The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Which F1 drivers MUST start strong this season?

Episode Date: March 9, 2025

Ben and Harry break down the drivers under the most pressure to deliver straight out of the gates this upcoming season. They also dive into Tsunoda's management split and future prospects, Motorsport UK's legal threat against the FIA, and whether the future of the Las Vegas GP is in jeopardy... FOLLOW us on socials! You can find us on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok SUPPORT our Patreon for bonus episodes JOIN our Discord community JOIN our F1 Fantasy League EMAIL us at [e-mail]   & SUBSCRIBE to our podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 podcast. Make sure to check out new episodes every Wednesday and every Sunday. Welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead and me, Ben Hocking, on the last Sunday of the podcast ever. No, it's the last Sunday before we actually see some F1 cars competitively go around the circuit. it's finally here well it's finally

almost here we don't have to do the winter break for much longer and I am pleased about that Harry how is your Sunday morning going well my Sunday morning was actually quite stressful it's now very much Sunday afternoon oh is it now

yeah so I think Sam's gone away for one episode and all hell's broken loose I I've had I would say technical difficulties but it was just One wire. One wire wouldn't work. And we've had to postpone the recording of this podcast. So I'm not going to apologise to you, listener, because it makes no difference. I apologize to Ben and producer Kirsty, who have had to log into this recording twice in one day, which is all me. So I hold my hands up.

It's my bad. To be clear, folks, we were supposed to record this over five hours ago. We have between us, but mostly Harry tried pretty much everything possible to get this to work, to the point where Harry needed to source a new wire and adjust plans. So all of those are about to rinse him in the comments in question of the week for whatever the hell that's going to be about. This boy's dedicated, all right? We were dedicated to doing a podcast today. What was the reason Harry's microphone wouldn't work?

It will be a question of the week. Guaranteed. Wrong answers only. We do have quite a few interesting topics to run through today. We've got some comments on the Las Vegas Grand Prix from last year, underperforming. versus expectations. We've got the FIA making another appearance, thanks to Motorsport UK. Yuki Sonoda.

I know, right. Yuki Sanoda and him splitting up with his management, a few thoughts on this season upcoming for him and indeed the rest of his career. But we're going to start with our top five drivers that need a strong start to 2025. Now, about a month ago, we did a topic that was who's most under pressure for the season as a whole. but here we're really looking at who needs a strong first few races of the year. So I'll like you kick off, Harry, with number five. I have ordered these as well.

You'll be placed tonight. I've had five hours to do it when we first recorded this. Number five, I've got Lewis Hamilton. Now, I don't think it's essential, essential that he has an amazing start to this year, as we've already said, you're going to have to give him some time to adjust to being in a new team,

new surroundings, new car, everything's new. However, he could really do with a good start to the season. It would really help. It would really help his cause. And I say this, I don't mean like he's going to have to come out of the blocks and start winning,

but just a decent start to the, because if he comes out and he's a bit shaky, not nervous, a bit shaky. it's not the end of the world but it's just not it's not going to help things for the rest of the year so I think a good start

to the year is definitely needed for Hamilton but not essential if that makes sense I think it will really help him in the long run for the rest of 2025 but if it is a shaky one then it's recoverable but less than ideal

not ideal oh Sam is on this podcast yeah I know we've discussed Hamilton and Ferrari quite a lot in recent weeks, but taking away Ferrari's performance at preseason testing, what do you make of Hamilton's, I don't know, demeanor as a whole as he heads into this new chapter of his career? Are the signs positive?

Is he seeming positive? He's seeming very positive, I think. I think this is certainly from a motivational point of view. it's reinvigorated Hamilton at least from what we've seen of him outside of the car on social media

talking to the media he is he seems to be really motivated again by this by this new challenge now I think that could if things start to go wrong then I think that could wear him pretty quickly but for now I think he's very positive

and certainly the most positive we've seen him God I don't know since 2021? Yeah, 2021 probably. I mean, there were definitely moments

last year, you know, he had wins, he had victories, but, you know, Silverston Springs to mind. But apart from that,

it was pretty doom and gloom for the rest of the time. So this certainly seems like a more uplifted Hamilton already. Again, just wait to see whether that continues if the car performance doesn't follow, or his performances don't follow up with that.

But for now, he certainly seems very, they're in a very good place. I feel like given Hamilton's experience in the sport, he has seen and experienced a heck of a lot compared to other drivers around him. But even he, I think, was taken aback a bit by the recent launch event that Ferrari had in the streets of Milan, where he is surrounded by the Tofosi, probably for the first time as a Ferrari driver, that he was really at the epicenter of something like that.

and I think he was sort of taken aback by the support and the overwhelming passion that the Italian fans have. He'd have seen it, obviously, for many years, but I think there's a difference between just seeing it as an external rival of the team and actually being entrenched in that team. I think it, I'll see just on that point. It is so clear that the Tophosi support Ferrari. They don't support drivers because for so many years,

he's been the receiving end of, you know, not their booze, I would say, or even their abuse. But as soon as you put a red overall on, you're a hero, doesn't matter who you are or what you've done beforehand. But yeah, I'm sure that probably did take him back. Can we flash back to like 2007, 2008 and say the two like things that love Hamilton the most are Ferrari and Brazil. In Brazil. It doesn't make any sense. I'll turn it universe. Number five for me, I've also gone Ferrari,

but I've gone to the other side of the garage. I've gone with Charles LeClair. Because if Hamilton does need a little bit of time to adjust, then that remains to be seen, whether it is a race, five races, half a season, it's not known at this point. Charles LeClaire just needs to pounce on that opportunity. He needs to take advantage of the time

where Hamilton maybe isn't at 100%. And separate to Ferrari, I guess, Charleclair needs to prove early this season that it's not going to be another Norris versus Vestappan campaign. He needs to prove that Ferrari are on the ball from the off because if you remember the first sort of five races of last season, Red Bull were utterly dominant. But at that point, Ferrari were the second best team,

and they were in the best spot to take advantage of Red Bull if they faltered. Get to Miami, get to those sort of European races, and it wasn't Ferrari. It was very much McLaren who were there. And even though Ferrari did a good job catching up late in the season, it proved a little bit too late. If Charler-Cler can get out the gates fast, he's in a good spot not only in terms of his teammate battle, but in terms of the championship as well. Number four, who have you got?

