The Late Braking F1 Podcast - 2023 Dutch GP Review

Episode Date: August 27, 2023

Sam, Ben & Harry review what was a chaotic Dutch GP where Verstappen won at home and Gasly made it to the podium for the first time since 2021! Join the boys as they review the eventful race from the woes of Mercedes and Ferrari to the triumphs of Alonso and Gasly. As always they also review their predictions, name their drivers of the day, and have a listen to your Moment of the Race submissions.. FOLLOW us on socials! You can find us on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok SUPPORT our Patreon for bonus episodes JOIN our Discord community JOIN our F1 Fantasy League BUY our Merch EMAIL us at [e-mail]   & SUBSCRIBE to our podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Everyone welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Eid, Sam Sage and me, Ben Hocking, reviewing the Dutch Grand Prix, the chaotic Dutch Grand Prix won by Max Verstappen, which is customary at this point, but that doesn't explain half of what went on today. Second place, Fernando Alonzo, third place Pierre Gazley, Alpine. Rain at the beginning, rain at the end, some non-rain in the middle. Sam, that was, you've already mentioned that you've basically got a scream compilation for this race, which is probably a first for the year. Yeah, I mean, I'm, those who can't see, but if you're watching on YouTube, then hello, I've got a tea here because my, I've realised my throat hurts, actually,

from screaming that much whilst watching the race. It was a bonga of wet weather to dry weather transitions and just saying that podium really doesn't explain it considering that Gassi came from 12th place on the grid to pick up that third place. And what a wild ride we really had there for the, I reckon, I just can't say it, race of the season, I reckon. I mean, the bar was low, but I think, yeah, it's pretty fair to shout out. That is true, but still, it claims it for me. Start of the race was days ago. Literally, yeah, yeah. I mean, Alonzo overtook two people in turn three, literally. And that was the most boring part of the race. I know. That was sweet. Sousis, salsis, salsis, so sure.

That corner, we said it at the time, he just does what everyone else, the opposite of everyone else. Yeah, I know. Every time. It's great. Anyway, yeah, I'm sure we'll get onto that, and much, much more.

We'll be discussing Ferrari and how they got on Mercedes and their strategic problems. But we'll start with the race out front. We'll start with Red Bull because Sergio Perez pulled a bit of a blinder to go into the pits for intermediate tires early on, led the race for. a few laps at least, and then Max Verstappen decided that's enough of that. And we'll talk about that strategic element in a little bit.

Just to start, though, he came into the pits for wet weather tires late on in the Grand Prix, at which point the red flag came out. We thought at first it might well have been a decision that cost him three or four positions. As it happens, they reinstated it back to where he was in third place. Sam, what did you make of the decision from Red Bull to pit Perez at that point? when a red flag was plausible. And what do you make of the FIA's decision to go back to the way that it was a lap before?

This felt like such a massive overcompensation for Max Verstappen undercutting Perez the first time. We heard the radio from Perez, you know, has Max undercut us? And they're like, yeah, yes he has. It's like, we were leading. I was 12 seconds in front. Max Verstappen was driving Star Trek Enterprise

in hyperspace while Sergio Perez was quite literally rung around the track on his own legs. that's the difference in speed they seem to be able to carry. And then all of a sudden, Max Verstappen is seven, eight seconds up the road. So you get this wet weather transition and you see Esk van Ockon take the daring, darest of all daring moves and go on the wet tires straight away. And it actually seems to be a great call, even though he complained about it. So Sergio Perez follows in.

But after that incident that brought out the red flag with the rain coming down that level, we both said it when we were watching it going, this has got to be a red flag. They will throw a red flag. And the fact that pretty much every team, you know, a longso carries on, gassily carried on, Hamilton carries on as well, science. And yet, you know, they seem to throw themselves in. Perez hits the wall on the entry to the pit lane. He then ends up speeding in the pit laying.

It was a real calamity of Emma's. Emers? Sorry to all Emmers listening to this. Lively. Poor Emma. Poor Emma. So many Emmers. Sorry, Emma. It's been a long day.

A calamity of errors, which is ironic for that sentence to be wrong, you know, that you gained absolutely nothing for, and it ended up costing you the podium that I think, on the first strategy call to go into inches before everyone else was a blinder. And it just went down the toilet so quickly. I mean, there was enough water on the track to flush it, that's for sure. But yeah, I don't know what Red Bull were trying to do. I think they suddenly went, oh, we've wronged Sergio on our side by not maybe paying

attention to a possible undercut and, you know, keeping Sergio competitive. Let's do something now. The opportunity has arisen. And they just didn't pay attention to what was going on with the rest of the crack and the conditions that were coming on. The red flag seemed inevitable. so I'm really surprised they brought him in. He obviously got stuck behind that red light section

at the end of the pit lane where the red flag had come out so he closed the pit lane. In terms of the countback and where Sergio Perez belongs, I personally think that he should have had to have started behind Lewis Hamilton. I don't enjoy this, go back to the lap before and then give you the order. And they kind of dig a bit half and half because obviously Sergio Perez pitted, gazing along so immediately went past. but Hamilton also kind of gone past the entrance to the pit lane

when the red flag had come out. So it's kind of like they went, oh, a certain amount of time can be allowed before we do the countback. And it was very confusing because in theory, if you go a whole lap back, well, Anonzo and Gassley should still be behind Perez

for the restart of the race. Wasn't Alonzoa head because, yes. Oh, yes, of course. But Gassley, yes. Sorry, fair point. Thank you for correcting me. So it just feels like they're kind of picking shoes

at what point they're counting back to, which, you know, I don't love. and they've done it separately in different races as well. We've had a very clear evidence that, like, the Reg Flagg Countback will go back to, let's say, it happened on 65, the start of lap 64. Very much like what happened at Australia, I think. Whereas this time around, it felt like they did it from kind of 15 seconds into a certain period. It was all a bit confusing.

I didn't really like how they did it. And I think that surgery press probably should have restarted that section in sixth place rather than the fourth, fourth third. Third. Thank you. But I think he got a little bit lucky to get away with. I mean, obviously he was plunged with speeding in the pit lane. But I do think it was a little, little generous, fortuitous for him.

What do you think, Harry, first on the Red Bull decision and then the FIA's decision. The Red Bull decision was a bit odd, I thought, given... You used the word inevitable. And it's exactly the word I would have used. The Red flag, as soon as Joe is in the barriers at term one, we kept playing, well, that's a red flag. It's going to be a red flag. Because the amount of rain that was coming down... It was a river.

It was river. So I get why, I understand why you, because you'd look stupid if you didn't pit onto the wet tires and everyone else did. But I just thought what Alonzo did and Aston Martin did and Gassley as well, to stay out there was an obvious one because there was no way that was continuing as a, as a green flag running. So, well, I guess it was safety gap. There's no way it was continuing under that either. So yeah, odd call for that one with, with, uh,

Perez, but I sort of understand it. The countback thing, I think they counted it back to like the end of sector two or something of lap 65, right? Yeah, but that just doesn't make sense. No, I agree. It's an odd one to call it back to. I can kind of understand why, because I don't think I've ever seen a red flag thrown and then a car is in the pit lane already. I mean, it must have happened at some point, but that's an odd one to be stuck in the pit lane

when the red flag's thrown. so I can see why they've done that because I guess they might have come out in a different place but yeah you're right the rest of them were Hamilton and Kobe were already through so yeah it was quite chaotic so I understand sort of why they've made that call to count it back but yeah the rule should just be like a blanket rule

you count back to the lab before but with the sector two thing Gasly hadn't passed Perez at that point hadn't he so he got to go through along so obviously already passed because of the spin but Gazley hadn't already passed him he passed him when Perez was in the pit lane. Yeah.

So how does that work if they've gone back to sector two? Because at the end of sector two of that lap, I guess Gassie was still behind him. I think that's how they've worked out. Anyway, but I agree, confusing to say the least. And they should, yeah, just make, you know, FIA, make it simple. Just have like a blanket rule. It's a count back a lap and we go from there.

