The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Late Braking F1 Podcast: 19/09/2019

Episode Date: September 19, 2019

With the Singapore Grand Prix just around the corner, the guys discuss who is favourite for the event and what their bold predictions are for the weekend. Plus, Will Ocon's year out help his driving? And what is the ultimate dream team from the current drivers? 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 Grorn Free Sundays. Hello and a very warm welcome. This is the late breaking F1 podcast. Previewing the Singapore Grand Prix. We've got Harry Ead and Samuel Sage. I'm Ben Hocking, Full House yet again.

We're doing well for attendance recently, aren't we? we're really getting there. Yeah. It's nice to turn up to your own show, really. Do you remember when you're in school and you used to get like a prize at the end of the year if you were the one who turned up that you'd never been ill? Which, like, that's a prize. Well, I mean, anyway, I've not done well on that front so far.

Harry would not win the prize. Hang away, Singapore Grand Prix. It's been a two-week break. I'm super, super pumped to have F-1 back once again. Yeah, absolutely. We're going to be talking about that Singapore Grand Prix. putting in our bold predictions, as we always do before a race. And we're going to be talking about some other things as well.

We're going to be looking at Sergio Perez's new contract. Is it a good move from racing points? And we're going to be putting in our suggestions for the best dream team from all of the current Formula One drivers. But first, the Singapore Grand Prix. After winning eight of eight races, Mercedes have only won, two of the last six. The question is, now that we are going away from circuits that, suit Ferrari, are Mercedes going to get back on the top step? More specifically, will Lewis Hamilton get back on the top step at a circuit?

We saw him pull an unbelievable pole position lap at just two years ago. So, Harry, what do you think about this? Do you think that Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are favourites for this race? Well, I said to yourself, Benjamin, off air, I was a bit worried this weekend. It might, I'm a bit worried Hamilton might just run off into the distance and never come back. I think they're definitely more favourites than they were at the previously

races, and I don't think Ferrari are going to have the pace they've had at the previously races. But I wouldn't discount Red Bull from this race either, particularly Vostappan. We know that that car's good. It's got a good chassis. I mean, it's not lacking too much in the power department now, but it was lacking in terms of Monza spa pace. But yeah, I think Mercedes are still looking to be the favourites.

that car is going well everywhere, every circuit this year. And even a Monza, well, they weren't the favourites. They still were within touching distance of LeCler. So yeah, you've got to say Hampton's looking pretty good for this weekend. And if he pulls out another 2018 poll lap, then everyone better be worried. Yeah. Sam, do you agree with that? Well, you stated the fact, of course, that the Sengis have only won two of the last six. interesting to know that

I think for most other race categories, for most other F1 seasons, that would be a really shocking fact, you know, we'd be thinking this is getting a spicy meat to baller, but it's it's Mercedes and I still think they are as dominant as ever, although the one objection I would bring

up to this is yes, Hamilton pulling out what was probably one of the most stunning pole laps we've seen in many a year, two years ago at Singapore, but look at Max Verstappen's lap two years ago. That was also breathtakingly good and a car that was much worse then than it is now. I think if a staffer comes in on form,

he forgets his previous mistakes from the last couple of races that he has made, I do think there's a challenge there. Although there's a couple of heavy straight sections that I think the Mercedes-in-is just kind of have that extra bigger power on, if Hamilton is happy with the car, you know, has these off weekends. If he's happy with the car,

I can't see the balls getting in front of the Mercedes team. I really do think that Ferrari can be the third best here unless they somehow discover a way to chuck on an absolute ton of error that works for them perfectly. Yeah, I would say that Mercedes have encountered a few difficulties in the last few races, mainly because of number one, unpredictable races such as Germany, and number two circuits that suit Ferrari, you know, Spa and Monza suited Ferrari down to the ground, and Mercedes not so much.

