2024 Formula 1 Season thread

[JustinePaula]

I know it is just me, but after watching FP1/2, and thinking about the upcoming dreaded "sprint", and watching F2/3, more and more I am convinced that Sprints should be 20 cars, 10 drivers are F2/Reserve and 10 are nominated team who alternate, so that you have a shorter version of an F1 race, 2x 20 min qualifying, 1st 10min is for the F2/Reserve to set lap times, the 2nd 10min for the F1 drivers to set lap times..The F2/Reserve start in lap times, fast to slow, behind the 10 F1 drivers.. Then race on.. I know totally stupid idea, but an idea nontheless.. It would give the reserve driver something to do, instead of getting a tired ass from sitting around being in the way of the team..

We have seen shots of reserve drivers standing around, getting in the way, not truly doing or being useful.. Not even on coffee/cold soft drink duty... My idea at least gives them some sort of something every couple of months..

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Mercedes confirm Antonelli, despite his heavy crash but many expected the announcement this weekend.

 

[JustinePaula]

comment removed, a user had issues, so I deleted it...

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Kimi Crashtonelli.. the ink barely dry, already spending someone else's cost cap.. great start..

How negative and unjustified. Don’t tell me, he’s too old for F1 in your opinion and should be letting a 14 year old have a seat?

 

[JustinePaula]

Sigh... oh well, I guess tongue in cheek is not taught in schools!

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Sigh... oh well, I guess tongue in cheek is not taught in schools!

It’s difficult to know when you’re being serious or not as you have a reputation on this thread for saying some quite absurd things. Tongue in cheek of course isn’t taught in school, but it’s something we all do by instinct and it’s usually obvious in person, or when a smiley is used in text to indicate so.

 

[JustinePaula]

Really, not sure how obvious do I have to be..adults are old enough to know.. if you cannot make up your mind about what I said..I just don't know how to teach, as I am not a trained educator.. 2nd, why does anyone take anything on a forum seriously??

 

[CWallace]

It seemed clear to me that Mercedes would announce Kimi's signing at Monza as he is an Italian driver.

 

[CWallace]

I know it is just me, but after watching FP1/2, and thinking about the upcoming dreaded "sprint", and watching F2/3, more and more I am convinced that Sprints should be 20 cars, 10 drivers are F2/Reserve and 10 are nominated team who alternate, so that you have a shorter version of an F1 race, 2x 20 min qualifying, 1st 10min is for the F2/Reserve to set lap times, the 2nd 10min for the F1 drivers to set lap times.

I read somewhere recently that FOM / Liberty is evidently looking into the possibility of a separate session at select Grands Prix where the Reserve Drivers would race each other. I think the main issues against such a thing would be the risk of a wreck knocking out a main driver due to not having a car (or the car needing components replaced that would incur a grid penalty) or the cost of adding a third car (even if the cost cap was raised to accommodate this, some teams would prefer to spend the money on improving the primary cars).

 

[CWallace]

FP3 Results

POS	NO	DRIVER	CAR	TIME	GAP	LAPS
1	44	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	1:20.117		20
2	63	George Russell	Mercedes	1:20.210	+0.093s	24
3	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1:20.226	+0.109s	22
4	81	Oscar Piastri	McLaren Mercedes	1:20.252	+0.135s	15
5	4	Lando Norris	McLaren Mercedes	1:20.262	+0.145s	15
6	1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	1:20.368	+0.251s	24
7	55	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	1:20.463	+0.346s	20
8	23	Alexander Albon	Williams Mercedes	1:20.596	+0.479s	15
9	43	Franco Colapinto	Williams Mercedes	1:20.905	+0.788s	17
10	27	Nico Hulkenberg	Haas Ferrari	1:20.943	+0.826s	18
11	14	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes	1:20.968	+0.851s	22
12	3	Daniel Ricciardo	RB Honda RBPT	1:21.077	+0.960s	18
13	22	Yuki Tsunoda	RB Honda RBPT	1:21.141	+1.024s	15
14	10	Pierre Gasly	Alpine Renault	1:21.155	+1.038s	20
15	18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes	1:21.157	+1.040s	23
16	20	Kevin Magnussen	Haas Ferrari	1:21.208	+1.091s	21
17	31	Esteban Ocon	Alpine Renault	1:21.258	+1.141s	19
18	11	Sergio Perez	Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	1:21.287	+1.170s	23
19	77	Valtteri Bottas	Kick Sauber Ferrari	1:21.357	+1.240s	20
20	24	Zhou Guanyu	Kick Sauber Ferrari	1:22.035	+1.918s	18

It should be noted that LeClerc set his fastest time on used tires and the Ferrari's tire deg on Softs was fairly lower than anyone else, so I think LeClerc has a decent shot at pole.

