The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Our 2025 F1 Championship Predictions (20th to 1st!)

Episode Date: March 5, 2025

It's time for the LB boys to reveal their predicted orders for both the Drivers' and Constructors' 2025 Championships! Tune in to find out who they will crown as their top contenders, the orders of which may surprise you, and which underdogs they think could pull off unexpected points this season.. FOLLOW us on socials! You can find us on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok SUPPORT our Patreon for bonus episodes JOIN our Discord community JOIN our F1 Fantasy League EMAIL us at [e-mail]   & SUBSCRIBE to our podcast! 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 check out new episodes every Wednesday and every Sunday. Welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage and me, Ben Hocking, on what is Championship Wednesday. We've made it through the bleak winter. We've done teammate wars. We've done Pimp My F1, but Sam, tonight,

is the time where we finally decide between us who is going to win our championships in 2025. Yeah, pure potluck, really, because regardless of what you put down, it will end up being wrong and the result will probably be something like 1-0-0, which has actually been before and won 1-1-0 as well. So let me tell you, it's really going to come down to one lucky correct answer. But stay tuned, because if that isn't an enticing moment to enter the episode, then I don't know what is. I actually hate this part of the year.

You won this last year. You literally are the reigning champion. It's just the predictions in general. So it doesn't matter. It means nothing if I win this because you still mocked me if a teammate was. Well, that is the real question of the week for. That's a real question. Yeah, we'll get onto that.

Also, F-on Fantasy, which will be coming back soon. I can't wait for that to be excellent. I actually can't be bothered with it. Oh, well, that's a spanner in the work, Sam. You have to be. You have to be, you're contractually obliged to be bothered. Oh, criking. All right, fine.

also there hasn't been a lot of information on f1 fantasy yet and i do think harry you're somewhat to do with that i feel like you're blocking it personally they're actually still trying to work out how one person could be that bad they actually call you evergreen because you're like the ferry in the suez canal a suez canal reference it's bloody up it's rolling in his grain in this in this economic environment there's Suisse Canal reference. Get him out the way. Let's seamlessly move over to championship predictions then.

We're doing things slightly differently this year versus previous years. And we could get some interesting results here because if you were looking at our, if you did watch our teammate wars, did listen to our teammate wars episode, you'll know that the top two teams in the championship last year, we have disagreements on which of the drivers are going to finish ahead. So there is a very good chance that we are, at least at the top end of this list, going to have some disagreements on, you know, fifth to first. We're going to start by, we're going to start at the back.

We're going to go from 20th to 16th. We're just going to run through our list of names and then stop and see where the agreements and disagreements are. We'll then look at 15th to 11th, then 10th to 6th, and then concluding with 5th to 1st. We'll also have a bit of time at the end of the episode to look at our constructors predictions as well. Harry, you are the defending champion, so if you could list out 20th through to 16th, please. I sure can.

Folks just to let you in an insight, Sam and Ben both checked whether they'd actually numbered these beforehand. I have formed in this area, but I have, don't worry. In 20th, I've got Bortoletto. This is no criticism with him, but yeah, I think it was going to go that way. 19th, Holkenberg, 18th, Isaac Hajar. 17th Uki Sonoda

Oh, then Marbies be bad in your eyes Jack Dew and 16th All right So both Salbers, both racing balls Making an appearance in the bottom five For Harry as well as Jack Dew and Avalpine Sam, 20th to 16th for you Yeah, so I've got Borderless or last

Hulk 19th, I've got Stroll in 18th I've got Duhn up next And then I've got Hadger Okay, so we haven't got any of I think majorly radical in these bottom five because much like you both, 20th, well, the other way around, but Salver 20th and 19th, Holkenberg 20th, Bortoletto 19th. I've then agreed with Sam with Stroll in 18th. I've then got Hadjar in 17th and Yuki Sonoda in 16th.

So let's start, Harry, with you on this one. Both of us have got both our Bs in this bottom five. if you've actually got them the worst of the lot in 17th and 18th. They didn't get much of a mention during our testing review. It was a bit anonymous. Is that in line with your predictions here? Yeah, I think so. Anonymous is a good word for this.

This is nothing against Sonoda or Hajar. I just get the impression that they... There's like RB Racing Balls, Minardi, whatever we want to call them. they're just on a bit of a like a, not limbo, not limbo, but they're just sort of in a process of, I want to say rebuilding, but they're not rebuilding in the normal sense as an F1 team, but they are rebuilding in the sense that they are becoming closer and closer

aligned with the Red Ball team. And I think that process is still ongoing. And I think we saw last year, they were slightly confused as to how to make that car good. They put an upgrade on it and it was terrible. And I just, I get the sense they're maybe a little bit lost

somewhat in that. So yeah, I don't think this is a, it's anything against their drivers. I just think, I just don't think the car. And just to say as well, these are really difficult.

I think we're all expecting this to be quite a competitive season. That's where they are, doesn't, apart from Saba, where they are, could be, it could mean they are always in the fight each race.

It's just not enough. So it's not to say they're going to be languishing at the back really slow. I just think they're not. not going to be as good as the others in front of them. And anyone, generic message, anyone who wants to complain at us for not knowing what we're talking about,

you're absolutely right. We don't know what we're talking about. And guess what? No one does. No one knows at this point of the season. It's all a bit of fun. And if we did, we'd put a bet on and we wouldn't be doing this podcast because we'd be rich. We would be...

Where's the Algamac 2,000? Where is that? I've only got this Abacus. Will that do? No. And Abacus will always do some. Sonoda 16th had just 17 for me, so I'm in agreement there really. I have to say, with racing bulls and their philosophy,

we know they've always been heavily linked with Red Bull, but a lot was made of the 2025 season and how they will be even closer knit than they have been in previous years. And I was therefore going into testing with a bit of intrigue about this team to see if actually that would help them get up to where they were at the beginning of last season, and maybe even in advance of that. And whilst nothing went horribly wrong for them in testing,

nothing went brilliantly right either. I don't necessarily think it's a great lineup, if you compare it to some of the others, which is why I've got them down in 16th and 17th. Sam, you have four different teams in this bottom five. Do you therefore think excluding Salba, who will get to in a moment? Is it more based on driver performance, you think,

in that lower midfield? very much like what Harry just proposed. I really do think that we're going to have such a close season, especially in this midfield area, that actually I do think the RB are going to be a midfield car. I just think if you look at Hager, who is a very quick drive, a very talented young man,

I don't know if he's going to be able to deliver more than your likes of your bearmen's, your Ocones, your Alonso, your Gaslis, who I've got obviously later wrong in my pecking order, but I've mentioned the teammates just behind him. I think Hager has got a lot of potential if the car suits him, could be a real asset to the Red Bull family. The other thing that I think slightly intrigues me about what racing balls are doing is,

if they are aligning themselves closer to Red Bull, I think that has to go one of two ways. I think it either goes in the direction of they pick up old Red Bull parts, which a lot of teams might have been developed past at this point, and therefore they've become redundant and actually slightly sounds ridiculous, but archaic in the ownership of those parts they've taken from Red Bull because they've got brand new, upgrades, their old upgrades for a different team, or it goes the other way, which we have seen from Alpha Tauri once it was that name. And that is where they take the very experimental car parts from Red Bull, which Red Bull don't necessarily want to trial on their actual car.

