The Late Braking F1 Podcast - 2026 Azerbaijan GP Race Review

Episode Date: September 26, 2026

Thanks to Alex Albon for shaking up this race and giving the LB trio plenty of action to get stuck into, including Verstappen and Russell’s fight to the line, Red Bull’s team orders dilemma, Antonelli’s recovery drive and that chaotic restart. Want more Late Braking? Support the show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get:Ad-free listeningFull-length bonus episodesPower Rankings after every raceHistorical race reviews& more exclusive extras!Don't forget! You can also gift a Late Braking Patreon subscription—perfect for loved ones or your own wish list. Choose anything from 1 month up to a full year of top-notch F1 content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/latebrakingf1/gift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Late Braking:You can find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Come hang out with us and thousands of fellow F1 fans in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ server and get involved in lively everyday & race weekend chats!Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠F1 Fantasy League⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and see if you can beat us! LEAGUE CODE: C6Y6R4ZUY02Get in touch any time at [e-mail] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 podcast. Make sure to check out new episodes every Wednesday and every Sunday. Very warm welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Eid, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking, reviewing today the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a race won from pole by George Russell by a grand total of one tenth of a second, back to the Red Bull of Max Vastappen, still searching for that first win of the season. but joined on the podium by his teammate, Isaac Adja, in his return to racing.

Sam, I think you mentioned before we started recording that it got there. It took a while to warm up, and thanks to a safety car, it did, and I'm not sure we were going to get much of a race, I've always. No, it's like putting the radiator on in the winter, isn't it? It's like, you say it to 21 degrees. You're like, it will get there eventually. And suddenly it will get really hot. You're like, oh, good.

Now I can actually feel the heat from this. But for the first half an hour, it's come on. Get up there, please. get a few degrees. Anyway, it was fun in the end, I suppose. It's a nice way to put it. And actually there was some really interesting points that I think emerged from the Grand Prix, even when we had that stalemate

with Piastri, Vastappen, Hajjar fighting over what was second place at the time. I think there's some interesting commentary to be had there, especially around how Red Bull have handled their teammate situation, etc., which will get on to. But I'm glad that we had a bigger spice when it came to safety cars. We definitely livening things

up. We've definitely got some talking points, and a lot of action to get into. I was worried we were about to get two snooze vests on the trot. I think 30 laps in, nothing was happening. If there had been no safety car, they'd have all stopped, I think, on like lap 40. Soft tires go for a millennia, mate. We'd have had big variety on the strategy, though. There were a lot of things you could do, like a one stop

or the one stop going from the other tire to the other tire, like a lot you could do. If they didn't have to, they'd just gone the whole race, right? They're not doing it. Yeah. Anyway, so thank you, Alex Albon, basically. Well done. What on chap? And that's why he's getting 10 out of 10 in our power rankings on Monday.

Plenty to chat about, of course, moment of the race coming up. Ferrari and their rather anonymous day, multiple incidents, including that Alex Albon crash, but also a massive turn one pile up, McLaren, Kimmy Antonelli's recovery. But let's start out front with George Russell versus Max Verstappen. George Russell, winning this one from pole, but it was very much a race of two halves. The first half, very comfortably out in the lead, had stretched the gap to Oscar Piastrian second to well over 10 seconds.

No danger whatsoever of being undercut, even safety cars and virtual safety cars looked okay. And then, of course, the safety car happens. And it's a far closer fight with Max Verstappen until the end, just about holds him off. What did you make of his race covering both halves of that? Yeah, I mean, the first 30-odd lapse, imperious in his lead, right?

I think it was well into double figures by the time that the safety car emerged. I think it was on lap 33, 32, that their safety car comes out. And it feels like realistically, he could have gone on to have a 20 second win if it had been a proper boring lights out to check a flag type of race. He felt so comfortable out front. And I think he was on the best of the two strategies because he seemingly was okay on the medium tire, which was causing some people some difficulty. We saw a definite pace advantage to those who were sitting on the soft tire.

That emerged later on with the likes of the Red Bull, of course, of Verstappen being able to get past quickly, the McLaren. And then he goes on to the soft tire later on. Now, that I think helps him a lot with the restarts that he's got to get into. If Verstappen had gone to the soft and he had to transition onto the medium, I really think there was going to be a real risk that Verstappen could have taken this victory away from him. But fair play to George Russell, he has been through the ringer a little bit

when it comes to poor results. He's not beyond his own game. Ancangeli has been the one dominating the scenes, we all know. And even with some mistakes from Kimi, that drive back, of course, in Monsa, where Anta only dig so well and won it, Russell couldn't take advantage again of an issue,

right to his teammate. And yet here, he comes under pressure for two restarts. We know that Baku can cause absolute chaos. He avoids it all, keeps his head right down to the very end. And the staffing is a tough character to have right behind you, and he holds him off right to the line. So Russell will come away from this, It's absolutely giddy.

And if you are a fan of going to a kebab house, apparently, in Baku, then David Croft is going to take him there. So, you know, great end to the weekend. I just mentioned, like, multiple times during practice as well. Like, we get it. Get there's kebabs in Azerbaijan. That's fine. Isn't it not at one point becoming offensive that we're really just stereotyping a whole nation down to one type of food? I don't know.

Weirdly, that wasn't on the schedule I said over, but I think we should now make that topic one. what did you make of George Russell's race Harry certainly more comfortable in the first half but did what he needed to against Fustappan at the end yeah superb from George Russell maybe his best race of the year certainly up there yeah I think yeah

because it was like a race of a race of two halves for him not quite half but you know what I mean he just ran off into the distance at the start and I think when you know he had a bit of a gap to Piastri behind and then when the red ball started charging through

Mercedes was clearly like can you go a bit faster and he was like sure thing and then just took off another like five seconds so he was 10 seconds I think he had

before the safety car so he was superb faultless in that part of the race and then when he was under pressure did not crack once didn't see didn't really see a lockup from him the closest it got was right at the end

obviously with those double yellows and he was saying he didn't get the energy boost because of the double yellows or something like that That's where the Sappen was so close to the other line, but he handled that pressure superbly well and the two restarts that he had to execute.

So, yeah, it's left me a little bit frustrated because I'm just a bit like, I know he has been unlucky this year with some results, George, but that's kind of the George Russell we've been used to, and he hasn't always shown up that much this year. And I just, it's a shame. Again, I will caveat he has been unlucky at some points, but it's just a shame that he's not been able to perform

my that for the entirety of 2026 because that gap would not be whatever it is, 58 points or something. 66 points, yeah. It would be much less than that I would hazard a guess. It's like a grand slam, right? He got fastest lap on the final lap of the race. He'd like every single lap. He was starting on pole position.

He was fast hitting every single qualifying session. He was fastest in every single practice session. Like, it could not be more dominant. And he would have won it, I think, by close to 20 seconds. How can we not have been using? It was a true, maybe his most job. on a race of his entire career. I share your frustration with this, Harry,

because I think if you were to just imagine a situation where pre-season, we had an idea of what we thought Mercedes was going to be and what George Russell was going to be based on the last few seasons. And then you just play this race and you have no idea what's happened between pre-season and now.

