The Late Braking F1 Podcast - The Final Showdown: 3 Drivers, 1 World Champion | 2025 Abu Dhabi GP Preview

Episode Date: December 3, 2025

For the first time in 15 years, the F1 World Championship goes down to the wire with three drivers still in contention. The LB boys are here to preview this epic showdown at the Yas Marina Circuit, breaking down the strategy of each contender as they fight for glory, and sharing bold predictions for who will emerge victorious... Want more Late Braking? Support the show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get: Ad-free listening Full-length bonus episodes Power Rankings after every race Historical race reviews & more exclusive extras! Give the 'gift' of Late Braking this holiday period with a Patreon gift subscription,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and your favourite F1 fan can enjoy anywhere from 1 month up to a full year of top-notch F1 content! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/latebrakingf1/gift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Late Braking: You can find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Come hang out with us and thousands of fellow F1 fans in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ server and get involved in lively everyday & race weekend chats! Think you can beat us? Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠F1 Fantasy League⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and prove it! Get in touch any time at [e-mail] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At Fandual Casino, you get even more ways to play. Dive into new and exciting games. And all of your favorite casino classics, like slots, table games, and arcade games. Get more on Fandual Casino. Download the app today. Please play responsibly 19 plus and physically located in Ontario. If you have questions or concerned about your gambling or the gambling of someone close to you, please contact Connects Ontario at 1866-531-2-6-600 to speak to an advisor free of charge.

Have you ever had a moment where you think? Man, someone should really do something about this. Then you realize, maybe that someone is you. Well, with the help of GoFundMe, you can change someone's life. You could start a GoFund me to help a friend pay for school, fund that new community space, or help a local kid finally get to that national competition. I've seen this myself. Last year, a friend of mine launched a GoFund me to help with medical bills after an unexpected surgery.

It was incredible how fast the support rolled in. People want to help. they just need a way to do it. And GoFundMe makes it easy. So do you have a dream, a person, or a cause in your life that could use some support? Don't wait for someone else to bring change. You can be the one who makes a difference. GoFundMe is the world's number one fundraising platform, trusted by over 200 million people. Start your GoFundMe today at gofundme.com. That's gofundme.com. Gofundme.com. Thank you for listening to the late-breaking F-1 podcast. Make sure to check out new episodes every Wednesday and every Sunday. Hello and a very one. Welcome to the late-breaking F-1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hawking. oh boy. It's a preview episode, but it's not just a preview episode, Sam.

We're previewing a championship fight. It's the final preview. I'm sure that's what the original lyrics were to that song. I can't believe it. We've got a three-way championship fight going into Abu Dhabi. This is pretty hype. This is pretty exciting. Harry, you look very hype. I always look very hype, but I am hype because I've never I look forward to an Abu Dhabi GP more, maybe 2021. No, I'm going to say now, I'm looking forward to this one more than 2021, because I think I was scarred by the time we got to this point in 21. So this one is the, is the exciting, most exciting one yet.

Oh, no, I've got something wrong with my throat. Hang on, are you okay? What's that? Get a cough out, mate. 23 races down. One final show down to go. As the sun sets over Abu Dhabi, so too of the title hopes of two drivers.

For one, however, the opportunity of a lifetime awaits a chance to etch their name into history as world champion. Will Verstappen cement his legacy, or will McLaren make history as they become the first team ever to cut the driver's championship in two and let their drivers have half each? The final battle awaits. The countdown begins now. I think Rose, we got Chubba the heart

for the show. Sorry. Is that bad, mate? Yeah. Yeah, my throat is a bit all over the place. Yes, Lando Norris. He's the one who has his destiny in his hands. He's 12 points clear of Vestapp and 16 clear of Oscar Piastri.

Sam, does this make him the natural favorites for this championship? I mean, in theory, it does, yeah. But with the way this championship's been going, it's been so topsy-turvy that Max was, what, 100-something points back only a few Grand Prix ago? Piastri was leading for the majority of the season and Landon Norris has done a great drama of chlorine things back until the last two Grand Prix where they had the disqualification in Vegas

and then he was unable to get onto the podium in the main Grand Prix which he needed to do of course doing sure that he was really solidifying his championship hope so it is not all as swimmingly calm as I'm sure he would have hoped for and I just remember in 2021 how excited we were when we were watching Hamilton

Gestap and they went in of course on the same points even with a half point to the level that Here in the UK, Channel 4, managing a ghost shit that they were broadcasts. I'd forgotten this until the other day. It was on the telly for free in the UK. I got to see that, apart from Silverstone for a long time. And there was also a custom intro that F1 put together of them,

racing side by side with the points tally going up. It's very cool. I was very excited back then. I'm very exciting now. And I do think that Landon Norris really just has to get the job done at this point. and all the risk comes down to Max Verstappen. And bizarrely, Oscar Piastri, who is now by far the biggest outsider, despite at one point being over 20 points clear in this championship,

it's being such a topsy-turvy year. And over 100 clear of Max Verstappen, who is now ahead of him by four points. But they are both chasing Lando Norris, Harry. Do you think he's the favourite? And how does he approach this weekend? Oh, yes, still the favourite, I believe, because he has a 12 point lead over his nearest competitors

so you have to look at the numbers here he's going in his favourite the last two GPs will not fill him with confidence obviously one disqualification and one absolute howler on the pit wall but he has to remain

confident in his own abilities going into this one because in Vegas he didn't do anything wrong in Qatar he was it wasn't his fault obviously for for the pit stops or the pit stop or strategy error, I think his head dropped a little bit later on the race. But for the most part, he's not done anything wrong.

And he has managed to still maintain a lead if, you know, albeit it's a smaller lead. So for him, I think his mindset, I think he needs not to be on the defensive, which I worry he was maybe a tiny bit in Qatar. And when I say be on the defensive, I just mean he doesn't want to get into an accent, which obviously he doesn't want to.

That's not ideal. especially if it's for Stap and or Piastri around him. But when you start to drive like that, looking in your mirrors, which I know he said in the interview after the sprint that he never was, but it can't be helped, I don't think. But when you start to drive like that, I think that's when you run into risks.

So he just needs to be confident. He knows the pace he has himself. He knows the pace that McLaren has. And it should go well here. I think he absolutely dominated this race last year. I know he took each other out of term on. Sorry. Vestappen took Piastri out and won.

50-50 challenge. A hall of boss. Who putted into the side of him? But, yeah, so that did help nourishing that, but he dominated here last year. So they should be strong. He should be strong. And I think that's what he needs to,

it should need to believe in himself, Lando, as he goes into this one. Does he almost need to, is it as simple as treating it as if it's the first race of the season and all points of zero? Like, is that how he needs to attack this race and not even think about the permutations?

