F1 2026 season

[webpunter]

See what bollocks the FIA come up for redeploying the safety car
Denying the fans [especially] & TV viewers an all out final lap blast
The FIA can remind me of FIFA [there's only one letter difference] coming up with belated & dubious explanations
That the FIA are taking their time me thinks they are squirming

[Vice Admiral]

I used to watch Formula 1 obsessively but, although I still follow the results, today's the first time for a while that I've watched a fair bit of a race – and something struck me when C4 displayed the drivers' photos before the start of the race.

While cricketers, tennis players and footballers have, I would say, a reasonably representative spectrum of looks (although all are obviously much fitter and more toned than the average Joe), most – but not all – F1 drivers these days look like film stars.

I reckon that, if you were auditioning those 22 geezers to be the next James Bond, at least half of them would be serious candidates.

[webpunter]

I used to watch Formula 1 obsessively but, although I still follow the results, today's the first time for a while that I've watched a fair bit of a race – and something struck me when C4 displayed the drivers' photos before the start of the race.

While cricketers, tennis players and footballers have, I would say, a reasonably representative spectrum of looks (although all are obviously much fitter and more toned than the average Joe), most – but not all – F1 drivers these days look like film stars.

I reckon that, if you were auditioning those 22 geezers to be the next James Bond, at least half of them would be serious candidates.

I get where you are coming from, a bit
A JB is British this points towards GR
Taller than most drivers, JB cant be a short arse
I cant see JB ever presenting as a bender so this rules out Albon 

[stampjones]

I get where you are coming from, a bit
A JB is British this points towards GR
Taller than most drivers, JB cant be a short arse
I cant see JB ever presenting as a bender so this rules out Albon 

You really are an unpleasant prick aren't you.
As it happens James Bond is half Scottish, half Swiss if I remember correctly so that rules out all F1 drivers and all actors who have played him if judged by your alleged rule

[webpunter]

You really are an unpleasant prick aren't you.
As it happens James Bond is half Scottish, half Swiss if I remember correctly so that rules out all F1 drivers and all actors who have played him if judged by your alleged rule

 
Alleged rule 
I was but having a laarf
You've always been one of the more 'difficult' UKPers splitting hairs whenever the opportunity arises
I prefer engaging with M&B rather than you i find him entertaining

[mr.bluesky]

A shame the British Grand prix race finished under a yellow flag, the record crowd denied a grandstand finish. Ferrari look they have got their act together now with Hamilton winning the sprint race Saturday and Leclerc winning the main race sunday. Unfortunate for Hamilton coming in for a tyre change under the yellow flag costing him 2nd place but Ferrari weren't to know the race would finish under a yellow flag. 99 times out of 100 this would pay off. Antonelli very unlucky to have to retire with mechanical issues but it has opened up the championship title race. Next up Spa Belgium one if not the best track on the racing calender.

[mrwhite]

A shame the British Grand prix race finished under a yellow flag, the record crowd denied a grandstand finish. Ferrari look they have got their act together now with Hamilton winning the sprint race Saturday and Leclerc winning the main race sunday.

Hamilton didn't win the sprint - Kimi did.

I'm just surprised the Max fans haven't blamed Lewis for him crashing the car on one of the corners. 

[mr.bluesky]

Hamilton didn't win the sprint - Kimi did.

I'm just surprised the Max fans haven't blamed Lewis for him crashing the car on one of the corners. 

Off course , Hamilton set pole for the sprint and was caught and overtaken by Antonelli

[Iamforreal]

Finally a win for McLaren and Lando Norris, good job, hopefully it continues after the summer break.

[mr.bluesky]

Finally a win for McLaren and Lando Norris, good job, hopefully it continues after the summer break.

Ferrari on the up too. Hamilton given a five second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane which dropped him to 5th place from fourth behind team mate Leclerc. Russell loosing more ground to Antonelli after a poor start to the race .
Malaysia to replace the Bahrain Grand prix on the 2nd -4th October although it will still be called the Bahrain grand prix

[stampjones]

Ferrari on the up too. Hamilton given a five second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane which dropped him to 5th place from fourth behind team mate Leclerc. Russell loosing more ground to Antonelli after a poor start to the race .
Malaysia to replace the Bahrain Grand prix on the 2nd -4th October although it will still be called the Bahrain grand prix

That's going to be a tough couple of weeks physically as it's the week before Singapore. I wonder how Antonelli will cope with it

[Punting2022]

FIA dont want HAM to get his 8th . first 21 done stupid decisions. Now these penalties. points lost

[stampjones]

FIA dont want HAM to get his 8th . first 21 done stupid decisions. Now these penalties. points lost

Don't be ridiculous. That's the most deluded bit of fanboy nonsense I've read in a long time.