I've gone for Jack Dewin Yeah He Again I sort of Sort of similar But not similar If he has a really shaky

First half To the year It won't be a first half If he has a shaky first half In the year It'll be his year Okay As a normal rookie

You would say Well that's okay That's okay But given the Given the talk around Franco Golobinto So he can't, it's unfair, it's so unfair to Jack Dewan, but he can't really afford to have a shaky half a year or,

that's a season. He's going to have to come out of the blocks at least looking semi, semi good. So this isn't to say Jack Dewan needs to be beating Pierre Gazley from day one, but he needs to at least the first few races, he needs to look competitive. And I think that's going to be really important because, for him, as soon as that, if that doesn't happen, as soon as that doesn't happen,

the talk will start. Flavio Briatore will be lingering behind him and whispering, you know, abuse in his ear for the entirety of a race weekend. And mentally, for a rookie, that it's going to crush him. And that's nothing against Jack Duh, and I just think it will come down on him like a ton of bricks. So he needs to have at least some semi-good races at the start of the season, because otherwise I think it's all going to spiral

and unravel rapidly, which is so unfair, but I just think that's the way it's going to go. Full disclosure, I haven't seen any of Drive to Survive from this season. Me neither, yeah.

But have we spoken on the podcast yet about Breitore's line to Jack Dewitt, how he owns him? So menacing. The look Jack Dewitt has, goodness me. He's like, oh my God,

what have I done? No, I don't want to do it. For for me, I have Alex Albin. And I know Alex Albin is a name that's cropped up quite frequently in these preseason episodes, just based on the level of competition that he'll have this year versus Nicholas Latifie and Logan Sargent. And ultimately, you know how sometimes you'll say that, well, this driver's a step above the competition. No, signs is like seven steps above the competition that Alex Albin has had. maybe Franco Colopinto notwithstanding as that was that was fairly close but I feel like

the race for 2026 is on between science and Albin I feel 2025 is almost like a prologue and they will both be putting themselves in the best position possible to be in with a chance of being the de facto number one driver going into the new regulations next year so Alex Albin starting the year strong and proving that whilst Carlos Sines is a very competent driver, so am I. So I can still lead this team. That is imperative. The other thing about, I guess, for Sines and Albin, is we're coming out of preseason testing. And Williams look relatively pretty strong compared to what they looked last year, maybe fighting for the fifth or sixth best team in the sport. There's no guarantee that they will stay there. So if

either Williams driver wants to assert themselves as being the lead point scorer. They could do a getting points under their belt early whilst the car is good, just in case we get to the second half of the season, and the focus is too much on 2026, and it's not as competitive. You've got to strike while the iron's hot. So that's of importance to Albon. Third place on your list, Harry. Copy and paste.

Just what you said then. Alex Albon, exactly your point you made then. I think Williams maybe unexpectedly have a more competitive car, at least off the back of testing, than maybe they even thought they would, which is almost not a problem, obviously, but it's almost a bit of, oh, well, because there's no way they're going to sacrifice any of this year for 2026, because that is James Vals, as he's always said, that has been his target since day one, the 26 rules and beyond. So even if they're in a fight for a better position, I just don't see,

just don't see them trying to out develop other teams to finish better this year for the sake of sacrificing next year. So in that case, if they are good out of the gates, as you said, Ben, that may not last, may not last that long. And our bond, if there are good results to be had, needs to have them versus signs early doors. particularly we know science is very good

adapting to new teams but I'm sure there'll be a couple of occasions where there'll be slightly shakier races or performances from science which is to be expected given it's a brand new environment for him and that's where Albon needs to capitalize so yeah

pressure's on for the start of the year for Albon he needs to come out strong because he can't wait he can't wait and have a Daniel Ricardo style situation very good point from 2024 where he

started a common strong when the car got rubbish and then no one noticed and it was irrelevant versus Sonoda so I think

Alba needs to avoid this similar situation third place on my list I've gone with Oscar Piastri and it is for the theory

that we've mentioned a few times the anti-Sanoda theory which I appreciate there are new listeners to the podcast before you're going what on earth

you're talking about. The joke we make is that Sonoda can only start and end a year well and that Piastri is the opposite of that. He can only do the middle part of the season based on what we saw in 2024. The middle 12 races of the season, Norris and Piastri were dead level, nothing to separate them. But a large part of why Piastri wasn't in that fight for second or third in the championship was because he didn't start the year particularly well. Now, McLaren themselves didn't start the year very well either, but if you look at, say, the first seven races, Oscar Piastri only beat Lando Norris once in those seven races. And Lando Norris had one win and four podiums before

Piastri had any. So if Piastri can resolve that, if he can head out of the first quarter or the first third of the season and there's not much to separate them, there's reason to be optimistic that Piastri can repeat what he did in the European leg of the season this year. But that does rely on a strong start. So I've got Piaastri, obviously a home race to kick off for him as well, which obviously will end in retirement

because Australians can't do well at the Australian Grand Prix. But other than that, he needs a good start. Second place, Harry. I've gone for Estebanokom. Not because he necessarily, needs it versus Oliver Behrman. I think he probably will have a better start than Oliver Behrman.

