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F1 2024 -Watchalong thread

988 replies

Brazilianadventure · 08/01/2024 20:11

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

Goss becomes third senior figure to quit FIA

Leading engineer Tim Goss leaves his role as the single-seater technical director of motorsport's governing body the FIA.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/67906883

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Brazilianadventure · 03/03/2024 15:12

@GPTec1 I agree the failures and tyre deg made the racing much better. As did refuelling.

The problem the FIA and FOM are facing is that DTS has hugely increased the fan base but it’s now on season 6 and harder to keep make it fresh. If new fans just see max winning and no or very little on track action then they will drift away.

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Sulusu · 03/03/2024 15:24

Eh... while I think dubious stuff happened with Red Bull during 2020/2021, you can't dispute that Adrian Newey is the best there is with designing a car, especially regarding ground effect. I think he and his team deserve a lot of respect for just how good the post 2021 Red Bull car has been. Cost cap grey areas with the catering stuff wouldn't really have affected anything that much.

Verstappen is also very talented. I think it's hard for me to put him in the Schumacher/Hamilton tier, as his weak team mates makes it hard to guage but he is very very good, at least as good at Vettel. And like Vettel he was an cocky arrogant little gobshite initially, but he is maturing and has calmed down a lot after he got his first (legitimite) championship.

I have softened to him over the past year much as I did to Vettel as time went on and they matured. I like his dont-give-a shite-attitude to all the extra Extra F1 stuff that Liberty is demanding, like the cheesy driver intros at Miami/Las Vegas for example. He also does bits here and there that make me think there is a decent lad underneath. Yesterday during the grid walk, he made time to chat to Martin Brundle, when he really didn't have to, and asking Martin how he was, which is nice. What I don't like is him not calling out the racist stuff towards Hamilton more. I just hope if we get a more competitive year, he doesn't revert back to the Verstappen of old and start shoving people, both on and off the track!

I know we all want some competition and excitement back in F1, but at the end of the day it's up to the other teams to develop their car better and bring them up to the standard of Red Bulls.

I think Perez is still in that seat, as Red Bull don't want someone who will compete with Verstappen in the same team. They know they are on to an easy win this year, and want a Schumacher/Barrichello set up, not a Hamilton/Rosberg one. It makes it even more boring to watch for the spectator sadly, but it's understandable from Red Bulls point of view.

Brazilianadventure · 03/03/2024 20:14

@Sulusu I agree with a lot you have said. Adrian Newey is a legend and should in my view be a Sir. I also agree Max is an exceptional driver but I would like him to have a stronger team mate.

RB have done a fantastic job since 2022 with the regulation change and deserve all the plaudits but unless other teams step up the FIA might have to step in like they did in 2020/21. Remember even Adrian Newey said the 2021 RB was, over the season, a better car than the Merc following the FIA tweeting the rules.

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Gibs0nGirl · 03/03/2024 20:30

What do we all think of Jos upping the ante by claiming Max will leave if CH doesn't?

I can't see him choosing a team with a worse car. And surely he's under contract.

Brazilianadventure · 03/03/2024 20:31

I said this CH story would run & run.
https://x.com/andrewbensonf1/status/1764321941739999330?s=61&t=W8z-NdrPTYy21FuiQuezcw

and https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68461379

Given Andrew Benson is a BBC Sports Journalist this is very concerning.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem clearly showed his support for CH when he hugged him in the Pit Lane on Friday. He has now allegedly asked MV if he would publicly back CH. Meanwhile Jos is talking to the media saying Max will leave if CH stays.

Has everyone forgotten the poor woman who made the complaint.

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Gibs0nGirl · 03/03/2024 20:54

That is fairly despicable. That poor woman. Her career is over and so far he's going to escape by the skin of his teeth - although really that sort of remains to be seen.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 03/03/2024 21:01

Brazilianadventure · 03/03/2024 20:31

I said this CH story would run & run.
https://x.com/andrewbensonf1/status/1764321941739999330?s=61&t=W8z-NdrPTYy21FuiQuezcw

and https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68461379

Given Andrew Benson is a BBC Sports Journalist this is very concerning.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem clearly showed his support for CH when he hugged him in the Pit Lane on Friday. He has now allegedly asked MV if he would publicly back CH. Meanwhile Jos is talking to the media saying Max will leave if CH stays.

Has everyone forgotten the poor woman who made the complaint.

Edited

None of the men involved give a shit about the woman.

There’s a power struggle at Red Bull, half the paddock is taking sides between the Austrian faction and the Thai faction, she’s irrelevant to them - I’d bet whoever leaked the pack didn’t even think about any impact on her by doing so.

Brazilianadventure · 03/03/2024 21:31

You are right she is just a pawn. Helmut Marko is bound to be in the mix too, he managed to keep his job after the racist comments about Checo.

