The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Lewis Hamilton signs until 2023 - a good move? | Episode 132

Episode Date: July 7, 2021

A rare week off this week, so we're discussing Lewis Hamilton's contract extension - is it a good move for him? A good move for Mercedes? The boys discuss it all on episode 132 of The Late Braking F1 Podcast!Tweet us @LBrakingMake sure to SUBSCRIBE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. Thank you for listening to the Lake 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, as ever, presented by myself Ben Hocking, Harry Ead and Sam Sage. It's been a bit of a while since we've had an off. week from Formula One's perspective. No race coming up this weekend. It's two weeks until the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, but plenty still to discuss. How are you, folks? Yeah, good. It's

Harry's birthday coming up, so I'm exciting for festivities. Can't wait for him to shower using gifts from the fans. That'd be good. Yeah. Well, I need to go now then and do some that's what we do here breaking folks we buy each other presents when it's your birthday yeah I'm going to be one year older than I am as you hear this

Harry that might be the most correct thing you've ever said it might be the only correct thing you've ever said in fact I can't argue with that logic I'm probably still wrong somehow you found a way yeah if I could get you a birthday present, it would be a right prediction. That is what I would gift you,

but unfortunately, it is not possible. Anyway, we've got plenty to discuss this, well, this evening, or this afternoon this morning, wherever you might be listening in the world. Lewis Hamilton's contract, so this was announced last week, but it's something that we haven't been able to discuss up until this point. Of course, with the review podcast, we decided we wanted, we wanted to give We wanted to give it the space that it deserves, the time that it deserves. So we've saved it for today. We're going to be discussing whether we're surprised by the news, what we think is going to be the result of it, who might take the second seat now that that's been announced.

The Australian Grand Prix has been cancelled, unfortunately, for 2021. So we'll be discussing whether that will be replaced by another track or not. And we're going to play Pump the Brakes first time in a little while. We're bringing that one back. But first of all, we will focus on the Lewis Hamilton contract. He settled this much, much earlier in the year than he did for this season's contract. And also, it's not a one-year deal. This time it's a multi-year deal.

It takes him to the end of 2023 with Mercedes. So he'll do the rest of this season, presuming he bribed out the entire contract, all of this season, 2022 and 2023. So fairly long term in that sense. Sam, were you surprised that this was a multi-year deal? and how do you see it working for both sides here? Yeah, I was surprised it was a multi-year deal, and that doesn't reflect on Hamilton's ability, of course, in any way,

Hamilton being, we all know, the most successful driver of all time when it comes to statistics. What I was surprised about is more Hamilton's ventures, Hamilton, who is branched out massively outside of Formula One. I know his passion for racing is still very much there. He's still hungry for more success, more records, more wings, you know. And I think he really has a love for working with, saying is and what they're delivering in terms of the diversity and the cultural changes.

I think they're very forward thinking with him. I feel like he very much enjoys this aspect of his career currently. But I'm surprising it wasn't a one-year rolling deal because I think Hamilton does still want core success. I think success on the track, if he's within Formula One, it's still very much his core motivator. So the fact that he's gone for a contract that's going to last for a couple of years, he must have seen something in the data, he must know something about the car, or

he must have made some promises by Mosegis that really motivating him to crack on for another couple of years, especially as for the first year, obviously, for the whole most recent era, Mercedes are struggling, Mosegis are not on top. So you think he'd be more buoyed last year when Mercedes were really flowing with success, but actually that's it longer to sign a contract. So that's why I'm surprised that when they're struggling, when the era is changing, when there's no certainty going forward, Hamilton must have been told or shown something that really fills him with some confidence for at least a couple of years. Do I think it's the last contract

Hamilton will sign? I think that entirely depends on how successful Mercedes are in this most recent era. If they continue to drop back, I think Hamilton will kind of bow out, enjoy his success, help them develop a little bit and move on. If he goes on to wings, let's say two championships, because I think this one's down and dusty. I think the staff has got this one. But if he wings the 2022 season and the 2023 season, I don't see why he wouldn't stick around for at least another year. Hamilton's still got that raw speed that he always had. He hasn't dropped off that peak yet. So, surprise, I'm older-year deal.

Yes. Surprise that you signed a new deal for at least a year. No, I was not shocked that he's sticking around. I think he wants a legal taste of those new regs, just to see how it goes for him. And Sam, you mentioned that he is, you believe still on the top of his game right now as we speak in July 21,

considering this takes him up to the end of 23. It's a tough one. Look into the Crystal Bull. what Lewis Hamilton do you think is still around at the end of 2023? I mean, I would be absolutely shocked if he was able to pull out the same level of performance that we've seen over the last 12 months. With age, unfortunately in motorsport, especially Formula One, which is so physically demanding, you are going to drop off a little bit. And when there are drivers like Gestappen, Russell, Gasly, I even throw into that mix now,

Lecler, Scyx, Norris, brilliant young drivers all coming through who want a top seat. And if a car is level, I don't know if Hamilton will be able to pull out those number one performances. I think Hamilton, though, will be able to deliver on that key experience. He'll have consistency. He'll have that wily old fox atmosphere that we go alongside, so in Riking and are able to bring. And Seb Vettel as well, who is, I know younger than Hamilton, but I feel like Seb Vettel is really harnessing that experience side of things. So do I think that Hamilton could weighing an outright pace in two years' time over all of those youngsters? Unsure.

