The Late Braking F1 Podcast - How would we FIX Formula 1?

Episode Date: February 7, 2024

The LB boys discuss what changes they would make to improve F1 as a sport.. They also cover Alex Albon's F1 future amidst Red Bull and Mercedes rumours, the recently announced changes to F1's format for 2024, and Sauber's legal turmoil. They finish with a game of F1: Late Faking... FOLLOW us on socials! You can find us on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok SUPPORT our Patreon for bonus episodes, historic race reviews & more! JOIN our Discord community JOIN our F1 Fantasy League: Link to SIGN UP & create your team Link to JOIN our league (join code: C3PHEQHPU04) 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. Welcome to the Late Breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking. We're back with another episode. What number episode is it? I think we've got a little intradictory of what it could be. What is it again?

Obviously, that was so good. We've been planning that for weeks. Five or six episodes at least. So good. Start of the year, I think. Yeah, and it was going to be on Sunday. This is going to be Sunday's episode, but then we didn't, you did an extra episode.

You don't know the chaos. Oh, it's been absolute chaos. But Lil John, he's here. 369. 369. Nice. And you should listen to this episode to the window and then back to the wall. We really built up that moment.

And you know what? Not worth it. Oh, dear. Little John indeed. Yep. Anyway, we're back, I mean, that indicates we're back on the soundboard at least. So we've got a better chance of this one going smoother than last weeks. Oh my God.

Sunday was painful. I wish one to have better internet. Actually, it wasn't even my fault. I was fine. We just can never be a part. We just can't use the other software that won't be mentioned. You and that can't be allowed to part. The sound board.

Yeah. We apologize to both Kirstie and to listeners if it was a poor experience. yeah we recorded that like two and then kirsty edited it all afternoon yeah entire sunday afternoon spent listening to us a minute form so we're sorry we're sorry our apologies indeed um in better news um good news regarding patreon i know we've discussed this previously that changes were coming but changes are now here folks um we've got some new benefits that are live so if you'd like to get involved on patreon or indeed if you are already involved in Patreon and want to check out some of the new features on another tier you can do.

We've still got the old classics. Nothing's changing in terms of ad-free episodes. That's still available that you can listen directly through Spotify on there if you choose to. Two full bonus episodes, same deal there. But we've got a few new perks, the likes of a history series. We're going to be doing some reviews of some classic races from days gone by. We're going to be doing power rankings after every race this year. event priority as well. We are going to try and do some more events this year and you will be the first to know and the first to be able to book if you're on the right tier. So there's far more detail about what you can get on each one if you go on to the Patreon link in the description, but just wanted to let you know, to let you know, to know, to let you know, it's a cup of coffee, really. Shut the front door. There's no front door. There's no front door. I bet that costs like £100 a month. You know what? It doesn't cost a hundred pounds a month. It's a bargain. Cost of a cup of coffee, really. Shut the front door.

There's no front doors in this room, but I will slam them on my way out. That's how exacerbated the situation is. Good Lord. That's a, that is a bargain. Don't buy a coffee. Buy a late-breaking podcast because we're really eating it. Thank you. Was that the kind of cell you were looking for?

Yeah, good. We're in. Smash that. Yep. Cheers, guys. Appreciate it. Coming up on today's episode, late faking makes an appearance a little bit later on. We're going to be discussing some of the 2024 changes coming in,

including DRS changes and the Sprint Weekend, changing format. Alex Albin's future, we're going to be discussing that in a little bit, but we're going to start with a terrifying question. What would late breaking do to fix F1, or more possibly, break it even further? But I know, Sam, you were keen to get this one on the schedule. So I'm going to start with you. Take us any direction you'd like. How on earth are you going to fix F1?

I'm going to start relevant and what's happening right now, and that is this bloody livery scandal that's going on that we're watching play out in the media. Four minutes, he managed without mentioning this. I am fuming. Do F1 seems to know what paint is anymore? Have they only got one deluxe tester pot between them? And they've got to paint the whole car with it.

And they've gone and run out Saskatchewy Carbon now. There has to be a change where there's a mandate of how much of the car minimum you must be painting. And if you are a black livery's car like Mercedes had been of recent times, then you have to paint it black, not to quote the Rolling Stones, but you have to paint it black. You cannot have it as carbon, okay? I do not care about your weight saving.

I do not care about your budget caps. What's happening to branding? Do you not a brand anymore? Ferrari as well. And Red Bull are the two teams that were at the top for most of the year last year and Aston Martin. Do you what they didn't do?

I have loads of exposed carbon. Covered their cars in paint. And a wonderful time, didn't they? Can I argue with that logic, can you? Picked up more podium, wings and anything and point to everyone else. No. No arguing allowed. I've spoken, paint your cars, there needs to be a rule about it, because branding is important

and you look at a team like Ferrari, and I hate to admit it, but a team like Red Bull, I just don't like the livery that much, but it is becoming quite iconic, and you recognise it at a glance. So if you are steak, which we're not allowed to call it steak anymore, so, you know, salber, if you're salver, if you're salver, if you're south. That's so true. We're in the United Kingdom and the BBC aren't allowed to say it either. So, you know, if you are salber, you're just a bad late breaking livery now. are, how can you ruin our gardens like that? You've used them terribly and we do not condone this.

Anyway, I hate it, fix it. I miss the bright colour grigs that we have had over the years. And if you think that that is the last we're going to say on liveries, you'll be very disappointed because we've got Pimp My F1 coming up very soon when all 10 teams have released their liveries and we'll be giving out, we'll be trying to give out some positive awards, I guess. But as you say, so many going down this carbon fibre path, I don't know, I guess from my side is,

I'm equally annoyed and I agree with you. It's just I can't really blame the teams for it because they're allowed to do it. And I just wish the ruling was different. Like you say, the mandate has to be in place because otherwise the teams are always just going to try and gain every minuscule opportunity they can to push themselves forward. So I think it's more on the sport than it is the teams, I guess. But I even compared to say three years ago, like five years ago, the grid is going to look. radically different, but also the same, if that makes sense. Yeah, it's just, it's just too dark.

Like, if you don't turn your brightness all the way up, I know a lot of people don't. I live life on the age. I have everything on full brightness all of the time. All of the time. My phone is always on full brightness. All the stimulation. Yeah, I need to be, I need my face to be in, like, heaven,

if you look at me from across a dark room. Even then, everything's just going to be a sea of grey. and it's going to be rubbish and miserable. I hate it. I love Pip My F-1, and this year it's going to be just me being angry for a whole hour. Devastated. Well, we've still got Visa Cash App R.B, so it's all good. I hate that that's probably going to be the best one as well.

I hate it because I saw the back end leaked. Good Lord. I know. Did you just say the words, I saw the back end leaked? Yes. That wasn't the problem. It was the click afterwards. And then I winked and finging.

going to the camera. Oh my God. Yeah. Anyway, the colors that I've seen, they look good and it doesn't look like you can slap a longer carbon fiber on those colors.

