The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Is Alonso heading back to Ferrari? | Episode 46

Episode Date: April 30, 2020

With rumours abound that contract talks between Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari have broken down, the boys discuss which other drivers could end up with the coveted seat at the Scuderia...including a certain Fernando Alonso!Make sure to 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 look out for new episodes every Thursday and Grand Prix Sundays. Hello and a very warm welcome to the late breaking Formula One podcast. Whenever you're listening in the world, wherever you're listening in the world, welcome along. Tonight we're going to be talking about a few things. And that's all great. A few things.

I will get more specific than that. We're going to be talking about Sebastian Vessel. If he isn't the Ferrari driver in 2021, who's it going to be? We look through the options and discuss which one is best. We're going to be looking at Lance Stroll. Exactly why hasn't he been able to crack it in F1 yet? What's missing? How does he improve?

And we're going to be asking what is the best and worst turn one on the Formula One calendar? If you do enjoy the podcast, please do subscribe to us. You can subscribe to us literally everywhere, spotting. SoundCloud, iTunes, Your Tunes, Google Podcasts, Google Images, Woolworths, literally everywhere. Maybe not Woolworths or a few of the other names. Wolfs are a niche reference. Yeah, yeah, that is true. Yeah, any non-Brit fans might not have got that one.

But anyway, we'll start with the first topic I listed, and that was that if it isn't better in 2021 to partner Shao LaClair, who is it going to be? A few of the names listed, Daniel Ricardo, maybe Carlos Sines, Antonio Giovannazzi, Sam. Of those three names, run us through them. Who do you like? Who don't you like? Well, Giovanni is a massive no-go. Or sorry, as Benwick said. Antonio Giovonacci.

There it is. It's like his Italian, folks. In fact, he spent his entire life in Cornwall. He was actually born in Slough. He's actually called Tony. Tony Gio. Tony Gio. Sorry.

He runs the Italian cafe on the corner in Slough. Still going, folks. Anyway, right. Antonio Giavancis. He is a no for me. I'm sorry. He's had enough time in top level motorsport. Charlotte Clare came in and he wowed me.

He was, by far the best rookie last time now, and that's why he got selected for that top seat. He did a fantastic job in the Alpha Romeo driver. Givergatsy, the man that came in to replace him when he moved on to the Ferrari seats replaced Reichenen. Has not done a good enough job, you know. We saw when he first venturing into F1. He had a few meetings with the wall. He was facing the wrong way for the majority of his career.

And then he took some time away again, you know. He stepped back. And he's not exactly wow with me since becoming an Alpha Ameo driver this time. I'm not saying he's a bad driver. I just think he's always going to be a solid. midfield runner. Very much maybe a Holgerberg in his later career, you know, just a lonely German man without

any podiums to his name. It's difficult to see his career going much further than that. I mean, he's the Ferrari reserve driver, anything goes wrong. He will get that moment in the sun, you know, that glimmer of driving in the pure red car that, let's face it, every person dreams of a little bit.

I know I do. I would love to sit in that Ferrari at some point, but I think that's all that's going to be for giving out, actually. I don't think you'll ever get to have a full season in that Ferrari. and it's consistently because he's just not good enough. He just doesn't churn out the performances that you need. He doesn't help the car to overperform. And if you were to translate that into a Ferrari seat

and you're sitting alongside Charlercéelle de Staping in the Red Bull, Hamilton, and maybe George Russell later on down the line in the Mercedes, all guys that can pull a really strong performance out of any car they're driving, I don't think he's got that capability. So for me, Giavanazzi is off the list. It's a go. I think he's a really great driver. I don't think he's good enough for Ferrari drive.

But the other two guys that you mentioned, Ben, Ricardo and Carlos Sikes, realistically, as long as they were happy to settle for a second driver seat next to to Charler, who I think in terms of pure racecraft now is better than the both of them, I think Ricardo could be a Ferrari driver, not for too long. He is actually, you know, in controversy, getting to the end stage of his career, maybe four or five years left. He is on the older side of things, which is surprising because of how dashingly handsome he still is.

But, you know, he's not a young spring chicken in the field anymore. And so I don't know if Ferrari will now look past him to someone like Carlos Sines, regardless of how strong he is, because maybe they won't get the same development and time scale out of him that they might want. Ricardo has fantastic at racecraft, right? He's always been the best on the brakes when he's confident in the car. He's got great will-to-will-action.

