Everything Trackside: Mexico City this week and there is only one thing to talk about. FP one, of course. Hello and welcome to the Everything Track Slide Podcast for our Mexico City Grand Prix preview. My name is Sean and joining me to discuss this one is the lover of all things FP one. Maraid, how are you? Mairead: I'm fantastic. It's FP1 prime time this week. How can I not be so excited? Everything Trackside: It is it is the F P one, as we might say, it's the busiest one we've had all season, they would say. Mairead: It is for sure, there's loads happening in FP1 this week so well worth tuning in after work if you're working on a Friday. Everything Trackside: Indeed. Yes, we we'll get into the times and all that very soon. Also joining us is Annika, are you equally excited about F P one or are you a little bit more excited about what might happen by the end of Sunday? Annika_ets: No, I'm excited about FP1. It's... we have rookies in almost every team. I'm so buzzing for it! Everything Trackside: I can't say I'm that excited for it, but I love the innus. And also joining us is a new voice to everything trackside, Sir Sha Lagan, how are you? Welcome along to the show. I am fantastic. obviously, newbie to the show. We love having a newbie to the show, Saoirse Lagan: Yep. Everything Trackside: new panelists, new contributor to everything track side after our recent recruitment drive. it's great to have you along. let's have a let's have a quick intro to you. How where did your love of Formula One come from? Saoirse Lagan: Basically from I was really really a little child. My daddy has been obsessed with it He was the fan that got up no matter the race didn't matter the time he got up He was watching it not so much anymore. I'm now the resident Formula One fan in our house but followed in his footsteps with McLaren, he's more loose stuck with him. I'm an Oscar girl Whether I stick with him, I don't know but we'll see Everything Trackside: Interesting. So even amongst Saoirse Lagan: Yeah. Everything Trackside: the rest of us McLaren fans, we are would mostly be Landon Iris fans. we've got an Oscar P. Asking. Not that we dislike Oscar. There's nothing wrong with Oscar, but it's good to have an Oscar fan. So we get a a different Saoirse Lagan: No. Everything Trackside: opinion a different opinion and potentially some arguments if we get some papaya reels from time to time from even within the McLaren camp. That's fantastic. well welcome along. What has been your favorite race of the season so far? Saoirse Lagan: my army because Everything Trackside: wow, I wasn't expecting that. Is that because Charles hit Wall? Saoirse Lagan: he does that anyways. Doesn't make Everything Trackside: Ha ha ha. Saoirse Lagan: a difference to me. I just love the hyperbiter. Everything Trackside: Interesting. There's a new opinion right off the bat. So we love that. Fantastic. well, we will get you very much involved in this. We are, of course, everything track side. welcome along to our preview. thank you very much for joining us. If you're joining us live on Twitch, which is what I'm looking down to right now, share with us your comments, questions, and opinions as we go through. If you're listening back on YouTube or podcast streams, hit subscribe if you're on YouTube in particular and follow us on social so you find out, particularly on Instagram, so you find out when we go live on Twitch. We record, we Ever all of our recordings, all of our episodes, we do stream live on Twitch, so you can get involved with us. So follow us over on socials to find out when and how to do that. Right then, Maraid, let's start with the the the big one of the weekend, the very start of the weekend, free practice one. Let's go through. Who what new faces are we going to see this weekend, including one that was only just announced about an hour before we came on? Mairead: few happening. So we've got Mini on the grid. He's driving for Alpine. Colapinto is sitting out of that session. Vesti is driving George's car. Slater is in Audi for Mexico and Brazil. So double the FP1 excitement. And so is Browning in Williams. We've Leo Forneroli in McLaren. So Mexico and Brazil for Leo Forneroli as well. Lando is out for Mexico and Oscar is out for Brazil. And then Jack Crawford is in for Aston Martin in Strausker and we take here, I find it very hard to pronounce it, Rio Higert, thank you very much, Everything Trackside: Rio Harikawa, Rio Harakawa? Mairead: is in for Haas. And then, yes, I think that is all at the moment. Everything Trackside: Got cult Annika_ets: No, there's Everything Trackside: cult and heart up. Annika_ets: Colton Herta, Nikola Tsollov. Mairead: it hurts it's back again. Annika_ets: Tsollov. Everything Trackside: Yeah, Nick Nicholas Olav was the one that was just announced an hour ago. Annika_ets: Yeah, and it was her. Everything Trackside: Is he also coming in as well? Is he who's he coming in for? Annika_ets: Yeah, he is. So Ivas is for Max's REPL and Solov is Everything Trackside: Red Bull, interesting. Annika_ets: in VCarb. Everything Trackside: Interesting, interesting. So there's a couple of names there. that Annika_ets: I'm so excited. Everything Trackside: let let's chat about that straight away because there's a bit of a a a future of F one there, but also filling a seat for because they legally have to. Of course, every team has to sacrifice each car twice a year for an F one session for a junior, which is why we'll never have twenty four sprints. That's another question that we another topic that we brought up a couple times. the big one there for me, Annika, is Nicholas Olov, because he is taking Liam Lawson's seat. And this is the big unknown. He's second in the F2 Championship. You could argue he has a little bit more to play for at the moment, because Camera's already got his seat for next year. He only just lost the lead of the F2 Championship in the last round. He's only seven points behind. And it's Liam Lawson who's potentially on the chopping block there, not Arvid Limblad. So is this telling, or is this. They had to fill the seat and. Solov is all they have at the moment from a junior draw. Annika_ets: I it's a bit of both. think obviously Tsollov did his test as well quite recently and he did quite well, but I think they want to see Liam versus Tsollov. So that's why they're giving the happy one for Tsollov, but also like because they need to and they don't have anyone else to do it because obviously Red Bull needs to as well. And Ivasha has already done one couple of sessions for both. So they're running out of races. So if Qatar and Abu Dhabi are... done, they're not going ahead, then they won't fill that requirement. So I think that's why they brought Sullivan, but it's also to evaluate and make that final decision. Who is going as a reserve driver for next season and who is coming in as a full-time rider driver. Everything Trackside: Really, really good point actually on the fact that there might be two less races. Obviously, at the time of recording, we still don't fucking know. I I've predicted all along that they'll announce it as soon as the championship is wrapped up, which it mu both of them can be this weekend. we'll get into that a bit later. Tease, stay tuned, subscribe. but yeah, it's an interesting one. There is obviously the element of they have to do it, and it makes sense why a lot of them are doing it in Brazil as well. Sergio, let's get your thoughts on this because Colton Herta in Cadillac is an interesting one. We've talked about him quite a lot on the show this year, and I don't know how much you follow F2, but he's not exactly impressed. even by his own admission, to be fair to him. but there's a lot of suggestions. Sergio Perez, as of about two hours ago, has re signed for Cadillac. That is confirmed, thankfully. It's nice to have some news to come on to with. Not usually how things go. but Colton Herta, again, Cadillac