The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Late Braking F1 Podcast: 22/09/19

Episode Date: September 22, 2019

Sebastian Vettel takes his first win since Belgian Grand Prix but not without controversy after he was brought into the pits before Charles Leclerc. Here are the guys' thoughts on Ferrari's strategic play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whether it's a pair of running shoes or a new car. You check how well something performs before you buy it. Why should investing be any different? At Fidelity, we get that performance matters most. With sound financial advice and quality investment products, we're here to help with accelerating your dreams. Chat with your advisor or visit Fidelity.ca. Performance to learn more.

Commissions fees and expenses may apply. Read the funds or ETF's prospectus before investing. Funds and ETFs are not guaranteed. Their values change and past performance may not be repeated. Get you and your crew to the big shows with Go Transit. Go connects to all the main concert venues like TD Coliseum in Hamilton and Scotia Bank Arena in Toronto. And Go makes it affordable with special e-ticket fares. A one-day weekend pass offers unlimited travel across the network on any weekend day or holiday for just $10.

And a weekday group pass offers the same weekday travel flexibility from $30 for two people and up to $60 for five. Buy yours at gotransit.com slash tickets. Thank you for listening to the late-breaking F-1 podcast. Make sure to look out for new episodes every Thursday and Grand Prix Sundays. Hello and a very warm welcome. This is the late-breaking Formula One podcast. We are recording straight after the Singapore Grand Prix. Ferrari won two.

The first we have seen since Hungary, 2017, Harry Ede and Samuel Sage alongside me today. Guys, how did you think that race went? It was a little bit spicy, wasn't it? I enjoyed it. Boy Caliente is the correct adjective for the description of the race. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Indeed. So we're going to be talking about Ferrari.

Of course, Charlotte Clare had pole position, had the lead early on, but Sebastian Vettel walks away with the victory. We'll be discussing the strategy that was at play on their part, as well as the strategy at Mercedes, of course, didn't quite work out for them. And we're going to be talking a bit about the, the transfer market, of course, there have been a few developments since our last recording. But to kick things off, as I said previously, Shao LaClair feels like he has been screwed over.

He's been robbed of a race victory. Harry, would you agree with that? Well, it's clear that the strategy, it did take the win away from him. But if you look at it from a team perspective, they had a 1-3 when they started the race, and then they finished the race with a 1-2. from a team's perspective, they've had a great race. They've taken maximum points,

but, I know, they take, I know, but, yeah, almost maximum points then. But, you know,

genuinely pretty much maximum points. Yeah, so from Ferrari standpoint, it's been a great race. The drivers were obviously in the opposite order that they started the racing. I just,

I don't know, I feel bad for LeClaire, but sometimes that's the way it goes. And Vetter was so punchy when he came out the pits, got past Leclair, and then he was so punching through the traffic, yeah, I don't know whether LeClaire was ever going to get past him. But I'm saying that Vettel deserves it as much as LeClaire did.

Yeah, so he's got a right to feel a bit robbed, a bit mugged off. But I don't think it was an unfair call. And again, like I say, from Ferrari's perspective, it's been a good day at the office. Sam, do you think it was a necessary evil for the sake of the team today? I mean, I would even call it an evil. Strategic Masterclass with Ferrari. It's about time they pulled something brilliant out of the bag.

They got their first one too for over two years in racing. They've had three race wings in a row for the first time in 11 years in Formula One. They did what they need to do. They need to think of Ferrari. Ferrari needs to be back on the top first before one driver or the other can be a world champion or a consistent leader. And they did the right thing today. Sebastian Vettel was impeccably fast.

His way of executing through traffic was breathtaking me good. You know, took the absolute risk where he needed to and executing it brilliantly well. It was Sebastian Vessel of his premium days. And Charlotte Clare, I don't think actually had the pace to keep up with Vettel, regardless of whether he'll be in front or behind. I think Vettel actually could close the gap if it was the other way around. And I think Vettel did well to pull out the gap in front. He car through traffic better. And when in clean air, I think Vettel was able to pull away from the safety car.

restarts better and then just carve out the gap more. You know, the gap ending at over two seconds between the two of them. I think the car used up his tires and they were too quick. I just think that, yeah, it wasn't even an evil. I think that they did the right thing by bringing out to live when the gap appeared. They tried to hold off Hamilton with the Clare. The Clare didn't have the pace in the clinger that he did have up front. And there you go, Bob's your uncle.

They managed to beat the Seagis with a position between them. So for me, it was the perfect race weekend Ferrari. That's what Ferrari needs to remember. For Ferrari's sake, this was perfect. I mean, first of all, just speaking from the individual's perspective, just focusing on Charle-Laclair and not the team, Charle-le-le-was screwed over. He was robbed, at least of a chance of winning this race. I personally think Singapore, track position is king.

We did not see an overtake at all between the top six drivers on track. I do not believe that Sebastian Vettel would have got past Chau-Laclair if Shal-Laclair had emerged from the pit stops in front. And as it happened, the other way went around. and Vettel, there was no way that LeClair was going to get past Vettel. Looking at just from Charle-Cleur's perspective, I do believe he was screwed over from this race. And you have to question whether Charle-le-clair would have still been in with a chance of, whether a 1-2 would have happened if the pit stops had happened the other way around.

