Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Who drives the world forward? The one with the answers or the one asking the right questions? At Aramco, we start every day by asking how. How can innovation help deliver reliable energy to the world? To get to the answer, we first need to ask the right question. Search Aramco Powered by Howe.

Aramco is an energy and chemicals company with oil and gas production as its primary business. Hey, Ryan Reynolds here. Wishing you a very happy half-off holiday because right now Mint Mobile is offering you the gift of 50% off unlimited. To be clear, that's half... price, not half the service. Mint is still premium, unlimited wireless for a great price. So, that means a half day. Give it a try at mintmobile.com slash save. Five Live Formula One.

Welcome to Abu Dhabi and the climax of a remarkable Formula One season. Three drivers in with a shot of the title. Full commentary from here in the UAE, 1pm on Sunday. We're at the Yas Marina circuit. I'm on the Yas Marina. So just below me, there is a golf cart just driving down the port towards one of the many boats that are sidling up.

to the edge of the water actually right in front of me i can see there is a very very small boat with a couple of kangaroos with boxing gloves on the front of it it says australia i'm going to go ahead and predict that they're oscar piastri fans he's in the world title fight

If I just keep walking down through some of the yachts that appear, the big ones, the fancy ones, just to my right now, I can see a Dutch flag just hanging a little bit limply off a mast. Things are very calm here. It's very cool. But of all of the things I can see, it is the lights that make it. There's a big disco ball in front of me on one of the party boats. Loads and loads of fans just sort of pull their boats into the marina. They get set up here and they're what?

metres from the racetrack in front of me there's this humongous building it's the W Hotel and it has this great blue shimmering steel glass lid and it's actually built above the race track, the race track where we will see Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.

fighting it out for the world title on Sunday. Now I'm going to walk and talk because I've got to find the team and also I feel like you need a little bit of context. So I'm heading toward the paddock here, toward where the drivers will walk out from their big villas toward the pit lane in front. of me lando norris has got a 12 point lead over max verstappen piastri is a further six points behind 25 points for a win so if lando finishes on the podium

He's world champion, whatever else happens. If he doesn't, Verstappen wins the title if he wins the Grand Prix. Piastri wins the title if he wins the race. And Norris is sixth. or lower. Obviously, if Norris doesn't finish, then it gets chaotic. So there's your context. I'm just ambling around. I'm jumping over a curb. We're outside the FIA's offices here. So nothing too controversial over the course of the next, what?

40, 50 minutes, give or take. We'll be back and forth for live football and the other sport that's going on. Loads of great guests lined up. Firstly, in front of me, I've got correspondent Andrew Benson. I've got former Renault F1 driver Jolian Palmer and commentator.

Harry Benjamin. Hello, everyone. Hello. Hello, Steve. You know it's a big race when Steve Crossman's come out on site. Isn't that right? Now, I heard that you basically only work for the big bucks these days, Jolien. However, my presence here... has changed your mind. Yeah, always do be back. For the big occasion, Crossman's on site. We're all going to do it for Five Live here. Andrew.

What an occasion. I mean, F1 has not had it this good since we were all here in 2021 for Hamilton, Verstappen and all of the chaos that ensued. Well, that was a very dramatic season, but you could argue this is even better because there are three drivers in it and that's not happened for 15 years. years and yeah you can sense the excitement it's almost palpable

So we're going to hear a little bit later an interview that Andrew has done today with Max Verstappen, who's won the last four world titles and, of course, is in contention this year. I haven't refreshed, Andrew. Is it now available on the BBC Sport website? Do you want me to check for you? I would hope so by now, yes. Let's have a look. If not, I'm sure it will happen during the show. Top story is still Norris not going to ask Piastri for help.

There you go. Maybe people will hear it on Five Live first. We'll find out. Also, you, Harry, are going to be finding out about paddock politics. I am indeed because, well, next year we're going to have five British drivers on the Formula One grid. It's the first time in a long time that's happened. So I'm ending my catch-ups of the year with Oliver Behrman to talk all about that and more.

Are the British drivers backing the British challenger, Julian? Do you think that's a thing? What, the other Brits rallying around Philando? I'm not sure they are, you know. Do you not think so? I don't know if it works like that. Do they care? To be frank, no. I don't think they do. So everyone's turning up with their own agendas, trying to get their best results. I would say there's only probably one British driver.

in theory who could have a say in the title, that's George Russell. And I think he's probably, you know, he's had... a lot of beef in the past with Max Verstappen this time last year. That was the massive fallout was George and Max rivalry. He gets on quite well with Lando, but I don't think he's going to be out there to help Lando out at all. I've also had the chance to speak to Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. So we'll bring that to you a little bit later as well. So basically...

All of the key protagonists have been speaking to us today. That's what you can look forward to. Harry, before we go any further, have you thought about what you'll say depending on who wins? I mean, I'll probably just come up with something brilliant as they cross the line in the spare of the moment, really.

I won't lie, I've already scripted probably some rough lines for every single eventuality. Have you? In fact, I already started in Qatar, obviously, because that was the first occasion it could have been one. But yeah, of course, I've got a few little things to say across the line. It's a big moment. Big Sunday for Landon Norris, Matt Stapp and Oscar Piastri.

Big Sunday for Harry Benjamin on the comms. First title decider on the comms. First it is, because I wasn't here in 21, so this is my first big moment. It's your first big pressure moment, Harry. Not to make it all about me. Yeah, exactly. There's a lot of people under pressure this weekend. The McLaren team have got a lot to lose. Harry Benjamin.

on commentary is a lot to lose. Could be the last commentary I ever do. Do you think you should wait until you've done a commentary of this magnitude to start calling yourself Harry Benjamin in the third person, or are you happy with... No, no, I'm happy to do that now. You're happy with it? Yeah. These are... These are the days, Julian, for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri particularly, having never won it, that you guys dream of the first time you get in a go-kart, right?

100%. These are the days that we all turn up for in sport, a title decider at the last race. If you are one of the contenders, the buzz that you're getting, honestly, the nerves that you're getting the whole way through the weekend, especially if you've not won a title before, so the McLaren guys. Especially if you're Lando turning up with sort of massive favorites tag and it very much in his hands.

And the thing for Lando is he's had this feeling last week already. There was a very real scenario where last week he's the champion. So he's already had everyone talking about, Lando Norris, you could be the champion this week. And it didn't happen. And so he's got that again, only there's no get out for him this time. If it doesn't happen, someone else is the champion. So the pressure is very much on his shoulders. Yeah, but I feel like I want a bit more pressure.

on all three. And Max Verstappen is kind of walking into this, yeah, if I win a championship, then great. I've already got four trophies at home. I'll add a fifth one, no bother. But I feel like- How do you put more pressure on Lando here? Well, I feel like between themselves. I want more drama. You want to see them quaking. I want sweat.

pouring off their foreheads on the media day. Can race on ice? I don't know. There's a first Formula One World Championship up for grabs. And yes, I know Lando Norris is the favourite. But, you know, twice before, we've had, what, three-way fights going into Abu Dhabi and the guy in third in the championship has come through. to take the title because of various things that have gone on throughout the race. They're a bit nice, aren't they? It's all a bit nicey-nicey, in my opinion.

