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F1 2024

I think somebody has properly spat their dummy out again... for a change :rolleyes:


Quite sad that Max and Red Bull are seemingly unable to recognise when they have operated in breach of the F1 regulations. They never seem to put their hand up and accept they've done something wrong and instead deflect the conversation towards others, in this case George Russell (who does at times come across as being something of an entitled rear-end).

Max said in his post-race conference today, that he was trying to be nice in qualifying and not affect others as they prepared for their push lap. Yet anyone that watched qualifying yesterday could see that he was a) driving much too slowly on the racing line and b) clearly blocked Russell who was pressing on in the last sector of a second out-lap. Yes neither were on a racing lap, but Max clearly got in the way of a much faster car. I heard it said, but have not seen evidence, that Max had been looking in his mirrors frequently just before the block.
 
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I think somebody has properly spat their dummy out again... for a change :rolleyes:


Quite sad that Max and Red Bull are seemingly unable to recognise when they have operated in breach of the F1 regulations. They never seem to put their hand up and accept they've done something wrong and instead deflect the conversation towards others, in this case George Russell (who does at times come across as being something of an entitled rear-end).

Max said in his post-race conference today, that he was trying to be nice in qualifying and not affect others as they prepared for their push lap. Yet anyone that watched qualifying yesterday could see that he was a) driving much too slowly on the racing line and b) clearly blocked Russell who was pressing on in the last sector of a second out-lap. Yes neither were on a racing lap, but Max clearly got in the way of a much faster car. I heard it said, but have not seen evidence, that Max had been looking in his mirrors frequently just before the block.


Criticising Russell for him getting a penalty!

Pot - Kettle - Black “Did Norris lift on the yellows???”

I wonder did Bottas lift on the same lap he driven over the mirror? I doubt it as he was attempting an overtake at that very moment.

However, it makes the last race next weekend exciting for the constructors. Can’t wait. 🥳
 
Verstappen is an absolute typical “grass” & bully - always looking at every opportunity to call out any possible rule breaking by other drivers but totally denying his wrongdoings!!
He always looks to deflect blame on others and he really needs to grow up and accept responsibility for his actions.
Until then - I will never respect, support him or celebrate any of his victories.
 
^^ Exactly. Max and Red Bull are hypocrites of the highest order. They are also cheats. Can’t abide the driver or the team.

That doesn't mitigate the fact that Lando Norris didn't slow down for the yellow.

It's also irrelevant that Max Verstappen called it out. If the stewards would otherwise have missed it then that would reflect on the stewards.

Max Verstappen did slow down for the yellow. That's what distinguishes a a multiple World Champion from the rest of the field.
 
That doesn't mitigate the fact that Lando Norris didn't slow down for the yellow.

It's also irrelevant that Max Verstappen called it out. If the stewards would otherwise have missed it then that would reflect on the stewards.

Max Verstappen did slow down for the yellow. That's what distinguishes a a multiple World Champion from the rest of the field.
Where did I suggest mitigation for Lando or that I disagreed with him getting a penalty?

The only issue I have with Max here is that it’s ok for him to call out others when he thinks they’ve done something wrong, but then gets all bent out of shape when others call him out (this week, George Russell who he impeded in qualifying by driving outside of the permissible time delta) and he gets a penalty. Perhaps you think that’s OK?
 
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^^ Exactly. Max and Red Bull are hypocrites of the highest order. They are also cheats. Can’t abide the driver or the team.
Although many teams would love to have a driver with Max’s ability, I bet they’d all be concerned about how they would integrate Max into their team though. Horner, Jos, Max and Red Bull were all made for each other. All very talented and tend to excel together, but in isolation I suspect their success would be much more limited.
 
Although many teams would love to have a driver with Max’s ability, I bet they’d all be concerned about how they would integrate Max into their team though. Horner, Jos, Max and Red Bull were all made for each other. All very talented and tend to excel together, but in isolation I suspect their success would be much more limited.
Oh, they (RBR, Max etc) are highly capable (obvs). Deeply unlikeable though and they just keep ‘digging’…
 
I suspect this is a far bigger issue for F1 than the childish antics of our current World Champion.


Power struggles are not my strongest subject, but this looks exactly how dictatorships happen? :dk:
 
I suspect this is a far bigger issue for F1 than the childish antics of our current World Champion.


Power struggles are not my strongest subject, but this looks exactly how dictatorships happen? :dk:
It has always been the ‘toy’ of the uber rich. But now big money is clearly manipulating the sport.