I've personally never been a fan of the FIA's decision making and they've objectively been involved in some terrible ones but in the last two or three years they've really upped their game and I'd say the officiating in F1 is as open and fair as it is in any sport right now. Of course there will always be some subjectivity but after every incident there is a published explanation which explains exactly which rules were or were not broken and how the penalty was decided. You might not like some of them when they go against your driver but it's pretty hard to argue that they're not trying their best to be fair and open.

As for the penalties you are talking about. From the most recent ones, put lane speeding is about the least controversial or subjective penalty there is. You either are or you aren't and if you are, you get a penalty. For the grid penalty, again pretty hard to argue against it. He clearly impeded piastri on a fast lap. Penalty every time. Last week in Spa, again if you cause a collision you get a penalty. A big proportion of causing a collision penalties are down to not being fully in control of your car. That clearly applied here as explained by the stewards but it was only momentary so they exercised discretion to give a reduced penalty of 5s rather than the standard 10. If they'd really been trying to screw Ham they'd certainly not have done that and in fact could have given a larger one.

Monaco was definitely unfair but that was down to the system being broken so he was just unlucky for the drivers who got caught by it. It was certainly nothing to do with the FIA

I can't remember the other incidents but I'm pretty sure they were similar.

In all of these cases blame Hamilton or Ferrari or bad luck but you certainly can't blame the officiating.

[Fact]

Oscar and Max could swap at the end of the year?
Oscar not doing to well and costing Mclaren.
Put Max in this new faster Mclaren, could being very interesting in 2027 for Merc, Ferrari and Mclaren.

[mr.bluesky]

Oscar and Max could swap at the end of the year?
Oscar not doing to well and costing Mclaren.
Put Max in this new faster Mclaren, could being very interesting in 2027 for Merc, Ferrari and Mclaren.

Oscar has been unlucky with mechamical issues this season and I think both Piastri and Norris are already signed up for 2027 so Max's options seem limited.

[mr.bluesky]

Not an ideal Dutch Grand Prix for mad Max 
Good result for Lando, back to back wins. A shame this will be the last Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort ( at least for now) as it is a circuit that produces some good racing with its banked turns. If anything the Hungarian circuit should be dropped from the calendar.

[webpunter]

A shame this will be the last Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort ( at least for now) as it is a circuit that produces some good racing with its banked turns. If anything the Hungarian circuit should be dropped from the calendar.

We Sir are on the same page
Zandvoort supposedly extended to appease MV
Hungary is a bollox track
Its all about the money that the FIA can generate [add an F between I & A what do you get ? ...]
The crap middle east circuits only included as they pay huge amounts to host
Sports wash...
& Karen liked to bang his junior member of staff on the RB PJ going there & back
Abu Dhabi & Bahrain total shite Saudi too at least its fast
Imola was ace in the virus [also too small cant afford to pay]

[Punting2022]

Lovely to see number 33 not score at his home race.

Ferrari just lack the strategic might of merc and McLaren to give Ham the 9th . He is the true 8x WDC.
I think Mclaren have a good chance,  Fast car, Good strategy. They put all their baskets to Lando and support him on strategy. Few wins and he can catch up.

Kimi has agrid drop in Monza. Ferrari need to be on A Game

[Iamforreal]

Are McLaren back now?
Very good race from Lando yesterday to get 2nd win in a row.

[mr.bluesky]

Are McLaren back now?
Very good race from Lando yesterday to get 2nd win in a row.

Just a shame McLaren and Lando didn't make such a good start to the season otherwise they would be a lot closer to the Mercedes of Antonelli. Ferrari also seemed to have got their act together but it seem's Hamilton is let down by poor strategy choices 

[Blackpool Rock]

Not an ideal Dutch Grand Prix for mad Max 
Good result for Lando, back to back wins. A shame this will be the last Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort ( at least for now) as it is a circuit that produces some good racing with its banked turns. If anything the Hungarian circuit should be dropped from the calendar.