But am I wrong in wanting that? Well, I think the parallels are very obvious, aren't they? Because the last time that we were here with Crossy in Abu Dhabi was 2021. when it was Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, and my word, they were not nicey-nicey then. That was like the absolute enemies come together tied on points. It was a very different championship battle.

This one, it's a different generation of drivers. It's two drivers from the same team. The politics that's gone with that over the year has been well documented. McLaren have kept them... kind of getting on pretty well with each other, although they're very much aware that there could be team orders in play and one of them will be disappointed on Sunday night. But it is different. Even Max Verstappen, he's now turned up as a four-time world champion.

If he doesn't become a five-time world champion, is it going to be massive skin off his nose? It's not really. When he turned up in 2021, he had everything to prove against a seven-time world champ who was trying to become an eight-time world champ and be the greatest ever statistically. So there's differences there. I still think this matters massively. And I think by Sunday, you'll see a very different...

Lando Norris walking to the grid to go and have his take on making history. Do you look at him, Andrew, as someone who has covered how many seasons of F1? Too many to count, Steve. That's not true. Quite a few. Would you look at someone and say, oh, there's a guy who's ready to be world champion? I mean, yes, definitely. But of course, there's so many things that can get in the way, as we saw last weekend in Qatar. I mean, when this happened 15 years ago, Fernando Alonso came into it.

with a lead of eight points over Mark Webber and 15 points over Sebastian Vettel which is not very different from where they are at the moment. It's 12 and 16 over Verstappen and Piastri this time. No one thought Ferrari could possibly lose that championship but they messed it up.

so badly, just in the same way that McLaren messed up in Qatar last weekend so badly. The fact that they've done that there, it could be a good thing that they've got it out of their systems and they've been able to sort of... sort of regroup, or it could be that it gives them the yips, you know? So, what's so delicious about it is there's just so many possibilities and we've got this build-up to the...

to the race on Sunday, qualifying of course. So much could hang on qualifying. Overtaking is not that easy around here. You know, if Norris sticks it on pole, then in theory, he's halfway to winning the championship. But if something goes wrong and he's fifth. for example, then suddenly the pressure really, really ramps up. So it's just mouthwatering. Can we play 4D chess here then, guys? Because I think that's what we need to be able to do to work out how this could go.

I mean, I guess Julian, the good thing for Lando is he knows if I'm third, I'm world champion. So he kind of knows what he needs to do. The other two basically know if they don't win the race, it's incredibly unlikely. So that bit psychologically is kind of taken care of, but then there are so many other aspects to it.

And I wouldn't be worrying about any of the other aspects to it if I was any of the drivers involved. If you're Orlando, focus on getting on the podium. There's not been that many races this year where he's finished outside of the podium. So...

He's got to not think about the chance of the strategy being an absolute blooper. He'll work with the team to make sure that they cover off as many bases as they can after last week. He's got to not think about the fact that his engine might pack up like it did in Zandvoort, or there might be a slow pit stop, or they might get...

after the race like they've had in Vegas. There have been many occasions this year where things would have gone away that would have been outside of his control. He's got to think about what's in his control and just that's why I think he's got still a level of confidence today where he's not. sweating profusely as Harry Benjamin would like to see him where he's thinking I'm in the best car it's still sorry if that came across a bit weird

He's thinking, I'm in the best car. It will probably still be the most competitive car here. He's still a driver that's driving at the highest level. And if he just executes a regular race weekend, as hard as that is to blank it out. and gets on the podium, he's the champion. The thing is even thinking I've just got to get on the podium is a dangerous mentality. You can think back to 2008.

Lewis Hamilton only needed to finish fifth in Brazil that year in the championship decider. And McLaren went in with that mentality and they had a weekend that was so edgy, they almost didn't achieve it because they'd gone in thinking like that. He's got to go in thinking. I need to win the race. Just treat it like any other weekend. Which is what he's been saying. He's been trying to talk himself into that mind, that headspace, hasn't he, Jolyon?

for quite some time now. But whether you're actually in that headspace when it comes to it, when it really matters at a pressure point like this is a different question. I think it's the best way for him. To me, what would be the biggest thing is qualifying. If Lando starts the Grand Prix on Sunday from the front row,

You've got a nice clear view ahead of you into the first corner. Things are so within your control. You get a good launch. You hopefully are on pole and you keep the lead, in which case the number of things that can go wrong just dwindles into being a pit stop and reliability, really.

If you're not on the front row, the prospect of having other drivers that really could not care one iota about your championship anywhere near you into the first corner, getting a tangle from somewhere or just getting stuck in traffic with other cars that are quite quick. It's not that easy to clear them around this circuit. His job will become so much harder if he's not on the front row and he has the tools at his disposal to be there.

but it's easier said than done. And we saw it even last time out, qualifying mistakes can creep in. So the easier said than done thing is exactly what it's come in on. So what would you say was like, what was the biggest race of... your career in terms of that went the way you wanted it to go?

Probably I won the GB2 championship. Okay. But I was so grateful that it didn't come down to the last race. Interesting. I won the race with a weekend to go. And I honestly didn't know as I was crossing the line that I was going to be champion.

So I won the race in Sochi, and no one had told me that my title rival, Felipe Naza, on the day had a penalty and was out. So I crossed the line celebrating a win, and they were like, good news, by the way, you're champion. I was like, oh, brilliant. So I never felt the... Obviously, there was pressures of a title running, but I never felt the yips of, this is it, this is it, this is your moment. In Formula One, every race was the same, but I was never fighting for a title or...

you know, any specific moment that was bigger than the others. But that's so interesting that the first thing that you said there is you were really glad it didn't go down to that final race. If we're talking about the number of people who can do what you've said Lando needs to do, which is to shut all of that out, you know, that is, we're talking, count it on one hand in the world, the people who'd be able to do it, aren't we, in this sport?

I completely agree. Yeah. We're talking about pressure in the most intense environment. And I mean, you're in the paddock. You can see, look around. The drivers are all dealing with the media. They're all dealing with so many other partners that are around. the pressure cooker of the environment, it only ramps up from here. This is Thursday, this is media day. By Sunday,

Everything they've worked for in their lives, for Lando and for Oscar, but Oscar's already probably resigned to the fact that he may well not do it, whereas Lando has it in his control. And for it to slip away will be... I think, devastated for him, even if he plays it down right now. The other thing I think back to is when he crossed the line in Las Vegas two races ago, they were etching his name on the Champions Trophy. He was 42 points clear of Max Verstappen. He was...

