2023 Formula 1 Season thread

[Glideslope]

P1 for Max. I predict very little screen time for him tomorrow. He’ll just drive off.
Not a big fan of all the deleted lap times. Doesn’t make for a good spectacle.

I just hope 2024 is a better season. This one has been a foregone conclusion for months.
Trying to talk up all the who finishes where is a joke. Who cares?

I think we all wish for a competitive season where someone isn't always driving off every race, but it's not a joke, nor is it from a lack of giving 100% every week. As Cyb3 mentioned earlier Max's consistency has been his Mjollnir all season.
Even a great driver can't have that without his Team/Car being not only consistent, but rock solid reliable.

Other teams had opportunities to win a race. They simply could not due to the RB19 being reliable and consistent. Not an easy task in the Hybrid Era.

Let's just be honest about things. Max and RBR worked their ass off this season. They just made it look easy. Other teams will need to not only step up their packages for 24, but also their consistency. Same for the drivers. Otherwise it could be 2023 all over next year. Hopefully they will be able to rise to RBR levels of performance. Everyone enjoys competition from the front to the back of the field.

 

[JustinePaula]

F1 is a joke, a meme, worse than 1980's WWF with Hulk and the Million Dollar Man.. F1 is so fake and forgetful.. I wonder how many true fans are left.. The season is way too long, the points system is insane, it is harder to not get points, than get points..

I remember when I think it was Prost having a go at Bernie about when they discussed raising the points from 1st to 6th, to 10th. Prost was livid, said it was a bad idea.. Now we have sprints, points for fastest lap, why no points for fastest pit stop, most laps led? Fasted car rebuild, fewest penalty points...

All Liberty are doing is putting lipstick on pre bacon, and sorry but no amount of lipstick is going to change it is still pre-bacon.. A pig is a pig, no matter what brand of lipstick used..

 

[Apple fanboy]

I think we all wish for a competitive season where someone isn't always driving off every race, but it's not a joke, nor is it from a lack of giving 100% every week. As Cyb3 mentioned earlier Max's consistency has been his Mjollnir all season.
Even a great driver can't have that without his Team/Car being not only consistent, but rock solid reliable.

Other teams had opportunities to win a race. They simply could not due to the RB19 being reliable and consistent. Not an easy task in the Hybrid Era.

Let's just be honest about things. Max and RBR worked their ass off this season. They just made it look easy. Other teams will need to not only step up their packages for 24, but also their consistency. Same for the drivers. Otherwise it could be 2023 all over next year. Hopefully they will be able to rise to RBR levels of performance. Everyone enjoys competition from the front to the back of the field.

I’m not knocking Max or RB. He is a great driver and it’s a great car. But the fact that they have won so many races by such a large margin is not good for the sport.
At this point the cars are all so reliable that there is very few DNF’s. So once he gets out in front by a couple of seconds you know the result.
RB also make better pit stops and strategy calls than many of their rivals.
Of course that is somewhat easier to do when you are dominating.
When you know you can’t compete in a straight fight you have to try an alternative strategy. One stop when everyone else is doing two. Start on hards when everyone else is on mediums. Generally those don’t work out 90% of the time.
I really hope 2024 is better. But with very few rule changes I’m not holding my breath.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

F1 is a joke, a meme, worse than 1980's WWF with Hulk and the Million Dollar Man.. F1 is so fake and forgetful.. I wonder how many true fans are left.. The season is way too long, the points system is insane, it is harder to not get points, than get points..

I remember when I think it was Prost having a go at Bernie about when they discussed raising the points from 1st to 6th, to 10th. Prost was livid, said it was a bad idea.. Now we have sprints, points for fastest lap, why no points for fastest pit stop, most laps led? Fasted car rebuild, fewest penalty points...

All Liberty are doing is putting lipstick on pre bacon, and sorry but no amount of lipstick is going to change it is still pre-bacon.. A pig is a pig, no matter what brand of lipstick used..

