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Hello and a very warm welcome to the late-breaking F-1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking. Reviewing the last race of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

We did have a discussion. We might just consider Brazil the end of the season and forget this one actually existed, which is why we're going to spend the next hour and 15 minutes or so talking about it. Max Verstappen storming to yet another victory. That's 15 on the year. LaClair finishing P2 for the race and also for the season as a result of holding

off Sergio Perez. Other things happened. Vettel retired and now everything is looking ahead

to 2023. Any tears from your side? Vettel obviously leaving the sport after a long time.

I don't do this, but first.

It's always you that goes first.

Oh, we're in the same place, so we can look at each other awkwardly.

Well, we haven't done this ever, so, you know, glad to see this is nailed down.

I did not cry, mostly because I was sat next to Harry and it would be embarrassing to sob.

But when I get home later, I will. I don't know what he said. I can't hear him. He said, what do you mean? I mean, when I go home, I'm going to cry. What else would I mean? What do you mean you can't cry in front of Harry? We can all cry in front of each other. No, this is a stereotypical man's world And we're not like a show of motion

Um, don't be silly cry in front of Harry. We can all cry in front of each other. No, this is a stereotypical man's world, and we're not like a show of motion.

Don't be silly, folks. Motion? What's that? Yeah, exactly. Sorry, I've already gone off to action.

It was very sad, and I'm glad he got to do his donuts. And he gave a great little speech,

and I think he's leaving for all the right reasons. I think when you retire, you can either go out because you slowly wind down your career, and it becomes a little bit like, you know, like Kimmy Riking, where it was a bit like, we love you, Kimmy, but why are you still here? You know, that kind of thing. Or Sebastian, who kind of goes, look, it was disappointing at the end. And I'm leaving now because it's more important things in life, they drive around in circles.

And I respect that wholeheartedly. So sad to see him go, because he is basically like the dad of

Formula One these days. And I think I miss him being a right sassy little monster over the radio

to people. But these things have to move on.

How all good things come to an end?

There's a famous musician once said.

And it's Seb's time to leave.

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