Kimi Antonelli: Exposing George Russell OR Generational F1 Talent? | Canadian GP Review

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]Amar, after eight weeks and only one Grand Prix, we are going to get race after race after race after race. But this weekend we had Canada. How was it?

[00:00:12]>> It was amazing. I mean, I think that uh the one takeaway from the season thus far is it is building up really nicely both in terms of the narrative and the track action. Um I'll be curious to know what your thoughts are, Chess, but by far this was an action-packed race at at the beginning and at the end. I mean, you did have some dull moments in between, but that's typical of any race.

[00:00:33]So, it was amazing. How did you take all of this in?

[00:00:37]>> Look, I am going to avoid the elephant in the room a little bit because well, I'll mention it now, but um it's me about yourself. I don't know why you would say that.

[00:00:50]>> I've never heard anyone like like fat shame themselves like on >> Come on, man. It's a good laugh. You can laugh. It's all good. No, I'll get cancelled. I don't >> In 2026, the only jokes you can make are fat jokes and ball jokes. That's all you >> I'm not sure you can make fat jokes. B jokes, I think even those are like skating on thin ice, right? Um but no, look, the the elephant in the room was was the regulations again. And look, although the the race was >> watchable, like it was definitely um exciting. Uh, we had some overtakes. We had some Jeopardy. It was really good.

[00:01:29]When you when you sort of dive into it again, um, you know, it's it's not quite as straightforward as two drivers uh contesting a breaking zone on equal footing or, you know, outbreaking each other. It just it wasn't that. Um, case in point was Lewis Hamilton going past Maxappen um at the end of the race.

[00:01:50]Great chase. Um, great little fight for a couple of laps. I thought Max put up a good defense, but ultimately when when Lewis went past him around the outside, although it looked great on camera, like he was past him at the beginning of the braking zone, like it wasn't even like a proper it wasn't a a proper on the brakes overtaking the classic sensitive things. Um, and you could kind of see that that Max, if you looked at his um, regen light, the the light that flashes on the back of the the car, it was already flashing halfway down the straight before they even got past the start finish line. And it was and it was like a whirling dervish by the time Lewis overtook him. So, Max was completely out of power at that point.

[00:02:33]And and I'm not saying that that that everything that happened in the race was was like that. There wasn't so much of the yo-yo racing.

[00:02:41]But what has happened is that overtake mode when it when someone has it um and it's powerful in terms of your your power unit allows you to use it uh was still creating passes that I think were were were a little bit artificial. Um but look, like I said, elephant in the room. I'm going to avoid it. I've said it now. I'm not going to say it again.

[00:03:05]We just talk about how good the race was because it was good. It was good. It was a good fun watch. I have to say I didn't watch qualifying. I didn't watch sprint qualifying and I feel like I dodged a bullet because as usual um watching it in in highlight uh I'm >> it's it's not it's it's still not where it where it needs to be. Um and I hope that I think we're probably going to have the argument that I think we always have when it comes to to your favorite driver um George Russell. Um, but I hope we have a little bit of time at the end just to talk about um next year and how that might affect your favorite team.

[00:03:47]Um, but let let's start let's start with uh let's start with what everyone came to see. George Russell uh and Kimmy Antonelli were at the head of the field and for the whole first stint um before they even got into the pit stops they were fighting tooth and nail. George had qualified um on pole for both the sprint race and the Grand Prix proper.

[00:04:16]>> Exact same difference in time by the way.

[00:04:18]>> Yeah. Yeah. Like >> I mean to the tea.

[00:04:20]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It was 0.093% for the sprint uh for the sprint and 0.094 for the race. Um and I don't know what that says about deployment strategies or anything like that. Or it could just be that these are two drivers absolutely bringing everything they can out of the machinery underneath them to the best of their ability. I don't know.

[00:04:43]Let's just talk about the sprint first very quickly. Um because there was some controversy there. Um, first of all, both Mercedes got off the line. Well, I'm sure that you're angry about this. Um, >> I'm not.

[00:05:01]>> You're not angry about this. I'm I'm surprised because you're being >> angry about what? I mean, my team's not in the mix. I could care less. I mean, >> yes. Yes, but it's but but I'm surprised that you're not more annoyed about the fact that Ferrari weren't shooting off into the distance.

[00:05:16]I mean that it is and I I sorry to interject here, but I mean it is infuriating to see all those cars line up and then we're waiting for goddamn 10 seconds. I know they said it's five, but it feels like 10. Might as well be 15 at this point. Like what is the point of this? Like just let's do a rolling start. Like who even cares about it?

[00:05:32]Like if you're so worried about safety, no need to do that. Like and I don't understand why why Ferrari have not fought this tooth and nail. Like I have to believe they have something else.

[00:05:42]Well, what what is safety issue? If it's safety, go >> you can't have a >> what's the point of that?

[00:05:48]>> Because F1's never been about having a rolling start with >> Did you see the race start?

[00:05:52]>> Did you see the race start? Yeah. So they they they so so so the problem is solved. The >> white but they didn't have a what you you mean to have two formation laps.

[00:06:02]>> I mean they had three formation labs. I think they did three laps before they actually started. They did the one and then >> was it Lindlad? Yeah, I think Lindlad had the issue, right? Um or was it Lawson? I can't remember.

[00:06:13]>> So maybe that's what Fred Vazar needs to turn. We need to have three rolling starts before we can three.

[00:06:18]>> Fred, I think is do >> before we actually >> This is why I think Ferrari are standing on business with for 2027, but we'll get into that later.

[00:06:26]>> We hope but hopefully hopefully we do.

[00:06:28]Um uh yeah. Anyway, so the two Mercedes get off the line. Um, I can't remember.

[00:06:34]Did Kimmy gets ahead of George? Is that right? And then George gets ahead of Kimmy. And then Kimmy then um tries to go round the outside of George Russell into turn one.

[00:06:48]Um, and into turn two gets pushed or uh has no space left for him.

[00:06:56]Ends up in the grass. Um, and George Russell stays ahead at that point.

[00:07:02]Uh and then Kim Antonelli uh finds himself uh on the grass again into turn 89.

[00:07:12]Um and ends up behind the McLaren of Landon Norris.