The RB20 was understeering like a shopping trolley with a stuck wheel. Max might not be able to make it off the third row and Perez might not escape Q2.

The Williams are super fast in a straight line so Albon should make Q3 and Colapinto Q2, if not also Q3.

 

[Glideslope]

FP3 Results

POS	NO	DRIVER	CAR	TIME	GAP	LAPS
1	44	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	1:20.117		20
2	63	George Russell	Mercedes	1:20.210	+0.093s	24
3	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1:20.226	+0.109s	22
4	81	Oscar Piastri	McLaren Mercedes	1:20.252	+0.135s	15
5	4	Lando Norris	McLaren Mercedes	1:20.262	+0.145s	15
6	1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	1:20.368	+0.251s	24
7	55	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	1:20.463	+0.346s	20
8	23	Alexander Albon	Williams Mercedes	1:20.596	+0.479s	15
9	43	Franco Colapinto	Williams Mercedes	1:20.905	+0.788s	17
10	27	Nico Hulkenberg	Haas Ferrari	1:20.943	+0.826s	18
11	14	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes	1:20.968	+0.851s	22
12	3	Daniel Ricciardo	RB Honda RBPT	1:21.077	+0.960s	18
13	22	Yuki Tsunoda	RB Honda RBPT	1:21.141	+1.024s	15
14	10	Pierre Gasly	Alpine Renault	1:21.155	+1.038s	20
15	18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes	1:21.157	+1.040s	23
16	20	Kevin Magnussen	Haas Ferrari	1:21.208	+1.091s	21
17	31	Esteban Ocon	Alpine Renault	1:21.258	+1.141s	19
18	11	Sergio Perez	Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	1:21.287	+1.170s	23
19	77	Valtteri Bottas	Kick Sauber Ferrari	1:21.357	+1.240s	20
20	24	Zhou Guanyu	Kick Sauber Ferrari	1:22.035	+1.918s	18

It should be noted that LeClerc set his fastest time on used tires and the Ferrari's tire deg on Softs was fairly lower than anyone else, so I think LeClerc has a decent shot at pole.

The RB20 was understeering like a shopping trolley with a stuck wheel. Max might not be able to make it off the third row and Perez might not escape Q2.

The Williams are super fast in a straight line so Albon should make Q3 and Colapinto Q2, if not also Q3.

The Ferrari looks strong. I was surprised how well it handled the tire degradation. We don’t really know the PU settings. They may have had the PU up to offset the downforces.

I’m optimistic for Sunday. A Ferrari or Mercedes P1 would be ideal.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

The original Ice Man in the paddock too, never thought we’d see him back!

 

[CWallace]

So going to be interesting tomorrow with three teams showing serious pace. And Red Bull was not one of them.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Another impressive McLaren front row lock out. With Max down in 7th, that will be a great chuck of points if it finishes that way.
Ferrari and Mercedes are not a million miles away either.
With limited overtaking opportunities should be a good race.

 

[pachyderm]

wow!

Lando !!

 

[CWallace]

So what is the over-under on Piastri passing Lando into the first chicane?

Starting Grid for tomorrow

POS	NO	DRIVER	CAR	TIME
1	4	Lando Norris	McLaren Mercedes	1:19.327
2	81	Oscar Piastri	McLaren Mercedes	1:19.436
3	63	George Russell	Mercedes	1:19.440
4	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1:19.461
5	55	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	1:19.467
6	44	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	1:19.513
7	1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	1:20.022
8	11	Sergio Perez	Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	1:20.062
9	23	Alexander Albon	Williams Mercedes	1:20.299
10	27	Nico Hulkenberg	Haas Ferrari	1:20.339
11	14	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes	1:20.421
12	3	Daniel Ricciardo	RB Honda RBPT	1:20.479
13	20	Kevin Magnussen	Haas Ferrari	1:20.698
14	10	Pierre Gasly	Alpine Renault	1:20.738
15	31	Esteban Ocon	Alpine Renault	1:20.766
16	22	Yuki Tsunoda	RB Honda RBPT	1:20.945
17	18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes	1:21.013
18	43	Franco Colapinto	Williams Mercedes	1:21.061
19	77	Valtteri Bottas	Kick Sauber Ferrari	1:21.101
20	24	Zhou Guanyu	Kick Sauber Ferrari	1:21.445

 

[JustinePaula]

I don't get the sprint weekend, you explained the crash situation, which is 100% logical, so yet we have a situation in which we could have a car destroyed, or worse a fatal for what purpose? At least if you use the reserve drivers, you have insurance for the main event..

