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Original poster

F1 2023 - Watchalong thread

920 replies

LookItsMeAgain · 23/02/2023 07:28

At the moment it's pre-season testing and they are in Bahrain as that is where the first race happens

Is anyone watching the preseason testing at the moment?

Anyone follow the WTF1 personnel change over the past few weeks (social media channel) and that Tommy & Matt have set up P1 with just Matt & Tommy as co-owners?

I'm really looking forward to seeing what progress the other teams have been able to make since RBR had their wind tunnel time reduced due to their overspend in 2022 (that was their punishment for doing that).

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Teddypops · 30/04/2023 13:42

Loved how George pipped Max for fastest lap!! 🤣

Original poster
LookItsMeAgain · 30/04/2023 13:43

Excellent result.

Checo gets 1st

Max in second.

Charles in 3rd.

Love that George, Max's arch nemesis snuck in and took Fastest Lap off Max too!
Sweet justice.

The amount of negative press that RBR are getting this weekend is phenomenal. I really hope Checo wins this season and tells RBR to shove their contract and does a Nico Rosberg on them all and retires (but only after Max has announced his retirement because he doesn't like the format of F1 any more) 😂

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Sulusu · 30/04/2023 13:57

Very dull race apart from me having a panic attack when Occon entered the pit lane with press members all over the road! Not Alpines fault but someone messed up it was so dangerous!

Original poster
LookItsMeAgain · 30/04/2023 14:00

Sulusu · 30/04/2023 13:57

Very dull race apart from me having a panic attack when Occon entered the pit lane with press members all over the road! Not Alpines fault but someone messed up it was so dangerous!

That was bad wasn't it?

Back next weekend in Miami - the one with the fake marina 😂🏊

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Original poster
LookItsMeAgain · 30/04/2023 14:01

I thought the pit lane crew wasn't allowed to climb the fencing and dangle out to cheer on their driver(s) at the chequered flag? Wonder if RBR will get a fine for that??

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Brazilianadventure · 30/04/2023 14:03

It was really bad and Ted spotted the danger first.

So pleased for Perez. I really hope he pushes Max all the way. It will depend how RB develop the car.

Is it Imola when Mercedes get their big upgrade?

Sulusu · 30/04/2023 14:07

Brazilianadventure · 30/04/2023 14:03

It was really bad and Ted spotted the danger first.

So pleased for Perez. I really hope he pushes Max all the way. It will depend how RB develop the car.

Is it Imola when Mercedes get their big upgrade?

Yes Imola for Merc upgrades.

mydogisthebest · 30/04/2023 14:08

Awful that so many people were in the pit lane when Ocon drove in. It was lucky that no one was injured.

The rules have been changed that the pit lane crew are no longer allowed to climb on the fencing and yet the RB team ignored that! Bet they don't get fined.

I would love Perez to win the championship this year if Lewis or George are not able to.

Sulusu · 30/04/2023 14:08

LookItsMeAgain · 30/04/2023 14:01

I thought the pit lane crew wasn't allowed to climb the fencing and dangle out to cheer on their driver(s) at the chequered flag? Wonder if RBR will get a fine for that??

I thought it was the press photographers that were on the track, were RBR there too?

Original poster
LookItsMeAgain · 30/04/2023 14:20

I hope that RBR get a huge fine - really set the bar quite high so that other teams are dissuaded from doing it.

The pit lane should only be closed off when the lead car goes through the chequered flag, not the final lap. So many other cars/drivers have done a last lap pit stop so that they meet regulations of having a pit stop but to see the press and guys wearing their pit lane tabards at the FIA weighbridge area (entrance to the pit lane) before the chequered flag is so so so so dangerous.

The FIA will have to take a look at this and at the crew hanging out of the fences.

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Brazilianadventure · 30/04/2023 14:31

It was two separate incidents the press pack one end ad RB team the other. The press were the real safety risk.

Original poster
LookItsMeAgain · 30/04/2023 14:42

Agreed @Brazilianadventure. However the FIA came out and made a declaration about the teams hanging out of the fences overlooking the start/finish straight. They probably didn't think they needed to mention about the press and Parc Fermé until the chequered flag dropped. This race will give them pause on that one.

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Brazilianadventure · 30/04/2023 14:48

Completely agree RB we’re breaching the rules. What I meant was the press were in the pit lane right where the cars enter so posed a greater risk.

Sulusu · 30/04/2023 15:00

Ah okay, I didn't notice the RBR mechanics there.

mever · 01/05/2023 08:15

A question I have is: would RB really let Perez win the championship? They've put so much behind Verstappen, there's lots of rumours that they want to replace Perez but even if those aren't true, would they really let him win a WC?

