The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Who is in the fight for the Constructors' title?

Episode Date: November 13, 2024

With only 3 races to go, Ben, Sam and Harry discuss the teams still in contention for the 2024 Constructors' title. They also cover Wolff's insistence of Hamilton's "shelf life", Alpine's engine deal with Mercedes, and the immediate departure of F1's race director. They finish with a game of Show Me The Options... 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 BUY our Merch EMAIL us at [e-mail]   & SUBSCRIBE to our podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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tables, or join a live dealer game to feel the thrill of real-time action, all from the comfort of your own devices. Why settle for less when you can go for the gold at Golden Nugget Online Casino. Gambling problem call connects Ontario 1866531-260. 19 and over, physically present in Ontario. Eligibility restrictions apply. See Golden Nuggett Casino.com for details. Please play responsibly. 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 Eid, Sam Sage and me, Ben Hocking, back with another midweek episode. Sam, I'm looking to change today.

We're recording this on Tuesday, 12th of November. I would like to rechristin it the day of three schedules. I mean, the way the news kept rolling in and I could see your low-level fury building whilst being Harry world. There was nothing low-level about it. Straight through the wall, the Hulk is here, me and Harry giggling from the balcony above you

while it just got worse. I can't believe the way they announced it. It was hilarious the way it was just kind of another one. Tatsy another one, fancy another one. Of course you do. Devena. That's the problem. Devina.

Yeah. How many schedules did you have to do, Ben? I think it might have ended up at. Oh, the slags are back. Producer Cassie, shaking her head. Time to move on. That was excellent teamwork. I love that.

Yes, there was a lot of news that came out today. Some of which we will touch on today, some of which we won't touch on today, but don't you worry, we'll cover everything at some point, whether it's on Sunday's episode, a Patreon episode. Nothing gets past us. We'd just like to take our time with some of these things.

We've got the news about Neal's Vittich leaving as the FIA race director. We've got Alpine and Mercedes linking up from 2026 onwards. Some comments from Toto Wolf about Lewis Hamilton. But we're going to start with the Constructors Championship battle with three races to go in the season. A maximum of 147 points, if my mouth is correct, for any constructor from now until the end of the year. And of course, that includes a sprint that we have in Qatar. 36 points separates McLaren in first, 593 points back to Ferrari on 500. 57. Red Bull technically in the fight as well, they're 49 points away from McLaren on 544. Sam, is this fight still alive? We asked the question about the driver's championship.

I think the three of us quite emphatically said it's a done deal. Is this one a done deal as well? No, I really don't think it is at all. Red ball, I'm going to have to rule out. Unfortunately, even though Max Verstappen is still on it, he's still, you know, Jeremy Clarkson's come out this week and so he might be the best we've ever had in the sport, which is a a bold claim and maybe one will discuss famously close Dutch drivers.

We might discuss that claim another time but yes he's come out and said that as much as Max Ostaplan is pulling his weight by Howard O'Dek's notes leading the driver's championship in a car that could be the third fastest at this point anyway in the season.

His teammate unfortunately has dropped the ball. Sergio Perez has meant his performance this season has meant that he's unable to really support Red Bull And if he was even, if he was as close to his teammate as all the other teammates were, Red Bulls, he'll be league in this championship fight.

And they'd be very much in the fight for taking the title home as well. So Red Bull are out of it. But Ferrari very much in the hunt in the game. Ben, you say to how many points are left at the start of the segment, well over 100 points to the gap in terms of what they need to gain over what's versus McClellan having hand. So there's plenty of time to play with. If anything, they could still have a bit of a so-so weekend at Vegas. where I feel actually Ferrari won't be too strong

and then pick up the points again in Qatar and in Abu Dhabi and they could still make the difference, I think, in those two Grand Prix. It only takes one poor Grand Prix. We've seen it from McLaren recently that this can happen. Piastri has been relatively off form. Norris, of course, battling alongside Max Verstappan in previous Grand Prix has meant that he has not been there

or thereabouts regularly to take advantage of these points available to him. But because of that battle between those two league, livers. Ferrari have had all the doors held open for them. This way, sir. Best table in the house. Please come and sit down. Enjoy yourself as they're dying on points given to them by Red Bull and McLaren. McLaren science has been on fantastic form for the most part. Even when they're not on good form, the two of them, apart from Brazil, are still scoring very strong points at almost every single Grand Prix and the pair of them together are so consistently scoring. They're so close together many, many Grand Prix in a row that it's still on. It's still long. I don't. I don't.

want to say it's on a knife egg because I don't think it's that close, but one Grand Prix could see the whole thing change. And that's exciting for the last three Grand Prix. We've still got a lot to play for. Harry, do you think a Constructors' Championship battle is on the cards from now until the end of the year? And if so, how many teams are in it? I would, look, I'll say there are three in it. Backs just happened as having to do this all by himself and his back must be sore from carrying Sergio Perez around. But, uh, I would I was trying to think of a time when we had such an interesting constructors battle. I mean, there is technically mathematically a driver's championship,

but basically a driver's championship that's already sewn up. And the constructors is between three teams. Yes, I know, as I say, Red Bull and you said, Sam, are really a man down. But it's just a very odd scenario to be in. But I'm quite looking forward to it. It'll make quite a fascinating final few races, I think, because now that Lando is effectively out of the driver's championship, McLaren, I think, are going to turn all their focus to securing the constructors.

But yeah, Ferrari aren't far behind. And Red Bull, it only, because there are so many drivers now involving this, technically six, it only takes one of one team or two, you know, two teams or two drivers to be, like, concentrating on each other too much, that Red Bull could sneak back into it with a, with the Vastappan victory or something like that. So I won't count them out. It's going to be very difficult for them. But yeah, I'll say all three going into this final few races.

I think it's going to be a very interesting watch. And Ferrari, I'll be intrigued to see what Ferrari's pace is like in Las Vegas. I think that really depends on where their charge lies. If it's Mexico, you know, Mexico and Cota level, then game on. If it's Brazil level, which was difficult to judge because of the weather, But either way, they weren't that quick. Sprind didn't look great, did it? But no, exactly.

It's sprinted and great in the dry. So if it's that level, then it's going to be trickier. But if they're up there with the same performance they had in Mexico and Kota, then, yeah, it could be fascinating to watch. I guess an aside question from that. Do you think, and you made the point of how it's very rare that we have a Constructors' championship battle this late in the year when we don't have a driver's championship battle, from a pure like ratings perspective,

like the average fan, do you think the interest will still be there? I think naturally it won't be as much as a driver's championship battle, but F1 can probably do a relatively good job of hyping this up a bit. And I think a lot of fans understand that Constructors championship is important to teams. I think without the, now that there isn't that, you know, driver's battle,

they can, you know, focus all of their, marketing efforts into promoting this, promoting this constructors fight, because I'd be very surprised if it went into the final race and all, you know, F1 and, you know, media outlets were trying to hype up a driver's championship battle. I'll be furious if they do, because come on. But yeah, they can turn their attention into hyping that up.

