The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Should McLaren prioritise Norris?

Episode Date: August 4, 2024

Ben, Sam and Harry discuss McLaren's recent comments regarding the hierarchical structure between their two drivers and what their priority SHOULD be for the remainder of the season. They also cover Audi's new team principal, F1's proposed idea of wildcard entries for rookies, and Stella's contract extension with McLaren, before finishing with a throwback of a game... F1: Who Are You? FOLLOW us on socials! You can find us on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok SUPPORT our Patreon for bonus episodes, historic race reviews & more! JOIN our Discord community JOIN our F1 Fantasy League: SIGN UP & create your team, and JOIN our league (join code: C3PHEQHPU04) BUY our Merch SEND us something! We have a brand new PO box - address: Late Braking Podcast, PO Box 821, TRURO TR1 9PE EMAIL us at [e-mail] & SUBSCRIBE to our podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 podcast. Make sure to check out new episodes every Wednesday and every Sunday. Welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead. Sam Sage and me, Ben Hocking, here for us, Summer Break Sunday, Sam. Yes. A lot of S's in there. Summer break Sunday, Sam, Sage, like a sleepy Sunday.

I haven't got, I guess, related to a month off. because I was going to drop like, you know. It's almost September. It's almost September. And we've got so much to speak about. Yeah, no, the news is coming thick and fast. We've got loads of changes going on. But, you know, just simmer down.

Enjoy your summer break. Put your feet up and listen to the old late breaking boys. Because we're having a good old time this summer break. Please, be about the races. But please. It's been a week. I just miss it. I mean, we're worried about it.

Oh, 24. Oh, that's too many. I'd like another one now. Yeah, it does. Last weekend, when Spar was on, I was, I was like, yeah, do you know what? Maybe I'm ready for a break from F1, but, okay. You get one day. You're one day off.

It's like, okay, I'm back. Yeah, so if that intro is anything to go by, this could be unhinged. But you're right, Sam. There is still a lot to talk about in the world of F1. Most importantly, I've decided to bring back F1, who are you as a game? last scene in like 2004. So that will be coming up later on. Andrea Stella, he's extended his contract at McLaren,

bit on Jonathan Wheatley leaving Red Bull and joining Audi. But we're going to start with McLaren because they have some discussions over the summer break as to what they do about their drivers. We saw it in Hungary. We didn't see it in Belgium, largely thanks to the fact that they were never really close to one another. But Zach Brown was talking about what they're going to do,

regarding team orders or no team orders for the second half of this season. Zach Brown said it's ultimately going to be Andrea's call. The Constructors' Championship, while it's definitely not going to be easy, is well within reach. I think the challenge on the driver's front is that Max's bad days are second and third places. So it's hard to make those clawbacks that we're making on the constructors that we could do because Sergio Perez is struggling at the moment,

but we also know he's capable of turning it on at any moment. This will be something I think we discuss over the summer break. What do you think on this one, Sam? Mosca Piastri has, who is behind Lando Norris and the championship, has said he would be willing to play the second driver role if it came to that. Lando Norris, on the other hand, has very much said, I haven't earned it. How do you think that's going to go for the second half of this year?

I think they're in a really tricky situation here. And from an entirely entertainment perspective, I obviously don't want them to have team orders. I don't want to see drivers sitting behind one, two. Let's say they go into the second half of the season, and they're very dominant. I do not want to see every single race. No, you can't fight for the wing.

No, you can't. For me, as a viewer, and I do not listening and watching on YouTube, which you can watch, they break in a fun. You know, it is not fun. We've seen it before with loads of teams previously. Most notably, of course, Ferrari back in the day, have had some seriously strong team orders,

and it can kill the vibe a little bit for a championship fight. Internally, on the other hand, competitively, I understand focusing your time and energy to kind of like a spearhead, put all your eggs in one basket and making sure that you're driving forward with your most clear and obvious possibility of winging. The issue for them is the clear and obvious possibility of winging is actually a lot closer, I think, than it seems. As much as we've all given Norris, a lot of always doing really, really well this season,

and he is. The gap is much smaller than I think it appears. I think we did that stat last week about, you know, the last eight grand prix, Well, Piastri's actually scored 10 points more than Norris in the last eight Grand Prix. And in the championship at the moment, whilst Norris is leading the way, there's only 32 points between them. You know, what happens if we get into Zambor? Piazri wins Norris DNFs.

There's seven points between them at that point. So it's really tricky to start segregating off one of your drivers just because you think that you've got the better opportunity. If I'm totally honest with them, I feel like McLaren might go for the whoever's in front at the time will continue to be in front at the time during the race. I don't know if they'll be doing too many clear and obvious. Swap the cars round.

The championship is where it's going. I think Piastri is doing the decent thing and what I'd expect from Piazsche because of who he isn't going. Yeah, I'll play second fiddle. It's only my first proper series of a really competitive car where race wings are on the cards. He's got a race wing, of course, under his belt now. I think Norris is probably a little bit more,

I'm hungry for some success. I've stuck it out here at McClare while it wasn't a great time. And now I'm having a very good time. And if I was going to get a go first, it should be me. I don't disagree with that sentiment. It's a tricky conversation on their hands. I would actually like them to just let it run. But for the terms of the championship,

I think constructors is where they should focus. I think drivers is going to be tricky, depending on how good that rebel is. Let it run for another four or five races and then maybe reassess. Yeah, I'd maybe get past Singapore into that area of the season. Let's see the next three or four races bring. And then I would then go, right, you know what, Norris is actually scored another 25 points more than Piastri.

That's where we're going for the final six races. of the season. What do you think, Harry? Do you think that they will make a change in approach? Or do you think the way that they are right now is fine and they'll just keep going that way? And firstly, I respect Zach Brown for saying ultimately it's Andrea Estella's cool because that is the ultimate.

Past the buck, baby. Past the buck is your new contract. By the way, that's your call. I'm marketing back. I will not make people cry. By the way, that's all on you no matter whether it's right or wrong. I only fire drivers. I don't make any decisions about them when they're with us.

but yeah I think it's a tricky one for McLaren because yeah they're in this odd situation where there's a realistic chance based on current form they could win the constructors here but the drivers is a much trickier one so it would take I feel like they're going to have to assess on what's happening

you know in the next few races as you say not just with their own drivers which as you say it's been quite close in terms of points over the last few races but also what happens with Max if Max suddenly starts dropping a load of points for some reason or another, you know, car issues. He has a couple of retirements. Then maybe they need to chuck their way behind Norris if he's the closest to him in the championship. But as Zach Brown rightly points out, Max for Stappen's worst days means he gets a podium, which day was fourth.

