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Title Battle Decider & Papaya Rules Dilemma | Abu Dhabi GP 2025 Preview
Title Battle Decider & Papaya Rules Dilemma | Abu Dhabi GP 2025 Preview
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About this episode
The podcast dives into the thrilling 2025 Abu Dhabi GP title showdown with three contenders: Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri. The hosts analyze each driver's chances, mental state, and team dynamics, especially McLaren's potential team orders dilemma. They also discuss Red Bull's driver lineup changes, including Izakaya's promotion and Yuki Sonoda's demotion. The episode touches on the intense fan reactions to young driver Kimmy Antonelli and the challenges of social media abuse in F1. Finally, they answer listener questions and preview the excitement and uncertainties of the final race weekend.
Topics:
abu dhabi gp 2025
title battle
lando norris
max verstappen
oscar piastri
mclaren team orders
red bull driver changes
kimmy antonelli social media abuse
rookie driver performances
final race strategies
Cars:
Porsche Cayman
It all comes down to this. More than 7,000km raced across 23 Grands Prix, and there can only be one winner. Betty and Christian are here to preview a title-deciding weekend in Abu Dhabi. Lando Norris leads the Championship by 12 points and a podium would guarantee him glory. Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri are the two remaining challengers, who will it be under the lights on Sunday?
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Porsche Cayman
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Hello everybody and welcome back to the Fast and the Curious and our final race preview of the season.
Oh, it's a big one as well, isn't it? Three potential title winners and it all comes down to one race in Abu Dhabi.
Let's get into it. I'm Betty Glover. Hello Christian Hugill in Abu Dhabi who has been moaning that it is too hot.
Well, I'm sat here in Manchester seven degrees and it's absolutely f***ing it down. Christian, no sympathy.
No, moaning is a strong word. What I did say was going from the UK where it was so cold,
then having a quite lengthy plane delay, which I basically had four hours sleep and not complain.
I'm aware I've got a wonderful job. No complaint at all.
But going on no sleep plus really cold weather to really hot.
I think it's really confused my body. So I sort of woke up with no sleep arrived when it's dark,
like walking like out the hotel this morning and I've been like, oh my God, where am I?
What am I doing? It's hot. It's summer. Yeah, I'm just in a very confused jet lag state.
So forgive me if words are slightly hard to come by.
Oh my God, I feel so sorry for you Christian. Going from winter to summer, it must be so tough.
Yeah, right. We need to get straight into it because what a weekend we've got in store.
This is how it stands everybody. If you don't know it already, I'm sure everyone's memorized this anyway.
Lando Norris leads Max Verstappen by 12 points.
Oscar Piazza is a further four points behind. So it means this.
If Lando finishes on the podium in Abu Dhabi, he will be world champion for the first time.
It wouldn't matter where the other two come. All he needs is a top three finish.
It's a little bit more complicated for Max and Oscar. If Max wins, Lando needs to finish fourth or worse.
Oscar said himself he needs a lot of things to go his way to be in with a shot.
He can only win the title if he takes the checkered flag first or second with the other two not making the podium.
Christian, do you understand?
I do. Thank you for clarifying, Betty. I do understand.
Surely, surely Lando is the clear favorite here, Christian.
Yeah, listen, the McLaren car has been overall the quicker package across the season.
So he's got the car to do the job, you would think.
It's a car that worked well around this circuit last year and he works well around this circuit.
He's not always had a car that can win here, but he has stacked up really well against teammates here.
And his race win last year here was one of his best.
It was a really good win where he looked fantastic.
As you say, Betty, he just needs to finish on the podium and he has got the tools and the capabilities to do that.
Because, listen, Oscar was so brilliant in Qatar. He was absolutely fantastic.
Max is Max, right? You can never rule that.
Max must happen even if he doesn't have the quickest car.
But as you say, Betty, the thing is, well, he can be beaten by them.
So for that reason alone, he has to start as the favorite.
And that's not just because he's got the most points.
It's a good position for Lando to be in.
But of course, to quote the great Murray Walker, the legendary Formula One commentator,
anything can happen in Formula One and it usually does.
You say Lando's in the best position and obviously he is.
However, with that comes, I guess, pressure and expectation.
With great power comes great responsibility.
Well, yes, quite.
But Oscar's going to be coming into this thinking, I've got nothing to lose. I'm going to go for it.
Max is probably thinking, I've got nothing to lose. I can go for it.
Whereas Lando, arguably, as the leader, has everything to lose.
So I'm intrigued to know how mentally he's going to cope with that.
I think he's going to cope really well with it because I feel like his mentality has changed halfway through this season.
Yeah, I think he's in a really cool place.
I've said on the podcast a few times recently, I've been really impressed with how he's recovered from setbacks.
He seemed really chilled, really happy.
Well, there's been chaos around him.
He's just been quite chilled.
So I am not expecting a fraught, stressed Lando Norris going into this weekend.
