The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Does Bottas need to be more 'selfish' in 2021? | Episode 105

Episode Date: March 3, 2021

The boys discuss whether Bottas needs to be more selfish this season, debate Haas' decision to concentrate solely on 2022, and play another round of F1: Back and Forth.Make sure to SUBSCRIBE! 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 look out for new episodes every Thursday and Grand Prix Sundays. Hello and a very warm welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast. My name's Ben Hocking, Sam Sage and Harry Ead in the house. How are you doing, chaps? We're in the Hise. I'm good.

It's my birthday next week, everyone. Take the marks if you care. and we're getting closer to test day because that's Ferrari, car reveal, we're getting close to the testing, F-1's on the horizon, and I'm going to get really old, me and Kimmy in the old people's home.

Sam, is your birthday on a podcast recording day? Yes, it is. Oh, that's the best party you could have. If any members of the community want to join in, we'll do a cue. You can come along. Anyway, let's talk about Formula One this week. I'm next week. Yeah, yeah, probably.

a good idea to leave that one until then. But we'll have our own party on the podcast because we will have Pimp My F1 at that time as well. So it does tie in very well indeed. But for tonight, at least, here's what we're going to be talking about. Valdry Bottas, perhaps looking to be a bit more selfish in 2021.

If his words are to be believed, we're going to be discussing his first media session of the season. A haste rights have been off 2021 and put all of their eggs into the 2022 basket. discussing that one a little bit later on. Danny Kavilla, he can't be kept out of Formula One. It has been confirmed. He is now Alpine's reserve driver, so we'll be looking at that move, and F1 back and forth is making an appearance later on. But first, we'll start with Walter Bottas. He was speaking to the media of Altrey Bottas. He has stated he believes he can fight for the title in 2021.

he's demanding more from himself from ever before and he said he feels like he needs to be a bit more selfish in his approach. So Sam, do you, first of all, before we discuss whether he could execute that, do you believe his words first and foremost? Mr. Porridge is just really, really, really nice, isn't he? That's a thing. I mean, apart from that one time where he told all of his critics to F-A over the radio. I think, is it. It was a little bit embarrassing in the manner that he did it. I mean, his teammate didn't actually finish the race on pure pace terms. So, I mean, eh. I think he's going to be just selfish on the racetrack because I feel like it's a whole life mentality.

I don't think Bottas can do it. Like, you know, when they're lining up to maybe get their morning buffet, Botas is going to push in the front. I'm having the first quassum out the oven. When the coffee comes out, the thing. Bugger off, Hamilton. It's my espresso. You know, I feel like you've got to commit to the whole mentality. here. You can't just do it on the racetrack.

I think he's going to try and be a bit more selfish. I don't think it's going to look any different. I don't know what he means. There wasn't really any team orders last season. He messed his own races up. Be faster, Valtrey. Don't make as many mistakes. You don't need to be selfish because you'll just be in front. That's how racing works. So I think this is a bit of a hog one for him. It's a little bit bizarre. Do I think he can pull it off?

No, I just think he needs to step it up a level. He's good. He's a very good racing driver. Is he a world title winner? Hamilton will have to have an absolute shocker, I think, to throw this eighth title away. And I think Walter will need to be way more consistent. Never won two races in a row.

Start there, then be selfish. That's a good start. I can't quite believe you've put in a breakfast buffet mention in there, but also didn't link it to porridge. Link it to a croissant instead. It's because what he's done is actually he's grabbed the quasson

and then he's got to picked up Hamilton the brunch bar out the next basket. It goes throwing him in the bin. That's a nice reference. If that makes no sense to you, then, yeah. If that makes no sense to you, that's completely acceptable. But last week, Harry referred to Lewis Hamilton as a brunch bar. Still not quite over.

And that is in the highest regard. I mean that in the most positive sense. That's the problem. Harry, can we do a tier video where we put drivers next to breakfast elements and we can rank them. Love that. I find it interesting that you've asked for Harry's permission to do that, knowing that if you ask me, I would shout you down and say no.

Smart move. Late breaking silliness. Late breaking plus. Yeah. It's like BBC 3. Like an only fan. Be like Dave. Yeah, exactly like that.

