The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Hamilton vs Russell - who will win? | 2022 Teammate Wars

Episode Date: February 23, 2022

Hamilton vs Russell, Leclerc vs Sainz, Harry vs Winning Teammate Wars... The boys are back for the sixth annual Teammate Wars - who will be their picks for 2022? JOIN our Discord: https://discord.gg/dQJdu2SbAm SUPPORT our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/latebraking TWEET us @LBraking 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 tune in for new episodes every Wednesday and Grand Prix Sunday. Well, welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Yee, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking. Not only do I welcome you to the Lake Breaking F1 podcast, I welcome you to the sixth annual teammate war. I'm absolutely psyched for this episode. I am every year.

So if I'm absolutely psyched by something, generally the rule is, Sam, that you're off the chart psyched? Is that true here? I love teammate wars. Sorry, Hegfong users. Obviously, we are in the period, I think, of best episodes that late break is do. This and Pimp My F1 are up there as my favourite things in all time. If you don't know what Pit My Fong is, we talk about the liveries.

We rank the livery. And this is the team version of that. I love how bangly, Harry does. I love how smug Ben gets. I love that I'm just confused in the middle, as always. But this year, folks, we are rooting for Harry. Harry can get a wing here. Harry, come on, you can do it?

Can I go home? Can I not do this? You are home. I can see you. You're in your home. Nope. We're all together in a studio, obviously. Don't ruin the illusion.

paid millions I don't honestly no don't want to do it I don't want to do it I don't want to do it anymore it's like

Senga and Prost and someone else has turned up basically Teo Fabby oh come on that's brutal that is niche

that disrespect Fabby's name like that sorry Teo that was yeah uncalled for yeah so teammate wars

this is the sixth year that we've done this So it's a very simple concept. We take the 10 teams and we decide which of the two drivers within that team will end up with the most points by the end of the year. Traditionally, it's been a three-person battle, but it's somewhat a four-person battle this year because we have actually opened up the polls to the Discord. So get involved if you're not already. We put 10 polls out there earlier in the week. So as we go through our selections, we will be saying what the masses have gone for as well.

Sixth year doing this. I'm coming off my third win. So I have got my trophy to defend. But of course, Sam, I separated from you last year because you do have two championships yourself. Yeah, I mean, it's nice to be more decorated than Nico Rosberg. It feels good. You know, it feels very good. And thank you for being here, Harry. Oh, God, every single year. You've got to win one. so I can stop doing that same joke. It's your favourite ever joke.

You're never going to want to stop doing that joke. It genuinely is. Yeah. And well, the good news for you, Harry, is that if the Discord win, has been said by a few people, they will donate the win to you and you, I believe,

are not beneath that as a tactic. No, I'll take a take the win. I'm shameless. What's funny is, Harry, you are so good at historic staff. right? When I come off and actually are multiple different quizzes, I fear what can happen. A wing for me is a real big thing. But future, you know, predictions, I haven't ever met anyone more clueless in my life. It's about analysing what's in the present and thinking what this might translate to in the future, which I am absolutely terrible at. I can't read a situation to save my life. The thing is, though, what I love the most is that you're never drastically wrong. You're always just wrong enough.

Oh, I'm going to put out my gravestone. He was just wrong enough. Just wronging up. I think you've lost every year by a maximum of two points. That's the point. If you get eight out of ten, I guarantee someone will get nine. That's the sort of losing you do. It's fantastic.

And the Discord will get seven out of ten for that one year, so you won't win either way. Exactly. Well, we've got ten teams to rattle through, so Sam, would you mind kicking off the opening. ceremony of teammate wars oh have I got to sing now

yeah yes folks I've come up with a jingle this year it's in the theme song from Moulin Rouge not Rueh Moulin Ruge

Moulang just Moulang that film that's got the lovely little dragging it as played by Eddie Murphy from Disney I thought it was weird when you talking about Moulin Rouge

earlier that makes more sense it's not Moulin Rouge it's just Moulin very brilliant film that is Moulin I got that wrong I call it Moulin Rouge completely different vibe

anyway there's bear with me We're getting in. Here we go. First time I've sung it. Here we go. Harry Ben and Sam going head to head. Every year this game will fill you with dread. Let's get down to business and settle the score. It's time for the infamous team make wars. There you go. Banga. Thank you so much for that. Absolutely nailed it as ever. Thank you.

So we're going to go through the teams in the order they finished in the championship last year. So we'll start with Mercedes and end with Hasse. We'll kick off with you, Harry. You may start us off with Mercedes. I mean, this is the first year we've ever done Mercedes where the decision has not been Botas versus Hamilton, because the first year we did it was the first year there with teammates. So new challenge here, Hamilton versus Russell, where are you going and why?

That proves how long we've, you know, that partnership went on for. Okay, a fairly easy one here, I think. It's going to be Hamilton. I don't think, you know, Russell's going to be a million miles away, but it's, even I'm not an idiot or stupid enough to vote against Hamilton on this one. Apart from Rosberg in 2016, he's not lost to a teammate since, I don't know. We were young.

So, yeah, I'm going to back Hamilton again this year. And for Harry to back Hamilton, like, must be a no-brainer. He usually uses every opportunity not to. Hamilton is the choice from Harry. Sam, your choice. Yeah, I am going to stick with the Hamilton choice. I imagine the trio will all go for the same route. Big Brave Ben might, you know, change his route, we'll see.

But I think the triple B, Brexit Bing, Big Brave Brexit Bing. Say that 10 times with you. I think that George Russell will actually be close. I think you'll put up a fight. I don't think it will be drastically different on the points. I think Hamilton will have it in hand. I don't think he'll feel pressured. But I think Russell is up for the challenge.

I think he's like an excited puppy at the moment. He's just like a little bit of training, a little bit of finesse to grow into the role. But he's got all the energy. He's up for it. You know, you get the lead out. Russell, walkies. And he's like, yes, let's go to the door.

saw him at 8.58, he was revving to go in testing this morning. Oh, we didn't see him, because I didn't film it. But, you know, Russell was there to up a fight. We saw how well he did and then the same he's drive when Hamilton had COVID. He really delivered. It was the pit crew that didn't deliver.

