The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Are Mercedes BACK?! | 2024 F1 Season Predictions

Episode Date: February 25, 2024

With testing over for another year, it's time to make some season predictions! Sam, Ben and Harry share their Constructors' Championship order, Drivers' Championship Top 6, Biggest Surprise, Biggest Letdown, and Last Place... FOLLOW us on socials! You can find us on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok SUPPORT our Patreon for bonus episodes, historic race reviews & more! JOIN our Discord community JOIN our F1 Fantasy League: Link to SIGN UP & create your team Link to JOIN our league (join code: C3PHEQHPU04) BUY our Merch EMAIL us at [e-mail]   & SUBSCRIBE to our podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 podcast. Make sure to check out new episodes every Wednesday and every Sunday. A very warm welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking. It is Championship Sunday. That's what we're calling it, because we just have one episode left before our Bar-Rame preview, which means we need to fit in one of our favourite episodes of the year, which is giving out our predictions that will absolutely 100% be wrong by the end of the year.

Both constructors and drivers coming up, Sam. I mean, are we aiming for like two out of ten on constructors this year? Will that do us? I've been so tall with this, and I've wanted to go a bit rogue, all winter break and try and place my hope in something a bit different, and you just can't see it happening. I feel like I'm going to end up being really run-of-the-mill boring Sam here, and it's going to be a big letdown.

But I mean, yeah, if I get three, I've had a very good time, I think. Harry, what about you? Looking to take the big W this year? Yeah, probably. That's all I do is I'm a serial winner. I call you Wari for the same reason. Yeah, yeah, the big Wobia.

Loves his frosties. Nice. Great. Nice. Yeah, prediction time is obviously my favorite time of the year. It's just another way to disappoint myself. Don't worry, mate. Teammate Wars is already out of the way.

We can get this one out of the way, and you're absolutely in the clear, apart from the fact that we will start with bold predictions midweek, but never mind, eh? Yeah. Yeah, I know, right? It feels mad.

We are just, we're less than one week away from Bahrain GP. We've just had testing over the last week. So we feel like we're now in a more informed position, which makes it even worse that we're going to get all of these wrong. We're going to start with Constructors predictions today. So we'll take you through what we think is going to be the top five in this first half. We'll take a short break and then we'll run through the bottom half of the grid. So Sam, you can kick us off which team is going to be Constructors Champion in 2024?

Well, I'm going to really build up the hype here and keep you all on tender hooks because you know that number one is definitely going to be this Red Bull, isn't it? Yeah, I mean, come on. Boring. Yeah, it is boring. It is boring. But I try not to buy into the hype that is testing. You try not to kind of accept that that's going to be the way forward, but it was ominous signs.

The way that they seem to run, you know, the classic low engine modes. They've come out laughing at the fact they've stolen Mercedes design and made it work in multiple aspects. Max Verstappen came out and said, oh, the car is even more responsive to the way I like to drive it now. Horrible news for everyone that wants a competitive season. So, yeah, well done to Red Bull on the season championship. Your winners already, but they are number one for me.

I just can't see this going any other way than Red Bull's dominance again. I hope the field is closer come the end of the season. But I just think they've got what it takes. I think they've got a big head start from last year. And that team is formidable. You hope it will be closer. Do you think it will be? I think we might see some teams catching up come towards the end of the year.

There's a little part of me. Obviously, now there's rumours that Rebel are going to be bringing a large aerobdate package to Japan. And whilst, you know, Red Bull aren't famed for making huge mistakes, it took them a while to catch up with Mercedes. Things can go wrong. This development can not go maybe in the direction that they were expecting. And I think that maybe it might be a setback part of the way through the season

and that might allow teams to catch up a bit of time and we might see some changing up in results. So because I'm an optimistic man and I'd like to think we're going to have a good time, I'm going to say it will be closer and it won't all go to plan for them, but they will still be the champions. I'm sucking on that copium right now, you know, really strapping. a mask to my face and make sure that I'm sucking it all in because I'm trying to have a good time. We're trying to have a good time. You do you, mate. Also, I can't wrap my head around the

calendar yet because when you say they're going to bring an upgrade to Japan, I'm like, why are they waiting until September to bring an upgrade before realizing, nah, much earlier this year? That's right score, isn't it? Yeah, I know. Yeah, it's a bit sooner than I initially before. Do you agree with Sam, Harry? Do you think Red Bull will be the constructors champion? Yes, I was going to try and build that up as well, but it's like ripping a band-aid off. Let's get us out of the way. Yeah, they look pretty ominous in testing so far. I'm with Sam.

I think it will be closer than last year in general, but they look like they've got, still got the edge over everyone else. Again, there are some, it's testing, isn't it? Some people saying they are 15 seconds a lap quicker than everyone else. and then there are some people saying they're three-tenths. So it's somewhere in the middle of that, I reckon. Or I hope to believe it is only like three-tenths a lap, and that everyone else is a bit close to the front. So I know they obviously won a lot last year,

but there were still moments where it didn't go their way. I'd like to think this year, there'll be more of those moments because things will be closer. But yes, I still think they're going to win. Yeah, Red Bull probably going to win the championship, aren't they? Three for three. I am actually going to start this by making an apology.

And I need to apologize to someone. And that someone is Mr. Sam Sage. And the reason I'm apologising is because on our teammate wars edition, I lambasted Sam for giving his Ferrari pick of Shao LeCler based on a smile. And here I am about to make the point of GP's laugh is terrifying. That man knows they've got a quick car. If you haven't seen on the first day of testing, Bostaplan laid down a pretty unbelievable marker.

and it just pans back to the Red Bull garage. And GP, of course, Vastappen's engineer looked very happy with what he just saw. And I think it's slightly worrying that Red Bull kind of peaked on the first day and just didn't improve from there, which almost shows that they got what they needed to do on day one and were quite happy to just stick around that for the rest of the time. I think, you know, Vestappen is good at the F1, as we quite often say. And in the nicest way possible, I don't think Sergio Perez can be worse. I think it's actually a mild compliment in that Perez, I think, is a good driver.

And we didn't see a good driver last year. So in theory, if that's the worst we've got of Perez, then it can only be the same or better than last year from the driver lineup. And look, I agree with you both. I think there is a chance that it might be a bit closer this year. the thing that gives me a bit of optimism is the fact that we're in a time where there are a number of potential number one contenders, right? We've got McLaren, Aster Martin, Mercedes, Ferrari, all who could feasibly step up to be that next challenger. And I think it's a slightly different situation to what we had a few years ago.

