The Formula One Thread

[Slacker]

I have to admit I am a fan of Hamilton.I know the one sided sidedness is a bit dull but I did enjoy his title victories and when he was robbed of his record breaking championship victory  that was the final nail for me.

[nebristolred]

Viewing figures are very much on the up from what I gather, unfortunately that will undoubtedly be the metric of 'success' used by the owners and management, when in reality the soul of the sport has been bleeding from it for quite a while.

It's quite bittersweet to be fair. Unlike a lot of others, I think this new rise in celebrity culture with F1, the idea that an F1 event is a huge spectacle regardless of the location, and all of that subsequent marketing around it to position it as an elite sport, is generally pretty good. There's no doubt as well that the owners have made the sport so much more accessible to fans, particularly with the online side of things, which is something that Bernie just had no interest or understanding of whatsoever.

But when it comes to the actual soul of the sport.... it's just diminishing. Adrian Newey himself bemoans the lack of creative room that is now left for designers. Rules that now mean it's almost impossible to win (with admittedly a few exceptions) unless you are an OEM or a main customer of an engine manufacturer. A complete inability to even drive let alone race in the wet. And now probably mid-way through what will be the least competitive (in terms of 1st place) era in the history of the sport. It's certainly worse than the Hamilton/Merc days, and if it continues it will overtake the Schuey/Ferrari days comfortably. All with less and less creativity allowed to designers, and more and more generic parts all over the place. Not to mention squeezing evermore races into weekend slots that basically now don't exist.

This isn't a complete criticism of Liberty Media, I do like a lot of what they've done, but nothing shows F1 up for what it is more than having a new incoming fanbase largely made up of the sort who have no understanding of the sport, will follow the (sometimes entirely manufactured) drama from Drive to Survive, and make their judgments and buy a ton of merch based off of that. I certainly have mates who are like that, couldn't stand the sport before but now because Norris has some made up beef with X driver, will buy a ton of McLaren clothing and have no concept of what's happening. To Liberty that's a financial and engagement success. To the sport itself, it offers absolutely nothing.

I don't know where it goes from here. I like that they're trialling new ways of racing in the wet, and I think they are aware enough to realise that they need competition for the sport to thrive. I just hope they find a way to get there.

Edited August 29, 2023 by nebristolred

[Midred]

I wonder how long it will be before the F1A get bored and change the rules again?

[Markthehorn]

13 minutes ago, Midred said:

I wonder how long it will be before the F1A get bored and change the rules again?

I think 2026.

Agaih it’s one man and the rest fighting between themselves.

[Loco Rojo]

Yawn. Another F1 race procession of first place.  A bit sad that they celebrate MV achievement at winning 10 races when his car is so much better than everyone elses. Hardly a race really. Like sticking Man City in the Championship and then celebrating the amazing achievement when they run away with it

Something needs to change in F1 to make it less predictable. 

I'd love to see all teams race in the same spec cars and it be down to the skill of the driver. Never happen though.

[Super]

11 hours ago, Loco Rojo said:

Yawn. Another F1 race procession of first place.  A bit sad that they celebrate MV achievement at winning 10 races when his car is so much better than everyone elses. Hardly a race really. Like sticking Man City in the Championship and then celebrating the amazing achievement when they run away with it

Something needs to change in F1 to make it less predictable. 

I'd love to see all teams race in the same spec cars and it be down to the skill of the driver. Never happen though.

We have seen all this before though with Schumacher and Hamilton. It's up to the other teams to up their game.

[wayne allisons tongues]

Thought Russell and Hamilton were lucky to get 5 second penalties only yesterday. Especially Russell who cut a corner to get past then said I’m too far in front to give it back an£ the 5 second penalty is basically worthless.

[East Londoner]

Was a bit of a slow burn at the beginning but probably the most enjoyable race of the season to watch and finally a non red bull winner 

[Maltshoveller]

52 minutes ago, TomF said:

Think Hamilton would have passed to win had he been infront of George. Would have been unfair to issue team orders but Lewis clearly had better tyres at the death 

All ifs and buts 

[Markthehorn]

Have to catch the highlights of this momentous event !

Well done Carlos and the 2 Brits .

[Lrrr]

Showed what F1 could be atm if we didn't have Verstappen's dominance 

[slartibartfast]

Was Norris one of SL's protégés under the BS umbrella ?

