The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Will Hamilton make it 4 from 4 in Istanbul? | 2020 Turkish GP | Episode 87

Episode Date: November 11, 2020

As F1 returns to Istanbul for the first time since 2011, the boys discuss whether they think Hamilton will win again, give their thoughts on the proposed 2021 calendar, and predict which driver will seal P4 in the championship.Make sure to SUBSCRIBE! 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 look out for new episodes every Thursday and Grand Prix Sundays. Hello and a very warm welcome. This is the late breaking F1 podcast. Your weekly fix of F1 debate as we preview the Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park. My name is Ben Hocking. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to listen along.

joining me. No surprises, Harry Ede and Sam Sage. How excited are you for a return to Istanbul, guys? Turn 8 has been living in my mind, rent-free, for about eight years, so I'm pretty pumped. J. I'm still reeling from the news that we just heard that Ben was going to have creamy mushroom pasta, but did they have any mushrooms? Yeah, folks, Dave's going to have creamy pasta. It's meant to have mushrooms, in it, but he hasn't done his clicking collect properly. So absolute nightmare over at late breaking central. Got no mushrooms. In F1 news, I am excited to go to Istanbul.

Although I feel like I'm going to feel deflated after the first car goes through turn 8 on Friday morning flat. And we're like, oh, turn 8 is not straight. It's not a corner anymore yet. Yeah. But anyway, don't mind. I reckon we'll get to FP1. And do you remember Charles LeClair at Japan when he went through 1 30R, one-handed? He'll do the same thing at turn 8.

Actually, no, the Ferrari probably wouldn't even get through to a turn 8. But maybe someone else. They'll just be able to do it. Sorry, Ferrari. A minute and a half in, and you've already had your first jab of the evening. Be lying if I said it's going to be the last. But anyway, let's crack on with tonight's show. We've got plenty to run through.

So the 2021 calendar has, ended up very different from what we, well, very different from what we've got this year. So a bit of a back-to-normal theme. We'll be discussing the confirmed calendar and how it's looking. The downfall of Ferrari and the struggles of Alex Album mean that a battle has emerged over P4 in the championship, so our thoughts there on who's most likely to finish forth. And we're also going to discuss Ferrari's Driver Academy, do they potentially have a problem on their hands?

More on that later. But first, we're going to be discussing the grand. Rompri this weekend. And there is a very good chance that Lewis Hamilton is crowned our 2020 champion. He currently holds an 85 point lead over Valti Bottas. He's the only driver who can stop him. If that lead is 78 or more by the time the race ends on Sunday, Hamilton wins number seven. So Sam, Hamilton has experienced in the circuit, former winner there, actually. Will this help him out in his fights against Bottas? Yeah, I mean, experience counts, isn't it?

It's always going to help. He's done well at the other circuits we've turned up to for the first time in a long time, if for the first time ever. And by done well, I mean, he's won all of them. So, yeah, I mean, Lewis Hamilton is Lewis Hamilton. I feel like if he can never race carry anyway, he'd still be the person to beat. He'd still be the absolute one. You've got a challenge. You know, he won it, Nuremberg Ring.

He won at Imala. He won at Portemow. and he won up with Jello. So he's got them all so far, isn't he? All the nice ones that we were going to get excited for that we thought we might have an absolute corker. We might see something completely special. We did, never run.

He saw some great races, but we thought we might see something new up front. No, Lewis Hamilton won them all. So I feel like a track where he is a winner at and feels, actually, if anything, that means he won't win. He doesn't need to win this track now because he's already won there. So you know what? Bratast, and he's incredible on the starch, they've got it in the bag, sorted. Yeah, because Hamilton winning at a circuit once before has stopped him in the past.

No doubt about that. Harry, what do you think? Do you think that Hamilton, he's on a three-race winning streak as well? So the former is on Hamilton's side. He's got experience of the track. It's going to be very difficult for Bottas to stop him? Yeah, I mean, to be fair to Bottas, he was doing alright in Imler until Vettel's front wing got stuck in his bargeboard, whether that was the entire reason why he was so slow is up for debate.

But yeah, I mean, we've spoken about this at previous tracks that we've been to this year that are new slash returns to the calendar and whether experience helps you. And I don't know whether it does or not, but it doesn't really seem to matter because Hamilton's just quick at all of them. So, yeah, it's always going to be tougher for Bottas, who I think has been slightly unlucky in recent races. but, you know, he's just got to keep that form up. His quality form has, you've got to give it to him. His quality form has been impressive. He's going up against Hamilton and sometimes he's beating him.

Sometimes he loses out by not very much. But it's just Sundays. He just can't convert them, like ever, which is just, it must be so disheartening for him. But I'm not going to rule him out for this weekend. but yeah, Hamilton is in sublime form at the moment, I have to say. Yeah, I think especially at this point in the season, if you're to look back at the last few races,

I would argue that Bottas is doing a considerably better job now than he was doing, say, in the middle of the season. So if you think, and the conversion has been the difficult part for him. But Imola, he got pole, he led. Nerbergring got pole, he led. the race in between those two. Algarv, he led there as well. He won Russia.

