P1 with Matt and Tommy - Our 2024 Las Vegas GP predictions

Episode Date: November 20, 2024

We're back for the final three races of the season! The Driver's Championship might look done and dusted, but there's one championship that is certain to go right down to the wire... Because we'll Michael Masi it for you - it's time for predictions! Join us for our End of Season tour across the UK this December! There are still some tickets available for London, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol right here!Sign up to our Patreon here! You'll get access to bonus episodes, our classic race podcast series, every P1 episode ad-free, early access to live tickets and merch, and access to our Discord server where you can chat with other F1 fans!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. Formula One has returned for one final time in 20, well, you know, a spree of races for one final time in 2024. A triple header. Just what the mechanics and staff love are triple headers, then a break and then another triple header, isn't that right, Tommy? Are you excited though, as much as perhaps the staff and mechanics aren't? Yes, the fact that this is just Formula One now, isn't it? That you have long break, triple header, long break, triple header. It seems to this end of the season.

But yeah, looking forward to the final three races, there's a lot to look forward to and plenty of championship battles and things going on, so good times. Championship battles, yes, that's what Formula One are trying to drive home, is that it's still up for grabs, and even us, even me and Tommy, who have been saying it's championship on this whole time, have now decided that perhaps a particular driver's title is done and dusted. Now, before we dive into all of our predictions, we have a five-star review.

If you want yours to be read out, please live as a five-star review. Let's know why you love this podcast. It helps us out massively. We'd love to hear exactly your thoughts. And this one comes in from Creamy Bun Man in the UK. What a name. It's got great content and the perfect insights into F1. Even if you're new to it, I've just joined.

And I love it. Not a better podcast. Thank you, creamy bunman. Really appreciate the love and the support. Right, the predictions. Let's get into it. It is 50 points each. 50 all.

Incredible. With three races to go. You couldn't write this stuff. We do joke that we're writing it and stuff. But realistically, a point or two has gone one way or another. But it is still close despite the joking of Michael Masseying it. Like, we've not. That is actually pretty insane that we're,

that we've done so many predictions every single race and it can be neck and neck. And like you say, it's not like we've made absolutely outrageous things where we've kind of gone, oh, Vastappen was biggest good surprise and he finished 15th, then he finished 18th the race before,

so it's the biggest good strike. We've not like completely rigged it in that sense, but my God, like, it's crazy that we've managed to 50-50 going in. Will it all change? Will it? Wow. We'll get a title swing like present. Yeah, will the predictions championship be over after Vegas?

Let's find out as we go into, biggest good surprise. I'm, you know, I'm backing, I'm back in this guy, okay? It's Lando Norris. He's getting biggest good surprise because he gets a lot of slander for this year and he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, his first championship battle was this, year. It didn't go his way, but he has still got an excellent drive in him. We've seen that a few times this year. And I feel as though, he's going to shush, he's going to shush the haters. He's going to say, boom, simply lovely. You might not say that. I don't think he'll say that.

But of course, last year as well, he had that crash. So again, I'm writing that in of like, if he finishes the race, that's the biggest good surprise. Yeah, no, Tommy, this is 50 all at this point, mate. I'm looking at every loophole I can possibly get. But also, you know, you could you could argue that McLaren kind of a little bit on the back foot compared to what we have seen previously in terms of actually getting the results that maybe we expect from them but I feel as Orlando's going to have an excellent weekend and I am backing him for my biggest good surprise.

Interesting. So my biggest good surprise is, hear me out. It's Charlerclair. And I think this race has a Charle-Lerclure masterclass written all over it. It was very, very good last year. I think he's a track that's very well suited to him. He loves a straight track, obviously, you know, great around Monaco, great around Baku. And I think this will suit Charlerclair again this season.

And I could very much see him having a very, very good race indeed, which would be great if he does, because of course the Constructors' Championship between Ferrari and McLaren is very much up for grabs. and Ferrari need to kick on now and close that gap. So that's what I've gone. Charler-Claire. I love that because I was going to write Charle-Claire and say that. I was surprised he didn't actually.

