The Late Braking F1 Podcast - 2020 F1 Drivers Championship Predictions

Episode Date: March 5, 2020

With just over a week to go until the 2020 season begins, the guys deliver their thoughts as to who will go on to win the Drivers Championship.Plus, there's reaction following the seven-team statement against the conclusion of the FIA/Ferrari investigation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 podcast. Make sure to look out for new episodes every Thursday and Grand Prix Sundays. Hello and a very warm welcome. This is the late breaking Formula One podcast. I don't know if we should be referred to as sick breaking this week because, I mean, two thirds of us are pretty much completely out of action. Some sort of withdrawal symptoms from F1, I'd presume.

assume. But we are here nonetheless, and we are here to provide our usual useless analysis. Sam and Sage and Harry Ede both here. Guys, how's your week going? My week is fine, but if BP could provide me with some engine loop to get my system run again, that would be ideal. That's fantastic. I'd like to just to say now that I am not the sick person in this trio. So, I'm sick as a sick. Sick. like Danga Ricardo with the cool hang thing on the podium. You're also a bit... I think...

Just saying that. That's just rude. Very rude indeed. Anyway, so yes. If one of us unfortunately passes away throughout this recording, that's obviously very unfortunate. We will try not to have any coughing fits and actually talk some F1.

We're going to be getting on to our driver's predictions this evening. Very exciting. We're going to be deciding who we think's going to win the 2020 Drivers Championship. Of course, Australia is just around the corner. Not literally. We are very far away from Australia, in fact. But yes, of course, the race is coming up very soon.

But first, we're going to get on to some news that developed today, today being for us at least 4th of March. Seven teams, basically every single team apart from those running a Ferrari power unit, have come together with a joint statement, basically questioning the FIA's handling. of the situation that saw Ferrari's power unit get much, much better, suspiciously better at the end of 2019. In short, the teams have said that the international sporting regulator

has the responsibility to act with the highest standards of governance, integrity and transparency, and don't believe that they have really cope with this in the best way possible. Sam, are you, do you think that the FIA haven't handled this very well? Do you think they should have done something different? Oh, what a shock. The FIA haven't handled something well, and it's related to Ferrari.

Shock, horror. Honestly, one, I'm not surprised. Two, I'm very frustrated. And three, I'm entirely on the side of the seven teams that have all signed up as a big of a petition, explaining their frustration to the FIA and to Ferrari in the way it's been handled, almost behind closed doors.

No information has been expressed anywhere publicly. Yeah, it's a bloody downright hell's bells, isn't it? It's a frustrating manner. and the way they have... Sorry, apologies for the way I'm talking. It must be the illness. Honestly, I'm pretty shocked. Pretty shocked to surprise that Ferrari have kept things so underwrapped.

And the FIA have been totally fine with it. The fact that seven teams have openly protesting and said they're willing to take legal action against the governing body of the sport and the most senior team in Formula One, which there shouldn't be teams seniority. But if there is, Ferrari do sit at top of that pile. I can't believe it.

If Ferrari are exposed, publicly, they are found guilty of a change and the FIA simply went, can you not do that? Please. It doesn't look great. And they're like, yeah, all right, fine. If that is found out to be the case, they should be excluded from last season's results. They should be put to last. And the significance of that is massive.

The difference in terms of payout, for example, if Red Ball were to move from third to second, is about $12 million. Williams would pick up so much extra cash. Honestly, Ferrari could deal with it. Ferrari have mucks up. If Ferrari wants to cheat, essentially, to get anywhere in this sport, then I'm not for it. I'm sorry, but I'm not dealing with it. Shumi was great and all, but he hangs ways of bending the rules and, you know, taking charge of certain moments.

But this is just pure downright cheating. And if you've got the governing body on board, then they need to be investigated by an independent body because that just simply isn't good enough for the safety of the sport and the help of the sport. So for me, get it public, have a proper investigation. Let the public see what the findings are and the other teams. and then we'll make a decision after that. Harry, do you think that the FIA haven't dealt with this very well? I was going to say, Sam, your cold has made you particularly irate, more irate than normal.

I'm an angry man. I'm an angry, angry man. Yeah, look, they've, this is a lot of, a lot of speculation, about, I'm not saying, I'm not trying to defend Ferrari here at all, but we don't actually know what was found, which I guess is making this kind of worse. And it is the FIA's fault.

Why they've come out, they came out with this vague, you know, statement of, we've done like an agreement, but we're not going to tell you about the details of it. It's just smacks of just a cover-up. So, yeah, I don't know. why they've done it. It is their fault. I mean, it's Ferrari's fault for bending the rules in the

first place. I'm not going to say they're cheating because we don't actually know what they did, but let's go with bending the rules for now. But yeah, the FIA should have, they should have seen the backlash that was going to come from it. And of course, these seven other teams that don't use Ferrari were going to lodge a complaint. Like, it just seems an obvious thing to happen. So, yeah, not good by the FIA press department. What are you thinking? You, a bunch of silly. boys and girls. Also, sorry, Ben, before you jump into your point,

which I'm sure will be incredibly informative, as it always is. I'm really gutted for Charlotte Clare and the Ferrari fans, if this is the case, his first two wings in Formula One, their first wing in Monsa for what, 12 years, or 10 years, something like that, and that could theoretically be taking away from him, personally,

