Formula 1 2025 – WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS

Well the RB strategy has screwed my Fantasy F1 points! 🤣

Max should have got driver of the day - dragged another decent result from a car that’s not working well.

Driver of the day was a strange one. I'm guessing some dubious voting going on there.

Posted by: the-muffin-man

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I don’t think Lawson will be in that Red Bull in Japan - they’ve changed the car overnight and he still can’t make the tyres work.

Ted Kravitz to Horner yesterday ‘This isn’t what you paid off Checo for, is it?’

Hamiltons chat with his engineer was a little tense I thought,  re yielding to LeClerc.

Norris may require new underwear after finishing with no brakes, but could that be a crucial finish come December?

As for Lawson, poor guy must be feeling it, but what do Red Bull do?

Posted by: jimster01

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As for Lawson, poor guy must be feeling it, but what do Red Bull do?

Red Bull may swap Lawson and Tsunoda for next F1 race

In the post race interviews, he’s lamenting the lack of testing in an actual Redbull from previous years, rather than RB/VCARB, which obviously has different characteristics compared to the likes of Antonelli, who has had dozens of days in previous gen mercs.

Can’t imagine that will go down well, TBH.

Lawson wouldn't have had time to test previous Red Bulls though. The back end of last season he was racing the RB and the winter break is so short now it leaves very little spare capacity for Red Bull to run a test team for Lawson.

As soon as Lewis announced he was leaving Kimi had a full years run-up to prepare.

I’d have had him in a car every day possible from the end of last season. If I were Liam/his management, I’d have wanted him in a car every day. Checo had over a decade of experience before being beaten by the car, never mind Max, Liam has had 11 races. Even as the Redbull reserve driver, he never drove, from what he said on Drive to Survive.

What's the restriction on him driving older RBs now (I know the gaps between actual races are already short)?

Can't see either Yuki driving a Red Bull or Liam driving an RB between now and Japan.

It'll be a seat fitting and a few days in the sim at best to familiarise themselves with systems.

Teams don't just have test teams on stand-by - it's not the 1990s! 🙂

Last year Max was unhappy about how narrow the operating window on the Red Bull was. He built up a big points lead early, but that flattered the car. He is able to extract the performance from it, but it's just not realistic to expect a rookie to do that. The way this is going, Red Bull will wind up fourth in the constructors' and Max will be off to Merc next year.

Both Ferraris at risk of DSQ! 😱

.......

Confirmed now - all disqualified.

That'll improve my F1 Fantasy Team standings

Posted by: jimster01

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That'll improve my F1 Fantasy Team standings

The opposite for me 😂

Ah, Ferrari. Two races now where both drivers have repeatedly been irritated by their engineers, some bungled team orders today, duff strategy last week and questionable decisions this week, and then two DQs on technical infringements. Fred needs to bang some heads together somewhere.

I don't think the team orders was bungled, just sounded confused on the feed that was broadcast. What was missed was Hamilton right from the start offering to swap places, and then circumstances - overtaking Stroll, and Leclerc not being directly behind, and Hamilton making the decision about where it would happen rather than the team on the pit wall. Taken in context its a big drama over nothing. Getting both cars DSQ was unlucky as well, especially Leclerc which turns out to be mostly tyre wear, and to the extent that Pirelli have got the tyres back at the lab to test why they wore out so much that they were significantly under-weight. 

I think like all the other teams, Ferrari are finding that the operating window for these cars (on this seasons tyres) is variable to the point of randomness. 

OK, some details there that I was unaware of.

How on earth are they not put back on new tyres to do the weigh in? If they can account for missing parts of the front wing, surely the tyres should be reset as well?

Posted by: Speeder

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How on earth are they not put back on new tyres to do the weigh in? If they can account for missing parts of the front wing, surely the tyres should be reset as well?

Tyres have to be as they finished the race - that's why they drive around picking up the marbles after the race to try and add a bit more weight to the tyres.

Yes, this isn't the first time that drivers have been DSQd because the team misjudged tyre wear. The teams know the rules, it's up to them to comply.

A more detailed report on the Ferrari position-swap messages shown on TV - Ted Kravitz called this out on air too pointing out they'd only show parts of the discussion...

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/a-joke-ferrari-angered-f1-radio-hamilton-leclerc-swap-chinese-gp/

Posted by: Speeder

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How on earth are they not put back on new tyres to do the weigh in? If they can account for missing parts of the front wing, surely the tyres should be reset as well?

I agree, it's a bit of a silly rule in some ways.

But as it stands, the rule is basically that if something is damaged then you can weigh it with the same spec part it would originally have had. However, you cannot do the same for wear and tear parts- brake pads, the plank & skids, any oil that got burned etc. 

It's up to the teams to estimate how much weight the tyres etc will lose in the race, and sometimes they sail too close to the wind (e.g. Russell in Spa).

OT- Billy Monger is aiming to take part in the triathlon in LA 2028 paralympics

https://twitter.com/BillyMonger/status/1903748699819237658

Posted by: jimster01

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That'll improve my F1 Fantasy Team standings

Mine too! Although I have Gasly too so lost some minor points there.

This fantasy F1 seems to have it in for me. I dropped Ocon based on Haas being rubbish in Aus and swapped in Doohan. Then Ocon goes and gets a 5th and Doohan rolls around at the back driving in to people.

Posted by: multi21

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[OT- Billy Monger is aiming to take part in the triathlon in LA 2028 paralympics

https://twitter.com/BillyMonger/status/1903748699819237658

Thats great news. I’ve been waiting for him to choose a sport for years. I wish him all the best 

Posted by: Speeder

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How on earth are they not put back on new tyres to do the weigh in? If they can account for missing parts of the front wing, surely the tyres should be reset as well?

