Formula 1 2024 – WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS

Times is reporting that they’ve been told not to expect any resolution until just before the first Grand Prix

A cynic may say that’s plenty of time to pressure the witness and force an out of court settlement with a NDA applied. But you’d have to be a cynical type mind…

Does he have a reputation for being unpleasant to work for?

My assumption about most of the top people in F1 is that they are extremely demanding people who expect a lot of their subordinates. In other words, a lot of them are probably unpleasant to work for when things don’t go exactly as planned.

I remember a story about Tom Walkinshaw grabbing a journalist by the throat and hanging him out over the pit wall as cars raced past because he’d written something unflattering about Walkinshaw. I sure Walkinshaw wasn’t alone in being a nasty **** when he didn’t get what he wanted.

you dont take a job in a F1 team if work life balance is what you are looking for!

A cynic may say that’s plenty of time to pressure the witness accuser

FTFY. (Unless you know something that I don’t?)

Oh look, another half painted F1 car is launched.

Green from the side…

Black from the top

Some neat details emerging on the new Aston after it hit the track today, and new gearbox and rear suspension too – which means Merc have changed theirs too (as Aston buy it from them). If Aston, Merc, Ferrari and McLaren have all upped their game we could have a cracker of a season! 🤞

Seriously, credit to @DanFallows and the AMR team. You can’t even call this a RB19 intake clone because it’s something more. It’s an innovation of that idea born from the minds at AMR. So credit where it is due. Looks real cool! Now will it be fast? ? pic.twitter.com/UgmM6HR39M

— Dr Obbs (@dr_obbs) February 12, 2024

Oh look, another half painted F1 car is launched

I think they’re mainly vinyl wrapped these days, paint is too heavy 🙂

If Aston, Merc, Ferrari and McLaren have all upped their game we could have a cracker of a season!

FFS, you’ve jinxed it now. That comment just made Adrian Newey find 2 seconds extra pace

🤣🤣

…Newey has even said a 3rd gen of the same car may be too safe a choice. Won’t be long till we find out.

Ah, so like the F2002 was an update on the F2001 then 😉

the-muffin-man
Full Member

Some neat details emerging on the new Aston after it hit the track today, and new gearbox and rear suspension too – which means Merc have changed theirs too (as Aston buy it from them). If Aston, Merc, Ferrari and McLaren have all upped their game we could have a cracker of a season! 🤞

Yeah there’s a lot of interesting stuff going on there, hope it’s quick. The sidepod undercut, curved wishbones and the coanda air inlets are really trick.

I always wondered why more aero use wasn’t made of the suspension given its prominent position. I had assumed it was something to do with structural, performance or regulatory restrictions. If they can put curves in it then they can better position it to avoid/direct air flow I would have thought.

Also, given it moves with the wheel AND body movement, there might be some extra benefit they can extract that isn’t available on surfaces that just move with the body.

I always wondered why more aero use wasn’t made of the suspension given its prominent position.

The used to – then FIA introduced a 3:1 profile ratio to reduce the effect of any aero profiling. Some old aero suspension…

I always wondered why more aero use wasn’t made of the suspension given its prominent position.

regulations about moving parts and aero.

That Ferrari is beautiful. Let’s hope the race strategies are similarly attractive.

RE Horner, according to a sports journalist from a well known sports newsletter in a WhatsApp group I am in, it was an unsolicted pic of an explicit nature sent by Horner to his PA. Said pic has been presented by the accuser as evidence.

That would be interesting given this:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-68279259

RE Horner…

…according to the socials gossip – even Bernie has told him to resign. And if Bernie thinks you’re a wrong ‘un then…!! 😳😳

I don’t want to doubt the contacts on your newsletter, but I thought all the reports had said it was regarding controlling behaviour of a non-sexual nature.

I think if Horner had sent his PA a ****-pic then I don’t think it would have required 8 hours with a lawyer.

I’d also seen that. TBH I would not have passed on what’s essentially gossip were it not for the source.

Let’s hope we find out one way or the other!

I think if Horner had sent his PA a ****-pic then I don’t think it would have required 8 hours with a lawyer.

