The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Who's under the MOST pressure this 2026 F1 season?

Episode Date: January 29, 2026

Who’s feeling the heat the most this F1 season? The LB boys give their top picks! They also get stuck into the 'mysterious' Barcelona shakedown, Audi’s new junior programme, and round off with some Order Please... Want more Late Braking? Support the show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get: Ad-free listening Full-length bonus episodes Power Rankings after every race Historical race reviews & more exclusive extras! Connect with Late Braking: You can find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Come hang out with us and thousands of fellow F1 fans in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ server and get involved in lively everyday & race weekend chats! Get in touch any time at [e-mail] 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, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking. We're back with another midweek episode. We're back with another episode that we love to do on a yearly basis. We like to do our sort of under pressure submissions on a weekly basis when we get into the main season. We like to, before the season even starts, look at a who or what is under pressure for the year as a whole.

Sam, I was thinking about this and obviously went back to our episode that we did in 2025. It was actually quite a significant one. Firstly, because we were left to our own devices because Kirstie had a bit of time away. And we proved that we could stand up to the challenge of our producer being away by forgetting it was our 500th episode. Yeah, you know, that sounds exactly like something that we're going to. do. We forget a lot of landmarks while we're moving forward, but the one landmark we're not going to forget is that cars are on track. Maybe. Kind of. You can kind of tell if you look at the Formula One page and then they might kick you

out early. Who knows? Harry, I assume you are one of those cars on the racetrack. When you started saying landmarks, I thought that's how you were introducing me. You are a large man. Big heads, quite tall. I would expect. say you're a landmark. Harry, the landmark, Eid. People often get me confused with the Isle of White. I don't know. I think of it's not the landmark I can't think of it at all, but I love that.

I love Eid. Hey, what an island that would be. Oh, Chris Bond's all round, mate. Hot Chris buns, mid-spice and no one is ever on time for anything. All listening. Lots of fences. Yeah. It's got to end it all the way around it.

We're all sat on it. Well, that's constructive. Under pressure for 2026. So for the first time in late breaking history, we've actually come together to put together a consensus. We haven't disagreed all that much in terms of who or what is under pressure going into this new season. So we've got a collective top five, maybe some honorable mentions to follow as well. But let's start with a team because fifth on our under pressure for 2026 list is Alpine. The team that finished laughing, place in the Constructors' Championship in 2025, albeit with the most points ever secured by the last place team in that championship.

Big expectations coming from within here. This is one we discussed on last week's episode. Sam, why are they deserving of a spot on this list? I mean, the big shakers, big movers are outping this year. They're doing a lot. They're doing a lot. And whether it's going to be any good, we're yet to find out. But Flavio Briatore, the man who's not technically employed by the team he's actually

runging. Fair play to you, by the way. How are you faked it and made it, not expression, to the top of that tree. I am impressed. I'm very impressed. Now, you're still there. I'm even more impressed. But you are claiming that, you know, it's got to be wings or basically bust this year. You're expecting huge things. The same with Colopinto. He's like a great Christmas. Great wind as Colopinto. Maybe the best anyone has ever seen. We could have had this entry is just Colopinto, to be honest. Poor lad. It's so under pressure from Flav.

But not from us, but Flav, he's coming for you. And just with this switch to Mercedes engines, Mercedes Gearbox, with the rumours that they do have access to this loophole, they're going to be finding the extra few attempts in raw engine power, which, look, that's being Alping's biggest complaint over the last few seasons is because they've been building their own engines and the power is less than all their rivals, aerodynamically, the car is fine, according to them.

It's just the power they're down on them. That's why they've always struggled. now they in theory have the power. So let's see if they can actually create the results that are as expected of them. Flav meets it's possible. Pierre Gasly is one of the most underrated drivers on the grid. I think Candle, if you're giving them a car, the question is, can you actually give him a car, Alping?

Is it possible? Because they've been struggling for a very long time to get this right. We had that juxtapositioning history almost. When McLaren and Alpine were right next to each other, fourth and fishing the championship, about two years later, one went on to wing Moltenham. multiple Grand Prix and then became the constructors champion the next year. Two years later for Alpine, they were fighting for last place in the championship and lost all their key drivers.

Well, crucially, there was one driver who had a decision to make between those two teams. Might have made the right one. I don't know. Maybe. Maybe. A nice little Australian man might have made the right call. Anyway, there's a lot going on at Alpine. There's rumours of, you know, Christian Hornet, Hornier, sorry, going in there and getting bought.

and I'm buying out the team with shareholders. There's a room that they want to stick around and be a long-term partner of F1. Who knows? But this is the year where I think they've got to get it right or it might be by-bye time. Harry, is this the one team on the grid where the expectation to hire internally

than they are externally amongst, I was going to say they're fans, but that would involve them having any. But like... You, really? That's me. Do you think this is a weird one where Prietori is just thinking higher of the team

than maybe anyone else? I think this is exactly true. And I had Alpine at fifth on my final list, but I almost didn't include them because my expectations of them are so low that I was like, they're not really under that much pressure from me personally,

which I'm sure they're relieved about, because I don't, even with, you know, the Mercedes power upgrade, and, you know, they've been focusing on this car for quite some time. even with that, I just, they're Alpine and they'll probably find a way to finish fifth or sixth at best. So, yeah, there is a great debt of pressure,

but I think that's coming from internally. I think it's mainly, as you say, coming from Flabbitritory. But in all seriousness, there are some great people in that team. As you said, Sam Pierre Gasly deserves so much better. And I think they are under pressure to, to deliver that to if no one it should be for for for pierre but yeah that's why they didn't

really well they almost didn't feature in my top five but why they ended up in fifth in the end they are under pressure but I think weirdly not from the f1 world but more from themselves yeah I mean as we did joke about it on Sunday that whereas every other team is putting putting something of a of a dampner on expectations you've got flavio briotori essentially there with a roaring fire adding anything that he can see around him to fuel that fire. Like any piece of wood, any bit of paper, he's just chucking on there. He is desperate for wins this year. You know, based on team expectations,

I think teams who will be, you know, who will be disappointed with a winless season are McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, Aston Martin. I'd say those five teams will be disappointed if they don't win a race this year. But weirdly, you do also have to put Alpine in there just based on where they are setting their own expectations. It sounds so stupid given they finished last place in the championship last year. So as a result of that, I went back and had a look. How did the team that finished last in the Constructors Championship Fair the next season?

And I went all the way back to the year 2000. So we have got like 25 years worth of data here. A lot of spare time. It's his job, man. I'm just saying some over to me. I'll take some off your hands. In three instances, the team that finished last place got one podium the next season.

That includes last season when Holkenberg and Salberg, excuse me. But only three times since the year 2000 is the team who finished last got a podium in the next season and never more than one podium. In four instances, the team that finished last in the championship, when buss the next year, it is literally more likely

that a team goes bust than gets a podium in the next season. And of course, in no instances, has the team who finished last won a race the next year. And I don't think Breitori is talking about a race win. I think he wants quite a few more than one. It's important for them to get something going early,

even if it's not race wins. Like, morale is likely quite low based on what's happening with, what has happened, excuse me, with the gearboxes and various Chateaigne closing down in France. Uncertainty about the future. You've already mentioned the possibility of Christian Horner coming on board. What does the hierarchy look like?

