F1 2024 Season

[pauldyson1uk]

A “disappointed” Fernando Alonso slammed the Australian GP stewards’ decision to sanction him for “potentially dangerous” driving, insisting his fight with George Russell was “hard but fair racing”.

The incident unfolded in the closing stages of Sunday’s race at Albert Park as Alonso and Russell battled for P6.

Fearing Russell's advantage with DRS in the upcoming zones, Alonso explained that he braked earlier at Turn 6 on the penultimate lap in a bid to boost his edge on the straight.


The unexpected maneuver caught Russell off guard, the Briton losing control of his Mercedes in the turbulent air behind Alonso's Aston Martin.

After reviewing evidence and hearing Alonso's explanation, the stewards deemed the Spaniard’s driving as "potentially dangerous" and issued a drive-through penalty, immediately converted to a 20-second time penalty.

This demoted Alonso from sixth to eighth in the final standings and thoroughly frustrated the F1 veteran.

https://f1i.com/news/503568-disappo...SiD1rhODsAtmqJqroOo7C2hZpJktEDcrub-grRk9L3IPw

 

[dinostar77]

Windsor hears in paddock: 'Perez has already extended Red Bull contract'

Windsor also comes up with a striking rumour. "I heard in the paddock area from various sources that are pretty reliable that Sergio has already renewed his contract for next year. In which case, you'd say, well, what was the rush?"

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/266710/windsor-over-sainz-at-red-bull-and-striking-perez-rumour.html

 

[The Firestarter]

Windsor hears in paddock: 'Perez has already extended Red Bull contract'

Windsor also comes up with a striking rumour. "I heard in the paddock area from various sources that are pretty reliable that Sergio has already renewed his contract for next year. In which case, you'd say, well, what was the rush?"

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/266710/windsor-over-sainz-at-red-bull-and-striking-perez-rumour.html

This can't be true. Better Yuki than him.

 

[United Hobbit]

Really hope that's not true about Perez

Watching the replay, I see what people are saying that the race would have been more interesting if Max had stayed in it as Sainz was actually racing him - but was that only happening because he had the problem?

Can't remember the last time I saw a RB go bang

 

[Redplane]

This can't be true. Better Yuki than him.

Only way that may make sense is if Max may indeed walk after 25.

 

[The Firestarter]

Only way that may make sense is if Max may indeed walk after 25.

Then go for Carlos. Far too many drivers are better than Checko

 

[hobbers]

Horner and Toto should be fighting it out to sign Sainz if they have any sense.

Miles better than Checo and Russell. If there's a danger of Max leaving after next season then Sainz in on a long term deal mitigates the loss a bit.

Toto could get Sainz in for next season and then if Max wants to come in 2026, Russell's contract is up after 2025 so can just turf him out.

 

[dinostar77]

Perez does bring in £50mil a year in sponsorship. Under cost cap that could be important. Also maybe him and his team have been loyal to Horner in the Red Bull civil war. Having one side of the garage on your side could be important.

I hope Peter Windsor has been fed some bull crap.

 

[BristolRuss]

Sainz has got an unfair speed advantage now.

 

[sepulturite]

Really don't understand what Alonso was thinking doing that, he was going to beat Russell anyway, I doubt it very much he was going to be passed in the last half of the lap after holding him off already. All very strange.

 

[RoadTrip]

Has someone a clip please of the Russell onboard? I didn’t remember thinking anything of it when I watched the race replay. Granted I was not paying much attention by then!

 

[hobbers]

It’s a ridiculous penalty and sets a ridiculous precedent.

If you checked Alonso’s telemetry in his Brazil battle vs Checo he will have lifted off at odd moments dozens of times because he was taking weird lines all over the shop. Part of racing is improvising with corner entry and exit speed.

Could also compare it to what Magnussen did in Saudi. Lifting off purposefully blocking and going slowly on one of the fastest track in the calendar for dozens of laps.

