The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Late Braking F1 Podcast: 31/10/19

Episode Date: October 31, 2019

Back to back race weekends as the circus moves on from Mexico to Austin. Sam, Harry and Ben preview the USA Grand Prix, asking whether anyone can break the streak of Mercedes.The guys also discuss what their biggest surprises of the 2019 season have been 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 Gromphreys. Hello and a very warm welcome. This is the late breaking Formula One podcast. It's a double bubble as we move from Mexico to the USA with previewing the race in Austin, Texas. And it's a full house from us, Harry Ead and Samuel Sage,

Both with me, I'm Ben Hocking. Guys, how are you doing? Feeling good. Feeling good. Love a double race weekend. You know, the dull double bubble, as you just explicitly said, for the first time I've ever heard that come out of your mouth. I'm ready for it and loving it.

Yeah, like, the Monday morning blues you get after a race because you've also got to go back to work. They don't exist on a double race weekend because you wake up and it's race week again. It's beautiful. And we do try to avoid. that RW phrase as much as possible, but that was... You're out of practice, of course,

not appearing on the last few, but we are very glad you're back, obviously, Harry. So, yeah, we're going to be previewing the US Grand Prix. And after something of a mid-season war, or I guess you could call it from Mercedes, they've come back with a vengeance. They've won each of the last three races, and Singapore was the last time they didn't claim victory. The question, and I'll throw this to you first, Sam,

Do you think that Ferrari, or indeed Red Bull, can halt the progress of Mercedes? Do you think they can break the streak? Well, Mercedes is a bit of a unique situation in the sense that they've already won, well, once again, won the Constructors title. So I thought the motivation might be slightly off. I mean, Toto Wolf will forever look stressed. Will forever look like he's about to explode until one of his drivers crossed the line first. But Hamilton simply only has to focus on Bottas. I think he needs, what, four points in total to claim the title in the US Grand Prix.

I think Bottas is 74 points behind. I think, you know what, there's 75 points left up for grabs. So I think as long as Camberton beats Bottas by what, one point. I don't know how the math works. I think that's his only goal is to just ensure that he gets that gap to Bottas right. I don't think winging a race is necessary unless Bottas is winning that race. And I think, realistically, this is a really even track for all the constructors. I think it suits all the cars in a lot of ways.

We've got big straits for Ferrari to maximize. We've got that tough last section for Red Bull to get hold of. And those winding Ss are perfect for a Mercedes chassis. I generally think that this is anyone's game this weekend. And if they go to it anywhere, yeah, I think the Ferrari or Red Bull do have an even chance of breaking the Mercedes streak. And I think Mercedes have been the underdog the last few weeks. I can't remember saying that.

But I do generally feel that Mercedes have not been the favourites. And because of strategy, because a little bit of luck, they've come out on top. And go on them. It shows what a champion is. but yeah, I feel like it could definitely happen this weekend. Harry, do you think that Ferrari and Red Bull stand a chance? Well, I think they do stand a chance, and they stood a chance last weekend. Again, it's just Mercedes kind of capitalising, as they always seem to do pretty well,

capitalising on either errors, on track, or in the pits, or strategically. First of all, Redbourne Ferrari being so close as they were in Mexico to Mercedes, having that three-way battle, at least on pace, was like, where was this in March? Like, for God's sakes, guys. Because it would have been an epic year if we'd had this kind of pace and all three. But hopefully that's the sign of 2020,

and it rolls on into that. But yeah, like, Max should have, I agree won in Mexico, but for the A, the first, the qualifying fell up and then his kind of scrappy first few laps in the race, which just ruined it. Ferrari also arguably could have won and I don't know that were they outfoxed or

or they just made the mistakes themselves? I don't know but I think both Ferrari Rebel have the ability and pace now as we hit the end of the year to beat Mercedes they just got to execute and I think Bonotto said it himself they need to be sharper and beat Mercedes when they know they can

because the car's got the pace now so they just need to get it together lads like come on Yeah, I definitely think it's a case of over the last few years, we have seen Mercedes win in two different ways. They have either had the best car and they've won or they have taken advantage of other people's mistakes and they've still won. So the end result has been different. But of course, the means of which to get there have been slightly different in that respect. Yeah, I think Mercedes have every chance.

