The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Three-Word Verdicts: Every F1 Team’s 2025 Season (So Far)

Episode Date: April 27, 2025

We're 5 races in to the 2025 season and the LB boys are summing up each team's performance so far, in just three words! They finish with a game of Formula Fortunes... 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 EMAIL us at [e-mail]   & SUBSCRIBE to our podcast! TIDE: Save more, earn more—up to 4.48% AER (variable). Interest rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate applies to the portion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit tide.co/savings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Find an agent today at dejjardin.com slash business coverage. Thank you for listening to the late-breaking F1 podcast. Make sure to check out new episodes every Wednesday and every weekend. Sunday. Welcome to the Lake Breaking F1 podcast presented by

Harry Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking, live in studio. That's not a thing because this is still pre-recorded.

We're live as we're talking that's true. We are together. I wasn't talking to the people. I was talking to you. We're live. Everything is alive, really.

Yeah. Everything's live. If you look at that way. What is live? Everything is live. This plant next to me is not alive. No, no life in those.

It's madame. Oh, just the magic's gone. Sorry, talking new listeners. We once again, deciding to waffle for the first 30 seconds. So we'll continue to do so for the next 75 minutes or so. We've got Formula Fortunes making a return a little bit later on. Come on.

But before we get there, it's the first Sunday episode that we've done in a while where there hasn't been an F1 race to watch and therefore review. So we thought it would be a good opportunity with five races, one sprint down, in the season so far to reflect on how all the teams are doing because there's some variety in how happy and unhappy some of these teams will be after those first five races. We're going to give three-word summaries for each of them.

We'll go around in a little circle and then we'll discuss what each of us thinks of the season so far, where our three-word summaries have come from. So we'll go in championship order as it is right now. So, of course, we start with the defending Constructed champions, McLaren. Sam, your three words? My three words for McLaren, which I definitely didn't write about six minutes ago. Zach hugs Oscar. God, this is going to be a long episode.

There's a long of meaning behind it, actually. I think that that rather physical act of the big old, yeah, a big American bear that hugged him as he got out of that car, when he won in Saudi, I think is actually quite a physical representation of the responsibility of drivers shifting slightly between Lando to Oscar Piastri. We're five races in. I've already bleated on on multiple episodes about how there's been that 33 point swing, my new favourite stat after 17th thing of DNF. That's good fun, that, isn't it?

Always a McLaren one. The sequel doesn't slap quite as much, but it's still good. I'm disappointed Trek 2. Kind of good. At Nyinga, unfortunately. I'm pressing. And I do think that people are waking up to Oscar Piastri. I think they're realizing just the level of talent that he has.

He's here to rock with the big boys. He's not going to be the number two driver to land on Norris. He hasn't got to listen to team orders, which happened like we did last year, where Norris had that glimmer, that chance of a driver's title against Max Verstappen, and he had to kind of play second fiddle. He's here from the start. He's got the points in from the start. You do a great bit of analysis about how he does the Auntie Sengoda,

and he needs to get the start on the end of the season correct. he's done that so far. First five races, apart from one mistake, he's absolutely slapped the rest of the grid. And long may it continue. I think he's a great capacity out at the front, and I think McLaren is starting to notice their drivers a much closering ability

than what we maybe thought a year or so ago. Three words, Harry. Fast, comma, almost silly. Almost silly. The sequel. That's better than last year, I guess. Well, yeah, we're not going to go into that because I'm still scarred by the way that.

went. Yeah, look, clearly the fastest car on the grid, not maybe by as much as some people are making it or some people think, but still the fastest car. And for the most part, they've made the most of it. Three out of four wins. Sorry, four or five wins. Four or five wins. So far this year, just a couple of moments where they've been maybe a little bit silly

and not just the team, Landon Norris and qualifying Saudi, then both falling off the road in Australia, that could have easily been no points. No, poise. No, po. Thank you, friends, Sam. You're welcome. Bonjour. I don't want you're welcome.

They're not starting Eurovision. So, yeah, for the most part, though, it's gone very well. There's just a couple of little sprinkling of silliness in there, but for... Pretty sprinkling. Yeah. Yes, exactly. That's what they say. But for the most part, a very, very good start, and they're making the most of their

fastness. But not enough of their silliness. They don't need to make the most of the sillyness. No, no, we don't want that. For the sake of jokes, maybe we do. Well, yeah, true. Yeah, for the sake of their points hall. That is understandable.

Then your three words. Yeah, I'm going down a similar wavelength to... You mean you haven't gone mine? No, no. I mean more, I've gone for the team rather than a piastri-focused three words. World record pace. That's what they're on at the moment. Like, despite all of the questions about

Lando Norris, and we know he hasn't been perfect in qualifying this year, and despite Oscar Piastri's ninth place finish in Australia, they are currently on pace for 902 points. That would, to be clear, no other team has ever gone over 900. Only one team, which was Red Bull in 2023, have ever gone over 800. So they are on pace to set records for a points total. And I think it speaks volumes to our raising of expectations. for McLaren this year versus last year,

why we have a point being critical about the team, despite the fact that they're on this record pace. Like, they've already won four races. They won six all of last year. They've got 19 races for the rest of this year to get two more wins that would match their total when they won the Constructors' Championship last year. So they have had a brilliant start to the season.

They have been consistent. And it just goes to show that when you have a, great team principal in Stella, a great car as they obviously do, a great lineup in Piastrian Norris, and everything comes together. They've got the consistency now. Yeah, you're going to do quite well in this sport. They've got eight out of ten podiums to this point, which is five clear of anyone else. So what could theoretically stop them at this point, Sam? Themselves. We've discussed this before. This is where the almost silly, tithesing very nicely, wow, McLaren got hands. They are really at risk of self-destructing

if they don't work themselves out before the trouble emerges properly. They've got this driver dynamic where both drivers are fantastic talents. They've got huge careers in front of them, loads of time where they could go on to be multiple world title winners. Tens of victories, maybe you know, who knows? If that car's that good, you've won six around for that long, they could be up where with Stappan's tally in the next six, seven years. They also need to make sure that they don't get lost in themselves.

themselves. McClarence seemed to get a little bit overly worked up with how things are going on. They talk a bit too much. They say more than they need to. I just think they need to, you know, look down the barrel, focus on one thing or one thing only. That success, that's beating their rivals. Just keep nailing the development of the car. And they may have to realize that one driver is worth the priority over another and not do this brilliant, oh, we really like him, but we don't want to compromise anything with him and blah, blah, blah, blah. I just think they need to make sure they got their priorities are. I would agree with themselves being the correct answer here. And we have to this point not seen Piastrian Norris sharing the same racetrack all that often. We obviously had it

slightly in Australia in what were pretty tricky conditions. And then in Japan, but that was obviously not fighting for the win. You weren't getting past there. It'll be interesting to see if there are going to be some situations where one of them doesn't necessarily mess up qualifying and they are both gunning for a race. Saw Monsa right last season. Yeah. It was an interesting battle. Exactly.

And I know we had Hungary as well, which was similarly controversial. So that could be the next big test for McLaren. Harry, the other thing that I and I'm nitpicking here that McLaren I think could improve on is there qualifying. We have seen for Stappen, Pippen to the Post a couple of times. We have seen Norris struggle a little bit based on how close the cars seem to be and how this season is turning into a bit of a qualifying championship. It does feel like, at least to me, that Saturdays might be where this championship's won or

lost. Yeah, I think that's a fair comment. I think as well, they, I don't think it necessarily matters that they don't always get pole. Obviously, Suzuki did, but you can't really overtake there. But, you know, we saw in Saudi, it didn't matter for Piastri in the end. I think as long as they are up at that end of the grid, you know, first couple of rows, they're going to be okay because I've got the car underneath them, certainly in the

so they can probably recover ground, not to keep picking on him, but Norris putting it in the wall in Q3. That's ruined his race. We get ruined his race. So I don't think poll is important, but I think Saturdays are very important for them because, yeah, for the most part, the cars are.

