The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Do red flag standing starts need to be BANNED?

Episode Date: April 12, 2023

As the long wait for the next race weekend continues, the LB boys grade the teams' performances so far. They also discuss whether standing starts should be the norm for red flags, and they play Finer Details... SUPPORT our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/latebraking JOIN our Discord: https://discord.gg/dQJdu2SbAm JOIN our F1 Fantasy League: https://fantasy.formula1.com/en/leagues/join/C3CCEW8P704 TWEET us @LBraking BUY our merch: https://late-braking-f1-podcast.creator-spring.com/ 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 Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking. Back to the three of us together. I say there's three of us. There might actually be two of us based on the sound of Harry's voice,

but at least in terms of physical form, there are three of us. Sam, you must still be flying high because you've got another mention in Max Verstappen's documentary. You've got another sound bite in. Basically a celebrity. You're going to leave us now?

I am clearly just the most edible man because it's a sound bite. I actually haven't heard the second episode segment. I don't even know it was me. So that's lovely. That's what, three for three. I think I've made it in now.

Is it you a... Oh, sorry. It's all me. I'm well, boy. Hello. Hello. It's what you know. I understand you.

Hello, everyone. It is Harry, by the way. It's you again. Apparently, well, that's what I've heard. That's what all the fangs have been telling me. Like a lot of fang mail. When you say fans, you mean me 20 seconds ago. Exactly.

Yeah. Ben, have you been on any of them? No. Oh, I haven't. That is horrible. Out of all the people he deserves to be on it. You do. You're on it once.

I know, which is stupid. hilarious you know what I say have you heard it yet Ben yeah I have heard it it was right at the beginning of the episode it was I

it was something about not having seen the best of Vastappan so far there's something along those lines oh god I am just a guru a word smith of Formula 1 hello and welcome

to Formula 1 I'll clip that now and use it for the new season perfect I really, yeah, that was impressive that. So we'll get on with today's show, but before we do very quick mention, Harry, if people like the podcast

and like what they hear through their ear holes, what should they do about it? I don't know. I don't know what he's pointing out of either, actually. I actually do. Folks, I'm poorly, so I'll do the sympathy vote here. Please leave five stars. Yes.

Oh, well done. Plus leave five stars. Basically, we've not had any for a while. while. So this is our shameless plug for... We're shaking you down, folks. Give us five stars.

I'll not let you go. No, that's a threat. Oh. We're not threatening anyone. I'm a celebrity now, so I don't know what kindness is. Good. Okay, fine.

So, yes, please leave in a lovely review. On your review, say nice things. And maybe we should tell them to give a code word so we know that... Well, the lovely Patreon people all commenting,

eat your jelly on our latest YouTube video. We should have something different, surely, for this one. Oh, I was going to say something like gammon. Say one, no. We won't have a code word on this, but just whoever has the best review will read out. Done.

Okay. Deal. All right. Speaking of reading our review, we did have one quite recently, the main math. It was from Vanna 1, who said,

this podcast, 320-somethings in England, giving comments on F1 races and playing really dumb F1 trivia games they invented. One is hyperactive, the other's voices a little grating, and the last one just giggles all the time. Which one am I?

I've all of them. That could just be Sam. This is me. They then went on to explain Harry and Ben. Loll. But that made me chuckle anyway. So what have you got on today's episode? Probably a good time to mention that.

We're going to play Finer D-Eafel. details again because I'm not willing to let that game die. We're giving it another go. I like it. We'll be talking about red flag restarts. Of course, that came about in Melbourne. And we'll be kicking off with grading the F1 team through the Grand Prix from A star down to F. How have the teams go on? We're going to go in championship order. So naturally, we start with Red Bull, leading the championship it by 58 points after three Grand Prix, which sounds slightly terrifying. They've got three out of three wins, and two of those three wins have been won, two finishes.

So, Sam, I'm assuming this is going to be a fairly good grade, but where on a scale of a plus down to F would you put them? Now, it depends how we're scaling this. Are we scaling this against their competitors or against the expectations that we have for the exact team in question? against themselves more than anything. Like, what were they expecting coming into the season? Where are they?

So in that case, I'm going to go with a B plus. And you might be shocked at a B plus. What? Why are you talking? You just be quiet. You got a sore throat. This is a lot of people who listen to this podcast who say that.

B plus. And not because they're driving. aren't performing fantastically well on the track, it's more because of the fragility of their car. They are almost every race at this point, struggling with something that is related to reliability. Whether it be big or small, they've had a mowing over the radio,

they've had to be careful in how they are dealing with the longevity of a race or a race weekend. We've got the sprint race coming up, of course, which feels like an eternity away, but it is only at the end of this month. And that's more runging, and they've had to turn things down. They've already had to have penalties

or start further back due to issues going on. We've heard Max Verstappen complaining about how things don't feel right within the car, even when he's 15 seconds up the road. That is a worry. That is a worry that could come back to bite them heavily if the budget cap penalty that they received at the end of last season takes into effect more so throughout this season. Of course, development will continue to grow throughout the year.

And if they can't afford to do that and other teams catch up, Points that they lose on reliability could really cost them big time at the end of this season and in terms of the championship. In terms of drivers and in terms of statistics and that's what the right way. Strategy is what I'm looking for. They are doing a brilliant job. Great job. But the car is what gets them from A to B and that car is not looking too healthy right now. So I think overall Red Bull B plus, sort the car out, your bulletproof.

Harry, what grade are you going for? This could be a running theme, but I'm going to be much more kind. I'm going to give them four marks. A star. You're a kind man. Thank you. I'm only doing this based on where they were this time last year, which was a double retirement in the first race.

They won the second race. Then another retirement where they could have won the third race. This time around, they've had a 1-2 or 1-2 and a 1-5. That's all right, in it, really. Apart from Australia, where Perez was a bit rubbish. I think they can be pretty happy with it. Like Sam said, it's not been playing sailing, but if you take the results,

that's pretty good. So I'm going to, I'm going to give them an A-star. I don't get a lot of stick for that. You're a rebel hater. That's great, good. Don't put that if you was mine. You and Nick Knowles.

Oh, God. No, I'm going to read the same categories, Nick Knowles. I'll tell you what. Oh, God. You can catch Sam on Max Verstappen's documentary, but you can also catch Sam on DIYS-OS, because he is absolutely presenting alongside Nick Knowles. I'd actually love that.

You're being arsh, man. Being harsh. I'm going to be an A plus as well. I'll be happy to be. Very, very, very harsh. Very, very harsh. Yeah, I've given them four marks as well. Yeah, they're leading the championship by 58 points.

That's an average of 19 points per weekend that they're beating the second best team. Not bad. A couple of one-two finishes. Not bad. And I do take into account your argument on reliability, Sam. But also, I was thinking about this when giving my grade, but also bear in mind that of the top four teams, Asthmarton have won mechanical related DNF,

so do Ferrari, so to Mercedes. Red Bull currently don't. So I think there are fragility concerns, but at the moment it hasn't resulted in any DNFs, at least, for the team. So I've gone for an A-plus. The other thing I was considering was, do Red Bull actually want a situation where Vastappan would have won all of the first three races and they can put to bed this argument about the championship, the driver's championship

as soon as possible. That was floating around in my head as not being ideal. But having thought about it, actually, if Sergio Perez is there to win in the races that Max Vastappen isn't there to win at, so Saudi Arabia as the example so far this season, I think that's far more encouraging long term for the team because either at some point later this year or indeed next season, you think that they're going to need Sergio Perez on top form at some point to avoid basically what happened in 2021, where Perez's influence wasn't enough for them to claim the Constructors' Championship. So him claiming a win early season, I think is actually quite encouraging there. So myself and Harry are clearly the kind teachers that will give out

A pluses for nothing, whereas Sam, I don't think it's a bad thing. It's a bit like a Paul Hollywood handshake, right, Sam? Like, you've got to earn it. You got down right. That's a great analogy, Ben. Well done. I'll give you an adjective for that. I just worried about what he's going to give Ferrari. Well, that's a reason you keep listening.

