The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Have F1's Virtual GPs been a success? | Episode 53

Episode Date: June 18, 2020

With George Russell wrapping up the Virtual GP championship the boys ask whether F1's series has been a success. They also discuss Vettel's motiviation for the 2020 season and play another round of F1: Back and Forth...Make sure to SUBSCRIBE!TIMESTAMPS:Virtual GP chat: (02:22)Vettel Motivation: (17:20)Jamie Chadwick discussion: (26:00)F1: Back and Forth: (35:50) 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 well welcome to the late breaking Formula One podcast. The countdown is on to the F1 season. It's just around the corner. Harry Yide and Samuel Sage along with me for the podcast. Guys, how are you doing?

How's your week going? Yeah, it's all right, mate. Got to hear your voice now, so it happens. Wow. Taking a downturn there. Yeah, come on, it's only like, what, 18 days to go? This is complete. It's like we're in February all over again.

I am buzzing. Yeah. Can we do a fake two weeks of practice or something, just testing just so I can see some cars go out of track? Okay. Yeah, why not? Do an F1 game testing. I mean, I don't mind if you want to dress like my scoda up

as a Ferrari and I'll drive it around I don't know, Brands Hatch or Castle Coom for two weeks and we can all pretend. What colour is your scoda? It's red. Oh perfect. There already is a Ferrari then. There you go. Harry, you can be my team mate. You've got a red car. I do. Oh, never sorted.

Wow. Right, folks. There you go. F on testing at Castle Coom will do it Monday. Subscribe to the theory that all dogs are boys, all cats are girls and all red cars are Ferraris. That's why I bought it. Wow. Anyway, we're going to actually talk about some other things other than Skoda,

not usually a F1 mainstay. We're going to be looking at the virtual season, how that's come to an end now, obviously, with F1 round the corner, and exactly how well George Russell did, whether the characteristics he shown to win that can transform his F1 career at all. We're going to be looking at Spastien Vettel and whether his motivation for the 2020 season is going to be high,

considering he won't be with Ferrari from 2021 onwards. Jamie Chadwick has been announced as racing in Formula Regional this year. We'll be discussing whether she can make it to Formula One and exactly what this means for her career. And then the return of F1 back and forth. You absolutely love it. But first of all, topic numero uno. We're going to be looking at the virtual season.

And whether it was a success, F1 managed to put this together. A lot of other championships did the same. Not too many of the drivers got involved and those who did were somewhat sporadic. Sam, would you categorise it as a success or do you think they have a lot to learn from it? I think commercially it was a success. I think in terms of entertaining racing fans while we're in offseason and a very strange scenario, it was a success. I love the fact that we got to see more sim racing and other fact we got to see more gaming. I'm a massive gamer.

I love racing online on Sims. I've got my sim literally behind me over here. I can see it. I love it. And it's fantastic to see real-life drivers mixing it with sim racers. Do I think it's comparable? Do I think that George Russell could take anything from it? Yes, if they weren't playing the F-1 game, because it isn't a sim.

It's literally how well you can master playing a game. Sorry, it has nothing to do with real-life racing. There is no real-life technique you can take into it. It's the same. The community and the industry describe it as a Sim-K, it's an arcade game. It does not have a lot of the same physics, the track. are not very reputable to real life. You know, there's no laser scan cracks.

People have described Belgium on that game as a horror show that is nothing like the real life. I love that George Russell won it. I mean, that's hilarious. It's fantastic. The guy that's in the slowest car in real life turns around on wings the online version. But no, unfortunately, there is not enough real life effects to compare this to what could be real life.

If they were playing on an eye racing, an R-factor, maybe a set of course. There's a real chance that a lot of similarities cross over there. And the likes of Jimmy Broadbent have proved that you could get into a sim and practice and they get into a real-life car and you can be faster than a new person

coming into a car. There are some transferable skills there, of course. It's driving. But not on the F1 game, unfortunately. It was fantastic to watch. I love how many celebrities got involved. I loved how bad how many celebrities there were. You know, Akuna Gwiro, Sergio Aguero Man City forward was bloody awful.