Again, that's so easier said than done.
You know, he will be hard to beat this weekend.
Well, will he beat himself?
That's so often the case with top-level sports people that actually it's not their opposition that beats them it's themselves.
You know, could that happen to Lando this weekend?
Personally, I agree with you, Betty. I don't think so.
I think he's heading into this weekend in a really good mental place.
He's got the car. He's got the ability.
He is the strong favourite.
What he can't control is chaos around him.
And what I think he does need to do is get off the line well.
You know, he's lost a place to Max Verstappen off the line a couple of times recently.
It's something that has been levelled at him in his F1 career before that he doesn't get off the line too well.
But he's then recovered from that.
But that's if there's been a chink in his armory in this recent surge of form that getting off the line well has been it.
I said in Vegas how impressive his pole position was.
It was a brilliant performance against Max Verstappen in tricky conditions,
beating Max to pole in the West huge, but then he didn't get off the line well.
And of course, you know, let's be honest, that wasn't what lost them the race in Qatar.
It was the McLaren rules strategy.
Well, actually I say that. No, I say that. I'm slightly wrong though, aren't I?
Of course, Lando not getting off the line well really, really didn't help again.
So didn't help at all.
No, no, that is where that's going to be the thing that is that's the chink in his armaments going into this.
But again, let's be honest, so long as it doesn't go disastrously wrong and so long as qualifying is in a good place,
he could him qualifying first and ending up third in the first corner to those two.
Again, you could be like, well, this is fine, you know, it's still fine to win the championship.
But that is what that's something he needs to look out for.
Let's talk about Max Verstappen because like you said, you cannot rule him out.
You would be an idiot to rule Max Verstappen out of this.
He's won four times in Abu Dhabi.
He's got the best history on this track compared to Oscar and Lando.
How much of an advantage do you think that is going to give him?
Yeah, what we've often seen in recent years, even in more Mercedes dominant years,
is the Red Bull car coming into its own here.
As you say, he's done well and then in the Red Bull dominant years, Max did well as well.
So I guess what I'm saying is that if you know with Max, if he's got the car,
he will convert it into a win round here.
But as I say, it's a good Lando Norris track as well.
But I'm sort of at the point where we could be on talking or whatever preview podcast we like,
we could be in Belgium, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi or Silverstone.
Max Verstappen is Max Verstappen.
And so rarely this year has he looked like anything other than being sensational.
We've said in the debrief of the last race, it's maybe like Barcelona where he lost his head a little bit.
Other than that, he's looked almost unbeatable.
So it wouldn't surprise me at all if Max Verstappen wins the race.
He will be there to pounce.
He is the warning sign from McLaren that if you faff about too much guys
and make life too complicated for yourself, he will punish you.
We've run out of things to say about Max Verstappen.
He is for me operating at the best level in Formula One.
So therefore it's not a surprise if he wins this.
I think if Max Verstappen wins this, he will become Formula One's greatest of all time.
Or he'll be up there. He'll be up there.
He'll be the Formula One guy because the fact Christian that he's still in contention,
heading into the final race speaks absolute volumes.
And anybody that was sort of questioning him as a driver after 2021,
well, Max is just in the fastest car. That's the only reason why he's winning.
Turns out, guys, it's not just about the car.
No. And Formula One fans who've been in, you know, fans of the sport
for a long time, like my good self, have always said,
oh, it's just you've got the quickest car.
And Max Verstappen is the slam-dunk argument against that.
It's like, well, no, he won last year's championship
and he didn't have the quickest car pretty much from Miami onwards.
I don't like the historical comparisons and I do get very bored
of people going, well, Fangio was better.
It's so hard to compare different drivers in different areas.
You can't. But I broadly agree with you, Betty.
To me, I'm struggling to remember a Formula One driver
who is capable of eking out so much more than their car offers the Max.
And there's been people who've said to me across this season,
oh, is that the quickest car of all season?
No, he's not. Like he factually hasn't.
You know, analysis has been done.
McLaren has broadly across the season been about two-tenths quicker on average.
Of course, that comes with flash points where, you know,
oh, this car goes well in this particular circuit.
But this is the year that the car was nowhere near.
There was turmoil behind the scenes.
And yet, by being consistent, by being Max Verstappen,
by being a rock star, Max has kept himself so stubbornly in it,
he's clung on like a child on a climbing frame,
just clinging desperately on as they try and grapple and climb higher.
That has been Max stubbornly refusing to let go of the climbing frame
that is the title battle.
Can you tell I'm tired?
It's the end of the season because my analogies are running out.
He's just always clung on.
And if he wins it, if he defies all the odds to win it,
it will be one of Formula One's greatest ever World Championship victories.
It will be unbelievable because he's got no right to win this championship.
And it's not just, although this is a significant part of it,
it's not just McLaren holding the door open.
It's Max's supreme brilliance as well.
