The Late Braking F1 Podcast - ANOTHER dominant year for Verstappen? | 2023 Predictions

Episode Date: February 26, 2023

Testing is all over, so it's time to make some predictions! The LB Boys run through their picks for this year's drivers and constructors championships - will any of them be right come the end of the year? SUPPORT our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/latebraking JOIN our Discord: https://discord.gg/dQJdu2SbAm TWEET us @LBraking BUY our merch: https://late-braking-f1-podcast.creator-spring.com/ SUBSCRIBE to our podcast! EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/lbf1 Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! 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 tune in for new episodes every Wednesday and Grand Prix Sunday. Hello and a very warm welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage and me, Ben Hocking. It's championship Sunday. It's preview Sunday. We're getting into predictions. for the 2020 season. We've given you our teammate wars predictions

already, but now we get into constructors' predictions and we get into drivers' predictions ahead of the first race happening less than one week by the time we record this.

That's incredible to say, right, Sam? Oh my God, we're essentially, I'm getting on allow it, we're in race week. By the time you lot to this, we'll be a race week.

It's finally here. We've made it through the darkness, Yes, everyone. You can see the lightening of the tunnel. We had testing. That was a little treat for you as well. Maybe we've got a treat for some of the teams. Didn't go as well as they thought.

But we've made it through. How are you feeling good? Or are you just really, really cold? I am cold. I also have a bitter of a cold, but all of that pales into insignificance because we're there. We've made it, everyone.

Could everyone right now give yourself a pound on the back? Oh, he's one of those people. fine. Great. They both did it as well. Thank you, boy. Another visual reference from the LB podcast. It's going to be the name of our book.

Visual references. It's a good name for a band, actually. Oh. They can't be the name of the book because people could actually see the visual references unless we all just allude to them and don't actually put any pictures of them. You open the book and there's just nothing inside.

It's just words. I'm surprised you're feeling so positive about this episode, Harry, given it's making... I don't care, mate, anymore. It's all on vibes. It's all on vibes. Don't on vibes.

Who goes? To note, we did, of course, drivers and constructors' predictions last year where myself and Sam only got one right. And we've won. One. Harry got nothing correct.

So if you're expecting these predictions to be anything close to accurate, maybe just readjust your expectation. for this episode. Got that? Let's go.

We're going to start with Constructors' predictions, so we'll go from 1 down to 10. Sam, who's winning the Constructors' Championship in 2023? Oh, right. Okay, bit of story-time for you, folks. Building up to testing, it's not going to be a long one.

It's a short story, like a nursery rhyme. All right, look, building up to testing, I was very hopeful, I was very daring, and I was going, you know what, I'm going to go rogue here. And then I must admit, I've been swayed and I'm not going to go testing based. I'm not going to up to testing base anymore.

So, winging the constructors is Red Bull. They're going to take it back. I think that the wing tunnel reduction time is going to kick in right towards the end of the season. But the development, the other teams will make up. It's not going to be enough to overthrow a very positive first half of the year. So for me, Red Bull take the Constructors. I can't disagree with that. I've also got Red Bull as the Constructors' Championship for 2023.

I've just, like, in my notes, again, a bit of a visual reference, but it's not quite so much because I'll tell you what I've written here in my usual awful handwriting. I've just put, show me the weakness, question mark. Where's the weakness? They've just, they've got through three days of testing without a blemish. It was almost, it was so understatedly brilliant, where nothing went wrong in three days. The only thing you might point out is that Sergio Perez doesn't quite seem at home with the car in the same way that Vostappan does. But guess what? That was the case last year and they still won by a fair bit, didn't they?

Yeah, they had a faultless testing. The car looks very good and they showed that they can do it last year. That's a recipe for success. Hello, Ian. Oh, don't give you any attention. She's just trod on my keyboard with everything. Oh, I can't swear. Oh, we nearly did it.

I caught it. Excuse me, folks. We've got to deal with this little Hall of Fame a menace. Get off. He's not even put on you. He's just, okay, fair enough. Okay, I've given it to Red Bull.

Sam's given it to Red Bull. Over to you, Ian. Who do you think is going to be a construct as champion in 2023? She's going to find Clives. Would be more right than me. Probably, yes. I was trying to think that there's some sort of pun with Alpine and feline and it's not happening.

Don't even go down there. Let Harry make a wrong choice. Come on. Catra. Caterum. Very good. Yes. Catera.

Go over there. Yeah. I'm, you know, trying to limit my chances of being wrong all the time. I've agreed with Ben and Sam on this one. Where is the weakness, by the way, is a great new catchphrase to replace. Where is? Show me the weakness. Yeah, look.

Testing is not everything. we well know, but very hard to go against three days of just running around, not breaking, being quick and not breaking down. That's, for the things you need from your F1 car, they are the things you need, reliability and quickness. So, yeah, I'm going for Red Bull on this one. I'm in agreement with Samin that I think it might be tighter this year. I think teams will catch up, but at least for the first part of the season,

I think Red Bull are looking in very strong, strong form. So it might be difficult to make that gap up. So anyway, Red Bull for me. Well, those three predictions all but confirm. New Constructors champion for 2023 is guaranteed. What do you mean? Sorry, gone. I'll say out of interest last year.

Who did we say it was going to be first? I think I said Mercedes. I all said Mercedes. Yeah. Good stuff. Well, there you go. Sorry, Red Bull. So last year, we went with the defending champions

and we were all wrong. We've done the same thing this year. Good. Don't say we don't learn from our mistakes. Runner up, who have you got some? Well, I'm going to keep things really playing and boring. I'm going to give it to Ferrari. I just think that as much as I think it's going to be closer,

and I think with old Frilly Vass at the helm, and it being a lot more of a calm, conducive experience where it's going to be positive and they won't make silly mistakes, I think that the technical development of the car will continue to massively catch up towards the back end of the season, and I think that that will close the gap hugely. I also think that there's another certain team that will also technically develop and get closer as the season goes on, which you'll find out later on in the prediction, but I think Ferrari are going to be right now. I think this might be the clerks year to really kick on.

Harry, who you going for? also gone for Feza Oh I know, sorry sorry Sam yeah I'll go for Ferrari too I think they've looked good too in testing

they've not looked quite as good as Red Bull have for obvious reasons but yeah I think Ferrari will have I think they'll have a stronger year I know it sounds ridiculous because they've been building up to this for forever but I think now they've got Freddie Vass in

I'm not expecting Freddie Vass to have been able to turn things around over the course of December and January. But I think they are going to go in a more positive direction. And I think that will be reflected this year. But it won't be enough right now to topple Red Bull. So that's second for me. So in 2022, Mercedes had one of the worst preseason tests you'll ever see.

