The Late Braking F1 Podcast - 2025 Imola GP Race Review

Episode Date: May 18, 2025

The LB boys are back to break down what could be the final Imola GP for some time - and it didn't disappoint! They dive into Max's masterclass amid a McLaren threat that never quiet materialised, review Ferrari's recovery and Williams' strong showing, and Aston Martin's failure to convert their qualifying promise into points... 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! TIDE: Save more, earn more—up to 4.22% AER (variable). Interest rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate applies to the portion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tide.co/savings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 podcast. Make sure to check out new episodes every Wednesday and every Sunday. Welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking, today reviewing the Amelia Romagna Grand Prix, Imola, a race won by Max Verstappen taking his second race win of the season, exactly the same way that he took his first first. win in Japan with two McLaren's behind him in second and third,

Lando Norris ahead of Oscar Piastri. I mean, if that was, Sam, the last race we get to Imola, a fair amount happened this weekend. A fair amount has happened this weekend. You did a stellar job and well done for holding down the fort and qualifying on your own. So good job, mate. We won't leave you again.

Just bad timings meant that Ben had to hold down the fore, but a sensational job from you as always. We got a lot of drama, both across Saturday and Sunday. And I was going to actually come in and ask the pair of you, what did you make of the race? Because we had a lot of interesting overtakes, but many of them were aided by DRS, which is always a shame.

But at the same time, lots of drama, lots of strategy calls, the tyres were all over the place. There was a lot going on, wouldn't there? Look, a tire that allows for more than one strategy gets a big tick. Shocker, who knew?

And to be honest, I know you're right that most of the passes were DRS aided, but they weren't just blast past on a straight they were basically 50-50 into that first corner another big tick and even the ones that weren't DRSA

did was still pretty 50-50 Lecler Gasly an example yeah all around I know Imola's not always produced the best race but I enjoyed that one a lot it was it felt

it felt pure felt wholesome as an F1 race pure wow I'm not seeing Harry feel a pure F1 race for a while it's been a long side word

I think I'm not sure whether the first safety car massively improved the Grand Prix but I think the second one really did because that was a close call as we saw with a difference of strategy as to what you do towards the end. Plenty to get into as we go through this review including a lot of the strategic elements

we'll be discussing Astin Martin's fall from grace after what was a great qualifying session no points on the day. Alex Albin in the top five once again. Ferrari recovering after to what was a difficult qualifying session yesterday. But let's start out front with Max Verstappen taking that win. Ultimately, the margin with which he won was a little bit deceiving

because without that second safety car, this was looking like it was going to be close to 20 seconds. But even with that safety car, potentially foiling what had been a very good race from him to that point, he was able to very comfortably get clear of the two McLarence behind, take the win and close up to within 21 points, sorry, 22 points, of Oscar Piastri, who still holds the championship lead. Sam, the first corner or the second corner as it is here at Imola,

we mentioned during the preview how important the rundown to that corner would be in this race. Vestappen, around the outside of that corner, very much helped him on his way to get this Grand Prix win. How did you see it from Vastappen having the guts to make that move and also Piestri and how he defended it? Wow, was what quite literally left my mouth when Max Verstappen went around the outside of Oscar Piastri. You've seen it time and time again

that going around the outside of a Formula One car in today's model formula is regularly punished by the driver on the inside and is so difficult with the cars being, so wide, so heavy, so chunky. But Max Verstappen, the absolute guts on that man, to just send it around the outside,

to get placed on the racing line, to break lating off, to make sure that he kept contract with the track, but also Piastri to maintain the pace, the gap, you know, the width that he had for Stappen for it to keep it clean, because it could have ruined both their races. And so often we say that a race, you know, you can't win a race in turn one, but you can lose it. Well, I don't know. I kind of feel like Max Rastafin may have won that race in turn one because it set him up for clean air,

which was an absolute premium here today. I mean, an example of that, which of course didn't end up paying dividends for them because they made the wrong course strategically. but when Lecler pitted first while he was in that train in that first session, the undercut that he got from being in the cleaning air was monumental. It tells you just how powerful clean air can be when these tyres start to go off. And the Stappen set himself an absolute treat for this Grand Prix. So well done to him. That's what you expect from Max Verstappen.

And you cannot give Max Verstappen an 8th a centimeter of room if you want to make sure you'll get a win a Grand Prix. For Rostopiastri's side of things, dare I say disappointed, frustrated that it was so easy. he almost from Max Verstappen, like he had to be bold, but the move should never have been on. He got the better start. He was leading into the turn. He had all the rules going his way because he was on the inside. He, a quote here, claimed to the apex, which is now the rules and the language. I know it makes me recoil every time I say it, but it is the correct language for the current rule set. This move should never have occurred. It should never have happened. He should Piaastri

have led out of the first chican and through the first lap. Dare I say that he maybe goes on to have a completely different face of a Grand Prix and could go on to win this race. So when you maybe can't win the race in the first quarter, Piastri definitely lost it for himself. And then I think by trying to be clever, trying to get themselves back in front with the undercut, it unraveled and it just going badly there. So sensational from Max Verstappen, he did such a brilliant job at sending around the outside. I expected a bit more from Oscapri. I thought he'd be more aware of the threat that Verstappen was going to pose. Harry, your view of Lap one? I wrote down on my notes of

Stappen pulled Piusstri's pants down. Oh, Harry. Look, I, I, it was, it was superb from Max Vostappen. And I, but I think a margin of this was down to Oscar Piestri was looking in the wrong mirror as he was going into term one. Because I think he was so interested in what George Russell was doing directly behind him. And look, can't blame him. He was the nearest car right behind him. And I think he thought he had it covered off because Vistappen had a terrible start.

so Russell's right right up behind Piastri going into the first corner into Tambarillo and I think Piastri thinks that he's got this one covered off so I think he breaks a bit early which I think I believe is what George

was complaining about afterwards but Vastappan obviously is pretty good on the brakes in the first place but decided that was not where you should break right around the outside yeah it was but it was that was Max Vestappan at his

brilliant best I would say it was bold it was on the edge of adhesion I'd say but it was just enough and like you says I've gotten the lead which you wouldn't always say is what wins you're a race but I think here you're right

it really helped them along I do think the Red Bulls or at least in the hands of Vastappan the Red Ball race base was really good today so who knows what would have happened but it certainly set him up set him up to win so yeah it was it was superb work by

by Vastappen and yeah a little bit cautious by Oscar Piestri. As good as Piastri is, as good as the likes of Lando Norris is, George Russell, Charles, Chauleclair, throw plenty of names in there.

Let's not get it twisted. Max Westap and it's the best driver in this sport. And it ain't a debate. Like, that was so good. I think the whole race proved it, but that first overtake that he pulled off on Piastri was sublime. My response was essentially just, this man is so good.

He is so because he nailed it. He absolutely measured it to perfection. And I think the way that this race worked out, we didn't know what was going to happen with the safety cars, obviously, but it did genuinely seem like the Stappan's pace and the McLaren's pace was quite similar. I think whoever made it out of turn two in the lead

was likely going to go on and win this Grand Prix. So it was a very important move to pull off. And he absolutely nailed it. From Piastri's perspective, I'm unsure where to land on this one because part of me thinks he should have fought this much harder. As Russell kind of said on team radio, he broke very early for the corner.

