The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Top 10 F1 Drivers of the Decade

Episode Date: January 15, 2020

Ben, Sam and Harry are debating the top 10 drivers of the last decade and naturally there are some disagreements! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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We have got a packed show for you. today, some really enjoyable topics that we're going to get stuck into. We're going to be talking about Lewis Hamilton in 2020 and who we think he has to be most worried about as he goes on his quest for seven world championships. We're also going to be looking at Mercedes further ahead. Now that Red Bull and Ferrari have locked in their future, do Mercedes need to act? Do they need to find their next guy? But first, slightly controversial topic, we've looked back 2010 to 2019.

I'm sure you've seen it in a few other places, various lists going around. We have done our top 10 drivers of the decade. Some interesting results. We've actually all got the same 10 drivers, but very different orders that they have come in. So I think we'll just announce each other's. Sam, so I'm going to announce your one. So you have got Hamilton first, which is correct. You can probably guess who I've gone for is number one now.

Vettel number two, Fernando Alonzo, three, Vestappan, four, button five, Rosberg, all the way down at six, seven, Ricardo, eight, Reichen and Perez nine, Bottas, 10. Big up, big up. I think it's a solid list. I actually think that is the best list of the three, obviously. Everything passed maybe Button, oh, until Bottas.

I don't have a lot of justification for, so we'll fake it until we make it, but I have got some actual reasons for a lot of these drivers. So I'm hoping that I don't sound like too much of a dim wits like I usually do. And I've actually got some valid points to make. Yeah, so listing out to the other guys as well, that was my list. The list does differ for a couple other individuals. Then should we discuss one quickly and then run through yours and Harry's?

Or would you like to hit all the other lists first? Well, let's hit all the other lists. See where they differ. Well, let me rig out Harry's list. Yeah, go ahead. Right. So Harry has already been controversial. In first place, he has Fangando a long.

also, which is Babanta. She's apparently Bibabanta. Second place is Louis Ameltan. Third place, Sebastian Vessel. Interesting.

Fourth place, Nicco Rosberg. Higher than fifth, button, because that's how numbers work. Sixth place is Ricardo. Seventh is Perez. Far, far, far, far down the list. Eight is Vastappen.

And ninth, Bottas, with the final one rounding off, the Fingster himself, 10, Kimi Reikinen. Interesting list. Differs quite a bit from mine. I got I got nothing to say, lads.

The list speaks for itself. That's the title of this episode. The list is the list. Okay, so I'm going to read that Ben's now, haven't I? Even though it's obviously wrong. Yes, it's obviously wrong because you put Lewis Hamilton at number one, when it should be Fernando Alonzo. There's two one on that.

Ben's got Lewis Hamilton as the best. best driver of the 2010s. Seby Vett comes in a strong second place, followed by Fernando Alonzo. Nico Rosberg is once again in fourth, and Jensen Button is once again in fifth. And then, oh, Ricardo's in sick. And then this is where it varies from mine.

Verstappan is in seventh, ahead of Walter Bottas. Sergio Checo Perez is in ninth, and then the Kimster... Then the Kimster is in 10th place. So, there you go. There's all three of our lists. Looking at a few things that differ. I mean, the obvious one is that we haven't agreed on who the best driver of the 2010s is. Me and Sam, agreeing with Sam, is never usually a good sign. But I feel confident about this that Lewis Hamilton is the best driver of the 2010s. But of course, Harry, you thought it was Fernando Alonzo. And not saying you're wrong, but explain why I'm wrong. I'm not wrong. Go on?

Look, the championships may not reflect what the skill of the drivers are. And I truly think that Fernando Alonso is a better driver than Lewis Hamilton. Maybe not the quicker of the two, but just the all-round better driver. And even though Hamilton has gone on to win six world championships, I still think in the 2010s, and I know Alonso didn't stay for all of the 2010s and Hamilton has. but in the 2010s, I still think Alonzo was the better driver. I'm just going to shout this out. There's been three world champions in the last decade.

A lot so isn't any of those. And Hamilton's won 50% of every championship that's happened from 2010 upwards. If you're based on who won the championship in the decade, he'd have Rosberg in third. And he's not. I mean, that's a fair point. It's a fair point. Definitely not.

