The Late Braking F1 Podcast - The FIA's controversial inquiry + Our 2023 Prediction Review

Episode Date: December 10, 2023

The off-season content gods have delivered, in the form of FIA nonsense... The LB trio are here with their opinions on the FIA's conflict of interest inquiry into Toto and Susie Wolff. They also review their predictions for teammate battles, drivers' championship and constructors' championship rankings, before finishing with a game of F1: 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. Welcome to the Late Breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking. We're well into the off-season now, but the FIA is keeping us busy, don't you worry? And we've got teammate wars today, Sam. Yes! I don't know how it's sick again.

and I'm incredibly excited to see if I lose everything this season or if there is some way of gaining a little bit of redemption, sweet sweet redemption. Have you guys thought about when you're going to action my for losing the bold predictions yet? Hmm. We should have a discussion about that, mate. Yeah. Well, I'm so LB. It's so LB that it hasn't even been remotely thought about.

Well, well, done. Well, hi, by the way, everyone. Oh, yeah. Are you a minute? You're here. Yeah, I'm here. How's it going? I haven't been away for three months,

and I haven't been giving massages to people in the Middle East. Thank you. I actually said the Far East, everyone. I don't know what this Middle East concept is going to. I went to Africa. That's neither. I know. I'm not saying when you're actually, where am I?

Posting. Anyway, yeah, we'll discuss that. I don't know. Maybe it's a new year thing. Maybe we do it before Christmas. Who knows? What, the saga is in the Far East? Yes.

Right. Harry's massages. My new business. Hey, Patreon, get on it. It's a new tip to the benefit. Well, apart from Harry's massages, because of course that's how this episode is kicked off. We'll be talking about F1 back and forth later on.

We got a game of that. We. And we are reviewing all of our predictions. So, teammate wars, of course, but also we made drivers and constructors predictions. I spent a lot of time yesterday compiling what we all said and had some good chuckles. But let's start with the FIA, because firstly, FIA,

we double recorded on a Sunday last week, so whilst we appreciate you being morons on a Tuesday, can you at least, you know, speak to us before, just check what our schedule is? Anyway, outside of that, on Tuesday, the FIA disclosed that its compliance division was examining potential exchange of confidential information between an F1 team principal and a Formula One management member.

Two days later, the FIA confirmed they had dropped the investigation. The inquiry was prompted by a magazine article containing allegations about Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolf, and FOLF, an F1 Academy managing director, Susie Wolf. Upon the investigation announcement, Toto Wolf, Susie Wolfe and FOMM promptly released a statement refusing any wrongdoing. And then the following day, all nine of the rival teams of Mercedes. denied filing complaints with the FIA. After the FIA's confirmation that the investigation has been dropped, Toto Wolf stated that Mercedes is exploring potential legal actions. Sam, where on earth do we start with this?

Oh, it is the biggest fast for a little while. I mean, it's like we complimented the FIA and the way that they handled things. We said all season, not terrible, genuinely not an awful season for them. Some not great moments. So we spoke about the five second penalty for everything, which I'll probably give themselves after this absolute fiasco. But they've managed to outdo themselves tenfold at this point. They've come along and gone,

now, we haven't had a scandal for a little while. And Ben Suleim and the Formula One management team have kind of been all right, you know, publicly at the moment. So what can we do to really spice things up? The winter break needs a show. I don't what we do will accuse one of Formula One's favorite people and one of their other favorite people of sharing intimate information in a confidential manner,

which is incredibly illegal and incredibly damning an accusation with no evidence and it seems it's entirely based on one very poor random journalistic mention. It's like Chinese whispers in a boardroom and then you let a five-year-old child walking and join the circle and no one noticed and then they went, that's fact, that's how that works. Ralph Wiggum told me that you did it and I believe him. That is literally what's happened here.

You're playing a fact or crap. That's it. And Ralph Wiggum went, Susie, Wolf is stealing information from Ralph and they all went, Ha, Ralphie, correct. We believe you. Honestly, what are we doing here? Because this is one of the most hilarious, ridiculous things. So, also incredibly insulting to the wolf family as well.

Yeah, I can't really make sense of a lug of it, but they deserve a massive slap on the wrist because hilariously bad. It's also like the Spider-Man meme, when all nine of them were kind of pointing at each other, you know, and you can imagine F1 management releasing the statement of, oh, someone calling ambulance, and then the FIA emit and they were wrong. But not for me. That is quite literally how it felt. Two memes in one.

The rare integration of memes. Double meme. And you got memed. Yeah, no, this is a mess. It's an absolutely atrocious thing. Harry, you've been in Marrakesh. I imagine keeping up with this in Africa was tough. But, you know, what happened for you there?

FIA. What? Here we go. Here we go. Are you doing? Way's back, everyone. Somebody does. Say the line, Harry.

Let's do it. Say the line. Okay. Yeah, why... I don't understand. I don't understand why you do this. Because there was no... As you say, Sam,

there was no actual basis for this... For this being a proper investigation. I shook a... I was just... I was watching it, unfortunately. as you say, on holiday. And I was like, I can't, well, A, I can't believe they've done this whilst Sam and Ben have already recorded.

But B, the fact that they announced it and two days later, unannounced it basically is, is, as you say, farcical. And I don't really know, I don't know what was going. There was also some weird thing. Did you see the thing about Ben Sillium fell over and had a concussion? Yes. I'm like, I mean, obviously, we will wish, no ill will on people. But that's a weird side story.

Like, did he ever happen? Did he? or did he fall over hit his head and then go Susie Wolf is a cheat? I don't know. I'm not sure what's going on. Look, every time I've had a concussion, that is the first thing I thought. Every time like, oh, Susie Wolf, she's a bad person.

Yeah, so that was weird. But yeah, I just, the, it's, we've been saying it all year with the things around Andretti and how F1 and the FIA are loggerheads. And it's been brewing away in the background, but this, this was F1 and the,

FIA, this was like round one, wasn't it? Ding, ding, ding. They were fully up against each other. And F1 absolutely wiped the floor with the FIA with this by, yeah, getting all the teams to put that statement out whether that was organised by F1 or by Toto. I mean, for crying out loud, F1 teams cannot agree on anything ever in the world, yet they did. They were like, more than us, all at the same time. That never happened. So congratulations, FIA on one thing. You made F1 teams agree on something, which is insane in itself. Yeah, just, just embarrassing. Giving us something to talk about,

so thank you on that front. But it's, it's, this is, and it's not over either, because as you say, Ben, Toto gonna sue their asses. Again, to the craigs, get them up. The Hades of Coyterres. Yeah, there we go.