But I think given the sort of high profile teams that are involved in high profile drivers, I think most fans will be engaged with this. Yeah, I would tend to. to agree. I think it's still alive for two teams. I don't think it's alive for three, unfortunately. Brazil was really, it was a kick in the tea for both Ferrari and Red Bull because McLaren, at least in the main Grand Prix, scored a grand total of 12 points, which actually matches their worst race of the season in terms of points hall with the first race of the year, Bahrain. And how did Ferrari and Red Bull respond? Well, Ferrari actually ended up with fewer points because while

Charles LeClair was fifth with 10 points, Carlos Sines didn't have anything. If it weren't for the Canadian Grand Prix, where of course they both didn't score, that would be their worst result of the year. And from Red Bull's perspective, Vastappan delivered what we might refer to as a generational performance. We, on our last episode, in our final segment, on Sunday, we went through our top five wet weather races of all time. Vastappan at Brazil, last time out, was on both of your lists. And he was a consideration for mine as well. So we all agree that we witnessed something incredibly special. And yet the overall result was they only made up 14 points on McLaren because only one of their two drivers was scoring.

And I think, let's say we've got three races to go. and we have almost a repeat of Brazil in all three races. It's incredibly unlikely. But let's say, for example, McLaren deliver three worst races of the season and Vastappan delivers three generational performances. And we have three crazy weather, crazy situation race like Brazil.

The chance of one of those three things happening is incredibly slim. The chance of all of them happening is essentially none. And even with all of that, that still wouldn't be enough for Red Bull. It'd still be a few points shy of the gap that they need to make up. So based on that, I don't think Red Bull are in the fight. Ferrari, though, I think they could be. And I think a lot is going to depend on Vegas.

Obviously, Vegas is going to be the outlier, you would probably say in terms of performance of those last three. Qatar and Abidabee might be a bit more similar, but I'm intrigued to see how it goes. Sam, if we're looking at Ferrari and McLaren, I guess, just exclusively now. What do you need to see from them from the rest of the year?

What does the strategy need to look like from both teams? For the most part, Norris, I think, can continue delivering. If he's not going to focus on Max Verstappen, he no longer needs to ensure that he outright beats him, he has his battles on track. He doesn't need to risk anything. He doesn't need to go toe to toe with Max Verstappen

and risk a DNF, risk running wide and maybe colliding with a wall or spinging out. Those risks can boil down from him and he can deliver what is just considered a very good performance from Nando Norris at this point. It's more Oscar Piastri at this point than needs to step back up. We saw from the hungry period of the season

through to pretty much just after the summer break, we got to Singapore. Piascri was pretty much one of the top points scores, if not the top point score for many of those Grand Prix, picked up his first outright win, of course, won sprints. He was so ahead of the game, it felt like,

And since Singapore, he's been lackluster in comparison to his teammate. Well, these last three Grand Prix, we need to see Piastri matching Norris. It doesn't mean going outright beating him, but right there. And we've said it before. You know, if Norris is second, Piastri needs to be third. If Morris is fifth, I expect Piastri to be sixth. If that's how good the car is, he needs to be backing his teammate right up. On the flip side from McLaren, if Piastri is 10 seconds clear winning a Grand Prix,

and Norris is fighting for second place and gets it, No more Pop-Po rules now. No, no. The championship's gone. The driver's championship is gone. The moment's done. Even if they swap a position, it's not really going to mean anything.

No silly games, because they got so lucky in Brazil. There were so many moments in Brazil, their team orders in the spring, where they could have got it wrong, and it will cost them so dearly. And they were so lucky not to. That can still happen.

At tracks like Vegas, where walls are right next to the cars constantly, or safety cars might come out on an unoptimal time, or a yellow flag might come out of the wrong time for them. It could cost them dearly. If Piastri is leading, let him lead. Let him walk away with it. Let him go and get victories.

And Norris, he's good enough. He can do the work to finish second place. McLaren to make sure their drivers are one, two in every race. If they can be, no matter what that order actually is. For Ferrari, the deal is simple. Each one of your drivers should be beating one of the other drivers at a minimum. And that's how you conquer them. You know, if Norris is in second, Lecleron is to be first.

If Piastri is fourth, stop laughing at me, you child. If pedestrians in fourth, sites get to be third. You know, it is as simple as that. Each driver has to go toe to toe to with them and outscored the other one. In ideal one, of course, both drivers, we outscore the other two drivers. That's as simple as it is. Ferrari's target should be beating McLaren in every race. Harry, how do the two teams approach these last few Grand Prix?

Obviously, McLaren, in both championships really, have for so long this season been the hunters, right? they've been the ones chasing. Now they're the ones protecting a lead. Does that change anything? It does because not because they're protecting the lead, but I think as Sam mentioned, they don't need no more

parable rules now. They've been shooting themselves in the foot slightly with those sorts of games. And you're right with Piastri. He wasn't great in Brazil, but I'd put that down to an anomaly versus a dropping form. So I'm not too worried about him.

but they just it doesn't matter which around they are as long as they are scoring one twos or one threes and beating Ferrari I think as you said some I know it's the obvious thing to say but as long as they're outscoring Ferrari each race it doesn't have to be one two so the only thing they were watch watch out for is obviously just happening the red ball but um yeah I don't think that sorry I think their approach will change but that's just because of the fact that the driver's flight is is done now they don't need to worry about prioritizing Norris over Piastri because situations like the sprint in Brazil, they could have lost out on,

not only on Norris gaining points over Vastappen, they could have lost out on gaining points on their rivals and the constructors in that race if they didn't get quite so lucky in that race. So they need to not do that. I don't think they will now because they don't need to. So yeah, I think it's a case of just used the speed of that car and go quickly and don't worry about what the others are doing because I think McLaren are guilty of worrying about what everyone else is doing

and just not what they're doing. So do that McClaren. No being fast but silly. That's the key. Goodness me. That's made it back. And it's still relevant, weirdly. At least how you intended it, maybe not the second version. No, no, just the first version, yep. Yep. Yeah, they need to avoid errors.

It boils down to that, simply put. We've had Lawson and the incident that happened at Brazil for Piastri. We've had Q1 and SQ1 eliminations for Piastri, which if I had to point out one thing that really can't happen between now and the end of the year, that's probably it. It's just ensuring that Piastri is making it through to Q3, as he has done for the majority of this season, and avoiding those early qualifying eliminations.

Of course, Lano Norris has had some poor starts. He ran off the road in Brazil as well. it's just avoiding those errors because they have got that buffer and they should have a quick car from now until the end of the year. I mean, they've had in the last 17 Grand Prix, one of their two drivers has been second or better in 14 of them. That's the consistency they need. The problem for McLaren recently is two of the last three races, they haven't done it.

They just need to ensure that that consistency returns from Ferrari. perspective, I am intrigued because I think a lot of their strategy is going to ride on what their pace is like at Vegas. If they turn up at Vegas and it's similar to Mexico in the US where they seem to have an advantage, then suddenly I think they need to take advantage of that and maybe chip into that within the three, because they only need to outscore McLaren by about 13 points per race weekend. If they can have a car advantage, I think they can try. trust that their lineup plus the car, plus their strategy, which has been fairly good this year, put that all together. And they don't need to make up all of that points gap at Vegas.