So let's hope. Fingers are crossed. Still time. Well, good. We've got liveries out of the way early. I might as well just, I'm not going to go into depth on this one because I've said

it so many times. I just need to mention it because we are talking about fixing F1, rolling calendar. It's a good idea. Get on board with it F1. But I'm not going to go into depth about that today. Stewarding probably deserves a mention here because it's not not brilliant,

is it? Five seconds for you, mate, but also five seconds for you and everyone else. I feel like the decision-making process absolutely needs to be streamlined to avoid embarrassment more than anything. I think there's been so many occasions in the last few years where stewarding has, the delays in which decisions are made. Like, you, you know, you're sitting five hours after a Grand Prix, not knowing if this person's on the podium because they've been investigated for this and they haven't made a decision about it yet.

I think it just makes the sport appear a bit of a farce. If you're invested as I guess the likes of us are and there'll be other very dedicated fans around the world that will grit their teeth and put up with it, but there are others that aren't going to. And it's just needlessly confusing. So I feel like stewarding needs an overhaul so that we can get to a position where decisions are made in the moment as they happen.

Are they going to be wrong decisions made as a result of that? Yes and no. In that yes, you will be forced to rush your decisions a little bit more, but also there are so many decisions that happen in F1 already where no one really knows what the right answer is, and it's down to interpretation. I'd like to see the rulings, the guidelines, I guess, be a bit clearer to ensure that multiple people can, you know, give out rulings and get to the same result.

I don't think we're ever going to get to a perfect world, but at the same time, I don't think it's feasible to have one set of stewards. I'd like to see, you know, in the same way that there are hundreds of football referees, right, that follow the same guidelines. I'd like F1 to get to a same point. And I guess something is an add-on. I'd like to see comms back in terms of, I don't think it was done properly in terms of Michael Massey

and Jonathan Wheatley and it became a bit of a joke. But actually, I think the transparency that FE has, actually the F1 has never really got on board with, is needed. So classic stewarding right there. Yeah, it's sneaky. I think, and I can't really I'm going to say this, something that rugby does very, very well is when they're making a decision,

you can hear the referee talking and I had one of those headsets on when we went to Cota where I could hear the commentary all the time and it would not be too much of a difficult stretch to play the stewarding room conversations over that headset on the channel that you can switch you to listen to discussions. Also, justice for the drive-thru.

Where is the drive-thru? Penalty. Bring it back. Bring it back. Justice for the 10-second stop-go. I need that in my life. Because it's savage. I can make a cup of tea in that time. And I'm proving it.

a very old piece of content that we do. I won't be going back to that. But yeah, I mean, you're right, Ben. It's inconsistent by weirdly being too consistent for the wrong reasons. The fact that it's just a default decision means that, you know, a child could just do it.

Anytime there's a contact or there's a problem, same button, press the same button again. Who cares? It's like they've all gone out for a beer and left the dog there and there's a treat on the button. Just press the button repeatedly every time. Let's be a knock on. Five seconds.

Woof. Yeah, you're right. It's a mess. It's a mess. It needs to change. Harry, any points? My first one I had down was get rid of V6 turbohybrids, bring back V10s. This is an interesting one. But you're going down the Curran Chandok School of Fort here. A friend of the podcast. Yes, I am. He's a wise man and I fully believe in it. So you bring back V10s. I'd be happy with V8s, but, you know, V10s if we're going to, if going to do us properly. And you use sustainable fuels. Sebastian Vettel literally does it.

He literally does it. The man does it already. So if he can do it, F1 can do it. Because I know it makes no difference to the racing, to be honest. But it's the spectacle of F1 and it's missing. And I know these cars are way loud of them. They used to be at the start of the hybrid era, but it's just not the same.

A V10 rattles your fillings. I still know that sound in an instant. It's just so good. And I just think it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, is, is, is, is the noise. Um, so, I, that, I, that, I'd fully, I also think it'd be cheaper because these turbohybrids are insane. They're so expensive. It'll be, it's such a visceral experience if you listen to those v.10s next sort of track. Yeah. And I think from a noise perspective, I, I, I've always been a little bit less fuss about noise compared to the average fan maybe, but it's absolutely a benefit. but actually, as you say, it's cost as well. And also, something I've got ridden down is we need lighter, more agile cars.

That's very difficult to achieve with the way batteries are heavy boys. If we get back to this sort of thing, I think they almost go hand in hand. You can easily achieve lighter, more agile cars by going with that solution. I also had lighter, smaller cars on my list. Smaller cars was also on my list. I might as well as I'm going to say, because what's the Braun documentary? And I know it's doesn't line.

I'm not saying that was the perfect formula there. But the cars just look, they look quicker. That doesn't make any sense because they literally weren't, but they just look quicker. They're so nimble. So nimble and like chuckable. They are chuckable.

You could pick one out. A big shack could throw one. Yeah, that's a good challenge. Can big shat throw a brawn. What car can big shack throw? But it, I just, they are, the ones we have now are so heavy and cumbersome and just massive, chunky. And I know they are going to get slightly smaller in, uh, 20, 26, but not small enough and also still

so heavy. Yeah. Doesn't need to be that heavy. Long, cumbersome, difficult boys. That's what they call us. Uh, uh, I'll move on swiftly. Uh, another one that I had, which I know. that we're all in somewhat of agreement, but for different reasons, is DRS needs adjusting.

Now, we're going to get on to the talking point of when DRS is active later on in the podcast. But I do think that the way DRS is used needs to be adjusted. And I think I'm all for the push to pass amount of times you're allowed to use it style adjustment, where I don't mind it being there as an aid, but I think you can use it to go faster. Go go fast. You can use it when you're not over time. down the straits that are safe and acceptable. I think that's fine.

But I think that you only get a maximum amount of uses in a Grand Prix and you just have to choose whenever you want to use them. I think that is the right way to go forward. It should be a strategic part of racing, not just a free pass down the straight because you can. One of the many, many things that annoys me about spring races is that in theory, one of the benefits of it is that it can be this sort of testing platform, right,

for things like this. So I don't understand why it's not used for because I agree with you. I think that would be a great idea and I'd like to see that implemented. But if you're that unsure about whether it's a good idea, try it out in sprints for a year. And if it doesn't work, fine.

You go back to the drawing board and you don't, you know, you go for a different idea. And then if it works, you implement it across the board. It feels like they're almost missing out on an opportunity to try out a few things like that. Agreed. Any thoughts at all? On push to pass.

Well, of the DRS. I'm fully, I've said before push to pass over DRS any day of the week. It's just a better solution. IndyCar do it well and you do it. You're right. It's not just press a button. You have to be really strategic about how you use it, whether you're in defence or whether you're trying to catch up or whether you're trying to pass.

Because then you also, it affects how much fuel you use. I mean, it's like different in Indy car because they have fuel stops. But it would still be the same enough one. You use more fuel up if you're using more push to pass. So that's another thing you've got to think about. I'm, yeah, fully on board. I would even, even if we didn't get all the way to push to pass, I'd have Kerr's back.

I know they still have battery deployment, but it's not the same, but just they boost. Yeah. You choose when to turn it on and off. Like need for speed? Yeah. Like need for speed.

