Formula One (F1) is the top tier of open-wheel motorsport, with teams racing highly engineered cars on purpose-built circuits. In F1, race-weekend performance can swing quickly based on track characteristics and car setup.
The Red Bull Ring is the Formula 1 track in Austria. It has a lot of fast turns and hills, so the way a car grips the road matters a lot for who wins.
Term
straight modes
“Straight modes” are different driving settings the car uses depending on whether it’s going down a straight or through corners. The idea is to make the car faster and more effective where passing is more likely.
Term
overtake activation
“Overtake activation” is when the car gets access to extra help for passing. In this case, it kicks in right before the last corner, so that’s when you’ll see attempts to gain position.
DRS is a system in Formula 1 that briefly reduces drag by changing the rear wing. The goal is to help cars get close enough to pass on certain parts of the track.
Kevin Magnussen is a well-known Formula 1 driver. In this segment, they’re talking about him trying NASCAR for the first time, which is a big change from F1.
A “NASCAR debut” is when someone races NASCAR for the first time. NASCAR is a different kind of racing than F1, so it often draws extra attention when a top driver makes the switch.
“Brake testing” is when a driver brakes in a way that forces the other driver to slow down or change their line. It’s usually meant to mess with the other car’s rhythm and make passing harder.
Charles Leclerc is a Formula 1 race driver. The hosts are talking about how he might do in the Austrian Grand Prix and why they think he could be strong again.
A “will-to-will battle” means two drivers are fighting hard for the same spot on the track. It’s basically a no-backing-down kind of race duel.
Topic
Barcelona-Castellini Grand Prix
They’re talking about a specific race in Barcelona where they think Leclerc improved his championship position. It’s used as evidence for how his season is trending.
A “power track” is a race track where engine power and acceleration matter a lot. Cars that can go fast in a straight line and speed up quickly after slowing down tend to do better there.
Ferrari is a famous Formula 1 team. In this segment, they’re talking about whether Ferrari’s upgrades and driving strengths will help them be fast at the Austrian GP.
In F1, the “power unit” is the whole hybrid power system that makes the car go. It includes the engine and the hybrid parts that store and reuse energy to help with acceleration.
Mercedes is another major Formula 1 team. The hosts think Mercedes might do well here because the track favors cars that accelerate strongly after braking.
“Shifting some of the weight out the car” refers to changing the car’s weight distribution or removing mass to improve balance and performance. In F1, small setup changes can affect traction, tire behavior, and how quickly the car responds in braking and acceleration.
“Max” is Max Verstappen, one of the leading F1 drivers. If they say he’s “in the mix,” they mean he could be fighting for the best positions at the front.
FIA is the organization that runs the rulebook for motorsport, including Formula 1. When they mention the FIA, they mean the official authority behind the sport.
“Reliability issues” means the car might have problems—like parts not working properly. If that happens, it can hurt the driver’s results and may force the team to change parts.
“Last parts” means the car’s key components are nearly used up. The team tries to avoid using them too much so they don’t have to replace them early and get penalized.
“Under traction” means the tires aren’t gripping the road enough. The car can slip or not accelerate the way the driver wants.
Term
traction manufacturer
In F1, “traction” usually means tire grip. A “traction manufacturer” is basically the company supplying the tires that help the car accelerate and turn safely.
A power steering issue means the car’s steering help isn’t working. That makes steering harder, which can slow you down and make the car harder to control.
In F1, the steering wheel is also a control panel. It has buttons the driver uses during the race, so if it’s replaced, it’s usually because something went wrong.
“Parking the bus” means playing super defensively. Instead of trying to win with bold moves, you focus on stopping other people from getting past you.
LIVE
Hello everybody and welcome back to the Puan Podcast with Matt and Tommy. It is race week
once again. One week off is too much these days. It really is, you know.
Now we're in the momentum month. We're in the momentum month and long gone are the days
of having four weeks off here, there. We get to talk about some more
Formula One. We've got some very interesting storylines teed up very beautifully after
the Barcelona, Catalonia, Grand Prix. And I'm very excited Tommy to see what Austria,
the Red Bull Ring and the sound of music can bring to us.
There we go. First ding ding on the sound of music.
Ding go cut.
I'm excited for this one. A very different circuit to what we've kind of seen last time
out in Barcelona. Obviously had Monaco recently as well. So kind of had three circuits and
very quick succession that were all very different to each other, which is nice, makes it exciting
and better for predictions because it means that we kind of a bit more guesswork, which
is good.
