The Late Braking F1 Podcast - The biggest SURPRISES of the 2024 season so far!

Episode Date: October 9, 2024

Ben, Harry and Sam each list their Top 5 biggest surprises of the season so far, from drivers to races to moments. They also discuss Mercedes not writing off 2025, Vowles' claim that Sainz-Albon is the best lineup in F1, and Alonso's pessimistic comments on Aston Martin's performance. They finish with a classic game of Back and Forth... FOLLOW us on socials! You can find us on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok SUPPORT our Patreon for bonus episodes JOIN our Discord community JOIN our F1 Fantasy League BUY our Merch 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. Well, welcome to the Late Breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking. Exciting times. Should we go somewhere next week? Oh, you little munchy, you little rascal. Where should we go, Ben?

Where are we going? I don't know. Like, Doncaster. Imagine if there was a Texas in Doncaster That's actually what we'd be saying We're going to do for the last, what, six months We punched you all, we're going to Donnie Pick up Donnie!

We've got to have a fiction on this show ever. Dolington clears Coater, obviously. Donington not in Doncaster, either. Not at all, not even close. Separate places. Well, can you tell that we haven't had any F1 for a while? The intro has gone off the rail straight away. But don't worry, we've got plenty to talk

about got back and forth coming up later on. We've got some comments from James Vals about his lineup for 2025, a bit on Mercedes and their approach to 2025, some comments from Toto Wolf there. But we're going to start with a little bit of a top five. We're going to start with a top five biggest surprises of 2024 so far. And we've kept this intentionally quite vague. So we could nominate a driver, a team, an individual performance. maybe an overtake, absolutely anything, could be an off-track situation as well.

So we're going to keep it quite vague, but we're going to give our top five surprises of 2024 so far. Sam, what have you got at the number five? I'm going to be the most vague man in vague town for my first option. Motorsport. No, I'm going to go with the 2024 season. Genuinely, when we... Covered it off in one.

Hang on done. One of the biggest surprises of the 2024 season has been the 2024. See you later. Thanks for Gavin. I'll see you in Texas. No, the 2024 season. I came into this year thinking

rebel dominance, Max Verstappen was going to run away with it again. It seemed so bizarre, the idea that after winning that many Grand Prix the previous season to not having a wing now in what, seven or eight Grand Prix in a row, almost unfathomable, impossible.

So to have seven different winners, four different constructors taking a victory, the fact that we're actually having a championship battle coming down to the wire, a different constructor leading. So many races have brought up surprises. It'll be brilliant.

I had great overtakes. It's been a thrilling season. And I am loving it. I am absolutely loving this year. I'm actually glad it's a long season. Painful for everyone has to work at all. But it has been bloody exciting. So the 2024 season, big tick.

Love you. You like the song of 2012. If you're happy, Sam, I'm happy. That's how it goes. That's lovely. Harry, you're number five? You'll be not shocked to know that I didn't really put these in an

order. So I'll just... Oh, it's so, how are you? I bet you wrote it four minutes ago. Ben's furious. At number five, but could be also four, three, two or one. No, you're badding that lie. I've put little colopinto bean. Oh, colopinthony. Frank, LCB, yeah, yeah.

Frank. Lcb. Frank had colopinto. He has been a little tinker, isn't he? Little bit of a little surprise of the season. I mean, so far, we've still got a few more races left. But from what we've seen, he's been excellent. And I still don't necessarily agree with the way that Williams did it.

But you can't say they were wrong. You can't say they were wrong based on what he's been able to do in the car. And I know it's sort of fallen in line with when Williams have had an upturn in performance. But nonetheless, he's been very close to Albaugh. And I think that's the most impressive thing. so at an undisclosed number, Franco Colopinto. Why do you turn up to this show?

It's a good question. Just to annoy him. Yeah. I mean, it works. Hey, successful. Very successful. 100 second hit, right? Yeah, I think that's a fair shout because I'm not sure what William's internal expectations

would have been for Colopinto when he replaced. But I feel like they must have been somewhere near crash the car less than Logan Sergeant and give us slightly less of a bill to deal with when it. It comes to the amount of damage he was doing, but he's definitely exceeded that to this point. My number five, I've gone with a team, Alpine. Not all surprises are good, folks.

Are you surprised? Is that a surprise? Yes, I am. I was thinking about it. I actually am surprised about where they are because it wasn't great last year, but it wasn't this. Like, they did score 120 points last year.

They did have two podiums last year. And in fact, like, their 120 points in 2023 was their work. results since 2019 when they scored 91. A reminder, folks, they're currently sat ninth with 13 points. It's not going very well for them. They've been between fourth and sixth in every season of the championship since 2017, and now they are looking at eighth or ninth this season.

So it has been a surprise just how much they've fallen off. To give you a quick summary as to what's happened in 2024, they released the car at the beginning of the year, which is the size of Jupiter, they then go into Bahrain and they qualify 20th and 19th and they recover it in the race to finish 18th and 17th.

They then announced that they're two, like the head of the technical director and the head of arrow, both going to leave after the first race of the season. Briotori reissigns, Ocon's out, they lose out on Carlos signs, and now they're not even making their own engines at two years time. So overall, not great.

And I still think even though this year, everything that's happened after the first thing has maybe not been surprising. But if you put it in as a whole, versus last year, still surprised me a bit. Sam, number four. I'm going to be really, really boring and keep it really simple. 24 season.

Little 2024 season. No, little got a bit, do you know, I'm not going to dialogue it. Barry's already delivered the points, but the Riz King, which every person on the racetrack is falling in love with immediately especially Sergio Perez

he might just give up his seat at this point for Coloponte please please take it please after you sir please that guy can really defend you're just staring it's a rump the entire Grand Prix yeah the guy's

rum from ever being said come on Monp that's awful bring back the racing please yes Colopinto he starting a Monsor.

And Monsra was a bit of a write-off, of course, because we saw how well Nick DeVries did at Monser, and let's face it, that didn't pan out to be the most successful Formula One career.

So that could have definitely being an anomaly. But you turn up at Baku and you give an absolute brilliant scrap for points the entire time and you get them, brilliantly running alongside the likes of album,

and then we get to Singapore, and you pull off one of the most audacious starts through a Grand Prix I've seen for a long time, absolutely scent it, and you're so much so, you made Alex Albon winged over the radio out of fear that he might end up not getting past turn one.

Didn't finish the race anyway, but, you know, just delivered. And I'm expecting that he'll deliver again in Kota. I've already got such high standards that he will match Albon. He will be there. He will help Williams. Brilliant signing. It's a shame it's going to end at the end of this season.

But we're surprised. He's done so much. I really was like, really, this guy? Out of all the people they could have hired when Williams selecting him. But it's pretty good. And I am surprised in this one. I've certainly been surprised by Colopinto. I think he's done a great job.

