The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Piastri vs Alpine! Who wins?

Episode Date: August 4, 2022

Sam and Ben discuss the dramatic saga between Oscar Piastri and Alpine, the shock signing of Fernando Alonso to Aston Martin, and the news that Sebastian Vettel is retiring... JOIN our Discord: https://discord.gg/dQJdu2SbAm SUPPORT our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/latebraking TWEET us @LBraking BUY our merch: https://late-braking-f1-podcast.creator-spring.com/ SUBSCRIBE to our podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. Thank you for listening to the Lake Breaking F1 podcast. Make sure to tune in for new episodes every Wednesday and Grand Prix Sunday. Hello and a very warm welcome to the Lake Breaking F1 podcast presented by Sam Sage and me, Ben Hocking. No Harry Ead on today's podcast, which is about right given the amount that's happened in Formula One over the last couple of days. only right that he would miss this sort of one. If you've been paying any attention, a lot is happening in the world of Formula One. And apparently the concept of a summer break doesn't exist. We're going to try our best to get into absolutely anything and everything that's happened in the

last two or three days or so. Formula One actually tweeted on, I think it was Monday or possibly Sunday night, out of office mode, wishing everyone a restful summer break has become official The no team or driver follows the F1 account on Twitter, or they are completely ignoring it, because Sam, it's been utterly bonkers. Utterly bonkers is an understatement. It's like we were on holiday, and now the summer break is actually going back to work.

I think we've been more active on our Twitter account, for example, over the last four-day period, than we have done over most race weekends. The amount of mean mileage that we've been speaking about, We've gotten out of this Piastri moment. Williams tweeting about Albon, which we'll get into, multiple accounts, official accounts,

like football teams and whatnot, claiming that Piastri is signing for them but hasn't agreed anything. There's been drama, drama, drama, and I think at one point, Ben, we said we do a six-hour pod and I'd scream for three hours. I'm on the verge of it,

because the excitement and yet bizarreness of this last week has just blown my mind. Listen, because I hope you're also feeling the buzz of what has been going on in Formula One, because silly season from Bifango alongside, that would be his first book. Silly season by Fahando Alonkso is published. It's well truly out in the world,

and we're all reading it. It's all his world, folks. He just decided to wave us goodbye, going his holiday, and leave us in this chaos at his cause. Honestly, folks, the schedule for tonight's episode has been written and rewritten about five times over

since Vettel's retirement last Thursday. Complete surprise at the time. about 12 things have happened since that point. So before I get on to what's on today's podcast, I'll mention one thing that isn't on today's podcast, and that is the announcement as a couple of hours ago, Alex Albin resigning for Williams' multi-year deal. We will discuss that, but we'll discuss it on next week as episode, because quite frankly, too much has happened for it to make tonight's one. We are going to be discussing Sebastian Vettel and his retirement, because it's the first chance we've had to do so. Alonzo, of course, replacing him at Aston Martin. That was initially

going to be the lead topic. Who's replacing Vettel? Alonzo's decided he'll answer it before we can get there. But we are going to lead tonight with Oscar Piastri. So if you're not caught up with this, Alpine, of course, need another driver. Fernando Alonzo is not going to be there next year. So they need someone to partner Esteban Ockon. And they clearly had sights on it being Oscar Piastri. It's been discussed for quite a long time. He's been waiting in the wings, as their reserve driver. Alpine announced on Monday that it's unbelievable. The Oscar Piestri will be joining the team from 2023 onwards.

Piastri, a couple of hours later, saying, no, br, I'm not. Sam. What did you make of, where do we start? How much of an embarrassment is this for Alpine to lose those two drivers in a succession of days? It's a huge embarrassment. This is, it will go down as one of those big controversies in Formula One that you look at across, you know, a 10-year period, 20-year period. When you talk about Crashgate that happened with Rennell those years ago and, you know, the Honda misery when they came back to McLauri. You know, these big moments that impact the sport, this will be, do you remember when Alonso just left Al-Pee without telling anyone?

Ashtamarsing announced it on their social media channel. That's how Alpine found out. And then he had planned it for the day that Oscar Piascrii believes his contract comes to an end. So Alpine lose both drivers in the space of a 24-hour period. It's like a film. It's like a TV series that is all, this is the cliffhanger at the end of season one, right? And the start of the second half of the season has got to be season two. For that long, so it's like a director of the world.

I don't know how he's pulled this off or pulled it together. Drive to survive. Yeah, right, they're going to have an absolute field day. They won't need to do anything to the episode. No, you're right. Just play this week in footage and don't add anything and you'll be having a great time. So, Alpine, hugely embarrassed. This is appalling management.

The legal team, Othmar, how are you not aware of all your possible dealings going on? How have you caught a whiff in the world of Formula One that Fahler-on, that Fahler-Lonkso has clearly sat down multiple times of Ashton Martin, clearly worked out you know, cost of his salary, is the team going to progress like he wants them to? Alonso wants a race swinging car. He's not going to Ashton Martin to expect to sit in 16th place next season. There's got to be a long-term set of plans there for him. And you know nothing. And then on the flip side, you've got your young rookie driver, who is, I would say,

and beg, feel free to disagree with me. But I would say the most desired rookie driver in motorsport at the moment, I would go as far as to say, is, you know, pretty hot property. and you lose him by doing a phonying outsk book without getting a quote from him first while he's asleep because he's on the other side of the world oh this is so, it's so embarrassing

it's like such a big comedy of errors that you couldn't even write it into existence they are being battered off of the world of social media by the Formula One community and deservedly so for this absolute calamity it is hilarious it's hilarious if you're looking from the outside looking in certainly

whether the likes of Ombar and Lauren Rossi would agree with that. I'm not too sure, but certainly from our perspectives, hilarious is a word that you can and probably should use. You remember a few episodes ago. I can't exactly remember the question I asked. It was related to Carlos Sines. I think it was just a question of how much he needs a win or needed a win. And I asked on a scale of nought 10,

and I told you both off because you both went for numbers above 10. I think you went for 11 and 12. on a scale of 1 to 10 how embarrassing is this I'm saying 74 and I am okay with breaking the scale for this because it is that embarrassing for the team I'm certainly not against ranting against teams on this podcast

as you and our listeners very well know but it's rarely in the direction of Alpine so a bit of a change tonight but certainly they deserve it because this is utterly embarrassing it's not like Piastri they had a chance with him or you know they they put out an offer to a random free agent tried to get him and it didn't work they've had Piastri for years now you might argue that when he was in F2 for instance he wasn't ready for an F1c absolutely fine but they've been

grooming him really for years to get to this point so it's this has been a process and they've screwed this up at the last hurdle it is the equivalent of a 110-meter hurdle race and then falling at the last one, because they've done everything else fine up until this point. And we knew they needed to activate Piahtri, really for next year, given he's already had to wait one more year than you'd have thought he should have done. And Alonso basically has given the opportunity to do that, and they still haven't been able to see it through. And it really doesn't reflect well on the team whatsoever, because in a space of three years, not even three years.

They've lost Daniel Ricardo, who don't, you know, don't get it confused with what he's doing at McLaren at the moment. Daniel Ricardo was a very hot property for Alpine or Renault as it was at the time. He was far better at the team than he is now. They've lost Alonzo and they've lost Piastri. And we don't know exactly who. They've lost Piastri two yet and we'll discuss that in a little bit. But we know that they've lost Alonzo to a team that is five positions lower than them

in the Constructors Championship. and they've lost, they did lose Ricardo to a team that is basically in the same place as them. So it's really not a good look. And that tells you there are big time drivers that don't want to be there. And that's not a good sign whatsoever. And you've already mentioned Sam. They announced this without a quote from Oscar Piastri, as in Oscar Piastri doesn't know. Could you imagine Mercedes doing this?

Could you imagine any other type of team doing this? No. It's Ferrari strategy levels in a race bizarre, bad, confusing. What are you doing? It's, you've thrown the standing rulebook of any form of courtesy, legal requirement, and understanding between you and a key partner just out the window. You imagine if you remember, obviously, what, last season we were discussing this quite heavily. Lewis Hamilton hadn't signed his, but saying his contract.

