P1 with Matt and Tommy - Should Lando Norris LEAVE McLaren?

Episode Date: March 8, 2023

McLaren look set for a difficult season after a disastrous Bahrain Grand Prix. Lando Norris has a contract until 2025 - but is it time for Lando to look elsewhere?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.

Hello everybody and welcome back to the P. One podcast with Matt and Tommy. I've had my coffee, gave it a good old P that time. Sounds weird. But you know what I mean? The emphasis was there. As we dive into one of our probably first nitty-gritty discussion topics, Tommy. That's not the name of this series.

But it's basically a big talking point for a lot of people. Lando Norris and what he should do moving forward with his career. And there's quite a few different possibilities, different things that we can explore today. And it should be quite an interesting topic. You should indeed. There's going through it, we've asked you guys to kind of give your opinions on social media and stuff. There's actually a lot more options and things that could happen in the future than I initially. thought when we actually dive into it and think about all the options, there's quite a lot of

interesting possibilities to go with. So what you're saying is the people that listen and watch our content actually have more ideas and less washed. They know wheel. Yes, we know no wheel. But before we get into that, we need to do our usual, which is reading out a five-star review from one of you beautiful people that have left it on wherever you listen or watch our podcast. This one comes in from JV status, from the United States of America. Simple formula for why this is a great podcast. Knowledgeable hosts, where, an interesting and detailed analysis and great chemistry. Equals, excellent podcast.

Now, I wasn't very good at maths, but that's a formula that even I can understand. So thank you, JV status for that. Remember, if you want to have your review read out on this podcast, then leave a five-star review. Let us know why you enjoy this podcast, and we will choose one to be featured next time. Okay, let's get into, first and foremost, the reasons for Lando to stay at McLaren. Right, now let's move on to the reasons. Yeah, I was like, there's going to be a short segment. Yeah, okay.

So let's go with our, this is our opinions first, of reasons why Lando should stay. Why don't you start, Tommy? Because I've seen a few comments. It's always Matt going first. Let's have a bit of Tom Bellingham. Go on then. Okay. Moving on. No. Reasons for Lando to stay, I guess he is the number one golden boy at his team,

which we've seen that when you get a championship winning car, aka Maxa Steppen, it's a very, very good place to be because you don't have much competition from your teammate, and you can run away with a championship when you get that winning car and you don't have much competition. So I guess that's a positive. Only other positive that I'll throw into the mix, which is a recent positive, I guess, is that Aston Martin have actually shown that you can get in that mix of top teams.

I mean, since the hybrid era started, it's been Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari so far clear of everyone and no one could get anywhere near them for years and years and years. and there was always that huge chasm between sixth and seventh, wasn't there? But the fact that Aston Martin have broken into that top kind of three teams shows that there is hope for midfielders to get in that mix eventually.

Whether McLaren can do that is another question. But it's kind of a – I think that is a positive for other teams looking at the top teams that they are reachable now. I guess you could also flip that and be like, well, as soon as Aston-Marine, Martin have had any kind of facilities to work with, as in they've built this whole new infrastructure near Silverstone. They've gone into the top three. McLaren have had this infrastructure for a long, long time. So yeah. But wait, we're getting ahead of ourselves. Those are the negatives. This is reasons for Lando to stay. If Lando's listening, okay, Lando, you should stay

because McLaren have a great heritage. They have digital rotating sponsors. They do. And that's cash money, right? I guess, yeah, I agree with your point, Tommy, that Aston might have given other teams hope. It's just so difficult to swing it as a positive, because I see that as a negative, because McLaren should have been that team. Yeah, they should.

To fly into that top three if there was a gap. But no, positives. They have a great heritage. I've got another one. have a great infrastructure. Kind of. I guess McLaren suited Landau's personality, particularly at the start, that he loves his streaming and he can do kind of fun things.

Well, he doesn't do it anymore, but he liked that side of it. And I think McLaren was a really good fit for that, because they were this kind of fun team that allowed their drives to do what they want. And it really suited him well. now, again, going into the negatives, I'm really trying here, but now I imagine that side of it for him is like, okay, I've had my fun, I really just want a winning car now, please. Yeah, okay, so we just get into the negative. No, no, no, no, no, I'm trying to be positive.

