The Late Braking F1 Podcast - 2024 Monaco GP Review

Episode Date: May 26, 2024

The LB trio review the Monaco GP that saw Charles Leclerc take an emotional win in front of a jubilant home crowd. They break down the various incidents from the opening lap carnage, Mercedes' race strategy, and hear your Moments of the Race... FOLLOW us on socials! You can find us on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok SUPPORT our Patreon for bonus episodes, historic race reviews & more! JOIN our Discord community JOIN our F1 Fantasy League: SIGN UP & create your team, and JOIN our league (join code: C3PHEQHPU04) BUY our Merch SEND us something! We have a brand new PO box - address: Late Braking Podcast, PO Box 821, TRURO TR1 9PE 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. And a very warm welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking, is today. We review the Monaco Grand Prix, an emotional winner. A first-time winner is Home Grand Prix for Charles LeCler, winning from pole position ahead of the McLaren of Oscar.

Piatry and the other Ferrari of Carlos Sines in third. Sam, that was a bit of emotional towards the end, wasn't it? Oh, yeah. I mean, LeCler finally winning. And it's such a success story. Do we go into it now? Do we want to bring Harry in there? Because I feel like it'll be nice to give it a moment.

But I think, you know, Harry, hello, you're here. Did you enjoy it? You're the Monaco lover. Hello. Yeah. Still love Monaco. Yeah, it felt like a read letter day for Charlotte. This felt like a long time coming.

So it was very, again, we've said this before. We get quite used to Max Verstappen winning and not being that excited about it because he keeps winning all the time. It's good to have a driver who's not won for a while or, you know, with Norris ever, to have a good celebration because it was a good celebration from Charlotte. He meant it. 10 out of 10 celebration. Well done, Shell.

And not a bad drive either. We'll, of course, get into the win very shortly. Other things coming up on today's episode. Mercedes and their strategy versus Vestappen, our thoughts on how that played out. Everything that happened on lap one. That was rather interesting. Multiple incidents, we'll be reviewing that very shortly. But we will start out front with Shaul LeClaire managing to see off the challenge of the two McLaren's

and his teammate, Carla Sines. Sam, your thoughts on Shaul LeCle's performance? And then secondly, is there anything that any of the other three drivers could have done to stop him? The Clare, yeah, he's putting such a tricky position from the Starr. It gets away pretty well. Not as well as he did on the red flag restart, but the initial getaway was good. He leaves away from Piastri.

Piaastre definitely tries to seize the moment by realizing, okay, we're right next to each other. I've got to make it count now, or maybe I can't ever again. And that is proven to be true. And then we get the red light start again, the red flag restart again. And I imagine for Cheryl LeCler, that is so nerdy because you must be thinking, when you start on poll at Monaco,

you think this is the moment I could lose this. if I balls this up, if I get wheelspin, if I bogged down, that could be me in second place for the next 77, 78 laps. And that would be heart-wrenching for Charles LeCleur. But he didn't. He got away even better the second time. And from that point on, he managed the race beautifully. And whilst watching it may not have been the most sensational of experiences,

watching them drive around over 10 seconds a lap slower than qualifying, hearing that they need to back it up even further, making sure that gaps don't appear and the tyres are never going to be changed. 77 laps on one compound of tyre without a pit stop because it was snatched away from us in the red flag moment after lap one. It wasn't the best race to watch,

but for Charlotte Clare, I imagine that his heart was in his mouth the entire time. To put it into context, he's like, what, that DNF, another DNF, a did not start, a sixth, a fourth. There's less than a thousand people born in Monaco every single year, And the last person who was from Monaco to win the Monaco Grand Prix was Louis Chirang back in, what, I think, 1931, before it was even actually officially part of the Grand Prix calendar, the F1 calendar, right? It was just a spectacle, just a race that they used to do around there.

So to have a home win in a principality, such a small population is sensational. But to do it under such pressure after such terrible luck previously is such a wonderful emotional moment. And the fact that, you know, he was telling himself, don't cry. tear up, two laps from the end, get himself over the light, get the job done. And the fact that he promised his dad, who passed away in 2017, we're going to win this. We're going to come home and we're going to win the Monaco Grand Prix. You can see what it meant, not just to him, but to Prince Albert, the Royal Family, the people that were there watching. It was a truly emotional and wonderful experience to watching Formula One to see, much like when Norris won in Miami, he managed to have

that moment. The celebration over the radio was absolutely moving. It was breathed, taking to hear. He brought it home at home. And it was wonderful. And it wasn't the best Grand Prix ever. One of the most boring Grand Prix's I could think of for a while. But to have that end to it was at least a bit of a, you know, a relief. And I'm so happy he's finally got it done. It was a lot of pressure. He got the job done. Do you think the absence of a podium up to this point at his home Grand Prix just elevated that moment even more? Because there could have been a scenario where let's say he finished second or third today and then he takes the win next. year or in two years time. Does it just make it that much more special that he's gone from

so little success in Monaco to just overnight or one race in 22? Just completely turning that around. The phrasing sport always gets throwing around if you can't write it. You know, you couldn't write this. And I think that's quite true for this scenario with Charles LeCler, where, you know, how often there's a driver of his calibre right at the top with a team like Ferrari have at a Grand Prix this many times in a row, a DNF, a DNF, a DNS. And then the prime. And then the prime problems that have ensued before that, the penalty that came up, which put him all the way back in sixth place. Then the lacopodium, it's rare to see such a continuation of bad luck. So I think the fact that he jumped from having this, you know, we all knew the curse,

the Lecler curse at Monaco, to jump from being outside the top three in a place where you can't overtake, you can't get moves done. It is all about sticking the car to the track and getting the laps in. To jump from that to winning at home, the relief, the pressure that's come off your shoulders there. Must have been sublime. It must have been so wonderful. And I don't think anyone behind him could have got anything done.

I don't think anyone, no matter what they did, could have challenged. I don't think all three of them could have pitted. And I don't think that there would have been the space or the time or the ability

around Monaco, even with fresh attires. You saw what for Stappen and Hamilton tried to do with Russell. It wasn't happening. So I don't think that they would have got through regardless

to Claire Helges own. He finishes with a nine second gap in the end there because he managed it so well. He did everything right. today. Michael allows you to race like that. Like he did it perfectly. Harry,

your thoughts on Charlerler's win and also if any of those other drivers could have tried something a bit different. Yeah, Charleclair, I don't think anyone was stopping him today. I know it's obviously seemed quite a lot closer. But I think he was just like all of them were, but he was managing his pace for the whole way.

And we saw towards the end he pulled away, he was putting out chunks on, on Piastri towards the end of the race. he was yeah he was just in sublime sublime godlerclair form and obviously sealed it mostly yesterday with qualifying

but as you say Sam he had to do two starts and I know that the other afforn drivers are got to do starts but that's one of the biggest hurdles to get over here at Monaco is to get that start nailed and yeah he nailed it the first time and then obviously there's an immediate red flag

and he must be thinking for goodness sake I've got to do this again and he nailed it even better the second time. So yeah, I didn't put, didn't put a foot wrong all weekend. And that's, you know, that's the key to winning Monica. You have to have one, you have to have your perfect weekend. You can't afford a mistake or, you know, we saw the staff and he made that mistake and qualifying and, you know, sealed his fate for the rest of the weekend. So, or for Sunday. So, yeah, I think he, it's a weight off his shoulders now, isn't it? And as you say, there was very easy

for the emotion to kick in because apart from you know the other times LeCler has been challenging for a win around Monaco there's been some other you know external force that is you know by that being Ferrari normally but some other external force that's that's

prevented him or the weather or whatever today there was no pit stop to even contend with so he just had to do the job himself and that's very easy to get wrong and he didn't so yeah it was a very very very measured and controlled drivers.

