The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Are F1 drivers not taking COVID-19 seriously? | Episode 101

Episode Date: February 3, 2021

The boys discuss the latest cases of COVID amongst F1 drivers and whether the pandemic is being taken seriously, discuss Daniel Ricciardo's effect on McLaren, and play a new game of F1: Call the Commentary...Make sure to SUBSCRIBE! 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 look out for new episodes every Thursday and Grand Prix Sundays. Hello and a very warm welcome back to the late breaking Formula One podcast. My name's Ben Hocking. Another episode, another off-season episode. We're all willing for the season to come back. It will be with us soon.

We are sure. But we've still got plenty to talk about today. And I've got Sam Sage and Harry. with me to chat through. So guys, how was he week then? It's been all right. Yeah. Just look forward to this every week, to be honest. Just dragging myself along miserably and empty until I get to this evening. Yeah, I mean, most people work for the weekends, but we work for Wednesday night. So that's... I love LB Podcast Night. It is the absolute best time of the week. No doubt about that

whatsoever. Um, tonight we're going to be discussing Charlotte Claire's 2020 season. Are there that can be made to Max Verstappen's 2018 season. Is there a problem with him making too many errors? We'll be discussing that one later on. What can Daniel Ricardo bring to McLaren, of course, a former race winner going into the team. And we've got a brand new game coming up later on, which is Call the Commentary.

Yeah, you'll have to wait and stick around to see what that's all about. And also, more importantly, what Sam's jingle is going to be for that. We know how important that is to the people. But first of all, we've got Pierre Gassley, who this past Sunday, he confirmed that he had tested positive for COVID-19 that was following a training camp in Dubai. So this makes Gassley the sixth driver to test positive. Perez, Stroll and Lewis Hamilton all tested positive throughout the season. And since the season has ended, Lando Norris, Chau LeClaire, and now Pierre Gassley, of course, have tested positive. So Sam, six drivers, is there an issue with the way in which?

Shephorn drivers are treating COVID-19. Yeah, I mean, and please correct me if I'm wrong, but the only person that doesn't have a single excuse almost, I think, not excuse, the reason why they got it was based on where they were already due to the F1 calendar was Lewis Hamilton. He picked up in the hotel that he was staying at between races and didn't leave the paddock.

The others have all flown off somewhere to do something. Perez went and visited family back in Mexico at one point. We're seeing how much Lecler is traveling about. P. Gazel, someone that a lot of people look up to I've got a lot of time for and a lot of respect for how he's recovered

from his red ball time it's just silly isn't it? I'm in a lighthearted mood we've had a good laugh today us boys so I will try not to really bury the hatchet

right into P. Gazelle but these people are role models these people are people that you look up to and you respect and you are taught how to be in society that's happened with everything not to sports people celebrities, movie stars

you know sports stars of all kinds we look up to these people and they are meant to be a bit of a beacon of what we're meant to do, which is a bit of a burden to bear, but it's something you also take on board when you step into the limelight. Ghazley, once again, flaunting around,

and George Russell's recently been spotted doing the same, he wasn't part of that virtual Grand Prix because he's often the bloody Caribbean, not ideal. It isn't good enough. You wouldn't say this about any other virus. You wouldn't say this for any other thing. You don't go against a world pandemic,

and then you just decide to fly to anything. country you fancy and seeing one that you want to just because you've got a bit of money behind you it's not excusable it's the same as root to aura trying to have a bloody seven grand birthday in london that's despicable i don't care how much money she's got that is embarrassing and you're putting people at risk guys is doing the same here that is thank you along so um you know you you're putting people at risk and it's not all right with someone from that level of responsibility that much of a following not good enough in my opinion you need to be more serious if you care about your sporting achievements, your own health and your own chances and your fans,

you need to be doing more. We are. You know, I could get off to Monaco at any time that I want. I've got bags of money behind this screen. I stay here for the good of the people. For the good of the people. You are a man of the people, Sam. No doubt about that. I am. The people's king slash queen. Fair enough. Harry, obviously you're not the people's king or Queen like Sam, but, you know, us mere peasants can't live up to that level. However, I am interested in your opinion on this, so go ahead. I think it's... Sorry, Sam's dancing on screen, which no one on the podcast can see, obviously, because it's a podcast.