and those Ferrari fans, you've got to witness that back on home tour for the first time in a long time. Honestly, the, the, the, the, the, the, the consequences of these actions are really quite sad for a lot of people. And don't cheat, don't bend the rules, have a public investigation. And Harry's right, it smacks of a cover-up. So whatever you're going to say, I'm sure I completely agree with. I think just going on to that point of the Charlotte-Clauze couple of wins,

even if they're not taken away in terms of the championship in terms of points, it's going to be tarnish now, unless there is some sort of public investigation or public findings of the investigation because there's always going to be something looming over those wins. That could be something that stays with Leclair for a long, long time. So, yeah, not good from that perspective. Ferrari, of course, within their time in Formula One have a lot of the time been under scrutiny for various rule breaks or very close to rule breaks.

So for the FIA to reach an agreement with Ferrari that they would keep the investigation under wraps and they wouldn't reveal it publicly, screams to me that there's something not right. Let's face it, if Ferrari were found to have done nothing wrong at all, they would want 100% that to be out in the public because they have come under threat. They've come under question so many times, just in the last sort of 20 years, but just in their existence in Formula One, if they had the opportunity to put some light on their name basically and say, look, we were under investigation for cheating. We were proven not to be. They'd absolutely want that in, They'd want to scream that from the heavens.

But the fact that they don't want to do that just says to me that there is something very wrong. Of course, we are speculating at this point. It's slightly hypothesizing. We don't really know what they've done wrong and to what degree. Based on what's happened, I think, and I actually don't think this is the FIA being Ferrari International Assistance. I think this is actually the FIA being in a really tough spot. Not that I think that they've dealt with it very well. But I think what has potentially happened is they believe that Ferrari have done something wrong,

yet they don't have enough evidence to take anything away from them. So rather than come out with that and sort of admit their own flaws with their regulations, they have, yeah, they just wanted to keep it quiet as possible. You know, they threw in the press release 10 minutes before the end of the last day of testing, when journalists and everyone are all packing up. It was never going to work, but you can see what they've done. were trying to do. Yeah, so I don't actually think it's them siding with Ferrari in this instance,

and that might be contested by a lot of people. I think it's just the FIA didn't have enough evidence to do anything meaningful to Ferrari's 2019 championship performance, and as a result, they've gone with this approach. The FIA, honestly speaking, if the FIA had come out last Friday, and they had said, we've done an investigation of Ferrari's power unit in 2019. We suspect there was something going on, but we do not have enough evidence to take away championship points or wins. It wouldn't look great on them.

Absolutely not. But the fact that they are looking to change that in the future and their transparency would have made me go, okay, fine, I can deal with that. It's their lack of transparency which really gets me. They are the governing body of this sport. and for too long, the teams have had too much of an impact on them. They need to understand that the FIA is the overseeing, omnipotent, you know, force in the sport.

And they need to go ahead with their regulations without threat of these teams, essentially playing rank on them. They should have dealt with this differently. They should have been more open about it. Even if they didn't have enough evidence to actually punish Ferrari, they should have been honest about that. And I don't know what they were expecting from these teams that have. have gone out and complained.

For the record, the seven teams that have complained, they have said that this is, you know, for the sport in general, for the fans. No, it isn't. It's for them. It's for them personally. And nobody's going to buy that they're doing this for the better of the sport. You know, there's a reason three teams haven't,

sorry, two teams haven't joined in. And they, it's because they have Ferrari power units. If it was the other way round, it would be exactly the same thing. But, yeah, they're going to take an advantage where they can find one. So you can understand why they've done it. I don't know what. why they thought that that statement by itself on Friday was going to be enough. I don't understand it.

Well, for once, we are all in total agreement, even against Frye, which we are all fans of, although we know that you guys in the comics, you guys listening, may have different opinions. Can you let us know, Twitter, in the comments on YouTube, whatever? Give us your thoughts on the current events that are going on. We'd love to hear what you think. Well, we saw a, yeah, go ahead, sorry. It's not much. I was just going to say this is, all of it.

It's great. banter. Very spicy banter. Great point. Thank you. Thank you, Ben. The point I was going to make was we actually put a poll on Twitter earlier today about whether you think that the FIA should be doing a better job,

and it came back with 91% saying yes, so I think that's pretty telling. Can confirm I voting on that poll and say yes. Oh, and now you've proven your point with your words. Fantastic. We love that. Full circle there, folks. Full circle.

like a tire. Right. And I'm sure, as of course the Devast... I'm just going to go and gloss over it really. I've got to that stage now. So rude. Yeah, pretty much.

Yeah, so the seven teams, of course, lodging their statements. We doubt that will be the end of it. This might well be a topic in weeks to come. But we are going to move on to our driver's championship predictions. Of course, we gave our Constructors' Championship predictions last week on the podcast.

Now we're going to look at, we're going to look at the top seven and then also a few who's going to improve who's not going to improve, that kind of thing. Sam, I'm going to start with you. Who do you think is going to win the 2020 Formula One World Championship?

