The Late Braking F1 Podcast - How good are the young drivers in Formula 1?

Episode Date: April 10, 2020

In this week's podcast, Sam, Ben and Harry discuss the young drivers on the F1 grid, and their potential. They also look at the possibility of Silverstone hosting a Grand Prix in Reverse. And play another thrilling game of F1 Back and Forth.Make sure to subscribe to this podcast and tell your friends about it too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. Hello and a very warm welcome to this week's installment of the late Breaking Formula One podcast. My name's Ben Hocking, joined as ever by Harri-Ead and Samuel Sage. Guys, how are you doing this week? Oh, not bad, thank you. I'm Scottish. I think it'll make this out of that Scottish.

I'm good. I'm doing well. Working from home is interesting. I shaved my head. It got to that level. So, yeah, it could be work. but it could be better. It shaved your head and turned Scottish all in one day.

It was a crazy time to be Sam. Yeah, I feel like to be Shrek. Oh, there. I feel like there's a green element to the Shrek transformation that he didn't mention, but other than that, I think it all checks out. Yeah, you don't know what's gone on behind the closed doors. No, not at all.

So, of course, another week without any Formula One action, we'd still have plenty to talk about and ready to entertain you for the next 45 minutes or so. We're going to be talking about the young drivers in Formula One. Basically, the guys who have only been in the sport for a year, we're going to assess where we think they are now and what we think their potential could be. What is their ceiling in Formula One? We're going to be looking at Silverstone, sorry, we're going to be looking at some circuits on the F1 calendar that might work as reverse circuits.

Of course, Silverstone has presented the idea they might walk. to do it. We're going to be looking at other circuits. Could they possibly do it? We're going to be looking at Al Garve as well and how that has now got grade one accreditation from the FIA and F1 back and forth returns tonight. So you can get ready for Sam's interpretation of an introduction to that. However, we will start with the topic that I set up first, and that was the drivers who have only been in the sport for a year in assessing where we think they are, and more importantly, where we think they could go in the future, just how far in Formula One could they get?

Sam, I'm going to start with you. We're going to go with a grading system here. So anything from an A plus down to an F. I don't know if any of them will go that low. But Lando Norris, someone who's got a bit of attention over the last few months, thanks to his exploits into streaming. But in terms of his Formula One ability, at least, where do you think he is now and where do you think he could get to?

It's interesting, isn't it? Lando is someone that as a three, we all really like him. We're all really warm to him. We think he's an upbeat fun guy, great personality to have in the sport. And someone who, from such a young age, he's being a great advocate, I think, for the sport, both winning it in terms of being on the track. That's a little hint. And outside of it, you mention streaming. You know, he followed my lead and shaved his head recently, but that was under the name of charity. He raised, I think up was a 15 grand, which is incredible. To me, he's a top lad. And I think on the track, as soon as he's having one of the most successful, youth careers of all time. Ben, I think maybe you've mentioned the fact before,

maybe the most successful youth career in terms of an F1 driver of all time, better than the likes of Lewis Hamilton. That I reckon he, if he gets the right car, as it takes for, I'm going to say this, for any F1 champion, you have to have the right car. You could be the world's best driver that Engel has ever seen, anyone will see, but if you're sat in the Menardi at the back of the grid, as much as we love it, you aren't going to win a championship.

So if the tables go the right way, if things turn properly, if Norris finds himself in the right seat, or plays the field correctly and learns what team is doing, what, and gets himself the right seat. I think Norris could win one, two, three comfortable championships. I think he's currently a kind of a B. He did well against Science. Science probably had his best season going. But I think Norris wasn't too far off that. I think, yeah, he had a bit of an unlucky season, a couple of engine breakdowns that science can incur.

that unfortunate one in Spar where it broke down on the line and I think a lap to go and he was, you know, screaming cursives over the radio, it's broken, it's broken. Your heart goes out for the young guy in his rookie season. I was genuinely quite impressed with Norris. I think he really delivered some solid results. He pulled some cracking overtakes. We saw Bahrain, his second race ever in Formula One.

He was around the outside of Pierre Gasley, who was in a red ball at the time going through the tight right hand in Bahrain, turn four, I think it is. You know, he shows some real excellence. And I think that Norris is, you know, a strong B. And I really think he could be an A plus driver if he gets himself in the right car. And that's the same for the likes of Vessel, Hamilton, Rosberg. You know, any world champion that's come along, you have to be able to do that car decision-making,

as well as doing the delivering on track. So if he does that bit, then I really think he could be a one-ang generation driver. I think he can have the same kind of career trajectory that Hamilton has had, both in F-1 and out of F-1 if he builds a personality for himself. So for me, super, super promising. One of the best youth candidates we've seen come through for a long time. Very interesting. So currently at a B, potentially A plus potential.

That's how Sam views Lando Norris and his future. Harry, what about you? Where would you grade him now? Where do you think his ceiling is? Don't say above. No. I agree with Sam on the point of, it depends whether he can get himself into the right car,

whether that's through McLaren, whether they develop into a winning team once again, or he moves to a current top team, whether that's, well, potentially Mercedes. He's got the Toto Wolf link, so it could be there. I'd give him a B plus for last year. I think he was so close to signs, at least definitely in qualifying,

and even in the races, he gave him a run for his money for most of the, of most of the year and did have some horrific bad luck. Spar springs to mind straight away. Yeah, look, we know how talented Lando is. He was very competitive. His junior career has been astonishing. And if he excluded F2,

we won pretty much everything on the way up to Formula One. So, look, we know how good he is. But like Sam says, it's going to be whether he can get in the right car at the right time. But if he can, then I don't see why he can't win a couple of championships along the way, maybe even three, but we'll see what happens. Yeah, and I think that's the case for any Formula One driver is they do need a slice of luck. And they need to find their way into the right car.

