07x08 - Elbows Out

[bunniefuu]

-[exhales]
-[producer] How are you feeling?

Not that I've ever had therapy,
but I can only imagine

this is what therapy would be like.

Addicted to… What am I addicted to?

[laughs]

[producer] Well…

-Success.
-[Horner] Yes.

[tense music plays]

To win the World Championship,
you can't run on one leg.

You've got to have
both of your drivers performing.

Checo's form has taken a dive.

He's in a cauldron of pressure.

[Pérez] Ah, f*ck.

[Horner] There's an enormous burden
on his shoulders

that is becoming heavier and heavier.

[commentator 1] That mistake cost him.

[Pérez] Sorry, guys.

[Buxton] As Sergio Pérez
continues to underperform,

naturally, the spotlight falls on the
drivers who might possibly replace him.

[producer] Liam,
I'll give you the monitor.

Oh, nice!

It's not recording yet?

[laughter]

What about higher up?
Just go a less hairy bit up top.

-[man] Is that okay?
-Yeah.

[Buxton] This is a massive decision.

And the problem is,

who do you choose?

[Horner] Do we actually do something?

Do we bench Sergio?

[tense music continues]

We need to

stop the rot.

[music stops]

[engine revs]

[birds chirp]

[goat bleats]

[orchestral music plays]

-[man] Morning, all.
-Morning. How are you? Come on, mate.

The dog's not coming to Goodwood.

I'm going in the front.

[man] Here we go. I'll grab that as well.

[Horner] And we're off.

[orchestral music continues]

[Buxton] It's almost
halfway through the season,

and Red Bull find themselves
in a precarious position.

Yes, they're still leading
the Constructors' Championship,

but not by much.

[tense orchestral music plays]

-[fan 1] Christian! Christian!
-[Horner] What are you doing, a selfie?

[fan 2] Geri!

[Buxton] Sergio Pérez is underperforming
to such an extent

that Red Bull
no longer have the advantage.

-[woman] You're driving.
-[Horner] I know. What could go wrong?

[Buxton] Christian will have
major questions to answer

over how this has been allowed to happen.

[tense music plays]

[Horner] Good morning, everybody.

We're down here to celebrate


It's our 20th season, and it's, uh…

It's great to see all of the cars out here
and running up the hill over the weekend.

When you've had the kind of season
we had in 2023,

where you win virtually everything,

all bar one race,

you know, you set the standards.

-[man] Look at that.
-The old, uh…

-The old faithful.
-[boy] Dad.

[Horner] What if I need a nervous wee
at the top?

It's a competitive business, and with that
comes a huge amount of pressure.

[Geri] Don't crash! [laughs]

No pressure.

No donuts.

You finally made F1. [laughs]

The Red Bull Racing stable
is an impressive one.

They have a very clear driver program.

Both in their senior team
and in their junior team, VCARB.

[tense music plays]

The VCARB drivers are there
demonstrating their talent,

desperately wanting
the second Red Bull seat.

[Horner] If we were
to decide to replace Checo,

the obvious candidate that we
brought into the wings is… is Daniel.

Daniel has a huge amount of experience,
but has Daniel still got it?

Has he still got that inner fire,

and is he prepared
to put everything on the line for it?

[birds chirp]

[Ricciardo] Who's jumping in first?
I reckon you are.

-[boy] You! You are.
-Three, two, one, let's go.

[upbeat music plays]

-What are you doing?
-[boy laughs]

Get away from me!

[laughs] Get off!
This is why I'm an uncle.

[sighs]

I'm Daniel Ricciardo,

racing for Visa Cash App RB
Formula 1 team.

-Are you all right? Okay, wait.
-[nephew] Yeah.

I am here to… [chuckles]

A quote off my helmet.

"To remind these cats."

To remind 'em I can still do it.

[funky music plays]

And I'm still the dawg. [laughs]

[rock music plays]

Go, go, go, go, go!

-Know what you should do?
-[nephew] What?

[Ricciardo] Accelerate.

Whoa!

Settle down, Vin Diesel.

[rock music continues]

[Bannon] Think you've got what it takes
to be back at Red Bull?

Yes. Otherwise, I would not be here.

f*ck it. Why not… Why not go all in?

Okay, brake, brake, brake, brake, brake!

[both laugh]

This season is make or break for
Daniel Ricciardo. No two ways about it.

[music stops]

[commentator 2] It's Daniel Ricciardo,
for Australia,

for Red Bull!

[Buxton] Walking away
from Red Bull in 2018

was the biggest mistake he ever made.

