F1 2023 (Sponsored by Ferrari strategists)

[Disco]

I've only kept up with Superbikes this year (because Alvaro Bautista is such a dreamboat) is Marquez back to form or does his arm still fall off every few weeks? I notice he didn't win Sachsenring so I assumed either the bike is a literal moped or he's still in bits.

[Shindig]

He's firmly mid-pack when he's not falling off it. A real shame because the Championship merry-go-round means none of the lads up front have any aura about them.

[Ben]

He’s been hanging with the top 5 quite a bit recently which is nothing short of a miracle on that death machine. Next best Honda rarely scores points.

I recall him binning it at Sachsenring but that period of the season was the real low point. Since the Ducati rumours popped up a couple of months ago he started doing some really good stuff.

I think Capirossi came really close to winning on a satellite bike one year.

[Gray Fox]

This two-wheel talk is going to have Giggles back in here any time now.

I can't say I've ever given it a chance tbf.

[Giggles]

This two-wheel talk is going to have Giggles back in here any time now.

I can't say I've ever given it a chance tbf.

Nor me. The bike thread is dead because it's shite.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have, all I can see is a load of mad idiots riding petrol horses. I'll watch the TT, but I'd rather watch pushbikes go around Assen.

There's something about the aesthetics of a car taking a line which appeals, the bike equivalent doesn't.

[Shindig]

The biking equivalent, at least for me, is seeing a bike dive under another on the onboard footage.

[Disco]

I find a lap round IOM to be incredible but the event itself does nothing for me being a time trial, then again actual road racing is utterly terrifying and mostly unwatchable for different reasons. Superbikes are the sweet spot, quick enough to be fun but the bikes aren't insane aero/suspension devices like GP bikes have become. Plus Razgatlioglu is both fun to spell and to say and the British version is still somewhat 'blokes in garages who have a day job' that is the basis of all the best motorsports.

[Shindig]

Aye, I occasionally watch the North West 200 weekends but I always feel like I'm seconds from watching a televised death.

[SincereTheRebel]

Is Marquez the youth who came in and his lean angle had his helmet 2mm from the tarmac? Won it all

[Shindig]

Yep. Wound up Valentino Rossi so much he kicked him off his bike.

[Ben]

The McLaren-Red Bull/Honda engine rumours have come to nothing as they've signed up with Mercedes until 2030, which takes them past 2027 by which time we're supposed to have seven engine suppliers (lol).

[Jimmy Floyd]

Time for some of the 90s suppliers to come back. Is Brian Hart still alive? Apparently not. Might have to be Mecachrome then.

[Shindig]

Cosworth for a token backmarker, please.

[Waffdon]

If Norris can keep the car together in Sector 3 he’s bringing it home baby

[Gray Fox]

If by that you mean a graceful 2nd after Max wins by 10+ seconds, then yes.

[Ben]

Yeah Verstappen has always done really well at Abu Dhabi, even back when the Red Bull was toss. Again, unless someone actually dares to get aggressive with him in Turn 1, then it's see you next year to the rest of the field.

[Waffdon]

McLaren 1-2 in Quali with Leclerc stealing 3rd ahead of Verstappen.

Verstappen to do something silly and get a 5 grid penalty. It’s happening.

[Disco]

Are my maths wrong or has Verstappen won the title in both halves of the season? That's some going even in a dominant car. I see he also had a pop at their sustainability program, I think he must be angling for less media duties.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Are my maths wrong or has Verstappen won the title in both halves of the season? That's some going even in a dominant car. I see he also had a pop at their sustainability program, I think he must be angling for less media duties.

Not only is this true, but with a decent result this weekend there's a fairly good chance he could wrap up every one of his twelve half-season runs (races 1-11, 2-12, 3-13 etc) winning the title. This would happen if he finishes on the podium and Perez finishes 6th or lower, I think.

He would still be in title contention going into the last race if you discounted his 10 best results from across the season.

[Shindig]

Bringing back dropped scores just to tighten the race up. :drool:

[Adramelch]

Sainz: "So much traffic"

Engineer: "Perez qualified P2 just behind you"

:D

[Waffdon]

Norris forever bottling the important laps in Q3

[SincereTheRebel]

Norris forever bottling the important laps in Q3

He bottles qualifying like Leclerc does the race

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Charlie to wipe out Max at turn 1 would be glorious.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Leclerc's got to make one of those two stick, he was past him both times.

