The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Could Sebastian Vettel RETURN to F1?!

Episode Date: April 10, 2024

Sam, Ben and Harry discuss Vettel's recent comments on the appeal of an F1 return, how likely this may be, and whether he should be considered by top teams if it were so. They also cover Perez's expectation that a decision on his future is going to be made in the next month, McLaren's organisational changes, and the concerns over the sprint race in China. They finish with a game of Show Me The Options... FOLLOW us on socials! You can find us on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok SUPPORT our Patreon for bonus episodes, historic race reviews & more! JOIN our Discord community JOIN our F1 Fantasy League: SIGN UP & create your team, and JOIN our league (join code: C3PHEQHPU04) BUY our Merch SEND us something! We have a brand new PO box - address: Late Braking Podcast, PO Box 821, TRURO TR1 9PE 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. No race coming up this week, but of course, we're back as always. Sam, you've got the world's biggest beer. If you're watching on YouTube, folks,

It makes me look like a little baby I was just saying to the guys that it makes me look like Dennis Waterman off Little Britain but that's a sketch that's long forgotten apparently on this group yeah and I'm like one of those days

we do a deal of breaking after this but I thought you know what I'm going to get on it early if you'll watch if you were breaking Patreon is available linked to the description some of our best work is on there give it a try out

I bet you'll love it Best is in inverted comments as well no genuinely I believe in it I believe in it the would you rather game still is up there in the best content we've ever done.

Here's a little tidbit. It's a grimace then when we said that. But yeah, it was gross. I reckon we're going to rank our favorite supermarkets on who are breaking this one. Oh, God. Please, can we do that? Yeah, we will. Okay.

We're going through 2013 tweets again because that was excellent. No, we're not doing that ever again. Back to F1, please. Yes, back to F1. Coming up on today's episode, we're playing, show me the options a little bit later on. Yeah, I know, right? Exciting times. Organizational changes at McLaren.

Sergio Perez expecting a decision to be made regarding his contract in the next month or so. And soon enough, we'll be starting with Sebastian Vessel. Just to say, though, before we do get started, as Sam has already mentioned, if you're not on Patreon, please do consider going over there. We just recorded our Power Rankings episode two days ago.

So that's up there for you to enjoy from the Japanese Grand Prix. Won't give any spoilers on this, but there were multiple two out of tens given. see if you can have a guess as to which drivers might have achieved that score. But yeah, would really love it if you would consider joining us over there. In terms of today's episode, do want to start with Sebastian Vettel because he has said that he might be thinking about coming out of retirement.

He was recently speaking to the BBC, and he said the following. I'm having thoughts that are crossing my mind and thinking about a return. But at this stage, my mindset generally hasn't changed. so it really depends on what's coming up. He was then asked specifically about Mercedes. And Sebastian Vessel added, I'm following the sport and at the minute there's quite a lot of movement

when it comes to drivers, driver market and so on. I'm obviously in contact with a lot of people still. I'm speaking as well to Toto Wolf every now and then. So it's something Sam that he's listed as not necessarily his main priority, but that doesn't sound like he is shutting the door on a return at all. He's got the itch, isn't he?

he's got the bug. It's a racer, always a racer. We saw him do that in Jurex test with Porsche very recently as well. And I think a little part of him did it just to see how the rechargeable battery works. And of course, Subuvet is a pioneer, technological pioneer now when it comes to reusable energy and reusable fuel and biofuel. And he's demonstrating on multiple occasions in his old school Williams, Reg 5, that you can power a very, very large. and noisy and angry engine on reusable fuels. And I do think that a little part of him

would maybe only come back to Formula One if we took a bit of a divergent route into that biofuel option. But equally, he's a multiple-time world champion. He's got, what, the fourth most wings in Formula One history? And the guy is an all-round legend of the game. I don't think he can just shake it off that quickly. He ain't no Taylor Swift.

He isn't shaking it off. And I think he'll come back as soon as an opportunity that suits him presents the option. That's interesting that you don't think Sebastian Vettler is Taylor Swift. There's a lot of similarities, but I reckon he's got more world titles than her. There's a close one.

Harry, what are your thoughts on that specifically? I don't care about anything else. Good stuff. Seby vet, you know when you get an itch right in the middle of your back, you're trying to reach it and you cannot get to it. Yep. What he's got for the itch is F1.

It needs an F1 stick. An F1 stick. Yes, little sticks with little handle on the edge. The Mercedes brand in hand. Toto Wolf's model's hand. He just needs Toto to come, Papa Toto to come along, give him a little back scratch and a little...

Like that, Seb. Oh, God. Goodness me. Move on. That's an image. Both of them are topless as well in my head, right? That's why I want it. Move on.

We are four minutes in. Yeah, I just, I don't know, we said this the other day when we were talking about, I can't remember what we were talking about. We mentioned seven and... 2025 lineup predictions. None of us did put him in that prediction,

but you were close, and we mentioned, obviously, he's doing the testing for the Porsche, you know, a WEC, program. And even that just started it for me. I was like, oh, he's getting a bit, a bit itchy, and he's getting a bit on the edge of a seat wanting to do some racing. And now he comes out and says this, because you did a load of interviews last week. I can't remember what it, what was it for exactly? Just be of self-promotion. I fancied it, yeah. Just the camera radio, going on the BBC, you know.

So, yeah, I don't know, just laying the ground works. a little bit and Toto has also said he's talking to him and it's an interesting one it does make you feel like I'm not saying it was the wrong move but the retirement move in the first place was the wrong one for Seb and maybe he's seen what Alonzo's done

and asked him Martin and thought God damn it I went a bit too soon you know what I think actually he saw what Alonso did by taking that break and it's refreshed him a little bit because he wasn't on exactly the highest of a claim when he did bow out No, no, no, I'm not saying he regrets, but I don't know. It just, it happens to a lot of drivers are retired now, and they get the, you know, the desire to go back.

It would be a tempting offer for, be attempting offer for Toto, wouldn't it? Because this isn't, he's not, Vettel's not coming back to be there for another 10 years. He isn't Fernando Alonzo. I think Vettel will come back for a year, two years, three at a push. Maybe he'll do a, I mean, we know,

he likes to follow then the path of his hero, Michael Schumacher, maybe this is what he thinks. I'll do one last Harad, do three as a Mercedes and I've completed the... Get a podium at Valencia. Job done. Job done. I get a pole of Monaco that won't be allowed, and then a podium of Valencia. Perfect.

I don't know. I just... Seb, there's always been this symmetry between him and Schumacher, and maybe starting to see that as an opportunity to follow in in Schumacher's footsteps again, I don't know, but it's a very interesting

And it's absolutely bizarre that the driver market is so open at the moment that we could even be talking about this. Yeah, I'm a fan. I mean, in 2025 itself, I have to say, I still think, is a little bit unlikely based on his comments here. It sounded like he's, you know, he's not shutting the door on F1, but he's at the same time, he's not really, he's not putting much of a clock on it here, right? He's kind of saying he'll return if he wants to in his own time. And it's not that he desperately needs to get back on the grid for 2025 or any particular year. It's just if the opportunity does come around, which is right. And I think Wright constitutes what's right for him and where he is in his life,

but also the opportunity for the team itself. As much as I'm sure they'd love it, I don't think he's going to be racing around at the back of the grid at this point in his career or his non-career, as it is right now. I agree with you both. It does seem like Sebastian Vettel does have. the itch, as we are now going to call it, until he either definitively says he's not coming back or he does sign. The itch is now here. I don't think he has unfinished business when it comes to F1. I mean, if you paid any attention, the guy did win four world championships. So he has

pretty much done everything you can do in the sport. But there is something just niggling, right? There is something niggling that he just wants to get behind a wheel again. And I think the question at the moment is, and I don't know the answer, is does it need to be F1? Because as you say, he's tested for Porsche with the hypercar program and it remains to be seen whether that leads to a one-off entry at the 24 hour of LeMond or whether it's a sort of full season of endurance racing. But I think it remains to be seen, would that sort of avenue satisfy the itch? Would that, would that do it? because if he could, if it could, even if he did like a full season of the World Endurance Championship, that's eight weekends a year. That's one third of what we've currently got in

Formula One. And we know how that was one of the leading reasons that V's all stepped away, is the grueling schedule that F1 had when he left, and that's only increased since he's left, right? So if something else like one-off races in other series or endurance racing or something else can get the job done, then there's no real reason for him to come back to F1. So I am intrigued to see where, yeah, which power feed decides to go now. Yeah, I think the three of us are the same. Whilst we like to explore other motorsport avenues, we dabbling, watching certain areas, of course, whether it be endurance or something like Indycar or rally, for example.