[commentator 2] Daniel Ricciardo losing
his front wing going into turn one.

[Buxton] If he'd just stayed,
he might've been World Champion by now.

-But Christian has a soft spot for him.
-[Ricciardo groans]

[Buxton] Now he's back
with Red Bull's junior team, VCARB.

He just has to do one thing this year,

which is prove that the Daniel Ricciardo
that left Red Bull Racing

is the Daniel Ricciardo
that's now racing for VCARB.

[Ricciardo] So what you want
is a good bit of separation.

Perfect for a good Aussie snagger.

How often do I roll them?

-[woman] Once they're cooked.
-How do I know once they're cooked?

-When they turn brown.
-[man] Are you serious?

[Ricciardo] I think my 14 years of F1,

my salary has gone
to food delivery businesses.

Oh, Daniel.

Come sit down and eat. Good?

-Beautiful.
-[woman] Don't worry about it.

-[Grace] The meat's good.
-[kid] Thank you.

I would love
to be teammates with Max again.

You know, complete that…
that fairy-tale story.

But this sport's not built on stories.

It's… It's not gonna happen
just thinking about it.

I've gotta go and action it.

It's actually funny. You never ever said
you wanted to be an F1 driver.

Ever.

I just winged it my whole life.
I hated it.

[Grace] I don't know.

-Everyone forced me to do it.
-[kid] Then why did you do it?

-[Grace] Yeah, why did you do it?
-I'm kidding.

We just did it for fun,
and it just sort of grew and…

-[Grace] Then you fell in love with it.
-[Joe] We tried to talk him out of it.

'Cause I knew where it was gonna lead,
a lot of heartbreak,

but proved me wrong.

[Horner] Daniel is in a crucial window,

because he's essentially being measured
against Checo for 2025.

The range of options for him
are so extreme.

He could either find himself
a Red Bull Racing seat

or back to the farm in Perth.

But he had a tough start to the year.

[commentator 2] Welcome along
to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Saturday night's all right for driving.

It's lights out and away we go!

[Ricciardo] Oh. Yeah, the spin,
that was my fault.

I just took too much curb.

[Horner] Every race for Daniel
is a cup final.

All these guys
are incredibly talented drivers.

They're the best in the world. Elite.

But what it all boils down to

is about ability
to deal with big pressure points.

[dramatic music plays]

[commentator 1] Happy sunny Sunday
from Suzuka.

[Ricciardo] I still believe
that, yes, I can be good enough

to run at the front
and be at the top of the grid.

[tense music plays]

[commentator 1] And we're underway
and racing!

[Ricciardo] I wanna obviously show
that version of me.

[music stops]

[Ricciardo] I think what Daniel
just needs to find in himself

is that inner hunger.

Does he want it enough?

[Lawson] Sorry, mate.

[Horner] Perhaps his heart and head

aren't quite in agreement at the moment.

[tense music plays]

[Buxton] Results are everything.

You have to perform.

There are only 20 seats in the sport,

and if there's someone out there
that's quicker,

then you're looking over your shoulder
the whole time.

[music fades]

[Paul Smith] So, Liam, respectful hunger.

Respectful hunger?

-[Smith] So you really want this seat.
-But I'm respectful.

-[Smith] Yeah.
-I'm not respectful.

Oh, dude.

I just don't understand, like, golf.

Oh, dude. Roll. Just roll.

Roll in the green.

I don't know why
it's such a popular sport.

-[Jack] Whoa!
-[Lawson] It's just frustration.

Pure frustration.

I'm Liam Lawson.

I'm Visa Cash App RB and Red Bull Racing
test and reserve driver.

[commentator 2] Liam Lawson
deserves a round of applause

for a first-ever points finish
in Formula 1.

[Buxton] Liam Lawson did, frankly,
the brilliant job last year

of standing in for Daniel
when he broke his wrist.

I think he's pissed off
that he didn't get a seat this year.

He deserves more
than to be sitting on the sidelines.

[Lawson] I wanted the seat.

And now everyone's like,
"Why didn't you get the seat?"

"Did it piss you off? You mad about that?"

-I didn't really understand it.
-Really?

No. f*ck, no.

So, why didn't you get the seat?
What happened?

I don't know. They feel like Daniel brings
more to the table than I do right now.

I guess they want his experience.
Daniel has experience.

[Jack] I understand. It makes sense,
but it could've been a good chance.

-It could've been a great chance.
-[Jack] Yeah.

I never want somebody
to have their career turned upside down

just so that I can obviously race.

But ultimately,
I'm not here to be friends.

At the end of the day, I need a seat.