Let’s bring in points for best dressed 😇

 

[cyb3rdud3]

I’m not knocking Max or RB. He is a great driver and it’s a great car. But the fact that they have won so many races by such a large margin is not good for the sport.
At this point the cars are all so reliable that there is very few DNF’s. So once he gets out in front by a couple of seconds you know the result.
RB also make better pit stops and strategy calls than many of their rivals.
Of course that is somewhat easier to do when you are dominating.
When you know you can’t compete in a straight fight you have to try an alternative strategy. One stop when everyone else is doing two. Start on hards when everyone else is on mediums. Generally those don’t work out 90% of the time.
I really hope 2024 is better. But with very few rule changes I’m not holding my breath.

Well, often following regulation changes the teams catch up and ultimately arrive at a similar point. RBR not only had a great car, but also got the rest of their act together. You can see other teams getting closer. What would be an amazing surprise is to see RBR step it up another level next season; or perhaps they’ve reached the plateau already of what can be done with this generation regulations and thus car.

But, and this is the big bit. They don’t just have undeniably a very good car. They also have one of the best and most serious, focussed and dedicated drivers who manages to put down a near flawless drive race after race. Look at him, even now when he’s got the championship in the bag, he is still pushing for excellence from the car, getting the time and data on the track, and doing so with unparalleled passion.

That is the reason why they are so far ahead with Max. And that is possible for others as well, they need to display that hunger, every single race and in between races.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I’m not knocking Max or RB. He is a great driver and it’s a great car. But the fact that they have won so many races by such a large margin is not good for the sport.
At this point the cars are all so reliable that there is very few DNF’s. So once he gets out in front by a couple of seconds you know the result.
RB also make better pit stops and strategy calls than many of their rivals.
Of course that is somewhat easier to do when you are dominating.
When you know you can’t compete in a straight fight you have to try an alternative strategy. One stop when everyone else is doing two. Start on hards when everyone else is on mediums. Generally those don’t work out 90% of the time.
I really hope 2024 is better. But with very few rule changes I’m not holding my breath.

There’s huge pressure on the other teams to deliver a car capable of matching Red Bull, that’s the only missing element at the moment. They have been getting closer and that 1.5 seconds a lap has been reduced somewhat, but not quite enough. Red Bull have had this advantage for 2 years now and I just hope Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari have a much closer car next season. We know the Mercedes car has been completely re-designed/design directed by James Allison who is one of the best on the grid and responsible for so many championships, so at least they have some hope. We won’t have any clue though for another 4 months annoyingly.

Don’t really care who wins in Abu Dhabi as it was the same in Vegas. The season is over, second in the constructors championship is of no interest to me and Abu Dhabi is usually a dull race, controversies aside.

 

[pachyderm]

F1 is a joke, a meme, worse than 1980's WWF with Hulk and the Million Dollar Man.. F1 is so fake and forgetful.. I wonder how many true fans are left.. The season is way too long, the points system is insane, it is harder to not get points, than get points..

I remember when I think it was Prost having a go at Bernie about when they discussed raising the points from 1st to 6th, to 10th. Prost was livid, said it was a bad idea.. Now we have sprints, points for fastest lap, why no points for fastest pit stop, most laps led? Fasted car rebuild, fewest penalty points...

All Liberty are doing is putting lipstick on pre bacon, and sorry but no amount of lipstick is going to change it is still pre-bacon.. A pig is a pig, no matter what brand of lipstick used..

I don't watch wrestling but I'll agree...

 

[ericwn]

It really is a good demonstration on how consistent Max has been this season yet again. It’s just all about the racing no ifs and buts

Yup and consistently ahead and too far away for a sporty competition. A yawn fest except for the RB fan boys and the Dutch viewers.

 

[Glideslope]

F1 is a joke, a meme, worse than 1980's WWF with Hulk and the Million Dollar Man.. F1 is so fake and forgetful.. I wonder how many true fans are left.. The season is way too long, the points system is insane, it is harder to not get points, than get points..

