The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Bottas back to Williams for 2022? | Episode 135

Episode Date: July 21, 2021

As we head towards the healfway mark of the 2021 season, we thought we'd take a look at the remaining empty seats still left to fill for next season. We also take a further look at some of the comments made after Verstappen and Hamilton's Silverstone crash, and play another game of Pump The Brakes!JOIN our Discord: https://discord.gg/fKJgADfzTWEET us @LBrakingSUBSCRIBE to our podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 podcast. Make sure to look out for new episodes every Thursday and Grand Prix Sundays. Hello and a very warm welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast. We're a few days removed from the British Grand Prix. It's still hot, ladies and gents. It's still hot.

all melted. All three of us are still here. My name's Ben Hocking, of course, podcast presented as ever by Sam Sage and Harry Eat as well. Guys, I say you're not, you haven't melted. You look all right on my screen at least. That's not, that's not telling a lie, right? Well, you can only see from kind of my tummy up. My legs are actually a puddle. I have decided to become one with this computer chair, and I am officially sweat only. It's horrible. I would like it to rain. Yeah, I honestly, I'm astounded. Not to make this a weather,

the late breaking weather podcast, but I'm astounded that we're three days after the last podcast and we're still melting. It's unbelievable. Maybe it's the spice still radiating off God's corner. More like Christian Hall's forehead.

More on that later on. Yeah, first of all, like, we realize that there are a lot of you listening from the US, and in places that are probably hotter than where we are right now. So we do apologise for those of you thinking, they're making a meal out of 25 degrees, aren't they? Because technically we are, but we'll carry on. We're British in that respect. Before we get into the bulk of tonight's podcast, we do have one thing to mention, first of all. you will have noticed over the last few podcasts that we've included a form for you to give your feedback. And whilst it's been working very well indeed, we figured that there might actually

be a better, better way to do this because it is somewhat of a one-way communication. So we are actually setting up a Discord server. Discord, if you haven't used it before, is a platform where you're able to basically speak to each other, sort of set up your own servers, have your own conversations there. So we're going to try and set up a community on there. We'll leave the link in the description here. We're also going to put it on our social media on Twitter as well, so you can catch it there. Just join if you want to. Have some conversations with us and with some like-minded people in terms of F1. We're really hoping this will turn into something great. So give it a shot. It will be in the link, as I say. But we'll move on to tonight's action. So we're

actually going to start today with looking at 2022. And we've already got a number of seats confirmed for next year, but there are still, sorry, there are still some outstanding. So we've got two William seats, two alpha Romeo seats, two alpha Tauri seats, and then a seat at Mercedes and Red Bull each. So we're actually going to discuss today who we think is going to take them. So we'll start, we'll start at the top, although technically not at the top this year, at least the top last year, that was Mercedes. So we know Lewis Hamilton's confirmed, but we don't yet know who his teammates

going to be. Sam, at this point, who do you think is going to be alongside? Well, there's almost feels like there's been a shift in Valtry Bottas's tone over the last couple of races. And something that I saw on social media, which I didn't see on the race weekend because, of course, the race director

wouldn't dare cover something that was interesting. Was that during the slowdown lap, after the incident between Gestappan and Hamilton, over the radio come the Mercedes engineer team and they say to Bossas, Valtry, without overtaking Lewis, please can you pull alongside Lewis

on the left-hand side, check out his car for us and report back any damage. Now, I know that teams like they're driving us to work as a team as a cohesive unit, but it really feels like over the last couple of races

Botas has really stepped up the I'm a team player side of things. And we hang a little bit of a joke and I laugh about how when he was sat there under the red flag. Out of nowhere, Valti Bortas just goes, racing the scene, right?

Obviously. Out of nowhere. Unprovoked, apparently. So, does that put Botas in the driving seat to be Lewis Hamilton's teammate for next season? I don't know.

They're celebrating him a lot. They're really bigging up the fact that he's now picked up his sixth podium of the season, which is not too shabby. Still hasn't got a race wing, when arguably, the other three drivers that he's combating

have got a race wing and due to my prediction at the start of the season of Bottas never getting a race swing again I don't think he will and because of this because of Bottas

his inability now to cover where I think if Lewis Hamilton fails I think that Russell will end up in the Mercedes seat next season and Bottas

will be outsking from the Mercedes team Harry what direction do you think Mercedes will go I'm really conflicting on this

because I think pre-sylestone it was looking you know if you believe that just and not that you should ever believe rumours in F1 but what people were saying it was a done deal Russell was going to be announced to Silverstone and then it didn't happen

and as Sam said Bottas's tone and actions makes me think that it's not a done deal because he's now no longer fighting to win all the time to stay in the team he's just doing everything he can

to be as helpful as possible. I imagine he's going to come out in a waiters uniform next time, bring everything to Hamilton on a little silver plate, like his steering wheel, a biscuit for his dog, because I think he's trying to do everything he can. And as Sam mentioned, that bit of footage we didn't see at the weekend was really interesting that he voluntarily went and had a look. And now that's not a person who wants to try and beat Hamilton,

is someone who's just trying to do everything you can to make Poseidies happy and that makes me think but they've not made their mind up yet and Bottas could well be in that seat. I think they'll still go for Russell and maybe that's why Bottas is feeling that pressure to act as the greatest number

who driver there's ever been. So yeah, I don't think it's done deal but I think they will eventually go for Russell. I think as much as Toto has a soft spot for Grogate Blotas, at some point, and I think he realizes it, he's got to think past, he's got to think past the Lewis Hamilton era of Mercedes,

which will eventually end. I know it's not ending for a couple years yet, but it's going to end at some point, and they can't risk losing George to... I mean, imagine if George, they didn't sign George, he went off to another team like Red Bull, and the Christian Horace would be off the scale. So, yeah, I think they're going to think of the future here and go for Russell.