The only difference is Checo and Yuki didn’t spin off in their respective dirty air like turds.

And that’s before you get to whatever his known throttle issue was.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

Fernando Alonso responds to FIA stewards’ verdict in Australia
While no contact was made between the cars, the stewards’ verdict explained that Russell told them of his belief that “Alonso’s manoeuvre was erratic, took him by surprise and caused him to close distance unusually fast, and with the resulting lower downforce at the apex of the corner, he lost control and crashed at the exit of the corner.”

The stewards agreed, awarding him three penalty points on his Super Licence and a 20-second penalty that dropped him from sixth to eighth in the classification

“In the closing laps, George caught me quickly. I knew that he was coming, then he was in DRS range for five or six laps, so I was just doing qualifying laps to stay ahead,” Alonso said after the race.

“I wanted to maximise my exit speed from Turn 6 to defend against him. That’s what any racing driver would do, and I didn’t feel it was dangerous.

“It’s disappointing to get a penalty from the stewards for what was hard but fair racing.

“Still, I’m glad that George is okay. It was not nice to see his car in the middle of the track.

“This wasn’t the best weekend for us in terms of pace, but our race was well executed: good strategy, incredible pit-stops, great reliability.

“I think we probably scored more points today than our pace merited – but we’ll take that.”

Expanding further on the topic on social media, Alonso wrote on X: “Double points for the team and a better race pace than the rest of the weekend allowed us to cross the finish line in 6th and 7th place.


“A bit surprised by a penalty at the end of the race regarding how we should approach the corners or how we should drive the race cars. At no point do we want to do anything wrong at these speeds.

“I believe that without gravel on that corner, on any other corner in the world we will never be even investigated. In F1, with over 20 years of experience, with epic duels like Imola 2005/2006/Brazil 2023, changing racing lines, sacrificing entry speed to have good exits from corners is part of the art of motorsport.

“We never drive at 100% every race lap and every corner, we save fuel, tires, brakes, so being responsible for not making every lap the same is a bit surprising. We have to accept it and think about Japan, to have more pace and fight for positions further up the field. Thank you, team!”

Fernando Alonso issues firm response to FIA stewards after Australian GP penalty : PlanetF1

 

[pauldyson1uk]

Alonso , from his own mouth

Alonso explained that while his plan was to slow earlier, he got it slightly wrong and had to take extra steps to get back up to speed.

The report into the incident added: "The stewards considered that they do not have sufficient information to determine whether Alonso's manoeuvre was intended to cause Russell problems, or whether as he stated to the stewards that he simply was trying to get a better exit.

"Should Alonso have the right to try a different approach to the corner? Yes. Should Alonso be responsible for dirty air, that ultimately caused the incident? No.

"However, did he choose to do something, with whatever intent, that was extraordinary, ie lifting, braking, downshifting and all the other elements of the manoeuvre over 100m earlier than previously, and much greater than was needed to simply slow earlier for the corner?

"Yes by his own account of the incident he did, and in the opinion of the stewards by doing these things, he drove in a manner that was at very least 'potentially dangerous' given the very high speed nature of that point of the track."


Formula 1: Fernando Alonso given penalty for incident that led to Russell crash - BBC Sport

 

[Ahmer Baig]

It’s a ridiculous penalty and sets a ridiculous precedent.

If you checked Alonso’s telemetry in his Brazil battle vs Checo he will have lifted off at odd moments dozens of times because he was taking weird lines all over the shop. Part of racing is improvising with corner entry and exit speed.

Could also compare it to what Magnussen did in Saudi. Lifting off purposefully blocking and going slowly on one of the fastest track in the calendar for dozens of laps.

The only difference is Checo and Yuki didn’t spin off in their respective dirty air like turds.

And that’s before you get to whatever his known throttle issue was.

What do you expect from Herbert being steward.