Fast and furious. Good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everything should become need for speed in F1. We all be family. Because of Indies will get it. Good. That's fast and furious, though.

it's the same thing you said to need for speed yeah that's based on the one other was based on the other sure I don't know which way around it is sure last thing I wanted to race was cost cap

I feel like it it's a good idea and I've always been in favour of it I just think it needs a few improvements to firstly include some more things because there are still so many things that sit outside the cost cap but also and I know this is

somewhat being addressed and has been raised a lot by the likes of Williams is that not all teams were on the footing when we got to the cost cap era which means from an infrastructure perspective there are teams that are lagging behind and can't catch up within the way the cost cap works.

And again, I appreciate this is somewhat being addressed already. I just think it needs to be addressed a little bit more. Just like infrastructure allowances just to be able to, yes, you have permission to spend this amount in order to catch up in terms of whatever the facility is.

I think that's needed. Otherwise, this parity that we're trying to achieve, I don't think it's ever truly going to come. Completely agree with you. I think that's a big need. I think that realistically, if we're ever going to have teams come from the back all the way to the top,

you can't do it unless you've got the equipment at your hands. And we've seen what's happening with Aston Martin, the level of money they put into the infrastructure they're building an entire new system, entire new warehouse testing, whatever, what we're calling it? Front Tree? That's the one.

Thank you. It's been a long day. a whole new factory. There you go. It's good enough, in it. Sorry if you're new to F1. And, you know, we're seeing them move up the grid. I'm not saying that's the only reason they are moving up the grid,

but it's definitely going to help. And you've just looked at how McLaurang have got a new wind tunnel as well. That will massively help the development of any car that they build moving forward. So 100% agree with you. The last thing I had, because I think the car size was the bigger one, but we will touch showing it. So the last thing I had was the changing how blue flags work in Formula One. Especially a track like Monaco, I think this is quite important.

If you look at, well, it's used to be WEC, but now hypercar, or if you look at GT3 racing, or even if you look at Indy car, blue flags are a suggestion, a polite offering from the stewards. This is not a rule to get out of the way, just because a blue flag has been waved at you there and then, very much a Formula One ruling and the lower formulas. And you don't have to get out of the way at all if you don't want to. in that it is up to the fast driver, the first place driver,

to overtake strategically, safely and properly. And of course, if you are the backmarker, it's up to you whether you really are a bit of a poo. And you put up a fight. I was going to swear. Thank you. You know, you deal with it. Or you use it to your advantage, of course,

because in theory, if you're last and you've been lapped by first, you could sit behind, directly behind first place and use the faster car to get yourself back up to the front of the field again, possibly. So I just think that it will create a whole series of challenges. It will create a much more dense racing field because you would just fly past all these bat markers to end up possibly a lap or side behind. I just think it would be a nice adjustment to the competitive nature of Formula One

if it wasn't a you must move, but rather a, if you fancy it, if you're nice, you can move. I like the Indycar version where you don't have to be, don't get blue flagged on the first time being lapped. But if you can be lapped a second or third time, if we'll get out of the way. Yeah. I think that's fair. Because then you are just in the way. But first time round.

It's not often you get people that are lapsed twice or three times an F-well anymore. No, God, do you remember we just have two or three laps on the regular? Yeah. Good stuff. Good stuff. Good.

What a therapeutic topic. I'd say one more thing. I feel much better now. One more things? Oh, go on then. Get rid of sprint races. Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah.

Cool. You had to go there. Deep breast. I was so well. restrained as well. I was going to, I was going to mention it and I was like,

no, I'm not going to. I'm going to be good. And then you just did it anyway. So, because they suck. Yeah. Do we all feel a bit more relaxed now?

Yeah. Goose fabah. Anger. I'm going to manage. Okay. That's a niche reference. After that detoxing segment, we're going to take a short break.

On the other side, we're going to be chatting Alex Albon. It's been a very, well, I was going to say it's been a very interesting off season, but that would be a bit of an understatement given what's happened in the last two weeks.

But Alex Alburn has found himself, I guess, in the middle of everything, because whilst he is continuing on with Williams this year, and indeed James Vals has said, Albin has a contract with the team in 2025 as well, we know that he has been somewhat linked to the vacant Mercedes seat for next year. And we know there's also been runnings that Red Bull might go back for him again. So you've got two top teams here that are very sort of roughly showing interest in Alex Aliband.

It's a far cry from where he was a couple of years ago, Sam. There were times when he got that promotion and then demotion in the Red Bull family where us included, but pretty much all of the Formula One community were, you know, a little bit off with his head, styled here. We were very much ready to have him removed from, what are you pointing at? It was me. Sam was quite savage. I was possibly the ringleader for that movement.

My point here is that, you know, publicly, and I ain't going to hide it. He wasn't good enough. He let himself down. He was an experienced and he does have, you know, reasonings to back that up. But at the face of it, he wasn't good enough. So the fact that he's bounced back to be this driver in the, in the F1 community that is hugely loved by so many people. Everyone adores him. They think he's lovely.

He's so level-headed. He's thoughtful. And he's really turning around the face of Williams at the moment. he's ensuring that they have got a solid platform to build on. And whilst I don't think he's a world-beating superstar, I do think he's a very solid pair of shoulders that as a team you want to rely on, especially a team that is coming from the back

and trying to get their way back to the front. Now, Mercedes and Red Bull both interested, I would be shocked, absolutely flabbergasted, if he went back to Red Bull. I just, the experience that he had there last time, I do not think for his mental state and the way that he dealt with it would be a healthy thing, especially when he is in such a prominent, safe, good position.

The relationship he's got with James Vows is incredibly strong. The relationship he's got with the team is very strong. He is adored at Williams and by Williams. So I can't see him going to a place like Red Bull. My slight concern with the other option in Mercedes is that I do feel like Mercedes and Williams are almost evolutions of each other. They almost kind of stem from one another at their moment in their cultural approach, in their team members,

in the way they've worked through, you know, the last decade. James Vows, of course, is an off cut of that incredibly successful Mercedes team and knows everything that Toto Wolf did and was so close to Toto Wolf and was essentially his replacement whenever Toto Wolf couldn't make it to the racetrack for anything. So would it be particularly different? I think Albon would not enjoy not being number one. I think Russell would always be number one at the moment. I'd be shocked if Album would outright beat Russell. So for me, I don't think he should step away. I think he should be. embrace this project and continue to work with James Vowles and this progressing team

and Pat Fry and the rest of the team that they're bringing in to grow Williams. And I think it's a fantastic project to be a part of such a heritage brand. So it's great that he's getting that attention. I'm sure it's a nice little ego boost. But I do think he's going to stay put. What do you think, Gary? Yeah, this is a tricky one because on the face of it, you'd go, well, yeah, why wouldn't you move to Mercedes?

Seventh to second or whatever it might be. to the eight time world champions. But I'm with you and with Sam. It's, it's like a bit tricky than that because you're right. He goes to Mercedes inevitably, you'd think he'd pick up some wins. Possibly, yeah.

