The Late Braking F1 Podcast - 2025 F1 New Year's Resolutions

Episode Date: January 5, 2025

The LB boys are BACK for 2025! They discuss the news of Hadjar joining VCARB, and dish out New Year's Resolutions to select drivers and teams. They finish with a game of Back and Forth... 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

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 Podcast. Make sure to check out new episodes every Wednesday and every Sunday. Welcome to the Late Breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking. It's not the first episode of the year. It's the first proper episode of the year. Yeah, because we didn't record that one in this year. It was definitely recorded.

We didn't really record it at all. We did that. great intro. Happy new new day. Happy new year day. Anyway, that was awful and we're back to be proper and serious and journalistic in our approach. So we've all decided to wear the colour green if you watch on YouTube.

Not planned at all. It's just lovely, isn't it? Evergreen, like our branding. Sure. But you're excited to be back, right, Sam? I'd bloody loved it, mate. Can't wait to get cracking on again with the podcasting. I said when we were warming up, how warming up.

get some kind of exercise. We do a pre- kick off, stretching out warming up. Warm it up. Brain exercises.

Not to don't go on the go. It just feels so long, genuinely, but I've spoken to you all. I missed it, so I'm glad that we're back. Still saying the most ridiculous of things.

New Year, same me. Same podcast. It's only 10 more Sundays until that one, guys, race. As little as that.

Much more to come before that. Well, we are all warmed up and ready to go for this episode. We are giving out New Year's resolutions to some of the drivers and teams. That's coming up a little bit later on. But we're going to start with the news that we didn't quite get to just before Christmas because there were about seven other bits of news that we had to attend to. Liam Lawson, we did discuss that pre-Christmas, that he'll be racing for Red Bull in this 20th.

25 season. Of course, that meant there was a space alongside Yuki Sonoda at RB, and that was taken by Isaac Hadjar, the 20-year-old who finished as runner-up in F-2 last season. So, Sam, before we get into some of the discussion points of what we can expect from him, what he'll expect of himself, was it the right call to promote him, first and foremost? Yeah, I think it was. We've seen some failings in the Red Bull junior category over the last few years. We know that the kind of of transition of drivers hasn't been as nicely timed as I imagine all of the Red Bull staffing would have preferred. And even the likes of Yuki Snugga himself has become incredibly frustrated with what he needs to do in order to progress in that system. We obviously saw Sergio Perez

depart at the end of 2024, didn't get a send off. Daniel Ricardo in that big season, also just ousted from his seat and replaced by Liam Lawson, who is now a Red Bull driver alongside Max Verstappen, didn't get a send off. So it does feel like they've finally done the right thing in my opinion, and that is promote essentially the highest finishing rookie youngster in Isaac Hajar, in F2, of course, who finishing second place behind Portoletto, who is going to be driving the sail by this season, to a junior role. That makes a longer sense to me, and it should hopefully continue his development. He has been a promising youngster.

He has not had the most glittering of junior career. He's never really come away with any major wings. He's never really taking any major titles, didn't win that F2. but he has shown some great promise, some great development in his ability to step up when it comes to each change of the category that he's moving into. So hopefully, after some time, he can be at least on level playing with the likes of Yuki Sondoda

across the 2025 season. Harry, your thoughts on whether this was the right call for RB to promote him? Yeah, totally the right call. The Daniel Ricardo experiment didn't work, did it? I agree with Sam, the send-off was poor. But in terms of the call to let him go, it was the right one. It's obviously given Lawson the chance to then prove his worth

and go to Red Bull. And this is the next correct step from the Red Bull junior program to promote Hajjar. As you say, Sam, it's not the most clitoring career in junior career, but he's still pretty talented. And this is a chance for him to prove himself. You could say the same for Yuki Snowdo when he got promoted. from F2 to that seat.

So yeah, it's definitely the right call from from RBA on this one or from from Red Bull on this one. It's what that team is allegedly there for, although not there for last year because they said they weren't a junior team anymore. But they are again now. What are you lying for? Why are you lying for? Just an excuse.

Those top fives kind of saying. Yep. Yeah, I think Hachar will be hoping that Ricardo was actually right just a year early in his prediction. We'll wait and see. It certainly was the obvious choice and I think it was the right one. If you look at the rest of the Red Bull junior team,

it's difficult to know who else they would have gone for. I think the other maybe obvious contender for this would have been Iwasa who did a couple of years in F2. He finished fifth and finished fourth in his couple of seasons there. So I think he would have been the other obvious contender if Hadjar hadn't performed as well as he had done in F2 this last season. But equally, Hadjar finishing second means that as a finish was better than either of Iwasa's efforts.

And also, Hadjar is three years younger than Owasa. So I think he was the obvious contender. The other up-and-coming driver within the Red Bull junior team that I've mentioned on a few occasions is Arvid Limblad, but ultimately he doesn't yet have the super license points. And even if he did, he would need that exemption from the FIA being just 17 years of age. So I think he's certainly a contender for the future. But for now, Hadjar was the right call. You speak of his junior career, and I agree with you both,

that whilst it was never glittering, it was never a, look, this is a guy that will end up in F1, no questions asked, he is a can't miss prospect. He's always been solid enough that he's been in that conversation. He started out as many young French drivers do in the French F4 championship. did pretty well in two seasons there. He finished third in his second year,

and the only two drivers he lost out to. One of them was actually Owasa. The other one was Ren Sato, both of whom a couple of years older than Hadja. Moves to Mr. Frecker, finishes fifth. He's the best rookie there. Then moves to F3, finishes fourth, and he's only just behind Oliver Berman,

who of course he'll be up against this season in F1. And then we look at F2. It was a tough first year for him. He finished 14th, but he turned that around with his second year to finish as runner up. And I always say with sort of junior careers, particularly when it comes to F2 and F3,

what I'm looking for most is how you're performing in those feature races because whilst the sprint races are important for the point standings, ultimately you're not going to get that when you get to F1. Because whilst there are sprint races in F1, there's no reverse grid element to them as there are in F2 and F3. So you sometimes get prospects in F2. will score a lot of points in the sprint races and maybe it's not completely reflective

of what they might expect when they get to F1, but Hadjar won four feature races, which is crucial for that's how the weekend is roughly going to be set up when you get to F1. So I think this was the right decision. What about his expectations?

