Love the tweet from Alfa Romeo during qualifying, Zhou's time excluded due to a "minor breach" of the track limit regulations
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Motorsport Off Topic Thread
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Because they have four entries (two RBR, two Alpha Tauri) on a 20 car grid and the showrunners aren't wild about the idea of a fifth of the race entries up and disappearing if they were to annoy them too badly?
I have to say though, I am enjoying this on certain levels. I've been watching long enough for lots of different entities to be held up as The Ultimate Evil™ in F1. Right now it's Red Bull and Max. But it's been Rosberg, it's been Ferrari, it's been Schumacher, Alonso, Vettel, Mosley, Ecclestone...
Even funnier it seems Max went off track in his one and only lap in Q1 and didn’t lose his time.
I’ve seen a few of them too, I’m aware it’s part and parcel of following a sport to an extent. I just think it hits different with RB. The way Horner is, the massive chip on his and Marko’s shoulder. The way they were always on the phone to Masi and co during 2021 (clearly that’s been going on for a while), the way everything is politicised to attempt to make RB the victimised underdog until they get their own way.. Even when they’re tattling on other teams. The threats of lawsuits etc even when the allegations are proved correct.I've been watching long enough for lots of different entities to be held up as The Ultimate Evil™ in F1. Right now it's Red Bull and Max. But it's been Rosberg, it's been Ferrari, it's been Schumacher, Alonso, Vettel, Mosley, Ecclestone...
Like I’ve always said, there seems to be a clear correlation between the rise of RB and the snarky underhand politics we all have to put up with now in the sport. That’s no coincidence.
Why didn't the FIA have a clear ruleset in place.
We might choose A, B, C, D.. Its ridiculous. Its exactly what fans hate. Ambiguity.
Do they learn nothing.
I'm so annoyed with the alonso penalty I not even sure I can be bothered with F1 anymore. I certainly do not love F1 anymore. This year has felt like I'm watching out of habit.
Next year I'm totally uninspired by alpines line up it might be the year I bow out.
Or certainly cut back from C4 highlights to YouTube.
In my mind there was never any doubt Rbr would keep their 2021 results. I'd even go so far as to say the FIA would fiddle the result.
Overturning that it's probably a bigger backlash than leaving it as is and appearing weak.
Which is what has happened. And it's all their own fault.
You overspend between x & y percent = you get penalty A
That's all that needed to be done.
We might choose A, B, C, D.. Its ridiculous. Its exactly what fans hate. Ambiguity.
Do they learn nothing.
I'm so annoyed with the alonso penalty I not even sure I can be bothered with F1 anymore. I certainly do not love F1 anymore. This year has felt like I'm watching out of habit.
Next year I'm totally uninspired by alpines line up it might be the year I bow out.
Or certainly cut back from C4 highlights to YouTube.
In my mind there was never any doubt Rbr would keep their 2021 results. I'd even go so far as to say the FIA would fiddle the result.
Overturning that it's probably a bigger backlash than leaving it as is and appearing weak.
Which is what has happened. And it's all their own fault.
You overspend between x & y percent = you get penalty A
That's all that needed to be done.
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I agree, the "win" from the overspend cannot be clawed back through any penalty now such was the time lag between the breach and now. They already have the best car at the start of this new era and will be able to maintain this advantage probably even with an entire year of zero wind tunnel time, and yet still only the top teams would marginally catch up. The jump on everyone else is what hurts as they designed - through no fault of their own admittedly - the best car. I think we really have to focus on the breach specifically to penalise the 2021 season and for that the only penalty that would "hurt" is drivers championship points reduction. Constructors they did not win anyway so it has to be drivers to feel like it hurts them.