I'm sure people would subscribe. Moving on. Harry, what are your thoughts on these comments? I understand it what you're trying to get at but I think if you look back at Rosberg and Hamilton on the track together when they were side by side

there was a percentage risk that they would run into each other or you know one would slightly run the other one off the road normally Hamilton not on a dirty way but just hard but fair I think when you see Hamilton a botas together Hamilton just kind of goes past Botas and Botas is, you know, kind of too nice in a sense.

So I can kind of see from that point of view, maybe what he's getting at. But I just don't think, like Sam says, there are other things he needs to focus on first, like winning two races in a row. You know, maybe going even faster in qualifying. He does a great job, but he more often than not still gets being by Hamilton. Yeah, I can potentially see what he's trying to get at here. But, you know, I kind of agree with Sam. just slightly too nice. He's not got the Rosberg

mentality that could potentially fluster Hamilton and yeah, I don't see what he's going to do this yet. I'll be prepared to wait and see what happens but I'd hazard a guess even being a little bit more selfish it would still be quite nice and it wouldn't be enough. Yeah, I mean, the stuff that he said

I'll deal with the selfish comment in a second but the things that he said such as he believes he can fight for the title and he's demanding more from himself than ever before, of course he's going to say those things. And I'm not even necessarily saying he doesn't believe those things, but if you are in a position like he is in where he has got undoubtedly the fastest car and a car that has won, what is it now, seven straight championships, of course you have to say those things. and if you're not saying those things. Can you imagine if he came out and said, no, I don't think I believe I can vote for the title. He's never going to come out and say that. So I think both of those,

I'm not going to call them empty words because he might still believe that, but at the same time, they don't hold a lot of merit because of the position he's in. Looking at the comment on him needing to be more selfish, I would pick up on something

that you said, Sam, in that last year he didn't even necessarily give himself an opportunity to be selfish. He has had a, few of those opportunities in previous years. I'm thinking the Russian Grand Prix a few years back, the German Grand Prix when he wasn't allowed to attack Hamilton. So he has had a few of them in his Merck career, but definitely last season, he just never put himself in a position where he could even be selfish. Is he going to be that sort of character this year even slightly?

You could argue that right now the pressure is higher on Bottas than ever before. So maybe there is more of a need for him to be that way. You know, in previous years, you could argue there wasn't necessarily an obvious contender for his spot, whereas now what happened at Sakea and Russell's continued progress, he has got more of a threat of his seat being taken. Now, you could argue, obviously, that's partly Bottas' fault in that he didn't put away George Russell when he got the opportunity to in the same car, but it's a factor nonetheless. The other thing is, he's coming off an off-season where Mercedes,

were willing to take Hamilton's contract negotiations all the way until nearly the start of this year in order to avoid him signing a one-year deal. Ultimately, they couldn't avoid it anyway, but that's what they were trying to do, which is the same deal that Bottas gets every single year without a say in the matter. So there is cause for him to be somewhat annoyed here. I think he is, I think Merck are justified in what they're doing, by the way. Hamilton is a much more valuable asset than Botas is, but from Botas's perspective, that doesn't matter a great deal. So maybe there is more of a reason for him to be selfish this year. I'm not too sure on that. I think the big question, we've already sort of picked up on this, is essentially we're asking the question, can he do a Rosberg?

Rosberg took it to Hamilton psychologically as well as on track, and it worked. So we know it's happened in the past. We're asking the question, Can Botas basically replicate that? And I think from a points perspective, it looks okay. So if you're looking at, one of the stats I like to look at is percentage of points that you claim of your team's total. So, for example, you pick up 20 points and each team may get 10 points each, you get 50% each. Hamilton and Rosberg, if we're looking at those,

three years where they were teammates before Rosberg won the championship is very similar. So Rosberg had 47%, 45%, and then 46% in the years leading up to him, obviously going over 50% and winning the title. Bottas has reached that tally in a couple of years. So in 2017, he was actually the closest he got in terms of percentage. He was at 45%, which is pretty much on a par with where Rosberg was the year before he won it. So from that basis, you could say, maybe there is something here. Maybe if he does change his attitude, he can get there.

I don't think he will get there for a multitude of reasons. First of all, you referred to it. He's never won two races in a row, and Rosberg won three races to close out 2015. There was a reason to believe at the end of 2015 Rosberg could conjure up something. I haven't seen anything from Bottas that indicates the same thing. The other thing is Hamilton's better in 2021 than he was in 2016 as well. I don't think he will be as easily baited into a battle with Botas as he was with Nico Rosberg.