Guesswork you think?
Well, we'll see if we give her a Mercedes-Benz 1-2 again. What's interesting is we joke
about Mercedes and how do we need to change predictions. It's funny that Mercedes, well,
one, they've now been beaten. So that helps us out. And two, what is it like four or five
races now where we've only ever had one on the podium. So to say that we go into every
predictions going, which Mercedes 1-2 is it going to be? They've not happened. So it's
good for our predictions.
It certainly is. Now, I would say there's less of a difference between Barcelona to Austria
than there was from Monaco to Barcelona. I think that there are some similarities, I
would say, with the Barcelona track as we now head to Austria. Reasonably fast grass.
And yeah, grass. Yeah. And there's a track. Perfect. Now, before we get into all of our
predictions, a few things to catch you up on. Not that there's been a lot, I'll be honest
with you. When you look at Formula One, they've just been like, nah, you know what, don't
really want to talk about anything or announce anything. And so one thing...
Yeah, when we decided to introduce this segment, Formula One did not get the memo because my
word, were we starving for stuff or anything.
Exactly.
It's only been a week break.
The fact that one of the three things we're going to talk about is about NASCAR and not
Formula One tells you everything you need to know. But we'll get onto that shortly.
The first thing and the most F1 relevant thing is the fact that Mercedes have withdrawn
their right of review over the result of the Monaco Grand Prix. McLaren, we're still yet
to wait and see how that unfolds. But for Mercedes, they've gone, you know what, nah,
can't be bothered. Not going to go down that route. So one of the two has stepped down.
Yeah, that doesn't surprise me one bit. The cynic in me also thinks that Toto Wolf doesn't
want to rock the boat, the FAA, he's seen as though he's got ambitions to become their
master leader one day. I think it feels like just with Toto, so...
And also it's George Russell rather than Kimmy Antonelli, otherwise we're good for that.
Well, that narrative is crazy. Obviously, a lot of it is people that I just spend too
much time online and looking into everything anyway. But you can understand some frustrations
if you're a George Russell fan and you hear Toto Wolf going, yeah, really disappointed
about Barcelona. Obviously, the DNF with Kimmy, happy for Lewis though. And that's all they
said. And they also did it like a little kind of race review statement thing, which didn't
mention George at all. It's like, he did get a podium. It was his 100th race as well from
Mercedes. But yeah, an interesting narrative of the season that with how much that's really
kicking off, particularly the George Russell stands are not happy with Mercedes at the
moment, that's for sure.
I can understand them not mentioning it if George had finished fourth or fifth, but
he finished second. It's not even as though...
The first podium in quite a while, that's what the Brennies had.
So I know that Mercedes have this sort of expectation now to one-two everything with
their current car. And they have a right to be slightly annoyed, but also George does
exist.
Also worth mentioning is that there are four straight modes for the Austrian Grand Prix.
So basically, anytime there's a straight, it's a straight mode. So make of that what
you will. And then in terms of where the activation point, the overtake activation is just before
the last corner. So you can keep an eye out for that similar, I think to how we used to
have DRS in the past.
Now, not really much to discuss with that. That just tells you everything you need to
know about the amount of news that's been out there.
But former Formula One driver, Kevin Magnussen, was stealing all the headlines because nothing
was happening, but also because of his NASCAR debut.
Now, it was kind of like a special slot, wasn't it, that he decided to take up in NASCAR.
And if you haven't seen it, and you were to imagine how a K-Mag NASCAR debut would go
down, you would be entirely accurate.
So he basically had a kerfuffle. That's a light way to describe it.
The guy was brake testing him for 33rd place.
I mean, that's quite something.
What was his name? Actually, I don't know if his name is written down.
His name?
Was it Gragson?
I feel like it is.
Oh, my word. I'm scrolling down to find it.
Simon Gragson, I want to say, or maybe I'm just...
Gragson. Yeah, it was Gragson.
So if you haven't seen it, well worth a watch, both the onboard and the face-to-face that
they had afterwards, where Gragson was kicking off over why K-Mag had basically just yeeted
him into a wall.
But then you look at the amount of insane moves that he was pulling on K-Mag to stop
him getting through.
And then was like, why are you wrecking me, man?
Why are you effing this, effing that?
And they were swearing.
K-Mag's like, get out of my face.