If Charlotte-Clair had come in first and then Vettler come in second, would they have still had a 1-2? And that's where I'm getting on to here that I do believe it was the right call. Um, you know, Vettel had two drivers directly behind him in Botas and Vastappan. He had to protect against both of those drivers. So I can understand why he came in first because it then did leave Leclair in the position where he could come into the pits on the next lap. And the only way in which Hamilton could respond was either A come in at the same time. And even then he might not have appeared in front of Vettel, who knows, uh, or go much longer

in the race, which is what he did. Um, yeah, Ferrari, as you rightly said, Harry, they started this race at a 1-3, they finished it at 1-2, and ultimately that's what the teams are there to do. It's to maximise their results. Harry, do you think that this was purely a strategic call, or do you think this was a call in order to get the driver who arguably needs a win a little bit more in a favourable position?

You're just dropping bombs everywhere, mate. I'm just asking the questions. Little nibble. Little nibble. No, they've not done. they don't have a favourite in that team. I don't believe it. Lecler is their up-and-coming talent,

and they're not going to try and annoy him on purpose. And Veto has been a loyal Ferrari servant for several years now, so I don't think they've favoured either. I think the initial call was, and even Vettel said after the race, it was quite late. I think the initial call for Vettel to come in must have been, I think, is to trigger Mercedes, because I can't think,

because even he thought it was slightly too early. And then maybe then they saw Vettel's pace as soon as he came out the box and thought we've got to have to pit LeClau as well. We had Hamilton in the mix of this as well. So yeah, I don't think. I think they were just genuinely trying to have the best race they could. I don't think they were favouring Vettel.

I know he needed the win and he did need that win. So it's been a good day for him. I don't think he's already engineered it on purpose. Sam, do you think there is anything deeper at play here or do you think it was just a strategic call? No, I think it was a strategic call. I think Ferrari been a lot more open this season, especially with Charlotte Clare. You know, they've taken that risk of bringing someone young.

I think they've tried to change their ways of it. We'll see it on social media recently. They're going berserk. So I think they're maybe starting to adapt a new way of Formula One. And I don't think they're doing the team all with the old when it comes to, you know, alongside and Massa or Schumacher and Barrichello. I think it is two equal drivers who are both capable of winning races. and they wanted that one too, and that's as simple as it was.

It was going near the likes of what happened today with Hamilton and Bottas, where a leading driver was allowed to drive at a normal pace on old tires, while the other driver was told to slow down by two seconds a lap to ensure that he wasn't overtaking. Ferrari played it perfectly for me. Mercedes are the ones that should be looked at in terms of a bit of a conspiracy theory of letting a driver stay in front after a strategy call. Bottas has been quoting after the race already, say how disappointing he was at that call and how that isn't how he expects Mercedes to play.

For me, Ferrari did it perfectly. They did what was best for the race and there was no other ulterior motive for that. Yeah, we will be getting on to the Mercedes strategy call in a little bit. But yeah, I agree with you in that it was a purely strategic call. I think it works out for Ferrari because, as I referenced, I think Vettel was the driver out of the two that needed the win more. Leclair has already built his confidence from the last two races and whilst he has walked away very disappointed from Singapore. He still does have the belief that he can get the race win. And, you know, he will feel deep down that he deserved the race win. And that might well inspire him to go and win the next three. So, yeah, I think Vettel needed a confidence

booster, but I still do believe it was just a strategic call from their part. And if it was the other way around, they would have done exactly the same thing. Ultimately, it wouldn't have made much sense for them to favor Vettel over Leclair just because of who he is. I think Vettel and Leclair right now what you've got is perhaps the most even Ferrari pairing since Massa and Reichenen. I think the last few pairings you've had Vettel and Reichen. It made a lot of sense to back Vettel in 50-50 scenarios because you know most of the time he's going to be ahead of him. And the same thing with Alonzo and Massa.

Masa and Reikinen is arguably the last time that Ferrari have had two drivers that are on a relatively even surface. Like they are very close to one another. Okay, Leclair does have advantage on Saturdays as he proves. again this weekend, but Vettel more often than not at least gets rid of that gap in the race. So I don't think it would have made much sense to do this because of who Vettel is and whether his contract was playing the strategy. I don't see that happening, really. And then obviously Max Vestappen round at the podium ahead of the two Mercedes.

What did you make of Vestappen's performance, Harry? It was solid Vestappen, yeah. I don't think that rebel would further away than they thought. And we went into the weekend thinking Ferrari weren't going to be in it at all. So that's a shock in itself that they got that one too. But the Rebel and Vassafin were further away from the pace and I think they expected. He did well in Culley to do Bottas, I think. And then, yeah, they benefited from the strategy as well. And then also from Mercedes kind of failed strategy. Yeah, and he did well to hold off hand in his last lap. So, yeah, didn't take any stupid risk. mature Vastapan again, as we've seen a lot this year. So yeah, solid one from him.