[Waffdon]

Leclerc is a genuine pussy

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He fucking had him the bottler.

[Gray Fox]

I mean he is french.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I mean he is french.

*Monégasque.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I mean he is french.

That's the one thing he isn't.

[Gray Fox]

I know he says he's from Monaco, but that's basically France.

[SincereTheRebel]

That was soft from Leclerc. Turn one, i understand but that one down the back straight at the chicane. Poor. That confirms, Pussy of the year

[Gray Fox]

Nightmare start for Mercedes too.

Fake Frenchie in the fight for the lead and now both of their cars behind ones they'll really struggle against on the straights.

[SincereTheRebel]

If anyone has a stream, who could drop the link as im on now on road.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you ran this race without DRS I think you might see literally no overtaking. Still the worst venue on the calendar.

[Waffdon]

If anyone has a stream, who could drop the link as im on now on road.

https://vipleague.im/f-1/sky-sports-f1-sky-f1-streaming-link-1

Norris either managing tyres crazily or they’ve lost pace fairly quickly

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

ffs McLaren.

You absolute cunts.

[Waffdon]

Fuck off man

[Gray Fox]

Race TV director once again is shit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Race TV director once again is shit.

It's been so consistent bad for months now that you think they've got a newbie in who doesn't have a clue.

[SincereTheRebel]

https://vipleague.im/f-1/sky-sports-f1-sky-f1-streaming-link-1

Norris either managing tyres crazily or they’ve lost pace fairly quickly

Leg End

[Gray Fox]

What the fuck does that mean?! :D

[Waffdon]

Pretty average end to the season for McLaren.

We go again in 2024.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Five second penalties are so inadequate for that sort of thing, if you're in the faster car you can just drive people off the road and fuck the consequences. Should be back to stop-go.

[Gray Fox]

Gonna get sweaty at Mercedes for a couple of laps

[SincereTheRebel]

So im at my moms and turned over to channel 3 and MotoGP is on. OK. Let me see how these man are getting on.

Max Biaggi
Capirossi
Alex Crivelle
Kenny Roberts
Alex Barros
Sete Gibernau
Norrick Abe :cool:

No old man. That was over 20 years ago. These new man are riding the bike kicking their legs all over the place. Throwing it off down the road. Is this the norm?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Checo would never score another point (assuming he's still in a car for next season).

[SincereTheRebel]

Checo would never score another point (assuming he's still in a car for next season).

I would be surprised if he wasnt there. Ill add my season review in the next few days. Alpine being the biggest wtf team and Albon being the biggest surprise.

[Gray Fox]

Perez will be fine and there until Max can't win the constructors by himself.

[7om]

Monumental task ahead for the chasing pack. I think if one of Merc / Ferrari / McLaren can crack 500 points then that would be considered a success.

[SincereTheRebel]

Season Stats

Qualifying Head-2-Head





Albon
22
0
Sargent


Verstappen
20
2
Perez


Alonso
19
3
Strulovitch


Norris
15
7
Piastri


Leclerc
15
7
Sainz


Hulkenberg
15
7
Magnussen


Bottas
15
7
Zhou


Gasly
14
8
Ocon


Hamilton
11
11
Russel


Tsuonda
4
3
Ricciardo







Race Head-2-Head





Verstappen
20
2
Perez


Albon
19
2
Sargent


Alonso
17
3
Strulovitch


Norris
17
5
Piastri


Hamilton
15
7
Russel


Bottas
12
9
Zhou


Hulkenberg
12
9
Magnussen


Ocon
10
9
Gasly


Leclerc
11
11
Sainz


Tsuonda
4
3
Ricciardo






Percentage of points for Team



96% Albon (Williams)
75% Hulkenberg (Haas)
74% Alonson (Aston Martin)
68% Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri)
68% Norris (Mclaren)
67% Verstappen (Red Bull)
63% Bottas (Alfa Romeo)
57% Hamiton (Mercedas)
52% Gasly (Alpine)
51% Leclerc (Ferrari)

[Disco]

Hulkenberg perhaps the biggest surprise out of that lot, Magnussen absolutely nowhere.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Albon :cool:

[Ben]

Hulk :cool:

[Pepe]

Perez :cool:

[Shindig]

Sargeant. :cool:

[Disco]

Sargeant. :cool:

Would appear to be keeping his seat too which would mean zero driver changes.