And yet, if there had been maybe two or three more races in that season, they were getting P2 in the Constructors' Championship. And despite the fact that it wasn't a perfect test for Mercedes, far from it, it's a lot better than it was last year, and they still nearly pulled it off. So I'm going with Mercedes for P2 rather than Ferrari. Basically, for that reason, I know that there are still issues when it comes to balance, but the porpoising issues have at least mostly gone. I think they have got the best line up in Formula One still.

I think at least out of the gates, Ferrari seemed to be the stronger team. And I think halfway through the year, I think Ferrari might be ahead of Mercedes. But come the end of the year, if we see the same thing happen again, Mercedes are well within a shot of getting that P2. They might not be in a great spot, but they're not in the god awful spot they were last year. So I'm going to stick my trust against Ferrari, which to me doesn't seem that crazy. Yeah, really logical. Yeah, that's fair.

P3, have you got some? Oh, well, I just can keep it short and snappy. I'll get a game, Mercedes. They were the other team that, like you said, cut them all races and they probably would have got P2 last year. I just think that there's something not quite right with this side podless design. I think they may be going a bit too extreme with it,

and over the course of the whole season, I don't think it's going to work across the different types of tracks that we've got. We saw so many problems with how the cars were set up and the handling, and they just could have getting it 100%. And they seem, I know it's testing, and you should have based everything on testing, because it's a lie, but they did seem uncomfortable.

They did seem a little off-it in certain areas. You know, I just, I'm not convinced. I hope they've put me wrong, because I'd love to have a really, really tight three-way fight, but I do think out of those top three, Mercedes will be the one that you drop off the place, especially initially. They might recover those points towards the back end of the season,

but I think that dropped at the start is going to be enough to set them apart later on down the line for that championship battle. I think. The test for Mercedes was so weird, wasn't it? It was like they showed up on the first day, like, I think we got a handle on this. Day two, they forgot how to F1.

And then day three, they were like, psych, we were okay in the first instance. Let's go back to that. It's just a weird test all round. It's the rear end on that car. This looked a bit weird. The whole test. I'm not really sure.

It was also, I know we've done liver, you know, Pimp my F1 on livery, livery ratings, but I don't like it as much when it's on track. Let's redo the whole podcast episode. I changed my mind. Anyway, not relevant for now, but yeah, just a thought. Have you got them P3, Harry, or someone else? Yeah, yeah.

Short and scathing. Sorry, Mark. Yeah, I agree with the logic, but just I don't know if they're starting they're not starting on a back foot like they were last year but it still doesn't quite seem

they're at quite the same level as Ferrari, they're not the Red Bull level but I don't think they're quite at the same level as Ferrari and I have no doubt they will catch that up as the year goes on but as I said I think Ferrari are going to have a more, sorry, a less chaotic year than they did in 2022

which I think would allow them hold on or hold off Mercedes for the remainder of the year. So I've got them third. I'll be interesting to see you. It'll be interesting to see how it goes for Mercedes. I am confused by the lack of side pods again, but they must know something we don't. A lot of things we don't.

I mean, yeah. There's a long list, put it that way. Yeah, this game, I've got Ferrari third. So I've just switched those two spots around. should I trust Ferrari? I find it difficult to. If you were asking me, okay, after race five,

who's going to be in the lead, I'd say, yeah, Ferrari, I trust them enough to give them the advantage over five races, that's fine. If you were to ask me that over 10 races, I'd go,

yeah, probably I'd go Ferrari, but, you know, I'm starting to get a bit shaky about it now. And then you think, well, what about 23 races? And at that point, I'm out.

No, no, I can't ride with Ferrari for a full season. happening. My blood pressure struggles as it is, as it is, let alone putting any pressure on myself for trying to will Ferrari further up the grid. So I've got them third. I still think they're in with a shot of having a good year. But what is good when it comes to Ferrari? That's another question. I was going to let them win the title. Like before last week, they were my number one. I was going to put them as championship winners. Very kind of you to let them win. It's up to me, entirely up

to me. I thought, wrong all year. They can wait. Someone doesn't let them win. They're not going to get there any other way, are they? Oof.

They're being upset all of Ferrari land. Well, I was doing all right in terms of Ferrari and like getting over everything that happened last year. And then I started to watch Drive to survive and it all came back again. So I'm just angry again at them.

I haven't watched a single bit of that yet. I really have sit down and crack on. I'll be two busy boys. Plural. Yes, I'm many men. Too many men, too many, many, many. Oh, shit. We've been going forth, Harry.

Oh, God. It's Elplan. It's time to believe the hype, everyone. I don't care. Sorry, it's time to believe the hype. And you're saying they'll finish in the same spot as last year. What, Elplan?

He's thinking, ask him, mate. Not Alpine. Not Alpine. Oh, God, yeah. He's moved, didn't he? Oh, that's a good... Yeah, that's a good point. Yes, Elplan has moved.

I guess that's almost true in that Elplan will still be in the same spot as he was last year. Very, very good point. I guess that's a fair point. Yeah, look, I'm not believing the hype as many as much as other people are because it's testing. But, yeah, that's Martin. They threw last year's going to the bin, and this year is a nice good one. Have that, Mr. Alonzo. They look in good form out there.

And I think Alonza's going to be a little menace. I mean, he's always a menace. He's always a menace, but I think he's going to be a little menace to the top three teams. Do you know what? I think he's going to be this, yeah, he's going to be in their pit stop window. Every bloody time they try to do like an undercut

and they have to wait forever to try and get out of it, but they can't, because Fernando Alonso is just sat within 20 seconds of the car. Gap to Fernando, 19.5. Yeah, oh, God. Yeah, they're looking good out there. And maybe it doesn't, that strong, they might have a really strong start. It doesn't, the gap increases as the season goes on to the top three. But at least for the start of the season, I think they're looking in good shape.

So I think it's going to hold him a good stead. So, yeah, Aston Martin 4th, which. if that happens. I'm pretty sure I put Astermard in quite hot last year and I went really badly, so don't let me down, please. That might be true, but in terms of their test last year, it didn't look great. So if they do actually end up finishing fourth

versus where they were 12 months ago, that's not too bad at all. Sam, four for you? Well, I'm a bit disappointed here because Green Machine, Green Machine, Green Machine, Green Machine, Green Machine. Yeah, Astermy! in fourth place. I'm really annoyed

that Harry's exactly the same thing because I felt all bold and clever and like I was a bit smart and I was going to be the only one to do it

and he's putting it in fourth. But I think that if Alonso can run the helm and whoever it might be in that second seat, of course,

Lance Stroll struggling with an injury at the moment and we hope he gets back to the grid very, very soon and feels better. But if it's drug

of action, which has been confirmed as the replacement for now, who has to do a few races, I hope they can go along with him. You know, they can be pulled up

up the grid with him and, and get the points that they need and they can really start to deliver some strong results. So for me, they'd be looking good. As to mine. I have gone for Alpine in fourth. Boring.

