The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Our verdict on all 11 teams in 2026 so far

Episode Date: August 9, 2026

The LB trio run through all 11 teams, giving each a three-word summary to capture their season so far! And, it’s been a while… they finish things off with a game of Order Please. Join us in Amsterdam for pre-Dutch GP drinks! CLICK HERE for event details and to confirm your attendance. Want more Late Braking? Support the show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get:Ad-free listeningFull-length bonus episodesPower Rankings after every raceHistorical race reviews& more exclusive extras!Don't forget! You can also gift a Late Braking Patreon subscription—perfect for loved ones or your own wish list. Choose anything from 1 month up to a full year of top-notch F1 content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/latebrakingf1/gift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Late Braking:You can find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Come hang out with us and thousands of fellow F1 fans in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ server and get involved in lively everyday & race weekend chats!Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠F1 Fantasy League⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and see if you can beat us! LEAGUE CODE: C6Y6R4ZUY02Get in touch any time at [e-mail]  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thank you for listening to the late-breaking F-1 podcast. Make sure to check out new episodes every Wednesday and every Sunday. Welcome to the late-breaking F-1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking, here on this Sunday. We're getting through the summer break. And for those of you that are looking for a bit of F-1 content, a three-word summary episode we've got coming up today, boy, have we got the best hour of your life.

That might be a step too far, maybe. No, I think it is correct. Actually, I'd like the... You need to get better lives, people. No, provide your three-word summary of this podcast in the comics, please. Or leave it in a review. Or five-star review only if it's less than five, then do not leave a review.

Walk away and enjoy the rest of your life happily. It does not affect you. Most people embrace constructive comments. We don't. We just want you to gaslight us. We do not embrace feedback at all. We do not. But please, if you do have any feedback, get in touch.

We are interested in hearing from you. Three word summaries today. So we're going to go through all, I keep nearly saying all 10 teams, all 11 teams, as has been the case for, you know, eight months now. We're going to go through all 11 teams and give three words summaries and explain why we've got that. We're leaving this fairly open as we always do as to whether we focus on one of the drivers, maybe both drivers, the team at large, what they have done so far in the year,

maybe what's to come for the rest of the year, which should hopefully give us some interesting differences between, interesting variation between our options. I don't think we've ever had a three-word summary where we've given an exact copy. But today, you know, it could be the first one. The odds are too high. It's never going to happen. Can't wait for it's happen. The first one. Let's go in championship order, starting with Mercedes, who have enjoyed a pretty good 2026 versus the last few years.

What are our three-word summaries? You both ready? Ready. Okay. Three, two, one. So we've got Antonelli, bloody hell, fast but fragile from Harry. And then from me, we've got that you, 2014? Oh, nice.

So I've gone with a question to lead off. And of course, if you are watching this on Patreon, you'll have seen. We actually have the whiteboards at play. So we'll read them out anyway, but we're using whiteboards for today's. I'm really glad you did an Northern accent or a Solid Midlings accent for my because that's how I read it in my head as well. So I really appreciate that. So is it a I'm really impressed bloody hell?

Is that where we're going? Cool, blindy. He's good, but he's way better than I expect to be. Even with kicking on, he's dominant. the headlines, he's dominated that rivalry, he's dominated the team, and he's dominated the point scoring. So, Anthony, bloody hell, he's come out of nowhere.

And I think he is really a sensation. And maybe that next sensation that F-1 is looking for, I'd be so impressed. In your wildest dreams, did you think this would happen this year? No, no, no, it is bigger and better than I thought it was ever going to be. Well, that's what we all like. I'm just going to let that sit there for a moment,

actually. Just let them linger a little bit. What are you both do with it, is it? Yeah, just let it linger. Yeah, yeah. Best way to deal with it, mate. Also, I mean, I guess you're saying from your perspective, sub, that you're impressed with what Antonelli's been doing. Is it the same thing that Russell's saying?

Yeah, I'm sure to walk around the garage. Bloody hell! Antonelly! Looking at the data. Bloody hell. Awesome's on that, then. You can't fit that into a three-word summary. You know, I think it's very much,

there'll be many of you out there, I'm sure, and there be especially a lot of keyboard worrying. is out there who go, I always knew what's going to go out. Oh, I always knew this, that, the other. Sure. We know he was going to be good. Never saw it coming. It was going to be this high quality.

And he was going to be this far out of Russell now. Russell says, bad luck. We know that. But so's interesting, haven't it? It's gone both ways now at this point. We're seeing it swing both ways. And yes, there's still some areas to clean up, which is crazy for Kimmy. But he is just that good.

Yes. Now, Harry, you have described Mercedes season and indeed my sex. by saying fast but fragile. I knew you were going to do that. Guys, the same joke. No longer silly. I've never made a judge. What's that even mean in the bedroom?

We've lost the silliness. We've just got fragility. I was over 30. He's a broken man. It's not silly. Just break down crying. That's because you let it linger too long, mate. That's your problem.

It's so relatable to so many. I think it's a fairly accurate summary of Mercedes season, though, fast but fragile. Yeah, and what you said, Ben, about is that you 24? it's not quite the same, but slightly reminiscent of that where they are, you know, clearly the fastest team over the season so far,

maybe not every single race so far, but despite being that quick, there has been a few reliability issues that have crept in. And whilst Antonelli, I think, has been driving better than Russell overall anyway, it would be a shame for any reliability to come in and play.

fact here. Both have had problems. I would say Russell's maybe had a little bit more, but even so, that car, despite being devastating really quick, is a little bit fragile. I'm not just in the engine. Sometimes a weird little thing falls off your wheel at Silverston and you can't do anything. You can't stay on the track anymore. So, yeah, it's interesting. Yeah, I went with that you 2014? Because it is feeling eerily similar. And I'm not just talking about the level of dominance. If you weren't a fan at that point or don't know what happened in 2014.

That's when we were introduced to these hybrid regulations and Mercedes were absolutely dominant out the gate in 2014. The reason why I think it's shaping up very similarly, though, is not just because of that one season. Mercedes had this habit of just doing enough in terms of development of their car each and every year to ensure that they weren't like massively overspending in the current season, but could keep that advantage going for multiple,

years after that. It's like they started with a big advantage. And I don't think it really ever grew throughout 2015 or 2016. It's just no one could really get closer than that. And we saw quite frequently, particularly with Red Bull, they would get quite a bit closer at the end of seasons. And we'd go into a winter break up. If they keep that going, when we start this next year, this is going to be close. And then Mercedes just take that jump again. And I do wonder with Mercedes essentially having taken the second fewest updates so far this year, whether they're playing the same game again, whether it's going to be,

I wouldn't be surprised at all if McLaren, Ferrari, maybe Vastappen, starts to pick up wins between now and the end of the year, but Mercedes still win the titles, and they begin next year with the same advantage that we saw at the beginning of this year. Wouldn't surprise me. Genuine question, because I can't remember the exact number. What's the points tally bigger at this point in 2014,

in advantage over the next team because I don't think it's big enough. I don't think it's big enough right now for them to be able to stop this year and go into next year. I think they can be called still. I'm not saying they necessarily stop, but we know that up until this point in the year, they've already brought less.

