No F1 thread?

[Zonda_]

I imagine Ferrari and Aston will write him a blank cheque.

Can't do that with a cost cap. Unless he suddenly has a desire to start a catering company of course

I’m quite certain they’ll have ways round it.

[Mito Man]

I imagine Ferrari and Aston will write him a blank cheque.

Can't do that with a cost cap. Unless he suddenly has a desire to start a catering company of course

Top 3 highest paid personnel in the team are not included in the cost cap. Or something silly like that.

[Swervin_Mervin]

I imagine Ferrari and Aston will write him a blank cheque.

Can't do that with a cost cap. Unless he suddenly has a desire to start a catering company of course

Top 3 highest paid personnel in the team are not included in the cost cap. Or something silly like that.

Really?! I didn't know that. Although it doesn't surprise me

[jamcg]

Can't do that with a cost cap. Unless he suddenly has a desire to start a catering company of course

Top 3 highest paid personnel in the team are not included in the cost cap. Or something silly like that.

Really?!

Yup. And also drivers salaries

[Zonda_]

Surely they'll have to get rid of Horner now he's cost them the best designer on the grid.

[mik]

Google search:

Several significant expenses are exempt from the cost cap, including:

• Driver salaries.
  Compensation for the three highest-paid staff members.
  Travel expenses.
  Marketing expenditures.
  Property and legal costs.
  Entry and license fees.
  Activities unrelated to F1 or road cars.
  Parental and sick leave payments.

[Gavin]

Hulk to Kick Sauber. Wonder if 2026 will see him and Carlos in an Audi team.

[duncs500]

Google search:

Several significant expenses are exempt from the cost cap, including:

• Driver salaries.
  Compensation for the three highest-paid staff members.
  Travel expenses.
  Marketing expenditures.
  Property and legal costs.
  Entry and license fees.
  Activities unrelated to F1 or road cars.
  Parental and sick leave payments.

I'd love to see how they've exploited those. "We didn't have enough headroom in our cap, so we bought houses for all our suppliers instead of paying them with money."

[DeskJockey]

Google search:

Several significant expenses are exempt from the cost cap, including:

• Driver salaries.
  Compensation for the three highest-paid staff members.
  Travel expenses.
  Marketing expenditures.
  Property and legal costs.
  Entry and license fees.
  Activities unrelated to F1 or road cars.
  Parental and sick leave payments.

I'd love to see how they've exploited those. "We didn't have enough headroom in our cap, so we bought houses for all our suppliers instead of paying them with money."

Our marketing budget includes kitting our SLT out in Versace, Gucci and Tom Ford clothes. Also, they needed solid diamond Mont Blanc pens for their handmade notebooks. And, we wanted to advertise on a jet, so had to buy one first.

[Mito Man]

I believe bonuses are also excluded. So pay everyone minimum wage and give a healthy bonus instead.

[jamcg]

I thought you just fed people more? That way you get penalised but thats fine because you just win everything anyway

[Mito Man]

Just popped up the Red Bull have confirmed Newey is leaving - on BBC.

[DeskJockey]

Rumour reported on the BBC that Merc are courting Max to the tune of £128m/year.

[MikeHunt]

There has been a lot of chatter about Newey over the last week or so, seems like red bull find it hard to keep things in house.

It dosnt make sense to me that Lewis was refused an ambassador role by Mercedes but this will be part of the mega deal offered to max.

I remember exactly where I was 30 years ago today, watching the tragic crash in a Plymouth hotel room.

[GG.]

Pretty much a foregone conclusion he will go to the Scuderia unless he quits entirely (which is a possibility!)

If so, would be interesting to see if beginning of 2025 is long enough to mould the 2026 car - you would expect so as my understanding is that the aero regs have not yet been finalised (and presumably he could start developing a rough idea before actually setting foot in Maranello).

[Mito Man]

He barely had time to spend on the 22 car because of the tight nature of the 21 championship and nailed that one. Ferrari spent 2 years on that car and still got beat.
Hopefully the new regs don't mean it's a purely engine dominated series - which is what Mercedes seem to be betting on and seem extremely confident about. Then again extreme confidence usually results in massive failure in F1 unless it's Toto just trying to save face at this point.

[jamcg]

Apparently his wife has been seen house hunting in italy

[Mito Man]

Spring Quali now.
The Ferrari livery looks absolutely shit.

[Zonda_]

Yes! Go Lando!

[DeskJockey]

That was a great race!