But I just think of the back of what was a messy 2024 and not all his fault. But he couldn't even do the last race of the season with Alpine. He got let go whether you regard that as unfair or not. It was unfair and stupid. And I think he just needs to sort of come, he needs to bounce back from that to, you know, almost just show that, show why he is, you know, so well regarded. And I think it's important for him to come out strong at the start

of the season. And I think he will. I just think it's important for Ockon to sort of put two fingers up to Olly Oaks. That wasn't his, wasn't his decision, to Flavio, sorry, I'll say, and Alpine and sort of just say, yeah, this is what you're missing. So I think, yeah, an important start of the year for Estaband. And like I said, not versus his teammate. I think just more for himself. I think just get that confidence back.

Yeah, I think that's a fair shout. And as we've discussed with Hass, it's almost like this is the first year of the new Hass. Like it's a new lineup. There are a lot of changes within personnel behind the scenes. Yeah, it could be important for Ocon to

assert himself quite early on. Bearman is going to be his teammate next year as well as this year as well. So Ockon didn't quite make my list, but he was in the short list I put together. Second place for me, I'm staying with McLaren and I'm going with Lando Norris second. This does rely a little bit on McLaren being as good as they looked in testing. Certainly the results of testing were or the summary of testing from many within in the industry is that McLaren have a little bit of an advantage over the other three teams. Whether we turn up to Australia and that's true or not, we get to find out in seven days

time. But if that is the case, he's got to start strong. He's got to really put the pressure on all of the other drivers, his teammate included and put the pressure on those rivals to catch up, to be the ones to need to take points off of Norris, the reverse position that he was in last year. And ultimately, I mean, if Norris gets a really, really good start to this season and is quite comfortably clear in the driver's championship, folks, that's not a prediction. That's an if. There becomes a little bit of a question mark of, is it worth trying to catch him for some of

these teams that we might get halfway through the year. And if Stappan and Red Bull are too distant, maybe they do start to think, should we just give this one up and go for next year? same for Mercedes and Ferrari. So I'm not necessarily expecting that, but I think it's on the table at least. Who is the most under pressure driver heading into 2025, Harry? Oscar Piastri.

You've already mentioned him. He needs, yeah, to not do the anti-Sanoda. He needs to have a strong start to this year, because as you say, this could be where McLaren get a great start. to the season and he can't afford as he did last year to have a shaky start to the season and lose out on those points to Landonoros because the start of the season as you rightly say it could be where the championship has won or lost for the McLaren drivers or for any of them but I think we suspect McClain at least at the start to the year going to be the strongest

and I think Piastri can't afford to have that have that slow start that he's had in the past couple of years. So, yeah, a really important, really important start to the season. First race always doesn't count, as you mentioned, because it's Australia and it's the law that you can't do well at that race if you're Australian. But from, you know, China onwards, I saw yours, Oscar. Yeah, I think it's really important that even if he's not beating Norris, for example, he needs to be there.

If Norris wins, you're P2. He needs to be in that fight just you can't afford to lose chunks. chunk of points or chunks of points that's not a thing but um no you can lose chunks of points um yeah he can't afford to lose that many points at the start of the season so an important important start for for piastri i reckon he should just turn up in uh an early noughties monardi because that's the only thing that works for Australians correct big up bar weber 2002 to Mark Weber reference there for anyone wondering. A bit of laughing at Mika Sarlow's demise banter.

Sorry, Mika. Always the best. I've got nothing against Mika Salo. Sorry, man. Number one for you was something that I'd mentioned a little bit earlier on, and I'm going to do the exact same thing because this name's already come up for you. Jack Duhin is number one for me.

Oh, no. I mean, same philosophy. You can't do well in Australia because he's Australian, but at least in terms of the first few races of the year, do you know, Flavio Brioatore, do you know what he's not known for? Patience. Yeah, that's very true.

If I think, think of a patient person, I don't know how far down the list I'd have to get before I'd find Flavio Brioatore. Man couldn't go through a season without a win, so stuck his driver in the wall. Like, come on. impatient man. I think you're fine.

That was unproven, right? And he had his ban rescinded. Come on. Like court cases started this week, isn't it? Yeah. It's fine. It's not fair on doing at all that he is number one on this list, but he just is. Breitore will, if he thinks it's right to move on, he'll move on.

Like, he's not going to be someone who goes, we should give him a season because he deserves it or we should give a rookie 20 races because that we can't make a judgment before that. That's not Briatore at all. As brutal as it sounds, if Briotori after five races thinks this guy isn't the future, they'll make the switch and he won't think twice about it. That's just who he is. For good and for bad, I think it's fair to say when it comes to Briotori. We know that Colopinto's there.

We've seen the potential of Colopinto last season. We know the talent of Ghazly. Jack Dewan is in this unenvious situation where he's kind of got to show a little bit of both of those things in not a lot of time. So I am wishing him the best, but it's going to be tricky. Yeah, it's going to be a tough old year.

Tough old 12 races for Jack Owen. Oh, give him a bit of time, Flavio. Come on. Right, that's our top five. drivers who need a good start to the season. As always, let us know in the comments what you think. Have we not mentioned a name that should be here? Let us know.

We're going to take our first break on this episode on the other side. We've got a bit on Yuki Sonoda. Welcome back, everyone. Yuki Sonoda has overhauled his management team following his missed opportunity for a Red Bull promotion to Liam Lawson for the 2025 F1 season. previously Sonoda was represented by Mario Miyakao and Luis Alvarez, but the racing bulls driver parted ways with both of them shortly after the conclusion of the 2024 season in December. Sonoda is now under the management of Mexican Diego Menchaca.

So why do you think he's done this? And do you think it was right for his future to make this move? I look I think it's this this happens got often in F1 with drivers and and their and management changes when things you know they often have managers that have taken through the sport through the ranks or into F1 they stay with them for the first few years and then they move on Lewis Hamilton famously moved away from but it was his it was his father wasn't it was Anthony Anthony Hamilton and then moved to a management company and you know that was bit of a big story back in the day.