Very impressed with him. Yeah, he was thoroughly impressive. And I feel like we had the complete recipe for such an emotional win because it was his home grand prix. He hasn't had any success there in Formula One terms in the last five years or so. He hasn't had a win himself for give or take two years now. It has been such a dry spell of lack of victories. And obviously, with Sharpe,

Leclair, because he's so good, particularly in qualifying, and he's had so many pole positions over the last few years, he's consistently been there or they're about to contend for a win, and now he's finally put himself in a position where he was absolutely untouchable all weekend. I agree with you both that I don't think there's anything that either McLaren or his teammate could have done. He was just the best driver with the best car. It's as simple as that. And I don't think that his achievement should be diminished in any way, because there are some

that will come out of this Grand Prix and say, it's Monaco, there was no opportunity to overtake, it tarnishes the win, it absolutely doesn't. The fact that he went 77 laps on one set of tires, the fact that you have to keep your concentration for that long. He could have, like he did in the last 10 laps, sprinted away from the field, he had to purposefully not do that. He had to almost put himself out of his own rhythm in order to drive a more sensible race. And around Monaco, that's not what you want. But he managed it so superbly. He deserves all the respect that he'll get from this victory. And like I say, it's a long time coming. A driver of the ability of Chaulecler shouldn't really go two full years without winning a race. But yeah, he's on the board.

And not a discussion for today. It'll be interesting to see where that leaves him for the rest of this season versus not only his teammate, but McLaren and indeed Red Bull. Oscar Piastri qualified second finish second Sam not the win today and we know he's had a sprint race win before but not a full race win did this performance even with the drop time late on in the Grand Prix prove that

it's probably around the corner for him Harry I think you called out in our preview episode that Piastri was under pressure this weekend we both did myself yeah yes and I think it was fair to say that you know he needed a bit of a bumper weekend you need to kind of just show that all that praise, all that support that he's been having from both us, from the wider Formula One community, from people within Formula One.

You've got to remember how much money was spent to essentially bring Piaschre to McLaren. It's not that he hasn't delivered on that, but there's been a few races so far this season that have maybe gone slightly subpar on his performance. This was so much better as an overall weekend. He came out and said it himself that if he strung his best three sectors up in qualifying, he would have been on pole position. Front row is still great. He was comfortably better than Landon Norris

for the entire weekend, which is no mean fee. Landon Norris is one of the most supreme talents in Formula One right now. And the fact that round Monaco, where the driver matters most, he was that much better, that much more comfortable

than Landon Norris, really says something. Second place it was, yes, and he did finish about nine, 10 seconds behind McClure. And I imagine it must have been hard to sit behind a driver for, you know,

65, 66 laps, laps continuously, less than a second away from him. him monitoring your brakes, monitoring your tires, making sure you don't run too deep and collect someone else, make sure you don't fall back too far, keep the pressure on for that long. It's such a difficult task. And that is one of the pleasures of Monaco. It does present these different tasks. And Piastri, we know how level-headed he is. We know how sensible and calm he is. And I think he showed that this weekend. He was immaculate in delivering everything he could.

And I think he was just bested on the day by an absolutely supreme driver who had a perfect car to match him. Any other weekend around Monaco, I think Piastri might have gone to win that Grand Prix, and Leclair was the only man that probably could have stopped him today with that combination of that Ferrari. So I think he was exemplary. I think he did a fantastic job. It must be around the corner. If McLaren can keep producing a car week and week out now that is challenging for front road starts, the win he surely got to be on the card sooner rather than later. Yeah, especially given his supreme qualifying pace that he's been demonstrating this year and and demonstrated last year in parts as well.

I feel like this race plus the two that have preceded it, so Miami and Imola, this three race stretch has been a turning point in the career of Oscar Piastri. Not that it was going anywhere bad before that, but I feel like he's taken a real step forward because even though Miami the result wasn't there, he wasn't only carrying half an upgrade and he was in a very good position before the safety car.

Imler, of course, he qualifies P2 on pace but has that penalty, but he's still in the mix, and here he, you know, follows through on a P2. These three Grand Prix have really, I think,

been a turning point for him. What do you think on that, Harry? Yeah, I agree. I think Pastery's been very impressive. And I won't even mark this against it, but I guess the only minor,

minor criticism you could give is he didn't seem to quite hold onto his tires as well as, as well as the rest of the top. four. He was having to, he was, he was, he was, they were playing that sort of game of chess the top four for the entirety of the race of pushing and then dropping back and pushing, etc. I'm not sure you can even blame him for that. So no, I, I think I've been very impressed by, by piastri. Um, if he had to got the lap together yesterday in qualifying, that would have

been, you know, that could have easily been his win. Um, but this is only year two for him. It's, he's, he is, he's being as impressive as I think we, we all thought he was going to be. and yeah, it showed it's good. In a similar way that obviously, LeCler got something off is the weight of his shoulders for the winner Monaco, I think the podium for Piastri that he's not had this year. It's another one that hopefully would unlock the rest of the performance he needs. So, yeah, he was been, McLaren have got a nice little line of him, am they.

Not bad. Good couple of drivers there. Yeah, I mean, Norris we obviously know. and is a known quantity. Piastri is obviously new, but as a duo there, they're doing the job. And I mean,

this is where, I guess we'll get on to Red Bull, but if there is a championship fight, if you've got a duo such as Piastri and Norris versus Vestappen and Perez, for example, I'd put money on Norris versus, as good as Max Vistappen is.

I'd put money on Norris and Piastri because there's a consistency, those two have, at the moment at least, is pretty unmatched. Perez now P5 in the championship, by the way, he's fallen behind both Norris and signs as a result of today's race. But you brought that up, didn't you, Ben, in the preview? You said how Piastri as well was too close to the group behind him, the Hamilton-Russle-Sinoda group and not close enough to the group in front.

But actually, that gap's come down a chunk with Perez not finishing this Grand Prix and Piastri doing so well. A couple more races like that than Piazestri is right back in with that top four or five group. And you make that case, Harry, for how good that McLaren lineup is. we know next season there will be changing the Ferrari line up. There will be changing the Mercedes line up. Red Bull can't be particularly happy at the moment. The odd one out in a good way is McLaren. They don't only have two good drivers.

They've got two good locked in drivers for multiple years. So they are absolutely in a good spot line up wise. Driver of the day, Sam, who have you got? Yeah, I'm going to have to give it to Charlotte, Claire. As much as, yeah, I hear your moans, ladies and gentlemen, about, you know, Oh, it's Monaco. Oh, you can't get an overtake done anyway.

I would dare you to try and drive 78 laps at the front of the Monaco Grand Prix, especially under the pressure of your home audience watching your childhood dream with the memory of your father looming over you. You know, this is a big moment for anyone, and the pressure that Charles LeClair absorbed is something unholy. So God, LeCleur is by far my driver of the day. Harry? I mean, I would go to Claire, because that's where I'm.

pretty good for, but for the sake of variety, I'm going to chuck in George Russell because man went the whole race on medium ties and also kept, I know it's Monaco, but he kept charging Vastappen and Hamilton behind. And we saw the, you know, people who did pit for fresh ties were making some overtakes. It did happen with a deficit in tire performance. But Russell, I think he drove a very intelligent race. And I think that's as much as he could get out of that, um, out of that Mercedes. But best, best, best. of the rest in a sense, given that Fryman McClare and McClare and the clear, clearly up the road. But yeah, George Russell.

But anyway, Charlotte Clare's probably my pick, but I'll say George Russell. Yeah, there were three contenders from my side, two of which have been mentioned there. George Russell, I thought, had a really good day. The fact that he was able to hold on with those medium tires was highly impressive. Leclair is an obvious one as well. I'll also throw in Alex Albin. I think he did a very good job of until the last couple of laps. He had a similar situation to Oscar Piaastry, where he fell off a little bit in the last 10 laps.

but for the majority of this Grand Prix, he was right on the tail of Yuki Sonoda, on the same tire compound, wasn't really under threat from the likes of Gasley and the Aston Martin's behind. So two valuable points for Alex Albin, but I will go for Charlotte-Clau is the answer. Worst driver of the day, Harry.

