F1 2025 - Watchalong Thread #2

[Brazilianadventure]

Thread two

We are over halfway through the season. It looks like the WDC will either be Lando or Oscar. Hoping for a grandstand finish in Abu Dhabi.

I suspect it’s track specific. Monza doesn’t suit the McLaren, or rather, McLaren’s usual advantages are negated by the Monza track as it’s all about straight line speed there.

Just watching driver interviews and Rachel asked Oscar if he was aware Lando let him pit first to protect against Charles and he said “no” - it appeared to be a genuine response.

Got to say the Mclaren boys seemed OK with the situation.
Pleased Lewis had a good day too.
Monza doesn't suit the Mclarens at all- roll on Baku!

I didn’t love the race. My highlight was the Italian national anthem pre race which is never a good sign. So much better than God Save the King or Advance Australia Fair. Then the flyover right at the end. Perfection.

Watched the F2 race which was entertaining but had some very sloppy driving. Lindblad is not ready for F1 even if it’s in a VCARB car.

Anyone else feel as though Mercedes is not a happy place to be right now?

Something weird is going on with Mercedes. They seem very out of sorts and just an odd vibe. Maybe it’s all the speculation re Max and Toto or maybe it’s just the way the media is spinning things, difficult to tell.

It was nice to see Lewis looking and sounding happier this weekend. Despite the grid penalty.

I think George had such a good first half of the season, consistently getting points and podiums, that it seemed really unfair for all the speculation about his seat at Mercedes, it was bound to affect him. At that point he couldn't have done any more (aside of putting him in a faster (McClaren) car!

He doesn't come across very well. I personally think he is a bit misunderstood (as is Max). I swear over half the grid have some kind of neurodiversity going on and they are forced to be sociable for the sponsors/media etc.

I swear over half the grid have some kind of neurodiversity going on and they are forced to be sociable for the sponsors/media etc.

This is a very valid point. It must be a nightmare having cameras in your face and having to be media ready in some of the most stressful moments in your life. And the constant speculation, argh! Like poor Lando getting so much grief because he’s so classically English self-deprecating and the world’s media having an opinion on it.

I work for one of the firms that sponsor Mercedes so see first hand some of the hoops George has to jump through. He did a video recently for us about security in the office! (Poor sod, that’s the cost of sponsorship ha!)

George seems quite rules based. My ND kids say they understand totally the way he is with Max for example. Max on the other hand is classically single focused. He cares about nothing other than the racing and his family and nothing comes in the way of that.

Out of them all I think Oscar doesn't sit well with me. His tantrum at Silverstone didn't sit well with me.

I have an F1 related confession to make. I’m off work sick at the moment and have somehow got into reading F1 fan fiction. I’m a middle aged woman. What’s happening to me! There’s so much out there that I can be picky and some of it is actually pretty well written.

Hope you're OK @bluetongue. Who knew there was such a thing!

Thanks! A & E panicked about my heart rate after an injury but further tests show I’m healthy apart from tachycardia which I suspect might be perimenopause related. I’ve had more blood tests today (including for hormone levels). Back to work tomorrow. Sigh. (Taking beta blockers for my heart)

Apparently F1 is one of the most popular fan fiction categories. The real person aspect is a bit weird but I don’t read any fics with sex scenes because that’s TMI for me.

Dd has apparently been offered tickets for Zandvoort 2026 via the lottery. This year was meant to be a one off thing. She is a student and shouldn't really be spending that sort of money. But she is keen to go.

Glad you’re doing better @bluetongue but I didn’t know there was such a thing as F1 fan fiction??!! 😵I’m also a middle-aged woman (ah the ‘joys’ of peri-menopause grr) and have been watching F1 since I was a small child in the 70s as my Dad was/is a huge petrolhead and I seem to have followed suit.

I’m scared to google F1 fan fiction. It will either horrify me or send me down a rabbit hole (and I’m supposed to be working today!!)

I believe ‘lestappen’ is the most popular category (don’t ask how I know this) but people seem to be shipping Oscar and Lando as a couple as well. There’s much angst involved as you can imagine. One story had George going to the GPDA to make sure the queer drivers were treated fairly, especially considering some of the countries with questionable human rights records they race in. There’s also hetero couples or dramas if that’s more your style.

I really want to know if the drivers ever mention them during their group chats🤣

I thought Carlando would be an obvious one for Fan Fiction. 😂

@bluetongue Glad you are feeling better.

If you want another option Tattle Life F1 Wags is eye opening and not in a good way. The level of vitriol against some of the girlfriends is awful.

If you like YouTube try Lolipopman https://www.youtube.com/@lollipopmancomics it always makes me laugh.

I must live such a boring life to have had no clue this was all out there. I have no words. I’m just sitting on my sofa thinking OMG. 😳

I got tickets for Zandvoort next year. Super excited.

I’m so pleased for you. I hope you have better weather than Spa.

Hopefully! We have seats in Tarzan so at the first corner. Great views but not covered.

Dd says she has until a date next week to decide whether to accept the tickets or not from the lottery. She is very torn. ON the one hand it will be her last chance for zandvoort, on the other hand it is a LOT of money for a student.

So will it be “Well done Baku” this year?

For some reason I’m not that excited about the championsship fight - whether it’s because I know it’s either Oscar or Lando and I wouldn’t mind which wins or it’s likely to end up being decided in Abu Dhabi

My daughter is back at uni so I havn't got her constant updates! Looks like a few of them are having problems in practice! Both Mclarens hit the wall.

There has been a lot of touching and hitting the wall during practice. Qually should be interesting and unsurprisingly Max looks ready to pounce.

Yes, I’m hoping it could be a more interesting race for a street circuit.

I’ve never known so many crashes! Is this normal?