And so kind of give the data to racing balls and they give it a go. And actually, I wouldn't be shocked if more often than not, those upgrades don't work. And I think they're going to be stacking a bit of double jeopardy where neither thing properly allows them to thrive or succeed. And so that's why I've got, you'll hear later on in my next slide, Sonoga is too far ahead in the pecking order. But I do think that Hajar's going to get in him to beat a stroll, to beat a do-in, and I just think that that's those state guys are going to be struggling at the back. One agreement that we have across the board is that Salber are not going to be very good.

We've got both drivers in 19th and 20th. I always say, like, coming out of testing, you either want, you know, if you want a good car that handles well, but if you're going to have a good car that handles well, but if you're going to have a quick car but you can't have it of neither like either if it's a quick car but it doesn't handle very well there's potential in that

if you've got a solid car but it isn't very quick there's potential in that Harry I don't think Salba have either a slow car that doesn't handle very well so much time in the corner but still I have to correct it yeah but it's right guys because they got LEDs on the rims now so they know where to put the wheel gum

wow they'll save themselves 30 second to race. They might win. Yeah, didn't look encouraging for Salbert. I think it's probably to be expected. They had a bet that the end of last year was the last few races was certainly their best few races. Now,

I think even that wasn't really good enough for them in terms of to make a difference for this year. I also don't know whether it was because a lot of the other teams are basically taking their foot off the gas and they were starting to catch up. So, yeah, I think to expect them to be sort of weather at the end of last year is probably not going to happen. But yeah, that car and testing wasn't great. About as fast as the frog noise you're making, I think. I think that's the noise Holkenberg made when he was commenting to the media about how the week was going.

And he was thinking about Hass, who probably aren't going to be this slow. or his eye, which apparently got attacked by a splinter from the car. Sure. How does that happen? My man's dreaming of Audi every night. Yeah. Yeah. I don't have a lot of faith in Salba, believe it or not.

You're right. They looked a little bit more encouraging at the end of last season, but that didn't look like it had carried through to this test whatsoever. And I have to say, both drivers, Bortoletto and Holcomburgurg should be there if their contracts are seen out for multiple years. is the person on the hot seat, because pretty much everyone else is new to this organization, is James Key because he's designed this car. And if it's as bad as it looks, comparing it to last year, that's not a great look for him.

Bear in mind as well, he went to Audi slash Salber from McLaren. McLaren aren't doing too badly without him. So I think he might be under a bit of pressure going into this season. Should we take a look at 15th to 11th? Sam, what have you got for those five spots? So I've just got, I have actually more for me. I've actually numbered my list, even though it is in the correct order. So I feel remember.

Justice, justice for me. So, yeah, that's good. The one after Hadjar. Yeah, I know that bit. It's where does it end? You have to count, my boy. One and then four more. To 11th, yes?

To 11th. All right. In 15th, I've got Bearman. In 14th, I've got Sonoda. In 13th, I've got Ocon. In 12th, I have a longso. In 11th, I have Gasly. All right.

Harry, what have you got? In 15th, I also have Bearman. In 14th, I've got Stroll. 13th, Ocon, 12th, Alex Albonne. And 11th, big Fernando Ronzo. Okay. And I've got Jack Dewan in 15th place, Fernando Alonzo in 14th place, Behrman in 13th, Albin in 12th, and Esteban Ocon in 11th. Oh, the Ocon Limb song for Ben.

I didn't put it in top 10, right? The Bearcon. That's what they call me. BenConn. BenCon. Where do we start here? Sam. I guess similar to me here. You've got Alonzo 12, but he's much higher than Stroll, who you've got in 18th.

Obviously, we're not giving away where exactly you've got them in the constructors, but this would be a downgrade on where they were last year. So there's not a lot of optimism there? No, the car in testing didn't look particularly potent. Now I know, as we always say, testing is testing. You don't know exactly what they're trialing. They might have been doing something a little bit rogue that maybe doesn't reflect on their actual pacing ever.

It might be all incredibly long runs with mass, fuel. It's hard to know. They brought a lot of damp tires for not a lot of damp running. So, hey, maybe they're on to something. I don't know. Um, Al also is still an absolute unreal talent and I generally think he's going to be dragging a gnaf car around for the first half of the season. I think Ashton Martin would start to kicking on there properly with Adrian Newey on the development for the next year, next couple of seasons. So therefore, they're not going to look at this and go, right, this is the season when we need to kick on late into the year and really try and get ourselves up the table. This is a nothing year for Askin Martin.

make a lot of promises to Fernando Alonso, keep him a happy, happy, chappy, and, you know, let him thrive in 26. I think Adrian Nui being on board fully will do that. I just don't think Adrian Nui will be giving too much effort to the 2025 car. They might have a look at it. And hey, that might add for intents him breathing near the car.

But I don't know if it's really going to be enough to change the overall season. I think Stroll will do a very mediocre job with a bad car. I think Alonso will outperform a bad car. will end up trying to be in the points whenever he can. Heavy, heavy asterisk with this. Because I might have been formula faked here. But did I read correctly that Astor Martin

are setting up somewhere for Adrian Nui to sleep? That's a fake. I think it might have been an actual... Well, I also heard that Lauren Stroll's negotiation meant that Adrian Nui could sleep with his wife. So that's a little rubbish. I'd be more confident that one's not true. Yeah, I don't have a lot of faith in Astor Mayn as well, clearly,

because I've got Alonzo in 14th and stroll in 18th, and people might be surprised at that, given the Alonzo hype train that I usually drive, looking at you one person. But I think they might abandon it. I honestly think Adrian Nui might have turned up to work yesterday and gone, nah, not worth it. Because...

Just telling everyone to go home. Go home. I'm back in six months. I think it will go one of two ways. I think either Adrian Nui will show up to work and go, actually there's some potential in this car. And if we do this, this and this, then maybe by the end of the season,

we could actually be in a competitive spot. Or he might just turn around and go, yeah, we could dedicate a lot of work to this, but it's not worth it. Like, we might as well just completely go towards 2026. It did look more drivable in testing, but it didn't look massively quick. Were they hiding something or not?

That remains to be seen. but I just think Astor Martin might shut this down for 2025 quite early on. Harry, Hasse, we've all got both drivers in this group of five. So I've got them 11th and 13th. You and Sam both have them 13th and 15th. That would represent roughly a similar year to last year, maybe not, definitely not any better, maybe marginally worse. Where are you at with Hasse?

