The Late Braking F1 Podcast - 2022 Hungarian GP Review

Episode Date: July 31, 2022

Sam, Ben and Harry review an eventful 2022 Hungarian GP, where Max Verstappen took victory ahead of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. The boys discuss Ferrari's strategy (again) and give their verdict on driver of the day... JOIN our Discord: https://discord.gg/dQJdu2SbAm SUPPORT our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/latebraking TWEET us @LBraking BUY our merch: https://late-braking-f1-podcast.creator-spring.com/ SUBSCRIBE to our podcast! 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 tune in for new episodes every Wednesday and Grand Prix Sunday. Hello and a very warm welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Eid, Sam Sage and me, Ben Hocking. Review of the last race before the summer break, the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Staffan taking a win after starting P10 on the grid, podium completed by the two Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton second, George Russell third. We absolutely promise you, you don't have to check anything.

You are listening to the Hungarian review. You haven't accidentally put on the French review instead. It is just literally the exact same top three. Ferrari, everything went well for them, as I'm sure we'll get into a little bit later on. Sam, I mean, it's as same as last week, isn't it? It's boring this F1 stuff, isn't it? Yeah, yeah, I mean, I don't know why I bothered it to tell you. turn up, actually.

The whole time you were doing that intro, I was on YouTube looking for a video to send to the guys behind the scenes anyway. So quite literally true. I wasn't paying any attention to what he said. You could call me any name, and I wouldn't know. And I usually do. But yeah, no, it was.

Yeah, who cares? It was fun. I enjoyed it. If they could mix up the top three sometimes, that'll be nice, though. If Ferrari won and maybe think about getting a player with him, I think it'll be really good for them. I mean, getting slightly bored of this 2021 version

of their form we're having at the moment with Vastappen to Mercedes. Bring back 2022, plus. Well, we've got plenty to get on with. We'll be talking about Ferrari strategy a little bit later on. I'm getting ready for that.

We're going to be talking about driver of the day and worst driver of the day, submissions coming in as ever from the Discord. A discussion on whether Mercedes can catch Ferrari in either championship, although Russell's already are head of signs and the drivers. But we'll start with,

we're heading down to the speakeasy. Sam, your race day takeaways, please. The best feature. Let's go. Ha! It's Sammy Rob Blammy's Rase Day Takeaways. That's the speaking. Booh, boo.

Now, folks, if you haven't heard this takeaway before, this is the easiest quiz you'll ever take part on because it's all about the race. It just happened. So unless you're listening to this podcast and you don't follow F1, I don't know why you're here. Maybe you think Ben looks spectacular in those glasses that he wears,

and you'd be right. He does. but this is specifically about the race that just happened, the Hungarian Grand Prix. I know, right. Anyway, we've got nine questions to go through, and they are all about key events that took place during the Grand Prix, or around the Grand Prix. They're all incredibly serious questions.

What? How does one win if there's nine questions? Well, you get them all right, don't you, mate? I'd like to go first, please. As you've asked, Ben, Harry can go first today. So, Harry, between one and nine, what would you like to go for, please? I'll go for nine, please. Screw it over it.

Okay. I always say it's the best quiz that we do on this show. All right. Question number nine, the final question that you can pick. What part of Lewis Hamilton's body was hanging out of his race suit come the end of the race? I wasn't paying attention to that whatsoever Was it There's some rude answers that can come out here

Was it His Belly button I don't know Oh It's a fair shout but no Ben Just because this quiz is clearly

Clearly as I've rigged this quiz back I'll let you go for a one-off steel here What appendage was hanging out of the race suit? The funniest thing is, I was already uploading Bold Prediction, sorry, uploading Driver of the Day from the Discord at that point. So I didn't actually see it. I've got no idea. Right, you both had a fair crack at the audience now.

I can't say it's unfair. It was his elbow. You're both rubbish. I didn't see it. The suit ripped. I don't care. You're watching the same race I am. Get on with the quiz.

Hey, I was too dedicated in starting this podcast. I thought it was going to be I thought you're going to say it was a That would have been funny That's going to get bleaked Right You should say I know I know

But still it's a bit rude We've got kids listening Yeah That's true They don't have Bha Oh my gosh Ben

On to you One and eight please Pick a question Five Five who had a cheeky little spin at the chican as it was starting to get a bit slippy. Uki Sonoda.

Hall of Famer Yuki Sanoda. Ben takes the league. One point to nil. Well done. Harry, you can have between 1 and 8, but not number 5. Number 4, please. Number 4, of course.

On a scale of 1 to absolutely filthy, how naughty will Charlotte Clur's overtake on George Russell? It was proper north. funny enough I wrote down in brackets proper naughty so well done that was a very good answer and I'm glad you put a lot of thought into that then you can choose between one two three six seven or eight please I'll take number eight please oh okay according to the race graphic that momentarily popped up what team does Bottas now drive for Wow. I did not see this at all. I've got no idea.

You're asleep, Ben. I didn't see. To watch any of the race. No. I didn't see it. Who would he have been battling with? No, I don't know. Ask the mine. Incorrect. It was not Asthma Martin. How would you like to steal? You don't get extra point. I don't see if you're right. Well, I don't get a point for it. That sucks.

No. It was Ferrari. They incorrectly labeled. Leclair's car, right? Yes, that was correct. They said that Botas, yeah. You are correct. They said that LeCler was Bottas and Bottas was driving the Ferrari.

I think Bottas was quite happy retiring at the end of the race, but who knows? Anyway, still won a piece. A few questions to go. Harry, you get to now choose between 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 or 8. We just had 8, didn't we? Oh, yeah, I haven't got rid of that one.

Silly, mate. Classic, close. I really want like Justy or delivery to sponsor this segment of the podcast because it's such my favorite bit of the podcast Why wouldn't they? Right

1, 2, 3, 6 or 7 Number 2, please What is the nickname for the black and white black and orange flag that was shown to KMAG? Um, it's the meatball flag correct.

It is for Meatball. That is 2 to 1 to Harry. We're flying through this. If I'm correct, you can choose between 1, 3, 6 or 7. So I have number 1. Oh, this is the easiest one on the whole quiz, so that's good. Who lost their front wing on lap 1? Or who damaged their front wing on that one?

Alex Elvin. Yes, well done. Hard core facts now coming out of this quiz. It's good to see. Two apiece with only three questions to go. So it could go either way here, Harry, between, you can choose between three, six or seven. Three, please.

That's not about that to me so well, but three. Good. How did Brundle describe bringing in the new tires after Charles Leclair pitted? Oh, no idea. He said you've got to cuddle and cradle them. know what he said. Brilliant.

I mean, that's actually a better answer to what Bundle gave, but I can't give a point for it, I'm afraid. Ben, were you asleep for this bit, or did you hear this analogy? No, I was asleep for this bit as well. Oh, this is a good quiz today. Justi, if you're listening, give us a ring.

