2023 Formula 1 Season thread

[Glideslope]

LOL Max never lost his form. Did you seriously

Max is taking this weekend personal. He has more in the tank for Q3 and Race Pace. Sergio understeering all of P2. Odd.

McLaren and Ferrari looked good in P2. Mercedes is missing Toto or something. Looked terrible on softs in P2. George got the W14 to 5th with pure muscle.

Their race pace will probably be better as this is usually the case. Lewis looking lost setting up his W14. P14. George deserves #1 status at Mercedes.

 

[headlessmike]

LOL Max never lost his form. Did you seriously

Nobody doubts Max's capabilities. But it's safe to say that Red Bull's found its form again, and he is part of the team.

 

[CWallace]

Red Bull evidently went with a single setup for both Singapore and Suzuka (my guess is due to the events being back-to-back with a long transit between them) and that setup favored Suzuka. I believe the Red Bull is also using new aero parts that were on the car in Singapore for FP1, but then removed when the car's setup was so off.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Red Bull evidently went with a single setup for both Singapore and Suzuka (my guess is due to the events being back-to-back with a long transit between them) and that setup favored Suzuka. I believe the Red Bull is also using new aero parts that were on the car in Singapore for FP1, but then removed when the car's setup was so off.

To be honest they are so far ahead in the WC, they could skip the rest of the season and invest the funds into 2024’s car.

 

[BenTrovato]

Red Bull evidently went with a single setup for both Singapore and Suzuka (my guess is due to the events being back-to-back with a long transit between them) and that setup favored Suzuka. I believe the Red Bull is also using new aero parts that were on the car in Singapore for FP1, but then removed when the car's setup was so off.

Makes sense. After watching FP2, my guess is Max gets back to pole + the win. Any thoughts why Perez was so far off the pace though? Is there a chance both Ferrari's and McLaren's finish in front of Sergio or was he just doing race runs?

Trying to make my predictions 😂 .. high tyre deg here, Suzuka being similar to Silverstone, I really want to put Perez to finish second where I'm guessing that's where he would have finished at Silverstone if he didn't start so far down the field. McLaren were really strong there though and now with resurgent Ferrari, not really sure how the top 5 will look.

 

[CWallace]

Could be Sergio doing longer runs or, honestly, it could just be Sergio being Sergio.

 

[Glideslope]

Makes sense. After watching FP2, my guess is Max gets back to pole + the win. Any thoughts why Perez was so far off the pace though? Is there a chance both Ferrari's and McLaren's finish in front of Sergio or was he just doing race runs?

Trying to make my predictions 😂 .. high tyre deg here, Suzuka being similar to Silverstone, I really want to put Perez to finish second where I'm guessing that's where he would have finished at Silverstone if he didn't start so far down the field. McLaren were really strong there though and now with resurgent Ferrari, not really sure how the top 5 will look.

Just MO. I think Sergio has a confidence problem right now. He is hesitant to push to the edge. Obviously Marko the idiot does not help such things, (I know. It's always like this to drive for RBR, but Marko is out of control.) It's going to be difficult for him to regain the confidence to push to the edge every lap again.

Even taking into account the degree the RB19 is engineered toward Max's driving Perez should be able to do better. Sergio needs a "Maverick Moment" where he throws Marko's Tags off the back of the Flattop.

 

[CWallace]

Watching P3 and I love the tilting in-car camera on Lewis' machine. Really emphasizes the camber changes. His new helmet also is very Daft Punk - especially the one with the embedded LED light bar.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Nobody doubts Max's capabilities. But it's safe to say that Red Bull's found its form again, and he is part of the team.

Agreed, Red Bull messed up, but that wasn't what was said. And it was a pretty amazing drive despite the various incidents.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Just MO. I think Sergio has a confidence problem right now. He is hesitant to push to the edge. Obviously Marko the idiot does not help such things, (I know. It's always like this to drive for RBR, but Marko is out of control.) It's going to be difficult for him to regain the confidence to push to the edge every lap again.

Even taking into account the degree the RB19 is engineered toward Max's driving Perez should be able to do better. Sergio needs a "Maverick Moment" where he throws Marko's Tags off the back of the Flattop.

Then again, Sergio is standing in 2nd place. Although fair enough on Lewis, he is slowly but steadily getting there.

Personally, I think someone like a Marko, and others like him are good. I mean, this is the top of the game, once has to want to win. No point in all pleases and thank you, brutal honesty is required. It is not like kindergarten where participation is celebrated, winning is the game. Currently, he won't win from Max unless Max has an incident, but there is no shame in that, nobody else will either. But things will change, and the gap from second place to third is not big enough, and there should be way more points there.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Max had an excellent qualifying. Biggest pole margin since Michael Schumacher. Huge effort and brilliant driving.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

To be honest they are so far ahead in the WC, they could skip the rest of the season and invest the funds into 2024’s car.

I think we could be back to talking more about the fight for second or third place tomorrow, but it’s awesome to see the McLarens in the top 3 on what is a fast flowing circuit. Bodes well even if it is a bit late in the season. Hopefully Lando jumps Piastri and something happens to put him in contention for his first win. I always hope but it’s a long stretch I think lol. Not a lot of overtaking opportunities at Suzuka but it’s a nice circuit to watch for onboards at least.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I think we could be back to talking more about the fight for second or third place tomorrow, but it’s awesome to see the McLarens in the top 3 on what is a fast flowing circuit. Bodes well even if it is a bit late in the season. Hopefully Lando jumps Piastri and something happens to put him in contention for his first win. I always hope but it’s a long stretch I think lol. Not a lot of overtaking opportunities at Suzuka but it’s a nice circuit to watch for onboards at least.

