The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Our F1 Wishlist: What we want to see in the sport!

Episode Date: February 12, 2025

The LB boys run through the improvements they'd like to see in F1 as a sport, before the latest comments from the FIA president regarding team radio send them spiralling. They also discuss the FIA's 'flexible wing' clampdown, and Alpine's insistence that Doohan will get a 'fair chance', before finishing with a game of Back and Forth... 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

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Along the way, he forges some surprising human connections and discovers unexpected joys within his built-in family. Experience rental family only in theaters Friday. Get tickets now. 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, back with another midweek episode. Sam, you went to, you went to F1 exhibition yesterday. I did.

I was recording this. How was that? I loved it. It was really, really enjoyable. There's some great cars on display. Got to see the MP4-4, got to see the Stappings 2021 Challenger, well, winner, I suppose we should call it. Grojong's wreck of a car was in there from that infamous crash in Bahrain,

and that was really quite, kind of slapsed in the face a little bit, you're all around the chorus, in this dark tunnel, and it's all lit up, and there's a big screen that kind of talks you through. And it's really quite, you know, you go through again the size and shaking of how impactful that moment was, and we were watching it on telly. It was really great. If anyone has got some free time and you're in around London before,

I think it's the second of March, go and check it out because it's really worth the time. I was also fastest, or second fastest on the lap time for the simulator for that day. So have a great time. Who was fastest? Some little scamp that cut corners.

What are you going to say then? Recommends. Clives was first. You just actually had two goes. Clives figures were pulled the board. Walk around the corner, and put a suit on. You were just it?

weren't you? Yeah, no, it's not me. Oh, a rare clubs appears in Feb. You got anything to say, Harry? No, nothing interesting, so that's fine. Well, no difference there. Well, yeah, we do have a regular episode today.

We've actually got a Q&A episode coming up on Sunday, so I hope you're looking forward to that one, but our regular episode today, back and forth, coming up a little bit later on, a little bit on the FIA's clampdown on flexible wings, Mohammed Ben Suleim's opened his mouth but we're going to start with F1 wish lists

I think we did a similar episode this time last year where we just basically rant and say what we think the sport should be or what is missing from the sport or anything like that for 20 minutes or so so there is maybe not overly structured this segment but we'll see where we get to with it

Sam where do you want to start us off yeah I've got a long list you know that trend that's go around at the moment Valentine's gifts for him or something like that that's going around at the moment this is what I want for Valentine's Day

I want these things to be taking place smaller cars to start with and I don't just mean 10 centimetres here 10 centimetres there I mean properly smaller cars I want them like hot wheels not the other way not like so they're so small

I can get in them either but I mean you know go back to the size of maybe the 80s the 90s cars at most of the early 2000 I stood next to Lewis Hamilton's 2019 Formula One car in the FI exhibition. It's like nine foot long. It is genuinely ridiculous.

I could lie down it and I could get a bit more of me on the end. And I know I'm not the tallest man in existence. I know. But that car was long. It doesn't need to be that long. Make them smaller. We have better overtaking. More tracks would be far more usable.

Morricone might actually be interesting for once. That would be great. Just make the cars. always interesting. Sure. I mean, I'm assuming this is just a bit of a, again, it's a wish list, so it makes sense.

But in the world of reality, when could we get there? 2030. I think is probably the logical next time that we could do a full evaluation that doesn't completely disrupt the regulations coming into place. It means that teams and future teams maybe have a chance to reassess.

And 2030 feels like a reasonable amount of time to make those changes both technologically with the teams and their discussions and for any safety regulations are bringing to be brought in to make sure that we are happy feels like we're on a weight loss program with f1 currently so i actually need to be on a weight loss program okay sam and the f1 cars are on a way lost sam and f1 well i will happen to me up with f unto on the diet i am getting fat um but these cars have got so big now that they've they've they've realized in 2026 is a slimmer slimmed Slimmer.

Slimmed down. Sorry, Slimmer down. Slimmed down. Slim down version of what we have now, but it's still pretty big. So do you like to say 20, 30, probably feels like the next step of the weight loss program?

I didn't have that on my list, but yes, 100%. I think there's quite a lot of circuits that we don't go to as well that would become far more viable, particularly quite a few circuits in America that are really good racetracks but quite skinny in places I'm thinking like Road America

as an example that's a great track wouldn't work with current F1 cars but yeah I think that is a fair shout Harry where are you starting things off I had that on my list start my list as well so I won't

revisit that one second I had though was louder engines with sustainable fuel not to sound like a massive James Hunt fan. I thought that was going to be your first one, revive James Hamilton.

Bring him back. Bring him back. Oh, wait. But Sebastian Vettel's proving that it can be done. We can have these louder engines, these V8s, these V10s, V12s if you really want to,

and run the more sustainable fuel and F1 doesn't need to go down this route of hybrid power all the time, I know there are, you know, there are manufacturers who would want to do that. But if we want to attract more teams to F1, going back to engines that are, that are more simple V8s or V10s is going to be much cheaper to run. And also smaller and less weight.

So Sam's small weight loss program. I would like a V10 and me. Moving on. I don't know what to go from there. Yeah. Having a smaller engine will help with that with smaller cars as well because you just got less things to put in the car, basically.

So yeah, louder engines, please, because I miss them and they sound excellent. I'm going to surprise no one with my first one. James Hunt. Nope. Bye-bye, sprints. Yeah, fair enough. Yeah.

Does anyone think there's a reason and why they've stopped at like six. Yeah, they've not announced anymore, have they? It feels like maybe they... Is it because they only do well in Brazil? And what do we know about Brazil? It's excellent. Bangers every time.