It happens a lot and I think it's when a driver feels they want a change. And for Snowda, I can understand this because, you know, he's been stuck now at racing bulls, Alfatari, for quite a few years and he's not gone anywhere. Now, how much of that you could blame on his management is hard to see. But I can understand why he might be thinking about a sort of fresh start to see where his career can go from here. So it's an understandable move. Yeah, sometimes it's just what a driver feels they need to do.

Whether it actually makes a big difference to hit the future of his career. I'm quite skeptical on that because I don't think it, you know, having a different manager in place wouldn't have gotten the Red Bull seat, quite frankly. I think there was more down to his performances slash the Red Bull, team and what they wanted. So whether it makes a huge difference, I don't know, but I can fully understand why he's done this. Yeah, I can understand the move as well because 2024 was a massive disappointment for him and not on the track, more a massive disappointment for the way his career. I was going to say the way his career went or rather didn't went.

He really was in the picture for that Red Bull seat. multiple times throughout the year as well and it didn't materialize. And Sonoda will, you can disagree, but Sonoda will feel like he's held up his end of the bargain. Like Sonoda will feel like I've done enough to warrant that seat over the competition. And clearly there are those in Red Bull

that disagreed with that notion, but I think Sunoda will think that. And you look at the last couple of years that he's had at Alfa Tauri slash racing bulls and he will point to the fact that, well, in two stints versus Ricardo, he won on points 37 to 18, and he outqualified in 16 times to nine. He obviously had one stint against Nick DeVries, where it was 2-0 in terms of points and 7-3 in terms of qualifying. And he had two stints versus Liam Lawson, who obviously got the seat,

8-6 in terms of points to Sonoda, and 10-1 in terms of qualifying. So that's a perfect record in terms of points and qualifying records against his last three teammates. And yet it's still not enough for him to get the seat. So I can understand why after being overlooked, he's decided to make a switch. Like you, I'm uncertain if the management team is the reason why he hasn't got this move. He will feel there's a disconnect for sure between his performances and the results. of what he's done. And maybe he feels like that disconnect is the management team, not doing what it needs to do to get him in that spot. What I do know is he can't afford to be in the same

position again at the end of this year. Like 2025 is such a massive year for him to determine what the rest of his career is going to look like in F1. So if he wanted to make the switch, that was the right time to do it. Given that he made the move in December, Harry, obviously, just after the Lawson decision was finalised, does it feel like an immediate response to not getting that seat or might you have made the move anyway? What do you think? It almost feels like he sort of had it in the works already

and maybe that was the final, the Lawson decision was the final straw for him to pull the pin on it and go ahead. Because if it was an instant reaction, it almost feels like that's a little bit too emotional and Yuki's an emotional person but maybe he had been considering this change anyway because like I say it's been stuck in that team

for quite a few years so maybe he was considering it no matter what happened but certainly it looks as though it was a response to not getting that Red Bull seat but you know we don't know what goes on behind the scenes maybe he decided to move on he's had a few changes and he moved back from

where was he living and he moved back to the UK or something that was when he first joined Alfortaree yeah he was living in Italy wasn't he? Italy that was it yeah and they moved back to the UK

so he's made changes previously to to improve and maybe this is just another one of those but yeah I think the right call and as mentioned like 2025 is such a crucial year for him and I know I probably said this at the exact same time last year,

but at some point, Christian Horner and the powers that be at Red Bull are going to have to make a decision. They are either going to have to promote him or let him go. And he needs representation for both possible outcomes. He needs that strong representation for if he is a factor in that seat, but he needs the representation if his career lies elsewhere. At 2025, you've already mentioned it,

he has been at the team for quite a few years now. 2025 is his fifth year in the junior team. And midway through this season, he will overtake Pierre Gasly as the most experienced driver in the history of the second team of Red Bull, if we look at Tor Rosso, Alpha Tauri and racing balls. And you look at really the only other two drivers that are as experienced as Sonoda in the junior team,

are Pierre Gazli and Danny Kaviyat. But there's one thing that connects Ghazli and Kaviyat that doesn't connect Sonoda, and that is the other two, both got an opportunity at Red Bull. Now, it didn't work out for either of them, but they both got that opportunity that Sonoda never has.

And you look at some of Christian Horner's comments, Christian Horner has said in the past, you can't have a driver in the support team for five years. You've either got to let them go or look at something different. Well, this is year five, Christian, got to make your mind up, man. So, yeah, what do you make of that?

Do you think based on that quote, this will be the last year for Yuki Sonoda in that junior team? It has to be. I don't see them hanging on to him for another year. The problem is, what is he? I mean, he's there in F1 now, but what's he there for this year, quite frankly, after the Lawson decision was made. What, sorry, why if Lawson really struggles and so does Hadja and Sunoda doesn't?

But they still don't want to promote him. Well, then maybe it's a Pierre Gansley situation where they just hate him for no reason. Yeah, that would be interesting and foolish if they do that. But I think, yeah, I guess that's the only reason they keep him there this year is in case Lawson does struggle. So that's why he's got another year at Racing Bulls. but this will be the last one because either way, Lawson struggles, they put Sonoda in. Lawson is good. They don't need Sonoda anymore, so they'll get rid of him. Yeah. I think that's pretty fair. It's a shame for Sonoda in terms of, we'll get on to his

potential future prospects in a moment. It's a bit of a shame the way that the timeline has worked out if this is his last year in the Red Bull program because he did have interest from Salba and from Hass last year. And instead, Red Bull decided they wanted to extend that contract by another year. Who's to say whether he would have got either seat? But he would have been in the mix for both of them, surely. And let, maybe Salba, if that's a bullet dodged, I don't know. But that is at least going to be Audi at some point and have the potential for something

a little bit better. But Hass, that would have been a good, it would have been a good career move to to move to Hass, I think, for Sonoda at this point. And he missed out on the chance to even be a factor in that conversation. So if we're expecting, I'm expecting at least, there's not going to be as much in the way of change in the driver market going into next season. And my limit is opportunities of it. Speaking of, we did have some comments, actually, from the Honda Racing Corporation president, Koje Watanabe, who is a translated article into English has provided a less than perfect translation we're led to believe. So we're not going to use his comments here, but he has been speaking about the potential of what Sonoda will do in the future.