[00:07:20]So that was a big controversy of the sprint race because Kimmy Antony said, "Look, you know what we're doing here?"

[00:07:26]Uh I went round the outside. I had my front axle where it should have been.

[00:07:30]George didn't leave me any room and then had a whole heap of stuff to say over the over the radio. Uh Toto Wolf eventually came on and said, "Look, man, chill. We don't talk about this stuff on the radio. We keep it behind closed doors. Let's talk about it afterwards."

[00:07:48]That was kind of what happened. How did you read that? Yeah, I mean it it look I thought it was a penalty after having reviewed everything and I didn't watch the sprint live so I had the benefit of being able to go back and forth and sort of >> look at it. But, you know, when you have two teammates going at it, there's going to be very little or no noise about this because what are Mercedes going to do?

[00:08:09]Like, go go go to the stewards and say, I mean, but if this is Lando Norris or another team, then you have that. And I mean, I think you would have said the same thing for Ferrari a couple races ago, right? Or was it last year maybe? I think Lewis and and and Charl had a bit of maybe it was Miami 25, I can't remember. But >> between teammates, you know, it is what it is. You you got to you got to deal with it. And I thought that was while I thought George should have been given should have given that place back. I think Kimmy showed his his youthful exuberance in probably not the best way and how everything else pursued. So in the end he got what he deserved in my opinion. I mean I'm a big Kimmy Antelli fan, but that was one too many moves and I I don't think it was just that move on Lando. I think there were a couple other times where it felt like I mean honestly chees I was I was looking at him trying to take these overtakes and I thought at some point he was just going to crash either crash into someone or just crash like he was just and I don't know how that Mercedes didn't break but evidently it the other one broke on on Sunday so there there you have it like I don't I don't know how that's feasible so I think he does need to learn from that but you know this stuff's going to happen it's not the first or the last time we're going to be complaining about this stuff.

[00:09:17]Yeah, I mean I think I have to agree with you on that because the the move into turn one was on.

[00:09:24]Definitely Kimmy definitely got front axle to front axle at the apex. There's no doubt about that. So George had to give him room and he didn't give him room. Kimmy ended up on the grass. But the fact is that George probably knows that he can get away with it a little bit more with his teammate. Um which is ironic really is isn't it? But it but essentially the team are not going to push for a penalty for one of their drivers um if it means that that that driver ends up behind one of their their rivals after the penalty is applied. It doesn't help their constructor. So So George kind of used that to his benefit.

[00:09:59]And Kimmy, bless him, just went for it over the radio, didn't he? And was effing and blinding and this is ridiculous. This is he should get a penalty. He needs to give place back.

[00:10:09]And Botto was furiously trying to just calm him down. Get your head down. do the race and Kimmy didn't do it. That was the problem. That's what that's what put him in the grass and behind Lando Norris is because he tried a a ridiculous breaking maneuver into turn eight and ended up on on the grass and it was purely angry. And I'm going to quote Martin Brundle here who said, "Look, don't drive angry. If you drive angry, you never go faster. You always go backwards." And that's kind of what happened. And we've heard drivers over the, you know, over the years get heated over the radio, but it doesn't necessarily show with what they're doing on track. That's what Kimmy kind of needed to do was even if he was going to be hot in the in the cockpit, >> he just needed to not not let it show on track and just keep keep position. Um, but there seemed to be a bit of a reset, I thought, in the race.

[00:11:04]>> Uh, and and yeah, in the race proper. Um and George again was on pole. Uh but Kimmy Antonelli got away. Um he seemed to read the Lando Norris situation maybe a little better. Just got a better start. Maybe George being a bit cautious got pinsered by the two of them. And Kimmy Antonelli's away. Lando Norris. I mean I don't know. We're not really going to talk about what the hell were doing. We might as well just talk about it now. Like what were they doing?

[00:11:31]>> I had no idea. How are they the only genius? two formation three formation laps and Oscar Pastri constantly saying we're on the wrong tires and they still didn't change their tires like it was just nonsense. Um and you know it gave Lando a good start. Great, well done. Uh but he had to pit after lap one. So did it really help him? I don't know. Not really.

[00:11:54]>> And they seem to have some technical issues too, right on Lando? Didn't Lando retire eventually? Yeah, I think I think gearbox issue. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Look at that jinx. Um, >> got lucky.

[00:12:05]>> And and I'm sure the Brickssworth uh guys are pretty uh happy that it was a gearbox issue and not a power unit issue. Um, >> yeah. Although, so so uh not not great uh for them. But then, you know, then we had the ding-dong to end all ding-dongs.

[00:12:23]You know, Kimmy, George, one behind the other, one in front of the other, you know, overtake mode, not overtake mode.

[00:12:30]And it just kept going back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. I don't think it was fully resolved even at the point that George Russell ended up uh with a blown power unit uh coming out of that chicane again. It's funny how everything seemed to happen at that chicane and Kimmy just walted off into the distance. So, I'm going to ask you now, Mar, because I know how much you love this. You know, I know how much you love this.

[00:12:55]Um Kimmy has now got a what a 43 point lead.

[00:12:59]>> 43. Yep. Yep. I did the math right.

[00:13:01]>> That's that's almost two almost two race wins almost.

[00:13:06]>> Um >> also 14 >> and George George Russell was the the favorite, wasn't he? Is he still the favorite or have you have has George now um proven to you um beyond all doubt that you were correct about him that he was >> nothing? He was he was just >> just an overblown Englishman.

[00:13:28]>> Oh wow. I mean, you are really setting these traps for me, aren't you? Uh, you know, when I when I was doing this live, I said that it was a pity that that we didn't get to see this. I mean, Chz, we should step back for a second here. The what did you say? The ding-dong the ding-dong between the two Mercedes drivers was so amazing that the the coverage showed us nothing. I mean, for the first third of the race plus, all we were watching is the two Mercedes cars because there was no space to show anyone else. And there were some overtakes behind uh behind them that happened. We we couldn't even know. And then Pastry, for crying out loud, just went rammed into Alex Alpon on lap 13, the replay of which was shown on lap 53.

[00:14:09]Like I mean, so it was just it was jarring in a sense. And um to answer your question, I um I'm not ready to crown Kimmy Anteneelli just yet. Although my position on him has not changed from when we started the season.

