The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Late Braking F1 Podcast: 29/08/19

Episode Date: August 29, 2019

The Late Braking F1 Podcast is back! We talk about the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix, whether Ocon to Renault is a viable move, and whether Mick Schumacher should be considered for a 2020 seat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 podcast. Make sure to look out for new episodes every Thursday and Grand Prix Sundays. Hello and a very warm welcome. This is the return of the Lake Breaking F1 podcast. Previewing the Belgian Grand Prix. Entertain a couple of days ahead. It's been a long summer.

Guys, how you doing? Good. Shake a bake, baby. Yeah, I love it. I'm right. not bad so we've got plenty to discuss today we're going to be talking about the belgian gramprey our bold predictions where we think the top three are going to land but first we're going to talk about a rumor estabana o'con and nico holcombberg now of course by the time this is released it will probably be decided as is our luck but we're going to go ahead with the topic anyway um so after a summer

where Esteban Ockon has been heavily rumoured with the second Mercedes seat, it actually turns out now he's rumoured with the Renault seat in replacement of Nico Holcomberg. I'll kick off for you, Sam, on this one. First of all, do you believe this rumour? And second of all, if you do believe this rumour, do you think it's a good idea for Renault? Well, firstly, as Adele once said, rumour has it. We love a big of a deal than the rumour has it. It's a really odd one. I think it's so big of a bit of a number one. twisting the tail what no one expected. And my first thought when I heard it was

bloody harsh on Nico Holkenberg. He is out of all the big field drivers, pretty much one of two or three that I would have said, not going anywhere, deserves his seat, deserves to be in a team that is building and hopefully improving over the next couple of years, at least until

2021 alongside Ricardo, who he's been pretty much equal with the whole season so far, and has been such a key driver for them over the last two or three years. He was best of the rest last season as well, The man has got great consistency, and for a team in the big field, that is what they need. I don't really know what O'Conn can bring to the table that Holgerberg isn't bringing. Maybe there's an age difference there.

Holgerberg is getting on a little bit. They need to look towards the future. But it just seems harsh. I believe it could happen. I'm hoping it doesn't happen. I don't want O'Connor. I really like Hulk. I think he's doing a great job.

He's got the ability to put that car constantly in kind of six, seven, eight, every race if there isn't an issue with the car itself. and beats Ricardo regularly, to be fair. They challenge each other guys for me. I think Okong's suit at the hothead. I think he could cause some trouble, and I don't really know what he's bringing to Renaud. Other than being Frank, Chanow, that seems love to have a driver from their national country.

But no, keep Holkenberg for me. I'm all for the Hulk. Harry, can you see this happening? And if you can, do you think it's a good idea? I can see it happening because I think Ockham was all lined up to go to Renner last for this year, sorry, but then Ricardo Waltz-up.

I agree with Sam. Bleeding harsh on Nikolkjvurg because honestly, what has he done wrong since he joined Renaud? He's seen off two teammates already and the third one, who is Daniel Ricardo,

very highly regarded in F1, he's keeping him very honest and outperforming him at some point. So, yeah, if that's the way it goes, I think it's a really harsh call on Holkenberg who I don't think he's done anything wrong since you joined Renault. And I think it'd be odd because I think Cyril,

squirrel, sorry, score irritable, he's a big fan of Holkenberg. So unless something's changed radically, I don't know. But yeah, I think it could happen because Toto's desperate to get Ockon in the car. But, yeah, with Sam, it's a harsh call if it does happen. So, yeah, first of all, can I say this?

It is so good to be back. It really is so good to be back. It is feasible. It is feasible. It's not a far-fetched idea at all. And Ocon, French driver, into a French team, French engine, everything French. You've got to love it. Begets and snails.

Weird stereotype here, ladies are. Yeah, no, no stereotyping at all. So, yeah, I can see this happening. Ocon, the longer he stays out of Formula One, the more of a chance other drivers get to show their potential and what they can do. Ocon's career is being hurt with every single race that he is not in a car. He can't show what you can do. And I can't quite believe this because you might think that Estabana Ocon,

this is going to be a good opportunity for me to knock him. I've been very critical of him in the past. And everything that I have said in the past, I still believe in today. I don't think he's on the same level as Leclair and Vostappen, and I don't think he'll ever be. But out of the three of us, I'm the one who actually thinks that this is a good idea. And I think Ocon should go to Renaud and partner Daniel Ricardo. And I'm not saying it's not harsh on Niko Holkenberg.

