, but you know, there's always things that we can that we can look to do.

SPEAKER_04 55:17

So I'm intrigued. You've got that look in your line, which is mischief. Um is I just just maybe to try and tease a bit, are we looking at a similar calendar for next year or or are there going to be some changes?

SPEAKER_00 55:28

Uh no, I think similar. I think you know the calendar works. So um you know, it's all the challenge is always uh dates, you know. Uh we obviously are looking at fuller grids, so that brings a new element to planning, but yeah, it will it there won't be any drastic changes, I think.

SPEAKER_04 55:46

Good. Well let's hope for a really full grid again. Yeah to almost to bursting point, really, at the moment, aren't we?

SPEAKER_00 55:51

I mean this this this weekend uh this weekend is our is is is max capacity. That's all eight teams running their full full allocation, isn't it?

SPEAKER_04 56:00

There's 32 cars on the on the on the grid. Any more and there just isn't space. Yeah. But wouldn't it be good to have demand for more? Because that just goes to everything that we've been saying for the last three or four seasons, how a competitive the championship is, but how important it is on that journey, on the motorsport journey. And it it proves it, doesn't it? You know, that the series is in demand, the championship's in demand.

SPEAKER_00 56:25

I think so, and I think that that is that's one of the things that we sort of pride ourselves on is you know, it's always got to be about the quality over the quantity, and I think now we have both, which is uh which is great. That's kind of what we've worked for. So um, but I do think we've got one of the most competitive fields we've had, and I think that's you know, yes, big numbers, but the fact that we've maintained that is is great, I think.

SPEAKER_04 56:48

I referenced in my intro, there's a couple of things which strike me about this season is one is the talent on the grid is is a step up, and secondly, the racing is so close that any on their day, any one of those drivers could end up on the podium.

SPEAKER_00 57:01

Yeah, and but I think that's what's great about it. That's what kind of what you come into it and it's not a given, and it's not even a given who your top three are gonna be. Like it's just I think that really it's it's nice coming into a weekend and knowing that it's gonna be that competitive that you can really watch and enjoy the racing, and it's the you can't call it.

SPEAKER_04 57:20

No, you can't. And it's interesting, you go back to say 24 and 25, and you look at Alex Dunn and various other drivers, and you follow them, and Alex F2, and he's sort of doing okay, and you know, they're on their journey. Yeah, but I wonder if 2026 is the year where we look back and go, do you know what? The class of 2026, that was something special.

SPEAKER_00 57:37

Might be mine. It might be, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 57:39

Your spine that is good. I think it might have a slight pound on the side as to see whether we're still talking about 2026 in years to come. Excellent. Well, that's enough for you to be getting on with, isn't it?

SPEAKER_05 57:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 57:50

Good. So that's plenty of work to be going on with. The trophy, the BRDC International Trophy, which you've already um referenced, is is just a special thing, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 58:00

Yes, it's do you know what? Um we saw a picture of it, and we're a bit like, oh dear. Because I think we're so used to seeing, I know in F1 and stuff they do these, you know, they do all these different trophies, but I think we're just so used to what we have. We're a bit sort of like, oh no, but we had it, um, we had it out the other day, and the teams for the teams and drivers talk, like, and they honestly everyone's like, I want to win that. I want to win that. And it's like that's it's brilliant, it's brilliant to see.

SPEAKER_04 58:27

Have you had to polish it?

SPEAKER_00 58:28

Oh, non-stop. Non-stop.

SPEAKER_04 58:31

Put these fingers on it because everybody's the photograph taken with the game.

SPEAKER_00 58:34

Yeah, and it's got it's got such a shiny reflection you can actually see yourself in it. So that's yeah, exactly. So yeah.

SPEAKER_04 58:39

How big is it? I've not seen it. How big is it?

SPEAKER_00 58:41

It is, it is, it's a stupid, it's a substantial size, and the weight, the weight is, yeah. So whoever wins that, they're gonna be uh, I hope they've got strong arms.