It's not pretty much a few days before FP1 of the first race of the season. And we're all going, is he coming back? is he going to be in the sport? We need to look at other options now because Mercedes is going, oh yeah, Lewis is racing by the way and Lewis going, what? I haven't said anything.

It wouldn't ever happen. You would never do it because it could be so as it is here, so mortifying for you as a business, as a company for your reputation inside and outside of the sport that you could destroy any credibility you've got in one swift move.

It's such a huge fiasco, Ben, that I'm dubbing this, the piasco. you know, the Piastri fiasco. It is a shocker, and it will go down in history as a Formula One ridiculous moment, one of those historic moments. And you're right about replacements we're going to get onto, because the field for replacements almost feels endless now,

and yet no one seems to be jumping up the bit. But the one thing I do want to finalise on here is the audacity of Oscar Piastri to turn around to go, no, I'm not driving for you. He's a rookie driver, desperate to get into Formula One. And Alpine, they're not bad, right? They're not Williams at the back of the grid. They're not Ashton Martin, who are long-so's just committed to. They're not harsh.

Even Al-Mayo, who have improved, are still worse than Al-Pine. They're level with McLaren. And he's turned them down. So he's got to have something very exciting coming his way to consider publicly within two hours going, no, don't want it, categorically, do not want that seat. So something in the background of Formula One is really stirring up a storm. and we might see a lot of seats move all because of a long-so. And, I mean, between the two statements, I mean, you've got Alpine's statement,

you've got Piastri's response, and then you actually had an Alpine response to Piastri's response as well. And there's a real stark contrast between them. Piastries was definitive. It was clear. I'm not racing for them. There was no doubt about it whatsoever. Alpine's response was something along the lines of, we believe we are legally correct. that doesn't inspire confidence, right?

I mean, that's not, Piastri is very definitively saying. I think you mentioned this, Sam. Like, he's got a team behind him. He hasn't gone out of free will just saying, I'm not racing for them. That is carefully constructed based on what they believe the contract to be. But I actually think it's reached a point where it's an embarrassment regardless of which way this goes. And I don't think it matters at this point. Let's say, for instance, that Alpine are actually legally correct.

and Piastri is signed to race for them next year. Does that count as a win for Alpine? Because suddenly you've got a driver who is essentially being held hostage at a team that he doesn't want to be at. Has that ever, ever worked in the history of F1? He has, and he's not just like Alpine and Piastri is the two parties here. Alpine is broken down into many mechanics and team members that Piastri will have to engage with. And every single time he does that, the other person is going to be, looking at a guy straight eye to eye who said, I'm not racing for this team.

How is that going to be good for any of the individual relationships Piastri would have? And that's apparently the best case scenario for Alpine, that they do get him. And obviously, if they don't get him, that's a massive embarrassment because they've announced a guy that isn't going to race for them. And whoever does actually get in that seat is always going to have the notion that they were the second choice. They didn't want him. whoever that driver is, him or her, they will not, they will know that that wasn't their first

choice. So it doesn't matter if they're right or wrong on the legal constructs of that contract. It's an embarrassment either way, right? Yeah. At that point, at that point, if I'm LPN, I go, all right, we'll take that message on the ching. You probably said no, we'll put our hands up, we've made a mistake, but you're right. The call has been cut at that point. You get him off your books if you used to still legally on your books. obviously we don't know, because of the two conflicting statements. You move your money if you can, and you use this opportunity. I imagine how long so is on big bucks.

You use this opportunity to bring your funding down and partner with someone in, essentially, who is going to cost you less money, but you could get a few years out of. And there are a number of names on the grid. You can still do that for you. But as we were saying, Piastri would have had a fault. I can almost certainly say to you that Oscar will have had no hand in writing that tweet. They'll almost be, he'll have seen it on. a bit of paper and gone, are you okay with this?

And he'll go, yeah, that is it. There will have been a social media manager, a lawyer, a marketing or PR person sat there. They'll have scaled the entire contract and they have to be legally sound to be that bold going out with saying something. He'll go, yeah, this is what I want to do. That is correcting what it says. Go for it. So Oscar is clearly working as a unit here.

It's not just him, as Ben said. But the funny thing is, of course, Alpina the same. It's not like Al Ping is just Otmar sat there in his deck chair in the garden, flicking through the contract going, ah, yeah, there's a signature there, that must work, surely. No, he will have lawyers upon lawyers and PR members upon PR members sat there going, it says this. And I don't understand how one is so explicitly wrong.

There must be something very confusing happening in the contract, or they must be seeing different versions of a deal. It is bizarre to see two legal forces inside the sport make such conflicting conversation points publicly. And the fact that Al Pink came out and said on Twitter had to justify, legally we think you're entitled for him to race for us. That is such a bizarre, childish approach to tweet that afterwards. So you're right, Ben, if this was football,

if I was watching Newcastle United, and my favourite player came out and said, I don't want to play for Newcastle anymore. Would I want to keep him after that summer? No, I don't care how much he's been good for the team. I'd rather have a player less decent who's more committed and what's to stick around for me than someone who doesn't want to be here.

Get him out. Make the most of the opportunity you've got a free seat. Go and get someone in. And I've seen some people here suggest as well, like have some sympathy for Alpine in the Alonso has blindsided them. I don't have any sympathy whatsoever in that respect because you know who Alonzo is, right? When you sign Alonzo, he is. But when you sign Alonzo, you know what you're getting, both good and bad.

You know the good you're getting with his driving ability and his, his tenacity and being able to produce something special. You get that with Alonso and you know you get that. But you know you also get the other stuff. He's unpredictable. You don't know exactly what he's going to do. And this is prime example of that. And they should have been ready for this.

You know Alonzo's contract situation. You know it's up at the end of this year. You know he wants a multi-year deal. He has said that far before this saga. And you know that Piastri, his apparently his contract, contract with Alpina's July 31st. I know the comedy of errors has played out over the last three days. The issues start way before this. This is just a result. All of the damage was done really in the months coming up to this point. What they should, what they very much should have done is say to

Fernando Alonzo, right, this is it. You can have a one-year deal and it's on the table until June 1st or July 1st or whatever you want to do there. Take it or leave it. If you're He doesn't take it by that time, you sign up Piastri. And you avoid this whole mess. If you don't want to give Alonzo the multi-year deal, you know who he is. It's not like he needs to prove himself. He is, it's very clear how good he is right now. If you don't want him on a multi-year deal, I can completely understand it, but at least make that position clear, far before you get to this point of July 31st and August 1st. It's just, it's ludicrous. Those dates, they're not hidden away. They are on the surface.

use them. Yeah, it's written in playing sight, it's written in black and white on that screen. Also, I would argue, is possibly the most controversial Formula One driver of all time in terms of his history. If you look back at the actions he's taken,

I mean, I could pick a couple of things off top of my head. Crashed out with Rengo, he was fully involved, and fully aware of. You look at things like when him and Lewis Hamilton were at McLaren together, did you remember the race where

they were both trying to set a hot lap at the end of qualifying and Alonso literally stopped. in the pit lane to stop Lewis Hamilton getting out in time, right? And that meant that a lot of stars in front of Hamilton. There's been moments throughout his history where he will slate off your engine supplies, GP2 engine, a famous lie about Honda, one of the most successful and biggest supplies of all time.

It's Fernando Alonso, and while he is one of the greatest drivers to grace Formula One, the man is not afraid to take his own destiny to his own hands and go, I want to be successful. I'm in a sport. I will do anything and everything to make that possible. He will throw your team down the drain into the mud and say it on fire if it means that he gets a leg up to be a winner next season. It's Van der Leungso, as you said, Ben?

It cannot be more playing sight. It's like, do you remember the documentary that came out at the start of lockdown a couple years ago on Netflix about the fire festival that was happening in America? If you're awful, right? Awful, awful scenario. But if you watch it, you'll see that the problem didn't start with all the guests and all the acts arrived on the island. The problem started six months ago when the suppliers weren't very good and they weren't paying bangs properly, right?

