The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Are Aston Martin amidst a major shake up?

Episode Date: November 17, 2024

Before F1 kicks back off again, the LB boys bring you the latest in the sport from the exit of the Technical Director at Aston Martin and what this might mean for the team, the renewal of Monaco's F1 contract, and the midfield Constructor battle. They also discuss talks of Qatar's Audi F1 buy-in, before finishing with a game of Late Faking... FOLLOW us on socials! You can find us on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok SUPPORT our Patreon for bonus episodes JOIN our Discord community JOIN our F1 Fantasy League BUY our Merch EMAIL us at [e-mail]   & SUBSCRIBE to our podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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closer to the races again, Sam. Oh, you know, day by day, step by step, we're getting there. But it's quite nice to have a little cozy Sunday. You just have like a chit-shout about F-1, because the news has been bloody pouring out, isn't it? To be clear, like we've spent the last 15 minutes talking about nothing that is anything to do with F1. Harry Hills, TB, for those of you in the UK. We've just been watching Harry Hills, CB. Exclusively. Yeah, quite rightly too.

In fact, we might not talk about F1 at all today. We might just... I would do a podcast. Harry gone. Yeah, yeah, I would do a podcast talking about Harry Hills, Stevie Bert. Maybe that could be a side quest for us. You got those Twitter threads that you are like F1 drivers as Harry Hill's CV-Burt moments. a very important threat.

That would have like an audience of three. Yes, yeah, good. But you're right with what you say, Sam. There has been a lot of F1 news recently. Some of it we got to midweek. Some of it will tackle today. We aren't even going to be able to get through all of it. There's been that much.

But we are going to talk about the rumors that Qatar might be interested in investing in Audi. The battle for sixth place in the Constructors' Championship, how that might go with just three Grand Prix. left in the season. Monaco, contract extension until 2031. Harry is happy. Sam is shaking his head. Come on. But we are going to start with news at Aston Martin, which is that Dan Fallows is stepping down as Aston Martin's technical director after a two and a half year stint in the role. His departure follows Aston Martin's recent appointment of Adrian Newey, of course, who will join from Red Bull next year. Fallow's played a key role in the A.

AMR 23 chassis, which helped the team secure eight podiums last season, and briefly holds second in the Constructors' Championship before finishing fifth. However, performance has dipped as the season has progressed with unsuccessful upgrades continuing into this year. Aster Martin Group CEO, Andy Cal thanked Fallows for leading the AMR 23 success. Fallows described his time as a joy and a privilege and expressed his confidence in the team's future success. Now, as we know, he's going to stay within the Aster Martin.

company as a whole, but it's the role itself that he's moving on from. Sam, any surprise at this? What was your reaction to the news? No, I'm not surprised. Fellows has done a really good job at keeping the ship consistent, keeping them steady. They've never dropped below what has been considering a strong midfield position. Of course, I think they surprised us when they really started to challenge for regular podiums and what could have been almost a win at that Monaco Grand Prix where they made that wrong decision under the pits and realistically could have won that or preef it, hang out big for that strategic blunder. I think my issue with Ascom Martin,

I've said it quite a few times on the show, is their inability to innovate beyond what they already know from the teams in front of them. They're really, really good at taking designs from your likes of Red Bull, Ferrari, etc. And adapting them to fit their car. But what they are not brilliant at doing is then coming up with something else

that someone else hasn't done, which elevates them beyond the Red Bulls, the McLaren's, the Ferraris. They can't seem to, fully come up with an original concept that separates them from the pack. And you've seen that both years over the last two. You've seen it with last year where they got the US Grand Prix at Cota, both had to do a change of chassis, both removed upgrades,

you know what they were doing. And again, this year where the upgrades just seemed to fault us, one of them was running a different spec entirely. The car seems to have no consistency in where it's being developed. And as much as I think Fallows has done a great job with this transition from, you know, the racing point days into asking, Martin and he's clearly helped them spur them forward. All the investment that's going on with, of course, Adrian Newey coming in,

with all the money pouring in a lot so committing to the future, you really do need someone at the helm of this department that understands how to read between the lines and the rules and give them a big of a leg up, a unique advantage in that technical director space. I just think that he's done a brilliant job, but it is time to step aside and let someone else come in now who can really propel them forward and not just be a follower, but rather a leader in the space. what do you think harry any any surprise from you when you heard this news and what's your overall reaction

i don't think too surprised given the signing of one mr newie to that team uh it does feel like i don't know he's not working for them yet but i imagine he might have had a conversation with a astermarted on that front and might crack um it's like well done dan because they they worked together a rebel obviously that and dan fellows was a like a student of adrian and it feels like that's what they're sort of going back to that those roles now the student you've done a great job thus far but the master's coming in now so it's time for you to step aside slightly but i don't think it's um i don't think this is a bad thing it just feels like it's like they're bolstering obviously they are bolstering because they're gaining adrian yui but they're bolstering that side

of the team in that they'll have adrian ui and dan fallows and i know it's not confirmed what he'll be doing but I imagine he'll still be working closely with him. So, um, yeah, I'm not too surprised. Like he said, I think he's he's done, he's done a good job. And I don't think this is like an indictment on how this year's how this year has gone. I don't think it's you've been, you know, last year was good, but this year's not been great. You must now step down. I don't think that. I don't think it's that. I think it's more just they're getting ready for the arrival of, of Adrian Ui. And this makes sense because, well, you can't have both of them trying to be. do the same job.

So, yeah, not massively surprising. I kind of thought there might be a restructure at some point. I thought maybe they, I mean, it doesn't matter when they announced it. Does it a bit, you know, end of the year style. I thought it might be then. But they're just getting their ducks in a row, I think, for, for, when does he join? March. Yeah, March 2025.

We know that Adrian Newey's more recent times, a Red Bull have involved him being something of an offshoot, a consultant within the team. Does this change, Harry imply that maybe Adrian Newe is looking to become more of that leader of a team rather than just that expert pair of eyes that weighs in? I think so. And I think that's probably what Aston Martin Miedan have signed him for, right? And we said this when he signed the sort of title and, you know, he shouldn't be a shareholder and etc.

he's he's whereas as you say a red ball he was becoming less and less involved in terms of uh the main team and he was a consultant he is fully in here he's he is on board and it does feel like it's it's going to be a pet project for him to to lead lead this team and and and build up that that design team so um i think this is going to be different and i think this is just like i said i think this is the first sign first step of that you know that process for him Yeah, I can't say I'm overly surprised at this one. The only thing I'm a little bit surprised at is that it's taken this long. I didn't think it was going to take until now for this change to happen.

