This number is shorthand for the power balance. It means the engine will provide a bit more than half the energy, with the electric system providing the rest.
Toto Wolff is a top F1 leader. In this discussion, they’re saying he cares about keeping the sport true to its roots, but he also agrees the rules need to change.
“Japan” here just means the races held in Japan. The hosts are saying those races were where they noticed more issues, and the situation has improved since.
It means the drivers are basically going as fast as the car will go. In racing, that’s important because if the car has any weaknesses, they show up when you’re pushing it at maximum for a long stretch.
It means the car’s “extra power” runs low. In F1, the cars don’t just use fuel—they also have a limited amount of stored energy they can deploy, and if it runs out, the car can’t accelerate as strongly.
Term
60-40
“60-40” is a shorthand for how F1 wants the car to use its power sources—like how much comes from fuel versus the car’s stored energy. They’re saying it might be a bit too soon to change that balance next year.
They’re talking about the rulebook for F1 and the time period those rules apply. The idea is that teams can only tweak things so much until the next big rules change.
FIA is the organization that makes the rules for Formula 1. If they “double down,” it means they decided to stick with the rules they already chose instead of changing them quickly.
“Overtake mode” is a feature in F1 that gives the driver a short burst of extra speed to help them pass another car. The hosts are saying F1 likely won’t change how that feature works.
“Canada” here means the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. The hosts are using it as an example of a race where the passing system led to good fights on track.
“Super clipping” sounds like a special limitation inside the overtake system. The hosts think it was the biggest issue, and they’re glad it isn’t changing because it’s helped create decent racing.
An overtake is when one car passes another during the race. They’re saying the passing is getting better—more of it is happening in interesting places like braking zones, not just when cars are blasting down straightaways.
Barcelona is a famous race track that F1 visits regularly. The hosts are using it as an example of a race where passing on track felt more interesting.
Max Verstappen is one of the best-known F1 drivers right now. The conversation is about whether he’ll keep racing under the new rules next year.
Term
VA engines
“VA engines” is a shorthand for a particular engine plan F1 is considering or switching to. The hosts are saying Verstappen might be more willing to continue if the sport moves back toward that engine approach.
They’re talking about how the rule changes changed the way F1 races look and feel. Over time, teams learn the new setup and the racing becomes more predictable and balanced.
In F1, the cars use a turbo engine and also a hybrid system that stores and reuses energy. The “split” is how the rules decide the balance between the gas engine and the electric part, which changes how the car drives and races.
In F1, teams don’t always build their own engines from scratch. “Engine suppliers” are the companies that provide the engine/power-unit technology to teams, and fewer suppliers can mean less variety and competition.
Concept
flip-flop overtaking
“Flip-flop overtaking” means passes that don’t really stick—cars keep trading positions back and forth. It usually suggests the rules or car behavior are making it easier to gain and lose position quickly.
Concept
flip-flop style of racing
This is a way of describing races where the lead changes a lot, but mainly because of pit stops and strategy. It can mean overtakes happen in bursts instead of constant, side-by-side racing.
They’re talking about a push to return to refuelling during the race. That would mean more pit stops and strategy changes, and it also raises safety concerns because refuelling happens while cars are moving and crew are close by.
Formula One is the highest level of open-wheel racing. It’s the series with the most advanced race cars and strict rules, and here they’re comparing the vibe of an F1 weekend to other kinds of racing.
Silverstone is a famous race track in the UK that hosts Formula One. It’s known for being fast and exciting, and it’s the next big race they’re looking forward to.
Person
Lano Norris
That’s Lando Norris, a Formula One driver. They’re saying he could win the British Grand Prix two races in a row.
They’re talking about shaving off tiny amounts of time on a lap—like 0.1 seconds. In racing, even that small change can mean a big difference in where you finish.
A qualifying review is a podcast segment that breaks down how cars performed in the qualifying session—typically focusing on lap times, track position, and key moments that determine the starting grid. In F1 coverage, qualifying often matters as much as the race because it sets the odds for overtaking and strategy.
It means a team changes drivers partway through the season. Instead of a one-race fill-in, it’s a real replacement that affects who drives the car for the rest of the year.
To drive in F1, you need an FIA Super Licence. You earn it by getting enough points from certain racing results—if a substitute driver doesn’t have the points, they can’t step in.
FP3 stands for the third free practice session before qualifying and the race. Teams use it to test the car, and if something breaks there—like brakes—it can carry over into the rest of the weekend.
It means the team is using parts that aren’t brand-new. Sometimes that’s because of reliability, timing, or upgrade priorities, and it can make the car less competitive.
It means the car’s braking system stopped working properly. That’s a big deal because you can’t test the car or drive safely, and it can affect the rest of the weekend.
LIVE
Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 podcast.
Make sure to check out new episodes every Wednesday and every Sunday.
Hello and a very warm welcome to the Late Breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Aid.
I've used that twice in a week now. So many sirens. Once for Hamilton, once for you. Well,
I'm in a steamed company then. Yeah, hello. This is weird. Yeah. Oh, by the way, I'm Ben
Hawking, but I don't really mind. You've seen and heard enough of me. It's all about Harry
Aid today. Hello, guys. I am back. Yeah, this is this is odd. I'll be I'll be a tiny bit
serious before and we'll carry on as normal. Thank you everyone for all the kind kind messages
that you sent in my absence. It was it was very much appreciated. I didn't reply to anyone
and I apologize, but I was having a bit of a break from life. So but I did see them all
and I saw your messages on on the comments of the podcast too. So the love was felt and
also thank you to Sam, Ben and Kirsty for carrying on the show without me because I was very
appreciative of that. But yeah, I'm back. I'm now back back for good as Gary Barlow once
said. Take that reference in the first 75 seconds. We so back. Actually, before we start
the podcast, I'd like to I'd like you Ben to tell me a little bit more about a Scandinavian
luxury luggage company. We just trying to make a living out here, folks.
That would sum up the time away from the podcast is just a Scandinavian luggage company and I
have been nothing to do with it. No, no. Also, you're coming back on an episode where Sam is
very busy with his other job. It fuels the flames that there is still this
ongoing beef between the two of you. Yeah. Yeah, that wasn't on purpose, by the way. I didn't
choose to come back on the week that Sam couldn't do it. But luckily I am here because otherwise
Ben would be talking into a vacuum. Which no one wants that. I like to think you've timed your
return because you were just waiting for Antonelli and Mercedes not to win a race. And you're
actually just a massive Ferrari bandwagon fan at this point. That's me have been since 96.
Just look at me. I'm a Schumacher fan. Well, we've got we've got a very interesting episode
for you. We've got some Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin chat coming up a little bit later on.
But we're going to start out with confirmation of some news that we've spoken about before.
It's that the FIA has confirmed plans to increase the role of Formula One's combustion engines
over the next two years. So from 2028 power units will produce around 60% of their energy from the
engine and 40% from the electrical system compared to the current 5050 splits. The transition begins
next year 2027 with a 5% increase in fuel flow and MG UK harvesting power rising from 350 to
375 kilowatts. This should see the split move to about 5842 and then a further increase of course
in 2028. The changes have been agreed by the FIA, Formula One management and the teams.
The teams Formula One management and FIA all agreeing on something. Are you surprised?
I mean, it's a sign that maybe things did need to change if we get agreement from all of those
parties. I'm not surprised. I mean, there was a little bit of, you know, back and forth a lot
along the way. It wasn't there with some engine manufacturers not wanting to commit to doing this.
And I think 6040, the 6040 split was the maximum I think right now we're going to get out of them.
I'm not sure they're going to commit to any more. But like I said, the fact that they have
agreed to do this shows that they know even the engine manufacturer is no deep down that
this needed to change a bit at least for now. I'm kind of okay with
them not trying to jump too far with this and not, you know, not the 7030 or even like an 8020.
