Topic: Formula 1 2024 season

[Redley]

I've stopped watching altogether, however when I did, I REALLY liked the CH4 highlights. It boiled a 2 hour race down to 1 hour and I never felt like I lost anything.

At the moment I feel like you could boil it down to five minutes. The only jeopardy is who is going to get sacked by Red Bull

[TepidT2O]

At the moment I feel like you could boil it down to five minutes. The only jeopardy is who is going to get sacked by Red Bull

As long as that?
The start is about it really.
It’s like the Schumacher era, it killed it as a spectacle. But he wasn’t this dominant even.

[Redley]

As long as that?
The start is about it really.
It’s like the Schumacher era, it killed it as a spectacle. But he wasn’t this dominant even.

It still felt like there was a shred of a chance that a McLaren might force its way in, it certainly wasn’t as clear a gap as right now.

[Funky_Gibbons]

The Mercedes, Ferrari and McClaren engineers should be embarrassed the gap is still so big after three years of these regulations.

But Pirelli aren’t helping things, how can you do 42-laps on the hard tyre and still set the fastest lap on the last lap. Hamilton and Norris on new softs were barely troubling Bearman on 42 lap old hards.

What happened to the tyres falling off a cliff to make racing more exciting and introduce more strategies?

[paulrazor]

I turned off with 15 laps to go

BORING

[Qston]

I turned off with 15 laps to go

BORING

Agreed. Even purists are struggling to find any semblance of enjoyment

[Redley]

The Mercedes, Ferrari and McClaren engineers should be embarrassed the gap is still so big after three years of these regulations.

But Pirelli aren’t helping things, how can you do 42-laps on the hard tyre and still set the fastest lap on the last lap. Hamilton and Norris on new softs were barely troubling Bearman on 42 lap old hards.

What happened to the tyres falling off a cliff to make racing more exciting and introduce more strategies?

Perfect storm really. Red Bull have by far the fastest car. Then the fastest driver, and a team mate who is nowhere near as quick...but still quick enough to finish 2nd most of the time. Hamilton has either lost it, to a degree, or is brutally demotivated. Leclerc is probably the next quickest driver but that Ferrari still looks a better qualifier than race car. You've then got some talented drivers in cars that just arent particularly quick.

Its all a bit of a shit show, and all against the backdrop of there being even more races. At this rate it could legit be finished by Monza, and then another 9 races after. No wonder Bahrain and Saudi want the early races, I imagine Qatar will follow suit.

[Funky_Gibbons]

Toto Wolff says that Mercedes’ W15 simulations don’t match what they find on track:

“We have a big problem. Our sensors and simulations say that in a certain speed range we should have a certain amount of aerodynamic load but in reality we don't.”

Wow, three years in and they're still getting shit simulation data.

[Mark Walters]

As long as that?
The start is about it really.
It’s like the Schumacher era, it killed it as a spectacle. But he wasn’t this dominant even.

Agree with this.  Used to watch the first 10 or so minutes during the Schumacher era and generally (literally) fell asleep for the rest of the race. It's got to that stage again but these days I don't even bother watching the first 10 minutes so no sleep. I'm knackered!

[Dave McCoy]

Is this season over already? Sure feels like it. Tell me again how adding a new team would make no sense? Outside of the shenanigans behind the scenes this is just a snoozer.

[Romford_Red]

Toto Wolff says that Mercedes’ W15 simulations don’t match what they find on track:

“We have a big problem. Our sensors and simulations say that in a certain speed range we should have a certain amount of aerodynamic load but in reality we don't.”

Wow, three years in and they're still getting shit simulation data.

This is my issue with limiting testing time. How on earth are teams supposed to make ground on a dominant team?

[jason42]

I turned off with 15 laps to go

BORING

I haven't even watched the these first two races. I recorded them as I was busy with other things but did not bother watching them once I knew the results.

[CornerFlag]

I haven't even watched the these first two races. I recorded them as I was busy with other things but did not bother watching them once I knew the results.

Probably worth blasting through the C4 highlights to catch some bits but yeah, you're not missing much.  Thinking throwing in some blue shells wouldn't go amiss this year...