So I think they can maybe play it a bit safer. If they turn up at Vegas and their performances like level or slightly behind McLaren as it maybe was in Brazil, then I think they start to play at riskier, both in terms of strategy and in terms of wheel to wheel racing. Because why not go for it if you're Ferrari at this stage? I would much rather Ferrari, if they have a chance, going for the championship with some risky strategy plays at risk of falling to third. Who cares if they fall to third?

Worst case scenario, Ferrari, you go for the championship, you drop to third and you get some extra wind tunnel time. Great. I would not like a situation at all where they play it safe and just try and hold off Red Bull. That is not as a. a spectator as a competitor. I don't want to see that at all. So if they do turn up at Vegas and the pace does seem comparable, or again, if they are slightly behind, make some riskier calls.

Go with a different starting tire. Use one of your drivers as a decoy. Play to play to the fact that you would be behind and need to make up that gap. If you do the same thing as McLaren, you're probably not going to get there. So I would just implore Ferrari to play it risky if they're in that spot. From Red Bulls, perspective as well, like I just wanted to say with them, they can't really have too much of a strategy because their strategy is just Vestappen do what Vestappen does and Perez try to do what Perez hasn't done. But, but you can't really say anything to Sergio Perez at this point, right? You can't say, oh, have you considered being faster and getting better position?

Like, you can't say that. You can have a kick cat. You can have a kick cat. Well, take a break, me. I don't know. Take a very long career break. The irony is, it might have bought him a year, but maybe that's a discussion for another day. Right, we're going to take our first break on this episode. On the other side, we've got some comments from Toto Wolf about departing driver, Lewis Hamilton.

Welcome back, everyone. Toto Wolf has revealed he did not try to persuade Lewis Hamilton to remain at Mercedes Mercedes instead of switching to Ferrari. Wolf says Hamilton's decision to defect to another team is actually a positive, is it means he does not need to have an awkward discussion where he tells him he is no longer needed. This is what he had to say. I absolutely had it on my radar that Lewis would go.

I just couldn't understand why he'd changed to another team before we knew if we were going to be competitive. It also didn't give me any time to react. I possibly missed out on negotiating with other drivers who had signed contracts a few weeks earlier, like Charles LeClaire and Lando Norris. But I like the situation. It helps us because it avoids the moment

where we need to tell the sports most iconic driver that we want to stay. stop. There's a reason why we only signed a one plus one year contract. We're in a sport where cognitive sharpness is extremely important and I believe everyone has a shelf life, so I need to look at the next generation. Sam, I don't know about you. These are very interesting comments. Oh, don't like it. Don't like it. You don't like it? No. No. No, it feels... I feel like there's a can been open and there's Worms everywhere.

Oh, honestly. God, I cut out of the worms. I'm covering in worms. Do you remember worms, the game? Yeah, I love it, mate. Absolutely love it. I still got it on the PC. Absolutely, I absolutely.

1B1 me at worms. Toto. Yeah, no, don't like this. I hate it. Actually, this rinks of a man that's been caught out and has felt the need for some reason to go, oh, I'll jump on a bit of a, or a bit of a bangwagon.

Why are the need to tarnish the relationship? Why are the need to come out and say anything at all? You know, you're disrespecting the most successful man in Formula One. You've had a generational partnership. People will remember Hamilton and Mercedes. As they remember, Schumacher and Ferrari, You know, it is that iconic. It will go down in history for decades to come.

No one was expecting Toto Wolf to say anything. No one thought badly of Toto Wolf because of this. And yet he's come out here and absolutely slated Lewis Hamilton's timing, decision, you know, decision making. Firstly, Lewis Hamilton was exactly right. You're not competitive. You haven't been competitive for years. You have not improved.

If anything, you've got worse, which is quite impressive. And Ferrari are winning races on the regular. He's a champion. He's a winner. He's successful. He's going after that for his final two years. You signed the one plus one deal. So you clearly thought there was at least a good amount of cognitive sharpness

available to Lewis Hamilton. He's got at least another year in his locker. And you won't get a big him off halfway through his contract. Don't give you that. So it just feels like he's got his backup. And the story of Carlos Sykes Senior running off to Soto War, to try and tell him. So maybe Carlos Jr. could get a drive while Toto just goes,

I could have negotiated with Charles is one of the funniest interactions that I've seen between kind of driver of a family. Shot of Carlos Senior's face and Carlos Jr.'s face and Toto in the middle, and he looks so defeated. Priceless, brilliant shot. So yeah, don't know why you tried to put Lewis Hamilton in the mud. Don't think it's very becoming of you. Don't think you had to really open your mouth at all, if I'm totally honest.

I think you'll probably lose a few friends in the public eye because of this one. Do you think that's fair comment, Harry? They're spicy. Right. He's not wrong on the cognitive. There's a fair point. Cognitive sharpness is a random phrase to use, but fine. Could you say reflexes per toto.

It's very very LinkedIn, isn't it? Sank LinkedIn, rinks of LinkedIn. I've got a great LinkedIn Annetdez tell you both offer But can't wait for this They were breaking Yeah Let's end the show now

But But yeah He's not wrong on that front And it's maybe You know Mercedes did the same thing And I know They're not in the same

Areas of performance But Mercedes is exactly the same thing To the other seven-time world champion Michael Shimacker They didn't I'm not saying Schumacher was looking to carry on anyway after his Mercedes didn't, but he'd had three competitive years. He wasn't as good as he was when he was at Ferrari. That was clear. And they

didn't sign him. And they signed one Lewis Hamilton instead. And now I'm not saying that was going to happen immediately. But I don't think Toto's wrong to say they were looking at their options, hence the one plus one. It does feel like he was a little bit blindsided. And we said this before, blindsided by the way Hamilton announced it and perhaps he've you know felt the way that he did it was not given the relationship they've had and the success they've had it's not it's not been a kind to Mercedes but in the same way that toto is a it's a doggy dog world at f1 and the same way that toto is saying he's looking after himself with or looking after Mercedes interests with the one plus one deal hamilton was looking after himself by signing for Ferrari it's just the way

it is and i think toto does understand that and maybe that's lost in translation by what he's saying. But yeah, these are, they are, they're punchy comments. I don't know whether he meant them to come over, come through quite so punchy. Well, on that, I mean, these comments came from a, and I forget the name of dudes me, but it's, it's in a book about Mercedes, like the inside Mercedes. I brought out a new book. Well, I was going to say, because I've seen, I've seen some comments similar made by

hit on a trailer for another podcast, by another podcast, that could. called Jake and Totos on it. And I've seen a couple of similar comments he said there. So it's not like he said this once and he's forgotten about it. He's sort of doubled down. Matt Wyman, Excite me saying is their fun life at the fast lane. So in theory, I mean,

if someone didn't like him or someone had pointed out that, they might not reput as you want them to, Toto. That could have been edited out or changed. You've got to think that he meant what he said and wanted it to be there. Yeah. So, like I say, I don't think he's wrong. I think the way he said it is a bit, it's a bit punchy. But overall, I don't think his points are,

um, his points are wrong. And again, Hamilton, yes, he's, he's made the right call in terms of competitive versus competitiveness versus Ferrari this year. Um, but again, I see Toto's point. Why, why didn't he wait for a least to see, uh, I'm not saying Hamilton was wrong. He's made the right call. But, uh, why didn't he wait to see that? again, I think that's just part of being blindsided by it. So I don't think it's a breakdown of relations between them,

but maybe they won't hang out as much as they used to. I don't know how much they used to anyway. I love the audacity that he thinks he could get Norris or Lecler to replace him. You see what that seems being for the last three or four years. Yeah, but you could, you could have done. Remember when it happened, though. Yeah, I still don't think they were realistically on the cards. I've got to do this with him.