It's because you're into it, lads, and then you remix it when, it was beautiful. It was quite enjoyable to listen to. Again, no one on the podcast will know that that happened, yet we're now here discussing it. Anyway, what was I talking about? Yes, F1 drivers. I think they are being less responsible than they should be and have been previously. I think if we look back to the first lockdown

and I'm talking, that's kind of worldwide. I know various countries aren't in lockdown anymore, this country that we live in, unfortunately it is. But if we look at that one, they all stayed inside and, you know, they had to train at home. They had to keep fit in that extended office. off season, but they all managed it.

So why they need to now go off to a training camp in Abu Dhabi or Dubai or wherever, the Caribbean, doesn't make a lot of sense. You know, I think the precautions aren't in place in the off season like they are during the season. And even in the season, we still had cases. There weren't many, thankfully, but there were still cases. And the F1 group did well to pick them up. and so it prevented the spread, you know, spreading it like a hardfire, basically. So, yeah, I think just F1 drivers need to be more responsible.

And it is, you know, it's like seeing influencers going out, jetting out to Dubai, whatever. I said it's a bit annoying. And then, you know, I know we live different lives, but I don't really want to see F1 drivers having an amazing time at the moment because we're not having a great time either. So I'd rather, you know, we're all on this together kind of attitude. But yeah, it's trick on. Because, you know, you've got to appreciate that these drivers need to be fit

and they have to do a lot of special training. But at the same time, it's no good if you keep going out and catching COVID. I think there's a string of them from, you know, Gassley-Laclair Norris hasn't helped. But anyway, it's annoying. So please, F1 drivers, look after yourselves because we like watching you drive fast. Maybe these drivers have actually just all caught COVID because they're all part of Helmut Marko's coronavirus camp.

And they just haven't revealed that. I love that. Oh, Helmut. Every day that passes, it sounds more and more stupid. Anyway, what I would say to this is, out of the 20 drivers on the grid, six have now tested positive. Now, it would be fairly easy to say that, you know, six out of 20 that ends up being 30%, of the entire grid have had it, which on the surface, it's a pretty high percentage. You know, if 30% of the world's population had COVID, there would have been 2.34 billion cases

in the world if the F1, if the F1 drivers was the average, as it happens, has only been about 100 million. So clearly, you know, you're more likely to get COVID if you are a Formula 1 driver. but because of the difference in, you know, there's so many factors to play. I think it would be a bit unfair to just say that and full stop and move on. Because, yeah, when you're jet setting around the world like the Formula One circus is, even in the restricted way that it was done, you're more likely to, of course, you're more likely to than someone like us would completely understand that. But here's the thing.

The Formula One calendar still lasted about six months, take from that first race in Austria to that last race in Abu Dhabi, about six months of the year. And in that time, there were three drivers who tested positive. You know, I know that the F1 paddock was much more restricted than we had in previous years, but there were still a lot of people from a lot of teams being represented week in, week out, across Europe and then into Asia. And there were three cases of drivers getting COVID-19. yet since the off season, and I think that's about six weeks compared to six months,

is exactly the same number that have tested positive, three, because you've had Norris, Leclair and Gassley test positive since that point. So clearly, six months with more mingling, you've got a whole worldwide sport going on, produces the same number of cases as when everyone should be at home and has no reason not to be. That's a cause for concern. And you're right in what you say,

and that these guys are role models and people look up to these guys and they need to set a better example about what they can do. It should not be one rule for the rich and those who can get away with it and one rule for those who can't. Ultimately, and I assume that a lot of these guys probably don't care if they get COVID themselves because there is a very, very large likelihood that it would pass and nothing would happen, as has been the case with a lot of people.

But first of all, you know, your own personal, your own personal safety and what your own personal view of it is not the be all and end all that should never be. Your impact and your actions, they have a global impact, whether you like it or not. And that might sound like this sweeping statement. It is a global impact. You know, if you infect one other person, that's enough because that one person then affects three more, three more, it affects 15 more. And, you know, there's a reason that COVID is in every single part of the world because of the actions of individuals. So, you know, there should be no, I don't care if I get it, should never be a reason

to not, to not be as safe as possible. We've seen videos of, you know, Charles LeClair, there was a video where he definitely wasn't wearing a mask and he wasn't social distancing whatsoever. Gassely similarly, you know, there's no reason for these guys to be in Dubai in the first place. Yeah, I think, I don't know how, I don't know how you come down on it because on the one hand, you could say getting COVID is punishment enough. But, you know, is it enough?