Could you imagine drive to survive? Christian Horner sat there in his chair with his phone. Hi, hi, George, it's Christian. Welcome to Red Bull Racing. Oh, I can already hear it. Oh, no. Please for saying, sign him so he don't get that. I bet he's asked his lovely partner and ex-spice girl singer to create a new anthem.

If you want to be my driver. You know, I can imagine that playing to all his contract sign-ees. It's a great welcome to me if Jerry turned up, you know. I'll be up for that. Yeah. If the Spice Girls would like to write us an anthem, I won't say no. If you want to be my driver, you better get along with Vestappen. That's it.

There it is. Hit after hit. It's a spice girl. And it's a rule. It's true. I am going to say that they will go for George Russell. at this point. I agree with what you're saying in terms of Valtrey-Bottas to an extent. I think there are a few instances. So where he got overtaken by Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone,

I think he probably learned his lesson from Spain where there just wasn't really much point in trying to hold him up because he would have got past anyway. And I think he would have just looked a bit worse for it if he at least tried to fight it. So I can understand that. In terms of pulling alongside Lewis Hamilton and confirming the damage, I get the whole. it's not for him, it's for the team, but ultimately could he have really said no to that? Could he have come over the radio and just gone, actually, no, not going to check that for you?

That would have been really awkward. I feel like, and I might be being naive here, I feel like Lewis Hamilton would have done the same thing in the same situation. There's a reason he wasn't in that situation, and Bottas is more likely to be there. But I don't read too much into that one. And in terms of the racing incident one,

I'm not sure what to think of that, because it does reek of team player. At the same time, most of the drivers who have commented on this have lent towards it being a racing incident. So it could be legitimate. I'm not too sure. Either way, I do think George Russell gets this seat. I think the security that they've got in terms of Lewis Hamilton for the next few years

means that they can risk the move now, rather than risk the move in a few years' time when Lewis Hamilton is packing his bags and going off to do whatever he does next. So I think it makes sense to make the move now. Make sure you cement the future. From my understanding, it's going to be George Russell as that future. So get him in now. And just to say from George Russell's perspective,

the amount of teases that he's done on social media in terms of announcements, surely, surely only a man confirmed for that seat would be okay doing that. I don't know. Maybe he's just playing around, but it just feels far too much confidence for someone who does.

doesn't think he would get the seat. I'll go with George Russell. It's a social marketing wizard, George Russell. He knows what he's doing. He's got everyone on the, you know, the, what is the phrase? I'm too hot for my brain to work. On the tip of a cap. Tender hooks works.

Tip of a cap is not an expression. On the tip of the cap. Folks, make it happen. Hashtag tip of a cap. Fantastic summary, as usual from Sam there. Cheers. We'll move on to Red Bull and who we think is going to take that seat alongside Max Verstapp and of course Sergio Perez occupying the seat this year.

Alex Albaughan was occupying the seat last year. Piairier-Gasley the year before, Daniel Ricardo the year before that. So at least going by the last few years, not many have lasted longer than a season. Sam, do you think that Perez keeps his seat? Do you think they go elsewhere? I think Red Bull, for all their strange culture choices, all their ups and downs, for all their silly announcements that they like to put out in the press to stir the pot, have learned a lesson here.

Having someone like Sergio Perez on their side, helping them carry the team that little bit further, doing what they are. So I know that he obviously went about ruining his own race, essentially, to get the fastest point at Silverstone to take it away from Hamilton. He is committed to doing what Redport meeting to do, and he's putting together actions that are ready. So I think that they're going to hold on to Sergio Perez for another season. And for a couple of reasons. I don't think that Pierre Gazley is, A, wanted back at that top seat. B, I don't think he would get along with the staffing. I think he would want to beat the staff.

I don't think he wants to ever be considering as a secondary driver. And C, I don't think Gasly wants to be a Natsim either. I think they very much using each other, Al-Fa-Tauri using Gassi to just have a good season. Pierre Gassel is using Alphotari to have a seat and to show just what he's made of. And I don't think Senghis is ready. I think Sengogi is at least another season and that Al-A-Siz. for tarry to really adjust. I can't see Albon coming back at the moment, which is a real shame.

It was so quickly being ousted because he got shoved up so quickly. So, yeah, I think Perez is the obvious, likely and sensible choice. I feel like Red Bull are leaning towards that direction, which for just one year, maybe, would be wise. Harry, what do you reckon? Yeah, I agree. I think it's Perez being signed again for next year. I don't see why they would, I don't really see what other option they've got. I'd like to say. Sam said, Gansley's not an option

for whatever reason. Sonoda needs to calm down a little bit. He's obviously not ready for that team. And I think Red Bull have learned from that that they're not going to jump him up straight away. And Perez is, I know it's been up and down this season, but I think

he has already done enough in their eyes. And that, as Sam said, sacrificed his own chance of a couple of points on Sunday to play the team game. nab that fastest lap off of Hounton. So, yeah, I think he'll get signed again because most of the time he is kind of there with Vastappen,

but not in Vostappen's way, in which, you know, it's kind of been the same, that's the situation of Botas and Houghton have been in, and it's worked really down well for them. So I think that would be Red Bull's ideal situation for next year. So, yeah, Paris is safe, right? I think it is Red Bull, So there is every single chance.

The Red Bull team is Yuki Sunoda. I mean, it could be Yuki Sonoda and Liam Lawson in the Red Bull next year. And Max Verstappen demoted to Alfa Tauri alongside Big Zonz, Ricardo Zonter. Like, that's a perfectly feasible explanation for Red Bull. However. What a team would be in the way? Half the Tower will be flying. Simon.