Martin Blundle described it as you need to bring the tires in more like a gentle handshake and not a fast fist bump. A brilliant analogy there from Martin Blundle. One that will go down in history, I'm sure. Right. Ben, you've got between six or seven. Which one would you like?

I'm just annoyed that Harry gets to do the last question joke here, but I'll go with number seven, please. Oh, you've got an optional choice here for this one. Oh, wow. There's four choices to choose from. Okay. How did Charlotte Claire describe the hard tire? Is it A, like driving with a sack of bricks? Is it B?

Did you even bother to put tyres on? Is it C? Are these Hamilton's tires after you have that puncture at Silverstone? Or is it D? B! I prefer the answers you made up, quite frankly, Sam, but I'll go with D. Oh. I mean, D is correct.

You're right. It's the less fun answer, isn't it, D? But unfortunately, that is how life goes often. Correct, though. And with that, Ben takes a slender one-point lead with one question to go. Harry what one would you like please you're six available

Ah brilliant Yeah this number six you can indeed Very good Every week Great banther Question number six Which is the one you chose And weren't given

What lap Did Max Verstappen Spin Spin? Not a clue He spun on lap 34 incorrect. It was lap 42

and bang wings. Yee ha! Pooh-pooh, boo. Boo. Boo. The speakees is closed for the summer break now. Go away. Ben's to find the odds of a quiz that should theoretically it meant I want to win. Hey, don't mess with the quiz. It works. Hounds up.

I hate this podcast so much. Oh, good. So before we go into our first advertisement break of this podcast, should we just have a quick look at our bold predictions from the preview episode we did midweek? Because we actually did a really good job this week, as I'm sure you'll find out. You'll know that we haven't had a great track record all season,

but clearly last race coming into the summer break, something clicked for us. So Harry, your bold prediction was? I'm sorry to stinging to sweet water. something about Fernando Alonzo being in the top five and being a truly drain and then everyone getting lapped or most people get lapped. None of which happened.

A lot of people got lapped, but not in the way I intended. Yeah, so when I said we all did very well, I obviously just went to Harry who got his wrong, but certainly it went better from mine and Sam side. Sam, your triple header, bold prediction was what? Yeah, real thriller here. I can't wait to really see this one in. It was, of course, that there was going to be a Ferrari one, too,

which, you know, oh, didn't happen. But Lewis Hamilton, back on the podium, again, I got that bit right. So 33% is good. And Kevin Magnerson, top eight with the new updates. He was incredibly close there finishing, I think, in 17th place. So, yeah, successful our team for me as well. I will give you this, Sam. You've got one out of the three parts, right?

In terms of the other two parts, Ferrari, a one, two. Could that have happened? Should that have happened? Yeah, maybe. And Kevin Magnuson, if he doesn't trash his front wing early on, does he have a chance in that fight? Maybe. I don't think it was the worst bad prediction we've had this year.

Put it that way. Thanks, mate. That's very kind after the quiz I just gave. That's all right. Speaking of which, I said that we would have a repeat of last year into the first corner where three cars would retire on the first lap. From memory, the first car that retired happened two laps from the end of the race. Brilliant.

In other words, it wasn't right. So, has everyone got their appurances out? Everyone got their pens and paper out just to count up how many of ours could what write this week? Harries was not right. Mine was not right. Sam was not right. So if you add all those up, add a three, you come to zero. Ah, shucks.

Not a gang. I'm going to spend the summer break thinking about how to be better at bold predictions. We're going to school. That's the problem, isn't it? Bold prediction school. Bold prediction school. That would be a great sketch, but we'll have a think on how that would actually go. After this break, we're going to be looking at Ferrari.

Did they throw away another race win? We know you love the thought of a vacation to Europe, but this time, why not look a little further to Dubai, a city that everyone talks about and has absolutely everything you could want from a vacation destination. From world-class hotels, record-breaking skyscrapers and epic desert adventures, to museums that showcase the future, not just the past. Choose from 14 flights per week between Canada and Dubai. Book on emirates.ca.com. Sam, Shau Leclair, he looked pretty good for a while. Then Ferrari took over. He finished P6. How did that happen? Should he have had a win? Um, I'll just get to check the schedule because I like to jump a head sometimes if you

haven't noticed. So I've just got to make sure, oh good, this is the bit where I can get annoyed at Ferrari strategy. Brilliant. So, um, you may have noticed in the quiz, I declared a quite outlandish question about how good Charlotte Claire's overtake or George Russell was. It was bloody lovely. And at that point, I was thinking, this can't go wrong. Look at him, he's sailing off up the road. He's seconds in the front. He's got the better tyres on and the car behind him. It's surely in the bag.

So easy. And the comical thing with Ferrari is you think, okay, it can't really get any worse than what they did last time, really can't. It can't get any worse. And yet it has got so immeasurably worse. How have your rivals both started essentially out of points positions and one of those cars has beaten both of your drivers and the other car has beaten one of your driver

and both of those cars led the race for significant portions. How have you gone? Ah yes, we're in the lead. What should we do now? Let's pit the same time as a soft tyre runner. Let's give him a medium compound which means he'll have to use the heart or somehow stretch it all the way to the end

and then throw that away because the hard tire use from every team that had already gone on to it was atrocious. You have a direct link with Huss. They can tell you, you can look at the car that Magnuson was running and go, it's not working, is it? This is not a good strategy. You can look what other teams around you are doing. And it's just so hilariously funny that I can't even really analyze how bad that they were throughout the whole race.

Because it's like they don't know what strategy is. It's like they've turned up to the race. And they genuinely, the nine other teams sit there and they go, right, we understand that the soft tie could do X, a medium tie could do X, it might make sense. thanks for us to do X, Y and Zeg is our strategy. Yeah, that's our main strategy and we'll have a backup in case I don't know. There's a safety car or we lose a front wing or something like that. And Ferrari have turned up and it's like they've just,

instead of bringing in the stats and analysis, they brought in the ingredients to an Aster pizza and gone, oh yeah, this is good, this is good. Looks like we can make a lot out of this, bake for 20 minutes and then serve. Brilliant. That's fantastic. Because you may as well have had those instructions. Because you don't have had a better result, Ferrari.

How were you on for a one-two? At one point, Sykes was catching Russell, McClewell was pulling off into the distance, and you managed to finish with both cars off the podium, and Maxis Capping has come from 10th to 1st, and Hamilton, an inferior car, has come from seventh to second.

Genuinely, mind-boggling at how crap you are at doing the Formula 1. It's hilarious. Makes my week that you get to be so bad every single time. I'll leave it at that. Sorry, show. I really don't even think it was particularly his fault.

He wasn't perfect, but that hard tire was laugh. Every other top team realising it did the two stop. I don't know what more he really didn't care. Dan, put some more work on the soft, but that was bloody awful. Harry, did Ferrari throw away a race win? Yes, next segment of the podcast. We need to go into this any further. my friends at Ferrari

I'm going to say friends they're all friends of the podcast obviously turned the two three on the grid with their main championship rival in 10th into a 4-6 with their main championship winning the race that is that's some special skill

I mean it's almost like you wouldn't be able to manufacture that but they've managed it they've actually managed that to do that. Again, it's the same as it was last week in France. If we're sat on our respective sofas watching the race and can see that Magnuson, both Alpines were slower than a slow thing on slow pills on those hard tires, Ferrari can see that too.