I think actually it will be fairly close in terms of pace once again. I think Mexico was pretty close between the three constructors. And the US in a lot of different and in a lot of similar ways is it's just a very similar track to the Autodrome of Amanas Rodriguez. The first sector in the US is fairly similar to the final sector in Mexico. You know, the middle sector where you've got that huge long straight in the US is the same as the first sector in Mexico. And then I think that final winding sector in the US is pretty similar to the middle sector in Mexico. So I think you've kind of got all of the sectors just in a different order, really. So I think there is every chance that they are only separated by a few temps in qualifying,

and it could well come down to strategy once again as to who wins the race. But yeah, I mean, Mexico, Mercedes were third best in terms of qualifying. Of course, Hamilton and Bottas both lost to at least one Red Bull and one Ferrari. But as we've seen so often in the race, Vestappen went from quotation marks poll position to sixth place. and Ferrari managed to get out their magic wand and turn a one-two into a two-four. So it's happened so many times where these two teams have managed to, I'll put the emphasis on Mercedes,

they've allowed themselves to gain results when you don't think it's possible. I'm not sure about Hamilton's approach into the weekend, to be honest. Will he be so focused on getting that driver's championship that a race win doesn't matter? I actually don't think that will be the case. I think he will go all guns are blazing looking for the victory. I think it's a sign of his talent and his desire to win races and to be at the top of his game that after qualifying in Mexico, even though it really doesn't matter if he's not claiming pole positions, I think it's the longest stretch now that he's not had a pole position in the hybrid era.

And he was so annoyed that he has had this long barren spell in qualifying. And you would think, surely the driver's championship is more important. Surely the races are more important. Hamilton has that innate desire to be at. is best at all times. And I think he will go all gone to blazing for the win. He only needs a few points. And that's presuming Bottas wins out for the rest of the year. So this championship's decided. So I think Hamilton might just go for it. At a circuit, he's very good at. Yeah, Lewis Hamilton is a serial winner. And a fun challenge. Let's see if anyone can pronounce

the autodronolo, Hermannus Rodriguez, as well as Ben just did without even attempting it to. I just rehearsed it for the last 30 seconds in my head to make sure I got it right. That's a fun case. Lewis Hamilton is a serial. winner and you're right you can see the frustration when he isn't at the best of every single part of this sport anything he does he wants to be the number one involved in that and i think that shines true that the absolute joy the elation on his face when he came out on top in mexico was just another level again from lewis hamilton you're right the car is able to respond on a saturday at the moment but he's still turning up on a sunday and going fine i'm going to have to do

more and he's doing more we saw it in russia we've seen it in mexico and there's every chance we see it again in America because like we said, Charlotte Claire is an absolute rocket on a Saturday these days. He is the man to be at the moment. Lewis Hamilton is obviously the old hand in it, the god of qualifying. There's every chance that he can easily turn a strong Saturday into a comfortable Sunday victory if everything goes away.

And when it's Mercedes, most things do tend to go their way because they're just so well prepared. So pretty difficult to keep Mercedes out the loop, pretty difficult to catch them off hand. I highly doubt we're going to see them struggling to even get on that podium. I reckon I'll be challenging you for the victory. One thing that's want to say, and I'm not Hamilton bashing, but I just wish you'd have a little bit more trust in his team.

Oh, yeah, absolutely. Just an ounce more, because they often get it very, very right with strategy. Yeah. I don't want to go into a Hamilton bashing contest. I think Hamilton is the kind of, he's a true Englishman where it isn't done until it's done. until he's crossed that line in first place, anything could go wrong. He has had so many, well, I say so many disasters. He's almost a six-time world champion.

But the fight with Rosberg, for example, you know, the amount of times that he has just lost it on that last graph, I think he's a little bit anxious that at any moment, oh, no, no, no, could come over the radio. And I think that's why. That's once. I mean, I think Hamilton has been the recipient of a lot more good luck than he has bad luck in terms of.

He's obviously incredibly talented, nobody's disputing that. But I think you're right, Harry. That's maybe a... No, it's slightly off topic. Anyway, do you think of any of the realistic winners of this race? No, I'm not including Robert Kibits in that. Do you think any of the top six need a win more than the others, Harry? Does that mean you are including George Russell?

Yes. Do any of them need a win more than... I don't know because Botas had his pretty good win in Suzuki. I know the championship's done now, but I mean, his confidence took a bit of a dent, I suppose, on Saturday in Mexico. Possibly Vastappen. Vastappen or Leclair, I'd put in the top two for that, because the Saptan needs it or needs to, I don't know,

make up from the disaster that was Mexico, won it should have been all good. And I don't know, Leclair, I don't know. I'm not going to agree with that. Let's go just for Stappen. Let's go for Stappen to make up to Mexico. But then I think all of them want to win. That's a difficult question. I think they all want to win. I don't think that's up for contention. True, true. Sam, do you have any thoughts on that? Do you think there's one driver who needs a win a bit more than the others? I agree with Harry in the sense that I do feel like the Stafford does get a win. He's not the one I would put right at the top of that pile, though. Max de Staphan just needs a safe, successful, race, I think, this weekend. He needs no dramas. He just needs to cross that line. He's to beat Albon, because he, since the summer break, has not outperformed Mr. Albon, in terms of point

