The Late Braking F1 Podcast - LB F1 2019 Awards

Episode Date: December 6, 2019

It's time for the most talked-about awards ceremony of the year. Ben, Sam and Harry hand out 'LBs' for some pretty crazy awards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 podcast. Make sure to look out for new episodes every Thursday and Gron Free Sundays. Hello, Anna Very warm. Welcome. This is the late breaking Formula One. podcast. And we have for you tonight, the most prestigious award ceremony in the history of the world, the late breaking 2019 Formula One Awards. Of course, for such a prestigious event, we have got a full house. Harry and Sam joining me, Ben Hocking. Guys, are you psyched for giving out awards that people definitely care about?

Welcome to the late breaking awards! I love it. I love the award episode. And what everybody can't see is that we're all wearing tuxes. Full-pressed tuxes. Yeah. And we have a red carpet laid out. Imagine that scene in Stepbrothers where they go to the job interviews and they're both wearing tuxedos. And he's like, hello, Miss Lig. That's all three of us right now. Yeah, very much so.

So we have got 12 awards to give out tonight. And I know all of the F1 drivers, all of the F1 teams are going to be sitting at home in anticipation of whether they are going to win. What are we going to call it like a Grammy? We've got to give an Lby, an Lby. An Lby. We'll go with an Lby. I quite like that, actually. An LB.

I want an LB. Mama, what an LB. I'm never going to win one. Who is going to win the first 2019 Elby? we'll now find out because the first category is race of the season. So actually a person won't win this award. But we'll go ahead with it anyway. Race of the season.

Harry, what are you going to go for on this one? We've had some good race. Some bad ones. We've had some good ones. But the one, I'm worried we're going to have a full house here. But the one that sticks in my mind is the chaos we had in Germany. Because that was the race of the season. That could be the race of the decade, in my opinion.

That was the craziest race. I think I'm maybe second to Canada 2011, but it's that kind of level of craziness. But I even watched it back the other day. And there's something happening almost every lap. Something happens. Someone crashes. Someone spins.

There's an overtake. Something's happening. Mercedes went back to 1950s with their pit stops. There's something going on for the entirety of that race. And it's Craig Gray and I love it. It was wild. and Danny Kfeet got a podium. I mean, everything was wild in that,

apart from Holkenberg threw away a podium spot. That was tragic. Yeah, some things never change. But yeah, other than that, was an absolutely chaotic race. You were right. Sam, I wouldn't go with the same one, or are you going to offer up something different? There are something critical races have happened this season.

I want that stands out for me, Hungary, the absolute tension of Hamilton chasing down Max for Staff and lap after lap after lap. That was an incredible fight for first place. But Germany is the one that absolutely stands above the rest. Brazil was incredible as well. But I mean, you had the constant changing of pole position. Lewis Hamilton battering it into a wall.

Bottas getting as close to me dating Michaela Strachan. That's how bloody close he was to winning that race. He wasn't close. That's the point. Why Michaela Strachan? I thanked her as a kid. The point is it was constantly changing. You never know what was going to happen.

and people were so close yet so far, like us watching on the TV. Germany has to win race of the season. It was a race for the history books. It was incredible. So, Godspeed to all those drivers and those conditions. The drag legs should be in every race

with water all over it. I absolutely loved it. It was brilliant. I really want to go against the grain here, but I can't. It was Germany. Germany was the best race this season. It was absolutely bonkers.

I'll say Brazil is second. for me. And one thing that I think Brazil had that Germany did, of course, Germany was utter chaotic and you had surprised people on the podium, you know, two in the case of Brazil, one in the case of Germany. And no disrespect to Kavir or Stroll, who finished P4, but they were helped massively by a little bit of luck. In terms of Brazil, Gassley was leading the midfield the entire time, and I feel it was more of a justified reward that he finished P2, the maybe of the up finish P3. I mean, I'm clutching the straws here.

Germany was incredible, but Brazil, Brazil was a brilliant race as well. Who knew? I mean, with Germany, wet weather. We get good races as a result of it. Who knew? Yeah, it isn't it? And the first L'B of the night for race of the season, Germany! Are you going to do that for every award?

Yes. You've got 11 more to cope with listeners. rookie of the season. So this is the first award that is going to be handed out to an individual. So very prestigious here. For the purposes of this, we will classify Antonio Gervinazzi as a rookie, even though he did race. Pointless.

