2024 Formula 1 Season thread

[CWallace]

While I know it is April 1st, this is no joke. Liberty Media has bought the commercial rights to MotoGP.

F1 owner Liberty Media acquires MotoGP commercial rights

Liberty Media has reached an agreement to take over the commercial rights to the MotoGP series, adding it to its ownership of Formula 1 within its racing portfolio. The global motorcycle racing ser…

racer.com

 

[CWallace]

After signing David Sanchez from Ferrari at the start of 2023 and waiting a year for him to join the team as Technical Director, Car Concept & Performance, McLaren has released him after three months and is re-shuffling their Technical Department.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

After signing David Sanchez from Ferrari at the start of 2023 and waiting a year for him to join the team as Technical Director, Car Concept & Performance, McLaren has released him after three months and is re-shuffling their Technical Department.

Interesting, and a very short space of time to judge someone’s impact, especially in a technical directorship role.

Another head I’d love to see roll is Christian Horner at Red Bull. Reading up on how they have threatened the complainant with legal action every step of the way, driven her to depression and moved towards constructive dismissal, I am glad her case is going to tribunal. The leaked messages and pictures are apparently ‘real’ according to a source with BBC sport and Horner is trying to keep the tribunal from going public. Red Bull have painted themselves as a very toxic place to work and not a company that follow process should any tricky HR issues arise. I’ve credited Horner as building a great team in the past but he deserves to lose his career if the tribunal finds out the investigation was rigged in his favour.

 

[Glideslope]

After signing David Sanchez from Ferrari at the start of 2023 and waiting a year for him to join the team as Technical Director, Car Concept & Performance, McLaren has released him after three months and is re-shuffling their Technical Department.

I was surprised by this. It will be interesting to see what trickles out. Won’t be surprised to see him rejoin Ferrari. I don’t see any negative impact on McLaren.

 

[Glideslope]

While I know it is April 1st, this is no joke. Liberty Media has bought the commercial rights to MotoGP.

F1 owner Liberty Media acquires MotoGP commercial rights

Liberty Media has reached an agreement to take over the commercial rights to the MotoGP series, adding it to its ownership of Formula 1 within its racing portfolio. The global motorcycle racing ser…

racer.com

Very sad day for MotoGP. I’ll never change my opinion that Liberty has been unhealthy for F1.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Any truth in the rumour Toto is talking to Vettel? I can see the attraction to having a German driver, but I think his best years are well behind him.
Could suit George though. Another WC to best!

 

[CWallace]

Any truth in the rumour Toto is talking to Vettel? I can see the attraction to having a German driver, but I think his best years are well behind him. Could suit George though. Another WC to best!

I would prefer if Vettel returns to pro racing, he does so in WEC HyperCar with Porsche. A LeMans 24 and WEC title would be nice additions to his resume.

I do not think Vettel is interested to return to F1 and I do not think Mercedes is interested in hiring him if he was. They have much younger options available to them.

 

[Glideslope]

Any truth in the rumour Toto is talking to Vettel? I can see the attraction to having a German driver, but I think his best years are well behind him.
Could suit George though. Another WC to best!

Nothing from Mercedes. Allot of undercurrent chat and cryptic Seb comments.

 

[Glideslope]

New AMR24 Sidepods for Suzuka. Very RB20.

Aston Martin takes inspiration from Red Bull with F1 sidepod tweaks

www.motorsport.com

 

[CWallace]

New AMR24 Sidepods for Suzuka. Very RB20.

Good to see AMR pushing the updates this year.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Any truth in the rumour Toto is talking to Vettel? I can see the attraction to having a German driver, but I think his best years are well behind him.
Could suit George though. Another WC to best!

I think there is some truth in it as Lewis has made a comment about Seb being a good personality for the Mercedes brand. I don’t doubt Seb has enquired with a few teams as he has now had a break and seems open to coming back.

 

[Glideslope]

Good to see AMR pushing the updates this year.

Yes it is. 🙂

 

[headlessmike]

Any truth in the rumour Toto is talking to Vettel? I can see the attraction to having a German driver, but I think his best years are well behind him.
Could suit George though. Another WC to best!