You would be like, he's probably winning this championship and he's probably not far off wrapping this thing up. Because this is the kind of race we were expecting to see from, Russell once every two races or something a lot more frequently. You wouldn't have fought, based on this weekend, okay, Antonelli, the younger driver, not quite a rookie, but he makes an error in qualifying, trying to recover somewhat.

Russell's just doing his thing out front. That's probably indicative of what the season's going to be. And it hasn't been that way at all. So there is some frustration that we haven't seen more of this, but if we're just looking at what's happening this weekend, yeah, absolutely brilliant from him. And, I mean, Sam, you've just listed off every achievement. of his throughout the weekend. He can't do much more than that, arguably.

And yeah, I thought the way in which that he managed the first half of this race brilliantly well. Like he got clear very well on the start, wasn't really ever under threat from a car after that. Kind of had these pockets of like pace where he was able to just push out a couple more seconds. Then it would kind of stabilise a bit

and then it'd push out a little bit more again to the point where it was over 10 seconds. And he must have been thinking that everything's going my way here. I am over 10 seconds clear. I think arguably my fastest rivals are not directly behind me. That's Oscar Piastri, because he's holding off the Red Bull of Vastappen, and Antonelli's trying to work his way back through the field. Everything is going perfectly in a season where not a lot has gone perfectly.

And then the safety car comes out. It would have been really easy for George Russell at that point to go, what do I have to do? Like, that gap is completely gone. I've got Vastappen directly behind me on a safety car restart. I don't like that. Why can't this just be easy for once? And yet, the way in which he handled the safety car restart,

which I thought was going to be tricky, he did that really well. And then just did enough to hold off Vastappen and deploy that battery where necessary to make sure he wasn't overtaken. So even with, again, the nearly bad luck with the double yellows for Valtrey Botas, still managed to cling on to the victory. Very impressive indeed. I bet his heart sunk when those yellow flags came out on that last line. On that corner, it's a tricky corner to get through at full speed as it is. There's a car kicking out the wall halfway around it the last time you've got to do it.

And he's thinking, I've held him off now for, what was it, 10 or 11 lapsing a row. Every time we get to turn one, I've got a gap of about half a second. And the last time he's got to do it, suddenly something has changed. And he has to mitigate a whole new set of circumstances with a very franticent. and aggressive Max Verstappen who's looking for that first wing this season and he holds him off

he absorbs that pressure really well so yeah not an easy run to the line but it was great to see two cars across the line so close together the same with Limbladen Oconn, I think it was yeah they were literally wheel to wheel across the line that's what I do like about

backer you have got a proper charge to the line and it does create some great moments yeah and again with Russell like when he saw Vastappen was closer to him than he'd been at any other point. Bear in mind that Russell had been within a couple attempts of being overtaken into term one, and Vastappen was closer this time around.

He must have been at that point like, I don't know if I'm going to be able to hold him off, just about able to do so. What about the race for the Red Bull drivers, Harry? Because it's a double podium, of course, for Stappan ahead of Hadjar. Some interesting incidents on how they got there, though. They started on different tyres, of course,

Hadjar on the softs, Vastappen on the mediums, Hajjar ahead of Vastappen based on where they qualified. Vastappen gets the overtake done on Hachar, but it becomes apparent that maybe Hadjar's got more pace on that tire. Yeah, it was an interesting one. I mean, firstly, Red Bull's pace was, again, maybe the best car they've had all year, I think,

and not just Vestappan dragging a car into a podium. That car was quick all weekend. And it's a shame that Vestappen's engine issue and qualifying custom of place further at the quib, because imagine if he had started in amongst, you know, LeClaire and Russell and Piastri, where that race, how that race would have unfolded. But, yeah, they look genuinely quick. Both drivers, I, Isaac Hadjah had a very good lesson in the politics of F1 today is what's happened there.

He just let his team, he was told to, but let his teammate go. and then it was like, oh no, wait, maybe I'm quicker. And then the politics of F1 or the politics of Red Bull. Well, yeah, maybe specifically Red Bull. Who knows on that one. But yeah, maybe he and also the message about, yeah, I'm happy to stay here. No, no, no, no, Isaac, that's not, don't do that. There's an art in not saying something sometimes, mate.

He's spoke a lot today, or at least we heard a lot of it. Yeah, it was interesting. I deep breath everyone I agreed with what Jacques Wilma said Whoa Whoa I know I know

I know this is for sorry this is obviously Sky F1 specific because he came to the commentary for a brief moment Where was he just like hanging around outside They just bring him for a bit He's like a vagabond They just crack in off the street when they need something I'd also like to caveat I didn't agree with everything he said overall point of it wasn't worth

swapping these two drivers around because I know he looked like he was faster and the soft tie was clearly the faster tire but I don't think it was a gain them anything at that point in the race. I know Hageau will disagree with that but I just

don't think either one of them was going to get past Piaastri Pistria had too much pace in that middle sector for either one of it. It would have had to have been a mistake so I agree with that decision not to honest Crofty was tearing his hair out in the Coventry box. And he anointed himself as chief strategist at one point, which was good as well.

Yeah, yeah, that was good. That's like you calling yourself your chief vibes officer. Well, you know, not everyone can be that. Not everyone can be me. I've been to that coronation. Yeah, so I agree with what Rebel were doing that. Overall, encouraging race, I think it's a shame. I think they could have won.

I think it worked out differently. I think the staff could have won this one. didn't help with where he started. And obviously, Russell's excellent, excellent defence at the end of the race, obviously thwarted his attempts. But, yeah, more the Red Bull of old, it looked like. Yes, and their first double podium in about two and a half years, going back to China in 2024.

Sam, are you with Harry on this? Do you think Red Bull played it correctly? No, I categorically disagree. I'm really glad that Jacques Villeneuve was the one to lay down the statement because it always feels good to get through up a bit. me and Jack Villeneuve now. Rarely on the same side of the table. The most unlikely of duo.

That feels a lot... I'm not going to go into World War II. What's the opposite of synergy? Like, wherever the opposite of synergy is, that's what Harry and Jack Villeneuve is. Singer die. Binge. Yeah, Bingage is good.

Like that. That's great. Anyway, no, I think they go wrong. I think they made a mistake swapping in the first place. It was evident that the soft tire was far faster than the medium tire, and it just felt like the classic case

of the Stappings are champion. so get them in front by any means possible at any way possible. And I don't think they looked at the wider picture. I don't think they looked at the long-term game. The staff could have sat behind Hagear for around a 15 laps, and it wouldn't have been a problem. It wouldn't have caused any issue, will have disrupted anything.

And the moment they realized that the staff was unable to hold onto the back of the pastry properly and apply proper pressure, I don't see what the harm is in swapping them back. Now, there'll be those of you screaming at your radios or whatever or your phones going, oh, contractually, the staff will do whatever he wants, or whatever, I don't care. I don't care.

For the sake of Red Ball, who haven't had to win this year, they should have tried something different. And whether that be a pit stop, whether that be, obviously, the pit stop would have been wrong. With hindsight, we know that. But with hindsight,

they should have given Hajjar another go. Because I think if he could have disrupted Piastri just a little bit, you then swap the positions, right? If they both get through, you then swap the positions. And I think Hajar did have the pace. And there was a mistake in Oscar Piastri.