I think that would be such a change that we don't need to. I think these are
small tweaks that need to be made, not massive, massive jumps. And if something more needs to
be done as we get into next year, then fine, we can tweak again. But yeah, I'm not massively
surprised I've got to this conclusion. I think even the likes of Mercedes and, you know, those
that have gotten advantage are going to say, yeah, things need to change a little bit.
I think the people like Toto Wolf, he is a motorsport purist and even though he'll want
to retain advantage, I think he understands that the sport still has a reputation to protect and
having cars super clip is not part of the image that F1 wants to portray. So not surprised, glad
that they've reached this decision and we'll see what happens.
I bet you've missed super clipping chat. Boy, oh boy, have I.
I should have done this the other way around really, but obviously myself and Sam have spoken
quite a lot over the last few weeks about the changes that have happened this year versus
the start of the year. Have you been happy with what you've seen in regards to, let's say,
Barcelona in Canada versus maybe what we saw in Australia and China?
I think so. Yeah. And I still don't think it's perfect, but this is what I'm saying
when I'm glad they haven't tried to make a massive leap here, because I think
that, what's so cool in a famous phrase, there's something in there. There is something in this
formula. It's just not quite, it needs a bit of tweaking. And I think the changes they made
so far have helped. It's still not perfect, in my opinion, and I think many others' opinions.
So I'm glad they've not made a massive leap, but so far, it's getting better as we progress
through the season. So I mean, still didn't help Monaco, but whatever. I mean, Monaco just looked
the same. Looks exactly identical. Which isn't a compliment.
I was a little bit surprised that this came together. I figured an agreement would happen
at some point. I didn't think it would quite happen this soon. It is traditionally very tricky
to get the FIA, FOM, and all of the teams on the same page in regards to literally anything.
You know, there were reports indicating that maybe most teams were in favour of this, but
it was always going to be about convincing those last few holdouts. And it was believed to be
Audi was one of them who have very much been on the... We've spent a lot of money to get here,
and now we're changing up the formula very quickly. And I still do have some sympathy for
them in that regard. Maybe the two-year timeline has helped convince them a little bit. Maybe
they have some sway on what's happening in 2030-2031 that has kept them happy,
or maybe they just realised they were fighting a losing battle. In either case, I think they've
managed to be convinced to go ahead with these plans. They are in a tough spot versus their
competitors, and we don't yet know. There's no real mention on cost cap implication here,
because there are going to have to be changes that are made for next season, but I'm not aware of
whether any dispensation is actually happening within the current cost cap or not. So, for whatever
reason, they seem to be happy with it. Ferrari were kind of also a bit doubtful on this, and I
think it was related to, we don't want to lose a duo. Then the a duo review happened. And it wasn't
as beneficial as maybe they thought it was going to be. Obviously, they'll still get more upgrades
than definitely super Red Bull, that goodness me. Is Red Bull dominance going to bore fans
quite possibly? But also, they don't have as much of an advantage versus Mercedes as I think they
were hoping they would. That poor little Mercedes engine. Do you think Ferrari, because they've
finally got onto something, they've got a good car that can now win races, and they're like,
no, please don't. Don't change anything. Nothing can change. We've actually got news that there's
an upgrade banned for the rest of the year. Not going to have them.
So, yeah, for whatever reason, Ferrari maybe, because we don't know if a duo is still going to be
a part of these regulations or not. I guess they probably still are. Otherwise, I'm not sure Ferrari
would have been brought round to it. But yeah, it seems like everyone is at least somewhat on the same
page. Very rare. I hear what you said earlier about realistically, we probably couldn't go
further than 60-40 within the current regulations. But do you think the two-year timeline to get
it into place is appropriate? Could they have done it quicker or is two years about right?
I think two years is realistic, isn't it, about getting this done? If we'd seen more safety
concerns from this, and obviously the only real major one we've had so far is that Berman
Crash from Suzuki, if there'd been a lot more of those, I think this might have tried to be pushed
through in a quicker timeframe. The fact that this is more just spectacle-based, I mean,
based on the spectacle not eyeglasses. I think that's the most realistic timeframe to get this
pushed through because we're already halfway through this year, effectively, so there's not
that much time anyway to say you wanted to get it done for next year. I think realistic enough,
trying to get it through straight away would have been a tough one and tough to expect teams to do,
because a lot of them would have already started working next year anyway.
I mean, famous last words regarding safety, but it feels like we're in a better spot versus where
we were in Japan. For example, Barcelona, it felt like if we were having those issues into
turn one, there could have been a lot of those sorts of near misses and it didn't feel like we
had any, apart from ones that were maybe more driver-led in terms of cutting off drivers that
are trying to get the inside or whatever, but it didn't feel like a car was running out of energy
and a car behind had to massively do anything to avoid that. I think we are in a better spot safety
wise. Yeah, great, because I think Barcelona, you're basically full flat out two corners before
the end of the lap. If they were having those problems like they were in Suzuka, then they'd
have run out of energy halfway down the straight. I think the changes have been made so far,
alleviated those concerns, which I'm glad because that's primarily what they should have done.
And now the further changes should hopefully just make the spectacle a little bit better.
Yeah, I would have liked them maybe to be bold enough to go to 60-40 next year, although I do
appreciate the point that that might be one year too quick for all of this. I agree with what you
said that realistically, I don't think there's much more we can do within the current regulation
cycle. There are some things you can adjust and tweak, but fundamentally, this is what we are.
I was going to say make the most out of that. That sounds too negative, but these are the
regulations we've got for now. Let's make them as good as they can possibly be.
There are still a few issues with what we've currently got, but I am feeling more optimistic
than I was earlier in the season. And again, it's somewhat relates to
Canada and it relates to Barcelona. I think both of those were pretty good races.
In terms of the timeline, again, I wouldn't mind seeing it over one year instead because
F1 are going to try and say this is going from 50-50, 60-40 in two years. Realistically, it's
not actually 50-50 at the moment. It's like 53-47, so it's not actually as big a jump as they're
making it out to be. But yeah, I think over the course of two years, we'll get closer.
Yeah, I agree. Anything I would say, I wish F1 and the FIA hadn't doubled down on the rules
quite so much at the very beginning of the year and just tried to commit to this early,
stop hiding your comments, etc. There was a lot of trying to blind people into thinking this was
a perfect formula and I wish they just almost held their hands up then and there. Even in testing
and go, look, things need to change. We can get this through for next year if we commit to this now
rather than like where we are now, which is halfway through the season.
Yeah, in hindsight, it would have been a lot better for them to do that. Do you remember all of the
Domenicali interviews that he did? He did a few interviews with media publications and
didn't come across particularly well in those. In hindsight, with again, having improved,
it would have been far better, I think, to do what you just said, far better.
Just commit to it anyway. Yeah, yeah. They're not proposing any changes to sort of overtake
mode. So I guess the way or the style of which we're racing with now is likely to remain. Are
you okay with that? I'm very okay with that. I think, like I said earlier, there's something here.
I think there is something good about this formula and I think you reference Canada, for example,
that battle with the two Mercedes. That's all mainly down to the overtake ability to
chop back and forth. So I'm glad they're keeping that the same. I don't think that was the issue
mainly. The super clipping, as we said, was the main one. So I'm glad that's staying the same
because I think for the most part, that's worked and it's given us some good racing,
sometimes a big questionable on whether an overtake was that deserved. But again, I think
that's the super clipping, not the actual overtake mode itself. So I think, yeah, I've got no issues
without staying the same. Yeah, I'm fine with it as well. And I was far more dubious again to start
the year. But I think they've managed to get the formula close to right now with it in that
you are still getting back and forth battles. But equally, we aren't getting the same.
