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*****OFFICIAL FORMULA ONE GRAND PRIX THREAD***** (3 Viewers)

It was nice to see Bottas fight for the podium - but I did feel for Ocon, its always fun when someone gets an unexpected podium.

But, I was happy for Bottas who, with that finish, and Perez' DNF, guaranteed 3rd place in the championship.  I think Bottas has been a good teammate for Hamilton.  He has not been as aggressive as he needed to be for his own aspirations, but a nice steady hand for Mercedes.

Its going to be interesting to see how the Hamilton-Russell relationship pans out next season.

 
Mercedes was able to hedge on the tire choice putting Bottas onto mediums during one of the red flags.  But he still managed to get  got stuck behind Ricciardo for 25 laps which helped Ocon's race immensely. I defended Bottas earlier in the year for poor racecraft because the Mercedes wasn't setup to run in traffic but Lewis' drive in Sao Paulo put an end to that theory.

Ocon changed to hards after lap one and rode those until the end. His lap times on 50 lap old tires were better than Ricciardo's on 35 lap old mediums.  The director of the world feed didn't show much of that though.

 
Mercedes on Mediums to start the race

Red Bull on Softs.

That will make for an interesting race now - since the teams will have different tire strategies - and it seems that Red Bull wanted that.

 
Disappointing Q3 for Bottas in his last race for Mercedes. He barely improved on his Q1 time in Q3 even with the track coming in.  He's not going to be much help down in sixth.

Very interesting move for RBR to start both cars on softs. I give them respect for trying something different with everything on the line.

Team Lewis here but this season has been great either way.

 
Quite a different reaction with the champagne portion of the ceremony with the runner-up this week compared to last as well.

-QG

 
I wonder if this forces Michael Masi to resign.  Just from reading up on this, it sounds like this was the first time that a director has allowed some cars to unlap themselves, but not all cars to unlap themselves.  If he would have allowed all cars to unlap themselves, they would not have got a last racing lap in.  And Hamilton wins.

 
Chaz McNulty said:
I wonder if this forces Michael Masi to resign.  Just from reading up on this, it sounds like this was the first time that a director has allowed some cars to unlap themselves, but not all cars to unlap themselves.  If he would have allowed all cars to unlap themselves, they would not have got a last racing lap in.  And Hamilton wins.
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I am sure he has a cushy job waiting for him at Red Bull.

But, yes - lots of people circulating Article 48.12:

48.12  If the clerk of the course considers it safe to do so, and the message "LAPPED CARS MAY NOW OVERTAKE" has been sent to all Competitors via the official messaging system, any cars that have been lapped by the leader will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the safety car.

This will only apply to cars that were lapped at the time they crossed the Line at the end of the lap during which they crossed the first Safety Car line for the second time after the safety car was deployed.

Having overtaken the cars on the lead lap and the safety car these cars should then proceed around the track at an appropriate speed, without overtaking, and make every effort to take up position at the back of the line of cars behind the safety car. Whilst they are overtaking, and in order to ensure this may be carried out safely, the cars on the lead lap must always stay on the racing line unless deviating from it is unavoidable. Unless the clerk of the course considers the presence of the safety car is still necessary, once the last lapped car has passed the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap.

If the clerk of the course considers track conditions are unsuitable for overtaking the message "OVERTAKING WILL NOT BE PERMITTED" will be sent to all Competitors via the official messaging system.

 
Sinn Fein said:
I am sure he has a cushy job waiting for him at Red Bull.

But, yes - lots of people circulating Article 48.12:

48.12  If the clerk of the course considers it safe to do so, and the message "LAPPED CARS MAY NOW OVERTAKE" has been sent to all Competitors via the official messaging system, any cars that have been lapped by the leader will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the safety car.

This will only apply to cars that were lapped at the time they crossed the Line at the end of the lap during which they crossed the first Safety Car line for the second time after the safety car was deployed.