SPEAKER_04 58:51

And are they going to be able to they're gonna have that on the podium uh for the photographs?

SPEAKER_00 58:56

Yeah, yeah, that'll be on the podium. That one is for them to not keep, but there is a smaller version that they do get to keep. But yeah, it's a it's a pretty cool looking trophy. I'll show you later.

SPEAKER_04 59:05

Okay, excellent, I look forward to that. And um, who's going to carry that to the podium?

SPEAKER_00 59:10

Um I'm not gonna volunteer myself, but I'm sure we can find someone. Somebody with safe hands. Will it?

SPEAKER_04 59:15

Yes, it's do not drop VRDs in it.

SPEAKER_00 59:18

It's honestly it's got its own little case and everything, it's really fancy, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 59:22

Gosh, and then gets locked away again for safety. Name gets added to it.

SPEAKER_00 59:25

Yes, exactly that.

SPEAKER_04 59:26

It's exciting, fantastic. Good. Um final thing. I'm just looking at it's been hot very hot this week. It was Sweaterton, wasn't it, last week? Yes. Um and it's we've had a little shower here this morning, and it's quite humid, a bit overcast, but still very warm.

SPEAKER_00 59:41

Yes, it's I think it's nicer, to be honest. I'll take I'd take this.

SPEAKER_04 59:45

Would you?

SPEAKER_00 59:46

I think so. Not so much rain. I mean there was I think there was uh there was lightning uh four miles away, apparently, earlier. Um so that can stay away. Yeah. Um, but yeah, I don't mind the cooler temperatures because yeah, it was sticky.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:00

It it was warm, wasn't it? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:03

But there we go.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:04

That was summer. Last weekend was summer, probably. That's true. Eve, uh, have a great weekend, lots of effort. Uh uh uh blood, sweat, and tears probably has gone into making this weekend uh what is going to be an absolutely brilliant BRDC International Trophy weekend. Enjoy it, take two minutes and enjoy it.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:21

I'll do my best. Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:24

Last but never least this week, we go full circle. Having started with Teen JHR, we finish with two more of their drivers. Harney Sadiq and Cameron Nelson join me early this afternoon to reflect on the season so far. Well, good to uh be joined in the F4 Race Centre studio by Cameron and Sadiq. Hello to both of you. Hello. Hi. Well, that was Kurt from you, Sadiq and a nice smile from you, Cameron. We'll get the smiles out of both of you. Um you've not long finished uh FP1 here at Silverstone on this uh this incredible weekend. First of all, how is the session for you, Cameron?

SPEAKER_03 1:01:00

Yeah, I think good, strong, uh good step, more progression, which we we like to see. Um yeah, happy with that.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:09

I think it's P4 you finished, wasn't it? Which is which is good. It's a good place to be.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:13

Um yeah, happy with that. Uh just hopefully go first next session though.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:18

Yeah. Because your teammate Lewis, of course, is uh is currently topping the times, isn't he? So Dick, how was that session for you? You were a little bit further down.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:26

Yeah, it went pretty horrendously. I didn't feel great in the car, so car felt pretty good, but it's just me personally, I didn't feel very good. Okay. So I don't know, just looking for better for FBT. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:37

Well, I mean, uh in that because you said it you weren't feeling right. What can you do in the meantime? And you just get some quiet downtime and and think about the the next session. How do you you overcome that bit of it?

SPEAKER_02 1:01:48

Yeah, I went to go get some lunch and then I'm having this like problem with my shoulder or like my trap, so I'm gonna go see Will to see if he can like kind of sort me out there.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:56

Yeah, I mean they are physical things to drive these cars, aren't they? You do how much time do you spend in the gym, Kelly?

