The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Lewis Hamilton FINALLY re-signs for Mercedes | Episode 102

Episode Date: February 10, 2021

Lewis Hamilton finally agrees a 1 year renewal with Mercedes for 2021 - but who is the winner out of the deal? The boys discuss this as well as F1's newest proposed gimmick in this week's podcast!Make sure to SUBSCRIBE! 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 to the Lake Breaking F1 podcast. I'm going to start today with an apology to the people of the late breaking F1 podcast because it turns out that my sources weren't entirely accurate on this Lewis Hamilton issue. It turns out that Lewis Hamilton would not be racing in DTM in 2021. To the shock of all of us, he's actually re-signed with Mercedes to race in F1.

So I apologise for the misinformation on that, but we push ahead. Sam Sage, Harry Ede, how are you guys doing? I'm quite sad, how you mentioned that. I assume he'll just be going there next year to really assert his dominance. He's a bit more training as Lewis Hamilton, not have too much experience behind the wheel of a race car. So it's good to sit taking a bit more time to prep. Yeah, Ben, out of interest, who are your sources? You've got tomato, HP.

Look, I teed that pun up so easily then. I'm glad you bought it. Heinz, Harold Frankson. Hey, there we go. And I'll live for today's show. All right, we've actually got some F1 things to discuss. we're going to be looking at quote-unquote sprint race Saturday, an idea that's been generated by the FIA that's going to go to a vote. We'll be discussing what we think about that one.

There are eight circuits on the 2021 calendar that don't have a spot currently on the 2022 calendar. We'll be saying whether they should keep those circuits or whether they should bin them off. But first of all, it only seems natural to start with the saga that has finally and arguably, find, yeah, it has come to an end. Getting words out, Ben. Come on. Look, it's been a long time. And I can't believe we finally got to this point where Lewis Hamilton has signed a contract for Mercedes in 2020. It was only a one-year deal.

So not what Mercedes were looking for in terms of a multi-year deal. It does mean officially at the moment. None of the Mercedes drivers are signed up for 2022 onwards. So the deal has been done, but perhaps not to what Mercedes like. Sam, who's the winner of this negotiation period? Well, first thing's first, in the words of Ainsley-Hariot and the legend that he is, this makes the driver's market next season,

hot and spicy. I mean, it is really cooking up a storm for the kind of silly season slash winter period next year. The fact we've got Russell, Bossas, Hamilton and a few other drivers around the market not signed up for longer than a year to go. I think we thought this year was crazy. I think next year is going to be absolutely.

crazy. It's going to be bonkers. Mercedes have got it all, haven't they? They've got all those world titles. They are the most successful team in terms of historic achievements in a row. And now they've got the world's best drivers sat there at their disposal when they want to do anything they can. Hamilton, I think, is a little bit unsure about the dominance that Mercedes is going to carry into the new

era. I think with the lack of spending, the change of development, how well some of the middle ground teams have done on that lower budget, you know, Asson Martin Racing Point, have done very well. historically with that lower budget. I think that he thinks Mosegues aren't necessarily going to be the force that we've seen. So maybe wants to retire anyway, maybe wants to hit that eighth title and walk away. Maybe he's so sure that, you know what, he can carry on the I-F-1 of racing every single

seeding of my entire career. So I think he's going to wait and see. Of course, Masekis also have George Russon in the waiting. And they don't want to keep him out Williams for too long. He will leave that program. He will go somewhere else. He is better than a back-marker team. And it'll be good to see him move up.

I think he'll get that chance next year, regardless of what Bottas or Hamilton does. I think Russell will take one of those seats if he has a good season this year. I think Bossas is gone. And I think the only way Bottas stays is if Norris doesn't want to go to Mercedes, because Norris is obviously managed by Toto Wolfe. And the McLaren-Messaga's partnership, I think opens that door for Norris to move up there. You can have a Norris-Russell, Mercedes line up. Or they literally can't find anyone else in the paddock that is willing to drive that Mercedes,

which somehow I don't see happening. The only thing Bottas has under his belt is the fact that he is an experienced Mercedes driver. He knows that team. That is it. That's all I can see going forward. But a new era, Bottas hasn't exactly, you know,

shows success. He hasn't done what Rosberg was able to do. He is the least successful Silver Arrow's driver of all time, pretty much, which is not the best, you know, accolade to have. So I think Mercedes have got all the cards in their deck. I think that they can pick and choose to you they want.

Worse comes to work. they end up with Russell and Bottas, not a bag lying up. They can't have Russell on Norris. They can have Russell or Hamilton. I think either way, they're going to be looking pretty good for the next couple of years. What do you reckon, Harry, do you think there's a winner in this negotiation between Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes? I think both parties have done pretty well. I know Mercedes might have hoped for a, you know, they don't tend to do one-year deals with Hamilton.

They do them with Bottas, but they'd like to snap them up for longer. but there is that commitment in the contract about improving diversity, etc, with an F1 in Mercedes. And even if he's not driving that car, I think it'll still be around the Mercedes fold. But in terms of Mercedes, I think they'll still be happy because either way, as Sam's already mentioned, they've got so many options for 2022. I think if Hampton does leave, I think Bottas is still relatively safe because I can't see them going for an all-new line. I know they, you know, Russell's a known quantity now, but it's quite a big move for like the reigning world champs

as we assume they will be again this year to go for a brand new lineup. So I think it could be Bottas Russell, could be Hamilton Russell, could be Hamilton, Rossol, could be Hamilton, Bottas again, who knows? So I think for them, they've got so many options on the table now. Yeah, and we'll have to go through us all over again next year, aren't we? It's going to be just,

will be this time next year we'll be like and Hamilton's either signed again or he's retired or who knows yeah I think both parties will be relatively happy I think it gives Hamilton an opportunity to go for his eighth

you know there's every possibility this could be his last year it could go for the eighth and leave or he might want to stay and do the new regs who knows but yeah I don't think this is a bad deal for anyone but Ben's probably going to prove me wrong now.