It's the same as this. You should be like, I see a problem as it's evolving, not when it's smacked you in the face with the Twitter statement and Asthma to go, we've signed him. It's mortifying. It is a huge disaster for Alpine. And I think this all echoed through the world of motorsport how bad this is for them. Yeah, I'm not going to lie and sit here and say like, I expected everything that happened here. I expected him to move to Ashton Martin. But at the same time, you can't sit back and say,

didn't expect Alonzo to pull out a move like that. That's very out of character. Goodness me. Anyway, we've got plenty to talk about with Alonzo later on in the podcast as well. We're going to be talking what Piastri might be doing, where he might be going after this break. So Oscar Piastri, Sam. We've already discussed him in depth in terms of how it looks

on Alpine, but the theory is, and you've already mentioned this, surely he's got something that is 90%, if not 100% confirmed elsewhere, for him to make such a bold move to turn down what is a pretty good seat in F1. How do you see it playing out? Yeah, if you were to put all the seats on a list of 1 to 20, those Alpine seats are inside the top 10. They're inside the top 50%. I'd argue they're the next best seats after Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull.

Those are your top six, obviously, that you always aim for. Now, you need to look at what is actually available going into 2023. Because obviously, he's going to be driving next season. If he's that confident in what he's doing, he will be in a Formula 1 seat from January, 2023 for the start of that season. So what's available? Well, a lot of people are rumoured to say McLaren. Maclaren got every drive-rung of a son signed to them. It feels like at the moment I don't have to fit them all in the car.

But normally he's signed in it until... I get a call from Zach. Oh, you get inside. mate. Yeah, hang on. Yeah, yeah, no worry. Extreme, eh? Yeah, I'll do.

No worries. Cheers that. Could you all have asked me to... Oh, I wonder when I'll get a call. Hopefully soon. Maybe I'll be in their Formula E team. I don't know. Or maybe I'll be in their soapbox racing brigade that they're putting together.

So you've got Landon Orestide until I literally die, which is in about 60 years' time. I'm going to live forever. And then you've got Daniel Ricardo, who is, legally obliged to stay at the McLaren team for another year. I know a lot of people are saying that he won't be there, but it's up to him, really. If a team puts an offer on the table and he won't to accept it, that's the only way it's going out.

McLaren will not be able to get rid of him until they're going to next season. So in theory, McLaren is off the table in that sense. But they need to look elsewhere, right? And this is where I think the most interesting opportunity comes from, from Piaastri. Who isn't signed that everyone absolutely loves on the grid? Yuki Sengoda does not have a contract for next season. That means that an Alpha Tauri seat, in theory, is still available for 2023. Oscar Piastra gets signed by Alpha Tauri.

That then sets him up to be the replacement for Sergio Perez after a year of racing into Red Bull, and they've got a Max Vastappan Oscar Piacrari lineup. And I don't think they're impressed by any of their juniors at the moment, Red Bull. I don't think there's anyone in that junior program that is absolutely blowing them away, like the Sapper did when he was much younger, like Bloody Danny Riccardo did when he first. Like Savasu Vettel did when he came up from Toro Rosso. I don't think they've got that in them at the moment.

So for me, it's either going to be Haas, which feels unlikely, or it's going to be the Alphi Tauri seat. And I would actually be quite interested to see him go to Alphitare. It's just a shame. It's almost going to be at the expense of Yugi Sengoda, not of Pierre Gazley, who they could just do a swap for

if they orchestrated this better. because I think Gazley deserves a seat and Yuki deserves more time in that role. So for me, I think he's going to go to Al-Fa Tauri and I think Gazli, if he's lucky, ends up in that other Alpine seat with a full French line up for them. Yeah, I sort of wrote down why I think the options are. I've got four options. Technically it's three, but I'll go into that. And I think out with these, but one of them has to be legitimate in terms, like I say,

it has to be 90% there, if not 100% there, because you'd don't turn down a definitely seat at a midfield to upper midfield team if it's not set in stone. Or it's a colossal mess up from his management team otherwise, right? So I think one of them has to be legit. But as I'll go through, I don't think any of them quite make sense at the moment. And of course, it is the standard curse that I'm sure he will have confirmed what he's doing by the time this is out. But at least from where it is at the moment. McLaren, you're right to say that there's no obvious route in,

but at the same time it is the one that is being most heavily discussed. I think the first option is he does have that McLaren seat for 2023. It's the wave in which he gets it that I think slightly differs. So option one, I would say, is he gets the McLarency for 2023, and Daniel Ricardo steps aside. Reason that might happen, you know, if Daniel Ricardo knows the team isn't behind him and it's not going very well for him, potentially he makes that call and he said it's not worth me being there.

I know it's not going to get better. I've had two generations of cars with this team. It's still not working. What's the point in doing another one? It's going to hurt my reputation too much. Why that might not happen, I mean, he put out a post like two weeks ago saying I'm committed to the team and I don't think he's lying.

So I don't think. I don't think that's the way it will go. And there are no obvious seats for Daniel Ricardo either. You would argue that the one that did. made most sense was Alpine, but surely if Piastri has a good chance to go into McLaren, they'd have orchestrated it to do the swap. And they haven't. So yeah, that's the question marks about that option. The other option is that again, it's McLaren in 2023, but instead of Daniel Ricardo stepping aside, he's more pushed out the door, essentially given money to walk. Seems a bit

on McLaren, but also, you know, if Daniel Ricardo at this point in his career is looking for a good paycheck, maybe that works out. But the downsides to that are the same as the first option in that Daniel Ricardo has said he's committed. I do believe he has a win first. He has a win first mentality, which this would go against. So I'm not convinced by that option either. Option three is it's still McLaren, but he's actually signing for 2024. I don't know. That doesn't look very good on Alpine, of course, if that was the case, that he would rather take a McLaren seat for 24 rather than an Alpine seat for 23.

But as I said, Ricardo moved away, Alonzo moved away. Maybe he would do that. But, you know, and doing it that way as well, Daniel Ricardo, that isn't a problem then, right? Daniel Ricardo would just go at the end of 2023 and there's no contract issues there. Another issue with that is that Daniel Ricardo, as essentially a lame duck driver for a year and he knows he's got no chance of getting the seat again. Where's the motivation? And then the last option is the one that you mentioned, Sam, which is I think the world card, but we've both come to the same conclusion on it, which is

the Alphatari seat. Realistically, there is a seat there, which is one step further than McLaren. Okay, the Alphotauri seat is not a better seat than the Alpine seat, but certainly the potential of what you can get from an Alphatari seat is better than the Alpine seat. We know that Red Bull aren't going anywhere. Red Bull currently have either the best or the second best car on the grid. So sitting there at Alpheta, like you say, with the Perez contract, it does line up quite nicely. And I agree with you. I don't think there's anyone necessarily an F2 that is ready to step up. I think they've got some solid drivers in that sort of range. But I don't think they're massively sold on any of them. I would argue the next guy, the guy they're probably most excited about is

Hadja, but he's in F3. So I think he's at least two years away, if not maybe three. So maybe it would make a lot of sense. We know Weber's got the links to Red Bull as well, just to throw that in there. But I mean, the only problem with that is there's no reason to believe it in that there's no rumours about it. There's nothing connecting Red Bull and Oscar Piastri. So if they have done it, they've done it incredibly secretively, which isn't me saying it isn't happening. But they'd have done it very well, very covert. I don't know. It's puzzling, isn't it?

There's a lot of moves that are going around. I mean, the rumour meal is circulating. Bloody, on Marky Eck, indeed, didn't he put out a bloody list of what he thinks is going to happen. And it was a ridiculous list of, yeah, of moves. Oh, let me just see if I can find it, folks, because I want to read it to you of how ridiculous he thinks it's going to play out. There you go. Right. thinks it's going to line up like this. This is Marcus

Erickson, Indy 500 winner and X Formula One driver. So he thinks Al Pee will line up as Ocon and Gassley. He thinks Alpha Tar will be Schumacher and Sonoda. He thinks McLaren will be Norris and Piastri. Alpha Romeo with Bottas and Joe. I don't know why he's bothered to put that in there. They literally are both

contracted because I make his things. And Haast is not Maxon. Oh, well, it's fair point. Okay. So an alpha seat is technically available. Hars is Manxon and Ricardo, which makes sense because Ricardo is such a draw for the US audience that it would be a good marketing employee and he would bring good reputation and good experience with the team. And Williams will be Al-Bong and Nick DeVries.

