Formula 1

[charlierc]

16 hours ago, DareToDibble said:

Newey leaving Red Bull then it seems: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/25/red-bull-designer-adrian-newey-to-leave-over-christian-horner-allegations

 

Way too early to make any difference to any teams cars next year but a great time to get him in for the next major regulation change.

 

Aston Martin or Red Bull do we think?

There are so many people who want Ferrari to recruit Newey, who has gone on record to say that his regrets include never working for Ferrari and with Lewis Hamilton, and next year, you can cross those two off in one. Though one rumour I heard was the Ferrari were looking with more intent as Pierre Wache, who is Red Bull's technical director.

 

Aston seem meanwhile to be trying to basically buy Red Bull, having already signed Honda as engine provider and hired multiple Red Bull types.

 

This isn't confirmed yet - another article today said the multiple sources splashing on Newey leaving Red Bull came as a surprise to Newey himself, let alone Red Bull, but it seems like the situation around the team is unstable.

 

I still would be very surprise if it lead to Max deciding to bail and move to take Hamilton's vacant Merc chair though. Imo I think that's likeliest to be with Sainz, and with the kid Antonelli replacing the out-of-his-depth Sargeant at Williams if he can get the super-licence points.

[charlierc]

On 4/26/2024 at 3:04 AM, DareToDibble said:

Newey leaving Red Bull then it seems: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/25/red-bull-designer-adrian-newey-to-leave-over-christian-horner-allegations

 

Way too early to make any difference to any teams cars next year but a great time to get him in for the next major regulation change.

 

Aston Martin or Red Bull do we think?

Now longer a rumour...

Quite a few big surprises here - one that Newey is managed by Eddie Jordan, hinting he's more involved in F1 than I thought given I thought Jordan was just a sideline sniper, but perhaps the biggest is that Red Bull were ok with him not having a period of gardening leave and means that, by April 2025, he's free to join another team if he opts not to retire.

 

It's also quite something that this might lead to further speculation about other members of the Red Bull empire, given Mercedes are aggressively targeting Max Verstappen to replace the Italy-bound Lewis Hamilton and there's still uncertainty over Red Bull given the whole Horner thing.

[DareToDibble]

For a race that's normally not great, we were treated to a great one this year. Absolutely delighted for Lando but more than that, McLaren look like they're seriously quick now which is exciting.

 

On a different note, has anyone ever done a Silverstone camping weekend? Been considering it for years but think I finally want to do it with a couple of mates in 2025. Found this: https://www.silverstone.co.uk/news/guide-camping-silverstone and it sounds like The Golf Club would be great. 

Just wonder if (other than joining Silverstone Racing Club) there is a way to secure tickets before general sale?

[charlierc]

8 hours ago, DareToDibble said:

For a race that's normally not great, we were treated to a great one this year. Absolutely delighted for Lando but more than that, McLaren look like they're seriously quick now which is exciting.

 

Some will claim the safety car helped but yeah, from the restart to the end, Lando nailed it. Not bad at all.

 

MVP to Kevin Magnussen for causing the safety car on what I can describe as a meltdown of a weekend from him.

[charlierc]

Well, at the risk of this thread continuing to be one where it looks like I talk to myself, there was Imola. Which was quite the odd one given it was looking like an easy Max win and the only action being thanks to Perez's tyre gamble failing and him getting passed by all his rivals. But that was a hell of a late charge by Lando. If that had started 2/3 laps earlier, we might well be looking at back-to-back wins.

 

Certainly, after Miami and now this, it's making me more confident this won't be a Verstappen wins every race season. But it also genuinely seemed to mean more to Red Bull & Max to win when they were pressed hard like this rather than just demolishing everyone by 20 seconds.

[WS_Jack_III]

On 5/20/2024 at 8:16 AM, charlierc said:

Well, at the risk of this thread continuing to be one where it looks like I talk to myself, there was Imola. Which was quite the odd one given it was looking like an easy Max win and the only action being thanks to Perez's tyre gamble failing and him getting passed by all his rivals. But that was a hell of a late charge by Lando. If that had started 2/3 laps earlier, we might well be looking at back-to-back wins.

