The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Was Alonso's penalty UNFAIR?!

Episode Date: March 27, 2024

The LB boys are back as a trio on today's episode as they tackle the week's biggest question - were the stewards right in handing out a 20 second penalty to Fernando Alonso at the Australian GP? The guys also look into Haas' remarkable progress and whether Carlos Sainz has a shot at a Red Bull seat for 2025... Donate to Harry's Half Marathon here! https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/harryeade FOLLOW us on socials! You can find us on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok SUPPORT our Patreon for bonus episodes, historic race reviews & more! JOIN our Discord community JOIN our F1 Fantasy League: SIGN UP & create your team, and JOIN our league (join code: C3PHEQHPU04) BUY our Merch EMAIL us at [e-mail]   & SUBSCRIBE to our podcast! Want to send something to us? Use our brand new PO box! Late Braking Podcast PO Box 821 TRURO TR1 9PE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 podcast. Make sure to check out new episodes every Wednesday and every Sunday. And a very warm welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking. No race coming up this week. But we've got something better than that. Harry Ead's back. Hey!

Hi, guys. The game from the sports is back. to have him. I'm very sorry for missing quite so many. I had all the intentions to be around for the Australian GP review, but planes and the European airline system had other ideas,

so I was not. But I missed it, as in I missed the race when it was on live, and then watch until later on. And all I can say is you're welcome because someone else won. So clearly I... You realise that the world of Formula One

without you is too powerful. Keep him away. We, we need him, you know, bring him back. Yeah, yeah. So yeah, I'm sorry about that, but I'm back again for a time. For some time. For a time. I'll be going to get a week. The funny thing is, you nearly miss this one as well. Almost. Goodness me.

My diary keeping is terrible. Get yourself an iPad, mate. When we get to the end of this episode and you folks are like, where's the greatest segment in all the Formula One podcasting, the question of the week, you can blame Harry for not having one. Yeah, we've had to go a day early again, despite rearranging our schedule a month ago to make this happen. Yeah, Sam very kindly asked us to move this recording date to a Tuesday.

And I, look, I've got better. I write them down in my calendar now, except that I just didn't change it in my calendar. It doesn't change it, so it's still wrong. Still not right. So when Ben sent through the schedules earlier, I had a poop myself. Good. we've got to people already. Sorry, Kirsty. Hey, it's got to happen at least once an episode.

I can hear her eye roll. All the way from Australia. Right. Good news is, Kirsty's back very shortly. Good news for everyone, including ourselves. But before we get to that, we've got a great episode coming up for you today. F1, higher or lower, makes an appearance later on. A little bit on Sergio Perez, a bit on Hass.

Christian Horner mentioning Carlos Seines when talking about drivers for next season. is there anything in that? But we're going to start with the news that the stewards quite helpfully didn't get to us in time for our review episode. I know some people say, you should probably just wait a couple of hours,

but honestly, we won't allow it. FIA, get on those decisions quicker. Fernando Alonzo was given a 20-second time penalty for his part in George Russell's crash on the penultimate lap of the Australian Grand Prix. The effect that happened on Fernando Alonzo specifically is that he lost two positions, one, to his own teammate, Land Stroll.

So naturally, should we just see that off now, actually? I reckon we start the episode off with some lovely news. We have to start with a correction because obviously, at the time of recording, Fernando Alonso had beaten Landstrol. And that meant that Sam's bold prediction of Stroll beating Alonzo was wrong. However, since the 22nd time penalty, due to the worst technicality of all time. If I was me, I'll probably just turn down the point out of principle, but, you know.

Yeah, it feels like I heard you when the news came out that he'd moved. I feel like I heard Ben go, no, Mikey, no, it's not right. I check the late breaking bylaws and unfortunately after it is declared on a review episode. That's it. That's funny, because I feel like I wrote those laws and I said that that's not true. So that's really odd. But I scuba it out and then rewrote them. That would definitely be how we write any rules.

No, you're wrong. It's any time we open the rule book, no, no, no. Change that. Harry changed. Ben changed. Sam got a bold prediction, right. So well done, Sam.

Anyway, so Alonso eventually did lose out to Lance Stroll, but also to Yuki Sunoda in finishing eighth place. So Sam will kick off with the question that everyone's asking and is dividing people quite a lot. Were the stewards right in giving Alonzo a 22nd time penalty? Oh, folks, if this response to Ben's brilliant question, sounds confused and convoluted and bizarre is because my feelings and understanding of the situation is

confused, convoluted and bizarre because the description that the stewards have given for their reckoning and understanding and results to what actually went on with Fernando Alonso and George Russell is there's no core information in there at all. They've managed to basically go. We're giving one answer, but equally, our reasoning says that the answer we've given isn't

right. So what happened? So Fernando Alonso slow down too early for the corner and then expect back up and slow down again effectively, in quotation marks, parking the brakes. He break checked George Russell as to what the belief is here. But how bad was it really? Now on board from George Russell, I believe he was far enough back that he was not in immediate danger to running straight into the back of Fernando Alonso. This is not the same, for example, as Hamilton and Bastappan in Saudi Arabia in 21, for example. And then I saw great footage of David Coulthard and Fernando Alonso in the Nuremberg ring in 2004, I think it was.

Where Fernando Alonso did something very, very similar, but the car was far, David Coulogne was far closer, ended up in the gravel having to avoid him. No penalty given there also. Now, that's 20 years ago. I know that maybe we shouldn't be applying rules from that far away ago. But it feels like the consensus on what is right and what is wrong when it comes to what break checking is, how is it determined, is someone wrong for doing this, that or the other, is really unsure.

No one seems to have concrete understanding of what is incorrect and a penalty and what isn't correct and shouldn't be a penalty or whatever. So Fernando also comes out and he says quite rightly, well, I'm allowed to take a corner in a different manner, which I believe he is. I do fundamentally believe that you can take any Formula One corner exactly how you want to take it, as long as you're doing so safely. and I suppose that's where the difference lies. Was it safe in what he was doing? I don't think it was terrible, but you're right. He does slow down before a normal breaking zone, and therefore is unpredictable.

At the same time, it is up to the driver behind to pay attention to every take safely, etc., etc. George Russell binned it on his own. And the other argument that a lot of people are making is, well, it shifted the aerodynamics. It meant that he lost the aerodynamics because of the change in the force that Van Ellinson was driving with, causing George Russell to become unsettled and crashing into the wall.

Now, I think that's a low-bo twaddle that argument. If I'm totally honest with you, that's onto George Russell for how to control his car? You see cars swiping front of one another all the time and how often does a driver blame the lack of downforce that Samaria pig from running straight into the wall? Barely ever. And to be fair to George Russell,

I don't think he's even the one that called for an immediate steward's review or for a penalty. I think it was a team decision rather than George Russell himself. So do I think it's a penalty? I don't know. I don't know. I do think the stewards have decided to base this one on the result of the crash

rather than what the actual actions were. And for that, I feel like it's incorrect. That I do believe, whether George Russell carried on, as normal, whether he rounds of the gravel, whether he hit the wall. I think they've only looked into this because he hit the wall.