And I do think it is a character thing. I think Rosberg always did have that fire. And he couldn't execute it on it in 2014 and 15, but it was there. And when he was able to get that full season, he attacked that full season. It took everything out of him. But it worked. I just don't see that same thing in Bottas. I'm willing to be proven wrong.

But he either doesn't have that fire. or he's done a very good job hiding it for years on end and I think it's the former. I reckon he's Will Young to relight his fire. That's not the right. Some artist's combination. It's a good effort. It's a good effort. Who's six, three light the fire?

And they take that. Is it take that? Will Young, formerly part of Take That, right, with Garry Barlow, famously. Yeah, that's him. Little known fact about Will Young. I always knew that Gariff Gates had something against Will Young, and that's why, because he was in Take That. Got a spot over him.

When Gariff, when Will Young beat Gariff, he walked up to he went, Take that! And then he took the trophy, walked off. I think we need, like, a buzzer that, like, we hit it when we're going too much into Norty's British references. Like, an alienating most of your audience button. Just, like, stop. America, we will learn something about your culture and make a reference about that. at some point, I promise.

Without insulting as well. Although, Ben, I appreciate your stats. That was very Statman of you. Thank you. I just do it for your mention of Statman, to be honest. I don't really care about it. I mean, I love it. Make it your text tone, folks.

Moving on to HAST, so we've got teams on the precipice of brand new regulations coming in in 2022. We're likely going to see different strategies as to how much they focus on 2021 and which teams decide to spend less effort on that year and go straight to 2022. One of the teams so has, they seem to be pretty much sacrificing 2021 in the hope of an upturn in performance in 2022. There will be no aerodevelopment after the first test in Bahrain and Gunter Siner actually revealed that the team have not spent any of their development tokens that have been a hot topic in this offseason. So, Sam, do you think Hass are right to sort of being off 2021 and put all of their focus on next year?

100%. That team was already going down the pan. Actually, they're struggling. If they're going to make a comeback, this is what I've been saying that William should have been doing for a couple of years. It shouldn't be committing the development of the car in season all the way up until three or four ratings before the end and then working on the car for next season. You're not going to be a front runner. You're not going to be regularly scoring points. you're not going to be challenging for any kind of success, really, in the coming season.

So I think Good for the signer is showing good leadership. I think he's showing good foresight, understanding the situation that they're in, that the regulations are massively changing. If you're going to get ahead, if you're going to get a jump on people, now is 100% the time to do it. You've got a good young driver line up, or one half of the garage. You've got an empty seat on the other half of the garage. And I think Nick Schumacher is completely capable of having a bit of longevity at the team. he's got the ability to be there for a couple of years

Shinnathing up for him around the Ferrari area of course which is where he's wanting to go and we've seen Shumaka settled so Shumaka has the ability to grow and develop and continue that development and I think Hars are capable of doing the same thing they need to get some proper financial backing

look at the stream long term and understand what's going on and I think it's the right thing to re-evaluate those technical decisions and then commit to it for a full 12 months ahead of almost anyone else because even though I think the likes of the Mercedes of Red Bull probably won't be sat there committing all their resources to their

2022 car when the new regulations come around. So this is a good way to get yourself up the grid. I think it's a smart choice. It's going to be sad to see them struggling for what, 22, 23 races, but I think for the long term of their F1 careers, it's the right choice. What do you reckon, Harry, do you think this is a smart move by them? It's, well, it's a risky move. I think if you, I was thinking back to, BMW in 2008 and they sacrificed 08 or not quite as early as has have for 09 and there's a different kind of situation because they could have been in a shot with a winning the championship in 08 and then they'll see sacrificed it gave up that year for head start in 09 and got

it wrong and that's my point really you know it's all well has doing that but there is still the risk they get it completely wrong and that's you know to be two years completely sacrificed um I think the sensible decision or sensible part of the decision is that the house last year wasn't anywhere anyway so it's not like they're going to suddenly build a car or update the car enough to be fighting for consistent points every race weekend.