Alex Albon is not going to win the Formula One World Championship. He's a really great guy, but we'll come to him later on. Sank! Back to Alex Albon! There it is, folks. We've got new sound effects.

where we've got one and working on more, all right? More coming to you soon. 2020 is bringing big things. The champion is going to be Lewis Hamilton. You're a fool for thinking otherwise. Mercedes have clearly got more tricks up their sleeve than a high-enged magician. Penn and Teller haven't got as many tricks as the same as have got. Honestly, Hamilton is on top form skill.

He's still just as ready as ever. Mentally, physically, he is so class. And it's quite clear that Mercedes Power Unit is still comfortably equally the best power. you're out there with Ferrari cheating, I'm not cheating. They're still looking like they're above Honda, we're only going on testing, of course, and Renault still look like they're lagging behind a little bit. But Hamilton is such class.

I don't think Bottas is going to be able to take that crown off of him, and I don't think that Ferrari or Red Bull are just going to be there. I hope it's closer the last season. I really think Red Bull can take the fight to the same as across the whole season, but I think Hamilton's just got that consistent class about him, delivering results, even on off days, every single race. He's always in that top three or four, never crashing, you know, he understands how to manage reliability issues.

He understands how to cut through those fields now and he can drive one in all conditions. So for me, it's got to be Lewis Hamilton. Okay, Sam going for Lewis Hamilton to match Schumacher's tally of titles. For the record, do you think he'll overtake him in terms of wins as well this year? Well, duh. Just making sure. Just making sure. Harry, are you also going to say that Lewis Hamilton wins the championship in 2020?

Would you believe it? No, I'm not, because my predictions are ridiculous. No, they're not ridiculous. Max Verstappen is going to win the 2020 world title. Dutch people around the world will rejoice. The entire world will turn orange because Maxi Vestap is going to bring it home to the Netherlands. Right, that's the title of this video sorted. But world's turning orange. yes exactly

yeah this is it this is it yeah he was in sublime form last year arguably was could argue he was better than Hamilton debatable and I just think year on year that that

that keep calling him boy because he's still very young he's younger than us but not not in a derogatory way he's a young lad but every year he just seems to get

getting better and better and more and older great Can't argue with that. Ben, where's the soundboard? Great. It is a work in progress, I should say, at this point. We will get a proper soundboard working.

Yeah, his skills are only going to improve with maturity. And I just think last year, he was up there with Hamilton. And if the car, and I believe the car would be good enough to challenge Mercedes, then I would seriously watch out for Maxi of Vestapp. So I think he's going to take it this year. And Mercedes have had a bit of poor reliability in testing as well, which will probably mean nothing. But, you know, it's good to speculate, you know.

Yeah. Well, on that point, obviously, you think Vestappen's going to continue his improvement and also the Red Bull car is going to be good enough to compete with Mercedes. Do you think there is any downfall in performance from Hamilton's perspective or indeed, like you say, the reliability from Mercedes? do you think this is a two-way street? I don't think there's going to be any downfall in Hamilton because I don't see...

It's so hard to see him... I mean, he will eventually have a drop-off, but it's hard to see when that drop-off will occur, to be honest. But it will happen one day, but it's not this year. Mercedes potentially, although, you know, they have very few chinks in their armour. It's been a long time since we've seen the Mercedes reliability failure,

or consistent reliability failure. I don't know, if anything was going to let Hamilton down, it would be the car rather than him this year. And I'm not saying it's going to be a whitewash over sap, and I think it's going to be incredibly close, but I think he'll might, he's going to steal it. Very interesting indeed. Of course, that would be the first non-Messides winner

since Red Bull themselves so many years ago. I am going to say that Lewis Hamilton will be the 2020 Drivers champion, which I'm sure won't be a massive surprise to most people. Yeah, I still think he is at the top of his game. I think arguably 2019 was as good as any season that he's had. He made so few mistakes. But if he continues that on into 2020 and also the Mercedes car

proves to be as good as it's been over the last few years, then he should be sorted. I do think, and of course, you know, it's tough to say at this point, but we saw 2019 Mercedes started so strong because they were able to develop their car earlier than Red Bull and Ferrari in 2018 because the championship was wrapped up.

I think we could see the same thing again when Mercedes starts strong and Red Bull and Ferrari come back later in the year and I don't think it will quite be enough. Whilst I do like Bottas, I don't think he can contend with Hamilton over the course of a full season. And whilst I do like the likes of Vestappen,

Vettel and Leclair, I don't think their respective cars are going to be quite good enough to compete with Mercedes. Hamilton, we keep saying that at some point there will be a drop off. I don't think it comes quite yet. I think Hamilton sees out this era with a championship win. Cool. Boring. You literally both had one-word reactions. Sorry, Ben. We're pretty terrible co-hosts. What do you want from us? Fireworks.

I can't let those off indoors. That's just a safety hazard. And a pizza. Come on, Ben. You live too far away. All right. Fair enough. So Lewis Hamilton for two of us and Max for Stappen for Harry as the driver's champion for this year.