Having overtaken the cars on the lead lap and the safety car these cars should then proceed around the track at an appropriate speed, without overtaking, and make every effort to take up position at the back of the line of cars behind the safety car. Whilst they are overtaking, and in order to ensure this may be carried out safely, the cars on the lead lap must always stay on the racing line unless deviating from it is unavoidable. Unless the clerk of the course considers the presence of the safety car is still necessary, once the last lapped car has passed the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap.

If the clerk of the course considers track conditions are unsuitable for overtaking the message "OVERTAKING WILL NOT BE PERMITTED" will be sent to all Competitors via the official messaging system.
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Right.  Either they let the cars overtake and it ends under safety car.  Or they don't let the cars overtake and Verstappen has to fight the traffic.  But like Max likes to say there's a double standard when it comes to him - just not in the way that he likes to think.

Really hope it's one and done and hope the new car genuinely puts multiple teams into the mix each week.

-QG

 
Apparently Mercedes have lodged two protests about the outcome of the race.  One, for allowing some, but not all, lapped cars to pass the safety car - per the regulations above, and two, Verstappen overtook Hamilton during the safety car.

I don't expect the outcome to change - but both situations are going to be rather tricky for F1 to navigate.

 
Sinn Fein said:
I am sure he has a cushy job waiting for him at Red Bull.

But, yes - lots of people circulating Article 48.12:

48.12  If the clerk of the course considers it safe to do so, and the message "LAPPED CARS MAY NOW OVERTAKE" has been sent to all Competitors via the official messaging system, any cars that have been lapped by the leader will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the safety car.

This will only apply to cars that were lapped at the time they crossed the Line at the end of the lap during which they crossed the first Safety Car line for the second time after the safety car was deployed.

Having overtaken the cars on the lead lap and the safety car these cars should then proceed around the track at an appropriate speed, without overtaking, and make every effort to take up position at the back of the line of cars behind the safety car. Whilst they are overtaking, and in order to ensure this may be carried out safely, the cars on the lead lap must always stay on the racing line unless deviating from it is unavoidable. Unless the clerk of the course considers the presence of the safety car is still necessary, once the last lapped car has passed the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap.

If the clerk of the course considers track conditions are unsuitable for overtaking the message "OVERTAKING WILL NOT BE PERMITTED" will be sent to all Competitors via the official messaging system.
Click to expand...
Besides not allowing all lapped cars through, they also restarted a lap early.  The safety car is not supposed to come of the track until the end of the next lap (this allows the lapped cars to get to the back of the train of cars).  This is a complete cluster.

"once the last lapped car has passed the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap."

 
In retrospect, they probably should have red-flagged the race after Latifi's crash.  It was always going to be tight to get the track cleared and the field sorted in five laps. 

Mercedes would have complained about giving up their gap but the FIA obviously didn't want the season to end behind the safety car (and rightly so). A head-to-head shootout would have been preferable to the shambolic end to this Grand Prix.

 
After reading thru reddit and watching some recap videos feel like a sprint finish on a red flag would have made a lot more sense than whatever that was.  It's going to always have a little bit of a Houston Astro feel to it now and that sucks for everyone involved.  

 
Eephus said:
In retrospect, they probably should have red-flagged the race after Latifi's crash.  It was always going to be tight to get the track cleared and the field sorted in five laps. 

Mercedes would have complained about giving up their gap but the FIA obviously didn't want the season to end behind the safety car (and rightly so). A head-to-head shootout would have been preferable to the shambolic end to this Grand Prix.
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I had to drive 4 hours after watching the race, and this is what I came up with as well. Merc would've been angry at first, but in retrospect, they would've begged for it over what happened. Red Bull would've been ecstatic if it was immediately red flagged.

I thought Lewis got hosed yesterday, but I do think Max was better the whole season. 

 
Eephus said:
In retrospect, they probably should have red-flagged the race after Latifi's crash.  It was always going to be tight to get the track cleared and the field sorted in five laps. 