But whereas he took two races to impress, I'm going to throw someone in who only needed one. Oliver Behrman at Saudi Arabia. I fully appreciate that he was in a Ferrari, which was, even though it wasn't like the best car at that time, it was still pretty good. But even so, he adapted really quickly to a car he had never driven before. He didn't do FP1 or FP2 that weekend as well.

He jumped straight in on the Saturday, did FP3, and then qualify he narrowly misses out on a Q3 appearance. I think he was only about half a tenth away from making it to Q3. And I say it sounds like a lot, but he was only half a second behind Charles LeClerc in qualifying, which LeClau's quite good at qualifying. So that, given he had no time in the car, that's not bad either. And then in the race itself, he beats Hamilton, he beats Norris.

He's not that far away from a battle involving Russell and Alonzo. So kids good. And I'm excited to see him next year. Obviously, he does a good job at a backer as well, Hass later on in the year, but how last minute that was, I was shocked that he adapted himself as quickly as he did. Harry, number four, maybe for you. I've put the Miami GP because it was the first time since, I don't know, the early part of

2022 where we had a challenge, well, Max Verstappen had a challenge on pure pace. And yes, you might argue the safety car helped Norris out to get the win there. However, where you look at that, he was still challenging Vastappen based on pure pace. And that, at that point in the season and where we've come from from 2023 and the beginning of 24, which again, let's not forget, he was very good, very dominant in the beginning of the year, Vastappen, that is. This was a surprise. McLaren rocking up and actually having race winning pace was, they threatened it a tiny bit

the latter half of last year but yeah, this was a surprise and obviously since then it's going on to continue and McLaren now have the quickest car but at the time it's this was a big it was a big deal. Sam, number three.

Number three, I've got on my little list here upgrades or more specifically lack of ones working. Downgrades insecure grades no really knowing what they're doing grades all sorts of grades. This has been one of the most bizarre seasons I can remember from, you know, we've been watching Formula One for over 20 years now

for where things just don't work. The amount of incredibly intelligent people in Formula One and they're making all these fantastic innovations and changes and developments. And they just don't work. You know, imagine just coming into your house and going, oh, my oven's pretty old and I'm going to get a new oven. It just doesn't work. You'd be quite annoyed. You'd expect it to work. Oh, okay, that hasn't worked. I could cook it in a microwave. I need any new microwave. It doesn't work. It just doesn't work. Spings the wrong. way or something, you know, the timer goes up, not down. It cools the food.

I'm not sure the spinning motion. The motion of a microwave is what would be the issue if it was wrong. Imagine you saw it. It's classic clockwise, anticoorwise. Technology. That's the only part of a microwave that matters. It's the wrong way, love it's getting off. It's freezing.

It's frozen. Oh, God. going over to frost anyway upgrades are so crucial to a Formula One season and a team's development and you know

the challenges that we do or don't see perhaps across a Formula One season so for pretty much every single team to have an upgrade that has essentially backfired on them at some point

throughout this season shows you the margins we're working with are so slim shows you how experimental they're having to be and it's just such you know turmoil at the moment it's so up and down

it's tumultuous and no knows what they're really doing at the moment you never know what the pecking order is. A lot of that is to do with the upgrades that are being brought. And it can make or break a season. You look at Ferrari where they were going into Canada and then you look at where they are now.

If they haven't had that series of poor upgrades and developmental sequences, they might have been challenging for both titles for the entirety of the season. It can make or break a season. So, it's a huge surprise. Usually when an upgrade comes in, you see at least a standard level of improving,

if not a big jump. Many times here, nothing. Harry was very positive about his last one and how McLaren have surged up the field. And I'm going to do the opposite and say Red Bull's demise is by number three. Because they were in such a great position to start this season. And I think it's a shock how far they've fallen off. So coming out of the Chinese Grand Prix, that's the first five races of the year. Vestappan had a 25 point lead over Perez and at further nine points over Charles Lecler.

That was despite him having a DNF at the Australian Grand Prix. In the other four races, he got polling all of them, he won all of them, and the Japanese Grand Prix that he won by, I think it was 12 and a half seconds, that was the closest that anyone got to him. The other three winning margins were all bigger. And as Sam referenced earlier, eight races, last eight races, no wins whatsoever for Vestappen or indeed Red Bull. That's Vestappen's longest drought since 2020.

And now they're unlikely to win the constructors. Newee's out, Wheatley's out. and I can't remember such a demise for a team where everything on track was going so well so early in the season. So yeah, I've got Red Bulls down full at three. Harry, your next one? Snap, I didn't really have a demise,

but just I went more for turmoil of Red Bull just because on-track performance dip aside, just the politics around Red Bull this year has been ridiculous. You two were talking on the last box. about, I think Ben you said this, have they agreed publicly on anything at all this year? I think the answer is no.

It's been a shocking year in terms of their, I don't say reputation, but just in terms of their image as a team. And like I say, they've lost, they're losing at Slash, have lost key members. Adrian Union, you mentioned, Jonathan Wheatley. We can't forget last year they lost the big Rob Marshall. Rob

who's putting up scaffolding elsewhere who's now become the patron saint of this podcast but much literally the goat of all goats I love him but yeah it's been

it's been a real surprise I think I think performance has been that dip has been a lot but actually just the off track for a team that's been so stable for so long the downturn

in terms of just losing people and how chaotic it seems there it's mad. Number two, Sam. Number two, I have gone for a team, my first on my list, and it's Mercedes. Mercedes have had a torrid time

throughout the latest development cycle, the latest regulations that we've seen, so much so that it's being their worst time as essentially six joining Formula One again all the way back in before the teams, right? It's been that long now over a decade, they'd be back in Formula One. If you've been around a little while,

you'll happen to remember that they won, quite a few races and quite a few championships in a row. Cut to 2022, they don't really be winning anything anymore. They don't even know what winning smells like. They miss it. It's gone. And yet we get to 2024, porpoising seems to be fixed. The start of the season is terrible.

We're joking about apology letters. Boom, three race wings. And nothing. Nothing. They've won three races more regularly than Vastapa's won any races. That's bizarre. That's a trend. So the surge and get drop and then pick up again and a drop of Mercedes.

has been something I just did not expect. I really thought they would continue to struggle completely. I thought they wouldn't touch the top again. And yet at one point or another, we were putting them in the mix for possible multiple race wings. Could they amount a challenge? Are they there now the fastest car? It has been such a topsy-turvy season

that to the idea that Mercedes could once again be considered the fastest at one point, incredibly surprising. So for me, their leap to the top and then quickly falling back off again was a real shock. Second place for me, I am sticking with the Mercedes theme, but I'm going to hone in on one specific result, and that's Hamilton's win at Silverstone.

I guess to your point, Sam, about how poorly they started the year and how all of a sudden they seem to be competitive just before the summer break. I appreciate as well that George Russell did win the race before at Austria, but bear in mind that he was about 15 seconds off the lead when Norris and Vestappen had that crash, whereas obviously Russell and Hamilton were on the pace. They were won to in qualifying at Silverstone. And yeah, even like you look at some of the other results, they were heading up to this point.