Yeah, and after a couple of races where Vestappan has been in the wars a little bit, of course he had that first corner incident at Spa, Monza as well, he lost his front wing. Sam, do you think this was an important performance for Vestappan to really get back to that mature self that we've seen at the beginning part of this year? Yeah, if you're going to be mature round the circuit, other than Monaco, surely this is the one that you need to be on your best behaviour on, and that show. I mean, there are a reason that Vastafel, I think, got onto that podium was because of the same is absolute mess up of strategy. I think even if they did pull together the ultimate strategy, I think if Hamilton managed to execute the correct

strategy, as we all expected them to, I think that the same is would have had the overall place to get in front. But hey-ho, you benefit, you pick up the pieces. And that's how the likes of Hamilton end up winning championships, because when they do their best, they're there to pick up the scraps that they can get hold of. The staff did exactly back today. And yeah, the staff had a fantastic job holding off Lewis Hamilton around those final few laps. Interesting stat that Mr Brundle trotting out right at the end of age, you need to have a two second a lap advantage to get an overtake around the Singapore Grand Prix. Hamilton was never going to have a two-seconding the lap advantage over a Red Bull, which arguably was the third fastest car this

weekend when we were fought being nipping on the hills of Mercedes. So Ferrari would be absolute shocker and Red Bull way off the pace. So coming up to a series of races that are downforce heavy, whoever thought that this whole scale is flopped over and the staffing needs to pull something else out the back now because that rebel maybe isn't up to the stand that we need it to be, but he did a solid job with a car that wasn't necessarily up to the scratch for a third place finish. Yeah, I feel like the Vastappen of Old might well have done something stupid in that race, and especially in the first stint where Leclair is controlling the pace, the Vastappen of old might well have overcooked his tyres, trying to get past the guys in front, trying to get

to the lead of the race, which obviously wouldn't have served him very well. But he, it was a frustrating one a lot of the time from his perspective because he was constantly one second in front of the car behind and one second behind the car in front. It was, it didn't work out well for him in that respect, but he, he was rewarded at the end of the day. So yeah, I think it is a sign that Vastappen is really getting there in terms of becoming an overall driver. Moving on to driver of the day, worst driver of the day. Sam, let's get your driver of the day. For me, well, actually it's between two, but I'm going to go with Sevy Bet. He needed this boost massively,

and not only did he utilise the fact that the strategy came right into his hands, he called through traffic, so often do we see leaders hesitate through traffic. And there's a lot of incidents between those back markers and midfield runners. So, better did so well to damage, limitise, you know, the amount of time he was losing, to only connect a little bit with that tour,

also just the right amount where arguably it was just a little tap, left tap, racing incident. I generally think he drove fantastic, notable mention for Lando Norris, who just kept it clean and kept it solid the whole race, worthy points sneaking after. He's how many races affected by things completely outside of his own control. He's having a fantastic season, and he brought up some really solid points from McLaren. But yeah, for me, Sebastian Vettel drove, what was a world champions race this time now?

And he took 25 points and he deserved 25 points. Harry, same name or someone different? Well, I agree with Vettles on the list of driving. of the day because like Sam said he needed it and he was slightly gifted but he made it work on the restarts he was very canny and making his way through traffic he was punchy but not too risky um others lando norris kept out of trouble the first few laps brought it home finally got some more points in the ball for maca and right behind him who almost did him at the end with mr p gazzle who after being dumped from red bull has been pretty good actually

since he's gone back to tour or so. And today was a very good day for him. Yeah, so they're my three, but to put a name on the board, I'll go, I'll go Gazzley. Yeah, fair enough, Gassley. That might well be his, maybe his best performance of the season. That was really impressive from him. For me, this one's actually a really easy one, and I'm not going to give it to either Ferrari driver for separate reasons.

I think Vettel, I can't give it to him. As good a performance as it was, I can't give it to him because it was due to strategy that he want, and I just don't think he would have won it without being put, you know, drawn into the pits first of it. He was a little way off the top two in that first stint. He was never really in touching distance. And Leclair, I can't give it to him because Vettel managed to get through the traffic a lot better than he did. So I can't give it to Leclair either.

For me, it's Landon Norris, very easily. We saw in that final stint after the three safety cars in not too many laps that the guys who were on older tires such as Kimmy Reichenen, such as Kevin Magnuson, they all dropped out of the top 10 as quickly as you can think they can. Like Magnuson went all the way down to last. Reikinen, of course, was involved in the incident, but he was dropping fast. Lando Norris, though, managed to hold a whole position. And I really think that was an underrated performance from him to be able to hold off the cars

behind him, such as Gasley and Holcomberg, who were on much fresher tires. I think this was Norris' best performance of the season. I really, really rated his drive out there. So I'm going to give it to him. First driver of the day, Samuel Sage. Oh, full names. Now, this is actually a really tough one because I actually think across the field, the racing, the driving was bloody good fun.

It was really strong. Even the likes of the horse drivers. Okay, a lot of people are going to. We're debating the collisions later on, folks. We won't get too into it. But I don't think it was wholly Grosjean's fault, so I'm not going to go into that either. And even Magnuson. Yeah, his tyres went cold on the safety car.

