Niki Lauda was a famous Austrian Formula 1 race driver. He won the world championship three times and is still remembered as one of the sport’s toughest competitors.
Fangio was a legendary Formula 1 driver from Argentina who won the world championship five times. The key point is that he raced decades earlier than modern F1.
H-pattern is the traditional way you move a manual gear shifter. You push and pull it in a pattern that looks like the letter “H,” and it’s different from cars where you shift with paddles behind the steering wheel.
Term
Fappy Paddles
Paddle shifters are the gear controls on the steering wheel. Instead of using a stick to shift gears, you pull a lever on the wheel to change gears.
Goodwood is a famous UK venue for car and racing events. People often go there to see and sometimes drive historic race cars.
Person
Leah
Leah is the person the speaker says did better than them. The details are a bit unclear in the transcript, but it sounds like she was handling the driving tasks more skillfully.
Person
Louder
“Louder” sounds like a driver name they’re tossing around for the game. The transcript doesn’t clearly say who it is, so it’s hard to pin down.
Ayrton Senna was one of the greatest Formula 1 race drivers ever. He was known for being extremely fast and for pushing hard in races, and he won the World Championship three times.
Alberto Ascari was an early Formula 1 champion from Italy. He won World Championships back in the 1950s and helped set the standard for top-level racing in F1.
Michael Schumacher was one of the most successful Formula 1 drivers ever. He won several World Championships and was famous for being incredibly competitive and consistent.
Jacques Villeneuve is a famous Canadian Formula 1 driver. He won the Formula 1 championship back in the late 1990s and is still associated with the sport.
Alain Prost was one of the greatest Formula 1 race drivers ever. He won World Championships and was famous for being very smart and controlled on track.
Williams is a famous Formula 1 racing team. Here, they’re picking which driver from Williams should represent the team in their game.
Person
Kimmy Reichenan
This name looks like it might be spelled wrong in the transcript. They’re talking about an F1 driver matchup, but I can’t confirm who “Kimmy Reichenan” is from this snippet alone.
Fernando Alonso is a well-known Formula 1 driver from Spain. Fans like him because he’s been competitive for many years and often fights near the front.
Silverstone is a famous race track in the UK where Formula 1 races. When people mention the “Silverstone Grand Prix,” they mean the British F1 race at that track.
A go-kart is a small race car kids and beginners use to start racing. It’s a training step that helps drivers learn how to handle a car in traffic and on track.
In racing, flags are the track’s way of telling drivers what’s happening—like warning about danger or telling them to slow down. New racers learn the flag meanings early.
Felipe Massa is a Brazilian Formula 1 driver who raced for Ferrari and other teams during his career. Mentioning him “driving like a Sauber” ties the memory to a specific era of F1 and the Sauber team’s presence on track.
Sauber is a Formula 1 team (and constructor) that has competed for decades, often developing young drivers. In this context, “driving like a Sauber” is a reference to the team’s car/pace during that period.
“V10s” means an engine with 10 cylinders. In F1, that kind of engine was famous for revving very high and sounding really intense.
Place
the old corner
They’re talking about an older version of a track corner. Changing a corner’s layout can make it faster or harder, and it affects how you drive through it.
LIVE
Hello, everybody, and welcome back to the People on Podcast with Matt and Tommy.
Today's part is a very special one indeed, because last week we hosted a live podcast
recording with none other than Alex Alban at the Atlassian Williams F1 team fan zone
presented by Kraken. Seeing as the World Cup's on, we put Alex through our own F1 World Cup
challenge, where 16 different countries were represented by some of the best drivers from
F1 history, and he had to decide who made it through the bracket before eventually crowning
the ultimate F1 World Cup champion. It was great fun, the audience, as you will definitely
hear, were very enthusiastic, and we also asked Alex some of their questions too. There
will be more of these events throughout the year, so keep an eye on the Atlassian Williams
F1 socials for more info. Enjoy the episode.
I could never... I don't know, I'm trying to think of who would be my biggest fan.
Who would you queue for six hours for?
Yeah, who would I queue?
Nobody?
Adele?
Adele!
Maybe?
Well, please welcome...
So we're going to do something very special, so we're going to film for our podcast right
here right now with Mr. Alex Albon. So what we're going to do is something very exciting
indeed. So Alex, I don't know if you've been told or not, but we're going to tell you anyway.
We're going to do, essentially because the World Cup is on in football, we're going to
do a World Cup of F1. So it's going to be a bracket system, the top 16 drivers in terms
of race wins, and it's Alex's decision as to who goes through. Spicy.