Across his whole career. It might be in contention for a championship. But you're right. Him versus Russell, you're going to have to go for Russell in that battle. You've got to be it by him in their junior career. Well, exactly. So I don't know whether it's thinking with your heart too much,

but I would stay putter Williams. And you're right. It's, he's easily the lead driver there. He can build it around himself. And yes, I know they're building from basically the bottom or seventh place. But there's potential there. You just, he's what, 27? Yeah, he's got time there.

And he could build, build, he's got time to do that build. and there's just a bit of a feel around Williams at the moment with James Vowels, as you say, Pat Frye, I don't know, it's going to take a while and he might, if he does stay, he might be looking at that Mercedes seat and going, oh, what have I done? But I just think there's the opportunity for something, something better their frown.

But it's a tricky one. I think he would, it's, he'd have to think long and hard to turn it down if they offer that to him. And he goes, no, I want to stay in. the Williams. It's a tricky one. I don't ever, yeah.

Yeah, I think you're right. It's far easier for us to sit here and say that what he should do rather than him actually be in a position to race for a team like Mercedes and turn that down. That is a tall order. Even if it would be for the best, that is such a difficult thing to do. I'm with you. I do hope that Alex Albin stays and continues to prosper at the Williams team because what they are building does seem incredibly positive.

and he's clearly comfortable at the team and he feels at home at the team, which is a far cry from what he was at Red Bull. And he wasn't that long ago. It was only a few years ago. And it was almost, I appreciate it was more inexperienced back then, but it was almost two different people,

if you compare now to back then. You remember the pressure he was under week after week from everyone. It really impacted not only him, but his performance. And you can remember, I think I mentioned this before, but you remember instances like at the Nureberg ring when whoever it was was trying to overtake him in his Red Bull

and he got so flustered about the goal of whoever it was trying to overtake him in a Red Bull. And it was over the team radio and he got so flustered about it that was completely out of character. Yeah, but you wouldn't hear that now. and part of that is going to be because he's more mature, but he's in a better environment. So I do hope he stays for his own sake.

What I did find interesting, Sam, was how quick James Vals was to be very clear on this and say he's racing for us in 2025. Do you think he is just trying to put an end to any speculation as soon as possible? Or is it a case of it might be a bit of a grey area and he's just trying to get in there as soon as he can? think the community, us, have a lot of love and respect and trust in what James Vows

has. He has built up a reputation for himself in the wider F1 world as being a very dependable, safe pair of hands that makes good decisions, right? If James Vowell says something, a lot of the time I go, yes, he's probably right. I'm probably, he knows. A man, James, yes. Yes, yes, Mr. Vouse, whatever you say. Honestly, there's not a lot of people in Formula One that if they could speak to a camera, I go, yeah, okay, sure, I believe you. And I do. I look at him and I believe him. And I think he's very aware of his position in the Formula One community. And he's using that position. He is using that approach to cement the relationship with Alex Albon. And I think Alex Albin looks to James Vow's in the same respect. I think they

are very, very close. I think they work together very, very well. So when you hear publicly, someone like James Vow's saying, he's with us until 2025, the end. of 2025, you know, he is contracted to us. There is no way, and I think, I think that puts a little bit of a, you know, a marker down. I think he's putting his foot down. And he's saying, Alex, we want you to be here. You are contracted to here. And technically, we don't have to do anything until the end of that contract. Remember that? Like, everything's good. So I think he's being very crafty, very clever. And just reminding both Alex Albon and the supporters of that team and the rest of the garages around the Williams team

that might have interest to go back off, he's ours and he's not going anywhere and there's no reason why he would be going anywhere. I think he's a clever guy and I think he's doing the right thing. Do you agree, Harry, or do you think's differently? He's a, in James Files, we trust. Correct. Tattooed on my back.

Yes, like diagonally across. Why? He's, yeah, he's just putting out there straight away, isn't he? You're just, you're not going on it. Anywhere, sunshine. You're my driver. You're mine. Yeah, it's a bit of a hands-off to his old mate Toto, I guess.

Get off in Toto. Get your greasy mitts off, my boy. We don't, you know, can't confirm that Toto has greasy mitts. I also imagine his cockney. Good Lord. I'm in your actual impression of him, so I'll take it. Get your grease. No, I want him.

Give me Alex Albon. Yeah, John. Good easy mitts off me. I can't do my greasy me more improving Yeah, this is This is just a smart play From Mr. Vals, I think.

Get, you know, no one's actually officially, Toto's not come out and said We're looking at Alex Albon But James Oz is paying attention To the, or the rest of the world are saying. Are you seeing them beady eyes?

Yeah, he's, I'll see him. I see you looking. Get your eyes away from him. And he's just nipping it in the bud. Oh, that's a good expression. I don't know whether it will, do anything, but, you know, he's laying it out now.

Kip that, bud. Yeah. I just thought, I don't know, the, the move from Vowse to say it as quickly as he could made me think, maybe, maybe it's a little, not up in the air, I don't know if that's right, but we've seen with contracts before where it's kind of multi-year, but been a bit unsure on options and the like, and we've just seen it with Lewis Hamilton's contract as well. and I didn't know if this was a move to, from Williams to be like laying their steak in the ground, like, yep, he's ours. And then trying to put off others, even though they might in theory have a chance.

I think, again, it would be even with that contract in place, if Toto really wanted him, I think they'd end up making it happen. But it's almost like James Vow saying, you'd have to go through a lot of, a lot of steps in order for that to happen, in which case it's probably not worth your while and look elsewhere, mate, you know. But yeah, it'll be interesting. Again, it's just very interesting to see how Alex Albin is a hot commodity

after a couple of, you know, really strong years. But, yeah. You don't know like crossbung is. Love a hot crossbag. Oh, I've got the chocolate one time. Oh, God. Very excited. Didn't think we get back on.

to hot cross buns again, but we always do. I will always bring it back. Love your hot cross bun. If you could eat a hot cross bun with any F1 driver, who would it be a more? James Vowse. He's not an F1 driver. He's in my heart.

He gets my heart racing. Just looking into each other's eyes. He's bite into your hot cross buns. With my greasy mitts? Good Lord. The irony is, Harry's answer would also be a JV, just a different one. Well, Jen.

and Vutton. Got him. That's the funniest thing you've ever said. Oh, it's only taken him through 169 episodes. A little jogger tank for that one.

Move on. Oh, my word. Yeah, we are moving on. We're going to take our second break. On the other side, we're going to be chatting through the 2024 changes recently announced.

Okay, welcome back. A few changes have been announced ahead of the 2012-24 season. As follows. First, a smaller one, I guess, in the four power units will be allowed for each driver year rather than three, which was the case last year. But two of the bigger changes, the sprint weekend

schedule is changing. So if you remember back to 2023, it used to be that you'd have FP1 on a Friday morning, followed by main qualifying. Saturday would then be fully dedicated to sprint races. So sprint qualifying in the morning, sprint race in the afternoon, and then the actual race on Sunday. Under the new schedule, it will be the the spring qualifying that happens on the Friday afternoon with the sprint race in the morning of the Saturday, and then you're fully into the actual Grand Prix in terms of qualifying in the afternoon with the race on Sunday. It's very easy, isn't it? So that's another one of the changes. And then as already mentioned earlier in the show, DRS activation in normal races, not spring

races, because this has already happened in spring races, but it will be active from lap two rather than lap three. So let's break it down, I guess, into each of those. Let's start with a sprint weekend format, Sam. What are your thoughts on this? It's funny how logical things can be when you just think about the process. The way they hang it beforehand was just ludicrous. The way you would have a qualifying and you forget about that for a bit and do something else and have another qualifying and then a race. And then you have to remember the previous qualifying from two days ago at that point and then have the actual race.