Yeah, I'm kind of there. I think they're going to be roughly where they were. And a lot of that, I think it's just going to be down to, this is all new for them, has done this a few times now. And I don't want new driver line up for this year. And not that I don't trust Ockon in any way, bearman obviously is a lesser known quantity. But there's just adjustment time to that. And I think that's really why the car might end up being better.

But they've got two drivers who've, who've done the, you know, total of one and a half days each in it. and it might just take a bit of time for everyone to gel. You know, Kamatsi's already said that there's operationally trackside the things he wants to improve this year, that he's made changes. So just a lot of things in the motions. And I think, I think if Hass end up at the same place they were last year,

I don't think that's a bad year for them at all. But I just, I kind of get the sense that's where they be. It may, it may start off worse, but end better this season. And that sort of balances out to where they end up. I completely agree.

I think this is being underplayed, such a massive transitional year for Hasse. Like they are not only bringing in the two new drivers, like you said, they have got two new race engineers. They have got a couple of positions that have already been filled and a few more that still need filling. They are going back to the bigger pit wall. A couple of years ago.

It sounds trivial, but it does actually indicate a bit of a shift in the organization. This is their first full year of having that Toyota partnership. They like everyone else are focused on next year as well. There's a lot of play. There is a lot of play for Hass. And actually, from a results perspective, if they can match roughly what they did last year, I think that's fine.

I think that's fine. What I'm mostly looking out for is, are they setting themselves up well for the future? Because they did a great job last year, but they did it on a bit of a shoestring budget, a shoe string team. Very easy to say. A shoe string.

A shoe string. What whisker right out of your mouth? I mean, yeah, I think if they maintain the status quo from last year, they're doing all right. Any closing remarks for Hassan before we go to our first break? I agree with everything both of you said. No Holkenberg. No slight on Okong-O-Ber-Ber-Ber-man.

I think they will both be very, very good. That adjustment period that Holgerberg didn't have to deal with. He was on fire last year, and he was the determining factorist in why they were so competitive. so often. And they just don't have that. It's going to take time to bring that back. So that's where I think they might miss out.

All right. That's the first half of our driver's predictions in the books. After this short break, we're going to be going through 10th to 6th. Or maybe 12th to 8th if you're Sam. I'm not sure. I've actually put some gumbersing in that. It's lovely.

Welcome back, everyone. Before the break, we revealed who we've got from 20th to 11th. We're now going to get into the top 10th. in our driver's championship predictions, starting with 10th through to 6th. Harry, who have you got here? In 10th place, I have got my sausages firmly out for Pierre Gassley.

Thank you, sir. Don't have to. That's an option. No obligation here. Ninth, I've got colour signs. Eighth, I've got Liam Lawson, seventh. Kimmy and Donnelli.

No. And then in, P6, I've got four-time world champion. Max Verstappen. And there is your social clip, everyone. Oof! Size large.

We can't wait for the height. For Stappan, not in the top five in the championship, according to British buyers, Harry Ead over here. Blue passport, Ede, that's what they call me. If your passport's blue, it doesn't want to hear from you. We're not getting into this. I don't want to ever see another passport in my goddamn life.

great day with passports. Gather the conversation. PayPal emails. Organizations, you know you are on my hit list at the moment, all right? Don't need to name you. HSBC. Right, I have started off

this five the same way as you, Harry, because I've got Pierre Gasley in 10th. I've got Carlos Seines in 9th. I've then got Kimmy Antonelli in 8th. Oh, no. Oh, no, yes, 8th. I've got

Liam Lawson in seventh and I've got George Russell in sixth Sam, 10 to 6 for you 10 to 6 for me It's actually 20 to wait as we say this Albon Albon is 10th Sites is 9th

Lawson is 8th Antonelli is 7th Russell is 6th 8 by a number 6th We'll get on to that in a moment But we'll start with you Sam but instead on Williams, because whereas we are all in agreement that Carlos Seines is going to finish ninth in this championship,

which means he will finish in any other position that isn't nine. Correct. But you've also got Alex Albin in the top 10, so you've got both Williams inside that top 10, predicting a good year for them. Yeah, I was really motivated by what they were able to achieve in testing. And usually I try not to buy into the hype. I will eat my words later on this predictions video.

I try not to buy into the hype but they generally on all runs with both drivers just seemed very comfy you made the point earlier about how steak neither have a car that can handle well or looks to be fast but risky fast but silly I suppose

they are slow and sluggish which is not a good combination Williams I think looked a good few steps ahead of that the car seemed to be comfy. The turning was good, not too much overseer or understeer. Both drivers seemed immediately very comfortable behind the wheel. And usually where they are comfy,

that often means that pace can be extracted because they know how to push themselves in a safe but achievable manner. Safe but achievable. That's a great motto. That's late breaking. Safe but achievable. What are your targets for this year, boys? Safe and achievable.

That's not a year every year. A 1% game, please. Anyway, obviously I said in our teammate wars last time out, that Sykes is going to be an album. I don't think there will be, you know, like a golf oil between them. But I do think that Sikes, once he gets his hang in the game a little bit, I think he'll be going to out drive Albon once the car feels really comfy for him. So yeah, I think it's going to be a better year from Williams.

Harry, obviously, you've got Sines 9th as well. You think that he'll adapt to that car quite well? I do. I really, and I'm with you, Sam, I think the Williams looked solid. It looked balanced. And I think a lot of the time, F1 drive,

it's under, being balanced in a car is underrated in F1. It's just a good balance. It's just a good balance. And even if it's not the fastest car, I think you'd be able to do a lot with it. And I just, I know we joked about the pictures of signs

looking dead behind the eyes outside of the factory in Grove. I'm so cold. I'm so cold. and you know this is certainly a bit of a downgrade in terms of a team move from Ferrari to Williams but I just get the sense that he is embracing this project firmly with both hands and and senses an opportunity here for something great for himself and he always he always adapts well to different cars we've seen it throughout his career he's had to make so many damn changes but I think this will happen again.

But I just, he's driving with the confidence of a driver who has been at, well, five, well, so many different teams, but two of them being

the previous constructors champions and Ferrari. Now that's a lot of it. The runners up. The runners up. That's a lot of experience he's bringing. And I think he's driving, at least it seems in testing, he seems to be driving with that confidence

and knowledge of a driver who, who's been in winning, you know, winning teams. So I think he's going to have a great. yeah. Yeah, I agree with that. I'll go ahead with a bonus prediction. He'll get a podium this year. A Williams podium. I'll have him, just one, but... A wodium. No. No? No. No. No. Boycotting wodiums.