So he's definitely putting himself in the positions to win and he just can't seem to close out enough of them, which I think has always been the knock on Votas really, is that he can compete in terms of qualifying. He does take pole positions away from the driver that's got more than any in F1's history. It's just a case that on Sunday he can beat Hamilton. He does beat Hamilton,

but it seems to be 25% of the time or 30% of the time when really it needs to be a bit better than that. In terms of whether experience is going to matter or not, I think at least in qualifying and in practice, I think it was even now in the race in Imola. But there were noticeable differences between drivers who had experience and who didn't. So one of the prime examples of that was Carlos signs against Lando Norris. So Lando has experience of the circuit. Carlos Sines, I believe, had no experience of actually racing around Imola. Lando Norris seemed to have the advantage, particularly all the way through qualifying.

And it wasn't until the race on Sunday that that leveled out. And Carlos Sines managed to get the advantage back. And I think that was the case across a number of teammates. And in fact, pretty much the exception to the rule, the one who bucked the trend, was Valtrey Bottas. Because I think there was a bit of contention as to whether Valtry Bottas had done any running it. Imola before. We know Lewis Hamilton definitely has. Yet Valtrey Bottas was very quick all the way through, well, the one and only practice. And then qualifying, he was very quick. Obviously, got pole position. So it seems as if we have to remember with Imola, they did have less practice

time. So I imagine the impact of that will be lessened. And Valtry Bottas, to his credit, he seems to be a really quick learner, these types of circuits. A very similar situation of Magello as well. Hamilton seemed to have it on race. day, but in terms of learning the track and getting up to speed, I think Bottas has got it. So I think Bottas does stand a chance, just because, like I say, he has led every single race in the last sort of four races or so. So he's going to give himself the opportunity, I think, but whether he can convert or not is a very different question.

Hamilton might well benefit from a bit of experience that he's been here before. I think it's only maybe four drivers or so that have actually done this, but I mean, we've already spoken about turn eight. it's likely going to be a completely different corner to how these guys took the corner last time. So how much can you actually gain from that? Three in a row for Lewis Hamilton, I'd be very, very excited to see if someone else can get,

well, Max Verstappen can get in the mix. My thinking is he won't just because there seemed to be something of a revival from Red Bull, maybe towards the Nuremberger ring, but that seems to have tailed off in the last two races. So I think this might be Bottas versus Hamilton. don't think Vastaffin's going to get involved. Do you think that Vastappen might have a chance, Sam?

Yes. Come on, Super, Super Max, Max. I mean, I think that Red Bull, they love it here, apart from that time that Weber and Vessel took each other off and Vessel did that thing where he put in his helmet and did the, you crazy sign as he walked towards the crowd. What an iconic moment. You haven't seen that Grand Prix go and watch it because it was a good one.

Red Bull are good here. Red Bull are very, very strong hearing. It has the same kind of. climate as Brazil and as Mexico. It's, you know, that hot, cabbie dense climate. The track is of the same stature as well. It's got a lot of undulation, a lot of hill climbs. I do feel like they're going to struggle in the middle sector, of course.

There's a huge double straight. You've got a straight, little chican, big straight. Very similar to Abu Dhabi, actually, apart from a gang. There's undulation. So there's actually a character at Turkey, unlike in Abu Dhabi where character goes to die. So I feel like Red Bull, who have a lot of, a chance. I think they've got more of a chance here. They've hang out a few circuits this season.

Do I think it's going to be enough that they can topple Mercedes? I mean, are they going to topple Mercedes anywhere unless the track is literally 50 degrees? Because that's the only time Red Bull seem to thrive more than Mercedes do. I think it's unlikely. I do think the max will be in the mix. I don't think there'll be anywhere enough for him to actually wing the race this weekend. And we'll come on to talk about the calendar for 2021 in a little bit, but there is one TBC in there at the moment and I'm sure Red Bull are going to be lobbying for that to be held in the middle of the Sahara Desert based on what we've seen so far this year. Harry, do you see Red Bull slash Max Verstappen making any sort of an impact on the race win?

I mean, never count out Max. It'll be tough. He's dragging that Red Bull around to places it just doesn't want to go so much so that its tie blew up last time. we don't know what would have happened if he managed to get past Bottas earlier on in the race. Could he have threatened Hamilton? He'd have given it a good go whether he would have done anything

as a different matter but yeah, you know, never rule out Max. Red Bull are always canny with their strategy. Yeah, who knows? Maybe if we pretend like it's not going to happen, it'll happen. Right.

That's the strap. Play it cool here, lads. No chance, man. Good stuff will happen. No, no, no. Sergio Perez will be on the podium. Oh, for God's sake. Poor Sergio.

Sorry, mate. You'll have to wait until Bahrain. Wow. Nice one, Sam. Sorry. Cheers, Sam. Sergio is crying now. So, yeah, conclusion of that is that Red Bull Stan, no chance whatsoever.