McLaren, I mean, I guess he's the team leader there, right? It is shaped around him. If the car's good, he will be the one winning races and he'll be the one winning championships. There's no doubt about that. Lando wants he gets and he's able to extract whatever he can out of the car. We've seen that so many times with McLaren, but the problem is he is always trying to extract the last droplet out of that McLaren to get anywhere near the top six, top seven.

Again, that's a negative. Okay, reasons for Lando to go. It's like that SpongeBob meme with the really long list that keeps on rolling. Yeah. Okay, so we've kind of mentioned. Aston Martin have thrust themselves into the top three. that's warning signs for McLaren. Maclaren have gone backwards again at the start of this year.

Now, they could turn it around. They did last year. So I'm not going to say it's a completely washed season. Lando's not going to get anywhere near the top six. Leave now. That's not what I'm saying. But the problem is they're being showed up by other teams around them, other teams that have less budget to work with potentially as well.

Now, they were on pretty much the slowest team or thereabouts, one of the slowest teams in Bahrain. And they can't be starting seasons like this because it's going to make Lando start turning his head and go, I don't want to be here anymore. I want to start this season firing like Aston Martin have and really build on that, not constantly trying to work with the team

to figure out what went wrong this year. It can't be good for morale for the team or for the drivers. So that's one reason. Other reasons include, I don't actually see McLaren getting anywhere near the top three teams whilst Zach Brown's in charge. As much as Zach Brown is this kind of likable guy that people seem to, oh, he's like a dad figure, oh, him and Lando, oh, hug at Austria podium. Realistically, he's been in charge of McLaren now. I know he's not the team principal, but he's been in charge of McLaren now for quite a long time.

And how many races have they won? One. One race. And I know that he is, you know, the CEO, he's in charge of all the different activations. But I think the problem is, you know, this is just an opinion. But I think Zach's too much of a businessman than he is actually fully focused on channeling everything into the Formula One pinnacle of motorsport McLaren brand. It's Indycar.

It's extremely. It's everything else. I think that genuinely does pull away some attention. And that's why they've never actually taken. big step forward, back to where they belong. They used to be a race-winning team. They used to win championships. Now McLaren are just settled in as this midfield team.

Like Williams are settled in, well, even they are doing pretty well. Even they're beating McLaren now. And they've been seen as a backmarker team for a while. So I don't think it's good enough. But it really depends on what everyone at McLaren wants. Do they just want to make money? Do they just want to be this business that loads of people like, all this happy-go-lucky midfield team?

Surely not as a McLaren premium brand. yeah i popped off sorry no well it's got every right to i mean i'm looking at mcclaren's constructors title uh like finish sorry finishing positions in the championship and obviously it's going way back but 80s you know you've got first first second second first first first first second second

and then even the the two thousands they were even even when they weren't winning the title they were second and third loads of race wins and then McLaren were quite hyped, weren't they really, in 2020 because they were on this huge upward slope. They finished ninth in the Constructors title when it was that they were the biggest joke going

with the McLaren Honda and GP2 engine with Alonzo. Then they finished sixth the year after, fourth the year after, and then third. And at the end of 2020, we were like, McLaren is the place to be. These guys are on the up. And then the year after they finished fourth and the year after they finished fifth.

And then this year, goodness knows where they're going to finish if that car is where it is. So they do seem like they're now going back down. And Lando is a fantastic talent and still hasn't won a race. It's painful because of everything that happened in Russia. And it would be criminal if he just stays at McLaren for most of his career and never gets that race win. because I do think that with the right package and car,

he is not just race winning potential, he's championship winning potential. And yeah, McLaren, like you say, I just don't see them ever improving under the current situation. The thing you say about Aston Martin, that I tried to turn into positive, but you're right, it's all right going,

oh, well, Aston built this new factory and now they're really good. And McLaren have probably got the best facility on the entire Formula One grid and have for years. It's so impressive. Every time you go there, it's just like, wow. And also, wow, how are they in the midfield? Yeah, it's not looking great for McLaren. I do worry about them.