So I think that Russell is going to bring it. But I do think they'll also let him learn and would expect him to play second fiddle unless something is drastically different. So yeah, Hamilton is the pick for me. But I wouldn't rule out, Russell. I go a few people on the Discord vote. had also selected Russell as their pick.

Yeah, there were a few. Obviously, yeah, Hamilton was in the vast majority there, but there were a couple in the Discord that did go for Georgie Russ. I like to think that throughout the duration of this podcast, the both of you have one significant clangor of a prediction. So I would go, Sam, yours is Leclair to win the 2019 World Championship. And in fairness to you, the teammate war side of that, did work out for you but that was a bit of a stretch and i like to think harries is the um is danio ricardo

winning the 2018 world championship um which of course didn't quite happen um who's close go far off go bold or go home and i i'm thinking do i need do i need my signature clanger here so for m so for msades i am going george russell holy now harry i can't wait to be joint winners this year. I am genuinely going George Russell to beat Lewis Hamilton. I think George Russell is the real deal. I'm not saying,

we're not doing championship predictions, but at least in terms of teammate wars, I'm going for Russell to win. Now, I appreciate that Lewis Hamilton is pretty good at the F1, so I have thought about this quite a bit. But I do think Lewis Hamilton, whilst he is still exceptional,

not what he was a couple of years ago. I think he is slightly past his prime, not too much, but slightly. And he was very good at the end last year, Lewis Hamilton. So I appreciate this is a massive risk. And I also appreciate you will use this for years to come and laugh at me for something like this. So I know what I'm doing here. But I am standing with those few people in the Discord when I say that George Russell will win this. And this is actually more about how much I believe in Russell versus is how much I don't believe in Hamilton. Because I definitely do still believe Hamilton is quality. I just look back at George Russell

and what he's done in the very limited amount of time that he's had to show what he can do. You look at what he did in F2, exceptional. The last couple of years at Williams, he's done everything he can. Secere 2020 is the one I come back to. I know it's one race, and I know it was against Bottas rather than Hamilton.

But to go into a car that in no way fits you, bear in mind that George Russell was a lot, taller than Lewis Hamilton to go out there and to qualify within a few hundreds of a second or whatever it was to Bottas and then go and essentially do everything he can to win the race apart from actually win it. Belgian Grand Prix qualifying all of these are adding up and there is an element applying faith to this because of how poor Williams have been he hasn't had that chance to show but I do I think Russell is is ready and I think this is going to be I don't think there'll be the same animosity as 07, but I do see this as being a Hamilton and Alonzo situation, but in

reverse. My concern is starts. George Russell has to improve his starts, because if he doesn't, he hasn't got a chance. But I really do believe he can get this done. I think it'll be close, but I think he can get it done. He did nail the start in Insecure there, didn't he? So maybe it's just Williams. Maybe it is just Williams, maybe. In which case, he's got enough. Nothing to worry about. I thought I'd start off with a bit of a... Well, shuka. Start off spicy.

Bit of a bang. I mean, what, what are your thoughts on that? Because I appreciate that's a bit out there for me. Usually I go for the safe picks. Like I said, Shukh, that's... I think you're a fool. But, uh... Yeah.

No, do you know what will happen? You'll be right, and I'll be really annoyed. And we'll both lose... Nine out of ten and Ben will get ten out of ten. Yes. If you do get it wrong, Ben, I'm in the words of Shakira going to remind you, wherever, whenever.

I fully expect that to be the case. Good. Every time I speak to you, I might bring it up. No, that is the thing, is it? That is absolutely fair. We do talk to each other every day for the majority of the day. Every text.

Every text. By the way, I'm going to save it almost as like a, you know, like a signature in an email. So it just sends at the bottom of every single text I send you. Kind of regards, you were wrong about Russell. You voting against Hamilton, you blithering idiots. Yeah, I understand what I'm doing here. It is career suicide, but I'm going ahead with it. And me and those six people in the Discord will stand together in our wrongness.

let's move on let's move on to Red Bull so Max Verstappen versus Sergio Perez again not exactly a close one last year and the Discord don't exactly think this will be a close one not one soul voted for Sergio Perez

so is that going to be any different here Sam you kick us off on this one well considering that Ben I imagine your big bowl Brexit bent again I assume you'll go for Checo so I will I'm going to go with

the tough choice and I'm going on my Max Verstappan as I was in the Red Bull Factory ago folks and the words that kept being said whenever they spoke

about Max Verstappen was he is a different breed is what they kept saying and to some degree I fully agree with them he is phenomenal behind the scurrying of a Formula 1 car

and I don't care what you think about the controversy that happened the end of the season it wasn't his fault that it happened he just took advantage of job

it which I think is what any driver would do. The guy is lightning quick and I think if you can mask him the new car, he'll continue to be absolutely lightning quick. A generational talent can't see him losing this one. I'll make it two for Vastappen here. I'm not, I've lost my braveness. It's all gone on that first pick. It's safe from here on out. No. Max Vestappen beat Sergio Perez last year by 205.5 points. so it's basically he's going to have to overturn a pretty large deficit in order to get even close to beating Vastappen yeah I mean it's as he said Sam Vastappen is a different class to

Sergio Perez and that's not an insult to Sergio that's just a compliment to Max Max he is fantastic and you know even if so you know Sergio Perez towards the end of last year did seem to be getting more accustomed to the car I think he had a run where he had a run where he had had three consecutive podiums towards the end of the year and he finished no worse than fourth in five races consecutively as well so the signs were there that he was he was getting there with the car towards the end of the year and maybe he carries that through to make this a little bit closer but no i couldn't see this happening in a million years harry vestappan or peres probably going to go for the world champion on this one just he just nudges it for me um he's

Is it the World Championship that's done it? Yeah, it's just, just tip me over the, to me over the line on that one. Squipe through. Yeah, look, I think Chekker would definitely improve last year. I said it before, I think he was having a stronger end to 2021 than a start. But he's not Max Verstappen, is he? And, you know, I guess you get the same argument for Hamilton and Russell,

but for Stappen's very early on in his career, and he's done a lot already. So, yeah, easy one for me. It's an easy max Vastappen win. Sam, I'm going to ask you a question that I asked you 12 months ago. Oh, I forgot. What is it? I asked you the question of what would be a good result in terms of points difference

between Vostappen and Perez. And you said about, I think it was 50, you said, which Perez managed to multiply by four and then some. So he didn't quite hit your target, is what I'm trying to say. What do you think he should be aiming for? based on what you saw last year as that sort of points gap. Well, if we assume that the finishing positions would be the same for a Red Bull, let's say they were competing for a world title here.

