F1 2023 (will 100% contain spoilers)

Just stop policing them.  Why bother, it's bloody farcical?  With no limits all drivers will use the amount of track that's offered to them.  It's equal.

George and Zhou weren't in any really tight battles lap after lap.  Hamilton was pushed hard by Norris and then pushed Perez hard.  Hard racing at the limit is what we want to see and if the track can't support that without ridiculous policing, they should accept that as a track limitation.

Why bother, it’s bloody farcical?

This is the FIA rule in question:

33.3 Drivers must make every reasonable effort to use the track at all times and may not leave
the track without a justifiable reason.
Drivers will be judged to have left the track if no part of the car remains in contact with it
and, for the avoidance of doubt, any white lines defining the track edges are considered
to be part of the track but the kerbs are not.
Should a car leave the track the driver may re-join, however, this may only be done when
it is safe to do so and without gaining any lasting advantage. At the absolute discretion
of the Race Director a driver may be given the opportunity to give back the whole of any
advantage he gained by leaving the track

I'd say that's pretty clear. (Clearer than the ones about safety car procedures fo sho!). The only reason they abuse track limits at those turns is to gain an advantage.

Without policing the rules you could get situations at some tracks like Austin where the runoff around the S bends is just acres of painted tarmac without proper kerbs so if you stopped policing track limits what's to stop someone just straight lining the whole thing? Yes that'd be taking the mickey but you need to draw the line somewhere and, as luck would have it, there's already a line drawn around the edge of the track.

If there was a wall other side of white line like the street circuits have they wouldn't hit the wall and complain its unfair. Just keep it between the white lines or it that to hard for them.

Just stop policing them.  Why bother, it’s bloody farcical?

Because what's  farcical at this track, becomes "You bloody cheating bastards" on another. As explained in this informative video explainer

If there was a wall other side of white line like the street circuits have they wouldn’t hit the wall and complain its unfair. Just keep it between the white lines or it that to hard for them.

In principal the rules are fine - the track is the bit between the white lines.

But if the FIA are unable to police the rules they should drop it until they can. 1200+ breeches of the rule suggests the track layout needs adjusting. And apparently the FIA asked them to add gravel traps after last seasons race, but they refused. I have a feeling the ask will be a demand now.

But we all know cars jumping kerbs provides excitement. Cars on rails with no jeopardy - well you may as well pop down the local Scalextric club.

But adding more gravel means more cars may be lost from the race as they get stuck. We lose cars, but it also adds a random element that is lacking now. The ruddy cars just don't break!! 🙂

Barbed wire beyond the kerbs.

Cant they just put some big sausage curbs a cars width over the line. Fear or ripping the suspension off or damaging the floor would keep them in order

Cant they just put some big sausage curbs a cars width over the line. Fear or ripping the suspension off or damaging the floor would keep them in order

Didn't work

https://insideracing.com/index.php/formula-1/7952-red-bull-question-use-of-sausage-kerbs-after-expensive-friday-in-austria

Anyhow back to the race...

- on the team radio that was broadcast, Hamilton did not sound like a man who is about to sign a new contract
- have Aston Martin lost their early season pace advantage
- when will Ferrari hire one of the thousands of armchair strategists who would've made better calls in the race than they did AGAIN. Heck I'm retiring in a few months - I'll do it for 50K, first class travel & accommodation at each race and a new company car every 6 months.

– on the team radio that was broadcast, Hamilton did not sound like a man who is about to sign a new contract

Agree - I can see him in Red next season - swap for Lecrlec. Rumours on Twitter that Toto wants to reign his salary in too.

– have Aston Martin lost their early season pace advantage

Probably chucking the budget at next seasons car now - concept is proven. Refine it a bit this year, and big push for 2024.

What about fitting things like pressure activated LED cats-eyes to the outside of the track.

If the car runs over them they simply squash out of the way but they light up so it is immediately obvious they have been touched. a piezo crystal mays that bit easy.

You could even put water in them so as they squash down they spray a small safe amount of water up so the car lodes a little grip too. I suppose you could use tomato ketchup instead of water for better visual impact.

– on the team radio that was broadcast, Hamilton did not sound like a man who is about to sign a new contract

He often moans constantly on the radio, it doesn't mean anything. He'll be back next year driving for Merc.

That stop by Max for fastest lap was just hilarious! Red Bull are winning every race this season, aren't they? Has that ever happened before?

Has that ever happened before?

No. McLaren should have done in 1988(?) but Senna got taken out by a backmarker so they only won 15/16.

Speaking of McLaren, they seem to have done a great job with their upgrade. Obviously still need a few races to tell for sure but very promising overall.

Merc have a big update coming next weekend, hopefully that sorts their balance problem out

Didn’t work

https://insideracing.com/index.php/formula-1/7952-red-bull-question-use-of-sausage-kerbs-after-expensive-friday-in-austriaPosted 3 hours ago

I would say it worked well. Those who breached track limits had to pit to fix the car. If it was gravel they would have been out of the race.

I would say it worked well. Those who breached track limits had to pit to fix the car.