So even if they brought the same amount as, say, Ferrari and McLaren for the rest of the year, they would still probably have saved more for 27 than the other teams have. I know Toto Wolf has made some comments, obviously, about Ferrari and how much they've spent. But yeah, you're right, though. it's not, it's closer than it was.

And the way with the budget cap works as well, I don't think you can dominate in quite the same way. And the English legs have completely changed. Yeah, yeah. There's so much going on. I think the one notable difference is that with the lineup, and I know we've spoken, Antonelli and Russell, when it was Rosberg and Hamilton,

I know that that brought its own problems, but they were essentially the same group, like similar age, and it was pretty close. I feel like if you told Toto Wolf at the beginning of this year, Okay, midpoint in the season, summer break, you're going to have one of your drivers in first, having won six races, and the other one's going to be about 60 points back, having won two races. Toto Wolf would have said, yeah, that sounds about right. Russell's ready to win now, six race wins. Antonelli's going to get there. Great that he's picked up his first victory. It's getting a bit closer. I don't think he'd have predicted it was this way around. Not to this extent, anyway. I agree. Okay, what about Ferrari second in the championship right now? Three word summaries for them? So we've got Hamilton Redemption Ark from Sam.

We've got, you're so close from Harry. I'm not going to make a comment on that one. And I know both are yours. And mine is not there yet. You two are talking to each other in some different language. Oh, what's going to all you two? Yeah. Enjoy it.

We're off to Amsterdam soon. Let's have a great time. Yeah. So you think it, nearly there, Harry. It is. Well, it's not like last year where there was something in that Ferrari. They've found it this year.

It's just they haven't quite got every piece of the puzzle together. They have at some races, evidently. Obviously, the win at Silverstone would declare. They win at Spain for Hamilton. And for the, you know, most part of the season, they've been competitive. But there are a couple of races where they've fallen back in their race. so Hungary, for example, being a good example of that. Austria, they were sort of nowhere, almost inexplicably.

So, so nearly there to a complete championship, not to say they're not a championship contenders, sorry, but to be able to challenge the Mercedes or be the ones challenging it every race. There's just a tiny bit missing. They've not quite got yet. Sam, you've gone more driver-focused here. Hamilton Redemption Arc, explain that. that one. Yeah, I mean, we all know that on the other side of the garage, the clerk,

there was nothing that really needs to be adjusted. You know, he's incredibly loyal to the team. He's a top scoring driver. We rate him incredibly highly. One of the best qualifies, if not the best qualified currently on the grid. If anything, actually, he can afford to take a hit, which arguably he has so far this season and still be in the elite level of driver on the grid so far. It was Hamilton that we knew was down in the dump struggling. We only referenced the comments really recently that he made after Hungary last season. I'm like, I am useless. I'm not I got my job, replace me immediately, put me out to pasture. And now it's like, hello, Lewis Hamilton's back.

He's got a new dog. He's also with Kim Kardashian. Whoa. Two separate comments. Just to make that very clear. That's what I meant. And he's won a Grand Prix. He's been on the front rowing qualifying.

And now Ferrari can fight on all sides. They're not being hampered by having a driver that wasn't comfortable. Was it a part of the build process? They just need to get the car better at a straight line, and they've genuinely got a real fighting force there. I'm going to be a bit more critical of Ferrari than both of you had. So I've gone with not there yet, and I think they're further away than we think they are right now.

I know the points tally isn't too bad, and there's a lot of emphasis right now on that power unit and sorting that out. I'm unconvinced it's just that. I think there's more to it that they need to improve before they can properly fight for by the temperature. By reliability a little bit. Yes.

Yeah, yeah. 100%. And just to back that up, last four races, Mercedes and Ferrari have scored the exact same number of points, 117 points.

Now you might say that's pretty good. I mean, they're matching Mercedes. There's two problems with that. Number one, they don't need to match Mercedes right now. They need to be beating them

because they're the one with the deficit. But second of all, in that four race stretch, Mercedes have had two non-scores. They had the DNA of Russell at Belgium, and they had Antonelli not scoring any points at Silverstone. And yet, they've scored the same number of points. That's not enough. And I know we've

spoken about the power unit and a duo's going to help them out and it's already helped them out a bit in that regard. The two biggest tests of chassis we've had so far this year, Monaco and Hungary, Monaco, it was Vestappen that was challenging Antonelli in qualifying. And in Hungary, it was Norris going to a dominant win. When chassis's been more important, Ferrari haven't stepped up. And they have had moments, like Barcelona was obviously brilliant and they won at Silverstone as well.

When they won at Barcelona, I think it promised more than what they have delivered since then. And that's not to say it's been terrible, but I am yet to see enough to make me think that they can challenge this year. I just think that it might just be missing a little bit in a lot of different departments, but I don't think it's as simple as fix the power unit

and they're there. I think there's more than that. Let's head next to McLaren in three, two, one. So we've got Champions Hangover Hit from Sam. We've got good turnaround. Congrats from Harry. They'll really appreciate that, mate. And I've gone with Mercedes hotline needed.

Well, should we start with Harry's compliment? I like that. Yeah, well, what a McLaren. I'm obviously referencing the fact that they won in Hungary, and there's still obviously half a season to go here. But the turnaround from where they were at the start of the season, I'm referencing China here where... They didn't start.

None of them started, and they were on the plane home before the formation that was done. I know they are McLaren, they're reigning champions, but even so, that's quite a turnaround to, to come back from to, I think after China, if you'd said, if you said McLaren will still win a race this year, you go, okay, but by Hungary, I'm not sure I wouldn't see that. And by the margin that they did.

Exactly. It wasn't a couple of seconds. Exactly. Like it was a, it was a good, you know, it was a good solid win. So I think that deserves credit. And like I said, it may be seen where it goes for the rest of the year. But even so, I think that that needs to be noted after what. was a pretty

torrid start. I've gone with Mercedes hotline needed. Now, of course, we know that the world champion hotline has already set up, but I think a Mercedes hotline is required as well. Why? Did they have the Mercedes hard line?

