The Late Braking F1 Podcast - How much TROUBLE is Alpine in?!

Episode Date: August 2, 2023

F1 may be on a break, but the LB trio aren't! First on the agenda are the upheavals and senior staff exits over at Alpine - is this a team descending into chaos, or all part of a masterplan?! They also discuss Helmut Marko's naming of Hamilton & Alonso as the only 2 drivers who could compete with Verstappen, F1's rejections of calls to limit standing restarts, and the news that all 10 F1 teams will be represented on the 2024 F1 Academy Grid. They finish off with a classic game of F1: Back and Forth.. FOLLOW us on socials! You can find us on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok SUPPORT our Patreon for bonus episodes JOIN our Discord community JOIN our F1 Fantasy League BUY our Merch EMAIL us at [e-mail]   & SUBSCRIBE to our podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 podcast. Make sure to check out new episodes every Wednesday and every Sunday. Everyone, welcome to the Late Breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking. It might be the summer break, but late breaking never stops. We're still here giving you, I was going to say analysis, that's taking it a step too far, awful banter is probably more accurate. There's plenty of F1 news going on still.

So we are here for it. Sam, I do have to wish you a very happy one year Oscar Piastri. I'm not driving for you anniversary. Yeah, it comes very close to your birthday, Ben. Almost like it was a gift. And to say your birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday for yesterday, Benjamin. Thank you very much. I did, yeah.

I had a start reminder yesterday that it was exactly one year since Fernando Alonzo moved to Aston Martin because they happened on the same day. But yeah, what a gift? What a gift for you. Not so much for Alpine. Oh no. Oh no.

I've got nothing to answer that. I've got nothing to answer that. You took what I was going to say, which was happy birthday to Ben. And I've already told him happy birthday. He didn't eat it twice, does he? So get on with it, mate. Not the message, mate.

Exactly. It's all good. I'll do it again next year. Thanks. Okay, what are we discussing today? We've got F1 back and forth later on, an old classic making a reappearance. We're going to be talking 24 on the F1 Academy. Helmut Markos had something to say, which means, of course, we've got something to say about what he's had to say. But we're going to start with the feel good story of the summer, which is Alpine. Not ideal in the words of Sam Sage. Following the departure of CEO Lauren Rossi about two and a half weeks ago, team principal, Omm. Saffnauer and sporting director, Alan Perman, have left Alpine. Pat Frye, the chief technical officer, has also gone. So I'm not quite sure if anyone is actually remaining. In terms of Otmar Saffnauer and Alan Permanagh, their tenure at the team, a bit of variety there, because Otmar Saffnauer joined the team at the beginning of last year, whereas Perman has actually been

at the quote-unquote team since 1988 in all of its various guises. Following the Hungarian Grand Prix, Otmar said that he had confidence that the team would support him in pursuit of the team's 100 race target. LP must have disagreed because they let him go. Sorry, no, it was mutual agreement. Sure. It's all part of the plan. It is all part of the plan, Sam. You're absolutely right.

Were you surprised by this, though? Of course, Scott. It's all part of the 100 race plan. It's exactly what was forecast. I'm sure Othmar is secretly rubbing his hands together. like a super villain. No, honestly, what is going on at Alpine? Otmar has just had such a bizarre career since Ashton Martin brought out racing point

that I don't really know where he stands within the sphere of Formula One. You know, they didn't give me time, which I get. He got a season and a half, so he wasn't there forever as a team principal. And you've seen the likes of what Toto Wolf has brought to Mercedes and what Christian Hor has brought to Red Bull. Stability can often breed a lot of success. But, you know, Pomein and Otmar going does feel like a good thing, wipe the slate clean. They weren't exactly on the up.

And they haven't really been on the up for the last four or five years. Even when rebranding from Renault to Alpine, it's got big strong before they turned up. And I would argue that when Otmar came in, they didn't get the rejuvenation that they realistically needed. The fact that he literally announced his 100 race plan was 40% of the way through last week, though, is quite hysterical. in timing. And then I think he came out with one of the best quotes in all the formal in his screen.

Oh my God. Which was, if you get nine women pregnant, you shouldn't expect to have a baby in a month. And I'm sorry. He's... What does it mean?

Because he also says, I always say, you always say, brings it out of barbecue. Why? At his child's school dance, I imagine. He hasn't got a child.

He's two impatient for that. He's got my wedding. Honestly, it is some of the worst public speaking in Formula One I've ever seen. I always say, getting I'm going to be pregnant, don't expect a baby in a month, sorry, did I come up with that absolute nonsense? Is that trial and error? Yeah, what? Two for a penny, three for a pound, you may as well said there up, well,

because it makes as little sense when you break it down. It is, oh my good Lord. When you come up with statements like that, I'm not surprised you've got five or the 18 months, because if that's the logic you're applying to any form of engineering or progress as a team, you may as well put me in the job because we're just as qualifying as each other.

There are three spots open. There are three of us here. I reckon we go for it. I reckon they might actually succeed. There'll be a lot more shouting and they might get some more press, so maybe you're positive for them. Interesting.

Harry, do you fancy an Othmar switcheroo? So we'll have Othmar on the podcast. You go off, manage Elpene? True. Hot Mar. I wouldn't be there every week because I'm not here everywhere. every week.

That's so true. I don't think that would make much of a difference, probably be more successful, arguably. Yeah, Alpine, what are you doing? There it is. That's classic. I feel like that that was a deserved one. Firstly, I have suspected for a long time now that Othmar is an idiot.

But that being said, it's the least on the fence you've ever been. That being said, I think this is a slightly harsh, slightly harsh decision. I think he's an idiot. This is harsh. Sorry.

I do think he's an idiot. I'll say that about you. You're still on the face. So conflicting in your paper. No, but I, I, I, I, I, he can have, he can't have got all the way to the, uh,

position of team principle and now two teams with out being, having some skills. So it must be, it must have something. It's just not visible to me what they are. Um, so I do think it's a slight, harsh. I think the wider problem is just the management of Renault slash Alpine, just that company

as a whole. They are like just waving their arms up in the, in the air, like got no idea. Like they just don't care. They've got no idea what they're doing. All the people that have sort of been in senior positions in Alpine slash Renno, Alan Prost, what's Budowski? Is that how you say that? Yep. Mike Bedowski. Mike Bedowski. His first name's massive. Yeah, Mike Bedowski.

They've all been coming out and slating the running of Alpine slash Renaud. And I think if you look at the evidence, I think they're correct because it's just utter chaos. And they're now making a thing of we've got to have some dramatic like contract news before the summer break. that's clearly their thing. They do now. Last year is Piastri, Alonso. This year is Otmar, per main out the door.