Should George Russell have got around that corner? Okay, maybe a slightly second slower, half a second slower. Do I think they investigate it? I don't think they do. If it happens on lap 25, halfway through the race and everyone carries on. Do I think they investigate it?

I don't think they do. I only think they've looked into this because George Russell has crashed out so dramatically into the Grand Prix and therefore they've gone, well, we should look at something here. And then they've kind of done a half-ass penalty that they're not even sure is completely vindicated.

So, yeah, I don't know. For break-checking, if it was 100% break-checking, 20 seconds, seems totally fair. I just don't know how much this falls into this category. Interesting what you guys think, Maybe you might sway me either way because I'm like Harry E. today, I'm firmly splintering my bottom

on the fence. That's the way to be my guy. Sam, I can't believe you're doing it. Are you calling the Steward's liars? Because they specifically said that they have not considered the consequences that are cratching us. So it's a dangerous allegation, Sam.

Stewards, what are you going to do? You're going to have a go at me because I'm moaned about you over the team radio like you did with Sergio Perez. Fight him. Bring it. Fight him, I find it. Five second penalty for Sam.

I'm going to be delayed for the rest of the episode. that's going to be great for everyone. So Sam's on the fence. That leads very naturally on to Harry Ead. What do you think? Right. So I, as mentioned, missed the race. So I watched this later on.

I didn't pay attention. I didn't look at Twitter or anything. And then I watched the race. Then I went on Twitter. And I'd seen what happened. And I sent a text to you guys with a screenshot of the Stewards Review. And I'll replace a letter. I'll replace the letter F with the letter

P. And my message said, what in the plying puck is this? And that is my reaction. I'll let you do... I don't believe you're in place both words. That's great. That's great.

I think this is just ridiculous. And if George Russell hadn't fallen off the road by himself, then we wouldn't, this wouldn't even be a thing. So are you calling this to the fires as well? You're a liar, you're a cheat, go the puck out. Thank you. They wouldn't. This wouldn't even be a thing.

Nothing would be looked at. But because George Russell, and again, I'm not, I'm not saying it's, an odd move from Alonzo, but this is the sort of thing Alonzo does. We've seen it before parking on the apex. I'm thinking like Hungara Ring 21 when he's got Hamilton behind him. There's a lot of that. I know it's slower speed,

but it's that sort of thing. He's not break checking him in a straight line. He's slowing down trying to park it on the apex to get a better exit. It's part of racing. I've seen quite a few mainly junior drivers that are coming out and saying what is, what's the rule here? Are you not allowed to do that anymore? but I think what he did was fine.

So a penalty in my view is harsh in the first place. But their reasoning behind it is absolute horse manure. It's just rubbish. What is the bit I specifically sent to you to? What's the F1, no offence Fon fans, we are one at some of them. What's the F1 fan writing should Alonza have the right to try a different approach to the corner? Yes. Should Alonzo be responsible for dirty air that ultimately cause the incident?

No. What are you, what is that? What are you talking about? You're the stewards. Goodness me. And I think the thing that tops the whole thing off me is it in a weekend. If you're a junior drive, you're carting, you're coming up through the ranks, you're in Formula Ford.

What the FIA stewards have said about this weekend is, if you try a tactical move, maybe it's borderline on the edge, you try a tactical defensive move, 22nd penalty, three penalty points sudden. If you try and ram another driver off the road in the middle of practice, as happened in Formula 3 this weekend, you just get three place square penalty. Don't worry about it.

Great. Great stuff, FIA. The worst part is your reasoning, which is sound, about the tactics, the amount of times that Alonso was praised, not just discussed, but praised for doing the stuff, almost the stunted acceleration out of a corner ring. into a corner to ruin the flow of the attacking car behind, given credit for genius defending.

Yes. And now something very similar, it's 22nd penalty, three penalty points, and George Russell has put it into a wall of his own. And the thing is, it's not, it's not a break check.

If he'd, if he'd fully slammed on the brakes to try and stop George Russell, to hinder George Russell going into that corner, I understand. But he's just lifting off earlier on and then breaking a bit early. It's not an erratic,

I'm thinking here, Vostapp and Hamilton, Saudi Arabia 2021, not to scar anyone but that's the break check and that only got a 10 second penalty so what is the rule here? Where's the consistency?

I'll tell you what, using an Alonzo specific reference, Alonzo in Abu Dhabi on Hamilton last year was more blatant than what we had, I think. Going down to the hair pit before the DRS straight. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Very much so. Yeah, you remember that?

one? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, completely forgot. But yeah, great, great shout. That's a very big example. Of course we forgot about it because the Stuars didn't look at it. Oh my God. He didn't crash. Goodness. But then Ben, Ben, are you not, are you calling them liars as well? Hang on. Is that three of us?

Ben, you say the Stu is a liars, Ben. I'm going to look down camera one here. Yes. I'm calling you a liar. Subscribe to YouTube to see Ben call the skewers a liar. One V1, me, Johnny Herbert. Oh, yeah. That's a last. Sorry, the fact that it's

Johnny Herbert, because I saw this come up on Twitter, do you remember all those years ago in like 2015 when Johnny Herbert said Fernando Ano Ano should retire? And Alonso comes up to him whilst he's on TV, he was like, just ross him. This is his final payback. The final

Johnny Herbert Revenge has come nine years later. Final form. Herbert's final form. So go something like, you criticise me, you were a world champion. You're going to have a world champion. Yeah, so it's like 20 seconds, son. Yeah, I'll remember this for nine years and I'll get you.

The Herbert Grudge. Oh, man. Yeah, I am going to call the stewards liars because they would not be looking at this if anything else had happened. I think I really try to avoid hyperbole when it comes to the FIA because consistently they just top themselves again and again. You think of an incident, you say, wow, that must be the worst thing the FIA is ever. ever done and then you think, oh, actually, that might not even, that might be an honorable mention on a top 10 list. Like, they've got such a catalogue at this point.

But this really could be the worst form of communication they have ever done. I'm not saying it's the worst decision. I'll get on to the actual decision in the moment. But in terms of pure communication and backing up reasoning, this is the worst thing I think I've ever seen from the FIA relating to an on-track decision. If you're looking for what the FIA might have done as a worse off-track decision, then you can listen to our Patreon episode where we talk about Susie Wolfe and her start on legal action against them.

But the whole statement was utterly ridiculous. He should not have received a penalty based on what the stewards said. Even if you think he deserved a penalty, it can't be based on what the stewards have said here because it is so utterly contradictory to the point where it makes no sense whatsoever. I mean, I've already said, we haven't considered the fact, you know, the consequences of the crash. Full fit. Yeah, Paul fit. That's it, mate. We're replacing letters here. That is not true. There are some great quotes in this. I want to attack some of these. So they do not have sufficient information to determine whether Alonzo's maneuver was intended to cause Russell problems.

Firstly, not having sufficient information should, as a rule of thumb, not lead to a guilty verdict. We believe this person has murdered this person, but we have no actual information to determine if they did guilty. Guilty for life. But also, of course he's looking to cause Russell problems. He doesn't want Russell to overtake him. Like, what kind of verdict is that? We don't know if he's trying to cause Russell problems with his tactics. Of course he is.