don't really have any other options, but Do we think that he might step up for next year just to tick the box of the American driver? Saoirse Lagan: He could, I know that his pre-practice can also be about his superb points on his lessons. I don't know if they're trying to fill that or if they're trying to let him gain more confidence, because I do follow F2, quite an avid follower of it. He's really not impressed anybody from what I can see anyway. I know even in his pre-practice sessions, he's had a couple of incidents. I don't know if that's down to the car or down to the driver. We all know that it's Cadillac's first year. You can't expect them to be a top midfield car, but Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Saoirse Lagan: they haven't really improved. So I don't know. There's a couple of factors that I'm thinking about it. Is it his separate points lessons before they expire or are they genuinely looking to see if he can improve his own confidence? Everything Trackside: Cool question. I have heard that suggestion that they're doing this specifically for the Super Lights because he's not going to get it from the F2 championship. He is 90 Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Everything Trackside: on 26 points. His best result of the season was fifth in the sprint race of Barcelona, which, even on its own, is actually not that impressive. and he is this is the killer for me. He is effectively third last of the full time drivers. Because the only drivers below him in the Formula Two season are Mari Boya, who's had his own issues. Nico Varone, who has not who didn't race in Baku and is basically out of the championship now. He's not coming back. Keen Shield, who I think we can all agree is literally just there on Daddy's billions. and Hiyu Yamakashi, who literally only came in in Baku's only done three race well three races, but there won't race weekend. So he's basically third last, which is pretty atrocious. But There is the argument, Sergio, that he was good in IndyCar. He's won races in IndyCar, and IndyCar is a good series, and the spec series doesn't always suit everybody. We've seen even the likes of, some of the the young female drivers from Formula One Academy that go on and do better or worse in different series, different things like the power steering tends to be a huge factor for anyone who's come from a series with power steering, which IndyCar is. So could he genuinely actually impress in Formula One if he got the step up, do you think? Saoirse Lagan: He could, especially I think if Cadillac improved their car, then there might be, yes, there might be more expectations with Cadillac because it's their second season and they're no longer a new team. But I think that he needs to improve himself before he can step up. I know there's a lot of doubt about Bottas' seat at the minute, but what I also found interesting with it was Cadillac had teased on their Twitter that they had another announcement. And I don't know if they would put that out for Bottas resigning or if it's something that's going to really shake the team up, which could be Colton Herner coming in, which would fit American team, American driver, that whole storyline. Everything Trackside: Well, as of the this weekend just gone, the the latest update is he has thirty nine super license points. You need forty, if I'm not wrong, correct me if I'm wrong, to be a Formula One driver and FP one Mairead: So yes. Everything Trackside: this weekend they'll give it to him. So you Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Everything Trackside: know that that that is definitely one to watch. If you've got your Google alerts set, if you haven't, set them 'cause it's gonna be interesting. We will definitely keep an eye on that and follow us on socials because we will announce it. Go on, Annika, come in on that Annika_ets: Right. So I was at Silverstone and I was listening in on the press conference with Cotton Herder. And he was asked about the F2 and how it compares to Indica. He said it's not comparable whatsoever. But F1, he feels more comfortable because it's more like Indica. So there is an argument that he is just trying to get through F2, trying to get his Super License points. So Katilat can bring him in in order to actually go to F1 and show everyone what he can do. Everything Trackside: Really, really interesting. good insight there. Thank you for that. it's always nice to have people who've been on the ground from time to time. but look, he's I was gonna say he's young. He's really not young by by Formula One, so he's twenty six. Now we've seen people come in like Nick DeVries was twenty nine when he got his first full time season. And again, obviously we're all spoiled on the age of Formula One drivers by Kimmy Antonelli, really, Max Rosappen before him. Well, Max Resnappin in particular. but twenty six he'd be Twenty-seven in March. It'll be twenty-seven just after the new season starts if he does join. So there's time for him to at least have a career in Formula One, if not necessarily that he goes and wins everything. But yeah, we we will keep a very, very close eye on that. I'm interested to see what that announcement is. Speaking of IndyCar Formula One Marade, couple of things on this. Firstly, it's interesting that Gabriele Mini is getting the Alpine drive because he's really not in contention for the Formula Two. Meanwhile, Alex Dunn is off testing an IndyCar. Mairead: Yeah, well, we kind of I think he kind of had to start exploring other options because of how set in stone that F1 grid is. They're all quite young drivers by now. We know a certain team aren't going to get rid of those two drivers, even though one is quite old. The other one is interesting. Everything Trackside: Owns the teams. Mairead: But it owns the team, Annika_ets: You Mairead: exactly. So I think like Kamara got his seat. Great. Solov still hasn't got a seat and he Everything Trackside: Mm-hmm. Mairead: was leading championship for most of the season. And then Alex Donne catching the championship, will say that. So fingers crossed we have two last races because he is catching. Yes. But Everything Trackside: Nineteen points behind going into the final places. Mairead: I think he needs a backup plan. He's obviously gone from the McLaren. He's in the Alpine Academy. Paul Aaron's in there as well. Don't forget Mini. So there's three fighting for a seat that, well, they've kind of done OK this year. Everything Trackside: Cush Cush Miney is in the Alpine Academy as well, for whatever that's going to be worth, but I can't see him taking a seat either. Mairead: How is there so many in the academy? Like, Annika_ets: No, I don't see Kush Mairead: that is ridiculous. Annika_ets: taking the seat. Everything Trackside: No. Neither Mairead: No, no. Everything Trackside: do I. Mairead: So I think he has no choice but to exploring other options anyway. Indycar is fairly solid as well. WEC as well. think they say Leo Forneroli was doing something with WEC as well. Everything Trackside: That was the other thing I wanted to bring to you is it's interesting Leo's getting his run in McLaren this weekend because they announced earlier this week he is going to be their full-time factory driver for their WEC program next year, which, and we touched on it super briefly in the last episode. Well done, Leo Fornaroli. That Leo, Mairead: aggressive. Everything Trackside: as far as I'm concerned, that is the next best thing after Formula One. Yes, you'd race more often in IndyCar. but in terms of like the the peak and actually being factory involved. The next best thing after Formula One is IndyCar, and he's leading McLaren's charge in what I think is the most beautiful prototype on the LMP one grid. I'm a little bit biased. The the Aston is cool too. but I think that McLaren looks great and fair play to him. But it's interesting that they're still giving him a