Hmm. A couple of contenders here. I'll go for, I'll go for Estabano. I'm sorry, Ben. what are you there's obviously another contender here but I'll let you guys do that one don't

it's lap one my guy don't chuck a dive bum up the inside of Portia on your teammate that's just the worst idea going around one or go no in fact it's the second worst idea because I think came out to the first worst idea but yeah

Elkhorn was well you know the team boss Bruno for men or fuming as he's apparently is after this weekend. Very good. Had some choice words about Ocon. And I think, yeah, he'll look back as,

he'll look back and regret that move because it just wasn't worth it. And it did not pay off for him. So I'm going O'Com. My worst driver of the day is Esteban O'Con. More after the break. We'll discuss it. Sam.

The Civil War mode has been declared. Esban O'Con, you are the worst driver of the day. Good night. Thank you. Anne Robinson. go in niche British references early. I love that. Before we go to break, big brain strategy, Harry.

Big brain strategy. I had a couple noted down here. Let me just open up my notes. One of them was the Valtry Botas pit for the very early doors. Why? Because he like came out last.

Yeah, but he came out last. It's just banter. That's my point. He was just trying to bait him. but no bit I'm not saying it worked I love that in a race sorry

in a race where you don't have to do any pit stops the one team who decided straight away they wanted to do one was salver

you can't do them nailed a 2.5 second yeah I know they did it's just funny in it um yeah that one that one

I found very bizarre but I'm gonna go for Yano Alonzo doing his best Yano truly impression. Man doesn't need to be driving that slow. He's a two-time world champion, but was doing it for the good of the team, spent the entirety of the race backing up about five cars,

gets the job done because they can pit stroll, get him out, and then Lance hits the barrier. I love to know Alonzo's reaction. Oh, my God. As he drives past Lance with a poker, I'm going, are you joking? I've done this the whole race. And you do this?

World champion, he called him. World champion, we joined that team. My big brain strategy is something we will discuss a little bit more later on, so I won't go into depth at this point. But specifically, Mercedes not letting Hamilton know that the Outlap was critical. I feel like you should probably have told him that. Equally, Hamilton should have known. They're always critical, my guy, surely.

Yes, absolutely. It's just, anyway, I don't want to talk anymore on this for now, again. We will discuss this later on in more depth. Sam? Yeah, Mercedes are coming up later for a reason and I'm not going to give any more details because they were my big break strait. That whole scenario had be quite literally screaming at the television. So yeah, we'll get on to it a bit. Okay, after the break, we're going to look at the chaos that was lap one. Well, we had something of an exciting first lap of this Monaco Grand Prix, even if the other 77 that happened after it weren't particularly great. There were three separate incidents that happened on lap one.

Carlos Seins and Oscar Pastery going side by side into term one, which gave Carlos Sines a puncture, which of course we know he got a little bit lucky because he was able to start from the same position on the second go round. Keva Magnuson crashing with Sergio Perez, both of those two incidents, by the way, viewed as racing incidents. And then a little bit later on in the lap, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, the two Alpine drivers going side by side through Portier. and making contact, Esteban Ocon has received a five-place grid penalty for the next race in Canada. Let's take them one by one, Sam. Let's go with the signs and Piastri one, first of all, is it might be the quickest one to look at.

What did you make of the incident? Obviously, no action taken. Yeah, no action taken for me is entirely correct. Piatry was brave, yes, to keep it hung around the outside. But equally, he was firmly welling up alongside Carlos Sites. he was fully entitled to that space. It's an incredibly narrow exit to turn one here at Monaco. So, you know, there are risks involved

and the risk turned out to be a puncture for Carlos Sikes, who was attempting to make the overtake. Unlucky, but we've seen it time and time again that you can go through that corner side by side. It was at the lightest of contact. And just the way that these flaws are so serrated due to the aerodynamic advantage that you can get, if it does touch the tire,

chances you might get a puncture. So I think, I do think that the damage caused on Science's car was quite an extreme moment of damage for such a tiny amount of racing. It could easily have been a bit of wheel-to-wheel contact with absolutely no consequences whatsoever if it had happened a split second earlier. I don't think Engel was at fault. They're okay to be there for me, racing incident, no one to blame. A bit lucky for signs, do you think?

Oh, 100%. Like, geez, could that boy be allowed back in? I think Mike Rundle said it was one of his nine racing lives that he got back into that one at Monaco. Cricy, that was like when Lewis Hamilton went off at Imola. in 2021 and the red flag came out and he got that instantly restored. That was almost on this level.

Harry, what did you make of that incident? Yeah, racing incident. Right, cool. It's unlike the other two we're about to discuss, this is, it's a lap one, one ago, just a bit tight and squeaky going through Soundavotte. Yeah, I don't think either one

were to blame Piastri, certainly not because he gave as much space as he could. He was quite literally pinned up against the back, carrier. And yeah, signs obviously didn't intend, he didn't intend to hit him because obviously he got a puncher from it. It was just side by side through the first corner on Monaco. It's just going to, sometimes it's going to happen. So yeah, right, cool. Yeah, I'm fine with a racing incident there as well. Like you say, lap one, Monaco. And the way that it is with the Monaco Grand Prix, you're always going to get drivers on that first lap, as we're going to talk about

in a moment that will desperately try and make moves because they know that that might be their only opportunity for the next two hours. So it's understandable that Carlos Sines attempted what he did. Piahtri, like you say, could not have been closer to the wall. So he is absolutely not to blame for it. Carlos Sines obviously very fortunate that he was restored a P3. But that's how it goes sometimes. You know, when you race as long as you do for the likes of Carlos Sines, you're going to have moments of good and bad luck that happened to you.

Australia, right? Like that with bad luck for Carlos Sites, it swings around about some F1. Yeah, exactly. So, yeah, second incident happened a little bit further up the road, which was Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnuson. Now, of course, we didn't really have any idea

that this had happened until the cars were about 60% of the way around the lap. Immediately we pan back to turns two and three and three. three, where there is debris absolutely everywhere, two Hascars and Sergio Perez parked up, taking no part in the rest of this Grand Prix. How did you view that incident, Sam? Of course, bearing in mind that Kevin Magnuson was two points away from a race ban. Yeah, you know the community meme where Donald Glover walks into the room with the pizza and everything's on fire? I felt like the rest of the lap going on was us collectively

walking towards the front door of that scene with our pizza in hand. Oh, having a nice time. This has gone quite well for everyone. Not too bad. Let's now sit down to eat out. Oh, the whole world is on fire. That's what it felt like when we panned across. You're not just seeing that there was a car in the wall,

that Sergei Perez's car was quite literally just the crash cell. It had been ripped apart. I saw someone compare it to a crumpled red bull can on the floor. It was savage. I actually think that out of the three, this is the trickiest incident. I think also, Antica Davidson and Jensen Button

did a really good job at analysing the incident on the Skypad. And, you know, we've had Antiquid Davidson on the show from the podcast. I think he's showing his expertise is racing really, really well here.

And you can see that Chinkin Button was a bit dumbfounded by some of the evidence that they came across. Because initially, I even tweeted it. Kevin Magnuson, you're banned. Get out of it.

That is shocker. But then they analyze it. Sergio Perez checks his as he knows Kevin Magnusson's there, doesn't clear the space. But my question at that point, well, they kind of said that actually is Kevin Magnuson at fault. I still believe that Kevin Magnuson is at fault. Just because Perez knows he's there, doesn't mean that Magnuson is fully entitled to the

space. I don't really believe that with the way that the track dynamics work at Monaco, you know that that wall closes off on the right-hand side. We know that it is an uphill, big, snaky S that you have to go through, that the drive is shortcut down the middle. So Kevin Magnuson is fully aware of what Sergio Perey. is going to do and he's fully in front. Equally, had the sense of mind to realize

that you're right next to your teammate. You've been allowed in by the good grace of the FIA to race at this Grand Prix after you have been caught with a dodgy DRS wing. And then you decide, you know what? Just get true Kevin Magnetton fashion. Just get to skip my nose in. I'm just going to keep my nose in.

