The Late Braking F1 Podcast - 2023 Italian GP Review

Episode Date: September 3, 2023

The LB boys review the Italian Grand Prix where Verstappen eased into a record-breaking victory, and despite Sainz leading for 15 laps, Red Bull finished with a 1-2 ahead of the Ferrari boys who finished 3rd and 4th following an intra-team duel. They discuss all of this action along with the performances of Mercedes and Williams, as well as reviewing their predictions, naming their drivers of the day, and hearing your submissions for Moment of the Race.. 🌎Get Exclusive NordVPN deal here ↣ https://nordvpn.com/lbf1 It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money back guarantee! 👍 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

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 podcast. Make sure to check out new episodes every Wednesday and every Sunday. Welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking. Today, reviewing the Italian Grand Prix. Won by Max Verstappen, therefore breaking the record for most consecutive victories in a row, 10 now, to be precise. He was followed home by his teammate, Sergio Perez, in second place, but not before, a pretty

epic duel between him and the two Ferrari guys that finished third and four of Carlos signs finishing third for his first podium of the season after claiming pole position yesterday. Sam, that was low-key spicy. Low-key-spicy, more like a Vindaloon, mate. That wasn't just the corner, is it? You've all got a big of a hot dish there. Monsa, you know, went through this phase over the last few years of having what's called the, or as Crofty likes to go on about it, the Monsa curse.

And everyone thought, I'm so glad that's done. Right, that's written off. We'd have to worry about that ever again now. You know, we'll all forget about it. Thank God for that. But Mons, it shows that Monsa delivers pretty sporadic results, races that go a little bit astray. You don't necessarily know what's going to happen out front.

And weirdly enough, on that Saturday, when Carla Sines took pole position, the stat came out that it is actually more important to get pole position at Mons there than it is at Monaco because you more likely wing from pole than you don't. which is, you know, a pretty massive stack considering the amount of DRS and slip-streaming heavy braking zones, which in theory lead to great overtakes. Now, I commented on this while we were watching the race together, Harry,

that I think they nailed the length of the DRS zone around here at Monza. It meant that cars got close enough. But going into that breaking zone, you had to have your big old cahones ready to go around the outside of that turn one, turn two, or you're going off, as we saw many cars cutting that first corner, or you're locking up, or you're running into the side of someone,

and we saw it many, many times this race weekend. And low-key spicy is, I think, an under-exaggeration of just how good that battle was. Carlos Sites was defending within an absolute inch of his life. Sergei Perez was winging over the microphone to desperately get past him in any way possible. And then Charlotte Clegg and he absolutely destroy all the Ferrari's hopes and dreams by desperately trying to wipe out the both of them. But I loved every second. I screamed most of the way through that Grand Prix.

And if you want a little highlight reel of how that sounded, It will be up on our social media in the next hopefully 24 hours or so. Soon. That's when K-Darst he gets back from the pub. Whenever K-Dog gets back from the pub, you'll see it. But honestly, it was a great battle.

Max Lestaff and not starting first. Really meant that the first part of the race was spicy and interesting and fun. The tyre issue was very, very interesting as well. You don't know who was going where. Absolutely loved seeing science get... I think I'm not going to say that, actually. Good Lord.

Yeah, I stopped. I stopped. It was great, really fun. What do you think? Christ. That was an intro. I just loved it. I loved it. Very passionate about this race.

Yeah. Yeah, I think, yeah, we screamed a lot. It was, you're right. And maybe it was pure luck, but the length of the DRS or, you know, the ties or whatever meant that it was difficult to overtake, but not impossible. And that is the perfect mix. The recipe for a lovely race. Good race.

When you leave it to space? Some people didn't got leave with the space. Well, get on to that. Yeah. Not many, actually. There's no space in Monset. There'll be a lot of lack of space discussion coming up. I'm very sure about that.

Also coming up, moment of the race submissions a little bit later on. Our thoughts on Williams race, Alex Albin in the points, Logan Sargent, not able to follow that. Mercedes finishing fifth and sixth, but both picking up penalties. And of course, Ferrari finishing third and fourth and getting a podium at their home Grand Prix. Let's start out front. Max Verstappen did have a bit of work to do, as you've alluded to Sam. Didn't get pole position yesterday, but did eventually make his way past Carlos Sines to claim a relatively comfortable victory. And he was followed home by Sergio Perez in second place. Now, of course, there was a little bit of optimism, just a little bit of optimism that Ferrari might be able to throw up something interesting in this Grand Prix.

Sam, was there any way Ferrari could have done something about that result or was it inevitable? I think they did throw up something interesting and I think when it came down to it, it was actually the Carlos Sontz mistake that allowed Max Verstappen through and I think if Carlos Sites, who did a brilliant job kind of the first 15 or 16 laps, even when the tyres started to go off holding back Max Verstappen,

who was permanently within that DRS zone and got incredibly close on a multiple time through turn 1 and 2. But it was the lockup that allowed him to go too deep into turn 1 that meant that switch back and the momentum out of that corn was far too easy for Vastappen with that exit that actually in the end allowed him to get the move done.

And I do think that the unforced error from Science made it possible. Because we saw with the incredibly skinny rear wings that every car has to have around Monsa, and with the limited DRS running that we have around here, it means that actually overtaking under DRS is a much smaller advantage. You don't get such a simple run around a car during a straight line here, which was fantastic because it meant that moves had to be done with a lot of risk going into that turn one. and I don't think the staffing ever wanted to throw complete caution to the wind. Harry, you said it when we were watching that four or five years ago,

Max Verstappen were going to just sent that right down the inside from about half a second away and gone, I'm either making it or we're crashing, you know, and now you saw how reserved he was and he waited, he biding his time, he really took time to put the pressure on Carlos Sykes. And it was only because of the mistake, I think, that it made it so easy. The Red Ball was faster, but I really think that Ferrari played their hang well in the first portion of the race and we're doing a fantastic job at holding back Red Bull and because Red Bull was stuck behind,

I don't think there was any way through. I genuinely do think that because of the way that the DRS is set up and the cars are set up around Monza, he wasn't going through at all. I generally think he was stuck behind there until a mistake was made, and that is the reason why Vestappen got past. Once he got past, plane sailing, easy days. But I think the overtake was so much hard

in anyone expecting it to be. What did you make of Vastappen's victory, Harry? Did you expect it to be? I guess as difficult as it was in that it did take him a number of laps to get past Carlos signs. Yeah, very measured from Vestappen, which I think we're getting used to this year. I guess I wasn't too surprised given what we said yesterday after qualifying that we suspected they had a bit more wing on the car. You know, after lap three or four, whatever it was, and he was in DRS range, we were thinking, oh God, it's all over already. but yeah I did just expect signs to be able to hold off Vastappan,

which he did very well, barring that lockup that eventually led to the overtake. I think science did very well to keep him behind, defended all the right pieces of the racetrack. But yeah, as Sam's already mentioned, and we said it earlier, you know, four, maybe even three years ago, Rastappen would have, there was a couple of times where there was a little sniff of an inside that he could have gone for, but he didn't interterm. one, but I think he would have just sent it back on the date.

And I'm not saying that's what he should have done today. What he did was right. But he even said on the radio, didn't he, that, you know, they're struggling with their tires and GP saying, you know, just buy your time sort of thing, which he did. And just was lining signs up for a mistake for lap after lap and eventually signs, signs crack. So, yeah, it's quite, I mean, we saw how calm the staffing was when they had that radio

message, he went, he's already sliding. It's no problem. Yeah, exactly. That's my point. like he's just sort of under control and we said it out to call it yesterday it seemed like they weren't bothered about being P2 in fact P2 is probably better

than they'd hope I think maybe they were perhaps fearing they'd be where Perez was in which case that afternoon might be slightly more difficult for for this to happen but obviously he wasn't so god it's pretty good in he yeah I mean that team the package

the way they're delivering it it was all managed so well and I think that the only thing that let Ferrari down bar the individual mistake from science, which he put up such a vani fight, was, I think they were too slow on their uptake of the pit stops. I think that they maybe could have stayed within the fight with Vostappan and got back in front had they undercut immediately after Vastappen got in front of him. You saw how long it took Perez to get past it because he didn't jump him in the pit stops. Yeah. And I think if they got back in front of him due to an undercut, I mean, the undercut,

wasn't too powerful. We saw that multiple times, but the fresh tire ability, which we saw for the likes of Lewis Hamilton, we went on to the medium tires, really demonstrated, just how much you could do if you get the run. Because if Vastaffin doesn't come in immediately, which he likely would have done. But if he doesn't, I do think that the Ferrari guys could have maybe got themselves back in front. And that's how you control the race.