I was just thinking how Sam, you must be salivating at the thought of Bottas being in the Mercedes for yet another season, right? That's all you've ever dreamed of. I love that porridge man driving on Mercedes. Bring it on. Right, so I mean, arguably both sides have won this to a degree because a deal has happened.

If a deal hadn't have happened, they'd have both lost out in the same way that a deal has happened and both of them have won to a degree. the best driver on the grid is driving the best car for the best team. And if that combination is in force, then everyone who's contributed to that being a factor has won, you know, ultimately. So I don't think either of them have necessarily lost this. I think between them, Lewis Hamilton has definitely won out of the two parties here. We heard sort of last year, Toto Wolf definitely did not want to get Lewis Hamilton on a one-year deal.

he said, I think everything should be done this year. Of course, that didn't happen anyway. But I don't want to go into another negotiation mid-year next year, which is ultimately what's happened here. So Mercedes have not got him on the deal that they want, but they've got him. And that's got to be worth something. I think a compromise probably would have been two years. I imagine Mercedes would have wanted to snap him up on a three-year deal. Hamilton, clearly this is Hamilton-led. It's quite ironic that we've got Hamilton and Bottas on the same deal in terms of length.

However, the ways in which they've got to those deals are completely the opposite scenarios. Bottas's contract is completely Mercedes-led, whereas Hamilton's contract being one year is completely Hamilton-led. They're on the same deal, but completely different reasons why they're there. I think, you know, Lewis Hamilton has won this just because he's got the flexibility at the end of this year to do whatever he wants to do, as you've sort of referenced already, Sam. And flexibility is good for a driver. You know, you could say if he was less integrated with Mercedes or less successful, you could say, well, a longer term deal means he's got more security and it means he's got more of a chance to embed himself in the team. Lewis Hamilton doesn't need to worry about those things, given his success. and given what he's able to do. From Lewis Hamilton's perspective,

you know, those aren't factors where they would be for other drivers. I think the problem here with Mercedes and the situation that they're now in is that they have rivals who have got more of the future lined out than they do. Max Verstappen is there until 2022, Red Bull, of course, that is. Oafshall Leclair and Carlos Sines are going to be at Ferrari in 2022. They're locked in for the next two years. You know, you've got the McLaren team. They're locked in for 2022 as well.

Alonzo, you've got plenty of these drivers that are signed up for the next few years. And Mercedes are in the position right now where they don't know what their lineup is going to be next season. They haven't got either of their drivers confirmed. And I would argue that one of the things that has meant Mercedes have been so strong since they've returned to Formula 1 10 years ago, is their stability. And it is their transitioning between drivers. They've had four drivers in the last 11 years.

That's literally the definition of stability. And when they've needed to bring someone in, they have been more than ready to be in that position. And they've never done two at a time. Rosberg was more than ready for when he made that switch. And Schumacher, of course, he was ready. he's Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton was already a world champion when he joined. Valtrey Bottas was nowhere near that successful, but he'd done a number of years at Williams prior to moving.

So, you know, there's always been this transition period. And I always see it as sort of these stages where you have a driver, let's take Charles LeClair or Max Verstappen, where they have that integration time in the team, Charles LeCler specifically, you know, gets to learn the ropes at Alfa Romeo Salba for a year, moves into the Ferrari seat as the number two driver, doesn't have too much pressure to begin with, takes on that number one role, as he has done, even if it wasn't intended to be that way. And now he's got time to hone his skills, very similar to the Vastappan transition as well. Vestappen and Lecler are both at the very end of that transition period. George Russell's right at the beginning of it still. And that has a real risk catching up to

Mercedes at some point in the future. So that's why, you know, two one-year deals here isn't perhaps brilliant for Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton, I think, has one out of the two parties, but for me, the biggest winner here is Valtrey Bottas, because Bottas is the one that stability. Yes, like I say, he's on that one-year deal, but that's not out of his choosing. That's out of Mercedes choosing. If Hamilton signs a three-year deal, I can't see any scenario where George Russell or someone else is in that seat next year, probably Russell, because at that point, you've got at least two years where Hamilton and Russell are teammates, and if Hamilton wants to go at the end of those three years, Russell's already had a few years at Mercedes,

about five years in Formula One full stop, and he's ready to take on that role. What do you do now? He's only got a one year deal. If you don't know if Hamilton is sticking around for next year, how can you, you can't make a decision on Botas because if you kick Bottas out and then realize Hamilton's not going to be there either, do you really want to go into 2022? Brand new regulations with a brand new lineup? That doesn't seem very Mercedes. So I actually think Botas's stability here might be a big factor for him gaining maybe one more year out of that seat. Yeah, I think it makes sense to have Russell go alongside one of the two current drivers, especially for going to be a world fighting car, World Championship fighting car.