No. No, Zax is not. It's a bit of strange situation, I think, they find themselves in, in that if we go back like 10 years to when Mercedes, sorry, McLaren were with Honda, and we used to, I know McLaren, not everything was great on the car

either, but we used to say, well, the power units really letting them down from even being in the midfield. It's obviously not that situation in that the Mercedes have maybe the best combination of ICE and battery out there. But equally, they're still being let down by the power unit just for a completely different reason this time, which is, unlike Red Bull and Mercedes and Ferrari, they are that team in the lead fight that isn't the factory team. and in a season where this isn't 2024-25 anymore,

where McLaren were in a situation where the power units had all been frozen, there was no development in that regard. This year there's a lot to learn about these power units and teams will keep learning. And they're having to deal at the moment with secondhand delayed information from Mercedes. Now, to make it clear, like the quality of the product they get from Mercedes is as good as what Mercedes will be running themselves. There's no difference there.

But we've heard from Andrea Stella and others multiple times this year when they've had an issue, they can't diagnose it as quickly as some of these other teams. They're waiting to hear from Mercedes as to why something has happened. And I think it's really cost them. And we get to Hungary where they're brilliant and they win by 15 seconds or whatever it was. But there's going to be at least a few people in the organisation who'll be asking the question, why have we been so dominant at a track where power unit isn't as important? Now, some of it might be the upgrades, obviously.

Like, they might have just worked. But there might be a few people thinking, well, why are other power heavy tracks where Mercedes are doing very well? Why isn't that copied over to us? So I don't know whether, again, Mercedes would be very interested in setting up a hotline, but it's almost what they need. Sam, you went with? Championships hangover hit.

So essentially, a statement that I don't think the winging of the title last season has helped them out at all here. They were pushed all the way to the end by Max Verstapp and Red Bull. And I think they're a victim of their own success. Whilst I do think, Ben, you are very right to raise the Mercedes frustrations and a lack of understanding of what's going on with their engine immediately when they need to be told what's going on their engine. Earlier on in the season, essentially Hungary feels like the outlier, they weren't able to bring a chassis that also allowed them to compete anyway. They had a good engine when it was

working. We saw Australia, for example, in right, in the first race of the season. Norris could better get past Arvin Limbler at racing bulls. He finished his P5 of course in that race. Of course, they go competing in China for engine reasons or factory reasons, which is not great. But then we get to Suzuki. And whilst, yes, we talked about Piaastri possibly winning

that Grand Prix and it was, you know, uprooted by the safety car, the actual end result of that meant that Antigelli went on to win by about 14 seconds in the end. Because Antigone was able to scamper off. The McLarence were unable to hold them back. The same with Monaco, of course. Piastri outside the opposing him again. Norris, of course, has that DNF.

It's just, when it is chassis reliant, arguably they're still not able to maximize it. And the first time they were able to maximize it was hungry in the most recent Grand Prix. So I think it's taking them some time to actually get the chassis and the aeroside of the car back up to standard. It was something that they were so good at

the last three or four seasons. It's where they thrived, you know, tire wearing not being a problem, overheating not being a problem, being able to follow really closely. Their rivals beat them in that at the start of this season. ignoring the Mercedes-Zenka problems. And if you're going to mind about something external,

you've got to make sure that your internal staff is as top-notch as possible, and it wasn't at the start of this season. Indeed. Let's take our first quick break on this episode. On the other side, a three-word summary for Red Bull. Welcome back, everyone. We've done three-word summaries for the top three teams in the championship. That leads us nicely onto Red Bull, very much.

Still a part of that lead group, fourth of that lead group. Three word summaries, please. In three, two, one. Okay, so we've got Max doing everything from Sam. Vestappen is Goat from Harry. And I've gone with, delete my prediction.

Oh, start with you there, Ben. What was that prediction? Remind us. Yeah, my prediction was that Vastappen would win the driver's championship. I'm officially calling quits on it. Now, you might remember, for those of you that have been listening to us for this length of time.

Thank you and sorry. 2024, I predicted that Vastappan would win the title that year as well. And I wanted to, sorry, 2025, I predicted it. And I wanted to keep that prediction alive for as long as possible. I think it was right to do so, because whilst the middle of the year, it wasn't looking great. It could have happened.

It could have very easily happened on that final day. The DNF happens and he's champion. Right. So I didn't quit on that prediction last year. I'm quitting. on it this year. Even though the points gap is actually not that different to what it was. It's maybe another 20 points further away than what he was at the same point last year. I just don't think it's happening. My bad. I thought the expectations, my expectations of Red Bull

going into Australia were just a bit maybe too high. And weirdly enough, on the internal combustion engine side of things, it was kind of deserved. Like they've delivered in that regard. But maybe it's the knock-on effect of losing Adrian Newe and so many other people, but the car and everything else around this power unit just hasn't been able to keep pace. We've had glimpses of Vestappen being in fights. We've seen him second place in Austria, pretty close to winning there. We've had a couple of instances where he started on the front row of a grid. And I don't think you necessarily need for Stappen to be winning championships

or competing for championships to have a great Formula One. but it would be a better sport, I think, if Vestappen was just in some more race-winning situations this year and it's kind of painful that he's not right now and I'm not sure he'll get there either for the rest of the year. Now, you've both gone sort of Vastappan heavy with your three-word summaries. Vastappan is goat, Harry? Yeah, he is goat.

The car has not consistently been up to scratch this year It's shown glimpses, hasn't it, the Red Bull, but it's been quite patchy In terms of its performance, and whilst, you know, it has let him down on occasions as well with the weird rear wing That being said for Sappan has also dropped it too But I think like you said, he's only an extra 20 points further away than he was this time last year Any other driver in that car then they're way for other away. I don't think

there's anyone else that would be, I know he's not very close, but would even be that closer than he is to the leader at this stage given the car

and that's, you know, and it's relative. It'd be racing balls plus almost, right? It'd be better than race, but not by, not by much.

It would be where Hajar is, yeah, basically. And I know there are drivers better calibre than Hagear that would, but I just, I just think what, for Stappen is still

managing to drag out of that car. You really fell off the road in Austria qualifying trying to go for pole. The fact that that was even in a question, like it was even in question that he was maybe going to get pole position and indeed he almost won the race

didn't he? Yeah. I think that in itself is ridiculous. So yeah, he continues to be pretty good at the F1. And you think he's doing everything, Sam? I do. I think he's absolutely doing everything for this team. I think the car as you mentioned has been patchy, it's starting off the season.