Maybe they need Inspector Seb’s help in finding out what’s wrong with their car.

Vettel to Mercedes would be the final step in his arc of emulating Michael.

 

[CWallace]

I think there is some truth in it as Lewis has made a comment about Seb being a good personality for the Mercedes brand.

I found it more amusing how Lewis implied, without naming him directly, that Alonso would not be a good personality fit for the team.

 

[Glideslope]

Maybe they need Inspector Seb’s help in finding out what’s wrong with their car.

Vettel to Mercedes would be the final step in his arc of emulating Michael.

I don‘t think they can fix the W15. The driver still sits further forward in the chassis than the RB20, FS24, AMR24, and the MCL38. They need completely new chassis geometry to be able to find a balance that is stable. Unlikely as their focus is on the W17. Or at least one would think it is.

 

[Glideslope]

Body Work coming off the L Rear on the RB20 in P1.

Conspiracies abound…

 

[zagato27]

Body Work coming off the L Rear on the RB20 in P1.

Conspiracies abound…

The "body work", ie some kind of aero measuring "fence" thingy I believe came off the Aston Martin/Stroll.

 

[Glideslope]

The "body work", ie some kind of aero measuring "fence" thingy I believe came off the Aston Martin/Stroll.

Yes, Max’s RB20 had a part come loose L Rear as well. Back on track now….

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I found it more amusing how Lewis implied, without naming him directly, that Alonso would not be a good personality fit for the team.

Indeed haha. As good as Alonso is, he’s never been able to cope mentally with a teammate who has the potential to challenge his performance. He’s been fine with Ocon and Stroll in recent years but I can’t imagine him tolerating George the way Lewis has. I also don’t think Mercedes would put up with the pouting either and Lewis makes a really good but subtle point.

 

[CWallace]

So finishing up the P1 VOD and about to start P2. Logan in the wall, but "fortunately" he went in nose-first so the tub is undamaged and he will be able to continue to take part in the rest of the weekend. He better hope Sainz does not go to Mercedes because otherwise he will definitely lose his seat to Kimi Antonelli at the end of the year.

Evidently Max's issue in Australia was due to a "build spec" error, which is why it was not caught even after Max reported issues during qualifying because they were the correct parts listed on the build sheet. My guess is that this was for the final "race configuration" that went on the car after FP3 since they did not have any issues during the Free Practice sessions when they are testing different configurations.

 

[CWallace]

Glad I did not stay up for P2 as it was "mildly moist" so only the VCARBs went out before the final minute when a few more went out and did a slow lap on the Softs so effectively the session never happened.

Saturday is expected to see drizzle, but warmer than FP2 and the race could be wet, though temps will be the highest all weekend.

Neither Red Bull went out in the wet, so I guess they are assuming everything will be dry. So I am hoping for rain during Quali and the race.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Glad I did not stay up for P2 as it was "mildly moist" so only the VCARBs went out before the final minute when a few more went out and did a slow lap on the Softs so effectively the session never happened.

Saturday is expected to see drizzle, but warmer than FP2 and the race could be wet, though temps will be the highest all weekend.

Neither Red Bull went out in the wet, so I guess they are assuming everything will be dry. So I am hoping for rain during Quali and the race.

Rain to start just after Max has stopped for the wrong tyres works for me!

 

[Glideslope]

Rain to start just after Max has stopped for the wrong tyres works for me!

No rain forecast for P3 or Qualifying.
I would not be wishing for rain on Sunday if I were Ferrari, or McLaren..............