They're going to be off the scale. Keep listening for that. Before we get there, a couple of teams ahead of them in the championship at the moment, as I like to remind Ferrari on a regular basis. We go to Aston Martin next. Probably far higher than they anticipated being. But Sam, what are you giving them for a grade? Now, folks, if you're going to give out an A-star,

this is what it looks like. Thank you very much. They are fully up the A-Star Avenue. That's where everyone wants to be. A-star Avenue is a thing, and that's where they belong. Down to A-star Avenue. Very good. It doesn't quite scan, but anyway.

It does work. It's perfect. Well done. We'll take a gentle stroll into A-star Avenue. Very good. That's a great reference, that is. Anyway, that's my point. Yes, they've had one DNF for reliability,

but Fernando Alonkso, the menace that he is, has gone the long way round, not to quote Ewan McGregor and Charlie Bowman, and still finds himself on a pony for every single race this Grand Prix. They've already scored 10 more points in three races, and they score for the entire of the 2022 season, which is groundbreaking. And you know what? Even Lance Stroll, with his non-existent risks,

is doing a bloody fantastic job, apart from binging it in the gravel. But it doesn't matter because red flags eliminate all things. So I'm going to let him off. and he's doing relatively well. So you know what? It's a new star, Ascom Martin, flying high,

and in theory, could be the team that snatch away a title from Red Ball if the development stuff due to the wind tunnel reduction time actually hurts the Red Bulls.

They're flying. Love it. Well done then. That is a high star. I love the rule of, you know, anything that happens behind a red flag

doesn't count unless your car lost signs are an Alpine. Correct. But other than that, doesn't count. I am almost being quite as nice as Sam, but not quite. I'm going to give them an A. I'm going to give them an A plus here.

I'm being really me giving them an A. You're right, Fernando Ombonzo has been brilliant. You know, I think he could literally do anything, and he will still somehow end up third in the next Grand Prix. That's the same thing's heading. The only reason it's not an A plus is I want to see one, I want to see one strong performance from Landstrol. and I do have concerns that if Ferrari and Mercedes get their poop together,

if it comes down to the wire, I trust the other lineups more than I do compared to Alonzo and Stroll. So if I can see at one of the next couple of Grand Prix that Landstrol outqualifies Fernando Alonzo or indeed sticks with him for an entire Grand Prix, then that will be the sign that I need to see to take this from an A to an A plus. But, you know, it's a very good start. And it's not like L stroll's being comfortably out qualified every single time. Like he is within a couple attempts, generally speaking. I just want to see one performance from Stroll before I can give it that last seal of approval.

Harry, where are you heading on this one? I'm agreeing with Ben again. Oh, God. Sorry. Yeah, I'm going to go for an eight. As you mentioned, they've had one car breakdown. So that's docks him down a little bit. And yeah, team consistency, not quite.

there but as you say Strauss on a very good job not disgraced himself at all so far so yeah I'm gonna give them an A they're on the borderline of A star but as long as Lance it's not his fault

but as long as the car didn't break down I'd have given him a start but yeah they can not be displeased with the starts this season I don't think fine fine I think it was a fine start

as in fine, I'm sick of you too. Okay, good. It's taking 14 minutes. It took about three seconds of life. We're still here. Well, we weren't there when you were three seconds into life, Sam. We weren't born for another 20 years. Oh, go away, Ben.

Oh, bear, bear with me a second. You've got a cheat sheet for this. I know, but I've forgotten it. Oh, that's it. Do it again. Sorry, Sam, we weren't there three seconds after you were born, because we were here 20 years later. Right, good, another 20 years in the time for that joke to repeat.

The drum roll plus the laughter. I pause as well. Can't get a real laugh, can you? That's what you've got you just a simulated one. Oh, good. Start using the beeping a minute. Yeah, keep bleeping. All right, Sam, talk about something else.

Mercedes. Obviously, a bit of a up and down starts to the season for them. They did claim a second place, thanks to Lewis Hamilton at the Australian Groy. but they also had a DNF and they had an apology letter after the Bahrain Grand Prix. So I'm interested to know where you rank them. Yeah, they've had as many apology letters issue because they have podiums this season,

which I mean... Oh, do, do. Yeah, if you're Masegis, it's not good, is it? I think if you're Mosegis, you are themselves, they would rank themselves at like an F or a U, ungraded, if you don't know what that means, folks, if you're not from maybe the UK. That means ungraded. And I imagine that Toto Warfrey would have given himself ungraded. God forbid they're not leading the championship by 30 points.

I'm going to give them a C, because I think that for Mosegis, of course, they want to very much be at the front, fighting everything, winging everything, doing what they can to be the most successful team of all time. But when you look at where Mosegis Gis actually are and what they're getting on with, they've had a podium, they're sitting firmly in third place in the championship, they're a heck of Ferrari, they look to be closing into what Asker Martin are doing if you take the last race to consideration. Lewis Hamilton seems very fired up.

Russell seems on point. He got a bit unlucky with how, you know, the reliability happened and the call with his strategy when the safety car came out. But all in all, I think by the second race, they were maybe like a D or an E. I think Australia has really propelled them up at least a grade. And I think that, quite frankly, they've noticed their issues. They're learning rapidly. And I do think that maybe in six months' time, if we were to do this exercise again,

they could be one of the most highest-grade teams on the grid. I think they're really turning it around. So for me, it's, you know, straight down the middle. they're getting a C. All right. Sam giving Mercedes a C for Crikey, I'm guessing. How are you going for?

I'm agreeing with Sam. Oh, yeah. I mean, is that a good thing. It is for me. Okay. Yeah, I'm going to go for a C. And again, I'm sort of basing it off last year, as in this time last year.

I think their pace, although on the face of it, it may not look the same as it did last year. I feel like their pace relatively, to the front is probably better, and it's perhaps not shown as shown as well as they'd hoped. So, yeah, I'm going to give them to see. I think there's room for optimism with Mercedes. They'll close the gap even further.