Because he can already wigs through reliability issues. Oh, hell. Oh, Christ. Yeah, no, I just don't think it... Look, it's a tough one. I can't deny. I thought about it for at least 30 seconds. It's a long time for you.

It's a long time for me. No, but I just think along... Even though he... And through his own fault, through his own decisions, he didn't win as many titles. but I still think he was the better driver throughout the decade. So I'm sticking with my guns. You're wrong.

Bite me. And in fairness, I mean, I obviously haven't got Alonzo number one. There are arguments for Fernando Alonzo. That 2012 season by itself has to give him, you know, big points on that one. And if you exclude the season in which he lost to Jensen Button, which in that awful McLaren, he beat every other teammate in every other season. So he did have a fantastic decade. It's not quite enough for me to put him ahead of a four-time champ

and a five-time champ in the decade. But, yeah, I can understand why you've gone for him. Disclaim more once again, folks, this is all within the decade. So those jump into, oh, Hamilton beat him. Remember, it's outside the decade, everyone. It's just from 2010. We're not in the noughties anymore now, kids. Come on, come on.

so i mean sam you obviously went for lewis hamilton you've explained a few of the reasons already but if you want to expand on that what why did you pick hamilton ahead of not only alonzo but sebastian well the obvious uh point to make is the amount of records he's broken already this decade he has cleverly been able to move from one successful team to another which i show which i think shows intelligence on and off track he understands the ability to grow a team to build a team around him and become that entire all-encompassing driver. He's the only man to win a race in every single season he's ever competing in, which obviously expands every single season of this current decade.

Impressive stuff as it is. He's going to be pretty much every single Shumi record going. There's about two left now, I think. Again, incredibly impressive. He lost out to one teammate in Mercedes, the Nico Rosberg year. It was pretty damn close. and the two or three races he lost out were not caused by his own driving ability. They were caused by more retirements, which he had several more of than Rosberg that year,

as is described by the no, no, no, from Malaysia, whereas engine blew up and that was the moment that it all went kaput for him, as his engine. I think realistically, that man has gotten better every single season, year after year. I mean, we thought he were great in 2014, 2015, 2016. I think he's twice as good now. than he was two, three years ago. He is, and I'm going to go out and say it, I think he's the best Formula One driver of all time.

So for him to have a long-so in front of him, when he doesn't wing a race for God Goes Hour Long, he got beaten by buttoning in a mediocre car. To me, it can't be the best in a decade. You're off your bean, mate. You know what you're talking about? Official verdict, Jim, Harry. Hang on a minute.

I've just stepped off my bean. Honestly. I thought you might actually have a valid point to make, but clearly not. Clearly not. I'm going to stick up for Sebastian Vettel here because even though I haven't got Sebastian Vettel as number one, I actually think it's really close between Hamilton and Vettel. And for many of the reasons that you gave Sam, I have put Hamilton first, but it hasn't been plain sailing.

Hamilton has one thing that separates him from Sebastian Vettel, and that is that he did let a teammate win a championship. Vettel did not. Fernando Alonzo did not. Hamilton did. And I think that's a big blemish on his record. And Vettel, I think for those who have maybe got into Formula One in the second half of the decade, won't quite understand why it is as close as I think it is. But that first half of the decade, Vettel was brilliant. His 2013 season might be the most impressive year of anyone in the decade. In my opinion, I think this 2013 might be the best. And to be honest, I think second would probably be Alonzo's 2012. So Hamilton isn't thirst in that respect in my eyes. Vettel, I think the two things that go against him and the two reasons I don't

have in number one are firstly, he lost to two guys that were in their first year in the team, two quite young guys in Ricardo and Leclair. Hamilton, even though he did also lose two times against teammates. They were against a world champion Jensen Button and a becoming world champion in Nico Rosberg. And the other thing is the two of them, up until the last few years, we haven't really seen them

go into combat much. They've managed to avoid each other's best points. But when they went up against each other, and I do like Vettel, so it does, I don't like to say it, but he folded. He folded like a deck chair. And Lewis Hamilton,