But I don't think that was his fault that the car suddenly turned off. you know, he was doing well. He was doing really well for a lot of that race. So it's really difficult. And I'm going to give it to Valtry Bottas for his mentality. If Lewis Hamilton is being told by his teammate, back off by two seconds a lap and let your team out come out in front, Hamilton doesn't do that.

Hamilton puts his foot down. He takes that place back and sees it as an overtaking opportunity. And I think Bottas gets worse driver of the day for not being the race. I think he must promised himself that he would be. You're a racing driver. You want to beat your teammate, beat the people around you. I don't think Bottas is doing that at the moment. I don't think he's doing enough.

He clearly didn't have the pace to get off to the back of Hamilton after they had their little scuff while outside the pit stops. He was never really there in touch with this teammate, and that's the first bench part you've got to meet. I've been told to be two seconds slower, and then listening to that and not attacking your team when you can prove that you're going to beat them in this race. I'm in two races in a row where Bottas will come out and fight a Hamilton,

and doesn't do it. That to me just isn't good enough for a race driver. So, oddly enough, Bottas for his racebacker. mentality is my worst drive of the day. Harry? Yeah, it's a tough one. I don't really know. There was no standout really terrible, terrible performance that I can think of. So should I give it to?

I'm going to give it to Hulkie B for punting signs of turn three. I don't know what time that has. Yeah, it was clumsy. Didn't need to be done on the first lap. I didn't recover well, but it wrecks signs his race, really. when the Maca looked good again as we can, as we saw with Norris. So yeah, sorry, Nicker, mate.

Wow, out of a drive and worst driver of the day. I mean, it's just not a good Fortnite. It's a harsh title to give it, but I didn't, yeah, I'm going to go with it. I think it was Danny Kivir. I think he had a lawful race. Oh, yeah, Tras. I didn't think of Danny's fit. Oh, yeah, torpedoed.

So he started on the favourable medium tyres compared to the top nine he all started on softs, and managed to burn out his tyres within 13 laps much earlier. You know, Hamilton went double that length on the soft tires. And Danny Caviat just wrecked his tires after 13. And he just went backwards from there. And you think, okay, it's not a very good race from Caviatt.

Okay, right. Let's write this off and go to the next one. He decides, no, I'm not quite done yet. Here comes the torpedo. Kimmy Reichen and, of course, blindsided. Danny Cavier has the nerve to go over the radio and say that Kimmy turned in. on him, which is just the most hilarious bansy you can think of. Came all the way from last race to make that overtake.

So, hang on, am I the only person that thinks that he's making that corner and actually Rikin should check his mirrors? Because he knows there's a car not behind him. He was already turning in when Kofia made the move. Yeah, he's in the apex. The space is open. And Gassi's not going to run wide. He's got the correct amount of speed for the corner.

No, he has not. He does. He's making that corner. that move when he was dueling with John Eric Verne. He was wild back. For me, I actually don't think this is all forever was making out. I really don't. Just like people blaming Grosjean for the rustling scene,

I don't think that's as clear cut as it looks. I still think it is more Kaviat's fault, obviously, but I don't think that is 100% wholeheartedly. He could be able to spinning up to be jumping up to be in a corner. I think Kovietz better than that now. And I think he thought he had the corner, and I think he was making the corner. But really, literally, why is he making that move at turn one when he was going to get DRS anyway.

Oh, you don't get me wrong. He rushed the move, but I do think he was making the overtake. He was going for the cut back across. The angle worked. He was going to make the corner of the correct speed. You hit the breaking zone properly. The gap was left over because Kimmy wasn't hitting the apex. To me, that's enough for an overtake, is it not?

Every other corner you'd look at that and go, there's space there. Kimmy didn't hit the apex because there was a tall or Ross know on it. But he wasn't hitting the apex because they connected on the apex. He was never going to hit that. He was not going to hit that. You don't really turning it in. It doesn't matter. You look.

Why does that matter? Look at your mirrors and you turn out again. Would you not say the same about George Russell? He knew that Grosjeel was there. He should have turned away but didn't. We don't blame with George Russell for that. That was on the exit of a corner. That was the only injury.

It's the same principle of you know the car is there. He knew that he was around Kaviat and you got to be more aware. Kim, he's got the experience for that. Yeah, come on, Jimmy. You can be a bit more. He's supposed to go, oh, Danny Kaviat's 50 metres behind. Better take the outside into this corner. He wasn't 50 metres behind.

Yeah, you're right, it was 500. No, he wasn't. You don't slow down enough for that corner. He was closer than everyone's saying. Anyway, even without that incident, he gets worse driver of the day for me. If that doesn't happen, I still think he had a rubbish race because he was in a great spot, along with the likes of his teammate and Jovanazzi and in that kind of medium compound starters. And it just didn't work out for him because he couldn't maintain those tyres at the start.

So, yeah, I'm sticking with Kaviat. in that respect. So we've spoken a bit about the strategy of Ferrari. Let's move on to the strategy of Mercedes. Because whilst it worked very well for Ferrari, it did not work out well for Mercedes. No car on the podium. P4 for Hamilton, P5 for Bottas.