Of course it is.
Also, let's not forget, three months ago, he was 104 points behind.
That is ridiculous.
The gap that he has closed to get to this point is insane.
Let's talk about Oscar Piastri then.
He seemed back to his competitive self in Qatar.
You said that he had a brilliant weekend in Qatar, didn't you?
Really frustrating for him in the end, though.
How do you think he's going to approach this one?
All Oscar can do is go.
I went out in Qatar.
I certainly answered a few of my critics here
and I put in an unbelievably good performance.
That's all I can do.
So all he can do is go out there and do the same again.
The rest of it is unfortunately Oscar's control,
out of Oscar's control.
It's almost sort of one of the simpler positions to be in.
Just go out and be quick.
Let the rest happen around you.
There's nothing else he can control.
And he was so good in Qatar.
And we also, I think, so often expect perfection in Formula One
because we've spent so much time watching the likes
of Verstappen and the likes of Hamilton.
But the level of improvement from Oscar Piastri's
second season in Formula One to his third
has been sensational considering this is still a driver
only in his third season of F1
that his two title rivals have got many years on him.
Oscar has been brilliant this year.
His comeback in Qatar was brilliant.
And regardless of what happens this weekend,
his future is incredibly bright.
So all Oscar can go and do is go.
But I absolutely bloody rocked it in Qatar.
So let's go and do the same again
and see what the gods have got in my favor.
Let's not forget that Sebastian Vettel won the championship
having not led all season.
And I know Oscar has led for a chunk of the season,
but what I'm saying is Seb went into that race
as, oh, well, it's highly unlikely.
If podcasts were a thing back then,
all the preview pods would have been going,
well, yeah, it's going to be tricky for Seb.
Stranger things have happened, my friends,
than an Oscar-Piastri win.
So all he can do is go out to use the old cliche,
do his best and see what the formula one gods
are thinking for him.
That's a nice way of putting it.
I still think if... Thanks, mate.
If I was Oscar, I still, I think,
well, this is why I'm not professional sports person.
But I would be going into this weekend
still absolutely livid, I think.
I think I just wouldn't be able to get over it.
But you can't do that
because we love a football analogy, don't we, Betty?
That's where you go into a match-to-hept-up
and get yourself sent off by doing a two-footed tackle.
Oh, yeah, I'd have a red card.
Yeah, yeah.
I'd be sat in the dressing room.
Yeah, what you've got to do is put that behind you now,
move on.
They'll have had their DVDs, they'll have had their talks.
If you said in the last podcast, Betty,
hopefully they'll have learned from their mistakes,
hopefully they will have,
you've got to put all that behind you
and just start again.
Just take it.
You know, there is such merit in the old cliche
of take a long season like this one weekend at a time.
And this is perhaps the best example of that.
Let's talk about papaya rules, then,
the thing that everybody is thinking about.
Everyone trying to work out how on earth
are McLaren going to manage this?
So the question is, will papaya rules come into effect here?
Or are McLaren going to say, excuse me, Oscar,
if you're third and Lando's fourth,
you're going to have to let Lando pass
so he can win the championship?
Well, let's address that one.
I still think that's not a controversial call.
If Oscar can't win it in that situation,
then that's basic Formula One team orders.
McLaren would rather Lando win it than Max win it.
And I think Oscar would rather,
well, regardless of what he'd rather,
he's paid by McLaren.
So in that situation, yes,
that's not a complicated one.
I think the more complicated one
is saying Max is out the question.
I just, McLaren have had the admirable approach
of wanting to keep both drivers in it.
So many people have said in the paddock
across the season that I'm lucky enough
to go into regularly and you hear the talk.
Oh, it'll get tricky towards the end of the season.
Here we are right at the end of the season.
This will be so tricky for them to handle
because they've got themselves into a situation
where what's fair and what's not.
So to my mind, the only way they can do it this weekend
with now they've got to the end of the season
with both drivers still in contention,
which is sort of what they wanted.
To my mind, the only thing they can do is go,
let's see what happens, guys, away you go
and not get involved.
Just treat it like a normal Formula One race weekend
to try and win the Grand Prix for one of their cars.
To me, that's all they can do
because the alternative to that gets mind bogglingly
confusing and complicated.
Betty, do you agree with me there?
I think so.
Well, Zack Brown has said before
that he'd rather lose the title than issue team orders.
But obviously the first scenario that we said
if Max is in the lead,
then he's going to be in the lead
because of his third and Lando's fourth.
We know Lando, if he's not on the podium
and Max wins, then he can't win it.
So in that situation you might as well, yeah, yeah.
But Woody though, I don't know.
I don't know if he would and I don't know if he should.
I mean, he should because it's a team sport
but I don't think it's as simple as that, is that?
Because if you've been saying all season,
just race and there's no team orders.
You can't just suddenly bring in team orders
and say, well, no.
