justin bell

@the_zb_ Absolutely accurate description of this first race! I can’t wait to talk about it on Drive to Wynn this week, and I’m with you on the passing…. Wasn’t it more like swapping?

My initial visceral reaction to the race has subsided. I admit I had a very strong negative reaction to what I saw. I’m calmer now. But that doesn’t mean several of the points don’t still stand. Here’s how I’m feeling: The race weekend, to me, had “allure value” because it was analyzing something new and it was the first time we saw the cars racing in earnest. But that isn’t the same as “race spectacle” value. I don’t think it had the latter, mainly due to the behavior of the cars. The “allure” value won’t sustain things for very long. Do I think it was a good race? Personally not my cup of tea. I don’t like how this formula seems destined to be extremely predicated on management. Will it be worse on some tracks than others? Very likely yes. But that will still characterize these cars unless changes are made. What we saw in reality is that the energy starvation mostly removed the opportunity for later braking moves, and for driver skill to make a difference in the high speed. Both of those things seem to be “off limits” due to harvesting needs. When I see that, it does make me feel like a core facet of F1 is just gone. It’s telling when you get two drivers with similar cars and a Tyre offset like Norris and Verstappen, and unlike we would’ve seen in GE, absolutely nothing happened because there wasn’t enough energy for anything to happen. Lots of “overtakes”… but is that honestly what they were? I feel this is a strategically inflated number, and I’m not at all shocked that F1 is promoting and highlighting that. It was predominantly state-of-charge position swapping, as drivers realized they could dump the battery to get ahead, but had no hope of staying there if they did so. With a few genuine moves sprinkled in. Some people may like this, but I personally don’t yet find it enjoyable. It hindered my enjoyment of seeing cars go W2W. Is it a new type of W2W? I suppose you could say that. But it feels more like a cat and mouse management game. I have zero desire for that to be such a huge part of the sport, I want to see a deeper level of unbridled aggression in the driving. The PU is what is currently holding that back, because the chassis seems better suited to it now. The “battles” on track looked very very different, due to everyone having to mostly converge on harvesting and deployment methods. It caused all but 2-3 engagements to be very lackluster and fizzle out. One positive - right now, the cars can follow more closely with less detriment than the 2025 cars. It feels like 2022 again. But just like then, the teams will surely be figuring out more aero tricks that generate outwash and turbulence that will push this in the “negative” direction, because that’s always how it plays out with aero. Qualifying, to me, was the worst part. I didn’t enjoy a single bit of watching super clipping and harvesting in high speed corners, on a flying lap that had to be built around energy constraints. This is akin to saying “we are going to put just enough fuel in the car for you to go hard in throttle about 80% of the time, now you decide.” I just absolutely do not like anything about that. Could Australia have been further down the “worst case scenario” end of the spectrum than other tracks? Yeah, probably so. I’m calmer. But my general impressions don’t really change - I think this is a generally poor regulation set that is bound by physics constraints, and they need to respond with some quick adjustments.

@pkligerman Great perspective and absolutely spot on. Fans cannot and should not have to struggle to interpret what is happening before their eyes as a science project, as racing is a beautiful simple elegant display of the fastest man on the day for whatever reason, beating the rest.

That’s a wrap on season three of Drive to Wynn! It seemed fitting for our final show of the year to have a former British F1 Champion @HillF1 as the guest to celebrate @LandoNorris landmark win! linktr.ee/drivetowynn

@jameypricephoto That’s why you are the best my friend!

Finished. 💪🏻 What a season. 10x IMSA races, Le Mans , 2x f1 tests, 6x f1 races and a couple shakedowns and random jobs that took me to so many corners of the world. Very thankful. See you in January for another Rolex 24h.

A fitting end to a fantastic year of F1 racing! Yes there were three ways it could have gone, but @LandoNorris overcame his biggest threat (himself) to take the World Drivers Championship! Proud the trophy is back in a British drivers hands! Well deserved by everyone @McLarenF1

A great interview with Emily Prazer, F1 Chief Commercial Officer on Drive to Wynn this week! A brilliant woman who shared some great insight to her side of the F1 world! Wherever you find your podcasts, On Sirius XM ESPN Xtra Channel 81 and on YouTube!

@_HollyCain Fabulous!!!

Soooo very very honored! 🙏🩷

James Vowles Denys the presence of a unique telemetry data point in their cars! Exclusively on Drive to Wynn!

Great new episode of Drive To Wynn on Sirius XM with Guenther Steiner!

Christian Horner on Drive to Wynn !

@jameypricephoto Dammmmmmmm

“Pictures that Go Hard” episode 3. I saw this coming. I was wayyyy up high , watching Oscar going for a pass on Max down Las Vegas Blvd. I got a sequence as they passed underneath me. This was my favorite frame with a big spark from the Mclaren. #f1 #formula1 #vegasgp

@AlexJacquesF1 @broadcast_sport In my opinion you should win this by a mile mate! JB

Very cool to be nominated for Commentator of the Year at the @broadcast_sport awards.

Great conversation with DC and as always his insight into F1 is brilliant! Catch it all wherever you get your podcasts! Drive to Wynn

So great that I talk with F1TV super analyst and former F1 strategist Ruth Buscombe on Drive to Wynn this week!

Wonderful interview with Will Buxton on Drive to Wynn! Catch it this Thursday!

I think if @WillyRibbs gives you a nickname he must like you! Ask @Charles_Leclerc Watch the whole interview on Drive to Wynn, wherever you get your podcasts!

Get Willy T Ribbs on Drive to Wynn and you know between us there’s no filter!

Well! This morning was a little different. Was an absolute delight to see @justinbelltv and his legendary dad Derek Bell at @McLarenAuto @McLarenF1. We even made a little bit of noise with the 1995 #Lemans winner 🏆#GTR01 😊

British Race Car Driver & TV and Web Show Host, @justinbelltv talks about the significance of racing at Le Mans for the first time with his father, Derek Bell. #justinbell #racing #auto #derekbell #lemans

Dario Franchitti on Drive to Wynn! And why Scott’s make such great race drivers on the Mobil 1 Pitstop!