And when he does win a race, he wings it in style. only got, I think, eight of those to his name, so not too major speak of, but the guy can't have been races and he can deliver performances. So, if it was to happen this year, then maybe, but I can't see it happening. Carlos Sites, on the other hand, has got a long of time left in Formula One. He's still got probably a good 10 to 12 years in the sport. The guy could show that he's got talent. I think he needs a couple of years longer to show that consistency, that top-end racecraft, and I think he need Vessel to stick on. Otherwise, they may be look elsewhere. And I know we'll talk about those games later on. There's a few consequences.

controversial games that can be throwing in. But for me, Sikes, out of the current drivers on the F1 grid, currently racing, I think is their best bet. But I do think maybe there are probably better long-term options that they could go for. So yeah, Sikes definitely could do a good job in there. I think he'd be a very solid second driver. And if they had a car capable of winning the World Championship, he would definitely do enough points to be sure that that happens. Very much the bot has to a Hamilton as Scyx would be to a Lecler. But I don't think he'd win a World championship in that car. I don't think he beats the Clare in that car. So

it's a good shot. I don't think it's the best they possibly have. Okay. Harry, those three names. Ricardo signs, Giovannazzi. Who do you like you, don't you? Well, to echo Sam's thoughts, Antonio No, Vanazzi, if you know what I'm saying.

Let me just do that for myself. Yeah, I can say I give you permission to do that for yourself. Thanks, thank you. Yeah, no, I like Antonio, but he's not going to end up in that Ferrari seat. I highly doubt it. So, yeah, we'll just strike him off the list. For me, we've already talked about Sines' future in a video.

Go check it out on our YouTube channel. Nice plug. Signs could end up in a Ferrari. You know, there's been rumors about it. I don't know. He's had a up and down career so far, and he definitely has the potential, but I just don't know.

You know, Ferrari took a massive, in terms of their history, they took a massive risk on LeClaire, and that's not to say LeCleur doesn't have the talent, but he doesn't have the experience. And he's obviously, he's shown that he deserves that seat, but yeah, I don't see a Ferrari with signs and the Clure in. I'd be very surprised if that was going to happen.

So out of the three, I'd say the most likely is Ricky, Bobby, Daniel Ricardo. And, you know, there's always been a few rumors and whisperings that circle about, about Ricardo and Ferrari. You know, he's got a bit of Italian heritage in him. Could he end up in a Ferrari? I think he could.

And a bit of me has always thought this Renault seat is just an interim period. I don't really see him going all the way with Renault and winning a championship with them, with them. I just thought it was that's just a secretive thing as a way of getting out of Red Bull, getting away from Vestappan until a Ferrari seat or a Mercedes seat becomes available. So yeah, so out of the three, I think Ricardo, he's a bit older, but he's still got plenty of ears on him if you look at, bless you, Ben. Was that sneeze?

That was actually a cough. Oh, the big rona again. Yeah, so out of the three, Ricardo gets it for me. I wouldn't be surprised if he does end up in that car one day. Yeah, and just to be clear, we're not completely discounting Seb Vettel here. We're just saying if that definitely wasn't on the table, who are they going for after that? Unfortunately, it's three for three on Novanazzi.

It's a shame I really like him, but ultimately, what does he bring to the table that Chau LeClair doesn't? You know, I mean, Chau LaClair is very talented. I think we can all agree that Antonio Gervinazzi is not as talented as Charlotte Clare. And I was about to say he's got the same experience. He doesn't even have that. He has less experience, even though he is a few years older in the sports. So, you know, why would you really hire him?

If you really want to go down the route of someone who is Ferrari Driver Academy, or at least in the Ferrari program, if you really want to go down that path, put Kimmy Reichen and back in the car for one year. But I'd be serious. Like, if you really want to go down that route, put Kimmy Reichenham back in the car for a year and then let Schwarzmaqa fight it out or whatever in Alpha and then pick the one you want. I don't think they should do that. But, you know, if you're going to go to someone...