He might get a vote. He's not going to, but he might do. So essentially, you've got him, you've got Lano Norris, you've got Alex Albin, and you've got George Russell. Sam, of those four, who do you think was really? rookie of the season. Great list of nominees. We'd love to see their faces in the, in the studio, out in the crowd when we bring up the big screen to show like their comedic little video clip that you get in award ceremonies. George Russell had no one to compete against other than his

teammate. It is so difficult to commend George Russell. I think he wiped the floor with qubits of 21 to nil in qualifying. So yeah, brilliant job. But it's just hard to really picture minutes anyone else when you're at the back for so long. But mentally, full credit to him for getting through that season, it must have been a little bit dull. I think Shivagazzi doesn't get a mention for me. It was average. He did all right against Kimi occasionally, but it was an improvement on the last time we saw him race, which kind of proves that he's using a rookie bit, but it kind of is.

Albon, really, really, really, really impressed. Really impressed. He did so well to earn that Red Bulls seat. He got himself up there in the top drive. He challenged Max Mustafa and Max Staffen still better, but he had some really strong races. But for me, he gave some milk. Lando Norris is rookie of the season. I mean, yes, okay, better by his teammate, but mostly better by his team,

teammate due to bad luck in Bahrain we see him drive around the outside of Max for Stappen in his second race ever in Formula One it was astounding um he makes his engine his cry he makes us all laugh he is so good when he needs to be defending is brilliant um really hampered by some bad luck and you can't really fault him for that so yeah for me lando Norris the British milkman of Formula one is the rookie of the season um Harry you're going in the direction of the milkman um um um Yes, I am. Bring on the milk, as they say. Who? I don't know. I don't know.

Look, we've had, as I said, we've had a strong rookie field this year, and we're counting a year of a Nazi, but he has still had a strong, strong-ish season, and he's been up against Kimster, you know. Albon, as we say, has had a very impressive year, a remarkable year, really, perhaps more still than impressive but he's he's earned that seat of red bull george rossel i think it's also been really good we just haven't seen it um but yeah it's gonna have to be landa nois for me to come in the new record year and he's been i mean signs has been i'm probably able to this but potentially driver of the year um and norris outqualified him 1110 it was in the end as sign stepped up a gear towards the end but he still out qualified him which is impressive for your first year and f1

because we know how good signs is um So yeah, for me, it is the milkman. He's rookie of the year. I mean, we've already got a majority on this one, so we know who's going to win. But I'm actually not going to go for Lando Norris, as good a year as he had. I'm going to go for Antonio.

I'm joking. You actually have me fooled. But I am not going for Lando Norris. That bit was true, because I am going to go for George Russell. I think he was the rookie of the year. Of course, like you say something, It is tough to tell. But he did beat Robert Kubitsa 21-0 in qualifying, which even if like, you know,

Kubitsa might not be what he was 10 years ago. That's still very impressive in an F-1 car. We saw in Hungary qualifying how good Russell could be competing with cars. I think when we see him in a more competitive car, we'll be able to more accurately judge just how great he is. I have full faith in his future. So George Russell is my rookie of the season. But Alex Albonne, Lando Norris, to a slightly lesser degree, Antonio Giovannasi.

I don't mean there was a bad rookie in this class. But Lando Norris is the winner of rookie of the season. And you're a winner for Elby of rookie of the season. Landon Norris! I'll stop now. I fully expect he's going Indy 500 star right now and downing himself in milk. team boss of the year now this could go in various directions because i haven't really put best team boss it's just who is your favorite team boss more than anything sam who you're going for it's so tough

to pick a favorite team boss i mean when you've got people like french toast on the pit wall egging on his team and de fair tor also have to have an astounding year they really done well this year you know in terms of megfield podiums i believe they're above everyone else so congrats to French Toast He always leads a strong team Christian Horner The Leg Tap You have to at least use his real name once

Because people will genuinely think It's called French Toast He is, isn't he? Yes, his name is French Toast Franks Tost Is a very, very good Team Boss Toto Wolf with the banging

On the table Horner with the leg twitch Bonotto with the curly hair what a handsome man he is as well delightful Claire I don't know how she manages to get through all of the rubbish that spirit is so strong but for me

it's gonna be I think it's Toto not only for the actual success of getting through the trials and tribulations of managing Mercedes it's so tough to manage that team actually I reckon it is pretty quite difficult to maintain such incredible winning streak

but he did hold off the pressure of Ferrari of Red Bull. He's managed to create this perfect relationship between Hamilton and Bottas. He keeps his drivers incredibly motivated. I, year on year, I'm astounded by how well he manages a Formula One team, how well he is so good at keeping calm, even if he does love to bang a good desk. But yeah, Toto Wolf and then French Toast just in second place. Slightly burned. Slightly burned French Toast comes in second to the Wolfenator.

