The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Will there be a championship fight this season?!

Episode Date: May 29, 2024

After 3 different winners in the last 3 races, Ben, Sam and Harry consider whether we might yet see a championship battle in 2024. They also discuss the threatened consequences of Ocon's crash with Gasly in Monaco, Hamilton's qualifying doubts, and whether the Concorde Agreement still has a place in F1. They finish with a game of Back and Forth... FOLLOW us on socials! You can find us on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok SUPPORT our Patreon for bonus episodes, historic race reviews & more! JOIN our Discord community JOIN our F1 Fantasy League: SIGN UP & create your team, and JOIN our league (join code: C3PHEQHPU04) BUY our Merch SEND us something! We have a brand new PO box - address: Late Braking Podcast, PO Box 821, TRURO TR1 9PE EMAIL us at [e-mail] & SUBSCRIBE to our podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 podcast. Make sure to check out new episodes every Wednesday and every Sunday. Welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage and me, Ben Hocking. Back for another midweek episode. Sam, we're recording this one two days early. So what has happened in the world of F1 in the last two days? Screw the F1.

We watched Indy 500 and it was immense. I absolutely loved it. Big up to Joseph Mugard's and celebrating in the crowd. Unlucky Patto, sadness in your eyes and to everyone else's. But aren't that great? So drink that milk, maybe? I mean, sadness for Patton because he should have been out of the race about 100 laps earlier.

Good. Oh, man's just called him the juggler, because that steer wheel is, woo! I'd still be screaming now. I'd just be screaming constantly. No, breath. doing this. That was literally what he had to actually do at 220 miles an hour. The thing is,

so that was the whole last stint. He was just at 105% constantly. Anyway, and Harry, you've managed to learn a new skill. You can now perfectly do a drill noise. Yeah, well, I'm glad this has made it into two episodes. Also, made it into Power Rankers and now also the main episode. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I might break it out later on for you, luck.

If you feel like, I might not. Harry, the drill, Ead. There it is. Awful for audio members. So bad.

We are actually going to talk about Spaff one, believe it or not. We've got back and forth later on. Always glad to see that make an appearance. Bonus payments still on the cards in the next Concord Agreement for Ferrari, Hamilton and Russell, and their qualifying pace,

some interesting comments from Hamilton in that regard. But we're going to start out front because, and I don't know the last time this happened, I wish I looked this up beforehand, but we've had three different teams win in the last three races, which is not a common occurrence. We've had Lando Norris win in Miami. We've had Vestappan just about win in Imola, and then of course last time out, Shalda Claire winning in Monaco the first time he's won his home race. Both championships have closed up at this point, drivers and constructors. So Sam, we want to ask this question, is there a championship fight? Yes or no?

I'm going to go bold. Yes, there is a championship fight. It is opened up. The upgrades that McLaren and Ferrari have brought are actually viable. They're actually working. And it looks like currently, Red Bull don't have,

when I say an answer, they brought the answer before the question was asked. It's like that smarmy kid at school who knew all the answers before the paper had been put down. He's going to get an A plus anyway. So what's he moaning about?

That's what Red Bull have done. They've turned up to the first class of the year have gone, we've got it all right anyway, thanks, miss. And then they've left. And then the answer has been handing out. And they've gone, oh, wait, there's some extra ones on the back of the test paper that we didn't notice because I didn't turn over the final page. And Ferrari and McLaren have gone, got that right, got that right.

And now we've got a competition on our hands. I do think that it isn't going to be as simple as, you know, race one, one by X, race two, one by Y, race three, one by Zeg for the rest of the season. I expect Max Verstappen to come back into form. I expect the Red Bull will be far more. more comfortable at the majority of the tracks we're going to see, these classic circuits coming up for a longer Europe. I think the Red Bull will be okay. But Canada, for example, whilst it is not as street circuit as the likes of Monaco, it is regularly cold, it is quite narrow, it produces

some difficult racing, the car can feel uncomfortable there. And I wouldn't be surprised if some similar characteristics rear their head from Monaco to Canada. And therefore, both Ferrari and McCormac, Claren could have an advantage. We saw a similar thing in Miami, of course, when Landon Norris went on to win. So I don't think it's, you know, all over and out at the moment. I do think there's a chance that, especially if Perez keeps underperforming,

if Ferrari McLaren have two drivers every single time in second, third, fourth and fifth, and Red Bull only have one driver scoring in the top five. The constructors most definitely, I think, is up for grabs. I do not think this is game over. So, yeah, I'm being bold. I'm going to say it. I'm excited.

I think we could see some results. started to switch. Harry, do you think there is a championship fight or are we getting ahead of ourselves here and we should all just, you know, have a sit down, just let's see how this plays out. I mean, this will surprise absolutely no one, but I'm going to say TBC. Oh, the fakes is back. Sure. I think Imola more than Monaco encouraged me, or I guess Miami, encouraged me more,

because Monaco is quite an anomaly and obviously I know but the Red Balls are good there but it is an anomaly of the circuit I would just if we get to this time next week sorry not the next week after after Canada and we've had either a different winner are you like a Ferrari or a McLaren win

or we've had a Vastapin win where it's like Imola was where Norris is right behind him then I'll say yes I just think maybe I'm scared need to see one more. Yeah, just one more to convince me because I feel like there are a few mitigating circumstances in the ones we've had so far.

And that's why I say Imola gives me more hope, for more reason for hope than I guess the other two where we've had the Norris and the Lecler win because obviously Monaco is an anomaly. And then with Miami, I know Norris was quick and obviously deserved the win, but Vastappen had some, damage that he picked up on the on the curb and stuff so um yeah i just want to see just want to see one

more and again it can be a vestap and win but if if there are others in the mix that weekend mclaren or ferrari then i say yeah i think it could be could be game on i i can see where you're coming from and it does sound weird on paper but i think you're right that of the three races that we've just had the most encouraging one or the one that makes me believe we'll have a championship fight the most is the one that Vostappan won because it is the one that was the closest thing to a straight up fight. You're right. Monaco is, Monaco is often some weird anomaly and Red Bull and Max Vastappen were quite vocal over the weekend that they have a very clearly defined issue with the car that they don't think is easily solved. But is there every weekend but comes out

the most at a circuit like Monaco where essentially they can't run the car to soft because they can't run the car too soft without losing a great deal of downforce, which of course you can't afford at Monaco, but doesn't impact you as much other circuits. So that is probably a bit of an anomaly. And like you say, Miami, we don't quite know how that would have played out without Vastapa making the error and hitting the bollard and the safety car. But Imola was pretty much a fair straight fight. And it could have gone either way towards the end of that Grand Prix.