I think so, yeah, because that's going to be so difficult, but that's the point. He has the advantage of the points, and obviously it's not, it's not the most comfortable one, but treating this as any other race, which I think for the most part he has done this year, then I think he should be fine on that one. Yeah, I, there are so many permutations.

and I think he should ignore pretty much all of them, with the exception of, if I finish third, I win. And that's not to say he should race to finish third, but he should certainly not get into his mind about, well, I could actually finish fourth if this result happens and finish fifth if this result happens. There's no point in thinking that way. All he has to do is do something that he has done

in 17 of the 23 races so far this year, and that is finished somewhere on the podium. And even in the six races where he hasn't finished, finished on the podium this year. I don't think we can walk away from any of them and say McLaren didn't have the pace to finish on the podium. Has there been any race so far this year where we felt that McClaren doesn't deserve to be in the top three? I don't think so. Canada at a real push, but I'd be picky here. Canada was the first one that came to mind as like the toughest challenge because it didn't seem like there was much between them, Red Bull and

and Mercedes there. But I still feel like Lando Norris starts on pole, starts, second place, he probably finishes there. So he doesn't need to overly worry about this. He will be wanting the most boring weekend of all time. And I think pretty much anyone who isn't a Lando Norris fan for the sake of the championship and an exciting fight will want the opposite. But Lando Norris will just want to turn up, FP1, three practice sessions. They are quick in all of them. There's no worries about the weather. It's a comfortable one-stop if it's following last years, same tires as last year. It was a comfortable one-stop last year. He will just want the most boring weekend possible. The thing I think he needs to slightly worry about Sam,

and I've mentioned this a couple times over the last few weeks, he'll naturally be looking at what Piastrian Verstappen are doing. I think he can deal with both of them having an all right race because both of them can beat him and he can still win this championship. It might be Mercedes who are the spoilers here. Yeah, there is a real risk that they're engine providers, could be the ones that come along and snatch away a driver's title, inadvertently, without almost realizing. And Landon Norris has got to be careful. Whilst he, of course, has the easiest job of the three title contenders right now,

it's not all plain sailing. We mentioned dealing with this as if it's a standard Grand Prix. Well, he should have done that in Qatar, and he didn't. His start was boxed. He gave himself damage. The pace wasn't there for the most part anyway. He was always on the back foot, even with the strategy blunderer than McLaren throughout him, which wasn't his fault.

but nonetheless, he had to fight back. Piaastry did. Manor should get pretty much as much out of it as it could. Norris didn't. Only just getting fourth place due to a mistake from a car in front, it could have been even harder. So I do think coming into Abbey-Dabby, he won't it to be as simple as possible.

I really don't think it will be. And when these drivers get into their minds that they only have to hit a certain target, so regularly throughout the history of Formula One, you find these drivers struggle to hit what should be a really basic target. We've spoken so many times about, oh, they only to finish. fifth or only to finish third and they've spun on the first lap and have to cut their way back

through the field to try and make it back and look i'm not complaining it's exciting it will be thrilling to watch if that's what he has to do it if he goes on to do it fair play to him but this is the race where he could achieve the thing that he has been looking for his entire life he could become a formula one world champion and join the greats of this sport equally he puts one wheel wrong at any moment and he could throw the whole thing away. And that is why we love this sport. We're of course focusing on the approach of the three drivers, Harry, but there is the other factor of the team here at play. McLaren, of course, very much involved with how Qatar went down. How do McLaren handle their two drivers going into this weekend? With great. How should they?

And they've only got themselves to blame on this. So they've boxed themselves into a corner on this one. But they, but they got the, I am not, I don't think they can be in a position where they say to, for example, Oscar Piastri, if the scenario arises where Oscar Piastri is in the way of a Landon Norris World Championship, I just don't think. And it's their own fault, but I don't think they can. say to Piastri to get out the way to allow Norris to win. Now, who knows where we get to if that does happen, but I know all they want to be is fair, but I think they have to be fair about this

and let these two drivers, no papaya rules, no rules of engagement, just let these two drivers race each other for this title. Now obviously Norris holds the advantage versus Piastri on this one, and we're sort of looking at a, and Norris versus Verstappen fight for the title with Piastria at an outside chance

but yeah they can't get themselves into a Qatar situation again where they won't make a decision because they're worried about the impact on one of their drivers because as we saw in Qatar

it went absolutely terribly so they have to it's sort of similar to what they're saying with Norris you can't be racing on the sort of back foot defensive mode, which I think McClown slightly were with the call they made in Qatar. They can't. They've got to, they've got to look for, they've got to look to attack. They've got to look to win. And it will be up to the racing gods. And they need to,

they just need to accept that. I just think they should do what they should have done before Qatar, which is sit them down and talk to them like their adults and not children. Like just, we'll keep things as fair as we possibly can, we'll give you both as the same information. But if one of you wants to do something different and that person is more likely to be Piastri, based on his championship position, we'll let you. Because we know Norris knows Piastri wants this more than anything. Piastri knows Norris wants this more than anything. They're not stupid. They understand that. They can throw the papaya rules in the bin, as you say, Harry. And if they even contemplate asking Oscar Piastri to help Lando Norris

I'd give up with this team because firstly, like, it's stupid. Secondly, refer to point one. Thirdly, there's no need to necessarily complicate this because Oscar Piastri, unless I've really misread him, is going to turn around and tell McLaren to jog on, as he should. Like, why would he, even if he has a remote chance of winning the title, he has fought a career for this.

He's not when he's got a mathematical chance, one race to go, Potential Championship. He's not going to help his teammate, nor should he. So don't even entertain the idea. Just put it to bed before we even get to Abu Dhabi. There's a Vastappan approaching Sam. He's been slowly approaching ever since about the Italian GP earlier in the year. He has erased that over a hundred point gap in the championship. Of course, the new McCarran driver in the lead is now Lando Norris, but he's just 12 points. I wouldn't want to be McLaren. Out of everyone that you could have had.

I mean, it's only one man that really could have raised a 100 plus point gap to a car that won the Constructors Championship almost 10 races ago. You know, the dominance that they had at this point is extreme. This car, this line up, they should have had both things wrapped up. It should be so far away out of the reaches of Max Verstappen. But because this team likes to do. do everything on the back foot, weirdly winging the Constructors' Championship has almost put them on

the back foot that now they're, you know, oh, we give everything to the drivers, it should have released them to play completely freely and it hasn't. And you need to take a massive chainsaw and cut that team right down the middle and let them just go at it, like two separate garages. Because Piastri, even if he wings the race, which is what he'll be trying to do, doesn't guarantee him anything. And you can get the best scenario for both drivers. I know, that's really harsh for Piastri fans, but Piashri can win and say, I couldn't do anything more. You let me do it. I won the race.

I couldn't do anything more. For Norris is in second place, but he still wins the title. And I actually think that McLaren need to be careful that they are not going to actually going to actually destroy a really good driver team relationship by undoing all of the hard work that they did build up the previous season and the start of this season where they actually really got on good terms of their drivers. And Max Verstappen feels like he's the man with the key to unlock this horrible McClure Lach one twist and it all falls apart from McLaren because if it does result in Max Verstappen walking

away a five-time world champion, five consecutive world champions ships rather, that will be disastrous from McLaren. Zach Brown will look a fall, Stella will look a fall and Landon Norris and Oscar Priestri will be furious that something has gone so wrong internally that this has walked away from them and gone into the hands of a guy that was so far behind that he hated the car. There were rumours that he was about to leave the team. He hated the car so much. And there was a real chance that that could happen

should they call the race incorrectly again on Sunday. And you mentioned Vestappen has the chance to win five consecutive championships. It's worth mentioning at this point. He would be only the second driver in history to do that after Michael Schumacher did it about 20 years ago. Harry, I feel like Max Vastappen's demeanour after the Qatar GP spoke volumes because I think he's been self-confident in himself

his whole career, but all throughout the year, to win each and every Grand Prix if the car gives him a chance. I felt after the Qatar race and realizing what had happened with McLaren throwing that race away, I just, his face screamed, I can actually do this. It did. I also, have you ever seen a sports. competitive look less bothered. That is that is it. The verge of being the second five-time Formula One. It's the most

relaxed guy ever. Just so chilled and that if I was the two McLaren drivers would terrify the poo out of me because he's the only time now, the only chinking Vastapen's armour is

when you when you get him frustrated. When he's frustrated by the car being bad, or again, for a street, Spain, example one, Mexico last year, example two, with him and Norris. It's only then that when you get him a little bit rattled, that he starts to show a weakness, but that's not very often. He's like the polar opposite. He's like nowhere near that being the case.