That's how you end up winning it. So maybe that's where they let themselves down. They can go down a little more. I think Vestappen was getting by signs at some point. It happened on that lap. I think if it didn't happen on that lap, it would have been in a few laps time. I think signs certainly was pressured into making an error,

but I don't think those tires were getting any better. Even if the lockup doesn't happen there, I think it happens in two laps time, five laps time. I think this was always a case of when rather than if for Max Verstappen. Respect to Ferrari for being able to keep Vestappen behind for as long as he did. And certainly the car was set up in a way that Ferrari getting on pole was going to make it difficult for Vastappen. Because even when, even when Vastappen was five, tens,

even four temps coming out of parabolica, that still wasn't enough for him. And I think the point on DRS being absolutely right here is a good one in the, I think that completely made this race. If DRS was any more powerful than what it was, that would have been over in 15 laps, like everything settled in 15 laps. And I think we would be talking about a very different race today. I think Vostappan-An-Perez would have just sailed off into the distance and we wouldn't actually have too much to discuss here. As it happened, the fact that Vastappen could get so close to signs out of the parabolica or the Kirby Albarretto and just couldn't get that move done, even with that advantage,

said a lot about how, I guess, weak the IRS was here. I think your point on Vastappen being quite measured is correct. There was one instance where he tried to go around the outside of Carlos Sines, and signs was having absolutely none of it. I think in that situation, I think it was a slight hiccup in that I don't see why the Stappan stuck it in there for as long as he did. I think he was ambitious trying to go around the outside there

because he wasn't side by side with signs going into the corner. I think he just tried something a little bit cheeky mid-corner. Major flashbacks. Yeah, he got to mid-corner and it was like, oh, God. Not again. Not again. I think you should just back down that, like, straight away. I think it was, it was coming at that point.

And I don't think there was a lot of value in him sticking it in there. But also, yeah, as soon as he got that move done, it was plane sailing from there. So fair play to him. I mean, we're talking about a win at Monza for a rival team like it's nothing. But yeah, Vastappen at least, at least on track had to, had to work today to get past A-Car. We had a battle for the lead. That's what I said earlier. We had a 15-lap long battle for the lead.

And that's the first time for a while. Because soon that he's won 10 in a row, and fair play to both Red Bull and Max for stabbing, it is an incredible achievement, as much as it maybe doesn't make for the spiciest of seasons. That was fun, and Ferrari brought a lot of entertainment to this Grand Prix. And a lot of the reasons why it was such a fun race to watch

was because of Ferrari. God. Which is a mag one. I think, like, I'm not the type of person when watching Formula One to say that a race can't be good if there isn't a battle for the lead. I think races can be good even when there isn't a battle for the lead. But it's very difficult for a race to be better than say eight out of 10 if there isn't a battle out front. There are instances where we've had really good races where

that hasn't been the case. The one that immediately springs to mind is the Chinese Grand Prix from 2012. Great race. Niko Rosberg won it by a mile. I can't remember the exact gap, but he sailed off into the distance, but there was such an epic battle for literally every position further back than that, that it was still a classic. But it can be very difficult for a race to be a classic. I think that's a bit of an exception without having that battle out front. So it was a, it was, I guess, relative in a sense, and it was refreshing just to have that in place, even if it was temporary and not a full race distance long. Yeah, I think if Sam thought hadn't happened, that might have been race of the seasons. I think I prefer.

third it to Zandvort. It's a lot less manufactured chaos than Zanvort, right? It's pure on-trap racing action, whereas Zanvot was kind of uncontrollable acts of guard kind of chaos. Yeah, they are two very different races, that's a good point. I love both of them. We've had a great fortnight of Formula One.

Yeah, so Liam Lawson needs to stay. Liam Lorson is the actual reason it's chaos. What a great point, yeah. Liam Larson, stay around some. We obviously had Max Verstappen, first place, but Sergio Perez did join him in second place, had to work his way through the field a little bit as he started on the third row in qualifying. Harry, what did you make of Sergio Perez's come back through the field? Do you think he played it well? Should he have

got there sooner? What are your thoughts? I was also fairly measured, not as measured as his teammate. There were a few instances where he also was trying, as you say, that one time of a step and try to chuck it around the outside of signs. Peres tried that multiple times. At one point for like a few laps, he just didn't bother doing turn two. Yeah, that's true. I'm not doing that one.

Overrated. Overrated corner. So, yeah, and like I said, he obviously had more work to do from qualifying, qualifying slightly further down in P5. P5, it was correct? Sorry, P1. Yeah, in P5.

So he obviously had, he was going to have a scrappier race in that sense. just because he had more class to overtake. But pretty good. I think it was a tough afternoon or a tough afternoon for Red Bull, more tougher than they've had for a long time. Not saying they still were not the quickest on the day,

but actually getting to the point where they were at the front was difficult. But I think, again, he was relatively measured. There are a few argy-bargy moments, but, you know, nothing, no harm, no foul and all that. We're a good time. And yeah, as soon as the tire, the tire deg and difference came in, you know, he was getting his way past the cars,

sort of picked them off one by one. So, yeah, I think pretty good, pretty good from Perez, did the job of what Red Bull needing to do, and that's BP2. So yeah. What do you think, Sam? We've discussed a lot of Sergio Perez's comebacks through the field this year, but in most instances, they've been from further back than what we're talking here. having said that from P5 to P2, we're satisfied with how he played it.

Weirdly, I think other comebacks were easier, despite having to come from further back. And a lot of that is down to where the Red Bull gains its advantage, and that is through the use of the rear wing and DRS. So when overtakes need to be made and the DRS can be activated, at a track that is hugely downforce dependent. Let's say the start, finish straight at Hungary, for example, is so downforce heavy that when you do open the rear wing, you see such a massive impact from that DRS,

that getting in the straight line speed, up to place and then getting alongside into turn one is actually quite simple when you have such an advantage. So I think coming back through Hungary, weirdly, might have been easier than overtaking somewhere like Monza. Now, because of that, Surgery Perez had a tough time and the competitors around him were, they were on it today. They were feisty. They were hungry for those positions. Obviously, Ferrari wanted to be first, so they were desperate to cling on to any podium they could. Yes, it wasn't the cleanest of races from Sergio Perez. A couple of expeditions off at turn one and turn two.

But you know what? It was all entertainment. He got the job done. And as Harry said, he did the, exactly what Red Bull needed off him. He finished in P2. He brought him the maximum amount of points

other than the fastest lap, which of course Piasc got. And I don't really understand really what more you could critique him on. I think he qualified exactly where Red Bull probably thought they were actually going to qualify as well. Kind of the P4. I think in their ideal world,

they maybe would have had for Stappan P3, Perez P4, and they have gone, that's grand. We're good here. Yeah, Russell probably got in their way a bit, didn't they qualify in P4? I think that was more the surprise than Ferrari, because we know that Ferrari enjoy a bit of a straight rather than a bendy bit.

But, you know, Perez cleared Russell. It was a bit dodgy to start with. A couple of moments they ran off the track together, but got the move done eventually. He gave the position back when the move was done off the track and still got it done. Yeah, I can't really ask too much more. I don't expect it to be any closer either because DRS was so unimpactful. It gave no real advantage. and the undercut as well barely existed around here,

that all of the moves that we saw when you're racing that close have to be done on pure driver ability and on track, which is what we want. That's exactly what you want to see. Moves being moved up by drivers who are willing to go that extra percent in talent, get the move done, and then, you know, you stick with it on the circuit. So I was very happy. Yeah, a little bit tough for him, but it should be tough for him,

and he still managed to do it. So I actually think this was a solid performance with Sergio. I think in terms of the result, that's what people will look at the most. Obviously, if you've got Max Verstappen winning the championship or leading the championship, it's not done yet, folks. Can't he win it, Singapore? I reckon if Sergio D&F and he wings. See the Singapore other one after me.

I believe in your Perez. He won Singapore last year. Let's start the comeback. Yeah, I think when it comes to Perez, 18 points was what he was looking for, 18 points is what he got. So that will be the biggest takeaway from this Grand Prix. I'm going to be harsh on Sergio Perez here. I was disappointed he couldn't find his way past George Russell sooner than he did.