That's where we draw the line, is it? Wodium. I can't even see, yes, we are so far into no. Get your wodiums out for the lads. You know what? Science doesn't get a podium this year. I'm receiving. You've ruined it. No, Liam. I agree with everything you said, Harry. I think he has the potential to lead the midfield this year. That car does look balanced, which if there's one word

that hasn't described William's car in the last couple of years, it is balanced. Like, that car has been, of all the 10 teams on the grid, the one that has been most suspect to, especially like high wind, Bahrain was pretty windy. They didn't care. It was fine. And that's a really good sign for them.

I know a lot of people are talking about the headline time that Carlos Science did on the second day of testing. I'm not reading too much into that. But the long run pace looks pretty good as well. And I'm far more interested in that. If they are this high in the championship, that really does indicate some not only good growth from last year, but their best season in a long time.

So, yeah, I think Carlos Science is the driver that can deliver it. Like you say, it's got a lot of experience of top teams in the last few years. I think Alex Albin has painfully admitted how useful Carlos Seines is to the team as well. So, yeah, I've got him, I'm with you both there. Let's go to Mercedes. Sam, you said you're not buying the hype from preseason testing. And as a result, you have them seventh and sixth Antonelli followed by Russell. Your thoughts?

Yeah, I think I've got Lawson tucked in behind those two. And I just think that he's not going to be able to keep up with the raw pace of Antingelli. and Russell, I think, will carry on from having a really, really good season. The issue is not the drivers when it comes to Mercedes, in my opinion. It will be the car. And Bahrain, we discussed this in Teammate Wars. Bahrain was, and testing chat, Barang was a weird barang. It rained, it was windy, it was cold, and hey, guess where Mercedes thrived?

Where it rains, where it's windy, and where it's cold. And that is not what 90% of races we go to in the Formula One calendar, are like. And the majority are well within the 20 degree mark on the track tent, often higher, usually midday, baking dry sung, and guess what the say is don't do well? Hot, dry, sung weather. Not good for them. So I just think the car is not going to thrive. And I don't buy into the fact that they've suddenly spat their fingers, dance a lucky dance. So all of a sudden, the engine and the tyres and how they cope with things has magically been fixed after years of struggling with this current set of regulation.

So whilst they look good in testing, this is the story I'm not buying. I'm not biting. You can put your bait in the water. I ain't swimming up to it, Mr. Toto, Wolf. I'm not nibbling. So I just think they're going to be sat pretty much where they were last time, if among us with you. They might get a wing.

They might pick up a few podiums. It will be closer up the front. There might be some chances for them to thrive, but it won't be consistent, in my opinion. No nibbles for me either. Who am I kidding? Nibbles are great. I intend it out of nibbles. Apart from Mercedes nipples.

I'm going nowhere near that. We've said nibbles too much already on this podcast today. Let's balance our nibbles. Let's not. On the modium. Oh, my God. Yeah, it's just the last couple of years. Mercedes have made an absolute fool of me.

Last year, I thought they were going to be better than what they were because they had a pretty good preseason test and then they just weren't. And I'm more than happy to be wrong on this one, by the way. If they turn around and both of their drivers are winning races and maybe in a championship fight, cool, I'm all right with that and I will gladly say I'm wrong. But until I see it, I'm not predicting it.

And I'm just going to say that they have the same season as last year. Same reasons as you, Sam. I'm not too sure about how representative Bahrain is and we know where their strengths have been in the past. And they seem to think that they have resolved some of the issues of the car last year. Unfortunately, it is the 97,000th time they've said that, and they weren't right on most of the other 96,999. So I am going to be cautious.

I'm going to be hesitant with Mercedes and just say maybe they take some wins again. And I wouldn't be surprised if they start out quite well, because they do look to have quite a solid, consistent car. They didn't come out of testing with many issues. But for a full season, I ain't biting. Harry, we can't avoid it any longer. The bombshell has been dropped.

You have Max for Stappen in sixth. Now, the leading question, of course, is why you have him there. But I also want to get your take as well on Lawson's only two spots back from that in eighth. Is that going to be closer than it, is it going to be closer on paper than it actually is? Or do you think genuinely that it will be a competitive fight? I know the first bit is going to look closer than actually is. I, again, want to caveat all of this. especially with this top seven-ish, top eight,

I think it's going to be super close. And this is just a byproduct of the fact that I just don't think the Red Bulls are going to be as good as the other teams in front of it, Mercedes Ferrari McLaren. And I said if Vestappan will pick up a couple of wins this year, a few wins and he's going to be hustling with a capital of Ha, as I said previously. I just get the sense from,

I think it's going to be in the opposite direction of Williams. It's going to be unpredictable. It's not going to be a balanced car. And Vestappen will be able to drive around many of those problems. But he won't be able to do it every weekend, especially when he's got such a close fight on his hands. So that's why I have him there. There's no reflection on the talents of Max Verstappen

because I think he will pull results out of that car this year that it's not going to deserve. and we will gladly compliment him on that. But I just, I don't think it's going to be enough for him to challenge, sorry, not to challenge to just be in that top five. I think he's going to be in the mix,

it's going to be close every weekend. It's just not going to be enough. And the fact that Lawson is in a couple of spots back, that's not really a reflection on Lawson being really close to Vestappen. It's just kind of where he, it's kind of where he nets out for me, based on where I think Red Bull are going to be.

I think he's, he's not going to be as good as because of Gestapo and I think and a Mercedes that I think is quicker will edge him out on that but it's you know

he's going to beat he's going to beat the Williams and the Alpine of Sons and Gassley I've got at the bottom of the top 10 so that's kind of just where he he nets out for me

it's not really much like Petrez last year I suppose yeah but to be honest it's not a bad season for Lawson to be honest so it looks closer than it is between those two for me side note on Antonelli

who we all have a similar position or seven or eight. Have you seen some of what's been said about his lines in the Bahrain test? Man, an e-sports driver. Yeah. Honestly, I don't know what's going to have we had today.

I cannot wait. He's going to be pure entertainment. Oh, yeah. I can't wait. He has one grain of rubber within the track limits at all times. Pirelli are going to do a case study on this one. I can't wait.

I hope he realizes that F1 real ties don't work the same way as Cogmaster F1. He's just trying not get it about 70% plus no. No puncture immediately on the 70% tie. Where's the button that tells me what my tire is? All percentage of Bono, what percentage of my on? With a report, Bologna. Oh, good. Can we once again, it doesn't work like that, mate.

Sam, you have lost in eighth and obviously not the stab and you. We'll see where he appears in the top five. So without giving your Vestappen prediction away, your thoughts on Lawson being eighth. Yeah, I just think he was good at the back end of last year in the racing ball. But I think there were some worrying signs. He gave the right attitude. He had the right mindset.

But you go back, you look at races like Vegas and a few others in that area where he was so far off, Yuki Sengoda. He had some really poor performances coming out of that part of the scene. I don't think he's going to get in him just yet to be able to not go toe to toe to stop him, because let's face it, pretty much gung on the grid or go to toe to to overstappen. So I'm not expecting that of him. But I don't think he's going to get in him to beat your Russell's, your Antingellies. Even if that red ball is equal to the Mercedes, slightly better maybe.

