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]

SPRINT SHOOTOUT

Next at 2pm is the main sprint of 17 laps.

[Cleoriff]

The Sprint had one safety car with Tsunoda hitting whe wall and damaging his tyre and front wing. Back to the pits and mechanics made a poor job of fixing it. Out on track and nothing happening. The team are under investigation for an unsafe release.

Lewis lost a place as he tried to overtake Sainz who closed him down and Alonso took advantage of the gap and swept through.

Makes no difference to the starting  grid tomorrow. Just points gained in both sprints.

[Cleoriff]

BAKU RACE.

Not bad at all. The king of street racers (Perez) won, 3 seconds ahead of Max. Both Max and Lewis were told to pit, then  one lap after, someone crashed and the safety car was called. Bad luck for Lewis. Max not so much as he is driving a rocket!

[Cleoriff]

Miami F1

FP1

A shock for all with Mercedes finishing P1and2 for this first session

[Cleoriff]

FP2

Normal service resumed 😂

[Cleoriff]

PRACTICE 3

Mercedes seem to be slipping down the ranks. Very poor showing

[Cleoriff]

Qualifying Next. I'm hoping for a miracle 😂

[Cleoriff]

The miracle didn't happen for Lewis anyway. He was out in Q2 and I can't remember the last time that happened. Leclerc put his car in the wall towards the end of Q3 so a few people lost out. Max couldn't get his last flying lap in so starts from 9th. It will be easy for him with that speeding bullet to make up speed. Lewis in the slow Merc, not so much. 🙄

[Cleoriff]

RACE MIAMI

What a load of razzamatazz before the race started. Drivers introduced one by one coming out of a flashy tunnel with cheerleaders either side. An orchestra conducted by Will.I.Am. The grid was full of celebs,  Vin  Deisel promoting his latest Fast and Furious film etc Lots of famous basketball players (All there for Lewis) The Williams sisters, also there for Lewis. Roger Federer and too many to mention (so I won't)

Max did well coming from  9th to win. Lewis also did well coming from 13th to 6th.

The only US driver, Sargeant came last.

No F1 next week. Good job, as I shall be rocking and rolling. 😂

[pgn]

Looks like the rain has moved east, @Cleoriff - Imola/Italian GP cancelled due to severe flooding?