[Ben]

He must have a sponsor that will pay more than Red Bull would to put Lawson there.

[Disco]

No that was Red Bull, they want him available to slot into one of their teams and Williams wanted to sign him for more than a single year.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Nice roundup Sincere, I was surprised by boat arse only being that far ahead of Zhou. Yuki seriously turned it on in the latter part of the season. Good grand prix driver emerging there.

[Disco]

Bottas was always quick but struggled to race people even in a Mercedes, he was never going to do very well slugging it out in the midfield.

[Waffdon]

Nice roundup Sincere, I was surprised by boat arse only being that far ahead of Zhou. Yuki seriously turned it on in the latter part of the season. Good grand prix driver emerging there.

Didn’t even get to race a couple different times either.

[phonics]

Nice roundup Sincere, I was surprised by boat arse only being that far ahead of Zhou. Yuki seriously turned it on in the latter part of the season. Good grand prix driver emerging there.

There's scuttlebutt that Tsunoda has massive ADHD but the Japanese way means it's untreated which might explain the way he seems to be going fine and then randomly bins it.

[phonics]

If we were to have car performance wise a relatively even top 3, driver pairing wise I'd love to see

Red Bull: Verstappen + Norris
Merc: Hamilton + Sainz
Ferrari: LeClerc + Alonso
Arsehole Airways: Alonso + Russell
Loveable Losers: Albon + A rotating cast of Bottas, Pastor Maldanado and Felipe Massa.

[Shindig]

I still think the Red Bull pairing you want is Verstappen and Hamilton. Norris would settle into wingman status real quick and I genuinely don't think he has the bottle to win a race until he's 30.

[Ben]

I was thinking about Norris during the Abu Dhabi race, how different might it have been if he didn't fuck up in Sochi. Obviously Verstappen would still dominate, but there's been a few instances where Norris just missed out and I think a lot of that is because he hasn't broken his duck yet.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This year one bloke won all but three of the races and one car won all but one. You can't criticise anyone for not winning.

[SincereTheRebel]

I still think the Red Bull pairing you want is Verstappen and Hamilton. Norris would settle into wingman status real quick and I genuinely don't think he has the bottle to win a race until he's 30.

I think Hamilton is broken. Max has killed him off. I dont think he has it in him anymore. If Perez was to leave, if i was Red Bull. I would want Leclerc in there. Clearly, he is fast enough over one lap but his race performance is dodgy at times. Red Bull being the best team, seems like the perfect fit.

[Ben]

Red Bull don't want another #1. They design their car around Verstappen's style and give him all the preferential treatment. We mocked Perez all season (rightly) but he delivered 2nd in the Drivers Championship and therefore also the Constructors. That's all they're bothered about. Mercedes proved with Hamilton and Rosberg that two top drivers don't last long as they both demand concessions. Look at Ferrari for example, their car is suited to neither Leclerc or Sainz because they have wildly opposite preferences but fair pretty evenly in results, so Ferrari don't really have grounds to go in one direction.

Whilst Red Bull have the best car, they're happy as they are. No point rocking the boat when the current setup delivers the maximum result.

[Disco]

Verstappen - 575
Mercedes - 409

Perez delivered nothing.

[Ben]

But the team got to where they wanted to be ultimately. Why put a better driver in there who could rock the boat with Verstappen but the team have exactly the same results come season end?

[Disco]

That is undoubtedly their logic it's what they've tried to do ever since they became competitive, I also wouldn't discount the lobbying of the 'Verstappen camp' against anyone credible getting that seat, just look at how much shit they stirred when him and Sainz were at Toro Rosso. For all the 'I don't care' attitude that Verstappen gives off the toys are thrown whenever he doesn't get his way 101% of the time, was it sixth he wouldn't give up to return a favour? Even then Perez has performed below the standard they expect and he will be gone at the end of next year, he only lasted this long because they had no-one else ready to put in the seat otherwise he would have gotten the Kvyat/Gasly/Albon treatment.

[Ben]

Undoubtedly they're in a comfortable position given their car's dominance, but it'll be interesting to see who they go for if other teams start to come back at them and they need a solid hand in the other car to maintain the top position.

[Disco]

Unless he completely shits his pants they surely intend for it to be Ricciardo while they try and bring Lawson through. Tsunoda has an outside chance but I think he needs to do a lot better to survive the end of the Honda partnership.