And it was hilarious to watch that he got given a three grand sim to playing his bedroom for nothing because of who he is and he was terrible like it. I loved it. But good to see George Russell wing, good to see telling me big names involved, not comparable to real life, not even remotely similar to real life. I don't think it's got the F1 name on it and the cars are in it. It's shame because it'd be nice to have that George Russell really does have what it takes to be a world champ. Fortunately, I am a Russell believer. I think he can do it anyway. And I think that he's going

to be a champ regardless of what this season meant for him. So for another real life racing, it was great to see in the off season. It is not anything to do with it, unfortunately. Wow. Then I see her face and now I'm a George Russell believer. What are your thoughts? Do you think it was a success overall? I feel a bit ill actually because I totally agree with what everything Sam just said. Thank you. That's disgusting. Yeah, in terms of keeping people entertained over this strange, strange period, it's been, it's been great.

great. And I can't say I've watched all of them or many of them at all. But I've watched a couple. And they've been entertaining. But in terms of relating to the real world, as Sam has already pointed out, it's the F1. The F1 game is not a sim. You can't take any of those skills over to real life racing in a way you might be able to in a sim game. But that being said, you know, George has, I know he's not, it's not proving he's a talented driver. He's just proving he's a talented person as a whole. We can see what a talented young man, George Russell, is. And also, it's been such a great way to see another aspect of these drivers' lives, especially the young ones that are coming up through.

You've got likes of Norris and Russell and LeCler and Albon. Watching those four just muck around on games and on the F1 game as well. It's been such a joy to watch. They've been, it's a side of F1 drivers we've never really seen before. And it's great. I've really enjoyed it. And I hope that doesn't go away again when we start racing for real. I hope that kind of, I hope they carry on playing truck simulator when they've got a weekend off.

That would be great. But yeah, I've enjoyed it. It's been fine. But like Sam said, I'm looking forward to some real racing now. And I too am a believer, brackets of George Russell. Believers. Exactly. Exactly.

Okay, I'm going to say, actually, I don't think it was a success overall, which would be a little controversial. I don't know. It's just no more than, I think the maximum number of F1 drivers that got involved was about eight, which I don't think is a great effort, really,

considering the amount of real-life drivers Indy car and supercars managed to get along. The Indycar ones were pretty much full grids of IndyCar drivers, and the only people who weren't full-time IndyCar drivers were races in other categories. So it's a shame that not more drivers got involved. I think that would have really enhanced it. And I agree with what you say in terms of the F1 game letting it down slightly.

In fairness to the F1 game, it doesn't try to be a single. like i racing or our factor it is it is you know supposed to be a bit more wide reaching and i think it succeeds in that respect um and let's face it i mean it was never going to be on anything else as much as we would like to see the best formula one drivers go at it on a proper sim game like like i racing with you know with with f1 having its own official game there was no way it was ever going to happen which yeah i guess it is a shame um and it would have been good to see but But I don't know. I just don't think it was an overall success, really.

Yeah, I racing allowed in, I can't remember where they went exactly, but IndyCar managed to go back to a circuit that they haven't been at for years. I think, you know, oh, supercars, obviously they went to Silverstone, and it's like a lot of these, a lot of these series were able to go to circuits

that they wouldn't normally get to on their regular calendars, which was good to see, with the F1 game being restrictive to only the circuits that appear on the calendar at the time. We couldn't see that. So in that respect, I think it would be cool if there isn't a Dutch Grand Prix this year, which is looking likely if they did do some sort of virtual race, just a one-off for the Dutch Grand Prix with as many drivers as they could.

In terms of the viewing figures, it kicked off very well, which is perhaps not a surprise. I think Bahrain pulled in about 2 million viewers, which is a really good. effort. I think a lot of those came along for intrigue's sake and not really having anything else to watch, you know. So I think a lot of people tuned in just to see, ah, what might happen? Or they just tuned in because Johnny Herbert was there, which is another possible theory. Fair reason. Yeah, completely fair reason. And I can understand why there was a drop in viewing figures. Those who are just along for the first time, like, oh, what's going on here, who might not be dedicated enough to online racing. I understand.

it, you're going to lose some of those. But the fact that the last two races of the series couldn't get over 500,000 viewers. I think it was literally the last four races of the season combined in terms of viewing figures couldn't match up to that opening race at Bahrain, which is really disappointing. And I think a lot of that is down to the mistake in adding these celebrity drivers. I think early on it was a bit of a wow factor. Oh, wow, Liam Payne is competing in it. That's just ridiculous.

What is 2020? And I think that effect kind of wore off a bit too soon and footballers coming along and it just got to a point where I don't think it was worth it and they weren't pulling in, as you can see by the figures, they weren't pulling in the viewers. So it would have been cool to get sort of F2 and F3 races involved if the F1 races didn't want to do it themselves. Regarding George Russell, I agree with you in terms of not being a realistic enough of a simulation game that it can translate to real life.