I don't really know. So, yeah, they should be setting a better example. Plain and simple, there's just too many people looking at these guys, looking up to them, who might be tempted to do the same. Sam, you've got something to say about Manscaped. So we've actually got a sponsor. Yeah, and that is because of you lot who have listened to the podcast. So firstly, I know we've got to do the advertising bit.

And we aren't really getting paid. They're just happily sponsoring it. And we kind of got a free product to try out, which is very nice. It's because of you not listening that they've reached out and had a thought. So firstly, thank you for listening. And if you do want to help out the channel, we've got, you go over to Manstate. And when you buy a product, you'll get 20% off if you search for late 20. Put that in your discount box and your little code bit that goes under the checkout section.

So if you want to be streamlined, get the podcast to the top. Or you want to be a lawnmower, just like Valtry Botas was at the Austrian Grand Prix. Trimmed some grass, if you know what I mean. Wink, crook, nudge, nudge. Then get over to Manscape. Their products are quality. They actually, I used it. It's over there.

You can't sit up the camera. It's a podcast. Sorry, folks. Watch your YouTube again. You might go catch it. It's there. It was actually pretty good. I would recommend it.

And you get 20% off. So if you do want to help out the channel, get over to Manscape, use late to 20, all in capital letters with a number 2-0, not the word 20. And you'll get 20% off. So thanks, Manscaped. You'll be hearing a bit,

more from them over the next couple episodes because they're here with us for a little bit. But much love to you guys and to Man Skate to Open Us Out. Let's move it on to Shao Leclair. So this was something I was from a different podcast, from the race podcast. Scott Mitchell, who is a well-known journalist. He was discussing with his friends whether Shao LeClaire has had an overrated season, or whether he is generally overrated. And what caught my eye was how he compared the 2020 season of Lecler to the 2018 season of Max Verstappen.

He said that Lecler's 2020 season was largely, any mistakes were largely small misjudgments and weren't anything excessive, whereas Vastappen's errors that he had in 2018 were more rash and careless. Sam, do you think that there are parallels that you can draw between the two here, or do you think Scott Mitchell's right here in that it is careless versus small misdemeanors? Scott and Mitch, usually I very much enjoy your writing. I think it's a very good journalist, and if you do want to get an interesting opinion on Formula One, you look for another opinion. Go I give him stuff a read. It is good.

In this case, I disagree with him. Max Verstappen and Charlotte Claire are both equally allowed to have inexperienced moments, moments like they throw the car into a corner a bit quick, when they miss a breaking point, or they misjudge a side-by-side moment. It happens to every driver. It happened to Lewis Hamilton twice in the last season. You know, ironically, both with Albon.

But it happens. You know, he's a seven-time world champion. He's still spun somewhere around twice. No. Sorry, Album. You spone yourself into his ATM now. Leave the man alone. Max and Staff and Michelle Leclerc, equally, are both still so young

and so inexperienced in the grand scheme of things. And in 2018, the staff and I don't even the sport, what, three to four years at that point, I think. And Lecler was only in his third season, the most recent season that we've had. And you've got every right to grow and develop. And I think you need to compare the pros to the cons. You need to compare the successes to the weaknesses.

And the fact that Charlotte Clare scored more points than a four-time world champion, Charlecler was able to throw some of the best overtakes we've seen. He's incredibly consistent. His qualified performances are breathtakingly good. The man is, if Ferrari could pull the rat together, a future world champion in the making. And Max Verstaffin is exactly the same.

He always has been over at Red Bull. Max Verstaffin had a season, wherever I looked at him and he went, this is slightly worrying. Is he going to pull it back from that? And he did. He learned. And you're never going to get better unless you make mistakes.

That's the first thing you learn at any new job when you go into school or college. You have to have a bad to have a good. You have to learn from it. Lewis Hamilton lost in championship by bidding it into the gravel trap in China. And now look at him. He's considering the greatest of all time in terms of statistics. It happens to every single driver.