Could he have used the rules to his advantage and kept that lead? Highly plausible. The other side of his thinking, with his championship lead and the McLaren advantage that it has been for the first few races, was he playing the percentages

and actually was it the right call to almost let him have this one knowing that if he, go back to Miami. First of all, he ran the risk of the same thing happening to Lando Norris, the same thing that happened to Lando Norris happening to him,

which of course, we saw how much Lando Norris had to, even just fighting past George Russell, how many seconds that cost him here at Imola. So I think he might have been worried about that. And secondly, they had such a pace advantage in Miami. Maybe he was suspecting

and they were suspecting that they would be able to get that advantage back. And he would, you know, whether it was via strategy or whether it was through tyre, whatever it might be, he might actually be able to play a more risk-averse strategy and get that place back later in the Grand Prix. Obviously, that's not what we saw,

and that might well impact how he goes about racing the next couple of Grand Prix, because if Red Bull can show that pace again and again, you can't afford to be as conservative as what Piastri was today. So I'm not 100% sure on where to land on the Piastri side of things, but from Vastappen's perspective, oh boy. In terms of the rest of the race and how that unfolded, we had Oscar Piaastri go into the pits relatively early on in this Grand Prix. Decision had to be made by Red Bull and Vostappan,

would they follow him in? And at least initially, the answer was no. And ultimately, Piastri, in the way the strategy game played out, he didn't even finish second in this race, instead finishing in third. Sam, do you think McLaren, got it wrong today? It's very hard to say they go it wrong. We have hindsight on our side, and so it's very easy to look at this and go, chumps, you know, it's obvious that it was going to end up

being a one-stop. I think everyone called it as most likely a two-stop. I think all of our Discord chat, I think we all thought it, social media was kind of rife with this was going to be a two-stop, everyone was very exciting for that. And when you saw the results of those who were stopping earlier, of course, Piastri, not the first stop. There were many before him that had come in, the advantage that they initially looked to have was huge. LeCleur was able to go from, I think it was ninth on the track or something like that, and he ended up passing Russell, he passed Alonso, he passed the Williams guys. So the jump that LeCler got by pitting earlier and actually undercutting those around him,

and you saw the ability that Fresh Tires had, makes total sense to plan that into your strategy. And I actually respect McClaren for being so aggressive with their strategy. forward thinking, proactive. And sometimes that is going to bite you on the backside a little bit, and it did here today. But Piastri was tucked up behind the staff, and the gap was about two or three seconds at this point. It kind of makes sense.

If they can get a really slick pit stop together, they can get Piastri to clean air, which they did. He had about 10 seconds to drive into behind Nuki-Sungoda, he came out behind that group there, that pack with them. He would be able to essentially close the gap to the stappers. So when the Stappen has to come in and start his strategy calls, he would end up being in front.

And he can then hold it. off of Stapping. I think it's a very sensible idea. So I don't blame this one on McLaren. I think it was an unfortunate situation that actually what we didn't expect was the medium tire, the C5. It rubbed up so well that once you got through the initial graying phase in overheating, it became a really safe and strong race tie. You look at how Hajar and Albon, and they're just the midfield guys, that alone the guys at the front were able to run that tire so much further into the Grand Prix, to make the one stop completely viable, even without. safety cars coming out.

It shows you that the teams think have full understanding of how the rubber was going to work throughout this Grand Prix. I do just think, unfortunately, Piastri has just been dealt. A bad hand. It happens on the other occasion. He's like such a great run. He recovered very, very well. It's great to finish on that podium. But they did do the right call by splitting.

By keeping Norris out to chase Vastappan, to keep the pressure on for Stapen. It meant the McLaren had kind of a footing either side of the court and it allowed them to fight properly on both sides, which they weren't doing at certain races that like Japan, where they could have split the strategy, and it meant they maybe would have come out on top. So I respect it.

It hasn't worked out for Piastri. They didn't get the jump off the staff with either car, but at least they tried something a little different and it didn't pay off for them. Harry, were McLaren right to try something different, or did they get things wrong? I think they did get things wrong. But I'd say, importantly,

they only got it wrong for 50% of the team. They didn't do what Aston Martin did and fully commit to this with both cars in one go. Oh, we're getting on to that. Excellent work, guys. You're right, Sam. It's so easy for us to sit here and say, you know, with hindsight and say there was a wrong thing to do.

What I would say is I'm not quite sure why McLaren bolted so early with Piastri, and I fear they got a bit spooked by what LeClaire was doing. Because obviously, LeClair, I think, was I was going to say the first, but he wasn't Espanoccal, was that the first one? Sure. I would get on to that. Before the race. one of the first Charlotte has to pit.

But I think, yeah, they maybe just, I think they should have had a little bit more confidence in themselves to just keep them out. And I'm glad they didn't bolt with both cars, like I said, because that would have been potentially disastrous for them. And Piazsche does a good job to bring it back. I think, honestly, I think the VSCs and safety cars probably brought him back into more contention than it would have been.

had then been none for the rest of the afternoon. And this probably would look like a worse result for him. But yeah, I'm a bit surprised they bolted so early with him. I know he said he was struggling. And maybe that's what they went with that and said, look, he's going to come in and figured everyone else was going to as well. But I'm glad they quickly realized that wasn't going to be the case and didn't also pit Norris because that, yeah,

that wouldn't have been good for McClaren. So yes, I think it was the wrong call. I think they'll look back on that as a mistake. They've done well to regain, you know, third place out of that. Because I think it actually could have been, could have been much worse for Piastri in the end. And he obviously did. I mean, of all the, there aren't many people I think I'd trust at the moment to give for that strategy to and come out well. Oscar Piaastri is one of them.

He is so clinical, just rocks up to literally anyone and passes them. you saw the difference between I know obviously the McLaren is a beast but the way that he got past Sengoda for example the way that he cleared the Ferrari guys so quickly these aren't cars at a midfield they are close especially down straight line speed so the way he blitz past them because we're running outside

and carried on with his day it barely held him up you know you think the traffic for most would be bad but it's almost like passing a lap car that's what I mean and I said obviously I think the safety car's helped him he held himself as well it has to be said because that could he could well have just got boxed in and stuck down in the midfield for the rest of the afternoon.

So I think McLaren were fortunate in that sense as well. So yeah, I do think this was their mistake, but it's been recovered well. I actually land more on the side of complimenting Red Bull for not falling into the trap rather than blame McLaren for what they did. I think it was a worthwhile decision because let's just say they make the call to go into the pits.

Stappen follows him in the lap after, but because of that massive undercut that you already outlined Sam with how LeClau used it, if Piastri then gets ahead of Vestappen, and then Lando Norris goes much longer into this race and takes advantage of the safety car, and McLaren has sat there first and second and Vastappan's third, we're sat here on this review complimenting McLaren for trying something where they use the two cars to gang up on Vestappen. So I want to almost give more credit to Red Bull and Vestappen

to actually trust the tyres, trust Vastappen's ability to get the most out, of them, extend that stint on, and then find like Alburn and Hadjo and others out front that actually there was a bit of a second win for these tyres and that they could go far further into this race than was first suspected. I think McLaren may be slightly impacted by a few other strategic calls where we've been maybe a bit critical of them not being quick enough and not being the ones taking charge. Here they definitely took charge and I think that they were worried maybe that if Verstappen got into the box before them and basically stopped the undercut there and then, we would then be after the race be saying, well, you know, they need to be more proactive.

They need to be the ones making the call. So I don't really blame Piastri or the team really, apart from the slow pit stops, which they're apparently can't, they can't do them anymore. They used to be brilliant. And today they mucked up what felt like, was it three pit stops that they weren't great? One was particularly bad. I think Piastri's first one was particularly bad. but yeah, they were a couple dogs you once.