And even in those kinds of races, they are still proving themselves to be competitive. Of the 14 races this year, they've won 10 of them, and of the other four, it's only really been Austria where they haven't been close to the win. You know, Germany, they were in full control until the unpredictable conditions happened. And in Monza and Spar, even though, like we say, the circuit stuted Ferrari, Hamilton in Spar, and both Mercedes in Monza found themselves within a few seconds of victory. So it's not as if they were blown out by 30 seconds by the Ferrari guys at the last few races. They were still very close to the victory. And if a few things had gone a little bit differently, we would be here sat not with Mercedes having won 10 of 40.

races, we'd be sat here with them having won something like 13 of 14 races. They have been incredibly dominant all year. And they seem to have sorted the one thing that was doubting, one thing that was questionable about their previous cars, which is they didn't go as well around circuits such as Monaco and Singapore. We saw, first of all, we have seen Red Bull and Ferrari have the advantage of Monaco in the past. This year, Mercedes turned up and they were fantastic. and that's the circuit that you're probably going to be comparing most to the Singapore circuit that comes up this weekend. That Mercedes is so good in the low speed corners compared to previous Mercedes cars.

And even Red Bull, who have championed themselves at these kind of circuits, I think they might find it difficult to stay with them this weekend. Yeah, I think the issue with Singapore as well, not just about the car, but also about the drivers, is it's a real race of endurance. If you look at Red Bull's team, Al-Bong is obviously still very fresh because of the sport. He's not going to have experience in these pretty much two hour long races under the supreme heat. I know he's from, his genetics are from that part of the world. He's obviously part Vietnam.

He's part Thai, isn't he? Part Thai. There we go, folks. Geography is definitely my strong suit. Part Thai and spent a lot of time in the Asian part of the world. So he's used to that climate. Max O'Sostappen, obviously still a big of a season racer, but Lewis Hamilton has shown time and time again that in these hotter climates, he does very well. He's a very physically fit athlete.

he knows how to handle his body and regulate his attention and his concentration that is needed. And I just think that when it gets into the more nitty-gritty, hard-working races, he always does well to come out on top. I really do think that this is the kind of race where the mental and physical ability of the driver, alongside their skill and the car's ability, really does play a key part. And that's where I also think the likes of the club and Albon might struggle, even if their cars were on similar capabilities. Yeah, so we have spoken about Ferrari, perhaps not being as strong at this type of circuit after Leclair obviously has won the last two races. Harry, do you give Ferrari any chance at all winning the Grand Prix? Yeah, I'm still going to give them the chance to because they're still in that top three teams.

And I don't think they'll struggle quite as much as they did in Hungary. And also, we've not, we've spent a long time since Hungary. We've had a whole summer break and then two more races. We're like eight weeks since then. So we don't know if Ferrari have improved their car in that department at all. They're not going to be the favourite, that's for sure. But I wouldn't discount them. Vettel goes very well around Singapore,

apart from when he's crashing into his teammate. But I saw a good start that he's had poll in all the odd number years since 2011, 11, 13, 17. didn't have one last year, so here's your year, Seby. I mean, the writing's on the wall in that respect. Apart from, I don't think it is. Yeah, sorry. I think they will struggle. And I know it has been a long time since Hungary,

where they were completely outclassed. I mean, Hungary, it was nowhere near being close. And we have had a lot of time since then. But looking at how they performed, not necessarily at Monza, but that middle sector at SPAR is what really concerns me because whilst they had a huge advantage in the first and final sectors at SPAR, it was almost eradicated in that middle sector, how slow they were through there.

In the race, we saw the likes of Hamilton making up seconds on LeClair in the race in that middle sector alone. And we now head to a circuit where there are a few straits, but there's a lot of stop start. It's tough on the brakes. So I personally can't. see Ferrari being anything but the third best car on the grid here. I hope I'm wrong because it'll be entertaining to see perhaps the Ferrari Red Bull and Mercedes guys go for the win. We

haven't seen all three teams being as competitive as each other at too many circuits this year, but I think Ferrari might be lacking just a little bit. Yeah, I agree. Fair enough. Yeah. I think I think right, lads. I think it's time to introduce circuit talk. I mean, we don't have too much circuit talk, but it is relevant coming into this weekend for two reasons. First of all, they're going to add an extra DRS straight. So there'll be three DRS ranges going into the weekend. And also there's talk of the circuit being changed because obviously it is a street circuit. And they think that the final complex is going to be going to be altered in future years. Sam, what's your response to both of those things? Okay. For a circuit like

Singapore, I'm more up for DRS. I think it a street circuit needs more option to get alongside and to jewel at least. Not necessarily overtake, but at least have the option for a late breaking maneuver. Of course, we love those here. Or at least a wheel to wheel battle, whereas it is tough to follow in the current cars around Singapore. In terms of the track changes, part of is a little bit disappointed because I really like the tunnel section. It's a bit different. It's a bit fun. It's a real risk factor to it. You go in there side by side or you're taking a little fast. you're very likely to hit an arm code barrier or go straight into one of the corner walls and take yourself out of the race.