They were competitive enough at Canada, but the first eight races of the year, they had no podiums. Hamilton was technically third in Spain, but he was like 17 seconds off the lead. So there really hadn't been any signs to this point that they could compete for race victories, let alone take them. And then Hamilton's performance at Silverstone was utterly breathtaking. It was an incredible performance from him. So his first win, of course, since Saudi Arabia. at the back end of the 2021 season. So that result is second for me.

Cut to me crying on stream as that happened. I know you like to do that, so. Oh, yeah, all the time. When you're not getting body parts out. Well, hey, don't spoil it for the viewers. Well. Oh, God. I might have a point.

Oh, God. How offensive. Anyway, I'm sorry, but mine's complete rinse or repeat. I had Hamilton's win at Silverston second on my list. It does, it felt for a while. And look, mate, you doubt Lewis Hamilton at your peril. But it did feel for quite some time in this new era whether Hamilton had it.

There were glimpses. There were lots of glimpses still of Hamilton, you know, 2018 Hamilton, 2020 Hamilton. But not that I don't want to say there was lots of doubt, but you would question whether Hamilton could deliver those sorts of performances again. But Silverston, he did. And he proved, he proved why he. He's a seven-time world champion.

And yeah, it was, I think it was, I sounds ridiculous to say, oh, it's a surprise that Lewis Hamilton won a race. It's obviously not because he's Lewis Hamilton. But it just felt, it felt like it had been so long since it had happened. And it wasn't, it happened quite a while. But Hamilton standards definitely. Very long time. But also that as you mentioned, Ben, it wasn't like it was a fluky win.

There wasn't, you know, weren't circumstances that helped him get that win like lots of people retiring or whatever. But this was just Lewis Hilton being a beast. And it was, it was a surprise to see that because it had been so long. So I put that down number two. Sam, the most surprising thing of the 2024 season so far is Oscar Piastri.

For goodness sake. Sorry, I knew that might. Yeah, I've got there first. I've got slightly more on my sentence, but God damn it. Yeah, I mean,

the king is absolutely. And the fact that even he started the season at quite a mediocre standard, he was off the pace of Norris. So you had a few mistakes. You look back to Spain and to Australia where there were scenes of him running off into gravel traps and falling behind the leaders and missing qualifying through silly old mistakes. So it's entirely his own fault. And then we cut to this point, race swings in the bag, many times the fastest person.

The most points scored over the last eight Grand Prix. You know, the kid has been groundbreaking. We always knew that he was going to be top. top tier, absolutely top tier, but I was never expecting it to arrive just this early. You know, it's like Amazon Prime. It's like next day delivery. You don't expect it because you're used to the old ways. Post office, three to five working days. You open your door the next morning, boom. Oscar Piasker's on your doorstep. I already ordered him last night. He's arrived much earlier than expected and I'm bloody excited for it because the kid can drive.

Maybe he should consider scoring more points than his team, mate. Fishing rod out. I'm joking, please, folks, don't come after me. Harry, guessing by what you said, you've got something very similar. I had Oscar Piastri's overtaking ability. His ability,

his clinical ability to overtake cars has been my biggest surprise of the season. And not because I doubt the talents of Oscar Piastri. But again, he's only in year two. And he's overtaking people. like he's there, he's been there for 10 years. He's just, he just rocks up and does him. And there's no contact, there's no forcing him off the road.

He just, the Lecler dive bomb in Baku, they around the outside of the second chicane in Monza on Norris. Clinical moves, but ridiculous moves at the same time. So, yeah, it's insane how good he is, to be honest. So he's not, that, that on its own is my biggest surprise of the season. I feel like his life motto is just, get her done he is cornish

yeah less than a fact is he really yeah get gerr done that's why we love him Oscar de melza piastri is what he's good

love that oh very good I'm gonna offer some variety for number one I'm not gonna go with Oscar piastri instead I've gone back

to another team Hass where have you come from has pretty damn good that they weren't looking good last season whatsoever Last 13 races of 2023, they scored how many points?

One. It was not a good end to last season whatsoever. And preseason testing somehow looked worse. They were multiple seconds off the pace on more than one day. They have the slowest quali-sim, the slowest race sim. We all put them last in the Constructedist Championship when we were giving our predictions. And now we head into the season and, oh, wait, no,

they've actually solved something that's pretty integral to the car. and we can fight now, as one great person once said. Kamatsu's been cooking. We've referred to it throughout the season, but I know they're not getting podiums or anything, but from where they are to be in a fight with RB to be over 30 points on the season, that is a big step forward.

So I didn't see it come in at all. They are my biggest surprise of the 2024 season so far. I love that. Some variety in there at least. We love a bit of variety. We're going to take our first break on this episode. On the other side, we've got comments from Toto Wolf. Check a few microwaves going the right way, folks.

Don't be cooling that food down. Welcome back, everyone. Some comments from Toto Wolf about their approach to Mercedes' approach to 2025. The crux of the matter every year is whether you prioritize the season ahead or the next set of regulations. Of course, they'll be coming in in 2026. But Toto Wolf said he'd like to take it from Nikki Louders, motto when being asked, would you rather win this one or the next one? And he says both. Sometimes it is much less complex than one thinks. Probably the transition of people and capability into the

26 regulations is going to happen a bit earlier than it would under stable regulations, but it's not going to be game-changing. Nobody's going to switch off the machines in January, unless you really are nowhere. But there is nothing to gain because between P-10 and P-7 doesn't make a difference for us anyway. We are fighting for victories and podiums and cannot write it. it off. Now, Harry, when we did our three-word summaries for what each team should be looking at for the rest of this season, your three words for Mercedes were, time for 2026. So based on that, your thoughts on Toto Wolf's comments? Sure. Sure, Toto. They can do, yes, they can do this and focus on next year and not to divert all attention to 2026. But realistically, judging on

that, and I'm not being harsh on Mercedes here, but going by what they've done in this current era, and I know this has been by far their best year of the new rules, having said that there's still not many wins for them. But judging by what they've done, what makes Toto think that suddenly next year they're going to be winning a championship? Even if, even if, best case scenario,

they're challenging for a championship, is it worth pouring resource into a championship fight for next year that you might, you might win, you could win, you might not win because let's be honest, Red Ball and McLaren are probably going to be in that fight. Ferrari potentially as well, maybe. Lewis Hamilton's there, so maybe. Keep him dreaming. But at least it's one, come on.

The way everything's tight, has tightened up in F1, it's so competitive right now. Next year going into the final year of a regulation, as we saw in 2021, on, it gets competitive because the field is closing up all the time. Why, why poor your money and your resource into trying to win that championship when you could invest fully and concentrate on 2026? And I'm not saying just abandoned 25 Haas style, because look how well that went. But I just, I don't know, he's been in the game.