How's that the boring option? Everyone's going for Astermine in fourth. It's like to mock you about, mate. Here we go. I'll go radical and go different and be cool boring. I love that. Yeah, Alpine in fourth. So, yeah, I don't believe in L plan.

sorry, Fernando, even if I have brought you back to your old team unintentionally. It was a bit of an odd test for Alpine because they just kind of didn't really do much. But there's something going on at that team. There's something there. They're hiding something. They're a lot more confident than they should be based on what's happening on track. They didn't really do anything in the test. And yet they're all really smug about something.

So something is fishy. and I think that they have actually got... By a radioactive spider. I think they've got something up their sleeve and I think they will actually turn out to be pretty good. Not good enough to challenge the top three, but I have got them ahead of Aston Martin. Fifth place, Harry?

What you just said. Oh, cool. I've got LP fifth. And I agree. You're right. Weird test. Didn't do anything. Did nothing.

But everyone seems quite happy about it, don't they? So, yeah, I think, I think they will, they'll be in the mix with Aston Martin. I've just put, you know, put Aston Martin forth because Elpland. But just vibes. But I think Alpine are going to have a strong year. I mean, they had an okay year, a year last year, but they get, they broke down a few times. So as long as that doesn't happen. Yeah, I mean, I'm intrigued.

I'm intrigued to see what they do. I have up their sleeves. But, yeah, they're in fifth for me. Sam, I'll go over to you for fifth place because I'm just trying to Google translate what L plan is in French. So, yeah, if you could give us your fourth place prediction, a fifth place prediction. Okay. I have fun with that. I feel really pointless because Harry is just saying all of my words and that's not.

This is not boding well for Sam so far. No, it's not, is it? You're meant to be the idiot. And we're agreeing at every single point. I mean, yeah, go on Alpine. If they can not just be an absolute rocket in a straight line, actually learn how to go around corners with any sufficient pace that can match the top three scenes,

they can be a real weapon up the front there. But I do think that, you know, gassing, iconic is exciting. And why are they all so smug? Why are they all just standing there with their arms crossed, lightly giggling at everyone else as they walk past? Like, ha ha ha ha, ha, ha. As in white in French, I guess. They know

They know them Cheaky, cheeky boys and girls at Alpine Then go to something So yeah, I think it's gonna be close between them and Aska actually Do you think they're all smug Because I'm watching Oscar Piastri driving that McLaren Absolutely Yeah

Yeah Ottar is laughing into his cereal in the morning Do you know what L Plan is in French? Go on then Ben I saw you giggle You're laughing, yes Visual humour Lepland

great of course I did think that might be quite an obvious one but I'm glad you go to it Lepland I believe in Lepland I have got Aster Martin in fifth so again I've flipped it they look like they've made a massive step

based on that preseason test so P5 might be too low I mean both of you've gone for P4 as a good improvement on where they were last year but others have got them even higher than that So there is a lot of hype surrounding the Astor Martin team at the moment. My problem is Lance Stroll's part of the team, and I think that might hurt them. If it's a close one between them and Alpine, I don't know which way it will go.

It will be a question of can the brilliance of Alonzo overcome Landstrol, potentially not being as good as Ockon and Gassley? I think that's how it might go. But I've got Astor Martin fifth. We'll take a short break, and then we'll be back for you. for sixth through 10th. Sam, who have you got in sixth? Oh, yes.

Good. I don't sound redundant. I've gone for Maca, the papaya, the orange boys. Sorry, Harry, for still in that one. Can't wait for you to say it. They look rubbish. They look absolutely rubbish in testing. And they look rubbish last year.

It took them so long to catch up. The difference is I now think there's two teams that they've got to fight that fourth place for rather than just the one, which was Alpine. As much as Piastri looks competent and confident, he's still got a lot to learn. And it's going to be on Norris's show

as I think, again, for the first half of the season, at least to try and pull them into the points regularly. There's now less places for them to fill, though. Because in theory, with our predictions, Aston Martin, are now filling the slot that they once filled. I don't think it's going to be easy for them. They look a bit all over the place. It looks really difficult for them to get any pace out of the car

in a multitude of ways. I'm a little bit worried for them. I think if they don't get the development back on crack, there's a real chance that a couple of teams behind them in my standings anyway could actually leap from them and I will obviously end up being even more wrong in what I already am. Sixth place, Harry?

Sam will be pleased to know. I thought I've not agreed with him. Yes. I almost had McLaren I almost had McLaren in sixth but I've gone for Alpha Romeo. they're tiny, don't I?

That's a great word. They're looking tidy, son. They're looking very tidy. Bottas is happy with the rear end, which is always good to know. I think it's more stable, so that's good. Bottas has a more stable rear end for this year.

But they do. They look tidy. And I mean, I'll come on to Macka, but they don't, McLean just don't like barring testing. They really don't. They don't. They're just,

no, it's like, we can't do this track anymore. I mean, they showed up this year. True. That's a step

in the right direction. Very true. But again, like things like melting, like the brakes, and like that, crucial things you need.

You have one guy. Take that one to the bank and crash it. Yeah, anyway, so I've gone for alpha. As Ben said, they look,

as tiny as they look, I have actually gone with Sam's choice here and I've gone McLaren. It's going to be a rough start of the year though, isn't it? It is interesting because as you rightly said, Sam, they looked awful last year. And I think even worse than they did this year, yet after four races, they had a podium to their name.

You remember Lando Norris picked up the only podium that didn't come from Mercedes Ferrari and Red Bull last year at Imola, which was race four. And they had quite a gradual improvement in those first four races. so I think Landon Norris was like 15th in Bahrain. He then goes to seventh in the next race and then fifth in the third race and then a podium in the fourth race. So theoretically, whilst the car looks awful at the moment, it should improve at some point.

It's a case of how much it improves and based on the strides that Aston Martin have taken, I don't know if it's going to be enough to catch them. Between now and Baku, which is when the upgrade is set to come in, it's going to be a rough time for you McLaren fans. out there, I think. And as already mentioned, Alpine, at least in the short term, are probably going to be laughing

a little bit. Whether that works out long term or not, I don't know. But short term, they're probably going to be doing a bit of giggling. I will say this, though, about sixth place for McLaren, because there are lots that have them lower than this. If they do finish sixth, and Samuel right to say there are some teams that maybe they leapfron them, even if they finish sixth, that's a bad year, based on where they should be in terms of their development, they're going the wrong way.