For new fans, it was confusing. For old fans, we were still shaking our heads, not really knowing what was going on. Thank God for Google, because that's how I had to check on results that weren't clear, was ridiculous. So this is better, at least the two parts of the weekend are technically

one after another. That makes sense. It is just a shame that they exist. Yes. Good. Okay. Let's put to one side that they're not going anywhere. Harry, do you think it's a good move? I don't care.

Don't say that. the listeners are listening. Yeah, look, it's way more logical than it, than it was. So, well done, F1, it's only taken, what, three years now. It's not a discussion point, is it? It's just idiotic. Like, how did you not get it right the first time? Well, we know why.

Second, more. Yeah, I don't think it's much more to add it. It just now makes more sense. I guess the only thing I was going to say was, if you say you, say you, badly damaged your car now in, what's called? The sprint race. What's the order again?

FP1. Sprint qualifying. Sprint qualifying race. If you badly damage it in sprint, no, in the sprint. My God. I'm lost. I don't know.

There was, I had a point about you could really, it has a real knock on effect. So if you crash in the sprint race and you can't make qualifying, you're then going to start last in the race. That is what I meant. Yeah, because those two are on Saturday, right?

Yes. nice. Did you look at the layout at all? I did. Did you listen to both me and Ben talk about it? Nice debatable. Right, good. Such a good podcast. Yeah. So maybe it's not as clear as it could be. Do you know what we'll be clearer though? What? They got rid of it. Ah, go on. That's cracking. Hmm. It's an interesting point that. Yeah, I mean, this is absolutely a positive because the old format, as you say, Sam, was bad. It was just unnecessary. The most, of times I got to Sunday and I was like, but they qualified 10th. Why are they starting? Oh, wait, no, they qualified 7th three years ago when the qualifying session was. That makes sense. Yeah, it was just needlessly, it's needlessly confusing. And now you get to a point where,

you know, Friday afternoon, the qualifying sessions can be tricky for people to to watch. I had a few times last year where I found, even if it was, you know, late afternoon on a Friday, it was tricky for me to tune in in the same way that I'd be able to on a Saturday and Sunday, I think sprint qualifying is more missable than main qualifying is. So I think that's definitely definitely a positive. And ultimately, if you don't want to pay attention to a sprint race, you don't have to now because it is completely divided. If you want your attention to start on a Saturday afternoon with main qualifying,

you can do. And then you get the main qualifying in the race. And it's just, it's neat. and I like neat. It just makes sense. The only thing I would say is regarding Park Fermé rules, and I don't believe anything's changed here, I could be wrong, but I haven't seen anything indicating that this is changing. I would have it that after the sprint race on the Saturday morning,

you could make changes to your car ahead of actual qualifying on the Saturday afternoon. Because obviously at the moment, if it goes horribly wrong for you in first practice session and you're locked into a setup, there's not much you can do about it for the entire weekend. I'd like to see now we have that divide between the sprint race and the actual race, that you actually also get the setup differentiation as well. So you are more likely to see a difference in results. It's not going to make the world a difference, but that is one of the issues with spin races at the moment is,

it's essentially become a mini version of the actual race to the point where if you're doing well in one of them, you're probably doing well in the other. So this just allows teams to maybe catch up if needed for the actual race. But yeah, I wish they'd included that. I completely agree with you. I think it means that we would, even though they are copying and paste, like you said, Ben, it's like a Mengi version, in theory you would see somewhat of a different race. Let's say someone got to get completely wrong, qualified 16th and couldn't progress any further.

And they were in a top car or a top half car. At least you know they're going into the actual qualifying and the actual race, they might qualifying 9th and end up finishing it. fifth or something like that. At least we're going to see somewhat of a different race. So agree on that point massively. In terms of DRS, that being one of the other main changes that's come into effect. So with sprint races at the moment, it's active from lap two onwards and active one lap after a safety car period has happened. So that is essentially going to be replicated in normal races as well. Harry, do you think that's a positive move or not?

The safety car one I agree with, I've always thought it's weird that they have to wait three laps after a safety car. The lap two one is fine. I don't think it makes it. The thing was with the first couple of laps, they're so close together anyway. Yes. You really need DRS. More chaos.

Yeah, but I don't know whether it will. Well, anyway, that's, my point is that second one feels less needed in my view. And I just, yeah, I'm not sure what difference it will make. But the safety car won, good call because I've never understood why

because even with like VSC, the IRS is immediately back online so why was it never why was it never allowed to be back online when the safety car ended? I think they're one and the same aren't they? In a proper safety car you bunch up and you have to be right next to each other

it's the same as when you start a race you're all bunged up and right next to each other so either it works after lap two as it would after the first lap two I don't say it doesn't wear just not sure. I think it's the right change. I don't think we need this lengthy delay

between a race starting or restarting and the DRS coming online. Because of course, it used to be three laps for the main race as well. I just don't think it's needed. I think whilst we are too relying on DRS overtakes, it should, in theory, keep the pack much closer together, which I think is an overall positive. I just hope that it means that the cars are able to fight each other more into the braking zones and the corners due to DRS length and things like that.

But I'm all for this change. It would give 2011 Sebastian Vettel a headache, wouldn't it? Because he used to just run off. That man. in three laps. He'd have to do it. 10th in the championship that year. You couldn't break the second and two laps.

That'd be crazy. Yeah. I see your point, Sam. I am actually on the other side of this in that I agree with your point, Harry, where cars tend to be close enough on lap two that actually that feels like an opportunity we can get some non-DRS overtakes done.

Of course, a lot of it is down to, as you say, Sam, the strength of DRS and making sure that's well managed. I think that's probably the most important thing is not even the existence of DRS but if it needs to exist just making sure that it's managed well enough because my fear would be

you would get let's say a car's qualified out of position and they get DRS on lap 2 that's an opportunity to make up a lot of positions very early on and make their job maybe easier than it should be maybe it would work like that maybe it wouldn't but again it's down to the strength of DRS because if you had

DRS far too powerful, then that probably would happen. But if it's well managed, then maybe you'd argue it wouldn't be the case. Again, I don't think this is going to make the world of difference in all honestly. It's just one lap after all. But yeah, I'd probably have kept it at three. Let's know what you think, folks. Please.