It's all point in racing. There are other parts as well to this statement. They have admitted within the statement that the reason for the crash was the dirty air. Like they have just outright said that. They've also said that, going back to what you quoted, Harry, about the yes, no, those lines. They have said that he has a right to do something different. However, it can't be, as they quote it, extraordinary. Now, call me mad, but the meaning for extraordinary is essentially unusual.

If something's unusual, it means you're not normally doing it. If you're not normally doing something, that's different. How can something be extraordinary and not different? It's beyond me. And the last point that really got me was how they declared his driving to be potentially dangerous. it's your job to determine whether it's dangerous or not. You can't just leave it at that. Could you imagine, like, a judging court

where they're trying to determine whether a person has potentially committed murder? And the judge going, hmm, yes, he is guilty because that is potential murder. It's like, no, it's your job to determine whether it is a murder or it isn't. You can't just say it's potential, therefore they get the penalty. This was honestly ridiculous. I tend to agree with Harry in terms of the decision itself. I don't think it should be a penalty. And I think it's a dangerous precedent to set, as you've already mentioned.

Like, what are the rules from here? Because, you know, we have seen great defensive driving from Alonzo and other drivers. And I don't believe this was a break check. I think this was close to the limit, but certainly not beyond it. Yeah, the only thing that made me have a slight moment of hesitation with it was the onboard footage of Fernando. lifting off, accelerating again, and then having to break again. That was the only thing that made me think, okay, that is quite unpredictable behaviour going into a corner.

But do I think that it's worth 20 seconds and three penalty points? And do I think it caused George Russell to plumb it off of the track straight into a wall? No. I think it wasn't the best driving for Nandoah Loxa's ever produced. But equally, it didn't really do anything wrong. So I'm with you, farcical, and the stewards need to sort out their rulebook immediately. I think the thing with the his slowing down, it's like a

consistent slowing down, isn't it? It's not a, if he'd like breaked and started accelerating, again, like a natural break check. I see, I can see how it, that would cause a penalty. But the, he's just slowing down. I know it's more, it's in a longer fashion than he normally did. But anyway, I have also heard rumors

that he was doing that to get a maximum re-charge on his battery for the long straight coming out of that one, because he knew he's going to have to defend all the way down the story. straight, which again, that is a very logical reason to be doing that. Do you reckon he drove past George's car afterwards and was like, you can't about there, mate? What are you doing there?

He had, um, he had throttle problems, didn't he was in lap? Oh, come on. I saw this and someone was like, Fernando sees the crash and he's like, oh no, my throttle's broken. It's like on the throttle. Why he's to bounce him? Like he's wanted the cut to Toto Wolf again with the steering wheel motion. Such a menace He's such a menace

Interest to all of your thoughts on this though Because this one has At least based on what I've seen Chrome if you're wrong This one's really divided people As to whether this should have been a penalty If this was the right amount of penalty You know

We've given our views But we'd love to hear of yours as always Can I ask a team question Before we move on? The other debate that's come out Where a lot of criticism has been given to the stewards Of course is the safety measurements

That was taken once George Russell's car was strewn across the race track. They were quite slowing for N a BSC and a lot of people believe a VSC wasn't enough. I'd love to know what your thoughts were, if any, on that situation. I think straight away VSC, right? You don't wait.

I don't think red flag was a radical because the race was ending, but you straight away VSC it because it just stops everyone. Don't double yellow it because they still can't see around the corner. VSC, please. Anyway. I don't have red flagged it.

Yeah, I think I have reg flagged it. Simply not through, I think you're right, Harry, that it's the same speed. They go at BSC pace under a red flag anyway. The only reason for me I would have gone reg flag and say of a BSC is it tells drivers that there is something major that has happened. They are immediately aware to look out for something dangerous

rather than just, oh, there might be some carbon fiber on the track or something like that, right? because George Russell's radio message over a lot of people this is I think it's quite grim a lot of people have said that he was screaming for a red flag to try and go back a lap so he technically keeps his points after seeing I think it's awful after seeing Antoine O'Bair the way he was in the middle of that race track before the awful incident that led to his death and George Russell is on his side with race cars coming towards me in the middle

of the track and he's thinking someone's going to hit me at 120 miles an hour here right in my back there is a real chance I could wind up in a hospital or far worse poor lad is scared and that was quite unpleasant to hear. Yeah, I had a red flagged it but yeah, I don't believe any of the talk about it being a play. I think that was about as genuine as you get when you're stuck in the middle of the track. I think that corner, to be honest, probably needs to look at. The barrier especially, yeah. Because that's not the first car we say.

I know it's dramatic because George was on his side a bit, but Albon twice now. Albon, they happened to Albon and we've seen another like F.T. and stuff, they bounce back into the track, which is like, you know, we talk about it with O'Rouge. It's not any different, a bit slower, but... Yeah. Still pretty quick now on that corner. Yeah, I know. Yeah, it's fair.

Anyway, thanks for discussing my ad hoc point. That is quite all right. That's what we're here for. We'll take our first break of this episode. On the other side, we're going to be chatting through Carlos Sines and Christian Horner's comments. One, welcome back from very fast cars to very fast cars to very... slow people, Harry.

You've got something you'd like to say. Yes, I am a slow man. Yeah, hello folks. I, um, stupidly, and Ben and Sam will vouch for this. I'm not a running man. I don't know if I've ever seen him run faster, then maybe out of his front door once

to the car when he woke up too late. Yes, apart from that time when Sam and Ben turned up to my house and I was still in bed. Yeah, I'm not a running man, but stupidly, I've signed up to do a half marathon in a couple of weeks. for charity, not for my own pleasure.

It's for the, just because, no, it's for the Alzheimer's UK charity. Would really appreciate if you've got, I know we do plugs for your dollar all the time, Patreon is still there, but this is actually not for us. So if you have any spare dollar,

would really appreciate it because I'm going to be a sweaty mess on the, I'll watch the Japanese GP and then I'm doing a half marathon. So we'll put a link in the discreppy. One of us will, Ben, me or Kirstie,

depending she's back from holidays. But really appreciate your, any donations. That is all. If I don't make it through, it's been a great run. Been a great run. It would have been a horrible run.

Horrible run. Great one on the podcast is what I meant. I'll put it in the YouTube to Scrippy, if anyone's watching. If anyone's watching. Hello, if you are. If anyone is,

thank you anyway. Good stuff. Do you talk Carlos signs? Oh, I'd love to. Yeah, go on. He did all right at the weekend. didn't he? Yeah.

And you know, he also thinks he did pretty well. Christian Horner. He was talking about, after the race, he was talking about the Grand Prix itself. He said based on a performance like that, you couldn't rule out and rule out any possibility out in terms of signing signs to the team. You've had a very fast unemployed driver win today. There's another quote from him. And he also admitted that sometimes you have to look outside the pool when it comes to his

drivers, of course, they're in a slightly unique position in that they technically have four drivers within their cluster within their two teams. Any chance this happens, Sam, do you foresee Carlos Sines in a Red Bull seat? Well, cast your mind's back to the last driver that they picked up, who was outside of the Red Bull driver pool, and that man is Sergio Perez. Now, the events that led to Sergio Perez in that Red Bull seat, if you happen to remember, Maybe you watch Drive to Survive at the time. Maybe you've come from Drive to Survive. You remember the rather brilliant dramatic scene of Sergio Perez winning the Grand Prix

in his racing point. And Christian Horner picks up the phone and goes, Hello, Sergio, welcome to Red Bull. And it is so smug and so gross to watch. And it's Christian Horner all over. And, you know, I almost applaud him for his ability to be like that on my camera. But this has absolute, this rink. of the same story.

