The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Could AUDI be Plan A for Sainz?!

Episode Date: August 9, 2023

Ben, Sam & Harry consider Sainz's future amid rumours of a pre-contract with Audi for 2026. They also discuss whether George Russell's performance is a cause for concern and Domenicali's promise of news in September of any new F1 teams. They finish off with a mid-season update of Teammate Wars & a game of F1: Higher or Lower... FOLLOW us on socials! You can find us on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok SUPPORT our Patreon for bonus episodes JOIN our Discord community JOIN our F1 Fantasy League BUY our Merch EMAIL us at [e-mail]   & SUBSCRIBE to our podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. And a very warm welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Eid, Sam Sage and me, Ben Hocking. Sam, have you got any summer break coping strategies? Because I know we're only over a week in it, but I could do with some F1 now. Well, I did think I would just cry for four weeks. This guy's crying.

Well, I know, and I thought no one would notice because I could walk down the road, sobbing. That's bleak. Playing Travis, why is it always raining on me? James Blunt. It's got a cracking voice. But I have also thought about taking up line dancing. I've seen this.

Please don't. I think it looks so good when they all do it. And it's always to Sean Kingston. Fire. Fire burning in the sand's for that one. Who is line dancing to that? That's it. I all do it.

They will do little cowboy hat moves with their legs and twist and bop. I think it looks so good. Where have you seen this? Sick top. Okay. When we come to Texas, if anyone would like to take me line dancing, and the guys can watch and laugh if they really want to, but I will bust it down.

Ben, I imagine right now, because I too and feeling this, you regret asking that question? I'm so dumb with you too already and we are two minutes in It's a really good show Welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast What have I done? Oh yeah, it's a good point

Done with Sam It's two minutes in it Says everyone in my life This is a line dance coach Do you have any coping strategies, Harry? Yeah, not C-San Line dancing Away from me

I know it Just to move away stylishly Oh, it's a terrible start for the show. It really is. But what do we have on today's show? F1 higher or lower. You could do some line dancing to that theme a bit later.

You could. That's very country. We've got a mid-season review of teammate wars coming up a little bit later on. Fun times. Any concerns over George Russell's performances to this point in the season? but we're going to start with Carlos Sines. There have been some comments from Carlos Sines recently. He was speaking to auto action, and he said the following.

I do prefer starting a season already knowing where I'm going to be the following year. Because that takes away the distraction that there always is to be negotiating a new contract when you need to be fully focused on what you're doing on track and on the work you have to do with the team you're currently with. While it's still early days and the end of the season is still some four months away, it's true that once this championship will be over, I'll fully focus on sorting my future. The goal is to go into the 2024 championship

without any worries about it and my contract for the future already signed and sealed. Based on his comments, Sam, do you think that this points to him looking at another deal with Ferrari, or do you think he might be looking elsewhere? I mean, I can't blame the guy firstly for having a little bit of anxiety

and wanting to kind of bed down his future as soon as possible. Formula One is a treacherous. sport and you could be out of a seat as fast as you could be in one, you know, it's like a pogo stick. One moment you're in the ground, the next moment you're 10 foot in the air. You never know what's going to happen next. So, yeah, going with it. Um, so my point is here that I kind of respect the fact that he wants to get done and dusty. Doesn't want any funny business. Doesn't want to be like Lewis Hamilton wait until the end of February to sign on him for his deal for that season. Yeah. Don't do it again. It is. Yeah. Where's he going to go next?

And he was signing on the 27th of, as we said last time. Yeah. to break content. Keep it rolling. But at the same time, I actually think that this can really limit a driver. If you want to sign your future away so early on, then you are really negating any opportunity to take advantage of, you know,

other drivers leaving, other drivers moving. You might have an absolute blinder of a season. And then in the summer break, I don't know, let's just hang around to say, Red Bull want your back mate. And when you're sitting next to Max Verstappen,

you've got a chance to win both championships. Oh, sorry, at the start of the year, I've already signed away next year, or possible a multi-year deal. So it does have its positives and negatives. In terms of the teams that he can end up going to, I think he thoroughly enjoys the Ferrari image, just Carlos signs.

I think it suits him. You know, it's a very smooth operator, unlike Ferrari. And I think, you know, as a very handsome young gentleman... God, he's good looking. Oh, he's a good-looking chap. He looks fantastic in that Ferrari red, does Carlos. That's a great point. I will sign on to a lot of things

if I look good in it. I'm not going to lie. Like line dancing. So I do think that... I do think there is... I think he likes the prestige of Ferrari and I think much like the Claire, there is a real...

Maybe childhood dream to be, you know, racing for Ferrari and that's where they want to see their career. At the same time, I don't know if he's convinced that Ferrari are moving in the direction that he wants. And equally, has he done enough to secure a comfortable future? Okay, he beat the Claire

in his opening year, not by a lot, and you'd argue that if you actually went back and looked at the results one by one, that LeCler was very unlucky in that first year that they were going up against each other. I think he had something like double the DNF's due to reliability that Carlos Sikes picked up, and that was actually where the gap kind of happened between the two of them. In the second year, LeCler quite handedly beat Carlos Sikes. And whilst Carlos Sites was beating LeCleur this season up to a couple of races ago, no podiums, the Clur's picked up a couple now,

and you'd argue that most races are quite comfortably moving in LeCleur's favour, not flavour. So if he's content, I think, with being, you know, the future backup driver at Ferrari, which I think that's where it's going if we're being realistic. Sure, why not? They make a solid driver pairing. We all know that realistically it's the drivers that aren't the problem at Ferrari. It's Ferrari.

There are the problem at Ferrari. Or do you do something like what Lewis Hamilton did when he took a risk at moving to Mercedes. You hear their plan out early. You get your foot in the door very early on in their journey. and you trust that they think we've got the time, the ability, the money, the resource to turn our team into a world beats almost immediately, you know, within a season or so,

and we will be fighting at the very front, and you will be our lead driver. And I think there's an excitement in that, and that sounds really great, but there's also a massive risk. Because if how did he turn up, which is the other rumoured team that he might be talking to, he could be absolutely in the mud.

He could find himself back where he was when, you know, McLaren were fighting for maybe fifth with him, you know, just close enough to Ferrari. It could be even further down. What if happens when they're fighting with the likes of Toro Rosso and it's not progressed anywhere, or where Renault work, now Alpine. There is a huge risk for signing onto a team

that theoretically don't actually exist. And if you look at what Alfa-Mo Salba are doing now, which is what Audi will buy into, of course. They're not exactly setting the world on fire. They're not filling you with excitement and hope. So I don't know what this dictates for Carlos Sites's future exactly, but I do feel like he's going to give himself away very prematurely and will not allow maybe a scenario to manifest for him where he can

actually, you know, dress to impress, so to speak, where he can turn up at the ball and be the one that they all want to go for a little dance with. I just think that, I think he's going to sign himself away too quickly, personally. What are you thoughts, Harry? Do you think that this does point to him looking at another contract with Ferrari? I think it could do. Oh, come on, man. I can see a thing's out there because you're not sat on it on this chair instead. This is, we are fully in

summer break silly season content right here because, you know, we're talking about contracts. I feel like it was what we do now in the summer break. Last year it was old piastri.

True. Sorry, well I'm saying that's not happened again this year. I mean, I thoroughly enjoyed the Otmar saga last year and he has kind of dipped back in again this year. Or dip down. Dip dab.

Yeah, I think this is, there are a few rumours floating about, about Carlos signs. I think this, this, for me, points towards him wanting to, he's given a message to Ferrari to say,

look, come on, because, well, nothing's been confirmed with either of the drivers, but the rumours are that LeCler has signed on

for a few more years. Why? Why? One year deal. What is wrong with a one year deal these days? Stop it, Charles, mate. You're,

literally one of the project, I can't say it, one of the biggest talents if one, prodigal, prodigal son. Prodical son's a Formula One right now.

