Any F1 Fans Here?

[MUBurrow]

What a damn mess.  Given how the past few months played out, there was no way this was going to go smoothly, but Masi made a joke of the thing.  They've got the best driver in F1 history, facing his biggest challenge ever, and the whole thing ends with an asterisk.  From a rulebook that is full of "mays" instead of "shalls" to a race director who hasn't interpreted the rules the same way twice all season, I can't help but feel this championship has a very European vs American style of sports officiating about it.  I kinda of wonder if the ambiguity of the whole thing just sits better with non-American viewers?  Coming from any American sports standard, the idea of leaving the discretion of who wins a championship up to what is effectively a commissioner feels gross.

[Its DJOver]

As someone who is neither team Max or team Lewis, and just wanted a race as chaotic as the entire season has been, I couldn't have asked for anything more today.  I might feel a little upset if it was the other way around, but it's kinda hard to feel bad for a guy who's won 7 of 9 and is squarely in the GOAT conversation.  Netflix were the real winners today.  Can't wait for next season.

[JWags85]

Hamilton really is incredible.  Schumacher retired at 37, a year older than Hamilton currently is.  But given Hamilton's conditioning and motivations, I think he's got another 4-5 high level seasons in him.

[MUBurrow]

Agree with everything you guys are saying.  Was a bit of a bummer to see Hamilton's incredible run stopped on such madness, but given how quickly the noise calmed down around Mercedes's protests, I'm guessing that standard operating procedure probably dictated that Masi was going to let the lapped cars around.  The whole decision making process there just felt very "injury time/questionable handball in the box" for this American who likes his rules cut and dried.

It will be interesting to see what happens when Rusell replaces Bottas in the other Mercedes next year.  Neither Bottas nor Perez were big factors this year, though Perez had a really important stint between pit stops yesterday to slow Lewis some. 

[pbiflyer]

As someone who is neither team Max or team Lewis, and just wanted a race as chaotic as the entire season has been, I couldn't have asked for anything more today.  I might feel a little upset if it was the other way around, but it's kinda hard to feel bad for a guy who's won 7 of 9 and is squarely in the GOAT conversation.  Netflix were the real winners today.  Can't wait for next season.

Don't watch F1, but a good friend who is an avid fan said the same thing.

[JWags85]

Agree with everything you guys are saying.  Was a bit of a bummer to see Hamilton's incredible run stopped on such madness, but given how quickly the noise calmed down around Mercedes's protests, I'm guessing that standard operating procedure probably dictated that Masi was going to let the lapped cars around.  The whole decision making process there just felt very "injury time/questionable handball in the box" for this American who likes his rules cut and dried.

Like block/charge in basketball?  Or catch/no catch or PI in football?  Or check swing in baseball? 

[WarriorFan]

F1 has been a high-speed parade for years and the fixes are not only obvious to all but those running the show but have already been implemented in other forms of racing:
- identical powertrains to eliminate $$$ as the main advantage
- wider tracks to allow more passing
- reverse order re-starts
etc.
It's also very expensive to go to the races, so it becomes a "once a lifetime" spectator experience, except on TV.

Oh, and Silverstone... who ever thought of having a race on a boring track in the middle of a mud pit (in the middle of nowhere) in a country where it rains every day.  What a dump.

[martyconlonontherun]

F1 has been a high-speed parade for years and the fixes are not only obvious to all but those running the show but have already been implemented in other forms of racing:
- identical powertrains to eliminate $$$ as the main advantage
- wider tracks to allow more passing
- reverse order re-starts
etc.
It's also very expensive to go to the races, so it becomes a "once a lifetime" spectator experience, except on TV.

Oh, and Silverstone... who ever thought of having a race on a boring track in the middle of a mud pit (in the middle of nowhere) in a country where it rains every day.  What a dump.

Was considering going to French Riveria over labor day. Could only swing getting in Saturday and tickets are a non-starter for Monaco race day. Was hoping I could go to the F-2 race which I think is Friday and free - Me and my toddler would not be able to tell the difference between a car going 140 or 150 through a small city.

Indy is cool because you can go every year for $50 in the infield with BYOB and then graduate to the stands as you get older and enjoy the race more.

[Its DJOver]

If these reports are true, this race needs to be canceled immediately.

[robmufan]

If these reports are true, this race needs to be canceled immediately.