Sadie's going to wrap up an easy one to finish this weekend. Come on, Red Bull. Do something. Okay, with that in mind, should we move on to some bold predictions? Sam, what have you got? Bold prediction.

I think that Alex Albon is going to beat Max Verstappen on pace alone. Right? Well... Can you have for silence, everyone? Spiced delight. Hang on, hang out. I'll do this properly.

You like it a little bit spice delightful. Oh, yes. Yeah, boy. Thank you, Ainslie. Yeah, cheers Ainslie for your contribution to the podcast. But that is a spicy take. Alex Albin is going to beat Max Verstappen on pace alone. Is that just in the race or in qualifying as well?

I think it's just a Sunday thing. I think Albon is going to come into this. He's had some time out over the last couple of weeks. We've seen him with Gasly a lot. There's actually images of both them walking out of an Alpha Tauri outlet with bags in hand. So Albon could be on his way. That is a bit of a rumor there.

Get you a Tingful hat song. But I wonder if this is his last chance to show off anything. And I think they're going to be a bit of a fire lit up under the backside of Alexander album. I mean, if you're right about this, well, I mean, you're just going to brag about it for the rest of the year. I think that's optimistic.

Probably rest of the decade, yeah. Harry, it's a tough act to follow that one. But have you got a bold prediction? I mean, not bolder than that, I'm afraid. But no, my bold prediction is that at least five cars will bin it at turn eight this weekend. I think that's pretty bold. Like, that's a quarter of the field going off on one corner.

Yeah. That's not bad. I would say that's pretty bold as well. I would say that it's hot and spicy. Ian what? Ainsley Harrier is all on board that bold prediction. I'm also going to give a fairly bold prediction because I don't think this has happened this year

and correct me if I'm wrong on this, but both Alpha Ramayos are going to make Q2. Ooh, I like that one as well. And I know they both have escaped Q2, but I don't know if they've both done it at the same time. So it could be a season first. Again, correct. Yeah.

I think that was a full round of hot and spicy bold predictions, you know. That was. I'm proud of us. I mean, people listening, if you have spicier or bolder predictions, then obviously let us know at Lbreaking. Yeah, get over there. Get involved. I'm sure.

There's always a few spicy ones concerning, George Russell getting points. So, you know, bring your best. Bring your best. Can you compete with those? Poll 1, 2, 3, Sam. What have you got here? I'm going to say that poll will be Lewis Hamilton. I think the wing will go to Lewis Hamilton. I think Valkyubotas will be second. And I think that Alexander Ralbong will be third. Because he is going to beat Max Lestappen on Pace alone. Harry, what have you got? I'm going from Paul Bottas,

the win, Bottas. Hamilton will be second and Sergio Perez will be first. Yes! This is Harry's world and we're all just living in it. Yeah, look, for the love of God, Sergio, and racing point, come on, come on. I have to question your tactics here, Harry,

because if you want something to happen so much, Why are you predicting it? That's the surefire way for something not to happen. I'm still living on the high from my correct ball prediction this year. I carry that to the grave. Every day is so good now. 2020 is been great just because of that. It's going to get your colour.

He's skipping down the road. There's rainbows everywhere. One ball prediction correct. It was a monumental day, to be fair. And who knows? turn 8 action this weekend you might get another one but i'm going to go with hamilton poll i think hamilton's going to have one of his you're not going to touch me this weekend botas um weekends i think i think you'll take the win as well i'll have vultry botas in p2 though um and then i've got a red bull

finishing p3 shockingly it's not the same red bull as sam i've got max for staff and in third don't touch me right look don't touch me i'm all right controversial i know but bring in this place Anyway, should we move on to our next topic, which is going on to the 2021 calendar that has been confirmed this week. A record 23 races in total, if they do all happen. And it's something back to normal because it's very different from what we've had in 2020. Vietnam, which was supposed to host a race in 2020 for the first time, is not on the calendar. And a TBC is in its place. Saudi Arabia, a race that was heavily rumoured,

is included as the penultimate Grand Prix. So, Harry, what are your thoughts on the calendar? Look, I don't want to be disappointing or down about this, because a full calendar of F1 in light of what we've had to go through this year with half a year of no racing at all is a thing to be celebrated. But a little bit sad. I mean, there's a TBC on there, which could become something cool. but who knows.

But I'm a little bit sad that none of the great circuits we've been to this year have made their way back onto the calendar. And maybe that's naive. Maybe that's being too hopeful of something that was never going to happen. And 2020 will just live as an extraordinary year. But yeah, I was kind of hoping for a bit more. It is very much back to normal, apart from Saudi Arabia, which my God. yeah we've spoken about this already

like we don't need to go to Saudi Arabia and as Sam pointed out the other day Brazil's not even the penultimate round anymore it's the third from last which is just it's hang on disgusting it is disgusting it should be the finale

quite frankly I might just count as a finale and not watch the last two races next year that's not going to happen is it yeah like I said I don't want to complain too much about the calendar because a full calendar of F1

is something to be celebrated and there's still some great tracks and it'll be great to go to the ones we didn't actually go to this year I'm thinking Australia at Japan places like that Baku also shout out to Vietnam now I know we've done this on our league

and it's the worst circuit ever created for an F1 car but at least give the poor in Vietnam a chance. They've built this circuit. Didn't get to race there this year because of Corona and then F1 on like, yeah, you missed your chance, mate. Off you go. Take it down.