I don't think Lawson's got that raw, raw ability to outdo an Antigley or a Russell. And that much like Harry, that's kind of where he then gets out, because I don't think he's going to be worse than your Williams drivers. I don't think you'll get a Perez where he's regularly qualifying outside the top 10 or scoring a point or no points on a normal day. I do think he'll be within the fight. It'll be in that pack. It's just not enough to actually ever get him any closer to the top seven.

He'll just be out of the way of the back nine, if you know what I mean. Fair enough. Math doesn't make sense, but you get the back. Glenn does math. Makes sense. A lot of the time. Right, we have given you our predictions from 10th to 6th. Don't go anywhere, folks, because after this, we're going to be revealing who we think is 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd and ultimately 1st in the 2025 Drivers' Championship.

That's how this works. Damn right. Welcome back, everyone. Fifth to 1st, the top quarter of the championship is the only thing that remains. Sam, start us off, 5th down a 1st. First. Fifth place, Max Verstappen.

Fourth place, Landon Goris. Third place, Charlotte Claire. Second place, Oscar Piascri. First place, Lewis Hamilton.

Yeah, Britain. Yeah, remember what I said? I don't believe the hype. A walking blue passport. Here he is. I am the hype now. The hype's arrived. It's hype time now.

What year is hype here? 2025. Okay, so Sam has got Vastappan, Norris, and then a top three of LeCler, Piaastri, and Hamilton. Harry, your top five. Fifth place, I have Lando Norris. What, you are, you're going to get some stick, boy. I don't care.

Fourth place, George Russell. Third place. Lewis Hamilton second place Oscar Piastri oh my boy and in first place no don't do it

2019 called and won Sam back don't no is Charles Leclair champion Leclampian he's going to win

you've cursed him hey I won this last year so he's going to win this isn't the one you got right This is not the one you're looking for. Benny boy. These predictions are great.

You always go in a little bit worried that we might be too similar. Nope. Come on, Beck. Not this year. Fifth place for me is Oscar Piastri. Fourth place, Lewis Hamilton. Third place, Charlotte Claire.

Oh, God. Oh, my God. Second place, Lando. Oh, come on. And therefore, for the fifth year in a row, I have Max Verstappen. Oh, that's a lot of banter. I'm so glad we've picked five completely different top five. Three completely different top five.

Sorry, I'm excited. So we've got Hamilton, LeClair and Vastappen as our driver's champions. Let's go. All right. Where on earth do we start with this? Harry, let's start with you. Hello. The preseason favorite, according to the bookmakers,

none of us have picked is Lando Norris. So true. You have in the lowest of all of us at 5th. Explain yourself. Explain yourself. Again, I want to caveat for everyone listening, including Lando Norris fans, this is not a slight on any of these drivers, including Lando Norris. I think it's going to be a super tight battle.

And Norris is no doubt going to be in this fight. just, I just, from what I saw last year, and he was excellent last year, he was excellent, but there were a few occasions where he slightly cracked, didn't have the metal against Vestappen to win. And this is, he's a more experienced driver than he was then. That's how it works. but I just I think he's not and this is going to be

contradictory because I got Piastri in second but I have more confidence in Piastri's ability to not give a flaming monkeys about anything in terms of psychology and letting you get to him than I do with Norris

and that's kind of why I've got him here I just think that he might just crack a little bit under the pressure of a championship fight that involves potentially four or five drivers. I could I conceive of a situation

which happens often in my life where I am proved very wrong and Norris comes out swinging and is X in this year but I just if it's a super tight fight between the Ferraris and the Mercedes at least of Russell

and Vestappan is included in this as well then I just think he could he might just he might just crack a few times and I think this year only a couple of Duff races which he did have last year

will be enough to can you out of the fight so that's why I've got them there please don't come for me Lando fans you you both have Oscar Piaastri as the runner up in this championship and Sam you haven't quite got the same distance between Piastri and Norris but you still do have

one driver between them so you've got Piaastry second Norris fourth your thoughts on the McLarengea? Yeah well obviously in Teammate Wars I put Piastri in Frank of Landon Norris and I'm not going and weirdly go back on myself. We really boss ourselves

into a corner with that one. Yeah, yeah. I'm in the corner now. I live in the corner. Boxing myself. Boy in the corner. That's me. Themselves got hands.

Historic Sam got hands. Future Sam on the ropes. Yeah, so very much to what Harry said here, I think in terms of absolute raw speed right now, that speed is raw. I think Raw so many times.

I've had to get it in. I think Norris still has the edge. I think Norris still has the edge. What I do think is the difference maker is the mistakes in their locker. I think Landon Norris, he has a locker for mistakes. And I think Oscar Piastri is out there

with the tire pump, pumping up everyone else's tires. Because you know what pressure's for? Pressure for tires. Oh, okay. And I don't think he feels it. I think he needs it. I don't think he's bothered by it. And so, therefore, if it is,

going to be as close as in my brain I'm hoping it will be. And I literally mean every single race fought to by a, you know, a millisecond. I think Piastri's just got the headspace, the mental capacity to just so. Man is a large sponge from Australia and he will soak it up. The large Australian sponge is what we'll call it now. Yeah, the LAS, the LAS, that lass soaks it up. And so I just don't think knowledge is going on that in. You know, I do think there's a mistake in there.

And when it's going to be as tight as I think it is in the top, I just think that land out and the last was soaking up. I'll make it through that, okay? I'm so thick. Please. Oh. Damn. Oh dear.

Yeah, McLaren. I'm not worried at all about Oscar Piastri's mentality. I'm just worried pace. I still think Norris has that advantage. And as I've mentioned on a couple of episodes leading into this one, not enough for me to give him the World Championship, but I do think Norris does make some step forwards this year in terms of his mentality.

And it's mostly the qualifying, like we need to see Piastri out-qualify Norris more than, or was it four times last year, three or four times last year. He's got to up that. And that's where I'm being skeptical. I still think, obviously, I've got Piastri 5th. I think he'll be in some fights. I think he'll take some wins. But I don't have him quite featuring in a championship effort,

whereas I do have Lando Norris in that championship fight. Let's move on to some Ferrari predictions. So you've both got a Ferrari's driver's champion, just not the same one. Harry, you've got Hamilton in third and Charler in first. And ironically, Sam has first and third again. Harry, are both of them in the title fight? 100%.

I truly believe they are both there. And I would, my gut feeling is the only thing that will separate them again. And similar to sort of what I said about Haast that the start of the year just might not. not be as strong for Hamilton. I think he will come on strong. He'll hit full form, you know,

middle of the year. And that's where it comes into fourth and that he will start beating or may start beating Lickler at that point. I just think it's to start the year that might, might let him down. That's why I've got him here. But to be honest, we're just like throwing stuff at the wall here

and seeing what sticks because we've got no idea, as you prefaced at the start of the episode. But I just, I just, I just got a feeling about Leclair. I don't know why. I said that in 2019. I know, but that was his first ever year at Ferrari. You weren't wrong. He did have a good year.

