F1 2023 (Sponsored by Ferrari strategists)

[Gray Fox]

Ocon has done fuck all since that message.

[Gray Fox]

Bottas my new favourite driver.

[Jimmy Floyd]

His driving in traffic has been brilliant. Hope they get him something that can challenge the Red Bull next year.

Difference between Hamilton and Russell very apparent in this grand prix.

[Adramelch]

Russell has been less and less impressive as the season has gone by.

[Waffdon]

Russell has been less and less impressive as the season has gone by.

He’s just there to tell on people.

Leclerc on Saturdays and Sundays is a different phenomenon

[Waffdon]

P17 to P8 first half of the race and then P15 to P5 I think for Norris.

God, he has to win soon. Surely.

[Jimmy Floyd]

No one's going to win until the rocket ship at the front and its occupant come back to the field.

[Waffdon]

There’s always Singapore.

[Ben]

When was the last time Red Bull (specifically Max) had a mechanical DNF? Season opener last year? I know F1 cars are more reliable than ever but that's the best hope.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't think he's had a single issue or misfortune of any kind all year, has he? Maybe on the wrong side of a safety car pit stop in Baku?

[Ben]

Twitter rumour of the day: Stroll has sold Aston Martin to Aramco and Alonso is jacking.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lance in trouble then.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Twitter also saying that Sainz is done with Ferrari.

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-67102066

I laughed at this entire article. All these poor sods watching DTS and not knowing what the sport actually is, has always been and almost certainly always will be.

[Gray Fox]

Twitter rumour of the day: Stroll has sold Aston Martin to Aramco and Alonso is jacking.

Would explain his lack of being arsed over tootling about at the back of the grid lately.

So that'd give us what, a spare seat at Ferrari, Aramco and likely Williams left to fill?

[Disco]

We need to get back to the good old days of Piers Courage and Lord Hesketh pulling themselves up by their bootstraps. Not to say it shouldn't be more accessible or less discriminatory but it's never been easier to have a go and there's never been more people looking for the next marketable face who can string a lap or two together.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The sport wouldn't even exist but for the combination of bored aristocrats and disused WW2 airfields. More chance of democratising the crown jewels.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Would explain his lack of being arsed over tootling about at the back of the grid lately.

So that'd give us what, a spare seat at Ferrari, Aramco and likely Williams left to fill?

Danny Ric to Red Bull so a seat at AlphaTauri.

Aramo could be two seats because I doubt Strulovich gets a go without his Dad.

[thommo]

Twitter also saying that Sainz is done with Ferrari.

Think that's only going round because the Spanish F1 journalist was "lost for words" at the rumour he heard.

Surely it's something to do with Checo? Maybe Alonso but he never seems to stop racing.

[Disco]

Alonso retiring would have all the Spaniards crying into their tapas far more readily than Perez getting the boot, it could also be a knock on of Stroll selling up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not sure why Alonso retiring would have him lost for words, it's already happened about 4 times.

[Disco]

I'm assuming it's Alberto Fabrega who faints at the mere mention of Alonso.

[Ben]

Russell: Mercedes trying to understand team-mate disparity (https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/11/02/russell-mercedes-trying-to-understand-team-mate-disparity/)

lol

[Jimmy Floyd]

So am I.

Right, done. I've finished understanding it.

[Ben]

On a similar topic, I saw on Twitter some nerd had done some number crunching and if Aston Martin had two Alonsos instead of Alonso and Stroll, they'd be 89 points ahead of McLaren instead of 20 behind.

[Gray Fox]

Two Alonsos would cause a universal implode at the teammate infighting that would occur.

I'd like to think we have a serious chance of a non-Max winner this weekend, but I'm not sure the Merc/Ferrari/McLaren are as good around the slow corners as they may have been at this point last year.
All eyes on Perez though. His reasoning for wiping himself out last week says to me he's feeling the pressure big time. Only 20 points ahead of Lewis with a sprint weekend too.

[SincereTheRebel]

If Norris wants to win a race, it needs to be this season. Get your elbows out with Max into turn one, right him off and go from there.

