The Late Braking F1 Podcast - 2025 F1 Drivers: Best & Worst Case Scenarios

Episode Date: February 5, 2025

Ben, Sam and Harry offer best and worst case scenarios for a selection of the 2025 pilots. They also discuss Gasly's bold target for Alpine, before debuting a BRAND NEW game... 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 EMAIL us at [e-mail]   & SUBSCRIBE to our podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Thank you for listening to the late-breaking F-1 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, back with another midweek episode. We're in February now at least. Oh, wait, no, we were on Sunday, weren't we? Yes. Can't even say that as the intro.

Never mind. It doesn't matter because it's the month of livery reveals. And Formula One things are actually happening this month so we can be very excited. BORAT reference here at the start. Side, though. I'm just going to have a camera off. Where we're out.

We're done already. It's a minute in. Side note, I'm really enjoying the success of the livery O2 event that all the F1 teams are now just having separate unveils of their cars. Is that the point of that? I think it probably does defeat the point of that. But we did say when this came out, do we? They're going to just bring last year's car with some paint, possibly some paint on it.

If you're Alpine, probably no paint on it. And they'll just go, we'll do it another time with the actual car. Yeah, so we're going to see the liveries and they'll be like, and then see them again. Yes. Yeah, pretty much. I reckon Alpine will come out with the best livery of all time and then release the car that has no paint on it.

Because that's very Alpine. Here's what we could have done. And here's what we're actually going to do. Speaking of Alpine, we're going to be talking. about them and Pierre Gasly a little bit later on in the show with Pierre Gasly, giving the team a top five target for the season. We'll be discussing whether we think that is realistic or not. We've got a new game as well that will close out today's show. Very exciting. But we're going to start with a bit of best case, worst case. So we've picked out some drivers

and we're just going to present the case of what's the best version of this season that we could realistically see from this driver? And then on the flip side, how wrong could it go for? them. To be clear, these aren't predictions. So if any of these things do or don't happen, please don't come back and be like, oh, you said that. No, no, stop that now. So we're going to start with Sam. What's the best season Sam might have this now? We're going to start with a world champion. Max Rastappen. What's the best and worst case you can see from him this season? I mean, best cases, obviously, he retains that title. Arguably, he will repeat how good 2023 was for him if the car is going to be somewhat that decent. But I do think that is pretty

a unrealistic expectation for Red Bull. The car simply isn't going to be this dominant force. It would be a bizarre choice in terms of investment and time and resource to put all of their energy into improving this current car on its current guise. It would be more kind of, you know, focusing on that 2026 transformation. So Rebel are going to have to work with very small upgrades. Now, we'll have, of course, more developmental time due to the fact they've finished third in the constructors. But again, see that going towards 2026 rather than 2025. We saw how good Max Verstappen could be, even with a car that wasn't dominant, even with

a car that wasn't the best car. He won so many races towards the back end of that season, shockingly so, Brazil being an incredible example of just the talent that he has. So I think a world championship is still very much available to him. I still think that is the best case scenario. Perhaps he has a teammate that is able to support him more regularly than what was available to him in the 24th season with Perez. Lawson hopefully comes out swinging, feels comfortable in the car,

grows into the role well, and is finally what Red Bull have been looking for in that second seat. But it looks as though a best case scenario for Max will be a coming out on top of what is a tight title fight and maybe he wings it with a couple of races to go. I can't see it being a super dominant season. Worst case scenario, though, the car is an absolute shocker, controversy to cover Red Bull and it means that he's a couple of. becomes incredibly uncomfortable due to the fact that they've lost a lot of key personnel.

They have no design understanding. They do what Mercedes have done now and they go, well, we don't really understand the concept of our car. And actually, the car has been built around Max Verstappen over the years, starts to move away from the style that he enjoys driving. And the Adrian Newey effect is lost faster than we think. Therefore, he might never get a chance to win a race this season. Rebel might step back completely from McLaren and Ferrari, as much as I think it.

It's unlikely. It is possible. And it means that he grows frustrated. He drives in an erratic way that we've seen Bostappan do before. He becomes frustrated that he can't have the success that he's had previously. And maybe there are more collisions. Maybe there are more silly thought processes that lead to bizarre maneuvers like a dive bomb up in the inside. Maybe we see our first race ban for swearing.

It really could go down a cliff that heavily if Max Verstappen's seasons unraveled. We know that he is an incredibly passionate man. something that I think works in his favor, 99% at the time. But I mean, this is very, very much unlikely, but definitely a worst case scenario. I wouldn't be surprised if it is much closer to the positives of the staff of fighting for the title throughout the majority of the season. From one world champion to another world champion, Harry Ead.

I am a world champion. Lewis Hamilton. Oh, I see. Presented by Harry. World champion. My bad. So best case. scenario I've got for Lewis Hamilton.

I've put Ferrari competitive. He challenges all the title. I don't say win it, but I think just challenging is good. He was quicker than Lecler in the tire test yesterday. Oh, for goodness. I saw this and I was like, I'm going to kill all of you on Twitter.

Stop it. I knew that of why you are. Well, you'll enjoy this because he was a second and a half slower than Lecler today. It's washed. That's it. It's going on day. He's washed. He's absolutely washed in last year's car on tires we're testing for next year.

You're a bunch of morons. Anyway, Ferrari competitive, Hamilton challenges for a title, and I've put here, he's a match for Charles O'Claire. I don't want to say he whoops his ass.

I just think best case, he's a match, given where Hamilton's been, I think this is a best case scenario for him for 2025. So, yeah, it's, going to be interesting to see.

This isn't, this isn't the year for Hamilton, is it? This isn't why he signed for Ferrari. He signed for 2026. If they are competitive and you can win a title with them, that is a bonus. Sorry, a winner title this year,

that is a bonus. So any, any, you know, any wins or even a title challenge this year is, is the best case scenario because I just don't think that's what he signed up for. Worst case scenario, I've put Ferrari are also competitive again. this year, but he struggles and LeCleur duffs him up.

Because I think if the Ferrari's crap and Hamilton struggles, it can be masked behind it's the car, etc. If the car's good, but Hamilton struggles, that's, that is, that's not good because that's, that's the form that, you know, he's sometimes shown over the past couple of years continuing into Ferrari and, and if Charlotte LeClair beats him, that's, that's the worst case. for him because I think confidence that I think he certainly lost a lot Mercedes in the past couple of years

but even in this preseason you know unveiling a being at Ferrari he certainly has gained regained motivation confidence just already seems like he's got found a new love for the sport or refound his love for the sport

if he gets into a situation the issue where the car's good it can fight for wins but he's struggling that is that's bad that's bad times for Lewis Hamilton. All right, I'll take on Lando Norris, not on track, because I'd probably beat him. Fair enough. Lando Norris.