[John Arne]

Tsunoda wouldn't last 5 minutes, he's far too emotional (cry baby)

Perez is the perfect #2.

Edit: that's Tsunoda now, perhaps in a few years he'll mature a tad.

[Disco]

I think the dominance of the car masks his deficiencies, if anyone catches up they need both cars near the front to help with strategy. Go back to 2020 and earlier when Mercedes could use Bottas to influence pit strategy or even 2021 when Perez was less shite and could actually be a useful foil to the lead car. Pottering around in the midfield while their teammate got eaten alive at the front was exactly what did for the last two guys.

[SincereTheRebel]

Average positions gained/lost from starting position




3.4

Perez


1.9
Verstappen


1.8
Stroll


1.6
Lawson


1.4
Zhou


1.2
Sargent


1.0
Ricciardo


0.7
Hamilton


0.7
de Vries


0.6
Tsunoda


0.5
Gasly


0.3
Alonso


0.3
Magnussen


0
Bottas


0
Norris


-0.5
Ocon


-0.5
Albon


-1.0
Piastri


-1.4
Russel


-1.7
Leclerc


-1.7
Sainz


-2.1
Hulkenberg





Deleted Lap times




039 - Albon
032 - Magnusson
027 - Norris
026 - Sargent
026 - Gasly
023 - Perez
022 - Hamilton
022 - Hulkenberg
020 - Tsunoda
020 - Russel
019 - Stroll
019 - Piastri
019 - Sainz
018 - Alonso
017 - Ocon
017 - Leclerc
012 - de Vries
009 - Verstappen
009 - Bottas
008 - Zhou
004 - Ricciardo
003 - Lawson



Percentage of race laps completed of out 1325


100.0% Verstappen
98.3% Sainz
97.7% Alonso
96.1% Norris
95.7% Hamilton
94.5% Russel
94.3% Hulkenberg
94.3% Tsunoda
94.2% Gasly
93.9% Zhou
92.8% Bottas
92.2% Stroll
91.7% Perez
89.4% Piastri
88.2% Magnusson
86.7% Albon
86.6% Leclerc
86.2% Sargent
83.9% Ocon


Constructors reliability





Team
Total DNF/S
Mechanical DNF/S
Perctange


Red Bull
2
0
0%


Mclaren
4
2
50%


AlphaTauri
5
2
40%


Mercedas
5
3
60%


Aston Martin
6
3
50%


Haas
7
3
43%


Alpine
10
3
30%


Alfa Romeo
6
4
67%


Ferrari
7
4
57%


Williams
11
4
36%

[7om]

Hulkenberg being bottom of the positions gained table is testament to his qualifying performances. The car is dog shit in race trim.

[SincereTheRebel]

Sargent confirmed for next year. No chances on grid.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Has that ever happened before? I can only think not. Definitely hadn't happened before say 2010.

[Shindig]

Never. I blame the young people. And the old people.

[Gray Fox]

Indeed it is the first time ever. Quite surprised Logi Bear has stayed on. Didn't do an awful lot.

[SincereTheRebel]

Sport has gone soft.

[SincereTheRebel]

Half the grid is out of contract in 2024.

Pérez
🇪🇸 Alonso
🇲🇨 Leclerc
🇪🇸 Sainz
🇫🇷 Gasly
🇫🇷 Ocon
🇹🇭 Albon
🇯🇵 Tsunoda
🇦🇺 Ricciardo
🇫🇮 Bottas
🇨🇳 Zhou
🇩🇪 Hülkenberg
🇩🇰 Magnussen

[Jimmy Floyd]

Proposed Madrid GP layout:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GAkeYe9WwAANEmv?format=jpg&name=medium

A common complaint about F1 is that there just aren't enough roundabouts, and this certainly addresses that. Has anyone thought of putting in traffic lights? Would certainly close the field up.

[Shindig]

There's a fucking festival in the middle of it? :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Roundabouts :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Music, racing, Helmut Marko, it's a festival of urban cool. Can't wait to fly out there and experience my favourite brands.

[Shindig]

"I've got to catch Pitbull on the Aramco stage. Just let me finish my Pirelli shake first."

[Ben]

A roundabout might create some decent action if the cars weren’t the size of aircraft carriers.

[thommo]

What's it like in IndyCar? I know Long Beach has a roundabout shortly after the main straight.

