The Official F1 Thread

[sturginho]

Have to laugh.

Red Bull so far this season have blamed Merc for bullying Masi but of course they applied less pressure in Abu Dhabi. And now complaining about the Merc car.

The complaint on the car may have some merit but the whining last season from both was tiresome and we are off and running again.

Why does Horner's whining come across more annoying than Wolffs' whining?

I haven't read any whining coming from Mercedes this season since testing began yet but both were as bad as each other last season, although I think Mercedes had a right to be fucked off about Abu Dhabi.

Are you kidding? he's spent the entire winter whining about anything and everything. Andretti haven't even joined F1 yet and already he's whining about them!

[Big D]

Why does Horner's whining come across more annoying than Wolffs' whining?

I haven't read any whining coming from Mercedes this season since testing began yet but both were as bad as each other last season, although I think Mercedes had a right to be fucked off about Abu Dhabi.

Are you kidding? he's spent the entire winter whining about anything and everything. Andretti haven't even joined F1 yet and already he's whining about them!

No not kidding , I haven't read anything either lot have said until this testing. Off season in F1 is duller than dishwater mostly so I generally don't really read anything about it unless something pops up on social media (well twitter as I binned the rest). I was ill during the first lot of testing so wasn't paying attention if anything was said. He probably has spent off season whining, I just haven't read it.

At any rate, I haven't said one is better or worse than the other I said both sides whining was tiresome and we are off and running again and both were as bad as each other.

[Thor Sedan]

Why does Horner's whining come across more annoying than Wolffs' whining?

I haven't read any whining coming from Mercedes this season since testing began yet but both were as bad as each other last season, although I think Mercedes had a right to be fucked off about Abu Dhabi.

Are you kidding? he's spent the entire winter whining about anything and everything. Andretti haven't even joined F1 yet and already he's whining about them!

Perhaps.....but my point was that Horner comes across as smug and entitled when he whines - Wolff doesn't seem to do that - even though he is certainly coming from a position of entitlement.

I think Horner is just a more unlikeable guy.

That's all.

[sturginho]

I haven't read any whining coming from Mercedes this season since testing began yet but both were as bad as each other last season, although I think Mercedes had a right to be fucked off about Abu Dhabi.

Are you kidding? he's spent the entire winter whining about anything and everything. Andretti haven't even joined F1 yet and already he's whining about them!

Perhaps.....but my point was that Horner comes across as smug and entitled when he whines - Wolff doesn't seem to do that - even though he is certainly coming from a position of entitlement.

I think Horner is just a more unlikeable guy.

That's all.

And he's married to a spice girl, the bastard

[Punter15]

I haven't read any whining coming from Mercedes this season since testing began yet but both were as bad as each other last season, although I think Mercedes had a right to be fucked off about Abu Dhabi.

Are you kidding? he's spent the entire winter whining about anything and everything. Andretti haven't even joined F1 yet and already he's whining about them!

Perhaps.....but my point was that Horner comes across as smug and entitled when he whines - Wolff doesn't seem to do that - even though he is certainly coming from a position of entitlement.

I think Horner is just a more unlikeable guy.

That's all.

Horner is just unlikeable full stop. Anything that doesn’t go his way is unfair and the whole culture at Red Bull just feels quite cunty.

Anyway Season 4 of Drive to Survive out now.

[Mr Bungle]

While I still like Horner, he’s the one telling everyone what Toto thinks and how he’s never been under pressure and how he’s all financials rather than the competition. Christian should stfu.

[SaintK]

While I still like Horner, he’s the one telling everyone what Toto thinks and how he’s never been under pressure and how he’s all financials rather than the competition. Christian should stfu.

He never said anything!!

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said the Mercedes design complied with the rules a day after being quoted saying it was "illegal".
Horner said it was an "extreme" rules interpretation, but: "It looks like it ticks all the [legality] boxes."
He insisted his earlier quoted comments about the car "weren't made".

[Mr Bungle]

While I still like Horner, he’s the one telling everyone what Toto thinks and how he’s never been under pressure and how he’s all financials rather than the competition. Christian should stfu.

He never said anything!!

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said the Mercedes design complied with the rules a day after being quoted saying it was "illegal".
Horner said it was an "extreme" rules interpretation, but: "It looks like it ticks all the [legality] boxes."
He insisted his earlier quoted comments about the car "weren't made".

Have you watched episode 1 of season 4 Drive to Survive?

[Guy Smiley]

While I still like Horner, he’s the one telling everyone what Toto thinks and how he’s never been under pressure and how he’s all financials rather than the competition. Christian should stfu.

He never said anything!!

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said the Mercedes design complied with the rules a day after being quoted saying it was "illegal".
Horner said it was an "extreme" rules interpretation, but: "It looks like it ticks all the [legality] boxes."
He insisted his earlier quoted comments about the car "weren't made".

Have you watched episode 1 of season 4 Drive to Survive?

I did, last night.