Yeah. I mean, come on. Hungary was his worst day this year. What did he get like six or something? So it's a tricky one for them to catch up. So trying to make Piastri get out the way for Norris is tricky. But yeah, I think they're just going to see how it goes. I don't think they can start implementing this yet.

And their focus should be on gaining the maximum amount of points for McLaren. I know there'll be lots of people that say, you know, come the end of the year, if it is a tight challenge between Vastafel and Norris, will things like hungry come back to haunt them but it's i just don't see how they they can base it off that at this point because it's not like they've been in the fight the whole year the beginning of the year they certainly weren't um so it's tricky one but they're gonna have to play it they can't make a call now and stick to it i think they have to do a play by play um but for now i think they stick stick to what they've been doing because scoring the maximum

amount of points for mcclaren is got to be their priority yeah absolutely um i I agree with what you said. And if Oscar Piastri hadn't made such a big step forward in the last sort of couple of months, I would probably agree with Lando Norris taking the priority from here. But if Piastri hadn't improved that much, then Norris would have a far bigger gap in the championship. Like you say something, it's only 32 points. It's not, they're not separated by 100 points.

They're not separated by even 50 points. That is only just over one race win. It's pretty close. And as you say, last 10 Grand Prix. you know, after Miami, Lando Norris was on 83 points, which was pretty much double what Oscar Piastri had on 41. And in the last 10 Grand Prix,

Piastri scored 10 more points, which even with, let's say, Austria, where Lando Norris certainly scored fewer points than he should have done, I don't know, give him a first or second place there, and it's still only 10 points the other way. Point is it's been very close. I was quite critical of Piastri in the first part of this year

because I don't think he'd made that step forward. Well, he has now. And I think what he's earned is at least for now, not having to play second driver. And look, I mean, there's no talks like this at Ferrari either, right? Like, Ferrari are potentially

in a Constructors' Championship fight if they can get the car together. I haven't heard any talk about Shaola Claire, who is the leading point scorer there, being the number one or signs being the number two driver. it's not something they're entertaining. And I don't think for now it should be something

that McLaren entertains either. And you both put stress on the Constructors Championship. Yeah, it's been a while. This isn't Red Bull or Mercedes that have had a success in the last couple of years. If you want to ask both of the McLaren drivers,

how did you feel the last time McLaren won the Constructors Championship? They'd both give you the same answer, which was, we weren't alive. The last Constructed Championship was 1998. They were bored, just after that.

Now, granted, 2007. You were barely alive. Well, yeah, exactly. I remember loving that moment when I was two years old. But 2007, right? I know they had the points to win the championship if they weren't disqualified for being naughty boys and girls. But last championship win, you do have to go all the way back to 98.

Last driver's championship, of course, was Hamilton in 2008. So point being, this is a team that has not had success in a very long time. it would be in their best interest, not to screw it up. I do not want a situation at the end of this season where they are so focused on team orders and the driver's championship that they forget that there's a Constructors Championship that is very, very winnable, very winnable at this point. Yeah, I think they need to do two things.

Maclaren themselves need to make it clear what they're doing from this point moving forward. Because if that conversation is starting to come out, they can't have another hungry, right? If we do get another hungry opportunity, that will go wrong for them eventually. if they're faffing around, I'll give up X time, you catch up to me. In that situation, before the race even starts, they need to be clear what the plan is. I don't care what that plan is.

If one of your drivers is seven seconds ahead and you go, well, we just agreed that if someone's seven seconds ahead, it stays that way. Fine. If you've pre-agreed it, fine, but you need to be clear because it will cost you. Secondly, I think Landon Norris has only got himself to blame a little bit here. He's forming the last few races and, of course, the fact that he was, I still argue, victim to Max Verstappen moving over in Austria. has costing points. He's the one that's struggling with his road starts. He's not getting things executed

where it comes down to the absolute wire. It's costing him when he could be, I think, at least another 10, 15 points further ahead in the championship than he actually is. And that's going to be continuous throughout the season if he doesn't nip those little mistakes in the bud and actually start being far more ruthless with what he's doing, much like Max Verstappen is able to do,

where as we've already mentioned, the worst day Max Verstab has had in the last few Grand Prix was fifth place in Hungary, after he absolutely torpedoed into the side of Lewis Hamilton. If that's as bad as it gets from Max Verstappen, you were up against the ultimate end boss. You know, the health bar is the size of the screen and you've got to keep chipping away at it time and time again.

So Landon's still got a lot of work to do, even if he does think that he's got a title fight on his hands. It's not going to be as simple as just sitting in the best car and hoping. Piaastri has said, you know, he is open to being a second drive or playing the number two role if it was necessary later in this season, Harry. have they just McLaren got themselves an absolute gem of a driver or in reality would it go down differently?

What do you think? I think he's pretty honest and again he's fairly early in his career he knows that he's got a lot of way to go and there's no point burning bridges at this point. Again in reality it might play out differently but even when in Hungary when it didn't go his way

there was no particular like winging over the radio from Piastri in terms of the situation had gone against him. I mean, not that we heard. All the radio was just between Norris and the team. But I think he's, I think Piastri is smart enough to know that what goes around comes around. And, you know,

he's unlikely he'll be the one challenging for, challenging for staffing for the championship. So if he has to back up Norris and, you know, help the team, then I think he's, he's very sensible to say that he will do that because it's, it's entirely feasible that even this time next year it could be Piastri in that fight as well

and not saying Norris won't be but he won't the help where he can get it so I think yeah they've done well they've done well with with securing Oscar Piassi services as we already knew but I think he's also playing the playing the game well yeah I agree and I think he will he'll do whatever's necessary for the team I would just say to Oscar Piastri

stand up for yourself you know It is close between himself and Lando Norris at the moment. Play the team game, sure, but equally, if for whatever reason, a driver's championship does come into reach, I don't think it will this year, but if it does, make sure you stand up for yourself because F1's a funny world. I know McLaren are in a great spot right now. They should be in a great spot for years to come.

Piastri is obviously very young. You never know. You never know when that next opportunity, is coming along, still waiting for Charles LeCler's first. It might come around at some point, it might not. And I half joke, but I'm half serious as well. Like you never know when that next opportunity

for a title is going to come around. So even though he might argue at the moment, he isn't quite in the frame in that discussion. If a few of these races go his way and suddenly he thinks he is, you know, make sure you're not just rolling over at the first opportunity. That's all our so.

What do you think so? Well, we've got Guglerclair, and now we've got Angel Boy Piestri. And obviously they're related, of course, through Piusstri's own omission. In no way is that catching on. Angel Piuscri. Fly with your wings, Oscar. Honestly, I actually think this is incredibly clever from Oscar Piascrio. He is behind, currently in the points tally.