Bottas, I mean, what's he got to do, really, to kind of get himself a deal that's longer than one year? He got to win the championship as he just got to continue to finish second. I mean, a lot of people argue he's done everything he needs to do realistically to bring home the constructor's title for Mersai's. But I think he'd be a semi-good mental for Russell should Hamilton choose to leave. And I think it all comes down to Hamilton. I think Hamilton has more power than the Sengis here, really. The Senghis will want to keep Hamilton regardless. Why wouldn't you want to keep the goats in terms of statistics in your team?

So I think that Hamilton gets a dictator play regardless of what happens. If he goes to Botas, he's almost got another year to make it work at the same. saying is if he says, I don't want to go, but then Russell goes, well, I don't want to be at Williams anymore. Botas gets the boot. So it's very interesting that Bottas essentially is waiting for everyone else to make their decision before he gets to say what happens to its own career, which kind of sucks for Walter because he's a very lovely guy. So it'd be a shame if he does get ousted, but I guess that's how Formula One goes. I mean, on paper, and it's a good thing that Formula One isn't run on paper, but it seems as if Lewis Hamilton's got a fairly easy

run to the championship, at least comparatively to other seasons. In the, you know, the car is not going to be radically different from 2020, and it was very good in 2020. So, Harry, do you think there's more of a risk he'll leave at the end of 2021 after he's potentially won a record-breaking eighth championship? I think there's definitely a possibility. Who knows? Now that he signed a one-year contract, I think worse.

we're going to talk about now for the next year is this Hamilton's last year. You know, if it had been a two-year contract or a three-year contract, we obviously wouldn't be speaking about it. And I think he still has a, he still got, he'll still have the talent and speed at the end of this year to keep going if he chooses to. But, yeah, maybe he is starting to think of, you know, calling it a day soon. Who knows? I mean, it would be fairly poetic, wouldn't it, to get the eighth title and then leave. but, you know, there's, I don't know. I don't know his motivation as to why he didn't want to sign for longer.

What is it to do with, we don't know? Is it to do with money? Is it to do with the ethics in Formula One? Is it to do with the fact he wants to retire? I don't think we'll know that for a long time. So it's a strong chance, but there's also a very strong chance he'll stick around and win 10 titles as well. So, yeah, I think we'll just have to wait and see. But at least he gives us something else to talk.

out, which is always good. Thanks, Lewis. Means a lot. He's done it for us. Sam, what do you reckon? Eighth title, retire on the top of his game. Is it an option for him? I think that's how I want to go out.

I mean, I don't know Lewis personally. I've only vaguely been in the same room as in once. I mean, I haven't been picked up by him like I was ever year by him. You've never mentioned that. No, have I not? Well, it's more about that story. sarcasm, deep sarcasm, people. I get the photo out soon.

Honestly, I think if I was, you know, the greatest driver of all time in terms of statistics, your opinion or not, whatever, I would want to go out on a high. I wouldn't want to end up having all those records and then spending two or three years in a team that might get a podium regardless of how well I drive or my game pulled off a little bit more. I don't think Lewis is in it just to make money. And I think there are some drivers that we've had that were great, wearing it just to earn a little bit of extra dollar.

I don't think Lewis cares about that. I think he's got enough. I think he knows that his career is paved for him after Formula One, whether it be XDNA. Surprise, surprise, it's Lewis Hamilton. Or fashion designer Tommy Hill figure. Or whether he goes into some kind of ethical, cultural, environmental role. Who knows?

Or maybe he goes into management in sport. He's got his own team now and other sport, extremely, of course. He's got so many options. So I think Lewis will want to go out on the top. I don't think he'll want to be sat around in the third or fourth, best team if something goes wrong, just driving. So, yeah, I think there is a chance and a very strong chance. I'd say maybe 60, 70% of a chance that he wings it this year and walks away from the sport,

which will be sad because that will be the end of an era in our sport. But I would definitely understand if that were the case. Yeah, yeah. And I think it is set up. It is almost teed up for him to win the eighth championship. Like I say, it's not going to be a walk in the park, winning a Formula One World Championship. management isn't that way, but for Lewis Hamilton's ability, given the car, given the team, it seems like a perfect opportunity for him to do that. And then at the end of this season,

he at least has the opportunity to walk away. Being on this one-year deal means that if he doesn't like the lay of the land heading into 2022, he can tell them to stuff it. He can walk away an eight-time world champion. Alternatively, if he still thinks Mercedes are going to be very strong and he still has the desire to keep racing, he has that opportunity as well. So I completely understand why he's he's gone with sort of the contract approach that he's gone with. You look at drivers in the past, and there is a real mixture. If you look at Michael Schumacher as an example, he retires not quite on top, but he retires in 2006 after giving Alonzo a run for his money for the championship.

If he ends his career there, you could argue he's retired on top. Of course, he came back. Did that help his reputation, you know, from, did that help his legacy? at all, I would argue not really. But then you've got drivers like Mika Hakenen, let's say. He retired. You know, just... Retired?

Sorry, he's on a sabbatical. He's coming back next year. I'm going to say it. I think he's retired. But he retired in 2001. You know, literally just after, two years after he won the championship. Alan Prost, of course. He retired, won the title and left and never came back. So there are instances where drivers do retire on top. It would be interesting.

