Formula 1 2023.

[Cleoriff]

I'll run a Formula 1 thread for one more season. Hopefully there will be some new members who are interested? If not, I'll spend a lot of time talking to myself 😂

A fair amount of changes this season with the driver line up but I'll discuss that later.

Kicking off in Bahrain on March 5 and concluding in Abu Dhabi on November 26, the season will feature a planned, record-breaking 24 races, with Qatar set to return and Las Vegas arriving as the penultimate round for a Saturday night race. China has been dropped due to the ongoing Covid situation.

CALENDAR

*Pre Season testing will take place in Bahrain on Feb23-25th

DRIVERS 2023

No change in the top three teams of Red Bull,(Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez)

Ferrari, (Charles LeClerc and Carlos Sainz and

Mercedes  (George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

Alpine team, Pierre Gasly moves to drive with them as Alonso has moved out

McLaren Team. Oscar Piastri replaces Ricciardo and Lando Norris remains.

Alfa Romeo Team. No change in the line up with Valtteri Bottas and George Zhou.

Aston Martin Team. Fernando Alonso replace Seb Vettel who retired last year. Lance Stroll remains.

Haas Team Another change. Mick Schumacher was sacked last year and has been replaced with Nico Hulkenberg who will have his arch enemy Kevin Magnussen as a team mate.

Alpha Tauri team. Nyck De Vries (a rookie) replaces Gasly who moved to Alpine. Team mate Yuki Tsunoda (no change)

Williams team. Alex Albon remains and Nicholas Latifi (one of the worse drivers on the grid), resigned before being sacked, is replaced by another rookie Logan Sargeant (who was 4th in F2 last season)

So lots to look forward to this season. There have been changes in Team Principals. For Ferrari, Fred Vasseur replacing Mattio Binotti, McLaren has changed but the most shocking change (for me) is James Vowles Chief Strategist for Mercedes has taken on the team principal role for Williams!!

I hope Merc have got a damn good replacement!

[Cleoriff]

Brilliant @pgn but they will find a way round the damn cost cap. Last year they said Adrian Newey (who is a their top car designer and has been with RBR for years, his cars have won 6 championships) was on a 'working hrs' contract. Inferring that he wasn't part of the team on a regular basis so he couldn't be included in cost cap as his salary was paid p.r.n. Load of rubbish, he is at every race meeting and joins the technical side to monitor the car performance!

It didn't matter, they got away with a slap on the wrist, encouraging other teams to look for ways to cut their cost caps.

[Cleoriff]

Over this week the teams have been revealing their cars.

Only interested in one and that's this beauty.

The Mercedes W14 has 'gone back to black'. They have left it matte which helps with weight. 221bs lighter without it's customary silver paint. A real sleek beauty.

 Ferrari SF-23

McLaren MCL60

Alpha Tauri

Williams

Red Bull19

Haas V23

Aston Martin AMR23

ALPINE to be released tomorrow

[Cleoriff]

One more

Alfa Romeo

[Cleoriff]

Alpine A523 released today.

[Cleoriff]

The FIA ran a poll on the best looking car for 2023.

Topping the poll was Mercedes W14 by 33% 😍

Ferrari 19%

Alfa Romeo 15%

Red Bull 8%

Aston Martin 7%

Personally, I would drop red Bull as their design hasn't changed for years and Aston Martin would go into 2nd.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.revealed-the-best-livery-of-2023-as-voted-for-by-you.1opJ... 

Currently testing is underway in Bahrain. Good to see the cars on track but we can't read anything into it.

Day 1 yesterday

Max took the whole day. Perez is in the car this PM. Well done Alonso finishing 2nd for your new team.

[Cleoriff]

Free Practice 1 (Bahrain)

[Cleoriff]

P2

Looks like Alpine have given Fernando Alonso the car he wanted!!

[pgn]

Ah, yes ... not forgetting the sponsors 😂

[Cleoriff]

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@pgn wrote:

Ah, yes ... not forgetting the sponsors 😂

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Dunno how old that Alfa Romeo is @pgn but it hasn't been that colour or shape for years! 🤣

[pgn]

That is what they are sporting for this season, @Cleoriff 😁