Oh, f…

[Jack] I do honestly think
that chance will come.

I don't know, dude. I don't know.

It definitely doesn't feel like it.
It's almost like starting from zero.

Oh, dude. It's so stupid.

[Horner] At the moment,
Liam's strongest probability

is to find himself in a VCARB seat
for next year.

But circumstances can change.

You know, if Checo has a disaster,

if Daniel doesn't get the job done,

you know, suddenly Liam

becomes a… a realistic prospect.

So, you know, anything is…
anything is feasible in this business.

[dramatic orchestral music plays]

[commentator 2] Welcome to Silverstone,

where year after year,
whatever the weather,

the fans pack out the grandstand…

Morning.

[commentator 2] …and the best drivers in
the world go racing for a golden trophy.

[music fades]

I don't think this is my suit.

This feels so tight.

No way.

[groans, laughs]

My poor p*nis.

[tense music plays]

[commentator 2] We approach
the halfway point of this season.

When the checkered flag falls,
that will be halftime.

This part of the year,
contracts are being drawn up.

The teams are deciding
who they want to occupy their seats

in 2025.

Every performance matters.

It really is crunch time.

[Horner] Lovely.

-[Lawson] Morning.
-Good morning.

-[Lawson] How are you?
-Good.

-[Horner] How are ya?
-[Lawson] I need to drive.

I'm going crazy not driving.

[tense music continues]

[Tsunoda] The driver who performed
really good historically

normally gets nominated the Red Bull.

We just focus
to maximize the performance every race.

[Bannon] Who's your main competition?

Daniel.

[Ricciardo] Good to go? All right.

We've been told that at the summer break
there could be some movement.

And it's a really kind of critical time

for all of us to show what we've got.

[music stops]

[Williams] For Daniel Ricciardo,
every race at the moment is an audition.

You cannot underestimate
the mental pressure

knowing that any mistake can be costly.

With Sergio Pérez underperforming,

Daniel can't afford to falter.

[tense music plays]

[Horner] Formula 1 is a…
a results-based business.

And what you do on track is the answer
to everything at the end of the day.

[music fades]

Hi, guys.

You got your driver poised today?

Speak of the devil.

[Horner] Let me have a word.

-All good?
-[Pérez] Yep.

[Horner] Just get your head down,
try and get yourself in a good place.

-Yeah.
-[Horner] And you'll be fine.

Yeah.

[Bird] Be ready to go
at the start of the session, please.

[Horner] Have a good one.

Now Checo needs to step it up.

And, you know,
he knows he's under pressure.

But whenever he's had
his back to the wall,

that's when he's at his best.

If he can just get a decent quali in

and find a bit of confidence,
he'll feed off that, you know?

He just needs that trigger.

[Pérez] Red Bull is, um,

a team that, uh, changes drivers
halfway in the season and so on,

so if you don't perform for a weekend, um,

all alarms go on.

The pressure is always on.

[Bird] Okay, so we gotta get
a little bit faster in sector one.

[Pérez] Ah.

-I'm stuck.
-[Bird] We're out, Checo.

[commentator 1] That's it for Pérez,
and that is nightmare stuff

for team and driver.

[Horner] What the f*ck
do we do with this one?

If we keep going like this, we're f*cked.

I just don't get it

with Checo.

[Bannon] So do you think he's gonna last
till the end of the season?

There's no guarantees.

[somber music plays]

Right.

I don't know about our Mexican. I dunno…

[Buxton] I'm sure, at some point,

Christian, Red Bull have got to be
asking themselves the question

of… of how much longer they,
you know, they tolerate this.

Their rivals are coming for them.

They need both drivers scoring points.

They need both drivers
not making mistakes.

[Horner] Starting to think
of the diminishing returns.

You know, this weekend, we have to look
very carefully at the other drivers.

Of the three that we've got,

well, four,

Checo versus Daniel
versus Yuki versus Liam.

I'm a big fan of Daniel.

I mean, I know he's not been competitive,
but we know what he's capable of.

Yeah.

I think he can sniff
that there's a bit of a chance.

[music fades]

I just wasn't sure
how much they've made aware to the public

that Checo is on the verge.

[Paul Smith] What Christian's
been saying publicly

is that the way
that it's been approached with Checo

is… is through a lot of support, right?

As opposed to, "We're definitely
f*cking replacing Checo."

"He's f*cked. DR is in. Liam into VCARB."

Happy days.

[Smith] So,

for you, I think, Christian…

And he's taking the time
to see what happens here.

-He needs success.
-Yeah.