run of the McLaren this weekend. But again, is that maybe an element of they have nobody else and they legally have to do this and they're running out of time. Mairead: I think a little bit, maybe earlier on in the season when there was all of the rumours of drivers being switched and we had the most boring, silly season known to man, maybe then they would have said, we'll keep two ready to go just in case there is a massive, season. Whereas everything is really settled now. The grid is basically filled nearly for next year. So it's only right to give him the chance so that he does get the Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Mairead: experience in the Formula One car. And I really do feel sorry for him that he has come up one boat championships. And there's no seat available in F1, anyway, it's baffles me. We know my opinions on that. But Weck would be exciting. I think if Alex had stayed with McLaren himself, Leo Fornarelli would have been heads of Weck basically over there. Everything Trackside: Yeah, but I couldn't agree with him more. Mairead: Really. Everything Trackside: and I will I can't blame McLaren for that. I have to blame what's his name? I c I I purge him from my memory regularly. Helmet Markham. shit, now I've remembered him, now I have to go through the whole eff effort of forgetting him again. The's such a dick. he said some I've read a article, he said something stupid this week, but I can't remember what Mairead: Mm. Everything Trackside: he wants to use AI to preserve himself after death. No. It was enough to have you for as Annika_ets: What? Everything Trackside: long as we've had you. We don't need another one of you. Annika_ets: mean, my gosh. And Everything Trackside: Right. Annika_ets: even, yeah. And have you seen like, even Christian Hohner is like giving tea about Helen Marco in his book. Like I'm tempted just for that to get the book. Everything Trackside: Yeah, he's done w he's he certainly is. And he still won't come on the show. Come on, Christian. Mairead: Chris Horner is on a media tour at the moment. He's flying all around the place, isn't he? Annika_ets: Yes, yeah. Mairead: behavior. Annika_ets: Come on, Christian, come on, let's have some fun. Everything Trackside: Yeah, y w we'll have a laugh. We'll shit on Toto we'll shit on Toto Wolf together. It'd be fun. Mairead: We may have also invited Toto Wolff and he hasn't responded either. Everything Trackside: I think Christian Horner's a bit more likely. Right, let's move on Mairead: Ha ha ha. Everything Trackside: then to the actual this weekend, which is the Mexico City Grand Prix. It does exist after FB1 when all the drivers are back in. Obviously taking place at the Apologies Spanish speaking listeners. Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, which is interestingly the Annika_ets: Ooh, that was a nice pronunciation! Everything Trackside: Thank you. I thought I could only spoke Spanish when I was drunk, but I'm I'm not going to claim that that was decent anyway. But thank you, Annika. sits because the Mexico City sits if 2240-ish meters or about seven and a half thousand feet above sea level. To put that into context, it doesn't really mean anything in and of itself because who knows how high anything is off sea level. The next highest track in the Formula One calendar is Interlagos in Brazil, which is only about 800 meters above sea level. Nearly three times higher than Brazil, which is insane. So Really, really interesting points that I want to get onto, which I think are going to impact this weekend. It is a shockingly short circuit. it's only four point three kilometres, two point six miles. So there will be seventy-one laps, historically, seventy-one relatively uninteresting laps. Let's hope for something a little bit better this weekend. as very high chance of of rain, just because in Mexico is quite high up. But right off the bat, this is going to be a strain on the engines that they have not experienced yet. Because however much the V sixes are similar to last year, they are still different enough that it will be an interesting challenge for them. The batteries won't care. Batteries don't give a fuck how high off the ground you are. So that won't matter. But the ice engines will. I'm raided. Red Bull apparently have the best ice engine, internal combustion engine. have done all season. Didn't necessarily get the most out of it in Austin. But that was a little bit more to do with strategy, I think, rather than slow pit stops and stuff like that, rather than the actual engine. But if the internal combustion engine is going to be the be all and end all this weekend, as it typically has been historically in Mexico, it was either Honda or Mercedes walking away with these runs, are Red Bull set for a bit of a dominant weekend? Mairead: Dominant is pushing it now I think. Dominant might be pushing it a tiny, bit, but Everything Trackside: Is it? Mairead: it's Max Rastappen and you can't rule out Max Rastappen in anything. My biggest concern actually is at the start, if it's like that wet race that we saw where all the half drivers couldn't get off the grid, their whole thing stalled. Will the FIA equipment even live up to the standards of this altitude? Who knows? No, I do think Max O will have a good weekend. Like you said, Red Bull, Engine Good. I expect VCarb to do quite well here as well, because they've really capitalized on when their engine is good. I think they've done really, Everything Trackside: Mm. Mairead: really well this year. think Ferrari is still in it, but Claren, the Mercedes engine is the one that you'd be most concerned about in general, because it hasn't survived races where it's been completely, like there has been no altitude basically whatsoever. So now you've all the Mercedes engines, will they even survive the altitude? Like you said, I do think though. Red Bull are probably ahead, but not by a massive amount. But then again, it's Max Verstappen and sure we know Max Verstappen can do extraordinary things. He could drive a tractor and he'd still win. So very impressive. Everything Trackside: He did drive a tractor in Wayne, did he not? no, it was a go-kart. Sorry. Mairead: Go Kurt. Everything Trackside: Sergeant, another factor this weekend is going to be that apparently the track has been completely resurfaced. or at least significantly resurfaced. anytime we've seen that this year, it has caused issues because it basically just means they're driving around on a fucking ice rink. I've just looked up the full schedule. There is effectively no support series this weekend. There's there's North American Formula Four, there's a GTM Cup and there's Masses Historic, but those those circuits, th those series do not typically lay down rubber and help to evolve a track. We said it actually a couple of weeks ago. It's typically it's Formula Two that makes a difference, even Formula three doesn't make that much impact. It's Formula Two that makes a difference. We effectively have no additional running this weekend that'll make much difference. Who do we think that might favour? From a tire management point of view, because Ferrari have been struggling with it all season, except oddly in the Kota. But a new track can either help to preserve tires or will absolutely shred them to death. Who do we think is going to benefit this weekend? Saoirse Lagan: I'm going to go with Max just because he likes to complain about having no grip. His tyre management, you know, his radios are all complaining about them. But nearly in those races is when he puts in his best performance, regardless, like he wins races but complains about having no grip. And I know that it's what, like 830 metres run to turn one. Everything Trackside: Very long. Yeah. Saoirse Lagan: So quite long. and the grip comes more sector 2 and sector 3 but I still think that if Max will dominate this weekend well maybe not dominate but he will