And I do think there is an element of Lauren Stroll's patients wearing Finn because it has been a difficult sort of 18 months or so now, maybe 12 to 18 months. Yes, they were looking pretty good at the beginning of 2020. but it has been tough since then. You do still need to show progress, even if Aston Martin's goal is not 2024 and 2025, and it's instead 2026 and beyond.

As we've spoken about with the likes of Audi, like we're pretty clear that they can't just expect to come in in 2026. It's a brand new era. Everything from the previous era doesn't count whatsoever. There does still need to be progress from one era to the next. So I can't say I'm overly surprised about this one. I do think the how Adrian Newe fits into this part of it is, is important. And I think in all likelihood, it's a similar situation to Ferrari.

You'll remember when Bonotto was head of Ferrari and how he was promoted. Ideal world, I think Ferrari, when they realized it wasn't going very well, would have wanted to go, let's bring in someone else and Bonotto can go back to doing his old role that he's really good at. But it's just not doable. which is why I think maybe it was tough to maneuver this one to say we'd maybe still like you in this team but Adrian knew he's quite good.

We'd like him to be a director. So yeah, I can imagine this was a bit of an awkward one. He does, as I say, deserve credit for the way in which they started, 2023. But I think in a way the success he had at the beginning of last season might have hurt him and his chances going into this year. it has been, it's been tough. Like 154 points they scored in the first eight races of last year. They've scored 212 in the 35 races since then.

That's an average of 19.25 points per race to an average of six. Like, it's a fair downturn on what they were achieving. And the biggest concern isn't like where they'll finish because in all likelihood, they'll finish exactly where they finished last year, which is fifth. but the way in which they've done it has been entirely different. They are going to be, well, they're 300 points behind Mercedes at the moment who are fourth, and they're over 500 behind McLaren who are first. So it's a bit deceiving to say that they are top half of the championship,

and they are in fifth place, which is staying exactly where they were last year, because the gap between fifth and fourth is just so massive. Sam, what are your thoughts on the Adrian Newey side of it? It makes sense to bring Adrian Nui in full force. You wouldn't spend this much money, commit this much manpower, this much time to Adrian Nui coming in, the power of Nui coming in.

If you weren't going to give him essentially total freedom to run free and kind of really spread his wings a little bit and use the full immense power of that enormous brain that he has with his head. He's very smart man, as we all know, much smarter than I am trying to give commentary on how good he is. It's close. it was the guy

it made me the nicest thing you've ever said I reckon possibly no it makes certain sense why would you commit so much time and resource to someone like Adrian Nui if you weren't going to allow him to have absolutely everything he wants to get the job done he'll present a plan I imagine to

Lawrence Truller had sat down a number of times and said you know I think I can do X Y and Z with the regulations I've looked at it I think this is how we move forward and this is what we do moving forward you know but I need to have this team I need to have this setup I'd have this amount of money and I can't just be coming in a day or two a week.

It needs to be my team and we do it how I want to do it. And I imagine that Lawrence is very much committed to going, you're the best in the biz. I'm going to put all my weight behind you. And as we've said, Dan Fallows has not done a bad job. It's not been bad, but it's also not being exemplary. It's not been groundbreaking. And you look at where McLaren were a couple of years ago and where Austin Martin were a couple of years ago, Merton, Merton.

Merton. And, um, first and Merton. and they actually weren't too dissimilar in where they were. You know, McLaren were sat behind Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes, and now McLaren two years later are first in the Constructors Championship. Now, the excuses run thin pretty quick when you look at where they were two years ago as two independent constructors. They were both powered by Mercedes engines.

They both had older industrial areas to develop their car parts, and they both since built very new areas to test and develop their car parts. one has excelled and has got a fantastic driver line where both drivers are firing all cylinders and seem to be recreating their internal pyramid in a very healthy and forward moving direction that has seen them rise to the top. The other has one driver who is aging,

but still very strong. The other driver is not doing a brilliant job and yet they haven't really moved forward after what looked like a burst of great form. So I think they need to throw everything behind Adrian Nui and I'm shocked that they are throwing everything behind Adrian Nui I'm sure Adrian Newe will recognize the strengths of Fallows and go, I know what you could do, did a great job at Red Bull.

There is a place for you here. And that's probably why they haven't announced that he is leaving the team, but rather being reintegrated at a different point as part of the Aston Martin Development team. I tend to think that the Austin upgrade that didn't work was the nail in the conference forum. Because it's not the first set of upgrades that just haven't worked for the team. And I know we talk about 2023 and the way in which they started strong and then sort of fell away towards the end of the year. It's the same thing's happened this year. Like they scored at every single one of the first seven races of the season with 21 races into the year so we can split them perfectly 7-7.

First seven races scored at every single Grand Prix. The next seven, four out of seven. And then the last seven has been three out of seven. So it has been similar to 2023 where other teams have just been able to outdevelop them. And Austin and the last couple of races with those Austin upgrades have just been, have been horrible. They haven't scored any points in the last three races. You have to go back to the beginning. The first three races are 2022 for the last time that they went three consecutive Grand Prix without scoring.

And when you're running, as you mentioned earlier, Sam, you're running a China spec and you can't really tell the difference between that and what they is their current spec. That's not a great look. So I'm not overly surprised that those Austin upgrades that just haven't worked seemed to have maybe been, they gave him a couple of races to work and they just haven't. Harry, do you think, obviously, Dan Fallows is gone from his role, but Mike Crack is still team principal of the team. Do you anticipate any changes there?

Are you surprised that there hasn't been a move? I don't think so. I think it would be harsh to get rid of Mike crack now. And I'm not sure it makes a total amount of sense to do that anyway because he, for for Astrid Martin, their goal is 2026. I know they've had a bit of success last year. This year's not been great. But in a similar vein to a lot of teams of few of the teams on the grid, 26 is

whether their big project is at and beyond that. So it would make sense to, to let him. see in that era. If we get to 2026 and it's that it's garbage, then I think, you know, fair enough questions need to be asked about whether he's the right man for the job. But, you know, he was only brought in at the beginning of 2022. No, no time for him to affect 2022, basically. He's just there. 23 has been good. 24's not been so good. So I think I would, I think he deserves more time and they've got a, you know, like like Williams, you know, you could say does James Vals need to be changed at Williams?