Sir, 16... there's been 16 drivers on the grid.
16 drivers.
Well, no.
So it's a bracket system like that.
One per country.
I was like, my god. I'm really into my own minority of drivers who have not won a F1 race.
So it's a bracket system. So it's a bracket system. It's a 1v1, instant knockout.
And if Alex can't decide, we'll come to you guys in terms of cheer.
So we're going to hype it up as well. If you hear a driver that you love, please go wild.
So round number one.
Tell me.
Representing England, Lewis Hamilton.
Up against Mexico's Sergio Perez.
So, Alex.
If I want to come out here alive, I'll say Lewis Hamilton.
Clearly.
Any particular reasons why?
No, no, just felt like it.
Seven World Titles.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Good. I hope there's other reasons.
I'll say Lewis.
Okay, perfect.
Lewis makes it through to the next round.
Alright, next up.
Because it's a few drivers from sort of history as well, right?
So, representing Austria, Nicky Lauda.
And this one's a tough one.
Up against Argentina's Fangio.
I thought you were going to say Fangio.
I know, I was like, Sergio Fangio.
There you go. Lauda versus Fangio.
Austria.
Yeah, I have no, what, even Nicky?
Because Fangio?
Different era.
Different era. Maybe my granddad would...
Shall we get him on the phone?
Exactly.
Have you ever driven a car like that, that kind of era?
No, because I'm not a H-Pattern kind of guy.
I'm used to Fappy Paddles and I tried it once.
Actually, there's a funny story.
We were in Goodwood and it was like the first Williams car that we had.
It was a FW1, I guess.
I hope that's right.
And it was 1970...
Uh-oh.
Something.
And it was like a green Saudi car.
And basically, it was H-Pattern and I could not drive this thing.
It was so embarrassing.
I was going into Goodwood, there's like one corner you have to break on.
And I'm just like...
And we have Intercom and the engineer afterwards, he's like,
yeah, Leah was much better yesterday.
Leah's like a professional.
She's so good at this kind of stuff.
So she was like healing towing.
She was doing all the right things.
And then there was me just like, yeah, not very good.
So Fappy Paddles for you.
So I don't know how this has got there.
Louder or Fangio?
Louder.
OK.
All right. Representing France, Alain Prost.
Are you OK?
Up against the USA's Mario Andretti.
Once again.
I'm...
Well, we have to go out on Prost.
But...
Yeah.
We're a Williams band, it's got to be Prost.
You're true. Very good.
He's more versatile than you.
Tommy, you are good at this.
Help me out here.
OK, next round is Ayrton Senna.
Up against Italy's Alberto Ascari.
Oh.
Well, just by the fans there.
Ayrton Senna, clearly.
I think that was the closest reaction to Lewis.
But Lewis is still clearly trumped everyone.
I love how you're like, OK, so Lewis is going to have to win.
Lewis is going to win.
We're going to put Ayrton Senna second.
OK, so Senna goes through.
Next up, OK, here we...
This will be interesting.
Michael Schumacher.
Wow.
Versus Schumacher.
Wow.
By way of cheer, it's default.
I'm not going to fall under peer pressure.
I'm strong to my roots, so I'm going to go Michael Schumacher.
You're a bit of a Schumacher fan.
I'm super obsessed with Michael.
Michael was like my total fanboy hero,
so I've said this story before,
but yeah, I had a bedroom.
My dad decorated my bedroom for me.
I had a red carpet.
I had red walls.
Red cupboard. I had a red alarm clock.
Red pillowcase. Red duvet.
People say if you came into my bedroom,
it looked like a murder scene.
Just terrible.
Absolutely terrible.
I'm also a Schumi fanboy, so I get it.
I would love to have a look at that bedroom.
OK, that sounds weird.
Next up,
Jackie Stewart from Scotland.
Wow.
Versus Kimmy Reichenan, Finland.
Love the leopard Kimmy.
I'm more on the fence on this one
because I've got to know Jackie Stewart quite well.
He has been...
He's a very...
You know him. He hangs around the paddock a lot.
And...
Someone just bled in the audience.
Was that like a throw-up sound?
Was it bled?
But yeah, I would say...
Kimmy...
OK, we'll do Kimmy just for the...
Just to keep you guys...
To keep this guy over here.
Reichenan makes it through.
OK, next up,
representing the Netherlands.
Max Verstappen.
Versus Canada's Jacques Villeneuve.
Going to Canada T-shirt, going absolutely crazy at the front.
I feel like...
You know, what's funny is...
Jacques comes to a lot of our races.
