The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Are Red Bull back in the game?!

Episode Date: September 24, 2025

Following back-to-back Verstappen wins, the LB boys consider whether Red Bull is truly back in the mix. Plus, reactions to the 2026 sprint calendar, Baku’s contract extension, and how F1 plans to handle performance differences under the new regulations. They wrap up with a game of Back and Forth... >>> Don't miss out - limited tickets left for our 2025 LIVE SHOW in Austin TX! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to grab yours or for more info!

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. Welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking. It's a Wednesday. Sadly, there's no race this weekend, but it doesn't mean we're not here for some F1 chat, Sam. Thank you of F1 chat. Some good news.

I meant more like I said like to talk about. Not good news. Big day for us. Podcast Day. Yay! That is good news, actually. Oh, no, the Father Christmas of birthdays is not here right now. Yeah, great stuff.

Plenty things to go through. Lots of chit chat. So good topics to discuss. And Harry Eag's here. So it's a bleming great day. Hello, everyone. Pleased to be here on this non-F-1 Wednesday to talk more F-1. Ben, what are we talking about F-1-related?

Well, thank you. Thank you for asking, mate. I really appreciate that. Welcome. You are welcome. Coming up on today's schedule, we've got a game of back and forth. We know the people love that. We've got talk of the new Baku deal. So we've just had a race in Azerbaijan, but we'll be continuing to race there until 2030. The sprint calendar has been revealed for 2026. Our thoughts on that a little bit later on.

But we forward to start this episode with Red Bull, who are coming off two straight wins for for Vastappen and indeed the team, and it's the first time since Spain and Canada of last year that they've been able to do that. It means Vestappen is now 44 points behind Lando Norris and 69 points behind Oscar Piastri. But in the constructors, even if you don't think the driver's championship is a battle yet, in the constructors, Red Bull, whilst they are still P4, they are now just 14 points behind Ferrari and 18 behind Mercedes. So it seems like that battle for P2 has re-emerged. Now, Sam, it's not long ago

that Vastappen was finishing ninth in Hungary, and now he's back-to-back pretty dominant wins. Do they have reason, they being Red Bull, do they have reason to be optimistic

going into the future? It's tricky, isn't it? Because if we were not having a regulation revolution going into 2026, a whole new set of regs, then you'd argue, okay, this is positive.

We've come out at the summer break, two wings, our strengths and we can build on the weaknesses. We understand that those high downforce tracks don't seem to be suiting the car, this heavy braking, heavy traction, top speed section seems to be working well for the car, even if we have to be a little bit experimental, as we've seen with Max Verstappen, very much so to play at Silverstone. But because we're going into new regs, it kind of doesn't mean anything.

I'm hoping that they are trialling some things that maybe will have a direct impact on the 2026 car and they'll know this isn't working, this is working. And I think a benefit here is that Yuki Sanoa had his best Grand Prix in Baku. So if they do keep Yuki on, which is skeptical, we're yet to see if that's going to happen or not, then that might allow them to find out what works for this second seat, which is being such a area of difficulty for that team for such a long time. Now, just because they've had these two wings, I don't think they're now going to go into the remaining, what is it, seven Grand Prix that we've got left with absolute confidence.

I don't think they can sit here and think we're going to challenge every single race. Singapore absolutely throws the rulebook out the window and we don't know who's going to be where on form and how they're going to be driving. So I can't sit here and say that, oh, because they did well at one street circuit in Baku, they're going to be great at a street circuit again in Singapore because it's not like the tarmac is the same

or the weather is similar. There's almost no correlating factors between the two other than the fact they're called Grand Prix. So unfortunately, I think for Red Bull, they've kind of smashed out a big wing at two very, very similar circuits. the rest of the season doesn't hold too many similarities in that sense for them. We're kind of done with the really big power track.

So we're moving on to a lot more of a downforce focused end of the season. So great for them, but I think realistically they need to focus on that new season and make sure they're cracking down whatever. It's just gone wrong for them so far this year. An insight into how my brain works. But as soon as you were talking about circuits where maybe Red Bull won't necessarily struggle, but aren't as similar as the two that we've gone to. I immediately think of Vegas,

and I just feel like Red Bull versus Mercedes at Vegas is going to be like that the Rock versus John Cena Giff, like the two heavy weights of the world going up against each other, but who are only good there for whatever reason. Max versus George is what you mean? Yes. And we're all here for it. Can't wait for that battle.

Harry, what do you think on this one? Do Red Bull have reason to be optimistic going forward based on that recent run? form they've had. I think they do have some reason to be optimistic. I agree with the fact that both these most recent wins have come at tracks where high speed is very important. But there are wins this year at Imola and Japan are very different circuits to those. So that in itself is a good sign because they are four very different circuits in that regard. I think Singapore is going be super interesting. If the Red Bull and or Vastappan

are competitive there and constrain a good result then watch out the lolliers because that is the polar opposite and I think covering all the bases of different tracks then where the Red Bull looks good. So yeah, I think they do have reason to be optimistic, cautiously optimistic probably

is the right way to describe it. And whether because they're not, no team is going to be developing their cars anymore or maybe Ferrari but that's just stupid. Good job. I don't mean that. Ferrari fans,

they're not actually doing that. I'm 99% of Ferrari aren't doing that. 1% of me, maybe. But yeah, no teams are really going to be developing the cast for the rest of the season. As you said, Sam, we've got a big, the regulation revolution, as you so eloquently put it, as we go into next year. But I think Red Bull are perhaps understanding the package been more.

and I've read a few reports, I think it was from the race, where instead of just blindly relying on simulated data, they're just listening to Max Verstappen, which feels like they should have been doing that a while ago, if I'm honest. It feels like a strat, you know? Only now. Only now you decide this. Interesting one.

But for example, in Baku, he had the car set up very downforce heavy on the front, very pointy on the nose, which is how Verstappen likes to drive a car. I seem to have worked for him so if that is the key to the pace and not just the fact that it's track dependent and that's why I say I think we need to be really why Singapore is going to be a key race for them

because if it is just they found a sweet spot now with the setup and Bostappan's driving style and this car I'll repeat what I said watch out the lot of years so yeah cautiously optimistic I think going into into the remainder of the season.

I think I saw a quote from Helmer Marcus saying if we're quick in Singapore, then it is championship back on, which I don't think is, it's not the least, it's not the most outrageous thing he's ever said. I mean, that's not difficult, but I grant you that.

Just thinking about the whole listening to Vastappan technique, it didn't make any sense to me, but it immediately now does because they've been listening to Sonoda all season, because remember that was the thing that they sold us on was the reason Sonoda's in that car is because of his feedback. Feedback God's Yuki Sonoda.