We're not doing that anymore. So, uh, bye. Yeah, that seems incredibly harsh. Maybe they'll fit into the TBC slot. I don't know. And then my last only, last point, redeeming feature of the calendar is that South Palo is currently on there with an asterisk next to it.

But it is on there. So only good things can happen there. So yeah, that's all I've got to say about that, if we're being honest. Fair enough. No worries at all. But yeah, I think the Brazilian Grand Prix was definitely one that was under threat, so it is good to see that that one has reappeared. Sam, what are your thoughts on the calendar and something of a normal calendar?

Well, funny enough, we've just spoke about Sao Paulo there. I've just seen a rumor that it's put pen to paper for another five-year deal to stay on the calendar. So if that comes true, there is something to celebrate. On the other hand, firstly, Vietnam, I'd like to have seen it once, all right? It's been around a long time. People were talking about for ages. They've put so much money in time into building this circuit.

And we'll never even get a bloody see the thing. We had to see South Korea. At least let us see bloody Vietnam. I mean, I get that there's issues with the government. That's what the problem is at the moment, isn't it? There's a corruption thing. Loll, we're going to Saudi Arabia. So, yeah, pretty guessing that we don't get to see that

because I feel like we got some absolute carnage around Vietnam. In terms of the actual track that's been confirmed, 22 races currently with the TBC to make it the 23. I think the 23 feels a little too much. When you look at the dates, there are going to be some people who will not get a weekend free. Their families will not see them. They will not leave their lounge.

Daylight will be a myth to them for a long period of time. But even more so, I feel sad for... The race teams, I've got to say, for the members of the, you know, the teams that make up the crew, the PR teams, you know, the hospitality crews, the engineers, the admins, all those people who don't get to go home. They get to, you know, yes, they have a brilliant job. We all would love to be in one of their spots doing this job. But they also have families. They also deserve to have time off. You know, mental health is important. As we try to show this year in F1, the mind sponsorship as well. We race as one means also looking at the well-being. of the families involved, the people involved. I do think that 23 races takes up a heck and large amount of the year.

In terms of the tracks that make up that time that's being featured, I would happily drop to a 17-80 race calendar as we're going to have this season and this season has been bloody great with just 17 races, not even there yet, at the end of it, but it's been bloody great so far. And get rid of Spain,

get rid of Russia, get rid of Abu Dhabi. You can already boot Saudi Arabia off before we've even got there, although I do feel like the poor oppressed people of Salieri because there are some sport, but at the same time, don't get the government the satisfaction for their human rights awfulness.

You know, there are so many tracks that you should just be like, throw out the window, they don't need to be around again. And we've had some fantastic spectacles at races that now won't be there. Like Turkey, for example. Turkey's a fan favourite. I'd be shocked if we get a dull race at Turkey this weekend.

And F1 is like, you know, that an horrible ex-girlfriend that you got rigour four or five years ago. And now no one loves her anymore. and I want it to be nearer anymore because she's horrible. And she's picked up the phone and gone, oh, hello, Turkey. And Turkey's on, you want me back?

Yeah, cool. I'm here. Next season, you're out again. See you later. It's horrible. These tracks are iconic. Get them on a rotational basis and stop bringing about the same boring tracks that people complain about year after year after year.

I am quite disappointed with the calendar. I think it's a lot wrong with it. We're also trying to be carbon neutral. There's no change to the layout of the calendar to make it so that plane fairs and transportation makes sense. I think at one point we go, Canada, we go Baku, Canada, France. Like, why? Why is that happening?

So it's a bit of a fast to me. It's a bit silly. I'm glad we're going to get more races, don't we wrong? I still think there are too many races. As Harris said, there is a reason to celebrate. But there's a lot of things that I've got issue with this for next season coming. Yeah, I think I completely agree with.

how many there are and it being too many. For me, 23 is too much. I would personally say that an F1 season does not needs to be longer than 20 races long and I think 18 to 20 is the optimum and for the reason that you gave as well, Sam, in that it is such a stress on these F1 teams. And if there was a way for the Formula One drivers and the Formula One drivers only to go racing and it wasn't a stress on on anyone else within the team. I'm sure the drivers would be happy enough to do 40 races a season. But ultimately,

it's not the drivers that need to be thought about here when it comes to all of these weekends away and the hardware. It is the teams. They're the ones who bear the brunt of it. And if you're looking at nearly half of all weekends in a year being taken up, that's a lot of time.

And ultimately, there is also a case to say that if you have two minutes, any Grand Prix, does it take away the value from each individual one? Ultimately, and I forget what Liberty Media described it as, I feel as if it was probably something along the lines of every Grand Prix should be a Super Bowl weekend or something along those lines. It sounds very Liberty Media. But the point is that they kind of have this emphasis over, it should be an event. It should be something special to have within either at a historic circuit or at a vibrant, in a vibrant city.