So if we do see another result like that, then that makes me, gives me more reason to believe. My instinct is that at least in the driver's championship, Vestappen keeps everyone at arm's length. I'm not saying that he's going to run away with it necessarily. I can see the likes of LaClair and Norris, McLaren and Ferrari taking wins away from Vestappen for the rest of this year. I don't think, and I can't wait for this to be wrong, I don't think that Vestappen will now go on a tear and win every race for the rest of this year. I think that there will be opportunities for the other drivers. My instinct is as soon as it becomes a little bit closer, Vastappen just takes another two or three wins and extends it out a bit again.

And then it might come back a bit closer and then Vastappen extends it out again. That's my prediction of how it will go. I think the constructors is game on, though. I do think the constructors is more vulnerable for Red Bull. Again, can't wait for them to be one-two at every race for the rest of this year now. Perez wins the next 10. In terms of McLaren and Ferrari, because I think that's mostly who we're talking about here, obviously Mercedes have much closer to understanding their car at this point, so it could feature them as well.

Any day now. And a resurgent Esteban O'Con, of course, who's on the war mode now after Monaco. Out of Ferrari and McLaren, Sam, who do you think poses the greater challenge to Red Bull? I think this is a trickier question to answer than your first question about, you know, is there a championship fight? because I think the obvious answer is to say McLaren and I think I wouldn't blame before saying McLaren because you look at the last three Grand Prix and more consistently there or not

they've been there actually it's further back than that even the likes of China right you know Landon Norris was fantastic around China when they brought the upgrades started bringing the upgrades in and they've had glimpses of really promising moments across the whole season and I think Ferrari actually before they brought their upgrading Australia was kind of the only place where you think

Yeah, good stuff. You manage to capitalize on an issue for someone else. But other than that, it's just been best of the rest. I think Ferrari are a bit of, ironically, a dark prancing horse here. And I think that actually we haven't been able to see how their upgrades work on a completely natural racetrack. First time they brought them in was Imola, difficult to acclimatize them. The track is hard to get overtakes done.

McLaren were very, very good. Red Bull was still pretty decent there. Monaco, as we've already said, It's an outlier, but even on the outlier, they got the win. Now, I think that if Ferrari and Freddie Bass can just keep implementing these little upgrades, these little steps forward, I actually think Ferrari might be the bigger threat. But right now, I think McClara are the ones that pose the current top spot. They pose the danger.

But I think that the line up that they have, both McClaren and Ferrari, is better overall than the lineup that Red Bull has. And I think Red Bull need to be worried of a more consistent approach from both of those teams over what Perez is able to achieve on a race by race basis. I think that's where they risk throwing away one of the two titles. What do you think, Harry,

which those teams do you think poses a greater threat at this point? I think I'd go McLaren. It's very difficult because I think both of those teams have an argument to say they've got the best driver line up on the grid at the moment, which makes it.

It could be very interesting how those two take points of each other going forward. But I'd say potentially McLaren, I think Carlos Seines has maybe had a couple of more off races than the two McLaren drivers. But again, I think it's very, very difficult. It's very close and very difficult to say. So it just depends, I think, who develops their car the best.

Because I sense maybe McLaren can do that. We've seen it happen last year where they outdeveloped other teams. and you know that's going to give piastri and a piastri and no i see advantage but i think it could be really really interesting battle between between those two because um there's not a lot there's a lot between them in terms of in terms of performance um so yeah i'll go for mcglau but i honestly it could could be either of them i think the answer is dependent on one person and that person is oscar piastri I think it's all about Piastri. If he can match Carlos Sines, race for race,

I think they can be equally as good challenges to Red Bull. But whereas I'm, and I know Piastri's been good the last three races, but I think there's less to go on with Piastri, and there is still lingering concern about his race pace compared to those other three drivers. I feel more confident to say that on an average weekend, Norris will be a nine out of ten, Leclair will be a nine out of ten,

the signs will be an 8.5 out of ten. Piastri, I don't know. Like there's times where he looks like a nine out of ten. There's times where he looks like an eight out of ten. There are other times where he goes a little bit missing towards the end of stints. If Piastri can keep improving and he gets on a similar level to Lando Norris for the majority of this season, then I'm more convinced about McLaren. If not, then I think Ferrari have consistently had the best line up in terms of how it's

performed in the last two years in F1. and maybe my confidence goes to them instead. I can see a challenge coming from both teams. If I had to guess which one, Ferrari have burned me so much over the years. So, of course, I'm going to pick them because I don't learn lessons from life. I don't know. It might be recency bias. It might be LeClaire.

It might be, you know, the LeClaire taking the win and my emotions taking over here. But I do think Ferrari can pose a threat. can't wait for them to mess it up from me. Oh, no, no, no. Sorry. Do you think that there's a chance? Because I do that they maybe are each other's worst enemies here and trying to topple Red Bull.

I think there's a real risk that they get in each other's way and aren't able to maximise weekends because they're so evenly match, because they're so close. They're not able to secure, you know, two threes because actually there'll be Norris and second, Clairle will be, if science might be fourth, Piazre might be fifth, and that might swap around. So instead of, you know,

the staff of winging every grown preys, but McLaren picking up second third, second third, every single race and gaining into constructors, if they're sharing the points across four drivers rather than two, I wonder how much that actually aids Red Bull in the whole fight. 100%. I completely agree with that. And I would not be surprised if that's how this season went, because we've had title fights in the past successful or unsuccessful,

like take Ferrari in 2017 and 2018, for example, I know Red Bull were there for the odd race in both of those years. but for the most part, they were the sole challenges to Mercedes. So if they were on it, yeah, they could finish first and third or second and third or second and fourth. They didn't often have to worry about a third team. But like you say, there is every opportunity that they take too many points away from each other and they're both somewhat challenges, but neither can properly materialize because they cancel each other out. I could see it happening that way for sure.

in terms of Sergio Perez's impact on all of this Harry is it going to be qualifying Saturdays that are really going to determine how much of a challenge these other teams can make? Yeah, I think so because it's the same old story for Perez. He tends to qualify badly and then then he's going to make up for it in the race and often does make up for it.