They thought they were signing anyone. I don't know. They might have to start signing people at some point because they're running out. Did you hear what Alonso's saying about Othmaa, though? Stop talking. You should shut up. It's not very successful.

Based on his quotes, he's not wrong. Yeah, so the Othmars, I think both firing, so harsh. I mean, Alan Permanagh has been there for a very long time and I get what they're, what they're trying to do in terms of, you know, clean slates. But they've had a clean, they've had like 15 different clean slates over the past two years now it feels like. So it's got a whole roof. How many, how many slates do you need? Yeah, you're right. They do have an entire roof of slates. So yeah, this is a team in complete chaos. And I hope for their sake

and for F1's sake, they can turn it around. But we've mentioned this before. Alpine slash runner been trying to turn it around for years and they just keep finishing fifth and I think that's all they're ever going to do

and this year they're in danger of not finishing fifth they keep at it but yeah if you're Pierre Gasley and Esteban Okon who's signed up

for the next 37 years you'd be a bit worried wouldn't you? Oh no oh no oh yeah to summarize they are in turmoil

aren't they I was surprised and I mentioned this on the sprint review I did so I won't go too much into this surprised by the timing of it because they literally could have waited three or four days, right?

And then suddenly the news is buried for like four weeks. There's no one there to answer why this has happened at press conferences and the likes. So the fact that they announced it on a race weekend, I think I summarized that I think Alpina just trying to throw Othmar and Alan under the bus by saying, okay, you deal with it for a few days because this is firmly on you. But to your point, Harry, the common denominator of Alpine and Renault's lack of success is Alpine and Renno. But that's the only thing that links every single time they've failed is that the team is still the team. So I get your point on individual-wise, why it might not be fully to blame. Certainly from Alan Perman. Yeah, he's been there since 1980.

He's been at Team Endstone since Ayrton Senna didn't have a world title. Longer than we've been alive. That'd be a long time. Sam was only 30. I remember it well. It's, yeah, so that one was a bit of a shock. But certainly from Othmar Saffanar's perspective, was I shocked when I thought about it?

Well, not really. They managed to, in the space of 18 months, what has Othmar Saffanauer achieved? Well, he managed to lose the best young driver in F1 in years. Yep. He managed to lose the best old driver an F1 in Fernando Alonzo. He managed to fall behind

Aston Martin and McLaren in the space of 18 months. And you might point at 2022 and say, well, you know, they were, they improved on their position from 2021. So well done, Othmar. But as, this is the Freddie Vast conversation though, right? In that it's

not really on Othmar Saffnauer how well they did last year. So I think you've got all of these factors, none of them particularly line up well for Othnaw. And if they do finish sixth, it will be their worst finish since 2016. I mean, I imagine Rossi's gone to the board. How many mistakes has Othmaa made in the board of all replied, there's too many.

Because, thank you, we'll get onto that properly later. Because if you look at Othma's track record before coming to Alpine, again, this is surely got to be on the board and the appointing team at Alping again making mistakes. Othma's not exactly the most successful person in his history either, right? starting a long time ago working in Forg's engine department for their normal road cars, deciding to get into racing, eventually wound up at BAR unsuccessfully, then went to Honda wasn't successful, and then went to the fourth in the racing point team, which became Askin Martin.

Was he successful? No, not really. Didn't produce a lot of success there, didn't he? So what will Alpine do? They hire this absolute mid-team principal like engineering. You know, it like, well, what have you achieved, mate? It's not got, you know, pedigree. He's not got a lot of old-school success that he can implement.

It's not like you've taken, you know, Adrian Newey out of Red Bull and put him as your team principal. Same with what we'll have said with James Vowler. At least he was part of a winging team. Othma has won nothing in his whole career. What do you expect when you hire him? I think as much as Othma clearly isn't the best man in the world at his job, that's fine. The three of us aren't either. They still decided to hire him and expect the world to be turned on its head.

Alpine. So as much as Othma hasn't done a great job, Alpine have done a worse job by hiring someone who's already mediocre and expecting greatness in the first place.

That's a very fair point on team principles because if you think about who we have here on the grid, Christian Horner, he was winning with his team in F2,

GP2, before he went to Red Bull. Who else? We got. Freddie Vass. He's had some relative success at Salba.

Who are other team principals? James Vowles did quite well a Mercedes Total Wharf I guess is the one The outlier in that because he didn't do a lot before then But I think evidence has spoken for itself on that one So he's alright, he can stay He's all right

But the trend quite fairly It's a fair point What were the redeeming qualities in Ottmassa And he's saying that he's still got a job With some somewhere in F1 Who? Why? Oh gosh Apparently Bingoso is queued up to

take over the space. That's the name I've been hearing. Good job Alpine. Good job. With the Bonotto thing, has anyone actually identified why they want him? Like, I've got nothing against Bonotto as like, he's very good at what he did, which wasn't team

principal. It was before he was team principal. But has anyone actually identified why he's a leading candidate outside of he hasn't got a job? Just hanging around, mate. They just pluck him. You know Alping engine don't go through. Well, Bono, F1N engines go vroom.

Froom, so they need they get to go vroom vroom, so that's why they get Bogotto. It's go broom, broom, broom with a bee. I would get Franz Tost, he's out of, Alpha Tauri.

He's out of his own thing. He's retired, mate, isn't he? Let him have a little sleep. Never let the toast retire. Never let the toast go cold. Toast for life. Nice. Big fan of that.

Sam, how much trouble are the team in? Oh, huge. You know, monumental trouble. They are one of the leading manufacturers in the sport, and they are at massive risk of not only getting jumps by the current teams that are on the grid at the moment. But 2026 is around the corner.

They're already having to call for engine equalisation. They're going to have to be up against the likes of Honda, who are going to be coming in. Audi, of course, who are going to be coming in. I imagine that them, too, alongside the current frontrunners, are going to start leaving them in the dust. If Askin Martin and McLaren, who are both purchasing customer teams, they're not their own manufacturer.

can leapfrog Alpine this massively. What's stopping already coming in and doing the same thing? What's stopping Williams already catching up coming in and doing the same thing? The only thing they can stay ahead of is Haas, because they just basically sit around in a box and doodle on the wall all day. And they are literally a waste of space. Got to get a haste in there just in case. Yeah.

The grave is deep. Good stuff. I think they are, I don't know how much immediate danger they're in just because they have they have a solid lineup and an okay car. So I think for now they will at least tread water at worst would be my guess, but certainly long term. It's a classic parent thing. Not that I'm a parent, but the classic parent thing.