He was so in control over his teammate as well. It seemed to foregone conclusion. We were probably thinking that he was going to do it in Qatar as a formality. Then they had the disqualification. Then they had the misstep strategy in Qatar. And when you have been that close to just already sealing it and having a feet-up weekend in Abu Dhabi just as a celebration parade, to have it now on the cusp of slipping away from you...

I think, in my opinion, this would make the pressure tenfold. Are you not also, though, if you're a driver in this particular fight, yeah, you can shut out the media, do all of that stuff, but you can't ignore... the Max Verstappen factor in this either, because surely you would race him differently going down to someone. If he gets in amongst, if he splits the McLarens, or even if he's starting inside the top three, he's not afraid. He's got nothing to lose.

in this particular occasion, but he's also never afraid to sling something down the inside, have contact. spun Piastri round in turn one here last year. He will do a late lunge down at the end of the back straight like he did with Hamilton in 2021 and force him off the road. He'll do that regardless whether it's going for a championship or just another race victory. So surely if you are Lando Norris.

you are thinking about that when you're sat in the cockpit of where Verstappen is in your mirrors. 100%. Verstappen is a menace. He's shown it so many times in the past to Lando. You saw the way that Lando covered in Las Vegas from pole position, was so hell-bent on getting to the inside for the first corner to cover Max that he missed his breaking point, went off the road, and Max came through.

In Qatar, starting second ahead of Max, I always just felt like it was going to be a matter of time. How long from the lights going out does Lando look in his left mirror to see where Max is? And already he was through before the mirrors were even useful for him. So they have this this thing where Max I think has had so many times getting on top of Lando in these situations and this is where Oscar comes in as The other factor in this where if they collide

Oscar Piastri will probably be world champion. And Max can use that as a sort of leverage here to throw in a 50-50 move. And if they end up in a heap, it is worse for the guy that is on the cusp of being the champion than it is for the guy that's having a long shot of it.

Forget the dynamic between the McLarens. Forget the dynamic between anyone who isn't me and Jolian Palmer, because what you've done there is you've just set me up for our Max Verstappen interview without even knowing it. I mean, he's got this intensity and me.

Yeah, Steve Crossman has this intensity that will get the best out of this Max Verstappen interview. Great. All right, well, let's hear it. So this is Max Verstappen talking to correspondent Andrew Benson about the future, about finding a way to win, about fatherhood.

and about fear. Do you realize how you're perceived by your rivals in the sense of their kind of scared of you basically you know yeah but for me like i don't i don't pay a lot of attention to it you know like i don't waste my energy on that i i do my stuff here i know that when i'm with the team when i jump in the car

I drive it as fast as I can. But then also when I go home, I don't waste any time or energy of what other people think of me or what is going on there. I have other projects running that also need my attention and that I'm passionate about. So I always have... stuff to do yeah but when you know when the boss of the team that you're fighting with

that likens you to a character in a horror movie or he calls you relentless, if you're coming up behind Lando or Oscar, for example, on the track, does it affect you in any way that you know that their boss is talking about you in that way? And that must be in their heads somewhere. somehow, right? It probably is, but at the same time, I don't know, I just don't really, I'm not really faced by it or whatever, like I just do my thing. Like I'm quite flat, I guess, in emotions in that sense.

Do you see yourself as an irresistible force in the way that lots of people in Formula One do when you're racing, you know? Well, I know that I will never give up. I know that I was trying to extract the most out of it. Can I be beaten on the day? For sure. I mean, everyone can be beaten on the day, but... Can you beat me 24 races in a year? No.

And that's something that if you want to fight for a championship, that is something that you have to keep up. And that's the hardest bit. And that level of consistency, that high average that you're talking about, how hard is it to keep that up? Probably been drilled in me from when I was a kid. Yeah, but you haven't always been able to do it, right? That comes a bit with experience, but my mentality has always been the same. That's why earlier on in my career...

Sometimes I also got a bit frustrated because I knew what to do it was just not possible or I couldn't really show it Because of a lot of factors, but I knew that it was always there, but of course up until 2021 I never had a car that could fight also for the championship so then it's impossible to really show that. If you win the title will it be the most satisfying of what will be five at that point?

No, 23. Really? Yeah. Just because of the amount we won. It's much better to win a lot. So you'd rather have the best car by a lot and win... by miles than not have the best car and still win? Yeah, because I know that even when I was winning by miles I was also always pushing it to the limit because I was always trying to get the most out of it myself. So that's something that I always appreciated more.

Of course, this has been a really good season, probably my best season, but it has also been frustrating at times because we were not quick enough, you know. But at the same time you've... You've talked about admiring, for example, what Alonso did in 2012 and keeping that championship going. You've had a not dissimilar situation to that this season. He didn't win it at the end, which is frustrating. Yeah, it's true. You know what I mean? It's still great.

in 15 20 years time you still say you haven't won it so it doesn't really matter like it's fine but yeah so you decide that personal satisfaction no at the end of the day it's always much more important to to just actually win it okay Are you conscious that you've been in this situation before and they haven't? For sure, yeah. I mean, it will probably help me a bit to stay calm. And for them, of course, it's a bit nerve-wracking, which is normal when you fight for your first title.

but at the same time they still have a very quick car which they can rely on. You also always say that you don't really think about statistics and records and so on, but if you do win it again, then it will be five in a row and only Michael Schumacher has done that before. Is that something you even can consider? No, it's not on my mind, to be honest.

Of course, it would be great if we win it and five in a row sounds, of course, fantastic. But it's also not something that I'm really fixated on. And on the other side of things, if you don't win it, you won't be world champion. for the first time in four years. Have you thought about what that's going to feel like? No, but even if we don't win it, I still had a great season and I think already being in this fight is a bonus. So for me, even if we don't win it, it's not going to be stinging.

Because I know where we lost it and I know that in general we have not been yet the quickest team. Again, you know, next year is completely new rules as well. So there are completely new opportunities for everyone. But I'm not going to be crying in the corner. Don't worry. And in terms of pure driving, would you say this has been your best season? Yeah, I think so. Yeah, I think you always try to improve as a driver. You try to be more all around.

I think I've tracked some results out of it that probably weren't realistic or possible in some weekends, so I've been happy. And how do you feel you've got to that level? How have you improved on what people might have called perfection already last year? By always trying to look for details, trying to just learn about the car, learn about yourself, do a lot of things also outside of F1.

like I'm driving of course a lot of different cars which I don't think it hurts you racing in F1 so yeah just trying to make yourself a bit more of a complete driver because I will not change in terms of how much I give. all the time in the car. It's kind of been a strange year for the team. You know, the team boss also changed mid-season. At that time of the year, you were also at the center of a lot of speculation about your future. How seriously did you think about going elsewhere?