Yeah the banked turns add a slightly different dynamic and a few times it looked like perhaps different drivers had slightly different lines when going into a banked corner and competing for an overtake / defending 
I'm thinking it perhaps messes up the normal driving style where all the drivers take the same pinpoint accurate line as if the car was on rails 

[stampjones]

Just a shame McLaren and Lando didn't make such a good start to the season otherwise they would be a lot closer to the Mercedes of Antonelli. Ferrari also seemed to have got their act together but it seem's Hamilton is let down by poor strategy choices 

I don't think Hamilton can complain about bad strategy calls or generally shit work from the team decision makers unless he hasn't been watching F1 for the last 20 years. It's affected every driver since Todt/Brawn left. He even got to see it up close and personal when they wrecked Vettels chance to challenge him. I doubt very much it's going to change any time soon. If he was serious about winning another championship he should have stayed at mercedes

[mr.bluesky]

So Gasly takes pole position for tomorrows Italian Grand Prix at Monza, well who saw that coming 

[webpunter]

If he was serious about winning another championship he should have stayed at mercedes

Its all about the prancing horse
The epitome of motor racing
An amazing period Lewis in the silver arrow RB & MV subsequently got close to matching but not quite [with loads of shit att.]
The W11 the cherry on top of the icing on top of the cake
2021 what an amazing year
Brazil - External Link/Members Only how many overtakes ?
Silverstone - External Link/Members Only - MV a big off & LH a 10 sec stop go - a heat wave on the weekend the best race evva & i woz there 
Of course the FIA stepped in to adjust the driver WC 
Hannah Waddingham made things crystal in 2023 LH 8 time world champion 
External Link/Members Only
Time for LH [Sir] to take the next step
I rest my case 

[mr.bluesky]

Lance Stroll becomes the first driver in F1 to fail to qualify from the first qualifiying session 100 times 
About time he stepped asside and let someone with talent drive the car.

[webpunter]

Lance Stroll becomes the first driver in F1 to fail to qualify from the first qualifiying session 100 times 
About time he stepped asside and let someone with talent drive the car.

 
I wonder if his dad will ever figure this out
Which overweight orange man has the most ability to mess things up ? 

Hidden Image/Members Only

[Punting2022]

Kimi is champ. Last to p1. A Ham Brazil 21 type drive. George must have thought it was his race. His teammate at the back. Easy win to maximise points.

George has to take a engine penalty soon too. I doubt her would do the same.

Mercs engine is a rocket ship

[Vice Admiral]

I'm afraid I'm a bit Britocentric when it comes to Formula 1, so I can't help noticing that four British drivers finished in the first eight at the Italian Grand Prix; and that three of the top four drivers in the current standings are Britons.

As for that Kimi Antonelli.  Pah!  Now that he's no longer a teenager – he turned 20 a fortnight ago – it's about bloody time he grew up and and started to do something worthwhile with his life instead of being an obsessive petrolhead.

When I think what I'd achieved by the age of 20!  Today's young people are so feckless and ill-focused.

[timsussex]

Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has denied being arrested at an airport in Portugal after arriving with a shotgun he intended to use in a clay pigeon shooting competition.


presumably a sawn off shotgun  ?

[webpunter]

Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has denied being arrested at an airport in Portugal after arriving with a shotgun he intended to use in a clay pigeon shooting competition.


presumably a sawn off shotgun  ?

That is very klevva 

[Blackpool Rock]

I know it's not F1 but this crash in the China GT was a close escape, Ok so it's motorsport and accidents happen but rare for a car to burst into flames however the main issue is that there seemingly weren't any fire marshals or rather according to this article they dropped their fire extinguishers and legged it 

The the ambulance took 15 minutes to arrive as the driver was asleep and they couldn't wake him up 

Finally the race officials then tried to get the drivers involved to take the blame and deflect away from their piss poor organisation 

 External Link/Members Only

[webpunter]

I know it's not F1 but this crash in the China GT was a close escape, Ok so it's motorsport and accidents happen but rare for a car to burst into flames however the main issue is that there seemingly weren't any fire marshals or rather according to this article they dropped their fire extinguishers and legged it 

The the ambulance took 15 minutes to arrive as the driver was asleep and they couldn't wake him up 