I'm not angry. I'm just disappointed and it's a shame more than anything because they could be good. Like they are running their own power. They are a factory team. They could be good and they just aren't. They're just, they try to and that they can't even. And it's really annoying. Can I because someone please edit Otmar's face and allow Pined Top onto Ralph Wiggum going,

I'm in danger, please, because I think that would be a really funny meme. And I think where Ralph Wiggum's funny, to be fair. Oh, yes. I think in terms of like young drivers, certainly they've got a few F2 drivers that look okay. But the problem is none of them are piastri. they could have really used him but they got him now overall though

whoever comes in whether it's Bonotto French toast someone else they just need to make sure that the board and whoever is leading the team are just in agreement

on timelines because clearly Otmar Safnaw is like right I've got a hundred races to make this right and it doesn't matter where we are in any of the first 99 if we're okay by race 100 I've done my job

and clearly Alpine have a different idea of yeah, but you didn't say you'd be further behind at race 40 than you would be at race zero. So I think whoever comes in just needs to be clear, okay, I've got nothing that is long term planning. You can have your 100 race plan, which roughly speaking is four and a half seasons. Cool.

But let's put in a few checkpoints. Let's see, where are you after 30 races and after 60 races? And we could really do with you being about here by that point. Because if you set those in place, then you're not stuck in a situation where, well, we might have gone back three positions in the championship. But hey, we're not even halfway there yet, are we, Lance? It just feels like an easy cop-out to give yourself a long contract.

It's like, you know, me going to work and going, I'll make sure I have this project finished in 1,000 days. And I could just sit around and do nothing for the first 973. As I was like, in the last two weeks, I get it done. You know, you can't fire me because I said, 1,000 days. And that's three and a half years. It's not.

But you get the point. There's some questionable maths in that analogy. I never said I was good at maths. I'll roll with it. We got the analogy, but understood. Harry, what do you think needs to happen for whoever comes in next for it to work? I would

get Fernando Alonzo back. No, I wouldn't do that. They just, you're right. They need. And this is why I say it was slightly harsh. They do need the time, but you're right that there needs to be made very clear that it's going to take some time. This isn't going to, this isn't going to happen overnight. I mean, look at, look at Astrid Martin, for example, 2021, 2022, nothing to write home about.

23, a lot to write home about. But even so, still not enough, is it? It's still, even this remarkable year three they're having, it's still, there's not winning races yet. They've been close, but they're not winning anything. So, and that, you know, that's getting close and closer to that 100 race thing that Otmar. So I think in that sense, that wasn't a bad target, but you're right.

They need to be clear that it's to be clear what the journey looks like on the way, because it happens in F1. You have up and down years. You know, we've seen with McLaren where they seem to be on an upward trajectory. and then they've had a bit of a dip, and now they seem to be back on that upward trajectory again. That's easy for you to say. Apparently.

And, you know, progress isn't a smooth line, I don't think, in Formula One. And I think that needs to be made clear to Alpine, and you shouldn't just get rid of people all the time, because that's not how bit of stability, I reckon, would do. Yeah, get the stabilisers back on. Yeah. They're just taking the stabilizers off the bike and they're wobbling everywhere. Again, Simpson's reference where he puts the sticking his own wheel and the bike immediately falls over.

Perfect. You know what? In F1, burglary. Burgling is legal. Oh, no. Trajectory of burglary of burglary. Go out and steal everything. Take team principles.

Take engineers. Get drivers because Oka and Gassi are going to be running for the hills at the end of this summer break. So you're going to need it. Steal an engine or two. You know, go get some youth drivers in there, good. Get them in. Just theft is okay. No.

That's a real right there. Disclaimer, no. On everything Sam says, the Lasterics in the bottom right corner. It's safe just to blanket cover it, I guess. Right, before we go into our first short break, just a quick highlights package, quick one-minute highlights package

of everything that Alpine has done over the last 12 months. Good stuff. We're now going into our... The great stroke he's ever made. Oh, monsieur, I cannot find it. Sacrable. Oh, my dear.

Stop it. We. Helmut Marco has suggested that only two drivers on the F1 grid could compete with Max Verstappen. Bit of a surprise in that they are Logan, Sergeant and Ricardo's alter. I may, you. No, Fernando Alonzo and Lewis Hamilton. were the two drivers he identified as the only ones

who would be capable of matching while competing with, maybe not matching, Max Verstappen. Sam, is he right? I can't believe him saying this, but I completely agree with Helmut Marco. Oh, you've lost your way. I know. It was the French, I think.

Clearly Al Pinawagabagang a negative effect on me. You know, so I think I think he's talking about an entire season. Over the entire season, alongside and Hamilton, I believe, the only two drivers that have the longevity, the consistency, the intensity to keep up those results over and over and over and over again

and keep the pressure wrong. But if you were just talking about a single race distance, you know, at their best, then I do think Lecler is absolute best, quite, you know, could challenge for Stappen. I do think Norris is absolutely best. Russell is absolute best could challenge for Stappan, whether they win or not a different question,

but over a whole season, I think it's very clear that all three of those drivers, so I think are realistically the only three and proper contention for that conversation have proven mistakes. They've shown that they haven't got together 100% at the time. But you look at what Alonso and Hamwitton have done,

season after season, car after car. They're always on the up. They're always in the upper echelon. So I think he's absolutely spot on. And I thoroughly enjoy the fact that he's left out his own co-driver in this conversation. Perez not even getting a mention.

So, yeah, Hamleton, also, 100%, the only two drivers across a whole season that could stick it to Vestappen. in his current form. But I'd argue right now if you were to put their actual abilities together for staff and beats them both.

What are your thoughts, Harry? Do you agree with Mr. Marco? Makes you feel a bit ill to say it, but yeah, I do. I agree. It's over a season. Well, we've seen proof of it with Lewis Hamilton in 2021.

Get slashbacks of the war. Oh, no. But with a long, as well, I think, have we spoken about this one? Maybe it was a beer of breaking. I can't remember something that maybe not always. You're probably well, yeah. Well, how could, if I spoke about it, how can I not be near, you moron?

You'd find a way. I just took yourself in the car or are you listening to us back? I've done talking, I'm answering to you, was? Yeah, that's more appropriate, yeah. But Alonzo on raw speed, I don't think could necessarily compete with this happen. But he would be so annoying. it'd be just psyching him out, trying to psych him out every time. Imagine those two in a team.

Be a nightmare. Anyway, so yeah, I think he's fully correct. I'd say Hamilton slightly more so, but I don't see who else could properly challenge. Russell and LeCler are probably slightly below the pair of them. But they'd give him a good run for his money, I'd say, but not quite in the same way that Alonzo and Hamilton would. I think that clearly Helmut Marco is not or was not a big fan of Formula 3 back in 2014 when Esteban Ockon Leplan beat Max Verstappen in that series.