Yeah, that's super. I'd certainly say it was a strategic blunder from Red Bull to bring Perez in at that point. The fact that it probably doesn't make the top 10 strategic blunders on the day says a lot about how it went out there. But yeah, I think this wasn't the right call from Red Bull. And ultimately, I was like both of you, just say, okay, this is a red flag. I think Joe Guan Yu going into the barriers was one thing. and I thought at that point, okay, they can still clear that under safety car. So that bit wasn't too bad.

But then there was one shot of like just from turn one going back down to the start, finish rate, where you could just see all of the water piling up. That was the shot for me that was like, yeah, this is red flag. Like slam dunk red flag, this is going to happen. And it was just a matter of not if, but when. Is it going to happen in 30 seconds time or in two minutes time? I couldn't see it going anything beyond that. So it makes sense for Red Bull just to hold on,

like some of the other teams did. And I think they can count themselves lucky that they didn't lose out as a result of the decision that they took. In terms of the FIA and their decision to count back to sector two, I think I agree with you that it would be cleaner just to go to the lap before. It's a confusing situation. And I think you're going to have advantaged and disadvantaged parties that are always going to disagree with whatever decision you make. But as we often point out with stewarding, it's the consistency, right?

It's got to be consistent. So I think for the sake of just making it clean and easy, yes, I think the lap before would probably make sense. The other reason I think that's probably a good idea is that the situation I'm talking about here where it would have benefited Perez to just stay out on intermediate tires. okay, strategically it makes sense. From a safety perspective, we don't really want to be encouraging that. And I saw a few people suggest maybe they made the decision

to not pull him back a few places and to pick a point where he doesn't get disadvantaged was actually a bit of a, hey, Perez came in for the right appropriate tires for the conditions and he's not being disadvantaged as a result of this, almost as a sign for the other drivers that that's what they want them to do. And certainly, it would have, to an, and I'm not saying this right or wrong,

but it would have sucked to an extent to see that someone making a smart decision to go on tires that were appropriate for the weather being disadvantaged as a result of that. So I think that's something they need to maybe consider the FIA is that I don't like the idea of drivers going around on intermediate tires, risk of aquaplaning at any moment and having what Jo Guanyu had happened to him. I don't like that being a prospect because the alternative is what Perez did and you might get caught out by a red flag.

It's a tough situation, but I think it's one to at least bear in mind. I completely disagree. I don't care if you're coming for the right tyres. I think it should be reset the moment the red flag sign comes. I almost feel like Mr. Stewart hits button for reg flag, take screenshot of race order, and that is the race order.

You know, I've hit the red flag. that's, we've red flagged, that's the race order. And I don't care about, oh, I was coming in for right tires. I should get a bonus. No, I don't, no, I don't care. It's clever. It's good strategy. It's good call to be like, the red flag's coming.

I'm just going to, and we saw it at the start of the race when there were drivers going around on soft tires when the track was soaking wet. And there was no issue with that then. There was no kind of red flag. They're on the wrong tires. And I think at that moment when we start to not adjust rules, because that's not what you're saying, Ben, at all. But when we start to give a swing a little bit to those.

who are making the safe decision rather than, you know, it's sport, we're being a little bit risky. We are driving around 200 miles an hour. Then I think on that point, you lose a big of the risk for reward factor. And as much as I agree that safety is, you know, incredibly important and it's something we should always consider. I don't want that to be the first thing in driver's mind. You know, obviously be safe in general manner. But if you can claim something and you've got a risk versus reward, you put it in the wall, or you stick it out and go 30 seconds.

I've got to last a 30 seconds. And I could gain two, three places. I want that to be a decision in Formula One. And it's the same with racing in the wet. We're not allowed to race in the wet anymore. We had a rolling start. It was drier than it was at one point when we were actually racing, and they were fine with it.

And I just think that Formula One, in terms of wet weather ability, it's gone out the window. And I know the cars are hard because they're ground-effect cars, and it's very difficult to maintain downforce in wet weather. But you're the best drivers in the world. Saw it out. You saw how good Sergio Perez's first choice was. He nailed that change in intermediates.

And some people are still on softs, and they got no benefit or no benefit from, you know, for safety reasons. So I just, I see the point you're making, but I do very much disagree with it. What I want to avoid is Nuremberg-Ring-07. That is, yeah, but that is a real kind of, you know. I don't think we were far away from that. I think it's a fair point. I think, yeah.

Sam Sage hates safety below the title. That's the title of this episode. That is. What did you make of, let's go a bit earlier in the race and go back to, Perez and Vastappen, because Perez went into Intermediates at the first time of asking Vestappan stays out for an extra lap. But of course, with Vestappan bearing down on him,

Vestappan then goes back onto the dry tires first before Perez does, and all of a sudden Vestappan is undercutting Perez and Perez is asking why that has been able to happen. Sam, what did you make of how that played out? I mean, firstly, that call from Perez to go on to intermediates was a blinder. you know, we, even in our qualifying review that we did yesterday,

none of us brought up the fact that Perez started way down the top 10 order, you know, beating out by a lot of drivers, in theory, slower cars. Because it feels like maybe it's just become the norm now, so we're not really raising it as often, which is not a good thing for Sergio Perez. But, you know, he pulled an absolute blind strategically on that first call, and it made up entirely for the deficit that he's starting in. And that's the kind of risk I want on drivers, right?

It might not have gotten any wetter. He might have been on the wrong tie, and he might have fallen away back down the order. but it didn't. It paid off. The same for Joe Guangyu who found themselves in second place, which was absolutely sensational as a call. Firstly, I was in shock and awe

at just how much faster Max Verstappen was once he got onto the same tire as Sergio Perez. The fact that it was a 12 second gap and I think in two laps he had taken the gap down to seven seconds was mind. One lap over four seconds. Which is mind-blowing, right?

The tyres aren't any difference in age. You know, Perez has been on his for two laps. Max has just put on fresh ones at this point. There is no real difference. If you did that on softs for two drivers in most teams, the gap would be cut the tents, you know, in terms of difference of speed. But four seconds a lap is quite, you know,

I would describe it as filthy. Four, Jeremy. Four, that's insane. It's disgusting. It is absolute filth. It is, oh, it's dirty. You know, go and wash the timing board down because it's a mess. But then the fact that,

But, you know, we didn't hear the conversation on the rebel pit or with the drivers properly that discussed Max coming in early. He just came in early, which is really interesting because usually driver who's in the lead on the track gets first call of pit stop. That's tradition. Not saying we should stick to it. I'm not saying that that's the point. But, you know, that is considering F1 tradition that if you're the lead driver on track, you tend to get first call in the pit lane. And that isn't the case. You know, Checo seemed almost a bit bamboozled that Max was.

Stappen had coming already and was flying on the soft tire. And it's so interesting to see how Perez called this blinder of a call to go on Intermigia, it's to have such a lapsing concentration and understanding of the track conditions to go, it's no longer wet, softening out the appropriate tie. Because you think if you can go one way, you should be going to go the other. But Max Verstappel almost realized the mistake he found himself in, which is hard when you're the race leader to make that right call. You don't want to be too risky.

But to stick on those soft tires. and he was past him so easily. You know, he flew around that track and he had come and gone with the time that Sergio Perez had come out that pit lane. So I think it shows a little bit, a little bit of Red Bull favourism

over the pit lane. And I don't blame them. The guys won nine in a row. The guys are two-time world champion. He is their future. He's their long term. You don't want to start ifhing him off, do you really?

We're a family show, folks, so I won't swear. Ifing him. Ifing him, not really a phrase. My point is here. you don't want to start upsetting your main man for the next, what, eight to ten years in theory. Max O'Sappen could be at that team longer if he fancies it. So, Sergio Perez is, this is going to sound really harsh,

a stop gap between the next person to come and sit in the second driver's seat of that Red Bull. He's doing a job for them. Doesn't matter if he gets upset, really. He's here for what? One, two seasons at a max. Oh, well, it'll get on with it. This is the best car he's ever going to have. But it was very surprising to see how blatant it was and see just how surprised Sergio Perez was over the radio, I think.

Also, be more bullish, Sergio. You know, throw the mantle down and go, I'm coming in. This is soft tires. I'm leading. I'm coming in. There's only one pit box. So you gotta take me. Otherwise, we're both screwed.

