The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Late Braking F1 Podcast: 12/09/19

Episode Date: September 12, 2019

Hamilton might be heading towards a sixth championship but who is going to finish second? The guys discuss this as well as which circuits should disappear from the calendar and which should take their place. 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 Grown Free Sundays. This is the late breaking F1 podcast. Just coming out of a double header. I don't know what we're going to do of our weekend, to be honest. I don't even know at this point. But we're still going to talk some Formula One.

Harry and Sam both in the house. you doing? I never leave the house. We will not be in the house if you say in the house again. Yeah, that's fair. Just from out there, the three of us live in this LB house and we never ever leave. Oh, that is a great image. Not true, but a great image. We've got plenty to talk about today. We're going to kick off, though, with this. Lewis Hamilton could be argued that he has already wrapped up his sixth world championship. He's heading towards that mark. So, we're going to, going to presume that that will be the case? In which case, we're going to debate who we think is going to finish as his runner-up. Bottas is currently in that P2 spot, but he has got both of

the Ferrari guys and Max Verstappen, not too far behind. Harry, at this point in the season, who do you think is the most likely to finish runner-up? Plot twist is Lewis Hamilton. No. Oh, wow. It's not guys. It's not even I'll go that crazy. I think, I think. I think, think you'd have to say I think Bottas will probably hold on until the end of the year I think the majority of races that are left I think

Rebel are going to be strong in Singapore and Mexico Brazil possibly as well but Mercedes they're strong everywhere so yeah I'd expect Bottas to just hold on as the number two and bring it home in seconds

sounds laughing because I said number two Unbelievable. How are you going to get through all of this? We're talking literally about second place. It involves a lot of number two. I'm 24, guys. Yeah, just a reminder, Sam, is 24 years of age.

The August one here. Yeah. And the most, sorry, the least mature. 100%. Anyway, back to second place. Back to number two. Yeah, I think Bottas. I think he'll have a, I think Vastappen will give him a good run,

but he'll hold on, he'll hold on for the rest of the year. And Mercedes will just win everything again for another year running. Ah, don't you love to hear it? Do you predict a similar outcome for the season? Well, I predict a riot. I feel that Max Vostappan is going to cruise past Valtru-Botas and he's going to give Mercedes the flight of a lifetime, so we think of the season.

He will be named at the wrath of Vastappen. it's going to be. That man is on absolute pure fire form, spitting pure flames out of his exhaust pipe. He's unstoppable this season. I mean, the only reason he hasn't done well in the last he races is because the car simply doesn't work at all around those tracks. And of course, penalties and stupid driving. But I think that was a couple of blips for Max. And I think the Bottas is generally off the pace since his couple of wings he had earlier in the season. He hasn't really challenged Hamilton for quite some time now. Hamilton is in Formula the rest of the Grigger in Formula 2 and the

big field are in Formula 3 at this rate. There's a whole different league between those areas of the championship. I really think Max is the dominant force at the moment. Ferrari dunks count the chance. I don't think for the rest of the season. There's not a single track I can think of that's so power dominated across the whole thing

that they're going to do on. Maybe Abidabee, but what's the point? It's going to be over by then. So I think that Max is going to creep right up on BOTTS. I think that's what we're all going to be fighting over come the last race of the season. I really think that the tracks are quite even. split now between yes the Mercedes is probably going to be slightly stronger but i think max is so much

a better drive than bossas that i think you'll still have an advantage i still think he'll catch right up to him and just pass him by the end of the season yeah i'm just contemplating that if the midfield is f3 does that make williams casting around castle coom or something because they're in another league again um i think it's um it's going to be an interesting fight towards the end of the season you've got botas who's currently on 221. And let's be realistic, I think there's only four drivers who could get second place, presuming Hamilton wins it all. It's the two Ferraris, Vastappan and Bottas. Bottas is on 2-21. Vastappen, 36 points back, and then come Leclair and Vettel. And I think there is something going for each of those four drivers. If you think Bottas, he's got the best car of the four.