McLaren had the fastest, yes, but the cars are super close. And you put two cars, let's say, in the top four for McLaren, suddenly they don't really need to at the moment with the advantage they have in the Constructors' Championship, but you'll probably, if you could be in a two-on-one scenario against Fustap and or Russell, that could very easily happen. Both of those teams haven't quite yet got two drivers consistently in the fight in the same way that McLaren do so. Interestingly, both times they have been in a zero-on, Bahrain and in Japan, nothing came of it.

They failed both times to get their drivers one-two on the grid. Let's move on to Mercedes, who are currently second in the championship, which if they were to keep that would be two positions higher than what they secured. last year. Three words, Harry. Solid as heck. Oh, you ever have a heck sausage?

No. They're very good. I'll try one. Yeah. Do they get different flavors? They're chicken sausages. They do some vegan sausages. Give it a go, man.

Branch out. Oh, whoa. I'll up my sausage game. Mercedes. Yeah, this I think, the car they have this year is the most consistent car they've had since 2021.

it works pretty much on every type of circuit that's been thrown at them so far. Mercedes have not had that since that last year, last year where they were one of constructors. So yeah, that will be a relief to them, I think. And George Russell has proven that if you give him a solid car, he will do his utmost to put it on the front row and get podiums. Anthony doesn't know what the break is, so it doesn't matter of him. But yeah, I think this has been a very encouraging start for Mercedes. Because I think the worry for them for a while, they've lost team members, including the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

I think, you know, they're easy to draw conclusions that they were starting to fail as a team, as a, you know, a championship winning team. But this is proven that they can actually build a good car. it's not won any races yet, but I think it could this year, and it's a good foundation to be. Real shame has come right in the last year of the era. I was about to say, could they not have done it a little earlier? Yeah, probably.

But, you know, they've got there in the end, and hopefully that's a good sign for 2026 for them. But yeah, just very, very solid, which I know it's a bit boring, but that's kind of what they'd needed because they've been so inconsistent for so many years now. Three words, Sam. it's a me

good i can't wait for your explanation as to what this means is it's a one word right it's italian i t s s s s a maybe an apostrophe in there's some no no no no because that will imply it's an abbreviation so oh okay it's wrong words italian very well known yes um let's say it all the time in rome just rome just rome i actually think this pertains to louis hamilton moving away they had to do a huge reshuffle we saw that last year he announced that move so early on that the culture in Mercedes felt very lax. It felt a little bit difficult and toxic. George Russell had a brilliant season and everyone kind of went, well, is George Russell actually good? Or as Lewis Hamilton,

just completely checked out and he's not bothered anymore about this team and he's driving a 50% and he's whatever. And George Russell is just driving the cars. It should be driven. And I think we're seeing actually that George Russell is spectacular at the moment. He really is such a talented Formula One race driver. And Kim, Anthony, Ellie is not like, himself down by aiming feet. He is the second driver you need. He's in his rookie season. He's delivering everywhere he realistically needs to. Yeah, there's more to come. Of course there is. There's more consistency on tires. His race management needs to improve. His qualifying arguably could be better than George Russell occasionally. We could see that flux back and forth a bit more.

But there's a real risk that Mercedes could be bogged down by the fact of, oh, we don't have Lewis Hamilton anymore. Actually, I think this is a massive chance to refresh. I think they're delivering on that refreshment. I think Mercedes have come back feeling rejuvenating, new, they're competitive. The car is working nine times out of 10 to a very solid level and they are very competitive. So this is a good bounceback from the saying is at the start of this season. I don't think they're going to be title challenges unfortunately. I don't think they've got it in them. But if they can use this momentum and bring it into the new regulations, there's every chance that they could be right up there at the very top come 2026. So really impressive start from them.

They'll want more, of course, but they're getting there. It's good turn around. Okay. You know when you're proud of something and you probably shouldn't be. Oh, no, what have you said, then? My three words. I'm so sorry. Mirk in progress. Oh, come on. Merck in progress. That might be a timeout worthy, Ben. I don't blame it. I don't blame it.

We're going to go to our first break. I don't blame it whatsoever. It does feel like 2025. It hasn't been to this point a, oh my goodness, this is this goes beyond our wildish dreams of what we could have hoped for this year. But it has kind of like you said, Harry, just ticked every box, like everything that they want to improve in, everything that was realistic to improve in. Yeah, they've kind of done it to this stage. Consistency, way better than last year, certainly this point last year.

So apart from Antonelli finishing 11th in Bahrain, they've been in the top six in the nine occasions in the 10 race start so far. they had three out of ten at this point last year. So it is a wild improvement. They have been better in hot conditions. Bahrain, they got P2. Saudi wasn't quite as good, but Bahrain, George Russell, got second place.

They've been overall quicker. This is the first time since 2021, that they have been over 100 points at this point in the season. Again, good have done it slightly earlier, but all right, we'll take it. And then in terms of the drivers, there was a question about George Russell.

could he be the team lead? Yes, yes, he can be the team lead. He's, you know, if you think of him versus Antonelli, he's been ahead in, I think, every single competitive session to this point. I think there's a case to say he's been inside the top three drivers so far this season. And speaking of Antonelli, he's settled really well. And he's shown a variety of traits that will, that will serve him well in his F1 career, the fact that he's pulled off an overtake on Max Verstap and five races into his F1 career. That bodes well. His comeback in the rain in Australia,

that bodes pretty well too. What a move that was as well. So yeah, and all of this, of course, is with 2026 in mind. And it seems pretty good. It seems pretty good so far. It'd be interesting, though. The next couple of races,

Miami at Monaco, Imola, Miami never had a podium there. Imola haven't had a podium there since 2021. And Monaco haven't had a podium there is 2019. Yeah, again, usually we hit the hot. Miami's hot anyway, right? Florida famous for being warm.

Good back. Isn't it? Good analysis. Europe, we start hit that hot summer period and Imala can be famously a very, like, almost like a surprisingly hot Grand Prix to turn up to. So we'll see if that heat aware Mercedes is actually able to thrive. Monaco, usually because of its street circuit lighting us and the way they used to porpoise around, the car used to bounce.

and they couldn't get that traction down properly. They used to really struggle around Monaco with this current generation of cars. So let's see if they can turn it around. Last one before we hit our first break. Red Bull, Harry, three words. Keep Vastappen forever. Yeah, similar.

I've gone with Max Vestappan racing. Kind of similar to me. I've gone with the Vastappan paradox. Wow. Three Vestappan heavy three word statements, which is in keeping with where the team seems to be at. Sam, I won't make any guesses, but it feels like the Vestappan paradox is this problem of how good Vastappan is, but also how good Vestappan is. Yeah, he has unlimited power. Someone photoshop his

face onto Thanos clicking with all the, what they call Infinity Stones. Yeah, but they're not Infinity Stones, they're second drivers. The second drivers, all his world titles, I don't know, or Christian Horner and Marco's face. He's very good, and he's so good that there is a part of me that thinks it might be damaging the team. We've seen the internal fallout, helmet marker on one side, Christian Horner on another, you've got issues with politics happening internally, second drivers being booted out because they can't work out what's going on. And that's partially because the development of the car is so Max Verstappen focused.

And I understand, I'm saying entirely why it's Max Verstappen focused, because he is that good. Why would you give, I don't know, the best chef in the world, why would you not supply him with the best kitchen in the world? You wouldn't make him sit outside on a recyclable barbecue that you bought for two quick and Asda. You want to give him a kitchen worthy of the things that he could create. Max Verstappen needs a car that is worthy of his talent and they have given him that.

But at what cost? The cost is at the second driver, unlike at McLaren, unlike at now Mercedes, that second driver simply cannot operate at a level that is even close to what they need to win a constructor's title. And a constructor's title is what brings in all of the mullah, all of the. the cash at the end of the season comes from there. That also decides things like your wind tunnel time, your CFD time, things like that, that really are integral to how you develop as a car.