 

Certainly, after Miami and now this, it's making me more confident this won't be a Verstappen wins every race season. But it also genuinely seemed to mean more to Red Bull & Max to win when they were pressed hard like this rather than just demolishing everyone by 20 seconds.

After qualifying today I'm starting to wonder if this season is threatening to actually be something of a competition after all.

[charlierc]

20 minutes ago, WS_Jack_III said:

After qualifying today I'm starting to wonder if this season is threatening to actually be something of a competition after all.

I think we still need a couple more races to show we're truly in a good groove, but there's no denying that Red Bull are now in a progressively more uncomfortable position. It's certainly a scenario now where they are not going to waltz to winning every race as they seemingly looked like they were on track to do so after crushing the competition in the first two races.

 

Red Bull themselves think their car philosophy makes it very sensitive to bumps, which is why they struggled with the uneven track surfaces at Miami and Imola, and that this is what was also spotted in 2023's big misfire in Singapore when both cars were knocked out in Q2.

[charlierc]

Well, Monaco was really boring even by its poor standards. Though good thing that Perez survived his pretty enormous crash, and how nice for Leclerc to finally win his home race.

 

I think we need a few more races to prove this, but on this trajectory with Ferrari and McLaren eating into Red Bull's advantage, I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that what was looking like an easy Red Bull championship like last year is now not anymore.

[DareToDibble]

On 5/27/2024 at 9:43 PM, charlierc said:

Well, Monaco was really boring even by its poor standards. Though good thing that Perez survived his pretty enormous crash, and how nice for Leclerc to finally win his home race.

 

I think we need a few more races to prove this, but on this trajectory with Ferrari and McLaren eating into Red Bull's advantage, I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that what was looking like an easy Red Bull championship like last year is now not anymore.

 

I know I am probably alone in saying this but I really wouldn't care if it was removed from the calendar. Will never happen but it is just so dull every year.

 

Good to see the gap to Red Bull has been closed and very happy that McLaren are definitely on the up. Can't help but think Max will still end up winning the championship with about 3 or 4 races to spare though.

[WS_Jack_III]

On 5/29/2024 at 3:28 PM, DareToDibble said:

 

I know I am probably alone in saying this but I really wouldn't care if it was removed from the calendar. Will never happen but it is just so dull every year.

 

Good to see the gap to Red Bull has been closed and very happy that McLaren are definitely on the up. Can't help but think Max will still end up winning the championship with about 3 or 4 races to spare though.

You're not alone, I've been calling for it to be taken off the calendar for a while now.

[DareToDibble]

44 minutes ago, WS_Jack_III said:

You're not alone, I've been calling for it to be taken off the calendar for a while now.

 

It'll never happen as the drivers love it. I always find it mad how for them it's one of the races they want to win the most. Had a chat with my mate about this last weekend. What are the top 3 tracks you would want to win at? 

 

In no particular order for me it's currenty:

 

Interlagos, Monza, Silverstone.

[WS_Jack_III]

1 hour ago, DareToDibble said:

 

It'll never happen as the drivers love it. I always find it mad how for them it's one of the races they want to win the most. Had a chat with my mate about this last weekend. What are the top 3 tracks you would want to win at? 

 

In no particular order for me it's currenty:

 

Interlagos, Monza, Silverstone.

Instantly go 2 of the same as you. Being a Brit i'd want Silverstone the most.

[charlierc]

On 5/29/2024 at 3:28 PM, DareToDibble said:

 

I know I am probably alone in saying this but I really wouldn't care if it was removed from the calendar. Will never happen but it is just so dull every year.

 

Good to see the gap to Red Bull has been closed and very happy that McLaren are definitely on the up. Can't help but think Max will still end up winning the championship with about 3 or 4 races to spare though.