Yeah, I know right, great analogy. But Lewis Hamilton, he stayed calm and he delivered performances where Vettel made errors, cost of the errors that cost of the championship. So that's why I've got Hamilton ahead of Vettel. But like I say, I don't think it's, I don't think it's easy as perhaps you think it is. My final point on that, and I completely agree with what you're saying, then, is if you're going to look at teammates and who they're beaten by, you'll notice that we all have Rosberg on our top 10,

but none of us had Mark Weber in our top 10. So I think that also tells you the competition difference that Hamilton went up against as to what Vetter went up against when they were fighting for those titles. So again, I think that's why Hamilton managed to beat Rosberg X amount of times. I think it's a big easier for Vessel to beat Weber. Yeah. And I mean, that will be a discussion as well, guys that we have left off our lists

because we've all got the same people on the list just in a different order. There hasn't been any room for Mark Weber, who did only race four years in the decade. and Nika Holkenberg, of course, it's not on there either, maybe a few other names that people would like to dispute. The next point I wanted to get onto was Max Verstappen, because that might be the biggest variation between what we've come up with. I think I'm kind of the middle ground.

I've gone with him in seventh. But Sam, you have him in fourth, whereas Harry has him in eighth place, so there's quite a bit of difference. What, Sam, going to you first, what do you think gives Vastappen the edge over the likes of Jensen Button and Niko Rosberg? I think despite him not being a champion, obviously, the likes of Button was given a championship-winning car in that Braun.

And we all love the Braun. As you can see from the colours of LB, we are very Braun-related fans. And we all love Button, massively. But that was a championship-winning car from day one. Half of that season was dominated by Button and Braun. Nico Rosberg was also in a car that was above and beyond the rest of the grid. It was excessively good in comparison to the rest of the grid. And that championship was entirely between Hamilton and Rosberg, full stop.

No one else could touch him. In the terms of Rosberg's career previous to Mercedes, it was good. Not great. Yeah? Consistent, strong. Good driver. Now, if he never went to Mercedes, I don't think he'd be on anyone's top 10. And then Button.

Again, fantastic driver. We've all got soft spots for him. He's British, up and coming. Fantastic. That first victory that you had in Hungary, you know, sticks with all of us. Incredible times. But again, not in the decade.

And we're talking about the decade. I think after his championship win, it was good. It wasn't incredible. Bastappen was great in Torooso, but he walks into that first race, that first race in Catalonia. Yes, the two were saying is taking each other out, but he holds off two world champions

for an entire race in a superior car that he has and wins his first race in the car. He goes on to have more race victories than I think Ricardo having a Red Bull across the decade. which is fantastic. His raw talent is incredible. His performance on a Saturday gets better and better and better. Yes, okay, he's a little bit rough around the edges. He calls a few incidents, but his ability, his ability in the wet at such a young age is astoundingly good. And I generally think he is the only

person currently who challenges Lewis Hamilton. We're getting onto that topic later on. So you're already know my argument about this. But for me, as a current driver on the grid, he's the only person that challenge is the best driver of all time. So for me, for Staphan, it's higher than Ricardo. If you're putting Ricardo above him, I think you've just got a soft spot for him. I love Ricardo, but I don't think he's a better driver currently in the decade. And I think realistically, Rossberg had one to two good seasons. And I think Button had two or three really good seasons. I think Max Verstaffin is having an incredible time in that Red Bull car and be consistently the best driver in the team and the second or third best driver every single season since he's going into that car.

So for me, it's an easy shout to put him in the top five. So, yeah, for Stappen 4. So one extreme to the other, because, Harry, you do have Daniel Ricardo ahead of Max Vastappen, as do I, as well as Button, Rosberg, and even Sergio Perez. So you've got him down in 8th. Why don't you think he's had as good a decade as Sam makes out? Just look, before the entirety of the Netherlands jumps into my throat, there's no doubting Vastappen's talent.