It's a good racetrack. I've heard of Brazil in Portuguese tracks like Tabanga. Sure. Don't feel free to correct us on that. That is absolutely 100% correct. Most potatoes and bangers. I've never really liked the... free practice versus a sprint race debate because

I get that there are people who like sprint races and that's absolutely fine but for the people that say it's better than a practice session yeah they're not trying to do the same thing it's like saying would you prefer being punched in the face or having a hug they're not comparable things so start comparing them yes of course I'd like a hug more but sometimes you've got to be punched in the face would you rather watch sure

would you rather watch like a 30 minute football match or watch a training session you can see you're still going to pick the 30 minute match but that doesn't mean it's as good as a 90 minute match like that's why I've never really understood that debate I would I'd get rid of them entirely yeah

I'm not shocking anyone with this Sam 12 teams Formula One. Blue flags. It was, yes. We're blue flags. Formula one is easily a 24 car sport.

We have space for another team. I don't want to hear the Monaco Garage issue because it's a load of rubbish. We could do 12 teams and we've had more than 12 teams. So we can definitely go to 12 teams. There is the demand for it. There is the want for it. The fans would love it.

Commercially is viable. I definitely think that 12. I think 12 is a really good number for F1. I think if you start to add on any more than 12, there is probably a risk that you do start to just have things lost at the back where people aren't really fully paying attention. But I think there's the space and the fans have the capacity to be able to fully observe a championship

that is made up of 24 drivers and not 20. I mean, we've got freedom of four on this segment. We can go wherever we want with it. Given that, who's joining? Porsche, thank you. yeah I figured you might say that I'm going to I know I've already said removal of

sprint races and that's my second one we're removing spring races again but related to that shortening the race weekend because I think again going about spring races it's like if you say you don't like sprint races people go well you love practice sessions

no I'd actually get rid of a practice session or two as well but if we can shorten the race weekend then I feel like 24 races on the calendar is a bit more palatable for, not for us fans, but for the team members. At the moment, a standard race weekend is media day on Thursday, free practice one and two on Friday, free practice three in qualifying on Saturday,

and the race on Sunday. I would probably have it something like Friday morning is media. Friday afternoon is free practice one, Saturday's free practice two, qualifying, and then the race on Sunday. Sunday. So you're dropping a practice session, but you are in effect saving a day. I'm not overly tied to that exact configuration of a weekend, but I do think we can do a better job of making the weekend a little bit more efficient if we were to drop spring races.

So yeah, shorter race we can. I think you've got a campaign in there where you could sing, save a day to the chuging of Engier, sail away. Save the day, save a day, save a day, save a day. I you know what this is going to shock you I don't think that'll catch on oh why aren't you like any of my ideas

I'll tell you what you go ahead and do it we'll see how it see you can Drew be wrong okay I'll leave that campaign Harry what's your next idea bring back 2011 slash 2012 spec tires

I am bored of Pirelli making boring tires that just work all the time. Damn, those tires that work. This is literally man yells at cloud. But in our seriousness, we don't have enough variety in strategy anymore in F1. When there's the possibility of a two-stop race, all three of us basically wet ourselves at the prospect of it

because that is exciting. But it's a rarity because the tires just, And even where it's even worse now because sometimes it's like, oh, yeah, it's going to be a two stop. And then the teams are like, no, and go slow, drive to a delta and do a one stop because it's just quicker to do. Hate that. Don't want that NF1 anymore. I want tyres that fall off the, fall of a cliff, give you options on tire strategy, which means might be quicker to do a one stop. Might be quicker to do a three stop.

You don't know. And that's what I want. I want those sorts of races because you go back and watch some 2012, 2011 races, China, 2012. I'd like to reference on that one. The end of that race there is, apart from Nika Rosbukh. Jimmy Reichen died. Yeah, he literally had to be revived.

He was running at the end of the same. Fred Flintstoneing it the whole way. But that's the point. That was a really exciting thing to watch. And I want that. And I'd even go as far to say, you know, because I feel like people will moan and say,

well, that doesn't work for qualifying. Fine. Have like a separate quality tire. I'm okay with that. obviously there's, you know, sustainable issues that would need to be resolved around that, which I'm sure there could be. But have a tire that is just used for qualifying,

that's, you know, a bit more durable, is good for, you know, hot laps and then have race tires. I think that would be the way forward. So please, Pirelli, go back to how you used to be. I've never quite understood not having qualifying tires because of the issue with, like, waste. Because you're going to use tires anyway. Yeah.

Of some variety. I'm not, it's a poor argument. It's the same for, it's the same for the, you know, louder engines because of the, because of the, you know, waste. They're using so much elsewhere. It doesn't matter. So we are a wasteful sport. Exactly.

Yeah. But, I mean, they're always to mitigate it. And I'm not saying just be wasteful, but that as an excuse doesn't, doesn't, doesn't wash for me. one of my ideas here is not very well fought through it's probably my most pie in the sky of the ones i've got written down here but an f2 draft i'd like for at the moment of course you've got most f2 drivers at least the ones that have a shot at f1 nearly all of them are part of a junior academy um whoever that might be And you know that if they're going to get a shot at F1, it's going to be via that team, which is boring. I know there's issues about funding and that's why I'm saying this isn't very well thought out.

But I would love it if, you know, the worst team in F1 each season had the opportunity to draft whichever F2 driver they like from the previous year. I think it could be quite exciting, but I appreciate it needs way more thought than I've given it. I'm not mild either. Spicy. Sam. I'm going to get all this one out of the way because it's a surprise to nobody,

but no exposed carbon and every team should have its own defined and actual separate branding. There's too much blue on the grid. There is too many blue cars on the grid right now. And Formula One is good for three things. One, the competition on track, the excitement of the sport.

Two, technological advances. Three, marketing. to sell stuff. You all look the same. Are we trying to sell the color blue? Is that the point? No, you need to have your own bloody color scheme. I will stop seeing Williams

and used to be Al-Pi and Alpha Taro, whatever they're called, and whoever else it might be, in blue. I'm sick of the color blue. So, and at last, Zang, I don't know, I can't say that. No, you got it the first time, yeah. Yeah, nailed it, mate.

