Formula 1

[357]

Carlos to Williams - confirmed!

 

[JD2168]

Carlos to Williams - confirmed!

Interesting move that says a lot about the ambitions of Williams under James Vowels & what amounts of confidence people have in the Alpine & Audi projects.

I would not be surprised if there is a get out clause included if a seat becomes available at Red Bull or Mercedes.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jul 2024 ==

Reports emerging tonight that Red Bull will keep Sergio Perez in the team.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Reports emerging tonight that Red Bull will keep Sergio Perez in the team.

This is probably a cold financial calculation, nothing more. Perez is worth a huge amount of sponsorship money, and Red Bull certainly wouldn't want to give him away to another team that would love the alleged $20-30m that he comes with.

There's also the point that Max is unsettled enough, and he might well implode if a new driver comes in and starts getting close to him in qualifying and in the race. As much as Perez has clearly lost all confidence in his driving, it might be better tactically to just let him suffer a Riccardo-style crisis rather than risking a new driver taking Max to the limit.

 

[Mogster]

This is probably a cold financial calculation, nothing more. Perez is worth a huge amount of sponsorship money, and Red Bull certainly wouldn't want to give him away to another team that would love the alleged $20-30m that he comes with.

There's also the point that Max is unsettled enough, and he might well implode if a new driver comes in and starts getting close to him in qualifying and in the race. As much as Perez has clearly lost all confidence in his driving, it might be better tactically to just let him suffer a Riccardo-style crisis rather than risking a new driver taking Max to the limit.

Rumors are that the RBR Red Bull money stream isn’t as free flowing as it was in the Mateschitz era. Perez is underperforming but paying Verstappen’s wages.

These situations just confirm that F1 needs more teams.

 

[357]

Rumors are that the RBR Red Bull money stream isn’t as free flowing as it was in the Mateschitz era. Perez is underperforming but paying Verstappen’s wages.

These situations just confirm that F1 needs more teams.

Certain people in this thread love to hate the fact that people support other teams than Merc/McLaren

However, I totally agree with you. I sit here in a Red Bull shirt talking to a friend about how embarrassing the current situation is when I saw the notification from this thread.

As a comparison, I don't remember Valtteri ever missing Q3 while pared with Lewis.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Rumors are that the RBR Red Bull money stream isn’t as free flowing as it was in the Mateschitz era. Perez is underperforming but paying Verstappen’s wages.

These situations just confirm that F1 needs more teams.

I could believe it. There's a lot of politics going on within Red Bull GmbH, and I wouldn't be terribly shocked if the Austrians were tightening their belt in response to Horner somewhat outplaying them by allying with the Thai majority owners.

I agree about more teams. We really need two more teams that aren't dependent on bigger teams.

However, I totally agree with you. I sit here in a Red Bull shirt talking to a friend about how embarrassing the current situation is when I saw the notification from this thread.

I don't think it's really embarrassing, more that Perez has simply collapsed mentally. He's capable of much more, but something has happened in his head after he tried to take on Max and lost. Having said that, what on earth is Perez bringing to the table that has saved him yet again? As insane as F1 can be, it really wouldn't surprise me if he turned up with another $10m in sponsorship to save his seat.

 

[Efini92]

Rumour has it, Perez was on his way out until liberty media stepped in because they were worried about how it would affect the numbers at the Mexican GP.

 

[najaB]

Rumour has it, Perez was on his way out until liberty media stepped in because they were worried about how it would affect the numbers at the Mexican GP.

Not sure if I totally buy that, unless Liberty Media threw money in Red Bull's direction.

 

[DarloRich]

it must be the coin & politics that explain why Red Bull are keeping Perez. His performances have been awful.

Carlos to Williams - confirmed!

they have done well to get him. Was he holding out for an RB seat?

 

[Efini92]

Not sure if I totally buy that, unless Liberty Media threw money in Red Bull's direction.

Yeah I’m not sure either, but by all accounts Ricciardo to red bull was a done deal.
If it is true and they lose out to McLaren, I suspect money will be involved.

 

[DarloRich]

Red Bull Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley has left R B to become Team Principal at Audi joining by July 2025

Formula 1: Jonathan Wheatley to leave Red Bull for Audi team principal job

Jonathan Wheatley will leave Red Bull at the end of the season to become Audi's team principal.

www.bbc.co.uk

Jonathan Wheatley is to leave his role as Red Bull sporting director to become Audi's Formula 1 team principal.

The 57-year-old Briton has been at Red Bull for 18 years and will stay until the end of this season.

The move was initially announced by Red Bull to the surprise of Audi, which confirmed Wheatley's appointment more than three hours late

 

[najaB]

In addition to the tire wear and lack of an opportunity to do pickup on an in-lap, Mercedes have also said that George's plank wear was unusually high. That may well have contributed several hundred grams to the 1.5kg underweight at the end of the race.

Mercedes have found that George Russell’s car “lost more material on the plank” than average during the Belgian Grand Prix as the team’s investigation into his disqualification continues.

Russell thought he had claimed his third F1 victory at Spa last weekend, narrowly pipping team-mate Mercedes Lewis Hamilton to the chequered flag after pulling off a one-stop strategy.

However, he was excluded from the official results after his car was found to be 1.5 kilograms below the minimum weight limit during post-race checks.

Mercedes reveal Hamilton and Russell car weight details as DSQ investigation starts

Mercedes have revealed car weight details of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell at Spa amid an investigation into Russell's disqualification.

www.planetf1.com

 

[gswindale]

In addition to the tire wear and lack of an opportunity to do pickup on an in-lap, Mercedes have also said that George's plank wear was unusually high. That may well have contributed several hundred grams to the 1.5kg underweight at the end of the race.