scoring. I don't think Albon needs to win either. I think Albon just needs another comfortable driving. He's to be close enough to Max that he's competitive and fighting in that top six, not way off the pace. I think the one man that needs a victory is Sebastian Vettel. I think he needs to maintain this strong run of performance. It needs to cement that he is still on the top of his game, and he can still beat this young prodigy that he has got beside him, with Charlerc. He needs to show going into what could be when his final season is Formula One in a Ferrari, depending on how things goes, that he is still able to lead that team. I think if he starts falling off the face and doesn't pick up another wing,

there's every chance that Seb Vettel becomes Kimmer-Rikinen. And I don't think Seth Bessel ever wants to become Kimi-Rikin in terms of a driver profile. Maybe he was a man, we all love him. But in terms of who he is in the car and where he's sitting within a team, I don't think Sebastian Beto can be a true number two driver. I think he needs to send himself up this. He'll at least an equal driver, and this is the time to do it going into the new season. So for me, Sebastian Beto is a man that needs a victory.

I'm going to go Max Verstappen as well, actually. I think maybe not even necessarily this race, but I think he needs to win one of the last three. We have seen so many times Red Bull have improved as the year has gone on. And Max Verstappen has picked up obviously wins at Mexico over the last few years. He should have won Brazil. last time out. So I think he does need a win at some point. It has been a little bit of a dodgy spell for him after the summer break.

So yeah, I think it would be a bit of a confidence booster for him to pick up one of the last three. So maybe this time out will be his weekend. Moving on to some bold predictions. Harry, I'm going to try and ask you and see if you've got one ready. I do. Whoa. I do. That's because he's taken two weeks off

So he's had two weeks to think about it It's the home race for the horses And they're both going to be on the bloody points lads After a disastrous race in Mexico The Americans are Sam and Ben just both took a swigatea As I said that, that was so weird I know none of you can see that

But that was the strangest thing I've ever seen Anyway That's completely throwing me off Yeah both houses even though the car was complete garbage in Mexico, they're going to either, not through pace, but they're going to just come through a crazy race in the US

and both being the top ten. I have some points. There's some points on the board. Yeah, I think they'll be better off in the US than they were in Mexico, although that's not necessarily too hard compared to where they were in Mexico. In fact, the Williams in Mexico.

Yeah. I think KMAG actually had a bit of an underrated performance in Mexico as well. so he, I reckon there's a chance of it. I wouldn't put money on it. I'm not putting money on my bold predictions, man. I've never been right in three years, four years of doing this. You won't be right this weekend, D. No, I don't think he will.

I would be surprised me one of them in that, though. Which one? K-Magg. Obviously K-Mag. Do you not believe in the baguette? We call him the baguette. Part of me doesn't want them to score any points, though, because I just find it brilliant that both drives.

have got the same number of points as their driver number. Oh, you're such a crofty comment. That is such a crofty comment. It's quite cool, I think. Is it as good as the brakes reaching the temperature of lava every practice? We're getting off topic. Yeah, maybe. Sam, have you got a bold prediction? I think Lango Norris will finish comfortably within the top six. Comfortably in the top six?

Yeah, actually I'm going to extend it to say top five. I think he'll be fifth or above, and Landon Norris will finally get the points all that he actually deserves and will not be stricken with bad luck. I mean, it's bold. I can't deny it isn't bold. I mean, that's prediction. Harry's is more bold.

I mean, that's ridiculous. I don't know. I think they're fairly close. All right, Benjamin, hit us with it. Show us how bold you can go. Here we go. a Williams driver will not make 107%. So you're going to say they won't actually beat the qualification standard?

Yes, that's what I'm saying. Wow. I mean, how many seconds off were they in Mexico? Was it four? No, they were really close to not make it 100. Or at least, Kibica. Kibica was really close to not make it 107%. Oh, it's becoming just a bit embarrassing, isn't it?

I mean, you think the team would improve over the year. The gap has barely closed. not concentrating on this year now, they must be on next year's car. This is in the skip as soon as the check of flag falls in Brazil. In before Williams actually have a race one in Carnage, Q.