And I thought, oh, title Spocker for Williams. That means a new livery. It's blue. Their colours are blue. I'm sick to death of it. I miss purple. I miss yellow.

I miss green. Proper green. Sorry, Ashton, Mike. You're almost there, but you're kind of a bluey green. So do it again. Yeah, no more blue. It's my new campaign model.

No more blue. Sam's campaign against Duncan James continues. Very good. Speaking of blue and liveries, this time, Next week, well, this time next week, we'll be watching the F-1-75 launch event. Yeah. Apart from Harry, you'll probably give it a miss.

But next one's... We'll be asleep. Once you've been delivery, Harry. No idea. Yeah, this episode next week, um, pit my phone. It is the week that I get the angriest. You're going to be so angry. Harry's going to love this one, of course.

I've already pitched this idea before, but make Monaco a heritage weekend. and adjust the format of it. I still maintain, put on a qualifying on the Saturday that's actually worth points, and on the Sunday, put them all in F3 cars as a charity race. I know people always refer back to like the 1980s when Aet and Senna and other F1 drivers took part in, I can't remember what they called it.

No, I can't remember what they've called it, but they were all in the same car and Senna won it. And it's kind of still spoken about, well, it's still spoken about now. It'd just be cool because all the drivers would be motivated because they're all in the same car

they're going to be like... Fernando Alonzo, goodness gracious me. He has no reason... Someone's going to have a go-out-us now for the toilet from the lawns. Yeah, he would be up for it, wouldn't he? There'd be some little scary cat

that were finding an excuse not to turn up because one gets got a championship relevant and they don't be embarrassing a normal car. Now we can fight. He says from an F3 car. Sam, do you want to Rattle through any others? Yeah, I've got a few here.

We've mentioned this one already, but the same group of skewers to appear at every race that are paid. Implement a tire and a structure so that wet racing actually works and is viable and it can be a competitive element to the sport.

So bringing a carpenter to appear at every race track, quickly moving on. Every team must run an independent manufacturer. What would Sabrina be doing at the race track? Just little Sabrina cam in the corner. Sabrina cam?

so I can watch on rent button, please. Preferably. Every team to run a manufacturer independently. You can keep your Williams, you keep your McLaurings, but I think they should become hubs for manufacturers to run them, so it becomes a full season of, you know, you've got Ferrari versus Masegis, versus Audi versus, you know, Honda, Toyota, Porsche.

I want every team to have its own independent. In an ideal world, I think that would be really. really great. And the final one, I've got three, well, four words, walls, grass, gravel traps.

There's no point around any of them. I just, like the words. Yeah, I love those words together, man. I just think that

runoff is gnaff, and I think there should be punishment for mistakes. So one of those three should be implemented anywhere. That's my point. So many campaigns, so little time.

I have a campaign managing out. You ran off some Duncan James. I'm going to put Duncan James I got run off or put a runoff or put a runoff in Duncan James All right Do you have any

to close us out on this Harry Ticket costs Make them cheaper Please lads They're too sick More my name They're too cheap Yeah

Raise them tickets Price out the poor people They are too spenny for what not that you don't get a quality product but just for to make it accessible you make it a lot of dollar it probably comes from F1 on charging so much

to circuits to be an F1 in the first place rather than on the circuit so I'm not blaming them necessarily but that would be I put them on my wish list and then last one 20 races as a maximum and only five of them are allowed to be street circuits

okay I can get on board with it because we've got too many street circuits as well. Do you think this feature has turned into us moaning? I've had a great time. I've been really relaxed. Got it all of our chest. All the system. Quick final question, Harry. Let's just say your idea does come into effect next year. Yeah. Which four are going? Street tracks.

Oh, any tracks. If you won your 20 race calendar, which are going? Saudi's going, Abu Dhab is going, Qatar because it freaking sucks. Um, there's a theme. Miami. Miami can go as well. I'll probably get rid of more. In fact, let's have 15 races. You end up with just Silverstone and into Lagos.

Seven tracks. And Monaco sees an open room closer. I've got what a double header at Long ago. Okay. Yeah, we're going to call that segment our wish list because that's a far better way of saying that it was our opportunity to moan for 15 or 20 minutes. We're going to take our first break on this episode. Fortunately, all of the whinging and moaning is done

because we've got a comment from Hammaband Suleim right after this. You know how I was really relaxed? Yeah, we should have done this the other way around. We had the therapy, now we've got the stress. Yeah, great. At Desjardin, we speak business. We speak startup funding and comprehensive game plans. We've mastered made-to-measure growth and expansion advice,

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to opening your doors to your first. customer of the day. We're here to power you along the way. Manaris, powering Canadian Commerce. Visit us at manares.com slash commerce. This giving Tuesday, Cam H is counting on your support. Together, we can forge a better path for mental health by creating a future where Canadians can get the help they need when they need it, no matter who or where they are. From November 25th to December 2nd, your donation will be doubled. That means every dollar goes twice as far to help build a future where no one's seeking help is left behind. Donate today at camh.ca.ca.com today. Welcome back, everyone. Oh, here we go. The FIA might impose stricter censorship

on Formula One driver's radio communications to address swearing, as suggested by President Mohammed Ben-Suliam. He had this to say. Do we go on and then shut down the radios of live communication? Maybe. There are a lot of things that would work now with our promoter. FOM are the promoter, the FIA. We are still the owners of the championship. Currently, radio messages aired on the global television feed are censored to obscure swearing.

However, the same censorship does not apply to the live on board feeds available on F1 TV, which are delayed, allowing FOM to withhold certain messages from being broadcast. So obviously those bleeps aren't enough, Sam, want to do away with it completely. Your thoughts on his comments? His answer is within his statement. You're already delaying it. Just bleep a swear word.

That's what happens across all the media. I actually don't know if I'll get into this. I actually don't know if I'm interesting enough in talking about Mohammed bin Siliam again. I'm sick to death of hearing his name and saying is skew. stupid ideas on this podcast. He's going to destroy the sport with his stupid ideas.