Mercedes reveal Hamilton and Russell car weight details as DSQ investigation starts

Mercedes have revealed car weight details of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell at Spa amid an investigation into Russell's disqualification.

www.planetf1.com

So did they stop the checks after the weight issue? Should he be disqualified for excessive wear on the plank like Hamilton & LeClerc did last year? Can disqualifications be stacked - meaning he should sit out the next round?

 

[JamesT]

So did they stop the checks after the weight issue? Should he be disqualified for excessive wear on the plank like Hamilton & LeClerc did last year? Can disqualifications be stacked - meaning he should sit out the next round?

I don't think the article says the plank wear breached the limits allowed by the regulations, just that it was higher than they expected.

 

[scragend]

So did they stop the checks after the weight issue? Should he be disqualified for excessive wear on the plank like Hamilton & LeClerc did last year? Can disqualifications be stacked - meaning he should sit out the next round?

No, disqualifications can't be stacked. You can't be disqualified from the same race twice.

As above, there is no suggestion that the plank wear was in excess of the level permitted, just that it was in excess of the level expected. But even if it had been, it would still only have resulted in disqualification from that race.

 

[Crithylum]

Spa is a high plank wear track, with the compression at Eau Rouge.

Last season (according to some youtubers) Red Bull lost half a second a lap during the race by lifting to reduce plank wear (only performed when Max was far ahead). From some of the radio broadcasts, it seemed like a possibility that Max was doing the same thing this year. Although it may be just a Red Bull problem.

I would’ve expected teams to be running close to the plank wear limit, although I guess they may be cautious after USA last season

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Just read Gunther Steiner Surviving to Drive: A year inside Formula 1 about his experience of the 2022 season worth a read

 

[JD2168]

Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer Peter Bonington will not be moving to Ferrari next year & will remain at Mercedes in a promotion to Head of Race Engineering.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Aug 2024 ==

Jack Doohan has been announced as the team mate to Pierre Gasly at Alpine for 2025. He is the son of former multiple 500cc Motorcycle Grand Prix champion Mick Doohan.

 

[PG]

Liam Lawson has apparently been promised a race seat by Helmut Marko but which team hasn't been specified - question is which of the current drivers will be shown the door?

 

[Donny Dave]

Logan Sargent has had a big crash in FP3, and is probably out of qualifying today.

 

[najaB]

...and is probably out of qualifying today.

Understatement and a half! If your car is on fire and in pieces in Q3 you'll be lucky to make the race on Sunday.

 

[JamesT]

Understatement and a half! If your car is on fire and in pieces in Q3 you'll be lucky to make the race on Sunday.

I thought Williams had managed to sort out having a spare chassis now? Would be a long day but they ought to be able to sort out a car for tomorrow.

 

[najaB]

I thought Williams had managed to sort out having a spare chassis now? Would be a long day but they ought to be able to sort out a car for tomorrow.

Still, it's a lot of work. And who knows what damage was done in the crash meaning that components can't just be swapped over.

We've seen more than one instance where teams have had to work though the night and only just made it in time.

 

[JamesT]

Still, it's a lot of work. And who knows what damage was done in the crash meaning that components can't just be swapped over.

We've seen more than one instance where teams have had to work though the night and only just made it in time.

Apparently the chassis is usable, but the gearbox and engine are destroyed. (James Vowles on Sky just now).
He didn’t say whether Logan would be racing tomorrow, the stewards are usually fairly relaxed about missing qualifying if you’ve managed a time in free practice.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Apparently the chassis is usable, but the gearbox and engine are destroyed. (James Vowles on Sky just now).
He didn’t say whether Logan would be racing tomorrow, the stewards are usually fairly relaxed about missing qualifying if you’ve managed a time in free practice.

Sainz can't come quick enough

 

[sannox]

Norris winning by 22 seconds over Verstappen at the Dutch GP. Second half of the season will be interesting as it looks like Red Bull's advantage has gone and we might have a title fight...

 

[Efini92]

Norris winning by 22 seconds over Verstappen at the Dutch GP. Second half of the season will be interesting as it looks like Red Bull's advantage has gone and we might have a title fight...

I suspect verstappen did enough in the first half of the season to seal the crown. I think McLaren will probably take the constructors though.

 

[bearhugger]

Apparently the chassis is usable, but the gearbox and engine are destroyed. (James Vowles on Sky just now).
He didn’t say whether Logan would be racing tomorrow, the stewards are usually fairly relaxed about missing qualifying if you’ve managed a time in free practice.

Didn't there used to be a rule about not setting a time in qualifying that the other teams had to agree to the driver being allowed to take part in the race also? Is that rule still in place?

 

[sannox]

I suspect verstappen did enough in the first half of the season to seal the crown. I think McLaren will probably take the constructors though.

Yeah - its a 70 point gap so Norris needs to really needs others to beat Red Bull more consistently.

 

[66701GBRF]

Didn't there used to be a rule about not setting a time in qualifying that the other teams had to agree to the driver being allowed to take part in the race also? Is that rule still in place?

It's the stewards that make the decision to let a driver race if they haven't set a qualifying time that is within 107% of the fastest Q1 time.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2024 ==

I suspect verstappen did enough in the first half of the season to seal the crown. I think McLaren will probably take the constructors though.

I would agree with that. However one DNF or low/no points race for Verstappen might change that.