As you say, if you're taking, like, Vastappen's time in qualifying three in Mexico, Kmitza doesn't make 107%. So, and he didn't make 107% in practice three, I don't think. So, you know,

they'd need a weekend as bad as they had in Mexico, but that's, that's what I'm going. going for my bold prediction. Well, I think that's still pretty bold. We don't often see a car drop below the 107% line. So I think that's pretty strong from the three of us. And of course, in the comments and on Twitter, on Instagram,

we'd love to hear what your bold predictions are. So please get in touch with us. What are your bold predictions for the US Grand Prix coming up this weekend? Make it as bold as possible, please. Right, Phil Mitchell. Sorry for anyone outside of the UK that doesn't understand that. Oh, we'll go international like Bruce Willis. That's good one.

We do use Bruce Willis a lot. Pole 1, 2, 3, Sam. Who do you think? Charles Lecler will get to pole. Sebastian Vetter will win the race. Charlotte Clare will be second, and I think that Lewis Hamilton will be third. Hasmeister?

Asmeister? Yeah. Does that make me the master of hases? Has the master of scupidity. Pole Sebi-Bet win the stats. and second, Sebi Vett, third, Hamilton. Where does Shola Clare going this weekend? He's going to miss his flight.

Oh. And that's not your bold prediction. And Mika Stalo is going to be the reserve driver. Because it's 1999. Tachianu is going to be in the points. Zanardi's going to come to... outside the top ten. Stop it.

Ben, what is your pole one, two, three? Pole, Ralph Schumacher. Sorry. Ralph Schumacher can get a pole if it hit him in the face. Oh, come on. Ralph was good. That jaw is, can I knock a few things out the way? It's like, really.

Poor Ralph. Ralph. Ralphie, Ralph. I'm going to stand up for Ralph here. Ralphie the mouth. I'm going to go with poll. I think. Hamilton gets pole after a little while off pole position.

I think he'll then win the race. I'm going to have Sebastian Vethlyn second and Valtry Botas in third. You're joking. Hamilton's going to get another one? Thank you, Brenda from Bristol for making an appearance. Didn't expect that. Special guest on the podcast. Do you not know?

Yeah, we'll make that happen. Oh, God. again if you have an interesting prediction for one two three please get down on the comments or get in touch with us on twitter or instagram it's really interesting to hear what you guys think's going to happen we always do our best response to you guys so please get involved in the conversation indeed brenda now replies to our applies to this so moving on to max vastappan and lewis hamilton of course they had a slight coming together in mexico and there were some comments in the post-race press conference from Lewis Hamilton and indeed Sebastian Vettel about Max Verstappen and whether they react differently when racing wheel to wheel with him. Lewis Hamilton saying that you kind of generally speaking you give more room to some drivers than you do others. And with Max you kind of go to the upper limit for how much room you give them.

Sam, what did you make of these comments and did you think Hamilton was just in making them? I think if I was Max Verstappen, I wouldn't show it, but I would feel quite embarrassed by those comings. And the fact that Sebastian Vessel literally agreed with him there and then, that's going to be six and plus four equals ten. Well, it's going to be ten world champions chips there that all think that Max Verstappen can't race will to wheel without crashing into you. That is embarrassing, I think. for someone who wants to be a world champion themselves, that is embarrassing. Alon, Hamilton, Vettel,

they all rated driving alongside of each other and they all have the utmost trust. I mean, we saw it in Mexico where Hamilton and Vettel went will to will. Hamilton was like, he squeezed, he squeezed, he squeezed, he squeezed, I got out of it, but Bessel didn't push him to the absolute limit. I think that realistically,

he could have taken a little sentimental or two more. Betel knew when to stop, and Hamilton got out the right time. There was no proper contact there. Once again, we see the staff and caused contact. And a lot of people were contesting that Hamilton was the reason the contact was caused, who was basically on the edge of the track going through that corner

and Verstappan lost it going wide into that corner. I generally do think that that is embarrassing for Max Verstappen. He needs to cling up his act a little bit when it comes to Willard's Will because he can be so brilliant at it. He just needs that consistency to come back. So I would struggle not to take that personally, and I do think Hamilton's got a fair point with some of the stuff that's happened recently.

Interesting. Harry, do you think that do you agree with that? Well, the thing that I've thought of for first, the first thing I thought of, that's some good English there from Has. The first thing I thought of was Senna. I remember Brundle saying something similar about Senna that if you gave him, started to give him more than an inch, then he just, like, mentally he'd have sunk you because if you did give him the inch, he'd be past you. And if you didn't, then you'd probably having an accident.