People are raging. I'm fuming. There's all these solutions. I hate it. Obviously, I'm miserable about it, Ben. I'm going to get into the technicality of it.

I hate it so much. Do you know what this is, this segment? You know that meme or gif and this? That's bait. That's what this is. It's what he's done. Tom Hardy.

Is he baiting us very specifically? I think so. I think he's targeting just late breaking, to be honest. We haven't given him any reason to target us as well. No, because it's not like we've called him an idiot multiple times.

I wouldn't dream of calling him an idiot because he is not an idiot. Mohammed Ben Suleim, an idiot? Those words wouldn't come out of my mouth. No, sir. No, no, sorry. To be fair, idiot's probably kind. So we could swear.

And then he would be madameen. Mohammed Ben, stupid man. Wow, is he upgraded? upgraded. Yeah, that's it. You've been promoting, sir. Uh, um, um,

no. Okay. This is going to be a really good segment, this is. I just, this is what I mean, though. He's just,

he's just trying to bait people with this, because it's not going to happen. And I don't know who he thinks he is. I know he thinks he is the FIA president, and I guess he is. But I don't know what power he thinks he holds over the sport. And if he, he's saying that,

he owns the championship, mate. He has the whole thing. Liberty Media, who were they? Never heard of them. I just, this is what I mean.

I think he knows what he's doing. He's just whining everyone up. I don't get rattled by a lot of this show. I don't get a bit silly. We get a bit irate. I'm actually rattled by this now. So rattle. Genuinely,

but what, to your point, Sam, what difference is it, if it's a bleep or you don't hear it? Because either way you don't hear the swear word. so what does it matter? And also, if we're not hearing stuff,

it's clearly they're still doing it. So we all know they're still doing it. So what's the point? What's the point in any of this? Oh, I hate this set with Ben. Ben, can we move on? I don't do it anymore. I actually hate this so much.

Can we go back on the wish list? It was better when we moaned. I feel like the next thing on the wish list would be Muhammad bin Suleim is not the FIA president. Why wasn't it on the wish list? that on the wish list. God damn. Yeah.

You know with the misconduct penalties. Yes. You missed that one, Sam. You were lucky. I was sat in the car talking to you both while you were doing the podcast. When we spoke about that, I think I did a good job of trying to be objective and really trying to see where he was coming from.

And also, like, if someone else had done it and if a few things were different, maybe it could have been a good idea. I feel like I was relatively measured. Not anymore. I'm done with measured Ben. Measured Ben. Measured Ben is a long gone person by now because Sam,

you're rattled by this. I'm so rattled by this and I hate myself that I'm rattled. It's got us all. It's annoying, isn't it? He shouldn't have done. He's wearing me like a suit. He is, genuinely. Do you know the thing that whines me up the most about...

Yeah, come on, Ben. Let it go, Ben. Right. Pull the cord. We've had a lot from Ben Suleum over the last year or so. The Toto Wolf and Susie Wolf investigation, this swearing nonsense, him firing people for no apparent reason. But do you know what winds me up about Ben Sullyam more than anything else? Tell us, Ben.

Every interview he does, he asks these stupid rhetorical. questions and answers them himself. Every time. Who's the greatest present in the FIA? Well, it's got to be me. It's got to be me, actually. Every time. It's like, well, will we do this?

Maybe. Will we do this? Maybe. He finds a way to... So it's not. He abandons all aspects of subtlety. He has an idea or an agenda that he's just desperate to say in one form or another. And it does not matter whether an interviewer has asked him a question about it.

He'll find a way to get it in there. The line about the FIA and how the FIA owns the championship and F1 doesn't, he'd have got that in there regardless of what he was asked. And we haven't even got on to the point, it's not true. You don't own the championship. Yes, you're a key stakeholder. And sure you are the governing body of the sport, that doesn't mean you own it. You know, if I have a kid and I pay a babysitter, the babysitter doesn't own the kid.

It doesn't work. It's like when I get drunk and I out and I'm like, will I get a kebab on the way home? Maybe. Like, full well, I'm getting a kebab on the way home. You're trying to get some sort of sponsorship deal from Hotel Trevago at this point. It'd be perfect for those ads. This has been a great segment, actually. I've loved this segment.

Oh, so what we're saying is, in conclusion, Mohammed Ben Silliam is no different just drunk Sam debating with himself other to get a kebab. Hey, you're there as well. You'd get more insights from Sam. Sam, I'm not there. I've left long ago. That little yes, so true.

And you haven't told me. He's like, where's Harry? I don't know. Well, I'm getting a cab. Or am I? Who knows? Maybe. Yes.

Team radio as well. He's a really good thing. to broadcast because you get insights that you just don't get from anything. What's the key part of Drive to Survive? What is a key factor that brought people in? It's the team radio. It's getting to no drivers and their personalities in the room. Why do we love George Russell so much?

Because of the crappy spews over Team Radio. What did we talk about McLaren about their over-the-top radio? Pop-a-Rul's, oh, that is a great thing that we got from Team Radio's in the muck that came from those. You are silly to remove such a brilliant aspect of the Formula One product because you don't like a few words in the English language that barely get used and you have the capability to bleep and remove anyway. Also, Formula Kids is a thing. You have that for children.

It works brilliantly. The product is great. I watch Shell-Claude dancing on top of Monaco for 78 laps. It was brilliant. I loved it. Best of Monaco Grand Prix of all time. All right? No swear in that.

Did you watch it? Go fair and there. You're going to all. So watch that, Mohammed. Watch that if you like it so much. Also, feel free to correct me, anyone on this. I'm fairly sure it's not a...

The team radio broadcast is not owned by the FIA. Is that not owned by Formula One management, aka F1, AKA Liberty Media? Well, that's the thing. I just don't know what the next step of this is. Is it going to be... They're going to play them more. They're just going to do more to wind him up.

