Formula 1

[GolfSpy_APH]

Rumour is he is going to Stake for future Audi

[Byrnzee]

3 minutes ago, CFreddie said:

Was just about to come here to post the same thing - crazy news indeed.  Curious where Sainz is heading now...

There have been a lot of rumors of him being the #1 driver at the Audi team when it enters in 2026. But for 2025... hard to say.

[GolfSpy_APH]

Crazy season could be truly really crazy! 

Albon best bet to replace Lewis?

[FrogginBullfish]

Lewis to Ferrari in 2025 confirmed.

https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/news/mercedes-amg-f1-lewis-to-part-ways

[JAYER38]

SO CRAZY TO ME HONESTLY .

Wondering if Mick gets his shot under Russell for Merc?

Sainz back at RB 2nd team maybe? or Even besides Max?

Alot of contracts up in 2025 but I thought LH had a multi year deal with Merc till end of 2025?

Edited February 1 by JAYER38

[FrogginBullfish]

I think the crazy part about this is it happened prior to the season even starting and the move isn't even for another year. I think that might say a bit about how Lewis is feeling about this upcoming season, i.e., he doesn't have much faith that Mercedes have sorted out a ground effect car.

Lewis going to Ferrari isn't so much a surprise in itself. He's said a lot of positive things about driving for Ferrari in past years so I'm not overly surprised he's making it happen. Just surprised about the timing of it.

Definitely leaves a lot of questions for the future though for many teams.

[GolfSpy_APH]

Haven't had time to watch Drive To Survive this season, but caught a lot of testing. I know the assumption is red bull will win by a landslide, but I'm still very excited for the season to start!

[KMcCar91]

4 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Haven't had time to watch Drive To Survive this season, but caught a lot of testing. I know the assumption is red bull will win by a landslide, but I'm still very excited for the season to start!

They are playing head games with everyone but I think we are going to see a lot more competitive McLaren/Aston Martin.  MB needs to have a stellar season to try and steal away a star to replace Lewis.

[Stuka44]

Hopefully Alpine is "sandbagging" their car.    YEAH I DON'T THINK SO!  They are looking to be crappier than last year....YIKES!

[LeftHack]

1 hour ago, Stuka44 said:

Hopefully Alpine is "sandbagging" their car.    YEAH I DON'T THINK SO!  They are looking to be crappier than last year....YIKES!

Considering how much money Ryan Reynolds (and others) just put in, it makes it even worse. 

[Byrnzee]

Incredibly excited for this weekend. My wife and I have both become huge fans over the last few years and we're going to an F1 bar in Chicago for a watch party on Saturday morning. Hoping for some more competition this year so Red Bull doesn't run away with it again. We shall see!

[GolfSpy_APH]

I hope there is just a good fight even in the mid pack or for second. RB can run away with it again and i won't be bothered. It seems to be the history of F1 that one team dominates for years and years till another takes over. 

[Byrnzee]

@GolfSpy_APH definitely agree with that statement. I think Red Bull dominance is probably a foregone conclusion. Maybe one of these years there will be tighter races in the championship.

I've been playing F1 23 on my PC in anticipation  pretty cool to drive around the track to learn all the turns and how drivers need to react in certain situations

 

[DiverDown]

McLaren came out better than I thought.  Have high hopes this year!!

 

Go Mclaren!

[LeftHack]

1 hour ago, Byrnzee said:

@GolfSpy_APH definitely agree with that statement. I think Red Bull dominance is probably a foregone conclusion. Maybe one of these years there will be tighter races in the championship.

I've been playing F1 23 on my PC in anticipation  pretty cool to drive around the track to learn all the turns and how drivers need to react in certain situations

 

There was a cool video of Max doing the Oracle lap to beat and a sim racer was giving him pointers because the simulated track reacts differently than the real life track.

 

I have F1'23 and have yet to play it because I'm still playing GT7..

[IMA2MINER]

10 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

I hope there is just a good fight even in the mid pack or for second. RB can run away with it again and i won't be bothered. It seems to be the history of F1 that one team dominates for years and years till another takes over. 

Yeap. Usually between major regs. New regs come out, a new team dominates until the regs change again. I said back in 2022, RB will dominate until 2026 regulation changes. 