[Ben]

I'm not sure the Merc/Ferrari/McLaren are as good around the slow corners as they may have been at this point last year.

I think it's more of a case of the RB19 being one of F1's greatest cars. Its weak points aren't very weak. Singapore was just a massive anomaly, I can't see them making the same setup gaffe here as well. It might be more competitive here than most other tracks, but Max should win if there's no extracurricular activity (such as creating his own gaps in Turn 2 again).

[Jimmy Floyd]

Surely the RB will just smoke it down the back straight with DRS and win easily from pole. Hope I'm wrong.

The only hope would be that it's a track where things can go tits up, i.e. pile ups into Senna or Descida do Lago. Truly F1's greatest circuit, fuck Spa.

[SincereTheRebel]

Better than Silverstone?

[Gray Fox]

Brazil >

It should absolutely be the final race of the season too, but you know, blood money.

[niko_cee]

It's got to be one of the best, if not the best, for actual wheel-to-wheel racing.

And then sometimes it rains and they get that funny river thing that fucks everyone up, but I guess that wouldn't be allowed anymore.

[Ben]

Maybe they should make some extreme wet tyres. Oh wait.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This is the championship standings since Austria (inclusive), I found it interesting anyway:

296 Verstappen
157 Norris
118 Hamilton
115 Sainz
114 Perez
112 Leclerc
86 Russell
82 Piastri
66 Alonso

409 RB
239 Macca
227 red cars
204 Merc
82 Aston
57 frogs

[Ben]

Piastri 52% of Norris - not too unexpected; Piastri is good but still learning in his rookie year and Norris is right up there with the best.

Russell 73% of Hamilton - I posted that article earlier but really how much closer can you expect to be when your teammate is a seven-time world champion?

Leclerc 97% of Sainz - the most balanced team on the grid; Leclerc is a much better qualifier but Sainz tends to have better race pace because he looks after tyres better.

Perez 38% of Verstappen - obviously Max is a freak of nature but not consistently putting that car on the podium is criminal.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lando is a future World Champion.

[SincereTheRebel]

As a team, the worst thing you want is what Ferrari have? You want a clear number 1 and 2

[Waffdon]

Mclaren are usually pretty meh around slow corners even with the upgrades but then Norris looked like Verstappen at two different points in Mexico so that gives me hope. Just needs to not cock up Quali this time. Should have been on pole in Qatar and obviously nearer the front last week too.

[Jimmy Floyd]

FP1 times are a bit bizarre, did it rain or something? Alonso shouldn't be quicker than Max on the hard.

[Adramelch]

Piastri 52% of Norris - not too unexpected; Piastri is good but still learning in his rookie year and Norris is right up there with the best.

Russell 73% of Hamilton - I posted that article earlier but really how much closer can you expect to be when your teammate is a seven-time world champion?


He's not at Norris levels that's for sure, but you could argue he has similar pace. What he needs is to learn how to avoid crashes. While there's not much he could have done to avoid the Hamilton one, the ones with Sainz and Ocon were risky moves (even if both were racing incidents rather than anybody's fault).

As for Russel v Hamilton, let's not forget that Hamilton lost 18 points from that plank disqualification. The difference on the track has been more than what that comparison shows.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Checo is wank.

[Gray Fox]

Hamilton also took himself out the week before too. He's absolutely stomping George this year.

[Ben]

Love the rain watch at Interlagos.

[Gray Fox]

Someone hold Waff for what's about to come.

[Waffdon]

Norris definitely sticking the car off the track and getting done for track limits in P3. That or Verstappen last over the line and snatching P1

[Ben]

Here it comes. :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I feel a red flag coming in Q3.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Great start to Q3 for McLaren...

[Waffdon]

They’re all going slower so I assume it must be raining somewhere. Typical shite.

[Ben]

That’s quali done I expect. Fuck sake Waff.

[Gray Fox]

There is no other circuit like Interlagos.

[Waffdon]

Typical mclaren making a mess of it. Why on earth did they put them out so late with rain on the way.

[Waffdon]

Mclaren got bigger mongs in charge than Ferrari.

