P1 with Matt and Tommy - Our 2025 Saudi Arabian GP predictions

Episode Date: April 16, 2025

It’s double copium for us today, as our faves try to find some form for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Let’s see what those vibes are saying!You can listen to an extended version of every Race Review episode on our Patreon! You'll also get every P1 episode ad-free, early access to live tickets and merch, and access to our Discord server where you can chat with us and other F1 fans! Click here to sign up now!Matt's running the London Marathon for the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity. Click here if you'd like to donate - thanks so much!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. It's race week, the end of a triple header. And it's the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. And it is predictions time. It's time to just throw our thoughts and feelings of what we think's going to happen for this weekend's race. Tommy, are you, are you vibing with a good race? I'm just off the back of Bahrain, which was really good.

What are you feeling for this one? I'm hoping it's going to be a good race. Saudi is kind of a bit of a bit of. of a hit or miss one, but if we get carnage, it's one of those tracks a bit similar to Bacu, whereas once you get that first bit of carnage, then it all happens. So once you get that first bit, then safety cars, breed safety cars, and all that, as they say. So it's currently 1110 to you, Tommy, somehow. You're not bitter about it at all. Not in the slightest. You had a really good week last week, really happy for you. Congratulations. I hope you continue with this momentum.

Let's go straight into a good surprise. My good surprise for the Thadier Raymond Grand Prix is Oliver Berman. Because he's actually driven around here. So I'm putting a little bit of experience in the cooking pot of Olly Berman after a great result in Bahrain. And I'm seeing a podium. No, maybe not. But I'm seeing a good result for Olly Berman.

I'm seeing some points. and I really hope for his sake and for mine we can deliver together as a team. He's had a great start to the season, for sure, isn't he? My good surprise is pure hopium. It's Fernando Alonso. He just needs a point to lock this one in. But on all seriousness,

that Aston Martin, oh my word, looks so bad I can't believe Alonzo's not even scored a point yet not through any particularly bad driving, I don't think. Just hasn't happened for him. And I just need to see him get some points. Even though if we go back to our very early predictions and my Aston Martin score less than 50 points, which Stroll kind of ruined a lot of in the first couple of races,

which you've got to think without those two races this would very much be on but I just need Fernando to get a point it's been too long it's been a while and I was I was close to also putting him down because he had a very good Saudi Grand Prix last year but that was with a very different car

yes let's go to a big flop Tommy big flop I've gone four makes for stepan yeah you're flopping your boy i am uh i am very concerned are you trying to cook no no genuinely not i'm what my flop powers are doing you're like yeah let's let's have some of that no i i feel like the last race he dodged a bullet with a p6 i i really think it was so close to disaster and I feel like it could get even worse. The car was hopeless.

They're really struggling. I know it is a different track. I know it's a different track. Not an abrasive surface like Bahrain. But you're very, you're sounding very depressed like me to be honest with you. This is just going to be a P1 depressive podcast where Ferrari haven't delivered and Max Verstappen won't win a fifth title in a row.

Poor you, Tommy. I know. I am crying. But no, I just, I just feel like Max can only save that shambles of a car for so much longer and there'll be a point in this season where it doesn't quite come together and we see the real kind of rubbishness of that Red Bull. Okay, so some serious thoughts gone into that big flop.

My big flop is Isaac Hadjar. Literally no reason. Apart from the fact he's had a relatively poorish Bahrain, weekend just gone. And it's a, it is a fast, ferocious track and it punishes mistakes. And I just think, Isaac's a rookie, might push a little bit too hard. That's literally about as far as my reasoning goes. So let's see. Or they'll just be slow and I'll take that as well. So yeah, there you go. Poll position. Charlecler. Wow. Okay. Yeah, they're legit. They're like, child, Claire, Charlecler.

we're so back maybe I think I don't know I just he's good round Saudi okay like Charles is good like he's a great driver

and I just they're gonna figure it out eventually Charles is comfortable in the car he's getting there he was only a couple

of tents off pole in Bahrain let's not forget dreams do come true very rarely as Ferrari fans well are you about to copy me not copy you I wish I could turn my screen around and show you

I genuinely put Charlerclair as well genuinely I thought that was going to be like a big I know I'm not going to lie to you that's crazy do I change it no oh oh no wait I'm not expecting a two point term just like for the predictions

no no I'm not going to I'm back in Charlotte Claire that's fine yeah yeah you're like yeah don't go for mcclaren please tommy come come with me it makes my delusional poll no I'm going to stick with it I really do think that that shall have a good weekend and yeah I've I could see it see it happening it's an insane thing but he is great around here

maybe they've found something based on you know what what happened in in Bahrain and the McLaren is so quick, but we have seen that sometimes a little mistake, and it is quite, you know, a car that might be quite on the edge, try it like Saudi, little mistake is going to cost you massive. So yeah, I'm going to go for Charles as well. Okay, very delusional, I think, from the pair of us.