Absolutely it is. Niko Holkenberg was the best of the rest last season. He's doing a fairly good job this year, only slightly behind Daniel Ricardo. And of course, the Renault hasn't been as good this year. Simply put, Renaud, we're at the top of the midfield last year. This year, it's a much closer thing, and they're not quite on the same level as McLaren. The thing is, at worst, I would argue Holkenberg is marginally better than Ocon right now. Right now, I would put Holkenberg ahead of Ocon by the tiniest of margins.

But in the future, I don't think that's going to be the case. I think O'Conn has more potential than Holkenberg. Holkenberg, what you get now, he's what, he's 32 years old, something like that, he is at the peak of his powers. He's not going to get any better. And he's a good driver. He's a solid midfield driver. But ultimately, you have to question where Renault want to go.

Renault don't want to be in the midfield. Renno are spending the big bucks. The F1 Racing magazine determined that they've spent about a billion pounds, all directed towards their Formula One program already. And the intention is to fight at the top and get podiums. The one thing that's always held Nika Holcomberg back is taking that extra step, getting those podiums when they're possible. I think Ocon would be in a better position to do that than Niko.

Nico is a good driver. He is a good driver, but in terms of potential, I think that worst Ocon's career will be on the same level as Halkenberg. I think that's worst case scenario for Ockon. Best case scenario, he ends up being a better driver than Nico Holcombberg, which I think will probably be the case. So as mad as it seems, out of the three of us, I'm the one going for Estabon Ocon here.

Yeah, that is actually really baffing. Assuming out of the three of us, you are definitely the one that has been the most against Ocon and his abilities so far. F1. The reason why I don't think it's going to happen, at least especially before the winter break, maybe even before, after that, maybe even kind of towards the end of 2020, is because Holgerberg's attitude towards this on social media has been very sarcastic, you know, a bit like, hang a minute, I don't have a clue that was happening. I definitely think Renault are the kind of team to sit down with Holgerberg and go, by the way, we're going to do this. We're going to let you

know, we're going to do this, we'll preempt to you. And it seems odd that a team wouldn't prep its driver. They've got respect for each other. Hulk has never done anything wrong in terms of the rena relationship. They very much get along. So the way Hulk's reacting online, it's a bit like, what are you all about?

This is a bit funny. This is going to be interesting to talk about. I think it's someone pushing a rumor. I don't see it happening until maybe the end of next season. They did dump signs pretty unceremoniously last year, though, to be fair. I don't know if signs saw or had much

warning about Ricardo, as did nobody else in the entire airport paddock. But they got a tiny bit of form there, but I agree. I don't think. Holgenberg has been a loyal Renae driver for this is year three. I don't think they'd do that to him.

I don't know. I just think it's harsh. I think it's bloody harsh. And I get what Ben's saying about they've got to look to the future. I also think would Toto let Ocon go? Because I'm sure he'd have to come out of his and say his contract.

Does that mean that Toto doesn't want Ocon a Mercedes one day? Well, that's the thing. Ocon can't wait forever, I guess. And with George Russell actually in his seat and being able to show what he can do, that puts Russell in a better position than O'Con going forward. And, you know, if Russell was going to be the next guy into that Mercedes seat, where does that leave O'Con? I do believe the only way that this kind of move would get done is if O'Con

did leave the Mercedes program. I don't think they would loan him out to Renaud. I don't see any sense in that. Just bringing on the point, Sam, about Holkenberg's reaction to this being a bit sarcastic. You know, we saw his Instagram post. We've had the rumour that Ocon might go to Renault, but it's kind of been assumed that it would be in place of Nika Holcombberg. When no one's really thought, hang on, Daniel Ricardo's at a team where he would have been expected to be a lot higher than where he is. Is it ridiculous to assume that maybe it's not Niko Holcomberg that would be replaced?