Do I think that Hamilton could beat them strategically with tire wear, with consistency over course of a size of a season, I definitely think it's possible. The man has not got slower yet. Why would he get any slow now? I mean, Alonso is getting better every single race. He's been out to sport for two, three years. So, yeah, I think Hamilton could still be very successful in two years time. What are your thoughts, Harry? Were you surprised by this being a multi-year deal? And how do you think this plays out for both Mercedes as the team and Hamilton as the driver? in the sense not surprised because I think this is the the continuation of the one-year deal that he signed at the beginning of this year

and I think that you know had things for whatever reason why that contract didn't come through earlier it just got delayed and delayed as last year went on and only got signed it just before pre-season really didn't it I think you know Hamilton probably was always going to sign a three-year deal but for whatever reason just to get things over the line in 2021 they can't sign a one year and re-evaluate whatever nagging issue there was

so in that sense no not surprised it's and as Sam already mentioned I think you want to have a taste of what these new regs will be even if he's not been shown something I think the past I don't know has it six years have probably shown enough the Mercedes are capable of making a good car no matter what the regs are so

in that sense I'm sure he's confident he can be fighting at the top. I mean, Toto seems to think it won't be his last contract. You know, Kimmer Reikland's been around for about 40 years, so, you know, it's not surprising if Hamilton does stay past 23. And I think even if Hamilton doesn't have that raw pace anymore, I think you would be looking at a similar situation to Schumacher at the end of 06. He still has a lot of speed,

and he's using all of this experience and wiles to beat the other guys, but he may not necessarily be finding it as easy as he does now. I think even this year has maybe shown that slightly, and I'm not thinking to lost much speed, but a different challenger emerging in the form of Vestappen. So, yeah, that'll be one for him to judge when he gets to 2023. I don't suspect he's going to be. He's not going to be slow.

And the level the Hamilton operates at, even if he's lost a little bit of speed, he's still going to be pretty quick. So I don't think that'll be too much of an issue for him. I think it'll be more about his drive energy. He'll have been doing it for a fair while by then, and he might just be tired. I'm tired all the time.

I'm not even an F1 driver. Yeah, that's up to him, obviously. but I don't think it'll be an issue and as I said Totos, Fredi Compton he's going to stick around maybe it'll be in a different capacity who knows but yeah not unduly shot I do think you'd want to see

in the new rules although I did have a thought if this year had been going if he was dominating this year like he had last year maybe this wouldn't be as easy to sign maybe he would have considered bowing out at the end I don't know he hasn't anyway and it's nothing but a good

thing for Formula One. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, we've looked at this from the perspective of Lewis Hamilton, the driver and what he wants to achieve as an individual, Mercedes, the team and what they want to achieve and what they want to continue to achieve based on what they've done over the last seven years or so. But yeah, there is that third element in that it's great for Formula One. Yeah, Hamilton is by a long way the most recognizable figure in Formula One right now.

Vastappen might well feel some of that void as he grows into his role and other young drivers possibly as well. But considering the global reach that Hamilton has and the non-F-1 reach that Hamilton has, it could be instrumental for the next few years, Formula One is a business. I think it's great for them as well as the other two parties here. I wasn't massively surprised by this. I think it's a good move from both sides, really. From Mercedes perspective, they were the only main team, really, not to have at least one option sewn up for the next few years.

And that's a bit of a risk from their perspective. So Vestappen is signed to a long-term deal at Red Bull. Lecler is signed to a long-term deal at Ferrari. Norris this season has signed an extension at McLaren. Ocon at Alpine is settled in. So you've got quite a few of these. teams that are maybe not all competing with Mercedes, but the top half of the championship or so, where they've at least got one driver in long term.

And we know the benefits of a driver having a long term deal in place. It can work in both the driver and the team's favour to give them that security. And I think with Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes are now confident in that they've got one driver, you know, settled in. They know that they're in that seat. And we'll discuss a bit later on what that might mean for the second seat and whether that will change anything at all in terms of Mercedes decision. It's great that they've secured it because Mercedes are a great team, really simplistic. Mercedes are a great team.

Lewis Hamilton is a great driver. And Mercedes are very clever in what they do, and they aren't going to be stupid to the fact that at some point, Lewis Hamilton's performance is going to drop off. whether that is a year from now, whether that's five years from now, whether it's a gradual process between the two, which I think is probably the most likely outcome, it's going to happen at some point.

Father Time is undefeated, and Lewis Hamilton isn't going to be the first to defeat it. So again, it just becomes a question of how much can he drag out that top-level performance. And I think you've already said this, Harry, even if Lewis Hamilton drops off over the next few years ever so slightly, 85% of what Lewis Hamilton is right now is probably a top 20 driver of all time. Like Lewis Hamilton at 60% is a competent F1 driver. Even if he drops off, they're not in any immediate danger.