If you think Vastappen, I would say he's had the best season of those four. I'd say Leclair, he is on the best form. Obviously, he's one in the last two races. And then you've got Sebastian Bethleh, who is the most successful of the four by quite some way as well. So all four of them at least have something going for them. But I am going to discount the Ferrari guys. I just don't think there are going to be enough circuits that suit them towards the end of the season. We have seen that they were very strong at Spa and they were very strong at Monza. But now we're heading to races like Singapore. Singapore, I can't see them being competitive. Mexico is a bit of a deceptive one.

You would think they would be strong at Mexico with that massive strait, but that sector too, I think, will kill them. And then you look towards USA, similar story. I think that first sector is going to be tough. Brazil, that infield section. So you've got these sectors that are going to really hurt for Ferrari when you've got Mercedes and Red Bull who are really comfortably beating them in the lower speed corners. So I am going to discount Leclair and Vessel just based on their car not being competitive.

Of course, it is a long time is before the summer break since we have seen them on a circuit where top speed is not the be-all and end-all, but if it's the same as what we had seen, I just can't see it from Ferrari. I'm actually then going to agree that Vestappen is going to Nick Bottas. I think he will just about claim second place. I think it will go down to the wire, but my prediction is Max Vastappen. The thing with Bottas, whilst he does have the overall best car, I think if Red Bull continue their development, as they usually do, Red Bull are so strong in the second half of the season. We see it every single year.

They are really good at the end of the year. Them and Force India slash racing point, those two teams always seem to do really well in the latter part of the year. And I think the same thing will happen again. They have a chance of winning a Mexico. Stappen has won the last two races there. Brazil, you know, he was competitive there last year until obviously the incident happened with Ocon.

So, yeah, we won't touch on that one too much. But yeah, he's got a real chance of winning a few of these races. And you have to remember, if Red Bull turn up with the best car, Vestappan has got a fantastic chance of winning, and you would put your money on Vestappen over Albin. If Mercedes turned up with the fastest car at any given weekend, you don't immediately presume therefore Bottas will win because he has to get past Lewis Hamilton.

Vestappen does not have that in a teammate if Red Bull have the best car. So I do think Max Verstappen will take advantage of a few of those winning chances. And if he does, I think he will just about beat Bottas because like we saw a Bottas last year, when the Constructors' Championship was settled, when the driver's championship was settled, when his contract was settled, his performances dropped. His performances dropped when he did not need to perform as he did in the beginning of the year. Same thing happens. I think Verstappen clinches it.

I'd be very interested to know, actually, guys. Do you think that Bottas has got another wing in him this season? Do you really think he can go ahead and take something? Maybe Russia, he goes well around there, but... Like Russia, yeah. Potensity, though. I'm not really sure he's going to get in him to win again. I think he's too far away from Hamilton now.

I think he's, like you said, Ben, he's got the motivation has lost because he's got his contract. He's been really poor in the last few races in comparison to his teammate. Yes, he finished in front of Hamilton. Yeah, he did, but I don't think he was better than Hamilton on pure pace at all, and I think Hamilton was dropping on here. If they're the same strategy, I think Hamilton will wipe the floor with him. Yes, he beat him. among strategy. Yes, Hamilton made the mistaken

or his size, but I don't think that Bottas has got the ability now to challenge Hamilton on raw pace. If he doesn't get another wing by the end of the season, I think that's what? Two wings in the whole of two seasons when he's had the best car on the grid. That's a little worrying. He, for me, then becomes a pure second driver

or even a man that could possibly challenge on a good season. No hope for him after this season. If he doesn't win again, I don't think. I'm with Harry. I think it's a bit harsh for his Monsa performance. I think he was fairly good. Even in that first stint, he was sticking right there. We do see in some races, Bottas, he does drop off Hamilton and there's no real chance

of him fighting back. But he stayed within fighting distance of him the whole time. But I do agree with the wider point that over the last, say, five, ten races, Bottas, well, maybe 10 is too many, but last five races or so, Bossass has been much weaker. So, you know, I don't think you could just complicate. completely discount him winning another race this year. He's just, he's too good of a driver and got too good of a car to say absolutely not. But at the same time, it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't win another one. It's a fair point. It's a fair point. I mean, you can't, I mean,

Hamilton has one accident, but as he surely the man to pick up the pieces. I mean, it can happen at any point. We saw last season that Hamilton had the issue at Austria where he had a reliability issue. And it's going to strike the same is again at some point, you'd think maybe it hits Hamilton. he had that awful season against Rosberg where he had that string of poor reliability performances that cost him. A lot of people say cost him the championship. So yeah, thank you.

