P1 with Matt and Tommy - Predicting the 2023 F1 Championship 20th to 1st

Episode Date: February 27, 2023

Testing is done and it's time to lock in our championship predictions ahead of the first race in Bahrain as we predict the entire 2023 championship from 20th to 1st! Follow us on socials! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, YouTube and TikTok.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

everybody and welcome back to the P one podcast. I do a bit of a variation every single time. I don't know. I don't plan it. It just happens. But welcome along everybody to a big old prediction. This one could break the internet if one of us gets this right. From first to 20th, Tommy, that would be quite the achievement.

I'm also, there's also a tiny bit of me that is concerned. that we've gone for exactly the same thing. You're saying F1's predictable? A little bit, and also we are very connected via the brain. So I am kind of concerned, but at the same time, the odds of that is pretty much impossible. But I have a feeling we might have gone for the same, maybe at the start and at the end.

But let's see. Right, before we get into this, I think it's a good time to read out a five-star review. This one is from Cleo Sports Stew from the UK. Now, if you want yours to be read out on this podcast, go leave us a five-star review. Let us know why, and you may well be picked if it's juicy enough. So I have to think about how you would write it, because we pick out the best ones. As this one's from Cleo Sports Dew, The Void in My Life has been filled.

Two voices so familiar. They're the podcast equivalent of Crofty and Brundle. Wish you all the best with this new venture and can't wait to listen to many, many, many more hours of decent and cohesion. and funny F1 content, the best mates I've never met. How much did you pay this man? I promise I didn't write that one. That's one of our burner accounts, isn't it? Wow, that is quite the review.

Thank you so much, June. I really appreciate that. And we will be in your ears for many, many episodes to come. Right, let's get into it then, shall we? Let's begin with P20. I have gone for Logan Sargent. Yes. Now, this might well be seen as slanderous, considering Williams have actually been pretty good in preseason testing.

And I'm not saying now, after seeing Sergeant perform in testing, that he is going to be finishing P20 every single race. However, there is a bigger challenge ahead, and that's getting into the top 10. This is a championship prediction table. And I feel like even if Williams come out the blocks quite decent, they may well struggle to continue that development. A little bit like how we see Hasse, I suppose, in the last few years. They might come out firing, but then they struggle to keep up with the other teams. You've got teams like Hasse now that have cash money with their sponsor Moneygram. Williams, I'm not so convinced.

So that's why I'm going to lock in Logan Sargent. No one will be surprised that I've also gone for Logan Sargent in P20. People seem to get confused by hating and realism, because at the end of the day, he's with a team who finished comfortably last in the Constructors title, I don't think they're going to improve a huge amount. He's a rookie against an underrated driver. So I don't think he's going to be terrible, but like you say, this is a championship.

And, you know, even if he's finished, look at someone like George Russell, right? He had a great season, but didn't score a point in 2019, was it for Williams? So I realistically, I can't see any. but Logan Sargent being P20. And Kubitsa actually beat him in the championship because of the 2019 German Grand Prix. And you'd have to say that Russell outperform Qibica

pretty much all the time. But then the one moment a point came around. Kubitsa took it with both hands. So yeah, that is our reasonings. Okay. You say that, you know, confused realism with being a hater. Tommy's just a realistic hater. All right, that's...

Okay, we now move to P.E. And maybe we start to get a bit of a mix-up. Hopefully we haven't gone for the same lineup. Let's see. P-19, I've gone for Nick DeVries. Now, this one I have to basically back the fact that I predicted maybe he wasn't going to do so well this season. I don't think Alpha Tauri are going to do particularly well this season. And this one might, you might think, oh, why have you not gone for Albin?

but I think Albin last year was actually really good and he took advantage of when that Williams worked and it didn't work that often, but it worked. Especially with everything going on around Alpha Tauri, potentially it being sold, I just don't see them fighting for points. So that's why I've gone for Nick DeVries, being the rookie in the team as well,

even though it doesn't want to be called a rookie, he's a rookie, P19. So P19, we have gone different. I've gone for Alex Albin. again backing my prediction that Williams are going to struggle again. And I also, spoiler a lot, don't think Alvatore going to do that well. But I think the thing here is I wouldn't be surprised if Albin occasionally would be an Alphatari and stuff, but you need those crazy races.