However, I agree what you say, Harry, in that there's more to it than that, even if the driving itself can't be translated over. It's the characteristics that he showed, which I think is encouraging to see from Williams and Mercedes perspective in the future. A few months ago, he didn't have a sim rig. He was behind his rivals in that respect. He learned quickly, put in the practice hours. I think he spoke with some of Williams.

e-sports drivers to get better at the game. And he got better and better as the season went on and he won the last four races. That improvement, that dedication to be better, even if it's something that he doesn't necessarily have to be good at. It's good for his character-wise. It's good to see. And yeah, the speed is almost irrelevant.

But the consistency, the fact that he didn't make mistakes, and the fact that he was quick and eager to learn, I think that's encouraging from Mercedes perspective. You know what? I completely agree. I think those are fantastic qualities to take away. And I think you're right when you say that the celebrity element and the lineup that F1 had in comparison to other specifications was so poor. When you look at, you know, there were certain races on our racing and R factor, they had drivers such as Emerson Fittipaldi. He turned up. Like, hello? How incredible is that? I mean, we've just had the virtual 24 hours of Le Mans. and people like Jeksen Button, Fernando Aloncso, John Eric Verne, all have their own teams that they're running.

And in every single team, you have two professional race drivers, a professional sim driver, and another either very competitive creator of the sport or another sim driver. So keep it all in house, all in family. And the quality of racing was fantastic. The quality of presentation was fantastic. The interviews they had, you know, they had the likes of. of, I can't remember his bloody name now. McNish, is it McNish?

Alan McNish was a key presenter. Like, that's just incredible to have him on there. He does the real thing, you know, you've got the likes of Patrick Swazzy as guests. Mario Andretti turned up. There are some absolutely fantastic appearances over that. And it's all racing specific. Even if you don't love virtual racing, you can watch it as a one-off once a year because you go, you know what?

There's enough real life elements. It's close enough to real life. I can get behind this. I can enjoy it. As a one-off, I can really love it while the real thing isn't happening. But as a Formula One fan who doesn't ever watch, I know, cricket, as much as I'm not saying that cricket isn't a bad sport, it's just got my cup of tea. Do I want to see Ben Stokes do a couple races in a Red Bull car? Not really. Not bothered. Do I want to see Max for Staffing an album or maybe a Red Bull Junior driver team up? Yes. On 100%, or do I want to see a retired Formula One driver turn up? Yes, I do. Did it happen? No. And they took,

it's a big of a hey look we're in the limelight let's just chuck it full of a wide array of audiences as possible and it very quickly diluting as ben said the effects wore off very very quickly and it was a shame because they had a real chance there to promote sim racing to promote the digital sign of it really big up a lot of creators and people who have dedicating a lot of time to this sport and this category and they kind of just spat it back in their faces a little bit went yeah no don't really care about you we care about putting despisito in a car, more than we do about putting Jimmy Broadbeen in a car that's put 10 years of content into the industry. So it feels like Formula One very quickly decided that they weren't

loyal to its core and decided that they would just do whatever they could to put a big naming. And that's a shame. So actually, what then? You convicts me a little bit. It's not as much of a success as I thought it was. There were some great elements to it, but they definitely could have improved some areas. To touch on the 24 hour of Lamont as well, which I watched quite a bit of it. And I thought it was a really good presentation. And I know our factor is perhaps a little dated. And there were a few server issues throughout. However, I completely agree that it was, it was a great spectacle. And they did a brilliant job. Apart from the weird sort of concert that happened at about 10 o'clock on the, on the first evening, that was a bit bizarre. But other than that,

great presentation. And the commentators on a number of occasions throughout the day, had said that, look, they alluded to the fact that these conversations that they're having regarding strategy and regarding pretty much everything they were speaking about, it's like they actually referenced saying, this would be no different than if it were in real life. These conversations we're having would be exactly the same. And I think they were pleasantly surprised by it doing commentary. And I was pleasantly surprised listening along. And you could listen along as if it were the real thing.

Obviously, it isn't an exact substitute, but they did a brilliant job. And it just proves that because I know a lot of guys, you know, tried to jump on the sim racing bandwagon as quickly as possible, you know, the race. Fair play to them. I understand why they did it. The fact that virtual 24-hour LeMont, they waited, they waited for when it would normally be anyway, and they took their time putting one event together that was brilliant, and it worked rather than putting out weekly content or anything like that.

It worked. They put the effort. They put the time into it. And they were rewarded with a lot of people watching along and a lot of great racers getting involved. Can I also just give a mention to how good the Formula E version was when you talk about Marbulae? Whoever decided to take the exact formats of Formula E, and then put it into marble format was genuinely brilliant.

I had such a blast watching that. I compare that and the WEC to like, if you fancy a real beer, you go, I'll have a beer please. Yeah, cheers, cheers, cheers. A bug wise or something like that. Oh, next weekend. Yeah, I'm the designated driver, so I'll have a bug light. Taste exactly the same.

