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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.
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So I said I hated the Sprint race? Changed my mind as Mercedes chose the last but one race of the season to bring their car into the challenge!!
Sprint race is only 24 laps and sets the grid for the race tomorrow. George started in 3rd and Lewis started 8th (From Qualifying yesterday)
Now Sainz has a 5 place penalty and so for the first time this year I can say those magic words...
'Mercedes have locked out the front row' ❤️ Get In!!
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Well, there's a thing 👍
Keeping the best for last 😂
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What a race!!
Mercedes 1&2 start and a 1-2 finish. George drove a flawless race, but Lewis was crashed off the track by Max (no surprise there!!!) Max given a 5 second penalty as the stewards deemed he was at fault. Lewis was knocked down to 9th and came back from there and was voted Driver of The Day.
The team told them towards the end that they were 'free to race but be respectful' 😂 That meant
do NOT take each other out. George won and it's his first F1 win, so very emotional.
This is the first 1-2 finish for Mercedes for about 15 months.
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PS: Last race of the season in Abu Dhabi next week. I have one wish that Lewis wins this.
* To make up for last year when he was robbed of his 8th WDC!!
* He has always won a race in every season for the past 15 years. So far, this year with a dog of a car, he hasn't. So best of luck to him. 😍
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Abu Dhabi
The last race of the season. This time last year Lewis Hamilton was robbed of a record breaking 8th WDC due to the terrible calls made by the (now sacked)race director Michael Masi 
So although I love the track, it holds bad memories for me.
Last P1 of the season and looking good for the Mercs
P2, still looking good but Verstappen got his nose in!
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Not just his nose, a whole car, it appears 😁
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Not at all @pgn
Look at the difference in timed speed between Max and George Russell. Barely a nose. 😂
Anyway, as the old saying goes "It's ONLY practice" Meh! It's only taken 22 races for Mercedes to unlock the W13 so it can become a race winning car.
The championship is over now and as mentioned previously, Max won in grand style. I'm sure exceeding the cost cap of 145 million dollars by 5% or $1.8 million had 'absolutely NOTHING to with anything"😂
In fact according to Ross Brawn, Manager of Formula 1, 'exceeding the cost caps could cost championships'
So Hamilton fans waited with bated breath to see what punishment would be meted out to Red Bull.
However, the weak FIA decided the following:
"Red Bull's spending in 2021, believed to be around £1.8m over the cap of £114m, was deemed a minor breach and not sufficient for a penalty that would have had an impact on last year's world championship, narrowly won by the team's Max Verstappen over Lewis Hamilton." (27 Oct 2022)
Why we had to wait that long to be informed of this is anyone's guess!! Also when the cost cap was announced, their was no mention of 'minor or major breaches; That seems to come about at the time the cap overspends were announced. Anyway RBR had a slap on the wrist with a fine of $7 mill as well as a 10% reduction in its aerodynamic testing. (That's Ok. I expect they will build their own wind tunnel back at the factory and no-one would be any the wiser!!)
RANT OVER
Today on the calendar we have Practice 3 (10.30-11.30) and the all important Qualifying. (14.00-15.00)
The Race tomorrow starts at 13.00.