I have confidence in myself, you know. I think I could take him. I think you two in a game of bowls would be very interesting. I don't have ever played bowls. I bet he hasn't either. So that's why I think it'll be great. Wow, that's one for the future. Anyway, Lando Norris, best case scenario.

he wins the World Championship. He wins the Drivers' Championship. But outside of that, and I think regardless of how he wins it, it would be a great season nonetheless, of course. But I think there's a way in which he could win it that would be an absolute best case scenario, which is he improves on all of his flaws from 2024. He improves on his race starts that were notoriously fairly weak

throughout all of last season. Maybe he comes out ahead of Max Verstappen going wheel to wheel with him, which I can't immediately remember him doing that really in 2024. So, and he's also able to further improve versus Oscar Piastri. So I think there is like a version of events where he has really worked on everything that held him back a little bit last season. And he comes out a better version of himself. And he can look at the 2025 season and say, I was the best driver.

The worst case scenario, I think, for Lando Norris. is Oscar Piastri becomes McLaren's future. Now, I'm not saying it's likely, but we do know that year two, Oscar Piastri, was closer to Lando Norris than year one Oscar Piastri was. And that makes a lot of sense because Piastri was in his rookie year.

He's gone into his second year. He's got more experience. What if Lando Norris, what we've seen of him so far, despite being very good, is his ceiling? What if Piastri still has more to give because he's still only in about to enter? his third year.

If Piastri can keep up that improvement, and Landon Norris can't, and Piastri, let's say, wins on points this season, then suddenly McLaren might have to look at that and say, Piastri could improve even more. Maybe he should be our future. And even if Landon Norris sticks around, maybe it's as a second driver,

but definitely not as the first driver. So I think that's the best and worst case scenario for Landon Norris. Going back around the circle, Sam. Esteban Ockon, of course, new team of Hasse this season. What's the best case scenario for him? Do you know something about Espan Ockon? Sure, always. He is going to being a movie that's releasing.

What's the movie called? It's on Netflix. It's not the title to be released, but he has got an IMD credit. Oh God, untitled again. Poor boy. I heard it's just called Dropped. Yeah, imagine. And, yeah, I've seen a part of a...

trailer where he gets out of a car and hugs a lady and then walks off and gets back in the car. So he is. Oh, that's top tier acting skills. Yeah. In the week for next week. Who was that lady? What film is Espanoconging? Espanocon.

Right, yeah. Best and worst case, removing the movie scenario. He's off to Haas. Now, immediately, best case scenario, he cemented his form that he had a couple of years ago where he was up against the likes of a longso and it was strong. where he was up against Gaslia, his preview and it was strong. He becomes Harses' team leader, and it solidifies him as a mainstay at a team for many years to come. He's had a bit of a topsy-turvy career as Estabang O'Con.

Even when it got to LPN and he kind of thought maybe he's found his home, that security felt like it didn't really last too long. Now, Hars looked like they are a team reborn. Kamatsu is absolutely cooking. They've got 50 new hires and they know what they're doing with themselves finally. They're profitable for the first time. come and learn some notes from late breaking. We'll show them that it'll be profitable.

Buy a few pennies. Too profitable. But yeah, O'Cong has a chance here to become a team leader, a real team leader. Not someone who is learning from a long-so, not someone who is on par with Gasly, but someone who can now be

the mainstay-a-tea-team for a long, long time. And if he reaches the same performance levels that maybe Hulk was able to do last year, which I think O'Cong is capable of at his best, that he could be the driving force that puts that team regularly into strong points finishes maybe there's a podium in there

if there's a bit of chaos, bit of carnage, he allows half being that fight with Ashton Marsing and supposedly with Alpine, if the quotes from Gassi which we're coming on to are correct,

we could get a monumental fight for that kind of fourth this place in the championship. Ocon could be the protagonist in that. Ocon could be the leading force in that. And I think that it proves some doubt is wrong. I think there's a lot of people up and down the Formula One world who think that, oh, he's just kind of there.

It's just not the worst, so he hasn't been dropped yet. And I disagree with those accusations. I think Ockong is very much deserving of his place in Formula One, but maybe kick-starting off with a new team is the case where he goes, look, I'm here to staying, I'm more than good enough. Worst case is he proves those doubters correct. They get exactly what they want out of it.

They go, ah. That's the classic shout out to the haters. they were actually spot on that. It's really good what they were talking about. He's got a hand. He's got a hand. He's got a hand. He's all right coming.

Yeah, he goes to Hars. Bairman is a force to be reckoned with unexpectedly and he loses on points to a rookie, which would not be ideal for someone who's experience as Ascom is. He doesn't settle with the car. And essentially,

he gets dropped. He gets himself maybe a season in Hasse. And if he's not only up with those expectations, there is every chance that they'd turn around to him and go, sorry, Eskaban. thought you were going to be delivering a bit more than you have, and you've really not. And that would be Ocon's career over. I think it's so unlikely, but he is one of those drivers that if it goes all Pete's on

for him, then it very quickly could end his driving career in Formula One. That's how to the lying Formula One could be. That's how ruthless it could be. So he used to make sure he shows up. He helps Bam, and he is a team leader. He beats Berman on track, and he doesn't fluff his lines essentially, because if he does, there is every chance he is Alga here. Message to all Americans, if something is going Pete Tong,

it means it is going wrong. That's cock me in rhyming slang for you, folks. Harry, we've already discussed his teammate. What about Liam Lawson? Lawson, best case scenario for this year, he is a solid, dependable number two for Max Verstappen in a competitive Red Bull. in that he picks up a win or no two along the way

but for the rest of the time he's bringing up the rear in a championship fight the Red Bull are involved in and bringing home points where needed if for Stappan isn't there the unlikely event for Stappan isn't there he can hopefully pick up the results instead so that is the best case scenario for year one at Red Bull

his first four year in F1 which is mental I think that's the best case scenario for Liam Lawson. His worst case scenario is that he's like Sergio Perez, and I mean that, Sergio Perez fans, don't hate me, I mean that with all the respect in the world. But I mean he's like Perez at the end of, stop covering your face, Ben. He's like Perez at the end by the end of 2024. because he'll be given time.

Not a lot, though. How much? Because despite the fact that Red Bull gave Perez quite so long, I think it worked in Perez's favour that he was more experienced, a bit of a veteran of the sport by this point. It worked in his favour that for the most part, Red Bull were dominant and it was only in this last year. Well, if you exclude 2021, which he didn't help,

but it was year one at Red Bull. For most part, they were dominant and picked up constructed championships with him. Rebel aren't going to be in, oh, sorry, Rebel are very unlikely to be in that position this year with Lawson. So whilst they'll be given time, he can't afford to be where Sergio Perez was at the end of 2024, because I think we will witness a return to ruthless Red Bull. And they love a mid-season driver swap, as we've seen many a time. So I think if he is not showing enough, again, I'm not trying to say he's, he's a, he should be winning races all the time. But if he's not showing enough, I think the worst case is he gets dropped in his season because he's being at the level that Perez was at the end of 2024.

I'll round out the segment with Carlos Sines. Um, side note on this. Have either of you seen Carlos Sines's reaction to James Vow speaking Spanish? He was shook us. and was absolutely shudders. Probably because of how poor the accent was. Yeah, he's there like, why are you making these noises? What words are coming out of your mouth?

Have you also seen the news that there is an 18 plus rating episode of Drive to Survive coming out? What are they doing it? Speculation that it will be Jones Vowers and Carlos Sites' contract negotiations. Oh, Lord. I don't want to know what's 18 plus about that, but Carlos Sines, best case scenario. we don't ever watch that drive to support. The best case scenario is he establishes himself as the team leader whilst Williams are preparing for 2026. If he can do this early on in the season, if he can get off to a really good start versus Alex Albin, that will be a massive advantage for him going forward.