Yeah, I don't know that. But I mean, if you're going to, if you want someone young, you might as well go for Schwartzman or Schumacher who I think are more potential or even, you know, Marcus Armstrong throw him in there as well. but none of them have F1 experience yet, so you don't want to throw them straight at the car, so you'd need someone as a one-year buffer. But yes, I don't think they should go down that route.

Looking at the other two, Sam, you really didn't like that opinion. I meant to meet my mic and I pressed the wrong button. I'm very sorry, folks. Carry on. Well, on the podcast this week, we've got Ben Hocking, Harry Ead, and Mount Etna. Good God. I have erupted. Oh, my God. Anyway, so it is no

but on to the other two. I have to say, why would you want signs ahead of Ricardo? I can't understand it because I think Ricardo is better than signs, and I think it's, I think it's a bit of a no-brainer. I do can see the point that

that Sines is a few years younger, but at the same time, Ricardo, you know, he's still got plenty of years left. In F1 terms, he's still got more than a few years. So I think he's got more experience than signs. I think he's better than signs. And the only other question you would ask is, will Ricardo ask for a lot more money than signs?

And the answer to that is probably yes, just looking at how much he's on at Renault right now. But since you're not spending Vettel level of money on Leclair, LeClaire's not making as much as Vettel has been, they have a bit of cash to spare. So, you know, I don't think that actually ends up being an issue. He's got a bit of experience. He's a quality driver as well. But I just don't see an advantage of going for him over Daniel Ricardo.

Maybe he plays ball a bit more than Ricardo. But, you know, it gets to the top level seats. And, yeah, I think Ricardo's got more in his pocket. We've seen what he's capable of. So, yeah, Ricardo, for me, out of those three. but I do just want to throw another name into the mix. Fernando Alonzo. Oh.

Sam, go on. How much would you like to see Fernando Alonzo return to F1? I wouldn't like to see Fernando Alonzo return to F1. You know, the three of us love Fernando Alonzo. We all think he's brilliant stuff, right? We're all kind of fanboys of Alonzo. He's had his time. He's had his chance.

The man could have won so many titles, but he burnt so many bridges. you know, he could have possibly have been one of the most successful drivers of all time and many people think he's the most talented racer to have ever graced the tracks of Formula One and fair enough, I'll have to listen to that in argument. It's not one that I think is crazy in the slightest,

but he's had that chance to prove himself. He did a poll on his Twitter, over 100,000 people responded and 86% of people said that they'd love to see him back in Formula One. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. no, no. I sound like that cat that's scared of the hoover. Generally, it's not something I want to see. And it's any shot of Ferrari as well, it's not like it's a whole new challenge.

He had to go. Mate, you've had your chance, pal. Either go into management or go do something else because someone else deserves their chance. You messed it up for yourself, unfortunately, as much as I hate to say it, I don't want you're in that Ferrari seat. You'll get one to two years maximum. You won't win the title because Ferrari can't develop a championship winning car, and it'll be a waste again.

So, no. Harry, we know how much... Sorry, we know how much you love Alonzo, so I'm really interested in here what you have to say. I would love to see Alonzo in that Ferrari, but it's not going to happen. And the Twitter poll was just Alonzo doing a bit more... He's just whining people up, isn't he?

It's not going to happen. He's going to do... I reckon he can do some... an indie car season at some point. But yeah, I'm not saying his relationship with Ferrari is bad. I don't think that's one of the... I mean, it wasn't great when he left, but I didn't see it being bad now. It's a completely different management.

Yeah, I don't see him going back to Ferrari. I don't see him being teammates with LeClaire, to be frank. Yeah, but I get, I could... To be fair, I could see him doing it for literally no money if it meant he could win a few races. but anyway, it's very, very unlikely, and I would like to see it, but at the same time,

I'd also like to see Daniel Ricardo in that car as well. So, or Vettel, to be honest, I don't mind who's in that car, but yeah, would love to see it, unlikely to happen. Love you still, Fernando. I love a bit of Fernando as well. I can't see this happening at all. However, I mean, would I like to see it?