He did have a poor start to the season. He has caught back up. The gap is still there. It's not sizeable, but it does exist. it would take, as we've already mentioned, one race to go completely on its head for him to essentially be back in the fight with Landon-Norris' second place in this championship

and not too far off Max Verstappen. He's, I think, playing a very clever team and PR game to go, yeah, I'll move out of the way. You know, no problem. I'll play the team game. One race changes. Guys, I'm actually maybe the best chance now. Do you remember how I said

that I would happily be second driver, but I'm now clearly the best opportunity. I'm also happy to be first driver. I also think my teammate should play the team game. Remember how I put my hands up, Emilie said, I will be second driver. Well,

it's on me to win now, guys. What's he going to do? I just think this is very clever positioning himself. He's playing the odds. He's already behind. So why not live up to that a little bit? I think everyone internally knows that Oscar Biascar is rife with talent. And he will happily take win after win after wing if presented towards him.

I think he's guessing to that point. We were very critical of him up until about Australia. And from that point onwards, he has been really fantastic. So it's on the cars for him. It's really like, it's just about to get there where he's going to start being very, very successful. One or two races go his way.

He will be the guy in the front seat. I just think he's being very clever. I think it's just smart from him. I like this approach. Like you said, don't roll over. But play your cars. Be careful. Okay, let's take our first break on this episode.

On the other side, we're chatting about Jonathan Wheatley joining Audi. Welcome back, everyone. So at the moment, I'm obviously with the summer break. I have a lot more time on my hands and I have this favourite podcast and I would really like to with my added time I have in my day

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some of the latest reviews with our five stars, one of them titled Sam Sage singing. Please have Sam Sage singing more. Oh, yes, I will. Okay. Reviewed my. Sam,

Repeat by something. But it was a five-star review and that is all the matters to us. No, no. But we really do value your support and it does help the podcast grow. If you give us a five-star review, you can write anything as proven by that latest review there.

Not offensive. Okay, yeah, you can write anything within reason. Please no offensive ones. We don't like that. But as long as a five-star review, then it's excellent. the words you can write on your latest review it are

Jonathan Wheatley What's that it? There you go No, that's great Leave it at that Jonathan Wheatley It's going to be shown this at some point and he's going to be like, what?

Why am I all going for a review coming? It's a five star of June. He's a fan of the podcast. Jonathan Wheatley. On top of this, remember folks, you can now comment on Spotify. So if you want to chat about the episode, or you have anything to say

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We are quite literally everywhere. You are plugging us all the way up the extension cable today. Love that. All the plucks. Yeah, there you go. That's as far as we go. Well, that's not the end of Jonathan Wheatley.

There's more from him because... He's really growing. He's growing. as old Jonathan. The current Red Bull Sporting Director, he'll leave the team at the end of this season to become Audi's F1 team principle. Wheatley has been involved with Red Bull for 18 years,

but he'll join Audi's factory team following a period of gardening leave. Audi said in a statement they spent him to start no later than July of 2025. Christian Horner had the following to say. Everyone at Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Technology wish him all the best in this new role and would like to place our thanks to Jonathan.

Red Bull Racing of tremendous strength and depth, and this provides opportunity to elevate others within the team. We will announce a new team structure in the coming weeks. Sam, what are your thoughts on this move? What a steal from Audi, I think this is. I think it's eight, 18 years at one F1 team as successful as Red Bull. He's been there, what, pretty much since the start, pretty much since this exception.

I think he joined maybe a year or so after. Christian Horner obviously was there from the start. He's the longest running team member. So he's a real foundation. He's one of those key pillars that you look for when you join an organisation, go, well, who are the people that I'm looking to? Who are our leaders?

Who are the people that are going to take us through the hard times and lift us up and then also celebrate the good times? And Jonathan Wheatley is quite literally that guy. He's been around for so long. And I would argue there were three pillars as part of this foundation, Christian Horner being one. Adrian Newey being the other and Jonathan Wheatley being the third

and you've now lost two of those pillars and I don't know many buildings that can stand with just one of their pillars left. It doesn't feel good right now in terms of if we get the architects in go let me know is it going to stand up if there's a strong wind because I feel like it might fall over but for

Audi I think this is fantastic I think if they're looking for someone who comes from competitive background quite ruthless has got so many connections in the field knows how to run a slick operation. Wheatley's been very successful. You know,

you don't have to look at the fact that over the last 15 years, they've won, what is it, seven constructors, eight drivers championships in that time. That's essentially one

championship in every other year. He's worked at Red Bull. It's a pretty good success rate. That's a 50-50, something I hate, but Jonathan Wheatley loves. And if you're going to start picking up people,

well, you've got Bonoso, and you think, oh dear, oh, the scales are really tipping against our favour. How we balance those? We go with the,

the Ying, to his yang and we're bringing Jonathan Wheatley on the other side and now the scales are really against us with a person which goes to hire. Hey, that's their own fault. Oh, we're struggling now. We're struggling. Give ourselves a handicap here and we make it easier again.

Turned down the difficulty. And I think this is a really strong move. And I do think that he'll be able to entice over many other key person. Now, not just from Red Bull, but from other engineering groups, other teams, people that have worked with him previously, maybe moved on. He's a well-connected, a very well-respected man.

And I think Bonoso, if he's allowed to flourish in his key areas, which it seems like it won't be directly on the track. It looks like it's going to be more managerial and structural. And if Wheatley's allowed to flourish with running what goes on on track, hey, it could be a very potent partnership and something that I'm very excited to see. How do you think you'll get on, Harry? Yeah, this is an excellent signing by Aldi.

I mean, only a week after we were criticizing them for their... weird signing of Mitya Bonotto. This one's a much better move. And yeah, for Red Bull, it's a, it's a big loss. Like you say, Sam, he's been there for 18 years. 18 years. But he's been an integral part of that team. And, you know, he's not been ever been a team principal before.

But as we've seen with the likes of Andrea Stella, promoting from, I know, it's not promoting from within, but, you know, going up the next level, it does, does work. And I think Jonathan Wheatley will be, he'll make an excellent. and team principal. He is, was he sporting director now currently? Him and Ron Meadows from Mercedes, probably the two best sporting directors in F1.

We saw it in 2021. Jonathan Wheatley has been, he's very good at his job and I would suggest he'll be good at his next job. So it's quite the steal from Audi here. And quite, you know, even with Benotto's track record, getting Bonotto who was previously at Ferrari and had lots of success and getting Johnth and Wheatley from Red Bull

who has had lots of success is it looks good I know losing Seidel there was some bad press for them but this looks pretty good so it's it's I'm very intrigued to see how this goes because he's not got a lot of time to get things together

and if it's to be relieved that they're in a bit of a mess then he's got a lot to do but I think he's he's the right man for the job. And actually not one, I mean, it's not a surprise I hadn't thought of this,

but not really something I'd thought of in terms of you didn't, I never thought he would be a contended to even leave Red Ball, let alone go off to Aldi. But when you, when that came out,

I was like, yeah, that makes a lot of sense. That's a good, that's a good old move, well on Aldi. It feels right, didn't it?