Do it a Claire. Yeah. Just scream at him. I am coming in. Ironically, no tires ready. I mean, well, I will go. I can't go into that. That's going to be my favorite part of the entire podcast.

Oh, no, no. Oh, no. No, indeed. What did you make of how about played out, Harry? Yeah, it was, I am with Sam. Look, it was, it's quite a blatant move on, on Red Bulls part here to just, again, we don't, we haven't heard all of radio conversations, but what we picked up from, I guess, commentary was that it wasn't Max's cool, it was Red Bull's cool, or the team's cool, and they, and they brought Vistappan before Perez. Having said that, the rate of, uh, catching there was between Vistappan and Perez, like, it was, that was, that was a, what are they, it just, it's a done deal. or they've just avoided a bit of embarrassment for Checo on track, basically,

because they've made it look like an undercar. It's like a different class of car. Yeah, they've made it look like it's an undercut when, in fact, Vestappen was going to be passing that lap, probably, if not the lap later, the rate of knots who was catching him out. So, questionable, I guess not questionable, but the process of that when your lead driver doesn't get the call on when they get the first stop, especially considering the last time they did.

So it's not dodgy, but a little bit dodgy. Not dodgy, but a bit dodgy. A bit dodgy, but a bit dodgy. But I didn't blame them because Vastappen was just flying along. So I think they've just saved Checo a bit of a bit of face there. It's a bit of face. It's only got a little bit left now. Well, out of four seconds of lap, there's not much face left.

Oh, God. Exactly. So, yeah, I don't. claim them. I feel like, because it was very obvious that Vastappen had such a pace advantage over Perez. I feel like the four seconds a lap thing, there's surely something beyond pure pace to explain it in that either the tyres were working very well straight out the blankets and there was tire temperature involved or Perez maybe was a bit slower somewhere on the circuit in particular, one particular corner. Because I think at that point it probably went back to something like two seconds,

which is still a massive advantage for Vestappen, but I don't think pure pace-wise it was quite four. But having said that, people won't like it. I understand the decision they made. And I do genuinely think that it was to avoid Fernando Alonzo and any undercut opportunities from Aston Martin. I appreciate they had built quite a gap over Alonzo and the rest of the field.

But we saw the pace that Piastri and Albon were going. at on those dry tires. And it was five seconds a lap faster than the likes of Vostappan out front. So I can understand why they pit the second driver first to avoid Fernando Alonzo and then pit the first place driver Perez afterwards. It's not the first time we've seen that strategy played out. I remember it happened, I think this is a very random one. Singapore a few years ago when Ferrari were actually good and they were winning races.

You might remember that LeClaire. was leading the race. Vessel had to come into the pits first. Vettel ends up winning the race because he gets the undercut on Leclair, but he was doing it not to overtake Leclair, although he did, but it was to protect from the third place driver, which I think is what Red Bull were doing here. I might be being naive with that and it was actually just a ploy to get Vastappen in front, but I think they were doing it for defensive reasons. But yeah, Max was, in all honesty, Vastappen was finding a way past whether it was then, 10, Laps later at the next pit stop, on the last lap having to get five seconds on Perez.

He had found a way. He just had from first practice all the way through to the race. This was even by Vastappan standards, a very dominant weekend over his teammate. Batterson. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Let's take a short break.

We'll leave Red Bull for now, but we'll be focusing on Mercedes after the break. This Giving Tuesday, Cam H is counting on your support. Together, we can forge a better path for mental health by creating a future where Canadians can get the help they need when they need it, no matter who or where they are. From November 25th to December 2nd, your donation will be doubled. That means every dollar goes twice as far to help build a future where no one's seeking help is left behind.

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Get insurance that's really big on care. Find an agent today at Dejardin.com slash business coverage. Mercedes came into the weekend with quite a bit of optimism. Yeah. Didn't quite work out for them. Hamilton win. Yeah, is that what you said? Yeah.

We're going to that. The funny thing is, Lewis Hamilton seemed to have very, very good pace. Unfortunately, Mercedes strategic team didn't have very good pace. They were very slow to make decisions early on. Really cost both drivers. Of course, we know George Russell retired or finished outside of the points anyway. But certainly it was. a tough day for both Mercedes drivers up until that point. Sam, what did you make of how their race

went? Because Russell starting on the second row, it was looking good, and it just crumbled as soon as decisions had to be made. I think, you know, we discussed this, didn't we, while the race was going. I genuinely think that Mercedes needs need to fire their strategy department. I think the whole department. The whole department. I don't think they've been good at strategy calls. ever, and I think the dominance of the car allowed them to be bulletproof, essentially, for the last, you know, from 2014 through to 2020. They're a bit rusty. No, I don't think they were ever good.

Like I think the car was 30 seconds up the road all the time, but it doesn't matter if they make the wrong call or their two laps out, because they've got the pace to rectify it. Someone like Hannah Schmitts at Red Bull is sensational at planning strategy. It is ruthless. It is efficient, and it gets the job done. they were so good with their strategy when they were behind Mercedes all those years that I think they have really finessexed this to a T. And I think just like their drivers and their team's approach,

they are so good at nailing the strategy element as well. There is no emotion involved in it. It is get the best result possible. Whereas with Mercedes, there's arguments over the radio now. You heard George Russell come over the radio and say, this was a hilarious phrasing. I was forecast a podium. Sorry, George. I requested one podium I've been a podium at four o'clock I'll be in second place

you know how the F has this happened you know you're in 18th place Lewis Hamilton at some point was in last place and we followed him down the time board you know it starts 13th by the end of that one is 14th

then the rain comes he doesn't pit and he's the only person at the back rolling around on dry tyres I will get on to my point in a minute if the rain was coming which everyone said, Toto Wolf himself even said it on the grid. Why was he on the medium tyres?

Yeah. Like, what? What? Why? It doesn't make any sense. And then the call just kept coming. You know, then some of the drivers from the intermediates went onto the dry tires.

Lewis Hamilton went onto the intermediate tires, which was confusing because the track was drying up at that point. And yes, he made some moves. But unlike Albon, who just stuck it out on the softs that entire time, and managed to pretty much maintain grid position the entire time it went on, you know, Hamilton flipped back and forth, back and forth, and only in the last kind of 25 laps from Hamilton put on his final set of softs, he suddenly seemed to unlock incredible pace. You know, he hunted down Norris far quicker than I ever thought he was going to.

It was about three and a half second gap at one point. We looked away. We looked back again. The gap was a second. He had caught up to him by two seconds that lap. It was sensational on the same strategy. Their strategy calls were absolutely bewildering today. and I can see why George Russell came across the radio

and said, I don't know how I'm the one that's all the way back here while Pierre Gazley's floating around in third, fourth place. Kevin Magnuson at one point from the pit lane was in seventh. Joe was, you know, fighting with Sergei Peretz at one point for the victory. And you, both the Mercedes drivers at one point were 18th and 20th place. It was so diabolically bad that I don't know how you were once eight-time consecutive constructors champions. Thank you, engineering department, because that's what kept you afloat.

I do not think they've ever been good at strategy, but I think they're being found out now. Harry, you put George Russell under pressure going into this weekend, and I think by all accounts, he generally had an OK weekend from a Pace perspective, but it feels like the team might have let himself and indeed Lewis Hamilton Downer. Yeah, I feel for Russell, actually,

because I think he was having a pretty decent weekend. That contact with Norris, by the way, the lightest of contacts, Out you go, son. Yeah, weird one. Yeah, I'm with Samson. Very odd, do you know what? It's not even the calls were odd.

They were just slow. They were making the right calls, but like laps too late. So the Hamilton one where he was the last one to put inters on. Obviously, some of them stayed on slicks for the entire first rain shower, Albon. There were a few others like Bottas and Holkenberg maybe. but at that point they'd committed and obviously it paid off for Album because he came out the other side

and he still had slicks on. For Hamilton they were the last to pit for the interns but by that point they were too late for that call because they're so far back they might as well have stuck with just staying on the slicks

so yeah just slow slow calls and not great because you're right Ben they, I think that car has some decent pace in it and to come away with only if, what is it, eight points in the end from Jess Hamilton.