We know he's got Yuki Sonoda as a teammate, Sam, highly experienced when it comes to that junior team now. What do you think Hagear will be expecting of himself in terms of competing with Sonoda when he can expect to compete with Sonoda. It was very different to what we used to see with rookies, maybe 10 or 15 years ago, when seasons were much shorter and it definitely seemed to take a lot more time for rookies to bed in. But we're seeing such strong successes with rookies over the last couple of years. You look to the likes of Behrman, who did brilliantly last year, Piastro, who's two years in now

and has done fantastically well, that these drivers who are wanting to be, be at the very top. And obviously, Hajar's aspirations will want to be joining Max Verstappen in that Red Bull seat. I'm sure we'll never wish badly upon anyone, but I'm sure secretly he's going, I hope Lawson isn't perfect,

because Yucosal is not looking like the ideal choice. So if I get a solid year, maybe they'll consider me and I might do a better job. So I do think that whilst we from an outside point of view will quite happily sit here and say, you know what, he's got a year to prove himself, but I actually think that in his mind,

he's more going to be thinking, the season is so long, I'm going to have a lot of time here to get used to the car and then kick on. I think the first 10 or so races, he will have all of the grace in the world to put it in the wall, being near the back, not be particularly quick.

Sengoda might be him regularly, and that's fine. But I think of his only expectations, and now how I've seen a lot of rookies behave, in my expectations, in the second half of the year, I would like to see he'd be very close to Yuki Sanoda. I'm not going to make any bones about it. At the end of the year,

I do not expect him to be ahead of Yuki-Syodor in points. And I will not blame him for not being so. Teammate, why spoiler there? But I'm sure Hagell would like to be very, very close. And I'm sure even thinking his own expectations, he's a racing driver, he's competitive. He's going to want to be as close as he can to someone who is now very experienced in the likes of Yuki-Sin-oda and will be pushing to be as close to every single Grand Prix. So he's got time to work his way into it and get comfortable.

But then he's got a kick on. And I think that's what he'll be expected to do. this time as well. We don't know where that car's going to be, of course, but I think as long as he's finishing a position or two away from Sonoda, he can be very happy with himself. We've seen ever since Pierre Gazley departed the RB program that Yuki Sonoda has had a few teammates and he's been between competitive and dominant against them. Based on that, Harry, how do you expect Isaac Hadjar to look at this season that's coming up and what his expectations of himself will be? Yeah, I think, um,

it would be unwise for Hajjar to think he's going to go in there and start beating Sonoda. If he did start beating Sonoda off the bat, you know, great for Hadjar. But I think his expectation shouldn't be that straight away. Like Sezam, it's a long year in F1. So it might not take him a long time to get to speed. We've seen with Liam Lawson. I know he was up against Sonoda for a few races in 2023, but into 2024, he's coming and been relatively, well, was relatively competitive competitive,

they've competitive enough for Red Bull to give him the seat, Lawson the seat of a Sonoda. So it might not take him as long as maybe, as you say, it used to, but I don't think Hadja should go into this. If Hadja gets to the end of the year and hasn't beaten Sonoda, or isn't, you know, isn't really close to Sonoda. I don't think he can be disappointed. If he's miles away in pace, that's probably a different question.

But, you know, if he's a few-tenths, lower than Snowda at each race this season. I don't think that's necessarily a disaster, considering the experience at Sonoda. The experience that Yuki Snowda has is a ridiculous sentence because he's about 12, isn't he? That's not allowed. You're right, no, he is 12.

He's a 12-year-old boy. But that's what... Can we talk about how Carlos signs at 30 years old is the fourth most experienced driver on the grid? I don't know if you've seen these. Sometimes you'll be strong through social media and you'll get recommended like a reel or something. and it'll be one of those like

and it'll build like a pyramid of and this one was Formula One drivers in their races and it got to Carlos Sites and he was as you mentioned back fourth on the list but in my brain I haven't been fully paying attention so I was like it's got to be a little six other seven or eight drivers to come three more than him

that is audacious he's only big here for two and a half years isn't he? It's brand new are we now at the point where Landstrol is the second most experienced driver at a team outside of Vastapen

Red Bull. Yes. That's horrible. I saw the thing the other day. There's only three drivers that are still at the same team, but Stapp and a Red Bull, Lance droll at, well, was racing point,

and Austin Martin, Lando Norris at McLaren. Is this versus 2020? It was versus 2020. Yeah, versus 2020. Yeah. Gross. Ridiculous.

Sorry, we've got a sidetracked about that. Completely sidetrack. No, but that's my point. You know, Sonoda has, has a lot of seasons under his belt. now already, even as a youngster of the sport.

So I think Hadjar can be, shouldn't be gutted or disappointed with himself if he comes in and is beaten. I don't want to say absolutely thrashed by Sonoda, but is, you know, comprehensively beaten by Sonoda. I don't think that's a disaster. I think Rebel will be looking more for his pace, consistency. And if he is, if he exceeds his expectations, that's obviously better for him. I think one thing we saw with Lawson versus Sonoda is that.

that almost straight away, there wasn't much between them. And I think as you've both alluded to, that one of the trends we've seen in recent years is just how fast rookies can get up to speed with their more experienced teammates. Now, it doesn't necessarily mean they're the complete finished article, right? They still need a year, two years, to fully refine what they're doing and to crash less

and to really get that long-run pace. but we've seen it in like just last year alone. How long did Colopinto need to get up to speed with Alex Albin, really? Two races? Behrmann in his first outing for Hass. Him and Holkenberg were on the same piece of track at Azerbaijan. There was nothing between them. And I think Lawson and Sonoda is obviously the other example.