[Ben]

I just don’t get it. Max was overtaking everyone he could on the out lap. Why did nobody else have the urgency?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Stroll P3, fucking bring it on.

[Waffdon]

I just don’t get it. Max was overtaking everyone he could on the out lap. Why did nobody else have the urgency?

Smart folk at the team.

Norris will still get into the podium with ease due to the nature of the grid but there goes any chance of a win.

[Adramelch]

Hamilton also took himself out the week before too. He's absolutely stomping George this year.

Yeah but that was his error. You can't discount that when evaluating them.

[Ben]

Smart folk at the team.

Norris will still get into the podium with ease due to the nature of the grid but there goes any chance of a win.

It’s a common theme in recent years. Surely one or two teams should just think “fuck it, we’ll copy Red Bull.”

[Waffdon]

It’s all on Stroll to cause chaos at the front to give us any hope. Doesn’t look like there’s any rain rest of the weekend

[Ben]

Stroll needs to send it up the inside and wipe out the front row so Alonso can win. That’s the best thing he can do really, because a good drive is out of the question.

[Shindig]

A Verstappen DNF probably breaks whatever curse Perez has and he wins at a canter.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'd love it if he takes out Max.

[Giggles]

Schiff is a unit.

[Waffdon]

2 place grid penalty for Russell. That’s him behind Norris and Sainz now so that’ll be his race cocked up. Noice

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Big hit from Ocon.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Not sure how Ocon can blame Alonso there, looked like Ocon lost it.

[Waffdon]

Ocon and Alonso at it again :lol:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not a great corner for Ocon, that.

[Gray Fox]

Alonso was plenty clear if he'd have taken that corner properly. He'll take a good bit of pleasure from it if they can fix his Aston, mind you.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lando :cool:

HOLD IT.

[Adramelch]

That McLaren genuinely looks hard to drive around this track so props to him.

[Waffdon]

Of course get pole in the pointless race. Fuck sake.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Of course get pole in the pointless race. Fuck sake.

Let's appreciate the little victories for now, the big ones will come.

[Waffdon]

Let's appreciate the little victories for now, the big ones will come.

He’s going to get a penalty anyway for exceeding the time limit between safety lines

[SincereTheRebel]

Not sure how Ocon can blame Alonso there, looked like Ocon lost it.

He did. The car who went through before alonso also lost it in the same corner

[Adramelch]

It was Ocon's fault, but Alonso did a thing or two that contributed to the situation.

[niko_cee]

Just seen the Ocon one.

:D

And then to have the brass neck to say you hadn't lost the car in the run up to it.

[niko_cee]

DRS seems a bit OP.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You can tell the actual grand prix drivers from where they overtake. Hamilton into Bico de Pato, Alonso into Juncao, meanwhile Carlos Sainz continues to be the expert at gaming DRS detection points and literally nothing else.

[Gray Fox]

This does not bode well for good racing at the front tomorrow.

[Waffdon]

another 2nd for Norris tomorrow it is then. Woohoo.

[niko_cee]

Feels like running in dirty air/trying to get overtakes done wrecks your tyres so much that it'll be difficult for anyone to come through the field effectively.

[Gray Fox]

People doing a lot of early squabbling were fucked late on. Should be great in the midfield tomorrow mind you.

[Jimmy Floyd]

5pm start, for anyone who like me thought it would be 7pm.

[Shindig]

I'll be watching the FA Cup instead.

[Giggles]

I can't be arsed going in and trying to convince the Mrs to stop what she's watching.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Charles :lol:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Well, you've missed Charles Leclerc crashing on the formation lap.

[Ben]

Wtf :lol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Chaos.

[Waffdon]

Perfect start for lando :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Quite lucky, that could have been a Spa 98 type scenario if the angles had been a bit different.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Piastri :(

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Piastri has a chance?!?!?!?

[niko_cee]

That wheel carcass creaming the Alpha Tauri was a bit :cab:

[Gray Fox]

Scary times when a wheel comes loose. You always think of the poor kid who got a full wheel fixture in the chops going well into three figures.