Yeah. It feels right. They're playing F1 manager in real life out here, I think it's like these people. It gives me James Vowles vibes to Williams as well. It feels very similar,

right, to take someone like a second hanged man, which is what James Fouts was, of course, that was saying throughout their success, to go, I want that next step. The big dog ain't leaving, the big cheese. So I'm going to go somewhere else. And hey, props to him.

Hopefully it'll be successful. I think you can never be 100% sure about someone going into a team principal position because until you've done it, you can't properly tell. However, if you are looking for someone who is arguably about as, who might be the most qualified rookie of all time when it comes to that job role.

I think Jonathan Wheatley probably covers that off, given he has been in F1 since 1991, consecutively as well. I don't think he's at any time off from F1 since 1991. He's got a day off for 30 years. Yeah, exactly. He spent 15 years with Benetton, which later became Renault. That was fairly successful in two different eras as well, because he was just about there

when Fernando Alonzo was winning his championships and then of course he spent 18 years at Red Bull. So look, he knows his stuff, right? When it comes to sporting regs, when it comes to compliance, he's had heavy involvement in the pit crew at Red Bull. I don't know if you've noticed. Pit crew is pretty good at Red Bull.

I mean, this year alone, I think they've had maybe eight of the top 10 pit stops so far this season. and that's not an anomaly. Like that happens pretty much every year. So he is clearly a very well-rounded individual in terms of his knowledge. He is on paper at least exactly what you'd be looking for

in the team principle. Again, you can never quite tell until it happens, but this felt like a no-brainer. Sam, what does it say about Red Bull? Does it say anything about Red Bull? We know that they have, you've already referenced Adrian Newey having left this year, another big piece of the puzzle leaving as well.

Is this a poor indictment of where Red Bull are or is this just pure aspiration from Wheatley? No, it feels like the empire are crumbling. You know, it does feel like, as I mentioned, the three-pillar analogy, I do think rings very much true. They went from being such a, they're kind of their own band of brothers a little bit,

Red Bull. They were kind of, you know, it was us against the world, especially the first time they started winning championships. It was, you know, we're not a car manufacturer. we're coming here and we're starting to unsettle the big boys and we're doing things our way we're very different our culture is very different the way we we run things along is very different and i feel like that reached its peak when they beat mercedes with max vastapton in 21 and then they're a great year of course they're incredibly dominant right and then now we've had the controversy with christian horner which i do think is essentially they they lost dut van matis schich whose name i find so hard to say so you know apologies and christian hogg has had the controversy and that's two massive blows to essentially the Red Bull aura, the Red Bull reputation, the Red Bull culture, and those key events do tend to show a bit of a seismic shift in personnel, direction,

who's going to be the next kind of step for progression in a big organisation like this. And I think it makes a, I'm not shocked that we're seeing such a changing personal at Red Bull, but I do think for them, we're going to see, probably years, a large period of transition, readjustment, regrowth. I don't think it's over. I think there will be more people leaving, joining and changing. I don't think they're just going to promote two people from within and call it done. I really do think there's going to be a lot more that goes on behind the scenes at Red Bull,

but I think they've been unsettled massively by controversy. And people have gone, well, now's the time to escape off to greener pastures and try something new, get my hand stuck in while it's, you know, the building is crumbling around me. And I don't really blame them. It makes sense. So, yeah, I think that's what's going on Red Bull. I think they're going to spot of bother. In Christian Horner's statement, he does reference the, you know, the fact that with his departure,

there will need to be some changes made in terms of the hierarchy, Harry. Do you think that they were somewhat blindsided by this move? And do you think it has anything to do with the fact that the Red Bull seemed to at least off track be in a spot of bother by the words of some stage? Yeah, I mean, it's not ideal, Jonathan, them really leaving. And I'm not suggesting maybe they were blindsided, but yeah,

they definitely would have preferred to keep him given recent events of losing, already losing Adrian Newey. But I know Christian Horn is the king of talking. But he says that they've got a lot of talent within Red Bull that they can promote. And look, Jonathan Wheatley, Adrian Newey, they are very talented individuals.

and there's no doubt of their contribution to the team. But Red Bull hasn't won as much as they've won without a lot of other talented people that can step up into these roles. So it's not great and it's not going to help, you know, persuade Maxfussappen to stick around because you'll be putting people into these roles that are unproven into these roles.

So, and, you know, a lot of the same time, which is you wouldn't, you know, I'm sure Christian Honda wouldn't choose to have these, this sort of mass exodus of big names out of the team. But I would, I would, I don't think Red Bull are suddenly going to crumble into nothingness, but it's going to be tricky for them. But I do believe they've got the talent within Red Bull.

So, you know, they may not have dominance, and they're not having it anymore anyway. But they've got the talent within Red Bull to still keep a winning, even without the likes of Jonathan Wheatley and Adrian Newey, etc. So from the, from the exterior, it definitely doesn't look great for them, but I think, I'm sure Christian Honour isn't, you know, chilled about it, but I'm not sure he's going to be really, really worried about it either. I think if Vastappen leaves, then it gets to a different point, but right now I think he's okay. Toto's got his phone,

Vestappen on Speed, darlingly. It's ringing him every hour. What about now? Because he's just leaving him, a voice-mear going, fix your car, Christian. That might be your best Toto yet. Oh, sorry. Christian, Figs your Gavis your Gavis your No, that's worse. Go with the first one. Damn it. Yeah, a bonus question for you, Harry, because we did mention this just before we started discussing this topic between the break.

We saw, ordinarily, when this sort of move happens, we have dual statements by the team that is obviously got someone departing and then the incoming team. Here, we had Red Bull make a statement silence from Audi for a good few hours. I think it was at least three or four. hours until Audi said something about this. Rebel playing games. Like, what's up with that?

I really want Audi to not even know they signed him. They just... All right, fine, fair enough. Come up. I thought we were getting Michael Barley. Got Jonathan Wheatley. Nice. Goodness me.

We have a farming joke. Goodness me. Also, we haven't touched on the fact that Olli Oaks has been... I'm getting there. Has to be confirmed. Anyway. how is Trish?