We've not got more access than they have to that information. and they can see that they put those hards on and they were garbage. They immediately, just straight off the box. There was no point those hard looked good. Why would you then put LeClaire on that strategy? Why would you do that? I guess that's the major answer, a major question.

Why would you do that? But it just makes so little sense, especially considering that, considering that Lecler was on fresher, medium tires. Yeah, and Ferrari was so bad that they then put signs on the strategy that they should have put LeCler on. But I mean, even that didn't work, but I don't know whether that was their justification for it. But yeah, it's just when it's so obvious to us watching at home, I just don't understand why they can't see it. And I've seen a few things saying, well, Charles should take control that situation.

But he does not have that information that Ferrari have about the hard ties. he can push back if he wants to but he's got no idea that the Alpington Manxon is so slow so I find it hard to blame Charles on that one and as you say Sam he was blinding in that early part of the race so yeah unbelievable anyway I'll hand over to Ben

I think he might pop now so this may be the end of Ben but off you go Jesus Christ oh it hurts It's so painful Oh What is there even left to say I genuinely

Don't have the words for it How We speak so often About how Red Bull And Mercedes last year as well They make errors So They're so infrequent

They barely ever happen And what do you know Red Bull hand Ferrari something on a silver platter. Hey, Ferrari, how's it going? Here's a 10th and 11th on the grid by us. Well, that's a pretty good opportunity. Let's float over the fact that Red Bull managed to qualify 10th and 11th, and they still didn't get pole position.

But that's not on Ferrari. Let's be fair. That's on the two drivers, not being able to outperform. Go Russell. You still have a second and third starting position. you've still got a great opportunity to make something happen. And then you don't. Then you don't.

I don't even know where to go with this. So, okay, they pit signs in the first instance too early. And they could have let Leclair go on a little bit longer because it was evident from a very early point that the hard tyres were not a tire you wanted to go anywhere near. And you're writing what you say about Kevin Magnuson was sort of proof. But if it was just Kevin Magnuson, Magnuson that went on the hard tire, I would have some sympathy because he was isolate. He was the only

guy on it for a while and you don't really have any comparison. He might have been affected by the damage that he took early on in the race. Maybe the hard tire was an okay, a viable race tire. But certainly when the Alpines get on it, at that point, you know you don't want to go anywhere near it. Avoid it like the bloody plague. Do not touch the hard tire because in what race this year have seen Goat Strull compete with the Alps. It hasn't happened very often. So if it happens in this race, and I appreciate the Aston Martin had a new rear wing and all that, if Stroll is challenging Fernando Alonzo, something's not quite right. Come on. Think about it. Alonzo is being caught by Stroll. Stroll's not on the hard tires. Alonzo is on the hard tires. Maybe, just maybe it's the tire compact.

that's, you know, doing that for him, don't go anywhere near it. And they could have made the tire strategy work and because they literally did it with Carlos Seines. And you can say, well, Carlos Seines didn't fare that much better. He wasn't on the podium. But as far as I'm aware, that's a pace issue because Lewis Hamilton was on a very similar strategy and he finished P2 and give it five more laps. He might have had a chance for the win.

So clearly they had a strategy that could work. even with going medium medium to begin with, they just had to stick him out there a little bit longer. Even if you put him on soft tires for over 20 laps as they did with Carlos Sines, struggling with the last few laps, that's better than the hard tire that never warmed up. They really, and to be honest, it doesn't really matter if they threw away a race win or not. They threw away a chance at a race win. That's enough. You know, there's a good chance that the Stappar might have won anyway, and I'll throw that

question to the guys in a second. But even if Vastappen does win regardless, P2, ladies and Jent, I can confirm, is better than P6 to the tune of 10 points I might add, which is 10 points that they couldn't afford to lose. Now, Max Verstappen did a sensational job, you know, back-to-back world champion, 2021, 2022, fantastic driver. But let's face it, he went from P-10 to P1 at a track that it is difficult to overtake at, and no one's surprised. There's not even any shock about it that a driver was able to go from 10th to first. No one's banging eyelid because of how bad strategically Ferrari are. And as for the pit stops, I won't even get into that because, I mean, what was it? 4.5 for signs, 28.6 for Leclair, seven laps for signs on his

second stop. I will say it again because this sounds like me being a Ferrari fan wanting them to do well. Put it this way. I'm not a Ferrari fan. I am a fan of people who are good at their jobs. What I am a fan at is F1. I'm a fan of Formula One as a sport and I love it when we've got great competition at the top as we had last year. We don't have it this year because of Ferrari. They're bad. They're really bad, they're morons, and they're really bad. Congratulations, Max, for Staffen. Back-to-back world championships are not easy to come by, but you've managed to do it, sir. Well done.

Give him the trophy now. God's sake, man. Muppets! He's absolutely fuming. It is. Out of interest, Sam. Let's say Ferrari, I don't know, gain Red Bull strategy team

and don't mess it up. What do you think happens, Leclair Vestappen? Do you think it's a fight? Do you think Leclair runs away with it? How do you see that playing out? There's, I mean, Hamilton also managed that recovery, right?

So the pace clearly wasn't as as electric in the Ferrari is what we're expecting it to be. They couldn't outdo Russell, despite Russell got getting a single purple sector. They couldn't out do Russell by the end of the race, despite being on the same strategy as what the Red Bulls were doing. if Ferrari inherits, as you've just mentioned, Red Bull's strategy team, and they run the reverse strategy to what Red Bull were doing,

of course, both Red Bull cars and Russell's soft tire, and they do soft, medium, medium, medium, Hamilton, medium, medium, soft, clearly be the obvious strategy that it's meant to work. They even deal with science, as you mentioned. If they run that for Accler, I think Leclair has a very strong chance of winging this race. I know the pace dropped off, but it dropped off so significantly on the hard tire that it's hard to even say,

could Leclair have kept up the pace, could he be strong, science was obviously faster at the end of the race. He was a soft tie, but he was knowing what Hamilton was putting in. So there's a debate there. But yeah, coming in at that Grand Prix, if you were copy and pasted the strategy that Lewis Hamilton was on for Charles LeClerc and ran medium, medium, soft. You got sucked in to early pit stops.

You were sucked into immediately covering off, despite having a five and a half second lead over a car that wasn't even the car pitting. It was for stopping pitting, who was three cars back at that point. if you just carry on and run your own Grand Prix, I think the Clerk could have won that probably without any major action on track. I think the Ferrari had it in it,

and I think the Claire, when he was on that medium tyre and hunted down George Russell and then pulling away, showed that he would have had the pace for the majority of that Grand Prix to keep the gap at a fair level. And then you slip the Clare and set a sauce at the end of the race, and okay, he might not have been as incredibly quick as

what Hamilton was able to do, which is strange to say this season, but not have been, but I think it will be enough to keep the staff at bay at that point. And that, of course, have also limited Mercedes way of getting up the grid

and scoring more points because you'll be on the podium as well. And now Mercedes are so much closer to you in the constructors than anyone ever thought they would be come the summer break. So, yeah, if Ferrari just want to buy out

Red Bull's strategy department, they might actually score a few more podium. It would definitely have worked out better for them, I think. Mind you, If they have to negotiate for it, I wouldn't trust their strategy in doing so. Yeah. What's the payment strategy, guys?