But how can you bring LaPlan into that? How have you managed that? I'm so sick of it. Have you noticed that one of the two names on the list was beaten by Esteban O'Con last year? I swear to God. Where's the lie? Show me the lie. Okay, in all seriousness.

I would half agree and half disagree with a statement in that I do think that Lewis Hamilton would provide a challenge for Max Verstappen. I have to say I agree with Sam in that I think I would still put my money on Max for Stappen. But I do think that Lewis Hamilton would compete with Max Verstappen. I don't think Fernando Alonzo would be able to do much about him. Blasphemy. Blast for me. I think he would do a better job than what Sergio Perez is doing, but I don't think it would be close enough to be considered a match.

I think the problem is, whereas I think Lewis Hamilton could match Max Verstappen in qualifying, I don't think Fernando Alonzo at this stage in his career can. And I mean, why would he? He's in his mid-40s now. But I just don't think that he'd have the raw outright pace in qualifying to out-qualify Max Verstappen, in which case, I don't think Fernando Alonso in most race situations is going to be able to overtake Vastappan in the same car. Could be wrong. But whereas I think Lewis Hamilton would, I don't know whether it out-qualify Max Vastappan every race or even maybe half the races.

But I think Hamilton would take enough out of Vastappan on a Saturday that he would be able to claim wins here and there. So I half agree and half disagree. I think Fernando Alonkso in a sniff of a race-winging car just becomes the literal hunk, though. Just think he transforms immediately into Gigacad Alonso and he's just so adrenaline-filled for 12 pure months straight. Doesn't sleep wired all the time, you know, just karma, carama, carama, ha, yes, bye-bye, you know, all the time with everything he's saying,

just pure, 100% like adrenaline-filled, inject it into your veins, Fernando Alonso. And then afterwards, I think he would literally have to be. have to retire like Nico Rosberg did because he would just weep with exhaustion. I think you're actually, there's some, I mean, maybe a slight exaggeration on just not sleeping someone, but there's something in the fact that Alonzo, he like goes to a new level when there's a competitive car because he saw on, in spa when he qualified 18 or whatever for the sprint or far down for the sprint and then he just spun off.

I'm not doing this anymore. Don't care. It's like the least for Nana Alonzo thing to happen, him just spinning off. a track, but he's like, whatever, I don't do this anymore, it's boring, and then just walked off. But if he's at the front, he could finish his fifth the next day. I think you might be right, but also we haven't seen him in a race winning car for 11 years. Max's got a longer drought than World War II and World War I combined. I saw that yesterday.

That is such a randomly brilliant fact. I had no idea about that one. The German army got defeated twice in the same time it took out of the race. we're not bringing world wars into the podcast, not happening. Oh, man. Perhaps even more controversial, even though I don't think Fernando Valenzhou would be on that list. I do think Charles LeCleur would be, because whilst I think LeCleur's consistency is a question, again, I think LeClair is the only, oh, do I think this? Bear with me a second.

Do I think this? Yes, I do. I think Charles LeCler is the only driver on the grid that would out qualify Max for Stappen over the course of a full. season. I don't think anyone else would. Yeah, literally used the Hamilton fight as an example when you got the Lecler fight last season and he fully put it in the

bing. Well, the car was nowhere near at the second half of the season. Come on. The first half, he wasn't there either. Yes, it was. Mistake. Were you watching? I was watching him get battered. Max Batterstappen. That's terrible. Why? They were in a championship fight.

When the cars were equal? Verbatten. Okay. I mean, LeClair is a bit of a Saturday merchant. I'll give you that. I don't think he'd beat him, but... Oh, have a day. He cannot put those two together.

Rattled, rattled him. Got him. How am we for... What driver... What driver is LeCler pretty much equal with on pole positions and race swings without winging a world championship? Oh. Should we give LeClaher a Mercedes?

It's Fowlero. Got it. Do you know who's won the same amount of World Championship? Championships, Logan Sargent and Sterling Moss. I can't get that level. I can't get drivers. Yeah. Well, this was interesting.

Lewis Hamilton had something to say about it as well. He was like, yeah, Max for Slappen, wouldn't have it so easy if I was, I was his teammate. What did you make of that rather spicy comments on? I think that you could insert a Ben Hocking comment in there and he basically should have said, boy, I want to be making him nervous because I really do, I do think that. You know, if you gave Hamilton and Vastappen a whole year to adjust to whatever that team dynamic is and, you know, get used to the car handling and the team dynamic, and then you gave them the 2023 season fresh, you know, the expectation you go for it.

I think Hamilton, much like a longso, when they get a sniff of success, it just comes out of them. There's another sight. It oozes out of them. Sexually. Oh, no. Oh, my man. The word oozes was enough.

I love winding you two up so much. I'm fine with it. It's mistalking it. Watch him literally turn inside himself with cringe. I think it would get, we saw it, as you already mentioned, in 2021. I think it would go down to the wire. I think Hamilton would have it in him.

I don't say he would win outright, but I do think he would be able to take it last race, race before last. I think it would be a very, very close competition. I think he, like you mentioned, I think I'll also give him a good run for his money, but I think Hamilton's the only person they could take it to the wire at the moment.

What do you make of the comment, Harry? That's spicy, isn't it? I love it. Spice. So spicy. Yeah, it's just, I, they can't help themselves this too. It's like Hamilton and Alonzo.

It's now, it's Hamilton and Vestappen. They're just little nipping at each other. Like a fly in the room. They're not even, there's no need. They're nowhere near each other in a championship, but just give it a rest of a pair of you,

but they can't help it. They just need another little, another little swing at each other every now and then. And Hamilton, this is her turn to, swing. Be able to say it, but there's some truth in it, like, say Sam, I think he would definitely take it down to the wide with Vastappen, but in all honesty, I can't, I'm not sure my heart can take it.

It's too much. I don't need it again. I'm going to get a two year, another two year break. I'm still not over it. And then Michael Scott, I'm ready to be hurt again. I know, I know why he said this, because obviously you would say it's if you're dominating, but Christian Horny the other day said something about doesn't want any competition yet because he's still recovering from 2021.

and I'm like, I get it. I feel that. Brother, I'm going to relate it so hard to Christian. I love the content too much. I'd have it tomorrow. Yeah, be fair, we would rink to sit dry. Oh, yeah. Yeah, in agreement with you both, spicy comments, I would,

I'd love to see it. I'd love to see them in the same team. Yeah. I'm pretty certain it will never happen, but it would be a sight to behold. before we go into our next ad break and no it's not another tribute to Alpine over the last 12 months

F1 Fantasy or no so at the summer break the leader of our league is it's all Bonn wrong still holds on to the first spot BP racing currently sits P2 and then rounding out the podium is of course

Big Shack the man himself Yeah, yeah, he's in the league, yeah. I forgot. The top scorer for the Belgian Grand Prix specifically was no, Mikey, no, with 377 points. So well done to you. In terms of the three of us, I had a bit of a rubbish week. I've dropped to 51st.