We don't know whether the driver was even responsible for getting the overtake done,
or we don't know whether these positions are just going to switch 20 times over. In which case,
are you really getting that excited about the eighth or the 12th one? Because, you know,
it's just going to happen again at some point very soon. It felt to me like at least with the
last couple of races, Barcelona in particular, overtakes started to mean something. I would
still like a little bit more on the brakes sort of overtakes. I still think we're lacking a little
bit there. And there are still maybe a few too many overtakes happening with both cars at full
power down the straights, which isn't to me as exciting, but we're definitely closer than we were.
One sort of driver led conversation that's been ongoing throughout the year is Max Verstappen,
and whether he will stick around for these regulations next year. He was previously
quoted as saying that the proposed regulations are the minimum he would need to stick around.
We're getting that, albeit not completely in one go for next year. So,
I, as he said, bare minimum. I reread that interview before I started recording. They
were like, oh, so you'd be happy then if it was 60 40 was like, bare minimum, like,
don't get your hopes up sort of thing. So I think it'll be, I think it will be enough to convince
him to stay for next year. But I think if, if he gets to next year, sort of in testing maybe,
and he's like, do you know what, this is still the same and I hate it, then
then I think he might call it. So I don't think this before race one,
four, I think you do, or you do a race or two maybe thing of the content man.
I'll be so good for Stappen quits before race one, but then he comes back because again content.
He comes back when F1 has VA engines again. Yeah. Yeah. I think it'll be this will encourage him
to stick around for next year. Obviously into maybe 27, but certainly next year. But I don't
think it's a, it's a done deal that he sticks around forever. I don't think this is going to
convince him. Yeah. I, at the moment I'm leaning yes for him being around next year. I think there
have at least been a few more signs that he's, he's enjoying it more than he was. We had obviously
Monaco qualifying where I know the race obviously went horribly wrong for him and the team, but
qualifying felt a little bit more on the limit fighting for the front row. I think that will
encourage him a little bit. And whilst he has had maybe a very lonely race in Barcelona, he had a
great one in, in Canada, a great scrap with, with Lewis Hamilton. So maybe these sorts of battles
might convince him to give it a go. It is a tough call for him. My instinct is similar to yours.
If he tries it next year and he doesn't particularly like it. And at that point,
we're already at like 58, 42 split. I don't think he's going to go, just got to wait till next year
when it's 60, 40, right? I think it's, if he's, if he sticks around next year for the full year,
I think he'll also, he might just stick around for the full regulation cycle at that point.
But I think the biggest question of whether he goes will be
either going into next year or very early in next year. I'm actually going to sub you out
for about 20 minutes, if that's all right. Oh man, I've been back for one segment and you're
kicking me off already. I've had enough of you already, man. What are you going to do in 20 minutes?
Four. Do you know what? I might have a brunch bar.
Man, we haven't had a brunch bar reference in a long time. The Lewis Hamilton of chocolate bars.
You know what? Last year, I might have said that's fair, but now Lewis Hamilton's winning
again. We can't have those comparisons. Not okay. I'm speaking to a very special guest who isn't.
How are you on the other side?
Welcome back, everyone. As promised, on the other side of the break, I'm joined by a very
special guest. He is a journalist, a broadcaster. We can now add author to that list as well with
his first book, Grand Prix 101 out on the 25th of June. A warm welcome to Christian Hugo. Christian,
thank you for joining us. Oh, it's a pleasure. Thank you for having me, Ben, and for a very
generous description of me in your introduction. No problem. I read it just as you sent it over
as well, so it was perfect. Yeah, exactly. I'll pay you later. Yeah, thank you. How are you?
Yes, I'm very well. Talking to you the morning after the night before I got back from Barcelona,
having done what I almost never do when I'm out at a race, and bolted on a couple of days to
sit in the sun afterwards. Yeah, I'm very well. I had a lovely time in Barcelona, and yeah, I
had a particularly lovely time in the sun, so I'm well. Thank you very much. How was the weekend
itself? A very interesting one for multiple reasons. Oh, the weekend was great. The weekend
was absolutely fantastic. Yeah, I'd never done... I keep wanting to call it the Spanish Grand Prix.
Of course, you can't do that. The amount of times I've done that. Yeah, absolutely. I'd never done
the Barcelona, Catalonia, Grand Prix, or the Spanish Grand Prix. I'd never been to the circuit
of Catalonia, so I think as anyone who's grown up watching the sport, I sometimes almost get more
excited to go to the maybe slightly less glamorous ones, because yes, it's all right, Miami, obviously,
and things like that. I'm very lucky to get to go to. I didn't grow up watching that, so actually,
I very much enjoyed seeing the circuit of Catalonia for the first time,
and we got a great race, an amazing result, didn't we? I mean, I'm sure you're the same, Ben. I
think anyone who works in Formula One podcasting is accused of bias left, right, and centre,
and I genuinely don't care who wins, as long as it's a good race, and gives us good stories to
talk about in podcasts. So, on that basis, a phenomenal result. Brilliant for F1, brilliant
for Lewis, and what a story it was. So, I know it was a really lovely weekend. One of those that,
I tend to go to about 10 races a season, and that one felt particularly special,
one of those really special weekends, so I very much enjoyed it. I'm always glad to see
any race at the circuit to Catalonia do well again. Sure. Using my words correctly there.
I've been a bit of a staunch defender of it over the years, and there was a time where I think there
was quite a push for it to be gone versus some other European circuits, but the last sort of
five seasons or so, it has very consistently delivered good grand prix. Yeah, I'd have really
happily seen it go in that period of time you were mentioning, go back three or four years.
I think getting rid of the fiddly little chicane at the Insector 3 and opening up the final corner
into the sweeping right-hander to get the overtaking opportunity down into Turn 1 has saved the
circuit for me because I am a traditionalist. I do like the street circuits, but then I also
sometimes get a little bit like, but we've got to have good racing as well. The same barometer
for the new circuits. Vegas tends to throw up a really good race, so I like Vegas. Do you know
what I mean? So, yeah, I was pleased to see it do well. I was pleased to see it throw up another
good race. I liked it a lot. A big question that I've been asking people all year is the
obvious one. In terms of the regulations and how they've been updated a little bit throughout
the year, this new style of racing, are you more on the positive or negative side of things?
I'm certainly more on the positive. I got bored of talking about it at the start of the year. That
was where I was most negative about it because I follow Formula One for the people and for the
storylines and for the drama, Mick. I just love it. I do like the politics element of it,
but the first few races of the season, it felt like we weren't talking about
Mercedes rise, Russell versus Antonelli. It was like we were talking about the rules constantly,
and I just no interest in it. I just got so bored of it. So, I'm glad we're now talking about,
I come on and talk about Hamilton winning and, you know, the battle between the two Mercedes.
I love that. In terms of the rules themselves, I do think anything's going to take time to settle,
and I think the reason the sport went for the rules in the first place was very sound, you know,
to having good intentions of doing the turbo-hybrid split, wanting to attract big name manufacturers.
Ben, Ben, you know, you and I will realise, we'll remember when it wasn't that long ago,
when it looked like we might just have Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault as the three engine suppliers,
which is just not a good state for the supposedly biggest series in the world.
So, I was willing to give it time to bed down, and I felt in the first couple of grand prix,
I thought the flip-flop overtaking was a bit too much. I think the last few races have really felt
a nice balance to me, and then we were adjusting the engine split in the couple of seasons. So,
I think we've reached quite a good place with it, and as I said, I do think the rules were brought in
for solid reasoning. So, I'm certainly more on the positive than I am the negative, and I think
we're in a nice place now. Yeah, I think I'm with you in that I've got progressively more positive,
as maybe some of these adjustments have come in, because as you say, the flip-flop style of racing,
whilst I'm not dead against it, I do enjoy when overtakes are meaningful.
Sure, oh, absolutely.
Certainly, I think we had more of that at Barcelona than perhaps we've had in
maybe any grand prix so far this year. I don't think it was the most overtakes we've had,
but certainly they felt like an ensign. I agree, and I actually think Miami and Canada
were a pretty good balance as well. I think from there, we got the balance pretty good.
