P1 with Matt and Tommy - Our 2024 Japanese GP predictions

Episode Date: April 3, 2024

In a weird change to the norm, we're off to Suzuka early in the season! And BOY does that lead to some spicy predictions...Our live shows are NEXT WEEK and there are a only a handful of tickets left - get yours right here! You can sign up to our Patreon here! You'll get access to exclusive episodes you won't hear anywhere else, every P1 episode ad-free, full driver interview videos, early access to tickets and more!Follow us on socials! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello everybody and welcome back to the P1 podcast with Matt and Tommy. We are here today for the 16th round of the season, the Japanese Grand Prix. Tommy, it's been a great season from Charles LeCler in particular. Can't believe he's already going to wrap it up this weekend if he scores two points. Unbelievable. Yeah, my brain can't compute that this is early in the season. It's never happened in, yeah, Japanese Grand Prix. was, well, it was the finale when I started watching in 1940. So yeah, it's been, it always feels

like the end of the season. So it's strange for it to be now. Imagine being told, or me specifically being told, before we knew about this Japanese Grand Prix switcheroo, that shall look lower be four points behind Max Verstappen going into Japan. Can you imagine just being given that in like a fortune cookie or something going, oh, oh, we've got a bang a season on our hands. No, it's the fourth round of the season. Before we dive into anything more, we've got a five-star review. If you want yours to be read out, please do let us know via your review platforms. We do read all of them and thank you so much for everybody for supporting this podcast. This one comes in from M-Tomney C in the USA. I'm three seasons into F1 fandom and we've made it a family tradition.

My young kids take my in-depth will knowledge for granted. Little do they know I'm staying just ahead of the curve by listening to every pod you boys put out. Thank you for bringing me along and helping me rubber in a new generation of F1 fanboys, your pals in New York City, when are you doing a live here? Well, stay tuned, middle of October. We're coming. Right, let's get into predictions there. Before we dive into it, we've actually totted up the scores to remind everyone after only about 27 episodes of this series going. It is 7-6 to Tommy, so no one cares. Let's get into biggest good surprise. I'm confident. I'm confident. I'm I'm getting a point for this one.

So I'm going to lock it in right now. Lando Norris, biggest good surprise. McLaren were great here last year. McLaren showed some promise last time out in Australia. And I feel like Lando Norris could be on for something. And I see it on the horizon. Is it a win? Is it a podium?

Is it a DNF? I can't quite see. I can't quite see. No, I've just covered every angle there. Yeah. So could just be points. Could be not points. It's one of those five.

But McLaren were last year really good at sort of high-speed circuits. Suzuki is quite known for its high-speed sections. So I hope that McLaren haven't forgotten everything from last year, and they will be decent this weekend. Here's hoping. My biggest good surprise, hear me out. Charlotte Clare. Now, people are going to think that...

Stop. Stop, Tommy, just stop. Your biggest good surprise never comes in. How dare get my man's name out of your mouth. How dare you? People, you know those films where people wake up and they've like swapped bodies and they're like, your conscious mind? People are going to think that I'm you here and not, and we swap.

Not just because you're in a rebel show. Tommy, have you been working out? but I think the reason I've gone for biggest surprise is people need to start putting some respect on Charlotte Claire's name because Carlos Seitz has had a great start to the season and he has deservedly earned the praise that he has for his brilliant win, his great drive in Bahrain as well. However, certain people are using

that as a way to sort of bring down charlerclair, think his most overrated driver ever, all this kind of stuff. And the guy is, what is it, four points behind us happening in the championship. He, yes, he messed up qualifying in the last race. Still finished second. And that supposedly means that he's awful.