And I know he was a bit annoyed by the performance of the car in Qatar when he got to the sprint and quality, but that's sooner turned around. So, yeah, that in itself is, I think, a terrifying prospect. He's just so calm, but I think that is, I don't think that's an act, I think that's genuine, because Vastappan has always said he's just not bothered about

winning loads and loads of world championships. Now, I'm sure he does, you know, like the start of being a four time of champion, he would love the stat of being a five time world champ, but it's never been, being a champion was the goal, and the, the three since then have just been like a bonus. He's just on like the bonus missions of a video game at this point.

and he's just picking up extra prizes along the way. So I'm not saying he doesn't care. I think that he definitely does care, but his relaxed demeanour, it's certainly going to work in his favour here. What about Oscar Piastri, Sam? Because I feel like there are two possible ways in which he could approach this weekend.

Option one is focus on himself entirely. Try and win that Grand Prix and do not care about what else happens. Lando Norris will need to finish in P6 or worse, Piastri were to win this Grand Prix, but if it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't. Or the other way of looking at it is, he will be focused on what Lando Norris is doing and just at any opportunity, try and do the opposite, whether it's a safety car, a virtual safety car, giving himself some sort of potential advantage over his rival. Which one do you think is more

fitting to his situation? I think Piastri is a very, he's a very admirable guy. I think he's very above board. I can't see Piastri trying to do something underhanded or undermined and trying to trip up Norris in some way. And I think that he will bounce off Qatar. It was such a good weekend for him. He's going to be seething that he didn't get the race win because he deserved it, quite frankly, with the pace that he deployed. I think he would take two things from that race weekend. I was the fastest person all weekend. All weekend, he was the fastest guy on that race track. Secondly, I'm furious that I didn't get the race wing, which I very much because, you know what, the title pre will have been closer for it. He actually

got on that race win, but hey, there it is, that he will come into this Aber-Dabry Grand Prix and he will just look to dominate, I think. I don't think he will want to play silly games. I don't think he'll want silly shatter over the radio. I think he's fed up with all that from his team. I think he wants to pole position, get the car into the pit lane where he suits its best, drive off into the distance. And I think he will hope that there's some kind of chaos between Max Verstapp and Landon and Norris in behind him. And you know what? We've seen Max has happened to deliver some chaos before, especially with Lando Norris. That's happened on a regular basis.

And you're happy with the McLaren this time last year. If the same thing happens again, but those McLaren's swapped over, we have a real fight on our hands. I'll tell you what, folks, you are going to want to stay tuned for this weekend's action. Not only on track, but also on this podcast, we'll be here with our race review on Sunday, our qualifying review on Saturday. And you'll want to stay tuned later in the episode as well. We give out our poll 1, 2, 3 predictions, which will ultimately decide who we think

is going to win this championship. You'll want to listen to that because last week we asked the question how many drivers would still be in this title fight in Abu Dhabi. I said it would already be settled in Qatar and you both said two drivers. So we were all wrong.

So you're going to want to stay tuned for our predictions. Well, let's take a quick break because on the other side, we have some news to get to. Isaac Adjah racing for Red Bull in 2026. This season is easy to fall into fitness at the YMCA. On the court, you'll fall into your swing, building friendships one game at a time. In the pool, you'll fall into your rhythm, building strength and confidence with every lap.

In the gym, you'll fall into your stride, finding your pace and reaching goals with every step. Fall into savings today with $25 off your first month and no-join fee. all 25 at join the ymca.ca.ca. Welcome back to the second part of today's Abu Dhabi preview, but we're going to take attention away from Abu Dhabi just for 15 minutes or so as we look towards some news that was announced, thank you very much, by Red Bulletin ahead of the podcast, which is that Isaac Hadjar will be racing for Red Bullitt. Bull in 2026, replacing Yuki Sonoda, who will become their reserve and test driver.

Of course, that leaves a spot at Racing Bulls. That will be filled by Arvid Lindblad, making the move up from Formula 2. Quite a bit to get to here, Sam, but let's get your reaction first to Isaac Hadjar, one season in the sport, and he's already in one of the big seats. Yeah, yeah, love this. Big fan of Isaac Hadjar. He's my surprise of the season, currently my rookie of the season. I think he's been absolutely phenomenal.

Currently sits 10th in the standings. He obviously had that podium example. He's best qualifying of fourth place overall, barely hanged a DNF to his name apart from that awful moment right at the start of the season. Since then, he has been phenomenal on the racetrack, comfortably outscoring Liam Lawson, out qualifying him on the regular and beating him across the races. He has been brilliant.

He has outshone anything I expect that he was able to do, especially after being beaten by Bortoletto in the F2 championship right at the final Grand Prix. He's coming to this season. And he's just got F1. He's understood it. The cars are so good. He's just won with it at the moment.

And actually, I think that it's come at the right time because we know there are being so many problems with that second seat in Red Bull. Perez gave it a great go, but it was always going to be an uphill battle for him. We've seen some other struggle. His teammate was one of them. Yuki Sanoa most recently being another.

But I think with this change of formula, going into the new regulations. This gives him the best chance to equal the playing field. Try something new. And I don't know it's going to be tough to call it. But usually when someone gets a promotion, it is a good thing. There's a lot of people saying it's a negative thing for me. But I'm going a bit on the positives.

I think he can smash it. What do you think, Harry? Look, two scores of thought on this one. One being Sam's opinion here or Sam's point, which is this is very positive. Because Isaac Adjart, like you say, has been one of the. the stars of the of the of the of the season, at least of the rookie class, but I think overall star of the season.

Top 10 in the championship right now. Exactly. So, yeah, this feels like a deserved step up. And quite frankly, I think the writing's been on the wall for some time given how well he's been performing all year and how that second red ball seat with Sonoda has not, has not. There's obviously the other school of thought,

which is that is the most cursed seat in Formula One apparently and it's taken it's taken quite a few drivers and they still haven't found the right one to be not a match but just just be with or near Max for Stauffman

and so far so far you'd argue the closest one over the last I don't know four years, five years has been Sergio Perez and they got rid of him so it's

going to be interesting I think Sam you're right on the point about this is a new new regulation and I think that does provide some opportunity for a bit of more of an even playing field. I think if we look back to the start of 2022 and I know the Red Bull wasn't as you know, it wasn't the car that it soon became. Perez was seemingly a bit close or maybe the closest he's really been to this to happen during their time together. So Hajatuck can take

that one, take that one on board as a positive. So that also remains to be seen to have that plays out. But, look, fully deserved for Hajjar. He's been great this year. And I think, obviously, there's been so much history of that seat. It's very easy to say, oh, well, this is a disaster for Hajjar. It's a career over. But let's just see what happens first.