I don't know, just parallels with that a bit. I'm not saying that what happens in Hamilton's head. that's a ridiculous thing to say but I just thought it was interesting comments for Hamilton to make to I mean it's all mind games but to admit or to say that he gives Verstappen more room on the

circuit I don't know if this happened may be embarrassed but he may take it the other way and be like great I can come past Hamilton more easily because he's going to give me more room and then interesting one again it's all it's all just it's all chatter isn't it they're all just

try to play some psychological mind games I don't really believe Hamilton gives more room to Vestappen. I mean, there wasn't much room on Sunday, let's be honest. So, yeah, just but all interesting. And like Sam says, interesting that Vettel chimed in at the same time. But yeah, that's two experienced guys playing a bit of mind games, I think. I mean, it's important advice could take from a man that's never won anything in Formula One against a man that is a multiple world champion, of course. that's crucial to remember that Brondell's never won anything.

No, I'm not saying, I'm just saying, I'm just remember Brundle saying it about the Senate, because they used to race together in F3 and he said it. That's all it made me think of it as all. Yeah, I think Hamilton was just in the comments that he was making. It's not as if he went out of his way to make these comments about Max Verstap, and he was directly asked the question. So I think he was absolutely justified in his answer. And if he's saying what's the truth and what actually happens each and every time they go wheel to will,

then you can't really have much problem with what he's saying. If he does genuinely give Max Verstappen more room than anyone else he races side by side with, then he's just saying what's happening. And that's kind of that. I don't believe he gives Maxisdepen more room than he does Sebastian Vettel. Really, though. Well, see, that's the point. It's about whether he is telling the truth or not.

I mean, if he is, then that's fair enough. If he's not telling the truth and it's mind games, then that's, I guess, to be expected, you know, that they all play that game up at the top and try and get the psychological advantage. So, yeah, it was a real interesting one. And obviously, Sebastian Vettel just sort of piggybacked on that and didn't really say anything else on the matter.

I don't think Vostappen is necessarily, I don't think Vestappen is going to be embarrassed by those comments, even if he should be. I think we've sort of seen Vastappen long enough in Formula One now where he thinks he's right 99% of the time. And it's very rare that he gets his opinion changed by someone else saying something. And I mean, that's not necessarily a bad thing. That's very much in the Schumacher mold. So, and that equals success.

So I don't think Vestappen is going to take these comments to heart and immediately change the way he races because of it. I mean, people banged on about him for ages in 2018 saying you have to. change the way you race. He has changed the way you race and he remained adamant. No, I don't. Whether you think he was right to ignore the critics then, that's up to you. But he did. He did. That's the point. Yeah, I don't think there was anything wrong with the comments. Either he was telling the truth or he was playing mind games. I think it's, you just have to work out which one it is. I'm quite undecided. That's nice and conclusive from all three of us, I think, there. Yeah, we don't do conclusive very often. So,

Very true. Very true indeed. Moving on to the graphics in F1. Great seamless transition here, by the way. So F1 have introduced a lot more graphics this year. Their partnership with AWS has brought us some graphics, such as the Tire Performance Map and the overtaking possibility map. Just wanted to really get your thoughts on these new graphics.

Are they working? Do we need more of them? Do we need less? them. Sam, what do you think? So I am split in terms of graphic by graphic analysis here. The chance to overtake, I think, especially for newcomers to the sport, is actually quite interesting. I think even if you are an expert hand at Formula One, you've watched a hundred races and you understand how undercuts work or overcuts work or tire life works or, you know, slipstream or get through traffic, that is, that builds tension and I like that builds tension.

That's fun. I don't like it being. use when the gap is 4.3 seconds, 97% of passing. I think it's a little bit irrelevant at that point. The graphic I have a real issue with that I think is just an absolute crock of rubbish is the tireware graphic. It's just, it's just pure guesswork. It's then going Pirelli, how long are these meant to last for? 50 laps? Right, we're on 40 laps, so that's 80%. Put 80% now. It doesn't mean anything. It's pointless. We saw that Hamilton had 10% tire wear left in his tires come the end of Mexico. He was across the line fine. He wasn't being gained by anyone. He had freshly and he had all the tires and everything around him. He was still fine. I need those graphics to be accurate if they're

going if you work on having and I just don't trust the tireway graphic. I'm all four graphics. They're interesting. They can build space. They can provide more information, especially for newcomers, which is what F1 needs to be about encouraging a bigger viewership. But that one is specific, I think, is rubbish. Harry, agree? Yeah, it's proper naff, isn't it? It is. It is.

What are they talking about? And I saw the Pirelli aren't even happy with it themselves, because it's like making their tyres out to be worse than they actually are. So, yeah, the Thai one is just garbage. And I don't know, I don't know whether I even, I don't know whether I even care for the Taiwan. The only one I think I've liked so far is the pit stop, like. undercut one where it shows the moving gap.