First race to the season as well, you know, had the problem and still delivered a fantastic result and did a really good job in seven. Audi as well, which also got overshadowed because Olly Beerman did a brilliant job. I think because of how the season's gone, people are just forgetting that he's actually had a really good start to the season. And I feel like it will just continue in Suzuki and we'll kind of see the normal

Charlotte Claire again and, yeah, beating science and qualifying and having a good race. I'm glad you said it and not me. Because it does feel like it is a case of, we've Carlos does well, that means Charles is doing bad, rather than Carlos is doing really well and Charles is doing well. Yeah. It's, it is very young. They're almost a victim of their own success, aren't they? Like, the drivers like that. Yeah. And I'm not going to go into the, the fine blueprints of the last sort of couple of years and how Charlotte Claire has been

screwed over thousands of times and should have had many, many more victories. But what I will say is that similar to you, Tommy, Carlos is doing an incredible job at the moment. He showed unbelievable tenacity to come back from his surgery, but I also know within me. And that's away from my delusional self, my actual thinking brain self is that, yes, Charler will be fine and he will perform very well. So I'm glad you said that. So my question now is, is this a biggest good surprise in terms of for everyone that's now calling Charlotte Claire overrated or am I judging this because if my man's on the podium

that it's not surprising I expect it every week you know what I'm saying well we'll find out and then we'll see what loophole I jumped through yeah you'll find something in the rest review biggest flop now and I am actually three from three at the moment so we've we've been we've been on something so far this year so I am going to lock in My absolute, what are you making that face for? I'm trying to remember who you predicted Japan last year and see if you go for the same, but I can't remember who it was. No, I feel like I'm going to farm some good biggest flops out of this man this year.

So Logan Sargent is my biggest flop. No, you know, I'm just vibes as always, but I can just see in my mind's eye this chassis going to get repaired and it comes back and then Logan makes an error has some kind of crash and then either that or he'll be so slow because he doesn't want

to break the chassis. It's one of the two and that will constitute a biggest flop and that is not just on Logan that's also on the team for only having one part for everyone which is crazy. Biggest flop for a guy that's 21st in the title and

didn't even make qualify, didn't even get to do the the race or qualifying that's time but hey this is not this is not about you as only as bad as your last race tommy there's none of this here we're judging this uh case by case basis okay speaking of then um biggest flop i've gone for max for stepan yes i have um oh my god and i'm wearing the little shirt i know i feel like um there's this whole narrative that max is gonna absolutely wipe the floor with everyone. You know, it's his revenge tour, all this kind of stuff.

And, yeah, I've just got this vibe that, and I'm not going to try and claim it that, you know, he's, if he wins by three seconds, I'm going to be like, well, everyone thought he'd win by 40 seconds. But I just feel like maybe it's what happened in Australia. I just think there's maybe got me a bit shaky and, oh, you know, this is going to. Oh, gee, oh, God.

Has that got you shaky? But I just think that there's maybe another little twist and things could get exciting. So, yeah. Well, I hope you cash in on that point so hard. I am so ready for a nice little early morning scream. Wait, that's crazy. That is a wild sentence. But you know what I mean?

It's lights out at 6am. So, okay, cool. All right. Well, that's interesting because we now go to pole position. And I am not on. the vibe of what Tommy's saying about Max being floppy because it's Max for stop and pole position for me because I feel like we've got we've got a lot of pain coming our way this weekend Max will do his utmost to lead every lap perhaps even

get poll be top of every FP1 session for the whole of it you know you've got like the Grand Shalem or whatever it's called the I feel like there should be a new one that Max is going to do where he leads every session at every point point of the session for the entirety of the weekend. leaves the garage immediately in FP1. Yeah, FP1, FP3

Q1, Q2, Q2, Q2, quicker. At the top, the whole time. Yeah. I think that should be called the end of Formula One award. It holds a trophy that's just like a gravestone

that says F1 on it. Is that me with a point of it? Yeah, yeah. Pulposition, I've gone four. Max has happened. Oh, very flumpy. I know, very floppy, but look, quality's different, isn't he? He's three from three, and he's, well, he's missed a Saturday at the moment, like we said.

So, look, can't do it on Sunday, only Saturday, so he's washed. For those of you not getting Tommy's joke, obviously the first two races of the year were on a Saturday, so that's what Tommy's being a bit of banter king about. I love it. Such a good, Dad, Jake. God, he's so daddy, right? Wait. Let's get into our top three then, shall we? In third position, I am locking in. Charles, nice little podium again.