[00:14:24]I do think that he is the as Toto sort of alluded to in years past, he is sort of the next guy and and I'm going to go ahead and say this is sort of the next coming of Max Versappen if and when he retires, that's a whole another topic because everything you described about his mistakes in the sprint and being hotheaded. Remind me a little bit of when Max first burst onto the scene. He was a bit hotheaded and, you know, a bit too aggressive and all of that. And even in his championship season, I think there was you e you either loved him for it or you hated him for it. I don't know that I don't know that Kimmy Antonelli is quite the same.

[00:14:55]So I don't want to do it's not an applesto apples comparison but if you are asking me for a reminder of who he is you can see that. So chees here's the simple reality for for Russell.

[00:15:05]It is highly unfortunate that he had this um engine failure which has got nothing to do with him. So I I know you won't believe me when I say this but I am I I do feel sad for him. I really absolutely do because as you said there was no way to know who would have won the race. I mean it was a coin toss until the end. I felt like whoever had you know whoever was was sort of behind the the other guy in the last corner and had just about enough power to get past like that's what would have happened kind of like what Pastry did to Hamilton at the at the end of the sprint. I thought that that's exactly what it would have been. But here's the reality, cheesy Antonyelli throughout those first 30 laps, whatever it was, he looked like the quicker guy. He just did look like the quicker guy. I mean, it looked like he I'm not sure he would have got a move done, but he looked quicker than Russell in in just the way I was absorbing the race. And while I think Russell had had done a great job of fending him off, the reality is this is a George Russell track, right? this is one of two or three tracks that is his sort of turf and the fact that the other guy qualified 0.068 068 behind him, not once, twice, right? And was nip and tuck in the race. I think that to me says something about how the season is panning out. So, it's not the fact that Russell got DNFed through no fault of his own. It's not the fact that Kimmy won this race, which he was clearly lucky enough to win it, but it's the way in which everything panned out. And so, for me, that position is unchanged. That said, man, this is race round seven, right? So there's 20 21 so like 14 15 races left depending on if they add Saudi back or not, right? Who knows? So too soon, but I think the early indication is I mean Kimy's got the goods. That's all I got to say.

[00:16:57]>> Yeah. Okay. So I mean there there'll be another 18 races, right? We're we're five in 18 really bad.

[00:17:05]>> It's round five. Okay. Yes. Yes. Sorry about that. Yes.

[00:17:07]>> Yeah. I just before I come on to my my question about this just the pace thing.

[00:17:13]Kimmy did get ahead. Kimmy got ahead a couple of times. George just got straight past him again and then Kimmy was back on him again. And I I think there was something very specific about um Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. But also I think there was something quite specific about the about the track in Canada this this this weekend. It was mentioned in coms. Uh I think John Noble mentioned it again in the races postra podcast as well that it was super cold and on top of that u pirelli had brought um a range of tires that was a step harder than it was last season. So these tires were just lasting the whole race like like you could have done the entire race on a set of softs.

[00:17:53]So here the problem wasn't that when you were behind another car, you were overheating your tires. Actually, it was more if you were in clear air, not behind another car, you couldn't get enough tire temperature in. Um George complained about that a couple of times.

[00:18:08]He also complained about graining on the rear tires ju just because they couldn't get heat into them.

[00:18:14]So actually being the following driver, the driver behind gave you a little bit of a step forward. So Kimmy being behind as often as he was did kind of change the way that that played out, right? So it it kind of gave him the impression of being faster when actually being behind the driver in front gave you better tire warm up. It gave you more grip on that front tire.

[00:18:43]It's also probably the reason why Lewis did quite as well as he did later on in the race because the Ferrari as we know although it might be a grippy high downforce well balanced car in qualifying it chews its tires is very much like the like the Mercedes um or the opposite of what the Mercedes was last year, right? in that the the Ferrari because it chews its tires so much actually on a track like Canada where you couldn't get tires to warm up did fire its tires up and allowed him to to to chase down Maxappen um in the way that he did at the end of the race. But that I think explains a little bit about the the pace and actually if you really dug into the the pace difference, there was almost nothing to choose between um Kimmy and George. But it doesn't take away the fact like like you said, this is meant to be a George track. Um, and Kimmy was right there with him. So my question isn't really about Kimmy because Kimmy is starting to show himself to be what he is. That's what you said. Um, he is there. He's he's like a Max Stappen or a Lewis Hamilton as he comes through. What does that say about George then and where he stacks up in terms of the roster of the rest of the drivers on the grid? I mean, I think if you're if you're going to be fair, and I will be fair, the assessment is slightly incomplete because to your point, I mean, he I mean, he DNFed this race. So, I don't know how this would have panned out had he managed forget that just just in terms of what he showed you across the sprint and the race that he participated in.

[00:20:22]>> Like, does that does that give you a bit more on top of all of the other evidence that we've got from the previous four races? Where where does that allow you to stack him up? uh in a panel of drivers on this grid right now.

[00:20:35]>> I mean I don't I I can't put him in that same level at the moment. That said again >> and as who? As who?

[00:20:42]>> As Antonelli. I I don't think he's Look, I think there are two things Shaz um one is he whatever I say does not um assumes that the season is still long as you said 17 races, 18 races. So, this can change, but from what I'm seeing right now, which is sort of what we argued back after Miami, is his body language suggests that he is not ready to take this on in a way that feels like a privilege to be in a championship fight.

[00:21:11]It feels like a burden on his shoulders.

[00:21:13]And even though he says, "Look, I was not worried about this after the sprint win. like I was not worried about him having to get this win and all. It's clear that the pressure is on his shoulders in part because the expectations again not his fault have been built up leading into this season.

[00:21:29]So I think where he's at right now both in the way he's he's driving and and that is where I say it's a little bit incomplete because we didn't get to see the whole race but even in the sprint he was under a lot of pressure and and he got bailed out by an antelli mistake.