And look, on track, let's face it, unless Williams have pulled off a miracle, Carlos Seinfant is going to have the worst car he's had in a number. of years, even if Williams improved quite a bit on where they were last year, it's still going to be a downgrade for Carlos Sines. Bear in mind that Carlos Sines' second worst season in the sport was when he got 46 points for Torosso in his second year. There's a good chance that this will either be Carlos Sines's worst year in terms of points or his second worst year. So in that respect, it kind of doesn't matter how bad it gets. Like if he ends up with seven, 70 points, he ends up with 20 points, or ends up with 10 points, it's still going to be a massive downgrade on last year. So he just needs to be in a position where he is confident

going into next year and he can fully establish that it's his team because it's something that he hasn't really had to this point in his career. The worst case is kind of just the opposite of that, where he can't do what he's tried to do a few times, which is really make a team his own. Carlos Sines, as we very frequently say, does a solid job against some very good teammates did a very good job against Lando Norris against Max Verstappen against Charles LeClerc. He's had some really tough teammates. Nikolkendberg throw him in there as well. He's had a lot of tough teammates in his F1 career and he has been able to hang with all of them, but he also hasn't been able to dominate any of them. He hasn't come out convincingly ahead

of any of them. If that continues with Alex Albin, then Albin's experience is going to help him and maybe going into 2026 Steelfields like Alex Albin's team. So signs needs to prove something that to this point in his career, he hasn't been able to do. Okay, we're going to hit our first break on this episode. On the other side, we've got six more names for best case, worst case. It's the Nissan Black Friday event where you can, wait, wait, wait. Isn't it like a month long now? Nissan Blackfri month?

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Sam, we're over to you again. This one, we've already discussed his teammate, but Oscar Piastri, best case, worst case for him. Well, champ, you mention it yourself. Worst case scenario for Orlando is almost a best case scenario for Oscar Pistri. he becomes the future for McLaren. He is a world champion. He develops all the areas that were weak about his second year in Formula One. No, he's not a rookie anymore.

He is an experienced driver. We can't use those excuses anymore of, oh, he's still got time to learn. He should be up to speak now. This is the year that he should be starting to really throw punches at the top level. He's got the mentality for it. The kid is so well trained when it comes to pressure, but he just absorbs it.

I'm not quoting Alex Shear. I've been. Precious for tires. And Oscar Pastery knows it. The guy delivers whenever he needs to, but now is the time to deliver on that raw speed, the ability to leave from the front to not have to cut through those around him

because the qualifying has been a mistake. Best case scenario is those mistakes are gone. They're rid of. He's up there with Lando Norris on the front row, pole positions on many, many races, not having his won, maybe two wins on a lucky day. Casta mind's back to when Lando

and Vastap had crashed at Oskria, and it was George Russell that picked up the wing. That should have been Oscar Piastri's victory, right? On the best case scenario, they fall straight into Pius' lap. No, he's already in front of it on the best case scenario. He's leading. To win that one as well, he did. Yeah. And he's already in front of it. He doesn't need to

worry about someone crashing or recovery to have a victory. Best case scenario is Oscar Pistri comes out Australia at its home Grand Prix and he is flying and he is in the entire way through. And if he can match what he did in the mid-season in 2024 again, but prove his start and end, the anti-Singoda, as we like to call it here on the show, then there is every chance that he is in with a shout of taking the world title. And as you really mentioned, Ben, being the future that McLaren need, or maybe don't need,

who knows, to what side of the fan base you're sitting on. worst case scenario, the mistakes take hold. We see those starts are really kicking. We see the qualifying mistakes go further. We see that he can't match the pace of Landon Norris. And I don't think he can be defended by the excuses that he got last season. And he would very much settle into a second driver role in McLaren. No bad thing for McLaren.

He's still a fantastic talent. He's still a brilliant person having a team. I don't think he'd be able to do enough to get dropped. I really don't think it could be that bad. Regardless of a worst case scenario, I don't think he's going anywhere. But it does mean that it would stunt his future, I think.

I do think it would stunt his end goals, his ceiling in Formula One. And we see him not being up there fighting for wings. You see him not being near with Andrews, and Norris picking up podiums. I think worst case scenario, he would be closer to the likes of Lawson rather than up there with Norris,

Lecler, the Stappen, which is not where he wants to be. That's not where we want him to be. So, worst case scenario, he's just a, it's just a podium filler at best. And that is not what any young driver wants to be in a top team. Harry, this could be an interesting one. Fernando Alonzo. The neck.

Best case scenario, his neck. It takes over the world. Yeah. Yeah, this is a trigger. Best case scenario I've gone for Fernando Alonzo this year is that the Aston Martin is as good as it was in 2023. and I include the start of and end of 2023. I think if that is where they are,

because there was quite a dip in the middle for Ashton Martin, I guess, well, I mean, I say middle. Austin wasn't really in the middle, was it? That was quite terrible. But Austin and Mexico were bad. But it starts to pick up against the year, he got the podium in Brazil, etc. Overall, a very competitive year.

And I think that is the best case scenario for Alonzo and Aston Martin because I've already said this. They two are not focusing on this year. So if they rock up and the car is actually really good and they can fight for podiums, it's all a bonus because they're not really concentrating on this year. And that's why I kind of say it almost doesn't matter if the performance does drop off

because they will not be focusing on trying to develop the 2025 car because everything is on 2026. So that I think for me is their best case scenario. their worst case scenario is that they they uh the the form continues to decline uh from 2024 and i know they had some rough moments again it sort of picked up towards the end of the year at the middle part of the season was rough for astor martin and i think if they if it continues to to go down from there again not even from like a developmental point of view although that is a concern because if they cannot, you know, develop a car, it's going to be a bit

of a word for 2026. But I just think from like morale all around and for Alonzo himself, I know he is focused on 26, but you're going to have a real hard job convincing him that it's going to be okay in 2026 if this year is terrible. It's going to have to be a lot of zeros on that extra paycheck you give him. So I think that's worst case for Alonzo. If, if, if, if it just continues to get worse. Because I just think from a, just yeah, like I said,

from a morale point of view of the team, despite all, you know, all the promise of it, if this year continues to be worse again. And we've, you know, 20 through 24,

25 is just a downward slope. Then I think it's going to be a real tricky one to pick themselves up and get ready for 26 for. So yeah, it's an odd one to say that, because for Fernando Alonzo himself, best case scenario is that he's world champion.

another five times this year because that's how he works. But yeah, I think realistically, I think that's probably the best case for them because it is all eyes are on 26. Do you think there's a risk with a longso that he rungs out of patients too soon? Because we're seeing it. Yeah, this is what I'm saying. I think that's why the decline and decline again from 24 is going to be really tricky.

I'm not saying he don't think he would leave. I think the risk would be higher if he had other options Yeah Yeah And I don't think he does He doesn't so I don't think he'd leave But I just think from like Because a happy Fernando Alonzo

In a capacitive car Is a scary, scary piece of work A miserable Fernando Alonzo In a really rubbish car That's still pretty scary actually Well it's In the garage Yeah exactly

Not for the drivers on track Because he gets to a point I think Especially in his old age He just doesn't care If it's a sprint weekend goodness me, you might as well count him out. He doesn't want to... Liam Lawson, is there?