I would. to be honest. And I know that that is a bit of an unpopular opinion based on, you know, if you look at the responses to, I know 80% said that they would like to see him return to F1 out of all the options there. But there are so many people who don't want Fernando Alonzo anywhere near F1 and think his time is gone. And this might be a bit controversial. I think 90% of the people who are saying they don't want Alonzo anywhere near F1 will be lapping it up five minutes after Australia when he's done something really controversial. commercial. Prime Alonzo is box office to take that phrase

to make the box office, Magnuson. He is a thrill to watch in a title fight. Even if it's not the best thing for the team, I would love to see it. And I think a lot of people who don't want to see it will have forgotten all about it as soon as Australia came around. But having said that, in IndyCar season, I'd love to see Alonzo do that too. Is it realistically going to happen? No, not at all. But hey, I'm a wind-up merchant and I just had to include it. I mean, as someone who is advocate for the side of people that don't think a longso should come back, I have no defencings.

After Australia, I'd absolutely be lapping up. So, yeah, I mean, it's banter, isn't it? A lot of the Ferrari, possibly winning. Of course, I want to see it, but do I think he should be there? No. But yes, if it happens, I'd love it to happen. Can you imagine the mind games if Alonzo was in any way? This is what I'm talking about.

Any sort of championship fights, and there's Hamilton there and Vostappen, he would just be, he'd be ridiculous. He'd be on, he'd be like a level 11 Alonzo. We won't have seen it for years. It'd be crazy. I mean, it's not beyond the realms of imagination. Schumacher came back. Yeah, I mean, he's still got years left in him, so who knows? Who knows?

It's a funny old world. Oh, it is a funny old bod. Now I just want it to happen. We've talked about it too much now. God damn it. Yeah, sorry, I've opened that one up. So that's enough of Fernando Alonzo. Probably the closest talent to him in the 21st century we move on to now,

and that is Lance Stroll. Sorry, Lance. I don't know why I kicked off with that. Unbelievable. I was wondering when that would make an appearance. I apologize to all headphone users. Lance Stroll came into F1 And people forget this

Landstrel came into F1 With a really good junior career You won a few championships One Italian F4 One Euro F3 Comes into F1 Very young He's had flashes of brilliance

I think we can agree You know the podium in Baku From Roastart in Monsa But the consistency isn't there And there are still questions As to how much he can improve And what's currently missing From his repertoire

So Sam I'll throw this over to you Do you think that Stroll can improve on where he is right now? And what does he have to do to get there? I think controversially, I actually think Stroll's incredibly underrated. Yes, he deserves to have the Mickey taken out of him. 100% deserves to be ridiculed for some of his actions and performances that he has displayed so far. And especially with the link to old Daddy Stroll, who has essentially paved his way to greatness with money paved flooring. So, yeah, you know, you jive at him.

him, whatever you want to do. I think he totally deserves it. But in terms of F-on performances and his future, he hasn't got a future in Formula One because while his dad owns a company that holds a team, then he will never change from that team. There's no point.

There's no point in risking it. So unless Daddy's Strull can build a championship winning team, stroll only ever be as good as the car that Daddy builds, and that is another thing that's going to hold him back. But in terms of just Strault's pure performances, I think he needs to just calm himself down just a little bit,

get a bit of confidence under his belt because if he sorts that qualifying out and is able to match the consistency he's shown and the first lap performances he can pull off, I think he's as good as Perez. I generally think that he could be a really solid, strong midfield driver, he could bring

home points consistently and he can stop the mistakes he's making. He's very young, remember? And as you said, Ben, it's like a great junior career. I think that Lance Stroll has got the ability to be a real name staying Formula One. He won't be a champion. He won't be in multiple time race ringer, I don't think. But he's already got podiums.

You know, he did fantastic run that backer race. I think there's every single chance that stroll is here for the long haul. And I think he's going to prove people wrong. I think he's going to prove they deserve to me. He just needs to be a little more consistent on the Saturday. And I think those performances will start to come. And with a bit more time, confidence building, I think he'll get there. I really don't think he's that far off being a strong, consistent midfield runner.

Harry, what do you think about this one? It's tricky because Stroll, we've already mentioned, had such a good junior career. I just quickly looked up the stats then. He won his F3 title by over 100 points from Maxi Gunter, who's in F.E. now. Well, over 100. Yeah, that's madness.