[00:21:42]this where Max were slapping Kimmy made a mistake made a mistake and and it's not his fault but again he got that's why I said everything is incomplete on that that's why I put it in the incomplete it's a bit of an asterisk right now kind of going back to Miami again right um but I think the more concerning thing to me is his body language which is exactly what he said after the race he basically said right the gods don't want me to win or something like that I'm paraphrasing I did I sort of glanced at the quote that tells you everything there needs to be on top of the fact that there is still this Max to Mercedes stuff lingering around in the background. I'm not suggesting that that by itself is adding more pressure, but there are several tiny things that are laying up. And look, Antonelli has shown that he is the real deal. He is going to make mistakes.

[00:22:27]I think I think he's due for many more mistakes. That is absolutely going to happen. But it just feels like he is getting more out of the card uh more consistently. And again, I know you're going to tell me he had Russell had some issues in Miami, had a issue in Japan as well. I I get all of that, >> but it is what it is. I mean, this is what you're presented right now. I cannot go the hypothetical route at this point in time because there is nothing.

[00:22:51]I mean, hypothetically, then I can say many other things.

[00:22:54]>> Okay. So, so number one, some of those things are not hypothetical. George definitely had a mechanical issue in China, which meant that he didn't he he he did his his outlap before his qualifying lap in China on cold tires with an undercooked battery because he couldn't get round in the time because they had to fix his car. Like there's no getting around that. That's a fact. But across every other session in that Grand Prix weekend, including the sprint, he was ahead of Kimmy Anteneelli. And he probably would have won that race pretty convincingly if that mechanical issue hadn't happened. All of the evidence up until that point. It's not hypothetical.

[00:23:36]It's just extrapolating everything that had happened up until that point. Fine.

[00:23:44]So, it's not like he was getting drugbed. It's just he had bad luck in China following uh a you know a a a lights to flag. Well, not lights to flag because the Ferraris got in the way, but a pretty convincing win in Australia.

[00:24:02]Right. Again, he showed what he was made of in a race where Kimmy didn't do as well as he maybe could have done. Now, Japan, I totally agree. I think Kimmy had the pace ultimately on on George, even if George didn't have the the setup problems that he had. And in Miami, Kimmy was definitely the the faster Mercedes driver. But if we're going to draw parallels, because I think a lot of people are drawing parallels to to Oscar Pastri and Lando Norris last year, which you know, it's not an unreasonable one to have, is it? Where, you know, Lando's been the darling of the team.

[00:24:40]He's been there for years and years and Oscar Bati suddenly turns up and you know after two seasons in his third season at that team suddenly um he is away and running and for twothirds of that season he is ahead but that I think hides a fundamental truth about the McLarens. The McLarens those two drivers were probably the closest two drivers of any others on the grid last year. Kimmy Anton was 0.5 of a percent away on average from George Russell last year. He has made a monumental leap this season. Um being in a new category, being in a new technical regulation rule set has definitely helped him. But I think the the parallel that really needs to be drawn here is Lewis Hamilton versus Fernando Alonzo in 2007. and Fernando had the the benefit of having two titles under his belt already, but you know, he's then faced with this guy that is miles faster than anyone reasonably expected him to be. And that's that's what Fernando had to face at that team in that season. And we saw what Lewis Hamilton then went on to to become and do this. That's what this that's what Kimmy seems to to to to look like at I'm not I'm not Yeah. Yeah. I agree. But but is anyone going to turn around and say that Fernando Alonzo is a crappy driver?

[00:26:15]>> No, because he had also won two championships. And Chz, you said that Russell won handily in in Melbourne.

[00:26:21]That's not true. Antonelli finished less than three seconds behind him. It's it's not it's not even if you wanted to take Huh.

[00:26:27]>> How did he end up there?

[00:26:30]>> What do you mean? How did he end there?

[00:26:31]>> Why was Kimmy behind him?

[00:26:33]I What do you mean? Why was he behind him? He finished behind him.

[00:26:37]>> Yeah, but why?

[00:26:37]>> I don't know why. Why was he behind him?

[00:26:39]>> Because he qualified behind him. Why did he qualify behind him?

[00:26:41]>> Okay, but but he was slower than him.

[00:26:43]>> Yes, he was slower. But but where was Russell in Miami then?

[00:26:47]>> Yeah, he was slower.

[00:26:48]>> Nowhere. No, not just slower. Nowhere.

[00:26:51]He finished 40 seconds ahead. Got bailed out by Llair crashing. Otherwise, he would be further down.

[00:26:56]>> Totally agree. Even if you just want to take these two things, let's let's cancel out all the other tracks for whatever reason, right? You can't you can't count Miami. Uh you can't count goodness, what is the track? You can't count Montreal. You cannot count like you said Japan, China. Let's just take these two tracks. At at the track where Russell won, Antonyelli was within 3 seconds of him. And and at the track where where where Antelli won in Miami, Russell was nowhere to be found. So So those are two objective pieces of evidence that you can take. put those together and and see where you're at.

[00:27:28]I'm going to give you that hard. Okay.

[00:27:29]Sure. Because I think Kimmy Yanelli is genuinely looking like a driver that is going to be in one of the at the top echelon of the sport. But that's what George Russell is up against. It it doesn't reflect badly necessarily on George.

[00:27:44]>> Really, we're going to do this now >> because Well, I am because your contention the last time we had this argument was that if Charlotte was in that car, >> he >> Yeah. This would be a different deal.

[00:27:55]Even you know it, Chess. Even you know it.

[00:27:57]>> They probably both would make more mistakes and crash into each other.

[00:28:01]Chess, I I just want to say one thing before you move on.

[00:28:04]>> I'll have I'm not moving on. I'm just making an argument. Go on.

[00:28:09]>> One quick thing. You what you're about to do now has now progressed to the equivalent of Russell telling us that if he was at Mercedes 5 years earlier, he would have won because now you're saying that he's up against Russell is now up against a generational driver. Like I don't know like what so you want to create a situation in which it's Russell and Botas and nobody else and that's how this is going to work like so continue on but I just want to get that out there. Well yes but what you are saying is that if you put another driver in that car that they would hammer like the results would be completely different and that other driver would guaranteed be ahead. And what's your evidence for that? What's what's your what's your evidence? I I think I think it's just Racecraft. I think that again if if you want to talk aboutlair, it's just him extracting everything out of the car that he has barring this weekend and he's had a bad weekend. Everybody has one of those. No problem, no harm, no shame in in admitting it. Also, not acting like the sky is falling apart, right? That kind of stuff, right? So, I think his positionality in that regard has been has been very good. I have no reason to believe that would not be in there. I also have no reason to believe that and Antonyelli would get into each other several more times than Russell and Antonyelli have. So, it's just the way they drive. It's it's just vibes.