I think the drivers are very much the same, where Formula One is this different breed. It's a different beast. I think it gets under your skin and once you kind of locked in, it's almost a romanticisation of racing. And I think Seb is a bit of a romantic at high. I think he has this storyline in his mind. Harry, I think you're exactly right to bring up

that symmetry of Schumacher, his hero. And I think there is this storytelling that Seb has. I think he enjoys that. You listen to him talk more deeply in his later career about racing, about where the sport's going, about the economic and climate-related issues. He's a brilliant sport.

storyteller, and I think he has a lot of passion for a lot of these issues. So I do wonder if, like you said, Ben, eight weekends a year in hypercar, sure, that's exciting. And I believe he'd be very successful if he did that. But is it racing Formula One cars? I do think a little part of me thinks, if we decided to, you know, if we could in a magic world snap our fingers and go back to a V10 or a B12, I think he'd be there in a heartbeat. The only thing I wore a comment on that you said Ben was the whole, you know, he could come

back in his own time. I don't know how much time he does actually have. I know he's a four-time world champ. He's got, what, 50-old race wins. The guy is a formidable. You know, he's an absolute incredible talent. How much time does he realistically have to make the choice on his own terms before suits start getting taken up,

multi-year contracts get locked in, and people, this sounds harsh, but the world is short-sighted and we have a recency bias. How quickly do they forget just what Sebastian Vetter can do in a Formula One? cut realistically. I think it depends on the level of the seat available. So, for example, you say when will it get to that point? I mean, from my perspective, and if I was Toto Wolf, which I'm not, because I can't do the same accent that Sam can do, understandable. If I was Toto Wolf, I wouldn't hire Sebastian Vettel. I think Alonzo Anzines are better prospects right now than Vettel. I think it's

less of a risk. I mean, what do you think about that, Sam? No, I actually, That's where I was kind of getting myself to. Detail right now is 36. He's coming round to being 37, I think in about a month and a half, I think his birthday's in July. And I'm not saying that good God, he's too old to go racing.

Again, look at Fandong, so look at Lewis Hamilton, both older than these two guys. And he's younger than those two guys, rather, and still driving perfectly well. But he's been out of the game for two or three years at that point. And when he did leave,

he didn't leave on an absolute. climax of his ability. He wasn't dominating the scene. He didn't bow out at the very top of his game. We were seeing a lot of bizarre errors from Sebastian Vettel. Those weird spings he kept having completely unforce. It was a very strange development in his driving. He wasn't able to dominate teammates as we'd previously seen.

I think you're right in saying it's a risk. And I'd rather go for someone that's got actual form that could be looked at on the track right now that could be analysed and compared against immediate talents. So you go, okay, a long time might have two less championships, but he's also had way more podiums in the last two seasons, and that I trust, rather than just my gut feeling that Seb is a very good driver, but is he still a very, very good driver? If it was someone like Audi,

and they wanted someone with a lot of experience, who they're happy to not care about hitting podium, they just want experience and a level head, sure, Sebrivet is a great person having your car. But if Mercedes are trying to turn this around within a year or so, start picking up regular podiums, I don't know if Seby Vets got the absolute raw ability anymore of that pure pace to deliver what Mercedes want right now. Harry, where do you think that Vettel should be sitting in some sort of pecking order for Toto Wolf,

given Vettel's incredible accomplishments in the sport, but factoring in that he'd have been away for two years? Yeah, it's a real tricky one, isn't it? Because, yeah, his last couple of years in the sport was. spectacular. I know the car he didn't have necessarily the car underneath him

but I don't know it I still think if he gave Sebastian Beto a car that he suited him as a car

that Seb liked I don't know I think he could well be up there with with Alonzo if it's a car that Seb doesn't get along with

which I feel like the hybrid cars in general just don't suit his style in the same way that we had back in the early teens with a non-year-old normally aspirated engines and stuff,

just the way they deliver power, the way they, just the way they are, just don't suit Seb as well. So you get a car that doesn't suit him, then, yeah, I'm with you, Ben. Alonzo, his signs is still ahead. And obviously, there's the point

that he's not been in the sport since the end of 2022. So, yeah, I think based on that, he's probably third below those two. But yeah, I don't know, it's a very, it's a tempting offer, isn't it? obviously Alonso is a given because he just doesn't change as a driver apparently

and signs is proving at the moment what a great driver he is. So you've got two options there that you know there are known quantities and whereas Seb isn't. So I don't think you could put him above those other two. But I guess it's the prospect

or the promise, not the promise, but like the potential that he could come back and be Sebastian Vettel of at least maybe 2018, which could be good. I'll be good for Mercedes.

And that's the risk. That would be the risk for not just Mercedes, but any team that would pick him up really from this point onwards. I will say about Sebastian Vetto and his final years in F1, I think his 2020 season, his final year is actually pretty underrated. I think he had a good last year, in my opinion. But actually 2020 and 2021 were fairly poor by his standards. And I feel like that might still sit in the mind of a Toto Wolf to think.

think, you know, the last time he was, and that 2020 Ferrari was god-awful, but Charles LeCler absolutely wiped the floor with him. And then when he went to Aston Martin, to your point, Sam, whilst he did have an advantage over Landstrol, it was nowhere near as profound as the advantage that Fernando Alonzo currently holds. Now, you could say, rightly, the Aston Martin is far better now than it was when Vettel was there. But if we're looking at something like qualifying record against your teammate, Vettel and Stroll was actually pretty close. So Vettel was 2418 in Vettles' favour over their time together as teammates. The current record between Alonzo and Stroll is 22 to Alonzo, four to Stroll.

So... Dark man! Nice. I know that's only qualifying, but Alonzo has done a far better job against Stroll than Vettel did. So I still think there might be a few things like that that would sit in the back of someone like Toto Wolfe's mind, whereas, as you say, the likes of signs and Alonzo, regardless of whether they're better or not, the present, like you can see what's happening right in front of you. And that gives you a more accurate read. And yet there's a tiny little part of me that says, screw it all to hell. I just want to see Sebi Vec driving a Mercedes once again.