But if there's a, he's been able to do that because the car's allowed him to get in front of everyone else. if there are other challenges in the way now, and we're seeing it a bit already, then it's going to harm him because he's not going to be able to get back up to where he should qualify. The problem is for Paris,

he's having qualifying sessions where he's not even anywhere near the front. If he was qualifying but, I don't know, six out of those six cars, it's not ideal, but he's in the mix, but it's not even that where he's having issues. He's qualifying even further back. So he needs to at least be in the mix,

on a Saturday, because we know he tends to move forward on a Sunday. So, yeah, he needs to sort that out ASAP. And it's not what a problem he has all the time, but it's a problem that keeps rearing its ugly head. Yeah, and the thing is, it's kind of always been the case for Red Bull where we can count on Perez being a few temps behind Max Verstappen in terms of qualifying base. and when Red Bull have a clear advantage on the rest of the field,

that can easily be Vostappan takes pole and Perez takes fourth. And we've had that at the beginning of this season as well, where Perez has been comfortably behind Vastappen, but because of the advantage the Red Bull has had, it hasn't really cost them too much. But what we've had recently is the field even closer than normal in terms of qualifying. We've had Mercedes close up a little bit. We've had Ferrari and McCarran be in the mix.

And suddenly, four or, or five, tenths away from Max Verstappen isn't good enough for fifth or sixth. It's not good enough to make it through to Q3 or not good enough to make it through to Q2, as was the case in Monaco. So I do think, and it will be easier to overtake at some circuits than Monaco was for sure. But I think a lot rides on Perez as a qualifying performances. What do you think, Sam? And I'll get a case of deja vu.

I feel like we had this exact conversation around this exact point of the season last year, starting well. Of course, he picked up a couple of victories last year when the Red Bull was more dominant. And I think we see these extremes. When the car is extremely good, Perez is very good. When the car is good,

Perez is mediocre. And when the car suddenly becomes into a level of being challenged by those around him, he isn't good enough to challenge with the absolute top level of Formula One. And that is the case that we're seeing. The last three Grand Prix, he has been the worst of the top six drivers.

This can't be a phase. that continues for the entire season. He will let the side down eventually. He's gotten away with it by, one, the staff of being so dominant in 23. Again, the car being good enough in 22 and Ferrari falling off. But you don't remember that at one point, Hamilton looked like he finished second in the driver's championship last year

until he pulled out a couple of good performances and Hamilton had a couple of bad ones towards the end of the season. This might be even worse for him. He's no longer even in the top four of the driver's championship at the moment. He is the key to ensuring Red Bull. get over the line. Verstappen can only do so much weight pulling. He's got the weight in the championship on his back,

you know, trying to hand off a stick to Perez, and Perez is distracted by a bird flying in the sky, while Verstappen's legs are crumbling under the weight. Perez, mate, pay attention to what you're doing. Take a bit of the load, start turning up. It's only the eighth race into the season. You've got to start delivering, otherwise McClawn and Ferrari will gobble you up.

Gobble, gobble. We'll take our first break at this point. On the other side, we've got comments from Bruno Femin about Estabana Alcon's crash in Monaco. Bruno Fuming. My, welcome back, everyone, by the way. My favourite thing that's happened in the last few days is the emergence of the character, Bruno Fuming. Bruno Femin, he is sometimes known as when he's less angry, the Alpine team principle. But he had plenty of reason to be angry at the Monaco Grand Prix because their cars had reasonable starting positions.

Pierre Gazley in 10th and Estabana O'Con in 11th. And as we discussed in the race review, Esteban O'Con trying a move on Gazley into Portier doesn't go very well at all. Esteban O'Con out with damage, even with the opportunity to repair the car under red flight conditions. Ghazley able to carry on and keeps his position for one point. But what caught the attention of many, including us,

was some of the comments from Bruno Femin after the Grand Prix, or during the Grand Prix, after Esteban-Ockons Grand Prix, to be accurate, he said that there would be real consequences for what had happened here and that a tough decision would have to be made. What does he mean, Sam? This was a bit audacious, wasn't it? I was quite shocked at the comics,

and this is why Bruno Fubian has come alive, as a new character of the late-breaking show. It's good to see you. Thank you for joining the roster. I was shocked. I think O'Conn has been one of the star drivers of the season so far. He might be having his best season up until the last maybe two Grand Prix. Miami and Monaco stand out as not fantastic and overall scare factors,

tried to take out his teammate in both instances there. But overall, I think O'Con has been really, really strong. So hearing these comments, I thought, a bit of an overreaction. You've really jumped the gun here. As something happened internally that we're not aware of to make you think, Why does it sound like he's trying to push out the driver, who up until the end of the Monaco Grand Prix was their only point scorer and comfortably leading the way racing, race out? Both drivers, of course, are up for contract renewal. Both seats not available.

And maybe internally, there seems to be a leaning towards gasoline. There is history that people don't get along with Esteban Okon. Maybe that's what's happening. This is just assumption. But I think what really has gone on here is at the start of the season, when the Alpine was absolute dog poo, Ocon was pulling out great performances, and we praise him for that rightly. If you go back and check our power rankings, which you can do on Patreon, the links in the description.

We do it after every Grand Prix. You can see how highly we've rated him for the first seven Grand Prix. And then it almost switched up for Monaco. It's all well and good being very, very good when the car is very, very bad. And even the best performances gets you nothing. On the first proper occasion where it looked like Alpine could have a double point scoring, and I don't think that's unrealistic to say, you absolutely dog pile on your team, mate, going into Portia,

and you ruin any chance of both of you scoring points and then jumping Williams in the constructors. Albon, of course, then scores two points. It's quite devastating. So whilst I do think the statement is drastic, and I actually don't think we're going to see anything come out of this, I don't think there'll be any changes to drive a line-ups. I do not think that, suddenly, you'll get Jack Dewan driving around in Canada.

I do think Bruno Fumian is there is anger speak for him here. I do think that Ocon needs to be wary and make sure that he is delivering consistently when the car is good enough to deliver and not pratting about it in your teammate into a wall and flipping the car because it's not a good look for him, especially with contracts up.

As much as I think that most few drivers are the best asset that Alpin currently have, they are on the way up, the car is improving, don't screw it up well, it's actually good enough to do something with. I get the anger. I do think the words were an overreaction.

What did you make of the, comments, Harry, and what could he mean by consequences and action? Yeah, it was a nod to. I think he has let his emotions run over slightly because what consequences are you threatening here, Bruno? Losing his seat would that's extreme. I don't think that's even the thing they'd consider. It did remind me.

Look, S&A knock on is a quality driver. I don't think he actually gets enough respect for how good he is. But this is not the first time he's had issues with a teammate. And I'm not solely blaming him, but he is the common denominator in these. Because if you go back, he had issues with Perez when they're at Force India. A lot of issues. Him and Fernando Alon's a lot of issues.

And this is what kind of reminded me, because at the time, who was, oh, Otmar, of course. Otma was the team principal and they had to step in and basically, did they say you can't race each other or something? I remember that was threatened, wasn't there? So he had issues there.