You can just tell that K-Mag's like, just, you know what?
We're not in the same league right now.
Just stop talking to me.
I love that he said as well, like, why did you...
He kept asking, like, why did you wreck me, basically?
Because it was pretty much a deliberate punt from K-Mag at this point because he was so
sick of what the guy was doing.
He didn't know. He shoved a little nose in where it didn't deserve to be.
It wasn't like, you know, F1 game lobby, I'm going to twat you out the race because, you
know, you're just, you know, you've annoyed me.
Like, there was enough to say I'm putting a nose in.
But it was obviously, I don't care how you end up in this.
But I do love that, yeah, he was obviously just screaming many F-bombs.
And sorry, editor, we'll obviously beep this.
But when he got asked, why did you basically punt me rather than being like, oh, I just,
you know, it wasn't deliberate.
He said, you f*** around so you found out or something like that along those lines.
I love how instead of just saying you F-ed around and found out,
you made the editor do a little bit more work to bleep you out there.
I love that from you, Tommy.
Yeah, but, you know, gotta keep people in jobs,
seeing this AI climate, haven't we?
Oh my God, what are we doing here?
What a ridiculous, ridiculous thing.
So let's get into our predictions now, where the scores, as much I don't want to talk about it,
28-22 to Tom Bellingham.
He extended his lead out of the Barcelona, Catalina, Grand Prix.
Completely disgustingly, I will add, as well.
You are so lucky with how it all ended with three laps to go,
because the swing of points would have been massive.
And I could have been one or two behind.
But instead, I'm six behind.
And Tommy, it is your turn to go first.
It is indeed.
So we'll start with good surprises we always do.
And good surprise I have gone for.
Lando Norris.
Of course, something about Lando Norris, I just think of the Red Bull Ring
and the Austrian Grand Prix and Lando Norris.
He is brilliant around here.
He's always been excellent.
He got a podium in 2020 and 2021, as I was saying,
back when McLaren certainly weren't the front-running team like they had been.
One last year, of course, the year before that,
was challenging for the victory with a certain someone.
I can't remember who that was.
They had a collision, didn't they?
And didn't end up, obviously, getting a good result there,
but he always goes strong around this track.
So going for Lando Norris.
For those of you that weren't watching in 2024,
he's talking about Max Verstappen and doesn't want to say it,
because he's a Max fanboy.
Okay, interesting.
Lando Norris is a very easy good surprise, I would say,
although off the back of some good form.
So it'll have to be an excellent result from him.
My good surprise.
Don't say Mac Gallagher all.
It's you jump through that loophole as much as I do,
and you can't name that mine, because I'm losing as well.
So clearly I'm doing something wrong.
My good surprise for the Austrian Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc.
Honestly, I feel...
There's a loophole as if he doesn't go into a wall.
If he has a clean weekend.
No, I honestly, and I know I've set myself up many times for failure,
I feel like a banging Charles Leclerc weekend is coming up.
This is it, right?
81 points behind Kimberi Antonelli.
I'll break your face in a minute if you're not careful.
Yeah, honestly, I'm coming into this weekend feeling good about it all.
Not Charles Leclerc's season at all,
but there have been glimpses of potential and speed from Charles Leclerc
before he's ended up in a wall or had some struggles with his brakes.
And let's not forget, I think Charles Leclerc's pretty good round here as well.
I feel like he changed as a driver when Max Verstappen shoved him wide
in that will-to-will battle in 2022.
I think it was 2022.
So this is it, right?
81 points behind Kimberi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc evened the gap between himself and Kimi Antonelli
at the Barcelona-Castellini Grand Prix.
Didn't lose any points to Kimi.
So it can only get better from here, right?
Wow, earlier you were like feeling good, feeling optimistic.
Yeah, the bar is very low.
The bar is low, but it's going to happen.
I just have a really good feeling about this weekend,
and I may well live to regret saying that.
Big flop!
My big flop for the Austrian Grand Prix is Mercedes.
We have seen Mercedes meltdowns at Austria in the past
when they have dominated.
They have not liked the hot conditions.
I've looked at the weather.
Looking pretty hot, 31 degrees.
31 degrees, it's looking like on race day.
So, yeah, look, I feel as though maybe Mercedes are beatable now,
which if you'd have told me two races ago that I'd say this,
I'd be like, what season are you watching?
Because it has turned around very, very quickly.