[niko_cee]

Vietnam was going to be the king of the roundabouts track.

Didn't realise they'd actually built that track. :cab:

I know F1 has always been a bit of parody of itself, but it feels like it is lapsing into the absurd now. Is the whole shebang sustainable if the only market is the super yacht class and their parasitic followers?

[Pepe]

If cycling is anything to go by, roundabouts = crashes.

[SincereTheRebel]

comparing laps with the same compound and with 3, or less, age tyre difference.

Alonso 0.52% faster than Stroll
Verstappen 0.42% faster than Perez
Hulkenberg 0.30% faster than Magnussen
Norris 0.28% faster than Piastri
Tsunoda 0.24% faster than Marko's multiple drivers
Hamilton 0.24% faster than Russell
Albon 0.22% faster than Sargeant
Bottas 0.20% faster than Zhou
Leclerc 0.08% faster than Sainz
Ocon 0.02% faster than Gasly

[Gray Fox]

Arise, Sir Ron Dennis.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Should have been 25 years ago, better late than never.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Alfa Romeo are now called Stake F1 for 2024 and 2025.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Maybe if they plunge one of their cars into Christian Horner he'll fuck off.

[Shindig]

Guenther's left the building.


Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has left his role after 10 years leading the US-based team.

The 58-year-old Italian ...

Fuck. :|

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'll miss his radio messages :(

[Jimmy Floyd]

Did quite well to do those Netflix funnies and thus stay on years after the last time I can remember either of their cars doing anything.

[niko_cee]

Why has testing been so pared back in recent years? Is it a cost cap thing? Used to love a bit of proper pre-season testing, particularity the one without much coverage at all. It was like a leap back in time to the teletext days. Three line reports of a surprisingly rapid Brawn emerging on the wires.

[John Arne]

Had a beer (he had a coke) with a young Viet-Aussie who will be racing Formula 3 this season. Nice lad and seemed super excited to possibly racing Spa. 16yrs old, but he looked 12 :D Seemed like he had a sensible head on his shoulders.

[Waffdon]

Drinking with 16 year olds the norm for you?

[John Arne]

Drinking with 16 year olds the norm for you?

Original.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Carlos Sainz winning the Dakar Rally (no prizes for guessing who hosted it) at age 61 is mental.

[Shindig]

He'd be on my driving Mount Rushmore.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yep: Clark, that Italian on bikes (not Rossi), Sainz, whoever the best oval person is.

[Shindig]

Agostini's records are absurd. Didn't even spot he'd given cars a go as well.

[Disco]

Earnhardt or maybe Gordon for tintop ovals, single seaters is a bit of a wasteland in north American once you get into the 90s. AJ Foyt seems a better choice than anyone recent, I can't bring myself to recommend Scott Dixon or Newgarden who are amongst the best current drivers.

[Shindig]

I would've had Richard Petty down as the NASCAR guy. Nobody's near him in terms of wins.

[Disco]

No but only because he raced for a thousand years back when they had about five a week and he could afford to go to them all.

[Ben]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68065785

:facepalm:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Roundabouts :drool:

[Gray Fox]

The American drivers are going to be so confused. Assuming we have any by then.

[thommo]

Catalunya was a pretty dull track but I'd rather race there than at a street circuit.

[Pepe]

Give it a few years and it will be 100% street circuits.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Where high octane racing action meets the loudest urban party on the planet. Music, dance moves, and the fastest drivers on earth. Tokyo. Paris. Singapore. Jeddah. Iconic cities, iconic venues, iconic noise. Hospitality and VIP suite tickets available now from just $12,500.

Fuck it just give me a PR job already.

[phonics]

Neom even kinda sounds like a race car going past you. The perfect meeting of the utterly vaccuous.

[Shindig]

And they can call it Formula 1's first drag stip.

[Gray Fox]

Visa Cash App RB taking on Stake F1 Kick Team Sauber this year. How exciting.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://e0.365dm.com/24/01/2048x1152/skysports-visa-cash-app-rb_6431591.jpg?20240124105026

Shockingly bad.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm not having Brundle declaring, at some point, Yuki Tsunoda to be the 'meat in a Visa Cash App RB Sandwich'.

[Ben]

I'll do us a F1 2024 thread when the unveilings start, then I'm out. Sport has truly gone to the dogs now.

[SincereTheRebel]

Chocolate Eclair jas signed a new deal with Ferrari.