[View from the Dolman]

49 minutes ago, slartibartfast said:

Was Norris one of SL's protégés under the BS umbrella ?

He did carry Bristol Sport sponsorship when he was competing in the British and European Formula 3 championships. I'm reasonably confident that he was no longer carrying it once he stepped up to Formula 2.

[spudski]

23 hours ago, View from the Dolman said:

He did carry Bristol Sport sponsorship when he was competing in the British and European Formula 3 championships. I'm reasonably confident that he was no longer carrying it once he stepped up to Formula 2.

His father Adam had a large amount of money invested in Hargreaves Lansdown. He's worth a fortune himself. 

There was no money given to Lando by Bristol Sport (allegedly )Landos connection was purely to benefit both parties commercially. In name alone.

Lando told me this himself when I sat down and spoke with him, when I was a guest of McLaren in 2019 at the Brazilian GP. 

[nebristolred]

The one I remember under Bristol Sport was Dino Zamparelli, famed for this save:

Huge save, especially given what has happened at Radillon and onto the Kemmel Straight in previous years.

[Maltshoveller]

Well done Max

World championship number 3

[Markthehorn]

2 minutes ago, Maltshoveller said:

Well done Max

World championship number 3

Probably the 3rd of many 

Congratulations to Piastri. 

Was a good race with lots of competitive racing in between the safety cars.

[elhombrecito]

11 hours ago, Maltshoveller said:

Well done Max

World championship number 3

3*

[Maltshoveller]

15 hours ago, Markthehorn said:

Probably the 3rd of many 

Congratulations to Piastri. 

Was a good race with lots of competitive racing in between the safety cars.

Great to see McLaren doing well

Would love to see them back at the top

[Markthehorn]

8 hours ago, Maltshoveller said:

Great to see McLaren doing well

Would love to see them back at the top

Yes and probably get good results now with the 2 Mercedes deciding go bash into each other .

[nebristolred]

Yep all Hamilton's fault that one.

It was quite interesting to see/hear from the drivers after the race. Ocon apparently vomited in his car on lap 15, a couple struggled to get out of the cars afterwards, and according to Lando a few fainted in the medical centre after the race. I assume it's to do with the g-forces considering it's not really an F1 track, but it goes to show how much of a physical sport it is.

[Jose]

13 minutes ago, nebristolred said:

Yep all Hamilton's fault that one.

It was quite interesting to see/hear from the drivers after the race. Ocon apparently vomited in his car on lap 15, a couple struggled to get out of the cars afterwards, and according to Lando a few fainted in the medical centre after the race. I assume it's to do with the g-forces considering it's not really an F1 track, but it goes to show how much of a physical sport it is.

I’d imagine the heat had a big part to play too. 

[spudski]

1 hour ago, nebristolred said:

Yep all Hamilton's fault that one.

It was quite interesting to see/hear from the drivers after the race. Ocon apparently vomited in his car on lap 15, a couple struggled to get out of the cars afterwards, and according to Lando a few fainted in the medical centre after the race. I assume it's to do with the g-forces considering it's not really an F1 track, but it goes to show how much of a physical sport it is.

Heat and humidity took it's toll

[Markthehorn]

1 hour ago, spudski said:

Heat and humidity took it's toll

Certainly did.

Fortunately the race is 6 weeks later next season which might help .

[spudski]

2 minutes ago, Markthehorn said:

Certainly did.

Fortunately the race is 6 weeks later next season which might help .

I agree

[phantom]

Bernie Ecclestone, the former boss of Formula One, has admitted fraud after failing to declare more than £400m held in a trust in Singapore.

[Super]

The BWT Alpine F1 team mean business!

[slartibartfast]

On 12/10/2023 at 10:18, phantom said:

Bernie Ecclestone, the former boss of Formula One, has admitted fraud after failing to declare more than £400m held in a trust in Singapore.

So when does he get slammed in the choaky ?   Don't tell me ..... !

[Maesknoll Red]

Finally, a mistake from Verstappen in qualifying (well, to be accurate, two mistakes) that’ll liven the race up as he tries to get in front.

Looks like some of the other cars have copied Red Bulls design and with the upgrades they are looking closer in qualifying, wonder if they have got the long run race pace and tyre management right?

[elhombrecito]

Session 1 of F1's flagship event, lasted precisely 8 minutes, as the floor of Carlos Sainz's Ferrari was destroyed by a manhole cover coming loose. 

Not embarrassing at all...