Yes, we do. And so do you as well, if you're listening or watching on YouTube. By the way, if you're watching on YouTube, you may have noticed a little prototype one that I'm wearing. currently. Yeah, it's in the works. Don't worry. Get excited. All that good stuff. Anyway, we put a poll to you on our YouTube community. Do we think Lando should leave McLaren? Yes or no? 81% of you out of 10,000 votes said yes. That is a resounding majority vote there. So a lot of you feel the same way. Nineteen percent of you, probably McLaren fans, just love the papaya and just want to stay in a half a go. Love those.

rotating digital sponsors. Yeah, probably worth mentioning that Lando, because I've not written in the sheet, apologies, but he is locked in until 2025, but we know contracts can be broken. Just look at Piastri. Well, exactly. His teammate is quite funny, actually,

because, well, not funny if you're a Lando fan, but I was trying to find, I just kind of did a quick Google to remember how long his contract was, and the Sky Sports article at the end of middle of 2022, when he signed his contract, Till MacLaren for the end of 2025, there's an article here where it's Lando saying that all the skeptics of his long-term contract are clueless and McLaren is the best place for me.

Well, 81% don't agree with you now. Sorry. Yeah, I'm not sure how Lando himself feels as well. I can't imagine he's buzzing with that. But to be fair, right, when you look at when he signed, they were on the up. They were improving. And I can understand him wanting to sign with a team that has so much heritage

and has their amazing HQ. And has been part of Lando's journey for quite some time. And the top teams were locked in as well. Exactly. You just had George Russell go to Mercedes. You just had Sergio Perez go to Red Bull. It just had, you know, science locked in at Ferrari. So there wasn't really elsewhere.

So I think we probably don't quote me on this, but we're saying, well, where can he go realistically? But now I think there are options and somewhere I need to look at. Well, let's get into some of your thoughts, if you're listening. At Fy Zakar, 123, BS. There's nowhere better for him to go. He'll have to wait for McLaren to get good. Now, this one, I'm not sure that's entirely true. You know, we've already spoken about contracts being broken.

And if the right conversations are had, anything can realistically happen. And there are a lot of options further down as we get through them. But I don't think that's true that he has nowhere to go, especially as Lando Norris. He is an incredibly highly regarded talent that could go to, he could be knocking on the door at Red Bull, at Ferrari, at Mercedes. Obviously, he's not going to kick out Hamilton. but you start to question and wonder, okay, Team X, what is your, or his manager, I doubt Lando would walk in, be like, oh, but, you know,

what's your prospects? What are you actually, are you long term with this duo, or is there an opening? Is the door ajar? And this is what happens in Formula One all the time, the things we don't see. Drive to survive tries to capture some of it, but realistically all they do is say,

oh, Perez has not had his contract signed when he did. Yeah, true. I think with Lando, and this goes with every driver that's ever been in Formula One in a kind of midfield car that is punching above their weight and doing well, you've got to get talking to the new teams while you're hyped because realistically, it's all right going, oh, you know, we've got to wait for McLaren to get good

or, oh, you should wait until his contract is over by the end of 2025. If Lando Norris, if McLaren are on, keep having a stinker like they did in Bahrain for the hospital, whole season and Landos finishes the championship 12th, 13th, which is painful to think. He won't be hyped anymore. Unfortunately, Formula 1, you're only as good as your last race. Look at someone like Pierre Gazley that when he won that race, we were all like, oh, could he, you know, where's he going to go now?

Like, he deserves to be in a better team than Al-Fa-Tauri. And then sometimes you have a bad year and you're forgotten about again. So you need to be putting yourself out there when you are incredibly hyped. And I worry that that hype was around Lando was 2021, 2020. Even last year, I think he was absolutely incredible. Like he was the only midfielder that got a podium. And he was just so consistent. And at the end of the day, may well have ended Daniel Ricardo's career, who's a race winner.