They are definitely going the wrong ways. So I've got them sixth. Seventh, who have you got some? Well, I'm joining the BOT's boat. I'm all set sail, you know, got my rubber ring, got my little body, my buggy board and my shorts, and we're on the waves of BOTS because that Alfa Mayo is looking super sexy. I must admit, it looks great.

And they're so weirdly chilled for the fact that their future is so bizarrely placed at the moment. I think they're still actually surprisingly quite driven, which should be back a little bit. And when I said that, you know, Mac will be sixth and Alpha a seventh, I actually think it's going to be incredibly close between Aston down to seventh place, Alpha, and Mayo. I really do think that all three of us can easily get this completely the wrong way around by one or two race results going a different direction. They look really, really good.

And I think Alpha Amaya, if they could keep it together for the whole season, and keep some updates rolling in, you know, they could be very, very capacity. But I just don't think they've got that consistency over the case of the entire season. And I think that's been proven a few times recently. So for me, they are seventh place. Yeah, me too.

I guess I already gave away what I thought as a result of responding to Harry, but they look pretty tidy. The problem is they also looked pretty tidy last year, and that didn't include Aston Martin looking much stronger than what they were last year. So it's tough to put them much higher than this. I think they'll do all right.

The question is, can they just keep up the consistency throughout the year? Because they came out of the gates very well last year. Bear in mind that Bottas was for a short amount of time, pretty much level pegging with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell win the standings, like Mercedes and Alfa Romeo through the first five races. There was nothing to choose between them. But one went the right way and one definitely didn't. So if they can, you know, they've got Joe Guan Yu in year two.

they've got Botas in year two in the team. That should spell some good things for Alfa Romeo. It's just a question of can they develop the car as quickly as some of the other teams around them? Harry, 7th. Macca, sorry McLaren fans. Well, actually, maybe you're welcome McLaren fans. Yeah, I've got no doubt that they will recover from what has been a rubbish preseason test because luckily for them, not every race is at Bahrain.

as soon as they go to race two. Oh, well, they would be able to do it. As soon as they get to race till, they'll be fine. But I think the problem this year, and I think, Ben, you mentioned, they had a podium by Imala. What was that, Race 3? Race 4.

A podium by race 4, which would have seemed inconceivable based on the Bahrain test last year. But, yeah, no doubt they will recover. But I think the problem is this time, there's less of a gap for them to just slot into, I think it's going to be too competitive at the top of the midfield, as we already mentioned with Hass, not with Hasden Martin and Alpine or Haston Martin.

I think that was going to fall then. No, no. Nice one, mate. Yeah, I think it's going to be too competitive at the top of the midfield for them to be able to recover back to where they did last year. So it's going to be a tough start for them. them and I think they will get better, but it might not recover to the same point they did last year.

I'm starting to get into the stragglers now, bottom three teams, eighth place. Who have you got some? I'm going harsh. Thank you, Harry, for your slick transition. You do it on purpose, I know. Nice. Yeah, it is harsh. It's just saying what I was thinking.

I think that, you know, their testing actually looked really, really good. And they put into some impressive lap times. And a whole cupboard looked like he kind of got to grips with things relatively well. quicker than I thought he probably would as well actually. So I think that package, if they could continue to bring some upgrades because they've got that teeny tiny pit wall little seat now, they've got so much more

money that they can actually upgrade the car. So they put it in the wash, it shrunk down, but they found 20 quid in the pocket. And I can spend that on the car at the corner shop. Lucky them. So I think that, you know, they're going to be able to keep up maybe a little bit more with that midfield. I don't think they're going to be pushing into that group. But I think they're going to be better and the other two we haven't mentioned at the moment.

So for me, eighth place is Haas. Harry, do you have Hasst staying where they were last year or someone else in that spot? I do. I do have Hass in eighth place. They just look sort of solid, don't they? I think they look about the same as they did last year. Which, you know, their arguments to say, well, is that good or not? But anyway, they look solid.

I mean, Nika Holkenberg must just be glad to test a car before he has to race it. He's not, he's been called in so many times over the years. Are I racing these guys? No, no, no. No, no. It's a test. You're all right. It's funny. You just practice, Nico. It's all good, mate. All good.

Yeah. So I've got, I've got them in eighth. I think they'll, I'm not expecting a P6 from KMAG again in Bahrain, but you never know. But yeah, hopefully that, I'll be there's some consistency this year, because it's the one thing that has always lacked. They have they have highs and then they have a lot of lows.

So, um, oh, so low. A solo. Hopefully it's, uh, more consistent P8 this year. I've gone for Alfortari.

Um, yeah, yeah, they just, I didn't think they really, throughout the three days of testing, they didn't realize that they could stop. They just kept going.

Which fair play to them. Um, I think they might still be going now, even though the test is over. I think members of the FIA are like trying to usher the car off the track and then it's not happening. Yuki just keeps going

because he loves Bahrain because it's the first race of the year. So of course he's going to do as many laps he possibly can there. I don't trust the line up a great deal. I don't trust the team a great deal. But I don't know. I think they'll be a little,

they look a little bit better than they did last year. Not by much, but a little bit better. You mean their performance, not their car? Because their car looks gross. Yeah, the car looks awful. A ball of vomit with wheels.

If it was down to me, they'd start a minus 30, but apparently that's not a rule. So, yeah, there we go. Eighth place, Al-Fatari. Bottom two teams, ninth. Have you got Sam? I have got Al-Fatari. The big ball of vomit with wheels is going to be in ninth.

I'm, it's hard when you get down on this, right? Isn't it? One point can make the difference. It's all a bit gnaff. Like, come on. Well, I think it was literally one point that did make the difference last year. It might well have been one point. I may say in a silly voice.

I may say it in a silly voice, but everything I'm saying is factually correct. You should check it. You say that point knowing that there was a point gap between them. I definitely did, Ben. Thank you very much. Good. Just completely. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Anyway. It was actually two. Never mind. Oh! Damn it. Now, I definitely lied.

What a segment. What a segment. Great, isn't it? Nick DeVries, Yuki Sondra, both good at the F1, if you compare them to me, Ben and Harry getting in the car, but feel like they're not very good at the F1 against everyone else. I just think over a whole season, I just think with how that car is developed,

it's obviously not meant to be a championship-winning car. It's obviously not meant to be a front-running car. it's a development car, it's there for Red Bulls program. I just think that it doesn't produce much other than it could go around the track and not be the ultimately slowest car on the grid. So for me, yeah, they're in ninth place. I don't think they just have too much to offer, unfortunately. Yeah, I've got Hass in 9th, going the other way with it.