Anything to say on the power unit side of things? Extra power unit for everyone? I mean, people were taking silly penalties anyway. It averts the silliness. But were, like last year, I don't remember. remember there being a huge amount of pet engine. No, it was the year before that it was, it was bad. I mean, I go. There are more races, I guess. Yeah, and they, I think it was a division of seven, whereas this time it's a division of six. It's not that much of a difference. No, I think

realistically, you end up doing about two-thirds, if you're going to divide it all in a funny way, you do about two-thirds of a race more or less on each engine than you did last year. So it's really not much of a difference. Doing well on that cost cap saving. Yeah, it's another whole engine you've got to bring. I mean, well, I wonder, because if you do bring four whole engines from the start, you're not stretching multiple parts. You might end up using more than one technically whole engine, then you will have done if it's just brought to you from the start of the season. I don't know. I'm a bit indifferent about this one. It's very hard to gauge how it's going to be brought into the season until we actually see it take place. Yeah, it's not a massively important

one, is it? But, yeah, I mean, the sport is doing a far better job than it was a few years ago on this. Do you remember the Italian Grand Prix one year where it was, I think it was the two McLarence would have probably been Van Dorn and Alonzo or Button and Alonzo, I can't remember who it was, but they had like, I can't remember how many places it was in terms of a penalty.

125, I think. It was something like that. And we're not in that sphere anymore. So I feel like we're going in the right direction with it. Whilst I do agree that that was ludicrous, I've said that twice now. this podcast. Do you remember the 2021 season?

Yes, flashbacks and all that. But Lewis Hamilton must have taken about three fresh engines over the last five or six races because it was that potent have a new engine over a UC engine. And the, you shouldn't be, the penalty was too. That was a weird time, wasn't it? Right, he was like another engine.

Another one. Another one. Another one. Another one. You get an engine and you get an engine. DJ Hamilton. Literally another one. Yeah, and that was a bizarre one. So we don't want that happening either.

So there definitely is a balance. a strike. Should we talk about steak? Do we have to? Neon green steak. Oh, God. Right. Bear in mind, folks, we are recording

on Wednesday the 7th for February. It has been two days, two days since the team launched. In that time, it's essentially been confirmed that steak will not be able to run

as steak in certain countries due to gambling, advertising regulations. Salba are facing legal challenges in Switzerland, which is, of course, the home base of the team. Again, round gambling regulations. And there was even, I think this has been sorted out now, but there was something earlier where the steak logo was removed from the official Salable website.

Apparently that was just regular maintenance, so there was nothing to worry about that. It was a weird time to have regular maintenance. The day after you announced the partnership in the car, that's where you have regular maintenance. Yeah, but your regular maintenance maintenance is taking the logo off. Yeah, what was that doing? Have you got to pick it up and dust underneath it, have you? That's not how it works.

Cleaning it underneath the sofa. Yeah, next year you pick up the sofa and vacuum and put it back later on. Sure. And just to, just so I'm making this very clear, it's been two days since they launched. It's going real well. It's chaos this season, isn't it? I'm having started. Why, what is going on this off-season?

I don't know. How on earth do you view that, Sam? That's just ridiculousness. This. Ridiculousness, indeed, Ben. I think that the Salber legal and social team panicked for a start. I think that's why, as people who work in social and have to deal with... Not legal.

Not legal. Not even close to legal. No, I let other very smart people deal with that. but as people who have to manage social sites, websites and things like that, I've felt that panic before where something hasn't gone right or something isn't been approved and you've gone, uh-oh, run to the CMS system to adjust or remove, run. Don't walk, sprint.

And I think that's what they did. I think they went, uh-oh, we're not legally okay. And this website is active in Switzerland where we are legally not permitted due to the fact that Steak is a gambling company, which doesn't hold a license in Switzerland, who are now being investigated by the casino legal group or something like that. And they've gone, removal trace, immediately removal trace of them.

And then they went, too late, it's all what happened now. We can't, we may just keep it there. Now it looks silly. And I think that's what's happening. I think they took it off and put it back on. Can I ask a really obvious question? Yeah, please, because I think it's a very confusing matter. Would you not have checked this beforehand?

Yes, that's the stupid thing. Of course you would. Just do your research. You due diligence. We're a Swiss team. Steak is a gambling company. Are we legal here? Gambling is usually something that's a bit touchy.

Is it legal? Are we legal? No. Should we own this team then? No. The fact that it can't even mention in multiple nations. You can't even mention your home nation. When setting up a business, let alone a Formula One team, I think, are we legal?

first question. Stop with your common sense. I mean, we've had some dodgy sponsors and some dodgy brands and some dodgy industries take part in Formula One. William's story is desperately trying to find something controversial to say.

He's like, no, I'm the worst sponsor in F1. I'm rich energy. I'm a buffoon of a man. And we've had, you know, actual Nigerian princes, sponsor F1 teams that choose not to exist. We've had cigarette companies. We've had condoms.

We've had everything. everything you can think of on a Formula One car. And now we have a gambling company owning a Formula One car that isn't legal in the country that the Formula One car originates from is farcical. And I complimented the legal people earlier that I've worked with anyway and said that they're very clever. Steaks ones are not. They're deeply undercooked. Go back to school.

We went right there. They're tartar legal. Honestly. Terrible. It is honestly such a joke. The biggest joke about all of this is that, again, I'm going to go back to it. This is so embarrassing for the sport. But thank goodness we didn't let Andretti in and destroy our reputation.

No worries. We'll do it ourselves. We have a team that is not going to be able to be called their team at some races this year. And that's the identity. That's the brand that Formula One would like from their teams. But Andretti, no, can't have that. That would make us look bad. Yeah, because this makes you look great, done it, boys. Why are you doing? It's stupid. At best, you are going to be able to not run your own name at some races this year. That, as mind-blowing as this is, that's the best case scenario. Like, it sounds like it could be. get worse than that if some of these decisions go the wrong way for the team.

I don't know. Imagine trying to explain this to a newer fan. Like, I appreciate we don't want, I don't know. Like someone is not paying attention to Formula One over the off season, as many don't do. And they'll just pick the sport back up again in February. Be like, right, okay, who's that then? Are that steak? Well, the commentator didn't just call them steak.

Oh, yeah, they're not steak here. All right. why aren't the stake here? Oh, you know, because they're not allowed to. Okay, cool. Who's that? Oh, yeah, that's herb. What do you mean, Urb?

Oh, sorry, R.B. Okay, right. Visa Cash App RB is what they're. Oh, right. Okay. Yeah, that sounds good. It's just ridiculous. I've just done some on the fly research, Ben,

because you are correcting all the points you're making. And, of course, we have 24 races so far this season, although there are rumors that we might not, because Singapore are now under investigation. We'll get to that on another topic at some point. but eight of the 24 Grand Prix that we're going to, one third of the season, steak is not legally allowed. 33% of your entire investment per season cannot be seen,

cannot be spoken about, cannot be advertised, because you legally cannot exist in that region. How ridiculous. We're just going to have to call them Salba. Oh, gosh, I'm devastated. But they're going to have to. Because you can't, like, for people like Crofty, he's going to implode.

I feel sorry for him, but you have to call him the Salba's because they're going to change different races. So there's no way you're going to call them steak or kick. No, no. They'll be kick. No. I'll kick him in the shins. I'll kick off.