And I can't remember what the other race was where he had something very similar, where Vestappen got by quite quickly, and it took Perez a lot longer to do so. And I don't remember the race off the top of my head from this season. But it just seemed here as if he was falling for the same thing lap after lap. in that Russell was every single time going into turn one, way later on the brakes than Sergio Perez was. And I feel like, okay, you can allow for that if you do the switch back and then make the move into turn four, right?

And that never materialized. I feel like eventually he got it in that he did everything he could to get on the inside of the corner to the point where he wasn't far of being on the grass. But that was absolutely the right way to go. There were two options for him and anyone to make a move. move into term one. Either you do the switchback or number two, you just force your way to the inside. He went for that second option, but it took him a long time to get there. It just feels like he doesn't drive as much on instinct as some of the other drivers around him. And he has to, it takes him laps to

work out how he's going to get past the driver, whereas some of the other drivers, I feel like they just do it based on driving instinct. And as soon as he got past Russell, he caught up to the Ferrari's very quickly. He had good pace. And he got the maximum result, so I'm not going to be too critical on him here. But I think there was more he could have done to dispose of Russell quicker than he could. There were a few 50-50 chances going into the breaking zone where I feel like he should have structured his move slightly better. Overtaking's never been Sergio's strong point, though, as on a weekend.

He's so good at, you know, the long runs, beating everyone else due to strategy because of his tire ability is great and clean. as you just commented on his pace when in clean air was fantastic and once he got past both Russell and the Ferraris he was quite comfortably running off on his own

but yeah I think that's a fair braking especially is a fair observation we saw that quite a few times that Russell were almost... Way later. Who kind of lift off the brake to see where Sergio was going

back on the break and then lift off of it again just carry on into the corner a lot further and still get the car slowed down going through the corner comfortably yeah that's a fair observation I wouldn't be too harsh

because he still managed to come out in second place but yeah, fair point. It's very, very harsh. Very harsh. Okay, with that, we'll take our first break. We'll be discussing Ferrari's duel towards the end of the Grand Prix right after this. Now, a quick word from our friends at NorgVPN.

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So grab your exclusive NordVPN deal by going to NordVPN.com 4 slash LBF1 to get a huge discount off of your North VPN plan plus four extra months for free. It's completely risk free with Nor's 30 day money back guarantee. It's basically a free trial. Now, as you can imagine from this podcast, we were fully expecting the Ferrari battle to end in complete and utter tears. Somehow it didn't. They ended up third and fourth place, what represents definitely one of their better Grand Prix of the season so far. Sam, are you, are you shocked that somehow they didn't crash into one another in those closing laps? Shocked, yes. Slightly traumatized, yes. And maybe a little bit mucky downstead.

because when Shaul Clair hang out of all four tire lockup on that last lap going to turn one I was done at that point many, many poos had escaped me. No risk. Charlotte Claire, lots of all tires.

All of the risk. Hello, risk. All I heard was risk over there. Sorry, Sammy, I just said risk. Would you like to play a game of risk? I'm taking over Italy. Yeah, Charles LeCler was desperate to get on that podium.

And you know what? From an entertainment of you, a point of view, a point of view, who does, you know, if I'm saying, don't care what happens, I loved every second of it. I was on the edge of my seat. I was shouting at the screen. I had a great time. In terms of bringing home the race, when nothing, and I mean literally nothing is at stake, one car will finish third, one car will finish fourth, and it doesn't matter. Why are you risking it? It's all for one little moment of glory to stand on that big podium and wave to some Ferrari fans, which I get is an amazing feeling. And as a racing driver, you'll want to go for that, you know, final move to get the points in.

But realistically across the season, is it changing anything? No. You are picking up the same amount of points for your team as it is. And poor Carlos needs a podium. He got it finally. He got his first podium in the season, but he needed it. And they could have just comfortably stayed as it was. And I mean, it was quite funny to hear Carlos go, we're risking too much, please.

We can just calm down now. Please. Please. It's like, I'm losing this. Any more laps. I'm going to lose this. but Charlotte Claire was like, I want that third place. Thank you very much.

Sunshine. Didn't get it. It was a great attempt. We saw a lot of great action from it. I loved it from a viewer's point of view. But yeah, absolutely ridiculous to really go after it right into the death of this race. One tank was between them when they cross the line. Yeah, that's how close it was.

What were your thoughts on the risks taken late on by those Ferrari duo, Harry? A lot of banter. That's a great way of describing it. A lot of banter. Yeah, look, if they had taken each other off, we'd be saying, sat here screaming at the team saying, why on earth did you not tell them not to just hold station? But I,

I kind of admire that they let them race. Like, as you say, they are fight. I know it's a podium of Monza, which is a lot for a Ferrari driver, but it's, you know, it's not championship critical here. They are just fighting. And fair play for, I know LeCler gave it a good go for it not to be okay. But fair play that they trust their drugs enough to,

battle that hard and they were battling hard, lap after lap, and not take each other off. So, yeah, I know we'd probably be the opposite if they had

take each other off, but I, I was, it was such an enjoyable battle, two drivers going hammer and tong. At one point, look like I did get ahead, but then he went deep,

right? And then signs going back. Love that sort of stuff. It was a brilliant battle. We were too often in F1 these days, and I guess maybe that's the IRS effect, but drivers, Cruise up to the back of another car,

DRS, boom, they go past. And there's no battle anymore. It's just a, it might last for a corner. But this was a proper battle. Yeah. Like an actual battle. And I know LeClaire didn't get past, but sometimes that doesn't mean,

doesn't mean it has to do to make it a good battle. So fair play to both of them. LeCleur, I think if we'd give them in any more laps, would have taken out the entirety of Italy. But luckily we, luckily, Sunoda broke down so we didn't have any more. Yeah, exactly. So no to save today.

But yeah, fair play to them both because it was a cracking, a cracking battle to watch. As a viewer, thank you so much for Ferrari. That was unbelievable to watch. As someone who appreciates strategy, what on earth you do it?

Cool it off. They have got nothing to fight for. But fortunately, they didn't listen to the, I would say, strategic side of their brain. think they have that. That's why they didn't do it, mate. Yeah. So I'm actually really glad of Ferrari's inability to actually think because what we got was a really entertaining battle. One of the

most entertaining battles of the season so far, for sure. Yeah, they realistically, they should have called this off because Russell was, Russell was comfortably enough behind and we knew he had a penalty as well. And Red Bull were comfortably enough down the road. They weren't fighting for anything good or bad. They just had to hold position and claim 27 points, which is pretty valuable when you've got Mercedes picking up 18. It's a good gain of nearly 10 points. And Aston Martin are doing much in that Grand Prix either. Lange strolls out of the points. Fernando Alonso's scraping a, was it ninth place finish in the end for him. And McLaren as well, obviously not scoring a great deal either. So a real opportunity for Ferrari to gain something on

their rivals, just bring it home. Both, all eight tires collectively might not have had enough wear to make one proper tire by the end of that Grand Prix. They were all shot. There was no point in battling. But I'm glad we got to see it. Certainly, Carlos Seinders' defenses were on the edge, I'll say. Not just with LeClau, but I think all the way throughout the Grand Prix.

It was robust, I think, is the correct word. I'm all for that. Hey, I think he went about it. He started off like, like, okay, but as the race went on, he just got more and more desperate. I will not let you pass. He's got Gandalfe,

he's like of his helmet, apparently. I think he did at some point. So, yeah, overall, I think they probably should have called this off, but I'm glad they didn't. Sam, what did you make of, yeah, what did you make of Carlos Sines, the fence?

You, you like it. Yeah, I did like it. I did like it. It was on the line. was pushing it, and there were a couple of moments on replays where you look back and go, there isn't a car's width there. And, hey, they didn't penalise for stabbing at Zhang Vault for not leaving a car's width against Gasly. So why bother penalising it here either? There were a few moments where drivers had to take to either running off curbs, backing out,

running over the little escape road bit that we saw. And it wasn't just science. We saw it with a number of drivers who weren't leaving space. We're going to get on to, you know, a couple of penalties since later on down the line. If you leave with the space, you have a good race. That is how the expression goes. And Carlos Sons didn't leave a lot of the space. And he's still like a very good race. This is the level that I liked. I thought, at no point could I categorically say,

you're definitely wrong. And I think if it's at that grey area where it's a bit touch and go, you've touched the line for me. That is as far as I want it to go. Everyone was very sensible. No one really kind of doing something outrageously dangerous. And it made for a very, very entertaining Grand Prix. for me, that's as far as you stretch it and then you leave it there.