So yeah. We're only bites here, lad. No, no bias. No, buy, no. None at all. Interestingly, I mean, all three of us has pretty much said it is a Vastappan versus Botas fight rather than bringing in the Ferrari guys. Harry, do you think there's any chance that either

Leclair and Vettel, that's who drives for them. Do you think there's a chance that either of those guys beat one of Bottas or Vastapen? What's the points? Well, I mean, LeClair is only a few points behind Vestappen, and Vettel isn't far behind that again, is only about 10 or so points behind LeClaire. So it's possible.

I mean, yeah, like you said, we haven't seen Ferrari on a non-power track since before there's some break they may have made some advances they always used to go really well apart from last year they used to go really well around Singapore so I wouldn't technically write them off there

yeah it could happen the Claire could he's probably on better form than veterans at the moment so why not he could do the business and he's on a row he's had two wins on the trots and even if he car's not the fastest it's always going to give you a bit of extra speed

a bit of a bit more confident so I wouldn't write Lecler off. I wouldn't write Vettel off necessarily. He's not, he's making mistakes, but he's not making them every single race. He still has the speed in him and the skills. He just needs a bit more confident. So wouldn't write either of them off. Lecler probably more favourite to potentially take second place.

So yeah, there's still technically in it. Yeah, absolutely. So moving on, Max Verstappen. he came out with some comments about Nico Rosberg that were, it was just some grade A banter. I can't think of a better term than that really. He has basically said that Nico Rosberg, who has been rather vocal recently,

he is the new Jacques Villeneuve. Now, apart from the fact that they are both one-time drivers champions, and they both do like to stir the pot a little bit, Sam, what did you think, what are you making for Stappan's comments? Do you think there's truth in it? I think both myself and evidently Lewis Hamilton absolutely loved Max Verstappen's coming.

If you don't follow Lewis Hamilton on Instagram, I can understand why some people are shy to do so. He captioned Max Verstappen's coming in the papers, and when this made me laugh like mad, bro, to Max Vastappen, obviously loves the grinsing of Nika, his former teammate who may have only won the championship due to Hamilton's reliability issues, but of course that's another conversation.

I bring out the as grass. Man. Honestly, yeah, I completely understand. Eka Rosberg is probably the most undeserving champion, I think, that I could think of the last few things. Oh, my. Oh, no. I generally don't think he really deserved it. He's a good second driver,

and he was always a great big field driver. I don't think he really ever deserved to have the full shot at the title. So, yeah, I can understand that point. And I think that Rosberg is desperately hanging on to some form of current. status in Formula One driving. And Lewis Hamilton make a very fair point that was, once you are not a F1 driver, you become irrelevant.

And I think Nica Rosberg is desperately trying to be relevant. And I don't think it's working very well. I think he's making over the top claims that someone else in this three likes to make on these podcasts. And I don't think it's keeping him in the best light in the public. I think he's making himself look like a bit of a Muppet. And unfortunately, he had a lot of respect.

Maybe got from Lewis Hamilton on Maxwell, but across motorsport, he was, was well respected. I think he's now losing that due to his kind of slightly, I want to be on YouTube lifestyle. So, yeah, I think there's a lot of truth to it. And I think he needs to just simmer himself down a little bit, do some actual proper analysis,

and come up with something that makes a lot of sense to the points he's making. Because at the moment, it just seems a bit hit and miss. It seems like he's just trying to stir some parts. Pulling no punches. Harry, what do you have to follow that up? I mean, I love it. I'm all here for it. I don't think he's as bad.

No. I most of a sudden he's not as bad Jack Villanub because Jack Wilhelm is an idiot and he is the least preserving world champion that's ever been but I agree with someone's on some level that you can't just start throwing stuff about because you will end up

becoming Jack Villanour and no one wants to be that but yeah I just love it for his YouTube thumb-nails they're golden I've just want more of those in my life yeah i don't know whether you i know how much does that you become irrelevant when you leave f1 but then think of all the f1 pundits we have like martin brundle is he irrelevant now or david

it's a bit unfair and rosberg is potentially the the newest he's the last driver to come out of f1 that's now pundit um so yeah i don't think he's totally irrelevant but yeah he maybe calm down a bit on the claims and invest in someone to design his YouTube thumbnails maybe. I think the one thing that separates Kaltard and obviously the famous man that does Sky, the man actually leads to the technical analysis, as you just mentioned, Harry, is that they both do technical analysis. Kortar understands the physics of that car so well. And his analysis is so valued.