Salba. Salba. Yeah. Anyway. As punishment. Ben's fulber slash steak. I'm honestly fuming on this. As punishment,

your constructors points are actually going to be split between where you're called steak and where you're not called steak. Love that. There you go. So one of them will have two points and the other one will have none. Sorry to make a reference to the Braun documentary

twice in one go in one episode. It's a good thing to be fair. There's a bit in it where they're debate. Braun have no money and there's bit in it where they're trying to get money from they earned from the previous year. Yes. And Bernie Eckerson wouldn't let them have it.

He withholds it. Because they were called Honda the previous year, even though it's the same team. Now, I'm not going to say, oh, gosh, it was better in the Bernie days. But Bernie Elkeston would not have let this happen. That man. That is a bad sign.

He understood legalities. The man, to a letter, knew what he was doing. How's that, how's the HMRC bill? Same deal with Force India Racing Point, though, right? Force India and Racing Point with two separate organizations, and they were treated that way. And it's just funny, isn't it? It is funny.

It's embarrassing, though, and it really, like, you look at Indy car at the moment. and you look at like the McLaren livery that was just launched. And the drivers are mocking F1 because Andretti isn't allowed in. And they've got 27 cars racing around with all in a second of each other. And we're debating whether an F1 team could be called an F1 team at a third of the Grand Prix. It is embarrassing for us. Filled 10 minutes though, didn't it?

Thank you for the content. I'd love to say this will be the last thing we say about steak, but I doubt it will be. We will take our final break of this episode on the, other side, we've got late faking. Hey, here we go. It's time for late faking. One answer is fake, and the other one's all right, so help me, Christ,

I'll make my decision in a second, Sam, you're gonna have to wait, because Ben made this game so hard, and I'm down by five. I always think you get the raw end of the sticking answer. I'm always down by five. I think you've ever, I have. You have never been down by five.

Ah, oh, well, it's impressive. Okay, so late faking, six questions. And there are four possible answers in each question, but one of them is a fake, and it's the job of the guys to determine which one is the fake. Harry, what number would you like to go for to start us off? It's nice not to have seven or eight, isn't it? It makes life easier.

I did stress you out. I'm bringing back eight again. Show me my options is a fantastic game, but the numbers are confusing. Number four, please, Ben. Number four. Okay, I'm going to give you four circuits. Three of them have had 40 or more Grand Prix in their history.

One of them has not. I'll have them to have 39. Ben. I'll confirm the one that hasn't had 40 has not had 39. It's going to be 38. It's actually not, but that would be funny. Circuit Jill Villeneuve. Imala.

The Nuremberg ring and interlagos. Which Nürberg ring, my G. You won? All of it. All is one. All of them. You can make me whole again. Circuit Jilvonov. No, it is not the circuit Jilvilvilnerve.

I thought that was right. Sounds been nodding. No. It's not fair. I really thought it was right. It's not as if the circuit Shilville Nerva's actually had the most on that list. Oh, wait, no, it has. Has it?

Yeah, in fairness, it's very close between the top three. So that's like 42, 41, 40. But then the other one is just that, Imola's just had 30. I'm shook us. Do I have to steal? Is that the game? No. Oh, it's not that game.

Okay. Sorry, I forgot the rules. He just told us the answer. I feel like I've given too much information to steal. I didn't absorb that information Is the answer to the Nureberg room? It's in No, it was similar?

Oh I was listening In a game where you can't steal And I told you the answer You still haven't got a point That is so me Right

We're at nil-nil Over to you, Sam And number two, please Ben Number two Four races from last year three of them. Max Vostappen won by at least 20 seconds. I want you to tell me the one where he didn't win it by 20 seconds or more. Singapore.

If only that were an option. The Monaco Grand Prix. Spanish Grand Prix. Hungarian Grand Prix. British Grand Prix. I'm going to go with these girls for like my. Monaco, Monaco. I don't know, Monaco.

You're right, you didn't know. It wasn't Monaco. Good. If it had stayed dry, I think it might have been. Well, that's why I thought it was under. Yeah, but in the way, he ran off, didn't they? Yeah, I long so. It was obviously V-closed at one point.

Yeah, stopped twice. Correct answer. There was the British Grand Prix. That was actually a closer one. So the Hungarian Grand Prix was the biggest at 33 seconds. Monaco was 27, Spain was 24, and then the British Grand Prix, 3.7 seconds at the flag. Oh, quite close, actually. Hungary, I knew was the biggest.

Who was second in Silverston last year? Science, won't it? Norris? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, because we had the safety car right towards the end, and Pia Astrid got robbed of his first podium. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I remember.

God, got such a reactive memory. Yeah, I do. Honestly, then I was like, if someone said, tell me what happened in the 2023 British GP, I'd be like, don't know. remember all of it. Yeah. I'm quite annoyed now. God's sake.

Okay. In cat a clue. Incotakly? Number five, Harry. What number? Number five, please, Ben. Number five. Very abrupt.

Five. Number five coming up. Four drivers. Three of them scored points in the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix. Which one didn't? I see. That's a tricky one. Go on then.

Giancallo Physichella, Yano Trulli, Kimi Reichenen, Heike Kovalinan. I don't. It could be any of them. Literally could be any of them. Do you know why the 08 Grand Prix is an interesting one? Go on tell us. Because on Patreon for our first classic review. That's the episode we're going to be watching for the first Heritage Grand Prix. So if you'd like to go back and watch a bit of O8 and then hear us review it, get involved on Patreon.

When do I need to have watched that race again, by you? Fast that off here. All right. Before this question. All right. Okay. Physiichella. I think that's right.

It is physical. Nice. That is correct the answer. So I think Reichen and finished third in that race. Truly was 8th. Covaliner was 7th. And then Physiakala was two laps down. He was the last finisher.

Oh, yeah. I don't remember what happened to him. He was in his fours. He's trying to find Tanzania. He's found it. It's like, oh, it took him a while. It's going to happen. We have a point on the board.

Harry Leads 1-0. Back to you, Sam. I'll have number three. He's gone early. Three. Which of these drivers is not Argentinian. Oh my God. If I'm the entire French is on the list, I'm going to die.

Here's the answer. Esteban Tuero I can say I'll confirm Nicola Larini Yeah Jose Freeland Gonzalez Norberto Fontana Oh they're all made up names

I've forgotten half of them already They're not made up Can you read them out again please Ben You might as I'm saying which one I just need to remember the names I've forgotten them all Esteban Tuero Yeah.

Nicola Larini. Yeah. Jose Froelang Gonzalez. Yeah. Norberto Fontana. Gonzales. Gonzalez. Gonzales, Argentinian.

I thought it might be Mexican, to be fair. What about Nicola Lorene? That was my other one. That was the other one I was going to go for. Right, surely. Yeah, Loreni is Italian. That is annoying. I did think that is well.

I thought it was a trick. Quite Italian. It was a trick question. Yeah. Well, Hytawan, Frankson, quite a German sounding name. I thought he was Argentinian. you make a fair point.

We stay at 1-0. It's back to Harry. If you get this one right, you win. Number 1 or number 6? I get it right. Number 1, please. Which of these engines did Jordan never run? Get it wrong.