And I thoroughly enjoyed it. It made for arguably the best battles we've seen all season. And that's not just Sainte and Lecler. That was Sainz and Perez. That was Perez and Lecler. That was Rastapin and Since. That entire Front Four had a brilliant day of it going into turns one and two. And I would not change it.

I think from my side, the majority of it was all good. There was one instance where I think they were side by side. signs and Perez going into turn one and turn two and signs does not leave him any room whatsoever. Policing turn one and turn two is really difficult because as we saw with the Vostappan incident, you can get drivers be really cheeky and actually not be side by side going into the corner

in the breaking zone, but eventually catch up with the way that the corner works to the point where they are side by side coming out of turn two. At that point, I don't think the driver making the move on the outside is entitled to that space because they weren't side by side as they were breaking into turn one. But I think there was one instance where Perez and Sines were side by side. Signs doesn't leave any room and I don't. I think that one was over the limit. I think outside of that, yeah, I think the rest of it was on the line, but on the line is good.

I think there was just one instance where you went over it. What did you think, Harry? Yeah, as I say, I think it started off. I was quite impressed by signs. the beginning with his defense against Vastappan, placing the car in all the right places. As I say, I think as the race went on, it got slightly more dodgy. I think most of the, most of the defense against Perez was,

as you say, on the line, but, but okay, a few late moves, especially when you're doing at such high speeds that, I hate,

that's probably the worst thing I hate about some of the defending we have in F1 these days. Like, that's a late move. Because if that goes wrong, And the driver behind doesn't react. It'll be, well, Alonzo strolling. Yeah, exactly.

It'll be an airplane crash. Like, it'll literally, they'll be in the air like Alonzo was. And there's a huge sausage curve on the exit of that turn one. Exactly. You hear that phase in the wrong way. It's not going well. Not good. So, yeah, those ones for me, where I'm, yes, not particularly happy.

But he, that was only once, maybe twice. Yeah, there was one. There was one. I know the one that bangs on about it. And that was a bit much. But, yeah, overall. I think it was, it was, yeah, robust, pretty good from signs. And, you know, when you're spending the afternoon, literally looking in your mirrors,

which he did. I don't think he did anything else. No, he permanently turned to the right. Him and Albon. Yeah. Yeah, they got crooks on their necks. Because, yeah, he was just defending all the afternoon. So I think one or two transgressions will allow, but overall pretty good.

Let's have a look at Driver of the Day, shall we? Oh, no. Oh, it's not ready. Oh, come on, man. He's not ready. Hang on. No. The verdict is in.

You're the driver of the day. You're the driver of the days. You're good at driving. Have you got, Harry? Tricy one, actually, because I think there's quite a few contenders, but I'm going to go for, I'm going to go for Alex Albonne because I know he obviously didn't. We'll get on to that.

But he didn't get a podium either. But I think the Williams was not looking after its ties at all. I know they pitted him early, but again, that was the cause of not looking after his tires. But I think his defence all afternoon. Another driver who was just looking at his mirrors was very good. I guess I expected more of Williams, but given where their apparent race pace was,

I think he actually drove very well because I think he easily could have maybe ended up outside of the points had it got a different way. So Albon for me, signs again, contender just happened to obvious reasons but I'll go out of Bonn. Clinical move on Piastri. That was

like he got that done straight away. Delightful. Yeah, that's very fair because I think Piastri probably thought yes. I've got it done. That's the hard move done now. I can run away and there it goes. Oh no. There he goes. Who have you got Sam? I'm going to go for Carlos Sanks.

I do agree that one of those moves was a little bit squeaky bump time. But the car was not made to be on the front row. I don't think out on pure paceability that car was finishing first or second. And he may get, I think, as physically hard as it could have been to have got through there. I don't know any other driver that would have maybe have made that even more difficult. Maybe if the Stappan himself was in the Ferrari. But it was excruciatingly painful for both Red Bulls to get past. stopping 15, 16 laps.

And then once Perez caught up, it took him another, what, 10, 15 laps to get through. It was tough, and there was a lot of opportunities to get the moves done. So I think science delivered excellently, and then he kept LeCler behind, I think, again, very, very well. He really earned himself that first podium. It was hard for, and glad he's on the list

and best performance of the season, I think, for science. Yeah, I mean, good, I know he didn't win. He obviously converted a pole to a third, but I think given where Ferrari's pace is, I think a good confidence boost for... Their first podium for a while, isn't it? Well, yeah, there you go. Yeah, Leclerre, I'd won at Belgium before the summer break,

but it's only four for the season now, so it's well earned from Carlos Sines. Yeah, Sines was very good. He's definitely a contender. I'd put him in there. And, you know, Max Vastappen, he won the race. Oh, that guy. Yeah.

I mean, he was still, as good as Ferrari were to challenge him and Perez finishing second, he was still unchallenged for about two-thirds of the Grand Prix. which shouldn't go on noticed. However, I'm going to go with a bit of an outside bet here. I'm going to go with a driver who scored points in a car that I don't think was good enough to score points, and that was Valtry Bottas.

Very good shout. We were shocked that he just popped up. Yeah, what are you doing up there, me? I mean, it sounds harsh. She only got it because of what happened to Piascri. But he was the man that was there to take it. Yagabing 11th in the first place, and that alpha Romeo is not good.

Yeah, I don't think that Alpha Romeo was better than the... I think Hass and Alpine were probably slower, but I don't think anyone else was. So to get a point in what could have been the eight fastest car, I think that's worthy of a nomination. Also, we haven't commenting on this, but that car looks so bloody good. Why can't it be the livery every race?

Their current livery with the stupid kick stuff on it. Get rid of it. It's vile. Aye. Where this car is like, do you remember some of the great back market liveries we had in the mid-2000s and stuff like that? It almost looks that good.

I want to watch the back of the grig just to see that car go around more. It is delightful. And I love a livery. Ferrari can learn something because they're special livery. There ain't nothing special about it, lads. You just put yellow on the tip.

Well, you said that should just be their livery. Yeah, that's a normal livery. It's not a good one of the yellow Ferrari. Give me the yellow. Stupid. I would say one of these years, they'll do it, but I'm not convinced they will. Worst driver at the day.

Ooh. I'm looking for, I'm looking for a, jingleer? Oh. For Christ's sake, man. Sorry. Get in the bin, bin, bin, bin, best driver of the days. Ben, bin, bin, worse driver of the day. You stuck at driving. I should have used that time to think of one rather than pretend that's gone.

Good. Full spoiler. We're not doing a jingle for Big Brain Strat. I can't go through it a third time. I can be on it. I'll be on it. Right. Just play it early. driver of the day, Harry, who have you got? Well, I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. But Landstrol wasn't great this weekend. He missed the entirety of Friday.

So that's why I'm giving this appendix to it. And then obviously he only really had Saturday to get his car in shape. And I know that this wasn't a great circuit for Fasting Martin, but he was a long way behind Fernando this weekend. I mean this, I don't even mean this as an insult or a burn or anything like that. Did we see him today? No. I don't think so.

I don't actually remember seeing his car once. I've just put him on the timing board. It's actually got there. Yeah, him and Joe, I don't remember seeing Joe. Joe, I do not see at all. Yeah, I guess there's so much happening, which is a great thing. We don't have to look down at 18th or whatever. But yeah, so I feel, I feel, I feel,

like there's some context needed to it, but having said that the gap to just his teammate alone, I think he should have been at least a bit higher up in that bottom half of the field because I think the Aston was where Alonso finished it, but yeah, he was a long way off. I am going to give Stroll the benefit of the doubt for the reasons that you gave.

You know, it wasn't a great weekend, but ultimately undone by no time on Friday, in the car whatsoever, apart from, you know, two laps before his car broke down an FP2. And I feel like progress was difficult to come by

for anyone out there today. So I will give him the benefit of the doubt. I'm not going to give Logan Sargent the benefit of the doubt. I feel like, and we'll get on to Williams in a bit, should have been fighting for points. Even if he doesn't get there,

I think he should be fighting for points. And he wasn't. So I'm going to give it to him. Sam? I stole my answer then. I know. Logan's sergeant, I think. Logan's civilian. Logan's fired.

Quite frankly. We said it at the start of the weekend. You know, if Alex Albin's there fighting for a top six, which he was, he may not have got it, but he was fighting for that pretty much the entire Grand Prix. And the fact that you're at best floating around 13th, 14th place and you're 10, 15 seconds away from 10th, it's not good enough.