I mean, any other Formula One team in history
would say we want one of our drivers
to win the championship.
So it would be a no-brainer.
But as you said in the last podcast, Betty,
nobody's ever quite approached it like this.
I would like to think that Oscar would want to see
a McLaren driver win it.
And I would like to think as well from Lando
that if the situation were reversed,
this won't happen mathematically, it's not possible.
But if there was a situation where Lando's going,
I can't win it.
I think he would help Oscar.
The thing is, I've been asked so many times this season,
do the drivers get on well?
My belief is the same as is widely reported
from any journalist who is lucky enough
like me to spend time in McLaren at race weekends
to speak to both drivers regularly,
to speak to people who work with them directly,
to speak to people that know them.
They do like each other.
They respect each other.
They get on really well with each other.
They're not friends.
They're not going round each other's for dinner
because it's so hard to do that in this situation.
They might well be friends when they finish racing,
but there is a genuine like and mutual respect there.
And when I see them interacting, it's genuine.
It's smiling.
It's not awkward like we've seen from other Formula One drivers
in the past with their teammates.
It's not like, oh, these two hate each other.
So I for that reason think there would be.
And I also think if you Oscar Piatri,
I don't know to have in that situation,
we're hyper-theta sizing a very specific situation here,
which I don't want to do too much,
but would you want to go into a new season
sort of being like I went out my way
to block a driver in this team from winning the championship.
I think you put yourself in a very difficult position there
and undermine the whole point of all of this in the first place.
So yeah, I don't want to dwell too much on this,
but if the broad answer to your question, Betty,
how I would approach it and how it seems logical to me
to approach it would be just let them race
and let them be and let it happen on track now.
You've sort of done what you can, McLaren, just let it go.
On that, I also think just very quickly
on that specific example,
I think Oscar would make that call himself anyway
before getting told to do it.
If he knows that he's not going to be able to win it,
if he's in third and all he has to do is swap with Lando,
I think he would make that call personally.
Yeah, because he's part of a team and he's, sorry, Betty,
he's part of a team and he also would see the effects
of a McLaren driver not winning the title.
He would see the effect that would have on the team around him
who work across both cars.
You know, he would have to deal with that.
So he'd put himself in an impossible position.
Yeah, I do think Oscar would help Lando if he was out of it.
If Oscar even has the tiniest chance,
I would like to think McLaren wouldn't ask him
to sacrifice his own race and I would like to think
he wouldn't do so even if they did.
And that's why, to go back to my original point,
if both drivers are in with a chance, just let it happen
and treat it how you treat a normal race
would be my surely only way of approaching it.
But who knows?
Fascinating, though.
Some questions.
I've got two questions from listeners on this subject.
Lewis says, would ignoring team orders
hurt Oscar's career at McLaren?
Yes, as we've sort of just discussed,
but also I think it would damage his reputation
in Formula One as a whole.
If he was in a point where he couldn't win it,
but he blocked his teammate from winning it,
that potentially stops you, you know,
being signed to a team in the future.
That would come into people's questions.
That would be an act of self-sabotage for Oscar
that I don't think he needs.
Totally agree, because other teams will look at that
and think, oh, he's not a team player.
Christina says, are there rules to stop RB
asking V-Carb to impede or crash into the McLarens
to help Max?
Forgive me.
I don't have the sporting regulations in front of me.
I've had to rush to do this podcast,
to rush to leave the circuit, et cetera.
So forgive me.
Teams go racing in a certain spirit, right?
And I don't think for a minute, Red Bull,
you can't instruct a car to deliberately crash
in the spirit of racing and put drivers' lives at risk.
We did see it happen once in Formula One in the past
with the Singapore Grand Prix, Crash Gates,
Google that if you want to review it,
but that is out of the question.
That would not happen.
But would the B team be used potentially
in an on-track battle to try and help?
Well, it's only natural that it would,
because if you're part of the Red Bull setup
and you see that there's a McLaren behind you,
you know you're part of the Red Bull family, right?
So you would naturally do that.
So we could see a version of that.
I don't know what the rules say specifically.
Apologies for that.
You would see a version of that inevitably,
but don't expect anything dramatic.
Like, oh, we'll just take them out,
because that's not in the spirit anybody wants to go racing.
And it would be so damaging to the Red Bull Grand Long Term
that it's just not worth thinking about.
No, we wouldn't see any crashing,
but maybe they can help strategically try
and stop X, Y and Z go past or whatever.
Yeah, and to my mind, there's no specific rules against that
because we've seen it in the past, you know.
So teams can be teams, and that is part of, unfortunately,
if that's your view that you're not a fan of Red Bull
earning two teams, you might think that's unfortunate.
Other people will have no issue with Red Bull earning two teams,
so it's part of where it is.
But I'd be massively surprised if that came into it,
and that was a massive factor of it, but who knows?
Who knows?
Right, when we come back,
we'll talk all the driver changes at Red Bull.