Oh, I mean, I think probably all three of us are going to stay the same thing in that regard. It's always the head versus hard debate, right? Yeah, I agree. I think these new cars, the ground effect cars with the hybrid engines, they don't suit a few of the longer lasting drive. I think Lewis Hamilton is one of them. Daniel Riccardo is another one. I think Sebastian Vettel probably falls into that category. But if they can make it work, he's definitely a safe pair of hands. Can't wait for three hours time when it is announced that Vettel is either officially

retiring forever or has returned to Mercedes because that's the way we roll here on the late breaking podcast. We'll take our first break at this point on the other side. We're going to be chatting Red Bull and Sergio Perez. Okay, everyone. Welcome back. We go from Sebastian Vessel in our... first topic to Sergio Perez in our second topic. So it's been a very good start to the season for

Perez. He's picked up multiple second place finishes. And understandably, he was asked about his prospects of racing for Red Bull next season. He was speaking to Sky Sports after the Japanese Grand Prix, and he had the following Tuesday. I'm pretty relaxed about it. My main focus is in F1 and whatever comes next. I'm really pleased with what I've done in the sport so far. I believe it will be a matter of time. Obviously, the driver market is moving and the next few weeks going to be a lot of movement for sure. So I expect within a month to really know what I'm doing next year. On a completely separate note, Helmut Marco was talking about seats for next year, not in response to Sergio Perez's comments, but he was talking about Yuki Sonoda's performance at the Japanese

Grand Prix and said it was more likely to be towards the middle of the season. So Sam, what do you think the timeline is going to look like from Red Bull's perspective? It's funny that they've come out completely talking about the same subject, but in completely different situations and without conferring with one another, and they've essentially given total opposite answers. Now, if I'm Sergio Perez, I guess you've got every right to stand up tall and say,

look, I'm doing absolutely everything as a team that you need me to do. Multiple second places now. I'm regularly the only person within a 10-second gap to Sebastian Vettel. I've brought home every single point that said... Oh, God. I've got the... He has come back. He's back.

He's doing a red for the game. Max Verstappen. Sorry, everyone. The three-time champion, Max Verstappen, is definitely what I meant. I'm regularly the only driver with Egers can have a 10-second window to Max at Verstappen. There is. And, you know, he's been far more concise and clearly called his overtakes. He's qualifying and stepped up and improved.

Why does he not deserve to stand there and go? I get the contract. It's mine. Equally, Sergio Perez, as horrible as he was. it sounds has zero power in this situation. He does not get a say. I think the only way that they even remotely chance keeping him within the snap of a finger,

and I mean in the next couple of weeks, without considering any other options for the next few months, is if he was currently beating Max Verstappen in every Grand Prix so far this season, which it isn't going to happen for most drivers, 99% of drivers, they're not going to be beating Max for Stapling in every Grand Prix. So Helmut Marco holds pretty much all of the power.

I'm sure he'll confer with his. feels like his nemesis Christian Horner at the moment and the rest of the Red Bull CEO group, the board, on who they should sign in that secondary seat. The issue for Sergio Perez is there are so many options available to him. It's not like he can directly compare himself to one other driver. It's not like going. Okay, my only competition is Daniel Riccardo right now.

I'm easily doing a better job because he'd be right. But then you go, well, what about Carlos Sainz, who has picked up a podium every single Grand Prix that's raised for at a Ferrari that arguably has got a lot more competition for a podium than what the Red Ball does for winning? Or what about Landon Norris, who could be bought out of a contract? And it is in theory possible that he could go to that seat. Or what about Daniel Ricotado, who is a PR machine

that can turn around anything possible to make people feel happy and positive about his own life? Or even Yuki Sonoda, who is having one of the seasons of his lifetime and maybe deserves a bit of an outside shot. So it's tough for Sergio, because he does deserve to feel positive and, like, he is going to be rewarding for his positive. driving, but equally, I genuinely don't think that he gets a say in when that decision is made. I think it was just bad timing in the press conferences.

What do you think, Harry, how do you think Red Bull will approach this? Yeah, I think they'll, they're going to just wait this out, aren't they? There's no pressure on them to sign Perez. You think it'll go longer than a month like Perez wants it to be? Yeah. Because why, what's the rush? For them, what is the rush? Also, a complete side note.

Remember when not that long ago? how Marker was like, yeah, I'm going to be suspended after this weekend. What happened there? Don't know. Just nothing. It's Red Bull, baby. Who knows what goes on behind those doors? Anyway.

Yeah, I'd love, for Red Bull, why would you... There's Carlos Sines, who is, quite frankly, in the form of his life at the moment. I know we're... Like the driver of the season? Yeah, he's... I mean, I think of his staff, the Brady still cleans out one. Check out our power rankings, if you'd like to see who we currently think is driver of the season. Oh, my God.

It's like an extension look. Plug old media. Usually there's so many plug. Yeah. Carlos Lines in the form of his life and he's a free agent for next year. So why would Red Bull rush into this? That's not to say Sergio Perez is doing a bad job.

He's doing, as you said, I'm doing everything that he needs to do currently. At least for Red Bull to keep him, not for his own prospects of winning a race, but for Red Bull to keep him next year, doing enough. More than enough. So, yeah, I don't think Red Bull will rush into it. From Sergio's point of view, I think this comment, I think he realized it, realizes this.

I think he's like, oh, Carlos Sancy's doing quite well. If he was in the seat, maybe he'd be doing better than me. Wrap it up quickly, please. Wrap it up. Carlo, too. No, I don't know him. Yeah, so I understand his comment and but to be honest, what, I don't see that doing anything.

He, Perez can only do what he can do. on the track. I think he's doing enough at the moment. This is the thing. If this is a normal driver market, you know, window where Lewis Hamilton was staying at Mercedes and Carlos Sines is staying at

Ferrari next year, they might have already re-signed Paris because who else is the competition here? I think Carlos Sines is the main sticking point and any threat of the staff and leaving, which I don't think it will happen, but it's, you know, it's up in the air.

So yeah, so for Perez, I can see why he's saying it, but for Red Bull, I don't think they're going to rush into this. Yeah, I agree with that. And I think Helmut Marco's timeline that he's outlined is going to be far closer to what happens to what Sergio Perez has said. I can't hate on Perez giving it a go. He's got a look out for himself. So fair play to him. The timeline can be whatever the hell Red Bull want it to be, because Sergio Perez is not. and I'm going to be fairly confident about this.

Sergio Perez is not going to turn around and say, hey, you better make a decision before the end of May or I'm taking my talents to Williams. It's not happening, is it? Sergio Perez, he's got, and Maxis for Slappen obviously as well, they have the privilege of being in such an incredible car right now that there's just nothing else that matches it. And as you say, Red Bull hold all the cards in this sort of Perez debacle,

but it's not even, that's no insult on Perez. I'm pretty certain that nearly every driver on the grid if they were in that same spot would be in that same spot in that they wouldn't hold the power because that seat is so lucrative. So if it was the other way around and it was Carlos Sines who was in that Red Bull seat

and it was Perez who had been kicked out of Ferrari, I'm pretty certain would be in the exact same position. Even if Sines was doing a marginally better job than what Perez is doing or a marginally worse job, there's no reason for Red Bull to rush based on how good that car is right now. I completely understand, though, from Sergio Perez's perspective, why he's pushing this now, because it is really the optimal time for him to do that. He did exactly the same thing in 2022.

He won at Monaco, obviously, and he realized that his stock was about as high as it could be at that point, time to get this multi-year deal in place. And he worked, and fair play to him. He really worked it. I think he's back in that position now because the last four races, he's had 64 points. That is his best four-run stretch, four-race stretch, as I'd say, since the beginning of 2023. So he is in his best position form-wise for 12 months. If you look at the last 17 races of 2023, he had two second-place finishes.

He's already got three in the first four races of this year. So it is, I mean, it's light and day, right? Compared season to season. So it's precisely why he should be pushing for this to happen. But at the same time, it's precisely why Red Bull shouldn't rush it. Because we know that this beginning stretch of the season, Perez does pretty well at. It's the middle of the season where he struggled more. So might as well wait it out and see what happens.