We saw it later on in the Grand Prix. You apply some pressure to the driver, which they did. He makes a mistake. He locks up. They get through. that could have happened earlier in the lap. It was always clear that the McLarence were not comfortable in the heavy braking zones.

And I think Hadja had enough. He was amazing today was Isaac Hager. I thought he was really, really brilliant. And I think actually the gap at the end of the Grand Prix is deceiving. He's on that medium tire. His teammate is on the soft tire. And that is the difference in what those two tires could do if you're able to actually go for it, clean air, push the car, deliver everything you've got.

I'm not saying Hajar can pull out seven or eight seconds on Vastappen, but I do think he had enough pace to be able to deliver. over a couple of seconds difference and get past Piastri. And with that in mind, the domino effect that can then occur for the rest of the Grand Prix, which would be, you know, safety car comes out. There might be a car, actually, between Hager and the Stappen. That means that Hagar gets to Box First. I mean, Hager comes out in second place.

You never know how it might end up being, right? It could completely change the face of the Grand Prix. So they end up with the same result anyway. I still think they've had a second and a third. I don't think either of those drivers are going to end up beating Russell. But Vastappen gets deleted because it's for. Stappen. And fair play, he was very good. But I do think, I feel a little bit disappointing for Hager. So I, I was fine with Vestappan overtaking Hajar early on in this race, because

it fell. I'm not sure it was 100% legitimate, but at the same time, it's not like Hadjar completely stepped to the side. It didn't look like it slowed Hajar down at all for Vestappen to overtake him. So I was fine with that. And actually at the point where Hajar said, I'm okay here, it's fine, we're just going to cost ourselves time. Whether he should have said it not is a different argument. I think he was right. Because I think at that point, they were close enough that I didn't think there was any point swapping them around. But then it got to a point where it got worse. And at that point, I personally would have pulled the trigger as well. There was a time where Vestappen was about 1.5 seconds behind Piastri and Hatchel was maybe about six tenths behind

Vastappen. I think that was the point to pull the trigger. And there were at least, I think it was one or two incidents where Vastappan had to defend the inside of turn one. And I think that's probably the tell-tale sign of give this a go. My leaning on this is the same as Harry in that I don't think he would have got by Piastri, but I think it was worth an effort. In a season where you haven't won a Grand Prix, and I said on Wednesday, this might be their best opportunity to win a race this season, and it might well hold. I think it's worth giving this a go to see if he can get it done.

And if he doesn't, after five, ten laps, switch them back. And we find out the soft tire is much better and the second stint for Stappen's able to do what he needs to do. But I think it was probably worth a go, even if I think ultimately it was more likely not to work than to work. Playing devil's advocate, Max Verstappen's restarts were fantastic. The way he cleared Piastri so quickly to get on the back of George Russell, and the way he applies the pressure to Russell on the second restart,

but he's doing everything he can and he showed why he is the top driver in Formula One right now. The ability to get that out of the car is sensational. 100%. Piazzi's still trying to put his pants up from that first three start. That's all fire.

They got pulled down. Wow. He's a bit busy trying to get his tyres to stop locking up. That's the problem. We'll chat McLaren in a bit. But before we go to our first break, just enough time to review our bold predictions.

Oh, you got this on there, didn't you? Yeah, they never comes in early of the episode. In my defence, we have just been talking about Hajjar a Red Bull. I felt it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Literally not, not relevant. Never happens.

Naturally kind of leads into this segment. But we don't know if anyone scored a point yet. I'm surprised we didn't open the show with it. It made sure I was started with it on the first moment. Sam, what was your bold prediction? I said there'd be a double points figure for Williams. And considering that Alex Albuhrig decided to throw the car into the wall. well, at least he kicked off all the chaos.

I'm wrong. In fairness, I think without Alex Almond doing that, Carlos Sines probably would have been nowhere near the point. So you're probably going to get one or the other in contention for it. The penalty in qualified did not help either. That did not help. You're right. Harry, your bowl prediction. I said there was going to be at least seven red flags than qualifying.

That was good. Yeah, there weren't. It was remarkably clean. None. Yeah. Bang, what was yours? mate, throw me a bone here. I never get these right. I will take my lap of honour because I said that Isaac Hadjar on his return to racing would be on the podium. Now let me tell you, folks, when he was

fourth place and there was his whole discussion about Vastappen versus Hadchar and whether he'd be let past or not, I was, I don't have any fingernails left. I really didn't think this was going to happen because that's usually the way these bold predictions work for me. But both of them ended up on the podium, so it's absolutely fine, Hachar finishing in third place. And at long last, I have a point on the board. Way, well done. You can move something on the album. The horns of glory. I've restricted myself, that's the only time I'll play them, all right? Yeah, you think he'd have it on the soundboard before to go, thank you. We're actually an hour late to this recording because I just needed to get that on the

Howard. Yeah. Right, let's go to our first break on the other side. Kimmy Antonelli's recovery from 16th to 5th. Welcome back, everyone. Similar to Monza, different reasoning. Kimi Antonelli had a bit of a recovery drive in stall for him today at Baku. Starting P-16 as a result of his crash in qualifying. Managed to make up 11 spots to finish P5 overall, threatening Charles LeCler for fourth right at the very end, but only a few temps away from getting that position, but ultimately not able to quite replicate the heroics of what he had at Monza. I don't know about you, Sam. It felt like the progress he made particularly early on indicated, whilst it was going to end up all right, this wasn't going to be Monza 2.0. No, clearly not. Actually, you say he made up 11 places. Of course,

he goes back one place at the start and has to make up 12 places overall. Not a good start when you in that recovery, but rather have the start where you go back one place rather than driving to someone and it's game over. And I do think again, he's shown great composure in having to drive back through a field, which we saw could be incredibly messy today. There were mistakes in a lot of those drivers. There's a lot of walls and we saw a lot of contact. And he does well to get himself through in a clean spot. I think he gets a little bit of floor damage off one of the horse drivers right at the very end, which maybe hampered his progress right at the death towards LeCler and, and Hajar, who of course, the cars in front of him. But,

I think he can be really proud of fifth place. He's done a really good job at getting the overtakes done when they needed. The safety car comes out exactly the right time to basically bunch everyone up again, so he's nearby all the runners because maybe he gets Lewis Hamilton or Gassley. I think Gassley's on the cars. Hamilton, yeah, I think it will be much harder. But I don't think he's going to have a go at LeCler or Hajar, so I open that door for him as well.

Overall, he should be really, really happy with that. I think fifth place, with a track that was definitely harder to advance than Monser, he could be, you can walk away pretty happy. He's only dropped 10 points, sorry, 15 points to his team, mate. Yes, could have been far worse. Harry, your thoughts on Antonelli's Grand Prix? Yeah, it was just fine, wasn't it? I think that the slow progress at the start, like he said,

indicated this wasn't going to be another Monza triumph, but, you know, it's different at Baku. There's more opportunity for errors, and he sort of kept his nose clean. Like I said, dropped down a place to start, although Crofty thought he'd got game four because he didn't start last crossby. And again, he's like a great start.

He's up four places. Actually, he's gone back one. It's gone back one. Cheers, Cheers, David. But yeah, I think a mixture of, you know, kept his nose clean. Okay, okay pace, all right pace,

and a bit of luck towards the end there. I mean, good Lord, was he lucky not to be taken out in that first corner chaos. That's a proper champion's avoidance of, I'm not saying that skill on Antonelli's part, but it's like when things are going in your way, that's the sort of thing that happens.