As is Mark Webber's now, unlike Rosberg, who just comes up with celebrity fandom plot lines to generate some kind of reaction off of people. I generally think that Weber, Rundall, Kortar, Karang Chandok, all XF1 drivers, all fantastically understanding of the sport, the rules of the sport, the aerodynamics of the vehicles, they know how the cars work and they could give that actual, on the spot, technical analysis. I don't think Rosberg does that. I think that's why he's so poor at being on the TV as a pundit. I think that's why he's desperately trying to just still keep himself in the line like by having driver debates with current F1 drivers.

Oh boy. He's not as bad as Jabber. Sorry, Sam. If you're going to say that, Jesus Christ, man. I'm ready for the feedback. He is not as bad as Jacques Villeneuve. Not having that. I actually love it as well.

I love all of it. The Vastappen reply. I love Rosberg saying it in the first place. I really think that there is a reluctance from pundits analysts to be properly critical of drivers. And I think the F1 drivers are slightly too sheltered from criticism. And I don't mind that Rosbergh is actually putting himself out there and not necessarily going after these drivers,

but actually not afraid to criticize them. And maybe some of what he says isn't true. Maybe some of what he says isn't necessary. I wouldn't necessarily disagree with that. But I don't mind that he is a slightly controversial figure. and he is part of the media now. He's not a driver. And I don't think it is a attack to stay relevant.

I think that's what he wants to do. And I think that's well within his right. If he wants to go down that line, then he, you know, good luck to him. That's, that's his prerogative. And yeah, Vestappen has to, he has to realize that Rosberg is now part of the media. He's not a, he's not a driver amongst the rest of them. And, you know, he's entitled to his own opinion. And as Justice Vastappen is entitled to his own opinion,

that he can call out Rosberg when he thinks is wrong. I haven't got a problem with any of this. And, hey, I mean, we're talking about it. We love anything that gets Seth I'm fans talking about stuff. So, yeah, I'm all for this kind of stuff. We just love the banter. Late banter, they call us. I'm absolutely going to design the thumbnail to this video

in this style of Nico Rosberg. Yes. explosion in the background, a photoshopped man in front of a car which is all going to be there. I have to give full credit to fair because he clearly sits at home and does it himself and for respect to the man,

he's got millions and millions of pounds and he can actually sat there on his little MacBook dragging the bits over going, that, that looks great. I love him. He loves a bit of Canva. He does. Yeah, there you go, folks. You can roll out of camera.

I mean, big love to Canva from a sponsor to the figure, let's go. Yeah, and I'm hoping now we will see that thumbnail, Harry. Moving along, Hamilton and LeClair involved in a bit of a battle at the weekend, Monza. And there were some comments thrown about afterwards by Lewis Hamilton, basically saying that he thinks the younger generation of drivers get away with a little bit too much. Of course, Leclair went unpenalized, a bit of a controversial one, not to give him a penalty. Sam, do you agree with Hamilton's comments on this one?

Yeah, I do. I completely agree with him. Not to sound like a Hamilton fanboy today, but I have agreed with a lot of what Lewis Hamilton has said. As he gets older, he becomes more wider, as do I. Arguable. Shut up, the pair of you. Now, Lewis, actually fair to Lewis Hamilton,

he did stay on Instagram afterwards. No hard feelings between us. You drove a fantastic race, Charlotte Clare, massively happens to race against you. It's more the fact that we've got, this new black and white flag that's brought back into action. A show of LeCleur has been handed this and then arguably creating another offence where he is gained advantage again

and then the rule hasn't been implied again. And I just feel like they do get away with a lot. There's a lack of consistency. Max Verstappen last time out, drove across the track through one of the fastest corners in Formula one without a scaring column that worked, nearly took out a driver after a fatal incident in a lower category race on the same corner

and nothing was said about it by anyone. I generally do believe that there needs to just be that real emphasis again on consistency and safety. And I think Hamilton's got a fair point. If he had done that on his 2009, 2010 season, I think he could have had a real example made of him. And that happened a lot in his early career. I generally think that we need to just be consistent with the rulings. And I do think Charlotte Clerk earned two yellow cards in inversely commerce, if you'd like to put it that way. And I think he did enough for a penalty, just.