We have some tracks coming up where like, you know, Hungary and Austria are two tracks where he's never got better than third. Zandvo, he's never had a podium at. Monaco, he didn't get a podium at last year. Same for Silverstone. Same for Spain. He didn't get a podium there last year as well. So you've got a lot of European tracks

that over the last couple of years haven't gone ideal for Perez. If he continues this form from the first four races into the next six races, I'm pretty sure they'll keep him. But from Red Bulls' perspective, why rush? If they get to 10 Grand Prix

this season and they've had eight, one-toos? I mean, what more do you really want? Exactly. You might as well just wait for the ones where he's been less assured at. Like, for example, the three podiums that he's had, three second places, I should say,

that he's had so far this year. Saudi Arabia, he actually won there last year. Bahrain, he finished second, but he also finished second there last year. And Monaco, sorry, not Monaco. What's the other one he's had? Japan. He got second place at Japan, obviously.

and he got Japan at second at Japan two years ago as well. So it's not like any of these second place finishes have been groundbreaking in that regard. And that's not to put the achievement down. It's just to say that when he starts to turn up to some of these European tracks that he hasn't done very well at in the past and he performs at the same level. At that point, Red Bull turn around, okay, done deal.

Let's make it happen. I imagine that every time Sergio Perez comes out of this, Helmut Marco just stands there, pointing at a calendar and just tapping the big Miami sign. going, do better here, you might be all right, because that did not go well. To be fair, he finished second at Miami. Yeah, but he was mentally and emotionally destroyed.

Yeah, it's more the after effect of it, isn't it, rather than the Miami result itself. Finish within 10 seconds at Miami, and we know you're all right. Yes, indeed. I mean, in terms of the whole Carlos Sines side of things, he's said a few things as well. I'm assuming, Sam, you just think he should be pushing at this as hard as he can whilst his stock is arguably as high as it's ever been.

If I'm being honest, Sir Carlos, he should be the most audacious man on the grid. Every time he has a good performance, he should, you know, what's the Irish chap who does the M.MA? Connem O'Gregor. He should do the old swaggy walk that Colin McGregor's up to the camera and goes, who the F is this guy about Sergio Perez and start in an Irish accent as well? I imagine that Carlos does as good an Irish accent as I do a Toto Wolf accent. I imagine they're on very similar levels of excellence. And he should big it up.

Pick yourself up, man. Back yourself. He's in the shop window. He's the number one present that every kid wants a Christmas. So sell yourself. And why not when you're that good, you're that handsome and you're that lovely? So sell it all day, baby, because what have you got to lose? What do you think, Harry?

Obviously, he's doing a lot of talking on the track itself. at the moment, but is there more that he can do off the track? Carlos Lines? I mean, yeah, maybe. The thing is these sorts of things, I never really think drivers coming out and saying stuff that actually does anything. I understand why they do it.

But quite frankly, the main talking is done on the track. And then after that, it's all their managers that do the talking rather than what the driver says. So they can come out and say, Cote, be pushy if he wants to. But he's always, been noted. Christian Horner's already made a comment. He's on Christian Horner's radar. So

Carlos in that sense, it would be, it would be frustrating. This must be a frustrating situation for him, given how he's driving and he has no drive for next year. But he's just got a, you know, in the same way that Perez did in 2020,

just keep plugging away. And hopefully, I'm kind of confident, but hopefully a drive will become available for him. The 2020 Perez comparison is a good one. And I think we've mentioned this before, at least I've mentioned it in my mind. But with Sergio Perez, obviously won the 2020 Secir Grand Prix. And people always focus on that remarkable result, which it was incredible.

But it wasn't just that right. He was great all season. And it was just the consistency of how good he was in that year that then helped him through. So I think, like you say, Carlos Sines might have that landmark win in Australia. But it's actually the other results. around it is the finishing on the podium at every single race he started so far this year. That's what gives him the best chance at getting in this contract. Yeah, I think for me, the reason why science needs to big himself up in the media is because

a lot of people will look at the results and they'll go, well, Sergio's beating you 16 times out of 24 this season. So he needs to be actively saying, reminding people. And the social media is a big power in this. And a lot of people are very new to the sport. He needs to come out and go, our car's not as quick. look how close I was to Sergio or look how much trouble I gave him or look how much I've exceeded and he needs to remind these people time after time to make sure that everyone knows

I'm Carlos Sites and I'm here to deliver the absolute best results I can. I'm better than Sergio Perez. That's what he's got to remind people every race weekend. Before we go to our second break, it's time for our F1 Fantasy update. Wee! I love F1 Fantasy. Carrie, don't seem excited, mate. Why aren't you more excited? I really need to take Daniel McAld off, my team. Oh, of course.

Let's see the results. It might show something different to what you're saying. Sam's excitement is justified because he is leading the way, at least in terms of us, 242nd. In fairness, all of us suck this week. Well, it's not a good week. No, it's not a good week. But you still lead the way to 42.

I'm not far off. I'm in the 200s, 288th. And then comes Kirstie on 451st, a little bit ahead of... Top half. Admirable stuff. And Brexit beef on 514th. Pretty solid. Top half again? Yeah. Or. Ben, do you know how many teams we've got in this league that we're running? It's a little over 1,200. Right. So 1250 is what we're kind of guessing here.

Yeah. Okay, sure. Yeah. Harry. I haven't mentioned Harry's name yet. Where is he? P1,177. Harry, have you got any drivers in your team? Are you the only person in the team? Are you helping?

A man's been running half marathons, leave me alone. Sorry, half marathon. Not one. It's not point five of a marathon. Yeah, yeah. Daniel Ricardo. Good idea. Me in the next segment.

I'll just be pretty good at my team. What is your team? Can you read it out to us, please? Yeah, hang on. Please hold to call us. I need to know who you've got as the line up. Nikita Mazepin. Because if Latifi's in there, you're in the wrong name,

Sean Jaleel. If he's got a mention. I've got... Bernie Eccles. Oh, yeah. I've got the Stappan. Okay. Alonzo.

Yeah. And then it will go to a bit downhill. I've got Ricardo Ockon, Albon. Why have you got Alpine? Yeah, that's fair. I should probably change that. Who are your constructors? Aston Martin and Williams.

Ben's actually collapsed. Are you using all of your money as well? Surely you've got like 20 mil left. Have you lost 20 million somewhere? You're on a 60 mil budget and we've all gone to see. How do I see? I don't know. I go on your transvers and see.

You got that 10.5 million. What does that mean? You got 10 million left to spend? Upgrade something. You don't know how it was. He's left there. That's another driver you can replace. Oh, dear.

Right. Let's, I'll just, Espanachan, you can go, son. Oh, George. Yeah, in you go, son. Daniel. It's like playing this with, like, my grand. Yuki. If you take half of money, yeah.

I just picked all the boys I like. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I like the... Oh, that's no good. I don't want that. Anyway, I know. I need to understand this. How do you go through the process of picking your team?

See that you have over 10 million left and go, yeah, that will do. I won't go bigger. Just great question, guys. It's a great question. Do you have the scaffold of your team, then? Have you gone for that strategy? I don't have a staffing in my team, no. Neither do I.

Interestingly, I don't. Can I still give us a nod or a shake? Do you have the staff in your team? No, she goes not. Okay, that's three for three. Well, you can't. That's not a, that's the one thing I've got right. I'd argue you've also got that wrong, but sure.

Why is that wrong? We're going to let you work that way. I'll start throughout the break. Let's move on to a break now, big. Yeah, we're going to a break. See you in a bit. Is it because he's too expensive? Yeah.

