2024 Formula 1 Season thread

[Pezimak]

The bit in bold is an interesting point you make. As far as I am aware, even with the leaked messages, all Horner keeps on saying is he denies the allegations against him. He has not actually denied the messages are fake, he just keeps on saying he denies the allegations against him. So, if the leaked messages are alleged to be fake, why wouldn't Horner come out and specifically say so? because that's what a person would normally do wouldn't they if they know messages/pics against them are fake, you'd say so wouldn't you?

Horner cannot state if they are real or not I don’t think due to legal implications, don’t forget he was the subject of a legal investigation into an official complaint at his workplace by an external Judge. And as said they will be investigating the leak that’s for sure.

The media spin machine is all over this now, they are claiming Max’s dad wants Horner gone, he is the person instigating it all and apparently he is good friends with the girl involved, but he can’t talk as he seems to have a pretty sordid past too.

 

[Pezimak]

Correct. Others need to step up. RBR is not using a magic wand. They are not allowed to spend tens of millions more than others. RBR success is from the skill level of those who make up the team.

Trying to have F1 change the rules package every time RBR leaps ahead is not a solution either. Yet it's always the easy way for many.

RBR is not going anywhere in 24, 25, and most likely 26.

Yeap, but that’s why we always say, most of us anyway, that the other teams need to catch up. Still Ferrari are snapping at the heals, it’s just the race pace they need. With any luck this year they’ll get a lot closer, at least to Perez. But damn out the gate the RB20 is stonking.

 

[laptech]

Correct. Others need to step up. RBR is not using a magic wand. They are not allowed to spend tens of millions more than others. RBR success is from the skill level of those who make up the team.

Trying to have F1 change the rules package every time RBR leaps ahead is not a solution either. Yet it's always the easy way for many.

RBR is not going anywhere in 24, 25, and most likely 26.

The problem with F1 is that instead of getting teams to 'step up', they change the rules. It happened during the years when McLaren drivers dominated the sport and when the Williams drivers dominated the sport, rules changes happened again when Schumacher dominated in the Ferrari, it happened again when Vettel dominated in the Red Bull, it happened again when Hamilton dominated in the Mercedes and I have no doubt there will be rule changes to put a stop to RBR's dominance.

 

[Glideslope]

The problem with F1 is that instead of getting teams to 'step up', they change the rules. It happened during the years when McLaren drivers dominated the sport and when the Williams drivers dominated the sport, rules changes happened again when Schumacher dominated in the Ferrari, it happened again when Vettel dominated in the Red Bull, it happened again when Hamilton dominated in the Mercedes and I have no doubt there will be rule changes to put a stop to RBR's dominance.

Yup. Now Ford is looking to pull out of its PU agreement with RBRE.

I can see Max going to Mercedes if this continues to go Full Bonkers.

Live by the sword, die by the sword……..

 

[headlessmike]

The FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is now being investigated for interfering with the Stewards' decision at last year's Saudi GP where Alonso received a 10s penalty.

He's supposedly also been pushing Max to voice public support for Horner.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

The FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is now being investigated for interfering with the Stewards' decision at last year's Saudi GP where Alonso received a 10s penalty.

He's supposedly also been pushing Max to voice public support for Horner.

I don’t know how many dodgy scandals that guy needs to be involved in before he’s removed from his presidency. If he’s not making misogynistic comments and disappearing, he’s trying to fix races. Jean Todt was barely ever mentioned in his role and just did the job. Time for him to go.

 

[headlessmike]

I don’t know how many dodgy scandals that guy needs to be involved in before he’s removed from his presidency. If he’s not making misogynistic comments and disappearing, he’s trying to fix races. Jean Todt was barely ever mentioned in his role and just did the job. Time for him to go.

It’s unfortunately par for the course for international sporting presidents.

 

[Apple fanboy]

It’s unfortunately par for the course for international sporting presidents.

I could add a comment about non sporting ones, but that might be unpopular!