So now they're not listening to Yuki Sonoda. They're actually going to start listening to Max Verstaffa. It's not a bad strategy. I was thinking about this. It's really weird to think about it. But when was the last time we could point to a Red Bull upturn in performance? Because for so long they've either been in decline, which I would say since middle of last year has been the case.

or dominance, which you would consider like all of 2023, beginning of 24, most of 2022. I think the last time we could actually talk about an upturn in performance for Red Bull. Might have to go back to like 2022, early 22, when Ferrari looked quite strong early in the season, and then Red Bull sort of picked it up after a few difficult races to start the year. It's just not a condition that Red Bull have been very used to, like even when they've been performing well. So I just thought it was quite unusual to begin with. Last two races, interestingly enough, like Monza and Baku, they were a real struggle for Vastappan and Red Bull in 2024.

So if you go back to Monza of last year, Vestappen finished P6, Baku, he finished P5, which came after two cars in front of him retired very late on. So it was set to be even worse than that. And of course, the turnaround is that he's first here in Baku last. time out and first in Monza. And it seems like Ferrari and McLaren maybe this time last year, specialized in this sort of circuit. And Red Bull has absolutely turned that around in 2025.

Again, go back to like, I don't know, 2018 F1. And imagine us talking about Red Bull being great on these power tracks and really struggling on the tracks that they used to be the best at, with no exception. I think maybe what's most encouraging for Red Bull right now is how they've won the the last two races, not that they've just done it. So, 104 laps across the last two races. Stappan has led 94 of them. Ferrari have led 50 all year. I think the worst part about this whole conversation so far is when you said about them being out close to Ferrari and Mercedes, and you realize that the second seat has barely scored

a point all season. It's Max Verstappen has caught up to Ferrari and Mercedes. That is raffling. But yeah, just a dominance from him in both races. His poll margin last time out of Baku, I went and had a look at this. It's his best, it's his biggest poll margin since Japan of 2023. So you have to go back quite a long way because he was, what, four and a half temp's clear of Carlos signs on that lap, very impressive pole margin. And the two win margins he's had, both of them in double figure, so 19 seconds in Monza and about 14 and a half last time out in Baku.

He had nine wins last year. If you were to put these two wins with last year's lot, they would be. be third and fourth in terms of win margin. So not only is he, is he, you know, won quite comfortably here, he had quite a few races last year where he was winning by a couple of seconds over Lando Norris in the middle of the season. He's walked these two. So I think there is reason to be optimistic. As you say, Harry, if Singapore is the test. Like, if they turn up at Singapore, and I appreciate sometimes it's a bit weird in terms of not following a form book, but it's not very similar to Baku, it's not very similar to Monza. If you,

If they are quick there, that's going to get interesting. Bortoletta might be right. Ben might be right from preseason. That's what I'm... Oh, no, I did think about this. I was like, apart of me really wants this to be championship back on. I was like, the real risk of Ben sneaking is correct prediction of a staff and championship. I don't want it.

I mean, we could be more wrong, so I need him to also be wrong. Who knows, lads, the Clare or Hamilton could still win this thing. I saw a graph today, Hamilton actually can't win this thing. Oh, right. Sorry, he can't win this thing. No, no. He's now officially out of it. Damn.

Hit the post there, mate. Yeah, of my own goal. Bicycle kick into your own face, sort of a prediction there. Waboo! Sam, outside of the last two tracks, essentially being very similar to one another, is there anything else you can explain how you can. explain this form, would you look at Lauren Meckys and what he's been able to do since he's got there? I wouldn't attribute the form to Lauren Meckes, but I think it could be very easy to say.

He's not really been there that long. You know, there's only so much success you can attribute to one person in Formula One. And we said this with the likes of Fred the Sir, for example, when they joined Farrow, that it takes a good six months to really a year to fully embed yourself into the culture and the work into the team and implement your viewpoint, Alping. That's why you stop giving team principles only three months. minutes to make their impact. Lauren Mecky, so on the other

hands, I want to give him praise here because a team like Red Bull could have capitulated it on itself. It could have just collapsed. It's such a big cultural phenomenon. It's such a powerhouse of Formula One. And when the dominant force in Christian Horner goes, and he was, whether you like him or not, the figurehead of that entire

company within racing, and that leaves after the, you know, been there since the birth of the team, it could easily just all go so wrong. And you see it so often where I'm going to use football as an analogy here, you get like a manager bounce and you get like a couple of games where it goes well. And then it quickly goes to even worse than what it was. This hasn't happened at Red Bull. And I do think that is a very big compliment to Lauren McKees where you can say to him,

okay, yeah, I can't give you those two wings. But actually, because you've done such a good job at stabilizing the team and keeping things in a really strong running order and you've kept people happy, and it clearly hasn't gone up in flames. Those wings are possible because the people who are there who are trying to do their job well, feel they can excel. They can go on and do their job well. The staff and still feels comfortable enough to feedback.

And maybe that feedback loop is part of what Lauren Meckis is implementing. It might be down to him. So whilst I can't say this is all him, he's definitely steady of the ship and allowed that to happen in the meantime. So I think he's like a really positive impact. Whether that does have a good long-term structure for Red Bull, we're yet to see. But yeah, I think he's got the ground running here. Harry is Sam alludes too, not a very easy job for Lauren Mecky's coming into this job. See, he's replacing someone who was there for 20 years and was in control of so much within the team, not just on the racetrack.

How well do you think he's adapted and can you attribute any or a lot of the success to what he's been able to do? Yeah, I think he has adapted well. I mean, it's still fairly early doors in his team. tenure as team principal there. But like you said, Sam, I think it's a most important job for him, at least in this early stage, was to study the ship at Red Bull, which has, they've been trying to basically put out fires for a year or so now. I think it's not on fire anymore, at least for the time being.

So I think in that sense, he's done a good job. Mechies himself is very keen not to attribute any of the success, recent success to himself. And I think, you know, quite fairly if he'd come in and been like, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's all me. That's the kind of thing Flavio Britoi would say. So the mechies isn't that kind of person. But I think there has to be some element of his input here. Whether the, you know, what I said earlier about them listening to Vastap and now is down to him or not, you know, it's hard to know. But the results don't lie.

it's highly probable that if the car and the situation with Vestappan in terms of how they were setting the car up if that was, if Christian Horner was still in charge, I'd suggest they probably still would have won those two races. Let's not forget they won two races this year under Christian Horner. So it's not like they were failing that badly. But yeah, I think, I think Mechis can take some credit out of this even if he didn't

necessarily lay the groundwork for the actual wins that we got I think just like you said just calming things down somewhat and making sure that everything still runs smoothly I mean we saw their pit stops were still flawless at Red Bull

as they always tend to be so operationally they seem to be working well and I think mechers can at least take some credit for that and pit stops were working well at Baku under pressure as well like they needed to get

that Sonoda stop spot on and they did. Yeah, I wanted to shine a light on two things, the first of which was the impact that Meckies has had, because I think you're both right in that if we're talking about overall car performance, you can't attribute too much to him yet. It is very early doors, but he absolutely does deserve a lot of credit for steadying that ship. Sam, I think you're absolutely correct. This could have imploded very quickly. And the fact that it, it's now seems. Red Bull became a very noisy team, a lot of noise, even when they were dominating early part of last year and in 2023.