So I can see the point of doing that because getting a head start for next year may be really beneficial and they could make that massive jump. So yeah, it's a risky one but I can for that team I can absolutely see why they've done it and it makes more sense than the BMW comparison to be honest because you know like I said there's no no real chance of them fighting for wins etc this year and they've got two sorry they've got Mick Schumacher and a bin who's going to be who are going to be learning their way through F1 this year so um yeah why

not why not just make them poodle around in the back learn the hard way and then be ready for 22 do. So I think it's a risky one, but it's one that could actually pay off. Yeah, I think it's risky in the financial sense, in that they essentially have to go to their sponsors for this year and fully admit, we're not putting a lot of effort into advancing ourselves this year and we're putting all of our effort into next year. So that's one element of risk for the team. The other element of risk is that for a financially struggling team, the difference between 9th and 10th place can be significant for prize money purposes. So in 2020, you know, 20, 2021 we already know, sorry, 2020, we already know that the prize money that the teams are going to get

or have got is much reduced due to the overall revenue of Formula 1 dropping. So there is need to sort of financially, you know, bring in the cash. But I'm with Sam here. I'm 100% on board with what they're doing here. Because unlike the BMW situation you brought up, Harry, there isn't a lot to gain from pouring their effort into 2021. You know, if they put every ounce of effort into 2021 and they didn't even think about 2022, what is the absolute best they're going to achieve?

Eighth, maybe. Maybe they beat Alfa Romeo. but even that might be a stretch. I think more than likely, the difference between them pouring effort into this year is ninth instead of 10th. And to be perfectly blunt, if you're that concerned about finishing 9th

instead of finishing 10th, you need to get out of the sport because we want ambitious teams. We don't want teams that are so concerned about whether you finish 9th or 10th that you don't think of the long-term future of being able to compete. And, you know, maybe it doesn't work in 2022.

And, you know, if that happens, I'm not saying I won't criticize the execution, but I won't criticize the decision at all, even if it falls flat on its face, because it's absolutely the right call. It's very clear as well what they're doing with the lineup. Obviously, they've got two rookies this year. There is a clear plan here that goes not only with the team and its expenditure, but also in terms of the drivers. There's a reason they got rid of Grosjean and Magnuson at the time that they did. And it's to give those two drivers the experience this year. So then they will be hoping for 2022 to be in a much better position to take advantage

of a half decent car or a good car. And I really think they can get this right. I'm not saying they will. I think they can. Ultimately, they were in a position just two years ago. It seems crazy. It was actually that close where they were fifth. And you could argue.

probably could and should have finished fourth that year. So there was a point where they were at the head of the midfield, or very close to the head of the midfield, with a team of Magnuson and Grojan. No disrespect to them, but it's not the strongest line-up on the grid. So if they can get something... It's the strongest line-up in the world is what is making. Yeah, just to clarify, that is what I meant. But, you know, Hasse's model, in terms of what they do with DeLara, with the budget cap coming in,

there is potential for that to work. It's a very modern solution compared to, let's say, the old Williams solution, which was trying to hold on to everything that they were as a constructor and just failing as a result. They've got the structure to compete if they get this right. Execution is another thing entirely, but the plan itself, I love it, and I think they should 100% go ahead with it. We love it. Go on good for...

I mean, if you're trying to pick... Yeah. If you're trying to pitch a bolder... strategy, starting here is usually a good idea. The worst is they'll look like a bunch of effing morons. That's the worst thing like a bunch of Ws that I can't say because I get bleeped. Instead of rock stars. Yeah, I like the sweary one.

Yeah. Well, we'll see if it all goes horribly wrong or not. We'll see what happens in 2021. But I think it's fair to say expectations are not massively high for what they might achieve this year. We're going to move on to Danny Kaviat. So, of course, he was racing for Alpha Tauri last year. He's been replaced by Yuki Sunoda for 2021.

So beg the question what he would be doing this year. The answer is he's going to be the Alpine test driver, supporting Esteban Okon and Fernando Alonzo in the car. So Danny Kaviat, the cockroach of F1, can't be killed. He will stick around forever. I meant that as a compliment, Danny. Good Lord. he can't be removed he will always be an f1 um but there i mean there is a point he has he has been around

now so harry do you think this was a good move this was at the expense of let's say guan ujo or christian lungarde of course um yeah i mean danikifat just loves to be an f1 doesn't matter what he does you know we've we've spoken in the past about how he uh has been a janitor for red bull whilst he was on out of the seat there and he's done lots of things. So I think as a reserve driver, it makes sense. He's got a lot of experience.

