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

Christian did get a very hard time at the press conference. From what he said it does sound like RB parent company followed a standard grievance process with an external investigator.

None of us have seen all the evidence so we are not in a position to say if the conclusion was correct.

I am still concerned for the PA involved as this should never have become public. As I said upthread no one has said the screenshots released are fake. Who ever released them has made the situation far worse for her.

In other news in both FP1 and FP2 the top 9 were within a second and the whole grid within 2 seconds. So it’s close and a mistake can make a big difference in qualifying position. Alonso seems to have got the Aston working.

I don't think Danny Ric is doing much to prove he should have the RB seat

Agree. I think he's fine where he is; if you can't reliably best Yuki then it doesn't look like a brilliant swap for Checo really.

I'd like to see the back of Yuki and Liam Lawson step up instead. But I understand why that's not going to happen. It's just not good for the sport though is it.

If it was up to me, DR and YS would be gone and on their way, waste of two seats imo. And yes, would love to see Liam Lawson given a real shot.

I can’t stand the guy but it wasn’t a comfortable watch

I'm going to watch it in a bit - I'm technically working from home...

Am I going to end up feeling sorry for him? I saw a tiny clip and he's really gone for the gently spoken family man thing hasn't he?!

@Gibs0nGirl also technically working from home. Will watch during my ‘lunch hour’

Haha @JimnJoyce my job is pretty boring so my lunch break could easily last three hours and no bigger would notice!

@Gibs0nGirl mine too tbh

Feck! Carlos Sainz has appendicitis and is out of the weekend, Oliver Bearman is replacing him. I've barely heard of Bearman, what an opportunity! Hope Carlos isn't out for too long, he's been doing so well.

Oh no. I was LOVING Carlos in his 'fuck you Ferrari' era!

So I forgot to record the press conference...disappointed. Does anyone have a link to it elsewhere?

Poor old Sainz. He was looking rough as, I was a bit thrown by the photos from yesterday. I was hoping for another FU to Ferrari too 😂

Poor Carlos I really want this to be his year

It's funny really, he seems to be the loser in this scenario, but actually the entire season everyone is going to be weighing up if LeClerc was the right keep, and he'll be under the microscope all the more.

Aw poor Carlos, no wonder he looked so pale yesterday.

What an opportunity for Bearman though, good luck to him!

Oh man poor Carlos! My mam's recovering from that too. Shall I send him some mince and dumplings as well?

I watched the TP PC back and I thought "Oh my god, I can't believe he tried to use the shield of 'where there's children involved'". It smacked so much of that line from The Simpsons "Won't someone please think of the children" when said by Rev Lovejoy's wife or was it Ned Flanders' wife?? Anyway, it really didn't sit well with me.

Ever since RBR joined F1, that team over all of the others has given me the impression that they do not have a supportive work environment, or as it turns out a supportive whistle blowing one either. They just don't come across as a pleasant working environment to be in.

If you think they might work, fire ahead! 😊

I think if they were not successful a lot of toxicity would suddenly become much more unacceptable at RB.

But I think they have used the 'it's us against the world' mentality a little too much, and CH in particular weaponises victimhood all the time even though they are so dominant.

The press conferences are on YouTube.

Poor Carlos, that’s not what he, or we, need at the start of the season.
Great chance for Bearman.

I do wonder with them increasing the number of races if they might consider limiting the Championship to the best 20 results and require reserve drivers to do say 2 weekends a year.

@Brazilianadventure i like that idea

Excited for Bearman!

Ollie Bearmans holding his own!
My dd is very excited, she's followed him for a few years now.

Ollie Bearman 👏👏👏👏👏 P11 on his debut with only one FP session.

What a lovely eloquent confident young man in his interview there ☺️ And a nice dad too 😉