Sam has dropped exactly one position to 304th. Harry, it's on 383rd, which is not 404th. far away from where beef is now because beef's moved up to 410th. She's nipping at your heels, mate. I've got you all exactly where I want you. It's like a slightly northern jaws is coming after you.

Dang. Hello! As she comes out of the water. Hello. Hello. Hello, hello, hello, hello. And then as she gets up to you, momentum.

Oh, this is, this is poor. This is prime. This is. Okay, we will take our next short break. We're going to be discussing the F1 Commission and rejecting proposals for fewer standing starts right after this. Okay, moving on. So the F1 Commission has rejected proposals to limit the use of standing restarts in races

following what happened in the Australian Grand Prix earlier this season. If you remember, there were a couple of standing restarts towards the end of the race linked to red flags. There were two proposals that were put. forth to the commission. One of them was to limit the number of standing starts in a race. And then the second was to remove them from the final laps of the Grand Prix. Both of them were rejected.

They did not have enough support from the teams. Sam, are you happy that this was the outcome? Or do you think that they should have considered one of these two? I may as well have just called this appeal. We want the commission for boring.com. Because honestly, what are you? God.

Like a crap. obviously. That one's for you, crap boy on the submissions. Because seriously, this is, this is rubbish. This is such a waste of everyone's time. We've got the 20 best drivers in the world. And, oh, how many's too many stand and starts? There ain't enough. Keep giving them to me. I want them all.

I want a roll in the bath with standing stars. That's how many I want. Cover me in them. It's so entertaining. They're interesting. They're fun. They're exciting. All the words for good that I can bring up.

It's for. They're good enough to be able to drive around each other And Australia was a bit of embarrassment All the crashes going on But you don't get into Formula One To then go, I can only do two standing starts this weekend Otherwise, it's, you know, I'll just crash It's just the three is just magic number

Three means crash Honestly, it is the most ridiculous decision That they ever decided to put that forward I'm so glad they've all decided No, it would have been a real joke, I think, To go after two and 20 laps before the end, we have to all do a safety car restart.

I don't want it. I don't want it. Australia was chaos, but boy, was it exciting. So keep it up. Well done. We'll get that one written down. Sam thinks that F1 has done a good thing.

Harry, do you think F1 has done a good thing? I think that this was a bit of a wasted time because you're appealing for something that is like very rare. Like, when was the last? time before that, if ever, we had a standing start on the last lap of a race. Is it Baku? Maybe yes. All right, we've had two then.

Doesn't happen that often. And I don't know. It just feels a bit like, why are you bothering? Like, whatever. I don't, I just get on with it. I'm, yeah, I'm with Sam. It's a bit boring. And limiting the amount of standing starts in a race.

why? If we have red flags, they have a standing start. Like, why did you need to limit that? What happens if, say we had like quite a few red flags, you have sums that are standing starts and then at a certain point you start going to rolling starts, for why? I mean, look at Magello 2020, we had a rolling start there. That went well, didn't it? It went really well. Yeah. So it's no less, no less carnage. No less carnage at a standing start. I don't think than there is a rolling start. I'm glad F1 I've rejected this yeah you're right

it's bought on by the fun police and everyone needs to get a grip thank goodness for F1 that's what I always say much like Otmar's famous quote that's my famous quote

say it all the time thank goodness for Formula 1 and I actually mean it this time because they haven't buckled under the pressure of these drivers thank goodness they've done that at the time I was completely against all of the drivers that were critical of the decision.

I know there were quite a few who were critical of the decision to have standing starts late on in that Grand Prix. Stappan was one of them. I think Alonzo was one of them. I was completely against them now and I'm still against them today. And I'm glad F1, apparently, for once, agrees with me. Yeah, the standing start is pretty similar in it to what they do at the beginning of a race. I've seen that happen, you know.

I mean, should we just start all races behind the safety car now? I reckon just don't start any races. That's another option. Let's do that. No starts. No starts. Just championship order every race. Just alphabetical order.

Whoever is first alphabetically wins the championship. Aronetanson is going to be delighted. Change your mind now. Yeah, absolutely. You could be a world champion next week. The argument towards the end of a Grand Prix, is just ridiculous to limit these because it's on, again, to your point, Sam, they are supposedly the 20 best drivers in the world. I feel like they should be able to figure out how aggressive they

should go into a restart that's towards the end of the Grand Prix. I know that the argument from their side is there's more desperation because there's less time to make up positions and you want to make the positions as soon as you possibly can, particularly if there's only three laps to go or two laps to go, whatever it might be, but that's on the drivers to assess what kind of risk they want to put into it. Do they want to go all out with the potential to pick up a few points later on? Sure, go for it. If you want to be more cautious to make sure you make the end and one of those crashes doesn't happen to you. Again, go for it. That's up to you. It's decision making. Decision making is involved in everything in Formula One, from strategy to how do you develop your car,

to which drivers do you take, to who do you hire? Alpine don't do it very well, but other teams do. It's all about decision making. So why on earth would you strip decision making out of this one particular area in the, for the sake of, oh, we're crashing too much when there's a red flag? Great. Alter your approach. Speaking of buckling to demands of.

of drivers, which hasn't happened here, but might be happening elsewhere. Sam, do you have any thoughts on the tyre blanket discussion that's ongoing at the moment? Because it looks like that's going to be delayed for an extra year. Yeah, why? What is actually the reasoning behind it? I just, again... Get a grip, everyone. Literally.

Literally. Yeah, right? He's even realised it. He didn't realize he did that. He's a genius. Actually a genius. Oh, I'm confused of that as well. Um, so, yeah, honestly, I'm so bored of flaky decisions.

It's all getting a bit Jeff Buckley over here, in it? Because it is so, like, you're bottling the job every single time you get. You get one, one dub, one big dubier, and you immediately fall out with a big fat L. You're taking the LF one because you put the L in formula. Why? Just 20 best drivers, doesn't matter what's going on. They're the 20 best drivers. So the tires are hot, the tires are cold.

the tires are grippy, the tires are wet, I don't care what they are. They need to do the race. Get on to do the race. Why do we need to delay it? I don't understand. I'm talking because I don't understand. So I'm just going to keep going into one of you stop me because I don't know what's going on. So I recommend one of you say something now because it's going to keep going on. Stop. Stop.

Stop now. Keep going. Please stop. Yeah. It's all a bit silly, in it. I mean, just, I can't remember who said it. It might have been, no, I can't remember who said it. One of the drivers came out and mentioned that Formula One. is going to look quite silly if they introduce this. It's like, well, it's all right an indie car, in it?

