The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Should the 2020 F1 season be held behind closed doors? | Episode 45

Episode Date: April 23, 2020

In this week's episode we look at the possibility of the 2020 F1 season racing behind closed doors and the impact of the delay on McLaren's progress. We also have another *stunning* F1-themed game to play...If you're not already please subscribe to our podcast and tell your friends about us!Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LBraking 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 look out for new episodes every Thursday and Grand Prix Sundays. Hello and a very warm welcome to the late breaking Formula One podcast. Thank you so much for joining us wherever in the world you are. Whenever in the world you are listening to this, we're here for another week of entertainment, or at least that's what we're aiming for. I'm joined today, as ever, by Jacques Villeneuve's biggest fan.

Harry Ead, how are you? I'm great, thank you, Ben. I'm great. Very good. And, of course, joined by Nico Rosberg's biggest fan. Fan of age. Is my career over yet? Is it over?

No? Okay. Oh, I already brought it out twice. It must be a good intro. It is. I quite like that, Ben. That was good. It's very witty from you, Ben.

Yeah. Yeah. I'm pulling out the bag once. every six weeks or so. Good job. Try to do that again next week. I'd like to say every six weeks, you'll have to check back in with me sometime in mid-July. What are we talking about, folks?

What are we talking about? That is a great question, and I will give you the answer to that. We are going to be talking about whether Formula One can return behind closed doors. Of course, it has been discussed that Austria or Silverstone could act as a first race or first race is of the season. But, of course, there is a highly like

you heard that it will happen behind closed doors. How would that affect the sport? We're going to be looking at McCarrow. Of course, they made great progress in 2019. They were expecting to make more progress in 2020, but is this going to hamper them more than any other team of the grid? And you two are going to go into battle again. Sam, you're on a bit of a role in terms of your mini games against each other.

Today we're going to be playing F1 higher or lower, but more of that later in the show. But we will start with F1 behind closed doors. As I said before, Austria has been pitched as the potential start for the F1 season. A Wednesday night race I've heard spoken about as well. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen. But it, of course, would probably be behind closed doors. Sam, purely from an atmospheric point of view, do you think that F1 could work behind closed doors?

I think so. It's a difficult one. A lot of other sports are contemplating it, and I think that an interesting suggestion was made. I don't know if it was for Formula One, if it was for football, but they were going to channel in crowd noises to allow them to not have to find it so odd and eerie and quiet.

Now, it's a slightly different scenario for Formula One, of course. In Formula One, there are engine noises. There's a lot going on. It's a lot of radio sounds, drivers have helmet song. So it's all like you'll just get to hear a bit of crown noise changled into the stadium wherever you're driving round. But in terms of the majority of the audience, it's watched on TV anyway.

You can't really hear the crowd too much on TV. There's an occasional race such as actually Austria being a key one with the Max and Staffan fans, you tend to get to hear them cheering. But, no, I think it's perfectly doable. I think watching other TV is great. As long as the, there is going to be one perk to this. When Carla Science actually makes it on TV, we're not going to immediately pan away and look at a crowd member instead.

So everyone's going to get a lot of crowd time, about a camera time rather. All the drivers should feature. I don't think you're going to too much as long as they film it right. And of course, we've got brilliant commentators in the sport, not the Skybunch, they could be improved. But the likes of the Channel 4 team, absolutely fantastic.

We don't have a passion they deliver. I don't look for the crowd when someone like Ben Eggwards is shouting over the microphone. It's bloody brilliant anyway. So atmosphere, no, I don't think it will change too much. As long as the production and commentary team

are able to deliver the best of their ability, I think that the sport could probably go on quite easily. of course as long as the teams will stay safe, separate, away from each other, precautions are put in place, none of that silly Australia business that we had last time, no fangs around the track, yeah, it could work. I mean, your point about Carlos Sines, they will find a way to get him off of the, off of TV. They will find a way, even if it's not through the fans being there, not being there,

you know, they'll pan to some squirrels or they'll panter just crofty on a loop saying sound of the music references or anything like that. But TV time for Carlos, that's mad. They didn't give him TV time on the esports event the other day either, and he was leading the bloody race at one point. That's so important. They hate him. Yeah, don't quite get it.