I'm sorry. I know we need to give these rookies time, but he's had, what race is this now, 12, 13, 13. He's had enough time to have settled in that I expected him to be able to at least sit where the car should naturally be. I think Alex's album is still outperforming that Williams, but I think if you finish 11th,

he was three or four seconds behind Bottas, I might have gone, okay, not perfect, but you were kind of in the conversation. He just wasn't, and it's not enough anymore, and we're going to get onto it properly, but I do wonder if conversations might start to be had. You know last weekend, when we were talking about him making it to keep,

but then he crashed. And I remember saying, I'd rather he'd be quick and crash because you can iron out inconsistencies. And slow and consistent. He's done the opposite of that. It was slow and bad. It was just slow.

Yeah. Do the opposite again. I think you get a time penalty? Oh, yeah, for some of him and Lawson. Was it him and Lawson? Oh, him and Botter? Oh, I don't know. There were so many.

I'm going to see it. We didn't see half the replays. No. We'll see him on social media. I'll see them on Tuesday, probably. Yeah. Ready, Harry. Born ready.

No, you weren't. arguable, big brain strat. The sync, honestly. Pure killers vibes. I love it. Hot fuss. What have you got, Sam? I mean,

I always get confused through my moment of the race, a big brain strategy. I know, this is about the strategy. This is about strategy, yeah. I mean, I don't really have one. Shall I go? Sure.

I'll at least Sam sometimes think. My one is, and we spoke about this in the race, is with, I don't know how many laps to go, 11, Landonneuris is stuck behind Alex Albon and then McLaren say, Box box box, as trying to like fake him out.

And even Norris is like a little fake to the pit lane and then James Vals is just sat on the pit wall going, you mug. Just chuckling. You think I'm going to fall for that? That's my, I wrote that book. I admire the effort, but it was a lame effort

because there's no way they were coming in with, with 11 laps to go, because they never would have got, I never would have gone back again. So yeah, that was terrible. Yeah. Zach Brown. Scy.

Screaming out of pit laying. Losers! Or he'd just still be behind him. I guess, because that's a great call and I should have thought about that one. I'm going to go find a bit more, I guess, serious in that manner. But Alping, obviously, not good today. And apparently, Espan Ocon retired. And I wasn't ever even mentioned, I think.

No, I know more sudden did about that. I am going to talk about the fact they pitied Pierre Ghazley on like lap 10. That was a bit of my same. He stayed last and then he got to about 17th and they pitted him a gang and he didn't really ever get anywhere with it. It was just like, you were, you were rubbish as a team. They were about a two lap head start and I don't know if they won that. Genuinely, I know we don't say this well a lot on the podcast. It's not a swear, but they were crap.

They were quite crap today. It's been a tough first weekend for me in the interim. You're going to be out, mate. It wasn't a good one. Unfortunately, we did have an issue with the car. where the pit lane limiter was permanently active all weekend long. The car never went faster than 50 miles an hour. It was disappointing.

Breaking news, I'm taking over for Singapore. There was a bit like Hamilton when he hadn't pitted yet. He was like a moving roadblock. Oh my God. Are you ever getting out of the way? Sorry, Ben. My one is outside. I do want to give a mention.

I don't know if there was some sort of contact that forced him in. But Kevin Magnuson decided to go for the hard tire to begin with, then be one of the first drivers to come into the pits? Questionable. Outside of that, though, something that's already been mentioned, the whole Charles LeCler's strategy of don't risk anything and they're nearly killing Carlos signs, that was interesting. Engage, risk.

You speak of Kevin Mannington, by the way. We were monitoring this. The classic Holkenberg up in the top 10. Every time. It's way down. And by the end, they're 17 to 18. We were literally like, it could imagine him shouting. over the...

Magnuson, I'm coming! Kay back. Kevin, come on the way. More like you fall back to me, mate. I'll see you in about 20 laps time when we're last together. They suck. How have you made such a bad race car? I reckon if we race

somewhere where it's like minus 10, Hasse would be unstoppable. No tired egg at all. Las Vegas. That could be Las Vegas. It's going to be real chilly. You know what?

It won't. It won't. As in it won't be chilly. No, just turn up with like, dice and sick of wheels. Halkenberg on pole at Las Vegas. Last by lap 10. Good.

Right, we'll take another short break. We'll be discussing Mercedes on the other side. So, Mercedes, George Russell started in fourth place, eventually finished in fifth place. Lewis Hamilton had a bit of work to do after dropping a position on the opening lap, but eventually came up from ninth to finish in sixth place. So third best team on the day.

We'll get into the penalties in just a moment. Sam, do you think that in terms of a result, this was about all they could get. I genuinely think this is the most that they could pick out of Monser. They were so freaking slow in a straight line. What has happened? The days of Mercedes being the most dominant engine, I've come and gone.

I don't know if it's, you know, drag city in that team or whatever. We started wrong it because of drag race, so you want to go fast in a straight line, and they don't know how to do that. Drag city. Drag city. It's where Alpine is set up in it.

Clearly, yeah, they've just painting an Alpine black. George Russell actually relatively impressive with his overall pace. He did a great job in qualifying to get the car where it was. I actually think, I know it was only a tenth and a half between himself and Hamilton, but I think that tenth and a half really make a difference, because I don't know if they both got past, the McLaren's and the Williams, if they were both starting from kind of ninth and tenth section, which is obviously where Hamilton began the Grand Prix.

So I think Russell was really good. He defended pretty well against Sergio. And then Hamilton, of course, but we're not talking about the penalties in instance yet, but overall, I actually think he did a really good job. despite winging about hating tires so much, God, he hates, he just hates rubber. He just despises circular bits of rubber. And yet at the same time, he literally got, I think, the only position he probably,

that's the maximum he could get out of this. And I think they did a good job of getting the most out of it, because I don't think it was going to get any better for them. Yeah, but he was unhappy with his style. We're screwed, man. Finish his two positions higher than where he was at that point, yeah. what did you make of their efforts? Harry, do you think fifth and sixth was obviously not a great result,

but maybe the best they could get here? Do you remember Martin Brund, again, sorry if people don't have Sky commentary, Martin Brundle yesterday saying Mercedes don't look very great, very good this weekend, but they'll probably survive was the word of use, but they'll probably scrape a result out of it. They had the pair of them,

scrappy as hell races. And yet they still finish P5 and P6. Like, they found the results barrel and they really scraped a couple of burglars. I know George Russell

gets our reputation, but both of them. I'm not saying they don't deserve it because they did. I think they, their pace was enough to be in those positions.

But just, how? How have you done that? They've turned that out well. And that's what the sayes have done since the car hasn't been done that they have just being able

to pull out. And I think a lot of the time it's their driver line up. I think if you put any other other than maybe for staffing along, so any other two drivers in that car,

They don't get those results. I think, yeah, despite Hamilton happening a winch, George Russell with this classic radio, the pair of them actually drove pretty well, barring, barring the... Well, Hamilton did try and murder... Relative incidents. I was going to say, as well,

about being so slow and a straight line, before that incident, which we'll go on to, they would like having a drag race through the... Curva Grande. That's it. Hamilton and Piastri. And Piastri was... Hamilton had the better exit,

but Piazsche was going back in front of him. Do you remember the time this year when McLaren was so slow in a straight line and yet it was going quicker than the Mercedes today? Yeah, the Mercedes, the Mercedes boys as we captioned them, all the Mercedes engine runners. Fifth down. How are they all so weirdly draggy yet not dragging?

That's so odd. Like, it's so strange the way their endings are working. Yeah, anyway, so yeah, I... It's just a scrappy yet savvy afternoon from Mercedes to pick up the maximum. and I think they could have done. Barring retirements, I don't think they were getting any higher than that. I'm still praying for a for staff in retirement.

I did say it was going to happen during the race. It might happen. It might happen. DSQ. Please for four forwards. I'm not sure about that. Yeah, I think if you had gone to George Russell at the beginning of this race and say, right, you've outqualified Lewis Hamilton by four positions.

Lewis Hamilton is going to hate his tire strategy. He's going to drop a position on the opening lap, and he's going to nearly kill Oscar Piastri. Oh, by the way, he's going to hate his tire strategy. oh, by the way, you beat him by two points. He'd be like, oh, come on. Really two points. But yeah, I think fifth and sixth was the maximum they could get out of this. They were they were just about clear of McLaren,

Williams, Aston Martin, but they were still a long way behind anyone out of, you know, the Ferraris and the Red Bulls in front of them. So I think fifth and sixth is ultimately what they should have got. I think in all likelihood, Russell cost himself a point because if he didn't have that five second time penalty, I think he would have had the gap back to Albin to actually come in and get the fastest lap with a couple laps to go.