But that be said, they turn up to tracks and don't quite know if they're going to be good at the moment, which is a weird, weird situation. Australia was a good one. So I saw some theory that it was quite smooth track of Australia now so they could run the car closer to the ground. Maybe, maybe not. But we shall see. But yeah, for now, I'm going to give them the C, the C, AC,

down the middle of the road, as you say. Nice. Bang average. And now it's time for me to be the harsh one because Mercedes, you're not getting a passing grade at the Ben Hocking School of F1. You are getting a D plus. No good. They have done the one thing that they couldn't do, which is end up in the exact same

position as they were in last year, which is struggling with a concept that doesn't seem to work. Now, if they'd gone down a completely different concept and they'd failed entirely, I'd probably give them the same grade, because at least then you're trying to do something. But here, they seem to have doubled down on the concept they had last year, and I don't think it's quite working. I think one of the rules of not just F1, but sport generally is when you find something that works, double down on it and stick with it. And if something doesn't work, move on quickly. Don't get stubborn. And I think they have with this concept. So I'm going to give them a D plus. We've got, I know Lewis Hamilton did get a podium in Australia, which in fairness, probably

bummed them up from a D to a D plus. But if you look at George Russell at the moment, George Russell, last season. First 16 races, he had 15 top five finishes. This season, he's one of three. He's already had more non-top five finishes in the first three Grand Prix, as he had in 16 last year, which isn't a great sign. It might be heading in the right direction. I'm sure their line up and how scrappy they tend to be, they'll be okay. But you wanted more from Mercedes based on what we saw from the last year or the end of last year. Scrappy like scrappy do. Scrappy. Gaping. Exactly. Cheers, scrap you do.

Ferrari. Oh, God. Ferrari. Okay. Sam, what are you going for? Can I have access to the bleep button, please? Please hold a caller. Okay, we're ready.

Warm me on this one. There's a few. You ready? Should I just hold it down? No, because I've got to speak. Okay, got it. Okay, you ready? I'm going to point at you when I want it on.

This is how good we are. We're slick. This is how good we are. Here we go. Here we go. You ready? Yeah. What the,

you're doing with your... Careers. Idiots. Thank you, Harry. I'm sweating. Yeah. It was a bleep gammon. It's become very sexualized

as an outfit is the old gammon. So, you know. Anyway, what are they doing? What is going on at Marangelo? I mean, poor Frangelo, he's coming.

and he's tried to turn it around, and it's just rubbish. Everything is rubbish. Charlotte Clerk can't, for the life of him, finishing a good points finishing position. Carlos Sikes just punks people off now whenever he fancies it. I'm generalising here, folks. But the grade they're getting is a big fat you. It is, honestly, they undeserved any points, any podiums, any success,

because it is the only thing they can do right now is strategy, which is bizarre, because they think. through Aster Martin for an absolute loop in Saudi Arabia. That was a great strategy call. It worked really, really well. And you know what? They got like nilpoix, pretty much. From the last race, nada, nothing.

Zilch. Get over yourselves, Ferrari. Put together a good car. You got two brilliant drivers, score some points. You are a shambles. It is embarrassing. Get it together.

Yeah, that's it from me. Good job on the bloops. Thank you. So from your perspective, Harry, you literally grade-wise can't do. any worse than Sam, but where's yours heading at? I won't go worse as that. I'll actually be slightly kind of,

then give them an F. Oh, well done. This isn't great. Yeah, what are you doing? Come on Ferrari. Yeah, they've been, they've been bad. And I actually won't pin any of this on Freddie Vass because he's not been there long enough to turn things around yet.

So he's dealing with, basically, he's been like, given, he's the captaincy of a ship that's already half sunk. Oh, good analogy. Thank you. And he's having to like stop it from sinking

whilst also, you know, making it have, I don't know, wings, something like that. Got a bit weird. Yeah,

started strong. Faded fast. That should be my motto. Yeah, so I'm not going to pin it on him. But they're similar to what you said about, Mercedes Ben, they double down on their

concept for car. Whereas a lot of teams, I say a lot, Asty Martin, but you see it on other cars, they've, they've followed the Red Bull effect because Red Bull was the quickest car last year. Ferrari have not done that. They've doubled down on what they had last year.

The bathtub. The bathtub, yeah. So, yeah, that seems like an odd choice, but now they're not even quick. The only reason that I've given them an F and not to you, I think, is because I don't want to say unlucky, but, you know, LeCler probably should have got a podium

in Bahrain, maybe. He did drive into Lung Stroll, though. I know. Makes up for it. Yeah. Yeah. True, both Ferraris were running into Aston Martin's last race, weren't they? I don't know how big their cars are.

They don't care. One way to eliminate the competition. Yeah, themselves. Eliminate yourself first. We can't fight with anyone. plan. Not in the race. Big thinking straps.

Yeah. Yeah. So F Ferrari. Rubbish. Don't you worry, Ferrari. I'm here to be the kind voice. Because I don't think that these two are being as nice as they should be. You've been okay, really.

I'm going to be the nice voice and only give you an E. Ah. E is the best you got Ferrari out of the three of us. That should tell you everything you need to know. A few things. Charlerclair, as mentioned on the, I think, review episode of Australia, is behind Nico Holcomburg in the Drivers' Championship. Carlos finds as a full race win away from Fernando Alonzo.

Both of those things are not ideal. And, you know, a lot of it's been team-related again. But as already mentioned, by you both, let's not shy away that the drivers have had a big impact on this as well. They both cost themselves race in Australia. Wasn't anyone else. Wasn't the team in that situation. there are issues all over the board here.

And just to put one more, one more stat in there, but it's going to be very depressing for any Ferrari fans. Charles LeCler took 26 point, the bar at Grand Prix last year. Through three races, both drivers combined have 26 points. Not great. Stop me! Nice. It took a while. Yeah.

I thought I need to bring one of those out. And the last one we'll do before our first break is McLaren, who find themselves fifth on 12 points. How their fifth, I don't quite know, but they've managed to get themselves there. So, Harry, what are you rating McLaren? I've given them an E plus. Is that a craze?

I don't know. It is now. It is now. Well, I thought D was too kind, but then a full E felt slightly too harsh because they are in fifth. How are you in fifth, McLaren? I don't understand how that's happened,

but for the most part, they've been rubbish. Only Australia has been the good one, the good one, the good race for them. So they've been in recovery mode, again, as they were at the start of last season. It's not been great. So E-plus for them. I have, again, been a bit of,

bit more generous on this one. I've actually given them the same grade as Mercedes. I've given them a D plus. I love how I'm saying that's generous. It's still a fail. So sorry, McLaren. There are a few positives in there in the Oscar Piastri is already better than what Daniel Ricardo was in the last two years, in my opinion. And I mean, you probably want to say oof again, but that's also that a compliment, I'm afraid, just based on how Daniel Ricardo was performing star. They're already dead,

Ben. Stop it. Savage. Don't worry. He's back home now, Daniel Ricardo. It'll be fine. But Oscar Piastri has,

I think for a few races, at least been as good as I thought he would be for a few races. I think he is going to be the right second driver in that team. So that's a positive.

And Lando Norris, despite not being very good in Saudi Arabia, did seem to recover in Australia. The problem that you've kind of already identified, Harry is that they are very lucky to be there. And whether that stays, there are some other teams behind that might fancy that fifth place.

There is just 11 points between fifth and last. So, yeah, D plus. Sam, what you got? Clearly, you two are either delusional or just very nice people. I'm going for a big slap up E, straight up on the E grade. And not E for exceptional, but E4, endlessly bad. something there. It wasn't natural.

Yeah, I mean, so lucky, so lucky. The reason they're in fifth is blame everyone else for having a bad result. Alpig should be in front of them, but Pierre Gaslige decided that he wanted to come on the track so unsafely that it'll destroy his teammates' race as well. That would put them well in front. Williams are probably likely to be in front of them. You know, Albaugh should have finished probably top six in Australia, took himself out. Silly choice.