I mean, Red Bull have made an absolute mayor of their young driver program. And it's safe to assume that he's going to go back to Red Bull if you were to leave Renault. The only other option I could think of that he would get a shot at is taking Vettel's seat of Ferrari. And I think Vettel sticks around until the start of 2021. So that man has all the power in that car. He chooses if he stays or goes. I don't think he leaves any time soon. Ferrari's his dream.

So Ricardo won't go to Ferrari in my opinion. They put Albaugh back in that. See, they've got so many young drivers queuing at the door to get. back in that seat as well into Torosso and into Red Bull. I don't see why he would leave ceremoniously, you know, he would leave with mutual respect, big hoo-hah about it, you know, and then go half a season later, ah, bailing out of it. I think it makes Raqqa look a big of a coward, a bit of a sore loser, a bit of a, I'm not going to stick around to put the effort in to make a team good around me.

So I think if it is for wrong against the Holkaberber, I just don't think it's going to happen. And I think you're right in terms of saying that Ocom has to break his contract for saying if he is to go into that team. Because if this was football and you have a single striker up front, Hamilton's your league man, he's the guy your star at every single match. And then you've got Botas,

who's your superstar who comes on in the last 10 minutes and knocks in those extra little points to get you across the line nicely. Russell's your third place, man. You put him in the cups. He's your youth. He's coming.

Ocom's the man that you're sent out if you want to put some more budget. Ocom is useless in that team. I think they've got younger drivers who are going to come up through the ranks and have a better place in the lineup than Ocon is. So Ocom is to get out while

can and reno appears to be an option which surprises me i thought it'll be more a harses maybe kimmie's seat when kimmy leaves maybe next year um but regardless of where he goes unless it is all the way back down to williams i think it's uh contract over for him and mesegis hear me out okon goes to reno so ricardo ricardo goes to ferrari to vettel goes about to red bull I think I saw that theory on Twitter yesterday. I can't remember who it's from. So apologies to whoever that was from, but I did see that yesterday. I love it though.

I'm all for that at 2020 lineup. Absolutely. That would be moi caliente, as Sam would almost definitely say. Mojikaleente. Thank you for that. Moving on to the Spanish Grand Prix returning. So it looks as if maybe there will be 22 Grand Prix next year. Not sure on where the German Grand Prix lies at the moment.

But at least for the Spanish Grand Prix, there was a lot of doubt as to whether it would return. It has. Harry, how have you reacted to this news? Yay. Let me just get my party popper. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, fine, whatever. Spain's staying.

We touched on this earlier on in the year when it was, we thought Zanthort was being its replacement and we were like, great, we've got a track where it's hard to overtake to, it's hard to overtake, and we're going to another track where it's hard to overtake. But now we've got two tracks where it's hard to overtake, so that's fantastic. Yeah. whatever. Spain's not delivered a fantastic race for a few years. I get

there's a lot of support for one Alcarlo Sines Jr. But I can't be enthusiastic about this decision, but you know, whatever, we'll go to Spain again, for sure. Sam? Well, in the words of the track, it's not the Spanish Grand Prix, but the Catalonia Grand Prix,

which I mean, is enough to stir up some real controversy in the press relief they said in the country of Catalonia, well, we will be returning for this classic track, which is a little bit of spicy meat de boiler. Wrong country, that's Italy. Boycaliante actually is correct in this sense. I dislike the Spanish Grand Prix. I'm going to be professional about it.

The most exciting thing that's happened in Spain, pretty much in the last 10 years, is Hamilton Rosberg colliding on the first lap. That was thrilling. But that could have happened at any lap, any track. That doesn't have happened as happening at Spain. We don't get good racing in Spain. It's processional, it's dull. Hamilton has won multiple times by large apps.

Go somewhere else. There are way more fun tracks available. Portugal's got some great tracks, you know. You've got, is it Tondayo, whatever it's called. Herr'Eff is there as well. There are some really, in that area of the Iberian Peninsula, there are some fantastic tracks. And going away from Catalonia or even going back into Europe,

you know the Nureberg ring is available that's great Imola is available go there that's fantastic you know Mac Nicol that was a good track as well that was good fun give that another world I just I don't want Spain back I love that there's 22 Grand Prix's though don't get me wrong that is fantastic more racing the better we can talk about everything

all day all night 22 Grand Prix is brilliant just not the Spanish one please Circuit de Catalonia is a fantastic circuit for testing and that's it It is a great test track. It's got everything you need in a test track, but it's not a Grand Prix circuit. And it's ironic that it has been for so long now.