I think if it was touch and go if he was going to make it with the five second time penalty. So if he doesn't have that, I think they make that call and they go ahead and do it. So he might have caused himself at one point, but ultimately, yeah, fifth and sixth was about all they could get. I think Lewis Hamilton, as much as he complained about it, worked the strategy quite well.

Those medium tyres were far better on that second stint, and he did have to go through the pain of those hard tires where he was the moving roadblock, as you've already identified, but it was kind of worth it in the end for where he ended up finishing. So have a look at the two incidents that led to a combined 10 seconds worth of penalties that in real terms resulted in nothing. George Russell was in the first instance.

He had a... Esteban Okun did feature once today, which was the penalty of another driver. Sam, do you think it was fair enough to penalise there? Well, speaking of O'Kong, to be fair, I know he was all the way at the back while he was around, but he made a couple of tastie moves going to turn one. Or for nothing.

All for nothing. Absolutely nothing. The incident, Russell-Ockong instinct, it was silly. It really felt like it was, you know, unnecessary, because O'Con was on very old tyres. Russell just comes out. He probably could have given it half a lap

and would have breezed past him quite comfortably. Now, obviously, with hindsight, it would have made sense for Russell to wait. But he was already so far ahead of Ocom by the time that they decided that he had to give the position back that he actually, as they came over the radio and said, he got lost so much more time by giving up the time net and come back through than maybe trying to overtake him again

or hoping he pits, that you've kind of mitigated the time difference. anyway. So take it on the chin, get on with it. And that's exactly what he did. So for Russell, as much as this was a bit silly, it cost him nothing. He delivered what he needed to do and he'd go on with it. So pricking inconsequential. That's a good word. Um, so it is a word. Yeah, well done me. Um, are we talking about Hamletoine yet or not? Hamletwon. Hamletwon. Hamletwon. We'll cover up Russell first. We'll circle back to Lewis Hamilton. I don't think this is disastrous for Russell. I think actually as penalties go, ah, oh well. Yeah. Um, obviously, yeah,

it meant absolutely nothing apart from maybe that one point for fastest lap but ultimately yeah it's not it's not going to be one that doesn't win him a championship at the end of the year. Don't make a habit out of doing this. No. Because it will bite you on the bum. At some point, yeah. The incident itself, yeah, it was just a bit silly. They weren't racing one or not. I know Ted Kravitz was quite heated about this on Sky Sports commentary. Yeah, it was, Ocon obviously wasn't in his race whatsoever. By the time he had got a few seconds down the road. of course it wasn't worth it at that point. They needed to even make the switch straight away

or take the five seconds. I think it was enough of a slam dunk that they probably should have just switched it straight off like they did like many other drivers did throughout the day. I think that probably just would have made the most sense to get it done straight away. It's not like he would have then been stuck behind Ocon for 20 laps. We know how slow that Alpine was in a straight line.

He was going to get past probably on the start, finish straight at the latest of the following lap. So, yeah, I ultimately didn't matter, but I think he probably should have just let him pass straight away there. Harry? Yeah, I think it's on Russell rather than the team because I think they said, didn't they? They didn't really know what happened.

And I think that's on Russell, as you say, just to give it back. But there's a counter argument, which is they were saying, the outlapse critical. And obviously he's trying to undercut, was trying to undercut Perez and the Ferraris maybe, and giving that place back would have meant there's no chance anywhere. It was optimistic anyway, but I guess he was thinking, well, there's no chance if I have to give this back. So maybe that's why he didn't.

Bit silly. I guess the only thing I was going to say, because he was coming out the pits, I know Ocon was there. So he is, you know, they're sharing the same bit of racetrack. But it's almost like, I don't think Russell was trying to like outbreak him. I think Russell outbraked himself. Yeah. If Hocon hadn't been there at the same time and Russell just bounced across as she came, but did they even look to that?

No, of course not. Yeah, but that's my point. I think that's almost unlucky in that sense. But, you know, like I say, I still, I still think Russell should have just given it back straight away. But, yeah, it's just a, you know, clumsy timing. Yeah, so. No harm, no foul, though.

Like, it didn't really hurt Ockon properly, you know. The other day, it didn't matter. So, yeah, it's all right. Don't do it again, though. Yeah, don't make a habit of it. It costs no one anything apart from himself. And then even then it didn't cost him anything. So, yeah, you know, don't do it again.

gorty-noughty-boy. Hamilton's incident, also a five-second time penalty, also didn't cost him anything in terms of race result at the end of the Grand Prix. Sam, this one seemed to be very similar to Hamilton and the Clur's incident from a few years back at that same corner when it was actually a fight for the win

rather than a fight over whatever position Piastri and Hamilton were fighting over here. Turned forward, what do you think? Five seconds was that fair? Should it be more or less? Ben, just remind me what the decision, was from that incident a couple of years ago. Nada.

It's a racing incident. Then they get a black and white flag? Yeah, that's all they got. Yeah, that's what I was trying to think. No, essentially nothing. The difference is, of course, proper contact was made here. I think that is actually the difference. I think Hamilton was squeezed off and had to take the run through in that previous

history, McClure, but there was no contact. There is contact here. Piaski has to obviously stop. This was very silly from Lewis Hamilton. I genuinely think this is a 100% slam-down. easy penalty. The move was pretty much done. You know, you're on much new attires, hit the brakes slightly later, which you're Lewis Hamilton, you're capable of breaking later, getting a move down into a breaking zone sunshine. It's not like you're brand new at this. Piaastri was only

giving I ever put up so much of a fight and you were alongside. You didn't need to keep coming over. You know, you've got to leave that space. And if you leave the space, you have a happy race. Now, the consequence of this happening is he had to really work that car at the end of the race after he got the moves done on, not just plaster with the instant, but then with Norris, and then with Albon, and it's not like, cool,

I can relax, I can chill out now. He has got to pound round that track. He has got to get the gap done. And you did, it was seven seconds back to Albon at the end, but you're causing yourself just unnecessary threat, unnecessary worry going around the track at the end. And the strategy turned out,

despite his complaints, to be a really good one from the Sages. He'd got, as we said, the maximum, maybe Russell was the only other person could have been closer throughout the Grand Prix, but unlikely. So this just felt like it was a bit brash, a bit rushed. Like he was frustrating at the tyres

or the strategy at me being further back. And it's a real shame for Piastri, who as much as wasn't running the best rate of all time, he was right next to Norris the entire Grand Prix at any point, maybe he could have got the move done on his teammate and on Album as well. So, yeah, it's a shame. It's definitely a penalty.

He got, not lucky, but he had to turn out a performance to mean, that it meant absolutely nothing to his Grand Prix. And I think that he could have got that move done without making any contact or any problem. We saw many other drivers do it. Why couldn't he? Harry, a fair penalty?

Yeah, a fair cop. It was quite clumsy. If George Russell was clumsy, this is hella clumsy, so. Yeah, I don't really know what he was doing it. He had all the space. So, yeah, a fair pen, absolutely. My only question, and this is merely a question,

not an opinion. Is it fair that it's the same penalty that Russell got? I think Hamilton was lucky with five seconds. Exactly. I know we say you shouldn't base it off the result, but given Russell... I don't think it's the same thing, though, is it? bounced across the chican,

yes, he ever took Ocon, which is illegal five second pen affair. Hamilton cuts across some knocks, knocks piastri out of the running. The contact is the difference. Five seconds. My instinct was 10 seconds. on that. I didn't think it'd be five. Yeah, anyway. Yeah, I think, unfortunately,

with penalties, they always have like a, like a window. And I think Russell's is right at the very bottom of the window, whereas I think Hamilton's might be very much at the top of the window, bordering on, as you said, Ben, that's either five or ten, and he got lucky with a call for five. Yeah, I think that probably gives my opinion, or what it should have been. I don't know too much to add to you. I think if it was ten, I think the difference between the Lecler one a few years ago, were there being an absolute outrage though. Oh, I mean, yeah, I mean, we knew at the time that that wasn't fair. That should have been a five.

If we're looking at this incident independently, you know, 10 seconds for me. Let's move on. Quick chat about Williams before we go to another break. Obviously, Alex Albin in the points, Logan Sargent, not in the points. This is probably a discussion that we'll get on to in a non-race review environment. But Sam, any thoughts on Logan Sargent not being able to get into the points at a venue where Alex Albaugh managed to get into the points as he did last year. Of course, Nick DeVries, as we know,

subbed in for Latifie last year and got points here. Sergeant not able to get inside the top ten. Now, I know we make a lot of comparisons between teammates and that seems completely fair. And Alex Albon has, is arguably, if you take out the likes of Vestappan, Fianna, Aloncso, Lewis Hamilton, is arguably the driver of the season so far.