When you said flavour just now reminded me of when Christian Honour wanted the curry flavour. That was so weird. Much curry flavour? Yeah, so but the, the, the strong rumour is that

the Lecler is staying around for a few more years. My can't speak now either. It's like, it's catching. But they're sort of dithering a bit on Carlos Sines for one reason or another. I think it's trying to get Lewis Hamilton. Well, I think it's clear what reason.

He's not performing. They're trying to get Louis Sampleton. I think also they're fed off of his sass to the pit wall. Fair. The thing that saves after the races. They should be thankful for the sass. Otherwise they wouldn't score any points. Freddie Sasser.

Yeah, exactly. So I think this for Carlos is him saying, o'y, Freddie, sasser. Put the paperwork down. Yeah, I want a beer for the long term. And also in turn, this is why I was doing a classic fence set. I think he's also projecting that out to other teams to be like, I'm here for the long term. Boy, Audi.

Howdy. Howdy, Audi, he would say, would Carlos. Look, I want to get my future sorted now and I want to be around for a long term. For Carlos, there's not like, I guess between, I'm sorry, I've jumped a bit onto the Audi bit, but between Ferrari and Audi, they're both projects. That Ferrari is almost as much of a project as Audi is effectively.

That is, I'm not saying it's untrue, but it's savage. Savage, you are not wrong, I don't think. Because, but they both need building back,

well, back up. Ferrari need building back up. Audi need building. And I think maybe that's what he's after. He's after a bit of a project. So, yeah,

I think this is mainly directed at Ferrari, but at the same time, he's not, he's not just, I think that's the likely choice he'd go for but I think he's saying, well, maybe. Maybe I won't stay with you if you're not going to commit to me. Well, maybe.

It might not be up to him. Might not be up to Carlos or tall. Yes. Yeah. It's an interesting point because I feel like Carlos signs is somewhere in the middle in terms of, if you've got one end of the scale where you've got Bottas's contracts at Mercedes, right?

Mercedes were always in control of that situation. What's Bottas going to stay another year? it was always fully on Mercedes. On the other end of the scale, you might have someone like, I don't know, Leclair or Norris, who if they want to be around, they'll be around.

Carlos signs are somewhere in the middle. Does signs have the control here? Does Ferrari have the control? It's a bit more difficult to judge, I think. But he has stated that his priority is winning with Ferrari. That is what he wants to do. The question is,

can they give it to him? Do you believe in Ferrari? Because if his own, options are not winning with Ferrari or winning elsewhere, he will take winning elsewhere, I'm pretty sure. So I guess the overarching question is, does he believe in Ferrari? But if you're being more specific, I guess the question is, does he believe in Freddie Vass? Does he believe in the vision that Freddie Vass has for the team?

Because if the answer is yes, then realistically he's probably going to stick around. But if the answer is no, then suddenly other options, and I think you're right that he is somewhat projecting out to all teams, not just Ferrari, by saying this, then suddenly options are on the table for him. I would say if you're looking to move away from Ferrari and I like to bash Ferrari more than anyone, if you're looking to move away from a team like that,

you've still got to be pretty sure about yourself because whilst they might not be competing for championships or even wins in most instances, they are still one of the top teams in the sport. And it's not easy to walk away from that, regardless of who you're going to, whether it's a brand new team like Audi or even if it's an established team.

It is always a risk. Ask Daniel Ricardo. You know, Daniel Ricardo might be the last driver that walked away from a good team and look at where it's got him. He's... Sorry, Ben, the last person to walk away from Ferrari, Fernando Alonzo? A good team.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I think, yeah, Longsworth are supposed to do. I know Ben was paying the point about good team, but actual leaving Ferrari. Well, I mean, Vettel, but I guess he'd technically get ousted. He got ousted. Yeah. I think Alonso's probably the last one who truly left. And that went well.

Yeah, exactly. Beating a man, aren't he? It's only taken nine years. Yeah. So in the instance of Alonso, in the instance of Ricardo, where, you know, Ricardo has, in five years, managed to go from a good sea, a Red Bull to a makeshift seat, at the junior team, it hasn't worked out for him. So you need to be sure.

My point here is you need to be sure of yourself if you're moving away from someone like Ferrari. Carlos Seins has always stated that he is desperate for, and I think he stated there's possibly more than any driver on the grid, how much he values the consistency and security of a contractor in F1. He often spoke in his, and I know you somewhat mentioned this, Sam, in terms of his Torrosso time and then he's moved to Renault. and then he went to McLaren.

One of the things he often mentioned was he never felt at one with the team because he wasn't there long enough to really leave a lasting impression. And suddenly he's here in year three with Ferrari, and you feel like he's actually got an opportunity to stay at a team long term. So I think he values that possibly more than nearly any other driver on the grid. And I don't know. The question is, would Ferrari give him multiple years? I'll go to you, Sam.

I know you've sort of questioned whether Ferrari would want to do this. If you're in Freddie Vass's shoes right now, what's your line of thinking? What are you looking to do? Maximum I signed Carlos Sanks to the new engine regulation period. So a one-year extension. Yeah, currently he gets a lot. He's not being enough.

And I do think for Carlos Sikes, you know, the next team that he signs for, I think could potentially be his last proper F-1 team. I think he might be exhausting his options at this point. Brotal. Not out of lack of talent, but it's already been to half the bloody grid. True.

He is working his way around. What do you think, Harry, if you're in Freddie Bust and shoes right now, what direction are you leaning in terms of an extension or waiting it out? What do you think? Yeah, I don't know with science, because is that,

The thing that Ferrari need right now is, is that another driver change? I know they haven't had one for a couple of years, but, but what, unless, unless they are getting Lewis Hamilton, which is not going to happen. Who would you put in there that's more exciting at the moment? Norris? But yeah, but he's not going to. Why would Norris leave McLaren to go to Ferrari? Yeah, yeah. And my point is, like, the options available to Ferrari.

I don't, I don't think so. I'm not saying do an Astaban on and I sign him up for 40 years, but, but I put him on to maybe a couple of years extra. because I think they need a couple of years extra maybe with a clause in it but I think for Ferrari they just need the consistency and changing drivers is like another element that they, I don't think they need to do right now.

They've got other problems and I think the drivers are not that they're not the problem. Yeah, I think the question you ask yourself is if, you know, by dumb luck, it feels like Ferrari suddenly get a car that could go the distance and over a season could win both titles, is Carlos Sikes the man in theory

to back up LeCler to win the constructors? Do you have the facing him to do that? Yes. I think yes. There you go, I probably do. Answered your question. So I'd, I would keep, um... But I guess the question you have to ask Carlos Slicense is, does he want to be the guy that backs up?

Tell him that. No, of course not. Hush tones. She's put it in really small writing. Yeah, like in white ink on white paper. The Rubens Barakello clause. You will be the second driver. Yeah.

Yeah, and I, you know, he might have the opportunity. Let's say to be the centrepiece. at Audi, but you then have to ask the question, what is he being the centerpiece of? Is it going to be a situation like Mercedes where they absolutely nail the regulations in 2026 and Carlos Seins is in a good position to win a title? Or is he going to be the number one attraction at a team that scores five points all season? Because there's a huge difference in that. You know, if I'm, I'm Freddie Vassar right now, I'm cautious because I would say Carlos

signs is of similar ability to, say, Sergio Perez. I think they're pretty similar. And if you look at Sergio Perez's situation, he signed a contract extension after winning the Monaco Grand Prix, if I remember correctly, last year to take him to the end of 2024. So at the point at which he signed that contract, he had another two and a half years remaining on his deal. And now if you're, which is a shrewd move, I think, from Perez, but if you're in Red Bull's position now, you're probably thinking, I would have quite like the flexibility at the end of this year to make a decision about what we do with the second seat, but they don't have that because they locked him up very early.

