Formula 1

[john-e89]

As a huge F1 fan (and particularly Lewis), it is becoming a bore-fest. It is unfortunate, and not surprising, that the best drivers drive the best cars so the competition is gone.
If Lewis and Max both drove for Red Bull this year, it would be great. But that kind of scenario will never happen; there is no advantage for the team (and potentially lots of disadvantages), and the drivers wouldn't put up with it.
I am 100% sure the only reason Checo is still with Red Bull is because Max wants him there, as he is no competition.

They need to do some kind of reverse grid type thing, or reduce engine power in 5bhp increments up the grid. It won't happen but something is needed to shake things up, cos the current efforts ain't working.

2026 sees a big raft of changes Pondy, that will hopefully level things up a little more.

Cry baby hamster couldn’t deal with Verstappen, Max doesn’t care who his team mate is as like him or not he’s the fastest and most complete driver currently in F1. Ham should maybe concentrate more on getting on top of his car, Russell is outperforming him quite easily, and less on his self obsession and hypocritical ill thought out bleatings….oke: :evil: :wink:

 

[Pondrew]

2026 sees a big raft of changes Pondy, that will hopefully level things up a little more.

They said that in 2023. Didn't work, did it?

 

[Pondrew]

Cry baby hamster couldn’t deal with Verstappen,

Sorry John but I disagree. Hammy and Verstappen are the best two talents in F1 still, and Max is 15 years younger than Lewis so should be way better. Alonso is no fool, but has always been a bit too aggressive in winning at all costs IMO (like Schumacher was).

F1 is a matter of tiny percentages. All of them should be the best 20 drivers in the world, but there are always a very rare few who are that 0.01% better than the rest.

I really like Alex Albon, but he couldn't cut it with RB for whatever reason.

 

[john-e89]

2026 sees a big raft of changes Pondy, that will hopefully level things up a little more.

They said that in 2023. Didn't work, did it?

2023 wasn’t a huge overhaul though Pondy, just a relatively small transition, and it’s easy to forget how much difference they’ve made to cars being able to be up close to the one in front now, that’s been a success. But the real shake up is 2026, by which time Verstappen will be a 5 time world champion, but that could well end in ‘26. F1 is the pinnacle of 4 wheel motorsport so handing out hp deficit’s to the winners isn’t really the ethos of the sport. What I think is wrong is the distribution of prize money, the skint teams can’t get any further up the grid because they don’t get a fair allocation of money so don’t attract the top engineers and drivers, it’s a bit of a vicious circle. All big sponsors want to be up front so it’s an understandable problem too, I’m hoping 2026 will level it up somewhat, and it’s easy to dismiss it before it’s happened so I’m staying optimistic.

Driver wise, imho, Verstappen top, then pretty much nothing between Leclerc, Alonso, Norris, then Russell, Hammy, Sainz etc etc, in that order. I think Leclerc will mince Hammy at Ferrari, Russell is outperforming ham on a regular basis, too regular, it’s not pure driving, Russell is able to get the Merc into a set up which suits him more than ham can, and i reckon that will continue at Ferrari where Leclerc will be faster anyway regardless of set up, I have no idea why Fezz are paying a slowing driver what they are when Sainz is doing a superb job, is younger, now probably as quick, makes no sense to me, but I’m just an observer obvs so what do I know…? Just seems a crazy thing to do, which Ferrari have form for so….

Anyway just how I see it, it’ll be very interesting to see how the next few years play out in F1, I know it’s a turn off for lots but I love it, was out walking at 3am to go watch the Australian race, that’s how stupid I am…. :lol:

Edit: Have you watched a guy called RPM, Rocketpoweredmohawk on YouTube…? If not, so so, he’s so close to the bone and daft it’s hilarious.

 

[Pondrew]

Edit: Have you watched a guy called RPM, Rocketpoweredmohawk on YouTube…

Nope. I don't watch you tube videos. OK occasionally music videos but that's it. The constant advertising gets on my tits.

Fred Vasseur and Lewis are good mates, as Fred played a part in Hammy getting into driving. Ferrari will want Lewis to help develop the car further, same reason Alonso still gets good money and a drive.
Last gasp for Hammy to get 8th Championship, which he won't at Merc any time soon, and he will be paid mega bucks and become even more famous. What's not to like from his POV?