If you think that reliability these days in Formula One, you don't get many races where you get a chance to get points realistically. and that was proved last year with Williams and the year before and the year before. So, yeah, I think Albin will have a good season, but he can only do what he can in what I think is going to be the worst car on the grid. So I've gone for 19th. Okay, interesting stuff. Williams fans, close your ears. Tommy does not believe in you. We now go to 18th, and this is where I have gone for Alex Albin.

I feel like he may well just have a few moments in the season. For example, Monza, had he been in the car then? I reckon he may have got maybe a place or two above what Nick DeFries had managed, not to take anything away from DeFries. He did an amazing job. But Albin did have these moments throughout the season where he went, oh, you know, sometimes he'd finish 11th and he'd just miss out on points. But I think there will be those moments where Alex Albin capitalises on a car that actually works.

Now, that Williams will probably not work for most of it. It had a very unique philosophy where it would just rock up one weekend and actually be on the pace. It's just those weekends that I think Albin will be able to make the most of. And that's why, I mean, 18th place is nothing to write home about, but I think Albin will take that spot. So in P18, I have gone for, it pains me to say it, Yuki Sonoda. I am backtracking already on my teammate comparison video. To be fair, I think it might be the only one that I've done this on. But yeah, I'm putting Sonoda in P18.

The more I think about it, the more I am worried from this season, I think he might have a few crazy moments like he does and not score the points he needs. And this is the thing. I don't think he's going to necessarily be slower than DeVries. I just worry that maybe in those crazy races where Alvatar get that chance, he might do something like cut the pit lane line line, or his DRS stops working

and he has to duct tape it back up and things like that. So I'm now backtracking and going for Sonoda P18. Unbelievable, Tommy. How dare you change your opinion? I know. You do realise, right, online, when you make an opinion, that's it now.

You can't be changed. Years and years. Shocking, unbelievable stuff. Okay, we now move to P17, and I've gone for Yuki Sanoda. I think that he's going to have a better season than DeVries, I'm going to back it. I'm not going to change my opinion, Tommy.

All right. I'm going to back Sonoda. I feel like he just has to step up, whether he will. He's up for debate. But I believe, I believe in Sonoda. He's had enough time now to bed himself into the sport. He does have the pace. He closed the gap to Gasley last year.

Yes, he had some absolute shockers as well, but realistically, on a pace level, he was a match a lot of the time. So Yuki Sanoda, step up. He can think about his restaurant as well. well, you know, when he's in the car, oh, I can finally maybe open that restaurant with a few more points finishes. P-17. So P-17, I've gone for Nick DeVries, just one place head of Sonoda.

And this is the reason I changed my opinion is kind of hearing more about Nick DeVries, particularly when we're watching testing and things like that. Sounds like he's got pretty amazing work ethic and dedication. I can just see him being maybe a bit more level-headed, even though he's the rookie, he's kind of more mature than Sonoda. And we saw it with his performance in Monza, while we can say he was driving Williams at the time where it was their best race and all he had to do was beat Latifie.

But he got that important point and didn't do anything silly like trying to overtake someone and costing them that point. And I feel like over a season, DeVries might be that person when I mentioned about Yuki Snowde being the one that's cutting the pit lane lines and things like that, that DeVries is the one that maybe just has a more solid result and has a wiser head to sit behind a car in front maybe when he's in the points and just bag the points that Alphitari will desperately need, I think, this year, because I don't think they're going to do very well.

Yeah, it's a fair opinion. I think that is certainly a reality that could occur, hopefully for my predictions. It doesn't because you know, you've got to always be right with predictions. You can't, I've never, ever made a terrible prediction ever. No, you've got to, yeah, to be knowledgeable at Formula One, you have to know every single thing that's going to happen from start to finish. Yeah. Get every single winner right, every single second place, third place, fourth place.

Otherwise, you just, you don't know wheel. You don't, you don't pass the gatekeeper test if you don't get a full first to 20th prediction, right. Okay, we now move to P16. I'm going to lock in Kevin Magnerson for Hass. As much as I did say that they are going to have a lot more cash money in the bank. I don't feel as though they are going to be particularly fast. I think that they will have the odd points finishes. And I think Magnuson alongside Holcomberg will be decent.

I think they'll have some good drives. I just don't think Has just yet, even though they have more money to spend, And the fact that they are cutting down on their pit wall, for example, maybe suggests they don't have as much money in the bank as everyone is now suggesting with this Money Graham sponsor. So I feel as though they'll have an average season. There won't be podiums for Hass and Magnuson will take 16th. So for 16th, I've gone for Valtari Bottas, which is very far down the list, I think, for a lot of people.