And I think they probably don't want that with Carlos Sines. Into prison. Locked him up. I think that at the end of the day, the teams always end up holding the power realistically. Because if you as a team can produce a car that can win races, then the driver will want to be with you. And with a driver,

there's no guarantee that the team you move to is at risk. Whereas as a team, realistically, imagine if Ferrari do a Red Bull next season, they're the only team that realistically can win a race most of the season. No matter who those drivers are, their chances of winning a championship, pretty much I would say 80% of the grid

could go on and win a title in that Red Bull car over everyone else in the field. It's that good, right? So Sikes, I don't think, has the power over Ferrari in this situation. I'd say less than 80%. Yeah, I was going to say it's quite high. I reckon there's only four or five drivers that if you were to put them as a pairing, one of them is good enough to beat the rest of the grid in that car.

I mean, how many are better than Paris is scraping it? No, but I'm saying remove, like if you're saying this is Ferrari and they've got two empty seats, right? Like they can oust Lecler and science to smaller teams. They bring two other drivers in. I reckon most drivers would be able to beat the rest of the grid if the car was that good. They wouldn't flounder enough to cost them the title. No, I disagree with that. Oh, I know.

Sorry, the Red Bulls are second faster. I just feel like most drivers would be able to turn that around. I see the point you're getting at, Hamilton and Alonzo by a bigger margin. And yes, I'd be more convinced. But he's beating them. But Perez is a pretty good driver. Yeah, he's in the 50%.

Oh, 70% to go around. A lot of numbers. A lot of numbers to kick off the podcast. We're going to take our first short break. On the other side, we will be discussing George Russell. Okay, before we talk about George Russell, we'll go to the other side of Lay Big Wet,

as our good friend Bungers would say. Some very, very good news. I mean, we launched our, if you didn't listen to Sunday's episode, we have launched our COTA event for when we're there for the United States Grand Prix. So it's the Thursday before the race. And we started selling some tickets on Sunday,

which is two days before. we're recording now, exclusively for Patreon at the moment. Almost half songs. Thank you so much, guys. You crazy people. Still are slightly astounding every time I look at the numbers. Yeah. You're all mad.

Also, to emphasise, I know this sounds ridiculous. If you want to get tickets, you might have to get a bit of a shiftier on. This is not a selling tactic at all. It is. Buy them now because they're going like hotcakes. Do I ever had a hot cake? No, I was born after 1920. I wasn't.

Had cake that is hot. I love warmed up like chocolate cake. Oh man. Oh, it's heavenly. Off the point. Get your hand out the way of the camera, man. That's why I was outskirts. Anyway, so yeah, please buy some tickets.

They are only available to Patreon. Until the 20th of August. But you can sign up to Patreon and you can sign up to Patreon and you can then get them. And after that, then it's a bloody free-for-all. And there might not be many left. Or any. Who knows?

Just to say, it's also, it's a, I know Ben, you keep calling it an event, which obviously it is momentous, but it's like we're doing a show. An event sounds like we're doing. Yeah, there'll be, in theory, will be on the podcast. It's a live podcast recording. You'll get to watch it and be a part of it.

Yeah. And there'll be food and drinks. You get a free drink complimentary as part of your ticket. There'll be a bit of a Q&A and a chat and we'll all mull around. Doing a Q&A? Yeah, wow. Sam's promising things we've not even agreed upon. I'm sure at some point someone will ask me a question.

I'm going to answer. Ben will be watching Sam do a Q&A. Sat in the room in the back. Yeah. So that's where you can expect. But anyway, massive thank you from all of us here at late breaking. Let's move on. George Russell.

He's not at it all his own way this year, has he? At least versus last year. He certainly kicked off last year very well in comparison to his teammate, Lewis Hamilton. this year, not quite so much. He's currently sixth place in the championship, sat on 99 points with one podium so far this year. His teammate Hamilton on 148 points.

He has four podiums to his name. Sam, do you have any concerns whatsoever about George Russell's performances? Yeah, he's a little bit of a side pod merchant. I was going to bring this up. I swear to God. He's a what? A side pod merchant.

He could only race when there's no side pod merchant. He can only race when there's no side pod merchant. iPods. I saw this yesterday and I can't believe you said it. I had to do it for Venter. It's a harsh statement. Disgusting. It's a harsh statement.

You know, I mean, I feel like we all kind of predicted that there might be, you know, a bit of a lull after the great round that he had last season. We didn't all predict it. We're going to find that one out later. Stay tuned. I'm excited. But my point here is, you know, most of us predicted that Russell, who, I think it had a big of a shockingly good start to his life at Mercedes.

And we know the reasons behind this. Not only is the sensational talent, but, you know, there were some burdens being placed upon Lewis Hamilton doing the setups and running different parts and things like that. And it meant he excelled. And he had a fantastic time, of course, at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where he was, he picked up his first victory, which is fantastic. But this season has kicked off negatively. And I think it's gone downhill progressively.

He kind of started okay. I think qualifying has been his biggest issue so far this season. Nine out of the 12 qualifiers, he's being outside the top six, or sixth or further back, which, you know, when you think about all the teams that are qualifying right now, he's not up with it.

He's not the card behind the Red Bull. He's not, you know, third, fourth, he's not on that second row of the grid. That is, what, 75% of your qualifying is six. No more percentages. We're maxed out. Percent there. Ironically, we're playing F1 higher and lower later on,

but at least for now, I've used 100% of my percentage is on this podcast. Yeah. Yeah. Anyway, and I think that's where his downfall is coming. The same with what's happening with Sergio Perez at Red Bull. And I think we have to give them the same criticism that when you're not giving yourself the best leg up on a Sunday,

you're not allowing yourself to flourish when the points actually matter. You know, he's not being inside the top five of once other than... If you do a percentage, you must have got a got off a goal. No, I just not, no. I think he got fifth place in Silverstone, and then I think since that, he hasn't qualified in the top five again since Australia. So, you know, it's not good. He's not on a positive run. And I think that unlike Hamilton, he picked up, of course, the pole in Hungary, he is more often than not fifth or above, which allows him to get a good start.

And even when the races aren't necessarily in the Mercedes cars' car's favour, he can regularly pick up the points. He's staying out of trouble. he's not having to overtake that car isn't dominant so it is not easily cutting through the midfield like it once did. I just think that he needs to be less in trouble on a Saturday and he'll have a lovely time on a Sunday.

Nice. But yeah, I am a bit... I'm not worried. I'm not thinking, oh God, here we go, the downfall of George Russell, get him out the seat next season. It's a blip. He'll recover.

I think he's got more than enough talent to recover, but he does need to recover it. I think the second half of the season is important, I think, for his own morale. Just give him a bit of a G up, a boost. I'd say how good his season was last year is almost the driver of this conversation now. In that he outperformed, I think, nearly everyone's expectations last year. That's fair.

To the point where I think if you'd said beginning of last season, at the middle of this season, there would be 49 points between the two drivers. You'd probably say, yeah, all right, he's not. as good as Lewis Hamilton, but that's fine. But the fact that he did so well last season has actually got us questioning whether something's missing or not. I'm not particularly worried or concerned when it comes to George Russell. I would agree that most of the concerns are indeed, I think probably all of the concerns

come from qualifying rather than race pace. I still maintain that I don't think there really is much to separate between Hamilton and Russell on a Sunday. But in most instances, George Russell is having to recover more people. positions than Lewis Hamilton is, and that is always going to result in a deficit at the end of the Grand Prix. I don't think it's quite as pronounced as the Vastapen-N-Perez gap. I think it's of a similar nature, but I don't think it's quite as pronounced as those two drivers, but certainly where you're having to recover from a Q1 elimination in Hungary as an example, and even his one podium of the year,

which was the Spanish Grand Prix, he came from outside of the top 10 in order to do that. Again, I feel like in that race, as soon as he'd recovered from 11th and he'd managed to get into the top three, him and Hamilton, similar-ish pace. But when you're having to start from outside the top 10, it's very difficult to be a teammate like Hamilton. So I think some of it has been a lack of pace on a Saturday. Some of it has been George Russell's own faults. I think some of it has been bad luck.