 

[pachyderm]

Japan Qualifying

1	1	Max Verstappen	RED BULL RACING HONDA RBPT	1:28.866	1:28.740	1:28.197	12
2	11	Sergio Perez	RED BULL RACING HONDA RBPT	1:29.303	1:28.752	1:28.263	12
3	4	Lando Norris	MCLAREN MERCEDES	1:29.536	1:28.940	1:28.489	13
4	55	Carlos Sainz	FERRARI	1:29.513	1:29.099	1:28.682	12
5	14	Fernando Alonso	ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES	1:29.254	1:29.082	1:28.686	12
6	81	Oscar Piastri	MCLAREN MERCEDES	1:29.425	1:29.148	1:28.760	12
7	44	Lewis Hamilton	MERCEDES	1:29.661	1:28.887	1:28.766	15
8	16	Charles Leclerc	FERRARI	1:29.338	1:29.196	1:28.786	12
9	63	George Russell	MERCEDES	1:29.799	1:29.140	1:29.008	15
10	22	Yuki Tsunoda	RB HONDA RBPT	1:29.775	1:29.417	1:29.413	18
11	3	Daniel Ricciardo	RB HONDA RBPT	1:29.727	1:29.472		12
12	27	Nico Hulkenberg	HAAS FERRARI	1:29.821	1:29.494		12
13	77	Valtteri Bottas	KICK SAUBER FERRARI	1:29.602	1:29.593		12
14	23	Alexander Albon	WILLIAMS MERCEDES	1:29.963	1:29.714		9
15	31	Esteban Ocon	ALPINE RENAULT	1:29.811	1:29.816		12
16	18	Lance Stroll	ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES	1:30.024			6
17	10	Pierre Gasly	ALPINE RENAULT	1:30.119			6
18	20	Kevin Magnussen	HAAS FERRARI	1:30.131			9
19	2	Logan Sargeant	WILLIAMS MERCEDES	1:30.139			6
20	24	Zhou Guanyu	KICK SAUBER FERRARI	1:30.143			6

 

[Apple fanboy]

Japan Qualifying

1	1	Max Verstappen	RED BULL RACING HONDA RBPT	1:28.866	1:28.740	1:28.197	12
2	11	Sergio Perez	RED BULL RACING HONDA RBPT	1:29.303	1:28.752	1:28.263	12
3	4	Lando Norris	MCLAREN MERCEDES	1:29.536	1:28.940	1:28.489	13
4	55	Carlos Sainz	FERRARI	1:29.513	1:29.099	1:28.682	12
5	14	Fernando Alonso	ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES	1:29.254	1:29.082	1:28.686	12
6	81	Oscar Piastri	MCLAREN MERCEDES	1:29.425	1:29.148	1:28.760	12
7	44	Lewis Hamilton	MERCEDES	1:29.661	1:28.887	1:28.766	15
8	16	Charles Leclerc	FERRARI	1:29.338	1:29.196	1:28.786	12
9	63	George Russell	MERCEDES	1:29.799	1:29.140	1:29.008	15
10	22	Yuki Tsunoda	RB HONDA RBPT	1:29.775	1:29.417	1:29.413	18
11	3	Daniel Ricciardo	RB HONDA RBPT	1:29.727	1:29.472		12
12	27	Nico Hulkenberg	HAAS FERRARI	1:29.821	1:29.494		12
13	77	Valtteri Bottas	KICK SAUBER FERRARI	1:29.602	1:29.593		12
14	23	Alexander Albon	WILLIAMS MERCEDES	1:29.963	1:29.714		9
15	31	Esteban Ocon	ALPINE RENAULT	1:29.811	1:29.816		12
16	18	Lance Stroll	ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES	1:30.024			6
17	10	Pierre Gasly	ALPINE RENAULT	1:30.119			6
18	20	Kevin Magnussen	HAAS FERRARI	1:30.131			9
19	2	Logan Sargeant	WILLIAMS MERCEDES	1:30.139			6
20	24	Zhou Guanyu	KICK SAUBER FERRARI	1:30.143			6

Dam it. Briefly saw this before I watched the highlights.

RBR are in a league of their own. Lewis, Alonso and Le Clerk all sound utterly rejected by the gap to Max.
When Perez can put it on the front row, you know it’s bad.

Only weather, mechanical reliability or an accident can prevent a Max win tomorrow.
Unlikely to have any mechanical issues after the last race. Weather could just as easily suit him as any one else.
Any accidents don’t tend to affect the pole sitter.