Formula 1 2023

[verreli]

Greatest driver, on a par with Ayrton Senna.

I thought it very amusing that Button and Co were going nearly orgasmic about Perez passing much slower back markers!!. It was surely as predictable as night following day. Nothing to get so worked up about!!.

[seven]

Fell asleep on the sofa last night, awoke around 0530ish, went to bed. That's how much F1 means to a once die-hard fan these days.

You'd have a hard time explaining that to a non fan. Unfair that penalty for Sainz, normally they are lenient on the opening lap. Alonso on the podium again, be amazing if he takes a win this year, its doable. Max whining like a baby at the start again. Better from Merc, I think they can get on top of this car. Perez driver of the day? Thought that was poor in that car tbh.

Pretty much nailed on. Utter farce from the go. Yet again there's hesitation to throw out the SC/Red Flag on a first lap incident, despite it being obvious to anyone with a brain that the Ferrari was beached.
As for the lap 55 incident, an example of how Abu Dhabi should have been handled.
Then the restart incident/official results, I can see no benefit to that other than making the race officials jobs easier, utter male cattle fecal matter. I mean, if your going to 'place' the 'victim' of incidents back to the start positions, there's no need to penalise the 'offenders' surely? Quite frankly the race result here is as valid as Belgium 2021. Madness.
Not sure I'd say better from Merc, as I'd say pitting Russell was a mistake, and the PU issue is not good enough.
And again with Sainz, that's a penalty but the NN who punted Leclerc off was let off as I recall...

Edit, and having watched highlights, there's a collision between the last 2 cars on the final restart which as far as I can see was completely ignored by the stewards.

[James Cutting]

What an absolute farce from the utter useless FIA. Turning the alleged "pinnacle of motorsport" into an absolute laughing stock. So the lap in which Sainz is penalised is not counted but his diabolical penalty sticks? Right. Go figure. What a shambles. That just scratches the surface of issues.

[Pune]

I must agree, an absolute farce, seems to me another serious shake up in the FIA is needed, get some folk who know what they are doing would be good.
Well done Alonso and Hamilton, bad luck Russell, plenty of season left.

[XWP29]

Alan Gow would do a much better job of running F1

[Pune]

Alan Gow would do a much better job of running F1

You could be right there..

[2e1var]

It's race week, phew that was a long wait, and it's Baku which rarely disappoints. Also it's a Sprint weekend so Friday qualy, Saturday sprint and Sunday full race.

[seven]

AIR, this weekend hasn't been finalised yet? I'm sure it was going to be rejigged so that the sprint doesn't give the grid for the race, and another qually session introduced for the race..

[2e1var]

Just the one quality, annoyingly 1pm Friday

[raptor9]

I may be allowed to watch everything, but having feasted out last week-end on World Superbikes, Ferrari Challenge, GT's from Monza, Formula' e' from Berlin, and, of course, Formula Crash [the BTCC}, mostly live on Sky, I may be pushing my luck with the TV Remote!!.

I may get away with it, but doubtless there will be consequences from Senior Management. [Out for Dinner etc.,]

[James Cutting]

It's something along the lines of...

FP1
FP2 replaced by Sprint Qualifying
Qualifying for the race
Sprint Race with no effect on the race
The race

If I have managed to understand that properly! If so, it's an absolute mess! The quicker they get rid of it, the better.

[2e1var]

Nope it's
FP1
QUALY
FP2
SPRINT
RACE

I love the format, hope it stays.

[seven]

It's something along the lines of...

FP1
FP2 replaced by Sprint Qualifying
Qualifying for the race
Sprint Race with no effect on the race
The race

If I have managed to understand that properly! If so, it's an absolute mess! The quicker they get rid of it, the better.

That's roughly what I understood the plan was, and was backed by the teams(though not all drivers).

Nope it's
FP1
QUALY
FP2
SPRINT
RACE

I love the format, hope it stays.

That's what they've been saying since the times were published at the start of the season. However FIA/F1 officials have been saying at the last 2 races that thhe format hasn't been finalised yet, and there's plenty of (informed)talk about it in social media. I guess with eff all being said up to now, then it won't be changed...

[James Cutting]

The sprint does nothing for the race, because there's just enough laps for everyone to sort themselves out, nobody properly races to protect the cars. Silverstone 2021 was a right procession when I went! Eh, we'll see. Think you're right Seven, it's due to change as Pirelli haven't got enough tyres (one thing I read).

[2e1var]

Oh I dunno, I think it's worked well, there's certainly plenty of action, they are racers after all. That said Silverstone '21 wasn't great, although Alonso gained 4, Russell lost 4, Perez lost 15 so something happened. Sao Paulo '21 was great with Lewis making up 10 places and in '22 George taking his first 'win'. I don't think that the tyres are an issue as there's one less FP, it's more the budget cap as with 3 extra 'races' there's more potential to break a car. If you look at the results from the sprints there's certainly a lot of position changes. Last year changed to give points to the top 8, as seven said I don't think the Sprint has any bearing on the race grid now so perhaps harder racing with nothing to lose, unless you prang it. I've enjoyed sitting down to watch qualy on a Friday evening (1pm this week, big mistake), then watching some racing on two days over the weekend. Saturdays are certainly more fun that just the last 3 minutes of Q3 being exciting.
Regardless it's Baku this weekend which I'm confident will be the best race of the season, absolute nailed on win for Merc with that massive straight and their high speed dominance.

[raptor9]

Loved the last sentence!.

[James Cutting]

Nope it's
FP1
QUALY
FP2
SPRINT
RACE

I love the format, hope it stays.

http://www.skysports.com/share/12865050

Vote to take place today

FP1

Qualifying for Race

Qualifying for Sprint

Sprint Race

Normal Race

[EGDR]

Structure now confirmed

Friday:
FP1
Race Qualifying

Saturday:
Sprint Shootout (elimination-style qualifying)
Sprint Race

Sunday:
Race

https://twitter.com/F1/status/1650885318524977155

[James Cutting]

What a mess.

[XWP29]

What a mess.

There’s always BTCC