He's been in the game longer than I have, which is currently zero. But it does, it just feels like that's a bit of a risk on. on the next set. They were caught out by this set of regulations and they've been playing catch up ever since. Why risk that again? Because this is a long-term thing for Mercedes. Yes, they want to be back to winning ways.

But that could happen. Look how well it went for them in 2014, which I might add was not Toto Wolfe doing. Just saying. So I don't know, Toto, you will probably prove me wrong next year and then also win in 2026. But it just feels like that seems a bit,

short-sighted. Seems to be against what they're doing driver line-up-wise as well, right? Yes. Surely you're picking Antonelli for 2026 rather than 2025. Like he might be very good next season. We don't know.

But equally, there's a far better chance that what Piastri's done, as you've just both demonstrated before the break, is that it does take just over 12 months for this rookie to get properly up to speed. I don't know. If 2025 was more of an option, then maybe he considers someone like Carlos Sines more.

you would think. Sam, your thoughts on the comments? Yeah, God bless, Gickelauda. And I love his motivational words and I love what he brought to the sport. And when you say the lying, you know, I want to win both. There is also, that means that the option is to also win neither. And if you are to split your efforts, if you are to split your funding, if you are to split your focus, there is every chance that you end up focusing properly on neither issue and therefore you resolve neither issue. It's not like you've been near a championship every single year continually since these

new regulations. It's not like in 2022 and 2023, you're a one race win away. In 2024, it's just not gone your way so you could pick up another. You've been nowhere. Absolutely nowhere. As Harry's already mentioned, in 2014, you nailed the regulation change. Again, Mercedes, not Toto Wolf.

But in 2022, you nailed nothing. Nothing. You had such an advantage for year after year after year over a year. they nailed not having cypods. That's true. They nailed a crap car

that couldn't stop bouncing. You know? At a nightclub, it's having a great time. At a racetrack, it's a pile of poo. Could have been better if it was nailed down. Yeah.

Get out the nails. They might have tried that. Keith, Keith, get the nails. Mercedes needs them. I mean, they haven't got anything right for a long time.

And I don't understand what they suddenly think that if they focus on 2025, or at least put 50% of their focus into 2025, that's suddenly means. There's a slight arrogance to it that that's going to be enough to overcome

Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, rather, not the sake, as they're themselves. Why do they suddenly think that that's going to be enough to do more than what they've done in the last two seasons and the current one that we're in? Well, they're still the fourth fastest constructor. There's still a mile away from the other three around them. I just, it is very short-sighted.

I think the focus moves away from the driver line up that they picked up, as you've really mentioned, Ben. You may as well have gone for someone like science of your immediate quality. and Senali will be fantastic. It's going to take him at least a few Grand Prix to get settled, getting if got longer,

predictably longer. I expect him to be on the same trajectory as Piastri. So while you're trying to pressure him into thinking we could take both championships in 2025, just feels like the wrong approach at every turn. Focus on 2026, nail the new regulations, and be multiple-time world champions again,

you've got the resource, you've got the talented people, you've got the line-up, get all your efforts into one basket and absolutely nail it because I think Mercedes, even without development for 25, We'll still be the fourth fastest constructor. I'd be shocked at the likes of Aston, R.B. Haas, Alpine,

got reeling ear them over a whole season. I think they'd be fine. So for me, you're a fool for focusing on 25. Yeah, it comes down to whatever you do, Toto Wolf, don't do what you did in this era because it hasn't worked very, very abruptly. It hasn't worked. Like they have won four races in the last three seasons. if you want a reference point,

they won the first four races of 2020. They literally have matched the total they had from the first four races of 2020 in all of these three seasons. And look, I, from a pure entertainment product perspective, I want to see Mercedes in the fight long term because when they have been in the fight, it's been proven that it leads to some pretty good races

because having an additional team in the fight is good for F1. If you want to look at some of the fight, the best races of this season so far, I'm sure the British Grand Prix and the Belgian Grand Prix would come up in conversation. Mercedes were in the fight in both of those instances. If they weren't in that fight, they both would have been worse races for it. Imagine, I'm not saying the British Grand Prix would have been a stinker, but equally,

if it was just the two McLaren scrapping away at the front, it wouldn't have been quite as good as if there were four cars at the front. The Belgian Grand Prix, that becomes quite a comfortable victory for Oscar Piastri. I just want to see them 2026 and beyond actually get in these fights. I mean, if Toto Wolf believes he can win both, then great, go for it. But if at any point, they have to ask the question, is this going to compromise us in any way for 2026? Just stop that there and then. No other questions.

Just stop. And I didn't want to raise the point that you kind of said, which is, how close are they realistically? because I know pre-summer break, they were looking pretty good. But equally, post-summer break, they haven't been. Like, they've been a long way off. I just want to read off like the four races we've had since the summer break and the closest Mercedes to victory in all four of them. So the Netherlands, 44 seconds off.

Italy, 23 seconds off. Azerbaijan, 31 seconds off. Singapore, one minute and one second off the win. Oh, size large. So they have not been in the last four races within a pit stop of a victory. They aren't close right now. And based on that, is there something here where we know they were pretty good before the summer break and we know they've introduced some upgrades?

Maybe they're just not working. Is this belief internally at Mercedes that actually, once they figure that out, they can get back to the front pretty quickly? When has it become the boy who cried wolf? no pun intended there. You know, how many times across this current regulation set have we said, or we just need to work out X. We just need to figure out why.

We just need to make sure that Z works. We'll be there once we saw out this specific issue. It was the side pods. It was the porpoising. It was the development of direction. It was the oversteer that they were struggling with. And now it's the upgrades that are going on where the setup doesn't work for certain tracks. Every time they seem to resolve one thing, there's another serious problem.

They have not at one point understood the direction of this. They've not understood at one point. What are the positives and the strength of this car? They overheat. They can't follow cars closely. They're not quick in any respective areas. And when they were, they seem to throw it away again within one race. I don't understand these somewhat arrogant aspects and point of view that they've got here

where they think that with a few tweaks and a miracle understanding that they've been chasing for three seasons, that they're suddenly going to be better than these rivals around them. It's really not that simple. There's a lot of money and a long effort that's going to go. into it and you really haven't cracked it. 18 months ago you were issuing apology letters. You still ain't exactly back at the top. To me,

put your focusing, nail 26. And boy, do I feel sorry for George Russell who joined that team and it's downfall and still ain't getting nothing out of it. Can I go back to Williams Plus? Please, it seems like it's more ambitious. I know it's difficult to put any sort of checkpoints in