Yeah. Big Zons and Max Verstappen. I'm all over that. I don't think that's going to happen. but you never know. I actually think they will go for Sergio Perez and they'll stick with continuity here because it's something that they have been lacking for a number of years now. If you think it was 2017 and 2018, the last time that they had two full seasons of the same lineup, Daniel Ricardo and what's his name, Max Verstappen? He's so forgettable in it. Is he the championship leader? I mean, I don't know. What's he been up to? I've said big zonts too many.

times. We've got his name in my head now. It will be for the rest of the podcast. But yeah, I think they will stick with what they've got here. Sergio Perez, the last few races has put some doubt to that because it has been not ideal, as a certain Sam Sage would say. It's not ideal. It's not ideal. But I think the race is before that and potentially what's to come. I think that will save him. And yeah, they just need, they need that supporting player for Max Verstappen. And wins in the win in Baku this year, proves exactly what Red Bull have been missing and what Red Bull need, and suddenly they have it and they're in a championship fight.

So I think they'll stick rather than twist here. Let's go to the other three teams where there are two seats up for grabs, rather than just one seat. And they're all towards, well, Alpha Tari is sort of in the middle of the pack, and then two at the two at the back, Alpha Romeo and Williams. So Sam, we'll start with, let's start with Williams. Who do you think is going to be the lineup for Williams next year? Well, if my predictions were to all be succinct, of course, that means that Russell would theoretically move from Williams to Versaegi, so there's already one empty seat.

And as much as, you know what, Big Nick, oh, Nicoliti, Mr Maple Man himself. I really like Nicholas Satifi. I think he's a really nice personality to have on the grid. Now that Williams, though, have different owners. Funges aren't necessarily a problem. Sponsors are starting to come back in nicely. They've still got the Versaegi's backing. do I think they need someone who is essentially a paid driver in their team who, let's face it,

the last few races has not been stepping up to the same incredible level that George Russell has been managing to deliver. He's not being on par. So, I think that Williams go completely clean slate next year. I think Valtry Bottas comes into Williams back to where he was. He's got a link there already. I'm sure he goes lots of the staff. I'm sure as long as Williams can show progression, which I'm sure they've been working on, he'd be quite happy to, to be there again. Not that happy, but quite happy. And I think that

the other city opens up for Pierre Gasley. I don't think Pierre Gasly has anywhere else he can go. I think Pierre Gasly wants to maybe move into a different family of racing and doesn't want to be part of Red Ball and I think this would push him into a different seat with the promise that Williams would continue to move up the table.

This possibly puts him into a Mercedes area where maybe an Aston Martin seat can open up when Vettel leaves or maybe you could go to a McLaren see something as a workout or you never know when Hamilton leaves because he be the person that feels Hamilton's seat to go alongside Russell. There's a lot of futuristic options there. So for me, I think that a fun, exciting and rarely, you know, possibly feasible

line up for Williams next year. It could be Bottas and Gasling. From Williams' perspective, they've got to be happy if it ends up that way. If they know they haven't got George Russell, that's got to be pretty close to optimum solution but Otas and Gassley Sam's going for for the Williams line-up. Harry, what are you saying? I think they will stick with Nicholas Latifi for one more year. I just think that he, I think George Russell is doing more than that car is capable of doing on a Saturday. I know it's showing Latifia up, but I think that just speaks to the different levels. Those two drivers are operating on.

So I think they might keep Latifi for one more year. As for their second seat, I think they'll put in, I was going to say Danny Kfayat, because the content we get out of that would be unreal. The man's been in every job. But no, I'm going to go for Nico Hockenberg. He's going to go back to where he started, similar to Sam's Botas's theory. It's going to go back to where he started. Ike, welcome back.

Thank you. Thank you, Daniel Ricardo. Yeah, and put an experienced hand in that second William seat, Guide Latifi into the next year of, that's one. Probably not guide him, probably just messing up, and then the Tis out of the team. Anyway, yeah, I'm going to get for Hoffberg and Nick as Latifi. Nick and Niko.

Nick, how about that for a lineup? So... Big Nick. Yeah. I mean, interestingly, you've offered up four. completely different names there. So, and in true me form, I'm actually going to take the best parts of both of your answers. Maybe not the best parts, but I'm going to take one name from each of your answers here.

So I also think that Nicholas Latifi will stay. This is what we think is going to happen rather than what we think should happen because I don't know if Nicholas Latifi has earned another season. However, I think he will get it. So I think he'll be in one of those seats. Alongside him, I'm going to go with Valtry Bossas. And I keep going back and forth to coin a great game as we have here. I keep going back and forth on this one and whether Valtry Bottas would actually want the William's seat.

Make no mistake about it. If Valtry Bottas leaves Mercedes, or actually I'll probably rephrase that, if Valtry Bottas is not resigned at this Mercedes, which will be much more likely, he is going to be a a sought-after free agent and pretty much every team on the grid could do with Valtrey Bossas. I know he's not having a good season. He is a quality driver and I think as soon as he is out of that Mercedes

people will soon see, hang on a minute, yeah, this guy can drive. He was up against Lewis Hamilton for a number of years. I think we forgot it. I think he would flourish in a different environment. Williams, through George Russell in the last four races or so, has been, Russell's been proving what that Williams is capable of. It is, in terms of pace at least, it is further forward than it was last year. I know in terms of, in terms of points, it's not necessarily showing at the moment.

But considering what Russell can do in terms of reaching Q3, running in the points, Bossas has got to be given confidence by that. And in a new era, he might think that that William's seat is viable. I think it's William's job to prove to him that this isn't, this isn't the massive downgrade that it looks. it's still something where you can get into the points regularly. You can fight these midfield cars. If they can convince him of that, I think they get him. So I'm going with Bottas and Latifi.