It's nearly 20 years it's been on the calendar. And I have to ask, how many good Grand Prix, sorry, it's 30 years. How many good Grand Prix have there been, really? How many Spanish Grand Prix can you sit back and say, yeah, that was a classic? The only one I can think of that really stands out is Maldonado winning. I mean, and that wasn't a fantastic. It wasn't even particularly incredible as a race. It just had a great ending.

Yeah. And I think, you know, the bog standard Spanish Grand Prix is that either pole position wins or second place wins. And you don't get a lot of overtaking. And it's not even the lack of overtaking that annoys me with the circuit. It's the lack of character. There's just nothing to it. There's no, there's no atmosphere. There's nothing.

nothing that makes the, nothing that makes the circuit pop out to you. There's, there's nothing that makes you get off your seat and go, wow, it's just, it's a test track. It is a test track, plain and simple. I really hope that it isn't on the calendar in expense of the German Grand Prix, because I love Hockenheim, always have, even though it does get occasional complaints about its new version rather than the old version, but, you know, the new version is here to stay, and it has been for nearly 20 years now. Get over it, people who can't deal with her. Stassy, Shassy Ben. It's been that way for a long time now.

But yeah, I don't know. It's not a circuit that I've ever been a big fan of. But more Grand Prix. That's the good takeaway, Sam. Focus on the positives. If there's going to be an extra Grand Prix on the calendar, people say that there's too many grand prix on the calendar. To that, I say, no.

Yes, puddle toss to that. You know where we should go? You're on now. You always stick up for South Korea. I love South Korea. It gets such a bad rep, the South Koreans. I mean, they don't. The track does.

Okay, fine. But they get a bad rep for their track. I'd rather go somewhere like Fuji or something like that. You know, that's a fantastic track. There's over to so many sports. There's so many tracks around the world. are more than capable of holding F1 races that just are not thought about at all. The fact we're building a whole new track in Vietnam is incredible, but at the same time,

there are some tracks we don't use that are brilliant. And Catalonia is still one that comes back over and over. But you're right. Don't get rid of Hockenheim. Old version, new version. I love both of them. They're fantastic. And the last two years at Hockenheim had been astoundingly good Grand Prix.

So please don't that go anywhere. If LB gets a lot of money for some reason, I'll happily contribute to keeping it on the calendar. What about Snetterton? Shut up. What about Alton Towers? No. The infamous Alton Towers

circuit. Yeah, definitely not Oldham Park. I think Snetterton would be great for F-F-1. That hit, that bank on the last corner would destroy F-1 cars. Oh, SNET. Because of all SNETs that no one calls it.

It's up there in Monza in their spa. We love the old Teton. I'm classics. Oh, right. Moving on. Forget about it. Forget about it.

Forget about it. Yeah, move us on, Ben. So looking ahead to the Belgian Grand Prix coming up this weekend, finally four weeks of no F-1 action. It's been long, it's been hard, but we have got through it. Can Ferrari break their duck? I don't think many people would have expected. At this point in the season, we would be looking at

Ferrari and saying they have zero victories to their name. But of course, their one advantage this year has been their straight line speed. Spar franco shop, obviously, a circuit that really benefits those who have great top speed. Sam, Leclair, Vettel, do you think one of them can break the Ferrari duck? Nine yet, no, not a chance. Yes, Spar fronkerschamp has some incredible high-speed areas, but it also has such a high intensity of fast-turning coolness. where Ferrari are the absolute weakest at the top three.

They, the difference, I mean, funny enough, you go back to Spain, the, this place that Mercedes makes up around fast corners over a Ferrari is ridiculous. Several tents get made up going through those corners. Mercedes have got a fast engine. Red Bulls Honda isn't too far off that either. They're not gaining as much as they need to down to large straights. And I think the, you know, no game, which is now X, Puyong, where you go through Blanchimon, you got to carry so much speed.