And if they want to go down that route, they do risk diluting it somewhat by having too many of these Grand Prix. Yeah. So I think there does come a point where quality needs to, you know, quality needs to be looked at over quantity. I think overall the calendar, I'm not surprised with how it looks. I think it had to be expected.

The main problem for F1, and this is a phrase that all the three of us absolutely love for a very internal joke reason, but they've opened the box of change here. They... My God, Ed. Wow, you brought that one out. They've opened the box of change,

in that they have shown what is possible. So, in previously, when we were discussing, oh, wouldn't F1 be great to go back to Imler? Wouldn't F1 do well at Algarf? These were very theoretical questions without much basis behind them, without much of an intent of this could actually happen. It was always seen as completely unrealistic.

However, now we're in a position where we've seen F1 at the Nürbergring in 2020. We've seen it at Algar and at Imala, and we've loved it. And I think a lot of these races, Imala in particular, Mugelo in particular, they haven't necessarily been overtaking fests, but we've still loved them nonetheless, which just goes to show that these circuits that have, character, these circuits that do punish mistakes by having grass and gravel right by the side of the track, they are enjoyed by people who watch F1. And now they're stripping it away from us again.

So ultimately, if you didn't, you know, they've stepped in in 2020 and done a wonderful job. And F1 are going to be very thankful for that. But they're not back on the calendar. People are going to now say, well, we've just seen that and we really liked it. Now we don't get it. What's up with that? I will say hopefully in 2022 when the cars, new cars come in, maybe they'll reconsider the calendar at that point. I am fairly doubtful in that respect. But yeah, I'm sad, particularly when it comes to the likes of the Nureberg ring and Algarv. I really would have liked to see those two feature again, but I wasn't expecting it at all. In terms of the TBC that's currently on the calendar, Sam, any inkling?

as to what that might be. Well, it's meant to be what, the fourth Grand Prix of the calendar. Yes. And logically, for a normal person, this is not the F1 Liberty Media planning team. For a normal person, you pick something that geographically makes sense. Now, currently the calendar goes, what? Australia, Bahrain, and then what's third at the moment? China.

It's China. So you can see that... See, I'm laying a Trump, that there will be a circuit in that region, in the Asia region probably. So you'd assume that maybe, I'd like, oh, India could step in. Would love a bit of India. Maybe South Korea. I've already slagged it off once, but, you know, that could come back, right? And I'd be okay with that.

What I would absolutely love, though, is Bathurst. So if you can make that work, I'd be a happy boy. It's not going to happen. We're fully aware it's not going to happen. but I think that makes logical sense. I am nervous that they're going to put something incredibly dulling or just absolutely remove it entirely. And actually, I'd rather they remove it entirely than put something dulling.

But if they end up slapping like a European race in there, it would be a little bit silly because, again, we're jumping to and from and to and from. So, yeah, I'd like to see one of those Asian circuits get to stepping and have another go that maybe got ushered out a few years ago. they brought some good races. They were quite fun. But for me, I'm not certain what they're going to put in there, if I'm totally honest. I just don't know, Jeff.

Don't know. I know. Do you know, Harry? Yes, Netterson. Oh, yes. Good shout. Come on. No, a serious suggestion.

What about Malaysia? Yeah. Spang! Why not, lads? I'm going for it. There was a rumor a while ago. I thought I saw about Malaysia making a return. But yeah, why not?

It does the right sort of area of the planet and time of year. Well, I say time of year. Every time of year is monsoon season in Malaysia, I think. But look, yeah, I'd go there. That's why I'd put in TBC. I love that. That is brilliant, suggestion. Best thing you've ever said.

Thank you, Sam. Well, I think actually, F1 have got a number of options here because, well, first of all, they've had so many circuit step in this season, but actually in terms of the date of the race and also in terms of location, I actually think they've got a number of options just because I know they're in China the fortnight before, but the race after is, the race after they are back in Europe, I believe. So I think round five is Spain. Could be wrong on that, but I think they go back to Spain.

So theoretically, they could be in Europe for that race. They'd just be going back a couple weeks before they were expecting to. So I think they could have another race in Asia as they was planning to, but I don't think it would be too disruptive if they did go back to Europe. Considering Spain is round five, maybe round four could be an Iberian round as well. Algarve, that would be quite cool. I wouldn't be surprised at all of Turkey actually does make an appearance again next season. If I had to, I mean, I haven't really got a clue, but if I spent money on it, at the moment, I'd probably say Turkey is going to be the one that takes it.

But the Malaysia suggestion for me is the one I'd love the most. That is absolutely. Sapang is missing from this calendar. I know there are a lot of circuits that we'd love to see year in, year out. But Sapang is very near the top of the list, if not at the top of the list of the circuits that we've been to in modern times that just should be there. It's a great circuit. Yeah, that takes my pick. But Snetterton's good as well.