We don't hear much from them now. Like even Helmut Marco and Yoss Verstappen's comments seems to have somewhat died down versus what we had when Christian Horner was in charge. So that's good overall. And if you look at some of the key members of Red Bull, they have been heaping praise on what he's been able to do. Helmut Marco, you know, has alluded to a new approach to how we go racing under Lauren Meckes, which with Helmut Marco, you have to question whether that is a compliment towards

Meckes or if it's an insult towards Christian Horner and a dig at him, knowing Helmut Marco, it's probably both. But Max Verstappen has been very complimentary as well. He had a few comments, I think it was after Monza, where he's talking about how previously with the setup they were having to be so aggressive between their change. and almost like the car was, we weren't in control of what we were doing with the car. And he's credited Lorimecki's very engineering-based background as a result of changing that and tweaking that. And he said it feels far less, he says he feels far less like a passenger

now than he was in some of those races under Christian Horner. So again, maybe it's a sly dig at what Horner was doing. But it feels like genuine praise from Vestappen about what Meckies has been able to do. The other thing I wanted to shine a light on, which I appreciate I've mentioned in a previous episode, is this floor upgrade that seems to have worked wonders for them. In an era where upgrade effectiveness, the rate at which they are effective has not been brilliant,

the fact that Red Bulls so far into a regulation cycle can turn around something like this, I think is pretty impressive. It doesn't look visibly very different, but they're using one of the metal supports at the floor edge as sort of a, they're doubling it up as a flow diffuser, so that's increasing downforce. And the overall impact seems to be that where Red Bull was struggling in low-speed

corners, the car was very understeery, seems to have mostly fixed it. Again, maybe the bigger test will be in Singapore and future races, but that is a good sign. Let's take our second break. We won't. We will take our first break to go to our second time. topic. I knew what I was doing, folks. We're talking about sprints. Welcome back, everyone. You know what time it is. We've got six sprints coming next year for, I think it's the third

straight year. But interestingly, the sprint calendar that has now been revealed, only two of the six sprints in 2024 are set to be retained for, sorry, 2025 are set to be retained for 2026. So China and Miami, both of which were part of the calendar this year, will be part of the calendar again next year. But four new circuits. So you've got Canada, never hosted a sprint before. Silverstone, which did host the first ever sprint back in 2021, but none since. The Dutch GP, so it will have its first sprint on its potentially last contract year. And Singapore, which, if I'm right in saying, will take place five. p.m. local time. So if you have an interest in watching 22 drivers boiled alive, that might be the

race for you. Of course, our fair leader, Stefano Domenicali, has had something to say on this one. The F1 Sprint has continued to grow in positive impact and popularity since it was introduced in 2021. With four competitive sessions rather than two during a conventional Grand Prix weekend, F1 Sprint events offer more action each day for our fans, broadcast partners, and for the promoters, driving increased attendance and viewership. And you know what? I can't argue with them. Yep.

Because all the data that backs him up. Harry, I'll give you the first opportunity to heat praise onto this. Are you impressed or surprised at all by what they've picked for next year? I mean, firstly, thank the Lord of the Miami sprint is saved because I'm not sure I could have got another year off one without that. Oh, goodness, me.

Woo! On that one, didn't we, boys? I am pleased that one stayed on the calendar. Right. Firstly, get it out of the way. Wish there were no sprints at all. Bloody blah, blah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

High blood pressure. Yeah, exactly. It's not a bad selection of tracks. I am sad that we're losing Brazil because I think Brazil is, quite frankly, the only one that's ever delivered a good sprint because it's Brazil. So that's a shame we are losing,

losing into Lagos. Silvers is a good addition. Intrigued to see what Canada's likes often delivers good racing when it's a full, full length race. Dutch GP, who cares. And Singapore. What is the point in that?

Should I have a Monaco spring next year as well? Yeah, might as well. Yeah, that's... The Singapore sprint would just be the length of a normal standard F-1 race, basically because that's what I was going to go on for. And like you said, Ben, 5pm is an odd time. Why have they done that?

Is there any reason for that? To boil drivers alive. Apart from to boil the competitors. Yeah, I can't give another other reason. Yeah, look, it's not a, it's an okay selection of tracks for sprints. On a personal level, very sad that Coet is losing its sprint, but assuming that we're there again, next year, obviously, as well.

I'm really dropped the gum there, haven't you? But yeah, yeah, because I, you know, generally delivered a relatively good sprint race to watch. So yeah, the selections are fine. Dutch GP, I'm not bothered about. Singapore, I'm not bothered about. And Miami, obviously, is top of the list of things. I'm glad they've saved the Miami Sprint.

God save the Miami Sprint is what they say. Yeah, I'm not sure who they are, but I think you're absolutely right. I think we do have to go to Cota next year because if we don't, I think people are going to come after us as being actually secret sprint fans. No sprint and Cota, suddenly we're not there.

This is where we go to Canada. Yeah. I've heard of worse ideas. Sam, what do you think of this six-race calendar? Yeah, it's good. They sing it. So we've got Sprinterstone and Sprinter Poor

coming up. Good, that, and it? No, it's not. I, we usually, when you bring out these topics, Ben, I usually have a real think about, oh, what do I think? Well, I said, it's some research.

I just don't care. I just don't care. I'm so bored. Why have they picked tracks that just produce dull races anyway? Zanvore is very, can't really pass.

to start, finish straight, and you're rarely getting option there. Singapore might be better with the new cars, and they've obviously taken away that awkward part of the final sector, which went under that kind of underpassing now is a bit of a straight line. So sure, we might see something. But out of all the tracks, why have we gone there? Miami is Harry's already said, hazaar for Miami.

I'm sure the dolphins will be swimming effortlessly through the waves of the Gulf of Mexico in celebration. That's what they are, right? The Miami Dolphins. You got it. Thank goodness for that. America, remember me.

Yeah, I don't really care. Sorry. I'm just making out crap. I don't care. Respect on my name. It's honestly, it's a waste of my time discussing this. I don't care.

I liked the start of that segment where Sam said he has a think about having a think. Shall I have a thing today? Shall I think of our things? No. That's very much. I really set at the tone to the rest of that point.