There's a lot going on that they are missing simply because Max Verstappen is so good. And also because he's so good, he will be poached by anyone the moment there's an opportunity for him to be poached. Anyone will get their hangs on Max for Stepping if they can and rightfully so. And they need to worry about that as well if they can't deliver a car that gives him the titles that he rightfully deserves. So it's a paradox that while he is so good, it is simultaneously destroying Red Bull from the inside.

They need to keep Vastappen happy? Yeah, because, and I don't disagree with what I'm saying, but as I think you pointed out in a previous episode, No Vestappen, they're probably languishing at the back of the constructors, potentially last, because Niko Hulkenberg was good in Australia. So, yeah, for these first five races, I think Max Vastappen is having his Fernando Alonzo 2012 year. Feels that way.

Yeah. And he's making that car do things he just shouldn't do. And there are races where it's not going to work as we saw him, you know, Bahrain. But then the races where the car does work, he makes the most of it. I mean, you obviously can argue that Saudi didn't make the most of it entirely, but he was still P2. There's a case that you can't won that race. Yeah. But I think given where that car is, there's also a case to say that it shouldn't even,

even be in the top five. So at the moment, they've got far bigger problems, which I agree with. And, you know, he isn't going to stay forever. Even if he doesn't move on,

he will retire one day. But for now, keep that man happy, pay him all the money, give him all the Red Bull. Whatever he wants, let him do all this in racing. Doesn't matter.

Yeah. I went with Max Verstap and racing because they might as well just change the team name at this point. I just cannot. think of any comparable situation ever in the history of F1. I know we mentioned that Vestappen might be having his Alonzo Ferrari 2012 year. And I know Alonzo that year was far better than Felipe Masa. But Massa still scored points on the regular. Like, Vastappen is, he's scored all of

two points for the team. Like, I've just never seen anything like it. That ratio is mad. And I don't, yeah, I don't necessarily disagree with you that it could. and it could be a problem for Red Bull, but equally, what would the team look like without Vastappan right now? It would be an utter mess. Unfortunately, for Red Bull, at the moment,

it just feels like 2025 is an extension of 2024, which is what they would not have wanted in the slightest. They're still, it's still of a Stappan heavy team. The team is still unhappy. They're a long way behind McClaren,

it feels like, and they're still making laughable decisions like promoting Lawson for two races. and then doing what they should have done in the first place, which is to promote Yuki Sonoda. So, yeah, unfortunately, doesn't seem like much has changed. All right, let's take our first break on this episode, on the other side. We're starting with Ferrari.

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Commissions fees and expenses may apply. Read the funds or ETFs prospectus before investing. Funds and ETFs are not guaranteed. Their values change and past performance may not be repeated. Welcome back, everyone. That's the first three teams done in terms of our three-word summaries. And we'll now move on to the fourth place team in the Constructors Championship. That is Ferrari.

Harry, three words. just be better nice I can't argue with it straight to the point Sam And diamo de novo we go again We go again

Defying logic again Ferrari once again Just confusing the room Sam First of all translate And then explain So Andiamo de novo means we go again

In Italian It's a bit of a running joke If you're new to the podcast here And by we go again I mean, this ain't your year Ferrari, is it again, for what, the 18th year in a row at this point? It's just not your time. You've got arguably, there's every chance that you look back at this in 50 years time and you go, Leclair and Hamilton might be one of the greatest lineups in all of Formula One history.

And you've just scrunched it up and put it in the bin. It's like taking the moment Lisa and just like throwing it in the bin on the way out and not realizing what you've done. It's that good. It's a work of art. And you've got this HP bin bag that's. flying around the racetrack. And it's not very good, is it? Really. It's not great. So get it together. I really think Ferrari need to consolidate what they've done. A sprint wing and one podium is not really good enough to realize that actually this is our year and we should try and go all in on

development, on changes, on making this the year that we finally wing something. I'd argue Ferrari, park it immediately. Development starts properly for 2026 and nail that in regulation because there's a real chance I think that Ferrari won't think about this properly and we'll go, there's races. We might, we might have a chance of winning. And they'll keep trying to push development single for 2025. And I think it will then cost them again for another year and another year. And they always get wrapped up in themselves. So we go again in 2026, just be standard. We accept that you're not going very good. No race wings, whatever. Nail it next year. Defying logic again. Because why shouldn't this work?

There's no, apart from it's Ferrari, there's no reason why this shouldn't work. That is your reason. Well, exactly. But on paper, this should be brilliant. Okay, if I say like pre-season, pit stops, they're the best team. They've had no blunders and they are the best team on pit stops. Strategy has been fine all year. No problems.

Drivers, they have Charles LeClaue, who's one of the best in the sport, who is, probably entering his prime or already in his prime, and the most successful driver in the history of the sport, Lewis Hamilton. And last year, they ended the season as the best team. They scored more points than anyone in the last six races of 2024. They were 61 points ahead of McLaren in that six races to end last season. So why isn't it working? Canada.

It just should. Canada last year, that's going to haunt them forever. If I was to tell you all of that to kick off the year, you'd say, oh, after five races, they've got to be leading the championship, right? No. Well, they've got to be a close second. They must be running McLaren real close.

No. Well, they must. Okay, they've had a disaster. Never mind. They're in third. Nope. They're in fourth. I do not understand how they're in this sport.

They, they just, oh, McLaren are walking away with this, and they shouldn't. Like, this should be a far more exciting season right now than what it is. And at least part of the reason it's not more exciting is because Ferrari are not doing what they should be doing. It annoys me. I feel like a fool for putting Ferrari at the top of my predictions. Yeah. And I know it's Ferrari, you think, well, why have you bothered to give them any faith? But they genuinely look so good at the end of last year that they should be closer. Because if they were,

I don't know, if Hamilton and LeClaire were in third and fourth in the drivers and they were 25 points back, you go, okay, an upgrade, that could flip over. Maybe they're 20 points. back in the constructors. Sure. They're literally about four races behind at this point. They need a miracle to turn that around. And like you say, they need to be in a position where they are ready to pivot. They need to capitalize on 26. Yeah. How are your three words were? Just be better. It summarizes itself. I don't know. Yeah. Someone in there. That's the problem. There's something in there. It's brewing. It's been brewing for months now. The kettle is on.

China, honestly, is just encompassed their full seat. I can't understand it. And look, I'm hopeful that if there is this upgrade, they bring into Miami and it's to do with the, you know, they can put the car lower again without it being illegal. Maybe they get back in this, but it's just, just be better. Because like you've already said, you've got such a good lineup. And I think Fred Fasser's doing good things with the team in terms of strategy.

They are better than they've been in a long time. In Bahrain, in their alternative strategy, which was going to work, I think. That was going to work. Obviously, we were scuppered by the safety car, but yeah, so all of these things are good. Why they went, didn't just do a continuation of last year's car and did a redesign of stuff? Well, they, yeah. The entire braking mechanism, isn't they? Which is a huge chain.

They did. And suspension, I think. And the suspension model. Why? There's one year left of this. I wonder if they are going to. to use it for 26 and they can't get through the problem. But just be better because it's really annoying.

And the Hamilton is clearly struggling, but, you know, we can give him leeway because of, or like him leeway still because of the fact that it's, you know, still early doors in the season. And he's proven that when the car works, he can drive it. Lecler is just. I think Lecler could be. I know Piastrian Vistap and Bing, but I think the clerk could be my driver of the season so far because he's doing things that shouldn't be possible.

shouldn't be on the podium of Saudi. Why is it there? Yeah, that was a great crush. It does feel like the car is struggling full stop, but qualifying is a real problem. And I know you could argue, well, what Lewis Hamilton has been doing in Q3 is actually a continuation of what happened in Q3

last year at Mercedes for him. But if Shao LaCleur is hustling with a capital, to put that car like fourth and three temps back into. some of these qualifying sessions, I'm more inclined to say that's Ferrari's doing that they're not on the front row and not Charles LeClaire, who has consistently proven he's an excellent qualifier. Agreed. So in summary, Ferrari from all three of us, come on.