The news is he's been promoted to the senior team at Red Bull, and it's fully deserved. It's a disaster. His career's over. No, it's, yeah, it's probably over. There's very little surprise at the news, obviously. I think this has been discussed for a good few months now. And who knows? As you say, the new set of regulations might well help Hajar out.

You refer to the beginning of 2022, and rightly he might well look at that. May I suggest he goes back a little bit further and looks at the start of 2014? Because start at 2014, what do we have? A four-time champion versus a new driver having been promoted from talking. Orosso. That was Sebastian Vettel against Daniel Ricardo. And I don't think anyone expected what then followed. So it's not impossible, but I have my doubts, to put it mildly. I mean, Hajar will be the fourth Red Bull driver in the space of about 16 months. And as you say, they are yet to find their guy. Every single person that has left since Ricardo has not done it

on their own volition. They have been unceremoniously booted out to varying degrees. You know, Liam Lawson didn't have a lot of time. Sergio Perez, of course, had a lot more time and a lot more success than the other drivers were talking about. But, as you rightly say, Harry, they chose to move on from him. And there hasn't been too much so far in 2025 that has made me think that it will be drastically different for Isaac Adjar. Sure, Hajjar is impressed in the racing balls, no doubt about that.

So did Yuki Sanoda. That didn't work out very well either. and I don't know if there's been enough change within the team, and this will be a true test, I think, of Laura Meckes. I'm not sure there's been enough change within the team to indicate that there is a change in the structure to how they operate, because they have been so Vastappan dependent,

they have been reliant on the way in which he runs the car and hoping that the second driver can run it in the same way, and it hasn't worked. What have we seen so far this year? Understandable, because Vestappen's in a driver's championship quest, But it's not like Sonoda's got a lot of, I was going to say preferential treatment. He hasn't got a lot of equal treatment. There have been very few weekends where he has had the same equipment to work with as Max Verstappen.

Unless that changes, I continue to have my doubts about not only Hadjar, but anyone who comes into that seat. Sam, you're impressed. You're very impressed with what he's done so far this year. But we have to be conscious that he's only had one season in the sport. other instances, and the one that immediately comes to mind is Charles LeCler, where he has one season at Salba, moves to Ferrari for 2019, and it works, almost straight away. Do you think we could see something like that here? Now, we were doing the podcast back then. It was incredibly early days, but I put forward the suggestion that Charlotte Clare will beat Sebastian better than his

first season at Ferrari, and he did. I got to follow that through for next year. I may have He was also going to be world champion. That bit was wrong. You are banned from picking Vastappen in team eight wars next year. You've got to follow through. Look, look, 50% of the time, that was right every time. Okay? Can't hang on here.

Hajar has every chance to stand up to Max Verstappen and do a really solid job. Now, Vettel was on his way out at that point. Let's be real here. He had just been beating handedly twice in 17 and 18, and I think the Ferrari was declined. in the ability, as we then saw in 2020 in the like. It really wasn't doing too well as a car. Max Verstappen is arguably, if he does wing, about to conquer his most difficult title since he came into a multi-competitive car where winning regularly was actually possible.

Beating Max Verstappen off the back of that is a very different level of difficulty. Not impossible, but very difficult. Now, Isaac Hagell, I think, having the bond that he had with Meckis, where he was originally kind of working with him in the junior team, now it's been brought up to the senior team. I think Mecki's way of working, the culture he brings to the team is so different to Christian Horner, who of course was integral to the way that Red Bull has built from its exception in Formula 1, all the way through to these multitude of drivers since Daniel Ricardo, your Gaslis, your albums, Perez, Senoda, Lawson, all these drivers that have struggled time after time

when, quite rightly, they're focusing on Max Verstappen, but now it almost feels to their detriment we might see a slight balancing of this. I think Max Verstappen is matured in the sense that he understands that for the team to go out and be fully successful, both cars do need to be competitive. They do need to do well. So whilst I don't think it's going to be a walkover for Hager, well, I don't think he's going to be fighting maybe for a world title,

I'm optimistic that there are enough cultural and structural changes going on in Red Bull that we will see a little bigger balancing, a little bigger, bigger performance. And Hagar is probably in the best position, out of the last six or seven second seat Red Bull drivers. Time will tell. But where there is one driver coming into a seat, that of course means one driver has to exit.

And on this occasion, it's Yuki Sonoda, Harry. Of course, he will stay on with Red Bull as their reserve driver. But no seat for him. First time the grid will be without Yuki Sonoda since 2020. So are you surprised that he's staying on with the team? And is there any surprise at all about the decision that he won't be racing for the next year? Um, no, no, I'm no. I'm not surprised on all fronts on that one. Um, I, look, not surprised

he, he didn't get the drive for next year. And the, Sonoda's biggest problem was that Hadjar presented too good an alternative to him. Um, I think if Hadjar hadn't been good this year, then Sonoda had more of a claim to that seat for next year. I'm not saying he necessarily deserved it based on his own performances, but he, there was too much of a good alternative in Isaac Hajar to not do the move here. So I'm not surprised that he's lost to see. And I'm not surprised I've kept him on as a reserve driver. Why not?

I think it's kind of the done thing nowadays. You get rid of a driver at Redmond. You stay on a reserve. We've seen it with Alex Almond beforehand as well at the end of 2020. And I feel like maybe that's a bit of Laura McKey's in this, just keeping Senodora on. so at least he's still involved in the sport and then Sonoda will won that, obviously,

with an eye to try and get back in, maybe in 2020, 2027. So not surprised by the idea of these scores. I feel sorry for Sonoda because we could go back to pre-Japanese GP this year and could probably say we were worried about this move for him given how, given the pressure of going in the seat, Lawson was being dumped after two races.

Now, obviously, Senator was going to last 22 of those races rather than just two. Ironically, his number, isn't it? Twenty-two. But it was always going to be a tough ask because he was being thrown into a car he'd never driven

before. Now, I know he has by this point, and the performances haven't necessarily improves, but at the time, I think we were pretty all had a bit of There was a bit of a thought on the back of our minds of, you don't, it's like you don't want to go. You don't want to actually take that seat.

I don't know he was keen to, obviously. Why wouldn't you? But it's such a difficult position to go and fight Maxisdap and in the same team. So it's a shame if, had he not, maybe he would be sort of racing balls next year. I don't know. I'd potentially, they would have got rid of them anyway because he'd been there for quite some time. but yeah, I just, I feel sorry for him. So hopefully maybe he can enter the sport again in 2027,

but right now he is out. Yes, and I feel like Red Bull were getting to that spot of use him or lose him. I feel like they might have already gone past that point, which is why I felt that he should have been in this car to start the season, and we won't know how much that negatively impacted him that he didn't have preseason testing. I think the toughest thing that Sunoda will have to maybe come to terms with is that I don't think he needed to be that much better to get a second year.

And that's not to say that Sonoda has had a good year and even a little bit better than what he's done wouldn't have been a good year. But Isaac Adja, I feel like another year at Racing Bulls would have benefited him. And if Sonoda could have showed a little bit of improvement throughout the year, I think that might have been enough. The problem is he looked about as good at the Japanese GP as he has done at some of the most recent ones. And that, I think, kind of sealed his fate. It is a sad situation because he is a talent.