Let's take like 2017, 2018 as an example. Mercedes were dominant. We were kind of looking at Ferrari as like Ferrari have to step up because if they don't, no one else will. Whereas I think you've got four sort of periphery teams here and just saying if one of them can step up, we've got something here. I'm not saying it will happen,

but it's just odds-wise still at very quick. So I've got them first. Second place, Sam. Well, whilst you're making your point there, Ben, I snuck out and I went to the rumour shop and I decided to buy one rumour. And that is the rumor that I believe that Mercedes was sandbagging hugely during testing.

and they've got some clever ideas up their sleeve. The development on the front wing aerodynamic package that is allowing the plates to be held by the wire, which is deemed legal, but hilariously is being investigated for being against the spirit of the regulations, which is the most ridiculous conversation I think I've ever heard. Either something is right or wrong.

It's not, oh, we don't like the idea. But it looks like a very good innovation, and I like that from the sagas. And the other one is the aerode change that they're making, where they can adjust the entire chassis up or down from two hook points based on the track that they're going to. So it allows them to alter the ride height entirely legally

whilst keeping everything fixed in one place. I also think that the way that the team had been interviewed after practice, I haven't seen them that smiley for a little while. Even Lewis Hamilton's kind of said that the car is much, much better. So I do think that whilst their qualifying pace may not be up to the scratch of Ferraris and McClure, I still think, is the fastest man over one lap at the moment. I do think their long-form race pace is going to see them through and I think that they will be the ones that give the biggest challenge

to Red Bull over a full race weekend. So for me, Mercedes will be second, but I do think that this fight is going to probably be the closest, maybe across the entire championship. Harry, who's running up for you? I'm just checking, do I have a mug written across my forehead? Can you confirm or deny? Depending on what you're about to say,

which I think I probably do know what you're about to say. yes. Right. I'm believing in those Italian people in red. I'm putting them P2. So yes, I probably do have a mug written across my forehead. Yeah, look, Ferrari, I'm with Sam. I think Ferrari Mercedes battle this year is going to be very interesting and close.

But I just think maybe this is the year, not this is the year, but maybe Ferrari starts to turn this around. This is Freddie Vass's year two. He doesn't have 100. day plan, race plan or whatever. He's in there for the long haul, we hope. So I just think maybe this is the year they start to turn things around a bit.

And obviously we're speaking about how good Leclair and signs are. And from what we've seen testing, their race pace looks like good. So I'm going to believe in them and put them second. But like I say, like Zam said, I think Mercedes-Fri battle is going to be juicy this year. I was in the same. decision of Ferrari versus Mercedes here. And I've ended up going for Mercedes as well as you, Sam.

Reason being, I think they've just got something to build on this year, which they haven't done in previous years. I think you're right in that both drivers did seem quietly content after the test, which is probably better than what they've been the last couple of years. Obviously, the lineup itself is a great lineup. And early doors, I'm not sure exactly where Mercedes will be. I think Ferrari will be quicker out the gates, and I think Ferrari might well, I think Ferrari might well be in second more this year than Mercedes than Mercedes will be, but I just have a bit more faith in the development of Mercedes in the second half of this season, and I think they'll eventually come good.

The car seems less erratic. It seems more comfortable for the drivers, better handling. And as a result, I think they're going to be slightly more consistent across the season than what we've seen over the last couple of years. I also think it will be close. And like I say, I think Ferrari might well have. the edge in the first part of this season, but I'm going to back Mercedes to bring it back later in the year, which probably means that third place is going to be a giveaway for a couple of us

already. But Sam, what have you got in third? Yeah, I mean, I'm not going to make you all sit there and wait. Ferrari is the answer. I think Ferrari are entering there, we can't be bothered to be bad anymore phase. And with the hiring of Freddie Vass, the fact that they seem to be sorting out their engineering structure and their strategy team, and it's not just, across Formula One. If you look across the Hypercar class, of course, in World Endurance Championship, they won the full series and they won LeMong

with that new Ferrari Hypercar, which of course is a fantastic change for them. I just think that as an organisation, they're stepping back up into winning mode. And it's about time, Ferrari, because you have had about a sabbatical as long as Mika Hakenen at this point of, are you going to bother to pull your finger out?

And they are. So I do think, like you said, Ben, this is going to be a very close battle. I think you're right to say that Ferrari's car outright might be the quicker car to begin with, but I do think that the development cycle of Mercedes, I think you don't become a seven-time constructors winning championship eight times, sorry,

in a row without being going to have to develop a car across a whole season and manage that. And I know they can develop it. I know they can deliver it. So that's why I think they're just going to exceed Mercedes, I'm going to fall behind Mercedes and Mercedes will succeed Ferrari. I think it's going to be all dependent on how much Carlos Sites wants to step into the mold

despite having only one season left at Ferrari, will he go down, you know, like an absolute hero and take everything with him and do whatever he can to the end of the season as a massive advert to show who he can be? Or will he be in a slump? Will we see Carlos Sikes, like for his first season at Renaud, for example, where it was not the most brilliant driving

we saw from him, didn't really fit the mould there that they had? That's where I think the Gassider could be if the teams are very close together. Because we know Russell's going to be there. We know Lecler will be there. Hamilton is always driven. I think regardless of championship or not or who he's going to move to or not, he will go outright and do what he can.

I think science might be the deciding factor. I do think that it might be close enough that if one of those four drivers is not as on it as the other three, that might well be the deciding factor. I personally don't think there's more of a chance of it being signs versus Russell, I'd say. There's probably, from my perspective, an equal chance that it could be either of those two. What I think will happen is that all four of them will be on. it, it'll cancel itself out and it'll just be a question of which, which team can develop the best.

I've got Ferrari and third. Points already made. I mean, it looks to be a better car this year than last year, more, more steady. They had one clear weakness, which was tire wear and race pace. Bahrain tested looked pretty good in that regard. So if you can focus on your one weakness and seemingly make developments there, you're probably in a good spot. I wouldn't be surprised if, again, Charles LeCler takes.

10 polls and no wins because that is the lie for Charlotte Claire. But yeah, I think this is, they do seem to be going in the right direction, even if it does mean that they stay in the same place as last year as I've got them here. Harry, third place for you? Yeah, well, too long on this, but yeah, I've gone for Mercedes. I think they'll, as I've already said, I think it'll be a tight battle. And they've, you've mentioned Sam, they've got some innovations on that car, which are interesting.

I don't know whether they're going to pay dividends straight away, but I think they could in the long term. So the Mercedes looks different to how it's looked the past couple of years compared to other cars who, you know, they've sort of followed the same track. Whereas the Mercedes this year looks different, which I think they've needed to do. So I'm going to go for third again.

I think, but like you have, you've got them the other way around. I think this is going to be a very close battle. I might just come down to race, or even qualify and pace, sorry, as to whether, as to who's going to come out on top. So gone from Mercedes, but I'm probably wrong, and it's going to be the other way around. So you two are safe, because I've said it this way around.

