Formula One 2022

[Cleoriff]

This is the year of the change to regulations and a new look for F1 cars. According to the FIA, 'it's to level the playing field'. I'm not happy with that, it's killing innovation and turning an elite sport into F2.

I may be wrong but that needs to be proved.

Anyway the 'confirmed' calendar is here.

In other news, various sports articles are showing concern that Lewis Hamilton has maintained a social media blackout since the fiasco of Abu Dhabi.

Depending on your point of view, this race was 'nearly' won by Hamilton who was 12 seconds ahead of Verstappen until 5 laps from the end when a crash by Latifi brought out a safety car. The race director who was being harangued by Toto Wolff (Mercedes manager) and Christian Horner (Red Bull manager), made some very controversial decisions in order to 'get one lap of racing'.

The outcome was, Verstappen won the race and his first championship.

Hamilton who was within 5 laps of an historical 8th WDC, behaved with utmost dignity at race end. Congratulated Verstappen and Horner. Was interviewed by Jenson Button and refused to be drawn on any comment regarding the controversy. Stood on the podium and continued to go through the motions of the celebration.

Since then nothing has been heard from him.

According to his brother Nicholas 'Lewis is fine. He's having a break Social Media can be a very toxic place'.

Further rumour is Hamilton was the one who stopped Mercedes from taking this case to the F1 Court of Appeal, which was their intention after their appeal was dismissed by the FIA in Abu Dhabi.

Anyway roll on February when the cars are revealed and March when testing begins.

[Cleoriff]

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@pgn wrote:

SKY Box can record, n'est ce pas, @Cleoriff 😉

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Oh, It will be recording of course. I record it even when I watch it live. I also record the highlights on Ch4.

I won't bother watching Ch4 tomorrow though as I'm gutted with the results.😒

[Cleoriff]

JAPAN PRACTICE ONE

Rain rain and more rain. The Mercs didn't do well at all. Russell had an oil leak which delayed his start and Lewis seemed to have problems. Apparently the rain will carry on  all day 🙄

[pgn]

Heaved out of the heavens earlier here too, unsurprisingly. I'd say Japan is somewhat cooler than Singapore too... Hopefully the pace picks up. Or they'll be out with pedaloes... 

😂

[Cleoriff]

Mick Schumacher won't run in P2. Post P1 he took his car out for a practice start and put in the wall!! Ruined the chassis.

With the cost cap, Haas team boss, Gunther Steiner, is sick of him. Too much pressure on the lad to be a carbon copy of his Dad, which will never happen.

Talking about Nico Hulkenberg replacing him. Should be interesting as Hulkenberg and Magnussen (the other Haas driver,) hate each other 😂

I'm watching P2.

[Cleoriff]

P2 Japan. That's better.

[Cleoriff]

Breaking News

Pierre Gasly from Alpha Tauri is moving to Alpine to replace Alonso who's off to Aston Martin

Nick De Vries will replace Pierre and race with Yuki Tsunoda.

[Cleoriff]

Practice 3

What a difference a day makes. Dry track, no rain but very windy. The Mercs didn't like it.

Qualifying has just started

[Cleoriff]

Qualifying

Although Max and Lando are off to see the Stewards now. Max locked up and put himself across the track. Lando was on a hot lap and and had to swerve on the grass to miss him. So Max might lose his pole position.

[Cleoriff]

No penalty for Max. Instead he got a reprimand, Quelle Surprise!!

[Cleoriff]

Nothing much to report other than it was a waste of time getting up at 5am for a 6am start.

Lashing down with rain which put a delay on the start. Rain slowed a bit so they started the race. After the formation lap and lights out, the race got underway, What a mistake, in less than 2 laps, Vettel crashed, Sainz crashed and Gasly who couldn't see a thing, went through red lights. More importantly, a recovery vehicle went on track before they red flagged the race. 7 years ago at this very same track Jules Bianchi died by crashing into a recovery vehicle during the lashing rain.

I've been up nearly 3 hrs and the race hasn't restarted.

The safety car has gone out just now to test the track.

Latest news, the race will restart in 10 minutes. It's still raining and  the start will be behind the safety car.