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Charles le Clerc would be seriously pissed if Lewis came in and won the title in his team! Wonder how he’s feeling now!
implies that this year’s Merc W15 hasn’t improved much on the W14.
Hamilton was quite vocal about the fact that Mercedes didnt listen to him last year, so it feels quite likely that's the case. I think I may have said it earlier in last years thread that I wondered whether his current contract had a get out clause if it wasn't a championship capable scenario at Mercedes.
No matter which way you look at it, that’s a brave move.
Lets see if Mercedes keep the zero pod philosophy for the W15 or have gone the same route as RedBull/everyone else.
Lets see if Mercedes keep the zero pod philosophy for the W15
What, you mean the zero pod concept they ditched last year?
Interesting that Norris will have heard about what was happening but still decided to sign long term McLaren deal rather than wait to see about a move to Merc. Seems like it's all a bit BAT at Merc again....
Interesting that Norris will have heard about what was happening but still decided to sign long term McLaren deal rather than wait to see about a move to Merc. Seems like it’s all a bit BAT at Merc again….
It's interesting isn't it? It suggests that either no one in the paddock was aware of Lewis going to Ferrari until the last minute, or that if everyone already knew about the move, that the paddock knows that the new Merc car is a dog and Lando has decided staying where he is will be better long term.
Wonder if Lando has any escape clauses in his new contract. Seeing as Merc are McLarens engine supplier, they could potentially do a deal with heavily discounted engines in exchange for Lando...
Wonder if Lando has any escape clauses in his new contract.
There will be, but I think he will want to wait and see how competitive the teams are before deciding. That's what surprised me about Hamilton - I assumed that he might have signed a tentative contract, but would wait until they saw how competitive the cars were on track before making a final decision. My guess is that he's fairly sure that neither the Ferrari nor the Merc will win the championship this year, but that Ferrari are better positioned to improve over the next two or three years.
I would love to see Alonso get a year or two in a competitive Merc before he retires. He's a difficult person to like, but only two titles really does not do him justice.
I would love to see Alonso get a year or two in a competitive Merc before he retires. He’s a difficult person to like, but only two titles really does not do him justice.
It would be perfect timing for Alonso - leave a team on the rise for one on the fall! 🤣
He deserves x2 titles due to his arsey attitude towards team mates and teams.
I think I'd fancy my chances in either a Ferrari or Maclaren over Mercedes right now. Did Verstappen say at the end of last seasons that the car that they worried about the most was the MacLaren after its updates after the summer break.
I wonder if Toto will go at the same time..... He was muttering about leaving a couple of years ago.
Alonso was eight points away from being a five-times world champion.
Useless fact.
Even more more useless fact, I had a dream last night where Hamilton and Verstappen were racing in one of those Bronco tracked vehicle things which the army use, Verstappen was in the back one but couldn't overtake because they were joined together, although the towing arm was long enough to allow them to crash into each other. It was quite funny to watch
One of these, painted bright blue
I wonder if Toto will go at the same time….. He was muttering about leaving a couple of years ago
He recently extended his contract to 2026 so doubt this changes much for him.
...and he owns a third of the team. So he's not really an employee! 🙂
Anyway, it was funny watching every single F1 journalist lose their shit yesterday. I’ll bet they’ve never had to write so much in an afternoon before 😂
Wonder if Lando has any escape clauses in his new contract. Seeing as Merc are McLarens engine supplier, they could potentially do a deal with heavily discounted engines in exchange for Lando…
McLaren aren't Williams though so that wouldn't work.
Also McLaren now have a seat at the table at Mercedes power trains, they get the same development information as the main Mercedes team does, advanced news on cooling and other efficiencies. Brown apparently negotiated it as part of the contract when they renewed with Mercedes. Quite a strange move on Mercedes part a lot of people thought.
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/11/30/mclaren-to-have-more-influence-with-new-mercedes-pu-deal/
There's a car launch today BTW - just in case anyone can be arsed looking at renders of the slowest car on the grid! 🙂
Not a surprise to hear Lewis is off. He's sulked his way round the tracks for a couple of years now, clearly needs a change of scene. Let's be honest the journey from Monaco to Maranello will be a lot nicer that going to MK.
Ooooh look - a black F1 car!...
[img] 
[/img]
Calm yourselves people - I know an F1 car launch is an exciting thing but steady-on with the posting frenzy!! 😂
the-muffin-man
Full MemberCalm yourselves people
😁
TBH i assumed it was just a livery launch but over on F1technical, they think it's (at least some iteration of) the real car.