Harry, what about Lando Norris? Because he didn't qualify on the front row of the grid. Had to make his way past George Russell, was held up a fair amount. I think it took him three laps to really get by George Russell when he was on his tail. Then he's about nine and a half, ten seconds back from Vestappen. Doesn't get lucky with the virtual safety car. He's essentially coming out of the pits when that VSC is called, extending the gap to about 18 seconds,

but then has to make the overtake on Piastri to get that second place back. A bit of a mixed day for him and the team. Where do you land on it? Yeah, definitely a mixed day. Look, some of the damage was done in qualifying yesterday for Norris. What I will say is,

and something we were critical of him in the Miami Review, he was much better at learning from, learning from what was happening in front of him today. So with the Russell move, I know he still took him a couple of laps. I think Russell was defending that really well and it was pretty evenly matched to begin with the start of the race anyway. But Norris quickly learned where Russell was weakest and then made the alternative move around the outside into the second chicane. So I compliment him on that because I think that, you know, he could have easily got stuck behind Russell for a long time and didn't. Like said, he was unlucky with the VSC coming out.

I mean, he literally had just pit, which is the worst timing in the world to pit right before that happens. To Miami, right? Complete opposite, exactly. Yeah. And that's just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. Yeah, I think overall his pace was, his pace was pretty good, but he just had to work a bit harder to,

obviously, get past Russell in the first place. Then obviously later on, he's a bit unlucky. And once he had got past Russell and Piastri had Pitt, he was just kind of in no man's land. There wasn't really much, I think, as much else he could do. I think Verstappen's pace was that good. He wasn't going to be able to go after him. And it was more just, I think, trying to ensure that he, when he did pit under normal racing conditions,

he would come out in front of Piastri. So I think where he's ended up is probably where he would have ended up anyway. If there had been no safety cars, it was just a real long way around to get there. Yeah, I think that's probably right. I was quite impressed with the way he got those overtakes done. The George Russell won. That was that was clinical. And he worked that all the way from turn two through until the,

it's escaping me, what that chican's called. But yeah, he worked his way quite well there. And that was a clinical overtake on the outside of the corner. And to the move on Oscar Piastri late on as well, I was quite impressed by. I know Piastri was on older tires, but it still took a monumental effort into the breaking zone for him to get by. It wasn't like he was able to sail past before the breaking zone, as we saw with a few of the other overtakes. So I think Norris was pretty clinical. The problem is the same as Miami.

He just had work to do before he could run in clean air. And it was a different opponent because we were comparing him to Piastri in Miami. Here we're comparing him to Vestappen. But even without the unfortunate VC, he was still nine and a half seconds back or so from Vestappen. That gap wasn't moving. again, showing he had the pace to be around Vestappen, if not, maybe slightly ahead, if it started ahead, but that's the problem he didn't. So he's going to have to find a way to maximise qualifying, so he's not having to start with this handicap. Samuel Fultz.

Yeah, qualifying is the big, worry's harsh because he's literally what, top three almost every single time other than today where Russell got the jump. And that's what cost him. Because if he was tucked up behind Piastrian for Stappen and something happens with those three in the first corner, he's there to take him. take it, but being set behind George Russell, who defending so brilliantly, the way he was holding that line was so, so good. But I have to praise Landon Norris to go because he, he got dealt a bad hand on a million occasion, I think today. He set up that overtake beautifully. He worked out the lines. He worked out where Russell was struggling. Worked out if he could run a little wide or not, crossed over the lines during the tamborello and then into Villeneuve,

the chican, went into it, Villeneuve and was able to kind of do the Apparanda, which is fantastic from Norris, because he struggled with that in Miami. He really struggled with getting past for staffing. I know for Stappan and Russell are two different games, so to speak. But, you know, Russell's no easy customer, and he did a really good job of getting past that. But then Norris had to do with lots of other little things that didn't really go his way. We spoke about the VSE, how he pitted and came out after that. We then had the instant where Albon effectively got past him, and then he got let that

by. And realistically, he probably should have let Albon through because Albon was really ahead at the safety car line, gets a little lucky. there, but then Piastri comes about past on the safety car restart on older tyres. And you do have to wonder if Norris, on his completely fresh tires, was right behind. Max Verstappen, he is completely fresh tires? In that moment, is there enough from Norris that he's able to actually put a proper offensive onto Max Verstappen? I'm going to get air on the side of no.

It looked like when Norris did get past Piastri. The gap pretty much stayed stacking. It's got grew slightly by a second or so after the move was made. but you have to wonder completely fresh rubber haven't been used up overtaking his teammate at all. Is there a chance we see a duel between the Stape and the Norris?

It's definitely a question. So good race from Norris. I think he recovered from a pretty shoddy qualifying in fourth and he'll be happy that he's somewhat close the gap to the championship leader and his teammate. All right, let's take our first break on this episode. On the other side, we're going to be discussing Ferrari. Welcome back, everyone.

Not a great qualifying day for, Ferrari as they were both knocked out in Q2 starting this race 11th and 12th on split strategies with Lewis Hamilton starting on the hard tire, Charleclair starting on the mediums. So a different way to go about this race for both drivers, but both of them making good progress on where they qualified. Charles LeCler eventually finishing P6, as already mentioned, he was one of the very first drivers to make that undercut early in this Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton went long into this race and took advantage of both the

safety car and the virtual safety car and eventually got a couple of overtakes done at the end to get fourth. So it wasn't looking this promising, Harry, at least at least yesterday, but they walk away with 20 points. How was that? Very good recovery, but makes yesterday so frustrating because I think there's a really, I'll keep saying it, but there's a really good car there. And that race place today was, um, was, was, was really impressive. And I think both were really impressive, but I think particularly under the Clur, who just, was just like, having punches thrown at him or race from literally any angle. But, Imala got hands.

Imler got about 10 hands and they're all named to Charlotte Clare. So I think he was unlucky to finish where he finished. Hamilton made, you know, made a great job of, of the strategy he had in the end. and was, you know, clinical right at the death where he needs to be, which is, you know, a typical blue assampton fashion. Not too negative today, actually. I really enjoyed the T-Redia where it was like, they'd clearly had a chat after Miami,

and he was like, okay, understood. Okay, we move on. You heard it with a Claire, didn't you? He's like, not to be pessimistic, guys, I promise you. Just trying to think of points. I'm trying. But, yeah, I think it was a really, after what was a tough,

tough Saturday, a very impressive comeback. And like I said, it's just makes Saturday all the more frustrating because they showed on Friday they had good race pace and had they'd actually qualified,

I think, man, even if it was like three or four places above where they had, I think they really could have been, you know, in the mix. And that would have been an excellent, excellent addition to this. I mean, I know they were in the mix

at the end anyway, but, Yeah, good come back. I'm a little bit relieved because after Saturday, I was like they might as well just quit and go home now. Let's try it to get next year. I tell you isn't relieved, Bing. You are Bing.

I'm talking about Bing. I'm not being relieved. Go on, Bogie P. But you were well excited after Saturday. Rigged, man. We'll get on to Wying a moment, folks. Sam, your thoughts on the recovery? Yeah, good, wasn't it?

It was good. I was frustrating at Lewis Hamilton at the start of the Grand Prix because he was cooped up behind Kimmy Antingalee for, was it, 36 laps of this race? And he lost that place going into turn one. That's what was so frustrating about this. And you have to think the Ferrari race place was so good that if Hamilton could have got the jump on Antingelli, which he really had because he started in front and then

got in front of Hadjar at the start, who had a bit of a rubbish star, he botched the start and came back a few places. Do you think that Hamilton, you know, stuck behind the Claire at this point, actually ends up so far in front of where he's trailing at that, kind of the BSC point. at the race. He could be in contention properly for a podium. He could have ending up being where the likes of Albany and Piastri were when they were fighting towards the end of the Grand Prix.