So based on that, yes, we're not expecting Hadjar to beat Sonoda from race one and race two. But I think if by mid-season, he's not somewhere around Sonoda in terms of regular ish pace, it would be somewhat disappointed. Just how quickly these drivers are getting up to speed now. I guess this is the question that many Red Bull drivers of the past and RB drivers of the past would like to know the answer to Sam. But there very much seems to be a case of either you massively thrive within this program or you are spat out by it.

How does Hadjar become part of the former group? I'm so glad you've asked me, Ben, because I definitely hold the answer that all of those drivers struggled to get back. To VIA is listening. Tell me, please. No, Daniel, go away. Pouring at the glass.

Realistically, I think it's an attitude thing. I generally think it's a mindset and attitude thing. You look at the drivers that have thrived. You look at Max Verstappen. You look at Daniel Riccardo. You look at Sebastian Vettel. You look at what is possibly going to be Liam Lawson. And this was true in how the Red Bull group spoke about Lawson

when they promoted him to Perez's seat. It is not necessarily the outright pace immediately. Yes, of course, it's very important. But it's the willingness to basically be the bad guy on the racetrack, to kind of be so cutthroat in your attitude and the way you approach racing and you approach success, you know, I will step on the shoulders of anyone to climb higher and ensure that I wing for this team. I think that drives them to want that kind of personality, that kind of instinct.

And Max Verstappen embodies that. He's very much a, you heard about it when he was defending from Norris seeing Mexico last season. He's like, I don't care what I have to do. I'll overstep every line in the book if it means that it helps my race. And they love that. They absolutely love that mentality. So I think if Hajar even has 50% of the staff is cutthroatingness and his want to succeed over every other person. We saw Lawson flipping the bird at Perez and them two shouting at each other by the big screen in Mexico again, actually, last year.

I think that's what they want. So those drivers who are calmer, maybe a little bit more soft-spoken, like to do a lot of the debating and driving in their minds. So you look at your albons, your gas leaves, brilliant talents in their own right. But very different in personality to a Ricardo or to a Stappan, don't thrive there. Don't do well there. They need someone who is willing to throw the door open, put their foot down,

make their mark. I think Hajan needs to make sure he embodies that. Yeah, he needs to show that he can soak up the pressure that comes from being in that program and you're right, I think it's more of a, more of an attitude thing versus the performance thing.

Liam Lawson is the blueprint on this, right? Where him and Sonoda were relatively evenly matched. But I think what has got Lawson the nod is, is the fact that he is this. He does seem to have at least somewhat that Vastapa mentality. So we'll see how Hajjar fares. Harry, we've seen a bit of a mix.

We've got a lot of rookies coming in this season. And there is a bit of a mix. between those that are getting multi-year contracts and just one-year deals. So you've got Hadjar is one of those that's only on a one-year deal. Jack Dewan and Antonelli are the same. But you also have the likes of Portoletto and Behrman that have been signed up for two years. I guess there's maybe not that much surprise that R.B and Red Bull have gone for the one-year option with Hadjar. But how does that play into things?

I mean, this is the thing when you're a rookie. It's kind of surprising that the likes of Berman and Bortoletto have got two years. You'd imagine they have break clauses in them. And also, I swear now, contracts don't really mean much in F1 because you just, who cares anymore? Sergio Perez, is that you? Yeah, exactly. It'll be well, Sergio, by the way. But having a kick. He's found out of lots of kickats. But yeah, so if for the likes of Hadjar and Antonelli,

the one year, you can't complain as a rookie, you get a one year to prove yourself and then and then maybe you get an extension. So, and it works for the, works for the team as well. So there is that added bit of pressure, but I don't think it means any more pressure than they already

would be under to prove themselves because, you know, Bermann and Bortoletto are arguably under the same pressure. Bermann, I guess, has already had chance to prove himself, Bortoletto less so. But, yeah, I don't think it will affect their mentalities too. much in terms of the pressure they're under.

This is their big break in F1. They probably be feeling the pressure anyway. So, yeah, I don't think the length of the contract has too much, too much effect on them. I was told pressure was for tyres. Cheers, Alan. Alan, is that you? My hero. Yeah, I think you're right in what you say in that if Hadja had a two-year deal and he

wasn't performing very well after one, he's not racing a second season. If he has a one-year deal and he doesn't perform very well, he's not getting a new deal. In either event, he's not raising the second season. So I think you're fair to point that out. Let's take our first break on this episode, on the other side. We're handing out some New Year's resolutions to some drivers and teams. They love them. I can't wait.

They don't actually set New Year's resolutions because they wait for us to set them. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Welcome back, everyone. We are now handing out some New Year's resolutions. and we're going to start with Sam Lando Norris Is that it? Is that what I get?

Yeah. All right. What's his new year's resolution? Get good, son. No, that's a joke. That is a joke. Come on now. I've started the year with a joke.

He's the most overrated driver in history. I don't know. Singama. Absolute signal on this conversation. No, it's keep doing what you're doing, if I'm honest. Keep doing what you're doing. because whilst you made little mistakes in 2024,

your starts weren't perfect, you've got a bit of a winged sometimes over the radio, you know, there were moments where you were not absolutely perfect. You came second to the best driver on the planet. So if McLaren are there right from the start, which they weren't last year, you were doing pretty much enough.

So keep doing what you're doing. And that is, I'm going to keep it as simple as that is. He did a great job last year. He proved that he could put in a title, challenge. There were some step-ups from him, but essentially consolidate the good, remove the bad, keep doing what you're doing from day one to the last day at the office. And I think he's got a chance. I think if I had to pick one thing for him, it's doing what Lewis Hamilton did a few

years ago, which is identify that his starts are clearly a weakness because people forget that Lewis Hamilton at the times in his Mercedes days. That was the one glaring thing that he wasn't as good as Rosberg at, and he got better at it. It was quite impressive, actually, how that one time he went away on that winter's break, and he literally said, I'm going to work on my starts, and he came back, and he had the fastest start times out of anyone all the season. My man was like, I will not be beating again. Sat in his living room a Christmas day.