Stand's up there. Boom. Secure some good points. But third is all, I think, we've got coming. P3, I've gone for colour science. So it's the thing he's going to do a solid job. And yeah, I've... This is the thing earlier, like you mentioned it, but like, you know, I said,

Charlotte Claire, biggest surprise doesn't mean I have anything against Carlos Hines. Like, you can respect both drivers and they're both doing a good job. What do you mean? It's crazy scenario, isn't it? Yeah, yeah. If you bring the other person up, that's social media, Tommy. Yeah, well, I hate Vastappen, don't I? Because I said biggest flog.

Yeah, you're not a Maxra Stappen fan. Yeah, it's all of... As we all knew from day one, really. You're the one in the Red Bull shirt. Exactly. As to Martin Red Bull shirt as well. I'm an OG. In second position, I am locking in Lando Norris. Yep, so I'm going full eggs in one basket for my biggest good surprise and also Lando finishing P2. Obviously last year had an amazing Japan as well.

But yeah, I feel as though it could be a similar trend this year. Although there is some chances of rain on Sunday, which is currently forecast, which might make it slightly slippery. But yes, I think Lando was going to have a great weekend, so that's what I think. Sorry in advance. P2, I've gone for Sergio Perez. So a bit of a better weekend for him. I mean, what are you? Nothing. Nothing.

Oh, God, you are cooking up my wet dream right now. It's wild. Sergio Perez, yeah. He's, I don't, I mean, last time in Japan. he had probably the biggest shocker of the whole year for him maybe, where he was colliding with Magnuson in a house and Max was winning by 40 seconds and it was kind of like, what is he doing in that seat? But now I think he's going to do a better job and carry on the better start to the season that he's had. Interesting. In first position, Max Verstappen.

Because I'm behind. I'm behind in the points. Yeah, you're one point behind. And I just, yeah, I can't see what Tommy's absolutely, oh my God, the ingredients you are currently working with right now are wild, if you're about to say what I think you're about to say. So I'm glad that I might well just be getting a free point here over you. Max for Stappen.

P1, I've gone for Max. No, haven't. I've gone for Charlotte Clare. he's leading the world championship the funny thing is I predicted I just yeah these are the vibes I got

and I didn't even really clock that yeah he'd be leading the world championship and based on my prediction in your mind's eyes he having a double DNF? A problem yeah like maybe takes his front wing off

at turn one or something and has to get through the field and Suzuki can't overtake at I don't know Suzuki? Suzuki does he say Suzuki I'm pretty sure I said Suzuki And yeah, it hadn't quite occurred to me, but I mean, if my prediction comes in,

it's LeCler dominant, boring championship over, it'd be what, like 20 odd points clear and would be sent, Formula One's finished and... Keep going? Yeah. Keep talking about how shall LeClaude dominated? I, yeah, I just, I don't know. Suzuki's due like a good surprise I think Okay

All right, wow Tommy's had one max DNF and he's gone completely delusional But against his own driver That is crazy Okay, let's go to our one crazy prediction And it's funny actually Because I changed this at the last second

Before we started recording And it was, Charles Lear Leads the World Championship I kid you not But I've deleted that Because I don't want to put it into the atmosphere because I think if both of us go one way, it's going to go completely the opposite,

and Max just happens going to gain 25 points on every one of his nearest competitors. So I'm going to go for, and this is interesting because it's happened in the last two races. Not all 20 cars start the Japanese Grand Prix. Wait, did Gassi start? Technically he did, didn't he?

He did start, yeah. Yeah, okay, all right, that's complete rubbish. But not all 20 cars start the Japanese Grand Prix. So what corner is Logan bidding at FP3? Yeah, exactly. 11 I don't even know what 11 is my crazy prediction

is that you're working it out I think that's the hair pin you had a vision is that the hairpin let me have a look you carry on you have a look at Suzuki

and see what 10 11 I don't know yeah it is the hairpin is it wow okay you know Suzuki like

I literally just did it in my mind's eye and smashed it wow cool let's see if that is impressive I have gone for Yuki Sanoda

is best of the rest again Formula B so basically you know behind the big teams I think the Yuki Hype Train is going to

keep chew chewing and hopefully continue into his home race and then for some reason Red Bull still won't want to promote him or consider him at the seat but I think you know I said he was biggest

we both actually said that it's going to be the biggest good surprise this year and it may be coming in even more so far than we we thought and I think it's going to continue you say and we know things yeah yeah because we know what's going to happen that's why yeah said you know

Charlotte's got so much good surprise you just know we've seen the race we get it we've got for two very different we get it in an email from F1 first as an embargo and then. They've sent us the script. It hasn't been recorded yet, but they've sent us the transcript. Okay, interesting. It's funny because Yuki Sanoda was actually at the Formula E.