Christian, the end of the season
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The championship battle has been insane.
We're all going to miss it so much
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I mean, I'm usually ready for a break
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With so little in it, with land,
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but the winter break is getting shorter and shorter,
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I know, I think you need a holiday, to be honest.
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Welcome back, everybody.
Christian is in Abu Dhabi, wiping sweat off his brow.
Yeah, sorry about that.
Okay, Christian, I am worried about you in that heat.
It must be really tough.
Yeah, I'm about to go into the circuit.
I'm loitering outside by the bay,
and my phone is so it doesn't overheat in the shade
and I am not.
So it's fine, but I can wipe for free.
The phone braking would not be for free.
So the phone is taking priority here.
You are looking a little bit red as well, I think.
Yeah, I genuinely forgot to put some cream on my face this morning as well,
which I always do on a hot race.
So yeah, I'm all over the shop, frankly.
I thought I'd sleep you looking. I'm standing.
Well, I know you are wobbling a bit.
And you should always put SPF on, Christian.
I know, I know.
I've forgotten.
I've literally, I forgot.
I put it on every morning normally
when I'm in warm-ish countries and I forgot.
Yeah, forgot.
No, no, you should wear it every day anyway,
even in winter.
Anyway.
I know.
And I do when I forgot.
Leave me alone.
I've had four hours of sleep.
I mean, just let a man live.
I'm sorry.
I forgot.
I normally put it on every morning.
It's there.
It's on the sink.
I forgot.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
It's a little long.
Wow.
I'm sorry.
I think I've broken him.
I'm tired.
I think I've broken him.
I forgot.
Right.
Let's get on to Izakhaja then.
22 seats have finally been confirmed for next season.
Thanks to Red Bull for finally making up their minds.
This was a big shock, wasn't it?
Izakhaja is promoted to the main Red Bull team.
It means Lawson keeps his place at Racing Bulls.
An 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad joins him.
It also, therefore, means that Yuki Sonoda is dropped
altogether but stays with the Red Bull setup
as test and reserve driver.
Poor old Yuki.
Let's talk about Izakhaja first
because you said when we spoke about this earlier in the season
that you'd have been tempted to leave Yuki in at Red Bull
for next season and keep Haja where he is
for one more season.
That hasn't happened, Christian.
No.
My logic in that was that we're going into a new rule set.
Yuki is an experienced Formula One driver
and maybe it would have helped them get used to the new rule set.
And I did think that earlier in the season.
You're absolutely right.
I've changed my mind.
Yuki has not shown anywhere near the pace needed
and therefore it makes sense to invest in the future
and give a young driver the chance to get used to a car
in the new rule set from the off.
So I've changed my mind.
I think Red Bull have done exactly the right thing
and I think I'd have come to that decision
towards the end of the season.
He said, middle of the season, when we spoke about it,
he was sort of leaning towards.
And part of my reason for changing my mind
is that he's continued to be more and more impressive.
I think he can cope with it.
I think he is ready.
I think the new rule changes will put him
at less of a disadvantage than other new people
in at Red Bull because we've seen with signs
at Williams with Hamilton at Ferrari
how difficult it is in the current rule changes
to move into a team when your teammate
has had a car for a long time.
How difficult it is to get used to that.
That's exaggerated at Red Bull
because Max has got such a unique driving style.
So getting someone young and talented in early doors
makes a lot of sense.
I just hope Red Bull stick with him for a bit
and give him the time if it doesn't start well.
I would be saying to him, don't worry.
You've got time here.
We know it's a new rule set.
You've got time.
If they don't, then they'll just start
going on the same cycle they've had before
and nothing will change.
I think if they are making Isaac feel comfortable
and happy and secure,
it will work out well for them
and there's the potential there to have the strongest line-up
since Verstappen and Ricardo at Red Bull.
I just hope they give him time if it doesn't go well
because this is a guy that can win races in my view.
He's the most impressive Red Bull driver
to come into the Red Bull for probably
since Verstappen for my money.
So I really hope they look after him.
He's up there.
Definitely is one of the best rookies
in their first season.
He's been brilliant.
You just watch him and you think, oh, yeah,
you've got something a bit special there.
I just worry about that second Red Bull seat
because we know it's a little bit cursed.
Don't we, alongside Max Verstappen?
But the two of them together,
that is going to be fascinating, Christian.
Yeah, it is.
It is.
And I think he also, Isaac needs to go in
and this is tricky for some teammates
when they're going up against a real great
to be like, look, you're not going to be on his pace.
And I think the sooner people like
Max with Hamilton and Perez with Verstappen have accepted that
the results came better.
You're not going to be on his pace.
All right, it might be long term.
You won't be in the future.
So I think play the long game
from both driver and team perspective.
Do you feel sorry for Yuki Sonoda?
Do you think this is quite harsh?
No, I don't.