Okay, welcome back. We are moving now on to McLaren, who last week announced they are going through some organisational changes following the departure of David Sanchez, who had only started working for them a couple of months ago. So this was from Andrea Stella, following thoughtful discussions between David Sanchez and the team leadership, the mutual decision has been taken for David to leave the team. Upon our joint reflection, it became apparent that the role, responsibilities, and and ambitions associated, but David's position did not align with our original expectations when he agreed to join us in February 2023. This has triggered something of a reshuffle within the team and I believe a technical director for performance is still to be recruited

that Andrea Stella is currently sitting in himself. What are your thoughts on this, Sam? Because he agreed to sign for them in February of last year. That's a 10-month wait. And then he's lasted all over a couple of months. Yeah, this is a really bad look for McLaren. And I don't think it's McLaren that's done the removal service, shall we say. I don't think they've sent around the bailiffs and escorting him off the premises. I think Sanchez has turned around and said, I came from Ferrari. I was quite prominent, quite senior, and I expected a project that I was going to be able to lead. I was going to be able to govern. And you hired me because the start of your season, last season, was so bad that you wanted a change of direction.

You wanted a new tactic. You wanted someone to lead you somewhere different. And I think he's walked in, taking a look at the organisational structure of McLaren. And Ben, you said it yourself then. There are so many names, so many individuals who are in the pot. It's like us three all trying to make dinner in one kitchen.

It's a disaster waiting to happen. You're likely to burn a house. That's a video waiting to happen. Right. Late breaking dinner. If you're going to see it on Patreon, let us know. Damn right. But my point here is,

There's too many cooks in the kitchen. And that one cook who came in, Sanchez, he wanted to be head chef. And I don't think he was able to be. I think they basically went. Now, you're in charge of this little bit, but we've also got this guy and this guy and this guy who are also in charge of their bits as well. How does that sound to you? And I think they're buzzing heads.

I feel like they're going in different directions. And the segments are so small. One is performance. One is aerodynamics. One is concept. And you just think these things all need to work in unison. They all need to be going in the same direction. It can't be three pillars that essentially go.

Oh, by the way, my concept is the car is going to have wings, and I think we're going to be powered by fairy dust. And the other person is going, well, aerodynamic says that we should shape the car like a marshmallow. It don't work, right? One on top of each other doesn't work. They need to be aligned. And so I just think they're cooking up an absolute plate of gruel when really isn't they should be aiming for a gorgeous Sunday roast,

fluffy roast potatoes, a gorgeous Yorkshire pudding, lovely gravy on the top. And to do that, you get a succinct team, that knows the ingredients, and then going to have a move forward together. And I think Sanchez has gone, I can't make my gravy, so I'm going to leave.

I can't make my gravy, so I'm going to leave. Put that on his tomb. No, no, never mind. I didn't understand the word of that analogy, but I'm just very hungry now. Hey, nothing like a good gravy. Don't out of a t-eja.

Sell that. Oh, man. Yeah, I'm not sure I followed any of that analogy as well, but I'm glad you made it. I was actually thought it had no total sense to me. It probably did. But like Harry, I think I was distracted and I'm really hungry. But I don't know how they've managed to mess this up so much. It's so sudden, right? I mean, I guess any person leaving a company that senior after like two or three months is always going to be sudden. But how on earth do you get to this point? I don't know whether it's a community.

communications issue, whether it's like you suggest Sam, maybe I'm getting the timeline slightly wrong on this, but at the time when Sanchez agreed to join, there was no talk, at least externally, of Rob Marshall coming on board. And this is complete speculation, but obviously Rob Marshall, very senior figure, he's one of those three heads of McLaren that was sort of put in place. And who knows, maybe it has got to a position where Sanchez thought he was going to have more centralized control than has actually become, that has actually happened because so much can happen in 10 months in a team, as you say, when Sanchez agreed to join, McLaren were 17th thing and DNFing in Bahrain. By the time Marshall agreed to join,

they were scooping up podiums, left, right and center. So a lot can change within an organization, and that's just one of the side effects of these usually long-term. gardening leaves that happen when it comes to F1 appointments. When a senior member does leave a team like Ferrari, and they are sat on the benches for nearly a year, by the time they get there, maybe it doesn't align with the expectations that they once had. From an external perspective,

it is a bit of an embarrassing look for McLaren. And, you know, Zach Brown has put a lot behind these structural changes. So to have to pivot again, not long after someone has joined. It's not what he was going for. Harry? I was about to make the same point about the garden leave. It's, it's, I mean, it's the nature of Formula One, but you're right that if you have this sort of turnaround in a team that McLean had last year, that maybe they hired Sanchez for a problem that they didn't end up having by the time he arrived.

Yes, it's a little embarrassing for Maca on this one, and I guess for, maybe, maybe, maybe me not for Sanchez, but, you know, a little bit for Sanchez. Imagine it's been sat out for a year and then you come to join a team and then you've only been there a few months and off you go. We don't want you anymore. Yeah, it's an interesting one, but I don't know. It's a bit embarrassing on that front, but I think it's the end of the world for McLaren. I think they're clearly making a lot of progress or have made a lot of progress.

and his services aren't quite as required as they first thought. And that's, in a way, I guess that's a good problem to have that they don't need, or they feel that they don't need his expertise anymore because they don't have the problems that they did before. So, yeah, it's a little bit of a blunder, I guess, in terms of a hiring process, but I don't think it's the end of the world. Do you think that it's because Rob Marsh was coming and obviously he's so historically talented and successful that they've gone, ah, we hired a great guy, but then we hired a brilliant guy after him and actually we don't need the great guy anymore and they've just butted eggs the entire time. A-B. Yeah, tough to know,

isn't it? In terms of the team itself, like you say, Harry, they've obviously sorted out their initial problems from the beginning of last season. They're in a far better position now, although arguably if we look at where they're at today versus where they were say eight months ago they're largely speaking I would say at least in the same position do you think that McLaren have hit a wall I don't think so I would go in there

the amount of restructuring they've done I would be it would be a shock if they had if they've hit a wall because they've been a they've been working on this for a while. If they have hit a wall, then they've got problems, basically, because that's bad, bad news.

But I'm going to go with no, no, they haven't, because I think they've been doing, they've been doing the legwork. In the way the Alpine have not been doing any legwork, the couple of, like, chicken legs, McLaren have got, you know, massive musly, musty thighs of here

because they've been doing it. Ooh, hello. Salzy. Babatoa's back again. Bless of that. Zach Brown glistiging in the sun, oiled up. Oh, good Lord. With them thighs out.

Your man, awful images from this episode, man. Oh, God. Anyway, but my point is, McLeod have been working at this for a while, and if they've hit a wall now, then that's a bad sign. But I don't think they have. What do you think, Sam? I'm a bit worried.

they haven't had the progress that they said that they were going to have over the winter break. And Zach Brown was very, very confident that, you know, Mr. Marketing, he came out singing and dancing, usually as superpowers to drive more marketing opportunities for them. And, hey, fair play to them, you make Haywell, the sun shines. But they haven't taken a step forward. They've been quite stagnant in their ability. I'd argue they're no closer to Red Bull at all. And they're securing less podium than they did towards the back end of the season.

And now, a senior member has left after only months of going through. it, they're still hiring for that position. So it's not like they've gone, oh, we just don't need that level of expertise anymore. They've lost it. And now, Andrea Stella is having to fulfill two different job roles at once. He's the team manager on the actual pit wall. And now he's running an entire internal department as well. I think they're at a massive risk of pulling themselves two things and getting themselves

a bit confused over what direction they need to go in. And they need to rally around one person. Whether that be Rob Marshall, that then allows Stella to get back to the pit, wall and actually run the team because I do think he's done a good job on the pit wall over the last season or they get someone very, very quickly or they change their structure. I'm not sure what it is, but they can't be having this half-in, half-out approach for much longer. I think they might end up falling back, not down the grid, but away from the top end if they don't focus themselves up quickly and decide on the direction they want to go in. Yeah, I think if you're

looking at last season, certainly the Singapore to USA stretch was probably where they peeped. because across those four races, they had six combined podiums between the two drivers. If you look at the first four races of this year, of course, they've only had one podium to this point. So, yes, you're right. In terms of number of podiums, it's definitely worse off compared to where they were at one point last season. I think it is worth saying that I think part of it is related to McLaren. I think part of it is related to Sergio Perez doing a better job. Part of it is related to Ferrari being far better now than what they were, sort of middle of last season.