and I agree with Sam, I think he's the next challenger to Hamilton going forward. But looking back, and look, he's not been there very, in, we're looking at the decade, he's not been in the decade very long. He joined in 15, into Orosso, and then he was in the Red Bull and 16. And he's had some outstanding performances, but he's had some really inconsistent performances as well. And I think 2019 was by far away his most solid year. but even if we look back to 2018 the first half of that year was pretty rough

for him and then it picked up again and he sorted himself out so he's had some fantastic performances but not enough and not consistent enough to warrant his place further up the list and if you come to me in 10 years time we do this again

guarantee he's not going to be that far down the list like I have no doubt because he's you know 2019 he was he was on it and I think him and Hamilton and competed for Best Drive Royal 2019. So, yeah, but based on his time, it spent in the decade, I just don't think he was consistent enough

to beat the likes of Button and Rogsberg. I may regret putting him behind Perez now. I'm slightly... That is shocked me, actually. I didn't realize that you put Perez in front of the Stauffin. I mean... Okay. As someone who does really rape Perez,

and I didn't put him ahead of Verstappen. So that would... That might be a bold one from myself. But I have to say, for the most part, I agree with that. I have him seventh behind both Button and Daniel Ricardo. Jensen Button, okay, he won his World Championship the year before the decade started. Look at his performances in the 2010. He beat Fernando Alonzo, who, I mean, we've got either ranked third or first,

and he beat Lewis Hamilton in a season, who we've ranked either first or seven. second. So all of our choices for first have been beaten by Jensen Button in this decade. So I think that is enough to put Button up in the top five. And also he was Vettel's closest challenger in 2011 as well, where it wasn't that close. Vettel stormed away that year, but he was still the best of the rest. And I think Ricardo has been better than Vestappen this decade. If you think 2016, Ricardo beat Vastappen. 2017, Ricardo beat Vestappen. Vastappen, 2018 Vastappen meet Ricardo. Doing the maths, that's 2-1 to Ricardo, so I'm going to give that one to the Aussie.

And that's not even mentioning the fact that Daniel Ricardo walked into a team, and yes, this does have also to do with Vettel's downturn in performance. He beat a reigning four-time champion in a first season at a team. That is ridiculously impressive. And Vastappan, like you, Harry, if we do this in 10 years' time, no. doubt we actually will. He will be higher because he has so much talent. I don't think how well he drove in the 2019 season was enough to overcome the mistakes that he made in the few years prior and also the accomplishments of the guys ahead of him. I'm not trashing him in any way. I'm just saying

there are six drivers who were better this decade. That's still fairly impressive. I mean, this could be a really interesting point of discussion and down in the comments, please let us know. Button, Rosberg, the stab and who do you put on top of those three um i mean obviously i think butting is in all of our top five i have in fifth um but yeah the stab and the talking point there what do you guys think let us know yeah i think that might be the only one that we've all agreed on i think we've all got him in fifth place so well done jensen you have bought some sort of agreement between us that's that's classic j b if it's going to be anyone it would be It would be J.B. So moving on, Lewis Hamilton, 2020. Of course, he is looking for championship

number seven, but we're looking to see who might be the number one option to stop him. Who is, who should he be most worried about? Of course, he's got his own teammates worry about. He's also got the two Ferraris and the two Red Bulls, potentially anyone else if Harry gets brave and thinks Renaud are going to be brilliant again. Sorry, I had to bring it up. So the question is, Sam, I'll start with you. Who do you think Hamilton should be most worried about next year or this year? I mean, there's one option. It's Max Verstappen. He's just had the best season he's ever had in 2019. He was, I actually think, a closer challenger to Lewis Hamilton, the Bautry Bottas was, despite not having a good enough car. Charlotte Clough, I think, was a close third. I think Bottas was

the fourth best driver in 2019 out of that top group. No, I don't. I think Bette was better than way as Well, anyway, this isn't a sagging off of Botas match. This is about who was the closest to Hamilton. I think Herbert Marco has made quite a fair point in saying recently that Ferrari won't have the power advantage that they had last season. I think that's going to ring true. And because of that, I think Red Bull with their fantastic chassis as always, and Max Rastaffer with that pure talent that is just developing year after year after year are going