And, you know, Danny Kaffirat is not the... Sorry, Sam's cat has just appeared in the background of his camera. Hi, Ian. You're on in the next segment. You're too early. Come on, Ian. Yeah, I think...

What was my point? Sorry. That's... Ah, yes. Sorry. He's a janitor. That's my point. Conclusion, Danny Kfayor's a janitor. No, he's got a lot of experience, hasn't he? And, you know, he's not the, not the world's greatest driver, but he's a quick peddler, he's got a podium. He knows what he's doing in an F1 car. So I think it's a sensible decision. I think Joe is, or Zhao, Joe, isn't it, is still around, but, you know, that guy must be thinking, I'm never going to get a seat in this car, am I? But yeah, from an Alpine point of view, it makes total sense. Kfeer, you know, Kfeer was reserve or sim driver for Ferrari as well at one point.

So he's got experience now in a fair few teams. So I think it's a totally sensible decision. He's been driving the latest generation of cars as of last year. So why wouldn't you want him around? So yeah, I totally get it. But, you know, I feel for Joe a bit, I think Lungard, obviously. What are your thoughts, Sam? Do you think that not going with youth here in terms of the reserve driver?

Is that a bad move from Alpine or a good one? No, I don't think it's a bad move at all. And it's not like those youngsters aren't doing anything. It's not like they're sat there, twin and their thumbs on the sidelines going, that was all I had to do this year. They're both racing competitively. Something Daniel Kivya is not doing currently. And the guys are smart cookie.

He's got a lot of experience and has done for many, many years, both in open wheel racing and in other categories of racing as well. It does surprise me that he's currently not engaging in maybe some DTM going to join Alexander album, his old RB team, teammate, or maybe going off to America, maybe. I feel like he could be a big star, bit of like a pantomime villain over there would be quite interesting to see, or maybe some wet, you know, the guy is good at endurance. He's done that previously when he's a lot younger. He's got a lot of talent in the bag, but I think this is a smart move from Alpine.

They've applied someone to say development driving, a team that is trying to evolve and develop and change. They've got a longso in the car who's not going to be there forever. This is a period of evolution for LP and they picked up someone who drives a modern F1 car. They understand how the Red Bull family work. It's all about aerodynamics. They understand how that relationship functions. He's a smart cookie. He's done it for Ferrari. That hasn't gone too well of modern years. But, you know, he's still done it for them. So he's got experience in the job. And he knows what he's doing. I think this is sensible. And give it a couple of years. A longso will move on. They'll reshuffle things. Guan Nuzhou.

Lungars, they will get a chance. I'm very talented young individuals. Ockong is to still prove himself. I don't think he's a permanent fixture there if things go bandy for him. I know that there's a lot of rumors of Gassley may be joining as well. So it's all up in the air. You prove yourself. You can have a spot there at the French team.

I think this is a good call for the development into the 2022 new regulations. This makes sense to me. Yeah. I mean, if you were to describe Danny Kaviat's career with one word, you can probably have to be chaotic. Danny Kavilla has gone through a lot in a relatively short amount of time. We're only talking, say, six, seven years since he debuted in F1. So, I mean, he debuts in F1.

I can't remember exactly how old he was. I think he was probably still a teenager. It's about 19 or so, would be my guess. So he comes into Formula One very young. He's thrust into the Red Bull car very young. He's dropped from the team, dropped from the system entirely, brought back into the system. He does Ferrari for a year. He's been around and done everything. He has experience at Red Bull, Toro, and Ferrari in some regard. And because of all this chaos, it's quite harsh on the guy personally.