Just put Drugovitching, he just keeps colours. No, but he can't happen. I don't think we'll never get to my phone. Alonza doesn't necessarily in tough times motivate or gather a team around him. I think he needs positive experiences for it to be all good. So I think, that's what I'm saying.

I think it needs to be positive for him this year. Not necessarily, you know, winning races, or podiums or whatever, but it needs to be a positive year for him for 26 to be a good one. George Russell. Best case scenario,

he ousts Mohammed Ben Sillyman, right? Yep. He's a political missile, I think, this year. I've gone with on the track instead, but best case scenario, he's in a world title fight, but specifically against Max Verstappen. Not only would I just like to see that anyway,

but there is a real advantage to him being in a title fight with Max Verstappen, in that if Toto Wolf still has one eye out for Vastappen for a 2026 contract, it's more difficult to negotiate with him when your lead driver is being a nuisance every weekend and potentially we get more war of words between the two of them. I think outside of it would be good for Russell to be in a title fight anyway, him being up against Vastappan in that title fight might just solidify his position at the team and make negotiations very difficult with the Stappan

as we've said on a previous episode if Red Bull and Mercedes are battling in any capacity whether it's team drivers, it doesn't matter Toto Wolf and Christian Horner can't help themselves but get involved in a massive scrap with one another rather being a terrier than a wolf Oh, fuck it. Precisely.

So, yeah, I think that would be best case scenario. Worst case scenario. And again, this isn't a prediction, but there is a version, I think, that is a little bit likely. Kimmy Antonelli is the best rookie we've seen since Lewis Hamilton. But if we get that and Antonelli, yeah, I'm not predicting it.

teammate wars later this month though. I don't know so boring now. When do we get to that? Yeah, if Kimi Antonelli is great from the off, then suddenly he might already be the future of the team, who knows, but like that just speeds up the process. And if Kimi Antonelli is the future, and you have maybe interest with Max Verstappen,

George Russell is going to be... Hello? Hello, still here, please. Craig is writing letters. He probably would, to be fair. Yeah, I just, he's got to watch out for Antonelli. If the hype is real, he's going to be quick from the off. He'll be hoping that he takes longer to adjust than that.

And he's not as on the ball after one season as maybe some people think he will be. But yeah, that's the worst case scenario. Sam, back to you. Speaking of, give me Antonelli. Oh, it's a me. best case scenario he is cast as baby Mario in the new Mario Luigi film

I mean best case scenario Mercedes know who he is Oh hello It's a me No not Louis Hamilton There's something different about you Lewis No no no It's in the hair

Not from a Stephenage I love the idea That's going to go was what Stephen is. 18 years old from Italy. I hope he gets his own parking space outside Astor. Free parking. Here's who we got one.

Sorry, it's just Lewis's name. Best case scenario for Kimmy Antingelli. He becomes the best rookie that we've seen since Lewis Hamilton. If all the rumors are true, if all the speculation and chat about Kimmy Antingley is real, if it comes to fruition, it isn't just exactly that chat, then he could be the next big thing. He could be the next world generational talent

that we see come through Formula One. You know, we've had Vessel, we've had Hamilton, we've had, we're having Vastapa now. And there's a lot of brilliant young drivers in Formula One at the moment who are wanting to put down their legacy, make their mark in history of the sport, Norris, LeCler, Russell, to name a few.

But if Kim Eantinelli can live up to the hype, he could supersede all of them. He could leapfrog all of them into being the person that is the next name that we all go down and know. And that is lofty expectations. That is a very high ceiling, but with great power comes great responsibility

and he will need to deliver on those rumors, those expectations. And the Sains are to make sure that he feels comfortable in doing so. So I can imagine that FP1 in practice, Australia, he will literally not break for the entire lap to make sure he's in purple at all sectors. He goes on to beat George Russell.

Russell across the whole season, and he becomes a very young, but incredibly talented leader of that team and puts Russell's career at major risk, which would be devastating for George. Worth case scenario, all the pressure gets to him. He is an absolute wreck fest for the season. He cannot compete with the likes of George Jotta on those around him. He costs him saying his point, Seth, right and center. He racks up a huge bill. And whilst I don't think he would be dropped, I really do think that he would have to crash out and pretty much every single race to be dropped. I do think that there is a chance

that they essentially see him as a placeholder of a seat for a couple of years until someone like a Max Verstappen or whoever it may be in future comes along to fill that seat. I guess if it was absolutely awful, Valtry Bottas could come and sit in the job and they have a great time.

But because feel that Toto Wolf hates Valtry Bottas from the quotes that I've heard in the press recently about his ugly, stupid mullet and his naked bottom calendars, which I've got one right there, he wouldn't ever get an out seat of rigging anyway. So Kimmy's probably safe. Harry, we've already had a look at anti-Sanoda.

Now the actual Sonoda. What we got? Best case scenario for Yuki Sonoda is the worst-case scenario for Liam Lawson. Lawson has a terrible start to the year, terrible half a year. Sonoda continues to perform as he, was in 2024 and

Christian Honour and Helmut Mark could go we've done it again boys we've made the wrong call and they swap them mid-season Lawson goes back to Menardi and Sonoda is promoted to Red Bull mid-season

that is a question on that no okay you can go on oh thank you do they need to be somewhat in a title fight for them to make that move in that scenario I didn't do it last time. I was going to say it's not stopped them before,

but I get I, in the context of it, I think potentially because that's the reason they got rid of Perez. They lost the, they lost the constructors because Paris didn't perform good enough. And, you know, beforehand they weren't in the fight,

but it was trying to prepare themselves for when they were in the fight. And they didn't work because they ended up signing Paris. So I guess, yeah, that would force them. If they were horribly off the page, Aesal season, then I bet they would keep him, if he was having, if Lawson was aren't terrible season.

So, yeah, that's a fair point. I think they probably have to be a competitive. So yeah, best case is, uh, is, Sonoda is as good as he was last year and he's hoping Lawson's terrible. His worst case scenario is that Hajjah comes in and whoops his ass because that is career over. He packs his bags. Full career over or Red Bull career over?

I'd say full because I'm not. sure. I think that ruins his rep. He's not, he's been, he's missed the opportunity to go to Red Bull. He's been not chosen to go there. If then Hadjar comes in and kisses, but I just don't see what team's going to

turn around and go, that's the driver for me, because who would? So that is the worst case. I think he'd have to go, he'd at least be out for next year, whether it's full F on career over and he could come back for it, it remains to be seen. But yeah, that is absolutely worst case.

because I just don't think you'd recover from it. I'll round things off with Nika Holcomberg, of course, now of Salber after having made the move. Best case scenario, I think, for him is that he remains one of the biggest forces in the midfield, as we've seen him with Hass, definitely in 2024 and somewhat in 2023 when he was able to show it in qualify. If he's able to just put himself, I'm not expecting him to get that elusive podium in 2026. Of course, sorry, 2025.