For me, it's not only about F1, there's a lot of things that have to come together for me to make a change or future roles, you know, stuff like that. So if I ever would make a change, of course, it's a big one for me. Because this definitely feels like a second family. And that's not easy to replicate, let's say, like that. But for me, the change, if I would ever make one, it's not only because I need a faster F1 car.

or I need a difference in environment. There's a lot of things that around my fun career and things that I'm doing outside of a fun that all have to come together. So it wasn't really something you were seriously considering? I'm not going to lie, for sure there were talks. But at the same time it was all very friendly and open and nothing more than that.

You've also become a father this year. You were talking about it earlier in the press conference. Has that changed you at all? I mean, honestly, when I'm on track, I'm still going flat out. I think it has showed that I'm not slower being a father. But at the same time, of course, you prioritize your time more at home. It's nice to, you know, when you even had a tough time, you come home and you're like, well, whatever, you know, like that's actually not relevant.

You just want to enjoy your time seeing her grow up and just seeing her evolve month after month. It's been really nice. And just a final thought, if you can't win the championship, who would you like to win it? Oh, I really don't care. That's not really in my interest anyway. I hope, of course, in general that it will just be a great race weekend and hopefully a memorable race in general.

Max Verstappen speaking to correspondent Andrew Benson. Andrew's here, Julian Palmer's here, former F1 driver and commentator Harry Benjamin. What did you expect when you asked him that final question? Exactly what he said, exactly what he said. Brace yourself, brace yourself, go for it.

Imagine if he'd gone, yeah, I kind of like Lando. Yeah, it would have been great to say anything, but yeah, he was never going to say anything to that one. The only thing better than listening to that interview, and it was a brilliant interview, was watching... Andrew Benson's face as Andrew Benson's interview with Max Verstappen was played out I hope you're happy with the edit because I did it so I mean the thing is and that's a no this is

It's a really good edit, of course, Steve. But there's also some other really good stuff that didn't make it, as it often is. And so I would urge people to go and read it on the BBC Sport website because it'll certainly be up, I would think. Just refreshing. Not yet. We'll keep checking as the show continues. Right, Jolien, I know you've got to go shortly, so let me just throw this at you. If Max Verstappen wins it...

Will it feel like it's been a long, long time since someone has won a world championship in what is quite nakedly not the dominant car, not the best? car or with the dominant team yep it will uh and to the point i've actually i've not done the research on it it will feel like it's been a really long time The famous example is the one that Andrew used, the 2012 example where Fernando Alonso

very nearly won the title in what was obviously the inferior car but he didn't so I can't use that as a reference before that Andrew will have a good you know he doesn't he's racking his brain when did someone not win? You had it last night at dinner didn't you Benny? Well, I mean, what's interesting is you could even make a case for two of Verstappen's championships in a way.

Because last year, OK, it started with a dominant car, but it wasn't dominant anymore by sort of sixth or seventh race of the year. And actually, for the second half of the season, the McLaren was better.

and yet Verstappen didn't lose any points to Norris through the entire second half of the season on balance. So that was what made last year so outstanding as a performance. That's what I was referring to when I was talking about improving on what people might have perceived as perfection already.

And even in 2021, the Red Bull definitely started as the best car. But again, in the second half of the year, the Mercedes was definitely the best car. So, you know, and then before that. Can you say that about Braun in 2009 then? Yes, but then again, what was it? Six wins out of seven races at the beginning, and then he nearly fumbled it really badly, Jenson Button, didn't he? In 1964, didn't John Surtees win in a Ferrari that wasn't the best car then?

I've gone back a few years, but my point is, in my lifetime, I genuinely, which starts in the 90s, genuinely, I can't... Think of an example where someone had as inferior a car, categorically, than Max has this year. It does get tricky. The two Renault wins with Alonso are questionable because the McLaren was definitely faster in 2005, but it wasn't as reliable. And then in 2006...

It was very close with the Schimacher's Ferrari. A lot of close ones, but one that we can say that was not the best car. Definitively, yeah. I mean, the Hamilton years, the 2007, 2008, did Raikkonen have the best car in 07? Yes, he did. Definitely had the best car in 07, I would say. And in 08, he had the best car. Actually, so Hamilton in 2008, I would argue that the McLaren, given what we now know about the relative levels of...

Hamilton and Massa and Raikkonen from their subsequent careers. I think you could make that case. Nonetheless, nothing is as clear-cut as this year. It doesn't happen very often. So that's a long answer to your question. Great answer there. I loved it. Last one before you go then, Julian.

We know, and you could hear it from Max there, that he is not under the most pressure, not even close, or the most scrutiny. You can't believe how relaxed he is. He's just oozing relaxation. It's incredible.

comes out of every pore and in a second we're going to focus on what he and the other guys were like in their press conference but if we're just going between Lando and Oscar here who at times this season they have both been in a position where many people thought it's theirs this this is going to be theirs who would you least like to be if neither of them win it if you see what i mean i.e who would have the most regret lando

100%. I think Oscar's already resigned to the fact he's not going to win, to be honest. When he got out of the car in Qatar last week, that was another win that slipped through his fingers. There are quite a few of them this year. for various reasons be it strategy, be it a penalty at Silverstone.

There are a few that have gone. Or his own slumping performance, for that matter, through the sort of autumn period. His own slumping performance, certainly. You could see his confidence and his belief sapping away, couldn't you, through like Austin, Mexico, Brazil. And there's definitely regret on his side that that went. And I was speaking to some of his entourage last time out in Qatar, actually, before he had a really good weekend. And they said, he's not forgotten how to drive.

But it certainly felt like he was just missing that edge that he had earlier on. And then he found it back again in Qatar. But for me, yeah, he's already resigned to the fact that this was in his hands and it's kind of gone. Whereas Lando is turning up here thinking this is my date with destiny. and if he doesn't get it, he's been stood up.

The only better date than that is a date with you, Jolyon. So it's always, always... This is getting weird, guys. No, it's not. It's a bit weird. It's not weird. He's married now, Steve. You're just jealous because of our relationship. I'm out of here, right. Thank you. Cheers. That's Jolyon Parva. Always a pleasure, Crossy. Always a pleasure. See, this is the link-up that we've got, isn't it? It's just like that. It's like we finish each other's...

Right. Julian's subbing himself out. Andrew Benson's subbing himself out. And so are you, Harry, for the time being. But you've got to go and do an interview and then you'll be back, yes? Yes, I will be back after Bearman. I just sort of stood up to say goodbye to Jolyon, and now I'm staring right the way down the paddock here in Abu Dhabi. And so many memories of 2021 are just flooding back, like...