Harry, who you go for? It's only one winner for team boss of the year and it's team boss of the century. It's good to Steiner. Making us look like a bunch of assholes. It's got to be. How could it not be? He wins.

Like, I've had a terrible year, but he still wins team boss of the year. I don't care. The man, he's an enigma. He's a myth. He's a legend. I can't wait to see Drive to Survive Season 2. it's going to be fantastic.

Yeah, he is an absolute talent, isn't he? He's a gem. He is a gem. Yeah, for me, it's Gunter. Harry, you said that Gunter Steiner is the best team principal of the 21st century. I'm going to go one better and say he's the best person that's ever lived. Just so we're aware, everyone. Ben has parents.

Ben has a partner. He has siblings. And he knows us to. so he puts Gunter above everyone. And let's face it, it's not even close. I mean... He's a wrong way ahead. Yeah.

I mean, it's a bit of a 30-second Hamilton win when it comes to Team Bosses Gunter Steiner ahead of everyone else. Gunter Steiner is a certified G. The man is a legend. I can't wait for Driveser. I honestly, I wish it was here tomorrow. So, yeah.

Steiner gets my vote and because of that, Good to Steiner, Sam. Goodter Steiner wings your LB award for Team Boss of the season! Also, can we get an honorary award next year the Gunter Steiner Award? Yes. Oh, maybe. And we could give it to like a special person in the sport.

Good to Stiner. Every year. All right. Rivalry of the season. Now this one could be Gunter Steiner against mere mortals, but there might be other offerings out there. Harry, who do you think was rivalry of the season? Rivalry of the season, we've already mentioned them,

but I'm going to go for Norris and Signs, because that's been a tasty, tasty battle, and even tastier for the fact that they basically love each other off the track, like they have the biggest bromance in the world. Yeah, that's been such a great battle to watch this year. And it's never come to, you know, They've never banged wheels. They're just fiercely competitive.

And it would, you know, momentum would swing throughout the weekends. It might be one gets them, the other in Kuali, and then the race it switches back again. And as Sam said earlier, I think if it hadn't been some bad luck on Lando's part, he might have been closer or even ahead on points by the end of the year. Yeah, that for me has been the... Unexpectedly as well, I thought science would probably win this year. My predictions probably go against that, but even so. Yeah, I think unexpected.

and enjoyable, as Matt Rago has been. Fair enough. No. What are you going for? Surprisingly, there's been a few interesting rivalries throughout the season. You've got classics like Lance Stroll v. Sergio Perez, that one will go down in history. Go to stroll. Funny enough, one that I think if it really emerged was Bossas and Hamilton. I didn't really ever feel like a rivalry. It just felt like two very good drivers fighting out at the front.

Unlike Seb and LeClau, where they almost, I feel like there needs to be news around it for it to be a real rivalry. Grosjean and Magneson. They just love running into each other. But I actually have to agree with Hazald, our dear friend. Sites and Norris, the smooth operator versus the milkman himself. I love it. I love it on and off track. They are brilliant people.

They've done McLaren proud. They, for me, are the rivalry of the season. No, fair enough. Signs against Norris is a good contender, as is Toto against tables. Grojean against walls Kubitsa against being quick I'm sorry Robert I am sorry I'm sorry

I'm going to go for something different even though it's completely few so I'm going to go with Chuck Leclair against Maxie Vestap I really like their rivalry back in Austria that was fun a bit of controversy bit of angst

and then they followed that up with the British Grand Prix as well. And that was probably an even better deal where they just did not care for one another at all, just forcing each other off the circuit wherever they felt like it. I think the stewards were like, I'm not even going to touch this. There's no point. And it was great fun. So I think it's the sign of things to come as well. Leclair and Vestappen could well be a battle over a world championship many times over the next decade. So I'm going to go with Leclair versus Vestappen. But of course, the winner is there for

Sorry, just Ory mention for Botas and Porrug as well, that is an incredible rivalry. Not a rivalry. The Elby winner for rivalry of the year is the smooth operator Smooth The Prada And the milkman

Corosize and Land of Norrie These are getting more ridiculous I thought they might go the other way most emotional moment oh bloody hell don't come to me first don't do it Sam I'm forget to Harry first oh god um I think if we leave tragedies aside from this season um I mean we've spoken about Hulk and Boe Binning it at his home race

his last home race that's that that that hurts that was bad um Norris again, I don't want to make it some Norris fest but Norris at Spa breaking down the last lap I saw that one again today and it's just screaming it's broken! That was pretty tragic who else

who else has had a tragic moment at the year? Oh I mean Albonne after he got punted in Brazil. I was a bit sad as well I'm going to have to go with Holkenberg when he's just sat there on the chair underneath that like porter cabin or whatever that's just no you don't you hate to see it just hate to see it no good that's my tragic sad moment of the year yeah it's 2019's version of hackin and at monsor isn't it um Sam what are you going to