I certainly think Australia and China, it felt too easy for me. The flip side to that is,
anyone who's listening to your part will be aware of my work knows I bang on about falling in love
with the sport in the late 90s and the 90s all the time. I also do remember a time when there was
no overtake at all, and I've got friends who discovered the sport in the last one year,
two years, three years, who just thought it was amazing and loved it. We have to evolve,
we have to move. I think we're about right, but I'm with you, Ben. It felt a bit too easy for
me at the start personally, and I think we're in a better place now. It's the sort of thing I like
to remind people as well, as if you stuck the average fan in front of an average 2004 race,
there were complaints very quickly. We do, well, nostalgia ain't what it used to be,
do you know what I mean? We do glamourise that era at the moment, which is my favourite thing in
the world, when I was the only Formula One fan at school in the early 2000s, and the newspapers
were slating the sport for no overtaking, and we are at the moment saying, oh, well, it was great
in the 2000s. Yeah, of course, there were elements of the sport that were great in the 2000s, and
to my left is a display cabinet full of cars from that era. So yes, of course, I'm with you,
but actually, there was a lot wrong, you know, and in terms of an entertainment spectacle,
it sometimes wasn't all that, and we do need to remember that, absolutely.
Yeah, I won't get started on the bring back refuelling campaign, because that's another one
I'm dead against. Oh, no, and it's just, for a start, it's just dangerous, and I give any argument
that brings safety into it really short shrift, so no, that is not, and also,
you think great, big, lumbering, heavy cars for the first half of a race is the answer?
It isn't, so no, I completely agree with you. You mentioned that you get to go to maybe 10 or
so Grand Prix in a season, given we're starting to get into the European leg now. Have you got
some more coming up? Yeah, so I, you know, it felt quite a quiet start for me, actually. I did
Australia and Miami, and then it felt big gaps between those, then it felt quite another big
gap between my third one in Barcelona, so I'm at Silverstone, I'm at Belgium,
I'm at the Netherlands of the European season, I think. I might have missed one. I'm not very
good at remembering these. I'm a bit of a take it, a couple of weeks at a time, sort of person.
So yes, I've got a few in the European season coming up, which I'm looking forward to.
All ones I've done before, it'll be nice to go to the last
Xanvort. Part of me thinks that's a shame that's going. Part of me also thinks, have you been, Ben?
We haven't been, but we're going this year. Excellent. Yeah. I think in the loveliest way,
you'll see why might be time to go. It doesn't feel like you're at a Formula One race. It feels
like you're with the greatest of respect to other series. It's like, I feel like I'm at a touring
car track. It's so small, like it's very, very small, but it's a wonderful atmosphere. So yes,
that's my European one. So Silverstone next up for me in a few weeks time, which of course I'm
looking forward to. It's wonderful. I think, well, there's always a reason to look forward to
Silverstone, but in the context of this season and the championship, you've got Lano Norris going
for back-to-back British Grand Prix wins. You've got George Russell going for a first,
and of course, Lewis Hamilton having just won, looking for a 10th British GP win.
Feels like there's a lot at least for British fans to be excited about.
So much. And there's arguments, I think, for all three of those winning the Grand Prix.
I don't think you can rule. I've been saying this all season. They're struggling,
but given the recent evidence we've had of the last few years, you can't rule out McLaren
bringing an upgrade that pots them at the front of the pack again. They have improved mid-season
so well in recent seasons. It feels a little more unlikely at the moment, I'll admit,
but that's a possibility. I think upgrades are going to be key from here, really. I think we saw
that in Barcelona. What really impressed me was the way I've been so doubtful that Ferrari can make
meaningful improvements to the car as the season's gone on. They did that. They bought an upgrade
package to Barcelona. It worked. So if you hope for Ferrari's sake they can keep doing that, we
know they've got a driver bang in form. There's absolutely no reason if they keep upgrading
that they can't win at Silverstone. They need a good upgrade, I think, particularly to the engine.
I think certainly what helped them in Barcelona is it's a less engine-dependent circuit. I think
Mercedes have got the advantage over them in terms of sheer power at the top end of the
straights in the engine. But as I've said, it's a couple of races away. Upgrades will be really
interesting. And Mercedes is a fascinating one because I actually think if Mercedes are in a
position to win the British Grand Prix, the biggest driver for George certainly won't be a
Brit. It'll be his Italian teammate because he looks like he's having a hard time being quicker
than Kimmy in a race at the moment. So yeah, it's a really interesting setup to Silverstone.
Yeah, I could see it going any of those ways, really. And I think to just mention
McLaren as you did at the start of that, I don't think it's being talked about quite as much as
it should be in that you go back to Australia and I can't remember exactly the number of
seconds behind Lando Norris was at the flag. It's about 45, I think. Fast forward to the last
couple of races. You've got a sprint win in Miami. You've got arguably an undercut away from winning
the main race in Miami. And he's right on the back of Antonelli and Russell in the last race
we've had. So it feels like that that's a long time apart as well because of the breakup in the
current. That's the last four races they've been close to winning twice. You make a really good
point and I've been making a similar point on the Fast and the Curious that we do about not being
able to rule McLaren out. Also, what impresses me, everything you've just said is completely valid
and yet Zach Brown, when he is normally his sparkly bubbly self, he sounds like he'd rather
be anywhere else in the world when he's being interviewed at the moment, which I love. It's
a real compliment to him because he's got so used to winning and now he's clearly not enjoying winning
and that shows you the standards of that team. It shows you why they've won two Constructors
Championships or why they want to drive this championship. They aren't interested in what
they're doing at the moment, despite your extremely valid point that they are making progress.
It's not enough for them. I like that in a competitor. So yeah, no, absolutely. And I just go
back to my previous point. They have been the ones, the reason they have gone from having such a
rubbish car three years ago to where they are now is their ability to improve mid-season.
So there's a lot of people at the moment saying, oh, McLaren won't win races. I'd be staggered
if they didn't win races this season. Absolutely staggered because of the three top teams at the
moment, they're the ones I sort of trust the most to bring improvements. Or as you've said,
they're doing it this year, albeit they haven't managed to do it to the extent of putting them
on the top step yet. Yeah, it feels like it might just be around the corner. Some very,
very interesting races to come, I feel, in this season. Let's talk a little bit about
Grand Prix 101. What inspired you to go ahead and write this book? Where did the project come from?
I've got a terrible answer to this question, Ben. I've done a couple of these.
A terrible answer is better than a nothing answer.
I've sort of opted for the truth to set you free on this. I was asked to do it. What inspired me
then? I've only been working in Formula One for, well, this is my fourth season doing full-time
Formula One. I was doing bits of Formula One in my old job as a news and sport presenter on Radio
One before that. But I am a journalist. I'm a broadcaster. I mostly talk. But I host a podcast
for F1 themselves called F1 Explains. The person who would end up being my publisher for the book
heard F1 Explains and, in a short turn of events, liked the way I explained F1.
And he'd had an idea in his head buzzing around for a while. I had no idea that this
is how the world of books work. I'm a complete book newbie. The clever people like Ross,
my publisher, have ideas for books and pitch them to the people at Wellbeck who make the book
and say, yeah, this is a book we want to make. And then someone like Ross goes,
right, I need to find an author to write it for me. And he likes the idea of a new author.
And he heard F1 Explains and we got together on a call. And I think you're supposed to
sell yourself in these situations. I think you're supposed to go, yes, of course I'm the man to
do this. And I said to him, I'm not sure I can write a book. I've talked a lot, but it's lovely.
And I appreciate the call. But anyway, no, you can. You can. And have a go. And if you need,
we've got people that can support you with it. I didn't want it to be ghost written. I said,
look, if I'm going to do it, I want to have a go at doing it. So we came up with a,
he taught me through his, the concept was only that he wanted a sort of question and answer style.