Times probably aren't great at Alpine. They could do with a good start to the year. Speaking of one of those drivers, and I know we mentioned Colopinto, he has had a fantastic winter. He loves winter, thrives. Make no bones about it. What a winter he's had. Can he go into this season, knowing that he's had?

knowing that he's got half a season, like three quarters of a season. What, Sam, do you think he should approach this season as? Like, is he likely to get into a Jack Dewan situation where six bad races and bub-bye? You just don't know. That's the problem. Jack-doing was expecting to have more than a Jack-doing, you know?

It's almost kind of slang for six races. Colominto. It's not half a dozen. It's a Jack-Doo. It is. Oh, you've got yourself a doing. have you? Yeah, I've got a full doing. I think that when he was with Williams,

he was kind of every single race was an audition. And he had to run through that like it was, you know, he had to give his best lines, his best performance and hope that it gets cast in the full play. And then he misses out. Alpine pick him up. And the same thing happens. He gets a bit more time to himself.

But it's not smooth sailing. He misses out at Silverstone. He gets a log of stick where Flavia Briatore kind of forgets how many races he's been signed for at one point. And now he's come through, still only having done one, technical full-seating if you add all the races up together. And apparently he's the bloody king of Christmas.

He's apparently St. Nick, because he's that good or winter breaks, that he's coming into this new year. And I would be bricking it. I'd be so nervous if I was Colopinto. Not only are there great expectations from the team boss to say, this car is good enough to go along and be successful to win races, to claim podium, score points. That means you've got to do it from the off.

You're going up against Pierre Gasly. Now, I'm not saying Pierre Gasly is Maxostappen. They are two separate people. people, if you're new to this, not the same person. But he's very good, his old Pee Gazzel, the gasman, the sausage man, so he calls him on the show. And he delivers regularly. So often do we see Pierre Gassi pulling a car well above its means. We saw it in Alphiorei, we saw it in his Alpine days. He's like a race wing, the reaction. Ben, we did back in our favorite moments of the hybrid era in our Patriot episode. That was one of yours. It was a real brilliant moment.

Then Gassi is starting to become known for outperforming these cars. So if the car isn't, to scratch. Colopinto has to outperform the car alongside Pierre Gasly, who is known for delivering above average results in a car that isn't above average. So he's going to have to go into this season, I think essentially, like the first day of school, tie down all the way up to the top, hair looking fresh, fresh note pad, ready to impress. If he doesn't, I think it's game over a lot faster than we expect. I don't think they'll hesitate to boot him out by halfway through the season if he's not performing on that level. I love a fresh note. pad. I bet you do. I bet you do. Right. Number four on the list for most under pressure for

26 is something of a dual entry. We're kind of going at this at slightly different angles, but it's essentially a combination of Fernando Alonzo and Aston Martin. And certainly Aston Martin, being some presence on this list, likely isn't overly surprising. I'll kick off with the Fernando Alonzo side of things, because whilst he might disagree, time isn't. necessarily on his side. I know in his head he still thinks he's 23 by some Fernando Alonzo logic, but in reality, the guy's turning, what, 45 later this year? He has, unfortunately, done more years in F1 than he's got ahead of him. And he's dealt with a declining Aston Martin for three years. Now, when he joined Aston Martin, that was Aster Martin at their best, at least so far.

And he's dealt with each year being progressively worse. His points tally last year, was the worst it's been since he returned to F1, in the hope that 2026 was going to give him something to work with. And I think how 26 works for him will inform his future decision. Like if he goes and wins a title, you never know. He'll probably go off into the sunset. If he's nowhere near, he might have to make the excruciated decision to call it a day,

thinking it's not going to happen for him in the next year or the year after that either. And there's plenty of reason to think it could go either way. Adrian Newey, Andy Cowell, some very clever people in that building. You've got real investment from Lawrence Stroll over the last few years. But on the other side of the fence, you've got Honda's new power unit and no certainty whether that's going to work. They haven't been used to winning in any way. That will hurt them if they are in some potentially winning, race winning situations. So whilst I don't necessarily think he's under pressure from Aster Martin themselves or from LAPR,

or from Lance Stroll, I think there's pressure on himself almost from farther the time. Sam, you were going there. Why are laughing at a farther the farther time for, man? Come on. It's like all-timer. It's a classic. It's an all-time.

Just like time. It will never get old. Yeah. You know. You were going more of this from the Astor Martin point of view, though, Sam. I was. I really disagree on this, forando, a long-so point of view. I think there are so many brilliant drivers on this grid.

There's someone who could be so self-assured and so confident in what they could do is Fernando Alonso. I think what will be will be with Fernando Alonso. I think whilst he presents this, almost this little rascal on the grid who knows, I'm here to have a laugh. I know all the rules. I'm going to do what I can.

It's not in his hands anymore. He will deliver the best that he can deliver regardless of the machinery he's given. And he will call it a day at the end of the season only if he thinks it's right for him. And that decision beyond his shoulders. I don't think that's a lot of pressure. I think that's entirely up to him.

I do think Aston Martin owe him. I think they owe him a chance, a pop at the champ, a chance at the title. When you build this super team, you already mentioned two of the brilliant individuals, Cowell and Newee coming into this team. Two of the greatest individuals in the last two, three decades of Formula One in terms of what they've actually won and delivered in Formula One, Honda, who are coming off the back of being theory, with multiple world titles with Red Bull,

but the issue is, of course, they've stepped to one side. The amount of cash that Stroll was thrown at this team, They built the whole new wind tunnel, the fake Silverstone in the back garden. The amount of buildings that are popping up there and gazing is crazy. It's just building after building after building. You think that they've got to deliver something here. They have to pull it all together and deliver it. It's like Avengers Endgame.

That's what this feels like at this point. They've got all of the superheroes together. Can they actually deliver something worth noting for? And I just, I'm nervously, it's going to all fall apart at the last minute, you know, and who's the big guy with the multiple jewels in his hand? Thanos. Thank you. So when he clicks his fingers, that's it.

I go that bit. Is Aston Martin just going to fade away into dust? Is that what's going to happen? Who's Thanos in this scenario? I imagine it's like... I have a pencil, Liam. Very similar people. Yeah.

Either way, I just think with the amount of resource that Aston Martin, and pulled into this new regulation. They have put all their eggs in one basket. I really do think that they've got to get it right. They've got to deliver a race wheel in cars, and then occasionally at least going to this new regulation. Otherwise, this will be a ginormous disaster. Harry, you had Alonzo on your list.