I think it could... Nika Rosberg, another example. King of the world. But yeah, but then you see like Kimmy Reichenen. Kimi Reikinen is clearly not bothered that he's racing in his early 40s and isn't the driver that he was in 2007, which is absolutely fine. That's his M.O.

and Lewis Hamilton has his own ones. So I think it could go either way. Well, yeah, that's the future. We can't predict it, folks. So let us know what you think. As ever. If we could, we would be doing something else probably. I'd have a lot of money.

If I could predict the future, I'd have a lot of money. I'd probably be in Formula One if I could predict the future, I'll be honest. I'll tell you what. If you're watching on YouTube, let us know in the comments what you think he's going to do. and if you're if you're listening on the podcast get in touch with us on Twitter or whatever just just tell us exactly how you think this is going to play out and in a year's time we'll come back to it and we'll pick out the absolute best and worst things that you've said thanks just create a whole video idea for you just right there you great that's perfect um Sam you've got something to say about Manscaped so we've actually got a sponsor yeah and that is because of you lot who have listened to the podcast so first I know I'm we got to do the advertising bit.

And we aren't really getting paid. They're just happily sponsoring it and we kind of got a free product to try out, which is very nice. It's because of you not listening that they've reached out and had a thought. So firstly, thank you for listening. And if you do want to help out the channel,

we've got, you go over to Man Skate. And when you buy a product, you'll get 20% off if you search for late 20. Put that in your discount box and your little code bit that goes under the checkout section. So if you want to be streamlined, get the podcast to the top, or you want to be a lawnmower,

just like Valtry Botas was. at the Austrian Grand Prix, trimmed some grass, if you know what I mean. Wink, wink, nudge. Then get over to Manscapes. Their products are quality.

They actually, I used it. It's over there. You can't sit at the cameras. It's a podcast. Sorry, folks. Watch your YouTube again. You might go to catch it.

It's there. It was actually pretty good. I would recommend it. And you get 20% off. So if you do want to help out the channel, get over to Manscape, use late 20, all in capital letters,

with a number 20 and not the word 20. And you'll get 20% off. So, Thanks, Manscaped. You'll be hearing a bit more from them over the next couple episodes because they're here with us for a little bit. But much love to you guys and to Manscapes for open us out. So moving on to what has been dubbed as Sprint Race Saturday. So depending on when you're listening to this, there might well have already been the vote as to whether this is going ahead or not. But at least at the time of recording, which is on Wednesday evening, they're going to discuss this tomorrow.

So the proposal is that there will be sprint races. They will trial sprint races on Saturday. at the Canadian Grand Prix, the Brazilian Grand Prix, and the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. So in this proposal, qualifying would happen on Friday, which would set the grid for the sprint race on Saturday. The Saturday sprint race would set the grid for the main race on Sunday whilst also giving out some reduced championship points, and then the race would happen on Sunday as per usual. Sam, what's your thoughts on this one? A few different dimensions going on here.

The Saturday's sprint race sounds like when I have gone to the toilet too late and I heard the formation lap star. Harry, what do you think? And I have to dash back to that sofa. What I do love about it, right, is we're going to get qualifying on a Friday. So it's more proper competitive action, which I love, right? A weekend of proper competitive action. Practice is fine.

It's fun. It can be insightful and interesting. Every single day is going to be something that means something in the championship, which I love. I absolutely love that. The first thing I don't like about sprint race Saturday is why are you giving it to Brazil, to Italy, and to Canada, three of the best qualifying venues in all of Formula One, especially Italy. Look at the fast we have there. It's hilarious.

It attracts loads of attention. We love it. know that we're going to have it on the Friday, but it doesn't mean anything for the race. We've had another race after that. Another positive for the sprint race. I love the F2 sprint race. I think it is great. It works really well. I love that they reversed

the top eight. And I think the Formula One are looking at Formula 2 going, hang on a minute, are they actually the better formula and we're not the... It's like, are we the bad ones? It's one of them moments. And I think that there are some things that F2 do really, really well, but Formula 1 don't do

so well. I'm not going to write it off. not as negative on this as Ben is, but qualifying is one of the few things in Formula One that doesn't need any alteration to be good. Qualifying is a fantastic thing everywhere we go. I love watching Qualifying. It's always exciting. I sit there counting down the micro seconds on that little timer. Every lap being like, point three, point four, and I'm watching it intensely. So change the racing first before we change in qualifying, but I haven't seen it happen yet. And it might be a bloody, brilliant success or it might be like elimination qualifying a few years ago where it immediately got written off and changed again. So who knows? I'm excited to see how good or bad it goes.

I miss elimination qualifying cars waiting in the garage, waiting for themselves to be eliminated. That was the life. Harry, what are your thoughts on this one? well first of all I don't know who needs to hear it you know Stephano Damanicali

Steve Sunday mate anyone there's nothing wrong with there's nothing wrong with qualifying there's nothing wrong with it we don't need we don't need this and I totally agree with Sam

if we are doing this why we're doing it at some of the best tracks we have that's just bizarre at least do it at a rubbish one like Aber Dhabi. But, yeah, I don't know. I'm kind of in basically what Sam said in terms of, you know, different action on Friday I could kind of get on board with.

But, yeah, on the whole, I just don't see the need for it. And, you know, having shorter races doesn't make the racing any better. You could have, you know, you have Le Mans, which is 24 hours, and you get to the end of it and it's still exciting and it's been excited for 24 hours but that's because you know the sport is good

not because it's a really long race and you can watch races at 20 minutes which are crap so it's not it's not mask any of the issues that Formula 1 can't by having those shorter races I think

and we've spoken about this before but there's deeper issues which hopefully will be addressed next year in 2022. But yeah, having short races on a Saturday. Don't need it. Don't want it. Just give me qualifying. I don't like change.