There's just no alcoholic side effects. It's all right, really, isn't it? That's how good, like the 24 hours of WC was, in my opinion. taste exactly the same but now have the dogy side effects about getting drunk afterwards. It was really well done. Good job to them.

The 24 hours of the by Budweiser. 24 hours of virtual LeMond as good as a bud light, San Save 2020. I mean, are we even surprised at this point? No. All right, moving on from the virtual world to the real world,

which will be making a reappearance in a few weeks' time. Sebastian Metal, heading into his final season at Ferrari. What were those hurrahs? Good God. I'm very excited. I don't overshadow you.

No, fair enough. So, yeah, we're questioning exactly. And I think Mark Weber made a comment about this as well as to where Vettel's motivation is going to be. Harry, do you think he's going to be keen to have a brilliant last season for the team before he rides off into the sunset? I'm a little bit torn on this one. I mean, it's hard to know.

We've not really seen Seb since he left Australia, basically. And we've not really seen him out on track at all, apart from testing. I saw a video, I think Ferrari did the other day, was like from Nicola and Vettel saying, like, we can't wait to get back on the track, except that Vettel said it was about as much enthusiasm as a wet flannel. Like he didn't seem like he wanted to go back racing whatsoever. and you don't know, it was like a three-second clip,

so it could have just been wrong moment, maybe the kids have been driving him mad all day, who knows. But yeah, there I was just a bit like, oh, damn, maybe, and he was doing it something like, you know, a bit of promotion for the team, so maybe he's a bit, like, I don't want to do that. But, so there's a bit of me thinking maybe he just can't wait to get the season that everyone done with,

and as Mark Pueber says, go out and have a sabbatical, or maybe even just retire. but there's another part of me which if I look back to the Seb of old I say Sebavold of old over a few you know a couple of years ago he's always been quite a selfish driver you look at multi-21

and I think when Ricardo was in the team he didn't want to get out of the way of the young upstart a couple of times when he needed to and it's what makes wild champions he got to be selfish and he is particularly selfish when it comes to being on track. So as a part of me to think, maybe we'll see a return of Vettel racing for himself,

not for Ferrari. He will just be racing for Sebastian Vettel. And if any team ward has come through, you know, LeClau is fastened than you, etc. He'll just completely ignore them and he'll be motivated to show Ferrari that they've made a mistake, that they're getting rid of a four-time world champion who doesn't necessarily deserve to go. So, yeah, I'm 50-50 on this one. I don't think we'll know until, I don't know, the first quality of, in Austria, I think it'd be really difficult to tell.

But I'd like to think we're going to see a motivated Vettel for just himself, not for anyone else, just for, just for Seby Vett. Just for Seby Vett. Sam, do you think his motivation levels are going to be high? I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this is going to be Vettel's best season since he last won the world title. Wow, that's a bold prediction. Yeah, I know, but I generally think that we're going to see Vettel driving an absolute fury for the whole season.

I think he's going to go out there and skip two up at Ferrari and two up at the Clare and go, I am a four-time world champion. I'm bloody good behind a race car driving, you know, a steering wheel. I'm going to demolish you, and I think he's going to stick it to the man. I think we're going to see Vettel will fire in his eyes, and I can't wait for him and Jack Black to stick it to the man together. It's a school of rock reference If anyone is wondering Honestly

Sevivet When he's got the anger He is so good We saw him when it came to Canada He cut that corner Not for any fault of his own really He lost quick control of the car And he got that penalty

And he did not let Hamilton For on a track we're overtaking He's actually quite simple In the straight line And he drove so well Every time Vettel gets a bit grumpy Good God we see that the miss come over And he drives so well

Yes he can make mistakes When he's angry but I think he's now got that experience on his belt that he could drive anger and be a lot less mistake prone. I think that realistically, as Harry just said, entirely for Seby Vett. There will be no Ferrari behind him,

no team orders, he won't care about those. My only concern is if any upgrades come through, he won't get an absolute sniff of those coming through. That might hinder him. But he's also going to be looking to maybe attract someone else to the world of Sebi Vett. There's every chance that he is looking for another driving Formula One. And, yeah, he's a four-time world champion.

That doesn't think he doesn't want to prove himself. but doesn't think he wants to rest on his laurels and going on what his previous achievements have mentioned. I think that we're going to see something special from Sebi Bear. I don't think he's maybe going to necessarily going to win the championship, but I think we're going to see great racecraft, fantastic pace. I think it's going to show us some great overtakes. I am excited to see what Sebastian Metal can do in that Ferrari. And that's the first time I've bought that in a good couple of seasons now. So bring on the brand new Sebi Vair.