The last time I walked down this street, all of a sudden, the Red Bull garage just exploded into life as people realised that Max Verstappen is going to win the title. And there were people sprinting out of these big villas that the teams are based in, sprinting onto the pit lane, getting... t-shirts that said Max Verstappen world champion 2021 well that was four titles ago and that is why

He seems so incredibly relaxed in his press conference today. And to talk about the press conference, I've got with me two people who sat in it with me. We've got Rebecca Clancy, F1 journalist. Hello. Hello. And we've got our pit lane reporter, Rosanna Tennant. Hey, Rosanna. Hello. interesting press conference so I'll tell you what we'll do we will listen shortly to the question and answer that we got with Oscar Piastri Lando Norris Max Verstappen before we do

Oh, it was interesting back, wasn't it? It was. Yeah, so excuse me, by the way, the air conditioning in Abu Dhabi has decided to take my voice from me. I feel fine, but it's just the old voice. It was interesting because... On face value, there wasn't a lot of needling. They weren't really going at each other. When Oscar was talking, Max and Lando were kind of having a bit of a joke between themselves and a lot of chatting. Everything seemed a bit friendly. But if you kind of...

Dig into it a little bit and you don't have to dig in that far. I think Max Verstappen was staring the pot a little bit. I think Lando Norris was playing a few mind games. I think Oscar Piastri. I think, you know, Jolene said it really well earlier. He was, you know, he's kind of resigned to the fact that he's not going to win the title and that did show in the press conference. But they had a little bit of fun with each other, I would say. Too much fun.

I mean, let's think about boxing, for example. With a stare down, you're not laughing, joking, shaking hands with the bloke as you come in. It was all a bit nicey-nicey. It was too friendly, wasn't it? And if you imagine, they're sitting on a sofa. in the audience ready to ask the questions you were great asking a question cross the hand right up there come on but you had Max Verstappen on the left Lando Norris in the middle Oscar Piastri on the right hand side as we looked at them

And they were chatting when the other one was answering. They were having a little chat, Max Verstappen and Lando. And you think, no, come on, guys. A stare down in boxing is so intense. They lacked intensity for me. And I didn't hear three drivers who really wanted the time.

till this weekend. At one point Lando and Max were on their phones and I genuinely wondered if they were texting each other because they would like text and then the other one would respond and I don't know I'm sure they absolutely weren't but it was almost that's how kind of cordial it was it was so bizarre I think

I don't mind magnanimous in defeat. When they're showing magnanimity, get that word out, ahead of... the race that's what I can't deal with I want to hear them say this is a dream I've wanted all my life this is absolutely everything I've worked for and we got a hint of that but it took a while for them to articulate how they're feeling we finally got it from Oscar Piastri at the very end he said

We are selfish people by default. Racing drivers start out on their own in the karting days. It's all about them. It's not about the team behind them. Now we've got thousands of people behind these drivers. So they have to be a bit more diplomatic with how they go about it. So we've got a little...

bit of it from Oscar Piastri, but Landon Norris was saying it's not going to change my life. And I had flashbacks of 21 when Max Verstappen was saying the same sort of thing. It does change their life. They take an almost audible sigh when they get their first championship, these drivers.

And I don't think Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri gave that impression this afternoon. And Max was tapping, as you say, Beck, stirring the pot with throwaway lines about, you know, how have you been preparing for this weekend? And he's like... played with my daughter, sorted out my GT3 racing, sorted out my sim racing team, all very chill and just thinking, you are playing the mind games already. It was a gift for him, wasn't it? The whole situation, an absolute...

gift for Max Verstappen. Well, they were all asked, weren't they, who was here for them this weekend? Are your parents here? Have you got friends here? And Lando and Oscar went first and they were saying, yeah, you know, my parents are here, but they come to every race and I've got some friends here. I want to enjoy it with them no matter what happens. And then Max just... up and just goes

No, not really. I mean, I wasn't really supposed to be in the fight, was I? Everything got cancelled after Zanvoort when he was 104 points behind Piastri, who was then leading the championship. And he was just, it was kind of constant needling, wasn't it? And it was the, well, I wasn't supposed to be in the fight.

these fights, but it was almost like, well, these two Muppets haven't done anything about it, so here I am, and you've kind of gifted me this opportunity. But going back to your point, Rosanna, as well about how they're talking. I remember being here in 2016 with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, and that obviously went down to the wire. I remember going into Rosberg's press conference just before the media day on Thursday, as we are doing today, and he was giving it the all.

I'm not really thinking about it. I have to get through practice tomorrow and then qualifying and let's see how I go and then it'll all be fine. And I remember Sunday going to his championship winning press conference. And honestly, you could see the tension leaving his body.

and he spoke really freely and he spoke really well and he was like well obviously I wasn't telling you how I was really feeling like what did you expect me to say and I sort of I'm not even sure I got that impression from the guys today from Lando and Oscar it was almost like

I sort of believed what they were telling me. Whereas at Rosberg at the time, I didn't really believe it. I mean, no one did. But now it's a bit like Lando barely made eye contact, really. If he wasn't being asked a question, he was on his phone doing other stuff. Like, I don't know. He didn't feel that engaged. And Oscar was, he does feel resigned. And yeah, Max just there.

I mean, Max is having the most fun, isn't he? Can I just say I enjoyed all the mum chat, by the way, in the press conference. They were all kind of asked like... how they take in the race and that kind of thing and who was going to it was lovely just them all talking about their mums we got like actually a bit of insight I've never heard Max Verstappen talk about how his mum lights a candle before every race so that was that was actually quite emotional I was a bit like oh wow there's a bit of

feeling going on there but Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri talking about their mums Lando Norris saying I love my mum but I found it interesting it's the new age of driver isn't it they say yeah my mum says you know be careful out there and I prefer it when you've got no other cars around you on track and whereas

Max has happened. There doesn't seem to be any of that coming from his family. Well, his mum is a racer, isn't she? Very good go-kater and had quite a good racing career herself. So Max was actually saying, oh, my mum, you know, she knows what it's like, you know, she doesn't say anything to me. We're not that kind of family.

And Oscar there going, oh, yeah, my mum tells me to be careful every weekend. Which I think, as a mum, I definitely would be saying that. Me and Rosanna were sat next to each other and we were like, oh, yeah, no. My five-year-old keeps telling me he wants to be a Formula One racer. And I'm like, absolutely no way. Ballet all the way for my boy.