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Merrow · 04/03/2024 09:20

I avoided spoilers so I could watch the highlights with DP on Sunday... Not exactly a thrilling race! I feel sorry for Tsunoda, who's shot himself in the foot a bit with his reaction to team orders. I'm interested to see how DR does though, at the moment he doesn't seem to be the obvious candidate to take over from Sergio Perez.

MercedesLeftWheelNut · 04/03/2024 09:25

There’s a power struggle at Red Bull, half the paddock is taking sides between the Austrian faction and the Thai faction, she’s irrelevant to them - I’d bet whoever leaked the pack didn’t even think about any impact on her by doing so.

I am starting to wonder if this isn't bigger than RB and is part of a power play between Liberty Media ("Formula One") and the FIA. The two sides have struggled massively to create a functional relationship between them and it does seem to be going from bad to worse. RB and the FIA have clearly been far too close for some time & I wonder if this is an attempt to force a fracture?

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 04/03/2024 09:27

It does show how stable things were kept with Dietrich Mateschitz at the helm

Sulusu · 04/03/2024 16:39

All the damn action is off the track, but we want on-track drama dammit!

spottedinthewilds · 04/03/2024 17:18

I think the best thing to happen to the sport this year would be for Max to go to Mercedes and for someone else to race the Red Bull.

It really would show whether Max is all that. I expect he would still win but it's whether he would be as dominant.

It could make the season far more interesting.

gingercat02 · 04/03/2024 17:20

The Alpine top brass are gone today too. Had to happen, dead last in the first race, very poor.
BBC News - Formula 1: Alpine pair resign after poor start at Bahrain GP
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68470753

Brazilianadventure · 04/03/2024 18:43

So we have the following allegations (very light hearted)
Mohammed Ben Sulayem

  • manipulating a race result in 2023
  • minimising RB overspend in 2021 = no racing penalty
  • minimising AD2021 = clearing stewards and an NDA and $$$ for the race director
  • Publicly supporting Christian Horner
  • Asking Max to publicly support CH
  • Launching investigation into Susie & Toto Wolff then almost immediately closing it. = Pending legal action from the Wolff’s
  • Historical misogynistic comments.
Christian Horner
  • Making RB appear to be victims in 2021 when they over spent the cost cap
  • Coercive behaviour towards a junior employee
  • Unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature towards a junior employee
  • Helping keep Helmut Marko in his job after he made racist comments
  • Being ruthless with RB drivers including Albon, Gasley and Kyvat but a soft spot for DR?
  • Very belated statement on Nelson Piquets racist comments
Jos Verstappen
  • Hitting his wife = restraining order
  • Trying to run over his then girlfriend = married her
  • Talking to Toto Wolffe
  • Talking to the media and stirring discord in RB
  • Possible source of leaked documents (there are others)
Helmut Marko
  • Making racist comments about Checo
  • Utterly ruthless with junior RB drivers Albon, Gasley & Kyvat
  • Possibly stirring discord in RB.
Max Verstappen
  • exceptional driver
  • focuses on racing.

What have I missed 😂
Just a typical start to the season for the Piranha club 😂 Come back Bernie (not ).

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ColleenDonaghy · 04/03/2024 19:05

The on track action might vary season by season but off track never disappoints Grin

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JimnJoyce · 06/03/2024 11:30

That column is extremely well thought out and logical

Brazilianadventure · 06/03/2024 11:56

Does Alpine have anyone left to run their team? They fired Otmar last year and in the last few days have lost 3 senior people.

Bruno Famin is in the TP press conference, I think he maybe hoping Christian Horner will get most of the questions. Also there are James Vowels and Mike Krack.

Yuki is in the drivers press conference, I wonder if he will stick to the PR script about the team orders.

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Merrow · 06/03/2024 12:49

Surely Yuki has to toe the line now after his behaviour last week, I expect he'll stick to the script.

gingercat02 · 06/03/2024 12:57

I'm not sure Yuki even knows there is a script. DS loves him cos he doesn't care about anything except Yuki.

user1460571583 · 06/03/2024 15:06

Brazilianadventure · 06/03/2024 11:56

Does Alpine have anyone left to run their team? They fired Otmar last year and in the last few days have lost 3 senior people.

Bruno Famin is in the TP press conference, I think he maybe hoping Christian Horner will get most of the questions. Also there are James Vowels and Mike Krack.

Yuki is in the drivers press conference, I wonder if he will stick to the PR script about the team orders.

Bruno Famin is running Alpine now. The 3 senior people who have left all handed their notices in before Christmas as far as I know. They didn't leave because of this weekend's performance, though they were fully aware how bad it was going to be.There has been a restructure and they have been replaced by other members of the team.
They have a plan of action to turn things around over the season 🤞

Brazilianadventure · 06/03/2024 15:55

@user1460571583 that's interesting, thanks.

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spottedinthewilds · 06/03/2024 18:18

Where can I see the TP press conference please? I have SkyF1 but can only see the drivers press conference.

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