Snettenden is the best choice, to be honest. I think it's the only choice. If it's good enough for Johnny Herbert, and it's his favourite circuit, it's good enough for us. That's our motto with pretty much everything. I think you live on the track. He goes in the middle. I'm in the middle of it.

Herbert's hole. For legal reasons, Johnny Herbert does not live in a hot. hole in the middle of Smetton. Please don't see worse. Break into it when it's closed and find that hole. He's in there. He does. It's just after the straight, just under the bridge, you know, just as you go into the final sector, it's right

there. All you'll hear echoing is, Johnny Herbert leaves, leaves, leaves, on repeat on the PA system. Yeah. Right. Let's move on quickly. Who is favourite for P4 in the championship? Does anyone know?

Not a fight we expected. No, it's not Johnny Herbert. Yeah, so it's not a fight we're expected because, but, you know, Ferrari made the decision to be rubbish, and Alex Albin has underperformed. So after two podiums in three races, it's Daniel Ricardo, who is in that fourth spot at the moment on 95 points. Theoretically, his challenges are likely to be

Charles Leclair in fifth on 85 points, and Perez in sixth on 82. it take a strong effort from anyone else to get in the conversation but norris signs alban gasley and stroll they're not completely out of it as well so sam who do you think got this one it's got to be my guy danny rick the honey badger is tearing it up you know i mean the guy is putting in such stellar performances at the moment every race we turn up to you can almost bet your bottom dollar that danny rick's going to give it giving everything and he regularly does how many four places to jaguarie this season and now has two postings

volumes as well. The guy is in the right place at the right time. He's not getting lucky. He is putting the car in a place. If something were to happen in front of him, he gets lucky. The only time that, you know, he didn't was, was it when Kiviac jumps him on the safety car? You know, that's, you can't call a safety car. Again, that's maybe just something that you can't call that doesn't go his way. And I think that Danny Rick is turning up the heat. I think we're seeing Danny Rick from kind of the last season, the season before last year he was in Red Bull. You know, Prime Time, Danny Rick. Fun fact for you, I know a lot of people don't seem to know this,

but Danny Rick's older than Sergio Perez, by the way. And I think that that guy is kidding. Sergio Perez is doing a great job. I just don't think that racing point is able to bring it as much as the Renault is at the moment. I think the Renault's development this season has been really strong. And the racing point just don't seem to be able to put it together at the final hurdle. Charlotte Claire is an absolute driving god at the moment.

The way he is outperforming where that Ferrari should be is breathtaking. And I really do think that, you know, if it weren't for the fact that we're going to Bahrain twice, then he might have a showing of it. But I think that Renault is quite literally a missile in a straight line. And that Ricardo's got a good shot on maybe another podium coming up. So I think Ricardo has it mainly down to his current form, which is just spectacular. And the fact that the tracks we're going to after Turkey really suit what that car is capable of at the moment. What do you reckon, Harry, do you think that Ricardo's got the edge?

Or do you think he'll be overtaken by someone? I would put Danny Rick as one of my drivers of the season so I would not like to bet against him I do think one of my other drivers of the season is probably Perez but he's just perhaps been slightly more unlucky you know missing two races because of COVID that kind of thing

so if Perez can get some more luck I think he is in super form at the moment he deserved that podium in in Imola if raising the point hadn't brought

him in I think he would have held on to it but yeah I would not want I would not want to bet against

Ricardo I think he's driving so well at the moment and to be fair Lecler is as well so any of those three I think could

take it slash deserve P4 I think they've all driven superbly this year so yeah I don't know but I'll go with

Danny Rick because I think it's harder to catch up at this stage than it is to lose a lead, I would say. So I've just jinxed it. Sorry, Ricardo. Yeah, sorry, Danny Rick. No chance now. But yeah, I would agree with that. Ricardo does have the advantage four rounds left, so he would be the favourite for this. Yeah, Ricardo's been on fire this season.

And outside of Lewis Hamilton, I think, he's maybe either been the second or third best driver. I think he's competing with Vastappan on that front. Two podiums in the last three, but he's actually been in the top four, four times in the last seven races, which is incredible consistency. Doing a really solid job against Esteban Okon,

who is no pushover, even with his time out of F1. You know, Ricardo's done a fantastic job. And Reno, in terms of the team, have done a really good job this season on on working on their weakness. So we remember, because the first few races at the season, Renaud weren't really there. You know, there were a few OK performances here and there, but they were regularly not up there with the likes of McLarenum Racing Point.