He will still contribute to the team. He is still going to be, I still think he's going to be in contention for world championships for the next few years. but even if it's a worst case scenario, he is going to be fine in terms of being more than good enough for the seat. I have no doubt about that whatsoever. So a good move from Mercedes overall. And obviously, they said after Hamilton signed this one-year deal,

they don't want to go through the stress again of leaving it to the last minute. And they've stayed true to their word on that. Makes a change for Mercedes. They've actually gone ahead with something that, you know, they aren't lying. but yeah they've stuck true to their word here and they have settled this fairly early on which is which is good for both parties again i think from lewis hamilton's perspective is this a good move yes i think it is the guy the guys won some world championships with the team it's not a massive surprise to see the confidence in that team i know 2021 isn't going swimmingly there is a

very serious chance that it's going to be the first hybrid era championship that Mercedes don't win. But even so, if you were to just look at that and ignore everything that's come before it, that's not a good way to look at it overall. He knows that he's in a good spot at Mercedes and they aren't just going to, if they do end up losing this championship, they're not just going to roll over and say, well, that's our dynasty over. It's Red Bull's time to go back into the spot like now. They're going to do their best to fight that back. the following year. He's got confidence in the team. They've got confidence in him. In terms of whether this will be his last contract, it's a bit of a question mark. I do think this

will be his last multi-year contract. I think if he does end up doing anything past the end of 2023, I think it's probably on one-year deals or a one-year deal. I don't think he signs another multi-year deal. Ultimately, Hamilton does have those external interests that we've already referenced that most other drivers don't have. But I think Hamilton realizes that being world champion, or at least being in contention for championships, being the most recognizable face in Formula One, that actually is the best position for him. That actually aids the other things that he does rather than takes away from them. The exposure that he gets as a result of being at the front of Formula One, I think helps him in terms of his environmental pursuits, in terms of his other racing pursuits,

obviously, Extreme E, we know he's involved in, it helps him from a fashion perspective and anything else that he might do or already does. I think the exposure that Formula One gives him is a massive help for that. So I think this deal ends up taking him to about 39 years old, possibly. in which case, yeah, we do see Alonzo and Reichen. Are Alonzo and Reichen and the same drivers at, say, 40 years old that they were 10 years ago? My answer to that is no. So, you know, maybe that will be the drop-off. But I think Hamilton will be absolutely dedicated to do everything he can to prolong his time at the top of Formula One.

We've seen it across other sports. And I know it's not a like-for-like comparison, but we're seeing this in, in tennis with Roger Federer continuing his dominance well into his late 30s. Tom Brady in his mid-40s in American football still at the top of his game. Phil Mickelson's just become the oldest major championship winner in golf. So we are seeing that in other sports, these athletes are able to extend their career, perhaps more than they were 20 years ago. I think Hamilton will be in that crowd and he,

I think he stands a chance of still being very competitive into his early 40s if he wants to. Whether he does or not, that's another question. Very sorry for the mentions of other sports there, folks. That will not happen again for another 130 podcasts, promise you. Yeah. I don't know why I didn't even like decide to go down, you know, another racing championship.

Like, you know, we've had Gileo Castanavis win the Indy 500 this year. in his mid-40s. Unfortunately, that didn't make my top three highlights of old sports people. Sorry, Leo. Yeah, sorry to not only ignore you, but then accidentally actually call you old as well, Helio. We know he's a massive fan of the podcast, so apologies, apologies on that front.

In terms of what this might mean for the second seat, we know that Valtry Boss has since his time when he started at Mercedes in 2017, it's been exclusively one-year deals. Harry, do you think that Bottas will continue on? Do you think this contract signing helps Bottas, Hinders Bottas, helps Russell, hinders Russell? I'm unsure on this one,

because I know that Hamilton has previously sled, not sled, said. You know, as early as soon as a month ago, I think it was that he liked having Bottas as a teammate. Shock to literally know one that one. But, you know, Mercedes is going to look at it in terms of, look how well it's worked over the past. Well, haven't bought us been there now. Four years?

It's year four? Year five. Year five? Blimey. You know, we've won all the championships with Bottas as the teammate, Lewis Hamilton. why would that not continue to be the case? I think maybe this year,

as the challenge from Red Bull is not helping Bottas's case in that sense because he's not always there to back up Hamilton when Hamilton has needed him. He has sometimes, but not all the time. And I also think, you know, Toto, Toto's got to have an eye on the future. I think Hampton is vitally important to that team at the moment but the future of Mercedes doesn't rest entirely on him

and they must realise that they've got to bring George into that seat soon because I think, I mean even if it's as soon as next year because I think even if he doesn't get in next year I think he's going to start throwing a massive wobbly. I just don't see how George is going to put up with being in a Williams I mean, he even, he said at the weekend, when he was having a proper battle with Alonzo, he was saying, well, that's the first time I've done it ever in F1, because he's never really, he's had an overtake or two on people,

but mainly through good fortune, never had proper scrap with another car on track that's not been his teammate. And, you know, let's be honest, it's rarely been his teammate. He's really that close to him. So, yeah, I think Mercedes is going to have to seriously consider that one. So in terms of bot, as well, whether this, This helps him. I think Hamilton would love him to stay.