They were coming off like beating McLaren and for us. and the constructors the year before. Yeah, barely. It was actually that... They still won. Like, they still beat them. But also, at the point, they...

A point that Hamilton left, they'd only had two bad years. And before that, they won eight championships. True. Yeah, a fair point. And it swings around us to it. I just think they... These are comments you can keep to yourself. I guess I'm surprised he said them publicly.

I... I think this is a man trying to find the positive in a negative situation. I don't quite buy the, I like this situation, quote. I don't buy it at all. I don't blame him for looking at it this way and at least like publicly, I don't know, putting himself across this way because there's nothing he can do at this stage. There's not much point him moping about it.

And so I wish he'd stay like, because he's gone. That's a done deal. Nothing's changing at this point. but I have to say I'm not convinced this is the way he wanted it to go down. I think in Toto's mind, like the way he was envisaging this was, because George Russell's contract is up at the end of 2025 as well, and that's the same point that Lewis Hamilton's contract would have been up. I think his ideal situation was going to be Antonelli and Williams for a year, next year,

and then maybe summer of next year, he's got nothing committed for 2026. He can go, right, Antonelly, Russell, Hamilton, I need two of them. And he could go, he could look at Antonelli and see how he'd performed in those first six months at Williams. He could look at Hamilton and whether his cognitive sharpness had regressed at all. He could look at George Russell and see if he was still competing with Lewis Hamilton or maybe surpassed him. And then he's able to make like the best judgment call. Like he can go, right, actually Hamilton has regressed a bit. Let's go with Russell and Antonelli or Antonelli hasn't done very well in the first six months at Williams. Let's keep with Hamilton and Russell.

And I think this has kind of taken the option away from him. And the decision has been made for him. And I know he says it's avoided a conversation. I honestly believe that even if it is a difficult conversation, it's one that Toto would rather have than the decision be made for him, as is what's happened here. So I don't quite buy it. The other thing that I wanted to pick up on as part of this was this whole one plus one deal. So when both Hamilton and Russell's contract extensions were announced, they were announced exactly the same time and it was just multi-year extension. Here, Toto Wolf is making a point that it was one plus one and obviously the plus one would have been 2025. Are you buying that? Is that in there for Toto's benefit and Mercedes benefit

or was it in there for Hamilton's benefit? Because obviously he's the one that's used it. Yeah, it's a different clause for each driver, I suppose. I imagine they've had those meetings separately, different agents would have been involved. It's not like Lewis and George. He's going to be texting each other notes about what's going into each contract. So for George Russell, I very much think that this was a bit of both. George Russell was still on the up. He's definitely proving himself at this point.

Obviously, he's more than good enough now. But Ben, you brought up a few times on the show. If Antigel is amazing and someone like Max Verstappen becomes free, does this allow Mercedes to turn around and go? sorry George you're good but you ain't 10 out of 10 world class good

and you might not be the next Lewis Hamilton coming through the ranks good so sorry you're the third place in what's a very good line up there's that option I imagine George Russell

after seeing the form of everything that was going through I don't know how wed he is to Mercedes for his entire career I don't know if he is Charlecler head over heels smitting for Ferrari do whatever you want to me

I'll keep coming back levels of obsessed with this team I think George Russell wants to win Lewis Hamilton on the hand, keeps me around the block of it, isn't he? He kind of knows what he's doing at this point. And he's read teams performance before.

He's understood the development of how teams are moving. He moved away from McLaren at quite an optimal point. Join Masege's at a very optimal point. Has he done it again? I do wonder if he's looked at the previous form. He's looked at his staging his career and he's gone, now or never really. Something I want to do.

I want to win again. I want to drive Ferrari. I've got to make it happen. Put a one plus one in. And I'm sure Moseegis have gone, you're Lewis Hamilton. We'll take it. But there's not to say that Toto Wolf in the back of his mind hasn't gone.

Is he going to be 40 while he's with us? He might literally just not have it in him anymore. There is every chance. So it benefits both. But you're right, it's very intriguing that he's made it very explicit right now. I think it's a one plus one, which I think he's just tried to allow it to look like he's in control. I think that's the reason why he's brought it up.

I don't think it matters whether it was always a multi-euro one plus one. But the reason he's brought it up now is to show that he had some, deeper control of the situation. Harry, do you buy that it was Mercedes driving the fact that it was a one plus one deal rather than Lewis? I think they both thought they were driving the deal because it suits both of them. Hamilton gets boy once in terms of he gets an exit clause and can go somewhere else, which he's done.

Mercedes are doing it because Toto thinks it's just keeping his options open. I think it was mutually beneficial for both of these parties to have this one plus one. And maybe they both thought they were being smart. Hamilton's one in terms of being the one who's activated at first. But in terms of actually putting it in there, both teams, I had team Hamilton and team Mercedes probably got a few smart lawyers behind them. I'd hazard a guess. And I don't think, I don't think they'd put something in there if neither of them didn't.

if either of them didn't want it, sorry. So yeah, in terms of how it's worked out, Toto's lost out, but the reason for it being there in the first place, I think both parties wanted it. I am a little bit less convinced this is from Mercedes side. And I don't like to come out and call Toto Wolf dishonest because maybe he's telling the truth. And clearly both sides have accepted this.

I find it more difficult to believe that Mercedes were the ones at least driving this being a woman. one plus one rather than a two-year deal. And I appreciate the whole comment about drivers having a shelf life. It's 100% true. But at the time this contract was agreed and finalized, Louis Hamilton, sorry, Fernando Alonzo was older at that point than what Lewis Hamilton would have been, will be at the end of 2025.

So, and I know that it's not the same for all drivers and that some drivers will, will drop off sooner than others. I completely appreciate that. But I think you could look at what Alonzo was doing at that point in F1, middle of 2023, when he was picking up a lot of podiums. And I think you could comfortably say

Hamilton will probably still be at that level in two years' time as well. Bear in mind that if you had that much of a concern about Lewis Hamilton and his regression, in 2022 he had a very difficult year. He bounced back in 2023. He had a very good 2023. If it had continued on from when Russell had beaten him in 22,

I would have understood the one plus one deal a bit more. But I think based on how he bounced back, I think Mercedes would have been looking for a two-year deal rather than what has actually happened here, which is the option of a second year. And I know, Harry, you mentioned, like the Schumacher comparison, and I think it's valid to bring that up. On the other hand,

Lewis Hamilton in 2024 is a long way clear of Schumacher in 2012 in my eye. Schumacher still had something about him at that point. The Monaco Poll app is a great example. But I still think

Hamilton is operating even, I don't think he's had a great year, but last year was brilliant and I still think he's operating at a high level. So I feel like that one plus one deal that Lewis has decided to utilize was probably driven more by him. I think last piece for me,

two bits and news came out quite interestingly around the same time as this, from a Ferrari point of view. One big Fred left Toto Wolf on red when Toto found out an issue that this might be happening. I think he texts him saying, have you taken my driver? And Fred Ferserkerz didn't reply to him,

which I think is hilarious. He was too busy laughing. Too busy starting his own ice cream shop because apparently that's his dream job. I love the gift of him laughing his head off on the pit wall. sees it come up on the screen. It's so freckless, sir.