 

9 hours ago, WS_Jack_III said:

You're not alone, I've been calling for it to be taken off the calendar for a while now.

Monaco looks like a great experience to drive with lots of complexity and is a great qualifying session but the full GP is a chore. Even moreso when it's dry, given the last two seasons before this one at least had rain to mix it up.

 

Saying that, the F2 races at Monaco both looked great, given both had winners starting way back and a decent amount of overtakes. Maybe F1 needs to do something unique for Monaco - smaller cars? Less aero? Time trial?

 

I do think Max will win the championship, yeah, but I'm happy that it's not going to be a steamroller like last year. Red Bull are now openly saying the car has a baked in weakness for bumpier surfaces that is likely going to cause trouble at Baku, Singapore and Austin, which are two street tracks and one permanent circuit that is on soft ground so is notoriously bumpy. The acid test is however if the likes of Ferrari and McLaren are closer in the upcoming run from Barcelona to Spa, given Red Bull's most dominant displays of 2024 were on purpose-built circuits like Bahrain or Suzuka.

[WS_Jack_III]

P1 on YouTube made a good point. It's time for them to gimmick up Monaco to make it better. If certain weekends can have sprints and such, maybe something different/special needs to take place at Monaco.

[charlierc]

Oooo George Russell on pole for the Canadian Grand Prix, edging out Max by 0.000 thanks to setting the lap time first. And with both Ferraris out in Q2 and Perez again not even getting into the top 15, it makes for an interestingly open race. We're seeing some very open variable qualifying performance, which is quite exciting, even if the races do seem to fold into more predictable patterns very quickly.

 

Although I guess we'll see what happens if Montreal is a wet one. Maybe not extreme rain/hail like we had ahead of practice on Friday, but enough of a lick of the wet stuff.

[charlierc]

Feel like Norris and Russell might be kicking themselves that they didn't win yesterday. Both were valid shouts but no soon as they let Max through, he was gone.

 

Good race though.

[DareToDibble]

Best race of the season?

Always love Canada but felt like this is the first time in ages (years?) that we could have had 4 or 5 winners and one stage of the race.

Red Bull genuinely seem to have issues with bumps this season so some circuits they will struggle with. 

Max will still with the WDC I think but Constructors will be a lot closer.

 

Not that he's wrong but what do you all think of Max's "they have 2 cars" comment when he was asked about the race at the front against the other constructors?

[charlierc]

On 6/13/2024 at 1:10 AM, DareToDibble said:

Best race of the season?

Always love Canada but felt like this is the first time in ages (years?) that we could have had 4 or 5 winners and one stage of the race.

Red Bull genuinely seem to have issues with bumps this season so some circuits they will struggle with. 

Max will still with the WDC I think but Constructors will be a lot closer.

 

Not that he's wrong but what do you all think of Max's "they have 2 cars" comment when he was asked about the race at the front against the other constructors?

Max's 2 car comments might be misconstrued but it feels kinda damning with Perez, who was poor at Imola and even worse at Monaco & Montreal. And yet, Red Bull are still ok with keeping him around for at least next season.

 

Montreal was a very good race and certainly an open one, with the wet/dry unpredictability, 3 teams being close to one another and different phases favouring different drivers. Where on Earth Ferrari were is part of the weirdness.

 

Hopefully Barcelona next week will be good, though I have a feeling that Red Bull won't have their bump issues with that one. The aggressive curbs at the Austrian track the week after might be more of a challenge.

[DareToDibble]

4 hours ago, charlierc said:

Max's 2 car comments might be misconstrued but it feels kinda damning with Perez, who was poor at Imola and even worse at Monaco & Montreal. And yet, Red Bull are still ok with keeping him around for at least next season.

 

Montreal was a very good race and certainly an open one, with the wet/dry unpredictability, 3 teams being close to one another and different phases favouring different drivers. Where on Earth Ferrari were is part of the weirdness.