He's done a swear in there, Ben. You've got to bleep that. We're on... We're just in podcast territory now. So this is all on Harry. He's sent them on. Get it off. Lemon.

So, I mean, Sam, you said here that I was quite negative on this, when in actual fact, I'm actually quite torn. You know, I'm torn between it being stupid and pointless. It's a really difficult one to decide. What is it trying to accomplish? I don't understand. Like you said, Harry, qualifying is great. Why do they keep trying? Why are they so insistent on changing the best thing about a Formula One weekend?

Like, let's pan back to reverse grids. Unfortunately, reverse grids are dead in the grave, or at least Mani calli says they are. Fingers crossed on that. When that was a discussion, I was 100% against reverse grids. But you know what? At least I could understand the point of them. I understood what they were trying to achieve. It would mix up the grid.

You'd have Williams at the front. You'd have Hasse here and you'd have Mercedes at the back. I understood what it was trying to do. I didn't agree with it, but I understood it. Here I just don't understand it at all. You're having a mini race to set the grid for the main race. Here's what you'll achieve. Again, Harry, you've made the point perfectly in that it doesn't change the racing.

You could have it over five laps, you'd have it over 50 laps. The racing is still going to be the same. It's going to be a warm-up race. We already say that Formula One races generally are at their best where the teams can't control the variables. and they can't, you know, it's unpredictable and the F1 teams, which is why there's been such a push for practice time being reduced. Hey, let's give them a whole race to practice.

That seems like a good idea. Mercedes can use this as a warm-up race, work out what's going on with the tyres, and then execute it perfectly in the main race. I don't think you'd get any more unpredictable results as a result of bringing this in. Also, I can't be bothered to have the main race and sprint race discussions in future. It would be like, oh, Lewis Hamilton, he retired with 111 Formula One Grand Prix wins. He also retired with 16 sprint race wins as well.

You can't forget those, need to add those. I don't want to have those discussions. There's only so many hours in a week. I can't be bothered. Leave that out. And also, this doesn't happen all that often, but there's always the opportunity. In Quo, you know, you've got a couple of attempts to put in a banging lap. otherwise you're out or if it's Q3 you're in a bad starting group position.

You do that on Fridays in this trial. You go into Saturday and you have a whole race, albeit a shortened one, to reverse that and get back into a position where you should be. You know, if, like I say, it doesn't actually happen all that often, but if someone messes up Q1 and they're wildly out of position, normally they'd go into the race at the moment and have, you know, they have that race to claw it back. In this format, they can do all the hard work in the sprint race,

and then once they get to the main race, they find they're starting seventh or eighth, and it's only a few positions behind where it would be anyway. I don't think this is going to improve anything. I think the main reason they're probably going to try and introduce this is to bump up the numbers of Saturday viewings. Sprint race might be a bit more sexy than qualifying from a promoter's perspective,

but from a pure racing perspective, I've got no time for this. I'll tell you what I'd like to see in saying of a sprint race. And we've all said it. We've all said that. We've all said that it won't work. And I'm aware of that. No, it's not sprinklers before we'll jump in. Yes, they would be great. I'd like to see a driver's race.

I'd like to see a, you qualify in a standard car, an F2 car maybe, or a non-modified, non-owned car by a supplier. You then start in that position for your sprint race, again in the non-modified car, so you're still just driverability, and then you start the real race on the Sunday in your team car. So Hamilton might be great in that Mercedes,

everyone loves to say, hang on I can win a Mercedes, but actually you might qualify in 15th place and finish the sprint racing, 13th place, because let's be honest, Hamilton's a terrible driver, he's got no actual talent, it's all Mercedes. And then, put me in that Mercedes on Sunday,

you've got a bit of a belter, you've got something a bit interesting at me. I can say that might show a bit of talent, might be a little bit different, might be a bit interesting. You can't use the data on your actual car. The tyres are a bit different. I think that could be a nice way to mix up.

It's going to be costly. It's not going to be an easy fix. And that's what they're trying, aren't they? They're trying for an easy fix. And that's what they're trying to do Saturday and not Sunday. But I think that would be a little bit more exciting. Put them all. Yeah.

That's fine. Fine. No, Cleos is good. Around Cadwell Park as well. I mean, you've just reminded me of a point, actually. I mean, that they want to cut costs. and they're putting an extra race in. Yeah, I can't wait for this trial to go ahead

and there to be like a first corner smash between five cars and just, yeah, cost saving. Anyway, I think I've said enough on that topic. We'll move on to our final one, which is the 2022 calendar. So we know that the 2021 calendar, at least at the moment, pending any cancellations is looking pretty packed. There are eight races that are happening in 2021 that do not have a contract from 2022 onwards.

Very simply, we're going to decide whether they should stick with them or whether they should bin them off. So we'll start with a fairly big one. This one's been around for a while. A few people know a thing or two about it. The Monaco Grand Prix. Harry, would you keep this one on the grid?