But you'd say no, because it's a big project there on. And it's the same for Aston Martin. So it would be unwise to do that. I think he's done a good job so far. It's been up and down. But again, you'd say the same for like McLaren. I know they have Andrea Stellan now, but they were consistent in terms of their,

when Zach Brown came and they were consistent with who their team principal has been for a while with Andrea Seidel as well until he left. I think you've got to keep that consistency for some time before you start asking those sorts of questions so I think he's the right man right man for now do you agree with that Sam I know this is something we actually touched on on a Patreon episode a couple months ago

yeah I do agree with what Harry said there Mike cracks quite an anonymous team leader externally and I mean that in the sense of he's not like a Toto Wall for a Christian Horgan or someone like what a Gunter-Stein was. You don't really see him appearing as much in the public realm. Just to add to that point, Andy Cowell is the one who

made the comment about this, not Mike crack. Yeah, he seems very similar to Seidel and Zach Brown. Zadrown likes to do a lot of the public speaking. Sidel will talk to press occasionally, but Zach Brown is very much the spokesperson. And it seems like a similar

relationship is here with Mike Crack. Now, I think that means that I'll come on me. I'm sorry, I've tried to say hard. I'm sorry. Sorry, Mike. Okay, let's all get out. Good. Yeah. Good. All right. You ready? I'm ready. Good. So that was some determination.

Oh, no. Right. It's quite anonymous. And I don't mean that as a negative thing. It just means that if he, if he knows that what's gone wrong isn't down to his own doing, you know, as Harry mentioned, you only came in at the start of 22. And it does take time to action change to, you know, altering the direction of a Formula One team is not a simple thing. You don't get to coming on day one and you go, do this, do this, do this. And by race two, we're going to be flying. You know, it's not that quick. And you saw it with how Fred Fassar is slowly altered Ferrari.

You definitely say that they've taken steps forward in the grand scheme of things since he's joined Ferrari. But that took time. And I do think Mike Crack has shown that progress has been made, maybe not as much is what Lawrence would like, but progress has been made. There are some tricky moments going on. The alteration of engine supplier. Lans, hasn't exactly been firing all cylinders. They've had some internal changes that have needed to be made. As I mentioned already, they've had the wind tunnel and kind of the factory changes

have finally come to fruition. So I think Mike Crack and turn around to say there's a lot been going on. I've had kind of a hand tied behind my back the entire time I've been here. We still have made good progress. Give me until the 2026 regulations are fully kicked in. And my team is operating how I want it to operate and then judge me. I think it's fair to say that. I don't think that's unfair for him to come out and back himself on those regulations

and that changes that are going to take place in 26. So I don't think he's under pressure, but I'm sure Lawrence has got a kind of a crossing a date, maybe at the end of the 2026 season that goes. Mike, we are in exactly the same position as where we were two years ago, and you've had all of this money and investment in development now, I expect us, if we're fifth, but only 10 points away from, you know, the championship league is that close.

You're doing a great job. If we're fifth and we're still 300 points away from Mercedes, it's not ideal. So, yeah, I think that's where the judgment's going to come into play. I tend to lean towards, if he wanted to make a change, he'd have made it now, rather than wait, because if you do want to affect change for 2026, that move has to happen now, rather than in six months time or in 12 months time. There's a reason Audi, for example, decided to get rid of Andrea Seidel not that long ago

and announced that Bonotto and Jonathan Wheatley would be, joining. The reason they did that then and not in a year's time. It was a drastic change, but it was a change made with enough time still in hand for them to really impact what's going to happen when the regulations change. So I would, I'd imagine based on that, he's probably going to be safe until the new era starts, at which point, you know, judge him based on what happens in that year and in, in 2027. If it doesn't go very well, then, you know, you've maybe made a mistake not doing something now, but I think maybe similar, as you say, Harry, similar to James Vowsy, he deserves the opportunity to show what he can do.

We're going to take our first break on this episode. On the other side, we're talking Monaco. Yay. Yeah. Back everyone. Formula 1 will race in Monaco until at least 2013 under a new agreement with the promoters. So starting in 2026, the Monaco Grand Prix will actually. move from its traditional late May slot to the first week of June.

So next year's race will be the last ones take place in May. The date change allows F1 to potentially pair the Miami and Montreal races back to back, reducing the transatlantic travel and lowering carbon emissions. F1 CEO, Stefano Di Manakali, said that the deal will allow us to create an optimized calendar, which reduces pressure on logistics and to decrease the environmental impact of our global championship. Let's start with, we'll touch on the date change in a little bit, but let's just start with the extension itself. I think we should probably start positively.

Imagine if I come out now and say I hate it. Imagine. I'm going to go to Harry first on this. Your reaction to the news that F-Wan will be sticking around for at least another seven years. Delighted. I love Monaco and I know it doesn't produce it an exciting race, but as I've said before,

I would keep one to go purely for qualifying because I think it's the greatest qualifying of the year. I, yeah, it's what I, with, with, there's a lot of changes happening to the calendar. There's obviously more and more street circuits, but I just think it's,

it's one of the few, it's one of the few tracks left that there's, that's quite unique. Even, you know, a lot of, uh, classic tracks are getting,

modernised in a way I reference Monza for example Sam's over at corner Oskari they butchered it with its curbs this year Because of my boy Exactly and I just think More that's going to be the way it goes

We may even lose such classic tracks So I know it doesn't create great entertainment And I think there are things Fon can do I think the problem as I said before Is the formula not the track Look at what formula you can do there Smaller Cars Plus But yeah

I just as a union challenge. I love qualifying day at Monaco GP. If it's a wet race, it can be a belter. And I know it's not to everyone's taste, Sam. But he might surprise you. Imagine the opportunity to respond to it. Yeah, yeah, I just think it's one of those that has to be

part of the Formula One calendar. So yeah, I'm pleased. I'm very pleased at staying. It would have been, F1 would have been an odd place without the Monaco GP. I just think it's one of those you have to have. One of those you just have to have, right, Sam? I've got to go make another drink a second.

Bye bye now. Yeah, odd. Yeah, a world without misery would be odd. You're right. Misery. Misery. I am miserable. It's so miserable watching these cars go around a track.

Miserable Monaco. Qualifying at Monaco is a solid. spectacle. And I will fully agree with Harry. It really is a joy to behold watching a car on a hot lap go around the Monaco race track. And he's special. I'm not going to be one of those people that can't see that there are some positives. And actually, I don't blame the racetrack either. The racetrack is the race track. You're racing around one of the smallest places on the planet when it comes to how many people live in the area that we are, how much land they've got, and what they're making the track out of. And these cars are Goliaths in comparison to what they

used to be. Almost double the size of the cars 20 years ago. It is the formula that is the problem, not the racetrack. And I do stand by that and I'm okay with it. That doesn't mean that the race itself isn't boring. We have had one, maybe two good Grand Prix in the last 15 or so years, nine out of ten times. It is the most boring Grand Prix of the year.