 

[Guthlac]

Max is going to start another race this season from pole position. He has a perfect record this season with six out of six poles.

 

[Beatman]

Agree with some of the other comments, I hardly ever watch it any more, in fact I hardly know who most of the drivers are and think the technology has actually spoilt the racing along with the regs. I used to love the Senna/Prost/Mansell days, the tension and over enthusiasm of Murray Walker who was the best, its just plain dull now, has been for years.

Tim.

totally agree, same cars at the top, the rest just there to make up numbers….

 

[buzyg]

Give the trophys to Newey and his design teams. He's won 13 drivers titles, if I recall. I hope he gets paid more than the drivers. Any one have a handle on that?

 

[Nick W]

Edit: Have you watched a guy called RPM, Rocketpoweredmohawk on YouTube…

Cheers John, great shout. My type of humour. :rofl:

 

[Big Bad Boris]

Give the trophys to Newey and his design teams. He's won 13 drivers titles, if I recall. I hope he gets paid more than the drivers. Any one have a handle on that?

I read on the BBC Newey earns about £18m a year… while seemingly Max earns around £55m.

 

[john-e89]

Newey wasn’t at Merc during their all conquering run before this run from Red bull so it’s all to play for in 2026. Apparently Red bulls 2026 engine isn’t where it should be at the moment, quite a bit down on i.c.e power, Newey gone, it all points to their current run ending after next year, but who knows…Verstappen will be keeping his ears to the ground, if he smells it going sour he’ll be off, especially if Merc can convince him their 2026 engine is right up there like they did with Hammy, which it was. Right now I’d say he’ll be off to Merc for 2026, Wolff knows how to convince a top driver. Then there’s Ferrari, if they get a whiff that Verstappen is willing to jump and their engine is up there would they pay Hammy to leave like they did with Raikkonen for Alonso, I bet they’re secretly wishing they hadn’t signed him in the winter given what’s happening at Red bull now…. :fuelfire:

 

[john-e89]

Edit: Have you watched a guy called RPM, Rocketpoweredmohawk on YouTube…

Cheers John, great shout. My type of humour. :rofl:

He’s off his bat isn’t he Nick…. :rofl:

Just what you need in these hypersensitive woke fairysnowflake BS times we unfortunately now live in…. :roll:

 

[DonDon]

Give the trophys to Newey and his design teams. He's won 13 drivers titles, if I recall. I hope he gets paid more than the drivers. Any one have a handle on that?

I read on the BBC Newey earns about £18m a year… while seemingly Max earns around £55m.

I saw something today suggesting that Mercedes are prepared to offer Max THREE time that - £165m per year!

 

[buzyg]

Give the trophys to Newey and his design teams. He's won 13 drivers titles, if I recall. I hope he gets paid more than the drivers. Any one have a handle on that?

I read on the BBC Newey earns about £18m a year… while seemingly Max earns around £55m.

I would guess Mac gets more from the sponsors.He os front of house. I would take 18 million, though I do fell Adrian is worth more that that. Perhaps being an engineer not a showman slews my opinion.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Well whoever goes wherever it was great to see someone other than Max win! Lando was due a trip to the top step of the podium.

 

[buzyg]

Well whoever goes wherever it was great to see someone other than Max win! Lando was due a trip to the top step of the podium.

Nice one Lando had no clue who won.

So who won the snooker?

Sad that I find this stuff out via the forum. Or maybe not sad at all.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Nice one Lando had no clue who won.

It was well worth watching, even though I only saw the highlights!

Basically he got lucky being able to pit under a safety car, but Max still couldn't catch him. :lol:

No idea about the snooker though.

 

[brillomaster]

first time that Max was genuinely off the pace, given a straight fight Lando was consistently a few tenths faster each lap. be very interesting to see what happens over the next few races.

 

[Pondrew]

Just nice to hear the National anthem again and dribbler not on the top step. Norris does seem genuinely popular in the paddock which is nice.
Lewis had a great race too and, considering his car is crap, did extremely well. Russell was nowhere to be seen. :wink:

 

[Guthlac]

Lewis Hamilton Takes Kendall Jenner For A Miami Hot Lap

[youtube]NADpFXtI-q4[/youtube]