Wow. Yeah, you've, your eyes have lit up. So this is probably one of my most controversial ones, but I just don't think Alfa Romeo are going to have a very good season. I can't see them improving up the field much. I think the cars that I've put ahead of them will be better. And I just don't see Alfa Romeo kind of being this team that's going to suddenly overnight become amazing in time for Audi to take over. So yeah, and I'm back in my prediction. I'm actually this time going to about my prediction before about the teammates.

And yeah, Bottas 16th. Good Lord. Okay, that is, I'm so glad we're polarising. It makes great content. That I disagree with wholeheartedly, and I think you are completely washed. And I will cover that for anyone who is a Bottas fan as well. I've told Tommy now, so you don't have to tell him in the comments. Or you might be what you might want to as well.

Okay, wow, goodness me. I'm just processing that one. Okay, we now move to P15. and I've gone for Holkenberg. So that kind of matches the Hasse, not believing in them, I suppose, approach that I've gone for in this prediction format.

I think Holcombberg will have a better season than Magnuson. I think people will, as I've said before, realize that Nico is actually a very good driver, a very consistent driver, a solid midfield competitor, and he will pick up the points when that Hasse works. I'm not convinced it will work all the time.

But yeah, I think Holkenberg is a solid driver line up for Hasse, exactly what they need. But I don't think the car will be there. P15, I've gone for Joe Guan Yu. No surprise, really, as I mentioned, that I don't think the alpha's going to be all that. But I think that Joe is going to beat Bottas this year, not by a huge margin, but a few points. And, yeah, he'll have his moments and show what he can do when their gearbox isn't failing. Okay.

All right. cool, good, good stuff. Disagree again. But now, to be fair, my next prediction, P-14, is Joe Guan Yu. So this is where the Alpha-Mayos start to creep in to my prediction. None of this washed Bottas stuff from Tommy, but, you know, each to their own.

And I think Joe, again, will have a good season. I think he will have moments where he beats Bottas, like we saw last year. But I just have this feeling that he'll be riddled with problems again. and I feel as though Botas in the state of mind that he's currently in, I feel like he's very free flowing, a really happy man at the moment, that I feel like that will help his performances. Like when he announced that he was leaving Mercedes and then just started performing

incredibly, I think that that mindset for Botas can't be understated. So that's why Joe Guan Yu will lose out to Bottas. And for me, he will finish in in P14. So P14 for me, I have. on for Kevin Magnuson. I think Hass will be in the midfield mix a lot more than they were last year. However, the reason he's in 14th is because I think he'll just, K-Mag will do K-Mag things. Like we've said so many times and just occasionally he'll have his moments,

but then also have his moments where he's taking his front wing off on the first lap and stuff. So P-14 for Mag. Okay. So you're back in Hulk as well. Love to see it. Good stuff. Didn't change your opinion.

Nice. P-13 now. This one was difficult for me. I've locked in Lance Stroll in the Aston Martin. Now, I was having to take into account how long he's actually going to be out for here because I am not convinced he is going to be back anytime soon if he has these broken wrists that have been reported so heavily. So I've taken that into account that potentially he might miss the first two or three races.

Of course, we have a big break after the first. the third round of the season, I think it is. So that will give him a bit more time to, to heal and whatnot. But for me, yeah, Lance Stroll won't perform to the level of what Fernando Alonzo will this year. I think Stroll will be playing catch up, of course, with those first few rounds missed in my opinion.

He might be back for the first race. And this is complete rubbish. But it's difficult to predict that. And it's also difficult to predict how Stroll will be, because I think he will also take a little bit of time to bed in as he's had no preseason testing. so he comes back. You can't really expect a fully motivated Lance Stroll

who might be thinking, oh, but my seat might, oh wait, no, my seat won't be up for grabs because Lawrence Stroll owns the team. So yeah, that's why I've gone with Lance Stroll, a P-13.

Okay, I thought my Botas's prediction was the most controversial, but actually I think this one might make your eyeballs pop out as well. So P-13, if it's a clear, you can get in the bin, and I'm cutting this podcast off now.

How did you know? No, P13, I have gone for Oscar Piastri. Now, I think this is, I thought he would do better, but since watching testing and the awful start that McLaren have had, I think someone like Piastri as well, who really needed McLaren to hit the ground running so he could get as much time in the car as possible without the wheelbrows falling off and having all these problems.