Don't qualify third for no reason. Yeah, it's, they're going to be scratching their heads on that one. And they, yeah, probably need to have a look at what their strategy team are, strategy team are doing because, you know, we're used to Ferrari making bad strategy calls, but, you know, I think that was at a Ferrari level of bad strategy.

Speaking of strategy calls, obviously they had the split strategy where when the safety car came out, Hamilton's stadium on his soft tyres, which maybe six or seven laps old. Russell Pitts onto the hard tire. Why not mirror Hamilton's strategy at that point, which was clearly the fast strategy that clearly worked out far better. I mean, Russell's one wasn't

far off being pulled off, but I think by the end of it, before the rain hit again, it wasn't working. But I think it was, it was an okay I understand that one. That moment where Russell nearly lost it with Hamilton right behind him. That was one of many a scream.

Lots of people. poo. So much poo. It was a dirty moment. Jesus. George, mate. Come on. Terrifying.

That is terrifying. Wipe out both Mercedes-a-go. So yeah, not a great race for Mercedes overall today. I think the drivers actually did a pretty decent job, but they weren't really given the chance to do much more. Yeah, I would certainly say, you're right, Sam. You picked out George Russell's third place qualifying effort. And the irony is I think they were a better.

a race car than they were a qualifying car, which is what they usually are. But certainly if you compare them to say McLaren, who maybe had a minor edge on them on Saturday, it seemed as if today it was Mercedes that had the race pace advantage. And I don't know if you're comparing Hamilton, certainly Hamilton and maybe Russell as well, Vastappen was quicker than most of maybe Alonzo. But I don't think any, and Perez is probably in the mix as well, but I don't think any of the other cars who finished in front of Hamilton or, of course, in front of Russell. I don't think they had the pace that Mercedes had.

So this is a massive missed opportunity. Strategically, you're right. You've used all the correct words, diabolical, woeful, all the rest of them. They all fit the bill on this occasion because, yeah, you've got to commit one way or the other. You've even got to commit in the way that Joel Gassley did in that they came in straight away or Perez did.

And you go straight to the intermediate tires, fine. I didn't even mind that much Lewis Hamilton Stey on the medium tyres because in 12th it was something different I know the rain was coming but with the other 19 What the rain?

No, I don't get baffled by rain I understand that concept I meant everyone on softs Toto Wolf goes, we've got rain in less than 20 minutes the rain is there by the end of lap 1 you got your radar he's the only man on me I get what you're saying Ben it's something different if the rain doesn't come but it was coming

everyone else knew it was coming. I'd just say if he was inside the top 10, I'd have been like, what are you doing? But I think it might have been worth of gamble that if it was lighter than expected and intermediates weren't needed and suddenly he's in a good spot.

So I was fine with that cool, but certainly you've even got to pit on lap one for those intermediate tyres or you do what I'll be able to do it and you just stay out there. But yeah, they just completely mistimed the pit stop. in terms of Hamilton having the soft tires and Russell having the hard tires after dry tires were required. I was fine with both calls. I think it was probably worth it to go on the hard tires from George Russell's perspective.

I think given the timing of the second lot of rain, it was probably worth it. And from Lewis Hamilton's perspective, I think he recovered absolutely everything he could. But the damage was done by that point. it kind of didn't matter what their strategy was for when it was dry because they were having to fight back a minute's worth of time. And the crucial call was the first one that they just didn't make. And I think there's some truth to your argument, Sam, in that they haven't needed to be good at strategy for a long time.

But certainly the last couple of years that this isn't an isolated incident. There have been a few calls where they're just seemingly a little bit, a little bit slow to go ahead. And to be honest, you brought it up on the qualifying review as well with Lewis Hamilton and Q2. It's almost just a reluctance to go a bit bold and almost just waiting to see what everyone else does, which is something you can do when you're out in the lead. And indeed, Red Bull did that a couple of times out there today, where you've built up such

a gap that you do have one lap or two laps worth of a buffer to work out whether it definitely is the right decision. Mercedes don't have that in the situation they're in. Eight points is a long way from what they should have secured here. It really should have been one driver on the podium and probably the other one in the top five. And that's pretty conservative as well. They definitely had more on the table. Yeah, if, especially from Hamilton side, obviously Russell retires, if Hamilton side get that first call right,

I think they comfortably be ghastly to the final spot on the podium. that car was much faster. But I miss Hamilton making these calls from the car. And Russell did it when he first came into Mercedes. He was kind of like, I want this. And we almost kind of criticised for how vocal he was over the radio. But he was being bold and making these calls. And we're not seeing that anymore.

We're not seeing him go, I want, I'm coming. I want these tires. And it was a bit odd because Hamilton was the team leader. But he seems to be afraid to make these calls at the moment. And it's now no one is making the call. Someone has to take the helm and no one is. Should we review some bold predictions? No.

Probably not. Let's review some bold predictions. Good. Sam, he said that Oscar Piatri would finish on the podium. Quite a bit disappointing in this one. You know what? No, Ben? Because I feel like it was so on the cards for so much of the weekend.

And then they just kept going backwards. You know, the Q3 one was disappointing. Norris obviously qualifies seconds. And I thought Biascribes were going to be right. there with him, let down. And then their call was strategically not good. Piascri kept overtaking cars, but it just never got there, let down. I really do think I can't buy a bold prediction point at the moment.

It was a tough one this weekend. Harry, what was your bold prediction? I think I said the step of mine or win. Well, the weather tried. Gave it a good go, didn't they? After all that. I swear to my mind. Sergio Perez in the league.

by 12 seconds. Here we go. Yeah. Saw that gap coming down. My dreams crumbling around me. Time. Good news. I said an Alpine is going to be in the track for us

so I get mine right. It's the wrong one, mate. What did you say? Oh, let's not get bogged down in the detail. I might have said it was Esteban Ockon. I saw a mid-20s Frenchman on the podium who races for Alpine. I don't know.

Sorry, mate. I think you need to get the abacus out. You know, as soon as I made, as soon as I made that prediction as well, I was like, that's really bold. Why didn't I just go without, that would have been a bold enough called, say, one of the Albeans in the top four. I didn't need to go that bold. And I've cost myself.

As Sam said earlier on, it's actually, it's actually worse than getting it completely wrong. Yeah. The other one is on the boat. I would rather, if I were you, I'd rather have just had both Alpsians out. Do you also know what was a prediction of mine this weekend? Paul Vastappen, first Vestappan, second, Perez, third Alonzo. That was on the cards for three quarters of the race.

Oh man. Yeah, at one point it would have been Vastappan, Peros, Alonzo, Ghazly. Well, if it had been Ockon, that'd have been great. How many four houses have we had like that? You got one where you got your most recent bold prediction, right? I think, where you got gold. You weren't here. That was me and Ben had exactly the same bold prediction and 1-2-1-2-3.

Yeah, and then I did it the very first race where I got that first bold prediction right, and I thought I'm in for a winner, here we go. and now I'm last. Slam dunk. Yeah. So not a great weekend for bold predictions. If you are keeping count and you've got your abacus is out, nothing's changed. No one got any right.

I was also thinking as well with our under pressure submissions, I put Logan Sargent under pressure. That didn't work out very well. Harry put George Russell under pressure. That didn't work out very well. The only one that did is Sam putting Zandvort under pressure. Delivered. Thank you for because, yeah.

Yeah, I mean, Zandvort, postman because he delivers, honestly. Even on a Sunday. Even on a Sunday. Yeah, I mean, the weather definitely play its part in the drama. And I think if we got an all-dry race, I don't know how thrilling it would have been because we'll take it. But, you know, sometimes a sprinkling of rain can ease the pain.

I can't take that one because that was race of the season so far. It's fantastic. Okay. Well, we've just had a topic on Mercedes. strategic woes, but don't worry, after we come back from the break, we're chatting about Ferrari. I'm so exciting for this second. Oh, no. Moving on, Ferrari.

If it's any consolation for Ferrari, they might not have got all their strategy decisions right today, but at least they can blend in somewhat with the other teams. Carlos Seines secured a pretty good finish, managed to finish P5 in the end. Not such a good day for Charles Leclair, who just dropped. and dropped and dropped until we retired. 10 points, which is two more than Mercedes and more than McLaren as well. So maybe they consider this a win.