I hope so. It's going to be Mohammed Ben Sulean going, I want this to be implemented. And Formula One management going, no. I bet I know who it is pressing the button to play more of them as well. It's Freddie Bass.

It would have that grin on his face. He'd have that grin on this. Shall I swear again. Do it again. Say the F word. And again, all swearing is bleeped. And we know he's got an issue of swearing, but we don't hear any of it because of those bleeps. Does he just have an issue with like the illusion of F1 driver's swearing?

Like, is that the issue that he doesn't want us to think the F1 drivers swear at all in their lives? But also, what's the point in this? Because we could, we'll get, even if this came into effect and we don't hear F1 drivers swear for a whole year, drive to survive season, whatever we get to in 2020, 6, when it comes. out. It's full of it. I'm seeing to remember Daniel Riccardo calling Netflix a bunch of somethings. That's true. It's also an 18 plus rating episode about to come out.

It's just them swearing in the hammer ben still in for 90 minutes. Completely naked, swearing aimlessly. I'm shocked this hasn't become an 18 plus episode. We've done very well. We've been really good. I've been tempted to swear in irony. Producer Kirstly nodded in agreement. Yes, well done.

Well done. Forgot saying it. Because I can't swear, I'm just going to do this instead. Benso rapidly can't press the button properly. It's having an angrily pressing it over and over again. Any thing else? No, I don't want to talk about him anymore. Can we go?

Can we just know more now until at least April? At least the start the season, surely. A month. I can't talk about it. by them again. I kind of have to applaud him to an extent. He's doing well. He's really rattled us.

He's heard of the shut up award. And he's gone, can we award it now? Let's have an early LB. So let's wrap it up, wrap this bad boy up. Clives has already been on the episode. Come on.

I'll put it in the daily sand. We didn't even get on to the second part of the quote that talks about him. He said his drivers were like his kids. Nonsense! What are you talking about? What are the little freaky thing again? Shut up! Shut up!

I didn't write down that bit of the quote, but I figure I'd really need to find it. What a weirdo! What are you saying that? You're a little weirdo, man. It's off the rails. This is gone. I'm like a father to all these babies. I've got the quote.

Go on then. Sorry, it starts with a big question as well. How do I treat the driver's question? Like my sons and my daughters. Honestly, I treat them with passion, with love. I treat them with understanding. I've been there. I want them to succeed.

What does that mean? What a little freak? What do you mean? Wanted to succeed at what? Not swearing. I like this. I'm actually, I'm sweating. I'm hot.

I'm going to jump because it's winter. I'm hot. Can we move on now, Ben? Yeah, let's take our second break. On the other side, I've got another FIA. Topper. No.

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Save up to 50% November 20th to 27. Conditions apply, details online. Welcome back, everyone. I hope everyone's enjoying this episode. Let's move on to the FIA. Tightener regulations on how F1 teams bend their wings by introducing new low tests for front and rear wings in 2025. So starting in Australia, rear wing deflection tests will be expanded

with additional front wing tests included at the Spanish GP in June. This is actually a bit of a U-turned from the FIA because they previously said all of their current tests were sufficient, apparently they ended up disagreeing with themselves, which shouldn't come as much of a shock. This is maybe the most technical we'll ever get on this podcast, so enjoy it while at last folks. Sam, your thoughts on them, you turning on this?

Well done to the FIA for you turning on this. I genuinely think that this is a really, really good adjustment to the regulations. Previously, they changed it halfway through the season to the point where I think it was Ferrari, had to essentially go and rebuild their front wings, really quickly. I think it was for the Singapore Grand Prix where they had to deliver these really rapidly because they were not compliant with these regulations

that had been brought in. And then they kind of left it open, they kind of changed what was going on. But because of the flex in the bodywork, it essentially means that there's no full restriction on kind of how much you can essentially, in layman's terms, take the Mickey. The faster you go, the more the end pushes the air pushes the bodywork around, causes flex. And of course, that can change performance at much fast speeds. But what they're doing here now is ensuring that

there is an absolute maximum rigidity or flex in the car, meaning that all teams have got an equal playing field. And they've even allowed a period of adjustment time for the front wing to be changed. I think it's being the Spanish Grand Prix, where this has to be brought in. You have to be compliant by then. Again, sensible.

You've allowed for regulation changes take into effect. You've realized you've done this at short notice. You've realized that you wrote a rule. and you had to change that rule, I'm okay with this. This is actually being set out in a sensible, well-ful out and fair manner

that allows everyone to adjust to the rule set properly and should, in theory, create a more level playing for when it comes to building parts. So unlike the last topic, for me, big tick. This is good. Well done.

I think I'm happy to be credited on this, by the way. I think the Ferrari thing was the opposite issue. So I think Ferrari was, were banking on the FIA being stricter about it, so didn't introduce something at the same time as some of their competitors. And that's why they rushed things through

for Singapore when they realized, oh, they're not actually going to be stricter about this. Therefore, we should probably try and catch up with our competitors. But yeah, it was certainly a hot topic of conversation last season. We know that McLaren as well had to change parts of their car. Harry, your thoughts on this? yeah I agree with Sam

this is this is a good thing and I'm glad the FIA have decided to not just pretend that everything's still fine and just be blubed be blind to it

because new tests were needed my only criticism would be this maybe could have been implemented soon enough that we didn't have to wait until Spain but I at least respect them for giving team at that time because obviously the boat has sailed

but my only criticism would be that the boat had sailed and I criticise them just because even after the complaints were made last year and tests were done and everyone was saying you know it's still fine any on board camera that was on the front nose of a car

watch the front wing going down straight I mean if we can see that they're clearly flexing and fine they're all passing the test as they were set out and you can't blame off on teams this is what they do they find loopholes in the rules and God bless them for it, we don't want them to change. But if you can see that's the case, those wings are flexing.