SPEAKER_03 1:02:02

Uh I I try to go four to five times a week. I think yeah, the is if you can prepare well for it, I think you'll be good. Um but obviously, yeah, the little things um that happen, like yeah, shoulders, neck, it's sometimes it is hard to prevent and it can it can play up, but yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:23

One of the hazards of the job. What about you, Siddy? You spend a lot of time in the gym.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:26

Yeah, I go about four times a week. Yeah, gosh.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:28

That's a big commitment, isn't it? I mean, how do you get uh did you get much downtime in between race weekends? I know we've got the summer break coming up, but did you get much downtime?

SPEAKER_03 1:02:37

Um if you can create like if you if you have it scheduled well and um you're good with it, I I think you can have a little bit. Um obviously not as much as you'd want to, you know, you'd want to spend time with your family and maybe go out with your mates, but you know, if you're if you're always training, if you've got school as well, I think it is quite hard.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:02

Are you have you finished with exams or have you still got exams to do? I've still got exams to do. What have you got coming up?

SPEAKER_03 1:03:09

I've got history and maths.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:11

Oh, okay. Good subjects for you?

SPEAKER_03 1:03:13

Yeah, I I like history. Maths, not so much.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:17

What about you, Sadiq? Where are you in that process?

SPEAKER_02 1:03:20

Um where uh I've got I'm in half term right now and then I've got two weeks of exams. Right. Half to half term and then I'm done. So what have you got coming? What are your best subjects? I'm pretty bad at all of them, it's pretty nice. You're equally bad at all of them.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:36

If you had to pick one where you thought you might do better than than the other, what would you choose? Uh maybe like politics. Oh, okay, right. Cool. Okay, well, good luck with uh with those. Um how has the season gone so far, do you think, Sidigan?

SPEAKER_02 1:03:51

And do you know where you can continue to improve? So far, my season's gone really badly. It's like round one, I had a few shunts, and then Brand, who's uh so many things went wrong. And Seth and I had a problem in qualifying, and then it's really hard to make any moves from there because it's it's just a day, yeah, it's horrendous. So it's so far it's gone really badly.

SPEAKER_04 1:04:15

So the only way is up in that respect. And and and that's what you want to do this weekend, isn't it? Do you do you like this circuit generally, the the F1 circuit?

SPEAKER_02 1:04:23

Yeah, uh going into the weekend I was pretty confident because uh in both the tests, well, I've only completed half a day here so far because we did two test days and I've had problems on both of them. Um but in both the tests or the half day I did, I was pretty quick, so I was relatively confident, and I just don't think any of the rounds so far has been representative of what of what I can do. So I've just been looking to Silverstone to see what we can do, and we've had a pretty long week of prep. I was in I zone, I was at I zone a couple days this week, and that was relatively good, we were pretty quick, and then just hasn't showed an FP1, I guess.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:01

Plenty of time to go yet, yeah, and for you to I mean plenty of time in the season to go for you to start uh improving and picking up those points as well. But then maybe this weekend will be a good change for you. Cameron, what about you? Do you like this circuit and uh and coming up to this weekend? How have things gone for you? I mean we just mentioned you had a pretty good FP1 this morning.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:20

Yeah, for sure. I uh I do enjoy this track um from watching it and driving it. Uh I I get along with the track um driving wise. What do you mean what do you mean by that? You get along with the track? I'd say not it suits me, but the first session I ever did here, um obviously I was still quite quite quite new into F4. Um I wasn't I wasn't as bad as I thought I'd be. Um I think it boosted my confidence to uh to keep going and that's why we have started off strong this morning. Um so in that respect, yeah, it it suits me.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:57

Can you convert that um uh free? Practice performance into good qualifying and then uh good races as well. I mean uh podiums must be what you're looking for this weekend.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:06

Yeah, for sure. Um, with the progression that we've been going with with the trajectory of it, I think um that's definitely on the uh the cards.

SPEAKER_04 1:06:15

U and this weekend is the BRDC International Trophy, the first time in 20 years that it has uh been uh been run. Some phenomenal names are on the list. What would it mean, Sadiq, if you could stick your name on that trophy?