So poor. I think he's P6 in Australia. And we saw it came to Suzuki. He's fighting with Gasly and losing to the Alpian overall in that Grand Prix. And yet in the last four races, he's had three podiums. And whilst, yes, that does show a marked improvement that the car is getting better. Equally, the car is trying to throw him in the wall twice because it's failed on him. And yet he still managed to turn that around to produce such excellent results.

There is no doubt in my mind that, you know, you can say a lot about a lot of drivers, something that I feel staggely confident saying about Max for stabbing is he maximises whatever you can get out of any car you give him and I think he's doing that right now for Red Ball and I think the points show that against Hager speaking of Hager we haven't focused on him as part of these three-word summaries this might be an unfair statement I'm interested to hear what you think about this

the midfield is obviously a lot further away than the top four teams this year if they weren't would Hadjar's season so far look dramatically different to what Sonoda's season was last year? I think it would be better. I'm not sure it would be massively better. It's only 25 points clear of lossing now.

It's just like when we talk about 40 second gap sometimes and it's not the case every Grand Prix. He showed some really good pace at Belgium, for example. But at Hungary, like if that's last year, I don't know if he's in the points if he's that far behind Vastappen. He hasn't convinced me in the way that I was convinced in racing balls. And equally, I think we can be looking at this much more favourably

if he didn't have the reliability problem in Australia when he was running a podium position. To be clear, this isn't like a, how I don't need to get out of that seat? No, I agree. But it's just, you can ask questions. He could be swayed a little bit by what's happening. Racing Bulls are up next,

leading that midfield battle at the moment, albeit only just. They've overtaken Alpine very recently. After Alpine, of course, had a very good start to the year. But racing balls really come on strong in the last eight races or so. So what have we got for a three-word summary for racing balls? If we can go in three, two, one. Actually pretty handy from Sam.

Racy little balls from Harry. And I've gone with Stop Nearly Crashing. Sam, do you want to kick us off this time? I let this look like the easiest car to drive on the whole grid. It's just solid everywhere. It's not the best at anything, as we know, because it would be winging. That's how that works.

But I just think it looks like both those drivers have a really good time of getting the most out of that car. And when you've got a driver that's, you know, has officially kind of done two full seasons now, and a driver who is only 10 races into his whole Formula One career, and they're both able to get this much out of a race car, I think that tells you that you've got a really plucky little line-up with a car that's able to really deliver on strong performances.

It's good in qualifying. It can maintain that pace in the Grand Prix. It can overtake. It's got good straight-line speed. And it does well in tracks as well that relied on the chassis. We saw with Monaco, they picked up a double-point to finish again there. So overall, this is a really brilliant, plucky little car that's doing a great job in the big field.

And they're not too far off, as we've just mentioned, the likes of Hager and the points Sally to their drivers. So I'm impressed. I mean, I was just checking their results for the year. They've had a, they did not start in Canada. They had a retirement at the race before in Miami. Other than that, we haven't had really instances. I know there has been a lot of crashes this season anyway,

but in terms of these, either of these drivers in the barriers this year, I'm trying to remember, like, I think Lindblad had a small spin at, like, China, what was his second race. Yeah, yeah, that was it. But I can't really think of other instances where, and you say, just based on what you're saying about this car being quite nice to drive for both of them,

yeah, it certainly seems that way. Lawson was near Perez in Australia, and that spells terror for everyone involved. But other than that, it's been fine. Yeah, the ironic thing is the closest to danger these two have been has been either with Tertri Peres or with each other, which is why stop nearly crashing. Because in terms of this team,

I don't think it's hyperbole, say, like, this is almost unprecedented success for them. Like, even in their Toro-Rosso Alphi-Tauri days, what we're seeing from them now is really rare. Like, the fact that Limbluda scored in eight of the 11 rounds so far this year, Lawson has scored in eight of the 11 rounds this year, and they've had at least one driver in the points in 10 of the 11 races. I think it was just Miami where they didn't score. It's only them Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes, who can say they've had at least one driver in the points in 10 of 11 races this year is really consistent. You go back multiple years of this team like last year, Hadjar and Lawson both had good

weekends. It was very rare that they had good weekends at the same time. They only had three instances last year of double points finishes. They just had a run of like four in a row. So it is really good at the moment for this team, which I mean quite nicely leads us on to Harry because, yeah, racing little balls. yeah that kind of summarizes not very well but it summarizes what you guys are saying I think the car is really good really solid fast in especially in race trim I think

and those two drivers are both pretty handy at the moment limblard having a great a great season and as is as is lawson I will take what you say then that they should stop trying to crash into each other but apart from that, and so far they haven't, so let's give them credit for that. It's coming. Do they need to do something internally, like Alan Permanne or whoever,

like do they need to get ahead of it or just let it happen? It'll happen. I think it's inevitable, it will happen at some point. It's a training in school, they'll be a training school. And then they'll do something about it. But, yeah, overall, a really, really solid package for racing balls this year,

which, when was that last time they looked this good as a team? I don't know they've ever looked this time. That's my point. I don't actually think this team has looked this good maybe ever. They've had better with certain drivers, I think. Gassely, I think, did better the both of them right now. Vastafel of course, right. By the day, did better. But as a duo and a full package, this is the best all-rounder. I think they've ever been. But there's a chance that Lawson and Lindblad scored more points this year than Vestappen did in his debut year. Definitely on Lawson side. And I mean, Lawson is the new Vestappan confirmed. I mean, that's pointing to the – that's pointed to how good the team is, I think.

They're in this position now. They weren't in that position in 2015. Not at all. What about Alpine? Again, just been overtaken by Racing Bulls for that fifth place in the championship. Three words summary for them, please. In three, two, one.

Falling with style going Toy Story with Sam, maybe some upgrades, question mark, from Harry. And I've gone with Trust Flavio's maths. No, sure. I mean, you've gone with the buzz light your approach, so. Yeah, I have. They're getting worse, but they do be sexy. And Gucci to come.

That was also what I was kind of nudging towards there. Colopinto and Gasly, great ambassadors for that team. I think they do a lot for the lifestyle approach. I think that's a key reason why someone like Gucci is decided to really go for that team as well. Of course, with the investment opportunity that's available there, Alping. I think that they really do a good, job of a car that is genuinely, as Harry mentioned, is not bringing a lot of upgrades and they're not doing a lot to further back car's ability to hold onto its spot as the leader of the midfielding.

They have just lost that to racing balls. So whilst I think they're fortunate that they've got two very reputable drivers who are able to kind of give them some credit and so both on track and off track, have a big of a race, a bit of fun and they look good and they're there, you can around Ralea, or Gassi especially, but also in Alcona Pinto in that race car, I just think it's a shame that the car itself isn't able to deliver the same level as what the drivers can. Harry, I mentioned earlier that Mercedes have brought the second fewest upgrades so far this year. There's only one team behind them, of course. Alpine.