Silly choice. Silly choice. Don't do that again, mate. Why if you made that one? It felt like an obvious thing to stay in the race, but you decided not to. Early flight. Yeah, got to go home. Sorry, long way to fly.

Magnuson is kind of letting Haasth down a little bit, but Nico Holgerberg's doing a brilliant job. And realistically, that Haas has got the ability to beat that McLaren. The only team that seems to be struggling big time are Alpha Romeo and Alpha Towering. You know, the alphas themselves are just not there. I don't really care about Alpha Towery because the aim isn't for them to go on to win things. they're just a feeder team. So for me, McLaren get a big old E. Norris's worst race I've ever seen, Saudi Arabia.

Piazpia spent more time in the pit lane, then, botas at Monaco in Bahrain, you know, on his first race. What a joy for him. They got lucky with the red flag and the science penalty in Australia again. The car is atrocious. They're taking a big step back. Two seasons ago, they were fighting for third and fourth in the overall Constructors Championship,

and now they are probably lucky to not be in maybe eighth, if not ninth, after three races. It is appalling. It is only worsening by Ferrari, and that's only because the expectations for Ferrari are so high. McLaren, this is a shocker. Do you know they're still trying to change that tire and Bottas his car? I have heard that's why he's going to hit the team anymore.

Yeah. They've got running out of the car. That's good banter. Terrible banter. It's really poor, more than anything. It's just supporting. We're done with the first half of the championship, so we'll be back with the second half of the championship right after this.

Given there were plenty of Fs, E's and Ds in the first section, and that was the top half of the championship, it doesn't bode particularly well for the bottom half of the championship. But here we go anyway. Alpine currently sat on eight points, four apiece for Pierre Gazzi and Etabanochon, but a long way from perhaps where they would like to be. So based on that, Harry, what's the grade for Alpine?

I've gone for a D for Alpine, which I feel now may have been a bit too nice, but their first race, they were slow as balls. The slowest balls. The technical term. Tennis balls. No, they're too quick. Way too quick. Like bowling green balls.

Prokables. Yeah. Crocables. Prokables. Yeah. Oh, man. They were not very good. But since then, they've been better.

had Australian, you know, lap 57 of the Australian GP hadn't happened. They'd probably be even higher than a D in my opinion. So they're a D because I think they're about where they were last season. There's no Leplan, despite what Ben says. I hate that phrase so much. Yeah, I love it. I think they're just about where they were this time last year. So it's a D for me.

well if you were to read section 2.3.1 of Laplan you will note that scoring eight points in the first free races is an integral part of Laplan and it's soon going to turn around hey six times quicker in Baku people are telling us there'll be six temps quicker can't wait to see that not happen but Alpine where do I rank them I have gone for I've gone for a C minus on this so points wise I think they are a long way from where they should be, but actually pace-wise, I think we'll eventually distance themselves from the rest of the midfield. Certainly, if we look at Saudi Arabia, where they finished eighth and ninth for six of their eight points, if they had the same race, or if the same race unfolded as had happened in Australia, where there were multiple DNFs

out front, we had both Ferraris out, we had a Mercedes out, if that had happened in Saudi Arabia, I think Alpine would be a far more comfortable fifth place. But as it turns out, the only top car that retired in Saudi Arabia was Landstrom. So I think they were a little bit of lucky there. The main problem they've got is, exactly, yeah, quotation marks. The main problem that they have is that they probably wanted two things

from this first three races, which is number one, get closer to the top teams, and number two, not have two drive. drivers crash into each other. And guess what, Alpine, you're over for two on that. So it's not ideal. If you had said pre-season, guess what, guys? There's going to be a team beginning with A

that's going to make a massive surge in the 2020-3 championship and mix it with the top guys. Othmar Southnau would have been going, Oh, can't wait. It's Aston Martin. Oh, okay, never mind. You know that team, you left, Othma. And the one that your other driver went to.

I think you lost the two-timeball champ, too. too tight board champ we're still asking the question why were you so smug preseason we still don't get it Sam how are you how are you rating them yeah when they were at their

their pit garage in the barren testing and I don't know if you know you have the popular group at school that would all sit there giggling in the cornering I don't know the rest of the F1 Green have walked out the toilet and they've all got toilet paper stuck to their shoe or their skirt tucked into their pangs

or something and Al Pee and going he he he he You know, like, we're so, we know something you know. We're so clever. Yeah, right. When are they going to reveal that? When are they going to go, this is why we were so smug, because currently it's rubbish.

Isn't it? Leplan. Shut up. Shut up. Ben. You wait. Shut up. That's my editing.

Le plan. What are you doing with your hands? This is your reference. He was doing an L and an E. Well, they can watch this because it's going to be on YouTube. Yeah. First watch this. Ben's trying to do Leplan with his hands.

Looks like a moron. Now do the plan bit. Yeah, go to do plan, Ben. Spell out plan with your fingers. Well, I don't need to. The plan is happening on track. Evidently. Oh.

What grade have you given them, Sam? A D. All right. They're rubbish, but they're not that rubbish. And I think it's more driver error that has stopped them from being further at the grid. Although I want to put Ben's theory about Saudi Arabia in the being. You can't rely on cars, D and Fing

to make sure that they're further up the grid. on raw pace alone, they are fifth, and that's where they're going to stay at the moment, I think. Well, that's what I meant. I don't care. Is that McLaren got that race, and Alpine didn't. I don't care. He said it a plan too many times that I've lost interest.

Ben's right. Sam's wild, sorry. I'm right. I'm rattled. I'm like a baby. Fuming. Screaming. Fuming.

Move on. So we'll move on, Alpine. But Esteban, if you wouldn't mind, just stop making me look like an idiot. No, keep. doing it, Estabang. It's the only joy I get. Hasse. Speaking of joy that Sam gets,

imposter syndrome, of course, at Hass, as Sam likes to say, what are you give them for a grade? We're the American F1 team. Oh, look at us. I mean, yeah, fine, whatever. Are you lucky, Angretti are getting through the door for no apparent reason.

This one's actually really difficult, and I'm going to go for a B minus. They've got a better livery than they've had for a long sign, which is, it's not relevant. You did not include that. Come on. Not relevant, but I'm having it.

Eka Holkerberg's actually good. I know he was, but like, that's a good signing. That's paid off. He's not embarrassed himself. Magnuson's doing all right. Not been perfect. I got a bad moment's like driving literally up the wall. But hey, that's Macanson.

That's box office. You expect it. And then they've actually scored some good points and they're not last. So it's all right. So I'm going to go, be mine. Did I say be mine this the first time? I think I did. You did.

Well, thanks. I've got a short-term memory problem. A sort of certified Harry moment right there. It was. I forgot my own words. Anyway. What was the question? What was the question?

Sound fun. Brabham. Yes, so B-minus. They're not atrocious, basically. That's what I expected them. Yeah. It's a miracle, folks. It's a miracle.

Myself and Sam agree on something. I've all gone be honest. Yeah, you're right on Nika Holkenberg. There was a lot of uncertainty as to, a couple years out, He's one of the older drivers in F1. There were serious questions about where he would pick up, where, you know, where did he left off versus where he'd pick it up from him?

And he's been good. Certainly more in qualifying than in the race, but at Australia, he started to turn that around as well. Kevin Magnerson thought pretty well for a point in Saudi Arabia as well. I know there are a few concerns on his side, but I don't know, it seems okay. Just bear in mind that Nika Holkenberg, seventh place finish at Melbourne.