go for so serious moment going to giving an honorable mention obviously to hubert I know this is about formula one but that is always with all of us very sad um but you know as we always think about that we do need to remember that this is Formula One we're talking about, not general motorsport. So my most emotional, most emotional moment, actually isn't a sad one, because emotions are both positive and negative. As Harry clearly forgotten his spiel. That's sad. For me, Chocolate of Claire winning the Italian Grand Prix, hearing his radio after the Grand Prix,

was just astounding. It was so nice to see a Ferrari. on the top spot in Italy. The screaming, the connection with the fangs, the podium was amazing. A lot of the fingers touching the thumbs. Yeah, for me, that was incredible. I was all for it.

I loved hearing it. I loved seeing it. It was a wonderful thing to see. So for me, Chocolate of Claire winging the Italiano Spaghetti Grand Prix is the most emotional moment for me of the season. Also, Lewis Hamilton's brains. Very emotional.

Really sad. Thank you. for that. Obviously, yeah, there were some very, very sad moments this year. You mentioned Antonio Baer, of course. Charlie Whiting, of course, passed away on either the first Grand Prix, Nikki Lauder passing away, and then Mercedes, remembering him with that red star, of course. That was very emotional. I'm also going to go for a happy one, though. And we're going to have to fight this out because I've gone for a bit of a different one again. I'm going to go for Pierre Gassley's podium in Brazil.

it was just a fantastic redemption arc, I thought, after being dropped by Red Bull mid-season, threatening to go down the Kaviat route of dropping out of Formula One, at least for a year, and he turned himself around. He turned his performances around. He's been brilliant at Toroso in the second half of the season, and something he couldn't achieve in a Red Bull. He was able to do in a Toro Rosso,

and his joy, his elation at the end of the race was just over-team radio, was something special. So I'm going to go for that moment. And now we fight, I guess. Yeah, a physical fight. I'll meet you out in the car park. As I was sad, I'll choose which happy one wins. Because we're all happy here.

I'm going to go for, I'm going to go with Sam's because there's some, perhaps it's the Ferrari man in me, but both are very worthy, were the contenders going to go for Chuck Glickay, especially we're only a week after, as we mentioned, the death of Anton Hubert, who the club was a close friend with. So it was an emotional win for many reasons. So yeah, Chuck wins that one.

Deserved win. And the winner for the most emotional LB of the season goes to a Chuck Kluger Claire. Grazie, me, grazie, grazie. Now it's time for the get-off my calendar now please award um which is dedicated to the one circuit on the calendar which just should not be there sam which one are you going to go for there are actually quite a few like there's a good five or six it definitely could get off my season um i'm going to boil it down at two

the first being galore luna it's a testing circuit through and through the same is dominates it every single time. The drivers know it like the back of their hand and it's boring. It's so boring. The only thing that I think is more impressive about Catalonia than I do about the circuit of Monaco is that you can overtaking Spain, not often, but you can. Monaco, get off my circuit. You're the worst track on the whole thing. I'd rather have Abidabie. Wow. Tell us how you feel, Sam. Harry, who you're going for? What are you going for? Oh,

can I have three? Yes. Oh, God. Catalonia, in the bin. Paul Ricard, also in the bin. Correct. The biggest bin, I think,

is going to have people reserved for. Abu flipping, got no character, Dabby. What a cacko. What a... What a... What a...

The place cack hole is not used enough. Absolutely went in on it. I mean, the place is not on cacol, obviously. It is a desert, it is. Well, yeah, but I think it's pretty nice than going to interlagos. But that's an amazing circuit, so all this forgiven. Yeah, Abidabie, go, God. Just, it's some straight, a few 90-degree corners.

Well, great, can't wait to watch that Grand Prix again next year. be disappointed. Bing. Well, that's how you feel, Harry. I think Abie-Dabby, it was a real victim, it's a real victim every year

because it is a rubbish Grand Prix, but it followed such a brilliant Brazilian Grand Prix that it never really had a ho, did it? Yeah, I don't really have much to disagree with there. Catalonia can go in the bin or at least just stay in testing. Don't need to see it anymore.

I think my one I'm going to go with Paul Richard. I really don't like Paul Richard. And that sounds like I've got a vendetta against a person and I don't. It's a circuit. Paul Richard can get in the bin and all those stupid red and blue circles can join it. It's just rubbish. Like, it's just rubbish. And it takes like 10 hours to get there.

not that concerns us at all, but anything to give it another reason as to why it deserves the award. And the racing has been rubbish a couple of years in a row. Catalonia, though, at least, I mean, Paul Riccard's had a couple of years after its long break.