It absolutely reeks of the same story. Red Bulls the amount of success, and what is even more fortunate for them is there already familial ties with Carlos Sites. Of course, Carlos Sainz was a junior driver in the Tora Rousseau alongside Max Verstappen quite a few years ago now.

It feels like about two years ago, but actually it was what, like seven, eight years ago now. That's horrible. We are old. We are, I'm 30 next year now. That's disgusting. Oh, no. Yeah, I go, sorry to me

I can be older than me, but you'll understand, I'm sure. Molly Behrman was born in 2005. Yeah, I don't need that, obviously. I don't need that. Grow up, go up. Yeah, grow up. My point here is Carlos Sites is almost a perfect fit in the puzzle that is the Red Bull Driver lineup.

He provides brilliant consistency. He is pretty easygoing as a lovely dude. and when you look at their junior line-up, which I would argue is hilarious because it's less junior than Carmel's cyclist as an option, Daniel Ricardo isn't exactly setting the world on fire right now, no consistency, doesn't seem to have the ability to drive these ground-effect cars very well,

and Yuki Sanoda isn't in the running for that seat, for some reason, he's just not being considered. So the obvious choice is to go external, and why pay out a big contract, why try and get someone from a seat from a direct rival, when an incredibly good driver is sat there on the market already looking for a seat. And he's just won a race after having his appendix out, which is incredibly difficult, I could imagine.

Never experienced it. Neither the appendix being out nor racing a Formula One car. But I'm actually doing both at the similar time, very hard. So, yeah, I can totally believe that this is an option. If science keeps up that performance, I reckon for the next six or seven Grand Prix, and I don't mean winning. I just mean being very, very strong, ultra-competitive. why not, I would absolutely take Carlos Signing a Red Bull department

and Max for Staffing if I was the Red Bull management. It'll be an immediate, yes, thank you very much. Two-year deal or see it run to the 2020-6 season and then we'll re-evaluate. Scala 1 to 10, how likely right now? I'm going to go with an 8. Wow. You really think this is good chance this happens. I wouldn't be shocked if secretly he might be the favourite for the seat. Yeah, okay.

do you think this is likely? Please clip that, by the way, when Esteban Gutierrez gets to see. Science is unemployed next season and they've got Nico Holkimerg in a season. Yeah, trungling around in an Audi. Yeah. Holgerberg still can't get a podium.

Look, Carlos Seins is not doing... No, what I'm trying to say? What I'm trying to say it? Carlos Seines is doing his stock. Not doing himself any harm. Not doing himself any harm. Doing his stock a lot of favour here. And it's not just the win.

I know this, we've said this kind of familiar situation before with Perez. And, you know, we had that win in Bahrain. And then afterwards, everyone's like, oh, what about the Red Bull Seat? But the thing for Perez getting the Red Bull Seat wasn't the win. It was what he was doing throughout that year, which I think made him noticeable. And what Carlos Saenz is doing this year, I know he's only been to two out of the three races, but he's getting himself noticed because I think he's been pretty impressive over.

overall, and even towards maybe the back end of last year, but I was thinking about this while I was watching the race and he was leading it and just cruising. I know Verstappen wasn't there, but he was cruising along. But no matter what Lecler or Norris and Piastri behind me trying to throw at him, he just had an answer each time just went, oh, well, I'll go a bit faster and build that gap up a bit. I was thinking about this versus two years ago where he, he went out early in qualifying something and then they started him on the hard tire. and he spun off on that high speed second. It was all lame and he fell into the gravel.

And we were like, his signs made for the, is he up for this? Like to be in a top team, that seems like a world away versus now. So, yeah, my point is what he's doing, where his stock is right now is high. So he obviously needs to keep that going for the remainder of the year. But it's that consistency that maybe beforehand signs missed a bit,

that it's probably what is attracting Christian Horner to go, oh, well, maybe he's a Red Bull contender. because again, Peres, he's doing enough, I think, still, but you think, well, maybe Peres should have won that race yesterday on Sunday. Well, it is yesterday, sorry, we're calling this early, but on Sunday. But it wasn't, it was Carlos Seine. So, yeah, I could, I could easily see it happening. This is the weirdest silly season we've ever had, even though it's only March.

There are so many big seats available. It's bizarre. It's probably makes up for last season. Oh, it does, to be fair. But it's a shame that the actual on track isn't quite as good. But the off seat, the off track is excellent. And, yeah, so many big seats available with big drivers in the mix, signs, Alonzo, Vestappen.

It's excellent. So, yeah, this, I don't, I wouldn't like to make a call. I'm not like Sam, I sit on the fence. But at the moment, you go, well, why wouldn't you take Carlos Sines? If you're Mercedes, if you're Red Bull. if you're asked in Martin, I know that's not quite maybe the high profile seat he's after,

but you never know. He's doing himself no harm at all. And the first point I wanted to make is essentially exactly the same that you just made Harry to start your argument off, which was as brilliant as his performance was yesterday and it really was an excellent performance. It's not just that.

It didn't come from nowhere. Like he has been impressive in the two races he had so far this year, Let's face it. I mean, he's consistently proven that he is a top 10 driver, if not maybe knocking on top five, for like seven years now. This isn't a blip. I appreciate he had a few occasions, let's say, beginning of 2022 when it wasn't quite as strong. And, you know, there were a couple of difficult days in the Renault. But, you know, he's been consistently good at Ferrari. He was consistently good at McLaren. He's always had really strong teammates. If you look back, Vastappen and Norris and now Lecler,

he's never had it easy when it's come to teammates. And he always, he is a consistent performer. So I don't feel like yesterday should be in the same way you've already mentioned with Secere and Perez and how that played out. I don't think it should be viewed as a one-off spectacular performance. I mean, he said that, it was great. And I do think actually this is his third win, obviously, in Formula One. his first win came at Silverstone a couple of years ago.

I tend to think that was pretty lucky. The one he had at Singapore last year was highly impressive for his defensive skills. But for me, this was his best win yet. You know, as good as Singapore was a different type of win. But this was, as you've already said, like not only did he, it's not even like everyone else threw everything they could at him. It was like he was so far in the distance they didn't even think of throw it. like they couldn't get close enough to him to throw anything at him, which is always a good thing when you're leading a Grand Prix.

I do think there is a chance this happens. And I don't think, I know some people have question marks over Carlos Seines and Max Verstappen has a pairing. They famously not particularly best of friends when they were at Toro, so didn't get on all that well. I don't read anything into that, in all honesty. I mean, let's face it, which pair of teammates have been working very well so far this year? has

Magnuson and Holgerberg another great history so... One of them wants to tell the other to suck something if I'm right, I think. Pools. Oh, that was it.