I don't see Hamilton wanting George, especially after the Sakiya GP last year. I think not that Hamilton doesn't want a challenge, but for, you know, a harmonious team that he's enjoyed over the past few years. I don't see why he'd want to get, Mercedes to dump Bottas. Mercedes, I think, are probably going to start looking towards the future

and the way George has been driving this year in particular. you know you'd find it hard to you'd find it hard to not give them a chance over over Bottas in 2022 so yeah it's a tricky one I wouldn't honestly wouldn't be shocked if Bottas ended up in that seat again next year

but I also wouldn't be shocked if Russ wanted up in that seat so my conclusion is I think they both have an equal chance come on man it's the classic Harry Edan answer. Oh, you've got to love it. You've got to love it. Do you think there's any chance at all that Lewis Hamilton in this contract has a clause that Valtrey Bottas is his teammate for next year? Who? I mean, I don't know. I don't know. I don't, Hamilton doesn't strike me as that. I know I said he

obviously wouldn't want to, he would like to keep that harmonious relationship he's had with Bottas and that he didn't really Joya Rosberg. But he doesn't strike me as that kind of driver who would demand who his teammate would be. Maybe that was a sticking point. Maybe that's why he refused to sign for so long because they kept Bottas on front of the air. I doubt it entirely. But no bodies please. Yeah, he literally is the biggest fan of nobodies. No, I can't see him demanding that. I don't think he's that type of, I don't think he's that type of driver. Sam, do you think that the contract being assigned helps Russell or helps Bottas? I actually think it helps Bottas, which is really surprising to hear those words come out of my own mouth.

The thing is, with Valdry Bottas, him and Lewis get along professionally very well. They are a very solid partnership. They thoroughly enjoy working with each other. There is no friction there as a team member. You know, they will get into that car, they'll race, they'll get out. the car on a Sunday, they'll do a nice little fist pump, and they'll be on their way. And that's all they'll do. Whereas, when Russell comes along, I think Russell will want to prove himself. Russell will immediately want to go, yeah, I can learn from Lewis. You know, Russell has such

massive respect for Hamilton, and you hear it all the time. I mean, Norris has a few sarky little comments that he likes to make, but Russell has this real kind of, I don't know because he's part on the Senghis program, but he has this real respect for Lewis Hamilton and regularly says, you know, he's the goat, he's the one I want to learn from. He's the one. He's the one I want to learn from. He's the one that August 6th next to. Can't wait to be with Hamilton. I think he really looks up to Lewis. The thing is, just because you look up to someone,

doesn't mean you don't want to beat them. Just because it doesn't mean you don't want to take them to the end of a championship and claim the championship is your own at the end of the year. The thing is about Bottas is... I think you're right. I don't think Hamilton would ever demanding his contract to have one teammate or another.

The thing that you'll get with Bottas that you don't get with Russell, or rob the other way around, actually. Russell has unwavering loyalty to Mercedes. He's setting an interview last week actually. He got interviewed and they said Russell, you know, George, as they

like to call him, you know, he has got a first hand. By his name? They liked calling that very exclusively. Yeah, the interviewees of the world. George, you know, there's a lot of rumours flying around with that Mercedes seat and now Lewis has signed

what's you see happening with you? And he said, regardless of what happens, I will have a Mercedes seat. I have a Mercedes engine in my car and I will always have a Mercedes engine in my car. I am loyal to Mercedes. Pretty much the words that came out of his mouth, which is a big statement to make on the public stage. So I think Toto knows full well that he could say to Russell, give me two seasons, you'll be in that car. And I don't care who he replaces at that point. So I wouldn't be shocked actually if this more favours Bottas and we see Bottas get another year in that car to

see how he goes with the new regulations next to Hamilton. I think that's how it will play out. I am going to go the other way with this. I think this helps Russell, in that I've been fairly consistent with my viewpoint on this, and that is that as soon as Hamilton has a multi-year deal, and that is the time to replace Bottas with Russell. And Bottas has done a good job for Mercedes, and he is a great driver.

And I think regardless, if it does end up being Russell replacing Bottas, this year or next year, I hope that he can find another good seat in Formula One because he absolutely deserves it. And I actually think the pressure of having Lewis Hamilton as your teammate, which is a very, you know, he has the hardest job in Formula One, Lewis Hamilton's teammate. I feel the second that he gets away from that and goes to another team, again, hopefully another good team, I think we'll see him unleashed a bit more,

which I would really love to see. So this isn't just a case of me wanting Bottas out and thinking he's terrible. I would love to see Bottas elsewhere because I think he can really do more than what he shows right now, particularly on a Sunday. I think this helps Russell in that to this point, there hasn't been any security with Lewis Hamilton, in that it's either been last year he didn't sign the contract until very late. It was actually this year that he signed the contract for this season. and it was a one-year deal.

Basically, there's no long-term security. And Mercedes wanting to avoid the risk of Lewis Hamilton not being in the car and having just let Bottas go or, you know, if they let Bottas go and they put Russell in and then Hamilton decides he's off, then suddenly you're left with Russell who might not be ready to compete for a championship yet and someone else who we don't know who that would be. So I feel like they were, they don't want to. end up in that situation. So as soon as Hamilton gives Mercedes that security in that I'm going to be here for multiple

years, I think that gives them more freedom to plan for their future. I think there's less reliance on Valtrey Botas because even though BOTAS is on one-year deals exclusively, that's out of Mercedes doing, not his doing. If they turn around and said, hey, Valtrey, you can have a 30-year contract if you want, it'd go, hey, where do I sign? so you know the long termness or rather the short termness of those deals have been completely team led rather than driver led so they've been able to bank on botas coming back every year and that has made the Hamilton situation much more easy to manage now they don't have to manage that situation with Lewis Hamilton they don't have to worry about his contract for another couple of years

now what they can do is if Hamilton is going to call it quits at the end of 20. 2003, Russell could have had two seasons in that car before he's needed to win a championship. Now, what we saw from Russell and Sequea, there is a chance he might be ready from the off. But it's not a guarantee. You can't tell. So having that bit of a buffer zone where he can be a number two driver for a couple of years and that's okay. I think this helps Russell overall, but it's going to be interesting to see. From Russell's perspective, at Williams, so let's just say, let's look at the other side of things. Let's say Bottas does stay for another year. George Russell, last three races of this season.