Catalonia, I mean, we're nearly 30 years in now and I think all the Grand Prix together wouldn't combine to make a good Grand Prix. So, should we give it to Catalonia? We've all said Catalonia. I think Catalonia wins it. Announce it.

And the LB for the Get Off my Season Circuit Award goes to Catalonia! Right. People in Spain are going to love this one. In Catalonia, you mean? Well,

that's another matter in time. It's not a good idea. Not a good idea. The next one, the worst F1 partner or sponsor award. Now, F1 has a lot of bad sponsors that we hate to see every single week, but which is the worst?

Harry, who are you going for? Well, they're no longer with us, but it's rich energy. Like, how can we forget the debacle of rich energy? I mean, entertainment-wise, golden this year, especially on Twitter. If anyone saw them on Twitter this year, it was sometimes, I mean, more entertaining than the races that Paul Ricard, Catalonia and Alibu put together. So, yeah, they, that banter us doesn't even describe it, but they are literally the worst sponsor, partner, company, I think I've ever seen. They don't even deserve to be near F1, so yeah, thank God they've gone.

Although I'm going to miss the banter. There was a lot of banter involved. Sam, are you going for weak energy? The issue is with weak slash rich energy is, they aren't the worst sponsor. They're bloody hilarious. And yes, okay, in terms of if you're going to write down a rulebook

of what sponsors should do, they did none of the things that they need you to do. But in terms of entertainment value, they're not the worst. They are the best. They're fantastic. I want them in every single race weekend

because I love seeing the absolute kerfuffle that they brought to it. The absolute tomfoolery that they displayed in haste. The worst sponsor, the absolute worst sponsor of being a worst sponsor

is a sponsor that made William Williams racing look more like a toothpaste than cold rates. Rocket is awful. Not even knew they were from mobile phones until the final race when they put mobiles underneath their thing. They're terrible. They look like a crap cold gate.

They can't make your teeth feel nice either. But they are terrible. Rocket is the worst sponsor in Formula One. Well, we know Williams are no good for Formula One at the moment. They might be good for toothpaste. It's worth giving it a go at least. for Teotra, by the way. Yeah, true.

I'm going to go for, well, not a sponsor of a team. I am going to go with, also, honorable mention to AWS here for their graphics. But I'm going to go for Heineken, because those bloody stars, those stars can join Paul Richard in the bin. In hell. To be fair, they have toned it down a living.

Yeah, this last year, there's no like CGI stars on the circuit anymore. I'm sorry, but those CGI stars from last season make Heineken worthy winners of this award for the next 50 years. They are that bad. Yeah, I could do without Heineken. Rolex, they're everywhere, but they keep themselves to themselves. They keep relatively quiet.

They're fine. Heineken just want to destroy everything within Formula One with stupid trophies, stupid stars, and stupid star trophies and superiors. stupid trophyed stars. So go away. The nice thing about Rolex is Rolex just tick along.

Hey. Good one, good one. Sam just winked for everyone. It's a tough one. Who should we go for? I mean... I think Rich Energy are too entertaining to get this award. Yeah, I agree.

But I quite like that... I think Amazon get it for their stupid stupid tireware graphic. All right. Even though I don't think any of us pick this, we're going to go for it anyway because we can do what we want

on our own awards ceremony. Amazon, AWS. The surprise Elby for worst sponsorship award of the season goes to AWS, which stands for awfully worst sponsor. Wow. Well done.

Congrats. to a slightly more serious award now drive of the season now plenty of standouts vestappan in germany gasley at brazil signs at brazil i'm sure many others as well sam which one are you going to go for this is such a difficult question not only is it serious i actually have to remember things um yeah science in brazil is fantastic i can't give it to Gadsley got himself in the right place but got lucky with a lot of issues coming his way. Staffing in Germany was brilliant once again mastered those conditions. It was so tough to see everyone's dropping off the road.

I can kind of see why he would win this award. I'm going to give it to Louis Ham just for that hungry drive. In terms of watching one driver hunt down someone. Now, let every call. I made the tyres last go. As fair, you can give it to him for a number of drives. I mean, the tire wear in Mexico was a fantastic. point as well. But for me, Louis Ham at Hungary, you know, he had what, a 20 or 30 second gap in like

15 laps and bring down. He did it. He got the move done. He won the race. That's what F1 is all about watching that build to the end. Yeah, so for me, just over the staffing in Germany, because I mean, incredible skill for that one. Louis Ham gets drive of the season. Yeah, pretty epic. Harry, which one are you going for? I'm going for Maxi for Stap, but it's not in Germany. It's in Austria. Oh, love that. Because he inevitably, he fluffed the start himself from, was he on pole?