Him and Alonzo famously tried to kill each other most of the time. Did he have issues with Verlang as well? Probably. He had issues everyone that was a teammate. This is my point. I think for Rock on, again, I'm not solely blaming him here

and he's a quality driver, but if he steps back looks of these incidents. He is the common denominator in all of them. And maybe he just needs to, I don't know, just readjust his attitude to how he races a teammate. I mean, the incident in Monaco yesterday, like Sey Sam, he's been very good this year

with a car that hasn't been capable of points very often, or if at all. I can see why he's gone for this in terms of it's Monaco. There's not many opportunities. He thinks he could steal the point here for the team. But no one's going to think, apart from me, Ben, because we've got a big teammate was, if he finishes P11 and Gassie finishes P10 at Monaco,

no one's going to be like, oh my God, Gassley's the best driver ever and Ockon is washed. It's just not going to be thinking. It just felt like a bit of desperation to be like that team leader at Al Paine and be the one who's dragged the point out of the car. And it doesn't need to be. It's bigger picture stuff for Ockon. And he's, you know, it went way worse than it should have done.

Yeah, in terms of the threat itself, I don't think he's going to be kicked out of the seat. But I think that was, I think it's an empty threat, but I don't think it's empty in terms of, it was a warning, right, to Ochan to just simmer down, son, calm down. You're a great driver, just take a step back sometimes and reassess because yesterday was just silly. Oh, yeah, well, Sunday, because it's technically Wednesday.

Sorry, sure, yes, that's true. No, we reviewed the incident on the review itself, and we all agreed, you know, Ockon was ahead at the apex and Gassley should have moved out of the way. Sorry, heavy sarcasm, I should say. Yeah, it was obviously Ocon's fault. And these comments, I have to say, are utterly stupid. They are, what are you doing, Bruno? know. I can completely understand his frustration because, look, your two teammates crashing with one another is not ideal in the immortal words of Sam Sage. But sometimes crashes happen.

It's motor racing. It happens. Even between teammates, you can allow that. But what has happened here, based on the comments afterwards, is a clear violation of what they've agreed before the race. I think that's probably, it's probably not even the result that is actually infuriated Bruno Femin the most, it's probably attempting the move to begin with. Even if it had worked, I think he would have had reason to be annoyed at this move because, based on everything that Ghazlioc on and Bruno Femin have said, it's clear that they had some sort of agreement of, look, we're not wrecking our race on the opening lap of this Grand Prix. We have a total of one point so far this year, and we're starting 10th and 11th. Now, as we know, there probably wouldn't

have been more opportunity to score more than one point based on how the race went. But they don't know that at that point. There could have been multiple incidents out front. There could have been DNFs. It could well have turned into a seventh and an eighth, for an eighth and a knife. And those sorts of points could have been so valuable for Alpine based on where they've been. So it sounds as if they had some sort of agreement, and Ocon has just completely ignored that on the first lap. So Bruno for a minute, it's every right to be as angry as possible in private. Why are you saying this? All this has done has led to, I mean, which, chatting about it. It's led to speculation of what does he mean? Does he mean that Jack Duhin will be in

the car for Canada? I mean, the fact that it's being talked about is ridiculous. If it happens, it would be the most stupid thing I think a team has done in a long, long time. This should not even be entertained based on how, you know, if you were listing the issues that Alpine have had this so far this year, Esteban Ockon, even with this crash, doesn't make the top 100. Like, the driver lineup is a solid lineup. Just, you know, come out and say, we're very disappointed with the crash. We will deal with this internally. Behind the scenes, shout to Esteban Okon for an hour, if you want. If that's the right way to approach it, go ahead and do it. Lambastin for it. But what's the point in opening up this needless speculation of what they're going to do with

these consequences and action? Why are you saying this? The only thing I think they will actually do is, as you've already referenced with the Force India days, I wouldn't be surprised if they put something in place where these two drivers can't race each other and they have to abide by team orders in that regard. I don't know exactly. But I think that's the only thing that will come from this. And if anything more does come from this, it's lunacy.

It is utter lunacy. I think it was stupid enough to say something, but to do something would be even crazier. I just don't understand what the end game is here. I really don't. It's all encompassing of their culture, isn't it? Alpena on a real slippery slope of not having a true leader. They don't know the direction they're going in.

The team has no culture to move them forward. There's no togetherness. There's no bonding going on. It feels like a lot of bit parts stuck together. And the moment one shows a crack, the whole organisation falls apart. And that's happened. There's been a crack show. And Bruno Firming has picked up the slaghammer

and absolutely destroyed any progress they were making in terms of a team. Because we all thought, Ocock Gasly, not best mates his story. historically, but actually been doing all right together this year. They've been all right. That's immediately been ruined. They've all been screamed at. And I'm sure Gassie pretty walks away and goes,

I'm 100% correct now. I should always be in front. I wouldn't be surprised if that's an outcome. You're right, Ben, if Jack doing or anyone else, or anything else comes from this, it would be laughable. And Alpine will be another butt of a joke. In terms of Esteban Arkorn's future,

we know his deal is up at the end of this. year. And we've seen him essentially in the midfield since he debuted in F1, save for the year that he had with Manor, which was very much at the back. And of course, he had a year out as well before joining Renaud. But Harry, do you think that this sort of teammate interaction issue that Ocon has seemingly had for his entire career is the thing that will hold him back from going further in his career than where he is at the moment? I think it could be. And again, and like I say, I don't think it's always his fault but he is the common denominator here and if you if another team's going to look at him and go he seems to have issues with every team at his place with why would you why would

you it doesn't matter how good you are you don't for team harmony it's just not worth worth having that and i think it could so that that's why i think he just needs to have a step back and have a little word with himself about how he races i don't i'm not suggesting he goes in with the intention of having an incident with his teammate at every race because I don't think he does, although sometimes it does look like it, but I don't think he does. Just something, I don't know, something he seems to happen where he's always either very close to having a crash or having an incident with his, with his teammate. So it's one he needs to look at because I think it could harm him.

And I do think that's kind of a, I agree with you, Ben, I don't think it was the wisest thing for Bruno, for me to say, but I think that was kind of part of it. it was almost you're not indisposable, Estaban. I'm not saying they would be the right call to be the dumbest cool ever, but we can find another drive because if carry on like this,

then we can't afford to have incidents like that. Albin can't afford, given their current circumstances, to be having incidents like that. So I think that's why I said it, but I think Estaband needs to look at how he acts around his teammates, because it could well harm him in the future.