Do something. Two work summary. Come on. Williams. Of course, the epic battle between Ferrari and Williams has taken its turn towards Ferrari, but there's plenty of time for Williams. It's a strike coming. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. The Netflix story's going to be huge. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But at least at the moment, Williams, four positions higher than where they finished 2004. They were second last last year, and they're currently in the top half of the championship.

Samuel three words? Future is now. Good. Harry, let Vals cook. I mean, basically the same as me. Respect Daddy Vals. Pick up the daddy. Pick up.

Future is now. Future is now. We've had two or three seasons now. where we are talking about, we're not going for this season, we're developing for this season, we're working for this season, we're hiring for later on,

the project is coming. Sike. Sike, the project is now. I respect Danny Vowis, because he's making those hardcore calls and he's making them with confidence. He's got the team behind him. That line up is cooking.

He's got two sous chefs. Danny Vowers is there on the main hob. He's got Albonneux and their mongings at full speed. You know, Carlos Sites is there whipping up the batter and they are making a feast. What are they making? What are they dicing onions and batter? You'll find it at the chip.

A battered onion. Hey, you go down there and you find myself a sensation on meal, my friend. They weren't for heck, though, mate. They work for it, make. Get the sausages, bring them over as a treat. My point is, we're finally entering this era of where Williams and Vowels are coming together. It's happening. The project is starting to happen.

And you can see that in their first five races where Albu has been given a car that's actually competitive. And we're seeing that consistent and strong talent that Alex Album has got under the hood. He's developing really, really well. And Carlos Sites has just started to find his feet. Bahrain there were glimmers and then it went the wrong way. But Saudi was a brilliant Grand Prix for Carlos Sites. Now, they've announced that they're obviously going to turn their focus to 2026. I could not be happier that that's what they're doing.

The car for this season is fine. And you know what, if they end up dropping back to 6th, 7th in the championship, it's not a disaster at all. That's the right way to phrase it. But I think they've got operationally got them. themselves in a really good spot where they can kick on for the next generation of F1 cars. And I'm really pleased to see that Williams are genuinely a competitive force again. So first five races are really solid, but they understand the journey.

They understand that now is where it starts and they are kicking on really, really well. Harry, let Vals cook. Yeah, I think everything this year is a bonus for Williams. And like you say, if they do start to slip back now, I think we all will understand why. but just the fact of where he has got them to as a team have you watched the video of like their last few laps I think F1 released this all the team radio between Albon and the team signs in the team

and they're talking about the Singapore situation oh no I didn't hear it but I heard that James Vowse said that might not have been the best phrase of all time yeah I need to watch this the code what is the code for the Singapore Anyway, but basically, so they were just, signs fell back and was a DRS'd, um, Albon along to stop Hajar going past him. Yeah.

I mean, all the way through, Albon is still absolutely furious about anything to do with this team. And at the end is like, congrats, guys. I love you all so much. Love you all. He's like a real Jacqueline hide. Yeah, come around for Christmas, please. Get some of the car.

But in the middle, he's like, what is he doing? Rogue rage takes over. But that, I think that video and people go and watch it, um, in combsies where Williams have got to now in terms of they've got two great drivers. They've never been able to do this before. Two drivers together at the same time. When was the last time they had a genuinely good line? Yeah.

In fact, I just did on Alex Album very quickly. It's quite reassuring what he's been able to do these first few races. I'm sure there were at least a couple of question marks like, oh, he's going up against someone a bit better than Logan Sargent now. Yeah. Or Nicholas Latifie. And he stepped up. He has.

But yeah, I. Like I say, the pace might fall off for this year, but I don't think that matters. I think they're proving operationally, as you say, that they can work as a proper competitive team again. I think that video encompasses it because it was very slick work from all involved. So yeah, let him cook. I think he's doing great things is James Vals. We always knew the sign signing was good.

The signs signing. The signs thing, yeah, yeah. The signs thing. It was a great cool. Obviously, he's taking a few races, but give them out of break. But yeah, Saudi was great for him. I think that as a lineup, if they have a competitive car next year, could be very, very potent.

Sourcing. Sourcing, indeed. I mean, they've got 25 points after five races. And I can't say this enough, like, how much of an improvement this is for Williams, in that if they get four more points this season, which, again, they've got 20, 25 in five races. if they get four in the next 19, it will be their best season since 2017. Oh, that was so long ago.

But exactly, they have been really down for a long time. So what James Vowse has been able to recover already has been great. And as he routinely says, this isn't what we're aiming for. Like we're not here to get to the top of the midfield. We're here to do far better than that. So even though this year technically doesn't matter, it will still be a useful motivational boost for a lot of members of that team because I know that they've they've hired a lot in the last year or so, two years, but there are still going to be

a lot of people there who have been all throughout like 2021, 2020, 2019 and they will have been told for a long time, we've got a plan for the future, we've got investment for the future, it's about next year, not this year. And it gets to a certain point surely that you start to lose motivation if you don't have those milestones along the way, those signs of improvement. Nice. Second pun of the day, but you're on fire, mate. But this is, they have had this year. So the point where they've had like six points scoring finishes already and they'll have

motivation now to go, okay, we've gone from where we were at the back of the grid. We're now scoring regular points. Maybe it does tail off this year. Maybe it doesn't. Who knows? but the fact that they've already done that, and they will motivate themselves to be in a point next year where it's like if we got eighth and ninth,

that would be a disappointment. Yeah. I think it's a really useful start for them. And even though Carlos Sines, he has got better, they've been really good, even though Carlos Sines hasn't been really good. Like, if you were to say Carlos Sines, five out of 10 is like bang on your expectations going into this season.

10 out of 10 is wildly exceeded. one out of ten is wildly fallen short. He's probably closer to one than ten. He's not a one, but he's closer to one than ten. So the fact that they're still as consistent as what they are, pretty impressive. Next team is Hass. Sounds laughing of what he's written. Go on, go on then.

Let's get out of the way. I don't understand. I don't understand. Nice. Yeah. I've gone with Glass half. Oh, nice. I've gone for Ockon's head thumper.

You're back to the thumping headache, yeah. I'm assuming the thumping headache in this situation is his younger teammate, Oliver Berman. It is. He's up late, playing music really loud. It's like, oh, shy out, proud of sleep. God damn kids. Yeah, look, I think Hasse have been,

I don't understand it's fair. I think there's been some real great for them. They seem to have some weekends really struggled at like the Friday. They look absolutely terrible. And then Kamatsi has put his overall, his, you know, chef's whites on, got in the kitchen, cooked up some in,

and they've recovered for the weekend. This is wrong. Exactly. But sometimes it's not got there. Certainly their race pace seems to be better than like all the fine pace. So they haven't to do a lot of working races to... The irony of that statement, by the way, based on where they were two years ago.

I know. Goodness me. Kevin Magnuson's like, I can't behave it. But yeah, that seems to be the case at the moment. And, you know, Saudi, they recovered, but it was for nothing. They got no points out of it. But Oliver Berman has been the shining light for me of the Hasse team so far.

And I'm not saying Ocon's been terrible, but he's had a couple of inconsistent races versus Berman. And again, maybe we do give him a bit of leeway because there's a new team. Bema did have a couple of races last year with. them but it doesn't count for that much Ockon's got way more experience as an F-1 driver so yeah I think he's probably giving it he's been giving

giving Ockon a harder time than Esteban expected going into this year especially at the beginning of it but that in itself I don't think it's a bad thing because it will force Fustrebin to step up again I think he will and I think he for the most but has been on a part but Ben has been very impressive yeah I've gone with glass half full

because there have been a lot of ups and downs for Hass so far this year, but I do think the ups outweigh the downs ever so slightly. The points total is a weird. Like, this is a compliment sort of. The points total is probably higher than it should be. Yeah, massively. We've currently got Hass on 20 points, V-Carb on 8, and Alpine on 6. It feels like all three of them should have pretty much the same amount of points.