I hope you get signed by something else. I hope this is not the last season that we see of him in our sport. Just on the point of upgrades and if Ferrari would give those to Charles LeClair first, this is Ferrari, they will make the decision to give it to Vettel because it's the one that doesn't make any sense whatsoever. If we know anything about Ferrari, it's that they will do anything they can to make themselves look stupid. Anyway. I love it. I actually agree with you, Sam, in that I am going to choose to believe the Vetter

of old here that he is not going to, he's not going to leave without having the last word. And it's really interesting from year to year how the dynamic has changed. Heading into 2019, Vettel is the guy that's been at Ferrari for four or five years, four-time world champion. Charles LeClair comes in as this young upstart who's only had one year in Formula One, his first year at Ferrari. All of the pressure is on Sebastian. in Vettel and LeClair basically has a free year.

You know, no one really expected Leclair, apart from you, Sam, so fair play. Not many people expected Leclair to almost immediately be on Vettel's level and there was no pressure on him whatsoever. And in the space of one year, those tables have completely turned. Leclair is now hoping to prove himself and that the massively long contract that he's been given, he is worth it. Vettel is not going to be at Ferrari after 2020. It doesn't really matter what happens during the year. He's going to be gone anyway. So now he's the one with absolutely no pressure. And that pressure is transitioned over to Leclair. So I am really intrigued to see. I think Vettel

is going to go out to prove a point. Imagine if, you know, Leclair, Leclair, I think we'll go on to have a lot of success. but just to have that doubt in Ferrari's minds, say Vettel beats LeClaer. Say Vettel beats LeClaer comfortably in 2020. Suddenly they have to question their decisions. Charles LeClaer questions himself. If they don't go on to win a world championship in the next few years, everyone immediately says, well, what if Vettel would still out the team based on 2020? It's really fascinating.

And I think that Vettel has a lot to gain from going out with a bang here. I do, like you say, Sam, I really hope that he does find a seat for 2021. If there isn't a good one available or if there isn't one available at all, I wouldn't mind if he took a one year sabbatical and came back in 2022. Don't do Amika Hackan, please. I would love to see it. Still waiting. Yeah.

Hackan might come back next year. We don't know. The point is, surprise signing. That really would be a surprise signing. Yeah, point is. Samassin Vettel is a brilliant racer. He is a brilliant racer. He had a tough year in 2019,

but I want to see him on the grid, and I want to see him do well. And I think he might get a B in his bonnet, and I think he might go all out on 2020. Love to see it. Folks, let us know over on Twitter at L Breaking. Do you want Vettel to go hell for leather? Where will he be after this season?

Is that his aim? Let us know. Yes, and from one driver, who actually, as we're recording, 13 years since his debut, Sebastian Vetter, which seems absolutely ridiculous. We go to someone who is looking to make their Formula One debut in the upcoming years. Jamie Chadwick, who was the inaugural W-Series champion last year, of course the series not going ahead in 2020 due to COVID-19. However, she has guaranteed herself a seat. She's going to be racing in Regional Formula 3 for Prima with support from the best name ever in David Dicker.

from Roane Carr's. Great name. Multi-millionaire guys, so I'm pretty sure he will be able to take the stick from lowly old me. But yes, he has pretty much put his backing towards Jamie Chadwick, going to be racing in regional F3 this year with the intention that she'll be entering Formula 1 in 20203 or 2024. That's the plan at least. Harry, can you see this coming to fruition? I mean, first of all, that this move has completely, you know, validated the need for, or I won't say need, but has validated the W series for coming in.

Chattowick was their first champion. There's not going to be a season this year, unfortunately, but Chatter was their first champion in 2019. And now she's moving on to drive at her. say higher, yeah, higher level. Yeah, so first of all, I think, kudos to those guys, because they have received certainly some mixed responses

over the formation of that series. And, yeah, I mean, we'll have to see how Chagwig gets on within this new series. But she's gone on and won other things. Last year, she went on, she also did the 24 hours of Nürbearing, I think, and they won that.

And she's obviously the William, she's part of the Williams team as well. So, yeah, I don't see why it's not out of the question that she could end up in F1 one day. She's clearly talented enough to make it to F1. It's just, it'll be intriguing to see how her career now progresses. And like I said, with that Williams backing, that's really going to help her going forward. I mean, as long as Williams are still there. Yeah, so I'm really encouraged to see it.

And I hope she does make it. or blimpses of it with Susie Wolfe back in 2015. I don't think she necessarily had the, she had what it took to be an F1 did Susie. But I think Chagwick could. I think she could make it one day. Interesting stuff. Sam, what do you make of this move?