So he needs to be. looking around, definitely. I would argue slightly against the hype dying out for him, because as long as he's smashing his teammate, I think he'll always be highly regarded. I don't think it necessarily needs McLaren to be fighting at the front for teams. Because teams know how good a driver is without

them having to be in the top five, top six, whatever. So George Russell, he proved himself in a Williams and now he's in the Mercedes. So I don't necessarily think that Lando will miss the boat if he does wait till 2026 but then on the flip side of that you don't know who's going to enter formula one between you know now and 2026 there could be a lot of young prospects again and that may be on the flip side of that then you know that could be a highly regarded hot shot prospect and lando's an aging middle middle 20 year old driver you know it's crazy to think that's weird to think can

happen but there's plenty of stuff that can unfold in formula one so let's now go through the possibilities that we have we had we didn't come up with these as much as you can kind of look at them. All of you submitted these. So we'll read them out as we go along. And we will grade them out of 10 as to how likely we think that he'll end up there at some point. So first and foremost, Mercedes. This comes in from Nathan Skilling. It won't be immediately, but Toto will be looking for him to replace Lewis when the day finally comes and Lewis hangs up his boots. I absolutely wholeheartedly believe this. I am. convinced that if Hamilton, because he said he wants to stay till his eighth, but realistically,

he's not going to stay until he's 45 years old, in my opinion. I don't think Hamilton's got that much of a drive like Alonzo has to stay in the sport that long. I think he'll give it two, three years maybe to try and secure that eighth world title. And then when that window opens up, I think I think Lando is absolutely set on going to Mercedes personally. They've obviously have the slight link with Mercedes engines and whatever. And, you know, Toto Wolf knows a generational talent when he sees it. That's why we put George Russell in the car alongside Lewis Hamilton. And it is not unprecedented to have two young skilled drivers in Formula One anymore.

We've got Carlos Sines and Charlotte Claire together. They're both reasonably young, sort of mid-20s. So I can absolutely see Lando Norris and George Russell going up against each other. And God, that is a mouth-watering prospect, because they raced against each other in Formula 2 and they had an intense rivalry there as well. So I'm going to give this if Hamilton does retire. Let's say in two years, I think Lando Norris will replace him. But that's dependent on whether Hamilton retires in that time.

So I'll give it an eight out of ten. Interesting. Yeah, you can definitely see this one happening. Mercedes aren't afraid to put, well, for a start, two Brits alongside each other because they've got it currently. and yeah, you could see Lando does have ties with Mercedes anyway throughout for, you know, through McLaren and things like that. So you could definitely see this one happening.

It just depends how long Hamilton's going to stick around. He did a lie detector test recently, didn't he, and said like, I'm not retiring until I get my eighth, but realistically, if that Mercedes is not good, that's not going to happen, which is painful to say. it just he's not going to be able to do that if he doesn't have the car at the end of the day. So he's not going to just stay there to let you say until he's 50, 60 years old. You just can't do that.

So yeah, I, I would give this one a six just because I think there are, I can, I can see other options that might be better suited. And we just don't know. I think Lewis has got another two. maybe three years in it, and then goodness knows where we're going to be in three years' time. Well, we will be in 2026 when there's another new set of regulations. So I'll go for a six. Okay. Yeah, I love how it's 2023. And I'm like, oh, Hamilton can save for two or three years. That means that he would wait at McLaurin until 2026.

Yeah. Yeah, that is, yeah, quickly goes. Next up, Red Bull. At Sol underscore Bam. Horner really likes Lando. So if the opportunity presented, itself, I think Red Bull would jump for it. I'm not convinced on this one. I think that, I mean, there's been reports that Lando had chats with Red Bull anyway to kind of figure out what was going on there at the time of them signing Perez. But realistically, if I'm a Formula One driver, I don't care how good I think I am. I'm not going into Max Verstappen's team. I'm just not. I don't think Lando would beat Max. I think he would be a couple of tents off. It wouldn't be the team or it wouldn't match Landau's aspirations.

He wants to be a world champion and he would have to go into the lion's den, quite literally, and beat him in his own team after Max has been there for however many years. It's just, I just don't see this happening two out of ten. Interesting. I used to think this was going to potentially be the best place for him. And just the fact that Horner really likes him, like this person said. he's really good mates with Max as well. Like they are very much besties, aren't they?

Not for long if they go to Red Bull. Exactly. This is the thing. And from Red Bull side, while I think he is a good fit, realistically, how much do they want to rock the boat when they've got a car at the moment, whether they will in two, three years time we'll see, but at the moment, they've got a car which,

with the greatest respect to Checo, there's quite a few drivers that could be in that team and pick up a solid P2 behind Max Verstappen. And Checo is that perfect driver at the moment there that has that consistency. He's very experienced, but he's not going to trouble Max for a world title.