But I do think he did. And I just think they need to be more consistent with handing out of these black and white flags and the warnings that they get. I love a bit of everything. I rubbing this racing right alongside each other, wheel to wheel, but you do have to respect each other's track. And the swipe was dangerous, almost pushing Hamilton off onto the grass,

in a very fast part of the track, dangerous. You know, you just need to remember and respect your other racing drivers. Harry, do you think Hamilton is right or that he should just get on with it? Bloody get on with it, mate. I don't think they'd do. I do. I don't think they get away with them more.

I agree with some of the inconsistencies we still have, and they're not right. But I saw the other day there's a clip. I don't know if I saw on Twitter, but there's a clip of Hamilton. This is like 2007, 2008. It's the Monza when it's really wet, when Vettel wins. And Hamilton is, he's side by side with Weber going to the first chicane, and he does exactly the same as LeClaire did to him. It shoved in wine.

there's no penalty for it. So that's just one example. I'm not trying to say like, Hamilton, you're idiotly wrong. But like we've had it before that kind of move and we'll have it again. And yeah, I suppose the clerk got the yellow flag for it. I take the yellow card for it. Yeah, so I don't agree that they're they get away with more because I think Hamilton and loads of other drivers have got away with other things.

and that example in particular was pretty much the same thing. But yeah, the inconsistency isn't right, and I agree with someone that one. But I don't think they're getting away with more things now. Yeah, so just get on with it, Lewis, mate. Come on, quick you wind. I would say they maybe do get away with more, but I think that's only because they actually do more that requires action or requires non-action.

If you think of like Leclair and Vestappen, Leclair was involved in that incident at Monza. You know, this is what the whole debate is about. But you've also got like Vestappen, Austria. I just think the younger generation are actually putting themselves in the situations in the first place to even be asked the question of are they getting away with it or not. Hamilton doesn't really actually get into any incidents where he is potentially, you know, bordering on dangerous. He just doesn't really get into those situations. So I don't think he's getting, there's nothing to be getting away with with the older generation. I think the same with Vettel.

I don't think Vettel really gets in too many situations where, you know, he's pushing him out as far wide as he can go or maybe covering off certain sections of the circuit. I think the older generation, perhaps just a bit of a wiser, bit wiser at this point in their careers. I just don't think they drive in the same way, in the same style. And I think if Hamilton did the exact same thing that Leclair did. I think that it would have been the same consequence. I don't think Hamilton would have been penalised where LeClair wasn't. I just don't think that Hamilton is doing the same kind of tactics that LeClair is. Again, agree on the inconsistencies.

I mean, we've spoken at length about that, and my opinion is not changing on that. The inconsistencies, I think, really need to be sorted out. I do agree with Hamilton in the case that he is frustrated about the leniency that were shown towards Lecler. And, you know, I think there is a definite case to say he should have been penalised if the FIA were following their own rules. So I've got no problem with him complaining about leniency as all. And I've got no problem with him, you know, complaining about whether they are getting away with too much. I just think it's the case of Leclair and Vesappen are involved in so many more incidents where they could get away with more.

Yeah, I think the fact, obviously, Hamilton, not only is pretty much the most dominant driver of this whole era, but has the most dominant car at the whole era, means that you're right. His wheel to wheel racing is incredibly small in terms of the percentage of time on track spent will to wheel racing confess is just racing. And when he does come up against someone, he's so good at wheel to wheel racing that it doesn't last very long in the first place. He tends to blitz by people anyway. And the car is so good at performing that I think it makes the overtakes that even though are incredibly skillful, that little bit easy for a man who's already incredibly good at

wheel to wheel racing. So you're right. I think Lecler and the staff have got very much evenly matched cars. So when they come to blows on track, it's much harder for the other one to pull away. And you'll see that a lot of the incidents that people are talking about are against Lecler and the staffing against each other on track. Both aggressive drivers, both hungry for their first kind of set of championships, their first set of wings, whatever. And so they both want to beat each other. They're rivals of each other.