I think he was. Yes. Yeah, which is his own fault, I think. Dropped down to like 8th or something and then clawed his way back through that field. And then over to his Charlotte Claire with a couple of laps to go or a lap to go or something.

Incredible drive, yeah, it's got to be for Stappen. But at the sometime there's been some good ones. Stapton, Hungary, another one. I also thought Vetter in Germany was just for more in the context of his season, he was under a lot of

flack for his Silverstone accident and then he showed in Germany that why he's a four-time world champion, that he stuck it on the road, even though he was started at the back, so another one there. But yeah, going to go for Verstappen, Austria. Yeah, that's another good one.

I think we've mentioned all the very best ones. There is one more I would mention, That is Botas, Australia. I thought that was a really great performance after the difficult end to 2018 that he had. I am going to agree with one of you, and that one is Sam. I'm going to go with Hamilton at Hungary. Yeah, you're right. It's everything that Formula One should be.

He had the opportunity to claw back. I can't remember how many seconds it was at the pitstom. It was a massive gap that he had to eat into in the final dying laps of the race. He was able to do so. And big props needs to go, obviously, to the strategists as well at Mercedes, because without that, obviously, Hamilton's not even in the position where he can pull off that kind of a thing. But those consecutive qualifying laps, it was scintillating to watch. And it kind of reminded me of, I can't remember the year. It was, 97 in my opinion, when Schumacher, he was on a different strategy to everyone else.

And he had to bang out qualifying lap after qualifying lap to get back into the lead. Yeah, epic from Hamilton. So he is the winner of this award. Yeah, I mean, Unreal Drive. Just full credit to this season. They're being absolutely astonishing drives, actually. Incredible races. But the winner of the LB for Drive of the Season,

Louis, the man from Stephenage, Hamilton. That well-renowned nickname. We've got four more awards left. this one perhaps not one that the drivers would like to win who has been the most underwhelming driver of the 2019 season um yeah as i say not not an award you want to win but someone's got someone's got to lift the trophy or at least reluctantly claim it harry you go for um um i'm going to say louis hamilton and this video would get a hundred thousand dislikes. Doesn't matter.

YouTube don't count the likes or dislikes. They just use it as interactivity. So do it. Lewis Hamilton. I think the most underwhelming driver was Kevin Maxson. What? Because he wasn't

box office enough. Oh, okay. It was less box office this year. And maybe it's because we didn't see it. actually maybe the most underwhelming driver was the person in charge of the f-1 camera direction this year oh god yeah he gets the good the styler award that's who i'm giving it to i know he's not actually a driver or she's not a driver of course um but that person deserves underwhelming being badlyed job award well i mean that is a classic harry

An overwhelming driver award goes for someone who isn't a driver, although I agree 100%. But they've got to be crazy all year. Yeah, that's bad. I'm not sure the bookies saw that one coming. No, I doubt that they did. Of course, everyone's betting on these awards. Sam, what are you going for? I kind of hate that I've got to hand out this award, especially because I'm going to give it to one of my favorite drivers on the grid,

one of the nicest people in motorsport he's still like a good year but knowing he's good enough as to what I expect of him Sebastian Vettel most underwhelming drive he was beaten by his rookie teammate in the top team

outqualified by him regularly he got the most polls and if his teammate could do it then Sebastian Vettel could do it is a four-time world champion and I expect the best the best of the best of the best sir as Will Smith once said

way back in the 90s irrelevant reference sorry um sebastian vettel should be doing more i love him he's so lovely i want him to be my best mate so we can sip coffee in our slippers together but on the track he's just not wowed me as i wanted him too so unfortunately sebastian vettel most underwhelming driver of the season so i think the most overwhelming driver of the year was definitely danny koviet for his impression of Roman Grojean, which leads me nicely on to the most underwhelming driver of the year. That is Roman Grojean. I know the Hass was a dog of a car this year.

It was truly awful. Yarno truly awful. But Devin Magnuson at least got more out of it than he did. I think Roman didn't he end up with the same number of points as his race number, which isn't great when your race number is eight. If you're ending up with the same number as, you know, as your car number and your Valtrey Bottas in Williams, that's fairly impressive picking up 77 points or Antonio Giovannazzi maybe, but not when your car number is eight. Yeah, Roman was awful. I thought he might kick on this year as well. We're going to do our teammate wars next week and review

who we picked and where we were right and wrong. And I picked Roman Grosjean to beat Magnuson because I thought, ah, he did pretty well at the end of 2018. I think he'll kick on in 2019. I think he'll put Magnus in to bed. And he didn't. He put himself to bed. Roman Grohl wins it. That's a weird image, actually.