Harry, but like next season, at what point do they fully go to 2026? Like, Is it first race of the year, they're not on the pace? Right, that's it? Or is it a quarter of the way through the season? Do they get to the summer break? Like, what sort of timeframe are you looking at before they should just go,

you know what? This era, it's not been for us. We'll move on. This is the thing that you could do, you could do a quarter, but even then it can be too late because you've got the likes of people, Austin Martin being prime example here. I know they've got to wait for a genuine to join. But everything they're doing is 2026 focused because if it,

the words 2025 don't exist in Fernando Anzo's vocabulary, right? They just don't exist. And it exists in the teams vocal. They are all focused on those new rule changes, as are a lot of teams. Williams, for another example, I would literally three races. If they're not smashing it out of the park

in the first three races of the season next year, give it, give it in, give it in. You give it a good go, guys, but just focus on 2026. Because I think you wait a quarter of, season, even three races, I'd say, is maybe too late, but at least you see where you are relative to the rest of the field. But don't wait a quarter of the season. Just see where you are after three races and go from there. Yeah, I think that's fair. Like you say, that time will evaporate

very, very quickly. And Aston Vine's a great example because, I mean, it's not just from now that they're looking at next year, everything they've been doing, like infrastructure-wise has been in place for a couple of years knowing that this set of regulations, they're not going to win championships, but maybe the next set of regulations, that's where they can start to win. It would be interesting to see how that plays out. Before we go to our second break, just a reminder, if you're not already, we've seen a real uptick in our Patreon subscriptions recently. We massively appreciate, and if you're not already a part of the Patreon, you can get involved. The link is in the description. Quick summary about what's coming up this month. We're going to be recording beer with

breaking in Austin, so we'll be in the same place for that one. One of your standard episodes that you get every single month as well, we'll be recording that one in Austin as well. Classic review, the poll is just closed on that one, so we'll be looking at the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix. Oh, that's tasty. Come on. Harry's a big fan of that one.

Very exciting race, so we'll break that one down, plenty else as well. So you get everything ad-free, of course. And the link is in the description. If you have any questions, feel free. to ask us and hey try it out for a month if you don't like it we won't be hurt you can move on but most choose to stay so check it out if you can on the other side we're going to be chatting about some comments from james vows about his driver lineup welcome back everyone uh we've got some comments now from james vows that he was making on the um f1 podcast um what's it called

i've actually forgotten the name of it oh there aren't any it's just our podcast cast and nothing else. We don't know the podcast on this show. James Viles had the following to say about his 2025 driver lineup. I think we will have the best driver lineup on the grid. They're both performing at a very high level. I mean, Carlos is driven against all of the drivers. We've discussed against Lando.

He was successful against Charles up and down, but he's there or thereabouts. There's hardly anything between those two drivers. Against Max in that first year in Toro, also he was exceptional against him. He's been challenged all the way. through and held his own, but it's not just that I'm basing it on. It's not in the car. It's out the car. In the short space of time that I've got to know him properly, he drives the team forward. He wants to spend every minute of his time that he can to make this team more and more successful. And that's a combination that is not necessarily available up and down the grid.

And Alex is built the same way. Sam, James Vowis is very upbeat about his chances for 2025, at least in terms of what the lineup will offer. He thinks it's the best on the grid. Do you agree, sir? You know what? I'd love to commend him for his positivity. Well done, James. I respect the positivity. Now, I'll get a breakdown a little analogy that we've had a few times on the podcast because I think it's highly appropriate right now. Ben, what's your favourite supermarket? Big Moes. And for those who don't got big mozes, that's Morrisons.

Now, imagine we've got the CEO of Morrison's here going, we've got the best supermarket. We've got the best thing going. Everything about Morrisons is fantastic. Now, he's got to say, there you go. And there are a few people in the world that will agree. And they'll go, yeah, you're bloody right. And that's okay. Does it actually make it fat to the rest of the world? No, no, no, no.

Morrison's like Williams have a lot of good things. Lovely salad bar. They're a nice yellow colour in their appearance. They regularly have nice open aisles, which make for a refreshing approach to supermarket shopping. It's as appropriate for both, sorry. Yes. Williams have a very strong driver line up.

They have got heritage within Formula One. And James Vowles and Pat Fry are brilliant and we're respected. Don't going to be wrong. But does that make it the best line up? Just like Morrison's, is it really the best supermarket? Then, of course, a DiHag fan says yes. But actually, you need to look at the industry. Look across the rivals.

Asda, sensational. Tesco, old school. Get it up in. Waitrose and M&S. Yes, their high price point, but they deliver on quality every single time. The issue is... Are we still talking about Williams? What's happening?

Yes. I'm getting there. The issue is you're always going to back your horse. And I respect James Vals of backing his horse or his drivers here in this sense. On horses, what's happening? My point is, it's the wrong person to ask if they've got the best driver line up. He's obviously, when possessed to ask or to answer, he's going to say, yeah, I've worked hard to get it and it's bloody good. And it's right, it's bloody good.

They are bloody good. Is it the best of the grid? Good Lord, no, it's not. From a unbiased point of view, from an external. point of view, we can have a fair discussion that Albon and science are fantastic Formula One drivers and they are brilliant for Williams, especially in their current position in the championship. But is it the best current line up on the grid? When next season you'll have Hamilton and LeCler and you'll have Norris and Piastri,

I just can't see it topping it. I can't really see it being that much better than those guys. It's a great little package you've got there, but it is not the best. James Vowse are a specter your positivity but you are clearly having a little bit of a PR chik-chat over the radio That was a journey I enjoyed that one

I'm glad At least we know the best supermarket now I think That was the end To conclude Morrison's is still the best supermarket Harry your thoughts On the Morrison's thing

I don't come out Forget Joe Sal what we're talking about Williams yeah I'm entirely agree with you Sam what else is James Viles going to say here now actually they suck I've made terrible choices

and I hate them what else is he going to say of course he's going to say yeah I think I've got the best driver line up on the grid I know James Valles is a realist because I think you have to be as a team principal in F1 and I'm sure he's aware that

that's probably not true however he's got some grounds to say he's got a pretty decent line-up here it isn't the best in f1 at least in my opinion but again that's an opinion all of this is an opinion and james vows is entitled to his and quite frankly he's not going to say anything to the counter argument so yeah I'm fair enough in backing his horses you say sam or horses or supermarkets

but yeah i don't i'm not my mad of this. I cannot be mad at this team principal defending his driver line up. And it's if you look at the Red Bull camp for the moment, it's actually refreshing. Because quite frankly, the only person they back there is Max Verstappen. They got four drivers in total. The only one they actually only say good things about. Yeah, four, mate. Yeah, yeah. Sure.

One team. No, no, no, no. There's two. You know the R.B. Ineza Cashab, RB stands for Red Bull. Don't tell Zach Brown. Yeah, so it's kind of refreshing that he's willing to back his driver line up that, that aggressively, and I rate it. I respect James Vowels or not too, but you're either wrong or you're lying. And I also, I understand why he would back his own team. Of course he would. equally, he doesn't need to say he's got the best driver line up on the grid.

Like he could have just said something like one notch down from that to say, I think it's the best lineup that we've had at Williams for a very long time. Because that's true. And he could say, I've definitely got one of the best lineups on the grid. At that point, I'd say, sure. But to come out and just say, I have the best lineup on the grid, you don't hear some of the other team, you don't hear Kamatsu come out and say, you know what, Ocon and Bearman next year.