Yeah. Don't talk to me, Dad. I'm doing my starts. And that's how Norris should have been spending his Christmas. I'm wrapping presents fast. I'm going on going on when they said, go. Vestappen calls him. I've already opened all of mine.

God damn it. Speaking of Vestappen, maybe a slightly difficult challenge for you, Harry, because what should a resolution be for the man that won it all last year? Thanks for Stappen. I just realised as well, because I love the three-word summaries.

I've written all these in three-word summaries without realising. I can't get out of that mindset. Anyway, I've put for Vestappan, don't get frustrated because I think this year could be one of the most competitive their fall in seasons we've ever been.

I know there's only days. We're only in the first week of chance. I do it's chinks. But if it is as I think it's going to be, Red Bull and Vestappen are going to have a tough time and they will not enjoy the lovely start that they had in 2024. And we saw at times last year, I'm thinking, Hungary, where Vestappen absolutely lost his head.

And it all went badly. We still finished like sixth, didn't he? But it went badly for him that race. And I think if there's a lot, if there's a lot of drivers and teams involved in this championship fight. I think Vestappen's going to, Vestappen's never had that.

He's had a championship fight with Hamilton, but that was one driver, one team. He's had a bit of a battle with Norris this year, but to be honest, he rarely got frustrated. Again, Hungary being the exception and Mexico probably. Whereas I think this year could be a new, a new challenge for Vestappen. So, yeah, that's what I'm going to say.

I think, because as long as he doesn't get frustrated and uses the enormous bag of talent that he has, he'll be fine, I think. Like Santa's sack that talent. Yeah, huge. But, yeah, I think that's what he's going to be careful of. And I'm fearing for GP and his blood pressure. If GP makes it pass like halfway through the year, I'll be shocked.

I think that rule applies off track as well, because it's going to be a big year for him in determining what he wants to do in his future as well. Obviously, it's the last year of this current set of regulations. It might extend to if they are having a bad year, but actually part of the reason why they're having a bad year is because they have cooked up a monster for 2026. You don't want to get in too frustrated off track

and making a rash decision of moving elsewhere before the Red Bull gets dominant again. So I think it's something that can be applied both on and off track. for your for your one yeah you're doing it all in Italian for Lewis Hamilton yeah and di Amo de novo On the basis of

I don't know Italian I thought you like over Christmas Oh no I do a linger for you I'm impressed with you be if I'm not please Honestly I'd applaud I'd stand up I can applaud

If you did the old thing I'm Italian Nah I'm too British biased To learn other languages Right. Lewis Hamilton. Challenge everything. Oh, EA Sports. We're in the game.

Yeah, challenge everything. EA Sports, actually is Lewis Hamilton. Lewis Hamilton, if you've not been paying any attention, has won quite a lot in F1. And if you haven't been paying much attention, Ferrari haven't won a lot in a long, long time. 2007. Well, the fact that, yeah, Lewis Hamilton,

turn around and say, oh yeah, they, they pipped me for that championship. Oh, wait, that was my rookie season. I'm 40 this week. It's been a long time since Ferrari were competitive. George Bush was the president the last time. Big W. Dougia was president. Lewis could do with a few Ws. Netflix was still doing DVDs the last time Ferrari won a championship. It actually has been a while. Goodness me. So my point is, like, Lewis Hamilton needs to do to go in there and just question and challenge everything because just because there's a way that Ferrari does something doesn't mean it's right. Like you have come from, I know they've had difficult years last couple of years, but Mercedes

have been an historically successful team more recently than Ferrari have. If there are things that you can bring outside of your wonderful talent as a racing driver, then you absolutely should. So yeah, just don't settle. Please, I'd like to see you competitive. Noising Shell should be unreal, so please make it happen. I was thinking about this the other day. I know it's a lot of hype's been made about this, you know, the move.

And Ferrari social media is rinsing it. And I love it. The first time we see him in a Ferrari overalls or like liveried car or whatever, it's going to be so weird. I'm going to explode. I'm not ready for it. It's just such an odd, but not in a bad way. It's just like, I'm not prepared. I'm ready to be embraced.

First time, like, he goes into the Ferrari pits, I'll be like, you've gone to the wrong place. Where you go, mate, yeah. Why? Why have you done that? Yeah. The first hand which is a red is a bizarre idea, isn't it? Yeah.

I find it crazy that, obviously, we're not going to get onto teammate wars until some point next month. That's going to be a spicy one. It's going to be a spicy one, because unless I'm miscalculating, two of the 10 teams have the same lineup as what started last year. I got to pick Gassette over rock on again. again.

That's not how teammate was. Three for three. I can't wait for that. Should we do some more New Year's resolutions while we're here? Sam, Kimmy Antonelli, of course, in his debut season of Mercedes.

What do you think? Imagine if I did this in Italian now. You'd be blown away. I can't. Anyway, quite simple. Absorb everything. Learn everything. He forms again. EA games, absorb everything.

I just can't get that three words out of my head either, so everything's like three words are under for these. My soundable one, which I've got got to get, spoiler, is also three words. Get this for head. Anyway, yeah, absorb everything. You're quick, you are quick, but learn, be willing to learn,

be willing to take on feedback, be willing to learn from George Russell, who has been proving time and time again that he's a real, brilliant talent in Formula One. Don't go out there in practice, again like it's the end of Q3 you're trying to go for poll and then stick it straight

in the wall but if you do learn from it don't do it again this is my point of as to a rookie is you have the raw talent people like Toto believing you can't give me I believing you you can do it it's in French as well where was that it's been a while

it's a multicultural Toto okay is everywhere is everywhere all at once Toto Wolf edition and I've been multicultural Toto we don't just think about Africa anymore. We're thinking of the whole world.