I knew they were there for someone. Yeah, so this is gonna keep, this is gonna keep going, but the F-1-F-1-F-A relationship is it's not in a great place and you've got to question whether how long Ben Sillian was going to stay in that post post-4. But yeah, it's just embarrassing all round. That's one word for it and a very acceptable word

to discuss how this has gone. I went with absurd. Sorry, to rephrase, I went with utterly absurd. Even for the FIA, this is. is beyond ridiculous. You don't understand how low my expectations of the FIA are, and they still manage to outdo themselves about how bad they are here. The expectations are on the floor,

and they've got the shovels out and they're digging to get underneath it. That's how desperate they are to be stupid. What on earth is going on here? This is either, it's one of three things in my opinion. This is either pure misogyny, pure stupidity, or a bit of both. Because either you are being so stupid to the point where you don't know you're being misogynistic or you're being so misogynistic to the point where it's stupid. It's one or the other, but I don't think it's neither.

I don't understand how do they operate? I mean, something we all, when did you learn in school? about sources and who to trust. I feel that. I learned about them, but do a good time. Shut up, Sam. Ignore that. But fundamentally,

it's such a basic concept that everyone's know for so long. You know who to trust, who not to trust, where you need to get verification, where you don't need to get verification. This publication, and I, to be honest,

I should probably use quotation, Airmarked. That publication is putting it nicely is the same magazine that when the Nikita Mazapin incident in the back of the car, if you remember from a couple of years ago, and he was, you know, accused of sexual assault, boys will be boys, was this publication's response? Are you naming the publication? I don't want to give them free publicity. No, that's fair.

But yeah, that was their reaction to that incident. are also the same magazine that said the W series failed because they did not sexualize themselves enough. And this is the same organization that said that Lewis Hamilton enjoys playing the prejudice card, I believe was the exact term they used. That is your, not is that only your number one source. That is your only source. That publication. And on the back of one article, you've decided, investigation time, folks, what are we doing it? What are we doing it? That is where the investigation started. And to your point, Harry, you know something is utterly absurd when 10 Formula One teams can be in unison about it,

because they are in unison about 1% of the time, maximum. Unless it's, and in the 1% usually, they're protecting their own financial interest, i.e. Andretti. Here, it's so stupid. It's not even financial interest at sake. It's just them being stupid. Honestly. It's like Ben Silliam came up and said this and someone put the microphone in his face.

Mr. Benzilliam, who are your sources? Who are you quoting? Morons et al at the, what the crap am I saying? Publication. You may as well have said it because, obviously, I can put that in my dissertation and prove a post.

to be honest. That's how legitimate they've done that. You know, it was, things were going badly when, because I saw Christian Horner was on Sky Sports News or something, and they asked him about it and he was like, nah, it wasn't us. And I was like, oh boy, it wasn't even Red Bull. Red Bull straight out of here. Like, nope, it was not us. Oh, dear. Yeah. Can I just a quick question actually on this, because Susie Wolfe in her position, now let's just say, like, for whatever reason, they're on to something, They're not. But let's say they're on something.

Susie Wolfe, as managing director of F1 Academy, what secrets could, in theory, be shared with a Mercedes team principle that are going to be useful? I reckon Lewis Hamilton wants to win it all. He wants to get back into the academy and take that title for himself. Yeah. Yeah, he'll... That's what's going to happen.

He's like, I need to win another one. Get me in, Susie. Here's the hacker's code. Honestly, Ben, you're right. It is the most massaging, mind-bendingly idiotic moment. And because they're married, like nothing that has ever happened previously.

She's won multiple things on her own. She's run multiple organisations on her own. She is a brilliant person outright. But because she identifies as a woman and is married to all papa to do-to-to-do, which I know a lot of us wish we were, she is suddenly a victim of some absolutely rambunctious, audacious political statement it feels like

because a woman is doing brilliantly in the world of motorsport and now we might have another photo on our hands there are rumours already are people breaking away from the FIA again because it's that bad. How is it escalated that quickly? It's like the escalator is powered by rocket fuel.

It went from zero to a thousand that fast. I mean this was my point. I think it's been bubbling under the surface and this was the... We've taken the pin out of the grenade now and we're all running away from it all the F-1 teams are. You hold it.

I somewhat agree with that. I do think it is going to be... I don't even think it will be this incident specifically. It might be the next big one, but I feel like for so long, the FIA and F-1 have been pulling away from one another, and it's just like the chord's going to go at some point.

It's just going to explode. And I don't know what the repercussions is that going to be, whether it's going to be, as you mentioned, Sam, is it going to be a breakaway thing? is it going to be the FIA? I don't know, there's a

turnaround and there's a massive reshuffle as some like Lewis Hamilton have indicated should happen. I don't know what the result of it is, but I think it's going to, it'll all come to a head at some point very soon. I also can't imagine that Toto Wolf has decided to take legal action upon one of the most, you know, severe and large entities in the world

without proper authority. They probably are going to win, you know, like that family are blimming, I'm bloody talented. And I imagine they wouldn't enter the legal battle against the FIA unless they had pretty good assurances that they were going to do well on here. It's very interesting to see what the outcome is for Suzy and Toto in that scenario.

Plus, I suppose I'll have the might of the Mercedes Corporation backing them because why wouldn't they? It's not looking good for old FIA. FIA's on the ropes. Can they think any more? Susie Wolfe delivers the out of the sucker punch. FIA's down. FIA's down.

That's what I imagine is back. comes in with a chair. With his third place trophy. Yeah. Straight on the, straight on their head. He doesn't have that anymore, apparently. I,

he's given that for a fan. Can I have it, please? I imagine the FIA's legal team is probably like Lionel Huts from the Simpsons. No. Fucking out. Influenced early on it. Yeah.