They started incredibly last year. I think that they had the fastest lap in testing. They got out of the games brilliantly well, K-Mag finished P5 in Bahrain, and then the rest of the season kind of just fell away. And they look pretty good again in testing this year, but maybe just one or two steps behind where they were relative to the field last year, in which case, if they still don't develop the car throughout the year,

they might be in a bit of trouble, which is what I'm going for here. The question I had to ask myself here was, do I think Hasse are going to develop their car better than they have in previous years? I haven't really got a reason to say yes. So I said no, and that's why I've got a knife. Thank you, Sam.

Oh, it's good input as always, isn't it? It's good. A little Britain reference there from Sam. It's the only one that can get on the show. The others are awful. It's the only one that can get live anywhere. Yeah, Alftari. As Sam said, you know, who cares at this point?

we're just splitting onions. What, splitting onions? Splitting onions. We're having pastaing eyes, boys. Splitting onions. There's spitting onions on this podcast.

Oh, gosh, I'm going to cry over split onions for a minute. No, he was crying over spilt oil. Yeah, just chopping chopping hairs over it. Oh, good. That's one of the best things you've said on this show. Oh.

Like a split onions. Make a t-shirt. Anyway. Boy. Go on. Alf Tari Yeah, they could be They could also be

a position above this but I don't think they will be so Alphiari I don't see anything from that test and suggest they would be so they're not going to be house sorry guys which by virtue

means that we've all got Williams last sorry Williams sorry about that maybe this is the last year for it though maybe now with James Vowles and a bit hopefully some sponsorship behind it

and technical development they're gonna start I think they're gonna be closer than they were though that's the thing I do think they'll be closer I guess don't think they'll be there yet

I think you might be right but I've got a bone to pick on this because everyone is out there saying oh Williams have made great progress and they've made a lot of good stride everyone's still got on last. They still don't have a technical director. You might want to think about getting one of those. If that's the main priority going into the season, Sam will do it. Sam will do it.

He'd be filling a role that is, no one's in there. I can't go fast. I don't know. It just feels like everyone's being kind on Williams and it's like, no, they still look slow. You are so right, Ben, everyone is kind of Williams and it annoys me because people moan about, you know, has been sorts of my money gram. People mown up at the awful look of the livery. At least they've got a bloody headline sponsor. At least they're not, you know, they might score some points regularly this season.

What Williams are living off heritage at the moment, and I'm a little bit bored of it. So I think you're very right. Can I just say, though, counterpoint, they have got the pick crew, do have helmets that are like golf colours and I'm into it. Oh, that's the point. I watched a video of the pit crew do a practice pit,

and it was so slow that I could have changed the ties myself faster. Yeah, but they look good. Yeah, okay. Yes, very true. They look brilliant. But Alisa gave me on the camera for so long looking good

that I might forget that it's taken them 12 years to change the tyres. Ah, dear. And the good news is we all had Williams last, we didn't have Williams last year and we got that wrong.

So if we're wrong again here, they won't be last. That's good for them. Hopefully they'll take it as motivation. Let's hope so. we're going to take a short break and we're going to go on to driver's predictions after this. All right, so the constructors should be a little bit of a giveaway

in terms of what we've got, roughly speaking, drivers-wise. We're going to run through our top six and then we'll take a short break and then come back to biggest surprise, biggest letdown and the unfortunate wooden spoon who's finishing last. Harry, who's winning the Drivers' Championship this year? Max just happened I think it's

difficult to look past that package of a car and driver at the moment he he just looks very at ease just like just pretty chilled out about being quite quick at the F1 and

so I know that just seems like a worry and it seems like it should be a worry for everyone else. I think you're right. He's got the vibe of, you know, that kid in school doesn't have to revise whatsoever, and they still get an A? Yeah, we all knew one, we all knew one. And it wasn't it, any of us three.

Yeah, he is that kid. He just rocks up, all very chilled, jumps in the car, smashes the lap times, and then wins his championship. At least that's how it's going to go in my, prediction. To be clear, I'm not saying that Max Verstappen doesn't work hard.

He just gives off an air that he doesn't need to. That's how easy he makes this look. But Max Verstappen, three-time world champion. He loses the two-time dance, according to Harry. But maybe there's a three-time dance that we're unaware of that Sam can enlighten us on. Have you got Max Verstappen winning? Well, I assume it's either him or Perez, so I'm interested to know, Sam. Imagine if it was neither of them.

Imagine the shock, right? Go on. Go on. No, it's Max for Staffing, sorry. I'm not that bald. I'm being Chewbacher on the bold scale today. Very hairy man. Honestly, honestly, the man looks so annoyingly good. I've never been even close to being that could get anything in my life.

He could do it at 200 miles an hour every single place he goes to. It's ridiculous. He's emulating what Schumacher has done, what Hamilton has done, you know, what the likes of, you looked at Senna coming to the sport, these are the kind of reactions that you have now. He's got to that point where I can't look past him unless something out of his own control goes wrong. That's how good he is at the moment.

It is Hamilton in 2017, 2018, 2019, that level of good. The scary thing is he's doing it so young in his career. He's just putting them all away. Every single, like, racing needs. It goes away easily. He doesn't struggle. And he looks so good at testing.

if the car is up to scratch again, which we all believe it will be, he will be the champion again. He will be a three-time world champ, and I'll reveal the dance after he is crowned. Thank you very much. Max Verstappen, best car, best driver. He's done it twice before. Do I need to say anything more than that?

I feel like those are three pretty good reasons why he could win the title this year. I'm interested to see how much pressure he's put under by his teammate and indeed the other teams that we've spoken about. But I've got no reason to believe he can't do it again. I've got Max Verstappen as the winner. Second place, Sam. We all need to, of course, get down our knees,

put your hands together in the praying position and pray to Ferrari, the overlords for God LeCler to have a successful season. Amen, God LeClauze. Anyway, I think the clerk will be second place. I think we'll almost see a bit of a rendition of what happened. Last time, the difference is I think that Red Bull's development on their 2023 car will stop earlier and they'll have to start working the 2024 car due to that

reduction in wind tunnel time. So I think it's going to be tighter come the second half of the season. And I think Ferrari just got that overall package. I think the Clure is going to smell it a little bit. He's going to go, there is a chance if I put down these results that I could overturn the first half of the season haul that Vestappel has built up. I think. And obviously, in my mind, I'm creating some fantasy world where the world title's going to come down to some ridiculously tight fight at the end of the season, where the Red Bull is cycling the third slowest car.

And the same is of Ferrari had a dogfight at the very top. But I think Ferrari plus Lecler have the ability to send him as close as they can at the moment to the top spot. So for me, Lecler is the next best thing at the moment. if we go with some sort of philosophy where if it's an odd numbered year the championship must go down to the wire and it's in the 2020s because in that respect we're one for one at the moment and maybe that was right odds yeah good right um so god leclair in second for sam have you got harry i have got sojeo peres and i think uh it's because it has to be him if he wants to be in that seat next year um He's got a contract here, isn't it? It is contract if I catch you. You know, we're talking about Red Bull here. Contracts always get seen out.