So between as we came up with the idea of like 50 questions, bang, everything you need to know
about Formula One, written in the style that if you've been watching or listening for decades,
you'll, you'll pick new bits of information up. But it's also friendly if you have only picked
it up in the last six months, a year, two years, a sort of fits both audience and style thing.
And he said, have a go. So we came up with the questions that took quite a long time.
And then people started to negotiate stuff. And that took ages. And then about a year later,
quite literally, I'm there like, my God, I've been talking about this for a while. I've got to
write this book. Okay. So I sat down and wrote 2000 words and was staggered when they just sort
of went, yeah, that's it. Off you go. I was like, right, okay. I'm writing a book. And at sort of
every point of the process, I've expected someone to go, that's not how you write a book. But it
didn't happen. I did write the words. They really liked the words. They put the words, I picked a
load of pictures to go with the, because it's a glossy picture coffee table book. And I picked a
load of pictures to go with it. And here we are two years later, two years after that first call,
there's a book. So it's as much of a surprise to me as it is to anyone who knows me that I've written
a book. But I'm very proud to have done so. What was that? I don't know about that first day like
when you did sit down like, right, I actually need to write this. This isn't an area I've necessarily
dealt with before. You just genuinely go for it. I've genuinely Googling, like, do I do this on
a Word document? There's the, you know, when I'm about, this is very boring. But when I was working
at the BBC, if you're writing a script, there's a, there's a system you put the script in. And
even when we're doing the Fast and the Curious, our running orders all go to a place. And they're
like, no, no, no, just Word document if you like, or whatever. I mean, a brilliant example of this,
Steve Jones, a wonderful Channel 4 presenter wrote a good chunk of his book on the Notes app on his
phone on the way back from Grand Prix. And I was like, God, okay, it's literally the old school
writing on the back of a cigarette pack, isn't it? So yeah, no, I was sat there sort of Googling,
like how did, and they were like, you know, try the word settings for this way. So I'm sort of
putting my Microsoft word in the right way and then just thrashing it out. I'd written before,
I'd written news articles for the BBC, but maximum we're talking 1200 words, maximum. So a 40,000
word book plus having to pick 200 pictures to go alongside those was like, wow. But it was just,
I still fake it till you make it then. It's just like, okay, let's have a go. And the lovely people
at Wellbeck have been so supportive of me. But they've been so supportive in just sort of being like,
yeah, no, that's it. You know, great. That's this is it. It's like, okay, right, fine. So
I love it. I'd love to do another one because I now have no idea how to do it because of the
whole process. I've been like, at some point, someone's going to tell me, God, Christian,
that's not how you write a book. But here we are. I've really enjoyed the process.
Good to hear. I mean, you mentioned that the sort of question and answer framework of the book and
it goes into various sections, tech, circuits, drivers. Was there a particular section that you
were most passionate about getting into? You mentioned earlier that you sort of got into F1
for the people. Was that the section you were most excited about?
Spot on. Yeah, you're exactly right. There's two sections of the book that delve into,
I always think you can pick up Formula One as a newbie fairly simply, 53 laps, 22 cars,
winner, right? Yeah, fine. But I think I love the history of Formula One. And I really do love
that F1 leans into its history really, really well. So I sort of wanted to give some cut.
It's not a history book, but I wanted to give some context as to what everybody says Ferrari
is so prestigious. Why? Everybody says Max is a generational talent. Why? You'll hear people
talk about Senna and Prost. Okay, what were they good at? I wanted to give a little bit of the
context and give people enough historical context to maybe get a bit more enjoyment out of watching
on a Sunday. So there's one chapter, which is simply who are the most successful teams in
Formula One. There's another who are the most successful drivers. And there's a third, which is
why a Formula One driver is so special and digging into the way that individual drivers
are special. Your Senna's compared to your Prost, Buttons, Jackie
Stewart. I loved writing that. That was really nice to be able to tell the stories of the teams,
the stories of the drivers. And there was one other section I really enjoyed as well.
One of the questions I asked most about Formula One is why there are no female drivers.
So I enjoyed digging into that a little bit, and I enjoyed showcasing and highlighting some of the
female talent that's been in the sports in the past and is in the sport today. I think there are
the sorts of three or four chapters that I got most enjoyment out of writing.
Good stuff. So the 25th of June, that's when a book is available. We'll leave the Amazon link
in the description of the episode. I'm sure you'll be inundated thanks to this very particularly.
I'm sure I will, and I'm grateful for you to do so. I hope they can cope with the rush.
Anything else you wanted to say? Plug opportunity?
No, no. So it's available on the 25th of June in the UK. It's available worldwide. I'm fortunate
enough that a couple of podcasts I've mentioned that I do people listen to from far and wide,
which staggers me, but they do. So if you're listening to this, I'm sure your listeners are
the same from various places. All good major bookshops should have it. So yes, if you are
listening around the world, that's sort of my most frequently asked question. I live here.
Can I get the book? And the answer is it should, yes, should be the case. And no, thank you for
letting me talk about it. I've loved writing it. I've just really loved trying something very,
very new. I've really loved spending time. I mean, the other thing is I've learned
stuff writing the book. I wanted it, as I say, to be suitable for, I didn't just want it to be
a super simple basic guide for people who've been watching the sport five minutes. I've really
wanted people who've been around a while to learn new things. And I enjoyed learning new
things about it as well. Certainly on the technical side, I'm not the most technically
minded of people, certainly on the historical side of the formation of the championship and how
it came to be. So now I love writing it and it still slightly amazes me that there's a book
with my name on it. So I'm just truly grateful to anyone who thinks they might want to buy it or
give it as a gift. It's a nice good coffee table book. Do you know what I mean? It's
a nice gift. So yeah, Grand Prix 101 available soon. Very well done. Thank you. Very excited to get
into it. Best of luck and look forward to the rest of the year. Thanks, guys. Love what you do
and thanks for having me on. Thanks, mate. Cheers.
Welcome back, everyone. Oh, how was your brunch bar, mate?
Oh, my God. At 20 minutes, I had at least three brunch bars in that time. It was amazing.
It must be weird as well for those on Patreon that are sort of watching as well, how I am so
powerful. I've managed to, and I know we're closing off all of the light here, I've managed to go from
evening to day back to evening. Have you changed clothes as well? No, I've actually got the same
clothes. Well done, mate. Gosh, continuity. You've changed in the two months I've been off.
Yeah, no, I've just really smelly and I don't change my clothes. I did that interview last week.
Fernando Alonso asked about it. Let's chat this wonderful relationship, shall we?
Do we have to? Maybe not. I've been saving this for when you're back.
Fernando Alonso at the weekend indicated last weekend, I should say. He indicated it
last time in Barcelona as an F1 driver. Do you believe him?
No. You think? No, not because I necessarily have this dying belief that he will be here
for eternity, although have you met the man? I'm sure I saw a clip after that where he was
on stage like the fan zone and they asked him about this and he was like, yeah, well,
sometimes you just make stuff up to the media. I'm like, well, what are you doing, man?
I think it's probably highly probable that that is the case,
but I don't think he's made his mind up. I think he's just saying stuff.
Worth reminding everyone, by the way, that there isn't a Barcelona Grand Prix next year.
So when he says it might be his last one, he could still be on the grid next year
and obviously then not take part in a race in Barcelona.
Yes. So I think that's the most likely scenario because I don't quite remember the age of Fernando
Alonso, but by the time we get to the end of 27, he will be about 93, I think. So I'm not sure
carrying on into 2028. I mean, that's horrendous. 2028, he debuted in 01.
Like that's ridiculous to be carrying on that long.
This is really weird because I was having a thing earlier today
about drivers who have raced in three different decades in the sport. Alonso is so close to
have been driven in five. A couple of years either, well, like 1999 to 2030 or something.
55 decades.