Yuki's a really nice guy
who I've enjoyed interviewing,
enjoyed talking to
and has got a good reputation in the paddock.
I don't think he comprehensively
beats his teammates enough
at Alcatari RB as it's been.
I think that was a main part of the reason why
Red Bull didn't think he was up to that seat
and only really bought him in
when they'd explored all other options
and made this, in my view,
too premature move to drop Lawson.
I think he's shown flashes of speed over his career,
but it's not been consistent enough.
Did he spectacularly outpace
the likes of Ricardo Lawson?
I mean, he was roundly beaten by Gasly.
No, and has he performed well enough
in the seat this year?
No, even with what we know
in the trickiness of the seats.
I've seen a lot of people going,
oh my gosh, poor Yuki.
I think they're basing that off
a likable, enjoyable personality
and character rather than
his sheer driving ability.
I think certain Formula One drivers
come and go and Yuki Sonoda has reached
Formula One,
competed in Formula One really,
really well
and has had a solid F1 career
and will rightly go down
as someone that made it to Formula One
and was brilliant.
But these drivers eventually fall off
the conveyor belt
and for some it's too premature.
For some they stay too long.
For Yuki, it's about right for me.
This is about the right time
for Formula One to say goodbye
to Yuki Sonoda.
He's a solid backup option.
You would put him in the car absolutely
if one of the four other drivers
became ill, injured.
There was a last minute change needed.
That makes perfect sense
to keep him in the team,
to keep him in the setup.
That'll be tricky for him,
I'm sure mentally.
But no, I think it's the right decision
and I think Red Bull
have made the right decision
all around with not putting Yuki
back in RB.
And also, what other team would go,
do you know what we think
we want Yuki?
I don't see it happening.
I think it's the right time
and I get no pleasure in saying that
because Yuki's a nice guy
but I think it's on track
the right move.
I also think that
you would rather invest
in a younger driver at this point
in that team
and allow them to develop.
You sort of maybe feel like
Yuki's possibly hit his ceiling.
Is there much more to come from him?
I don't know.
So I can understand
the decision for sure.
Let's talk about Liam Lawson
because there was a lot of
question marks over what
his future was going to be.
Would he be staying on?
Does he deserve to stay on?
He is in fact staying on.
What do you think about that?
I think it's the right move
because I think
he's had so little stability
in his career coming in
as a super sub,
being bought back in,
getting promoted to Red Bull,
being dropped from Red Bull.
He deserves a little bit of stability
and actually if he does perform well
I think what could happen ultimately
is what happened to Gasly
and that he was dropped
from the Red Bull fold
and picked up by another team.
I don't think that's going to happen
for Snoda
but with a stable season behind him
that still might just happen
for Lawson.
It's a make or break year.
I think he needs to do really well
and beat Limblad.
If he doesn't, I think this will be his,
20-26 will be his last season
in Formula One
but I think he deserves one more
shot and I think he gets a bit
of a harsh press, Liam Lawson.
He's had to scrap for his
Formula One life all the time.
So yes, he's been a bit
overly aggressive at times
but I like Liam.
I've interviewed him a lot of times
and he's a nice guy.
I think some of the sort of stuff
you hear about Liam is not fair
and I think, yes, he might have been
guilty of over scrapping
a little bit sometimes
but that's the position,
that's the cards he's been dealt,
that's the position he's been putting
in his Formula One career.
So he deserves this.
It's a good decision from Red Bull
and please for Liam
but next year is a really big year for him.
Arvid Limblad was born in 2007.
Does that make you feel a bit sick?
Makes me feel sick.
Yeah, but I'm used to
feeling old by now.
He's so young, Christian.
He's so young.
It's a good move.
He's for, you know,
since last season I heard
it's been when the Paddock whispers
started to get really strong
about Limblad.
Like they did with sort of
Antonelli's of this world
that Red Bull have got another one.
They're really excited about Limblad.
They want to put him in the car.
His junior series record is impressive.
He's been impressive in Formula Two.
He's coped with the promotions well.
With every step on the motorsport ladder
he's promoted.
He's done very, very well.
So he's somebody that I think, yeah,
this is not a surprise to me.
He deserves this shot at Formula One.
And I'm really excited to see
what he's made of.
And it's a really good barometer
if you're up against it.
It's similar to Bearman at Haas.
You know, if Bearman goes and stacks up
well against Dockon, which he's done,
you think hello a minute.
This is somebody that can be
an F1 for a long time.
Well, if Limblad goes and beats Lawson,
that'll work really, really well for him.
So, yeah, good move.
Excited to see.
We won't have the raft of rookies
we've had this season
or next season like we've had this season.
But it's nice.
We've got another one in there.
And it's always nice to have a rookie
and it's good for the sport.
So, yeah.
And I think he deserves it.
So, yeah, looking forward to seeing
what he's got to offer.
Five Brits next season.