[Disco]

I'll do us a F1 2024 thread when the unveilings start, then I'm out. Sport has truly gone to the dogs now.

I have the next week off with almost nothing to do, I'll do the new one if you dont want to.

[Ben]

Yeah go for it, I'm not a gatekeeping cunt like Ian.

I'm joking Ian :eyemouth:

[Ben]

Andretti has been rejected. Apparently he doesn't bring enough value to the brand.

But Visa Cash App RB Stake Racing Bulls F1 Team definitely does.

Pack of cunts.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That's a watershed moment in terms of them blowing all the gains that have been made in the last 4-5 years.

[Pepe]

How can an American team not add "value"? What "value" do "Hass" or "Kick Sauber" (lol) bring.

[SincereTheRebel]

Mercedas Petroleum sponsor want to bring back Malaysia. I remember when Vettel cooked Webber at that track.

[Ben]

Great track, especially when compared to today's shite. They had money troubles though and I can't see them being able to compete with these street circuit mongs.

[SincereTheRebel]

Sport is just going to the highest bidders. Cant they just make new tracks, but just copy old ones? Or just make a track that involves the best corners.

First sector of Suzuka, followed by second sectors of UK, Brazil and Monaco followed by the final turn of Monza or something.

[Gray Fox]

How can an American team not add "value"? What "value" do "Hass" or "Kick Sauber" (lol) bring.

The actual reason is because it adds another split to the pie of revenue. James Vowles of Williams has openly said as much. They believe a few of the teams might move to the brink of it being unfeasible(they're just greedy).

[Gray Fox]

Big time silly season rumour is that Hamilton has seen the new seasons car isn't going to get him wins, so he'll be off to Ferrari in 2025.

[niko_cee]

BBC are running with it. :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Big time silly season rumour is that Hamilton has seen the new seasons car isn't going to get him wins, so he'll be off to Ferrari in 2025.

There's a non-sequitur if ever I saw one.

[Gray Fox]

If it is true, it puts Mercedes in a tricky spot. McLaren just announcing a Lando extension removes the obvious replacement. I also don't think they'd just swap it to put Sainz in the car.
Of the current grid maybe Albon would be the best bet, assuming Alonso doesn't wheel and deal his way into the seat.

[Ben]

Hamilton is Plan A. But they're always on Plan D/E so in that case, doubtful.

[Gray Fox]

Sky are running it as if it's a done deal already. What is going on?

[SincereTheRebel]

They all want to drive the red car one day.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:cab:

But Ferrari and their infinite plans are wank.

[SincereTheRebel]

Drivers dont care. Ferrari will pay you a lot and you get to drive the red shiny car. He is already seven time world champion. Might as well give it a go.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The earnest F1 fan in my office (I hide my liking for the sport so I don't have to talk to him) has gone mental about this news. THIS IS FUCKING MASSIVE! I WONDER IF IT'LL BE IN THE NEXT SEASON OF DRIVE TO SURVIVE?

Burn it all down.

[Gray Fox]

When this becomes official it will be like seeing Fernando Torres holding up his new Chelsea shirt, for me.

[Luke Emia]

Big time silly season rumour is that Hamilton has seen the new seasons car isn't going to get him wins, so he'll be off to Ferrari in 2025.

You have to think that's the case. This years car is still a bit of a dog him and RB just don't work and it's jump into the next best car and hope he can win one more title in it.

[Luke Emia]

If it is true, it puts Mercedes in a tricky spot. McLaren just announcing a Lando extension removes the obvious replacement. I also don't think they'd just swap it to put Sainz in the car.
Of the current grid maybe Albon would be the best bet, assuming Alonso doesn't wheel and deal his way into the seat.

I wonder if it would be Sainz to Red Bull as Perez will be done there after this season. He's good enough to win races but isn't going to push Verstappen too hard.

[phonics]

1753006944795660652

:d

[7om]

Absolute madness. Will be an interesting dynamic for this season with a full years notice that he’s off. Wouldn’t surprise me if this caused a bit of tension.

As for the Merc, reckon it’s between Albon, Sainz and if he impresses this season, Andrea Antonelli.

[Pepe]

Last big paycheck for Hamilton, I guess. Like Ronaldo in S. Arabia.

[Waffdon]

At least Ferrari look capable of winning races

[niko_cee]

When this becomes official it will be like seeing Fernando Torres holding up his new Chelsea shirt, for me.