Yes. So look, you can never say never with Fernando Alonso, but I do think that it's
highly probable that he'll do another year at Aston Martin to see just in case it comes good.
But after that, he's going to go off into the sunset and I don't want to say retire,
but he won't retire. He'll drive other things, but he won't be enough what I don't think. So
I think there is some truth in it. But you know what he's like, I just think he's saying things
to the media. It feels very likely this is his last race in Barcelona. And yet if I had
a 50 pence piece in my pocket, it would be staying there if you asked me to bet on it.
Because traditionally, it won't have gone very well for you if you bet against Fernando Alonso
and longevity in the sport. You mentioned the sort of fan zone interview he gave. He also was on
the grid with Martin Brundle. No, he wasn't. He was on the grid with Nika Rosberg and whoever
did the grid, what were Nika Rosberg that I've completely forgotten? Nika Rosberg's so good
that you just forget everyone around him. I think it was Rosberg and Corinne Chandock who
were doing it on the grid. And they spoke, I think, to Fernando Alonso very briefly.
And Alonso was like, I think they referenced that, oh, you'd say this is probably your last
Barcelona Grand Prix. He's like, oh, hang on a minute. He's already walking it back.
Do you know, obviously, his manager is Flavio Brittori, I believe still, the school of just
denying things you said about a day ago. That's where he's come from here.
Quick question. Does that make Flavio Brittori, Gabriel Bortoletto's grand mentor?
He's like Yoda, too.
So sleazy Yoda. The worst Yoda in the world.
He could still be there. Everyone surprised me. I think it's more likely he goes before then.
It is almost tough as well at the moment to say what level he's operating on in that
he is, apart from weirdly last weekend, still out qualifying Lanstrol on a regular basis.
How much credit you want to give him for that is up to you. But also we've seen and you sort of
raised a couple of these earlier in the season. When he's got the opportunity to race,
and I'm talking very limited on lap one of races. The king of lap one for now.
He's happening the way of the time and he's still showing what he could do.
But unfortunately for him at the moment, that's the only lap of the race where he
can show what he can do. So it's tough to say like, is he is he dropping off?
I don't think anyone could say confidently one way or the other.
No, I don't know. And also I think Elon's is in that spot now because there's probably a few
things that you know, I think in Canada, qualifying, for example, things where it creeps in. But I
think that's just because he's trying that car was not okay, but it was a bit better than it has
been relatively. Yeah. I think that he's just trying to drive drive that car so much. So things
are that happens. So it's not unique. I don't think it's fair to be like he's making more mistakes.
Anyone will make more mistakes in that car. I mean, look at his teammate for crying out loud. So
yeah, give him a give him the sniff and of any sort of give the sniff of a top 10.
That's a bleak. But a monocoque. Yeah, he'll go for it. Yeah, it's not great. And I also just
think about this race and Aston Martin really not that they started very well. They seem to
really fall off the back in Barcelona before the two retirements. I don't know if Alonso wants
that to be his last race there. Like that is that's pretty grim if that is the case.
It's quite grim. I mean, it wouldn't be his last Spanish race. It wouldn't. But it would be a
sad way for him to end his career at Barcelona, a place where he's won a couple of times.
Yes. Yeah. And you're right. We're talking about Fernando Alonso's F1 retirement here.
The guy's going to be doing Le Monde when he's 70. I'm fairly convinced of that.
Like no doubt. Yeah. Any thoughts, can't wait for this. Any thoughts on the rumors that have been
around that Alpine and Flavio Briatori might snap him up for a year? Gucci Alpine.
I'm sorry. Again, I know I've been off for a bit, but it's a well-gun match. Why has Alpine
got Gucci as a sponsor? What's happened? I don't know, man. And I don't buy it, man.
Like he's done the Alpine. That would be his fourth return to Enso. You can't do that, Fernando.
Like have some pride, man. You can't do that. But also...
Maybe. No, I think that is Flavio trying to bump up the price of Fernando's final year paycheck
at Aston Martin, because I don't think there's any realistic chance that Alonso goes back to Alpine,
because what? Yeah. Obviously, you look at it right now, you go, well, Alpine's definitely the
better bet, isn't it? Versus the MF1 card. But what's he going to gain, really,
this year? Alpine going to be challenging for a championship in 2027?
That was their target. I know, but... But their target was also to win races this year.
As he got a podium, then he didn't, and now he's got it again. That's as far as they've got.
Flavio's count now is two.
Two podiums, that makes it a win. No, I don't see this happening. I think this is more of a
bargaining tactic, just those rumours floating around. I think Alonso, despite how poor this year
is going, I think Alonso, when he signed for Aston Martin, was set on this being his final team.
He can swan off into the sunset with a lovely ambassadorial role. He can go off to WEC
and drive there for them. I've been surprised before by Fernando Alonso's career moves,
but I'd be really surprised if he decided to go back there again for one final hurrah,
because I just don't think... It's not like it's Ferrari or Mercedes that come knocking on this
door, because he's out of there in a split second if that happens. But this is Alpine.
You're going on a promise of maybe something's okay, and he could say Aston, and it could still
maybe be okay. I don't see why I believe that, because the afterlife after Aston Martin versus
Alpine is probably better Aston Martin, I'd say. I'd completely forgotten about this until you
just mentioned Mercedes. I saw a quote that was resurfaced the other day regarding Fernando Alonso
when he was asked about a move to Mercedes, maybe in 2023. His answer was,
when Aston Martin were doing quite well. Why would I go there?
Which, to be fair, at that point you knew, because Fernando Alonso is cursed when it
comes to being in the right place at the right time, that Mercedes were going to be great.
But it's just, yeah, I saw that one resurfaced. I think in regards to Alonso and Alpine part four,
there's something that feels, I can't deny there is something that feels very right about it because
of how utterly stupid and wrong it would be. It's almost too fitting in that it wouldn't
make sense for Alonso, because you're right, Alpine are in a better spot right now than
where Aston Martin are. Even over the course of the next year, I'd still hedge my bets on
Aston Martin rather than Alpine, because whilst sure Alpine are maybe the fifth fastest car,
the gap between fifth and fourth or the gap between fifth and third is huge right now.
So I don't actually think going to Alpine is massively beneficial in that regard.
You're right about ambassadorial roles or whatever that would look like afterwards. They're far better
for him or Aston Martin than they would be. Alpine ambassador, unfortunately, isn't a title
and doesn't hold any prestige whatsoever. Gucci Alpine, come on.
I'd still back Adrian Nui over anyone. Alpine, I'm afraid.
The janitor Alpine is designed quite possibly. But for Alpine as well, I don't think it makes
any sense for them in that they've got, Gasly is locked in slightly longer term option.
They've been through some difficult times with Colin Pinto to the point where now it's starting
to look better. It would again be quite Alpine to wait for it to get better before then getting rid
of him. But I don't know. And they've got two potential upcomers in F2 as well. So I don't
actually think Alpine, because I don't believe they will be in a championship opportunity spot
next year. It doesn't actually make sense to hire someone on Alonso or anyone else on a one year
for hire kind of driver. There's no value in it. I think the only move that he can make is
go to Racing Bulls and full circle this puppy. Let's do it. And then get Paul Stoddart in to run the
team. You know what? I was wondering, what's been missing from Paul Stoddart references?
That was it. Pick up Stoddy. Come on. Man still on the Australian podium for 2002 as a left.
Dining off it for 20 years. In terms of moving away from Alonso and towards the team a little bit,
Aston Martin obviously not really been focusing on smaller upgrades this point. Very much focused on
one big upgrade that looks like it might be coming in and around Spa possibly a few races time.
Do you think there is a chance of any sort of turnaround given Aston Martin have been maybe
almost waiting for this one big upgrade? There has to be a turnaround because there's nothing
that you can bring that will make that car worse, right? So there has to be a turnaround.