to be the closest challenges to Lewis Hamilton. I don't think Valtrey Bottas is going to be a challenger at all. I think this is going to be Bottas's last season in Mercedes. As you can see, in the top drivers of the decade, I only put him 10th, and he's had multiple race wings. So I do think Verstappen is going to be the man to go forward. I think he's going to have the bit between his teeth. And I hope, I hope Red Bull are closely up to Mercedes

that we see a bit of a showdown between the young the Stappan and the incredible old hand of Lewis Hamilton. For me, that will be a season to remember if it happens. Harry, do you think Hamilton should be most worried about Maxie Vestap? No, he should be worried about Goatstrel. Well, I mean, that was the obvious answer. Can you imagine if Goatstrel improves his qualifying? Everyone should be afraid of him.

The top 10 should be afraid of him off the line. I mean, if he can qualify in the top six, he'll be a minute ahead of everyone after the first lap. Oh, that seems. Look, what do you made the point earlier on? Vastappen is clearly the next challenger. but I'm going to throw Leclair in there as well, as long as the Ferrari is okay. Beavisthapin's the one he's looking most likely,

basing it on 2019, not the decade. He's got the talent, he's got the skills to take it to handle it. As we saw in Brazil, like that was a proper, have we ever seen a proper battle between them? That was full on, yeah, the gloves off. They were going for it, and it was great to see. And, I mean, on that occasion,

Vestappen did win out on top, but it's going to be interesting to see how they get on. So I'm laughing because Sam's cats just walked into the room. Is that Ian or Frank? This is Ian. Frank isn't allowed upstairs yet. Frank's Cuno. Sorry, folks.

Cat News with Sam. You might actually think those names are jokes, but they are actually the names. Ian is a woman called Ian, and Frank is a lovely young man called Frank. So you'll get to go over the years, folks. There's no young man called Frank. That's a lie. All right. I think there was a point before that somewhere. Yes, Charlotte Claire.

So I, first of all, starting with who I don't think Hamilton should be most worried about. And even though Valtrey Bottas was his closest challenger in 2019, I agree that I don't think he should be most worried about. him. Ultimately, he's gone up against him three times and Hamilton's won three times. So there's no reason to think that I'm not saying you shouldn't be worried in the slightest, but I'm saying if you know you can beat someone in the same machinery, that fact isn't changing in 2020. Why would you be most worried about that? It's historic. It's something you can look back on and prove that you're able to succeed against him. So I don't think Bottas is the number one threat to Lewis Hamilton. And for similar reasons, I also don't think it's Sebastian, Vettel.

2017, 2018, as we referenced, Vettel and Hamilton went toe to toe, and it was Hamilton that came out on top. Vettel, when it got down to crunch time, he just was not able to deliver the performances. He made too many errors. Hamilton remained consistent, and Hamilton took both championships. Again, if Vettel's close, Hamilton knows that previously he was able to do enough, to see past him. And I don't think he'll be too worried that he can't do that again. The two I would be worried about are the two that have been mentioned,

Max Verstappen and Shao LeCler. This is a brand new era of Formula One, a brand new class of talent. We know how quick both of them are. And I feel like they have absolutely no fear and at least no on track, respect for Hamilton. They're not going to give him extra room because of the champion that he is. and, you know, these guys have watched up and grown up watching him. That's how much of a difference there is in terms of age. And despite that, there is no respect shown on circuit.

They will do anything and everything they can to hold positions and to claim victories. We saw Monza, we saw Leclair against Hamilton. Leclair pulled out all the stops in that battle. Similarly, in Brazil, you know, Vastappen and Hamilton was a great watch. And Vastappen was going to give nothing away to Hamilton. I think this new era of Formula One, it's something that Hamilton hasn't had to deal with yet. If you think of all of his biggest rivals, you would say they are Jensen Button, someone who's older than him, Nico Rosberg, who, I mean, he's been racing him since karting, Bottas, who is a little

younger, but not really of a new generation. He's got a brand new challenge. If either of Red Bull and Ferrari can provide race cars that are good enough to compete with Mercedes, then I think Vastapr and LeClaire can take it to Hamilton. I don't necessarily know if they can win, but I think they will at least provide a hefty challenge for him. Hefty. Is that the one thing you took out from that? I completely agree with you.