If you remember back to, if you remember back to Spain, for example, they had an awful day then. Ockon and Ricardo both finished outside of the points and were never even close to threatening the points that day. They also seemed to struggle at Hungary as well. well. So I think it became, I think it became an observation at that point in the season that maybe the Renault just isn't quite there on these, on these types of circuits, you know, circuits that don't rely on straight up engine performance. But they've really worked on that throughout the

year because we've seen that Danny Rick pick up a podium at Imala, a circuit where you don't have too much in the way of reliance on top speed. And also at Magello, as well, well. Daniel Ricardo did a really good job there. I think he finished fourth on that race as well. So they've clearly worked on that. They can perform on all types of circuits now. With Bahrain coming up, rightly said Sam, you've got a real chance at a podium there. But I wouldn't count out the others as well. I mean, Charles Leclair, sorry, God is his real title. Charles Leclair. Charles Leclair is just this human name, but he is God. He's done a wonderful job this year as well.

he's been up there as one of the drivers of the season, I would agree that he won't get it just because, I mean, Bahrain itself is going to be difficult. Abu Dhabi is going to be really difficult. The Sequea Grand Prix, where they use the outer layout,

good God, Ferrari might well end up 12 laps down after 14 laps. They are in trouble. Yeah, it's just such a reliance on straight lines, speed at a number of these circuits coming up, which is not exactly Ferrari's forte. See, I told you, Ferrari. I wasn't just going to get that opening jab in the intro for you.

There was plenty more coming. Yeah, I don't think LeClau's going to get it for those reasons. But Perez, I think, has got a good chance. I know he's 13 points behind Ricardo, but I didn't realize this until earlier today. Perez has scored points at every single Grand Prix this season that he's entered. It's only the two COVID races he misses that he hasn't scored points. every other time, him and Hamilton are the only ones to do it.

So he's clearly been... The only other one is about to win his seventh world title. Exactly. Yeah, not too shabby at all. He's been very consistent. Perez is in a position where he's sick from the championship. The five drivers ahead of him, of course, all have podiums. And the five drivers below him all have podiums as well,

which is very harsh on Sergio Perez. he doesn't have one, but it kind of proves the point that if he's beating five drivers who have got podiums this year, it is his consistency that's coming through. And the second half of this season in particular, Perez has been on fire. I agree that he should have got the podium in Imala,

and I think he will have a few opportunities. Racing point are being quite bullish about their chances in the next few races. They think they've got a really good chance. So maybe Perez can take it away from Ricardo, but I am not betting against the Hardy Badger. That usually doesn't end well. As proven when he finally,

finally beat my duck of getting Nico Holkenberg wrong in teammate wars every year. So I need to I owe it to Danny Rick to go with him, really. Anyway, let's move on to whether Ferrari have a bit of a problem, their car, but do they have another problem, potentially? So historically, it's Red Bull's Young Driver Programme, I think we can say, that has received the most praise. But right now, it's Ferrari that appears to be best in class, at least in something. we're not sure at the moment what the future holds for the drivers,

but at the time of recording, they've got three of the top five drivers in Formula 2. And as we know, the champ of F2 can't race in the series again. Harry, do you think that they have something of a problem on their hands here with not enough seats to go around? I think it depends who wins it as to how big a problem it becomes of them. if Mick Schumacher doesn't win it I think it becomes more of an issue

because you'd have to imagine that Mick's the one they're going to take into F1 next year and if Mick wins it Mick doesn't win it Callum Ilaw wins it you know that can see Callum without a drive potentially I mean it's a nice problem for Farie to have

and you would say that young driver academy is working relatively well Charlotte Clare being an example of that and they've got these three young talents that are coming through that all show a lot of promise in Schumacher, I lot and Schwarzenman. So, yeah, it could be an issue. It's a bit of a backlog there. It makes the Giovannazzi sign to Alpha Romeo that little bit more surprising

because they have these drivers in waiting. And as you say, there could be an issue where one misses out on the seat. I think Schwarzenman will probably do another year in F2 anyway. So that's potentially not an issue for the. them and by then Giavanazzi may have moved on. But yeah, it could become a bit of a problem. But like I said, I think it's a nice problem for them to have. And if Schumacher wins the F2 title, I think it ties up a bit more nicely for them.

Schumacher wins a title. He can't do F2 next year. He's the one who gets moved into the Hasse, which I think will happen anyway. But, yeah, again, like I say, I think the signing of juries. the Nazi's just that little bit more confusing because they have these drivers in waiting. What do you reckon, Sam, do you think that they could have a problem? I think they could. I feel like this Ferrari Academy section is like one of those old mobile games

used to play where the car was in the car park. You had to move the other cars out the way, like the bus, you have to pull that over there. They've got to pull the taxi down. That bus is now in the way, so I've got to read. You know what I mean? There's a lot of moving parts, and you've got to get one car out of the car park. Ideally, Ferrari will want Kalamilat to win the F2 championship. Kalamilots already said he will not participate in F2 regardless of what happens next season.

So if he wins the F2 championship, that's two birds one stone. He was already not going to participate. So that stops Mick from not being able to participate if he doesn't win it. And also stops Schwarzenman not being able to participate if he ends up wing it. So they should bust out the way in the car park. Kalamilk needs to win that title. The issue is, if Schwartzman wins it unlikely, but possibly. then that is a youngster, the guy they'd expect that they could give a little more time to,

now has to leave the series. Meaning they need to bump Schwartzham up, Schwarzenm up, Schwarzen up, Schwarzen up, as soon as possible when he theoretically probably isn't ready, or they put him into a different category, which could theoretically hinder his growth in terms of singles open cockpit seaters. Schumacher winning the title is also problematic. Yes, it's good for Schumacher's career. Yes, it shows that he is ready. but if Hars only take one guy, Kalamahlet's already leaving,

now Shumaka has to leave as well. So that means their two most promising developed drivers are one of them is guaranteed to not have a seat and they now need to pick and choose which one they want to go into that house. Maybe they'll get lucky and both can go in and the Schwartzman could do that other year. Probably the ideal situation for Ferrari right now. But chances are that won't happen.