No, no, I'm not going to do it. I'm just not going to do it to him because he could have very easily won last year, if we don't forget. He was battling the two red balls, wasn't he? And did that incredible move on Perez on the last lap, which genuinely had me flying off my seat because it was just one of the greatest moves I think we've ever seen in Formula One history.

So, yeah, I'm glad I didn't because then we both would have gone for the same thing and then our predictions wouldn't have been as exciting. But I'm still back in Lando. Biggest flop! It's loophole city. It's Alpine. God's sake. So if they don't double pose...

Oh, shit. Imagine their fourth and fifth. They're off the back. Yeah, fourth and fifth. That's not good enough. Bird and fourth even. Yeah, exactly. Look, I just don't feel as though Alpine are going to have as good a weekend as they did in Brazil.

Really? you think. I've got a hunch. Just a small hunch. But no, I don't even usually go for a team. But I feel as though, you know, off the back of a double podium, they don't score points in Vegas. That is what can be considered a flop.

Yeah, true. Yeah, and also Ockon was very good around here last year and finished fourth. So let's not forget that either. So, yeah, I think that sadly for Alpine, as much as, you know, they're announcing all kinds of things, like Mercedes engines and all that sort of stuff. And they're pink livery. Yeah, that as well.

I don't think it's going to make them fast and they're going to flop. No. Yeah, they'll put too much paint on and realise, no, we should have actually run the carbon. So my biggest flop I have gone for Oscar Piastri. I also nearly went for a team in McLaren, but that normally backfires. So I've gone for Oscar Piastri.

I just think that McLaren not horrendously struggle around here, but might have a difficult weekend when we've known that they have, the fastest package and work at every single track but I think last year they struggled quite a bit and didn't have the best weekend even when the car was quite good

towards the end of the season so kind of banking on that again that maybe this is the race where the McLaren doesn't quite work in those conditions and we have seen that Piastries maybe while he obviously was going to win the sprint

and Lando had a difficult race and Oscar had to let Lando through. He has looked slower than Lando in the last few races in terms of flat out pace. So that's why I've gone for Oscar Piastri. Pole position where I have gone for

Lando Norris. Now I should have learnt really that I think every time I have back Lando for a poll slash win it's not happened but I'm very I'm very committed to making that happen

at some point this year. McLaren Favis. that are listening probably like, Matt, please stop doing this because it's not worked. It's a 0% conversion rate, I believe, because I backed him pretty much since Miami, and then I didn't back him, then he obviously won. But yeah, it's going to happen. Polo position, Lander Norris. I don't believe your BS, to be honest with you, Tommy.

I think McLaren will work, and we will see when one of us, because we're being very polar opposites here in terms of how we think McLaren are going to perform. So let's see. Yeah, we're not massing it this time. Proposition I've gone for No surprise Charles LeClair Based on what I said

With biggest good surprise You can take the points You can absolutely take the points I don't care If I lose the predictions championship But this happens Fine with me I could see

I mean This track and qualifying It's got that Baku vibes He was on poll Last year as well I feel like he'll be Absolutely rapid In qualifying around

around here and I could definitely see him getting pole position. So, Charlotte Claire, pole position. Oh, yeah, that sounds good. That sounds good. Take the points, Tommy. You're fine. Let's go to our top three then.

And in third position, I have gone four. Carlos signs. Because I am also of the opinion that Ferrari are going to be decent. And I feel as though as much as I'm backing Lando from a personal performance point of view, and McLaren and Ferrari, perhaps doing battle, for the win, I feel as though Ferrari will score more points as a collective. That might give you an idea of what I'm going for my top three.

But yes, Carlos Seinfelds third place. I'd maybe take it back after saying that we're not just going to pick the same things because I've also gone for Carlos Seitz and third. I think Ferrari are going to be very good around here. And Carlos Seints, easy to look back at last year and think he didn't do a good job. But of course, he had the grid penalty, had qualified. second behind the most unfair credit penalty in the history of Formula One really yeah exactly so for his sake I hope he has a much better luck this time around and yeah can can help Ferrari push on for that

