2023 Formula 1 Season Thread

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I’m convinced they’ve already decided that Checo is out at RB.

This isn’t an audition for Danny Ric, I think it’s a warm up. So long as he doesn’t fail miserably, I think the RB seat is his after break.

Who gets the Alpha Tauri seat if that happens?

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Who gets the Alpha Tauri seat if that happens?

Liam Lawson would be my guess.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I see some F1 reporters speculating it’s more likely Ric to RB in 2024, if a move happens. Give him rest of season with AT to gauge performance.

[Ironhorse]

Do you think they'd swap Checo into the AT seat, or release him outright?

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I see some F1 reporters speculating it’s more likely Ric to RB in 2024, if a move happens. Give him rest of season with AT to gauge performance.

If they're not going to switch until 2024 they should try and sign Hamilton. That would be an epic duel.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Do you think they'd swap Checo into the AT seat, or release him outright?

I think it would depend on what his contract says. Which might also be why they’d wait. Might have an off-season out clause.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I’m convinced they’ve already decided that Checo is out at RB.

This isn’t an audition for Danny Ric, I think it’s a warm up. So long as he doesn’t fail miserably, I think the RB seat is his after break.

Is Checo still a "pay" driver? I seem to remember that he brings a lot of sponsorship money with him. So they might keep the money coming in this year than maybe look to assign him as a mentor to their second team.

I read some thing last year where Horner commented along the lines of Riccardo walked away from a fight with Verstappen when he left RB years ago. So I speculate that Horner wants to see this still. Especially since he had not been in the better cars with Alpine and McLaren...he should be hungry to have a chance to win again.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Not just Horner, I bet Max wants a fight too. He enjoys the competition and has suggested he will go try something else if he gets bored. Maybe he’s not gonna leave just yet, I imagine he’d want to try and go to 2026 at least. But I’m thinking he’ll revel in having a teammate he likes and who can race him hard.

It would get old winning races by a minute where you can pit on the penultimate lap for softs to get fastest lap.

[dammage79]

Am I the only one excited for the McLarens AND the Williams surges?

I'm loving the fact that every team is blown away with the McLarens massive improvement in speed. They're faster than the RBs in the straights!

[dammage79]

Checo and Albon would be a sic pairing at Williams. And checos sponsor money could push Williams in a big way.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I think it would depend on what his contract says. Which might also be why they’d wait. Might have an off-season out clause.

That makes sense. In some ways replacing Perez this season is a waste of money. They're going to win constructors either way- Max individually is earning more points than any other team, and they have a huge lead. Winning constructors by a bigger margin doesn't earn you any more money.

But at AlphaTauri they're currently in 10th, but are only 9 points out of 7th. If the change in drivers there can move them up a few places its worth millions and millions of dollars.

[FLAMESRULE]

British GP results are in...DoubleK takes top spot this week with a solid 5/10 slotted and 9 Top 10 for 29pts. bizaro86 is second with 4/10 and 9 Top 10 for 25pts. Big gap down to the rest of us. Blame Ferrari (and Bottas).

DoubleK and bizaro86 jump back into the lead over Agulati and 3thirty. There's now a big gap in from top 2 to 3rd.

dammage79 this was your second week for missed picks. Next one is no entries. FurnaceFace this was your first missed.

Next up is Hungary and beautiful Budapest

Spoiler!

[KelVarnsen]

Falling back in the standings. Does this make me the Perez or Leclerc?

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

Falling back in the standings. Does this make me the Perez or Leclerc?

I want to be Alonso - it always makes me happy when there are professional athletes who are older than me. But the list is starting to get short...

[KelVarnsen]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1680852084114210816

[bizaro86]

Picks for Hungary:

Verstappen
LeClerc
Alonso
Perez
Hamilton
Norris
Russell
Saintz
Ocon
Gasly

Edited to add: made a few changes after practice, still no Danny R.

[woob]

^ No Honey Badger in top 10??

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by woob

^ No Honey Badger in top 10??

I'd love to see Vertappen run the last two races in the Alpha Tauri car and Riccardo in the Red Bull one. The RB-19 I think is still the best car. But as we have seen it still needs to be driven well.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by woob

^ No Honey Badger in top 10??

I just don't think he has the car to be reliably scoring points. I'd love to see that happen from a storyline point of view, but think he's probably going to mostly finish in the 10-15 range. Maybe he could squeak into the points, but I think that's less likely than the drivers I've picked.

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I'd love to see Vertappen run the last two races in the Alpha Tauri car and Riccardo in the Red Bull one. The RB-19 I think is still the best car. But as we have seen it still needs to be driven well.

That would be hilarious, and not really an issue as they'll have clinched constructors and drivers by then. But I doubt they'll do it.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by woob

^ No Honey Badger in top 10??

Bizzaro is bold, but not bold enough to pick a honey badger that hasn't turned a lap in a dogsh*t car. Christ, Williams has showed more promise than AT.