I'd say the Hungary incident was more on the team's timings. having to start a lap on, you know, absolute stone cold tires, so much so that they almost delivered a stunner. Oh, dear. Come on, man. A wrestling reference. Disgusting. I might see Stone Cold Steve Austin when he goes to Texas.

I might give you a five-star frog splashing a minute if you've got bloody careful. Yeah, lovely. So, yeah, I think overall, I'm not overly concerned. It's not the same gap as what we're seeing in terms of a long, and Stroll. It's not Perez and Verstappen. I just think he needs to get it, needs to get it together on a Saturday.

And also, when you spend enough time in Formula One, and I think George Russell's getting there, you will end up with both ends of the luck spectrum, right? You will end up, like last season, he was very consistent and very good, don't get me wrong. But he was lucky that nothing went wrong. Like, no one crashed into it at the side of a grand prix.

Safety car merchant, wouldn't he? Every time a safety car came out, he got a stretch. He got the perfect time. so regularly under a I swear to God turn me back up

okay I'm not going to call him a safety car merchant but there is a little bit of truth I think in that those sorts of things

that went his way last year aren't going his way this year if you think Saudi Arabia he would have had a podium

there but Alonzo's penalty was rescinded after being given and then not given and then given again and

eventually he ended up forth there the DNF in Australia he was in an all right spot there had a mechanical retirement which he's had one this year

Hamilton hasn't Hungary qualifying is another one so I feel like eventually they'll balance themselves out and he'll be okay so I'm not overly concerned what about you Harry? I'm not worried

George Russell eight worried does he look worried to you he was driving a golf cart around earlier he does not look like you see you can see it in drivers when they look under pressure Perez has a little bit hasn't they

a bit of a nervous looking his eye George Russell, I mean, he's obviously got supreme self-confidence. He's an F-on driver, but doesn't even look flustered by it all. Maybe he's not bothered. Like Oscar Piascri has no emotion. Yes, so I love that. I respect it. Honestly, he's fast becoming one of my favorite drives.

He's so chill. I love him. Was it, did Perez push you off there? Well, he didn't leave me a lot of room. Live him in the front. When I didn't leave me a little room. I have all of McDonald's with more passioning my voice.

I mean, that's not much of a shock. Have you? Sorry, this is now Mary Oscar Pistri talk, but have you seen the video of him talk, lip syncing over the Alpine trophies? No. Oh, it's a brilliant video where he's just calling every Alpine trophy

a lady's name. This is like, this is my Miranda. And he's lip syncing over it and it's very, very weird. Alpine trophies. Well, he's wearing an Alpine shirt. I assume they're actually Rengo's trophies. Okay.

And I assume this isn't recent. Oh. No. I think I saw Ockmark line dancing in the background. Oh, for goodness. Oh, my God. To be honest. So you're not worried because Russell's not worried.

Yeah, I don't have entirely many more points or any points to add than you've made, Ben, because they were all the ones I was going to make. I think it's been a, it's not, it's mainly been George Russell's fault on a Saturday, as you say, Sam. But yeah, there's elements, I think, have been overlooked slightly in terms of, like, mechanical failure, Saudi. it's just, yeah, last year has slightly overshadowed this year. If it had been the other way round,

and he's having this year last year and last year this year. We'll be praising him. Exactly. Yeah. Do you think is Wheel to Will to Real Racecraft is an issue? A lot of people seem to be bringing that up on F1 X. Right. Well, then you've answered your own questions.

Well, I agree. But, you know, I think it's a valid question. No. We have a lot of listeners. He's had two incidents. One was with Mixley Macchumac. or in Singapore last year, where he just wanted him to disappear.

Get out of the way. And then the other one, I guess, is signs in Austin, is the two that stand out to me. But, you know, I think his, his wheel to wheel is pretty good. Yeah, I feel that's fair.

And we've seen it, because as you say, he spends most of his Sundays now, recovering from a bad Saturday. So I don't think there's any, I don't think that's the issue. I think it's purely the call-off. I think call he's out, mate,

and the rest will be fine, because, as you say, Ben, he's, I think, pace pace, him and Hamilton are fairly even Stevens. But at the moment, Hamilton's, um,

Hampton's, uh, on him on a Saturday afternoon. Hard to do on a man so tall. Well, yeah, it's quite true. That I,

I would say wheel to wheel. I think he's competent. I don't, I don't like his wheel to wheel style. I, I never have. I think he is, he's one of those drivers where

if he's up the inside of a corner, that's his. And by the way, there are many great drivers who have that mentality. but he's one of those where like the outside doesn't exist if he's on the inside which I don't personally in my own understanding of what I want to see doesn't align but yeah he's a he's a fine world's wheel driver if you have to if you have to hone in on

two incidents in two years it's not that bad it's a good chat that good chat let's not you think folks about George Russell if you like in the discord the link is in the you're Scrippy. There's over 2,000 of you in there now. And we also have social media, late breaking F1. We're doing this early. Well, you know what? People don't follow it. So, you know, that means it saves me a job later as well. Yeah, fair. All right. Next. All right. Yeah. Next. After the break. Get your sandwiches, everyone. Let's move on to Steve Sunday, Stefano Domenicali, who was speaking during a Liberty Media investor meeting a couple of days ago, and he had the following to say.

The FIA has started the process, and he's talking about the new team process, as it is in their ability. We're waiting for the final conclusions, but as always in this discussion, we will find agreement together because, as you said, the value of the teams and the value of the business today is very, very strong. So that decision, that information will come very, very soon. I would say within the month of September. Oh, God. So it appears as if we are somewhere between three weeks and seven weeks away from some news about a potential 11th or even 12th team entering Formula 1 within the next couple of years. Harry, does this quote do anything for you?

Do you think that there is an increased chance that it might happen? Nah. It's not happening, is it? You don't sound filled with confidence. No, this is another round of Steve Sunday versus Spencellium. Ah, yes. Back here again. It's a bit more subtle this time, but...

Been dragged out, on it? Oh, boy, has it ever. Yeah, I don't... That is just, I don't know. I don't know why has even said this. What was the point in saying this? Because... I guess even...

It's got to keep the investors happy, isn't it? Yeah, I suppose so. but they're not they're not going to after all the the after all the was not controversy but I guess backlash against Andretti coming in or anyone else coming in I just don't see how this is going to going to happen I obviously want it to happen and I'll be pleasantly surprised

if in September they'd say we've got two more teams coming woohoo but I just don't really see given all the the commentary we've had on it so far I don't really see how that that is going to happen. So, sure.

I'll believe it when I see it, Mr. Sunday. But there's nothing indicating positivity in there, is there? No. There's nothing indicating we'd like for this to happen or... What was it?

He said, we'll try and work. My life long, shorter than that bloody quote. Yeah, we don't really out again. But something like we will work, we'll look into work together.

We will find agreement together. Agreement. Yeah. What does that? He's absolute nothing, nothing. And we'll find agreement together when I've decided we're not doing that. Yeah, literally.

And you agree that that's not happening. That's the way it's going to happen. You agree now, yes, good. You agree that this is the situation? Yes. And I am right. Well, we've agreed together. What are you thought, Sam?