Goal's getting that joke. Yeah, I think that is a little bit of gamesmanship from the Red Bull PR team on that front. They're under no obligation. If he's announced he's leaving, then he's announced he's leaving. They're under no obligation to,

I mean, I'm sure it's seen as, you know, as courtesy and, you know, working in harmony with other teams here to announce co-enance where the where the departing person is going but red ball red ball a red ball it kind of fits

into their image but I guess they're in an obligation to actually do this and it was a bit of a it does seem a bit of a bit of a little yeah I guess say petty a little bit of pettiness there from them but again I may be entirely wrong and it may be the Audi just completely not ready for it

I just completely forgot Oh yeah. Oh, yeah, though it was tomorrow. But it does seem more because, yeah, as you say, nowadays, um, teams tend to co-announce things, which to be honest, it's quite an, it's not a new thing, but I think even if went back 10 years, that sort of thing, wouldn't have been.

A world of social media thing, though, isn't it? It never used to happen through like, I don't know, when a drive or swap teams, you wouldn't get a press release that came up with both the team principles at there. So you wouldn't often have the, have the same sort of thing. And only for like maybe driver moves, you know, I'm thinking back to like Schumacher retiring and Rikin and being announced at Ferrari. I mean, that's a while ago now.

But that's the only sort of thing we'd have maybe coordinated, coordinated press releases. But in terms of team personnel, it's not someone that used to happen that often. So Red Bull are going back to the old school, old school ways maybe somewhat. But yeah, I did kind of enjoy the fact that,

how'd even we're not ready to go with this. There's someone like desperately writing a press release kind of crap. How do you spell weakly? I can't have a eating it. It's not like you've got a car to build. What are you doing? I think that's the problem, right? There's not on there to build the car.

It's the same person. Also the PR manager. Also the social media manager. Yeah, Blagosso's going, I'm English. Oh, man. Yeah, so obviously this is a blow for Red Bull. And if we look at the recent departures,

you've already mentioned Adrian Newey, and we've got, you know, Rob Marshall, who by the way, now he's a, McLaren might just be the key to success in F1. Like have Rob Marshall on your team and you will do well. But you've got those three very key personnel who have all left or are leaving. They're all very talented individuals, which is one thing. But the bigger issue for Red Bull is that all three of those individuals,

they started working for Red Bull in 2006, all three of them. But they have obviously Rob left last year, but they are long-term employees. of this company. So you are removing a sizable, you know, part of the organization when these people leave. I agree that I do think Red Bull is in a difficult situation. And I think in years to come, we will see this season as the start of a decline. I think it is a question mark as to how severe that decline will be and how quickly it happens. But I do think this will be the starting point. However, unlike the departures of Marshall and Adrian Newey, I actually don't think this is an indictment on where Red Bull are,

just because I think Jonathan Wheatley, if he'd been offered this 12 months ago or 18 months ago, I still think it had taken it. And so I don't think it's actually a negative on Red Bull. I do simply think it is Jonathan Wheatley, who is 57 years old, he's been an F1 for a long time, he's got the opportunity to be a team principal, which he's not going to get at his own team

and him seizing that initiative. And I just think that would have happened even when Red Bull were at their utter peak, say at the end of 2022 or last year. So whilst I don't think it's great for Red Bull, I don't actually think this one, I think it's a very similar one to what you've already said about James Vowse.

You know, James Vowles realized that it probably wasn't going to happen for him whilst Toto Wolf was in charge at Mercedes. He went off. I think this is a pretty similar. scenario. That Bonotto Wheatley combo,

how's that going to work? Oh, I mean, I don't think that even know. I think as much as Red Bull

were a bit arcy and we're going to go first. We're going to beat you in social media. Like, we're going to beat you on the racetrack.

Which is probably what they're thinking is because we're not there like. I think Audi we're pretty much going, have we got a social media manager?

Who's doing? Who is doing that? Like, who's, I think that's a bit like what's going on at Audi, much like I don't know how those two

going to work it out right now. But also is like a role he's never been in before, right? He's now almost as that Brown of Audi, Audi racing here, which is strange that that Belcester has gone from making engines to now running a global corporation that is Audi in terms of their sporting division. And you've now got Wheatley, of course,

who has always been relatively second fiddle. You know, he's had a couple of races in charge where things have gone, you know, array, ori, whatever the phrase is, Arry, I think is the phrase. Thank you, everyone, getting a thumbs up from the team. English isn't my strong point. And, you know, he's clearly a very well regimented man that understands detail and whatnot. But I feel like they're going to have to work.

They've got some time. But Wheatley's not joining for another year properly. And I think it might put them on the back foot that he's only going to be there for six months before they actually need to get a car on the racetrack. So there's going to be some teething problems. But I also think they're doing it at the right time in the sense that they can have teething problems. And I was expecting how to walk in win the World Championship leave. I don't think that's the expectations here.

So they've got time to work through that and understand how that's going to be dealt with and sort out their organisation. I think that's a positive for them. Yeah, and obviously, you know, Benotto's got a lot of work to do over the next year before Jonathan Wheatleaver steps in the building. So, yeah, it'd be interesting to see when those two forces come together. Let's take our second break on this episode. On the other side, we're going to be chatting about Andreas Seller contract extension.

God, so much team boss chat. Team boss chat today. TBC. Welcome back, everyone. There was a recent meeting of the F1 Commission, and an interesting idea was apparently floated, so reported by Autosport. The idea of a wildcard system being introduced to Formula One

to offer race opportunities for rookie drivers, was put up for discussion. The idea was believed to revolve around offering a greater opportunity for these young or rookie drivers to gain experience with an extra car entered at certain races. There was a fairly swift, that it would not be a good move for teams or fans. But although the wildcut idea has been shelved for now, F1 and teams

still want to evaluate ways to give rookies more track time, potentially from extra practice sessions or maybe other means. Harry, was this rightly rejected? What do you think? Can't wait for this. Got a really, really novel idea here, guys. Oh, have you? I've got quite a novel idea.

I'll tell you all novel ideas. I reckon, actually, a novel idea may be the same thing. Right, okay. You want to give young drive, more young drivers the opportunity to get into F1. Yeah. Yeah. And the only way to do that currently is to have more cars. How do you have more cars?

Don't put the burden on the current teams to have a third car. Why do you just let more teams into F1? Crickey. That is a good one. No, it's not. That is awful. What are you thinking? Well, garages can't take it, mate.

You're putting too much straying on the facility. Yeah, yeah. Because the garages. of the garages, but it's okay for some things to have three cars. Why was this even proposed? Can they not see how stupid this looks? Like, this can't be American, mate. That's the rule.

Yeah. Unless you're Gene has. He doesn't know anyone. Yeah, true. It doesn't count because he doesn't know anyone. Yeah, look, this is an infuriating idea because they have the, they've got a better solution lying right in front of them, presented to them by a man called.