He just, the, yeah, the waves parted for him there. So he was very lucky not to be taken out in that. And, you know, his pace before that, before that safety car, because he was, he'd got past Colopinto, and I think he had like a five second gap to Gasly. He wasn't catching Gasly that quickly. Like he was just away. Gassi was great.

Gassi was great today. Gassi was good. But that's what I mean. I'm not sure without the safety car. I'm not sure how much further up Antonelli would have got. I think he would have got Gassley in the end, but then he gets to the Ferrari. Whether he gets past them, I don't know.

So yeah, I think he can walk away after yesterday, he can walk away from this one feeling relatively pleased with the hell that day's gone. Yeah, I think with the safety car and how that impacted things, like he still had, what, 20 laps left or so, obviously including the change onto the more favourable tyres. So I think without the safety car, he gets Gassley. And I think maybe similar to what you said, Sam,

I think it's probably Hamilton is the target and anything above that is a bit of a stretch. But that's kind of where he's got to as a result of the safety car anyway. So I'm not sure it's massively impacted his race. But yeah, this definitely wasn't the same as Monza. And I think with Monza, the way in which he was able to get through the field so quickly,

outside of having such a brilliant start, by the way at Monza was that, and I think, I can remember who it was in the Mercedes camp who said this, You can't defend all of these straight line mode zones. Like, if you want to defend At Monza turn one, that's fine. You're not going to be able to defend the next overtaking opportunity or into Ascari later in the lap.

Like, you have to pick your poison. Abaku, it's a bit easier. If you don't get overtaken into turn one, you have an opportunity to stay ahead for the rest of the lap. And I think that's where Antonelli came a bit unstuck because he did struggle to make a lot of progress early on. I thought he would get up to the top 10 relatively quickly. He didn't. I think he's done, he's done fine. I'm not going to go above fine because most of his overtakes, and I know they

were in the small sort of picture by picture box, but nearly all of his overtakes were to the inside of term one, not even really on the brakes. Like he's just progressing through slower cars. And I don't, that's not like, I'm not blaming Antonelli for that. He's just doing what he needs to do. but the Mercedes and how good that car is. It's not like he was working for a lot of these passes. So I think he's done okay. But to what you said, Harry, it's not like as soon as he got clear of Colopinto,

he was massively closing in on Gasly very quickly. I think he'd have got there, but... He was sticking with Norris, wasn't he, Gasly, as well. I think he was about two and a half seconds behind him consistently. I think Gassey had great pace. I think that was going to be a real difficulty to get through. And having, what, three of those people knocked out, outright in front of you, and then Piastri having a breaking issue into turn one,

just move out the way. Ideal. Isn't that absolutely ideal? Like you said, that is like a champ's luck coming into play there. We don't remember it was his mistake that put him back there. It's got like a monster. He had to have the penalties to go through. This was on him anyway.

And he has cost himself points today by having such a poor qualifying. Yeah, I think if you'd said to him ahead of the weekend, like, you're going to crash in qualifying in Q1, and there are going to be seven different retirements in this race. And you said to him, would you take P5? He'd gone, yeah. No. I imagine so.

With the points tally, he already has in the championship, I'm sure he would walk away from this one and go, not a perfect weekend. I can afford to do that because of the work I've been done. Let's move on to McLaren, because at one point early in this race, it was looking pretty promising for the team. Oscar Piastri was holding down second place.

Lando Norris, whilst not looking like he was going to finish on the podium, still capable of scoring some solid points, and they've ended up with absolutely nothing. Lando Norris retiring as part of that turn 1 incident after the safety car. Oscar Piastri, breaking too late, the tyres very much locking up into term 1 and dropping him well out of the points. I don't know if you want to focus on Norris or Piastri first, Harry, but yeah, not an ideal day for the pair of them.

No, I'll go for Piastri first. Just like summary of his season, right? that race just not good just nothing really going his way so I think he was really good and that obviously got the jump up at the start his pace was good enough

on those soft eyes they could keep the you know the faster red balls behind and it was all looking relatively good and that yeah just one lockup at the second restart and it's game over it was very Lewis Hamilton

2021 vibe wasn't it just straight on and all those places lost so that's a shame because yeah, there was a podium podium opportunity for him there. Norris, I know he started on the medium tires, but didn't look as good at all as Piastri, like, pace-wise. And obviously then he had a very similar lockup

and went straight on at turn one, which dropped him behind Gassley and Antonelli at that point, wasn't it? And then, I mean, not his fault for being taken out of the restart. Have he seen his comments, by the way, about what he thinks should happen to drivers that cause chaos? Yeah, I've got the quote here. He said, I think the FIA should be more strict and start handing out bans for this kind of stuff.

It's just careless from people. It costs a longer money. All my parts are in the Bing now. People should just get banned because that's not driving. That deserves to being Formula One. Oof. Brave man, I'm not sure to actually seen

who crashed into him either at that point. His comment section might be interesting. Yeah. So yeah. just not a great race for Orlando. It's weird because given where at one point yesterday in Qualifying, McLaren looked pretty good. And yeah, Piastri's pacing the race was all right.

But yeah, what a stinky way to round out the weekend. I feel horrible for Piastri here because he is a great defender, like one of the absolute best on the grid. And we saw that lap after lap, the way in which he was able to manage that gap back to Max Verstappen and to Isaac Cadjar could have wilted under the pressure at any. point. And ironically, if he had, he'd have been better off for it. Because if he does what he does at term one earlier on in this race, he drops two positions probably. And he carries on about his business and takes home P4 and 12 points. And we're not, you know, saying it's been a brilliant day

for him because of that error, but it's still absolutely fine. He couldn't afford that error at that point because everyone was bunched up after the safety car and he just had to watch as all of these cars sailed past and it's just a timing thing. It's one critical error that has spoiled an otherwise really impressive day. But that's F1 sometimes. Like that one critical error can be... Other than hungry, I think it's his best race of the season. I'd put Suzuki maybe at first, but like this is up there, no doubt.

Yeah, it's just gutting for him to be honest. Lando Norris, I was surprised by. I think there were conversations about the engine. maybe not being up to scratch and I wouldn't be surprised if they, even without the crash that might well, make it more mandatory. I think they were going to look to make some changes

ahead of Malaysia anyway because his pace was not really on it in that final sector all weekend long. But he made errors of his own, certainly the one that let Gasly and Antenelli buy. And he never seemed comfortable in the same way his teammate did. But that's kind of in keeping with what we've had

from Norris over these last few years. I know midweek we had a game of order please where we were listing podiums for drivers at Baku. He's never had one here. And even last year where Piastri has a disastrous race, Norris didn't take advantage of it. He finished like sick for something. So not his type of track maybe.