My heart couldn't take it. Have you seen the three of us have made the BBC Sport website, by the way? The back of our heads. Have you seen this? The back of the heads count. Yeah, you can see the back of our heads. What's probably more pertinent about that photograph is it's designed to show... the incredible amount of media and focus and it was incredible actually for such a small room you know when people say I was standing room only there wasn't standing room but

We had the first half of the press conference, which lasts half an hour. And actually, there were some big names in there. We had George Russell, who's had an incredible season in the Mercedes. We had Charles Leclerc as well, who has been dragging that Ferrari around the season. And we had Isaac Hadjar, who's just been signed.

as a Red Bull driver next year. Ordinarily, I'd be so excited to be like, yeah, we've got some really big hitters in the press conference. And then that half an hour came to a close and suddenly there was this big kerfuffle as...

everybody piled in and it was because we got the top three everyone wanted to be there we had the photographers at the back being like put your phones down I can't get the shot I can't get the shot so everyone wanted to capture that moment trying to capture whatever kind of needle was going on between the three of them but I think

Probably just lots of smiling faces in the photographers' photos of the top three. The other thing that I've noticed is the main photograph for the article, Lando Norris not going to ask Piastri for title help, which is the headline, is actually... But... But he also then turned around and said, but if it was me and the shoe was on the other foot, you know, because it's the kind of guy I am and I'm slightly like making it, make it my way of saying it.

I would do it. And that was like a subliminal message to Oscar Piastri. And he then backed it up with saying, you know, we get on so well and one decision could change all that. You think, yeah, is that the decision you're thinking about for Sunday? So interesting. Again, a few mind games from Lando Norris. Great.

Great point, Rosanna, but you have just got in the way of me making it all about me. So that's unfortunate. So the main photograph is the two... protagonists for McLaren Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris looking deep into each other's eyes and that was in response to I think probably the best question in the press conference maybe the best question ever asked not sure who asked it but it was about

teammates it was about admiration let's listen shall we hi fellas uh steve crossman from bbc 5 live i just wanted to ask one to all of you really about about teammates so philando and oscar it'd be really interesting to hear what you guys like and admire about each other, whether that's as drivers or as human beings. And if you wouldn't mind, Max off the back, just curious to know what you think, especially because you're going to get a new one, makes for a really good teammate. Cheers.

Don't rush into it. There's just so many to choose from. I think what I like about him, just his general attitude of how he approaches everything. Yeah, just always, I mean, I said I think a few weeks ago, but just always pretty calm, pretty relaxed in every situation, stays cool. That's something I admire and I think it's a...

Yes, something that at times I wish I was a little bit more like, but everyone does their own thing. You always try and find what works best for you. But there's still things from every driver, even when I was growing up, that you... admire from him and admire from him and don't like him don't like him whatever it may be you know so um but i think also uh the most important thing is just how you get on personally you know i've

Always got on well with my teammates. It's easy not to. It takes one decision to make everything not be the way it is. I think that's something we've done well. It obviously makes our life hard as a team because we have two drivers fighting for a championship instead of one. And that also has its complications at times and its difficulties.

allows for other parties to enter the chat more often. But yeah, we're so happy that we're both up there. And I think how we've worked together, how we just, I think, treat each other.

whether it's on the track off the track whatever it may be it's just a good way of approaching everything I think not everyone would agree with it which is completely acceptable and understandable But I think we both have a similar approach in terms of just wanting to go on track, prove who's better, try and drive the quickest, but also come off and enjoy our life.

when the helmet's off, you know, when it's just us as people, us as personalities. And I think that's something that I have a lot of respect for and I enjoy, I think. And I'll look back on in 10 years time and say the same thing. Yeah, I mean, his car collection. I'm trying to catch up. But no, I mean, I think honestly similar things. Like I think, you know, it's nice.

that we are able to leave what happens on the track and be friendly off the track. I think it's, like Leandro said, it's very easy for it to not be that way. that definitely takes cooperation from both parties. So, yeah, I think for me, that's probably what I... I mean, admire sounds a bit strong in teammates, but I think that is a very good strength of Lando's. And Max, please. Yeah, I'm just... The timing, you know, do you want me a long answer?

No, I just, what you want from a teammate. Good in also developing the car with the team. Good understanding between the drivers, friendly, funny. Open-minded, not hiding things throughout the weekend between the two drivers. So yeah, in general, just trying to push the team forward. I think that's the most important. If you are good friends off track, that's a nice bonus. not necessarily needed as long you are very professional on track and it benefits the team.

One thing I don't think you could hear, guys, on the recording there is when Max said, do you want a long answer? And I shouted, yes, please. Because that's what we need. I thought it was really interesting, though. Like, I mean... not shy about saying what they admire about each other, at least. It shows that there is depth to go into there. It's what they choose that they want to get into, as is their right, I guess. Yeah, I thought it was interesting that Lando went straight for his Oscars.

cool calm demeanor. We've spoken about it endlessly this year and actually when Piastri was leading the championship and we were talking about how he approaches race weekend and then obviously he's lost his form and the confidence slipped away from him. Throughout all of it, he's remained very calm. And then I thought it was quite funny how Oscar was then saying, oh, you know, his car collection, if you don't, Lando Norris has an amazing, he's very into his road cars, let's say.

But then he stopped himself from saying, I don't know if I would say admire, it's just, you know, I like it about him. So it was interesting the choice of words that they came up with. they had a good relationship and they do and it isn't for our benefit they like they actually do get on in a way okay they're not going out to play paddle together and they're not going they're not sharing private jets together like lando and max do um but they do actually as teammates which is

an oxymoron in itself because the only person you're ever trying to beat is your teammate because that's the only judge of how really good you are and it's interesting to see that they did get on and they did have that moment that loving look into each other's eyes

And it was actually quite an interesting insight into them because we don't often get them together. We don't often get to interview them together. I thought it was quite interesting in Vegas, Lando actually spoke about Oscar and said he can never work out what sort of mood he's in. And I reckon that is playing on his mind as well this weekend, because even though we heard from them in the press conference, we heard how they're supposedly feeling, he will still be thinking,

But is this getting to you as well? Because maybe it's getting to me. And if Oscar gives nothing away, that's even more annoying, I think, for Lando Norris, even though they get on. One of the other interesting questions, yours was brilliant, obviously. Thanks. But another interesting question was, are you going to be sharing data this weekend? And how much will the two sides of the garages be working together?

And they both made a bit of a joke about it. They're like, yeah, we're going to put cardboard down the middle. We're not going to be talking to each other. But then obviously they got to the point, which was... We literally wouldn't be allowed to do anything different to what we've done the rest of the season. We will continue to have the same debriefs, meetings. We will share data. It is exactly the same going to this weekend. We consider it no different.

But Lando said, even if we wanted to, which made me think, hmm, someone wants it. Somebody wants to. In the interest of being a good teammate, because we've got about another, I don't know, 13 minutes or so.

Are you happy to carry on with your voice back? I'm more kids. As long as you're happy to listen to me. Absolutely. Who drives the world forward? The one with the answers or the one asking the right questions? At Aramco, we start every day by asking how. How can innovation help deliver reliable energy to the world? To get to the answer, we first need to ask the right question. Search Aramco Powered by Howe.

If you're an HVAC technician and a call comes in, Grainger knows that you need a partner that helps you find the right product. Fast and hassle-free. And you know that when the first problem of the day is a clanking blower motor, there's no need to break a sweat. With Grainger's easy-to-use website and product details, you're confident you'll soon have everything humming right along. Call 1-800-GRANGER, click granger.com, or just stop by. Granger, for the ones who get it done.