[Stuka44]

19 hours ago, Byrnzee said:

going to an F1 bar in Chicago

Man that sounds awesome!  Wish we had that here.

[GolfSpy_APH]

Qualifying tomorrow will be awesome!

[LeftHack]

It will be interesting to see who shakes out once the time counts. Should be good.

[snoopy79]

[mention=61361]GolfSpy_APH[/mention] definitely agree with that statement. I think Red Bull dominance is probably a foregone conclusion. Maybe one of these years there will be tighter races in the championship.
I've been playing F1 23 on my PC in anticipation  pretty cool to drive around the track to learn all the turns and how drivers need to react in certain situations
 

I been playing F1 23 as well!


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[KC Golf]

New year and new hope for Ferrari and Mercedes…  you never know.  

[snoopy79]

I would be stoked to see Lewis win a few before he leaves the silver arrows.


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[IMA2MINER]

4 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Qualifying tomorrow will be awesome!

Maybe. I tend to not really put too much stock into the first 5-6 races. A lot of teams or drivers will look very promising, only to end the season in a far different place. This was LeClerc/Ferrari in '22 and Alonso/Aston Martin in '23 as two recent and perfect examples. 

[ChitownM2]

13 hours ago, IMA2MINER said:

Maybe. I tend to not really put too much stock into the first 5-6 races. A lot of teams or drivers will look very promising, only to end the season in a far different place. This was LeClerc/Ferrari in '22 and Alonso/Aston Martin in '23 as two recent and perfect examples. 

I think it definitely matters.  For Alonso / AM in '23, AM developed the car in the wrong direction.  They started out well and when they brought upgrades they made the car worse and they didn't understand why.  Spent the entire rest of the season trying to figure it out.  McLaren did the opposite, every upgrade they brought basically made the car better and better, by large chunks in some cases.  

As for LeClerc in '22, my opinion is that he just isn't that great of a driver.  He's good, but he just can't perform under the most intense pressure moments, he seems to always find a way to screw it up by spinning, crashing or just making poor decisions on when to try and overtake.  It will be very interesting next year when he is alongside Hamilton in the same car

[xOldBenKenobiX]

Watching the qualifier right now and hoping that there will be a good mix of cars on the first couple of rows

 

[LeftHack]

Max putting down one lap in Q3 and done. I wish he has more challenges in the race, but watching him drive is pretty sweet, too. He's got skills.

[GolfSpy_APH]

Enjoy the qualifying highlights..was busy all day so couldnt watch the full thing but nice to see such a tight field!

[KC Golf]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Enjoy the qualifying highlights..was busy all day so couldnt watch the full thing but nice to see such a tight field!

It’s a great circuit for F1 racing so I hope the race will be exciting to watch. 

[LeftHack]

The fight for 2nd might be really good this year. Max is on another level, but the 2-6 is heated. As the cars develop, it will be cool to see who stands out. I really think Lando is one of the most motivated on the grid with Carlos both having something to prove..

[IMA2MINER]

On 3/1/2024 at 10:09 AM, ChitownM2 said:

I think it definitely matters.  For Alonso / AM in '23, AM developed the car in the wrong direction.  They started out well and when they brought upgrades they made the car worse and they didn't understand why.  Spent the entire rest of the season trying to figure it out.  McLaren did the opposite, every upgrade they brought basically made the car better and better, by large chunks in some cases.  

As for LeClerc in '22, my opinion is that he just isn't that great of a driver.  He's good, but he just can't perform under the most intense pressure moments, he seems to always find a way to screw it up by spinning, crashing or just making poor decisions on when to try and overtake.  It will be very interesting next year when he is alongside Hamilton in the same car

Yeap. That's what I am getting at, too many variables. This is why I said I don't put much stock in the first handful of races. Of course, they matter, but have to realistically curb any excitement that early. 

Agree about Leclerc. All the talk of Sainz going to Audi, I think realistically Ferrari was insane to pass over Carlos to make room for Lewis. He is far more impressive in that team, as well as consistent. Every post-race Leclerc is bitching and moaning about something and casting blame. Even on bad days, Carlos's head is in the game, owns up to mistakes and is positive about moving forward. 

Edited March 3 by IMA2MINER