So you need to do something. So just a bit quicker on the update would have been better for me in my view. But overall, can't criticize them too much. They do have a moron in charge. So it's hard to do your work. We're three for free on this, being relatively positive about this decision. I'm with you in that I'm not quite sure why they made the decision in the first place that they had to do the U-turned.

But contrary to popular belief, I think the three of us are understanding individuals. You can make mistakes. You know, it's fine. Not an idiot. We are understanding. You can make mistakes as long as you admit to them and then make a sensible decision after the fact. Yeah, whatever.

That's absolutely fine. And I think they are right to go back on this. So as you kind of alluded to, Sam, The flexible wings are very beneficial for the current crop of cars just based on the very, the very difficult operating windows that these cars have to deal with at the moment. It's incredibly difficult to find a setup that's going to work on low-speed corners and high-speed corners as well. These flexible wings allow for that operating window to open up a little bit more. So you can start to accommodate for both types of corner.

but again, as you've both referenced, the variety in which those wings can be set up has meant that those tests have been insufficient for catching where there have been an infringement of the regulations. We know that it went far enough that McLaren did have to update. It was their rear wing, wasn't it, of the two? But yeah, I think it's absolutely right for them to adjust those tests. So we're actually a little bit better, a little bit more stringent about exactly what is and isn't allowed. I'm okay with it being spread out.

I don't mind that the latter change is coming in at the Spanish Grand Prix. Could it have come in a bit sooner, sure. But, oh, God, I'm doing a rhetorical question. I'm having Ben Suleim. Oh, no. You have become the man you sworn never to be. You are him.

It's merged together eventually. All bangs become one. They told me it would happen. If I can play devil's advocate, just a little bit, I suppose. The negative here is, the lack of creativity, right? The lack of ability to go down a certain way of developing your car, of experimenting, of trying something new with the regulations,

and potentially seeing great performance gains from that. And it maybe stifles that development that we love and want to see Formula One that allows for that kind of, I read that quote from Adrian Nui, actually, it was in the F1 exhibition that was kind of, my job isn't to follow the rules and regulations, it's to read the rules specifically and find what I could do that surrounds them and essentially doesn't follow them,

than without any specific wording here. And by that change that we're seeing right now, you may be stifling a little bit of that creativity where someone could find a loophole, could find an interesting way to get performance down on the car. So just a little bit of devil's advocate, we will probably see less of that creativity in this department. Although with F1 aerodynamicists, maybe we won't.

It's a bit of a give-and-take situation, isn't it? Because the closer you go to things being standardized, the more likely you're going to have a championship and you're going to have drivers, multiple teams in the mix, because there's just less capability to bend those rules and go beyond them. But of course, as you say, the flip side of that is you are stifling any innovation.

So I think you kind of narrow what is possible and therefore are far more likely to have a close championship. But F1, we know that one of the historic reasons for its existence is to, I don't know, explore the capabilities of motorsport of motoring generally and that does curb that a little bit, yeah, no doubt. Harry, any idea who this might benefit

or not benefit? Really tricky to say because I think to a degree a lot of, at least the top teams are all doing it. So it's going to be those who can adapt to it the quickest. how integral are the flexible, the flexiness of your wings

to the performance of your car. And now I'm sure all teams wouldn't do it unless it gave them performance. But is that a really key part of your aerodynamic performance or is it just an extra bit of performance that is good to have? So it's going to depend on that, to be honest. And who can adapt to it quickest?

So it's a real me answer being on the fence here, but really difficult to know. But I think it's trying to know, I don't know how we would know until it happens. One of the interesting things, Sam, you've already mentioned Ferrari introducing their update at the Singapore Grand Prix in 2024. Now, the Singapore Grand Prix didn't go very well for Ferrari,

but equally I think that was more self-imposed. They had a horrible qualifying session and couldn't really recover. Their pace was great. Their pace was very good. Next two races after that? Austin, Mexico. One of both. Did quite well, didn't they?

Yeah. Maybe they might stand to gain a little bit more than McLaren will have. Well, quite possibly. Again, the markets at the front are so, mind you, that you do need that creativity to be able to find yourself a little loophole that gives you the extra tenth or so. I think a team that could really stand to benefit is a team like Williams. They don't have the infrastructure in terms of their wind tunnels

and that top level of tech to test and test and test and find those minute you details. that maybe a McLaren with their new wind tunnel or Ferrari are able to find. So having this more standardized, we can allow them to essentially mean that they can kind of of hit the upper ceiling of performance from this area faster, and they can focus their efforts elsewhere on maybe that might be somewhere more vulnerable. So I think the guys at the front will have to find a new way to gain those extra attempts. Those like William, with a less access to tech might actually stand to benefit from this.

And again, hopefully bringing the chabmanship closer. I tell you, we are really going to the extremes of what we're. we're capable of on this episode. We've gone our most ranty, our most technical, our most ambitious for a wish list. We're really stretching the corners here. What's next, Ben?

Alpine, here we go. They are never off an episode, that are. There was the last time we didn't talk about Alpine in an episode. Love it. I keep trying and then they just say something again. This time, Alpine team principal, Oliver Oakes, has insisted that 2025 rookie Jack Dewan will get a fair chance to impress, despite the team signing the more experienced

Franco Colopinto as a reserve driver. He said, it's been a little bit harsh on Jack. You've hired some of the stuff that was written by the keyboard warriors there and he's getting his fair crack at it next year. And I think the intention there isn't to put pressure on his shoulders. It's genuinely to give the team options further down the line. And for me, F1 is fine margins. There's a load of people who are depending on a driver to deliver each weekend. We need to make sure we've got the best drivers in the race car, not just now, but also in the future. Sam, we know that Alpine have no employees apart from reserve drivers at this point.