[reddebs]

Agreed. Even purists are struggling to find any semblance of enjoyment

Paul only watches the cars racing for the other places now and gets really pissed off when the cameras pan to the Max crossing the line.

Like he says, who gives a fuck that he's won yet another race uncontested, the real racing is happening behind him. 

I stopped watching a few years ago after the farce with Lewis, I did the same with Schumacher when he was out of sight after 2 laps every race.

[boots]

I am surprised people still watch this charade. It is a corrupt activity. I wont call it a sport as it is not. Its predetermined.

[clinical]

Even in the Merc days the redbull used to win on tracks where engine power was less important. Strong case they've had the best aero package for the last 15 years.

[gazzalfc]

Suzi Wolff starting legal action against the FIA

Oh and the FIA Ethics Committee 'unanimously' cleared the FIA President over trying to overturn an Alonso penalty and attempting to not give a licence for the Las Vegas GP

[voodoo ray]

Asked whether Mohammed Ben Sulayem still had Hamilton's confidence as FIA president, Hamilton said: "(He) never has."

[Funky_Gibbons]

Suzi Wolff starting legal action against the FIA

Oh and the FIA Ethics Committee 'unanimously' cleared the FIA President over trying to overturn an Alonso penalty and attempting to not give a licence for the Las Vegas GP

Asked whether Mohammed Ben Sulayem still had Hamilton's confidence as FIA president, Hamilton said: "(He) never has."

Action off the track is far more exciting than anything happening on track.

[paulrazor]

Action off the track is far more exciting than anything happening on track.

Never a good thing

The sport is a mess right now

[gazzalfc]

Probably the most entertaining thing to happen in the world of F1 this season 

<a href="https://youtube.com/v/xVhRm0eJ4A4?si=Ivil8QAoslE5OMRd" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://youtube.com/v/xVhRm0eJ4A4?si=Ivil8QAoslE5OMRd</a>

[gazzalfc]

Some drama in F3 practice where Nikola Tsolov basically drove Alex Dunne into the wall for weaving in front of him while he was on a faster lap

https://twitter.com/thef1journal_/status/1770943534855524742?t=RfyCaKP22agNOMqs4lgEYQ&s=19

https://twitter.com/markwebbah/status/1770943113160532094?t=B6gwTlth8JNrOT2I6t5BaQ&s=19

Tsolov got a 3 place grid penalty and Dunne a reprimand for not checking his mirrors better

[voodoo ray]

I see sky are promoting their 'new studio' basically meaning they couldn't very arsed to fly a presenting team out to the race.

[Funky_Gibbons]

I remember waking up early on Sunday's to go and watch this race, am I fuck this year.

[Redley]

Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes was 18th fastest, struggling for pace on both qualifying-style runs and race simulations. He said over the radio that "something's wrong".

After the session, he said: "I don't feel great. One of the worst sessions I've had for a long time. In P1, it felt quite good. The car in P1 run one felt the best it's ever felt and then it got worse and worse. We made some big changes into P2 and it was tough.

"After that session, I feel the least confident I have ever felt with this car but there are positives from the P1 run we did."

Team principal Toto Wolff said it had been "not a good day".

At this point it feels like Toto is doing a remarkable job in keeping his position. Fallen behind Ferrari and McLaren, and only above Aston Martin because they've got two class drivers and Aston have Lance Stroll.

[Graeme]

I see sky are promoting their 'new studio' basically meaning they couldn't very arsed to fly a presenting team out to the race.

To be fair, that's as a result of the ridiculous F1 calendar we have today. For a few years now Brundle hasn't attended all races and from this year David Croft isn't attending them all either. Pretty sure Toto misses races now and again too? The teams don't have a choice generally and will always need most of their raceday people trackside, but the demands are getting too great. I'd imagine Sky were facing a situation of potentially losing some of their presenting team in the face of far too much travel, especially for those with families.

[bradders1011]

Williams have given Sargeant's car to Albon. Pretty much a show of 0 faith.