Yeah, that's cool.

[tense music plays]

[commentator 2] Welcome along to the track
that started this World Championship

some 1,112 races ago.

[commentator 3] We may be getting some
rain. Could be an absolutely amazing race.

[tense music continues]

-I'll… I'll grab a lift with you.
-Come on, then.

[both laugh]

[Ricciardo] We'll really eat sh*t.

[tense music continues]

-Can I have a… a tea, please?
-[woman] A tea?

Yeah.

[Buxton] The lingering doubts
continue to swirl around Sergio Pérez

and his place at the team.

And because of that,

Daniel Ricciardo has
a phenomenal opportunity

to show that he is once again
the man for Red Bull.

[music fades]

Scoring some points today
would really help his cause.

Four, three, two, one.

[Ricciardo] Every race
has to be everything I've got.

I do love it.

Maybe I'm a sicko,

but I like the pressure.

Being told, "These could be
the most important races of your career,"

that excites me.

[tense music plays]

-[Lawson] I can't do this much longer.
-[man] Okay.

[Lawson] I'm just hanging around,
watching races.

I'm losing my mind, mate.

I think the most important thing
for you is just to, you know, stay calm.

Don't let it get to you.

Yeah.

[tense music continues]

[Ricciardo] There's parts of the doubt
which is fuel, you know?

And it's kind of as a kid, you know,

if your parents say don't do something,
then you wanna go do it.

If people doubt you,
then you wanna go and prove 'em wrong.

[commentator 2] George Russell
leads a British trio,

starting one, two, three on the grid.

[Hamelin] Fifteen seconds.

Okay, Daniel. Let's go hunting.

[commentator 1] Daniel Ricciardo
in 15th place,

but still outqualified by his teammate,
Yuki Tsunoda, in 13th.

[commentator 1] Sergio Pérez
is starting from the pit lane

after his crash in qualifying.

[Bird] Pull away on the green light.

[tense music continues]

[commentator 1] And it's a good launch
from Daniel Ricciardo.

[commentator 4] Pérez has only just
hooked on to the back of the pack now.

[Bird] Bottas the car in front.

[Pérez] Guys, it's not good.

[Hamelin] Let's push, please. Push now.

[Ricciardo] Yeah.

[commentator 1] Ricciardo
sweeps past Zhou into 14th.

[Hamelin] Good job.
Make sure we keep that position.

Every lap counts.

[music stops]

[commentator 1] Could get tricky out there
with unpredictable weather coming through.

[commentator 3] This is the hardest thing.
If it's heavy rain, it's anyone's game.

[Hamelin] Daniel, heads up.

We have heavy rain expected.

[Ricciardo] Understood.

[tense music plays]

[Spini] Yuki, we have another ten laps
of this rain.

I can't see anything.

[Spini] Just push.

[Hamelin] That was a good lap, Daniel.
Keep it up.

[Ricciardo] In a race like Silverstone,
where it starts to rain,

you're having a scare, like,

once a lap.

It's kind of terrifying.

[music stops]

-[commentator 3] It's slippery!
-[commentator 1] It's really raining.

[dramatic music plays]

[Ricciardo] It's pretty heavy now.

[Hamelin] Try and keep pushing.

The leaders are staying out.

Everyone is staying out.

[Ricciardo] I know I should take risks.

[Hamelin] Magnussen behind.

[Ricciardo] But you're also like, "Okay,

if I crash,
that doesn't do me many favors."

[commentator 3] Kevin Magnussen
making a move on Daniel Ricciardo.

[music stops]

[Ricciardo] Ah, sh*t.

[Bayer groans]

[Ricciardo] Sorry.

This is all I've got.

[tense music plays]

[commentator 3] Albon
makes a move on Tsunoda.

-[Tsunoda] What position am I?
-[Spini] P10.

[tense music continues]

[commentator 1] Verstappen about to lap
his Red Bull teammate for the second time.

[commentator 3] Oh,
this is humiliation for Pérez.

[Pérez] I don't know what's going on.
I think I'm just driving too slow.

[Hamelin] Okay, Daniel. One more lap.
One more lap.

[tense music continues]

[commentator 1] Disappointment for VCARB,
as Ricciardo comes home in 13th place.

[Ricciardo] Pretty tough today.

[commentator 3] Outside the points.

His only consolation is that Sergio Pérez
is even further back, in 17th.

[Pérez] Uh…

Something didn't work.

[Ricciardo] Certainly struggled today.

I'd say we didn't have much more to give.

Silverstone did not go good.

[somber music plays]

In those tricky conditions,

it's… I don't know.