Harry, what went wrong for Mercedes? Do you think that they just did not nail the strategy, which they usually do? Yeah, I don't think they did. I don't think they got this one right. And they split it, which is, you know, a sensible thing to do, split it between your two cars. But then asking Bottas to go slower, which was unfair in itself, I think, but I get it.

But when they're the two, I know it's not really a close battle, but when there's still the two championship contenders, I think that's an unfair call. But for leaving Hamilton out, it was clear the pace they put, they were, you had doing the undercut that he was going to get done, even if he stayed out for a lap. So when they committed to keep him out longer, they should have left him out, longer than they did because they just had this weird middle ground where they left him out

and he still fell back into traffic and you know they could have tried it I know they wouldn't have made the safety car because that was not for another few laps but yeah I don't know just an odd one they just the strategy they were aiming for

and they just didn't end up doing it and it was this weird middle ground where they just damaged themselves by leaving Hamilton out anyway and making Popasco slower which is an odd one to do Yeah, good, good lap battery. Now please can you not go that fast. Thank you. Yeah, a bit of a weird one in that respect. Sam, the strategy from Mercedes, do you think they just absolutely fluff their lines today?

It is the worst strategy, I think, that the Sengis have done all season. Hamilton even came over on the radio. Let's get him. Let's undercut him. I think Hamilton is so hungry skill for victories in Formula One. You know, I don't think he's going to ease off at all, despite being, what, 68 points clear now at the top of the table. I think he still wants that top spot every single race. And he's there on the radio. Let's get him. Bring me in.

And then they keep out for what, another four, five, six laps after you can see Vessel is gaining two and a half seconds a lap on you. What are you doing, Mercedes? Finally, they bring Hamilton in. He still comes out behind all the traffic. And then the despicable move, the awful move to say to your other driver, can you just drive really slowly? Because the man that we want to win the championship isn't doing too well.

we might take up a little bit. Hamilton might be a bit grumpy at us when he gets out of the car. So can you just stay behind him, please? It's essentially what they're telling Bottas. We don't want Hamilton to be angry at us. Can you please just let him back in front? And that is a good enough. If I'm Bottas, you put your foot down,

you get in front, you go, no, that's your fault. You've messed that up. I'm on the better strategy here. I'm taking the fight forward. Not good enough from either Bottas, not good enough from Hamilton, just putting his foot down and declaring the scratchy because he knows what he's doing. And not good enough from Mercedes,

who get paid an absolute fortune to pull off these strategies. And it was terrible. Ferrari outdid them at every single turn this race. I'm going to defend Mercedes here. I don't think it was a terrible strategic call. And I think they got a little and like it. It was not the best strategic call they've ever made. But this could have worked out. It didn't obviously. And Ferrari need to take the credit because their strategy won today. But it could have gone the other way. And I understand what they were at least trying to do. Hamilton, his instruction was, because he did say over the radio, he wanted to undercut LeCard. which made sense.

And he was told to do the opposite to Leclair. So if Leclair hadn't had gone into the pits on that one lap, he would have undercut him. But then after that has happened, after Hamilton has gone around once more than Leclair, I don't think it makes sense for Hamilton to come in one lap after Leclair or two laps after Leclair, because he's going to fall behind him, no doubt about that. And he isn't going to have a tire advantage at the end of the race. So they don't really gain anything from just one lap or two laps further along. the line. With what they did, at least they left themselves open to the prospect of a safety

car. Of course, it didn't happen, but that was an opportunity at least. And it meant that if there weren't three safety cars late in this race, they might well have had the tire life to, you know, at least get ahead of the staff and maybe get ahead of one of the Ferraris as well. Like you said earlier, Sam, it does, you need a two second advantage over the car in front. So it was very risky from Mercedes perspective. But I at least understand where they're going with it. And if there weren't the three safety cars at the end,

say there's only one or even two, I think Hamilton has a chance of getting Vostappen because Vestappen and the two Ferraris were able to nurse their tyres behind those safety cars, which I think helped them a lot at the end of that race. With the whole Bottas thing, I've read a Twitter, I think it was race fans who tweeted how much

Botas had to slow down on the lap where he was told to basically let Lewis by. I think it was something like three and a half seconds, which is just ridiculous. If it's half a second, all right. Three and a half seconds, I didn't even detest the move. I detested the way that they did it because they didn't even confess that they were using team orders. If they had gone over the radio and said, Valtrey, for the sake of the championship, we want Hamilton to come out ahead of you. I would have respected them more than this whole rubbish of basically saying for the sake of the tires at the end of the race.

That was a load of rubbish to tell Bottas to slow down by three and a half seconds for the sake of tires at the end of it. It was a load of rubbish and I really hated how deceitful Mercedes were in that respect rather than just being really upfront and honest about it. So I was annoyed about that to be perfectly honest. Sam, do you think it was a necessary call to make? because Hamilton does have a big advantage in the championship. It's very similar to Russia when there was the strategic call there. Do you think it was necessary? No, I don't think it was necessary.

And I think Bottas wasn't going to win that race. Bottas wasn't going to get second in the race. At best, Bottas might have got third. If you can get onto the back of a step and super quickly, and no one knows safety cars, at best. So Hamilton's going to lose at what? Two to five points at absolute maximum. The man's got over a 60-point league in the championship with, what, six races to go?