[00:29:27]It's basically vibes is what you're saying.

[00:29:28]>> Oh, man. Chess, we're watching the these races, too. You're not just watching Excel sheets on on race day, right?

[00:29:33]Like, I don't understand what that means. We're supposed to ignore what >> accept Yeah, sure. But you're also But what you're saying is that you should accept Sorry. You should just um completely disregard numbers because what you're seeing with >> I'm not disregarding anything. I'm Yes.

[00:29:47]And I'm not over.

[00:29:48]>> Okay, fine. Let's do yes. And do you know what the difference is between George Russell and Kim Antthony and super times at the moment?

[00:29:53]>> I don't know. I don't believe in super times. So, I don't know what >> Okay. Okay. You don't believe in super times when it comes to >> you don't believe in super times when it comes to comparing two different teams?

[00:30:04]>> You know what? Have at it. I don't mind.

[00:30:07]You can you can you can run that if you want to. But if you're using Super Times to compare drivers, drivers in the same team, you still don't believe that they have any benefit because all all it's doing all it's doing is taking the raw data and correcting it for the length of the track. So that that that's all it's doing between drivers.

[00:30:29]Yes or no?

[00:30:30]>> I agree. I was just pulling your leg there. I >> Great. So, so the difference between George Russell and Kimmy Anteneelli so far in five races that's and that includes two sprint sessions as well is 0.07 of a percent.

[00:30:46]Do you know what it is between Charlotte Clair and Lewis Hamilton at the moment?

[00:30:51]>> I don't know. But why is Hamilton relevant to this?

[00:30:54]>> Because because you said thatlair would would would completely demolish Kimmy Antelli in the same current movement, right? I did not saylllair would completely demolish can >> you said that he you said that he would either be what did you say you said it would be a different story >> I said I said that it would be a completely different story that includeslair leading an antelli I just told you that they would be they would be running okay so that's what you're saying right thatlair would definitively be ahead of yes or no have I got that right or wrong >> yeah definitively >> definitively right okay so the difference between difference betweenlair and Hamilton is do you know what it I don't know about I don't know. Are you including the Miami Fauxa? Like what what are we doing here?

[00:31:38]>> No, no, no. This is just this is just just qualifying. That's what that's what Okay. That's what Super Times do. 0.04 of a percent. What that that's that's it. So is 0.04% quicker than 40 almost 42y old Lewis Hamilton.

[00:31:56]>> I mean he's a goal.

[00:31:57]>> But that guy is okay. But Kimmy Antonelli you said is a is a generational talent as well. He's going to be the same as Max Vstappen.

[00:32:05]>> But ascending Lewis Hamilton has ascended.

[00:32:08]>> Pace doesn't change. Pace doesn't change, man. Like >> but the cars are different too. Like those are different cars, different characteristics as you just established earlier. We're not talking about the same >> Charlotte has been in that Ferrari team since 2019.

[00:32:24]You're telling me that he couldn't get them to design a car that he could get on with in >> this is a different Now now you're going down a different We're not talking about designing a car. That's not I'm not asking him to design a car that has nothing to do with that. He can't get comfortable in a car like he's been >> I don't understand what that has to do with this. Like I I mean I'm not seeing it. I I'm not I'm not >> You're not seeing it. You're not seeing it because Yeah. Because you because you cannot see it >> because you're so like Charlotte is definitely in that generational Max Versappen Lewis Hamilton.

[00:32:59]>> I mean, you have Max Lyric about him, too. Like I don't understand.

[00:33:02]>> I think he's a great driver, but I also think that George Russell would Hamilton blitz antelli.

[00:33:07]>> No, absolutely not.

[00:33:08]>> Would Max do that?

[00:33:10]>> Maybe.

[00:33:11]>> Okay. All right. Cool. Just wanted to be sure.

[00:33:14]>> Yeah. And if you don't thinklair, then I'm not going to bring Lando or Pastri up. Pastri.

[00:33:20]>> Did I get you?

[00:33:20]>> No, I don't think so. I know. I don't think so. I think I think at the moment I think >> No.

[00:33:25]>> So So we're making an excuse for George and that's what we're doing.

[00:33:28]>> I don't I don't think Lando or Oscar would would do any better than George Russell is doing right now. I don't think would do any better than than than what George is doing right now. I think Max, yes, would have would would would be in in a different position, but but Max is has been shown to be >> Max has been shown to be the best driver on the grid right now.

[00:33:51]>> But I don't think that George Russell is doing any worse than any other of those top drivers in any of the other cars right now. No, I absolutely do not think that. But but but I am I am very interested to understand why you think that is given the numbers don't don't >> yeah because I agree with the numbers but numbers tell you only half of the story you have to watch these races the vibes how many times have we come on here and said thatlair has put this car >> put put this Ferrari that we all agree is down on Mercedes at least four or five% in terms of power right so so the reality is when when you are when you are fighting for pole versus when you're just trying to put your car in the mix.

[00:34:35]Those are two different scenarios. The two Mercedes drivers have the benefit of essentially not worrying about anyone else. Like we we can we can go around and say, "Oh, McLaren has this and Ferrari has this." The reality is, and as these five races have shown, no one is coming close to beating Mercedes other than themselves, either through DNFS or getting together with each other, whatever the case might be. It is a different >> It's a different position. Are you telling me that thatlair is able to >> give him a rocket ship car, it's going to be a different deal? That's what I'm saying.

[00:35:05]>> Okay. Okay. Okay.

[00:35:06]>> So, you're telling me that when that iflair has a car, he'll put it in places that it shouldn't go. Right. So, why you want evidence? I'll give you that.

[00:35:15]>> Why is it Why is it that on four occasions this season, >> he's not been able to outqualify his teammate?

[00:35:22]>> Okay. I don't I don't understand why you're doing this with the this season.

