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

Mercedes have just announced it.

It sounds like it’s as amicable as it can be.

I wonder if it's been discussed for a while but Hamilton didn't make the final decision until he drove the Mercedes the other day.

That maybe doesn't bode well for Mercedes in 2024 if he thinks he has more chance in a Ferrari!

Lewis won't learn Italian!
Carlos was brought up speaking 2 languages well, but Lewis, er, wasn't.

I watched a YouTube thing with Jensen, and he said words to the effect of: us drivers are all that little boy who just dreamt of racing in red, so I guess you're all right and it is the myth and the romance.

But they did Seb so wrong.
And he still wrote and sung them a goodbye song 😢

^ oh and he also said he'd like to see Alonso at Merc...

I have heard Ferrari expect a modicum of Italian from their drivers and staff. I have no idea if that's true. I'm not a Hamilton fan, but I do find the idea of him in a Ferrari fascinating

Hamilton is fascinating. He was just on the verge of being irrelevant, getting older, not winning anymore and then he’s made a move like this and lit up the whole damn grid.

@TheSpottedZebra it was a difficult time for Seb but it was the changes to the tyres that impacted him. I do wonder if that is the issue for DR.

I do miss Seb.

Well LH has openly said he would like to end his career in a red car. And so it happens.

Agree with PP - Merc must be a dud. I haven't fathomed their options for LH's replacement. George Russell is more than capable of taking charge. I would've liked to see lando there but he's tied up I think.

I'm not sure how the methodical mildly spoken LH will fit in at Maranello. But we shall see. I think he will learn Italian. It will be funny to hear him speak it.

Poor Sainz. He was made for Ferrari. Latino, fiery, passionate.

Perhaps a direct swap to Merc?

I could see Sainz or Alonso at Mercedes.
I think it will be a very different team, can't see Toto staying.

Norris will stay at Mclaren. I think there's a lot we're not hearing about this year's car and set up.

Toto has a lot of money invested in Merc. He’ll not jump ship quickly imo

Yeah I don't know why Toto would leave really; him and Suzi are a bit of a power couple.

And he’ll still be raging at the whole conflict of interest complaint/non complaint thing.

I think he’ll be determined to stay until they have a winning car again. Then he might move in elsewhere (or into the FIA)

Toto Wolf owns 33% of the shares in Mercedes F1. He isn't going anywhere.

Hamilton realisically has 4 years max left in the sport. Despite what he says he id desperate to win an 8th title. That would put him above Schumacher and make up for the 2021 title which he thinks was stolen from him.

This year Max and the Red Bull are likely to be unbeatable again. Hamilton therefore has had to decide if he thinks Ferrari or Mercedes will give him the best chance of having a competitive car in 2025 and 2026. Ferrari may be a good choice. Only time will tell.

Toto doesn't look like his hearts in it anymore. With his golden boy leaving and possibly taking Merc people with him, it definitely won't be the same team. He can still have shares in the team and move in a different direction.

Had to share this

Who was that aimed at @JimnJoyce?

@LookItsMeAgain nobody but it seems I managed to cut the top of the pic off

You have to click on the pic to see the full image and 'get' the joke

@MercedesLeftWheelNut TGI Friday

I'm sorry but I still don't get the joke, even after expanding the photo.

If the 'joke' is that he's going to be cheating on Mercedes with Ferrari, I still don't see it.

Now if that had been posted about RBR and them breaking the cost cap or having the championship handed to them on a platter then yeah I could get with that, but he's not cheating on Mercedes or anyone by using his contract to switch teams not even mid year but after a whole season has been completed.

🤔

I think it's just for funsies 😁

I don’t get the joke either.

A joke I do get is Bono’s response to Toto when he was told Lewis is going to Ferrari - Is it April 1st already! 😂

So is Bono going with him, I wonder? He came from McLaren, didn't he?