Do you think that this gives doing more confidence, less confidence? Should he read anything into these comments? Reserve drivers and apparently team owners, because I saw another one, I had a birthday today as we're recording this. I saw someone quite just saying, that's the one. I saw someone this company's just a money laundering

activity out to celebrities to the game It's like a tax haven to joke Alpine I know you can't sue me

you don't have a legal team but please don't come for me but still find a way to lose money from it I would

it is Alpine that's true should you be worried about this I think I think I think I just going to stop joshing

doing around a little bit here he's got a year long contract if I was on the Oaks and I wasn't

starring a soap, I would be making the point where, look at the both, trying on to laugh. I'll be making the point where he's got a year contract. I'll be emphasising that he has a year contract. I would be explicitly saying Jack, quitting his one year deal, has targets that he needs to hit. He's aware of those targets. And we have every faith that we've employed Jack do and he's able to hit those targets. Stop with the speculation.

Stop with the weird alluding to this, alluding to that messages and the uncertainty. just give the poor kid whose dream it is to be an F1 driver who's finally got to this point in his career a chance to do the job. And O'Colopinto is there risen up all of France at this point. I'm sure he's got them under his finger.

He hates him, but he probably got off the plane and he was like, easy, done. No problem, oh. Save the planet. Okay, we love you. We love you. On wrist up.

the Eiffel Tower. I'm sorry, I mentioned Macron who probably resigned next week now. I don't have to work for Alping. My point here is he's here, he's here. Give Jack doing the time he needs, okay? Stop, just stop airing your dirty laundry.

Just stop talking about things. You can just give a simple answer. It does not need to be this inflated bizarre response. It's okay as you just go. We trust him. We've hired him. see what you could do.

Shut up. Shut up. Move on. I think it can be that simple. Shatter place. Shut it plays. Only I ask you my mouth with moving like a rat.

How are your thoughts on Sheneas's quote? That's too niche. It's too niche. Right. So A, in that quote, he said about hiring the best drivers in F1. Well, best drivers at the Canon F1. Oh.

You know how you avoid hiring someone. Don't fire the better one. Don't fire the better one in the first place, Ollie. In fairness, he wasn't there when that wasn't on him. I know, it wasn't. To be for, yeah, all right, we'll give him the benefit of the doubt on that one. But, yeah, the, obviously he's coming. It's almost like he's spoken to make things better and just feels like he's making it worse.

As you say, Sam, just stop talking. you don't need to say anything now and the thing that's the pressure has come from the fact that they put him in the car for the last race of the season because people saw it wasn't brilliant and obviously now

the collar pinter thing as well and yes it is people out there just you know making up rumors and speculation but you've fueled this by putting him in the car in the last race of the season

where he was never going to be great and that's not on Jack Dewan at all and then letting Flavio Briatore hire Colapinto and this is all added up to this situation I'm not saying that this is what they're going to do but there's no wonder people are speculating about it because you've made this once again Alpine versus themselves is the greatest jewel we're going to see

this year themselves got hands as Sam once said so it just they've boxed themselves into a corner just you know with with the with the story on this all they didn't need to. They could have just let Ockham finish the season. Let Doan have a proper start to his career. Yes, the Colopinto thing may still have come about. But at least then there wouldn't have been the last race of the season performance

for hanging overdoing when they hire Colopinto. It would have just been seen as a good reserve driver move, to be honest. And now it's seen as that, oh, he's going to replace him half of the year. So I've got no sympathy, Boli Oaks. You've painted yourself into this corner. Yeah, I understand why he's being vague here, even if I don't love why he's being vague. And it's just that he doesn't want to say something that comes back to bite him later in the year. Like he's saying he'll give due and a fair chance, but fair chance is very vague.

Like, is a fair chance six races? Is it half a season? Is it a full season? There's a reason he's not committing to a timeline. And that's because he doesn't want to get stuck in the same situation as say, maybe Logan Sgtin and Williams where he did a full season and another half season before he was replaced. And I think if doing his struggling halfway through 2025, they will want to get Colopinto in that car. Because if they want Collopinto in there for 26, they're probably going to want to give him a bit of a warm up at the end of 2025 to get adjusted to the team and the car.

So I feel really sorry for Jack doing and all of this because as you kind of say, Harry, guys done one race. And he's already having to justify why he's in this sport. He had a good junior career. He's done one race that should mean nothing. He should be going into this season with the confidence of the team behind him.

But none of these statements really give that confidence because they're all too vague. We don't know whether he'll do the first. full year. If someone would just turn around and say he will, then I'm sure he'd feel a lot more assured. But yeah, even if the reason is a good one, as you say, Harry, they don't help themselves with it. Shall we take our final break on this episode? On the other side, it's back and forth. This has been a real ride. I exhausted.

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CA today. Welcome back, everyone. It's time for back and forth. It's F1. Back and forth, it's F1. Back and forth, it goes backwards, then goes forth, it's F1. back and forth F1 Beautiful Fun fact about this game of back and forth actually Go on Ben, tell me

I can't do it man I can't do it Back and forth Harry versus Sam They're going to go back and forth on a category with a certain number of correct answers Today there are 16 correct answers

16 Thank you Will McKenzie You'll keep going back and forth until someone can't think of a correct answer or gives an incorrect answer and I'll give you two strikes I think two strikes each. That famous game of two strikes and you're out.

Yeah. It's like the sprint race of baseball. I want you to name today the 16 drivers that have raced at least 50 times for Williams. Oh, That will start with Harry. I'm a single Williams driver in my career. Who's driven for Williams?

George Russell. George Russell is... Well, Ben, he must be correct. Yeah, come on, sure. Yeah, I say he is on there. I can find 59 races. So not by a lot, but he is a correct answer. Sam.

Alex Albon. Alex Albon is a correct answer. He's done 66 races for the team, which means midway through the 2026 season, provided he's still there, he will become the most experienced William Shriver of all time. Wow. Williams can't retain Jack.

That's wild. It's not even, actually, it's not even midway through. It's like six races into the 2026 season, and he will become the most experienced William Shriver of all time. By me, Governor. I mean, there isn't a drive. No driver has done 100 races for Williams. That sucks.