Yeah, proper bogey circuit for him. I think he would take this. He'll move away. I also, I think him being crashed into, for a lot of the more casual fans who maybe won't want to do analysis or anything, this would be a little bit of a saving grace for him. because I think if he finished that Grand Prix

and he was right next to Gassely a couple of seconds of seconds, and Antingelli's down the road, and the Ferraris are down the road. And let's say Piascribes where he was, that would have been quite a big finishing gap between himself and the rest of the top drivers. So maybe, as much as it's been incredibly frustrating,

him being out of this is making him look a little, spares a little bit there. Not his best race. I also don't think the McLaren was good on those million tyres at all. I think it was really struggling to get purchased out of those tires. And Hamilton got through and drove off down the road. Gassi was sitting with him quite nicely for a long time.

Just didn't seem to work. Plus, I think Stella has said that actually that maybe the car had become a bit more dragging at the very top end of straight-line speed modes, which, of course, at Baku is integral, which maybe made it more difficult for him to get the car stopped, and that's why we saw the mistake from both drivers. So there might be some reasons in there.

Let's hope that he doesn't have to say too many penalties in Malaysia, because that track could be a real winner, I think, for McLaren. That middle sector really looks like it will suit their car. The whole straight-line speed thing is, it really confuses me because every time we come to this sort, track. We're like, well, Mercedes is going to be pretty good here, and they end up being pretty good. And, like, Alpine can take advantage in the midfield of their power unit, and they end up leading the midfield, even if it doesn't show that way in terms of points. It's always, McClaren just seen

these odd ones out where they can't follow through with what should be the strengths of the power unit. They've got a good. Even Williams to go, right? Even Williams got a pretty good in straight line modes to go. And yet, McLaren are great for arrow, but they can't seem to make it fasting a quick line. Yeah, interesting. A quick line. That's a thing. Yes, a quick line. A straight line is what I think. It's a quick straight line. What about driver of the day?

You're the driver of the day. You're the driver of the day. You're good at driving. Who have you got, Harry? George Russell. I'll go for the easy one. Like I said earlier on, he was faultless today. Superby, an opening stint for the safety car.

to pull that a gap, and then didn't crack under the pressure when he had Mr. Vostappen behind him for the last 20 lap. So, yeah, really superb. Sam. Yeah, Harry's picked the obvious one, just for some diversity in answer, I'm going to go for Max Verstappen. I thought in a car that was a bit slow, and that Masege's, his challenge was incredibly strong,

did well to get past cars around him very quickly efficiently, efficiently, obviously helped by his teammate. The only thing that maybe dampened him, of course, was the slight speed on those mediums where he's behind Piaski, but other than that, I'd probably fault this Grand Prix. I've got two additional shouts for two drivers who didn't end up in the points, but I think very much deserved to be there, as much as they could with the cars at their disposal. Pierre Gasly, I thought, was very, very good for Alpine once more.

And Liam Lawson, I thought, did a very good job in a car that just wasn't suited for this weekend whatsoever. I think he was doing a really good job of holding off some faster cars for much of this Grand Prix. But I am going to go with Harry. I'll go with George Russell. And his team radio was pretty great as well we got driven into. Yes, it was, yeah. Pretty sick.

Yeah, that's pretty sick. Worst driver of the day. Get in the bin, bin, bin, bin, worst driver of the day. Ben, bin, bin, worst driver of the day. You suck at driving. A few incidents here, Harry,

some drivers that struggled. Who are you going for? He might start breaking for turn one at some point. but Frankicolpinto. Leroy Janky. Leroy Colopinto. Love that. Absolutely sent it, didn't he?

I was having a good day, a really good day, and then just that was, that's one of the, that's like an F1 game, that style. That's when your mate is five places in front, and you're not,

I'm just going to take him out. Chris fucking. Yeah, banner in it. Yeah, I'm sorry, sorry, Franco, because he was ungood. Good form today. And then threw it all away with that silly... I mean, in all seriousness,

I don't think he actually meant to send it. He was just trying to stop the car. Yes, he was. Oh, yeah, yeah. But a critical cost of error. You think they've stopped telling him off yet? No, I just run away. Don't even go back into the panic.

Just run. Run to Malaysia. I hope you're forgetting five days. Bye, bye. Briotori's memory is a bit shaky sometimes. So we might turn up to Malaysia and he'll be like, what happened, Backey? I don't remember.

Pierre, did you hit Franco? No, no, that wasn't me. No, no. No, no. It's Franco. They all have the same voice. They all do. Right, Colopinto for Harry.

What about for you, Sam? Yeah, totally fair. I'll offer up a different name just because Valtry Bottas, because he wanted to do anything of remote speed at all. Perez was about 30 seconds clear of him at any given moment in his Grand Prix, and then he just crashed, which was great.

You know what, valid. Yeah. Retire the car in the pit lane, my mind. You're a waste of space on that. I know Cadillac. I know Perez was the only Cadillac to have an upgrade, but was the upgrade? Cadillac might be really happy.

Like, if Bottas is where he should be, and Perez has got this upgrade, and it turns out to be the best upgrade of all time, they're doing okay. Yeah, wild. I'm not sure he's got 30 seconds of upgrades on the car. It might be the best. Best upgrade ever.

Also, I really need to see the first 20 laps of Bottas versus Alonzo. It looked like it was going off. Absolute ding-dong. Because, like, no offence, some of the other overtakes that happened early in this race, but a lot of them were Antonelli in term one gets the job done. Alonzo trying to overtake Bottas with the straight line speed of that Honda must have been a hoot to watch.

Proper tortoise versus hair kind of event that, wouldn't it? I just thought the Cadillac could be the hell. hair in that Anglici, by the way. I have this image of, like, Alonzo just like pulling alongside and then just getting slightly ahead and then just falling straight back again. I need to see it. My worst driver of the day was Franco Colopinto for that term one incident. I am waiting to see how this can be twisted to be Ghazley's fault.

Can't wait. He distracted Franco with a massive link of sausages. You know what? be right. I would distract me to be fair. But also, shame because Colopinto was on course for points, as with Gazley, this could have been a really good day for LP. Big Brain Strat.

We're going to need you to box for wets. What? It's not even raining out. What are you talking about? Yeah, and Bob, if you get a chance, wait. Sam, off you got? I really like the idea that Carlos Sites under green flag. I think Alex Albuquerque's to put it in the wall,

shafting only his teammate. Singapore. Yeah. Yeah, like, thanks for that, mate. Really good. Real good. Yeah. The fact that he got a point out of that is actually credit to Carlos Seid.

Because I'm not sure how that happened. Yeah, I've played to him actually. People crash in front of him, but still. I'm not sure he knows how that's happened. Yeah. Interesting. Yeah. I'm going to go with one that's kind of already been mentioned.

And Sam, I think you brought this up. George Russell. And this is actually a serious one for a change. George Russell starting on the medium tire is likely why he's won this race like if he starts on that soft tire as second, third and fourth place on the grid did and he's on the medium tires at the end

versus Vestappen's soft tires I don't think he holds him off I think he finished his second They were much better weren't they They really were a much bigger tire There's a real risk that they jump out of that final corner for Vastapin will be so much stronger Yeah so credit to Mercedes for playing that

because if it went the other way I don't think he wins this race. Harry, your big brain strap. My one is Isaac Hadjar telling Red Bull to tell Vastappan to keep pushing. Great banter. Good idea.

Thank you. Thank you, Isaac. I wish they did that just so we can hear the response. Max, Isaac said, keep pushing. Thanks, Isaac. We need, though, we need proximity team radio

like we had for Staffen versus the carts. Yeah, yeah. Max, if you can hear me, go faster. Have you thought about pushing, Max? Just an idea. You see that break check coming instantaneous break check. Yeah, what? You said, what?