And secondly, they've given him Exo Ferraris house to stay at as his base in Marangelo, which only, of course, Michael Schumacher got the privilege of having. So there's clearly a lot of admiration going from Ferrari's side, and it kind of makes you understand why he took the jump. Caviard that with, allegedly,

before Tofosi came after us. It's happened. I saw Lewis moving his piano. He and Roscoe moving in. Yeah. Rosco's got a doghouse outside, the little red one. Sam's there with the delivery van with a fake moustache on, even though you don't need it.

I got on top of my real one. Yes, yeah, yeah. Doing my best Charlotte Claire accent. I work for shred it, bro. No, God, no. Please, never again. Right, let's take our second break on this episode. On the other side, we've got Alpine and Mercedes News. Before we jump into the next topic, Sam, if people love what we do here at late breaking

and they'd like to receive some more content, do you know where someone could go? I think I do actually, Dave. It's a great question. Only dogs could hear that, that was. Go on your little phone or your desktop and you see, you can scroll down there and see some links. One of those goes to Patreon. Now, Patreon is a place where we provide paid for content. That paid for content is top quality.

Everything, ad-free. Two extra episode standard ones like this. You'll also get a classic race review. The votes going on now in Patreon yourself, and you can get involved in voting for it. You get a beer with breaking. We'll let you on a little secret. We're recording it straight after this episode.

Beers at the ready, gentlemen. In the fridge, chilling. I've actually got wine, but... Actually, you've got Ribina. I so do. YouTube getting a treat there with the i being a um i am rich in vitamin c as it says anyway you get a beer breaking you get power rankings after every single grand prix if you're in the top tier you get loads of extra benefits such as a birthday shout out as well and let me tell you the people that subscribe to patreon help out this show

enormously if you don't fancy it you can't afford it something you want to wait for sure we are massively appreciate you just listening anyway it means to the world but give you a little go you can always cancel it at the end of the month if you don't fancy it you get the backlog of all the content we've ever made when you subscribe as well. So thanks for one that does it and thanks to you if you even consider it. And remember, we like the Patreon people more than the rest of you. And that's a hurry only message. Moving on to some news that came out today as we're recording this, which is that Alpine has secured a deal with Mercedes to run the German manufacturer's power unit from 2026 until at least the end of 2030. The deal also involves taking a supply of

their gearbox from the start of 2026, though there are sources saying that Alpine are planning on producing their own gearbox in-house at Endstone from 2027. But at least the power unit side of things, 26 through to the end of 2030. Harry, we've obviously touched on this a couple of times on the podcast. It was expected that it would be Mercedes filling in this void for Alpine. but it's been announced. I guess there's no surprise, but your reaction to the news. Yeah, no surprise, because they've already announced they're not going to make their own engines and Mercedes were the obvious option.

But once again, why? Why have Alpine done this? Also, they've waited after their best result of the year to announce it. I was going to say something about the fact that they didn't know how to react. So they were like, oh, well, we'll announce we're not using our own engines now. yeah the the using the Mercedes engines and gearboxes makes sense why would they then try and make their own gearbox if that's what they're claiming they're going to install it upside down what's the point what is if you don't even

trying to save money I don't know what your reasoning is what's the point in investing you're trying to make your own gearbox for an engine that you don't make yourself anymore it just makes no sense sense to me. So that that in itself is stupid, but it just reeks of being sold, doesn't it? Makes some very sellable. The shop is in, uh, is in place. I think big flav has got his for sale sign out. So gross. Um, do you think the length of the deal helps the sell process go through? Because anyone obviously looking to buy Alpine that that's kind of secure. Have some engines to go with and some gearboxes. Um, exactly.

I think it does and it's a shame. But I mean, at least they might get bored out by someone serious and not Alpine because they are the least serious team in this court. Alpine buys out Alpine. Otmar comes back and buys out Alpine. That's Rengo. Yeah. And we go back.

We just start. We go again. Benison. History repeats itself. Tolman. Yeah, we start again. Todd is the 80s again. Derek Warren comes out retirement to race for.

Yay. so yeah i i just i it just seems like the way it's going and it's almost like i'd rather to just get on with it now then fine if you're going to do this let's let's sell up become a proper team whatever you may be and and let's do this do this properly rather i know alpine did well in the last race and congrats to them but for goodness sake sam your reaction to the news oh it's just so demotivating just so unexciting um just don't care Like, it feels like we're in a world of Formula One where so many Formula One teams are taking themselves seriously. Ascom Martin are spending the big bucks to bringing big names and, you know, try and make sure they've got their own agent supply in Honding are moving to them.

Rebel bringing Ford, you know, McCrara stepping up, Ferrari signed Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes is still going. Audi are coming into the sport. And even if they might be selling some shares to Qatar, which I think we're going to get onto or maybe Sunday, they're still here to really become an F1 team. Williams looked like they're reinvesting every part of them into to really regrow themselves into the team they once before. Even Hars looked like they're actually making a proper effort of it. Toyota involved in half. Toyota turned up.

I'm impressed by that sign. That's a great move. They've actually got a race simulator. Without Pee, can't even get a bloody gearbox. And then they can apparently. I just don't care. It just seems like they're not taking themselves seriously. It just feels like they don't know what to do themselves.

Harry's right. It reeks are being sold. your rigs are just putting in the minimal amount of effort, open as many doors, someone, someone coming, take over, please. I'm really sorry to interrupt this, but I just remembered something that Priyatori said. And I don't know if the translation is fantastic, but at least in English,

they've got rid of a few hundred people, obviously, this year at Alpine. And Prietori referred to it as spring cleaning. Literally, open the doors, open the windows, bringing a Mercedes engine for some reason. Flavio in a pinny with a Hoover. Little Mercedes Piny. What are you doing there? Get out.

Go on. Go on. Little pest. Get out of my home. Yeah, sorry. I just don't care. Sell up. Get someone who's actually serious and takes it seriously.

This team is a joke. I mean, to use a phrase that I coined not that long ago, all the F1 teams are chipping away trying to be serious and Alpin are unchipping. they actually are which is impressive um i in all honesty i don't have too much to add on top of what both of you have said and also what i've said in the past it's incredibly saddening that we have got um you know a factory team willingly not being a factory team anymore the gearbox thing as you said harry is confusing but if you're looking for logic when it comes to alpine decisions then you know that's on us at this point. I think we're fully aware of what they are. And yeah, the deal probably does help

things if they do want to sell up. Like whoever is considering investing doesn't need to worry about that for at least five years, if not more. I mean, the statement said until at least the end of 2030, it wasn't putting like a, you know, we'll go back to our own engines by 2031. There was no indication of that whatsoever. I don't know how this aligns with their road cash, strategy whatsoever and trying to break into the US market by displaying another engine on a global scale. Like, there's got to be something, some reason they're doing it, but I can't find it. So, yeah. They're so cute as well.