Now the two alphas, we'll start with Alpha Romeo. For me, this one could be the one that goes in about 500 different directions. I don't think anyone's got a solid read on how this is going to go. Of course, we've got Reikinen and Javanazzi in those. seats at the moment. Sam, who's going to be in the seats next year? So, for all you ice baby lovers, unfortunately, I think the time is up. It's time to cut your losses. This is Kimmy's final season in Formula One. It's time for the man to move on. He's not been that quality this year. He had one epic moment in Austria, which we all enjoyed. Don't get

me wrong. It was lovely. But he hasn't really delivered anything else for me. When I say epic moment, I don't mean the crash into Sebastian I mean the lovely defensive move around the outside of of Charlotte Claire. You know, there were, swings around about in that Austrian Grand Prix for him. So I think Kim is gone. I think Kim is gone.

On the other side of the garage, Antonio Giobanatsi, the man that I said should not be in Formula One at the end of last season. I mean, if there was a bag to pull things out of, a drive is what he's pulled down of that bag because that man is bloody brilliant this season.

Great qualifying performances, rang higher than that car should really be, consistency. He is just driving really, really well. I think he's really starting to come into his own. I always think the fans love him. I think he gels well with the team. Genuinely, he's a good fit there at the moment. Whether I think he's a long-term prodigy for the team,

a long-term, exciting prospect. I don't know yet. He's definitely warranted another year. So I think that Giovanni is back. On the other side of the garage where Kimi was, I think it goes down to two drivers. There are other options, but I'm going to keep it relatively short and sweet.

Call my lot, you know, the previous runner-up ish in F2 last season, didn't get a drive, was the Alpha Romeo junior driver,

is an option. The other one would be coming from another team in Fy. And I think that's Mick Schumacher. I think the Ferrari

have a much more enjoyable tie with Alpha Romeo. I don't think Mick enjoys the harsh atmosphere. I don't think he enjoys the pressure

that he's being given in that environment. And a hearse going anywhere, we don't know. And I think Ferrari are really trying to nurture and harness Schumacher. A lot for me is the outside choice.

Schumacher for me is the favourite. I'm going to go with a Schumacher Giavanazzi line up next season at Alfa Romeo. Ari, what do you reckon? I, too, agree with Sam on Giavenatsi. I think he has done enough this year and not enough people talk about him. I mean, we have.

We've noticed, but apparently no commentator notices Giavanazzi doing good things. So I think he has done enough. they'll be interesting to see next year whether these performances have been over-consaturated somewhat by Kimmy maybe falling off the boil, but

we'll see next year. So I think that'll keep GFNazi. And then in the second seat, they're going to go, they're going to replace a fin with another fin and they could have been Dantrey Bottas in that seat. I've heard this. I have heard this on the streets of F1.

I think it would, I mean, Ben, you, all the points you're only made about put them in the Williams. I think it's this absolutely solid, solid cool because, yeah, he is still a quality driver. He's just, yeah, he's been up against Lewis Hamilton, it's a bit difficult. So, yeah, I don't seem, I don't think I'll go for Williams for the reasons I've already stated, but I think we'll go to Alfa Romeo and some fun times there. Geo and Bobbop. That's it. That's the one. It's a, it's a tandem and a half. I think you two have forgotten.

something. You've forgotten something very crucial. Kimmy Reichenen will never leave. Oh, yeah. Oh, sorry, Kimmy. You've clearly forgotten that. I think they will stick. I think Kimi Reikernan will have one more season and I think that they will re-sign him again. It's so old now. Please go. I think they will. And actually, I'm going to raise what I, I am almost certain is going to be an unpopular opinion here. I think Kimmy Reikinen has been about as good as Antonio a juvenilezi this year. I don't think there's anything in it really. I think Gio's had the advantage in qualifying. In the

races, I think Reichen's had, generally speaking, a minor advantage in terms of race pace. Kimmy just keeps on doing stupid things. Think of Austria, for example. He had a great race until the last lap. In terms of race pace, the problem is

he keeps qualifying like 18th place. He then goes and makes up like six places every time. And then in the case Austria. It's like Britain as well. It wasn't necessarily his fault technically with Perez. It was a bit of a racing incident there, but he did a good job in terms of race pace. Again, he was outqualified by Gio, managed to get up ahead of him, thanks to a good start, was ahead of Gio for most of the race, and then had the incident with Perez. So I do think that Reichen has been better than what people are giving him credit for this year. I think he is still

okay as a racing driver. And I actually, there is a reason I think that they go for Reichen and over Geo, which I'll say in a minute after I say who I think the second driver will be. A name already mentioned, I think they take a bit of a left field one. I think they go with Nico Holkenberg and I think they get him on a couple year deal. I think here, if they have to ask over three years or so, who would they rather have, Gio or Holcomberg? I think they go with Holkenberg.

I think he's the better option. And the reason I say that Reichen will stay for one more year and they'll put him in that role rather than Gio, is I think that they are ready for Teo Porcère to come through from Formula 2. Now, Porcère is doing a great job this season in Formula 2. I think he's currently sixth place in the championship. But of the top seven drivers in that championship, all of them are at least 20 years old,

with the exception of Porsche, who is still 17. It is ridiculous how good he is. That upsets me greatly. Oh, yes. It is terrifying. he is he is so good at such a young age my thinking is that he will have another season in formula two and then he will replace reikinen i wouldn't be surprised if they actually just elevate him next season and go for it i think it's a bit risky for my liking they might do that in which case

i think it would be a poor share and holcomburg lineup but um yeah i think i think i think rikin will be keeping that seat warm for when poorshire is ready he doesn't keep anything warm that man is a block of ice with no emotion. He radiates sunshine, what you're talking about. If anyone is for keeping tabs, that means I've got an empty seat at Haast, by the way, and I think that Robert Schwarzman will feel that seat at Haast, by the way. I thought you're about to say Robert Kubitsa for a second.