12th place in France, retired in the first race in the Sterean Grand Prix, but was probably looking at points, and then 11th place in the last race in Austrian Grand Prix. Don't know whether you would agree. I think they are by far the three most encouraging races Russell has had in that William's seat since he started there in 2019. If they continue, and it's a big if, if they continue on that trajectory and they are a more competitive car next year, do you think Russell is more accepting of another year outside of that Mercedes seat, Sam?

Fantastic, I couldn't agree more. Tell you what, what do you think about it, Harry? Oh, I should stay silent then as well, and then left you hanging out. I know, right, yeah. Oh, folks, this happened to me the other week as well. We are cursed by technology, I swear. really are sounds just

he's gone I don't know where he's gone he's gone to tell boss has he's not needed not sure

I'm unsure on that one because you know my I don't think this is a very good

comparison to make but if I just think George is watching Lando Norris

having the time of his bloody life in that McLaren getting podiums everyone's you know he's receiving applause from everyone

everyone's saying even we said it on the last podcast is he a championship not contender for this year but you know in the future I think that that's

got to eat away at him no matter how he looks at it he beat Norris to the title than F2 he's come up through the ranks with him and yeah that's got to hurt him and even if the Williams is slightly more competitive

next year be a doubtful that it would be on par with what McLaren come up with for 2022. So, yeah, look, more competitive Williams will help, but I don't think it's not what he's not what he's going to want. And I think he, I, you know, I know Sam said he was famously loyal to the Mercedes team brand, but at some point that's going to, that's going to give and he's going to want to go somewhere else. If somewhere, you know, somewhere else, some other team, Red Bull, I don't see that happening, but somewhere further up the grid, eye up this talent that is George Russell,

why would he say no? If Mercedes aren't giving that opportunity and now keeping Bottas on, I just think he'll snap and go mad, he'll pound the table like Toto does and say, Toto, what are you playing at? So, yeah, more competitive Williams will help him, definitely, but I don't think it'll be, I don't think, it's not what he wants. It seems as if the hamster wheels have started turning at the Samuel Sage residence because he appears to be back and I will give it a second go in terms of asking you a question, Mr. Sage.

George Russell, considering how good the Williams, well, comparatively good, the Williams has been over the last three race weekends, If they continue on that trajectory and they develop a bit more of a competitive car next year, does that make him less impatient to get in the Mercedes? Well, just for clarity on what I was doing when the internet disconnected, Harry was right, I was telling Bottas

he was no longer meeting at Mercedes because he's needing at my residence to power the Wi-Fi, apparently. He's out there, bless him, with a bowl of orange. Come on! Go on down, Trute, keep going! He's trying, bless him. He's got a lot going. on out there. I'm giving him a coffee.

Do I think George Russell will be more empowered, essentially, and a more competitive Williams? Funny enough, I think George Russell is what is making that Williams more competitive currently. I mean, Latifi, I like Latifie. He's a good driver. He's doing a good job. He's doing a solid job.

But against George Russell, he's getting absolutely trounced at the moment, it feels like. George Russell has really come alive this season. Mr. Saturday, as they love to call him, is there every single week. The man is non-stop in Q2. And then Q3. George Russell is elevating that Williams.

If Williams can improve, let's say, by two places on the grid, they can get themselves maybe to seventh or sixth on the grid, I think he will show the world just how good he can be. Do I think it's enough to make you patient for a Mercedes seat, for a multiple world title winning seat? No, I don't. I very much think George Russell is 100% willing to do everything he can to get himself in that seat.

I think he wants to be at the top, just like every other racing driver wants to be at the top. Do I think he'll enjoy himself a bit more? Yeah, of course. I think he likes Williams, but I think he knows Williams is always just a holding place. He's got like Pascal Verlain, he's got like Esplan-Ocong, people who sat there possibly waiting to get a Mercedes-Stey,

possibly going to get the shot. Russell will get that shot. He is good enough. He just hasn't got that right time yet. Bottas is entirely in his way. So I'm sure Russell will be popping down to my flat very soon to say thank you for putting Russell in the Hampstead, for Bossus in the Hampstead,

and Russell can now... Live on. No, I don't. I don't think he'd be making more patient. I think he's going to become more and more frustrated over the years, unfortunately. And I think he does deserve a shot in a top car. I think he's earned it. I don't know how you find a way to get a Pascal Verline shot in for nearly every podcast.

It's impressive at this point. Sorry, Pascal. Poor Pascal. Poor Pascal. Booky's favourite to get that second Mercedes seat. Still. Yeah. Didn't quite work out, did it?

Anyway. I think this is all about perspective from George Russell. I don't know how he'll look at this. Let's just say hypothetically, yeah, the Williams ends up being like the seventh quickest car next year or something like that. If he looks at it through sort of the lens of what he's been driving the last few years, then yeah, it's an upgrade.