You got the two guys moving gap. That's cool like that. Because sometimes you're looking at the thing thinking, well, it's kind of 20 seconds for a pit stop. He might get him. He might not. But the moving gap thing, I guess it's informative, although maybe kind of takes attention out of it a little bit. But yeah, that's the only one I like, the percentage of overtake when the, as Sam says, like four seconds behind, don't care. Like, there are so many other factors that could come into the guy behind overtaking you.

that that's just stupid. So, yeah, I'm not a massive fan of all of them. I can't think of any more. There are more, but I can't think of them. But on the whole, NAF. Yeah, I think they're the principal ones that have been brought in this year. I agree with you on the undercut possibility of whether they get that done or not. I think that's a really dynamic graphic for them to use

and seeing the percentages move with kind of as they go through the sectors. I actually quite like that graphic, so I don't mind that one. I wouldn't mind seeing that one stick around. And I believe AWS are bringing more graphics next year. So they're going to have to pick and choose which are the best ones, or it's going to be graphic overload. I don't, yeah, I don't mind the, I don't really care too much for the overtake probability one,

especially if it's within sort of five seconds, as you say. I don't think there's much point in it. I'd rather just see it play out rather than guess. You know, it's going to be six laps and it's going to be this. It's going to be 20% chance of it happening based on that meter at the bottom. I don't care too much for that one. Controversial opinion, though, I do like the tyre one. Oh, go to bed.

Hang on. Hang on. Of course Ben Nafhocking likes the tire one. Hang on. Hang on. I don't like the way that it's being done in that Pirelli aren't even involved in it. the data is not from Pirelli, the actual tire providers. So it is a load of rubbish at the moment.

Absolutely, I agree with that. We saw in Japan, I think it was, where the graphics showed that Hamilton had 70% tire performance left. And he goes over the radio two seconds later saying these tires are messed up. And we know that Hamilton does like to exaggerate with his tire wearing tire performance, but it's not going to be that much out, is it? So I think unless they can, I think if they can get the data from Porelli themselves, I think it can actually be a really useful, useful graphic. I think it's quite an interesting one because it's such an invisible thing where we don't really

know anything about the tires apart from how long they've been on. I mean, we don't have enough information. I don't mind it. But I want it to be accurate if they have it involved. So, yeah, slightly controversial on that. I issue with that point about Pirelli providing the information is obviously, Pirelli worked with each team individually on their ties during the race. And if you're saying that Lewis Hamilton's been on ties for 14 laps and he's got 40% wear left,

then that's providing actual Mercedes current information to everyone. To just go, Hamilton's tides and you'll ask another four laps. It'll be off from soon. And I think that then kills the secrecy of strategy. So I think you can't have one or the other. I think it's either completely wrong and irrelevant or you're giving away team information live to the whole audience. and that also takes away the pressure.

I also hate the percentage, the difficulty of overtaking. You know, Max for Safflin coming up to Lewis Hamilton, 97% difficulty chance, like he's some kind of end-of-game boss that he's approaching. You know, you'll have to deploy all your special skills to get past this person. I just think generally they're a bit gnapped.

I think they need to be re-reviewed entirely. But, hey, Ben, if you like tireware... It adds a bit of an extra layer that we can actually see what's going on. If it's inaccurate, it's pointless. But yeah, we'll see what happens with that, whether they do get Pirelli involved or not. I'm not quite sure.

The main problem I have is not actually those graphics at all. It's that we don't have the most basic of information available. Tire history, there is nothing about tire history. Or like pit stop lap. It bemuses me. When we do the ratings, we do ratings after a, Grand Prix. And I have to actually go and look up on live timing data to see if I want, if I want to reference how many laps someone has been on a certain tire. We don't have

that information available. You know, the commentators were very vocal about how many laps Hamilton had done on the hard tire, but there's no actual visual representation of this guy's been on the hard tire for 20 laps. This guy's been on the hard tire for 30 laps. Why isn't that information available? So I think there are some basic needs in terms of graphics that aren't there at the moment. Even such things as we know when someone gets the fastest lap of a Grand Prix, but we don't know when drivers are setting personal bests. We don't know when a driver is, you know, really struggling in a certain sector of a race. I don't know. I think there are certain really basic information that should be a given that isn't there at the moment,

and they're really focused on these complex ones. So that's my main concern or my main issue with it all. For a minute then when you said tire history, I thought you wanted, like a look back in time. Yes, I do. The tire. You know, that's what I thought you were looking for. First tire was invented in. Exactly, yeah.