Of course, Honda are going to be with Aston Martin from next season onwards. Do you see that as a potential move? it's certainly got to be on the cards but Sonoda's problem there is you've got Fernando Alonzo

who will never retire and good he will event and good driver and good driver Alonzo who will never retire if he does retire

you've got to believe Aston are going to try and get Vastappan before they try and get Sonoda so and if they're successful and that there's no way in because Lance is still there. He needs basically I think Sonoda's relying on Lance Joel deciding he's bored

and has had enough of F1 for him to get a scene. Lance Stoll being bored is a fairly good thing to make, I think. Oh, sorry, I just remembered the thing you sent about his... What is in the board? Favorite music, I like it all. I like them all. Goodness me. Anyway, folks, it's on F1's Instagram.

Go and have a look. But, yeah, it's for Sonoda, he's sort of, it's not much he can do on that one because he's got to rely on Alonzo retiring, them not getting Vestan or Lance Strol also retiring from F1. There's a lot of factors against him there that he just can't control. So it's certainly, look, he'll be on their radar because Honda will want a Japanese driver in their car. or in the car that they are their engines in but it's a tougher it's a tougher it's a tougher call I think and do you've got to remember that Lawrence Stroll still owns Aston Martin and he's going to

decide ultimately really he's going to go in that car so um it would be I'd find it unlike a lot of things that have to happen but I'd find it unlikely if that did end up being the case where Sonoda ends up at Aston Martin and that last point is is really where I landed on it, where I think if Honda were given the choice, would you like Sonoda, a Japanese driver in one of the two cars? They would absolutely say yes. But they're going to be realistic, I think, and realize it's probably not worth the fight with Astor Martin. They know Lauren Stroll. They know what he wants from the two seats. And they're not going to be stupid about this. They're going to see that if you're going to have Lanch Stroll in one of your seats, and I don't

want to be the person to go up to Lawrence Stroll and say, hi, would you mind Lance not being in one of the seats so he can fit some odour in? I don't think that's going to go down very well. And as you say, with the other seat, no disrespect to Lance Stroll, I say, as I'm about to completely disrespect him. If you've got him in one of your seats, you need a very good driver in the other seat. It's Alonzo at the moment. And if it's not Alonzo, as you said, it probably needs to be Vestappen. And if not Vestappen, it needs to be another heavy hitter of the sport. Because as good as Sonoda was last season and the improvement we've seen from him, Aston Martin are heading into an incredibly important phase of their lifetime, right? They don't want Stroll and Sonoda as the two drivers of their car. Like, it's not

happening. The only way Sonoda gets in that seat is if it's not with Lant Stroll. So, maybe there's a route to be a reserve driver for next season and then just see how everything plays out. I'm sure Felipe Drogovich would absolutely be delighted about being passed over for something else. Reserve driver being passed over for that. But yeah, what else is going to be out there? I think that could well be the way it goes. Drogovich and Van Dorn could have a little cry session together. At least Van Dore got a shot in F1.

I'd be sure he got bodied by Alon. but he got a shot. Oh dear. Give Druggovich the opportunity to be bodied by Alonzo Astavine. That's all he, please, beg him, please let me be bodied.

Do you think, is there any other seats that might open up? Well, I mean, Salberg potentially, if Bortoletto isn't living up to the hype, but...

Does he try for Cadillac? Maybe I think Cadillac is an option. I just fear Cadillac after something else from their drivers. I don't feel like Sonoda's. Cadillac, I sense,

are going to go for some big names. And Sonoda isn't one of them, sadly, for him. But he can give it a go. New manager can give it a go, but I just don't see them going for Sonoda as a first option. He might be in the running though.

Who knows? We will soon find out, of course both of those Cadillac drivers still to be announced, and they were officially announced as being the 11th team. I know it's kind of. I know we're about to get onto the FIA. Did you see their tweet saying how the FIA, they did a tweet thread, or an X, I should say.

It was like the FIA and how they paved the way for Cadillac to be an F1. It's just like a whole thread of then high-fiving each other. I haven't seen this. Go and have a look after this. Oh, sure. Even a clue's like F-O-N blocked it and then they go and then they didn't. It's an odd, odd thread.

In fairness, when you very rarely claim any wins, you've got to really milk the ones that you do win. They've been milking it. Boy, they've been milking it. It might be the only victory they've had in the last three years. So as you say, that is a prefaceing the next topic. We'll take a short break here, but on the other side, Motorsport UK, threatening legal action against the FIA.

Big up Dave Richards. Oh, Dave. Welcome back, everyone. Here we go. The FIA faces potential legal action after barring some members from a World Motorsport Council meeting for refusing to sign a new confidentiality agreement. Motorsport UK Chairman David Richards condemned the agreement as a ganging order and along with others declined to sign. He warned that legal action will follow

unless the FIA addresses their concerns. Richards also criticized FIA President Mohamed Ben-Suliam for failing to deliver on promises and highlighted the departure of senior FIA staff. He argued the confidentiality order violates FIA statutes and contradicts the commitment to transparent governance. With an FIA election approaching this year, Richard stressed the importance of holding the governing body accountable, bowing to push for change. Would they be in their rights to push for legal action here? I've got an image of Dave Richards, like, stood on a top of a mountain top and he's got a cape on because he's the hero. We didn't know we needed.