Yeah. Look, we don't ever get a good race in Oneaco, but I just like it. I just like the track. I like F1 when it goes there. And the race can be processional. Often it is very processional. But yeah, I can't bin it. As much as my head is telling me you don't need this on the F1 calendar anymore,

my heart can let go. Sorry everyone, but it's got to stay. have you got um kermit the frog just like bin it for me i can't get my hood up because i got a hat on and headphones but i'm like a roadman sorry for us on the podcast you can't see me i look very distressed with my hoodie so i mean that's one vote for keep then on the monaco train what about you sam unfortunately me and yago truly don't get on the same train i take a different route to work it doesn't go around the monaco grand prix um the moxanx of gromprey um the mox of grompris

used to get in a very big Wilkinson's bin. Unless you make these changes. The cars get smaller. They can race side by side and there's going to actually be some on-track action. Or you still sprinklers and it's always wet. Because otherwise, Monaco is literally, have a weekend off from F1.

Check the highlights. Has anyone crashed? No. All 20 cars have finished, did they? All right, then. It's exactly the same as it was when it started. It's so boring. It used to be really, really exciting.

I used to love the Monaco Grand Prix. It is up there now with Abu Dhabi levels of boredom. Apart from, you can hit a wall. Baku is the improved Monaco. Baku is the better version of Monaco. Well done, Baku. You've improved street racing. Monaco, you're not needed.

Unless you change the things that I said, get out of it. Can you imagine F1 cars going as quick in Monaco as they go down the main straight of Baku? That would be slightly terrifying. I've watched that then. I'm sure you would. I'm going to go with keep, but keep it on a shorter deal for some of the reasons that you've listed, to be honest, Sam, in that we've got these changes coming in in 2022. Put it on a short-term deal, right?

Not these sort of seven-year deals that they give out to some Grand Prix. Put it on a two-year deal or something like that, and let's just see. Let's see, does it improve the racing? If these new cars don't improve the racing, I feel as if the F-1 community as a whole at that point needs to come together and come to the same conclusion, a sad conclusion, but the conclusion being, Monaco's just not suited for F1 anymore, which will be a hard pill for many to swallow. But I feel as if at that point, if it doesn't improve, what more can be tried? And, hey, I mean, if they do have to do a longer-term deal, just give it a few years.

If none of them are very exciting, just slip in a replay of the 1996 Grand Prix and see if anyone notices. I reckon they won't. I reckon they won't. Olivier Panis. He spans decades. It's really wide, boy. Oh dear. Next track, Suzuki.

Harry, keep or binning it? Yep, absolutely keep. Love Suzuki. Again, may not be to have the best races. We get some good races there, but not all the time. don't care because I love Suzuki. Great track. All tracks should have bridges and the cross over each

other as a rule. All figure of eight tracks. All figure of eight tracks. So, Suzuki then. What about you, Sam? Keep or bin? Yeah, keep it. A hundred percent. It's a real driver's track, but it has got maneuverability. It has got wheel fighting. It's got 130R. It's got a corner that is named after a utensil in your kitchen drawer, spoon curve. What a name? What a name? Um, honestly, it's got so much history to it and it still delivers semi-regular. Yes, okay, not every single race. It's an absolute classic. But that happens at every single circuit ever. Not every race is going to be an absolute delta. But Suzuki, more times than not delivers. It's got a great. So the Japanese are mad from Formula One and they deserve to have their spot,

I think. Um, so yeah, let me keep it. I mean, could you imagine getting rid of Suzuki at the same time that Yuki Sanoda enters Formula One? It would seem like a bit of a waste. Also, Suzuki is a brilliant track. So, of course, I'm saying keep here. I'm not yet ready to stop having the which Degner is better conversation. So we need to keep going there for that reason and that reason alone. Every day in my life, I wake up and a half myself.

Also, the point about the utensils am spot on. I can agree more. Thank God. Third track. This one has just been announced as being on the 21st calendar today and that is Algarve. So what do you reckon?

Portemau, Keep or bin, Harry? Keep. We had a great race there last year. And it's a great track. I love a track that has undulation, which I realise is probably why I've said yes, all these tracks so far. But, yeah, tracks to go up and down

are a winner. I mean, if they only went up, that would be problematic. Raygo-Rose. Exactly. Yeah, we had a great race last year and there was some great fighting that wasn't all just

DRS assisted. And that track seemed to generate some good battles there, so absolutely keep. I think today, even today, there was some rumors that it's going to be announced I think in that vacant TBC slot. But I'm fine with that.

Yeah. What do you reckon, Sam, keeping Portugal as well? If there is ever a track where a man over the age of 40 can throw up a sick switchback, then how is it not for long on the calendar of Formula One? Also, that crazy track. F1 track should be resurfaced every single season, by the way, because that just brings banter to the F1 calendar. Just have a look at Turkey and Al-Darb.

Drain's exploding. Always a bit of fun. Love that. Takes up forever to resurface the whole. whole track. It was brilliant. Me shouting Carlos Seitz Leeds is never going to leave my life. That is a memory I will cherish forever. It was brilliant. It was so good. I loved it. I don't know if it'll ever be as good as that again. But I think with the new cars as well, I think there's so much space on that track because obviously a Moto GP related circuit.

I'll have a great ding-dong time. And as Harry said, Angulation is always a lovely little extra to throw into any F1 track. So I'm all for it. It should be a regular. There are so many tracks worse than it that's still on the track. Circuit, calendar, there's the word. I'm all of all this as well. I think Algarve is definitely a keeper. I think it's a great circuit. I think it's really underrated as well.

