F1 2024 thread 2

[Brazilianadventure]

Continuation thread

Part 1 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/sports/4980705-f1-2004-watchalong-thread?page=10&reply=136230297

I'm still angry about Abu Dhabi too as are almost all of my friends that are F1 fans (even the ones that are not particularly Lewis supporters). Not sure I will ever stop being angry about it!

Same!!!

Yup. I wonder how many F1 fans first lost faith in the FIA specifically because of Abu Dhabi 2021. I know for sure it totally shaped my opinion of them and of the current President - and not favourably!

I've never been a Lewis fan. He's just not my person. I'll be quite glad to bundle him off to Ferrari, who I'm not fussed on either.
DH is still angry about AD21 MB, and Crofty were talking about it after Vegas abd in a room full of people, most of them put their hands up if you ask who is still annoyed 😒
I'm a team fan, too, mainly Mercedes/Williams, but I like McLaren too, and I really want Lando and Oscar to win a title

What is actually going on at the FIA with all these firings?
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/fresh-fia-upheaval-as-f2-race-director-and-key-steward-dismissed/10677152/

That's unreal. Is that the 4th or 5th or even the 6th resignation/sacking/departure under Ben Sulayem????
I look back on the days with Charlie Whiting with longing...where is the steady hand that can calm this messy situation???

I am surprised (though not shocked) that there isn't an actual training and accreditation plan for Race Stewards and Race Directors in F1 or any of the motorsport disciplines. I mean you have to train to be a referee in rugby or football and you have to train and be examined by an official body of representatives for that sport.
Why isn't being a Race Steward seen as more than having former drivers stepping in each race weekend and not having a core group of regular Stewards who would either be in Race Control or have somewhere connected remotely to the track (like VAR but remotely) and provide further back up to people at the track.

Tim Mayer talks about how hard a job it is, and how they are running out of people to do these jobs.

Rui Marques is now in charge of F1 and F2 this weekend, which sounds like too much pressure for one person.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/c4gzn7gvjzzo

It is extremely worrying for the FIA. Sadly Ben Sulayem does not appear to be a good president.

I agree with @LookItsMeAgain, and with many F1 commentators, that we need professional programmes and accreditation to make it clear how important these roles are. The days of volunteers at the highest level are over. Given the global increase in fans and associated £££ income there is no excuse not to do this.

Despite my views of AD2021, I believe Michael Masi was shattered by AD. There were several new race tracks being developed and he was visiting them during the year to do Health and Safety checks so was flying back and forth between races far more than the teams. At the time I said he needed a support team who could undertake some aspects of the role.

I think Ben Sulayem has been a disaster for the sport tbh. The whole 2021 fiasco, stealing the championship from Lewis, sacking stewards etc is ridiculous.

It really sounds like he thinks nobody should ever question him. I'm not surprised he gets on so well with Horner

Comment I saw from George Russell in an interview.

"We'd love to get a bit of clarity and understanding of what's going on, and, you know, who's getting fired next."

(Not sure how to post links from. Instagram here).

I assume the "we" in that is the drivers/GPDA.

The drivers are clearly very unimpressed with MBS' firing rampage!

The interview with George Russell and Ted Kravitz is on Sky Sports F1 Instagram. They also talk about a change the drivers want clarifying rules about overtaking for next year.

Not a very exciting sprint qualy, only thing of note is Perez not making it out of Q1 again.

Mind you that's becoming normal for him now. I wonder has he been told he is leaving at the end of the year and has checked out?

Only caught the end of sprint Qually. Looks like McLaren have got their speed back. Well done George.

The constructors championship may go down to AD if the Ferrari’s race pace is slightly better.

I think it was Jenson who said that if Perez stays for 2025 it’s not for his performance … ouch! true though 😱

Looked down and thought Crofty had said the wrong name for the win. Brilliant drive from Norris today. He just said the team told him not to let Oscar through!

Well I said the other day Russell was in danger of making me like him, no danger today. 🙄

Oh and how embarrassing was that start from Checho.

He used to be so good, this era has just destroyed his reputation.

I do like the sprints where everyone is driving flat out. Would like more overtakes.

A nice move from Lando at the end.

I am sorry but they have to let Checo go for 2025. Not giving Yuki a go seems really unfair. I know F1 is a harsh sport but what else does he have to do to get a chance.

Confirmed what I suspected that Qatar is a very dull track. It was harder to judge last year as the extreme heat added to the drama. But meh, hard to overtake, and quite dull to watch. Expect the main race to be the same but with more tyre factors.

What a race from the Haas drivers, Magnusson with a great start, and some great defending from Hulkenburg, was the highlight for me.

As for Perez, what on earth was that? Green light mean go Checo!

Watching the post race interviews, several of the drivers look very tired. And they have to go again in a couple of hours!

Much as I love all the F1 weekends this year, it's too much for the drivers and all the team members IMO.

@Sulusu I agree. 24 races is too many,

Lewis is very down.

I'm starting to go off Liam Lawson. I don't think he has shown the talent they had hoped and also he is far too cock sure!!

My heart breaks for Hamilton. He really has just given up on this year. I hope he can find some good form with Ferrari.

It was nice, if risky, of Norris to give the place to Piastri

WRT Lewis, I think the win in Silverstone was very important. It was obvious, and unsurprising, the emotion he had bottled up since AD21 all came out. Having had a relatively uncompetitive car since then must have been frustrating as he hasn’t been able to fight for No 8.

I watched a clip of him explaining to a crowd how the new regs on tyre blanket temperatures etc. are having an impact. I still think this was part of DRs issues as it’s not unknown for regulation changes to affect some driving styles more than others. I also think this explains iwhy Lewis is much stronger in the races than in qually.

A fresh start in a Ferrari with a reg change in 2026 is a good idea. He has a year to settle in, can contribute to the 2026 car and hopefully get No 8. Next year I think/hope will be a much closer battle with the 4 top teams fighting from the start.

He looks very defeated, and I wonder if he's realising that he's in his final few seasons. Like he says, the car is good...

Maybe he's just struggling for motivation with not being part of a lot of the conversations at Merc about the future.

Let's hope so. I really like Lewis, think he's become a really thoughtful and considered guy, and would hate to see him move to Ferrari for it all to go disastrously wrong. Ferrari are still sketchy with strategy sometimes and it's got the potential to be messy between him and Charles if they fuck around.