Scott and Mitch, I think you've wanted a nice topic to write about here, and it hasn't really paid off. So, no, I think they were both in experience. I think they both made some silly mistakes. Do I think the one are reckless? No. Maxis Stapp has a bit of a hot head as we've seen,

but he's also one of the best drivers from the long scene for a long time. And he's allowed to make those mistakes. So for me, no, they're allowed to make mistakes. both experience, it happens, they learn from them, they develop, and they're both becoming better drivers because of it. What do you reckon, Harry? Do you think this is Chaule-Cleu's small misjudgments versus a bit careless and rash from Stappen in 2018, or do you think they're much more similar than he let on? Yeah, I agree with Sam on this one. I think they're just, they're completely similar. They're almost the same. I think you can't say

looking at where they are in their careers at those times. for Lecler, 2018 for Vestappen, it's the same kind of, it's the same kind of period of their career. So why it's any better for Lecler? I'm not quite sure, Scott, my friend. And arguably, I think Lecler would, you know, I know who's in a worse car in 2020

than Max was in 2018, but I think he might have had a worse year. I mean, just in terms of the consequences of his, mistakes. You know, in the steering GP, he wiped out his teammate on the first lap. Whereas did he crowd, well, Monza, he had

a humongous crash, which was, again, his own doing. And then in Bahrain, or the secure GP, I should say, he wiped out two cars, one of them, ironically, being Max just happened. And I don't really recall Max doing

that much similar in 2018. He had a couple of, you know, Monaco qualifying. where he'd been there and he could have won that race and arguably and maybe a couple of rash moons but yeah I don't agree

I think they are the same and you know we've made comments before about how much Max has improved on that front he does occasionally you know might make the old mistake but you know mostly now he's pretty consistent and I'm sure you know

I'm pretty sure Leclair will be the same because you know he's got the speed he's just a that slightly younger part of his career and yeah It's very easy to make this comparison, so I don't know why. I don't get why it should be different for old Chuckie, Chuckie LeClair, even though he is God, God, LeClair sometimes. Good old God, LeClair.

Yeah, so I'll touch on the inexperience point first, because Scott in this did say that he thinks that some of the 2020 season and the errors that LeClair made was down to inexperience, and I don't disagree with him on that. I think it's easy to forget that Shao LeClair is, yeah, as you say, third season. That's it. Because of his advancement up to Ferrari so early in his career

and obviously the Ferrari seat wasn't great in 2020, but it certainly was in 2019. It is very easy to forget that he is so inexperienced compared to a lot of the field. However, what I would say is you can't make the point that Shao LeClaire and his was down to an experience if you're not going to admit the same about the staff.

Stappens because Vastappen was in his fourth full season in 2018. So it's one season in it. So if you're going to claim inexperience on the part of Leclair, at least to some extent, you also have to do the same with Vestappen if you're comparing the two. Well, I've sort of identified five incidents that I think were Charles Leclair's fault or incidents errors that happened throughout 2020. And essentially asked myself, do I think they are? Eiless and Rash, as Scott Mitchell labeled Vestappen in some degree in 2018 season,

or are they minor misjudgments? Which category do they fall in? Well, let's start with Istanbul, so we know that he lost his podium on the final lap. I put that one down as a minor misjudgment because the circuit was incredibly tough to deal with. We saw what happened to the likes of Valtry Bottas in that Grand Prix. People were spinning all over the place. He had one minor error. And he did such an amazing job to even get in that spot from where he was at one point of the Grand Prix. So I'm putting that one down as a minor misjudgment.

And I'd also actually put the Sequea one down as a minor misjudgment as well. It wasn't great. But at the same time, I don't believe he's going for the move. I think it's a lockup. I don't think there was any intention whatsoever to make the overtake. I think he just got the breakers for wrong. So again, I think that one is a minor misjudgment. However, the other three I've picked out, I think, do fall into the careless category.

So first of all, the one you've referenced Harry, Styria, I believe that move on Sebastian Vettel was intended. He didn't lock up into Sebastian Vettel as he did in Sequea with Perez and Vestappen. In that instance, he went for the gap, which was not a good move. So that one, I think, falls in the careless category. Again, the Monza one. You could argue it was a bit unlucky, but at the same time, 20 drivers do that corner, however many times in a race

and don't do what he did. There's a reason not many people crash into that wall. And I'm not saying, you know, these drivers can't have these mistakes. In fact, I'm saying the opposite, they can have these mistakes. But again, I think that one is careless

rather than a minor misjudgment. And the one in Sochi, the one that he didn't get a penalty for, which I still can't believe to this day. Again, I think that one was careless as well. So you've got five incidents there. Ben, it's because it was a lap one incident and those are forgivable

