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]

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@pgn wrote:

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

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Yes @pgn. Been very busy this evening. Not at all sad it's been cancelled. The F1 circus has no place in Italy this weekend with the tragic events occuring there. The picture shows the F1 paddock and track.  Obviously little can be seen as the track is flooded from a nearby river which has burst it's banks

From an F1 point of view, this is one of thhe most popular races as the track is great. Great races, plenty of overtaking oppportunities etc. Also, the remaining calendar is so full it looks as if there is no place to have it later in the year.

Onto another issue. The team lorries carrying cars and pit equipment are already in Italy and stranded. Next weekend they are meant to be in Monaco!

[pgn]

Max made pole in Qualification
Monaco Grand Prix, 27 May 2023...

[Safwan]

Absolutely cracking Monaco Quali today, don’t think the GP can live up to that but I hope to be wrong! 🙂

[Cleoriff]

Oh look ...when I go away for a few days, this thread keeps going. Thanks @pgn  and welcome @Safwan 😊

I kept off social media, knowing I would be home to watch a recorded quali. I agree it was a cracking 'race'. A bit sad that Alonso lost out in the last few seconds, particularly as Max was all over the place in the first two sectors but there you go. Really annoyed that the Merc upgrades didn't live up to the hype. Lewis in 6th and George in  8th. Well done Ocon and Gasly

I hope we don't get a procession but we usually do, unless there is a safety car or a crash.

[Cleoriff]

Breaking news Leclerc, 3 place grid penalty for impeding Norris during Qualy. So the grid above was shown after Leclerc's penalty.  Puts lewis in 5th and George remains in 8th.

[Cleoriff]

Not a bad race at all. Sun and rain. Cars clipping the barriers and each other although not one safety car needed. Estaban Ocon got driver of the day, Lewis got the fastest lap.

Next week we are at Barcelona.

[Bambino]

Just a little over an hour to go before the start of the fastest race on four wheels:

2023 Indianapolis 500 Event Schedule (indianapolismotorspeedway.com)

[Safwan]

Yeah, a decent GP, on a track not suited for modern F1 cars (imo). The Merc upgrades are a step in the right direction but no one’s catching Max this season.

Congrats to Leclerc for finishing a race in Monaco for a second time!

[Cleoriff]

I agree @Safwan,  F1 has outgrown Monaco. In fact it has always been my least favourite race, despite pundits referring to it as the 'jewel in the crown' 🙄 A playground for the rich and famous including most F1 drivers on the grid. 😂

Pity I don't care for Verstappen. I understand the frustration of fans when Mercedes were so dominant.

@BambinoSorry missed the Indy 500, I went for a late siesta. 😉

[Bambino]

You missed an amazing race, @Cleoriff. After 497.5 miles it went down to a white/green flag one lap 2.5 mile shootout which had never happened in the 107 year history of the race. A couple of spectacular crashes too, with thankfully no injuries due to the great engineering of the cars. 

Now to sit down and watch the NASCAR Charlotte 600. Lots of racing today. 😊