In a world where political correctness has never been more at the forefront of people’s thinking, it is strange that sporting bodies somehow believe the rules don’t apply to them.

I wish there would be a better system than the one we have now.

 

[Glideslope]

I could add a comment about non sporting ones, but that might be unpopular!

In a world where political correctness has never been more at the forefront of people’s thinking, it is strange that sporting bodies somehow believe the rules don’t apply to them.

I wish there would be a better system than the one we have now.

Absolute Power leads to Absolute Corruption. It's been going on for centuries. It's just more in our face due to electronic media.

 

[Glideslope]

The FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is now being investigated for interfering with the Stewards' decision at last year's Saudi GP where Alonso received a 10s penalty.

He's supposedly also been pushing Max to voice public support for Horner.

This is going to be a complete flush from top to bottom now. It's no longer containable. Maybe some good will come from it, maybe not. Something tells me there is no shortage of Team Principles waiting to fill Horner's Power Vacuum once he departs.

I would like to see Max drive for Mercedes is RBR implodes. I think he could get more out of the W15 than George any day.

 

[CWallace]

Something tells me there is no shortage of Team Principles waiting to fill Horner's Power Vacuum once he departs.

Guenther Steiner.

 

[headlessmike]

Guenther Steiner.

Sebastian Vettel 😝

 

[Apple fanboy]

This is going to be a complete flush from top to bottom now. It's no longer containable. Maybe some good will come from it, maybe not. Something tells me there is no shortage of Team Principles waiting to fill Horner's Power Vacuum once he departs.

I would like to see Max drive for Mercedes is RBR implodes. I think he could get more out of the W15 than George any day.

Really? I think Max would do well at Haas! Can you imagine the tantrums?

 

[Glideslope]

Sebastian Vettel 😝

View attachment 2355455

😉

 

[Pezimak]

Sebastian Vettel 😝

View attachment 2355455

No no no! It is Inspector Vettel.

Max does it, outcry, 50 grand fine! Calls for him to be sacked.
Seb does it.... shhh the inspectors working... 🤣

 

[headlessmike]

No no no! It is Inspector Vettel.

Max does it, outcry, 50 grand fine! Calls for him to be sacked.
Seb does it.... shhh the inspectors working... 🤣

The trick is to do it after the race is over, which Vettel knows because he read the rulebook on every long haul flight.

Seb could probably design his own car from scratch using only his right foot at this point.

 

[Pezimak]

The trick is to do it after the race is over, which Vettel knows because he read the rulebook on every long haul flight.

Seb could probably design his own car from scratch using only his right foot at this point.

Shame he left as I thought he would be brilliant staying on as a safety advisor or similar for the sport.

 

[laptech]

well well well, more F1 scandal that now involves a UK based F1 magazine. A UK based F1 magazine has printed an extensive article about RBR and Horner about an alleged power struggle going on within the team, they also go on to make unfounded allegations against Horner but worst still, they breach privacy rules by naming the female employee who has accused Horner of doing wrong.

I see an expensive law suit coming.

Max's father seen having a very angry and vocal argument with Horner and going public demanding that Horner be sacked and also saying that his son could leave RBR because of what's going on with Horner and now with allegations going on against the FIA president, F1 is turning into a right mess.

 

[Don Quixote]

well well well, more F1 scandal that now involves a UK based F1 magazine. A UK based F1 magazine has printed an extensive article about RBR and Horner about an alleged power struggle going on within the team, they also go on to make unfounded allegations against Horner but worst still, they breach privacy rules by naming the female employee who has accused Horner of doing wrong.

I see an expensive law suit coming.

Max's father seen having a very angry and vocal argument with Horner and going public demanding that Horner be sacked and also saying that his son could leave RBR because of what's going on with Horner and now with allegations going on against the FIA president, F1 is turning into a right mess.

Jos is an *ssh*le.

Stop me if I'm wrong but he's got to be maneuvering for a job there...?