regardless of what you do. do, thank you. Yeah, sorry. I forgot flat out murder of a Canadian is acceptable if on lap one of a grand prix. It's actually, let me just check the FIA rule, but yeah, it's not even a black and white flag. Yeah, yeah. I mean, what does a black and white flag mean anyway? Yeah, so I've sort of listed five incidents that I think he had in the season, and it's three, two, in terms of careless versus minor misjudgments. So I think to put them all as minor misjudgments, I don't think he's doing it. full justice. And again, that's okay. He's in his third year. He's allowed these errors. Look at Vastappen in his fourth year. He made a lot of errors. People refer back to Lewis Hamilton's

2011 season a lot in terms of the mistakes he made that year. That was his fifth year in Formula One. He will keep on making mistakes. Formula One drivers do it. They're human. It's about eliminating them to as, yeah, eliminating them as much as you can. Very similar to what Lewis Hamilton has done, where Lewis Hamilton will generally speaking have about one error per year. And he does an amazing job to do that. But he hasn't eliminated them completely. So that's what Leclair's path looks like in the next few years. What he needs to do, I think actually the seasons between 2018 Vastappen and 2020 Lecler, very comparable.

The only difference for me, and I don't think any of LeClaire's incidents were as bad as the China one for Max Vastappen, to be fair. Yeah, that is a big one. But the only other difference I would say is that Max Verstappen seemed to have happened pretty much all within that first half of the season and were quite condensed. Leclares were a bit more spread out across the year. But I think it's perfectly fair to look at them in a very similar light. Let's move on. We like a bit of Danny Rick here, don't we? Yeah.

We like a bit of Danny Rick. Yeah. So he's going to McLaren in 2021. I think, you know. Yeah. Yeah. So Carlos, guess what? He's going to Ferrari.

Really interesting stuff. Oh my gosh. Is that the topic? Yeah. And also, Lewis Hamilton, going to DTM. Oh, that I can't wait for. Him and Halbon together again.

I love it. He has still not signed people. Still not signed. Oh, fun enough, I did see a rumor, and this is from the Hillmeister himself, so you may have seen this. Graham. Yes, Graham.

Phil. That's Damon. That the reason why Hamilton has not signed a contract is because he wants the ability to veto any teammate choice for the next two years. That is apparently the discrepancy, but we'll get on to that at another time. Spicy. Very spicy.

Moy caliente, as you might say, Sam. I think you would. Topic at hand, though, is Daniel Ricardo. He's going to McLaren, so a new line-up for the first time in a couple of years. Harry, do you think that the experience that Ricardo brings in terms of winning races, being in a very competitive Red Bull in the past, do you think that's going to benefit McLaren a lot? yeah I think it will you know this is the first time mcclaren have had a race winner in their team since

2018 since lonso left and you know that's not to say that the two years they had without race winners were bad I think they've been very good for mcclarence that refresh the team but i think you know that race winning mentality that danny rick brings i think coming off the back of 2020 which i think you know arquebiz was one of his best years in f1 if not his best will help, you know, he's buoyed by that performance. I think if you come off the back of 2019, then it'd be a different story.

But yeah, I don't see how it will be anything other than a bad thing. You know, I think Ricardo and Norris will have the same open, jockey relationship on the outside, but then similarly competitive as signs and Norris did over the past two years. and that can only be good. Yeah, and I think, I think, I think, Ricardo, it's perhaps undervalued as quite a thinking driver, quite a clever driver.

So, yeah, maybe that will benefit him. It's good with strategy. I don't know what Ben's doing. Again, folks, can't see us, but he's something that appeared in front of his camera. So, yeah, I'm not sure what's gone on there. Anyway, yeah, so what was my point? Conclusion, Danny Rick, good lad, probably.

It's going to be fine. Probably a good lad. Probably. No, he's definitely a good lad, definitely a good lad. For the record, for both of you and for everyone else, I was actually plugging my laptop in because it was running out. But the problem is with my laptop, I can't have my camera and my microphone on at the same time with also having it on charge.

So I had to remove my camera. so it all looked a bit weird. But you wouldn't have seen any of it, so you probably don't care. Just cut this out. This is another podcast special. There you go, folks, that you'll never see. Ridiculous. Never see.

