2025 Formula One Season Thread

[JustinePaula]

There should be a V8 engine, 3 pedals, 3 buttons on the steering wheel. Done.. driving a server rack for 53 laps is boring!!!
3 buttons.. 1-radio, 2-drink, 3- DRS, opens for as long as you have courage..

 

[Apple fanboy]

Wow, the second dull race in a row. The only cool thing is we have 3 different winners in 3 races. McLaren dropped the ball and could have jumped Max in the pitstops but Max did the job well. Suzuka has produced some good racing over the years but this is one to forget.

Agreed it was tough watching. McLaren should have swooped their drivers around with 15 laps to go. Oscar was faster than Lando. If he couldn’t get past Max, he could just have been made to swap back.

One stop races don’t normally produce great races. No option to change it up. Starting on soft, mediums or hards didn’t really make a difference.

When they keep cutting to a replay of a corner being cut to avoid a flat spot, you know they are struggling to show exciting racing!

We needed that rain!

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Agreed it was tough watching. McLaren should have swooped their drivers around with 15 laps to go. Oscar was faster than Lando. If he couldn’t get past Max, he could just have been made to swap back.

One stop races don’t normally produce great races. No option to change it up. Starting on soft, mediums or hards didn’t really make a difference.

When they keep cutting to a replay of a corner being cut to avoid a flat spot, you know they are struggling to show exciting racing!

We needed that rain!

Yep, Oscar should have been swapped and McLaren probably would have gotten Max in the dying laps but they are most probably avoiding any team orders in what is the third race to maintain harmony for as long as possible.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Yep, Oscar should have been swapped and McLaren probably would have gotten Max in the dying laps but they are most probably avoiding any team orders in what is the third race to maintain harmony for as long as possible.

I think Oscar would have got him. McLaren will win the constructors this year and probably the drivers. But Max will keep them looking over their shoulder all year.

 

[Glideslope]

Well I think this is a combination of a drivers, near perfect driving conditions, and the end of the development cycle.

It’s funny, it’s close now. And people still moan 🤷‍♂️🤣

I’d like to see Pirelli look at the compounds for the new surface tracks. Just MO, I think P1,P2,P3 were too hard. I think George nailed this in his post. A 2 stop tends to bring a bit more to Suzuka IMO.

 

[CWallace]

That was not a race worth staying up for... 😪

McLaren strategy again showing that they are a team who last had a WDC almost two decades ago. That being said, no team really got the pit strategy right as undercuts did not seem to be a thing and Suzuka is very difficult to pass on.

 

[JustinePaula]

DRS was introduced to aid overtaking, and we see more of Micheal Schumacher at every race than we do of an overtake.. PawPaws were never going to switch positions..1 pit stop, maybe try mandatory 2 pit stops.. Or how about a 30 min sprint at 11am, and the race at 2pm.. The sprint, in the sprint, no points, but that determines grid, based on 3 laps in the 30 minutes.. Drop the 3 stage Q we have now.. ?? Anything, something, the event is bordering on become a health hazard.

 

[JustinePaula]

Sainz hit with a € 20 000 fine for being late for the anthem, seems the FIA are ok if a driver does a #2 in his race suit, Sainz was unwell, saw the FAI medic, given meds, was late.. Oh well race in a code brown...right... The FIA is a bit daft!!

 

[Glideslope]

Sainz hit with a € 20 000 fine for being late for the anthem, seems the FIA are ok if a driver does a #2 in his race suit, Sainz was unwell, saw the FAI medic, given meds, was late.. Oh well race in a code brown...right... The FIA is a bit daft!!

I read that. I would imagine an appeal would be successful. Notably with a Doctors’ statement. Time will tell……😟

 

[JustinePaula]

I have been wondering since sweargate become a thing, I wonder if the FIA are using swearing as a way to distract everyone away from the very obvious polka dotted elephant taking a dump on the grid.. I mean the FIA must know just how toxic and fatal F1 is right now from a human rights abuse.. We should not be subject to toxic fatal levels of boring,that it induces death...