What are you talking about? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Gassley only had a half year contract with Red Bull. Everyone knows that. Same for our one. Yeah. He just had the other half. Yeah, look, I, I,

he has to be, he should have been last year, and he wasn't. And I think he has to be this year. If Rebel are as good as we are saying and think they're going to be, there's no excuse for him to not be second. So it's checker for me. Maybe it's extreme to say his drives on the line on that one. But I still think he needs to be there.

So I've known for pair a second. Second place. Three different answers. Here we go. Oh, my God. Come on. We are buried. We offer different opinions for once.

Lewis Hamilton second for me. I think Mercedes... Oh, yes. Yes. I love it. I think Mercedes continue that stride, just based on the constructors' predictions. I think Mercedes keep going.

And Lewis Hamilton proved in the second half of last year. He's still got plenty left in the tank. So if he doesn't experiment with awful setups at the beginning of this year like he did last year, he might be onto a winner. Come back to me if he gets knocked out of Q1 in Saudi Arabia again. But at least for now, I've got Lewis Hamilton. in the second place.

Third place, Sam, who have you got? Backing up, Shal, it's going to be Carlos. I think that that Ferrari's going to end up being the pright and package come the end of the year. And I think that Carlos,

I think they're going to go into first driver, second driver mode, and we know that Freddie Vass has a little soft spot for Shals. But I think that Carlos is going to hold his own. I think it'll be a good year for him. I just think he's going to be backing up Charlotte LeCler.

But I think he'll finish in third place. I think it'll be a very positive move for Ferrari going into the 2024 season, which is already scary, that we're talking about that. Third place for you, Harry. I've got Chichols-Lacrycles in third place, otherwise known as Charles LeClair.

Yeah, I mean, I think as the second fastest team in my view, then LeClaire is going to be, he can be as God, LeCleur as he wants, but I think the Red Bulls are going to be too quick for him this year. So he's my third place. He'll pick up a few wins. I reckon, but it'll be, it'll be arguably where he

should have ended up last year, but didn't for various reasons. Why are you being so logical? Scary, isn't it? Can you base some more things of vibes? I've based a lot of things of vibes here, don't worry. I've got George Russell third. Yeah, my predictions

are so dependent on Mercedes actually being good again, where if they show up to Bahrain next week and one of them gets knocked out at Q2 and then Hamilton creeps into Q3 and finishes P9, I'm just going to be sat there. Oh, no, no. Boy, you've been making me nervous.

For the year. So I've got George Russell third because I don't think the difference between Hamilton and Russell's going to be that great. And it is his second year at Mercedes. So theoretically, there's still room for him to grow and improve. There was some incidents last year that weren't great wheel to wheel, certainly later in the season.

So I think there's still potential for Russell to get better, which should be scary for some of the opposition. But I've got him third. Into fourth place, Sam. I am joining the Mercedes Hyped train at this point, and Lewis Hamilton will be in fourth place. I very much agree with what Ben, you're saying about Lewis. I think that if he gets past the silly experimental setups,

he doesn't take the brunt of the development work. and they've got a car that's got a bit more bite to it, which is how he likes to drive the car. Then I think he's going to be very, very close to the two Ferrari boys. And maybe on that hunt for when, in my mind, rebels start to have their come down from the regulations come the end of the year. So I think it's going to be fourth. I think he might get a win.

I've got Sergio Perez fourth. Like I said earlier, I don't think he is at one with the car just based on testing. And I know we shouldn't read too much into that. but he didn't quite look as comfortable as Max Verstappen did. And if there was one thing that Perez had going for him last year, it was the fact that early on in the season, him and Vastappen were pretty much on a par.

If he doesn't have that this year, I'm a bit worried. And ultimately, Red Bull, we know, they're not developing the car in Perez's direction. The further we get into these regulations, the more that car is going to be suited to Max Vostappen's style of driving, not Perez's. So I don't think he'll be significantly worse than what he was last year. He might even be the same or even better.

But if the likes of Mercedes or Ferrari can get a bit closer to Red Bull, that puts his position at jeopardy. So I've got him fourth. Fourth for you, Harry? I've just realised all of mine are two by two, which is actually quite boring. Sorry about that, folks. It makes sense. Well, yeah, but I don't, you know, you don't want that.

But anyway, Carlos Sines, yeah, more logic, I guess, on this one. But I don't think he's going to beat Leclair. And I had to check my teammate wars predictions on all of these. I thought I was going to trip you up as well. I didn't think about that at all. Bloody hell, glad you mentioned that. Good. But yeah, so Carlos Sines, I don't think it's going to beat Leclair.

But like I said, I think the Ferrari is going to be clear of the Mercedes. for a good chunk of the year. So he's the next logical, logical place. So Carlos Seins is in fourth. Fifth place, I've got Charles Leclercourt. God Leclair. I'm so sorry, my God. But my Lord.

My Lord. My Lord. My Lord is. But I've got you in fifth. And I, it's nothing on him. Pace-wise, he's still got it. And I don't mean that's going away. It's just my lack of faith in Ferrari that's got him fifth for me.

I just don't quite trust them. And fingers crossed, at least for Leclair's future, by the end of this year, he doesn't trust them either. Because if this sort of season does happen, then surely at that point he's starting to ask questions about what's next for his career. So one way or the other, if it ends up being a really good year, he wins the championship. If it ends up being a really bad year, which I'd say what I've got is a bad year, then maybe he looks elsewhere.

My issue is if he has a season similar to what the two of you have said, where it's good, but it's still not good enough to win titles, he might well stay and add to that Ferrari 15 years, 16 years since last title. Fifth place for you, Sam. So there's been a name that I've excluded that you two have mentioned. Sergei Perez is going to be in fifth place. and I think it's going to be close, but I just think with Ferrari taking a step forward

and their car taking a step back and the saying he's got being too far behind, I just think that as Ben said, I think even if he's the same as he was last year in terms of mobility in relation to the rest of the field, I think he gets gobbled up a little bit by the progression of the other teams.

I just don't think he's got that little extra bit of raw pace to separate himself like for Stappen could do. In theory, I think if Red Bull have the joint best car or even slightly worse than the best car, the Stappen has the raw talent to separate himself. I don't think Perez has got the ability to make sure that in races, he'll have the gap for strategy to come into his ability. And I think that he'll end up following people with strategy windows,

he'll get stuck in traffic. We haven't seen him tear through Griggs that well on many different occasions, unlike Hamilton or Vastappen. So I just think, I think it'll be close, but I do just think, unfortunately, if anyone's taking the blunt of that Red Bull downfall, I think it's Perez. I think the priority goes to Stappen.