He ends up a second and a half behind Piastri at the end of this race. If you do the exact same race, but Hamilton is in front of Hajar and Antigelli on lap two, there's every chance a podium is on there for him. So that was frustrating to see, but it was really promising that both Ferraris, when they were in clean air,

when they were actually able to get their heads down, look really promising. I think they were better than Mercedes. I think the same to struggle in a lot of key places. I think Russell did a great job in qualifying to compliment what was a not-so-great car around here. But the recovery was fantastic. To go from being 11th and 12th to being fourth to sixth,

they got the points. They made Defoeuvre proud there, I think they'll be happy. I think Hamilton would be very happy to beat LeCler, because it looks like a lot of times that he was going to end up behind his teammate again. And I think he'll go, who thank my lucky safety car stars that I am out in front of my teammate. And I have to compliment LeCler. I think he made it very easy for Lewis Hamilton to come past him on that turn one overtake.

You saw the difference between him and album, the lap before and then him and Hamilton the lap after. It was kind of like a way by wasn't it. It was like, I'm not going up, but I just not get upset this relationship too early in the season. You go for it, mate. So, yeah, well done to both of them. I think LeClaude did the right thing you handed that place back with an album. Good job. Good job.

They score some good points. Yeah. Carlin's very quick in a straight line, wasn't it? unless you're against Kim Yancingelli who doesn't break. Felt like it was 2019 all over again. Oh, what, Belgium, perhaps. So, yeah.

Was I expected to seem that quick and a straight line? Belgium, 2019, here? It's very intriguing. But yes, well done to them for the recovery and getting back to fourth and sixth. And I guess it's maybe indicative of the pace that they had that they could do it on two different strategies. when it comes to

Charle-Claire, he's not as unlucky as I think some people are making out because Ferrari nailed it in terms of bringing him in as early as they did because just being out there one or two laps in clean air was able to get him by a number of drivers that he maybe would have struggled to overtake or at least taken longer to overtake. So I think they played that well,

but he certainly did get unlucky towards the end of the race and had to hold on to the tires, similar to a couple of others in the top 10, but I think Charles LeClaire raced really well. Lewis Hamilton executed the strategy well. This is going to come across wrong because he did do a very good job getting to fourth. Equally, I don't think he could have written that race any better

for how he wanted it to play out. Obviously, he didn't have to make a lot of overtakes on track because of the way the safety car came out. He then went on to the medium tires. about halfway through this race when the virtual safety car made an appearance. At that point, it was going to be quite a long way to go on those mediums.

What he could have really needed was a second safety car. Here you go. There's the second safety car. And fair play to him and Ferrari, because they nailed it at every opportunity to make a stop. They perfected the strategy. I just, from Lewis Hamilton's perspective, the guys kind of pulled off one overtake and managed to make up,

eight spots. Sure. I'm sure he won't mind too much because 12 points is 12 points. But well done to Ferrari. Not a great day for Mercedes in front of them in the Constructors Championship. Of course, Red Bull, even with Verstappen having a great day, it's still only 26 points, which, given how dominant Gestappen was out front for much of this race, still feels like with two cars in the fight, they've missed out a little bit.

So Ferrari can be happy with how this weekend went, given how it was looking after Saturday. That worries me, Ferrari. Don't actually walk away from this and be happy with how this weekend went. Just because you outscored, Besson, you see, I guess I mean that this was good enough. It's so Ferrari to dust a hazard and go, woo, a job well done by the team, pat on the back and walk away from it. Go, Monaco next, where if you're very smart, smart, fast you go straight line.

No, no straight lines in Monaco. It doesn't work there. It'd be very Ferrari to have worked on their top speed going into Himmuller and Monaco. Yeah, guys would crack the code. We fail through the straits. All of the races have corners. Just working at Monta.

That's all they're aiming for. Yes. Not all September, guys. That's when they'll bring their low-speed corner in their way. Sam, you mentioned that Alex Albin and Shao LeClau, the position swap, was the right thing to do from Charles

Claire's perspective before it was investigated by the FIA. Why are you doing that? Well, seemingly, I've not heard this question before and there definitely wasn't a power cut between the first time you asked me and the second time. That's how good late breaking is. Why was it a good call?

I think with the rule set that we've got here in Formula One, it's very hard sometimes to work out what is determined is racing room, how far a lot of the car should be, whether they can go around the outside. Actually, Imola providing us with some really brilliant wheel to wheel racing. You have the move, of course,

with the staffing and piastri, you had the fight with Norris and Russell, and there were many other moments across the race where actually we saw some late-breaking maneuvers go around the outside and get the job done. Of course, we love that here at late-breaking. So Alex Albuhring, I think more firmly than most, was fully alongside.

Those front wheels were right up alongside Lecler, and I think that he was fully entitled to the racing room. The issue, of course, would have been that if there was another safety car, if it meant that there was some kind of problem where the car's behind were able to catch up, Lecler holding on to that place over outside, was resulting in at least a five second time penalty.

Of course, with the inconsistencies, we don't know what that true time would have been. It is just so much safer to let Alex Allen back through. He was fully entitled to that racing room. He did a great job in not kind of deeing, because you could get caught in that gravel, seeing it time and time again where a car has been beached in that gravel that's ruined their race.

So he was able to get back into racing and not cause any trouble, especially for Hamilton coming through behind. It was the right call. It was sensible. It works. I think they'll be silly to face, a potential penalty when they don't know the severity of it, when all they had to do was Hannah placed back.

They lost two points. It's really got a big deal. Harry, was that the right thing to do? Yeah, it was. Because why, I think Albuon's going to get past anyway at that point. So you might as well just let him go, make it easy. Make it easy for him, for the stewards to not have to come to any decision there. So the right call, I, I, you see, I,

for me it was pretty marginal but i think what um does not help charlerclair's cause is that we've seen so many overtakes you know bits of action through that very same corner during the very same race that meant that you know i think this was a it was it was the right call to to let alban back past i don't think there was much i think there was much malice or intent in what le clare was doing I think he was on old ties defending the inside. They were side by side and he sort of, it just ran him out of room. And it's not, it's a pretty narrow track at Imala. You know, you think versus Miami, for example, there's a lot less time out to play with.

And I think when you're, you're defending on old rubber, it's always going to be a bit difficult. I think he definitely should have left him all room. But again, like I say, I don't think it was Lecler intentionally running him off the road as we have seen. some other drivers do. So, yeah, I still think it was right cool. I think Albon deserved more racing room there, as we saw with other drivers through that corner. So it was the right call for the Lerterdletem Ther.

I know he was frustrated. But to be honest, Albon was getting passed eventually anyway. Yeah, I think it was the right call because like you said, Sam, you don't know what that penalty is going to be from the FIA if there was a penalty attached, but at a minimum it's going to be five seconds. I doubt they would have stretched to 10 seconds on that. But that five seconds would have been enough to drop multiple positions. And I think it was far safer to potentially give up that spot that, as you mentioned, Harry,

might have given up anyway on track to just secure those eight points for sixth place. Charles was obviously unsure as to what he did wrong. Didn't leave him any space. Fairly clear, I think. They were side by side into the corner. I think Albin was entitled to the room that he eventually he didn't get. And I think if it had gone to the stewards, Leclair deserved to be punished for it. I'm kind of, I'd rather they just worked it out on track like this. I think it's far easier and

we don't need to get the stewards involved. But yeah, I think Albin fully deserved to be there and he didn't get the space that he was entitled to. Can we just talk for a moment about Imola? Obviously, we might lose Imola at the end of this season. This might be the last time we ever go racing there. We mentioned that in the preview. I love the jeopardy that we have with gravel. I know we mention it all the time, but not having these acres of runoff zone not having the space to make these mistakes you saw it with gassing one right yeah him and leclair going wheel to wheel you see it with this album one that making a daring overtaker so much more jeopardy something for risk when you do pull it off so much of a brilliant reward i think the

stappens turn one moment signifies how bullsy it was because of the risk that it posed i'll miss it i miss it and when we lose a track like imola it's going to be a real shame to lose another circuit that has that risk factor that isn't just you know they'll just go on to the runoff zone and they'll rejoin behind do it again. It's an old-school F-1 thing that we are losing. Yeah, there was, as Harry put it so brilliantly in the intro, something very pure about this weekend. I just love the sea of Tophosi, like, at the start as well.