I know DRS was introduced to aid overtakes, and to a small degree it does, but then it is like playing with a cheat code.. It is overtake by code.. Maybe the solution is to reset, go back to less of a mobile server rack on wheels,to the meat in the seat doing all the work, 3 pedals, clutch, brake, go faster.. They can at a pit stop adjust brake balance when changing tyres, and this would require at least 2 or 3 pit stops, it would maybe make it more of a team sport, the driver fighting the car, waiting for the pit stop for tyres and a bit more brakes to the rear 40% front 60% back..

But this procession of F1 might as well just do laps of the M1 in London in rush hour.. Or just play on the playstation instead...

 

[cyb3rdud3]

I have been wondering since sweargate become a thing, I wonder if the FIA are using swearing as a way to distract everyone away from the very obvious polka dotted elephant taking a dump on the grid.. I mean the FIA must know just how toxic and fatal F1 is right now from a human rights abuse.. We should not be subject to toxic fatal levels of boring,that it induces death...

I know DRS was introduced to aid overtakes, and to a small degree it does, but then it is like playing with a cheat code.. It is overtake by code.. Maybe the solution is to reset, go back to less of a mobile server rack on wheels,to the meat in the seat doing all the work, 3 pedals, clutch, brake, go faster.. They can at a pit stop adjust brake balance when changing tyres, and this would require at least 2 or 3 pit stops, it would maybe make it more of a team sport, the driver fighting the car, waiting for the pit stop for tyres and a bit more brakes to the rear 40% front 60% back..

But this procession of F1 might as well just do laps of the M1 in London in rush hour.. Or just play on the playstation instead...

Laps of the M1 would be quite something It is 193.5 miles (ca. 311 km) in one direction. Perhaps you were considering the M25 outer ring road? Or the north or south circular inner ring roads?

Which ever motorway, I'll wholeheartedly disagree. DRS is great, it adds an element of driver — controlled — strategy to a race that provides an opportunity to overtake when used correctly. Something that otherwise would not exist at this stage of development.

 

[JustinePaula]

DRS yes, you do raise a point, but is it actually working? Some random dude decided to test comp science physics and IRL physics and well he wanted a new car.. He left the DRS open for about 3 meters too long past what was considered safe and straight to the scene of a big accident.. There should be no zones, it is manual to open, hit the go slow pedal and it slams shut.. Or maybe each car has a small battery, a 24V marine battery, like the Tesla, if you want to go really fast, you can use this and go really really fast, last to 1st in 1 straight, but it is a 1 shot battery, used and gone...

But F1 cannot carry on with human rights abuse of using dull to kill us slowly in 24 stages...

 

[cyb3rdud3]

What human rights abuse by F1? You don’t have to watch it if you don’t like it. Simples.

 

[CWallace]

Alpine Reserve Driver Ryō Hirakawa has left for Haas after having impressed in his FP1 showing at Suzuka. Hirakawa has ties to Haas through his association to Toyota's WEC program and he did test for Haas at the end of 2024, but he joined Alpine as their Reserve Driver as he may have felt he has a better shot at a race seat, even though Alpine had signed Franco Colapinto by then.

Must really sting for Jack Doohan as he had to give up his seat for FP1 to Hirakawa and that put him on the back foot for the entire weekend, further cementing his imminent replacement by Colapinto.

 

[CWallace]

What human rights abuse by F1? You don’t have to watch it if you don’t like it. Simples.

I believe they are referring to F1 holding events in countries with less-than-stellar human rights records, but that has been the case since I started watching regularly in 1991 and probably earlier.

As for all the fines, I think it is because MBS needs funds to bribe FIA delegates to support him.

 

[CWallace]

So looks like McLaren just had nothing for Max at Suzuka. Between the minimal tire deg and the general instability of following close, Lando could not close on Max and even if they had let Piastri past, he would have hit the same issues and not have been able to close, either.

Explained: McLaren's strategy calls that led to Japanese GP defeat

McLaren boss Andrea Stella has explained the logic behind the team's choices during the Japanese Grand Prix.

www.planetf1.com

 

[pachyderm]

I believe they are referring to F1 holding events in countries with less-than-stellar human rights records, but that has been the case since I started watching regularly in 1991 and probably earlier.