And I think they could find themselves in a sticky situation. I think regardless, they're going to have to beg borrow and steal and try and put one of their drivers into a series that doesn't necessarily benefit them. If Kamalae ends up going into IndyCar or WEC or something on those lines, does this help him? IndyCar possibly. WC, I'm not too sure. We've seen what taking some time out of the sport can do for you.

Look at Ocon. Great driver. Not sure he's the same that he was before he took that gap out. Pascal Verline, one of the guys that was really coming through, do you think he's really got what it takes now to come back into Formula One? Unlikely. So I'm a little nervous for I lot mainly. I think Schumacher will get the call up because of the name.

He's leading the championship. He'll probably win it. He's the desired force to go into that car next year. Ferrari fans love him. It makes sense. I lot has been by far the most consistent driver of the season out of the three of them. And I feel like it would be a little unfair if he ends up doing absolutely nothing. And it could falter his career because he's come up at the same time there's so much talent.

And Schwartzman, Schwarzen will get another year in F2. which also I think won't wing the championship, which is what's going to get another year. So I think that issue is solved. But it could definitely be dicey if it doesn't go the right way for them. Yeah, I guess the question, can you ever have too much talent in an academy? No, but it does lead to development issues because you have to manage it. And you have to manage it from both respects. So first of all, you need to make sure that drivers don't get promoted before they're ready.

but at the same time, you don't want drivers who are definitely ready for the next step to be stagnating in a series that they're too good for. So they have to manage both of those, and they've just found themselves in a position where they've got a number of drivers who are at a very similar time in their career with development. I think they can maybe consider themselves weirdly lucky, but Marcus Armstrong has had a strangely poor year in Formula 2 because I figured he might well be in this conversation as well.

in which case, it would have been even more difficult to manage. Schumacher at the moment is the favourite to win the championship. He's got a 22-point lead over Callam Islet, and Islet's got a significant advantage over the next guy as well. So, I think, you know, in an ideal world, Schumacher will win the championship. He'll go to Hasse. It won't be an issue at all.

However, it might not end up that way. It's Formula 2. Anything happens and does happen. So who knows, Ragunathan might well come back and win the championship with four rounds to go. It could happen. It is Formula 2. So what they do is really difficult.

You know, Robert Schwartzman can definitely, having only done one year in Formula 2, I think he could definitely benefit from a second season in Formula 2. If Schumacher was to miss out on the championship and not go to Huss, would he benefit from a third season in Formula 2? I'm not so sure. And we don't know what Callum Islet's going to do as well. Obviously, the F2 champion needs a spot.

And there is a chance that if they make, it depends what order they do it. If they make the announcement of who races for Hass before the F2 championship is decided, then they're in a bit of trouble. Because if then Schwartzman goes on to win or Islet goes on to win, it doesn't, first of all, doesn't look great for, let's say, Schumacher who gets the seat, that he's been beaten by someone within his own academy. but then it leaves a question of what you do with the other driver. And ultimately there are solutions.

So Pierre Gassley has done it before where he's won Formula 2, hasn't gone straight into Formula 1. They put him in Super Formula, which is a decent development ground as well. And there are other options too. But ultimately, F2 is specifically designed to be a development ground for Formula 1 in terms of tyres, in terms of giving them the overtaking skills, thanks to the reverse grid race. They're actually on the same weekends as Formula One so they can get used to the paddock.

It is perfectly designed to be a development ground. And that's not to say that the likes of Super Formula can't be useful in that respect. But ultimately, would you rather sleep in your own bed or would you rather sleep in your car? Yes, you can sleep in your car and it will be somewhat beneficial, but it's not what it's designed for. You'd rather sleep in your own bed. that's what Formula 2 is compared to something like Super Formula. So what I think Ferrari should do and what they might well be doing is speaking to Hass and saying,

you're going to take one of our junior drivers. Please wait on the announcement until the Formula 2 season is over. Whoever wins the championship gets that seat. If none of them win the championship and Sonoda surprises and wins, then give it to Schumacher. Because at that point, all three of them have real incentive, not as if they don't have any at the moment, but they have got real incentive to go out and win that championship,

and it's just based on how well they perform. But potentially a tough call, depends on what Schumacher does, really. Right, I've had enough of you too, so I think we're going to call it there. Thank God for that. Yeah, geez. Just kidding, George.

It's always a pleasure. It's always a pleasure. Sam, if you wouldn't mind. It's not. Shut up, you losers. I'm not enough. Shut up. I'm ending this now.

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