Like, the stands were pretty packed, and it felt like proper F1, you know? Proper. Not woke. I didn't say that. Driver of the day, please, Mr. Reid. The verdict is in. You're the driver of the day. You're the driver of the day.

You're good at driving. Harry, I appreciate you. Probably think they were all woke and don't deserve this, but if you had to pick one. This, look, obviously, Max just happened was very impressive. I almost want to give it to the clergy. just sounds a pity. I'm going to quite a niche one.

I'm going to give it to Nico Holkenberg. My guy almost got points in a toaster. I couldn't believe he was that far up. And for, you know, for fleeting moments, I know there are safety cars that played into his hand, but for fleeting moments, I thought he was going to score some, it's got more points in that car,

which is, you know, unbelievable. So, yeah, that's my driver a day. A bit, a bit left field, but I thought he did. I thought he did a really, stellar job in that part of crap. Sam? Yeah, tough one. I'm told between either Max Verstappen for what he was simply able to do and Lewis Hamilton for his recovery, which I thought was great. I thought Albuick had a

sensational race as well, really, really strong. I thought agile was brilliant for a lot of it is when I got a bit unlucky with some of the calls that came out with yellow flags, etc. I'm going to be boring. I'm going to go for Stappen. The guy showed pace that I don't think that car truly had. I think he kept those McLaren's out. at bay like an absolute little beauty. So Max, drive the day. Your beauty. Yeah, same for me.

I've got Vastappan. I know there was a lot of chatter on the commentary about his luck in this race. He'd a won by 10 seconds without the safety car coming out. So I don't think it was that luck. I know the virtual safety car might have doubled his advantage. That advantage was still pretty substantial before that virtual safety car came out.

He showed good pace. obviously that excellent overtake on the first lap that we've already discussed. And I think different to Suzuki, this weekend will give Red Bull more encouragement because Suzuki was great. You know, the qualifying attempt was brilliant as well on that weekend. But it did feel like McLaren was still the fastest car that couldn't get an overtake done on what was a very difficult overtaking track. Here, it really did feel like Vastappen had the pace to match the McLaren's,

which is good going forward in this season. Worst driver of the day The best Ben Ben Ben Ben Worst driver of the day And Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben Worst driver of the day You suck at driving

Sam This one is tricky Sometimes you get some really glaringly obvious ones And I'm kind of Dippinging an out of Oh Classic noises there from the podcast You know

I'm going to go with Yuki Sanoida. I know he got a point, but his pace was not there all race. I know he had to rebuild the car. And obviously, he had a bit of a tricky start to the weekend. And he started for the pit lane and pit lane to tend. Oh, yeah, sure. But the car is more than good enough. You saw what the Stappen was able to do to keep McLarenz at bay.

And even if Sondoda can never do that, the car is capable of fighting with Mercedes, the Ferraris. I do think that him being still behind Hajar, even after BSC's, safety cars bring the field back together. I just don't really think it's good enough. I'm a bit disappointing. So do you think well to be the Aston Martins that didn't stop and a salber? That's good.

And then other than that, I kind of think he should have done better. Harry? I'm going for Liam Lawson. If anyone remember seeing him this afternoon, let me know because I don't think I did very much. MIA. But the gap to the gap to Hadja was in 10 seconds of the end, but that was safety car related.

His pace versus Hachar was, I mean, Hachar was qualified well ahead of him anyway, but his race pace to Hajar was not even close. So not a great afternoon for him. So I'm going to go, can I go Lawson? A genuinely thing I could give this to about six different drivers because no one had an absolute disaster, but there were quite a few that were either massively disadvantaged

by the safety car or just didn't show. a lot. Both of those names, I think, are in the mix. I'm actually going to make it three different names out of three. I'm going to go Franco Colopinto. Now, of course, there is an asterisk with this one in that it was his first race back. So it's not like expectation should have been sky high for what he could have achieved this weekend. But Gasly was very comfortably faster than him from the off. And even with Gasly having a slightly messy weekend, Colapinto, you know, he wasn't able to take advantage of Ghazley didn't have the best of the strategy either

I think Colapinto did and that still didn't work out for him he didn't show much all weekend so I'll go Colapinto do you remember in our preview we spoke about Colopinto and I said it's better to be fast and crash than be slow what's worse than that is be slow and crash

that's the worst combo yeah you know you got doing yeah hmm I'll have more you made your own connections here folks on this podcast we set you up you do the thinking

we're not going to explain anything on this podcast we just say one lying and then we let you wrong with it yourselves the good news is Colopinto either has another one race, four races or 44 races

I don't know where Flavio has read that I can't believe I can't believe you know he got to remember what he ag for dinner all right

Flavio can't remember nothing it's written down I heard someone say at the beginning of this episode, welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast. Where do you get that from? Where do that? No idea. We don't do the podcast here.

Anyway, let's take our second break on this episode. On the other side, we're going to get into double Williams points and a tough weekend for Mercedes. So Williams are still very good. They have managed to score double points here. Again, that follows double points at Saudi Arabia and Miami. And before we started recording, I wanted to look back. and see the last time that they had scored double points in three consecutive weekends.

You have to go back to the beginning of 2016. So it has been a very long time. Alex Albin ultimately getting the best of the day in fifth, Carlos Sines a few positions back. Harriet felt like that maybe Carlos Sines had the better of the pace this weekend, but Albin might have had the better strategy on the day. In either case, another great result for them. Very much so.

honestly at one point I could I could not realistically see but there was a there was a pathway to an Alex album podium today like a mirage in the desert yeah like kind of see it there it's almost there and it was it was going to be

it was going to be a long shot but I think that in itself is a true testament to the pace of that William's car there would have been a bit of luck involved and strategy but you make your own luck sometimes in F1 Signs was having the equivalent Charles LeClair day

in terms of the way things fell for him and he recovered well to still grab some points but you're right I think all weekend signs has looked like the quicker driver of the two of them but just sometimes that's the way it goes album was super impressive

especially during that first stint he was the gap to the gap to those ahead was well when after people the pit. The gap to those ahead was only Norris and the stoppum, but it was a fairly consistent gap. It wasn't dropping off the pace massively. And that was going to stand in a good stead. The reason I say I thought a podium was on is because the only people behind him

that were in his pit window were Leclercler and Piastri. I'd say it was marginal whether they actually needed to pit again as well. So yeah, it was an impressive day for Williams who must be sort of pinching themselves at how well it's going this year when it's not even the focus. but they will take it and a very very well executed day I think they again

like with McLaren I'm glad they didn't they split their strategies in terms of they didn't double stop and put both drivers on the same strategy early on

they only did it with signs and perhaps realized that was a wrong call so well done to them on that one but yeah pace there is very good and I think you know signs after

qualifying yesterday was asked about the Astrid Martin's qualifying in front of him and he wasn't that faced. I think he had a better race car. So obviously it perhaps didn't work out the way he wanted.