There's no space. Why not? I do think this is Kevin Magnuson's fault. I do think he's gotten lucky with the no penalty points and the no penalty at all. And I do think he is. ruined three people's races, including his own. Joe Guangyu also very lucky not to be caught up in that

after you had to literally come to a stop halfway up the hill. It was stupid. It was just stupid. When you've been allowed back in your right against your teammate, and it's the first corner, I know it's Monaco, but it's still only the first lap, first corner. You never know what's coming up. You can't win a race on turn one,

but you could definitely lose it, and they definitely did that. Silly, brash, and I think he should have backed out of it much earlier than he did. Harry, do you think that Magnuson was to blame for the incident. I mean, firstly, you mentioned Joe there. There was a contender for a moment, the race of him just like completely backing out,

like, I ain't getting involved in. This is hell. Fair place with him. He did the right thing. A whole lot I know. It's just, I'm staying well away from this. Yeah, look, I, it might be, mankison is, is, the majority,

the majority problem here, because, yeah, what, that gap is all. And again, like you say, Sam, on the sky cover, which Anthony Davidson, Jensen, but then did a good job of analysing it. And the way the racing line goes up the hill towards Massenae and Casino Square,

it's, you're like touching the curves of the Barry, sort of straight line it rather than following, as you would on a normal road, following the curves of the road. So Magnuson putting his nose in there into a gap that was always going to disappear on lap one. In the words of his teammate, that was just unnecessary.

just was not it's just not thinking I know that obviously they're trying to fight back from being disqualify from qualifying but what are you realistically going to gain here because that gap is you're not going to out drag Perez up the hill

and that gap's just going to always disappear so yeah for me it's Magnuson's fault I will give five or 10% to this to Sergei Perez and not because I don't think he did anything particularly wrong here because he was one pitched into the barriers

sort of innocently. But other drivers, and we saw the replays of him looking in his mirrors, other drivers would have just given a bit more space there. You'd just be a bit more circumspect. It's Kevin Magnus who you're next to. Well, exactly. I mean, but even if whoever it is,

you see there's a nose that we're inside. Just give, and again, I'm not saying, I'm not really blaming Perez here, because he's within his right to not give that space. He doesn't need to because Magnuson should not be sticking his nose in the first place. But just think ahead. Just think ahead a little bit and think that this is a long race. It's Monaco.

Things like this can happen. I can gain positions. Again, I don't think you're going to lose out, but just give a little, you know, he's there. Give a little bit more space, my guy. But he didn't. So, again, it's KMAX's fault in my view. But just, Sergio, maybe it's probably a bit of frustration kicking in there. He doesn't want to give up another spot.

But just maybe give up. If he looks back on it, I think Sergio will probably think he should have given a tiny bit more space. To at least present the devil's advocate point of view, as soon as Sergio Perez moves out of the way, does that send a message to every driver on the grid that as soon as you want to stick a wheel up the inside of Sergio Perez, he's going to let you buy? But it's a valid point. I'm not saying he's, yeah. Look, it's probably he did the right thing by having a massive accident, no.

But I know I see a point. They're racing drivers are not going to do that, but I just, if it's Alonzo in that, in the Red Bull, I think he, he doesn't jump out the way, but he's just a slightly more aware or thinking ahead or at Hamilton or even of a stab. And I just, again, this is not me coming.

after Sergio Perez, I talk, because it's not his fault. I'm just saying, he could have, he could have just, and again, it wouldn't, not to let him through, but just widen the gap a tiny bit, because I think he still would have been in front by the time they get to the top of the hill. And close the gap there on.

Yeah. Yeah. Just think I had a tiny bit, but again, very difficult to do, you know, it's heat of the moment stuff, it's lap one. They're working on instincts here. But that's, yeah, only comment on that. But yeah, K-Mag.

you are lucky not to have a race ban, quite frankly. My view is that some people will say this was Sergio Perez's fault. Some will say this was Kevin Magnuson's fault, and some will say it was a racing incident. My view is, it doesn't matter. Kevin Magnuson was a fool, regardless of which one you pick. Why is he doing that? There is no reason for it. Even if he gains the position, if you are putting risk and reward next to each other,

there is no way you could spend years trying to put together a formula that puts the reward up alongside the risk. There isn't one. It doesn't work. They're not battling it out over first or second. They are battling it out over what was probably 17th at the time. There is no reason for it. And that's even before you put into account the fact that he has just two points left on his license before receiving a race ban. Kevin Magnerson knows that Nika Holkenberg is moving on at the end of this season. And Magnuson has the opportunity to lead this team next year. That is his for the taking if he can prove that he deserves that.

This was a massive indication to Hass that no, I can't because I get involved in incidents like this. There was no way that that gap was going to get anything other than completely squeezed as they're going up the hill. The way that this unfolded was always going to go that way. Just back out of it. he's bit he made his debut at monaco over 10 years ago he knows how this circuit works i think it was like i i would have given magnuson a penalty as well i i don't understand

why it wasn't investigating a little bit more but even if you think this was a racing incident surely common sense just prevails and magnus and backs out it just seems like a no-brainer to me i say i've got a little tip for you this is how you don't get taken out on that one qualify further up the grid mate or better just get a pit-lane start. Just qualify with your teammate up the grid. You'll be okay. Okay, so Sam is blaming Sergio Perez for not qualifying better.

That's the real, well, everyone, for this episode. That's great. Do not come for me. Check your code. It's for me. The last incident that happened on this opening lap, the ironic thing is if they'd just throw the red flag straight away, this wouldn't have happened.

Never mind. Esteban Ockon and Pierre Gassley, two Alpine drivers, both with a potential opportunity for points. They crash into each other. Esteban O'Con is given first a 10 second time penalty, but of course the collision caused O'Conn's DNF, so that wouldn't have done anything for him. Instead, the stewards have decided a five-place grid penalty rather than three, which I guess is a thing now, a five-place grid penalty for the next race. Sam, how did you view that incident?

I want to correct your first statement if they crashed into each other. O'Con crashed into Pierre Gasly. Okay, fine. So it's playing his day. Gasly literally, what's he going to do? Disappear. O'Conn has sent one in there.

Gassily is right up against the exterior wall of Porte by the exit of the entrance of the tunnel. Poor lad is going, no, please don't come any closer. Then O'Con decides to drive up his front. Tires. No, this is Ockon, mate. What are you doing?

What are you doing? This was a ridiculously silly move. And this is now, what, two in three races that we've seen, where those two are either almost or now have come together on turn one. It happened in Miami. Do you remember through the Mickey Mouse section halfway through? Those two almost put each other in the wall. And now it has happened here in Monaco.

The Civil War mode has been declared. And Ocon, you are in the treasuring. you are in the trenches, my son. This is not looking good for you. This was not a good move. Why are you making this one on your teammate of all people on lap one of Monaco? You both potentially could have scored points, but no, Gazzley has leveled the points, Tally.

Teammate wars, we are now back on level terms. So thank you, sir. You've done me a favour. Equally, the penalty is too harsh. Five place grid penalty for this. Where's that come from? What are you smoking? skewers, because I know where you pulled that one from. The 10 second to a three, I can kind of

understand. But five, where have you pulled that one from? Somewhere the sun doesn't shine, that's for sure. I'm thinking that maybe it's just like a five second time penalty is the equivalent of three places and then 10 seconds is the equivalent of five. In which case, I don't know why you wouldn't just go to six, because that would have been doubled in the same way, but I... There's no logic behind it. Who knows? What did you make of the incident, Harry? Um, yeah, I, Estaban, I would go back to watch the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix and have a look at what Jensen Button did. And he, because he proved. To Esteban Gutierrez, apparently.