He'll take it. He said about his battle with Alonzo that it was the first time he was actually fighting anyone. he might get to do a bit more of that in a more competitive Williams. So in that sense, if he looks at it like that, then yeah, to step forward. If he looks at it like you said, Harry, in terms of what's Lando Norris doing, a driver that he beat in Formula 2, getting front row starts, getting podiums, then no, it doesn't really do enough.

And of course, when that Mercedes seat is seemingly so close, so close to podiums and wins and championships, and he's driving a Williams, which is completely the opposite end of the grid, it's a really hard pill to swallow. Would a more competitive Williams in 2021 help him out? If Toto was to turn around and say, George, give us one more year, do one more year in Williams, and you can have the seat from 2023 onwards.

I think it would still be a very, very, it would still be tough for him to take. Would it be slightly less tough? Yes, a little bit, but not by a huge amount. I agree with you, Sam. I think he deserves a better seat at the very least. Does he deserve a top seat? Based on what he did at Secure last year, I guess you have to say yes. So be interested to see how that one plays out. We'll move on from the saga that is Mercedes and some sad news today that the Australian Grand Prix, which was rearranged from its normal first race of the season position. It was rearranged for later in the year, almost going back to the. the 90s and the 80s of when the Australian Grand Prix used to be towards the end of the season.

It has, I'm afraid, been cancelled for this year. So it wasn't on the calendar last year, not on the calendar this year. So looking to 2022 possibly for a return to Melbourne. Sam, we've discussed sort of circuit replacements in other podcasts. Do you think that there is a need to replace this with something else? I mean, what was interesting last time we discussed this, you all folks, you'll remember recently at the Singapore Grand Prix, was also taking off the calendar, unfortunately due to the COVID restrictions.

And we asked the same question, what would you replace it with, if at all? And I said the Turkish Grand Prix, and then, lo and behold, about two days later, they bestowed us with the Turkish Grand Prix. So we're going to have to decipher this podcast, so the FIA can't listen to it. Because I'm stealing my ideas, Michael Massey. South Korea. South Korea. Yes, bud, bud, F1 India track, bud.

Do I think they need to replace it? No, I don't. I still think a 23 race calendar is too much. I love watching racing more than most people. We are three super fans of the sport. That's the whole point of late breaking. We just bloody love Formula One, and we love watching racing. It's great fun, and we love having fun with it.

Do I think there needs to be that many weekends that it causes stress for drivers and for families, The carbon emissions of the sport rise through the bloody sky, as carbon emissions do. You know, we're not respecting the green world that we're trying to build. You don't get a break. You don't get a moment apiece. There's no development time. Some races literally make no difference whatsoever,

because there's so many that points can fly around everywhere. It doesn't really make a difference anyway. I don't think we need to replace it. I really don't. If we had to replace it with one, keep it in Europe, keep it simple. Something like the Nürberg ring or Hockenheim is just fine. it produces a very good race pretty much every time.

But no, I wouldn't replace it. I wouldn't replace it. I don't think it needs to replacing. I think when we are still going through a pandemic and I can tell that my internet is going by the faces of the boys, when we're still in a pandemic, we don't need to be travelling around the world anymore than we have to.

So, no, no replace so, poor for all. Not 100% sure how the second half of that is going to come out in the edit. Yeah, that was a that was a bit robotic. But we got your point there, some, that there isn't a need, there isn't a need to replace it considering 23 races already sort of penciled into this year. Harry, do you think that it should be replaced at all? No, I know.

I will not lose any sleep this year if we have 22 races instead of 23. I think it makes no difference. and you know I'm very sad I am quite sad we're not going to Melbourne because I know it's not the greatest race in the world but I always think it's a fun place for F1 to go and and seems like it seems like somewhere F1 should be going we've been going to Australia for a long time now so yeah no but I don't think needs to be replaced um yeah we've we've got so many we've got so many races left how many we've got left now Yeah, yeah, someone like that. It's just so many that we're not halfway by a long shot yet. So, yeah, I'm sad Australia. It's not going to be on there, but it will be fine. I mean, my idea of what they should do is basically they should just put out a tweet.

And it just says foo, by the way. No, I'm kidding. That would be a terrible idea. You put out a tweet and you say, all right, circuits. All right, circuits. All right circuits. What? All right, circuits.

Who wants to host the Grand Prix? And then you look at who responds and no doubt, you know, Snetterton would come in with an offer and you'd have Yung Nam, obviously, come in with an offer and you go, okay. Let's have a look at, let's have a look at Alton Towers, of course. You look at all of the different venues and you say, okay, we'll take them all, we'll have a massive wheel, we'll put every single circuit on a wheel, will spin the wheel and whichever circuit it lands on can have the place for free.

I'm starting to wonder why I don't run F1. Maybe that's not a great. No, I'm here for. Can we do that for the whole calendar? I love that. Going back to your carbon emissions point, I'm not quite sure how that well that would work out going from. Screw the carbon emissions.

I want the giant wheel. Snat it into Yil NAM in a week. it would be like Melbourne to Montreal and then to Bathurst or something wouldn't it would be great for air miles. It sounds unreal. Yeah, maybe we've actually come up with a genius idea here completely accidentally. I wouldn't be that upset if they don't replace this. I think we have definitely reached the upper limit and arguably exceeded the upper

limit of races that are needed in a season. We've already got a number of triple headers going on. You know, I think it was David Croft, a commentator, of course, who mentioned this weekend that it was one year since we started in 2020, of course, with the late season start due to COVID-19. And that in 52 weeks, we've done 26 races, a race every two weeks, which includes the winter break. That's pretty monumental.