But I think, yeah, what they've got there is a solid, solid base. It's so weird. Alex Albin has finished fifth place in this Grand Prix. And I think he was a touch unlucky. Like you say that a podium might have been on the cards, quite possibly. But he should have been fourth.

Like I really think other than Piastri, I don't think anyone else is getting him on this. on the way that his strategy was playing out. Now, maybe there's a little bit of luck in that he was there to begin with and others like his teammate weren't, but he executed it really well. Alex Albin has 40 points this season. Could you imagine saying preseason after Imola,

Alex Albin would be on 40 points? It's incredible the job that he's doing, and today included, I was thoroughly impressed. I also think Carlos Seines was ridiculously unlucky. He was, yeah, you're right. He was like as unlucky as Leclair, but also he didn't have the advantage of getting the undercut. So he was maybe the unluckiest driver if Aston Martin didn't exist of the entire grid. Sam, how impressed were you by what Williams were able to achieve?

Yeah, and the pace in that car is great. And it's great that they're able to display it on multi-chuga different racetracks, different surfaces, different styles of racetrack, you know, street circuits, traditional race circuits, slow, corgous. They're everywhere now. really are the full package of the big field. They're not trailing, not having to get lucky. They're in that conversation all the time, which is really, really positive to see from winning.

I thought Alex Album's pace, once again, Miss Kataya Whisperer, he's so good at keeping the rubber alive across a long race. And that paid dividends for him today. I think what's quite funny is Charlotte Clare and Ferrari inadvertently set up a trap for about eight of the cars across this racetrack. But what's funny is LeCleur didn't realize

he was also falling into his own traps. up by LeCler. I'm in the train Ferrari. The car of Ferrari pull back the curtain, and LeCler's there at the hang of the, you know, it's a crap. Admiral LeCler here is flown straight into it. And I think, unfortunately, Piaastri, Science,

and many others have fallen into this scenario. You heard the, I think I know, the sadness echoing and Carlos Sides' voice over the radio of, well, if Album's doing a 21-1, it's going to be a one-stop. I've already accepted it's going to be a one-stop, and that's the best thing. a strategy and it's amazing how quickly they can tally that up whilst driving a race car and work out he's good he's good it's a one stop um and he got so unlucky every turn he got unlucky i think he did

a good job to recover to actually get into the points again made good use of how quick that Williams was in a straight line you saw it when Alvin was attacking at the end of the Grand Prix it was pacing with that DRS assistance in a straight line but they're still going to come away overjoyed science will be frustrated but at least that he'll know this wasn't a one-off where scoring points was luck when they get a chance of grabbing a ninth on a good day. The car is there. It's there to stay. It's there to fight. And going into Monaco, how often have we said, oh, not for Williams. They can't do anything but straight lines. They qualify well, which is every chance they do so. They'll score all double points again. So well done to Williams. It's great to see them develop. Our albums have

his best ever start to a Formula One campaign, which is amazing to see. Science is really getting the feel of it now because I thought its pace was brilliant all weekend. And they've come away unlucky and still scored this many points. So good to see it. Really glad they're back. Let's move on to the third best Mercedes team, Mercedes. They finished seventh with George Russell and didn't finish at all with Kimmy Antonelli. Harry, what do you make of their weekend?

Because it's not like Antonelli was on course for a huge amount of points anyway. George Russell qualified third in this Grand Prix and has obviously slipped back quite a few spots. It seemed to struggle. Yeah, a weird one for Mercedes. I still don't know whether there was something wrong with George Russell's car. He didn't seem happy with it. He thought there was. Yeah, I didn't seem happy with it from the, you know, outlap to the grid. Or just there was, you know, just generally something, yeah, not quite right.

But yeah, Antonelli certainly struggled. And again, his fate was kind of sealed a bit in qualifying. But, yeah, he did well at the start, I guess, because he was, head of Hamilton and on that same strategy, it took a while for Hamilton to get past. Russell, meanwhile, really did struggle on those median tires. Like, they went away quickly versus everyone else. I mean, even Alonzo was catching up to the back of that Norris Russell battle

before the first pit stop. So, yeah, I think that would leave them scratching their heads somewhat. It was quite a hot day today and, you know, we have seen previously that Mercedes have struggled. This year, it doesn't feel like that that has. has been the case. So I think today will have maybe, maybe confuse him a little bit. But yeah, it'll be a disappointing one.

Because I think based on where they were in qualifying, Ross would probably expect it a little bit more. So yeah, an odd today. And I think he was ultimately a bit unlucky at the end with the safety guy. He was having to do a job that, you know, Leclair was also doing and hang on with older ties. So maybe he should have been slightly further up. Am I right saying this is the first time he's not finished?

in the top five. It is. That consistency strength is. Yeah. So P6, which, you know,

pretty remarkable for George. But, yeah, they're not a great day, especially when Ferrari managed to score so many points

from what was a pretty terrible qualifying. I mean, Sam, going into the first corner, George Russell, he might have got the best launch of the top three

and thinking there could be an outside chance of snatching the lead away. And then it just all fell apart from there. It did. Actually, I have a slightly different viewpoint to what Harry's brought up there.

I think that once again, our friend, Admiral LeCler, caught another victim in the Ferrari trap, where George Russell was swept up in that. He went for the early box. He tried to kind of get in front of science and the like. So he was caught up in that poor strategy call from the Seiz where they were unable to realise that actually you couldn't run a lot longer on those medium tires than what was expected.

Kimmy Ansigelli, I think it's a really interesting one, because Antekelly, great start, gets ahead of Lewis Hamilton. he's on the better hard tire for this overall race day. And look when Lewis Hamilton finished. Lewis Hamilton finished in P4. Now, LeCler puts on the medium tire after, you know, as Hamilton does, they swap over exactly the same strategy. And suddenly, Antingelli is nowhere.

I don't know if the engine at this point has started to go and we're not seeing the symptoms of this come through properly where we can actually acknowledge that it's the engine, or if he's just burnt his tires through because he went after Alex Albon so quickly. He was like a bat out of hell. The guy was like, you know, the dogs opened and he was there going, I'm going to get you, I'm going to catch you.

And I think he burnt those tires up too quickly. Whereas Lewis Hamilton sat on his new tires. He was two or three seconds back for a few laps. And he built towards that battle that was going ahead. He entered his tires in gently. He brought them in slowly. I think that helped them to cure a little bit. I meant the rubber didn't get burnt through too quickly, didn't overheat.

But after Hamilton, got past Antigelli, he was nowhere. He just went backwards and backwards. And then, of course, the engine went. Russell was caught up in almost a similar style of strategies to what Carla Sykes was caught up in. It just never really went the right way. Plus, the massac was particularly fast.

He was going to be never able to realistically get back the P3, P4 area that he started in. And as Harry brought up, he was on that wrong tie. He was on the used tire after a late safety car call, which is always difficult to hold on to. And it means that he fell backwards a little bit. So I think P6 isn't disastrous. actually for Russell and this Mercedes

after quite a bizarre Grand Prix in the way this strategy played out but more definitely could have been achieved and they'll come away a little bit frustrated. I'm a bit worried. I'm a bit worried by what I saw this weekend from Mercedes because I think the pattern was they didn't like the softer tires.

The softer the tire compound, the more they disliked it. So we saw in qualifying, they were one of the teams that were more inclined to go with the medium compound rather than the soft compound. They thought a harder compounder tire could give them a bit more lap time, and I think they were right to do that.

And then we saw in the race, George Russell, I think George Russell's pace on the hard tire was okay enough. It was still maybe a slight deficit to LeClerc, but it wasn't massive. But on the medium tire, he was nowhere. And I know they might have pitt him early on because of strategic reasons. They might have just needed to do it anyway because those tires were dead. And what we saw with Antonelli, as you just described Sam, was the exact same thing, but just the other way around.