Have you seen Mr Horner speak – he could easily argue for 8 hours that a ****-pic was a pineapple. And you were the fool for thinking otherwise!!! 🙂

but I thought all the reports had said it was regarding controlling behaviour of a non-sexual nature.

I’ve read that it was ‘inappropriate behaviour of a controlling kind’, I’ve not seen it reported as non-sexual though. TBH, my first thoughts when it mentioned a female employee where that it’ll be a suggestive photo or email.

I don’t want to doubt the contacts on your newsletter, but I thought all the reports had said it was regarding controlling behaviour of a non-sexual nature.

I think if Horner had sent his PA a ****-pic then I don’t think it would have required 8 hours with a lawyer.

Exactly. Also, as irritating as I find Horner, I really doubt that he would be stupid enough to send an unsolicited dick pic to a female employee.

the-muffin-man

Have you seen Mr Horner speak – he could easily argue for 8 hours that a ****-pic was a pineapple. And you were the fool for thinking otherwise!!!

He’ll be getting Alex Albon in next, for a re-creation to see if it was in fact possible.

He’ll be getting Alex Albon in next, for a re-creation to see if it was in fact possible.

…stunt co*k! 🙂

RE Horner, according to a sports journalist from a well known sports newsletter in a WhatsApp group I am in, it was an unsolicted pic of an explicit nature sent by Horner to his PA. Said pic has been presented by the accuser as evidence

If he’s going to fall on his sword I think it will be tomorrow before their car launch.

If the pic photo rumours really do have any weight then they’re indefensible for a man in his position and fighting it for weeks is a very bad look for Red Bull.

…and it will take all the headlines away from the Mercedes launch.

Unsubstantiated rumours abound that both Newey and Verstappen would bail if Horner goes 🧐🧐

Not sure I’d want to be the one to make any decisions with that prospect! 😬

Unsubstantiated rumours abound that both Newey and Verstappen would bail if Horner goes

According to Joe Saward, it is believed that Newey and Horner have clauses in their contracts that say they can bail if the other leaves. I could see them going off to Aston Martin and taking Verstappen with them.

Black and orange go well together.

Unsubstantiated rumours abound that both Newey and Verstappen would bail if Horner goes

Isn’t it assumed that a Verstappen is the one that leaked the story?

Are they unhappy with Karen, or wider redbull and looking to engineer an exit?

One rumour is that the Thai and Austrian shareholders disagree about the level of autonomy given to the F1 business. As irritating as I find Horner, I think Red Bull were right to let him and Newey (and Helmut) run it without having to get permission from the board to do stuff. Gary Anderson had a column a while back about what happened when Ford took over Stewart and imposed their management ideas on the team.

Exactly where the Verstappens fit into it, I don’t know. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Max wasn’t still sulking about Perez being allowed to win races last season. He’s a brilliant driver but he really is a petulant little **** at the same time.

Are they unhappy with Karen, or wider redbull and looking to engineer an exit?

I can imagine that relationships at the very top of an organisation like RB are fraught with political infighting with all sides looking to get an advantage, control other people, or stir the pot occasionally just to keep everyone else off balance. I imagine that Horner and Verstappen(s) and folks at RB probably do it as normally as breathing.

Gary Anderson had a column a while back about what happened when Ford took over Stewart and imposed their management ideas on the team.

There’s an interview with Otmar Szafnauer in this months Motorsport Magazine saying pretty much the same. Renault wouldn’t leave them alone to manage an F1 team and want to apply car production methods that just don’t work. They just wanted results quick.

He was also saying it can take a year or more just to get key members of staff due to negotiations and notice periods – never mind the difficultly in convincing people to move from a top-notch working environment like McLaren to modest outfit in Enstone like Alpine.

Well the Mercedes unveiling was a short affair…….

Looks pretty decent though!

All change – hope it works! 😬

“The black of Alpine car has overtaken the black and slightly green car, but finds itself stuck behind that other black car.. The black car with the orange stripe has taken advantage of the confusion and has dived up the inside of the Black car of Mercedes”

With all this bare carbon around surely it’s a perfect time for a well known company with a black logo to step up and sponsor a team…