Which is odd, but true. Harry, over to you. Felipe Massa. Felipe Massa. He's fourth on the list. 78 race starts. Sam. Bottas. Of course, teammates together for a fair while.

Ironically, Bottas, 77 race starts for William. Of course, that sees the race number. Love that. That's sat a satisfying OCD. Fun story about F1 exhibition. Loads of merch, loads of good stuff. Right at the end, there's a basket,

and it's full of dog chew toys, and they're all shaped like a black and mint green F1 car with the number 77 on them, and that is the only mention of Valtry Bossass for the entirety of the F1 exhibition. Doesn't exist. I think that's a savage legacy to have your dog two toy. You are the cute toy of F1.

You managed to go buy some steak merch and you didn't buy it. That's impressive. Well, highly sought after. I'm what bought a letter. Hey, it's his dream. Harry, back to you. Ralph Schumacher. Ralph Schumacher is second on this list.

94 race starts for this team. Can't get a life, Ralph. Sam Mansell Mansell is number one on this list no one has done more races for Williams than Nigel Mansell with 95 Harry back to you

Damon Hill Damon Hill is on this list 65 race starts Sam Vilnerve Villeneuve is one short Oh that little

poo head rattling me and Harry Eag for life sorry mate that's a tough one there that's tough he did three seasons in Williams which is

a real kick in the going out three seasons six seven eight that would work out wouldn't it yeah nine around yeah yeah

full disclosure I actually said 16 drivers there's actually 14 I don't know why I said 16 at the beginning of this thanks a liar

this podcast is an absolute shambles today mess. You've got too fewer answers to look, course. I don't know what you're

complaining. No, we're not. We're not. Harry back to you. Ricardo Betrese. Ricardo Petraezy is a correct answer. Third on the list with 81, which means you've got all of the top five

on this list now. So sweet. Sam, back to you. We've got six answers still to find. Latifie. Nicholas Latifie is a correct answer. 61 race starts. My guy.

My guy was flying high. Arguable. They call him Micros. I don't remember. In all of his 61 race starts. I don't remember that. Yeah, that's interesting. Um,

oh God. Was Montoya on there? Is he another one? He is. Oh, God. 68 race starts for one Pablo Montoya. Mr. Chunky, sorry. 68 starts, Sam.

Back to you. Man who sits under a tree? No. I'm sick of this game. I think he only did one year, didn't he? Is that it? One year? He's not on my near-misses list.

That's a good high film for everyone that doesn't understand the reference. True, yeah. Which means back to Harry. This is tough. Only four names left, so. Keke Rosberg. Kekhe Rosberg is a correct answer. two race starts. Sam, over to you.

If I get this wrong, I'm out, right? That's it. It's going over. Correct. What if I just never gave an answer? Where if his podcast went on forever? I don't want that to happen. Yeah, let's... I'd give wrong answers to this cadet. Sam refused. John Pierre Jabouy. As far as I'm aware, John Pierre Jaboui never raced for Williams. He bloody did, by the way.

Did he? Yes, he did. Fair enough. But he definitely didn't race 50 times. I'll look at it out. I'll see how many he did. Which means only three answers left on the board. Harry, could you name any of them?

Nico Rosberg. Yeah, you'd almost did it the last time. So Nico Rosberg, 70 race starts. I didn't have been. Alan Jones? Jones is the right answer. 60 race starts? The racist Brazilian?

No. Okay, fair enough. Only 31? weirdly. How, what era, what era are we even got left? 20-10s. Oh, 2010s? A race winner.

Oh, Maldonado. Pasta Maldonado with 58. The other one that was the nearest miss would have been Blanchtrol. He had 41. Gosh. Do you know the really funny thing about John Pia Jaburi? No, what is the really funny thing about? Other than the fact that I can't say his name.

is that he only made 49 starts across all Formula One. So what's going to be on that list regardless? You know what? It's hard to do 50 race stars for Williams, but you've only done 49. Oh, God. Yeah, Jean-Pier-Giabui made 40-9 starts across an F-1 career that began with Williams in 74,

and then with Elegiate in 81. It spells at 30s, Tyrell, and the aforementioned Renault. Well, you've taught me that he raced for Williams, because I didn't know that. So thank you very much. So we've all won, really. So when you think about it, we're all winners. The people who are ending this podcast are real winners.

Apart from the listeners of this episode, they are the real losers. Podcast is the real winner. I'm glad we've got something to talk about next week. We've got a Q&A episode on Sunday. We've got Pimp My F1 next Wednesday. And then Sunday after, it'd be teammate wars. It's heating up. If you haven't been with us for a preseason.

before by the way teammate wars is where all of us select which of the two teammates will score the most points and there's a grand prize of nothing at the end of the year for the winner pride is where Sam and Ben battle it out to see who will win teammate wars this year and I am also there oh Harry we thank him for coming I'm in attendance a terrible joke mate I shut it Ben we will also do a poll in Discord by the way to get your consensus of of which of the two teammates is going to end up by the most points. Sam, if you wouldn't mind for the love

of everything that is good in this world, get us out of here. If you want more of this, then you can listen to it on Patreon where you can actually pay for it. It's not free, but you do get everything out free. You get more episodes, you get beer with breaking,

and you get a classic historic race every single month. You'll also get power rankings when the season starts after every single race. So check it out. It massively supports the show more than literally anything else. So if you love it, that's the best way they do so. Join the Discord, the links in the description.

You can get involved in those polls that Benz mentioned. And when it comes to racing time, you can get your submissions in. So you might hear yourself played upon the podcast, which is always lovely. Follow us on social media, late breaking F1. Watch this on YouTube, Late Breaking F1. And we will see you for the Q&A episode on Sunday. In the meantime, I've been Samuel Sage. And I've been Ben, oh, wait, you're here.

Go on. I was doing the Patreon outro. Sorry, mate. I have been Ben Hockey. and I've been Duncan James and remember keep breaking later I'm blue

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