And I do think racists need risk. And Singapore is one of those high risk races, but that section in particular is great for it. I am not certain what they're going to put in there, of course. I am not a planner and developer of the Singapore Grand Prix, though I think I should be. But I do think that they're going to have to do something pretty interesting, it's pretty special, to change those areas of the, the almost key features. Now, they're the significant features of the track. you've got Madison Beckett's a Silverstone, you've got Ascarian Parabolica at Longstone.

I think those corners, through the tangle and over the bridge, are almost two of the very unique corners in Singapore. So it'd be a shame to change them, but let's hope they can bring something interesting to the table, not just a very boring left, right or something. Harry, what do you think about that? What if they put a jump in instead? Yes, it's about time. Here's me stupidly thinking that you might say something sensible for once.

I've been proven wrong yet again Yeah I mean they're gonna change it I think Because they're gonna The city's gonna start doing some building work But I don't mind if it changes I'm not that fuss by it It's a bit of a Mickey Mouse section anyway

And the gimmick of them going underneath The grandstand wore off after about one year anyway I'd forget that there's a grandstand even there They just go under it now So yeah I'm all for them changing it maybe make it into something more of an overtaking opportunity because no one over really overtakes really into that section. It's too tight and twisty. So yeah, change it up. Let's put a jump in. Well, yeah. I'm not going to agree with that one. He said, yeah, to a jump.

And Hocking wants a jumping F1 2020. Not true. I did agree with pretty much everything else who said, though, so that's more than usual. I think it would open up that final corner as an overtaking opportunity, which actually really excites me because it's not going to be a, like a hairpin, it is a fairly quick left-hander. But I think it would really work as an overtaking opportunity, because you have the option to either stick behind the car and then go for the move into turn one, or you can go for that move into turn 20. But because it's such a fast corner, you would have the opportunity to go around the outside of the corner. It's like a lot of the corners we see at Silverstone, like Stone, for example,

where it is an overtaking opportunity, but you aren't necessarily out of it if you are the defender because you can swing all the way around the outside. I think you'd have the opportunity to do that into that final corner at Singapore. So I actually think it would be a really good change. But yeah, we'll have to see if that materializes. Of course, as we say, not really anything to do with the Grand Prix, because it's a street circuit that they all.

they'll make the decisions themselves. Moving on to bold predictions. We nearly came up with the same one last time. So it would be interesting to see if we actually come up with three different ones today. Sam, what have you got for bold? I think they're going to put weapons and sprinklers in the third sector. Shall I go instead? Yeah.

Okay. There's going to be no safety car in the race this year. I mean, it's Singapore, so that's fairly bold. That happens a lot of Singapore. They love a safety car. So no safety car, none at all. Everyone will be clean and everyone at home will be bored. Oh, good. I'm really looking forward to that. No, you should be looking forward to it because Harry is notoriously wrong about everything he's said. I mean, Harry has got the least of these correct by a country mile, yes, very true. Have you got a more exciting one than you just had, Sam? I mean, you tell me that that isn't exciting. Weapons. in the final sector. Not at all.

I mean, it is ridiculous, although I do think of being a kind of wacky races throw out a banana could be good fun. In all seriousness, I believe that Alexander Albon will get onto the podium. He will be both Maxwell Stappen and Bautry-Bottas. Ooh, I mean, it's bold. I'd say perhaps even slightly bolder than Harry's.

I mean, I am slightly bolder than Harry, so that helps. That is true. I'm going to go with something completely different. so good news we do have three different mole predictions this week. It's a double header. I'm going to say that Robert Kubitsa will not start on the back row. What? George Russell will make Q2.

What? Out of all the tracks to pick this from, why have you chosen Williams to do so well around here? Because they did well at Hungary. Yeah, true. But they are just a devastatingly poor car. Yeah, but if it's going to happen, it's going to happen at a circuit like Singapore or Hungary.

It's not going to happen at a circuit like Monser or Spa where they are so slow. I reckon we're going to see a monumental being in qualifying, you know. You reckon? Yeah, I reckon one of the harsh guys in their new livery, which is yet to be shown that I've seen anyway. Are going to absolutely be... Is it just all black? It's just the same livery, but without the sponsors. I thought that's what I saw the image.