Well, it's not delusional for you because you don't want him to win, whereas I, I do. So, okay, interesting. Let's go to our third position. Tommy. I've gone four, Charles Leclair. Oh, for God's sake. The dream lasted long. I hope I'm wrong, genuinely, because if he does start on poll,

it'd be weirdly nice to see a poll to win, just to have a different winner. And also, I don't want Charles to continue his poll position to, you know, the win rate, which I've, you know, seen some crazy things about that kind of win record. But I do think it is skewed based on just the fact that he is such a great qualifier. Yeah.

But even if he does get a poll position, sorry, Matt, but I just can't, I can't see the dub this time. Well, don't apologize, because I also put Charlotte Clare third, and I'm now concerned that we've gone from exactly the same predictions for the entire way through. So are you going to offer me a double pointer if I change him? it because come on. No, you just have to change it. Oh. That's what happened in. Oh, that's, it's, it's only for like, oh, okay. Yeah, I think so, because didn't we do that in the last one where we got the same podium? Okay, well, this doesn't usually happen. Okay, in which case, I am changing third place to Lando Norris. There you go. I didn't want to put him there, but apparently I had to change it. So here we are. That's the

benefit of going first for you, Tommy. And then if second is the same for both of us, which it won't be, because I've now had to swap them, then, you know, we would then have to change. So, okay, second place for me is Charlotte Clare. Because I, in my mind, thought that he would be beaten by Norris and a certain other driver, potentially. But then also, I'm happy to dream that he'll finish second

or maybe even one higher than that and that Ferrari will have the fastest car. That's not going to happen. however, he might well be able to defend from the almighty McLaren and other anonymous car that I've not announced yet that might well be the same colour. But Charlotte, P2. P2, I have gone for Oscar Piastri. That was Lando, wasn't he, you've changed it around? No, it actually wasn't. So we would have maybe had something different. Yeah, gone for Pastery P2. he is the man in form but I think it will be

maybe a slight spoiler or a lot close between the the two guys in the very quick papaya car this weekend but this time I've gone for Piastri PT Oh so no George Russell The George Russell dream is over for you now is it

Let's get a P1 Tommy Who have you gone for? I have gone London Norris I think he's going to bounce back after well I'm not going to be around the bush a poor weekend in Bahrain

and I think he needs to but I think he will you know it's incredibly harsh on himself in Bahrain which I don't think was good for him but we know he's got it in him we saw it

you know first race of the season in Australia and yeah I'm going for Norris P1 to bounce back Okay. My P1 is Oscar Piastri. I think it's so close between the two drivers now. Yes, Lando is off the back of a very disappointing Bahrain race.

But in terms of actual performance, it's hard to split the two. Norris is still leading the championship. Of course, that's down to Oscar's mistake in Australia, but it was a mistake. Yes, it was difficult conditions. It was slippery, but it still ended in Oscar. falling out of contention for the victory. But I think that Oscar just will have the upper mental edge at the moment. He seems stone cold and he's able to put down his performances.

I still, in my heart, believe that Landon Norris is a quicker driver, maybe even by a couple of tents over a lap. But it's about unlocking that potential that's kind of been hidden away now for Lando with this pressure of the championship on his shoulders. So I think Oscar will continue this form into Saudi. But it's a toss-up because I could easily back Lando for this one as well. And as you've done, say that he'll bounce back because we've already had that shift of form. When Lando won in Australia, we're going, wow, Lando, this is amazing.

You know, he's been able to, yes, there was a few mistakes in a very tricky race, but he's still won in Australia. It felt like a big drive, didn't it? In Australia, it's been like, yeah, he's beaten Max and, you know, showed what he could do. that race through everything at him and we're kind of having the conversations of yeah he can resist that pressure so he can bounce back

it can change so quickly but let's see if it does into Saudi right it's time for family top three a segment I am hating more and more as each race weekend passes as the Bellingham's continue to extend their lead 3-1 now to the Bellingham's

Tommy you're going to go first who are you nominating for your family member this week? I am going to give my mum a call who scored me two points last time, so I'm expecting big things. At what point do we start Michael Masseeing this? And I pick someone that doesn't know about that one. Yeah, get frank in. Yeah, maybe.