And it's interesting that when you've got a dominant car, you kind of want that, but when you're kind of in the midfield, you want two really good drivers to pick up all the points you can. So for me, I will go with a four, no, yeah, no, I'm going to go for a five. I'm going to go for a five just because I could see it, but I think Max would, even though he'd probably be like, oh yeah, it'd be great to be teammates with Lando. I think behind the scenes he'd be like, no, don't, not that I don't think for a minute

that Lando would beat Max over a championship. season. I think he'd maybe pick up the odd race win here and there. And that's quite an interesting prospect for Lando and just Formula One drivers in general, that that prospect of Red Bull is like you're kind of sacrificing your chance to win a world title, but you're going to get a few wins. And it's an interesting toss up between if I go into that team, you're going to get a few race wins and you'll be remembered as a race winner and you can prove that you can win a race.

But equally, you're not going to beat Microsoft into the world title and that team is built around him. So, yeah, I go the five. I wonder if that's what Pierre Gazley and Alex Albin thought when they went into Red Bull that they would get a few race wins. Yeah, quite. That wasn't a guarantee, was it, by any stretch. So, okay, five out of ten from you, Tommy. Very interesting.

We now move to Ferrari at Trilemma underscore cap. Signs replacement at Ferrari seems possible. Signs isn't good enough right now. I don't particularly agree that signs isn't good enough right now. I think that he's on the edge of potentially questioning his performance, but he's only had one round in the 2023 season. When you look back to the end of last year, he was very much more. of a match for Charle-le-Claire, and I think that is more than what Ferrari could potentially ask for.

I don't see Ferrari binning off signs in order to get Norris in the car when you actually look back to when they were McLaren teammates, and they were very evenly matched. So realistically, unless signs falls off a cliff and they're forced into changing it up and bringing Norris in, I think it would just be a like-for-like replacement, but Lando has to go through all the teething issues of being part of Ferrari. And also, Lando and Ferrari, I think, as a personality match, just doesn't work either. So for me, it's going to be a two out of ten. Yeah, I completely agree with you with every point there. I'd even say it's a one out of ten. I just can't see it at all. I'm going to go for a one because it just doesn't make any sense to me.

and it's funny that people talking about science replacement at Ferrari because he's not good enough. It's funny that Ferrari are slightly off the pace and you go, oh, you need him to improve. But just like we were saying earlier, realistically, Ferrari had the best car on the grid by a second. I think science is the perfect driver that's going to pick up good points, probably do what Perez is doing at Red Bull, where he finishes second or third in the constructors title, bags the constructors title and he's not going to... He finishes the second or third of the construct...

Signs as his own team. Sorry. In the driver's title. And basically allows Shalter is the one that's going to win that world title at Ferrari. So I just can't see Lando.

And like you say, if I close my eyes and picture Lando in all these overalls and stuff, Ferrari is just not him. I just can't see that at all. So yeah, one out of ten. What if Hamilton left Mercedes went to Ferrari?

I would love that so much. I don't think it's out of the realms of possibility either. If Mercedes don't pick up their game, Hamilton just has a jolly at Ferrari. I say a jolly. There's nothing jolly about being a Ferrari right now with the DNFs. But, yeah, goes for a couple of years, sees what happens, ticks off his. Historic team.

Yeah, I think it could be a winner. Okay, Audi next at Hotcho 110. I think he stays at McLaren until 2026 then joins up with Andreas Seidler-Alde alongside their German driver of choice. This one is more within the realms of possibility for me. I think that there is still a very big chance that Lando stays at McLaren, just purely because all of these options that we've said, none of them are clear, obvious openings. It is reliant on something happening and then Lando being the driver of choice to slot into

the crazy silly season that might unfold. Realistically, Audi, there are openings for 2026. Andrea Seidel has gone there. That clearly for me is an option for Lando. He's worked with Andrea Seidel before. You know, the pathway is there if he wants it. But then again, that's another risk.

There is no guarantee that Audi is going to be good in 2026. Of course, Seidel moving over so early is, of course, trying to lay the groundwork, lay the foundations ready for 26, and hopefully they can be right at the front. But there's no guarantee that's another complete role of the dice. Now, I know there is a lot of luck involved in Formula One and team choices. Alonzo's been on the wrong side of most of his, Aston Martin being one of the only times he's got it right.