They don't look particularly quick. and I worry that they're going to have an absolute stinker of a season, particularly at the start. And they may well catch up eventually, but when you're a rookie, you kind of need the car to be good from the start. So, yeah, through some fault of his own, but I don't think a huge amount of fault of his own. I think Piastri, I've gone way down in P13.

Well, it's not as controversial as you might think, because we now head to P12, and I've gone for Oscar Piastri. I feel as though, yeah, McLaren on the back foot massively. I don't believe they'll be on the back foot for long, especially if you literally go back one year ago, they had enormous problems of Bahrain, but then they still managed to pick up some decent points, especially in the hands of Norris.

Piastri didn't have the cleanest of tests. There were quite a few mistakes in there. Of course, part of that being the McLaren not working properly, but also part of it potentially pushing the car a little bit too hard. But yeah, I think they're going to be playing fight back once again, our McLaren by the looks of things. I saw Will Buxton literally predict them 10th fastest, which I'm not quite on the believing that they are the slowest car on the grid.

I think they're probably more around 6th or 7th fastest car when everything is put on the plate on the table this time. Well, in what, five days' time qualifying. Goodness me. Can't wait. But yes, P12 for me for Oscar. I think it's going to be a difficult season for McLaren and especially for him, bedding into the sport.

It's if you also as well, you think of how good Norris is right now. If we actually turn back to when Norris first joined Formula One, he was nervous, he was tentative, he didn't want to pass. in Australia, for example, he was stuck behind, I can't, I was a Joe, for Nazi. I can't remember there was somewhere. Yeah, he just didn't want to make any overtakes. And then you look at what he is now, he's developed incredibly. So Oscar could have that same curve where he's not the most impressive in those first few races,

but then start to kick into gear. Yeah. So P12, I've gone for Niko Holcomberg. I think he's going to score a good amount of points. I feel like Hasse will be good at the start. of the year and that's when he's going to lock in quite a few points. I think he's going to do what they should have done last year, said it so many times, but should have done last year when that car was good and Holkenberg I think is the man to be picking up like P8s, P9s, P7s occasionally

when there's races that go in his favour. Not podiums, but the points scoring and this is a championship prediction. So that's why he's so high up on the list. Well done, Holkenberg. If that happens, that's a very lovely season. If he's come back to Formula One and done that,

that would secure his seat for a few more years, I am sure. Okay, let's move to P11 now. And I've gone for Pierre Gasley. I'm not convinced as much as Alpine, and we spoke about it in our testing roundups, really anonymous. But I don't think we can just immediately say

they aren't going to have pace because the regulations haven't changed a huge amount and Alpine were by the constructor's standings, the fourth fastest over the course of the season. I think Ghazli kind of mixing in with the fact that I actually don't think he's going to have a great season moving into this new French outfit at Alpine. I still think he will beat the likes of Piastri Stroll, etc. because the car will be good enough for him to pick up points on a regular basis. So that's where I've gone for for Pierre Gasly. We seem to agree with everything Gasly related this year,

because I've also gone P11 Pierre Gasley. Like said, I think I've said it'd be the biggest flop. I think that's more in comparison to what I think his teammates going to do. And yeah, Alpine are a weird one because we didn't really. really get a gauger of how good they were in testing. But I just can't see him finishing ahead of the people that I've put further. So P11 for Gazzley. Sad times. Sad times for Gassley.

We hope it goes better for him. But let's see. We now get into the top 10. This is where the money is made. For me, P10 goes to Valtry Bottas. I think, as I say, he's going to have a solid season. I think that, as I say, his mentality, he just, he looks good. He's having fun.

He has a silly testing helmet. I just feel like he is the most relaxed Bottas you can have. And let's not forget, all right, Tommy, this time last year, he was banging it in like an absolute legend at the start of the year, picking up points, left, right and center. Then the car fell away. Bottas's performances fell away a little bit as well. Perhaps lost a bit of motivation, but he's back. Valtory.

Don't forget how good he is at qualifying as well. I'm fully on the Botas hype train. Forget the Ferrari hype train. Let's get a top 10 finish for Botas and prove Tommy wrong. Let's go. Wow. Yeah, we've really gone opposite ends of the scale with that one. P10, I have gone for Lance Stroll.