championship that I've been waiting for for so long a constructors one a constructors one we'll take it as soon as I mean it we'll take it yeah they'd celebrate it big constructors championships mean everything and drivers are actually the one that no one cares about that that true but i think ferrari as a team would would absolutely love that and i think you know what a way for science to bow as well if he helps them yeah win a championship i think it'd be it'd be a great story for sure okay let's go to second place where i've gone for charler leclair yes so look i'm fine if this isn't true okay and he decides to go one better more than happy you take that i'm still in the hunt for my crazy prediction of the year of Charles

getting more wins than Poles. So, Lando, take pole. And then if I get this top three the wrong way around and Norris doesn't win, and, well, spoiler a lot. And Leclair does, I'm more than happy. What am I on, right? Is it equal, Tommy? Is it equal wins to polls? I feel like it is.

I can't remember what it was because I thought, because he inherited the one in spa. But it was technically one in spa. So I feel like we are... I think it's level. Yeah, I think we're level right now. So, Charles, P2, I'll be celebrating it like it's pole, then win Vegas.

Lovely. So P2, I have gone for Max Verstappen. Oh. Oh, a surprise that the guy that's probably, well, very likely going to win the World Championship, is a surprise to see him in the top three. But despite Red Bull's shortcomings in the championship, you know, recent races and things, I feel like this is a Max Verstappan-y circuit as well. and I think you'll have a...

That's such a funny word. Max Verstapani. Max Verstapeni, which is definitely a word that I've just created. Always the greatest insight and vocabulary here in people. It's what people expect. So yeah, gone for Vestappan P2. Obviously last timeout, winner. How are you feeling about that time?

You had three weeks to bask in the glory that Max actually won a race since Spain, sorry, which is... And what a race to do it. Yes, indeed, E. I don't know why we're just adding ease and wise on every single word. Okay, first position. Lando Norris, yeah. I mean, you probably should have just read between the lines there of what I'm backing here.

And it is Lando. Let's see. I hope for his sake he can just absolutely smash one out of the park because, yeah, he's had a lot of criticism this year. Some warranted, some unwarranted. And I hope to see him, well, I'd also like to see Charlotte Club win. But Lando to also win would be a nice thing to see, I would say. So, yeah, that's what I've gone for?

Do you think as well, maybe in a weird way that the fact that the title is almost over and we know that I think we don't know because he's not actively said it but I think it's quite clear from particularly the way he answers some questions as well around the title that maybe like the pressure of his first title has sort of got to him a bit

and he's felt that that kind of pressure of it or doesn't like thinking about it that maybe now that the title is all but one and he can just focus on his own race that maybe that's when he kicks on and does yeah it'll be it'll be It'll be interesting because if he does have a great three races from here on in, then perhaps it is something that we can sort of reflect on and say.

And it's an understandable thing. I think that's something that, you know, we, F1 fans are so critical of the fact that, yeah, Lando hasn't delivered to the level that, or the potential that he has, but he's going to get better. He's going to improve. And that's something that, you know, I'm looking forward to seeing in the next few years. I think him and Oscar Piastri and the battle that those two are going to have is, is going to potentially take them both into another league.

So yeah, I think Lando, he's got a great opportunity with a car that is still great to do something good. And I think it's important as well for his confidence that he does have a good last three races. He's not going to win the championship. But I think that just to have three podiums or something just to steady the boat into next year would be really important for him.

Definitely. So P1, no surprise I've gone for Charlotte Clare. I think people could. Tommy, stop flirting. with me. Wow. Yeah, I can see Charlotte Leclair getting the dub round here. I really do think this is such a good.

That would make getting up at 6am, I'll tell you. Well, yeah. 5 a.m. Yeah, exactly. You'd be more than happy with that. And it's just very Charlotte Clary track. That's another one. I had to say it.

Tick it off. Charlele-Cleary. It was Maxis-Tappany, but I'd say it's more Charle-Clahery. the Las Vegas track. It's giving more Leclery. It's giving more Leclair. Yeah. Very good.

Cool. All right. Good. Fantastic. That we've alienated 90% of our listenership right there. Let's get a one crazy prediction. Mine is

that Max Verstappen does not win the title this race. No, you can't have that. Why? That's not a crazy prediction. No way is that. Why? That's worse than my one that you told me I couldn't have. No.