Do you think there's pressure to be shared across both driver and team? Yeah, and I didn't disagree with the point on Aston Martin because they have been building up to this year. and, you know, it's a lot of clever people, as you say. But for me, I don't think everything rests on this year for them, whereas, as you've already said, Ben, I think pretty much everything rests on this year for Fernando. And whilst I think he could still carry on into 27,

it's just, he is, as you say, fighting against time here. And this isn't to say that, you know, he has been poor. He's been superb, well, basically, all the time. But even last year, there had a couple of mistakes that crept in, a few spins here and there. I know it's in a car that he was convinced

was haunted by the end of the season. But I think it's just a natural thing, even for him. So, yeah, it's not like a pressure on himself to be better this year. I don't think that is it at all. But I think, as it says, it's just the pressure of time.

And it's going to catch up. if the car's not there in this year then I think it could be the end for Fernando I think if the car is there I think you might still be the end but either way he wants to win he wants to win at least one more race

before he bows out I think that's a nice place to take a pause we'll have a quick break and then on the other side we'll run through numbers three two and one on this under pressure list as how counting goes you know it at Medcan we know that

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Medcan. Live well for life. Visit medcan.com slash moments to get started. studio your new foundation use pdf spaces to generate a presentation grab your docks your permits your moves AI levels of your pitch gets it in a groove choose a template with your time this cool next those two drive design deliver make it sing AI builds the deck so you can build that thing do that do that learn more at adobe dot com slash do that with acrobat um quick quick pause before we go into number three, two and one on our under pressure list because I can think of a number that's too higher than three and that number is five. Oh, gosh. If I would to have five of a particular

item, let's for argument's sake say stars. What on earth would I do with them, Harry? Well, you know, we are doing a top five under pressure countdown, which means for every thing we list, folks. We obviously deserve a star for this excellent episode. Not one, not two, not three, not four. Five, as Ben's just mind up the camera there. Yes, it's that time again where we beg for your support. We. Yep. And you deliver every time. There's two of us. I leave me in Ben of Ben of Ben, this one. You deliver every time, yeah. As we head into a new F on season, lots of rule changes, lots of intrigues as we go into the year. going to be here all the time with lots more content.

We really love your five-star reviews because it really helps us. Helps us grow, helps us be bigger, have even more confusing and frightening tax bills. It's been a great January, folks. But no, in all seriousness, it really does help us. And we love to hear your lovely comments. As ever, leave whatever you want underneath the five stars. this time it can be father of time

father of five stars five star father you know there's going to be like ten variations of what you've just said now father of five times yes times of five yeah pretty good idea

let's go to number three on the list Sam we've got Red Bull here we do have Red Bull here we do have Red Bull It's an interesting time for them. They managed to hold on to Max Verstappen, Isaac Hagell, of course, coming into the team. But it's Lauren Meckis, I think I really want to focus on with this one.

Obviously, the dynasty of Christian Horner, after he kick-started the team all the way back in the middle, the mid-noughties with the Goat, D.C. That has now come to an end, which is a real, some might say a shame, some might say a good time has been had and we're moving on. Meckes is brilliant in what he does. He's already shifting that culture,

but I'm intrigued to see if he's able to hold on to the pieces of the puzzle. If Ford can interweigh into the picture, more regularly, more competitively, can offer a car that is more balanced across both those drivers. And then equally alongside that, the challenge of holding on to Max Verstappen, now you've managed to keep him for this season, because there's no way of denying it. The threat of a Mercedes move, potentially an Aston Martin move, if they're that brilliant, is on the horizon. It's available to him. I think that Max Verstappen could, you know, get up and walk into any team he wanted to,

and they would pretty much go, yes, you can have a contract, please come on in. It would be that simple for him. So Mechis has a lot of different problems to juggle, a lot of things, kind of, a lot of plates to spings, the old expression goes, for lack of a better word. And I do think that he's going to struggle a little bit. It would be really interesting to see how he moves this team forward and kind of resets Red Bull in this new modern era. Harry, how do you view the pressure on Red Bull going into the year? Yeah, it's exactly the max for Stappen factor here, isn't it?

If they can't deliver a car that is really competitive from the off, I think they just about got away with it last year. I know it was up and down at points during the season, but overall, I know a lot of it was down to Stappen himself, but overall, he was in the fight for a fifth championship. So I think if they have another season like to 2025, it will just be enough to keep him. If it's poor and it doesn't have to necessarily be, you know,

raw performance, it could be reliability. Let's not forget they've got their own brand new Ford power train for this year. If there are lots of retirements through reliability, if the pace isn't there, they are under pressure for losing for Stapin, which at the moment is their greatest asset. So, yeah, not to not. to disregard Isaac Hajar by I am for this scenario. It is just all about Max Verstappen

and whether they can keep him for the future. Yeah, and that's the reason why it was quite high on my list. So for my personal list before we joined these together, I had Red Bullett at number two just because I think under pressure-wise, it applies both off and on track. And I know the conversation about Vestappen's future is seemingly never-ending. and 2026 should be a year for some sort of decision you feel for Vastappen as to whether he fully commits his time to Red Bull

or if it goes really horribly look elsewhere. I just think when it comes to Lauren Meckes, he's got a real decision as to how he approaches this team. And he could go the route of essentially the previous regime, which is Vestappen is this incredible once-in-a-generation drive, we do everything we can to make the car as quick for him as possible, even though we know that will make the car more difficult to drive for whoever's in the second sea, and we just try and commit to Max Verstappen to get him to stay.

And if that works, great. He's Vastappen staying with you, and you might get an era similar to what we've just had. The danger of that is if you commit your time fully to Vestappen, and he still decides to go, you're in a really tough spot, like, where do you go from there? Because you've probably at that point got two drivers with a car

that neither of them can drive effectively. So there is a choice here. Meckis might well at this point say, you know what? We are going to focus on both drivers equally. We are going to keep this car drivable for both of them. So we know at that point,

if Fostappan does leave us, we at least have Isaac Adjah in one of our cars, who knows what they're doing. And there's less of a problem. I'm not saying they won't have a problem, but they'll have less of a problem to fix if Vastappen goes elsewhere.

Really tough to know what to do if you're Mekkes. Number two on our list is a very relevant one indeed. And he might well have featured in this top five anyway, but I feel like events of the last week have propelled him even further up this list. Harry, we've got James Vowls. Yeah, another one that is, he's rather brought on himself somewhat.

And, you know, James Valz has done many interviews about his time of Williams, and he's been pretty open about the fact that they've disregarded 2024, 2025, because 2026 has been the focus for him and Williams. And as he say, to go off to a shaky start. Not nervous, but he's a bit shaky, I imagine, is old Jimmy Valves. And yeah, and the pressure for Williams to come out fighting. And look, I don't think anyone's necessarily believing that Williams are going to come out and be championship contenders.

But I think at the very least, we were thinking that this is the year that they start getting some regular podiums. Obviously, they had a couple last year, some of which were on pace, some of it a bit lucky. But either way, but in 2026, this is going to be, they start fighting properly for those and at least being sort of the top end of the midfield. And yeah, well, so far, we can't come. at all because you don't want to see in the car. But it's not looking great at the moment. So yeah, big pressure on valves. If it's a terrible year, then I think questions will be asked.

I don't necessarily think that the people at Dorothan will immediately reach for the big red firing button, but I think they'll reach for the slightly less red, you're under pressure button that they have. I hate the slightly less red button. Was Vowels deserving of a place on your individual list, Sam? He was. He was on my list. He was on my list before the missing of the test in Barcelona at the moment.