Oh, God. What was that about? Yeah. What was that all about? I don't know. But Portier, you don't, that's just not a place you make over to, unless there's something severely weird happened. This is not enough of, it's not enough of, it's not enough. enough of a breaking zone.

They're not accelerating and decelerating enough to be somewhere you can make a dive bomb. So, yeah, it was just a very desperate move from Ocon, which Ocon has been quite impressive this year to me. I think he's been pretty good, but this was rookie stuff. What he thought he was going to gain? And of all people, it was on his teammate.

I mean, they can't help each other those two, but be attracted like magnets on a racetrack, a bizarre move. and yeah the you know he was obviously penalised because he was out

the race immediately I enjoyed everyone else behind sort of like trying to avoid the absolute carnage Lance Strob

I don't know how he didn't actually have an accent with with Okon in midair or Gasley as well behind yeah well yeah exactly

Alonzo rounding the corner seeing Ocon in the air probably was just laughing that could be karma karma

calama and I can understand why Bruno Famin is so savage about this because I've got so many problems stop driving into each other

that's a problem you can literally stop right now you don't need to be doing that so yeah Estaband it will look back on that as soon as I'm like an apology tweet already which sounds like he's had a bit of addressing down but I think it'll look back

and regret that that move because it just wasn't worth it and what's he gaining it's lap one and one ago and he's He's not like he's fighting for points at that point either. So, yeah, a bad move. Yeah, a bad move. That is a good summary.

You know, was it, was the move on sort of? Like, I mean, sure, there was a gap up the inside. But if you're going to go for it, you absolutely have to slow down the car enough that Gazley still has the room on the outside of the corner. And you're right. The likely scenario is that Gasly, let's say Ocon does slow down the car fast enough, Gasly would have the momentum around the outside anyway. So I don't know why he tried this.

As you say, he's at a very good season to this point within our power rankings, which you can catch tomorrow. Obviously, we'll do plug, plug, right? He's rated very well this season. We've all rated him within just about the top five of the drivers on the grid. But yeah, this was, I won't go too hard on him because this was the first, like, I think big error he's made this season, but yeah, they had all right pace and they could well have had maybe a double points finish if they're both in that fight after lap one.

Just not very good is my summary. It's just not very good. It leads us quite nicely on to bowl predictions, actually, and reviewing those because my bowl prediction was that Esteban Ockon would finish inside the top eight. And I am so annoyed because I'm so annoyed. I think he really could have done. I think both Alpine drivers had the pace to qualify 8th or 7th. And as we know, the top 10 drivers today did not move from their qualifying spot, all 10 of them.

So if they'd qualified there, they probably would have finished there as well. But no. Esteban Alcon decided I don't like doing a second lap in Monaco in Q2. Sorry, I do like doing it. I just like messing it up. So Ben isn't right. And then he decides, I know, I'm just going to. going to crash on the first lap so Ben's wrong again. Someone reminded me that if I'd put my

bold prediction for last week, as my bold prediction for this week, I'd have been right. But no, Esteban Ockon, you're still my boy, but come on. Sam, you were halfway, well, a quarter of the way to being right, maybe. No, I was right. Two reg flags over the weekend, which I got. Oh, is that it? It was. Well, in practice we had. Oh, we were count in practice. I never stayed in competitive session. It doesn't matter because I'm wrong anyway. But I never counting this time.

I do feel like if I just said two reg flags over the weekend, you guys were going to throw me in the absolute bold prediction being. 100%. So I had to go for the coveted and the patented two-parter. I mean, we'll get a three-parter later on in the season, folks. I'm doing this for you. But of course, I said Norris to win. Should have said Lecler.

I was wrong. I was wrong. And now I'm going to get on to the bit. that I'm really annoyed about because I was leading bold predictions for ages and then Harry E. got a fraudulent

at one point for a ridiculous prediction. And now he's bloody come and done it again. The annoying thing is like they qualified that way.

And I noticed it after qualifying because you said that no teammates inside the top 10 would be alongside each other. And it happened in qualifying. I was like, I'm almost glad

it's happening qualifying because there's no way it will now happen in the race. And all 10 drivers didn't move. Sikes, it was stints. If Sikes staying out of that Grand Prix, both McLarens would have been together and you have been wrong. There was, it was conceivable that all three lead teams could have been side by side, Ferrari McLaren and Mercedes. And Alpine throw them in there as well. God.

I was willing, willing Max Mastappan. I was sorry, George Russell not to get past, not to let Max Svastepin pass because I thought that it was all going to come tumbling down. Yeah, unbelievable scenes. If you win this this year by one point, I am calling a skewered review on your salver pit stop point. I'm still not over it. I mean, don't worry, because I forgot to do my fantasy team again.

Oh, at least I'm winging something. Oh, I think I might have had a good week. Oh, I had three of the top three. Yeah, I, I've done it right. I think I've got a look at L'Ompiastri, I think. We'll see. We'll do the results of that, of course, midweek. Should we go to a break?

We've got Mercedes to talk about again on the other side, which I think Sam's quite keen for. So we'll take our quick break. We'll be right back after this. So Mercedes were sitting fifth and seventh in the Grand Prix with George Russell in fifth and Lewis Hamilton in seventh. A big gap, though, was opening up between Lewis Hamilton in seventh and Yuki Sonoda in eighth,

which eventually Lewis Hamilton and the team decided to take advantage of. by pitting for fresh tires. Vastappen followed him in on the next lap, so the undercut wasn't achieved by Mercedes. And the rest of the Grand Prix was Vastappen and Hamilton trying to chase down George Russell for P5, both of them unable to get him. I think Lewis Hamilton did get the fastest lap,

at least out of this strategy. But Sam, what did you make of the way Mercedes played this one? Oh, talk about played this one. More like played themselves with this one. This was actually infuriating. I was sat there on the edge of my sofa. Monaco doesn't make me do that a lot. But I was sat there on the edge of my sofa,

shouting, why aren't you pitting Lewis Hamilton? The gap had opened up from about 10 seconds for about 23 seconds. And Lewis Hamilton, over the radio after the red flag came out, the start said, I told you guys, I told you, sassing his way up the grid,

as we know Lewis Hamilton likes could do over the radio. Wrong ties at the start. Golden opportunity appears. You, the only driver on the grid, one chance to pit and come out in exactly the same position that you would have come out in any other point. You know, this is perfect air for you. Get the car in. Get on to fresh ties and belt in some fastest laps. Outlap critical. Make sure you get that undercut of a staff. Don't give them a clue you're coming out into the last moment. And up until Hamilton pulls into

the, well, not even that point. It took 25 bloody minutes to work out there was a gap there. 40 seconds the gap had to be before they went now. There's two gaps. Yeah. You've got it twice for fun! Now we'll do it, shall we? Why? The tyres go on forever. The front four are running around on the world's oldest tyres.

They were created by cavemen who were also making Stonehenge, so you may as well have done it earlier rather than later. And instead of that, you've gone, we'll stick it out for a few more laps. Oh, maybe a few more laps. 40 seconds appears.

And then he finally comes in. And you think, okay, here we go. We'll get something on our hands. And instead of radioing Russell, who remember, gets to the end of the Grand Prix on his current set of tires without being overtaken to go. hey Russell, we've got a chance to get both of our Mercedes in front of a Red Bull,

back up for Stappen from now. Slow as you can go in every section. Drop the seconds. We want five, six seconds a lap slower. Hamilton, you need to be hammer time right now. The fastest lap you can physically pull out of this car. You do it now. We have got 74 seconds to make this count.

Do they do any of it? No. Why didn't you tell me the outlap was critical, guys? Firstly, Lewis, you should know. You're a 17. time world champion with over 100 Grand Prix wings, out of anyone up and down that grid, you should know that an out lap is critical. That is poor.

Equally, I understand there's a lot going on. It's Monaco. You've got to deal with a lot, okay? I haven't done it. I don't claim to be able to do it. So, yes, overcommunicate radio to him and go. Just so heads up, Lewis. Push like you would not believe for this next lap.