Bobby Kubitsa! I mean, the last person to score a point in the William so far. Yeah, that's an icon. Isn't it great that the last driver to get a point for Williams was Robert Kubitser. And the last Williams driver's score a win was Malinardo. So there are some strange records at Williams, that's for sure. Let's move on to the last team we'll look at, and that is Alfred Tauri.

So at the moment is Pierre Gazley, Yuki Sonoda, of course. Sam, we already know Pierre Gasley, at least in your books, isn't going to be there. He's already moved off to Williams. But who are the two drivers that will be there? So we'll start with the other gentleman that is currently at the team. Yuki Sengoda, our little rocket Yuki, we love him. I think he'll stay. I think he'll stay for a number of reasons.

Yuki has shown glimpses of great driving. He'll crop off occasionally some strong points. Of course, that first raised at Bahrain, where he sent it around the outside of two-time World Champ. Fernando was spectacular. Of course, they were both backing F1. Let's say for the first time, essentially a long time, obviously, a couple of years out.

So I think Yuki has shown great progress. He's had some mistakes. The man doesn't like to break for corners, and I can respect that, hence the name of the podcast. You know, the guy likes speed. I also, on the other side of things, think that in terms of opening up markets for marketing materials and for selling alpha-towery clothing, Yuki Sanoda is one of the biggest assets, so that racing team has. He opens up an entire demographic that I don't think Formula One have a lot of access to at the moment, apart from when we go to Suzuki. So I think that in terms of money balance as well, Yuki, I think generates a little bit of interest.

Not enough to keep a seat, but I definitely think it is an added bonus that tips scales slightly his way. So I think Yuki stays. I think Yuki will get a couple of years as well. And I think he's a future project for the Red Bull family. Who goes alongside? When I hope Pierre Gassley isn't there, I think currently my option is Yuri Vips. Uri Vips has been showing good promise in the junior formulas. He's come up well.

He races cleanly. He's got a lot of pace behind him. He's very Red Bull family through and through. It seems to fit the agenda that Red Bull have, and he matches what they would like. The guy seems decent. The guy seems like he's got a lot of promise. And, you know, maybe they're...

The scary thing is, because Max Verstappen is only, what, 23 years old. He's going to be around for another 12 years. Uri Vips could be a secondary driver to Max Verstappen, run his career. and leave Red Bull, and Max Verstappen could still be the lead driver, and they might need another one. So I think Yuri Vips is the option. And, of course, when Yuri Vips has run his course as a Formula One driver,

he could be, you know, Vestappen could be partnered by Kimmy Reikinen. It will still be around, so he can fulfil it. You never know. Harry, who have you got? This one's really dull for me. They're keeping the same ones. Oh, that is so boring. Sorry, sorry, it's very bad of me.

You used to know that they're going to keep because he needs more time. I don't want to dump him yet, but yeah, he needs more time in F1, basically. And I don't think Gazis got anywhere to go. I think he'll hold on in Altaire for another year and wait for Mr Alonzo to retire and they go to Alpine. Now I am very insulted that you used my word as a means by which to say I was boring. You were saying, I'll go for the same line up like Ben. And I'm going to surprise you because I'm going for the same lineup. Of course he is.

You know me too well. Yeah, I'm going for Sonoda and Gasly as well. I think Sonoda, look, he's not ready for a Red Bull seat. If Albin and Gasly weren't ready for a Red Bull seat, at least we know that in hindsight, Sonoda's definitely not. And Sunoda's got talent, and I think he'll get there. And questions are about where his ceiling is

and how far up he'll develop. I think he's got a future in F1, but at least for now, it's a bit rough. so he'll stay in Althotarian for one more year. Pierre Gansley's situation could be the strangest one on the entire grid because it's just, it's so weird. He does so well for that team. He pulls in such great results week in and week out.

He delivers. But as you've already referenced, I don't think they're going to, I don't think they have the confidence to put him in the Red Bull seat ever again. I don't, he can't do. much more than what he's already doing. So why do they keep him there? He's getting good results.

So you could argue it's championship position, it's prize money in that respect. But we also know that Alpha Tauri is more than just bringing in the prize money for championship position. It's about developing the drivers of the future. And if they don't see Gassley's having a future within the program, then what are you doing?

So can you drop someone who's doing so well? I don't know if you can. I think Gassie will carry. on and see what things are looking like at the end of that year because it's not looking very promising at the moment.

You know, you've suggested he goes to William, Sam, which, you know, could happen. But at the same time, it's not a, it's not glamorous opportunity.

Maybe he does hold out one more year to see if something a bit more up the grid comes his way, such as possibly the Alpine seat, although at the moment, actually the Alphatarie is looking better than the Alpine.