Do you think this is a good one for her career? Well, with the old double D pairing up with JC, I generally think there's something special that could come around between these two. Yeah, she smashed every series. And I wouldn't say that, you know, the Formula 3 is a more superior series. I think Formula 3 is a more globally recognized and mainstream series.

And of course, it doesn't just pit you up against people coming from the same demographic. And, you know, female drivers and drivers who are of a minority color that are not white, definitely need more representation in the sport. Now, that only comes if you're good enough, and that should be the case with everyone. It should not be whether you're just white and you've got a lot of money behind you. It should simply be, if you're the fastest, you get to go in the fastest seats. Now, what I think is going to really help Jamie Chappick, who is light in quite, quick, you know, former

the W-series champion. I think she's going to do well in F-3, but the main thing that I think is going to help her to guide her up the rankings, and it's the same for every Formula One driver, is your connections, and those connections are being with Claire Williams and the test driver for Williams at the moment. You've

got a empowered, brilliant female team, you know, owner and team principal at the heck of that team. She gets to dictate whatever happens, and you know she's a driver for equality in the sport, and God damn she should be, and I'm glad she's doing it. So if Chagwick can prove that she's quick enough,

I have every faith that Claire Williams will put her in that seat in a couple of seasons' time. She's a little older now than some of the rookies coming through. And I think that's partially down. It sounds horrible to the fact that she's a woman. And so she hasn't been given the chances that she deserves simply because she's a woman. I'm hoping that stops very soon.

I'm hoping the higher powers of motorsport start fairing that up, and we start seeing women from a younger age, matching men who are pushed into the sport at that younger age are equal. You know, and they get that equal representation of those equal opportunities. And I think it's going to happen from now. And I think Shackwick's going to be the real first person to cement that going forward because she's bloody fast. So I think if she can work well with Claire Williams, she can continue to prove that speed

that she has already shown time and time again. There is every chance she should be in Formula One. She deserves being Formula One. And she's doing a fantastic thing for females in motorsport. I'm excited to see where it goes. And I hope that maybe she can carry a Formula One. on with the uproar of Williams as it continues to get better again. You never know, poeums, race victories.

I don't want to put kind of a ceiling on it. But, you know, the sky is the limit for that girl. She can really achieve anything. Yeah, I think in terms of the ladder up to Formula One, Formula 3 can often be the point where it gets very difficult to progress further on than that, just because there are so many Formula 3 championships that go on, even though that number is less than it used to be. You know, Jamie Chadwick was racing in Formula 3, I think back in 2016.

17. So essentially in four or five years, she hasn't progressed any further than that. I'm not saying that's on Chadwick's ability whatsoever. It's just a case of there are a lot more Formula 3 seats than there are Formula 2 seats. And as to your point, Sam, the connections can often be the decider between getting up to the next stage and not. I think this is great for her. I think she deserves the opportunity. And it's a great chance for her to win another title. She's already won a number of championships in her career. She was GT4 champion. She won the MRF challenge.

She's obviously the inaugural double CW Series champion as well. And she really did well in W Series last year as well. But it was a competitive grid and she was on the podium in five of the six races. So, you know, Chadwick's not too messed around with. She is a good racer. my my issue comes in whether she can whether she can basically smash through that ceiling F3 back in 2017 and 2018

she finished 9th and 8th which was decent it was a good foundation to work on it's not bad but it's not not F1 ability at that point and you know she was younger then and I'm sure she'd argue that she was a she is a much better driver now than she was back then and I'd 100% agree with her. But she needs to kick on from those performances, essentially. And she's done that somewhat in the W series. And now she gets a chance in another series.

The championship she's entering itself is not the most competitive in the world. It's kind of the fragments of European Formula 3 that's kind of scraping to just about stay alive. so it'll be good for the series that she's getting involved. And she's racing the exact same car that she raced in the W series as well, which will be a really good advantage. She will also, obviously she's a rookie, which would normally be a massive disadvantage. The good news is I think pretty much every single person she's going up against

is also a rookie. So it's almost an even playing field in that respect. She can get a really good finish this year, which I think she will. I think that puts her in a good position to either advance to straight to Formula 2 would be amazing. But if not that, to Formula 3 is in the actual FIA accredited version, where Sophia Flesh is going to be racing this year.

So it would be good there. Prima, we know how brilliant they are in terms of advancing talent, the likes of Shao LeClaire, has come through that team. So I think she's in good hands in that respect. And it's now down to her. It's down to her to produce the results. And I'm glad to see, to your point, Harry, the W series. has its first success story almost.