I… I guess I don't want to admit it, but,

yeah, I believe that I'm still
willing to put it all on the edge,

but, uh,

maybe I ask the question now,

where, as a 22-year-old or 25-year-old,

you probably don't ask the question.

Are you okay?

Um…

Define "okay."

[woman] Yeah, I know, I know.

[producer] What is the question?

[somber music continues]

I don't know if I wanna say it because it…

It's too vulnerable.

Um…

Yeah…

Like ultimately,
it's "Is it worth the risk?" You know?

But…

Yeah, it just opens you up for weakness.

[Bayer in German] He has to gain the
confidence that he can actually go fast

because he doesn't have a feeling
for the car, and that's the problem.

[Marko] Well, yeah,
because the Netflix story is not working.

That Ricciardo will come out
of his bad stretch

and get into Red Bull Racing,
something like that.

That's the story that Netflix had planned.

[Bayer] "The legend," yeah.

-And that's not working out.
-Yeah.

-[Coulthard in English] Unbelievable.
-[Horner] Yeah, yeah, I know.

That was a shocker.

I could put anybody in
at the moment, you know.

I could put you in!

f*cking hell, man.
I think I could do a better job.

[Williams] So, once again, Sergio Pérez
comes out of a race weekend at Silverstone

not delivering the performance.

Christian Horner really has to be
looking at this now, doesn't he,

and thinking, "What do I need to do?"

"Do I need to make a change?"

[Horner] You have to look
at what your alternatives are.

And, you know, if we were
to take Sergio out of the car…

we don't have anybody in the other car

putting in performances
that are… are like, "Wow!"

You know, "Daniel's really delivering,"
or, "Yuki's really delivering."

Um, they're doing okay,

but, um, you know, okay isn't enough

whilst trying to defend,
you know, both championships.

-[man] Long weekend.
-[Horner] Yeah, bloody hell.

Honestly, I think this test on Thursday,
we have to have a good look at Liam.

Because if we keep going like this,
we're f*cked.

[tense music plays]

[music stops]

[Lawson] Morning. How's it going?
Good. How are you?

Wow. Morning, guys.

You had breakfast?

-Yeah.
-[man] Good night's sleep? [laughs]

Honestly?

Uh, average.

How are we doing?

We've decided to give Liam
a run out at Silverstone

because I think really
we want to see where is he at.

[tense music plays]

Right.

Here he is.

Is Sergio gonna pick it up?
If he doesn't, what is our best option?

We know Daniel's capability.
We know Yuki's.

The one there's a bit
of a question mark on at the moment

is how good is Liam Lawson?

When was the last time
you drove one of these?

I drove it in January at Imola.

-So you haven't driven anything since?
-Nothing for seven months, yeah.

Oh really?

-And Max is coming up this afternoon?
-[man] So you can compare the two of them.

Okay.

[Horner] We're gonna see what Max does
and then get a reference.

Good.

I do believe
I could step into that position.

It's basically what I've been preparing
my whole life for.

[music fades]

[Horner] I told you at the end of
last year that you'd get an opportunity.

It'll be in a blue car.
I just don't know which one.

I feel good in this blue.

Yeah, it suits you.

Hey, mate. How you doing? You good?

You all right?

-[Verstappen] I have the afternoon.
-Yeah, okay.

-See you.
-[Lawson] See you in a bit.

[tense music plays]

[Horner] It's a very different feel
to drive, uh, between the two cars.

[engineer] Okay, Max. Fire up.

[Horner] The VCARB car is slightly tamer,

not as on a knife's edge
as the Red Bull Racing car.

You know, it's an aggressive bull.

[tense music continues]

Liam knows he's gonna be judged

on how he compares
to the reigning World Champion.

He's got three laps,

and that's gonna determine,

you know, his career.

[dramatic music plays]

[music stops]

-Thanks. I appreciate it.
-[Verstappen] No worries.

-See you at the weekend.
-Yeah.

[Horner] Cheers. See you later.

[tense music plays]

[Lawson] It's a Red Bull car.

Obviously, it's the ultimate F1 car.

I've been lucky enough
to drive it a couple of times,

but it's been a long time
since I last drove one.

[tense music continues]

If I don't perform,
I won't get the chance again.

[music stops]

[engineer] The car is ready.

[Lawson] Copy.

f*ck. That's so fast.

[engineer] I'll leave you to it.

[dramatic music plays]

[Horner] How is he
through the high-speed stuff?

Relative to Max,
he's being pretty impressive.

Okay, so he's not hanging about, then.