If he does get the opportunity, then, you know, fingers crossed for his side that he's able to take advantage of that. But in reality, it's just going to be staying sharp almost ahead of, ahead of 2026. We know that he's another driver to have a rookie teammate in Bortoletto. and they're going to be teammates for at least two years because Bortoletto's got a multi-year deal as does Hulkenberg. So it's important that from the off,

Holkenberg doesn't let Bortoleto get too confident. Of course, Bortoletto is going to be incredibly motivated as it has been his dream forever to drive for stake. So, you know, I don't know if he's going to be able to compete with that. But good luck to him. Ferrari offer him a 10-year deal. Now, I'm not leaving. quote retweet

So good parents Until I die Worst case scenario for Nika Holkenberg Is that the move that he has made Doesn't work out through no fault of his own Like it would suck for Nika Holgerberg Like if he was still as good As he was last season at Hasse

And it just doesn't work out for him Like you look at What if Huss keep improving And suddenly they're able to pick off the occasional podium and Salber aren't there. That would hurt quite a lot for Nika Holkenberger has been trying a long time to get that elusive podium. I mean, the saving grace, of course, of 2026 should be that the Audi are coming and, you

know, they're going to be based in the UK now, apparently, or at least somewhat, based on recent news about moving from Switzerland. But, yeah, I just, if that doesn't. work out as well as them not being good in 2025, that'll sting, to put it mildly. Let's take our second break on this episode. On the other side, we've got some comments from Pierre Gasley about Alpine. Hack the holidays with the PC holiday insiders report. Try this PC porquetta, crackling, craveworthy.

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19 and over. Physically present in Ontario. Eligibility restrictions apply. See Golden Nuggett Casino.com for details. Please play responsibly. Welcome back, everyone. Pierre Gassley has set an ambitious target of a top five finish for Alpine in the 2025 F1 Constructors Championship. After a tough season that saw Alpine stuck in ninth, a double podium.

in Brazil boosted them to sixth. Thanks to that Interligos result, they were the fifth highest scoring team after the summer break. When Gassley was asked, he said, I'll go with a top five in the constructors because that's what I want, and I think that's definitely achievable.

Obviously, I'd like more, but I have to be realistic. It'll be a tight competitive field, and I don't expect big changes from last year. Sam, as mentioned, they were, if you look at points after the summer break,

they were in that fifth spot, albeit a long way. from the top four, can they be the team that emerges from this midfield and get what Ghazley hopes? Now, as the resident sausages fan here, you know, the Gassley fan boy, I'm all for this fight and talk. I absolutely love that he's, you know, put down a marker for the team. And the team probably doing something to aim for.

They're a bit aimless, I would argue. That's a polite way to describe Alpine. Loss a little bit in terms of where they're going with things. My one issue with this, Pierre, as much as I'm not. love that ambition. It's for the wrong year, mate. This year, now is not the time to focus your efforts on what you're doing. Now is not the time to drive forward for, you know, jumping up that table and securing regular points finishes. Unless an upgrade is directly related to the 2026 and onwards car, I don't think you should care. You should sit there and almost come out and

say, I don't care how bad this year is, Alpine, I'm challenging you that when we start 2026, we are fighting for podiums or we are regularly qualifying inside the top eight and I want to be finishing inside the top six. It should not be about this year because this is that short-mindedness

that we spoke about. So many teams are not going to be focusing on this one year. And so if you are going to focus of just this one year and trying to finish fifth, it says to me that almost you haven't been ambitious enough.

If you're going to be the one team that's going, right, we're going to move up the table, well, you may as well, go further. You know, in the grand scheme of things, Austin Martin weren't actually that far down the road in having points were technically available

if you were of that level the whole season. You could have achieved more. You could have been in front of them comfortably. So I love the idea. I just don't think this has been correctly executed. And I do think that Alping who need a massive rebuild need this to be more in place and have stronger foundations for 2026,

rather than just trying to comfortably being fifth place throughout 2025. It feels a bit short-sighted. Harry, do you think that fifth place is achievable? It's achievable. Whether Alpine can achieve it is another question. Based on their performance by the end of 2024, you say yes, they should be in a position to now challenge that top five

if the state of play is the same as it was by the end of last season. The problem is Alpine never seemed to turn up to the next. next season in the same competitive state they left the last one. And as you said, Sam, I'd be really surprised if they were really focusing their efforts that much on this year anyway. So

great to have ambition, Pierre, you know, fab, and admire it. You wouldn't want your F1 drive it any other way. But yeah, whether it's a realistic target or not, I don't know. He says top five. It'd have to be fifth.

I mean, Alpine are incapable of finishing anywhere other than above fifth or if they're Renault. So, yeah, it's, I find it, I find it tricky to see them. They're certainly going to be in that fight with, with Aston Martin, I think, for that fifth place. If you go on the basis of last year, it's just about who's willing to sacrifice fifth for, 2026 and I'd say Aston Martin will be like fine you know Alpine you have it because we're not focusing on

this year and I fear Alpine will get into a fight and then not focus on next yeah on next year and that'd be terrible in 20206 with all the promise of this year yeah it's a real tricky one for all these teams to aim for

do you sacrifice this year and go for next year or do you know go for a go for a go for for a championship battle. Sometimes it works out. Red Bull in 21, converted into 22. BMW in 2008 did not convert

into 2009. So it's a real risk. And it's one Alpine, all the teams have got to face with one Alpine is a tricky one because yes, they could have a better year than they've been having. And certainly some success would not be, you know,

frowned upon by Alpine. But it's just, it's almost the wrong year to have it, as you said, Sam. You know, the me. of the stick figure massively celebrating third place

like the bronze medal. That will be Alpine of fifth, won't it? Champagne being popped in their face and everything. Yeah, yeah. God damn it. Swering at all the other competitors

like they've absolutely won the world. You know when you've looked at a word too many times and now it just doesn't look right? I've done that with the word achievable to the point where I've actually now, or I'm in the process of creating a game called Eddie Cheeverball. Nice.

which I think has legs, you know. What's the concept of this game? Eddie Sheva does have legs. I'll be real. This concept's 30 seconds old, Harry. So I'm not sure about the rules yet. Sounds like all of our games. But I'll get back to you.

Cheers, mate. Let me know. Yeah. I think it is achievable for him, for him, I should say. Yeah. Sorry, Jack, I'm sure you will contribute as well. That wasn't an unintended burn, I promise for you. it wouldn't surprise me, honestly, if any of the bottom six teams finish fifth,

like I know a lot of attention is currently going to the top four teams and whether we could have a championship fight between all four of them or three of them or even two of them. Further back, we could have some very interesting fights in the midfield because I don't think any team in the midfield will be unhappy with their lineup, genuinely, apart from maybe Briatory wishing he was quicker about Colopinto, but outside of that, I think all of the teams will be happy about where their lineup is going into the season. And all teams, weirdly, I think, have a reason to be optimistic.

Like Alpine, for example, we've already mentioned they were fifth in the second half of the season. And a lot of people will say, well, Brazil, you know, so many points came from that race that that kind of masks it. Well, they still finish the year really well, by comparison to where they were earlier in the year. I should say. But Gassley did very well at Abu Dhabi. He was looking all right in Vegas before the car retired. He was good in Qatar. Like he had a number of good races to finish this season.