Hasse all of last year only had two results that were better than that. Magnuson's fifth at Bore and Mick Schumacher's sixth at Austria. Outside of that, there were no results better than Nikolklenberg's seventh for them last year. So I don't know. I think overall there was a lot of hype about Hasse going into the beginning of last season. And there wasn't quite as much this year. But actually, the results kind of ended up the same. they seem to be about where they were this time last year.

So B-minus, Harry. There's three. Oh, baby, there's three. I've also gone for B-minus. Yeah, look, maybe Niko Hoganberg brings solidness with him. Because as you say, but... He's a solid guy, like a wall, isn't he? Yeah, just brick wall.

He's not falling over. as you say, but last year there were obviously the highs of Bahrain but then as it was for the rest of the year it was a bit more up and down whereas this year just kind of seemed solidly consistent

so it's the Nika Hockenberg effect he's just brought it with him which I guess is exactly what they needed and he's not embarrassing himself against Kevin Manzan is he? No, he's not far from it Do you know what?

Didn't see that one coming. That's all. So. You didn't see that wall coming either. Song was in his eyes, wouldn't you? Oh. Maybe it was. The wall was actually near Kulkenberg.

Oh, consistent. It's a hold you, Kevin. He's already dead. That meme's not even relevant right now. Yeah, three B minuses. Right on Haas. Speaking of irrelevant memes, you know when we all did that,

oh, baby, there's three. Yeah. That also reminded me of the meme where that kicks like, Mom, get the camera. And that's how I got a triple kill on Mongol warfare.

Oh, baby a triple. Oh, baby a triple. We are such kids. What are you taking on this? Yeah. Over 100,000 of you, a month. Mercifully, there's only three to go. Alpha Romeo.

Sam, you've already called them out for being slow. What grade do they get? I mean, so the expectations for Alfred Romero went through the roof, and I feel like they are in kind of like a holding pattern until big boy Audi turns up and takes the reins, you know. BBA. Big boy.

BBA. Oh, I'm Aldi. Oh, I'm well big. You'd be more like, ooh, I'm Audi. I'm Audi. Hey, thank you, Harry. Do the voice, your gravelly voice. Do the roar.

Shrek right now. Oh, my God. Oh, shut up. Ben. basically, yeah, they're not very good, are they? But the thing is, the expectations for them to not be very good were there. No one thought they were going to be smashing barriers or, you know, taking games at the end of each race weekend. But I don't know where I'm going on this.

But they are way worse and I thought they were going to be. So I'm going to give them a D minus. I thought we weren't going to get a grade at the end of the other. No, I'm just going to keep talking. Just keep talking. It says you. You're only not talking because you're unwell. Yeah, D minus.

A C minus, D minus. Oh, God. Joe Wang Yu is good, but the cars are gnaff. I don't know what Botas is doing this season. Selling coffee. He's still lost after Miami last year. He's still not turned up. Never came back.

He hasn't found his clothes. Oh, dear. So I was going to give them a C minus. But then I decided to bump it up to a C because they took that fastest lap point of the LP. So I got them half a grade itself. Yeah. Bottas, great eighth place in Bahrain.

I'm a little bit worried with Valtry Bottas's form because similar to last season, it just seems as if whenever he just goes with the car, like, how good that car is, you know Bottas is going to perform at exactly that level. I know there's that in all of F1 to an extent, but with Bottas, it feels like it's most true. Like when the car's great, Bottas will be great. When the car's good, Bottas will be good. If the car's rubbish, Bottas will be rubbish, as we've seen the last two Grand Prix, but nowhere. And Joe Guanyu seems to be able to, when the car is awful, produce a little bit more out of it.

But when the car's fit better, that's where Bottas comes into his own, al-A Bahrain. So, yeah, I've given them, yeah, I've given them a sea, middle of the road. What about you, Harry? C-minus. Yeah. Do you know, I'm convinced Vouch. Bottas is entering his Kimmy Reichen. I was about to say he's literally Kimmy Ryken without the World Championship.

Yeah. You know, which we all love to kind of becoming a real fan favourite outside the car with his bare ass and his mullet. I'm a fan of that. But he's not. Sign me up. That's his character. Well, he's not doing a lot in the car, which, you know, look at Kimmy Ryken and

at Salba. Salba. Salba. That was very, I mean, he wasn't getting his bottom out, I guess. But, you know, he was fan favorite outside the car. Didn't do a lot in it. So, yeah, look, you're writing that the expectations for Salba weren't, for Alpha, sorry, were, weren't massive this year.

They're kind of just, just keeping it together. Kind of just where they, to be fair, I think they're probably slightly worse than they this time last year because the car was quite good at this point last year. No, it's not not that great. No, it was solid Mcfielders last year. Yeah. Does anyone think they're getting to 55 points, this year. That's what they had last year.

I would have current reform I go with no. Do they have any points now? No, they got lucky with the Melbourne one, didn't they? Because of the red flag. They got six. Yeah. Oh, yeah. But mostly through luck. Yeah. That's a tough one. Well, even worse than the six is one.

And we get to the two teams that have just a single point on the board at the moment. We'll start with the team that is technically ahead in the championship, which is Alfred Tauri. Yuki-Sinoda's one point from Australia being the difference there, hey, Carlos signs his penalty appeal goes well. You go back down to zero, Alpha Tari, so we'll see on that one. This is really difficult because I want to give them a really awful grade, but I don't want to be rude on Yuki Sanoda,

who has actually come out of the blocks and defied all of what we said. We're all horrible to him. He's a Hall of Fame and he's going, you know what, I'm not just going to do well at the first race. Going to get P-11 all the time. He's the scrappiest. Don't bring up David Croft in this competition. It's the scrappiest little driver. and I really appreciate how hard he's trying to, you know, put in good performances.

So in my grade, I am removing Yuki Senoda's great performances. And now my grade is, what on earth are you doing in the sport? Get sold. Have a purpose. You're a waste of space on this grid. And so are you getting to freeze? You're terrible. You're rubbish.

Now, wonder you haven't been signed until you're 28 years old. So rubbish. Jesus. All the praise in the world because he's got some points at Monser and a Willie. which was the only track that that car, they've got points in anyway. Latifi might have done it. And honestly,

I don't care of his F2 champion. I don't care if his Formula E champion. He shouldn't be in that race car. It's gnaff. Carl's gnaff. He's gnaff. Yuki Snow is doing a good job. It's rubbish.

You. It's the grade. Are you? Yep. Crikey. Jesus. Savage. So I guess that's settled. Nick DeVries isn't coming on the podcast.

He's welcome. I'm sure he's lovely as a person. Wow. I'm going to be much nicer than that. D. Yeah, you're very right with Yuki Sonoda. He's done a really good job through free races this year. The problem is, I think we said the same thing last year, so you kind of need to keep it up, Yuki.

But Hall of Fame has done himself well. And you're right, he's just, he's just been there. He's just been there or thereabouts, watching other drivers falter around him. And it's just seen him elevate up the leaderboard every time something's happened. in Australia, enough to get a point. Outside of that, DeVries, I won't be quite as arches, Sam, but I thought it was a bad idea to hire him at the time, and nothing I've seen so far has changed my opinion in that regard.