I really do often try, like some kind of relevant and useful input, but like that, I don't care. You know what? I love these picks because a sprint at Miami and Singapore in the same year has a good chance of finally killing this thing as it lives and briefs. Like, if that doesn't kill it, we might be stuck with this forever. One thing I do like, I actually do have a positive point. I kind of like the way that they're spread out a little bit more.

So we're in a weird position here in 2025 where we're nearly, well, we're three quarters of the way through the season pretty much. And we've still got half of the sprints to go. So this year we've got rounds two, six and 13 all had sprints. And then we've also got three in rounds 19, 21 and 23. So we've got three sprints in five weekends. It's a little bit better distributed with next year's calendar. So it'll be round two again, six, seven. Don't love back to back, but six,

7, 11, 14 and 18. So it is a little bit better distributed. In terms of the Sixth Circuit, Miami, this year was mildly intriguing because of the weather. Hint, it was because of the weather. China, good news for Lewis Hamilton fans. That's going to be his next win. So Hamilton's just going to be a Chinese sprint merchant at this stage. It's going to turn up to China really quick.

Yep. And then Ferrari will be completely lacking in pace for the rest of the year. Canada, I'm a little skeptical on Canada because it is a good racetrack, but it does often rely on and it's not a bad thing. Strategy. Like we do get some really interesting strategic battles. But, of course, sprints completely sap that away and we don't get that. So I'm not sure about Canada. Silverstone, you could put any car in any condition against any one.

on the track at Silverstone and it would be entertaining. A bit of LB Law, folks. Sam had a race with Lewis Hamilton and a Mercedes down one of the streets at Silverstone. That was entertaining. I had a great time. I won.

Yes. Did you? I did. Yeah. This is a real story. We should probably explain. It was the Mercedes car launch from about four or five years ago.

I think it was further than that. We are way back. Yeah. It's seven years ago that. 17, 18, I think it was the year that we went. Yeah. Oh, God. Seven years ago.

Yeah, it was Bottas' second year at Mercedes. It was 1718. But they were doing some sort of filming laps as they're able to do. And as we were leaving, going down, hangar straight, Hamilton's going in parallel with us. And it was a close run thing. Very clear. My mini 1, 1.4 litre engine was revved.

We were going for it. point being silverstone's entertaining no matter what Dutch GP that could be a bit of a snooze fest and Singapore good luck the winner will be whoever survives the longest I actually wouldn't mind yeah like death match style I think I would like no actual death

but just like death to the cars just take each other out last person standing good Sam since you don't care about the tracks that are gaining on the sprint calendar. What about the ones that we're losing? So Cota, Spa, Brazil and Qatar are all sprint tracks this year. They won't be next year. Thoughts on what we're losing there. Brazil is the real shame. I echo what Harry said. Brazil just produces great racing,

regardless of where, when, who or what, it is a great racetrack and will often deliver something pretty phenomenal. I think every Brazilian GP is at least a seven and a half, eight out of saying and that's not a bad day. So a spring is going to be good because at least the racetrack is it. The logic's very sound. You know, where the race is good, the spring is good, where the race is poor, the spring is poor. Spring of poor is what comes to mind there. I actually would have liked some other tracks. I'm sad that Coat has gone because I think it is a really well-rounded race track. I think it almost has three very distinct elements, much like Brazil actually, but in a very different way, we've got the big long overtaking straight with the heavy

breaking. You've got the S's through sector one. And then you've got kind of got the or rag, or rag on the right at the end now, which I think is very fun, very challenging for the drivers. I have liked to have gone someone like Monza, if I'm totally honest. I think that could provide something a bit different, a bit unique, be interesting. I think if you had Silverstone, Monza, Brazil, as three of your springs, then I think you're getting more proper racing that, you know, their three tracks are more often than not produce something very exciting wheel to wheel. And you put that alongside Shanghai, which you know, held or still hogs,

maybe the record for most overtakes of all time. I think it was recently beaten, but for a long time held it. These are great racetracks, and they produce overtakes. And therefore, it's exciting to watch people go racing there. But Zandvo, Singapore, whilst they can produce fun races,

whilst they are really interesting race tracks, I just don't think it's going to be an interesting Grand Prix, unless the weather is so wildly different. I don't think you're getting anything different going on there. Yeah, I know Harry like me would have been crying over losing the Qatar sprint. That's a real loss. Spar, the one from this year, you can hear my thoughts on that one if you go back to the review that I did there. Brazil was certainly a huge shock. And Cota, so the owner of Cota, Bobby Epstein, my favourite Epstein that I know from the United States

of America. To be clear, I said he was my favourite. If I said second favorite, cut it. This is not good. I'm not sure any of this segment. usable, to be honest. We're going to straight to the second app right, like we said. But I do need to, I do need to say a quote from Bobby Epstein at Cota because he has said, the sprint weekend format doesn't necessarily drive more ticket sales after news that Cota wouldn't be a sprint next year. It's really interesting because I'm just going to go back to this.

And I'm sure there was a comment from Domenicali that says, broadcast pilots and for the promoters, driving increased attention. and viewership, driving increased attendance. Here he's saying doesn't necessarily drive more ticket sales. That is interesting. Those two things seem to be a contradiction. Harry, Brazil, that's a big shock that we've lost that one. That's been a mainstay on this sprint calendar since its inception back in 2021.

It isn't it isn't because the Miami sprint had to stay and it couldn't, you know, it was one of the others. So Brazil and Miami. Close goal. as you said Ben mildly intriguing is what we're yeah that's what we strive for enough one um yeah look i i am surprised by by losing brazil um i if apart me is like stephena de menacali's like well brazil worked really well which means sprints work really well so you must move sprints elsewhere to show the world that

sprints work everywhere when they don't they only work mildly intriguingly work at circuits where like you said said earlier, Ben, out Silverston, Interlagos is the same. You could have any car, any condition for as many laps, or little laps as you want around Interlagos, and it'll be interesting. It'll be a good thing to watch. So it doesn't prove the sprints are good. So, yeah, I'm surprised by this one.

I'm putting in Zanthor instead, for example, just seems a bit odd. Maybe it is because of the fact that they were quite heavily weighted towards the end of the season. they decided that. But I mean, Singapore is any of three races beforehand, you've added that one instead. So it doesn't make a huge amount of sense. So yeah, I am shocked and sad by that one because it's probably the only sprint I probably look forward to watching.

I guess we get Silverstone as a consolation prize on that one. Do you know that Sprinter Lagos means the quick run between two lakes? I hate it. That's the best one yet, man. so you can take that. Yeah, that's the one you can use. As long as you retire the other ones, you can use that one. That's the only try I get from this whole topic.