Daniel Ricardo, to McLaren. Good move for the team. Sam, do you think that his experience is going to help a lot? Daniel Ricardo is such an invigorating, enjoyable personality. He's such a motivating guy. The amount of joy that that bloke spreads, that people love him simply for his optimism. He rubs off on people the right way.

You know, he really inspires. That is not dirty, Harry. Thank you. Get your mind out the gussy. Disgusting. Peria. Bagger off. He brings a lot of motivation.

I think you're right, Harry. When you say he is a very thoughtful driver. We've seen him develop massively over the years. He's been in Formula One. His tire conservation has been brilliant. His overtaking is always one of the best on the grid. Up there, I think, with Max and Staff on Hamlet. and there's the two people that can pull off a move when they need to happen.

But what I also think about this McLaren Ricardo partnership is that I think McLaren are going to do the world of good for Daniel Ricardo. He did a good job at Renaud. I think he liked it there. I think it was all right. But it never seemed to really 100% click to gel in that team. And I think with Norris being a bit silly and fun with him, the fact that McLaren are definitely the most lighthearted,

fun, upbeat team on the grid at the moment. I think this can really unleash him. I think it's going to be so, you know, chains are off, Daniel. You do what you want. You go for it. We've got your back. You know, we saw it happen with Sites. Sites were starting to struggle since leaving Toro also.

Join that McLaren team. Bam, big impact. Norris comes into Formula One. Bam, big impact. You know, it is such a strong team at the moment. They are really on the up. And I think that you're pairing that lighthearted but motivated, determined aspect of McLaren,

ironically, with the motivated, determined light-heartedness of Daniel Riccardo. And it's a perfect match. They've got that serious underpin. They've got that investment back in what they need. But they're allowed to do what they need to do to be successful. And I think it is a relationship made for success. And it's probably my most excited partnership, I think, for the going season.

Especially now with the Mercedes engine in that car as well. I am super pumped to see what they can do with it. I think it's a brilliant move. I think success is on the way. I reckon there could be a race swing on the cards if they get things right. Ooh. Interesting. interesting interest. Perhaps a bit of an insight there into our predictions for the 2021 season,

which aren't too far away now. They will be... Unlike everyone else. Yeah, they'll be on your way very, very soon. So what I would say here is that McLaren, and actually not just McLaren, just anyone, having a race winner in your team does not necessarily mean the team is going to do well. I mean, McLaren is a great example of this. Bear in mind that once upon a time they had not only two race, race winners in their seats. They had two world champions in their seats. Did it matter? Not to say their performances were poor at all, but for the team, did it matter? Not really. No, they were still very bad. And compare that to the last two years where they haven't had a race

winning driver on their team, which could be wrong on this, but I believe it's the first time in McLaren's existence where they've had a line up where they haven't had a race winner. But it seems to have worked out pretty well, doesn't it? So, you know, you look at those two situations, I think maybe it's not that important. What I would say, though, because I do think his experience is going to help here. I would say that the McLaren of 2014 and 2015-2016 was not in the same position to succeed as the McLaren of 2020-2020. I think organizationally,

McLaren is more different now compared to 2015 than any team on the grid. In terms of names and stuff like that, they might be one of the very few teams that still has the same name as six years ago. but in terms of what Zach Brown has been able to do, the people he's been able to bring into the system, the likes of, you know, Andrea Seidel most significantly, but, you know, even the likes of Jilda Ferran and Stella, all of these guys, he's put people in the best position to succeed, and it's working. They've definitely been going in the right direction. So having that race experience, having that race winners experience to go along with that, I think can only be a good thing.

And I think what is also a good thing is that it's not even a driver that it's not even a driver that is coming from a team that's done very, very well for the last five years, and that's it. I think with Ricardo, you get in the best of both worlds in the not that long ago, he was in a Red Bull that was capable of winning races, but at the same time, he has also got experience of the last two years of a team that's in the midfield in a direct battle to what McLaren have had and will probably still have this season. Carlos Sines obviously came from Renault in the same way that Ricardo did, and I think that experience was pretty valuable, and now he's out of the door to Ferrari, they're able to

replace that with more Renault experience with Daniel Ricardo. Now, you could say that Carlos Seines' experience is now going to Ferrari, one of their rivals, but to be honest, I don't think Ferrari are rivals of McLaren. I think Ferraris are probably rivals with Flymo or something on those lines. Oh, Climo are good, though. Yeah, to be fair, that might be Harry's up. Harry's Volkswagen up, maybe. Oh, yeah. Sorry, wrong car.