It's been a while. We're in the off-season. We're chilling. I just want the publication to basically put forward your information. where are you getting this from and when they can't do that I hope Mercedes just sue the poo out of them

but sue the poo is such a great line yeah like that in other terms less serious I've just drank my tea and I've realised that the milk's going off oh that was really horrible that's all the little lumps at the bottom yeah all the best of the bottom

oh I see it's made for a bit unwell that's really gross okay Vommie Sam here we go oh no Nothing's worse than 3-2, Sam. 3-2 Malti-Milk, Sam. Whilst Sam recovers, Harry, what do you think is next?

What happens? Well, I guess two-fold. There's the whole publication and versus Total War for Mercedes and that publication, I'd be worried a bit. So that's going to be an interesting one. But then, as we said, with the FIA and F1, it's it's F or F1

I don't know I can see F1 going off and getting their own governing body like just doing it themselves at this rate because how easy you are you to achieve how well I guess well how quickly could that be achieved yeah that's I think it's probably more the issue it's setting it up isn't it I think they could do it

they've got the money they've got the they've got the talent around them to do it but um it feels like if FF1 F1 want to continue in the direction they're going, which is further growth. The FIA are going to end up holding them back from this by weird decisions they make on track, weird decisions that are making off track and in the winter break.

And I can say that happening. Like I say, I don't think it's this incident that will make that happen. But I think this is a start. As I said, it was brewing underneath the surface and we've, we have just surfaced. It's all out in the open now. So it's going to be an interesting, I don't even much what happened now,

but it's going to be an interesting 2024 between the two. But yeah, any sort of break will be messy to say the least. Because, you know, the FIA, as stupid as they are, most of the time, they are very ingrained in Formula One and the way Formula One runs are on track and I guess off track with the rules. So it's, we could be off a very, not to be dramatic, but a very messy divorce is on the horizon, I think. Yeah, and I hope whatever the resolution of that is actually beneficial for the sport, because obviously what we've got right now isn't exactly working, but also it's not just the case that if they regulate themselves, let's say,

that that could equally be very damaging in that we know what would happen with the likes of new entries where F1 teams and they look out for the individual entities or themselves, right? Whereas the FIA, at least in principle, looks after the sport as a collective. And I think that is still, that's still necessary as a concept and as a process. It needs to be done way better and maybe by someone else. But I think there still needs to be, it's a fine balance, isn't it? You don't want the two organisations to be so far away from each other that they can't get anything done, which seems to be the case right now, but you don't want them to be too close to

one another to the point where they are just looking after themselves rather than the sport. Any closing thoughts, Sam? I think if you're the FIA, you run away with your tail between your legs and you promise F1 management that something major is going to change, so we stop going through this level of, you know, like you're almost like two estranged parents trying to look after their single child at pickup time, you know, that's what it feels like, and Formula One is caught in the middle between F1 management and the FIA. If I was the FIA, I realise that this is your, you know, your jewel of the crown, and you don't want to throw that in the Bing just over some silly

comments that you've taken from a ridiculous publication that shouldn't be trusted by most people anyway. But if your F1 management, I can fully understand the want and the need to go, this is gone for too long. We can't keep going through this. My big concern, as you really mentioned, Ben, is the self-governance. I'm nervous that if F1 management employ, pay and run their entire own self-governing body, then there's going to be so many things that the fans will maybe want or be interested in that F1 management think, that doesn't make us enough money, or that doesn't fly the way we want it to fly and we just don't see it anymore, at least with the two entities,

whilst there are some serious problems. They are the only ones putting up the argument for the entries. They are the anyone's allowing things like Andretti to even get a chance of joining Formula One. It's, you know, there are some worries for me if we suddenly go rogue and therefore management runs it themselves. So I think, I think for us as fans, the FIA making wholesale changes and sorting themselves out and apologising is probably the right thing long term. But I would not be shocked if we see a horrendous long term divorce play out over, over the press and social media these days. and suddenly we're in a whole new world where Formula One management is running itself.

Mohamed Ben Suleim, just thinking of the content. That's all he's doing. Cheers, mate. Yeah, I mean, if that is going to happen, oh boy, we're going to be podcasting. We're going to be podcasting. Oh, yeah. Right, we're going to take our first break.

On the other side, we are going to be looking at our teammate wars predictions from this year. Swear to God, if it's saying to heartbreak, I am, I might be. on break hotel okay folks welcome back before we get into

teammate wars I have a question for Mr Harry Ead because he hasn't been here for a few episodes Oh I mean welcome back Harry

a quick question what would you do if you really liked this podcast Good God is as subtle as ever great question Ben thanks for asking it I think I'd leave

a five star review How many sorry five Five, not one, not two, not three, not even four. Five. Yeah, we, we don't care for those other numbers. Five is where we live. It's our favourite boy band. Exactly. For the purpose of this, it is. They are. We hope two. Yeah. S Club seven, get out. Get out. We're about five. Anyway, seriously, yes, please leave if you're enjoying this absolute nonsense and chat about moldy milk and Harry's massages, um, please leave a nice review and a five, and a five star.

And we don't care what it says in the review as long as the five stars are there. And I know we keep saying it. So this week, please write, milk massages, Mohammed Bencilium. Perfect. Make it easy for them.

You also can subreviate it to milk. Yeah. Just milk. just milk. Milky. Um, yeah, no,

seriously, folks, it really helps us. And as we always say, in this little segment. If you have something nasty to say, we don't want to hear it. So leave the loan.

Five stars with a constructive comment is fine. But anything else, go. If you like it that much, you can come and watch it on YouTube as well and subscribe because we're nearly at the big five. 5K is what we're nearly at. 10. If we love 5 so much, we're over for 10.

We're still at the same. All right. So the more we get, the more content you get, because we make money off a bit finally, please. Yep. Right. teammate wars so if you weren't with us at the beginning of this season i'll give you a brief idea of what we

do and what we have done for the last few years so we take all 10 teams on the grid and we decide which of the two drivers from each team is going to claim the most points throughout the year we each give our own predictions at the end of the year we top them up which is what we're doing now and we find out who the champion is this is the seventh year which seems ridiculous this is the seventh year we've done this. And to this point, I've managed to claim four wins myself, and I managed to win last year. Sam has won

twice, so he's looking to reclaim his crown. Come on. Go on. Thank you for being in. Go on. Every year. Every year. Ben's favorite joke. How many more years? Am I going to be able to do that for? Maybe I won't get to do it.