The only reason we started doing this because I said that Crofty would like make a joke about the Singapore one. I wish I never say anything. But anyway, I kind of feel with the Brazilian GP losing that one for a year, it might be a bit of a tactic for when they inevitably go up to say 10 sprints in 2027, they can at least take some of the headlines as Brazil's back. after a one year absence. I don't think it's going to work,

but maybe there's something good. We will work because everyone loves Springs. And I can't think of a better way to close out that topic. But before we go to our second break for a second time today, F1 Fantasy. Now,

you don't sound very enthusiastic, Sam. Don't you worry. We'll get to us in a moment. But before that, first place for the week, it's a three-way tie between floppy rooster, Max Beer Man,

and Rates Chilly win. So well done to all three of you. But we have a change of lead for our championship. For the first time in what feels like forever, Cartuso goes to the lead. And the first driver over 3,900 points. Very effective final fix chip used. Had Piastri in their team.

Took Piastri out, added Vastapin. Very shrewd move from Cartuzzo gives him the lead. Warning, Dore Jajar goes down to. second place and a new entry in P3. It's only Lightning McNuggets. Yes. Come on, McNuggets. But what about the four of us? I had Piastri. I had McLaren. I had Ferrari. I didn't have a good week. I went down seven positions to 48th. Kirsty has also moved seven positions, but in the right direction, up seven to 771. Harry Ead, I asked you the question last.

is there any chance that you can recover P3 and you said no. And like everything else in life, Harry, you were wrong. You managed to go up to P3. You actually dropped four spots, but 1,142nd. Can I say the virtue of being less bad, I've ended up in third again. What was your big brain strap for this week's fantasy, by the way? Time 3 on the Claire. Nailed it.

FP2 champs saw FB2 went, that's my guy. Yeah. I thought it was, I just thought it was, I just thought LeCler might do another, LeCler special around, around Baku in Q3, and he didn't. He put it in the ball instead. Never mind.

Sam. Yes, mate. You've been chipping away at Harry for like, week after week after week, to the point where you finally got the overtake done. And then it's a loss of 118 spots. And you're back needing to climb back. You need to climb back up again now.

You know, sometimes people need to knock down a wall. So they start by, you know, chipping away at it. Turns out I was standing under the foundation that I was chipping away at. And it's collapsed straight on top of me. Yeah, it's gone well. Yeah, that was the worst week I think I've ever had, EF1 Fantasy. Yeah, it was a tough week that Piastri DNF, McLaren not doing as well.

there were a lot of people struggling out there. But at least a few of you did all right. And if you still want to join our league, you can do so. All of the details are in the description. Let's take our second break. On the other side, we've got some comments from Nicholas Tombasis. That'll keep people around. People will be like, oh, should I turn off here?

Tombasis is on. Gricky. Tabassis, you say. Welcome back, everyone. The FIA insists that Formula One's new mechanism for ensuring power unit manufacturers do not fall too far behind their rivals is different to the balance of performance used in other categories. So F1 power unit manufacturers will get rule breaks if their engines are 3% less powerful than the best under new regulations from 2026. And Nikki T, as Harry just christened him, Nicholas Tombasis,

FIA's head of single seat of matters, has said this. the details of the procedure have been gradually refined with the manufacturers. It is important to be clear, this is not balance of performance. Now, the FIA World Endurance Championship is among the series which uses BOP, as it's quite commonly referred to, to directly equalize the performance of its teams. But Tombassas said BOP rules would not be appropriate for F1. He said, we have to be realistic. Formula One is comparable to a series of consecutive marathons.

If you are quicker than me in the first, you already start the second with an advantage. In this sport, a technological performance advantage carries over it in subsequent years. It is difficult for the first to become last or for the last to become first in a short space of time. It's an interesting one, Sam. We're looking at the sort of potential to catch up. So Alpine were probably wishing that this was in place this season rather than next season. But they'll have a Merck engine next year, so they're fine. Are you broadly in support of this, or does this go against the DNA of the last?

a spot. I bet in my day. I don't want BOP for Formula One. I'm going to come out to say in a classic way that we're looking at. You have it in WEC, for example. You have it in British touring car championship. BOP is very evident there.

You know, they'll add weights of cards, for example, to allow others to match speed. I don't want that level of BOP to appear in Formula One. I do think it becomes it dilutes the meritocracy or Formula One is the way I want to kind of want to phrase it here. I do think that because Formula One is a team science-based sport, you know, it is the brightest minds,

the best people working on these incredible phyynites, minute projects that make the difference between tenths of a second. I want that rewarded. And I don't want that work to suddenly be almost punished by you doing a really good job and understanding how the rules work and where the loopholes are and what you could do to make the most of that. And so there is a good job. chance that Formula One goes down a slippery slope where they do become too close to BOP.

And it actually ends up being a, well, what's almost the point in putting all this money and time and effort into winning if the next season we then completely get paid back to the bottom again. That becomes very frustrating. And I do think that stops rewarding meritocracy. The cycles of F1 seasons and the regulations are often quite natural as well, I think. And I think that does cause a flattening out. But I can't see some areas. You know, we had Ferrari in the early 2000s and then it kind of rolled into Renault and a little bit McLaren and then we got to Red Bull and then Mercedes and then Red Bull again and now we're moving to McLaren it does take time but it happens the issue with this of course is that I think it can pull off new

fans if you were to come in as a new fan in let's say 2015 you think oh have it get to give it a go can watch Formula One you watch a season all right Mercedes dominate fine I can get on board with that that's one season but then it happens again and then it happens again and then it happens again and then it happens again and you start to think oh this is is boring. And that's where I can see why BOP might be favourable, but there has to be a middle ground match where you have some say, like we do with the aero being, you get more aerot time. First is less error time. There needs to be a middle ground that allows for people to catch up and fall down. But I just don't want it to be so intense, so black and white of first

is punished for first, then I think it takes away from that meritocracy and team ship of the success of what Formula One is. I think the DNA of Formula One is the bro. right his minds cracking the case, and I don't want that to be removed or reduced. It will become artificial, I think, the success, if we suddenly started implementing too many things. Now, if I know Harry Ead, and I feel like I do, his point of view here will be, if it's good enough for British Touring car, it's good enough for me. If it's good enough for Tingram, it's good enough for me, quote Harry Ead.

What do you think? Is it you trying to protect the fabric of the spree? Bort tier by saying no to this. Yeah, I mean, if Ash Sutton can put up with it, you know, it's... It's going to be okay. Settled reference. I did see that kind of... Outro sorted, man.

I've already got that one. Yeah. I know Nikki T. saying it's really not Bop or BOP. Sounds a lot like... BOP. That's not like a bop to me. Sound a little bit like a bop. Sounds bopping for people only listening.

