Edd Straw

Yeah, let's start with 27.

He'll be there in 28.

Because we did the Predicting the Driver Market podcast, and I think you were of the mind that he wouldn't be on the grid next year then.

But that was before Red Bull changed and the rules changed.

in the right direction is there enough in the right direction for him you'd hope so but i do see that he'll be there next season so we've got yes there yes i think i'm in the yes camp i sort of was when we did that podcast but but we're still a bit of doubt there's still caveats and i think john if i extract you showing you're working that sounds a bit fence city was that i think i think i've jumped over the fence and i haven't quite landed on the other side you've snagged your shirt my shirt is

Well, those are the numbers du jour, aren't they?

I think it's a great position again to be in for Verstappen because if it still feels in the balance, that power, that threat, such as it is, still is of benefit to them.

And actually, I think it's very encouraging.

Formula One has made these changes or has committed in principle to making the changes.

I hope they get the detail right, as we talked about before.

But Verstappen, he could be the ultimate barometer of this.

So that's going to be a big story in the coming weeks.

Well, we've got the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend.

Matt, Max Verstappen's won the Canadian Grand Prix three times.

He won it three times on the bounce from 22 to 24.

So are you going to get excited about predicting a Red Bull victory there again?

It seems a bit early, doesn't it, John, in there?

They're on a curve that could take them to race wins this year, but in a normal race, by which I mean one that plays out in a straightforward fashion and is one kind of on merit without safety cars or any other interventions from the outside, it's hard to see that Red Bull having...

the speed to do that.

weekend Red Bull will be in that mix but I think you've got to look towards McLaren and Mercedes yeah McLaren have been interesting haven't they Matt you weren't embedded with McLaren last year but they were the arch rival weren't they ultimately and so obviously you've got a good appreciation for for how they work are you surprised by how quickly they've leapt forward this year because