[niko_cee]

I'm sure there's a relative velocity difference or something, but when you think that a stray nut or whatever it was nearly killed Massa [was it?] you wouldn't want that landing on your bonce whilst you're going at 100mph, which it must have been about a yard off doing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Another standing start is great for Lando.

[Adramelch]

I don't know, do we realistically expect him to get Verstappen? Cause if not, then he can only lose from it.

[Waffdon]

Another standing start is great for Lando.

I dunno if it is. He done well there but only had Aston’s to beat. Max will come across and close him out.

[Clunge]

Need Lando and Hamilton ahead of Verstappen at the restart for this to be interesting.

[Ben]

Don’t think it’ll make a difference. Lando might lead a few laps but the Red Bull DRS and race pace will win out quick enough. Need someone to boldly park it in his sidepod or something.

[Shindig]

I do wonder what a Spa crash would do for the era of no spare cars.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Once again into the start replays with P2 half a second behind P1. Insanely bad TV direction the last half-dozen races.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Once again into the start replays with P2 half a second behind P1. Insanely bad TV direction the last half-dozen races.

Especially baffling considering they showed the start about 10 times during the race suspension.

[Jimmy Floyd]

And a fucking weird backwards onboard angle during a live overtake attempt for P1. Wide shot you fucking retards.

[Waffdon]

Did Norris get damage? He’s went 2 seconds behind and Alonso catching him all of a sudden.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Did Norris get damage? He’s went 2 seconds behind and Alonso catching him all of a sudden.

Might have fucked his tyres a bit.

[niko_cee]

Running in the dirty air absolutely fucks your tyres.

[Adramelch]

Or gave it his best shot and then decided that there was no point in hurting the tyres more.

[niko_cee]

George is such a whiny bitch.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

And there he goes again.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Manage your tyres and then try to undercut everyone. Excellent from Mercedes.

[SincereTheRebel]

Cameraman is poor

[niko_cee]

More superb directorial work.

[Waffdon]

Verstappen miles clear of 2nd and Norris miles clear of 3rd. Both far too good but Verstappen a lil bettee

[Waffdon]

Commentator is nearly in tears over Gasly passing Russell

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not a wonderful race after the early drama but Alonso a joy to watch in this phase. Modern racing won't produce anyone like him again.

[niko_cee]

:lol:

Amazing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Alonso :cool:

That was beautiful.

[Ben]

Absolutely incredible from Alonso.

[Ben]

David Croft: “smile on Mike Krack”

[Waffdon]

I’ve just seen a simulation of the Las Vegas circuit.

Someone’s engine is definitely exploding. And Mercedes might finish about 13th with all them long continuous straights

[Disco]

I think three races will be the most I've missed in a row for about twenty years and nothing about that track looks likely to change that.

[Waffdon]

1724029785058255261

The Americans can claim the sport now

[Waffdon]

I’ve just clocked the start times as well. Literally not even catering for half the Americans. Race starts at 1am east coast time :lol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Absolute shit show.

[Shindig]

Blocking the bridges with vinyl so nobody can watch it for free, too. What a country.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Surprised they didn't put armed police on the bridges to stop people looking.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I love the idea that they're prepared to set a start time that fucks the massive media market into which they are trying to expand by even holding this race, all to make sure that me, Tiff Needell and those Alonso fans who blacked up in 2007 do not have to sacrifice any of our viewing pleasure.

[Disco]

All sorts of shady stuff surrounding this, including an agreed additional fee for taxis to charge people going to the race. Who knew Vegas was a money grubbing shit hole.

[Shindig]

Hang on, 1am start local time? Good luck getting Pirellis that won't freeze.

[Waffdon]

10pm local time but midnight and 1am outside of west coast time zone. Absolutely mental but not a surprise. Sunset is 4pm in Vegas so it makes it even more lol they’re waiting longer than they really need to for darkness.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Hang on, 1am start local time? Good luck getting Pirellis that won't freeze.

Local time is 10pm.

1am is for the East Coast.

[Giggles]

Are we looking at 6am then? Who is the time catering for then, the middle east?

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's primetime on Easter Island, which is a coincidence actually as they're having one of those heads made into the soft compound Pirellis for this weekend.