But I think this one's an even bigger gamble. There's no reason to suggest right now that the Audi would be good. what's your great so number i think it's a six out of ten because i think there is still a possibility of this so yeah i'm going to go for a nine out of ten for this one i can i can really see this just being the perfect fit for for lando in his career it is a risk i don't get me wrong uh but i think if he went there soonish alpha amayo uh currently you know botas was running up in p8 having a having a good a good race they they look fairly decent despite what i predicted they look quite good now yeah that they were going to be terrible 16th in the drive show yeah but i think lando would want to get in

that early to kind of see the progression before 2026 and then if our d are going to be amazing in 2026 with this whole new set of regulations and you are this is formula one you just kind of bank on a move and hope you're there in the right place the right time because realistically all the grid are actually good but the car plays such a huge well the biggest part by an absolute mile like you can't you can't you know Lewis Hamilton hasn't become a bad driver in two years he just doesn't have the machinery to to win titles and that's why he's finishing like fifth in the races now. So we, with Audi, I think the siddle partnership,

it's got, it's got that move that I think he'd be comfortable with. And then he just praised that they do an Aston Martin and move up. And he, I think he could be a team, team leader there, especially when you get to 2026. I'm trying to work out. I can't remember how old Lando is. How old is Lando? About 23, 4.

23. Yeah, so he'd be in his mid-20s. I could see him being a bit more experienced team leader, a bit more mature. And I could see him being that driver that an Audi, an Audi needs. Okay. Yeah, nine out of ten.

I want to combat that slightly. Yeah, I'll challenge you to a duel. Okay, I can see that part, going to Audi, but what's to stop him? Why does he have to wait at McLaren until 2026? That's the part that maybe put my grade down to six Saturday. Well, sorry, I was just grading it based on Audi, not the 2026 thing. This is the whole phrase, you know what I mean?

I think he stays at McLaren until 2026. I guess maybe that's where my 6 out of 10. If we're just going with Audi in 2026, then that's more of an 8 out of 10 for me. Oh, okay. I was just saying his next career move will be Audi 9 out of 10. Okay, well, if I would say staying at McLaren. If you're saying that's his next career move, that means that you think he's staying at McLaren until 2026. No, but I think he could go earlier.

What's Alfa, may it? Yeah. Salba, there'd be Salba. Salba, yeah, yeah. So I could see. You think you'll go to Salba and relinquish? In like a 2025, if McLaren is still midfield. But what's the point in him going early if the car's going to be completely different?

It's not like he could learn anything. Yeah, but he'd bed himself in the team and stuff and get used to the people around him. So I guess you could argue like Hamilton did that, right? He moved one year before the Mercedes dream team rule change. And he bedded himself in the team nicely, got the experience, helped develop that car. And then went, thank you very much. All these records are now mine. Interesting.

I think that's, this one's definitely up for debate. Let us know on social media or in the YouTube comments what you think to the Audi one in particular. Because that's a saucy little conversation. Not usual. Let me and Tommy go and duel. So that's a good fun. I see some comments that are like, you agree too much. It's like, fine.

Okay, I disagree with everything Tom says from now on. Finally, Aston Martin, at Lodzie, says, surely this deal that Alonzo has with Aston will be his final two years in Formula One. I wouldn't say surely. If Aston keeps showing this progression and they are within the top three teams in Formula One for the next two years, maybe Aston could be a good option, British racing team with a British star driver. This one's a really good, I would say a really good option that I hadn't really thought of until recording this podcast.

But then I also think that Alonso could go until he's 57 and being literally hauled out of the cockpit. So it depends how long Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin actually, I guess, want Alonzo in the car, because I genuinely feel like if they have a really good car that is capable of winning races, you will have to drag Fernando out of that cockpit kicking and screaming.