[paulrazor]

Some drama in F3 practice where Nikola Tsolov basically drove Alex Dunne into the wall for weaving in front of him while he was on a faster lap

https://twitter.com/thef1journal_/status/1770943534855524742?t=RfyCaKP22agNOMqs4lgEYQ&s=19

https://twitter.com/markwebbah/status/1770943113160532094?t=B6gwTlth8JNrOT2I6t5BaQ&s=19

Tsolov got a 3 place grid penalty and Dunne a reprimand for not checking his mirrors better

Tsolov should be banned from the race for that, that is just disgraceful

Williams have given Sargeant's car to Albon. Pretty much a show of 0 faith.

Would be fuming if I was Sargeant

[Paul JH]

It's painfully bad now, and has been since Hamilton was swindled out of the title. At least then it went down to the last race.

It's terribly run, veering towards the Superbowl in terms of show and everything outside the actual race being more important to the owners... you can watch the 8 minutes Youtube highlights of a race and even then it's not that interesting.

[gazzalfc]

That is disgusting behaviour by Williams. Firstly for not having a 3rd chassis there ready to go and then binning off Sargeant for actions out of his control.

[bradders1011]

Pathetic, but wouldn't go as far as disgusting. No room for sentiment and logically Albon is just a better bet for nicking points. If he can keep it out of the Albert Park wall for the first time in a while.

I loved Williams, grew up supporting them, but what 'value' do Hedge Fund F1 bring to the sport that Andretti or other potential constructors apparently don't? That story in the week that they're still tracking build and inventory in Excel...

[paulrazor]

Not disputing Albon is better but Sargeant is being punished for a mistake he team mate made

[gazzalfc]

Pathetic, but wouldn't go as far as disgusting. No room for sentiment and logically Albon is just a better bet for nicking points. If he can keep it out of the Albert Park wall for the first time in a while.

If you're driving in F1, even if you are driving a Williams, you're driving to win a race. Even if you have a punchers chance. A Leicester winning the league chance. A Liverpool 3-0 down in a champions league final chance. But if you are not in the car, then you dont have that chance. There could be a massive pile up on lap one and Sargeant could be the one leading and winning the race. Thats the kind of mentality you should have as a driver.

I'm sure they ran the simulators and have had the call from the sponsors etc that Albon has to drive. But if you put your $15m car into the wall during a practice session and your team haven't got a spare there, then you don't treat your number 2 drivers car as the T-car and just say 'oh you sit this one out'. That is disgusting

[Graeme]

Reminds me of Silverstone 2010. Red Bull had two new better spec front wings. Vettel broke his in practice, so for qualifying and the race they took the new one off Webber's car and put it on Vettel's.

[paulrazor]

Reminds me of Silverstone 2010. Red Bull had two new better spec front wings. Vettel broke his in practice, so for qualifying and the race they took the new one off Webber's car and put it on Vettel's.

and Webber won

Not bad for a number 2 driver

[voodoo ray]

To be fair, that's as a result of the ridiculous F1 calendar we have today. For a few years now Brundle hasn't attended all races and from this year David Croft isn't attending them all either. Pretty sure Toto misses races now and again too? The teams don't have a choice generally and will always need most of their raceday people trackside, but the demands are getting too great. I'd imagine Sky were facing a situation of potentially losing some of their presenting team in the face of far too much travel, especially for those with families.

that's why they rotated the presenting crews and the only person who did all the races last season was croft. for them not to send anyone at all in a presenter/pundit category is a new one.


and what williams have done (barring the stupidity in not having a spare chassis) is the right thing to do for the team. albon may chuck it into the gravel at turn 1 but he's by far the better driver and has a much better chance of getting a result.

[voodoo ray]

congratulations to verstappen for another f1 race win tomorrow yawn. I usually record these races and stick them on sunday mornings but I'm not going to bother on this occasion.

[b_joseph]

Well that was a little hectic. Good for Carlos!

Mercedes are done. Haas double points...what a morning

[Redley]

Swapping Sainz for Hamilton is already aging really badly and it’s not even happening for nearly a year

[voodoo ray]

Oh well, maybe I should have recorded that race to watch after all. No matter