God bless the snows down in Antarctica. Anyway, yeah. They believe in you for a reason and you've got time on your side. Despite having only a one-year deal, I do think that that is very unlikely to always be a one-year deal. I don't think you're really at risk

of being chucked out the car at the end of the UNSMAX and stuff and puts his hand in there and goes, I only ever want to drive from the Sadi's again. But you learn everything. Take every opportunity on board. Sit back, absorb. and I think you could be a real talent.

So take this year to absolutely absorb every single experience and perfect yourself as a driver because there's always more you can do. What sort of a teammate does he need to be to George Russell? Like, does he need to be? Fricely little bugger. Is he going to be massively supportive? Like, we need to work as a team to get the most out of this car

or is he going to be an absolute menace to him? Like, which... Really, I don't think he needs to be either. I actually think it's entirely on George Russell to almost dictate that. I think now George is almost for the first time in his entire career, the leader of a team here. He needs to go to Kimmy.

The car is here, for the most part. Even Louis and George, they weren't always on the same bit of race track. They just got on with it. But if they do come together, George should politely, but of course it's George. He would politely do anything.

Put his foot down and say, Dissa, I'm in charge right now. You will follow the instructions that I will give to you in due course. Clives. And Charles. Back in the cabin. And I'm sure that Kimmy will hopefully go, sure, if I'm quicling you, then I'm still going to overtake you.

But nonetheless, I'm here to be part of the team. I don't want to pee anyone off right now. I always go back to the Ferrari. And I know it's not exactly the same situation because LeCler had a year in Salburn. He wasn't a complete rookie. But you look at the 2019 season, Vettel and Leclair, the first race at Australia, Ferrari deployed team orders to keep Vettel ahead. we get to, I think, the second race, which is of Bahrain,

and they try again with keeping LeCler behind and asking him not to overtake Vettel, and the clerk goes, nah, I ain't got time for that. We don't overtake him. It's just, I'm not expecting that that will be the exact situation here, and they're not, it's not directly comparable. But, yeah, I'm just wondering whether Antonelli will take almost the LeClaire versus Vettel approach.

That wasn't saying when you think back about it, wasn't it? Genuinely, like, that is mad. I say it was going to be world champion that year. You did. And to think that would have only been one year after Daniel Ricardo was world champion, eh, Harry? What a couple of seasons we had. I'd love someone to create LB history.

Where it would look like if we got everything right? What do you mean? We get everything right already. Not even close. We've discussed this teammate already, Harry, but Oscar Piastri, what should his New Year's resolution be? I said it's time for consistency for Oscar Piacci. Piaastri. And again, I was thinking about this.

I always feel really bad for, this isn't criticism, but I feel really bad for any sort of, any sort of criticism, not criticism, but any sort of feedback we level at Piastri, because he's been so good over these past two years. But I think the last thing is, you know, the last chink in his armour is, is consistency over a race distance,

which he's mostly, he's mostly got better at, but I think Norris is still, better than him. We saw a few wobbles in latter races. A couple of qualifying performances are a bit naff from Piastri, but you know, these are small things for a driver

that has only been in the sport two seasons, which again, it's quite mad that he's doing this one already. So yeah, but that's the only thing really. I think if he can be as consistent as he was at some races this year where he won,

I think it'll give Norris a really, a real headache. It'll be a great thing for McLaren, but he will give Lando Norris quite a headache because, you know, Piastri could be beating Norris on a regular basis. So that's, that's, that's the only thing he's got to concentrate on. And again, this isn't, I'm not saying he's, it's been a bad thing because he's pretty, he's pretty new in the, in terms of the sport. But I think just keep up that consistency, which he has been working on a lot. But I think, you know, that needs to improve to a basis, to a point where it's the same every race and not. not just 70% of the of the season.

I think it needs to be 100% now. He is, and I'm staying true to this theory, he is anti-Sinoda, not like A-U-N-I-N-I-N-T. Antis-Sinoda. Anti-Sanota is a great character. First character of the season. Hall of Famer early entry. Yuki's Auntie.

I'd love to meet her. Have on to dinner. Oh, no. I don't have anything wrong with that. The anti-Sinoda, the A-N-T-I-Sanoda, because West Sanoida can only do the first three races and last three races of the year. Piaastri can only do like the middle 15.

He can't do the beginning or the end. It is interesting, and I know we've already spoken about how there's a lot of change in the driver line up this year. McLaren is one of those very few. lineups that is staying exactly the same as last year, that they've got a real opportunity to build on what was already a very successful 2024. And from an individual's point of view,

for Oscar Piastri, I know it never really, he never really needed to move out the way, but the discussion of papaya rules was very frequent in the second half of the season. I'm sure Piastri would quite like for that just not to be a thing. and the easiest way for that not to be a thing is to be level or beating Glando Norris. So I think he'd appreciate not having to deal with that again. I'll go with Liam Lawson next.

And I know we've already discussed him a little bit as thanks to the first conversation we had on today's episode. But stay aggressive. Just don't change who you are because that's why you are where you are is because of what you've already displayed in the junior team. and the fact that he does have seemingly the right mentality for this Red Bull program. And he just needs to go on the attack, I think, every single session.

I don't think this is actually one of those situations where I'm saying, you know, maybe by race 20, you can be beating Vestappen if you can get close to him after 15 and be somewhat close after 10. I think he just needs to, with the way that the Red Bull program has been in the past, he just needs to show from the off, I can beat him. Whether he will or not, I'm pretty doubtful. But I think he just needs to go into every session with 100% self-confidence,

whether it's misguided or not. And even if you know that sometimes, and maybe most of the time it's not going to work out, I think that might just, at least that mentality would separate him from his predecessors that haven't worked out. That's the reason he's in the seat is that they haven't worked out. So I just don't think he should change at all from what has got

him to the pie. I used to listen to that song, that Liam Lawson song. Have you heard that? No. Oh my God. Yes. Okay. I'll send it to you, Sam. It's very good. It's nice to be involved in the conversation sometimes. Glad to be part of a joke, wouldn't it? Always be outsider. You should get that made up. Right. Let's take our second break on this episode. On the other side, we've got a few more New Year's resolutions for you. Welcome back, everyone. We're going to look at a few teams now. We've done a fair few drivers to this point.