Well, over right now. All right, let's take our second break. On the other side, we're getting into the multiple incidents that took place as well as Ferrari. I love that they're this far back. Just like they were in the race. Yeah, they just didn't do anything, did they?

Do something. Oh, God. Welcome back, everyone. A couple of incidents that caused safety cars. We've kind of touched on these a little bit already, Sam, but just to mention them a little bit more. Alex Albin, of course, battling Esteban Ockon going into the same wall that Oscar Piastri went into on the first lap of last year's race.

With an upgraded Williams, tough one, because he was up the road from his teammate at that point. Yeah, the penalty that science picks up and qualifying, of course, elevates Salby the place as well. And he was fighting for points at that moment. Points very much applicable. I know he's under the pressure of Ocon, but that car is faster than the horse.

I mean, come on. It's a lot of pressure to be fair. When you've got Esteban in your rearview mirror, crikey, run away. He did not run away. He crashed. And it was entirely his own fault. Nothing else around.

And he's Rexo and Upgraded Williams, which is a real shame because that might be one of the few Grand Prix of those coming up where I think the Williams can genuinely be competitive alongside the big field. I think they've taken a step forward this upgrade. It's a real shame that he's putting it in the wall here

because this was a real chance for a double points finish. I know it's my bold prediction, but I think it was actually possibly on. What do you make of Williams here? This upgrade's been spoken about for a long time, Harry. Like, did it live up to it?

And even without the crash, could it have led to double points? do you know what I'm gonna this is classic me but remains to be seen on this upgrade because I think the fact that they've got a Mercedes engine may have made it look better than it was it's very fair so we'll see

it certainly was an improvement for this weekend signs showed that in qualifying like say album was in the hunt for a point maybe in in the race before he went straight onto the barriers so there's been there's been some reward for their efforts, for their 20 kilos they've saved off that car,

which is like, what have they taken off it? Just a gearbox, I don't know. Maybe one of their 100 sponsors. Yeah, maybe it took Barclays off. So, yeah, they can be relatively satisfied, I think, but I think I wouldn't be jumping around for joy if I was James Vals quite yet, and there's a few more tougher tracks to come for them, I think.

So overall, they didn't maximize it, did they? Because I think it could have been better, but it's at least got them back in the mix where they weren't, you know, with all the other upgrades of the other teams, they were heading back towards, you know, Cadillac and where Aston Marston are on a circuit that has straight. So, yeah, they can be pleased that at least puts them back in the hunt, but even so.

The hunt for what? A point. Yeah. They got that. I think perfect weekend on pace alone, 10th and 11th, 9th and 10th, maybe. I think they had a chance of being towards the top of that midfield in that Alex Albin was certainly putting pressure on Lawson, even though Ockham was also putting pressure on him.

Like, he was in that fight. Carlos Sines, his pace on the mediums was stinky, like really poor. To the point where he is battling and losing out to the Audi. drivers. For a good 15 laps or something like that, Perez is on the back of him as well. Like, Signs wasn't, I think it was Limbler directly ahead of signs. He wasn't catching up to him, and he was holding up about three drivers. So, yeah, the pace on the mediums was really poor. Certainly the error from Alex Albon has cost any chance of points here. But in terms of the upgrade as a whole, C minus on first, first glance, I think at a chance, I think at a chance,

track again that should have suited them a lot, it hasn't yielded a great deal. Another incident that, of course, caused the safety car, the Franco Colopento side of things I think we've already discussed, but it was two incidents going into that first corner with two sets of teammates crashing into each other, the other one being Arvid Limbludard into Liam Lawson. And I'd like to go on record and say that Arvid Limbluda being investigated and given no penalty is one of the most horrendous decisions I've seen in F1 in the last couple of years. Did they watch the event? Yeah, what's happened?

Did they fall asleep? This is utter non-s. I hate it, because I know exactly why he hasn't got a penalty and why Colopinto has. Number one, no one's retired because of Limbler side of it. And number two, it was into his teammate. And if either of those two were different, he gets a penalty. What is he doing in that event, by the way? Why is his nose where it is?

Where is he driving into at that point? But I mean, why shouldn't he be there? has been penalised for it. He was completely valid in making the move, apparently. It's just, that's a joke. And I hate this whole, we only give penalties out if the team actually press a problem.

Like, no, just as like a referee, give out the penalty. And it is ridiculous that Lawson say, I like, oh, hey, great race I was having. See you later. Race, completely ruined by his own team, man. What would, I mean, this is, I am not a massive football fan.

If you took out your own teammate in a match, like, just slid them, took their knees out, Could you go? Would you get a card? No. It depends how aggressive you are, but no. Well, maybe they're applying those rules then, which doesn't work. It doesn't work because there's a driver's championship

and there isn't like a player's championship of football, right? Yeah, we're not against my own teammate for also scoring points. Yeah, I think that. I can't wait to read the document about why they haven't given a penalty here, because I don't know what reason they're going to cook up. Unless I'm missing something really blatant, this was obviously a penalty. He drove straight into a gap that wasn't there and he used his teammate to break.

I really don't know what went on. Anyway, Limbler's been able to take advantage of that because he's got all the way up to seventh place for six points on a day where... The move he put on that harsh though. Very good. I'm not going to lie, that almost redeemed it for me. Maybe that's why they're taking penalty.

They were about to press five second penalty and then they were like, oh. Damn, he's cooked off the cat. Absolutely, yeah. It's just cut that straight up into a little songy. Yeah, incredible move. Then that fight off into the line with the horse as well. He took a really good job at recovering.

Yeah, sorry, the move was on Bermann, wasn't it? And then I'll con later on. Yes, very impressive. Good day in the end for racing balls at a track where it looked like they might be on course to score no points. Alpine could be on course to score something like 10, maybe even more points. We know it's a battle between those two, Sam. So it feels like a pretty important one.

You heard Pierre Gassi straight over the radio. I don't think he was bothered about the fact that he was. was in seventh, or whatever it was, I think he's very much aware of the Constructors' Championship. It clearly means something to Alpine. That's clearly what they've been briefed on. And the first thing out of his mouth, other than the, oh, my, be, God,

you know, so many points lost today. It's got to be so frustrating when he's been putting in these great performances, pretty much the whole season. The car's gone through a slump and suddenly out being a competitive again after an upgrade package. And then that happens.

And it happens because of their own team having the error that knocks him out. It's got to be so frustrating. So they got to claw back even more now because that gap was going to close, I think, down to about four or five points between the two teams. Now it goes up again by, I think, another eight. So, yeah, not ideal for Alpine.

Yeah, painful one, right, Harry? This just felt like a circuit they needed to take advantage of. Yeah, like, you know, like Monza as well. It should have been a great weekend for Alpine and it was looking, you know, shaping up that way. It's just so Alpine. Like, of course it's the, the two of them that are, I know I'm not blaming Gassie here,

but the courses the two of them that have crashed into each other and taking each other out of the race. So it wouldn't have been any other way. It was giving real, you know, Ock on Gatsby vibes today. So, yeah, there'll be, I mean, you know, Colopinto's obviously, he already apologised over the radio, didn't he before he'd even got back,

because man is fearing for his own life. But, yeah, that's a heavy lesson that he's had to learn there. And it's certainly cost Alpina. Maybe it will cost them towards the end of the season. Who knows? Maybe so. Maybe so. 49 minutes into the review, shall we talk about Ferrari?