We'll now go into second place. So, Sam, who have you got for this one? I think we're going to have a title fight for the ages. Prepare to see Hamilton-Rosburgh-esque dueling in the desert overtaking every corner. Prepare to see Hamilton-Rosburgh-esque, jolting in the desert, overtaking every corner. No, wrong person, sorry. Sena and Prost fighting it out in Japan. You know, this is going to be a season that we do not forget

because that Red Bull is going to be so tantalizingly close to Bessage's. In every way that the Sege's struggles, the Red Bull will pick up points. Just like every way that Red Bull struggles, Mercedes will pick up points. Hamilton, Bastappen, come Brazil at the end of this season. Abadavit does not exist as a racetrack. It's got a real place. Is it simply for fun, in terms of conditions apply? Brazil, in the wet, it's going to go down to the wire.

And we are going to see an absolute duel between the Stauffling and Hamilton. So for me, the Stafford with his immense form from last season, he's going to continue to grow. Not physically, he's old enough now that he's reached that point. But in his talent, it will be strong, it will be consistent. He will take it to the very end with who I think is questionably the best F-1 drive we've ever seen in Lewis Hamilton. So those two are going to go all the way down to the last few laps of Brazil. fighting it out. I think Hamilton will take it. I think Versailles is going to be a better car across the full season, but I think Rustappen is there with him the whole way. So that's

Stappen in second. I can absolutely sign up for that season. Hamilton and Vestappen very close towards the end of the year. Harry, of course, you've got Max Vastappen winning the championship. Do you have one of the Mercedes finishing second? I do. And I agree with Sam in the sense that it's going to be a close year between Hamilton and Vestappen, but I obviously said Vestappen for the win, so that makes Hamilton second. But I too believe that it's going to be a Titanic battle between these two drivers.

I think we're finally at that point that we've all been dreaming of for the last few years of a Hamilton-Vastappen title fight. We had a glimpse of them racing together last year in Brazil and in Hungary, and I think this is going to just roll into 2020 and we're going to have more and more of it. So, yep, Hamilton for me,

but it's going to be a close. Cool. Here comes Ben the cynic. Sorry, guys. Boring Ben's here. I actually do have Vastappen in second place, so that's where we agree. We disagree on it being close, I'm afraid. I don't think it is.

I think Hamilton will do what he's done in previous years and wrap it up with maybe three or four races to go. But I do at least have Vastappen as the nearest challenger. Yeah, I think on his day, Vestappen can take it to Hamilton. last year in Brazil. And I think Vestappen, for reasons that you both have given, the Stappen is definitely on the ascendancy, 2019. He was a much more mature driver, whilst maintaining that aggression that has made him so good throughout the first few years of his career. I think he carries that on in 2020. I just don't think it's quite enough to take

it to Lewis Hamilton. And I am putting this probably more on the car than Vestappan himself. I think Mastappen is not far off Hamilton's level. I still put Hamilton first, but I would put Vestappen in second as the best drivers on the grid right now. I just don't think the car is going to be quite there. I think Vestappen will win a number of races, but I think the consistency of Hamilton will tell. But I do think he will beat the other Mercedes of Bottas and the other challenges from Ferrari.

So, yeah, Vastappan P2, meaning we have got, in a slightly different order, but we do have the same top two drivers across all three of us. Wow, look at us go. Over the years, we've really bonded. Yeah, like we're almost friends. I mean, we're not. I was almost almost.

Like, come on, it's not going mental. We've known each other now for what, like seven years, so. My birthday's next week, everyone. If anyone else is available to celebrate with me, other than these two, please make yourself knowing in the comments. Are we going to celebrate with me? Wow. You have to be in my home.

I mean, it don't have to be. Not ruling. Anyway, third place, third place before the viewers get bored. Yeah, go ahead. Who do you think is going to finish third son? Well, I think the porridge beard growing legend that is Valtrey Bottas. I'm going to say my mum, but Valtry Bottas is going to come into third place. She's a porridge eating beer growing legend, is my mum.

Anyway, that's off topic. Valdry Bottas is going to be. in third place. I think the Versailles is going to be stronger as a team. I think that Albon is not up to the level of those top drivers at the moment. I think Botas is comfortably going to be able to see off the rest of the competition. Bottas is simply a wing man at the moment. Hamilton is simply the best.

Bottas is his right-hand man. I don't think he's going to come back to Stappen. I think the Stappen will leave him behind after the second half of the season happens come the Singapore time. So for me, yeah, Bossas will have a strong season, might get a couple of wings. I almost don't think it will be enough to keep him in the seat come 2021, but that's another conversation. But for me, Bottas slides just into third place.

Very interesting. Harry, who have you got finishing third? I have to agree with Sam. This is not great. But, yeah, I don't see Albon beating Bottas over a season. I think Bottas will sneak a few wins again this year. but yeah it's going to be Botas and third for me it's not going to be close to Hamilton of the staff

and I think he's going to be well behind them but saying that he'll still nab a couple of wins here and there throughout the year so unfortunately we have reached a situation where we all think the same driver's going to finish third place I've got Valtrey Bottas finishing third as well it was a close run thing between Bottas and Sam's mum

but I just about gave it the bottom That is a sense of the thought I'd never hear. So congrats, Ben. Yeah. Sorry, Sam. It was a close one. She's a fantastic driver. She's a qualified driving instructor.

I haven't been taught with the police force. So I think she could give Bottas a run for her money. For the fans out there, she actually taught my sister how to drive. Anyway, this is a very nice challenge. She's a very botas, Ben. Unconfirmed. Maltaria Bottas. So yeah, back to perhaps a more serious point.