And I kind of hope that he does leave this Red Bull program. I think he's too much of a talent to be wasted as a reserve driver. And I don't even mean that within F1 circles, by the way. I'd rather see him, the racing talent that he is, go and drive indie cars than sit on the sideline for 12. months having to be this reserve and test driver role. I think someone in there, you know, given his age, given his F1 experience, it's a bit of a waste, him being sat there. So I kind of hope, regardless of what the next move is, I hope he makes that next move fairly swiftly. Now, of course, the complete F1 grid is done now. So with Hajar making the move up to Red Bull that

left the final spot to be confirmed at Racing Bulls, and much to the joy of producer Kirstie. It is Arvid Limblad, maybe representing Sweden. We don't know yet. But he is going to, after one season in F2, just 18 years old, take the spot and be alongside Liam Lawson, Sam. How do you think he might fare him?

What is a smaller rookie class, of course, than what we've had this year? Yeah, we have a fantastic rookie class this year. That's the problem. He's going up against what's being. and maybe the best rookie class that we've seen for at least five, six seasons. He's being all right in F2,

picked up a couple of wings, but he sits, I think, what, fifth currently in the standing? Something like that, P or C6, I think I've got it? P6, is it P6? A, he's been competitive. You know, he's been there, thereabouts in multiple races, and he's an exciting young talent. Now, he was in a good team in Formula 2,

and whilst the cars are generally equal, you know, there are some that are preferred over others, and his car was pretty solid. and I did expect him to be a little bit higher up the rankings, but he is, as I mentioned, a very exciting talent. And I do think he's probably needing one more year in the junior formula. I think had Red Bull not ruined their junior driver program and had to oust Sengoda so early,

they've moved on from Honda, so that relationship isn't needed anymore. Of course, he got kicked out lourcing after two races. They've moved up agile within a season. Limblog is being thrown into that younger team very early. but you can thrive and you can do a great job, as we've just seen with Isaac Hadger. So it's very much his own fate to do with what he does.

You know, can he turn up in year one and deliver a really strong result? Can he beat someone like Liam Norson and thrive in Formula One? Equally, there are drivers like Foneroli who have just won F3 and F2 back to back in their rookie seasons who don't even get a drive in Formula One and maybe someone like that was going to be worth poaching. It's a tricky conversation. But he's exciting.

Red Bull Lover, youngster to come into the car and hopefully do something different. Let's see if he can do something different and maybe making aim for himself in that family. I agree. I think it's a year early. I think he's been good in patches in F2 this year, but equally showing his inexperience.

And it makes sense. I mean, he has been fast-tracked through. Like, he had one year in F3, one year in F2, obviously now. He is just, he turned 18 years old in August. Like, he's very young. And it's understandable why he's not. the finished product yet. So I feel like another year would have been beneficial. But this is where the Red Bull system works to their advantage because the Kimmy Antonelli comparisons are really good

one here. They're okay with Lindblad making some errors at racing balls next year because that's kind of what that team is there for, or at least what that team was initially set up as. With Antonelli, of course, and Mercedes, they had to make that call to get him straight into the senior team. And at times this year, it's probably cost them, even if the overall, all result has ended up pretty solid and we'll do so as well in the future. I just think he's clearly a very quick driver, clearly a very quick driver. He does have this weird thing in his junior formula where he seems to trail off at the end of seasons, which I'd like to understand why and like him to get better at that.

He's almost the opposite of Mick Schumacher, if you remember. He used to always come on really good towards the end of the season in the junior rank. Linblad seems to be the opposite. Starts the year really strong and then struggles with a title push towards the end of the season. But interesting with, you bring up what team he's with in F2.

Of course, he's with Campos, as was Hajjar last year. Hadjar finished P2 and was in that driver's championship fight till the very end. Limblud is most certainly not in that championship fight and it's going to be about 100 points or so away from Forneroli.

So there's clearly potential there, and I'm glad he's made it to F1. It might be a tough star. We'll see. Any closing thoughts on Limblud, Harry? The only thing I was going to say was, and I agree, I think it is perhaps a year too early, but as Sam said, this is just a result of Red Bull

just rinsing through their young drivers. Obviously, he needs to perform himself and he needs to step up. But the thing he, I think he needs the most, is for Hadjar to deliver next year in Red Bull to stop like the leak of drivers falling out of that second seat because if that happens, it's to say Hajar goes there next year

and he's not good enough, doesn't step up in their view. And Limblad has a seller first year. We could be sat here next year at the same time, having the same conversation, but Hadja just been dropped for him. So I'm saying that's very much a theoretical scenario. But I think he, as much as he needs to perform,

he also just needs he needs Red Bull to just have a solid line up for a couple years to allow him to have a year or two in the sport because as I've seen

Hajar hasn't had that Lawson barely had it before they promoted him so yeah that's what I'm going to say about that and as always we're very interested

to know what you think about this was it the right decision how will Hajar Fair versus Vestappen next year how will Limbla do in his first year in F1 let us know

we're very interested to hear your thoughts. We're going to take our second break on this episode on the other side. It's under pressure. Welcome back, everyone. Of course, one final preview means one final under pressure submission for the year. Take it away, Harry. Under pressure, unsurprisingly, for the WW GP, it's the McLaren Pitwall. There might be a few of these coming up, I suspect.

But, yeah, after the how low there was Qatar, I'd say McLaren Pit bull. I'd just see McLaren as a team because the strategy foul up in Qatar plus the disqualification in Vegas, they've had a bad, they've had a rough couple of weeks. So, yeah, nominating McClaren for this one, it's a big, big race for them.

With that in mind, thinking that at least one of you might go for McLaren and probably a lot of the Discord going for McLaren as well, I've gone a little bit further down in the championship, and I've gone with Alex Albin because he hasn't scored in seven straight races now. He did have a result in a sprint race, I think, but in seven main races he hasn't scored. It's only him, Lance Stroll, and Franco Colopinto, who can say that. And after Italy, Albin was ahead of Antonelli in the driver's championship.

He was P7 overall, and he had 70 points to Carlos Sines's 16. Carlos Sines was P-17 in the championship at that point in time. They are now next to each other. Signs is within nine points of him. And if he repeats either what he did at Qatar or at Vegas, he will beat Alex Albin this year, which didn't feel like a thinkable thing not that long ago. might be slightly toned panic for Alex Albin

who is hanging on in that teammate wars fight not that it matters for our overall submissions but we all pick signs to win so that'd be a nice one pointer for us as well Sam who's under pressure

so I'm glad that someone's done for McLaren means I don't have to and I like that we've gone in Albin's a bit different I'm going for the one and only Lewis Hamilton my man in the last three qualifying sessions has not made it out of the first

competitive session and I think that might be the first time in his career that he's done three in a row, Q1 eliminations. Of course, one of those being last for the first time ever on pace alone. He's also never finished outside the top six in the championship in every season he's ever competing in Formula One

and he's only two points clear of Kimmy Antigelli, which would relegate him to seventh. I also just thinking he's something to go right, otherwise this man might lose his actual mind. So, you know, Ferrari, if you're going to bring any kind of Amidabri package, just giving

a go, just for the morale. Just do it for the morale. Yeah, literally a normal weekend where he scores points at this point would be solid. We'll mention Ferrari a little bit more after under pressure, but if you want a more in-depth chat about Lewis Hamilton, that will be kicking off our most recent Patreon episode that we'll be recording directly after this.