Flying at a last minute. Is it a bird into the plane? No, it's Dave Richards. Yeah, yeah. Look, this feels like this has been brewing for a while, this sort of semi-rebellion almost against Ben Sillium. As you mentioned, the senior staff leaving the FIA. There's no confidentiality clause, which is basically just an NDA

that they're trying to get people to sign, which is, I'm assuming, don't repeat the stupid stuff I'm about to stay in this. meeting effectively. Yeah, that's not okay. You can't be doing that. That's not how this works, especially as an organisation

that is theoretically democratic, their leader is elected. This is just it's not the way this should be done. And I think Dave Richers and Mottable UK are well within their rights to make this case. And I'm glad

they have, I'm glad they have not, you know, not blindly got along with it. Because, you know, as this podcast may have mentioned, the FAA is becoming a bit of an embarrassment because of one certain president. And it, we don't

want it to be. We do, we do, we truly do not want the FIA to be like this. And it's the way it's going. And I, I respect, you know, Dave Richards and Mostport UK for for, for putting this forward. So I think they're within their rights.

Whether it will hold up, I don't know. But I'm glad someone has stood up to this because it is becoming ridiculous. This does hold some weight as well because if I was to turn around and say, I think Mohammed Ben-Suliam is a bit silly. People will hopefully want to hear what I have to say, but also go, well, Ben's always hate him,

Mohammed Ben Suleim, so that probably doesn't mean much. David Richards has supported him in the past. He supported him for the presidency in 2021, is it every four years? Whenever he was elected the first time, Richards supported him. So it's not like we just have someone who is completely anti-Mahmaid Ben-Sulliam

speaking out against him. This has some further thought in it. I won't pretend to know the legal ins and outs of this and how a legal case would stack up for motorsport UK. But it feels like they have a case because refusing entry to a World Motorsport Council meeting on the basis that they won't sign this NDA does feel like it probably breaches the statutes.

The FIA requires that, the statutes require that all FIA members have access, have entry to these meetings. So if they're being barred from entering this meeting, that sounds like it's not 100% legal. And it also sends a message that they won't allow Mohammed bin Suleim set a precedent. Because if everyone does just blindly go along with these gagging orders, as David Richards calls them, then what is to stop Ben Suleim just using them every single time, whenever he wants something to not be out there in the press,

just bring out the same trick as last time. As soon as you allow it once, you're essentially just allowing every use of it. So it's good that Richards and Motorsport UK have stepped up from the off and said, you know, we're not going to stand by idly and just let this happen. And regardless of what the result of a, court case would be, whether

Motorsport UK would win, whether the FIA would win, it might be enough just to put the pressure on to threaten it. Like Mohammed Ben Suleyam in an election year might look at this and go, that's not worth it.

That would involve him using his brain, which I appreciate is lesser spotted, but he might just look at this and go it's not worth my time, it's not worth my resources and you can have two losers in a court case, right? Like you could, the amount of resource and time that is spent from both sides could just mean that regardless of which way the result goes, it doesn't really benefit either party. There is definitely a risk.

Like the FIA could call Motorsport UK's bluff and there could be political fallout. Muhammad Ben Suleem does still yield a lot of power. He might retaliate. He might look to completely isolate motorsport UK within the context of global

motorsport. But I am glad that someone has stepped up to this because it was definitely

needed. Big Dave Richardson is cape. God bless Dave. God bless Dave. How much

does this weaken Ben Suleem's position do you think again going into what is an election year

for him? I mean, the guy's weakened it himself pretty drastically by just being him.

yeah themselves got hands but as you say this doesn't look at it and it may be that he's thinking this isn't worth the fights especially with the re-election coming up

I losing support of baseball UK is big losing support as they as he has done because even if this case doesn't go it doesn't happen and they agreed to be let back into the world most most most most most more meaningful meeting even if this doesn't happen

I can't see motorsport UK Dave Rich has been like chums with them again now so I can't see that they're going to get that back he's going to get that backing from them and I think from what's been going on and from the the actions he's made and of things he said questions he's answered himself um he's not making Ben Cidoo's not making a great case for himself to be re-elected. And I think this is, whilst most of the UK were the ones that have stepped up and spoken out on this, I suspect they aren't the only ones within the FIA that are also thinking the same.

And maybe they're, you know, slightly less brave folk in there, or those who don't want to cause a scene are probably saving it for when re-election comes and they're going to quietly cast other elsewhere. So I don't, I think overall his position isn't looking great. I would be shocked and mad and disappointed if he is re-elected. But we've seen crazier things happen, I guess. Does Richards himself go for it, do you think? I think he'd be a very solid shot.

They Richard has been around. He knows the game. You know, he used to run BAR back in the day here in the early noughties. He runs pro drive still. It's he's been around the scene a long time and as a sensible head. So I think he'd be very good whether this is a bid, perhaps this is part of a bid for an election. But either way, I think it'd be a good, good shout. I think this definitely does weaken I'm a Ben Suleim's position.

And I think what we might see now is a bit of a, it's a bit of a race between Ben Suleem to, isolate David Richardson and Motorsport UK and almost like intimidate everyone else to make sure they stay on their side. It'll be the race between that and also Motorsport UK trying to drum up more public support because as you say, I very much doubt it is just David Richards who thinks the way that he does. I'm sure many others behind closed doors think exactly the same thing. But sometimes you do just need one of the bigger organizations, one of the bigger names within the organization as a whole to step up and publicly say something like this to then give you the confidence to go along with that. And it could end up being something of a domino effect. If another one of the bigger names sees what Motorsport UK does, maybe they're willing to say something publicly. Then you've got two names and then maybe that prompts some of these other smaller nations to come up. in an election year, it will be fascinating to see how that goes. Really, this whole episode does just add to the dissatisfaction that exists with the FIA at the

moment regarding transparency and staff departures and issues with governance and scandals. That's just a long old list. And I mean, we all saw the response that the FIA got at F-175. So it kind of just piles on to that. And motorsport UK, as mentioned, it's more about influence in terms, rather than votes, because motorsport UK, as far as I'm aware, whilst they yield a lot of influence, they don't necessarily have more votes. Like, they'll get the 12 votes, I think, that the sporting body of a country gets.