You stretched yourself too far, but you weren't wrong. Yeah, fine. I just, off the back of last year, Lecler has a good claim for 2025 for driver of the year, sorry, 24 for driver of the year. I gave it to you. Precisely. Makes it less credible, but...

Boom, roasted. No, no, I think that's very fair. I think he definitely, he definitely does, because I think he had a sensational year last year. They probably went slightly more under the radar with the, you know, he wasn't involved in the title fight with Vastapin and Norris, and thank you, Ferrari, for that. But I just, I've got a feeling that he

could he's I think we're we're we're getting towards peak LeCler and if the Ferrari is decent the whole time in 2025 I think he's going to be he's going to be sensational to watch so that's why I've got him there's why I've got Hampton third but honestly I could I could see Sam scenario playing out as well I've got LeCler third and Hamilton fourth now I rate both drivers incredibly well and obviously just numbering them doesn't give this prediction away. I have them both in a championship fight as well. I am manifesting a really great season

and having third and fourth in this championship fight too. I have a few concerns with Ferrari coming out of testing and my prediction for the season, which is going to be horribly wrong, is that the second half of the year Ferrari will be better than the first half of the year. And as a result of that, they will both be playing catch up to Norris and Verstapp

and they will just about run out of time. I'm going with the, if by the end of the season, we'll go, Hamilton and LeCler could have won the title if we had three more races or something like that. But again, wouldn't surprise me. Any of those four drivers I've got fourth to first, if any of them won the driver's championship, wouldn't shock me, not at all.

So yeah, I still think Ferrari will have a good season. Sam, you of course have got Hamilton in first. I haven't hoped for so long. I have not felt a dream for so many years and today I dare to dream. Honestly, will me into that hospital bed and hook me up to that, I'm on it, I'm on it. There's no science behind this.

There's just a chance. I'm a boy with a chance and I'm taking it. I think it will be so. I will not be shocked if this title fight comes down to one or two races left in the season and there are still three, four, five drivers with a chance. of winging this.

I just think, and I've said it in the last few podcasts, but a little bit of a, woof, woof, Lewis Hamilton. He got that dog in him.

I just think when he gets it between his teeth, and I think he has, I think he's got the motivation back. Larry Ead. Sorry, I'm a good child.

Why are you like a scary movie film whenever you pick up a glass, it's a bigger glass. How many have you got there? I don't know what you mean. Doesn't everyone have a stine full of juice? You're a glass half full kind of guy and that glass is the size of an Olympic swimming pool.

I just, yeah, you don't get many chances when you get to my age, which is about to tick over to a whole new decade where you can believe. There's no science on it at all. I think we think the Ferrari look particularly, great in testing, but I'm choosing to believe anyway. So that's why it's that order. I said that Hamilton will beat the club. I said that Piazra would be that Morris. I think it would be that

bloody close. I am shocked at myself because going out of the 2024 season, we've been binging up 2025 as it could be a great year. And I do think it is going to be a fantastic year. It is quite funny that I've ended up with the same top three as we have last season. But I think that could provide a lot of entertainment. I have for Stappen winning the championship. again. And I appreciate that. A fair way from your predictions of fifth and sixth. He's pretty good.

Like, he's pretty good. And I know that Red Bull did not look good in testing. It looked a handful. And yet Vastappen still found pace in it. Like, it didn't look good whatsoever. And then you looked at the timing screen and went, oh, pretty good lap from Vastappen. I don't know if they're going to be, my prediction is,

actually we get something of a reverse of 2024. I think Norris comes out the gates fast and he leads the championship going into the summer break and it's Verstappen who is hunting Norris down. And I think Lando Norris, he felt some pressure last year, but he wasn't even the one being hunted. So I think even though Norris will make strides this year, if Verstappen is on his shoulder going into the last five races of the season, I'll take for Stappen?

I think the changing Spain will be a really pivotal moment. And when I say the changing Spain, a couple of pennies. Yeah, I don't think I'm dropping cents from my euros that I was spending. I, of course, mean the aerodynamic changes that come into action there with the flexi wings,

of course, that are going to make a pivotal change. I'll be intrigued to see who puts a lot of effort into mastering that rule change, and that could be the difference maker. I think last year with Vastappen, obviously he had a great start, and I'm not anticipating that he'll have that buffer like he had last year. I don't think he'll have anything close to that. But a lot was made of McLaren and Ferrari in the second half of last season,

and they did come on strong. Don't get me wrong. But when that started to happen from Miami, if you started the championship of Miami, Gestappan would have won the driver's championship, which is just why I think the last two years have proven that even if he doesn't have, if he has the best car, he takes advantage of it like 2023, even when he doesn't, he finds ways to win the likes of Qatar last year,

and of course Brazil last year. So I don't know, if Red Bull give him something to work with, I think he could still pull it out. Fascinating. Let us know. Do we do a Discord poll, Ben? We did do a Discord poll, which offered up some interesting results. And you might think I'm saying that to stall, because I haven't got it in front of me.

But that would be wrong. It is just genuinely interesting what people said. We don't need that because I've got it right in front of me. I've got it in front of me the whole time. Oh, she did. Great intro. Thank you. The majority, well, I say the majority of people,

the most popular answer is, with 53, someone who neither of us went with, Lando Norris. Followed by Charles LeCler with 48. Max Verstappen with 46, then Lewis Hamilton with 34, Oscar Piastri with 24, there were five votes for George Russell, and there was a vote each for Kimmy Antonelli and Liam Lawson. No, no, no, they thought that was for Lewis Hamilton. No, no. Yeah, I'll add that to the Hamilton vote, sorry. Yeah, please do.

Apologies to anyone who wanted to vote for someone else. I didn't include them as part of the poll, because that's a lot of names, and I just don't think they're going to be in contention. Fair. When I'm wrong, you can laugh. Like, I was only doing a poll after the Sunday's episode. That's only because Sam said it on the podcast. Absolutely. Poll pressure.

It's rocked him. Yeah, new game, pole pressure. Let's take our final break on this episode. On the other side, we'll give you our thoughts on the Constructors' Championship. Okay, not as much intrigue about the constructors based on us going all the way through from 20th to first on the Drivers' Championship. But Sam, if you wouldn't mind starting us off, go through the whole list. We've got 10th down at first.

Sure. Stake racing balls, Aston Martin, Hasse, Alpine, Williams, Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari. All right, so we've got one vote for Ferrari winning the Constructors Championship.

Harry, 10th to first for you. 10th, Salber, 9th RB, 8th, Hasse, 7th Alpine, 6th, Aston Martin, 5th Williams, 4th Red Bull, 3rd Mercedes, 2nd McLaren, and 1st, Ferrari. we have ruined their chances immediately.