Do you think this is less likely to happen based on what he's saying here? Do you have any confidence whatsoever that F1 might actually go ahead with this? Why he says so many words A few words will do trick Honestly It's Kevin Malone's worst nightmare

He just went on And he went on And the man that says so much Seems to know so little Is often the way You know, he waffled on I don't say that I like Steve Sunday

He's a clever man I like him as a bloke But in this situation In this 11th team debuckle I have not been on Steve Sunday's side You know I am not a friend of Steve Sunday

In this moment Because I desperately want An 11th or 12th team And he has no confidence in the situation is waffling around it to try and make his point secretly heard, there's no encouragement, there's no want or desire. And no more so than several people recently coming out after, you know, the Alpine scenario happened, where they all said,

and Gretti should just buy out Alping anyway and be done with it because they're going to bring something to the grid. And you know what? All the F1 seems at this point would know if an 11th or maybe even 12th team was going to be coming to the grid. well, they'll have been informed of a situation before we all get informed about the situation. They wouldn't be making these kinds of statements so publicly

if the likes of Andretti had been accepted because Agretti would know about it right now. They wouldn't be leaving them in the dark up until the public knew about it. I highly doubt that's the way they would want to conduct business. It just feels like he's waffling on to make sure that people go, oh, he's not ignoring us.

He's trying his artist, bless him. And then he can still look like the good guy when he comes around his head, no more teams. in F1, thank you. I'm annoyed that they've set out a set of rules that allow new teams to join and then act like they don't exist

when teams have gone, yeah, we'll meet those clauses, thank you, we'll buy our way in. And they go, oh no, no, no, no, no, we didn't not mean you said those rules, you know? Who's that? Consueler. It was Omar, I think. Yeah, similar.

My point being, they've made a set of rules. They've realised the rules weren't very good for them and that people can meet them quite easily and then go, don't want anyone to join, let's just waft along for ages until they can either get bored with us and leave or we can just sweep it under the rug

and that's what it feels like, no one's coming in later this year. I'll be blown away if they go, and we've got two new teams joining in 2025 or something like that. I'll be absolutely blown away. Record this for when two new teams are announced. I think it's not going to happen.

Unless Ben's positive about it. Oh, no. Sinical Ben. Hey, if you're both cynical, you can't call me cynical Ben. You can only call me cynical Ben if I'm on my own on this, which I'm definitely not because I agree with you both. Yeah, when you're at an investors meeting, as we often are.

This is not coming up from an expert on investor basics. It's a real opportunity to instill some confidence and boost morale. And to be like, yeah, this is, we've got to get through the last few hurdles, but this is going to happen. And we're just assessing not if someone's good enough, but who's good enough.

And we're going to expand the grid and Formula One is taking over the world. Yay! They didn't go with that, right? He has, as you rightly say, Sam, said about a thousand words while saying absolutely nothing here, which just makes me think that he is buying some time

before Formula One turn around and go, no one met the requirements. Now, my opinion hasn't changed here that I think Formula One will do everything they possibly can to poke holes in all of the applications that have come forward from Andretti, high tech, Pollock Racing.

I don't think there are any holes in that. Sounds a bit fishy to me. Whatsoever, but you can't have holes when you're doing it. Exactly. Yeah, so I feel like they will go through all of the teams with as minute detail as they possibly can. Because you can't have an application. It doesn't matter if you're Andretti or high-sick or anyone. You can't have an application that is 100% like it's going to be a dead certainty brilliant.

Like you can't have that guarantee, which means you know that even if you are 99% sure that this team is going to be beneficial to Formula one, until it happens, there's always some skepticism that Formula One teams and Formula One are just going to go in on and say they're not for us because of this. They're going to avoid all of the other facts that indicate that it will be great for Formula One and they will hone in on one small thing to say, I don't think it's a good idea because of this. Therefore, we think they don't meet the requirements. And that will be, that will suck. And I think it will happen. And I, I, I, my, I, opinion hasn't changed it. I think it will, if anything, if this is an inevitability to an extent, I think the Formula One, I think Formula One overall is trying to push this to 2026 rather than 2025.

So it gives them more negotiation time to work out how many billions and billions of pounds someone has to pay to enter the sport. And also what the penalty is in terms of, you don't get any prize money for 10 years. you'll start getting prize money in the 11th year you're in the sport. It just gives them more time to negotiate this if this is an inevitability. But yeah, I don't think this is going to happen, which is a shame.

I mean, all of this fuss when Haas actually exist. We had someone complain about your Haas bashing the other day. Keep complaining Sunshine because I'm going to keep complaining about them. They put the Haas in hassle. Sure. Sure.

Yeah. Does that work? I work with that. Hassel. Yeah. Okay. It does make me laugh sometimes when a team like Haas or, I don't know, one of the smaller teams turns around. Well, what would an 11th team actually give to this sport?

It's like, what do you give? You know the meme where it's got like the military soldiers all lined up and the one in the middle is in a clown outfit? That's like, you know, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, whatever. and hars are in there dressed as crusty. Still going. You can someone make a stop me. Ferrari's also a clown. It's just dressed up better.

I'm wearing a great suit. It's a very stylish clown. Exactly. Out of interest, Sam, what do you think the backlash is going to be like? If, let's say, it does happen and no new teams enter the sport in 25 or 26,

how do you think fans generally take that news? Is that a concern for F1? I actually don't think it is a concern for F1. I think it will be a real minor discrepancy for a lot of people. And, you know, they'll raise their voices on the likes of social media for a couple of days, you know. And I think, to be honest, because it's Andretti or at the forefront of this, there might be a lot of hardcore American racing fans who think you're being rude to American racing. There's disrespect there.

If it was any team as big as this space in Europe, they have walked right in without a problem. But because it's, you know, an American name, an American family would be a disrespect there. American Engings into the sport, we're the problem and you're not happy to accept. I think that's the biggest backlash that they'll get publicly. I actually think they'll get a larger backlash from some of their investors and stakeholders privately in the sport,

because I think some of those people will actually be for the growth of the teams in the sport and the amount of sponsorship it could bring. And I think, you know, it doesn't take a genius to work out that wider, bigger teams and more of them can bring in more potential commercial, activity and more TV time and more advertising. The three of us have worked it out.

We're not genius. Geniuses. Proven. Proven. Proven a point. I can't even say genius. So, you know, if we think it, and a lot of, you know, Tom Dick and Harry's think it, you're in that one as well. Twice.

So are you. Hey. We. Then surely some stakeholders privately have got to be thinking, well, I see benefit in this. This makes more money for my investment in the sport. I would like an 11th or 12th team. So I think publicly it won't be too much.

I think, again, America might kick up the biggest fuss the whole country. But I do think that privately, they might have to have a few conversations. Yeah, I mean, from an investor's perspective, they don't care if it's split between 10 teams, 25 teams, 50 teams. They just care about the overall number, right? So it does not matter to them how much each team takes away. Harry, do you think that there will be backlash at all? That's a Harry face if I've ever seen one. I just, I just, um, sorry, I'm distracted by what that said on the screen then.

Something about my internet. It's not very good. Oh, I have a day off. Um, I'm right. Uh, I, yes. But I think it'll be more, it'll be more people on Twitter than anything else. Cable Warriors. F1 Oaks.

I think it'll come from that. And I, I include us, I'm not saying we're just on Twitter, obviously. Right. Instagram as well. And TikTok. Where can you find us on those channels? Good. Late break and F1. I think it's just going to be more from the fans, the public, than it will from anything that serious. And most people, and I mean this with the greatest respect to people who watch F1,

it might be new to F1, probably wouldn't even realize. You think so? Wouldn't even notice. They might read about it and then forget, and then we'll move on with our lives. Yeah, I reckon you're right. There is definitely a, very serious cohort of fans that will pay attention to all these, you know, political dealings. Like us. Like us.