I know that there's this kind of weird dreamland
that Ferrari fans are always in, right?
And Charles Leclerc fans in particular were always let down.
But Barcelona is a track that is quite literally the benchmark,
the baseline for a Formula One car.
It can't hide around that circuit.
We heard it so many times during the weekend of that Grand Prix,
and they weren't fastest.
You saw they were second.
Changed it back on.
Washed, big flop, locked in.
Antonelli would have finished second.
Russell would have finished third.
Yeah, yeah.
But I'm flopping them.
We may have even been 12
had there not been a Virtual Safety Car with it.
We have no idea.
Look, there are things here.
I need points, and that is what my gut said was Mercedes,
because not only do I think pace-wise,
perhaps they're beatable now, but reliability.
They have a problem with their reliability currently,
and are they going to turn it around at this stage?
I don't think so.
So, big flop I've gone for, Ferrari.
Jesus, do you want to even pause for a syllable?
You just, good lord, where's the tension?
Yeah, the tension.
The jump scare there.
Gone for Ferrari.
Yeah, that's fine.
You can leave it there.
Sorry, I've gone for Ferrari.
Perfect.
All right, moving on.
We don't need to hear your explanation.
The end.
The explanation is very much a power track.
Maybe Ferrari bring their engine upgrades.
There's room as they may.
Of course, it seems like they will have engine upgrades as well,
thanks to Red Bull having the best power unit,
and then being behind.
But Ferrari do seem a team that are more suited.
Their best strength is the corners,
and this track is very much accelerate, slam the brakes on,
and accelerate out, which we've kind of seen.
So, the logic behind it is that I do get your thoughts behind Mercedes,
but I think Mercedes will be strong.
Being a power track, rumours that Red Bull
are potentially shifted some of the weight out the car,
so maybe Max is in the mix as well.
Of course, I've gone for good surprise Lando,
so McLaren up there as well.
Are we going to see Ferrari maybe the fourth fastest
and lock in that point?
Who knows?
But again, you could argue that it's also the bar is high
because they won the last race, so we'll see.
Again, you call me like Matt Luke, Paul Gallagher,
that the way that you've just put about three or four different things
that could happen and how you'd still score a couple of points
is ridiculous.
You're six points clear.
We're going to be feeling grace soon,
so just, you know, you'll be having a week off.
All right, pole position, no sprint weekend,
straight into the Saturday pole position, Tom Bellingham.
No, I've not gone for Tom Bellingham as the pole position,
it's over to you to do.
You wouldn't get pole if it was you.
Mine is just as delusional actually, to be fair.
Pole position I've gone for.
Max Verstappen, why not?
Feeling, you can tell I've got a six point eight.
Yeah, yeah, you're feeling like you're six points ahead.
All right, mate.
If Red Bull, because clearly they have, you know,
the best power units according to the FIA,
Max has been close a few times, been on the front row,
and if it's believed that they have shifted the way out of that car,
we all know what Max Verstappen can do around here.
So just had a weird feeling about Max Verstappen,
so I thought I'd go for it, why not?
Interesting, Tommy is pushing the boat out here.
And speaking of funny feelings, my pole position.
Charlotte Clair.
Anyone watching this podcast for the first time is like,
I'm in a Max Verstappen top.
Max Verstappen pole position.
Charlotte Clair pole position.
This is the first time I have predicted pole position for Charlotte Clair, I believe.
This is what people want.
You know, when we don't predict our favourite driver to win all the time,
they're like, do you even like them?
It's like, no, I have a brain.
Now we are appeasing these people, these chronically online people.
So yes, I'll go for pole position Charlotte Clair,
because I'm still believing in the Ferrari hype.
If they bring this upgrade to their engine, we're winning.
We're winning it all.
Well, we're winning absolutely everything.
So fast forward to two days from now,
where Ferrari confirmed they are not bringing the engine upgrade
and think that they're going to be struggling around here.
And I will be regretting this prediction immensely.
But I'm going to go with it.
Charlotte Clair, smile on my face, my imagination is flowing.
Let's see what can happen.
Third position for the main race, the Sunday Grand Prix.
In P3, I am going to lock in Lewis Hamilton.
Now, no disrespect to Lewis Hamilton.
Our third place is actually a good thing for the 2026 season.
I know, right?
Like Hamilton's off the back of some incredible results.
And I still think Ferrari, I hope Ferrari will still be competitive.