So whatever Alonzo has in his contract, there is no way he is getting at like going early. in my opinion. So this may well be, yeah, a 2026. I don't see Alonzo going any sooner than that if Aston genuinely have taken a step forward. Maybe the new regulation changes if I'm looking at this realistically and not in a, oh, it's Fernando Alonzo is going to go until he's dead. I genuinely think that the new regulations for an old man like Fernando, that's going to be

a bit too much. That's when he'll hang up his boots. He'll do his wheelies, his donuts at the end of 2020. and then that will be the end for him. So 26 potentially. But then again, it's a massive shakeup once again. And I think Lando would go to Audi where Seidel is, then go to a completely new team with Aston

that he's not particularly familiar with. Yeah, and we're obviously... Number rating four. Four out of ten. Yeah, and obviously, of course, we're talking about the fact that there's a seat locked in forever as long as Lawrence Stroll is there. So it would have...

to be Alonzo retiring. And I totally agree that, sorry, people that want us to disagree, but it's hard to disagree that Alonzo will want to stay there forever because he's waited 41 years to make a good career move and it's finally happening. And if he's in a car that can win and challenge for podiums, he can go on for ages because you just see it happening. He's, he doesn't, it's really weird with Alonzo. And this is no disrespect to Michael Schumer.

because I'd never do that, especially with you around. But when Michael Schumacher got his podium at 41, it felt like this crazy thing of like, wow, 41. He said, Alonzo, you don't think twice about it. And I think part of that is because Alonzo was doing like the Indy 5th. Yeah, well, yeah. Yeah, he's, Alonzo was kind of doing Dakar and WEC and Indy 500, whereas Schumacher very much was like, goodbye motorsport and then came back.

So it was like, it was his kind of proving. that he still got it and he he did like some good things obviously people will say it's a flop but he proved that he could get back on a podium at that age whereas Alonso you just you could just see him what you could see him going for three four years and and then you'd look at his age and go yeah but he'd be 44 but you could you could see it you could see him being 44 years old and still you know getting on the podium if that Astor Martin is good with with how seemingly he is and how well he's driving. So I can't see Alonzo leaving. Even in 2026. 2026, probably. Yeah, 2026 he might just have to call it quits. But so I guess for me,

it's probably a six out of 10. It's one of those options where, yeah, I'd never really thought about it. And then when someone mentioned it, it's like, oh, actually, yeah, that's quite a good a good choice now. I would say though that maybe if Alonzo did move, and Aston were this now top team for marketing and all this kind of stuff, would they want a world champion in that seat? Because they replaced Vettel with Alonzo. Would they replace Alonzo with whoever's champion?

Max Verstappen give him $8 billion and hope he comes over. whoever is world champion by 2026, if anyone is world champion by 26. Yeah, it'll just be much for stuff. Yeah. Interesting. Yeah, I think Lawrence Stroll likes his son going up against world champions and then beating them. So we'll see. We'll see.

Yeah, because I guess if we're looking at it from a selfish point, if I'm Lawrence Stroll and I'm bringing in Lando Norris, who is probably going to destroy Lawrence Stroll over a season, would he want that? Yeah, it's not the best. But then again, you have to put that aside. He's a businessman. He wants to win.

Didn't he say something like when he tries or whatever it is, I win or something? Yeah. Maybe that's going to take the forefront in his mind. But either or, okay, good stuff. And that is it. That is the options we think that are the, well, you think and that we think are the most viable for Lando Norris. If we've missed any out, please let us know. I'm sure you will in any comments, sections that you are in.

Tommy, final thoughts? My final thoughts are looking at kind of looking at all the options that we've given here. It's made me think while I don't wish it away, because it's going to be a sad day when these guys leave. I think in a few years' time, we're looking at Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonzo, maybe Perez, maybe even Bottas, kind of retirement. and you could potentially have four massive seats available in top teams in 2026. And oh my word, that is going to be the greatest silly season of all time if they all go at the same time. And you'll find it all on P1.

P1. I'll be 45 years old. Oh, my God. How quickly are you aging? And my final thoughts are thank you so much to every single person for subscribing to our YouTube channel. You've hit over 300,000 YouTube subscribers in a month, which is ridiculous. So thank you so much for that.

Thank you for listening to the podcast as well. It's been outrageous the support you've shown on there. And also on our Twitch streams as well, Matt P1, Tommy. That is it. Lando Norris, maybe you'll listen to this. If you have, lots of love. We hope you make the right decision. And we'll see you very soon for another podcast.

Bye. Bye. Bye.