I think Williams have got such a long-form heritage build-up of their fans, right? I think out of all the teams, maybe McClara are the only ones. I guess obviously is Ferrari, but they're the three long-form heritage brands that are bringing F-1 for what, nearly all of them, 50-odg years, Ferrari even longer, of course. course, they are built up after such a negative time period. They've had such a long period of trouble. It's them and Ferrari. They've got obviously for even longer than Ferrari have without a title or a championship

wing. But it's those two now that are really slugging it out for, hey, look, we're the old guard. We haven't done anything right for a long time now. And James Valles has come in, being around for a couple of years, and he is essentially solved them a promise. He's solved them a dream. as James fails.

And I do think there is a lot of pressure on his shoulders in particular because he was taking all the right steps, bringing the likes of Paddy Lowe, ensuring that they were catching up technologically. The car was making good steps forward, but he continued to be realistic in their estimations of where they're going to be.

It looked like the developments were relevant for 26 as well as being relevant for the current car. He brings in Carlos Sites on Syall's album. All the pieces are starting to bit together. And you still think, right, The pressure is still on. You've still got to get to race day and actually deliver a car that's got to be, it's got to be finishing in the top six or seven, realistically, I think, to be delivering

on some of these estimations. But then the rumours start to coming. He misses Barcelona shakedown. There's rumours that they failed the crash test, upwards of three times. Now the car is seriously overweight. This is disastrous. When you were the team, arguably, maybe alongside Aston Martin, that were running to build a car for these new regulations longer than anyone else.

developing, planning, ensuring that you're committing to these regulations longer than anyone else could have been. And you might be the fur this team behind. It's an absolute disaster. He has got to hope and pray that they get to race day on day one. Both cars are running. There's no issues with one car being able to finish and not the other. They need to finish well. They need to kick off this soon set of regulations immediately positively.

Otherwise, I think they're going to lose a lot of hope and a lot of phase from their supporting group very quickly. Did you say they brought in Paddy Lowe? thing are of our Pappen. Pat Frye you aren't thinking of. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Same person, really. Pete, I was going to say, it used to be there, Paddle.

I argue they are the same person. Have you ever seen them in the same room? I've never been in a room with either of them. Exactly. So. One's low, one's fry. You know, take it or leave it. Opposites of each other, low and fry.

Kids, there's a lesson there. Own your mistakes. It happens. Weirdly, we've been friends for so long, I knew you meant Pat Frye. I was like, I knew that you speak in my language. James Valves was definitely on my list as well because, oh, Jimmy V. He's been in the restaurant cooking for a few years now,

selling that dream, as you say, Sam. And he's got his Pat Fry chef and he's got signs and Alvin in the restaurant cooking away, a good partnership. But I think we've had a bit of a roadblock. We've hit, we've hit the first. five minute mark in the episode of, you know, Gordon Ramsey's kitchen nightmares, you know, where it's all good. You look back at the past and it was all going all right and there's something there,

but we need Gordon to come in and fix it. Shut it down. That's probably what's going on at the factory at the moment. He has put a lot of emphasis on 2026. Sorry, I can't say that a lot. No, no, throw that in there, mate. That's absolutely fine. You know, big fan of you, Gordon.

Love it, good. Get in touch. He's already on the Patreon. He's in the city. He's a good chef. Yeah, he has been selling this dream for a number of years. He has focused on 2026. We remember back to 2023, as early as that,

when he and, well, Williams and Alpha Tauri were locked in a battle for P7 in the Constructors' Championship. And Williams were like, yeah, we don't care. Because we're just focused on the future. We don't care about finishing 7-4-8. That's all well and good, as long as you then follow through, which they might well do. We don't know yet, but it's not got off to the smoothest of starts. They might be somewhat fortunate this week with the shakedown that's

happening in Barcelona, that running is likely to be and has already somewhat been disturbed as a result of the weather. That might continue throughout the week, in which case, even if they lose track time, maybe they won't lose as much as they could have done, but it's still far from ideal. So yeah, James Vowles was on my list. Number one is Ferrari. No surprise whatsoever. They were number one last year as well. I mean, this seems like a stupid question, Sam, but why are the number one? I always can't be bothered to get into it.

That's how frustrating it is, talking about Ferrari. The benefit of this audio-based medium, maybe be bothered. Maybe my silence says more than words. Just thinking that, I'll probably say Pangolo works there. It doesn't really matter. It's everywhere. Omnipresent low, which is what we call. The thing is, we went for Ferrari, all three of us on this,

but realistically, we could have gone for Fred Vassar as an individual, we could have gone with Lewis Hamilton as a driver. I think just saying Ferrari encompasses all of these elements into one. Yeah, I mean, Ferrari new regulations, it's not got off well for the last two. They were a little bit better at the start of the most recent one. And after about 12 races, Charlotte Clover was in a barrier screaming his head off, and that was pretty much the pinnacle of any chance of winning anything that they had in the last four years. Good job. The engine is meant to be the highest point. We don't know they can find the loophole.

They got up there with Ford, Rebel Power trains and Mercedes, which is already a problem. They have the world's tiniest air intake. It's quite literally the size of like a playing card. You got like the mint triangle you get in Corrigation Street. Corrigation Street boxes. You got the one about it? Yeah, yeah, I know. I know, everyone. It's like famously boxing chocolate

that's going around to me. Sorry, the only thing I can think of now is the Harry Hill clip where they start playing the thief's on. He breathes in and it starts it. I've got the giggles. You know, that's got a strong point. Someone's already against me in the comics

about being annoyed that they've used three supporting ones and sing of one, unlike Mercedes, who have used one. So thanks for that, mate. I do read the comments. Appreciate it. British bias towards that German team. Yeah.

Lewis Hamilton, of course, he's getting Grosje on. He's his new race engineer. You heard this? Yeah, the Phoenix. I'm sorry, what? I've missed this. Okay, so Oscar Piaastri's

not race engineer, but who works with the Oscar Piacstrade team has been brought in by Ferrari and is rumoured to become Lewis Hamilton's new race engineer. Also called Grosjean. Yeah. Okay, that makes sense.

But I like this. they're bringing someone who's completely unexperienced to guide the very grumpy seven-time world championing a team that can't communicate. That fills me with a lot of promise. Charlotte-Cla is about to pop, I imagine, at this point. It's not going well at any point. And Mr. Elking thinks that they are the world's best team

at every moment of his waking life. And I respect the commitment to the bit. I really do, John. But at some point, you've just got to sit down and go, it's not working, is it? How do we get out of this one? Because Fred Busser is a great guy, and I do think he's brought the right person

to lead you through. it, but he's got to get the support behind him. The pressure on Freddie Vass has got to be mounting at this point if it goes wrong this year. Yeah, as fair to say, Harry, 2025 was not ideal to use a classic late-breaking phrase. And I feel like going into this year, you've got questions of will LeCleur's patience finally expire, will Fred Vassur lose his job if things go horribly wrong, what's going to happen with Lewis Hamilton?