The W series is in place as a springboard. So when you see another driver get into a better position to make Formula 1 or Formula 2, then it's done its job. So fair play to them. I'm really fascinated to see how she gets on. No disrespect to the likes of Tatiana Kowdaron and Sophia Flesh, but I think Jamie Chadwick is absolutely in the best position available. to get into Formula One.

If there's going to be one, one female driver who makes it in the next few years, I think it will be her. And absolute shameless plug. I spoke to Jamie about a year ago just before she started her W-Series quest. And, you know, she has a real chance to be something of a pioneer. Obviously, she wouldn't be the first female driver in Formula One, but she would be the first in, oh, God, about 45 years now. So it's, yeah, she's got a really good chance.

And fair play, too, I don't think she, I don't think she distances herself as a female in Formula One, not in motorsport, not by a long shot. But I think when she looks at her achievement, she is much more concerned about her achievements full stop rather than her achievements as a woman, which is absolutely the correct approach. And I think that sort of mentality where, you know,

I think she will, she'll take no prisoners and I think she'll do really well in this series. Best luck to her. Brilliant stuff. That's what you love to see. That is a real heartwarming story. I'm really excited to see where she goes. Absolutely. Absolutely.

And with the Williams connection, yeah, she's starting to get some good routes into the potential of Formula One. We'll have to see whether it comes to fruition or not. Going on to the last topic of today, play the music. It's F1. Back and forth, it's F1. Back and forth, we go backwards. And then go forth, it's F1. Back and forth, yeah, F1.

Sensational as ever. It's good. It is. It doesn't get any worse each time we do it. So, yeah, F1, back and forth. If you haven't listened to the podcast before, this is at G. we occasionally play, where Harry and Sam will go head-to-head naming items on a list that I will determine when we get the game going. They keep going back and forth, as the title suggests, until one of them gets an answer wrong or can't think of an answer. So best of luck, guys.

Two topics tonight. The first topic is this. Circuits that appeared on the 2010 F1 calendar. and I am going to start this one with yourself, Harry. Bahrain. Bahrain was on the 2010 F1 calendar. Well done. Sam. Do you want the country? The country's fine, yeah, Harry just said Bahrain.

So I don't have to name the circuit. You might have to name the circuit in a few occasions where it's not so clear, but. I will just kick off with a simple one and go the Australian Grand Prix. yeah that's absolutely fine Harry Benet the Malaysian GP Malaysian GP

I'm enjoying how you're going in order as well at the moment I'm still alright I'm going to try and carry on with the order I'm going to go Chinese Grand Prix Yep that was next Harry I forgot on the order now so

let's go to the Spanish Spanish, GP. You're still going on with the order. Nicely done. That was around five back then. By the way, there's 90. But yes. Yeah, it was quite early, that year.

Sam, what have you got next? Oh, so every year? Monaco. It is there every year, apart from this year. But apart from this year. Harry, what's the next one? The Turkish GP.

still going with the order as well. I'm loving this. Yes, Istanbul. Oh, we miss you so much. Sam. We do. I know for a fact that I think this one came next, it's the Canadian Montreal Grand Prix. Yes, still going with the order. I didn't even request this. This is amazing. Harry. Oh, I know, I feel of pressure now. The British GP. You have broken the streak, but it is a correct answer. Well done. Damn it. The German Grand Prix. Which was held at...

Hockenheim Ring. Yes, that's correct. Harry? The Hungarian GP. The Hungarian ring. Yes. Sam. Sparfrancahomp, the Belgian Grand Prix.

Yes, Harry. I'm trying to think Have we missed one in between Canada and Silverston? I think I know what it is. It's correct, yeah, you have missed one there. Okay, I can't remember that. Okay, I'll go Italian GP.

Yes, Italian GP is right. I'm going to take a pun. I think it was still there. I think it was said that early rather. Singapore. Yeah, it's been on the calendar for a A few years at that point. Good.

Yep, that's a correct answer. In order as well. Love it. Harry, you've got five answers left. The Japanese Grand Prix. Yes. Sanka. Oh, is it old, our old pals in Korea?

Young Nam. Go on it. Yes, I thought so. We love Young Nam. Still going in order as well. So, Harry, what have you got next? You've got three to go. This is what, 18 and 19?

I think these two are quite easy. The Brazilian GP? Yes. To Ligos, of course. Sam? Unfortunately so, it's the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Yes, and a bit of a tactical game there, if you do know the other one,

because that means that one left, Harry's got to name it. I don't know what it is. In between Canada and Silverstone. You really know it as well, mate. You know it. I know you can get it. Come on, I believe in you.