In fact, like the last five races, even if you were to take out Brazil, they would have still been sick for only one point behind Hass. So they were good even with that freak result. Has have reason to be optimistic as well, though. They scored in eight of the last nine races. R.B, weirdly, I think, have reason to be optimistic because they're following Red Bull a bit more this season. Red Bull, of course, better than all the teams we're discussing here.

Williams, even though their focus is on 2026, they scored more in the second half than they did in the first half. And even Salba, if you were to say, what was Salba's three best races of 2024? The last three. The last three. The last three. Yeah.

And they weren't brilliant, but Bottas got a Q3. Joe scored some points. Bottas should have scored some points probably as well. So I think all of them have at least a little bit of a reason to be optimistic going into the season. Ben, sorry, do you not just think that we're going to see a bit of a race to the bottom? The perks of being further down the championship outweigh for the next two or three years what you might get from fighting over an irrelevant fifth place.

Surely to be bad is then to be good in that respect. Yeah, I think what's probably going to be most interesting is, again, we've spoken about this before, how everything resets like six months into the year. So you kind of want to be really bad just before the midway point in the season and then be okay the rest of the season because you'll get advantage with more wind tunnel time. And yet maybe you could still finish our in the championship if you have all your points in the second half of the season. Alonzo after the summer break going, oh, we had eight gears. I was still driving my old car from when I debuted. Don't you mean we could have put four tyres on? This isn't Minardi?

Oh, no. Why is Mark Weber here? What a team. What a point. Harry, would fifth be a success? You could call it that? I mean, yes, yes, for RPA, this would be a success. It's getting back to

where they've normally been and the last couple of years of not where they've normally been so you'd argue yes it would be it would be success especially consider where they started 2024

I think getting up to fifth in the championship would be but I come back to it and you said this sound like the race to the bottom I just I fear there'll be lots of teams who will not that I'm not going to

willingly give up fifth, obviously. I just feel there'll be teams that will not be as focused on it than than others. And maybe Alpine will be the ones that will focus on it and perhaps are the wrong reason. So it'll be, it'll definitely be seen as a success compared to where they've been. It's just about whether it is actually the right success they want, knowing Alpine, probably, yeah, is Alpine. I'm going to be harsher and say, no, Alpine. fifth is not a successful season for you,

even if it is relative. If I go to your house and break everything in your kitchen and then replace it all, that's not a success. That doesn't count. Getting back to where you were in the first place doesn't count as a success.

We took the Mickey out of you for so many years that all you could do is finish fifth. So getting back to finishing fifth, not a success, Alpine. You're not having it that easy, at least not from me. Sam, how much Alpine reliance? on Dewin to finish fifth.

Like, we saw last year that Aston Martin obviously finished fifth despite Landstrol. Could that be the situation here? Or do they really need Dewein to perform to get ahead of those other midfield rivals? I think Deer needs to deliver a pretty solid performance. I'm not saying he needs to match Gasly.

Gasly has the firepower. He is more than capable of, you know, being up there with the top drivers of the season if he's on his very best. You remember a few years ago when he went back to Alphataria it was at the time he was almost my driver of the season the way he was driving that car he was sensational

Qatar the first time we went there I think it was he was pretty much running in Pogne in places and had to move out the way for Vastappen he could do the heavy lifting there's no doubt about that but that doesn't be doing can sit there on his deck chair all year and kind of put his feet up and having ice drink in the warm sun he's going to have to participate

he's going to have to be there or thereabouts and that's mostly because if you look at the rivals around Alpine, I think everyone else has improved. Hars is line-up in Ockong and Behrman. If Behrman turns good, if he delivers, that's a good line-up for Haas. That's a really solid line-up for Haas. You look at Williams.

Signing Sang-Albong, sensational lineup for a team that can barely score a point, race-on-race. If Hajar is decent, if he's close to Sangha, that is fantastic. If they've got that further investment, that further sharing of parts with Red Bull, they're a severe threat.

Holger-Borseletti. If Borseletti, who is the F2 champion again, is even as good as we think he should be. Those two, so good again. You know, it genuinely is a really tough fight at that back end. This is one of the strongest Formula One fields that we have seen in a very, very long time. We've cut a log of the crap,

a log of the drift wheel has been pushed away. We are streamlined. This is a very, very solid F1 field. If Duh and cannot score points where it's expected, I think Alping will get found out very quickly. Gassi can only do so much, just like for Stappan in the World Championship last year. He can only do so much to help the team on his own.

Gassel is in that same situation. Okay, let's take our final break on this episode. On the other side, we've got a new game. Did I say Bortoletto run? You said Bortoletti, but it's fine. It's a bloody football player, that's why. Welcome back, everyone. As promised, we've got a,

a brand new game, Formula Fortunes. Is Vernon K going on? Well, the name, of course, based on family fortunes here in the UK, family feud for those in the United States. I wasn't sure exactly what to go with for a song on this one, for an intro. I figured family feud, since that music is still being used and is pretty big, that's our best chance of getting sued. So I decided to put that to one side.

And then we've got three versions. of family fortunes in the UK, the latest of which, presented by Gino DeCampo, I wasn't aware existed. I don't want that in my life. So naturally, I passed on that, which brought us to the duel of the century between Vernon K. and Les Dennis.

And despite badgering from Les Dennis, many calls bartering, trying to get me to play his version of the theme, I have instead gone for, of course, Vernon Kay's version, because Sam Bird. It goes all of it, didn't it? Crickey.

Is it another episode? You want to hear again? By the way, you should definitely watch it as well because the little, from Vernon Kate, you'll have to be on YouTube to see that is quality at the end. I hope they photoshop you over the top of it now. It's incredibly 2010. So, the game.

We surveyed. 135 F1 fans in Discord and asked eight questions. And your job is to pick out the most popular answer from the people. God, we could do F1 point this here, couldn't we? We could do. Another game show to rip off. Your opportunities are endless. The opportunities for fraud are endless.

So in all of the eight questions, I will ask you to give me an answer. For those not watching on YouTube, we do have the whiteboards in use. again, but of course we'll read out exactly what are on the whiteboards. Imagine. No. Just don't say it. If you get the most popular answer, you will get four points. If you get the second most popular answer, you'll get three.

Third most popular answer, you'll get two. And the fourth most popular answer, you'll get one. If you don't get any of them, you got that. Nice. New sound effect. Love this. Ben's got all out. steal a game show.

As is proven, I would. So the first question. Okay. Asking the 135 people of Discord, who is the most underrated driver on the 2025 grid? Oh. Crikey.

I've just got that music sound working. Down, down, down. Oh, good. You wouldn't steal a DVD. Absolutely. ultra-atune that is. It's so good. I don't get that for the intro.

It meant the irony. You would like to see a Leng Abbert's music. Okay. Underrated. Oh. Okay. I have an answer. Sam's got an answer.

Harry, you've got an answer. Sorry, I'm just writing it down. Okay. So is this going to be back quix for everyone watching it? No, because it's a front-facing camera. Okay. Unless you've got a, unless you've got... I don't think so.