Like he started on the hard tire, was able to defend against Lewis Hamilton. And whilst he might have been holding up Hamilton a little bit, it's not like he was defending for his life every single corner. He was keeping him at bay until he goes on to the medium tire. So it felt like the softer the tire compound, the C5, the C6 they really struggled with, and the C4 they were a little bit more okay with. The reason I'm a bit worried about them going into the rest of this season is, Pirelli and F1 are probably going to look at this race and go,

ooh, bringing softer tires, that helped deliver something more exciting. We should do that more. And Mercedes and Toto Wolf are probably going to go, no, no, don't do that, no. He's coming. He's coming. I don't know.

There'd be a massive fan of that based of what they saw today. Because you're right, Sam, if Antonelli produces a similar performance on the medium tire as he does on the hard tire, he might well be in that battle for fourth place. But he sunk like a stone as soon as he put that compound on. And George Russell, I give him credit for the way in which he held on at the end. But this was, as you say, the first time he's been outside the top five this season and a real struggle for him.

Aston Martin, they really qualified well. Fernando Alonzo did his best impression of a polar bear in Arlington by putting his car fifth place. And Landstrol was only a couple of spots back in eighth. it was fine early doors as well Fernando Alonzo didn't drop any positions on the start Landstrol unfortunately couldn't get one of his incredible starts but still held on to 8th and then it Sam the rest happened

yeah net positives here both cars into Q3 good good I saw a great meme of someone looking at Lance troll and being like welcome to Q3 and him being like there's a three which I loved the concept of him not understanding that the numbers don't stop after two.

Really made me chuckle. But well done. Both cars into Q3 and not just Q3. It's not like you were content that you a mile was off. You found you a long time. I don't know how the man still does it. You officially broke him today with the, I am the unluckiest driver in the world.

Which is so, Philander, we sew back with the sassy, angry comments over the radio. But the strategy call is actually abhorrent. It's disgusting. How have you got it so, so badly wrong that you have decided to, Not just one of them, but both of these drivers, after watching these tyres fall off, and the difference you can get from undercuts,

the overtakes that those are made after already the first strategy decision, you've just fallen like a stone. Every single other driver around you has put on some form of new tyre, whether it be the hard or the medium. And you saw the impact that I had up and down the grig for having fresh tyres on your car. You put both of them,

you kept both of them on old rubber. Such an amateur decision. Cost you a double points finish. And Fernando also goes, another Grand Prix without scoring any points. The only positive here is the car is actually good for a moment. If that can carry on, hopefully the strategic blunders will stop and they can get him at least a point this season.

So fingers crossed. That's the hope. A point. One point, Aster Martin. You can do it. Yeah, Monica explains coming up next. If he qualifies well like he did in Imala, there's a real chance. onto it because you have to stop twice in

Monaco, so talk to a third one, Astor Martin, two will suffice. Harry? Oh, boy. Yes, look, the positives out of this, whatever upgrade they've put on, might be the first upgrade that team's put on a car that's

worked since 2022. Has anything... January, that's not a over-exaggeration. Since it was a Mercedes. it's been a long time since they've had that so that is some that is some positives they did ask Fernando after qualifying yesterday

had Adrian Newbyn involved in this and he smiled and said no okay sure sure but yeah so that is a positive and like you said and I'm putting that earlier early on some pretty good pace I know the Williams as I said previously I think the Williams was quicker but Alonzo was keeping signs and album

behind him relatively comfortably and was then almost involved in that Norris Russell battle. I think he held him to his ties better than the Russell was ahead. But yeah, the biggest ones to be caught in the Admiral LeCler trap with that team. It's when they, because signs boxed before them, clearly going for an undercut. at that point for Alonzo I think the game's up on that position so you should commit the other way

go the other way not then I think if you're going to put anyone at that point pit Stroll and leave Alonzo out there and try and do something similar to what the other teams have done Williams McLaren etc but so then next lap Pitt Alonzo and then that lap after pit stroll is the least imaginative move ever

there's nothing no thought in that at all So it's a real shame that that's been their downfall because it was, yeah, their fate was sealed from there. Their pace on the hard sense, it's quite as impressive. And then obviously when the VSC came out, whatever advantage that strategy had disappeared in a heartbeat, they also decided to go out, stay out, which I understood because, you know, they thought maybe track position could help them. But given the amount of overtaking that was happening, especially with tired deficits today, it was never going to last. they just, they fell like a stone. And then obviously the safety car kind of help them at the end because they could put some fresh tires on Alonso desperately, desperately tried as best to get back to the points.

I've seen a video of him on the grass overtaking Pierre Gasley. And then obviously the other video of him slapping himself in the face when he couldn't go past Yuki Sanoda. But I did that, yeah, two hands, just off the wheel. Big old slap in the face. So yeah, I think because. the points, good points were on the card for both cars, especially Alonso though, so I can understand this frustration.

But yeah, they really shot themselves in the foot with that one. Yeah, I was thinking about what to go with with this point. And then I figured a summary of their race would be best, which is they got everything wrong. Like they managed to find the worst way of doing everything and then did that. because they have really managed to spoil what was a great qualifying attempt. You're right, Harry. I think in terms of outright pace, it was all right.

I agree. I don't think it was the pace of the Williams, but it's not like that they were 9th or 10th, as they have been routinely for the rest of this season. And maybe they could have been on course for points here, apart from Fernando Alonzo's driving your car. Therefore, he cannot score points. He is allergic.

He's managed to take his third. non-points race win from the last five races because he's been 11th in three races out of five. And this was probably the one of the five that he deserved points the most. He declared himself the unluckiest driver in the world. And honestly, this season, he might be right. Yeah, they just got that horribly wrong.

They needed to split the strategies, as you mentioned. They then obviously don't take the opportunity to pit. They really should have done. They were stuffed at that point. They were absolutely stuffed. And fair play to Alonzo for trying to get that point back because, as you say, he needed to make a couple of daring overtakes to even get himself in that spot.

But to see Yuki Sonoda in front of him, who started in the pit lane and had crashed yesterday, and Alonzo, who had qualified fifth, seeing that that was the car in front of him, that must have been pretty demoralizing. Shall we do, big brain strat? you can do it. What?

It's not even raining now. What are you talking? I mean, Astermite didn't win much on track today, but they've got a real chance here. I'll tell you that much. Harry, what was your big brain strap? I won't go for Astermartin just because I've just, I like Fernando Lanzar too much.

I've already mentioned this one. Estabal-Ockon, putting on Lap 1. Love it. I think they've deployed their Monaco strategy a week too early. because I'd understand it there. I love how we didn't work. It was so far off. It wasn't even close.

So, like, later on it, like, it just started to pay off on, like, he got ahead of Collar Pinto. I'm like, what, that's taken half the race? By, like, two seconds. What a stupid idea? Stupid idea. Why would you try to do the whole race on the hard tires? Anyway, yeah, I don't know what that was about, HASS, but it did not work. And obviously, it was irrelevant because he retired anyway.

at the same time, I love the strategy because Ocon was so slow all weekend. They might as well have gone for it. They weren't scoring points any other way. So just why not? But yeah, that was a contender for me as well. I'm actually going to go with Lando Norris asking to get by Oscar Piastri, but not asking to get by Oscar Piastri. The bartering.

Yes. I'm not asking to get by, but lists all the reasons why they should do it. but I'm not asking. Sam, what was your big brain strap? Should I just go for Aston Martin then, because it really was that. It's between Aston Martin and the Admiral LeCler, it's a trap for me, because that turned out to be such a disastrous strategy, and McClure is just the pain in his eyes is so evident.