Harry, what do you think about this one? I mean, Sam's got, talking about TV time, Sam's got a very valid point about the F1 TV director loves to pan away to a crowd shot. I remember Silverstone last year they did it right in the middle of the Hamilton-Botas duel. And yeah, like the worst timing. So if it stops them doing that, I'm all

for it. Look, I think realistically, in the current situation we're in, for racing to start up again, I think it's an inevitable fact that there will be behind closed doors. But it'll be weird. It will be weird for sure. I think you'll notice. it, but after a while you'll be

concentrating on the racing. Like Sam says, you'll be listening to the commentary, whether, even if it is crofty, and you won't care. I think by that point, by the time we get to that point, everyone will just be so pleased to see some racing cars go around a track that we won't, we won't

care at all. There's a crowd there or not. We'll be sat at home watching it and cheering it on. So yeah, I don't think it's going to be, it'll be strange, but we're living in a strange time. So I don't see why we can't adapt to this, to be honest. And I think it'll be less strange than watching a football match in an empty stadium.

It's a bit different to that. So, yeah, it'll be fine. As long as there's some racing, and I'm all for a Wednesday evening race at Austria. Hell yeah. Get that involved. Yeah, I wonder if anyone does know the answer to this. And if you do, please do let us know

on our Twitter at L Breaking. Has there ever been a race midweek before, in Formula 1 at least? I mean, I don't know. That's that. Yeah. If you do know, let us know on Twitter. In answer to my own question, yes, I think that F1 can hold races behind closed doors without it being too negative of an effect on the product.

Sam, you reference football. You can reference other sports as well. I think if you were to sort of line up all the sports and pick out the ones where it's going to affect them the least, F1 would probably be in that group. You know, think of basketball. I'm a big basketball fan myself, and they're having a discussion as to whether they should start the season again behind closed doors. But because it's such a close and intimate atmosphere, it's a completely different ballgame, both literally and also in terms of the atmosphere. But, yeah, F1, thank you.

Delay, but thank you. Yeah. You do notice the crowd at some races, particularly the European ones. You mentioned Austria. Hungary's another one. Even though it's not on the calendar this year, I think Hockenheim, Silverstone, obviously. But a lot of race, I mean, we go to Bahrain every year.

That's pretty much a closed event as it is. So we've already proven. Same in China. Yeah, exactly. Let's be honest, when you're watching a race, how often do you think about the fans in attendance? I mean, it goes completely from your mind. There are a few moments at a few Grand Prix per year

that kind of emphasized by the crowd's sighs or the crowd's cheers or gasps, but they're pretty far and few between. Mostly, it's just such a focus on the racing that you kind of just blank it out. And ultimately, in a battle between a lack of atmosphere and no race whatsoever, there's a pretty clear winner and it's not no race. I just don't think it's all that important from an atmosphere perspective. Obviously, there are other things to consider. But if you're just focused on atmosphere, I don't see why they can't go ahead with it.

Just looking at the other aspects of it, because it isn't just atmosphere. Sam, in terms of like a corporate social responsibility that F1 have in the climate, do you think that there is just, do you think they should go racing? this early, even if it is behind closed doors. Because even behind closed doors, there's a lot of people there. It's a real risk, isn't it? It's something that you're going to have to think wrong and harder. A lot of people, due to this horrible situation we find ourselves in, are losing loved ones, they are struggling to stay healthy, they are, you know, unable to live any normal life or anything close to it. And yet we're saying, well, you know what, Sandra that works at McLaren,

she should be around the other 200 people in close proximity all around the world constantly, possibly in areas with recycled there, without maybe the cleanliness that you need at certain tracks around the world that maybe don't have that ability or that care. You know, unfortunately we live in a world where the same standards aren't met

globally, so why is it fair that me, sat in my office at home, should be safe and I shouldn't be going out and I should really not try not to go anywhere than the supermarket, but a mum or a dad or whoever who works for a Formula One team, you know Yeah, you leave your family. Come out of isolation, please.