He was. This gone weekend, which I found very strange. Like, it was really nice, obviously, him and Nick DeVries having a little chat and whatnot and being pals, but it felt weird Yuki just visiting Formula E. Yeah, Formula One drives. I know it was obviously in Tokyo and stuff, but it was. Because, yeah, current Formula One drivers don't normally sort of... I mean, have we seen any others? I don't remember seeing a current Formula One driver. Checking out Formula E.

No. I mean, I guess they've done... You know, you had like Charlotte. I went to Le Mans and things like that. And there's been a few meta-GP races. But it was quite cool to see. No, it was really cool to see. And he was on the sim and he was having a good old go.

So, yeah, well done, Yuki. And let's see if he can continue to be a... A good surprise like we have predicted. Now, finally, three crazy predictions from you, wonderful lot. If you want to get involved, Matt P.1 Tommy on social media. We post a graphic just before we record this. First one is Mariam X. Sultan, McLaren double podium. And their little fingers crossed emoji.

So they don't fully believe in it. They are. They need a bit of luck in there as well. Okay. Verka, race will not be finished due to rain. I hope that's not true I want every single minute of that Formula One race in my eyes and ears

and finally into the fast lane Alpine points alright we can write that one off immediately then well they've got slightly lighter car apparently oh yeah I read a tweet that said the funniest thing is they said

they've got a slightly lighter car and then they're reverting back to the blue and black livery so maybe blue is lighter of them pink and that's the gained like 1 gram or something. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Gained it, you mean lost it.

Sorry, lost it. I know F1. We're a lighter car. We've gained a gram. Yeah, yeah. Maybe that's what they're doing wrong. They've got me in charge and I'm going, you need to put more weight on and they're like,

yes, we need to gain grams. Come on, everybody. Yeah, downforce, right? It makes them heavier so they have grip through the course. Yeah, science. Don't listen to me. Brip. Last times.

Yeah, that would be, bold. Alpine haven't scored yet, have they? No. Are they bottom of the championship? I can't remember. I've not looked that far down. I think they are actually because both Alpines are 18th and 19th in the driver's standings. Can we just talk about how poor Logan is 21st again?

Like, that is shocking. That is impressive. The guy didn't even get to do the race and then he's ended up 21st again. Yeah, that's actually wild. Poor guy. Okay, that is it. We are done here, Tommy. What are your final thoughts, please?

My final thoughts are, come on, Suzuki, give us a banger, a little sprinkling of rain, not too much like we sometimes get and make the rest boring. Just a little changeable conditions, get back, go out and inches, then dries up. Yeah, yeah, that's what we need.

Because, well, was it 2022? Yeah, it was 2022, wasn't it? We had a bit of rain, but we got an annoyingly shortened race. We don't want that. We want a full banger. Would you a banger? Come on.

Full stone cold banger. That's my final thoughts as well because you need to come and join us on Twitch. Matt P1, Tommy. If you want to watch along with us, if you've never done it before, come and join us. We live and breathe every emotion of the sport over on Twitch. We'd love to have you there. An accompaniment to your Formula One viewing. And also, our live shows are next week.

London and Bath still have a few tickets left. to come along. Link is in descriptions. Everywhere, social media. The lot, P1 Live show. We'd love to have you there for you still thinking about coming. And that is it. Tommy, thank you so much.

My voice is going because I've got a slight sore throat, as you can probably tell. And we will catch you on the flip side. Make sure you save your voice for Charlotte Claire leading the World Championship. Stop, Tommy, honestly. You're teasing me at a crazy amount right now. everybody. Make sure you follow us on all of our socials.

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