F1 - 2024

Started by Brit_in_TX, December 05, 2023, 07:28:28 AM

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MiniDave

#125
Mexico:

Strong rumors going around that Checo is going to announce his retirement this weekend. I expect it will largely be based on how his weekend goes!

A couple new faces on the grid this weekend - Pato O'Ward will be driving Practice 1 for Big Mac, and Drugovich will stand in for Alonso who's not feeling well. Unknown right now whether Drugo will be driving in the race too. (Edit - Alonso ran FP2, so probably not)

Swartzman filled in for Zhou on Kick Sauber's FP1, and Kimi Antonelli did the same for Mecedes in Hamster's car.....so lots o rookies running this weekend.

I've also read that due to Honda's influence Tsunoda will be driving the post season test in the Red Bull, so that will be his chance to show the varsity team what he can do in the big car.....if he does well and Checo retires, his chances of driving for Red Bull next season will have improved dramatically. That will also open up the junior team to take on some new drivers, which is what they claim the Vcarb team is supposed to be doing, not running experienced drivers like Tsunoda (5 years) and Ricciardo (many more years)

Complete failure at retirement - but getting better!

1972 Mini Racing Green
1972 Mini ST hotrod
2017 Audi Allroad - Glacier White - His
2018 Audi Allroad - Floret Silver - Hers

MiniDave

We got to hear another new national anthem this weekend!

Carlos took pole, Max got a tiny bit better start, but Carlos drove deep into turn one and came out ahead. Meanwhile Max and Lando were going at it, Max pushed him off and got a 10 sec penalty and a couple corners later they got into it again, letting Charles get thru into 2nd, and Max gained yet another 10 sec penalty!

Seems there were a lot of guys using Max's "dive the corner and push them off" tactic, I have a feeling there will be a new rule about this kind of driving soon. Everyone points the finger at Max, and he may have been the worst about it, but I saw a lot of that all race and all down the grid.

So, back to the action, the two Ferrari's rolled off into the distance, but they were having to manage their brake temps and as the race wore on, when Lando pitted for hard tires to go the rest of the race his car came back to him and he started closing on Charles. It took him a while but Charles finally made a mistake on his worn tires and Lando was thru for 2nd. He set off for Carlos but he ran out of laps. Charles came in for fresh tires as he had an easy pit stop's distance over the two Mercs and got fastest lap on the last tour.

Piastri started way back since he didn't make it out of Q1, but he had a much better race than Perez who finished well out of the points and Piastri managed to finish 8th.

So Ferrari is now in 2nd in the constructors and can't be ruled out to win it all with 4 races and another Sprint yet to be run. Brazil is next weekend, and it's great seeing four different teams having a shot at the race win this late in the season, and seeing a real fight for the Championships. I don't think anyone can take the driver's from Max, but it's not impossible at this point.
Complete failure at retirement - but getting better!

1972 Mini Racing Green
1972 Mini ST hotrod
2017 Audi Allroad - Glacier White - His
2018 Audi Allroad - Floret Silver - Hers

MiniDave

#127
So, McLaren has been sold to an Abu Dhabi investment firm, including the racing divisions.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a62761943/mclaren-set-to-be-sold-to-abu-dhabi-based-investment-firm-cyvn-holdings/

Oh and good news for Lando, Max will have a grid penalty in Brazil due to getting a new motor. Apparently the one in the car in Mexico was shit (worn out, at the end of its useful life and had "issues" like a leaking intake) and that's why his race was also shit.
Complete failure at retirement - but getting better!

1972 Mini Racing Green
1972 Mini ST hotrod
2017 Audi Allroad - Glacier White - His
2018 Audi Allroad - Floret Silver - Hers

Brit_in_TX

Looks like Max will be champion this year.  He has become one of the true greats of the sport.  In Brazil he showed his level when he drove at a level above everyone else in the wet.

Sauber have picked a random rookie for next year to race in their final season before they become Audi.  So both of their current drivers are out of F1 next year, unless something out of left field happens.

MiniDave

#129
Max has pretty much won it all right, and his race in Brazil was both spectacular and due to some good fortune with timing of the safety car - but either way it's been a hell of a season for him and the Red Bull teams. I think the constructors is still a three way race....

I think it's time for a driver shake up......some of these rookies have shown some real talent, and I think it will be interesting to see some new faces on the grid. It's not exactly fair what's happened to some of them - like Drugovich - but that's racing.

I wonder just how long daddy bigbux can justify having sonny boy in the Aston? He spent a ton of money to build a good team, top notch facilities and hired the best race car designer out there - having a driver who's several steps below the others just can't be justified in my mind, but maybe there's something there we just haven't seen yet?

I'm wondering if the Audi F1 project will be stillborn, and Sauber will become what it's mostly been, a backmarker team. Good to get some rookies on track and experienced, but that's about it.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/qatar-poised-for-buy-in-of-audis-f1-team/10671928/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGgjYVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYiwy3ioVDPUrcJOpo4UCV9PrINScdtZWPZ65jUWAguRQKUiI7OU7XQeRw_aem_r7ZV4EwwhDNRmTl0kMs7Ng
Complete failure at retirement - but getting better!

1972 Mini Racing Green
1972 Mini ST hotrod
2017 Audi Allroad - Glacier White - His
2018 Audi Allroad - Floret Silver - Hers

MiniDave

Perez stays at Red Bull in 2025 with a lucrative sponsorship deal:
– According to Spanish outlet MARCA, Sergio Perez is set to remain as Max Verstappen's teammate at Red Bull Racing for the 2025 F1 season. Despite recent performance struggles, Perez has reportedly secured a new, lucrative sponsorship deal, which will support his place in the team.
"It is a kind of agreement that precedes a production process and has received all the approvals from the economic team, after approval by [Christian] Horner."
– Perez is heavily backed by sponsors from Mexico, including companies associated with billionaire Carlos Slim, such as Claro, Telcel, and Infinitum. These partnerships cover his salary and contribute an estimated $30 million annually to Red Bull.
MARCA reports, "Those who consider him written off will have to wait a little longer, as he has a contract through 2025."
– If Perez stays, it could mean Yuki Tsunoda will remain at Visa Cash App RB for 2025, with Liam Lawson likely favored as his teammate. However, unlike Perez, neither Tsunoda nor Lawson brings substantial sponsorship backing, which could influence Red Bull's final decision.

As always.....it all comes down to the money  $$$$$$$
Complete failure at retirement - but getting better!

1972 Mini Racing Green
1972 Mini ST hotrod
2017 Audi Allroad - Glacier White - His
2018 Audi Allroad - Floret Silver - Hers