I completely agree with you. I don't want to talk about it anymore because you're right, you're completely right, and that's a going. So, yeah, I agree with you. You hate it. I hate it. The answer is stroll. It's going to stroll to victory.

Do you think, because we've discussed four names of the big six, of course, not including Hamilton. So Alex Almond isn't a name we have said anything about. Harry, do you think he has anything to worry about Albon? In 2020? Yeah. No. I'll extend, I agree with you.

But I'll extend the question, do you think that Albon can at least threaten Hamilton on the odd race, let alone like, not considering the whole season? but race to race do you think that album can yeah okay race to race yeah there'll be all occasions where maybe it's a podium spot where yes I can but I don't think over a whole season is not in his second year of F1 I'll be

I'm so impressed and amazed if he did but not even Vestappen would I think we could we couldn't even say Vestappan could do that in his second year of F1 so yeah I don't think Albin would be able to challenge you for a whole season There may be a couple of old races here and there over the year.

You never know. But sorry, that made me sound really harsh on Albon. I feel bad now. I do like you, Alex. Just you're young. Harry hates young people. And if Apple does get in front of Hamilton, Hamilton will just punt him off the track.

Oh, you know, very true. Yeah, very true. I mean, you say Albin's young, but he's as old as Leclair and Vestapenar. Inexperience then. I've been experienced. Well, again, Leclair's only got one year. Oh, Ben, do you want to stop making valid points? Jesus Christ, man. Stop it.

We're seeing each other next weekend, folks. There's going to be an all-out brawl. If you're in Bath, come watch. Please do. That'll be entertaining. I think that's enough for that topic anyway. So, as we know, we discussed it last week. Verstappen signed to Red Bull until 2023. Ferrari have signed up LeClair until 2024, so both of those teams have secured who they think is going to be their future.

That leaves Mercedes as the last to act. They've got, obviously, Hamilton, who is much closer to the end of his career than the beginning of his career. And they've got Bottas, who, whilst he is younger, he's not exactly a youngster like LeClaire and Vestappen. So I want to see how you think it'll all play out. Do you think, Harry, that Mercedes have to act sooner rather than. later or they might be under threat of being left behind? I don't think they need, I think they can chill now. I think they've, both Ferrari and Verstappen,

Ferrari and Red Bull and Verstappen and La Claire. They've kind of played their hands so early that I think Mercedes can just, you know, sit back, see how it plays out now. They don't need to rush into any contract negotiations necessarily with Hamilton. and I think they respect Hamilton to decide himself. They don't need to force him into it. He'll come to them, I reckon. So, yeah, I don't think they're going to miss the boat because, you know,

maybe they had their eyes on the Stappen and maybe that ship has sailed for a few years. But if they keep Hamilton, they're not going to be unhappy, are they? So, yeah, they're just got to, I think, just relax for a bit now. Chill out, lads and lasses. Take a vacation is the important. advice from Harry E. Sam, would you also offer the same advice? I mean, no, I probably wouldn't. Let's just assume that Lewis Hamilton is going to be for at least a couple of years. He's going to do the first year of the new hybrid year before he makes any kind of

rash change to his career path. So that leaves one seat up for debate. I think Valtrey Bottas needs to have a killer season to cement his position against to Hamilton. I think he needs to really challenged Hamilton. Hamilton got eight wings not on pole. An incredible stat. Botas can even get half of that across the whole season regardless of where he's starting. There's a real difference in talent at the moment and Bottas needs to step up. On the other hand, I think Russell is reliant on Williams having a slightly more competitive car for him to be able to actually show that he can be competitive. He needs to beat the T-Fee comfortably. I think he needs to show that he doesn't get mugged off like he did with Kibitsu with that

awkward one point going the wrong way. He needs to be purely dominant now to show that he is the next person for that Mercedes C. If that doesn't go well and Bottas has a half season, hello, Lando, the milkman's arrived, folks. I think Lando Norris is a shooting. If he carries on with the form he's going for, why Mercedes not take the punt? Get a young Britain. They know that it works well. Russell could come up another season later, then they've both got proper experience. I think Mercedes have done themselves a world of favours. They've got a wealth choice. They almost own Formula One at this point with how much suggestion and choice they have across the market. Ben, you brought up a bit of a bit of a big of.