[Ben]

Air temp at that hour is around 8-9C, so it's going to be like Spa on a shit day but with barriers. Should be chaos at least.

[niko_cee]

Is there any logic to the start time or do all major events in Vegas just have to start then?

[Shindig]

I'm going to guess taking the strip out of action for a couple of hours is a big no-no.

[Adramelch]

I'm going to guess taking the strip out of action for a couple of hours is a big no-no.

It would be 10 pm in Las Vegas no?

[John Arne]

What a load of shite.


https://www.youtube.com/live/CNnim_mZlBM?si=BQDUUN3yiJLCLGS1

[John Arne]

Am i being a spaz? How do you embed YouTube vids?

[Ben]

Max shitting all over it. I might be in danger of starting to like him.

[Gray Fox]

Very WWE with the piped in crowd noise.

I preferred when we had the Indy race and then didn't go there again for 15 years.

[thommo]

Max shitting all over it. I might be in danger of starting to like him.

He's done the same all year long regarding the sprints. Honestly I like him a lot more now than I even did when he came through as a youngster.

[Ben]

I don't mind the sprint format per se, as I'm a motorbike fan as well and Superbikes have done it for years (and now MotoGP). F1 could make it work yet, so I'll stay patient there.

[Waffdon]

Just make one quali and then reverse the grid for the sprint race so people aren’t deliberately finishing last

[Ben]

The reverse grid might be too gimmicky but if they're going to go that route then I'd say (Brundle has already said quali is going back to Saturdays):

Friday - Practice 1, Sprint Race (reverse championship standings set grid)
Saturday - Practice 2, GP Quali
Sunday - GP

[SincereTheRebel]

The reverse grid might be too gimmicky but if they're going to go that route then I'd say (Brundle has already said quali is going back to Saturdays):

Friday - Practice 1, Sprint Race (reverse championship standings set grid)
Saturday - Practice 2, GP Quali
Sunday - GP

Solved

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't emphasise enough how awful any kind of reverse grid scenario would be. If you're penalising people - in any way - for being good when world championship points are on the line, then it's no longer a world championship.

[Ben]

Yeah but this is the era of American owners and you know how that goes. Might need the Saudis to save this one.

[Shindig]

If you're going to throw a reverse grid in there, throw in a points multiplier for each position gained. And fireworks. And guns.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

And women.

[Shindig]

Yeah, bring grid girls back.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Grid girls are a bit passé. To reflect the values of modern F1, I'd introduce track limit girls. Tie them to the ground on the exit of corners, flush to the edge of the white line. See if the drivers can stay inside the track then.

[Gray Fox]

Better hope none of those are Daniil Kvyats girl. Max will be straight over the white lines.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Brundle should have a harem of women following him around whilst doing grid interviews.

1721209104419414061

Just imagine how much better this interview would be with women draped all over Brundle.

[SincereTheRebel]

Pointless.

[John Arne]

Off to a good start...

1725383846500184389

[thommo]

Seems like an absolute shambles. We had this in Baku a few years ago, with the manhole cover being loose and obliterating Russell's Williams.

Doesn't really speak to a well organised event that we have this happen, 8 minutes into FP1, damaging two cars.

[Gray Fox]

Sounds like two of those cars are a write off, but they've applied to the stewards to allow them to fix it all up without incurring penalties.

I've got my fingers crossed for a fully farcical situation unfolding leading to either no race or teams pulling out.

[Ben]

FP2 delayed until 2:30am local time. That's a totally reasonable time to have F1 cars screaming around the streets.

Absolute insanity all round.

[Disco]

In Baku and Monaco this sort of thing was down to failed welds, replacing concrete structures is a rather different matter. Don't stay up for FP2 in other words.

[Shindig]

Venturi effect > Las Vegas.

[Waffdon]

I don’t think we’ll struggle to stay up at 10am bruh

[Ben]

They've kicked the fans out, so FP2 will be done in front of empty stands if it gets going.

A Thursday day ticket was $919. For eight minutes of running. Pathetic.

[Shindig]

Cancelled weekend incoming. :drool:

[Ben]

That would be absolutely hilarious.