Because it is unusual they are this far down a race review. But Sam, they didn't do anything. Absolute passengers all race. Just boring. No ability to go quickly. I think LeCler is actually lucky he's ending up just floating around outside the podium, him close enough that he's kind of got a Hajar to slightly tow him down the road for a lot of that second half and Anthony Ellie's got the floor damage that can't make the difference.

Yeah, I've got nothing else to say. They're just poor in comparison to the rest of the top teams, but also got lucky that they weren't involving any of the incense and that it's a alping behind them that can't go any faster. Okay, that's a classic, what, fourth and sixth it was going to bring for Ferrari again. Yeah. It literally could be the same every year. You can go pick this commentary up and put it three years ago and it'll be the same conversation that we're happening.

Happening, having. I kind of get the sense from LeCler's side of the garage, Harry, that he did about as much as he could this weekend. He's qualified on the front row. He's been beaten by, I think, a pretty clearly faster Red Bull and a faster Mercedes.

P4 and move on. Yeah. With the pace that I car, P4 is actually pretty, pretty good, isn't it? After Thursday, so after free practice, Fred Fassar was asked about, you know, the pace of Mercedes and they look really far ahead. And he said that he's been,

he's too old to pay too much attention to what happens in practice. Maybe pay attention to what happens in practice, Fred. It's your job, man. It's actually your job. Yeah, it was, it was a case of it completely translated into the race, didn't it? I mean, in Qualify, I know LeCoh was on the front row, but look at the gap Russell had.

Yeah, stinky. Hamilton was really slow as well. Hamilton was so much slower than Lecler. Every lap, it was like a, couple of tents, a couple of tents. And after the restart, it went out to two or three seconds so quickly. He fought answering any once, say, oh, whatever. Hamilton was lucky that Norris was struggled so much on those mediums,

quite frankly. I think it's going to go most lang for a long of the race. I don't think there's no way to really prove or disprove this, but I would be shocked if this race so far this year is like, surely it's like the least coverage Hamilton has got over a race weekend. because we didn't see a lot of him in qualifying either. Didn't see really any of him in the race because he's just detached and not...

Yeah, yeah. But same with A Claire, right? Other than him getting overtaking at the start of the Rob Brey, you basically don't see Charlotte Clare. At least I've seen a Ferrari for a Formula One weekend in a long time. Yeah, indeed. In terms of the race as a whole, Sam, we saw obviously everyone,

apart from Carlos Sines, going for a one stop in this, nearly all of them taking advantage of the safety car that made an appearance sort of two-thirds into this grom, was very much trending to a one-stop race anyway. The hard tire was not used by anyone. Pirelli already brought the softest compounds in their range,

the C3, C-4-C-5, still not enough to promote anything close to a two-stop race. Yeah, and Porelli are to blame, Mike. I know that Formula One can give them their aim for what the tyres need to do, but you can have tires that are long-lasting but can have a cliff in terms of performance, or you can have ties that don't have a cliff in terms of performance, but might open up or might have risk of puncture. There's got to be something that changes with these tires. There's been comments from Lewis Hamilton this week

about how the tyres aren't providing any interest in Grand Prix. There's no strategy involvement. It's really dull. He's right. And this was really bad, really boring, because of the Grand Prix, because of the tyres, sorry, the Grand Prix was really, really dull. Predictable, easy to manage, nothing throwing out there.

No alternative strategy that you could go forward to try and change your fortune. tunes. And when something like the tyres are irrelevant in a Grand Prix, it really limits what can happen in a race. They're the four things you drive around on on the racetrack. They're pretty integral to what goes on. And if everyone's got perfect tires all the time, it kind of ruins any outside work that might happen that could throw something into the mix. So I think something's going to change next year for when we do these tires. What needs to happen here, Harry, because we had this situation a couple of years ago. The solution was, whether it was from F1 or Porelli. We're going to bring this C6 tire that we haven't done before that's specifically for

these sort of street circuit races. They do that for not even a year. The drivers hate that tire, so it's ditched, and we're just back in the same spot again. So something has been attempted and clearly not worked before, but I don't think we can carry on with just this only two tires are really viable and one-stops are just the norm. No, and, you know, it's They hate these tires as well. You're right. I was Sam said about Hamilton after qualifying. His quote of,

I've read it yesterday. He was like, I was trying to, I was trying to weave, to save my life with these damn ties, such a pain in the ass. What Hamilton comment that is. Man.

Man. So they don't like these ones either. Yeah, they should have persevered, I think, that it's the C-6 type. And I know, obviously,

they've got to listen to the, you know, the people that are trying to, driving the cars, obviously. But I think it's often too much that the drivers have an input on what tires we have and that it should just more be instructed to them. These are the ties you're going to have. This is the sport. If only we'd had a year where it all works and you could use it as a case study. But you know, that'll be asking too much. Yeah. But do you know what we had less of in that year? What's that, my? Street circuits. Like, I think that's part of

the problem is just these street circuits don't work as well with these tires. That we've had two stops and the like so far this year. We've seen it brilliantly at the likes of, at the likes of Barcelona. Like, it can work. Yeah. It doesn't work as well on these street tracks. Make them out of paper mashay.

I think the drivers will go for that. Can you say paper mashay or Papier mashe? Paper. It's a real question. It depends what if you're saying, because Papia would have an eye in it, wouldn't it? I know.

Now I'm genuinely unsure if I've been saying it wrong my whole life. Leave some comments in the underneath, please. Is it papier or is it Papua? Do not comment anything about F1. We only want the answer to that. Can you leave a five-star review, please? And can you comment whether it's Papier or Paper? Man, no other podcast does this.

Hi, I'm a new F-1 fan. I wonder if I should listen to this podcast. Let me check the reviews. Paper, Papier, paper, Papier. No, nothing but dedicated, honest, because I love that for them. Wait, in hindsight, maybe just asking people to leave random comments underneath that. Oh, bad, bad, really mad. Maybe we're on the wrong, wrong strategy here.

Maybe we should be giving good size. Big brain strap. Oh, bad. Sorry, because I've left it till 56 minutes into the show. So at least, you know, all the normal people have gone, this is crap, anyway, I'm sorry. We've left it to 56 minutes. No one's watching or listening at this point. So that's fine.

So it will just actually be the three of us commenting paper or papio. Well, if that segment convinced you to stick around, we'll take our final break and we'll go on to Moment of the Race. Both are correct. What? Welcome back everyone to the final part of today's episode. We've just got time for Moment of the Race. And obviously we've got our Discord submissions coming up very shortly. Before we do that, though, Sam, what was your moment to the race?

some good ones to pick out actually in the kind of the latter stages of that Grand Prix I'm going to go for the overtake from Limblud on the hearse I just really saw it in the tiny little square box in the corner of our screen it was absolutely saucy and it was an unusual place to pick off fun it wasn't some end of straight breaking zone

into turn one using battery or straight mode whatever it's called to get the move done it was a proper overtake and it was really really cool so really enjoyed it. I like the idea that Limbluda actually had a front row seat for Ocon doing the same thing to Behrman so he's like, all right, I'm going to do that now. I'm going to do it, just slightly better.