perform really really well I think a rather statistic he's been on the podium in Mexico six times and five of them he won them which is like kind of insane like that is actually Everything Trackside: That's a good stat. Yeah. Saoirse Lagan: insane I think Lewis was six times but he's only one leg twice. So I think with his history at it and his ability, he might come out on top. Everything Trackside: He's also probably gonna be a little bit more fired up might be the wrong thing to say, but he quite literally himself and Lando and Charles in particular have quite literally nothing to lose. They are now out of contention completely. as of Kimmy winning in Kota knocked all three of them out of contention for the championship, which is sad. It means that yes, Lando Norris, sock, you're welcome, does officially now hold the record for the shortest period between championships since nineteen ninety three. so Whatever that's worth. technically, because if he's out of contention, he can't win it. But Kimmy will win this weekend. We'll get onto that. is an interesting stat. But yes, that's really, really fascinating to to see how kind of good Max has been historically. I hadn't really clocked just how dominant I think it is probably the right word to say he is here except for last year of the year before, where he tried to, you know, kill Lando twice by running him off the road, twice really death was the year before. Really dangerously. so even a perfect run isn't perfect, but we won't we won't begrudge him that because really the only thing that's going to keep this championship rumbling on a little bit longer is probably Max Verstappen. Spoilers, I suppose, for what everyone's prediction for winner this weekend is going to be. We get onto that at the end. but I think I can see a couple of a couple of max predictions coming. it is an interesting one. It's a good point as well about just how long that back stra that front straight is because Obviously that affects not only tire temperature but brake temperature as well. We do see lockups into that first corner all the time in every single session in Mexico. And it is typically the drivers who have a good feel on the brakes, Max, Danny Ricardo, Landon Norris to a certain level in Oscopiastri, who tend to perform well here. Interesting point to make just on that. McLaren did bring an upgrade to their brakes in Austin. Didn't seem to do them all that much good there, but it's not necessarily a heavy braking zone kind of a track, other than at the end of the back straight. That will make a difference when you're pounding down at well, it probably won't be three hundred and sixty kilometres an hour by the time the batteries fail. but if McLaren's brakes were brought with an air towards Mexico, they could have a bit of a a a leg up there. so that's going to be an interesting one as well. Any other kind of key call outs anyone wants to mention before we get on to the big elephant in the room this weekend? Mairead: Not really. It can Everything Trackside: no there is the Mairead: be a bit funny sometimes. I think, like you said, well, I'm sure we're going to talk about whatever is happening next. You've got that full stadium section. Great fans. They're really lively fans, actually. So that's exciting this weekend. And that will kind of lead on to maybe what we'll discuss. Everything Trackside: That's a actually a good point and something worth noting is that it's Sergio Perez is homecoming f to a certain level. He hasn't been here in years. He's back in Formula One this year. Can he do And a multi year contract Mairead: and a mulled beer contract. Annika_ets: Yeah. Everything Trackside: of They've done that well, haven't they? Mairead: that genes. Annika_ets: his 300 crown pre start Everything Trackside: That's the big one. There it is. It is his three hundredth Grand Prix. So they've timed that one fucking well as well, haven't they? Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Everything Trackside: if you had a tinfoil hat and a Mexica bag account, you might think that they cancelled the races earlier in the year to make sure that happened. Because otherwise it would Annika_ets: Hahaha Everything Trackside: have been Singapore, wouldn't it? And that wouldn't have been as impressive. that's worked out really nicely for him. Well done, Sergio. Three hundred Grand Prix, Jesus has been around forever, isn't he? Mairead: Yeah, but he used to drive a Cadillac for his 300. That's hard to take, it? Everything Trackside: Yeah. Annika_ets: Yeah! Everything Trackside: He'll do well to even finish it, won't he? Mairead: You will because the brakes, how are the brakes going to survive because they don't Everything Trackside: No. Mairead: survive driving down the pit lane at this stage. Everything Trackside: And they won't be cooled particularly well in thin air. Annika_ets: I mean, they did do the update on the cooling of the brakes. So hopefully, fingers crossed, he will manage to finish the race. Let's hope so. Yeah, Everything Trackside: Fingers crossed. Annika_ets: because it would be nice if he finishes the 300 crown pre-start. Mairead: Yeah, he does. Everything Trackside: Yeah, certainly what. Other ones to watch out for this weekend, I would say Audi. I think it's worth mentioning. We haven't really talked about them in months, but obviously they built their own engine this year. They did not, they're not a customer engine, they are a factory engine this year. This is their, I would say, first massive challenge on how well they've built that, because this is just not something you can simulate accurately in a wind tunnel. so the thin air is going to be a challenge for them. Fingers crossed they do well because their reliability in the past couple of months has not been spectacular. add in no cooling and they're probably gonna have to cut the entire airbox off that car to cool it properly. but that's worth mentioning. And I predict Fernando Alonso is going to be quickest in sector two and three and then be slowest by about eight seconds on sector one down the back straight. 'Cause apparently Aston Martin have the best car on the grid. Did anybody see this? Was it sing sing Mairead: Come on. Come on. come on. Annika_ets: Come on, seriously? Everything Trackside: it? Singapore, they were two point four seconds off pole. rough number. And a p sorry, they were two seconds off pole, and apparently Fernando lost two point four seconds just on the straits in Singapore. for whatever that's worth, it's an insane stat. There's obviously the caveats that you know pole times versus Q one and Q two times are not comparable. so I don't think he's quite fighting for pole, but he is losing. Whatever he's gaining in corners, he's losing double on the straights. Mairead: What makes that a good carrot then? You need it to be good in Annika_ets: Exactly! Mairead: all of the circus, usually. Everything Trackside: I said it I said I said it's a good car. I did not say it was a good engine. And to be fair, Mairead: Okay, fair enough. Everything Trackside: that since the start that the chassis is decent. Annika_ets: fair enough, yeah. Everything Trackside: But it does scream Mairead: Hmm. Everything Trackside: twenty fifteen McLaren that they are screaming now the chassis is fantastic. If they fix the engine, they might be showing up a little bit. So they they have improved. Mairead: They have improved, but Annika_ets: They have. Yeah. Mairead: we spent the first like 10 races literally sympathizing with the factory workers who we were like, this is just hopeless. Like in fairness, they have turned it around. We Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Everything Trackside: Who we still sympathize with. Mairead: still do, to be honest. Annika_ets: Yeah. Mairead: It's still like they did do a brilliant turnaround considering how awful they were. So I will give them that, but that doesn't make a good car. You need both. No, no, just no. Everything Trackside: No. Doesn't but it Annika_ets: Naaaah Everything Trackside: is hilarious that they're clinging to that one. The one other bit of news before we get into what we really want to talk about. Moray, your jersey reminded me. There is Formula Two news. Mairead: massive Formula 2 news. Everything Trackside: Massive Formula Two news. Mairead: Big, big news. It looks like we'll have a lot more people watching F2 next season. So welcome to the club. We are really excited. So LN formation has officially got their F2 status on the grid for next year, which is big. So we'll have them in F2, F3. There's a Formula 4 they're doing. There's so many things that they're interested in to know. It is so exciting. It means that there's a huge fan base. going to come to our favorite, which is F2. F2 is fantastic racing. If you are a Lando Norris fan or a fan of feeder series, like stay tuned, start watching this year. I suppose is my best advice is because it's a brilliant championship this year. You've got four basically still in the running for the championship. Fingers crossed the races go ahead so that we can leave that play out. Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Everything Trackside: And Alex, you win it. Mairead: That would be lovely as well. But yeah, it's really exciting. We might have some news on our side in the next coming weeks or months about F2, F3 feeders. So please keep an eye out as to what we will be doing about that. But yeah, it's really exciting. I'm delighted that there's a big fan base coming with it too, because realistically a lot of fans that are going to join and they're going to see how good F2 is. These drivers are brilliant drivers. They're, you know, They're fearless in F2 to be honest with you. They don't care. Annika_ets: Mmm. Mairead: Usually financial support is a problem in F2 and F3 and hopefully with more eyes now on these feeder series that these drivers can actually be supported properly and make it up Annika_ets: Yeah, Mairead: to. Annika_ets: but obviously now that they're in F3 and F2 as well, they're have to expand Lantostand, because in Silverstone... Everything Trackside: Yes. Mairead: my God. Saoirse Lagan: you Everything Trackside: Why not just just Annika_ets: Yes! Everything Trackside: call it Lando Stone and just be done with it? Annika_ets: Yeah. Mairead: Forgot about that. Everything Trackside: Paint paint paint the whole track orange except for l luminous yellow except for George George Russell's tiny little bit of blue orange. Mairead: That groundstand's stalled out by the way. Everything Trackside: Well there wasn't very many tickets, but that's good. It is okay. Mairead: No, that's an okay friend still. Yeah. Annika_ets: No, it sold out within hours. It sold out pretty much instantly. Yeah. Everything Trackside: It is Silverstone. Silverstone does sell that. I remember your issues trying to get the ticket to Marid in general. I'm not trying to shit on George Russell here, but it was a copycat move. Mairead: Yeah, I know what mean. Everything Trackside: big question on that one. Who do we think he's gonna hire? Because he's got his F3 lineup, and I'll be perfectly honest, I had never heard of either of them. Gauda Annika_ets: No, not me. Everything Trackside: and Gowda and Gomez, they're both effectively forming the foreign formula regional drivers who are making the step up to Formula Three, which is good, that's the point. But Who is he gonna get for four if if I was a betting man, I would say he's going to pull pull and promote two Formula Two drivers, or two Formula Three drivers. Who do we think? Mairead: Yeah, I would presume so. I was going to say Hugo, but he's started for next year. And is he not? Everything Trackside: No, he's not. He's not confirmed yet. No, he's not Annika_ets: No, Uka's not sore. No! Mairead: I would see that now with the McLaren link there. I think that's where you'd be going. Now, unless Cadillac have some team set up for him to bring him up through and into Cadillac eventually, that's a different one. if the McLaren link is still somewhat there between the two of them, I could see. Zach Brown saying, here you go, will you take Hugo Chukwu there and train him up for F1. Annika_ets: I see Nile taking a step up. Everything Trackside: I was going to say Tef Nilog could be a shout to that as well. he's been excellent this year. He's a good I think he deserves a step up. I think everyone in the top six deserves a step up. Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Everything Trackside: Hugo Chris McCarthy kind teased to us that he reckons Campos will take him. I'd be kind of stupid not to, to be perfectly honest. Mairead: Yeah, it's Everything Trackside: Freddie Slater is obviously in the Audi Academy. That doesn't preclude him from joining Ellen four, but he hasn't got Annika_ets: Well, Freddy already has a seat in F2. Mairead: He does. Everything Trackside: Does he? sorry, yes, of course he wasn't he was announced first. We're waiting for Ugo to get Annika_ets: Yeah. Yeah, he was the first one to be announced. Everything Trackside: Yes, of course he does. We we're waiting for Ugo to to get the promotion so they can Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Everything Trackside: fight. Tuka Tapnin had a very good year. Taito Kato. Annika_ets: Duca is already in F2 as well. Everything Trackside: Stepping up, Taito Cato, I don't think, has a step up yet. Annika_ets: No. Mairead: Not yes. Everything Trackside: Tefiel Nile doesn't as far as I'm aware, and neither does Pedro Clara. Annika_ets: Nah. Everything Trackside: I think Claire's signed on to stay in Formula Three for next year. but yeah. Annika_ets: Yeah, yeah. Mairead: So really it's the two that are left, Niall and Núca Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Everything Trackside: So Mairead: Chacua. Everything Trackside: either that or he takes a year one Formula Two driver and moves them to f year two Formula Two. as to Mairead: yes, okay. Everything Trackside: who that would be, really hard to say. Like I I I I I don't know who he might take. I don't personally I think Formula Two needs a bit of a refresh after this top four are gone, 'cause they will all leave this year. although Alex Sun is a s a thing with MP motorsport he might stay on, but I'd be shocked if did. 'cause he needs to start earning money really, doesn't he? But yeah, there's a couple of options there. couple that that that scream out to me straight away would be the likes of maybe Noel Leon, maybe Ratomiata, Nicholas Olav, if he doesn't win the championship and stays on for another year, but again there's a red book connection there. It's really hard to say. I could sooner see Lando's team picking two F three drivers. I think there's just a better pool of talent ready for that step up. really, really interesting. Mairead: I think so as well because he is focusing on that journey from F4, the way up. So I think Everything Trackside: All the ladder. Mairead: even marketing wise, we brought them up through the ladder and into the seat. I think you'd be bringing them from F3 just because of that journey that he's already created without having anyone like signed up or any care on track yet. It's like a pathway. Everything Trackside: In in which case the options there are Uga Uga Chukwu, who doesn't have an announcement yet, and would that would be a that would be a title signing for LN Four Fusion that they are signing the F three champion. That would Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Everything Trackside: be Mairead: Yeah. Everything Trackside: or Tefil Nile, his teammate, who helped him win the champion the the team's championship. Pedro Clara would probably be an outside shot there, but yeah, it's really really fascinating. Again, we will follow Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Mairead: It's exciting