Sam, try and summarize what happened with Ferrari's day because one lap in, we were already laughing. I mean, I imagine that Ferrari have come out and gone, yeah, you could bring four tires to a pit stop, but we could take 10 points home. See you later. They have kind of run off with the burglar that is George Russell. Russell's points at that point, haven't they?

they've stolen them and run away. It was a shambles. I mean, Matt Gallagher, who you might know from P1, Big LeCler fan, he was sat above the... That's a yellow car for me. He was sat above the Ferrari pit garage and there is a photo that he's taken of Ferrari preparing for the pit stop for Charles LeCler.

Not a single engineer is holding a tyre. Well, the car's halfway in the pit box. No tyres in sight, apart from the ones that are currently on the car, which if you're aware of what pit stops are, you might be going to F1. The tyres need to be changed. They didn't bring us.

There's a recording of us watching it. I'm screaming at the engine here because one one's just holding a blue stick. Tell me what that blue stick does, but it was irrelevant for the pit stop. Yeah, I... I'm assuming it's what they used to... Change the wing. Yeah, let's give the flapper just. Yeah.

But you're right. Go and do so help. He's just standing there with his hand. Honestly, if that was not a pure encapsulating moment for Ferrari strategy, all in one go. I don't know what it is. They got everything wrong. The tyres were wrong at the wrong times.

They were missing tyres at the wrong times. Charlotte Clare, what was he doing for most of the race? I mean, I gather that he picked up a bit of damage and it kind of seems to low-key say when they retired the car, you know, it's getting worse. But at no point this weekend has he looked good, comfortable, happy with how the car's going or even good in himself. Carlos Sikes once again can't pick up a podium

and still hasn't got one for this season. and I think if Pierre Gassley can pick up a podium, Carla Sikes should be able to pick up a podium this race. No more, less radio while he's trying a battle that halfway around the corner is going on. They just seem to be in utter chaos when it comes to general organisation. I'll tell you what, lads,

go out to Apple Store, get yourself an iPad and then put everything you need in the calendar in there and it will really help you understand what's going on because sort of my life right out. Generally though, they are, I can't even go into the D-Ear- of just how atrociously bagged Ferrari are at understanding how a basic race from that one to 72 seems to need to operate.

Go on. Look, they were not great. I don't think they were worse than Mercedes, which I think proves what a bad day Mercedes actually had. But the inherent lack of trust, and we mentioned this yesterday, lack of ties, but the lack of trust there is between driver and team

and strategy team, because that whole Lecler debacle in the pit lane was Lecler saying, I want to come in for inters, the team saying, no, we think you should stay out, stay out. And Lecler's going, no, I'm coming in the pit lane now. At which point, Ferrari aren't, though, the team aren't ready, which, to be fair to the mechanics, they wouldn't be because they've been told. That does happen. But they've been told that Lecler's not coming in. Lecler is coming in.

So what I'm saying is the whole shambles around this is the driver doesn't trust the strategy team and obviously then they can't react to when the car's in the pit lane. So just a mess. Like I can't believe we've had another incident where Charles LeCler is up on the jacks and there's no tires on his car. It might be the funniest pit stop I've ever seen.

It's just the sheer panic. Honestly, it's like they've decided to swap all the mechanics out for their kigs for the day and gone get its work experience. and then everyone's going, I've forgotten that wheels have to go on the car? And they weren't the only one. We saw Sonoda with Alphitari.

They had a similar incident where they weren't ready. But the thing is for Ferrari, it's not isolate. This isn't like a one-off. We've seen it before. It's happened to them before. So there needs to be, there's some serious work for old Freddie Vass to do here

because I think there's a real issue in the fact that LeCler doesn't trust what his team will do. And I think what LeClau was doing was the right call. But the point is that there should be the two-way trust, the team trusts, the team trust, what,

the drive that is saying, seeing as he's the one on the track. One in the vehicle. So, yeah, Ferrari, man. I mean, I don't really understand how Sines got up there, to be honest.

No, I'm not going to lie. It just kind of appeared. It was just, he was just sort of there. And I think it was, pretty funny that when Alonza had a slow stop and Sines was like,

first podium the year on its way. Yeah. Two up later. See you later, mate. It was, I'd say, thing like, saying, here we go. science needs it and then about a lap later he was in fifth and went well that's that first

proclamation of the year gone again i'll finish this was a compliment to signs his defending against hamilton was pretty good in this last few laps we saw some really good defense across the whole race actually a japanese minister of defense yuki sanoda ysanooga what a baller he was love it so right there we go folks buckle up the lecler coming into the pits after the first lap incident let's let's just focus on that moment. Lecler, as you rightly say, has identified what the correct decision is. Ferrari, unsurprisingly, have come to the complete wrong conclusion. They've said, right, it was one plus one and they've come back very confidently with seven. LeCler is trying to override the Ferrari

strategy team. And at this point, I can't blame him because they have shown over and over again why a driver should not have any trust. He's probably seen Carlos signs on a few occasions snap back at the team and benefit as a result of that. And I think Lecler, just based on this weekend as a whole, I think he has started to adopt that same mentality, which isn't great, but given the circumstances, I can understand why.

One thing I would not necessarily disagree with, but one thing I want to pick up on what you said, Harry, in that the team weren't ready, for the pit stop because the team themselves were saying stay out. I would say, just based on those conditions, even if the decision is stay out, the team should be ready for that pit stop because it is chucking it down. Like we knew as the race started, dry tires, but rain was coming.

That should mean all teams are on high alert at any point in the first five, 10 laps, intermediate tires could be needed at a moment's notice. So actually, even though the Ferrari decision was stay out, I still think all the teams should be there ready for that to happen because a downpour could happen at any moment and they should just be ready for it. So I think they should have been there for that. Certainly, I could have been more assertive over team radio to say, no, no, I am definitely coming in here. It felt like he was pretty assertive already, but, you know, is there anything that could be done there? ultimately, the fact that LeClaire still benefited from pitting then, despite the fact that the pit stop took 12 years,

should really indicate how good of a decision it was to come in at that point. Obviously, we know Perez ended up with a double-digit lead, but the position Leclair should have been in was second place, streaking away similar to Perez, not at the same pace because Red Bull and, you know, Red Bull's quick. But certainly he should have been clear of Joe and of Ghazly who were on the same strategy, and they weren't. After that, I think they pretty much did okay.

Carlos Sines, I think they got his strategy right pretty much all day. Certainly far better than what McLaren were able to do, what Mercedes were able to do, you know, better than what Albin did, even though he made the most of that situation. Signs still had a better strategy than he did. So I think from Sines's perspective, they did all right. The problem is they were really slow. I actually think if I had to pinpoint what was the main problem this weekend, strategy or too slow, I would probably lean towards too slow, which isn't a, that's a rock and a hard place

if I've ever heard one, but I think it was actually just a, they were really slow. Actually, I don't know, let's just say it was a really boring race and there wasn't a lot of overtaking and not much happened, dry conditions. Did they have the pace to finish eighth and ninth? I know LeClair had damage, so it was tough to tell with him. But signs had to do a lot of defending. And I think a lot of that defending only came about because actually they got him up the grid enough strategy-wise.

So the first lap, LeClair, massive blunder, that was pretty awful. I think after that there were worse teams. The Liam Lawson pass on Charles LeCleur, despite the damage, I think really encapsulated in one moment what Ferrari's weekend looked like. Damaged, struggling at the back, slow, passed by a rookie on his debut race, which is the most chaotic Grand Prix you'll ever see. Yeah, it was, this is a British commentary point. But when David Croft said, oh, I've just put a text across to ask if LeCleur might have damage, like, no, he's just been passed by Liam Lawson on. case. Of course he's got damage.