He's our ambassador, so he...
I was like...
He's not here today, though.
When you said that, I was like...
Luckily, he's not here.
Yeah, I would say Max.
I think Max is very special.
OK, the final one for the round of 16.
Spain's Fernando Alonso.
Versus Australia's Jack Brabham.
Hello, are we there?
That was, like, the easiest...
It has to be Fernando.
Clearly. Fernando.
Fernando makes it through.
OK.
Quarter-finals.
Quarter-final time, this is big.
OK. Yeah, I'm ready.
Lewis Hamilton.
Versus Nicky Louder.
That's close.
Closer than I thought.
I still say Lewis.
OK.
Lewis makes it through to the semi-finals.
I realised, what am I judging this one?
Just vibes.
Whatever you want to.
Do you remember when we spoke last?
You were like, I'm judging circuits by their toilets.
That's what you said to us.
Whatever you want to do, that's fine.
OK, OK.
Oh, my word, I've just seen the next one.
OK, this one is a very close one.
Yeah. Alan Prost.
Versus...
Ayrton Senna.
OK.
Had to be those two to go on.
Tommy, you're going to help me because
we've got the Williams to represent.
We need one Williams driver in there,
and I think he's our only one, isn't he?
Well, it's not a drove for Williams.
Prost obviously won a title for Williams, so...
Who are we thinking?
Ayrton Senna.
Ayrton Senna.
Do we have anyone from Williams left on the list?
Have we just got rid of all of them?
I'm going to go with no. Just Senna.
Just Senna still. OK.
Michael Schumacher.
Versus Kimmy Reichenan.
Michael, I think I know where this is going.
Kimmy is going to be so upset.
Yeah.
And finally, in the quarterfinals,
Max Verstappen.
Versus Fernando Alonso.
That's a good lineup.
Yeah.
I'm going...
Wow.
This one is great.
This is great. Yeah.
I think the Fernando fans are louder.
I can hear a lot of Fernando.
Max, I'm going to go, Max.
Max Verstappen.
Max Verstappen wins it.
Has been chosen.
I can't hear a word you're saying, Alex,
but I'm just trying to lipread from here with the amount of noise.
Loving this guys, by the way.
Great energy. OK.
The semifinals is getting
high pressure now.
OK, here we go.
Lewis Hamilton.
Versus Ayrton Senna.
Lewis.
Lewis.
Lewis is in the final for England.
All this one.
Michael Schumacher.
Versus Max Verstappen.
I'm going to go against everyone here.
I'm going to go for Michael.
OK.
So the final of the F1 World Cup
is Lewis Hamilton.
Versus Michael Schumacher.
For the victory.
Alex Albon.
Who has won the F1 World Cup?
What do we think?
Michael Schumacher.
Michael.
Michael Schumacher.
Michael Schumacher.
OK.
England will never win a World Cup.
We just can't do it.
We were so close.
I think we've got some fan questions down here, Alex.
That was awesome, by the way. That was so good.
It certainly was.
Who's got a question for Alex?
Let's start down here.
Hi, Alex.
Would you rather fight
ten duck-sized men
or one George Russell-sized duck?
Ten duck-sized men?
Yes.
Not George's, just men.
George Russell-sized duck.
OK.
Ten duck-sized George Russells, maybe.
Or ducks.
That's a yee-kee crazy.
What was the second bit?
George Russell-sized duck.
Or one George Russell-sized duck.
George Russell-sized duck.
I'm trying to think of a duck
that looks like George.
He's George Tor.
We're very similar.
I always think that George has
a bit of a walk to him.
He walks on his calves.
Which is not intimidating at all.
I'm going to take George on.
I'm going to fight
man-to-man, man-to-duck.
I hope that answered
what you wanted there.
Over there.
Here, Alex.
Just a basic one.
What is your favourite pre-race ritual to do?
I was very superstitious.
I guess I still am a little bit.
My mum is Thai.
Thai people are generally
quite superstitious, I would say.
Almost too much.
I still have all these
you call them
good luck charms bracelets.
It's what you do when you do good deeds.
Basically, you get blessings
from monks.
That's really it.
I have them on and off.
You can't really see it from where you are.
That's the only thing I do.
In terms of routine-wise,
I used to have
I had to get in the car on the left side.
I could only wear
there was a version of
three pairs of underwear
for Sunday.
It worked out quite well because obviously
if you had one set for Friday's Essay Sunday,
that's not good.
What happens media day?
I can tell you, I'm not wearing
my racing underwear
for media day.
That's it.
I got rid of them all.