So I can see why that aggressive nature might come out between those two. And I can see why the FI maybe just want to let them race. And I've got nothing wrong with letting drivers race. as long as you're applying those rules consistently to the rest of the grid across every race across every race. All good letting people race. If they take each other around, you don't even pay penalty. Okay, fine.

But you've got to make sure you're doing that every single race across every single season. That's all I have to say about it. There's a great video on YouTube from Sky and it's Davidson, Anthony Davidson and Michael Massey at the Skypad. It's like five minutes long. And he chats, Michael Massey chats through all the decisions they made over the weekend. So I would recommend. 10 out of 10.

Yeah, and I actually think that transparency is really important. So I'm all for that kind of a video. Moving on to our final topic, we've spoken at length about circuits, what should be on the calendar, what shouldn't be on the calendar. And of course, the 2020 calendar was only just recently announced. New Heights, 22 races on the calendar next year. So we're just going to have a discussion, really, which ones shouldn't be there. what should be replacing it? Sam, I know you've got some big opinions when it comes to circuits,

as you do about pretty much every topic. Go ahead on this one. Yeah, well, Vessel obviously recently spoke about it, and we spoke about it as well, but he was quoted to say that he thinks the the calendar should only be 16 races long. Now, while all three of us disagree, it should be more than 16. We were a little bit under, I guess, whether it should be as many as 22. And it's hard to almost accept 22 races when we know there are so many that we get to now, and we all go, not sure. Is it going to be a good race? The first one that really jumps to mind, I think, at the start of the season,

is probably, for most people, is Spain. That's the first one in the current that you get to, where you probably go, oh, good, Spain. You know, overtaking doesn't happen. Hamilton and the Mercedes team do so well around there that often there's no one to overtake them at the start, so they just pull away comfortably. He's won that race without fowl, apart from when him and Rosberg took each other out,

very, you know, a very strong lead. It's a test track. through it's a fantastic track, but it's for testing. It does not work for actual pure racing. 22 races are on the calendar. That's stressing a lot of people out. A lot of people are wearing themselves out being on this calendar full time. And they're going to Spain for one of those that provides very dull racing. There are so many great tracks that we don't use anymore, Imala being one of them, where you think if we're going to have 22 tracks, let's really utilize them. Nürberg ring being another one, you know, two fantastic classic circuits of Formula One that we should go back to

and reuse that will work perfectly with the current day Formula One cars. And you've got tracks like Spain. You've got tracks like Russia on the grid that are just, they're just dull. They're just creating now for money reasons. Abu Dhabi being another one. It's there for a monetary value. It doesn't provide excitement. There's no point to it.

Let the season end in Brazil. Everyone loves it ending in Brazil. It's a fantastic circuit that always provokes fantastic racing. And the weather plays a big part of that. We go to there at the right time of the year for an interesting and dynamic weather. Spain doesn't have that. very rarely does it really chuck it down in Spain during this time when we're actually there.

You have it in winter, it's cold. In the summer it's cried. I just really think that we could mix it up so much and the calendar could be so much more thrilling. The last six races have been fantastic because they're all circuits that have been fantastic. Hungary, maybe in the other one out there that actually deliver a fantastic race. But guys, what do you think? Do you think maybe a lot of changes to happen or are you happy with the calendar? Ben just pointed to me, for those of you couldn't see that.

yeah Russia getting the bin Spain also in the bin Abu Dhabi getting two bins because you're not really bad poor Ricard that could probably get in a bin I wouldn't care

yeah so you can get in the bin as well to be it's like a weeby bin this one's a lot of them yeah there are plenty of seconds on the on the Canada I would get rid of Imola I love Imola but I'm not entirely sure whether Imola would actually produce great racing,

especially with the current era cars, but that's a different conversation. But I do love Imola, so that's the kind of, what balance you strike there. Anyway, anything else in the calendar? I mean,

I couldn't see the season really starting anywhere else, but Melbourne never throws up a great race, to be honest, which is a shame, because there's always a great setting for the first race of the season. We don't often get a classic,

at Austin, Melbourne. Anything else? There's a few for me that we haven't mentioned yet, but I'll let Ben go for the first. On the current calendar, I can't think of any more. No, they're the main ones that spring to mind as binnable. Yeah, I'm not going to offer up any names. I don't think that you haven't mentioned.