[00:35:26]You want evidence of whenlair has done it. Go back to 2022 when he was going wheelto-wheel with Max and and they basically split their battles. I mean it's not exactly to a te but before Ferrari fell off the curve. They were both going at it. So there is evidence of when you give him the car he does that. They're not Ferrari are not in the position to championship too. George Russell was given a car in 2020. He was given a car.

[00:35:50]>> But he's given a car now. Chezz I mean he's been given the car now. What? Why do we need to do that when he's given a car now?

[00:35:56]>> So why are we talking about 2022 then?

[00:35:58]>> Because you asked me for evidence of when >> I'm giving you evidence and I'm giving you evidence of when George car did the same thing.

[00:36:06]>> Your evidence is inequal because why is it inequal? Can you Okay, simple question. Are Ferrari realistically in the mix for a win this season thus far?

[00:36:15]Not even close. That's my point.

[00:36:17]>> Just just today just >> Yes. They've come second on a technicality because McLaren decided to put in inter like that should have never happened declared it came second though was I just am I right or wrong in that.

[00:36:28]>> Oh yeah. Where did Lewis Hamilton finished last four races like he came second. He came second.

[00:36:33]>> You're not answering my question.

[00:36:34]They're not in the final four. They are telling you that right now.

[00:36:37]>> Amar I'm not talking about Lewis. I'm talking about Sha because if we're if we're using your your analogy, it it shouldn't make any difference how how quick the car is really likelair should be >> about beating your teammates. We're talking about leading the championship.

[00:36:53]You must be the first personship.

[00:36:56]>> The first person you have to beat to win a championship is your teammate.

[00:36:59]>> Great. Yes. And and and so so >> solair wouldn't be winning the championship right now.

[00:37:05]>> Who is ahead in the championship right now between the two drivers? says >> who?

[00:37:09]>> The same two Ferrari drivers.

[00:37:10]>> Yeah. Three points between the >> Okay. Yeah. No, no. Okay. But no, no, no, no. You can't you can't decide to pivot. See, this is it. Now, you ask me for evidence.lair is ahead despite throwing it in the wall in Miami where he could have been even more ahead. Fair enough. That's a mistake he he made. He needs to own it. Not defending that. So, he is ahead. So, I don't know what you're talking about. Is P3 in a car that does not deserve to be there. But the reality that is I can apply objectivity and say part of the reason why and Hamilton are up there right now is because McLaren have shot themselves in the foot once this race and once through I don't know whatever Mercedes didn't give them the the manual or whatever to starting their engines back in >> they did not start in China correct >> they did not start in China so otherwise they would not be there so my point to you is >> are no one car in Australia because >> Ferrari are in no position to to to say I mean Fred has told you he keeps waiting for this ADU to kick in. So they they are firmly not in the championship.

[00:38:07]The last time Ferrari were truly in championship contention was at the beginning of 2020. You saw what happened.

[00:38:13]>> I don't understand why the championship thing has to you you're telling me that Charlotte only tries hard when it's when it's a championship on the line. Is that what you're saying?

[00:38:24]>> No. No. That's your interpret. I never said anything about >> Okay. Okay then.

[00:38:29]>> Let's back up here for a second. Please back up your please because I really don't understand where Russell is at in this and and I'm telling you clearly Russell is not in championship mode right now because he himself is telling you these are not my quotes the gods don't want it or whatever the heck that is. He is the one telling you that telling you that >> he is the one telling you in the middle of a season where he has the favorite car by a wide stretch that he would have won championships if he was here 5 years earlier. Well, he didn't say that this year. He said that a few years ago. This is this is the body of evidence that you have right now. He is telling you after Miami and after Montreal with Montreal being his track that I guess it's just not there for me. That is what he's saying with 17 races to go. So we can go through all the super times you want but the reality is the driver himself is telling you that. But your content are your contention is that if you stuck Charlotte Clair in that car that George Russell is in right now, >> it would be a different story and he would be ahead of Kimmy Anthony.

[00:39:29]>> That's my opinion.

[00:39:29]>> Based on what?

[00:39:32]>> That's my opinion based on what I've seen at the beginning of 2022. The last time Ferrari had a championship winning car, which is only for a third of the season. But but he did he had that. It's quite simple. And he was he was he was competing with Max at that point. Not even like I mean Antony is still coming up. Antonyelli is still making mistakes.

[00:39:52]Was going up against >> 2022. He won what three races that season.

[00:39:57]>> Like I said Ferrari fell off the again.

[00:39:59]We're still also five races into the season right now. We're not we're not done with it. So come back to me later.

[00:40:05]Apples to apples. This is where we're at.

[00:40:07]>> It's not a great record is it for someone that was in a champion championship contention that year.

[00:40:12]Cool. I don't know what you want me to do with that. Like I don't again at this point in the season >> if it was me. I wouldn't dump it in the I wouldn't dump it at all in in France.

[00:40:21]>> I know. But after five races he had a 70point lead, didn't he? After five races, Russell is down 40 points. So we can come back after race seven, race eight, race n you can tell me all about this right now >> against his teammate. So they're in a dominant they're in a dominant car. And my cont your contention as well, right, is that Kimmy Antonelli might be the next Max Stapen. Not my words, your words. And what you're saying is that George Russell is it's his fault that he's in that position, right? Because if you stop my words, I didn't use the word.

[00:40:57]>> No, I didn't say that. But I didn't say they were your words, but you're saying if you stuck Charlotte or Lando Nor I I don't know if you think >> I didn't say Lando. I said Lewis, Max, and Charles. either of the three drivers.

[00:41:08]>> Okay. And I and and I think Lewis probably wouldn't be able to do anything right now. I just I just don't see it at the moment. The fact that he's struggling uh with at the moment makes me think that >> you just said he's you two sec two minutes ago.

[00:41:24]But now he's struggling with >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But but yeah, both things can be true. Both things absolutely can be true. I was using that as as a as a way of demonstrating thatlair isn't like head and shoulders above everybody else because Lewis unfortunately is not the Lewis of 2018.

[00:41:43]That's it's just not the same driver right now.

[00:41:48]>> I can't believe you're taking Lewis out just to make your point. I don't even understand this.

[00:41:53]>> Amar, your contention on this has always been that Lewis Hamilton can't hang with the drivers that we have right now. Not that he got slower, but he can't hang with the drivers that are that are in Formula 1 right now. And yet, he has equaled the same number of qualifying sessions ahead of his teammate as his teammate has got ahead of him.