So I don't think he's really going to feel that here, even if it continues for the rest, if Bottas gains five points for the rest of the bloody season, Hamilton still wins by over 30 points. I don't think they need to worry about that. Hamilton's ego can take it. Hamilton's going to be a six-time world champion. Hamilton now has led the most amount of races of all time,

joint with Michael Schumacher. I think Hamilton will have been fine. I don't know why they have destroyed Bottas's ego. Brutus's hope of ever being a number one driver without one call. I really do think that that moment there is the defining moment for the saying he's going, oh, Bottas, that's it. You are a number two driver forever.

To the point where we are going to mock you in front of every single person watching Formula One right now. It was embarrassing for Bottas, and I generally feel a bit sorry for him. Yeah. So moving on to some incidents that happened. Of course, Singapore is famous for having a few collisions, street circuit, of course,

very, very safety car prone, as we saw three of them. today. We've spoken already at length about the Kaviat Reiknan once, so we'll have a look at a couple of the others. If you were the steward, Harry, and I'll just, what your action is and why, Ricardo Jovanazzi, anything there? No. Nothing there? No, you're right, lads. No, fine. What was, no, like, it was, it was a sitting move from, it was a bit of a desperate late one from, from Ricardo. He came off worse. All good. It's his own fault. Sam, any action. there.

I think Ricardo was pretty at fault for that. I mean, it's not great. It's a pretty desperate move. He had the pace. He definitely could have waiting a little longer, but he came off worse. I think we shouldn't be judging that. I mean, what happens after.

But Ricardo did come off worse. So I think that is a penalty of its own. Maybe the black and white flag should have been deployed for Ricardo then, because that was a little bit naughty in terms of mega-and-doch. And effectively, it caused Gio to pit a lot earlier, where he may have been able to stay out to. the safety car, I possibly have had a top six or seven finish. So that affected to be ruined. Kio's really great race so far. So for me, Ricardo, it's a black and white flag,

but yeah, I think I'll have a little bit of touch and go. Yeah, I mean, at the end of the day, he did force him off the circuit. So Ricardo was at fault. I agree with the black and white flag, which apparently, considering there were like five incidents where it could have been used, had been retired after two races. Yeah, I would have definitely had that. for that incident. Grojean Russell, this one's been getting a good conversation on social media. Harry, do you think that either was at fault? Yeah, I think they're both at fault.

It was just all, it was clumsy. And we said this on, we were chatting during the race. It looked like a PlayStation game crash where you accidentally get locked into lock your wheels, because that seemed to happen a lot. Yeah, it was just a clumsy one. I think Russell should have left more space. Grosjean should have known when to get out of it sooner. I know on the break, if you watch it on the break,

breaking into the corner, he is ahead, but then Russell groups back ahead again as they hit the apex. I think at that point, you saw loads of drivers try that and then cut back again. Grosion should have just trying to cut back. Maybe he thought if it was a Williams, he could do it. Yeah, just clumsy, so I would, you know, would I penalise them?

Russell's out anyway. Nah, no, 50-50. for just being silly, silly boys. Sam, any penalty. Silly boys, that's how I enjoy describing these incos. For me, 70-30 on the blame. Russell's 70%, Grogon 30%.

Grojong is technically in front of Russell going to the corner. The car is just in front. The line works better for the inside line. So Russell was able to get his goes back ahead on the exit. But we've seen multiple drivers drive clean around the outside of cars. this race. So I don't see why Grosjean wasn't able to do that. That's where he was going. He was alongside. And Russell decides to just keep opening the steering. Just keep turning left across the track when he knows there's a car there. He's not, he's not an idiot. He knows that he's got

Grojan on his outside. So decides that he's just going to keep squeezing and then keep squeezing and then squeezes into a wall. Yeah, Brojohn could have backed out of it. They would have avoided the chance. Yes, he could have done the switchback. But I don't see why realistically he couldn't have thought he could get that move done around the outside because I think he could have done. So no penalties, but I do think, well, because Russell is out, but I do think Russell is quite a bit more to blame the Grosjean of this one. Yeah, I feel like we're going to get quite a lot of hate this one because it seems as if 90% of people think that Grosjean was at fault here, but I'm pretty much in agreement with you, Sam. I think if you have got a car on your outside, it's

your responsibility to leave the space for him. Like, I know, I know that Russell has the inside line, but Grosjean is in the act of making an overtake. He's, you know, Russell can see him on his left-hand side. The entry into the corner was very hard racing. It was, you know, just about banged wheels, I think. On the exit of the corner, Russell should, you know, check his mirrors and just wait to see when he has gone past the car. The second he has a full, you know, car width back, then, you know, car length back, he can, he can then go back onto the racing line. But whilst Grojean is there, I don't know why he has.