Suck my paws, honey. That was it. So, yeah, I don't read anything into that. It has to be said, it's not very often that a driver of science's caliber is available like where you don't have to pry them away from another team.

It's very rare that a free agent of Sines' level is just there for the taking for any of these teams. I actually do still think this is in Perez's hands. I still think this is in Perez's hands because, as you've kind of already alluded to, Sam, Perez was signs in 2020. Like the situations are remarkably similar. They're both coming off a great win. the fourth place in the championship Perez was back then. Carlos Seines in a, I think he's in fourth right now, actually.

So a very similar position there. They were both, I think, unfairly removed from their existing team because of a multiple-time world champion coming in to replace them. So their situations are very similar. And I think the question is, is signs now regarded higher or is he better now than what Perez was at the end of 2020? I think it's close. I think it's really close.

People forget how highly regarded Perez was after that season at a racing point. So I actually think it's a really tough one because what Red Bull have to essentially ask themselves is where, you know, how much more would signs give you? Because if you think a couple of percent more, it's probably not worth the risk. if you think he is a market step above what Perez can deliver, then it's worth giving it a go. But it's down to Red Bull to work out where he's at. Is he not giving them just more time in terms of... Not just that, sorry, that seems harsh on science.

But he's, you know, he started an F1 four years later than Perez did. I don't know what their age gap is like, but just giving them a bit more of a buffer. Simult. Science is 30. Perez is 33. I don't know. Yeah, it's a few years, in it, yeah. but I don't know, maybe it's more down to that. I'm not saying Perez is at the end of his career, but he's closer to it than Carla Scientist, arguably.

Yeah, I don't know, I would give them some more years, sure. That might be, that might be a factor. I think if you're confident enough in Sergio Perez, the age I don't think is going to be an issue. Because, I mean, we're seeing Fernando Alonzo compete very high level, almost 10 years older than Sergio Perez.

So I think if you're, if your Red Bull, I feel like the decision comes down to his outright ability rather than his age. For me, it's the qualifying difference. Carlos Sites is not a formidable qualifier, but he's not a bad qualifier by any means. It's not an absolute weakness to his game. And I think he's up against Charles LeCler, who is the fastest person on a Saturday.

And, I mean, there have now been numerous examples where Carlos Sites has beaten Charlotte Claire on a Saturday. It's not more in his favour, but it has happened somewhat regularly, and he's always there or thereabouts. And I think that's the difference that he will make to Red Bull. Instead of having to come from 6th, 8th, 11th place regularly on the starting grid, which is what Sergei Perez regularly has to do, because qualifying is such a poor area for him.

If Maxwell Stapham is on poll, I don't think science is any worse than maybe third, nine times out of ten, you know? and I think that that immediately just gives you a clean advantage to score way more one-toos. Or if a race like Australia happens, where Maxfuss-Happers break explodes, Carlos Saitz will in theory already be one of two to take up that position and they would have a pretty at least a podium, if not another win on their hands, I think. I think that's the difference that Science makes over Perez. I think what's the way I kind of, I brought it down to this, which was,

and I think this is down to rebel to work out, Would signs be Bottas to Hamilton or would signs be Rosberg to Hamilton? Because I feel like it might be some, if that makes sense, I feel like it'd be somewhere in that range. Like if you've got the absolute most out of Carlos Sines, could he be what Rosberg was against Hamilton, which wasn't as good, but certainly he strung a season together and won a world championship took plenty of wins off him.

I feel like that's the absolute peak. And then I feel like the botas to Hamilton or, I don't know, the Weber to Vettel, sort of that era, that might be the floor almost. So you've got it somewhere in that range. I'd be really intrigued to figure out where he would actually end up, and I'd be more intrigued to actually see it in fold in front of me. But, yeah, I don't know.

Incling to me, says closer to Rosberg than to Bottas. It's an interesting one. So we'll take our next break on this episode, on the other side. we're going to be chatting Hass. Okay, everyone, welcome back. Before we get into our chat on Hass, it's time for everyone's favorite segment, F1 Fantasy.

Yeah! I'm really up for this. I bet you are. I actually just going to make a drink, so I'll be back. No, no, no. Stay. It's a marathon now, mate. I'm running now.

I'm starting now. Thanks to everyone who has signed up. So after three races, we have the top scorer from Australia specifically was Pommie racing so well done Pommie presuming that's your first name and racing's the same name great name Mr Racing okay here's our top three overall I've whoever's finished first here this is ridiculous first place in our league at the moment is team 17108010677 427 27. Come on.

It's Neo. It's Neo from the Matrix. Ridiculous. Number two, Gurney flap all stars. And number three, Yuki Poos. So, well done to all three of you for occupying the podium in our league at the moment. But of course, you're wondering, how are we doing? And the answer is, pretty well.

We had a good week. So Sam, as you can probably tell by his excitement over this segment, is leading the way on 170th. Big improvement from last time out in Saudi Arabia. Same for me. I've managed to progress up to 200th in the league. And good old producer Kirstie's doing all right as well. 263rd.

Hang on a minute. You said producer Kirstie and not Harry. What's that happened there? Lads, I actually forgot to say, I need, I have to go. I actually have to go. I completely forgot. I can't record the rest of the podcast.

You've missed too many. You're ashamed to the desk. doing this episode. If you're wondering why there's such a delay, I just had to scroll down far enough for this. Harry, 1,131. We only have 1,200 people. Ah.

I tell you what. That's impressive. I've had better weeks. Do you reckon? I didn't change. I've not changed. since the start. I think I've got Ricardo in there.

I've definitely got Vastapenosa times too and I've got Alonzo as well. So it's all gone to poo. It's all gone to absolute poo. Good stuff. Maybe you'll have us in the second half. I'm not too sure. Yeah, off 2026 I will, yeah.

Damn right. More positive stories. HASS. They're doing all right, aren't they? The hash drivers have said that the team has been invigorated due to the first few results they've got this season and they wake up knowing they can fight

when it comes to a Grand Prix and that was proven in Australia. Both drivers scored points, three points overall with Holkenberg in ninth and Magnuson in 10th. They now have four points on the season, which is good enough for seventh and only two points behind Minardi,

who occupies sixth after that Yuki Sonoda, seventh place finish in Australia. Sam, what do you think is possible for the team this year? Is it a possibility for them? Yeah. I just can't get my head around this. You're actually not bad.

You're not embarrassing yourselves. Is it me? Did I get through to you finally? Am I the savior of Haas? Do you remember that brilliant innovation? I think so. Do you remember that brilliant innovation that I came up with about the American Eagle Wing that they developed

to put on their car and it made them amazing? they've been amazing since I said it, so I think they stole it. I don't know, In Kamatsu we trust. They seem to understand tyres now. Development is taking place. Maybe the two months they took out to develop something that didn't work actually really benefited them. I don't know.