Thank goodness. Thanks, Harry. Cheers, cheers, mate. Appreciate that. Fourth place, Sam. Yeah, I've got Macca, as much as I love to believe what Mr. Marketing is saying. I do think that I just can't see it

running over a whole season if Ferrari and Mercedes get their act together whilst at times they were the second quickest car mistakes crepting I think Piastri is absolutely on the way up I do not think he's at the elite

status there that the Ferrari and Mercedes lineups can run and I'm not convinced about the longevity of McLaren's innovation on their car at the moment this is me kind of desperately grabbing its straws to find a reason why they'd be fourth and not second.

And I do think that at a drop of a pin, it could so easily flip the other way, and they could be second, and it could be Ferrari fourth. It could be Mercedes. It could be any way round. We saw just how close it was throughout parts of the season. But for me, I just have a bit more faith in what Ferrari Mercedes can deliver.

And I'm not saying it's going to be far away. I do think McCleon will be there the whole way along. And we may get times across this year where McClellan are the second-vasties team. I just don't know if they've got their innovation sorted in the direction of that car going. in the right direction 100%. I don't know. We've seen them have massive pitfalls recently.

So that's what's worrying me about McLaren. So therefore, but I do think it could easily switch to them being in front of the other two. Are you agreeing with that, Harry? Or going in a different direction? No, agree. I've got McLaren fourth.

I think there'll be, I think it's going to be a McLaren-Aston fight, which again, I'm probably giving way fifth player. But it's going to be, you have Red Bull, then you got Ferrari and Mercedes and they're in a little battle. McLaren and Astor Martin. I'm not saying they won't be involved with each other this year, but I think in terms of constructors, that's where it's going to end up.

So, yeah, fourth place from McLaren, I know this, where they finished last year. But it's a good consolidation, I think, of that year. So I've gone for them, gone for them P4. I think they're not going to be in Burley and Mars off, but they're not going to be quite as close to Ferrari and Mercedes as Ferrari and Mercedes are going to be to each other. So, yeah, P4, but I don't think that's a pretty respectable. They just got to do the first part of the season, right? Please.

Yep. In the immortal words of a meme, oh, baby a triple. Baby a triple. McClara and I think will be fourth as well. Based on where they were in the middle of last year, and certainly like the autumn of last year, might be a bit disappointing if this is what they end up with this year. I think it depends on how close they are to the top three, in all honesty.

But, you know, this would represent no. position progress at least. The good news for them, and you allude to where they are at in Bahrain, it doesn't look like they will be 17th and DNF in Bahrain. It will be really funny when that now happens, but it doesn't look like that will be the case, which means they've got a head start on where they've been the last couple of years. They've got a great lineup.

And last year, you know, they took advantage of Mercedes and Ferrari not being on the ball last year. I think, you know, the reason I've got them in fourth here is I think the other two teams won't give them the same number of opportunities as they received. But yeah, as you've both said, they could very well be competing for podiums. Again, wouldn't surprise me at all. P5, Harry. Give it away, but Aster Martin.

And I think they're going to have a more consistent year than they did last year. I don't necessarily think it will be out of the blocks as it was in 2023. But that's maybe not what they need. I think they just need that consistency over one season rather than, rather than big success and then struggle to develop the car. So I think that even though it's a net result of the same in P5, I think that it will be a more consistent and encouraging year for them. So I put them P5.

And like I said, I think the battle between, it's going to be between them and McLaren for that P4 spot. But I think maybe Lando and Pestri are going to probably win over Alonzo and Stroll on that front. So I've got the P5. Yep, same for me. I've got asked them on P5. It wasn't the

2023 test, let's be honest. But yeah, I think in terms of line up, Landstrol is still a concern. I do think the team has a ceiling whilst he's there, unfortunately.

But the good news for Aston Martin is that, you know, whilst they might not be at the highs of where they were at the beginning of 20203, I also don't think they'll be at the lows

of where they were in the second half of last season. You know, there was a really bad six-ray stretch between Italy and Mexico where they had no, finish that was better than sixth place.

And in that same six-race stretch, McLaren had six podiums and a sprint win. So, you know, we could have gone into this season with that looking like the pitcher. And I don't think we are. I think we're looking at those two teams being potentially pretty similar, which is a small win, I think,

versus where they were a few months ago. Again, it's not where they were 12 months ago, but I still think they've got a good chance to be solid. Sam, fifth place for you. I feel like I'm going to put myself in the mud here, but I'm actually going to go with Menardi in fifth place. Oh, boy.

Oh, baby. We're mixing it up. Also, I just want to give a shout out to a lovely gentleman on Twitter, Stephen. You think you're a fan of the show. He came to me and my DMs and said that he's got a solution for the name of this team and that it should be called Manabi, which I really like as a combination of Red Bull

at the end of the RBA of the Visa Cashout and, of course, Minardi. so I will now be calling them Manabi moving forward. I think they're going to be fifth. I actually think that my biggest concern with Ashton Martin is twofold in the sense of their own origination of their developmental ideas seems lacking. They're very good at picking up on the key stuff that maybe the Red Bull is doing

and then they drop behind and then they pick it back up again and then they drop behind. And when you've only got one driver that's able to really consistently pull their weight as well, that concerns me. In comparison, Manabi have a direct. correlation, a direct relationship with the most dominant car across one season that we've ever seen, they're going to be working much closer with them. If Daniel Ricardo is comfortable and is happy and is, you know, even at 90% of what he's capable of, that man is good enough to

beat most people on the grid. I'm not saying he's, you know, the top three or four drivers, but I think he's close enough to science, Russell, you know, that group very easily if he's on his A game. And I think if Sonoda carries on being as good as he was last season, then he, he is an above average driver across this season. So if the car develops and I'm buying into the Manabi hype a little bit here, I do think that they can snag a fifth place. But that is definitely me buying into the gorgeous smile of Daniel Ricardo and him telling me that fifth places are highly possible.

Hey, I'm not the first person to fall for it. A bit of the truth. A bit of variety to round out our top five. On the other side of this break, we're going to be looking at the bottom half. Okay. Welcome back. Let's have a look at sixth place. Harry, who's going to be finishing sixth? Well, they've already been mentioned now, but I've gone for Minardi or Minarbi. I give that about a week before we forget to say Minarbi.