So make sure you're a resident of the city if you're not already. What have we got from our Discord, though? Lots from our discords. So thank you, everyone, for this last under-pressure submission of the year. First up, we have, it's Papa Rhinebolt now. Howdy, late breakers, Mickey Mouse here. My under-pressure submission for this week is McLaren, because last week was a real Mickey Mouse show. You better pull it together or else Max Verstappen's going to get you.

Anyways, Merry Christmas, enjoying the Patreon. Not actually that bad. I thought that was fine. Good impression. Is Mickey Mouse? in Patriot City? My worry is that the House of Mouse

lawyers are really, really scary and might come after us for that. LB versus Disney. Sort of up. David versus Goliath. To be clear. We're guys. That was an impression.

And we also really like Disney. Next up is Sebelicious. I don't think we've heard from Sebelish for a long time. That's been a bloody, the long time. So, mind of pressure for the Embeddy Grand Prix

is that guy nice to stop in. Don't you heard of him. But to win the title, the actresses to win this race. And that's a lot of pressure. Tudels. Aboobudabee.

In yas, Mariga. Nice to hear from you, but it has been a long time. It's been a hot minute. It has been hot minutes. Next up we have English duck.

Quack, quackly breaking, English duck here. My under pressure are the F1 scriptwriters. They have set the table perfectly for an electric finish. But how will they manipulate this race to be something fun and dynamic and not just a circular driving sim? We question. Quack, duck out. Good script writers wouldn't have set the file seeing in Aberdeby.

True. But you can find out what the script writers might well say in question of the week later on. Nice. Nice plug. Next up is our second duck of the day. It's Quackers and Cheese. Good.

Hey, everyone. It's Quackers and Cheese. My under pressure this week is the other 17 drivers that aren't in the championship fight. Hopefully they don't pull the pedestrians in the top gear race where Clarkson has to yell. Get out of the way. I'm in a race. This one should be good. Here we go.

Quack. Quack, quack. Aggressive quack. How has we created something where you can just say the sentence and now we hear from our second duck? And it's just a normal thing. Another day here in late breaking. Yeah, exactly. I don't know.

Next up is only speedy cars are racy. Surely there has to be Lewis Hamilton resisting the urge to pull on Nicholas Latifie. Imagine the scene. if Hamilton does something and the Stappan wings. And that's the end of the podcast. Not just this episode. The Stapin's set to win.

Hamilton does something and it allows Norris to win. Nah, modern clothes. I can't deal with that again. I would like these two enemies, star-cross enemies, to become best friends via crashing into the last wall at Abu Dhabi.

That is poetic. If any of those things happen, this becomes the late-breaking Formula E podcast. Wouldn't be mad at it. Next up is Bullet Bill. Mr. Bulletbill here. McLaren is under pressure in this final round of the season. Stop snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Stop setting the table for Team Verstampin. No, don't serve him that silver platter of driver's title. Keep up the awesomeness late breakers. Pugh! Pugh! Unlike the people now have Signos of their submission It's really, really nice

There's a lot of table setting going on A lot of analogies there It was like listen to you mate No Astor pizza Oh come on Come on That was the last It was laying the table for the Asthma pizza

You realize somebody got to do this in 20 seconds I'm going off time Take with that bullet bill Next up is Hozer F1 What's going on boys Hoser F1 here My under pressure submission for this week. Are you three British weaners

for making fun of my Canadian accent on the podcast in front of millions, millions people? Hang on. Also, McLaren because they're bozos. Hang on. Yeah, guys. What are you doing? I said nothing. It was this moron here who did an Irish accent instead. I like

to see that he's still here. And you guys said that Canada were haters. Yeah. It does. Yeah, so-and-so, they submitted again to say you suck. Hey, not me. We all share in this. Yeah, damned my association. We really should not be in a partnership.

It's terrible. Sharing the profits of eight. Sorry, coming up. Next up is Pittsburgh to Fosie. This is Pittsburgh to Fosie, and my under pressure for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is McLarence strategy. For 23 races, you have managed to look like a monkey effing of football. Can you do it one more time and give Max Per Stap in his fifth title?

Keep breaking light and join the city. What? The call is now joined the city. This is great. Join the city. JTC. That's what it says on the gates as you enter. Join the city.

Thank you, everyone, for your submissions. We will be back for the last time for your chance to submit on Sunday after what will, I'm sure, be a really calm race. Yes, no doubt whatsoever. I'm just going to give you a bit of an opinion when it comes to Ferrari at this race, and it's going to sound like I'm joking, and I promise you I'm not.

I am being deadly serious about this. So you know how they got disqualified earlier in the year at China? I'm aware of this, yeah. They should just run that same car again. Like, they should run that car as low to the ground as they want, because so what if they're disqualified? They are locked into P4 in the championship. You can't convince me that Hamilton and LeCler

actually having some competitiveness and then getting disqualified is worse than what we had at Qatar for them. There's nothing on the line. I'd say just, if they're disqualified, so what? Yes, break the rules. I love it. I love the idea that Ferrari would decide the championship

by winging the get a one-two and then both get disqualified. Oh, no. That would be very Ferrari. I just don't see the value in eighth and twelfth again, you know. Even if they weren't winning. Just get them in the mix. Sure.

Get Hamilton, like, fighting again with some drivers. Like, it isn't doing him any good, like being down in 12th. You know, in the Incredibles, where Dash is allowed to use his super speed. And in the race, right at the end, the second, second, that'll be... Friggy Vass on the line. Go close, second. You know, can easily win, but it's illegal. Do you know what would be the most Ferrari thing ever?

Is if they did do that, they were like, do you know what? F it. We're going to run it low. So what? We're just going to do it for the, we're glory hunting. They did it, and then they didn't get to qualified. It would be really funny. They're like, wait, we could have done this all year.

You get qualified once for the same car again. No one checks. They were the furthest away from being the squad. qualified of all teams. Oh. Yeah, I genuinely think they should do that. Why not? Why not? Yeah, sure.

Any movement you think is going to happen elsewhere in the championship, Sam? We've got sort of racing balls, Aston Martin, Hass and Salber in that order. Could see some change there. Five points between Salber and Hass is the closest of those four. Do you think that was staying the same order

or could one of these teams make a late surge? For me, that's where the change will happen. I think the racing balls have just done enough to lock themselves in. Actually, Aston Marting are, I'm surprised that they're sitting above both Hars and Sable with how the tracks have been with the car that Aston Martin have brought. It's so downforce relying. And so many tracks that we've had at the latter part of this season have been real power tracks where maybe a sector has massively benefited them.

But they seem to be so off there. And when you've got Lank Stroll on your team, you're basically driving. with a boulder attached to the back of the car anyway. So it's quite impressive that they are in front of Ockon, Baerman, Holkenberg and Bortoletto, who are all having very, very solid seasons. For me, I think Salber have got a really solid chance of getting in front of the past.

