F1 2024 -Watchalong thread

[Brazilianadventure]

Happy New Year.

Thought I would start the 2024 thread given there is more political intrigue with the FIA.

2 resignations and one person choosing to not renew their contract. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/67906883

Plus allegedly another ex-Red Bull employee moving to the FIA. https://x.com/silverarrowsnet/status/1744375322131231089?s=46&t=lJm6-66fq4MtGcwwAsK6Kg

Twitter say he's with the board now so won't be long until it's leaked

Thanks for the Bahrain good wishes, it's a big birthday treat for me and I've waited quite a while for it!

That's so exciting @witte have a brilliant time!

Apparently Cristian isn’t down for the TP press conference on Thursday so there is some flexibility when he arrives.

The drivers press conference has Lewis and Carlos - that’s going to be awkward.

That's genius stuff from the show producers!

I’m reading that it was alleged he was sexting a female colleague. Haven’t seen that before.

@witte have a great journey and enjoy every moment! And do report back.

DTS has done a proper number on CH but he definitely turned up the knob dial for the cameras.

Whatever decision is made I hope it's a fair one.

The Times are apparently claiming that CH has been cleared.

Breaking News (via Craig Slater) is that the charges have been dismissed.

I personally find it interesting that they have used the word “dismissed” here rather than stating something like “he’s been found innocent of all charges” or words like that. Does that mean that there was insufficient proof or evidence of the alleged charges?

Dismissed?!

I mean...if there were texts there were texts.

All seems a bit convenient to me, at the start of a season where they're likely to reign again.

Dunno, innocent of all charges sounds a bit legalistic maybe?

Good it’s over. Bit awkward for the accuser at work. Can we get back to racing now?!

Lewis and Carlos were chatting away to each other at the press conference which was nice to see and quashes any negative headlines.

It does appear that RB have done a proper investigation and are correctly allowing an appeal. The next step lies with the accuser, as well as the appeal, I suspect there is the equivalent option of an ET. I think if there had been a settlement we would have had a different statement. Somehow I think this could run and run.

All charges dismissed or not upheld is the correct terminology.

Don't know what to think about the Horner saga. I just hope everyone has been treated fairly.

So after watching FP1 and 2 what's everyones predictions? Here are mine.

I think Red Bull will still win with Verstappen but it won't be as dominant as 2023. Horner will step down at the end of the year. Perez will be ousted during the summer break if he hasnt performed, putting Riccardo in Red Bull and Lawson into AT.

Ferrari will win a few races here a there and steady podiums.

Mercedes will win steady podiums then improve a lot after the summer break to win races. Allison and Shovlin look a lot happier this year, I reckon Mercedes has a lot of development planned over the year. They will end up second in the championship but this time by a bigger margin to Ferrari.

Piastri will end up with more points in the championship than Norris.

Williams will end up back as a steady midfield team by the end of the year, ahead of Haas, Alpine and Sauber.

WOW! Practice 2 has Mercedes half a second faster than the RBR cars.

Could this be the start to a very interesting season???

Oh my word. On twitter seen something that an anonymous source has emailed a google drive with the "Horner evidence" to hundreds of journalists?

How do I link tweets? And what the hell if that is true!

I don't know this person, but if what she's said is right we'll know all by the end of the day - the Horner files have been leaked to hundreds of journalists, Domenicali and the team principals.

https://twitter.com/JennaFryer/status/1763225056199778382

I was half listening to five live for practice and Benson alluded to being distracted by something so I'm inclined to believe it.

I don't believe the practice results

Blimey. This person has guts, I’ll say that. It’s been emailed to the entire paddock by the sound of it.

Mercedes did quite well in free practice last year so much as I would like them to do well, the real test will be tomorrow and Sat.

Deni (fiagirl on twitter ) has posted that skysportsf1 confirmed they got the report

If he's done nothing wrong and been found innocent (or charges dismissed etc) - then CH surely has nothing to worry about!

@FlamingoFlamboyance - I think there is a legal difference between the dismissal of the charges and someone being innocent of the charges. I think there is a threshold that has to be reached/passed and if it doesn't reach that threshold, then the charges get dismissed, it doesn't equal someone being innocent of those charges.

@Sulusu I was hoping to wait for qually but to be fair

Max world champion
RB constructors champion but I agree with DR replacing Perez mid season. Liam to VCARB and possibly a podium.

Mercs look much better and a good base to develop. I agree podiums and possibly wins

🙏 somebody other than RB wins a race. Possibly a maiden win for Lando, plus a win for Fernando & DR ( I know I’m bias)

The VCARB does look good so could move up the midfield. Alex to take the Williams midfield but Logan is out at the end of the year.

Haas to be bought out by Andretti.
Sauber to go to Audi with Carlos and Valtteri for 2025.

Carlos to finish on a high and possibly outscore Charles.

Pierre and Ocon to have a fist fight after taking each other out multiple times.

WRT Christian Horner, I said it would run & run but this is the nuclear option. I just hope the woman who lodged the complaint is OK as I have a feeling she is a pawn in a much bigger game.

I meant to add that CH when being interviewed by Craig Slater as he walked kept saying “I can’t answer that” which to me means there may be a deal/NDA etc in place.

The Gasly/Occon one 😂

I would also like Sainz to outscore Le Clerc! And Russell to outscore Hamilton too. Not because I prefer one to the other in either team, it's just that Le Clerc and Hamilton seem to have very vocal and toxic fanbases who seem to spend an awful lot of time being horrible towards Sainz/Russell and it annoys me.

I completely agree about the toxic fan bases. There is a huge difference to supporting or not supporting a driver/team and disagreeing/debating penalties, fault in a crash etc to some of the vile abuse.

CH: Whoever is the driver behind the allegations (not just the alleged victim, but clearly someone with more power is giving it added oomph), when their first hit didn't prove to be a mortal wound, they have gone back in again with another.

I suspect they will now keep trying until they are successful or it backfires on them.