Me and Ferrari, we go again. Well, well, Ben, you got to remember to obviously that Harry. It was a head start right now. That is very true. I was leading. Normally, we'd only have 10 points to aim for here, but this year we've got 11 because we've done two Alpha Tauri decision. So he made a decision on DeVries or Sonoda at the beginning of the year. And then, of course, when Ricardo took over, we then gave our prediction on Ricardo versus Sonoda. We didn't do anything with the Liam Lawson replacement, by the way. So it's 11 points up for grabs. And we'll go in Constructors order. So we'll start at the top with Red Bull. I feel sick. Which is sick. Which one if you put Perez? Because I'm feeling, I'm feeling spicy.

We all put Mastappan, shockingly. Oh, okay, fine. Which means, at least for a short amount of time, we can all say, we've all got 100% record, one out of one. One out of one. And, yeah, that one was probably sewn up pretty early. 290 points in it at the end. Now Mercedes were next.

Oh, yes. Oh, no. Oh, yes, sir. So last year, I made a bit of a bold call and went for Russell. This year, Harry made a bold call and went for Russell, at which point I was on the fence, so I decided as soon as Harry put Russell, I'm going to put Hamilton.

Wise call. That's a good thing I did. A broke man to agree with Harry. Oh, dear. Hamilton, 234 points to Russell's 175, 59 points in it. Myself and Sam, claim of. point for saying Lewis Hamilton, but Harry put Russell, so

we're at 2-2-1. Come on. Get your abacuses out. Your Abakai, folks, because you get, we're actually moving things this time. We go again. Before we go into some of the other teams, just on Mercedes, 59 points between the two drivers. Harry,

I know you went for George Russell. Do you think the result is actually a little bit better for Russell than what it looks like? We're not talking numbers like Alonzo Strong, or Norris Piastri in terms of the difference between the drivers. Do you think it was actually a respectable loss for Russell? I think you've said this point before.

I think he's reversed his years here. Because if he'd done this last year and then come back this year and did what he did in 2022 and beat Hamilton, then that's like the natural progression. We'd have said, 59 points off Hamilton in your first year, the seven-time world champ, pretty respectable. So I think last year's not helped him in that sense. I also think the gap, there are a few instances where I think the gap could have been smaller.

And it's clear that pace-wise, they're very similar because they ended up 11-all, right, in quality-term. So I think that's a, again, I'm not making excuses for Russell here because I think a lot of it was his own, a lot of his own misfortune was his own making. But I think, yeah, maybe the gap's slightly bigger than it would have been, you know, I'm thinking Singapore, for example, that probably would have closed that gap down. Yeah. So, yeah, he obviously has not had, it's a great year, and self-admittedly has not had a great year. But I don't think it's a, it's not an embarrassment, I don't think. But it's, again, also not been amazing for Russell. Okay, let's have a look at Ferrari.

It looked like none of us were going to pick up a point on this for most of this season. It was very, very close. in the end, Charles LeCler prevailing 206 points to 200. And that was really helped because LeCler had three podiums in the last four races, whereas Signs had none and a DNF.

It really looked like signs had this one in the bag. But LeClaire turned it around and we were all on the same prediction here. We all said LeClaire, so we all get a point. Honestly, Ferrari, while you've got your problems, those drivers being so close together

over course of the entire season, it's still very, that's really great. You can't really complain about your drivers finishing six points apart with that many points each. That's brilliant. I feel like I'm going to waste this question because this would be pretty good for something like a fact or crap question.

Did LeCler have a better year this year than last year? I think it's easy to say that when the car was so much worse. I think he had a more consistent. Did he? Yeah, I don't know. It's close, I think. Yeah, interesting.

I don't know, yeah, it's a hard one, as you say, because they're in different positions. Like, LeCleur made, I feel like LeCleur had made more mistakes last year. I know we talked about this earlier in the year because he made a few calling mistakes, but had more mistakes in races last year? I don't know. The tricky question. His qualifying this year has been sensational. Like, I can't deny that.

Yeah, that's fair. I feel like he had a couple of stumbles early in the year, didn't he, with Australia. He crashed. Yeah. It was in Miami qualifying as well that he kind of threw away. But actually the second half of the year, pretty solid. I don't remember much not going his way. Considering the constant back and forth between who's the second fastest car,

Ferrari a bit like Mercedes. You kind of didn't know what was going to happen. He was regularly putting it on the front row, if not pole, position, and scoring really strong points. Yeah, I think he out drove the car at the second half of the year. Yeah, the only main criticism I have is when the option to arose for an actual race win. Singapore. He wasn't there. Yeah. Fair.

But yeah. Right. McClaren were up next, fourth place in the championship. Would it be Lando Norris? It's obviously still driving for McLaren or the new guy and Oscar Piastri. We all went for Lando Norris and we were all right to do so. Landon Norris won 205 points to

97 in the end. I think Piastri gave him one or two headaches throughout the year but this was relatively comfortable, wasn't it? I think as well, the gap pretty slightly larger than it should be. But I think also the development's going Norris's way first every time meant that Piuschri was one step behind in the new races with the development.

So as much as I think the gap is, I think the gap's embarrassing between a Ricky and Norris, but I think Piaastri will want to close that down when they've got a completely equal footing for the whole season. What do you think I'm predicting into next year now I'm projecting, but what would look good for Piastri next year? Not necessarily a win, but something in the range of the Hamilton. and Russell gap, would that be respectable? Does he need to get that close?

Yeah, let's say that that McLaren is a constant podium scorer, so they're scoring the big points. I think maybe between 40 and 40 and 60 points away at worst is still a very good season. We rate Norris so highly everyone does. So, you know, if he's making that big step from a two, like a, what is it, a 120 point gap

to a 60 point gap, that's half in the deficit. So I think that's great progress. Okay. Aster Martin was another one where we shared the same answer. We all went for Fernando Alonzo, shockingly, and this one was over after, probably Bahrain. 206 points to Fernando Alonzo, 74 to Landstrol. I mean, was that about where we thought it would

be? I mean, the Asthmauncar was a lot better than we thought it would be this time last year, but, I mean, it's a big old margin. It's the stat that Stroll was the only one in the top five teams to not pick up a podium that is the big shocker, I think. True. Yeah. He, I think he's, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, topped and tailed his year stroll. His, his, his start the year was actually relatively good.