But I think McLaren, McLaren no worse than what they were in sort of the autumn of last year. But as we often say, if you're not moving forward in F1, you're moving backwards. You know, standing still isn't going to work out. And that feels like where they're at. The good news for them, from my perspective, is they're doing what you need to do when you haven't got an outright brilliant car, which is just consistency. because they have so far this season, like I say, they've only have one podium,

but equally they've had nothing worse than an eighth place finish to this point. Both of their drivers have scored on four out of four occasions. And currently, it's proving to be effective in their battle against Mercedes and Aston Martin because they have more points than both of those teams combined. Now, both of those teams are making errors.

You know, there's a double retirement for Mercedes, of course, Australia. Hamilton's had a couple of ninth place finishes. from the Aston Martin side of the garage, Lance Drol hasn't scored in two of the four races so far. So McLaren are doing a far better job of consistently scoring than those two teams are. So that is the positive side of it. But we do need to see them make that next step at some point

because otherwise they'll kind of hit that same ceiling that they did around 2020, 2021. If you remember they were in that battle with Ferrari over P3 in the Constructors Championship. Now, I don't think the peat was ever as high back then, but they kind of reached a point and then found they could go no further. I hope they aren't finding the same thing again here. Should we move on to discuss our favourite thing?

What's that, man? Oh, you've let me down immediately. Sorry, because the first sprint race of the year is going to happen at the Chinese Grand Prix, of course the first Chinese Grand Prix since 2019, which, as mentioned on our socials earlier today, first time will ever be reviewing a Chinese Grand Prix at least via podcast format.

Blew my mind that. Absolutely blew my mind. I feel like we've been here forever, as has the Chinese Grand Prix. Well, we've reviewed it before, but just in other, we would have done like articles back in the day, I guess, but...

Oh, well, we used to do things in text form. Yes, exactly. Losers. Or we did Facebook live reviews. Was the 2019 race, the 1,000th race? Yeah. The last time we went to the Chinese Grand Prix was the 1,000 race.

with the bathing ape car. What race are we on now? I don't know, but it's more than a thousand. Yeah. Is it? That's how it works. Anyway, there was actually a point in all of this, which is the drivers aren't particularly happy

with the Chinese Grand Prix being the site of the first sprint race of the year. Carlos Sines said over the weekend that with these kind of cars to go to a track with one hour of practice and straight into qualifying, with the regulations that they put us under with the plankware and how tricky one bump can make the car, I think it's not a good choice to choose to hold a sprint after four or five years

of absence. He's also concerned that resurfacing work at the track may mean that drivers have to cope with extremely low grip levels, as was the case when the series returned to Istanbul in 2020. What do you think, Sam? Do you think this is the right sort of venue to have a sprint? I don't think any venue is the right venue to have a sprint. Well, whoever was going first was going to say that comment, so you've got that one. There you go. Yeah, there we go. Put a mark.

That's a knockout round one. Yeah, no, sorry. I just think that if you talk about resurfacing and grip issues, and I think there's two venues you can look at historically that in the last few years have had either some resurfacing or severe grip issues due to the tarmac put down. And that is Istanbul, which has, of course, been mentioned by Carlos Sainz here. And that's Vegas. And on both of those occasions, we had two of the most exciting races that we've had over the last five seasons that aren't championship deciding battles. I don't care if the grip's bad. Sorry, that's not a deciding factor to me.

The best drivers will prevail if the grip is bad. So if you're struggling for tire wear or for tie attempts and you need to make it up, the better drivers will make it up. I'm sorry, that's a challenge you have to come across. It's the same with the minimal amount of practice that they're talking about here. I believe that less practice is better. I think it creates more interesting setups. I think it creates more variables. I think the better drivers rise to the top

because they're able to deliver better performance under less practice sessions. Great. What I do agree with is that back straight at China after the Triple Anting Corner. You all know it, of course. You all know it well. People wouldn't know what you were talking about in 2019,

let alone now. Check the sponsorship on the grandstand going into the last. Is it definitely still Anting? It's still Anting. Then you'll know why we call it the Anting corner. No, no, no, no, no, no, not we. I think Harry started it from memory.

What he does go on to say is that he's worried that we might get excessive plankware due to cars being set up too low to maximise that straight section, which is one of the longest straights in Formula One. I think it was the longest straight in Formula One until Baku turned up on the grid, which I think beats it, even though it's got a curve at the start, I think that does just beat it. But they set up their cars here to be so low to make sure what they can get, of course,

maximum top speed, overtakes can be done, and it's a key part of the track. You're getting a lot of speed on there if you are set up well or you lose a lot if you're set up incorrectly. And I don't want to see cars disqualified because they've run their planks so low to the ground that it's rubbing as we saw, a Lewis Hamilton, for example, in Cota last year.

That's a letdown. I don't want to see cars disqualified just because they don't know what they're doing, I also don't want to see a sprint race there because it is the first time back here, and we have no evidence that the cars around this track are good or bad. They might be boring. They might not be able to make any moves. And so you're allowing us two more competitive sessions, the sprint shootout and the actual sprint race,

based off nothing because we just haven't had it there for a while. So I see what they've done, but you're basing it on absolutely zero. Your vibes is what you're going on here. And for a multi-billion-dollar company to be basing something off vibes, I don't feel like it's the most scientifically proven way for success. So I don't want a sprint race here for that reason alone. Put it on a track that regularly produces great overtakes, close racing, if we're going to have to have sprint races at all.

China does have that historically, but we don't know if it does with these current cars. It might be a complete dud of a weekend. Head of the Sprint Race Committee is Harry Ead. What's your opinion on these comments? Yeah, I Like Sam says, I understand why F1 have done this because it's, you know,

we haven't been to China since 2019, as already mentioned. By the way, this will be waste, Waste, race 100, oh my God, I'll start this again.

Is it you that's had to be or is it me? I'm having a stroke, apparently. This will be race 1,106. Brilliant. That's a great number. There you go. We've had a,

I've been in five races since the last one. Anyway, so I can see why I've done this, as you say, Sam, it's you know, come back to China with a big bang. But yeah, why? Why? Why are we doing it? I know we don't like spring races anyway, but why are we doing it up at a circuit we've not been to for five years?

Yeah, that's stupid, stupid sprint races. But, yeah, it just doesn't feel, doesn't feel very, it's, be like going to Vegas and having a sprint. As you've already mentioned, I know you've mentioned Vegas already, but it's like, we're effectively I know it's not new, but you're going to such an unknown for these cars

then it might as well be a brand new track to the calendar. So, and if they suggested doing a sprint race there, then that would be silly as well. So I, yeah, this, I don't think they'll, I think they'll be fine, but it seems

a bit silly to be doing this, to be honest. But I know we're very by. and we have to get up at 4 a.m. to watch a stupid spring race. Don't remind me. I don't need it. I've had a bad day. No, no, no. We're positive about that. We don't mind because we don't have to do it very often here in Europe.

You're right. I'll get to see the sunrise and I'll get to talk to my best mates while everyone else is asleep. Yeah, but having said that, the start of this year has been absolute arse for us. No, it's in Japan, China. Get in the bin. It's all absolutely fine. Don't listen to Harry Ead. It's all good. He doesn't turn up anyway. It's fine. Get your keyboards away. we're fine with it. You know what?

I disagree with Carlos Sines here. In that, you know, famously I'm not a massive fan of sprint races, but equally, I don't think it really matters where they go because the format has reached a point where it is literally just a mini race. Like there's nothing that really makes it special.