I remember when I think it was Prost having a go at Bernie about when they discussed raising the points from 1st to 6th, to 10th. Prost was livid, said it was a bad idea.. Now we have sprints, points for fastest lap, why no points for fastest pit stop, most laps led? Fasted car rebuild, fewest penalty points...

All Liberty are doing is putting lipstick on pre bacon, and sorry but no amount of lipstick is going to change it is still pre-bacon.. A pig is a pig, no matter what brand of lipstick used..

I agree on your Liberty comment. I knew this was how things would end up as soon as the deal was closed. Didn’t agree then, certainly don’t agree now.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Yup and consistently ahead and too far away for a sporty competition.

Yup the others need to do better. Both the teams and the drivers. 👍

A yawn fest except for the RB fan boys and the Dutch viewers.

Plenty of other excitement there. The battle for manufacturers second (lots of money at stake) is pretty exciting.

True F1 fans can appreciate it all. Don’t find it a yawn at all. Just a shame we done get to see Verstappen as much.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Oh this is crazy. Ferarri needs Perez to clear Russel by 5s to become second in the manufacturers. Come on Perez wake up or torpedo into Russel 🤣

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Awesome, le Clerc wanting to let Perez through and give him a tow. Love it. Great race.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Shame it didn’t work. I’ve got great hopes for next year. Top three will be RBR, McLaren and Ferrari I think.

 

[Glideslope]

90 Days to Pre Season Testing.
97 Days till Bahrain.

Wishing everyone in here a Safe Off Season.

 

[ericwn]

Yup the others need to do better. Both the teams and the drivers.

Plenty of other excitement there. The battle for manufacturers second (lots of money at stake) is pretty exciting.

True F1 fans can appreciate it all. Don’t find it a yawn at all. Just a shame we done get to see Verstappen as much.

Ah now we’re already throwing the trueness out there when opinions don’t align.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

90 Days to Pre Season Testing.
97 Days till Bahrain.

Wishing everyone in here a Safe Off Season.

Yeah thank goodness the season is over. Onwards to 2024 and let’s raise a glass to good racing to come. Let’s hope we see the greats racing each other next year for something other than a podium

 

[JustinePaula]

Not a great season, ruined by non events, teams that have given up for 2022-2025... You could see in Vegas just how not interested Toto was in 2023-2024-2025 seasons.. He wants the new regs now, the car is donkey, with shin splints, I wonder how long it will take for Lewis to be WWC, World Whinger Champion.. I say, 2 hours into Day 1 of testing..

 

[zagato27]

F1 Kids? Thought I'd tuned in to Nikelodeon. Not a fan.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Ah now we’re already throwing the trueness out there when opinions don’t align.

Not really, I mean there are many exciting events happening beside just the winner. It was a fun and exciting with some good racing and overtaking going on at this track. But hey, if you find it a yawn fest just because Max/Red Bull wins, that is your prerogative. Lots of racing going on for the fans.

 

[ericwn]

Not really, I mean there are many exciting events happening beside just the winner. It was a fun and exciting with some good racing and overtaking going on at this track. But hey, if you find it a yawn fest just because Max/Red Bull wins, that is your prerogative. Lots of racing going on for the fans.

Yup like the vast majority of the fans I’m in the for the drivers title and that was a yawn fest. Nothing came close. Even more boring than the dominant Schumi years and the Vettel and Lewis periods, but maybe just because one has experienced them at the time as well. But having the same consistent winner across the entire season is an easy reason why this feels stale.

Winner takes it all, but hey, if you enjoy it, why not.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I found a few parts of the season entertaining but it was dull on the whole for me. A single driver winning 19 of the 22 rounds is an absolute whitewash.

I don’t mind drivers winning multiple championships as long as it’s a challenge and there are challenges for actual victories. We didn’t have that this season and a lot of us were trying to find entertainment in challenges for podiums where the only positions up for grabs were second. Credit to Red Bull and Max for finding the groove and managing the season with ease, but please can we have some racing next year! There are too many excellent drivers on the grid for them to be held away from wins because their teams haven’t produced fast enough cars. I feel like we are being robbed somewhat. Let’s see Aston Martin, Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari challenging up front in a few months. The sport needs it and I’d imagine the Creative Director at Drive To Survive does too as their imagination will have to work overtime to make this season seem exciting! Lol.