Well, if he has a future. What do you think, Sam? I don't think Espanokon will ever be in a top seat in Formula One. Is this the reason? Well, this and the fact that he's always got a crash like this in him. I think Espanokon's highs are very high. I think when he has a great day, he does peak to the likes of, you know, Carlos Sainz, Sergio Perez, on their best days.

I do think he could be not a world-beater, but, you know, definitely a top-quarter driver in Formula one. And our power rankings have shown that throughout the season that when he's on a high, when he does ride high, he's great. But the issue is his lowest lows are so much lower than so many around him. His personality, I'm sure he is a lovely bloke, but he clearly seems to rub people up the wrong way. He clearly seems to irritate people when he's competitive against them. That is a runging history. There is facts behind that. I'm sure that if you just went down the pub with him. I'm sure it'd be absolutely lovely. The issue is, I think if you were to pick up his

highest highs and put them onto a driver that's far more consistent, then yeah, there'd be a chance moving forward. But when you combine a driver that rubs people the wrong way with a driver that also seems to have these crashes in him, I mean, you know, you don't have to go back to the last couple of years. Do you remember in Brazil, what's it, 2019, 2020, where he absolutely took for stopping out as a lap car and we had that almost that fight in the pit lane, Ocon just seems to be the driver that regularly causes a bit of chaos around him and you kind of always go oh it's good it's something going to go wrong now I think that when you look at things like Mercedes that have become available ocon should be a naming contention he was a junior driver there he's managed by toto

wolf in theory he should be considered for this but no one is really talking about ocon to mesegis other than ocon to mercedes ironically um i think he is destined to forever live in a midfield to bat market where people might take a punt on him because of these high highs and hope that he gets into some level of consistency and doesn't poo someone off because he's had a bad day, basically. So, yeah, unfortunately, I think he's done it to himself. Yeah, it is one thing that's holding him back. And I think the point you made earlier, Harry, was valid in when you said,

if Ockon had finished this Monaco Grand Prix 11th and Gassley had finished 10th, no one would have thought that Gazley was the greatest driver in the world and that Ocon was washed. That would not have happened. But I feel like Ocon races with that in mind. And I respect it because he sees,

I think he just sees every position as something to be gained, regardless of whether it's your teammate or not, which is exciting. But at the same time, it's not beneficial for his career. And I don't know if this is true. This is pure speculation.

But we know that Esteban O'Con in his journey up to F1, had to fight harder than others in terms of he didn't have the finance readily available to go racing like most other drivers around him did. You know, he really struggled in that regard. And it just feels like he's always had that approach where he is racing for his life with every position that he fights for. And I don't think he needs to.

In terms of pure pace, I stand by, I really think, Esteban Ocon could be in a top team and do a good job. People think I was mad a few weeks or a month ago where I said that I think he has relative pace to Carlos signs. I still think that. I think pace-wise, they are on the same level. This is a guy, and I know that the car wasn't as good as it could have been. This is a guy who was essentially a match for Fernando Alonzo.

There was nothing between them in their two years at Alpine. And many people would say that Alonzo is still in and amongst the top. five drivers in the sport, five or six drivers, and Ocon matched him. Like, he clearly has ability. But this is probably more than anything, the thing that is holding him back at this point. Before we go to our second break, it's time for everyone's favorite segment. It's F1 Fantasy. Yay!

We'll start with the best of the best, which doesn't include any of us for. We'll look at the top three in the championship. Sweet Papyars is still dominating out front in first place. So congratulations. Austrian Anthem, who's been a part of the top three in the last few Grand Prix, as well as now second. A new entrant, I think, in third, which is Zubuggy ESP. Great name.

Great name. Third place. But how are we doing? Sam, you still lead, 214th. I'm on the way up. You're on the way up. as am I 256

getting there really down my neck a little bit getting there but speaking of getting there Kirsty big mover this week 396 as reliably informed

beforehand two times points on Charlerclair that's always going to get you get you higher up the table oh oh Harry

you're oh no let's just keep moving down the fire pole just keep sliding Harry There are in the league at this point, so thank you to everyone who's joined, there are 1,386 entrants.

Brilliant. Harry, you are in 1,320th. How? People have joined at Monaco. There are 66 drivers behind you. I'm going to put a reminder on my phone to change my team for Canada. Who is in your team? Who is it?

I don't know. I don't know. line. He's got the 29th. Olivier Pannis. Jacques Lafitte. I've not looked for a while. It's right. Long time to go yet. We're only a third of the way through. We go again. We move.

We go. And di Amo de Nuevo. Yeah, Diamo de Nuevo. Oh, man. Anyway. We are butchering that. If you are beating all four of us, by the way, so anyone who's 213 for better, congratulations. You don't win anything, but hopefully that gives you a bit of pride.

We'll take our second break at this point on the other side with chatting about Lewis Hamilton and his qualifying pace. Lewis Hamilton in the history of F1 has done pretty well in qualifying. Bit of an understatement. He's got over 100 polls at this point. But at least this season, managed struggling.

George Russell has outqualified Lewis Hamilton on every occasion, bar one. And Monaco, there were two spots between the drivers with, Russell in fifth and Hamilton in seventh. That's also where they finished the Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton was asked about his deficit to George Russell in qualifying

and mentioned that he was doubtful. He was going to out-qualify Russell for the rest of this season. Harry, this is surprising in it? Shut up, Lewis. What are you talking about, mate? There's no filter to Lewis Hamilton as that at all. He always says how he feels,

and this is clearly how he felt after qualifying or not on Saturday. He obviously, there's an upgrade. the component he didn't have for the weekend and George did. Again, does that matter? A huge amount of around Monaco? I don't know. But fair enough, you know, he might be expecting not to. But it's almost like he's suggesting

and it's an implication here. He didn't say it outright that he's not getting the same car that George Russell is. And that's just bizarre. I don't think that would be true. But also, would they be wrong for that? Exactly. I've seen a few people suggest this. saying, oh, they're favouring Russell. I'm like, boy, yeah. They should. Liz Hamilton, he's signed for Ferrari for next year.

He's leaving. Why wouldn't they? He's going away. So if that is the case, I wouldn't be shot or mad at Mercedes if they're giving Russell the upgrades before Hamilton because it makes sense, because he's going to be their team leader from, you know, from 25 onwards. So it was just a very odd comment. And I'm sure, again, I do feel like Hamilton says things. like I say, he wears his harness sleeve. He just speaks how he feels. He says them, he doesn't think about what.

