2023 Formula 1 Season thread

[The-Real-Deal82]

Is that it!!! Looks like they made a circuit round Milton Keynes where most of them are! If you've been there you'll now it has some very square layouts. 11 corners and some of those long sweeping ones. How utterly boring.

Yeah Milton Keynes is perhaps one of the dullest looking places in the UK with its grid system, somewhere I used to love going to as a kid because of the shopping centre there. The place always makes me think of Cliff Richard roller skating around the shopping centre and under passes in the ‘Wired for Sound’ music video, not the coolest thing to think of but very apt for MK.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Yeah Milton Keynes is perhaps one of the dullest looking places in the UK with its grid system, somewhere I used to love going to as a kid because of the shopping centre there. The place always makes me think of Cliff Richard roller skating around the shopping centre and under passes in the ‘Wired for Sound’ music video, not the coolest thing to think of but very apt for MK.

Please hand in your cool badge as you leave…..

 

[Don Quixote]

If you flip it on the X-axis it looks like a pig.

I'm sure it is...

 

[Abdichoudxyz]

I've just seen a video of Fartin Trundle's grid walk thing where he harasses celebs; this was the one with 'Machine Gun Kelly'. Apparently much has been made of MGK's lack of respect for Fartin, because he walked off. But my take on it was that Fartin had nothing to actually say to MGK, who politely tried to go along with things anyway, and even attempted a bit of humour by suggesting they do an air guitar/piano thing for the viewers. Fartin was clearly out of his depth and refused, when his actual job is to entertain. Trundle clearly didn't know who MGK is (I mean, I don't, but it isn't my job to interview celebs from popular culture). Said something quite dismissive like 'good luck with it, whatever you do'. Eh?? Now, MGK might be the biggest ****** to walk the earth, I don't know, but if you're going to stick a microphone into the faces of invited guests, you should be a little more respectful (and at least know who they are!). Trundle's job basically relies on those celebs walking about, and tbh he's really not very good at it. Time to retire him tbh. Get someone with some actual personality and ability to talk to other human beings to do the job. He was mediocre as a driver, and he's much worse as a presenter. I don't blame MGK for walking off; he'd clearly realised Trundle was boring so decided to cut his losses.

 

[CWallace]

IMO, a good overview of this weekend's upcoming race: why it is happening and how it could influence future new Grands Prix.

 

[CWallace]

GM has formally registered as an F1 Power Unit manufacturer which means that while the Andretti Cadillac F1 entry would start with a customer engine (believed to be Renault), in 2028 they would switch to a factory GM engine.

This arguably makes it harder for FOM to reject Andretti's bid as one of their goals with the 2026 engine regulations was to increase the number of factory entrants. Adding GM as an official PU manufacturer arguably adds more "value" to F1 then teams like Williams, HAAS and Alpha Tauri do - especially the latter two who are effectively just "junior teams" to Ferrari and Red Bull running the near-minimum level of self-sourced components they have to and sourcing everything else from their "big brothers".

 

[Glideslope]

Track Temp at 10pm Las Vegas time now predicted to be 37-38F. Is there precedent for a F1 Race in these temps recorded? Will the mechanical systems (Not tires) be able to build and retain temperatures?

 

[Akrapovic]

Coldest air temp recorded at a GP was 1978 - Montreal. 5C was the actual, but the feels like was a lot lower, with a bitter wind and light snow in the air.

 

[headlessmike]

The 2018 pre-season testing in Barcelona saw low temperatures too. They even had snow during that week. That’s probably the closest thing the teams have experienced with modern cars.

 

[CWallace]

If you are a Washington Post subscriber (as I am), they have a really cool article about the Williams steering wheel and what all the buttons and knobs do.

Article is titled "An F1 racecar’s intimidating steering wheel, explained"

 

[Glideslope]

Neat shot of The Sphere next to the Speed Skating Track.

 

[Pezimak]

Max chasing the racing, Lewis chasing the money? Half A BILLION STERLING! Ridiculous all for show:

“Max Verstappen has caused major embarrassment for Formula One on the eve of its £500 million Las Vegas Grand Prix, describing it as “99 per cent show and one per cent sporting event” and admitting he was not a fan of the decision to race in the city.

But rival Lewis Hamilton defended the move, saying F1 was a “business ultimately” and describing Vegas as an “iconic” venue.

The two world champions could not have offered more contrasting opinions on the eve of what has been billed as the biggest race in F1 history – albeit one which has split fans down the middle as regards the sport’s direction of travel.”

Article is here but may be behind a paywall:

Max Verstappen leads driver anger at Las Vegas Grand Prix: ‘We look like clowns’

Triple world champion says event is ‘99 per cent show and one per cent sport’, but Lewis Hamilton defends return to ‘iconic’ venue

www.telegraph.co.uk

The ticket prices are disgusting too, really bad. I don’t think this will promote the sport at all, albeit be in the US but no where else, it’ll just remove it from the normal person and fan who doesn’t had a couple of grand per ticket spare. Something other races and countries do appreciate and recognise and price to suite.

 

[Pezimak]

Neat shot of The Sphere next to the Speed Skating Track.



View attachment 2312881

Sure it won’t distract the driver… much… I hope they turn it off for the race. Drivers on roads a distance away have even complained about how distracting that thing it, and they plan on building one in London and other places, oh goody.

 

[Pezimak]

Turnout will be interesting, just read apparently tickets aren’t selling, not surprising given the extreme prices. I’ll watch the race but be in a grump about it all weekend lol.