It's an unknown entity right now, just generally the Formula One season
with all the upgrades that are being brought in.
But I think Hamilton will still be showing strong signs.
So I'm putting him on the podium, P3.
P3, I've gone for Max Verstappen.
So my delusion will only go so far.
Obviously, put him on pole position.
But my delusion of him breaking the curse of getting a race win this year,
if you want to call it a curse or whatever.
I do think there's a good chance that he could get on the podium here
if he has a good race and the Red Bull is looking quick.
So I've gone for Max P3.
Fair enough.
P2, Tommy.
P2, I've gone for George Russell.
Back-to-back P2s for George Russell, potentially.
If this comes in, I do think Mercedes will still have a good opportunity here.
I do back your logic that they've never gone well in the heat
and there will be pressure on the Mercedes cars with their reliability issues, of course, as well.
But yeah, I'm going for George P2.
In second place, I'm going to lock in Lando Norris.
I am also of the same opinion of you, Tommy,
that the fact that I think he will run very well here,
it just depends whether his car goes,
you know, I don't fancy it this weekend and he has seven different reliability issues.
Remember, as well, he is, I don't have his list to hand,
but he is very much on his last parts of certain things in his car as well.
So he will be receiving penalties in the near future.
So he sits in the garage all the practice to save them.
Yeah, perhaps, because he's so good around here, then maybe that's the case.
But I think Lando will have a really good opportunity
if McLaren have a car that can compete.
So I've gone for P2 Lando Norris.
In first position.
Don't do it.
Hold on, hold on.
I actually might look more intellectual if I do it this way.
Okay, so in P1.
Shall we clear?
No, it didn't look intellectual.
Did I look intellectual?
No, well, you did, but not the words coming out your mouth.
But not the words coming out of my mouth.
Oh, good Lord.
I'm getting an absolute beating from you this season.
And I enjoyed the second.
So you're like, I'm going to go for Charlotte Clair first.
Look, I woke up today feeling delusional.
So I just want to say congratulations to you, Tommy,
for having a double digit lead at the end of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend.
But look, I don't know if Ferrari have done something
with obviously the Hamilton sensational drive last time out.
And Le Clair will bounce back.
I'm sorry.
And this is probably rose-tinted glasses.
This is backing my favourite driver.
But I think he will bounce back.
And I think he'll bounce back in serious fashion.
I just don't know when that will be and hopefully it's this weekend.
What was the recipe for bouncing back
like a third different manufacturer of brakes?
No, stop with the brake jokes.
All right, he's fine with this.
He didn't crash before because of his brakes in Spain.
All right, I said before he did many other times.
But in Spain, he did not.
All right, it was under traction.
So we're going to have a new accelerator.
I don't know why I said it like that.
We're going to have a new traction manufacturer.
Oh, if you don't laugh, you'll cry.
Official traction partner of Scuderia Ferrari is now.
Yeah, shut up.
Obviously, that's all a joke.
But yeah, he's coming back.
His car broke down because he had a power steering issue.
So we'll have a new steering wheel as well.
We're so back.
Shall we clap, Le Clair?
Cool. I like it.
I like it for...
I don't.
I'll hate it on Sunday when I look at the rest of you.
P1, I've gone for.
P1, I've gone for.
Lando Norris.
So crazy.
No Piastri on the podium.
No Piastri on the podium.
No Mercedes victor between both of us, which is crazy
because basically the whole prediction championship has been...
Who goes first?
Antonia Russell, who are you picking?
Yeah.
And here we are, neither of us going for it.
I just feel like...
And maybe it's the delusion like you
that now the Mercedes run has been broken.
It feels like others are in the mix now.
And it is basically all on the fact
that I just think Lando Norris is so good around here
and has been driving so well that I could see him
getting a victory at some point soon.
And here's the place that I could see it happening
because of how good he's gone around this place in the past.
So Lando P1.
Wow.
We both opened the door to a Mercedes 1-2
and neither of us took it out.
I didn't even put a mark on the podium.
Oh, God, we're so cooked.
Okay.
Now let's head to our new segment for this season,
the P-WAT.
Where Tommy's going to load up a random number generator
between 4 and 22.
And on the spot with Tommy going first,
he is going to say who he thinks
is going to finish in that position.
And it has to be within a few seconds.
And it's me first.
Okay.
It's you first, Tommy.
Okay.
I'm going to generate it now.
P-17.
Oh, Bottas.