Let's say Max Wings the title again. I do think that both drivers are having to now come to terms with a brand new car, not just Perez having to slot into a new team. So actually I think that goes in favour of Perez. He's not walking to Max Verstappen's car, essentially, which would hurt if it was moving. But I do think that the gap of 50 is actually skill of fair. recognition. Let's say Max is in a race wing car, which is highly possible, not that

Red Bull could be like. I think 50 to 60 points is something that is a realistic ask for for Perez. Let's say that he gives away wings to Max because that's the number one driver. We know Red Bull have a number one drive, and they focus on one driver. I would expect by the end of the season, it's a long one, remember, between 50 to 60 points. So two race wings difference built up over several second and third places to be a realistic number that he should be happy-ish with. 200 points, is abysmal for any team mate in my opinion I'm gonna set my expectations a little bit lower so I think if he gets to sort of 1 25

I think he should be all right with that he's slightly dependent on how good the car is because if the car is not very good then you definitely don't want it to be 125 but let's just say as you've done it some theoretically they've got a good car again yeah I mean even cutting that down by 80 points or so I think would be a relative success.

It's tough to say. I mean, Harry, from your side, what are you looking for from Perez? Yeah, I was going to have it. I was going to go around 100 points. I think it is a much better year for Perez. Like I said, he's not for Stappen. I think expecting him to be level

or within like 30 points of him. I think it's unrealistic. And if he does, then I'm wrong a lot. as we've already established, if he does do that, then fair play to him. But I don't see that happening, to be honest, if the car is committed to this year. I guess it's also, one answer is how many points there should be between them, but ultimately it's all about the championship. It wasn't enough.

205.5 wasn't enough last year because they didn't win the Constructors' Championship. It can be 200 again. If that's enough to win the Constructors' Championship, that's all they'll care about. but yeah you'd hope it would be a bit closer than what we saw in 2021. With that, we move on to Ferrari. Who knows what we're going to get from Ferrari this year? I still think it's a bit of a question mark, but what I can say is that this has been by far

the closest contest in terms of the poll in Discord. It was actually level a couple of hours ago, but Carlos Seines has just about got ahead. He, of course, won this one last year, a fairly slim margin. So, yeah, I imagine this is going to be a pretty close one and a hotly debated one between the three of us. So, Harry, I'll let you kick off on this one.

I am reestablishing Mr. Clerk's holy status this year. It will become God's Leclair again. He will no longer be Moses Leclair. I think he's going to win it. I think it's going to be mighty close again between the two of them. But I think if Leclair, I think he'll iron out some mistakes he had last year. You know, we forget he's not been around that long.

And it's, you know, the same, we were saying the same sort of things about Verstappen a few years ago and look where he's got to now. So, yeah, I think it's going to be a much better year. Regardless of where that car is, I think it's going to be better year for the floor, to be honest. I think that Ferrari will be up there, but we'll have to wait and see on that one.

But yeah, I think it's going to be a really close one. and I'd fair play to the Discord because I think it would go either way. It could go either way. I think it could be signs. It wasn't sizes up until the last race, was it? So, yeah, I think this is going to be a hotly contested one, but I'm going to land on the side of God to LeClair.

Sam, are you going to side with the Discord, or are you going to side with Harry? This was a real head and heart decision, and the one that I have by far found the most difficult, which shows you, I think, how strong that Ferrari line up is. I think so many people are undeciding on who is maybe the lead driver, who is the strongest driver. And the thing that has tipped it for me is good old Moses Leclair was a little bit, as Harry said, a little bit error prone. And I think he's had his year of making those mistakes.

And without the really big mistakes, you know, the start in Monaco and whatnot, he beats Sikes. And it doesn't beat him comfortably. It's not, you know, 50 point different. It's not a hundred point difference. It's 15, 10 point difference, which is great. So that's what you want at your team. But I think LeCleu doesn't make those mistakes. I think he'll learn from those mistakes.

As he said, when he crashed into the wall in Baku, he said, I'm stupid, and then he learned from it. I haven't done it again. So I think the kid learns. I think he's going to grow this year. And because of that, I, the same as Harry, will not go in the direction of Moses to Noah Lecler, but his step will be Moses to God, Lecler.

I are backing Leclair. I made a pretty awful era last year in saying that not necessarily LeClaire would win. I don't think that was an awful statement, but saying that LeClaire would walk this one, and he certainly did not. And I'm not going to make that same mistake again. However, I am potentially making one mistake again because I am going back to Charles LeClaire this year as the other two have gone. Perhaps not a massive surprise, given some of the things that I've said before.

I do think he was the better driver last year. albeit it was fairly close I think Leclair was better despite him losing in terms of points he very simply put he performed sorry he didn't perform at the races where Carlos Sines was able to get a podium

so if we look back some of them were his fault some of them weren't but Hungary Leclair is caught up in bowling ball boll botas incident and Sines goes on and gets a podium think back to Russia Leclair was in a very good spot brain cane Ferrari

shockingly got their strategy wrong and I know surprise and Leclair finished out of the points Signs got a podium if you think back to Monaco obviously this one was Lecler's fault but signs got a podium

whereas Leclair might well have got a podium or even the win if he hadn't crashed on his ultimately pointless last running qualifying so yeah I'm not a fool to think this will be a walk in the park but I do think that Leclair was the better driver last year Law of averages

I think those races where he performs best will this year result in some more podiums maybe wins depending on how good the Ferrari is I'll go with Leclair but not comfortably so we're against the Discord on this one suck it listeners yeah I don't know if that's a great message Sam I've got to be honest

Sorry, I mean, love you listeners. You're more intelligent than we are. Hey, if Carlos Sines wins, then we give permission to anyone in the Discord to join us for five seconds each and you can just laugh at us for your five seconds. And that will be a podcast episode in its own run. But only available to Patreon members,

which you'll have to pay to here. We win all along. So no disagreement so far between the two of you. Obviously, again, I've decided to mess things up this year by going for George Russell, so I'm already condemned to lose. But we'll go on to McLaren. So Lando Norris versus Daniel Ricardo. This was fairly hotly debated last year.