There's no like implicator. He's not trying to, he's not trying to imply anything, really. He's just saying how he feels at the time. If it's Fernando Alonzo, he calculates every single thing he says to anyone ever. But Hamilton, I just think he says stuff about how he feels at the time. And I think if we get to the next race, he probably would be like, well, did I say that? I don't remember saying that, et cetera. And we'll go from there.

But it was a very, a very strange one. And, you know, looking at this year, he's not. been qualifying pace has not been amazing um i mean pace in general has not been hugely great but it's not been amazing so yeah there's something something obviously a miss there that he he doesn't seem to have an answer for if he's suggesting it's because he's not got the same car that would be a weird one but uh i also can understand if he's not getting the the upgraded parts at the same time but yeah a nod a nod comment and it goes back to like i remember if i said it some power Rankers already on. I think it was in Power Rankings, but it just seems like a relationship that's

slightly checked out from both sides between Mercedes and Hamilton. Now, they're still getting on. They're still, uh, it's like when people break up, but they live in a house together and they still have to live in the house for a bit. And they're just being very civil, but deep down, both of them want to leave. And that's, I think, where we are now with Hamilton and Mercedes. They're all getting a long fine on the surface, but they, they just want to this year to be having dinner together. They're eating it in the bedroom. no, no, no, no, exactly separate rooms. And the thing is, like, making a decision at the beginning of the season, of course,

opens this up. But if you make this sort of decision 20 years ago, you have to go through like 15 or 16 race weekends before it's all done. We still have 16 more races this year. Like, the season's so long that when you make decisions this early, there's a lot of track time before it actually happens. So that will be interesting to keep tabs on throughout the rest of this year. What do you think, Sam?

Yeah, I think the comments are a little bit throwaway. I do think they resemble a deeper misery around Lewis Hamilton in the sayings at the moment. Harry, I think you're right. I think that Lewis Hamilton wears his heart on his sleeve and he just kind of goes, I'm in a bad mood. This hasn't got the way I wanted it to go. I'm going to say something that I'm feeling. And I think that if you're getting, if you asked at Lewis in a month,

oh, you've outqualified Russell twice at the last three Grand Prix. You said that he'll go, what? Who cares? Move on with your life. And I think that's who Lewis Hamilton is. He goes, yeah, whatever. I was, you know, emotional. Get all with your life.

And fair play, too. You should be able to say, you know, what you're thinking. And sport is an emotional thing. Fine. But I think what's quite damning for Lewis here, I think there's a number of reasons for this. And some of all of him mentioned, you know, he's leaving the team.

They are going to favour Russell. And if you do not expect that, if you think that's wrong, you're the brand new to Formula One. You don't know how sport works. Or are you DeLulu? Maybe. You might be.

DeLoo Loo Loo. Lewis Hamilton fan, perhaps, because surely a team would not be supporting the driver who's about to walk out the door to a direct rival more than a current driver who's committing the future to them. Doesn't make any sense to anyone. That, I think, is part of it. I am also a firm believer that certain periods of Formula One cars just do not suit certain Formula One drivers. For example, Daniel Ricardo, absolute force to be reckoned with. We move into the more three, or four-year recent period of cars. He's nowhere.

He's one of the worst drivers on the grid regularly. Does that mean that Daniel Ricardo's rubbish? No. But I do think that his driving style mixed with how a development car, as development of the car has taken place, is not complimentary. And I think Lewis Hamilton is one of those people.

I think Lewis Hamilton is still up there with the Crem della Crem of Formula One racing. But I think he's having to drive against all of his instinct, all of his natural ability, because the car asks for it in such a different manner. And what's sad for Lewis Hamilton is qualifying, yeah, is important of the race. But he's got so many records that he's achieved.

And, you know, I'm sure that there'll be a lot of people that say, they don't care about records. They just want to win. He's got over 100 pole positions. And you look at people like Sena. You know, look at people like the Stappen. You look at people like Schumacher. And you go, well, Sena was beating, what, like 11 times in his whole career

by his teammate or something like that and qualify some stupid. big statistic. He holds currently the record from most polls in a row. The Stappen almost beat that. Schumacher's poll record is phenomenal, barely ever beaten by his teammate. And now you're going to look at Lewis Hamilton, who statistically is still the greatest Formula One driver

of all the time, but his qualifying record, which has always been a real strength of his up until maybe the last two seasons, is plummeting in percentage difference of wings over his teammate. And Russell should not be skiffed at. He's a fantastic driver. He's a

that. But I do think that Lewis is always damaging his credibility by maybe sticking around longer than he needed to. I know he lost that title in 21, but he had seven. He had over 100 wings, over 100 poles. This is a sensational landmark that he's achieved. And I think that him being here is not complementary. And I'm nervous when he goes to Ferrari that something might not change and that he might get to Ferrari when Lecler beats him. It's definitely a possibility because he's at the end of his career. The car doesn't suit him. I think he's a bit upset scale over 2021. There's a lot of mitigating factors there. He has every right to say this about him and George Russell,

but I do think it's just an emotional response, but he's not on his A game anymore. Yeah, I mean, it's pure emotion. I mean, he will take qualifying wins from Russell for the rest of this year. I've got no doubt about that. But, you know, could I see the end result being 16-8 to Russell or something along those lines? Yeah, I could.

George Russell has quite clearly got the measure of Lewis Hamilton on qualifying this year. I think last year and the year before, when they were teammates as well. It was fairly even. And I do still think race pace-wise, it's fairly even as well. I don't think there's much in it. But at the moment, what is costing Lewis Hamilton is his starting spot? And if he doesn't rectify that, at least to some degree, he is going to struggle.

There will be more opportunities to make overtakes in some races, but there will also be races like Monaco, where not only is it difficult to overtake, but your pace is so similar to your teammate, that whoever qualifies ahead is probably going to get the better result. And I just don't know what he's going to be able to do for the rest of this season. But like you, Sam, I am concerned about when he joins Ferrari, because he's going from George Russell, who is a very good qualifier, to Charles LeClair, who might be one of about two drivers on the grid, maybe three, that are better than George Russell in qualifying. There aren't many. George Russell's brilliant, but Charles LeClaire certainly has a claim to be

the best qualifier on the grid. I might put him there. He is sensational on a Saturday. And if Lewis Hamilton, you know, hopefully for his sake, the reasons are relating to Mercedes and upgrades and everything else and the environment,

hopefully for his sake, those are the reasons. Because if they're not, and it is something more fundamental about his driving ability, LeClaire will wipe the floor and qualifying with him if that happens. Are you concerned about his move to Ferrari

in terms of, just in terms of qualifying pace, Harry? yeah I don't know again I feel like you could get to next year and it's a reset for Hamilton and he's at least back on form I think based on current performance yes you you be worried because he is he doesn't look like the same sort of qualifying driver that he used to be but I could I could just see him rocking up to Ferrari next year he's you know he's made the change it's a fresh move and and he you know he's back to Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton of old, but it's going to be tough because, like you say, Charles Leclair, I know these are cool George Russell this, but Charles Leclair is Mr. Saturday.