Now, this is a really difficult one like you said. I kind of undernard to put him higher or not, but it changed. because I do think the Aston's going to be good, but then he's going to miss a few races potentially. Time of recording, obviously we still don't know if he's going to miss the Bahrain Grand Prix. But if he does, you've got a thing that's probably going to be Saudi, maybe Australia as well, then he's got that recovery time.

So a few races that he's going to miss there. And sorry, but I can't put him too high because he's not, he's stroll and he's. not particularly set the world on fire, has he, with his performances. So even if that Aston is good, I just don't, don't see him sort of, he's just going to be that sort of like bottom of the midfield guy that creeps in to get quite a few points finishes. So yeah, P10 for Stroll.

Okay, we now move to ninth place. And I've gone for, yes, Frank, Esteban Ocon. I think that he's going to have a better season, as I said, than GASley, I'm not convinced the Alpine's going to be lightning quick like it was last year. But hey, it's only testing. Don't make too many assumptions. But here's me making lots of assumptions. I'm going to back Ocon for P9.

I think he is going to have another solid season, beat his teammate again. I know Alonzo fans, you're going to hate that, Tommy. Oh, he had loads of line problems. Ocon still had a good season last year. And I think he'll have another one this year. I do wonder whether that teammate rivalry will overload. Ocon does love a bit of spice with his teammate. So I wonder if there might be a few points lost there as well,

which might impact him fighting 8th, 7th and so on in the driver's standings. But 9th will still be a good season, I would say. But to be fair, when I'm actually looking at my rundown, I don't actually know who will finish fourth in the constructors because I've basically got a driver from each team doing pretty well and then the other one not doing so great. So it could be close. Hopefully.

That's what we want, that nice midfield battle. I've gone in P9 for Lando Norris. Yeah, quite low down. I think, for me, I just think McLaren aren't going to be any good. And particularly at the start of the year, the reason he's so much higher than Piastri is because I do think, yeah, Lando Norris will do Lando Norris things and put that car absolutely where it shouldn't be realistically

because I don't think that car is going to be any good for maybe the first four or five races in particular. So he's going to lose out on a lot of points there. And then I wouldn't be surprised by the end of the season or if he's consistent point scoring, finishing P7 all the time, maybe sneaks one podium in the year. But I just worry he's going to get left behind

with how dreadful that McClellan Claren looks now from testing, but it's only testing. It certainly is. Good caveat right there. OK, P8 for me is Lando Norris. He's one of those drivers that just makes the difference. And I think as soon as that car is good or good enough, he'll be picking up points. The fact that, you know, I've said this before, but that that ridiculous stat of him being

in the top five of percentage inside the top 10 finishes of all time, that says a lot about what he can do. I know he hasn't had as many races as a lot of drivers, but you can also say that the McLaren has been a dog at times since he's been there. So the fact that he can make the difference is a key thing there. And I also, as much as McLaren might look rubbish at the start again last year, they picked it up and Norris was able to score points. So for me, yeah, I think Norris will get P8.

And I think Tommy is going to be putting his smug face on because if he does the calculations, then his prediction of a certain someone being in the top seven has also become true in my side of the predictions. So PA, I've gone for Ocon. I think Esty Besty is going to have another good season. I think he'll just be a consistent point scorer put in those performances like he did this year where kind of unexpectedly,

and I do generally think he's going to absolutely trounce Gassley we shall see. But I could just see Ocon being that kind of, what do you call him a silent assassin or something where he's just underrated, just putting in those points. And yeah, I think P8 would be a good result for him. It certainly would.

We now move to P7. Yes, go on Tommy, pull the smug face. I've gone for Fernando Alonzo. I am so excited. to see what this Aston Martin can do. I pray that this is right. I pray actually that I'm wrong that he's even higher up the driver's standings than this

because seeing a Fernando Alonzo, energized, fighting it with the top dogs, is exactly what every single person wants if you like entertaining racing. Like the absolute tenacity and aggression that Fernando Alonzo would bring, If that Aston Martin can get podiums, it will blow everyone's minds. That man will be the most dive-bombie person I think we can ever see.