Oh, I will forget. I'm similar to all the reasons you mentioned, Sam. The relationship, whether it's right or wrong between Red Bull, I think could be really helpful for them this year. And even though that car has a terrible name. It looks good, which is not a reason to put them in sixth, but it just does. But yeah, I just think there's a bit of confidence around that car. And to be honest, I've said this in our episode the other day, or our last episode, was it? If they finish, if they start the year, sorry, as they've sort of finished 2023, I think it's entirely plausible that they could have a decent year. they just need to do that. Don't start this year like you started last year or did most of last year

because it was terrible. So yeah, I've put them in sixth. Yeah, I've gone the same. I've gone Menardi in sixth, which would represent a very good improvement on where they were last year. Again, it depends on how much they improve points-wise

rather than just position. But I wouldn't be surprised if they are, I think they might end up in their own tier so I think they might be below the likes of McLaren and Aston Martin but comfortably clear of everyone below them. But we'll see on that one. I think their driver line-up is the biggest question mark driver line up on the grid. We just don't really know what we're going to get from them,

mostly related to Daniel Ricardo, what version of Ricardo is going to show up this season. But if they are both working at their best, then that is an okay lineup. And yeah, I think the car itself, clearly has taken a good amount of inspiration from Red Bull. It's perhaps not quite as closely linked as many thought it would be, but it's still very much, very much taken inspiration from it.

And, hey, that was a pretty good car, so you could do worse than that. Yeah, I mean, there have been rumblings across this entire winter break that maybe this team has made a significant step forward. I'm going to take the significant away from it. I still think they have made a good step forward, maybe not quite enough to get them above this point, but still, sixth place would represent an improvement. Sam, sixth place.

Yeah, keep it simple. Ashton Marsing, I think Lance Stroll unfortunately brings down the overall capacity of what that team can achieve. And like I said, whilst I think their development cycle was really strong, they made some mistakes last season. It shows me that they aren't confident in their own ideas and that they're good when they're copying others. I just think that limits you.

So, yeah, Ascom, Marskin is sixth. I do think that I think McLaren will be clear in fourth, and I think it will be Manabi and Aston fighting for fifth, actually a lot closer than the fight for fourth would be. Staying with you, Sam. Seventh place. Seventh place, I've gone for Williams. I think that the James Vow's effect with Albonneux,

and hopefully a rejuvenating and revitalised Logan Sargent, will be able to do enough to beat out the rest of the pack behind them. I think there will be a gap still between kind of that fifth, sixth battle with Ashton Martin and Menardi. And I do think that Williams will show another small step forward. I think they are in great progress. They picked up nice new sponsors, the internal workings of that team

when the culture seemed really harmonized and positive. Pat Fry knows what is talking about and James Vows is the guru of all things wonderful in life. And I subscribe to that. So because of that, I'm going to put them in the lucky number seven. And I think it will be a good progression season for them, getting them ready for that 2026 changeover, I think.

seven of place for me I am confident that only one team on this grid has gone backwards I think everyone else has stayed either the same or gone forwards but that is too much of an original idea for Alpine

boy I'm going to say it I don't know if Ocon's winning the world title this year oh no he might bring the war mode he might bring the war mode, but goodness me, that car is something. I have sympathy for them, okay?

Like, everyone's even been fired, has left. It's literally only me, the drivers, and Trent Alexander Arnold in the factory. There's no one else here. And Trent says he's got to go and play football for his local team every weekend. Like, what's he doing? Get working off a gosh, Trent. Oh, man. Just to remind everyone as well,

the Bahrain Grand Prix is race 45 of the 100 race plan. It's going according to plan for sure. In more seriousness, I think the question of Alpine is, it's a very big question, has your new design not worked, or has your new design not worked yet? Because they are two very different things.

They have a host of upgrades that they're bringing in a few races time. They need to follow the blueprint of McLaren. If they follow the blueprint of McLaren and they vastly improve from one set of upgrades, maybe they'll be okay. But if those upgrades go on the car and they don't make any difference, it is going to be a tough ride for them this year. I've got them seventh. I don't think they'll be seventh out of the gate.

I think they might be worse than that, but that's where I've got them. Harry, seventh place for you. I've gone for Williams as well. I've agreed with Sam in James Vals, we trust. I think it's going to be a tough fight for them as it was at the end of last year. But I think they're just going to cling on and I'll get to the stickers car in a minute.

But it may well be that whilst they start the year terribly, Alpine, that they may do at McLaren and catch up towards the end. But I'm going to believe in Williams and say they're going to hold on because there's progress there. bit of belief behind them. So, yeah, going to go Williams,

but it's going to be a tough, a tough fight. Because 7th place wouldn't represent an improvement in terms of position, in terms of outright performance, do you think that would be a closer, closer to the midfield, some more top six, top seven finishes, do you reckon?

I think so, yeah. Again, look, James has said this before, he's not looking for, you know, to be P5 or P4 right now. it's it's about the progress and the the long-term plan which williams haven't had for a long time so um p7 is absolutely i mean it's it's it's pretty good for them uh if they come p7 again um you're right in that i think the pace needs to be as good if not better than it was last year at least at least more consistently um but yeah i i think i think it will be and you know alborn has got another year to prove himself

which I think he will and Sergeant hopefully will step up as well and so it's not just Albon leading it but yeah I think it's going to be a good year for them I'll kick off 8th place by rounding us off on Williams

yeah I think if they if they were hoping for big strides over the winter maybe they'll be a bit disappointed because I don't think they've gone forward all that much but equally we've still got a full season to go of development and I think Williams will be hoping that that's where their improvement comes from. Similar to Ferrari, they do have one weakness with the car that they seemingly have answered at Bahrain, which is, it don't like wind. It really don't like wind.

And at Bahrain, it was seriously windy. And it seemed as if they were able to cope with those conditions. It was more stable. It should stop Alex Albin getting 20 seconds worth of time penalties for track limits every weekend. So I think they've sorted that part of the car out. And as I kind of asked you, I think weirdly, even if they were to drop back a position here, if some of those back market teams are getting closer to the midfield, this could still be an improvement of a year. But Logan Sarder is the other question mark, just how much can he contribute to that total?

If it is close versus the likes of Alpine, is it going to be enough? I'm not too sure. Eighth place for you, Sam. Yeah, Alpine now renamed Alpane, because it's going to hurt being part of that team at the moment. your car looks gnaff, your drivers are clearly looking elsewhere. Aspen Okon is, of course, speaking to his best friend Tosa Wolf about any chance to get a seat where he can.