A few question marks about whether Daniel Ricardo is going to get back up to the pace he was at with the likes of Red Bull and Renault. This one fairly comfortably a win for Lando Norris in terms of the Discord, although there are strong contingents going for Daniel Ricardo as well. I'll kick off on this one and say that I think that Lando Norris is going to win this one again. The question here is how comfortably he does it, in my opinion. I think if Daniel Ricardo can return to pre-McClaren Daniel Ricardo, then I actually think this is going to be very close,

actually to the point where I think it's a coin flip. We know how good Daniel Ricardo is at his best. and based on last year, we know how good Landon Norris is at his best. But ultimately, if it's a coin flip with Ricardo at his best, I think anything worse than that, Landon Norris wins this. He made a very significant jump last year, did Norris. He was perfectly fine in his first two years, but the third year was the one that really set him apart.

He was third place in the championship, let's remember, up until the halfway point in the season. And people seem to think he dropped off massively in the second half of the year. I don't actually think he did. The performances, I don't think he did. The results did somewhat, but I think you got a bit unlucky at points and Ferrari up their game towards the end of the year as well. Ultimately, Norris is the future of McLaren,

given what they've said, given the signing of the extension of the contract. Norris is the future of the team. It doesn't mean Ricardo can't win, but it makes it more difficult for him to do so. I actually think we'll be able to tell very early on from Daniel Ricardo's performances. I'm talking like race two or three, we'll be able to tell if he's up to it or not.

That remains to be seen, but I'm going to go with Landon Norris either way. Sam, from you. I think Daniel Ricardo is going to be back, baby. I think Danny Rick, like you said, is going to be the Red Bull Daniel Ricardo, the second year at Renaud Daniel Ricardo. I think he is going to be on it.

The difference, he is not up against Nico Holkenberg. He's up against Landon Norris. And Landon Norris has put breast, every single season with ability. He's so comfortable with that team. It's built around him, and it will be for years to come.

You can see him on the side of the track, when he's with the team. He's so relaxed. He's having so much fun. I think he's just enjoying himself. And I think that produces better driving. And I don't think that Lander Norris is going to stop with last year's incredible performance.

I think he will continue to step up. So while we see Daniel Riccala return to a somewhat former glory, I expect Norris to step up again. And I do think that the gap will be smaller because Riccardo will be at it but I think that Norris is the person to back here and I think that Norris is going to take it I think the gap like I said will be smaller

but I think that Norris is going to be McLaren's leading man. So yeah, I'm going to... You remember how I said that the Discord were really, really clever? Well, you were right. This proves it, does it? Yeah. Yeah, Norris is the perfect way to go.

All right. So two for Norris. Harry, you're going to make it three or I know you've picked down your Ricardo plenty of times before. So which way are you going? Well, this I think is where I probably, this is where my loss comes from

because I'm going to go for Daniel Ricardo over there. Because I always go for Daniel Ricardo. Literally never got against them. Every year. Every year. Yeah. It works more times than it doesn't. Yeah, let me let me down once.

Once or twice maybe. Anyway, yeah, I'm going for Danny Ray. I'm fully on board the Daniel Ricardo of pre-2020. be back. I think it's going to be, as you said, Ben, I think it's going to be really close, and it could be, you know, the flip of a coin that decides this between the two of them. But I think, I think Ricardo will be, it's new cars, he's had a year to bed into that team. They're on even, even playing field, as it were, between the two of them in that new McLaren. So, yeah, I'm backing Daniel Ricardo, and I can already, I'm having a flash forward to

December when we're reviewing this, and this is the point when you're, You're all laughing at me because I said Ricardo. I'm not one. And this is where my one point loss comes from. So, but never mind. I can't, I can't not vote for Ricardo. I'll be ill if I do. I'm literally just going to note down the timestamp of when you are saying what you've just said.

So it would be easy for me to get the audio file in December and play this back to you. No problem. Thank you. Cheers, mate. So we do. there's always a bit of a fear that one of us, or sorry, two of us will go with the exact same predictions. We can already confirm that will not be the case because two of us have deviated away from the norm. We'll move on to team number five, which is Alpine. Now this was a fairly

close battle last year, barely anything between Ocon and Alonzo in the points. The Discord, though, definitely think Alonzo's going to win this one. Fairly comfortable win for him in that regard. Harry, you are the chief of the Fernando Alonzo fan club. Are you going to go against your your inspiration? No, now that, L plan, here we go. It's Fernando Alonzo domination time. Everyone, this is what's going to happen. No, it's Alonzo again for me. I think Alonzo, did Alonzo win last year? I can't remember. He did. Yeah, it was only about not seven points, something like that. Yeah. So I think it won't be as close this year

because I think, you know, how many races were before we started seeing real Fernando Anzo back? Five, six, seven. I don't know. I can't really remember now, but he definitely wasn't, you know,

Yukesanoda absolutely nailed him in Bahrain if you forget that one. So he wasn't at peak Fernando Alonzo in those early stages. So I think he lost some points there. Yeah, I'd just think Alonzo is going to be on it this year. And it's not anything again.

it's Ocon. But if Alonzo could beat him last year were a few Duff races at the start of the year, then I think he's probably going to beat him this year comfortably. So you're going with Alonzo just like last year, but you're actually saying the points gap is going to increase

rather than stay the same or decrease. Yes. Good stuff. Sam, which way are you going on this one? I've been waiting for this moment and I'm now going to release the remix of Alonso C, Alonso No, and I am going to go with the verdict of Alonso C. Alonso C, that's right.

Alon, he's going to the top. Yeah, sorry, Occom. I know you're going to be 403 when the sign of your contract runs out, but Alonso is the king. So, yeah, no, Fernando, Allo, Vera, please. Put him on the top. Goodbye, Ocon. Don't need to give you any more direction there.