He is out driving that Williams. So it is tough when your teammate is, you know, performing at that level. But what I want to compare is, as you just brought up there, Sargent in today's Williams and DeVries in last year's Williams. And you would, I think everyone would agree that this year's Williams is significantly stronger than last year's Williams, right? It was a, we're going to take a Hail Mary and hope we can pick up some points at Monzo

because that's the only place that our car actually suits. Whereas here, we've seen Albums stick it in the point, seeing a multitude of races, Zangvort being one of them that just came and went, which doesn't suit their characteristics. at all. So if the car is that much more comfortable, it's beating both McLaren's on raw pace.

It beat both Ashton Martins on raw pace. And then, you know, it was challenging with the Mercedes on raw pace. It is shocking, appalling, that Logan Sargent isn't even challenging for a singular point here. And I think it really has just highlighted the fact that if we didn't think DeVries

was good enough after, you know, he had this half a season, when he did what he did last year at Monza, how is Logan Sargent any better? He doesn't crash as much, but he still ain't getting close to the points. And at the end of the day, whether you crash or you're finishing 18th or 15th or whatever it might be,

you're still scoring nada. You're still taking home nothing for the team. It's not enough. And I think this race today has sealed my opinion. Ben, I know you put this on the schedule, that I think a second season might have come and gone for him. I don't think he's got what it takes

to maintain a proper Formula One career for the long term. What did you make of Albin and Sargent's race today, Harry? Well, I mean, Albon, I've already pointed out as my drive of the day. Yeah, Sergeant, as I've already said, I think Zanvort was encouraging in the, he had the speed and was there or thereabouts with Albon. Obviously, he crashed in qualifying. The race crash wasn't his fault. I think that was established it was a BBW failure. But today, yeah, I mean, a little weekend, just not looks at the same pace as Albon at a weekend where we thought the Williams, and I think the Williams was stronger here.

than it was even in Zanford, despite the, I guess, qualifying difference in terms of where Albon, but well, where both of them were qualified, I think it did have a stronger car this weekend. So, yeah, not, not great for Sargent's future. I don't think this weekend, you know, I'd still give him to the end of the season, but you're right, I wouldn't be confident that a second year is on is on the table at the moment. Just, I think they, James Vowler's a sensible man.

I think he would be eyeing up or weighing up his options in case the sergeant's form doesn't, doesn't improve anytime soon, but yeah, today was not good. Just for clarity, I agree with you that he should get to the end of the season skill. I think it's come and gone by. Sounds off to fire another driver.

Off I go. That's what I'm employed for. You are just Eddie Jordan. Well, well going, I think at this point. I think Mick Schumacher might be on the phone. I think Toto will be on the phone with Nick Schumann. Hello, James. It's me, Papa Toto.

Most likely, yeah. I agree. You should be given to the end of the season. It's not been a good run of races first sergeant, particularly where Alex Albin is now consistently making it to Q3. It's not even like it happens once every four or five races. It's more often than not, he is in Q3 now, and he's converting more of those into points, and Sargent was never,

was never there. If you look at, if you look at the grid today, nearly all sets of teammates were very close to one another in the Red Bulls finished one and two, Ferrari's three and four, Merck's five and six, the McLaren duo were side by side nearly all race. Both the Alpine and the hash drivers were side by side, not in a good way, but they were very close to one another, pretty much like the entire Grand Prix. Alpha Tari, we never really got to sort. The only, I think, two other teams where there was a considerable gap between teammates were Alpha Romeo that we've already talked about with Bottas getting in the points,

and Aston Martin, where we've already identified that there was a little bit of mitigating circumstances this weekend. So it's not a good reflection on Logan Sargent that so many other teammates were close to one another, and he obviously wasn't. we'll see how it goes. The one thing that might play in his favour is that I don't think there is an obvious candidate. I know, you know, Mick Schumacher

might be in contention for it, but it's not as if Mick Schumacher was massively hard done by, but not by not getting a third season in Formula One. He didn't massively impress whilst he was here. So I think maybe Logan Sargent can count himself lucky that Teo Porchere or Olly Behrman or someone like that isn't a part of the Williams Driver Academy. that might help him out, I don't know, but it's not looking good at the moment.

Just for a little, just did some research on the fly. For a fly guy. Out of 14th Grand Prix, this was the 14th rate of the season. I've got to say, no, I haven't. Alex Albon has been in the top 10, qualifying the top 10 six times and 11th once as well, whereas Logan Sargent has only qualified above 15th place twice all season. And we know, obviously, it's the only driver pairing on the group. where Logan Sargent hasn't outqualified his teammate so fast this year.

Might well be more chat on this in the following weeks. We'll take a short break though. We'll be back with Moment of the Race right after this. Before we get into some Discord submissions for Moment of the Race, we of course have our own submissions here. Harry, kick us off. What was one thing that you can pick out from this Grand Prix? There was a lot to choose from.

I mean, the signs LeClaire, Piastri, a Perez battle was spicy. enjoyed that a lot, but I'm going to have to go for George Russell being told to manage his rear tire and he said, can't you see I've got to car up my ass? Don't know if you've noticed, mate. There's a car at my ass. Most passing. Yeah. And George, back, honestly, that we all have to have a special award for him of the LBs this year.

He's getting a radio of the year, isn't he? But it might have to be like a George Russell award. Like a separate one for everyone else. We've got to pick a winner. How on earth do you pick? Pick a winner. Maybe the people vote. Yeah.

Also, this is so random, but I've never heard someone abbreviate passive-ag passive-aggressive as Pasag. Have you not? No. And it sounds like a dish you get from the Indian. I'll have a chicken Pasag. With a garlic bread and rice, please. That's what it sounds like to me.

Like a Sagbaneer and a Pasag. I love a Pasag. I'm so shocked you've never heard of Passag. I've not. Never had a Pasag before. I can incorporate that. I can use that this week. lovely good stuff looking forward to that what was your moment of the race sam both the ones that harry raised are fantastic points

for me it's going to be in the delayed or abandoned race start fangando alonkso was a sleeping sitting there for about two minutes with his eyes closed and he looked like he literally woke up when they went you got to go fernando it's just a tired old man just a little old man look at him don't let me do it's not very good i'm so tired come on let me go to singapore i'm going to be good again um yeah i i know it's silly. It's not even part of the race, really. But, love it. Counts, mate. We did a lap. That's so true. It was on lap two, technically. Yeah, so that's me. Sleepier lonson.

Sleepier lones. I'm so tired. Lewis Hamilton has a five second time penalty. You can get him. It did feel like he suddenly skipped it, though. He went, aloe. He's like two points. I'll push up. That's fine. I'll take, I'll take an eighth.

I'm also going back to the beginning of the race for my member of the race, which was all of the, like, engineers, everyone just waiting around seeing if they're allowed to go through the gate or not. And then one brave soldier, just like, I'm going for it. I'm hopping the fence. No confirmation that they're allowed to. But it was just like, yeah, I'll go for it. I'm here for. I don't even remember what team it was. I'm here for you, mate. Alpha Romeo. One was an alpha male. One was a Red Bull. Yeah. Yeah. I just love that. The first, through the gates, the proper like Game of Thrones moment, like, yeah. I don't know,

charging on the city. Is it really going to? change the whole race if you're the only one that doesn't make it over the fakes first you know like yeah nothing happened i know they were i know they were having issues of the start lights but that that that whole aborted start thing was communicate it's just classic f i a lord bad i need to protect my blood pressure so i'm not going to get into it any more than that but come on right moment of the race that's from us three what about from our discord submitters though if you'd like to get involved with these you can do just join the discord link is in the description there is a submissions channel.

And we do these for previews of Grand Prix, where we ask for, what do we ask for? Under pressure, mate. Under pressure, that's what it's called. And race reviews, of course, where we ask for a moment of the race. Okay, dokey.