History tells me that this progress does not make sense. And yet, here they are. They are in seventh place. They're two points behind six. And I genuinely believe, because Daniel Riccalo's form is so bad, and Yuki Sanoda seems to be a little bit higgledy, piggledy with what he can achieve in a Grand Prix, but weirdly, Holkenberg and Magnuson

are the more consistent, reliable pairing of these drivers, which I am baffled to say, because we've got a race winner in there and a young prospect who has always been seen as fiery, but pretty decent. And Holkenberg, who's never scored a polling despite endless opportunities, and Magnuson, who we call box office because he simply loves to crash into things

are the more reliable and excitingly deliverable pairing. I'm shocked. I'm shocked. Their development seems to be working. They're being quite quiet about their progress, which I also really, really like. And they're doing what Williams said they wanted to do.

They're delivering these results in a slow, step forward, incremental fashion. Well done. Well done to hearse. I cannot say a bad word about you. Keep plugging away. Keep being consistent. And you, yeah, you might.

might end up in sixth place. You might be the new Alpine, or the old Alpine, I suppose, is where you want to be. Yeah, definitely not the new one. No, definitely not the new one. Would you say the favourites for it at this point, or do you think that would belong to Minardi?

I think the outright car pace does belong to Menardi. I also think the ties that they have with Red Bull, of course, to understand further data, possible developments, fast-tracking things, sits in their core. but Haas just seemed to be, as a pairing as a duo, a better team. They just seem to be working together with more harmony, delivering stronger results. And I just think that if I were to say which true drivers could get out over the line

when it matters right now, it's the Haast Boys. What do you think, Gary? It's a good name for a band. The Haast boys. The Haas Boys. Look, I think considering at the start of the year, they were like, well, we're going to be last. this is better than last the

they are not trying to take this away from them whatsoever because yes Hars should be up there scoring points they should be up there doing more than that I think

but this is where they should have been in races last year but this is a good thing they should have been doing this last year when Holkuba was qualifying in top 10 now they're not necessarily doing that

but they're getting points so this is the better way around go up make progress in the race and not go backwards. So this is definitely a market improvement. And I am, I am shocked. They've, you know, when we laughed at them when they were like, we're just trying to understand tires.

They've understood them. Fair, fair enough. They spent the time understanding tires. It's worked, apparently. So, yeah, they're doing well this year. Whether they can go after sixth, I don't know, because I feel like if Williams can get their act together, then there's going to be a scrap between them.

I'm with Sam in terms of, I think Minarby will be slightly further up the road. At least at this point they seem like they are in terms of car pace. But yeah, so I don't know where the house can go after them, but thank the Lord. I mean, I thank the Lord that sounds ridiculous to say they're getting a couple of points, but it's way better than where they were.

So yeah, looking up, I bet Gunther Steiner's there like, this is all me. It's all down to me, guys. I found it so funny that he was the podium interviewer. God, the one with LeClerler was absolutely horrendous to watch. Outrageous. Can I make a point on this, actually?

And I don't want to single out Gunn Steiner because I don't think it's just him. Can we get like proper interviewer like media people doing those rather than just throwing an extra Iver in there? Because that one was, particularly bad, but they're never great. The other thing is also the noise, right? You hear the crowds kicking off.

There's still maybe some cars that are sorting out their engines, and you don't go into a quiet space to do this. It's always, sorry, speak up. I did quite hear that again. What did you say? And it's a bit, all you're on the TV, you can hear the microphone 100%. It's really uncomfortable to watch.

Anyway, this isn't a conversation about inter-tribing. That was horrible. My point here is, when was the last time that Haas had, not only a double point scoring weekend, but now two weekends in a row where they've scored points. And Goodster Steiner has stood there watching it all happen with absolutely no involvement in the team. That's a really good question.

When was the last time that happened? Unprepared step, man. Was it Australia last year after the massive crash? Did they get double points? Did they score either side of that though? Oh, I don't know. Two points scoring weekends in a row It's not something they do all that often

No, I'm going to go back and look at last season You carry on chatting I'm going to go back and look I don't know you might have to go back a few seasons I'm not too sure Yeah I think Australia was obviously mightily encouraging for Huss And actually I thought it might have been even more

encouraging than Saudi Arabia because their quality pace weirdly It was all right in Saudi Arabia I thought but here, not great. Like, they weren't that good over one lap. Obviously, Holkenberg had a very rare Q1 elimination, and Kevin Magnuson only just got through to Q2. But their race pace, as they've identified,

their race pace was good. It was stronger than their quality pace. And that is, that doesn't feel right to say that. Why am I saying that? That can't be true. But it is true. It's just odd. But yeah, I think the only thing that,

And this isn't on HASS at all because I feel like they're just taking whatever they can from these races and the likes of Aston Martin and Mercedes are too far ahead of them. I think maybe we get to a later point in this season and they go, ah, really wish there'd been a few more retirements in these races because they're doing everything they can to claim a point or two.

And it's not like they have the right to claim more based on how quick they are. but sometimes with these midfield scraps and these lower sort of field scraps, it's just based on do you get lucky of when you have you a good race, there are a lot of retirements in front of you. And at the moment, they haven't really had that. They did it more in Australia than they had it in Saudi Arabia, obviously, but still not quite there.

And like I say, they didn't have great quality pace, but they're great race pace. One of their cars was impacted by the VSC. one wasn't, yet they both scored points. That is an underratedly really good sign for them, is that two different things can happen to their drivers in a race, and yet they both benefit from it. And the last point that I wanted to make, and this is for me really encouraging,

maybe the most encouraging thing of all, it would be quite easy for both drivers, maybe particularly Magnuson, but both drivers, be really easy for them to get paranoid this season about their seat for next year with Oliver Berman, picking up significant practice time from them both. Young Ferrari drivers are about.

Neither of them are the youngest drivers in F1. You could argue that their seats are under threat. And because of that, it would be quite easy in these last two Grand Prix for them not to have played the team game. It would have been very easy for Kevin Magnuson trying to defend his own position, not to have helped out Holcomburg in Saudi Arabia. Exactly the same in Australia. It would have been quite easy for Magnuson to have at least fought Holcomburg.

getting by. He didn't at all. And I feel like that maturity to do what's best for the team, I'm hoping will actually count in both of their favours because it's what they're doing great right now. And it would be easy to have the excuse of not doing that. Yeah, I was about to say when you're making that point, I kind of thought actually, I hope this swings it in their favour. And they do have a bargaining chip of, hey, you might be able to bring this rookie in. And yeah, okay, he might technically be fast and then one of us, but we worked together brilliantly and look at the amount of times that we brought home something because of the way that we worked together. Anyway, I have that stat for you right here.

The last time that Haas scored two points back to back and also, funny out at the same time, both drivers score points in those races was in 2022 Silverstone and Austria, Magnuson and Schumacher score points in both of those Grand Prix. So about 18 months ago. Yes, fair old time. And you probably have to go back quite a long way for the last time before that happened, given the lack of points. But very, very interesting indeed.