Yeah, we've mentioned this before. Whereas Mercedes, I understand because it's all a strategy boy. Yeah. Just go for that $27. That's what they're doing. Alpine, maybe just a few. It's like a couple. just bring them along

yeah I know it's not necessarily you know going to be something that catapults them to the front of the grid but given where they started this year I think falling their way back through the field at the rate that they currently are is not a great tactic even if it is saving them some money for next year

because what's the point if you finish further down so yeah and also given the amount of podiums that Flavio said they were going to have in 2020 six. They're one for how many, Ben? How many did he want to have?

He won 50%. Close. There's still the option to get this right. The rest of the season. If you wing every single race for the season. So, yeah, I just,

I think maybe there must be some sort of plan there, but I'd love to see an action at some point. Well, that's why you need to trust Flavio's maps. That's why I've got this written down. If they get podiums at 11 of the 12 races to come this year, they will hit their target. So I don't know what we're worried about, boys.

This is fine. Oh, this is just being a subtle roast of Alpine. Yeah. They've got one out of 11 so far this year. So they are on track in that it is mathematically still possible. What you've both said, really, in terms of first six races, they scored 50 points, last five races they've scored 11. They're getting further away.

they've brought the fewest upgrades so far this year. It's not great. Gasly, yeah, Gassley keeps being Gassley. Colopinto has done enough for me to get another year in that seat whether Flavio agrees or not, remains to be seen. I almost like, they've gone to this sort of McLaren model at field, or trying to get to a McLaren model, maybe, and then they're not there yet, but not even close.

It's weird in a way because the dysfunction of Alpine, a few years ago when we had all of the departures and we had the Bruno Fumen era and there was so much, there was so much drama and chaos. It is weird in a way that Flavio Brutori's come in. Calm the down. There's actually less chaos.

But at the same time, at least back when they were doing a load of ridiculous things, I felt, well, they're trying some, and I don't agree with it, but I don't know what the plan is right now. It also could blame the failure on something, Whereas now it's like, all is quiet on the, on the Alpine front. And why aren't you doing anything? Right.

I just don't get like, because we know that they're not producing their own engine anymore. I don't like that decision, but fine. Where's this going? Like, I don't see it. Straight to Gucci. Straight to Gucci. And that is very Gucci. Well, we've still got four more teams to cover off right after this.

Okay. back, everyone. We've got four more teams to give out three-word summaries for, starting with Audi, who very recently overtook Williams in the championship. Oh, no, I've written down house. Oh, have we missed out? This is great. This is really funny. I don't actually have anything written about it. Nothing written down. We've got three words. Hurry, we're sewing. We prepared more than Ben. Yes. This has never happened. I've genuinely gone from Alpine to I forgot them. You know what?

It's going to have to be that now. That's really funny. Also, the sheer panic of me and Sam who just immediately depended being wrong. We're definitely wrong. I mean, it's fair in that Hasse have been so bad that you might have thought they have dropped another place.

Yeah. Yeah, I'm just going to see by de facto, we're running. We must be running like, oh, no, no, crap. Well, as we know, up next is HASS. So three word summaries for Hasse. that we've all thought of in three, two, one. So we've got above their pay grade from Sam,

we've got, so literal, good thing crap from Harry, and I've gone with The Kitchen's Dead. Which you definitely thought through. So why don't you start with it first, Ben? Why is the kitchen dead? Because they were good and now they're not. You could almost say they've been good and now they've been crap. Oh, I mean.

Who said that? A wise man. It's kind of what we discussed in our last episode, right, where we're talking about HASS and how impressive it was that they started the year so strong with those consecutive points finishes because I can't remember exactly where we had them in our constructors predictions to start the year. But I'm not sure we came out and said, okay, they're going to be at the top of the midfield to start this season off.

It doesn't make sense in that you've got other teams like racing balls, copying a lot of what Red Bull have done. You've got, you know, you've got Audi in terms of them being a factory team. Hasse, they are. underfunded, and yet they were beating the odds early on in the year. But as Kamatsu, Bearman and anyone in the building will tell you, when you've got everyone else bringing all of these upgrades every couple of races, and they're not, you're going to fall back.

And it's worrying in that they've got Audi and Astor Martin behind them at the moment. I'm not sure that's going to stay the case for much longer if things carry on. They might be in a battle with Williams for 9th and 10th at this rate. tough isn't it tough i agree with you that's why i said that um above their pay grade i think currently the sport is too expensive for them and they're unable to compete financially they have a serious cash flow problem and no i don't mean keeping the business alive i mean with actually just being competitive about to pay for the same level that everyone else is we discussed this in the last episode they need to do something with their cash flow more sponsors more investments sell it

do something i don't care what it is as always it's legal bringing the cash to the business and spend it on the car because those engineers, they need a little bit more. And Harry, your three words were, good then crap. Poetic. Please explain that, because I don't know what you mean. It's very subtle, very ecliptic. I mean, it's a sort of analysis that, you know, respectable F-1 journalists only could dream of.

But at the start of the year, house was pretty good. Yeah. And if you look at them now, they're actually a bit crap. I think I read that in a race article somewhere. Yeah, yeah. Mark Hughes. like, yeah, quoted it. Even as little baby, Ed Straw looked up to Harry.

Baby Ed Straw. Oh. Good job, we love you. We love you, Ed Strau. Yeah, look, as you already mentioned, started the year relatively strong. But as we've spoken about previously, the lack of resource funding, et cetera,

it's just meant they started to fall back. And whereas Alpine, think do have the money to do it and just choosing not to because why not? I don't think Hasse are in that position at all and they just can't afford to kind of afford to keep up with where they started the season

which is a tale we've heard before with them so yeah, good and then crap to summarize. Yes, honestly I think the best summary you can have is that I just forgot they existed like that's yeah, that might tell you need to know. Maybe it's why they've got no sponsors.

Maybe. Everyone forgets up there. That would explain a lot. Let's go on to Audi next, where I will definitely not write this for the second time today. That's very good. Three-word summary for Audi in three, two, one. So we've got sexy but slow from Sam.

They love AI. No, no. P-11. P-A-L blind, boy. I was thinking, that's very cryptic for Harry. They love AI. They love P11. They really do.

And I've got 50 point target. What's interesting, Sam, is that I don't remember what we said exactly about the Audi delivery to start the year. But I don't think we were massively complimentary about it. So it must have, must have. I'm actually talking about the sound, not the appearance. And that makes more sense. Yeah.