And I want you to go and make me some entertainment on the television. Realistically, I don't think I get the right to say that. And I think you can only give these teams the green light to go ahead if, one, every single member of the team working for them who will be at risk, sign something and says, I am volunteering to do this. And there are no negative consequences if they say they don't feel comfortable doing it. And I think number two, every single track and the FIA need to put in some real serious measures such as teams come into

the circuit and the paddock one by one completely separate and you stick to your designated area so you're only around the same set of people and then nothing starts and every team is in and ready and then they all leave individually one by one the drivers they get in the car they do their track they get out the car they go to a hotel separately they don't talk to and they don't need to every team interview every team uh radio check every team you know, Park Fermay or post-session discussion needs to be done by Zoom or needs to be done by a radio call or something. You don't need people unnecessarily sat in the same room. We have the technology to do things separately. If we're going to put these people at risk for the

sake of entertainment, then you need to do it in the most careful, safe, considerate, thoughtful way you possibly can. And then, only then, when they've exhausted every safety option, will I be on board with it happening as early as it can? yeah so so many things for them to consider um obviously you listed a lot of them there sam and there's probably still a lot more than that um you know they've got huge responsibility um and they've got so many lives i'm talking f1 here f1 have got so many lives within their grasp and as to when they go racing again um yeah um in which countries they go racing again it's massive responsibility from the business harry what what are your thoughts on us

It's a tricky one for F1 and the teams alike because obviously the health and safety well-being of team members, as Sam has already mentioned, is the priority. And I don't see them going after the sham of Australia, they're not going to go racing unless they feel they really can do so in a safe way. But at the same time, they do need to go racing because some of these smaller teams, are going to be affected if they don't. And Toro Ross, Alfa Tauri, sorry, this week have already said how much is cost them not to be racing this year. And you've got to think of the teams like Williams,

who might be struggling slightly financially. So they need to go racing to survive as an F1 team. So it's a very tricky balance, but obviously the well-being of the people that work there comes first. And I'm sure if we're behind closed doors, teams will be stripped back to a minimum of, the crew who work on the cars. I doubt there'll be any hospitality people there.

It'll be, yeah, it'll be a strange atmosphere, as we've already said. But if they feel it's safe enough to do with a limited amount of people, then, yeah, I think it should be fine. But I don't see it happening quite yet, give it maybe a couple of the months. But hopefully, fingers crossed, you know, restrictions are eased, et cetera, and we can go racing, but obviously only in a safe way because we don't want to have Australia all over again, because that was ridiculous. Yeah, absolutely.

And F1 did not come out of Australia looking very good at all. It was indecisive. And just, you know, whether they went racing or not, it got far enough to that, to that practice one that you can really start to look at them and say, you know, you had to be more decisive. Unfortunately, since then, they have been. they were fairly prompt in cancelling Bahrain and Vietnam and every race after that. But yeah, with Australia, if that was combined with another bad decision from F1,

then suddenly people are going to look at them and start to question them. And rightfully so in that situation. I'm sure many people were aware of race fans, a great publication, and they have really sort of their prediction as to how many they could get away with in terms of what's the minimum number of people you could get together for a Grand Prix weekend. They reckon it's about 1,400 minimum in the F1 paddock or just in F1 in general, which to my mind is still way too many for the current situation at least. obviously it will be a few more months yet away if we're looking at Austria.

So there's time for the situation to improve globally. But I mean, if one person, that's all it takes. That's the scary and worrying thing about this. It only takes one person. And from there, how many that one person can infect and how many those people can infect? And you'd find with the F1 paddock in such close quarters and they can make, they can make arrangements to make that less so, but they're not going to eliminate that.

That's a disaster waiting to happen. And you're right in what you say, Harry, that there are teams, William South Tauri specifically, you know, Hasse, I would put in there as well, who need to go racing as soon as possible. F1 is just not built to last a season where there's no activity. And that's maybe something that they need to address, really, because that's the reality of it.