I really hope that was just a false image. Pretty gutted. I think they really kicked on with something interesting there. That's a shame. But I reckon they'll be in it. I reckon Rogue Roe in qualifying as well. Smash it. And as I'll talk about, we're talking about the team that were great for three years straight.

They're not going to do for anything interesting. They're American. Go mad. I know. Yeah. Pole 1, 2, 3. Sam, who have you got? Lewis Hamilton will win the race.

Alexander Albon will come second. And I believe that Valtry Bottas will be third. I mean, you said album is going to be on the podium as your bold prediction. Not only that is going to be second place. Yeah, I think there's going to be an absolute chasm, though, between himself and Lewis Hamilton. Harry? Paul will go to Mr Hamilton. First will be Vastappen, second will be Hamilton.

Third will be Bottas. Hmm. Interesting. Please don't copy rights. Yeah. I am going to make it a trio of Hamilton pole positions and I think he will win the race as well I've got Vestappan in second place

and then Bautris who commonly is going to finish third so yeah that's my one two three so we've done exactly the same prediction other than one driver yeah pretty much wow all right yeah a little bit boring a bit like Harry's race prediction and I think this is a good time to mention as well obviously my bold prediction was surrounding Williams.

Earlier on in the year, Sam, you made a prediction that Williams would score no points during the year and you said that you would eat from your slipper if they did score a point and of course Germany happened. Robert Kubitsa has one point to his name. Do you have an update for the fans as to where that video might be? So, folks, if some of you do remember, of course I did make that absolutely ridiculous prediction. Of course, William was always going to score points.

That was inevitable. Just before we've gone live with this video, in the background, as you can see, you can't see it in a picture, but there is a bowl next to me that has the remnants of my pasta that was just in my slipper. So there will be a video coming out sometime this weekend, keep your eyes peeled for it, of me eating out of my slipper in what is a really sloppy, warm pasca dish. So keep your eyes peeled. Wholesome content provided by late breaking as ever. So yeah, you've got that to look forward to. Looking at Esteban Okon. So he will be back in a Formula One seat after taking one year out.

He'll be back with Renault. And he thinks that his year out will actually help him as a driver. And he thinks that he will be a better driver as a result of not racing an F1 in 2019. Harry, do you think that that will be true? I think he's being very canny with his words out. I don't think the year out has helped him because it doesn't make sense. sense because you'd be better in the car and you're out of it. I think it's the year sat in the Mercedes garage, which has helped him.

Yeah, I think, I don't know how much difference it will make, actually, to be honest, but he's going to have picked up some knowledge from Mercedes. And I've seen that they're going to start, like, easing him out of the garages now. He's not going to be at the races very often because he is now a renter driver. So he's going to pick up knowledge there. He's been integrated in the Lewis Houndenbaum and Valdry Bottas. team for a year so he's going to pick up some hints and tips from those two um the not being in the car bit is i don't get i don't buy that at all because any driver would want to be in a car and they would

argue that they're worse out of the car so yeah i think it's just the way he's worded it but um uh yeah what's what's my conclusion on that no great stuff to got the classic harry roundabout I really lost momentum along the way that thought. Never mind. Sam, have you got anything more conclusive to say? Absolute puddle, Tosh. He's not going to say he's going to be worse, is he? That's not good press coverage.

It doesn't fill your new team with confidence. And it doesn't make Daniel Riccardo go, oh, I'm scared to race against you. Esmerichon is not going to say he's going to be worse. Yes, I think Harry makes a fair point. He will have picked up some hints and tips of Hamilton and boss. And who better to learn from than Lewis Hamilton. Ockong is a driver that had so much potential

and year on year on year he becomes a standard midfield level driver who is ever going to achieve a top level seat unless Remo pulls something out of the bag I don't think he's going to be any better like Harry said you want to be a driver

you want to be in a carving he didn't do any proper long term racing in that year off it's not like he went and won another series somewhere else it's not like he went and dig some time over at Indy for a couple of races or he went and did even something like BTCCC just to get his wheel to wheel to racing up

or something mental. Oh my God. Can you imagine British throwing guard the scene? In the Volvo, please. Go around Dock Hill. Yes, but what? Racing is racing at the end of the day.

If you're a racing driver, you know you'll sign up to a Mercedes team. Get out there and race. Go to DTM for a couple of races. Do something different. He didn't. He sat back. He was a test driver and a reserve driver.