And basically it's whether Olly Behrman has a great race or not. I think that would be the difference maker. Occo's form isn't good enough to realistically get him in the mix. I don't think it is on Bermann to keep them in front. Whereas Bortoletto, Holgerberg, if Hoggabberg doesn't drive into an Alpine, then genuinely, they might have a chance. I do think that is maybe part of the reason why Aston Martin is surviving versus these two teams

is that as soon as Bayermann started to find form, that's kind of when Ockon's form dropped off. And as far as I'm aware, I could be wrong on this. Salber, I think they've only scored double points once this season. It's almost been like whenever Holkenberg's got a good result, Bortoletto hasn't been in the points and vice versa. So that's maybe what's keeping them ahead. Whereas Lawson and Hadja are a bit closer in the championship to each other. I know. has maybe been the better of the two, but I think they're only separated by about 13 points or so. Harry, do you expect any change in the championship amongst these teams?

Unless something goes drastically wrong, I don't think so. Yeah, I asked it, Austin Martin, who knows what will the formal be this weekend? I guess okay, but it's got a couple of long straights on it as Abu Dhabi, so that's not going to favor them at all. The first and last sector's will, though. So who knows? Hard to know because that car has actually been set up by ghost, if you believe what Fernando Alonzo has had to say about it.

Yeah, I was weird. But, yeah, I don't think so. Like I say with Hass, Ockon and Boehman, their form is similar to racing boards. Like they never seem to really have a weekend, but they both have a great race. and I think that's that's harmed both these teams to be honest but maybe this is the last chance of the year

where they will but so far it's not really happened so I don't think there's going to be any major any major moves as we're going to the last race well I think we've waited long enough I think it's time to hear some bold predictions little children and listen to my song am I have one bold predictions and how they'll all be wrong

They've left for TV started before you finish. Yeah, he was like, I'm, shut up, beg. It's been so long, come on. The children are gathering, I promise you, even though you might not have heard it. Good. And Harry, I got involved in children gathering. Bold prediction, Sam. Let's finish the year on a high.

Two of the title rivals will crash into each other. Oh, okay. I'll be more specific. Oh, I like that. That's fine. Norris and Piastri contact. Okay. You open the door for me, mate. I'll walk right for him.

Harry, ball prediction. The champion, the championship winner, will not finish on the podium. Okay. So you think Norris? Well, we'll see when we get to poll 1, 2, 3, I guess. Sam, what are you got? Poll is going to be Landon Norris. The wing is.

is going to be Max Verstappen. For second, it's going to be Oscar Piastri. Third is going to be George Russell. Meaning the championship winner is? Max for Stappen. I have to anything about that. I'm just terrified. I've got pole position Lando Norris,

the win, Max Verstappen. Second place, George Russell. Third place, Kimmy Antonelli. Meaning that the championship is? Thanks for Stappans. McLaren will just somehow find a way. I don't know how back. Harry, three for three.

Paul Ando Norris. The win, George Russell. Second will be Antonelli. Third Lewis Hamilton. And the championship will be... Who knows? Who knows? Who knows? No, who knows?

I'll be real. I'm just trying to keep my preseason prediction alive for the driver's champion. If it comes true after everything with Bing, fair play to you. You enjoy it, mate. Hey, Hamilton and Lecler still might have a shot. I reckon Hamilton could take it, Ferrari were in the right car. All the odds on Hamilton and LeCleur having an agreement pre-race to crash into each other so they don't have to do it.

Two to one. Good answer. Before we go to our final break, we should do our F1 fantasy. update. So let's start with the winner of the week and receiving the newly instated prize of £100,000. It's Rob Marshall Scaffolding. Oh, who's, who is that? Hen bocking. Oh, okay, let's send Henbocking £100,000. I like you going to go. So close to your game. Damn. Ambitious of you to think we have 100,000. Yeah, where are you getting that money from? I'll figure.

that out later. Yeah, I managed to win this week. 446 points. Top three in the championship, though. Forty-fourth gear leads the way. We've got a great championship battle at Abu Dhabi, but not in F-1 Fantasy, because this guy's absolutely wiped the floor. He's 262 points clear a second place, so that seems wrapped up. And he is. We have a representative who is fourth in the world. Have a day off. No chance. 44th gear is fourth in the world, so well done to you. And best of luck in your quest to, who knows, maybe win all of F1 fantasy. If we can claim a late breaker as the winner of F1 fantasy, we're doing all right. If not, can we contact the person that is going to wear all a fantasy and ask them just to join the league?

That works as well. Second place in the league is for the game. And third is TVKF1. But where are you, Ben? Where am I? I've managed to climb 13 spots to get up to ninth place overall. but that's not the only gains to be found this week. Kirstie using the limitless chip to be seventh for the week

and 213th overall. The comeback continues. Speaking of a comeback, Harry Heed, man. Up 73 spots. What you've been doing, man? I don't know. That's fair. Waiting around for the end of the year.

Yeah, I'll take it. 689th. And Sam, you have made gains as well, up 71 spots to 1,166th. I've just realized that you are less than 65 points away from being second in our league. If you get to that top three, that would be pretty impressive, considering that I think you were well outside the top 100 to start with, won't you? Oh, yeah, I haven't been this high all year. So thank you very much to literally everything going right at Qatar. I actually love the Qatar GP now.

I've prayed for moments like this. Ben's Qatar GP results. Dirty. It's horrible. I can't go to those points when that high. We never will. I thought it stopped at 200. All right.

Well, we've still got one more wet race to go, so make sure you've used the last year chips, make those transfers for Abu Dhabi and try and claim a few last spots in our league. I dare say we'll be. back for this in 2026, so don't you worry about that, but see if you can end this year on a hike. We'll take our final break on this episode on the other side. Show me the options. Welcome back, everyone, to the final part of today's. Welcome back, everyone, to the final part of

today's episode, we're going to round out with a game of Show Me the Options. Show Me the Options. There are six questions in front of me. Sam and Harry will take it in turns. There will be a question presented to them. They can try and answer that if they like. And if they get it right, they get two points. But if they want a bit more help, they can say, show me the options, at which point I'll give them three options. If they then get it right, they get one point. And all six questions today have a theme. They're all about championship deciders. So, Harry, kick us off. What number would you like? I'll go for number one, please, Ben. Number one. Where was the 1976 championship deciding race health?

At Fuji. It was at Fuji. Well done to you. Two points. Of course, the very famous conclusion of that 76 season, Nicky Louder versus James Hunt, with James Hunt winning his one and only championship as a result of Nicky Louder pulling into the pits

with the weather absolutely monsoon-like. Sam, what number would you like? Number three. An early three. Here we go. So alongside Jacques Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher, who was the third driver to set the same qualifying time at the 1997 European Grand Prix? Oh, baby. Was it? Oh, show my options. I forgot I could do that. options are Heinz Harold Frensen, Damon Hill, and David Coulthard.

Was it Frankson? It was Frensen, yes, Villeneuve's teammate for that year, all setting exactly the same time for pole position with Villeneuve getting the honour based on him setting his lap time first. Harry. Number five, please, Ben. Number five. We're going back to the 1990s for this. this question as well. How many times in the 1990s did the driver's championship come down to the last race?