Whilst I actually think the colour on the back of that car is a really lovely colour. and I also really like the color on the front of the car. I think the livery and the pairing of them together suck. I think they dig it way better on their kind of trial car, their demo card they put out when they were first announcing coming into the sport. I thought that was a stunning looking car. But the turbo they've got in this thing and the side pod design and some of the things they're doing to the car,

it's gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. Just colours need to be a bit better. But they have shown that they do be slow on a lot of these occasions. off the line especially where they're struggling to maintain what could be in theory quite good qualifying pace, respectable qualifying pace at least. And we've seen that they are really struggling to get themselves into the points on a regular basis, most notably by Hulk only just scoring his first points of the season. And Borsellasso is not exactly too far ahead of him either.

So they're causing themselves problems they don't really need when they're doing the groundwork early on just to set themselves back again. I think there's a lot to come from this team. It's just not there yet. what is about AI that they love honestly they are big fans of chat GPT this podcast is not sponsored I never put that in Alan at me as she's life I love AI

yeah I think Audi had been slightly unlucky at some points this year but where they are is just like nudging the top 10 yes I know they have obviously had results with the score points which has been great but I don't even mean that as an insult, I think it's been pretty solid overall for what is, I know they were already salver, but what is a new team in F1? I think this has been a pretty solid start to, start to

their time. So yeah, I know we're joking saying they love P11. A lot of times it could have been better and I think it's a good foundation for them to build on. Yeah, I went with 50 points target, which I guess explains itself. I think this constructor can target 50 points this year. And I know they've only got 12 at the moment, but 10 of those 12 have come in the last three races. They're finally taking advantage of what seems to be probably right now the sick fastest car. And if they can start getting themselves in that position with the racing balls fighting for 8th, 9th and 10th more consistently, I think they can start to build a point. I'm not sure. Well, I don't think they're going to catch racing balls.

balls or Alpine. I think they can catch us and I think they can overtake them if they keep going. I think they are to your point, Harry, relatively happy with where they're at right now. I think they're making good progress. Chassis is pretty good. Power unit is probably the thing that needs more work. And without appearing so, they have been very consistent. The problem is that consistency has been with the amount of P11, P12 and P13 finishes they've had so far this year. To prove that, if you look at the teams around them, and I've picked out, Hasse, Williams, Aster Martin and Cadillac. Hasse have had nine race finishes,

not including DNFs or anything, nine race finishes where they've been worse than 13th place this year. Williams have had 10 of those. Astor Martin have had nine of those. Cadillac have had 12. Audi have had none. Audi have not finished a race in worse than 13th. But they've been between 11th and 13th, 13th times.

They've just locked out those three spots. But now maybe we're starting to see eighth place finishes for Bortoletto the last couple of races. Holcomberg doing getting points as well in Hungary. Maybe we just see more consistent scoring from them. Up next, we have Williams. I'm going to upset some people with this one. Oh, geez. Okay, Williams in three, two, one.

So we've got con man selling dreams from Sam. stinky poo-poo from Harry and I've gone with Fire Festival Racing. That's brutal. Yeah, I think we've both been fairly brutal there, but con man. Look, he's a lovely bloke.

Pat Frye, we're talking about here, right? Obviously. Don't bring a pat-fry sandler over it. I won't hear it. I'm not here. It makes a great fry-up. James Vowse is a lovely bloke. I love the way he approaches the publicity side of being a team principal. I love how clear he is.

I love how much he's trying to be open and transparent with fans of the team. But he laboured the point that competitiveness is what they're aiming for with the new era. Failed. That responsibility has to sick with him. And even more recently, he's come out interviews and said, we're not where we are one of being.

Well, that's our sex, that's... He's much more eloquent than that. Really is. That great comms you just referenced. This is why he's a con man. I can't talk, but he's selling these dreams. Anyway, very recently he's come out and basically said, you know, we've got a path to get there.

We're on our way again. Yeah, the path should have started a while ago, right? You're barely there. Yeah, I don't want to hear it at the moment because you're losing to so many manufacturers that you should be just clear off comfortably. It's not good enough. I don't know how long they put up with it.

I mean, I'm on the same sort of Fred as you. I haven't gone as far as calling him a con man, But hey, there were plenty of common men to do with the Fire Festival. What a thing that was, by the way. Yeah, yeah. So much hype. So little performance. A great documentary about it as well.

Really interesting much. Yes, yeah, very true. Unfortunately, this is heading the same way as that. Vowles has sold a lot of dreams. But right now that's kind of all he can sell. There's just not much else to go on. Signs, I think, is considering options. Albon would be if there were options out there for him.

He must be, Albin must be tearing his hair out because he's been a part of this project for so many years and been through the worst days to then get it a bit better last year and then go somewhere back to where it was this year. They haven't had a car inside the top 14 since Barcelona. And I think as we discussed, maybe me and Harry discussed on a recent episode, like they don't do corners well, which is really fundamental to F1. And it just, they're not good at corners, and they're really bad when it's windy.

And the problem is, that's been the two big problems with this car since like 2021. And we're still talking about it in 2026. So, yeah, it's not looking great. Harry, I don't know how, but you've been the least savage by saying stinky poo-po. It's a very common phrase on the show. Yeah, look, I think the troubles of Aston Martin throughout this year so far have just slightly overshadowed and blinded a lot of us to what we're not blinded, but taking the heat, the spotlight off of Williams,

and then Hungary happened, and we've all gone, wait a second, that might be the biggest steaming pile of garbage on the grid versus, I mean, the Aston Martin's had the upgrades now, obviously, but they don't I mean Ben we spoke about this I think but they're not confident about their backer upgrades in terms of they know it's not going to do what that Aston Martin upgrade did that's a terrible spot to put it to come out and already be saying that ahead of a race a few races away is a bad spot to be in and yeah like you said their reliance on the on the you know on the power unit it reeks of like 2014 15 16

But it worked. It worked. It was even worse than that point. I know that left them in the spot that they've now ended up in as a team where they didn't have anything else apart from the power unit and that eventually faded. But to now be in that same spot in terms of needing that reliance but also not good, really bad place to be. Yeah, not great for Williams right now. But we still want two more teams to look at.

Let's start with Aston Martin with their. grand total of one point, seeing them ahead of Cadillac for now. Three word summaries, please. In three, two, one. So we've got 2027, can't wait from Sam. Is that light from Harry? Possibly referring to a tunnel. And I've gone with Honda Upgrade Pivotal.