And I do think he's going to be rustic. I think Danga Ricardo is going to wipe the floor with him next season. So, no, I don't think he's going to be better. I think it's a little rubbish. I don't think he's going to be very good next year. Wow. That was definitely more conclusive. Can't do that away from you.

These sort of one-year sabbaticals are not all that common in Formula One. So there aren't too many examples that we can draw upon to kind of assess whether it will be better or worse for him. I think the most recent example would be Danny Caviatt. Now, obviously, Danny Caviatt was out of Tor or also for a year. Rejoined the side was with Ferrari. in the interim. And I think you would argue it actually served him well. The only difference between those two situations is that Danny Kavilla, I think, really needed a

year out. He was emotionally and mentally just drained at the point. You know, he was nowhere near the driver that he once was at the end of his second stint at Toroso. And I think that time away did him well. Perhaps time in the Ferrari garage did him well too. And he's returned a bit of a better driver, I think. but with Ocon I don't feel as if he ever needed that time away.

So I don't think it's quite the situation that is exactly the same. Yeah, I'm with Sam a lot of the way, really. I think he has, he will have learned a lot in the Mercedes garage. Of course you will. Who would you rather learn from than the guys who've been winning year after year? And that will serve them well. He's been doing some of the stories of how many hours he's been doing in the Sim is crazy. but there's no substitute for the real thing.

There's no substitute for going out there and racing. And I think he will be rusty, as Sam says. I think at the beginning of the year, he might struggle. Maybe he'll get there in the end. I'm not too sure. But yeah, it'll be very interesting to see how he fares. So obviously he'll be going up against Daniel Ricardo, who at that point will have a year of experience within Renault.

Sam, you've made your thoughts fairly clear as to where Ocom will stand against his team. mate. Harry, do you agree with Sam or do you think Ockham will be a bit more competitive than that? I don't think Rickable was going to wipe the floor of them. Maybe in the first few races, but he'll still be, Ricardo, I think, will still beat him. And because Ricardo is going to have been there for a year and he'll be the number one driver. I know technically probably is now anyway. But yeah, he'll be well integrated into that team. But it's going to be an interesting one. I think that's a, that's a, very strong lineup Renault have got themselves there a very tasty little lineup of drivers so yeah they get the car to work which apparently it just doesn't like downforce as was evidenced in Monza yeah they get a bit of downforce on the car then they could be strong yeah I think um Ocon has not got it easy he returns you know having not raised for a year he has to come back and face Daniel Ricardo who at that point will have the experience and I think it is a really underrated um

an underrated trait of being at a team for a certain amount of time. It's a real advantage. We've seen it at Renault themselves with Holkenberg and Sines. Now, I would personally argue Sines is marginally better than Halkenberg as a driver. I think it's fairly close. But Halkenberg was comfortably better at Renault. And I think a large part of that was because Sines was walking into Hulkenberg's team. Hulkenberg had been there and done it for a year. And Sines was walking into an unfamiliar climate, an unfamiliar territory, and having to, you know, develop relationships with the engineers and everything that Holcomberg has already had to do. And I think we might see a similar thing with Ricardo and Ocon. Ricardo will have had a year of experience within the

team. He's getting paid a buttload of money, so he's going to be the favoured one if there's any kind of confrontation between the two. And yeah, there is that whole thing of Ockon maybe being rusty at the beginning of the year. would say Ricardo has the advantage in that respect and Ocon's going to find it really difficult. Of course, there's no language barrier which helps. But outside of that, he's going to have to walk into a brand new environment and things that that takes time. Yeah, it does take time. But I think for Ricardo, Ricardo is going to see this as the chance of, if I'm going to win anything big with a manufacturer team, this is my chance now. Do what Schumacher did at Ferrari, do what

Hamilton has done at the Sege's. Now is his time to build the team entirely around him and almost alienate Ocom from the start. I know you have your teammate, but he needs to make sure that Ocom is his wingman and got his competition. Ockon's going to in a climate sense, in a culture sense, it's going to adapt very quickly, due to, like you said, but in the same language. There's a French team with a French driver. That always helps. But I generally think that recording is to put his foot down. He needs to own the team internally and build the team around him and develop that car around him. I always say to them, look, let's build the car my way. I know how it works. So being at Red Bull for that long amount of time,

I know what makes a good chassis. I know how it feels. He needs to go for it now. Now he is the number one driver. He's got that much longer amount of time. If Ricardo wants to win anything with Renault, this is the chance to grab it by those horns and go for it. Well, moving on from Ocon to his ex-teamate, Sergio Perez.

