F1 2023 - Watchalong thread

[LookItsMeAgain]

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).

Shame for the Alpines, GR has done well. DR had a steady race - need to see if he was carrying damage from the start.

Shame the Mercs have only come alive on low fuel.

Well done Lando and Oscar. So good to see McLaren back at the front.

WTF is going on at Ferrari? They just haven’t got you let the faster driver through and sort the order at the end.

Jeez - 100% RB wins would just be so bloody dull

Yes, great result for McLaren and DR. So pleased he’s back.

Well that was disappointing. Hoping Merc just switch to next years development because this car is such a diva.
Bored of MV & RB winning every race now, I recorded it to watch later when the kids are in bed and to be honest, don’t think i’ll bother now.

I had such high expectations but was disappointed as usual. There's no excitement at the moment. All credit to the teams for making sure the cars are so good but reliability issues used to mix things up. Once Max gets to the front these days it's game over. I dozed off. Glad that Lando is doing so well. It's just a shame that Max has such a big lead already.

It's as boring as fuck. What a shame.

Spa this weekend. Forecast is for lots of rain 🌧️. Let's hope the race at least goes ahead.

@Sulusu Spa is the end of August

@JimnJoyce Spa is this weekend coming

Yes it's earlier this year. Spa has always been at the end of August.

is it really, many apologies I'm so
used to
it being over the Bank
Holiday weekend!
Fab news though.

No worries ☺️

I think Spas rescheduling is part of F1s attempt this year at addressing environmental issues with all the travel, by clumping all the European races more together.

They still criss crossing the globe too much IMO. I know they are somewhat constrained by weather etc. But having Miami where it was this year, then Canada, then Europe and back to the USA again for Vegas/Austin, seems bizarre from an environmental point of view.

I agree the calendar is not the best environmentally, logistically and for all the personnel.

I actually think as they keep increasing the number of races they need to consider mandating each team has 2 sets of crew I.e. 13 races each. Obviously drivers have to do every race but Toto and Matteo have done races remotely illustrating they don’t have to travel.

The cost cap would need adjusting and it could be beneficial to developing mechanics, strategists etc.

Some good news for potential women F1 Drivers.

The F1 Academy will have each F1 team branding 1 car and nominating 1 driver. This builds a relationship that potentially can be a bridge to F1 test driver roles.

The big unanswered question is physically can women drivers handle a full race distance in an F1 car. The cars are so different, even from when Susie was a test driver.

In terms of racing ability there is no question the women can race, it’s the forces generated by the cars.

DC recently said he was being generous to say an average person wouldn’t last 10 laps in an F1 car.

I really hope we can get some women on the grid.

I always think Jos gets too much credit for Max, his Mum was a multiple cart champion and so he gets racing genes from both parents.

I know someone who went through the full F1 driver training with Aston and it was months of absolute brutality; he said the worst part was the neck strength training, plus the constant weight restrictions.

But fuck it, they said women couldn't run marathons or box either.

@CallMeDiaz I agree that they have to give women a chance and that the training is brutal. There were jokes about how DRs neck would be in Hungary after being out for less than a year.

There is a recent YouTube with DC and EJ talking about the forces F1 drivers experience. I know airline pilots and astronauts have to pull G force but as DC was saying it’s the impact on internal organs and how you need years of driving go carts etc. to slowly build up the strength.

Strength would be really difficult. But I think it's doable for the right woman. Their lower weight could even be a bit of an advantage.

Jamie Chadwick is an amazing driver, she seems to be in a league of her own, and I would love to see if she could have a shot at an F1 drive. Not sure how she would do physically though as she is tiny!

@Sulusu I agree Jamie would be ideal to be a reserve driver and do some Friday’s and tyre tests.

Very wet for first, and only practice. Likely the same for qualifying later. Apparently not as bad tomorrow and drier on Sunday.

Sprint race start delayed, weather in spa is extremely changeable today. Also just seen there is a blocked drain causing standing water at the side of the track so surely will need to be resolved first for safety

Come on Sergio!!

poor Oscar

Another pretty dull race. I wonder if viewership figures for F1 are falling.

That was a good race. Lots of tyre changes. A bit of rain. No safety cars. Decent amount of passing (for these days). Really sad for Oscar.

Lewis Hamilton when asked if it was “too easy” for Verstappen at the front:

“What do you want me to say? I have no idea, I haven’t spoken to him. He’s having a smoke and a pancake. [Referencing to the 2002 Austin Powers movie]”

I guess these are the type of garbage questions we should expect from the media nowadays who seem to be trying to create more drama, since there isn't anything interesting to write about the race...** (although I did chuckle at LH's response )

Haha 😂
But did he do the accent though?