But I think every country gets exactly the same. So it's not much in terms of votes that Suleem's losing, but it is quite a lot in terms of influence if others decide to follow. There you go, FIA. There's your weekly mention. Before we go to our next break, a quick shout, because we are unbelievably our next episode, we are doing a preview episode, which means the return of Discord submissions. So don't get them in just yet. Hold your horses, but the call will be made by means.

me, not by David Richards. But the call will be made this time tomorrow as we're recording this for under pressure submissions. So make sure you keep them snappy. Make sure the audio is crisp and clear to give yourself the best possible chance of getting chosen to be on the podcast. But we're just wanting to learn from you which driver, which team, who is under pressure going into the Australian Grand Prix.

And then, of course, we'll have some more submissions in the race review on Sunday. You have to be on a Discord as well. Yeah, that helps. To do that. Yes. The Discord is to place. So join the discode. Let's take our final break on this episode.

On the other side, we've got some chat on the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Welcome back, everyone, to the final part of today's episode. Formula One management has admitted the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix underperformed financially, mainly due to disappointing ticket sales. This impacted F1. earnings and team payments, a sensitive issue, as teams opposed, of course, an 11th entry of Cadillac in 26 to avoid price money dilution. Liberty Media, which has invested $300 million into the event, is making ticketing and pricing changes to improve 2025's financial outcome. Chief accounting

officer Brian Wendling stated, Vegas missed revenue expectations, but we are making adjustments based on two years of data. Despite financial struggles, F1 insists the event, was a huge success in growing its US fan base. Originally signed for three years, F1 has already gained permission from the city to continue racing until 2032. Any concerns about a few of these things here, Harry? It would have thought,

by having really expensive tickets, people wouldn't buy them. That's a real show. For a place that hasn't had F1 for like 40 years. Yeah, for a brand, yeah, basically a brand, city for an F1 race charge lots of money for a ticket and then expect people to come.

There's not much else going on in Las Vegas. You think the people would be up for it. What else are they going to do? Exactly. It's boring and the rest of the time. So I feel like we could have told you this was going to happen. But they've had to prove it to themselves

that charging that much for tickets in Vegas is not profitable. So I'm glad they're at least addressing it and making changes. Saying things like, but it has, you know, expanded the US audience of F1. Yes, it's sure, but also maybe no. But how do we know? You can just say that.

And everyone's like, yeah, yeah, very good point, actually. Yes, sure, sure. Good at the marketing. That's so good at marketing. Yes, I'm sure you can argue that. I think there's a fair case to say it hasn't actually made that much difference, but it's quite a vague, ambiguous thing to say so they can get away with it. I think, yeah, if they make the changes, pricing changes and make these tickets cheaper

and people can come, stop doing ridiculous things like bordering up every, any viewpoint for fans to see it. And now I'm not saying that's going to expand tickets sales, but just that sort of thing. it's going to annoy the locals. And when you have racing through the city, a lot of tickets are going to be bought by locals. And if you're going to cheese them off to start with, I don't think it's worth it.

And things like shutting down restaurants and stuff and they can't be open because it's right next to the track during the race. That's ridiculous. It doesn't apply to Monaco. So why does it apply here? So I think there's a few things that need to adjust on that. They make the changes to pricing

and it's cheaper. next year and people start to come then I think that's that's fine I think they'll have learnt the lesson if they change it and it doesn't if it doesn't make any difference and they're still struggling then I think that's a worrying sign for them because people are just not interested in this and generally we've seen with the expansion of f1 ticket prices have gone up and up and up and people still go silverston for example has become ludicrous from you know from from from where it used to be and that's speaking as a British F-1 fan. But it's sold out every year.

It's sold out. And I think that's where the problem lies for Vegas. Is there the passion for that race? And yes, we've had two years. There's only a few to go. But I think the issue is you're starting with such a high price point that these fans aren't going to pay that much and then you're not going to develop the love around this event

because people aren't going because they can't afford to go or just don't think it's worth of money whereas you have a Silverstone and people have been going for years it's been much cheaper beforehand so they can't treat it the same way I don't think so

at least I'm glad they're addressing it I think that's good it's not putting their head in the sand and just pretending that it's fine I'm glad they've addressed it and said look this isn't where it needs to be we need to adjust this ticketing I've just been treated to see

how much they reduce it by and whether if it doesn't make a difference or not yeah because they did add a general admission ticket for the 2024 event, which was new from 2023. But clearly some more pricing changes are required based on what they're saying here. I think it is a concern. And it was a massive investment from F1 when they decided to go here. Like I mentioned, $300 million.

It's quite expensive, actually, to invest on one race of 24 in a season. And if sales don't pick up, that initial investment could take years to recoup. And I appreciate they are mentioning how it has had a broader impact on F1 in terms of marketing. But I am on your side of this, which is you can just say that and not back it up with anything. They haven't provided any figures whatsoever to say that's true or not true. So I'm going to remain a bit skeptical on that one. and ultimately they just want this race and I think everyone wants this race

to stand on its own two feet if it's going to stay on the calendar. It just needs to find its way, it needs to find its spot, right? We had 2023 as the big launch novelty year where we were doing something that hasn't really been done in the history of F1.

I know we've been to Vegas before, but not like this. But it wouldn't have taken a genius at that point to say that novelty effect is going to wear off when you get to year two and year three. So they need a bit more of a sustainable model to work in future years. And if it doesn't, maybe we do get a bit of an uncomfortable situation or an uncomfortable

question of have Liberty maybe slightly overestimated the popularity of the sport in the US to think that they could put together this third race in Las Vegas and just make it work because we are F1 and we should make it work because we're the best motorsport in the world. Just thinking that doesn't mean a great deal. So I think this year is a pretty critical one. They, you know, the revising pricing strategy could work. It's still maybe a marketing success for now. And Las Vegas themselves is obviously committed to 2032.