Cars have to be above the minimum weight (not including fuel) at all times, but it’s kinda hard to weigh them during the race. The decision document explains all the process that went on with it. Decisions noticeboard

Glad it’s been a bit unpredictable start to the season, as I’m off to Suzuka next week. The flight and F1 ticket when I booked in September was still cheaper then going to Silverstone…

Posted by: Speeder

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Glad it’s been a bit unpredictable start to the season, as I’m off to Suzuka next week. The flight and F1 ticket when I booked in September was still cheaper then going to Silverstone…

Crazy but it’s working for you. Have a great trip 

Posted by: j4mie

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Glad it’s been a bit unpredictable start to the season, as I’m off to Suzuka next week. The flight and F1 ticket when I booked in September was still cheaper then going to Silverstone…

Wow that's absolute madness, and I am extremely envious of you! 😀 

 Don’t understand how RB can put yuki in a RB next race. He drives for a different team, it’s like suggesting they put Albon or Alonso in it because they may do a better job. Surely the whole point of teams is that drivers can only drive for one at a time not swap between teams. It makes a complete mockery of the concept they are 2 teams.

Posted by: chrismac

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Surely the whole point of teams is that drivers can only drive for one at a time not swap between teams.

Lawson out and Yuki in at Red Bull for Japan confirmed by multiple sources. Lawson heading back to Racing Bulls.

Posted by: Thepurist

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It's not that uncommon for drivers to switch to a different team mid season

For large amounts of money as drivers are bought out of contracts and as a one way trip

Johnny Herbert in 1994. Benneton and Ligier were in common ownership, although he was sold by Lotus.

But go back to the fifties and sixties and it was very common 

Lindblad to replace Hadjar as Verstappen's teammate from Miami onwards 

Posted by: Rick Draper

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Lawson out and Yuki in at Red Bull for Japan confirmed by multiple sources. Lawson heading back to Racing Bulls.

Brutal but makes sense and tbh it could also vindicate him if tsu struggles

Posted by: andrewh

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Lindblad to replace Hadjar as Verstappen's teammate from Miami onwards

Honestly, nothing would surprise me.

Well, you know that when Horner says, “we’ve got a duty to look after him. We’re going to do the best that we can to support him”, it’ll be followed swiftly by a P45.

Home race in the big car for Yuki, then. He deserves it, let’s just hope he doesn’t become yet another Red Bull whipping boy.

I'd laugh if Tsunoda turned round to Horny and said "**** you, I  wasn't good enough for the seat last year, and I'm quite happy here thank you very much ."

Red Bull management certainly need to take a good look at themselves because this has been going on for years. 

Lawson heading back to Racing Bulls.

Potentially embarrassing for everyone if Lawson goes faster in the RB. I'll bet Verstappen will be less than chuffed that yet again Red Bull don't seem to be able to look past the fact that only he can drive their car. 

I'll bet Verstappen will be less than chuffed that yet again Red Bull don't seem to be able to look past the fact that only he can drive their car. 

I think he made a reference effectively saying that the RB was quicker than the Red Bull at China. 

I agree, Tsunoda should turn it down....he's got nothing to gain.

Posted by: Bez

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Home race in the big car for Yuki, then.

Just think of all those Japanese fans freshly kitted out in their 2025 Racing Bulls kit for the race. Now they'll have to get through the gates and go straight to the mechandise stands to buy all the Red Bull kit instead.

I agree, Tsunoda should turn it down....he's got nothing to gain.

I mean Tsunoda probably doesn't really have a choice, if he turned it down, they could probably just sack him from racing bulls as well!

What’s the record for most number of drivers for a team in a single season? 4? Yuki, de vries, ricciardo and Lawson at alpha tauri?

And there's a big question mark over the new Ford engine

I think, given their history, there's a big question mark over any Ford involvement in any racing team. Many have commented that Ford have "The Ford" way of doing things that often collides with the need to move quickly as a racing team. 

I think Yuki will be excited to drive the Red Bull TBH, if he can at least get within waving distance of Verstappen in Qualis, the seat is probably his for the season, and that car can (and should) get into the points with a half decent driver, I think it just needs someone with more experience than Lawson has in F1 to do it. Lawson has proved he can drive many different types of car very fast, but the Red Bull is a different thing all together, and even Sainz and Hamilton have commented about the fact that current cars are extremely difficult to drive especially given the lack of testing available, and if you've moved teams, and if they're both struggling with all their experience, imagine being Lawson with only 11 races worth under his belt. Feel sorry for him really, this was entirely predictable, and Horner and Marko should man up and shoulder the blame. 

Posted by: Twodogs

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I agree, Tsunoda should turn it down....he's got nothing to gain.

Yeah, that seat is a bit of a poisoned chalice really. But I bet that Yuki will think that he will be able to drive it well, or at least do a better job than Lawson did.  That seems to be the nature of most racing drivers.

One counter-point is that Red Bull will most likely improve the car over the course of the season.  Verstappen was moaning about drivability in testing so they will have been working on it for a while already.

Lawson needs to see this as an opportunity rather than a set back.  If he can go to Racing Bulls and out qualify and race Hadjar then he regains a lot of credibility.

If Tsunoda struggles in the Red Bull too then maybe they finally need to admit there is a fundamental issue with the car that's being masked by Verstappen's freakish talent and driving style.