Pay 10 million up front and then pay another 10 million tomorrow and then pay another 10 million the day after that. But I only cost us 20 quits. Ah, but that's just a strategy, guys. Follow it, bro. If that's your audition, you've got the job, Sam. Congratulations. Harry, do you think Vastappan and LeClau would have been in a tussle

at the end if Ferrari got that right? yeah because I think they would have been if they'd run that race the same as Mercedes ran Hamilton's race I think given where the position LeCler was in he would have been closer to Hamilton once he came out of that final stop on

what would have been soft tires so yeah I think the pace that on mediums was fairly even between Lecler and Vestappen and I think he probably would have given the undercut that the Stappen achieved even with that one extra lap because he came up right, he, sorry, LeCler came out right in front of him when he went onto those stupid hard tires. So I think, I think Vastappen would have, would have undercut him.

So after that stop, the clear come, that final stop, if they went on soft tires, LeCleur would have come out behind him. But yeah, then I think it would be game on because he'd be on the softs like Hamilton was, but I think they'd have been closer together. So, yeah, it just makes me even sadder because that would have been, had a head of a race, especially with the rain coming down on the last couple of laps. But Ferrari ruined it. So thank you, guys.

Yeah, I think it would have been close. You know, I put a lot of respect on Hamilton's drive was sensational, but certainly the way in which Hamilton drove his race and the overall strategy of what he did was sensational and is exactly what Ferrari should have done. It was almost as if Hamilton was completely unperturbed by everything else that was going on around him. and he went with, this is the quickest way I can get around. He saw George Russell probably going too hard on his first two sets of tyres, and he paid the price for that, I think later on in the race.

He saw Carlos Sines come in after 15 laps on medium tires and then go longer on softs at the end of the Grand Prix. He saw Charles LeCler go into the hard tire. So it was almost like the top teams, they were all goading each other into making bad strategic calls with Hamilton just very, Hamilton and his team, very level-headed just going about their business, saying this is the fastest way we think we can get around. The others can do what they like.

And I think if Ferrari do the same thing, him and Vastappen probably very close at the end. But it's going back to the point of at least giving himself the chance to do it. And even if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out to the point where he gets second rather than sixth. So yeah, it would have been very interesting to see. We're going to be reviewing some driver of the day and worst driver of the day submissions right after this, as well as giving our own ones to. Audiences and top critics are celebrating. Rental Family is the perfect feel-good movie of the year.

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This is amazing. It's cool, but it's fake. Sometimes it's okay to pretend. rental family only in theaters Friday Sam who have you got the driver in the day it's a toss up between two drivers for me and it is between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen and quite often on the podcast

if someone makes a mistake like Max Verstappen does with that spying we often go well you've kind of throwing it in the boonies a little bit there or the chicken booners as we like to say and you don't deserve driver of the day but it's almost like Max Westappen gave himself it's like he turned the difficulty all the way out and was like, oh, it's still a bit easy.

What should I do? Oh, I do a challenge. I do a challenge run. Can I start from 10th, spin, and then still win by over five seconds, if I want to? Yeah, he can. For me, I think he's just going to picket because, you know, he did come all about from 10th. I tried that is very hard to overtake on. And even with the spin, he just delivered such a calm, brilliant performance for the most part of it,

over to exactly where he needs to. That little sneaky move that he put on Norris, as Hamilton got past him, right? It's putting the car in the right place at the right time and getting through the traffic well. It was a real champion's drive. Even with the Sping, it was a real champion's drive. I think if you look through the history books of F1 and you were like, well, that was Senna that did that. That was Schumacher that did that. It was Hamilton that did that.

You go, what a drive. And Ben, you brought up earlier because of how bad Ferrari were, no one is mentioning how exquisitely good he is being at the moment. And that drive was spectacular. any other day, Hamilton will take my driver of the day and he is by far the second best option on that list but for me, Vastappen takes it. Driver of the day from you, Harry. Yeah, I'm going to agree with Sam

Vastappen for me but Hamilton is a very close second. I think, as you were saying, Ben, on that previous point about Hamilton and the strategy, I think on a day when you needed to look after your ties but be clinical with your overtakes, considering that they came from mid-field as well, mid-pack. The result is that you have Vastappen first and Hamilton second, and I think that proofs in their pudding as to why they're the two best drivers

in F-1 at the moment, because I know Lechler is a strong contender for that as well, but he's not quite there yet. So, yeah, Vestappen for me, despite the spin, Hamilton absolutely sensational as well. But yeah, as Sam said, even did the challenge-run version of his race, and he still won. So, yeah, Vastappen for me. Also, good drives further down the field.

Bottas was having a lovely little race before his engine decided to pack up. But sorry, Walter. I am going to go for Lewis Hamilton. I think you're right with two contenders there. I think it is either Hamilton or Vastappen. And the fact that I'm giving it to Hamilton over a driver that went from 10th to first

should speak volumes about how good. was that he can rival that effort because they were both sensational out there today. The only other driver I would, you know, not even put in the conversation, but Lano Norris, I think, won his race. I don't think he could have done any better than what he did. He essentially won his Formula 1.5 race comfortably as well over the Alpine. So he deserves some respect for that, but Hamilton was sensational. And this run of form, it really has been great. And he got a bit unlucky in qualifying with that DRS issue that prevented his second run.

Obviously, no idea what he would have been able to do with that. Certainly a second row start, front row start, pole position. Maybe all of those could have been on the cards. But even so, the way in which he worked up, and it was pure pace as well at the end of the Grand Prix. It's not as if Mercedes stuck around. They were just genuinely quick. So Hamilton takes that for me. I will throw in a bit of a stat man here,

because I had to look this up because it is ridiculous. There are only 23 drivers in F1 history who have more races than Hamilton has podiums. That is mad. Wow, that is a stat man. Thank you. Something else I was going to ask, Ben, and I don't expect to know this off the top of your head.

When was the last time, the both first and second came from outside the top six? in a race? I guess that depends on whether, I can't remember who didn't. Who finished second at the 06 race when button won? What's that? Why are you asking?

De La Rosa. Yeah, it was De La Rosa, wasn't it? He probably didn't start on the top six. So maybe that race. They're going to 16 years. Anyway, it's pretty young. At the Hungarian ring, especially, as they say it hasn't been won,

why someone outside the top four, I got knows how long as well. So clearly, this was a very big, and remember overrated all three of us, hungry, underrated and it delivered again. What about worst driver of the day? Who have you got for that, Harry?