Yeah. Harry, your moments of the race. Already been mentioned, but shout out to Liam Lawson for the world's most sarcastic radio message. Yeah, that's pretty sick. But my moment of the race is Fernando Alonzo giving up. I've seen clips radio. There was nothing wrong with this car.

He just retired. That feels about right. He complained about his engine lap after lap and maybe they all found something but they didn't say retire the car man just boxed I love that he's coming after qualifying was great as well

that whole yeah I locked up into turn 15 driver and that's why we didn't get pole position cost me palm yeah such a good comment he's been on it this weekend I love what he's doing because he's just like I know he's saying about the engine during the race

but he's clearly got this tactic of like I'm just going to over-emphasize how good this car is like yeah really good through the corners yeah really good Through the corners, yeah. I'm really well there. In the corners.

Yeah, I am going to go with a bit of team radio. George Russell, I nibbled the wall. No one else is using the word nibbled when it comes to the wall. Makes me feel a bit weird. A little nibble of the wall. George Russell saying the word nibble. Just a little nibble. I'm whispering in your ear.

Oh, it probably does as well. Yeah, so it was just one of those team radio moments where it wasn't going to come from anyone else, only from George Russell. Yeah. Yeah. That's our moments of the race or moments of the races that we've never quite decided which way around it should be. Moments of the races. We're going for moments of the races. Everything's pluralized.

Let's pluralize of and the in the middle of it as well. Moments of those races. Yes, that's the one. Well, let's end this discussion and go straight to our Discord Submissions. Okay, first submission coming up from Scuderia Donkey. So, guys, my memory of the race is watching the pink Argentinian torpedo go down the corner and take three cars out, channeling his inner Daniel Ricardo. Well, he balls that up. Scudoria donkey out.

Pink Argentinean, what is he called it? Missile. A torpedo. A torpedo. It's got some, it's got some. Targetative cockatics. No, no, no. Maybe someone likes a pink car and tingey in torpedo.

I thought, it makes sense that he used Daniel Ricardo, obviously. I thought he was going to say Danny Kaviyat, who was nicknamed the torpedo from from Seb Vettel, but I guess would be in term one at Baku. It makes sense to be Daniel Ricardo.

Thank you very much, Scuderia donkey. Up next, F1 Dad. F1 Dad here, in my moment of the race, is Oscar P. Astri deciding that Ben's bold prediction point is more important than his podium finish. Bins it into turn one so that we can all have the glory of a Hajar podium. Damn right. This isn't just a win for me.

This is a win for all losers out there. One step on the ranks, you know, you are finally there. How does it feel to birth all the Formula One? You know, fatherhood must be tough. Bernie Eccleston then. I assume so. I stopped taking guns onto planes, Bernie. Leave the shotgun at home.

No. I'm going to do it again. Man's like 96. Why have you got a shotgun? Why is he packing heat? You don't need to be a guy. Who's shooting Bernie on a plane? Himself.

It's just him. I'm ending it. He's probably off to fight in the Second World War again. He's that old. He's great for the call-up. Is this the 100-year war? Oh, God. With him, it might well be.

Up next, Norm from Texas. Oh, hello, Lake Breakers. Norm from Texas here. And my moment of the race is Franco Colapinto going Leroy Jenkins into turn one on a restart. Anyway, keep breaking late. Laira. Jenkins.

Two shouts on the same pod for Leroy Jenkins. Wow. It might be that I put it in the Discord when it happened. Oh, okay, that makes sense. What's had more airtime in this podcast? Leroynegan's on paper mashet.

That's what you want to find out? I don't know, but they're both head of Ferrari, weirdly. Fred, start watching practice, mate. Yeah, come on. Up next, we have just a mom.

I'm just a mom here, so what do I know? But my moment over the race was Lawson's radio. Man, I love Gait and taken out by my teammate. That's pretty sick. Lawson's redemption arc continues. I start to like that guy. Yeah, you and me both just a man.

He delivered it very well. I've got to give him that. Because soon that he's just being hit at multiple miles an hour at high octane log of car, so then nail a comedic delivery like that, it's pretty impressive. Yeah. Up next we have Motion Light.

Hi, hi. moment of the race was Isaac on the podium. Congratulations. On your point. Liam being sassy. O'Con in the points. Congratulations. And an alpian doing alpine things.

Anyhoo. Turo-l-l-l-l-l-oo. Yeah. Bold prediction point and O'Conn in the points. What great day. You must be out on the streets, tonight. You must be out there. We don't get to see you till dawn.

Yeah, yeah. I might make it back for power rankings, possibly. Maybe. It's Thai rangier. shirtless last up we have Jess Hi Jess here

first time long time my moment of the race is that if I are deciding that they couldn't find the safety car button all of a sudden on the last lap of the race and shout out to Liam Lawson being the most Kiwi driver of all time

pretty sick cheers she raises a fair point was Jess that there was no stopping of the race when Valtri Bottas was in the wall which we saw the crash with Alba which essentially was the same thing, right? There's a car embedding in the wall or a corner

and of course they throw the safety car. Yes. Now obviously with it being the last lap of the race, the safety car would have come out at term one when everyone's already finished. So I think neutralising the race with a virtual safety car would have made a lot of sense. I don't think I have disagreed

had been for MBSC. Oh, I wouldn't have done. I thought they were going to. Was it, I can't remember it's last year, but it was Mexico either. or maybe a year before, where they threw a VSE on the last lap for, I think was it Albon again,

but he'd like pulled right off. Yeah, in the Stagia section. Oh, yeah. Right. It might have been signs, possibly, but it was Williams, yeah. But that gets a VSE, but Botath buried in the tire wall.

And then they created the opposite in Silverstone, where they kept it running for the extra lap and finished, of course, under the yellows, and we didn't get to see on a completely clear track a race on green to the line. So they can't really seem to get that right. Yeah. Valid point. Thank you for raising that, Jess, and appreciate a first-time submitter, of course.

That's going to do it for our review of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but it's just the first race of a triple header. So we'll be back, of course, midweek, Sam, for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Yeah, back in Malaysia. So it's 27, first time since 17, I am pumped to see Sapanang back on the calendar. It should be a really good Grand Prix. I think these cars will go well here, so it should be fascinating to see. Make sure you stick with us, of course. We've got power rankings coming up on Patreon.

So if you've got a Patreon member, you want to support the show. Firstly, it is massively appreciated. Thank you so much. And there's a lot of things you get on Patreon. That isn't just power rankings, but that's going to be coming your way, big and fast for the benefits there.

When we go to every single driver, you get to joining as well and tell us what you think of the race and the drivers as well. Really, really fun to get into it properly, proper time to focus on every performance. Join the Discord. You might hear yourself, like those lovely people just did, and get involved in the chat. Get involved in social media. Facebook is a growing entity and needs our support. So late breaking F1 there as well specifically. Thanks for listening.

Papio Mache or Paper Mashi, you let me know. In the meantime, I'll be Samuel Sitch. I've been Ben Hocking. And I've been Harry Ead. And remember, keep breaking late.