There's obviously something wrong with the car. Speaking of the UK commentary team, the level of British bias this weekend has been extreme. Every single decision that was going on related directly to what would happen to Lewis Hamilton had it been enforced or where people would come out. Every single call was, can Hamilton get close enough to Perez? And it's like, what about all the other drivers that are equally close to Perez? No, no, make sure of them at every turn. I just thought, you know what?

there are some other drivers on the track that would like I mention. Clutching it strawsie. Really struggling to keep it going. Looking at two teams that fared quite well on the podium, Fernando Alonzo and second for Aston Martin, Pierre Ghazli and third for Alpine.

Both teams, I think we can agree very much in need of a podium. Certainly Aston Martin's second half of the first half of the year wasn't quite as strong. And Alpine just don't have anyone working for them anymore. So, Harry, what do you think about these two results?

Do you think that they can kick on as a result of this? Or even if they're standalone, how much do they mean for the teams? Look, for Alpin and Gassley, there was, I think that was more the good strategy calls today rather than outright pace. But they were in it to win it and they did very well. And to be fair, to Gassley, he had good pace during the race. So I'm not saying it was complete luck. But I'd be surprised if they were then.

similar position when we get to Monda, but you never know. Maybe Lapland really is starting. Good Lord. For Alonzo and Aston Martin, I think, yeah, they'll be quite encouraged by that because, again,

they made the most of the situations today. But their pace was, I think, pretty good, or at least his was, pretty good all weekend. He was sort of there and thereabouts. In qualifying, maybe he could have jumped album. I don't think he was quite on Russell's pace.

If the Mercedes had been there, and it might be in a different story. But yeah, I think it was almost, almost normal service resumed. Well, normal service being what was happening at the start of the year for Astor Martin. So I think they'll be encouraged by that. That being said, not sure they'll be looking forward to Monza quite so much next week. But Singapore is after that. So that's probably where their next focus is for a good result.

But, yeah, it was a timely podium, I think, for Astor Martin and Lanzo. Yeah, I mean, from Alpine's perspective, I think they can, they just need to take whatever they're given. And certainly they've had two podiums at Zamvort and Monaco. So if we can just go to high downforce circuits from now on, Alpine might be on the cards to win the, win the championship eventually. But yeah, I, you know, I don't think Alpine will actually have too much to fight for for the rest of the year, which sounds weird. But I just don't see them catching up to anyone in front of them. And I don't see anyone behind them possibly competing with them. So I think they might be stuck in some weird middle ground from now until the end of the year.

From Astor Martin's perspective, we established that this might will be a track that suits the car. And I think, you know, as soon as the rain started coming down, it's just Alonzo. You can tell he's grinning in his car. You can't see his face, but you know he is loving life at that point. So yeah, a much needed podium for Astor Martin. And, you know, 10 points for Ferrari, 8 for Mercedes, that comes at a good time, even though Landstrol wasn't able to contribute. But again, I think strategy played its part there. Sam, what did you make of those two results? I think in terms of the Alpine result, this is much more a motivational lift for Gassley

rather than it is for the overall team. I think they're quite aware that realistically, this is a big of an exception track rather than the norm for them. This is not going to be status quo for the rest of the season. And they clearly are fantastic at Downforce Relative Circus. as much as, you know, that Alpine was not the fastest car running around the circuit, Gassie picked up a very staunched offence of all the cars behind him. And Sikes was, you know, pressing hard.

And they fought the fight with Albon and Alonkso and everyone. He did a very good job. And I think that I want to also pack Gassley on the back because I've got my sausage out for him, quite frankly. No. He's in front of Ocon now for points. So in teammate wars, woo! We're taking that one, Pierre.

Thank you very much. I'm looking forward Keep it up, Pierre, keep it up. This is the real L-Plang, folks. The Plang is coming to Sam Sayy. Really, the only one who said that? Yes. Oh, no.

It's a big dub, Wazley. It's not gone well. So I appreciate that, mate. Thank you. Good stuff. Keep it up. Well, done. Singapore again.

Yeah, they're going to be screw when it comes to Monsa, though. In terms of Aston Martin, Austin Martin were very clear that the update that they put on the car before the summer break was actually disadvantaging them. And they're aware of it,

which is great. you know, the worst thing about a problem is not understanding the problem. At least now they know what the problem is, how to fix it. And I think that as much as we've all agreed, Monsa will not be their strongest circuit. I don't think we're going to see them return to the depths of 10th and 11th places, which they were starting to encounter come the end of the first half of the season. It really was looking like they were drifting back towards more of an Alpine level of pace rather than Aston Martin being up there with McLaren and Mercedes.

Lance Stroll is the problem overall for Asken Martin. Once again, you give a longso a car that could perform, it delivers. Lansdrol, regardless of how bad strategy was for him, there was enough chaos in there today, and that car in theory should have had the pace to start cutting through the field. We never once saw him doing what Norris, Pliastry, Hamilton, Russell did. And that car was equal to those car's paces. And not once he managed to quickly cut through the likes of Sanoida,

Albon, who were fighting on the edge of the points, you know, the harsh guys who were all right this weekend. You know, strategy calls were good from them. So he is letting the side down. It really is a bit like Alonso is turning up and there is a child sat in the other car who is just having fun and kicking out for a bit. He's not contributing. So while it's good and it's a return to form for Alonso,

they need someone else in that other seat who can bring the team together because every other team I think has a pretty consistent line up where both sides of the garage you've given the right occasion can bring in very good points for them. Harry, I reckon it's time for Driver of the Day. Oh, damn it. I thought I was ready, but I wasn't. Too busy to look at the window, mate.

The verdict is in. You're the driver of the day. You're the driver of the day. You're good at driving. Have you got, Harry? My first half-in was pretty good, wasn't he? You know, he had a good race. I think Alonzo, obviously, he got the popular vote.

I think Alonzo had a good race today. Gazdian, again, I know I've seen this, said this. you know, strategy helped him, but he did well today. His defence against science was very good. Yeah. But yeah, I'll go for the obvious one because I've gone first. Max Verstappen, he was in subliminal, sublime form. Subliminal is a very different message.

That's not what I meant. Sublime form. Yeah, I mean, we've already spoken about it, but the gap, closing down that gap to Perez alone was, was enough. That's filth. So yeah, I'll go Verstappen. Who have you got, Sam? I'm going for P. Gazel,

the gas man. This is just because he's helped you in... Oh, that's definitely adding a good 30% to my decision. But, no, to come back from 12th, call that strategy, he was calm, his defence was incredible. He kept close to the likes of Perez, alongside and Vastappen, when that penalty landing on Perez's head. You know, no one else got that jump on him.

He was there to take advantage of it. and I think that car was probably the slowest of the lot of all the cars that were fighting in that top eight and he managed to come away with the podium. I really do think this was one of Gassley's best drives that we've seen from him and it was great to see it happening in that new team. So, yeah, Verstappen of course, was sensational

a lot on a great race. Sengoda was really, really good. The strategy could get benefit him as well. Hamilton's comeback was fantastic even though the kind of team was against him. There's a lot of names you can shout, I think. But for me, I think Gassley had a phenomenal race. Shout up to Albonne's well.

because they didn't give him a great strategy. He also had to do 45 laps on soft tires. Through the wet. Through the wet bit as well. That fourth place still blows my mind in the qualifying. Yeah, I mean, Qualifying line. That's a belt. On that basis, by the way, Williams are winning Monza.

Because that car should not be that good at this circuit. So they're going to win Monza. It's fact. So, but yeah, another shout out for album. Because I thought he's pretty pretty decent. As Album mentioned this weekend, they're no longer, and I quote, straight line speed merchants.

Cheers up, Bono. Is it part of the show? Great. I think, take your pick from the three podium, guys. Gassley, Alonzo, Vestappen, I think all of them, all of them were deserving of this.

I'll go with Gassley as well. I think it was really good the way that he was able to defend against Carlos Sines. For me, that was the best battle of the race, actually, was those two going at it. So, yeah,

really defended well there for a time. And at the end of the race, wasn't, his pace was pretty good, I thought. Like, he, he wasn't dropping time. I think it was well within five seconds. I think it was about two and a half seconds. Yeah. And that wasn't moving as well.

It kind of opened up to about two seconds, two and a half seconds. Didn't really move for the last sort of five, six laps of the race. So, yeah, I think he made the most of the situation. So fair play to him. On the other side, worst driver of the day, Harry. Want to play the jingle? I reckon you should lock it on there, Mike.

