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

It’s usually on YouTube shortly after the press conference.

Thanks - is it awful I want to see CH squirm. I was a fan......

I am admittedly surprised by the Christian Horner stuff. Completely believed he could be a bullying arsehole of a boss, and assumed the behaviour complained of would be along those lines.

Do you know when the TP PC is? I can't fine it and not sure when it is actually held and whether I have missed it or it hasn't happened yet

Yes. I think it's a bit odd. He comes out of this as such a sleaze whereas I would have thought more that he was hard work and controlling rather than a bit of a weirdo!

The TP press conference was about 15:30 uk time. It does take a while for it to appear on YouTube etc.

The transcript should eventually be put on this page https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/tags.press-conferences.55FMj3vhksoIIIQmuKwSuq.html

Latest rumour on Twitter is that the PA has been fired and is preparing to sue.

God, what a mess.

@Fulshaw If the PA had anything to do with the leaked emails they could lawfully dismiss her for breach of GDPR. The email was allegedly not sent BCC so all recipients got to see all 150 email addresses. Additionally the screen shots were submitted as part of the grievance and circulating them is also a breach.

Obviously the PA may have had nothing to do with the leak but it had to come from somewhere.

If I was RB I would go down the route of a settlement agreement with an NDA. Yes it would cost £££ but it would shut down further bad PR.

What are everyone's thoughts on the power struggle between the Verstappens and Horner?
I was listening to the race f1 podcast and they were saying that Max is much more valuable and would hold more power than Christian.
I would argue that Christian has built such a great team that you could put any of the top level drivers into that car and they'd probably win the championship so it surprises me that Max would have so much power, given that he doesn't have anywhere else to go?

I know it's important power struggle, but tbh I don't particularly like either of them so I can't get excited about it.

RB have been seriously dominant for a while now, and it's quite unusual that their period of dominance with Max came so soon after their dominance with Seb. It wouldn't be surprising for them to lose key figures and have a period in the doldrums with the new regs in 2026 and I suppose this is the start of that. Nothing lasts forever!

@milski I think there is more than one power struggle, the Thai owners vs Mark Mateschmitz also seems to be an area of conflict. As I understand it Red Bull Racing is a company within the Red Bull GmbH parent company. It is therefore theoretically possible to completely separate the two.

I can see relatively short term Max is very valuable to RB Racing, he sells a heck of a lot of merchandise which attracts sponsors. He is also attractive to other teams.

However, as TP, Christian Horner has to build a sustainable team for the long term. Christian has clearly attracted a lot of good people from Mercedes and from the paddock but most importantly he has Adrian Newey.

The Ford deal for 2026 is potentially going to be a significant factor. Rumours are Fords 2026 engine development is behind so it could suit RB to keep Christian and lose Ford. Equally neither Mercedes or Ferrari are going to want to supply RB and VCARB so RB may chose Ford over Christian.

If the allegations the PA has been dismissed and is planning to sue are true then this is going to be a very long drawn out saga.

It's shocking if they've sacked Fiona, I hope she does sue if that's correct although I don't think there's a hope in hell that CH will ever go willingly.

The Telegraph has just reported the PA has been suspended.

Sacking the PA looks very bad for Red Bull in my opinion. I really hope she is getting supported through all of this. I think how all this is affecting the victim is being lost in all the drama.

I finally finished DTS. A very meh season. Highlight for me was Fred Vasseur, he is quite funny, I'm warming to him more and more.

Very damaging for redbull suspending the accuser. Very odd move from them, I wonder what their reasoning is?

They’ll have a good reason. The problem is, we know very little about what’s gone on so it’s hard to judge. On the very few occasions I’ve happened to have had inside knowledge of media stories, it’s always only half the picture being reported, which totally distorts the truth. And often you can’t correct the narrative because of confidentiality and privacy concerns.

Jesus. They just don't care about positioning themselves as a toxic boys club do they.

@Fulshaw I agree there is far more to this than is being reported.

Christian Horner been suspended??? Just seen on bbc news ticker tape

Nope sorry it's the PA. Sorry sorry

It's always the woman that bears the brunt of these types of things - why oh why wasn't he suspended (with pay) until this whole scenario was completely sorted?

https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/68501426

She gets suspended but not him.

Here is the link

@Brazilianadventure thank you. I didn't realise it was today, that's why I couldn't find it. 😁

I must admit I thought it was yesterday too.

The media were relentless in that press conference! I think he nearly cried at one point when he was talking about his family.