New front wing inspired by the Merc W14, and quite different around the sidepods (now similar to mclaren) and the cannon (see the louvres behind the engine)
https://twitter.com/Graftechweb/status/1753430590404087966
Their conclusion so far: 'nothing drastic'/'the first of many RB clones'
Their conclusion so far: ‘nothing drastic’/’the first of many RB clones
aka convergence under relatively stable rules.
One year they should all just roll out renders of the same car but with different liveries to see what design features the "experts" spot
thepurist
aka convergence under relatively stable rules.
One year they should all just roll out renders of the same car but with different liveries to see what design features the “experts” spot
Well it's all a bit academic anyway given the magic on these cars is underneath! Besides nobody will be revealing anything spicy before testing, at least not on purpose 🙂
So Andretti didn't attend the meeting with FOM because the invite went into a spam folder 😅
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/andrettis-fresh-f1-rejection-rebutal/
and the cannon
I didn't realise they were allowed heavy munitions. Hispana 404 or something more modern?
So Andretti didn’t attend the meeting with FOM because the invite went into a spam folder 😅
…I use that excuse at least once a week!! 🤣🤣
Part of me wants Hamilton's move to be more about career wishlist fulfilment than an attempt to buck the trend of Ferrari making a bollix of everything. I can't allow myself to get too invested in this.
And what of Sainz? IMO he's pretty bloody good.
Its being reported Hamilton's Ferrari deal will go beyond normal F1 duties and include things like supporting his 44 race team and him being a brand Ammbasador for Ferrari after he reitres, which apparently is something Merc declined doing in his latest round of contract agreement talks
For this Ferrari will pay him a paltry $446 million/£353 million pounds
For actual driving its reported he will be on $87 million for 2025 with the option to extend for 2026!
And what of Sainz? IMO he’s pretty bloody good.
Off to Audi/Sauber/Alfa Romeo...whatever they call themselves next week. By all accounts
I know it's not going to happen but I'd quite like a certain German multiple world champion to follow in the footsteps of another German multiple world champion and make a comeback with Mercedes 🤞🏻🤞🏻
Either that or Alex Albon but there are a few rumours that he'll be going to RB when Checo gets the elbow.
Sadly I think Ocon is the most likely outcome 😕
This is what happens when you sternly tell staff they can't have an extra sandwich anymore! 🙂
https://twitter.com/fastestpitstop/status/1754491866660135011?s=12&t=EQoHg-RGok071Fjc15ZHKw
Sadly I think Ocon is the most likely outcome
I think Sainz is probably top of the list, Albon has a shot, Alonso isn't out of the question, neither is Ricciardo. Problem is, Red Bull has the same list and hard to see them keeping Perez for 2025.
Vettel's name is being chucked around too - and a youngster at 36 compared to Lewis and Fernando! 🙂
Williams livery reveal livestream
https://www.williamsf1.com/live-experience/633fdfe9-cc4b-4f25-9e47-1fcc444ad2ee/2024-season-launch
Nothing too exciting, couple of new sponsors though.
Aiui they're just showing new paint on an old car - actual car reveal will be when testing kicks off. So guess that today is an event for the Williams PR team and the sponsors, not really for the fans.
Edit - but as new paint goes, that's actually quite nice.
New sponsor for Williams – should give them a lift for the 2024 season…
Might be digging a hole for themselves though.
New sponsor for Williams – should give them a lift for the 2024 season…
Might be digging a hole for themselves though.
Horner seems to be having an uncomfortable time at the moment...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68205305
What is the actual complaint/allegation?
Is this going to fizzle out like the Wolfe allegations?
No one knows yet - I did chuckle at this comment to the allegations on Planet F1 though!...
"Inappropriate Conduct"
Vague enough to not actually mean anything.
Having too many sandwiches from the canteen?
Horse riding in company time?
That it's gone public in such a big way suggests there's more to it than just a disagreement between employees.
Top news story on a lot of the newspaper websites, not just F1 media.
Could be anything. I think that it is in the media is probably just the press office at Red Bull getting ahead of the story.
Horse riding in company time?<br /><br />
That’s no way to talk about a Spice girl!
He fell out with Helmet Markko, now it's payback time.
It could be very minor, but the fact that Christian is the very face of Redbull, possibly in many ways, more than even MV - it was always going to be a big story. RB had to try and control the narrative. Now every media outlet is running their (RBs) release not some hypothetical situation that they’ve concocted based on rumours.