So, look, he's got the talent. I think what he needs to do is is actually turn up on a Saturday afternoon. What just has to go to the circuit? Yeah, like get in the car and qualify because evidently, it's never been him on a Saturday afternoon because on Sunday there's a completely different driver in there. Yeah, whether he hires, his dad's rich,

he probably hires someone to go and do Saturday afternoons. Maybe Struggle will, like, watch his another sport as it's like clashes with football or something or hockey. He's Canadian, isn't he? Yeah, look, he just needs to sort his... head out on a qualifying lap, because that's been shocking. And if he could sort that out and start higher up the grid, imagine where he'd be with his ridiculous start line antics.

And I agree with Sam. He could be like a Perez, like a really solid midfielder, sneak a few podium. He's already snuck one podium in Baku back when he was at Williams. And also just his attitude as well, sometimes it's just a little bit whiny. And that, you know, that might come with age. He's not been there very long. And he did jump from F3.

It didn't do like GPT or anything. So, yeah, he's a tiny bit whiny when things don't go his way, especially on a Saturday afternoon when he evidently doesn't turn up. Yeah. And he could be just a solid, solid driver. But, yeah, for God's sakes, man, turn up on a Saturday. Yeah, I think there's no doubt as to what the secret is it. and that is qualifying.

That's the number one thing he needs to sort out. And I think it's more of a question of how much he can improve rather than would he improve. If he starts higher up the grid, he's going to get some better finishes, no doubt about it. It's a question of, does he get up to that Perez level or is he always going to be a little bit off? You know, I'm not too sure at the moment. But it's a common trapdoor people go into that people think that because he's got a rich dad and because that's how he's in, you know, that's how he's maintaining his position in motorsport.

People automatically think well, he got in F1 early. He's got a really rich dad, therefore his junior career must have been rubbish. And we've already, you know, spouted a few things. But his junior career is more than worthy of a position in Formula One. He won the Italian F4 championship in 2014. He has a pretty good first year in European F3. And debut season in European F3, the only guys he's beaten by are the likes of Felix Rosenfist, who's quality driver,

a juvenile-a-quality driver, both of which are like five or six years older than him as well. And I think Shaula Claire finished one position above him, which, you know, considering how much we know about him, that's, you know, no shame in that whatsoever. And then the likes of

he beat the likes of Russell and Alman. You know, he beat Kalam-Ela, Sergio Setti camera, Maxi Gunter, as you've already said, Harry. These are quality drivers that he got by in that first season. And then also, So in the following season, where he won the championship by 187 points, there was 186 points between second and ninth place in that championship.

He didn't just win the title. He absolutely walked it. And he got plenty of pole positions on the way, which makes it even more confusing as to why he can't do it. Now he's in F1. So I think the potential is there for a better driver. Quali is the obvious. You've said enough on Quali.

I won't add too much to it. he needs to avoid those Q1 eliminations and work out why he isn't there in terms of one lap pace. He's clearly done it before in junior formula, so why can't he get it done in F1? The other thing I think he does need to work on a little bit is the tire wear. I think he is getting there. He's definitely better now than he was in his Williams days when it came to tire wear. I think a lot of that could be down to he didn't go through the classic GP3, GP2 progression feeder series, where they do use

Pirelli tires and can kind of get used to them before they get into F1. He went straight from Euro F3. I think they used hand-cooked tires, if I remember correctly. So he wasn't used to the Pirelli rubber

in the first few years. I think that might have been a slight, you know, a slight reasoning as to why he couldn't get those tires nailed down because they are difficult to control. But he's been in F1 long enough that he should be able to get it now.

I'm interesting to see, you know, So, 2019, it was all right. I mean, he got 21 points. That's slightly masked by the fact that he got 12 points in Germany, which he was in a good position to get a strategy together. The only reason he was in that position was because he was last. Perez had great consistency towards the end of the year that Strott didn't.

So we know how good Perez is. So I don't think it's tragic to lose to him. But he definitely does need to up his game. And that starts with a Saturday. And people who say that his start line, because he usually makes up a few positions at the starts, he's arguably one of the best drivers we've seen on race starts. People who are cynics will say, yeah, he starts so far down the grid that he's always going to make up positions. But if that was the case, then his teammate always would and the Williams guys always would. And other drivers around him always would.