I can't wait. I really hope so. But if it's not that good, it still looks decent. And Fernando Alonzo is very much known for getting the most out of a rubbish car. And if the car's half rubbish at times, but half good, Alonzo will be picking up the points, I'm sure, as long as it doesn't blow up all the time. P7, no surprise. I have stuck with my prediction,

which I'm really hoping is an absolute worldly of a prediction because no one believed at the start, but after testing, big hype. I've also gone for Fernando Alonzo. I am just praying with every bit of my body that this is actually true. And that's why not going to be good because Alonzo in the mix would just be,

so damn good for F1 like you say. And I have never been more hyped as I watched a video after testing. And Ted Kravitz, his prediction was he watched Alonzo's race pace and he thought they looked as good as the Mercedes, which got me absolutely buzzing for the season. If he is anywhere near them, I am going to be absolutely unbearable on the watchalongs. And I don't, I am not going to apologize for it. Matt Pee and Tommy on Twitch, if you want to come and watch along with us for qualifying and race days. We will be there.

Tommy will go from a Vastappan fanboy to an Alonzo fanboy. Can you imagine if we get wheel to Will Alonzo and Hamilton week in week out? Oh my goodness me. That is an tantalizing prospect. So yeah, Alonzo P7, please. And well, higher if possible. But I'm trying to be realistic. Yeah, trying to be realistic.

and that's P7 now. That's a realistic thing that apparently could happen. Okay, we now go to the top six where we both have all three of the top teams still left to choose from. For me, P6 is George Russell. I believe that Mercedes,

oh my God, as much as in my head, I was thinking Hamilton, surely is going to win, it's going to come back, Mercedes is going to figure out this bloody philosophy that they've been trying to, make work for over a year now. But it doesn't look like it's good enough.

Again, every on board we saw of the Mercedes, it just looked like they were wrestling it. It didn't look convincing. And for that reason, I can't see Russell any higher than sixth. I've also gone for George Russell P6. I just don't believe that Mercedes is going to be all that this year, which is a shame because we want to see him in that mix. and the more people at the front, the better.

But I'm just not convinced that I know Russell had a great season last year, but I think Hamilton will have the edge on him. And I just don't have faith in Mercedes at the moment, which is a crazy thing to think after eight years of just going, even when they were having trouble in testing last year, I was one of those people that's like, nah, they've won the championship easy. I don't believe it for a second.

But here we are again, thinking that Mercedes might not be all that. Yeah, potentially the third fastest car, maybe fourth fastest at the start of the year, potentially if Aston Martin are very much in the mix. So there'll be no surprise that P5 I've gone for Lewis Hamilton. I think that again, he will beat George Russell

over the course of the year, in my opinion. It also depends on how experimental Hamilton's going to be for how long of the season. because realistically, if Mercedes are the third fastest car and quite far off Redbourne Ferrari, they may well go down the route of just trying to figure out again what's gone wrong with the car and how they can make an experimental setup work.

So perhaps Russell might beat Hamilton at the start of the year like we saw last year. So we'll have to wait and see on that one. But again, similar with Russell, Mercedes just in general, just don't look as quick as I had hoped they would be to get in the mix with Ferrari and Red Bull. And it's a shame because it's such an eye watering, mouthwatering prospect to have those three teams with those six drivers getting involved with each other. It just is such an amazing lineup for those three teams.

But Mercedes looked like they've fallen short again. So I have gone a little bit different and gone P5 Carlos Sites. I just think that this is not to say that. I don't think science will be closer to LeClair. But spoiler, I think there's a driver. that's going to just kind of be above him, as you know, because he's not there and make the difference. So Carlos Sainz P5, but I think I could envision it being very close, kind of like what we had this last year gone by where kind of between four, fifth, six, like it's swapping around and quite close. You're going to say we're going to get to like Suzuki.

We're going to have a battle for fourth graphic between Hamilton signs. can't you. They'll be clipping like Hamilton crossing the line and Drive to Survival cut to him celebrating his like

sixth world title to show that he's buzzing with P4. It'll be a team radio. You are the vice, vice, vice champion. But yeah, I've gone for science. That's not to say, I don't think you'll be

closer to LeClau this year. And I don't think you'll have the same. You're going to be closer to Mercedes over the course of the year than they were last year. Yeah, they might not have the electric star. that they had this year, which is sad to see.

Stop saying it out loud, Tommy. It hurts, okay? I'm trying to believe, but we move to P4, and it is Carlos Sines for me. I think that he's going to have a better year than last year. He's had a year now to bed himself into that Ferrari atmosphere.

I think he did a pretty good job, to be fair. Well, he's been obviously there a little bit longer than that. But in terms of the new car and whatnot, he took a little bit of time to get used. to that Ferrari car. But once he did, he was on the pace towards the end of the year with Lecler. Yeah, I think P4 is a solid shout for signs.