So the running theme with all three teams is that they probably need to be better than what they were in 2024. We'll start with Williams, who finished second last in the championship. Harry, what have you got for them? Listen to Carlos. This, again, Williams are a team

that are very much concentrating on 2026. So if they have a season where they end up, seventh again, they end up, ninth, it doesn't really matter to them in their, in James Al's big plans. But they've got the experience of Carlos Sines, which again is sickening because he's also about 14. But he is one of the most experienced drives on the grid now, shockingly.

And that is such an asset they're gaining that they, and I don't doubt that they will, but they need to utilise his experience. You know, and I'm not saying Williams don't have experience, but they're getting a, they're getting a fresh set of eyes on everything, a driver that's coming from Ferrari, you know, the team with the biggest budget on the grid, previously McLaren, the team that have just won the constructor. he's got a lot of top of the grid experience

and Williams should be absolutely rinsing him for that that knowledge, that experience and make sure they listen to him as they get ready for 2026. So I have no doubt that they will. No doubt this is, you know, why, well, part of the reason why James Vowles,

James Vowls got Carlos, but Williams need to make sure they listen to him because this is another big learning year for them in terms of getting ready for the next set of rules and whether they finish ninth or seventh obviously there's a financial difference

which is important to Williams but in terms of their overall plans it doesn't matter too much I think this is more about getting ready for the big one it's very rare that a team as low down in the championship standings as as Williams are have a lineup comprised of an X-Four

Ferrari and an ex-red Bull driver. Like, it's, that's pretty good go. You won't, you won't go back in history and see too many instances of that. And obviously, Albin's been there for a few years. But I guess, do you agree with Harry's point, Sam, that Carla Sines needs to, or they need to allow Carla Sines to feedback wherever possible? What's the point in having him? You may as well have picked up a rookie or a much cheaper driver who was much earlier in his career.

If you weren't going to take on his expertise outside of the car, as well as inside of it. He's got so much feedback to give in terms of his time with McLaren, which of course was beginning to be on the up and then his development with Ferrari where he sat alongside the likes of Charles LeClaire. He knows how a successful car is built.

He's won races. He's led Grand Prix. He's had upgrades fail. What's the point in hiring some of Carlos Sites' caliber if you're not going to listen to his feedback when it comes to any form of development? You'd be silly to do otherwise. I think there's another.

benefit to it as well, which is keeping Carlos Sines motivated because in all likelihood, he's going to have the worst car he's had since his Toro Roso days, which is a long time ago now, given that that team has gone through three rebrands since then. But yeah, it's been a while since he'll have been struggling probably in the lower down parts of the grid. And him being as involved as possible in the 2026 car and everything. going forward. That's your best chance of keeping him motivated for sticking around because it wouldn't

surprise me if another team tries to poach him. They'll be looking at what Williams are doing or rather not doing in terms of on-track performance and think there's an opportunity to sign him. I wouldn't be surprised if someone like Red Bull decided they made a mistake in not thinking about him more to begin with. So if and when that happens, the best chance Williams have got of holding on to him is just this is what's coming. It's going to be good.

Don't you worry. And then if it's not very good, then you've got a real problem. Another team, Sam, Salba. Yeah, um, continuing this three words resolutions that me and Harry have decided to go down. I've got joined the conversation. Um, essentially the other nine teams are all sat in an ice circle with tea and biscuits, having a good old chit chat. I guess Alba have gone to like the wrong hotel room.

They've just turned up at the wrong restaurant and sat on their own talking to nobody. it's about time that you decide to actually be a part of this grid. You're going to be an Aldi in less than 12 months now. Audi will be joining the Formula One grid in less than 12 months, which is crazy. You can't be flailing around at the back multiple seconds slower than everyone else now. You need to start having upgrades that are efficient, upgrades that work. And whilst we all know that much like Williams, their aim is not for success within 2025, there will be some continuations.

There will be some core principles that follow over from 2020. 25 to 26 that they still aren't getting right. They still don't seem to understand. They're not developing properly and succinctly. You've got a good lineup. Holkerberg was one of the drivers of the season last time out. And Borossoleto looks like he could be really impressive. And you can't hold on to him because if he looks quick

and you can't provide him with a car that is going to allow him to have the career he wants to go down, then you might lose a great asset there as well and be left very much in hot water. So join the conversation, start being a lot more practical and efficient with the upgrades you're putting on that car and actually you know what if you still finish 10th but you're finished 10th by a point and you're actually fighting regularly with the cars in front that's a good step that could set you up for success in in 2026 otherwise you leave yourselves with way too much we do. Will you encourage by the way they ended 24 because whilst it didn't give them too many points if we're looking at the middle of last season they really were distant the end of last

season botas makes a Q3 in Abu Dhabi show get some points as well is that every. that at least they might have caught up to the, even if they are still last, they might have caught up to the pack. Yeah, I mean, that's what I would want to see for the whole season, right? Every single race, you might get a car,

uh, impede 11 or 12 in qualifying. You might never get points again. But if you're always fighting, actually regularly, 11, 12, 13th, and there's you and two other teams always in that space. At least you're competitive.

At least you're there to pick up points. If something bad goes on you in front of you, but 21 of 24 races last season, you were literally in no man's land and there's no point you're being there. So, yeah, take those final couple of races. Apply that for all of 25. Alpine. Oh, no.

I mean, the temptation here is to just say, don't be you. Like, just, I know everyone always, oh, be yourself. Like, no, you're the exception to that. Well, don't be yourself. Just be anyone but yourself. But I am going to be a bit more precise and say, give Dew and a chance please give him a chance because

you hired him over Estabat Ocon I massively disagree with the decision at the time and guess what time has not changed anything I still disagree with you as much today but you made the call and you need to deal with the consequences of that decision whether they are positive or negative

you have full permission Alpine to laugh at me if do and ends up being a massive upgrade over Ocon but whether they are positive consequences or negative consequences you've made your bet you've got to deal with whatever they are. And we've already got comments about, well, we quite like the look of Colopinto. And, well, we don't know for sure if doing it'll do the full season.