Please, go ahead. Please. Gas is going to watch the Monardi drive past him every race and think, oh no, was it right to leave that team? It's a horror show at the moment, and I'm kind of relying on the fact they're such a manufacturing giant, and they've got the weight of Renault behind them. that in theory they can pull themselves out of this across the season and some developments will be made and they will make progress which is why I think they're going to be above the other two

that we haven't mentioned yet. But it is looking dire for Alpine. They are an absolute garbage fire truck driving around a racetrack at the moment and it smells like rubbish and it drives like rubbish and it looks like rubbish. And when all those things are rubbish, you're going to be rubbish. So yeah, I'm not full of confidence, I'm afraid. Alpine and I would love them to change my mind

and we'll have to see. Yeah, eighth place I can't see them being anywhere near the likes of Sebastian Martin McLaren now which a few seasons ago they were fighting up against you, if you remember. Good point to raise at this point as well. We'll be digging into Alpine a little bit more in our next Patreon episode

coming up. Eighth place for you Harry. Yeah, Alpine. Oh, good Lord. It doesn't look great for them at the moment and as I've already said think even if the season starts off like a McLaren season last year, I think they they can and will catch up towards the end. But I know, look, I know there's no logical

sense to this whatsoever, which is most things I say, all things I say on this podcast. But you know, when they, you know, they're like, oh, when a car looks good, it often goes, goes quickly. This is the opposite. And I know that doesn't make any sense. But if your car looks like garbage, it seems like it is garbage. There's no logic. There's no logic. but it is true. Your car looks like garbage. It's a pile of garbage. Paint your car next time.

Anyway, sorry. I know that's not got nothing to do with it, but also I'm still livid. I can't wait for the pink version for the first three races as well. Good Lord. Yeah, look, I just don't think Alpine I've been going to have

at least a very good start to the season. I think it's going to be a painful one. That thing I sent you yesterday, which was a headline from Amos, which said that it was the worst car in the grid currently, and some engineers have already left, which is, I find impossible, because there's no one there already.

The funny part about that is I've also just seen a tweet that states that LP engineers have been liking tweets saying the car is a joke, and that they are also still trying to move on as quickly as possible. So, yeah, an absolute third of a company right now. Oh, no, no. Do you think they fully painted the car and then they realized how slow they were

and then just kept taking paint off it until the point there had nothing left and they realized they were still slow. Is that another tenth? Is that another tenth? I did wonder this because obviously there are a few that have been tactical with how they've applied the paint this year.

But you look at others, Red Bull, Ferrari, the Minabi. even that is covered in paint. So obviously it's becoming less of an issue, the weight thing. Alpine, they're just doing anything they can. Just rip the paint off it, guys, because it's so bad. Pulling a pipe pat. Do we need this one?

Don't know. Going to that. That's half a second. Steering will, do we need one of them? Is that necessary? I don't know. Can end up like Fred Flintstone in this race. If you could just run around the track fast in the car.

Might be worth giving it. go, depending on how that car it looks in Bahrain. Right, there are two positions left, and as a result of who we've given out to our top eight, we know exactly who they're going to be. The question is in which order? Sam, who's ninth? This is weirdly the one that I think can prove the most torn on other than the fight for second. And I'm going to go, I can't believe I'm saying this, with Haas in ninth place, they've understood in some capacity, I believe, what tyres are doing. And I respect that they've got a new leadership team, kind of.

It's just the old leadership team promoted, so new responsibilities. Did you just say respect? You respect, Cass. I respect one decision they've made on a lifetime of misery, yes. I just, I don't know, I have more faith than the other team that we can't legally say the name of because they're just a marketing company that are trying to advertise gambling and streaming. Whereas this is actually still a racing outfit.

And I just, until Alvin came in and sort out, of course, the 10th place op-in, which is going to be sourber. I just don't think anyone's going to be taking it seriously or trying to do anything groundbreaking. So, yeah, I think it's going to be close. I wouldn't be surprised if this might be a nil-nil with the highest position deciding it,

maybe a point here or there, if Hars can put it together on a good race. I don't know. but yeah, Haas are just scraping ninth blades for me. A fight to see who's the least crap. Literally. I've literally what's going on. Good.

The fight to the bottom. Harry, who you got a knife? I've put Salba again at this point between these two teams. Who cares? Who cares? Who cares? You've, your green car looks terrible. Haas, don't know what tires are, just whatever, you guys.

You have a great year and we'll come back to you in 2025. Yeah, I've put Salba here. Just based on, I don't have any faith in Haas to do a race well. They might be really good and qualifying again. Holcombogne might have the best qualifying year ever. But I just don't have any faith in Haas to be able to do the races this year. and it's more just like I said the fight to see who's least crap

I just think Hars are going to be a bit more crap and so Salba get nine. They're so good at being crap. They're so good at being crap. Champions of crap. I for one, I'm really intrigued to see whether Holkenberg will have more points or Q3 appearances.

Probably Q3 appearances, I imagine. It was pretty close last year, I reckon. I've got Salber in ninth as well. And my, I've gone sensible on this and I've put Salver knife. I don't know why. I think they're going to be sneaky good. And I can't put my finger on why that would be. Because as you say, they are some weird marketing ploy at this point.

And I know, and I'm not taking into any factor of their quick day three last minute run that they were very much trying to do just to make sure Audi is still. on board with them. That's not playing into this at all. I have this weird feeling they might just be a bit better than what we think they're going to be. But again, could I tell you why? Nope. Could not tell you why, which is why I've put them in ninth place. Still questions about their line up. I think it's an okay lineup, but certainly nothing special at this point. It does seem to be a better car than last year, which is why I've got them clear of but not clear of anyone else.

But yeah, I'm sure people are going to laugh at me in a few months' time when they are definitely the worst or very close to the worst team on the grid. But I don't know. I'm laughing at you now for saying that it seems going to be sneaky good while still being ninth in the title race. I'm saying that my sensible brain has taken over the fact that I have this weird intuition that they might be quick.

So I've just put it to one side completely for these predictions. Okay, fair enough. Let's see if they can kick themselves up the constructors, shall we? Aye, who knows? Absolutely no suspense about 10th place, if you've been paying attention, everyone. Sam, 10th place for you is? Salbert, yes, it's the lean green slow machine.

I just think that Joe is a lovely person. He dresses like an absolute legend. I'd love to have his dress sinks. I do not. I'm still looking like a dad walking around Ohio. And he looks fantastic all the time. But that doesn't win. The racing is particularly good.

And Valtry Blotas, as Harry likes to say, he's, you know, that the reward has gone up by another 10,000. Missing form. Three years almost in the making at this point. Who knows? Last thing in Miami. Yeah, I've just not convinced by it anymore. And I do think that preparation will be going on with Audi to do better in years to come.

And I don't think there'll be too much care or support given to this. And I think they're going to just literally maximise the marketing potential of this brand, which is funny because usually success equals good marketing. which equals a good return. But apparently not here. I just think it's going to be a bit of a poo show, a poo shoot. A poo shoot? Sure.

Okay. No. Not asking. Not asking. Okay. Moving on. I've got Hass in 10th. Bit of a poo shoot, if you ask me.