Probably the Hall of Famer. Sorry, Guki. I thought we're giving it to him a lot this year, but what are he doing, mate? He did the opposite. He tried to do the Speed Run challenge that Verstappen did, but then did the spin and spin and 19th place

challenge instead. does not quite got the same ring to it as the spin and win. Yeah. Yeah. So, sorry, Yuki. It was just, you're a bit slow, mate. Yeah. Well, Mastappan and Sonoda both spun, and that's where the comparison ends on that.

But only one of those two is the late breaking Hall of Famer. So who's the real winner here, right? Who's the real winner? Yeah, you see. Us, we are. we are never the winners of anything who's your worst driver in the day son there are a few contenders

as we've said before sometimes there are a race is right it's an obvious one but there are a few contenders I think Sergio Perez deserves a shout when your teammate goes on to win by 10 seconds or whatever it was and you're still only in fifth place with a car that was working perfectly that's not a good look for you but I am going to go as far back as

Daniel Ricardo So for worse drive of the day, when we give praise for Lando Norris for winning Formula 1.5, he was fighting out with Max Rastap and Lewis Hamilton. He held his own. His qualifying was spectacular. And then your teammate, as a bit of a moment

in the points, you think, okay, this is all right. Makes a nice little overtake on two Lepenes that are squabbling. And then it's just bad for the rest of the Grand Prix and absolutely wipes out Lank Stroll. And I had to double take because I thought, hang on it. It's been a collision, stroll's involved.

It's nice. Not stroll's fault was a bit of a strange moment for me at a race weekend. But it really wasn't. Entirely DeRaccaro's fault, five second time, family fully deserved. What, 15th, I think he finished, almost double the places back to what his teammate was. It's a real stinker. And we all picked up on him needing a strong result before the summer breaks, getting some confidence. It absolutely shocker that ended up race for him.

So, worse round of the day. Yeah, I think you're right to bring up Sergio Perez. he was a long way from Max Verstappen all weekend really and it would have probably looked even worse if Max Verstappen hadn't had that issue in Q3 because otherwise there probably would have been nine or ten positions different on the grid rather than just one so it wasn't a good weekend for Paris

I was disappointed with Carlos Sines I think Leclera on the same strategy is definitely on that podium but really I think the two contenders are the two that you went for And ironically, we did a preview episode midweek where we identified who needs a result the most. And my top two were these two drivers. So they have absolutely, I've absolutely jinxed them on this. Yuki Sonoda and Daniel Ricardo, you could very easily go with either of them.

I will go with Daniel Ricardo only because I think Yuki Sonoda at his best probably doesn't have a car that can get in the points. Daniel Ricardo absolutely did. so I'll go with Ricardo. Moment of the race. What have you got, Harry? It's going to have to be when Ferrari pitted La Clair for the hard tyres because I think the sheer disbelief

from myself, and I'm sure other people watching, but also you heard Martin Brundle, if you watched Sky, heard Martin Brundle just saw that, he's like, I thought I just saw white stripes on those tyres. And it was just like, Surely not.

Surely not. Yeah, that's because it was the defining moment for at least LeClaire's race. Yeah, there's got to be it for me. Ferrari making that awful, awful cool. Yeah, I've got to admit, that was a strong contender from me. I just threw my hands up in exasperation at that point. my partner who watches the races with me made a very good point,

which is that I'm generally like an incredibly calm person, and the only time I'm not calm is when I'm apparently watching the thing I love the most, which I very much enjoyed. But I'm going to pick a different moment. I'm going to go with Lance Stroll's engineer after the Ricardo Stroll crash, because Stroll was ready to unload with like a two-minute, like, What does he do? And he was,

Lance, get back on it. Don't worry. Just get on. Lance, shut up. Get back on the track. I appreciate that.

Brad the second, as we like to call him. He did a good job there. Brad, the Chad. Sam, what was your moment of the rest? Yeah,

I absolutely love that one, Ben there. Yep, yeah, we saw it. We saw it. Like, get on with your life now.

We'll do with it. Please. The urgency is voice. I'm like, please, Lance. You're doing. so well, for me, there's not a lot of times in Formula One.

When you've watched it for as long as the three of us have, an overtake doesn't make me say something out loud properly. But when LeCler stuck that move on George Russell, I properly went, whoa, it was a bloody, great moves to get that down to break. And the way he so safely got back onto the racing line, on the inside of the corner, in front of Russell, made the corner, no lockup, and got going again,

was spectacular. So to see the fall of front. Ferrari after that moment was very sad. But that was absolutely brilliant. It was wonderful to walk. So that's my moment in the race. Notable mention for me as well is Fernando. And I hope, as he said, Ben texts us this in a group chat.

But Ocon's going to need security detail after that race. Alonzo is still finishing in front of him in the end, which I kind of missed. But it was Alonzo obviously cheesed up after the start because Ocon squeezed him quite heavily. But then it was like lap three or something. and he was like, I'm faster. And bearing in mind, we'd had like a lap of VSE as well, which was just the sheer, like, I'm, it wasn't even they'd been stuck,

he'd been stuck behind him for 10 laps. He was just like, no, I'm faster. I've been racing for two laps here, but I'm faster. Please let me go in front, which I didn't, which obviously chees them off even further. I mean,

share on the top of that point, though, of course, of when Daniel Ricardo managed to get them both because of Ocon decided that he didn't want to maybe get out of the way of the battle that's happening at that very moment. blocks his own team mate, not the attacking car. Termin to not let Alonzo through. But Daniel, mate, after you, son. Yeah.

Do you remember last year when Ocon and Alonzo were there, arm in arm celebrating Ocon's win, best of the teammates? I don't think that's going to happen this year, I'll be honest. Maybe not. No. Oops. Oops, indeed.

We have some Driver of the Day and Worst Driver of the Day submissions from our Discord. So if you'd like to appear in this segment, you, unsurprisingly, have to be in the Discord. Kind of giving away in the title there. But we've picked out a few, and we'll have our reactions to what you've said. So let's start with my arch nemesis. Let's start with Skylar. Hamilton went near. Ricardo did not.

It's a great review, isn't it? Tang out of ten, woodless sing again. Thank you, Skylar. Cheers, Skylar. We need a Best of Skyler compilation. I think at some point on this podcast. Thank you, Skyla. Very much appreciate that. Let's go with still our favorite name. Romantic Duck.

Howdy, Late Breakers, this is the Romantic Duck. My driver of the day has to go to Lewis Hamilton, putting Mercedes as my favorite for P2 and the Constructors. I'm not surprised that Max pulled this amazing race off, so got to go to Lewis. My worst driver of the day has got to go to those three monkeys in a trench coat that Ferrari calls a strategist.

Didn't work out too well today, did it. You know those two monkeys from Madagascar, the film. I reckon that's what it is. Yes. They're in the trench coat, yeah. Can we throw some poop at them? If you've got any poop right now. Incredibles one week,

Madagascar the next week, what we like. Great reference. go on to Sonic F1. How's it going, everybody? Sonic F1 here with my driver of the day. I'm going to have to go with Lewis Hamilton. I want to give it to Max, but everybody else is going to go with them. So I'll go with good old Hammy. What a drive putting in some major laps at the end.