Not only find their way into the right car, but find their way into the right car at the right time. whether Lano Norris will do that or not remains to be seen. We know he does have links with Mercedes. McLaren, of course, themselves are looking to progress up the grid. They already have, to some degree, whether they'll continue that in the next few years. Who knows? I'd say, I would say B. I agree with Sam on that.

I don't think he was quite good enough for a B plus. I was kind of toy between B B minus for his ability at the moment. However, I do think he has got the potential for World Championship. provided he does find himself in the right positions. Like you've already referenced, his junior career is stellar, and really it's only the Formula 2 season where he didn't win.

He put up a good fight. It was by no, it's a bad season. But that's pretty much the only thing he didn't win on his way up to Formula One. And he almost accumulated 50 race wins before he'd even got to Formula One, which is an incredibly impressive tally and something I've mentioned before

that I can't think of another junior career that even comes close to that number of wins. I put Norris's potential in A. I think the A plus is reserved for those who I think maybe top 10 talents of all time, top 15 talents. I don't think he'll quite get there. Do I think someone like Hamilton, who I would rank as an A plus? Do I think he'd lose to Carlos Sines in his debut Cs?

I'm not saying it was a bad season by Landon Norris by no stretch of the imagination. But if you want to be one of the greatest of all time, I feel like you overcome signs in your first year. So I'm going to put Landon Norris's potential at an A. I do think he could win a few world championships. But he is coming up and we'll probably get on to some other names as well. But he's coming up at a time where there seems to be in a real boom in terms of quality drivers coming through. we saw sort of Hamilton-Rosburgh Vettel all come through at the same time.

And I think this has been sort of the next burst after that. Russell, Norris, Mustafa and Leclair, all of these guys coming through at the same time who, if they had found their way into maybe a different era, they might stand alone as the one exciting rookie. But there's so many brilliantly young, talented drivers at the moment. So Norris, I'm going to give him a B at the moment, potential for an A though.

And we'll move on to Al. Alex Albon next. So of course, racing for Red Bull now. So of all the names we'll discuss, he's actually the most senior in terms of the seat that he's got available to him. Sam, obviously started the year at Toro or also. Went to Red Bull midway through. Where do you see him now and where do you see him in the future? So his season in his first year, it was quite topsy-turvy for Alex Albon. Of course, he wasn't expected to be in an F-1 seat, almost a couple of weeks before the season even really began. And all of a sudden he found himself in that Torrosso seat.

And it was deceptive, I think. I think he was good. He was properly good. Don't get me wrong. But he was up against Kivya. And a lot of people have a lot of mixed reservations around Kivya. I rate Kiviat quite highly. I think he's a really strong talent scale.

I still think he's a very solid, Nickfield driver, better than a lot of drivers on the grid. Don't think he's never going to turn into a world-class, you know, all-winging champion. but I think he's solid. So he's going up against a strong driver there. And I don't think he particularly out does Kivya.

I don't think he goes above and beyond what Daniel does. Not to say he was beaten by him, but I think they were pretty evenly matched. I think that shows that, you know, in your first year when you got used to the car, that's pretty good. That's pretty strong. But it didn't wow me.

I think the only reason he really got the Red Bull seat above Kiviat is because he's been and done it and it wasn't successful. So they didn't want to give it another go. and they drop him again because we all know the crisis that could have happened. Giffiat's spending every position in the Red Bull team,

you know, from Janeter to driver to CEO, although back down to his fan. I don't think they want to break hearts again for Daniel Givya. So they give Alex Albaugh and I go and I think, realistically, I'm willing to see a little bit more

in terms of hanging with Max Verstappan. Yes, he did a better job than Pierre Gassad, but Pierre Gassi's time in Red Bull was woeful. It was probably the worst we've seen in a top flight team since Mark Weber was what, 100 points off better in that championship fight. I think it was.

was shockingly bad for someone who was expected to being a top three team. Albon did better. Do I think he did brilliantly? No. I would like to have seen him do a little bit more, be a bit closer to Verstappen. But then again, I do think out of all the rookies, Albon has got the hardest teammate to prove himself against currently. So I think in terms of the season we've seen on where he's going, I think Alvin currently is at a C plus, maybe scraping a B. I don't think he's as good as Norris just yet. I think he's got the capability of being a B plus driver. I think unfortunately with how the young drummer program he's fallen into,

I think with the Stappan also being so young, he's just never going to get that priority unless for Stappan ups and moves away. I don't think Albaughn ever gets that first seat. So for me, it's going to be tough for him to ever break out of that mould of the Stappan or maybe win something over Stappan unless a real turn of pace happens. I'm really trusting his talent. I think he's going to be a great asset to Red Bull. I think he'll help them possibly deliver championships in the future alongside the Stappan.

I don't know if he can go that one step. extra. And that to me is what will make him an A-level driver beating the stapling, especially to a title, which I think the staffing is capable of. I don't know if Album is currently. So for me, C-plus currently, B-plus across his career, I think. I have to admit, I don't remember when Danny Kaviat was CEO of Red Bull.