Oh my God. I feel like we'll know with Hass. With some of these teams, like I say, with Alpine, we don't know how all those upgrades will go. With Mercedes as an example, like if they were fifth in Bahrain, I could still believe that they might be second or third by the end of the year. With Hasse, I feel like they're the one team that we will know, probably not even at the end of the first race, midway through the first race, we will know what their season is going to be like because it is entirely dependent on those tires. If they've solved that, they've got something to work with, even if it's not, you know, a midfield challenger.

Like, if they've solved the tire wear issue, they've got something they can build on. If they, if it gets to the middle of the Bahrain GP and Holcomberg is dropping two positions every lap, see you again in 2025, I guess, because you ain't going to get in from 2024. So I'm intrigued to see how it goes. The test seems positive,

but Bahrain will be the big test. Harry, you've also going to, Hassan 10th. I do have Hassan 10th. As I said, the fight to be... Spoilers. The fight to be least crap. Sorry. Yeah. Maskerfoy. But they may... They may solve... They may solve some issues. I just...

Like I said, I just don't have the faith that they will. And... That's it. I just... They don't have faith... They could be blinding. As I said, they could be blinding and qualifying again. But they just... They always struggle in the race. They always struggle to convert.

Um, do you know, I, sorry, I know we talked about drive to survive before we start recording. And I think I've watched a few episodes more than you guys. There's one episode about Haasse versus Williams. In Canada, Holkenberg started like, was it Hulkberg and Magnuson? One of them started like fifth. And I was, I completely forgot that. And again, nothing out of it. No points.

Nil, blah. No, nothing. Um, yeah, so I just, that was the same race that Magnuson crashed with DeVries, right. Yeah, yeah, yeah, real lame one. And then they have the reverse battle and then they crush each other again. Yeah, so there was that. And Alborn picked up whatever it was, P7 or something and got some valuable points for

William. So anyway, I just forgot that. And that's kind of my point. Just don't have the faith that they can, even if they qualify fifth, they can't, you know, turn that around into some points. So that's what I've got last. Ayo, Kamatsu, we trust. Great. For nice.

He's going to remember. remove the fraud tag. Have you seen they've got scarce and stripes on their car this year? Well, Lowe's Sergeant has a tiny one

on the halo. Good. Well, that is how the Constructive Championship absolutely will not go. So we'll just let you know how the driver's predictions

won't go right after this short break. Okay, here we go with drivers' predictions. So what we're going to do in the first half of these drivers' predictions is go from first down to sixth

and then in the second half that we'll do after another short break, we will do biggest surprise, biggest letdown and the Wooden Spoon Awards. So who is winning the driver's championship, Sam? I'm, let's bring a long show already,

so I'm not going to keep us all waiting. Max for Stappen's going to be a, is it, four-time champ at this point? Yes, he's going to, how many? He's so going to everything. I have to be a blur. Yeah, the man's going to win it again. I think, I don't think he'll go on to win. I don't know 23 out of 24 races this season,

but I think that he's so long as a game and that car suits him more, then we're all doomed. So yeah, Fustappen will be the WDC. Harry? Yeah, what Sam said. The Stappen.

Can't see past it. Yeah. There's nothing more so hard. That car looks, as we said, looks great. He's already said something that it suits him more than last year's car, so God help us all.

And I said, we just need to come straight on the battle from second to 20th, because first is done. Yep. Red Bull's good. Mastappen's good. Stappen,

title. Second place. I did this guy so dirty last season and the season before, actually. So I'm going to change my ways. Sergio Perez is going to be in the driver's battle. 17 Flatsy, didn't you? I actually said that he'd moved to F3 by the Japanese Grand Prix. No, yeah, I think he's going to be second again.

I think, I guess we're going to see a better version of Sergio this season. He had some good moments and he came good at the end of the season through some unfortunate moments for Hamilton, some good moments for Perez. But yeah, he's going to take second place. I don't know how close this can I be to the rest of the grade. But come on, Sergio. This is the year where I'm going to say things opposite to what I said last year and hope it goes the right way. Yeah, I've also gone for Checo. If it's closer this year, which I'm, God, hoping it is, but I actually believe it will be.

then he's going to have to iron out the crap bit of the year he had last year. I'm thinking Singapore, Suzuki, that area of 2020. Because that could cost him the difference. But I still think he'll take P2 if the rebel is that good. So, yeah, P2, I'm going for Perez. Let's not pretend there's going to be a championship battle. Let's just accept that's where he's going to be. Please.

We're all in agreement. I've got Sergio Perez and second as well. I think there are two factors here. Firstly, can Sergio Perez bounce back and by how much? And secondly, how close will the other teams be? And my answer to both of those is I think the couple of teams like Mercedes and Ferrari will be a bit closer, but that will be evened out by Perez bouncing back a bit, as I also think he'll be a little bit better this year.

Like I said, I don't think it will be as bad as last year. I could be wrong and a lot of it is going to depend on getting into Q3 like he had real struggles we're qualifying last year and if the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes are even a little bit closer

that could be even more problematic than what it was last year but I think I trust him I think it'll be better third place Sam I've gone you know kind of copying what last year's formula here but I've gone with Lewis Hamilton

I do think the Mercedes is just going to edge it out and where Hamilton is comfy the guy knows how I deliver. We're seeing it time and time again. And I do think he wants to make a bit of a success story out of the last season we'll have with Masegis, of course. So cars will be a bit better. I think he'll be a bit more comfortable.

Those two things combined, produce results. So as simple as that, Lewis Hamilton, the third place. Harry, you've got Ferrari finishing second in the constructors. Does that mean you have a Ferrari driver in third in the drivers? Get the Sharpie out and right mug across my face again. It's actually Tatsa in Italian. I looked it up. Up, great.

Oh, nice one. Nice one, mate. I've gone for Charlotte Claire in P3. Again, I think it's going to be close between him and a certain Lewis Hamilton. But I think if the Ferrari is as good as I think it's going to be this year, then I think LeClau's going to get best of the rest. Well, sort of behind Red Bull. He's going to get best of the rest.

So, and I, God, I hope there's a couple of wins for him along the way. Please, no more poll positions with no wins, Shal. I can't do it anymore. But yeah, I think it's going to get P3. I have agreed with Sam. I've got Lewis Hamilton in third. I predicted him in second last year and he finished third. So I was like, oh, well, I've learned my lesson.

Then I'll put him third this year. I don't think there's any concern about him seeing out his career with Mercedes. I think he's good enough and responsible enough. And he's got too much respect for the team that I think he's not going to phone in this year. He's going to claim absolutely. everything he can. I think he'll be on it. And last year,

I think last year was a pretty good year for him. It didn't end brilliantly well. There were a few if he performances towards the end of the year, but actually for the most part, it was pretty good from his side. So I've got Lewis Hamilton in third. Sam, fourth place.