No one crashes anymore. We have no overtaking opportunities. you've had drivers running around with engines fading, but because no good get past, there's no jeopardy to it. It was great that LeCler won, and we got some brilliant commentary, some not-so-brillant commentary

that really lifted or dampened the emotions depending on what formula and what version you watched. But that's happening out. That's come and gone. We've had that brilliant moment. So I'm struggling to get behind this renewal, until Formula One comes up with a different weekend concept that adds some spiciness,

to Monaco that isn't just the Saturday is great, the Sunday is rubbish, I'm never going to be excited. I'm never going to be overjoyed. I would love to go to the Monaco Grand Prix. If they want to call it up and take me out there, maybe you can convict to the other way. I am miserable.

Furious. On a yacht. I'm cheering. I'm going to go on the roller coaster that doesn't scream. Me the whole time. You all suck. I hate Monaco. I'm having a terrible, terrible time.

So I get the meme. I hate Monaco. with me on the board. But Photoshop me into the grandstand. Yeah, no, it's a wonderful place. The qualifying spectacular. The race is dreadful. And until Formula One changes something about that Sunday,

I'm not going to be positive about it because it needs to change. Just because it's historic doesn't mean it's good. I know we're going to get onto the day change in a minute, but I would be very open to Formula One making this a more unique weekend in terms of the strong. structure of it, what we do for a race day, etc. Make it more like an Indy 500 or a Lamont, which I know we'll touch on because

it's far the triple crown, but I would be very open to, you know, something changes the way the races run or mandatory pit stops. I don't know what it is. I did see, I did see someone suggest make it single lap qualifying. And I was like, no, no, no, no. That's the good bit. Make it all lap qualifying. That's the weekend.

We're done. Just like, job done here, Saturday. Bye. Can we go home now? I mean, I'll get onto in a minute, but that's basically what I want to do, to be honest. I'm sorry, Ben. I did just want to ask you, Sam, on one thing,

you mentioned Charles' win here this year, which was an epic moment for him personally and for the sport. And I feel like with this extension, there are people on both sides of the argument. In years to come, people will remember LaClauze win. more than they will remember the fact that there were no overtakes and it was an awful race. Yep. If Lecler doesn't win this year, and let's just say Piastri takes that win,

Lecler's back and forth, something like that. Is there more pressure on F1 not to do this? Like, would there have been more opposition to a contract extension? Oh, 100%. How many times have we seen certain racetracks or certain areas either be given a Grand Prix or have extensions given to them because they've, got a famous, successful driver as part of them. If Charlotte Clair does it exist, you know, click your fingers run an alternate universe.

The Lecler family doesn't exist. We do not have a driver from Monaco on the track. I imagine if we had another Dole Grand Prix with no overtakes and maybe it's Piastri, maybe it's Norris, whatever, wins that Grand Prix. By 15 seconds, not a single overtake, people will go. Good, another year. Nothing different has happened. It was an amazing moment.

It was historic. It was amazing to see LeCleur win his home Grand Prix. It was wonderful. Really was wonderful. I won't take that away from him. But how many times have we seen, you know, Valencia appear because Fernando Alonkso was doing a fantastic job. Germany, having two Grand Prix,

because Michael Schumacher was there, and then obviously Vettel turning up. How many times have we seen that, you know, in the 90s, we had Donington as the European GP because they were a lot of British drivers, a lot of British interest. You know, it depends a lot on the drivers and interests that you've got. I just think that the clear is like spreading a stained glass window

over all of Monaco, Sunday and going, doesn't it look pretty? And it does look pretty, but it's a really boring stained glass window where you look at it properly, that's for sure. Doubling down on the misery here. I'm miserable. I mean, I've given my thoughts on what I'd do with the Monaco Grand Prix before. I would do a really unique weekend where I would just like a time trial Saturday, like an

extend qualifying on steroids and give points for it as you would a race. Similarly, the Indy 500 qualifying, how points are given out for that. I would give points out for qualifying or this time trial thing that I'd have on the Saturday. And then I would have on the Sunday a charity race in non-F1 cars where all the F1 teams taking part. I don't know what car exactly would be, but something that's far more appropriate for Monaco. That's how I would do the weekend. And I would also lean into heritage.

Like everyone brings their special livery for the year that focuses on heritage that weekend and you can't do any more for the rest of the year because otherwise it's not very special. McClaren. Changing one pangle of the car each race. Anyway, putting that to one side. Why, I, that's probably unreasonable.

A more reasonable take would be, could we have not just seen how 2026 would have gone? with the new cars because if we turn up in 2026, 27, let's give it two years of the new regulations and Monaco's much better because of the new cars, great. Then extend it to 2031. But if it's still bad, then we can actually do something about it and not extend it. Like this generation of car, even though it wasn't really supposed to be lighter, was supposed to be better in terms of following and dirty air being less of a factor. It hasn't really changed anything in terms of Monaco, right?

There's a chance we get to 2026 and the new regulations don't really change anything again for this racetrack. In which case, there's too much interest on the calendar for us to keep a Grand Prix solely because it's a good qualifying event. Never. Alternatively, never. That's a great point. This is what it's like living with Harry.

Once he gets something in his mind, there's no going back. I understand the positive points of Monaco. That's why I would stay there just under slightly different circumstances to what we have now. What car would you make them do the charity racing? Yeah, all I know this. I was... Sorry, I've got someone on the phone.

Is that a British touring car? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, come on. Let's go. I would want them in 2004 mini-Coopers. I was going to suggest, what were the cars? They're very British, but the three-wheeled cars. buying.

Yeah, kind of in Robin Reliance. Jeremy Clarks sliding on his side. It'll be so good. Something like that and not Robin Reli.

Yeah, yeah. They can have a F2 car, get more than F on Academy cars. They've all technically got a sponsor down there. Stick them all of those for a weekend.

Yeah. Something cool. Harry, your thoughts on the changing dates. Obviously, this has been forever been in May and has been linked

with the Indy 500 same day. Doesn't appear as if that's going to be the case anymore with this change to June. Well, firstly, delighted because it means we can review the Monaco GP and not have to try and rush through because we want to watch the Indy 500. Thank you.

Thank you. Yes. Can listen to the anthem as well. Exactly. The best bit of the Indy 500. This makes total sense. It's been a shame for a while that it's clashed. And a bit of me did like it was like Super Sunday for that.

But now you can have three weeks of the Triple Crown because you could have Monaco, Indy 500. next week. Oh, sorry, any 500, then Monaco, then, um, then, uh, LeMont. And that, what, it would open up opportunities for any driver to do all with three and one go, which would be, I mean, mad, but it'd be fun to watch Fernando Alonzo. He's already considering it, isn't he? Um, but yeah, it opens opportunities for that, which, you know, we've not been able to do before.

And, uh, and just for drivers to even just do the indie 500, which, I'd love to see. So from a viewing perspective, from perspective, this is great. I like the idea of three consecutive weekends of the Triple Crown. That should be sold like that.