But yeah, I think this one will be a really important year to show, even if they don't turn of profit this year. It's just an improvement from last year is required. Is there any danger whatsoever that 2025 is the last Las Vegas Grand Prix? Because as mentioned, the city itself, the contract is there until 2032. But the contract for the Grand Prix expires at the end of this season. No, I don't think it's in any danger. Even with that in mind, I just F1 will not let it. F1 have put so much behind this race that I just don't see them

you know giving up after three years. They're in this for the long haul with Vegas and I think they would be unwise to give up. I think there's changes that need to make but they'd be unwise to give up because it's not going to, they weren't going to just rock up in Vegas and everyone is happy and it becomes one of the greatest F1 races in the world. There's a lot of work to do. Now, I think they've shot themselves in the foot with a couple of

of things, ticket pricing, stuff we've already mentioned with annoying the local businesses and stuff like that, but, you know, there's still work to be done. It's going to take longer than, longer than three years. So I can't see F1 dropping it off the, off the calendar, particularly with the amount of noise they, they've made around this race, 2023, especially. Yeah, I think. They're committed to this one, I'm sure. Yeah, I think it's incredibly unlikely. I think it's slightly more possible that we don't make it's 2032. I still think they want that to happen.

But if there aren't signs of life with the revised pricing strategy this year and next year, then I think maybe some questions start to be asked about the long-term sustainability of this Grand Prix. it's not a good look to walk away this early on in the contract, that is for sure. And F1 will want to give it every possible chance to succeed. But at some point, if it continues the way that it did in 2024, I think investors, stakeholders are going to turn around and say, why are we doing this? Like, why are we just burning money every year?

And the teams might start to say the same thing as well. If Las Vegas is used as a bit of a scapego answer for why, the prize pot isn't increasing as much as it could, then they maybe are going to turn on the event. I don't know. So, yeah, I'd be very surprised if they did anything drastic at the end of this season, but I'm not absolutely certain that the contract that the city has is going to be fully lived out if these issues continue.

Speaking of those teams and the prize pot, that was referenced as part of the article. will teams be even more, if it's possible, even more skeptical about future entries based on this? If the prize pot gets smaller, then yes, I'm sure of it because they are all greedy, greedy people. It's going to take it. Look at the struggle we've had to get Cadillac in.

It's going to take a lot for another team to make its way into the sport. And if that prize spot is getting smaller, and the pie they're all sharing is getting small, then it could well make it tougher for another F1 team to make it in. I think it's going to take a while. If there's another one that tries to make an entry, it's going to take a while for it to happen. So this certainly is whether it makes a great deal of difference,

I don't know, but it's certainly not going to help the cause of a new F1 team if they're trying to make an entry because it's just another argument from the current ones to say, to say no. And the thing is, we'll have Cadillac involved with that now. And I guarantee they would also be like... Oh, 100%. A thousand percent.

Because has one. Yeah, yeah. So now you're in, you don't want anyone else to come in. Exactly. Just the way it goes. Yeah, I think the price pot has increased since the COVID year of 2020. And actually it was on an upward trend until that COVID hit year. So from 2018, really, it's just...

steadily increased. But if you look at 2024, the curve is somewhat flattening out a bit. So there was an increase in the prize pot from 2023 to 2024, but not massive. It sounds massive because it was 40 million more, but to F1 teams when split out amongst 10, that's not actually all that much. So four million each, if we're dividing it by 10. So yes, they are going to be skeptical. It's not like they were massively open to a 12th team beforehand, and now they're going to start to have doubts. They would have been dead set against it anyway. But yeah, this will, I think this will negatively impact their opinion on the potential of another, a 12th team. But I do have to say this to F1 teams.

I don't have any sympathy for you for this reason. Let's say if 2024 had Cadillac and an 11th team compared to 2023 that had 10 teams. rather than each team getting 4 million more, they would have all lost 5 million from 2023 to 2024. Those poor F1 teams all losing an average of 5 million each. How much a Cadillac paying to be in the sport? Clue, it's not 5 million. It is a lot, lot, lot more.

So when you divide that out between the teams, they are still being heavily, heavily compensated for having another entry. Would anyone think of the Not Children, F1 Teams Please, someone think of the F1 teams I think that's going to Oh no, no, we can't let the episode Here we all right to go

I'm going to have to come up with another topic So this never ends That is the end of this episode Which means this is the official outro Of this episode I hope you've all had fun I know I have, I know Harry has it's been a wild ride.

We've discussed some interesting topics on this episode. And I know Sam's listening as well to this outro. So it's all he listens to him. He just skips to the end. He's walking around with Kerry Ketona at the moment. That's why mum's go to Iceland. Yes, that was an Iceland reference. I haven't just massively insulted with Rosie.

Make sure to follow us on all social channels at late breaking F1 everywhere. Does that include X? It does. Does that include Instagram? You know it. Does that include TikTok? You bet you.

But does that include Facebook? 1,000% it does. Hell yeah. That connected account man for Instagram saving lives. As mentioned, get in the Discord if you're not there already. We had a quiz on Saturday, which you can't attend because it's already happened. But there will be another one at some point. So make sure you're in there for those.

and also for under pressure submissions that will be coming up in our midweek episode. Anything you want to say in this out? I don't want to hog everything, Harry. You got anything you want to say? Thanks for coming. I've had a lovely time. Good.

I appreciate your input, Harry. Until the next episode, I've been Ben Hocking. And I've been Harry Ead. And remember, keep breaking late. Join the Patreon. Network.