Oh, God.
Sherlock Holmes.
What could I get?
Yeah, I'm sorry.
Wow.
I mean, it was going to be right, Ocon, last time out.
And then...
That's so funny because I only went for Bottas
because I was like, I can't go Paris again.
But that is the first thing that I thought.
Okay.
It could genuinely be someone that has
retired and in 17th like last time.
Kimmy Antonelli was the P-WAT.
Kimmy Antonelli last time.
And it was P-17, I think, wasn't it?
Yeah.
Imagine how utterly insane that prediction would have been.
Wait, so was it 16 or 17 last time out?
It was 16th last time.
And it's 17th this time.
Yeah.
And I've gone for Ocon both times.
I'm really sorry, Estie Bestie.
I'm really sorry.
Yeah, crazy.
I'm really sorry.
That was savage for me.
But also, who knows?
It could literally be anyone.
Because I imagine in the heat as well,
we could definitely easily have that many retirements.
So...
Very much so.
Love the new segment though.
It's good to have us on the back foot.
I look forward to predicting Ocon for the rest of the season
when we have 17th.
When P-4.
Yeah.
Ocon.
Right.
One crazy prediction.
My one crazy prediction for this weekend.
Cadillac have their best finish of the season.
Oh.
So there are...
I think Peres, so we can end this debate.
That's why I've left it open-ended.
Because I will be celebrating a Peres P-12.
Because I'll be getting a point.
Even if the bot-ass Peres rivalry,
which nobody's speaking about apart from us, rages on.
But I've gone for Cadillac as their best finish of the season
because it sounds like they're bringing a whole host of upgrades to Austria.
And they've been doing pretty well anyway.
So fingers crossed for Cadillac.
They can have a banger of a race
and also probably have to rely on quite a few retirements.
Okay.
Speaking of retirements, which is generally...
One crazy prediction I've gone for.
Audi, score a point.
Will that car...
I think Audi will be good.
It's just if the car doesn't explode as usual.
That's what I was waiting for last time in Spain.
Indeed.
So hopefully no gravel, pulling the emergency switch,
putting all the tyres on in the pit stop.
A computer virus means the car doesn't start...
Who knows?
It could be any of those things.
With these things.
Yeah.
A little bit of malware and it's done.
It's finished.
An old Trojan horse.
Right.
Our Patreon prediction.
If you want to join the P1 Patreon to support us
and get loads of wonderful benefits,
like ad-free listening, access to the Discord,
early access to P1 Live Show tickets,
and lots more, then please do.
And of course, one of the things you can do
is submit a prediction in this series.
Tommy, over to you for the Patreon prediction of your choice.
Okay.
I have generally gone with this before your prediction.
And predictions, which is from Piper Mazmimic X.
Neither Mercedes on the podium,
which of course you actually went for in your prediction.
So it's almost like an accidental...
Covering off.
A disgraceful blocking tactic.
You're literally parking the bus without realising it.
It makes me sick.
Yeah, yeah, an accidental parking the bus.
Now, I reckon, subconsciously,
you knew I was going to go for something insanely crazy
with the fact Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton won the last race.
But fair enough, that's what you've gone for.
I thought for a second, it might have been the one I've gone for.
And I'm really glad...
Don't do that a lot.
I'm really glad it isn't.
My one is from one Mingi.
Race winner is someone who hasn't won yet in 2026.
It's all science pointers.
I'll be real.
There you go, just...
Charles, who you've gone for.
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
I mean, it'd be great if Charles could do that
because then I get loads of points.
But if it's not, then if Lando wins,
then...
Ocon.
You know?
Or Ocon.
But then I wouldn't get a P-WAT probably then,
if that was Ocon won.
So there you go.
Let's now go to the family top three,
where it's currently seven all.
And it says in the sheet to the Gallagher's,
which I'm going to read out because...
Yeah, because you asked for that last time.
Yeah, I know I did.
And I'm sure there is some count back rule
that if we do end up in a draw that somehow we would win,
maybe it's not alphabetically...
Nice points over a weekend.
My dad's Gazley prediction wins it.
Everyone will agree on that.
Yeah, that's actually annoying.
We're going to have to win by one.
OK, so I've got Ellie, my fiancee,
currently on a train at the moment.
OK, I have no one.
You have no one.
Perfect.
We'll have a think, Tommy.
You'd always have nobody,
and you can't draft Katie again.