Yes, Grogon could have been more sensible about it, been more pragmatic and maybe either done the switchback or he could have slammed on the brakes, knowing he probably would have got that move done in the next half a lap or so. But ultimately, that shouldn't mean that it's therefore Grogon's fault. And I think his reputation precedes him here. And I think if it's another driver, I don't think he's taking as much slack as he is for this one. So yeah, I'm going to say it's no action necessary. You know, Russell's race has been ended. But yeah, I think, I think Grogon's taken a bit too much slack on this. And, you know,

I give him enough, enough hate. So I'm for once going to stick up for him. Love that. Why, for me, but why did it take three days to deploy the safety car when? I was furious at this. After everything that's come on in the last three races. I don't understand what they were waiting for. There's a car in the wall. There's a driver climbing out on top of it. It's the same one when Perez went out. It was just walking down the racetrack before a safety car was even released.

It was appalling how long it took for them to deploy the safety car. What are you doing? What are you doing, Schuards? Get it out there. The moment you see that car hit the wall, it's a street track. Where do you think it's going? And the fact that the digger, or whatever it is, the crane, has got a drive down the wrong way down the track to get that car out there.

Get it out on the track. They didn't put the digger out until the safety car, to be fair. They just took a lot of time to get the safety car. One battle happening when they're not aware of it going around that corner, they drive straight into the back of Russell's car. Effectively, they could hit Russell, who's out of truck as well. So stupid, ridiculous. Yeah.

It's like, okay, from the moment the incident happened to the moment the safety car is deployed, there is no part of the situation that has changed other than the driver is now out of the car and in more risk. It bemuses me, but there you go. Classic's doing. So Robert Kubitsa has been announced that he, on his own terms, surprisingly, is leaving Williams at the end of this season. It hasn't been the comeback that he would have been hoping. It's been a tough one for him. He has picked up a point at least, so it's not without nothing. But yeah, Robert Kubitsa, tough season. for him and he will be leaving Williams at the end of the year, maybe leaving F1 entirely. Harry, do you think this was, do you think this was Robert Kubitsa's decision or was it an

opportunity for him to bow out on his own terms? I think it was his decision. I think preface this with, it's been an incredible comeback to even get to F1, but I think equally it's a classy move from himself to recognise, look, I've got to F1. This is amazing, but I don't have the speed anymore. Can't compete with my younger teammate. He could try and pretend and then get bimmed off by Williams or try and do another years if they signed him again.

But no, he's mature enough. He's been in the game long enough. He recognises it's not working out. But he could go and do other series. I'm not saying, and that's what he's going to do, I believe. So, yeah, I think it was on its own terms. I think he recognized it wasn't working out for him. He's even said it himself.

Yeah, so good on him. And well done for not, you know, being that person being binned out of the team, the other one going on your own terms. Good move. Sam, agree. We as a channel love Bobby Kay. We are big fangs of the pole. And yeah, you can't deny what an incredible feat he's achieved to get back into a Formula One car after that accident.

He realistically shouldn't be driving a Formula One car. It has done now for almost a full season. But because of his injury, I feel, what was his injury. then his actual raw speed. He is being a little bit embarrassed by his younger teammate, who is pretty much obliterating him at every single circuit, frustratingly, other than the one that points are up for grabs for. But hey, you know, that's how Formula One works.

He's got a point in his final season of Formula One, and I do think it's a respectful thing to do. Go drive something that's a little less demanding on the one part of your body that isn't up to scratch anymore. He's going to go after DTM, I believe, which I actually think could be really good for him. I'd love to see him racing still, so hopefully we'll get some coverage of that. But yeah, the right move, I think. I think again, I'll bring Latifie in, probably now at the end of the season.

I think it's the right thing to do. Kubitsa can bear out on his own terms. And he's made it. It's going to be a fantastic story for him to tell everyone as he goes through life. But, yeah, I think the right thing to get out of it while he can. Yeah, I think this benefits absolutely everyone within the situation. Williams get a better driver at this point in whoever's respective career ends up being. Robert Kubitsa gets to leave on his own terms.

He doesn't have to deal with not necessarily the humiliation of being fired, but he doesn't have to go through that process. Instead, he gets to walk away from it. And we get to see Robert Kubitsa try out a different series, which will be really interesting to see. Robert Kubits is at a great career, and it seems crazy to think that a couple of years ago, or even a year ago, we were questioning whether there were some circuits

he was even going to be able to do this year. the one block to Kibitsa's re-entry into Formula One was whether he'd be able to do circuits such as Monaco and the one we've just seen Singapore. So I actually think it's a really good... It's just a really great race that Kibbiza has done out there today because I feel like a year ago, people would have doubted whether he could do that race

considering how tough it is physically. And actually, I think that might have been his best race of the season. Yeah, he had some good battles out there, didn't they? He had a good race. He was right there with, you know, the midfield at the end. Okay, the safety guy helped with that. But I think even before that point, he was doing a reasonable job within the car. Yeah, I think this might have at the toughest circuit physically. I think he might well have had his best performance. So that's really great to see. And I, you know, I really hope Kibisa has success in the future. But from one driver leaving, we've got two who are confirmed to be staying. Those are the Haas guys.