It was a short time. It was when a helmet was making some mistakes in the press. He snuck in there for a couple of days. Yeah, that was a short time then. Anyway, so Danny Kavir, janitor and CEO of Red Bull confirmed. Albert, of course, won the Rookie of the Year award ahead of the likes of Norris and Russell, but obviously Norris and Albin that we've already analyzed. Sam, you've put Norris ahead both in terms of current ability and potential ability, which is interesting. Harry, do you follow this or do you rate Albert a bit higher?

I agree with Sam. I agree with this grading. but I think, and we said this many times, you know, at the end of last year, the album was thrown into the, that it was thrown into the Toros seat at the last minute. Then he was thrown into the Red Bull seat halfway through the season. And like Sam says, he didn't do like a brilliant job, but he definitely did a good job in that seat, considering he didn't really have much time to prep for it. So, yeah, I'd agree with the C plus for, sorry, excuse me.

for last year. And I think I'd agree with the B plus for the future. But we haven't really had, I don't feel like we've had a fair chance, and we probably won't this year either. I have a fair chance to fully judge him alongside Vestappen. Because, yeah, like we've said before, he did a good job, but he still needs to step up in 2020 whenever that happens. So yeah, I agree with someone.

one, which is a bit of a shame. Sorry. Sorry about that, listeners. That is a bit of a shame. But what's more of a shame is I'm generally speaking going to do the same thing. Sorry, guys, we are being boring this evening. Alex Alburn, I mean, I would absolutely 100% agree that he has the most difficult task of any of the young drivers at the moment. You know, having to go up against Max Verstappen, you can put a 30-year-old veteran and 35-year-old a veteran in that car against Vastappan and it would be a tool order. So let alone someone who has literally spent one year in Formula One and only half of that year in the Red Bull team.

Not an easy task whatsoever. I would, I'd agree with you. I think he is about C plus. And the potential, I think B plus is where I would say the absolute ceiling is. I think it's more likely he'll end up in the B category. I think if we're using B plus as maybe someone like Perez or Bottas, I could see him going into that role later in his career. Do I see him as this world champion?

No, to put it bluntly. Albin is a little bit older than Norris and indeed Russell, who will get onto in a minute. But in terms of Formula One experience, it's fairly, obviously is exactly the same. So still plenty of room to grow for Albu. I don't think he's going to be able to meet the staff, and I just don't think they're on the same level. That doesn't necessarily mean Albon hasn't got a future in Formula One.

Albin, I think he has value for a team like Red Bull, which means he'll always have value for teams lesser than Red Bull. So if he can hold on to that seat and if he can be a solid number two driver for years to come, that'll be brilliant. If he does end up somewhere in the midfield, which I wouldn't be surprised if that does happen, I think he can forge a career similar to that of Holcomberg or Perez. But yeah, C plus potential.

I'll give it B plus. But anything in between that for his potential wouldn't surprise me. George Russell. So Formula 3 champion, Formula 2 champion goes up to Formula 1, obviously only in the Williams in 2019. So it didn't really get a chance to show what he's capable of. But his junior career does indicate that he has a. a good future in Formula One. Sam, where would you put his current potential?

Sorry, where would you put his current ability and his potential? I think out of all the rookies that we've currently got on the grid, George Russell is oddly probably the absolute hardest to rate out of everyone. So he is the F2 champ, which is impressive as it is. He's beat the likes of Norris to that top spot. And he was so good through his junior career. So impressive. You know, he got moves done.

he showed clearly that he can leave races from the front. He was strategically strong. He was able to fight off and defend well. The man is a great all-rounder. The issue with Russell, of course, is that he's been stuck in the worst car in almost the last decade of Formula One right at the back of the grid. It's probably Williams is worse for we've ever seen from Williams

and Russell is their frontman for that, which is devastating. The only shining light we've seen for Rosser is that he was up against Kibica, which is a world round racer. has a long of respect for you bit saying he beats him, well, apart from the point that he was awarded due to a issue, but he beat him, okay? We're going to say it, he beat him.

He didn't be qualifying comfortably, pretty much, I think every single qualifying session, Russell was ahead. And he finished in front of him on the majority of races, just happened to be the one race where the point was awarded that he wasn't in front of him. But nonetheless, Russell beats a guy that was tipped to be better than Schumacher at one point, which is impressive to say the least.

Maybe what his best form, fair, but he's still beat him, convincingly. Secondly, Russell can't fight anyone else. But I generally think that with the links that he's got to Mercedes with Toto, you know, he is tipped to be Hamilton's teammate or maybe the replacement for Hamilton, I think Russell could win

championships. And I think out of all of the drivers, he's got the best pathway to getting himself in a world championship secure and drive, which is fantastic. So I think, realistically, out of all the rookies, I think he's one of the highest. I would say BB Plus. I think he's slightly better than Norris in terms of current ability

he just hasn't been able to show it yet and I think he could be I don't think he could be as good as Hamilton and I was slightly over the top with my Norris prediction so I'm going to say an A for Norris like A minus for Norris just a strong A

for Russell I think I think he's got more chance of becoming a multiple world champ than Norris does I think Russell just has that slightly more all round package to him that is what Mercedes are looking for and what a world champion is made of so I'm hoping he gets