I think there's a few errors in there on the wider world. I think William's been more likely to be Al-Bong and Sargent. I think they've got their eyes set on him, for example. I can't really see Al-Fa-Ditching Zheung-U. He's been pretty good for a rookie this season. He brings a lot of financial backing to the team. The team harming is working well. But the others are all theoretically possible.

Bit bizarre, but all theoretically possible. I like to think that Mark Serrexen actually sat down and properly went through this. Like, full on like a four piece of paper for an hour, like scoured everything. Oh, would that make sense? Would that make sense? The reality is he probably didn't do that. But I like to think it at least. No. It's like when you've got a detective program, where he's got all the string from face to face,

you know, like a murder mystery on the whiteboard at the back of the room. He's going, so that means that Jeanne must go to here. And they draw that the red rope across to Alfa Romeo. And I love to think that he's doing that in a basement somewhere in between his indie races. I mean, the other William C as well, I felt certain that was going to get a placement on this week's podcast. Absolutely. And I can't even guarantee you, folks, it will appear next week because either A, it will already be announced or B, Hamilton's going to have signed by Red Bull by then. and we're going to have to discuss that.

So I can't guarantee it. One thing I wanted to pick up on in terms of the Al-Fa-Tauri move, because as we have mentioned, the one obvious place at Al-Fatari is the Yuki-Sanoda currently filled C because he's not signed on for next year. However, we do know, and again, another topic that isn't going to make it on to the billing,

Honda have re-signed as technical partners for another two years. It could be the case that Sonoda is part of that deal. if that is the case, you mentioned the potential for a Ghazly swap, what would be preventing that? Do you think it's a likely outcome? I think the only thing I'd rightly preventing a Ghazly swap for Piastri is that Alpin don't have any control over Piastri. I think Sengodan might directly be linked with Honda. It will make sense. Ever since Honda and Red Bull have had a relationship, Yuki's prominence throughout the Red Bull family has risen quickly. He's definitely earns his spot and he's a, you know, he'll be Hall of Famer for a reason.

The guy's having a much better season, not groundbreakingly good, but a much better season than he had last time now, and he is outperforming Gasly, although the points don't show it. So, Yuki does deserve, in my opinion, one more year in F1 to really make sure he's got himself proven and, you know, he's under the belt. So I think those two things, Honda and Yuki's increased performance, makes sense to keep him around, and the re-signing would benefit that. But does Gassley make sense to stay there? No.

We said this so many times. It is a, as you like to say, Ben, he's a lane duck driver for next season. It's a pointless seat that's being filled. Gassley will not get the Red Bull seat. He's just filling a chair for Red Ball because they have to fill two drivers. And no one else in their junior program is ready to go in that seat. I don't want Albonne back. No one else in F2 is good enough.

So he's just sat there. So yeah, the only thing preventing, in my eye, an Alpine swap, I think Gazley would actually relish an Alpine swap, is the fact that Alpine have been so ridiculously badly with their contract management that in theory, they don't get any say in what Piastri does to make the swap anyway because they don't have any control over the contract. Because to me, that would be the best way to resolve it.

If I'm Alpine now and we've seen what we've seen, I go, okay, it's clear you don't want to be here, that's fine. How about we do a swap with Gazley? We call up Alford Towering, we do a swap. Because Gazis is what, 27, he's got at least six. seven years in his F1 career left. If he carries on performing the way he has done the last couple, it really wouldn't be a bad move for them to have those two drivers in that team for a

couple of years, especially when they get their young driver program sourcing out, because what a mess that is. So, yeah, I think Alpine are the only things blocking Alpine from helping Alpine. I think the only thing outside of that preventing it is that Gassley and Ocon famously don't get on very well. So they'd have to manage that. But apart from that, I think, it is logical and we have asked the question time and time again, why are Gassley keeping him around?

Why are Fattari keeping Gassley around? Because we don't question his ability. Like he's a good driver. It's not like he's not good enough for the seat, but also if they know that he's not got a chance to progress, what's the point in keeping him? Maybe this is the answer. Trade, trade value, trade bait. I don't know. Because suddenly, if they can get Piaastri and all they need to do is, give up a driver that they don't want to promote anyway. That works out well for Red Bull. It works out well for both parties. Red Bull get a driver who has a chance to be very, very good.

There aren't many drivers who win F3 and F2 back to back. They'd have him. And Alpine would get, I mean, remember as well, Alpine are, I can't remember the exact arrangement, but they're basically state-owned to a degree. Two French drivers and a French team, that's going to work pretty well for them. So I think they would take, I think both sides would be quite happy.

So I appreciate we're not working on any, any sources here, but it all stacks up. Anyway, Harry's not on this episode, of course, but he has recorded a few bits. So, and to be clear, we haven't heard these either. So I've got no idea what he's about to say on Oscar. Oh, God. Here we go. Hello, everyone. I'm very sorry that I'm not there for this week's recording.

Sorry, I'm in. What a week to miss. As I record this, it's Tuesday night in the UK here. Basically, Ben's written down some things for me to talk about. I want to say, he's told me what to say. Just some thought starters. And the first one is that he's asked me, how do I think Piastri is going to get on in the Alpine?

And now as I record this, Oscar Pastery just tweeted saying that Alpina announced him without his permission. And to be honest, all of this is quite frankly the best saga we've ever heard or witnessed in F1. I don't know what's going to happen next. By the time this goes out, by the time Sam and Ben, hi, Sam and Ben, idiots, by the time you listen to it. Nice. I don't know. Oscar Piacci is probably driving for Andrea Moda. who knows who knows what's going to happen

but yeah so Ben sorry can't really give you an opinion on this because to be honest who knows where Oscar Piastri is going to be driving next year maybe does get a seat thing's a very talented driver but could literally be anywhere I think maybe every F1 team should sign him up

and then just have a brawl and decided that way yeah anyway speak to a bit he will speak to us in a bit because he's got something to say on the other things that we've got to talk about. And actually, for the other two things,

I don't think they've changed at all since I asked him to record it. So they should be at least accurate with what's going on right now. Andrea Moda. Didn't see that coming. Don't often get a shout at on Andrew Amo. You know what? I reckon that Pia's going to sign with Alphotauri after this goes out.

And in Drive to Survive, we'll get a scene, Christian Horner picking up the phone going, Hi, Othma, is Christian. Do you do a swap? As if it's happening live on the Australian. You know, you're so good contract. Oh, I can see it already. That is absolutely disgusting.

We're going to move away from that thought. After this break, we're going to be discussing. The thing that started all of this, the domino effect started by Sebastian Betel's retirement from Formula One. Sebastian Vettel in F1, Sam. Obviously, we have been fans of Formula One from the start of his career to the end of his career. 15 years he spent in the sport,

multiple time champion, achieved a lot of Red Bull, went to Ferrari, has been to Aston Martin. What does his career mean to you as a fan of Formula One for so long? It's so weird to think that I was 12 years old when that little Sebi face appeared on the TV screen with Formula One. Obviously, he did that test with BMW and then went to Toro Rosso. he is such a unique character in Formula One. The fact that he's starting off in the sport and I think during his period at Red Bull, you could go as far to say

that he was maybe the most disliked person in Formula One. He was loathed by millions and millions of fangs. He was such a ruthless individual. For those who have watched, if you haven't watched like his winging period in Red Bull, go back and watch it, they're fantastic seasons. But moments such as the Multi-21 incident, right with Mark Weber where he would happily destroy a relationship with a teammate at that point.

They'd get along quite well now, but at that moment, destroy a relationship to take home another victory, to take him another result. He went clean around Mark Weber, ignored the points that they were making, ignored Team Morgan's and went, nope, I'm going to win. And it was, at that point, glimpses of Schumacher, who of course was his hero. And then he dig so well at Ferrari, despite the last couple of years not being great against the clerk. He did so well at Ferrari.

one of their most successful drivers at all time. He still has so many more wings and so many drivers. I think he's, what, second or third on their all-time list? Same as podiums, same as pole positions. He's incredibly successful, despite it not seeming that way. And he gave Lewis Hamilton a run for his money to using a row in that Ferrari that probably could have gone to win the title. But for me, he comes away, not because he's a brilliant driver who is on one of my great

all-time list, but he's such a personality. He's developed from being this ruthless but funny individual. He amount of funny quips that he's taking over the radio. You know, like that. He was at the dogs out when a stray dog was on the track, you know, things like that. And arguing over the radio, something's between my legs. You know, all these big moments that you're like, this is hilarious. He knows what he's saying.

