OV9

This is an interesting video of what happens between race weekends back at the factory with the car. I think it's the first time I've seen a detailed video of people actually working on a current car. Usually it's all very secretive.

Looked like there was some great racing, sadly with a predictable outcome. Not sure what happened to the McLarens, but they weren't anywhere today.

Good to see Merc fighting at the front!

The McLaren performance drop has been about as sheer as Red Bulls earlier in the season. I do think the flexi wing change impacted them far more than they let on as they they lost a chunk of performance and I wonder if this additional drop in performance is related to the skid block rule change. Although it was extremely cold and they do struggle with tyre warmup. Probably why the Mercedes was also good, seems to only really work in cold temps.

On the whole Max is the deserved champion, he’s had a few stand out drives despite his shenanigans- I can’t think of anything which made me particularly go wow with Lando.

Maxs title win this time has echos of jensons. Shows you need a run of wins early in the season to cover other teams development is quite important. Essentially strike while the irons hot, something McLaren seemed to miss out on as they had numerous missed opportunities. All eyes on the constructors now!

I don’t think the title was ever really in doubt after his run at the start of the year. Would have taken Perez levels of shitness for anyone else to overtake.

Still been a good second half of the year, always nice to see decent competition. Four different teams have had 1-2 finishes this year! But again, that plays into the hands of max who already had a vast lead before all the others improved then started taking points off each other.

I still think he’s a knob. Just a quick one.

jamcg wrote: Sun Nov 24, 2024 6:14 pm

I saw that live and thought Bottas himself may experience a sudden job loss soon

Mito Man wrote: Sun Nov 24, 2024 7:22 pm

jamcg wrote: Sun Nov 24, 2024 6:14 pm

I saw that live and thought Bottas himself may experience a sudden job loss soon

Errrr

Looks like GM/Cadillac/Andretti have been approved finally so we may get a 11 team grid. Although Audi are looking to sell out so not sure if Sauber can continue on or if someone else will take over. Which will be really annoying if we get the shit 50% hybrid engines in 2 years time and the team which requested it as a condition of joining will not even be participating

I expect the anti trust investigation in Liberty to quietly conclude now.

I don’t know what’s going on with the stewards at the moment, but yet again some very odd decisions.

The max qualifying penalty was a bit borderline, he was going unnecessarily slowly on the racing line in a fast section with the car behind building up to a fast lap, looked pretty sketchy from the onboard. Not entirely sure it deserved a place drop.

The Norris 10 sec stop/go for a mirror being sat on the track, not on the racing line, no car, driver or marshal at risk / on track, just not lifting on a yellow. Surely if it was that dangerous in that area they should have disabled drs along the straight? Shows how much I know though, I thought a stationary yellow was to make you aware of a hazard, no overtaking. Waved yellow, caution, no overtaking, slow down, prepare to stop.

Then they left it sat on the track for a load more laps before Bottas smashed it to bits.

Lewis, can’t remember seeing a drive through for pit lane speeding, the cars were all in a train so can’t have been like he was taking the piss and flying through without slowing at all.

Quite entertaining though. Must have been one of the smallest finish lists of the year?

Shit stewarding. Verstappen shouldn't have got that penalty - apparently Russell was properly boot licking the stewards to give Max a penalty. Wonder if any DTS film crew were in the room.
Norris penalty too harsh. Shouldn't even be a double waved yellow if there's no marshalls on track.
Apparently Lewis was 8kph faster than the limit, and above 4kph is a drive through penalty so they got one penalty correct.

The race was pure crap until Albon's mirror let go, so maybe we should be thankful for some action.

Lewis bothered the start and forgot to hit the pit lane limiter button, will be surprised to see similar school boy errors when he is in a red car.

They should have let him go after Brazil, he’s clearly had enough of the car this year, and would have given kimi some useful experience.

Alpine decision to release ocon is a sensible one. Apparently it’s a joint decision, because he’s keen to get straight into the haas in the post race test, but couldn’t do that of still under contract with alpine- so they’ve released him early which gives Jack some experience for next year, even just getting to know the format of the event will mean he can hit the ground running next year

MikeHunt wrote: Mon Dec 02, 2024 12:59 pm Lewis bothered the start and forgot to hit the pit lane limiter button, will be surprised to see similar school boy errors when he is in a red car.

Once in a while he seems to have a reset season where he's just not really on it, I'm hoping it's that rather than time catching up with him this year. I do think the Leclerc relationship will be a tricky one though, would love to see LH do well at Ferrari.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/ar ... 89xevxp1jo

Classic dictator move.

duncs500 wrote: Tue Dec 03, 2024 1:36 pm https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/ar ... 89xevxp1jo

Classic dictator move.

Jesus wept. It's fooked forever if that happens. F1 should side with Liberty now and just walk.

Makes Balestre look like an angel.

Swervin_Mervin wrote: Tue Dec 03, 2024 3:04 pm F1 should side with Liberty now and just walk.

Looks likely Perez is finally getting the boot if the rumours circulating are true.