So what if TPM was edited so that the probes that Maul sends are not “probes” but drones that then attack during the podrace. The race is going and then the drones show up and start blasting podracers and spectators. Anakin is able to avoid them with his piloting skills and then this creates a frensy which leads into anakin, qui gon, and the rest of them running back to the ship, leading into the short encounter between qui-gon and maul and them flying away.

It would have to be done in such a way where they already got the ship part, and so the race is purely to win anakin’s freedom.

But I think with some editing and some (pretty extensive) effects work, it could be done.