We'll test this out in a second. but I'm pretty sure, I'll see. Reveal your answers, please. So we've got Alex Albin from Sam and Nika Holkenberg from Harry. So we have got different answers to start us off. For one point, 16 people said Esteban Ocon. Oh, fan off. For two points, 17 people said Niko Holkenberg. Hey, what answer.

for three points, 18 votes, Carlos Sines. Oh, but the most underrated driver on the grid with 27 votes sausages out for Pierre Gassley. Ah.

Which means, Sam. How do I still get this wrong? All right, you've got plenty of time to make it up, but Harry does take an early 2-0 lead. Huge. Question number two, how many races should there be on the calendar? What? How many races should there be?

How many races should there be on the calendar? 12, 83, you know. I would recommend neither of those. Can I have no hinks, please, Ben. Okay. I'm ready. Are you ready? Whenever you're ready?

Said that was some determination. Reve your answers, please. We've got Sam saying 21. Yeah, that's got 12 in this reverse camera. And Harry's saying no point in. Harry saying 20. For one point, 14 people said 18. For two points, 15 people said 22.

Oh, Lord. For three points, 20 people said 24. You're wrong. But the top answer, with 48 votes, 20. I've got no points again. We jumped around 21, get away with the floyd. They're all even numbers. People love an even number.

People love even numbers. Yeah, I just think that the moment I wrote 21, I thought that's going to be ignored. Shout out to the five individuals that put 52. I'll grow up. Grow up. Touch of grass. Yeah. Do someone be your weekends.

Come on. Harry, you could do a touch of some grass. You're up 6-0. That's a great line. Crying. Question number three. Which circuit produces the worst F-1 racing? There must only be one answer for this.

Oh, Sam, I forgot to. Oh, thanks, mate. Cheers, just right kicking the gung-outes. Roan's soul to the wound. Yeah. Keep when I'm down. All right. Which circuit produces the worst F on racing? We have got Monaco from Sam. We've got Monaco from Harry. First Agreement of the day. For one point, four people said Abu Dhabi.

For two points, 19 people said Qatar. Okay, yeah, valid. So fair. For three points, 22 people said Miami. You guys know you're racing. I respect this. But the top answer, 65 votes, Monaco. You know Will. You know Will. Harry celebrates.

Harry, I didn't know you hated Monaco so much. I didn't hate Monaco, but I like points. I like winning. Yeah, I didn't say they were right. I just said I got the right answer. Right, we're at 10-4 now to Harry. 10-4. Question number four.

Which past driver do you wish you'd seen live? Throughout history. Throughout history, yes. I need to remember who our audiences. Yeah. Lovely people is the answer to that. They are delightful. Oh, I'm torn between two here.

Yeah, me too. Okay. I cannot write. Generally or? Turning into Ben. I think I'm right You can't read it That's what I mean

Defeats the purpose somewhat But yeah I'm ready I'm ready I'm ready Oh I'm for the same On the same one Out of interest

What were you talking between Shoemaker Yeah I went because of the Netflix show Were people going to be on their minds And Jean-Pierre Chabwee Obviously

Chaboy There was someone By the way Who put Jean-Pierrege Well Respect to you Respect to you. One point.

Fangio, six votes. Grow up. Two points. Jim Clark, 10 votes. I respect that. Three points. 19 votes for Michael Schumacher. And the top answer was 60 votes,

Erton Senna. So it wasn't close, but, you know, going well here. We're at 148 to Harry. These are scores we've never heard before in these quizzes. Yeah, well, this year. Huge. Double digits.

Question number five. Which car manufacturer would you like to see enter F1? Oh, so many options to be silly. And to be clear, like the question didn't say you can't pick anyone that has been in F1 before and would be returning. So just anyone who's not there at the moment. It's got to be the Lola, right? All right, Johnny. She was a show girl.

That was a Barry Mangolo reference. Harry, we're going to have to sack you soon enough for confirmation. conflicting interests. Yeah. Just keep talking about Lola. I've Paddy Power reached out, mate. They do value my opinion. Yeah.

Good. Let's see them. We've got Porsche from Bo. Oh, goodness me. For 1.7 votes for BMW. Oh, yeah, that's fresh out. 2.9 votes, a return for Toyota. Yeah, I thought they'd be on the list.

Big McNish fans. 3.15 votes for Lamborghini. I did think Lambo. Yeah. But the top answer, four points. 35 votes to Porsche. Come on, Porsche. Do it for me.

Please. You've done enough in whack now, guys. You can come over. You can take the bits off the wheels. Just have them out. Question number six. If you had to be stuck on a long haul flight next to a current driver, who would you pick?

Oh, God. That's a tricky one. That is a tricky one. This one was pretty close. What, between all the answers, or just the top? There's not a matter of separating all of the top four here, to be honest. There wasn't a runaway answer like some of the other questions.

Okay. What route do I want to go down here? There are so many. That's the problem. Is someone quiet who they can go to sleep next to? Do they want entertainment? you know, that's, it's all over the place here. You also got to think of who our audience are going to want to put down here.

I've got little belief in this answer. I also have little belief in this answer. What are your little believed answers? We've got one Hamilton from LeClerre. Ferrari, yeah, basically. My other answer was Sonoda. But then, yeah, yeah. For one point, 14 loads.

for Max for Stappan. I'm surprised. I am surprised. Two points, 15 votes. Lewis Hamilton. I can't wait for the closing. I've got to be on the list.

Three points. 16 votes for Fernando Alonzo. You get on the playing. He can get quick after seeing next to you. You give over a bit. Can I have a super extender, please? But the top answer, 23 votes went to

Oscar P. Astri. Oh, for God's sake. That is surprising. I thought Norris would be in there. Yeah, I thought Norris would be in there. Leclair was the fifth answer, I'm afraid. So it's very close. Ten points, then. Yes.

Nope, just this. Three ball are losing any game we play. Can't even wing now. No, never mind. Two more to go. Question number seven. Who will be the next new? F1 world champion.

Oh. Just want to comment that my answer from my board does not confirm my true beliefs. It does. I'm afraid that's how it works. All right. You got your answers. Yes. We've got Piastri and Norris.

Piastri for Harry, Norris for Sam. For one point, only two votes for the fourth place answer here. You could have either said, Russell or his teammate, Andrea Kimmy Antonelli. Oh, that's not a good sign for George Russell. Oh dear. The two points, 30 votes, Oscar Piastri. Nice.

The three points, 38 votes, Lando Norris. Yay! And Charles LeClaire was the top answer, four points, 47 votes. Oh, it feels good to be on the board again. Which brings us to our last question. What's the points? The points are 24 to 15. Oh, I've still got it in me.

I believe in you. Double points for the last round, isn't it? That wouldn't make a difference, I'm afraid. Question number eight. Who should be the next FIA president? Oh. This is open to absolutely anyone. Oh, God.

Oh, for God's sake, who's it going to be? There could be, this could be literally. There were a lot of answers. Okay. It's the sound of Sam writing there, everyone. Are you ASM-R lovers, are there? I'm ready to go. Okay.

Let's see him. We've got Barry Manalo from Harry and me, Ben Hocking from Sam. Ben Brackett's Hocking. You are not something. Yeah. Yeah, sure. Some honorable mentions just before we go into the top four here. One vote each for Ned Flanders, the spaghetti dinner lady, and this would be.