 

[laptech]

Jos is an *ssh*le.

Stop me if I'm wrong but he's got to be maneuvering for a job there...?

Somehow going public asking for Horner to be sacked would not endear Jos to the powers that be at RBR. Asking for Horner to be sacked is more likely to go against him than for him.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

well well well, more F1 scandal that now involves a UK based F1 magazine. A UK based F1 magazine has printed an extensive article about RBR and Horner about an alleged power struggle going on within the team, they also go on to make unfounded allegations against Horner but worst still, they breach privacy rules by naming the female employee who has accused Horner of doing wrong.

I see an expensive law suit coming.

Max's father seen having a very angry and vocal argument with Horner and going public demanding that Horner be sacked and also saying that his son could leave RBR because of what's going on with Horner and now with allegations going on against the FIA president, F1 is turning into a right mess.

They must be rather stupid to have done that considering no other publications have released anything despite the name of the employee being rumoured and the leaks being out nearly a week. Even ‘The Scum’ or the ‘Daily Fail’ haven’t published this and I’d imagine they have been begging their lawyers for the green light.

Jos Verstappen is known as a vile bloke and his public outbursts make me suspicious he hasn’t had a hand in some of these leaks to the press etc.

Max, take a leaf out of Lewis Hamilton’s book and sack your Dad. Lewis did it in 2009 because he wanted a father/son relationship and not a management role, but Jos is an absolute tool and not doing Max’s image any good at all. He needs to distance himself from Jos and get a proper professional looking after his interests. Red Bull have put up with his controlling stake in his son’s career but I doubt the board at Mercedes Benz or Ferrari would be quite so lenient.

 

[CWallace]

Jos is an *ssh*le.

Stop me if I'm wrong but he's got to be maneuvering for a job there...?

Jos already has a pretty outsized role within Red Bull Racing. He has input on GP weekend strategy and overall vehicle development. Notice how he is often around Max and the car on GP weekends rather than standing in the back with the other guests and driver families.

Jos' beef with Horner seems to be that Horner will not always default to doing what helps Max during a race, even if it doesn't help the team. So he wants a Team Principle who will put his son first, even if that means employing qualifying and race strategies that might cost the team, overall.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Jos already has a pretty outsized role within Red Bull Racing. He has input on GP weekend strategy and overall vehicle development. Notice how he is often around Max and the car on GP weekends rather than standing in the back with the other guests and driver families.

Jos' beef with Horner seems to be that Horner will not always default to doing what helps Max during a race, even if it doesn't help the team. So he wants a Team Principle who will put his son first, even if that means employing qualifying and race strategies that might cost the team, overall.

Apparently Jos was quite close with the lady in question too (rumour) as they were pictured together on a yacht after the 2021 finale in Abu Dhabi.

Horner has always put Max first but sometimes Max has been outperformed by Checo and Jos doesn’t seem to like that. It’s almost like he’s forgotten what racing in motorsport is like and is blinded by his son’s image.

 

[CWallace]

Horner has always put Max first but sometimes Max has been outperformed by Checo and Jos doesn’t seem to like that. It’s almost like he’s forgotten what racing in motorsport is like and is blinded by his son’s image.

There is indeed no doubt Max is the #1 driver and favored whenever possible. But as you note, when Checo qualifies better (like Monaco) or has better race positioning, Horner will allow that to stand rather than deliberately hobble him to improve Max's position. And also as you note, Jos does not like that.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Jos already has a pretty outsized role within Red Bull Racing. He has input on GP weekend strategy and overall vehicle development. Notice how he is often around Max and the car on GP weekends rather than standing in the back with the other guests and driver families.

Jos' beef with Horner seems to be that Horner will not always default to doing what helps Max during a race, even if it doesn't help the team. So he wants a Team Principle who will put his son first, even if that means employing qualifying and race strategies that might cost the team, overall.

Sounds like a stupid thing to fall out over! He backs Max over Perez 99% of the time!