We might beat the Stappen. Why did you not pull all these things together? It's so easy. Why are you so crap? You won't so many times in a row and you're so crap at doing normal things. Just do it properly. Ah!

It was so aggrinoid at the whole time. I mean, not because... You can't tell either. No, no, very calm. Just you couldn't be the only team to pull off a strategic master class. You just pooped the bed. What were you doing?

It just, oh, yeah, I was feeling. I mean, turned fifth and seventh into fifth and seventh of the fastest lap. I'd call that success. Good, good for them. What did you make of it, Harry? I think we need to take a break so Sam can have a lie down, to be honest. Brune a few minute over there. Yeah, I'll give myself, I was with you, Sam initially. I was like, why are they not boxing? But I would give them the benefit of the doubt because I assume they were going for tire deficit. So more fresher tires versus

older tyres in terms of that that would make the difference. And we did see some overtakes happen. But it was a bit bizarre that they just didn't seem to be. They had such a gap to do this and they didn't do it for so long. The not tell it, well, I think I've seen a bit where they've said outlap normal to Hamilton, which again, why? That's even worse than not communicating. That's the wrong thing.

Normal pace or normal pace for an. outlap? What do you mean? Bono, not sure what you're talking about there, my friend, because that seems like a bizarre cool, because yeah, like you say, this was, when they brought Hamilton in, I saw

the red ball mechanics come out as well, and I was like, well, they'll probably just leave Verstappen out now because Hamilton can nail an outlap, and Verstappen will get chum, so they'll probably just leave him out. And then they pit Vastappen, probably looking at the back and going, but he's not, he's not catching. So we'll pit him. Red Bull probably being switched on as opposed to Mercedes not being switched on. So that I find, I find out because that was such a

missed opportunity. And as you said, Sam, equally Hamilton, Lewis, you know, all outlaps are critical. You've been doing it since 2007. Like, come on. So odd call on that one. The other one, because of that, and they pointed this out in commentary, they then left Russell very open to attack from Vastappen by Duke. So they pulled the pin and did it such a crap job. They then left Russell vulnerable to Vastappan attack. Obviously Russell, as mentioned, did a really good job and actually held him off and looked after his ties

so that Vastappen couldn't get past anyway. But in terms of thinking ahead, they've not thought ahead at all. I don't think they thought anything, because that was all terrible. They were basically the only ones there that could have done any sort of strategy today. Norris get waiting for that gap back to Russell to get up to 21 seconds. It just never did. So McLaren couldn't do anything. They couldn't pull the pin there.

Mercedes were basically the only ones who could. I guess Astor Martin with Lance Joel, but already discussed that one. Mercedes is the only ones that could really do anything. And they completely fluffed it. Just very, very interesting. they just don't I know this is basing everything off vibes

but they just don't have the vibe of race winning championship winning Formula 1 team anymore they just poopy vibes don't they have

poopy vibes yeah correct they just don't I don't know and I know this is all very like how you perceive them but they just don't look switched on at all

and that's I don't know that almost seems more worrying than anything else. Like pace you can fix in the car, you can make it better. But just not being switched on to what's going on around you.

It seems a very, that's a worry. Yeah, I feel like I was fine with them not doing it early. Like as soon as the gap opened up, I was all right with them than not doing it straight away. Because they had a lot of time on their side.

And also there was, the whole consideration that messed this up was Georgia Russell and that safety car gap right back to to Lando Norris. If it weren't for that consideration, this would have actually been an easy one to play out. I feel like they were trying to protect George Russell

by not doing this straight away. And I feel like Mercedes were caught in the middle ground here where they just even needed to fully commit to this strategy, which is kind of what Sam outlined, which is where as soon as George Russell is like within the safety car gap and has made up enough time, he then backs it up some more. so then he is going slowly enough that he's still just about within the safety car gap to Norris,

but Vastappen is directly behind him and Hamilton is then directly behind Vastappan. You have to play that where there is like half a second between Russell and Hamilton for that to work because we know Vestappan and Red Bulls' pit stop times are brilliant. They did a 2.1 to get Vostappan out there. And ultimately, even if they did like three seconds, it would have been fine. But you have to fully commit to that strategy. You have to say, right, these three drives. as they will be nose to tail.

Hamilton will react at the very last moment. Hamilton will be fully aware that his out lap needs to be the fastest lap of his race. And then at that point, I mean, they were doing 1-18s and 1-19s and Lewis Hamilton did a fastest lap, I think, in the 1-14s or 15s. Like, it would have worked if they fully committed to it. And they just didn't.

Because Russell did hold up Vastappen, but only, I think, at the very end of Vastappen's in-lap, I think for the majority of the in-lap, Vestappen did have the time to get something done. So you have to fully communicate it to Hamilton that it's critical that he goes as fast he can. I do also agree that he should have been on it anyway. Or if you are not confident in yourself to do that, that's a problem in its own right, but just don't do the strategy. Because it did leave Russell vulnerable.

And there is another version of events where Vastappen does get passed. And they have managed to turn a 5-7 into a 6-7. which is never what you want to do. So you either commit to it fully or don't do it at all, and they kind of have committed, which I wasn't very impressed by, you have a two-on-one advantage. That's a gift,

and they didn't take advantage of that gift. Controversial question, Sam, this wasn't the most exciting race in the history of the Monaco Grand Prix. Even by Monaco standards, it wasn't particularly frilling. We know that you're not the biggest fan in the world of this race.

did this change anything for you in terms of your opinion? What do you think the future of the Monaco Grand Prix looks like? I think Monaco will be thanking their lucky stars that Charler LeCler won today because I think it puts a very good news story across the Grand Prix and across the season so far. Now we've had three separate Grand Prix where the Stappan hasn't won. The points tally is starting to come down a little bit at the top. And if we go through Canada and we get to Spain

and Vastappan has not won all the way past Spain, then questions can start to be asked. Do we have a title fight on our hands? Is this a bit more open than we thought? Yeah, we'll be patient and we'll wait and see. We won't jump to things, but it is definitely plausible. And if Monaco is the kickstart of that, they might be a little bit luckier than they think.

But overall, this was a disaster for Monaco. And it's not just people like us, pundits, calling it out. It's got podcasts and YouTube channels calling it out. This has come from huge names. Lewis Hamilton during the week who came out and said, something different is to be done at Moiko. He even suggested having a mandatory two-stop race. Perrelli needs to come with a different formula of tire.

You cannot have a tire run 77 laps of a Grand Prix without consequence. It just should not be possible. It's silly. Absolutely silly. The rainy world champion comes over the radio and says, F me, I'm so bored, I should have brought a pillow. That is, they didn't broadcast it because it's so embarrassing to the overall circuit that it would be damaging for relationships.

And for the first time in Formula One history, I know with a little bit unlike with with Carla Science, but nonetheless, the top 10 are exactly the same as how they started after qualifying when it finished. The cars are too big. The Formula 2 race previously was absolutely sensational. The Junior formulas around here had been good fun. The classic races that we've seen over the previous weekends have been good fun.

But Formula One at Monaco in its current guys with the current rule set as it stands and I'm sorry Harry Eden's all those that love it. It doesn't work. It is the most dull race of the season every single season. One in a decade is mildly entertaining and even that up against the other good races of the season

barely come close. It's not good enough anymore. With this many grow... I want the heritage to stay. I want Monaco to stay, but I want it to be fun to watch. And if Saturday's the only good bit, I don't know if that's going to cut it, especially for a lot of new fans.

Harry, your counter. All your points. There's our backup, what I'm about to say. I'll die on this hill. Monaco is not the problem. Formula 1 is the problem. I don't disagree. You can have good races at Monaco.

I love Monaco. I am obviously, you know, first to say that on this podcast, but that was not a good, that was not a good race. And I know that, and I still love Monaco only for Saturdays only, basically.