Bottas will finish third. I do think that the Vestap and Bottas fight will go all the way to the end of the season. I think that will be available until Abu Dhabi. I'm sorry, I have to say Abu Dhabi is the final Grand Prix. It is a fact, which does, you know, scar me. But there you go. I think he'll pick up a few wins again. I think he'll do largely what he did this year.

Sorry, in 2019, I should say. the problem with Botas is that he can he has the ability to beat Hamilton once every four races and that's just not going to get it done in an overall championship fight he just needs to find a way to do that weekend after weekend after weekend the consistency is there from Botas and he very rarely makes mistakes which I think is is actually his greatest trait however he needs to not only be consistent in terms of keeping it on the racetrack but also consistent in beating Hamilton. He's pretty much there in qualifying now. He's not far off. You could argue he is already on not far off a par. But yeah, in the races, he's got to find more consistency. I don't think he

quite does it. Matching up against Hamilton is very difficult. So, I mean, no slight against him. I think he just loses out of the Stappen for P2. Well, for the fags out there, to walk is something a little bit spicy. Sorry. Well, we won't have to be sorry. We won't have to be for too much longer because we're now getting into fourth to sixth territory. And for anyone listening to last week's podcast, we know that Harry put racing point in third. So I'm looking forward to Lance Stroll finishing fourth this year. Harry might as well take off a view on this one.

Who have you got finishing fourth? I have Alex Albon. Sorry, boys. Sorry to disappoint the fans out there. Yeah, look, I said they weren't going to beat Bottas, but he's still going to beat, you know, I almost said Force India then When will this ever end?

People stopped saying Jordan, didn't they? Why can they not say Force India? Anyway, yeah, it's going to be Alex Albon and fourth. He'll pick up a few podiums. I don't think he'll get wins this year because they're going to be occupied by Hamilton, Vastappen and Bottas. But yeah, Albonne and fourth,

he'll have a good enough year, I think, to keep his seat for 2021. When do you think he'll get his first podium? let's go for the Dutch Guantre. Oh, I was so hoping. I was hoping you would say China. Yes, it's going to be the Chinese Grand Prix, and he's going to be the only one there,

but he could pretend. Wow. So Alex Albin finishing fourth place for Harry. Sam, who have you got finishing fourth? I have a slightly less surprising. option. I'm actually surprised, Terry, that even though you've got Racing Point, incredibly high of the constructors, you know, that's still surprising you put Albin that high up, I think. For me, Chocolate of Claire goes into fourth place. I think he's going to grow

from his previous performance last year, even with this Ferrari debacle that's going on with the engines, I think they can still make a good car regardless. And I think his talents. Yeah, that's the word. Is it a debacle? Yeah, it's just the way he said it, just made me think of you, like a belt buckle. I am a very common man. It's the debacle. I get bullied on this show, folks. All right.

It's a Mickey take. Anyway. It's not even a joke. It might be appropriate. Right. Chocolate of Claire is fourth. It would do better than better like he did last year. I won it last year because of that.

I'm winning it this year because of this. Chocolate of Claire is going to deliver the goods and it's going to be filled with cream. There you go, folks. Spoiler alert. I'm also going for Chuck. I think he outdoes Sebastian Vettel for the second consecutive year. If he was able to do that in his first year in Ferrari,

I don't see any reason to believe he won't do it in his second year at Ferrari. I think that experience is only going to help him. This largely depends on what Ferrari, are you able to bring to the season? Are they able to bring a car that is competitive with Mercedes or are they even able to compete with Red Bull? Or as Harry thinks, are they even going to struggle to beat racing point? That will largely depend on where Charles Leclair is able to finish.

I do think he picks up a win or two, much like last season. I think when given the opportunity, he will take it. I see him as a bit of an opportunist and someone who is definitely developing into that role. where he can pick up wins if ever he's given a chance. Yeah, I've got him finishing fourth. Ben? Yes. Why are you so obsessed with me?

Oh, because I'm picking the same as you. Exactly the same. It's ridiculous. I mean, I reckon the rest might all be the same as well, to be honest. Oh, that's so boring. Well, we've got Harry spicing it up. Thank God. You've got me, the spicy, the spicy man, as they called me.

The spicy man from centaustle Cornwall. Yeah, okay. Right. Fifth place. Now this is where I'm expecting it to get spicy from you, big dog, Harry Ead. Who have you got? It's Sergio Perez.

Oh my God. There it is. It's coming in. In fifth place, the big Mexican dog, as we like to call him. Right. That racing point, I've said it last week,

it's going to be up there, it's going to be faster than Ferrari. And it's not going to be good enough for Lance Drol, I'm sorry. But Perez, on his own, is going to carry that amazing car and get himself fifth place in the championship. And then third place for racing point. So big year for Czecho, probably going to be finished off with a podium in Mexico and the whole country will explode.

Yeah, it's going to be huge. You know, we're not predicting great future for this Earth, are we? We've got the whole world going orange. We've got Mexico exploding. Not many countries are making it out of 2020 alive, apparently. Sam, who have you got finishing fifth? All of those earth-ending predictions are made entirely by Harry, and I have no agreement to any of them whatsoever going forward.