I hope so. Marketing Man, Zach Brown, get on that. And yeah, from a driver perspective and stuff like that, it opens up the doors for multiple categories, a driver to do multiple categories when they haven't been able to before.

So good, well done. And also the Miami, Montreal back to back. Correct. Well done. Well done, Stefan. I'm proud of you. It would make sense. So that's another tick.

So yeah, all round, good. I think that's the reason why they've actually done it is the opportunity to do Miami and Montreal back to back. It's just that we also get this other benefit of the Indy 500 not being on the same day, which is great. I know that them changing the date from the last weekend in May has been a point of contention in, in negotiations for a while.

And I can imagine the negotiations this time around when something like, we'd like a really long contract extension. Hmm. No. What about if we moved to June? Hmm. Okay.

Sign. I think that's how it went. Gosh, we were in the room? Yeah, yeah. I was actually. Transcribing everything. You're so good at negotiation. But yeah, if we get a long-term contract extension,

but we do at least get the benefit of it not being on the same as the indie 500, that is good by me. Sam, your thoughts? Yeah, I don't come across as patronising, but I do want to like bend over and pat F1 on the head to go, oh, good job, well done F1. You've thought about this really obvious issue. It's been plaguing the Formula One calendar for years now and you've rectified it with one very simple change. And we get to watching you 500 properly without panicking. So yeah, all for it. Well done. This is the most positive part of this extension. Brilliant job.

Good stuff. Right, we're going to take our second break on this episode. On the other side, we're talking about the battle for sixth in the Constructors' Championship. Thrilling. That is all we ever want to talk about. I'm right. Perhaps not overly surprising that in our midweek episode, we gave a lot of time and high prominence in terms of the schedule to the battle for first in the Constructors' Championship.

It's maybe less of a surprise that on a non-race Sunday is the third topic, we're talking about the battle for sixth place. But all of these positions matter, and it is pretty close. A lot of chat about Alpine and their result at Brazil and financially what that could mean for the team, moving up three places in the Constructors' Championship. They are now in the driving seat. They are now in sixth place on 49 points,

but Hasse are just three points behind on 46, R.B are just five points behind on 44. So it looks like it's going to be pretty close between sixth, seventh and eighth, name, Sam. Do you think Alpine can keep it? It's definitely possible, but I do feel like even with these late upgrades that Alping are brought to the floor, it feels very much like the odds are stacked against them. And you might be thinking, well, why? Well, Brazil was a fluke. Let's be real. I'm not sure we're all realistically thinking that Ocockagasy on pure pace alone.

I do. Absolute monsters that they both are. What a great team that's going to be for 2025, when they're both like. lined up in that car. Oh, no, never mind. Sorry, they dig fire, I'll come. Keep forgetting, stupid decision. No, no, mate.

Shocks you every time, doesn't it? Can't believe it. I think the odds are stacked against them. Now, if you look at previous results, four races ago, Azerbaijan, Al-Pin finished 12th and 15th, no points. R.B. finished 13th at D&F, no points.

Half 10th and 11th, so one point. Singapore, Al-Ping 13th and 17th, no points. R.B, 12th and 18th, no points. Haas, ninth and a DNF. Two points. USA, 12th and 18th for Alpine. RB. Not the 14th, so that's two points there.

Haas picked up four points with the 1811th. And then we go to Mexico, the last phrase that wasn't a total fluke. Alpine only pick up one point. You're getting a 10th place. Arby don't get any points again, but Haas pick up eight points with a seventh and the ninth. And the issue there for Alpine is that Haas only are seemingly getting better, very growing into their upgrades and how their car. is running and Maxon is really starting to deliver on results these days.

He's right up there with Holkenberg. Now, Arby are probably the team that maybe can get a hang of. Lawson's still finding his feet. Sangoda, his form seemingly quite hit and miss. And the development of that car being very temperamental, they are unlikely to really to be a regular challenger in the points. But they've still been narrow thereabouts. The last time the Alpine scored points before they got in the Mexico-Brazil

doublehead, I think was all the way back in something like Belgium, perhaps. Oh, no, sorry, it was the Dutch Grand Prix where Agassi picked up a 10th place. So it's not been a regular fiesta for Alpine when it comes to scoring points. And Harser picked up points in almost every Grand Prix since the summer break. I just can't see the one-off luck of Alpine

becoming a regular thing where they are regularly scoring six, seven, eight over what Hars has been able to do every single Grand Prix where they've always had at least one car in the points, let alone another one there or thereabouts. It just feels an uphill battle in the last three Grand Prix for Alpine. So it's definitely possible that they can fit me in that fight.

And I do think there's a chance they could beat RB. Hars for them are really the key issue here. They've been so consistent and they've really gone on loops and bounds to the development with that car. So it's harsh that they're going to have to struggle against. What do you think, Gary? Yeah, I agree with Sam on this. I think the problem that Alpine have, yes, the result was great for them

is obviously jumped them into fifth. Sorry, sixth, not fifth. Ascom, Martin, incredibly confused. Yeah. another Brazil coming up and Astorvon have to look over their shoulder. Oh dear. But yeah, it's the consistency or I, sorry,

they're not always consistent, but they are more consistent, Haas, than Alpine have been this year, let's say. And I think with three races to go, you'd, you'd bet that has can score a couple, a couple more points where you think Alpine may not be able to unless there is another Brazil situation,

which, you know, we've got Las Vegas coming up. Something could happen. there in terms of it's a bit, it's a bit more of an unknown. But yeah, I think, I think it's going to be a tough one for Alpine to hold on to. It's a position I don't think they ever thought they were going to be in this year. They're probably surprised. Do you think Flavio's like, I don't want to be this successful. I need a reason to sell them.

This is worse. I need them to lose. They're actually really excited about the amount of wind tunnel time that they're going to get. now they're not going to get that anymore. Yeah. Yeah. Love the wind tunnel. Well, that's what I've heard.

Whatever that means. But, um, yeah. Breezy Tory, they call it. Breezy Tory. It's so bad. Yeah, it's a windy conservative. I'm glad it's a Sunday we get a traditional sign-off for Harry and not a creative one. Oh, good.

I'll save it for Wednesday. But yeah, and so, yeah, how does I think their consistency is what, Alpine are going to be already about. R.B, they are inconsistent and almost as inconsistent as Alpine. But, you know, again, it only takes one, one good result from, from, you know, Sonoda or Lawson. But yeah, the threat for Alpine is definitely Haas. I'd, if I was a, if I was to make a choice now, I'd say Haas will end up in six by the end of the year. So sorry, Haas, that means you probably won't know, because I've said that.