Get in the bin, bin, bin, bin, been, worst driver of the day. Worse driver of the day. You suck at driving. It's so good to sing along. Worst drive of the day. I'll go for. Do you know what? Tough call.

It's a tough call. Because it was so chaotic. It's tough to know if anyone was just being overly bad or it was just unlucky strategy. I'll go for Nika Holkenberg. Didn't see anything of him. Because he was boring. Yeah. He's the worst driver that...

Sorry, the most boring driver of the day. Most boring driver of the day. But I don't think there was... I mean, Logan Sargent, so I guess a shout for crashing, although I don't know whether that was a mechanical issue. LeCler before we knew it was an issue. I thought maybe he was the worst driver of the day, but let's go, Holkenberg.

It's been boring. I've got a theory about the hash drivers that it doesn't really matter what happens. They will always... find their way back to one another. Magnuson, like Magnuson, like had a great strategy call where he went on to Slicks earlier or something he went early. He called both tire choices perfectly.

Flew up the order and then you just see him disappear down the timing board until he's back down on, Holcomburgh again. That car is so bad as a race car. Terrible race car. Holkenberg can qualify 10 positions ahead. Magnuson can have a good strategy decision. Doesn't matter in five laps time. They will be next to each other on the track.

15th and 16th. again. I really enjoyed the fact that they both smashed off their new front wings during call off or during Saturday. We've run out. And then they had Gunther Stano on the pit wall who's fuming. We spent money on those. We've run out now. Fuming. Worst driver of the day, Sam. I'm going Sholeclair. Yeah, but I think the instincts were his fault that caused both sets of damage. At that point, he did, he did drive into Norris. Drove into him. He also caused the run across the gravel, which is what damaged his floor. That was his fault. He wasn't quick even before the damage.

He did crash yesterday. I'm not blaming him for the strategy call. That's not part of this decision. He crashed in qualifying, which caused him to be further back than he need to be. I know that that doesn't count into worst driver of the day. But it's just not been good. He was outdriven by Carlos Sykes and quite comfortably so, even before damage occurred. So, you know, I do think that out of all the top guns, he was Goose, not Maverick today.

Nice. I'm going with... I'm going with Sergio Perez here. And I just think to have the right strategy call the first time around, to go from that, an 11 second or 12 second lead or whatever it was, to go from that to off the podium, that's rough. Certainly after the first round of pit stops, he should not have finished any lower than second.

Third, an absolute push. But really, he lost the position to Alonzo due to an error. he hit the, you know, he hit the wall coming into the pits. Again, an error got a bit lucky that the red flag gave him some time to have a look at that. Had the five second penalty. There was a lot that didn't go his way when really he was put in a good spot. So I'll go with Perez, I'm afraid. Fair.

And then lastly, big brain strap. I mean, I'm going for the no-type. I'm sorry. You're getting in there first. I'm getting in there first. I'm taking it. It is, it was hilarious to watch. The rant will probably make it to our social media's

where both me and Harry are both amused and bewildered by what was going on. Yeah, how do you run a pit stop without any tyres in your hands? I don't know. Genuinely, the definition of a pit stop is to change the tyres. So that, for me, that really takes the cake. Nice. What about you, Harry? I'll probably go for, we've already talked about it,

but the Mercedes being the last, or Hamilton being the last one to go on Inter's. That's a bad old call. That was not a great one. Kevin is saying, come on. Yeah, so I'll go for that one. I am going to go for a decision that probably wasn't actually a decision,

but I'd just like to think it's funny if it did actually happen, which was Fernando Alonzo seemed to be on the back of Max Verstappen in that last stint. And then he wasn't. and Sergio Perez was right behind him. And I'd just like to think that he was holding Perez up.

So he was going to get the most out of that five second time penalty. I don't think he actually did it. But if anyone was going to be wise enough to do that, it would have been Fernando Alonzo. I'd just like to think of him in the car like, ah, I can see, I can see Gassley in the distance there. And just hold him up a little bit. See if signs and Hamilton come along as well.

Probably didn't happen. You bring that up. But when you think about it, Alonso's next person in the championship is Sergio Perez. Yeah. Well, that's a big of a point. I would not put it past for Daniel Alonso to think into the points tally of the championship to deliver that. That was going on in my mind.

After the race, he said as well, oh, I did think about challenging Max, but then I let, obviously, I think Max had the pace. But maybe that's what he meant. It was just, how do I get second in the championship by hurting Perez rather than beating the staff? I like that. You know what, Ben, that's a good cook. Yeah. Okay, we'll take our last break. Moment of the race is on the other side. Black Friday is here at IKEA and the clock is taking on savings you won't want to miss. Join IKEA family for free today and unlock deals on everything from holiday must-haves to cozy at-home essentials.

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Maybe too long. Freezing. Save up to 50% November 20th to 27th. Conditions apply, details online. Okay, we've got some Discord submission moment of the races, but we'll start with our three submissions. Harry, what was your moment of the race? Trying to pick one is going to be difficult, I'm sure. It's very difficult.

A lot going on. The one that I still think is my favorite is. is Logan Sergeant crashing off, team radio. Are you okay? No, I've crashed. That's a good one. He's so real for that. So real.

Yeah, that made me chuckle of a lot. And obviously then he proceeds to just sit under a hut for the remainder of the race. Doesn't want to go back. Why didn't he go back? I don't know. All the red flags he could have got back. The fact that he was still there in the second red flag, I guess the not second red flag,

but the second bit of rain when we had the red flag was bewildering. Go back to pit mate. He's having a good time. So yeah, that's mine. Sam? I'm going for the pooing, juicing George Russell moment. So true.

Both of us let out such an inaudible shouts when that happened. We thought that's it. Both Mercedes had gone in an instant there. It was both confusing why he was trying that much as saying in front of Lewis and scary and terrifying, but also so dramatic and entertaining. And I'm sure

there needs to be a clean-up on aisle three. Yeah, I'm sure. My one is a little bit of an obscure one, and it is relevant only to those that were, I'm afraid, listening to Sky's commentary. But it was when at the red flag situation, Carlos Sines' race engineer was talking to Carlos Sines about the weather and basically saying that this is going to happen in 10 minutes' time.

And then as soon as the radio message ended, David Croft went, oh yeah that that's basically what we just said and Bernie Collins delivered what was my line of the weekend which was just yeah they probably just heard that so just went with what we said you think that little of Ferrari strategy team that they have just heard what you said on comms

and gone yeah that sounds all right David Croft is our new race engine here is our race strategist I just like the idea that Ferrari was sat there listening to Sky's commentary and going Oh, should we relay hands of the drivers? Yeah. Just at this point, just plug them into the feed.

I'm sorry for people that don't get the Sky commentary, but going back to the slightly British bias commentary today, in that red flag period as well, Crofty, again, starts to talk about how Hamilton could have an advantage here because he's got a fresh set of soft tyres. Have you looked at the circuit? When are they using soft tires in the next seven laps? That man, sometimes.

wet is infuriating its jaws. Literally more... Talking about ERS. What are you all about? It's a deluge outside. It's monsoon weather. Doc reduction system maybe. Yeah.

Quack, quack. Mother flippers. Well done. Okay. Well, saved. Good. Well, that's what we think. But what do our submiters think?

That is the question. Here we go, folks. Right. First up, dumb electrician. Hey, boys. Dumb electrician here. My moment of the race was when Sergio Perez came in for his iners, had an 11 second lead on Max.

Max serves on his enters on his enters and is able to take four seconds a lap out every lap. The man is unbelievable and inevitable. Have a great day, boys. Bye. Yeah, yeah, Stanos. I mean, at what point is it not just Max de Sapting is that quick, but that car just ain't right for Sergio. Yeah.

Well, anyway, Sevelicious. Quality better be better this time, son. Yellow. my moment of the race was me realizing that Mercedes have pooped the bed that I am now sad and that I walk in the rain to Audi to get some food would be a great idea and you know what

best part of the race for me what was the awards of Aldi was the best play part of the race I'm assuming he means as well Aldi not Audi yeah where he can pick up some dreamy bars oh yeah that that's the rip-off whirly bar that is.