Fifth place, and this is super, super close to me. And I still kind of haven't fully made it up in my mind, but I'm going to go with Alexander Albon by literally a couple of points due to maybe Ferrari struggling a little bit with maybe some reliability, a little bit of backlash over this coronavirus stuff that's going on, them struggling at the start of the season, where Albon can maybe pick up a few easy,

points higher than Seb. And I think Sam maybe just drops off the face ever so slightly. And I mean, literally over so slightly. I mean, they're going to be separated by 10 points coming in the season. So for me, Al-Bong in that improved Red Bull with his improved form, which he's shown in the past that he can pick up a new category and move forward with it nicely. And he's doing that already Formula 1. I think that will continue.

So he just, just edges out, Seby Vett for fifth place. And there's, there you know, there's confirmation that who my sixth is as well is the other Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel. Ladies and gentlemen, I have some great news. This is going to be one where you will remember exactly where you were when you heard this. I disagree with Sam. That's part of the reason why I've chosen Albon, to be honest. Yeah, I could kind of see that coming.

Anyway, Sebastian Vettel, I've got finishing fifth, and I'll reveal who I've got sixth, Alex Albon. Sebastian Vettel, I think all in all, he, I just think his quality will shine through and I think he'll have just enough to beat Alex Albin. I do think of the two Vettel is the much better driver at this stage in their respective careers. I think the Red Bull car will be stronger than Ferrari's car in 2020. I think it'll be a battle between the Red Bull chassis

and Sebastian Vettel's ability to get the most out of the Ferrari. Yeah, it's an interesting one for SebiVet. Will another fifth place finish? What will that mean for his career? What will that mean for his Ferrari career? Would he go elsewhere? Will Ferrari want to retain him? A lot of questions around him.

And many believe he is sort of the interesting factor heading into 2021. Him and Ricardo, what's going to happen with those two drivers? I'm not sure what will happen if he finish his fifth. But according to my predictions, that's where I think he'll finish. So. Fantastic. Yeah, I know. We've got something different.

This is monumental. Harry, after you've picked Sergio Perez finishing fifth place, please can you tell me, who have you got finishing in sixth place? So return to the mark to normality. Chuck Leclair is going to be in sixth place, in the Fezzar. I think they will be, like Sam says, they have troubles at the start of the year. I think they've already got troubles, but then there'll be additional coronavirus troubles.

But later on in the year, things will start to pick up for them. And yeah, Chuck will get sixth place in the end. Yep. And as me and Sam have already said, we've got the reverse for our sixth place prediction. So I've got Alex Albin finishing sixth. And Sam has Sebastian Vettel finishing sixth. So we now go to seventh place. Obviously, that has been heralded as the best of the resh trophy in recent years.

Carlos Sines was the guy that managed to prevail in that battle last year. Sam, who have you got finishing 7th this year? It's between a couple of teams, but I'm going to go with the... Swo the Bullitt. All signs point to Carlos. Do the drum. Do the drum. No, that's got the drum.

That's the song of music. I'd like to point out that that was intentional. This is horrible. I think Carlos Sears continues that fantastic, fantastic development we had last year. I think he continues to lead that McLaren. Hang on a minute. Did I put Norris or Sykes last time?

Doesn't matter. Can't remember. You did put sides. Good. Sykes is going to just beat out Norris. He's going to continue it. He's going to lead that team. Obviously, sorry, folks.

I've just seen that Harry's written Big Dog, Hot Dog, in the chat that we've got here privately. That's enough to get a laugh on this podcast. I mean, you can judge your tense of humour. Big dog, hot dog. Anyway, sorry, Sykes will take seventh place. Do you think something about Steins and beating out? Because that's not a great sentence, Sam.

Beating out, Landau Norris, on the track with a Formula One car. Come on, Harry. Big dog, sort yourself out. I'll go back to you, Harry. Have you got finishing seventh? I have got Carlos Sines. He is going to, that McLaren is going to be about the same as it was last year, I reckon.

I don't think they made a massive improvement last year. So I think it would be ambitious to expect the same for them. They haven't copied another car like Racing Point. So, yeah, I think it's been another solid year for Maca, signs in seventh. Right, that begs a really important question. Where is Vettel finishing? And where is Goat Strull finishing?

Well, Stroll is going to be in 9th. No, the Vettel's going to be in 8th, and then Stroll is going to be in 9th. I told you, Erez is carrying this team. I love your season. Well, you should, because it's going to be in 9th. going to be a belter. It really will if it happens as you think it will. So I haven't gone for Carlos signs to finish in seventh.

I actually haven't gone for Ivan McClaren driver. I think Sergio Perez will finish seventh, which in any normal case would be like, wow, what a great year for Checo. Only when you compare it to Harry's comments where he thinks he's going to finish fifth, in which case it just seems a bit eh. Yeah, that racing point, sorry,

the 2019 Mercedes, I should probably call it, is looking really good. Testing again, you don't want to read too much into it, but they look much better. It's evident to see. They seem to have got this clone spot on. Perez is a wonderful driver. You both know I've been big on Perez for a number of years.