the chance to showcase that. It's kind of a big of a shut in the dark because we don't really know what he can do against other people of the same level at the moment. But I think you'll beat the Tfi comfortably and I think he will go on to achieve big things. Very interesting indeed. Harry, what do you think? Yeah, like Sam says, it's very difficult to judge Russell on the, I mean, it's difficult to judge all of these rookies on the case of the year, but particularly Russell being in that Williams is very hard to gauge. But the noise is coming out on Mercedes whether they were happy with what he was doing. They, you know, with the data that was coming out,

and he's obviously still been doing a bit of testing for them, I think, during the season. Yeah, he comes to be bleat. He comfortably beats Kibica over the course of a year. I would give him the same grade I gave Norris, which was a B plus. B? I gave him the same one. I can't remember what that I was, but it's the same. Yeah, and I think he too, like Norris, has a potential to go on and win to maybe three

world championships. But caveat, like I said with Norris, he's got to be on the right car. And arguably, he may have the better chance of being in a Mercedes than Norris does. You know, he's been a Mercedes junior driver for a long time now. So, yeah, it's a tough one because he's surely one of the brightest talents on the grid, having been the F2 champion. and he's stuck in one of the worst, well, the worst car on the grid, which is a shame because we're not really seeing what he can do.

On the point of Russell's pathway, Harry, I mean, it makes sense he has been in that academy for a long time now. He is the logical next step. But if Norris keeps on being able to show what he can do and the Williams doesn't really improve and Russell can't, do you think it becomes too much of a risk for Mercedes to take him on and they start to look at? I missed that because you broke up, but I'm guessing you were comparing whether it's more difficult for Russell to go to Mercedes. I was just kind of saying that if Russell continues

and Williams continue on that same path, does it become too much of a risk for Mercedes to take him on? And does that give the opportunity to someone like Lando Norris who is able to show what he can do? That risk is definitely real. but they look they could end up in the team together who knows what will happen but

Mercedes must have their eye on Norris as well as Russell but you know Mercedes have they like I said they can see the data from Williams and Russell's doing testing for them still it's going to be difficult and he'll definitely he'll probably hope to either jump out of Williams, it'd be unusual to see him jump out of Williams into Mercedes,

but we've seen it before we bought us. Yeah, he'll definitely hope to be jumping into a quicker car sooner rather than later if he's not going to be in that Mercedes for a few years, just so he can show even the rest of the F1 paddock his talents. Yeah, it could be more difficult, but I still see Russell ending up in a Mercedes at some point in his career. Yeah, I agree with that as well. and I actually think it will be sooner rather than later,

because I think regardless of whether it's Bottas or Hamilton, who does end up leaving or being booted out, I think Russell, I think they will take a chance on him, even though he hasn't been able to show what he can do. He was impressive for Williams, as impressive as he could be at the very least. And, yeah, he's continued that relationship with Mercedes, even when he's been at Williams.

So I don't think they'll have too many concerns personally. I'm going to give Russell the same grade that I gave Norris, actually. I'm going to say he's a B right now, and I think he could be an A-level driver as well. Yeah, I mean, Russell and Norris both have the same potential in my view that they could win multiple championships. I don't think either of them are going to get to the same level as Hamilton-Schumack are kind of, you know, grade A tier. Having said that, you know, not many do. So it's not much of a slight on them. but I think they've got really, I've got bright futures ahead of them.

George Russell, we see Fernando Alonzo at Menardi. I'll use that as an example. That was, that did not come at Alonzo's detriment. He was stuck at the back of the grid pretty much all season, you know, fighting with Tata Marquez. He couldn't really do anything in that car. However, it didn't really have a negative impact on his career. he eventually found his way into Renno and he was able to then show what he can do.

I'm of the belief that the cream does eventually rise to the top in Formula One, even if it is difficult at first. You get very different rookie careers at times. Hamilton walked into a car that was capable of winning the championship in year one. Alonzo was the complete opposite. We might well see. Lano Norris came into a car that was at least good enough to fight. Russell definitely wasn't, but they might well end up on the same path at some point.

So, yeah, I'm going to go B right now, potential for an A in the future. And the last one we'll do on this category, because he was kind of a rookie. I'm going to classify him as a rookie. Antonio Gjavanazzi. On that point, did you see the stream where he joined in the lobby with all the other F1 drivers? Yes. Yay! The most Italian lobby ever has ever been.

Yeah. I was a massive fan of that. Sam, where do you see his current ability and what is his potential? Again, I really like Gio. Gio seems like a great guy, really nice. I enjoy that he's part of Formula One. He came into F1 a little while ago in the Salba,

and he made an absolute mess of it. He crashed, I think, pretty much every single part of a Grand Prix, he took part in, which is not great. When you were tipped to be one of the best rookies coming through, you were the Ferrari young driver at that point. You know, it's not a good first impression. I think he gets another shot. He comes into Alpha Romeo, and that's a big seat.

You know, you're alongside World Champion Kimmer-Rike. There's a lot of young drivers, Schwartzman, Schumacher, a lot of people looking at that going, that's a good seat in F-1. That is a pathway to Ferrari. Lecler has just proven that. You know, Vettel's on his last legs. You can't admit there's more than three, four years of Vettel left.

He's not dying. It's not dying. It's his career. His Formula One career, okay? There's every chance he's only getting it for a couple more seasons. He may hate the 2021 cars, we don't know. So that might be it for Vettel. That means there's a free seat in a top team.

It doesn't come around too often. And yet, Gio, I think, has done nothing but disappointing other than maybe the last few races of the most recent season. He kind of got used to it a little bit, which is great, but it took him too long. I think it was too little too late. I think he came in. I think he was maybe an E plus D minus rating. He isn't a great, folks.