Best line up on the grid. He's probably quite happy with his lineup. I think that could be a tasty little lineup or Colin Berman. But equally, he's not coming out with these superlatives, right? I think he could have just taken it a step back. Because let's face it, if he was offered Norris and Piastri, he'd take Norris and Piastri. He would.

Leclair and Hamilton? Yeah, he's probably taking Leclair and Hamilton, isn't he? So no, it's not the best. Like, if you look at the two drivers, Alex Albin, as good as he's been the last couple of years, and he definitely has been good the last couple of years, Alex Albin. It's a toss-up to decide who is the best teammate that Albin has beaten? Is it Nicholas Latifie or Logan Sargent?

Because those are your only two options. And he hasn't done it against a better driver than those two yet. Obviously, the last time he had the option, he was against Max Verstappen at Red Bull, and he was very much outclass. qualifying record against Vastappen was worse than Gassley's, worst the worst of anyone going up against Vastappen in Vastappen's career. So, and I fully believe that if Albin has a chance like that, again, he will do a better job,

but equally, we need to see it first. Again, all we've seen so far is him beating up on Latifian sergeant who might be a contender, who might be contenders for the worst two drivers we've seen in F1 in the last 10 years. So I want to see that first. And from Carlos Sainz's perspective, I think James Vows is right, that he has. has, he's not been embarrassed by any of his top-level teammates he's had. He's had to deal with Norris and McClure and Vastappen in his career. But equally, against Vastappen,

I think the scoreline makes it seem more one-sided than it was, but Sines being three years older than Vestappen, I think, helped in Vestappen's debut year. Against Lando Norris, he beats Lando Norris both years their teammates. That was Norris's first and second year in F-1. Does that happen again if you do it in 2024? I'm not convinced. And then, of course, against Charles Lecler, he's held his own, sure. But equally, if you use any metric you want, wins, points, polls, podiums, qualifying wins against the teammate, wins again.

Lecler is ahead in all of those categories. So, yes, I think it's a good lineup. But I think it's, I mean, this could be an interesting question in its own right. I think it's maybe, I'd take it fifth. Come on, Ben, listen to him out. Before that, who have you got? I would take Leclair and Hamilton over signs and album. I would take Norris and Piastri over Albin and Sines.

I would take Verstappen and Perez. And even though it's a gamble, a little bit, I would take Russell and Antonelli over... That's the one I'm unsure of. It's unsure, but if I'm... Okay, for next season, I'd take signs and Albon. If you're asking me longer term, I'd take Russell and... Yeah, in that case, I'm exactly the same as you.

You think that's about right, middle of the pack? Just ahead of the middle of the pack, Harry? Yeah, I think I'd have I think I'd have him ahead of Russ and antennae right now, but I see a point on for on the future. It's, Albon is going to be an interesting one to watch next year. They're the early signs versus Colapinto and fill me with a lot of hope. Are you sorry to Alba? There's been three races and Colabint has been very impressive. I'm not basing off that at all.

and drive his step up. Alex Albon has been good. His teammates, as he said, been Nichols Latifie and Logan Sargent. And sometimes when your teammates said that quality of driving, your game is lower than it probably could be. Next to signs next year,

he could step up. I'm not doubting Albon's ability. But it's just a bit unknown, isn't it? Because the benchmark for him has been Latifian sergeant. No offense, boys. but yeah we'll see so for now I will put them ahead of the Anthony

Russell lineup but we'll see we'll see where we are then this time next year I'm sure that will be one of the preseason episodes we do at the top end of 2020 25 ranking those those lineups so that was a bit of a preview for you on that one let's move on to Aston Martin and Fernando Alonzo

because he's had some comments about his last two results the last two results at least by Aston Martin standards have been pretty good but Alonso doesn't want to get too carried away. The last two circuits, they were street circuits. We did good qualifying and then in the race it's difficult to overtake. So we consolidated those positions in the Grand Prix, but this cannot hide the lack of performance that we are seeing now in the last few events.

So we are aware of that. The team is aware of that and is working flat out. Sam, can you understand Alonzo's, I don't think skepticism is the right word, but just making sure they don't get too carried away by two better results than what they've had recently. I think if anyone has been through the wheelhouse of ups and downs in Formula One, it's Fernando Alonso.

The boy has been through peaks of great form. He's had cars that have suddenly excelled, and he has driven absolute dumpster fires of vehicles. So he's being a realist. He's being completely down to earth and sensible. And he knows, as we've discussed already on this show today, He knows that right now is not Aston Martin's time. Even a tiny development forward.

I don't think it matters to him. As we said, 2025 isn't even his vocabulary. How are you saying it? It's not even in the team's vocabulary. They are aiming for 2026. So even if they do see a progression, where is it going to lead them to? A slightly more successful fifth place

in the Constructors' Championship. Right now, it is incremental. It is minute and it does not matter long term. because if they can get all wrong, but that means they ace 2026, Al-Oxo will not care. A-Lon-So I think, well, if you said to Al-Loxo now,

finishing 19th place in every single race, but in 2026, you've got a race-swinging car, he'll go, yeah, yes, please. Ha, yes, bye-bye, that's what he'll say. Bye-bye, that's a silly deal. He'll be going backwards. Yeah, yeah, literally. I'm off, running away from you until you take the contract off of him.

I think he's very sensible. I know we like to laugh and joke about, Lulokso, how he's a walking meme that takes the Mickey out of himself, but the boy knows Formula One incredibly well, and he owes at two all right results, which in terms of Alonso's actual success rate and not even that all right, it feels like he's just being sensible, and I'm okay with that. I'm aware that they're working towards something bigger, something better, something longer term. So, yeah, well down Alonso. Keep it down to earth. Keep it sensible. Your thoughts on his comments, is pragmatic Alonzo, your favorite version of Alonzo?

Sure. The devil work. hard, but the Fernando Alonzo's self-promotion train works harder. Choochoo. Because this is just him saying, by the way, guys, I'm excellent. I am a boss. By the way, guys, you know these points? They're my points. They're not yours.

Nothing of these are your points. I'm a point score. I get the FIA to get the points off the constructive. Yeah, they're mine. Give them to me. The I don't know. So Constructed. 11th constructor

Philanamo still beating steak. Yeah, I'm sure there is some there is some he is being

pragmatic here keeping Aston Martin's feet on the ground I can't imagine they were floating that high off the ground after a couple of points finishes

in Singapore and elsewhere so but I just just whiff a little bit of I'm doing an excellent job those points are because of me

so along he's so a long and not wrong he's not right no exactly we've not seen him actually in his Aston Martin career or even since he came back this came this sort of thing would happen a lot when he was in McLaren because he was scraping results at times out of that car

even for things like an 11th place which to be honest in the cars he was driving was actually quite good and that sort of thing those sorts of comments would come quite often so it does whiff of that a little bit I think there is some truth of what he's saying obviously I don't think this is a massive upgrade for for Ashton Martin in terms of their pace but as you say Sam I don't think they really felt focused on it anyway so yeah I just

that man I love him he is something in he yeah I think he's fair to point this out because Aston Martin whilst they have had some better results in these last two Grand Prix he was lapped in Singapore and he was about 22nd

off being lapped in Baku. So he might be leading the midfield, but that midfield at the moment is a long way from the, even the fourth best team, let alone the top three. He has a right to be cautious, because if you look at the last couple of Grand Prix, you know, there was a Hass one position behind him in Singapore.