None. I mean, they've all been all right. but it feels like they should all have like 12 points. Yeah, that's fair. But Hassar have been the ones who have been able to take advantage of excellent strategy in Bahrain, Ocon in China as well. China was so good. Yeah. And those have definitely been the plus points.

In terms of pure performance, it feels like they are maybe ever so slightly off where they were at the end of last season. Not dramatically so, but I don't think they're quite as. And to be honest, it's more consistency again. Like you said, Harry, that some weekends they turn up and they look like they're on it. And there are other weekends like Australia where they were so slow there. Overall, though, I'm positive. Like Williams, they're building something for the future and like with Williams as well. I wouldn't necessarily say this is a setback for them this year, Has, because they're still pretty good.

But Williams last year, for example, were worse than they were in 2023. It's a journey. And I'm fine if Hass aren't quite as good as what they were. last year because it feels like everything's being built towards what it should be built. And the line-ups looking pretty good. I think Ockon has kind of come in and filled the Nika Holkenberg role. He's been a little inconsistent, but I think he's done well. And Behrman, I know we discussed rookies as part of a Patreon topic this last week. I was very complimentary of Oliver Berman. I think he's done a wonderful job so far. You don't understand.

No, I died. The concept, the game, life, has. Gene Haas. He doesn't understand. What the point of Formula One is? I don't think they understand that. It felt like when Kamatsu came in and Tokova, they had some clear, defining issues,

really obvious places where you fix that, you take a massive leap forward, understanding tyres. That was a good place to start. Once you understand those, your car knows what it's doing on the racetrack. Operationally, they seemed like they were lacking some key person now. even like they were trying to cost cut at every corner.

They didn't know who was doing their job and Kamatsi was doing multiple things. And this season, there are some real positives, O'Kong in China. The way Bearman has come about this season has been fantastic. The points that they managed to get hold of have been brilliant. But I don't understand how they've got the points that they've got.

They shouldn't be sixth. They shouldn't be five points behind Williams. Williams have been so much better at every point. point throughout this season, and yet there is five points between those teams. O'Kong has been simultaneously fantastic in some moments, and a ghost, he's been nowhere some other times. Behrman has been last on the grid and then scoring points. I don't know how the car is and isn't working simultaneously. The conditions it works in sometimes are the same where it doesn't work. It doesn't make sense. Usually you can pinpoint, uh, the car is very draggy or it's a bit overweight,

or the tyres don't work properly, you know, or it's porpoising or something like that, everything seems to work on the hearse. And simultaneously nothing is working on the hearse. And I don't know how they're doing it at the same time. So they need to work that out. It has been very up and down for the first five races. They need to make sure they get that sorted for 2026.

And I think they should be one of these teams that realistically doesn't give this season any more focus. Okay, we're going to take our second break on this episode. That's six teams down in. terms of three-word summaries, the other four teams coming up right after this. Hey, welcome back. Let's move on to Aston Martin. Harry, three words. It's almost 2026. It's not almost enough if you're Fernando. Let me just check the calendar. April. It is for Fernando. He celebrated New Year's Eve 2024 and then he's turned off with the

nomination. And then it'll wake up first of Jan, 26. Funny enough, that speaks very closely to my three words, which are cry genetically free. is a longso. Very similar. Yeah, yeah, very similar, actually. I reckon we're almost on the same way. I pronounced it slightly differently compared to Harry, but I couldn't so much difference.

Yeah. I've gone with Ban Nui-Wi watching. Oh, ban. Ban. Ban, and Nui watching. Bang! That's like, that doesn't make sense. Yeah, Barry Scott is actually going to make a surprise appearance.

Oh, my God, I'm a freak of Barry Scott. Can you imagine if you walk through that door, right? Oh, Lord, that would be wonderful. It'd be straight through it. It doesn't use doors. Pang. Through the wall. Yeah.

I've gone with Ban, with no G on the end. Newey watching because he's just going to be too tempted to try and fix this car. Don't try and fix his car, Adrian. It's doomed. Move on to next year. Have you seen any pictures of him outside of the factory since he signed? That man. He's not outside the factory.

Exactly. There was when he was announced and then, like yesterday, when they pitched him, of the Fernando. He's underground now. His wife is like putting up posters around the town. Like, have you seen this man? Adrian Nui missing. Around the country's not.

I feel like she should know where to look. It's pretty nice, obvious place. She's like, see you in about 11 months time. Yeah, but bye now. Bye-bye. So yeah, don't just don't let him watch the current races because there's just no point trying to fix it. They've got 10 points.

I've got no idea how. And neither does Lance stroll. Who's got all 10? of them. Yeah, that's the most confusing part of this. I mean, fair play to him. He was just there in Australia, and I appreciate that because many drivers, including his teammate, weren't there.

And then he somehow picks up two points in China based on a couple of disqualifications. Thanks, Ferrari. Yeah, I'm not sure how they've got 10 points. They've probably had the pace to have none. Fair play to Alonzo, who's been able to just ragdoll the car into Q2 every weekend and then go, yep, that's it. I ain't got any more than that for the day. Yeah.

I don't know. They were touting in preseason that this car was going to be more predictable and in that sense, I guess they were right. Unfortunately, it's just predictably slow. More driveability. Yeah. Good stuff.

Yeah. That is what cars typically need. You know what? Fernando Alonzo is probably loving the fact that the car is more drivable. Yeah. So yeah. Ban new we watching.

Harry? Yeah, it's almost 2036. Is it? Yeah, it's going to have to be. This year is a complete write-off for them. If they haven't already pivot, I don't think they even... Did they bother starting? Yeah, they haven't started.

There's no need to pivot. The pivot came in the end of 2024. So I think they've all accepted their fate. It's going to be a bit of a tough year all round. But as we've joked about and said already, the no life behind Fernando Alonzo's eyes in every interview he's doing in the moment, just suggest that he doesn't care.

And just turned off for next year. You know, he went to, you know, the photos of him with Adrianne, he just went to check. He's still there. Is that, oh, good. You haven't run away. It wasn't a dream. Thank God. It wasn't a dream.

So, yeah, that's, you know, I know it's terrible for them in terms of the performance so far, but there's just, there was no way, even if they were slightly good. I think there was no way they were really going to do much this year. I think that sounds weird, but it's almost a good thing. that Williams have been this good because I think whereas Williams may now now be pivoting. Yeah, there's nothing to chase. What are you going to catch, Haas?

Whatever, it doesn't matter. So, yeah, I think that is in itself is kind of a good thing, but it's all on next year. And you've gone scientific with your answer. Surprisingly. Fanio Alonso is your main guy. They need to keep him at least a bit happy. And he needs to see more results off track than he does

on track. I don't think it matters at all. If you were to say to Fanio-Lon-Lon-Sah, you're getting a finish 20th place, every single race the rest of the season. But each month, we will show you really solid development where that car is improving and improving and we think going into the new generation, you'll have a car that can fight. Now we can fight. Now we can fight. That's what he is. Seven years ago, that was said.

Yeah, I know. And that man is still waiting. He's sat in the changing room with a little sword and a shield going, I'm ready. When do I fight? Now, Fernando. Sub me and boss. They just need to keep him as happy as they can until. the new year rolls around, basically.

The years are right off. We've seen how poor they've been. They have been arguably the second, if not least, lowest car at some racetrack. So the pair of them are actually doing a semi-decent job. It's a horror show at Askin Martin, the decline that they've seen.

They need to hope that they can get it together for 26. I think one of the worst things that almost happened to them. I know obviously there should be more, but it's been, the aim has been 26 for ages. How good 20-23 was. Yeah, you should, like that's really not hurt them, because obviously it was good,

but I think the expectation is up there now, but the performance isn't. Indeed. But yeah, sorry, Aston Martin. It's not 2026 yet, but it's nearly there. Almost there. V-carb, racing bulls, Menardi. Three words, Sam.