And it makes sense to. And with anything that you're interested in, it comes in levels of how much effort you put into loving that level of stuff. And there will be those who watched it on Drive to Survive or who maybe just like watching the race on a Sunday, turning it off and walking away and they do not care what happens. And that is fine. And you're right. I think that might be the majority. I think it's a good chunk of those who just won't care slash won't realize. and I think that's where they'll be

and that's pretty what F on a banking on. Yeah. And look, I mean, I'll care, I'll realize, and I'll tune in if there's 10 teams, I'll tune in if there's 11 teams. And that's what they'll take away from this. Yeah, there will be some backlash, at least initially,

but is it really going to impact butts in seats that much? Probably not. Yeah. So we've had 10 teams for long enough and it's been pretty good, isn't it really? Like, it's not like it's going to get worse,

it's just going to stay the same. Yeah. Exactly. Let's move on. So we have to. Yeah, yeah, we do. I'm so bad at this game. Before every season,

we take a look at all of the teams on the grid. 10 in this instance, and it will be 10 forever, apparently. And we select which driver we think is going to score more points across the full season. And I think pretty much every year, we also do just a bit of a midterm look

to see what the standings are looking like a few months out from the decider. So I'm not going to do the joke this time. You are going to do the joke. I'm not going to do the joke this time. It's so desperate to do the joke. I really want to do the joke, but I'm going to do it. Harry's generally not very good at this day.

This is where Harry wings. Never won. I want your win. I'm not going to win this year because I think I know. Anyway, carry out. So I figured it would be a good time to give an update as to what our picks were at the beginning of these.

year and how they're doing in the championship at the moment. That's good. And there's also a bit of housekeeping because we do have to make an additional pick for Alpha Tauri. Another chance to get it wrong. We'll get to that a little bit later on. So I've just been run through in terms of what we selected and what points we're looking at.

There are a few obvious ones here. Red Bull, we all picked Max Verstappen. That's looking pretty good like it's going to be a point. One down. Thank God. Pretty good. A point on the board. so Mercedes

we've already spoken a bit about George Russell and Lewis Hamilton this evening I went with George Russell last year and I decided nah I don't think you'll do it for a second year which I'm quite glad at the moment and Sam was Sam was with me on that but Harry wasn't so you're going to need a good recovery from George Russell it's all right because I've got the Alpings the wrong way around

so don't worry about it making me worried he's got a bit of work to do, bless him. Bless him. A couple of, but in better news, a couple more points on the board. So, Aston Martin, all of us have got Fernando Alonzo. That's looking pretty likely at the moment. Pretty good. The Ferrari battle is pretty close in that Charler-Claire is winning by seven points,

which is benefiting all three of us at the moment because we all get a point. We've all got Charle-Claer. Sam is correct in that the next disagreement did come in Alpine. So it's still up for grabs because Esteban Ocon only leads by 13 points overall. Myself and Harry have both got Esteban Ockon.

Sam has Pierre Gasley. I mean, I went all in on the sausages. One good result. One good result. Certainly in the balance. And to be honest, I think most of these lower down are probably all still to play for. We then move to Hasse.

Myself and Sam could do with some help here. Yeah, you are on this one, mate. Harry's on this one. Oh, I'm on. Harry selected Nika Holcomberg at the beginning of the season. Sweet. And at the moment, he has a seven-point advantage. I think it's nine points for two. You are killing it.

So I've never had a seven-point advantage. More agreements in that Alex Albon, we all said, would win at Williams. He's currently 11 points clear of Logan Sargent, and Alex Albin has got 11 points on the board. I should tell you where Logan Sargent is right now. But yeah, we're all looking pretty good there. We're also just about on the right side of the Alpha Romeo debate.

We all selected Valtrey Bottas at the beginning of the season. He's currently beating Joe Guan Yu by one. How is he doing that? Vowltry. Put some clothes on, mate. Score some points. Or just score some points. Why don't have a problem with it?

Kick your clothes off, mate. Have a good time. I don't have a problem with it. And lastly, I think we need to make a call on this because the DeVries and Sonoda battle ended up only lasting half a season. Have we, um, do we not say Ferrari? Yes, we've done Ferrari.

All right, yeah. We all put Charlotte Claire for Ferrari. And it's all right at the moment. With Alpha Tauri, we only got half a season of a battle, not even that, I guess. Should we give out any points if anyone got this right?

A full point? Well, we all put Yuki, right? we did not all put the same. If I've put Nick DeVries, I am never playing this game. Oh my God. Please tell me that Sam put Nicktoe. The question, are we giving a full point out for anyone who puts an odour? Well, given that that battle is now over. Yes, exactly.

I mean, mop the floor with him. I don't mind. Can do. I'll take the L, yes. Yeah, well, yeah. Sam is going to have to take the L on this one in that he selected Nick DeVries. as if. Why do I say that? That's astounding.

I am the worst at everything. You're not, Sam. Because I picked him as well. Yes! Team Harry! Wait, did I pick Sonoda? You picked Sonoda. You're in the lead!

You've got a point. Which means at the moment, as things stand, if it were the end of the season now, Sam, you would be last on seven points. I would be second on eight points. Oh, my sweet God. Oh, my sweet, baby Jesus.

Halfway through the 2023 season Harry Ead is leading teammate wars with nine out of town. Harry, Harry, Harry, Harry. Come on, team Harry. Let's go.

As if. Everything is turned up for all season. I'm still going to lose this. So essentially what needs to happen here is I need Kevin Magnuson to turn things around.

Same. But you also need the Alpine battle as well to turn around. Yeah. But as mentioned, we do have one that is outstanding because despite the fact that Nick DeVries

and Sonoda is no longer a battle Sonoda and Ricardo now is. So we're going to discard the couple of races that they've already had and we're just going to say from now until the end of the season who's going to score more points, Ricardo or Sonoda given you're in the lead Harry, I shall let you go first. I feel a bit sick.

Enjoy it, mate. Revelling the success. No, by Philip, there's a lot riding on this decision. If they made half trophies, you can have one now. How many points does Sonoda got? Doesn't matter. We're talking about and being zero. Three?

What do you mean? It doesn't matter. It's all based on points. Yeah, but I thought we were calculating it from zero right now. That's what Bena said. Yeah, we're starting at... Oh, this thing.

Oh, right. Do you listen to what happens on this show? Ricardo versus Sonoda from... Ah! Got him. Okay, fine. So we're starting, uh,

Nielno. Poh. He's pulled through. He's pulled through. He's pulled through for me here. God. Do I believe in Snowder again? I should listen to the Messiah

of predictions and that is Haranid right now. Right, that is not a thing. If you match him, you're going to struggle to beat him, that's the problem. Don't be horrible like that. I don't need that pressure. Hey, I'm giving you tips and tricks. That's fair advice. It's fair advice.

Ali. I'll go for, do you know what? Because I used to go for him every year and he used to come through from me, apart from him in McLaren, so I'm going to go take him. Oh, God. Oh, no, that was Nika Holgemoe, wasn't it? Yeah. To be honest, both of them.

Both of the free. But yeah. Go on then. Ricardo. I'll throw away this lead. The one driver that's got you a point over me and Sam. Yuki's held out a hand to shake it. You've got to Sight.

Spat on it. Do it to Raquel. It's not like he's a Hall of Famer at nothing. Sorry, Yuki. All right. Sam. Yuki, Yuki, Yuki, Yuki, Yuki. Yeah, he's going to crash him.

Trash him? Yeah. In that Alphateri? Yeah. When you say trash him by how many points? A point. Got him. Destroyed.