Be a hell of a pit crew to fix this in a stop.

Monza, but still, quick corner.

Funny how things come around
https://flic.kr/p/2oM9Duv

https://twitter.com/McLarenF1/status/1675909480754876416?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1675909480754876416|twgr^|twcon^s1_&ref_url=

They've done a shit job of that

It's coming Chrome,

It's coming Chrome,

Racing's coming Chrome.

A song about fans desperately hoping a team can live up to past triumphs while knowing inside that it's not going to happen? Seems about right for mclaren these days

Speaking of McLaren, they seem to have done a great job with their upgrade. Obviously still need a few races to tell for sure but very promising overall.

They have another 1/4 of the upgrade coming at Silverstone and the rest at Hungary. I bet Piastri cannot wait to get his hands on the car at Silverstone.

Funny how things come around

Yup!

So F1 seem to be stoking up online hate now.

Running tweets of the Lewis/Max crash from the 2021 British - needless to say the replies aren't "well, it's just racing old chap".

I wonder how long it will be until there's fighting in the grandstands.

So F1 seem to be stoking up online hate now

Its an unfortunate consequence if the popularity and people watching becoming United or City supporters.

Personally I couldnt care less who wins, as long as its a good race.

'Rivalries' are being created for clicks, shares and likes now though.

There was a tweet I saw last week from a lady saying she'd love to go to Austria as it's just a great setting for an F1 race. She felt unable too though as being a Lewis and Mercedes fan there'd be constant intimidation.

So now Austria and Zandvoort are now no-go zones unless you like orange. And IIRC there was a bad atmosphere in some areas of Monza last season too.

It's never been a clan sport, but is being promoted that way now.

Just put a little nerve gas in all the orange flares, that should solve the problem.

Rivalries’ are being created for clicks, shares and likes now though.

Verstappen commented on this about the Netflix series, and that its edited to make comments and things folks say to be taken out of context  its done wonders for the viewing numbers, but even on pretty well established F1 sites the comments sometimes aren't pretty.

edit: I can see the same thing happen in Pro cycling. There was a minor controversy about WvA throwing his bottle in frustration at the end of stage on Monday that was mostly driven by an offhand answer to question on the new (again) Netflix series. I see they're doing the same for Tennis as well.

Where do we think Sonny Hayes will place this weekend then? Win from the pits, or enormous accident?

Tobi Gruner just confirmed on Twitter that Austria T9 and T10 will have gravel traps next year. Moto GP were asked and are "okay with it".

Where do we think Sonny Hayes will place this weekend then?

I'm expecting an incident with Joshua Pearce that makes sonny question his ability to get back to his former glory, but after going through tough times Sonny will probably nail it in an emotional finale at the last race.

Jenny Gow interviewing Lewis Hamilton on the Chequered Flag podcast.....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0fzh976

Amazing to hear her back and I'm finding it quite an emotional listen just because it's her first interview since her stroke.
Hopefully kicking off a good weekend of F1.

Ah that's great, love jenny - really missed her on the 5 live coverage.

Another wonderful qualifying performance from Perez 😉

Great Q1!

Another wonderful qualifying performance from Perez

And Albon looks like a giant-killer.

Great quali for Mclaren!

The was good!

Perez out of a race seat before the end of the season?

At the end of the season rather than before would be my bet.

Recovery drives through the pack seem to be his specialty.

ISTR a joke in last seasons thread was about Horner having to say "great recovery drive Checo..." on the radio at every race 😆

Looks like Piastri made the right choice after all!

Yeah McLaren have done an awesome job, brilliant turnaround! They've made an enormous step. Love it

Great to see McLaren improving, but too early to say whether it's track and condition specific or whether McLaren and Ferrari can keep their tyres alive over a full race distance in hotter conditions. There was only about .25 of a second between Norris in second and Hamilton in seventh, quite likely that second fastest team will keep changing race by race.

but too early to say whether it’s track and condition specific

Oh, I think we can pretty much say that yesterday's result was 1. the track suits the car, and 2. the McLaren gets its fronts up to temp pretty rapidly when it's cooler.

There were many annoying fans at Silverstone last year obsessed with Lewis against Max, the constant girly gibbering like cheerleaders got on my fxxxxxg nerves, the minute Verstappen had a problem could hardly hear the cars for the cheers lots of hate. Away back to watch Spurs v Arsenal
I suppose back in the days of Nigel Mansell Nelson Piquet it might have been as bad probably worse

Damian Lewis, lost for words

I really wish he had been 😱

Whose stupid idea was that 🤦🏻‍♂️

Yep, what the merry hell was that all about 😂😂😂🫣

Well it was nice while it lasted.

Live feed from the Ferrari strategy department.

What a cracking race! Really enjoyed watching the whole thing start to finish on C4!

The McLaren’s showed some amazing race pace, well done to them. Feel for Piastri, if it wasn’t for the Safety car he would have got 3rd!  Great driving by Lando to get head at the start and also keeping

I wonder if Hamilton will be giving Zak Brown a call to get a ride for next year?