Max was so far ahead in qualifying it’s so one sided. As you say tomorrow he’ll just drive off, break the 1 second gap before DRS is enabled and away he’ll go.
Especially if 2nd and 3rd are fighting. Great to see McLaren up there. Just hope they can have a phenomenal winter and make massive progress for 2024.

 

[Crazy Badger]

I've been getting up at 6am to watch the Japanese GP since the days of Senna and Prost in Marlboro McLarens taking each other out at the first corner. I just don't think I can be bothered tomorrow to watch a Red Bull race off into the distance and be half a lap ahead of everyone else by the end. Max is a good driver (still not in the great category yet) with a car almost in its own formula, but it has to be one of the dullest seasons for a very long time. I'll get a few extra hours sleep and maybe watch the highlights.

 

[CWallace]

Max was pulling a full G more than anyone else through 130R. 🤣

 

[Glideslope]

Watching P3 and I love the tilting in-car camera on Lewis' machine. Really emphasizes the camber changes. His new helmet also is very Daft Punk - especially the one with the embedded LED light bar.

Agreed. Best in car camera setup I've seen to date.

 

[Glideslope]

Max had an excellent qualifying. Biggest pole margin since Michael Schumacher. Huge effort and brilliant driving.

It was blistering. I thought 129.2-3 would be it, but 128.778 was impressive. The last two flying laps of Q3 were wild. I thought Leclerc was going to take it with his 119.248 then Max simply asks the Honda for more power and 128.778.

AMR will be formidable in 2026 if they get the chassis right with Honda Power in back. My Honda Bias is hard to hold back.

 

[Glideslope]

Then again, Sergio is standing in 2nd place. Although fair enough on Lewis, he is slowly but steadily getting there.

Personally, I think someone like a Marko, and others like him are good. I mean, this is the top of the game, once has to want to win. No point in all pleases and thank you, brutal honesty is required. It is not like kindergarten where participation is celebrated, winning is the game. Currently, he won't win from Max unless Max has an incident, but there is no shame in that, nobody else will either. But things will change, and the gap from second place to third is not big enough, and there should be way more points there.

Going to have to respectfully disagree with you on Marko. In 2023 there is no room for Racist Comments like the one made towards Sergio. Marko need to engage his brain before speaking.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Going to have to respectfully disagree with you on Marko. In 2023 there is no room for Racist Comments like the one made towards Sergio. Marko need to engage his brain before speaking.

Couldn’t agree more. People bringing race into the equation as to who is a better driver is not only disrespectful but shows how out of step with the world Marko is.
The fact that he wasn’t punished in some way says a lot.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Going to have to respectfully disagree with you on Marko. In 2023 there is no room for Racist Comments like the one made towards Sergio. Marko need to engage his brain before speaking.

Wasn't racist. It was a stereotype. Marko apologized, Sergio accepted and went one further by exclaiming that he knew what he meant. A few are making a big deal about including Lewis with his comments, whilst he wasn't even involved. Anyway my point was more toward how Marko is when someone, in this case Sergio, isn't performing. He doesn't take prisoner, and won't keep quiet. I know there is quite a generation that like to be wrapped in cuddly terms and cotton wool, but come on when you are the top ten of the best (and Sergio falls in that category) there is not room for that.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Couldn’t agree more. People bringing race into the equation as to who is a better driver is not only disrespectful but shows how out of step with the world Marko is.
The fact that he wasn’t punished in some way says a lot.

Or it says a lot that it wasn't actually racist? A stereo type yes, was it appropriate no, should a big deal made about it; well it seems that a lot of people not involved in it think so. I wonder what their motives are...

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Couldn’t agree more. People bringing race into the equation as to who is a better driver is not only disrespectful but shows how out of step with the world Marko is.
The fact that he wasn’t punished in some way says a lot.

I’m sure when Sergio doesn’t have his drive at stake in a few years time, we’ll hear his true opinion on Marko. His PR side accepting the apology like he has so many times when he’s been wronged. The Helmet isn’t a particularly nice chap by all accounts and perhaps has the ‘Ross Brawn Effect’ in teams where the high brass like him and everybody else either fears him or thinks he’s a bit of a div. Sergio probably laughed at the fact Marko has no idea where Mexico is though, so at least there was something amusing in his comments .

 

[CWallace]

Stereotypes are often the foundation that racism is built upon. Neither has a place in Formula One (nor anywhere else).

As to why Lewis is making a "big deal" about it, I guess you are not familiar with all the s**t heaped at him for not being a Caucasian.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Stereotypes are often the foundation that racism is built upon. Neither has a place in Formula One (nor anywhere else).

As to why Lewis is making a "big deal" about it, I guess you are not familiar with all the s**t heaped at him for not being a Caucasian.

You can also be subjected to stereotypes when Caucasian. And ignorance. Still makes me smile when people say I speak good English for a foreigner, or a certain demographic that thinks the Netherlands is the capital of Denmark. It has nothing to do with racism, though, so let's not make it about the colour of someone's skin.

Marko demonstrated ignorance, lack of geographic knowledge, and basically made himself look very foolish. But it wasn't racism, if it were, it would have gone further with consequences involved as there is indeed no place for it anywhere.

 

[Glideslope]

You can also be subjected to stereotypes when Caucasian. And ignorance. Still makes me smile when people say I speak good English for a foreigner, or a certain demographic that thinks the Netherlands is the capital of Denmark. It has nothing to do with racism, though, so let's not make it about the colour of someone's skin.

Marko demonstrated ignorance, lack of geographic knowledge, and basically made himself look very foolish. But it wasn't racism, if it were, it would have gone further with consequences involved as there is indeed no place for it anywhere.

With respect,

He was issued a written reprimand from the FIA and F1 for the comment. He wasn't in Singapore and I have not seen him in Japan yet, so perhaps some internal team image washing. He needs it.