I think he's really underrated within the Formula One world. And I think he'll take a podium. in 2020. I don't think you'll take multiple podiums. But yeah, I think he'll finish seventh. Do you think he'll take a small podium, Ben? Yes, I think he will take the smallest podium out there. You managed to make so many odd small references in there

that now all I can think of is Nanop Perez. Yeah, and Lance Stroll's going to take the biggest podium. Goat. Goatstroll. Goat 9th. Exactly. Okay. We're all goats belong.

So moving out of the top seven, we're going to look at in the midfield, Sam, we'll start with you. Which driver do you think is going to improve the most on their 2019 performance? I think that I don't know because I haven't giving it any thought. Oh, I do know. I have given it thought. No thought. The inner workings of Sam's mind. Hey, people, listen to our show.

the hosts don't think about their answers. Ben, you're the host and you think me and Sam are not the host, so therefore we don't think. I mean, I don't really what we are. Anyway, my answer. George Russell will be the biggest improver. I think he's the person

that's going to really rise up. I think he's going to smash Latifi out of the park. And I think he could challenge with some points. I really think we're going to see Williams pick up a few points. I think Russell will be the sole beneficiary of those. So, yeah, I really think he's going to show it off. And if we're going long-term predictions, Cook set himself up to take Bottas's seat come 2021.

Moy Caliente. Harry, who have you got? I'm going for... I couldn't agree more. No, because I was going to say George Russell then, and I was like, wait, we've done a lot of agreeing tonight. So then I was going to quickly think of another driver. But, no, I've got one.

Antonio Gio Jovanazzi is going to be the biggest improver this year. I think he didn't have a tremendous year last year, but he's had a full year in F1 now. He's got the backing of Alfa Romeo because they signed him for another year. And I think that he's got, basically he's got to improve because, you know, Mick Schumacher or Robert Schwarzenman could be in that seat in 2021 if he's not careful. So I think it's a big year for Joe Van Goghese,

but I think he's going to step up. He was showing signs last year And this year he's going to step up another level You're not saying the alpha's going to be brilliant But just in terms of his performances In comparison to Kimsters What was he showing signs last year? Showing signs of

What did I say? I just meant like Carlos Sings He said he was showing signs last year And drums, please. Oh, it's so good, isn't it? Literally one thousand out of fact. We'll have a good one next week, all right?

Who do I think is going to be the most improved driver? I think it's going to be... No, I don't think it's going to be him. I'm going to go for, and people, get your credit cards out at home because this pick is box office. Kevin Magnuson, box office Magnuson, is going to be the most improved driver in 2020. I think Hass will be.

slightly better. I think it has to be better than what they were in 2019. They had a terrible year. I think they'll bounce back. I don't have much faith in Roman Grosjean because he's let me down literally every single year since I was born. Sorry. I actually really like him. He's got a podium, God damn it. He's got quite a few podiums. He's got a wife and kids to feed. Sorry, back on track. Kevin Magnum.

Box office Magnuson, most improved driver. I think he'll get stuck in some midfield fights and not actual fist fights, although if you're going to pick anyone to get into a fist fight, you might pick Kevin Magnuson. Yeah, I think he's going to have a much better year. I think he'll up his points tally. I think he will get close to the 50 mark.

That's my prediction. I only watched the second episode of Drive to Survive Season 2 today and he needs to back away from Gunter's office doors. So I'm going to say. I mean, they were smashing. Smashing. Smashing. Are the drums?

No. You've had your weekly allotment of drums. Fags are crying for them. Give us the drums, they say. Give us the drums. Do you want the drums? Do you want the drums? Play the scare.

You can't have them. There you go. The crowd goes mild. Like my carry earlier. Okay. Well, before this descends into literal chaos, sorry, everyone. Which driver in the midfield do you think is going to fall off the pace

compared to where they were in 2019? Sam, go. Sam doesn't go. I think that actually the total opposite of what Harry said, I think Antonio Givanzi will flounder. he will struggle. He will not match Kimi Riking, who does this simply for a hobby, and clearly doesn't care what happens during the season.

He will still beat Giavanazzi. I think Alfa are going to struggle this year. I think they're going to be a non-mover in terms of position in the championship, and I think Kim is going to lead the way again. And I think it's going to make him look really, really bad. And actually, a Schwarzen or a Schumacher, are going to come along and take that seat in 2021. So Giavanazzi, for me, is going to show he's got weaknesses,

he's going to show he's struggling and not really cut out for it. And I think this is it for Gio. So, yeah, I think he's going to go backwards. Very interesting. Of course, that was Harry's improver in the midfield. Harry, who have you got for the person falling back? My person falling, floundering in the midfield is Danik Fiat. He had an impressive year last year in some sense.