You've got half the grid who, because they're not racing for one year, are really, really struggling. But that has to come as a secondary point. That can't be the focus. That has to, like in the priorities list, having that responsibility of people's lives and people's health is just way too important compared to the financial situations of teams, which I know sounds crazy because in most situations,

the financial capabilities of the teams in F1 would be the number one priority. But this is the situation we're in. And I wouldn't want them to take any risk as much as I'd love to see some racing. 1,500 people at one event across a weekend. I still think that's too dangerous. The thing is, with any global show,

whether that be a one-off TV program or a sport that tours the world, the world is both a very lovely positive place and a nasty place. And I'm sure you guys are aware of it. I'm sure you guys are listening aware of it. There have been some people that have tried to do some nasty, spiteful things when it comes to this disease that's going around, the pandemic, such as walking up to people and coughing on someone or trying to cough on someone's food or something like that.

You know, when there's every chance that that person could be unwell, they could have the illness. and it takes one person to walk through a hotel or something like that and someone to go, I could make a name for myself or some organisation and take down a whole weekend of sport that is going to be publicised live across millions and millions and millions of screens and watches. And that's the kind of threat that you don't need to put people at. And the moment there is a risk to life, it becomes too much. So for me, as much as I want, and I know you guys do as well,

most of I want to see racing happen. You know, I'm so hungry to see someone do some competitive laps against another car in any situation. The moment there is any kind of threat to life, it's not worth it. Please stop and wait. Yeah, and as we referenced, Australia was dangerously close, and we hope that something like Australia doesn't happen again, both in terms of the indecision beforehand and also if they went ahead with a race that they really shouldn't have if there are cases.

I think they would have learned from Australia, but we'll wait to see on that. Moving on to McLaren. Of course, McLaren had a very good 2019. They rose up the grid after a very difficult 2018. The lineup of Carlos Sines and Lando Norris, brand new lineup worked very well. They secured fourth place in the Constructors Championship. And with 2020, the aim was to get even closer again, ready for 2021. that's at that point where they would get the Mercedes power unit.

The new regulations would come in and they would hopefully, or at least they would be hoping, they'll be fighting for podiums and wins. Of course, that's been thrown into, you know, that's been thrown into question. We don't know when we're going to get racing in 2020, if at all, and the regulations have been pushed back a year. So this is obviously focusing on the progress of McLaren back up the grid.

It's halted it slightly. Harry, do you think this is going to be? be a problem for McLaren? Do you think now that that progress is going to be stalled? It's a tricky one because we don't necessarily know where they were going to be anyway for the season, this season, had it started normally. I don't think, I saw someone from Racing Point the other day say that even if, was it Racing Point at Alpha, I can't remember,

but even if you, a team who thought they were on the back foot going into this year, this pause isn't really going to help or benefit people because, I mean, A, most of them are still on shutdown. And B, other teams, if they are developing their car or thinking about how they can improve their car, there's no real way to test it. And other teams are doing the same thing. So, yeah, it kind of depends where McClan were. I don't think teams are going to start moving in performance whilst we're not racing,

which sounds a bit weird. But their progress last year was so rapid. I think their progress this year was going to be slightly less anyway. They weren't going to suddenly now jump into the top three. But they're in good hands. I think there are good hands with Zach Brown, Andrei Seidel, with the two drivers they have, Mercedes-Power and 21, which is rapidly approaching.

And that could present an issue just logistically. but yeah I think McLaren aren't going to suddenly fall back down the grid but they were never destined to jump up into the top three anyway I don't think but I still think once racing resumes they'll still be top of the top of the midfield good stuff Sam do you think that the progress of McLaren is just going to be delayed by a year essentially the timeline shifted back a little I think McLaren have quite literally everything that they need to succeed now you know got the most consistently reliable, well-funded engine provider coming in to work for them again.

You know, McLaren and Masegar was a fantastic partnership last time we saw it. There's no reason why it can't be again. Mercedes is becoming more and more invested once again at McLaren, of course, Lando Norris, one of two drivers is also under the Mercedes management as well. So that shows that they've got a real keen interest in that team. I think that McClain have everything they need to continue to be successful. I think out of all of the teams that maybe would struggle with what's currently going on globally, McCleman are actually one of the best places for it.