We get a qualifying session that apart from taking a couple of minutes away is exactly the same. We've got a race that's exactly the same that's like one third of a race itself. But there's no distinguishing characteristics about a sprint race. So there's not necessarily... I can't point to a certain circuit and go,

well, that race, that circuit might be good for a sprint race because if it's good for a normal race, it will be good for a sprint race. If it's not good for a normal race, it won't be good for a sprint race. So actually for China, I don't mind. And, you know, if you're... Like you said some, if you're limited in terms of practice time,

yeah, guess what? That's a challenge. This is the pinnacle of motorsport. you know, get on with it. I can't put it any nicer way, man. Just get on with it, I'd say. And honestly, with the plank stuff as well, I can sympathise, but also, again, it's a challenge. Like, if you want to go risky with that hour of practice and say, actually based on this, we think we can go with sort of this level, fine, go with that and you increase your risk of being disqualified. If you want to stay well clear of that and then reap the benefits, if everyone else goes the other way, do that. I'm okay with them having that problem. I can see it the other way as well,

but I don't mind that problem either. And equally with the whole bumps and the track surface and all of that, if a track is unsafe to drive at based on either of those things, you shouldn't be doing a normal race there, let alone a sprint race. So I don't necessarily think that's an argument to not have a sprint race because if it's an argument to not have a sprint race at a circuit, you shouldn't be there at all, really. So, yeah, I disagree. I say I disagree with signs. I think he's just representing

all of the driver's views. So I don't disagree with signs. I disagree with everyone. But, yeah, I mean, my optimal would be no sprints everywhere, of course, but I don't have any problem with it being here versus anywhere else. I would quite like a mini race

instead of a spring, where everyone has to get into a mini cooper. Hey, you know what, it would be different. I wouldn't say no. they can use mine. It will run out of battery before the end of the Grand Prix. This is an incredibly random detour that's not even really F1. That's my favourite. When Ben goes on a detour that's not relevant, we're in for a while. It's at least racing relevant. But I was thinking about, you know, a sort of mini race or something along those lines being a spectacle as a one-off charity sort of thing.

What do you think of IndyCar's $1 million challenge? One million dollars! Everyone hated it. Yeah, it seemed quite insensitive, right? Well, just, and they're racing around a track where there's no spectators and they're ready from it. Who gives a flying monkey? How on earth did they get that so wrong?

Yeah, really, I think it should be a race for charity as well. Anyway, that was a massive detour. We'll take our final break at this point. On the other side, we're going to play Show Me the Options. Wee! Which we don't have a jingle for. That is the jingle. Okay, everyone, welcome back.

It's time to show me the options. We can't get away with that being a jingle. That is so lazy of us. Live Lafatee for you, if you're listening to this, we'd like a jingle. Ross is someone up, mate. Right, that's much less lazy. Get someone else to do it. That's delegation, mate.

Here you go, it's a community challenge. Everyone write a jingle for show us the option. and we will decide a winner. The winner gets a late-breaking cap. Wow. Okay. There you go. Wow.

On the fly competitions, that is the future of late-breaking. That's what we do best. It really is. Well, show me the options game. We've only played it a couple of times, so I'll quickly explain what it entails. There are six questions.

Sam and Harry will take it in turns to say a number. I'll give them that question. They then have two options. They can either try and answer. So the question, as it is, if they get it right, they get two points. If they don't get it right, obviously, they get nothing. But if they're a little bit unsure and can do with a little bit of help, they can say those magic words show me the options, at which point I will give them three multiple choice answers. Of course, one of them is correct. If you then get it right,

you get one point. So there is a bit of jeopardy for going for it when you don't have any options available. Harry, would you like to kick us off? What number would you like? Number four, please. Number four. Solid. Jackie Stewart won the 1969 Spanish Grand Prix by two clear laps. Nice. Who is the only other driver in F1 history to win a race by two clear laps?

Show me the options. That's a great call. We! Your options are Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonzo. Hmm. Damon Hill. You have played the game well, sir. You have said, show me the options, and that has helped you to a point. Yeah, it was the, I didn't write it down. I think it was the Australian Grand Prix, maybe 95. Interesting.

Only I was alive to see such a race. Genuinely true, because it would have been at the end of the year. Yep, so that is 1-0.2. Harry, over to you, Sam. I'll have number one, please, belly boy. Number one. Jim Clark's last win came in which year? I mean, even if I say, show me my options, I'm not going to get this right,

but you know what, just for the banter, show me my options! Just going to keep showing options even when you know the answer, just so that can be said now. Your three options are 1964, 1967, 1968. I had 67 in my mind,

pretty wrong, but I'll go for 67. One letter than that, I'm afraid. Wow. I thought they'd be really kind then. It'd be like, 1967,

1990 and 2001. Yeah, and you know, the skill of part of me that would have had to have deliberating it. Man, when Jim Clark

beat one Pablo Montoya in the 2001, Imala, World of Rouse. Wow. What a race. All a race. Madness.

So we stay at 1-0, and it's back over to Harry. Number 1. I literally do you ever listen? Christ. Are you serious? Number 2, please, my lord. At what circuit did Max Verstappen claim his first pole position? I thought he was going to say win there.

I'm like, oh, I go it. Oh. Hungara ring It's a great shout Yes, it is the Hungara ring Full disclosure I would not have got that So he'd be four for ages didn't he Yeah

It would be youngest pollster ever And then people kept in Abbao 2019 Hungarian Gropri Yeah I was about to say Mexico Yeah Wouldn't have been one of your options So you'd have been safe anyway But yeah you're right

He was very good at Mexico He should have got it that year That Daniel Riccardo got pole position If you remember but he didn't slow for... Yeah. But in Ricardo still get it any... I don't remember.

Yeah, I can't remember. But there was something about Mexico that he nearly got pole position. Which means Harry now has a 3-0 lead. Sam, pressure's on. What number would you like? There's no pressure here. That's what I do best.

Speaking of pressure, I've listened to the questions that have been answered, and I'll have number three. And you get three bonus points for saying something that hasn't already been said. Yes, back at the game.

In what decade was the safety car introduced? The 70s. That's right, right? It's not right. It would have been one of your options, though. So if you said show me the options, it wouldn't have helped you out. It was the 1990s. No way!

Yeah, I didn't write the exact year down, but it was the early 1990s, I think. Was it the little Renault, or whatever it was, that used to drive around in front of the F1 cars? They used to have just random cars, didn't they? Yeah, I'm going to Google that. was the first safety car. Yes, it was maybe, I didn't write down the year, but I think it was like 93, possibly.

It was a yellow Porsche 9-14-9-14 in 1973 at the Canadian Grand Prix. You are? Google it. First F-F-WIC safety car. Oh, no. Oh, no, no. Absolutely controversy here, guys.

Is it the official one? Yeah, there'd be like some weird official rule. just I'm just going to do a quick bit of research on this Yeah, you know what, you can have it Cheers, mate Goodness me, overrules Thanks, Porsche

Thank you, I owe you one Which means we're at 3-2 to Harry And it's back to Harry Uh, number five Yeah, you're fine Damn it. Which team was the first Constructors' Championship leader of the hybrid era? McLaren.

It was McLaren, yes. I only saw, have you seen this account that just like tweets through old seasons? Oh, it's been, I don't know why it keeps popping up. So they did 2012, then 2013. Now they just start 2040. I don't know. You are a fountain of knowledge, sir. It popped up.

the McLaren, because Hamilton didn't finish that race and McLaren had a double podium. This is why we don't mind that you miss a few, because when you come back, it's like being read to out of the library. Thanks so much. Like a scroller. It was like having Homer on the podcast.