Spain, first and foremost. There's no reason for Spain to be on the calendar when we go testing there because I don't think it would be a great race anyway but the fact that they do so many laps there before the season even starts it just means they all know it better than

the back of their own hands and it never creates a good race. I don't quite understand. There are so many iconic European circuits that could be used and aren't because Spain is there. So I would not be disappointed at all

if that one went. And Russia as well. Russia is just an emotionless vacuum of a circuit. It is atrocious. There's just no character. It's great walls everywhere. They're just the worst. Yeah, exactly. He might as well be. It's like they've taken the personality of Putin's face

and made it an F1 circuit. Oh yeah, and then we have to have the customary shot of Putin every time he walks in, which is the worst. And Bernie sat next to him because they're great, It's really annoying because obviously we view these circuits as fans and fans only. Of course, we don't have much of a say in terms of the commercial aspect. We don't really go into which circuits are very beneficial for the sport. It's not necessarily that all of our opinions should align with the guys running F1.

If there are profit concerns, not concerns, but profit has dropped a little bit. within F1. So if they need these blockbuster deals with circuits that aren't necessarily classics, then I guess it's a necessary evil. But the likes of Russia and Abu Dhabi, they do produce dull races. And there is a case to say that if these circuits don't produce good racing, then that is going to have its own impact on viewership in future years.

So even though they are trying to build Formula One in countries such as Russia, they're still trying to build in China and those real areas where Formula One isn't developed. I understand why they need them there, but if it doesn't create good enough racing, they're not going to be invested one way or the other. Imala, I do agree with, I love Imola, absolutely love it, but I 100% agree with the point that the cars, as they are right now,

I don't think they'd work around there. They're too wide and overtaking is still slightly too difficult. or at least following cars is too difficult, which is a shame because I really do like Imala. Maybe in the future it will come back. I think today or yesterday, it was announced that they might be preparing another F1 bit. So I have to see if that one comes to fruition or not.

I would also put on the list, Kailami, just because I really think to be a world championship, you need a race in Africa, just like it used to be. We were at Kailami for many, many years. haven't been there for, what, a good 30 years or so now, I'm in 25, 30 years. So I really think that we need a, obviously you're not going to get an Antarctic circuit, but you might as well go for every single one apart from that. And the Nureberg ring, very similar to, very similar to Imler.

I feel as if it might not quite work with the current cars, but it's an iconic circuit. And you know, with Hockenheim, the amount of times, the amount of growth Hockenheim has had over the last few years, even though that has disappeared. In terms of attendance, Hockenheim has gone up and up and up. And I would like to see them on the same deal they had a while back with, you know, Hockenheim one year,

Nürberering the next year. If they can't financially do it every year, it'd be good to have it as a, as an alternating system again. And of course, with the Max Verstappen effect, people will turn up for it. And I'll also throw in there.

They do want another race in America. I think it will happen at some point. They understand the, value of the US market. It is improving. I can't remember the figures exactly, but this year it has improved in the US. So I think they will. I think they'll try and get a street circuit, whether Miami will eventually happen. Who knows? Maybe they'll target somewhere else if that isn't possible. I'd like to see them return to Indy. I think it's been long enough now that those wounds have been healed. Hopefully, I'd like to see them go around Indy. We saw a fantastic

indie car race this year going around the Grand Prix circuit. So I'd be very interested to see that happen. But of course, America doesn't have a great history with street circuits. So I'm a bit skeptical there. But, you know, do you know where we should go? If you say Caesar's Palace. Caesar's Palace car park. No.

And Chase Carey, I hope you're listening. I'm certain you're not. But I hope you're listening. He's an avid fan. Never race in a car park. That shouldn't have to. to be said, but apparently it does. No, you should definitely be racing

a car park. I'm very shocked that Harry hasn't brought back the South Korea on. Well, yeah, but then I remember Caesar's Palace when Ben started to run. That's better. What a place. Also, I don't forgive me if one of you did mention it.

Istanbul? Istanbul. I was going to come back to that, but you're right. Istanbul. Is that your final suggestion, Ben? Yeah, that's my final suggestion. So to run through the current circuit, the current calendar, I would get through one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. I would get rid of eight current tracks. That's a lot. It's a lot, but I think a culling needs to be had.