It's going to have to be Grace.
Hello, my love.
How are we?
I'm good, thank you.
How are you?
I'm on a train.
Yeah, I've already let the audience know.
Are you in the toilet by chance?
Because that sounds very echoey.
No.
Are you on your headphones?
Yes, I am on my headphones.
Yeah, get off your headphones
and let's get straight on the old...
That sounds fun to me.
You're relying on me knowing
how to switch back to my phone.
I am, I really am.
This is great content.
OK.
There we go.
There you go, you sound crispy now.
Right, so who are you going for?
P3 Austrian Grand Prix.
And tell the train conductor
automated voice to shut up as well.
OK, in P3, can you hear me?
Yes, I can.
In P3, I'm going for the Stappen.
Oh, wow.
You've gone for what Tommy went for.
Why do you two go for literally everything the same?
Food?
OK, if it's Russell next, it's going to be hello.
Drink choices and now P3 in Austria.
What is P2?
OK, please don't hate me for these.
I'm going to go P2 Antonelli.
OK, I'm not hating you.
That's fine.
Antonelli P2.
Tommy went for George Russell, so still very similar.
And in first place.
I'm going to go Philando Norris.
There is no way.
Tommy went Philando P1.
You sound bitter about us.
That is incredible.
You two should like be together in another life.
Like genuinely, what the hell is this?
That is so funny.
As air.
Sharing a brain.
We've just got superior wheel knowledge.
Food, soul, sisters.
Guess who I went for for P1?
Did you go for Hamilton?
No, Charlotte Clair.
So yeah.
All right.
OK, thanks, my love.
See you in a bit.
I love you.
Bye.
That is ridiculous that I've said that on P3
and then she's gone for Lando P1 as well.
Me and Ellie actually discussed our predictions
beforehand.
Serious wheel knowledge meeting
where we share the same food
and then discuss our predictions.
Is this like a weird way where like,
also slightly strange,
but is it some weird thing of like,
you know, Ellie is sort of tapping
into the brain waves of you
to make sure we win the family predictions
if you win this by a landslide?
This is like a park in the park.
Yeah, yeah, like us.
Maybe.
To be fair, you know what?
I don't mind it.
I've always said the constructors family
championship is the one you always want to win.
Depending on who's winning.
So there you go.
Okay.
Hopefully that was not too bad
and there weren't too many beeps.
Over to you, Tommy.
Do you have a family member?
No.
So I'm really hoping...
Just ring anybody.
Literally, you ring your mum
or you ring your dad,
ring your sister.
Let's just go.
Let's just do the rounds.
Please answer.
Please answer.
I reckon your mum's going to go
Charlotte Colada P1.
You know, that's...
She's definitely got it.
She's done it before.
Yeah, she has.
She's got it in her.
Does she also like Pina Coladas?
You're trying to find your food.
Come on.
Come on.
Oh, mum, come on.
Fred needs help.
Now, come on.
We can't be being disqualified.
Yeah, to be fair, it's an instant minus three.
Oh, I should have got grace to do it
before she left the school.
Okay.
So your mum is not there.
Let's go to your dad.
Dad.
Okay.
Will he do another generational Pierre Gasly prediction?
The worry with my dad is if he wants to do something crazy.
Okay.
That's good.
That's great.
I thought you meant he'll want to like...
Oh, that's a different ringtone.
Is he in a different country?
He's a French.
Yeah, he is.
Oh, of course.
He's in France.
But your mum isn't?
I just got an English phone.
Ah, that's the difference.
Come on.
No, we're in trouble.
We're in huge trouble here.
This could be disqualification from the...
It's going to be Frank.
We're going to have to...
Oh my god, I'm going to get Frank to do it somehow.
No, I mean, not live on the prediction podcast, you're not.
Okay, let's...
Oh, no.
Are you going to have to ring Katie, who absolutely despises being rung?
I'm just going to absolutely despise it.
Is she home?
But this is the problem.
She is home, yeah.
This is the problem, Tommy.
If you're not putting in the groundwork here,
is that we are forcing you into finding somebody.
Okay.
Do you want to draft my sister?
For under a lot of time.
Yeah.
It's like a sabotage.
Someone each race.
She's going to...
Oh, she's going to absolutely...
Is she at home?
I'm going to...
You're going to have your sister?
My sister.
I don't know if she'll answer.
This would be unbelievable.
This would be unbelievable.