He's a very clever boy. So the way he's being so. Right. That is one of the last iconic moments of Formula One. That is unbelievable. Yeah. Can you repeat the question? hilarious, hilarious moments.

And you just think this guy that is so hardcore, so ruthless has got this clever whip behind him and yet he comes out of his career being this thoughtful, kind, supportive, wonderful individual.

You know, the way he stood by Lewis Hamilton through the controversies with the racism should have happened in Formula One, the way he's nurtured Mick Schumacher, the way he has broken rules to wear T-shirts out of the environment and his helmets that used to be glittering, glowing the dark helmets that he wear around Abu Dhabi

with gold all over them to save the bees or let the kids play. You know, and he left F1 in his little speech for all the right reasons, all the wonderful reasons that you'd like to think someone would leave Formula One. I want to play with my kids. The marks that I left on the track will be washed away in time and the rain. It's such a wonderful expression. I want to see my family. I don't want to be the dad that says goodbye and I want to look after the planet.

I want to help. They are the right reasons to take a sense. step away from what you love and find new things. So for me, his journey has been wonderful. I know a lot of people critique his driving ability now in his career. I don't care what you think about that. He's not what he was, but I doesn't mean he wasn't one of the best who have ever done it. He was spectacular. And he's also such a lovely guy and a genuine guy. And I will really miss him. And when I saw that little goodbye speech, I was a bit emotional about it because it's a real shame. He was an asset to the sport and he's gone. And that's pretty gutting. And after watching his

start from 12 all the way up to now. It wasn't even 12, was it? Yeah, it was. I was 12. Good maths. Quick maths. It's just sad to see him go. Really sad.

So for me, it's sad, but I've loved every second of it. As a driver, Vetter will go down as an all-time great. Contrary to what a few people are saying, to which I completely disagree with, he will go down as an all-time great. and there will be discussions as to where on that list he belongs and whether it's top five or top 10. For the moment, it doesn't matter. He's an all-time great and he should be remembered as such.

And his early years success, honestly, I don't think it has ever been matched and I don't think it will be matched in a long, long time. That's how good he was in the first third, first half of his career. And that's not to put any slight on the second half. of his career. It was just he was that good. And I think it is you mentioned how he was loved. And loath is the right word. And I'm sure we have plenty of newer listeners, people who might have been listening this year or this year and last year. And you're incredibly, incredibly welcome to the sport. It's great to have you. It would honestly baffle me, I think, if I was getting into Formula

1 now that there was a time when Sebastian Vettel was the most hated driver in Formula 1. But let's be honest, why he was the most hated driver? Why was Jensen Button cheered so much when he made that overtake at the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix? It's because how good Vettel was. It's because he was winning everything. There were a few incidents here and there where he played the number one card over Mark Weber and Red Bull took his side. But overall, why was he disliked? It's because he was better than everyone else for a while. In 2011 and 2013 are two of the most dominant seasons you will ever get from a

Formula One driver. Just to go through his early career success, 2008, his first full season in F1, he wins at Monza. Don't ever forget, Tor Rosso won a race before Red Bull did, and it's because of Sebastian Vessel at Monza. And he did that in his first full season. season. But often his 2008 season, that result almost overshadows everything else he did. He had 25 other points. And this was using the old point scoring system for anyone who doesn't know, where you only used to get 10 points for a win. He had 25 other points outside of that race. He had a great season, not a great race. 2009, he moves to Red Bull. His first season at Red Bull, I'm not shod of phrase

if the championship was as long as it was in 2022 Vetter wins the 2009 title because Braun were being caught all throughout that year and if it went to 20 races 22 races I'm pretty sure Vettel wins that championship

again in his first full year at Red Bull just this second full year in F1 and then we have that glorious stretch 2010 11 12 13 4 straight years He wins every single title in that stretch. 2010 and 2012 he had to work hard for.

2011 and 2013. 2011, he won the title by 122 points. And he beat it in 2013. He won that title by 155 points. That's two titles that he won by over 11 race wins in terms of points combined. it's frightening that gap. Mind-boggling. And just to add as well,

he won nine straight in that 2013 season. So don't get it twisted. Anyone who's watched, and people have been critical, including myself of Vettel over the last couple of years, don't get it twisted as to what he was, a sensational driver. And like I said,

I don't think you will have a driver in a long time that will achieve as much in as little time as Vettel did. He was a four-time champion. at the age of 26. He'd won four titles by the age of 26. I'm going to rattle off a list quickly for you. If only championships were taken into account if there'd been won at the age of 26 or younger, this is what it would look like. Fittipaldi would be a one-time champion. Lauder would be a one-time champion. Jacques Villeneuve would be a one-time champion. Hamilton and Vestappen would both be

one-time champions, and then Alonzo and Schumacher would be two-time champions. That's it. That would be your entire list of world champions. And Vettel is a four-time champion. If you were to put it side by side, Vettel, four championships by the time he's 26. Every other champion in F-1 history combined had nine. It's baffling how much he succeeded in such a short space of time. And he is, I've been critical the last couple of years, and I stand by everything I

I've said, but he is a huge loss for F1, as you said, as an ambassador. The fact that I honestly think a four-time champion of the world will be a bigger loss to Formula One because of what an ambassador he has become speaks volumes about how he is championing causes. And I can only hope that the work that he's done and it deserves to be followed through by some of the other drivers coming up. And I really hope that is the case because he's an inspiration to many of the drivers out there. Should we hear what Harry has to say on Mr. Vettel? Come on then.

Let's get a motion with Harry. Go on, Harry. Okay, this one I definitely can comment on because Sebastian, as far as I'm aware, hasn't reversed his decision on retiring. He's got something right. Seby Vett. What a career he's had.

And I think it's very easy to forget how good Sebastian Vettel was slash is. We haven't seen him in a very competitive car for the past couple of years, but in his Red Bull days, the man was an absolute weapon. I mean, a complete weapon. His streak at the end of 2013 in his fourth championship year, where he won nine straight races, is get unbeaten.

But the man just, he absolutely smashed Mark Weber out of the park, and he smashed everyone out of the park, to be honest. And yeah, people will say, oh, it was the car. But, you know, he's had no more. had no more of a car advantage than, you know, the Mercedes team have had, probably, in fact, maybe slightly less. Yeah, he's had a sensational career. Personally, very sad to see him go.

Personally, very surprised to see him go, to be honest, I thought he would stick it out and do at least another year, Astor Martin, and see if that plan worked. But yeah, I'll be very sad to see Sevgo. He is one of the good guys of F1, so informed, so knowledgeable, and just seems like, a decent, decent human being. As we've seen with all of his, you know, activism and, you know, I'm sure this isn't the last we'll see of Sebastian Betel. He is now on Instagram if you'd miss that.

See, I'm sure we'll hear from him much more. Maybe not about F1. Maybe it will be about F1. Who knows? But I think what, you know, the makes a mark of a truly great person is I think that he could literally now go and do anything. He could be a team manager of F1. I'm not saying he's going to,

but it could be a team manager in F1. He could be, he could run the FIA. I mean, I'm sure Ben and Sam probably agree. I think he'd do a better job. So he could do that. He could run Ferrari.

He was doing their strategy from the car. Why not do it from the actual pit bull? I love an idea. I like that. Seb, go and do the strategy for Ferrari. They'd win again. So yeah, Seb, you'll be missed.

I truly hope we get, you can, you know, he can score some good results in the finale of his career. But yeah, I think it's very easy to forget how good Sebastian method is. So don't forget people. He is a very, very good driver, one of the best. And we'll be sad to see him go.

