FORMULA 1 2024

[Cleoriff]

So breaking news before the start of the 2024 season:

Lewis Hamilton appears to be making a move to Ferrari for the 2025 season

A major shock as he signed a two year contract with Mercedes last season. So whether it was one year with an opt out clause for 2025 is anyone's guess.

This seems to be anything but a silly season rumour!

MOTORSPORT: HAMILTON TO FERRARI 

SKY NEWS: HAMILTON TO FERRARI FOR 2025 

A lot more news happening but I'll post that later. For now, I need to go and have a lie down 😂

NB As Charles Leclerc has just signed a contract extension with Ferrari, it looks as if Lewis would be replacing Carlos Sainz.

It won't be a popular move. Also, not sure how Mercedes will handle that news THIS year as Lewis is driving for them until the end of 2024.

Will they put all their eggs in George Russells basket? (Hamilton came 3rd in the drivers championship last year and Russell came 8th)

Questions Questions!!🤔

[Cleoriff]

BAKU F1

PRACTICE 1.

Baku is a street race. Air temp 32c and track temp 45c. Red Bull have brought upgrades to their floor.

This was a dusty session with 3 red flags. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) was first into the wall. Colapinto (Williams) crashed into the wall in the 2nd part of the session.

Mercedes have decided NOT to use their new floor. They tried it in Monza with poor results, so they are now using the floor which gave them the win at Silverstone and Spa.

Lewis was in the lead for P1 until Max made his last run

[Cleoriff]

PRACTICE 2

No crashes or dramatics this session. Although not sure what Lando was doing down in 17th!

[Cleoriff]

Practice 3

A very bitty session interrupted with plenty of yellow flags and a red flag.

Ollie Bearman who is a substitute for Kevin Magnussen, hit the wall and brought out the red flag. A major rebuild 3 hrs before Qualifying is not good.

Ocon for Alpine had a car which  stopped on track. Major engine issues apparently.

George Russell initially thought he would need a new engine but came out after a setting change and went to the top of the leader board!

[Cleoriff]

Qualifying.

A yellow flag cost Norris a good qualifying session.

Ocon hit the wall, got a puncture but was tootling around very slowly to the pits. There was no danger and folk think a white flag should have been waved instead of yellow. Lando went out in Q1 and is 17th.

Albon had an airbox fall into his car as he left the pits in Q3. He stopped by the pit entrance and tried to get it out. He managed it but he lost time and cou;ldnt get to the start of the grid on time.

Colapinto did well.

[Cleoriff]

Pierre Gasly disqualified from Qualifying. He had too much fuel left at the end of the session

He was 13th but now starts at the back of the grid.

[Cleoriff]

BAKU Race.

A great race. Hamilton started from the pitlane as they changed engine parts post qualy.

Leclerc kept the lead until lap 20 when Piastri made a dive down the inside and went into the lead.

The running order until lap 49 was Piastri, Leclerc, Perez, Sainz and Russell.

Sainz made a clean overtake on Perez who came back quickly and they both ended up in the wall! This handed 3rd to Russell who was 15 seconds behind the lead 4.

The race finished under the virtual safety car.

McLaren are now ahead of Red Bull in the Constructors.

[Cleoriff]

The FIA have released the F1 Calendar for 2025.

Singapore F1 this weekend. Another street race but at night. I will miss Practice 1 and 2 as will be travelling back from Poole.

Currently the record held for a pole lap (in Qualifying) belongs to Lewis Hamilton in 2019.

[Cleoriff]

Gee thanks FOM!!

Whats the point of blocking it? I've just watched it on FB so not blocked from there! Pfffft 😂

[Cleoriff]

To late to edit but the pole lap by Lewis was 2018 not 2019 at Yas Marina, Singapore

[Cleoriff]

SINGAPORE F1

Practice 1