Like, he's not done anything terribly, but also there hasn't been one thing you can point to and say, there's something there. Like, that could evolve into something. That hasn't happened yet. So I think it's the slowest car on the grid, and I think it's the weakest pairing on the grid, though it's hard to raise it much more than me.

Has he been better than Latifi? Do you think Latifie will have done a worse job? Yes, he's been better than Latifi. I think he has been better than Latifi. Yeah, really? Like, actually 100% yeah. I think the, the... He hasn't been that far behind.

I think it's been pretty shocking. I keep rooting for him as well. Every weekend, I'm like, come on, Nick, you could do it. To be honest, I can't remember what he's done, which I guess is a criticism in itself. But he's, I don't... don't think he's been as bad as Latifi. And to be fair, you mentioned that

Latifie could have got points in the Williams at Monza. I think the point is he didn't. Which is why DeFries got the seat, wasn't it? But anyway, what are you going for as great, Harry? I've given them a D for... Have I given... Hang on. I've written this down. Have I given them a D? No, I've given them an E. You've written this down? He's got a whole list written down, then.

Thank you. Although, having said that, and I didn't mention this, I've got a whole list written down on my phone, but I forgot Alpha Romeo. Just forgot they existed. Oh, that's so you. But I, you know, that's points. I'll take it. I'll take it. That points to their, you know, nine out of ten is fine. Yeah, an E for Alpharet,

just not doing it. Do you think where that car and team combo was in 2021, I guess that's a bit down to Gadsdie, but it was a decentish car. Yeah, they've fallen a long way back. And given... I know you can't share designs and stuff between Red Bull and Alphatarie,

but given their links to Red Bull, it's surprising how slow they are. Yeah, why are they so bad? Compared to literally everyone else. I don't know. But yeah, I agree on the Yuki Sanoda effect. I, you know, maybe could have given them worse, but purely for Yuki Sonoda's sound at Saudi Arabia, they don't fall into the, you know, F and,

ungraded categories. If I was putting Yuki in my grade, it would be an E. He's been that good. And I just looked at it up and Nick DeVries has been last,

every single race of all the actual proper finishes without damage or D&F or, you know, disqualify, which hasn't happened.

He's become last every race. Yes. Of the active runners that haven't had problems. Oh dear. Oh no. UK hasn't done that once. Not yet.

Yeah. He, Well, he can't have done it if Nick the reason. Exactly, Ben. You've proved my point. This is a good podcast today. It can't have been possible. We'll close out with the bottom team in the championship,

which at the moment is Williams. Again, they have one point. Cursy of Alex Alburn. Sam, final grade. What are you giving them? I can't believe I'm going to say this. B plus. Huge.

It's solid. Red Bull and Williams on the same level. Deserved. That's. how sad it is for Williams that the expectations for them are so low. At the start of this season, folks, we did our teams and drivers' predictions. We all said Williams last and we all said Sergeant will be the last place driver. I have zero faith that that is going to end up being right.

It's not looking good. We said something that might turn out to be wrong. Yeah, of shock. It's going to be a one one zero victory for someone again this season. But my point is, Sergeant, all right, he's not been perfect, like punting it to raise off the crack in Melbourne. It wasn't great. Good point. you know, again, if you open that LB book of driving, rule one, don't get another car,

it's there in bold. Thank you, Ben, just check for me? Yes, there. Can confirm, yeah, it's right. Great break for turn one. There you go. It's in there. And he should follow it.

But he's shown some real moments of quality. And he was brilliant in that first Grand Prix at Bahrain. He was good again in Saudi Arabia. And Alex Albon is going from strength to strength and strength. And the car really doesn't look too bad. I know he absolutely bing it in Australia, which is very frustrating. But I really do think they've got protection. think you could score semi-regular points this season.

And I think maybe they could go ahead and finish, maybe someone like seventh or eighth. I think they could beat Alpha Romeo this season. I think they could beat Alpha Tauru this season. And if Hask drop off like they always seem to do because they put no effort into the car after launch, there's every chance that Williams will go on to beat them as well. So I think this is really positive.

I think they'll gain more sponsorship from this positive start. And I think they're doing the right way of building things. James Vowles is clearly doing a very good job to kickstart that William's resurgence B-plus. Harry, what you said? I've given them a C. But I agree entirely with all the points Sam's made. That car doesn't have much downforce, but it's got, it's just got like a solid,

I don't know, set up. It's like, yeah, it doesn't have downforce, but all the drivers seem to be, both drivers, both drivers seem to be happy with it. They can't be. Yeah, place it where they want to, apart from Albon, placing it in the gravel. And Sergeant placing it in the back of different.

apart from those two. But for the most part, fairly comfortable. But that's what happens when you got lack of downforce, I guess. But yeah, they've had a much more solid start to the season than I thought they would. I think Albon could have hung on for either the whole race or a very long time where he was before he'd binned it because a car's really quick and a straight line. And I didn't see anyone getting past him for a long time. I wait, it was stroll behind him and the Aston's not that quick and a straight line. So, So it could have been even more points on the board there. So it's been an encouraging start. Yeah. It's hard to see where it goes because the lack of downfalls is going to hurt them at some tracks more than others. Mackey, though. They're going to be a rocket ship, Monza. Yeah.

The ones we've had have been quite fast tracks. Even though Australia is quite fast now. So let's see when we get to the likes of Spain. Monaco, they're going to cry. They just can't do Monaco. They can do it when they were like. martini days could they were really good out everywhere and then they went to monica and were bad so see i found this one the most difficult to give a grade to because there are a lot of encouraging

signs and at the same time they've only got one point so it was a bit tricky to determine a grade here ultimately i have gone down the same wavelength as sam because i've also given them a b plus i think there are some really encouraging things here firstly you're absolutely right there we all thought that they were going to be 10th, and who knows, they might actually end up there. But at least in terms of where the car is at the moment, you could convince me that they have the sick fastest car out there. You could convince me of that. That's how good they're looking at the moment. Alex Albin just needs to pull together a full weekend, you feel. Certainly, if you look at Saudi Arabia qualifying, if that goes better, he's all right. Again, Australia,

if he doesn't crash, that goes all right. The pace seems to be there, just in it all together. and in terms of Logan Sargent, this almost goes back to the Nick DeVries point, where Nick DeVries, I think, has been, for the most part, isn't done anything horribly bad, but also hasn't shown anything particularly great. But I would rather have at this point in their respective careers what we've seen from Logan Sargent,

which is there's been a lot of lows. But there have been some real highlights as well. Certainly the Saudi Arabia Q1 lap that he had. If he didn't, it was a stupid mistake to make, but if he doesn't touch the white line left-down side as he goes to the finish line, something that probably gained him like a 1,000th of a second, he easily makes Q2. And that's a real statement when Alman didn't make Q2. So, Sergeant, I think there have been some really optimistic signs there.

They just need to pull it all together. Literally, how they built this car was step one. Make it fast in a straight line. Step two, refer to step one. And that was their build process, and I love it. I wish IKEA instructions were that easy. Well, make your wardrobe. Step one, make the wardrobe.

Fast in a straight line. Step two, refer to step one. Yeah. I'm really bad at flat pack furniture. Good stuff. Thanks, Sam. We're going to take a short break now. We have been whinging on about that for a long time.

That was too long. No, it was great. Great stuff. grades that are utterly meaningless in reality. That's what we do. We'll take a short break. On the other side, we'll be discussing red flags because why not?