Can't wait to come back to this. I broadly agree with both of you. I am going to give Alpine a bit more credit than you both are, because I think there is at least a chance they'll keep it. And I know Brazil, the race itself was fluky, including qualifying. Obviously, it was a great effort from Ocon to get on the second row of the grid, but it was a jumbled up grid based on the conditions.

But the sprint race wasn't fluky. And Gasly was a legitimate seventh place there. And Pierre Gasly has been qualifying inside the top 10 on numerous occasions since we've come back from this autumn break, shall we call it. Ever since Austin, he has been very good. I know he didn't score any points. Austin, as you pointed out, Sam,

but he did qualify in the top 10, and we saw those that started on the medium tire in that Grand Prix, like Gasley, Magnuson was another one. They didn't benefit from that strategy whatsoever. The likes of Colopinto and Lawson, who started on the hard tire, they were on the right strategy and were able to get by them. I think if that goes a different way, Ghazdi scores points.

Mexico, as you say, Hasse were better, but Ghazley was still pretty good there as well. And as mentioned, Gazley was seventh place in the sprint. I know Hamilton didn't make the progress that it had wanted to in that spring, and Perez kind of got back,

but didn't get by Ghazley. But even so, I think he did a very good job to be in the points in that one. So I think based on all that, they are favored to beat R.B. As you say, some hit and miss in terms of Sonobos,

does form Lawson, you could probably say the same, even if he is just getting into the groove of things. But you do have to give credit to what Haas has been able to do recently because you're right, they have been unbelievably consistent. And that partnership of Holkenberg and Magnuson does make me think that even if Alpine can do it, Haas are still the favorites to do it, even with that five point gap to make up. I want to shout out Hasse here because they have scored, before Brazil, they scored in five consecutive Grand Prix. That is the first time they have done that since the middle of 2018. Five consecutive races, they scored points.

And by the way, that's the only other time they've ever done it in their team's history. So for the second time ever, they've gone five races scoring points. And who knows, with a slightly more standard Brazilian Grand Prix, maybe they'd have got to six. Magnuson's shown some better form as of late. Holkenberg, I would argue, has been the class of the midfield for the season as a whole. So depending on whether you include Ashton Martin, I guess, in that midfield. But yeah, line-ups good.

Cars looking good, consistent. I'd put Hass as the favourites. I'd pick Alpine to beat RB, though. Should we move on to some rumours from Audi and Qatar about investment there? Because Audi is apparently on the verge of selling a shareholding in its Salber team to Qatar with an announcement potentially coming ahead of, unsurprisingly, the Qatar Grand Prix, coming up. What are your thoughts on this one, Sam? I think initially I looked at it and I was a bit worried. I kind of viewed it initially

as skepticism that Audi weren't committed to the Formula One movement and actually some things changed after viewing Salber's form and they kind of thought, oh, this might be a little bit harder than we think we're going to kind of maybe scapegoat things a little early and try and spread a bit of the responsibility. But after digging into it, it looks as though the global situation in terms of finances and the kind of economic crisis that a lot of part of the world has gone through has hit the Audi group and VW ownership quite hard. They've come out and express that they may have to get rid of a lot of jobs.

And it looks like Audi ownership have kind of said, we really care about the Formula One journey and we think it's very important to our overall mission to put themselves up there alongside the likes of Mercedes, but it is not worth sacrificing job roles, parts of the main car business, and the manufacturing side of things just to try and do well in the sport of Formula One,

which actually seems very logical to me. Makes a lot of sense. Equally, coming someone like Qatar coming and buy a part of the team, a minority stake, so Audi will still control the whole, the majority part of the company. They make the key decisions.

Isn't unusual. If you look at Mercedes is a direct comparison. Mercedes Group actually only over the third of the overall model of their Formula One team, Toto Wolframed to third, and the Ineos group owns a third. The same with McLaren. No longer have total ownership.

The Saudi group are the key owners of back group now as well. So this ownership model is very normal, very spread, and actually is very logical in terms of risk management. Audi do want to be here, but when you've got owners such as VW who are going through, as I mentioned, the monetary crisis, Porsche are obviously a key part of this. And the Qatari group already do own a part of the VW group

for the rogue side of things. It makes sense. It's a logical journey for them to go on. it makes sense of the part of both the manufacturing and the sporting side of things. And the Qatari group already have a very key stake in Formula One, being the airline sponsor of Formula One as well. They really have the Grand Prix.

And now it makes sense that they're part of a race team. So on the surface, yeah, I was a little bit, it doesn't feel great, not even done a race yet. But when you dig a little deeper, this feels logical. I just hope that it doesn't become a situation where we essentially have a brand. Remember how Alpha Romeo, we're kind of running the brand on top of,

Alba, I don't want this to be the case. I don't want Ali to, again, essentially just be a label on a car that is owned entirely by someone else. And it could go at any moment. Because I do think the authenticity and the historic presence of a real manufacturer is very important to Formula One. So if it stays as it is and they just need to mitigate that financial risk, I'm all for it. What were your thoughts on this one, Harry?

Yeah, I'm not too worried about this in terms of Audi's commitment to F1. I think this is fairly, well, I fairly sensible, as you, as you mentioned, Sam, the, you know, they don't want to, they don't want, they're committed to F1, but they, they, they, they don't want to lose, sorry, they don't want it to adversely affect the roadcar business. And that's a sensible decision. And it's not unusual you, to, to have that sort of, uh, investment from elsewhere. Anyway, Aston Martin, for example, Lord of Saudi backing. Um, similar thing, isn't it? They, it's just, it's for the finances. And, and. it makes sense. So yeah, I'm not doubting. I'm not doubting Audi's commitment. And I think actually this almost reaffirms their commitment in terms of they're committed to doing this properly. They don't want to do it on a,

they don't want to, they don't want to, they don't want to hace it in that sense in terms of, thank you. You don't want to just put half a budget forward for it and just try and do it on the cheap. They want to do this properly. So I think that's, that's the way I read it.

I don't think it means they're just not committed. And, you know, Qatar may be a sponsor, etc. On the car, et cetera. But yeah, I think it's,

I think it's a positive thing. And also good they're doing, well, I know this is confirmed, but if they are going to do this, good to they're doing it now and not getting to where fore and going, oh, crap.

This is more expressive than we thought it was. Oh, crap. Oh, yeah. Hang on. I should have thought that. Do you think the joke's gone now? It's actually better now that it was to do.

minute ago. Oh, crap, said Audi. So smooth. Thank you. What's the secret to comedy? Timing. But yeah, better. Thank you, better.