news. Everything Trackside: that very, very, very closely as everything trackside. Annika_ets: Yeah. Everything Trackside: So follow us on all socials to keep an update on their Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Everything Trackside: I know that Adam and Marine are going to be all over this one. Annika_ets: yeah, yeah. Mairead: ways. Annika_ets: Also, just to throw a little spanner into thinking, could he bring on Alicia Balmowsky for F2? Everything Trackside: Probably not. I think Mairead: We go F3. Everything Trackside: effectively Formula 4 to Formula 2 is a huge step. because it's effectively what F1 Academy is. It's kind of Formula 3.5. it sort of hovers between four and three. again, fantastic, but it would smack as a bit of a marketing exercise. not saying Alicia does not deserve a drive in in a in a more advanced series, she absolutely does. she did her interview with Martin Rundle last weekend and she didn't really say that she's got her G B three drive yet. I don't know if that's still guaranteed. I don't think it is. Abby Pulling is obviously very well there, but Mairead: think I was going to say Abbie Pulling. If they were pulling anyone, they'd pull Abbie Pulling, I think. Everything Trackside: Yes, I think if they're pulling anyone their pull, I'd be pulling. and say that multiple times. but yeah, it again it would have been an opportunity for their Formula Three team, I think. as to whether they might pull her for the Formula Regional. Again, maybe that would kind of be like a lateral move, but Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Everything Trackside: could prefer to do a lateral move and go win another championship Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Everything Trackside: on the bounce, and just earn a huge amount of of kind of supporting a f furora around herself. could be interesting. But yeah, it's it's certainly one to watch. And of of of all the teams, I wouldn't put it past Lando to to have kind of directed them to say, watch the girls as well, lads here. This is this is really important. Annika_ets: That's what I was thinking. Everything Trackside: I think he I think Mairead: He will. Everything Trackside: Lando has been quite vocal, especially in the whole setup of all this. And he's he he is a he is a vocal supporter of young female young talent in general, I think. Let's not pigeonhole. Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Everything Trackside: He's a supporter of young talent. He wants the best talent and he's not going to reject someone if they're not good if he'll only reject someone if they're not good enough, basically, or his team will. Annika_ets: Yeah. Everything Trackside: That's to say. and it it's his name it's his Annika_ets: Yeah, that's why I was a kid. Everything Trackside: name on it. They have to th they will be parroting his his way of doing things. And he is a big supporter of of getting young girls into into karting Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Everything Trackside: and the the the the ladder up to Formula One eventually and If and when he retires and does an Alan Prost and sets his own team up, I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually bring along some talent in in that way as well. right. That is enough sidestepping the issue. Let's get into it. This weekend, Kimi Antonelli will be the champion if he finishes ninth or better. And it doesn't matter what George Lewis or anybody else does, unless they hit him. So Right off the bat. Sergei, let's bring your thoughts in on this. straight off the bat, as as a newbie to the show, what have you made of Kimmy for this season? Saoirse Lagan: I adore Kimi and I did when he was in Vader series. I think he's an amazing driver. Unrealistic. I would prefer if for some reason he'd be in F to finish outside of P9, won it in Brazil. But that's just the Senna whole thing of that coming in as well. It's really unrealistic. I think he has it in the bag this weekend, but you never know. He might want that. Everything Trackside: it's funny, I'm pretty sure Murray said the exact same thing last week, did you not? So it's Saoirse Lagan: you Mairead: It is. Everything Trackside: that that is a shared opinion. You're not alone in that one. We just love Brazil getting its getting its roses, don't we? It's it's been way too long since we got to celebrate Brazil. And again, on on that one, I I would kind of agree. I I would I just want the season to just go on a little bit longer. It's just sort of denaying d delaying the inevitable. But again, we sort of mentioned at the top, it it has to be a factor that that Mercedes engine is fragile. This race is the t it's not the toughest race on the drivers by any means. They don't typically struggle here physically. That is Singapore or Malaysia. but it is by a mile the toughest race on the engines. And that Merc engine has a pop left in it, doesn't it? Annika_ets: Yep. And he's overdue for a technical issue. He Everything Trackside: Yes, he is. Annika_ets: really is because George has had a few since Kimi swapped his engine in Monza. Okay, yeah, George didn't have a brand new engine like Kimi did, but it is due because Monza was like months ago. Everything Trackside: Mm. Annika_ets: So I wouldn't put it past it before the thinner air. the altitude, everything, the engine would just give in. Whether it gives in in a practice session and it will save Kimi, but he'll start at the back of the grid because he has to take a new engine or it's going to give up in the race or in quali, I don't know. But I think he is two for one. And I think that would spice things up for the championship as well. Because at the moment, George needs to win and Kimi needs to finish ninth or lowest, lower. in order for you to... Everything Trackside: if Kimmy if Kimmy finishes ninth or above, he wins doesn't matter where George finishes. George needs to win with Kimmy tenth to stay in it. Annika_ets: Yeah. Yeah. So for that to happen, I have my fingers crossed for it to happen because I do want the championship to keep going. I would love for me to be actually able to celebrate on the podium rather than like, Everything Trackside: Mm. Annika_ets: you know, just drink rosewater or like not actually go out and celebrate or be like, okay, we're in the middle of the triple header. Yeah, I the championship, but I need to race next weekend. So like no celebration until Abu Dhabi. When everything's done. Obviously, we'll have a week off after Brazil, but still. Yeah, I want the championship to keep going. I don't know who it should be, Kimmy, but I do think he's overdue for a DNF. Everything Trackside: Well, with that in mind, Moraid, knowing that he only needs to finish ninth, and if he finishes tenth or outside the points, they get to have the we're doing the team game, we're giving George the best fighting chance. What chance of just a wild announcement tomorrow, which is just my luck, that Kimmy's going to take not a sixty place engine penalty like Gabby Bortiletto did, but a ten place Annika_ets: copy the KT. Everything Trackside: Sorry, was it up to eighty by the end of that? Fucking hell. Ridiculous. Mairead: Yeah. Annika_ets: Yeah. Everything Trackside: He's fighting gents and button for the part of that. Yeah, he's Mairead: head off to Mexico you might as well like, that. Everything Trackside: Started the race already in Vegas. what odds that they maybe just give him a penalty now, knowing that like give George's run, get Kimmy out of the way, if Kimmy finishes ninth, so be it. George needs to win. Mairead: No, there's a stadium section there. They want the whole pizzazz, Annika_ets: They won't do that. Mairead: podium. Like it is, to be fair, it is a brilliant podium to get Everything Trackside: Mm. Mairead: your win. They won't want to risk it because then I Annika_ets: Bye! Mairead: think I really do think that once Kimmy wins, it's basically settled now that he is going to win. They're going to start focusing their car on 2027 because like if we're losing two races at the end of the season, we don't know yet, obviously, if we are. But if we do lose them, that's There's there's two, there's no sprint race in the last three. So there's six practice sessions that they miss out on for 27 Everything Trackside: Mm. Mairead: as well. So I think they'll try and seal this as quickly as they can and start focusing towards next year because they know like McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari have all gone on to next season because they knew they were well out of it for a long time. So I don't think they'd delay this at all because it's risking like six practices is a big amount of time in an F1 car. Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Everything Trackside: Certainly is. Again, that that is a is a lingering factor in this champion. Do you what's gonna happen? They're not going to cancel it and it's all going to rumble on normal and we've spent weeks talking about it, but that's we'll we'll we'll Mairead: weeks. Annika_ets: Yeah, but I do. Everything Trackside: egg Mohammed Bed Salayam if that happens. Annika_ets: Yeah, but I do think Mairead: We can't this week, have news this week from him. Annika_ets: Sorry, go on, we're good. Mairead: No, I said we can't give out him this week. I have news from him this week, actually. So, Annika, you go first. Everything Trackside: What's wr what's he done? Annika_ets: Okay. Mairead: the engines. Have we not heard the announcement about the engines for 2030, 2031? Everything Trackside: Let's get to them at the end. Keep that keep keep that locked up. Go on Annika. Annika_ets: I was going say, I think that's exactly the reason why they didn't give George an engine penalty for the audio upgraded engine in Cota. They're giving him one in Las Vegas because, Everything Trackside: Vegas. Annika_ets: yeah, because they were hoping maybe George can somehow keep it going or Kimi wraps it up before then so they're not risking championship points for the constructors. Everything Trackside: Hmm. On that one, good segue. Thank you for that. Thank you for taking that one up. That is the other big one that's on the cards for this weekend, Sersha, is that Mercedes can finally win the Constructors' Championship for the first time since 2021. Yep, 2021. A long time ago, actually, since Mercedes have won the Constructors. obviously McLaren won the last two, and Red Bull won the three before that. The connotations for that are They they need to outscore Ferrari by thirty-nine points or more. So it is actually a little bit less it's actually a lot less likely that the constructors goes this weekend. It's just the first weekend it can mathematically go. So the easiest way for them to do that is a one-two finish and for effectively one or both of the Ferraris to finish lower than ninth. Ferrari to score four or fewer points. Not likely. or Ferrari if Mercedes score a 1-3 finish, which would be worth 40 points, Ferrari needs to score only one point in the whole weekend. Again, a little bit unlikely. But with that in mind, they will not want this to rumble on much longer. As Moraid said, they've got considerations into next year. They want to turn off this car effectively. If you were Mer if you were Total Wolf and Mercedes, knowing what they've done in the past and sort of how they approach things. How do they approach this weekend, both from Kimmy and from the championship? Do they go cautious knowing they have plenty of time left? Or do they go balls to the wall and think, if we can get it wrapped up this weekend, all of them we can turn everything off, move on to next year, save ourselves a fortune and if we fuck it up we've loads of time left anyway. Saoirse Lagan: I think they'll want to wrap it up for the same reasons Moray said about the championship is they immediately want to start focusing on next season because I know there was reports coming out already that Red Bull are looking quite good already. So if Mercedes are too focused on constructors and constructors and championship this season, they're already behind Red Bull. So I don't know. I think they'll want to try and wrap it up. I know it's really unlikely, but are competing with Ferrari and you don't know really what they're gonna do strategy wise car wise it could happen. Everything Trackside: Neither do they. Annika_ets: Yeah Mairead: you Everything Trackside: it is a fascinating one, but you're right, again, the the caveat all to that is that big podium, it's it's it it's one of the coolest places to celebrate anything if they manage to the dream scenario of Toto Wolf is his two boys are on the podium. If I give if I was Toto Wolf, what I would absolutely want this weekend is George to win with Kimmy second. So you get a one two, George gets his contribution to the team kind of thing, and gets to win a race, and the Ferraris hit each other or something like that, or for some reason Max Orlando does them a favour and hits the Ferraris. And it's a Mercedes 1 2, led by George. Kimmy wins one title. The two of them have won the other title. They can all swan off and get drunk in Brazil. and they don't have to care about the rest of this season, and the rest of us can all start focusing on Ferrari and McLaren, who's going to blink first in that battle. but I think we're a bit fanciful. Although they ver we very nearly got the prediction right. They were only one place off Kimmy winning the title in Austria. In Australia, Austin. Too A's. Lewis was fourth, George was eighth. They needed to be both place lower for Kimmy to win the championship. It was that bloody close. So anything is possible. but yeah, one way or the other, McLaren and Mercedes need to leave Mexico 172 points ahead of Ferrari. They go into Mexico 215 points clear. They'll wrap it up very quickly. at the end of this triple header, both championships will be wrapped up one way or the other. Let's get into I want the three of you please to final bit obviously is to have sorry, Murray, no, before we get into predictions, what was your news on Christian Horner? Mairead: No, not Chris Starr, Mohamed bin Salaam. Everything Trackside: Sorry, what was your news on Muhammad Ben Salayam? Mairead: Engines, we're back to engine talk again. So Everything Trackside: Engines. Mairead: obviously next year we have our engine split, but this is the latest out for 2030 or 2031. So they're proposing a V8 engine with the capacity between two and 2.3 litres with a smaller turbo running at a reduced boost pressure and less powerful hybrid system. The electrical motor Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Mairead: will have a recovery capacity of 200 kilowatts compared to the current 250. The idea is that 100 kilowatts or 134 brake horsepower of this to be available at all times with a further 100 kilowatts to be used for a push to pass or overtake mode. Now, that sounds really exciting. They're also looking to cut the total weight of the cars to 80 kgs. So they're making the cars lighter as well. Now, people are going to ask the first thing. Everything Trackside: We had a whole George Russell lesson. Mairead: It's going to be, yes, whole George Russell, less very exciting. People are asking why is it not coming in in 2030 and 2030, 31? And as Siriusha said, the teams are already focusing on 27 and 28 like Red Bull. They're gone ahead. You can't, you can't just change a regulation overnight because it, those back teams are focusing on 27, 28, 29. So we have to keep with these regulations for a while. Yes, we're changing. ratios next year, which is good and we're getting another change in 2028 but we can't go to the 8th just yet. Everything Trackside: So what did you say they're two point three, two point four liter turbocharged engine? Mairead: Yeah, 2-2.3 litre turbo engine. Not really fully decided