Stead pointing at a bulb like. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Is that light? So, Sam, I wasn't sure exactly what you were, the way you were phrasing, 2027, like, you can't wait for 2020, or you literally can't, it can't be waited for, you need to act now. Well, that's kind of why I wrote it that way, because I think both are true. They essentially need to start doing as much as they can to this car, but with the aim that

2027 needs to be a huge jumping off point. They need to deliver enough that they ensure that Alonso is confident in the car, if it is true, that they, of course, wish to keep him and that relationship will continue, and he would want to stay along there. He's a great advocate for them. a great wheel man. We love what he's able to do. It makes sense that he is someone they put the car behind,

but they're going to give him a bit of faith in it. Equally, if they do not deliver this in 2027, I think it will be one of the biggest failures of expectation and a team that we've seen for maybe ever in Formula One, if I'm honest, with that team, the facility, the money, the ability that they've got in theory to grow and develop. And if they would still be at the back at the start of 20207, and it might be one of the worst failures we've ever seen.

Harry, you've gone with, is that light? Is there light at the end of the tunnel based on what we've seen in Hungary? It's a very long tunnel, I will caveat that with. And the light, it's a real flicker, like it's right at the end. But yes, I think there is. And whilst there is a long way to go for Aston Martin, and to your point that I'll let you make Ben

a lot rides on what Honda can do. I think given the jump they were able to make, I think there is light at the end of the tunnel. And just, again, it's not where they should have been at the start of this year, but the backing they have, the facilities, the people that have been placed into that team, I think it's only a matter of time. It's a when, not if situation for Astor Martin.

it just, it's going to take a bit of time. But there is like the end of the tunnel. Yeah, I've gone with the Honda upgrade being pivotal because the car is seemingly in a better place based on what we saw in Hungary. They seem to have got ahead of Williams and Hasse and maybe not too far behind Alpine either. But they are still at the moment losing out to Alpine

and indeed Audi and racing balls. And we know that there will be circuits. where power unit is more important than what we've just been to. We'll go to Malaysia later in the year. We're going to go to Sao Paulo and Abu Dhabi, and it's going to be really important for the Honda Power Unit to have made progress. We'll soon see, probably at Zambor, whether they can deliver half a second worth of upgrades

or if it's more than that or less than that. And it's kind of, it's part one ticked. It almost goes back to the discussion on last episode where we were going through Alonzo in his decision to stay or not, If he isn't going to make the decision before the summer break and he's going to wait for this, it's almost like I think the first box is ticked, but he might still need to see this second box ticked of the engine being improved as well. If it all comes together, they could well start to score some points more regularly this year. It wouldn't completely shock me.

But that engine still needs to be improved because they were still pretty slow in that first sector in Hungary, which of course contains the real main straight of that circuit. And last, I would say not least, but the way that we're doing it is literally the least. They've scored no points this year. That being Cadillac. Three word summaries for them, please. Three, two, one. So we've got structural integrity optional from Sam.

Do more laps from Harry. And I've gone with achy, breaky heart, breaky spell. B-R-A-K-E-Y. The right way to spell it, I'll get you. Yeah, the only way. Yeah, no easing our breakie. I'm not going to employ you, Sam, to build my house. Structural integrity is optional.

Good, bless, Sturban. Honestly, they're in a really good spot. As new teams go, the fact they've got to come in, there are a whole new unit. I am happy with where Kaganak generally are running at the moment. They are fighting around the end of Q1, the upgrade made a good step forward. The drivers are solid and doing a good job. The team looks like it's got great unity behind it. And then marketing well, they're reflecting

nicely a lot of the geography that we're going to, which is fantastic for a new team. Just stop falling apart at every Grand Prix. And if it's even a little bit hot, stop setting on fire. Just have a race where nothing falls off and nothing sets on fire. All good. All good. yeah harry your three words were do more laps um sounds good done it yeah i again i i agree overall with what sam's saying in terms of it's been a it's been a for a new brand brand new team that kind of like are it's been a good start to the year um for them overall i think the but obviously performance wise yeah i think they've they start to make some progress um but they can't necessarily carry on just not doing many laps in a Grand Prix.

I mean, they keep retiring before we even get to like a third of the way in a race at the moment, especially when it's hot. So that's going to be their focus because great to put performance on the car, but they will learn more from doing these race distances. I'm not saying they're not doing them on purpose, but they'll benefit more from doing race distances and they will by having cars that can get close to Q2. So I think it's important that they try and focus,

if they haven't already shifts and focused on to reliability rather than our right performance. Yeah, I agreed. Progress has been fine, I think, from their side. The points are pretty irrelevant right now. This isn't why they entered F1. And if they had two points or five points, I don't think it would be a massively more successful season. They're at the back and their intention is not to be at the back,

but that won't happen this year. that won't happen next year. That will happen in years to come. So it is about laying the groundwork right now. Yeah, they could have been 10th in Monaco. Yes, they weren't that far outside of the points in China. But at the moment, it's not really based on their own performance as to whether they stand a chance to scoring points. It's just about what chaos is happening in front of them that's giving them an opportunity. So instead, the focus does need to be on finishing Grand Prix.

And recently, last four races, they've had five retirements, which isn't helpful. that track time and they can't do that when if you look at the brakes they just melt and they're somehow the heat of the sun so hence why I went with achy breaky heart just sort your brakes out so they don't melt when we have like 30 degree temperatures at some of these Grand Prix because we've still got Austin we've still got Malaysia it's going to be hot of both of those I mean if you look at the current climate issues Italy's yeah we bloody Yeah. Like it's not like we're done with all the hot races now that we're, you know, starting to get out of, or we will get out of the summer here in Europe. Like,

there's going to be some hot races still to come. Singapore. I'd add another one in there. I was going to do it for three-word summaries. Let us know if you had some, some different witty three-word summaries for any of those teams. On the other side, we're going to round out this episode with a game of F1 order, please. Welcome back, everyone to the final part of today's episode. it's time for F1 order please. Whether it's a can of Coca-Cola or a lump of cheese or we're ordering drivers by the size of their knees.

This game is full of facts, just you wait and see. This is Formula One. Order, order, please. Great that John Burkho decided to chime in at the end. Yeah, real good of him that. Good guy. We haven't played this one in a while, have we? F-1 order, please.

Harry and Sam against each other, six questions. and I'll give them four different things. It could be drivers, could be tracks, could be anything I'd choose, and they will have to order them based on a certain criteria. If they get it right, they get a point. If they don't get it right, the other person has the opportunity to steal the point by getting it correct.

But there is risk attached in that because if they give it a go and they give a different incorrect order, they will lose a point. We'll start with Harry. What number would you like? Number six, please, Ben. Number six, I'm going to give you four drivers from the 2026 season. I want you to list them based on how many points they have in this 2026 season.