[Gray Fox]

This was top cuntery too:

1725397591834399232

"There will be no refunds."

[Ben]

Toto Wolff bending over backwards to defend race organisers. I'm sure he'd still have been so diplomatic had it been his car that was shredded by the manhole cover.

Only Verstappen has had the stones to call them out on their nonsense. Even Alonso toeing the line.

[Gray Fox]

90 minute practice session starting at 2:30am. FP3 not being altered at all. Recipe for disaster.

[Gray Fox]

Ferrari asked for a freebie to fix Sainzs' car given how it was damaged and the stewards have told them nope, penalty incoming.

Just refuse to go out lads. Cause some fuss.

[Luke Emia]

This was top cuntery too:

1725397591834399232

"There will be no refunds."

Absolute PR disaster right there.

[Ben]

A grid penalty for Sainz is an absolute farce.

[thommo]

Of course it was Jacques Villeneuve who was first married in the paddock chapel. :rolleyes:

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you knew F1 history, which Liberty don't, you'd know that every single one of these hare-brained attempts to crash the US market with goofy races has been a total disaster. Detroit the track melted; Caesar's Palace was the worst venue ever built; Phoenix was outsold by the local ostrich festival, and we all know what happened at Indianapolis. These people will never learn.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fuck this track but I do love that sphere.

[Ben]

The Red Bulls are just going to drive past everyone on that long straight. Well, Perez will, Verstappen will already be at the front.

[Disco]

Of course it was Jacques Villeneuve who was first married in the paddock chapel. :rolleyes:

To himself I assume.

[Ben]

Crofty is fuming about this. Just shitting all over everything. It's the most I've ever enjoyed him.

[Waffdon]

A grid penalty for Sainz is an absolute farce.

Blame Mercedes

[Ben]

Zak Brown pretty much grassed them up. :D

[niko_cee]

The straight is absolutely mad, with full DRS multi-car slipstream there's going to be a colossal pile-up at the end of it at some point. Guess why they have the massive exit area at the end of it.

[John Arne]

Isn't it something like 3am now? Like even for Vegas... People are going to be in bed, with race cars screaming outside.

Fucked up.

[niko_cee]

The entry to the pit lane also looks a bit sketchy, being as it is on a 200mph 'corner'.

I guess it's a feature of street circuits, but imagine if someone ends up going into the divide at full beans. That would be instant death surely.

[Ben]

I'm not wishing for a death or serious injury by any means, but I hope for a weekend full of chaos, fuck ups and seethe. These Liberty Media cunts need some humble pie.

[Disco]

I'll settle for nothing less than Steve Sunday swinging from a lamppost outside the Bellagio.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'd love to see Max going over a dodgy manhole cover.

I'd settle for him smashing into a wall/barricade/another car though quite happily.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Toto's comments are unhinged, does he have a stake in the local manhole company or something?

[Waffdon]

Verstappen over evens to win qualifying. Interesting.

[John Arne]

In what universe can F1 penalise Sainz for damage caused by their incompetence?

Presumably it's a case FIA manage the stewards, whilst F1 manage the track??

[Ben]

Mercedes gave Ted an explanation that no they didn't object to Ferrari getting a freebie but pointed straight to the rule where it says penalties are to be enforced no matter the circumstances.

[niko_cee]

In what universe can F1 penalise Sainz for damage caused by their incompetence?

Presumably it's a case FIA manage the stewards, whilst F1 manage the track??

They shouldn't, but at the same time they should probably give everyone an extra engine or whatever was being claimed by Ferrari, otherwise it's open season to just have that thing damage every significant component of your car can we have a replacement please multo bene grazie mille.

[Disco]

Because half the point of the FIA stewarding program (much like any sporting administrative body) is to make as few decisions as humanly possible.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

And when they do make those decisions, they have to ensure that they take the most cowardly result.

[Disco]

The F1 subreddit is full of stories of people who sat in the stands for 5 or 6 hours only to get kicked out just before the session was due to start and threatened with being arrested for trespassing if they didn't leave.

[niko_cee]

No refunds.

