Real life Scalectrix.......

[Bigjawa]

So the F1 procession starts again this weekend.

What's the predictions for this year, another Max walkover, Lewis in cruise mode until next year, Lance Stroll finally getting the boot?

[mangocrazy]

Can't really see past Max and the Red Bull. Their domination may not be quite as total as last year, but I think they'll take the championships (driver and constructor) at a stroll (but not Lance, obvs...) I hope that Lewis gets a last win in the Merc before heading off to the Red team, but if he does he'd better get it done early in the year, as most of Merc's attention will be shifting to George as the year progresses.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Supposedly Red Bull stopped developing their car in the middle of 2023 'cause they were so far ahead, so their 2024 work has a 6 months head start on everyone else. Doesn't bode well.

[Mr Moofo]

Does anybody care anymore?

[mangocrazy]

Does anybody care anymore?

I'm still vaguely interested (or I wouldn't be replying to this thread), but with nowhere near the same levels as for MotoGP. Like about 1:10, I suppose. Now that Red Bull have at least parity with Merc and Ferrari on engine power output, it's all down to the genius of Adrian Newey and his team, and that advantage isn't going anywhere anytime soon, I think.

[Nordboy]

Does anybody care anymore?

I've watched F1 for many many years. This year, well a combination of the last few years really, I won't be watching it, apart from catch up. I actually binned my Sky and sky sports subscription at the end of last season.

It's gone massively downhill since the debacle of 2021. Instead I've got Eurosport and am going to watch WEC and the bike racing.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Does anybody care anymore?

I'm still vaguely interested (or I wouldn't be replying to this thread), but with nowhere near the same levels as for MotoGP. Like about 1:10, I suppose. Now that Red Bull have at least parity with Merc and Ferrari on engine power output, it's all down to the genius of Adrian Newey and his team, and that advantage isn't going anywhere anytime soon, I think.

Red Bull have taken over an enormous amount of the industrial estate they're on here in MK. They always had several units, but now they've combined all the roads, built new car parks, added a gatehouse etc. and turned it into the "MK7" campus. Bollox to all the other tenants on that estate, who now have to drive aaaaalll the way around the back of the estate to get to their units They've also taken over what used to be Mugen/Honda F1 here in MK.

That said, Mercedes are also investing loads into their site in Brackley and are expanding it massively. It was already pretty big (with a great canteen too).

I expect 2026 onwards might be a bit closer

[Cousin Jack]

Lots of money in F1, lots of money at stake, so lots of legal challenges to come.

Me, I am totally bored of watching 'racing' where the result will be decided by lawyers arguing about it after the event.

[mangocrazy]

It's gone massively downhill since the debacle of 2021.

That was completely unforgivable. The rules were blatantly ignored/misapplied and still the result stood.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I won a Scalextric Grand Prix


It was actually Tomy AFX if you want to be fussy.

[roadster]

When watching F1 it is most important to use the recorded version and the fast forward button. Skip the stooges ( possible exception of Coulthard ) spouting hours of drivel. Skip the banal interviews with drivers. Skip the safety cars. Fast forward the bit where one car has an unassailable lead. Skip the post race interviews and winding up nonsense. When artificial intelligence actually becomes intelligent we could give it control and watch the exciting bits in about ten minutes!

[mangocrazy]

And mute any segments with the over-excitable Crofty commentating. If you skipped them there'd be nothing worth watching. Keep Martin Brundle's observations though.

[Nordboy]

When watching F1 it is most important to use the recorded version and the fast forward button. Skip the stooges ( possible exception of Coulthard ) spouting hours of drivel. Skip the banal interviews with drivers. Skip the safety cars. Fast forward the bit where one car has an unassailable lead. Skip the post race interviews and winding up nonsense. When artificial intelligence actually becomes intelligent we could give it control and watch the exciting bits in about ten minutes!

Now I can't abide DC, he's so obviously up Red Bull's arse, being a brand ambassador, that they can do no wrong. this is partly the problem with all the ex-racers mind you, they always have an affiliation with the team and can't be neutral enough for me.

[ChrisW]

Hadn't planned to watch it but I did - good lord but that was dull.

[mangocrazy]

Hadn't planned to watch it but I did - good lord but that was dull.

I just occasionally glanced at the BBC text version. VPN did his normal trick of running away and hiding, while everyone else played catchup. His fastest lap was a 1:32.6, while nobody else even got into the 1:33s. We are in for a long and predictably dull season.

[ChrisW]

We are in for a long and predictably dull season.

Yep, sadly.

[Dodgy69]

Think I did about 8 minutes, then put the darts on.

[mangocrazy]

For the record, I find Christian Horner to be a thoroughly unlikeable individual. Having said that, he is clearly very, very good at his job (probably partly due to him not giving a sh1t what people think of him). However compared to Jos Verstappen, CH is a cute little fluffy bunny. How can someone whose only real claim to fame is that he fathered a multiple World Champion carry so much weight within Red Bull to the point that he is trying to push CH out of the organisation?

Somebody really needs to sit down with Jos and remind him where the real power lies, and it ain't with him. Tell him to butt out of Red Bull's affairs, and if he tries to use Max as a bargaining chip, remind him that Max has a contract with RB until 2028 and tell him that will be rigidly enforced. Also remind him that any one of half the grid could be plugged into Max's seat in the current Red Bull and they would deliver a Driver's World Championship.

[McNab]

For the record, I find Christian Horner to be a thoroughly unlikeable individual. Having said that, he is clearly very, very good at his job (probably partly due to him not giving a sh1t what people think of him). However compared to Jos Verstappen, CH is a cute little fluffy bunny. How can someone whose only real claim to fame is that he fathered a multiple World Champion carry so much weight within Red Bull to the point that he is trying to push CH out of the organisation?

Somebody really needs to sit down with Jos and remind him where the real power lies, and it ain't with him. Tell him to butt out of Red Bull's affairs, and if he tries to use Max as a bargaining chip, remind him that Max has a contract with RB until 2028 and tell him that will be rigidly enforced. Also remind him that any one of half the grid could be plugged into Max's seat in the current Red Bull and they would deliver a Driver's World Championship.

I sort of agree with this, what I'd really like to see is Horner tell them to go fuck themselves and leave, and Adrian Newey go with him.

[mangocrazy]

I sort of agree with this, what I'd really like to see is Horner tell them to go fuck themselves and leave, and Adrian Newey go with him.

Yes, without Adrian Newey's brains and skills, Red Bull would be way less dominant. And much as I'm not keen on the guy, Red Bull owe Horner plenty - he's been the driving force, Newey's been the brains.