[00:42:14]>> So, what is your position?

[00:42:16]We just got debating.

[00:42:18]>> Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. So, I I don't disagree with you. I think that is probably the fastest driver on the grid over one lap.

[00:42:25]>> Boom. Done.

[00:42:26]>> Right. But that is quickly being eroded by Kimmy Anteneelli in that Mercedes right now.

[00:42:34]The evidence is The evidence is right there right now. Mercedes have evidence car and Ferrari don't have one.

[00:42:40]>> Wow. The evidence is right there in front of you, right? That Kimmy is putting in these laps.

[00:42:47]>> And my contention is that it doesn't matter who you put in next to him right now, they would suffer the same fate that George Russell is is suffering. I mean, it's a hypothetical >> and George Russell and George Russell, let's be honest, right? You're going to you're going to give the numbers. You're going to you're going to say, "Oh, the vibes tell me that Kimmy is definitely the fastest driver."

[00:43:06]>> The vibes. I mean, I just read to you what Russell himself has said. I didn't say those.

[00:43:10]>> But Russell, you're you're quoting Russell after he DNFed for something that had nothing to do with him.

[00:43:15]>> What did he say?

[00:43:16]>> His fault.

[00:43:18]>> Yeah, but he said the same thing essentially in Miami, too.

[00:43:20]>> No, no. In Miami, in Miami, he didn't say the championship is >> lose our attitude. Chess, you got you got to we call Lewis Hamilton out when he was telling us, "Oh, I don't know if I want to do this and all that." Like two years ago. I remember when he was talking. You got to call this out, too.

[00:43:33]This is loser attitude. There's 17 races. You know, Lando was down like 30 plus points, maybe twothirds of the way into last season, you know.

[00:43:40]>> Okay, let's take let's let's take this as it is, right? You think Max, Lewis, and Shaw, okay, I'm going to tell you right now, Charlane in there. All right, if if George isn't in there, Charlane in there. Definitely not because Lewis is in there based on legacy. He's he's won seven world championships, but George Russell beat Lewis Hamilton over the three years that they were together and Lewis Hamilton was the incumbent in that in that team. So George Russell definitely knows what he's doing. So if you're telling me that Lewis Hamilton is in that goat category, George has to be in there as well based on form. Has to be. Right. But Charlotte is struggling with Lewis Hamilton this season. It's happening right now in front of you.

[00:44:20]It's It's not I'm I'm not making this up. It's not vived. Pure data is telling you that. So if you're telling me that George Russell can't be in that top three, right, thenlair can't be either just by just by those those two things.

[00:44:36]>> So your position your position on Charles is a bit disingenuous. He's not struggling with Lewis. He's struggling with the car they have and the evidence of that has played out time and time through. I mean, chees I I am old enough to remember you coming on here a you and I coming on here after the second race and praising Charles for trying to figure out how best to make this rule set work. These were your >> he was he was outqualifying his teammate at that point. Now he's not doing that.

[00:45:00]>> This is the problem with and and it'll change again like two races later. So this is the problem with just looking at Excel sheets is that it it it can betray you. It's the equivalent of using AI to decide everything. Yes, that is critical but it is one portion of the evidence.

[00:45:15]You also have to see what's working out on track. And again, struggled this weekend. No doubt. Lewis Hamilton was on top of it. They couldn't have been in opposite scenarios like this. There's another track coming up where you'll see the same thing. Lewis Hamilton will have the goods on that particular weekend, even if not any other weekend. And Charlotte is not, and that is Silverstone. But there are other races that will come out. So, this stuff evens out. The point is they still finished close enough to even with this gap. Why do you not think it will even out between Kimmy Anteneelli and George Russell? That's my question. It's I I don't disagree with what you've just said. Absolutely don't disagree, but it's it's a it's a double standards that I don't understand. Why and Lewis, it's a it's a back and forth.

[00:45:59]And >> I will actually read it to you.

[00:46:00]>> Go on.

[00:46:01]>> Here's your evidence.

[00:46:02]>> If you're going to give me Grand Prix, if you're going to give me >> No, no, no. Australian Grand Prix.

[00:46:06]Russell finished >> one an hour 23 6 seconds. 801 Kimmy Anteneelli plus 2.97. All right. Now, let's go to if I can if I can figure this out. Miami Grand Prix. Kimmy Antonelli 1 hour 33 minutes 19 seconds.

[00:46:21]George Russell plus 43 seconds. That's it.

[00:46:25]>> Yeah, he had a bad race.

[00:46:26]>> These are these are numbers. I mean, so >> he had a he had a bad race, man. Last year in Silverstone, Lewis Hamilton was almost on the podium. Charlair was lapped. Does that tell me that suddenly doesn't know what he's doing >> again? Now, now you're going back to thellair thing. I just get you asked me to to compare the two teammates.

[00:46:45]>> Okay. And I'm asking you why why do you give why is it that you givelair the benefit of the doubt? He he'll come through this. It'll be fine. It'll be give and take over the course of the season. But with George Russell and Kimmy Anton, despite the fact that that George was the quicker driver in Australia, fact, he was the quicker driver across every session bar the session in which he had a massive mechanical issue in China. Fact. And he was the quicker driver across every qualifying and competitive session. You got to be fast when it counts in Canada.

[00:47:17]In Canada, fact that that suddenly there's not going to be any give and take between those two drivers. Just just saying fact does not prove the point. It's not fact. It's an incomplete fact because again you're selecting races to make your point. I just gave you two races where apples to apples.

[00:47:34]The race that that George Russell won the only one in five Kimmy was 3 seconds behind it. You made your point about the 3 seconds took out everything else.

[00:47:42]Okay. You made your point about 3 seconds. But we're talking about give and take, right? Can you not can you not admit that in terms of pace it has also been give and take between George Russell and Kimmy Antelli or are you saying no it's been Kimmy Antonelli?

[00:47:58]>> The fact that it's been give and take tells you everything because again this is it you you sort of glanced by the obvious chess which is Russell was the champion to be he was crowned the favorite to come in. This was going to be his season. Finally, he has the car.