The road cars are adorable. I've had one if they want to give it to me. Then they're going to be so cute and they're trying to stuff a B8 Mercedes engine in it. Someone put a B8 mogul and out of P and bring it here. I'm going. Also, fair play to Mercedes, because they've realized this year is going to. to be quite embarrassing for them when another Mercedes power units car in McLaren defeats them for the Constructors Championship.

So they're just helping their future odds by saying we've got at least one team guaranteed to lose to us. There's the only reason they want it. I respect that a lot. Just one other point actually on this. Alpine and Cadillac have somewhat been rumoured to be together. Obviously Cadillac would like to come into Formula One as a constructor alongside the General Motors entry,

whether that's, sorry, alongside the Andretti entry, whether that still happens, remains to be seen. Do you think Sam, this is a bit of a blow to Cadillac if they were looking at this as a potential customer team in the future? Yeah, I think so. Because soon and that, obviously, Cadillac were going to be

an engine supplier to global, global, as we now refer to them, famously, and Dressy for those who maybe are going to the show and don't understand the inside joke. And that hasn't really gone to plan, as we know. There's still some discussions legally going on in the background of all that. We've got heard anything for a while. But it looks, though, Andretti's entrance into the sport is, it's not imminent.

And therefore, Calac will be looking for another way. And now, I think the damning moment for them is the fact that the engine supply of Mercedes has been signed on for so many years. If anything, they've liked everything else to be in order. And then to go, we can do the engine bit. We're good at that bit. Don't need to worry about Mercedes. We'll take it on.

I understand why Alping haven't gone out and tried to form a brand new relationship with an outside supplier. It's risky. It might fall through. They might not be able to perform. And the engine could be even worse than what they're already making themselves. It's all possible. But I imagine they're looking at this going, that was probably our door ring if the Angretti door falls through. And now it looks very unlikely that unless they will have been off a very expensive Mercedes contract early,

they're not going to be getting in that route anytime soon. Any thoughts on that, Harry? if Alpine was serious, do that deal. Do that deal. It's a big if, sir. Oh, if they're serious. Yeah. And I just proves the point that they're just not serious about doing this properly.

It is but to Calac for sure. But the way F1 is, you never know when an opportunity may open up. Maybe McLaren would decide they don't want to do this anymore with the Mercedes engine. Go for McLaren Calalac. who knows. Yeah, it's a very certain, but, you know, opportunities arise all the time in F-1. McLaren Kagalak sounds hell of cool, by the way. McClab-Ack.

McClag-Lack. Oh, my God, but Zach Brow is writing up a marketing proposal right now. He's a big fan of this show, and he'll be listening along. He'd have just heard that, and he is getting it going. Like, that is a... Hi, Zach. If you'd like to invest, we are open to conversations. He's been a fan ever since we've called him Marketing, man.

The greatest superhero the world has ever seen. It's been a fan ever since we don't him, the Renault man. He renails what you're talking about. Good stuff. Let's move on to the second bit of news from today that we'll discuss, the second of 27 things that were announced today, which is the FIA confirming that Niels VITich has stepped down from his position, sorry, has quotation marks, stepped down from his position as F1 race.

director to pursue new opportunities. Niels has fulfilled his numerous responsibilities as race director with professionalism and dedication. We thank him for his commitment and we wish him the best for the future. So this is in effect from now. So Las Vegas Grand Prix next race, there is going to be a change. The current Formula 2 and Formula 3 race director, Rui Marquez, is stepping up to take his position, at least in the interim. I don't know if that's going to be long term going into next season. The reason for the quotation, is that there are rumblings that Niels Vittage did not step away and he was instead fired. So that's interesting.

Sam, before we started recording, you said you had some interesting theories about this. Yeah, I was doing some reading. Shot, I know. Dangerous. Very angry. First person from St. Norsal that can read. That's a very inside joke. Thank God going from their listens.

They do. But anyway, it's all right. can't do that either. I don't know how to use a mobile phone. It's okay because we're dunking on ourselves. Yeah, yeah. Self-burne. Yeah.

It was a real. I can't comfort me if I burn myself. Anyway, sorry, right. Race director, yeah. I went back a little bit. Obviously, I feel like the problem Formula One attack with race directors goes back to when we unfortunately lost Charlie Whiting very suddenly in 2019. And I think that man knew more about Formula One than Formula One itself.

or every rule, every regulation. He did that job for, nine, on two, three decades. He was there and respected by every single person. And what Charlie said, goes, basically. And then we suddenly lost him. And it was very, very sad

for all of the motorsport community. And then we got Michael Massey. Now, Michael Massey was that race director famously for a couple of years, and you'll be aware of the famous line. I'm sure, even if you're very new to the sport, he may want to strive to survive. You'll know the,

no, Mikey, no, his song are great. You know, this is a motorsport race, Toto. and the fact that, of course, Toto tried to email Michael Massey halfway through a Grand Prix at one point to get his attention. Famously, ends up leaving the role due to a lot of controversy in the championship going Max Verstappen's way at the final Grand Prix. Well, at that point...

What happened? I'm not going to get into that right now. I don't remember any controversy. You're going to have to expand on this. The flashing of the race in my mind right now is horrible. At that point, we were suddenly appointed with... two race directors at the same time. Of course, we have the wonderful gentleman who has stepped aside,

but we also had, stepped aside, I say, we also have Fritas, right, who came alongside him. Now, a trend is starting to appear because Fritus suddenly disappeared after the Japanese Grand Prix of 2022. During that Grand Prix, you'll remember that the weather was shocking, absolutely awful, and a car was being cleared off the track by a digger pickup truck

and the safety car could not be seen properly. Pierre Gasly was going around the racetrack at racing speed and passes this digger right off the side of the track. It caused outbursts of worry of anger among the Formula One fan group and suddenly Fratas

was gone. He was not seeing again at that point and at that point Wittich took over on his own. Now what I think has happened here is I think Wittich is Ben Silliam's sacrificial land. I think Wittich has been the one that is driving face to face of the drivers and the rules here, the piercings rule, the jewellery rule, the swearing rule.

I think Ben Silliam has been trying to provide these changes and Whittage is the man that's been trying to push them forward. Now, we discussed last week the GigiPA, they came out with that statement. Yes, I said GigiPA. That was a sickle. They came out of that statement last week, of course, that they feel that, The rules were unfair and ridiculous and the fines. They didn't know where they were going.

And there was inconsistencies and George Russell basically put a big old dunk on them. Rightly so. Now, I think here, this is almost a behind the scenes, Ben Silliam cut one off to try and make peace with the drivers to go. There will be changes. We're going to have some changes. Essentially trying to use a scapegoat and make sure that he is going to come out of this unscathed and to almost give a gesture to the GPDA as a,

look, we've made changes. things are going to change now and this gives him a free excuse to make those changes. So I appreciate the Wittich has said, I haven't stepped down, they fired me for something that I was doing my job for,

I was dealing with the rules that I was given. And I think that's what's happened. I think this is behind closed doors, he has been asked as an excuse to mend the relationship between Beng Sully and the FIA and the GPDA. What do you think, Harry?