If you get that in you GCSEs, then you need to reassess your life. Focus on something else. So for me, yeah, D minus E plus current ability. I think at best he will be a C plus driver. And I'm really touching the limit there for him. I'm really trying to be optimistic because I like him. probably more a C-minus to a C-driver. I think he's a very average midfield driver

and a lot of capability but that never really comes to fruition. Yeah, I'm slightly nervous for Gio. I think this career is going to be a little bit short-lived. Maybe almost Marcus Erickson-esque in the sense of people really like him. Like we love Markyek, you know, he's a great guy, doing well in India and whatnot.

Could win the championship, who knows, that's yet to come. But I don't think Gio's got what it takes to do it in Formula One, unfortunately. So I think we'll see it. a couple more seasons of geo floating around. And unless he brings something else at the table, he's either a reserve driver or he goes to another series. And that's a shame because I like him.

But for me, yeah, at best, C to C minus. Very interesting. Very interesting. Harry, what do you grade him at? I grade him at around a D for last year. He, I just get the feeling he's a bit of a slow. at Burner, if you will. He's not Leclair, is he? That's obvious. But he has got the talent, but he has also have a bit of a habit of crashing cars, as Sam's alluded to. You know,

he's on for his first points in Belgium last year and he binged it with only a couple of laps to go or something. But I do think he does have the talent. He just perhaps needs to mature a little bit more. And yeah, like Albon, I think he, we need to give him another year to see how he does. If there's not a step up again this year, then maybe then it's not going to happen. But for his, the ceiling, as you were, I'd probably go for, I reckon he's capable of a C plus or a B minus. One of those two. I don't feel like we've seen enough of him yet to get. I can't judge how far he could go.

He's not going to be a world champion, let's put it that way. It's a really interesting one in terms of comparing Jovanazzi because, you know, Russell was very difficult to judge as well. But I think Jovenazi is as well. He's up against the former world champion. But unlike where Albin is against Fassappan, who we know is either in his prime or very close. close to his prime. We don't really know where Reichenin is. I mean, he was at Ferrari,

was second driver to Sebastian Vettel, he moves to Alpha Romeo at 40 years old, how good is Kimi? It's difficult to assess. If you think he isn't actually that far off, he isn't too far off what he wants was, then you look at the season and think he didn't do that bad of a job, Antonio Javanasi. If you think Rikinen has dropped off massively and Javanasi is just even worse, than that, then you have to rank him much, much lower. I'm going to rank him quite a bit higher than both of you have. I'm going to say he's already at a C. I think his potential, I'm going to say a B.

I don't know if he gets there. I think B minus is a bit more likely. But I think the second half of the season gives me a lot of hope for Antonio Giovannazzi. He was very, you know, he was right up there with Reikening in qualifying in that second half of the year. The Alpha Romeo dropped off in terms of pace, which was really unfortunate. If it had happened the other way around, I actually think Jervynast would have beat him, Reikkonen. But yeah, if the Alpha Romeo picks up pace again, he's got to keep on improving.

Like, he has to continue on that trajectory that he had in the second half of the season. If he doesn't, then, you know, nothing's going to come of his career, really. But yeah, I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I'm going to say he's a C now, potential of a B, I wouldn't put my on him reaching it, I think a B-minus is more likely. Well, I can't wait if you'll be wrong. Yeah, we'll remember this in four years' time. We'll go back to it, and either I will absolutely slam you or you will absolutely slam me.

Well, more chance that you'll slam me, because I've never read. I don't know what, but I didn't hear what Ben said. Ben's going to slam me for being wrong. I would go to Mexico. that getting played? I haven't done any sound effects yet, so I thought I better chuck one in. I might make an avocados from Mexico poster. I think you should.

Anyway, back to the Pottie C, lads. Back to the Pottie C, as it will now be referred to as. So Silverstone has expressed interest in not only continuing to host the one race that it's supposed to, one that hasn't been cancelled yet. but they have expressed interest that they might want to do a second race on that weekend, but on the second race, go round the circuit backwards, Silverstone in reverse. So we're going to have a look at the feasibility of that in one of our YouTube videos, so please do check that out.

But for now on the podcast, we're going to actually look at other circuits and think, are there any others that would be improved if they were in reverse? Harry, does any circuit come to mind when I say that? yes and it's spa because o'ruge backwards and i don't have any other reasons but just o'rooge backwards that would be sensational and we've we've three of us have done it before on the f1 game and it's absolutely terrifying but it'll be great to see you blast down the camel straight backwards and then you've got to get to o'rooge which is completely blind it's like going off the edge of a cliff I mean, there are inevitable safety issues with this,

but even so, just for that spectacle, I'd love to see it. In terms of feasibility, going down, no rouge, I can't see it happening. As frilling as it is on the game, as you're right. If you could guarantee there wouldn't be any accidents there, it would be a frill, but I don't think you can make that guarantee by a long shot. I think you could do interlagos backwards. I think that could even be realistically done.

Yeah. The runoff at the bottom of the hill is pretty wide. I might have to extend it a little bit, and then the infield section is all pretty slow stuff, so that wouldn't matter. And then there's a lot of runoff on you go up towards the Sner S. I think that could work. It's almost a competition between what's actually doable

and what would be really thrilling to watch. I'm not sure if I'd want to end the lap on the Sner S's, sorry, the Senate S. There's not more than one of them. I don't know. Could you imagine all of the... Because, I mean, the number one overtaking opportunity would then be what is normally

the left-hander going onto the main straight. Yeah, yeah. But that'll be quite a heavy stop. I don't know. Who knows whether it were... What about Baku backwards? Oh, God. They can call it Baku Woods.