There's so many unanswered questions. Yeah, and I think, as he said, just saying, for a lot of. is the only appropriate thing to do because there's so many avenues for pressure here. Fred Vassert, yeah, I think this is crunch time or crunchy time. I think if this year is not good, then I think just judging by Mr. Elkin, Mr. Elkins' comments at the end of last year, then I think he may start to feel the wrath of him. Lewis Hamilton, I think, if the car's terrible, we could be in a situation where, you know,

statistically the greatest of all time is forced into retirement because of Ferrari being crap. And that sucks. That's a terrible way. Because if Ferrari are bad this year, what's Hamilton sticking around for? Like, for his own sanity, what's he sticking around for? For our sake, though, just go.

just rip off the band-aid and go. But the only way that would happen is if it could only happen before Charles LeClaire announces he's leaving, meaning both drivers aren't there next year and they don't have anyone to drive the cars. They'll accidentally do it on the same day. They won't have communicating it and they'll go,

oh, is this, I thought this was my press conference. You're going as well? What are you saying? I'm leaving. What are you doing? I'm retiring. That's how it will go. Next year's Ferrari lineup is better.

airman and juvenileazzi. Pretty fizzy backing. Sure, fizzy. Yeah, and obviously the Charlotte Claire fact, I think they're under pressure, as we've already talked about, with the fact that if the car's terrible, then he may well look

at options elsewhere. So it's a, it feels like a bit of a watershed year for Friday. I know every year seems to be something big or dramatic with them, but this really does. I think there could be, if things don't go their way, it could be a real turning point. So the pressure is on there to perform. Because I think if it does all come together,

I think we retain the status quo. I think maybe not a lot changes at all. So it could be an all or nothing thing. A unanimous number one on our list was Ferrari. Sam, any honourable mentions before we move it on? Well, yeah, F1. You know, not to keep it vague, but I'm keeping it vague. Formula One have done an immense job over the last five years or so

of building up this Goliath, media entertainment company. They have captured the hearts of North America. It's finally a worthwhile market for them that actually brings in a profit and it's sustainable. They've got the entrance, of course, of Apple TV coming in as a broadcaster. Disney are highly invested. It's a real big moment for F1. If they now deliver a set of regulations that brings out the most boring season of Formula One that we've seen in a long time, it could disappear just like that. And I really do think that Steve Sunday money carly and you know all those who are at the top end of Formula One and Liberty they must have their fingers crossed at this goes well otherwise the I think the

stocks of share prices fall very quickly if people who are currently casual fans are not turned into these hardcore every weekend watches but suddenly go uh um I'll go watch the NFL you know I'll go watch NASCAR again you know it could very quickly happen if that's the choice that they suddenly make so these regulations have to deliver They need to be simplified and understood, well explained, and they have to deliver exciting racing. A very honourable, honourable mention from Sam there, and that's our five.

A few teams in there, a few drivers mentioned as well. So let us know whether you agree with our picks. And of course, there are plenty of drivers and teams and maybe miscellaneous things as well that we haven't included as part of this top five. Let us know what you think might or maybe should have been in there. Very interested to hear your thoughts. Well, on the other side of the break,

we're going to get into this Barcelona shakedown plus the announcement of Audi's Driver Academy. Welcome back, everyone. Naturally, there's a lot of intrigue at this point of the year in terms of getting the F1 cars up to scratch. And we have our first test slash shakedown slash collect down. There's so many names for it. But all of the teams, apart from Williams, are together in Barcelona testing out their cars this week. They're permitted to run on three of the five days this week. We're recording this at the end of Tuesday.

So we've obviously seen Monday, seven of the 11 teams decided to run. We only had a couple of teams run on Tuesday, thanks to the weather not being so great, including Ferrari for the first time. It means the only teams, at least this point in time that we haven't seen, McLaren, Williams, of course, who we won't see at all, and Aston Martin. It's believed McLaren might well run tomorrow. You'll already, you're way ahead of us, folks. you'll already know whether they've run on Wednesday or not,

whereas Aston Martin are focusing more towards the end of the week. Obviously, Harry, there's not much to talk about here because live timing was only there for half a day and without the knowledge of F1. We've seen people being driven away from the circuit to ensure that there aren't images and videos being leaked out. So I guess the only thing we've got at the moment is how the cars sound from some phone audio.

So, what are your thoughts on that if you could give a detailed breakdown? I respect the good people of the race for persevering. You can't do a boy, Ed Straw, like that. No! Yeah, if you haven't seen it, folks, he's Ed Straw, well, Renaud F on journalists, stood outside the circuit to Catalonia and is recording the sound of the engines that go past. It was a bleak video. I respect the hustle word. But that's what they were driven to

because no media were allowed into this shape down. It's all a bit of it weird, isn't it? I have no problem with this shakedown not being televised. I have no problem with it being technically a private shakedown. And I know it was, I believe it was requested by the teams and that's why everyone granted it. But the way they've gone about,

it's such a weird approach the whole yeah like you say people have been driven away being you know told not to film and we've seen so many weird like blurry videos of cars going past as people are on like a hillside

half a mile away but with the best binoculars in the world your hadjar in the barriers in between like three trees or something earlier is it? It could be Hadjar I'm not sure so yeah it's it's a stranger I just am confused

with the approach by F1 on this one because yeah I'm like I say I'm fine with it being private, fine with it not being televised but being this strict on like the privacy of it is very odd and it just doesn't send out the right message and I'm not quite sure why F1

are so worried about the the fact that these cars might be unreliable and break down stuff because that is just part of F1 and clearly they're not confident in this new rule set that we've they've had to do this. But it could be a thing or a feature all year.

And I know owners were different then, but look at 2014, and I know that's probably what they're trying to avoid, but the first test in 2014, the cars could barely do a lap, but maybe the Mercedes. But it's part and parcel of a new regulation. So I'm not sure why they're not willing to embrace it. I don't think it damages the product of F1 if cars are struggling.

And ironically, they weren't because Haas did 150 laps on day. So that tells you everything you need to know. Incredibly funny comment I saw and I can't remember who said it. That Esteban Ockon, who did the full day, wasn't actually allowed to pit and had to do all 150 laps on the same set of tires. Back again. Can I fit? No, 135. Keep going.

Keep going. I'm really hungry. Can I come in that? No. I'm with you, Harry. I don't understand it really. I agree with the whole idea of it not being televised. I wouldn't televise this because, again, you're not,

it's not a full, like, four-day test where everyone's on track all the time. Like today, for example, what earth would that have been as a televised product? So much padding. Like, Crofty would have lost his mind. You've got to feel sorry for the commentary team at that point. Yeah, it did have been pointless. So I'm fine with it not being televised, but the whole secrecy element I do not understand whatsoever.

like there's no need. I've just been repeating your points, Harry. We're not in the same situation as 2014. And even if we were, so what? Like when you enter F1, you understand the reputational risk that might come about as a result of your car not working properly in preseason testing.