As for all the fines, I think it is because MBS needs funds to bribe FIA delegates to support him.

Which would now include the US...

If it didn't already...

 

[JustinePaula]

Las Vegas GP is a crime against petrol.. Bahrain is next, not sure if driver of car 44 is aware that it was one of 3 races that cost him the title in 2021.. Bahrain, Spain, Portugaul.. His really duff team hired a driver that on the best of days might be lucky to just qualify if we had pre Q.. Bottas maybe mis understood his role.. Get points, NOT GIVE points...

Funny, Mclaren did exactly that 2 days ago, misunderstood the point of F1. Get points, not give points.. giving in F1 is bad..

 

[Glideslope]

So looks like McLaren just had nothing for Max at Suzuka. Between the minimal tire deg and the general instability of following close, Lando could not close on Max and even if they had let Piastri past, he would have hit the same issues and not have been able to close, either.

Explained: McLaren's strategy calls that led to Japanese GP defeat

McLaren boss Andrea Stella has explained the logic behind the team's choices during the Japanese Grand Prix.

www.planetf1.com

Absolutely nothing........

 

[CWallace]

Still more senior FIA members jumping ship due to MBS.

 

[Glideslope]

MBS is a cancer.

 

[JustinePaula]

Federations International *******s aka FIA literally *******s as well it turns out poor ol Carlos Sainz was 5 seconds late after needing medical treatment for a problem south of the bellybutton. This cost him 10 bar in fines.. So what did the FIA want, him to drop a hot n steamy on the grid for the national anthem, not sure what is more disrespectful, a guy late or a guy doing a 2 in his suit??? Hard one for the FIA.. very hard..

 

[CWallace]

FP1 times were pretty much irrelevant due to the high ambient and track temps plus Max, Charles and George did not go out as their seats were given to reserve drivers.

FP2 Times.

Pos	No	Driver	Car	Time	Gap	Laps
1	81	Piastri	McLaren Mercedes	1:30.505		29
2	4	Norris	McLaren Mercedes	1:30.659	+0.154s	28
3	63	Russell	Mercedes	1:31.032	+0.527s	25
4	16	Leclerc	Ferrari	1:31.045	+0.540s	27
5	12	Antonelli	Mercedes	1:31.227	+0.722s	27
6	6	Hadjar	Racing Bulls Honda RBPT	1:31.238	+0.733s	24
7	1	Verstappen	Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	1:31.330	+0.825s	27
8	44	Hamilton	Ferrari	1:31.576	+1.071s	23
9	87	Bearman	Haas Ferrari	1:31.584	+1.079s	27
10	55	Sainz	Williams Mercedes	1:31.623	+1.118s	28
11	23	Albon	Williams Mercedes	1:31.696	+1.191s	29
12	30	Lawson	Racing Bulls Honda RBPT	1:31.706	+1.201s	27
13	5	Bortoleto	Kick Sauber Ferrari	1:31.772	+1.267s	25
14	7	Doohan	Alpine Renault	1:31.788	+1.283s	27
15	14	Alonso	Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes	1:31.825	+1.320s	19
16	31	Ocon	Haas Ferrari	1:31.870	+1.365s	27
17	10	Gasly	Alpine Renault	1:31.947	+1.442s	27
18	22	Tsunoda	Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	1:32.024	+1.519s	25
19	18	Stroll	Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes	1:32.382	+1.877s	27
20	27	Hulkenberg	Kick Sauber Ferrari	1:32.496	+1.991s	24

 

[CWallace]

So sounding like we could be going back to V8s with KERS on sustainable fuel come the 2030s...

 

[CWallace]

FP3 pretty scrappy with no grip and everyone but Piastri suffering understeer pushing them off track.

Speaking of Piastri, he had a monster qualification simulation lap with about 10 minutes to go, knocking two seconds off his previous P1 time and 1.4 seconds quicker than anyone else at that time and ending the session .668 up on Norris in second.

McLaren will definitely lock out the front row for qualifying, but I think it could be Piastri on pole as he looked a fair bit stronger than Norris.