But I think he'll wait it out a year and see. Sago's got talent is a strange decision by Simon Cowell to make a new game show, but the man goes like I make money. Is it just exactly the same as Britain, America and all other countries got talent, but instead of the Red X's, it's actually just Yuki Sonoda late breaking? Yeah, he just swears at you when you press the button. And the golden Sonoda, as I'll call it,

is just all the debris from where he's crashed lots of times, just raining down on the stage. right we'll get that proposal written up see where that one takes us folks on the discord give me ideas for Sago's Got Talent honestly come into a screen near you

provided that screen is literally just the three of us talking into a vacuum we'll move on we'll move on from that fantastic idea we'll let that one breathe we'll speak about what happened at the weekend because we got into the incident between Lewis Hamilton

to the Max for Staff, and we spoke about that in depth. But at the time we recorded, the backlash, the comments from it hadn't necessarily had a chance to come out. Firstly, just to say, I think we need to kick off this segment with this. The racial discrimination that Lewis Hamilton has faced as a result of this is utterly disgusting. Let us make no bones about that whatsoever. Yeah, and it's good to see at least the teams of

shown solidarity in this in their messaging. In terms of some of the other other things that came out this weekend, there were some dicey comments, shall we say, from the likes of Helmut Marco calling for a ban for Lewis Hamilton. Sam, what did you make about, not quite sure I had a phrase, but how do you, how do you, what did you make of the overall conduct of what happened this weekend? I'm really disappointed. I'm going to put the racism thing to one side because we all know full well that one, it's disgusting and we don't condone that in life or in our sport and just talk about

what actually happened from the officials in the sport here. Helmut Marco himself, Christian Horner, Max Verstappen, the comments that these people have come out with

are really disappointing to hear from people that are so well-respected, so senior, so viewed upon by the younger generations and the rest of the Formula One world, the fact that, like you say,

Helmut Marco's called for a bang, which is ridiculous. We've seen crashes with it. either much worse impact after the crash or much more deliberate accidents happen where bangs haven't been given. Hamilton immediately apologised.

Hamilton immediately comes over the radio to ask if Max is okay. I don't know what more you want. He got a penalty. He served that penalty. He got on with his race. Max Verstappen also has the, I think the cheek.

I think this is a bit out of order. To not congratulate anyone, he's going to be bitter and he's going to go, I think it's disappointing and a sportsman-like, but you celebrate a victory while I'm in hospital. Like anyone on that team is aware he's in hospital.

Everyone saw him get out of the car and walk away. No one knows what condition he's in that is not stable. I think this is a really bitter and disappointing way of discussing things from Maximus Staffing. I'm sorry if you're a Stafford. Usually I'd try and see it from a fair viewpoint. But I really think this is out of order. I haven't seen a capacitor out like this in social media.

In Formula One, I think, actually. I'm really surprised at how low they sunk. And then Christian Horner has just been stoking the thyroid. every bloody opportunity. Toto, how dare you go and speak to the stewards? Not like he's never gone and done that before about anything in his career. You know, Hamilton, how dare he? It's disgusting behaviour. How dare he stick a tire up the inside? You should think twice about that. He's put so much people at so much of risk. The staff on a one G crash. I can't believe that he would even try something like that. It's

ridiculous. It's just silly. They are stoking a fire, staring apart because they are desperate to get something overturned, because they will do anything that they can at the moment to make sure this championship comes home in their favour. And while I admire their willingness to try and win in Formula One, I don't like unsportsmanship behaviour. I think Lewis Hamilton made a mistake and I think he serves his penalty for it. I think Red Bull have put themselves in a much worse position now in terms of the Formula One atmosphere, image, respect levels,

than anything that Hamilton did on track ever. Hamilton made a bad mistake, it wasn't a great move, it turns out, you know. He did what he need to do. Red Bull on the other hand I think they've let themselves down here I don't think this is okay way to conduct yourself where there are so many vulnerable people

young people influential people watching the sport I think you need to be better what do you reckon Harry yeah I look none of it

it's Christian Hornet in particular I don't get it I'm not supporting what he's saying but I think he's the one he's the person on Sunday

everyone's sticking a microphone in his face. He's annoyed. He's emotional. So from that point of view, I can understand he's saying these things. Past the weekend, when he's had a few hours to sleep on it, calm down, whatever, then come on, give it rest. We know Helmut Marco

chats a lot out of his ass most of the time. I remember Toby Camp, everyone, back in 2020. And yeah, the Max one as well. Again, I know it wasn't that long after the race. I think he'll come to regret that social post. what he said on there

it was yeah he was clearly still raw from the crash from the incident and what it means to his championship etc that I think he should have waited to post anything and I think the

thing that this highlights is we've never really had you know a fierce championship battle between two teams in the age of and I mean the proper age of social media. If you think the last time, we obviously have Rosberg-Hannleton, but that's slightly different

because there was same team. Before that, you've got to go all the way back to 2012, Alonzo Vettel. I mean, Twitter was around, but who knew how to use Twitter back in 2012? I certainly didn't. I was an egg. Well, yeah, everyone was an egg. Everyone remembers that.

So I think what this to me highlights is just these people within F-1 these figures. And I I don't necessarily by the accusation that these comments have contributed to the obviously disgusting racial abuse that Hamilton's received. But I think what these figures need to realise is that their comments go so far and so wide now across the internet, social media, etc., TV, whatever. And I know it's hard because they're emotional about what happened on track, but they just got to try. try harder to rain it in because they say just like what you just see it like a quote like the

um the horner one about toto shouldn't go to the spirits i'm sure he said that off-handedly in an interview at some point on sunday monday it's gone everywhere it's just it just gets blasted everywhere so um yeah i that is they should they should they need to calm it down um you know and Horner and we've spoken about this already on the podcast, getting bit, you know, bit bitchy with each other earlier this year before there was any crashes. And we said it was fine, but it was getting to the point of, like, not enjoyable. And I think we've got to that point now.