Completely agree. Definitely hits different with them in the modern era. Horner's recent live response in the press conference talking about Zak with him sat beside him highlights everything that Horner and Redbull are and have become. I'm convinced Horner has a team that help highlight woke statements he should make in his interviews to best deflect their cheating antics, like when he mentioned mental health issues directly linking to the "accusations". Zak replied with a professional statement back, but Horner always makes it aggressive and very emotional and Americanised with the "everyone's against us", defensive statements suggesting they will sue. Perhaps the fact Horner feels he has to spend half his time defending Redbull and making aggressive outbursts says a lot about them as an organisation. Horner sees himself a bit like a lawyer in a way, fighting his championships with his voice.
It's certainly out of habit for me. I do find it hard to let go. I've already dropped all the motorbike stuff I used to watch due to mainly a lack of riders I support/like anymore. With F1 it's a different problem, plenty of drivers and teams I like to watch and the racing has definitely been spicy over the last decade, but it's the corruption, inconsistencies and focus as F1 more as a show, than a sport which is killing it.
F1 has bored me for years. Only been watching this year to help with a slump in mental health and making sure I got out of bed to do something.
Ya'll need to check out the V8 Supercars - very well run category and clearly communicated rules. Gold Coast 500 this weekend!
Ya'll need to check out the V8 Supercars - very well run category and clearly communicated rules. Gold Coast 500 this weekend!
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Looks like the Audi - Sauber deal will be confirmed tomorrow:
Apparently the team will revert to "Sauber" for 2024 & 2025 before becoming Audi in 2026
Apparently the team will revert to "Sauber" for 2024 & 2025 before becoming Audi in 2026
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Hope you feel better soon.
Sport can definitely help be some much needed mental relief when times are tough. It's a nice distraction for a couple of hours.
Although listening to Ted and Crofty, maybe not so much!
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I used to like RedBull and Horner with his cheeky pot stirring comments. But recently they have just been insufferable and their media playbook recently
That didn't happen.
And if it did, it wasn't that bad.
And if it was, that's not a big deal.
And if it is, that's not my fault.
And if it was, I didn't mean it.
And if I did, you deserved it.
Hope you feel better soon.
Sport can definitely help be some much needed mental relief when times are tough. It's a nice distraction for a couple of hours.
Although listening to Ted and Crofty, maybe not so much!
Cheers! Getting there and finally getting the help I need!
Some of the punditry has had me wanting to tear my face off though - you're not wrong!
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Sauber-Audi confirmed:
www.planetf1.com
Sauber to compete as Audi factory team from 2026 as partnership confirmed
After months of speculation, it has now been confirmed that Audi and Sauber will link-up in Formula 1 as of the 2026 season.
www.planetf1.com
Wow. Good news for the sport, I think. Wonder whether Audi will get any customer teams for their power unit? Williams, perhaps?
I can only assume that, since Audi are going all-in with their own power unit, they're going to be brining a full cap level of funding with them. Should make them more competitive.
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By waiting until 2026 before brandishing the Audi name, it says to me that they're hoping the big change in engine development will allow them to enter on a high.
If all they did was slap "Audi" on the side in 2024 they'll simply hurt their brand. Alfa haven't been setting the world alight but with some investment, I'd love to see them higher up the grid.
If all they did was slap "Audi" on the side in 2024 they'll simply hurt their brand. Alfa haven't been setting the world alight but with some investment, I'd love to see them higher up the grid.
You forgot the "I'm going to sue you for defamation/ip theft/making me cry" stage...
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There's been some rumours in recent days from some of the usual suspects that Williams have agreed to Porsche buying a stake in the team and they will become the Porsche factory team (I'd assume they'd keep the Williams name somewhere too)
I assume if they do they'll now just share the Audi engine given that they were expecting to just re-badge a Red Bull engine.
I think this goes further than just the engine, I'd expect Audi money and personnel a large part of the team going forward, Sauber already have excellent facilities at Hinwil (Audi actually used them for their Le Mans and DTM programmes)
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I think as much as anything the delay to 2026 is them not wanting "Audi-Ferrari" mentioned anywhere! I can't see Ferrari agreeing to Audi rebranding the engines for 2 years so makes sense just to wait and can put their own name on it.