 

[Abizzz]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/01/f1-owner-liberty-media-announces-takeover-of-motogp

They've found another sport to ruin. Is Liberty Media worse than Al Quaida and the catholic church combined? Hate what they've done with F1 and now I am fearful for moto gp too.

 

[Pscholes18]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/01/f1-owner-liberty-media-announces-takeover-of-motogp

They've found another sport to ruin. Is Liberty Media worse than Al Quaida and the catholic church combined? Hate what they've done with F1 and now I am fearful for moto gp too.

Did they ruin F1 or has FIA?

 

[Redplane]

Did they ruin F1 or has FIA?

I think they both carry some responsibility. FIA for instance isn't the one pulling all the shenanigans with the track selection.

 

[Abizzz]

Did they ruin F1 or has FIA?

That's like asking whether Woodward or the Glazers are to blame for the past 11 years. No reason they can't work together in the enshittification of F1.

 

[BristolRuss]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68712864

 

[hobbers]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68712864

“complainant can’t confide in friends” claims complainants friend.

 

[Redplane]

“complainant can’t confide in friends” claims complainants friend.

I didnt expect that kind of bottom tier journalism from the BBC but I guess it is the sports section after all.

 

[hobbers]

I didnt expect that kind of bottom tier journalism from the BBC but I guess it is the sports section after all.

"Every time I talk to her, she breaks down in tears and says she's got no-one to talk to because she's not allowed to talk."

I also enjoyed the quotes claiming the whatsapps are real and that her friend was Horner's PA. Thereby revealing her identity yet again. While at the same time claiming that her friend is "very scared".

It's interviews like this that make it very obvious why the complainant ended up suspended.

 

[Amar__]

 

[dinostar77]

Japanese Grand Prix (all times BST)
Date	Session	Time	Radio coverage	Radio start times
Friday, 5 April	First practice	03:30-04:30	Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and online	03:25
	Second practice	07:00-08:00	Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and online	06:55
Saturday, 6 April	Third practice	03:30-04:30	Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and online	03:25
	Qualifying	07:00-08:00	Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and online	06:55
Sunday, 7 April	Race	06:00	Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and online	05:45

 

[dinostar77]

FP1 should be interesting as we will see the new zero sidepod concept for on the RedBull. As if they weren't fast enough already. Will be very embarrassing for Mercedes if it is the same concept and RedBull just nail it.

 

[Buster15]

Horner and Toto should be fighting it out to sign Sainz if they have any sense.

Miles better than Checo and Russell. If there's a danger of Max leaving after next season then Sainz in on a long term deal mitigates the loss a bit.

Toto could get Sainz in for next season and then if Max wants to come in 2026, Russell's contract is up after 2025 so can just turf him out.

He may be a bit better than Russell. But to say he is miles better strikes me as an exaggeration.

 

[Redplane]

FP1 should be interesting as we will see the new zero sidepod concept for on the RedBull. As if they weren't fast enough already. Will be very embarrassing for Mercedes if it is the same concept and RedBull just nail it.

Thought they weren't gonna bring that until the European races?

 

[RoadTrip]

FP1 should be interesting as we will see the new zero sidepod concept for on the RedBull. As if they weren't fast enough already. Will be very embarrassing for Mercedes if it is the same concept and RedBull just nail it.

That would be so embarrassing for Merc.

 

[dinostar77]

Thought they weren't gonna bring that until the European races?

Latest i

Thought they weren't gonna bring that until the European races?

Not sure, we will find out tomorrow. Maybe they are concerned with Ferrari's pace at Melbourne but with these regs the chasing pack is normally dependent on the characteristics of the track at a given weekend.

 

[Ahmer Baig]

New floor and beam for AM in Japanese GP.

 

[dinostar77]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[dinostar77]

New floor and beam for AM in Japanese GP.

How is that acceptable on a car to have pointed edges that will cause a puncture or could seriously hurt someone if it came loose and flew through the air?