No, I'll go for Austin Martin. I'm sorry, that was genuinely just so obviously an appallingly bad at every turn that you deserve to be shunned for such a poor choice. Should we get our bold prediction review out of the way? Yeah, why not? Go on. We're all in it together. We are all in it together because we've all scored a point.

No, we haven't. We've all not scored a point. Sam, first of all, yours was Colapinto would score. He'd be in the top eight, was that right? Yeah, yeah, well, really well for me. He was, wait for it, not in the top eight there. Good.

In a race where a lot of drivers at one point or another were threatening a top eight finish. Colopinto was one of the very few that never really was. It's not him. No, he was really slow. Good. And then both of myself and Harry had bold predictions concerning Ferrari.

Mine look really good after qualifying because I said that Ferrari would score six points or fewer in the Grand Prix. And annoyingly, if I'd said double Q2 knockout, that would have been bold enough. But no, I decided to go for the race instead. And they recovered very well, meaning that has shattered all my dreams. of a point. Harry, you're the closest to a point this week,

but still just about sure. You said Ferrari would be on the podium. Just needed one of those top three to retire. I really thought you were going to get

Piaspora at the end, man. Yeah, honestly, Tim Walatch and I thought was happening. I'm going to sink. Never mind. So, in summary, no points for any of us.

Good. Let's take our final break on this episode. On the other side, it's moment of the race. Welcome back to the final part of today's review of the Imala Grand Prix. And it's time for a moment of the race. Sam, what was yours?

Oh, good. You've gone to me first, so I can steal the easy one. I usually go for a funny one, but that overtake from Max for staffing on turn one was what I lived for in F1. Around the outside, with gravelly the side of the track, with a chance of wiping yourself out ruining the race, but pulling it off. Just sensational.

Oh, so good. from Max just happening. Yeah, that's by far the moment of the race. Harry? I don't know why this one really got me, but George Russell, when he's having that fight with Landon Norris, comes on the radio and just says,

he just drove on the grass. Why? Why are you telling people that? I don't know, that's irrelevant. Just, George. Just stating a fact. No, George. Don't need that info.

Yeah. Sure. Thanks, George. Appreciate that. What would you like us to do? What would you like us to do? Don't send a lawn marr out there tomorrow, guys. He's already driven us, no worry.

My moment of the race was the Fernando Alonso team radio. Yeah. Yeah. He, like you said, they broke my guy. They managed to break him. That's almost 20 years of hurt bubbling to the surface there. Yeah. Yeah.

You could really feel it because he was like, he was struggling to find the words at the end of the sentence. bless him because you think of like Miami sprint and you think of the other 11th place finishes he's got so far this year. Man is dying for a point and he couldn't get one of. But what about our Discord submissions? Thank you very much to everyone who submitted after the race.

We are of course looking for your moment of the Grand Prix. Who we got up first? First up, we have Nick the Quick, I believe. What's up, late breakers? It's Nick, the quick moment of the race. It is the goat, Max, Rastapin, filthy move in the turn one, see you later. Love it. Simply lovely.

Keep breaking late. I love that he took a breath there to just really appreciate the moment. Love it. You have to pause. Let it breathe. Yeah. Why not? Just letting that one simmer.

Outback Blaze is next. How's it going, Lake Breakers? It's Outback Blaze coming at you from Melbourne. one in the morning. My moment of the race is Aston Martin getting all of our hopes up just to get zero points in total. Keep breaking late guys. Subscribe to the Patreon. Thank you, Asking Martin for the consent. As always, you have delivered where you cannot score points there. You score points here. Papaya Jim is next. Hey, late breakers, papaya Jim here from Imala.

My moment of the race was that lovely little battle between Leclair and Albon. for the fifth place. Great to watch. You got it's great quality audio for someone who is to his track side. Very good work. I do. I do.

With all the battling that we had, I know there were quite a few DRS overtakes, but at least like nearly all of them felt like they happened in the break zone. Like not many happened before. It's what we've asked for a lot, isn't it? With these tracks that have got really long DRS zones

that you just pass halfway down the straighting. It's a bit boring. It felt like you had to have better tire wear, getting actual better exit, and they make the overtake in the braking zone, which is okay. Next up is Alex C. Hi there, boys. Alex here live, not from New York City, but this time from Patreon City, where the rent is cheap and the power is free.

My mom in the race has to be the Asson Martin upgrade package. They brought a lot of new things to the track this week, like the internal tire warmers. Fernando Alonsoe really trying to heat those tires up out of the stop. Really bold, I think that might catch on. Cheers. Yeah, man's drum so fast as breaks are on fire. That was crazy to watch, actually. It's how they like individually, one set, like the other one was like,

oh yeah, I'll do the same. Why not? Also, it's such an F1 thing. If that was happening anywhere else, you'd be like, this is terrifying. I'm going to die. F-1 is like, yeah, all right. Send it out on circuit. Yeah, keep going.

Keep ragging. Brackett Dom is next. What's up, Blade Breakers? Brackett Dom here with this moment of the race. And for this week, I'm going with. not only Lando Norris, making that pivotal late overtake on Oscar Piastri, but also, as David Carthard managed to point out, still smelling so good while doing it. Yeah, unnecessary comment, D.C.

A bit weird, wasn't it? Also, the most interesting way I've heard David Coulter against. Hey, you should know, you've met the man. But she's held with a legend. Two. Don't get into this. Dude Ryan Bolt is next. What's up, Late Breakers,

Dude Reinbolt here. My moment in the race, I'm just going to give it to the entirety of the Amelia Romagna, 2025 Grand Prix. You know, with F1 talking about dropping it from the calendar,

it was nice to see a solid race here and maybe it'll make them think twice about dumping it. Yeah, Ben, you called out. I think he was under pressure. I did. Yeah. I don't think it'll actually change anything.

It's actually not. Finally, we have Inferno Jimola. Jimola here in Imala. My moment of the race was Lewis Hamilton on a charge

and Fossey absolutely loving it. Absolutely loved it. It was amazing. And Imola, it's chaotic, but it's awesome. Cheers guys,

bye. See you in Gibral. You're not going to use Jimonico, given that's where we're going next. That doesn't work at all. When you're Singapore. Hang on a minute.

Monaco has an M. It would be Jongico. Singapore doesn't. James Jong, it works. But at least Singapore is... Okay, someone next on Wednesday, please submit a submission if you're called John so that you can be Johnico.

John Cicalo. And then we need someone called Jane for the Spanish Shoeba. Jane Oluidia. Jan Alunia. Catalonia. You're talking Matt. Circuit to Matalungia.

Bullio. What can they be like Canada? That's going to be a nightmare. Anyway. Oh, why, I can't get. Dan. Oh, no. John can come back.

It could be John Treel. It's fine. Yeah. I like John Tritiel. Like John Travolta. But cool. Apart from it's not. That's a sign we need to go.

Sam, if you wouldn't mind getting us out of here. Thanks for listening, folks. Hope you enjoy the Imola Grand Prix. It might be our last for a little while, unfortunately. But make sure you come back midweek for the Monaco preview. If you want a little bit more F1 goodness thing, Patreon City is linked down below, and you can join us there for Power Rankings.

We go through every single drive on their performance, and we give them a little number, and there's some catchy jingles and things that go along with it. I won't spoil anymore because it's just too good. You have to tuck in yourselves. Thanks for Liskin. We'll see you in the midweek. In the meantime, I've been Samuel Sage.

I've been Ben Hocking and I've been Harry Ead. And remember, Keep breaking late. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.