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

Pervious domination by drivers/teams has never been quite so total: cars were less reliable, refueling, not so well drilled tyre changes, more competitive/supported team mates.

Don't know what the answer is, i used to love watching F1 but no longer.

I agree. People keep saying "oh but Lewis dominated for years" but he did not win every race nor did he win in such an easy manner. He actually had to race other drivers as there was competition

I used to love watching in the 80s, then went through years of not watching. Got back into it about ten years ago, but not to the same extent. Not being able to watch on UK television didn't help as I won't pay for it.

I've always found the motorcycle racing much more exciting.

It's official, then - Red Bull have confirmed Newey is leaving them in early 2025.

Also: remembering Ayrton Senna today. Thirty years since it happened (and Roland Ratzenberger too); I still remember watching it in horror and disbelief.

There is an article on the BBC about Prof Sid Watkins. He was very close to Senna and tried to resuscitate him at Imola.

Prof Watkins made a huge difference to F1 safety and implemented many of the safety protocols we still see today e.g. the medical car following the first lap. That made a difference to Romain Grosjean.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c1ejpl7k2lqo

I remember that dreadful day all to well. I was on a riding holiday in Northumberland so was looking forward to the race highlights when someone at dinner casually mentioned Senna's death. I ugly cried for the rest of the meal.

@Eyesopenwideawake I know, I remember it too as I was watching live with dear Murray commentating.

Thanks for the link @Brazilianadventure , I'll read it later. Loved Sid Watkins. Between him and Charlie Whiting you really feel the old guard moving on these days don't you.

Hit post too soon.

Like many, my earliest F1 memory. I didn't start to follow it until 1995, but my dad loved it. I remember being on a bank holiday family outing and him hearing the news in the car. He insisted that the recording go on the TV immediately when we got home - usually it would've waited until after dinner when elderly relatives had been dispatched back home. I remember Murray's somber tone so clearly.

I was watching the video of him sniffing Roland Ratzenburger's death yesterday. I feel like in recent years his legend has become about the cuddly grandad type and his gaffes. You forget sometimes what a wonderful broadcaster he was.

That might shake things up a bit more 😃 my personal dream he goes to Ferrari 🏎️

Going back to this from a few days ago:

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 really don't want Horner to lose his job over talent going elsewhere. He's been team principal for a crazy long time and had huge success - not many get one period of dominance never mind two, and he's right that he didn't inherit a structure like Toto, he built it. His professional success can't be doubted, any more than Newey, Max, Lewis etc. It's about time for that to falter, it's a miracle it hasn't yet, and it's about time for them to start losing talent to the teams behind. That's just the natural cycle.

If, as it seems he did, he sexually harassed a junior colleague, I want him fired specifically and publicly for that, in disgrace. Not just leave a job he's been successful at at about that time you might have expected him to leave anyway.

@ColleenDonaghy I agree it should be about CH’s behaviour towards the PA, not because staff have moved on.

I think it’s going to take a long time until we get a resolution of the PA’s claims as I can see this going to ET.

Adrian Newey moving on is just good for F1, as is Lewis to Ferrari and Hulk to Sauber/Audi. It is very unusual to have no rookie’s the grid staying exactly the same for 2 years. There are always winners and losers and whilst I feel sorry for Sainz he should get a seat.

I can't believe it's been 30 years since that awful weekend when Ratzenberger and Senna died. I remember watching it in disbelief.

I'm glad that the status quo has been disrupted. Firstly by the Hamilton move and then due to the allegations made against CH. While we don't know the in and outs of the CH allegations, a lot of the damage is being done regardless.

Did anyone watch the press conference yesterday? No matter what opinion you may have had about Stroll beforehand, he just came across as an arrogant bell end. Someone who knows that he's never going to be fighting for a seat so has a complete sense of entitlement. It makes me so angry that you've got the likes of Drugovitch stuck, unable to get the seat while Stroll is waltzing around, sticking 2 fingers up to the press and other drivers.

I know this is not exactly news, but the press conference just showed how much he couldn't give a damn about anyone but himself.

There was a time when I thought Lawrence Stroll would bin Lance for not performing, but we are way beyond that now.

Oh that's a shame. I didn't see it. Obviously he would likely be in a very different position if his father hadn't bought a team, but he's always struck me as remarkably nice and level headed given the upbringing he must have had. Feeling the pressure maybe.

We don't tend to see Lewis as frequently at the Driver's Press Conference but when we do he always comes across as enthusiastic and ready to answer any question (however ambiguous his reply might be) that he gets.

Yesterday, Stroll looked like he was the least interested person on the sofa. Lawrence needs to knock some sense into his son - it's an absolute privilege to be in the top 20 drivers and Lance is taking it for granted. I think it's time he was put on the driver market and then see how many other teams are scrambling over themselves to take him on vs take the likes of Bearman on. He surely must realise that his days in F1 are numbered. Why isn't Lawrence doing something about this? It smacks so much of the way that Mazepin was treated because his father was the primary sponsor at the time of the Haas team.

Especially when Sainz doesn't have a seat yet.

I have desperately tried to find the positives for Stroll - he's been partnered with 2 world champions, so obviously he's going to struggle to out pace them, he put in a solid performance at the start of the 23 season. But honestly, he was like a petulent teenager in interviews.

I agree completely about LH coming across really well. When stroll gave one of his miserable answers, Lewis leaned over and whispered something to him and I did wonder if he'd told him to sort himself out and respect the position he's in!

Your heart has to go out to Charles Leclerc having that spin and causing a red flag in the one and only free practice session.
In honesty, if they didn't have bad luck they'd have no luck at all!

I'm delighted to see Martin back but less happy to see Danica Patrick back. Sky F1 have to ditch her as a commentator, they really do. She is painful to listen to and has ZERO knowledge of driving a F1 car so why she is their "Go To Gal" for American grand prixes I have no idea.

I suspect Danica is there as part of a deal with US TV networks who take the sky feed.

Mercs out in Q2, Normal service from RB, Le Clerc good recovery and the real DR finally seems to have turned up.

I love the Ferrari boys in blue. There is such a 1960s feel to it.

So no real surprises in the top 3 but DR, Yuki, Lewis, Sainz and rolling roadblock K May gave us a decent sprint race.

Lewis 20 second penalty for speeding in the pit lane, so Yuki gets a point.

Stroll is an entitled tosser