The F1 Thread

[jlo]

I thought everyone sort of had to stop developing 2025 after a certain point even this year as they need the budget headroom for the 2026 new regs? I could be wrong on that, but it rings a bell that the teams were saying that.

Yeah I think you're right actually, purely because of budget caps not because they can't. Regulations are stable into next year, so development may be minimal, but you don't write off a year ever so 1 or 2 teams might surprise

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I would back Merc for that. This new floor was a dog but they seem to be giving it a bit of budgetary love.

 

[Kenny]

General Motors under the name of Cadillac F1 joining the grid from 2026.

Ran by Andretti Global and will use Ferrari engines until GM has a Cadillac engine built for the 2028 season.

 

[Kenny]

Schumi Jnr leaving Merc.

Would now expect to see Bottas return as their reserve driver.

 

[Kenny]

Well that was a bit of chaos with the usual suspect winning in the end.

Lewis destroyed his own race (with a bit of bad luck thrown in)
Lando destroyed his own race
Race Director did his best to screw the race up by refusing to slow the cars down to allow the removal of a wing mirror from the main straight and 4 laps later, Bottas totalled it and gifted Sainz and Hamilton with punctures.

Lewis has mentally checked out. His ability may be on the decline but his head is elsewhere and that's never good news for him.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Race Director(s) is awful this year. Every race they are a disaster with VSC and SC. Seems they are trying to process what affect it will have on who before they make decisions, which ends up doing the opposite. Just pull the trigger when it’s needed and if people benefit more than others sobeit. Rather than indirectly (or potentially directly…) influencing results

 

[Squeak]

Race Director(s) is awful this year. Every race they are a disaster with VSC and SC. Seems they are trying to process what affect it will have on who before they make decisions, which ends up doing the opposite. Just pull the trigger when it’s needed and if people benefit more than others sobeit. Rather than indirectly (or potentially directly…) influencing results

All of it could be avoided if they put the cars back in the position they were before whatever happened happened. Instead we have this nonsense that someone builds a lead and then it evaporates the minute the is a safety car because of someone else's error. It's turning into Daytona 500 where only one lap ever matters.

 

[jlo]

Race Director(s) is awful this year. Every race they are a disaster with VSC and SC. Seems they are trying to process what affect it will have on who before they make decisions, which ends up doing the opposite. Just pull the trigger when it’s needed and if people benefit more than others sobeit. Rather than indirectly (or potentially directly…) influencing results

Given this was his first race, I'm placing the blame at the FIA's door. But yes, it was clearly a decision that needed taking immediately - the third safety car was easily just a VSC too

 

[PuntsWolf]

Given this was his first race, I'm placing the blame at the FIA's door. But yes, it was clearly a decision that needed taking immediately - the third safety car was easily just a VSC too

Fair enough if it’s his first race (I think…surely done something in motorsport before…) but it seems to happen every week with whoever is in charge.

 

[Kenny]

Think we can rule out Max and George driving in the same team

 

[PuntsWolf]

What was the original beef. What has this stemmed from?

 

[The Bear]

So Max is actually a petty, insecure, overly defensive arsehole?


Who knew?!!!

 

[Kenny]

What was the original beef. What has this stemmed from?

Max thinks George went over the top in wanting him punished for driving slowly when they were both on warm up laps in Quali and he then lost his pole position.

After the race Max said he had lost respect for George.

 

[Kenny]

Hamiltons final quali a disaster. Out in Q1 after picking up a bollard that was knocked on to the track by K-Mag.

Bollard stuck under his car for final sector and borked it.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Max at it again.

 

[jlo]

Of course, hopefully it costs them a bit more next year when they are closer packed.

 

[jlo]

Also, I wouldn't rule out Hamilton yet for a good placing. His strategy will put him top when the all medium tired cars have taken their pitstops; all you then need is a nicely timed red flag before he pits but the clean air itself and nice medium tires at the end seems like the better strategy in my mind

 

[Kenny]

This is some race from Charles so far

 

[PuntsWolf]

Of course, hopefully it costs them a bit more next year when they are closer packed.

Hopefully they all just take it turns to take him out every week so he can’t win anything again. Norris was too conservative with him earlier in the season and then you always end up worse off

 

[Squeak]

In the end, a decent season with multiple teams winning. Very pleased for McLaren and hopefully Lando will have learned some lessons this term and will come back stronger next season. As for the 3 time World Champion, he simply can't help himself. A gap is like a red rag to a bull and sod the consequences.

Looking forward to seeing the 8 time World Champion in a Ferrari next year. A man who knows how to handle himself and a true ambassador for motor racing.