Yeah, I think this is indicative of my constructors being a bit tight to go back and forth for us the season. So I have gone for Charles LeCler in fourth place. I think this, again, as I say in the constructors battle, it could so easily flip. You know, if the car gets it right, one race, or they go on a little bit of a run because

the track suits the build. Something happens. You get a bit lucky, maybe a safety car. I think it could be that close that I think that, yeah, Charlotte-Clau will be fourth place. I do think that all four of these drivers, which I've given away a little bit there, will be in a monumental battle throughout the whole season. Yeah, I'm just copying Sam's notes here. I've got Charlotte-Claher in fourth as well.

I think he will continue to be godlike, and it will just be a question of what Ferrari can give him. can't wait for another season where he has 12 pole positions and three podiums. Bring it on. Honestly, he'll find a way, I don't know how, he'll find a way to make his pole to win conversion negative. Now, it defies logic. That can't be done. Ferrari will find a way.

Well, when you're a guard, you can do what you want. Damn right. Well, if that was the case, LaClau would probably be a world champion, I'm afraid. But yeah, if the car's a bit better, then I look forward to him competing for, wins again. Please, Ferrari, that would be quite nice to watch. Harry, what have you got? I've already given it away, but yeah, Lewis Hamilton for me in P4. I think he's going to have another consistent strong year. Again, I'd hope, I'd hope it might be something, some success for him a long way, but we'll see how far away Red Bull are. But yeah, going to go out with a bang at Mercedes

and then jump in that red car for 2025. But yeah, it seems to be another strong year. Strong year for Hamilton. So we'll move on to fifth place, Sam. This is where I think Ben you and I might split. Don't know, but I'm going to go to colour science in fifth. I think that Hamilton will outscore Lecler more than Sites will outscore Russell, who will then allow Mercedes to finish in second place overall in the constructors. I think science is going to put himself in the shop window.

I think he wants to be a billboard for his own abilities. everyone knows how good he is and it's his last time with the Tofosi. I think he'll want to be as successful as possible. So for me, I think science has got the motivation behind him. George, coming off of a bad season, I'm hoping he kicks himself up the bum a little bit and we actually see some real progress. But I don't know.

George might be just a very good driver. There's a lot to see here. So for me, I think science is just going to edge out. Yeah, it is where we differ. I've got George Russell here. I think it will, I wouldn't be surprised that this comes down to a very similar situation to last year where there are about four drivers separated by 10 points. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same situation again.

I think he'll mostly recover from last season. I actually think the difference between Hamilton and Russell hasn't been reflected in either the year they've been teammates in that the first year looked bad on Hamilton when it wasn't that bad. And I think last year looked bad on Russell when it wasn't quite as bad as what it looked. Maybe this is the year that they finally are very close to one another, which I think is actually pretty accurate to their current ability. he's, I think Russell needs a good performance first three races of the year.

Like he needs one good performance from the first three races just to get him started because if he starts off poorly, he might find himself in a similar rut to last year. But I've got him fifth. Fifth for you, Harry. Yeah, I agree with you, Ben. I'll give George Ross. I think a return, more of a return to form for 2020, 2024 versus last year. I think it needs to be.

So I've put I've put him there I think again I think these for the Ferrari and Mercedes drivers are going to be close I also I know it's mentioned earlier I have some worry about

Carlos Sines his head dropping slightly after the Hamilton news but you know that remains to be seen but I think if there if Russell's having the year he should be having then he beat signs and then we'll round out with sixth place I've got Carlos Sines here

I think you're right is a showcase year for him and ultimately he's going to be looking at two seats that he will in theory be battling against in that Red Bull might have a seat option depending on what Perez does and Mercedes we know definitely does have an option there so he's going to be quite possibly directly battling the two teams that he'll want to get into the seat of so that's enough incentive for him to give it absolutely everything that he's got you know for the Mercedes seat if that's an option for him. He's potentially got an advantage there if Ocon and Albin are fighting it out over 13th every week. He's going to be directly in that battle, which could play into his favor.

It's all about the consistency with Carlos signs. Can he just emulate a bit more of that purple patch form that he gets? He couldn't quite do it last year. We'll see if he could do it this year. Sixth place for you, Sam. Yeah, I've actually just gone the other way to you guys. We're flopping around there. Maria and I've gone with Georgie Russ. I do think it'll be a step forward. I do think you'll have a good year. I just think the experience of Science DeCler and Hamilton is just going to shine a little bit. That's all it's

going to be. And I really do think it's going to be a very, very small gap between Russell and Science as kind of the second string of those teams. And I say that quite harshly, really. They don't deserve that kind of title, but that's where we are. Yeah, I think Georgie Russell will be kind of rounding out that top six fight.

And sixth for you, Harry. I'm going to mix it up because I am head of the fan club. Fernando Alonzo. It's going to be P6. I've already mentioned my doubts about Carlson. Carlos Sines. And again, I think he's going to be, it'll be in that mix, definitely 100%,

but just Fernando Alonzo doing Fernando things. I'm going to put him in P6. I'm probably very, very wrong. But, you know, the heart wants what it wants. And that's Fernando. Can I ask a question, Harry? No. Oh, okay, I mind.

Go on. Go on. And that's our time for a break then. You obviously put Ferrari in second, but Sites is even in your top six. Is LeCler absolutely bossing it in third? He's smashing it. I'm not saying Sonses having a terrible year. Alonso, just being Alonzo.

I think they're going to be. And obviously, if Alonzo is a sixth and strollers further back, that's why their position and the constructors is where it is. But yeah, LeCleur, I think, if that car can do a race, LeClaire is going to have a good year, I think,

because we know how good years in qualifying. If it can do an actual race, then it could be a decent year for him. Fair. You know what? Can't wait for Lando Norris to be second. Not even mentioned him. Sorry, Lando. We got a lot. At the first time, we've never mentioned him in the top six, since he's kind of being at this part of his career. I'm not too sure, to be honest. But he's washed. So sorry, Lando. Oh, this is clean. Wash Norris. He'd to break the news. Again, can't wait for him to be.

winning races and finishing second because we're going to look really, really smart. Right, we're going to take our final break. On the other side, we're going to be giving out our biggest surprise, biggest letdown, and who's going to be last in the championship? Okay, let's round out these drivers' predictions then. Sam, who's going to be the biggest surprise? I'm going to get to go first because I do think that there's kind of only a few people, unless you're really quite clever with how you're phrasing this on who could really

surprise you. But I'm going with Piastri as my biggest surprise. I think he will jump up to really be much closer to Landon Norris this season. I think a lot of people quite fairly stated that there was a big gap between the two, despite him winging that sprint race and getting the car updates. A couple of races afterlander, Norris regularly got car updates. I think those are all very fair and reasonable arguments. But I do think his overall race pace is just going to see a really big step in the right direction this season.