And we've said Turkey. Yeah. It's got to be a time limit on this, though, surely. Ooh, getting competitive. It's not often. I think I certainly know something about Formula One. What was in between Canada? And Turkey.

I don't think I know. Not Turkey, Silverston. No, I have to give up. I don't know. No problem. Sam, complete the list. I've got a real moron if I get this wrong. Is it Valencia?

It is. The European robbery at Valencia. To be fair, 2010 was largely forgettable, I think. There you go. Yeah, you don't say. Was that the year that Weber had his crush? Of course, yeah, he did a backflip. That's not forgettable.

Yeah, that's crazy. Probably the only good thing about the... Well, not good, but the only... Limerable, that's the word. Webber almost killed himself. Good thing about the race. Great stuff. Nice.

Wonderful entertainment. The other category for this week is engine providers since 1970. Oh. Ben. Okay. So it might be more difficult to get all of these ones, but... How many are there?

That's a good question. There are 34, I think. Three five. Strat yourselves in listeners. There are some... We'll be here a while. Well, there are some obscure names in here, that's for sure. Okay.

And question is... there's some or maybe one engine provider that left the sport but kind of stayed in it under different names. Do they count? So it's the name. You know what I'm talking about. Yeah. So even if the brand did not create the engine, but it is labeled as such, they count. Right.

Gotcha. Okay. All right. Sam, kick us off on this one. Um, BMW. BMW is a correct answer. Harry? Mercedes.

Correct. Sam. Ferrari? Yes. Big Shocker. Harry. Honda. Yes.

Sam. Rengo. Rengo. Renau? Rinal. Of course, yes. Harry? Um, Cosworth.

Cosworth is correct. Sam. Portia. It is actually correct. I didn't think it was, but apparently they were around in 1991. So, yes, that is a right answer. Were they? Who were they powering in 1991? I don't actually know.

I was fully expecting it to be a wrong answer, because I know they were around in the 60s, but yeah, apparently they powered someone in 91. They were under tag. They weren't Porsche, I believe. I've said Cotsworth. Does Ford count as a different one? It does count as a different one, yes. Okay, good. Sam?

Now I'm having to really rack the brain, which is also very small. Lamborghini. Yeah, Lamborghini is fine, Harry. Judd. Good old Judd, what a name. Yes, Judd is there. Such a bad name. It really is.

Sam? Yamaha. Yeah, Yamaha is a correct answer. Eurotech. Yes. I don't know if it's a right hand. Oh no. Is it, am I close or is it just not a right answer?

You might have merged two together. Oh, no. I think that's what you've done. Oh, excellent. Oh, I don't know. I don't know what I mean. Fine. I count myself out.

Fair enough. You might have even meant Asia Tech. Asia Tech. There is also European as well, so I wasn't sure if you can buy it. Damn it. Have you got any other, Sam? Two point. Yes.

Toyota. Yeah. And the two you've just mentioned, I think, were quite possible. I'm going to wrap the brain as if I can get any others. I don't think.

Is it Stodia? The Scoda's not there. I think they were the last two I had. No, fair enough. To go for, through some of the other ones. I won't go through all of them. Alpha Romeo you could have had.

BRM, you could have a Matra, Mechocrone, as Williams discovered at one point. Perjo in the 90s. Oh, yeah. Of course. You could have had Tag as well as as Porsche, because technically they were branded as tag.

Yeah, yeah. Technically, you could have had Torrosso as well. I started an engine. didn't? Well, it was called Toro Rosso, weirdly. Again, under the kind of a branding thing, but they were for one season. I was going to say when Red Bull had Renault engines but were called Tag Hoyers. Yeah, so that would have counted his tag. Yeah. Zach Speed, because of course Zach Speed deserves a mention. A few others in there as well. Apparently, one that I didn't know about, Subaru, apparently, at some point.

Yeah. Suburray. Yeah, I'm going to research that one because I didn't know about that. Anyway, let us know how well you did. Did you do better than Harry and Sam on either of those? Good effort, as always, guys. Thank you. Oh, I've got killed my future.

It's F1. Back and forth is F. one. Back and forth, we go backwards. And then go forth. It's F1. Back and forth. Yeah, F1.

Beautiful stuff. Beautiful stuff. And that's where we'll end this week to podcast. We're getting so close to that first race in Austria. We're going to be back, of course, same time next week. Until then, Sam, get us out of here. Well, folks, if enjoyed the sitting-in-us, the actual debate, and any conversation topics we have spoken about today, please share, please subscribe, please review us.

We'd love to hear what you think about the podcast as well. And remember to come back for next week. In the meantime, I've been Sang to say. I've been Ben Hockey. And I've been Johnny Jacotto. And remember, keep breaking late. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.