You know, lay calm. These are all corners that rapidly need you to be able to deliver such high speed while moving the car around the corner, which Mercedes are impeccably good at, and Red Bull has got such a great chassis. I just don't think it's going to enough to overturn it. And I think that Ferrari will be lucky if they get a podium.

Something bad will happen to one of the other top four that aren't the Ferraris for them to really get a chance of being on that top three spot, I think. Harry, any chance for Ferrari? I think I'm slightly disagree. I think there is definitely a chance for Feza. Well, Vettel won it last year, and I know the car's not as good this year,

but straight-landspeer is going to help. I think the next two races, and Monser particularly, are perhaps their last chances, realistically of winning some races this year. Yeah, you've got to think that they'll go well at the next two rounds. They've got to be expecting to.

Because even though Vettel didn't qualify in poll last year, he did Hamilton up to Lake Cohn on the first lap and then sort of Hamilton can never get back. So if we get into a situation of that, it doesn't matter if Hamilton's quicker through the corners. Once they get on that straight, then it doesn't matter. So yeah, I think they can. I think it's going to be difficult. And if they do have the pace, they're going to be handled all the way by Mercedes and even Red Bull, I think. Even though they've not quite got the straight line speed, I think Red Bull will still be.

the hunt, especially with Max, Maxi vastat. So it's doable, but it's not going to be easy. Yeah, I'm with you, Harry, actually. I think Ferrari do have a good chance of breaking their duck. The Ferrari has definitely has chassis difficulties, but I think they will be eradicated enough thanks to the straight line speed at this Grand Prix. I don't think it will happen at most Grand Prix.

There's a reason that they haven't won any Grand Prix so far this year. Okay, they've had some bad luck at a few tracks, but at least in terms of circuits where top speed doesn't matter too much, Mercedes and Red Bull on some have just been too good for them. But here, you've got the long camel straight, you've got the long back straight. And even though maybe they will lose a little bit of time to Mercedes in those high speed corners such as Ix and Puyon, I think they'll make up enough on the on the straits to to account for that. And yeah, I think you've got a great lineup in terms of Vettel. unbelievably, this was the last place that he won. I don't think many people would have

expected that at this point last year, but we know that Vettel can get it done at Spar. And LeClaire's a winner at Spar too. He won there in Euro F3 and in GP3 as well. So he's got history there too. I think there's every chance that the Ferraris will be able to claim of whole position this weekend and then go and convert it into a race win. It's about time from their perspective. It's going to counter my own point in a second. We saw last year at Monza, the Ferrari would quicker, but the pressure from Helmpton, and I think also the pressure from the Tophosi saw them crumble.

So I think that's something to bear in mind. They might quicker at Monza, but this could be an easier race in that respect to win. There's less pressure from outside, so to speak. Well, speaking of that Monsa Grand Prix, and speaking of Lewis Hamilton at that Monsagramprey, he displayed such brilliance in that race. It was incredible to see how well he hounded Kimmy Reichen. One thing that's very interesting about Lewis Hamilton after the summer break is we know that he takes a little while to roll into his form. And I mean, this season, clearly he didn't need it. But the last two seasons, I believe the first five races after the summer break, most of the 2017 and the 2018 season, he's basically one, one, one second. And then last year,

I think it was second one, one, one, one. So considering that I think out of what 200 points, he has managed to only drop 14 of them, I just can't see him being, I mean, even in 2017, which was at Spa, where the safety car came out, and he deployed that fantastic, strategic move going up O'Ruzio over Radion,

where he just lifting off that meant that Betel couldn't take the slipstream all the way down the camel straight. I think Hamilton's got the wits about him. I think Al-Botas is better this year. I think most of you can work together. I wonder if we'll see them since streaming each other through qualifying laps

to make up the difference in straight line speed. I don't think that Ferrari is going to be in action. Remains to be seen. Looking at Red Bull, kind of focused on Ferrari and Mercedes a bit,

but do we think that Red Bull are going to be in contention? They've picked up a couple of wins thanks to Max Verstappen towards the end of the first half of the season. And they're going to have Alexander Albon in their car now instead of Pierre Gasly.