Moving on, this is something we've nearly touched on already today, which was Sergio Perez and his race in Australia. Now, naturally, Vestap and DNF'd, but Perez was only able to grab fifth place. and afterwards he claimed that Vostappen would not have had the pace to win the Grand Prix even if he hadn't retired. Helmut Marco has since said,

no, that's wrong, which is rather interesting. What do you make of this quote, son? This is an interesting one. It has come to light that Max Vostappen was having his break issue from, you know, go. The moment the lights went green, he felt there was some problem with his break

and telemetry seems to back back up. So I shall not dispute it. But that tells me that we never saw a 100% clear picture between what Carlos Sainz's pace was like and what Max Verstappen's pace was like at any point with 100% green car running where the car was absolutely healthy and fine. And so it is really, really hard to sit there and say,

well, that one, Carlos Sonson is only six-tenths behind him. He was there, he was comfortable. So it's hard to give a decision. So based on historic driving, based on how good the Red Bull is, based on how bloody brilliant Max Verstappen has been, I think there is every chance that Max Verstappen goes on to win the Australian Grand Prix. I'm not saying he dominates.

I do think that over the weekend he showed, and the Red Ball has showed multiple times that it was not the most comfortable car. It was not outright the fastest in multiple areas. I think the Ferrari was very, very close. But I do think, again, if you had two Sergei Perez's in that team, no, you're right. I don't think if both of them finish, I don't think they win the race. But Max Verstappen is something special.

he is able to extract that extra little bit and I do think that whilst it might have been a fight and we maybe will have seen the two-on-one situation like we used to see with Mercedes but this time with Ferrari, I do think that Max Rastappen has the capability to pull out the bag and it matters and he could have won this.

I'm not saying he 100% would have, but I think the option was there and I do think it was certainly possible. Yeah, which is kind of why I think that it doesn't matter whether Perez is right or not because there's just no way of proving whether it's true in which case it's just safer not to say it. Do you think it feels like a defence tactic from Perez?

Yeah, I do. I just don't think it was necessary. Again, he'll have his reasons for believing that to be true, and it might well be true as well, like for the reasons you gave. Maybe it is true, but it is still a very difficult case to make that a driver who has won as often as Vastappen would definitely not have won a Grand Prix, based on him starting in first place

and being competitive throughout the weekend, even if it's not his usual dominant self. I just, I don't know, it's heavily implied. People have said, like, after the race, like we discussed it. Carlos Seines had really good pace. He might have won the Grand Prix anyway. Just let that be the narrative.

Just leave it and let that be the narrative rather than almost piling on. It does feel a bit like a, I've been second place to Vestapp in the first two race, of the year. I've done my job there. And the one race that Vastappan hasn't been able to finish, I wasn't in that same spot. I wasn't in the position that the team needed me to be.

And to add on to it, it's an unemployed driver that was able to get the win. I need to defend why I was where I was. And I'm not saying any of the reasons he stated were wrong or incorrect. Like completely valid. That's fine. It's just, I don't know, it seemed, it sounds desperate even if it's not. what do you think, Gary? Yeah, I completely agree. It's just, yeah, even I convinced that I actually think Vestappan retiring actually made the race worse because I think we could have had an absolutely banger of a scrap between Sines.

Well, the Farrari's and Vastappen. And we didn't get that. So I, yeah, yeah, just let Carlos Sines have his win because I think he could have won it anyway. And it's irrelevant. isn't it, as you say. So it's just Perez defending himself for not winning the race. But given, maybe that's just where the Red Bull was.

I mean, you'd expect Vestappen to be higher up than Perez ended up. But as you were saying, the Red Bull wasn't comfortable all weekend. And I think the poll from Vesappel was kind of down to Vastappen rather than the Red Bull because he didn't even look like

he was going to get it for most of quality, to be honest. So yeah, this just seems a bit, bit unnecessary. It's defense tactic. Just hash up, Sergio. It's not needed.

Okay, we'll take our final break of this episode. We've got some F1 higher or lower after this. Okay, welcome back, everyone. Before we get into F1, high or lower, just a massive thank you to everyone who's left us a review recently because there are so many

of them and we massively appreciate every single one of them. And we just wanted to read out a couple of them. There are many great ones, but just to read out a couple. Matt in Phoenix had this to say. I understand 12% of what you say, generally, which seems fair. And another one that I wanted to read out was from Salmon Env, which is a funny old name,

but thank you very much, Mr. Salmon. The title was, warning, this podcast contains the greatest segment in all of podcasting. and then the description was your pumpernickels brought me to the yard and damn right, it's better than Charles damn right, it's better than Charles on Patreon is where they like to charge

in all seriousness this podcast makes me get my sausages out so thank you very much indeed hey we don't condone that there were there were a lot of a lot of great reviews but again, thank you very much to everyone who's left one. Should you do some higher or lower?

I would like to, but I also like to talk about one other of you that I have a puzzling philosophical question for. And this one is called Just Really Good. And it's read out a rich hamper of fun, facts and a sexual banter from three guys who really know their F1. Worth it for the quiz jingles alone. Now, that is all lovely. And I fully agree with everything this individual has said.

but the name of this individual is, Sam, I am your father. Now, is it actually my father? Or is one of you, oh, I've punched the mic, is one of you pretending to be my dad? Because I'm intrigued. Given, there's probably an easy way. I feel like that's a question you can answer.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Easy way to answer that one, son. Ask your dad. No. I, despite me seeing him in 15 hours. Yes, you're literally seeing him. He refused to bring up this topic. rather than ask tens of thousands of people

whether they are pretending to be your dad and then confirming that's not the case and go into your dad. Do it the other way round because that would be way quick. We should get the Roman Senate to decide on who my dad is. Sure.

Right. Higher and lower. Go on then. Yeah, yeah. Pretty funny if I press the wrong jiggle then. That's so cute. is sad faster F1 higher

F1 lower F1 F1 F1 Thank you very much as always for the incredible jingle Higher or Lower six questions in front of me here

and Sam and Harry will take it in turns selecting one there's a numeric answer to every question they will have a guess if they get it right they get two points and if they don't get it right

then the other person has the opportunity to say higher or lower. And if they get that right, they get a point. But if they get that wrong, the person who initially guessed gets the point. Sam, what number would you like? I love number one, please, my lord. All right. Mika Hakenen. How many race wins did he have? Oh, I feel like that's past tense. How many has he got so far? Sabatical, please. Yes. I feel like Harry knows this exact answer. Why? I don't know.

I just feel like this is one of those facts that you just seem to have in your locker. Can confirm. I don't. No, I was really hoping you might tell me by accident then. I'm going to go with 28. It's not 28. Harry, higher or lower than 28?

Go lower. Lower is correct. He is in the 20s, but literally only just 20 exactly. Ah, shucks. Or putt. Who knows? Give it a few years.

28 might be the right answer. Hey, he's getting that Red Bull Seat. I'd be able to see that. Goodness, me. Harry, what would you like? Number two, please. All right. Going back to 2008 for this one.

How many points did Sebastian Vettel score in the 2008 season? 73. He did not score 73 points. Sam? Yeah, I got a good season. but I don't I think it's lower yeah

guy wasn't competing for a championship come on yeah I thought it was only 90s wasn't it for the people winning it 35 he had overall

but you are I thought he said in 2008 and 7 no it wouldn't be that how many points did he have in 7

oh did you say 9 and 09 yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah oh okay yeah

learn. We're at one all. Back to you, Sam. I'll have number six, please, Ben. How many career points has Alex Albon had? Did the Carlos Sikes one make? You look this up? Maybe. Alex Albon has scored 517 points. He has not scored 517 points. You know what, I'm shocked that you've told you've told me I didn't get that right. Tough one to get spot on, to be fair. Harry? Lower?