Three big booms. I'm so nearly where we're three big booms. Yeah, easy one for me. Harry, I've gone for some big booms. I'm so glad. I didn't and I'm going for something related to big booms. I went with Toughest to Predict. Sam, three big booms.

Toughest to boom! Everyone lost big booms. Hadjah's a star. He's a little star. A star. Has star. The reason. No, I don't like that. No, terrible, isn't it?

That's like, McGring. Anyway. You've seen the blame. On board. Could they not have done an onboard where the guy doesn't lose? That's not going over the chicanicraxed to a wall. Who releases that out? Whilst it to our new car, here it is crashing to a wall.

Would you like to buy one? Someone watches it and... That's the one. Signed on. Take seven. That's it. Maybe that's the best one living there all day. Anyway, really looking forward to that.

Oh, God. Sorry to my front of driving stuff to put their life at risk every corner of that race track. Hadjar is a star. He has really wowed me. He's done the far best thing I thought it was. I love his emotional commitment to the sports. I love how much he cares about it every single time. He's geled immediately.

And he had that shocker, obviously, in Australia where he crashed in the formation lap. And that is so difficult to take for anyone. But your first ever Grand Prix, where you realize your dream and it gets shattered by your own doing, that is heartbreaking. But he's bounced back so brilliantly. Pace is electric. Really, really pleased. The second seat's a problem. And because they're part of Red Bull, they are constantly under this watchful eye.

Imagine Sauron's big eye, but it's. It's Helmut Marco's big eye. Oh, do I have to? I want to imagine that. That's hell. That is the Helmut Marco issue with the racing balls. They have a second seat problem. They can't because it's going to get into the points.

And because they're a feeder team into the sister team, of course, of Red Bull, it's very hard to them to kind of go, we're going to focus on 26, so we can be really, really successful because they're always being led by someone else. So it's really tricky to go, what is they should or shouldn't be doing, rather than just playing follow the leader for their big sister team. Harry, some big books. Yeah, for the situation that that team has been put in, for the start of this year specifically,

I actually think they've done quite a good job. Because if you think about Hajar being a rookie, and I agree he's been very impressive, Australia aside, I think he has been really impressive. But they've got to, you know, look after that rookie in his first few races, get him up to speed. then your other experienced driver gets taken away after two races. And then you get the one back that you had last year that also has been very terrible this year in his first two races.

And I think they're doing a relatively good job, give it. That's just that that's not a good scenario for a team to be in. And the worst part is it's just, as you've already mentioned, it's not even in their control. They're not even making this their own problem. So yeah, it was frustrating when they forgot how to do any strategy in the first few races. but they had a lot going on. Bless them. Lauren Mekke's had a lot to do, lots of deal with. So yeah, that's why I've said some big booms.

I think there's been some definitely some highlights, Isaac Hadra being one of them. Lawson, as we've said, he had his most impressive, not impressive. He's had his best race so far in Saudi. Hopefully that points to some confidence being regained. And if so, if he can get closer and closer to where Hadjar is performing, then they could have a decent rest of the year.

so I want it to be three big booms by the end of the year, please. Think up. I've gone with toughest to predict because they're currently eighth on eight points exactly. I could see them finishing fifth this year because every team in front of them should in theory direct attention to 2026 before them. I could see them finishing fifth, even if I don't think it's likely. I could also see them finishing ninth. I could see Al P and catching. in catch and so I don't know where this team.

is going to end up this year. And also because within the two seats, you've got a guy who's done five races and a guy that's done three races for this team this year. Like how they're going to fare is a bit of a guessing game. Hadjar has done very well to this point, particularly in qualifying, the fact that he's had no Q1 eliminations. His 14th place start at Saudi last week, that's his worst qualifying performance of the season so far, which is good going for. a rookie. And perhaps most encouragingly is the two Q3 appearances he's had, he's started seventh in both of those races. He's not just got through to Q3. He's actually taken advantage of it when he's got there. If he'd started P10, like, you'd have gone great, good effort,

but he's gone even beyond that. Lawson, who knows, we've only had, to be fair to him, it's been three races, but it's been one continuous three races. He hasn't had a weak break between any of them. So it will be interesting to see how he comes back a bit more refreshed in Miami. Encouragingly, of those three races, I think the second was better than the first and the third was better than the second. So there could be something in there. We saw he was relatively competitive with Sonoda when he was there.

So it could be a lineup that's good enough to see this team finish higher than where it is at the moment. But again, it's no guarantees like I could see fifth to ninth. I could see them finishing anywhere. And also, what does it matter? That's also a problem. What does it matter for them? Alpine are up next.

They are currently ninth in the championship. They're actually level with Salber on six points, but they've got ahead on a tie break, so well done Alpine. Harry, three words? Unsure if good. Valid, Sam. Gassley's doing it.

Valid. I've gone with Ferrari's little brother. No, nice of me, Alpine. I'm not convinced. I think it might be Ferrari. So they're the Ferrari in the midfield. That's the problem. In the promise, but no results.

You're unsure if they're good. Yeah. Same thing. It's just like there's something in there that's better than ninth. It's brewing. But it's not there yet. Ketals were sat on for... It was there in Bahrain and Bahrain only in the same way it was there for China for Ferrari.

It could have been there in Jeddah. It could have been there in Jeddah. And I think they were... If you go back to like China and Japan, they were really struggling qualifying that car, particularly in China because there were two qualifying sessions there. And they were knocked out in Q1, both drivers, both times. And of course, in Japan, qualifying was pretty important.

But the last few races, Gazley's qualifying performance, at least in Saudi Arabia, and his race performance in Bahrain have been much, much better. I think they won't be known for long. If they can take advantage of what that car is actually capable of, I think they will get closer to sixth and fifth in that discussion. The question is going to be whether they've left themselves. I know it's early, but have they left themselves a bit too much to do? Williams have already got a bit of an advantage over them.

So if they're fairly level for the rest of this season, remains to be seen. Maybe these first five races will be the difference. But they're just Ferrari, just not as good, which is saying something. Samuel, three words were? Gasly's doing it. Did you get it? Yeah. It's good that one, right?

Because Jack Dewin is the other driver. There you go. At time of recording. Yeah, gasoline's form for the first five races is P11, disqualification. P13, P7, did not finish. It is so... Oh, he's doing it. Where are you?

Points! Nothing. It's so confusing. It's so up and down. It's so topsy-turvy. But he's got the... all pace. I think he is making the most out of what that Alping is able to give right now. And it's, it's like Mercedes a couple of years ago. It seems to really do well under incredibly

specific circumstances. And Gasri has the talent to extract that in those specific circumstances. The problem is doing this teammate. Now, I really want to give Jack doing the benefit of the doubt. He's having some glimmers, some moments of some really good ability. Australia not great. he wasn't very good in Jeddah. He's a bit better in Bahrain. Probably his best performance overall in Bahrain and it started to slip back right at the end. He's very penalty prone,

which isn't great when you're playing with drivers so close together where points may be on or off. And all of a sudden, he's finishing regularly 15, 16, 17th. It's not enough. It's not good enough because if something happens like it did in Jeter

to Gassi where he's taking out on the first lap, the car should be going off to challenge your points and he just hasn't got it to turn it around for them. And that's the problem. Alpine. have been and still are fighting with one hand behind their back. And I think there's a risk that they don't know their own commitment to what's coming up in Formula One. We know they've just taken Mercedes engines and gearboxes.

We don't know if they're planning on selling, if they're going to become their own team properly again, if they're going to just stay as a customer team now, which is all for a team that could be its own constructor and manufacturer. They're in a world of confusion and they can't seem to get anything right on track either. So Gass is doing it. No one else is. Speaking of not doing it, Salba, their last up. Three words, Sam.