Cheers. Fernando Allovera. Nice one. Good stuff. He soothed the soul. I am also going to go Fernando Alonzo. However, I do disagree with you both

in that I think this is going to be very close. I don't think there's going to be much in it. Vote for you, coward? No, I do think Alonzo's going to win. But, yeah, I think it will be close. It was technically close last year, although I think most would agree the performances didn't quite reflect

the points in that, in that Alonzo's performances probably warranted him being, you know, maybe 30 points ahead of Ocon rather than seven. But I actually think that Ockon might get a little bit closer. I have to say, with Alonzo, he is so,

I don't want to use racing IQ because I think that's overused, but he is so smart on a racetrack. And that will help him out a lot. It helped him out a lot last year. It will continue to do so this year. But the fact of the matter is, I don't believe that that,

raw pace is there with Alonzo anymore. And he only needs to be quick enough to beat Ocon for the purposes of this, which I think he will be. But there's no replacement for raw pace. And I think some of it has gone. Not all of it, some of it. But yeah, that's why I think it might be quite close. Ocon was okay last year, but he was actually pretty good in patches in that he was very good

in the first sort of five, six races. He was very good in the last five races. And then he had the win in Hungary and the rest of. was a bit rubbish. Whereas Alonzo was a bit more consistent in that mid-season towards the end of the season. Obviously, he had the podium and Qatar. That was the highlight. But he had more sort of top six and seven finishes versus Ocon, who had that one standout performance, but not too many others to back that up with. So Ocon doing quite well at the end of last year. It does give me a bit of confidence for his performance relative to Alonzo this year. But yeah, I think Alonzo wins this one. But

I think it will be closer than what people think. Fascinating. So not El Plan, just like El Platt, to use a friend's quote. Let's move on. That's first half done. Let's move on to the second half because we now go on to Alfa Tauri

where a late breaking Hall of Famer takes on Pierre Gasly for the second straight year. There was one brave soul in the Discord who went for Yuki Sanoda and I respect I love that. Whoever that was, massive respect to you. The question is, is that number

going to become any greater than one here? Harry, do you trust in the Hall of Famer? No. Good stuff. So cutthroat. Sorry, Yuki mate. I think Yuki's going to have a much better year this year. I think it's been vastly improved

and warrant that seat in the team but Gassley is that. that sort of always flying under the radar, having a great weekend driver at the moment, and I think that's just going to continue into this year. And even if Sunoda does have a better year, which, as I've already said, I think you will, I still think Ghazdi will beat him. How comfortably? Don't know, but I think it's, you know, it's difficult for these guys because they're fighting for lower end points.

So beating comfortably is pretty less difficult, but, sorry, more difficult. but yeah I'm going to back Gasly again on this one but that is not a slight on Sonoda I didn't have to think too hard about this one I'm going for Pierre Gasley as well I agree with you though in that I do think it will be

a little bit closer than it was last year because there were signs towards the end of the year that Yuki Sonoda was getting that obviously people will particularly look at the Abu Dhabi performance where I think he ended up P4 in that one but it wasn't just that Grand Prix. There were other encouraging qualifying performances and even practice performances towards the end of the year that won't show up on the sheet because they didn't end up in good

race results. People will just look at that Abidabi result. But actually, I think as a trend, he was getting there. The problem is he could be four times better than what he was last year. And that's still wouldn't be good enough to beat Ghazley versus what he's done. People often say, like, oh, Ghazley's done a really good job since he was dropped by Red Bull. And it's absolutely true. But what I think people forget is that's now two and a half seasons ago. Like, it's been a long time. It's not like he's had a bit of form after leaving the Red Bull team.

Two and a half years, that is consistent. That is a lot of data. That is sample size. Like, he's good. And you have to be a very good driver to beat Ghazley. And I don't think Sonoda is. And perhaps more savagely, I don't think he ever will be. Do I think he can get closer, though?

Yeah, I do. But given he can't really go the other way, I don't know how much of a compliment that is. But long and sure of it is that Pierre Gasley wins this one for me. Sam, PG or YT? What in the size? Sample size. So I just realized, I wouldn't interrupt me normally,

but PG versus YT, PG tips versus Yorkshire T, isn't it? Oh my God. Didn't even mean that. That is mind-blowing, actually. Yeah. This is a debate in Britain for the ages. British reference. We've had two British references there without even meaning to.

I've done the PC World theme, and you've done Yorkshire T's PG Tips. Are you a PG-Tips or a Yorkshire T person, Sam? Well, controversially, from what I'm going to vote. I'm a Yorkshire T man. What about you, Ben? Yorkshire tea, easy. And I don't like tea. So there you go, folks.

It's in the podcast there. That's going to be the new team, mate, was. Let's know your tea choice in the Discord, please. Next week, Coke Zero or full fat. I don't think that I think for Yuki to even have a chance to read the Gazman, other Hall of Famer, Big Shack, would have to pick Yuki up and throw him like a javeling down the start, finish straight, at such speed that he might get a head start for the season.

But honestly, the Gazman's going. It's like you said, being so consistent for two and a half years. I think Yuki will do more than enough to earn his seat. I think Uki will continue to grow and develop as a driver. But I don't think he's even close to being a... The talent that we look at when we identify the Stappan, Lecler, Russell, Norris. I don't think he's on that level. I think Gazette is much closer to that level.

he's just finding his former at a later point. So go on, Yuki. Little Hall of Famer, we love you, but the Gazman has definitely got my vote this year. Another unanimous one. Let's see if that remains the case as we go to Aston Martin, where Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll do battle for the second straight year. A few going for Lance Drol here, but a massive majority going for Sebastian Vettel.

having said that it was a close one last year there wasn't much in it at all between the two drivers so sam are you going with vettel to win again or do you think stroll can get his revenge on this one no so that gets my vote i'm saying it's an easy one lark stroll i think does improve year on year but i think lark stroll will always just be a midfield driver he's lucky that i think he's his seat you're safe, you know, his dad owns the team, and I think that does guarantee him the seat when maybe there are better drivers around. But he's all right, you know,

he scores points for the team. Do I think he's going to ever be... He's all right. It's the opposite of not ideal. He's all right. But I think, you know, Sebi Vair is that four-time world champion. No, he's not the same driver that he was when he won those titles,

but I think he's going to be motivated. I think he sees this as a second chance. Ashton Martin can have a great car, and I think he's going to deliver. I think so Asking him, Vettel is going to beat Lance Stroll across the season. Harry, Vettel or Stroll? I am backing another redemption arc here.