Finally the race officials then tried to get the drivers involved to take the blame and deflect away from their piss poor organisation 

 External Link/Members Only

You can't make it up 
According to China GT
“The event set-up complied with national-level competition”
Same old chinese bollocks
- no we didn't cause something global in 2020
- & on the glacier collapse about 3 people died because they were in the wrong place where they shouldn't have been
Means China GT will have to pay way more to be included in next years calendar
IMO China GT should be banned from hosting for a year as a punishment to get their shit together
Whats needed is for LH to step in on his insta feed

I happened to get some footage by random on my sky news app following on from some other clip
External Link/Members Only

[scouting]

Disgraceful. Sanctions should be due eg removing China from the F1 calendar. This does highlight how far F1 has come in the past 50 years or so.

[mr.bluesky]

Disgraceful. Sanctions should be due eg removing China from the F1 calendar. This does highlight how far F1 has come in the past 50 years or so.

Money talks in F1 just as it does in football

[Blackpool Rock]

Money talks in F1 just as it does in football

Yeah plus from what i've seen in documentaries etc they basically said that watching people getting smashed up and / or killed almost seemed normal just after WW2 when shit was happening all the time but public sentiment changed over the years and by the time you hit the 80's it wasn't any longer deemed acceptable to sit down with the family and watch someone get killed live on Sunday afternoon TV

[RyanM92]

I was surprised that there was no red flags in quali at the Madring today!

[mr.bluesky]

Yeah plus from what i've seen in documentaries etc they basically said that watching people getting smashed up and / or killed almost seemed normal just after WW2 when shit was happening all the time but public sentiment changed over the years and by the time you hit the 80's it wasn't any longer deemed acceptable to sit down with the family and watch someone get killed live on Sunday afternoon TV

Sir Jackie Stewart was probably the man who got a lot of safety improvements to F1 racing. In the mid to late 70's track fatalities were the norm, one or two every season. When you see some of the old clips of motor racing from back then with hay bales in front of trees and spectators standing behind roped off areas it's frightening 

[webpunter]

No red flags a surprise, me thinks a dead cert there'll be a safety car [or three] tomoz
A pukka interview shown today Brundle with GR who described the circuit as being nearly as tight as Monaco but faster
Small margins for error
I'm more of a fan of out of town circuits showing sweeping shots of cars on track you can see maneuvers developing then being executed
I couldn't work out from the F2 race & practice / quali if there are any sections with much opportunity for overtaking, hope i'm proved wrong
Tho i lurve the banked sections
Zandvoort gorne for next year  [not enuf €£$ to the FIA over to the shite middle east circuits paying top whack]
So this will be the only circuit with these, i think
As for the next F1 i go see Silverstone can off-you-fuck with silly pricing & being stuck in a multi-hour traffic jam to leave the circuit
On a Monday morning no less spending the w/e there, fuck knows what this is like on the Sunday
Barcelona or Madrid it is supa for drinks eats out & about in the respective cities when there & both pukka destinations for our fave sport, not F1 

[webpunter]

Sir Jackie Stewart was probably the man who got a lot of safety improvements to F1 racing. In the mid to late 70's track fatalities were the norm, one or two every season. When you see some of the old clips of motor racing from back then with hay bales in front of trees and spectators standing behind roped off areas it's frightening 

One of my mates was taken by his parents to Silverstone from about 7 years old each year
He remembers getting a better view by walking up a bank
Imprinted in his brain he;s been into motor racing ever since
As for crash barriers dont be silly if a car is coming your way its time to RUN
Kids these days in their closseted world wouldn't have a scooby

There's a crash a car catches fire with the driver still inside & the race continues WTF
How times change on circuits like Japan nowadays there's a delay its raining too much 
Back then its not a monsoon so crack on & brilliant racing 

& as for my mate going to the F1 corporate hospitality didn't exist for spectators back then for lunch it was sandwiches in tinfoil which his mum made to drink squash
& if you were lucky a bag of crisps & a panda pop   

The cars these days are so reliable very few withdrawn
Even ten years ago engines used to go pop [MV in his RB knows all about this] nowadays they withdraw from the race
Back in the day whichever car it was where the engine goes bang it looked like a Messerschmidt had been shot down by a Spitfire

[RyanM92]