Three words for Salba are driving death trap. Similar to mine, I've gone for terrorism in green. Nice. Harry? I just said such a toaster. Yeah. Such a toast. I don't think anything's needed beyond the three words,

but we'll give you a little bit. It's a death trap, Sam. Yeah, every time they even could. to qualify around the others. And Holgerberg, especially, has done it a few times where he's being at the end of Q1, you know, that 16th, 17th place. You know, if something goes the right way, you could find... Bortoloso had a couple of Q2s.

Borsalesso's done okay as well. And he's trying really, I'll bless him. As a rookie, who is a current F2 champion, he has impressed me in a car where you can almost never tell if you're actually doing a good job or not. But the first lap, watching them on board is generally like watching a diver swim into the mouth of a great white shark and you're like, but really slowly. Really slowly. Like me doing breaststroke in the ocean.

Like, oh, God, this is a lot of times. It's really, cruel, mate. Oh, whatever, mate. It's really gnecoring. The shark's coming. It's going to get me. Oh, just missed me this one time. They could die at any point.

I wish that upon no one. So I hope that they can find some safety soon. It's an absolute banging analogies from you today. We're in together. We're in the studio. The mood's high. I've got a cold brew over here. You're not allowed to drink.

You can't drink. It's too much noise on the microphone. It's just a brew now. It's been here for so long. It's just water. It is a liquid. It's gone back to its original coffee bean. Harry, such a toaster.

I mean, yeah. It's more of a toaster than last year, which I thought was physically impossible. It's actually one of those four-slice toasters now rather than a two-old. I thought we're going to have a home. Oh, yes. They are great.

held as a team of six points and that flattered them. You've done so well, sweetie. For having other two slots of toast. Yeah, they are just, it's a terrible, terrible car. And Nika Hockenberg must be praying every day. The Audi are good. Jonathan Wheatley's there like, whew-W-WRaw.

He's more of that Vosper and Durch technique. He does. Yeah. What else do you say? There isn't much else. terrible. It's literally a toaster would... A four-slice toaster would be better, actually. You know what? Do you want,

to toasters are good for? What's that? What's that? They are so good for across spines. And you could do two at a time with a four- You know what? I had one this morning. Did you really? Yeah. Anyway, sorry. No, no, I should have expected that answer. I had a Greg's.

Do you know what? Sausies being cheese, mailed. It was a heck sausage. I don't know. Third mention for heck sausage. You are not sponsored if you're listening. It's a read ad. I would take it.

Toasters generally. Oh, we're back to this. Heat. Yeah. Which they need. They desperately, because those tyres are the coldest thing known to mankind. Yeah. How do they lap one every time not look like they can go through a corner?

I just don't understand. To lap one restarts, Salber just, and we've already spoken about how important qualifying is this year. And you might have Bortlett again. get a 15th place or Holkberg a 14th place in qualifying. If they're losing four places off the start, they might as well have just been knocked down in Q1, save yourself a set of tyres that won't warm up anyway. He's like giving a to toddler ice skates and telling them to do a pirouette, isn't it?

Has anyone told them that they can put tyre warmers on? Do you think they've forgotten? I think that they are racing an Indy car. They don't know. Putting the tyres in the driver's ice baths and getting it wrong. Yeah. Good job, Tyre. Now.

Good job, Ty. Annoyingly, I actually think they are a bit quicker than what they were last year. I think the car is okay. I think it's the slowest, but I don't think it's like on pure pace that much the slowest. I think it can compete with Hassan Asthmann. It does feel very early on as well in the season that every team has scored points. Like this is unusually early that one is that close at the back. It's not just one point either.

They have multiple. Six points. Do you know who would actually like driving that Sabre this year? Who is that, man? who. Badger-Bottas. Because he loves cold tires. That's why he loves Russia. Apart from Turkey.

Apart from Turkey. He was always excellent on like cold-d-air. Did he do more spings or laps at Turkey? Spins. It's close, yeah. Well, that's our three-word summaries for all 10 teams. Let us know what your three-word summaries are for all of the teams and see if you can be even cleverer and witter than us.

That is gone so badly. Nice. The irony of that statement. Can you be more clever? Can you be more witterer? That's not the end of the episode, though, because after this short break, it's time for Formula Fortunes. Welcome back, everyone. It's time for Formula Fortunes.

Eight questions. We've got the whiteboards out here. So you get a number of points depending on your answer to each of these questions. We have surveyed our Discord members, and just over 150 people came back and answered. More people get involved. That's pathetic. Feels right, but... No.

Okay. It's pathetic. Boycott the game, we're not doing it. I think they only ask 100 people in the actual game. Well, we're better than the real game. We asked them eight questions, and it's the job of you both to work out what the top answer was for each question. If you manage to pick out the top answer, you will get four points.

If you get the second most popular answer, you'll get three, and then two points for the third most popular answer, and you'll get one point if you get the fourth most popular answer. So we'll start with the first question on last time we played. this was who's the most underrated driver on the grid. Today, who is the most overrated driver on the current grid? And again, you're trying to guess what the people are saying, not necessarily what your own opinion is.

Oh, that is tricky. I haven't got to do any big sitting numbers this time. No, you don't. Okay. Before we go going on any... I'd like to say this isn't what I think. Yes, that needs to be... Agreed.

The opinions of our Discord members are not necessarily our opinions. Very much not what I think. Views are my own. Sam, your answer. Louis Hamilton. Louis Hamilton. Harry, your answer. Louis Hamilton.

Okay. I think it's going to be a drawer after this question. So for one point, 12 votes, Liam Lawson. Really? Okay. I'm going to say he's overrated. 13 votes.

Would have got you two points. Lanch stroll. I consider it stroll. Do people not know what overrated means? And unbelievably, top two answers separated by just one vote. Oh, my Lord. 42 votes, three points, Lando Norris. That would be my other answer.

And then 43 votes, four points for Lewis Hamilton. We know you hate him. We know you hate him. Which, if I do the maths correctly, for all, for all, yeah. Nice. I like that. I started really badly last time, so this is good. Okay. Question number two. The two current F1 drivers that you'd most like to see is teammates. They could have been teammates in the past as well. Are they, and they're not teammates now? They could in theory be teammates now, I guess, but.

I'm going to go by that. That's not happening. They're not. They're on the grid, sorry. On the grid now. There's a lot of options here. You know what? There were, I didn't write down. how many different combinations were answered, but it was a lot. Yeah. I will say as well, this one is close. Yeah, I don't.

There were a lot of close answers. So I go down the route of they're doing it to take the Mickey or are people actually going to answer seriously? No, I'm committed. All right, I've also. All right. Harry, your answer?

Fernando and Max. Sam, your answer? Russell and Max. Oh, okay. The good news is you needed Vastappen in the answer to get any points on this. The top four answers all include Max Vastan. That makes sense.

By the way, shout out to the one person who put Antonelli and Sonoda, because I really want to see it. I really want to see it. I just like the development. That's a good combo. For one point, 14 votes, Vastapin and Alonzo. Oh, my God.

Two points, 18 votes. Vastapen and LeCler. Fair. for three points, 19 votes, Vastappan and Piastri, and then the top answer, 20 votes.

Vastappan and George Russell. Yes! Show me what you're good. Vastappan and Norris did not get that many votes. That's surprising. I really thought that was going to be on the list. I was also annoyed that Hamilton and Alonzo

didn't have more votes because I want to see that. I was playing each other all year. We know where that goes. That's the thing, see. That's true. Okay. So Sam, perfect. Eight out of eight so far.

Eight five up. Question number three. Who is the best current team principle? I'll stop doing that with the microphone next. Yeah, sorry. He's disappointed. The biggest nod of all time. I'll change apart.

Should have said this at the start as well, but play along at home. See how many points you'll get compared to these two. All right. Sam, what have you got? Daddy Valves. Daddy Valz. Harry? Padre Valz.

Padre Valz. Okay. For one point, you could have had Ayokamatsu. Yeah, let him cook. Two points. Toto Wolf. Big Hans. Camatsu, 22 votes.