Kevin Magnuson, Roman Grosjean, confirmed to be the lineup for 2020 at Hasse. Harry, do you think that they should have rolled the dice on someone else? Well, I get the impression that Holcomburg didn't want to go to Hasse. I don't know whether that's true or not, but I've seen a couple of things suggesting that he didn't want to go on his own terms, which is strange, but maybe he doesn't want to stay in F1 for the sake of staying in F1. In a way, I can see the logic,

because Hasse this year the car's been so weird like it can be fast and then terrible and then fast and then terrible they don't seem to understand it so I think the stability of keeping both drivers I get

maybe they thought their options were limited but yeah it might be time for them to mix it up at some point and to be fair to Gretjohn he's not had in comparison to Magneton they've had fairly similar years.

They've not had no one's outdoing the other. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know who they might replace corrosion with or even magazine. I kind of get a decision. I'm not that. Do you know what?

I don't really care that much. It's what I'm saying with this one. It doesn't really bother me who's in that house car. Yeah, maybe they, yeah. I think they want stability for next year. But to be honest, don't care. Wow.

Sam, do you agree with the decision? And more importantly, do you even care? I mean, I love the honesty, the absolute ruthlessness of just not. I mean, until the car is better, there is a limited amount of caring you can give. That car is rapidly falling towards Williams rather than fighting with Rayl and McLaren where they thought they'd be this season. So, yeah, I mean, I can only care up to a certain point. Grosjean this season has not been good enough. Magnuson has been good on a Saturday.

hasn't been able to make that car work. So again, not really been good enough. I don't think either of those drivers realistically have a long-term future in Formula One anymore. And what surprises me even more is with Holkenberg is, I think his wages are too high for half to justify at the moment. I think that was part of the reason. They couldn't afford him.

Holgerberg is a Lamont winner. He's the only active Formula One driver to win Lamont. He's the only active Formula One driver to go out of F1 and do something during his current career. Obviously, a long-so has gone away and done one afterwards. but during his actual career, he is still pretty young in terms of racing driver standards. I genuinely think if he wants to leave Formula One his own terms, he's got every chance of being a massive success somewhere else. Holkenberg is a talented man. And he could do endurance racing fantastic.

I wouldn't be surprised if a team pick him up for the new, I think, supercar category that LMP1 is being replaced by. That could definitely happen. And I'd like to see Holkenberg do it. And I'm glad that he hasn't resigned himself to just picking any possible MTC just to stay in Formula 1. because Formula One is incredible, but it's not everything that you need to grip onto for satisfaction in life for these guys. And yeah, Grojean and Magnuson have a drive for another C.

But I reckon come 2021, both of them are gone. And I think it's stability for the final year of the current era. You reap what you're so. Come on, Hass. Make a move. Like, Grojean has been there for way too long, underperforming. And Kevin Magnuson, I have a bit more like to watch. towards Kevin Magnuson, but even he is, yeah, he is box office, but he is very up and down in

terms of his performances. But Brojean has flattered to deceive for so long now. And I get the point at Holkenberg, absolutely. His wages, were they too high? If they were, fair enough that they turned him down. F1 is not the be all and end. So if Holkenberg wants to do something else, I respect his decision there. But Holkenberg is not the only driver out there. You know, you don't need Holcomburg. Pascal Verlaine approached Hass about a seat and he was rejected. What are you doing? Pascal Verline was nearly in the Mercedes seat a few years ago, remember? He had a good time at Manor. And if Bottas wasn't in the Mercedes seat at that time, Verline might well have been given the nod. He's been doing all right in Formula E. He's shown his pace there. Pascal Verline has got something to

proven Formula One. He's got a chip on his shoulder. He wants to get back in the game and he he wants to show what he can do. Their line would have been the perfect person to put in that car alongside, even Magnuson or Grojevon. I'd have picked Magnerson personally, but at least one of the two. That lineup is not taking the team anywhere. I know the car is not good enough, but even when the car was good enough, like last season, they should have got fourth place and they didn't because of their lineup. You know, the lineup of Holkenberg and Seins, Holkenberg in particular. was able to outmaneuver the lineup of Grojean and Magneson. Grojean, I just don't know what you're expecting from him.

Like, where do you expect him to go? He's not going to become brilliant overnight. He is what he is, and you have to deal with that. And to be honest, I think Hass will get the consequences of that. So if that wasn't clear enough, disagree. Well. Wait for them to like have podiums next year. hilarious

absolutely hilarious also ranking atham could be up for Graham so well that's the debate I'm not going to go off on one here

but I might well do in a future video because he is an embarrassment to F2 it makes me sad they don't do F2 at Singapore could you imagine

the scenes of F2 yeah I can imagine the scenes I can imagine a broken halo in a barrier but like I say that's probably a debate

for another day it's a great note to end on something that has nothing to do with the Singapore or on free whatsoever. Sam, get us out of here. Thank you so much for staying to watch the podcast. If you aren't watching the podcast from YouTube, there will be a link to the podcast below there. We have many, many video that we do there full of the content. Tell us what you thought about the driver transfers.

Tell us what you thought about the events that took place. Was the Claire absolutely screwed by Ferrari? And has Hamilton Blitz, Bottas, and was Bottasca screwed by Mercedes? We want to hear all your thoughts in all of the comment sections below. But in the meantime, until the next big year, I've been Samuel Sage. I've been Ben Hocking. How do you watch a podcast? With your mind.

Do it with your mind. Yeah, he's been Harry Ead. Keep breaking late. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.