No red flags a surprise, me thinks a dead cert there'll be a safety car [or three] tomoz
A pukka interview shown today Brundle with GR who described the circuit as being nearly as tight as Monaco but faster
Small margins for error
I'm more of a fan of out of town circuits showing sweeping shots of cars on track you can see maneuvers developing then being executed
I couldn't work out from the F2 race & practice / quali if there are any sections with much opportunity for overtaking, hope i'm proved wrong
Tho i lurve the banked sections
Zandvoort gorne for next year  [not enuf €£$ to the FIA over to the shite middle east circuits paying top whack]
So this will be the only circuit with these, i think
As for the next F1 i go see Silverstone can off-you-fuck with silly pricing & being stuck in a multi-hour traffic jam to leave the circuit
On a Monday morning no less spending the w/e there, fuck knows what this is like on the Sunday
Barcelona or Madrid it is supa for drinks eats out & about in the respective cities when there & both pukka destinations for our fave sport, not F1 

Yeah, I think there will be a few safety cars and due to the narrowness of the track maybe a red flag to as A LOT of drivers have been locking up around that one corner (hopefully not). The banked sections looks amazing especially from the onboard view. You’re right the prices for Silverstone are crazy and the weather is always so unpredictable. Wanted to go to the Qatar race last year as it’s relatively cheap (if booked in advance) and also a pukka destination for our favourite sport (a bit pricey but nice to be in some premium Brazilian/Colombian pussy after a great race  ) However, a bunch of work commitments kept me in the country 

[Iamforreal]

Incredible lap from Lando yesterday, let's see how today goes, will be a good race hopefully.

[Blackpool Rock]

Sir Jackie Stewart was probably the man who got a lot of safety improvements to F1 racing. In the mid to late 70's track fatalities were the norm, one or two every season. When you see some of the old clips of motor racing from back then with hay bales in front of trees and spectators standing behind roped off areas it's frightening 

Yeah i've seen programs where Stewart has talked about safety or lack of, one time he crashed and was taken to some makeshift medical centre which was basically a shed or outhouse, he was soaked in fuel and couldn't help noticing all the cigarette ends lying around on the floor while he waited for some sort of medical person to turn up 

These days there would be a medical team checking him before he got out the car and a helicopter on standby to airlift him to a hospital if needed.

His teammate Francois Cevert was killed in quali for what should have been Stewarts last GP, he decided to withdraw from the race and then once he was no longer a driver he really focussed his time and energy on trying to improve safety
Apparently Stewart thought that Cevert was an amazing driver and knew he probably wouldn't beat him the following season so took him time mentoring him in his last season before retiring 

I'm sure I heard the statistic that if you raced for 5 years then there was a 2 in 5 chance of dying, and remember there weren't nearly as many GP in a season back then 

[scouting]

Incredible lap from Lando yesterday, let's see how today goes, will be a good race hopefully.

Absolutely from Lando. Hope you're right about the race but I suspect it will all be down to the luck of pit stops coinciding with a safety car, or not.

[scouting]

Sir Jackie Stewart was probably the man who got a lot of safety improvements to F1 racing. In the mid to late 70's track fatalities were the norm, one or two every season. When you see some of the old clips of motor racing from back then with hay bales in front of trees and spectators standing behind roped off areas it's frightening 

Quite right mr.bs - and BR's comments too.

Stewart was the guy with the persona to bring the subject of safety to the forefront. Don't forget too the role Prof Sid Watkins played for >20 years in charge of medical matters

[RyanM92]

Absolutely from Lando. Hope you're right about the race but I suspect it will all be down to the luck of pit stops coinciding with a safety car, or not.

Totally agree! I think most top team strategies will be to wait it out and pit under a VSC to save as much time as possible.

Are there any mandatory pit stops this race?

[john122350]

Another win for kimi

Hidden Image/Members Only

[scouting]

Absolutely from Lando. Hope you're right about the race but I suspect it will all be down to the luck of pit stops coinciding with a safety car, or not.

What can I say 

[RyanM92]

Really kind of Kimi to acknowledge that Lando got really unlucky with the VSC pit window. It hurt to see Lewis have to retire like that.. he was looking racey in the first lap or so! 

[Watts.E.Dunn]

George Russell it seems isnt as good as his team mate. Kimi i supose is more talented?..