Don't worry, Checo. He had your seventh last year. Yeah, it's a step up. You're doing well. The Sam, Sergio Slander, continues. Yeah, I was really worried that I was going to, people were going to come after me for my Sergio Slander, and I haven't got him in the worst position of the three of us,

so I'm quite happy at the moment. It's me again. I got your back, Checker, don't worry. It's me. It's Sam. Hi, guys. It's me. So, we know, based on what Harry's already said,

he's got a Noah's arc way of going about the top three team. based on what Harry's already said, we know he's got Mercedes in third. And based on the last episode, we know that George Russell is ahead of Lewis Hamilton based on his teammate wars predictions. So if this is anything other than George Russell,

this will be one of the all-time funniest moments on this podcast. Who have you got in fifth? Are you got in fifth, Harry? Well, I mean, I might as well do fifth and sixth, I guess. Sure. I've got George Russell in fifth and then Lewis Hamilton and a six. Well done.

I really wanted to get Alonzo in my top six because he's a menace, but I didn't quite think he would... I mean, if he's there, it'll be good times, but I don't think it will be. So, yeah, Georgie Russ, as I've already mentioned, I think it's going to be Hamilton this year. I'm on that nervous train for the year,

so I will be the one being nervous. But he will be a fifth, and Hamilton will be a sixth. I think they have a close little tussle. I'm looking forward to it. It should be a good one. I've got Carlos Sines at 6th. I think it'll be closer to LeClaire than he was last year.

I think it will be closer. But again, it comes down to my faith in Ferrari rather than my faith in Carlos Sines. And there are still some question marks, I think, regarding Carlos Sines' race pace. I think qualifying-wise, despite the fact that his teammate is one of the best qualifiers of this century, I'd say.

Signs is still very good in that respect as well. But race-pace-wise, that it's sometimes a little lacking. If he can answer a few of those questions, he might get closer to Leclair and maybe usurp him again, but I've got him sixth there. Sam, sixth place for you. Yeah, it's Georgie Russ. And this is just because I think the Mercedes out of the top three teams that he's going to start the slowest out of the lot.

And I think that he's going to have a little bit of a second year, you know, lull, a little bit of a downfall. He had such a good first year. And I think that Hamilton's going to kickstart well. I think that that might end up, not being demoralising, but that might take away a few of the points that would have been gone the other way to George Russell in the previous year.

So I think that basically it'll be very, very close. I think it's not like it's going to be multiple positions off Lewis for the entire season. I just think that Lewis is going to be on his day game from the start, whereas he wasn't last year, and that deducts a few points off of him. So I think Russell will be in sixth place. theoretically based on our predictions being quite different

at least one of us has got to get some of these right you don't understand the ox pen there are so many variations that you could give with these six drivers that we will all be wrong yeah i think that's probably more accurate anyway we'll be back for biggest surprise biggest letdown and last place right after this here's a quick message from our friends at norvbn isn't it frustrating when you find a new TV show that you really want to see, only to then find out that it can't be watching your country. Why, yes, Sam. That's very frustrating indeed. Well, fortunately, you don't have to suffer any longer. With Norvibn, I'm able to change my

virtual location. With one simple click of a button, I have access to streaming services from over 60 countries worldwide. That's not all, though. With money tight at the moment, we could all use new ways to save. Perhaps it's cheaper to sign up for, for support. subscription services via another country, or maybe you find that booking flights via another country works out better for you. When you think about it, NordVPN can actually pay for itself. All of that for the price of a coffee each month. It's a small price to pay for premium cybersecurity and increased access to entertaining content worldwide. You can grab your exclusive NordVPN deal by going to NordVPN.com forward slash LBF1. By doing so, you'll get a huge,

huge discount off your NordVPN plan, including four months free. It's completely risk-free thanks to Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee. And as a bonus incentive, subscribers will get an additional gift as it's Nord's 11th birthday. That's NordvPN.com forward slash LBF1 to take advantage now. Happy birthday, Nord. Happy birthday, Nod. Happy birthday, VPN. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Oh, God. So we've got our final predictions to run through now. It will be our biggest surprise of the season from a driver's perspective, our biggest letdown, and then who is going to finish last in the championship?

Biggest surprise, Harry, who have you got? I have gone. Just to confirm, we're doing this for drivers, right? Yes. We're doing this for drivers. Okay, good, good. Good, good. I've got Baltrey Bottas

And that seems I feel like that seems like an odd choice Because we know he's quite good But I think he's not going to fall asleep After Miami this year And I think he's going to do a whole year Of good concentrating And he and that car

As we've already mentioned Looks tidy And I think he's just He's going to You know Have a few races where we're like What are you doing up here? here, Valtry.

Just be in the way a bit. So not in the way. You know what I mean? In the mix. So yeah, I've gone for Valtry Bottas. Biggest surprise for you, sir. Now, everyone, hear me out on this one because you might be thinking

that I'm having you on. But essentially, the person filling the second Dustin Martin seat will be the biggest surprise of the season. And that will depend on how long Dragovic might have to take on the season. If Stroll comes back after a couple of races, I think, across the season and improved Ashton Martin, that means he hasn't got to sit behind people or around people

and he can just race maybe some free air alongside Fernando will really benefit him. And I think this is the year that Scroll steps forward, because, you know, we've slammed it months for long enough. The man has definitely underperformed. But I think now the car that looks potentially good enough for podiums, we saw him in the Williams a little while ago. It was all right.

You know, all right. If it's Druggovich, I think... That was like two decades ago. Yeah, I know. I know that you were both very, very little that long ago when it happened.

So, you know, who knows? May it'll repeat. But if Dragavich is there for a few races, I also think he will be the surprise and maybe earn himself a full-time drive, if not in Ashton Martin,

in a neighbouring team that are maybe looking for a seat to fill. So for me, it is, I'm going to be slightly blazee, whoever's in the second Ashton Martin's seat will be the surprise of the season.

now of course when it comes to the end of the season we'll be reviewing our predictions and working out winners so i can't wait for that to be a point of controversy when you haven't actually picked a specific driver and you've picked i can't wait for that to happen in summer my biggest surprise elplan if you just switch around the first two letters to get le plan estaban ockon is my surprise of the season right i think we're going to get op on versus Alpine again, sorry, Ocon versus Alonzo again, but not together at Alpine. Instead, it will be Ocon versus Alonzo in separate teams. And I think Ocon will prove himself that he isn't just, I think this is the year, that he isn't just a standalone, dare I say, average midfield driver. I think he showed at points in 2022 that he's got the potential for more than that. I think 2023 is the year where he expands even further. And I think it'll be best to the midfield. I've got him finishing.