But as you said, the Formula 2 races, the junior formula races, Formula E when it goes there, produces the exciting racing. They're just, and this is a problem, F1 has,

in general, it's not just a monica-specific one, but because Monaco being such a narrow, narrow street circuit, it, it, it highlights that point even more. But just the cars are too damn big.

They're like boats trying to go around that track. They do not work around that. They're so clumsy. It's ridiculous. So you're never going to, that's never going to promote overtaking. The tires, if we're going to Monaco,

make them run the, like, really soft tires, really, really soft tires, softer than we've got now, because you write, as good a job as George Russell did. He shouldn't be able to do. the entirety of the race on a set of medium tires. That should not be a thing.

So make softer tires for Monaco as a start. I think we were very much harmed by the fact that everyone changed tires under the red flag. Ban that rule. Bin it straight away because I don't like it anyway. But that did not help today at all because we had a zero-stop. I know people did stop.

Mercedes tried it. But we had basically a zero-stop race, which is just there's no strategic interest whatsoever and that for Monaco is a no go so yeah I think one okay well we did we did the historic review of

1996 Monaco GP over on our Patreon plug but that proved I know that was chaos because it was rainy in different times reliability but there were there were overtakes in there I mean there were some dodgy ones Olivier Panis on an idea of mine but there were overtakes

yeah there were there were overtakes in there and it's because the cars are way smaller. Also, this, again, I know why, because we had a zero-stop race, but the drivers were, as you said, Sam, so bored. The absolute sassy banter that some of them were having, having with their engineers, LeCler springs to mind,

they should not be able, in Formula One, they should not be able to be like that chilled. It's because they're driving so slowly to make these, just to eat these tires out. And that is a, again, that's not a moniker problem, that's a Formula One problem because we have it at other racetracks now as well. It's why we get excited when there's a, you know, the threat of a two-stop race,

because most of the time at the moment we're getting one-stop races because these tires will just last so long. Or they can last long if they all just drive to like a delta, which it shouldn't be the case. So Bono-O-K still can be great. F1 just needs to sort itself out. I mean, let's bear in mind, Charles LeClair, his poll time was very nearly in the 109s. he was consistently lapping in what 1-18s, 1-19s throughout this Grand Prix. They were driving so far, so far off what they could drive if the strategy allowed for it. My view hasn't really changed, which is that let's focus on what's good,

in that we all love, love qualifying on a Saturday at Monaco, and at least I don't enjoy the races on Sunday. if it were down to me, I would change the weekend. So Saturday is some form of extended qualifying where points are given out in the same way that an actual race is given out. And then on the Sunday, it's either an historic race or a, it's a non-championship charity race and F3 cars or something along those lines. And I would change the weekend that way. So you just get the points for qualifying because that's the main event of a Monaco weekend. That's what we love to see.

That's what we're thrilled about. in the same way the Indy 500 qualifying is given points. I would give points to Monaco qualifying and then leave the Sunday for, like I say, some form of F3 race with the F1 drivers and make it a non-champagehip charity race or something like that. And I think the weekend will be better for it.

Let's take our final break on this episode. We're going to come back with Moment of the Race right after this. Thank you to all of the Discord submissions for Moment of the Race. We appreciate it as always, and we will get on to some of them in a moment. But before we do, the three of us

will be giving our moment of the race. And we'll start with Sam. Go on. Amazingly, for a race that was so dull, I have five options from moments of the race.

I've got loads. Yeah, loads. It's ridiculous. Funny enough, none of them are to do with the actual racing. All of them are to do with radio,

commentary or anything like that. So I'm going to run through them and then I'll choose my one at the end. I'll get a start before the race even began. Martin Brundle, trying to talk to kill him. and Bappe on the grid walk.

Security guard pushes Martin out the way. Sorry, mate. You'll find that I'm in charge here. I'm the captain. Wasted. Wasted him. He's muddled him as Martin Brundle. And I love it.

I love the audacity behind it. Big up, Martin. I love that. That was so good. Mate, really made me laugh. The stop and the quote I just gave, I'm so bogusher should have brought a pillow. To hear a rainy world champion say that during an actual live

rompourie is bizarrely sensational. The Ferrari interaction of, you know, no, we don't need to go to the information. Rude. Absolutely love that. Ridiculous that kind of radio message is okay around Monaco these days. Again, showed you how slow they were going, but absolutely made me laugh my head off. Com's giving the whole, there's only one driving a single-seater car. Yeah, and how many times do you want to say it across the entire race that there's only one driving a single-seater car?

It's like poor Harry Benjamin giving out the 100% safety car stat. We get it. There's one driver in the car. And finally, the one that I had to explain to our Discord, which you would join the links in the description. Americans everywhere did not understand this George Russell radio message. He's back, baby. He's back.

We're just poopling around it. Oh, good Lord, George, you're back with us. Absolute zinger. I loved it. I actually loved it. I think that's my moment of the race. Because it just bamboozled everyone. And I had to explain what, because they were using it.

wrong context. That was a pootling crash. What do you mean? I love that. Go, go, go. So, yeah, anyway, I loved it. I loved that it's bamboos with so many people. It's so like George Russell core. It just made me die. So, yeah, that got my moment at the race. Harry, your moment at the race? Yeah, I had a few. What I've already mentioned was, yeah, Fernando Alonzo doing his best impression of Yano Trilly, which I loved, big fan of that. the no we are not interested rude so good um

Ted Kravitz just in general today Bruno fuming he was on it there was one that I've the first one I wrote down was him describing Max Vistappen as being in a Mercedes jail cell

which trouble was quite extreme but sure and then quite clearly no one was pitting he is the pit lay reporter no one's pitting Ted's actually going insane with boredom, so he starts barking? What? What are you doing?

And then there was, and it was the follow-up of Martin Brundel saying, yeah, I agree with the point. I'm not sure what happened with the barking, but I agree with the point he was trying to make. He also called tire-saving the bane of his life. I don't know what happened to today. Yeah, I, I, I, I'll go with Ted Kravitz in general was my,

my member of the race. The other one I also enjoyed was, is that a new graphic? I've just not paid attention. The undercut zone? The undercut zone. That is our next album. Yeah.

The undercut zone. Yeah, that's a new one, right? That's not been there. And I was like, that's quite an obvious graphic. It says he's 0.8 behind the, well, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

The undercut zone. They've never called it the undercut zone. Welcome to the undercut zone. Half a way to. the undercut zone. I love it. Yeah. So I'll go for Ted Kravitz,

but there were, I mean, also Alpine. Again, my first one just says Alpine, lull, because Alpine.

Unbelievably, because you're right, there were about 15 contenders for this. Unbelievably, I have managed to find one that both of you have not said to this point,

which I think went a bit under the radar and for whatever, it just made me laugh a lot. And it was another graphic. where Daniel Ricardo was directly behind Fernando Alonzo in that train and a graphic came on the bottom of the screen, which was he's gained 0.1 seconds in the last four laps.

It's like, yeah, four laps ago he was directly behind him. He still is. Sure, he's gained 0.1 seconds. What are you trying to say? I just found that really funny because it offered nothing. It's Monica 101, that is. It really was. But we do have, of course, our Discord submissions.

Goodness me, there are loads. Okay. First off, sorry folks. First up, Jake from State Farm. What's up, Late Breakers? It's Jake from State Farm here. And my big brain strad of the race is Hasse for employing

Kevin Magnuson. I think it'd be about their double disqualification from qualifying, but fair enough. Yeah, has to be. this weekend, don't they? Didn't teach their engineers correctly. They are back.

Yeah. Next up, it's hybrid ship 982. Good morning, guys, from Chicago, hybrid ship 982 coming at you with Driver of the Day. Easily Driver of the Day has to be Esteban O'Con. You know, my parents always told me to take your dreams and shoot for the moon, and he did just that today. Well, then Gravity kind of took him back down. but the thought was there

moment of the, or driver of the day, has to be an O'Con. No contention there. You almost had it at the end there. It's a moment of the race. Oh, is it smoking of the race? I really tried to hold that laughing as well. Anyways, thank you anyway.