Why, why would you look, oh, man. It's all right for Formula 2. Formula 2, do it. Formula 2. It's all right, in it? Why did you say that weird? Formula 2. Like, Formula 2.

I was putting the L in formula. Formula 2. Formula 2. Formula L. Um, yeah, just everyone, grow up. You've, you've experienced it before in other junior formulas. Now you've come to, you know, F1 have been monocoddled by these lovely warm tire blankets. I'm now just thinking of bloody the in-betweener scene where signing a wheel grow up, shouting it at each other in the street.

Well, you grow up. Oh, grow up. Precisely that. That's actually F-1 teams. and Formula One itself, yeah. Yeah, I just, this is again, we've said it so many times, it's the drivers and it's the teams

having far too much input into the rules of Formula One. Just FIA F1, you make the rules and you say, hello F1 teams and any other teams. These are the... Hello! Hello! It's Mr. F1.

No, hello F1 teams. Papa F1. These are the rules. If you like them, come in, come in and join our sport. If you don't like them, 2-1, do one. Go away. And that should be it. Thank you.

Yeah, couldn't agree more. Let's move on to F1 Academy. So this news came out recently that 10 teams will be nominating a driver in the series next year. And all 10 of them will run a livery from that team. So overall, there are 15. drivers in the sport. So obviously two thirds of them will be covered by this, although Formula One have also stated that the other five will be

supported by other partners. They didn't get into any more depth than that. But it doesn't look as if the other five drivers will be completely put out, you know, compared to the others. What were your thoughts, Sam, on more team involvement in the sport? I mean, my initial thought was, sucks to be one other five. Yeah, yeah. It looks like Sunday will at least do something with them.

Yeah, well, I think, I hope so. Standing on the sidelines. You know, not great. I thought the initial process of this, the initial development, the announcement was absolutely fantastic. We need, obviously, to highlight brilliant young women in motorsport. And what says that more than the creme de la creme of racing teams, giving them their full backing, their full branding, their full sponsorship?

and I think this is a great first step. I mean, start airing it in the next year. That's a great next step. Actually, you could put them in the liveries, but if no one can see the liverys, they basically, you know, if a tree falls in the woods and no one's around or hear it,

does it make a noise? Haven't they announced they're doing there this year? Yeah, I believe that that's the plan. Hell of eyes, series. Oh, Ben's running out on the book. Get it in the book. But I think, you know, this is another very strong step for the Academy.

And I know that Susie Wolfe came out was very proud. she's kind of led a lot of this initiation, and I think it shows great management, which she seems to instill pretty much everywhere she goes. And I think this is another great bond between the top, the pinnacle that they're all aiming for and their grassroots systems that they're having to enter into.

Now, something that I want to make sure we're getting, and I know there is support from F1 Academy, then going F3, F2, whatever it might be. I don't just want these F1 teams to pick up and drop these young women in the moment they go, are you done a season? Cool. We'll keep our branding on the car, but whatever.

You know, if they win their title, I want to see, you know, I don't know, the Alpha Amayo slash Audi young person carry their support through, you know, keep moving them through the system. Keep giving them that support and that PR and that sponsorship and that growth. You have an opportunity to really start nurturing talent and giving it the opportunity it deserves. I just want to make sure that they're going to help take that next step as well. And this isn't just a essentially a PR exercise that makes the team. seems actually look good while it's happening in the season

and then they wash their hands of it. So I'm sure they have. I'm sure they put in the, you know, the foundations and the scaffolding to make sure that it's being brought through. But I just hope it is there, you know. Harry, do you think this is a positive move? 100%.

I completely agree with what Sam said as well, which is unusual. But this is a very positive step for this series. But what I don't want it to be is just a, just a flash in the pan PR exercise, as you say something, to make them look like they're supporting. It needs to be, needs to extend further than that. And I am confident that it will, given that it is an F1 series, you know, led by F1. But yeah, this is, this is definitely positive. I understand why they did, they started this series quite so soon after W series because

I guess if they hadn't, there'd have been the market, the space in the market for someone else to have that opportunity up. Having said that, feels like they had to rush. Yeah, wait a year. They rushed into this so badly. Because as we've already mentioned,

televised series, which they are now doing, going to be doing. But this as well, imagine if they'd come, they'd announced this, you know, in 2024,

we are going to have this series F1 Academy. All 10 F1 teams are involved with it. It's going to be televised. You can watch it here. Would have been, would have had so much more impact to the WOTR.

been an invisible series so far. But as I say, I understand why they did it, but they should have probably waited a year. Anyway, it's a good thing entirely. And I'm pleased to see that the F1 teams are getting involved. But as you say, Sam, I do hope that it means that if there's genuine success for these women, these drivers in this series, that they can then progress onto what I assume will be Formula 2 and then into F1 eventually. So fingers crossed. that is what's going to happen, but definitely a positive step.

There is certainly a degree of logic to this. The whole point in this series was that it was going to be different and more closely associated than W series was. Now, W series for its pros and cons was completely separate from the F1 ladder, which I think always made the integration very difficult. never, it never happened. But here there is supposedly, or supposed to be, an association between the series and Formula One and indeed the F1 F2, F3 pyramid that currently exists. And to your point, Harry, they probably should have waited a year because there hasn't really been any tangible benefit to having the F1 name this year. They're not supporting F1 in terms of

the race weekend. It's not televised. There's no team association whatsoever. It is pretty much. at the moment, a smaller non-televised W series, which isn't a great tagline. So realistically, yes, they should have waited a year. And there is logic to this because, yes, if you have, it will be a support on the support bill for F1 races next year, closer association. There will be liveried cars from the F1 teams. That's, again, a step towards that association. I think overall, I'm less positive about this.

I can't see much benefit to this actual change in the, I don't think running the liveries is going to do much. There is a question mark, how much support will they get from these teams? But at least from the statement, I can't quite work out what they are committed to. There will be representation. I don't even really think it stipulates that any of the, women will need to be a part of the driver academies of these teams. It will just be that there will be a driver who runs each livery in this series. Now, I don't think, I could be wrong, if we're talking

about F2, for example, does anyone go out their way to watch F2 because you've got Red Bull liveryed Yuma Owasa against Alpine liveried Jack Dewan dueling it out? I don't think the livery or the, the Academy matters at all when it comes to someone's decision to tune into F2, then same with F3, which makes me skeptical about whether this is actually going to have much of a benefit here in F1 Academy. Are people going to go out of their way to see what this person associated with this driver academy is racing against this person from a different academy? I don't actually know whether it's going to have much benefit. I know it's been listed as a, I think the statement called it, a landmark moment. But quite honestly,

I can't see it without there being the support. And it kind of speaks to both of your reservations, I guess, without the support from the teams and continuing support to push these women up the ladder, I don't see where the benefit actually is. It feels like this might be harsh. It feels at the moment like there's a lot of passing on the back without actually any results coming from this yet.