I think he was asked because he was crap at his job. I mean, sure. Did you watch Brazil? It was terrible. I think I might throw a yellow flag now. No, not yet. No, no, no.

Safety car, honey. Another 30 seconds. You mentioned dear Charlie Whiting. It baffles me that Charlie Whiting did all. He did F1 and F2 and F3. He did all of it. He just ran the show. And some of the stuff that happens nowadays would have Charlie Whiting rolling.

He'd be absolutely fuel. And I think you mentioned all the other people that have been thrilled since, since his untimely passing shows, A, what a good job he did, but also be bad job or not great job. Some of these race directors are doing. Michael Massey, in his defence, I don't remember being sort of reckless with safety so much, just a bit off with the way races would run.

He wanted to be the show, I think. Turkey was the one, there was one safety incident of Turkey. I think that was on the Masi. But outside of that, I think you're probably right. Yeah. Whereas I think more recently, Sam, you referenced in Pierre Gazdi incident in Suzuki, in 22, Brazil this year wasn't great. And we've had a few near misses. I think they've just not been up to the task.

Brazil this year was there were some horrendous calls in terms of timings of safety car. I know the the stroll incident on the formation at with Norris going off going off again with doing another formation lap. But again, that could have just been made entirely clearer by the race director and call it and tell all the teams. He had so much time to call that. And instead we've got the most of the field going off with Lance Strull stood at the edge of

the gravel trap with the digger in the. gravel trap as well and it just yeah I think maybe this was the final straw for him it just it just baffles me that it's I know it cannot be an easy job to do but it baffles me when we can they've got so much information up in race control

like an unreal amount you two have been to the one in in Cota you and Kirsty they've got a crap load of TV screens in there don't they a load huge way more than we get at home obviously but if we

can see a situation needs to be called instantly when we're sat at home, they should be able to make the same decision. And I think they need... Are they scared of going the other way with it? Like calling things too early, like calling a red flag where it's not needed? Like, what's the reason? Is it incompetence or is it deliberate? I don't know. And this is the thing. Sometimes they call, like, sometimes in practice sessions, they call red flags before the accidents finish happening. It's like, it's almost instantaneous. So sometimes over there, they're almost two over the top or they're really on it. And then sometimes

they're not. And even in Brazil was inconsistent because sometimes we'd have, whereas an obvious safety car, boom, it was a safety car straight away. Correct. Whereas we had these other incidences, you know, the qualifying one with a sergeant in the wall where the red flag then come out until some drivers have finished their laps. It should just be

instantaneous. It shouldn't be questionable. And I know we don't want we want there to be an element of compromise and balance, but Brazil showed there are still lessons to be learned from the Bianchi crash or all the years ago.

Suzuki, I think we're still a way off from getting things right because we were only another car into a barrier, into a gravel trap away from a bad moment happening. So that's why he's gone. But the biggest issue they got is who they,

I know they've got the F2 and F3 person doing it from the last few races, but who do they replace him with? Also, they must have thought it was really bad because they got a, to remember with only three races left, which is quite an odd call. That makes me, because I agree, that's the one thing that's really odd. And I'm leaning towards it being something along the lines of them behind the scenes saying

that the end of the year, they're going to make a switch. And Neil's Vittich turning around and going, all right, I'm just not going to, not going to bother with the last three then. And then having to come up with this. I don't really know. I tend to lean towards your side of things, Harry, on why this has happened. And I think you're both right to raise Charlie Whiting

because I think this is where it all stems from in that if you weren't a fan when Charlie Whiting passed away, you've both done a good job of illustrating how much he did to the point where there have been multiple discussions since then about how it can't be one person doing what Charlie Whiting used to do. It needs to be two people. It needs to be three people. But Charlie Whiting's passing was so sudden.

Like it was on the eve of the start of a season. and it was the Australian Grand Prix was happening the next weekend. And I don't think there was ever really, because Charlie Weiss in control so much, there was never really a transition, nothing like a hand open, nothing was in place as to what happens when Charlie retires

or in this case obviously passes away. Like who does what? And I don't think they've ever really answered that question, even though we're years on from that. We had the Michael Massey years where, for various reasons it didn't work. They then, as you said, Sam made the decision to put two people in the role. They were very adamant at the time, like it was the right thing to do to have multiple

people in the role rather than one. And then Niels Vittich does it solo. And it doesn't seem as if they even made an attempt to put a second person alongside him in the role. And now we're in a position where, you know, Rui Marquez will step up and do it. And I can't really speak to him and whether he'll do a good or a bad, job, but I lean towards it being a case of it doesn't really matter who does it. I think the FIA just needs to take a step back and think about what does the role, what does the role entail?

What do we want that role to involve? What should they oversee? What should the decision making process be? It applies for the stewards as well. But I think they just could do with spending some time between the end of the season and the beginning of the next season, not just thinking about who it should be, but really about the role itself, because I can't avoid thinking that this will keep happening until they have that sort of a conversation with themselves. I also think redoing the rules,

so they're clearer, more able to be enforced, right? Obviously, the safety stuff is paramount, but simplicity in how you govern that will surely lead to a more understandable use of the rule set anyway. And clearly, it's overly complacent. with the amount of issues that have been brought up. So fingers crossed, we get some changes in the new year. Final break on today's episode.

On the other side, we're playing Show Me the Options. Everyone, it's time for Show Me the Options. Shat, Shat, Shat, Shat, Shat, Shat, Shat, Shat, Shat, Shat me my options. Yay! Ah, so good. Slaps. Show me the options. Six questions.

in front of me, Sam and Harry will take it in turns picking a number and they have a choice to make. They can either try and answer the question that I give them straight away, in which case, if they get it right, they'll get two points. But if they'd like a little bit more help, all they need to do is say, show me the options, at which point I'll give them three multiple choice options. If they then get it right, they get one point. And we'll start today with Harry. What number would you like? Number four, please.

Number four? You'll get to forget. That is rogue. You're definitely going to forget. I always forget. I might as well just forget some sort of style. Well, forgetting isn't a great idea with this question because we're going quite far back.

In fact, we're going all the way back to the first ever Grand Prix. Who won the first ever F1 World Championship Grand Prix? You can do it. Show me my options. Whoa! Hold your right big a button. Your options are, Fangio,

certies, And Farina. Forina. Forina. The easiest options in the world. Come on. Farina. You are right, sir.

Well done. Which means you claim a point with those options being presented to you. Sam, what number? I don't have a one, please, Ben. Have you switched? Are you actually, like, dressed up as each other or something? Famously. That's a very, that's a very Harry answer.

That means I will have a light bulb moment at some point in this game and get it right perfectly, surely. Please. Good. Well, you should get this. Well, Sam would get this one right. I don't know Harry if you'll get this one right. But what was Eddie Irvine's final season in F1? Did you know that he's helped me as a baby?

Really? That's correct, tell us more. Two points. I don't think Sam would get this right, actually. So I'm going to say, show me my option. Hey. Your options are. 2000, 2002 and 2004.