Honda. Ford. Renault. Pojo. Um, I'm going to go with Renault. Rennon. No.

Renaud. Ren yes Oh very good nice friend yeah so I think they

they started out with Ford and then came back to Ford a little bit later on so not the last year but the last couple of years I think

before they they technically left the grid obviously Mugan Honda was I thought you were going to be like the 90s for them I'm a pretty

I thought you'd be tricky and be like it's not a Honda it's a Mugin that wouldn't be very me yeah savage Oh well

Sam number six or number six This is a fake number I think Or number six Nice You ever like seven or eight yet Oh leave it out Ben Have a day off mate Which of

So four races Three of them Jensen Button won in 2009 Which one didn't he win The Australian Grand Prix The Malaysian Grand Prix Turkish Grand Prix the German Grand Prix

God if only I've watched the entire Braun documentary recently You have right? Yes All right you got this in No Oh okay That's what I meant by

If I only had done my research Oh no Now he won in Australia I know that for sure And there was a whole drama thing about him in the Turkish Grand Prix Because there was contact with one of the reg bulls, I think.

But I'm going to ignore all that and go with my gut because that's always right and say the German Grand Prix. Try to your gut. That is the correct answer. Yes. German Grand Prix was won by Mark Weber. That was his first ever race win. Look at me.

Go. Research pays off. I didn't know the answer. I kind of guess. It sure does. Harry wins 2-1. That's fine. That's respectable.

respectable. Oh dear. It's a bit of a fake of a game, Matt. But I'll tell you what's not a fake of a segment. The greatest segment in all of Formula One podcasting. It is the... I'll be question of the week. Great.

Everyone's going to love that one. Sorry to have I used this. Yep. So our question of the week this time out was, who should replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, wrong answers only. I'm going to shout out Haley on Instagram for this one. It was by far the most liked answer,

and that was Kirstie, that if she can handle the three of us, she can handle anything. And I would argue that the Maseagiege Drive is simpler. Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sorry, I've just seen them what, I've not read through these yet,

which is obviously classic. Someone who said, get Clyde out of the cockpit. I've replied. Yeah, thanks Clives. But I like it, Clyde. He's not called Clyde, though. It's a different person. Oh, dear.

It's his brother, isn't it? No, he hasn't got a brother. I don't know who Clyde is. Sort of fabricating characters that I keep him my cupboard. Dawson said a warm bowl of porridge. Oh, I know how he drive the car. Oh, dear. I honestly spent like five minutes reading through these earlier,

just laughing constantly because there were so many ridiculous ones. Dakota probably got me the most. with Ombar's children in mid-race like Imsa drivers in a pit stop change them over the banker

got a ton of answers so thank you to everyone that was big up the banker much love randomly pit bulls there from the body system dally is the worldwide

yeah of course I don't know if this was the same person as last time if it was Andrew has again Barry Manor at the Copacabana.

I actually like Barry Maga as well. He's got some good songs. Oh, badder. I don't think we ever referenced him before. Maybe he should be a cult hero. Just a huge Barry Manolo fan. Jay Hammer, the eighth Jay Hammer, Jackson Hammersmith, has said here,

and he's tapped into something that the three of us do socially that I don't think a lot of people realise, but he said the world champion, Barmiel Hockage, and that is a combination of you three. And of course he doesn't know our FIFA managerial name. Barry Sage. Very Sage.

Has been for 10 years, always will be. All three of us players are because the worst team in the worst league we can find. Are you always dressing with a drag thing? For no reason. We've got 369 episodes into this podcast. Not mentioned Barry Sage. I'm not sure. Barry Sage is ever.

Barry Manilate. Oh dear. Very sage. Can I just say this one? I do not agree with the premise of it. But when the notification came in, it made me laugh so much. I have to read it out.

It's from Matthew Bonner. And he said, my wife, they both win as much as each other. Oh, yeah, that is awful. Matthew, I hope your wife doesn't listen. Actually, I hope your wife does listen to the show. Because that is atrocious. So you shout to Amika Hacklin coming back from sabbatical.

We love that. It could happen. My dad said the guy from Oxford with a map on his face, which he also witnessed. That's a nice reference. We have a lot of fun, laughing at that man. Oh dear. Two separate people said Mr. Bean. I love Mr. Bean, the original Mr. Bean, not cartoon Mr. Bean.

There's a very definite difference. Sorry, Ben, you go. I was going to say a couple of shouts for, Benson Phillips, including Mama Sage. But yeah, a couple of shouts for DBP. The Instagram sometimes hides captions, I guess, if it thinks it's rude. But the ones is hidden are Thomas the Tank Engine, the Statue of Liberty, Nick DeFries, which is even more savage, and then Raganathan.

Oh, yeah, okay, sure. I just want to jump back to Olly Emerson on Twitter, who stated, a jumbo sausage sculpted into the shape of Pierre Gasley. Ryan said Felipe Massa so he can win the 2024 title and get over 2008, which I thought was savage. That's savage. And funny. That is savage.

I mean, you don't. Dude Dinsmore. Bloody Dukesmore. I mean, once again, you're about dang yourselves, folks. They are very funny. We always have a good chuckle reading them. there's one more I want to read out which is from Norm from Texas

and all he said was hear me out dot dot dot Ralph Wiggum I'm in danger of course again after after last week's question of the week being the most responded

to question ever I think this one then broke that record so we are loving the interaction and the engagement from all of you It means a lot. And as usual, we'll get another one out there on Monday of next week. So Instagram and Twitter, just make sure you.

I know a couple of you put things on Facebook, but I'm really sorry. We don't look at that. One lovely lady emailed us an answer to the question of the week. And I'm so sorry, we only do business stuff on there. So it doesn't really get looked at. Try to look at it now. You can do. I have fun finding it.

It was a while ago. I don't know. What for this question? Could be. This is my point. just got an email about it though. Oh. Too many emails.

We're so popular. We're very business-like now because of all the support you give us. So thank you for that. Well, as much as I appreciate us going for our emails must be a great listening experience. It's probably time for us to get out of this. Oh, sorry about that end, folks. Thank you for listening.

Discord, the links in the description below. And please do check out the new Patreon. We are really trying to put a lot of time and effort into it. You get loads of content, I think, for your money. We did some research about competitors. we do believe it's really good value. So give it a try. And if you're on a different tier

and you want, oh, I like that bit of content. Upgrade. Go on. Just your cheeky upgrade. Because I promise you, it helps out this show more than you know. We are getting so close to being able to do this all of the time. And the Patreon is a massive supporter of that.

Follow us on social media, late breaking F1 everywhere. I mean, you can find it everywhere. It's not late breaking F1 everywhere. I thought someone might get confused about that because I do say it a lot. They got confused about your poll you did the other day.

that was me to be fair oh god that was me entirely me and it gets good we're also on YouTube this has been recorded same late breaking F1 and everywhere we will of course be back in the midweek thanks for you support we love you

and in the meantime I've been Samuel Sage I've been Ben Hocking I've been Barry Manalo I remember keep breaking late Coburn Cabangah This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.