[00:48:13]And guess what? The other guy, no one actually even thought of him as a championship contender, let let alone leading at any point at this at this stage, right? And the fact that it is nip and tuck tells you everything there needs to be. So now you can decide the floor with Lewis Hamilton and yet here we are nip and tuck. So So I I hung up on my thing, but we we are talking about these two contenders. But it's because it's because Amar I can't I cannot >> What is it? You want me to admit thatlair would not be there? Like this is >> No, I want you to I want No, I don't want you to do anything. I just don't understand.

[00:48:50]>> I mean, this is my position on it.

[00:48:53]>> Is in your top three, but Russell can't get in there. That's what I don't get.

[00:48:57]It just it blows my mind that we've basically had a rerun of both their seasons.

[00:49:03]>> Okay. in that Kimmy Anteneelli in in his rookie season was 0.5 of a percent behind George Russell last year. Lewis Hamilton was a similar amount behind Charlair last season and yet we turn up this season and both those drivers have taken a massive step forward and their respective teammates are not holding them back. the the the difference between George Russell and Kimmy Anteneelli in terms of their respective points would not be the same. It would not be 43 points if George Russell had not had a DNF in this race. It's you know if you're going to if you're going to extrapolate from anything extrapolate from that it wouldn't even if he finished behind Kimmyelli it wouldn't have been a 43 point gap.

[00:49:56]It was 16, it would have been 24, right?

[00:49:59]So, or it was 18, it would have been if Kimmy had finished ahead of George.

[00:50:04]Correct. Which and that was not that was not a foregone conclusion >> even at the point.

[00:50:09]>> You're right. But even if he even if he did finish like he was going to finish within 3 seconds behind.

[00:50:15]>> Sure. But that doesn't matter whether you're three 3 seconds behind or 20 seconds.

[00:50:20]>> Which one is it? Is it points or super times? Because you you keep switching the argument I just gave you thatlair was ahead of Louiswis and you said oh no that doesn't count. So then which >> because a lot happens in a race, right?

[00:50:31]A lot happens in a race.

[00:50:32]>> Which one are we counting? Points or super.

[00:50:34]>> But but in qualifying it's just you and the car and the track. So super times give you a much clearer indication of pace.

[00:50:43]>> You know this chess, you've railed against how qualifying works right now.

[00:50:46]We all know that qualifying is still broken. You just opened this our show today by saying we I skipped qualifying because I know that it was going to be a dot. So the reality is and and you are not able to do some of your your your excellent telery work because we all know that it is all warped right now. So does not show you anything.

[00:51:04]>> No, no, no, no, no, no, no. That's not what I'm saying. Yes, qualifying.

[00:51:07]>> Didn't you skip qualifying? You didn't watch it, right?

[00:51:10]>> Qualifying is broken.

[00:51:12]>> Okay.

[00:51:12]>> The quicker driver is still going to be the quicker driver.

[00:51:17]Okay. All right.

[00:51:18]>> No. Oh. Oh. Okay. Oh. Well, well, well, in which case.

[00:51:21]>> No, you're right. I mean, they're quite mean that that Lewis Hamilton qualifying a tenth and a half behind Charlotte Glenn. It doesn't mean anything.

[00:51:28]Actually, >> I'm fine with that, but then don't tell me the points are given on Sunday. Like, we're either going to do qualifying or or points. Like, you can't do both things. You can't just flip and say, "Okay, here this guy was leading this guy." I mean, all right. I mean, Russell and Hamilton were together three years.

[00:51:43]They're basically breaking down for you.

[00:51:45]The most important thing for me is pace 100%. That's why the Super Times are the most important thing to me. Okay, but yes, points are given out on Sunday.

[00:51:54]That's why the 3 seconds back in Australia means nothing to me. Doesn't matter. The whole thing about Miami was the fact that George Russell was four was point4 of a percent behind Kimmy.

[00:52:05]That's the big number. And I agree with you. Unacceptable. It was too big. But that's all I needed to hear. not the 40 seconds behind because a lot happens in a race. A huge amount happens in a race that will put a driver behind his other his teammate. If if you're that far back in traffic having to fight through, you have a bad pit stop, you get undercut, you get overcut, you're having to to to change your strategy versus you're in clear air, you could just run your race on autopilot. It's two different scenarios. So comparing what happened to one driver and what happened to another driver in a race I think is fallacies.

[00:52:43]Why I don't believe in race pace as a as a quantifier of anything. That's why I use super times. That's why I use qualifying because at the quickest point in the weekend, one driver is demonstrably quicker than the other. And that has been give and take between the two Mercedes drivers just like it's been give and take between the two Ferrari drivers. Just like last year it was a drubbing bylair on Hamilton. Just like it was a dubbing by George Russell on Kimmy Antenni last year. That is why I think that if you stuck Charlotte in that Mercedes against Kimmy right now, it would be no different. You can laugh, but you haven't actually given me any evidence contrary to what I've said.

[00:53:24]>> I gave you evidence. You're just dismissing it because you know it doesn't work for your argument. That What do you want me to do now? I give up.

[00:53:31]>> You're arguing. You should give up because amar your argument is basically I think Charlotte Clair is quicker than George Russell.

[00:53:37]>> This is a weird way to cope with what Russell's going through. She says I don't know what to do. Okay.

[00:53:41]>> It's not it's not a cope.

[00:53:44]>> I have lost track of what the argument is because at some point it was well Lewis Hamilton is taking Charlotte to the cleaners. But when when we then we switched to point standings and I told you that Charlotte is ahead of Lewis. Oh that doesn't matter. Okay. Now it is super times. Now it is standings. Now it is super times. I've talked about Super Times from the beginning. You just decided you don't like Super Times.

[00:54:03]Anyway, look, we are we are at almost an hour, so I think we're going to have to stop. We'll talk about Aduo later in the week. At least we got something to talk about.

[00:54:11]>> As usual, uh this is what you came for.

[00:54:13]This is what you got. Um McLaren, please subscribe. We talked about them. I told you we weren't going to talk about them.

[00:54:19]We talked about the in the in and then that was it. Um please like, please subscribe, please leave us a comment. We will read every single one. We will reply to as many as we possibly can. We will see you guys if we can make up by the next one.