Do you know, I... Yeah, I... Look, I think overall, I think this is a good idea because we don't want to end up with situations like 2014, for example, or the early, you know, 2010s where we had... We had those three teams of the back in HRT, and Notice and

Anna or whatever they were called at the very start because that's not what we want to see we want to see close competition and I think an element of making sure that it stays close is good but there is also the not to get into the DNA of the one I think there is a part of me that doesn't

I don't want too much interference here because I don't A, I don't think, as you said, you should be punished for being too good. That is just what F1, you know, the engineering excellence of these teams is what makes F1, what it is. And at the same time, I don't think you should be rewarded for being crap, Alpin. So I think a degree of sort of balancing the field out is a good thing. but we've seen in in in in in in in in in working world and jurns championship the it's not doesn't work that well there unless he called Ferrari uh you don't do a lot of winning to be honest most of the time so it's it's it's it's got its flaws I think overall I'm I'm

I'm on board with this because I'd rather have um a slightly flawed system which meant we had close racing close competition between the teams than the other way around we had you have a dominant leader at the front and some and some stragglers at the back because that's pointless and like you said sam people aren't going to get on board with that and i think they're probably quite conscious of not repeating um not repeating the lights of 2014 especially so yeah flawed but okay should be the name of our podcast from now he's back on the fence floored but okay is fantastic and also weirdly accurate here like this is it's a tough one i uh i i called my, my good friend, Avril from Canada, and she said it's complicated, and she's absolutely right.

This is a tough one. Nice. Good evening to you, Avril of me. Yeah, the fear with, she's listening, all right? The fear with the cost cap being in place is that the opportunity to catch up is more limited. I'm not convinced that Nikki T's marathon analogy is spot on, but I kind of get what he's trying to say, which is when you're developing a car during a set of regulations, you don't necessarily

have that finish line. You are just, if you start a set of regulations three steps ahead of something, whether that's engine, aerodynamics doesn't really matter. It's not like that's where the work ends and you're just waiting for the others to catch up. You're onto the fourth step where everyone else is still on the first step. And it is very difficult unless a team finds their way to a dead end when it comes to a sort of development branch or whatever you'd like to call it, or if you can just be more effective per upgrade than your rivals, it is therefore a bit tricky to catch up. And, you know, the reason it is complicated again, Avril, is that these teams, like, they used to be able to spend a heck of a lot to catch up.

And sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't. Like, if you want an example for where spending a boatload of money didn't work, just look at Toyota in the 2000s. But if you want to look at an example where it did work, Honda started this regulation cycle in terms of engine performance horribly. They were a laughing stock, not only in the F1 community, I would say in the motoring community as a result of what was happening with their partnership with McLaren. They spent a heck of a lot.

They invested a lot and they turned it around to the point. where when Red Bull picked them up, good enough to win championships. I appreciate that's an engine manufacturer, so maybe it's not quite the same, but it is difficult to spend that amount of money because we're in a cost cap era now. So that is what he's having to, Tombasis and everyone else is having to deal with here. The debate almost becomes entertainment versus fairness, right? You've got, you don't want, this sport is in a pretty important position. you feel right now. You don't want to go into 2026 with teams very clearly set in an order and that

order not really changing a lot. That isn't going to be great for the sport. And I understand wanting to protect that. You know, we don't get, the order right now is a bit more varied because the power unit is completely frozen. So that more naturally, I think, like pushes the grid together. We might not have that next year. Like next year, if Mercedes have nailed their power unit and Ferrari have done an all right job with theirs and Honda have done a horrible job with theirs and Audi's done awfully. Like if we have that sort of a gap between each manufacturer, that isn't great. So I understand wanting to do this. But yeah, fundamentally, I do share the, it's a cost gap era. Like, if you can prove yourself as the best, you should reap the rewards of that because there's no other

reason outside of what you're doing is brilliant that is impacting in theory, you being great. You're not outspending everyone else. You are just making better use of your resources. Like fundamentally, that's great. But we do need to protect the sport somewhat. So it is a tough one. The balance of performance would be ensuring that people's factories are of the same standard. You know, like Williams having the same wind tunnel that McLaren had, things have less time or more time to use it, depending on that makes sense. to me. You could go outside the cost cap to level your wind tangle up to be the same as a paris. And some exceptions have been made like that. They have. Particularly related to Williams.

So let's move on to Baku, which is going to sound weird because we've just come from Baku, but there is news that comes out the weekend, which is that we are staying at Azerbaijan for a number of years until 2030 at the very least. So yeah, their last contract update came in 2023. seems to all be going quite well for them there. Sam, are you in favour of this being renewed? Yeah, I like Baku as a racetrack. I think it delivers, you know, 75% at the time, really, really solid Grand Prix.

We've had maybe two dads since we've been there. I think that's a pretty solid record for a track like Baku that came in and was not good to really kick us off. We kind of had some really unsure races. You know, between one being really boring, one being really exciting. We didn't know what we were going to get. I think it's balanced out well.

So to see this extension come in, and I think it's a logical amount of time, it runs us to essentially the end of the next set of regulations. You get to see how the new cars are going to race through there. We get to see if it still delivers. It isn't silly, isn't outrageous. I'm all in favour of back of you being on the grid. I think it is a street circuit that genuinely delivers fun and interesting racing.

So happy with it, solid amount of time, a actually well-made decision from the Formula One group. I'm going to pose a question to you, Harry, because we've just come from an Azerbaijan GP that wasn't a classic, and I think at least part of the reason is the tires. We went with the absolute softest tires in the Pirelli range, C4, C5, C6, didn't deliver a great one in terms of strategy. They can't realistically go softer with the tyres. So how do we solve that?

How does F1 solve that? It's a tricky one. I think Baku, and this is probably some recency biases making it seem worse than it is. I think Baku's done well in this era of Formula One. I think pre, which makes no sense because it should be fine. But you think of all the races we had at Baku minus the first year because 2016, nothing happened weirdly.

And then from 2017 onwards, everything happened. That was the European. It was on Azerbaijan Zika, yeah, of course. Yeah. When it moved, it moved continents. I picked itself up and traveled like a thousand miles east. But we get to 22, 23, 24. There's certainly been moments in those years.

You know, we had the crash at the end of last year. But I just don't think it's worked quite as well. So I'll be intrigued to see how it fairs when we get to next year's regulations and onwards and whether that makes a difference again. again, there's no real logical reason for it. I'm not saying the current regulations are to blame. I just feel like that's where it's got to. So that is a factor, I think.