What was that even mean? He put himself to bed. Magnes is there with a boxing one arm and a beer in the other. And Grogel's like, come on, Kevin. Or come on giving to bed, you must go. He's not Austrian. Bonwi. Good God.

Sam, greatest respect. Not going to ask you to do a French accent ever. Thank God. So who do we give it to? The camera director. Yeah, the director.

Yeah. And the winner of the LB for the most overwhelming driver of the season is a cargo driver and they're facing the... Excuse me. Can you film me?

I'm doing the... No, all right. It's the director. Wins the race. It's that person. They're a moron. Yeah. I mean, it's very us that that has been able to happen. I think this one could be the most important award of the night, beard of the season. Now, I don't know if the three of us are up for this as well.

I mean, maybe we could be surprise entry. Sound like good. I wouldn't put money on yourself, Harry. but Harry, who do you think has one beard in the season? There are a few drivers

with beards in F1 but I think What a way to start What a quote I mean there is There's a lot There's a few drivers of beards

Um it's got to be Botas hasn't it The man who didn't have a beard This time last year He has a beard now And he came into the season Season

It came into the season A different man And I think most of that was in the beard. So yeah, it's got to be the beardy, bullsy, botas. Beardy porridgey botas. Sam, you're going for?

I mean, there's been some astounding facial hair this season. Charlotte Clare tried it. He had kind of like a few broom bristles on these cheeks. Max de Stappen also tried it. Try to look a little manly. Lewis Hamilton's always got like the line around his face. Gives a great definition. Not really a beard.

But yes, the man that slaps porridge on his cheeks in the morning to brace himself for the Finlandish cold. Valtry Bottas is my winner of Beer in the season. He kicked him on. He had a great season this year. And I hope he has a full goatee next time out. I mean, guys, we're forgetting Goat stroll here. Goat stroll with a beard, if you can call it that. Obviously, Bottas wins this award.

But I'm going to go and give it to the same. person that I gave the last award to Roman Grojan. Grojan has a strong beard. Come at me. He has a strong beard. I'm just looking at it. It's a strong beard.

Quite stubbly. Justice for Grosjean's beard. But fair enough. Botas wins this one. And the winner for beard of the season, the LB goes to Valtrey, the porridge muncher. Bottas! I'm sure we'll be very happy about that.

There are two more of those left folks, don't worry. There are two more, two more awards. Firstly, best team. Harry, who was your best team? I'm going to give it to Blah. Sorry, that was Kim Rackett. I'm going to give it to Red Bull.

I know they didn't win the championship, but I think Red Bull this year have been on top of their game. I can't think of a race when they weren't on top of their game as a team in terms of strategy. Pitstop, they smashed it. And sometimes that strategy has helped them win a race when maybe they're not supposed to have won a race.

But obviously, and Vastappen's been great as well. But if some of the other team, I think Red Bull have been just on it all year and that's really benefited them to pick up some wins. So yeah, can I go for Red Bull? Sam, you go for. Swo the parade. I mean, I've got that full fat milk feeling right now that McLaren are definitely the best team this season.

Not only are like they're the team of my childhood. They have a real place in my heart. They are clear on forth. They kicked on. We were all talking Renault. Renno Haas. Henry Hars. How are you even put Renno in the top three, apparently.

We'll get on to that next week. Stay tuned with that ridiculousness. McLaren, they got a podium this season. It's about bloody time. Carlos signs with the lucky podium after Hamilton gets the penalty. Norris and Science have got the best partnership on the grid. They've had the best progress throughout the season. I have loved seeing it.

I love Zach Brown. I love the way he says Renault. I love it. He can't say it properly. So true. Everything about that team is just wonderfully wholesome. So, yeah, McLaren, best team of the season. I'm going to give a shout out to Mercedes.

I think they deserve a mention. They've destroyed Ferrari and Red Bull and everyone else on the grid once again. I would also give a mention out to Torrosso. They have finished much higher this season than I thought they were going to, and I think higher than most people thought they were going to. They managed one podium in their first 11, 12 years of existence, and they find two in 2019. So full credit to them as well.

well. But I am actually going to agree with Sam. I think McLaren were the best team this season. Great recovery from 2018. The end of that year, they were really struggling. They weren't a lot quicker than Williams. And they've turned it around. They've got a brand new lineup, which could have been really difficult for this first season. It could have been a bit of a getting used to it kind of thing. And that wasn't the case. They were up to speed very quickly. Lando Norris as a rookie was right there from the off. Boreen, as early as that, we saw. saw him at his best, even his Q3 appearance in Australia. And Carlos Sines has been fantastic this year.