There was a Williams one position behind him in Baku. There was an RB in Sonoda, just one position behind Alonzo in qualifying for Singapore. So the gap between sort of fifth and eighth right now is really minimal. And that's kind of proven by it's not Alonzo and then stroll one after the other leading the way in this midfield. It's very much Alonzo on an island by himself.

So yeah, I think he's right. You know, they have taken 12 points from the last two races, which is more than the previous seven combined. But DNFs have inflated this. Perez not being in position at Singapore. The crash between signs and Perez, Baku, Hamilton having to work his way back through the field in Baku as well. so the results probably aren't as good as what they are looking.

So I think it's absolutely fair, and you're right, it is more wonderful Alonzo self-promotion. I can't wait for him to actually have a good car. He's had like one good car for the last like 14 seasons. It's quite ridiculous. So hopefully in 2026, we see wonderful self-promotion alongside in an actual race-winning car. You know what? The one thing I want is the Bahrain overtake,

the classic one on Lewis Hamilton. I don't want that to be played very often because if that isn't played very often, that means he's done loads of other good overtakes and been competing for a championship. If we have to keep going back to that clip, it means that he hasn't had a good enough card to create more moments like it.

Monaco living rank-freeing his head from last year, honestly. Could not be closer to a win if he tried. Anyway, we'll take our final break on this episode. On the other side, we've got back and forth. Way! Welcome back. everyone. It's time for everyone's favorite segment. It's back and forth. F1. Back and forth, it's F1. Back and forth, it goes backwards. Then goes forth. It's F1.

Back and forth. F1. Is that a spoiler, by the way, because we're playing F1 back and forth this week, which probably means we're not next week. Next week is the live show, folks. Yeah, sorry. We're in Texas. Do we not say that? back and forth. So rules are very simple. Harry versus Sam, they'll keep going back and forth

on a category with a number of correct answers until one of them can't think of an answer or gives an incorrect answer. I will give you a strike. That means it's hard. No, here we go.

And there's quite a few correct answers, but I think we'll rattle through the first half of these fairly quickly. Don't assume anything in this game. We got things wrong after third or fourth many of the time. I believe in you. I'd like you to name

the 25 drivers that have scored at least 100 points in a season. Oh, oh. So to clarify, I haven't changed, like retroactively changed any of the point system. So, spoiler, you're probably looking for more recent drivers on the whole. The other just disclaimer I should put in as well, if someone has achieved this in 2024, even though the season isn't over, I have included that. interesting. You have.

I have. Have. Gotcha. No knots here, mate. I ain't a sailor. Nice. Might be the worst like you ever said. No, I'm rated.

I'm alone. One out of two. If you're about 50%, you're doing all right. True. Sam, kick us off. Max Verstappen. Max Verstappen has gone over 100 points

nine times in his career, essentially every season since 2016 when he joined Red Bull. Harry. Lewis Hamilton. Lewis Hamilton has done it more times than anyone else, unsurprisingly, 16 times. 2007 and then 2010 to now. That's exciting.

Sure. Pretty mad, Sam. Sebastian Vettel. Sebastian Vettel has achieved it the second most times. 2010 through to 2019, so that's 10 times overall. Harry. Nico Rosberg. Nico Rosberg is a.

correct answer. He achieved it five times, first in 2010, and then last, of course, in his championship winning season in 2016. Sam? Kimi Reikinen. Kimi Reikinen's done it eight times, first in 2005, and the last time in 2018. Harry? Valtri Bottas. Valtri Bottas has done it seven times. Every year from 2014 to 2021, apart from 2016. Didn't like that year. Sam, yeah. Sam, yeah. Orlando. Fernando Alonso has done it nine times, including both years in which he won the championship in 2005 and 06. Harry. Michael Schumacher. Michael Schumacher. First did it back in 1995 when he won the championship, but six times overall. That's mad in 1995. Yeah. What a gee, you're getting eight points for a win? Yeah. It's not bad. I'll give you a small hint, actually, by the way. Only three drivers have achieved it in the 90s. that's insane

all right back to you some Charles Leclair Charles Leclair is a correct answer he's done it five times all at Ferrari first time in 2019 Harry uh

Danny Ricardo Daniel Ricardo is a correct dancer he's done it six times for three different teams Sam what a gee Mark Wimmer Mark Wibber mate

he's done it four times in each of those times his team won the Constructors' Championship. Harry. Nigel Mansell. Nigel Mansell was the first driver to ever score 100 points in a season back in 1992. Very well done. John. Sam. Really appreciate you picking up the 90s side of things. So thank you.

Carlos Sines. Yeah, five times 2020 through to 2024. Harry. How many? How many left? At least 10. Yeah, at least 10. 12 maybe. Lando Norris? Lando Norris is a correct answer. He's done it four times every year since 2021.

Sam? Oscar Piastri. Oscar Piastri has done it once this season and was the reason I had to put a disclaimer in this game. I dig figure. Harry. Yeah, we're getting me out. Yeah.

Getting a bit shaky. You've got four more names that have done it more than once. Formalander done it more than once. Mark Weber, have we said him? I've said that. Damn it. You disqualified bottom.

Robin? The joke and gong will understand. Felipe Masser. Filippi Mastor is a correct answer. Six times from 2010 through the 2015. Sam. Jensen Button. Jensen Button's done it four times.

2010, 11, 12. Terrible McCarron and 13 means no and 2014. Harry. Rubens Barakello. Rubens Barrakello is one of the drivers that's only done it once, but it is a correct answer. He did it in 2004. Well, that surprises me.

Yeah, that does surprise me. Say more about why it surprises you. That surprises me. Straight inside that. Sergio Perez. Sergio Perez, yeah. He's done it seven times, four times for Force India slash racing point,

and then three times. for Red Bull. Harry. Damon Hill? Oh, no. No. Damon Hill is not on the list. So you're looking for that other 90s name

and you come up short, but you do have a strike. So you say for now, Sam, back to you. Mika Hacking. He's picked out the other one from the 90s. Yes, that is a correct answer. 1998.

He crossed over 100 points. You have five names left, Harry. Oh, my goodness. one of them has done it multiple times oh we could do it Harry come on um one of them's done it multiple times I've really forgotten

who we've said I've been real uh don't say Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton Mark Weber I don't think I know I've got one that is definitely strike territory Are they?

No, no, that's that. I'll go for, I don't know. I don't know. Landstrol. Landstrol has never hit 100 points, I'm afraid. Which means Sam takes this win. Any other names? Did Bobby Kay ever do it?