But one benefit of the amount of chaos that he's had to deal with is it gives you a lot of experience. He's driven some very, very good cars. He's driven some pretty rubbish cars. And that's what you need from a reserve driver. You need someone who's going to be able to adapt to a situation on a very short notice. and I would bet that Danny Kaviyak can do that quite a bit better than most drivers can because he's already done it for the last six years. I will say that, you know, I think 2020 somewhat with reserve drivers kind of made, I think it's made these teams more aware of how important they are in terms of the need to step up. You know, in previous years we had that, we had pulled arresters race in Hungary,

if you remember Williams a couple of years back and Jensen Buster. Martin did a race at McLaren at Monaco, but really, reserve drivers have been, what, one appearance a season, if that, whereas 2020, partly due to COVID plus the Grosjean incident, you've got Fittipaldi doing two races, you've got Jack Aitken did a race, you've got Holkenberg stepping in for a couple of races, so I think it has actually made these teams a bit more aware of how they need this contingency plan in place. So Danny Kaviat, who does have experience, very recent experience of driving an F1, becomes a lot more valuable as a result of that.

I would just say that with Lungard in particular, Guanyuja, I'm a bit less sold on, but with Christian Lungard in particular, I think it's important that this doesn't come at the expense of these guys getting time in the car. I hope that they give Lungard maybe a couple of FP1 sessions this year. I'd like to see that happen. The disadvantage that Alpine have compared to, say, Ferrari,

is that Alpine don't have a second team to throw these. guys in for an FP1 session. So, you know, or even testing, really, you look at Euler and Schumack are getting opportunities last year in the Alpha Romeo and the Hasse, whereas if you want to give someone like Lungard or Joe an opportunity, they essentially have to go in the Alpine. There isn't another option. So I would like to, I am slightly concerned about youth development at Renaud at Alpine, sorry, so I'd like to see Lundgard get some time in the car in some capacity. but other than that, I've got no problem with this. I think it's a good move.

I reckon for practice, Alpine, aka Renaud, could call up Persio and go, hello French, mate. Do you want to run a 206 in practice? And you can put the boys in. I reckon they'll be up for it. Are you telling me that Alpine would call Perjo

and they would go, hello, mate? Yeah. Or they'd be more like, bonjour, mate. Oh, sorry, yeah. I forgot to translate that. Bonjour, mate. That's the one. There you go.

Mate translates directly into French as well. It does. It's a multi-lingal word. Bonjour, mate. Do you want to run a 206 in practice? Your boys can have a go. French lessons with Sam's stage. There you go.

So I only got to see. I'm surprised he did that well based on the last two minutes, Sam. Oh, the faith. Right, let's get on to back and forth. F1 Back and forth It's F1 Back and forth

It goes backwards Then goes forth It's F1 Back and forth F1 All right, here we go F1 back and forth It's back

And it will go forth Very soon as well So we've got a category here Harry versus Sam They will Take it in terms To give a correct answer for this category until one of them can't think of one or gets one wrong.

So would you like to know what your category is tonight? Bring it on off the cat. This is a tough one. You're not going to get all the way through these, I'm pretty sure. But I'm interested to see how far you can get before you get a wrong one. So as of December 2020, there are 45 Grade 1 circuits as determined by, by the FIA. How many of those

can your name? And we do, as always, encourage you to play along at home. How many of these can you get? Can you get more than these two combined? So any circuit

that has been given grade one certification by the FIA. Harry, we should be at least get 22, 23 of them. Theoretically, you should get a half of the money. Do what,

I mean, I'm assuming we've got a little bit a leeway on some of the actual proper names. I'll give you some leeway. It's always we're close enough, right? Yeah, I'll give you leeway here and there. The one in Europe. I'm not going to give that much leeway.

You could mean Baku as the European Grand Prix, of course. Oh, we got one. It's not definitely a right answer. No, we're not. Right, we got one, that's fine. We've done. Ben's got involved. All right.

You know what? Head start, Baku's a correct answer, so you've got 44 to 5. Come on, Boris. Ashtag bless. Sam, we'll start with you on this one. Give me a circuit. I'll kick off with what usually starts off the season. Australia, Albert Park. Albert Park is a correct answer, Harry.

The Shanghai International Circuit. The Shanghai International Circuit is a correct answer. Sam. Monser. Monza is a correct answer, Harry. The natural round three after those two. I'll go for Bahrain. Correct.

Sam. I was just about to say that. I'll say Silverstone. Ah, Silverstone. That's a good answer. Harry? The Red Bull Ring. The Red Bull Ring is correct.

Sam. Circuit to Spar Francosom. Franco Schaub. Who said that can't be in French? It's a correct answer. I just can't find it. There it is. Yeah.