-And his feedback's good?
-Yeah, yeah. Very precise.

-So he knows what's going on?
-Yeah.

[dramatic music continues]

How far off was his lap
compared to Max's lap?

[man] Just under two tenths.

[Horner] The guys are impressed
with what you're doing.

So just get yourself ready
for if the call comes.

Anyway, keep doing what you're doing.

I will. Thanks.

-[Horner] Keep learning.
-I will.

[reporter 1] And in Formula 1 news,
Christian Horner is under pressure

as McLaren overtake Red Bull
in the Constructors' title race.

[reporter 2] And you do wonder
what Christian Horner is thinking about.

[gears grind]

I told you
I'd never been up a hill this steep.

Come on, girl. You can do it.

Sport can sometimes be brutal.

You provide opportunities,
but sometimes you have to take them away.

What are you thinking about new drivers?

Any new ones to put into the mix?

-We've got some good young ones.
-[Geri] Yeah.

[tense music plays]

[Lawson] I feel ready for the opportunity,
and I've been working towards it for

more or less 15 years.

It's a frustrating thing
when I'm watching drivers underperform.

I feel I can do a better job.

[tense music continues]

Is Checo twitchy?

Uh, no, uh, I… I think it's always good

to keep drivers on their toes.

[Geri] Okay.

[Pérez] Certainly,
there's a lot of drivers that will…

will give their life, you know,
to be in my seat.

I just laugh at it.

It's always about
finding the key to unlock potential.

Mr. Tsunoda, welcome to Wagyu Mafia.

[in Japanese] Kobe beef sandwiches,
let's go!

[bell rings]

[laughter]

[in English] I feel more grown
as a Formula 1 driver.

I am focused on myself.
Just keep what I am doing.

I'm feeling more in control.

[tense music continues]

Is Daniel still hungry?

If he doesn't have it…

Why wouldn't he still have it?

It's like I was saying about the horse.
It's whether it's still burning inside.

[tense music continues]

[Ricciardo] There's still, like,
this inner confidence and belief that

I can do something pretty special.

-[sneezes]
-[music stops]

[laughter]

I feel like as hungry
as I was ten years ago.

[tense music plays]

[music stops]

I've made a decision.

[chuckles]

Can't stop smiling.

-[producer] Congratulations.
-Thank you.

I'm Liam Lawson,

and I'm Visa Cash App RB's
Formula 1 driver.

[tense music plays]

[reporter 1] Breaking news
is that Formula 1's Daniel Ricciardo

has been dropped by the RB team.

[reporter 2] Liam Lawson,
the 22-year-old New Zealander,

will replace him.

[music fades]

[Buxton] A lot of people
thought it would be Checo.

I'm not sure anybody expected Daniel.

I always thought Daniel Ricciardo

had at least one
Formula 1 World Championship in him.

And I know he did.

But it's game over.

[somber music plays]

I don't know if you know this or don't,
but I don't have a race to prepare for.

Mm.

Cleanse the palate.

[producer] So is this it, then?

This is it.

[somber music continues]

I never thought I would have this career,
I never thought I'd be here, you know?

And that's… That's the truth.

Yes, my dream was to be World Champion,
and there were years along the way

where I genuinely felt like
it was gonna happen.

[commentator 1] Daniel Ricciardo
becomes a new winner in Formula 1!

[Ricciardo] I got close. Uh, that's okay.

But if I was World Champion
sitting here today, does it change

how I feel, or view myself,
or anything like that?

Um…

All righty, I got this. I'm gonna nail it.

Hell, yeah, let's do it.

f*ck 'em all.

I don't think so.

[cheering]

Maybe my ego would be big.

We don't want that, so I have no regrets.

[Horner] Daniel, he's a great guy, and it
was a very difficult conversation to have.

I think if Daniel had have been
banging on the door,

uh, and putting in some,
you know, big results,

then that would've been
a way easier decision.

[somber music continues]

Daniel… you know,

i-is… is that fire

still burning brightly inside him?

Um, Liam Lawson,
there's petrol on the fire.

What we wanted to see was,

you know, how good was Liam?

How would Liam stack up against Yuki?

And we have some big decisions
to make for the… for the future.

And I think we're better looking ahead
than perhaps behind.

[dramatic music plays]

[Mexican music plays]

[in Spanish] Long live Mexico!

[commentator 2 in English]
The lucha libre to the F1 fiesta.

Welcome along
to the Mexico City Grand Prix.

[crowd] Checo!

[commentator 2] The atmosphere
is rarefied.

[commentator 1] This is
going to be some race.