I'm going to go for Sebastian Vettel. I think he's going to have a much better year, so he'll win this one again, and it won't be as close. And again, this is not a slight on old Lanty boy, but I just think Seb's going to be on better form this year. So, yeah, another win for Vettel for me. Yeah, I mean, last year, Lance Stroll could have beat Sebastian Vettel and arguably maybe should have done. I think he was there for the taking, to be perfectly honest.

And sorry, Vettel had a couple of really big performances last year that elevated him above Stroll, but without those, I think Stroll was actually the more consistent driver across the year. So actually, a Lance Stroll win would not surprise me in this, but I am. going to go with Sebastian Vessel. My instinct here is that whilst the last couple I've said with Alphotari and Alpine, I've said that they will be closer. I do think that this one extends, as Harry's mentioned. Year two for Sebastian Vettel, that should help him out quite a lot. He'll become more accustomed to the team. Obviously, it's a bit of a transition coming from Ferrari because Ferrari is unlike any other team. So you can understand there is that transition there.

I actually think Vettel will go as Aston Martin goes. And what I mean by that is I think the better Aston Martin are, the better Vetter will do versus Stroll. I think the worst the car is, the more Stroll has an opportunity to win. I think generally I see Vettel as someone who can capitalize on a good car versus maybe some other drivers who are better at elevating a middling car. I don't think Vettel is that kind of guy.

I do think he's the guy that capitalises on something that's already there, already pretty good. And I do think that Aston Martin have a chance of being better this year versus last year. So with that in mind, I do think Vettles experience at Ferrari at Red Bull that will help him out this season and lead him to a comfortable win, I'm going to say. Williams. Nicholas Latifie, of course, still there, but he's now joined by Alex Albin, who returns to the sport after a year's hour. absence, whether that year of absence will hurt Albon remains to be seen.

The Discord is saying it won't hurt him, although there are a strong number of people going for Nicholas Latifi, so it's not completely one-sided in the Discord, but they are going for Albon. Sam, Albin or Latifi? I think this is the last one that could divide us. The Albon unknown factor, and of course he's going up against I'm the king of Canada driving a tank Nicholas Latifi. It's hard to pitch against that. He's also really nice. What a nice team. You go out for dinner with them, wouldn't you? They'd be lovely. Despite the niceties, because that doesn't win your races, Latifi is a good driver.

If you put him up against someone else in the world, there's a good chance if he beats him. you know but i think alban despite having the slightly negative reputation from the red ball season the fact that he didn't fully turn around his alpha tally redemption the same as gasley has you know i still think album's got it though he was a really hyped up young driver i think the the the pressure being released from him just to have a season at a different area different culture around him um a team that want to build rather than a team that immediately expects success i think he will thrive in that and I think he's going to enjoy it there and I hope actually it turns into a long-term partnership for him so I am going with Albon and I'm sorry Latifi I know you won't

be offended because you're too nice he might be he is a very keen listener of the podcast he is a friend of the podcast he is a friend of the podcast and he probably doesn't know it but he isn't going to be a friend anymore after that prediction Harry sorry Nick Albon or Latifi. Redemption arc, people. Redemption arc is what I'm going for this year. Christ. You're going to go for Mazepin at this, right?

If you continue with that. There's a lot of arcs. There's a lot of arcs. I mean, I'm just going for General Haas redemption arc on that one. No, yeah, I'm going to go for Albonne again. And this isn't a slight on Latifi because I think he actually, considering he was up against it and the talent that we now know that George Russell has, or at least we kind of think he has.

I think Latifi put up a solid effort against him, you know, in their time together at Williams. So I think this will be closer between Albun and Latif than it was between Latifi and Russell. But I think Albon will will nudge it because I think there is some real talent in Albon. And as Sam has already mentioned, I think he's going to thrive in that not a pressure cooker environment that Williams will be. So, yeah, I'm backing Albon on this one. I think a lot of people are asking with Alex Albin because Albin's the unknown here, I would say, in that we don't know what album we're going to get.

Like, is he going to have that same Ghazly Redemption Ark, as I'm sure Harry would call it? Redemption art, people. Or is that album after a year out, is he going to be rubbish? So I think a lot of people are saying, is Albin going to be great? Is Albon going to be okay? Or is Albin going to be bad?

and my opinion is it doesn't matter because whichever version we get it will be enough to beat Nicholas Latifi even if it is even if Albon comes back and he's not that good I think not that good Albon

is better than any form of Nicholas Latifi and that is pretty horrible but at the same time I do think it's true and I hate to say it because I do very much like Nicholas Latifi and yeah I just don't like i'd like him to prove me wrong i would really like latifi to prove me wrong this year but my

honest opinion is he's not good enough to be there very simply put and i i know i know you said he's good you put it up against some other people if he doesn't beat a guy who was who was kicked out a red bull who's been out of the sport for a year and is going into something else then realistically is he going to beat anyone i don't know um i don't think he had a very good year last year i don't think he had a good year the year before that, and I don't think he's good enough to be an F1. So I think Albin can be poor. I think that will be enough for him.

I'm not saying I believe a great deal in Albin. I'm a bit on the fence with where Albin will come back to, but actually I think this is more about Nicholas Latifie. Sorry, Nick. Who's that Pokemon? It's not that good Albon. Which is what Ben called him. Good.

Good, good, good, good. Not a weird reference. You can tell I'm tired. I've had a long day. Let's not say that weird references are an anomaly on this podcast. For anyone listening along for the first time, this is par for the course. This is very, very usual.

Do you go watch Home's Under the Hammer? Yeah, let's do that. What, right now? I mean, let's just pause the podcast. Sorry, listeners, we'll be back in a bit. We're going to watch Homes under the Hammer. It's got Dio and Dublin again, now. Has it?