It's a podcast. We don't have red flag. Okay. So a red flag, of course, in Australia. Do you remember that? That was fun, wasn't it? We had a standing restart, if you remember, and that a lot happened.

There was a lot of carnage, and not everyone was happy about it, saying that maybe standing restarts aren't the way to go when we have red flag incidents, and instead we should have a safety car restart. Harry, what's your thoughts? Do you think the way that it is right now is all okay? Or do you think the drivers have a point and that something should change?

I think a lot of things happened in Saudi, in Australia. Good start. We've gone through this a lot already, but things happened that we agreed that it was run badly. The actual having a standing restart to her flag, absolutely fine with, quite frankly, I think it's better than having a rolling restart. And all the drivers be better. It's my reply.

Don't crash into each other as much. Because where the red flag was thrown at what point of the race, etc., etc. That's what's led to this. But the actual concept of having standing starts for red flags, I like them. And to be honest, rolling restarts are arguably as, you know, precarious, dangerous as, as standing starts. I mean, Micello, 2020. Do you remember that one when we wiped out to have the field out? Madness.

So, yeah, I don't agree with the drivers on this one. If they're the ones complaining, they should be less stupid when they're trying to do a restart. So, yeah, I'm not, I'm not agreed on that. And I think, A, it does add to the show. But B, I think it's, I don't think it's any, like, safety issues here. I think it's as safe as it would be if there's a, if there's a rolling restart. And to be honest, if there's been a red flag and there's a restart, there's less cars anyway. Because that's why we had the red flag.

So get over yourself, guys. Yeah, I definitely in this particular situation disagreed with the usage of the red flag. but given that it happened, can I have permission to do a Sam Sage impression here? Yeah, they're always up for grabs. This could be excellent. Great. Oh, good cold tires.

Don't care. Don't care whatsoever. I'm 100% in agreement with Harry on this. Yeah, I mean, guess what, lad? You do that sort of start a little bit earlier on as well. Did you not realize? It's called lap one. Did you realize?

You do it already? If they're trying to be overzealous on these restarts late in a Grand Prix because they know they come up a few easy positions, that's the risk and reward of F1, guys. If you want to go into term one aggressive knowing that a couple of late positions in the Grand Prix could get yourself some more points and you want to try and make it work, fine. You know, go ahead. There's nothing stopping you. But you need to appreciate that if everyone's got that mindset, there are going to be incidents like we saw in Australia. And that's the penalty you pay. You might be involved in one and you might end up with nothing.

But if there is really truly the pinnacle of motorsport, you can weigh up the risk and reward, assess it for yourself, and make your decision based on that. I don't think this particular thing is on the FIA. I think it's on the drivers to go out there and strategize and work it out. I've got no problem with the way that it's working right now. Sam? I mean, I have never, ever agree with you both more.

Golly gosh. I mean, I haven't got too much to say. It's a mindset thing. I know people who listen to this show and they've voiced their opinions in the Discord as well, not towards us, but generally over the conversation topic, that they disagree with late red flag restarts because it causes too much chaos.

Well, that's on you as a driver with your mindset to stay out of trouble, keep your car clean, to race properly. That's what you're paid literally millions to do on a yearly basis. And as the guys have said, you do it on lap one with more cars on the grid, often in bad conditions, and there's no problems.

So I don't care, like I said, in the review of Australia, I don't care if it's lap one, lap 25 or lap 57. You get on with it, that's your job. I suddenly can't submit a presentation because it's 10 to 5 in the evening. I can't only do them because it's 10 in the morning

at my work. The quality has to be just as good at the end of the start of the day. The same is with you as racing drivers. And as Ben said, there is a risk to reward factor. So if you want to be overzealous, you want to take a risk and you get your wheel knocked off because you've been silly, that's on you, Sunshine.

Quite frankly, I enjoy it. It is great for the entertainment. It is great for the show. And there are no adding safety risks for anyone involved because you do it day in, day out as a Formula One driver. Keep them, don't change it. I actually get excited when we get a red flag because it bunches everything up again.

It's proper good fun. So I'm happy with it. Should we play finer details? Yeah. Go on then. Well. A bit more enthusiastic than that. Come on.

Yeah. Ooh. Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo. You sound great. Thank you. God. Oh, jeez. Sorry, folks.

I've got a very gumbum. Good info. I mean, is Sam going to do any of the jingle? No. A sting of it. No. I can't remember where it goes. Man.

You're not at least... There you go. Done. Can you not at least do the... Well, this quiz ain't that. Well, this quiz ain't that. Man. I forgot about the man.

Put the real jingle in, please. Okay. Finer details. So I've got six questions that revolve around things that these guys probably know. But do they know something a bit more obscure that is related to that thing? The answer is no, if you agree with Sam shaking his head. So numbers one through to six. Sam, kick us off.

What number? Number six, please. All right, number six. So Max Verstappen claimed a dramatic first win at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. Everyone remembers that, right? It's in that documentary that, I mean. Yeah, exactly. You're writing it too.

Do you know who isn't it? Is it Ben? It's going to end up being like, I don't know, Brexit beef's going to be in it before I am. Oh, God, I love that so much. Hello. It's Max for Staffen. Hello, it's Max for Staffan documentary. That would actually make my day.

Oh, man. So, of course, you remember that he won his first race at the Spanish Grand Prix, but where did he claim his second win, Sam? Oh, crumbs. Do you know? That's, uh... Oh, no. Oh, no.

Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Um, I actually don't have a clue. I'm going to go on the limb and say Suzuki. It is not Suzuki. Harry, if you had a stab at it, what would you have gone for? Changer. I don't think it's his second win, but is it?

Malaysia. It is Malaysia, yeah. That was his second win. Is that how long it was? That was like end of 20 season and a half, so I think it was end of 2017. Can I parlay this question? I don't think it fits the brief of the quiz. What do you mean?

Why? because it's not a finer thing to do with what happened on that day. Sam's got the first question wrong and he's rebellious. I'm so angry to go. He's annoyed me with his old plang or the plan and I'm sick of him. I have to say, I will admit this, Sam, that I really don't care. That is nil, Neil, Neil. God him.

Harry, what number do you want? I think of three, me, Lord. No, number one. We've still got that to come as well, then. Number one. Sebastian Vettel scored four straight championships between 2010 and 2013.

I mean, you remember that, right? Yeah. But when was he born? From 2010 to 2013, who had the second most points? Sorry, I missed, Sam was asking about the song being born. Good, I'm going to interrupt.

It's the second part of that question. So who had the second most points in that 2010 to 2013 overall. Overall. Overall. Another pointless stat. This isn't my answer.

This isn't my answer. It's a Johnson Button. He did beat Hamilton. Oh, man, you are testing me today, Sunshine. I don't know. Fernando Alonzo. Fernando Alonzo is the correct answer. Oh, wow.

And so those four seasons combined, he had 1,000. 29 points. And then it was Mark Weber after that on 878. But yeah, Alonzo was correct. That was a guess, but actually thinking about it, logically, he did come second twice in that period. I thought that was the very obvious answer.

Yeah. I just was like, oh, yeah, Lomte. Sorry. Sam, what number do you are next? I'll have number two, please. Number two. I hate this question as well. Jack Brabham is the only driver to win the four.