The reports of the drone strike on the oil field nearby? Or is there something else I missed?

[Its DJOver]

The reports of the drone strike on the oil field nearby? Or is there something else I missed?

That's the one. A terrorist attack 7 miles from the circuit and they continue with FP2 while the fire is still ongoing, and, as of right now, still intend to keep racing.

[robmufan]

Doesn't shock me at all, not at the location...

[The Sultan]

Word is that KSA was making noise that it would be hard to get the teams and equipment out of the country had they refused to race.

[🏀]

Word is that KSA was making noise that it would be hard to get the teams and equipment out of the country had they refused to race.

Hey, maybe the Saudis starting a golf league isn't a great idea.

[Uncle Rico]

Hey, maybe the Saudis starting a golf league isn't a great idea.

Maybe that's why FIGJAM isn't playing the Masters?  The Saudi's have him

[🏀]

Maybe that's why FIGJAM isn't playing the Masters?  The Saudi's have him

Might have to start calling him Righty.

[MUBurrow]

Coooooooool -
F1 to race in Las Vegas on a Saturday night from 2023
https://racer.com/2022/03/30/f1-to-race-in-las-vegas-on-a-saturday-night-from-2023/

[Its DJOver]

Sigh. Another street circuit and it means that there's a very good chance of losing a great historic track in Spa. I love that the sport is growing here in the states, but I'm not a fan of this. Understand why they're doing it, but not a fan.

[jesmu84]

I knew it was coming, but it still makes me sad as I live in Indianapolis and keep hoping for a race at IMS. Zero chance with that happening with 3 races in US already

[JWags85]

Coooooooool -
F1 to race in Las Vegas on a Saturday night from 2023
https://racer.com/2022/03/30/f1-to-race-in-las-vegas-on-a-saturday-night-from-2023/

The track layout is pretty cool.  Thats a LOOOOONNNGG straightaway.  The visuals are gonna be awesome

I knew it was coming, but it still makes me sad as I live in Indianapolis and keep hoping for a race at IMS. Zero chance with that happening with 3 races in US already

No offense, but that layout stinks.  Half the race on the track and the rest zig zagging (but not all that much) through the infield?  Pass.  Thats ok for an Indy road race, but not F1.

[jesmu84]

No offense, but that layout stinks.  Half the race on the track and the rest zig zagging (but not all that much) through the infield?  Pass.  Thats ok for an Indy road race, but not F1.

Oh, ya, for sure.

But I still wanted it cause it's so close!

[The Sultan]

No offense, but that layout stinks.  Half the race on the track and the rest zig zagging (but not all that much) through the infield?  Pass.  Thats ok for an Indy road race, but not F1.

OTOH, the Indy 500 was an official race on the F1 calendar between 1950 and 1960.  But you are right.

[MUBurrow]

The track layout is pretty cool.  Thats a LOOOOONNNGG straightaway.  The visuals are gonna be awesome

Totally agree - the layout is one that should appeal/be a good bridge from conventional grand prixs to an American audience.  I think that F1 has a great product to market in the States, but it has to focus on the extravagance and spectacle.  This goes a long way toward that.

[Its DJOver]

Totally agree - the layout is one that should appeal/be a good bridge from conventional grand prixs to an American audience.  I think that F1 has a great product to market in the States, but it has to focus on the extravagance and spectacle.  This goes a long way toward that.

I think it's tough to make that claim based solely on track route and how interesting I may/may not seem. There are still a lot of unknown factors that could make or break Vegas.

[MUBurrow]

I think it's tough to make that claim based solely on track route and how interesting I may/may not seem. There are still a lot of unknown factors that could make or break Vegas.

Oh sure, its definitely a "necessary but not sufficient" kind of thing. But I think they have the right kind of event in mind here.

[lawdog77]

The track layout is pretty cool.  Thats a LOOOOONNNGG straightaway.  The visuals are gonna be awesome


No offense, but that layout stinks.  Half the race on the track and the rest zig zagging (but not all that much) through the infield?  Pass.  Thats ok for an Indy road race, but not F1.

It's pretty difficult to have an F1 race on a banked oval, especially with Michelin Tires (too soon Indy?)

[Dish]

I was in Vegas last week for work, staying at the Bellagio. I left last Friday, and walking across to PH/Paris multiple times, I thought there was no way in hell they were going to get an F1 quality track down on the Strip in time.