Tire-wise, they can't go any softer. And I think given the high speed, they don't want to risk doing anything too extreme here. We saw in 2021 when Stroll and Verstappen had their pretty dramatic blowouts, which we do. We do not want that at all. but yeah a tie-wise is a tricky one

I would yeah like I say I would see what happens we'd get there in 2026 because I'm hopeful that maybe something something that will change but I think part of it is a lot of F1 these days during a race is just management and when the

drivers are just managing they don't make as many mistakes we saw when drivers were pushing in qualifying they'd be making mistakes so if we get to a point where F1 isn't quite the same management, management formula that we have at the moment, then, yeah, hopefully we get back to sort of the glory days of chaos

that we've come used to at back here. Question. What do you think would be a better scenario? If ties became so firm, long-lasting, that drivers could knowingly push an entire Grand Prix on them because everyone else could push going on, and they wouldn't wear, or that they're so soft or short-lasting

that they would wear so quickly that more strategy would have to be implied. I, the problem is we're in a middle ground right now. You could go the other way and like you said, make them so durable that they can just push all the time,

which I think would internally... That's the word I was looking for was curable. Thanks. Or I would be in favor of going potentially the other way where you go out to like, 2011, 2012 style tires that for the fall of a cliff and means you, because what they do now is they just manage because they know they can eke it out to a one stop most of the time and that's just, that's boring to watch. Whereas we need to go to a different extreme ideally. That's not a

back to a specific problem. I'm not against that idea whatsoever. But your question, Sam, kind of leans into what my idea would be to consider for next year, which is to introduce a gap between at least one, two tire compounds. So we went with C4, C5, this year. Now, the C4 was obviously durable enough to basically do a full race because that's what Ocon did minus one lap. But in theory, the tire being more durable wouldn't be of benefit because it could already do a full race. So if we went with the C3 tire, you could still do that, but it's just going to be a bit slower. So if we get that, that hard tire was so overpowered at the Baku race. If we can change that hard tire to still be durable, okay, we'll deal with

that issue, but it's quite a bit slower to do it, then maybe we start to get some variety and the strategy. It's something to consider, I think, Flexia. I do agree. I do think there needs to be more disparity between those tires. We'll see if they listen and we will be not surprised when they don't. Let's take our final break on this episode. On the other side, we're playing back and forth. Welcome back, everyone, to the final part of today's episode. It's time for back and forth. F1 Back and forth It's F1

Back and forth It goes backwards Then goes forth It's F1 Back and forth F1 F1 F1 back and forth

Harry and Sam We'll go back and forth on correct answers to a question Until they can't think of an answer Or give an incorrect answer I'm going to give you two strikes On this one today folks

So I want you to name the, and I'm looking for the top 16 in this category today, most career points without a win, but has raced since 2010. Oh. So they don't have to have claimed all the points since 2010, but as long as they've raced at some point since 2010, you can have them as part of this list. Can I clarify a question? What if they've won before 2010, but they've got since 2010? Oh, good question. They're not included.

Oh. So if they've... And you say most... Most points without a win, have they then gone on to win, but have amassed those points before the win? Another great question. They've never won. Okay. How many holes do you pick in this game, Sam? Two valid questions.

I mean, as a hint, I could give you what the... lowest point score is on this list if you'd like. I mean, I'll take all the things I can get. Okay, so the person who is last on this list has 39 points. That's not that many. Yeah, that's what I thought. So anyone who has essentially scored more than 39 points or more and has never won a race and has competed since 2010. Sam, also are you?

Nico Holkenberg. He tops this list, 608 career points. Pretty solid, yeah, sorry, Nico, but I did actually write this like three weeks ago or like a month ago. I had to change a couple of these values. I didn't have to change yours, mate. Come on, scores of points. They're off the beach. We can't get all to them about winning races now that you don't just go to podium.

Come on, Nico. To the next milestone. Harry, who have you got? His testicle friend, Kevin Magnuson. Is that a new game for the outro? I hope not. I've got so many lined up. It's going to be here for days outro in this one.

Magnuson is seventh on this list with 202 points. Sam. He shared a hearse with this man. Grojean. And that's number two on this list, 391 points. Harry. Um, uh, Alex Albon.

Alex Albon is number four on this list with 310. Lance Stroll. Lance Stroll is number three on this list with 324, another name where I didn't have to change the number of points that you've got, Lance. I can't even tell him to get off the beach. He's just bad. He likes the beach. It's called Brazil Turn 3. Oh, that was such a bad incident. I'm sorry, I've taken the, you have him too much recently.

Harry, back to you. Oh, no. Am I struggling already? No, you're not. You could do this. Actually, don't. Every time I think of someone, I'm like, oh, yeah, they've won.

Yeah, that's why I keep doing that. Strike them off the list. I almost had knock on her. That's who I just thought of. Savage. Gatsby. damn it. Thanks for, just checking these off for me, mate.

Sorry, mate. You're welcome. Yuki Sonoda. Yuki Sanoda is a correct answer. 111 points. That puts him 11th on the list. Sam. We'll keep on this Red Bull path, Kivya.

Kiviat is a correct answer. 202 points. puts him in a tie with Kevin Magnuson or his other nickname as he gave him a little while ago. So that's, yeah, a tie for sixth place. Harry.

You can do it. You can do it. What film was that from? Is that Happy Gilmore? I don't know. Let's know in the comments. Let us know in the comments as if anyone still missed that this point. Everyone turns off at this point.

Oh, God, I don't know. Gustaván Gutierrez. Sadly, Esteban Gutierrez is not a correct answer. He should be, but he's... Sam back to you. Nick Heidfield. Nick Heidfeld is a correct answer. 259 points, of course, again,

a lot of those were before 2010, but he did race in F1 after 2010 until he was booted out. Sadly so. Too soon, isn't it really? Too soon. Hurts. Too soon. Um, Vitali Petrov.

Petrov is a correct answer. 64 points. God, really? Yeah. Many? Um, truly. Monaco 2004 says, I'm afraid that's wrong.

Oh. Don't. His teammate Kovolainen. Hungary says, Oh no. I forgot the fact they had to winters here. I just had two race winners.

I can't believe it. Rookie error. Sam, it's back to you. Oh, why is it already back to me? I don't want it. Because there's only two being playing the game. I don't want it. Oh, I'm not prepared either.

I'm not prepared at all. No, he's won a race. Be an awful game if you were prepared. Oh, that's true. Find all the answers in frankly. That would be fun with it. Oh. Oh.

I've got a strike left, and I can't remember if he's won. Kubitsa. Another one-time race winner, I'm afraid. Oh, yeah. Of course he did, damn it. Which means Harry, it's sudden death. Two, two strikes. each. There are still some answers out there.

There are seven answers out there. As many as seven. Many is seven. Ireland's greatest racer, Tim O'Glock. Tim O'Glock is a correct answer. Tim O'Glock? 51 points for Tim. That's great.

That will never not be funny, by the way, Tim O'Glock. That's a permanent funny one. Permanent funny one. Yep. So what's that? What's that funny as well? Right. Key.