Hopefully has the same ending as he somehow steals a championship in whatever the equivalent of that Chelsea European Cup win would be. The Barcelona semi would have to be Verstappen breaking down going into Parabolica and seeing Hamilton scamper off with a clear run for the win.

Can you really be called an F1 great if you haven't had a go in the red car?

[thommo]

In my selfish opinion, this would be a great move. The Hamilton-Mercedes partnership was just so sterile and dull, especially when combined with his unerring success throughout the 2010s. It'd be absolutely class if he rocked up in the Ferrari, decked in red and starting winning races for fun.

Sainz would drop down to a middle of the grid team surely. Feels like the RB seat for 2025 is Danny Ric's (as long as he doesn't have a stinker with the Flying Mastercards this year), and I can't see Merc snapping him up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I thought this was a blatantly obvious move, I am genuine amazed at the SHOCK responses everywhere. And yes, his late career can well use a dash of red and a smattering of half-baked Italian.

[Pepe]

I hope he can compete for the title, but I have a hard time seeing it, somehow.

[Gray Fox]

I reckon he knows now the chance of a title is almost genuinely gone. The Max/RB pairing will not be stopped until maybe 2026. He knows a thing or two about winning cars by now and it must be that he is thoroughly unimpressed with either this years efforts, or the expectations for 2026.

That being so, why not go and have a fun few years in Ferrari? Lets not forget but for Charles bottling it/strategy incompetence, that car would have won a few more races over the last few years.

This does provide some lovely tension for the coming season.

[niko_cee]

Someone has also had a blinder putting this out on TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY.

[phonics]

I saw the SkySportsNews clip as a tweet on mute and thought it was a bit of 'viral marketing' at first.

[Giggles]

Sounds like we're exactly 2 months early.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't remember if this has happened much in the past, but the idea of several drivers driving a completely lame duck season (i.e. joining a new team next year) from day 1 is a bit weird. Feels like we might as well just hand Max another title now and free up our Sundays until 2025.

[Giggles]

I'd say he'll end up gone after this year and we'll never see him in a Ferrari. I'm surprised he's not actually retiring now really.

[Gray Fox]

Well thats the first part.

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[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:drool:

[Shindig]

Shame we have to wait a year, really. I honestly thought he'd be retired by now.

[Gray Fox]

Here we go.

1753133900925129140

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Holy shit.

[Giggles]

He'll "reassess things" after 2024 and Ferrari will need to look elsewhere.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Albon quite a good brand fit if they want to keep Petronas around.

[Gray Fox]

Agreed. Albon is the best fit on the current grid.

If they think they have the car for it, tempting Alonso would be great.

Unfortunately for Sainz the music just stopped and all of the chairs look full.

[Waffdon]

Sainz is streets ahead of Albon

[Giggles]

Surely the British love affair with the Germans ends when Hamilton goes anyway, especially if replaced by an Albon or something.

[SincereTheRebel]

Sainz. World Champ. 2024.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Surely the British love affair with the Germans ends when Hamilton goes anyway, especially if replaced by an Albon or something.

Probably, everyone should be McLaren and Williams if they are true patriots. Sorry Bruce.

Sky are talking about Sainz going to Audi, which I presume means Sauber. Oh dear.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

*Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber.

[Luke Emia]

Probably, everyone should be McLaren and Williams if they are true patriots. Sorry Bruce.

Sky are talking about Sainz going to Audi, which I presume means Sauber. Oh dear.

He’d be perfect for that Red Bull and better than Ricciardo surely? Would be madness if he ended up in a fucking Sauber he’s too good to be pissing around in that.

[SincereTheRebel]

Vettel to return in 2025 to Merc

[Jimmy Floyd]

He’d be perfect for that Red Bull and better than Ricciardo surely? Would be madness if he ended up in a fucking Sauber he’s too good to be pissing around in that.

Wants a number one car. If you're the son of Carlos Sainz, what's the point in tooling around giving Max Verstappen blowjobs and rating his farts.

[SincereTheRebel]

The only man to beat Red Bull in 2023. Fired. Sacked. Let go. Laid Off.

[Luke Emia]

What's Horner done?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Slamming Perez in the arse.

[Ben]

It's about time Horner was cancelled. Smug cunt.

[Luke Emia]

Love how the Mail headline is Geri Halliwell's husband.