Worst driver of the day, I'm going to have to go with Chuckie LaClucky. You need to start doing your strategist in your pit wall. what to do take some tips get after it bro love that from sonic the hedge i'll massively appreciate that let's go on to charlie for the next one my driver of the day it's got to go to of course sebastian vettel for existing in general then my worst driver of the day is lance stroll the first rule of racing is to not get close to daniel ricardo and he happened to do that so it was clearly his fault. Yeah, come on, Lance, what are you doing?

Yeah, learn the rules. Don't go near him. Solid logical round there. Driver of the day for existing and worst driver of the day for going near someone existing. Fair. Made for this podcast, isn't it? Made for the podcast. Sad, how true that is.

Let's go on to ever late 1928, massively appreciate such an old listener. Hey guys, ever late 1928 here. Driver of the day is absolutely Lewis Hamilton. I mean, he just, he drove the absolute wheels off that car. Worst driver of the day, it's not even a driver. It's got to be Ferrari strategy once again with the terrible idea to put LeClaire on the hards. Massively appreciate the submission. I'm assuming ever late wasn't actually born in 1928, but that does open up.

the question, who is the oldest person who listens to our podcast? If you think you might be the oldest person, get in touch with us on Twitter or Discord or wherever. And we'll see. I'm interested to know. You're, you're expecting a lot. Yeah, like I say, are you older than me for a start? Also, I love that if you are listening and you are, I don't know, you're 90 plus,

which is amazing. Hello, welcome. If you know how to tweet or even operate Discord, it's fair play. writing, stand on a tall building and shout loudly. You know, carrier pigeon also works, because technology has changed a lot.

It's a scary world. Very intrigued by this question now. Let's move on to the next one. This is Frazzle. Why? Why? Why? This isn't me, I promise. Best driver of the day

goes to Benotto for making the only correct call of the day by getting off of the pit wall and walking away, because that was painful. Zing. Cheers, Frazzle. You're not wrong. Let's go on to Rye Guy for the next one. Hey guys, it's Rai Guy. Driver the Day.

He's got to go to Max for Stappen, recovering from P10 to win the race. It was incredible, even though he was helped along by my worst driver of the day, the entire Ferrari factory, including the strategy team. Ferrari, you've been in this sport for over 75 years. Figure it out, bro.

Anyways, take care, guys. Sam, you were right. Danny Rick was also garbage, so he's my secondary. Love you guys. Bye. Love you. Cheers, bro, guy. Thanks for recording that in the church. Holy drive of the day. Good stuff.

Up next. Sorry, we've already heard this. Joy's that Kill is up next. Ben, hey Harry. So my driver of the day, I mean, obviously it's going to have to go to Maxer's Stapp and it's undeniable, but I also know that everyone else is going to choose him.

He spun, started far back in the grid than usual, yet he was still able to climb his way back up to first. I mean, undeniable, absolutely. And then obviously, worst driver of the day, for me, at least, is Leclair. I mean, take some tips from signs and tell the Ferrari

strategy team to F off. I mean, it's obviously not that hard. Thanks, guys. Cheers. Sam, friend of the podcast. I mean, yeah, what's the point of me commenting? I'm not here. I wasn't asked.

That was worse than anything that's not a second for the roast, which will be out next week, by the way. I've been kicked out of my own podcast, which I have a third ownership of. Oh, speechless. Absolutely speechless. 25% ownership. It's four away between us and Dave Benson Phillips.

Don't forget. Dave, sorry, I forgot you're in on that deal. He managed to sneak his way and their son up. Last one. The last one we've got is direct from the circuit. Hello, we're live

from the Hungarian DUP. It is the last stages of the races and Bonas now cause a VSC through a retirement. He has stopped on the track between the sector two and three.

Cars are still going around and he had cars my worst and best driver of the day. Best driver delay for me is Maxa Stappen. Awesome recovery drive from 10th place first and leading with a comfortable gap after of recording. Worst is starting the rain now and my words driver of today is Daniel Ricardo. Norris seventh place beating the Alpines and Ricardo has dropped out of the points from start place nine. What is your drive of today?

Oh, it's really there. This is Dad here. Best driver for Shapp and Worst Driver. I would say the catering here, Hungary. But apart from that, it's been good. Over and out for Hungary. Go on, Dad. We love a Dad coming.

Dad joke on the podcast. He's an actual dad, not just ours. Fake Dad. Yeah. Thanks so much from the circuit itself, actually making that. that driver of the day submission. So massively appreciate that to the both of you. And as you say, an absolute zinger on the hungry catering.

We still got more to talk about on this podcast. So we'll be back after this. It's week three of Canadian tires early Black Friday sale. These prices won't go lower this year. Maybe too long. Freezing. Save up to 50% November 20th to 27th. Conditions apply, details online. Now there is just 30 points between Mercedes and Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship. there's 97 between Red Bull and Ferrari first to second. So that gap between Mercedes and Ferrari is actually over three times less than it is from first to second. So with that gap narrowing, we've had two double Merck podiums in a row, Sam. Do you think Merck can do it? Can they get

P2 in this championship? I mean, if you ask me this maybe before France, I mean, it's not really going to go their way. I'm sure they can get more competitive. But after two double podiums in a row and there's already been news stories coming out from the Merck team that they are bringing further updates still over the summer break they are not done developing the car Hamilton has clearly found his stride and it's not just Lewis I mean look at George Russell if like I say if the stopping or Hamilton are put in that lap and got myself on pole I think more people will be raving about it it was a spectacular performance from Russell of course the performance in the racing come off for him,

but it shows that Merck are firing on all cylinders. They are getting there. And this is very promising, not just for the rest of the season, but for next season and years for come. Ferrari, on the other hand, are very much in free fall. It's clear that no department is working how it should.

We've already battered the strategy team into absolute nothingness. But the car isn't performing how you'd expect either, and neither are the drivers. The car, when they put Sikes on the soft tyre, you would think there's Carlos Sikes, he's in the Ferrari, he's won a race this season, you know, he's had a pole position, he's got multiple podiums, he'll be able to cruise up to the back of George Russell, who's nursing at older medium tyres, get past, get himself on the podium,

and at that point, pull away, so maybe he could even beat Lewis Hamilton. You'd think that before the battle ensued. But the Ferrari just never activated, it never turned up, and the same was Charlotte Clare, where they're pitting again, and he was behind Sergio Perez. They never managed to get the right tyre fire in. up. You could see what was capable of when Hamilton was on that soft tire. It was so rapid. Now, if the same thing ensues for a few more races after the summer break, Ferrari are going to

be in trouble and they're going to find themselves back where they were at the end of the previous era of Formula One. Everyone thought they'd taken this amazing step forward. Everyone thought this could be a Ferrari championship. But Bonotto has come out with this mindset of, oh, we're not here to win their championship. We're not here to win right. What are you about? You're not here to win a championship. I mean, in terms of performances, you're right. You're not winning any championships

with how you're running the car or your team because it's absolute mockery right now. It's no surprise that Froy ever won anything properly for what, 15 years. But Mercedes are firing. They're on their way up. It's performance after performance. It's consistency.