Look, I think people who are thinking this is going to catapult them to the top end of the
that's completely ridiculous. It might just put them on a playing field. But even then,
get a car that's on a level playing field with even the midfield and Fernando will start
drilling in some ridiculous performances during the races. So
does this end up being a brand new car basically? I think so. I'm pretty confident they'll bring an
entirely new looking car. It's almost going to be like when occasionally back in maybe the early
2000s, you actually carried a car over from season to season, almost put a B spec on it.
I feel like we might as well do that with this car. AMR 26B, I think is what we're looking at here.
I think that's entirely what it will be. I agree with what they're doing here.
They've got Alonso bought into it in that what's the point in putting lots of
small consistent upgrades on this part of junk each race. Let's abandon that and use all the
resource to make basically a new car and a new engine because it can't be any worse if they
turn up and it is as bad. Obviously, that's terrible news, but I don't think they've lost
anything necessarily in that. So I think it will certainly improve things for them.
I was going to reference 2022. Now, their position in 2022 wasn't as bad as it is now,
but they started off 2022 with the last set of regulations pretty poorly. That car was not good
at the start of the year, and the Alpine was, which Alonso was driving. By the end of the year,
we've got Vettel in the Aston Martin and Alonso going side by side over the finish line in Suzuka.
They've got their way back up to that end of the grid and obviously then 23 speaks for itself.
Whilst it's been terrible for the start of this year and I'm not expecting them to jump up to the
top, there's a lot of resource. There's a lot of clever people in that team. They've got it wrong
so far, but I think there's perhaps a reason to have a little faith in them being able to make
up some time. Just need a little bit of George Michael, a little bit of faith. Yeah, exactly.
Yeah, this could actually be in terms of the number of parts that are being upgraded,
like the biggest upgrade of all time. I'm not saying it's going to work, but I just,
I do genuinely think this might be a brand new car that they're bringing because-
Vett's on it looking exactly like a Mercedes or a Ferrari.
Ferrari. Pink pan for racing point. Welcome back. It's been a clear plan from Aston Martin this year
not to upgrade, make small upgrades on the car knowing that it's not going to get them close
to their objectives and whilst we've mocked them a little bit throughout the year for that,
in all seriousness, it's understandable and I do agree with what they've been doing.
I actually, my life's interesting, folks. I went back through all of the, I forget what
they call them, where the FIA basically publishes all of the upgrades for the upcoming race and I
went through all of them for the year just to see how many upgrades Aston Martin have brought versus
some of basically all the other teams. So top of the list is Ferrari. They've bought 25 upgrades so
far this year. You've then got Red Bull and McLaren on 21, Cadillac on 19, Racing Bulls 15,
Williams 14, Mercedes Haas Audi and Alpine have all brought 12, and then Aston Martin who have
brought six. It's a clear plan. They're not doing the same thing as Cadillac who are clearly just
at the moment, how can we improve this car by one tenth? How can we improve this car by two
tenths? Aston Martin are thinking bigger. Can we improve this car by a second? Because that's
the only thing that's really going to get them closer to the midfield. But I understand the
plan. Whether it'll work or not, who knows. When it'll be ready, that's another thing we don't
really know yet, but it's only a few races away possibly. Well, we'll have to see how they go
whenever those upgrades brought in, but also for how they do in Austria in seven days time.
Quick note on Austria, by the way, and we'll mention this in the preview as well. Whilst
there will as always be a race review for Austria, there's not going to be a qualifying review,
which I appreciate is a bit of a rarity. It is with good reason, though. I'd like to say.
I think it's a little embarrassing given that this is my first episode,
back and on, basically demanding that we can't do a qualifying review. Ladies and gents, it's
my stag do that weekend. We wouldn't be in any fit state to record a podcast anyway, I'd say.
We're thinking of you, really, when we made this decision.
But we are actually as part of it, and Sam and Ben are obviously there.
We're going to go karting, so that kind of counts as something multiple-related.
I'm going to find someone to watch quality. Maybe we'll find a way to give our thoughts,
but it won't be a podcast format. Yes. Maybe, yeah, it's template or expectations for that one,
but race review will be as normal on the Sunday and power rankings for those of you on Patreon
on the Monday. Let's take a quick break. On the other side, we've got a topic that I haven't got a
good name for. Welcome back, everyone, to the final part of today's episode. We thought we'd
end with a lovely game from a scale of 1 to 10, how likely do you think these things are,
which as a working title, I think is great. You got a jingle for it, mate.
That was the jingle. I'm so sorry. What was the jingle you and Sam were trying to come up with
the other day for? Don't worry. I can't remember. It's been a long couple of months. I don't remember.
Yeah, we're just going to run through some potential scenarios. They all relate to
this season. For those of you watching on Patreon, we've actually got our whiteboards ready for this
one. We'll be giving our thoughts out of 10, scale of 1 to 10, how likely these scenarios are.
Starting with both McLaren drivers to win a race this year. We're just talking
Grand Prix victories here. Obviously, Landon Norris technically has a sprint win already, but...
Gosh, my pen's running out.
So, on a scale of 1 to 10, how likely is it both McLaren drivers win a race this season?
Can I check 10 being the most likely? 10 being the most likely.
We're fairly aligned here. You've got an eight and I've got a seven here.
You think it's fairly likely that they at least both win one race?
I think so. I know it doesn't count, but Landon's claimed a victory in a sprint race.
After Miami, you could say he probably should have won that one too. The McLaren has got some
pace. It's not fully there yet and it certainly is better at some tracks than others, but
it's a long season. They'll keep bringing upgrades. I think they'll get closer as we go through.
So, I would be confident to say that they both have a victory at some point.
Barcelona wasn't too far off. Piastri, when it comes to Japan, wasn't too far off either.
It does feel like they're getting closer and an excellent point raised by Christian in the
last segment that was definitely 10 minutes ago. I agreed.
Zach Brown doesn't seem particularly happy at the moment, but that being essentially a good
thing that he wants to win and the fact that he's not winning right now doesn't sit well with the
team. So, yeah, I think it's more likely than not that they both win a race. Second one up,
the mid-season driver swap. So, we're not just talking about if there's one race, for example,
that someone's subbing due to injury or ban or whatever, but an actual replacement mid-season
of any driver on the grid. Oh, gosh. That's a terrible noise from my wife on that.
Okay, on a scale of 1 to 10, how likely is it we get a mid-season driver swap?
Oh, we're fairly aligned again. You're just going plus 1, whatever I say, basically. So,
I've got a 2 out of 10, not very likely. You've got a 3 out of 10, not very likely either.
I'd struggle to know where it would come from right now.
I would too. The only one that gives me a little bit of nervousness is our good friend,
Valtteri Bottas. Yeah, he's me. I think it'll be okay. I don't think Cadillac are ready to do that.
But you need to be a little bit better, Valtteri, because Colton Herter is, I mean,
he's there always. Needs a super-licensed points to be fair.
He needs a super-licensed points. That could be anything holding them back.
But I think Bottas's performance is by his own standard. He will not be that happy with it.
I think he's had some bad luck along the way. But that's the only one that I can really think of
that would possibly do that. But given how new Cadillac are, I'd be very surprised if they did.
Yeah. I think as well with Barcelona, it looked a bit better from Bottas's side.
I think he was only two temps away from Perez and qualifying. He did have quite a few older parts
on the car based on the brakes completely failing in FP3 on him. In terms of the race itself,
I think that car was kind of messed up from the start. I think it was difficult to compare the
two of them in that Grand Prix. Perez is definitely the better of the two so far this year.
Based on where they are right now, they just need to focus on getting closer. It doesn't
really matter who your two drivers are. They've just got to help whatever way they can
to get a more competitive car. It feels like the years of experience across both drivers,
you stick with that at least for the year, right?