I like that. there you go there you go folks I don't know if it would work I don't know if it would be feasible but for that name alone I think they should do it agreed

agreed all right here's and I don't expect this would ever be done but while I was thinking over the more I thought about it the more I like it Monaco backwards

now hear me out so the first sector as in the first sector on the actual circuit, so sort of going up after Sandovaat. Could you imagine going down into Sandovot? I feel like that would be a much more thrilling experience. Like you'll make your way through the tunnel, up the hill,

and then you've just got the rush down to the first corner in what would be the normal circuit. I think that would be really fun. I agree. I would like to see people do the Lowe's Hairpin backwards. Yes. Sam, have you got any of that springs on? I mean, it's fun, isn't it?

The idea of it is fun, but I can't believe I'm saying this. I can't believe I'm being the sensible one. The reason you go of this way around is because the track is better that way round. There's not many tracks like Silverstone that have multiple layouts and as we'll discuss in the video.

There are multiple reasons why that's a bad idea. It's fun on a game to do where you have no care for the track limits or you can be silly and take each other off. I can't believe on being the sense for one here. But the tracks make total sense the right way around. And I can't think of a single track that would be a great watch the other way.

Yes, it would be cool, like you said, O'Rouge. That's Ravion, actually. Backwards would be great, great fun. It would be great to watch. But I don't know if it would make for a good race. All the overtaking opportunities would be uphills or downhills. it's a fantasy world and I usually love living in that fantasy world

but for me it's just not doing it I'm not the current tracks anyway I can't think of anything on the current track that I think works on that one maybe Monza because it's mainly straights anyway so that's an option about Austria

Austria yeah that's I mean that's not a bad one the first corner would still work it's almost the same corner the other way around, so theoretically, yeah, back a way, you sort of have the straight,

straight after it. But I think you need a majority of the straight track for it to be a good race. And I'm trying to think of this as what will produce a good race. And I don't think many words. I think you look at, you look at the likes of China, for example. And then you're going into a couple of right-handers

along the straight. The snail backwards is a bit weird, and then you've got a bit of a hairpin. I mean, it just, it all feels like the track just isn't, if I have, created for that to happen. So,

yeah, I can't see it happening. In my mind, I can't really picture any realistic racing on a backward circuit. I think you can make some ulterior layouts

of a lot of tracks. It would be really fun to see. But I'd love to see Monsor reintegrate the banking for a one-off. That would be great fun. But for me, yeah, I just,

I can't get my mind around it until it actually happens, I think. What about the young am? I can, likely to leave young yam out of the situation. This is a new...

Sam. He loses his hair and he loses his sense of fun. What is this? Oh, yeah, boo. You've actually got a boo sound effect, Harry. I don't. It's not working. Sorry, you can have a Owen Wilson, wow.

Go on then. Wow. Thank you. Just exquisite. China should happen just so Sam can commentate on the anting, anting, anting snail backwards. thing one.

Do I have to say it backwards? Yes, absolutely. What is an ting? Or you can just say ta. You could say tingang, ting, ang, ting,ang, ting,ang, ting,ang instead. Tingang, Tingang, Ting, and Ting, and Ting. It's a great corner, folks. The Anting and Ting Corner is one of the most three Antings.

I've said two. It's one of the most iconic corners in Formula One. And backwards, it could be amusing. If no one understands what we mean, then go and watch our online racing league on YouTube. Plug, there you go. Watch the chart. I want any China race from there. Sam likes to call it the Anting snail. There's a lot of sponsorship, right, folks. You see a lot of Rolex and whatnot. Well, there's one

specific bit of sponsoring on that corner, and that's where it gets its name from. Before moving off this topic, Paul Rekarne, a circuit that has so much runoff that could literally be running any way you like, and there's no more danger involved whatsoever. It doesn't deliver a good race anyway. Is it worth just running that one back? could see if it does improve anything. I think you could, because I've got a theory that the final corner, which would be turn one, would be an overtaking spot. Because it's actually a little hairpin.

And I look at it today because someone put it on Twitter. And I think it genuinely could be better backwards. And it can be any worse. I actually, that race is so boring. I actually forgot it existed while I was thinking of the tracks in the race. I generally think you're right, actually. I think, again, even if it wasn't. backwards. You have a lot of layouts possible.

So I think that backwards or at least with a completely odd layout would be a good bit of fun. I mean, what's the worst that can happen? It delivers a bad race. Well done. You've just done exactly what it did last year. So you're not going to lose anything by doing that. So we propose officially as late breaking that the French Grand Prix is run backwards. Yes. Staying up with circuit talk, Algarvin Portugal has been awarded at F. FIA Grade 1 license. So it's the 44th circuit, Lewis Hamilton, hashtag blessed, that is now within that category. Essentially, that does now give it the safety level in order to race in Formula 1.