And I don't think there is a reputation risk anyway, but so what? It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I think this was a good opportunity. There's so much interest and intrigue. in F1 right now. This seems like a reasonable opportunity to educate people and to take advantage of that

and to home that interest from now until March. And instead, it's just left this really weird situation that's a bit... It's not an awful situation, but it's just a bit... Why are we doing this? Why are we bothering? Sam, your thoughts? The closest thing I can equate this to

is almost like UFO sightings. We've all got the best cameras, the best surveillance in the world. And yet all we're getting through are these weird like bigfoot photos walking through the tree and they're out of focus. You're like, is that an F1 car? Maybe we should start doing,

I want to believe, post a merch, but actually it's like F1 car that's blurred in the background rather than a UFO on it or something. It's all weird. It's all very odd. I don't only know what they stand to lose. Even if it wasn't properly televising any way,

I fully agree. But why can't the teams be posting their own social media of updates saying how drivers are going and getting out there. Why can't people like the race? People like us, if we want to go down there and do a show from down there to talk about what's going on.

It creates more interest, more build up, more height, more investment into what's going on in Formula One. So, yeah, really, really strange. But fair play to us. A lot of laps, a lot of blim and laps. Car looks bloody awesome

and they're doing a lot of bloody laps. So fair play to you, Sma,com. That's what we like to see. Actually, the thing that wow me up the most about this is there's this massive attempt to keep this test private and secret. And then F1 at the end of the first day on YouTube, nine minute highlights package. Like, what?

Also, a nine minute highlight package of the shit like grow up. A lot of interviews as well, but like nine minutes. The thing that's wow me up the most about this, actually, now, obviously not all the teams have released their liveries. And we know I'm like a big livery fan. Love it. McLaren released a test livery. Right? The black livery with the orange numbers and everything.

That's the livery for the year, in it? Yeah, yeah. Oh, well, well, apparently some people can't understand reading because very clearly says test livery, number of times. Test livery, the word test is testing. You're testing by bloody patience. He was read the comments and everyone's going, oh, where's a papaya gone?

Oh, where's the orange gone? Why is it black? Oh, the orange one looks great on the black car. Great design choice. Oh, no. Honestly, it's driving me insane. Read, before you do something on the Internet, folks, please. Not this isn't now turning into a McLaren fan bashing,

but someone I did see on Twitter, oh, X, sorry, someone saying it was classic papaya rules that then they released a picture of the car. It had the one on the front, but the 80 one on the side. That's never been done before. All the time. Friday did it. It happened.

isn't it. It's not papyrals. Come on. It's no papyrus now. Call that British bias, honestly. Yeah. That has wound me up

more than anything this week. Well, let's move it on to Audi, who have launched their driver development program ahead of

their first season as a Formula One works team with former F1 driver Alan McNish set to lead the initiative. God, Alan Manish.

We love McNish. I keep part of Audi strategy, the program will scout and support young talent from carting and union categories, creating a clear pathway to the top level of motorsport. Reigning Formula Regional European Champion, Freddie Slater, has been signed as the program's first member. The 17-year-old already has three single-seater titles, having won the UAE and Italian Formula 4 championships in 2024, before claiming the Formula Regional European Crown last year. He set to compete in F3 this year.

Sam, your thoughts on them creating a junior team straight away, wasting no time whatsoever with this? Firstly, I absolutely love that Alan McNish is running this. I've got all the time in the world for Alan McNish. Multiple winner of the for Alamong is so successful. He's also won the American Lamont series. It's also won the World Endurance Series, the championship. He's been going to see Principal. He's been a commentator.

He is so well vested across motorsport, not just. one avenue, one direction. He's not just a singular driver that's gone, oh, I don't go to be a driver anymore, I'll run something and become a junior program. He's so experienced and he's so well connected across the world of racing. I think this is such a great employment move from Audi,

really, really good. And I love that Audi have done this so quickly. I love that they've come in and gone, you know what, we'll not be around the bush. We are here to put our stamp on single-seater racing in the Formula series, and we are going to be here for the long haul. And a junior program is such a great commitment to this. You don't see it from the likes of Haas at the moment.

You barely see it from the likes of McLaren. They don't have their own cars running around down there. They pick drivers, of course, and have younger drivers. But they haven't got this ownership, this team ownership. I love that, you know, Audi have coming and gone the full hog immediately. And I absolutely adore the fact that they've turned up. They're going to be bringing in young drivers right from the get-go. F-3, F-2, F-1.

It tells you that they're here to stay. This is going to be some kind of four-year process. where they go, all right, we have a bit of fun, we just had our hands of it, we didn't win anything, we're going to move on. This tells me they are going to be involved for quite a long time. It's a big commitment financially, with employment, with time. They won't benefit from that for a couple of years. You think at least three or four seasons, realistically, before they get a driver through that they go, yeah, that's part of our program properly.

Because even if they were to get rid of Holkenberg at the end of 26 and bringing an F2 driver they've sponsored, it's not really part of your program. you just happen to have them in their team for a year. So I think it's going to be at least two or three years before they get anything out of this. Harry, how do you see this program working? Because we get some junior teams are a little more going with a broad approach

and try to pick up a quite large number of drivers and then they're almost competing against each other to see who's going to rise up the ladder. Whereas some other teams are maybe more hyper-focused on a couple of talents very much looking to specialize with just them. Do you think Audi will go one way or the other with us?

I sense they'll go the hyper-focused route and I think that's, you know, if we look at Mercedes, for example, they've always been very hyper-focused, Kimi Antonelli, George Russell, Bottas, and it's worked out pretty well for them. So I get the impression that that's what they'll go for. It's a real sign of intent, isn't it, from Audi?

And like said, they are not here to just, not though I thought they would be, but they're not here to just make up the numbers and they want to be around for a while. And, you know, it's only a sensible thing to do. And it's an investment that they're making now and won't see for a few years. But as you say, Sam Holkenberg isn't going to stick around forever. This is obviously his, well, certainly we think his last big effort in F1 with this Audi project.

But he won't be around for the whole thing. And Audi need good options to have going into the future. And this is a clear sign of that. So, yeah, it's a. A real sign of intent, as you said, love that Alamette Nish is leading this, a very, very experienced peddler in all forms of most forms of motorsport. By the way, he can also crash a car properly.

I would beg you to go on YouTube Suzuki, 2002, Anamon. That's a crash. Yeah, so, but he's definitely right man for the job. He's been associated with Audi for quite some time. As you mentioned, Sam, with the LeMond and, American Le Mans Series wins. So a great person to have there. So yeah, a very interesting,

very interesting future. They really are trying to be the Mercedes beaters, aren't they? I'm excited. I live for this. I hope that's a rivalry to come for the next 10 years. I love it. Already nicked there, well, not nicked,

because Mercedes still have it, but they both have Adidas now, so it's not just solely Mercedes. I saw, by the way, a comment about our pronunciation of Adidas being like a bottle of water, you know, Adidas rather than Adidas. We're not American. Yeah, I just thought that was funny. Adidas. I'm very positive about this overall.