Cheers, Seb. Thank you very much for that, Harry. I'm fully on board with his idea as well that he should take over Ferrari strategy. That sounds great. You'll have to beat me to it, but good luck, Seb. Oh, can you to do it together? That would be great to watch. I've watched that a whole series.

Ben and Seb, come into your screen soon. We'll call you Beb. Beb. This is gold dust. It's capitalised on it. I wanted to pick up on one thing that Harry mentioned that was going to be my sort of last question on this before we move on to you, Sam.

In terms of whether you were surprised by this, did you think it was coming? I was in the same way for next thing as Harry there. It's also because I didn't want him to retire. So when you don't want something to happen, or you do want something to happen, and you were a little bit of see what you want to see, right? The interviews he was having, the chats he was having, the way he was performing.

I was surprised. I was taken back by it. I didn't think he was going to go this season. I thought he'd do one more season. Because obviously, Asa Martin, I've got a lot of development coming in as well in the background. They've got a lot of factory stuff coming in, a lot of aerotech coming into the buildings that they're working. So in theory, Asim Martin, she's only getting it stronger. And I thought Seb would give it one more year to give it a go.

but no, yeah, when the announcement came out and the manner it came out as well because I was watching that video and I didn't really realize what I was watching until he said, I'm retiring from F1 and I was like, oh, what? That's crap, to be blunt about it. Yeah, it took me totally by surprise.

I'm still a bit gutting about it now. Yeah, I was, I can understand his decision, absolutely. I'm not massively shocked, but at the same time I didn't see it coming. So it is possibly one of those where similar to what you said, Sam, that he might have just been a couple of years early for the project as a whole because we know they do have ambitions to be further up the grid. And it might be a Toyota where it never happens.

But, you know, if it does happen, it's just going to happen a little bit too far in the future for him. And, you know, if it does work out next year, the year after, then there's a good chance that the people at the team have a lot to thank Seb 4 because I'm sure he's been instrumental in that process. It might not be him lifting the championship when it's done. And I'm not for a second saying it'll definitely end that way. But if it does, I'm sure that he's helped them a lot along the way. So I wasn't massively surprised.

But yeah, it's one of those where, again, he's been in F1 for our entire life. as fans of F1. So to see, you kind of can't even envision a Formula One without him. So there is always going to be that slight shock about it. We're going to be talking about his replacement next. We're going to be talking about Fernando Alonzo straight after this. Fernando Alonzo, the quote-unquote cheeky menace, as Sam has already referred to him as. Good move or not a good move?

Him going to Astor Martin on what is a multi-year deal. Oh, I mean, he is such a cheeky boy, as we've discussed in this whole podcast so far. But it's quite a strange move, isn't it? It's not the move I've predicted for Fernando. I know that we said at the start, if Fernando Alonkso, you've got to see these things coming. He might make these bizarre choices. But this really is a bizarre choice. And when it went live, I tweeted on my account at Samusayf1, if you like to follow me,

that is Fernando Alonso? The driver throughout history that has made the worst career move choices ever, right? You look at his history and you think that only the stat shows him out of times that he's been like a certain amount of points away from X amount of world titles, right? It's like less than 10 points away from four extra world titles or something like that. He has made a career out of being very good in cars that aren't good enough, right? He's very good at that. I can't see Aston Martin exceeding what Alpine are doing in the next 24 months or so because we're going to assume he's got a two-year to three-year deal maximum.

It won't be something any longer than that, I can imagine. Do I think this is a good move? No, I don't. Alpine felt like a home to him. It felt comfortable to him. It felt like the team enjoyed having him there, and Ockong enjoyed having him as a teammate, despite raising him a bit rough at the most recent Grand Prix.

but it seems like a good dynamic. And I think that he's going to clash very much with a much more rigid, authoritarian top-down management style that appears to show its way, Aston Martin, from Lawrence, obviously running the show, having that direct link to LARC, who obviously could do no wrong. F1 or even released a,

here's the contract situation of every driver, and the Lank's show, it just said, unknown, because it could just go on forever. if it wants to. And also, you've got Mike Crack and you've got Martin Whitmarsh who are very dictatorial

with their manner. They are very foot down with their manner. And also likes to, you know, scratch himself out. He likes to flex the muscles. He likes to push boundaries.

And I think that's going to be very conflicting for him. And he doesn't get to, you know, put his teammate down. The teammate's not going anywhere. Even if he beats him by 100 points to nil, Lanks will be there

at the end of his time, Asson Martin. I think he's walking into a bit of a toxic hornet nest for Alonso. Other drivers may be not, but for a long-so, this doesn't feel like a great move to me. It secures his career in F1 for another two or three years, which is clearly what he wants, but I don't think this is the right move for him. Before I say whether it's a good or a bad move, I will say this about Alpine, and they've already been taking a bit of a hit on this podcast,

and unfortunately that isn't going to change within this last segment. If we, and apologies of some of these years and positions are slightly wrong, because I'm doing this on the fly. But if we go back to say 2015, they really announced themselves as having a plan to go and win championships. And it wasn't going to be overnight, but they had a plan, 2015 or so back in the good old Jolian Palmer days, they had a plan going forward. And at that point, they were, I think, third from bottom in the championship.

They only had manner and salber behind them. and they were about ninth in an 11 team battle. So they had a long way to go at that point. But over the course of about two or three years, they managed to make their way up to fourth place in the championship. You'll remember the – it must have been the first season of Drive to Survive. You remember the battle between Hasse and Renault and how that unfolded,

and it was Renault that got fourth. So other than 2018, possibly. We're now four years later down the line. They're still exactly where they were. They took a bit of a hit in 2019. They kind of bounced back. They went backwards again. But they've been no further forward.

They're not only being fourth, but a very distant fourth. They're still not really anywhere near the top guys. So at some point, these drivers have to look at Alpine and say they're not going anywhere. So I can understand Alonzo wanting to move away. I will say for Aston Martin, whether this is a good move or not, in isolation, I think it's fine. The problem is it's in isolation. And what I mean by that is this segment initially was going to be a question of who should replace Vettel rather than the reaction to Alonzo replacing it. And I went through the entire list of drivers who I thought might be in contention.

Alonzo wasn't on that list, but surprisingly. And I couldn't find an obvious contender. I then looked through the list again and I came to the same conclusion. There's no obvious contender to come into this seat. And then I realized what the issue was. it wasn't any of the drivers on the list that I'd created. The massive issue at Aston Martin is Lance Stroll, because you can't put anyone alongside him and have a great combination

unless you've got an outstanding driver in that other seat, which isn't really an option. And I know Alonzo has been outstanding, but he is in his 40s now. It's not like he's got many years left ahead of him. The problem is when you've got Lance Stroll taking up one of your seats, you've got so little flexibility with the other seat. If Lance stroll is untouchable, you can't go with youth because you can't have Lance stroll as your lead senior driver, right?

But you can't also go massively, well, they have, but if you go massively experienced like Alonzo, who's the future of your team? Again, it can't be Lance because he hasn't got the potential on it. Lance doesn't fit any of the necessary boxes of either great driver now, potential to be a great driver or massively experienced. like a Vettel Alonzo that can impart their knowledge. You have to tick one of those three boxes as far as I'm aware, and Stroll doesn't. So I think regardless of who you put in that seat, the problem is Lanchdrol. So in isolation, I think this is a fine decision. But I agree with what you say.

Certainly Alonzo will he click again? It's going back to what he's done to Alpine. They've given him a multi-year deal. That line up is essentially set for a while, and it's got to work. And if it doesn't work, Alonzo might not be willing to just say goodbye to the team. You're not going to kick Lance Stroll out. Just imagine the position this would be if you were looking to put someone on all-side Sergio Perez rather than Lance Stroll.

It'd be a far better scenario. So, yeah, I think it's fine. But, you know, Alonzo's going to be there at the age of 42, 43. At some point, the magic's going to wear off. when that is, I don't know, but it's going to happen at some point. Yeah, it'll end in tears. You're talking to end in tears, Asthma,

yeah, as we've already said about Alonzo, nothing against his drivering ability. He's sensational, but it does seem to end in tears more than it doesn't. He's a conflicting individual, isn't he? He likes to get people's backs up. And we love him on this podcast. Obviously, we do.