Brazilianadventure · 01/05/2023 08:44

Honestly Max is the better driver, but you cannot rule out accidents, unreliability, penalties etc. that could help or hinder Checo. Nico pulled out everything in 2016 and beat Lewis - heartbreaking engine failure in Sepang and parking the car at Monaco both helped him.

RB have more than one way to affect a championship e.g. strategy calls that favour Max, upgrades to one car etc.

Ultimately RB want both titles, so would accept Checo winning rather than another team.

Modda · 01/05/2023 20:00

Brazilianadventure · 30/04/2023 14:03

It was really bad and Ted spotted the danger first.

So pleased for Perez. I really hope he pushes Max all the way. It will depend how RB develop the car.

Is it Imola when Mercedes get their big upgrade?

What does this mean about the upgrades?

Brazilianadventure · 01/05/2023 20:27

@Modda Quite a long explanation.

Each year they start with a new car, a lot of the work to create it is theoretical or based on models in a wind tunnel.

Testing allows the teams to correlate actual performance against the theory and models. From this they identify areas where they can theoretically improve the car ‘s performance e.g. changes to the floor, front and rear wings etc. These are known as upgrades.

Again it’s theoretical with testing the upgrades on models in the wind tunnel etc. Once ready they will put them on the car and test them at a race weekend. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t or they can be race specific.

McLaren had a lot of upgrades this weekend e.g. new floor, new wing elements front and rear etc. Mercedes had some smaller upgrades e.g. rear wing plate, suspension.

If you watch FP1 at Imola you may see Mercedes run with a sort of grill around the sides of the car plus hi viz paint, these help show the airflow over the car with the new parts to see if they are having the desired effect.

If you watch SkyF1 Ted Kravitz, Karun Chandock and Ant Davison are the ones who explain the upgrades.

HTH

Modda · 01/05/2023 20:39

Brazilianadventure · 01/05/2023 20:27

@Modda Quite a long explanation.

Each year they start with a new car, a lot of the work to create it is theoretical or based on models in a wind tunnel.

Testing allows the teams to correlate actual performance against the theory and models. From this they identify areas where they can theoretically improve the car ‘s performance e.g. changes to the floor, front and rear wings etc. These are known as upgrades.

Again it’s theoretical with testing the upgrades on models in the wind tunnel etc. Once ready they will put them on the car and test them at a race weekend. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t or they can be race specific.

McLaren had a lot of upgrades this weekend e.g. new floor, new wing elements front and rear etc. Mercedes had some smaller upgrades e.g. rear wing plate, suspension.

If you watch FP1 at Imola you may see Mercedes run with a sort of grill around the sides of the car plus hi viz paint, these help show the airflow over the car with the new parts to see if they are having the desired effect.

If you watch SkyF1 Ted Kravitz, Karun Chandock and Ant Davison are the ones who explain the upgrades.

HTH

That's really helpful, thank you very much for that.

Original poster
LookItsMeAgain · 02/05/2023 09:49

It's RACE WEEK again!!!!

I hope we've all recovered after Baku....bring on Miami!!!

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Original poster
LookItsMeAgain · 02/05/2023 09:53

I'm really loving the Alonso/Swift rumours too. He's posted a new one on TikTok adding more fuel to the fire:

Fernando Alonso (@fernandoalonso) Official | TikTok

He's really the gift that keeps giving! I thought it would be boring when Seb left but oh no....Fernando steps up and take that baton and just runs with it!!!

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Original poster
LookItsMeAgain · 02/05/2023 09:53

I'm really loving the Alonso/Swift rumours too. He's posted a new one on TikTok adding more fuel to the fire:

Fernando Alonso (@fernandoalonso) Official | TikTok

He's really the gift that keeps giving! I thought it would be boring when Seb left but oh no....Fernando steps up and take that baton and just runs with it!!!

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Original poster
LookItsMeAgain · 02/05/2023 09:54

I got an error when I posted the first Alonso post above, so I thought it hadn't posted. Sorry for the duplicate post.

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Original poster
LookItsMeAgain · 02/05/2023 09:58

I love how last season it was all about Alpha Tauri and Pierre & Yuki and their TikToks but this year it is all about Fernando. He's just winning on social media in my opinion.

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Tilda77 · 02/05/2023 10:26

After the disappointment of Baku I'm glad we don't have to wait too long til the next race. I'm hoping that some of the other teams will be able to close the gap to RB so they are fighting for the podium places too otherwise it will just be a fight between Max and Checo for the championship and if push comes to shove we all know how that's going to end.