It's such a terrible joke. But yeah, I think it's better than I think if this is the case of thinking about this now and not when they arrive in 2026 properly. So yeah, I don't think this is a negative thing at all. Yeah, I don't have too much to add on top of both of your points, really, as you rightly point out, Volkswagen are having a difficult time at the moment, tens of thousands of jobs potentially on the line, plant closures, and it becomes difficult to justify what is essentially a massive marketing expense in Formula One when you've also got that going on within the same company.

I know F1 can and does generate a direct profit, but most of these bigger teams like Mercedes and Ferrari, It's more about indirect profit, isn't it, from, you know, the exposure that it gets you. So I can understand wanting to mitigate that risk even a little bit, as you say, Sam. Qatar is very logical based on their current investment in the overall, not team, but the overall company. They're the third biggest investors at the moment at 17%. So it's not really a stretch to see them invest in the F1 side of things as well. and then really the only question comes down to

what would the stake be? Would it be more of a majority state? Would it be a minority state? Would it be somewhere in the middle and how much of the team would be impacted based on that? Would it be, if it's a minority stake, not a lot's going to change. If it gets a little bit bigger

than maybe we look at the team being slightly, the team name being slightly different than just Audi. But as you said, Harry, I mean, technically, it's asked to Martin Aramco, right? And who says that? It really doesn't impact anything, right? So even if Qatar does feature as part of the team name, people are still probably going to call it just Audi.

I mean, another case in point, Salba. Does anyone say steak? No. Steak bake or kick. Well, does anyone say steak or kick when they're not making a joke? Would be a better question. No, because that team name is a joke. The only one who did was Fauci bought us on his announcement video

he wasn't staying next year, but he called it like State Kixalba. And I was like, that's too many words. And that video of him leaving definitely wasn't a joke in any way whatsoever. I actually, when someone doesn't have trousers on, take them even more seriously. Well, that is good, dear that.

That guy does do this podcast without any trousers on every week. Good Lord. Can we leave people with that as we go to another break? Off we go. See you, like a, folks. Take off your time. No, I'll see you're punished. Sam can be a Patreon plug.

Go on. Oh, that's got a plug-ish, but go. Put me the spot now. I am miserable. That's the plug. If you're going to hear me right about Moiko, even more. Or predict the retirement of Formula One. I was going to say this is going to get a mention at some point.

David Hill. Beaman go away. David, no kneecaps. Bloody hell, son. Can I have a bold prediction point? Yeah. Ben, do you want it? That's what he got to.

You're claiming his. a bold prediction now. Craig on Twitter, very rightfully pointed out that I should try and get one even if it's a pity point. So I had to make a... You say that we have to laugh at you every time you bring it up. If you do that anyway, so... I'd be willing to give you a pity point for that.

I'm not mad. I'm not. It's a majority rule, unfortunately. So, I'm on two myself. To be clear, I'm on zero. Harry's on four and there's three races left. So I don't think it's happening for me this year. I can still come last.

That's my point. Anyway, if you want to hear these kinds of conversations where we do things like beer were breaking where we've had a couple of beers and we do ridiculous stuff like the one we just recorded the other day, which let me tell you was maybe the most rogue thing

we've ever done on a beer of breaking. I won't spoil it, but it was hilariously brilliant. You need to check out Patreon. You need to subscribe to Patreon. And there are loads of perks. Everything's out free, two extra episodes. You get a historic review episode

which you get to vote on. You get birthday shoutouts. You get beer with breaking and many other great perks as well, like early entry to tickets if we ever do a live show. It also supports us as a channel, as a company, massively. You do not realize how much benefit we get by you supporting a Patreon and not just listening for free. We understand if you can't afford it.

If it's not your budget, not everyone is that simply able to just donate that kind of money. But to those of you that do, thank you so, so very much. We put a lot of work into it. And it's massively appreciated. The links in the description if you do want to check out. And remember, we like people that subscribe to Patreon more than normal listeners. Swear to God, Harry. I have to remember to mute Harry

and pretend it. Why does it require four seconds every time Sam to plug? Yeah, it's a silence after a Patreon plug. It's just Harry. I think this is an overall play by Harry

to not have to do any of these because we're going to get to doing five-star review plugs soon and he'll be like, oh, we actually prefer people who give us five-star reviews and then he won't be able to do it anymore. The tactic of doing such a bad job

or something that you stop me doing it. So I don't have to do it. Good for you. All right. We will take our final break on this episode. One more segment on the other side. We're playing late faking. Everyone, it's time for late faking.

It's faking game where one answer is fake and the other one's all right. So help me, Christ, I'll make my decision in a second, Sam, you're going to have to wait because Ben made this game so hard and I'm down by five. Oh, just goes so hard. Thank you as ever to Hall of Famer, Live Laf Latifie. And on that point, we are getting close to the end of the year.

So folks, just keep in mind that Hall of Fame is coming up fairly soon. Get some nominations in your head. But we'll crack on with late faking. There are six questions in front of me. In each question, there are four answers. But one of them is a fake. You've got to identify which one is the fake. So we'll start with Sam.

What number would you like? Number two, please, Ben. Number two, which of these four teams has not been powered by Renault. Lotus, B.A.R. Cateram. Ligier. B.A.R. You are absolutely right. B.A.R. has never been powered by Renault. Lotus was in the 80s and in the 2010s. catering in the 2010s as well and liegee in the 80s

so BAR is the right answer Harry over to you number four please number four I'm going to give you four countries three of them have been represented in F1

by a driver one of them never has okay Hungary Uruguay Malaysia Peru I don't know

Oh that's a real problem for you But that's a you problem That's like a you problem Peru I don't know I guess right answer Yeah Why can't have the right one please

I'm thinking for real Euroguide But I know it's been Malaysia and Hungary But Yeah you're absolutely right It is Peru Malaysia has been represented by

The great legendary Alex Young 100% Speaking of legends Hungary Is that Zonbao? Boundgarner? It's your Boundgarner.

Love that. And then four drivers have raced for Uruguay. I think they were all in the 1950s. Wow. You know them well. He's right. What a great start.

We're at one all. Back to you, Sam. Six, please, Ben. Four. Number six. I only have you four drivers. Three of them had at least 50 races before they achieved their first podium in F1.

Oh. One of them managed to get a podium. before they hit 50 races. So you've got Esteban Ockon, Carlos Sines, Alex Albin, Jensen Button. Oh, cool, blimey.

Oh, no, signs. Oh, sorry, I'll go before they hit 50 races. That's the fake one. No, signs took over 50 races. I want to say button. Dig it before 50 races. Oh, God, if I've got that wrong now, I'll go ahead.

I'm going to hate myself. If you have seen it, said, Carlson-Synes, you would have been wrong. So Jensen Button is also wrong. I'm sorry. You were less wrong with Jensen Button. So Carlos Sines, it was 101 races before he took his first podium. Button was 68, Ockon was 66, Alex Albin just 30 races before he took his first podium.