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[dinostar77]

New AM sidepods

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[dinostar77]

i dont partake in your superbru league or whatever its called. But i wouldnt put either Mercedes high up the order. Dont think either car will make Q3 on saturday. Too many high speed corners where Mercedes ceed alot of time to Mclaren in Saudi. Never mind upgraded AM cars.

 

[dinostar77]

So sergant crashes the revised Williams chassis that albon damaged, in FP1.

FP2 was a rain soaked wash out.

Should hopefully lead to a interesting quality and race if the teams haven't got the cars dialled in.


FORMULA 1 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX 2024 - PRACTICE 1
0507 Apr 2024Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka
Race sponsor

	POS	DRIVER	TIME	GAP	LAPS
	1	VER	1:30.056		18
	2	PER	1:30.237	+0.181s	18
	3	SAI	1:30.269	+0.213s	20
	4	RUS	1:30.530	+0.474s	18
	5	HAM	1:30.543	+0.487s	23
	6	LEC	1:30.558	+0.502s	18
	7	ALO	1:30.599	+0.543s	20
	8	PIA	1:31.165	+1.109s	23
	9	TSU	1:31.230	+1.174s	20
	10	NOR	1:31.240	+1.184s	22
	11	OCO	1:31.935	+1.879s	19
	12	ALB	1:31.943	+1.887s	18
	13	HUL	1:31.958	+1.902s	19
	14	BOT	1:32.054	+1.998s	17
	15	STR	1:32.055	+1.999s	17
	16	IWA	1:32.103	+2.047s	22
	17	GAS	1:32.277	+2.221s	23
	18	ZHO	1:32.638	+2.582s	18
	19	MAG	1:32.803	+2.747s	21
	20	SAR	1:33.204	+3.148s	10

 

[dinostar77]

Position		Driver	Team	Time	Gap	Laps
	1	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	1:34.725		7
	2	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	1:35.226	0.501	6
	3	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1:38.760	4.035	4
	4	Yuki Tsunoda	RB	1:40.946	6.221	8
	5	Daniel Ricciardo	RB	1:41.913	7.188	9
	6	Lando Norris	McLaren	1:44.977	10.252	3
	7	Carlos Sainz Jr	Ferrari	1:52.579	17.854	3
	8	Esteban Ocon	Alpine	1:59.113	24.388	3
	9	Kevin Magnussen	Haas	2:30.472	55.747	4
	10	Guanyu Zhou	Sauber
	11	Valtteri Bottas	Sauber
	12	Alex Albon	Williams
	13	Nico Hulkenberg	Haas
	14	Max Verstappen	Red Bull
	15	Pierre Gasly	Alpine
	16	Sergio Perez	Red Bull
	17	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin
	18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin
	19	George Russell	Mercedes
	20	Logan Sargeant	Williams

 

[hobbers]

I think Max and the Ferrari's have continued their game of running every practice session with the engines turned way down.

 

[Redplane]

I think Max and the Ferrari's have continued their game of running every practice session with the engines turned way down.

That makes me wonder - was turning down the engine even a thing back in the day...say in the 90s? I can't recall. It obviously will also help PU longevity but i wonder then it it also explains why cars these days seem so bullet proof comparatively. Though having computers and robots assemble a lot of the parts with a lot more precision probably helps a lot too.

 

[hobbers]

That makes me wonder - was turning down the engine even a thing back in the day...say in the 90s? I can't recall. It obviously will also help PU longevity but i wonder then it it also explains why cars these days seem so bullet proof comparatively. Though having computers and robots assemble a lot of the parts with a lot more precision probably helps a lot too.

I dont know if they had any tricks to mechanically turn down them back in the day, but definitely with the electronic management there is now, the cars are only really going full beans for maybe 10 laps every weekend. A few qualifying laps and then a few laps in the race when they're fighting for position.

Also everything is more modular so it's much easier to monitor wear on individual components and replace them before they destroy the engine.