And they don't. And you do need, it's not pot luck. You do need an understanding and an acknowledgement of where all the other drivers are in order to sift you way through the field, it's not chance that he just ends up five positions ahead of where he started at the end of the first lap. It's because of skill. And he just needs to translate that skill on a Saturday and a little bit more in terms of race pace. But there's something there with him. There is something there.

Great point, Ben. Thanks, Harry. You're welcome. You're welcome. Anyway, should we move off that one? Yeah, I think we should. All right. This next one, I mean, I'm intrigued to know what you think, actually, because we post this to, we post this question out on Twitter at L breaking. Give us a follow there. We asked the people, what do you think is the best turn one in F1? Actually, we phrased the question slightly differently. We said, what was the best turn one in motorsport? But yeah, I'm really interested to see. We've got some absolute belters out there. Sam, what's your favorite turn one on the F1 calendar at the moment? See, this is a really hard question.

There are a number of very good turn ones. And there are also a number of atrocious turn ones on the calendar. I think a recipe for a bad turn one typically is an open, fast corner. So take the start of China, for example. China's turn one is only saved by the fact it immediately swings into a turn two. Right. If it went onto a straight line there, it'll be awful. Australia's turn one.

Pretty shocking, not very interesting, just a chican. But then, oddly enough, into Lagos, the Sennares there, is one of everyone's favourites turn one's going. Suzuki can cause some absolute nightmares going on. I don't know if I have a favourite turn one. This is the difficult thing. Hockingheim, fantastic turn one, can cause absolute carnage, but at the same time, takes a lot of skill to really nail.

I think Baku, even though it's just a right angle, a left-handed right angle, the absolute carnage ensues because of the close parameters of the walls that you've got going on. So I don't know if I can choose a favourite turn one. Do you boys have anything that stands out? I mean, the centre-s is my favourite turn one. I've got to admit, it's downhill, it's bumpy, it's left, then it's right, Should still have grass on the outside, but never mind. Yeah, I'd love it.

What a great corner. I've got a bit of a controversial one, I think. Oh, God. Here we go. A great turn one. Turn one at Catalonia. Hang on a second. You're joking, right?

It's so dull, and that was so hilarious, Ben, that I forgot Catalonia existed when you ask this question. I mean, I, you know, we talk rubbish about Catalonia all the time and we don't like the circuit and that's me included. However, I really like the first sector in Catalonia and I think that first turn is really good. Is it because it's followed by the second term? Yes.

She's also average. I mean, it's good. What's it good for? You get a good run down to the first corner, like as in lap one, term one. You've got a good enough run that guys can make a good. start and try at the inside there. And I like how you can stick it around the outside there. You've got the threat of being pushed on to the tarmac on the left.

Yes, I wish it was gravel, but, you know, whatever. I just think it's a good one for racing. I really do. I'm not saying it's the deaf one. Yeah, disgusting is correct. 100% good use of sound effect. Thank you. This is what I think are you.

No. No, this is a warranted. Stoppy. No. Oh, my heart. It's up there with bloody Hungary's turn one. What's wrong, the Hungary's turn one? Hungry's turn one's better than Catalonia's turn one.

Yeah, I mean, it is, but I mean, it's still not ideal. They're both tracks when overtaking happens, regardless of where you are on track. And that means it's not a good corner. Even during the race, you rarely see great overtakes happen down there. I reckon we've had two, maybe three exciting moments there in the last decade. can I put into the ring for worst turn one

and I don't I don't care if you call it turn two because it's not it's a turn one at Russia I know it's going I mean that it's not even a turn is it it's a joke it's a joke of a corner I'm not even calling what they call

turn one turn one I'm talking about the one we actually have to break that's a clumsy rubbish little corner it's a chicaning isn't it it's an awkward chicanne Well, yeah, it's like a corner, a tight right-handed, but then it tightens in on itself. It's just rubbish. And most of the time, everyone ends up off into the car park runoff pants.