And they're having some kind of old Western video come across the race. I want a full two-hour documentary in the race with the whole Michelin versus Bridgestone War. I don't care about the race. That's all I want. I also think we should get refueling information. I think that's really relevant to it. No, no, AWS might be listening. They might actually try and go ahead with that.

Flus no, AWS. Don't do it. So we've only got a few races left now in the 2019 calendar. So whilst we can't do a full review yet, we can have a look back and see what has gone as expected. And more specifically, what has surprised us this year? So I was going to ask you both, what have been the biggest surprises of F1 in 2019?

Sam kick us up on this one. My first big surprise of the season is, just how bloody good Carlos Sikes is. Like, he was always really good, but he's turned up for the bloody show, only this season. What a mighty father. He is in contention for my driver of the season at the moment,

Carlos Sines. I always knew who's going to be good, but he is driving that McLaren to its absolute nuts and bolts. You know, he is making sure the tyres fall off that thing going in the race. And he's only had a few really naft races,

less than a few, to be honest. So one of my largest surprises actually is McLaren in general, and just how good Carlos Sites really can be when putting a car that he feels comfortable in. It's great to see that Sites is properly back and I hope that he can drive that forward for the next couple of seasons.

Maybe make something of McLaren as possibly their lead driver of Lando Morris continues to sit just behind him in terms of performance as yet to see. But for me, that's the first big surprise of the season. Harry, what has been a big surprise for you? Biggest surprise has been how Renault have not been the third fastest team.

Shoker. Good times. No, this is a weird one, but how much F1 can swing from being the greatest sport, the most exciting sport in the world, and then can also be one of the dullest things you've ever watched. Because I think we think back pre-Silverston, was it? France, which was insanely dull, and we had Barcelona, which was, and everyone's crying, like, screaming bloody murder, like, F1 is, and it still needs to be fixed, of course.

But yeah, like, everyone is broken. We're never going to watch this sport again. It's dead. And then we had, like, that run of Austria, and we had Silverstone. And I mean, ever since then, we had Germany as well. Oh, my God, that was a crazy race. yeah just how quickly f1 can swing from tedious to bloody amazing just on that point we have possibly had the longest stream of races that have been thrilling for a long time i think like you said silverstone germany austria all before the summer break and every single race since the summer break has been utterly brilliant to watch um it's been what i mentioned earlier as well like the teams have closed the top three have closed got up, which has helped. But even then, I don't, even when we had Mercedes winning the races

behind them, we're still boring. So, yeah, weird. Yeah, very weird indeed. I think probably the most surprising thing for me has been, and you touched on this, Sam, has been McClaren's performance as a whole. Carlos Seins' performances individually haven't surprised me as much, but I think the team, I did not foresee them finishing fourth place. And obviously, we are, predicting the future here that they will claim fourth place, but even if they finished fifth, it's still been a massive surprise to see them that far up the grid. You remember last season, towards the end of the year, they were not much quicker than Williams. There were a few qualifying sessions where there was not much to choose between them at all,

and it was kind of those four at the back. And they've gone through a massive transition period over the last kind of 12 months or so. If you think you've had the likes of Seidel and Stella, they've all come into the team and Zach Brown's kind of gone through this whole restructuring process. They've got a brand new lineup this year. And I thought whilst it would work eventually, I did not think it was going to work this season. I thought this would be very much a transition recovery season where they would maybe finish eighth. And then next season would perhaps be the year that we've actually.

actually seen them have this year. But it's been a really quick process for them. And I'm glad to see it. They've done really well. Lando Norris, color signs have done a spectacular job in many ways. They've had a lot more bad luck than the teams behind them. And if they didn't have those, you can call it bad luck. Maybe it's, you know, team error in terms of pit stops. But if these things haven't happened, they'd be much higher up in fourth place as well. So I think that has been the most surprising thing for me this year. I just want to interject. The one thing that hasn't surprised me at all is that Good for Stuyler will once again be the star of the Netflix documentary series.

Oh man, I can't wait to see the Mercedes German GP episode. Oh my God, that's going to be amazing. I can't believe they picked that weekend for their filming. Of all weekends, for saying do so well all the time and then they pick that disastrous one. You mentioned good sign. I was actually going to come on to Hasse because obviously they have fallen off the pace quite a bit this year. Sam, have you been surprised with their dropping performance? Yeah, massively surprised if they drop in the season.