I know. I have got the same temp... I mean, unsurprisingly, I have salver tenth after giving them 19th and 20th from the drivers. I've got Aston Martin down in 9th, followed by Racing Bulls in 8th, Hasse in 7th, Alpine in 6th, Williams in 5th.

I've got Mercedes in 4th, Red Bull in 3rd, Ferrari in 2nd, and McLaren winning the Constructors Championship. fascinating. But I am going to again, I'm going to just going to make another bonus prediction. Maclaren and Ferrari is even closer than last year.

It's a one point. It's a one point game. Please. How many BBPs we've had in this episode? They're flying out. There are BBPs all over the place, mate. Drowning them. Sure.

It's all right. I've got the LAS because I soak them up. This is what a horrible episode. where do we start? Let's start somewhere further down. Aston Martin, so there's quite a bit of disagreement here. I've already said I think they're going to pack it in for 2025 and finish 9th, and they won't care one bit.

Sam, you've got them in 8th. But Harry, you've got a bit more optimism. Not quite the fifth place they had last year, but still in 6th. Yeah, I don't think it's going to be, it's not going to be a return to 2023 format all for them. and I think it could it's going to be more of a struggle than last year. I, I had definitely have them ahead of R.B.

For obvious reasons, has because of what we already mentioned with the, you know, adjustment to the new team. And quite frankly, they may not be as good as Alpine, but I just don't trust Alpine. So,

I mean, that's fair based on everything. Exactly. And I, and also, there's only so much Pierre Gasley can do it. I mean, if you look at my drivers,

I've got Gazley in, uh, 10th, Alonzo 11th, then strolls 14th and doing the 16th. So I think the Aston's just outweigh the Albin. I think it could be a fight for six between those two teams with Williams, maybe just slightly ahead of the two of them. But you're right. If they do, which I could totally see happening, if they do decide to back in,

then I do not think they're going to get Adrian NU to do anything to discard. They'll have to ban him, ban him from that room, the 2025. room. No. Adrian. You'll be tempted, won't he? You'll see something

go. But if you just no, Adrian. Don't use extra excess brain power on this car. Away with you. And so I just don't think

it's going to be anything like some sort of Adrian newy magic sprinkled over this car. So yeah, I've gotten sick. I think like we've already said, things to be super tight in the midfield. So any,

you know, fifth down to eight could be any number of those teams in different orders there. Yeah. I 100% agree with you on that. Sam, you've got Alpine in six, as you agree with me, Alpine and sixth. So not quite there with Williams,

but equally we've all sort of got Ghazley in that 11th to 10th range. So you think what the job he can do can elevate them above some of those midfield rivals? Yeah, unfortunately, I generally think that Alpine will have a car that could probably go toe to toe with Williams. I think that the let down here is going to be Jack doing. I've got a lot of love for Jack. He seems like a really nice bloke. I think he'll have a great motorsport career.

I just don't think he's going to be cut out for Formula One at the level Alping. And the other team really seem to be. And I think that line up at Williams's quality, even if we've got question marks about whether Albon can go to-toe with a teammate like Sites. And I've said that he could be pretty close to him. I just think that's going to be more than enough to actually separate the Williams and Alpine and Gassley, who I think is top tier,

will be the one to elevate them past to have that like a lower midfield fodder who will be scrapping over ones and twos on the points. Yeah, I think Alpine will have a pretty good car, which is why I've got doing the highest of all that. I've got him in 15th. I still think he'll score some points. And Gasly will do an excellent job by himself,

but I have the combination of signs in Albin just about doing enough to see off the threat of Alpine. I've got Mercedes, and forth, but you've both got Mercedes just about doing enough to beat Red Bull. Harry, how do you see Merck versus Red Bull ending up? I'm basing this purely off-car performance. I'm not biting with Mercedes, and I haven't. I don't think in the drivers, but I just get the sense from testing that they are going to be,

are going to be, the cars can be more dependable than the Red Bull is. And whilst the Stappan will be able to get a lot out of that Red Bull, I don't think Lawson will be able to get enough out of the Red Bull versus what Antonelli will get out of the Mercedes. I think actually they're the two determining factors there. I think Russell and Verstappen will be pretty equal based on different, you know, Russell with a better car Vastappen being Vastappen.

But I just think it's the rookies in that team. I say rookie. It's not really fair to live in Larson, but the newbies in that team that are going to decide it. I think Antonelli is going to be so entertaining. I think it's going to have an overall good year. and he's going to have some great races, he's also going to have some terrible ones.

I'm so here for it. And whilst he may not be as consistent as potentially Lawson, I think the better races he will have will, you know, outweigh the consistency, perhaps more consistency of Lawson. So that's why I've got them like that. But I mean, to be honest, it's purely car performance base rather than anything else. Sam, the same question for you.

You've got Vastappen. individually clearing both of the Mercedes drivers. So is this a question of Liam Lawson not being able to keep up with those two Merks that's determining why you've got Mercedes third? Yeah, exactly that. I think the gap between Vostappen and Russell will be much smaller than the gap between Ancingelli and Lawson. I think Antingli over the course of the year will really start to step up.

We will see some crazy moments from him, both in a positive and a slightly maybe ridiculous or reckless manor where we go, okay, he's still got stuff to learn. But I think the very highs of Antingelli will outweigh the somewhat high, somewhat lows and middle grounding of what Lawson is able to achieve. And we know that Russell's on the charge and Maxa Stappen is astoundingly good.

So I do think that whilst the cars will be relatively even matched across the season, whilst Sapting and Russell will have their tussles on track, they'll get annoyed at each other, they'll swear at each other, they might get bang for three races. I do just think it's Kimmy Antignelli

that might just make a little bit of the difference when it comes to the overall constructors champion. The Russell Tussle. The Russell Tussle, his new album. Last question on this one around the top two teams. So we've all agreed that McLaren and Ferrari in one order or another will be the top two teams this year. So you've both got Ferrari doing the double of the drivers and the constructors championship, which fills me with a lot of dread and worry because that's Ferrari you're talking about.

Harry, you've got essentially a Ferrari in first and third, and you've got Piastri in second. Are you saying Norris is going to cost them the Constructors' Championship? Oh. Hang on, phrase it like that in his mind. No, I'm not Ben because he's... No. Your prediction say otherwise, sir.

Historic Harry got hands. Oh, no. Harry from 10 minutes ago, he's got hands. Damn, he's played me. I'm not going to say that because that'll be clipped and used against me in the future. But I don't know what to say.

I'm flustered. But I don't think he's good. You think it'll be those two teams. Yeah, I think it will be those teams. I think it will be those teams. I don't think it's going to be necessarily Norris costing them the championship. I just, I think it'll be more

the Ferrari drivers outperforming, and Piaastri and Norris here. Just, I think just based on, oh God, just based on the levels of talent, Ferrari's slightly edged them out, and I think that's what's going to make a difference in the end. I know I said that would be the final question, but I do have one more question for all three of us.