Toto Wolf, 22 votes. VHC. Three points. Andrea Stella, 23 points. He's a stellar man. but a runaway winner on this one. 53 votes in all of the different ways you can say his name, including James Jimmy, James A-E-I-O-U, Daddy Vowls.

I added them all together, folks. It came to 53 votes for James Vowse, yeah. Come on. Dadda. No. No. No. All right.

129 to 16. Sam, as we go to question number four. Name a track that you'd like on the calendar that is not on the 2025 calendar. Oh, that's a lot of options. Oh, you've stumped me. Remember the audience. Yep, that's the one rule of this game, pretty much.

It's the rule of podcasting, to be honest. Always remember the audience. Should we actually adopt that now? Yeah, sure. Sam's ignoring it. Sam's doing it. over there. Is he drawing the circuit? Really bad, me.

What are you doing? I'm ready to go. Okay. Harry, you're answering that circuit. I've got to Turkey. Sam? Indy. That's the oval.

It's got four corners in there for this. That's just one. If that was the actual circuit, the Indy 500 would take a lot longer than one. It does. You wouldn't be it in top speeds very often. In Yungapolis. Just constantly turning.

Okay, for 1.12 votes, Kailami. Oh gosh, all right. I feel like I've gone down the wrong route here. I may have also. Two points. Nürbergering. 17 votes. Fair option.

Three points. Sapang. 18 votes. And the top answer with 24 votes. Hock and Oh. Wow, we're a zero-zero. Zero, zero. I will say Indianapolis was the fifth most popular answer, so you were just outside. A few people said Istanbul, but I was surprised they didn't get more. Did you write Turkey, or did you write Istanbul? Turkey? How do you spell turkey? It was curious. Oh, I spelled it the old play.

Is he supposed to spell it? Literally irrelevant conversation. Y.E. Turkey, yeah. Turkey, yeah. Turkey, yeah. What you're for Christmas thing? Turkey. Turkey. Turkey. Turkey. All right. That's not funny. The points have not changed. It's still 12-line. Question number five, who would you most trust of the current grid

to be your bodyguard? It's non-appropriate. To be fair, I think one or two people did say none. Who would the Discord trust to be their bodyguard? Who's an absolute union? Yeah, see, that's a different number. No one's a unit in F-on because they're all drivers. Boom.

Boom. Isaac had a lot of time. Okay. All right. What have you got? Sam. La Claire. Harry.

Alonzo Big Neck. That's no big neck. Is that a specific version? Yeah. The Big Net version. I've gone LeCler because he chased down those criminals to get his watchback. Oh, yeah. That's a pretty good point.

One point of 13 votes. Yuki Sonoda. Grow up, everyone. He used to grow up. Well, exactly. Two points, 24 votes, Max Verstappen. He just talked you about cats. Three points, 29 votes.

I might have gone for this person, actually. Nika Holcomburg. Oh yeah, true. But 38 votes, four points. Go to the neck himself, Fernando Alonso. He's taken the lead. The neck. Which means Harry has taken the lead,

but by just one point, 13, 12, going into the last three questions. three more. Oh, God, it goes on forever. Question six. Which circuit should hold a one-off night race? The moon. Night?

On the current grid. We still? On the current calendar. On the current calendar, one-off night race. Ooh. Hey. Oh. Ooh.

Oh. I don't know. What'll be a good night race. I don't think they thought that through like that No Harry your answer Monaco Sam your answer

Silverstone I think of Silverstone but I think Monica's a great shout That was my other option 1.10 votes Baku No Street circuits make sense though

Just be carnage Two points 11 votes for Austin I would see that I think at least a couple of people Just put A couple of people just put Austin, it's really hot.

Was it us? Did we answer? Yeah, my own. Three points, 23 votes. Attempt to shake this race up, maybe. Miami.

Party in the city with the heat is on. But... Would that be on? That'd be terrible. True. Overwhelming winner on this one, though. I swear if it's already going on.

61 votes for Monaco. Oh, I'm dead in the water. Sam, you're washed. Hold on. Let me just draw on myself. he should never have given him a whiteboard. It was a bad idea. I'm in the water.

Dead. Sorry, is that water? I'm like, it's a puddle. But for you're lying next to the puddle. I'm dead in the water. Can you just push me in the water so I'm actually in there? Wait, my hour, he used to roll with you. Right.

Question number seven. Of the current drivers, who would be the best podcast guest, late-breaking podcast guest specifically. Good Lord. Oh. Oh, that's really stumped me, actually. Best podcast guest. For late-breaking.

For lane-breaking. Hmm. Close one as well. Again, not much to separate some of these top answers. Any of them, you're all welcome. True. All right. Sam, your answer. George.

Yeah, George. That's good news for you, Harry, because at five points between you. That means you can't be being now. Okay, one point. Kimmy Antoneli. Oh, he is. He was furious. He always didn't know how to get to the microphone.

Again, a few people as part of their answer just said, Kimmy Antonelli, but all throughout the interview, the guys think he's Lewis Hamilton. So good. So, Louis. How was it when you won your final title? No. No, no. It's not Louis.

It's me. Why did you move to Ferrari? Oh, God. Two points, 18 votes, George Russell. Nice. 19 votes, three points. Yuki Sonoda. The top answer, 20 votes.

Alex Albon. Angry Albon. Be furious about it. I'd like him to hate us the whole time. And the final question. What has been the moment of the season so far? Who are we asking? Oh, my God.

That's the problem. well you fucking so quick well because I this I think it's impossible so I'm just going to go with mine no I can't I can't go out oh there's so many there's too many

the paint sign oh I thought that was nothing on it I haven't got it on there um god it's awfully written okay okay Sam your answer

Oscar's overtake on Lewis Harry must be the water which one I'm not saying you can tell me my friend he's over taking him a couple of times

yeah I'm going I was going for the Australia one personally which means you get one point because eight votes Piastri's overtake on Hamilton at Australia for 10 votes

two points Hamilton sprint win at China 18 votes three points Vestappen's pole lap at Suzuki. Yeah, I should I put that in

but the number one answer, 24 votes, it must be. Oh, God. You're all a bunch of jokers. Which means

Harry, you win, well done. I can't be very happy anymore. Just, that's it, done.

I'm done for the day. Got another thing after this we've got to do. So I was going to sit with his beer beer of me like. I'm really sad.

I hate losing so much. I don't think you guys can know how much it irks me to lose. And I take it on the ching every episode. Sure, we're going to have to pay Kirstie to just do the first three questions.

You know, there was a little part of me inside. I'm too far ahead. I'm like, I don't get a wing. Ruin the... He's toast. I finally got him, yeah, getting a toast to Mr. Salmover. We've been demolished in the last three. We'll be back on Wednesday for a preview episode where we're going to Miami, apart from

we're not. Obviously, we were. If you wouldn't mind getting us out of him. My favourite part that you need to look forward to for the Miami previews, review is watching these two lose their freaking minds over a Ferrari special livery because it's gone be terrible. No, it's fine. They haven't had one so well this year.

They're allowed ones. I think they've got a thousand HPs on it. It's just, yeah, it's just the logo. So many logos. It's just the logo. Yeah, please tune back in midweek where we will talk about everything going on with the Miami GP who might wing, bold predictions. We hear from you guys who are on the Discord as well.

You can join out the links in the description. If you'll hear more content, then there's a link down there as well for Patreon. And Patreon allows you to get loads of extra content, everything's ad-free. There's videos on there of us doing all of our content as well. So if you think, oh, I'd like to see what these guys do or get up to while we're actually creating the content, and we're about to do beer breaking in this lovely studio, and you can watch it and not just listen to it on there as well. Birthday shoutouts are also a big old thing that happen if you're in the top tier and you happen to be in your month. So you can sing us that as well.

Follow us on social media late breaking F1. Follow us on YouTube. I think we're almost 8K, which is not 10. but it's getting there. And we'll see you midweek in the meantime. I've been Samuel Sage. I've been Ben Hocking.

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