That is not how you instill confidence in a rookie. I shouldn't have to tell you that. But you really need to do better at that. Give him the full season. Now, you don't want to go too far the other way and do what Williams did with Logan Sargent and just be stubborn about it where they gave him a second year when they really shouldn't have done. If at the end of one year it's not working, fine, move on.

But at least give him the full season to show whether he is worthy of being in that seat. Although to be honest, I think I'm worthy of being in that seat based on how they perform last year. Just give him a chance and stop with all the chatter about other options because that ain't helping. Why can't Alpine just shut up and keep things to themselves? Why has everything got to be a public discussion? That's the thing. I'm not even against them having interest in Colopinto. just don't talk about it.

Chat too looks like, I'm not doing anything. Oy. Hey. Come on. First episode, you got it. Like you said,

let the poor eyes at least have a crack at the wit before you let someone else kind of settle into his seat. He did habby-dabby. He's had a chance. He sucks. The car was so crap.

You see where Gassley was. That's really poor Jack. He upheld P six along his own. Yeah. Just shut up. Talk to week, shut. I got the press all the time. Since we've got a little bit of time,

bonus one here, because I don't think we've had any attention on either of the drivers or the team. Aston Martin. Anyone want to take this one? Lance Stroll's final year. Is that a resolution? Yes.

To the team. By the end of the year, we will fire Lance Drell. I was going to say, you could just go for Keep Fernando happy because in the similar way to Carlos signs, just got to keep him motivated

for one more year. Show a photo of Adrian Newy in a week. Yeah, look. He's here. Sella type it onto the halo. I have no doubt that Alonzo is invested

in the fact that they're aiming for 26. He's signed for at least 2026 and gosh, he might do more after that. But that's what they're all aiming for. I just think there are a few cracks starting to show.

I saw actually, Mike, speaking of cranks, I saw that Mike crack said that he was glad that his drivers didn't speak out too much about the car and I was like oh I seem to remember Fernando saying a little few words towards the end of the year but okay most outspoken man in history yeah I think they just got to keep he's had a winter off he's happy but keep that under under control because if he gets too frustrated who knows this could be a much better year for for Aston Martin, but if it's like last year, they've just got to keep

Big Fernando happy. In a realistic sense, though, you have to say to Ashton Martin, why would this be a better year? What's the point in this being a better year? Well, exactly, they're not going to invest in it, are they? No, it doesn't make sense to. So as long as so, it's fully aware that, you know what, this ain't going to be a year for winning

races, but we're putting everything into 26. You just need to hold on. Yeah, you might keep having it. But, yeah, if you want to fight, if you want to be a successful in 26, you can have Adrian Newey and the like, you've got to have two cars that can fight for points regularly. I'm sorry, Lance.

When does the time finally get to? I know he's your son, and it's delightful that you want to give him his hopes of dreams, but he's crushing any chance and success that you're going to have. If I had any advice to ask to Martin, I would just say, reminding Fernando Alonzo that it won't be a season full of wins is exactly the same as he's had for the last 12 years.

That will probably really make him happy. So definitely remind him of that. Thanks, guys. Yeah, I agree with you both. Let's take our final break on this episode and on the other side. It's back and forth. Oh, New Year, same games. Come on.

Come on. New Year, same us. Yeah, this podcast never changes. For the first time this year, it's time for a better back and forth. F1. Back and forth, it's F1. Back and forth, it goes backwards. then goes forth

it's F1 back and forth F1 slap so much harder you haven't heard it for a minute dumb dumb back and forth if you're new

and you haven't heard back and forth before firstly thank you so much for tuning in making us part of your day in this brand new year at 2025 massively appreciated

I'll explain the rules to you Sam versus Harry they go back and forth on correct answers to a question until one of them can't think of an answer or gives an incorrect answer. Now, I did say that it's New Year, same us.

But in reality, there's a little something new because I've given out a lot of strikes recently to you both. Now I'm out. First round, good. None. No strikes. That's like me at bowling. Boy, I'll be bad.

Good. yeah really Sammy no strikes oh they call you on the ring oh SNS yeah folks if you ever challenge me at a game you go with a bowling

oh man so yeah you got no strikes on this one I think you'll breeze through the first like two thirds of this list the final third might get a little bit not adding expectations to me playing a game please it's been a while Ben come on

give us a break I would like you to name the 21 drivers that have been on the podium with Lewis Hamilton more than once. Oh, I give up. I fold. Harry Wings. I think you can probably name some. Harry, you can go first. Max Verstappen. You know what? He's been on a podium and Max Verstappen more than once. In fact, 60 times, which is the record for pair that have been on the podium the most times? 60 times. 60 times.

That's outrageous. That is outrageous. Hopefully we get nine more this year. I'm going to go with Valtry Bossas. Valtru Bostas. 53 times they've been on the podium together. That's third all-time. Harry.

Sebastian Vessel. Sebastian Vettel, 56 times. That's second all-time. Hamilton's very dominant on the overall list for this category. Unsurprisingly. It's got more than a few. podiums. He does.

Sam, back to you. Kimmy Reichen. Kimmy Reichen is a correct answer. 32 times they've been on the podium together. Harry, back to you. Daniel Ricardo. Daniel Ricardo is a correct answer. 22 times they've been on the podium together.

Sam. George Russell. George Russell is a correct answer. Six times they've been on the podium together. That was a bit risky that one, actually. It's more than one, so you're fine. That's true. Nico Rosberg.

Nico Rosberg, that's fourth most all time with 45. So this category, you've got Vestapp and Vettel, Bottas and Russell with Hamilton. That's the top four. Rosberg, not Russell. Sorry, Rosberg, yes. Russell has identified. We didn't say another argument. We hadn't gone through there.