I reckon nomination for top turn one, LaSauce in a spa, is quality, plenty of spicy actions happen there over the years. Yeah, that's a good one. Plenty, plenty. I prefer old LaSourseau, compared to. to new la sauce if we're going to go la sauce comparisons

but um la source nonetheless oh my god don't say that with a lisp no really I have a lisp and it is hard to sign all right here's my contender

for worst one um is it Catalonia it's not Catalonia it's Catalonia simultaneously Abu Dhabi has the worst term one

I mean yeah that's quite bad as well it's just nothing Nothing. Can you remember one thing that's happened at Term 1 in Abidab? But I can't remember one thing that's happened around that track regardless. Didn't Alonzo punt Maldonado one year, but apart from that, it's about nothing. Nothing. It's just, I mean, you never see any overtakes in there. It's just a bit of a non-fact. I mean, the straight isn't long enough for anyone to make a move into Term 1, very, very rarely.

You get one or two people run off the side of the track, but. It's just a bit of a neck, on it? From a metric. Outside contender for good turn one, which I totally forgot about, but actually I think it's pretty great. Is Bahrain turn one? Yeah, Barang, turn one is all right.

I've got no problem with it. We've seen loads of action into Bahrain, and also, because of the awkward angle of it, it sets you up nicely for a possible overtaking in the move afterwards. But Barang also does claim worse corner on the F1 calendar with turn 11. I think it is, or turn nine.

I know the one you meet. The downhill left-hander. It's crap. Do you think that's terrible? Or is it just something that is impossible in the F-1 2019 game? It's a pointless corner. It proves no difference.

It's just difficult for everyone to do as an off-camber breaking zone, which then doesn't allow you to have a good enough run onto that awkward DRS straight at the back. Yeah, I mean, I agree with you. But yeah, I'm not a fan of that one. And to be honest, honest.

Go back to term 1, so you mentioned Melbourne. I think that's a rubbish one too. Yeah, Melbourne is, Melbourne is panx. It's a bit like, it's a bit like parabolic. I'm not saying that Melbourne Turn 1 is like Parabolica. Let me just get that out of the way. It's like you never make a, you very rarely make a move into Turn 1 at Australia, because there's really no point, because you can just stick behind the car

and then overtake them much easier on the second strike, because you'll still have DRS. And it's similar to Parabolica in that no one makes a move into Parabolica. because you know you're just going to, you're vulnerable going into term one. So it doesn't quite work. It's like, well, I could make the move here, but it's a tight corner, it's a fast corner.

There's every chance that I have a collision. I know, I'll wait until the next opportunity. I can't believe I'm going to say this as a possible strong, positive contender. But I quite like Circuit of the America's turn one. I like that one. It's uphill and, open and lots of

ways you can lots of different lines you can take I like that one yeah it's different it's interesting

a bit of elevation change yeah I like that I mean we had a yeah sorry go ahead no I was just saying can I put a contender

in for worst turn one that's not on the calendar anymore go ahead Adelaide has a rubbish turn one

it's got like another crappy chican and everyone crashed at the beginning. America, America, Australia just like chicanes for their first turns. They hate turn. They just hate turn one. I'm surprised this one hasn't come up yet, but we did obviously pose this question on Twitter.

So there were a couple of people that responded as the best term one in F1, including the Apex Motorsport, F1, Tons, and both of those guys went for Sandavort. No heroics, of course, into San DeVotte. Sam, what's your opinion on that one? No, it's not the best turn one in motorsport, is it? It's, no corner on that track is the best corner in Formula One, because until we get a Formula One car that you can actually race with each other around that track,

which we're not going to have at the moment, is still a procession. So nothing exciting happens there. Someone else, someone absolutely cocks it up. And in that case, you cocked it up down the straight, not in the corner. So, no, no, it's nothing skillful. It's an open curb on the inside because you've got the pit exit there. There's plenty of room to cut the corner if you need to. We see cars do it every single season.

The only dangerous, there's a wall on the outside. So it's not the worst, but no, for me, it does not stand out. To be fair, I could inject the swimming pool corner into my veins. I love that, isn't it? That I agree with. That I agree with you. Another one that I'm surprised hasn't been brought up yet is the old retifilio in Monza. Love that.