So you're going to win. So essentially, Yuki Sonoda has cost you a point, so you've... It's now on him to redeem me. Yeah. Oh, I'll double down. We'll get to freeze. Yeah, Nick to freeze with it. So, too, go for Ricardo.

Yeah, I'll go Ricardo. And then Yuki Sonoda is going to have bragging rights over me for the rest of eternity. when he beats him as well. He's going to cost me two points at that stage. I am going to come last this year. I can't work out whether I desperately want a Harry win or not. I want a Harry win. I want a Harry win. For Ben, I can no longer do the joke.

That's fine. I want the satisfaction of you being able to go, suck it every single year. I'm here. Well, I think also the audience would like you to say that you're here. What a true. I am here. What a day. what a day.

Honestly, I was putting together my notes on this and I didn't know who was in the lead until I actually went back to the episode to get everyone's picks and I sort of gradually went through like, oh my God. He's going to do it. In my head, I thought the only real difference for me

was Russell, but we had a couple different. I knew that gas has been letting me down all year. Gas man. The gas man. Come on, mate. Cut those sussigies. Get on your way. So anyway, that's where teammate wars are. We've already

settled one point that's gone in Harry's favour and we'll find out what the Alfa Tauri battle is doing for the rest of this season. We're going to take our last short break. We're going to be playing F1 higher and lower after this. Isn't it all lower? I think I say both, to be honest.

Fair enough. Doesn't know the name to his own game. Is it just neither? In the song, I say F1 higher, F1 lower. So it's just a lot of words To say higher lower I mean scoose Sunday Quite similar that we say a lot of words

And we really mean nothing at the end of it Take us away Sorry You've said for that Everyone's dead It's F1 higher Is that faster If one higher

F1 lower F1 I can't wait to hear that busing Through the streets of Austin, Texas Can I just say, I mean, we still got to pick what game we're going to do for that. It's a big, big choice. Back and forth.

Back and forth. That tune, you didn't sing it to that tune. No. It sounds like it should be. You match it pretty well, actually. No, but don't give me credit for that because I just just pick a tune and be like, well, that sounds like it'll do. They do. But it does. It sounds like it matches.

Anyway, it sounds better than the overrated underrated piece. Yes. Okay. F1, higher or low? or F1 higher and lower or F1 higher, F1 lower. Whatever you want to call the game, this is how it's played.

Harry goes up against Sam. There are six questions on offer as always. They'll take it in turns and they'll have to give an answer which is always a number. Their best guess, if they managed to get it spot on, which happened like three times last game

or twice last game, which was really weird. It doesn't usually happen. They get two points. But if they don't get it right, it goes to the other player who has to choose whether they go higher or lower than the opponent's guess

and then they'll get a point if they're right and if they're wrong, the original guesser gets the point. I hope all of the questions are how many laps are at Brazil? How many, Sam? 71. Good.

No, you're going to get that tattooed. 70. I don't understand why. To preface the question of the week coming up in a little bit. Sam, start us off. Any number between 1 and 6, please. I have four, please, Ben. It's a rogue choice.

It is a big choice. Harry started with five last episode. I almost fell out my chair. I'd like to see that. How many drivers have there been from the United Kingdom since the year 2000? I mean, if I was clever enough, I could count them, but I'm not clever enough, so I can't. Ben, are you saying that they were, what, they're already in F1 before the year 2000, but then they are? count as long as they've raced in Formula 1.

2000s. Yeah. Got it. 21st century kids. 21st century boy. Okay. Sorry, thanks. I don't want to say them out now because as much as Harry will know the answer well before me, I still don't want to give him any. He may roguly forget.

I'm going to go with nine. It's not the correct answer. Harry, are you going higher or lower? I don't think that's far off. I'll go higher. Harry claims the first point. Honestly. Listeners, I'm sick of being wrong.

I'm actually at the end of my 10th. I think that's a really good guess. Is it not? What would your guess have been? Like 10 or 11? 11. Yeah, I was thinking either at the line or 11. A bit more.

A more. 13. 15. 15? Yeah. The rogue one, I think, was Will Stevens. Oh, I forgot. I was thinking, um,

no, Ralph, the Alan McNish is of the line. Oh, I'm a niche. Oh, bloody hell. Can you name them please, Ben. Yeah, please run through the list. I haven't written a damn. Some quiz master you are.

Johnny Herbert's on there. Johnny Herbert, of course. Eddie Irvine. Yeah. Crap. Anthony Davidson. I did have him. David Coulthard.

Paul de Rester. Yeah. Paul de Rester. Yeah. Just said him. Literally just said him. Do you listen to this show? What about Anthony Davidson?

Is he answered Brabham? All right. One, nil. Harry, over to you for the next one. Number one, please. Number one. The Las Vegas circuit. Higher.

That's how much money you spent. How many miles is it? Oh, gather that off. 2.3. Higher. Yeah, one or. It's like 4.1 or something. Is it?

That's a 4.1 is a good guess. 3.8. I think, in my head, F1 circuit's quite short. I've enjoyed that. one. I was fun. I got whiplash from it. So quick.

You've just got Sector 1 of Spar, I think, there, Harry. Cheers. Well done. One all. Okay. That was the quickest point ever given, I think, on this game. Sam, back to you. Two, three, five or six?

Six, please, Ben. Max Verstappan. I know him. You do? But I'm aware of him. Yep. Friend of the podcast. He got whole position.

Wing. At the Bahrain Grand Prix this year. right. Oh, here we go. What was his pole lap? Oh, I don't know. 130.8. It was not a

130.8. Harry, do you want to go faster or slower than that? F one. Slower. Is Sam faster? I go slower. Lower.

Lower, slower. From 1-0 down. Sam leads to 1. Folks, talking to you is giving me the power. What was the time? It was a 129-7. Wow, I was 1.1 off, just like the Williams, I imagine.

Hold up. What did you say? 130.8. And I said lower? Lessing like, he went slower. Oh, sugar. I meant it was a lower time. Oh, well, you've lost that one, mate.

Or no. Can I not have the point? Nope. I'll still lose 3-2, don't worry. Okay. See where we're out at the end. Yeah, so well done, Sam. You managed to get probably Logan Sargent

or Alex Albin's time spot on. But you don't get two points. Back to you, Harry. What's left? You can have two, three or five. Three, please. What? That's it, I've quit.

Wow. He's in dire need of points. He's breaking tradition. I'm sick of it. I hate this guy. How many top five finishes has Lando Norris had in his career.

Ten. He has not had ten. Sam. Higher or lower. Higher, please. Pick number three, me lord. Out of interest, what would you have gone for

if you had the question? 24. Good guess, 22. Oh, God, I am so on it. God, it's been in the top five a lot. Oh, fire. Yeah. It's probably more than I for it

was going to be as well. Okay, that just leaves two and five. And Sam, if you get this right, you have won the game. Don't put that pressure on the place. Well, the last game you won. Mate, it's been a while. I don't remember.

We drew on F on back and forth recently. Oh, yeah. Well, yeah, that's true. A bit of a team effort. That was a good team effort. I'll go number two, because I can't have my beloved. Okay.

Including attempts to pre-qualify. Oh, for God's sake. No question that's good. Starts with that word. Pre-qualifying. It's a good point, but. How many drivers took part in the 1989 Formula One World Championship? 31.

No. Shock, that one. Higher or lower? Higher. There were 47 drivers. Oh, I have a day off you lot. 47? And I am including those that, yeah, like I say, either didn't qualify or didn't pre-qualify.

So they gave it a good go. They gave it a good go. There were a lot of drivers. 47. Which means we're at 3-2. If you get a 2-0. Two-point that you definitely won. They're rare.

Yeah, but you could do it. Half in that one game and we had it twice. Which is ridiculous. Okay. What number do you want, Harry? Pick number 5, my lord. I don't remember number 5, please.