I had all this and I was like
I'm going to do one race
where I go against
all my superstitions
and it went well.
Which is a weird thing to do.
That's about it.
Hi Alex.
What is your favourite Silverstone
Grand Prix memory growing up?
I actually
grew up and started racing
at Silverstone.
I remember my very first time in a
go-kart and I had to get my license.
I think you're eight years old
when you get your racing license in go-karts.
My dad took me to Silverstone
to do it.
I remember
it was like the basic things.
Can they drive?
Do you know what the flags mean?
During that day
it was Felipe Massa
driving like a Sauber
back in 2000.
It must have been in 2002
or 2003.
That was it.
I was in my go-kart
and I could hear the F1 car in the background
because back then it was V10s
screaming at the back
and I was like this is what I want to do.
So that was the time.
Were you dreaming about F1 in that moment?
After I got my
they kind of give you a
well done you passed kind of thing.
We grabbed
like a sandwich
and we just sat at one of the corners.
It was the old, you guys must know this
it was like an old corner, the one that goes down the hill
and bridge
where the new kart track is.
It was just
almost intimidating to me
because as a kid I was like
this thing is way too, this is crazy
what is this thing?
Obviously I knew it was F1 but yeah.
Hi Alex
Hello
What would your superhero origin story be?
Or super villain?
Oh my god
or super villain did you say?
Either or.
That's a hard question to answer on the spot.
Superhero origin story
guys you need to help me out.
What would it be?
First he wants my super power and then we can work backwards from there.
Super power.
Super power.
Doctor do little.
Very good.
We're going to go for like a doctor do little
hybrid
I'm going to get bitten by
in Thailand we have these huge lizards
they're called monitor lizards
Have you ever seen them?
They're ginormous.
I've got bitten by a monitor lizard
and then I could communicate to monitor lizards
I could then understand other animals
How does this serve me
in racing though?
I don't know.
I could speak to groundhogs
Don't come on the track
Get out the way
I could tell
Exactly
You could gather them together to block the track
to make you win.
Brilliant.
They don't sound dangerous at all.
They don't stop.
Exactly
Do groundhogs build dams?
Are they like beavers?
This is going down a really strange path
We'll figure it out
but there's a storyline there
I wanted to just say before we get to the next question
I got so distracted by the pole position meme
Oh my god
Honestly that video I have watched
a thousand times
if you're saying pole position
It's so funny
I don't
To tell you the story of this
is basically
I was very jet lagged
We just arrived
to Japan
and I arrived quite late
I don't
I didn't even know this thing went viral
Oh yeah it did
I don't have social media on my phone anymore
and so
Carlos was like
going like pole position
and I was like what are you talking about
and he showed me this video
and
I don't know why do I look like that
I
I don't understand
I don't know if it's the grading
or the grading of the video
He's not jet lagged now
Oh my god
We've done it too much
We've done it too much
Okay we've got another question down there
Hi
If one just
stopped existing which racing series
would it drive?
Oh
If Formula 1 stopped existing
Hmm
I don't know
I think I would just go for
Yes I did a rallying video
We did some rallying last week
That was a lot of fun
I think I would do that thing where a driver
just retires and then
does everything he can
I would love to be able to have
the
feeling of just jumping in and out
do what Kevin did
do a race in NASCAR
maybe do a couple of races in endurance racing
and then just kind of
I don't want to fix myself to one series
and maybe try the Indy 500
things like that
Thank you for listening
to today's pod
I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did with Alex
Big thanks to the Atlassian Williams F1 team
for having us
It's the Belgian Grand Prix next weekend
so we'll see you for predictions and all our
usual episodes next week
See you there
About this episode
Alex Albon joins Matt and Tommy for a live “F1 World Cup” bracket built from 16 countries, each represented by an F1 legend. Albon picks 1v1 knockout matchups based on wins, vibes, and fan noise—sparking debates like Lauda vs Fangio, Prost vs Andretti, Senna vs Ascari, and Verstappen vs Alonso. He advances Hamilton to face Schumacher in the final, crowning Schumacher as champion. Between rounds, Albon answers audience questions on pre-race superstitions, Silverstone memories, and even a duck-sized fight scenario.
Last week, we were so excited to be joined by Alex Albon live on stage at the Atlassian Williams F1 Team Fan Zone presented by Kraken.
Seeing as the World Cup is on, we put Alex through our own F1 World Cup Challenge, where 16 countries were represented by some of the best drivers in F1 history. And Alex had the small task of narrowing them all down to one eventual World Cup winner - no pressure!
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