One of them. Harry. The one in Spain. Barcelona. Catalonia, that's the name. Yeah. I'd have given you Barcelona, but Catalonia is correct. Yeah.

Sam. Gilles Vinanovo. I mean, you almost deserve two people. points for pronunciation, but yes, it's correct. Harry. Monaco. Secit de Monaco, correct. Sam.

Oh, thinking with my brave is hard. Oh, I'm snubing at the calendar, Hungarian. Hangarering is correct. Harry. Ben, at this point, I have a question. Go on. Can we count tracks that we should have been to, but we never have been.

Oh, that's a really good question. There are circuits on this list that have never hosted an F1 Grand Prix. Take that as a yes. Okay, I'll say it now, go wrong. Okay, the one in Vietnam that we didn't go to. It's not on there, which was really surprising. I'm counting that. Yeah, I'm willing to let this go on, actually, but I'm, unless I've,

I've got this wrong. It's not on there. I mean, maybe because we never got... Anyway, all right. Yeah, got it wrong, man. I'm saying you, carry on. I'll let you carry on. Thanks.

Mainly because you still want so many left to go. Hockenheim. Hockenheim is correct. Portemau. Yes. Elgarve is there? The Nürberg ring. Yep, the Nuremberg ring is a good.

answer? Harry? Imola. Imola is correct. Sam? Suzuki. Suzuki's a correct answer. Harry. Micello. Micello is also a correct answer. Sam. Yes, Marina. As much as I don't want it to be, yes, it's a correct answer. Harry. Interligos. Interligos? Yeah, that's a correct answer. So... Suckie autodrome. The sucky autodrome is a different kind of place entirely.

No, I'm pretty sure it's exactly the same place. Harold. Oh, I'm trying to take that's any more, and they can't do what I said. Oh, Texas. What's it called? Second of the Americas. Texas. All of Texas.

Yeah, all of Texas. Is there? American roads are so big that it gets to get surprised if you could just put your finger on the map and go, grade one location. Yep. Done. It's a right answer regardless.

Sam? Oh, I'm going to take a risk. I'm doing it for us, Harry. I'm going to say Spang. It's a correct answer. Yep. Spang is Grade 1 certified. Harry?

I was going to say something really stupid then. Oh my God. Were you going to say Cadwell Park? I was going to say, Valencia, but that's obviously not even a track in the same place. Rove.

It's a wasteland. Yeah. Not the city of Alexei, that's the racetrack. There's any... If there's only left on the 2020 calendar, or 2019 calendar even. There is. Oh God, where did we race last year? We raced at...

Put it in a sentence that always helps. Oh, this is driving me mad. How many have we got, then? Oh, you've got a few left. I didn't expect you to get all of these, to be fair. Well, keep going. Come on, Harry. You can get more. You're a smart cookie. I'm going to go through the calendar from last year now.

There's definitely still left from last year. Yeah. Yeah. We went to Austria twice. Then we went to Hungary. Then we went to Silverstone twice. Twice. Then we went to...

Oh, hang on, no. we don't. Then you can get in the bin. No, no, there was definitely a race that we went to last season that is, in my mind, a grave one track. Well, in 2020? Yeah. In our shortened season?

Yeah. Unless I, I mean, I might just be wrong, of course. I'm sure we said other ones, Imola, Portemount, Jello. What about? Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble. Oh, God, Turkey. Oh, yeah, we went there last year, didn't we? Yeah, it's the correct answer

Completely forgot we went to Estabble Probably because it was such a You know, a forgettable race A terrible one, wasn't it? Sam Because Harry took eight years To get an answer to, I have had a thought I'm going to say

I might get the name slightly wrong So I'm going to go Singapore, Marina Bay Yep, Marina Bay is correct Yep, Singapore Nice I'm forgetting where we used to race Like before COVID It just doesn't exist anymore

There's all these places we went to. Harry, if you've done, how many Italian tracks have you done? I've done one. I think you've done... You've done Monsa. I did Imala, and I did Micello as well. Nah, I was trying to wonder if we hadn't got that one. I've done all of them.

Okay. The... I'm guessing now. The Valencia track, that's the actual track track. Yeah. It's a good answer. Yeah. Oh, nice. Yeah, circuit in Valencia, so that is a correct answer.