The FiA has historically appeared to pull strings in order to favour certain drivers or outcomes (eg. On Jean-Marie Balestre’s watch; Stopping the race in Monaco to favour Prost, disqualifying Senna in Suzuka and then disadvantaging him in Suzuka the following year, where Senna took out Prost in Turn 1…)

Since the appointment of the current President, it’s got worse. The banning of ‘party-modes’ and changes in aero rules to disadvantage low-rake concepts were brought in to break MB/Hamilton dominance. They absolutely did not want another ‘boring’ Lewis Hamilton championship in ‘21 and were desperate to have a new kid on the block. They got their wish.

Pretty sure they did not want the constructors to be won last weekend so that there is still something of interest for the final race in Abu Dhabi. I also think they would prefer that Ferrari win the constructors rather than McLaren, so will be interesting to see if that comes about this weekend.
 
Just talking about going to Qatar/Doha for the F1 in 2025, we have friends who live there, he is a Qatar Airways Captain, they love living there but just wondered if anyone had been to the GP there and their experiences?
 
Just happens that the decisions made create a potential final closer race for the manufacturers title championship----and a potential boost to viewing figures for advertising revenues in the process.😉
 
Just talking about going to Qatar/Doha for the F1 in 2025, we have friends who live there, he is a Qatar Airways Captain, they love living there but just wondered if anyone had been to the GP there and their experiences?
I’ve not been, but good luck I hope you have a great time.
 
I suspect this is a far bigger issue for F1 than the childish antics of our current World Champion.


Power struggles are not my strongest subject, but this looks exactly how dictatorships happen? :dk:
The only surprise is that it’s taken this long before Ben Sulayem has made his dictatorial power grab.
 
I my opinion the FIA have always tried to be as fair as any referee can be. There is always going to be some bias, be it nationalistic or what ever.
Having worked within the body of the FIA on rule making, I know the lengths they will go to try and make it fair for all. Admittedly, it was all extremely French under Balestre's reign. Mosley was certainly not the most likeable person, but I can almost forgive him that for the safety standards which he forced through in his tenure.
However, passing new regulations which means the current President can neither be questioned or faulted is a very slippery slope.
I'm beginning to understand how so many people could not or would not work under such a regime.
 
I'm beginning to understand how so many people could not or would not work under such a regime.
The open question is when will those who the FIA currently regulate also decide that they cannot and will not work under such a regime?

I honestly can’t see global automotive manufacturers being happy to be associated with a regulatory dictatorship run by a cabal that it’s impossible to criticise, investigate or change.
 
Its a subtle undectable [possibly even operating at a subconscious level ] influence that may dictate how decisions are made depending on the political climate of the moment in many organisations. There is now possibly a shift from the old traditional European way of working / thinking to a more US commercial biased one. Indicated perhaps by General Motors intention to join the sport in the near future?
 
I my opinion the FIA have always tried to be as fair as any referee can be. There is always going to be some bias, be it nationalistic or what ever.
Having worked within the body of the FIA on rule making, I know the lengths they will go to try and make it fair for all. Admittedly, it was all extremely French under Balestre's reign. Mosley was certainly not the most likeable person, but I can almost forgive him that for the safety standards which he forced through in his tenure.
However, passing new regulations which means the current President can neither be questioned or faulted is a very slippery slope.
I'm beginning to understand how so many people could not or would not work under such a regime.
The minute Charlie Whiting died, his steadying hand on the tiller of fairness was lost. He and it has not been replaced, though in fairness to Michael Masi, I think he did his best but ended up being pulled in too many different directions at once. Literally found himself between a rock and several hard places. Things will get even worse with these new regulation changes, especially as those who would prefer to not be manipulated/undermined leave the sport.

Edited to add - I always thought that Herbie Blash did a decent job of supporting Charlie and is still involved but 'only' as an advisor*. Advisors give advice which can be and often is ignored for clarity.

A post into which he was appointed in '22, ie after the Abu Dhabi debacle.
 
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The open question is when will those who the FIA currently regulate also decide that they cannot and will not work under such a regime?

As I understand it the teams would have to leave F1 and set up a rival championship and it would have to be under another name as the FIA own F1. Liberty media have only leased the commercial rights so I don't know where they stand if the teams want out.

It's a dissatisfying mess and a real turn off for race fans as we seem to be back in the era of Balestre with blatant manipulation of the race results. If they are going to prioritise entertainment rather than sporting fairness then that puts them on par with Strictly Come Dancing which isn't a dance contest where the best dancer wins.

Sport isn't sport unless the best person wins on a level playing field.
 
Edited to add - I always thought that Herbie Blash did a decent job of supporting Charlie and is still involved but 'only' as an advisor. Advisors give advice which can be and often is ignored for clarity.
The guy I sold my racing helmet collection to had just got briefcase from Herbie Blash (in elephant skin:eek:) which was given to him by Bernie. That will be carefully stored and not for sale until Bernie and his clogs have been parted.
That is probably not long now as Bernie has just decided to sell his multi-million pound racing car collection.....
 

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