Our British bias is going to be
through the roof Christian.
How are we going to come?
Yeah, I'll be just predicting them
for a top five every week.
Week in, week out.
Yeah.
Definitely.
When we're back
we'll be answering all of your questions.
And we're going to talk about
Kimmy and Smelly.
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Welcome back everybody.
I really want to talk about
Kimmy Antonelli, Christian.
Mercedes said he received death threats
after the catargo on pre.
He had to change his Instagram profile
to black on Monday
after just receiving a host of messages
on social media.
This was after Max Verstappen's race engineer
said the team radio,
said on the team radio, sorry,
that it looked like Kimmy had pulled over
and let Norris through.
Red Bull have since said that they regret
the comments,
but I just think this was just
so horrible to see, wasn't it?
What is wrong with people?
Also, Kimmy Antonelli is 19 years old.
Can you imagine dealing with all of this?
I think it's,
there's a few things I want to say on this.
We expect a lot of people involved
in Formula One that they're very off the cuff.
He to the moment,
comments are broadcast around the world.
So, you know, a team,
a race engineer can be speaking to a driver
and it can be so easy to forget that this can be
instantly clipped up and sent around the world.
But it's a reminder to those guys
that that happens.
So shame Red Bull didn't go as far as to say,
we're sorry, you know, but fine.
It's certainly a reminder to the likes
of Helmut Marco as well,
just to be a little bit careful
with your words sometimes.
But again, he to the moment,
heat of top level sport,
I have sympathy for those reasons.
It's also a reminder to the abuse that Kimmy got
from the wider internet.
I'll be the first to admit, right?
This year, we've seen a rise
in the popularity of this podcast.
And with that has brought lots of lovely new listeners.
The rise in as someone that I come on
and I give my honestly held F1 opinions.
And I've struggled this year at times.
Better you know this because we're such good friends.
I've struggled sometimes with getting stick and abuse.
It's been a bit the step up in popularity.
The podcast has has brought with it
more scrutiny on the words I say
and more and more.
I've had more social media abuse across the board
and I've sometimes found that a real adjustment.
I'm okay at the minute, you know,
but I've there's been moments this year.
I've really struggled and I'm hosting a,
you know, two comparatively small
Formula One podcasts, right?
So I can't imagine how that feels
to be a Formula One driver.
Because if someone like me,
I'd like to think a fairly mentally strong person
has found the adjustment tricky as a broadcaster.
I can't imagine the level
that it's been with for someone like Antonelli
who is also so much younger than me, right?
So it's, I just think it's a little reminder
that you might be listening to this
and you might have sent stick abuse
what you think as banter thinking they won't see it.
It doesn't count because it's online.
It does. People see these things.
People read these things.
It does.
Your words do have an impact,
even if you're sending them anonymously,
even if you're behind a screen,
it can be really, really hard.
So I think it's just a little,
this is a little, of course,
Kimmy did not give up a position on purpose.
I think it's, I think it's just a little reminder
to people that we need to be careful
about the words we use
and that we're supposed to watch this sport
for fun and enjoyment
and be in awe of the people
that have this talent that we get to watch
and sometimes things will happen you disagree with,
but let's just keep into perspective that it's a sport
and these are human beings.
I think it was just a little reminder to the F1 world
that sometimes things have got a bit too heated
across the board this year
and we all need to remember there are humans
at the centre of all of this.
Well, it's also sport, guys.
The passion is incredible from these fans.
I love to see all of the passion.
People love it
and people really support their drivers,
but also it is sport.
Let's not forget it's sport.
It's entertainment.
It's supposed to be fun
and you do not need
to take certain actions to heart.
You do not need to say horrible things
to people on social media
and also if you're not willing
to say it to their face,
don't say it on social media.
It's as simple as that.
It really is.
Horrible, horrible for Kimmy Antonelli
to have to deal with,
especially when he's had such a good season
and for it to end like this
to the point where he has to change his profile photo to black.
It's disgusting.
On that note, let's move on.
That was a bit dark.
We have got plenty of questions in.
Bit cheerful.
We've got loads of questions in from you guys,
so let's go through some of them.
Reminder, by the way,
that we are on Fast Curious Pod on your social.
So if you've ever got anything that you want to say
or any questions, whack them over.
Georgie says,
what are your final world championship
standing predictions?
Ooh.
I'm only going to go top three
and I'm going to be really boring
and I think Landau will do enough.
I don't think he'll win the race,
but I think he'll do enough.
So I will go.
And you know what?
Oscar was great last weekend
and the level on points.
So I'm going to go Landau, Oscar, Max.
Yeah, I agree.
That's what I was going to say as well,
but I'm going to change it now.
Actually, I'm going to go
Landau, Max, Oscar,
which I'm not happy about,
but I'm going to say it.
Oh, I am happy.
Actually, if Landau wins,
I'm really happy for that.