It is half moon spectacles and they never know. And what's your Homer War spectacles? But yes. Oh, I bet you meant Simpson. Oh, I mean the bloody great writer, you idiot. Ah, I see. You got a book in there for F1 fantasy tips? No.

I'm just serious business. Well, there really is no pressure on this last question now. A very good job by Harry Ead, five out of six points. Sam, you're on two, so the max you can be is on four after this one. Would you like number six or number six? What have I got left, Ben? You've got number six or number six. I'll go for six.

I really thought you were going to say number one then. Which circuit has held the most races that is not featured on the 2024 calendar? Damn it! I was getting to say Silverstone. Don't go with Silverstone. I'll give you that for free. Not featuring on the... Show me my options! Yay! Your three options are the Nuremberg Ring, Wotkins Glen and Kyle Army.

Wow. Those are some great options that you're giving me there, Ben. and they have not helped in any way. So I'm going to pick my favourite from the three and say it's the Nuremberg Green. It's a questionable strategy, but you can't question results, because that is correct.

Woo! Full flare moment. 41 races at the Nureberg Ring, Watkins Glen and Kyle Army, both on 20. I didn't realize Kyle Army was around for so long. Yeah, yeah, sort of late. Yeah.

It didn't leave the calendar until like 93-ish. Can I have to start Googling everything. Everything is 1993 today in my mind. It was probably 73. Good stuff. Well, well done, Harry. Great job. Yes, a wonderfully played game.

Great game, great game. Apart from the inaccurate answer. But I can tell you something that won't have an inaccurate answer. Here we bloody go. it is of course the greatest segment in all of Formula One podcasting. It is the

There'll be question of the we Just a fly Better say it punk We enjoyed it when you work here Harry It was calm

They were so calm Do the line bar it No Are you seriously going to put this on hold Yes God's sake. I'm just, I'm on strike. Ben, I reckon you should get a sound bite of Harry saying wink on your soundboard.

So when he doesn't say, you could just play a week. Okay. Are you seriously waiting still? Folks, we've got to get on with this. I've got some answers to read. There's no point to be starting. She's going to say it won't week. I like the only bothers Ben.

Ah, I've just realized something. What's that? It can mute me. I can mute him. You know, I'm not going to do that. You say it whenever you want to. Question of the week. There we.

One little ass. He really is, isn't it? Deserve it. Question of the week, we asked a question. After Williams keep going through chassisies like anyone's business, what on earth are they going to, how are they going to go racing in China? And as usual, we got some very amazing and varied answers. Sam, what did you?

What stuck out to you? Are we reading that one out? No, we're not reading that one out. If you, you know who you are. You know who you are. And it was atrocious, but we all... No. Anyway, this one I hadn't seen, but equally, not great from Anisha.

They'll use Logan's bones to build a lot. of new chas for Alex. That did get a laugh. I really enjoyed how savage some of you have been this week. A high interest loan from Barry Mangalo, though, of course, without explanation, it's really tips it over the age. It's always good to get Barry a mention in there.

Again, get several. Ring up Barry Manolo from Tyler. He's a hero of us. We didn't start. Hey, Jay Hammer knows by leaving a five-star review. Oh, this is a great one from Nate who says Othmar on his nine kids will push the cars around the track and it will still manage to be faster than the original Alpins.

I think I saw that before I knew that the question of the week had been posed and it was just, it just came up as like, yeah, sure. Of course, Othmard, nine kids, bingo chart in it at this point. It literally is, shit that one off, you've got a line. Classic. Any like, Harry? I'm sorry, just seeing so many Barry Manilow ones. Yes.

I'm pretty certain that, oh, Big Beef, said that Elby boys would give them piggybacks around the racetrack. Now, Harry's done enough running, and I can tell you now that the three of us are not particularly fast. I like the answer for Marathon Man Devon, who said that race with the broken chassis. You can't break again what's already broken. That's so true. Clever. When I was born with a Cleflippin palate, that's what they said to me. Drop him.

He's already broken. Good. That's me. You had great comprehension for such a young age as well to be able to understand that was being said to you. Straight out the womb. My face may not be you, my ears were working fantastically.

Logan will be forced to carry Alex around the track and a wheelbarrow. Brilliant. Yeah. Steph on Twitter says they should buy the Lego 2022 McLaren. It's down to just 134.99 at Smith's Toy Store. So that should be just within their budget. Use a dodging from Clacton Pier. Yes, there it is.

I watched your video about Clacton Pier the other day. Why? What was it about? It was just about how brilliant it is. Someone cleaned the, there's a guy on TikTok called the pool guy, a holiday guy for the pool work. And he cleaned out the log flume on Clacton Pier. And I reckon we should do a live show from the logflip will collect and appear.

Sure. There's one on the thing that I enjoyed from the Big Olive, which says whip out the FW 14B. Yeah. I'm all for it. Yeah. Whip it. How long? I know.

No, people would know because it would win. Who would win and be noisy? Yeah, the noise might be a giveaway. Well, it was at the end of the season. It's just the two-seater chassis car. Oh, yes. I did want to shout out the two-seater. It's aeter as well, yes.

That was a great idea. From Alex. That's great. Well, down, Alex, on Twitter. Hanga Deakin has come around, I guess, with a GIF, a gift reaction. We don't get too many of these, but it's just a couple rollerblading together,

one holding onto the waist of the other. Oh, that's cute. That would be cute, wouldn't it? It would be. Bristol Liam, our favourite of ours. They could buy a Shathe off Timo. It would be locally showing her. So I imagine he said it.

I can't believe he managed to get him on the episode to deliver him live. I've indirect. Any others? Or do we want to wrap things up here? Yeah, that's enough. Obviously, sensational again. Thanks so much. Yeah, as usual, brilliant answers

across both Instagram and Twitter. And of course, there'll be another one in a week's time. It's usually Monday evening, UK time that we post that one. So get your comments in on both platforms, and we will read some out again in next week's episode. Our next episode is on Sunday. So I think we'll be talking. a little bit about Mercedes and the 2026 regulations having a few hiccups.

And of course, anything else that happens in the world of F1 over the coming days. Andretti. That might well feature as well because they're just entering F1 if no one tells them otherwise. But until then, Sam, if you wouldn't mind, getting us out of it. Folks, make sure you do join us for that Sunday. It's not going to be a race, but we're going to be having lots more fun. I'm sure you can join in, giggling away to yourself with your headphones on looking like a weirdo as you walk down the road.

It's okay, where you'll do it. If you would like more content, as we mentioned a few times already, Patreon is available. It is the best way to sort out the show to support us to allow, cursus giving me a face. I don't want to be a face.

There you're going. Good Lord. And I promise you, it's worth your time. It's worth your money. And we do really appreciate everyone that does dump up the cash and support us. Equally, if it's not for you or you can't afford it, we massively appreciate you

just supporting the show normally and listening. And thank you for being here. massively appreciated. No, we don't. Harry's just, again, an ass. Discord is also in the description. If you'd like to get involved in chatting, there's a lot of chat on race days and race weekends.

There's people from literally all over the world talking in there, so you'll find someone nearer to you, I promise. It's a lovely community. Please give it a try, try it out. Coming out, say hello to us. We're all in there as well. Social media is available like Breaking F-F on everywhere. This has also been video recording.

So if you think, oh, I listen to it on Spotify. or Apple or something else. But actually, like seeing these three gorgeous, hunk-a-licious men on my screen, watch your YouTube instead. And you can, like Breaking F-1, it is available.

Every single episode goes up on YouTube as well. Thanks for sticking around. We know it's been a long episode, but, hey, we just love talking about fast girls. In the meantime, I've been Samuel Sage. I've been Ben Hocking. I've been Topas Papatoto. And remember, keep breaking late.

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