More so than I think a lot of people are expecting. So Piastri, biggest surprise of the season. I think you won't be neck and neck with Norris all the time, but a lot of the time, he'll be on par. Biggest surprise for you, Harry. I've gone for his fellow countryman, Daniel Ricardo, which I guess maybe is an odd thing to say, given his success in F1,

but it's not been evident for a long time. And I think maybe generally people have not written him off, but don't necessarily expect as much as they used to from Ricardo. And I think he's going to, if that card's good this year, I think it's going to prove him wrong. So I've gone for Danny Rick. I almost went for Daniel Ricardo as well. In the end, though, I've gone for,

I've gone for Mullet, man. I think bossy's Valtry Bottas, you rightly say earlier in this podcast, where is Bottas's form last found Miami 2020? I feel like there will be a couple of occasions this year where he'll just remind people, I'm still a good driver. Don't you forget about me. I regularly outqualified Lewis Hamilton. I'm still all right.

I feel like it will be closer to his 2022 season than his 2023 season. And I think people might just. remember, he's all right, isn't he? He's a pretty good driver. That's the positive out of the way. Biggest letdown, Sam. Sorry, Ben, for this one, but I'm going in the war mode.

I think Escobano Kong is going to have a bit of a moment this year. I think the poor culture at Alpine, I think his weird conflicting interest with Mercedes where he's not stating it properly, but he's kind of one foot in the door, one foot out. And a lot of these aren't really up to him. He's got every right to kind of want to progress his

and the current place that he's in isn't good. And I don't think the cars can be great, which we've seen Ockon before in previous seasons where cars are being a bit fluctuating on their ability and how stable they are. It gets a bit reckless. He gets a little bit scary behind the wheel when he goes wheel to wheel with people.

So I just think that this might be a bit of a tough year for Esstabana Ocon. I know you listen to this podcast, Esteban Ocon, which is good. Make sure you remember that. That's your incentive. That's your motivation for the year, Esteban O'Con.

Estaband, can you just let Pierre Gasoling know that if you wants to hang out, I'm here. Esteban, Wachon, full of dubs. That was terrible. Sounds like his biggest letdown for you, Harry. Oh, my God, that's terrible. Weirdly, I've gone for the same. And even though I've got him ahead and teammate was, I've put Ockon as my biggest letdown for the year. I don't even...

Make it make sense. I don't even think it's his fault. But what Sam says, I think it could be a frustrating year. And maybe, maybe this is, this is going to be a bad year for O'Con. He's still going to be Gazzley.

But that means Gazzle is even further back. But I just don't think, I think, yeah, some frustrations all creeping for Ocon, if that Alpine is terrible. Are you hedging your bets in the, you've finally worked out. You can't get predictions right. So if you just predict against yourself,

you have to be right on one of them. Yeah. I am that called an ambulance, but not for me, meme. It's the fireman on each side. To myself. I respect that.

Yeah. My biggest letdown is an Esteban-Ock-on because I don't think you can win a world championship and be a letdown. I'm going to go with, I've gone with Oscar Piastri. I don't think he's quite ready yet to compete with Orlando Norris. I think he will be a similar number of points.

Well, it depends how good McLaren is, but I think he'll be a similar level away from Norris this year. I still do think he is a good driver. I mean, he's a great driver. And I think he's got the potential to be even better. I just think he might make the strides next year rather than this year. Fine. And finally.

last place. Now, given we've got Hass and Salba in 10th place in the, in the Constructors' Championship, I imagine it's going to be one of those four drivers, but who have you got some? Yeah, I feel like I'm harking back to a couple of years ago when he first arrived in the sport, but Joe Guangyu is going to get last place for me, and I feel bad saying it, but I do think Bodies will find a little bit of that form. He has just got the ability to be on the next level, not that he displays it a lot of the

time, but he does have the ability to step up when it's required. Polkaberg, he's still going to. He can qualify as well as anyone, and on the right occasion, he can score points. And we've seen Magnuson do well historically, whereas I don't think Joe's ever excelled past just mediocre. So when a car that's going to be really tough, I just think it's going to be a bad year,

unfortunately for that whole outfit. And I think Bottas has got the legs on him. So, yeah, Joe going to be last in the driver's championship. Good news, Joe. Last time all three of us predicted you'd be last. You weren't. So it bodes well for you. your season, sir. Harry, last place for you.

I've obviously went for Hass. So I've gone for Kevin Maggson. Again, this may not even be his fault. It might be a fight between the two of him and Halkenberg, the two of them to be not last. But just based on the evidence last year, I've gone for, I've gone for him because even if the car could qualify well, he apparently couldn't do that, even that. So yeah, I've gone for K-Mag. I think it'll be held the better year. But I think that's... that but just is where the car is. So sorry, KMAG.

I think Kevin Magnerson is solid if you give him a solid car. The problem is for that equation to work, you need to give him a solid car, which probably won't do. So I've also got Kevin Magnuson last. I wouldn't be surprised if it is a battle between the two hash drivers. And equally,

I wouldn't be surprised if, you know, if the salvers were involved in that. Maybe if Logan Sargent, depending on where that Williams is, if Williams don't move forward all that much, then Logan Sargent might be in that fight again. But I've just, you know, I've bought it back to basics. Hasse of rubbish, therefore their drivers are going to struggle with a rubbish car.

Therefore, I've got Kevin Magnuson. Your reasonings are all annoyingly sound for that point. That's not what we do here on the show. Yes, sorry. Pierre Gazley will be last because I've got a vendetta against people who aren't Ockon. There we go. We got there. There we are.

I'm glad we got there in the end. Okay. Well, there we go. We've sorted it. Do we need to run the season, or should we just call those the results? Yeah, right? I mean, yeah, let's get a petition going around.

Wednesday, though. I can't believe I'm saying this. We're previewing a Grand Prix. We're back, baby! We're about to go yom all over again. Because this is exactly the same as Christmas. Would you mind getting us out of this, Sam? And then once you do that, it will come quicker.

Oh, yeah. Okay, sure. That makes sense. Folks, thanks for listening. Patreon is available and you get so many benefits for so little money, but that little money really goes a long way to support big time for us. We're very close to going big and beyond, as I'm sure Buzz Lightyear once said. Please support it.

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We love you dearly. Let's know your championship predictions and we'll see you for the race preview. First one, 224. Love you. I've been Samuel Sage, by. I've been Ben Hock. Love you.

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