interesting point last figure that maybe Vettel and old hands could do what Schumacher did, move that German influence into a German team, which would be fantastic to see, whether that be Vettel and Russell or Vettel and Norris or Vettel and Hamilton, hello, the dream partnership we all want to see. I think Mercedes have got a walk in the park. I think regardless of what they do, it's all for them. And I love it. I think the saves have played a blinder once again, as they've done for the last bloody nine years

of Formula One. So well done then. If Russell doesn't get the seat and Lando does, that's such a kick in the wedding vegetables for George. Like that's not fair. Wasn't sure what term you were going for. I was not disappointed. Yeah, loved it.

Broccoli and carrots all the way. Yeah. Oh, exactly. Yeah, no, I just, he's been a loyal Mercedes Junior driver for a few years now. Yeah, if Lando ends up stealing it off him, despite the fact that George beat him in the F2 championship, that would be a bitter pill to swall, I would imagine. I've actually got some advice for Valtrey Bottas.

He's listening. He is always listening. He's an avid listener to the podcast. Listen to Bottas. I would propose the following to you. I think for the next year, you should do anything and everything that Lewis Hamilton asks you to do. You can chauffeur him to,

fashion shows. You can be his personal assistant. You can make sure that his bags are packed and ready to leave because the best chance the Bottas has of being part of Mercedes future is if Hamilton isn't there. Ultimately, what does Bottas bring if Hamilton is gone? He brings experience, not just within Formula One, but he has four years of experience in Mercedes now, or we'll have at the end of this year. So he is well, you know, he knows how the team operates. He's a, he's a well-experienced driver. And I don't think if Hamilton left F-1, Mercedes would be comfortable hiring two young drivers, such as Lando and George. I think it would be one or the other. I don't think there's any chance that they would hire both. So I think Bottas, this whole, the way that all this has worked

out, Leclair and Vastapen, I think it's left Mercedes and Bottas in a situation where Bottas and he Hamilton out of the picture to guarantee his seat. Because if now Mercedes need to focus on the future, that might be at the expense of Bottas if Hamilton is still there. So that's my advice to you, Mr. Bottas. I fully expect you to take it. And yeah, you are absolutely spot on, Sam, in that George Russell is completely dependent on Williams this season.

Because are Mercedes going to have the confidence in putting someone in their car, the best car in Formula One, the car that's won six consecutive championships of both varieties, are they going to be confident in putting someone in that car who has got zero career points and who has basically been driving in a different sport? He isn't able to show what he can do. Yes, we can look at it and say he's outqualified QBITS very comfortably. He's been solid and races, hasn't had too many errors, but we can't really judge his ability until he is driving, at least in the midfield like Lando Norris is doing. There is a serious chance that if they are looking for someone youthful at the end of this year,

are they going to take someone like Russell, and let's presume that Williams are exactly the same this year compared to last year, are they going to have the confidence to put him in the seat ahead of someone who has for two consecutive years been able to show exactly what he can do and deliver P5s, P6s, and fight up there with the top of the midfield, the Renault drivers, the racing point drivers, you would have way more confidence in the second driver compared to George Russell. So I think he is praying right now that Williams are at least slightly better than last season

because if not, he might be in trouble. And this whole destiny of him being the next Mercedes driver, the air to Hamilton's throne, if you will, it might not come true. Yeah, scary times for Russell. And I must admit currently, I think I would pick Lando just because of that experience and that is showing it off. He's showing off what he can do. So you should see what Maskatoto, King of all Formula One, decides to do. Yeah.

And as you say, Harry, it would be such a kick in the team to him. But maybe it's a realistic outcome. A question, Harry, I'll ask you this question first. Should Mercedes be more focused on securing their future driver or securing Hamilton's next contract for a year or two? That's a tricky one. I would say, no, secure in the future.

They've got to, because like I said earlier, Hamilton, he's in a position now, he won six world titles. He could go for a seventh this year. If the man wants to stay, he'll come to Toto and say, oy, Toto, mate, I want to stay. Come to do a deal.