I think at this point, I would, yeah, like I say, I wouldn't be upset if they didn't. replace it apart from if Mr. Quala Lumpur, as he's commonly known, decides to say, yeah, I'll take it on. I don't mind doing it. Mr. Lumpur. Mr. Lumpur. Mr. Lumpur. I'm Mr. Lumpur. I'm not sure if that's his official name, the person who is in charge of the Sopang circuit. But, yeah. Other than that, don't mind if it isn't replaced.

Should we pump some brakes, considering it has been a little bit of a while? Pump the break! God, that's a classic, that one. It's short, and it's to the point. It's maybe not the most elegant one we've got, but it does a job. Hang on, sorry, sorry, hold on. Dave! Yeah, he's here.

Dave Benks and Phillips is here, folks. He's got the game. So, if you haven't seen pump the brakes before, the three of us will provide an opinion in the world of F1 can literally be anything and the other two will have to determine whether they are all right with that opinion and they can keep going about their day as they were or if they must pump the brakes on that statement that they've said if both of us decide that they should pump the brakes that's when good friend of the podcast Dave Benson Phillips steps in and does this

Oh, yeah. I regret how long I made that jingle. It's far too long. It's longer than the theme tune for the event. It's over twice as long as the theme tune. Impressively. So basically, yeah, Dave Benson Phillips, good friend of the podcast, we'll get out the gunge.

Yeah, you don't want that. But it could happen. Not a good catchphrase. Get out of the cut. I'm not sure that one's going to stay around. Anyway, Harry, would you like to kick us off with your opinion? I'd be delighted to. My opinion for this edition of Pump Breggs is that Red Bull,

if they had retained Alex Albonne for this year, would not be any worse position championship-wise than they currently are. so I think as usual we need to just clarify what you're saying here so are you just saying in terms of the constructors championship or are you also saying that Alex Albin would be P3 in the driver's championship I'll go for let's go for constructors okay so basically they would still be winning

they would still be they would still be they would still be winning the Constructors championship if they had Albin in the second seat yeah and Max will still be in people yeah yeah what do you reckon son uh i completely agree with him i think that red ball is totally good enough and i think you know both prez and therefore album realistically

should be doing better because if max is dominating the way he is that second driver should be in second place in the championship if not at least only a couple of points behind lewis hamilton where he stands at the moment i think album was developing well he was not the driver that we all wanted him to be but i do think he could also be worse off

than what perez is at the moment i think the gap would be much smaller. So I think Red Bull made the right choice still. But I think Harry's right. I think they're still just being from. Well, you've avoided the gunge regardless of what I say here. But fortunately for you, you've actually got two agreements. I think they would still be winning the Constructious Championship. I think that the gap would be slightly narrower, but I think they would still be doing it. I think given the advantage that Vestappen has over Hamilton, we know that that's 32 points. Essentially, we're saying can Albin be within 32 points of Archerie Bottas at this point in the year, and I think he would be, you know, considering, you know, Bottas is only, is he just not even over the 100 mark at this point? He's just short of that. So really, you're just looking for Albin to get about 70 points and I think they would still be winning. So yeah, I think he'd have done that. I agree with you. No gunge for Harry Ead.

Who who? Sam, what's your opinion? Now, before I voice this opinion, I would like to put a visual in your mind. Before I Hanks's opinion, imagine me kicking down a double door with a t-shirt on that says, I'm ready for the gunge, because I'm expecting it, okay? I am prepared for a gunging with this. Why have you got to kick down the door? Because it looks cool. Where else doing it to kick down doors, apart from with Dave Benx & Phillips as a double team?

Anyway, me and DBP are going to rule the gung's world Right, opinion time I think, and I'm sorry, I can't believe this been brought up twice actually in this podcast I think that Mr Kuala Lumpur is only a good Formula One racetrack when the weather plays a major part Otherwise, I don't think it is a good F1 race track in the dry

So, okay, right. No rain at Kuala Lumpur equals Sepang is a below-average circuit. Is that what you're saying? Yeah, I would say it was, you know, if we had 20 races in a season, it would not be in my top 10 to 12 if it was an all-dry race.

Interesting. Harry, what are you saying? I mean, I'm trying to scan through all the dry Kuala Lumpur races in my mind. The thing that actually is earring me was agreeing with Sam is that even when we've had dry races we've often had wet qualities which have thrown things up a bit I'm thinking

like 2010 when neither Ferrari and McLaren made it through to out of Q1 or something like that so I can't remember many classics that didn't involve some weather oh god okay well Sam I'll have to agree with you

you've avoided a gunge oh Dave I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You can go to me later when we're finished. Oh, God. So, well, yeah, you've avoided it regardless again of what I say here. I'm really torn on this one, actually. I'm very, very nataleed, very napalid.

Oh, it's a good embrugier. Yeah. What do I go with here? I think it's probably it's really borderline because I agree with what you're saying Harry in that it's the rain that makes the Malaysian Grand Prix like it's the changeable conditions

it's the monsoon season unpredictability that absolutely makes this race a belter I still think it's pretty good even without the rain so not by much but I will tell you to pump the brakes on this one I don't think it's an unfair point

cool I'll take a 1-0 on that one. I'm usually soaked in the green stuff by now, so I'll take it. All right. Mine is a double header. I'm taking a page out of a Sam Sager's book here. Wow, yeah.