So all the facilities are up to scratch. The circuit is up to scratch. It was a test venue about 10 years ago. Harry, do you think there's any chance that this could appear on the Formula 1 calendar? And would you want it to? I think we might have too many races already I mean not this year technically anymore but we weren't going to have 22

I don't mind I feel like the Algarve is wait no we've never raced just test there right correct yeah to be honest I don't really know if I know the circuit that well but we could have a Portuguese Grand Prix

but I would imagine that it would have to replace something else. And unless it's Abidabi, which is unlikely to happen, then I don't really want it to. So, and I feel like it's quite an old school circuit. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Maybe a modern F1 wouldn't work on it. But, hey, look, to counter that,

I'm also up for seeing anything in F1. So if they want to put it on the calendar, put it on the calendar. I'm not going to stop you, lads. And you have the power to do so as well. So the blessing is there. You're welcome. Some, any thoughts on Algarve and whether it could host F1? Should it host F1?

The Algarve has a rich and controversial history, both within motorsport and outside of motorsport. And all I'm going to say on the matter is, if you're a Brit, just be careful when eating tapas not to lose something. Please elaborate on this point. There's a certain family who are British, who may have lost their daughter while on the Algarve. Oh, right.

From Mexico. No, yeah. Move on. Move on. Moving swiftly on. I didn't think Al-Gov would cause such controversy. Just my two cents on it,

I actually think it's a really nice circuit. And it's fairly wide in most parts. So yeah, I think Formula One could race there. You write in what you say, Harry, the calendar is already very congested. I wouldn't mind if it was on some sort of race sharing agreement with another European circuit, perhaps. Because, yeah, I do think it's a nice circuit. It's worth bearing of mind there are a lot of grade one licensed circuits around the world that aren't currently doing F1.

So just because it's now got this grading doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be fast-track to the F-1 calendar. But it just means that the potential is at least there. And there's no Portuguese drivers in Formula One unless we get the return of Tiago Montero, which I am living for every single day. But I can't think of any young Portuguese drivers either that are coming through. But yeah, I would like to see it happen.

But if we had to lose another European race because of it, maybe not. I have changed my mind, and I would love to see it, because I've just looked it up and there's a corner called Craig Jones. I want to see Craig Jones corner, please.

You go into turn 9, which is Samsung. Out of turn 9, a tricky little tight right-hander into the fast sweeping left-hander of turn 10, which is Craig Jones. I haven't got a son.

You're not a son, Samsung. God damn it. What thing I sing? Right. Can I, can, Can I mute you? No, unfortunately, you can't.

I think I can. Folks, if I get muted, you're not getting a theme tune later. Well, that's the thing, because we are now going to move on to the main event, and you can't be muted for this. It's time for F1 and forth. Harry, ready your music. Sam, ready your vocal chords. Here we go.

Let's go. It's F1. Back and forth, it's F1. Back and forth, we go backwards. And they go forth, it's F1. Back and forth, yeah, F1. I can't tell you how much. I love it.

I get so much joy out of singing it. Oh, dear. Do you get as much joy out of playing it? No. I mean, it's like 100% joy singing it, like 60% joy playing. 60. It's 40% knowledge deployment out of this game. Honestly.

Do you want to know what your category is this week? I'd love to. All right. Wow. So, there are 46 correct answers in this category. And it's any F1 driver who race between the years 2000 and 2004. So anyone who raced in the Schumacher dominant years, Oh, Christ sake.

I'm not feeling good on this one. I'd be quite well last time. I'm not going to be well this time. I think Sam, you kicked off last time, so Harry, kick us off this time. Name someone who drove between 2000 and 2004. Michael Schumacher. I mean, I gave you that one. You would have struggled otherwise. Yes, Michael Schumacher is correct. Sam. Rubens Barakello. Rubino Yes Harry Juan Pablo Montoya

JPM is good Sam Mika Hakenan Mika Hakenan is good Harry Ralph Schumacher One of the most underrated drivers of all time Yes Ralph Schumacher is there

Sam Well some of who should get in the being is Ralph Schumacher, but a man with an equally... Actually, no, much more impressive jaw is, of course, David Coulthard. That's answer number of seven. Harry, here you go.

I miss DC's commentary. I'm going for Genton Button. Of course, that is correct, Sam. The man who loves a train, it's Yarno Trulley. Harry? Kimmy Reichenen.

Sam? Johnny Herbert's confessed. Of course Johnny Herbert. I mean, he wasn't there for very long in this period of time, but he was there nonetheless. Harry. Johnny Herbert Leeds. Eddie Irvine.

Yep. Eddie Irvine is good. Sam. Nick Heigfeld, the man who sits under a tree. Oh, good old quick Nick. God, I love him. Harry? Mark Jeannay.

Oh, there's an answer and a half. Yeah, good old Mark Jene. Sam. Ricardo Zonta. Yeah, big Zonts, as we like to call him. That is never been said in the vicinity of the three of us. It absolutely should. now on.

I love big Zons. Big Ricky Zons. Oh, that's beautiful. Zondra is correct. Harry, have you got another answer? Ralph Furman. Ralph, I mean, you're bringing out the best answers here, yeah.

Who is Ralph Furman? The Irish Pucket Rocket. Good old Ralph Furman. Sam? Well, we've got one of the stars. Stappangau, we had another one back then. It's Yoss. Yoss the boss. Harry.

Jincalo, Fizzichella. Yep, Fizzy's there, Sam. Oh, Mika Salo. Mika Salo is correct. Harry? Alan McNish. Some great answers here. Yes, Alan McNish is correct. Sam?

The man we will love to hate Jacques Villeneuve. Yep, Jacques Villeneuve is correct. Harry? Heinzhowd Frensen. Yep. Sam. Alexander Verz.