That's exactly what Horner says, to camera. There's also the scuttlebutt running around the pits about something Horner supposedly said about the Merc being illegal which Red Bull took pains to claim wasn't actually said... so he said something and didn't realise it would get out is the common take on that.


I went off Horner big time last season. I wasn't really a fan before that as I think he does a poor job of managing two drivers. He has a real talent on his hands with Max but he throws the other team mates under the bus before he'll pull Max up. Last year he displayed all of the petty, chip on the shoulder resentment that seems to drive him.... " I want to win, Toto is more interested in the financials' FFS.

He's a smarmy cunt. Being married to Gerri Halliwell just highlights the ....


lack of polish.

[Grandpa]

He never said anything!!

Have you watched episode 1 of season 4 Drive to Survive?

I did, last night.

That's exactly what Horner says, to camera. There's also the scuttlebutt running around the pits about something Horner supposedly said about the Merc being illegal which Red Bull took pains to claim wasn't actually said... so he said something and didn't realise it would get out is the common take on that.


I went off Horner big time last season. I wasn't really a fan before that as I think he does a poor job of managing two drivers. He has a real talent on his hands with Max but he throws the other team mates under the bus before he'll pull Max up. Last year he displayed all of the petty, chip on the shoulder resentment that seems to drive him.... " I want to win, Toto is more interested in the financials' FFS.

He's a smarmy cunt. Being married to Gerri Halliwell just highlights the ....


lack of polish.

Should have married posh?

Spice...

[Insane_Homer]

[assfly]

The first episode of Drive to Survive is a bit disappointing. Just seems to be a bunch of catchphrases (2nd isn't an option, we came to win, the stakes have never been higher, etc...) with slow motions of cars racing. Feels

Does it get any better?

[Mr Bungle]

The first episode of Drive to Survive is a bit disappointing. Just seems to be a bunch of catchphrases (2nd isn't an option, we came to win, the stakes have never been higher, etc...) with slow motions of cars racing. Feels

Does it get any better?

It does, but it's still thin on the ground compared to other years. I did enjoy Mazespin's tough start as viewed from within the team.

[Insane_Homer]

The first episode of Drive to Survive is a bit disappointing. Just seems to be a bunch of catchphrases (2nd isn't an option, we came to win, the stakes have never been higher, etc...) with slow motions of cars racing. Feels

Does it get any better?

[Guy Smiley]

What do you expect?

It's a soap opera. They edit and script to their hearts' content. In other words, it's bullshit.

Made for Americans.

[Insane_Homer]

What do you expect?

It's a soap opera. They edit and script to their hearts' content. In other words, it's bullshit.

Made for Americans.

I figured that out halfway through S1E1 and have not watched any since

[assfly]

I enjoyed the last few series. It was interesting enough to see past the Britain's Got Talent vibe to it, to the point it really got be back into F1 after a few years away. But perhaps they have run out of interesting things to feature.

[Insane_Homer]

Free Practice 1,2,3 each race is much better for all the gossip and real behind the scenes goings on. Ant and Karun et al have much better insights about the teams, cars, drivers, rivalries, politics and shifting tides. Not as good since they've cut the FP times. It was best when they were 2 hours long, the guys had time to get into finer details and less of the repetitive nonsense you get from the pre-quali and pre-race official build-up.

[Grandpa]

It would be better if it was "live". Or say 24 hours behind... rather than a year behind... I struggled to watch more than a couple of episodes... if anything it took away from, rather than added to the sport... as someone else said.. made for Americans or non-F1 fans...

[Insane_Homer]

oh and...

Lego Mclaren 2022.jpg (336.38 KiB) Viewed 1986 times

[Dinsdale Piranha]

What do you expect?

It's a soap opera. They edit and script to their hearts' content. In other words, it's bullshit.

Made for Americans.

A friend’s company sponsors Red Bull and they had a tour there. Christian Horner put in an appearance for a talk and Q&A and was asked how much Drive to Survive was about penetrating the US market. The answer was “entirely”

[handyman]

Why are people forced to watch d2s?

[Woddy]

Why are people forced to watch d2s?

I've really enjoyed past seasons, but then I'm not a big F1 fan so it was good to see why e.g. P5 vs P6 matters so much to some drivers and teams. And to discover personalities outside the top 4 of any given season. The fact that Hamilton / Merc (in particular) do not feature much is great.

Not sure the Britain's Got Talent tag is fair. They have spent time on loads of different drivers. Just so happens one or two of them are British (or Thai).

[Mr Bungle]

I hadn’t watched F1 since the mid to late 90s. Back when midnight Sunday races were a great way to continue the weekend in the flat at Uni.

20 years almost in the wilderness only taking a parting interest, I’d lost touch with the competitors and personalities. DTS got me up to speed on all of the field. The races within the race. The bit players but also insight into the team principals. It reignited my passion in the sport.

I get free access through Spark Sport for F1ProTV. It’s great to have.

I prefer following F1 to rugby these days. DTS played a part in that.

[ScarfaceClaw]

I’m calling it standard pre season Mercedes sand bagging. Hamilton win this weekend with Russell third. Le Clerc or Verstappen second.