Yeah, that feels safe. This is a really good formula, guys. Just guess something. The other person says lower and it's right. Yeah, 228. Oh, yeah, that was bad. I also meant to include the next 10 years that he's racing, and then it would be 500.

You know, he missed the year, and then it's been driving a Wooliams for the past three. Yeah, no, it's not been good. I really did go high because you're at the Carlos Sykes. I've just got 1,000 points. Yeah, in fairness, you did include his 2019 championship winning season. That was it. Thank you.

Over to you, Harry. Lower. Sam's right. And Sam gets that. Number six, please. Okay, sure. How many career points is Alex Hamilton? I knew that was going to happen.

Number five. Three, four or five. Yeah, you can have five. This is your punishment. This is the worst question of the lot. Great. You get a spot on, you know. You're going to hate this question.

In 2023, Alpha Tauri had four drivers. If you were to add up all four of their driver numbers, what do you get to? Sounds very good at their driver numbers as well. You can do it. I need no one of them. two of them. You'd get...

You're halfway there. I don't know. 47. No. Lower? No is right. Presumably, Sam, you want to go lower than this?

I actually don't. Hold on. I could do this. Daniel Recago was three, obviously. Yuki Tsongovari. 22, so that's 25. Lawson was 40, so that's 65, and Nick DeVries was 21, so that is 86. Higher.

It's a lower then. Yes, obviously. Higher is right, we're at two all. 86 was correct, so Ricardo 3, Sonoda 22, DeVries 21, and I would not have had a clue with Liam Lawson, to be fair, but he was number 40. It's the one thing I seem to be good at.

Which means we're at two all. And we go back to Sam, number three or number four? Four. Do you think there's a point we overach for number three? I reckon we've never got near the top that I could do with three. Goodness me. Scary. Well, Harry might be happy that you've picked number three

because it is the margin that Jacques Villeneuve had as poll position in the 1997 Australian Grand Prix and I'll let you give it to something point one. So 5.2 seconds. Obviously it's not 5.2 but that's how precise you need to be. The biggest compliment you being here is I did it go whether I should be going for a really big gap or a really small gap.

So because you specify that something point something, I'm going to assume it's bigger than one. second. So thanks, Ben. You could have 0.0. Point to something. I could have number six, please, Ben. I'm going to go for 2.1 seconds. It's not 2.1 seconds. Harry.

Higher or lower? Faster or slower? Figure or smaller? I'll go for Don't wink at me Sam I'll go I'll go for Oh God this always hurts my brain

Faster than that As in it's a smaller gap Closer to zero Yeah closer to zero The famous game Closer or higher to zero Closer off Further away

F1 F1 Closer Ever away Does it quite fit it is actually right, yeah. So it was 1.8 seconds rounded up. So 1.754.

So Vilnav absolutely smoked. Heinzaryl Frensen, who was second. Actually, if the question was slightly different, Sam, you might have been spot on, because that was about the gap. It was from Williams back to anyone else, because Schumacher was third, but he was over two seconds away

from the pole position time of Vilna. Famousy washed. Goodness me, and they still managed to have a title fight there, yeah. How? Yeah. Blimey. What do you mean?

Schumacher ended the year on no points. Oh yeah, sorry. Yeah, absolutely dominant. Yeah, yeah, sorry. That's silly me. Number four, Harry, or something else? I guess so. Yeah, number four.

How many times has Lewis Hamilton not scored in the hybrid era? And just to confirm, I'm not including the race in Bahrain a couple of years. that he missed due to COVID. So I'm excluding that. That would definitely make it better for him because he would have said that if you, because Harry forgets that season exists. Precisely.

True. Including yesterday? Are you, have we not counted? Okay. I don't know. Six times. It's not six times.

Sam, for the draw, higher or lower than that? Oh, that Mercedes was impenetrable. famously I can think of two off the top of my head the Spain crash with Rosberg and the no no no in Malaysia where his engine blew up

yesterday's three he didn't finish in Italy when Max Verstappen nearly ran over his head he didn't oh it did finish him back in when he put break magic on he was just last I'm going to say higher than six It's surely ones that I've missed.

It is higher than six. The question was not scored. Oh, I was right. Yes. Counting that. 15. Maybe all. 15.

Okay. I was going for not for no. I know that I would have gone for 15, but. Classic. Not listening to the question. 15 in 11 years is mad. It's not bad, is it? Is that 12 seasons?

15 not scores? Yeah. This is the 11th. season, I think, of the hybrid era, something like that. That's incredible. Yeah, still very, very good indeed. So that does mean a draw. We might as well not play.

It's good. Yeah. Yeah, definitely. None of you will hear this. We'll just cut it all. Right. That will do it for this episode. Sam, if you wouldn't mind, get us out of here.

Folks, we have got so many things that are going on, even though there's not a race coming up this. weekend. Firstly, we've got a PO box available. The address for that PO box is in the description of both the YouTube video and the episode description, wherever you're listening to this episode. Also, if you watch your YouTube, you might see that my wall I've recently moved. It's very bear, very, very bear. If maybe you'd like to send something to stick on the wall, there is also a bear there. That bear's name is Samuel. It was given to me when I was a baby. I have the thing of the name.

Sam's named after the bear. That's how that's happened. There I am. The camera's gone. I love that. I've got to get that out, brilliant. Yes, so we've got a PO box. So saying this whatever you want, literally whatever you want.

Please be nice. We also have Patreon. Patreon has so many of benefits that someone, Northern George, in fact, has made a video where he's claimed that it's better valued in a few cans, Can I play it? If I've never heard, I don't get it. I mean, maybe I'll get it into the YouTube video that's being watched.

I'm sure he won't mind. You can play it if you really want to, the audio. Well, yeah, and you can put it on top. Here you go. It's Northern Georgia, everyone. Now then, it's Northern Georgia. Just signed up to the Patreon today. All I can say is, what a bargain for just a price.

So if you can't a carling, it's a right bargain. And as a Norvoner, I love a bargain. So do your sins a favor and grab up the Patreon. Amazingly. He looked like he was drinking that, Carling, whilst watching the Australia Grand Prix qualifying, which in the UK was at 5am. So, our respect you.

A hero. Yeah, I never could. Discord's in the description if you want to chat to loads more F1 fans from around the world. And I literally mean everywhere around the world. Every consonant, not every country, that would be an exaggeration. But I've really gone there with every continent at the start. I can't work my way up anymore. But every consonant, not Antarctica, has got summoning it.

So, hey, you'll find someone with you close to. Social media is available late breaking F1. And as we've mentioned enough times, this is also being video recording. So you can come and watch it on YouTube. That's it for now. We will be back on Sunday for a lovely, normal episode, not race-related, and we'll see you then. In the meantime, I've been Samuel Sage.

I've been Ben Hocking. I've been applying puck. Nice. And remember, keep breaking late. Bye. Every continent has a person in it. This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.