Not surprised at all tonight's practice got immediately cancelled.

[warriorchick]

I am living in Las Vegas right now, and I am not going anywhere near the strip this weekend.

The whole F1 thing has been a cluster.  Hotels and restaurants jacked up their prices to ridiculous amounts (e.g., $2500 minimum to eat at a restaurant with a view of the race).  Traffic is so effed up that it is taking workers on the strip 3 hours to get to work when it normally takes 20 minutes.  They cut down huge trees to put up grandstands.  Tipped employees are going to be working their asses off for less money because most of the fans are going to be non-Americans who don't understand (or care about) the tipping culture in the U.S.  And Las Vegas is locked into this race for ten years, even if it ends up not being the huge financial boom they promised.

[Dish]

I am living in Las Vegas right now, and I am not going anywhere near the strip this weekend.

The whole F1 thing has been a cluster.  Hotels and restaurants jacked up their prices to ridiculous amounts (e.g., $2500 minimum to eat at a restaurant with a view of the race).  Traffic is so effed up that it is taking workers on the strip 3 hours to get to work when it normally takes 20 minutes.  They cut down huge trees to put up grandstands.  Tipped employees are going to be working their asses off for less money because most of the fans are going to be non-Americans who don't understand (or care about) the tipping culture in the U.S.  And Las Vegas is locked into this race for ten years, even if it ends up not being the huge financial boom they promised.

The market for hotel rates/race tickets has plummeted in the last 48 hours. As an example, last Thursday night, a room at the Flamingo was going plus $200. Tonight you could get a room there for $35.

It was miserable in Vegas last week, and things aren't getting much better this weekend.

[Its DJOver]

Hamilton to Ferrari, did not see that coming.

[Golden Avalanche]

Hamilton to Ferrari, did not see that coming.

That's a sexy way to end his time in F1.

[MUBurrow]

Yeah, wow pretty surprised.  He and Toto always seemed to have a pretty good thing going.  I'm assuming this must be primarily about Hamilton's lack of confidence in Mercedes to adapt to the new 2026 regulations.  They have seemed a little slower on the draw than Ferrari this past round trying to catch up to Red Bull.

[Golden Avalanche]

Yeah, wow pretty surprised.  He and Toto always seemed to have a pretty good thing going.  I'm assuming this must be primarily about Hamilton's lack of confidence in Mercedes to adapt to the new 2026 regulations.  They have seemed a little slower on the draw than Ferrari this past round trying to catch up to Red Bull.

Feel the same plus the teammate angle. I like Russell and think he'll be a mainstay for years but that doesn't help Hamilton to drive alongside him during Russell's learning curve at Mercedes.

On the other side, though Sainz and Leclerc seem to get on off the track it's clear to the entire world that the team had trouble delineating who was first and who was second. That lead to Ferrari looking stupid quite often.

Pairing Hamilton to Leclerc in the prestige car of the sport gives F1 the boost it needs since the Red Bull domination has already sapped the enthusiasm of the casual fan.

[Its DJOver]

Horner out at RB.  Gotta think it was either Max saying he doesn't want to drive for him and wanted him gone, or Max saying that he's already decided to leave and this was the straw that broke the camels back for the RB higher ups. Drive to survive is gonna be good next season.

[MUBurrow]

Horner out at RB.  Gotta think it was either Max saying he doesn't want to drive for him and wanted him gone, or Max saying that he's already decided to leave and this was the straw that broke the camels back for the RB higher ups. Drive to survive is gonna be good next season.

Agree - it seems like the Verstappens won the power struggle here. Announcing a Verstappen family-friendly RB CEO and then a contract extension for Max would make the most sense to me now, but the Verstappens are... interesting folks so anything is possible with them.

[Pakuni]

Horner out at RB.  Gotta think it was either Max saying he doesn't want to drive for him and wanted him gone, or Max saying that he's already decided to leave and this was the straw that broke the camels back for the RB higher ups. Drive to survive is gonna be good next season.

I'm going to miss Ginger Spice.

[JWags85]

I'm going to miss Ginger Spice.

Don't worry, I'd be shocked if he doesn't get snapped up by someone before the 2026 season.  If Dan Towriss wanted to be ruthless, he'd boot his mediocre team principal and bring Horner onto Cadillac to make a big splash before their inaugural season in 2026.