I'm living back in 2015. My mum's up. Volkswagen out of, yes. Yeah. It was great up a hill, that was. That's a push it. Shout out to Harry's mum. Yeah, so I...

Yeah, so I think his Renault experience plus his race winner's experience, plus his midfield experience, plus he's a good driver. That'll all add up something. pretty good, I think. So I'm excited to see what he can do. He is a good driver. Yeah, that is it. End of the discussion. He is good.

Let's know what you think. He is good. You know what? No one ever tweets us about this, actually. All of you listening, someone tweet us anything. Just say, I'm from the podcast or something like that. That would be nice. We'll move on now to our newest game show that no one asked for. We've got Call the Commentary. Sam, I believe you have. have an intro ready for us on this one. Oh yeah, of course. Went down like just magically have an intro ready for people.

And sherry jump on a fairy. It's time to play. Call the commentary. Well, my expectations were high and you somehow managed to smash it. Well, thanks. Thank you. Well done. So, premise of this game is I've got six audio clips that I'll be playing to Sam and Harry. They'll take it in turns to guess what race or what event or perhaps both, what the commentary is about. And as long as you provide enough detail about what it is, you'll get a point. I can't wait to get zero. I can't wait for a one-nil.

Right. Pick a number between one and six, Harry. Four. It's a good one. 160 miles an hour. The cars are doing as it comes through there. Safety car out. Of course.

The drivers, oh my word. about a past there, David Coulthard on Olivier Pan. Oh, he's, he's already in. He hasn't even heard the whole clip. Go on, Harry. What is it? Am I naming the GP or the commentator? The GP and the, what's going on?

Don't name the commentator. Okay, it's 2003 British GP. There was a madman on Hanger Street. I was there. I wasn't the madman. Eight-year-old Harry. Seven-year-old Harry was bringing down. I was straight.

Yeah, and I think, is it D.C. or someone tries to overtake Olivier Pannis and almost wipes the man out. Crazy times. That could have been awful. Crazy times indeed. Yeah, so I think I actually managed to play you number five, accidentally, Harry, but clearly it's all right because you've got the point. Sam, do you want to pick a number and who knows he might even get that number?

Next thing, too. It could be 43. Pick number two, my lord. Number two, me lord. All right, here's number two. A bit of Murray Walker for you. Oh, yes. When it would decrease the gap from 11 points to seven points.

Oh, what's happened? Damon's lost it, has he? Stopps off. They're both off. Who's that? That's a, is that a Tyrol or is it? Oh, bloody owl. Bit of a hint.

It wasn't a Tyrell. What was Murray Walker describing? I love his confusion. What? Murray Walker and me are very similar in the sex that we never really know what we're saying. And I don't actually know. So I'm just going to make it up

and say it was the 1996 Japanese Grand Prix. Well, I mean, you're not a million miles out. Harry, do you have an idea of what it was? is it 95 British GP Are they all the British GP Ben? You've managed to pick the first two of the British Grand Prix

The Commercy. Yes, it was Damon Hill with Michael Schumacher there. Not a Tyrell hiding And he was also to Tyrell. Too obsessed with Murray's voice that everything else

became a blur. I think you're fair enough. All right. So, Harry, you've got the lead. What number do you want now? Again, could be the right number. Number? Four, please.

You actually want number four this time. All right. Okay, so number four, you have got Mr. David Croft. Oh, what a leg, George. And this time, Lomstrol now makes a move on Felipe Massa, and Daniel Ricardo's in that fight, and Nico Holcomberd as well,

and Massa's getting slaughtered up by the pack, and down the inside goes Daniel Ricardo. And down the inside! That is, it's a Baku one. Oh, lordy lord. Bloody one I know as well. The first of the three. 2017?

Spot on. Back in 2017. Damn it! Yep, that was Ricardo's triple overtake. It was lush. Pretty special, wasn't it? It was lush. Down the inside!