yet. Everything Trackside: I've pulled up what the 2013 engines were. Right? Mairead: Okay, go on. Everything Trackside: And what they're going to do is erase effectively 16 years of hybrid technology to do what they should have fucking done in 2014 in the first place. The 2013 Mairead: Hooray! Everything Trackside: engines were a 2.4 litre naturally aspirated V8, which revved to a glorious and sonorous 18,000 RPM, and had they put out about 700 to 800 horsepower naturally. And then the KERS system put out 60 kilowatts or about 80 horsepower for six seconds per lap. So what they've done for 2030, by the sounds of it, is developed what was the 2013 engine. They've made them a little bit smaller, which is fine for FieldFlow. They've smacked a turbocharger on them, which is fine. They've upped the electrical power, which is always what they should have done with KERS in the first place, to make it always on and still allow the Curz push to pass for presumably about six to ten seconds per lap. It's not going to be a permanent push to pass. Great. Bring back the twenty thirteen Mairead: Fantastic. Everything Trackside: engines. All I'm all for that. As long as they sing to eighteen thousand RPM, don't care anything about the rest of them, to be honest. Mairead: And the FIA and F1 are clearly listening to our podcasts because guess how they're going to be powered? Fully sustainable fuels, which they should have done this time. But we move on. Annika_ets: Finally! Mairead: We've given them the idea. In fairness, they can thank us after when it works. Annika_ets: Mm-hmm. Everything Trackside: I'll be cynical and say I'll believe that one when I see it. Mairead: I know. But look, Annika_ets: Hahaha Mairead: it's looking positive. We're going to have a change. We have to deal with these now and we'll be all happy again in 2030 and 2031. Everything Trackside: Well we seem so long away. Mairead: I know. Everything Trackside: I'll settle for the the the engines for the battery split happening for next year. I think that genuinely Mairead: Yes. Everything Trackside: and the the twenty twenty eight where it's like a full sixty forty, I think that will make a proper difference. again, we haven't really mentioned it. I don't think it's going to be a factor. I did my hot lab today. Follow on YouTube, so have a look at that. I don't think it's gonna be a factor at all. Yes, it's going to they they will drain down that back straight. There will be super clipping down that back straight that probably hit three sixty, three seventy and drop to about three hundred. Which again, just to reiterate the argument from the start of the year, that the speed is not the problem. I was rewatching on onboards from twenty thirteen. They barely touched three hundred on the longest straights. So the out and out top speed has never been the issue that fans have had with these engines. Ever. Not once. It's the fact that they audibly slow down. They shouldn't Mairead: Yeah. Everything Trackside: slow down until the brakes are hit. That's the problem. Anyway, just to reiterate that. But yes, that's fascinating. Really looking forward to seeing that officially published. and maybe they might be able to bring it to 2029, but you're right, they need to give kind of at least two full calendar years of notice, which they're now too late to do for 2028. so 2030, maybe 2029. He did tease that a little bit earlier in the year. so fingers crossed on that. Right. I am going to read out the schedule for the weekend while my panels start to think about who they think is going to be on poll and their top three for the weekend. Come to you now in a second on that. So, practice one this weekend, UK Island Times as always, Friday the 30th of October at 6 30 in the evening. practice two later that night at 10 pm. Practice three then on Saturday the 31st of October at 5 30 in the after evening, and qualifying at 9 o'clock. And then the race is at once again, like it was last week, at 8 o'clock in the evening on Sunday, the 1st of November. It's not a bank holiday here on Monday this time around, which is a bit annoying, but so be it. but yes, I do I do quite enjoy these kind of evening races because you get your whole day and then you can just unwind with Formula One at the end of it, and we'll probably get to unwind with a bit of extra news this weekend. So I have three questions for you. We'll go one by one. Sergio, start us off. Who will be on poll this weekend for the Mexico Grand Prix? Saoirse Lagan: I'm gonna go with Mags. Everything Trackside: I kinda saw that coming to be honest. Maraid, who are you saying? Mairead: Max. Everything Trackside: Okay, Annika? Annika_ets: George, he needs it. Everything Trackside: Okay, I'm gonna say Kim I'm gonna Mairead: Yeah. Everything Trackside: say Kimmy 'cause he's just gonna go out and have fun. Sergio then your top three in third, second, first order, please. Saoirse Lagan: And third, Charles, second, Kimmy, first, Max. Everything Trackside: Okay, this has a good podium, we've got fun. Right. Mairead: 3rd Kimi, 2nd Lando, 1st Max Everything Trackside: Okay, I go. Annika_ets: Give me third, Mac second, George first. Everything Trackside: Okay, common theme here. I'm gonna say Kimmy third because I just don't think he's gonna put up a fight with anybody as long as he finishes the points. Kimmy third. Oscar Piastri second, Max Verstappen first, in honor of our new Oscar Piastri fan on the show. he's due he's due a good result. Saoirse Lagan: Yeah. Everything Trackside: And the final question is kind of an obvious one. We've kind of teased it as much for the content as anything. Will Kimi Antonelli win the championship this weekend? Sergio, yes or no? Saoirse Lagan: Yeah. Everything Trackside: Merid. Ooh, I like that. Annika? Annika_ets: logical side of me says yes, but I hope no. Everything Trackside: I completely agree with you. The logi the the the the obvious answer is yes, but I think there's a twist in twist in the tail suggests Lewis is going to win the championship. He's not. I saw the thing earlier on to for to for Lewis to win the championship, he needs to win all the remaining races with Kimmy scoring nothing. Which will not happen. So I Annika_ets: No! Everything Trackside: I I I'm going to say that yes, Kimmy's going to win the title this weekend in Mexico. although I Kinda hope he doesn't. Nothing against Kimmy. I just want the title to go a bit further. Yeah, I think I think we're all in in agreement there. We've nothing against Kimmy here. If he wins it, fantastic. Young the he still has three more years to go to break the record of young as champion. It's Mairead: honest. Everything Trackside: not like he's in a rush to do that, which is insane. Give Seb was twenty-three. We've had Annika_ets: No. Yeah, we have the graphic ready. The graphics, graphics ready to go. Everything Trackside: we've had we've had the graphic ready since last year. Mairead: That's a jinx now, dear Annika. That's it. That's a jinx now. I he's gone to win this Annika_ets: haha Mairead: weekend now. That's it. Everything Trackside: Well, we will be back at the end of the weekend to review it, whether or not he he manages to get it over the line. Last thing for me to say, thank you very much to my panel. Thank you for aid. Mairead: Thank you very much. Everything Trackside: Thank you, Annika. Annika_ets: Thank you very much. I just want to say thanks to everyone who follows us on social. You've been absolutely brilliant this year. We love you so much. Keep showing the support and we just love bringing the content and hearing from you. Everything Trackside: Indeed. Good shout out. And thank you, Sersha, for joining us for your first show. We look forward to having you on more episodes. Saoirse Lagan: Thank you, it was great fun. Everything Trackside: Glad you enjoyed it. I've been Sean. We'll be back for the Mexico City Grand Prix review later in the week. Bye now.