[music fades]

[Horner] What are you gonna do
with the plane? Sell it?

-[Pérez] I've sold it.
-Yeah? Good.

-You just charter?
-No, no, I've got another one.

Oh, f*ck.

[Buxton] Checo, a cat with nine lives.

How does he survive?

If I was Checo,
I'd be dead worried about Liam.

[Pérez] Red Bull is a different level
in all regards.

It's a team that pushes you
really hard in all areas.

Red Bull obviously know they can have
any driver they want, basically.

[producer] If they can handle it.

Correct.

[tense music plays]

[Lawson] You know,
the support for Checo is massive,

but, I mean,

Red Bull are looking
for somebody fast and consistent.

I'm just focused on
nailing these races, honestly.

So that's… that's all I'm thinking about
at the moment.

Right now, I'm auditioning for a seat.

When you're in the car,
you have the unique opportunity to

basically show everybody
what you can do in a car.

[music stops]

-Thank you.
-[man] Need anything?

No, we're all good. Thank you.

-We'll see you later.
-See you later.

[Horner] Is Liam gonna be a candidate
to drive alongside Max next year?

Is he a better option for us in 2025?

[Lawson] Morning, guys.

[Horner] He's got to justify
and to demonstrate

to us that he's the man.

Yuki's in with a shot
for the Red Bull seat. We know he's quick.

What we just wanna see from him
is that mental, uh, resilience

that he's not gonna throw it off
the circuit at a crucial point in time.

[producer] Who's the better driver
out of you and Liam?

I mean, results says everything,
so I don't have to say anything.

[tense music plays]

[commentator 2] Today,
we fight over 71 laps.

Sergio Pérez in his home race,


[music fades]

-[Bird] Radio check.
-[Pérez] Yes, loud and clear.

Lawson is P12.

[commentator 3] Huge pressure
on Sergio Pérez today

in front of his home crowd.

And Liam Lawson hoping to outperform
his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda,

and keep himself in contention
for that Red Bull seat.

[crowd] Checo! Checo! Checo! Checo! Checo!

[rhythmic beeping]

[exciting music plays]

[commentator 2] It's lights out
and away we go.

Fantastic start for Pérez, up five places.

[exciting music continues]

[music stops]

[commentator 1] And off goes
one of the VCARBs.

-No!
-Oh no!

[Spini] Yuki, are you okay?

[Tsunoda] Yeah.

[exciting music plays]

[commentator 3] Lawson up into tenth.

[Hamelin] Okay, Liam. It's looking good.

[commentator 1] Another opportunity
to hear a cheer from the crowd

because Sergio Pérez
has got past Lance Stroll.

[in Spanish] Let's go!

[commentator 3 in English] He's now
up into 11th.

[Hamelin] Liam, Pérez behind.

[music stops]

[Bird] Lawson 0.9.

You gotta get past him
before he picks up DRS.

[commentator 2] Here comes Sergio Pérez.
He is gaining.

[exciting music plays]

[Pérez] f*ck!

[Lawson] Mate, are you f*cking serious?

[commentator 1] Welcome to Formula 1,
Liam Lawson!

[Pérez] What the f*ck is this idiot doing?

[tense music plays]

What the f*ck is he doing?

[in Spanish] He pushed him off!
He pushed him off!

[commentator 2 in English]
Lawson stays ahead.

[music fades]

-[commentator 3] Damage for Pérez?
-[commentator 1] It's the sidepod.

[Pérez] f*cking idiot!
This is not go-karts.

[in Spanish] He pushed him off!
He pushed him off!

-[Lawson in English] My front wing broke.
-[Hamelin] Yeah.

-[Lawson] I need to box.
-[Hamelin] Box, box. Box, box.

[Bird] There might be debris at turn 12.

[Pérez] I guarantee the same idiot.

[tense music continues]

[music stops]

[Hamelin] Let's get back in there.

So Pérez is just ahead of you.

[Lawson] Copy.

[tense music plays]

[Bird] Lawson 0.5 behind.

[Lawson] Mate,
he's blocking me on purpose.

[Bird] Lawson at 0.2.

[Pérez] Yeah.

[Hamelin] Click overtake.

[Lawson] Yeah, f*ck him.

[commentator 3] I think Liam Lawson just
gave Pérez the finger as he's gone past.

[laughter]

[Pérez] Yeah.

I'm so sorry for this idiot.

Unbelievable.

[commentator 1] Carlos Sainz
wins the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Lando Norris finishes in second.

And your podium completed
by Charles Leclerc.