 

Hopefully Barcelona next week will be good, though I have a feeling that Red Bull won't have their bump issues with that one. The aggressive curbs at the Austrian track the week after might be more of a challenge.

 

I'm sure I read Perez is in the top 3 merc sellers so that must have formed part of the decision. As much as I love him I don't think that seat should have gone to Danny Ric but can't help but feel there must have been better options for RB.

 

Red Bull will likely do a lot better at Barcelona as it's a smoother track but I honestly don't think Checo will be in the top 5, which says a lot.

 

A lot of reports Newey has signed with Ferrari which would be really exciting but would he have any impact on the cars for the next couple of years? Surely too early to be of any use to the cars Lewis will drive?

[charlierc]

8 hours ago, DareToDibble said:

 

I'm sure I read Perez is in the top 3 merc sellers so that must have formed part of the decision. As much as I love him I don't think that seat should have gone to Danny Ric but can't help but feel there must have been better options for RB.

 

Red Bull will likely do a lot better at Barcelona as it's a smoother track but I honestly don't think Checo will be in the top 5, which says a lot.

 

A lot of reports Newey has signed with Ferrari which would be really exciting but would he have any impact on the cars for the next couple of years? Surely too early to be of any use to the cars Lewis will drive?

Perez is a huge deal in Mexico and among the Mexican diaspora in the USA, which makes sense given the sheer range of companies he does adverts for and also has as sponsors. But yeah, his performances have been naff of late so it was a surprise to see Red Bull commit so soon to giving him 2025 and maybe also 2026, depending on who you believe.

 

Ricciardo faces a fight to keep his seat at Baby Red Bull imo given Marko really wants Liam Lawson in the car after he impressed as Ricciardo's stand-in last year while the Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar is challenging for the F2 title and has looked more impressive so far than the seemingly F1-bound Bearman and Antonelli (though admittedly that's thanks to their PREMA team struggling with the F2 regs change).

 

Driver market is still fascinating tbf. Sainz is so unfortunate Ferrari are letting him go at a time where the other 4 teams likeliest to win a race are spoken for, so seeing him at Williams or Audi/Sauber will be weird. Ocon going from winning a race at Alpine to Haas after being exiled by them is also the current rumour.

 

I think Newey is likeliest to have an impact on the 2026 car for the first year of the new regulation changes, or maybe any upgrades that come in-season for the 2025 chassis in Lewis' first year in red. But we'll see in due course.

[charlierc]

Spanish Grand Prix was fine, if not Canada exceptional or arguably as good as the last 2 races in Barcelona. But it does seem to confirm that McLaren are now pretty much at Red Bull's level and means Max has to be flawless, which is interesting and promising given it means there's scope for another team to challenge for races. Plus with Perez seemingly not on Max's level again, it could give scope for a 2 v 1 scenario if Piastri can have more luck in qualifying.

 

Mercedes finishing 3/4 hints they're also making progress. Russell launching it into turn one from 4th to take the lead was awesome, even if his tyre strategy wasn't enough to get him even on the podium. Ferrari having their drivers complain about one another in interviews and struggling to challenge the Mercs was a bit more of a surprise.

Edited June 24 by charlierc

[charlierc]

A congrats to George Russell then. And a feeling that Verstappen and Norris taking each other out was kinda likely. Bit 50/50 - Norris was aggressive with track limits but there was some really poor driving by Verstappen when defending.

[WS_Jack_III]

Yes!! Get in!

[charlierc]

To think in the early phase of the season where Mercedes looked to have the third/fourth best car that I thought we'd seen the last Hamilton win in a Mercedes. But here we are.

 

Was a pretty great race too tbf. Any of 5 drivers could've won it.

[WS_Jack_III]

1 hour ago, charlierc said:

To think in the early phase of the season where Mercedes looked to have the third/fourth best car that I thought we'd seen the last Hamilton win in a Mercedes. But here we are.

 

Was a pretty great race too tbf. Any of 5 drivers could've won it.

Was brilliant. Poor Lando is absolutely gutted as I guess George will be too.