Yes, I misunderstood the question, which I'm not surprised at. Ben, you're becoming like Chris Tarrant building out the tension like that. I've never had such a compliment in my life. You'll be saying, you'll be, oh God, you'll be saying, we'll find out the right answer after the break. Next. I'll get the, you know the who wants to be a millionaire, Claxton? I'll get that installed for the end of the show. We're out of time.

Come on next week. Harry, back to you. What number would you like? Number one. Number one. Four drivers, three of them have won the British. GP multiple times. One of them hasn't.

It's the one you have to name. Have they won it or they just not won it multiple times? It doesn't matter. You cheeky, cheeky boy. David Coulthard. Sebastian Vettles. Michael Schumacher. Eton Senna.

I'm going to go with Senna because I think you just kept breaking down all the time. Sound reasoning. Correct answer. Yeah. Sound reasoning. Wrong answer. That was a, that was a, that was a, tricky one as well because technically

Aet and Senna won multiple Grand Prix in the United Kingdom as referenced earlier the European Grand Prix at Donington was a racy one but not a British Grand Prix. He did win the British Grand Prix once it was 1988. Kulfard won it twice in back to back years 1999 and 2000. Vettled twice as well in 2009

and 2018 and Schumacher wasn't one of his most successful tracks but he did win it three times 98, 02 and 04. I only just scraped by Coulter which, you know, it's a tough one. Great rivalry. Yeah, the biggest rivalry.

Sam, back to you. What number would you like? Oh, I guess I'll have number three. V! There are there. There are going. Yeah, I've got a slug behind me. My pet slug.

I'm going to give you four drivers on this one. Three of them have been teammates. to Kimmy Reichen and one of them never was. Okay. Timo Glock. Nick Heidfeld. Luca Bodoa. Pedro Delarosa.

I hate this list. I hear. Miserable Sam's back. In my head, I'm going, okay, he's definitely had this one, this, this one. You've got four games that never occurred to me, which I'm furious about. It's human.

Teaming. yeah it is that's my answer that come back I was going to say it is well worked out

Sam Nick Heidfeld was teammates with Reichen in 2001 back at Salba De La Rosa was teammates with Reikinen

in both 05 and 06 at McLaren when Montoya had car-related injuries yeah

tennis wasn't it yeah I think it was tennis mate. Nah, wasn't tennis definitely.

Luther Bedouah was 2009 when Bedouah filled in for Felipe Massa. Which means Glock was the correct answer

and it also means that we're at two all with one to play. So Harry, would you like number five or number five?

Thanks, Ben. I'll have number five, please. All honesty. What number were you going for? I didn't know. Every week.

Four drivers, three of them finished in the top ten in the championship in 2021. You'd like you to name the one that didn't finish in the top ten that year. Is it the same that how he forgets? Yeah, it's actually got super memory for 21 because it just fills in the gap of 2020. Double memory. Yeah.

You've got Daniel Ricardo, Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris and Sebastian Vettel. Oh, I'm sorry the pennies just dropped for me or something. I don't know. 2021. I'll go for Sebastian Vettel.

God, I've got class. I haven't got it. It's the right answer. Yeah, I'll just throw that in there. Wasn't that the infamous joke of what Netflix's stupid storyline we're going about the fight for 11th place? Awesome.

No, that was different year. Oh, okay. Because it was Ricardo versus Vettel and they weren't next to each other in this year. Right. Because Norris was sixth in that this season. Ricardo is 8th, Gassley was 9th, Vettel was 12th. But you are right. It was Vettel versus Ricardo and I think it was like the battle for 13 for something ridiculous.

Yes. That was 22, right? Must have been 2022. I guess so. Yeah. Anyway. That upsets me because that means I've lost again. And I think I think it mattered.

But Simon on Instagram apparently has a full long. of every single game we played in the last year. No way. And I'm now losing 27 to 10. 1 in 3 I seem to lose. It's not great odds for me. Simon, that is dedication. Go on looking at it.

Simon does it ridiculous. Where is this? Great job. I had a good chat with him at the British GP preview show about it. But yeah, they were still, I mean, five out of six collectively. That's pretty good. Yeah. Any good for you?

I mean, at least I'm losing close. Yeah, I'll take that. The good part is if you look at attendance percentage, I'm way up. That's even worse that you're losing there. The games that I play on my own don't count. Harry wins, but he's not here. Harry, now that you know that those attendance figures are tracked, is it just that you didn't know you had to win that one?

Yeah. You'll turn up every single day. I just wasn't aware. Oh, right, okay. This is excellent. Simon, thank you so much for sending this. It's brilliant. Good old look through.

Game draws, 10. Bad 10 each. Well, you can't not have the same amount of rules. No, no, sorry. It does not what I meant. I forget which one it is, but it might be show me the options, but you might not want to look at the year for Show Me the options.

Me? Well, Sam. Oh, no. I believe it's been a one. whitewash in terms of show me the options this year. Was it really? How do I see this? Oh, you should scroll up.

There's a link. Oh, sorry. I'm looking at the screenshots. Sorry, Simon. But there is... Bloody Nora. It's something we should discuss off air, maybe. No, we're going to go through the win-off records of everything.

Yeah, good. I forgot. I forgot this to recording. Carry on. I guess that will probably do it for this episode. F-1's just around the corner, though, Sam. F-1's just around the corner because we are going to the, the land.

that causes a lot of gambling problems for a lot of people. I couldn't think of a catching game. Are you the promoter? You got me down there, actually. That's almost as good as your tagline for the Dorchester we were discussing off there. That's F&Lush.

Yeah, God, I swear, we're doing it. It's time not going to say that. Folks, yeah, Vegas is coming up, which means it's going to be a real hardship for us here in the UK, but we have it easy. So, you know, we'll take a difficult one this time around.

But stay with us. Midweek, we've got our first preview episode for what feels like a while. So get involved, getting the Discord. You might hear yourself in your submissions of who's under pressure. We're going to be going through our bold predictions, our poll one, two, threes,

and all the key storylines for the entire weekend. And over that weekend, we'll, of course, have a qualifying review, a race review, and power rankings on Patreon as well. You know where to find that. We're on social media, late-breaking F-1 everywhere. This has been recorded for YouTube,

so everyone wave hello at the camera, even if you stick around for this long, who knows. Brilliant. And then I'll be streaming during the qualifying and the race as well. So come and visit me on Twitch. Don't break in podcast. We'll be lovely to have you there as well.

But that's it from us. We'll see you, Mick Week. In the meantime, I've been Samuel Sage. I've been Ben Hocking. And I've been Harry Ead. And remember, keep breaking late. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.