SPEAKER_02 1:06:29

Um well it's obviously a very like prestigious award with names like James Hunt and I don't know whose else is on there to be honest with you.

SPEAKER_04 1:06:36

Oh, there's the Sir Jack Brabham and Jackie Stewart, Ascari's on there, some incredible names. Yeah, you've you've mentioned a couple already.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:43

Yeah, so you it really puts your name right up there with like some of the best, so yeah, it'd be pretty good.

SPEAKER_04 1:06:49

It is quite a heavy trophy, so you have to be aware of that if you win it and have to lift it up for the photo for your photograph. Nervous look on your face in it. Kevin, what about you? What would it mean to you to be in with a shout of uh uh of winning that uh that international trophy?

SPEAKER_03 1:07:02

Yeah, for sure, like Harney says, it is uh very prestigious. Um I'd like to win any race this weekend, but to win that one that is uh is a bonus. Um I think that'd be a very good boost of the confidence and just getting my name out there. Yeah, which is important, isn't it?

SPEAKER_04 1:07:21

So uh Harney, what what now is your expectation for the for the season? What are what are you hoping to do for the rest of the season?

SPEAKER_02 1:07:29

Well sadly I'm still the only driver not to get a point this year because I've just had stink at all all my reverse grid races, I think I've crashed. So that uh it's been I think to be honest, points is just it just seems to be good at the moment, but I don't know, I I I I wouldn't say the first three rounds like made me lose confidence in myself. I I think I'm still looking forward to all the other rounds, and it's it's just like with me and my coach, we're just putting in the work to see what we can do is better what better we can do around some of these problems that we've been facing. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:03

Um it sounds like though that you're getting yourself in a good place to deal with that, which which is what goes on up here, isn't it? Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And Cameron, what about you for the rest of the season?

SPEAKER_03 1:08:14

Um I mean is to go on really, just keep on progressing, um, learning as much as I can. I'm not, you know, I'd love to win the championship, but I'm not heavily focused on that. I just yeah, I want to use this year as uh a very strong building year and hope the future is bright.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:36

Absolutely. Well, you've said that, the future is bright and the sun's just come out. How about that? Maybe that's an omen for the two of you for this weekend. Really good to to catch up with you. Um I've just realised that I've referred to you by your second name, not your first name, during our chat, and you very politely not corrected me. Thank you very much. It just goes, I'm getting too old. Cameron and Harney, have a great weekend. Thank you. Thank you very much. And that's our time up, I'm afraid. Doesn't it go quickly when you're enjoying yourself? I hope you're enjoying yourself too. Qualifying for the Codola Watches pole position award takes place on Saturday morning at 9am UK time before race one gets underway later that afternoon at 2.30. Two more races follow on Sunday with the reverse grid at 10.15 and the historic BRDC International Trophy Race at 3.50. If you're coming to Silverstone this weekend, then why not take part in a special 30-minute grid walk where you can set foot on the hallowed circuit and rub shoulders with the drivers and their cars prior to the final race of the weekend. For fans watching at home, every racing lap from Silverstone will be broadcast live on the British F4 YouTube channel across Saturday and Sunday. And as always, you can hear the exclusive driver interviews from qualifying and after each race on the British F4 website at fiaformula4.com and on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can get the very latest news as well via our usual social media channels, including Instagram and Facebook, by searching for British F4. And after this weekend, it's time for the summer break. But do make sure you join us again on Friday, the 10th of July, from Zandvoort, as the championship goes on its travels to the stunning Turkit by the sea in the Netherlands. My thanks go to this week's guests, as always, and to the media team here in the F4 Race Centre, Evelake Grange, Flora Scott, and Ben Bunell, all of whom are excited and can't wait to hear Collins' playlist for the long road trip to Zanvoort. As always, this podcast is produced by Matt Jones and is a create media production for the British F4 Championship certified by FIA. I'm Steve Taylor, thank you for listening!