I remember going back sort of last year when everyone was assessing their favorite races of the year and their top fives. Algarv didn't get many mentions. It was a top five race for me. I really think it had a great one in 2020. The undulation that you've already mentioned is fantastic.

I'm keeping this one. There's only seven races last year, so it was tough to have it in your top five, really. Exactly, which makes it even more of a travesty. Moving on to the fourth one, we're sticking around in the Iberian Peninsula, but we're moving over to Spain, circuit to Catalonia.

Doesn't need it. Harry, move on. Before bin. Sam. So harsh. I'm going to go. for bin. It's kept it short and simple there, I mean.

They've made it worse. They've made it worse. They've got rid of the only corner where you can actually make a feasible overtake on the whole circuit by making it a sweeping corner. It couldn't get worse, but they found a way anyway. Just delete the S in Spain

because all it is is paying. I'm sick of it. Catalonia can go in the Bing. They can keep it for testing if they want. I'm more than happy if they keep it in that respect. But for actual Grand Prix racing, no. I get there's a point here that Carlos Seines has just moved to Ferrari and Fernando Alonzo's back in Formula One.

You might want to capitalize on the Spanish. You might just want to capitalize on that enthusiasm in Spain, but it's not worth it for Catalonia. Sorry. And now we've got Portugal. We've got something within Iberia as well. So we don't need to go there. You just pissed off a lot of Spanish people.

Yeah, don't care. Come up with. I'm joking. King, of course, to the good people of Spain. I love you, really. So maybe you've been listening. Exactly. Moving over a bit more, we're going to go to Italy.

Imola, should this one feature on the 2022 calendar, Harry? Yeah, I think it should, purely because I want to see how those cars. I like Imola's track anyway. This current breed may not create a really exciting race there, but I would keep it just, you know, just see how it gets. like you said with Monaco, maybe a short-term contract, see how it goes with the new cars. If it doesn't make any more reciting races and maybe get rid, but I'm confident that we would.

So yeah, I'd keep that. What do you reckon, Sam? I'm with Harry on this one. With a smaller more compact cars, I think it's got great undulation. I think last season we had a good race there. It was enjoyable. Strategy played off.

Like we got to see a lot of, that Hamilton, the fact you jumped. Botas and Bastapen by playing that strategy role worked really, really well is really exciting to see it doesn't always pay off for a lot of tracks

because of how clear the tracks are so it's got its perks and it's one of those tracks where if you make a mistake you pay for that mistake it is costly and I like that

I think that's true the same for every track and that's why I hate Abu Dhabi which is how I'm going to say it forever yeah I put it on a two-yearer give it a couple of trials

with the new cars see how it goes if it fails then we've got a lot of other great circuits waiting to be picked up Yeah, I'm going to say keep. I won't spend too much time

because it's basically for the same reasons that you two have mentioned. Can I just say, though? Alonzo Reichen and Schumacher racing at Imala in 2021. Oh, come on. That's so cool. It's so cool.

10-year-old Ben is absolutely loving this. So yeah, keep. And I'm going to have to be careful with the pronunciation on this next one to make sure I get it right, but I believe it's pronounced this way. A Boudabee. Ah, yes.

Now, I can't imagine which way this is going to go, particularly if you add an end to the end of Dabby, you would do get Dabin. So, Harry, keep a bin. Bin, absolutely. Bin, don't need Aboobie, which is the best way to say that now. Don't need that in our lives anymore.

It's, yeah, it's just, I know this book about making changes. And, you know, theoretically it should, you know, big long straight, heavy braking zone at the end of it, it should be exciting, but it's just not.

And I don't know why. It's just dull to look at. It's a dull track to look at. And I hate the final sector. And there's a pit lane that goes under a tunnel for no reason. I actually think that's kind of cool. But what?

but why what purpose does that serve it's the only individual factor that that gromfrey has so i think that's why i think it's kind of cool if a car had binned it in that pit lane i would say fine but we've been there since 2009 and no one's done it and that's just dull and not not playing bull you know well i mean that's one glowing uh review sam you're going to make it two glows Abu Dhabi Aboobie Aboeby I mean

If you were to cover The out The runoff Of every single corner in gravel Make the tunnel exit Of the pit lane Thinner And

I know Take it off the F1 calendar Then it might be good It is like The annoying Younger cousin Of like China

And Bahrain Combined It's like Oh Good Desert track under the lights. Love it. Looks fantastic. China, great long straight, good heavy break in the Anting, Anting, Anting, Anting, Anting Corner is world famous. It's got some good moments in it, right? Weather is brilliant there. Put those two together. You think, oh, hang on, Abu Dhabi,

here we go. No, it's annoying. Send it to bed. Let your mates play. It is, honestly, why is it on it? And why is it the season end? I hate it so much. Ben, make it stop. Abu Dabang. I wish I could. Unfortunately, I can't. What I can do is put another bin on the already two bins that have come in this discussion. Yeah, it's rubbish. End of point. Number seven, Singapore. I'm not saying anymore.