Formula One championship as part of his own team. But which driver also won the championship for Brabham when Jack Brabham was still at the team? That's harsh. That's very harsh. I don't know that one. Bit of harsh. Jim Clark. Brabham?

No, it's not Brabham. And it's not Jim Clark, either. It was the following year. So it was 1967 Denny Holm won the championship for Brabham. Denny Hol. And he, which is a bit of weird one. He beat Jack Brabham in his own car by five points to win the title.

That's got a sting. Good team moment, that is. Denny. Share the love. Danny Ho. Yeah. Nice. Danny.

I can't believe. Danny home. That's revolting. Number five, please, Ben. Oh, it's the mess. Okay. Oh, okay. This one is actually about the same race.

Okay. So you might like this one. Mick Schumacher withdrew from the 22 oldie Grand Prix due to that crazy qualifying crash that he had I mean everyone remembers that right

are you doing this for everyone I actually don't remember no I forgot to do it on the last one but who also didn't start that Grand Prix now don't be clever and say Duke is more here but who was supposed to start the Grand Prix

and also didn't um I don't uh Yuki Sanoda. It was Yuki Sanoda, yeah. I'm sick of this. Oh God.

I will win because I'm with anyone left alive. You've dead. What happened to Yuki Sanodes? I don't know. I can be bothered. No, I don't remember why. Lazy. Just lazy.

I can't remember. Okay, so this is getting pretty interesting. It's 2-0 to Harry with one question each left. So, Sam, no pressure, but if you do get this right, you will lose one rather than 2-0. What number do you want? Three or four? Number four, please.

Too late. Okay. Ah, good. Number four. So Michael Schumacher dominated the 1995-Spanish Grand Prix winning by 52 seconds. That's quite good. But who finished P2 in that Grand Prix? See, Harry will know this?

Because Harry's head is like a history book. I genuinely don't know that. Um, who was good in 1995? It's the most Harry line I've ever heard. It's just weird together. It's infectious. Yeah. Or maybe I just do it to annoy him.

Was it Jacques Vilnav? It's, uh, it's not correct. Um, I'm afraid. Takianui. Um, it wasn't Takia Nui either. It was someone far better than both of those. drivers that you mentioned, one Johnny Herbert. Johnny.

What, Johnny? What enjoyed this quiz today? No. Let's see if you enjoy it even less when Harry could potentially make it three. Which, if you're calculating things correctly, is literally the worst possible loss you can have in this game. Do you remember the last game with Craig where I smashed it four, nil? That's fine.

Oh yeah, see, you won't make up for that. Pick number three, me lord. What number do you want? Number three, please. Yay! We got there. That's proper Bart Simpson in class meme, isn't it? Say the line.

Okay, so Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricardo had a pretty explosive crash at the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. I'm sure you remember that. But which future race winner scored his first points at that race? Oh, what? I know the answer to this. Future race winner That is first ever points

Yeah First ever points It's windy out there Blowing all boots That's an inside joke Sorry All right Derek I've got no idea

Who's I don't Who's a future race winner Who was in there in 2018 Sosakis What Pierre Casley It's not Pierre Casley Is it Is it?

Carlos Seines You probably shouldn't listen to Sam I'm playing your Sunshine Well what is it Who is it? Who is it? Color signs Who is it?

Color signs What's going on here? It's Charles and Claire Oh, Chuckles Why are you listening to me For anything? I didn't know the answer

He was P6 His first First points So it doesn't end up Three Nell Sam Has managed to spare himself there by giving Harry the wrong answer and it's now 2-0 instead.

Absolutely done me. Good. I feel good about that. But, you know, the best bit is still to come. Oh, yes. You are absolutely right because you might not have liked that segment, but I guarantee you, you're going to like the next segment. It is the absolute best segment in all of Formula One podcasting.

What is it, guys? It's the LB Question of the week. It's the harmony's like because my voice is done. Yeah, it went down a few there, didn't we? So, LB, question of the week. We posed the question, if we were commentating a Formula One Grand Prix, which is terrifying in its own right,

what would our late-breaking version be of its lights out and away we go? Any answers that you enjoyed, guys? What? Pick number three, my lord. This doesn't make any sec to the start of a road. What, Sam, you might get us out of it? That's classic.

That's a great one. Sam, what did you have for dinner? I mean, I'm going to just make any sense. Which seems right and appropriate. A real favourite of mine was from Laurent on Twitter, and it's just dot dot dot dot dot dot, dot, dot, dot, Harry E's, weak. The lights go out there into turn one and then I go.

18 seconds after the road is started. Oh, God. It's lights out and Harry's bold prediction is already wrong. Oh, come on. Classic. What are you having for doing a Sam again appears on Twitter, which is fantastic. It's sausages out and to the thanks as Harry goes, which I think's great. There were a lot of sausage references and a lot of bag of chips references,

a lot of soundboard references here. There's some. Some of these don't make sense. Of course not. It's Ruggiero 360 saying Dave Benson Phillips gunge noise. That's great. Imagine that's starting a race. That's great.

That's nice. Yeah. Yeah, well done. And they're off for a bag of chips. Hey! Yeah. That's a good one. My favorite answers this week were actually the ones that's already been mentioned,

Laurent with. Weak. Yeah. Actually made me laugh quite a lot. My second favorite answer was from Roller. who, again, is always on the money with ease. But we said, it's brains off and away we giggle, which seems appropriate. My favourite answer actually came from Captain Nuss, which is a great name.

It's light out and away we go in reference to Harry Ead. Nice. Very good. Also, there were quite a few references to Handbergh. And off we go. Love that. Someone's also said, well, they said it's mine, but it's all of us. Oh no, no, no, no, no.

We would be terrible, terrible commentators. I actually think we'd be brilliant. I mean, technically, we've done it. That's why we'd be terrible. You think we'd be brilliant. Yeah, so if you go watch the L ball, which is the late-breaking online racing league on our YouTube channel from years ago,

where all three of us have commentated. Please don't. And raced. And raced, not the same time. We took it in turns. We did. Worth it. None of us champions.

No. I was a champion. Of what? I won the Constructors' Championship. Oh, yeah. Got carried by the best drive we've ever seen in the league. God. This is going on too long.

That's the words of a non-champion speaking. It's okay. Doesn't happen often. I'm actually going to apologize for this episode. Why? Well, I've been a mess for a start. Just being up and down the whole episode. But this has gone on, in it.

We have Wang Don. I wonder where that was going, then. We did have the bleat ready. Anyway, that's enough. Ben, say the line. Do the roar. what like? The one where you want to get me out of it.

Yeah, the one you always do. What if I don't want to do it? Oh, right, folks, you could go and follow the Patreon. We're having a gaming night this month and it's available to Patreon members. Have a look. You'll just get ad-free podcasts and beer with breaking and extra topics. So check it all out. It really helps us.

Thanks. Also, we're on social media. Check them out. You know where they are. Links in the description of the Discord. It's gone too long. Sorry, I've been Samuel Sage. I've thought of the name.

Go on, Ben. I've been Ben Hawking. Good, I've been. nothing has happened in this podcast that I can think of. I've been. I thought you were just leaving a pause to say week. Oh, that'd have been funny, wouldn't it? Yeah, you've lost it out.

And I had been ungraded because I couldn't think of it. That's the worst outro you've never done. You are welcome, everyone. And you can keep breaking late. Week. The cast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.