One, three or six, Sam. Oh, I'll have a number six, please, Ben. All right. Bit more Murray for you. Oh, good. I'll get it wrong. I'm looking at three cars now. One of those are McLaren and it's off and it's Louis Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton is off at the same corner as Jensen Button. This race is turning into the one just like Silverstone. And they're flying off. There's another one. Gone straight into the side of Jensen Button's car. And another. One, two, three, four, five cars off at the corner. Is that, it's the year.

that I think I'm going to get wrong. Is it the 2007 German Grand Prix at the Nureberg ring? Is it the wrong? Yeah, I'll give you that. Is it the European? Yeah, I'll give you that. When they're all going off the start,

finish straight into the barrier? When was Murray commentating in 2007? I don't remember. See, this was a bit of a red herring in that Murray Walker was commentating on the likes of Lewis Hamilton. He came back for a race for radio. And that's all he got.

That brilliant, that race was crazy. Yeah. I mean, fair, that's a race for Murray to come back. Yeah, fair. I don't believe it. Well done, Sam. You've got one. A point for you.

Harry, can you get three out of three? You've got either number one or number three. I'll go for number three, please. Oh, it's a good omen. All right, number three. And two Davidson. You don't. You've got some James,

yes. So James Allen. Final few laps. For the second time this week at a major sports event, I'm shaking. I was in the stadium in Istanbul. I was shaking for the whole of the second half. And I'm shaking again now

because this is the most fantastic finish to a Formula One race. There goes, the tire, let's go. He just misses the BAR. And I said he should have pitted. I told you he would have got a podium if he'd pitted, instead of which he's going to get absolutely nothing.

Oh, James Allen is so good. it's Reichenen at same track again I think it's European GP 05 spot on 2005 European Grand Prix

yeah Kimi Reikinen is tyre on his last legs and then it went kabum into term one no Lewis Hamilton there getting over the line

with only three ties no Kimmy can Can we can do that? Shows what a real goat can do. Sorry, give me back. So, that leaves one more, and it's James Allen for you again. Oh, come on, James. Give it to me.

All right, hang on a minute. Blame yourself? Yeah, here we go. Here we go. Gone straight on it. Must be David Coulthard. And look at Mord. He's really attacking Michael Schumacher. As they go down towards Vielner, he wants to be a little. through he wants through no he can't get through and that's sir mcclain without a front wing and look

at montoya attacking schumacher cool guard then lost his front wing this is perfect for jensen button shumaccar and montoya too busy watching each other schumacker pushes montoya clean off the road now ralph's having to go down the outside it's too grassy and too wet there cheek it sounds so exciting what is going on it's immense it was a pretty exciting uh rondol as well still sounds so good um I'm going to say I don't know this one. No, I'm taking a pun.

I think this is Canada 2004. You've got the right year, but not the right race. I'll give you a clue in that there is a famous press conference that follows on from this incident. That doesn't help me, Harry. Does that help you? Is it the made in Italy and Emilio Romana GP? Oh, Imola, of course it is. It's the first lap of the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola,

where Montoya and Michael Schumacher are side by side. Michael Schumacher forces Montoya off the road there. And then in the press conference afterwards, Montoya very sarcastically went, because he can't see me. Mr Chunky has got all the banter in the world Sassy Mr Junkie I love him

That man is an icon of the sport So Harry Ead you've done very very well for yourself Three out of three for you and you are today's winner Well done mate Play the jingle but I've got to sing I feel like that's going to be one of our best ones Yeah

Doesn't take much but one of our best ones Maybe we should get a fan to write a game and the jingle and I'll sing it. Yeah, I can imagine that's something that no one would get involved with. Yeah, probably not. If you do want to get involved, tweet us, please, someone!

No, what they should do is they should just tweet us the name of the game, but don't tell us what the game is and then we've got to make it up from the name of the game. That is fun. Please do that. At Elle breaking on Twitter. Give us a game name

and we'll do the rest of the work for you. Who knows, maybe it'll appear on our next podcast. We'll be back in one week's time. Until then, Sam, if you wouldn't mind getting us out of here. Folks, it's been a bit ridiculous, as always. We've also got like a mini competition running on YouTube. It's going to be open for a couple more days, closing at the end of the weekend,

but you're listening to this if you've listened to it when it does go live. So get involved. I think that's the seventh. It'll shut. Get involved. Get over there. Do subscribe, chat to us.

And get back to Twitter. Tell us about a game or about Pee Gazzle being a naughty, naughty boy. But in the meantime, thanks for sitting around in the off-season. We'll bring you more action. I'll be saying. I've been Ben Hocking. Hello, Mr Chunky. And remember, keep breaking late.

Cast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.