I've already given my answer of, I think there will be four drivers somewhat in the championship fight, both Ferraris, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. Sam, I know it's a bit of a, loose one. But like, how many drivers do you think

will be in that championship fight? Six. Sign me up. Yeah. Yep. I agree. I think by

maybe the last three or four races there might start to be some separation, but I think all the way down to maybe the 20th race of the season

will have Russell, Vestappan, Piaastri, Norris, Lecler, Hamilton will all viably have a chance

of winning the championship. Sold. Like it. Are you going in the same number, Harry? Yeah. This happens in sixth for me, but like I said, he's in this fight.

It's just, he's not, even the immense talent of Maxx just happening is going to be enough to do this for him. You can flip my top six on its head and I go, yeah, all right, fair. It seems about right. But we're wrong so often. We're always wrong. If we turn up at Australia and McLaren win by a minute, I'm going to be so annoyed. That's the podcast starting, isn't it? We just return.

However, however, we said this last year. Sorry, last year we had this similar situation where a Red Bull turned up. and we're dominant. And then we had a great year. And I don't think we're going to be. But we're now doing the reverse. We'll think we'll have an exciting one and it won't be. We're going to bring a new one, flip it in reverse card.

No. Can't wait for doing to wing by like two races. Sure. Still get fired. Colop into swaggerzing. I own you now. It's Flavio. There is.

That's our championship predictions. We've done all the drivers from 20th to first. All of the teams from 10th to first. So please. do let us know. Where do you agree with us? Where do you disagree with us? And if you are so inclined, give us your predictions as well. If you want to do the full 20, let us know about it. We'd love to hear from you, as I appreciate there can be a lot of variety in these picks. Before we go, though, I really, really loved championship predictions. But I can think of something even better.

And it is the greatest segment. in all of podcasting. It is the LB question of the week. Interesting movement. I think it's perfectly normal. Petition to rename this segment, Harry gets cooked of the week

because that is how this one's turned out. Every two comments, one's about Harry and just, whether it's fantasy, predictions. It doesn't matter. You are. leave him alone. I'm telling you.

I'm telling you, keep going after him, it's fine. Now he points at camera. Leave him alone. And sister kick us off. I'm going in with Klaus, we absolutely love, by the way, and he is coming with a great comment. Stappen gets a one race bang

for points on his super license, then gets another one race bang for swearing at the press conference about that race bang. He takes off on race for the birth of his child, but still wings the driver's championship. Sensational ball prediction. Why Joe Cole with the straight up Savage 10K by Silverston?

He didn't put a year on it, so I respect it. Are you saying that's a bold prediction? That's not fair. That's not fair. It's a guarantee, mate. It's probably 2030 or something. This one comes in from Maximilian, which I really like. It's quite a clever joke.

Lewis Hamilton to finish first and second in a race in both the Ferrari and the Mercedes. No, no. It's me. It's coming on to get me. It's not possible. That's me. It's not a Louise. Evan Langford on Instagram with a prediction.

I hope it's actually true. Miki Hachlan will come off his sabbatical. We're still waiting. Yes. I had a couple of shouts of that, actually. So, yeah, maybe it happens. I've got a couple here. One from Jude, who said,

Ben will guess next year's champion this year. Oh, it's so close. Yeah, so far. So, well done, Max Verstappen, for winning in 2026. and also from Aaron that Fernando Alonzo's neck will score more points than Fernando Alonzo

I don't know how that works but I think you might be right final one from me and this comes from Matt it's a serious one which I like it'll be interesting there's more mid-season driver changes than last year

now that would be fascinating to see how that would play out and where they would take place so we'll see if you're right Felicity Dad on Instagram says Harry wins F on Fantasy and since all drivers were disqualified for this season for collectively

issuing a profanity-laced statement about the FIA, the FIA declare Harry the season's world champion. If you really think about it, Saudi has invested a little bit of all so anything is possible. I wasn't sure about that whole prediction until the last sentence. Excellent, excellent submission there. Thank you for that. Do you want to hear a story that has absolutely nothing to do with Formula One

all this podcast, but I think it might make you chuckle. Yes. That name... Based on how this episode is gone, no. That name Felicidad, right? Sounds a lot like Feliz Navi. Right? It does.

There's a guy who I work with in my normal job who doesn't realize that the lyrics of Felice Gabida are Felice Gabida and so he proudly sings Venice with my dad. No, I'm not having that. That is not serious. Venice.

Venice with my dad. Venice with my dad. I need clarity on this immediately, right? Does this person think that the actual lyrics are what you just said or they don't know the lyrics, therefore they go with something else.

I think the latter, I think he has missed her the lyrics and believes that that might be wrong. And then he calmly rounds off with, I have been to Venice with my dad, which is just sensational. Vernice with my dad. Perfect. Perfect.

I have two more just around us off. One from Drew, which says James Vowles to make a bear a la Zack Brown and his tattoos. The appendix comes out, It comes out if Williams win a race. Love that. And then one from Kerry, which says,

Shrek 5 does not disappoint Martin Brundle. Not possible. No. I haven't been this disappointment is in Shrek 2. 5.5. C&C Machinist. I see you got in there right. 14 minutes ago as we record this with 2,530.

We're getting quite low on the number. Oh my God. Death is upon us. We were near 4,000 when we started doing this. Pretending I'm not triggered by this. really difficult. Twitching. Genuinely.

And I just have to be like, yeah, it's fine. Keep counting down. I don't care. We really care. I really care. I need to go. Okay.

That's going to do it for this week's question or the week and indeed this week's episode. Sam, you yourself won't be back on Sunday, but we'll try and hold the thought for you. That means folks

that the outro will last forever. Oh, no. Facebook's getting his plug, boy. I can't. I will be holidaying for my birthday and I will enjoy the present of watching YouTube struggle to doing outro so thanks very much yeah folks if you've enjoyed listening

and you want to hear more see more, be more involved in the show then Patreon is available, it's the best way to support the podcast, the links in the description, we put a lot of effort into that Patreon content and it really doesn't cost a lot on mangan, there's a lot of happy people over there is something we've actually taken quite seriously which is a rarity for us. And it means the world. So thanks for one that does subscribe.

Check it out. You can always start it off after a month and say, no, thank you. Discord, the links in the description. If you want to be involved in fantasy, which is going to be coming up soon. If you want to make sure you're about for submissions when it comes to actual race reviews and previews,

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Get involved. Thanks for listening. We'll see you. Well, I won't, but they'll see you on Sunday. In the meantime, I've been Samuel Sage. I've been Ben Hocking and I've been Venice with my dad. Put that on the Wodeon. You're going to make a great question at the end of your quiz. Keep breaking late. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.