Yeah, Verz is correct. Harry? Japanese myth and legend, Takumasato. I thought we're going to say UG-E-Day then, which of course would have been an incorrect answer. But yes, the other movies met in there as well. Sam?

And I admit. Olivier Pinas. I mean, Pannis. Very funny. All right, I'll let you have it, even though the pronunciation was a little bit off. It happens. Harry?

Christiano What's de Matter? Oh, God. God, Harry played out. His name was Watts, but other than that, correct. Sam? Um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, poop on a scoop. Um, I'll get there. I'll get there. Jean-Alezie. He was there, only?

John Lazy was there. Yeah, that's good. Harry. Justin Wilson. Justin Wilson, of course. Yeah, he's there. Um, am I, if I say one that we've already said, do I get another go? Yeah, I'll let you off once. Fernando Alonso.

We haven't said him. Yep, Fernando is there. Felipe Massa. Yep, Felipe Masa is there. Sam. Um, getting a little bit harder now. Oh, uh, Yoss's teammate, uh, Bernoldi. Enrique Bonaldi is correct.

absolute legend held DC up in Monaco for about 20 laps um good-a-gudai it's Matt Weber I mean for that awful no awful's not a strong enough word die a porcelain

depression get a die all right I'll give you the point I'm going to be nice but good good I work sound easy makes the answer Oh, absolute legend and champion Anthony Davidson.

Good old Anthony Davidson, of course. Hopefully, Anthony, you are still having a good fun in your race around Bahrain by yourself. Harry, he did into the last one. He did, yeah, well, well done. I had one in my head then. I just forgotten him. Oh, Christian Cleon.

Oh, that was my next one. Christian Clean is correct. I mean, you're doing very well, guys. I think you've got about 13 more answers. Good God. Look at us, Harry. We're good at Formula One. It's impressive stuff.

Sam, have you got another answer? I do. It's a funny one. Bambangna. I think it's bound, but yes. Yeah, I'll let you have that. Harry? Thank you.

Robert Dornobbs. I obviously mean Dornboss. Great name, but... Is he not? Is he wrong? I think you're out by a year, Harry. Oh, no. As far as... Robert Dornobb.

Was he a reserve at that point? I thought he was an 04, but he must be an 05. Oh, no. As far as the war, he's no five. Sometimes. Harry, what's, what's, what's, what's Christiano, demata? Sorry, Christiano, what's de matter? Yeah, maybe, maybe it's clock that you should have said.

Yeah, it's like one that was still there. Got any more, Sam? I, I had one, when Harry said Clean, I had another one. And I don't think I'm going to. remember it. No, no, I can't remember that one. So, oh, Mazakani, that's it. Yeah, yeah.

The Argentinian sensation, as he was off to the... That was the only other game I could remember. So if Harry got one more wrong and I didn't get Glock, I'll have been out. But, I mean, well done, Sam. You pick up the win again. So after seemingly never winning one, you are on a role. Beautiful. I've got three in a row.

I'm happy with that. Harry's can wipe the floor with me next time. Did we not say Eddie Irvine? Irvine was said. Yeah, you said it. Oh. So I've just looked up F1-2000. Alexander Wirtz, Vutz.

Bloody L. Luciano Bertie. What's the Verts that can happen? Wait. Pedro Dinitz. Yeah. Another Pedro you missed. Did we miss?

Oh my God. That's Pedro, Pedro Delirosa. What? The reference to Plan B, Charmaine Deloresa, folks. A few others as well. Cargis? Who, sorry? I know, he might be 99.

Takagi? No, he didn't quite make it. Didn't quite make the 21st century. Didn't make the cut, you know? No. Alonzo's teammate at Menardi? Oh, that's a great question. Oh, oh, oh.

I said it's been Brazilian, were we? Tarso Market. Oh, I thought he was Brazilian. Alex Jung, Mark Webber's team. Yeah. Czech Republic. Oh, we had a funny, they had like,

ink? Yeah, that's it. The Czech Republic, famous for their F-1 drivers. Absolutely. The other one's a little bit later on. Bixonia, Nicholas Kesa. Giorgio Pantano and good old brooding.

Is it Pantano or Pantino discuss? I don't actually know. I mean, it's the question everyone's been wondering, but we cannot answer it. Sorry, guys. Speaking of pronunciation of drivers, it still doesn't make me laugh that Sebastian Vettel's name was said wrong for so long.

Vettel hurts me in my sleep. I wake up in sweats to hearing Vatel. and it upsets me so deeply. I was something from 2001 the other day when it was Kimmy's first race and they were calling him Rakenen. Rakinginen in a nose leave. Exactly.

Like the joke we did, but they were actually called it. It was Brundle, he was calling him Rakinan. Anyway. Sorry, outro. 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. Thank you very much for that, Sam. Beautifully done. And what better way to finish than on Kimmy Rakenen.

So Sam, would you like to get us out of here for this podcast? Well, thanks, folks, for listening to the podcast. If you enjoy my atrocious singing, our awful guessing or any of the debates we put up there, feel free to share the podcast, give it a review, let other people know, or just come and contact us on. Twitter or on YouTube or on Instagram.

All our handles are well-documenting at El Breaking. It tends to be the trend. It'd be good to hear from you, so please get involved. But in the meantime, I've been Samuel Sage. I've been Ben Hawking. I've been Tarso-Marquez. And remember, keep breaking late. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.