[cheering]

[commentator 3]
And with that, Ferrari overtake Red Bull

for second place
in the Constructors' Championship.

[Hamelin] You put it all together.
You did a very good race.

[commentator 4] Pérez,
he ended up finishing last, I'm afraid.

[Pérez] It was looking good.

[Bird] Just not our day.

Lap up the crowd. Enjoy.

[tense music plays]

A driver
in the Red Bull Junior team, VCARB,

should not be blocking
a driver in the senior team.

And if one of my drivers gave the finger,

we would be having a conversation.

[tense music continues]

He's just shown up
the guy that he wants to replace.

On home turf.

He's got his elbows out,
and he's gone racing.

It's not a Sunday afternoon trip
to the supermarket.

It's Formula 1.

[music fades]

I… I… I don't get it. I mean, uh, he took
the… the whole side of the car off.

Uh, I don't think it was, uh,
a very clever move.

[exhales] He needs
to be more professional.

[reporter] Liam Lawson,
the bad boy of Red Bull Racing.

I'm not trying to cause any issues
or anything like that,

but, at the same time, I'm not here
to make friends. I'm here to win.

[producer] Do you think it's jeopardized
your chances of a seat at Red Bull?

I'd like to think it hasn't.

[tense music plays]

[phone rings]

[Horner] Is that Checo?

-[Pérez] Cold morning.
-[Horner] You all right?

[music fades]

[producer] Have you made a decision
on who's racing at Red Bull next year?

-Yep.
-[producer] Are you able to tell us?

No.

[chuckles]

-[Horner] G'day.
-Hey, Christian.

-[Horner] How are you doing?
-I'm good. You?

-Pretty good. Come on in.
-[Lawson] Thank you.

Right, you lot can f*ck off now.

I'll turn this, uh, mic…
You haven't got a microphone?

Liam was overly aggressive with Checo.

He took it too far.

That is not acceptable.

You want to see a bit of spirit
in your drivers,

but at the same time, it needs to be
controlled, it needs to be harnessed.

And I think he's got a lot to learn.

[tense music plays]

But we've decided that it's right
for Checo to… to step down.

-[man] We'll go do some photography.
-[Horner] Right.

And the most compelling candidate
for us to replace Checo…

is Liam Lawson.

-Okay. Here we go.
-[photographer] Shake hands please, guys.

[dramatic music plays]

-[photographer] Brilliant. Thank you.
-We'll do a friendlier one.

Great to have you on the team.

-Big opportunity.
-I know. I'm very, very excited.

-[chuckles] Yeah. Good.
-As you can probably tell.

-I can't stop smiling. [laughs]
-[Horner] Excellent.

Of course, it comes with risk, uh,
but you've got to invest in the future.

Liam demonstrated
that he's a hard and gritty racer.

[tense music plays]

He drives the car like Max,

and he seems to have an inner strength

that can deal with
some of the pressures of this business.

Two, one.

[Buxton] He's like Max was ten years ago.

Desperately fast.

Just raw race craft.

With Max, it's a really punchy lineup.

Fireworks.

That's… That's what I see.

[reporter] Are you excited
to drive alongside Max?

[Lawson] It's been a very long journey,

what I've dreamt of my whole life,
so this is the highlight so far.

-I hope you're ready.
-Uh, yeah.

[laughs]

When was the last time a stand-in

ended the career

of two massively respected
veteran drivers?

[Pérez] If you are coming to Red Bull,
to this challenge of being next to Max,

you have to be mentally very strong
and prepared for it.

And, um, I think I…
I came with the right, uh, mindset.

I think, uh, looking back at it,

I've done some… some really good years,
really good races.

And, um, it's, uh…
It's been a… a privilege.

[somber music plays]

-[Ricciardo] Do I just do that?
-[producer] Mm-hmm.

"Arrivederci."
I think that's how you spell it.

I don't know why, but that sounds like
the most beautiful way to say goodbye.

From season one to season seven. [laughs]

It's been a ride. Arrivederci.

We are fighting with Haas to be P6.

-[woman] What's your name?
-Ayao.

You finish sixth place
in the Constructors' Championship,

you're taking home
tens of millions of dollars.

[Gasly] What the f*ck?

[commentator 2] Hülkenberg goes off.

[Hülkenberg] You gotta be
f*cking sh1tting me.

The conclusion of this season
is going to be box office.

[Norris] I can't see f*ck all, man.

[Verstappen] f*ck, there's a crash.

I'm fighting Max, probably
the best driver ever in Formula 1.

We're not gonna give this championship
away without a hell of a fight.

[exciting music plays]

[music fades]