I think Lecler over the course of a season will outperform him. But yeah, no higher than fourth, unfortunately, for me. So P4, I've gone for Hamilton. I think that the Merck, like I said, about Russell, I don't think it's going to be all that, but I think Hamilton will make the difference on certain races where he can, despite what some people believe where they don't think he's very good in a not a very good car, which I think is absolutely ridiculous.

He's shown that last year, particularly things like Hungary and stuff, he got that car to where it shouldn't be. And then he hit that stage anywhere, he's finishing P2 all the time it seemed behind Vestepin again. So I think Hamilton's going to make the difference in the points. despite the Mercedes not being all that. But I just hope for my theory to work, we're going to have to see another season where Hamilton's not the one like you say, doing all these experimental things

to try and improve the car, because if he is, then he's probably going to be P6. But I think he will, though, that's the thing, right? If Mercedes are off the pace, Hamilton's not here to fight for fourth in the championship. or third. He wants to win or nothing. So I can very much see him going down that route again. And I'm sure Mercedes to keep him happy will allow him to almost sacrifice race weekends

in order to try and figure out the car. Because realistically, Mercedes, again, aren't there to fight for third or second in the constructors. They want to be winning. So it will be very, very interesting if we see Q1 exits and so on from Hamilton that we saw in Saudi last year. But yeah, I think it'll be close between Hamilton and signs. we now move to third place, and this hurts me a lot.

Charlerler. Now, my heart was saying, and is still saying, there's hope. There's still hope there until we get to qualifying, and Verstappen's on pole by six-tenths of a second, is that Ferrari might still have something. Maybe, fingers crossed, but my brain is overriding me for this particular thing because it's proper predictions.

And I feel like if I'm going to go on the record and write something down, I have to be true to what my Formula One brain says without any emotion. And it is Charles Leclair in P3. It looks as though Ferrari are behind Red Bull. Red Bull look so ominous, so good. Like they're on boards. It just looks flowing. And especially Perez on the last day, it just seems to be clicking.

You put Vastappen behind the wheel. I think he's going to be clear this season. which, ah, it's not good. It's not good if you want to see one, a Shao LeClau world title. The amount of clips I've seen are people going, oh, men only want one thing. And then it cuts to a crofty edit of Charles LeClau's champion of the world. And it's so beautifully edited as well that it actually sounds real.

And I'm like, no, maybe. Maybe it will be this year. But I can't see it. And Ferrari needed to be ahead going into Barrow. Rane like they were last year. Doesn't seem that way. Still fear the whole tire degradation in races. Yeah, P3 for Charlotte Claire for me.

Ouch. Testing hit you hard. Yeah, I've also gone in P3 for Charlotte Claire. Just, I think he'll get, you know, a few wins, maybe a few more polls like he did. Wins. I'm not even that hopeful at this point. but yeah really wow um i mean yeah i think that there'll be moments where i think he'll may dare i say it's when red bull have issues is he's going to be the one to pick up the pieces

but um yeah charlerclair uh down in p3 i say down in p3 it's still high up but not not kind of after testing it's really hard to look past red bull and how incredible their test was on that car just looked absolutely ridiculous. So not really much of a surprise for the next two. No, clearly for the top six, I've gone two by two by two, as you may well have noticed. So in second place, in the championship, I've gone for Max for, Sergio Perez, of course, Sergio Perez.

I mean, come on. I think Perez, from the looks of things the Red Bull does look like it's a step clear of everyone else. I believe Perez will just pick up the points. pick up the podiums, pick up the one-toos behind Vastappen, and that will be enough to secure him vice champion of the world. And I'm over it, whatever, don't care. You know, Charlotte-Claude is going to have to relinquish that title,

which is not going to be great. It's going to have to be vice-vice champion, which, you know, still sounds good. But it's not ideal. But, yeah, I think Perez, he'll be good enough to pick up the points. I think it will be quite close maybe between Lecler and Perez, just purely because of how close I guess they were last year and whatnot. And I think Nicolao can pick up maybe quite a few second places this year. I'm not convinced about beating Vastappen unless he breaks down.