I mean, if you're going to do a chican as a first turn, that's the best way to do it. right heavy hard braking after one of the most high-speed straights in racing how much drama do we see there yeah it's before we get a lot of drivers who outbreak themselves and have to take to the escape road so yeah I would definitely put that one on there as well I still can't get the image of sorry I'm just going out to Monaco

I can't get the image of Raconathan just completely skipping the first corner out of my mind it's just so brilliant Oh, good of raganathan. Raganathan. Another one from Chris Hilton on Twitter was term one at Silverstone. What do you think about that one? Old or new? Well, he meant new, but actually, Jonti also answered,

and he said the old one, he said cops. So throw both of them in there. I mean, they're quite similar when you think about it, I suppose. They're literally on the same corner, aren't they? Yeah, they're a fast right-handed with grass. on the left side going into a swinging left-handed. I mean, it's a good corner. And I obviously quite patriotic,

always going to have a major soft spot for Silverstone. I like it. I don't think it's the best in the season. I think there are better corners at Silverstone, but they're both good corners. I think you always get a solid action in that first corner, don't you? I think it's a good one. Yeah, and when it rained there,

when was that a couple of years ago, There was like a puddle left, wasn't there, and everyone kept spinning on it, going through Abbey. Yeah, I like it. Not a lot necessarily happens through there, but it's a mighty corner, as is cops. I mean, less so in these new cars, but it's still impressive to watch an F1 car go through there.

I think that's a really interesting point about a longer corner of actually in Formula One is that with the current aerodynamics that we've got in the sport, along the ones that are incredibly demanding, just are no longer. I mean, take Raggi on a Rouge. That corner was the corner of champions. It was so difficult to go through, you know,

to be flat was to have the biggest cahones in the sport. And now everyone goes through, you know, my grand could drive that F1 car through that corner at Top Street. And you don't know how good she is. Can we sort this out? I'll just call Lewis up. I'll ask if we could borrow his car. I'm sure it'll be fine.

Can we put in turn one from Yiyong Annam in there? No. Why not? Because it's you now. It's a crap version of Baku. It's just a double left-hander, is it? Yeah, it's like a tight first left-hander, and then it opens up again.

I mean, it's okay, but it's the track, which is obviously legendary. I also just want to... I want to throw a non-F-1 one in there, or at least currently non-F-1. The Nervo-Berg ring, first corner is fantastic. Yeah, completely agree with you.

Cracking corner. Agreed. Agreed. Maybe Juan Tadl. But I'm sure everyone else. A downhill hairpin. Yes. Yes, smashing.

I mean, we've had a few non-mensions in terms of the actual F1 calendar. Montreal has got to be brought up. Austria, not mentioned. Singapore also not mentioned as well. So there are a few tracks there that just having up. Is that because they're just very... Me, average, you know, there's better corners on the trap, but they're not bad, or is that because they've simply just been forgotten? I think Singapore's a bit meh.

Montreal is all right. Yeah, there's probably a reason why it hasn't got a mention for best or worse than that is because there's somewhere in the middle of the pack. Yeah, Austria too. It's like, it's a very fast corner. And like we said about Albert Park and the parabolica, you don't overtaken to term one. stay behind and you wait until turn two. So it's just another corner to do before you can overtake someone. I do think that Hockenheim has got a fantastic turn one.

Despite the fact that it's very fast and a classic as fast right-hand, I think it takes a long of skill to thread it between the curbing and the runoff. And, you know, too wide through there is almost deadly. So I think there's a lot of actual hidden challenge, even in today's cars in Hockinghine's turn one. Hello, Valtrey Bossas. Yeah, he's struggled there. Oh, poor Valtry.

Did not enjoy it. No. So, to conclude, the three of us are completely unanimous. Catalonia has the best turn one. I hate this channel. You need to get in the bin, Ben. I'm so glad you agreed with me on this. Catabina.

Tourist, I reckon we wrap up there, because that's how bad it was. Yeah, I mean, there's no better place to wrap. far from, then Catalonia being the best term one in motorsport, particularly, as it was, a unanimous decision between the three of us. Sounds enough of that. Yeah, Sam, get...

For the record, I don't think it's the best term one. I think it's a good one, by the next one. Sam, get us out of here. Folks, if you enjoyed our bizarre all over the place chat about corners, which seems like an old thing to talk about and everyone else is day-to-day lives, but when you're a race fan, it is essential.

Do you subscribe to the podcast, as mentioned before on all your classic podcast outlets. We'll be down the niggle-isle of Audi and middle very soon, I'm sure. But in the meantime, I've been Samuel C. I've been Ben Hocking. And I've been Gianni Morbadelli. And remember, keep breaking late.

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