What? No. I mean, you can take it, but I think the people back me up in the comments that you can't have that as a crazy prediction. Nah, come on. What does he need to do? All he needs to do is finish ahead of Lando. So if Lando beats him, it goes to Qatar. And Lando has beaten Max O'Souppen six times in the last half-Rocayson.

Okay, fine. Sergio Perez and Q1. Is that even bold? Is that worse somehow? No. In Q1, come on. Okay, fair. I've just done that.

He's not going to get knocked out in Q1 now. For God's sake, Tommy, you pressurized me into... Well, I could do mine and then if you want to think more. Okay, what's yours? Mine is that Gassley gets damaged to his car during the weekend. Oh yeah, because it's been hyped up that he's not had any damage the whole year. Every time a stat like that gets hyped up on Twitter. it goes straight away.

I reckon five minutes into FP1 is knocked his front wing off. Okay, that's an extra point you get right there if he knocks his front wing off within five minutes of FP1, okay? But you know what I mean? These stats that do the rounds on Twitter and then it's like,

oh, Gassely's on track to be the first person to do this. There's three races to go and something will happen. Okay, all right. I discard my one crazy prediction. And it is. Sure, Qua New doesn't call off I last. Okay. So he was last in both the sprint and Brazil.

I mean, I don't even know why I'm checking. He's always bloody last, isn't he? Show qualifying positions. He was last, yeah, 20th, 20th in the sprint, 20th in qualified. He's been the last six he's been 20th. Okay, Singapore, that's enough. Come on, Joe. Wow.

I're backing him, though. Come on, Joe. You can do it. Come on. He's got flames on his car now, which, is going to make them quicker, right? Hell yeah. Right, three crazy predictions from you lot.

At Citrus F1, has scores more points than Mercedes. Okay. Speedy pastry. Every car that starts also finishes the race. Okay. So what? Everyone finishes, basically.

Yeah, unless they, I guess unless they crush in qualifying and don't make the start, maybe that's a loophole written one if I've ever seen it. It's not even a sprint, is it? I don't know why we're... No, but I guess some people might hit a drain cover and not start. They've learned a lot from our loophole

and making sure they clarify exactly what they mean. And then Biennelli, Joe Guan Yu in the points. Okay. Oh, wow. We're back in Joe this weekend. Yes, so Joe will qualify 19th and then finish 10th. Perfect. What if Joe Guan Yu is just the goat in like 10 degree track conditions?

And this is where he... If it was a 10 degree season, Joe Gwainu would be champion of the world. It was like that one thing they had where they did the hard tires in Q1 and he was amazing. Yeah, in Hungary. He was fastest, wasn't he?

It just goodness gracious me. Anyway, all right, that's it. Thank you everybody for watching and listening. We're really excited that Formula One is back. And Tommy, what are your final thoughts? My final thoughts are I'm glad that 20% of this podcast, being about Choguan Yu,

has carried over from Drive ratings and it's now leaking into predictions as well. We've got to celebrate him before he leaves. So there you go. Thank you everybody. We'll see you soon. Lots of love. Take care.

Bye. Goodbye. So we're back again. I can literally see Tommy's smiling, waiting. I'm just waiting for whatever I'm going to say from here on in. And that is, right? You forgot to put your phone on charge. Go stick your phone on charge.

Yeah, it's quite funny that... You've got 5% battery. In the last three podcasts, I've literally go googled. when I've said, so we're back again, household chores, so I can then just go through some. The dusting.

It is very, it's very dusty on that top right there. You're looking at it, okay, you're looking at it. Go on. Okay, perfect. I do love as well

how some people just randomly go, I was doing that, and then you just spoke to me and there's glasses in your room. Can't take them down. Yeah. For God's say, yeah.

You know, they're not going to wash themselves up there, are they? No. Tommy, take your clothes. Wait, what? Sorry, they were looking quite dirty. I think you needed to put them in the washing machine.

Because the washing machines just dinged. I thought this was the P1 patron for a second. That's crazy. That's where the real filth is. And that's it. Great. Take care. Goodbye.

See you soon. And happy dusting. Ding! P1 is a Stack production and part of the A-cast's creator. network.