The fact that the wordy bars the rip-off dreamy bar. No, the wordy bars is a rip-off Milky Waybar. Right, next up Joyce that Kill

with a five-second submission. This is like Skyler. Alex Albon running on 97% tires on F-1-23. Nice.

Severe puncture territory. It's a good reference to the game. Oh God, I'll say this. Nesbunstra. Yes, literally Nesboonstra.

Here we go. There you go. guys, this is Nick. What a crazy race. What a crazy time. There's the Discord. I have it open. Y'all are great.

I love being on there. Moment of the race. A couple honorable mentions. Please don't you discount off. Sad Logan. Stop. And Les Radio from our friend, smooth operator there.

But it has to be the dancing marshals. I mean, the crowd, you know, it is what it is. But seeing the marshals dancing, jumping up and down, getting into a Congo. peak, absolutely peak, box office. Keep breaking late, guys. Thanks. I'm going to be miserable now. Why?

I hated the Congoline Marshals. Okay. Despised it. Next up. Provisional poultry. Yeah, like a chicken. Yeah, but not spelled like that. But not definitely, only provisionally.

Provisionly poultry. Anyway, here we go. You have beef, ham, and now poultry. My moment of the race is when Yuki Sonoda was absolutely battling with Lando Norris. That Alfatari was a rocket ship today. Also, Mother Nature give us a fantastic race at the start and at the end. Good. Right.

That sounded too as sure. You've got to be more provisional than that. I'll work on it. Buh. Bungas. Okay, bungers. Hopefully this works this time. Hey there folks.

Yeah. Clarence C.B. Oh, yeah. Yeah. And the moment of the race has to be, oh. Can I just say the entire race? Because I was, my hopes got up really, really high. And then it's like, oh, Max has got it.

And then it got high again. And then I realized Max is inevitable. So I'm going to say the whole race is my moment of the race. Do you remember when Lando Norris was P2? He started on the front row. I'd like a Thanos-inspired helmet from Max. Yeah, that'd be cool. Or his racing gloves to be like the Venghis glove.

Just do that. Okay, next up, Vig and Spiker. Hey guys, Vigand Spiker. Moment of the Race for the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix. Is Fernando Alonzo, I think right at the end when he realized he couldn't catch Max. And Sergio had the penalty. He had his big brain moment

and pushed, decided to push Sergio back so that he would be fourth and not third. Love the podcast. There you go. Been listening to you, Ben. Ben and Spiker.

God. Okay, Woody. Let's go. Woo-hoo! Wow. What a race. What a race. Aye, aye.

I, aye. Super happy. That's not a moment of the race. I'm wooing. Howie, howie, howie. That's the whole claim. Great, I'm really happy for you, ma'am. You give us a moment?

He's even named it moment of the right. Anyway, well, cheers Woody. Norm, Norm from Texas next. Oh, hello, my late breaking friends. After a three-week break, with silly season not being so silly, and everything just being pent up, we finally get a release,

and we get a race that just has all the chaos. In my moment of the race, was George Russell coming with that angry middle manager energy. Middle manager. Keep freaking late, bud. It's very true. Okay, hybrid ship 982. I wonder what the other 981 we're doing.

Hey, it's hybrid ship 982. Come back to you guys live from the Dutch Grand Prix. Hey. moment of the race, Fernando Alonzo during the first opening laps. I'm sitting here right at the end, right at the last few quarters, and I got to say,

Fernando Alonzo, he had two massive moments where he could have ended up right in the barrier, but he held it. He held it two right in a row, and he held it. Driver of the day, baby, let's go.

I am so excited by that. He's enthusiastic. Is he the lying that was dancing around? He could well be. Good well be. He was in the Congo. Okay. James.

Hey, I'll be boys. James. My mother of the race. My mother of the race. It's Logan civilian, putting it into a barrier. Terrible race for him. Otherwise, Adam Kandigate would be probably the rain at the end.

I mean, absolute drama. Show pudding in the wall. Red flag. I mean, oh, terrible. Bad. No. Also, Gasly got quite lucky.

He got a five second time. He got a five second time. He got a man in front of him. run for Paris. So, uh, podium for him. What he did? Anyways, keep breaking the aunt. Freel o'clock, it's worth it. That was hectic, James. Was he doing some, like, DIY in the background?

I don't know. Also, Logan's civilian, savage. That is a burn. Note to self, I'm going to say anything that I don't like in my life anymore, that it is terrible, bad, and no. That's how I want to deserve a bad, no. Okay, a big ham is next. Hey, boys, it's a big ham. Amazing race today.

Moment of the race, though, is when Crofty at the end called those gorgeous trophies, egg cups. Bye. Sure. Got some breaking news. What's that, like? Kevin Magnuson has dropped to 16th place. No. He's been given a five-second time penalty for dropping more than 10 car lengths behind the car ahead of him.

Oh, man. It's devastating. It's devastating. Okay. Deep breaths, everyone. Next up is... Next up is faster than your mama. It is named Laplano, so this might be good then.

All right. Hey, y'all, long time listener, first time submitter, and my sausage is fully out for gagery. My moment of the race is when his name switched with Chekos on the graphic. Love y'all. Keep up the good work. Cheers. Faster than your mama?

Good Lord. Okay. Ops dog underscore, no, sorry. Ops Dog 10 underscore. On 10-2. Here we go. Opstog 10-2 here. See?

My moment of the race was the love tap from Lando Norris that sent Russell tumbling from seventh to the back of the order. After such a frustrating race for Lando and George, it seemed inevitable that one of them would knock the other out. I just expected it to be on turn one, lap one, rather than at the end of the race. Join the Discord and the Patreon. Keep breaking late. Oh, you get on.

Doing God's work, Opstalk, 10-2. Oh, sorry. I forgot how to say this. Is it Yizzy? I don't know, mate. Yizi Pavanka? Sorry if that's wrong. Hello, late breaking.

My moment of the race was something I don't think I've ever seen before. So when Mercedes double-stacked, the cameraman looked again in the way as Hamilton was coming in. And like it looked up as got shrugged out the way. Get out of the way. I want to see another angle. But that looked pretty mad. Good one, Matt. Okay, finally, last but not least, Shane 99.

What's up, boys? Shane from New York. Just so excited to see another race where we had another exhilarating fight for first. And Charles Leclair ran off in the distance at the end with another great, well, no, that's not what happened. Moment of the race. Probably Pierre Gasly, almost getting forced into the wall by Max Verstappen, and everybody just being like, yep. Cool. Love you, boys. That's exactly what Sam said.

is what I said. I've actually lost so much energy after all that. There's so many. That was a lot. Cheers though, everyone. If you didn't get on, sorry, but there was about a billion of you. The most I think we've ever had. Yeah, thank you. Yeah. That's probably right. You're right, Sam. We're absolutely wiped, but we'll be back midweek, won't we? Oh, yes. We're finally back reviewing races.

And we're going to be here for the Italian master class. I don't know what about as Monsa, right? The Temple of Spee. That's what we're calling it, where I imagine that William's going to turn up without any wings whatsoever, and they will be straight-line speed merchants. Sit with us.

We're going to be back as we said mid-week. We're going to be talking all things, preview, other F-1 debates, topics. We might have a little game at the end for you to come and play. And if you want to get involved sooner, get into the Discord. You could do a submission. You could be on the podcast yourself.

We've also got Patreon where you get two extra episodes every single month, and you get beer breaking, and you get a little birthday. Shout out, we've just done the August ones. That was Chocoddrys birthday. And, of course, our very own Benjamin Hocking. Did those?

actually dig it on time. Well done us. Yeah, thanks so much. We're on social media as well. Late Breaking F1 absolutely everywhere. And if you want to get subscribed on the Uptub, that is also Late Breaking F1. Well, you can watch his entire episode in video format. Yes. That's good, isn't it? Yeah, very good. Please subscribe. We desperately need to video views. In the meantime, I've been Samuel Sage.

I've been Ben Hocking. And I've been Harry Ead. And remember, keep breaking late. This podcast is part of the Sports Soportals. social podcast network.