Yeah. Huge. That's huge news. I know. There are thousands of people listening along, Sam, who don't know who Dionne is. Or what the show is. It's literally Dionne Dublin going around with a hammer and she's a tam-looking what

this. It's got a great theme shooting as well, folks. Where are you going to get the jingles from? Oh, God. They also do this thing, folks, right? Where they'll say a phrase about the house And somehow they'll find a song that has that phrase in it So you might be like, look, it's got mouldy windows

And they'll have a song that somehow has the phrase moldy windows Like I've never heard before I love it, watch home's under the hammer Wow, that's probably the weirdest way We've ever got paid ad in, isn't it? That should be a read. Not even paid, but. by Homes and the Hammer

would you believe it? We are moving on. That is non-negotiable. We're moving on to our foremeo. Guan Yu-Jo versus Valtri Bottas. So this is the only line-up on the grid where there are two brand-new drivers. And there is little doubt from the discord

as to who's going to win this. Again, one brave soul going for Guanyu-Jo, respect to whoever you might be. Everyone else is going for Valtry Bottas. Sam, Bottas, Joe, which one are you going for? Guan Yu-No-you-know is not going to be you, Sunshine. Bautas is... Hang on the park.

Do that again, Sam. Do that again. We are so good at podcasting. Okay, hold on. Guan Yu-no, it's not going to be you, Sunshine. Way! Wait, wait, way! Get ready with another one, Harry, because I think you'll be ready.

Not the drum tap, but you're going to get another jingle. Let's see how quickly you react. The only thing that Guangyu know is bringing to that team at the moment is cold, hard, cash. Oh no, hang on. It's there. Go on. Wonga! This has turned into chaos, but well done.

Valshi Bottas is the king. He's the goat. You know, B-O-A-T, boat, best of all time, the boatass. You may have remembered that, I sung him almost a soliloquy. You know, I spoke cultural poetry to that man while sat in a smoky French cafe. The guy is brilliant, and I think the Bottas is going to be so reinvigorated.

He's going to enjoy building a team with him. He's got a few years left in his career as an F-1 driver. If he's anything to go by Kimby Riking, he could be here for another half a century. And I think Alfa's a good place for him. I think he'll enjoy it there. I think he'll relax and have fun. And I think it might be nice to have a drive,

that is expected to just not beat him. He's like, you know what? I can go out and just drive well, and I will do well, and that will be fine. And now, this other person is going to have to develop and grow to get to my point. My only concern is whether Bottas

can actually perform a single overtake on the track. If he manages to work out how to do that again, like he did back at Williams, then I think he'll be very decent. If he falls under the Mercedes, I don't know how to move past traffic, like I'm in a motorway. you know, traffic jam, then he's in trouble.

But yeah, no, Bottas has got this. Valtry Bottas all the way. Up the bodies. Up the bodies. That's wrong. That's not a hashtag. Sam, you very rightly raised the concern of Valtry Bottas's lack of overtaking in his Mercedes days and whether that will translate over.

So, you know, there might be a situation where Valtry Bottas has, a terrible qualifying session and he qualifies 19th and he can't move up so that's where he finishes. Good news is if that happens, it'll be Guan Yu-Jo in 20th place. I think Bottas walks this one and I think Bottas is a great pickup for Alfa Romeo. I really do and we'll see how well that goes. But from Guan Yu-Jo's perspective, we haven't exactly got too many reference points with Guan Yu-Juo because this is obviously his first year and whilst he is a pretty sure-fire bet for rookie of the year that isn't going to carry too much this year. Let's just look at his junior record because again, that's pretty much all we've got to go on. He's lost the teammates in pretty much every

single year he's had in junior formula. So he raced an Italian F4. He lost to his teammate there. He does a few years in the European version of F3 as it was back then. He lost to multiple teammates in a couple of years. He moves up to F2 and he loses to Guiotto, he loses to Callum Islet. And I think the only time where he's actually beaten a teammate in his junior career was last year when he beat Felipe Drogovich at UNI Virtuosi. So I, yeah, it's, there's nothing in his junior career that makes me think, this guy's going to make it, this guy's going to be great. And we know that Valtrey Bottas, whilst he wasn't always, he wasn't always, he was a lot of, always there with Lewis Hamilton. He was sometimes and that does speak a lot. So

Bottas comfortably on this one for me. Harry, are you joining that one brave soul who's picked Guan Yu-Jou? No, I'm not. Sorry, sorry, person with this good. No. No, I'm not going to do that. Yeah, I mean, Ben, you've summed it up in your last point there. I think even if Guan Yu-Jo was at a higher level than I think that he is, I still think Bottas will win because because like you say he struggled against Lewis Hamilton but sometimes he did beat him and that in itself is enough in my view because I think he does he can operate at that level where you can beat the seven time world champion in which case most people you come up against they're going to they're going to actually struggle against you so um yeah like you said I

think that's it's a it's a sweet deal for Alpha Romeo to get to get Botas in this year because I think I think he'll return to Williams form. I really do hope he remembers how to overtake. That would be good. But yeah, I'm hoping he returns to 2014 Bottas because that version of Bottas was better than any 2.0 porridge man, whatever, he became a Mercedes.

That was the goat version. So let's have some of that Bottas. But yeah, I think it's an easy win for him. All right, which means we head to our last team, which of course finishing last in 2021 has. Same line up as last year. So Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin both in their second years in the sport.

This was, I guess, from a points perspective, technically a draw last year, but Mick Schumacher did win based on a higher finishing position. So we'll ask the question again. Schumacher or Mazapin, where you going for some? Firstly, for both of this, sakes, I hope they're not driving a car that is literally trying to kill them at every

single corner of every racetrack. Secondly, it would be nice if they could dive on someone else but each other every race as well, I'm hoping, please. And also, I am going for Mick on this, but for Mazurping's sake, I know what everyone's his biggest fan, I can understand why it makes sense, why you may not like him as a person and, you know, for the record, I do agree. But I hope for his racing career and some credibility on the train. track, he's able to deliver a bit of a closer performance to both Mick and the rest of the grid. But, you know, Mick displays such a high level in comparison to Mazaping. He adapted so much faster, the gaps across a race that Mick would be able to pull out over Mazurping.