Hybrid ship. Next up is everyone's favorite, Giza. All right, boys, it's lap 12, but I'm submitting it now because nothing's going to top that when he said to Russell, we gain nothing from driving faster. Giza, it's a bloody race

It's a Formula One race How are we at this stage Where you don't get nothing from driving faster in a bloody F1 race That's absolutely done me Nothing will ever top it Cheers boys I love that passion

I love the passion has a Still got the cheers boys in though Of course he did Cheers boys Cheers boys Catsphrase of us Steel Wall is next A first time submiter

Pouty all the way From the US of A late breakers First Time caller A long time listener. Cool. A moment of the race, because I just saw it,

and I figured nothing can top this. Seeing signs kind of lock up off to the side, and then a couple corners later seeing red flag and thinking to myself,

oh, no reason there should be a red flag for signs, and then they pan to Sergio Perez's car and two asses just destroyed. I mean, Perez's cars got

no wheels on it. Anyways, love you guys. Keep doing what you're doing. Bye. Yeah. Go on, Harry. I was that I did exactly the same thing when the red flag was thrown. I was like, that seemed to be extreme. And then it does the office cut to absolute carnage. On that, I do actually just want to give a quick compliment actually to the direction, TV direction on this, because it's clear that they waited until they knew that they had three safe drivers before showing the aftermath of this incident. So, I think that's worth a shell. Final one on your name, sir.

Still wool, a really underrated application for the kitchen. It's great for cleaning. Great, thanks, Sam. Next up is Tortus. Oh, no. Wake up, tortoise. The race is over. There's going to be it. Good stuff.

That's so our humour. Late breaking core there. Real Dad and James are next. We are back. It is Real Dad and James Monaco Moment of the race. My my nerve race is Charles Leclerckels

winning the Monaco Grand Prix. I mean great race. Lots of drama at the start but yeah I think Harry would probably say what are you doing? God Leclair is back in full effect. Well done Charles.

Great race and Ferrari you did it. See you guys by I'm surprised you haven't said What are you doing, actually? And I was going to say, Sam got beat me to it for Esteban Knock-on, I was kind of saving it for him, but it's the deserves. Sorry. What are you doing?

Oh, your catchphrase. That's all right, mate. This is two seconds, but it's from Giae Pazley. Great now. Check all losing his seat. Oh. What can we say about that? Savage, wrecked, taken down.

Come on. Next is Alex. See. Hey, boys, Alex here, coming to you live from the interstates of Massachusetts. Even though I'm on a road trip, still got to watch the race. My moment today is Ocon getting absolutely crucified by the stewards. Man crashes, five second penalty, grid place penalty, just take him out behind the barred and put him out of his misery.

This guy, they hate him. Anyways, good race, boys. I think one of the funniest parts of the whole O'Cong saga was when we were in the Red Flags and Ted Kravitz suddenly realized that O'Con wasn't getting back into the car. Instead of just saying, Ocon's not going to be racing again. He goes,

unless his genes are fireproof, O'Con won't be taking any further part. Great comment. That's what I mean, Temple was on fire today. I don't know what he had for breakfast in Monaco, but we just had nothing to do. That's why.

Yeah. Zinger after Zing. A child. Yeah. All good always is next. Highly breaking. It has been a long time since I sent in a submission. So this is very much long overdue.

but congratulations to Charles for finally breaking the Monaco Curst and winning the Monaco Grand Prix. Awesome. The race in general is just really, really nice to watch. I'm very action-filled. But my moment of the race has got to be when Sky compared Lance's fallen tire to a polo mint.

I don't know why I just laughed really hard at that. Anyway, I love you guys with the podcast. Bye. I have a polo in ages. I enjoyed because I could tell the way that Martin Brenner was slowly talking about the tire. He was desperately trying to think

whether that could be a reason for a safety car or not. Yeah. Because they were like, he's like, it's well out of the way. In the Senate, he's going, is it? Oh, no, someone to be safe car as could it be.

So he settles for it looks like a polo men. Okay, Martin. Sure. Finally, and thank you, everyone, because we've had loads today, despite the fact there wasn't the greatest race in the world.

But finally, it's on the button. Hello, Sam. been late breakers possible hang on a second correct that is correct well done on the bus and I'm not playing that

damn no no no I'm not playing that anymore that feels savage wrecked absolutely taken down I've enjoyed that all right fine on the button you suck possibly even hairy

on the button I understand here it's 340 a.m. in New Zealand well Sergio seems to be signing his own death warrant. Hulk nearly making it through, not as lucky as signs, the luckest man in Monaco retaking his third place on the restart. But my moment of the race was O'Conn being O'Con attempting an assassination on another teammate. He'll probably go up to

Gazeley afterwards and say, I forgive you. Anyway, thanks for the epic podcasts. Keep breaking late. Cheers, boys. I did enjoy. I did enjoy. I did enjoy. Holkenberg so nearly making it through. Like he was, you could tell, he braved. He started to accelerate. He's like, I'm gonna make it. No. Declined.

And then it gets spun around and bumped into by his own team. Like, hello there. Oh, hello there. Nice to see you. Should we have back to the paddock together? Yeah, all right. What time's your flight? I'll get it with you.

Yeah. I find it hilarious, by the way, that thank you, by the way, for all of those moments of the races. They were great, as always. Even the ones that weren't strictly moment of the races, thank you for submitting. We have managed to put together a 75-minute review of one of the most boring races.

Why is our review longer? I genuinely think as well, as quality of episodes go, not to pat ourselves on the back, I think this has actually been really good. Well, thanks for listening, guys. We're excellent. See you next time. Oh, I'm just getting a load of comments through.

No, no, no, you suck. What are you doing? This was terrible. One star review. No. Harry, what should someone do if they like the podcast? Goodness me. Folks, before we go, obviously, if you liked what you heard today, all 75 minutes of it,

because apparently we've been waffled on for that long. Five-star reviews. They really help us. There have been some great ones lately. that one of my favorites, I can't remember because I'm going in front of me, but one of my favorites lately was from someone who said they weren't sure because they'd never listened before

and then they came back three minutes later and gave us five stars. So thank you. We also make a great impression. But yeah, five-star reviews really, really help us. And as ever, you can write anything as long as you just put five stars next to it. Better than Monaco. Exactly. It can be whatever you want.

You could say, Ted Kravitz's fire, proof jeans and then put five stars. Yes. Tell us your lunch order. What's your fillings? What's in the sandwich? Show us your feelings.

Great idea. Everyone give us a five star review and show us your fillings. You can't actually put photos on the reviews, but right down. Tell us your fillings. Tell us your fillings. Write down your fillings. Does that work? You know how I was really complimentary of the show?

It has now gone out the window. That was the worst three minutes of my life. Sam, this is a really low bar But if you can get us out of it Any better than Harry, go ahead Oh, folks, we made it We got through the most difficult weekend In Formula One on the calendar

And now we're, it's all golden from here, baby There could be a championship fight We had LaCleau and his home Grand Prix You know, we got some good chat out of it at least Thank you for sticking through this absolute fest Of podcasting Um, do it do Oh my lord

English is hard No, Sam, tell us your question, Ben. Sam cannot get us out of it. Narrator, no. I've crashed. Yeah, do join the Discord. Check out the Patreon. We're doing our power rankings, as Benz really mentioned,

and we've just done our historic review of Monaco 96. Beer Breaking was a good one this month as well. There's loads of other content that you get. Check it out. It massively helps us. It helps us to maybe go fully full-time as a team, and we love you always. If you don't want to,

thanks for just sticking around and download in the standard episodes. We do appreciate it. it. Follows on social media late breaking F1. This has been video recorded. It's on YouTube late breaking F1. We will get to 10K eventually. And we love you very much and in the meantime. I've been Samuel Sage.

I've been Ben Hocking. I've been Harry Ead. And remember keep breaking late. Woof-woff. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.