Bobby K did do it, 2010. Oh, Robbie K. Nice. And there was what, four left? Four left. Physikella? Physicella never did. Okay.

Are they all after 2010 now? Yes, they are. Blimey. Blimey! Holkenberg? Hulk's never done it. It's got very close one year. I think you got to like 96, but never hit 100.

Always the man that lets you down. Have we said Grosjeon? You have not said Grosjeon, and Groson is a correct answer. She is a 2013. Can shout what the last couple? The last three, I'll give you a clue. They're all on the grid right now. Albon.

Albon. Albon is one of them. 2020, he did it. Gasly? Gasly is 2021, which means you just got one name. He's done it multiple times. Kevin Magnuson?

No. Nick a Hockenberg. Is it Mar Weber? Why is my brain go, but Ockon? Oh my God, why's my break on so black? Someone's screaming at the radio right now.

Oh, no, no, no. Yeah, please don't write it. Like, people message us and say, people message when they're screaming at their speakers when we can get an obvious answer. You haven't got Valtry Bottas. Who replaced him? Oh, George Russell.

I thought we said him. I literally thought we said him. Oh, George. He's so three times the last three seasons. Sorry, Joe. George. Still, I think that's a pretty good effort. Quite a lot of answers on that one.

So well done to you both. I love that. Moving swiftly on to the final segment of today's podcast. It just so happens that it is the greatest segment. In all of Formula One podcasting, it is the LB question of a week. Very interesting question of the week. I'm pretty sure last week we broke the record for number of comments on a question of the week post.

And then this week has broken it again. So we're getting loads of interaction on this, particularly on Instagram. So thank you everyone who has put a submission in for this. The question of the week was, who should run against Mohammed Ben Suleim for FIA president? Might be the first time we've had some actual serious answers. there were some serious answers. I did just want to say as well, like we're not just plucking this one out of thin air.

This is based on comments by Mohammed Ben Sully, I'm saying, yeah, if you think you'd do a better job, challenge me. Punks, he didn't quite say that. But that is the quote. Yeah, the exact quote. Yeah. He regularly uses punk in his everyday vocabulary. We'll give you a little shout out here, K Dog.

K, Doc. Kersy, she has a damn good job of keeping you lot in check. So, that's from Maddie. Yeah, if you can do that, you can do anything. That's so true. Murrah on Instagram just covered off all the basis. Straight away.

Incoming all the Barry Manalo or Mars 9 children answers, loll. Boom, boom. Yeah. Love that. We have a lot of genuinely Sebastian Vettel.

Yes. I can stand by that entirely. No issues. Clives? Yeah, sure. He'll do it. Few shots for Clives. He needs a gig after December.

No, because we freeze him. We put him in the microwave and turn him and the clock on the wrong way around. we had quite a few shouts for Gunterstina the swearing will definitely not be a problem so I said to free Ben Hocking from Alpine and let him run the whole show hashtag free Ben I'll give it a go

I've got to shout you out actually Ben the amount of people that's shouting out for you was quite worrying complimentary I was going to go with but sure yeah we should just do like that's a movie title Battle of the Ben's only one Ben can survive. Yeah, there was a lot of like,

it's got to be Ben, not you, Ben Silliam, but hocking and things like that. Old school, like. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I can't wait to see you to stack up against each other.

A battle of wit. And Jason Gates has said, Mr. Blobby. I'm sure. Blop-Blobobobby. I really enjoyed this one that was from, that Harry has replied to

from Matt Lemmy. Harry, wait, he won't show up. And then Mac replied, boom, roasted. And Harry replied, arguably will still do a better job. Can't argue with the entire conversation. All facts. All are correct. I'll rattle through some names that I liked. Matthew Bonner, John Prescott. Yes. Noah. Webb Smith, Noah just put in a giff of Chief Wiggum, so I assume that's the nomination. Benny

Jackson's gone with Snoop Dog which I mean Mohammed Ben Silliam's not going to appreciate that because he hates rappers or F1 drivers I can't tell him apart, who knows Casey's gone with Rob Marshall that's the correct answer well done John Burko to bring some order

Nice A83 SM has gone with Liz Trust because she'd never quit It's literally the one thing she's known for that's probably not going to work out. And then the last one from me from J.D. Chapman. Admiral Akbar or John Seeker. That's the first time those two names have ever been put in the same sentence.

I guarantee. Or John Singer. It's so good. Nicholas Tobe, sorry if I said that wrong, said my uncle Dennis. Yeah, good. I love that. I don't know the chat, but I'm sure. Is he a mess?

Could be. Could be. on Twitter, which brought us all into the game here from Giselle. All three of you could do it. Bend us the rules, sound us the TV, and Harry can do the socials on the website. Perfect. You just tick all the boxes. Be up in flames in a week.

A gammon. You can have a gammon run of the FAA. We have had a gammon reference for a while. Yeah, I'm not. You still making your gammon? No, I've actually eased off on the gammon, you know. Really? Yeah.

I might cook one for old time's sake. In Austin. Addiction. You're like 90 days Camming three Yeah, yeah, I'm actually I'm sober, sober, sober, sober from the gamming. Gama going to Gammargonobos.

Sorry, last, I'm off to GA. Gammonolics. Yeah, the sandwiches are G. Purely cheese, nothing else. Just cheese. Just cheese, like that is it? Can't have anything else in that. Getting twitchy.

Goodness me. Oh, God. Gaveng, Enogamous. Cheese could be a good substitute. kicking only get us out of here, Ben I do the outro Last week

I had a tuna sandwich No Anyway Yeah I'm gonna Thanks for passing The inner reverse carb To be Sam

I've got one I can play straight back Damn it Draw 4 or do the outro Yeah pretty much Holes 84 cards. Folks, thanks for listening. We promise that Formula One will be back soon. Just over a week, do join the Patreon, as they said.

There's a lot of value there. We put our heart and sorry to making that content. Harry's trying to make me laugh. Sorry. I'm sorry. That last thing. I'm just seen on the hidden replies. There are three replies to say, Ian McCatt?

Why? She's a bad girl. Anyway, sorry. Brilliant. Good. Yeah, folks, follow some social late-breaking F1, where we're going to be documenting loads of our Texas trip as well. We're making loads of stuff that isn't F1 relating as well.

We've got some cheeky little things coming on Patreon. Maybe you're going to do a few little tasters of some American treats and takeaways as well. So I get your suggestions of what we should have. Can't wait to be a thousand stone heavier when I leave Texas and I'm looking forward to it as well. Watch us on YouTube, they're breaking F1.

It's just as funny to see our faces. A lot of you don't see what we look like. So, you know, come and see us. We're gorgeous. Follow us. And that's it. Troy the League of scored. In the meantime, I'll be Samuel Sage.

I've been Ben Hocking. And I've been Gavin Free since 93. I remember. Keep breaking late. All right, Timmos. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.