So yeah, Perez, vice champion of the world. I've also gone for Sergio Perez P2. No surprise there really after last season. But it's going to be interesting if, well, I say it's going to be interesting if Red Bull and Miles Claire. It's not going to be interesting if Red Bull and Miles Clear. It's for you in Max Cape. Yeah. However, obviously, if we do get a situation again where the Red Bull is quite far ahead,

reliability is going to come into it. And it would be interesting to see if kind of last year, Ferrari were a bit closer. So when Vastappen had issues, it was kind of between LeClaire might have got a win. Science obviously got that win that time as well. Checo got wins as well. But if it gets, it's going to be interesting that when, kind of those rates where Vostappan does have enough day, if the Red Bull is so far clear that it's just an easy Perres win,

or we're going to have a nice battle between the other guys. Yeah, God, that Red Bull, even as a fan of Max Ostappan, it is just a little bit concerning because I don't want him to run away with it. So come on, Aston. Give me the Alonzo Verstappen. I love how Aston is our only hope. like crave. That's our only hope left is Aston Martin.

Who would have thought that last year? Geez. But yes, I'm convinced it's going to be Perez picking up the pieces. But we will see. I'm going to turn this into a good thing, is that our expectations are through the floor, which means anything closer than of a Stepan 23-0 whitewash of the entire field is a good season.

That's what I've convinced myself. Fair. Oh goodness me. What's happened? Only a few weeks ago, I was like, yeah, and then I watched testing and the on boards of the Red Bull and went, oh God, that it just looks like it's on rails as well. They didn't even have a set up kind of, I mean, that's kind of max being max anyway where I go straight out of the pits and set in a quick laps, but they didn't even take any time to sort of. And this is the thing when when it was for Ferrari ahead.

Sorry, Matt, but when it was Ferrari ahead, you always felt like the other teams would catch up. I remember those days. Whereas when it's Red Bull ahead, they're normally the ones. Even in the eras of Mercedes dominance, they were the ones that even when they started the year slow, they were the one developing and improving throughout the year. So, sorry to bring it back to, oh, no, but dread to think if they're this good out the blocks, how good they're going to be by the end of the season. but who knows with their wind tunnel time that's been slashed

and will keep getting slashed if they keep winning as well. Yeah, exactly. And it's the fact that that particular reduction is more going to lean towards stopping their development as opposed to how their car's coming out the blocks now because of course they've had time to prepare for this previously. So we'll see. Maybe Ferrari stage a comeback. Who am I kidding?

Anyway, that is it. Thank you, everybody, for watching or listening to this. Who is P1? We didn't actually say for the purpose of the video and the pictures actually appearing on screen. Oh, God, yeah. It's because we spoke about him. I thought actually said it.

I'm sorry. Let me try again. For P1, I've gone for Max Verstappen. He is the inevitable. He has got every infinity stone in his gauntlet. He's going to click his fingers, and it's going to be a 23 and O, Max Verstappen whitewash.

He's going to win every single race of the year. Can you tell him trying to jinx it? And look, he is the best driver on the grid right now. And if the car is what it suggests it is from testing, he'll be world champion. There's no doubt in my mind. Zero. Yeah. You can work out that I've also gone for P1, Max Verstappen,

even as the pessimistic for Stappen fan that never puts him P1 in any predictions ever, it's very hard to go against it right now with how that test went, how he was performing last season and might even have a better car than last year, particularly at the start of the season, which was at the point that he struggled, or at least with reliability and getting that car to how he liked. So yes, ominous, ominous, ominous is going to be the buzzword, I think, for Red Bull, at least for the start. but whether that budget cap and winternal time sort of affects their development,

we'll have to wait and see. We certainly will. Max just happened to make it the three peep. That's what we both reckon. So let's know in the comments if you're watching on YouTube. We'd love to see your top 20 or just send us a message on social media. And that is pretty much it. Thank you so much for watching or listening to this 20th to first prediction video.

We're going to be doing predictions every single. single race weekend on the Thursday, so you can look forward to that, both on podcast and on YouTube as well. We'll be live streaming on Twitch, Matt P1, Tommy, for the watchalongs of the qualifying and the race. And we're going to be live as well for free practice one for this particular Grand Prix weekend. So look forward to that. That is it. Thank you so much, everybody. We'll see you very soon for another Max Verstapp and Masterclass of a season. Okay. Bye. Bye. You're not in pain at all, are you? Nope.

Nope The copium has worn off I'm getting used to it now Right The heartbreak's already shattered And it can heal about halfway through the season P1 is a stack production

And part of the Acast creator network Thank you.