Michael and his Michael. Not Scott Andretti for clarification. Could be Michael Scott. They have the solution here to help more young drivers getting to F1 and in fact, could be more teams. We don't just want to

limit to Andretti. Let's have more in. I see Othmar Safnauer is looking at he's working on another entry into F1 which is excellent. Oh my. Go on, son. He just hires all the people that were fired from Alpine. Child care racing, come on. He will be daddy daycare in Formula One.

He just rebuilt Alpine and calls it Alpine. I don't know. Anyway, but that is the solution here. You don't need to start. I'm glad it got rejected because I'm not the massive fan of it anyway. But don't need the solution in the first place. You have the good solution in front of you. Just let that be the solution, guys.

And we can have more young drivers into F1, wild card entries. I hate it. And we've spoken about how can we fix sprint races. This is good. We're making this into a sprint race fan as well. But we spoke about you could have, you know, make it a young driver's race. I'd be more inclined to do that.

But just having like random young drivers plunk to an F1 race. Why? That's not better. That's got good. That's not good. I don't want that. Just have them in another team. And then they can be in all the F1 races.

rather than just wild car their form races. Yeah, I hate it. And they're idiots for even suggesting this. Sorry, I didn't mean to bring Alpine into this whatsoever. But obviously, this would have been about a week before Bruno Fuming handed his notice. And this is probably what caused it. It's like, I cannot find the people to get an earn entry out there. I got a driver.

They can't get the cars on the plane. because it'd be so heavy. Three of them, there's too much. There's too heavy. Guy fainted because he probably thought he would have to do it himself. I don't want carrier ships. Takes nine to 12 months

to get around the planet. Good thing that this was rejected, so? I mean, actually, weirdly enough, Harry, your novel idea was not actually my novel idea. Oh, interesting. My novel idea was the full Spring Championship, and we have drained on and on, and on, about how Spring Championships are just repeated

mini versions of the race yet to come and it ruins a lot of the excitement and it's relatively repeating and dull. But if you were to give none of the current drivers any chance of sprint races and make it a sprint championship for rookie drivers, you have a sprint championship winner, yeah, get them in the car, get them a go.

It's a whole different thing that people can come up and turn for us. More entertainment on the race week that you don't necessarily need to come and watch if you don't want to, you know, but I think it's definitely the right solution as the bridge between Formula 2 and the practice sessions that they kind of have

and actual main racing. people don't want wild car entries for so many reasons the teams don't want them because of the cost you can barely fit anything new into the cost cap as it is let's like a whole third car they don't get chassis in that the garages are imagine if every team ran a third car on the same race weekend you have to go well i want it this weekend well no i want it this weekend okay we're all going to have it this weekend now we've got 30 cars on the track where 22 is apparently too many so how does that work i don't know um you also don't want to use this wildcars to take out a current prolific driver or if it's a championship

fight or what if people have gone what if South Paulo and Hamilton is so far out of the championship fight and they go right we'll put a bearman into the Ferrari seat next season at South Paulo instead of Hamilton and Brazil erupts in fury because the guy that's closest to being Brazilian on the track at the moment

they don't get to see their favourite driver go racing I think that's fair but also like that's just completely side note that's nuts that that's the case now with Hamilton in Brazil it's just it's bonkers isn't it. Yeah, yeah.

He is considered the largest Brazilian figure in Formula One. Imagine saying that 15 years ago. He's from Stevenage. He just likes that and Sena. Like, he's got no actual link to Brazil at all. 2008, they hated him.

Yeah, he was public enemy number one. Yeah. Okay, now he's an honorary citizen. Felipe, who? Anyway. Felipe, pasta. May as well be Italian. That's the worst joke I've ever made.

Unfortunately, it's not. It's not. My point here is, it's too expensive for the teams. It doesn't make sense logistically. It ruins entertainment for fans. It's run on every level. There are so many better alternatives that you could be employing. Harry mentioned one with more teams. I mention one of the different championship. It just, there are other options as well that we're not going into because we've only got so much time. So, yeah, terrible idea. Faggaggagg was rejected. Just stupid? Yes. I, I, I, I, am so confused by this because it was rejected swiftly by the teams and understandably so, it just begs the question, who brought it up to begin with? Like, who was it? Was it Red Bull, realizing they're going to have some conundrum with Lawson and Ricardo coming up and figured this might be a way out to give Lawson some tractor? I just don't understand like who's presenting this because surely all the teams would have hated it.

And they did all hate it, but someone's got to have brought it up to begin with. Anyway, I'm, I'm up for rookies getting more experience. I think it's something that's needed. But equally, this was never the way to go about it. Like you say, Sam, imagine Vastappen from a key European race or Hamilton from Brazil or Hamilton from Silverstone. Can you imagine that? Like, it just would not, you pay a lot of money.

And in F1 today, a lot, a lot of money to go to these races. to then find out that a few of you, maybe your favorite driver is not going to be there, that would be a real kick in the teeth. And then you get into the whole point of, well, what if they are still there and you get additional entries? And it just becomes very, very messy. Again, think of the garages. Once somebody, think of the garages.

Please think of the garages. You've got 10 teams here vying to make a budget cap, right? and we know it is fairly restrictive for the top teams. And now you're adding a third car in. It's a logistical and a financial nightmare that just isn't needed. I appreciate it works in other sports. Like MotoGP have this. It works for MotoGP.

It doesn't work for F1. And that's fine. So you've both presented two options, which are very viable. I'll give F1 an even easier one. you currently only have to give up your car in one practice session per year for a rookie increase that number, more experienced.

It's so straightforward. We have 24 races now and you have to give up your car once for a rookie in just one practice session. You still have two more of them in the current way that F1 works. Just increase that number. Increase that number to like eight.

Like you've still got, have we obviously we have sprint weekends where we've only got one practice session a driver's really that disadvantaged by missing FP1 and only doing FP2 and FP3 if it's still taking them more than two hours to get themselves comfy on a car what are you doing do you remember who basically sat out the entirety of FP1 at Belgium what's it Lewis Hamilton estaband occon oh yeah had one of the best races of the day on Sunday and it just by the end of the weekend and him missing FP1 essentially just meant nothing, didn't it? It's because he's the goat, though, isn't it?

Well, yeah, he's an exception based on how talented it is. But, yeah, point B, I don't disagree with ivory your solutions either. It's just if you want a really, really easy way to give rookies more time, just give them more practice sessions within, just make it happen. You don't have to do anything. Like, there's no barrier to it. Just do it. Yeah, I don't disagree at all.