This brings into question the whole point of the short sprint, it makes no sense. how Toto, Christian, James allow it, they are all unfit to manage teams, no CEO should under any circumstance allow drivers to partake in a dangerous event that has no value.. Unless Liberty/FIA/FOM have a secret sweetheart deal with the teams, that covers and damage or loss of driver.. To have 2 races per weekend, and subject the car to wrecking, and for very little gain, makes no sense.. CEO/Team Principles are unfit.. No sane rational person should risk sprint race entry..

 

[Zest28]

I still don't understand why Kimi Antonelli get promoted straight into a Mercedes car. The hype surrounding Kimi Antonelli simply don't match the actual results from the junior racing series.

Russell will be happy as he won't have to worry about a strong teammate anymore.

Russell had to prove himself with that shitbox of a Williams car and he clearly showed that he is one of the best driver on the grid putting that Williams in places where it clearly didn't belong.

Antonelli has proven nothing however.

 

[pachyderm]

So what is the over-under on Piastri passing Lando into the first chicane?

Starting Grid for tomorrow

POS	NO	DRIVER	CAR	TIME
1	4	Lando Norris	McLaren Mercedes	1:19.327
2	81	Oscar Piastri	McLaren Mercedes	1:19.436
3	63	George Russell	Mercedes	1:19.440
4	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1:19.461
5	55	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	1:19.467
6	44	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	1:19.513
7	1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	1:20.022
8	11	Sergio Perez	Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	1:20.062
9	23	Alexander Albon	Williams Mercedes	1:20.299
10	27	Nico Hulkenberg	Haas Ferrari	1:20.339
11	14	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes	1:20.421
12	3	Daniel Ricciardo	RB Honda RBPT	1:20.479
13	20	Kevin Magnussen	Haas Ferrari	1:20.698
14	10	Pierre Gasly	Alpine Renault	1:20.738
15	31	Esteban Ocon	Alpine Renault	1:20.766
16	22	Yuki Tsunoda	RB Honda RBPT	1:20.945
17	18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes	1:21.013
18	43	Franco Colapinto	Williams Mercedes	1:21.061
19	77	Valtteri Bottas	Kick Sauber Ferrari	1:21.101
20	24	Zhou Guanyu	Kick Sauber Ferrari	1:21.445

Lando has got to focus today.

IF they both suffer wheel spin again like last weekend it'll make it a ;little more interesting but then we're going into the who gets to pass who team orders BS... that doesn't exist wink wink...

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I still don't understand why Kimi Antonelli get promoted straight into a Mercedes car. The hype surrounding Kimi Antonelli simply don't match the actual results from the junior racing series.

Russell will be happy as he won't have to worry about a strong teammate anymore.

Russell had to prove himself with that shitbox of a Williams car and he clearly showed that he is one of the best driver on the grid putting that Williams in places where it clearly didn't belong.

Antonelli has proven nothing however.

Time will tell as they analyse with data we don’t have as fans I suppose. I remember back in late 2006 Hamilton was getting a lot of flack on the forums because he was being promoted into a top team straight from GP2 but he was winning everything going in his junior career. Lewis silenced his critics in preseason testing and his first race though. Antonelli will be putting more pressure on himself than anyone else and by the sounds of it Lewis has been a great mentor for him. Hopefully it’s a good decision by Mercedes.

 

[CWallace]

I still don't understand why Kimi Antonelli get promoted straight into a Mercedes car. The hype surrounding Kimi Antonelli simply don't match the actual results from the junior racing series.

Mercedes has plenty of data on Kimi in F1 equipment from private testing sessions so they are making this decision on far more than just his F2 season and 10 minutes of FP1 running.

Russell had to prove himself with that shitbox of a Williams car and he clearly showed that he is one of the best driver on the grid putting that Williams in places where it clearly didn't belong.

Mercedes now admits they should have put Russell into the Mercedes in 2021, but they had to wait another year due to their agreement with Williams. If Lewis had not left for 2025, I could see Kimi having replaced Logan at Williams, but I am not sure Williams would want Kimi for only one year.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Nice win for Charles by the sounds of it, the best place to win when you drive for Ferrari. Piastri not pleased.

 

[Glideslope]

Gutsy call by Ferrari. Master drive by Charles. Well done.

Good damage limitation by Max. On to Azerbaijan…..

 

[Glideslope]

Nice win for Charles by the sounds of it, the best place to win when you drive for Ferrari. Piastri not pleased.

He will never have to pay for a pizza in Italy again……

 

[CWallace]

Ferrari stuffed Charles' pit strategy, but Charles was able to make it a one-stop with a magnificent ~35 lap stint on the Hards.

Red Bull nowhere, which is nice. Agreed on the damage mitigation angle, but they were never a threat to finish on the third row or higher at any point.