Harry, how do you think Albon is going to fare in his first outing? It's a tricky one. We've been about this already, but I think he just needs to... Where do we measure him? Do we measure him against what Gassley was doing, or if we measure him against Vastappen? I mean, if they're going to measure him against what Max Vastappen is doing,

that's really not fair on Albon, a man who's been an F-1 for the grand total of about 11 races. He's going to... I say best of the rest. The best of, the best of, well, sorry, last of Mercedes Ferrari and Red Bull.

If he's in the sixth place and within a decent position with a, to the car in front, then I think that's all he can hope for. But it's going to be a steep learning curve for the lad. Don't envy his challenge this weekend.

But, yeah, he should go, right? It's going to be interesting to see what Gassley can do in the tour also as well. And if Gansley has a beating album and the Torooso for whatever reason. That'll be just great banter. That will be very interesting indeed. I don't know what we'll be doing with that situation. Sam,

what do you think of Vestappen's chances coming into the weekend and do you think Albin can be anywhere near him? I think Gestapen has got a good chance going into any race weekend at the moment. He is stepping into the form of his life and I hope we see him carry this for the next 10 years of his career. And if so, Lewis Hamilton have watched out, mate, because there could be every chance at that record you might be setting very soon in the future could immediately be smashed by the next generation. I generally think that he could easily stick it on the podium, if not challenge for the

wing, if things go the right way. A little bit of luck always helps maybe a safety card to bring him back into it due to the straight line speed. I think we measure Album on the same way we measure Gassely. So you don't compare him to Verstappen. He doesn't need to beat the Stappen. But I think if he finishes, you know, within 10 seconds of the Stappen in the race, within two positions.

So if the Staple is third, Album comes fifth, and there's a, there's a only one car between him a few seconds apart. That to me is a really good start to the race. Alba, I think, on social media, said that for his first race, he wants to listen, he wants to observe, and he wants to grow. I think that's exactly what he needs to do. No one is expecting him to conquer the world day one in that red ball car. He's a newbie, as Harry said, he's only in his first half of the season of Formula One,

which is incredible. He just needs to be pressure off, given the chance to run with the balls and have a good time. And I think he's really got the ability to do well. he's so level-headed, I wouldn't be surprised if we see him fighting out of the Ferraris and actually pushing for Staffen a little bit more, I think a lot more than Gassley, but quite a bit more than we expect. Yeah, it'll be interesting to see what Albon delivers really. Honestly, I think if he qualifies sixth place, finishes sixth place, not really anywhere near the top five, I think that's a fine weekend. I don't have any problem if that

happens, because there are many weekends where Gassley didn't do that. There are countless examples where you can point out that Gassley did not qualify in the top six, and Gassley was not in the top six at the end of the race. So if you look back to his home Grand Prix of France as just one example, he wasn't anywhere near the top guys in that race. And in fact, there was this massive four-car battle over a midfield position that he wasn't involved with because he was behind them all. So Gassley had a lot of difficult races, and I think it would be unfair on Album to, believe that he will straight away be right there with Vestappen. If he is, that's incredible.

But I think honestly, sixth place, maybe even if he qualifies one or two places lower than that, I don't think it's an awful first weekend. He's been thrown into this situation. And I'm sure he's not complaining. He has been given a seat where he is able to fight for podiums and wins a year after he was told there was no way he was going to be in the Tour or also for this season. So the way his career has gone over the last 12 months. I don't think you'll have any complaints, but he has walked into a difficult situation. So race one, like you said, Sam, his intention is to grow, is to learn, is to observe. I think that's a very smart way of thinking and the best way possible to approach this weekend. And I wish him the best of luck, because I think

he's a top guy. I really like his approach to racing. I think he's a very humble guy. So I wish him all the best. That's nice. Nice sentiment. And I'm sure he's listening as well. So... Good luck Alex. Good luck Alex on your first day of school kind of thing. He looks like he's at school, though.

Aw. So moving on to some bold predictions. How hairless are we going to get this time out? Harry, what's your bold prediction? My bold prediction is that. I haven't thought one. That's not very bold at all. That's just expected. It comes up every single race with games.