So he hasn't got the same ring to it, is it? You forget. It's true. It's reliable number 3. Yeah, I agree. Who's your favourite driver of all time? Shatfield nerve. Shatfield nerve.

No, your favourite driver all time is James Hunt. Sure. Literally never said that. Good. Which means you'll definitely know this. How many races did he win? I'm going to lose this game now, folks. You watch me.

I took a two-point lead. I'm about to lose. Seven. That's the number I was going to say. That's what. It's a good thing you didn't say that, Sam, because Harry is wrong. But did he have more than seven?

or fewer than seven race wins in his career for the win. I think it's more actually. Yeah, but now I feel like you're... The first psychology. Oh, no, that wasn't a tactic. That was just me talking out loud. You're a crafty man. Maybe I think it's less.

I do think more, but it's going to be less. But I'll go more, please, bang. More wings than seven. Sam's gone for hire. Yeah. I think it's a good shout. He had a three-one lead. 3-2 lead.

It was 3-1 at one point. It was 3-1. All right. Has Harry pulled off the comeback? I'm so sick of it. No, you've got it. He has not. Oh, thank Christ.

He is higher. I finally won something on this bloody podcast. How many did he have win? He had 10. That would have been the next number I had gone for. Maybe I am, James Hunt. Wait, your first guess would have been 7, but your second guess would have been 10. If, like, we both got to guess a number, the number I will have gone for a few, if you

said to me, how many do you think? Will I've been 10? It's always a privilege to lose to Sam. I'm the smartest, stupidest man you'll ever find. If your number one guest was seven, wouldn't you're letting him with two guests be eight? No, weirdly not. I had two numbers that came to mind. What?

Folks, if you ever got me a smart, stupid man, come and see us at a live show in Cota. It reminds me of the Heinz-Herald friends and answer. and just Harry's response to it, just being utterly devastated. Was that the last one I won? That's the last one I won. I'm so good at quizzes.

I tell you what, got to be honest with you guys. I really enjoy F1 higher or lower. I reckon other than back and forth, it's my favourite. Or lower. I really enjoy it. But I tell you what?

Oh, here we go. Sorry, that's what you're doing there, Ben. Carry on. It's not the most enjoyable thing you'll have on this podcast because it is trumped by the next thing coming up, which is, of course, the greatest segment in all of Formula One podcasting, which is...

The LB Question of the Wee. Wee, we, we... I definitely hope this up for you so much now. Question of the week. As usual, we put this out on a Monday evening here in the UK. and today's question of the week is what tattoo should Sam and producer Kirsty when we're in Austin

there's so many good answers I'm just getting in there straight away with one that really made me laugh Sam as a baby being held by Kirsty so funny oh good Lord that was Matthew Bonner so thank you for that those little blue shorty socks you were wearing

into today's YouTube video. Someone paying attention to my feet, I think. Where? Sill out of my face because I'm never here. Sarah said,

an ass that pizza tattoo. Yeah, I'd like the pun. Yeah, which I thought was fantastic. I'm not saying your name. I would love to,

but we are a family-friendly podcast. But you said, Charlotte Clarekeke, you couldn't make merch with it. Ian Alex K's answer was a tattoo of Louis Frike

Roo sitting on So weird sitting on the toilet smothered an HP sauce I mean yeah How would you know it's HP source Through the tattoo? Maybe I could get the smell Embedding in the ink

Big Shack eating a whirly bar That was the blue guitar Jeff Wang who we met of course At the Williams event Just simply put whirly bar That's a good answer Um Producer Kerski raised this one

In our group chat that we have that we shall get a tramp stamp that says box, box, box. It's not happening. No? Nope. No. Okay. Nah.

The errant wolf said, Yosemite Sam, but with my face, which I think would be really funny. There's some really quite random answers. Yeah. Humber. Oh, my lovely ganging.

Someone says Jean-Pier Jabouy. To be fair, it's not far off. my lovely Rosie did say Flappy Paddle Pistols and then she tried to explain to me what she meant by Flopi-Baddle gearbox. You know like in Formula One cars

a Flappy Paddle Gearbox Yeah And then she thought In Texas they had pistols So she thought It would be a funny play on words To say Flappy Paddle pistols So is she saying

That you should have the word Flapapaddle I should have like a steering wheel With Flappy Paddle Pistols Got it Honestly terrible Wasn't funny It took a five minutes

To explain it to me They are but historically always the best joke is the ones you have to explain afterwards. Famously so, yes. Yes. I find I have to do that at length, yeah. Yeah, some real, real random ones.

A couple for Ricardo, actually. Yeah. And eels, a lot of eagles and Ricardo and Big Shack. Which one are you going to go for, then? Pollock Fish. Could be an option. Could be. I mean, to be honest, we'll end up just getting something like a little cowboy hat.

No, I think you need to get one of these. Yeah. There's another point. Selected by myself and Harry. Maybe next year. Didn't we say that? For teammate walls, that should be the, um, forfeit. That's nothing I'm signing up to.

I don't know. I'll quit the podcast. Wow, you got here anyway, so that's fine. There's okay. So I'm, I don't, I'm void. Boyd from that one. I'll take your paycheck. Fine.

Fine by me. You can have my 20p. It really isn't a lot. Anyway, those are great answers. And, of course, we'll be doing that again next week. We will indeed. Sam, would you mind getting us out of here? Well, I've already talked about this story and social media,

so you know where they are. But we do have Patreon. And again, if you want to get those tickets and you're in Texas and Austin for the USGP, come down to the live show, you can get it. The doors are open to you, Patreon users. Go and pick one up, support your favourite podcast. Honestly, we do massively appreciate it. That sounds, by the way.

I'm a way to see you. Yeah, you're not going to another show while listening to this. That'll be weird. Thank you. Of course, if you're not going to be in Texas, I think it's probably a bit weird that you buy one in the room might be a bit empty. But if you want to just join the Patreon anyway,

you do get some great benefits such as ag-free podcasts. You also get two extra episodes a week and beer with breaking, which is a fun little video we do every single month where we get a little bit tipsy. And we talk about all sorts of things. Movies was on the topic of the most recent one we just geek, which is coming out. Apparently, yesterday,

according to someone, she hasn't done it. She's not done it. She's not done it. And yeah, you'll enjoy it. I hope you have a good laugh. If you want to go see it, please check out the Patreon.

That is a massive support for us. It's a trio. You really do help the podcast, the band. You keep the band together with that level of financial incentives. You also get a birthday shout-out if we're in the top tier.

So thank you kindly to everyone that already does that. We'll remember to do it this month, not on the last day. Every single month, we say that. I actually think, everything already in the podcast. That actually is already everything done. No, I think we smashed it. Good. Good. I haven't even thought of a name yet.

Oh, sorry about that. I'll just take a little bit of time to sign off so you can have a quick think. Five star reviews? Oh yeah. Maybe we'll get that tattooed. Five star reviews tattooing on me. Thank you to the people, because we always get a little response from when we give this a plug. Having said that, and I'm sure it's by accident, the people that are leaving positive reviews but then putting only two stars.

That doesn't help us. That genuinely hurts. It's the podcast. Please don't. I'd rather you say. Harry has a butt for a face and put five stars you're a few. Perfect. Perfect.

I'm on board. In the meantime, I've been Samuel Sage. I've been Ben Hocking. I haven't got anything. I've been Harry Ead. You're a late down. That's what you are. Sorry, mate. You should have said, I'm a teammate wars leader? I think I did. I said I'm Harry Ead.

So there you go. Wow, nice. I remember, keep breaking late. Three! Every time. Because we didn't get to do it in the actual quiz. Oh my God. Good Lord.

Social Podcast Network.