Your Niff. Okay, here we go. Come on. Here we go. It's Tommy's mum there. Hopefully. Hello. Hi, mum.

You're live on the P1 podcast again. Chris Tarant. That would have been nice. Okay. And, yeah, I was just saying that last time you scored two points, you're actually the only family member that scored two points. Top scorer so far, so I'm expecting a big prediction from you. Okay, P3 for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

He's going to be Lewis. Okay, Lewis Hamilton. Matt's nodding, he's liking it. P2. Charles. Oh, wow. Ferrari. Yeah, I think Ferrari are going to do well this weekend.

So Matt paid you to say this. I don't know if I want this to happen now, so I don't want you to score points. Okay, and P1. Oscar. Oh, wow. No lander on the podium. Oscar for another win. Wow.

Okay. Wow, thanks, ma'am. Well, let's see how we do. Okay, then. Speak soon. Bye. Bye. Thank you, Tommy's mum. That is zero points locked up to a many one.

Oscar might win. Double Ferrari. quite the turnaround. Did you text her to say, we're a couple of points ahead, you can be fruity like I was with the predictions for China. Is that what that was?

Genuinely not. Maybe she's thinking of the content and going, let's make this close. She watches the podcast. She knows about Michael Massey. So for my family top three, Tommy, I'm not ringing anybody, but I'm not drafting myself in either.

I'm bringing my sister in. Come on, sit down. Why are you bringing water? You don't need water. Hello. You're in the chair as well. That's crazy. In the seat. Here we go. Okay.

What's your name? Where are you from? Georgina, Buckinghamshire. Did you just say Buckinghamshire? That's so posh. Love it. Anyway. Right. Okay. You're now part of the P1 podcast. Love that. Do you want to... We need some big predictions from me then.

Do you say anything to Tommy before you give you top three? Hi Tommy. How are you? I'm good. Please don't win because... Bellingham's for the win. Okay, we need your top three then, starting with P3. Okay, P3, Lewis Hamilton. Oh my God, we've got this. My mum said Lewis Hamilton as well.

If you and my family picked the same again, like last time, that's crazy. P2. P2, George Russell. Okay. I see you. That's good. I see you with that one. You're cooking.

P1. P2. I don't know You're trying to remember the two drivers that you currently have in your head Okay, you're milking this now, Georgina Just give us your first place I know, I've got the pressure

I'm going to go for your favourite, that guy What? The other bar Clair? You've not just come to Charler winning. You gave for Charler. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

No way have we got two Ferraris. Two Ferraris. Wow. Get out. Get out. Get out. Tommy's mum gave us a chance and you put Charle winning. God's sake.

You didn't even put a McLaren in the top three. No McLaren in the top three. Get out. Leave my room. There's no points. There's no points. Thank you, Jegina. As always, for securing zero points for the Gallagas.

Really appreciate. it. If we're wrong, if we're wrong and our family are right now, we're going to look so stupid. We are.

But by the fact I have a few brain cells that are working currently, it's not the greatest prediction ever. Having watched the season. Yeah, having watched the season and seen

apart from Oscar Piastri, slip up, McLeon have been on the podium with both drivers at every single race so far. Is that correct? Yeah. So good.

Well, thanks. Love this segment. Right. One crazy prediction time now. My one. Everyone finishes the Saudi GP. Everyone.

Everyone's finishing. Oh, no. And I really hope that doesn't mean we're in for an absolute stinker. I just feel like they're going to go side by side so beautifully measured throughout the entire Grand Prix. And we're going to get a bang and all of them are going to finish and celebrate. They've all won the race because they've all finished around Saudi, which is not an easy task.

I promise the P&P1 podcast doesn't stand for pessimism because mine is no red flags all weekend right we need a little bit of debris and FP1 and we are sorted I feel like you went for something like this before and it was done by practice but it was the only thing that happened

was in practice wasn't it yeah yeah so it's a risk to go for it it's a massive risk because someone just needs to stop out on track in free practice and you're done Of course, Saudi, it's very difficult to recover a car, isn't it? I'm not going to talk you out of it, though. You've locked it in now.