Yeah. Sound back to you. It's all that I haven't got games is just trying to pick the right one. and that is essentially the name of the game. You have literally... Oh! Jensen Button. Jensen Button.

Nine times. Is that it? That's it. That is mad. That is crazy, isn't it? Yeah. Anyway, yeah. I guess, you know, the Button's best year,

0-9, Hamilton wasn't as good because of the McLaren, but yeah, nine times, that's it that they shared the podium. Yeah, but even like 10, 11, 12, there were teammates. Nine times as in many. Anyway.

It is really weird. but yes Button is a correct answer back to you Harry Mark Weber Mark Weber also just nine

well somebody called nine nine radio silence wait for the next person to fill in the rest of the song yeah you don't want to fill in the rest of this song

because if you do that's one and that's not a correct answer oh okay Sam that's you Felipe Massa Felipe Massa is a correct answer, 19 times.

Harry. Fernando Alonso. Alonzo, 25 times they've shared the podium, which still doesn't quite seem like enough. No. But yet it is. Sam?

I don't like where we are now. I'm going to go with Charles LeClerc. Chaulechleur is a correct answer, 15 times. More than Jackson Button? More than Jensen Button.

What is the world that we live in? Harry. I only got left. A thousand. So many. Nine. Oh, God. The magic number.

Gold keeps his back. Sergio Perez. Sergio Perez is a correct answer. That's the last one in double digits 13 times. Really? 13. I said that was less than Jensen Biden.

I was worried those were going to be like three. 13 times. You're right. It doesn't seem right. I don't understand history. I'm assuming that all of Perez's podiums at Force India, Hamilton might have been on the podium for. Yeah, Valichael.

But yeah, it still doesn't seem right. Sam. Carlos Sines. Sines is a correct answer nine times. So the same as Button. Yeah, that makes sense. Harry, back to you. I actually don't know anymore.

I'll give you a clue. You know all of these drivers. Oh, thank you. That's perfect. That would be a different clue for me because there's a chance I wouldn't. P.K. I don't have any left in my head. I can't name any.

I've got the opposite problem with Sam. I just can't name anyone. Well, you can. I can't. I've got nothing. I've got nothing left. Who just followed us on Instagram? Oh yeah, definitely him.

That's not a correct answer, I believe. Retired eight years before he started driving. Probably not right. Still a game. Um, well, go for Lando Norris. Lando Norris is a correct answer. Six times they've been on the podium together. Sam, back to you.

We have six names left. Babyface? It's not a correct answer. Oh, go and cry about it, Covaligning. There are seven names that have shared a podium of Hamilton just once. Covalin is on that list. So a very unlucky miss there. Any other names you've got?

See if we can rattle off some of the others. Are they recent or a while ago? A bit of both, to be honest. A couple are recent. The others are further back. Grojean? Rojohn, yeah. Three times they've been on the podium together.

Remy G. I genuinely don't have anything left. No. I don't think I've got anything left to give. Got nothing left. All right. Ian Beale is a correct answer. Mitch.

Nick Heidfeld. Quick, Nick. I've got R. Kubitsa. Yeah. Nick Heidfeld five times. Robert Kubitser four times. Rubens Barrichello. I almost said Barrichello.

Damn. Tim's crying about it. Britain 08 that we have reviewed as part of our historic race review on our Patreon. Nice plug. And also Valencia 09, which we haven't and probably never will.

The other two that are more recent, Alex Albonne and Oscar Piacastri twice each. Piacarine. The other near misses, by the way, were Alex Verts, Nelson P.K. Jr., Glock, Trilly, Petrov, and Ock.

they've all shared a podium with Hamilton just once. Good to know. For any other quizzes. Yeah. For when we do the back of floor. Hamilton one podium shared. Alex Verdes will be top of the list. I know we love to be British bias,

but I would be British bias about the plug because honestly we smash plugs, don't we? They're so secure in the wall. American plugs are terrible. Oh, I see. I thought I meant actually like plugs for the Patreon. No, you're genuinely electrical plug.

Yeah, we are a three-pin plug. The three-pin plug. The goat. The goat of plugs. Can't be defeated. You drift over that. I'm breaking my leg before the plug comes out of the wall. I will get angry about this. I'm not going to talk about it. I'll probably start swearing at America.

Oh, good. Okay, good. I was going to say, surely you have no issue. Just fall out the wall if you breathe on them. I love you, America, but what are you doing? I don't think there's fires and everything. How could you have any electricity? Which ping would you be in the free ping? If you could be a ping.

Ben's the top one. No, Ben, your top middle. All right. You're going, there's no fuse in there at all, but you just hold it. Me and Harry are the conductors for, you know. It's like the step up from short fuse. I just don't have one. Permanently gone.

Cultural, Toto and short fuse bang. No fuse bang. I enjoy this because it's a shorter podcast in normal. We're just, just hit the hour mark. So excellent work everyone with a plug chat. And speaking of plugs, you can't join Patreon. The links in the description and you get loads of extra content every single month, including a beer breaking,

historic race reviews, two extra episodes, everything on there is ag-free. You also get a birthday shout-out in the top tier, and you also get special access and early access to tickets that we do for any live shows.

Special access. This is like me. Free parking for some of them. Free parking. So check it out. It helps up a show, mohousively. Discord also available.

Let's do that again. 3,000 people. who all love her fine across the world chatting in there. Follow some social and late break. We get 10K on Instagram and we're over it enough now so we can celebrate. We actually did that. Thank you. Thank you, producer.

Well done to all three of us. We make the content. We've done really. Yeah, she's smashed it there. TikTok's growing. If you've got TikTok on there as well. YouTube 10K before Silverstone. I'm going to put a year in there.

But you can watch all the content on YouTube as well. Thanks for listening. Thanks for joining us for the new year. And we will see you every Wednesday and every Sunday, way through to the start of the season of every single race all the way through as well. In the meantime, I've been Samuel Sage. I've been Ben Hocking and I've been Harry Eat. And remember, keep breaking late.

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