No first lap pilot, but then we don't always have one of those. I was just thinking about last year. Come back to me. I'll think of a good one. Sam, have you actually done any thinking? I, unlike Harry, do use my brain rarely, but sometimes. I decided to jump from the top of my house into a pool of warm wax for this bold prediction, and I'm waiting for the strips to be removed from the body. I think that Alex Albon will beat Max Verstappen

on track without issue. Jeez. Someone called the Fire Brigade. Yeah. Bold prediction. They burn. They burn, folks. I reckon in a straight fight Alex comes out on top this weekend.

Wow. I did not expect a prediction to be quite that bold. That's going to make mine seem a little bit tame. My bold prediction, I still think it's fairly bold. I think Mercedes are going to be the third fastest car in qualifying. So you think there'll be fifth and sixth? I think they will be fourth and fifth, because I think they'll out-qualify album. But I think in terms of pace, it will be the Mercedes.

I think the Red Bull will be quicker in qualifying and the Ferrari will be quicker in qualifying. Wow. I mean, for a Saturday, that is mad. considering the amount of front row starts that Mercedes have had this year alone, let alone, of course, they crossed their entire time in Formula One where they are the most team with the most front row starts now. That is a pretty bold prediction, then. Yeah, I'm going to go for it. I think they might struggle a little bit compared to usual.

They love slow speed corners. There aren't too many of them here, so, yeah. I can see your brain really ticking away. I go on. Mine is that Sergio Perez in the fourth... In the racing point...

In the false, no. Sartier Perez in the racing point will finish on the podium. Whoa. Whoa! He's got good form of this track and as does the team as previously in Port India.

And last year they were at the front of the grid basically. And earlier on, I was randomly watching the 2015 Berlin Grand Prix like you do and he was he almost took I didn't remember this but he almost does Hamilton on lap one

up to Lecombe. He was in P2 and I was like they were either side of the Ferrari and the Mercedes both both racing points that was last year and then again in 15 so yeah they've got and they you know they've almost won the race in 09 so anyway yeah Perez in the force India which always goes very well God damn it in the race which goes well here

It'll be in P3, I reckon. I mean, we've had four weeks off. We've come back with a bang. We really have. Good job us. Sam, pole one, two, three. So I think that Luis Amridaang will continue the reign of pole sitting, and then he will continue to wing the race.

I believe that that fantastic start will continue into the second half of the season. The man is going to take the championship, and I reckon it can be done on this rate by America. So he will win. Faldry Bottas will come in second place and Alexander Albon will be in third. Hang on, this isn't the bold prediction still. You don't know what it is. For me, poll will be Mr. Hamilton.

He'll be on poll again. But the win will go to Sebi Vett. Hamilton will come P2 and obviously Sergio Perez will be in P3 because that's going to happen. Love that podium. Absolutely love Sergio making an appearance. I, like I said, I like Ferrari's chances, and I'm going to pull through with that in my predictions here. Pole, Charles LeClair, I think he'll get pole, and I think it will happen. I think LeClair will claim his first ever Grand Prix victory this weekend with his teammate Sebastian Vettel P2 and Lewis Hamilton in P3.

The fight is still on, Charles. You can still win this championship. Yes, we should remind everyone that Sam did predict Leclair would win the championship this year. meant 2020. Oh, not the year wrong. No, I was very wrong and I still will be wrong. That's fun. That we've gone for something very different. That's enjoyable.

Yeah, I feel like I was going to say one of us will be right and then realize that doesn't usually happen. We'll probably all be wrong. But I actually, I think you're usually very good at this calculated thinking. Harry and I get a little carried away and a bit silly. But I reckon you make very calculated well-thought-out points. there's every chance that yours could come true. Although if it is wrong,

I will take a very smug face to this camera next week. I thought you were going to put something out again that you eat something, your slipper. No, that will happen very soon. I just need to find the right kind of digger to put in a slipper, folks, it is going to happen. What do you think the best food is to go in a slipper?