He signed a long-term contract with Racing Point that will see him race for the team until the end of 2022. might be the longest contract going in F1 at the moment. Harry, what did you think of this move? Do you think it was a wise one from racing points perspective? A wise one from racing points perspective, yeah. Perez has been there for years now. He's been there for five years.

And he's been through the bankruptcy or the administration as it was. Yeah, he's fully integrated. He is Mr. Racing Point or Mr. Force India, whatever you want to call it. yeah a very wise move from racing point because Perez you know he could still be snapped up by a higher higher team one day and he's a very solid drive to have particularly on race day he brings it home quite regularly so yeah very wise from him for Perez himself maybe this seems a bit like he's resigned to the fact that this is where he's going to drive now there's no really potential opportunities further up the field I know I just said that he could be

but I don't see a higher team taking him. He doesn't want to go to Ferrari or, you know, Red Bull anytime soon. So, yeah, it's not an unwise move. If he wants to drive him from one or one, it's a good move. But, yeah, it's like he's resigned himself or he's not resigned. That's the negative way of saying it. But he's decided that this is where he's going to play out his career in F1. Sam, your thoughts?

Lewis Hamilton. He's got Lewis Hamilton. I bet he wishes he was sometimes, but he's not. Sergio Perez is a driver that's figuring fall on for a long time now and we've said this about many drivers on the grid that most of them get to the point and that is their peak. I think Perez is probably now

just off his absolute peak. He's just declined ever so slightly. He can't go to a better team. I don't think he's got the ability to. Unless there's a real hash team higher up the rankings of what he's at. He knows that racing point have the money. And if a cost cap doesn't come into play,

they are one of the best positions to progress. But I generally feel like he knows that he can't get any better. He knows his team might get better and that he's got a real solid place that he's loved by that team. And he's going to play out the rest of his career there. Why not? It's a safe place where he's getting paid a lot of money to do so. He enjoys his racing. He can be successful there and he has an input on what goes on. He's still the number one driver there despite Strull basically owning the team from within. It's a sensible idea. Why not keep him there for racing point? He's got the experience to help them continuing to grow that team. It's good for him as well long term. Two, three more years

there and then that'll be it, I reckon. So I can't fault the man for choosing to stay there for another couple of years. It's a clever and sensible decision. Yeah, I think Harry, you summed it perfectly by saying he is Mr. Racing Point. He has been at that team for so many years now, and he's been able to get them podiums, which no other driver has been able to really get for them. And it's good to see that Force India, as they were, took a real risk with Sergio Perez. It just come out of McLaren, didn't look too good. Force India were the only team that looked like they were going to take a gamble on the guy. And it's really repaid from both of their perspectives.

Perez had a career revival and Force India had plenty of podiums thanks to Perez. So it's been a good relationship all round. And that was only enhanced with what happened with the administration last year, where Perez stuck by the team and he fully deserves this contract. The problem that Racing Point have is that we don't know where they're going to be in the future. don't know how much better they're going to get. They're in the midfield, fully cemented in the midfield at the moment, but we know that the money is going to keep on rolling in thanks to Lawrence Stroll. How far will that get them up the grid? In 2021, we're not even sure what the

regulations are going to be and whether there is going to be a cost cap, because if there is a cost cap, force India slash racing point, have always been very good and efficient with their money, which could see them in a much better position. If that's the case, Perez is a really good driver and I've always rated Perez, and I usually stick up for him. He is more than good enough for where the team is right now. But if the team becomes slightly better and starts maybe even competing for wins, is he good enough to be the number one driver in that scenario? I don't know if he is.

And that's the real issue of having Lance Stroll, a limited Lansdrol, as one of your drivers. It essentially means that if you are having a long-term contract for your other driver, you are cementing your whole lineup. There's not really anything you can do. It makes you as a team, you know, you've locked in those drivers. Essentially, unless something really weird happens, Racing Point are going to have the same lineup until the end of 2022. Lance Stroll's not going to go anywhere whilst Lawrence Stroller's there.