[Guy Smiley]

I’m calling it standard pre season Mercedes sand bagging. Hamilton win this weekend with Russell third. Le Clerc or Verstappen second.

I think sandbagging is over used, especially with regard to Mercedes. RB for instance, were puddling about until the last afternoon when they unveiled some 'upgrades' and suddenly threatened the speed of light.

Actually, there's an appealing notion... RB accidentally discover the speed of light in the garage and Horner, Marko and Max disappear into a black hole, which pulsates for a short time in a manner described by those with too much internet exposure as 'gaping' before burping into non existence.

All of them are flat out trying to work out their new designs and the porpoising has thrown a spanner in the works. Someone will no doubt make decent progress before the race and everyone will nod sagely and mention sandbagging but it's bullshit. Everyone is deep into development stage right now and advances can come quickly or not at all.

I reckon a serious dark horse at this stage is Alonso in the Alpine.

[Insane_Homer]

Season officially under way, FP1 on now. 8 mins for first red flag. Alpine shedding a ton of bodywork down the the start finish straight.

[handyman]

Bottas with a misfiring engine.

[Thor Sedan]

Yeah this isn't Mercedes sandbagging - they are properly struggling.

[Biffer]

Good primer on aerodynamic changes here

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/60758079

Must admit the changes have me intrigued. If F1 can get back to some nose to tail slipstreaming then it'll be a lot more exciting again.

The other change I'd like to see is to go back to your top 12/14/whatever results counting. That gives a whole different set of engineering trade offs of speed vs reliability.

[Blake]

I hadn’t watched F1 since the mid to late 90s. Back when midnight Sunday races were a great way to continue the weekend in the flat at Uni.

20 years almost in the wilderness only taking a parting interest, I’d lost touch with the competitors and personalities. DTS got me up to speed on all of the field. The races within the race. The bit players but also insight into the team principals. It reignited my passion in the sport.

I get free access through Spark Sport for F1ProTV. It’s great to have.

I prefer following F1 to rugby these days. DTS played a part in that.

Same. Stopped watching F1 in the mid-2000s.
Stumbled across DTS on Netflix last year, gave it a whirl and started having an interest in F1 again.

[fishfoodie]

I think F1 are going to have to bring in concussion protocols, because having your head bounce up & down like that can't be good for you.

There a weird stretch of road near me where car porpoise, & it's not a pleasant experience at 100kph, I don't want to think what it's like at these guys speeds, & while braking

[ScarfaceClaw]

And Hamilton sticks in a fast lap in FP3. Gasp. Who could have imagined that.

[fishfoodie]

And Hamilton sticks in a fast lap in FP3. Gasp. Who could have imagined that.

After Sky have been absolutely definite that there was no question that they weren't sandbagging, no siree

[sefton]

Qualifying doesn’t suit the agenda of those above.

[sturginho]

Great quali. Ferrari on pole and Bottas on the 3rd row alongside Hamilton

[Guy Smiley]

And Hamilton sticks in a fast lap in FP3. Gasp. Who could have imagined that.

After Sky have been absolutely definite that there was no question that they weren't sandbagging, no siree

Qualifying on the third row. Yup, they really kept that potential hidden away.

[JM2K6]

And Hamilton sticks in a fast lap in FP3. Gasp. Who could have imagined that.

After Sky have been absolutely definite that there was no question that they weren't sandbagging, no siree

Qualifying on the third row. Yup, they really kept that potential hidden away.

Fucking weird how many people seem to watch sport just to be insanely partisan regarding people they have no connection to at all

[Kawazaki]

After Sky have been absolutely definite that there was no question that they weren't sandbagging, no siree

Qualifying on the third row. Yup, they really kept that potential hidden away.

Fucking weird how many people seem to watch sport just to be insanely partisan regarding people they have no connection to at all

People hate winners.

[Guy Smiley]

Article here where Toto explains where he thinks they're at and why they've started the season so short of where they're expected to be...

Mercedes realised the problems with its 2022 Formula 1 car “much too late” because it was relying too much on its Bahrain test upgrade, according to Toto Wolff.

It ran in a different configuration at the opening Barcelona test before bringing a significant upgrade package to the second pre-season test in Bahrain, which included the strikingly minimised sidepod concept.

But Wolff said that caused the reigning constructors’ champion team to “stumble upon circumstances which made us realise that we had an issue much too late”.

Mercedes was left grappling with porpoising problems that made the W13 a difficult car for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell to tame and a package that looked far slower than Red Bull and Ferrari.

Knowing the Bahrain test package was coming left Mercedes “looking at the results and the data from the first test in maybe not the same way you should be” according to Wolff, in an apparent hint it wasn’t looking close enough at the car to discover its underlying problem at Barcelona because it had so much faith in the upgrades that were coming.

and...

Fifth and ninth is Mercedes’ worst qualifying result in an F1 season-opener since Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher qualified seventh and 11th for the 2011 Australian Grand Prix.