I love spaghetti dinner lady. Two votes. I believe these two people both got two votes. So if you're one of the people who said these two answers, you've got a twin out there. Two votes each for John Sina and Barack Obama. me. What a combo that is. A duo for the ages.

And very nearly making the list, five votes each for George Russell and Clives Pigglesworth. Woo! Go on Clives! I'll let him know later in the Daily Sam. What's that me? Shut up, Climes. But the top four answers. For one point, nine votes went to Gunter Steiner.

Oh. Oh, yeah. For two points, 10 votes to Sam Sage. Woo-hoo! Yes! To worry. Give me you two about me. For three points with 14 votes was myself.

Yes! And if you think Harry's the top answer, you're wrong. For four points. Is it Harry Mangelo? No, it's not. It's actually a semi-serious answer. 30 votes. for Sebastian Vettel.

Oh, fair. That would be nice to see. You know what? By being serious, you've done a good job there because that's a very valid answer. Which means the final score, 24 to Harry,

18 to Sam. I'll take it. I'll be your deputy to being his deputy. So, okay. So then Clives is the deputy of the deputy of the deputy of the deputy. So, yes,

so in this household, we've got the deputy, deputy, deputy, deputy, and the deputy, deputy, deputy, Damn. Loaded. Well, there you go. The first, maybe only, but maybe not.

That's a regular thing. I enjoyed that way too much. What was it called? Formula fortunes. That's it. If you'd like to come up with another theme song that isn't just the rip-off of another theme song, you can send them into our email.

You're more than welcome. We've got to show me the options for a reason. Send them in. Be creative. I'm confident that that wrong answer, jingles, sound effects can be used for many things to come as well. I didn't give you one for the last round, hang on.

There you go. He's on the board. Yes, a podcast at latebreaking.com.com. for anyone that wants to put your submission in for a new theme for that game. That, of course, was a new segment, but we can maybe go to an old segment. A segment that's been around a little while. A segment that one might call the greatest segment in all of podcast.

It is the LB question of the week This week we went with the question with Lewis Hamilton and Angela Cullen reuniting at Ferrari what will be F1's next reunion I've got to give it to my guy and Mike

who comes out with hopefully Sam and Uncle Tim I've met that man once in 20 years It's not a real man paid actor What a hug that man gives as well Yeah, great actor Shout out to

EH Green on an Instagram For Nick Hyfeld on a tree Yeah She's Neesh 2006 reference there But love that Man who sits under a tree I'm going to give a shout out

to Chris I think I say your name Eluk Sorry if I've got that wrong Chris Probably On Instagram who's saying Lola She's a show girl and so who changed the bar.

But this guy, Rico just keeps getting in the way, which is a fantastic Copacabanger reference. And we love that. Caroline Gilmer on Instagram as well saying Ben Silliam and his beloved Saudi Arabia brackets who have reinvested a lot, you know. I have in four about that. That's a right point.

It's such a niche joke. No, it's good. Never die. Because all of our other jokes aren't niche, very famously. shout out to Tyler's answer. I don't know. I love those sorts of answers. I've got no idea, guys.

This is absolutely Savig from Daniel Gilgwin on Twitter. Pierre and his hair throughout the season. No need for that. Peerhaer Gazzley. No need for P. Hair Gazzley. Alex Campbell on Instagram says Mika Hachanan and the Grid.

I'd like that one. Yeah, yeah. That's fantastic. Add a sabbatical, here he comes, Mika. Of course, we can't do a question of the week with a reference to Othmar. Johnny McDonald's on Twitter and said, Othmar with his nine children.

The daycare bill is racking up now, Othma. It must be. One from Doodoo that was Albin and the Williams social media team. Oh. Who? Who's lastly? Ironically, I'm looking at a post from them and there is no albuming it already.

Like, how many times let the man live? There's a couple of shoutouts. for me and the fire alarm. Yeah. Yeah, bring it back. Also, don't bring it back. Don't bring it back. Because loud, it also doesn't exist

where I live anymore. Yeah, you'll get a burn down. Semi-serious ones just to get those in there because we kind of have to at some point. Both Kyle and Jorge said Vastappen and Nui. Nice.

Yeah. Which, you know, that would be pretty epic. And also, whether this is a joke or real, I'm not too sure, but Fred the Red, Lewis and his qualifying pace. Oh, I like that. Final one from me on Instagram from Matt Roost, who said, Martin Brundle and Machine Gun Kelly.

What a team? What a Grigwalk that was? My final one is from CMB on Instagram, who says, Fernando Alonzo and Jensen Button, brackets, the only teammate Fernando's ever liked. Brackets. He weeding your seat. I believe CMB is buggers.

Oh, is it? Bungers, I'm so sorry. I did have one more, which was from Gem. Uno reverse card. Milk chocolate or dark chocolate digestives for dipping in tea, question mark. I'll always go milk chocolate personally. I don't mind a dark chocolate digested, but milk chocolate is the way. Dark chocolate all the way, mate.

You don't even like tea. Bagger off. I'm a tea convert. Are you really? No. I know. I know. You know you think you're eight years old.

Eight years old. You've not told me you're a tea convert. It's only very recently, but I don't, I still have coffee in the mornings. Very much coffee during the day. I did notice you say the other day, yeah, I'll go make myself a brew. And I thought, you only use the word brew for a cup of tea. So maybe you're just using it for the wrong drink. Don't mind a little evening tea, you know?

I'm actually, I've all come around to it. Milk? I do have milk, yeah. Sugar? One sugar. One sugar. Incorrect. I have one sugar in my coffee.

I'm a child. You do. We have work to do, folks, but he's growing up. Progress has been made. Our boy is becoming a man. And on that bombshell. On that bombshell, indeed. Good night.

No, we're not talking. As much as I wish we were. What of your outro should just be the Jessica feed? Yeah. Maybe for our 750th episode, that's how we'll celebrate. We'll miss it, mate. That's coming up. We'll miss it.

7503 or something will I remember? Folks, thanks again for listening to a lovely off-season F1 podcast. Let us know what the best or worst situation could be for us three on the show if you want to get involved. Probably that we are involved in some horrible scandal and we are all going to be bankrupt coming in the end of the year, which will be fantastic. That's the best case scenario.

Worst case scenario is we continue making episodes for you. Thanks for listening. You can join Patreon using the link in the description below where you get loads of good. good stuff. Everything's ad-free, bonus episodes, beer breaking, classic rompros, birthday shoutouts, the list goes on. And it costs you less than a cup of coffee, especially if you're in America, because those things are expensive. You can also join Discord. So if you're going to be involved in that little game that Ben put together, Formula

Fortunes, well, that list went into Discord. And that's how you get your answers in. And also during the season, that's how you get your submission and you get shouting out on the show as well. So make sure to join that. Follow us on social media late breaking F1. on all platforms, including YouTube, where you can watch this very recording and see our whiteboards being held up to our faces. We are incredibly handsome, so I would urge you to go and watch that immediately.

And that's it from us. We'll be back at the weekend for another brilliant off-season episode. In the meantime, I've been Samuel Sage. I've been Ben Hocking, and I've been Les Dennis. I've been, Les. Big up, Les. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcasts. Network.