Sounds more serious than i was expecting.
https://twitter.com/FastestPitStop/status/1754546627728097461
It's bizarrely such a big headline across all news outlets for for such a vague accusation that could be sexual, drugs, financial, bullying, inter team spying or a thing about wearing leather shorts, slapping his thighs whilst singing badly (hang on, scratch the last one - Austrian owned team so kind of a given).
I follow various F1 reporters on Twitter, but that Fastest Pitstop account seem to be the only one pushing this?
I have read it on the BBC website, but am wondering if 'the Internet' is getting caught up in something?
EDIT : unless they are keeping quiet for legal reasons...
*something obliquely referencing cheating*
I have read it on the BBC website, but am wondering if ‘the Internet’ is getting caught up in something?
Hype for a new season of Drive To Survive?🤔😄
@ muffin-man - Yep it is now, just saw the piece on Sky F1 account
I reckon financial shenanigans, based on little more than a gut feeling.
The new Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber (really???) car is very erm green.....
Thought they were sponsored by Kawasaki when I first looked at it!
Daily Mail headline (i know, i know):
Geri Halliwell's husband Christian Horner faces allegations of 'incredibly controlling behaviour' by female colleague as he fights for his Red Bull future
Horner out, get Gunther Steiner back!
win/win
Horner out, get Gunther Steiner back!
win/win
I could even see myself cheering for Red Bull if that happened!
This has been all over social media this morning - but now an official source. Horner hearing on Friday...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68218956
In all the fuss about Horner, and the green paint on the Stake Sauber the Williams launch got largely ignored yesterday
According to Joe Saward (who I think is generally reliable), it's believed that Adrian Newey and Christian Horner have clauses in their contracts that they can walk if the other isn't retained. Which means that losing Horner risks losing Newey. As dislikeable as I find Horner, he does deserve credit for building an incredible team. Losing him alone would be a serious blow. Risking losing both him and Newey would be catastrophic. My guess is that, unless he is facing criminal charges, Red Bull will pay off whoever complained and we'll never know the details.
In all the fuss about Horner, and the green paint on the Stake Sauber the Williams launch got largely ignored yesterday
Probably because, compared to potential scandal and a complete colour change to fluro green, launching a livery only that is almost the same as last year except a slightly darker blue and even more exposed carbon is pretty uneventful.
Red Bull will pay off whoever complained and we’ll never know the details.
I've read that its a female employee who's made the allegations. I think the days of that sort of thing (sweeping it under the carpet, nothing to see here) are past, are they not?
I think the days of that sort of thing (sweeping it under the carpet, nothing to see here) are past, are they not?
Aye. Apparently yer can't count on the ladies to do the sweeping any longer... 🙃
Now how about Newey leaves and goes to Ferrari.......
Now how about Newey leaves and goes to Ferrari…….
Can't see that happening at his age, and I doubt Ferrari would give him the freedom he has at Red Bull.
He's expressed an interest in working with Fernando - so maybe consultant to Aston Martin (who he kinda works for already!).
And wouldn't it be a crying shame if Red Bull fell apart and left Max with a mid-field chassis and a dodgy Ford engine in 2026! 🤔
And it transpires Hamilton joining Ferrari was part of his career plan all along...
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/a-great-way-to-end-my-f1-career-when-hamilton-revealed-his-ferrari-plan/
Yey, F1 is interesting again. Not on track of course, those days have gone...
🙂
the daily fail was reporting that theres some back off schenanigans going on, with some folks back at Redbull HQ (as in the main company, not the F1 team) wanting Horner out, but the thai board members wanting to keep him.
Can’t see that happening at his age, and I doubt Ferrari would give him the freedom he has at Red Bull. He’s expressed an interest in working with Fernando
Fairly sure he’s also said he would have liked to have worked with Hamilton, and I’ve got a fiver that says Elkann’s been on the blower offering him a pretty free rein (assuming he’s got anything in the piggy bank after securing Hamilton). I mean, the chances of it happening are microscopic, let alone it happening and then the pair of them having the time to build a dominating car and team before they stand down… but it’s certainly fun to consider the possibilities. I mean… Hamilton and Newey in 2025? Italy would have to declare a week’s public holiday because everyone wouldn’t be turning up to work anyway, it’d be off the scale.
It was both he mentioned…
[i] “Working with Fernando or Lewis [Hamilton] would have been fabulous, but it never happened,” he said. “It’s just circumstance, sometimes that’s the way it is.”[/i]
Phrased like that makes me wonder if he meant he maybe moved to RB a couple of years too early and missed out on that pairing at McLaren 🤔