They've got a lot of funding. They've got a lot of wealthy partners who are heavily invested into that team and won't be backing out anytime soon. They've got Landon and Norris and Carlos Sines who, it's not like they get any older. It's not like Kimmy Reichen who has sat there, you know, probably on the brink of retiring anyway. And if this goes on too long, we might not see him race again. You never know. That's a situation that could happen. But Lando and Carlos, that's not going to happen.

They will be there. They're still going to be as good. They're able to train, so they're going to be physically fit and able. And if anything, they're just growing their profiles. We've seen how well Landon Norris is doing on the internet, on streaming, on Twitch, what not. His following is growing rapidly. So, if anything, he's growing his profile, is improving himself. So I think with the backing they've got, Zach Brown is, as Harry said, doing a fantastic job.

I really think he's one of the better team leaders that we've got out there. I think McClaren, if anything, are already going to move up. I think this gives them more time to continue that healing process. process that we've seen with McLaren. And I think actually, it means that those who could have challenged them, such as racing point who are going to become Ashton Martin,

obviously that deadline is getting smaller and smaller and smaller. It's the confusion there more for a team like then, because they're going to have to do a changeover, there's a new ownership coming in. They may have as much funding now, but it's a little bit insecure. One of their drivers is much older. Lank Stroll isn't getting the same practice

who exposure he might have done. So I think McLaren are, if anything, going to maybe have a little bit of a gap between the rest of the midfield and themselves. Now, I don't think they're going to be able to make any progress on that top three just yet. I do think they need actual racing proper in-car development for that. But I don't think their cars are going to get any worse. I just think their team is going to get better, more mature and more comfortable with each other.

And I think that's going to reflect really well. And eventually, we do come back to race. Yeah, I think McLaren have set themselves up to succeed. And this is a bit of a blow, I think, for them. but I don't think it will hinder their progress. I think it will just delay it. I don't think they won't move up the grid because of this. If they're destined to battle with the top few, it will happen.

It will just happen slightly later on. I think they had a very clear plan, and they were sticking to that plan as well, because you remember back to the end of 2018, what a dire state they were in. They really weren't much quicker than Williams in a lot of qualifying sessions at the end of 2018. So it was only really up from there.

And it was, to me, at least, the clearly defined three-year plan, which was 2019. First and foremost, most importantly, just get off the bottom of the grid and fight with the midfield, which I think they check that box. And if anything, I think they probably exceeded their expectations of 2019. 2020 was designed for them to get that little bit closer to the top three, but essentially consolidate whilst they get ready for 2021. because that's the real target. And then 2021, the new regulations come in and they attack the top few teams. With the budget cap and everything else, the changing regulations, they are ready to be as competitive as they have been since maybe 2014 or even earlier than that,

maybe 2012 or even 2010. So, yeah, I think it's halted it slightly. Of course, McLaren, they've got a new win time. They've got a new simulator project that's on the go. That's had to be delayed. And the Mercedes integration, that might well produce its own problems. They were expecting to get Mercedes power when the new regulations are coming in. Now, they will have to adjust it to fit the current spec cars without any other performance-related improvements.

So I think the FIA are going to be fairly tight on that. I've no doubt McLaren will get it done. it's not ideal for them but at least they'll have that in place ready to go for the new regulations and the point you make on the driver line-up is valid as well it's signs and Norris are brand new in the team they've clearly settled in well they get along

signs had I think the best year of his career in 2019 Lando Norris is an exciting rookie had a bit of bad luck last year we'll definitely get better with age so I don't think either of those two are planning to go anywhere. They have got their long-term games settled up. And that's why they made all the organizational and structural changes a couple of years ago. They, you know, they brought in Zach Brown. They put in good people. They put in Seidel, you know, Stella. They put in Gilda Ferran. They

got these guys that they know they wanted. They had a complete, from the ground up, which is something I've always thought William should have done. They've gone from the ground up and they've put everyone in the right places and put them in a position to succeed. And I think if they're destined to beat the top few teams, who knows, they'll get it done. Regardless of whether it's 2022 or 2025, I think they've got this nailed down. Good stuff. Nice. You ready for a quiz, guys?