Have we said, I'd like a freebie if we have said it, and I'll try something else. And also, I'd like a freebie with my pronunciation. The autodromo Hermannos Rodriguez in Mexico. It's a correct answer. I was just willing to, yeah, I'll give you the pronunciation as well. Well, um. Thanks. Almost as good as Ben Edwards. Any more.

Is Hareth? Oh, is that right? It's a correct answer. Well, good. Grade 1 certified, Sam. So are we out of current F1 tracks now? Um,

no, there's two more. You're having a laugh. I guess. Oh. I guess you can call both of them current, yeah. Dick Richard! Yeah, Paul Richard. He's there.

Cool, see you's. Harry. I doubt. I can't think of any more. Honestly, can't remember where did we race in 2019? Who knows? Oh, where didn't we race in 2020 that was meant to be new? Other than the one that you've said.

There were two that were brand new. that we were meant to go to. Ah, Zandvort. Very good shout. Very good shout. Zambort is correct. Sam. Okay, I'm muck myself over there

because that was my next one. And now I'm out of obvious answers. Um... Right. I'm sticking with the French. It's done me well. I'm going to take a pun. Is Magnicor still a great one?

Circuit? It's a pun. It's a pun. a good pun. Manor is correct. Why bad? In fairness, you've both done a really good job here because you haven't really got any recent ones left now.

I've got a couple of punts in mind. This is whether they are still technically grade one. Is Yianam still a grade one? I hope so, because that was one of my punts. It is. No way. You can still go and have an effort. That's incredible.

We could go back to Yung Nam tomorrow, and at least the FIA certification would not be an issue. The track being what it is, is the issue, of course. That is an issue. Sam, have you got any more? I'm now on proper guessing mode, and I'm going back in my mind through tracks that we are visiting you Formula One over the last decade or so

that we're no longer at. And I'm going to go, oh, I'm so sorry if this is pronouncing correctly, and I offend anyone. Is it the Bud international circuit in India? Yes, Bud. That's a correct answer. Sebi Vets Palace, as it's also known. Yeah, it should really be renamed to that. No one else is going to win that.

There are, well, yeah, there's, you get in short on answers to say. There's 11 left, but these are difficult ones. is I've actually don't have anything left now Olsen Park Olin Towers

you laugh and you should because it's very wrong yeah that's not a right answer I've got none left now well on Sam take the win but any additional guesses

I've got two punts go on one one was based on a country that I know that we go to and has another circuit, I believe, which I think is available, and that is Fuji's, is it Speedway or something like that? Yeah, Fuji's still Grade 1 certified. And the other one, and I could be so wrong, is the Dubai Auto Dron, which I know is a big GT3 Ferrari race car track, and that's only because I play it a lot on video games. Yeah, it's a good guess. It is also there.

Woo-hoo! Other than that, nothing. No clue. No, that's fair enough. You've done a good job. Only nine left to go outside of that. So Estiril is grade 1 certified still. Let's go out there.

Yeah. The Chang Circuit in Thailand. Never got that. Aragon is... From wrong with the rings? No, not that one. Fiorano. Indianapolis.

Oh, why did we get Indy? That is embarrassing. That is embarrassing. It's really embarrassing. Igor Drive, which I believe is in Russia. It sounds like a road that you find in Cornwall. Oh, what you're doing, number three. Igorah Drive.

Moscow Raceway, which perhaps a bit more obviously is in Russia, which makes you think there are three grade one certified circuits from Russia and somehow we go to Sochi. Russia would love. Yeah, it either explains how bad the other two are. all we're missing out here. Either way. We've also got Kuwait as well.

Lossail circuit in Qatar. And there's the... I'm not sure if it's Kaimio or Kimi ring. I'm sure somebody would be able to tell me... Definitely the Kimmy ring. I hope it is. He owes it. He is his ring.

But yeah, you've got him quite obscure yet. He's got a cold ring as Kimmy. Theme. Theme song. F-1. Back and forth, it's F1. Back and forth, it goes backwards. Then goes forth, it's F1.

Back and forth, F1. I had enough for you. Go on. Get us out of here, Sam. Add enough. Oh, folks, if you've enjoyed the podcast or just thinking about Kimmy's Ring, then please give it a follow if you haven't. Subscribe to the podcast.

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