And if he doesn't, he doesn't. I don't see, Mercedes aren't going to necessarily chase him for it. Obviously, they would love to. for him to stay, but they've got to think ahead now because Hamilton has been the leader of that team for so long. He's their star driver, but he's not sticking around forever, whether it's a year left, two years, three years, doesn't matter. They've got to start investing soon in the next big talent. So they would be foolish and not to because, you know, you could be left in a

red ball type situation. I mean, they've luckily secured max for another fair few years. so um but other than that what what do they have so yeah they've got to i think obviously keeping on hamilton but they've got to look to the look to the future now because louis ain't sticking down forever very true so do you agree with that i mean hamilton's 38 now we've shown that drivers can go many years after that but hamilton who is essentially the best thing we've seen at least for the last 16 years 15 years of formula one whether you think that's simack or all time he isn't going to be here forever, and there are going to be drivers that they need to lock down. Otherwise, they can end up in a real sparse place.

I mean, we see what's happened to Ferrari. They had to take a punt on LeCler. Luckily, LeClaire turned out decent, you know, very decent. But I wouldn't know who to put in that seat after the Claire, if LeClau sadly bailed. I wouldn't know who the future of Ferrari in the grid could be currently that is going to last for a long time. And the say is do have to lock down someone because Bottas is no spring chicken either. I think what he's 30 now, which means that he may he may, he might. may not, he's not as good as Hamilton. I don't think he'll ever be a world champion. I think

he'll fall off his peak much faster. So you could have two declining drivers in the next couple of years. So I think Mercedes have to act in the next 12 to 18 months to make sure that there is a young driver next to one of those more experienced drivers, whether it be Hamilton due to retirement or Bossass because they've decided that they want to keep him wrong and see what you can do, whatever. But I think they have to put someone in the other seat before the end of 2021. I'm not sure Hamilton will appreciate having three years added to his life. He's 35, not 38. So he does have a few more years. He's not that old, surely. I think I mean that. Anyway, but the point of that is not to pull out a mistake, but there's actually a point in him being 35 in that

Schumacher's last championship came at the same time. And there's a decline. And you could argue with Schumackers it was slightly due to being out of Formula One. for a few years rather than natural decline. But the point is that Hamilton at some point will worsen in his abilities. It's about when that is. And I think that's a big question you have to answer. Or Mercedes will have to answer internally as to how much they dedicate on their future. If you think that Hamilton has still got another four or five years at the peak of his powers,

then you commit to that. If you don't think it's going to last that long and now is the drop off and we start to see it from 2020 onwards, then you need to look at your future. I think you'll write, Sam, in the ideal situation for them is to keep Lewis Hamilton and then invest in the future at the same time, something of a transitional period. And if Hamilton decides to retire, then Bottas can take over that role. And this is going back to why I think Bottas really needs to get Hamilton out of the door, because I think it is going to turn into a one or the other scenario. And even at Hamilton's age, I don't think they're going to select Bottas over him. So,

Yeah, I think there is a need to be aware of both. I think you need to answer, when do you think Hamilton is going to decline? And also what's Hamilton's interest in staying in Formula One for the next five years? If he's only interested in staying for the next one or two, forget about it. If he's interested in four or five, then you put more of your resources towards getting the right contract and making sure he stays on board. And the final twist in the tail, Mercedes leave Formula One. Yeah. It can happen.

And that's why they brought on Norris. That is a discussion for another podcast. We'd be here for the next two hours, I think, at the rate we're going. Yeah. So that has been the podcast. Sam, get us out of it. Folks, if you have enjoyed listening, then please consider hit in the subscribe. Hit the like if you enjoyed it.

Share it with your friends, your mum, your sister, your dad, your brother and your nan. We've got something very exciting coming up next week. We shall not share what it is, but there will be a few. well-known names and faces of the community joining us. So hopefully you'll enjoy it. We'll reveal more later on. In the meantime, I've been Samuel Sage. I've been Ben Hawking. I've been Harry Eats. And remember, keep breaking late. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.