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

Drivers salaries, and the salaries of the 3 highest-paid people (other than drivers) are excluded from the cost cap.

So yes, Aston could offer Newey £££££ and it not count towards their cost cap.

Which is ridiculous IMO and makes even more of a mockery of it all.

Fingers crossed for Ferrari. It would be nice for Lewis to stand a chance of winning again before he retires, if only to make up for 2021.

Agree about Lewis winning another one. As you say, it's a shame that they gifted the championship that should have been his to Max in 21, as I think he might have hung his gloves up after that. Also, I think the one Nico won was largely as Mercedes wanted it that way.

Still, Fernando still has it, so there are definitely possibilities that Lewis has another one in him.

To be honest, I'd be happy with either Fernando or Lewis winning next year. Lando too, he has future champion all over him.

BREAKING NEWS!!!

Hulkenberg is to drive for Kick Sauber from 2025.

Could that be the team that gets him his first podium???

Go on the hulk. Good for him.

I hope Newey goes to Ferrari. Surely bringing them back to prominence as his last act is too big a draw just like it was for Ferrari.

Fair play to Fred if he gets him.

So excited for another Ferrari era. Part of me wonders if it's really a truly Ferrari era by bringing in Newey and Hamilton, but then as a girl whose teenage bedroom was covered in Schumacher Ferrari red I really don't want to pull at that thread. 😂

Could you imagine Fred Vasseur with the biggest grin going up and down the paddock if he managed to get Adrian Newey to Ferrari??? I can.😁

Yes, yes I can. That would be hilarious.

Even if I was on the absolute bones of my arse I wouldn't work for Lawrence Stroll and his son, who really shouldn't be in a car.

Does Adrian still live near Milton Keynes?

I can't remember exactly, his book talked about it though, so that direction somewhere. I recall that it is commutable to Red Bull, McLaren and Aston Martin.

He's in Sunninghill, near Ascot.

Near the airport then

Farnborough for private planes? Yes, definitely 😂

Anyone know what his personal situation is? Pretty sure he's been married for a long time? I know he refused Ferrari in the past at least partly because he didn't want to move to Italy. But if DC are grown now, that may not be such an obstacle.

At 65, if it was me with all the money he has made, I would definitely be retiring! I suppose it depends if he feels he has any unfinished business in F1.

If I had my pick of teams to work for, it would be Williams or Mercedes, especially Williams under Vowles. I would never want to work for Aston as Stroll Sr strikes me as being difficult to work for. Ferrari seems a better place all round under Fred Vasseur, but you still have to deal with Ferraris tricky internal politics and the Tifosi.

I would be off on a yacht in the med if it were me 😎

He might not even be able to work for anyone next year, depending on what the terms of his contract is.

Me too, but then I don't have his drive.

Ferrari and Hamilton is surely irresistible.

He might not even be able to work for anyone next year, depending on what the terms of his contract is.

Wasn't there a previous career move where he came back after a lengthy gardening leave and made it instantly clear to the rest of the field just how little leave his brain had taken? Must've been when he went to RB, he hasn't moved that much, don't think it was as far back as McLaren. Don't think I'm making it up, but every chance I am and I'm far too lazy to Google.

@LookItsMeAgain If you are on twitter/x this is the best Fred meme https://x.com/mattp1gallagher/status/1783520862009803259?s=61&t=W8z-NdrPTYy21FuiQuezcw

Hulk to Sauber is very interesting, it’s one of Sainz’s options. I had wondered if Hulk might go to Merc for a year to give Kimi a year or two with Williams to test him out. I hope he finally gets a podium as he has out driven the Haas and shown up KMag.

And near also to McLaren and Williams? Ooh!

Me too absolutely!

I could have written that! Sky reneged on their promise to me that after a change in our contract we could go back to our ‘free’ F1 channel - they lied they said no can do ! 🤬so after 3 hours of a stop start online chat with them I too was offered it at £20 a month - terrible company!

Having said that we hate not watching it live so there we are we’re paying it!

I'd love Newey to go to Ferrari!

Have also seen the rumours that Mercedes have offered Max a salary of €150 million plus an ambassadorship. And they would even take Marko as part of the deal. Supposedly there's a meeting arranged with the top brass at Merc and the Verstappens.

I have to say I'd be disappointed in Mercedes if that turned out to be true, particularly given the (other) rumours that part of the reason Hamilton left was because they'd refused to make him an ambassador. But also because I'd lose respect for Wolff if he invited the toxic racist that is HM into the team.

On the other hand, it would give me a certain joy to see Horner lose both Newey and golden boy Max. Hard to see how he'd hold onto his job then.

I'd be surprised if Max made a move before 2026 though. Under the new regs who knows who will be at the top, but moving before that feels like giving up on the best chance he'll have to win a 5th title - and Merc would have to pull some phenomenal turnaround to be title contenders next year.

Nooo I don't want to see Mercedes colonised by RB toxicity!

I'm dying for a race today! Usually watch with an early morning coffee, or if it's a later race I do my nails and watch.

DS is loving it because he's been able to colonise the living room to play FIFA 😆

Going to do my nails then play the drums for a couple hours.

What's everyone else up to on this F1-free Sunday?

I don't think Horner will be there by the end of the year. The rumour factory earlier in the year was that his exit had already been negotiated. This is what has opened the door for Newey as their contracts were linked.

I know I’m probably repeating myself but the off track action is what is making this season bearable.
I thought Lewis to Ferrari would be the biggest news this year. Clearly not so DTS will have a lot of material and no need to manufacture rivalries.

It's funny isn't it? When Lewis / Mercedes were always winning it was quite boring. Same now with Red Bull.

Maybe they should spray the track with water every week as that seems to liven things up a bit.