Crickey. Five? He's not bad, is he? He's not bad. Five is correct. at 1994, 96, 97, 98 and 99 were all decided at the last race of the season. Sam, back to you. Number two? Number two. Going into the last race of 2010, which was the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, how many races had Sebastian Vettel held the championship lead for? Oh, there weren't that many, were it by?

All right, everybody. Harator B Going into the final race How many held the championship league four? Yes Okay, show my options Yay! Yeah, I know

Your options are Zero One or ten It's a A gold coin toss in my brain I'm going to go with Zero

You're absolutely right. He did not hold the championship lead at any point, apart from when he crossed the line in Abu Dhabi to win the championship. Baller, baller move. Could we see a repeat this weekend then? I wonder. The other fun fact about the 2010 championship is that, I don't know if you know this one, the driver's championship leader didn't win a race all year in 2010. So whoever had the lead going into the next race didn't win once.

No, I didn't know that. And I will immediately forget it too, but it's a great statistic. So they had the lead, but then the next race, they didn't, what? They didn't win, so then they lost the lead. Yeah, whoever had the championship lead going into a race didn't win. The race. Yeah, all year. Yeah, a bit wild, I think.

Popsie Turby. I've lost two. We're back to Harry now. We are. Yeah. Number six, please. Number six, Kimi Rykinen needed to win the 2003 Japanese GP to stand a chance of winning that year's title over Michael Schumacher,

but he finished second in that race. Who won it? Oh, Barakello. He's good. Barakello is absolutely the right answer. Michael Schumacher, I think, finished eighth in that race, which was enough to win the title. Well, that's my wing in the title.

If we ever do a classic review of O3 in Japan, he didn't deserve to win it that day. He was terrible. Yeah, he was. Which leaves you, Sam, with number four. You are correct. How many points did Lewis Hamilton score in the last two races of the 2007 season?

Oh. Obi-1 Kenobi there. Hello there. I've already lost, so I'll go all out. Six? He scored but two points. He retired from the Chinese GP, which of course is good for no points at all. And then he finished seventh in Brazil, which got him two points,

but not enough to claim the championship after he was in such a good spot. Which means a bit of Harry Eid Masterclass, that one fair play to your son, six out of six points for you. But we don't want any more. Show me the options. That's enough of that. Because instead, I want to turn our attention to what I would personally call the greatest segments in all of podcasting. It is the... Elby question of the week.

Thank you very much. The question of the week, of course, pertains to Abu Dhabi. We were asking if Netflix were to give out the script for the Abu Dhabi. AB GP if they were able to create their own version of how it ends, what would it look like? Longer great answers and some lengthy ones, but I'm giving this first one to Brad, who said just before Kuali, smoke emerges from the RB garage. Daniel Ricardo jumps into the second Red Bull and puts it on the second row. He takes out Lando during the race. Max is cruising to his fifth world driver's championship, but wait, just as Max starts his final lap, the biggest block twist

yet. Daniel goes full heel, takes out. Max to give Australia their first world champion since 1980. A real script there. That was. Yeah. Rad Rushmeir said Shrek would host the Gridwalk before the race. That was on my list. Oh, that's serious.

I've got to give a shout out here. A second shout out of the episode to Dude Reimbalt, who says, the FIA cut into the Ferrari only to discover it is cake, which it might be. Hey, it looked pretty cakey to me. That he's got his knives. That's such a niche reference. This one came from, sorry, so I'm trying to see your profile.

Tim, to me, firewall up at the race. No. Final lap of the race, Max P1, Lando P4, Oscar P2 or P3. That comes on the regular assort to Oscar. to give up the Pogue of Rolando Championship, the radio remains silent. There's another one that's similar to that, and I'm absolutely not reading it out,

but maybe they know who they are. Next one from me, I'll go with Glenn. And this made me laugh because he's just put Christian Horner somehow appears, which just reminded me of Palpatina somehow returned. And I don't think it was a reference to that, but that is the greatest line in cinema history.

so I have to give it props. What, Palpatine has somehow returned? Yeah, Palpatine has somehow returned. But it's Christian Horner somehow appears. Good. Brilliant. A lot of Michael Massey references here. I'll go for this one from Vito, who says,

Michael Massey jumps from the top of the catch fence with the steel chair on the last line. He's got the steel chair. Now, watch out. Massey, I don't know where. Or a Kyo. And he's won the World Drivers Championship 50,000 cage match. Well,

that would it's Michael Massey. This one comes from a mounting man. Sunny Hayes' wings, because APX learned how to work together. Oh. If I had watched the iPhone movie. If only you've watched the film, you know what was going on?

David might actually have the correct script, which is that the spaghetti dinner lady cooks for Lando, giving him food poisoning, forcing him to miss the race. Under papaya rules, Oscar is also forced to sit out the race in fairness to Lando. The Stappon Cruz is about and wins Title V. Job done. Hey,

I don't know if it's slander on spaghetti dinger lady. She cooks up a fine meal. A heart of spaghetti mologays. He's a whole of favour. That woman cooks for the gods. Jan Helder on Instagram, great name, by the way. That is such a long paragraph

that I can read it it's so long. That might be longer in the race. Yeah. Roscoe loves coca

says Lewis Hamilton wins the race twice. That's Ferrari. That's Ferrari. Any last ones from you, Sam? A long of you mean to tell me it's not happening already, which is pretty savage

that they think it's being scripting all the way up this point. But that's it. Yeah. Thank you very much. Sorry, you got one more. Oh, go on. I'm Panasonic microwave. Oh, here we go. Thank you for that. How on if we get microwaves commenting on our posts now? I just, what have we become? Ducks on the show, microwaves on the socials. That's what I always say. My famous catchphrase. That's going to do it for question of the week.

Of course, we'll be back in a week's time for the next one. But before all of that, Sam, there's a qualifying review that needs to take place and the almighty race review that needs to take place where we will be talking about the world champion. Who it is, Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, or Max Verstappen. That remains to be seen. I really want you to do the big brother you decide then.

I go it would be irrelevant to everything. You decide. There we go. Thank you, Jordy Ben. Folks do join us for the weekend because regardless of what goes on in this Grand Prix, there is going to be something worth talking about at the end of the weekend. And hopefully we get one filled with action. Thanks for joining us this season.

Don't forget that even after this race, we will be here for the whole winter break with lots of fun games, award ceremonies, review episodes, to the into the new year when the new season starts. So sit with us. We appreciate the support throughout the winter break. We know it could be a little tough. Join the Discord. We're in there.

3,900 other people are in there from across the world. You might find someone down the road from yourself that loves F1 and we love chatting to you guys. And as many have said, join the city. And that way when you come on in through the gates that Harry Yeager is respectfully built for us, you might just be there for power rankings, the fine one where we crown our driver of the season as well. So lots to get on board with. Thanks for listening. In the meantime, I'll be telling you say.

I've been Ben Hocking. And I've been the boo-de-be. And remember, keep breaking late. and check out our newest exclusive. The Price is Right Fortune Pick. Don't miss out. Play exciting casino games based on the iconic game show, only at BetMGM. Access to the Price is right fortune pick is only available at BetMGM Casino.

BetMGM and GameSense remind you to play responsibly. 19 plus to wager. Ontario only. Please play responsibly. If you have questions or concerns about your gambling or someone close to you, please contact Connects Ontario at 1-866-531-2600. To speak to an advisor free of charge. BetMGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming Ontario.