The worst kind of question for me. The best kind of question. So you've got Franco Colopinto, Alex Albon, Carlos Sines, and Gabriel Bortoletto. I don't know. Bortoletto has the most. then it signs Collipita album. That is not the correct order, which means, Sam, you do have the opportunity

to steal the point if you want to give it a go. I will steal. Oh, okay. Collopinto has the most. Then Borseletto, then signs an album. Let me just see if John Burko agrees with you. He does.

Well done. You tried to steal the point and you were successful in doing. So Franco Colopinto has 19 points this season, followed by Bortoletto who has 10, Signs has 6, Albon has 5. And Sam, you get the next pick. Oh, number 5. Going in reverse order today, okay. I'm going to give you four seasons. I want you to list them based on how many points George Russell scored in each of these seasons. Oh, it's the worst. I'm just, you're just picking the worst possible questions for each of you here. Your options are 2022, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Great. So what, most to the least?

Yes, please. Okay. I don't know. 24, most, then 25, then 23, then 22. Given your confidence in this one, Sam. Mine will be surprised to learn. That one wasn't the correct order. Excellent.

the more assertive and fast I am, the more wrong I am. Harry, would you like to try and steal? No. You know what, weirdly? Can't I see that coming? Yeah. The correct order was 2025 first, 319 points. Then it was 2022 when he scored 275.

Then it was 2024. And then last was 2023, just 175. Oh, dear, oh dear. But you've still got the lead, Sam, and we go back to Harry for the next one. Number one. Number one, I'm going to give you four circuits. I want you to list them based on how many races they've held. Great.

So you like this one. This is good. You've got Baku, Sapang, Marina Bay and Imala. Marina Bay is Singapore for those of you that aren't where? What was the first one, sorry? Baku was the first one. I'll go for Imala has the most

there oh no oh no no no no then Singapore then Sapang and then

Baku not the correct order that's why I was shaking yeah all time Simon, do you like to try and steal? Yeah, that's a point in the game. I've got a point to lose. So, that's throwing away.

I agree that I think Imala is the most, but I'm going to swap the middle two rounds, so then I'll go Sapang, then Singapore, and then Baku. This was one where I think the first and the last one was ordered fairly easily. It was always going to be those two. Imola has held 32 races,

Sapang 19, Marina Bay 17, Baku 9. I'm really glad I didn't go first on that one. Yeah, that was a good one to go second on. They're set out of Singapore. You've got the next pick, Sam. I'll have number four, please. Number four, I'm going to give you four drivers. I want you to list them based on their highest finish in the world championship.

Okay. So you've got Lance Stroll. Camui Kobayashi. Kevin Magnuson and Pastor Maldonado Oh, crumbs. They can all equally have been third or 17th, and it's, I don't know. I'll give you a clue. None of these drivers have finished third in the championship.

Yeah, I was being kind. Right, hold on. So we had stroll, Camui, Kobiashi. Who else are you saying? Magnuson and Maldonado. Magnuson Maldonado, thank you. highest finish would be Maldonado, then Magnuson, then Stroll, then Kobayashi. Not the correct order, Harry, would you let's try and steal a point?

No. Fair play some. Fair play. The correct order, tough on this. Ninth place finish in the World Championship for Kevin Magnuson leads the way, followed by Landstrol, who's finished 10th before. Then it's Kobayashi, who's finished 12th. And Maldonado's best finished,

despite winning a race in a season, is 14th. I really thought, because of that season, he might have been a bit higher. The thing is he didn't score anywhere else. That's the problem. Oh. So it stays 2-0 to Sam. Harry, what number would you like?

Oh, no. Oh, you shouldn't have deviated, my friend. I was happy to tow the line. Number two? Number two. you can have number two. Yes. Four drivers, again,

I want you to list them based on how many laps they've led in their career. Lando Norris, Valtre Bottas, George Russell, and Charles LeClerle. Oh, that is,

hell on earth. That's horrendous. Big a question. Bottas for the most. Norris Leclair Russell. It's a tough question, I will admit. That's not the correct order. Sam, with a 2-0 lead, you're going to risk it?

No. Yeah, pretty sensitive to play that. Yeah, a difficult one. Everyone, get your tissues out ready to cry. Charles LeCleur leads this list. What? What? What?

What? It's like, it's over 200 clear of Bottas and of Norris in second as well. How is that even possible? That's so funny. Yeah, Leclair, 968. Norris is next on 757, Bottas, 728 is third, and then Russell is last on 551.

Wow. That poor man. Goodness me. So you've wrapped up the wind, Sam, too, no. But you've still got one more question to go, which is number three. Okay, I'm going to be four teams. And I will admit,

this is really close across all of them. So surprisingly close, I thought. I want you to list these four teams based on how many sprint points they've got since sprint started. McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari. Right. I'm going to have to say Red Bull the most.

If a staff has got that many wings, that surely that's tipped over the age. I'm then going to say McLaren. Then I'm going to say Mercedes and then Ferrari. not the correct order. Do you want to stab at it, Harry, to see if you can get minus one? Nah.

I'll play for the gold difference. You're going to play for the zero. Well played. To give you credit, Sam, that is the exact order I would have gone for if I had this question. But the correct order is, Red Bull First, 214.

They're one point clear of Ferrari in second, 213. Then it's McLaren on 204. Mercedes are last with 191, but it's very close between all four of them. I'm also amazed they could score that many points in sprint races. Also, basically Vastappan leads this one. But they're nearly all Vastappan's wins. Yeah, he's very good at them, isn't he?

Yeah. So Sam, 2-0 win. Congratulations to you. Excellent. Excellent. I shall dream about my 2-0 win at night time tonight. Good stuff. You'll never guess what your prize is.

Your prize is getting us out of here and doing the outro. That's the best prize. I love that prize. Thanks, Ben. Thanks for listening with us throughout the summer break. We've got a few more bits of pieces to chat through. And of course, we are going to be venturing off to Zangval when the racing return. So Ben, I believe the form is still available to fill out in. Oh, that form's still there. The best form. There's a form. To remind people, we put out a form a couple of months ago where you could register your interest. If you filled that form in, you need to fill this one in as well. Because this is the official one. we're trying to see what the interest is. Here, you need to let us know where you're coming. Exactly. First form, null and void.

New form, gospel. That is what we're going with now. Thank you. I guess it's a place that Harry can't bring out, so we'll get him to say that on the next episode. Look, ruined as something. Exactly. Well, it's cool.

Thank you. For us on social media, late breaking F1, get in the Discord. Check out Patreon. And we'll see you for the midweek episode. Come out very soon. In the meantime, I'll be Samuel Sage. I've been Ben, Harry Eat.

And remember, keep breaking. light.