I’m sure Max wants this as much as us as he has barely been tested this year apart from working back through the field in a car that is 1.5 seconds a lap quicker. Make him work for his titles.

 

[Abdichoudxyz]

I've really enjoyed this season. Because I feel I've witnessed probably the greatest ever performance over a season by any driver. Ok so the Red Bull was the best car, but Max won 19 out of 22 races. NINETEEN. That's an 86% win rate. He led 75% of all laps this season. His winning points margin of 290 was more than Perez scored all season (285). Most consecutive wins from pole position. Most consecutive wins in a season. Most podiums in a season. Etc etc etc. Absolutely phenomenal.

I will point out that I'm not a Max Verstappen 'fanboi', or even a Red Bull fan. I do however appreciate supreme talent like we've seen demonstrated this season, from Max and the team. And I'm British, not Dutch. I'm not partisan; I don't care where a driver comes from, as long as they can drive very fast indeed. I've enjoyed Senna, Schumacher, Vettel and Alonso, and many others, in my time watching F1. So I am very pleased to see Alonso get 4th in the DWC; particularly as the Aston Martin really wasn't as good as half the other teams' cars this season. Hamilton did extremely well to get 3rd in the 2nd best car. There was some great racing, in spite of what the naysayers might claim. A shame it's over really.

 

[Abdichoudxyz]

Let’s bring in points for best dressed 😇

Hamilton still wouldn't win. 🤣

 

[CWallace]

Guess Ferrari wanted the extra wind tunnel time for 3rd in the WDC since they certainly don't need the extra money for 2nd and pit location doesn't matter when the Three Stooges are planning pit strategy.

As for the WDC battle, yes it was a snooze-fest, but I mean we've been there before with Michael and Lewis. Best driver+best car+best team pretty much ensures you are going to win the WDC. At least we had multiple teams showing up to fight over the other two podium positions (admittedly in no small part to Checco's qualifying struggles, but still).

F1 is the only sport I follow so I for one am happier for more races since it means I have something to watch on weekends for longer. That said, I do think 22 races is enough, however, so I would like to see one of the current events dropped once their contract comes up (my choice would be Miami).

I also want Andretti-Cadillac to be allowed in and I hope the FIA can find a quality new OEM factory team to fill the available twelfth spot, as well, as I want to see more variety in PDUs and chassis available and I think two new teams with full factory backing (as opposed to being "satellite" or "farm" teams) could shake things up in both Championships.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Guess Ferrari wanted the extra wind tunnel time for 3rd in the WDC since they certainly don't need the extra money for 2nd and pit location doesn't matter when the Three Stooges are planning pit strategy.

As for the WDC battle, yes it was a snooze-fest, but I mean we've been there before with Michael and Lewis. Best driver+best car+best team pretty much ensures you are going to win the WDC. At least we had multiple teams showing up to fight over the other two podium positions (admittedly in no small part to Checco's qualifying struggles, but still).

F1 is the only sport I follow so I for one am happier for more races since it means I have something to watch on weekends for longer. That said, I do think 22 races is enough, however, so I would like to see one of the current events dropped once their contract comes up (my choice would be Miami).

I also want Andretti-Cadillac to be allowed in and I hope the FIA can find a quality new OEM factory team to fill the available twelfth spot, as well, as I want to see more variety in PDUs and chassis available and I think two new teams with full factory backing (as opposed to being "satellite" or "farm" teams) could shake things up in both Championships.

I think Ferrari did all they could to get second. They just couldn’t with just one horse in the race compared to Mercedes two.
Glad the season is over. I personally think it’s about 4-5 races to long.
I’m not expecting a big change in racing for wins next season. RBR have been working on their 2024 car since April.