Here we go then, folks. Another, another batch of people. Wonderful batch. SoCal, Jen. Hi, this is Jen from SoCal. I'm just finishing this race, watching it and oh my god um i guess my moment of the race is a spicy battle between ferrari but i'm just shocked they didn't take each other out because that would have been really

Ferrari uh okay join the patreon she's join the discord and i'll see you in austin so okay you're so real for that we will see her in austin she is coming i'll make a note of it see you're going to Austin. I think we might be doing a live show if we mentioned it. We should talk about that more. Is it re-signed? Shut up. Oh,

terrible banter. Next up, Joyce the kill. First stint battling, even though it ended with George Russell's rear end against Paris. Cheeky. George, why do you keep disappointing me? Oh. A bit of a Skyler impression there,

from Joyce at kill. Yeah. Well, speaking of 14 kilobytes incoming. 14, how can he be that little? Anyway, 14 kilobytes. It's Skyler. Ferrari lockup. And not wrong either.

Good. A big ham. A really big ham. A huge ham. Hey, boys, it's a big ham. My moment of the race was when the FIA renamed Turn 1, the Sergio Perez Memorial Runoff Road. He's created an entirely new racing line.

and seems to think that's okay. Bye. Yeah, he really didn't what I do, turn one. Not on that race. Not a fan. Next up, Tenerife beef on our holidays.

Tena beef. Tene beef. Hello. Coming at you from Tenerife, inside. Yeah, I'm on my olibops. Beef, boyfriend beef. The surprise for boyfriend beef,

the other week, by the way, which I didn't tell you, is I took him to the new forest. It was very nice. moment of the day was me losing my marbles at the pool where Charles almost ended him and Carlos which was really nice anyone wants to see my full rant go to the discord

okay bye I thought she actually was talking about bringing marbles to the pool marbin that's a fun activity on holiday sure uh rye guy hey guys fray guy um tattoo update still no update still looking for an artist and

going through all that I will keep everybody posted in the next race as we keep going but hopefully by the end of the season I'll have something and I promise I'm still getting it I'm not checking out of it now my moment of the race is Oscar Piastra getting a taste of what it's like to drive anywhere in the southeastern United States where someone just

sideswipes you out of nowhere you get an accident so it's great anyways love you guys do keep on breaking late join the Patreon bye all right guy love your right guy This might be a new person The One Car Guy

I think so Let's go for it What up late breaking This is the one car guy My moment of the race today Was when Charles Was just trying his best Trying to get past Carlos

But you couldn't And you almost crashed I thought it was a crash But that was the morning of race Hope everyone has a good day And join in the Discord Right now Right now

Right now Right here Right now Fat boy slim there. Fat boy, one car. Fat boy car. I felt like the way that he was describing those events was very accurate. Yeah.

He was almost crashing. I thought he had crashing. Card jam. Car jam here from bright, sunny, beautiful Florida. Moment of the race was definitely that Ferrari battle. That was intense. But I'm sick and tired of these people getting away with cause and crashes, out with the five seconds.

in with the five points. Let's make it hurt, baby. Fiatry, great race, wasn't your fault. That's an interesting topic for another day. Yeah, I love that. Oh, God. It's our favourite, hasn't? Hazer.

All right, boys, seeing all these drivers that have been so molly coddled and pampered by DRS for so many years, actually have to try and make proper overtakes was my moment, plural, of the race. put your brakes on late stay on the track and use the corner

oh I can't just use me button to do it on a straight no more proper racing I'll need more of it cheers boys it has that actually James Hunt back in my day old fashioned

we had to do it in the corner I don't disagree yeah Madelena hi guys this is Madelena it's my fourth submission I believe

and Max for Stapping bickoing over the radio was for me, as I think it was for many people, the highlight of this race. Bye. Speaking of, by the way, this is not from the race, but on Friday, I don't know if you saw it, in practice, they were doing their first sort of like fast runs

on the soft tire. Max did his first run. He was like, I want to do another one. I didn't get a good read. And GP comes back and is like, it's not qualified, mate, we're fine. And Max is like, no, I'm doing one. So Max does another fast lap.

And then GP comes back and goes, did you learn anything? And Max said, no. Not really. Oh, go, I'll pull me a phone cell. G.B. is just like, well done. Well done. You should have listened to me again. So good. Can Sam put his headphones back in? This is a real issue.

I just struggled, dear. Anyway, I'll go for the next one. Up stogue, 10-2. Hey, Mercedes. If you aren't being penalized, you aren't racing hard enough. Good job. Join the Patreon. Join the Discord. Keep breaking late. you like. I like that he's submission against my saying

is bad boys. I'm saying Berk is back again. I'm saying as bad boys always getting penalties. You know it's

75 minutes into a podcast when Alexandra Berk had an appearance. Okay, we're almost done.

All good always. Highly breaking. Well, first of all, thank you, Sam, for your comment on my last

submission. That was really sweet. I'm going to be bringing on my Sunshine A game for every single one of my

submissions from now on just for you guys. Moment of the race. I mean, that scrap was the two Ferrari boys. They did not disappoint. I mean, when I said they were under pressure this weekend, I didn't expect them to bring on that spiciness. So exciting.

Love you guys of the podcast. Bye. Firstly, it's clear that you didn't listen to the podcast that you missed. Do you listen to the podcast that you're on? No. Well, there you go. If I'm wrong it, I've done it, mate. I know when listen to the first few minutes,

just to see what insult you've thrown at me. No. No, it's a load of rubbish. No mind. Every time. I was having a bad day. She was just wonderfully. And we have skitty.

New one. New one. Hello. I thought I'd make my first submission. I am absolutely thrilled for Carlos, but I feel so bad for Yuki. Poor guy didn't even finish his formation lab. I'd really like to see him in points again.

That's a fair point. We haven't spoken about Yuki once. Yeah. I probably wasn't there. Two out of three D&S's in the last three years at Longsard. It's not going well. Poor guy had to sit in a recovery truck. Yeah.

It went across the line backwards. He did. Also, welcome Skitty. Welcome Skitty. I'm so going to end up saying that wrong if you continue to... Please do not say it wrong. Anyway, thank you all. Indeed.

Thank you all. That's enough. That is absolutely enough of us three. Ben, I know it's bought eight 30 seconds, but we've not reviewed something. Yeah, mate, there's a bit we haven't talked about yet. What haven't we reviewed? Our populations.

Do we have to? Not really. We don't have to. I'm just saying wrong, wrong, wrong. All wrong. Good idea. It's probably because I'll start with my bold prediction. I was completely settled with the fact that I was nowhere near mine yesterday rather than

today. I said that Max Verstappen was going to get pole position by at least half a second. The problem is Max Verstappen needed to get pole position for that to be, even have a chance of being right. He didn't get pole. So naturally, he didn't get pole by half a second. Yeah, so I was wrong. Sam's was right for about 10 laps.

Oh, it's longer than that, mate. I was really clinging on. Yeah. Well, yeah. Because Alba was also sick for so long. I'm like, it just, the staff, he just needs to DNF. You know, when they say over the radio at the end,

he had an issue. I'm like, I was so, I was so close. And I'm never going to get right again. I've had won all season on the first race of the season. I'm never going to be right. just to confirm what Sam's was, it was two-parter. Max was stopping to win the race,

which of course he wasn't winning. Sorry, not winning the race, which he wasn't doing for the first third of the Grand Prix, at least. And Alex Album would be in the top six, which was very close, but not quite.

Harry, naturally, if Williams wasn't in the top six, it probably wasn't in the top three. You were close? Yeah. No. Williams, you let me down there.

You straight line speed merchants. Yeah. You're not anymore, apparently. corner merchants. God, but the Althos Kings. Yeah, I said Albon's going to... No, I said Williams

was going to be on a podium. So Albon was... Yeah, but we all know it was only Albaugh that was in contention. Well, Album was not that close and Sargent was nowhere... Sargent was still closer to the Zangvault podium

at finishing this race. Yeah. We started bold predictions pretty well this year. I think it's been at least six races since one of us got one right. It's gone downhill. It's been a bad run.

I might go really unbolded for Singapore. That denied. At least 10 cars will finish. Only 11. 10 cars. Yikes. Right, that is definitely it for now. Sam, if you wouldn't mind getting us out of here,

we'll, of course, be back on Wednesday. We will be back on Wednesday for our MIG week chats because it's not going to be a race next weekend, unfortunately. But thanks for listening. I hope you enjoy the Italian Grand Prix. You can follow us on social media at Late Breaking F1 at every single account. Also the same on the Yubtubs, late breaking F1.

There's a link in the description for our sponsor, nor VPN. There's also the Discord that you can get involved. with and we've got Patreon where you get two extra episodes a month and beer with breaking. Thank you so much for listening. We love you dearly. Cheers for sticking with us. We'll be there for the rest of the season. 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 Social Podcast Network.