Double header. So, number one, the Mercedes second seat. I believe that Mercedes should get George Russell in the seat, but they should not make that decision until the season is over, like after the last race. And the second part of it is, I believe that Red Bull

should sign Sergio Perez and they should sign him now. Do you agree with both parts of that? Who do you want to go first, Ben? Or either part. Wow. Go on, Harry. You're already talking. I...

Oh, God, I think I agree with you. because you've already alluded to this earlier on with Hamilton's secure now they've got that kind of security Bottas will take any contract he's given so he's not going to run off anywhere so they can afford to wait

to the end of the year so that's fine and with Red Bull I know my point was that they might still be in the same position with Albon but we've said that Perra's done a better job he's got a race win as well yeah I would sign him up now because what, what, what,

there's no point trying to bring, well, the other sounds of it, they're not going to bring Gasley up, ever. Sonoda's too busy backing into barriers at the moment, so he's not quite ready. I mean, Danny, Danny, could come back if we want to do,

but, um, true, very true. It's possible. So yeah, yeah, I would, I would sign, I would sign Perez now. I mean, I don't,

I don't necessarily see him going off anywhere else but why not have that stability that they've you know not necessarily had over the few last few years getting getting embedded in the 2022 car as soon as possible so um yeah i can't disagree i'm very sad i'm not going to do with you now uh it's very saddening um very saddening sam what do you reckon um for the most part i completely agree with you which hurts my soul because I would love to pull a bucket of green sliming this all over your head, being it gives me no more place, you know. But, but I'd like to make a couple of small points on this.

If Mercedes were to wait till the end of the season, I feel very, very sotty. Sorry for no more boties, please, as what I was trying to say, because he wasn't having necessarily a chance to find himself another drive. And I think Valkyri Bottas may not be deserving of a championship-level seat, but that man is more than good enough to have a Formula One drive, and I think all seats might be taking on that point. But from the Sange's point of view,

yes, they can 100% afford to wait to the end of the year, and I don't see why they wouldn't. Let George Russell have a good season be motivated by the chance of getting a seat, see what he can do. To me, makes total sense, and I do agree with you in the Mercedes point of view. With the Red Bull call, I'm more tall on this one,

because it makes sense that they are stable. I've always said that Red Bull feel a bit toxic, a bit rushed, keep Perez in that seat to stop that. But Pierre Gazley 100% has earned a redemption arc. He's 100% earned the chance to step up. And if I were Red Ball, now is the critical moment to lump it or lose it. You either need to give Pierre Gasly the chance to redeem himself or lose him completely and remove him from that seat so he can go on and do something else with his life. That's the only thing that would stop me 100% agreeing.

But from a team point of view, which I assume both of these are, yes, from a Red Bull point of view, it makes a lot of you. sense to keep Perez. So I do agree. From a point of view, it does make sense to wait to the end of the season. So I only just, by a whisker, I am not going to tell you to pump the brakes. Fair enough. I mean, just to very quickly give the rationale behind both of those. So from Mercedes perspective, I think actually even if they know right now that they want Russell

in that sea, keeping Bottas motivated with the chance of staying at Mercedes next year, you know, I think if you call it now and it's not botas who's staying, you run the risk of a demotivated botas for the rest of this year, not helping them win the Constructors' Championship. From the Red Bull perspective, I just think that if they can avoid silly season completely, have their line-up lockdown, give Perez the security that he isn't going anywhere, they can just go full steam ahead for the championship then and not worry about anything else. but I think that might be the first time we've ever played this game

where the gungge sound effect has not been needed sorry Dave Dave Dave's come all the way here and we've done nothing with him sorry Dave I'll tell you what Dave you can gunged the listeners Do you want to get gunged guys I think that was a yes Yay Gunging all the listeners

There's a lot of you. He's got a lot of gunging to do. Oh dear. I realize I probably should have said this at the beginning of this segment. I definitely should have mentioned this at the beginning of this segment. Dave Benson Phillips. Just look at it. Very British reference. Very, very British reference. Kids TV presenter.

Just look it up. Love the gunge. Oh, I love him. Very fond memories of old DBP. loved it. Good old DVP, but after, well, I was about to say after no gunging today, he might not be a friend of the podcast anymore,

but since he's actually got to gunge all the listeners, then maybe he's even happier than usual. We'll have to ask Dave himself. But Sam, if you wouldn't mind on that very Formula One related note, would you mind getting us out of here? Folks, sorry for, again, the sidingness, and the bizarre British references. Dave Benson Phillips is a national icon over here,

and he needs a mention. so America, you must learn. He really isn't. What are your thoughts on the Lewis Hamilton situation? Should Masegis bring up Russell out for BOTS? Or should Bottas stick around for a while?

Can Hamilton deliver results for a long time to come? We'd love to know what your thoughts are. Of course, next week, we're going back for a Silverstone preview. We're at the British Grand Prix with maximum capacity. Can't wait for that spike

and locked out straight after the race. Thank you for the other one. But hopefully we're going to get absolute belter. Lewis Hammonds have always used to be spurred on by the hashtag best fans there. So we'll see. We'll have to see. We'll have to hear your thoughts. In the meantime, I have been Samuel to say. I've been Ben Hawking. Now be Mr. Lumpur. And remember that. Keep breaking late. Bye, Dave.

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