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).

Last race week of the year.😢

I'm reading that 35,000 fans are bringing a class action law suit (through their legal representation) against F1 because they were booted out of FP2 (when there were no fans in the stands) for "alleges of breach of contract, negligence, and deceptive trade practices against the defendants."
Should make for a busy off-season situation for the lawyers. 😆

Cant blame them, imagine paying all that money for a ticket and then being kicked out. I would be furious.

Yeah the way they dealt with it was an absolute pisstake. I'm not a fan of this grasping money-sucking business model that removes the joy and the access for many many people.

That said, I know rich car dudes and they are all utterly disconnected from the little person, and can't even comprehend the notion of giving a fuck about them.

So that tracks...

I am not surprised fans are taking legal action. I really felt in Spa 2021 they were disgraceful to the fans only doing 2 laps behind the safety car so the organisers could claim a race had taken place.

I know F1 needs to be financially viable, but sometimes you have to know where to draw the line.

I accidentally saw an email meant for my other half from the F1 store, and think I'm getting some F1 merch for Christmas. Now I'm wondering what he bought me, I better go check out the Williams F1 store and have a snoop 😎

I have heavily hinted about an Aston jacket...

I've bought one for my son, and a Lego Koenigsegg. Just living vicariously through him really 😆

Red Bulls seem very bouncy and the Merc of Russell surprisingly fast. Of course it's just FP3 so probably a Verstappen pole incoming. Or a Le Clerc pole and inevitable Verstappen win.

Max is definitely not happy. It would be great to end the season with another team winning. Don’t care who, just anyone even Sergio as a last resort.

@BadBadDecisions I want the Lego Bugatti Chiron.

I feel the same!

Yawn, Max on pole again - let’s focus on Mercs vs Ferrari for P2 in the constructors championship.

Max is such a grumpy fucker. Come on someone else, I hope that literally anyone else wins. Even lance stroll.

Me and DH say that every race but just about every race there he is winning again and boring us to tears.

Maye if he were a bit more likeable I would feel so angry about it

Sigh. Le Clerc really could have had Verstappen on lap one, but just wasn't aggressive enough. If it was the other way round, Le Clerc would have been nearly run off the road. Le Clerc and Norris have to be determined next year when battling Verstappen.

I just don’t think any car can beat Max in the RB over a full race without safety cars etc.

At least there was plenty of action behind. Very pleased George got a podium and Yuki driver of the day. Fernando and Lewis both overtaking a lot of cars. I just hope there are no late penalties for the pit lane infringements.

Fingers crossed 2024 sees closer racing.

Meant to say I loved Naomi’s jacket with the pearls and black jewels, really stunning.

Happy for George to get a podium and Yuki driver of the day. Poor George looked really ill on the podium. It's been a hectic final month for the teams and lots of people looked knackered, even the Sky team. Hope they all get a good rest in off season.

Fingers crossed get a more competitive year in 2024.

Am glad Mercedes grabbed 2nd in the Constructors' Championship, and Lewis somehow managed to come 3rd in the Drivers' Championship!

I didn't see the cool down room as I just watched the highlights on channel 4. How was the air between Charles and George? I know they have to do what they have to do, but they are all so close as a group.

@spottedinthewilds George and Charles were fine, George said Charles played it fair I.e. letting Checo through but not driving really slow to hold him up.

This was my first season and I've watched every race.

I'm sad now!

Thank goodness that’s finally over. 2023 was the most tediously predictable & one-sided F1 season I have ever watched, and I’m old enough to remember Schumacher’s dominance in 02 & 04 and Vettel’s in 2013. I watch a lot of live sport, and the appeal starts to fade when you know the result before the event starts almost every week.

Let’s all hope Mercedes, Ferrari & McLaren get their act together over the winter and are able to actually challenge Red Bull next season. Or, failing that, that Newey decides to retire.

I reckon they've cloned him thus "Newey" will never retire.

I am just surprised Adrian Newey hasn’t been knighted. He is a genius.

I did feel a bit sick when they said it was 97 days until the next race,