Sorry, go through them all, please. Right, okay, we'll go through in chronological order. So, Melbourne, Australia, gone. You're right, Harry. It's a great opener, but it's only exciting because. it's an opener. Any track's excited when it's the open way if you've got reliability issues. You know, that causes any

madness to be throwing up. I think you could do that anywhere and I think we need better racing somewhere. So Australia, I like the track. It is a good track. It's not an F1 track. Next up on that list. As we've discussed in Lank, Spain. We won't bother going to more detail of that, but it's a test track through and through. After that, this one's going to be

controversial. Monaco. Get rid of it. Get rid of Monaco. You're crazy, man. It is so boring. It's the exciting race there this year. Yeah, for the first time in about five years. The only other time that's exciting is when Riccara's pit stop failed.

Genuinely, it's so rarely throws up a fun race. The only excitement is that there are walls, and I get it, okay? Everyone loves it. I love the prestige of it. I love the image of it. I don't love watching it. Moving on from that. France, the next one.

Paul Ricard. Mac Mac Mac Mac LeCore was a better trap than Paul Ricard. I actually don't mind Magicor. It's gone a lot of overtaking opportunities. I think poor a car's got one, the back straight. It's dull. Also, hate all the lines. I get the lines, but I hate the lines.

That's a reason to get rid of a circuit. Too many lines. After that, the next race we're going to, Singapore. Again, it's a street circuit. I don't think it's got enough to it that it makes it worth doing. The second and third sectors are almost unobetable. They're pointless. The cars can't get near each other.

circuit. Well, it's a good one. For me, unless it rains on the two Ferraris crash into a rebel on the first corner, it's not that interesting. And I'm being brutally honest. What about when Nelson Piquet

tried to kill himself on purpose? No, that's because ridiculous driver they want to give the title to someone. I mean, come on. That could have been at any track, let alone Singapore. That isn't a Singapore only reason there.

It's not good enough. Again, we've discussed it. Puting's face. It's not exciting enough. Move on. And the final one, of course, Abidabee. Again, it's there for money's reasons and money reasons only. There's so many tracks I want brought back. Ben, you're right with Istanbul. I want Fuji to come back. Another one in Japan.

That's a great track. It's so wide. It works well. It's got a slow final sector, a massive start-finished trade. I mean, it's a good track. And I'm all for having multiple tracks in the same country again. Doesn't happen very often. We've got a lot of presccia of Britain. Why not try to invest in a trap that improves that? the Nürberger ring. I think with the new 2021 regulations, it could work well. I think going somewhere like you said, back to Indy, that's so fun. That really could be great with the new

regulations. I said there's so many options that we can have that I think this grid this calendar that we have needs to be altered massively. I'm excited to see how Vietnam does. That could be interesting or it could be an absolute disaster and I think Zanvul is such a bad choice for a place

to have a Grand Prix. Yes, Max and staff and fans are going to love it. But that's the only good reason it's got there, it will have a fan attendance. I don't think the race is going to be good there. It's too tight. It's too weaving. And I don't think the cars are going to follow each other along there. And I think that the current calendar doesn't play too well in the aerodynamics of the cars that we have currently. So I think a lot of changes need to be made.

They won't be, because no one listens to me ever. But I think they should be changed. Well, the amount of nations you have just annoyed is perhaps a new record. Have fun on your five race calendar next year. Going for a W series approach, fair enough. If you need to call Snetterton to fill out the calendar, do you know. Snetterung looks like an eight-year-old boy tried to draw a picture of a man's private parts and didn't do very well.

What? That's what the layout looks like, a really bad one of those. Good. But on the side, Alton Towers as well. Right, Alton Towers. I can't think of a better way to finish, really. Sam, get us out of here. Yeah, thank you so much for watching.

We've had a lot of disgusting night. We'd love to hear your thoughts about it. So please write back to us on any of our socials or down in the comments of the videos. We'd love to hear what you think. Hit the like button, hit the subscribe back to stick around for a lot longer. We'd love to have you. In the meantime, I've been Samuel Sage.

I've been Ben Hocking. And I've been Harry Ead. And remember, keep breaking late. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.