I know we ran through earlier in our podcast first through to sixth, but in seventh I have actually got Ockon because I think he leads the midfield. So that's what I've got for bigger surprise. I'm glad we haven't all got the same because we did that last year or two years ago. We'd like to mix it up on this podcast. We'd like to vary our answers. Let down. Biggest letdown, Harry, you've got?

I have got Oscar Piastri. And I feel a bit savage for saying this. And I don't think it will be even all his own fault. We've already spoken about McLaren not being great. I just think, and all the hype around him, just a bit worried the Landon Norris might rent him. So, look, and I hope it, I, I hope this doesn't happen, but I just, I don't know, it has been so much around Piastri,

and I hope he proves me wrong, but I think he just might not deliver what everyone is expecting of him. And maybe that's a year one thing. I'm not saying this is forever. I'm just saying the hype around it for year one of your life on career. It's a lot. I'm not sure he's going to live up to that expectation. So that's why I've put him there. Will that be a sign that the expectations are too high for him in year one rather than his poor performance? Potentially. Very much so. And again, like I say, it goes back to all the hype and sort of controversy around

his signing and two teams wanting the same driver. Yeah, it may not necessarily be his fault in that sense. But I don't know. We'll see. Yeah, it's an interesting one. I mean, based on testing, we don't know how well McLaren are going to go. early in the year, but certainly fifth place last year for McLaren. It's been a while.

It doesn't happen as often as you think it would that a driver even goes directly into a top of the midfield team, let alone, I mean, not a, rather than a backmarker team or a team in seven for a team in sixth. It's actually quite rare that someone comes in at the level that Piastri is coming in at, plus all the stuff that you already mentioned hypewise regarding him moving over from Alpine. I think it is a recipe for the expectations, perhaps being too high for a debut year. Biggest letdown for you, Sam. I have gone for late-breaking Hall of Fame entrant Yuki Sanoda.

I think that he's not had a great time of being Formula One so far his first two seasons. And I think that Nick DeVries coming in, he's not going to set the world on fire, but I think if Nick DeVries comes in in the first season, is more consistent, scores a few more points, beats him overall in kind of the team. team-mate battle that they have there, I think this becomes the biggest letdown in terms of one of the young drivers coming into the sport. People have high hopes for Yuki-Sinoda, and I have an awful feeling that this season is the cementing season for him no longer having a Formula One career after this season. I think he gets dropped at the end of this season because of a shocker, and Nick DeVries

beats him. So I think that's why he's going to be the biggest letdown. Ditto Sam Sage, Yuki Sunoda for me. I fear that it isn't going to take very long for Alphatowry and Indeed F1 in general to realize that Nick DeVries has a couple attempts on Yuki, which would be pretty bad because not only would it happen early in Nick DeVries's career, but really raw pace is the one thing that Yuki Sanoda has going for him, because it certainly isn't long run pace, it certainly isn't consistency when it comes to not crashing. So if Nick DeVries can prove quite early doors that raw pace-wise, he's got an edge,

theoretically he probably has an edge in every aspect. And not just that, I fear it's going to happen. I hope for the sake of the Hall of Famer that it doesn't. But I worry, I worry for Yuki Sanoda this year. And now we get into last place. Now I think we just need to, I think, we need to set some rules here because last year we were a little bit undone by this because we gave our predictions for last place without taking into account there might be reserved drivers

and we already know that there's a good chance there's a reserve driver coming in from the first race so should we say last places of these 20 drivers the regular drivers and that reserved drivers will leave to one side okay who have you got in last harry i have got uh logan corporal or Logan Sargent as he's actually known. Logan Corporal. Yeah, look, we've already said that we don't think that will, well, we think the Williams is going to be the slowest team this year. And, you know, Albon's got more experience than the Logan Sargent.

We expect him to beat Sergeant. I think for Sargent, given the position that he's going to be in, being last isn't necessarily the end of the, the world. But I think it's as long as he's not a million miles away from Albon on pace and consistency throughout a race, I think if he can prove that, then then it's okay. So that's a caveat with that one because I think it's probably, well, I do I don't want to assume, but I'm assuming you two might have a similar answer. But I think being last isn't the end of the world for Sergeant necessarily. I agree with your answer and indeed the,

points that you make as well. The reality is he might have a good year and still be last. There's every chance that happens just based on if the Williams is still at the back of the grid and you have to choose between who's going to finish last. The guy with a few years experience in F1 or the guy with no experience in F1, unfortunately I'm going to go with the guy that has no experience. So I think that's my overall point though, is to say he could have a bad year and finish last. He could have an okay year and finish last and he might even have a pretty good year and still finish last. It's not a great outlook, but it will depend on where Williams are. Sam, last place for you. Yeah, I'm going to make it the hack trick of Logan Sargent,

which demotes him a couple of times to Logan Private. This is, you know, it's very George Russell-esque from the early Williams days, right? You know, promising young driver, but Williams are just where they are at the moment. And like you guys have both said, Albon is really putting in the work. He's impressing a lot of people despite being at the back of the grid. So Logan Sager could have what we would think is a really good season. But if Albon

carries on with his current form, he's able to get the same results that he did previously, we might look at this and go, he's held his own. Good year. Still last, though. It's just unfortunate that you can have a really talented young rookie driver in a team that has no potential for really scoring any proper points unless

there's an absolute calamity at some point. further up the grid that opens up on logo places. He just needs to stick with Albuhr as close as possible. And I think as long as he's there or thereabouts every single race, people will look at this as a positive move for him. Otherwise, he's at risk of being left behind in the very back of the grid for the whole season. But in theory, I hope he's close, but Logan's sergeant will be last. And we've all got the same opinion, which of course means it won't come true.

So that's good news for you, Logan. That's the rules. That's it. That's our predictions. from both a constructors and a driver's perspective. We've given them all. You know exactly what's not going to happen now. And unbelievably, that's the end of this episode. But the next episode, Sam, is a race preview.

Come on. We've done it. We've made it through everyone. Well done. Stick with us. Come and join the race preview. Wednesday is obviously going to be when that happens. But we're going to give another shout out.

Have a little joy than the Patreon. You get extra episode. starting in March 2 full episodes if you join the middle tier and you get a video from us if you join the top tier in the old high end one where you'll be a Hall of Famer

in the name of it and we love all you Hall of Famous we love everyone that decides to subscribe it helps us out massively and there's loads of other mega fit on there as well like Ag Free Podcasts so make sure you join this for the full season we're here for every single race review

and preview and every single week and weekend in between as well so don't go anywhere sit around for the whole season love you very much and let us know your prediction and how they different from ours in the Discord or on the social media is out of breaking

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