Mercedes would have complained about giving up their gap but the FIA obviously didn't want the season to end behind the safety car (and rightly so). A head-to-head shootout would have been preferable to the shambolic end to this Grand Prix.
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Red flag was definitely preferrable to what happened (especially given the dust-up in the opening laps).  

I still don't fully understand how and why it went from no cars going through to 15-30 seconds later that they let those 5 through.  The entire thing stuck.  As a relative neutral having watched for 20+ years, this idea that an F1 race has to finish racing is sort of hollow to me.  

 
jplvr said:
I had to drive 4 hours after watching the race, and this is what I came up with as well. Merc would've been angry at first, but in retrospect, they would've begged for it over what happened. Red Bull would've been ecstatic if it was immediately red flagged.

I thought Lewis got hosed yesterday, but I do think Max was better the whole season. 
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I don't get nearly into the minutiae of this sport but you ask me going into this week if max needed to just place or win I would have said just not crash out and he had it.   I suppose I missed a bunch of Hamilton wins and consistency.  

 
Sammy3469 said:
Red flag was definitely preferrable to what happened (especially given the dust-up in the opening laps).  

I still don't fully understand how and why it went from no cars going through to 15-30 seconds later that they let those 5 through.  The entire thing stuck.  As a relative neutral having watched for 20+ years, this idea that an F1 race has to finish racing is sort of hollow to me.  
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Really bad that they didn't send the lapped cars through that were right behind Max.  Who knows if the driver in 3rd place gets a great start he could overtake Max?  

 
Chaz McNulty said:
Really bad that they didn't send the lapped cars through that were right behind Max.  Who knows if the driver in 3rd place gets a great start he could overtake Max?  
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Sainz was in third but not a threat on 38 lap old hards but fourth place Tsunoda had changed to softs during the safety car and might have been able to take his first podium if the lappers had been cleared properly.

 
culdeus said:
I don't get nearly into the minutiae of this sport but you ask me going into this week if max needed to just place or win I would have said just not crash out and he had it.   I suppose I missed a bunch of Hamilton wins and consistency.  
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I saw where he led 2/3's of all laps this season, and more laps than the rest of the field. If he doesn't get wrecked in Silverstone and Hungary, he sails to the title without worry. Taken out by a Merc twice. I still think Lewis got hosed on that final decision, but he has plenty go his way all of the time.

Explicit rap lyrics in link, but funny:

https://www.reddit.com/r/formuladank/comments/rf7zyu/gigacheco/

 
2021 track limits warning championship (includes all sessions-practice, qualy, race)

MAZ: 104
GAS: 73
TSU: 59
LEC: 58
RAI: 57
NOR: 54
VET: 52
HAM: 49
SAI:  48
ALO: 42
MSC: 40
STR: 32
PER: 30
GIO: 29
RIC: 28
BOT: 25
VER: 24
LAT: 21
RUS: 20
OCO: 13

 
First pre-season testing takes place in February - 23-25 in Barcelona.

Its going to be the first look at the new car designs on the track, but I expect everyone to be holding back, so I don't think we will learn anything.

Mercedes has released a shadowy picture of their new car.  (McLaren is the only other team I follow on twitter, but I don't think I have seen a photo from them yet)

Also - while we wait: 

10 things you need to know about the all-new 2022 F1 car

There will be several noticeable changes - rear wing being the primary noticeable.  All of the changes are intended to improve the downforce on trailing cars, but I think there will be some unintended consequences.  Cars really only want downforce in the turns - so by adding downforce on the straights, it will still be difficult for cars to pass - DRS will still be required.

Because the floor has been reconfigured, expect more teams to go with a low rake - which had been a Mercedes advantage (before this last season, when the aero changes favored the high rake teams).

Pirelli will also have new tires next season - low-profile 18" tires, up from 13" tires this season.