Come on.
How much will knowledge does she have out of 10?
She's not going to answer.
Zero.
Hello?
Oh my god.
Yes!
Hi, Hannah.
You're live on the P1 podcast.
Mum and Dad have not answered to give me a top three prediction.
Will you be able to name three Formula One drivers for me,
going from third, then second, then first?
Okay.
So it's...
If it makes any difference,
it's the Austrian Grand Prix.
There's four straight modes.
It's the Red Bull Ring.
Yeah, shut up.
P3.
P3.
Who's going to finish third?
Don't say Rubens Barry Kelly.
No, she says it.
It's locked in.
Three racing drivers.
Oh my god, this is great.
This is great.
No more hints from you, Tommy.
This is not good.
My mind's gone blank.
Use a racing driver.
This is great.
Hamilton?
Okay, we'll take it.
Hamilton.
Jesus, that's what I went for.
Yeah, perfect.
Okay, P2.
Does she like Pina Colladas?
Because I went for Hamilton P3.
You're struggling now, aren't you?
She can go for Hamilton in all three positions.
Um...
You can tell she's a...
She's a racing driver.
She's a regular of listening to the P1 podcast.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, she's...
Someone that had all the discussions
from my mum and dad and me,
and she doesn't know anyone,
but there's Hamilton, crazy.
And she put in P3.
I'm more just surprised by dog not kicking off either,
because she literally kicks off when I'm on the phone.
Oh, there we go.
Perfect.
Yeah, she's figuring it out.
I love how this has turned into who wants to be a millionaire.
Name three drivers.
Anyone.
A name.
He is a racing driver.
I'm really concerned now,
because that's now, again,
my favorite impression.
If she says Charlotte Clair, I'm done.
Your sister is two from two,
with my prediction.
I think that's the staff and the only other person I know of.
Wow, I like it.
I mean, they're three racing drivers.
It's not actually a bad prediction.
Thanks, Hannah.
OK.
Appreciate it.
I hope you get three points.
Bye.
Bye.
The way that she is going to score all three points now is...
That would be generationally if that actually comes in.
That's a good prediction.
Like, that's not crazy.
That's concerning.
Hamilton, Lando second, Max...
Mate, she went for my third and second.
This is ridiculous.
OK, well, for those of you that wanted longer episodes,
you got one.
Because...
Yeah, I was secretly hoping just for Banta
that we would have got like a Heinz-Hard-Frenzen or someone
just random that she remembered from a kid.
Yeah, I was going to say if...
Damon Hill.
Damon Hill.
I was going to say,
she doesn't sound like she watches Formula One all that often.
If she had just dropped like, yeah, Baumgartner.
You know, like, then you'd be like,
OK, she's got some old school wheel knowledge.
OK, to be honest, I'm scared for that.
So that's great.
I was basking the glory of...
That's her first prediction of P1 in history.
It's great.
If it's three points, it won't be the last.
For sure.
Although we might have to edit it down to a roughly a 30-minute segment.
Right, thank you to Hannah for getting involved with that one.
That's absolutely brilliant.
But also to you guys for watching and listening.
I hope you enjoyed that rather chaotic predictions episode.
Looking forward to seeing how many points we score.
We'll review it in our main race review podcast on Sunday.
Of course, we'll be live over on Twitch and YouTube
as always for Saturday and Sunday.
So we'll see you there.
Lots of love.
Take care.
Bye.
Nine hours later.
About this episode
Race week at the Red Bull Ring sets the tone as Matt and Tommy frame Austria as a “power track” where straight-mode behavior and “overtake activation” near the last corner could shuffle the order. They debate whether Mercedes can repeat a dominant run, citing past “meltdowns” and reliability pressure, while backing Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc for strong weekends. Pole and podium picks land on Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and more, plus plenty of off-track chaos and prediction-game banter.
We're back! This weekend is setting up to be a hugely interesting one in Austria, so let's get into some predictions - including a truly generational top three from someone with "0 wheel knowledge' in the family predictions.
Our brand new live show 'Super Podding' is coming to the UK and Amsterdam this autumn! Get your tickets here: http:/tix.to/p1live
Sign up to our Patreon for just $5 a month! You'll get access to every P1 episode ad-free, extended versions of every 2026 race review, early access to tickets & merch, and access to our Discord server where you can chat with us and other F1 fans! Click here to sign up now: http://patreon.com/mattp1tommy