I mean, even if it went up to three, it's not exactly. people, is it? No. Let's move on to McLaren because they have announced a multi-year contract extension for team principal, Andrea Stella. Harry, do you think this is a good call? Very good call. I think Andrea Stella's

proved himself immensely and the only plot on his copy book so far is probably the Hungarian team orders. I won't say fiasco, but controversy. but for the most part I've been very impressed by Andrea Stella and the way he's he's led that that team he's been very very clear

and this is a guy's been been around Amiclaren for quite a while he moved over with Alonzo in 2015 and obviously stuck it out then through the pain years and is now being rewarded and obviously before that he was at Ferrari with him as his engineer so he's got a lot of experience and he's

proven it here and whilst I think we pointed this out on the, we talk about Seidel and his involvement with McLaren. Whilst a lot of that, the success are having now, I think you can pin down to him. Andreas Seller was still heavily involved and is now had to take that mantle and, you know, it's easier said than done to actually execute the success that they've been building, building towards. So yeah, I think it's a very, it's a very good call and stability.

Now that McLaren are, you know, winning again, stability is going to be. key in terms of, you know, we've seen it with with Mercedes, with Red Bull. The reason they've been winning so often is because they've had a lot of stability within their teams. Obviously, as already mentioned with Red Bull now, they're starting to lose that and that makes a question as to whether they will keep winning.

McLarenly to make sure that they don't have the same thing. So nailing Nailing, uh, Andrea Seller down is, is a wise move from marketing man, Zach Brown who says it's all his responsibility now. Yeah. That's the only one. He just doesn't

want to make the decision. So you needed to make this happen. This is a great call, quite obviously. And you're right about the stability in teams and how important that is. And it just helps recruitment so much because anyone who is thinking of joining McLaren, you know, lower down the totem pole, can look at this triumvirate of Stella Norris, Piastri, all three of them locked in, multi years. They aren't going anywhere.

And that stability matters when you're making that sort of call. You've got other teams at the moment and you're not sure exactly what's going to happen with the lineup next year and is there going to be a change in management. McClaren have made it very clear. This is the management structure and these are the key parts and they aren't going anywhere. That will help them a lot in years to come. It is mildly hilarious how it is the complete opposite to their IndyCar program because their IndyCar program could not be further away from that,

having had 62 drivers in their car this year. But for the F1 side of things, it's working a lot. And obviously, Stella, he joined, like you say, he joined a long time ago. He's been in his role for a couple of years now. And they've definitely improved a lot since then. You know, they've already got 366 points this season. Last season, they cleared 300 points for the first time in over 10 years.

So they are making strides. This was a great call in my opinion. Sam? Yeah, if they ain't broke, don't fix it. That's the expression that feels like it comes to mind. And they're on a continuously up trajectory, which is where you want to be in Formula One. It feels like from pretty much Austria last season,

they took a big step forward. And they haven't really looked back. You know, the line has been pretty much up and to the right, to quote a lovely expression from a dear friend of us. and I just think that that's where you're going to keep going and stability is a key component of that instrument of moving upwards what's also quite unique about McLaren is the relationship that I think Stella Zat Brown and the other kind of leaders of their departments have

it feels like the responsibility is far more shared between different areas at McLaren than it is maybe for example throughout Mercedes dominant form total wolf is very much seen as that go-to guy. He was very much seen as the top of the pyramid. Of course, you had some big features in there, like James Allison, for example. But it feels like Stellar is, you know,

very much the on the tracting principle and he works through that organizational element. But Zach Brown runs, you know, a lot of the press components, the marketing, a lot of the PR, he's a guy in front of the camera a lot of the time. And you've got a lot of key person guy that we've seen move over recently who are involved in the technical side of things.

I'm happy to run their department. And we've got, we heard them create that pillar element that they almost spearheaded themselves. So it seems to be working for them. If they're all very comfortable in how they're adapting and working together, keep it running, keep developing it, keep evolving. So yeah, good call, glad to see also internal promotion taking place at a Formula One team. I really like that we're not just going straight outside immediately and going, this isn't working, let's go to get someone else that's been fired from elsewhere a year ago and I hope that works this time. It's great development. It's encouraging. It's rewarding. And I think that's a really good direction for a

one wanting to go into. So great call. Okay, we've got one more part of this episode to come right after this break. Okay, welcome back to the final part of today's episode. It's been a while, but we're going to be playing F1. Who are you? Oh, it gives me like 80s cop, sunset vibes, you know.

Look, that was even a jingle. Excellent work. It's also very quiet. It's still better than the other one. F1. F1. I don't know what you mean. So good. Oh, man.

I definitely need to explain the rules of this one because it has been such a while. I'm sure many listening have never heard us play this one. It's a simple game. There are six questions and there are three clues which lead to a particular driver. The guys will take it in terms to select the number. I will give those three clues. And then at the end of that, they have to guess who it is I'm talking about. Okay, let's start with how.

What number would you like? Number two, please. Number two. Here are your three clues. I was born in what is now Croatia. Oh, God. My first F1 win was in 1971 with Ferrari. I won a driver's championship in the 1970s with Lotus.

Who am I? I don't know. Don't know. Don't know. you're the king of guessing you're like you're like oh then you win six skills

my 90 whereas Ben's 1970s F1 knowledge is astounding mine is absolutely terrible I don't have any knowledge

what what is knowledge I'm just vibes uh what a 1970s I don't no the only one I can think of

is emerson fitipaldi but he definitely wasn't born in what is now Croatia he's been a lot I actually don't know. I'll bail. I've got no idea. All right.

The correct answer, Mario Andretti. Mario? He was born in, what was Croatia? So what is now Croatia? So at the time was part of Italy. But yes,

he won his first race in 71 with Ferrari and then won the driver's championship later in that decade with Lotus. There was me thinking, Roland Ratsenberger. So, Clay, wasn't my fault. but definitely wasn't him. No.

Not him. I think he was, what, 11 on that first title? Something like that. Sure, that sounds that right. I think he was born in the 60s. Yeah, that's probably right. Sam, what number would you like? Well, over six plays back.

I was six. I competed in six seasons and had wins in four of them. Ooh. Two of my teammates were Mark Schwarzschilder, Jeanet and Antonio Pizonia. Oh, for God's sake. I was disqualified from the Canadian Grand Prix in back-to-back years.

I literally don't know. Harry sat there like, let me answer. Let me in. I don't know. I got a clue. My brain defers to about eight different drivers on these. Who are you?

It's not Ratsenberg. is it, this is my answer but I'm sorry, like, is it Shogger Lazy? Oh God, if you're Shoggleazy, that's going to be hilarious. I'd dodge on a lazy nerve. Okay.

But imagine. Like, I'm like, I'm going to so funny. Imagine. Any ideas on this one, Harry? Yeah, I haven't got a clue. Yeah. Is it Mr. Chunky? Yeah, one Pablo Montoya.

Oh, found are you got a point. Yeah, no, that's a real shame. We're doing really well so far. Oh, I said a row. Yeah, it was disqualify. from two Canadian Grand Prix in a row. Did he like ignore the pit lane exit or something like that? That was one of them.