We're famed for our bigging up a longso, right? But he has a reputation of making things not the best either than his driving ability and getting a place where it's already not the best is that what you want but we'll see maybe it'll be a strike of genius who knows

what do you think because if Landstrol is taking that seat and we know Alonzo's locked in for a couple of years they've almost got a couple of years where they shouldn't in theory have to replace any of their drivers we know that they don't have a junior program

Do you think now would be the right time to set one up? We know they use Merck a lot for that sort of thing, but would it be right for them to set up one of their own right about now? Yeah, the sooner the better with a junior programme. I'm surprised they weren't trying to set up their own junior programme a couple of years ago with the new regulations coming up at that point. It's a huge resource to have that you're having got to go and buy a driver off of a rival team. Al Pino, are now going to face that problem with the Oscar Piazzi situation.

They had one core driver who was ready to go and they fluffed it. Baster Martin are the same. They have no one in reserve. And if Mercedes don't want to chuck them a good driver, or if Mercedes chuck them a driver that is naff or not really up to standard, they are going to struggle because Lance strolls the other guy in the car. It will not be good for them. So yes, start investing in cartons, start investing in, you know,

formerly Europe's stage level, F3, buy a couple of drivers out from F3 that have got some potential. You've got the money to do it. Set up your own program. It makes sense. If you want to be here long term, 10, 15 years minimum, start buying out these younger drivers and get them on your program.

Because as we said with Pierre Gassi earlier, it could even just be trading bait later on down the line that they could sell off for some money. It's all property or isn't it red balls who are their drivers. They make money off of them. So, yeah, it's a no-brainer.

Go and set one up. Start with Felipe Drogovich and go from there, as far as I'm aware. Get it done. I thought he was already on their books, but he's not. No. Drugford is just there leading the F2 championship, not associated with any F1 team. It's mad. But I mean, you mentioned Alpine, just a slight aside on that with Piastri and almost putting all their eggs in one basket with him.

It's crazy to think that just last year they had they had Joe and they had Piastri and they had Christian Lungard as three drivers who, you know, have a real chance. one's off to IndyCar, one's in a different team, and one doesn't want to race for you. It's not great. Not ideal. No, the one that I would go, good one. The one that I would go and pick is, I'll go pick up Taylor-Boucher myself.

He's French. He ticks the box. He's doing well in F2. I would go to snag him. I mean, if Alpha don't sign him up for next year, if they keep Joe at some point, you know, they've got to do something with him. I don't know.

You could do a third. You could do a third. year enough too, I guess. But still, yeah, I think you're right on that. Let's see what Harry has to say about the whole Alonzo DeBaco. After all, he is the lead of the Fernando Alonzo fan club. Here we go. The last one Ben has asked me to talk about is whether I'm surprised that Alonzo is leaving Alpine for Aston Martin. And obviously, was a fairly shocking thing to see on a Monday morning when it was announced. But thinking about it now, no. not even that shocked because it's Fernando Alonzo

and this is what he does. The fact that he didn't even tell Alpine and they found out via the Aston Martin Press release is just vintage magical and so. Yeah, you know, and not to make this about Alpine but there's some serious questions to be asked there

because I know they wanted to keep... And look, Alonzo is not getting any younger and I appreciate why they were trying to do this. But the story is that they were trying to just keep him as a seat warmer for Piastri and then ship him off to sports cars but it feels like they should know Fernando Alonso better than that he he wasn't just going to be a seat warmer for anyone so kind of fair play in that sense that he's like do you know what I'll go somewhere else um whether it'll be a good move for him very much remains to be seen but it's a multi-year deal so he will

still be there in a in 268 he'll still be an f-1 he'll be an old old man by then but he'll still be there because it's Fernando Alonzo. Yeah, so initially I was shocked, but to be honest, it's just perfect Fernando Alonzo behavior. Again, as I record this, and the piastri drama is going on, Alonzo just put on his story, a picture of him with a thumbs up,

having a nice holiday, which honestly I go forward with laughter when I saw that. Amazing, amazing stuff. Anyway, I've spoken enough on a podcast that I'm not even meant to be on sorry I'm not there again folks Sam Ben you suck

oh well another great take from late breaking light thank you for that oh oh give it itself that one that is such a good bang keep it coming back that's the reason you can't not be here is that I just go back to that well every time should we

round out the podcast with a game and I say a game because I haven't actually told you what it is yet. Usually you'd get it in the schedule. And in fairness to myself, I didn't actually know what KAM I was going to do when I did the schedule. And then I had a bit of a brainwave

because you're probably thinking, folks, well, all the games that happen are Harry versus Sam and Harry's not here. How on earth is that going to work? Well, I made a few calls for who could we bring on as a guest? I gave Yuki Sunoda a call. Hall of Famer, he couldn't make it. Dave Benson Phillips.

What is going on? he couldn't make it either but there is someone who could make it ladies and gentlemen I've bigged you up for no reason there's no one coming oh there's actually no

that wasn't such a match no I'm going to play a game though that we haven't played in a long long time in fact it's so old it isn't on the soundboard this is F1 who are you who are you

F1 F1 F1 God, that's old. Old school. We even played this in a long time. You're probably thinking, what on earth when bringing this game back? And also, you still don't have an opponent.

You do have an opponent, Sam. You're playing against yourself. Oh, the hardest of opponents. I have brought up the game F1, Who Are You, from episode 98 of our podcast. The exact same questions I will be posing to you, Sam. I don't remember any of them.

So there are six overall. You, of course, were against Harry when this was initially played on episode 98. You'll be delighted to know that both of you collectively got all of them right. So you can't get any wrong here. Right. These are all, well, three of these at least,

you got right. You just got to get them right again. Okay. Good. What number would you like to start with, one through to six? One, one, oh. Out of interest, you picked five first last time. Oh, curious.

You'll be delighted to know. You'll be delighted to know of six. You actually had this one, and you got it right. Oh, okay. Okay. Yeah. So, I debuted in Spain in 1992. Right.

I won a race by two laps in 1992. 1995. And the last points I scored were at the 1999 Belgian Grand Prix. Who am I? Okay, let's run for it again because you know what my brain's like... debuted in Spain, 1992. Yeah. One by two laps in a race in 1995.

And perhaps giving you a clue, this is the one you honed in on the most. That are these three clues. Yeah. The last points he scored were at the 1999 Belgian Grand Prix. Oh, it's hilarious that I don't know. That is so funny.

You do know, because you've got it right before. Crying out loud. I don't know. This is so hard. Why have you made me torture myself by playing against a historic version of me? Who is not meant to be smarter than future me? Yeah, that's kind of the plan, yeah.

I'm trying to think of who did really well in 1995, which is hilarious that I'm now picking a different point of view. Yeah. So what I did? How long ago would that be? Good question. It would have been the start of the start of 2020, I guess. Oh, start of 2021.

Was it? It feels like the obvious one because of how good the car was. then. Okay, actually, now I'm working out. See, my folks, inside Sam's brain, I panic when I get sent bits of multiple bits of information. And Ben knows this very well. So I focus on one thing. I don't look at all the relating variables.

And now I'm putting my brain to it. I'm going to go with, and it's a 95 thing that's actually caught my attention this time, which is hilarious. I think it's going to be Hill who got the plus two laps. So I think it's Hill is the full answer. it is damon hill correct um yeah i guess the the slight giveaway is almost how short that career is for a driver that did so well in yeah yeah so i think that is one where if you put them all together you'll come to the answer that you did so you've got it right again well done come on god it's painful though sorry to drive on listening

what number would you like next uh i'll go six number six number six number six This is not one you had last time. Oh, no. This is one that Harry got right. So I achieved two podiums in F1, and they were both in my debut year. Oh, okay. The last time I scored points was in Austria, 2001. And my last season was at Menardi in 2003.

Okay, Austria, 2001, Monarch. 2003. This is one of those funny games that Harry likes to say. I was impressed he got this. It's not an easy one. I just think of the line up for 2003. That's all I need to think of.