And that's all I want to. I want to see the fruits of this. I want to see something actually work. and a success story. I don't want to say a success story. I want to see success stories plural from this. But until I see that, these seem less tangible.

I can't place my finger on, yes, this will absolutely have a benefit to viewing figures or yes, this will absolutely have a benefit to progression. But I'm a skeptical person. So that might just be me. Skeptical,

it's a fair point, though. If all it is is basically, you know, you're putting on a jacket it with a brand on it and then you take it off again and nothing happens. Yeah, I mean, I kind of thought that each of the teams would go out and do their scouting and bringing a driver that they thought related directly to their... I hope they do.

Yeah. But you're right. I have not seen it written down in stone that this driver will become a part of their academy and it will become part of their, you know, journey. You're right. If all it is is literally like a skin that you're putting on the car and then you whip it off again at the end of the season and give it to someone else, what, yeah, what's the point?

And we do know it will still be the same junior teams, same as F2 and F3, where it's not, you know, Jack Dewan's not racing for Alpine in F2, but he is running the F2 livery, but it's for a junior team. It'll be the same situation here in F1 Academy. Okay, we'll take our last short break of this episode.

We'll be playing F1 back and forth right after this. Whoop, who and your crew to the big shows with Go Transit. Go connects to all. all the main concert venues like TD Coliseum in Hamilton and Scotia Bank Arena in Toronto. And Go makes it affordable with special e-ticket fares. A one-day weekend pass offers unlimited travel across the network on any weekend day or holiday for just $10. And a weekday group pass offers the same weekday travel flexibility from $30 for two people and up to $60 for five. Buy yours at go-transit.com slash tickets.

Ead, load her up. Cheers. Hocking. F1. Back and forth, it's F1. Back and forth, it goes backwards. Then goes forth, it's F1. Back and forth, F1.

Don't play it again. Oh, is it stopping? That's just the end of it, mate. Yeah. No, I couldn't hear it properly. I thought it restarted. Oh, no, no, no, no. We're not, we're not how much it's hereby.

well okay honestly within the next 50 years we could create another 50 jingles nothing will ever be back and forth never one a year I could do one a year that's fine is that acceptable working conditions for you

I reckon I can get that over the line I'll ask up Mara if he agrees you have 50 jingle plan on jingle 27 I'll be replaced as a host oh man okay back and forth So Harry takes on Sam.

If you've listened to one of these before, you'll know the rules. But we always get new people in. Welcome along, if you are new. Back and forth is Harry versus Sam, where they will take it in turns to provide correct answers to a question. There are multiple correct answers. I think there's about, I haven't written down how many of there are today. I think it's about 23, possibly.

What's the point in the quiz factor over there? If you can't even write down how many of us. I just said we're not amateurs here. You're making this look like amateurs. Hang on a minute. One, two, three, four, five, six, aren't they? We're listening to Ben counting. I was actually right on this.

It was 23. 23 correct answers. They'll keep on going back and forth until one of them can't think of an answer or gives a wrong answer. To aid the amateur conversation here, we might have done this before and I've forgotten about it,

in which case, massive apologies. Long gosh, has a joke. I want you to name the 23 countries that have an F-1 race winner. Oh, we have done this one. have we? Yeah. I thought we'd done a similar one,

but I wasn't sure if we'd done this exact one, but... Oh, maybe we did the countries that have had an F1 race driver. Oh, we wouldn't have done that. There'd have been too many. Been in for days.

Too many. Right. Too many. Okay. So there are 23 countries that have an F1 race winner from it. And we will start with Mr. Sage. Oh, that's me.

Um, do I need to break down the UK. I was literally going to ask the same question. Yeah. You do not want to break down the UK. Okay. The UK. The United Kingdom is a correct answer. The most number of race winners have come from the United Kingdom with 20 and 10 of them have been world champions. I'm writing them down. Sorry, I just need to make notes. It's a pen and paper. There we are. Good. Harry. Spain.

Spain. Can, how many do you think there have been? Two. Yep, two. The current ones. Fernando Alonzo and Carlos Seines. Sam, back to you. Germany. Germany is a correct answer. Seven race winners have come from Germany, including, of course, Michael Schumacher with 91 and Sebastian Vettel with 53. Harry. France. France is a correct answer. 14 race winners, although the only race winner from France to get into double figures was Alam Prost. Every other one, single figures. Sam. Brazil. Brazil. It's a correct answer. Six race winners from Brazil

and half of them have been world champions. Harry. The United States of America. Yeah, massively helped by the Indy 500 in the 1950s. There you have 15 race winners. I think if we're excluding the Indy 500, the number might actually be about.

but 15 for the sake of this list. Sam. Italy. Italy is a correct answer. Yeah, so the second most tied with the USA actually with 15. But nine of them have only had one race win. So only six multiple time race winners from the country. Harry.

Canada. Canada. How many do you think they've been from Canada? One too many. There are two. and they share the same surname, of course, Jacques Angeel Villeneuve. Sam.

Argentina, famous for Heinz Harold Frenchon. He's not on the list, but it is a correct answer. Three, including Fangio. Harry. Australia, mate. I almost want to say no for the accent, but I will say yes. Four race winners from Australia,

and all of them have between 8 and 14 wins. Don't know if that means much to anyone, but you've had it nonetheless. Sam. The Netherlands. The Netherlands. Just one race winner from the Netherlands. Can you name him? Denny Holm.

Jan Lammers. Max for Stapham. Danny Holm. Harry. New Zealand. Speaking of, Denny Holm, two race winners from New Zealand, including that man and Bruce McLaren. Sam.

Mexico Mexico Two race winners Including Sergio Perez Who is This moment in time Is on six race wins Harry

Austria Austria Three in Austria Including Nikki Lauda Nicky Lauda Going along nicely here I think we've got Oh

8 left Eight Yeah Sorry who said that one Wait I said Austria Okay, Sam. South Africa.

South Africa. Just one race winner from South Africa, that being 1979 World Champion, Jody Schechter. Harry. Belgium? Belgium is a correct answer. Jackie Ix, Sam's favourite driver, and Tieri Boots and Cats.

Sam. Monaco. Oh, yeah. One race winner from Monaco, can you name him? Hmm. No, that's what coming to mind. Olivier Beretta.

That's the one. Also known as Shola Clair. Harry. Switzerland? Switzerland is a correct answer. Clay Ragazzoni and Joseph. Sam. Venezuela.