It doesn't deserve it. Be better. Number seven, Singapore. Harry, keep or bin, Singapore. Keep. Again, another, if I said, I don't know what I said,

keep, so all of them, but obviously not. Singapore Love that track It's quite long The race is quite long But it's quite Always pretty exciting One to watch

It's bumpy Love a bumpy track It's quite hot for the drivers So they get quite tired Which is You know In text creeping Hard on the cars

Yeah I just wish it would rain A couple more times Because the one we had in 2017 That race was ridiculous But you know Can't control the weather But yeah

No, absolutely. I would keep Singapore. I don't, you know, the first night race. It would be ashamed to ever see that one go, to be honest. Keep as well, son. This is the one I am struggling the most with on what to do with. If all of Harry's points came through on a regular basis, I'd be thumbs up for it. You know, if you stick on some sprinklers,

if drivers did actually get tired, if a lot of mistakes were actually made, if the cars did regularly break down, but they don't. That stuff doesn't happen. It rains once every decade when we have a race there. Drivers don't often crash into each other. We've had maybe two or three big moments over the last decade we've been there,

which is exciting when it happens, but that's about the same amount as it happens to every other race. I love that it is long. I love that it's tiring, but it doesn't have that much of an extra effect on things. Singapore has some brilliant moments, and I'm happy for it to be there because it is not the lowest in the pile. There are a few other races on there that are by far worse.

We've spoken about a couple today already. but for me it's also got a major success. So if the new cars again go around their well, they're good at passing each other, we get some wheel to wheel racing, it does rate a bit more often, sprinklers, eh? Then I could be way more for it.

I'm going to say keep it, but give it a year with the new cars and if it doesn't impress, I'd be very much on the fence. To be honest, I'm in a very similar position to you, Sam. I feel as if I should like Singapore more than I do. it is a spectacle and it is like in terms of the physical toll on the drivers it is a challenge unlike any other Grand Prix on the calendar it has got that uniqueness that abou dabby doesn't as we kind of just referenced with the last one i feel as if i should love it a lot more than i do and i just i never have and i don't even really understand why i'm i'm going to say keep because i feel as if more people like this more than i do um and you know it is is still pretty epic night race.

So I've said keep, but if it left the calendar, I really wouldn't be overly disappointed. No, no, I'm with you there, Benny Boy. I'm really there. And the last one, Austin, Texas, Cota, in the USA. What do you say for this one, Harry?

Yeah, keep again. I like this track. It's built up a bit more counter over the years. It's got a bit bumpier in place. And again, I think we have some fairly decent races there. Yeah, and I think it's important that F1 stays in the US. The only thing I would say is, can you please put some grass and gravel around the outside? Because I'm bored of Crofty talking about track limits.

So, apart from that, stay. What did you say, Sam? I keep trying to find positives with Cota I think the best thing about Cota is either the Nion guy or the boxing ring announcer He's here, we've got it on or the boxing ring announcer to be honest Cota feels like it should be one of those Grand Prix

that you look forward to and it's got a lot of elements taking from famous old school F1 tracks you know the S is at the start very much represent Japan It's got that long back straight into a heavy hair, it's much like China or spa. You feel like you have the right moments, but it never really comes together for an absolute spectacle of a race.

The weather there is most of the time very dry. We should stay in America. America is a massive market for the sport, and it needs to be represented, and it's a growing moment. Football are doing it brilliantly at the moment in bringing America into the fold of the world sport. And Formula One needs to give the same thing.

but there's so many good tracks in America. Watkins Glen is just going to have won that we don't go near and Cota's just all right. I'm actually going to say get rid of it in favour for another American track and I'm just over to get rid of it lying. But for me, I think we could do better. Yeah, that's essentially how I feel I'm going to say bin, not because I necessarily hate Cota. I don't even would, I wouldn't even say I dislike it that much. I think definitely the whole lack of grass issue and lack of. of, you know, punishment from going wide is definitely the worst thing about the track.

But yeah, I just think there are so many brilliant tracks in the US. And I know they are pretty keen to keep up the momentum in the US and potentially get a second race there, in which case you could say, well, keep it and then add another one. But I think America has that many brilliant circuits that you can bin this one and get two brand new ones. Watkins Glen and Indy. Thank you very much. Caesar's Palace need to return there at some.

point. Oh, you're able to park the car thing after the race. Exactly. Exactly. I'm forward thinking here. Caesar's Palace Grand Prix, 2022. We're going to make it happen. But, yeah, I mean, there's a serious point in there.

Indy, I'd love to go back to Indy. I think it's a great circuit. And I mean the sort of in-field circuit that, not the one that F1 used to race on, of course, but, you know, I think it's actually an improved version of that. Daytona. I'd love to do Daytona. Daytona, they can race there. There's a few others.

I haven't met Road America. Maybe there's opportunity there. Laguna Seca. I don't know where else you want to consider, but there are so many great circuits in the US. And I just think I can't get over the runoff area issue at Cota. It's just, it's so excessive. It's Paul Ricardesque kind of thing.

I just, I can't buy into it. Oh, get that in the Bing. Don't care if it's not on the list, but get it in the big. Well, I'm glad that you've got that swam. wipe in on Paul Ricard before we've left tonight, Sam, even though it wasn't one of the ones. But yeah, those are the eight that won't at least currently be appearing in 2022. They've got a contract to be sorted out. Be very interested to hear what you think on those eight, whether you'd keep or bin them

in the same order that perhaps we have. I think we'll get out of here for this one, Sam, if you wouldn't mind doing the honors. Folks, you're either going to go on to Manscaped and use our code late 20 to get yourself a deal or you're a Paul Ricard fan. And in that case, don't listen to the podcast anymore. In the meantime, I'll be Samuel Sage.

Please keep listening. I've been Ben Hocking. And I've been Harry Ead. And remember, keep breaking late. The podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.