It's building. The culture is coming through. They're getting the hang of this format of the car that they want. It's not looking good. And I think I would favor more. Mercedes will beat Ferrari than the other way around or even to close the gap from Ferrari to Red Bull. I think that Ferrari looked like they're in massive trouble

and Mercedes could achieve something big, especially because if you look at the types of tracks we've just been to France and Hungary, we've got a few coming up like it again. You know, Singapore, it's quite similar to Hungary in the terms of the types of corners that we've got is going to be happening. Brazil is very similar to Hungary

in terms of it's got one proper overtaking straight and that's the same thing. Texas, Austin, of course, very similar to Paul Ricard in terms of its general type of corner profile. It's not a given that just because we've got Monsa coming up, for example, that a straight line speed will get Ferrari out of trouble. So I do think that the Sagi's, I would say I've got about an 85% chance,

80% chance of catching Ferrari by the end of the season. I'm pretty confident of it. Interesting. So if you had your 50p and you weren't going to give it to Dave Benson-Philips, you would put that on, Mercedes-Sepernet. and in the championship with Ferrari third. Correct, yes. Interesting.

We'll have to see how that develops after the summer break. Harry, you as confident as Sam in that respect? Do you think that Mercedes can catch Ferrari and the constructors? Well, if we have more days like today, then yes. I definitely think they can. I think it's going to be really interesting to see if Mercedes carry on this form after the summer break. I think they are, even though this weekend's been excellent, last weekend was also excellent for them. in relative terms for this year.

I think they're still trying to understand this car. I'm not saying they've been lucky or anything, but I think they were shot with the bowl position yesterday. And I think they're pacing the race again. Maybe it might have shot them to particularly Hamilton's at the end. That being said, it's clear that they are getting to grips with this car. It might not be 100% yet. But if that trajectory carries on after the summer break,

then yeah, I can see. it happening. You know, Ferrari have the advantage in terms of points currently, but as I said, if we have more days like today, more days like today and last weekend, then Mercedes could easily do it. So, yeah, it's going to be an interesting one. Can I just say it on this point, how great it was that we had six car. I mean, Perez was a bit absent, but effectively six cars in the battle today. Loved it. Very nice. More of that, please. Post, post, some. a break. Something that I noticed, sorry, Ben, before you just show me to your point, is that about the

spread and you're right about six cars, which is brilliant. It shows that the new regulations are doing what is intended for the most part. I think in Q2, the field was spread by literally about a second, and I think the knockout of Q2 between pole, the provisional poll for Q2 and 11th place, which is Perez at the time, was about 9 tenths. So the field spread around Hungary specifically was absolutely incredible. And I think Mercedes gained, only missed out on one point over Red Bull for the highest scoring team this race, right?

I think there's 12 more points to the Ferrari, I only one less point in the Red Bull. So I don't think they're out of this at all. I would agree, firstly, with what you've just said in terms of six drivers being in the fight is great. And I hope as we go through these regulations, that number only increases rather than decreases, which I think was the intention.

hasn't quite materialized that way, but certainly this weekend is encouraging in that respect. I'm not quite as confident as Sam is, but is it on? Yeah, it's on, definitely. 30 points in it. And really, this is the most important stretch of the season for Mercedes was the earlier part of the year, because it seemed pointless grabbing all of these fourth place,

fifth place finishes ahead of the Alpines and the McLarence, but ultimately those adding up that consistency is paying off now because they're still in this fight. And if you don't have that early consistency where the pace wasn't there, you don't get into this position that they're in right now. So you have to give both Hamilton and Russell respect for really digging in when the car wasn't performing and still churning out those results in spite of the car because now it seems like they've got something to fight with. It's not just a case of they're there at the end when others made mistakes. They've got genuine pace.

That poll lap on Saturday from Russell was excellent, but it wasn't a fluke. He was quicker in the first run, and he was quicker in the second run. So it's not like he pulled out the lap of his life. He had pace all the way through, and I'm sure Hamilton would have been there or thereabouts with him as well. And in the race itself, Hamilton was there. And Russell, honestly, I think if Russell was, it sounds weird, if Russell had started further back, I think his pace probably would have been better because I think he spent a lot of

time and effort holding off Leclair and signs in the first stint, a lot of time in the second stint. I think he used up his tires too much, basically. And you have to give respect for Hamilton for doing that where Russell didn't. But I think if Russell's not as directly in the fight, he shows similar pace, even if not quite on the same level, point is if they can take it to them on pace and from a pure cover, versus car perspective, if that's close, you would imagine the other factors, aka strategy, that will see them through. And you're right, Sam, there are some tracks that Mercedes might well fancy themselves at as we go into the second half of this season.

Hungary really was, is there a race left this season that is going to suit the Ferrari better than Hungary did here? Maybe not. Like this was, this should have been Ferrari's Ferrari's playground and it absolutely wasn't. So I'm not saying 80, 85% as you are, Sam, you might well be right. But I would put this at about 50-50 just because we don't know exactly whether Mercedes can continue that pace onwards or not. And as bad as Ferrari have been strategically, they still lead even with all those strategic bad calls. So I would give this about a 50-50, but the fact that it's even a debate, the fact that there is a chance of this happening

is utterly ridiculous. It's utterly ridiculous. I just can't give it a 50-50 for PTSD reasons. I'm afraid I have to stay very far away from that. Sorry, I forgot I would trigger you with that sentence. I apologize. I reckon I'll do a 50-50 game for next week's podcast. I hate you so much.

I'm just kidding. We probably need to put it. plan our summer content, don't me? Oh yeah, we said that on the podcast the other day. It's done that. Yeah. I'll spend a bit of time on it. I'll let you know.

All right, mate. We will, in all seriousness, we will still be here throughout the summer break, everyone. Don't think that we won't put out an episode. We will. Just before we scare everyone off, if we haven't already. Last segment of today, Carlos Sines. So he was on a different strategy to Charlotte Claire, not initially, but certainly after Charleclair went on the hard tires.

Carlos Seine stuck it out on the medium tires far longer, went on the soft tires at the end of the race. So we were medium, medium soft. Ultimately, that strategy helped him to two positions higher than Charles LeCler, but still not a podium. He went from second on the grid to fourth place overall behind Vastappen and the two Mercks. Sam, what did you make of signs his pace out there today? It was disappointing.

I'm not going to dwelling it for too much. We've spoken a lot about Ferrari, but it was disappointing. he couldn't match LeCler for the most part in the first thing when they were on the same strategy. You know, we heard multiple radio messages of Can Science Go quicker? Because Science could quicker. And in the moment that they did their first pit strap,

the Clare ends up in front and the Claire dropped, Sainz. The Clare managed to get in front of Russell, of course, at that time. And it looked positive for Eclare, whereas you think, all right, Sykes, follow you through, follow the guys through, like you did or like you were going to around Austria, right? Science that's on it around Austria. and he was right behind in Claire the whole time. He was delivering the same nap times.