So, yeah, I just think, and I'm sure they'll all look back at it and regret what they've said. But I think it just needs a bit more awareness of what they're saying in the heat of the moment, which I appreciate it very hard. to do but try out. Yeah. So because so much has been said by a number of different parties, number of different people, I think it's fair enough to judge each person in their own sort of sphere rather than just blanket it. So it would be easy enough to say that Red Bull's response to this has been despicable. But at the same time, I think that's maybe slightly unfair. If

just blanketing the whole organization and saying that it's inappropriate from all sides. I think it's wiser to look at the individuals here, most significantly, the likes of Marco, Vestappan and Christian Horner. But it is a tough one. And I'll start with Helmut Marco because I don't have a lot of time for a lot of what Helmut Marco says, to be completely honest. we have to remember there there is a line here and it's really important to be on one side of the line and not the other there is up to a point you can you can disagree you know you can disagree i disagree with a lot of

what people say in formula one and that's absolutely fine there comes a point where that disagreement then goes into it's completely inappropriate for you to say those things so it's important for example christian horn is saying that hamilton's move was amateurish i don't agree with that i don't think it was amateurish at all at the same time he's entitled to his opinion on that and i've got no no problem with him saying that but some of the comments i i don't i think go a bit too far helmet marco suggesting that the hamilton should be banned and he's he's actually apparently hired a lawyer to fight this one and fight the penalty that he's been given honestly i i don't even i'm not even insulted by this it's just

Put your efforts elsewhere. Look, Red Bull have lost a lot of points as a result of what happened. And if you think it's Hamilton's fault, which a lot of people do, all three of us have said that we believe the fault lies with Hamilton on this incident. They have every right to be angry with what happened and disappointed with the result. Turn that into fuel, on track next race. Focus on coming out next race and beating Lewis Hamilton by 30 seconds, putting it to bed and Max Verstappen's championship lead is up close to where it was in the first instance.

Put your energy in that. Don't put your energy into fighting a legal battle about a penalty that was applied at the last race. How on earth are you going to say that the stewards gave this incorrectly wrong? The stewards have no consistency. You can't say there's a precedence even. You can't say, well, every other incident has also, that's been like this, has all been drive-through penalties. You can't say that because one week the stewards are asleep and don't do anything. And then the next week they do give a drive-through penalty.

So you can't refer back to incidents and say, well, look at how it happened there. I think they should just fight this on track. Don't bother with the legal stuff. Christian Horner saying that, again, this is another one, Christian Horner saying that Toto Wolfe shouldn't have seen the stewards. I agree with the point. I actually don't think the stewards, in terms of a physical meetup, I don't think that should happen.

And I think they should be left to their own devices. emails only. Emails only from Big Toes. But it has absolutely no merit coming from Christian Horner because you know if the roles were reversed, as they have been in the past, you know Christian Horner would have taken the opportunity to speak to them. So it doesn't mean much coming for him. I don't quite buy Christian Horner doing this out of his love for the sport and the integrity

of the sport. Not quite buying that one, Christian. And then in terms of Max Verstappen, Max Verstappen is the one. I'm trying my best to see this from his perspective and understand. Because if we just dial it back, Max Verstappen has been involved in a massive high-speed crash where he has gone into the wall at a ridiculous pace and he's had to go to hospital, even if it is precautionary as a result of this. And on the way to hospital, he is not going to have seen the replays that we've seen.

We all admitted that after the race, we were there looking at the replays, trying to judge who was at fault. Thanks for Stappan has not seen that. So he is perfectly entitled to think that he is in the right and that an incident where he is not in the wrong could have killed him. He has every right to be angry in that spot. And I understand that. The thing is he made the comment hours after it happened. He's got time to calm down after that.

And I think it was an inappropriate response from him. To call it disrespectful and unsportsmanlike, that crosses a line that I'm not happy with. unfollowing him on Instagram, I think it was. Honestly, come on, come on, Max. Come on, you're better than that. I don't know. I think generally speaking, Max Vestappen has matured quite well over the last few years,

but there are still a few incidents where I just have to sort of squint and go, come on, come on, Max, really? I don't think it, I agree with what you said. I think in time he will regret that response. like I say, I try to see it from his side. I'm trying to understand like the incident that he was involved in and how genuinely terrifying it must have been. I think after a certain point after the race,

you should have enough control to not go full head of steam on social media like he did. This is entirely off point. But me saying I don't, no one knew how to use Twitter in 2012. Do you remember in 2012 when Hamilton tweeted the data overlays? I completely forgot. That's what I mean. No one knew. Even New South and didn't know how to use Twitter in 2012.

Neither did Ed Bulls, to be fair. This is going to need a reference. Ed Bulls, for anyone who doesn't know, possibly across the pond, is a politician based in the UK, who, when he was learning Twitter, accidentally just tweeted his own name. And now every year,

on that date, we celebrate Ed Bulls Day. Ed Bulls Day. Every year without fail. Very obscure reference, but here we are. Let's move on to our last segment of today, and you'll be delighted to hear Pump the Brakes is going to make a return. Pump the break! I love that.

Sure and sweet. Always gets me. Pump the brakes. All three of us will give an appeal. can be anything related to the world of F1. The other two of us have to say whether they should keep going with that opinion, that's absolutely fine, or whether they should pump the brakes. And as you will know, if you've already listened to one of these before,

if the other two people both think that they should pump the brakes, the gunge comes out. Dave! Dave's coming! That was an unfortunate phrase to say right before that. Yeah. And, you know, Dave Benson Phillips comes along as he always does and does the gunging. Thanks, Dave. Again, I know we said this last time and we will do this for the next time that we play, but we will look to reduce the length of that sound effect because it is way too long. It's a long painful voice. It's still double the length of the actual pump the brakes theme song.

Right. Sam, get us going here. What have you got us? an opinion. Formula One misses having tire wars and multiple tire suppliers in Formula One. I think it will be a better place if we have at least one more tire provider. And I think we should bring it back. Harry?