¿Cómo arruinar sus cenas festivas? Y le vino una idea de las más retorcidas. Salpicaré sus papitas de verde con sazón de pepinillo y con esos feos calcetines verán mi retorcido motivo. Así que si quieres probar lo que el Grinch preparó, ve a McDonald's y verás lo que tramó. El nuevo Grinch Meal, ya en McDonald's. En McDonald's participantes hasta agotar existencias.

Harry Benjamin's rejoined us. Hello. Hello. We'll get your Ollie Bearman on in a second. I know you'll be very upset if we don't reach that. Me and producer Paddy have been back and forth on the editorial on this all week long. Wow. All right. Well, in that case, I won't start asking you long questions.

Given we've just been chatting about the press conference, Piastri, Norris, commentator's perspective very useful here as well. What happens in the race is going to be fascinating when it comes to the prospect of...

Oscar being asked at some point, maybe, listen, Max is going to win this race, if Lando's fourth and Oscar's third? I mean, if it gets to that point, if Oscar is sitting in third and Norris is... behind him does he pull over i mean he was posed that question in in the press conference wasn't he i

It's so difficult to answer because I obviously want to see sort of the storyline play out. And I just think these are top level athletes who have spent huge amounts of money and time getting... this moment a one shot for a world championship and okay if it's not falling the way of piastri have they both bought in to the school of andreas dela and zach brown which is this fairness first philosophy

and equal opportunity throughout the year and what will be will be i i think piastri would move out of the way i don't think he'd do it on the first try but i think he would move out of the way if he stood no chance of getting the title at that point. You know, I look at 2016 when Hamilton was backing up Rosberg into Sebastian Vettel, wasn't it, on the final laps trying to slow it down so he'd provide an opportunity.

If that kind of situation arises, I think that is also feasible. If Verstappen isn't in the hunt for this winning and Piastri still is, he might slow up his teammate because I think even if he doesn't play the team game, regardless of the situation.

I think they will both still hold their heads high the way they've treated this whole year and championship because it has come down to the final race. They've won the Constructors, they've done their jobs. This is all about them now, this final race. There's nothing more to be gained from a team perspective.

It would be such a shame, wouldn't it? I just think. What if? To be asked to move over. And also, when do you think it's out of reach? Is it lap 57 or 58? Because so much can happen. We've seen so many things happen on a dime in Formula One. You think it's all over.

and it suddenly isn't all over. And I don't know, it would have to be the last corner. Surely it'd be like Qatar a couple of years ago when Lando Norris reversed the positions and gave Oscar Piastri the win. I think you have to do it right at the last moment because you just never know.

It would be a damp squib, wouldn't it, for it to end like that? It wouldn't be one for the fans. My point, though, if I was Oscar Piastri, if you're running in second and Lando Norris is fourth and Max Verstappen is winning...

you're not giving up that position until the very, very last second. Because this is Formula One, like you say. What if the engine goes? I mean, he rarely does, but what if Verstappen makes a mistake? What if he crashes on the last lap? You've got absolutely no idea, and then Piastri just... loses out in the championship because he's done the right thing by doing team orders. So it's an almost impossible situation that McLaren have got themselves into. And I think what...

In the press conference, not to go back to it, but they were saying it's in our hands, it's in our control, I can't think about what the team are going to do. But McLaren have cost both drivers dearly in the last two races. So where is their head at the moment? Who do you trust? Do you follow the team orders, which did them no favours in Qatar? Then the car, obviously, they got disqualified in Vegas. So I don't know where their mindset is either. We're also talking about...

Sorry, we're also talking about on-track coordination and choreography. It's the 24th race of 24. We talk about finger trouble. in Formula One. Mechanics are a little tired. They're at the end of a triple header. It's warm. Some of the gear often gets a bit sticky in the heat. What happens if a pit stop goes wrong again and we go back to a Monza situation? Do they reverse the positions if one of them has a bad pit stop and we've got to keep it fair and nicey-nice?

You see, how do you manage that? There are so many things, as you say, Beck, that McLaren have kind of tied themselves in a bit of a bind. And I really just hope for their sake nothing like that crops up this weekend because they are going to have to work out on the fly how they react to that. They also, Harry, are in a position where these two drivers are multi-year.

So we know that Lando is going to be there for next season. It sounds like there's an option at least till the end of 2027. We know that Oscar is there. till the end of 2028. You were telling me earlier about how teammates relationships have deteriorated in the past, especially around world championships. I mean, we could go on about multi-21 and all that, couldn't we? Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.

But they need to finish this season with these guys on terms. Whatever happens. This is the thing. I mean, that... this whatever happens will be remembered very easily and can certainly be repaid in the next couple of years if anything untoward goes on between them but ultimately this has come down to mclaren's new

ethos, which I think we talk about it so much because it's so alien for us in this sport, in this piranha club that is Formula One, where it's always knives out that nothing comes above the team. Zach Brown has even said himself that if they lose the Drivers' Championship to Max Verstappen...

That's fine as long as they've kept harmony between their two drivers. That's what they want in their team because they want to keep these drivers for the long term. They think they're the two best on the grid. That's how they're going to win. Constructors' Championships going forward, and that's the way they want to go racing. But in the interview I think you're alluding to, Zac Brown says,

It's not about us. We don't want to flip a coin and say, OK, you get the chance. It wouldn't be flipping a coin. It would be you're ahead on track. You've done the best job in qualifying. You deserve our backing right now. So it's actually not the toss of a coin that it's going to come down to. I think they're quite scared of...

Of admitting that. And I think that's what, if we just go back to Qatar, that's what ended up with that issue with not pitting. I think they were overthinking it. In trying not to favour anybody, they did double damage to both their drivers. Maybe they will just sit back and go, it's all about racing. Everyone gets absolute opportunity until the last five laps when we know which way it's going to go.