Well. I can only think of drivers that have to score in the point or drivers that have won a race. There's two things you're not looking for. There's a huge middle ground that I can't think of. Harry, I'll ask the question. You let me know if you're happy with it being asked. How many scored most of their points before the 2010? None.

So, okay, great. That actually is even worse for me. Good. Good, good. I think two of them did score before 2010, but the bulk were after. Good. someone would say very good. I literally don't have a name in my mind.

36, you said, was the lowest number. 39 is the lowest. 39, that's even worse because I drive 10. It's called 39 points in their career. I just knock me out, and this is the best way to get knocked out. We're going to go with Paul de Rester. Polderesta is a correct answer. 121 points.

Give me to Rester the answers. That's how this game works. Harry, over time. Adrian Sutil? Your answer has to be Adrian and Sutil after Poldrester. They're like a Gilo. It is a back and forth rule.

If one of them's on one of these lists, the other one is also on the list somewhere. That's so true. They were three points apart. Well, 124 for Sotil. Sam, it's back to you, my friend. Marcus Erickson. Unfortunately, no, Marcus Erickson is not a correct answer,

which is strike number three. What an indie 500-wing boob that man is. Good one, mate. Drink that milk. Well, Jesus. Right, there were four answers that you couldn't get in the end. You didn't have to go very far for two of them. Does Harry will have a go at him?

He's still in. Didn't have to go very far for two of them. Are they racing this year? Oh, that's a real shame. That is a real shame. Really shame. You're racing an F-1, I don't know. Liam Lawson?

Liam Lawson is not a correct answer, but he is the last one. Hajar. Hajar is the last person on this list. 39 points. Bristler. I don't know. know who else from this year. There's another rookie that's ahead of him in the point standings.

Ancinelli. 78 points is a correct answer. The other two that you were looking for, Jean-Eric Vern with 51 points, and Camui Kobayashi with 125. I can't believe you didn't get Kobayashi. Do you can't believe I didn't? What were you?

I can't believe you didn't get him. I can't believe you didn't get him. Out of other people, you could get it. You didn't get a single one more than me. That's enough back and forth for one day, but we do still have time for everyone's favourite segment. It is, I would call it, and so would many others, the greatest segment.

In all of podcasting, it is the LB Question of the Week. LB Question of the Week. It's a bit of a shock, I think, to most. I don't think anyone would have predicted this preseason. Carlos Sines and Lewis Hamilton essentially have gone on to new teams. Hamilton taking the place of Carlos Sines at Ferrari, but it's Carlos Sines who has a podium first at Williams compared to Hamilton at Ferrari. So we were asking the question, what's Hamilton's reaction to that?

And Harry Edis found something very funny that I don't think he's going to be able to say. Go on, Harry, say it. We can't hear what I can say this one because it really got me. From Hillary on Instagram, he sent him a large gift basket, but quietly substituted the good vegetable crackers with the average ones. Boom. God, you got on it. And then Dude Ryebaud from the Discord said,

that's diabolical. And Hillary was replied to dude Rimbled and said, you don't get to be seven times before champion by eating mediocre snacks. Oh, yeah, you're so right, Hillary. Brunch bar, would you have happened? No, we're not doing brunch bar chat today. Not today. Anyway, I like this one from Dave on Instagram

who said he called Vettering Alongso to tell them that they were right. Yeah, that's fair. An answer from Amy that made me laugh quite a lot, which is he doesn't know signs got a podium because Ferrari said they were one, two. We've got all the points. They took maximum points away from the weekend. That's why Hamilton didn't want to give LeCleur the place back.

He thought it was the first place. He's got another wing, 106 in the back. This one from Mason in quotation marks I can imagine him saying it man, these one of those guys are so fast so fast man I love that when he comes on the radio says that like he's not all so fat

like it's just you're all fast It's a... When he was stuck behind Norris and Yuki and Liam try to keep up man One day he'll say it when he's overtaken a car Yeah God they're super fast Lewis you just passed him

Chad Leroux just said coughed and farted Sure Can you do both those things at the same time? This isn't the police experiment Obviously I've got to get a shout out to Bungers who said He led the British Royal Navy

Into battle against the Spanish Armada Oh I don't think we're going to revisit that battle I don't understand this one at all from Lauren so maybe York you could tell me. She said he modifies the Ferrari stallion to look like sprinkles. So that's the unicorn sticker that signs had on the back of his helmet this weekend.

Oh, is that the name of it? But I think there's a naming controversy as to whether it's called sprinkles or sparkles. Oh. Gosh. You decide. It feels very six, seven territory, you know, like you're at least five years. too old to understand the reference. But I found out that when you say 6-7,

you have to do this move with it. 3. 6-7. You just managed to get 10 years either by saying that. I'm actually 20 years old. But why, though, guys? Because you're 6-7. Did you know how many race wins? Max just happens now got after this weekend?

6-7. Actually, we're really funny if it had nothing to do with 6-7 at all. He's actually got us in 12. I thought, but I thought, no, boys, if Vestappan wins Singapore and then he wins the race that we go to next in Kota, it'll be...

We are shouting that. We are shouting that. Nice. And no one will do anything. No, we'll forget. I never wanted a Vastappan streak more than... I mean, win streak more than that. You dirty, boy.

I think this segment's question of the week. I'm not 100% sure at this point. Jim has said we are checking because every Ferrari question of the week needs to have at least one. We are checking. Answer. Nice.

Really like this one from Lydia who said, so don't his cars, because he's more into art now. I love that quote. For like 13 million, if you didn't know. Matt on Instagram,

not really not out. That's just wrong. I need to know. there are some wrong ones out there definitely and also he definitely didn't in answer to that one right that's that's gonna do it for question of the week we'll be back with another question of the week in you know what probably a week's time instagram and twitter that's where you can find it only one question allowed on the late break a week on the late breaking show yep that's it that's the one used up sam if you wouldn't mind we'll have another episode on sunday it won't be a race one but it will be a good one I can feel it. You'll feel it deep down inside you. It was Sunday.

Harry Ead, I can't wait to hear what you're about to outro, so may I just build the tension a little longer. Thanks so much for Liskew folks. I hope you have a lovely week. I hope you get all the way to Sunday when you're here with snacks and you fucking love. Put in the comments below. What are you doing this week?

I hope you get to Sunday. I hope you have a lovely rest for the week. Get down there. I'm having a lovely week. Let me know. Can't wait to hear about it. And you can comment that across social media late breaking F1 on all channels. Patreon City is welcoming all, so check it out, links in there.

And actually, it might make your week a little better. Like checking that out, so go on, try it, give it a go. Discourse available as well. Thanks for listening. We will be back Sunday for a whole heap of F1 chitter-chatter. In the meantime, I'd be Samuel Sage. I've been Ben Hocking. And I've been floppy rooster.

I remember, keep breaking loose. Podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.