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

I agree get rid of the chaff before we lose brilliant drivers like Hamilton.
I'm no fan of him or Mercedes, particularly, but the bottom of the pack needs a good shake-up.
Sadly, pay to drive will stop that (and nepotism Lance!)

Tsunoda
Danny Ric
Zhou

I'd sooner see those three moved out than Lewis, that makes no sense at all.

I assume the poster that said Lewis should go is not a fan of his as they referred to him as Lou Lou. Childish and pathetic

was there no Ted’s notebook yesterday?

No Ted wasn’t there. He is back in Aus. I really miss the notebook when he isn’t there.

I'd get rid of Danny Ric, Zhou, K Mag, Sargeant and Stroll (no hope)

Stroll has to go. He is doing nothing for Aston Martin as a racing team. He's not bringing in the points and he has literally and actually got his driving seat because his dad owns the team.
I sense a very uncomfortable conversation between Lance and Lawrence Stroll in the not too distant future.

Lawrence has to see sense and stop keeping a seat open for his son when there are so many other drivers well able to step up to the mark and outperform him!

Im reading that the PA from RB has changed lawyers and is set to appeal

As this is on the BBC I assume the source is credible that the woman involved has lodged a complaint with the FIA. It also suggests the whistleblower ( may not be the same person) has also lodged a complaint.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68585318

I think that’s interesting as it’s the first time the matter has gone outside of Red Bull. Although I don’t know if the FIA will be able to be any more transparent then RB were.

Susie Wolff has lodge a claim with the French Courts against the FIA.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68615850

Mohammed Ben Sulaymaniyah has been cleared of race fixing etc. https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/68621272.amp

The RB/Christian Horner case rumbles on.

I'm thinking that 2024 might be the year of Women in F1....but not for the reasons you're thinking.

Good for Susie.

I’m glad Susie Wolff hasn’t just let it drop.

I mean...MBS being cleared is just expected isn't it. The sport is so very dirty, and a rich boys club set up for their own self-enrichment before anything else.

Good for Susie <standing ovation> for just sort of needling them from the side and showing what dignified behaviour looks like.

Just watching the press conference - the paint on my walls is also dry...

The rumour mills are ramping up re Adrian Neway going to Ferrari and Max V going to Mercedes.

I wonder who is going to be left at RBR after this season?

I hope there is movement; the sport desperately needs RB to sort of shuffle itself back into the pack a bit. If Max wasn't constantly Maxing this would be such a close,
exciting season.

I’m sure I’ve already said on this thread that Adrian Newey said he would liked to have worked with Lewis or Fernando.

Ferrari and Lewis must be very tempting for his swan song.

Oh for sure! And likely underneath it all, plenty would be glad to leave the toxic RB culture behind.

It would be interesting for sure. I'd like to see Max at Mercedes. I might warm to him a bit then.

It would certainly be interesting. I can't stand him but then I also could not stand Vettel when he drove for RB and then once he left he seemed to suddenly change into a really nice guy!

I just don't see why Max would leave at the moment considering how dominant the car is.

Me either, unless he's a bored as we are

1. To prove it is him that's winning, not the car (maybe!)
2. Because the RB is going to be a dog in 2026 - especially if Newey's jumping ship and won't be there to help them design an optimum car for the new regs
3. Lots of rumours about him falling out with Horner - maybe he's not really enjoying being in that team
4. Because he's bored - or at least has said he is

Everyone questioned why Lewis was jumping from McLaren to Mercedes a few years back. Not quite the same because McL were not dominant but Mercs were the underdog still - but future reg changes helped them and Lewis dominate. Maybe Max has a bee about doing something similar?

I'm not convinced he'll go, but I can see a few reasons why it might be tempting him to consider it.

I can see it for that reason @witte

I think he probably is bored shitless by having no real competition and essentially just driving round a track by himself each weekend.

Alex crashes and Williams don’t have a spare floor so Logan is out for the rest of the weekend.

Lando first in FP1 and Charles in FP2, Carlos managed P3 - very brave but I’m sure he is in pain. Max just casually biding his time waiting to pounce in qually.