Right, let's hear from Oli Behrman then, shall we? What a segue! No, because you have been talking, I hope you've been talking about the title fight as well and British drivers and whether they're backing each other. Yeah, we got that one in. Here's Ollie Bearman. I think it just shows how competitive the British karting scene is because it's a grassroots level that all of these drivers are...

you know, brought up and learned their craft. And, you know, I was racing with Arvid in Cadets back when we were eight or nine years old. So, you know, we've been fighting on track together in that early stage. Of course, I was in F1 before him, but he's a bit younger. de misa.

it makes sense but it's really special to have so many british drivers on the grid and to be one of them and i think it just highlights how strong our karting scene and the talent and the amount of work that motorsport uk puts into karting

is clearly paying off. I still remember that day you took me around a hot lap at Silverstone, I think, for a Motorsport UK day. That was really fun. And that was horrendous. I definitely had to be very ill after that. Do you all get on, though? You mentioned, obviously, you've raced...

some of these guys up through the ranks? Is there rivalry that's going to spill over into Formula One? No, I mean, Arvid is actually probably the only guy on this grid that I raced in karting because I only really, you know, the majority of my karting was in the UK because...

i think the level is very high and also the the price is is much more competitive than what it was in in europe so i erased arvid a little bit but even then i was always just one category above him because i'm you know two or three years i think two years older

um so we did get a few races together but you know he was always a rookie and i was always the um you know the experienced guy so i i do get along well with him though we we were in premer together he was in f3 and i was in f2 so you know we have a good relationship and you know with the other drivers as well i've built good relationships over the year um you know lewis lando george they're all first of all incredibly talented incredibly fast drivers

but also very welcoming and kind as well, which counts for a lot. That's Ollie Bearman. We should probably say Harry, who he's talking about there. Arvid Limblad, the latest British racing driver who will line up in racing bulls next year alongside Liam Lawson because Hadjar's got the promotion up to Red Bull. So some shuffling going on for 2026. So the reason I find it really interesting this weekend, Beck, is I am...

and the answer to this might be no, but given we've got someone in Lando Norris who might be about to win his first world title, and nobody else seems to like my favourite stat of the weekend, which is he could become the third British driver since Damon Hill. to win the title. And that's going back to 1996. Don't pick your microphone up, Harry. I think one person on our team would like that. I think it's a great start. Yes. Well, Damon Hill is part of the team. So I'll certainly be saying that.

But do we think, do we know whether or not in, say, the next 10 years, there are likely to be a lot more British champions? Is the British karting scene better than the others in the world, or is it not quite that simple?

Oh, it's an interesting question. I would argue there are actually six Brits on the grid next year, by the way. Everyone discounts Alex Albon. The London-born Thai, Alex Albon. Yes, he races under a Thai license for sponsorship reasons, but he's definitely British. Yes, but if he gets on the podium, the flag that comes up...

is the Thai flag. I would still very much consider him British. Anyway, I'm going to go for six. Yeah, the casting scene is very good. It's very strong. It's also historically where it's always been very strong. A lot of like Oscar Piastri, for example, comes over to the UK, to Europe, to race. It's always been a very strong scene. It doesn't necessarily exist in other countries.

I don't know if I'm allowed to say this, but he has a bit of a strange accent. And the reason for that is because he moved to Italy when he was very young so that he could go racing. There's kind of European countries that you would traditionally associate with Formula One, for example, where you just have to think about the tracks. Those countries do have good karting programs.

Obviously in the UK, the home of Formula One, where it all started back in 1950 in Silverstone. I feel like I'm doing a Jolion Palmer, like going back all the years. There is a very strong scene. So yes, I would argue. And actually, I'm going to put my neck out here.

And I'm going to say, I think this time next year, we are going to be discussing George Russell as world champion. Whoa. Couldn't say that right at the end of the show. Goodness. Right. Let's just finish with this then. Who wins the world title this weekend? Rosanna Tennant.

You weren't expecting the question. No, I was, but I've been umming and ahhing. I think we've all been umming and ahhing and we've been umming and ahhing for the last couple of months, haven't we? I'm going to say Verstappen. Yeah? Yeah. Because... because he's got the killer instinct. Nice. Harry? I'm going to go for Lando Norris. I've been saying Matt Verstappen all week, but in the last 24 hours, I'm now going Lando with Norris.

We are currently sat at the table, the same table that we were sat at in 2021 in Abu Dhabi and all those years ago and all that controversy. I sincerely hope we don't have any controversy this time around. Do you? I do. I'd quite like it to be a straightforward ending. Also, I've got a 2 a.m. flight, so, you know, if we could just get on with it. A table outside the FIA. But I think, after that, I think Lando Norris will do it. Okay. What about you, Crossy?

I should just do what Max Verstappen did to Andrew Benson to say I don't care. Who do I think is going to win it? So it was interesting. All the drivers just straight away said Lando in the press conferences. They just went Lando, Lando, Lando, Lando. I think... Max Verstappen's going to win the title because I think that experience and also being you know the the underdog it just it everything suits the character the disruptor

You know, the people have made him a villain or a Hollywood movie horror character in the past. I think he'll lap all that up. Is that alright? I think one of the most interesting things today has been... One of the main conversations has been, who do you think is going to win the World Championship and who do you want to win the World Championship? And I think there's a lot of... people within the paddock who would quite like to see a step into it because

He's never the underdog. And in the press conference today, as we mentioned, he was doing a bit of needling. And I think with all three of them, the conclusion to most conversations is there's such an amazing story behind. any of them winning it you kind of don't really mind and it's just sort of set up for a really great weekend and and I hate to say it at the end but Abu Dhabi is not exactly the greatest racetrack it doesn't provide the greatest racing but I think

does have a couple of, I think there's a couple of twists of the tail still to go. Okay, that's a very good way to set up our coverage. Let me tell you a bit more about it. So free practice one, 9.25 in the morning, sports extra two. Free practice too is 1pm on Sports Extra. Then into Saturday, you'll get FP3 10.30 on 5 Sports Extra. Qualifying 155 on Sports Extra.

And then we will be live from here at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi for full commentary. The race starts at 1pm your time. We're on air from noon, bringing you all of the build up. We'll be live from the paddock. Then we'll be live on. on the grid in the run-up to race time. Harry, Rosanna, Beck, thank you all very much. Thank you. Thank you, Steve. I'm going to get a lamb sip. The sun has long since gone down here. It's a rather nice, mild 25 degrees.

now just in front of us we can see the sort of the flashing lights from one of the grandstands still going on the DJ booth has been dismantled and that's it from us here in Abu Dhabi

Checker Flag is an IMG production for BBC Radio 5 Live. Thanks for listening. Welcome to Tearlanders. I'm Greg James. He's Felix White. Hello. And that is England's greatest ever bowler, Jimmy Anderson. Hello. There's stuff going on there. Having said that, I think we're in the driving seat, you know. There's only one thing that Ben Stokes can do to answer everyone's issues and that is win the second test. That's it, isn't it? Tailenders. Watch on iPlayer. Listen on BBC Sounds.

Who drives the world forward? The one with the answers or the one asking the right questions? At Aramco, we start every day by asking how. How can innovation help deliver reliable energy to the world? To get to the answer, we first need to ask the right question. Search Aramco Powered by Howe. Hello, it's Ray Winstone. I'm here to tell you about my podcast on BBC Radio 4, history's toughest heroes.

I've got stories about the pioneers, the rebels, the outcasts who define tough. And that was the first time that anybody ever ran a car up that fast with no tires on. It almost feels like your eyeballs are going to come out of your head. Tough enough for you? Subscribe to History's Toughest Heroes wherever you get your podcast.