So there you go, Tommy. Zero points for you. Put that against your name already. And what about your Patreon prediction? What have you gone for? I've gone for Jason SPDs, which is Sites beats Albon, which hasn't happened so far this year. As if you're back in science now, that's crazy. Yeah, yeah.

I backed him last time and it should have absolutely happened. Okay. All right. So a 50-50 toss-up. That's interesting. All right. You've gone for something. You've done the odds, Tommy, there.

You know exactly what you're doing trying to score points when you're leading, which is disgraceful. And Michael Massey would be very upset with that. My Patreon prediction is from Kean L.R. And it is Max Falls to fourth in the championship. Which, if anything's to go by with your big flop, then that is going to happen.

What's the got to Russell now? It's not a lot, is it? Yeah, yeah. And you wouldn't bet against Russell beating. Max in the race. Yeah, well, their Mercedes was pretty shocking last year around Saudi, if I remember correctly, at least in qualifying. True.

Yeah, George is looking very nice this year there, isn't it? Yeah, it is definitely a step forward. But yes, you would definitely bet on George to beat Max in this next race. And if you want your Patreon prediction to be potentially picked out, then come and join our Patreon.com forward slash Matt P1, Tommy. Do you like how I kind of sync that both up? Didn't probably make any English sense. But yeah, yeah, you get lots of benefits, and we'd love to have you over there,

including ad-free viewing of the, ad-free listening, sorry, of the podcast. And then you can be part of our wonderful Discord as well. Tommy, that is it. We are locked in, ready for the Saudi Grand Prix. How are you sort of going to prepare yourself for this? Because actually, you were missing, weren't you, on Saturday? I was.

This one just gone. And you messed me to say that you almost messed up again to be missing on Saturday. But I will be there watching it. So don't worry. I actually can't believe that we've gone for the same top three again in a different order of course because I think we did last week and no maybe not the week weekend before but we definitely did last week with the two

McLaren's and Russell we definitely don't look at each other's predictions but we definitely do just it's almost like we've been chatting Formula One together on the podcast for about eight years now and have the same brain that we do and that is it thank you everybody we'll see you soon lots of love bye Goodbye. And before we go, I did actually promise the chore gang that I would read out some donations for the marathon and read out some of your messages.

So that's what I'm going to do right now. Let me just find them because I know there was, because I told you to say chore in your message. Here we go. Nicole Turnbull says, chore done. Let's go, Matt. Thank you so much, Nicole, for your wonderful donation. We've got some more as I keep loading them up.

But there's been so many people that have been so wonderfully generous. We're over 11,400 pounds raised now for the Great Ormond Street Hospital charity. I keep pressing Seymour and I'm missing the chore messages. They will eventually pop up because I have seen lots of them. But I think it's because we've done a few streams since then. Here we go. Elliot Wright, Chaw, always the best part of the podcast, aside from the Ferrari delusion. We all share it with you.

Absolutely love that. Gemma Jackson, Jackson. Chaw, best of luck, Matt, such a worthy cause you're running for, wishing you all the best to go and smash it. Bastion says Chore, go get P1. We've got another one from Cindy D. Chore, but not really a chore. When you need it during the run, just look for the DRS zone. Goodness gracious me, I hope there is. I'm not sure what I'd open though. Anyway, moving on. Mike Savage says I recall leaving a YouTube comment for Matt to preview reads all our comments and Matt thought he'd get out of this by saying read not say so I'll donate instead so he has to say it with a twist. Matt Gallagher of P1 with Matt and Tommy solemnly predict that Charlotte Clair will spin at term 1. Thank you so much Mike Savage, F1. You really did. You went all the way to donating to the charity to get me to read that out. So thank you so much indeed for that.

Let me read a few more before we go. Mattie Orbs. Brum-brum, turbo whistles, pops and bangs. Kate Galley. well done Matt. What a fantastic cause to be supporting. Activate your DRS and absolutely smash it. Push. Big love to you and Tommy for being absolute legends. Your content is ace and the chore section

always makes me smile. And finally, Paul McGrath, chore completed, best of luck, soak up the amazing atmosphere and enjoy it. Thank you all for your wonderful donations. If you want to, still you can. There's a link in our Instagram link tree where you can donate to a wonderful cause. And that's it. A big old chore this week.

And yeah. Bye. Bye. Waving to audio. You're waving to audio. How's again? You always do. P1 is a stack production and part of the Acast creator network.