And he came on strong again at the end, but in the middle. Oh, oh, boy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, a real slump. Well, remember when he kicked off and threw the steering wheel out the car and I got, right, yeah. I was, um, I was, um, spotter up, because we're, we're double recording again, folks.

I was going through all the race highlights yesterday because we're doing season review next. And I forgot strolling, I mean, Astor Martin was good anyway in Saudi Arabia but strolling Saudi Arabia going around the outside of Lecler, I think on the opening lap,

absolutely filthy move. I was like, oh, Lance. And then he retired with an engine failure, so who knows where that could have gone. He's got moments of magic in him. He does. That's not the only one as well. He does have these occasional

filthy moves. Like when he planted one on Daniel Ricardo in front of us in Austin. It was a brilliant move, but just do it like every other race and you might be all right, mate. Not one in seven. Yeah, anyway. Okay, so if the five points on offer so far,

myself and Sam, five out of five, Harry, four out of five. Still all to play for as we go to the second half of the grid. Sam is probably going to enjoy this next one. We move to Alpine. Come on. where Ocon versus Gassley, not in terms of pure points,

the closest one, but given how many points each of them had, it was very close. Pierre Gassley winning 62 points to 58. And the reason I say, the reason I, and that's how you prefaced to your prediction at the beginning of the year.

Obviously. I was going back and listening to it. It was the same episode where Harry said that he was splitting onions. That famous expression. Oh, gosh. Oh, forgot that. I'm splitting out of course.

Myself and Harry said that Esteban Ockon as the continuing figure at Alpine would be the winner. We were both wrong. Pierre Gazley was the winner. And Sam was right. Sam, do you think, how impressive do you think Gasly was, given that it was his first year at the team? And Ocon has been there for this was his fourth year. at the team. Yeah, I think Gassi's done a very good job,

but I wouldn't go out on my way to heap tons and tons of praise on him. It didn't start off brilliantly. Ockon had some fantastic moments, the Monaco Grand Prix being one of them, of course. And I think it took Gassley a bit of time to settling. I actually think it was more Ockon having a slump while Gatsley found his feet,

then Gassley just completely outclassing him. I don't think, I think between the two of them across the entire season, there wasn't really a massive goal for performance. And if I'm going to be the gracious loser that everyone knows I am, and the humble winner,

I actually think that it was kind of more bad luck for Rockong than complete class from Gassley that saw this go that way. Yeah, I, again, watching back those race highlights, I forgot how often those two, and I guess the points reflect this, how often those two are on track together at the same time,

if not running into each other or almost running into each other for most of the season. So, yeah, I guess it's swung in Gassley's favor, but we shouldn't be surprised. We know Gaze's a top peddler. And I guess it would have shocked Oshund potentially. But yeah, those.

Shock on. Shock on, yes. Nice. It's a solid, it's a solid lineup. Just help you need to bloody do something with it. Yeah. There's a fair summary. Two good drivers in an OK car and one of them just about finished ahead.

That's kind of how we thought the season might go. But everyone needs to be wary for 2020. because whilst Laplan might be dead. The war mode. It's time for war mode. So good. Ben's rolled out the tactical map and it's now full-blown

warfare. That's so funny. I've forgotten the person on Twitter that tagged you in the comments. That article went so good. Here we go. Right. So Sam has therefore taken the lead. He's still perfect. Six out of six. Whereas I've got five and Harry's

got four. We now go to William. where there's not too much in the way of change in the scorecard. We all said that Alex Albin would beat Logan Sargent and by 27 points to one, he did. Pretty comfortable. Resolute, that one. Yeah. There's not too much to say on this one.

It was, again, pretty comprehensive. Logan Bear next season, step on up, son. As mentioned with Alpha Tauri, we've got two points on offer here, one of which has already been handed out. So Sonoda versus DeVries was predicted at the beginning of this year. Only one of us went for Yuki Sonoda, a hall of famer. Myself and Sam, utter fools for going for Nick DeVries as Harry.

Put trust in the Hall of Famer. That's what you got to do, right? Yeah, pick up. I did, but I fear what's about to happen next. Yeah, what do you mean? I thought you put faith in. Yeah, I know. Well, I did put faith for the first half of the year.

And Yuki, mate, I just forgot your game. How many? times have you backed Daniel Ricardo? Every time. Oh dear. Didn't help you break his bloody and the moron. They did that for you. Cheers, Daniel, mate.

To be honest, I mean, yeah, those results were stripped out anyway. But this was 15 points to six in the favour of Sonoda in the second half of the season. I just apparently now hate you, Sunoda, because after he proved me wrong in the first half of the year, I went, You're not going to do it twice. I, Yuki.

And then he did. So that wasn't good for me. Sam decided, Sam was more clever than me because he was like, right, fool me once, shame or me. But you're not going to fool me twice. You went Yuki Sanoda and got the point. And Harry has already identified.

His biggest weakness in life is thinking Dan Garano. Every time. Every time. I'm surprised you didn't pick him at McLaren as well. We go again next year. Daniel Ricardo. So where does that leave us after? Alfa tarry that leaves us

nine points handed out overall, a potential nine points. Sam on eight, myself and Harry tied on six, which is looking pretty good. Oh, baby. Oh no.

Now let's let's skip over to let's skip over to Alfa Romeo. Okay. Skip, skip, skip. Now, you're probably working out of this point with two team to go and two points in it, we need some different predictions here. Oh no.

But we all went for Valtry Bottas. We went for the boat. And we were all right to do so. And that overall score was 10 points to six in the favour of Valtry. Not as many points as last year. Car one very good, was it? Oh, maybe they should make a good car. Again, things I forgot about.

Valtry Bottas in Bahrain just randomly appearing. in sixth place at one point. I'm like, what are you doing there, Valtrey? Did that a couple of times in the season. Was it Vegas or something? He was just randomly in the chungry. But just other times, bad. I'll tell you what, Alpha Romeo were very misleading at Bahrain,

including the test. Drivers and Constructors' predictions yet to come. Oh, no. It's not good reading. And then that leaves us with the last team on the grid, which is Hass, and there was a difference. in the predictions here. Myself and Sam thinking that Kevin Magnuson would be the winner.

