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 take it back - they've shown it 😁

Just got up my normal time and was surprised to turn the tv on and see the race was about to start. I assumed it would be very early morning here when it started.

I have my fingers crossed for rain!

Thought mclaren had done Lando over there.

Well done Lando and Alonso who was hampered by the tyre strategy.

DR and Yuki had really bad luck.

Just finished watching it now. What a snoozefest.

Max must be so bored.

F1 will need to change very quickly... every race this year (unless rain) will be exactly the same - boring and predictable.

There is nothing, nothing at all, that makes it exciting now a days, even the pit stops are so well drilled that these rarely go wrong.

MotoGp and Superbike far better viewing.

@GPTec1 I agree, 2026 is too far away.

Couldn't agree more about it being boring. Me and DH have always got up early for all the early starts, even practice and qualifying. This year we are not bothering.

We are even thinking about getting rid of Sky which, obviously, means we will lose Sky F1 as Sky is so expensive now. Never ever thought the day would come when we would even think of getting rid of the F1 channel

I thought this race was more exciting than previous ones this season. There was a lot of overtaking and the lower teams fighting to pick up the P10 point was good. Plus Mercedes' uncertain race performances make it a bit less predictable.

I think Karun Chandok put it really well after the race. He said you have to admire the skill of Max and then enjoy the entertainment from P2 down. It's not how it should be, and thank goodness we've got reg changes in 2026 to look forward to, but I still enjoyed watching the racing.

I was thinking the same re pits stops etc.

It's OK ignoring Max - I can do that. But, in general, the rest of the racing is can be dull sometimes. My goodness, Redbull even managed to double stack Max and Perez at one point and both pit stops were still 2 seconds. That's a long way from refuelling fires or drivers having to race each other back to the pits on foot for the only 'spare' car

The cars are so reliable. The pit stops so well executed. The drivers so closely matched and the cars so close (except Max in the RB) and it feels wrong to moan about all those things - they are the pinnacle of so many talented people working together. But somehow it's not adding up to F1 excitement.

DTS gave more viewers that ever but I read an article recently quoting 2023 SM mentions and viewing figures that suggests they all peaked in 2022 and started dropping last year. This could be interest waning or could be cost - following F1 is not particularly cheap when people are strapped. Plus, they are still way higher than a few years back.

All that said, I think I've been 'moaning'' about F1 in one form or another for 25 years now and I still sit down every other weekend to watch so maybe they're not doing TOO bad

@MercedesLeftWheelNut it's not surprising about the interest peaking in 2022, which was after the box office 2021 season with high drama, the closest possible race to the WDC and the scandal of AD21.

2022 started well with Ferrari looking in the mix, but by the second half of the season it was the Max Verstappen show and we all know what happened last year.

Add into the mix that you've got some fairly unpleasant characters involved in the RB team, and Max himself, despite phenomenal talent, isn't big on charisma (personal opinion!), it's harder for people who aren't really invested to engage with the sport.

I agree cost may well be a factor too. I've looked into attending races a number of times but the cost is obscene. Even the cost for the Sky Sports channels is prohibitive if you're only interested in F1. I've considered investing but can't be bothered while it's a MV procession every weekend - the channel 4 highlights coverage is perfectly good.

Yeah, sky is just too expensive for us to even consider. At the moment channel 4 highlights seem the right call since so much of the race is dull!

I'm disappointed for Lando though - I'm happy just paying attention to P2 onwards, but obviously there's racers that would actually like a shot at P1.

Tell that to Bottas! 😆

Sky is expensive if you just want to watch the quali and race. At full price it works out at something like £8 per hour of viewing. Like you all say, if those hours are then dull it seems like a rip off.

I've only managed it by looking for the Now TV offers AND sharing the cost with football loving family members.

If I had to pay full cost or pay the cost myself, I think I'd opt for C4 also.

I only have a Now TV sports now from March to the last race then I cancel it. I do also watch cricket though, so make use of the sub between races too. Sky is way too expensive for me now.

This year's F1 action has been dull and combined with races at bad times of the day for UK viewers, I'm not really making the most of my Now TV sub. The sooner Sky TV lose their sole provider status in the UK the better. They have a contract to be the only provider until 2029!
I think it's ridiculous that the UK can't use F1 TV like so many other countries can. I know you can get around it with a VPN but we shouldn't have to do that.

I feel a bit stupid - I HAVE a VPN and it's never occurred to me to use F1 TV.

Fucks sake 😂

We somehow managed to just get the F1 channel with no other sports channels many years ago for free (can't remember how or why) which was great as we always watched practice, qualifying, the race and the after race programme as well as, more recently, Ted's Notebook.

Last year we changed our broadband to Sky and they said we could no longer have the F1 channel for free but could have it for £20 a month. We argued and tried to haggle but with no success.

If we do get rid of Sky we will think about just getting Now tv for the races.

Can't decide and are worried if we get rid F1 will suddenly become more exciting or Lewis will do better

@elessar Add into the mix that you've got some fairly unpleasant characters involved in the RB team, and Max himself, despite phenomenal talent, isn't big on charisma (personal opinion!), it's harder for people who aren't really invested to engage with the sport.

There have always been some fairly unpleasant characters in F1. Ron Dennis, Flavio Briatore, Eddie Jordan were all far more unpleasant than anything Christian Horner is accused of. But they were characters and I agree that is what is missing.

Indeed, I wasn't thinking just of Christian Horner, but Helmut Marko who's been outwardly racist and Jos Verstappen with his history of domestic abuse. Both of them come across as nasty bullies.

As you say, they're far from the only ones in F1 history, but it's quite a concentration within one team at one time.

We share my brothers Now tv for F1 coverage. Dh likes the aussie v8s but they're only on bt now which would be an extra expense.
We're still fortunate BTCC is on itv4. We're at Donnington for the start of the season on Sun. Decent wheel to wheel racing, I can meet the drivers and get a photo and autograph in the dinner break and with about 8 support races, all for £37!

I have always refused to pay for Sky but loved F1 too much so went with NowTV. You can get good deals but need to track when the6 end or they sting you.

@elessar I agree Marko, Jos and Christian are not a trio I would want to cross. I still think the CH issue is going to continue to run if the press is correct and an ET 1 or early conciliation has been started. It’s going to take time and I think it’s likely to be a compromise agreement with NDA and ££££.

What annoys me about NowTV is if you don't manage to watch it live it takes ages for it to become available on demand. We sometimes buy 24hr passes for races where the timing suits.

WRT the Red Bull/ Christian Horner investigation. Reports are that following an appeal by the PA, a further investigation is underway and outcome is due mid May.

Ferrari are racing in Blue in Miami, very retro pictures of Charles and Carlos.

Well Adrian Newey has just resigned his position. That is a big statement.