I need to remember who drove in that team. And it's so difficult to think of. Can you give me the first one again, please? Yeah, so he scored two podiums in F1, but they both came in his debut year. so his success came his first year in F1. His last points were in Austria at 01

and his last season was 2003 with Menardi. I'm trying to think of who was in Menardi. That's the only giveaway for me and it's not the year that had the likes of Alonkso or Webering it. Nope. And the only other name, the only other name, and it's a pure punt, that I can think of that was dry,

that drove with Mangardi, is, of course, Vassapen. is dad, Yoss. And, oh, this is a bad joke to make. If you suddenly hear a cut,

everyone, it's because we've, we've cut out what I'm about to say. He had more charges legally against him than he did podiums. He's a famous lying about Yoss for Stappan.

So I think it's Just for Stappan. Yoss for Stappen is the correct answer. Well done. He had a couple of podiums when he was at Benetton in his early years. and then yeah, his career kind of fizzled out in 03 with Menardy. Potential for a bonus point, what joke did you make after Harry got it right?

Can I have a clue? That could be anything. It could. You said that Yoss was on fire. That is an awful, awful joke. Wow. To which I said something along the lines of him being Yoss the boss and Harry saying, a really silly nickname. He wasn't really a boss, was he? Which is a fair point. Basically, just rehashing episode 98 at this point. It's great. I can't listen to it. It might be better. What number would you like next?

We'll continue this pin-pong approach. We'll go for number two. All right, number two. This is a funny one because this is not one of yours. This is one that Harry got right, but it took him quite a while to get it right. And you knew it pretty much straight away. Like you knew it and Harry was there. I'm an a-a-a-ring and he eventually got there. So it'd be interesting. The worst part of this game is the anticipation of how little I know again. That's the problem.

The pressure I put on myself. Okay. First one. I am the only driver from my country ever in F-1. And that's still true to this day. It was true then. It's still true now. Right.

He was disqualified from his first race in 2006. So his debut race, he was disqualified. and he had a podium in his third ever race. Okay. Now, I just need to run through the people that are the first of their country. Right. Folks, there's an obvious one that is still around relatively today. And that's what I'm trying to think of if it is that individual.

I wonder, because obviously it wasn't my question, I wonder how quickly I, Dave, do I say how quickly I like? I can't remember exactly. But essentially, I pose the question to Harry, and after a few seconds, you go, oh, and say something along the lines of, once you know it, you'll know it. Is it Kibitzer? It is, Robert Kubitsa. Well done. Go with your gut. Go with your gut. I did know it straight away. I knew it straight away. You didn't have the pressure of having to get it right that time, whereas you did this time.

That's true. 3, 4 or 5? We'll go with 5. I think that was mine that you said earlier, right? five was one that you were yeah this is one you picked out first okay I won GP2 in 2009 by 25 points right okay my first F1 points came in 2010 at Malaysia and I have scored points in 96 races that number I've had to slightly update since last time which I give a little bit of a clue but I say I've I've had to update it a little bit. Okay, okay. I think I know this one.

Is it, is it Nico Olkenberg? It is Nico Ulgenberg. Yeah, well done. I say I only had to update it a little bit because I think there was one added race re-scored points now, but... You kind of gave it away. It's a bit of a...

Ah, okay, yeah. Two more to go. All of them right, so far. The stress I'm under, Ben. The stress I'm under, Ben. Let's go for three. Okay, this is another one of, this is the last one that you had. Right. So, this guy only had one season in F1 in 2013.

Okay. Right. He test drove for Salba in 2014. And he's from the Netherlands. Who is he? I mean, the Netherlands thing feels like it really should give it away. And I got this right, obviously. You did.

This one took a little more thought, but you did get it. Was it a whole season that he hang in 2013? Yes. He says 90% sure. Oh, it's Gia vantergard. Bantar, yeah. Bantagard. For Kastram, right?

Yeah, yeah, that was right. Which means, to be right, it doesn't matter if you get this last one right. wrong really because you've got all the ones that you got right last time right again i'm happy with that i'm very pleased the last one is one that harry got right um of course he did you get something wrong it's true uh i won the first of five grand prix in 1976 i was the highest placed british driver in the championship in every year from 1978 to 1983 And I've raced for Brabham and McLaren amongst some other teams. Who am I?

I like that you always angle a little, who am I? Of course. It completes the question very nicely. Is it or? What I always think is funny when we do these quizzes. I feel like we're talking a bit more because it's just me playing. And so I imagine that Harry is sat there editing going, shut up, let's answer the question.

But I wonder if people at home are like, come on, know the answer. Like, I know it. Like I do. You're playing like Pop Mask on Radio 2, where you're like, is this? It's this. I love the English reference of Popmaster.

Pop Mask, it's a shout out. Finally, Ken Bruce gets the respect he deserves on this podcast. The answer is Ken Bruce. The answer, I think. think is Watson. I think it's John Watson. It is John Watson. Well done. Oh, come on. John Watson, yeah, very successful in the late 70s and early 80s. An incredible impersonation of John Watson from Jack Nichols, if you want to check out our friends of the podcast episode. He absolutely nails it. Genuinely nails it.

Phenominally good. Well done. You managed to get them all right, which means you got all the ones you got right last time and you got Harry's ones as well. Six out of six. I mean, it does help that theoretically I have been told all of the answers in the same format at some point in the last 12 months. But yes, I'm proud of that one.

25 bonus points if you can tell me what the episode title was called on episode 98. Can I have a date, please? January. Around that. What, last year? Yeah. Yeah, I think so.

I'm not expecting to get this. No, but is it something really stupid like Lewis Hamilton drives a biscuit or something? No, but that does sound very us. It was actually, does Lance Stroll get too much hate or something on those lines? Oh, that's far too professional. What we're doing?

I don't know. And I know what our conclusion was. We probably sat on the fence about it because that's who we are. But well done, Sam. Six out of six for who am I. triumphant return for that game for the first time in God knows how long, possibly since episode 98. This has been a long one, but of course there's a lot going on in Formula One.

Next week we'll be discussing Lewis Hamilton going to Red Bull, Mick Schumacher driving around in Andrea Moda and I don't know, maybe Jolt Baumgartner will be back in F1 as well. I don't know. Sam, would you mind getting us out of here before that happens? thank you for listening folks there isn't a race this weekend obviously during the summer break but we are going to have an episode on Sunday it is finally the 200 episode special which we actually recording about three weeks ago what number we're on now who knows we might be closer to 300 for all I actually know

but it is the roast it is the Q&A and it is the podcast quiz that Ben has put together that was really something special it's a good laugh. If you just want to listen as something fun and a bit easy, it's not all about F1,

obviously there are some stuff about us, but give it a go. You might learn something new about us, you might laugh your head off at a really bad roast or you might learn something

about the podcast. Who knows? Join us for it, please, and of course we'll be back again next week as well during the midweek talking about whatever

ridiculousness happens in Formula One over that period of time. Thank you so much for listening. If you want to chat to us more in that period, Discord link is in the description. So many people,

so many that I've lost count well over a thousand people now. It's climbing like crazy. Like I said, much banter was had on Twitter over the most recent activities at L breaking if you're coming and find us. Lots of fun. Instagram is the late breaking

F1 podcast. If you're here and come knocking, we go TikTok and that is the late breaking F1 podcast. Well, although we have done a video. There is a video on there now. Down with the kids. We are we're getting down. And he's hurt a bit, but we are getting down. If you

want to pick up some merchandise for links in description. We have everything from Captain Mikes to jumpers and T-shirts, whoever takes your fancy, both. Mings and Women's as well, if you need a certain cut. And of course, we have Patreon. And it's got new updated tiers and perks that we've worked through to make sure you're getting much more benefit. And someone asks in the Discord, I can't see my Ag-Free podcast when I'm going on Apple. You need to make sure you're watching them on the link supplied on Patreon. That way you get your Ag-free episodes as well. So many perks, many tiers available, to be exact. Have a little look. It massively helps

Sam, more than you really think it does. It's hugely beneficial for us. Thank you. I think that's it. I'm a bit out of breath. In the meantime, I've been Samuel Sage. And I've been Ben Hocking. And remember, keep breaking late.

Maybe we'll sign Oscar Pastery. Maybe. And I've been Oscar Piershtry. The podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.