Didn't fancy it this year. Nika Holkenberg, 9-3 winner, and Harry Ead correctly predicted that. Even though you predicted this correctly, Harry, were you surprised at how quickly Holkenberg got up to speed? Because it seemed almost instant. Yeah, I mean, I think Holgerberg's had a very good year. It's just a shame the Hass can't do any races. because, yeah, I think if it could,

he just got quite a few more points. But yeah, in Pierre Pacey, I know every time he ended up back with Mangson at the back of the bridge by the end of the race, but in Pierre Pacey he was, for most of the year, sort of wiping the floor with him. So surprising, but I guess it's what they wanted Holkenberg for. I don't know.

You never used to say, oh, no, that's something of that. But Holcombill was just always a solid driver. You wouldn't go, oh, he's a qualifying X. expert, but this year he was. I mean, do you remember when he put it on pole in Brazil? I know, but, I mean, that was 13 years ago. 13 years? 13 years.

Yeah. No, that's what I'm saying. I'm not, I don't want to say it. I'm not saying he's not a quick driver, but you never used to, I don't know, in his years at Renault or wherever, you'd go, oh, he's an electric qualifier, but this year he's been grateful. Yeah, very true. Which means if we're tossing up the final scores,

the abacus has come to an end. I have given up my trophy in embarrassing circumstances, finishing in last place with seven out of an 11 point potential. Harry's had a respectable year, but not respectable enough. The joke continues for another year,

eight out of 11 for Harry Ead. But with a very, very good score of nine out of 11, Sam Sage, Team A wars champion 2003. I think it for you, Ben, just so the joke

could continue. Thank you. Appreciate it. Oh, Lord. I won something, Mom! Do you want to know something?

And Harry, this is going to, this is going to hurt you. If Ocon had got a seventh place finish at any point in the year, you'd have won. That's that close.

That's how close it was. Bloody, bloody, the plan. Let's everyone down. You just don't go for Russell. that would probably would have helped probably would have helped or Daniel Ricardo

but I can't I always go for Daniel Ricardo we all made mistakes along the way but it's the journey that counts so that's how that's how Team A war was wrapped up but we did make drivers and construct us predictions

we'll get to those right after this short break oh it's going to be a great break for me let's get on to let's do drivers predictions first of all so at the beginning of the year we predicted the first place finisher through to sixth place finisher in the championship. We did a biggest surprise and a biggest letdown, which, you know, on the, I haven't been able to give us points up until now because we get to debate those.

And then last place as well. So let's go with, let's get first place out of the way for drivers' predictions. We all said Vastappen was going to be the world champion and we were all right. Wow. Well done us. Excellent. Rocket science. we all gave different answers for who would finish runner-up though

oh no I bet none of us said Checo one of us said Sergio Perez it wasn't me it was not Sam also was not me I read correct in saying it would be a Red Bull 1-2 nice one mate thanks well don't Checo you made it difficult for yourself but well done you've really leveled up your predictions this year

mate thank you still not winning I mean, my wrong prediction was Lewis Hamilton would be second, which he wasn't too far away from being true. Sam's was Charles LeClair. That was a bit further away from being true. I'm all right with that. That's not too embarrassing. I'll say that.

Third place, with Harry getting both of them right so far, would he make it three out of three? No. This is folks just killing me. again, we all put different answers for who finished third. The actual answer was Lewis Hamilton. We all gave different answers, none of them being Lewis Hamilton. Of course, I didn't because I'd already picked him for second place,

and I picked George Russell's finished third. Mercedes, not quite that good. Harry went for Shao LeClaire, and Sam went for Carlos Sines. Both Ferrari's not quite able to deliver on the pace they had in 22. I'll take it. In fourth place was Fernando Alonzo. we all put again different answers and again we all put the wrong answer

I've got shocks on this one come on I said Sergio Perez was going to finish fourth and I would say don't come after me Sergio Perez fans but we haven't heard where Sampleen yet. It's not four oh no no no Harry said Carlos signs would be fourth which in fairness was definitely in play

until the last couple of Grand Prix and Sam said Lewis Hamilton so one position out on that one. All right. Fifth place. I got one right. Hey. Chale LeClair finished fifth place

and that's where I predicted it'd finish. Harry said that Russell would be fifth and Sam said that Sergio Perez would be fifth. Oh, I'm quite bad at this one. Don't worry, Sergio Perez fans. I think that's two positions higher than he predicted him last. Yes.

He was in the top five. I put you so far down. And then for sixth place, we went back to our old trick for sixth place because we all gave different answers, all of which being wrong. Lando Norris finished sixth, but Sam said Russell,

Harry said Hamilton, and I said Carlos signs. So if we're looking at the top six, at least, I've got two points, Harry's got two points, Sam's got one point. It's good stuff all around. I've taken the real victory.

today, it's fine. Biggest surprise and biggest letdown. Now, as mentioned, this is a bit more opinion-based, so we'll have to see if we think, to be honest, I don't know if any points are going to be awarded for these. Here we go. Okay.

Biggest surprise, we each gave different answers. Harry said that Valdi Bottas would be the biggest surprise. No, got advocate. No, I weren't. March, Harry, or February, Harry, you're an idiot. What are you talking about? I mean, I was obviously on Laplan and that didn't really work out, so I can't claim a point. Was that off-on, Meg? Just to clarify.

Yeah, yeah. Estabat-Ockon, I said. Sam gave a very interesting answer. Of course I did. So Sam didn't give a particular driver this award. Sam said whoever was in the second Aston Martin seat would be the biggest surprise of the year. Because at that point... So was. No, because at that point, there was no.

a Landstrol. We didn't know if Felipe Drogovich was going to replace Lance stroll. And you said, well, whichever one is going to be in that spot

is going to be the biggest surprise. Of course, that ended up being Landstrol. Yeah, I mean, he wasn't as big

of a letdown as I thought it was. So that was a surprise, but it wasn't the biggest surprise. Three answers. Zero points, folks.