Monsieur, Montseigne. But he's very good. Sorry, Ben. Thanks, Dave. He's very great. He's very good. But he is sensational on the Saturday, as you say, Ben. And I think Hamilton will find it.

we'll find it tough. So yeah, it kind of remains to be seen because, yeah, if you're looking at it right now, Megan's a pretty bit of recency bias, you'd say, well, the clerk could, you know, wipe the floor with Hamilton based on current, you know, form. But I just, I feel like that won't happen. I feel like Hamilton will get to Ferrari,

it'll be a reset and, and it'll be a tight, it'll be tight, I think it would still be a tight battle between them in terms of who's got the best pace on a Saturday, but I don't think he's going to, I don't think he's going to be, you know, destroyed by Charlotte Claire. Let's move on. A quick comment on Ferrari and the reports coming out about the Concord Agreement, which is due for renewal.

They have historically claimed bonus payments simply for their, what do they call it? Like, legacy payment, historic. They've been an F1 a long time, an F1 go, thank you for being an F1 a long time. here's some money. It's what Harry gets for being on the show. Wait, what? Yeah. Oh, you didn't know.

Yeah, no, that's why he doesn't turn up sometimes. Much like Ferrari. It looks like in the new... The Ferrari of podcasting. Yeah. It looks like in the new Concord Agreement, they will be maintaining these bonus payments. Let's go to the Red Bull of this podcast.

Sam, what do you think? Thanks. Toxic and annoying. I'm joking Red Bull fans. Made the joke for me. Yeah, there you go. This is wrong. This is so wrong.

Oh, we get money for being here longer than you. Red Bull didn't exist. So they can't be here as long as Ferrari. You know, Maserasi were back there. If they turned up now, oh, we were at the start. Mercedes were at the start. Oh, you know, there's so many mitigating factors. I understand the point that, you know, Ferrari never.

left. And they've been here a long time. And they're Ferrari. And don't be wrong, I bloody love Ferrari. And if one were to pull up outside right now, someone said to me, do you want the keys? I go, yes, please. Please don't take it away. I want it immediately. Obviously, it's a Ferrari. We all like the red car. But I don't think they deserve extra money just because they've stuck around for a long time. Formula One would be okay without Ferrari. genuinely, it would be okay. Yeah, we've missed them. I would miss them, but we'd survive. Also, it means that Andretti could come in

because they're only be nine teams. That's another conversation. They do not need bonus payments for simply existing. And it's frustrating that there's talks of, you know, oh, we share the money. We can't have another team coming because, you know, the cash is not being will be divied up properly. And then Ferrari are walking away with a legacy payment

in their pocket worth millions and millions of dollars. I just don't think it's fair. I don't, you know, you put it's a competing sport. Manchester United in the Premier League don't get legacy payment because they won a long time ago and they're still walking around in the Premier League. That's just how other sports work. I disagree with it massively. I hate that it's going to get in the Concord Agreement. Ferrari, I love you, but no matter what you do, you don't deserve extra money for simply existing. Your thoughts, Harry? Yeah, maybe use that

and I think you've suggested before, Ben, maybe use that extra money and give it to another team, like an additional team. I don't know. Adretti. No, they won't be competitive. I'm all for, you know, respecting your elders and all that and all that. Ferrari walking around with a Zimmer frame. What's going on? But there is something in the fact that, you know, teams have been around longer. There should be not even a reward, but there's something to acknowledge that fact.

But this ain't it. I don't think this is how this should work anymore. I don't think this is how it should have worked in the first place, but different times. Yeah, why? Why is this needed? It's an equal footing. I know they've been around for a long time. But as you say, Sam, Mercedes were there at the start.

I know they weren't there the whole time. And, you know, McLaren have been around for a good chunk as well. And they're not getting this. So it just doesn't make... In this cost cap here of Formula One, this makes zero sense. So stop it. Let that money go somewhere else.

Like to another team? I don't agree with this at all. Find other ways to acknowledge the history and the importance of Ferrari within Formula One because that is undeniable. They give them extra money. No, stop it. Stop it, F1.

Dependsky get money in Indycar. Nah, they just own the series. They own it. but they don't go pat on the back for us being Pekski more money i mean that's very different i suppose if it was f1 and he asked for Ferrari then maybe things would be different Ferrari one yeah they get their bonus payments in a push-to-pass seconds that they're not allowed gets to extra 30 seconds every race oh yeah this is this is such a bygone era like legacy thing that still exists and it just shouldn't why i don't know what

question to ask here. When will F1 finally gain some self-worth? Like, you are a worldwide global series enjoyed by millions. It is a privilege to go racing in your series, but yet they continue to be dictated by the teams. They're scared. They are terrified. And I don't understand why. Like, everything that happens within this sport, like, or we need to keep giving Ferrari this money, because we'll happens if they go. No, if they go, they will lose out. You'll lose out as well, sure, but they would lose out. They're not going to make that call because F1 means so much to Ferrari. And F1 means so much to these other teams. They should stop making these payments. It doesn't make sense. It's not fair. And the sooner they get rid of this sort of, it's a very Bernie Ecclestone era deal,

isn't it? Just get rid of it. And I don't, I don't. don't know if I've got too much more to say on it. It just seems like such a, it's such a no-brainer to me that they should go ahead and do this. And F-1, in all aspects, should just stand up for themselves a little bit more and realize that, yeah, you should be glad that you are racing for us. If you'd like to go elsewhere, go elsewhere. We'll be fine. We'll find someone else, because this is a privilege to race in this championship, and you don't govern us. On the flip side, devil's advocate, keep the legacy payments, but then what's the criteria for other teams earning them? Because McLaren joined in 66.

So what year did they start unlocking some legacy payments? Well, they have also, but I'm not sure if these are still active, but they have had, I can't remember the term for it, but it's like constructors, there's a constructors group that also get a smaller number, which is Williams, McLaren, potentially, Merck and Red Bull. I can't quite remember off the top of my head. I'm not sure if those

are still active to be fair. I don't know. Just scrap it completely, please. Yeah. Williams was 77 as well. They've been around for, you know, nearly 50 years.

What, how long do you need to be in it to pick up these extra payments? Ferrari, no, no. You earn enough money. True, that. Let's take our final break at this point. On the other side, it's F1 back and forth.