I don't know why there's so much rhetoric
around Landau.
Like he's actually getting a lot of
sort of bad stick for winning this championship,
whereas it would be amazing if he won it.
Anyway, Jenna says,
how do I watch the race start without fear
and Nat says, how am I supposed to breathe?
You don't watch the race start without fear.
You savor the fear.
You savor the nerves and the excitement.
It's a reminder that you're alive
and a reminder that you're passionate about something
and a reminder that it's something you love.
Revelling it, basking it, soak it up, enjoy it
because this is why we love Formula One
for moments like this.
Also, how lucky are we
that we have got a final race of the season
and three people could possibly win it?
Guys, this is it.
This is what sport is about.
This is F1 at its absolute best.
Don't fear it, Jenna.
Enjoy it.
And also, Nat, breathe in through your nose
out through your mouth.
Thomas says, which rookie has impressed
or surprised you the most this year, Christian?
Oh, God, it's a really tough one.
I'm going to bottle it and say
they've all had really good seasons.
Bortoletto has not always had the car
but has shown plenty of fight and spirit.
I would probably put the other three slightly above him
and let's not class Lawson as a rookie for this.
Hadja, I discussed, has shown such sheer pace
and that's really, really impressive
and also maturity and ability to battle at times.
Berman has recovered from being a bit mistaken
to, again, his sheer pace at the end of the season
has been really impressive
as is his overtaking as well.
And Antonelli, who started the season so well
and I was so impressed with his start,
I was so impressed the way he's recovered
from the dip in the middle,
considering how much younger he is,
I've been really impressed with all of them
and it says a lot that they're all sticking around.
So, yeah, really, really impressed with all of them.
I think mine would be Oli Berman
because that fourth place finish in Mexico,
he nearly made it onto the podium.
Love it.
Jess says, what unhinged prediction
would you like to see come true on the final race?
Well, I would like to see come true on the final race
as an unhinged prediction.
Yeah, just an unhinged thing.
Is a one-two for...
Lewis Hamilton on the podium.
I was going to say a one-two for Ferrari.
It is unhinged, but I'm just so sad
at seeing Charlotte and Lewis sad
and as Charlotte and Lewis being able to smile
at the end of the season
would see me into the Christmas break
with a bit of warmth in my heart.
So, I'd love a...
It is unhinged because I don't see it,
but I'd love a positive weekend for Ferrari.
Yeah, Andy says,
as all three drivers could win the Drivers' Champ,
will they treat Turn 1 differently this year?
Yeah, so Turn 1 here is one of those
because it's wide.
You can get incidents.
We saw it last year.
So, will they treat it any differently?
I think, yeah, I think if you're...
It depends on qualifying, basically.
It's what I'm trying to say.
It's really difficult for me to answer that before qualifying.
If you're in a position where you've got nothing left to lose
and you fight for the championship,
you sort of think,
sod it, I'll have a go.
So, therefore, it could be a bit different.
If you might think if you only need to come third
and I'm in second,
shall I go for this move for first in Turn 1?
Possibly, I'll be a bit careful.
The challenge of that, the danger of that,
is that if you even 1% go a little easy,
you could potentially, that 1%
heed you less than you expected
and you get flooded
and all of a sudden it's gone wrong
and you curse yourself for being overly cautious.
The answer to the question is,
I can't answer that because I'm not a racing driver.
There are merits in going easier if you've got more to lose.
But actually, this is why they're paid the big bucks.
This is why they're super talented.
The balance of that is a ridiculously tricky balance.
But to not duck the question
and to be a bit more precise,
I'd be very tempted to be a touch more cautious
into Turn 1 because is it possible to win the race
in Turn 1?
Well, possibly, but it's a lot more possible to lose it.
To lose a wheel, to lose a...
to get a puncture, to have contact.
That's why I potentially err on a touch of a side
of caution into Turn 1
if I was fighting for a championship.
It makes sense for Lando to be a bit more cautious
because he's in the best position, right?
He could finish third on the podium
and still win the championship.
Whereas for Oscar and Max,
you probably think they're going to be less cautious,
obviously, depending on where everyone starts.
But they're going to have to go for it, aren't they?
We will be on your feeds on Sunday evening
straight after the race.
It's going to be Christian and Greg, everybody.
Make sure you enjoy it.
Enjoy it.
Save it every moment.
Let's hope it's a good one.
In the meantime,
we will be all over social media as well
across the weekend at Fast Cures Pod.
Drop us a follow there if you don't already.
And again, feel free,
send in any questions that you want.
We'll be back after the race on Sunday.
Goodbye for now.
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Greg James is back! Christian has an announcement | Plus look ahead to Canadian Grand Prix
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‘No one was going to beat Kimi’ | Which team needs to step up? | Miami GP 2026 Reaction
May 5, 2026
ALEX ALBON pops in for a catch up about pets, F1, and podcast ideas
Apr 23, 2026