There's been a lot of change around in the sort of higher up positions. Seidel's still getting into his role. Gilda Ferran, you've got, even that Brown isn't, hasn't been there for that long. So, yeah, really impressed by McLaren this year. And they are going to win best team. And the winner for best team of the season, Ron Denghis is few. Curious, it's MacLaren! Sorry, I can just imagine Ron Dennis at home like,

oh no! Yes, it cannot be me! All right, Rob. Final award, The Biggin, Best Driver of 2019, in poor the votes for Robert Kubits. I'm sorry, Robert, that's twice in one episode. Leave Robert alone, for Christ's sakes, Ben.

I'll tell you who it's not going to be. Brendan Hartley. It's not going to be him. I might just hang up. Brendan Farley. Right. Sam, who's been your driver of the year? I think there are four options for this.

Sites, LeCler, the Stappan, Hamilton. Those four have been hanging shoulders, not sponsored, above the rest of the grid. And there was a great drive. You know, we saw Kavir. We saw Gazelle.

do a brilliant job both tour osse drivers you know we see both mccl drivers excel sights better than norris this season um but for me the champ the sixth time champ is just unstoppable once again so consistent i think he's got like 32 points finishes in a row and if he didn't have the issue in austria he would have had something like 68 consistent points finishes that is incredible he's got the most swings not from pole positioning a season of all time him, that's eight. He equals his team mate in terms of pole positions in a car that just couldn't turn up on a Saturday.

It's an astounding thing. He came out the box faster thing he ever has done. He was there when no one else could be. Lewis Hamilton is by far and away the driver of the season. But the other three mentioned how incredible years. So hats off to them. Fair enough. Harry, you're going for.

Don't say, Brenda. It's Carla Sines. It's got to be Carla Sines. What a year that man has had. had. If you think back to this time last year, all the is I remember this time last year thinking this could be the end of his

career, like he was off the McLaren, he'd been dumped from Renault. McLaren went in a great state this time last year. Obviously, it's been aided by the fact that McLaren had such a good year this year. But he's been so impressive in that car and he's had a fast young rookie to deal with, which we've seen in the past with other teams,

with other drivers, sorry, that, you know, sometimes that doesn't work. Vettel, Ricardo, Hamilton Alonzo, but all this is done, just spurred signs on, and he's got even better. What are you laughing at now? Bangers just sent a photo to our group of Boris Junkson as a Red Bull engineer. Oh, yes. Sorry, continue.

Yeah, it's got to be signs. It's got to be signs. Wow. This is interesting because I was going to start my vote with. there can only be two. And those two would be Hamilton and Sines. I think Vastappan is a close third. I think Leclair maybe then follows him fourth.

But yeah, I think it is either Hamilton or Sines. Signs after that, I don't want to say poor year at Renault, but slightly underwhelming year, you could say, has moved to McLaren, new team, a bit of a gamble, wasn't really sure what McLaren was going to be this year. And he's taken full advantage of that car being the fourth, quickest car. And I know obviously Red Bull haven't had the same lineup throughout the year, but being able to take sixth in the championship, it's the first time a non-red Bull Merck or

Ferrari driver has finished in the top six since Williams did it. So very impressive from Carlos Seinfest perspective. But I've got to give it to Lewis Hamilton. It was an immense season yet again from him. His consistency now more than ever is just so impressive. It's really interesting to see how his development has worked from his early days in F1 where he had such raw pace but didn't have the know-how, didn't have the experience to win championships on a regular basis. Now, arguably, his raw pace was his strength 10 years ago, even five years ago. Now his strength is his consistency.

In qualifying this year, he wasn't that great. He set a record for a number of race wins where he wasn't on pole position. He's been able to win races and he's been able to win this chance. championship based on making the most that are bad races and taking full advantage when he's on it. So Lewis Hamilton, I'm going to give him driver of the season. But Carlos Sites a very worthy second and got no problems whatsoever with him being number one either. But two to one, Sam. The man with the most wings got from pole.

The man who's won a race in every single season of his career, the six-time world champion. Someone say the best driver of all time. the driver of the season is Louis Hamilton. All righty. And there you have it. The 2019 Elbe Awards. It's been an absolute thrill, hasn't it? I've loved it.

I have loved it. And if you want to buy your own Elby, they'll be on our website. It won't be. With that cheap, we sell our awards. So well done to all of our winners, especially for the race director for winning an award in which they weren't even qualified to win. Incredible, just incredible.

Incredible, inspirational stuff, foremost. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.