And like I say, Sergio Perez, an absolutely great driver for where they are now. If, and we don't really know, because Perez has never really had the opportunity to take it to the next level, if he can't, and that's the point, we don't know at this point. If he can't take it to that next level, they're kind of stuck with two drivers who won't be able to maximise the car. And maybe Perez will be good enough to take wins when given the opportunity. But we've never seen him in that spot until we do. We can't say confidently.

So I think it's a smart move from Perez's perspective. From racing points perspective, maybe it is a bit of a gamble to give it a three-year contract because until the end of 2022, it's a long time. time in F1. A long time with new regulations coming and a lot of talent coming through F2 and F3 at the moment. You can't deny how strong the younger generation seems to be at the moment. And a three-year contract into a new generation of Formula One is a massively risky thing. Pretty much the only person who's got that deal on the grid, I would say, at the moment, guaranteed is Lewis Hamilton. Everyone else is still got to be surely comfortably expendable on the grid, I would say, even if their contract

technically goes over that date. Lewis Hamilton, to me, is the only person, Max Verstapler, I guess is the other one, that gets a saying what they want to do after 2021, regardless of the changes. I don't think Perez is good enough to warrant being guaranteed a place a whole year into a whole new set of regulation.

So it's sensible, but maybe not actually risky enough from Racing Point, who have got the chance to bring a lot of young talent. They're a big team now. They're well established. They've got the money. They really can handle some quality talent on F1. I don't know if they've just resigned themselves to maybe being a little bit too reserved

and possibly going to fall down the order over the next few years. And I guess to wrap up this week, who do we think, 20 drivers on the grid, who do we think is the best dream team? You have complete control. Money is not an issue. Who do you pick? You can have any two drivers on the grid. I'll be interesting to see if we come up with the same answers or if we come up with something very different.

Harry, I have no doubt that you're going to pick a driver that's not even on the grid as a joke, but go on. Oh, he's muting himself, folks. Folks, he's muting himself. Oh, you've really messed that up, Harry. Banta. Go on. What I was going to say was, I'm not going to do it now because you pulled me up on it, so I'm not going to do a driver that's not on the grid.

I'm going to be sensible. Out of interest, who would it have been? Raku-ness then. Okay. No, that would have been a good. good one as well. So sort of for spoiling that. Yeah. Who do you go for?

It's tricky. So I'm trying to think you also want the best drivers, but then you also want drivers that all get on. Not get on, but they won't take each other out all the time. So in my dream team, I'm going to put Max Verstappen

and I put Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. I'm looking to the future. lads, looking to the future. Wow. They're not going to take each other out. They're going to bang wheels a bit, which we've seen already, but they're not going to take each other out.

A young team? Maybe once. Yeah. I just think if you put Hamilton and Verstappen in the same team, they would end up taking each other out at some point. I think that would be inevitable. Sam? Yeah.

No Hamilton in Harry's dream team. I'm going to guess he's in your dream team. Hamilton is the one guaranteed seat. in my team. And the other one is what is really, I'm tempted, do I go for age or experience? So Hamilton makes it because realistically, unless you're doing what Harry does entirely, look 100% to the future, if you're going to win in the now and you're going to develop a team and develop a car and have pure experience and still such raw pace, still argue with the fastest driver, I'd say in the world on four tires. Lewis Hamilton is your man of the moment, undeniably.

Also, he's going to make me pure dollar bills when he retires because we're going to be busy mates to dying and Tommy Hill figure together, getting our brakes done. Oh, get out of his button. The man, I'm torn between two, two gentle men. The youth option, George Russell, is an August Sagi's youth driver line up, but I think the Rustmeister actually, okay, actually, I take it as three, three drivers. The Rossmeister is, I think, a really solid option. I really think for a good couple of years, strong wingman and it's got real potential, of course, current F2 champion as well. The other option, which for me is a bit of outside choice is Mr. Lando Norris, just because the meme lord, he's not going to not get along

with anyone. Everyone loves him and Hamilton sometimes could use some milk. So I think that it's always good to have to have that, but he's the outside option. I think the man I'm really going to go for is actually slightly controversial Ferrari League driver, Sebastian Betel, as a Hamilton-Vettel Mercedes driver lineup 10 to be world championships in one team they're so past

the argumentative silly stage that I think that they're just going to shake hands go have a little coffee somewhere and chill out and I love the idea with them

just being a bit old together I think that's really fun in their slippers yeah yeah I think that'll be really fun so yeah for me

Vettel and Hamilton is the current dream lineup crazily I was worried that we'd all come up with the same thing. And as it happens,

you two have mentioned six names between you and none of them have been shared. Which, yeah, that seems mad. So, Sam,

your final answer is Hamilton and Vettel with Russell and Norris on the outside. I was going to say that you are definitely going to get British bias comments, but I think the Vettel selection might have saved you there.