But I don't want to say he was lucky, but he had a lucky podium in Germany. and I'm not, don't want to take it away from him. He was in it to win it whilst others fell off the track. But there were occasions where we just saw the torpedo out in full force. Singapore, I think, he rammed Kimi. There was one in the US. He did a lot of torpedoing still. So I think the relative performance,

sorry, the good performances from last year won't happen again. And it will just be left with torpedo moments. so I think he'll I'm not saying he's he have a terrible season but just not quite as good as it was last year and he'll fall back

to where we left him where we left him yeah exactly where Franz Toss left him you see Franz Toss said that he that Tor bloody out Alpha Tauri

have got the best lineup they've ever had are they forgetting 2015 Vestappen signs or no Verne Ricardo Yeah that was pretty banning Yeah

Ricardo Vern then Vern then yeah anyway I thought that was a bizarre statement but anyway I mean Sebastian Buemi

and Sebastian Vetter were pretty great too They did they race together I think you mean Bourday yes they've all raced at the same time one replaced the other one Buehmi and Vettel

weren't in Taurus at the same time I'm pretty certain one replaced the other but fine, we all go, I'm the moron. I mean, that was the time where you literally had to be called Sebastian to get into the program. I miss those days. I think they should bring that back as a rule at the revenue program.

I agree. I'm now trying to think of anyone that is called Sebastian that could go into the wrong. Anyway, I am going to go, and this is kind of doubles up as a bold prediction, actually. I think the person who will fall the most in the midfield is Kimmy Reichenen. I think he will finish 17th. in 2020. Yeah, I think he's going to fall off the pace.

I think Antonio Giovinazzi is going to have a really good season. Ben, you say that like Donald Trump is saying it. Yeah, I feel like I said it once, so I've just got to say it every time now. Right. Okay. Yeah, I just don't see a good season happening for Kimmy, and I think he might well walk away at the end of it. Yeah, he had a decent first half for 2019, the second half. the second half of the year wasn't really much better than Givinazzi, if at all.

So, yeah, I think that continues. I think one continues to get better. One continues to trend downwards. And I think Alpha Romeo as a whole won't be as strong. I think they might well be the ninth best team on the grid in 2020. So, yeah, sorry, Kimster. Bois. What a summary.

Bois. Yeah. In conclusion, blah. And that's still better than the conclusion that the FIA gave to the Ferrari investigation. Oh, shade. Relevant burn. Right. Last place.

Sam, I know you've got Hass finishing last place in the Constructors' Championship. So who've you got finishing last in the driver's championship? Oh, I'm sorry. Whose foe is going off and I'm trying to speak? It's because you've messaged. Oh, was that me? Oh, yeah. I sent a text to the group.

Me, I'm going to be last because I'm a moron. No, unfortunately, my dear friend and ally, the human baguette with the soggy bottom, Roman Grogion, as much as I hold him very dear, he's a lovely fellow. I just think it's going to fall apart. I think that harsh is going to struggle. I think Williams will improve.

I think those two will come together many a time. I just don't think Groger will. will really get himself up and running this season. So this could be Grojeune's final season in the sport, and I think he's going to be at the very back, which is a shocking turnaround for Haast. They'll really not be happy. Gunford's going to be miserable come season three of Drive to Survive.

But for me, yeah, it's Grosjean right at the back. Well, I don't even know if we'd get Gunter Steiner in season three if Grosjean finishes right at the back. Harry, who do you think is going to finish last? Did I say Williams were going to be last? yes you did right nicholas latifi then it's his first year don't think williams are going to have another great year better than last year though but even so uh yeah latifi and his first year of f1 going to be a bit overwhelmed i think um he is last and i'm not even holding that against him i just don't think he's going to have the the experience or car capability to do any better than last so sorry nicky nicky l Yeah, I mean, I've got Williams finishing 19th and 20th, and I think of the two drivers,

I've got more confidence in Russell finishing 19th. I think Latifi might pick up a point or two. I don't think he's actually going to go through the whole season without a point, which will be something at least. But, yeah, just due to the lack of experience, he hasn't even got any rookies to go up against this year, which is going to be extremely tough on him. He's had fewer days in the car for preseason testing

than the drivers who have come before him as well. Of course he did have the free practice experience last year, which will help a bit, but F1, actual sessions in F1 are just another beast entirely. I think Latifi might struggle the first half of the year. I think he might score a point or two in the second half of the year, but I don't think it'll be enough to see him off the bottom. So 20th place for Nicholas Latifi will round out our predictions.

I felt like we should have a jingle there. But I'm shit then. Yeah, you can have drums if you want. Yeah. Go on, then. There it is. Oh, that rounds off any good moment. Any sentence, I think, deserves some drums.

I might employ someone to follow me around when I finish sentences. They can just play the drums. I was about to say, we pay you way too much. Then I remember we don't pay you anything. I am here entirely for fun. Yes. Love it.

Speaking of fun, the next recording that we will have, the next podcast to go live, will be the Australian Grand Prix preview. Does Jonah Hill incredibly excited gift face? That is the most relevant one going. Anyway, yeah, so that will be our next recording. Sam, why don't you get us out of here until then? Well, if you've enjoyed this absolutely ridiculous recording

that we've put into your ear holes, then stick around for more, like, subscribe, joining. If you have liked this crazier format, Let us know. Maybe we'll do more of it. If you like it a little more serious again, please let us go and maybe we'll tone it down just for you next time. We're also going to be on the F1 debate show next week, doing a bit of a chit chat. So come ask us some questions. Get involved over there on Twitter if you'll ask anything. But in the meantime, stick around. Next week is the preview of the first Grand Prix. We are buzzed. I've been Samuel Sage. I've been Ben Hocking. And I've been the big dog.

I remember, keep breaking late. the Sports Social Podcast Network.