 

[Pezimak]

This is how the drivers were presented, I’m not surprised Max wasn’t happy, it’s just utterly ludicrous showbiz, not F1, they are athletes not toys and eye candy grrr

 

[Pezimak]

Just gets worst, the problems are never ending for this race, qualifying STARTS at MIDNIGHT!! Which means low low low track temps and teams are very worried they won’t warm the tyres up properly on the strict qualy rules in time. The race starts at 10PM. Apparently they are doing this because thru want all the racing to be under the ‘Las Vegas Glow’…. It’s not a race it’s a total farce for entertainment only, it’ll be entertaining alright they’ll be locking the front wheels up constantly, maybe that’s why the track is almost a square?

Im sure the new gen Netflix fanbase will just LOVE this race….

 

[Glideslope]

Sure it won’t distract the driver… much… I hope they turn it off for the race. Drivers on roads a distance away have even complained about how distracting that thing it, and they plan on building one in London and other places, oh goody.

Yes, my thoughts exactly. I'm thinking "That can't be on during the skid fest." Never know in Vegas. They will literally do anything for revenue. One of the most Politically Corrupt Cities in the US, and yes I've been there a few times. I will admit it was more fun and less worrisome back in 1980-1993 when I would be at Nellis from time to time.

Max chasing the racing, Lewis chasing the money? Half A BILLION STERLING! Ridiculous all for show:

“Max Verstappen has caused major embarrassment for Formula One on the eve of its £500 million Las Vegas Grand Prix, describing it as “99 per cent show and one per cent sporting event” and admitting he was not a fan of the decision to race in the city.

But rival Lewis Hamilton defended the move, saying F1 was a “business ultimately” and describing Vegas as an “iconic” venue.

The two world champions could not have offered more contrasting opinions on the eve of what has been billed as the biggest race in F1 history – albeit one which has split fans down the middle as regards the sport’s direction of travel.”

Article is here but may be behind a paywall:

Max Verstappen leads driver anger at Las Vegas Grand Prix: ‘We look like clowns’

Triple world champion says event is ‘99 per cent show and one per cent sport’, but Lewis Hamilton defends return to ‘iconic’ venue

www.telegraph.co.uk

The ticket prices are disgusting too, really bad. I don’t think this will promote the sport at all, albeit be in the US but no where else, it’ll just remove it from the normal person and fan who doesn’t had a couple of grand per ticket spare. Something other races and countries do appreciate and recognise and price to suite.

They both have valid points. IMO, it's simply about what side of the Track does one stand on. I'm with Max 100% on this, but respect Lewis' point of view as well given his current position.......

 

[Glideslope]

Turnout will be interesting, just read apparently tickets aren’t selling, not surprising given the extreme prices. I’ll watch the race but be in a grump about it all weekend lol.

Article in CNN Business yesterday on the plummeting ticket prices to try and sell more. True F1 aficionados see it for what it is. A One Show Pony.

 

[Pezimak]

Article in CNN Business yesterday on the plummeting ticket prices to try and sell more. True F1 aficionados see it for what it is. A One Show Pony.

I hope they generate enough future revenue from it to warrant the 500 million its cost the F1 to put on, apparently no sponsors are paying that 500 mil, it’s all out of the F1 pocket.

But I agree it’ll be a one trick pony, but I think the teams will mostly just be like, go there do our thing and leave and move on. And try to forget it probably lol. Toto has banned all team members from gambling haha. I saw a promo photo of Lando, in his racing overalls, playing roulette 😂🤣😂🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️.

As you said they’ll do anything to generate money.

I just hope qualy goes alright, as it’d going to be so cold at midnight, they will allow an extra lap to warm the tyres, which as most have said will just cause utter chaos then.. and thru hope the fronts don’t lock up in that cold.

But the locals have spoken, they don’t want it, and all the casino staff etc have demanded more pay due to all the extra workload they have to do, can‘t blame them as I wouldn’t call mid November peak season in Vegas?

 

[seoho_ss]

The season is coming to an end, and the facts tell us that Red Bull is still far ahead! Max Verstappen rides the dust.

 

[headlessmike]

Max chasing the racing, Lewis chasing the money?

Lewis just knows how things work in F1 in this case. It's only about the money for the organizers.

 

[Glideslope]

The season is coming to an end, and the facts tell us that Red Bull is still far ahead! Max Verstappen rides the dust.

Already allot of detail leaking on the RB20. Looking forward to what Adrain and his Team create as an “evolution” of the RB19.

Other teams should be nervous. If it’s like this year I’ll wager the FIA try’s to castrate the RB20.

 

[Pezimak]

Lewis just knows how things work in F1 in this case. It's only about the money for the organizers.

Yeah but they didn't join the sport for that (ignoring their multi million wage packets of course), and we don't watch it for that. Thing is so many tracks in America could have been used. But yeah this weekend is purely about the money.
Who knows maybe it'll be an exciting track? Guess we'll see.

Another point that has been raised is the fact from here next weekend is in a country that is 11 times zones away from Vegas! They all have to cope with jet lag but yeah by the last race they'll all be well and truly knackered I imagine.

 

[Pezimak]

Already allot of detail leaking on the RB20. Looking forward to what Adrain and his Team create as an “evolution” of the RB19.

Other teams should be nervous. If it’s like this year I’ll wager the FIA try’s to castrate the RB20.

Yeah will be interesting, but Max isn't wining by 30 seconds over the last few races so the gap is closing slowly. Fingers crossed for proper close racing at the front next year.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Max chasing the racing, Lewis chasing the money? Half A BILLION STERLING!

Lewis is just towing the brand line like every other driver who also claims Las Vegas will be a great event. For once I agree with Max. Alonso also thinks it’ll be amazing and to be honest I think some drivers are just enjoying the party of the event. Most of the drivers seem to be endorsing it across their Instagram.

I’ve given up with this season now anyway and really don’t care who wins the remaining races if I’m honest.