I am not going to go for exactly the same as either of you. I think if this was on pure talent and it's as you say harry you've got a factor in chemistry if it was just talent at the moment right now it's an easy one for me it's hamilton and vestappen i think they are quite comfortably relatively comfortably i'll go for uh quicker than everyone else maybe charl leclair and p3 um but would hamilton and vestappan work within a team i'm going to go with no um Hamilton is my lot um You know, he is still performing at an elite level. He's winning championship after championship.

I can't turn that down if I'm looking for a dream team. So I've just got to look for who's going to partner him. Like I say, if it's on talent, I'm going with Max Verstappen. But because of chemistry and because I think he would get along slightly better, even though there was a little bit of a disagreement at Monza. I'd go with Shao LeClaire. I'm going to go with the partnership of LeClaire and Hamilton. I think LeClair has the potential just to get along a little bit better.

better than Hamilton. And even though Vastappen is slightly quicker now, I think in future, LeClaire will bridge that gap as he gets a bit more experienced. And I think the two of them, actually, in the future will probably be the top guys. So, yeah, that's my selection. I'm going to go with Hamilton and LeClair.

Do you know what? I think then yours might actually be the least likely to happen. As weird to say, I actually think we have more chance of seeing LeClaire and the same team than we do have seen Hamilton and LeClau in the same team. then we do have seen Hamilton and LeCleur in the same team. Out of interest, how do you think that Hamilton-Vettel dynamic would work?

So you clearly think that they wouldn't implode. Do you think that they would get on well as teammates? I actually think that they are so respectful of each other now. They've so grown up and come past their differences. I mean, people still know that Hamilton is this winy child of a race. And he really isn't. And the same with Vetter. We've heard Vettel have a moment as well.

They are both so level-headed and calm, and they're all about the racing. They just want to be the best they can be on track, and they give everything, every weekend. Betel may not be of the same ability he once was, but for me, he'd be the second driver to Hamilton. They both still absolutely gun for it. They both play strategically well. They both love the team. If they get them in the right team, they love playing for the team as well. I just think it would work.

I generally think they go out for little diggers together. They get bad haircuts together. I just, it's a, it's the fan. It's the group of drivers I never knew I actually wanted. And I'm fully committed. If they're both 39 years old racing for a back market team together, I'm supporting that team. That's wicked. So I'm all for it.

I just think they can shut out. Have a laugh. And Harry, you've obviously gone for two young guns in Vastap and the Leclair. We've had them have a little bit of argy-bargy over the last few races. Do you not think that that might implode? You've got two guys who have no championships to their name. They're both going to be, want to be the first one. there is that not going to cause friction.

Argy bargy. Yeah, but they could have easily taken each other out on all of those occasions. And all of those occasions has only been a bit of algae and a bit of a bit of bargy. I do love me a bit of bargy. Oh, well, yeah, who doesn't? Really go for a curry right now. Yeah, so what I'm saying is that they've had plenty of opportunity to take each other, wipe each other out of a race this year, particularly when they are still.

both really young and, you know, Lechler's been going after his first win. Vostappen is trying to establish himself as, you know, the next great driver. And they've not, they've not. So I believe that that would only improve over time anyway. So, yeah, I think they'd be OK. They were not saying there wouldn't be friction potentially, and there wouldn't be more bargy and argy, but I don't think they'd take each other out. And obviously we want to know everyone's dream team, so get that to us.

And if you agree with one of us three, maybe you think we have got it right for once. Maybe not, but... Probably not. If you see a dream team that you love, give it the thumbs up in the comments as well, because we'd love to see which one is the most popular dream team that you guys comment on as well. Yeah, absolutely. On that note, Sam, get us out of here. Well, if you've enjoyed the ridiculousness and you're looking forward to, I'll say it again,

seeing me eat pasta out of a slipper, then please stick around for more late breaking videos. Do like the video, do listen to the podcast for all of the videos combined. Please subscribe, it means the world to us that we are growing. We want to see you come along with us for this crazy journey and the rest of the Formula One banter that we provide you. But until the next time, I've been Samuel Sage.

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