I think it's a really great initiative. And to your point, Sam, like Hass didn't do this when they entered the sport. Great that Audi have shown some long-term intent with this move. I think it's a brilliant first signing as well. Freddy Slater was absolutely the number one free agent. if we're talking about drivers that weren't associated with a junior program that could have been picked up. And as soon as they announced this, I was like, Freddie Slater should be the number one pick, really, if they can get him. Because he's, I think by design, not associated himself with a team yet, perhaps keeping his options open.

He's supremely talented. I said a couple of years ago he'll be on the F1 grid by 2028. I stand by that. I think he'll be there in a couple of years' time. you look at his record so far. 2023, he wins 16 of 20 races in Janetta Juniors. He goes to Italian F4, wins 15 of 20 races, which he set records for the most points,

the most wins, the biggest win margin in Italian F4 history. And bear in mind, that's a championship that Berman and Antonelli have won relatively recently two, yet Slate has set those records. And last year, of course, he won Formula Regional European Championship level, exactly what Antonelli did as well. So he's very much on the pathway. He's been a little bit inconsistent

in Formula Regional Oceana over the winter. Great series, by the way, if you're not watching that four weeks over January with the championship being decided next week. He's currently second in that, though. So even if I feel he's been inconsistent there, he's still very much in the mix.

So I think it's a brilliant signing. We'll see who else joins him, but he will be probably their number one target to get into the sport, maybe at the same time as Holkenberg is considering retirement. Well, let's take our final break on this episode. On the other side, we're playing Order Please. Everyone, to the final part of today's episode.

It's time for a game of Order Please. Whether it's a can of Coca-Cola or a lump of cheese, or we're ordering drivers by the size of their knees. This game is full of facts, just you wait and see. This is Formula One. Oh, dear. Dare, please. Swear that theme's louder than all the other ones.

Anyway, F1 order, please. Six questions, four things in each category, and the guys will have to order them based on a way in which I tell them. If they get it right, they get a point. If they don't get it right, the other person has an opportunity to steal that point, but there is a bit of risk involved with that move, because if they try to steal the point, but they get the order wrong as well, they will lose a point.

and we're going to start this one out with Sam. What number would you like? I'll have number five, please, Ben. Number five, I'm going to give you four constructors who have never won a race. I want you to list them from the most points to the least points in their F1 histories. Okay. So your four constructors are Sirties, Yep.

Force India. Yep. Toyota. And Aston Martin. Okay, most points in the least points across their entire F1 career. Yes, okay. Yeah, and just for with Force India, obviously, Perez did win a Grand Prix, but with Racing Point, which is why Force India is a valid answer here.

Just get that in there before the comments. Yeah. Well done. Most, I'm going to say, Aston Martin, then I'm going to say Toyota, Ming-Force India, things. That's not the correct order, which means Harry has done. the opportunity to try and steal that point. Would you like to give it a go, Harry?

I would not. Sensible move, not an easy question, this one. Number one on the list was Force India. They actually have the most points of all time without picking up a race win, 1,039. Then it's Aston Martin with 595, Toyota's third with 278.5, and then Cirti's last with 53.

Harry, your first question. Number one, please, Ben. Number one, very simple one, this. Four drivers, four current drivers and one you solicitor based on how many races they've done. Your options are. I thought you were going to give me any of the pause. I was like, yeah, and they are.

Pause, like, that does make sense, doesn't it? Yes, I think it makes sense. It's the most black stare on your face. Your four drivers are, Max Verstappen. Esteban Ockon, Lance Stroll, and Nico Holkenberg. Oh, you can do this, man.

So the most, I'll go for, was it from most of the east? Most of this, yeah. Holkenberg, then Vestappen, then Stroll, then Ockon. To really think about that one. And it was absolutely work.

That is correct. Nika Holkenberg has competed in 250 Grand Prix, Vestappan 233, Stroll 189, Ocon 180. It's a sneaky one, mate, because Ockon started before Stroll, but then he had a year out, didn't he? Middle sabbatical. Nile sabbatical, but you? Yes, well avoided.

Sam, over to you. I just think I'll have number three. There it is. I'm going to give you four drivers again. I want you to list them based on oldest to youngest, please. Okay. Your four drivers are Nico Rosberg. I assume we talk about age right now, isn't it?

Yes. Okay, good. Just have to clarify. You can have to go with me? So it's Nico Rosberg from when he was 12. They would always be older, last race. I don't know. You got Nika Rosberg, Sergio Perez,

Sebastian Vessel, and Jaime Al Juswari. Oh, Dujri. Oh, Zawaring on. Come up. Okay, I'll just see youngest. I'm going to say, Oh, Rosberg was there when God. was a boy.

When I was a wee lad. When he was a wee lad. I'm going to say, am I? I am. Rosberg Perez Vettel AguSwari. That isn't the correct order, which means, Harry,

you declined the opportunity to try and steal last time. You avoiding it again? Yeah, I don't want to do that. No, no, no. Not far off at all, because Nico Rosberg is the oldest of those four. 40 years old. You then needed to switch the middle to a round because Vettel is 38, Perez is 36,

and Jaime Al Juswari, despite being out of the sport for a very long time, he's still only 35. I hope so he's 12. He's still 12. How long was he started? He was like, he was a teenager, other. He was like 19 or so. Yeah. So we go back to Harry. Number two, please, Ben. Number two. I'm going to give you four races from last year, I'd like you to list them based on the most to least overtakes in each of these Grand Prix. Oh, God, I'm so glad. I didn't pick number two.

That's nasty. Yeah. Your four races are Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Mexico, and Silverstone. Okay. That's a wide range. Silverstone, I think, is the, had the most overtakes. then

oh man then abidabi then Mexico do I think that yes yes you do tabby then Mexico then Qatar that is not the correct order Sam would you like to try and steal this point

I love a minus you know me I'll swap the middle two so you're going Silverstone Mexico Abu Dhabi and then Qatar Yes. That's also not correct. Oh, we've been quite.

I'm doing it. The most overtakes of these four races, but actually the most overtakes of any Grand Prix last season, was the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. We didn't see any of them. They happened. We didn't see any of them. 60 overtakes in that race,

and I think we saw six. So that's number one on the list. It's actually Mexico next with 49. Silverstone. we remember it's a great race. Had 26 overtakes. They weren't that many. Did Nika Holgerberg do 17 of them?

But he didn't actually make, I think he made like two overtakes. He didn't actually... Oh, so we're not talking about moving up positions generally. We're talking about physical... Like, on track over, like, not just like I've been in the pits and... Because overtaking in the pits is a thing,

so that's why I was, you know, debate. I mean... If I lose, I'm dead. And then Qatar is last. There were seven overtakes in that. that Grand Prix. Lord. It wasn't even the worst one of the year.

Monaco had four. That's a word last. Yes. Yeah. Unsurprising Boston, too. It's back to Sam. Number six, please, man. Number six.

I'm going to give you teammates, and I'd like you to list them based on how many times they race together as teammates from most of us. So you've got Lewis Hamilton and Jensen Button. Okay. You've got Valtry Bottas and. Joe Guan Yu.