Welcome back, everyone. It's time. I'm thinking ahead because I know I need to get the sound ready and it's not ready at the moment. Welcome back every time. Ben, we'll talk whilst you get it ready. Okay, sure. Welcome back every time.

Welcome back every time. Welcome to my favourite. It's my favourite, Ben, blunders. You've got to the long, serious end of the show now, so it's okay for us to do silly things. Almost as good as when Ben said, welcome to the podcast that time. I love podcasts. I could have gone about that.

Anyway, I've actually got it, Ben. Here we go. F1. Back and forth, it's F1. Back and forth, it goes backwards. Then goes forth. It's F1. Back and forth.

F1. Okay, F1, back and forth. If you haven't listened to one of these before, where have you been? But thank you for listening. Back and forth, Sam will go up against Harry on a category that has a number of correct answers today. It's 20. They'll go back and forth until one of them can't think of an answer

or gives a wrong answer, at which point they lose and the other person wins the game. Today's category, I want you to tell me who are the last 20 drivers to race for Ferrari. So, in theory, I think you can get a good way through this. The last couple might be tricky. Harry, kick us off. Last 20 drivers. to race for Ferrari. This dumb question, we're including who currently races for Ferrari, correct? Okay, Charles LeClair.

Charles LeClair is one of the last 20 drivers to race for Ferrari. He actually won the weekend. He won the Monaco Grand Prix. Oh, well-down. Sam. I think I'll go for a guy called Carlos Sites. He was also in that race, and he was on the podium.

Thank goodness. It's a great start, Harry. Sebastian Vettel. Sebastian Vettel. is a correct answer. No championships, but ran Lewis Hamilton close a couple of times. Sam?

Ollie Bearman. I was wondering if you might forget about him, but yes, he raced earlier this season, of course, at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Harry. Kimmy Reikinen. Kimmy Reikinen. Long-time partner of Sebastian Vettel, of course,

took his last win at the US Grand Prix. God, I was going to say that was only a couple of years ago. It's not a couple of years ago. Six years ago. That's ridiculous. That's insane. That is insane, Jeremy. Sam? Fernando Alonso. Fernando Alonzo, a correct answer. Again, a close championship contender, even if he had absolutely no right to be. Harry. Felipe Massa. You make my job easy because you're just going down the list as I've got them here. So thank you for that. But yes, correct answer. Sam. Rubens Barakello.

Barrakello, a correct answer. Of course, teammate with Michael Schumacher for a number of years, took his first win in the year 2000. Harry. Michael Schumacher. It's all right, mate. You gave up the most obvious one. Yeah, that's true.

I could have given you the answer like, almost. Yes, Michael Schumacher is a correct answer because he was a teammate of Rubens Barakello, as I said. Very good. Next one. Eddie Irvine. Eddie Irvine is a correct answer.

He was also a teammate of Michael Schumacher, which I can now say. Harry. Giancarlo Fizichella. Yeah. Stood in in 2009 with the injured Felipe Massa. Sam?

Yeah, now I'm starting to get a little bit sketchy on my timelines. And this panics me. I'm going to go Jean-Alesi. John Lazy is a correct answer. Of course, raced for Ferrari in the 1990s, took his one race win at the 95 Canadian Grand Prix. Harry? Luca Badoa.

Luca Badoa, the other substitute driver for Felipe Massa in 2009. Going well here, we've got seven more answers on the board, Sam. Oh, I'm going to go further back and I feel like that's worrying me, but I'm going to go with Prost. Prost is a correct answer. He is on this list. six more to go, Harry. Mika Sarlow. Sarlow is a correct answer,

substituting for Michael Schumacher in 1999. Sam. I don't like that Harry is able to remember all of the substitute drivers and I'm having to go back into the archive of time to try to remember actual drivers. I am out of substitute drivers now, that was it. Okay.

The issue is I'm also out of drivers. I definitely go drive for Ferrari of the top of my head. So that's a problem. So let's just knock me out. Ratsenberger. Ratsenberger is not a correct answer, I'm afraid. He's my go-to if I can't remember.

It's good to have that sort of an answer, but better when it's right. There were five drivers left on this list. Harry, can you name any of them? Gerhard Berger. Burger is a correct answer. How far back are we going? Prost was the penultimate answer.

on this list, if that gives a clue. Okay, so the other ones... Dr. Nigel Mansel. Dr. Nige is the last name on this list. Sure, I always forget a hedron for Ferrari. It feels wrong. I think he likes to forget it as well. A Brit, Ferrari,

that's never going to work. It's Lorene. Lorene is a good answer, yes. These three are, I would say, the most difficult answers on the board. But yeah, Larini is one of them. Oh, there's one in... How many left?

Two. Oh, damn. Who's the... Was Prost the last... Oh, no, he's the penultimate. Yeah. But Mansell was the last one. So essentially, you've got Mansell as the last answer.

Pross was the penultimate answer. And then you've got these two. And the above. Oh, man. Um, I'm sorry, John Lacey. Yeah. There's one in 1994, right? Is it 94?

I think one of them is, at least one of them is 94, yes. No, I can't remember who it is. I'll cave. Fair enough. Tough answers. Ivan Capelli is one of them. And then Orbadelli was the other one. So two difficult answers.

Yeah, okay, I've got those. I'm fine with that. Even so? No, when I got those. Got a good way through that list. Well done. How are you our today's winner? Well done, mate.

Before we go, there is time for one more thing and it is of course the May birthday shoutouts for Patreon. We've remembered properly on an actual episode. Well done. Well done Ben actually because he was a one that remembered classic. Okay, so loads of happy birthdays for May, which is lovely. We've got Rye Guy, May 26th, happy birthday. That was yesterday as we record this.

So I hope you enjoy the Indy 500 and the Monaco GP. We love you. Twilett, happy birthday for May. Sam, not me, May 30th, happy birthday for the end of the week. Richard, May 20th last week, happy birthday. Ian Kerwin, May 26th, you share a birthday with Rigo. What a prestigious day for both of you. Ironblood, cool name.

If that's your legal government name, sick. Your birthday of May, all of me. You deserve it with that name. And then Barry Kaye, May 21st, happy birthday. Happy Thursday, February 8, May. Those are for our top two page and subscribers. We've got even more in June. Your name could be on this list if you subscribe.

The links in the description. Look at that. Celebratory clapping. Don't have anything birthday-wise on the soundboard, so clapping will have to do. Happy birthday. No, no. Stick to your drill noises.

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So join us for that one in the meantime. I've been Samuel Sage. I've been Ben Hocking. And I've been Brune a few men. And remember, keep breaking late. Podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.