You know, to the point where Mazurping would be in 20th and Mick will be in 19th, but there'd be almost a lap between them. It's almost astounding when you're that far back and you've got going around you. So I'm really hoping that Mazepin is able to make the fight closer. But I just think while I don't think Mick has the same level of talent as his father does, I do think Mick could go on to be a very successful Formula One drive. I think race wings are a possibility. I think he could be a game state for a long time.

Mazaping really needs to improve to have any chance of a long-term career in Formula One unless it's money-based. So yeah, Mick for me, I think quite easily takes this. But I hope Mazaping is able to put up a fight. Mick or Maz, Harry. if I was Mazepin I would be quite worried because if last year if you look back at

Mick Shemaka's career we've spoken about this before he runs in two year cycles where he doesn't have a great first year and his second year in the sport he nails it so if I was Mazpin I'd be quite worried because I was comfortably really beaten

by I know they didn't really score any points but on pace alone I was comfortably beaten by Mick Shemaka last year and the only way I could have really beat him was by just punting him off the road, which did happen occasionally. So if he was beaten by that Mick Schumacher that perhaps he isn't the best version of Mick Schumacher and Mick Schumacher versions himself up this year, then I would be really worried if I was in the Q to Mazpin.

My answer is Mick Schumacher because I think he's not going to be close again. And I really do, as Sam said, hope that has doesn't try to kill him all the time. But yeah, I think even if Mazpin steps up, I think Schumacher's going to step up as well and I think it's going to be another easy easy win there wasn't much evidence from last year for me to even think about going for Mazepin on this one yeah I think that last

sentence is spot on I think the overall point is spot on but that last sentence is dead on the money what did he show last year that makes you think he's going to win this year you're writing what you say with McSumacher in his very odd two year cycles but in fair as Mazepin does do something very similar.

He did the same thing in F2, where I think he finished maybe 18th or something like that in his first year, and obviously second year was significantly better. Not good enough to beat Schumacher for the championship, of course, but same sort of pattern. But there's really nothing you can see from that first year that indicates that this is going to go his way. I think the only way I can actually see Nikita Mazepin winning this

is if Haas are as bad as they are last year, because at that point you can rely on an odd 10th place here, a la sort of Robert Kubitsa versus George Russell from 2019. I think that's the only way Mazapin that stands a chance of winning this, is that one lucky result that separates a nil-nil-nill-drawer. If the car is good enough to pick up regular points, which I hope for their sake that's true, I don't see Mazepin winning this.

It would have to be a complete trance. transformation versus what happened last year. So I am also going for Mick Schumacher. And that concludes. And God, that's over. That concludes, teammate wars, 22. So essentially the things we need to look out for at the end of this year.

So I need Russell to beat Hamilton. Good Lord. What have I done? I need Russell to beat Hamilton. Harry, you need Ricardo to beat Norris. The Discord need signs to beat the Claire. And Sam, you need none of those three things to happen. I'm already just making space to the trophy cabinet, folks. Don't worry.

If none of those three things happen, Sam, you've got the win. I think it's a shoeing. I'm going to have won. My money's on Harry. Yeah. To fair. Much money on me. I'm very vocally. I'm very vocally. Dave, give me the 50p.

I very vocally backed Harry on every social media platform. If I'm not going to win, Harry, I want it to be you. Thanks, guys. I appreciate the pity. There is a lot of pity. We'll have to think of some sort of tiebreak as well if we need that. How would you tiebreak it? I don't know. I know there's a version of this game going on in the Discord at the moment

where the tie breaker is how many safety cars that will be for the year. So maybe that sort of thing will need to think about if there is a draw. But yeah, whatever think about that one, maybe we'll release that one on next one off. You know what teammate wars reminds me of? Teammate wars is like when, you know,

two dads take their kid to the park and they play football and then, you know, they get the kid that can barely walk because they got old enough to kick the ball into the net and they, oh, I can't, I didn't say, yay, it's gone in, Well, down you. You're so good.

That's what it feels like when we do teammate wars at the moment. Ro up, Harry. Yes. Harry's the kid. I mean, that probably plays football better than I would anyway, so that's fair. Yeah, folks, if you'd like a laugh, watch Harry play FIFA. Very good. It's very good. Maybe that warrants an episode in its own, right?

But one thing that definitely warrants an episode that Sam has already alluded to is coming up next week. Pimp my F1 makes its yearly appearance. We probably would have done it this week, but Alpha Romeo have been too slow, so they're already going to be docked down a few points. But essentially, we're going to run through our favourite liveries, our least favourite liveries, and everything in between.

If you think we have any design bones in our body, we definitely don't. So we are, as with everything else, completely unqualified to give you our opinions. But we'll do it anyway. That's literally what this podcast is. But until next week, Sam, if you wouldn't mind, getting us out of here. Folks, if you've enjoyed talking about teammates and wars and Dion Doubling,

then tune in next week because you'll never know what might happen. I don't, that's for sure. Join us on Twitter at Elbrayking. We're nearly on 2,000 followers, which is pretty remarkable. I have a little look today. What are we on? 1-905 If 95 of you

Will to follow us on there That would be great Appreciate it Join the Discord Again, bengs alludes to it But join it They're having lots of fun over there Nearly, what,

4, over 400 people in there which is crazy If for some really weird reason You've enjoyed everything You've heard today And you know what you think At the end of the month Got a bit of change in my pocket

Patreon is available We do extras You get discounts on the store Whatever that actually opens Entries into giveaways And And you get to watch our race-alongs,

which are fantastic. Our race-alongs? What's a race-along? I'm so, so tired. Race-watch-along. There you go. Maybe. Maybe.

Anyway, anyway, thank you for listening. We do talk a lot of rubbish, but we appreciate to sit around all the thousands of you that cheering every week. Come back next week. We appreciate it. In the meantime,

I think it's happy to say. I've been bad hockey. I've been here. Boy, it was going to be Deon Dublin. Keep breaking light. All right of a picture is going to be on Dublin

with a massive hammer. Find more great shows or join the team at sport-dash social.com. The cast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.