I can't quite remember what the other one was. Through a Snickers wrapper on the truck. Yeah, it was because he's chunky. They got rid of him. Overweight. Butterfly, Riverweight. No. So that's nil-0.

Back to you, Harry. What number would you like? Number one. Okay, number one. I finished top 10 in the Drivers' Championship seven years in a row. I have multiple race wins but I've never taken two wins on the same continent

I scored on debut in 2015 What was the one about The same continents again Never taken that I have multiple race wins in F1 But I've never taken two wins On the same continent I know who it is

Carla Sines Carla Sines is the correct answer God damn it's The only one I've ever known concretely. So, I mean, very likely that it wouldn't be eight years in a row at the end of this season. He's finished in the top ten, of course. But yeah, he's won in Australia. He's one in Singapore.

And he's won at Silverstone. But none of those are on the same continent. So, one-nil. Sam, one of the other- Graphical knowledge here with late-breaking. Love that. I go number four, please, Ben. Number four.

My first F-1 race was at Indianapolis. My last podium was at Baku, and I finished my last two seasons in 12th place in the Drivers' Championship. Oh, I feel like I should know this. Indianapolis was the first race. Yes. Okay. When's the last time we race to Indianapolis?

Like 2008, seven? Yeah? I don't know. I'm not especially you guys going to be answers. either. This is just my internal thinking. The listeners need to answer you for you. Calling, phone a friend. So what year was it at Baku?

Did you say a year? I didn't say a year. My last podium finish was at Azerbaijan. Last podium finished at Azerbaijan. Harry again is screaming at me. And he finished 12th, the last two years that they're in the sport. Yes. Yeah, Chief, I don't know.

I want to say like a post-assal stroll but that's got the case so Harry Sebi Vett yeah I felt too obvious I was like

he didn't debut at Indianapolis yeah I forgot that but yeah he must have done because it was after yeah I was there like

because we jokes about how we finish back to back 12 seasons I was like it's too obvious it's not some askevetti

is one race for BMW because it was that's yeah and the slightly confusing part about the last podium

finish at Azerbaijan, of course, he did finish on the podium in Hungary later that year, but he was disqualified from that race. So, of course he was. Last time he was on a podium, technically I guess would have been hungry, but his last podium finish was, was backing. Harry, over to you. Dumbra.

Oh, no. Oh, come on. This too. You can get one of them. Five. Yes. Okay. I competed in three different decades.

My only race win came on my birthday, as in his birthday, not my birthday. Not Ben Hockey's birthday, I had the same teammate for five seasons between 1993 and 1997. Who am I? The same teammate for five seasons, 93-97. I swear to God, if it's who I'm thinking of and I've once again guessed this. Gerhard Berger. No. Surely not.

It's not Gerhard Berger. No, I don't know. That was a stupid answer, but I'll take the hell. You are about as close as you can possibly be. John Al-Lacey, isn't it? It's Gerhard Berger's teammate, Jean-Alazy. Yeah, his only race win at the Canadian Grand Prix came on his birthday. He's racing the 80s.

Lacey. Just about, yes, 89. And then his last race. And just about in the 2000s as well. Not many drivers have done it, but he's one of the few that have. He snuck off. three different decades. Which leaves, Sam, what number would you like?

Three. Quiet, three. That's a heard. Okay, here are your three clues. I was the first driver to represent my country in F1. I only scored once in my F1 career in 2005. Oh, for God's sake. It's not either person that I wanted it to be.

I finished 26th in. the driver's championship in 2011. Did we have that many drivers in 2011? Good Lord. No, he was just that bad. Strong down a few more. 2011 was a 24 car championship and he's finished 26th.

That's hilarious. I'm trying to think of solo entrance. Because obviously I had Kibitsa in mind when you said first entry. I had Rio Haryanta, of course. Yep. An icon. To the sofa.

To the... Harry on to the sofa. It's just a joke that girl will ever understand. Okay, what country is? That's the one for me that I need to... 26 place. Yeah, not good. 26, Jeremy.

That is insane. Harry, do you know? I think I do know. That's painful for you, isn't it? If you were to swap the science sounds around, that'd be great. I'll do you a swap. Yeah, do you a swap for this one. I haven't got a game coming to mind.

I won't dwell on two long. I don't know. Harry? The cucumber. Oh, Raghulah. Ghan Gareth. I got the wrong bloody bloke. Was not Raguda.

That's the soul of Carthacaan. The both of the cucumbers. Yeah, so he was the first driver to represent India and F1. Of course, Corinchandok later became the second driver from India. But he at the time was the first driver. He scored at that infamous 2005 United States Grand Prix by virtue of being there. Finishing.

having the right tires. And he finished 26th in the driver's championship in 2011 when he raced for HRT. How? How did he do you? Well, there were at least three drivers that raced for HRT that season. Ricardo was one, wasn't they? Yes.

And there was Lee Ossi. Yeah. So he finished behind the hand as well. Yeah. So I'm guessing there must have been another team that also had three entries that year or something along those lines. Excellent work. Formula One was a great time

when we had more teams in it. Yeah, that's the thing we always have to caution about when we say that it'd be great to have more teams. We don't mean those teams. We'd like legitimate teams, please. Not ones we've never heard of. All right, that's going to do it for this episode. Sam, if you'll mind, getting us out of here.

Woo, another LB game, another zero pointer for me. I hope you're more successful because that was a great start to my week coming up. Thanks for listening. thanks for being a part of our summer break. We love you. We'll be back, of course, midweek. And we've got Patreon content as well

coming up later on in the week as well. So, you know, if you've got a Patreon subscribe, you're thinking, oh, I really miss more F1 chik chat. Then come on, come on down. It's so, Harry, how much would you pay for it, mate? Oh, probably about $12. Yeah, which is accurate. But I've heard a mate out there.

I can hear the ATM going. What does he think it's worth? Yeah, well, there's, I know a guy who probably would say it's about $3,000 a month. but, crikey. Yeah, he's an idiot, so don't, don't listen to him. But obviously, it's that good value.

I'm not shocked that he is that much money, you know. Two extra episodes, a classic episode, power rankings, birthday shoutouts, early tickets to events, and more. Get involved. Come check it out. Early tickets to events. Wink, wink. Hey.

Nothing to, nothing to hear here. I have a twitchy eye, as to my colleagues. Get my pen out to sign a contract very quickly. Stay tuned. Anyway, thanks for listening to folks. We'll be back later on in the week with more F-1 chit-chat. In the meantime, I've been Samuel Sage.

I've been Ben Hocking. And I've been Harry Ead. And remember, keep breaking late. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.