Are we ever? Now, I don't want to put any pressure on you, Harry, but I'm going to put pressure on you because Sam's beaten you the last few times. Don't care. You don't care? Don't care. Harry, I know that's a lie. You care about this more than anything. Of course I care.

All right. F1 trivia, of course I care. It's all we live for. Okay. We're playing F1 higher or lower this week, so Harry, I believe you've got to be set up. Oh, here we go, folks. Yeah.

It's F1. Higher, it's F1 Lower, it's F1 Not a lot in the middle It's F1 Point your fingers in the air It's F1 Over there, it's higher

It's lower It's F1 I really didn't think that would ever end That's undoubtedly your best one yet, Sam Thank you I make these up on the spot by the way You can't tell. I mean, it was sorry.

Don't get me wrong. Good job, Sam. But it's not better than F1 back and forth. That's my favourite. We're not playing everyone back and fourth today at least. So they were playing F1 high or lower.

Just to describe how that goes, I will name something. They'll take it in turns. I'll name something and give the amount. So say it's number of races. I will give an example of someone who has had a number of races, I'll then give another name. You have to say whether they have had more or fewer.

So that's essentially the principle of the game. Today we're going to be looking at circuits and how many times they've hosted an F1 Grand Prix. Oh, Harry's going to kick my behind. You're behind. You're behind. My behind. All right.

Who wants to go on the first one? Harry could go. All right. I'll go first. Are you ready to step up to the seat? This is where we need a mastermind theme tune, I think. What if we just had to say? Oh, that's who wants to be a millionaire, wasn't it?

Well, that's in dramatic piano. Sure, yeah. Now, that's the Kimmy Riking and Helpline, Anne. It can be used for multiple things. It's too sad. Yeah. Get the quiz show music on. No, that's got the quiz show music.

What's the quiz show music? The other jingle you've got. That one? Oh, the flute. Yeah, that's it. Yeah, play the flute. Wow. Twenty-nine minutes and 28 seconds in the podcast. Ask me a goddamn question before I play another jingle.

Yeah, that's a good idea. Okay, so we're going to start with Interlagos. Interlagos has hosted. How many do you think it's hosted out of interest? 33. I have no idea. That's a good guess. It's hosted 37 Grand Prix. So, higher or lower, Zolder? Lower.

Lower is correct. Zolder has only hosted 10. Best circuit in the world up next. The Korea International Circuit has it hosted more or less than 10. It's hosted lower. It's headed less. Yes, it's only hosted four Grand Prix. Adelaide. Many years four. Yeah, unbelievable.

I know, shocking, isn't it? It's shocking. I know. I should have been at least five. Adelaide higher. Adelaide is higher. It's hosted 11 Grand Prix. It's halfway through.

Watkins Glen. Oh. Higher or low? How many was Adelaide? Adelaide was 11. Mind games going on here, folks. I'm going to go for higher Higher.

Higher is the right answer. It's hosted 20. Next up. The Circuit to Catalonia. Oh. Uh, uh, I don't know. I don't know, Jeff.

Uh, higher, higher, higher, higher. It is higher. Circuit to Catalonia has hosted 29. Two more to go. can you run the gauntlet? Hungara ring 29 more or less More

Not by much but it is more 34 Grand Prix So to complete it You need to tell me 34 Grand Prix More or less Imala I'm

I can't wait to lose on the second round Less I'm going to go a lower. You're going to go a lower than 34. Well, you're absolutely right. Imola has hosted 27 Grand Prix. Thank you. Fantastic.

Congratulations. Clear guess work. Thank you. Congratulations. Ah, there's skill in there. I know there's skill in there. You're a Jack Vilner fan. You know all about skill.