Okay, I had 2000 in my mind, so we had 2000. No, it is not 2000. See, Sam wouldn't have got that right. That's why I am Sam. Big reveal. But you are two years out, not four years out. It's 2002. Good.

Harry, back to you at 1-0. Number two, please. Number two. How many drivers won a race in 2018? count on your angs pal two three uh four

six no damn oh no oh what rogue person won a grand prix no no no it's the other way around spot i didn't win one the bloody scrub

yeah bodies um which as you could probably guess the correct answer is five five um annoy you. This will really annoy you. Well, actually, it probably won't, Harry. I know you well enough that it won't annoy you that much.

But your options would have been two, three and five. So probably well worked it out from that. Yeah, I think so. Never mind. Never mind. Never mind. Sam, back to you. Six, please. All the way to number six.

Who was Alam Prost's last teammate in F1? Show me my options. You've got. Etton Senna. No. Eddie Cheever. Sitting home. And Damon Hill.

Just his name. Can't be mad at him, Evchiever. Any Cheever? No, it's not Eddie Cheever. I just wanted it to me him because of his name. It's fair enough. Damon Hill. Damon go away.

Oh, yeah, got him. Got him. Bloody out. What a Zinger that was. I've got breaking news. Damon Hill is actually retired from his Sky Sports duties because, of that insult. I can't go on.

It's too much. I can't get up. What hurt more? Take it out with kneecaps. I've been coming away. Oh man. Harry, back to you. This is a massively high scoring game at this point.

We're at 1-0 still. Number five? Yeah, number five. where did Oscar Piestri claim his first career podium? Oh, paper. Show me my options. Yay. Your options are Japan, Monaco and Las Vegas.

Oh, I don't know. Japan. I think it's like a Gibraltar for a thing. Japan. You said it very uncertainly, but you are correct. It is Japan. Did you get a podium? I get, they weren't good for, I forgot, start 23 was terrible.

17. The DNF, come on. Come on, my favourite stat. Which means there's just one question left. Sam, what number would you like? Harry, press the button, please. Please hold. I would like number.

Number three, how many times has Fernando Alonzo finished in the top three in the championship? Oh, okay, you didn't see that. Cardinal coming. Um, at least twice. Higher. Five times. It's okay. I don't mind that I've got that wrong.

Out of interest, your options would have been four, six and eight. What would you have gone for? Five. Yeah. I'm still convinced it's five. I'm really angry that that's the one that was missing. That's quite irritating.

I would have said four. You can feel better because you've got it wrong. It would have been six. Shall what? God of the days, right? I used to thrash Harry at these games. Late year comeback. December is your month.

Sure. I'll go with that. It does mean Harry wins this one by two to nil. Sam, don't you worry about that segment. We can forget all about that segment. I've got one that's far, far better for you. I bet you can't guess what it is. I can't, mate.

What is it? I'll tell you then, because it is the greatest segment. In all of Formula One. It is the... I'll be question of the week. Beautiful. Question of the week. Obviously, Valtrey Bottas no longer going to be at Salba for next year.

and well, we'd quite like him to join late breaking. So our question was, what can we do to convince him to join late breaking? There were some stunning answers. I'm going to kick off with not that old who said, give him a two-year contract. It's only once. I would happily, I'd give him a lifelong contract if he wants to come on. What's next? You're joining us.

One of my favourite answers, if I've got my favourite answer of all time, oh, love LB podcasting, is from Myra, which says we should make a collaborative ass calendar. She technically said ass. Yeah. I'm English. You're misrepresenting her. There was a lot of, a lot of butt content.

Eddie Barnett came in, was just show cheeks, which is, I had to scroll down to the, well, on my one, the hidden comments. There's so many.

I don't get hidden comments. But they're not bad. You miss out on the weekly postman, that reference if you go to the hidden comments, honestly. No, they're just given to me normally. Oh, well. That's sensitive eyes, apparently.

Yeah, apparently so. No, I was going to say one of them was unlimited pump a nickel in that were from Muk, Govind Philip. Yes, that was a good one. A few from me, from Jess. Plan B, bikes, butts and beans, brackets, coffee. Yes, boffy. Love that.

Rob said, give him a green toaster as a joining present. We can't let him leave a green toaster and give him one in return. That's not how it works, but I appreciate the answer anyway. Uncle Timmy 88 said one million jelly beans. What is that from his Instagram name? Uncle Tim. I'm not sure. Maybe my favourite answer came from Twitter, actually, and it was from Noah,

because this is an old school reference, I really appreciated, showing him Sam's apology video after he won in Turkey in 2021. Oh, was that when I took a little song for him? That was when you predicted to start the year that I think Bottas would never win another race in his career. And in fairness to you, that is the only one that he's won since you said it. But you were wrong, so you had to do an apology.

I quite liked the little song that I did for him. It was good. I'll go back to Nick here who said, put moustaches on up miles and nine babies. Sure. I did. Harry did say. Yeah.

Yeah. You're interested to know how someone would find a way to put that in there. Well done. Well done, everyone. Ali says, Ali H.R. says, offer Sam up to be his own personal mullet fluffer. I will graciously accept. Valtry, let me know when you need my delicate fingers in your mullet.

There's nothing even wrong about that, but there is. Sorry. Go on, mate. I was to say, again, and Ben, I think you appreciate these as well. The ones that just answer the question, this is from Outrun the Lill who just said, ask. Oh, I haven't thought of that. It's a great answer.

Caroline said, with a microwave that spings the wrong way, making everything colder. Because that's how that works. I was only disappointed to see that there were no answers about spaghetti dinner ladies this week. That might still be the most ridiculous thing that we've had. Oh, postal fat, sentimental invitation is so good.

And Jorge on Twitter said, just give him an LB mug. Again, if he'd like one. I mean, I can convince him, surely. I love you, Valtry. Please join the show. Any final answers? Andrew, as you said, kick Harry off

because he's never here anyway. Well, that's wrong because I'm here reading this out, Andrew. So you can find him there. He's that with Damon Hill. Andrew, go away. Another couple of kneecaps gone. Yeah, I was scatping. And Blake came in.

We'll just give home you a hug. That's all he wants, which is Blake. But I get it. Respect that. That's a nice note to end question of the week on. It's very rare we end on a positive. So let's leave it there. Sam, at least for this episode, if you wouldn't mind.

Getting us out of here. Folks, please do join us again. On the Sunday, we'll be talking for more news and more chick-chat before we do eventually get back into the swing of normal F1 Grand Prix. Don't worry, it's only around the corner, folks will be there. If you'd like to chat to us, generally, you can come and join us. All three of us are in there, as well as to nearly 3,000 other massive F1 fans from across the globe. Links in the description.

Follow us on social media, Late Breaking F1. Watch this on YouTube, Late Breaking F1. And again, as we mentioned in the show, you can join us on Patreon. So thanks for the sport. We will see you on Sunday. In the meantime, I've been Samuel Sage. I've been Ben Hocking. I've been McCladick.

Macladen-like. That doesn't sound so good anymore, does it? I remember keep breaking late. Look, look like... This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.