[Disco]

A grand for six minutes of practice in the freezing night and being strong-armed out by Nevadas finest. And at the end of it all you're still in fucking Vegas.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Love the desperation of Liberty/the top boys to say how wonderful it all is. Fyre Festival on wheels.

[Ben]

You ok Waff? :(

[SincereTheRebel]

The comedy show. Mclaren really need to sort things out here

[Waffdon]

You ok Waff? :(

Not a huge surprise. Track lay out was never suiting them

[Ben]

Red Bull sabotaged Perez there.

[Giggles]

That's not a top 10 I expected to see when I turned this on.

[Waffdon]

Yeah, it’s going to be a madness.

If both Williams don’t fuck up at the start, good luck getting past that DRS train in the straights

[Shindig]

That Ferrari message about track limits. :D

[John Arne]

That Ferrari message about track limits. :D

Give us a clue....

[Shindig]

It was track limits for Verstappen but they opened with, "Track limits at turn ..." so LeClerc punched his steering wheel thinking it was him.

[Ben]

Verstappen was less polite. "Monaco is like Champions League and this is National League."

Verstappen, who does not like street tracks, said: "I feel like a show element is important, but I lack emotion."

He said classic tracks such as Spa and Monza "have a lot of emotion and passion".

Of Las Vegas, he said: "Of course I understand fans need something to do around the track, but it is more important we make them understand what we do about the sport.

"I love Vegas, but not to drive a F1 car; to go out, throw everything on red, whatever. But the emotion and passion is not there compared to some old-school tracks."

When Verstappen was told by Dutch television that fans who were sent home before second practice were offered $200 in vouchers for the race merchandise store as compensation, he said: "If I was a fan, I would tear the whole place down."

I think I like him.

[Disco]

He's been like that all season, the whole interview is great.

[Waffdon]

They got rid of the cool-down room. Too scared of what Verstappen might say :D

[Gray Fox]

1725934547894685990

He's not wrong.

[Shindig]

Alright, he's won me over. I do love it when champions get to that point where they can start speaking their mind.

[Ben]

They got rid of the cool-down room. Too scared of what Verstappen might say :D

They’re being ferried to the Bellagio for post-race interviews then ferried back to the paddock for the podium. No joke.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's right but he's still a massive bellend who I want to see taken out of a race.

[Jimmy Floyd]

No matter how big a dickhead he is in many ways, he's a real racer and understands the sport. Liberty don't have a clue.

[Disco]

Both Vettel and Hamilton have done the same albeit not quite as bluntly, then again they were also given significantly less bollocks to complain about.

[SincereTheRebel]

Max loves to run man out wide.
Aston to overtake Mclaren at this rate.

[Giggles]

I thought this was to start at 6?

[7om]

While I think Max should give the place back, it seemed like Charles overshot the corner by himself.

[SincereTheRebel]

Leclerc must have the worst pole to win conversion rate

[John Arne]

Congrats to the director for some how cutting away from onboard with Verstappen as he was about to send at 200mph.

[SincereTheRebel]

Perez letting Leclerc through at the end :lol:

[Shindig]

Someone at the front needs to brake-check Verstappen whenever he's doing those stupid lunges.

[Gray Fox]

I dont understand why everyone keeps letting him have the inside for corners. Not one of his cleanest wins it seems.

What that has done is close it right up between Merc/Ferrari(4 points) and McLaren/Aston(11 points). Something actually at stake for the final race at least.

[Ben]

The P2 grid slot is very beneficial for these cars. With it being on the inside line, the car is so big that you can just park it on the apex and everyone (except Verstappen, ironically) gets out of the way for it.

[Giggles]

You'd think other drivers would start doing likewise seeing as he's cleaning up.

[Disco]

I think it's probably not as easy as we think, after all if any of them could drive as well as he can they would be doing it. Has anyone else other than Hamilton in 21 stood their ground with him to any great degree? And even then that was with decidedly mixed results not to mention Red Bull screaming attempted murder every time he did it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The only people who have ever driven that way are him and Schumacher, you have to be unbelievably committed on the brakes.