That was one of my other massive surprises of the season. I knew that Hars were struggling in that winter period and when they came into Australia. But I thought with how well they've done since they came into fall. They won't get a bat markers. They came in as midfield runners and they've continually progressed. rest as midfield runners. Of course, we saw that last season, it was between them and Renault for the best car after the top three. And I thought, right, this is it. Hars are going to really cement themselves. An American team doing really well. And I'm actually slightly nervous that if this

trend continues for a couple of seasons and they drop to the back of the grid, if Williams pick it up, we might see the team depart. I generally think that could happen. They are all over the place. They haven't changed their driver line up, which shocks me. A bit of fresh blood, a bit of excitement in the team. You can often spare a team to do the right thing. Good, the star is a brilliant team principle, but I don't know if he has the full engineering understanding to lead that team out of such a tough place, where if he's got to have to hire externally to change it around. But their performances have just been shocking. They have been in disarray this season. I don't think they know where to go to improve what they're doing. Harsk needs to step it up.

Otherwise, I think they're going a really bit struggling until maybe the new era of Formula One. Harry, have you been surprised with how Hasse have improved year on year and they've kind of just descended into nothingness this year? I don't know, because they are still a relatively new team. I know we're on year, four. Five, four, 16, 17, 18. Four. That's good math.

Well, yeah, they ascended so quickly in 16, and then they had another great year last year. arguably could have been fourth, not for a few mistakes. a bad year is I guess to be expected I think they've learned some hard lessons this year I think one of the being they need to listen to their drivers because midway through the season I remember

Grozscheon was screaming for them to go back to the Australia spec car because he maintained it was better and they kept saying no no no no and in the end they gave up went back to the Australia the spec car and indeed it was better yeah so they're just learning hard lessons of Formula One, I think. I wouldn't be surprised to see them fight back again next year. I don't know what sponsors will be on the car.

That's another worrying thing. And as Sam said, it could be concerning for their future because they have lost the, I mean, the worst sponsor in Formula One, but still their main sponsor. Yeah, we'll have to see. But not, I mean, it's surprising, yeah, considering their pace last year, but not surprising that a team's own year is having a tough year.

That makes sense. I did think they would fall back this year. That was one of my preseason predictions, but I did not think they would fall back as much as they have. That has surprised me, and it looks like ninth places where they're going to finish up unless they pick up some points to jump ahead of Alpha ahead of them. Yeah, I feel like I said that they would regret not moving away from Grosjean

or Magnuson, more specifically Grosjeon, when so many of the other midfield teams around them decided to and get real quality drivers. You know, Renault went and got Daniel Ricardo. Of course, the car hasn't quite been there this year, but Ricardo has been a good acquisition. Alpha went out and got a former world champion. McLaren, a brand new dynamic lineup,

and Hasse just stay put. And if you're not going forward in Formula One, you're going backwards. And I feel like they will regret again next season, not moving on to another driver. And it seems the case that Hasse are so scared that Grojean and Magnuson have become, integrated into the team so much and know so much about the team and how they've had two

different cars going at one point in the season, that that loss of knowledge is not going to be made up from perhaps an increase in quality or some fresh blood. I really think they should go ahead with that move and they keep on, they keep on saying no to it. So I thought they'd fall back, but they have fallen back by much more than I anticipated. And that is what surprised us in the F1 2019 season. Another solid, seamless conclusion from the late breaking boys. This is where we need that

classic final slide in a PowerPoint that you've done in year six, which just says, by Ben Hocking, Samuel, how are you? It like swirls in because you've done a ridiculous animation with the words. Yes, absolutely. Any questions? Well, people usually have statements rather than questions and they're usually, you know, disfavorable towards what we're saying.

So we welcome any of those comments. And indeed, if you have any positive comments, we'd love to hear those. Yeah, we like those more than the negative ones. All we can ask for is if you have got comments, please keep it civil. Please keep it friendly to each other. We will have opinions and those opinions are all fair and valid. Remember that each other has also got an opinion and let's discuss those in the comments. But we do appreciate those discussions.

So please get involved. but remember those who you were talking to. I can't think of a more fitting way to end this one. So, Sam, do the honours. Get us out of here. If you'd like to be part of those wonderful discussions down in our comments, then please get down and there, get typing, and let's know what you thought about all the topics that we have covered across this video.

What is your biggest surprise of the 2019 season? What do you think might shock you in the coming few races and, of course, the 2020 season? If you'd like to stick around for more begins, we are so close to the big 1,000. Maybe you can be the 1,000 subscriber. but first you've got to hit the subscribe button so please do and of course hit the like button it helps us out massively but until the meantime i've been sand to say i've been ben hawking and i've been harry ead and remember keep breaking late this podcast is part of the sports social podcast network