Here, he never looked capable of leading that fight forward. Now, he's on the same strategy as Lewis Hamilton in a car that in theory is worse than the Ferrari. So you think, right, Hamilton gets P2 on exactly the same strategy. Carla Sainz starts five places higher up the grid. It's on the same strategy. Does it have to deal with Landon Norris in his way or getting past Alpines? In theory, Carla Sighton should have been a breeze. the likes of Russell

and probably cruise up to the back of Max Verstappen or at least put some pressure on, especially when Max Verstapp has gone for a bloody Barney on the last corner for a moment. But it doesn't.

It just doesn't seem to have the ability to deploy that pace. And it seems so hot and cold for Carlos Sainz. One day he'll turn up and he'll win the race like he's done previously in the season or he'll be the closest thing to pole.

And the next race, it's like, where are you, why aren't you delivering this pace that you've shown previously, it's very odd from Carlos Sykes because it's always been very promising from him. So I was disappointed. I was a bit surprised. And I really do think that Sykes threw away an easy podium. I mean, Ferrari did that as well. But Sykes could have taken this into his own hands considering he was on the right strategy. Harry, given signs out qualified Leclair, given he he led a

practice session, are you surprised he didn't have more pace in the race other? Yeah, I think the word you used that Sam was correct disappointing science's pace was I think not bad not ideal just disappointings yeah I think again not to put another dig into

Ferrari strategy team I'm unsure whether that call to bring him in a lap after Russell pitted and I appreciate why they did it they were covering him off but they started on the medium tyres and Russell started on the soft tyres

so then that was a knock on effect later on the race and as you already mentioned Ben he had to do the longest thing on his soft ties which again Ferrari that's not the way it should work just want to put that one out there so that I think hampered him hampered him slightly but yeah

it was quite a shot to hit especially of that last stint and was quite disappointed from signs yeah I'm not I'm not sure there's something about the soft ties because they had trouble yesterday and qualifying about switching it on and I don't know whether this is the same issue but just something on those ties didn't, did not sit, because the Claire as well, when he came out, he didn't like light,

set the weatherlight with his soft tires, which you thought he would have done. He didn't even get back past Perez or catch Perez up. So, yeah, odd one that. I don't know if there's anything in that one at all. But yeah, it was, it was an okay. It looks as ever with Ferrari. It looks very promising from the outset for signs. I didn't quite work out.

But the past two weekends, this race may be aside. have looked quite encouraging for signs. I feel like he's had some, the wins, since Silverston, feel like he's just got a bit more confidence in his driving. So hopefully that carries on over the summer break. But yeah, today wasn't great. Not ideal again. Good stuff.

Yeah, to first touch on it strategically, I don't think they manage this brilliantly well, because you're absolutely right. With the soft tire, we saw the likes of George Russell and others on the soft tire in the first, stint, starting to struggle after 15 laps. So if you were to put aside 15, because we knew they needed to use the soft tire, if we put aside 15 laps at the end of the race to do that, they have to do two sets of

mediums, 55 laps. So coming in after 15 laps after the first stint, that ain't going to work, right? You've got to split that 55 laps, roughly speaking halfway, do 27, 28 or so. Each stint, manage that. And then the last in on the soft ties, you don't have to go, you don't have to stretch them too much. Maybe strategically you have to do one or two more laps than you want to on the softs. Fine, so be it. But, you know, coming in after 15 laps, that isn't going to work, 15, 16 laps.

It's not going to work. So I don't think Ferrari got this right strategically from Sines's side. Certainly they did a better job than the Clare side, but we've already discussed that. In terms of his pace, yeah, disappointing times three. I haven't got a better word for it. Yeah. It should have been a bit better than that. And it's a bit confusing as to why it wasn't,

because as I mentioned, he seemed to right in practice. He out-qualified Leclerc, which is certainly no mean feat. I think it's only the third time he's done that this year. But in the race, it was evident early on who had the advantage. Signs was not on the back of Russell, for the most part, really until the end of the stint. And Charles LeClauer was right on his gearbox and said, I can go quicker than this.

So, yeah, I think Lecler Man, managing to perform the overcut, never a great sign because it's not usually that the overcut is the effective way to get an overtake done. But really, he was nowhere in that last stint. I was thinking, okay, let's see. We've got signs and we've got, we've got Hamilton, two guys, newish soft tires. What can they do? And it was Hamilton who could get it done. Signs couldn't. So, yeah, I mean, let's remember as well. Signs is not beating George Russell in the championship again. George Russell is ahead of Carlos, in the championship and Hamilton is right on his doorstep.

And, you know, it might be, it might be a MacLyre and Alpine situation where, you know, I'm not saying signs are struggling to the same level of as Ricardo. Of course I'm not, but Ricardo seems to be the outlier in that group of four that is, that might well cost McLaren that position in the championship. It might well end up the same way with Ferrari and Mercedes. If Russell, LeCler and Hamilton, three excellent drivers all perform on a certain level, and science can't quite reach that, that might be it. I don't know, maybe that's the thing that makes the Mercedes P2 Championship come true. But yeah, I think there are more encouraging signs recently than not.

Even so, today, it was worrying that the pace wasn't quite there. I think we're going to end that review podcast here. As mentioned, we're going to be all the way throughout the summer break and then into the second half of the year. You will have noticed that since our preview episode, we did our classic thing where news is announced after we do our preview episode. Happens literally every time.

Sebastian Vettel, of course, retiring from the sport after 15 years. Next week's podcast, it's going to be largely focused on that. There's going to be a lot of Sebastian Vettel talk, talk about his legacy, ultimately who might be his replacement, yeah, exactly what he's done in the sport.

That's all going to be featured on this week's podcast. So we've intentionally ignored it today to focus on the race, but we've got that coming up. Sam, if you wouldn't mind, getting us out of here. Yeah, very exciting second half of the season coming up. 32 points separate Charlotte-Cler executive championship to Lewis Hamilton at the back of that pack at the moment. It's incredibly tight. It's mad how crazy it could turn around and who knows who's going to come out on top, but you may as well give Mac for staff on the title right now. It seems pretty wrapped up. As Ben said, over the summer break, we will be here every midweek as

normal and every Grand Prix Sunday, even though there isn't a Grand Prix. We're trying to be here twice a week, every week, and the special episode comes out next Sunday. So stay tuned for that as well. Let's know if you've enjoyed the episode. The Hungarian Grand Prix once again delivered a bit of a fun one. If you may it all the way through, leave a little review. We massively appreciate it. It helps us grow massively if we get a nice positive review.

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in the meantime. I've been Samuel Seig. I've been Ben Hocking. And I've been Harry Each. And remember, keep breaking late. Oh, Ferrari. Time now.

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