Okay. Lewis Hamilton again, but with Nico Rosberg. And your favorite driver, David Kulthard, and Mika Hakenen. Oh. Oh, that's a tricky set of four that. I think most is Hamilton, Rosberg. Then I think DC and Mika. Then Bottas is Joe and Louis J.B.

not the correct order which means Harry do you want to try and steal no again it's just one position change because it's just the top two the other way around DC and Hackenden 99 races together

Hamilton and Rosberg 78 Bottas and Joe 68 Hamilton and Button 58 it's mad as it because you think about Hamilton and Button like that's quite an iconic pair in the class actually weren't together very long

Botas and Joe would together for longer. That's mad. Yeah. Which means, Harry, would you like number four or number four? Number four, please. Good show. I'm going to give you four seasons. I want you to list them based on how many points Williams scored in these seasons.

Okay. So you've got 2025, 2005, 1995, 1996, 1996, and 26, and 2026, and 20, and 20, Right. Right. I'm going to go 96 the most. Is it the most? I don't know. Don't ask me. Yeah, 96 the most. Then 2012, 25 and then 2005. Not the correct order. You want to give it a go, Sam?

the year's 96, 2012, 05, 25. Correct, yeah. 25, 12, 9605. Not the correct order either. Tough one, this. The correct order, 1996 is number one. They scored 175 points that year, followed by 2025, with 137. And then 2005, they scored 88. And despite actually winning a Grand Prix in 2012, they only scored 76 points that year. Pretty inconsistent. I just say that's evidence of the sham

that is the point system. But Williams were only a few points off at Championship 1 a year last year with their points. Ridiculous. Yeah. Well, that's going to do it for order, please. That's going to do it from John Burko. But fortunately, we've got one more segment on this episode.

And it's time for the greatest segment in all of podcasting. it is the LB question of the week. Week. We're asking the question, what is the real reason Williams haven't been at this shakedown test this week?

Why not? Love this one from Casey on Instagram who said, the car had appendicitis and had to undergo emergency surgery. Yep. Timothy, is he on his phone?

Hi. The Faye. I said, latest Microsoft Excel update isn't compatible with their Commodore 64 IT system. Nick said that that Duracel battery on top is taking a lot longer to charge than they fought. On top of what? I don't know. I'm not saying it. The car?

Probably's been there for the last. Madness. Obie John Kenobi said that James Vow has got into a long conversation with Clives and got stuck in the understairs covered. Why is in my house in the first place without meaning it? knowing, I don't know. Clive saying it's what James Viles. James on Instagram said they were bringing Paddy back on board, which is obviously where Sam got the same info from.

I knew it. See, I knew it. You weren't wrong, you were early. I've heard that before. Daniel said the reason they're not testing, there was no free parking. Free parking? No, there's no free parking. The ultimate perk, and they haven't given it to the teams. Madness.

I liked this one from Angi on Instagram who said, Alex Albin is enjoying his engagement. Congratulations, by the way, Alex. And taking some inspiration from Otmar and his number of children and refuses to go to Barcelona to drive the car.

Believable. Uncle Timmy, hang on a second. Who is that? He said that they're waiting to see if Saudi Arabia will reinvest this here. Oh. They have invested a lot so far. And we have to remember that.

one from X and it's from Paul. James Vowels refused to use consonants and when asking for a new engine, ended up asking for a EIE, which is interpreted as I'm meaning one. So they only have one car for the season. Seems unrealistic, but my sources are good. That might be one of my favorite answers for a while.

That's so good. Yeah, I know, right? That's so good. You just never knew where it was going. Leanne has said that I was in charge of the planning and somehow got the dates wrong, which it seems feasible, to be honest. Yeah, that's very fair.

From Mikey Spiky, because they'd rather have a bowl of cocoa pops. Who wouldn't like a bowl of cocoa pops? They're my favourite. I have a lot of people love cocoa pops. My favourite. Oh, the last one is from Clayton. They've been too busy trying to get Mongo out of that moat.

Mongo! Ego! Good. That's the last one for me. Yeah, that's perfect. Yeah, and that would cap off a great episode. But actually, for the first time in 2026, it's time for a visit from the newly inducted Hall of Fame.

Happy, happy birthday! Oh, oh. Yes, for all those that are in our top tier of Patreon, you get a birthday shoutout on your relevant month. And, of course, if you haven't noticed, the world's longest month. It's January. So lots of birthday shoutouts, you lovely supporters.

And thank you to everyone that does support us on the top tier. So we're going to run through some birthday shout-out. Oh, ha! Flag F racing, January 1st, happy buffing. New Year's Day. Oh, Jules is fools. January 4th, happy birthday. Alex W. on the Jang 7th,

happy birthday to you. Brown 30, happy birthday for Jang 16. We love you, Brown 30. Ethan Green, Jan 23rd, happy birthday. Cursing on Jan 25th, happy birthday to you. Mark Fleck on Jan 28,

happy, happy, Happy, Happy, Happy, Pust Day, oh. Franka Bates. Frank Beds. What friday amaze? Cory loves

Carla. Happy, happy birthday, Jan 28. Kelsey for Jan 29. You share your birthday with Brooke on Jan 29. So happy birthday to Kelsey. And happy birthday to Brooke.

I don't hear, Frank of beans and everything I'm doing now. Thanks for you, support, gang. People pay for this. People pay for this. for this shout-out. What are we doing? I'm not sure when we originally planned,

it will be done in that voice, but that's where we are. Well, happy birthday to everyone for January. Of course, if you are a member of our top tier on Patreon and you haven't given us a message on Patreon to say when your birthday is, we can't read minds. We don't know when your birthday is unless you tell us. So give us a message, and of course, in about a month's time, we'll be doing February's ones.

And that will end this episode, Sam, if you wouldn't mind, and I'm stipulating Sam and not the father of Christmas of birthdays. Could you please get us out of here? I almost did it as well. You know me too well. Thank you so much for Liskey. Thank you so much for everyone that is supporting us, especially on Patreon, but for all you listeners through the winter break,

we know there's a lack of F1 stuff going on, but it means a lot that there's so many of you that still listen to every winter break episode. Make sure you do join the Patreon. There's lots of good content coming out we're about to do. January's beer we're breaking, and that's always a lot of fun. So check back out if you fancy. it. Make sure you join us again for Sunday's episode where Ben, anything

exciting going on? Oh, I don't know. Do you fancy sitting across from me in the same room? That was just saying in real life and then also said same room. Good. We're going to be breaking for someone's lounge and doing another show, so that's going to be a lot of fun. So make sure you join in for that as well at the end of the week.

We're getting closer to F1 action folks. It's nearly here. Thanks for listening. In the meantime, I've been Samuessage. I've been Ben Hocking. And I've been Vagabee. Oh, a lake of Tender. Fuck, I'm bad.

I remember, keep breaking late. Martha listens to her favourite band all the time. In the car, gym, even sleeping. So when they finally went on tour, Martha bundled her flight and hotel on Expedia to see them live. She saved so much, she got her seat close enough to actually see and hear them. Sort of. You were made to scream from the front row. We were made to quietly save you more.

Expedia, made to travel. Savings vary and subject to availability.