Good stuff. You want to maybe say who we think might was the biggest surprise? Good question. Who is this? I would probably go piastri, as much as I can go he was going to be very good. The wing, the sprint race wing, the amount of times he kept up with Norris,

his cool head, the guy was sublime throughout the entire season. I think it was about as good as it should have been for him. All right, stingy. I don't know this. That's just based on how good I think he is more than anything. Did he think I actually surprise you? Alex Alburn He was

He was better than I thought he was going to be Even I mean Versus Sergeant obviously he dominated But yeah I would go with Alex Albin I think Yeah I think I'd go Albon as well But I get the Piastri shout to be honest Yeah Albon's the go

So Albon actually if anything he let me down Yeah Albon I think had He's he stepped up like a gear this year it felt like. So yeah. I think he was complimented by how poor Sargent was. But I wouldn't even do it in comparison to Sargent. I just think some of his races he had this year were,

and even though just qualifying performances were excellent. Very true. Biggest letdown. There was a shared answer on this one. Myself and Sam both went for the same biggest letdown. We went for Yuki Sanof. who promptly had his best. Why don't we back that man?

Oh, you do. It might still be a better prediction than Harry's, because you know your prediction, Sam, well, not necessarily your prediction, but what you've just said would be your biggest surprise of the year as Oscar Piastri. Harry thought it'd be the biggest letdown. Oh, that was really good one, Harry. Well done.

Oh, I think that's hard one to argue. Yeah, yeah. So I did say before we went through those two that it might be zero points that we end up with. It's zero points we've ended up with. Nothing whatsoever on both categories. And then lastly, last place. We all said the same answer.

We all said Logan Sargent would finish last, but that went to Nick DeVries. Nick, come on. Love. Overall, I got two points. Harry got two points. Sam got one point. Self-marry claim a share of a win.

That's better than last year, right? Which we got, was it, one-nil-nil? I was the nil. That was one-one-nil. I was the nil. We've moved up. We've all moved up. We are loving this.

Oh, dear. Right. Our last set of predictions was the constructors' predictions where we just said, from one through to 10 where all the constructors would finish. Let's start positively at the top because there's not too much positivity after that point. Oh, no. We all said that Red Bull would be champions

and Red Bull were champions. Good. Well down, everyone. That's a point H. And again, I was listening to this episode back, we all made a joke and said, the year before, we predicted that Mercedes would be champions again, and obviously they weren't, they weren't very good in 22. And then we said, oh, well, we did that last time.

It'll probably happen again. But it didn't. Yay. We can predict the future. Hey, I wouldn't say that too. Second place. I got this one right. It said Mercedes would be second.

So thank you very much to George Russell's podium in Abu Dhabi. That means a lot because if you didn't deliver on that, these two would have been right in saying Ferrari. We're going to be second. We were close enough, Harry. It's no shame in that one. I think it's shameful that we put Ferrari. I think what's shameful is the fact that in theory

we're now going to be wrong for third and that's the problem with the constructors. That is, you are absolutely correct. That is the problem with the constructors' predictions because as soon as you get one wrong, it's difficult to get it back. Because I said Ferrari would finish the Mercedes. Ben's on a clean sweep.

It's now 3-1-1. Everything's coming up, Millhouse. Right. Fourth place. Don't worry, we were all wrong with fourth place. It actually ended up being McLaren who finished fourth. You were both looking pretty good on this until Aston Martin decided they don't want to do the second half of this year.

Old jobs. And I put too much faith in Alpina. Obviously, you have a strange affiliation with that team. They were really smug about something in pre-team. They were judge the entire season on someone's smile. They were so smug. bag for a bag of chips and they'd buy it for a million quid if you thought something was secretly inside. They were so smug. It was ridiculous. Why? Why? They were smug about something.

But me being stupid on Alpine has helped me out a little bit here because otherwise I'd put Asthmastomartin forth as well and instead I put them fifth, which is where they finished. So I'll take a point. That's laughing. How's that happened? And you put them both fifth. So actually, we've all had too much faith in Alpine this year. Me more than you too, but we were both, we were all three of us too high on Alpine. Do you know what? Well, I'll stop down here taking a kick-in. At least I'm here with Harry Ead.

Yeah. We're taking them together, mate, don't you worry? Oh, I'm not a good kicking with my mate. Al-Pie was so bad. They couldn't even get their normal fifth place in a sake. That's so, oh, that was like employees left anyway. Sixth place and seventh place doesn't make for good reading. for one of us at least.

Oh, that's going to be me. Sam, you said McLaren would be sixth. So you were two positions out. It's not terrible. Yeah, it's not terrible. I said the same thing. It got terrible. How are you?

Oh, I'm going. You've been six. I need to do a quick. How many points did McLaren end up with this year? McLaren ended up with, or, 302 points. How many points did Alfa Romeo? Oh, no.

16. Yeah, you said Alfa Mayo would be McLaren's a sixth place, I'm afraid. Oh, I'm so good. That wasn't me. What weird, again, after Bahrain, I probably was thinking, here we go. I'm onto some here. I'm on to something here. Never, never mind.

Yeah, you're on your own taking that kicking out, man. Yeah, I'm taking them all. And we all got no points, no points. And we just, no point, no point. We just reversed the predictions as well for seventh place, because myself and Sam both said seventh would be Alfa Romeo. And you said McLaren. Again, no point.

You really did have any face in McLaren. Again, after the first few races, I feel like I was justified. But yes. Yeah, until Austria. Yeah. Never mind. Eighth place. I said Alpha Towers.

would be 8th, and they were Ave. You both said Haas. How is he still managed to get this many right? Making up for teammate wars, man. Yeah, this one doesn't matter, so it's fine. Knife place, we actually then reversed the predictions. I said Hass would be 9th. You both said Alpha Tauri, and of course neither of them were,

and Alfa Romeo were 9th. Good. Oh, it's so bad. And then last of all, we had no faith whatsoever. in the Williams team. We all said there'd be dead last, and they proved us wrong by being seventh. Well, if Flogos Sarjaget's way,

we've all got a point for that. So end score on that one. I managed to get five somehow. These two both got one. It's very respectable. Five is very good. Five is actually very impressive. Given you put Alping and fourth,

because you're an idiot, you still got five. That's annoying. Yeah, I applaud you. That's important, yeah. I've managed to put Alpine fourth. Harry's managed to put McLaren seventh.

There were some bad predictions in that. No, it's how I didn't get mentioned there, folks. Yeah. Stans weren't that bad. They were just, like, one out each time, like swapped them the wrong way around. If history shifted by, like, a grain of sand, I would be like I'm 10 out of 10.