Well, exactly. Again, I know he can't because he doesn't have the license points. But
putting a rookie in like a herter, that's getting you nothing right now because herter
will just run around in the same places that Bottas is. It doesn't really matter.
Yeah. The other, of course, that I'm not worried about at all because
Ayo Kamatsu has come out and said there's no chance it actually happens is Estaban Okon
and I am holding Ayo Kamatsu to his word.
You're going to find him if he does something.
He knows what will happen if something goes wrong to Estibesti, you know.
Good Lord. I don't need that.
No, no. You've got to get that.
I'm off seeing two months.
Okay. Next one up.
A scale of 1 to 10, how likely is it we get 24 races this year?
Okay. On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely is it we get 24 races this year?
We can't see that. So now this is where we're different. So you've gone with a seven.
I've gone with three. You reckon they'll push this through?
I do. The only hesitancy is that I don't actually necessarily think we'll get to 24.
I think we'll get to 23.
That's where I think we get 23.
I think they'll try for 24, which is why I'm kind of confident in it.
I just don't think we've gotten the time nor places to go in the winter.
Do you think it's Saudi and Bahrain that they try and essentially get back on the calendar?
I could see them. I could definitely see them trying to get Bahrain back on the Canada.
Obviously, it's very new, but world events appear to have maybe calmed down a little bit.
So if we're getting towards touch work.
Hey, I saw the man. He was signing a piece of paper in the Palace of Versailles today.
You could have told them.
But by the time we get to the end of the year, maybe things have settled down a bit more.
I think they will try. The only thing I was thinking maybe they'll try a Bahrain and they'll
try like a portamal, but somewhere earlier in the year. But I don't know.
That's the thing. I wouldn't be surprised if they push Abu Dhabi back a week,
because I think at the moment it's maybe the 7th of December or something like that.
So they could in theory.
Christmas Eve race. Boxing day race.
So we haven't had one of those since like 1965. Let's get that in.
Hey, I mean, it'd be quite fun, wouldn't it?
Boxing day podcast. I thought that.
Wow.
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if we get 23, because I think they will try and at least
shoehorn one of them in. My concern is, and I've mentioned this a couple of times before,
is the other date that they're kind of looking at is I think early October.
So either side of the Azerbaijan race, I think it is,
which is a very similar time of year that we went to Qatar a couple of years ago.
And that famously didn't go very well.
Badly.
Yeah, I will say. Next one up. Cadillac scores a point.
You're not going to be able to see this. I might just have to put an, I'll put a finger up.
Okay, great.
Or more.
Yeah, who knows? On a scale of one to 10, how likely is it that Cadillac score a point this
season? I've gone with six out of 10. You've gone with one. It's not happening.
I don't think it's happening, no.
It's no disrespect. I disrespect them. I know that they were close in Monaco,
but Monaco was a bit of a wreck fest slash penalty fest.
Maybe somewhere like a Baku, but if we're going to do it on pure pace,
I just don't think it's happening. And that's no disrespect to them. It's year one.
They're just not there yet.
On pure pace, I'm with you. I don't think it's happening on pure pace.
The only reason I'm more confident is I think with reliability, the way that it is at the
moment, we might get another Monaco-esque situation in which case they might be able to
steal a point from somewhere. Baku, as you mentioned, is maybe the most likely of the lot,
but you never know when we might get, I'm still waiting for these cars in wet weather,
for example, because that could be interesting in which case that might be something Cadillac
can take advantage of. Last one. On a scale of one to 10, how likely is it right now that
Kimmy Antonelli wins the driver's championship? Okay. I've got a number written down, and I don't
know if I'm happy with it. I've prepared my fingers. We're clipping that.
Okay. On a scale of one to 10, how likely is it that Kimmy Antonelli wins the driver's championship?
I have gone with seven out of 10, and you've gone with nine out of 10, so very, very, very likely.
I look at this has been said already, but I know he lost points with Barcelona, but
it's when he passed Russell. I'm just like, oh, it might be over, lads. The only thing I could really
see, things change a lot. It's a long season, obviously, and I'm not doubting George Russell
here at all. He's a superb driver, but I just, that overtaking itself spoke volumes. The other
thing, other factor, which has thrown me off a full 10 here is the old goat himself, Lewis Hamilton,
just sort of, oh, I don't know. Let him know you're there. One of those shots that you have in the
first few minutes of a football game, you're not going to score, but just want to let the keeper
know that you're there. Yeah, give him something to think about. That's Lewis Hamilton right now,
and my faith in Ferrari is less than it is Lewis Hamilton, so who knows where they get to, but
yeah, for the most part, I think given that Carl and Mercedes has and the pace of Antonelli,
I think I trust them to get the job done. Yeah, I probably should have gone eight out of 10
rather than seven, but there's a looming Ferrari that, again, I'm not being overly optimistic about,
but you never know. I was very tempted the other day to put a bet on after Lewis Hamilton won the
Barcelona Grand Prix, of putting a bet on Charles Leclerc to win the Drivers' Championship at 81 to
1 odds. Kind of screamed out to me a little bit. Why not, mate? Ferrari, that's why not. That's why I
didn't do it. At a point. Well, at least my Drivers' Champion prediction is not the Charlotte helmet.
I can't believe there is a very good chance we are, two years in a row, not going to, all three
of us, not going to be able to pick the Drivers' Champion, because you've got Leclerc,
Sam's got Russell, and I've got Verstappen. It's not looking good, folks.
Chief is not looking good. No. Well, good news is, Harry, that you're back for this episode.
Oh, no. Easy backing gently with an outro. I tell you what, our outro is done for us here.
I don't know if you've noticed the last couple of months,
the growth on Facebook. It's popping off on Facebook. What my work is here is finally done.
I know. Facebook popping off. Yeah. Unbelievable scenes. So if people want to follow us on Facebook
at, like, Breaking F1, you can do so, or other more conventional social media platforms are out
there as well. Instagram and TikTok, of course. When over 15K on Instagram as well is no Facebook,
but it's not bad. Hey, that's pretty good. There's been some banging reels on there lately,
I've seen. And we need your reaction to reaching 10,000 on YouTube. I can't believe I missed it.
Yeah. We did it before Silverstone. I know that is all that matters. And we meant this year.
We meant Silverstone 26. Hey, we never specified a year, and if anyone comes for us for that,
then that's on them. We never did. We've already mentioned Patreon a couple of times in the episode,
but if you do want to subscribe, you can do so via the link in the description.
Plenty of content on there going on all throughout the month, bonus episodes,
power rankings, historic race review. The 1998 British Grand Prix review is up for those of you
that are already on Patreon. We had a good fun reviewing that one. I listened to it, mate. It
was good fun. It was good fun to listen to. The little Frenchman.
Shot of lazy. Yeah. Oh, good. Yeah, I would recommend going to listen to that,
because as someone who wasn't on it, I enjoyed. And we'll be back, of course, for our Austria
preview on Wednesday. But until then, I've been Ben Hawking. And I've been Paul Stoddart.
And remember, keep breaking late. I've broken my umbrella. It's a Sunday. I don't care. Paul Stoddart.
About this episode
The Late Braking F1 Podcast weighs in on F1’s new engine direction and the knock-on rule changes, focusing on how the combustion/electrical split is shifting and whether it’s actually improving racing. Hosts debate verdicts using early-season race patterns, Monaco and Barcelona as touchpoints, and explain why energy-management concerns have eased. They also discuss overtake rules, refuelling opposition, and how upcoming 2027–2028 targets (including MG UK and fuel-flow changes) could shape team and driver decisions.
Guess who's back!!! Ben is joined by Harry to discuss their thoughts on F1's newly confirmed 60-40 engine split for 2028, as well as the latest questions surrounding Fernando Alonso's future in the sport. Plus, a wonderful chat with F1 presenter and broadcaster, Christian Hewgill.
Christian's new book Grand Prix 101 is out soon at all major retailers. Amazon UK | Amazon US