You can shut up. All right. Here we go, Sam. Your starting point is the Shanghai International Circuit which has hosted 16 Grand Prix. Okay. Can you tell me whether the Nuremberg ring

is hosted more or less? Oh, I'm going to get it wrong on the first go! I'm going to say more. It is more. The Nuremberg Ring has hosted 40 overall. Wow, that many! There you go, folks. Even I. I'm learning many

new things in lockdown. Yeah, it's quite a lot. Okay, the nerve-overing at 40. Spa. Higher or lower? Bloody hell. I'm going to say higher. Higher is correct.

Spa has hosted 52 Grand Prix. Hockenheim. Oh, I'm going to say lower. It is lower. Hockenheim has hosted 36. Is that both editions? Yes. Cool.

No, it's only the new version. Sorry. What a stupid question. Albert Park. I don't know any Albert's. Well, that's a problem here. Wow. It also proved all the times that Albert has been the Prince of Monaco

and the Monaco Grand Prix has been staged. Oh, is that what he's been? nicknames Monaco is Albert Park? Yep, that's it. I'm going to let you ride around my Albert Park. Oh, that's gross. How many was the one before, sorry? It was 37 for Hockenheim.

I'm going to go lower. Lower is correct. Albert Park has hosted 24. All right. Your favourite circuit in the world and everyone's favorite circuit in the world. Paul Richard. 24.

Higher or lower. Oh. Oh, I think it's close. I'm going to go lower. It is close. And it's close in the right direction. 16. Yes.

You've got two more to go. I'm happy this far. If I fail now, I'm all right. I'm happy. Paul Richard at 16. What about Yasmarina? Yasmarina. Yas, Marina.

I'm going to say lower. Lower is. correct. It's hosted 11. Oh. So, last one. You have to tell me whether Brands hatch to hostage more or less.

Oh, there's going to be proper F1 fans from the good old days shouting now at their car radios or in their headclothes. I'm sure there's one bloke. He's probably on his one hour isolation walk with his egg phone. It's probably my dad going it's less, you moron.

It's less. And I'm there going, I just don't have a clue. I'm going to say it's more, higher. Higher than 11. I'm interested, Harry, what would you have said? I'll agree with Sam. I think Sam's had a tough round. I can put that one out there.

Well, he's had a tough round, and he's got every single one right. Oh, yes! A round patch, 14 Grand Prix. Get it. There you go, Dad. You can be proud of him out. Let me get the flute out.

But you don't deserve this version of the theme, you nailed it. No, this is the best version. I don't have the other one. Yeah. Guys, well done. Thank you. Hang on, let's get us out of this game.

I don't remember the theme tune that I was a song last time. Here we go. It's F1. Higher and lower. Higher and lower. I felt like I'm doing a red Indian game. It's over there.

It's over here. It's not in between. It's F1. Higher and lower. It's F1. Wow. That is outstanding. I've noticed something.

And I think the listeners out there would have picked up on this as well. Is that if you want serious F1 debaestment, you just have to listen to the first 20 minutes of our podcast. If you want three idiots having a chat, listen to the last 20 minutes. Yeah, I mean, I appreciate it if I one know the jingle before the podcast starts. And maybe make them more singer-friendly. I'm singing up to an elevator theme.

They can't all be F-1 back and thought fourth. It's so good, though, isn't it? It's F-1. Back and forth, it's F1. Back and forth, it goes backwards. And then goes forth, it's F1. Back and forth, yeah, F1. Oh, inject it straight into my veins.

Come on. I hope, if I die soon, could someone put that on my gravestone thing? The lyrics? Yeah, I want you a press of buzzing as well that plays the jingle. Yeah. I think we can get this arranged. Thank you. Not your death, obviously.

That's probably being arranged by many people. Well, I think that's a good note to end, John. Yes, yeah. I can't think of a better note to end on. Sam, get us out of it. If you've enjoyed the podcast, folks, the rambling nonsense, the silly singing, and perhaps the actual intellectual debate

that we sometimes bring to the table, then think about sharing, think about following, get involved, let us go on our socials, what you are, what you think, at Elbrayf and Twitter. Come over and have a chat with us. In the meantime, I've been sang to say. I've been Ben Hocking. And I've been Ricardo Rossett.

And remember, keep breaking late. Cast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.