Pastor Maldonado, of course. There he is. Makes an appearance. Correct. Harry. Columbia. One Pablo Montoya. The only race winner from Colombia.

Sam, back to you. Yeah, I'm struggling at this point. I think there are three left. Columbia was the last definite one I had. Ooh. Oh, come on. We've got to go. Finland. Finland.

Five race winners from Finland, including Kimmy Reichenen and Mika Hakenen. Two left, Harry. Can you name either of them? Sweden? Sweden is a correct answer. Three race winners from Sweden, including Ronnie Peterson,

which means, Sam, if you can name this last one, and I'm going to double check. I am going to double check here. Sam, no. We've done so well. is one more. Can't do it.

And there's only one driver who has won from this country. Oh, I'm sorry to this person. Poland. Robert Kubitser. He's done it. He's done it. Yes. Yes.

2008 Canadian Grand Prix won by Robert Kubitser from Poland. that is a clean sweep. I'm in Japan with a question mark. I'm so glad I'm going to say it. I was thinking Japan, but I'm glad I'm going to be... Yeah, they really have our podiums, I guess. Oh, this is my mum's workbook. Sorry, Mum.

Sorry, Mum. Sell that in a few years' time. Yeah, I'll sign it now. It'd be worth less than it's worth now. Good. Well, I have to say, that was a thoroughly enjoyable segment of the late breaking F1 podcast. It was great.

It was excellent. Nay, it was amazing. Christ. Are you a horse? But I tell you something, it's not the greatest segment in all the Formula One podcasting because that is

the LB question of the week. Week. Week. Week. It's worse every time. I can't think of any more variation. say week. Anyway, question of the week.

We post this out, as usual, on Instagram and Twitter on a Monday, ready for our recording on a Wednesday. This time it was another visual question of the week following last week's headshots one. What is Sam protesting was the question with a bit more context. It was Sam holding up a sign saying, saying what? There's too many. But what was Sam actually protesting? Any answers that you like. some people know me very well

yeah there were a lot of accurate answers yeah real or no real haters I don't know any of them but if there are ones too many Ben I see you no I like real

or no real it's no lehmins easy anyone don't like it hase cars you're not wrong French names that are hard to pronounce yeah

came up a few types yeah it's very correct Harry there's one specifically for you from Alicia on Instagram have you seen it No, what is it? Five star reviews. Ah.

That was the worst answer of the lot. That's not true because there's not enough of them. We need more of them. Yeah. Also to the person who very kind of doubt there's a lovely review the other day, but also just gave us two stars. That's not what we need.

I'm leaving. Thank you, but also no, thank you. You can write the most horrible message as long as it says five stars on it. I don't care. Oh. Seb Coppin, who we've met, said the amount of time I thought, your mum, remembering questions of the week, which really made me chuckle.

John, I know what's even better about Seb, who is aka Seablishers. What? If you go onto his Discord profile and look at his About Me section, it simply says, show me the milfs. Oh my God. God's sake. It's an ever two many yellows. In what context

are you ever saying that? It's like him and Otmar saying Is he at Am I? I have to read this out because it's a masterpiece and it's from Master of the Sun. Okay? Brace yourselves, folks.

Go on. They've written. Trying to figure out what's that, sorry, to the question of what is Sam protesting here, they've written. Trying to figure out what Sam is protesting

is like going to the market and standing in the cereal aisle and looking at all the different shapes of cereals. I'm trying to figure out which one shape won't go soggy and you stay all, you state, oh sorry, and you stare at all of the shapes and then start talking to yourself, oh,

I'm a whole grain and I'm healthy but I'm a honey nut and maybe I'm the best one or I'm a crispy rice puff. And then you realize this isn't a shape but an ingredient of what the hell am I doing in my life? This is just cereal. I can't make a choice. There's too many. And that's what it's like trying

to unpuzzle that beautiful mind. I don't know. And then he's put a reply to that saying, and then you remember the breakfast bar. Is that your burner account? Yeah, apparently, master the Sam. It should have been nicknamed because he's managed to entwine a brilliant analogy into the question of the week,

which is the best segment. Honestly, one of the best answers we've had. I appreciate the effort on that. There were a lot of good answers. Bud saying Ben and Harry's correct, bold predictions, which I'm sure is one that Sam agrees with. Who else? Dakota, Papa Toto's children needing jobs.

Fair answer. I mean, Sam's lovely Rosie came in with Dave Benton-Philip preferences. Never enough. Which is there. Hungover race reviews from Dan. Yeah. Lastly, oh no, I've got two more. Cali said that

seconds in the average beef submission which was savage. I had to tell her off. And then lastly from Matthew Bonner saying gigabytes in Skylar submissions. True. Also a lot of Sosagis references, which I'll always appreciate.

Of course. I think that's just an answer regardless of what the question is, to be honest. Sossack is? Right. It's probably a bit of a in it. Yeah. Yeah.

Exciting times though, because next podcast, we're up, not only we all hear again, which two in a row, that's ridiculous in its own right. Hey, this is two in a row. We're all in the same place. Yeah, this is two in a row. It'll be three in a row, mate. They'll be, be there's three. We'll get those BBC three slugs. They're not even slugs, are they?

They're not actually slugs. Well, they're agamated. Yeah, but I, they're not animated slugs either. What? What? The cartoon slugs, mate. They're not slugs. They look like slugs,

but they're not slugs. I'm so confused. What are they in, Ben? I don't know what they are, but they're not slugs. Well, that's a topic for another day. That's the next question of the week.

What are the slugs? What are the slugs that look like slugs? Get us out of it. Oh, this is being a silly podcast. Yeah, we're all together and we might have a cheeky announcement for you on next Sunday's episode. So you're going to watch.

to ensure you tune into that one because it is EA Sports. Big. Which is another great reference. I'm just saying rightly in there. So sad. We've got Patreon, the links in the description. If you want more content from us, two extra episodes every single month and beer with breaking, plus discount on merch and ag-free episodes, then check it out. We appreciate everyone that already does.

Discog in there as well, 2,000 people talking F-1 and all sorts of other bits and bobs. And if you check the licky and the discreppy, you'll make sure you'll see that we've got social media, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok. Don't actually have any of these things. Actually, I put in the description, probably not. But with a late breaking F1, all of them, we've also got YouTube. So if you want to see our faces, as well as listen to our mouths,

then head over to the Yub Tubbs where we are late breaking F1. You'll have a great time, I promise. In the meantime, I'll be Samuel Sage. I've been Ben Hawking. And I've been Mike Bedelski. Yeah, nice. Always watching you, Badowski. It's walking.

I was going to try to a roll. Impression to her. Keep breaking late. This is the worst podcast in the world. Bye. Bye. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.