[Ben]

It was easier to combat in the older cars because they were smaller so you could keep your foot in round the outside and sometimes have success. With these cruise liners, there's only one line so if someone is committed/aggressive enough to park it up the inside then the other guy is fucked.

Tracks aren't getting any wider, especially in this era of Liberty Media Street Racing, so they really need to do something about car sizes soon.

[niko_cee]

You should still be able to cover the inside but I guess the reason no one does it is that if you compromise your line at all then the Red Bull will just absolutely wreck you on the next straight/at the next cornering section so there's really not a lot of point fighting it.

[Gray Fox]

I think it's probably not as easy as we think, after all if any of them could drive as well as he can they would be doing it. Has anyone else other than Hamilton in 21 stood their ground with him to any great degree? And even then that was with decidedly mixed results not to mention Red Bull screaming attempted murder every time he did it.

Hamiltons style is to drift it out wide and get the switchback every time. It's why the two battled so combatively in '21. It's why Lewis tends to take a very different line to most coming into/out of Luffield at Silverstone, for example.

[7om]

It was easier to combat in the older cars because they were smaller so you could keep your foot in round the outside and sometimes have success. With these cruise liners, there's only one line so if someone is committed/aggressive enough to park it up the inside then the other guy is fucked.

Tracks aren't getting any wider, especially in this era of Liberty Media Street Racing, so they really need to do something about car sizes soon.

Aren’t they cutting down the size at some point? Can’t remember when or by how much, but I seem to remember new regs coming in that will shorten the length.

[Ben]

2026 apparently. I won’t hold my breath. After all the 2022-25 regulations were meant to eliminate a lot of the dirty air and that didn’t last long.

[niko_cee]

50kg lighter.

Doubt that'll amount to much.

[Ben]

That would take them back to 2020 weights. :lol:

[Gray Fox]

Problem is unless they mandate the cars be smaller(which they can't really be if they insist on hybrid engines), then the boffins will engineer their way around downforce reductions etc.

[Disco]

Looks like they're re-naming Alpha Tauri to something....equally awful?

https://i.imgur.com/dZlv8eH.png

[SincereTheRebel]

Scrap that idea lads.

[Shindig]

MooMooVroomVroom would've been better.

[John Arne]

Racing Bulls sounds like a Viagra knock-off.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Are they allergic to naming it something that isn't highly similar to an existing team? 'Toro Rosso' was far better than either of these.

[Disco]

It's Red Bull, nothing associated with that brand has ever been remotely tasteful in any sense of the word.

[Gray Fox]

Speaking of which, the story of the day has been how Hamilton/Red Bull had contact earlier in the year about a potential drive. Horner seems to be trying to stir the pot by putting it out there. Of course I'm 100% sure even just feelers were sent out, as both sides would be stupid not to.

Must be a slow day in the paddock.

[Ben]

Hamilton basically said as much himself. Just feelers, no direct conversations.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Max would likely have the measure of him over a season by this point, but even giving it to him at some races would be an improvement on the status quo.

[phonics]

I mean the competition between Ricciardo and Verstappen blew up a season and Danny 'Ric' Ricciardo is shit so imagine actual competition.

[Disco]

If you're Lewis Hamilton at the end of a contract and your agent isn't checking out the options on offer from other top teams then he should fire them immediately. Similarly if you're Red Bull and the most successful driver ever is coming to the end of a contract then you'd be stupid to dismiss the idea out of hand. It's like when a young driver is said to be 'on the radar' of any particular team, yeah of course they are, all the teams monitor all the decent prospects all of the time. They may not stand any chance of actually signing them but they'd be terrible at their jobs if they weren't doing all these things constantly, because occasionally mad stuff happens and Marc Marquez bins Honda and joins Gresini.

[Ben]

Yeah the motorbike thread is dead so let’s take this chance to discuss Marquez to Gresini. Ducati factory team must be absolutely shitting themselves at the prospect of Marquez winning the championship on a year-old bike.

[Shindig]

Nobody ever won it on a satellite bike, have they? I guess the closest (in terms of package) in recent years was the Tech3 Yamahas. I just love the idea Marquez has finally said, "Fuck it. Can't ride this thing." after years of trying.