Like spaghetti meatballs? That's quite messy for a slipper. That's very messy. I mean, I could put a pizza slice in there. I just have the crust sticking out. That's pointless. broth yeah I'll have a tomato soup in my supper please

oh my god if you like Shui I'll dip my other zipper in as a breadloaf and just suck it off the end well from Shui to Shumi Mick Shumacher in Formula 2 this season there are conversations that he might get into

Formula 1 either next year maybe the year after, who knows at this point. Sam, do you believe the Mick Schumacher should be in a Formula one seat in 2020? Yes, yes, yes, yes. Yes. If you go back to our crazy driver lineups for 2020, I put Mick Schumacher in to the Alpha Romeo team. I think he's got all the connections. I think he's got the name. I think he's got the press around him. He's got many ex-Farri members who are still highly connected to the team with the Defosi, supporting him, pulling him through his career. He's finding his form now as well in F2. I generally think that they're going to want the name for the sponsorship, for the press, for the showmanship.

Peter for that seems a really good second half of this season. Otherwise, he gets booting out for a season. Or they go, you know what, Kimmy? We love you. But you've had your time. See you later, mate. Nick Schumacher's coming in the game. I would love to see this sport.

I would love to see a Schumacher backing. I know that both of you are going to disagree with me and both of you are going to say he needs another series. And I totally understand where you're coming from. But I am an optimist. I love the idea of it. I would love to see him in Alfa, in Haast. I'd love to see him at the back of the grid struggling but proving himself like Russell's doing.

I would love to see it. As a big Schumacher fan, as a boy who hero of mine, it would be incredible to see. Harry, we all know you're a massive Schumacher senior fan. Schumacher Jr. in a seat next way? No. I would love to see it. And I'm all aboard the...

And if it did happen, I'd be the first one there to be like, hell yeah. But, deep done, I know it would be good. soon. Look, he had his first win in F2 finally in Hungary, which is a good way to go into the summer break. And we saw he took a bit of time to get used to things in F3. Maybe he's adjusted a bit quicker.

We'll see how the rest of the season goes for him in F2. But yeah, gut instinct would be that he needs to build on it and have another year. And then I definitely could see him being in that car for 2021 when Kimmy hangs up his thick finish, fully socks on a peg. yeah so not next year but i wouldn't be adverse to seeing it even though i know that's probably wrong yeah i mean i have to say sam you've called this 100% correct in that i am going to disagree with that and i'm going to say that schumacher it is another season if at all that should be waited um i just think if his surname was anything other than schumacher

this wouldn't even be a debate. And I think he is helped a lot by his name in this respect. And he's got talent. Don't get me wrong. And I think there is every chance that he does end up in Alfa Romeo in 2021, maybe somewhere else. Maybe he does eventually end up driving for Ferrari. He's got the talent. But we have seen on a number of occasions where he just isn't really there yet. He's not in the top 10 in Formula 2 at the moment. He did claim his first win in the season in the sprint race in Hungary, perhaps helped a little bit by the circuit. He was chased all the way. And obviously, a difficult circuit to overtake. But not taking anything away from Schumacher. He got his first win. He didn't get a win in his first season in Euro F3. So he's ahead of

the curve in that respect. I just think he needs another year in there. There are rookies that are outperforming him this year. You've got Antoine Ubert. He's ahead of him. Guanyuzeu. He's ahead of him too. So, and we saw it with Eurof3. He had a very mere first season. It was okay. He didn't really produce any astonishing results until the end of the year when he just exploded.

It came out of nowhere. And then it came into this year, sorry, came into last year. And then, you know, he comes into Formula 2, started out a bit again. And then it might just be a case of the same thing. Maybe towards the end of this season. maybe at some point next season, I think it will just click and he'll go off again and claim a number of wins in a row or something like that. Yeah, I would love to see a Schumacher in Formula One, don't get me wrong.

It would be, for nostalgic reasons, fantastic. But I think it would be perhaps cruelest on Mick Schumacher if he was to go into the seat next year because the pressure he's under already, and he's not even in F1. The pressure he'd be under next year. when he wasn't quite ready for it, that could spell complete disaster. I'm going to throw something out there. We knew with Max Verstappen, we knew with Lewis Hamilton, we knew with Charlotte Clare.

When they were racing in F2, Landon Morris is another one, George Russell, you look at their junior careers and you think, world champion, at one point or another, realistically, you're going to have a shot at a world championship. Is Mick Schumacher good enough to ever really fight for a championship? I love the idea of him being in the Ferrari. I don't know if you ever be good enough material to be the first driver of a front team and really challenging for a... This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.