You know, that's how close I was. That's it. That's the predictions for this year. We'll, of course, do them again next year. and we'll be even more wrong, I'm sure. Ben, how many did Harry win on his own? How many did Harry win on his own? The three championships that we just went through there.

How many did he, how many top spots he'd take on his own? Well, none on his own. That's what matters. Having it. Yeah. I won the constructors. You won teammate wars. Drivers was a draw.

I'm riding in life from bold predictions, so I'm fine. That's true. Yeah, you can't. I can't say anything about those. It's what, it's one out of four. Okay. All predictions done for the year. We'll take our last break now.

And on the other side, we'll be doing back and forth. Yeah. So F1, 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 I hope everyone watching on YouTube had a dance off with us As mentioned

I went back to the teammate wars predictions episode earlier in the year but to try and get the information on who we all picked I was listening to like 2.2 speed just to

because all I needed to know was the names listening to some of our jingles on 2.2. two speed. It's a great experience. Oh, okay, I'm going to try that. I can't. I'll remix us. Right. Today's F1 back and forth

focuses on a certain two-time world champ. Fernando Alonzo. There are 19 correct answers for this game. Harry and Sam will go back and forth thinking of correct answers until one of them can no longer think of an answer or gives me a wrong one.

19 circuits that Fernando Alonzo has won at. Um, I feel like this is made for Harry Ead. Head of the fan club, it'd be a disappointment if you lost. That's going to be embarrassing, isn't it? Right. Harry, starts off then.

Um, the, I mean, the circuit or the Grand Prix. The circuit, please. Oh, um, Barcelona, Catalonia. Catalonia, he has won at twice in 2006 and 2013, his last victory.

Sam? Shanghai. Shanghai, he has won at twice as well, 05 and again in 2013. Harry. The Nürberg ring. Another circuit he's won at twice, 2005 and 2007. Sam. I must have done the other one, Hockenheim.

Hockenheim, he also won at. He won there three times, 05, 10 and 2012. Man loves the Hock. He does indeed, well. Harry. The Hungara Ring. His very first victory, and I believe his only victory at that circuit in 2003. Sam.

Silverstone. Yes, he has won at Silverstone twice, 2006 and 2011. I think it was his only win in 2011. Harry. Imola? Imola, yeah, that famous victory back in 2005, dueling with Michael Schumacher. Oh, what a battle that was.

Now, I feel like I should get a pass if this one doesn't count, but I believe it does. Singapore? Yes, it does count. because even if that 08 race didn't count, which it does, he won in 2010 there as well. Good. Okay, good.

So one legitimate win, at least. Oh, or Harry. Suzuki. Suzuki, just one win at Suzuki back in 2006. Sam. I'll stick with the Asian theme, and I will go for Kuala Lumpur. Yes, three times he won there.

2005, 2007. 2012. Harry. Start the stress. Oh, I had one then. I forgot what it was. Melbourne? Yeah, just once in Melbourne in 2006, after recovering from Fizzarekella crushing everyone in 2005.

So I'm back to you. Montreal. Just one win there, but he did, 2006. Bahrain? Barry. Barrain, yeah, he's won there three times, 05, 06 and 2010. So I guess just to clarify,

even though 2010 was done on a different configuration of the track, that's counted as one answer. Oh, he already quite a bloody one Young Nam, didn't he? He did win Young Nam. In 2010, I'm surprised how he didn't get there first. I was saving it up.

Sorry. Sorry, my. Very obscure answer, but it is a correct one. I think we've got five more. left, Harry. Going nicely. Monaco. Twice a winner there, 2006 and 2007.

Bums. That's not a circuit. It's not the circuit I was going for. Oh, he said Valencia? Not said Valencia. He certainly won there. 2012. Iconic victory.

Harry, three to go. Monza Monza twice a win of air 2007 and 2010 Oh we're on to the tricky stuff now I've got to think back to when he was at Renault the first time What was on the track track on the calendar

Cars Cars I got to take a punt just because it's on championship edition Magnicour He won in Magnycore in 2005 and Harry, can you complete the list? Oh, man.

Um... Can I quit? I'll let Harry have a go first where I have a hint because I can't think of what it might be. I don't know. I haven't got any left. Do we still race around it now, Ben? I shall lead up to Harry whether he wants that hint.

Yes. We do not race this. anymore. Great. Okay. Anyone there once. I don't race there anymore. Where else has he won? Oh, I don't know. I can't think of any. What year was it, Ben?

2008. Oh, Fuji. Fuji. Well done. That is 19 out of 19 unless I, nope, that is 19 out of 19. Well done. Wow. We love you, Fernando.

We do love you, Fernando. So, I mean, a draw, I guess we'll call that. Another L for Harry. Sure. A D for me is a wing. Wee! Wee! I'm not dignifying that.

No. Right. Back and forth's done. Predictions have done. We've said everything we need to say about the FIA. I'd call that a good episode all and all. And now what's left apart from Harry to do some massages and that's it. Wee.

Get your oils out, mate. Yep. To avoid that happen, can you get us out of here, Sam? Folks, Discord, the link is in the description. You can join us for the whole winter break. We've got loads of stuff planned. And that includes our Patreon where you get extra episodes. You get beer breaking.

One of them just went up. We were a little late on November's because of some technical problems. If you steer to the end and you've worked out that Harry's during a holiday, you'll work out the whole kerfuffle, that goes on because it's a real... Oh, good Lord. Oh, it's a mess. Give it a little watch if you haven't already.

Birthday shout-ups are coming at the end of the year for our top-tier subscribers. And so is a gaming night. Folks, if you've been missed, if you're a top-tier subscriber and you haven't checked your messages on Patreon, we try and send one to everyone to get a birthday shout-out. So don't miss out on that.

Please go and check them. And send us a message if you are a top-tier subscriber and you haven't had a message from us because that will be entirely my own doing. Follow us on social media, late breaking F-1 everywhere, and on YouTube as well. You can watch this in pure HD.

And go, we look so mediocre at that level. So we love you. We're going to leave you. And we'll be back midweek with our season review, which we're definitely not about to record. Anyway, bye, I've been Samuel Sage, bye. I've been Ben Hawking. And I've been Harry Ead.

Why can't you do outroes anymore? I remember, keep breaking late. It's the off season. Leave me alone. Milk. Balty milk. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.