I know I'm going to say pump the brakes. Oh. Oh. Well, if I tell you to pump and breaks, Dave makes an appearance. Should a tire war come back in Formula? It's been a long time since we've had one now. I've been a long time for Pirelli, like 10 years now.

Yeah. However, I believe that one tire supplier is better than two. So... Damn you! No, Dave, don't do it to me. I don't want to be... Oh, it's so cold and wet. In this heat, that would be lovely, by the way.

I would take it, go, Jim. Yeah. In fairness to you, Sam, I feel like you... I don't know, this is a guess. I feel like the masses might agree with you. I feel like it's not a massively unpopular opinion, but you've managed to find two people who don't agree with you. Funnily enough, I do.

thoroughly enjoy just having Pirelli as a as the supplier. I like having one supply. I like having all teams on the same option. I think it makes races very fair, but I like the drama of a tyre war. So there you go. Well, I'll change my mind if Pirelli keep in keep having too many one-stop races. Keep keep up the two stops Porelli of always my opinion changes and I know how much that means to you. Harry, what's your opinion? My opinion is that Silverstone is not a very good racetrack and when I say racetrack, it's not a very good track for great races.

For what races? Great, good, exciting. You're a feel! I've never hit breaks harder than this. I've installed regenerated braking on my pump the brakes to keep breaking over time because this is so wrong. You are wrong. I get where you're coming from. I think it is of the Suzuki ilk,

of it's a great race track that isn't necessarily producing fantastic races year in, year out. Having said that, I love, I love like the Brooklyn's complex there. I love Stowe Corner. I'll tell you to pump the brakes. It's a double gunging.

Dave's getting back tonight. I'm, I do see your point though. By the way, I love Silverstone the track. I think it's a great track, but just in terms of really exciting races, it's no Montreal. It's no, it's no Sochi. It's, yeah, precisely.

Yeongam. Eat your heart out. Eat your heart out South Korean Grand Prix. Yeah, so two for two. I was going to say, I was going to say you're fine with that opinion, but Dave is sort of tugging at my shoulder, like, come on, give me another chance. So, let me do the dunking. Exact words.

Let's see if it's going to be three out of three. My pump the brakes. The current Formula 2 schedule in terms of its placement on the calendar and also the weekend format is absolutely garbage. Oh, no, I completely agree with you. Hard agree that. Sorry, Dave. It sucks. Sorry, Dave.

It's not another bloody F2 race until September. What is up with that? I want at least like one to two a month. They are so good. They are just as fun as F1. Sometimes more fun than F1. And these guys need more time behind a wheel. Do more racing.

And I know that they're doing three races this year per week. It's two. The old format was great in terms of having two races per week. I think three is just, it makes it so difficult, even for massive racing fans as ourselves, to keep up if you're, I don't know, it's, there's only so many hours in a day. And it does make it somewhat difficult to keep up with every single race that happens. You are completely right. And I hate that you are completely right. Yeah, that's annoying.

Yeah. It doesn't happen very often. Before we move on from pump the brakes, I've discussed this live on air, folks. Boy, David, I'm going to bring this up. Maybe, if you want to be featuring on Pump the Brakes, submit your opinion on the Discord and we'll gung you if you're right or wrong. You know, you don't have to. It could be fun.

I'll let's go. We'll do a pump in the Discord. We'll do a Pump the Brakes channel. You can just submit your Pump the Brakes. This is, folks, this is a live content meeting you're having right here. This is how our meeting is get. You're with us. If anything, if like a share, there aren't a lot of money going around.

If anything, we should probably have our content meetings live on air because it would probably keep it more formalized than structured. Yeah, true. I think we'd actually get more done. Sorry, folks. We're quite easily distracting if you haven't realised blank. If you knew to this, well, well done for sticking with us for 55 minutes because it can really go off the rails. Yeah. And if you are absolutely done with us, don't worry, we're going to wrap things up here.

Sam, I mean, you've literally just mentioned the Discord, but if, for those of you that maybe, I don't know, missed the start or want to hear it again, Sam, just let everyone know what we've got going on there. So, folks, we have created a late-breaking podcast Discord. If you don't know what Discord is, Discord is basically like a Facebook Messenger service, but it's for people that all like one topic.

Our topic, of course, is Formula One. So we've got a link in the... I know. You've been talking a lot. about golf then. We decided on golf in particular. Sorry. Sorry, it's F1. Folks, if you are here for golf, you'll need to move along.

The link is in the bio. Click on it, join it. You don't have to be involved in every conversation. You can speak once a month if that's all you want to do. There's no obligation that you need to chat all the time or to anyone at all. If you just want to watch, just watch. But please do, give it a try. Come and get involved in the community. We've got

lots of little group chats you can get involved with one now being the pump the breaks. We'll also be hosting our latest podcast. It will release on there as well, so you can access it through there. And there'll be lots of other things. You can ask us any questions you want, or get topics heard as well. You really will have more of an input, and we always want to hear more from you. And this is probably the best way now to do it. So please do give it a try. Download the app on your phone. It's completely free. Give it a try, why not? You never know what you're going to miss out on. I hope you've enjoyed the podcast.

We are going to be back, of course, next week. No race this weekend. We're back next week to preview the Hungarian Grand Prix. Hopefully it's an absolute delt. We've had some good ones as a recent. So stick with you. with us for then. Thank you all for your support as well. It's been massive recently. We have really seen more and more of you joined recently. It is hugely appreciated one of us. I can't believe you've listened to talk for this long. I've been Sang of Sage. I've been Ben Hockey. Having big zons. And remember, keep breaking late.

Dave! Find more great shows or join the team at sport-ssocial.com.com. The podcast is part of the Sport Social Podcast Network.