I am also seeing some suggestions (hopes?) that teams like Ferrari and McLaren could sneak into the championship hunt this year because they had more development time last year on the 2022 car - presuming that Red Bull and Mercedes had to spend more time/budget on the 2021 car to contest last year's championship.  Teams also have reverse limits on wind tunnel testing - with Mercedes allowed the least amount of time.  I don't know if that carries over to computer modeling.

 
Bose has ended their sponsorship arrangement with Mercedes-AMG after eight years.  Toto will have to throw someone else's headphones this year.

 
Sinn Fein said:
I am also seeing some suggestions (hopes?) that teams like Ferrari and McLaren could sneak into the championship hunt this year because they had more development time last year on the 2022 car - presuming that Red Bull and Mercedes had to spend more time/budget on the 2021 car to contest last year's championship.  Teams also have reverse limits on wind tunnel testing - with Mercedes allowed the least amount of time.  I don't know if that carries over to computer modeling.
Click to expand...


New technical regulations are always an opportunity for a shift in the balance of power.  Mercedes moved to the front with the introduction of turbo hybrid engines in 2014.  Brawn GP took advantage of a loophole/interpretation in the 2009 aero regulations to blitz the competition at the beginning of the 2009 season.

The most likely 2022 scenario is that the status quo still prevails but there's always the possibility that some team has built a better mousetrap.

 
Aston Martin team principal Otmar Szafnauer has left the team he'd been a part of since the Force India days. He was linked with a move to Alpine late last season.

 
I think story still has legs:

Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes driver to decide on F1 future after Abu Dhabi inquiry

Obviously some hurt feelings over the last race, and normally you would expect the driver to get over it with the passage of time.  But, this could be different.  First, it was really an egregious decision made by F1 to hand the victory to Verstappen - it was really the opposite of "settling it on the track".  Had both drivers pitted, and gone out on fresh tires, and Verstappen had won, I think most people would have been satisfied that the race was decided on the track, and not in the back rooms.  Second, Hamilton does not need F1.  He has won everything, he has money, and a knighthood.  He will go on and focus on the next chapter in his life.  But, I think F1 needs Hamilton - from an image standpoint.  If Hamilton walks away - then the conversation about Hamilton will always be on the controversy at Abu Dhabi, and that is bad for the Sport.

I think Verstappen "needs" Hamilton to come back also.  I think Verstappen needs to win a championship, over Hamilton, but on the track.  Otherwise, he is "the driver who was given a title".

Mercedes would obviously like Hamilton back - he is the face of the team, and gives them the best chance to re-claim the driver's championship.  I don't know who they would bring in to pair up with Russell, I assume they have a reserve driver, but it would not be ideal, to start with two new drivers.

On the social media standpoint, Mercedes focused their messaging at the end of 2021 toward saying goodbye to Bottas, and the early part of 2022 to teasing the new car, and Russell.  Barely any mentions of Hamilton at all, which I am sure is their way of giving Hamilton some space to figure out his future.

Personally, I hope he comes back.  He is still a great driver, and I think a good person also.  But, I would understand if he was ready to walk away also.

 
Sinn Fein said:
I think story still has legs:

Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes driver to decide on F1 future after Abu Dhabi inquiry

Obviously some hurt feelings over the last race, and normally you would expect the driver to get over it with the passage of time.  But, this could be different.  First, it was really an egregious decision made by F1 to hand the victory to Verstappen - it was really the opposite of "settling it on the track".  Had both drivers pitted, and gone out on fresh tires, and Verstappen had won, I think most people would have been satisfied that the race was decided on the track, and not in the back rooms.  Second, Hamilton does not need F1.  He has won everything, he has money, and a knighthood.  He will go on and focus on the next chapter in his life.  But, I think F1 needs Hamilton - from an image standpoint.  If Hamilton walks away - then the conversation about Hamilton will always be on the controversy at Abu Dhabi, and that is bad for the Sport.

I think Verstappen "needs" Hamilton to come back also.  I think Verstappen needs to win a championship, over Hamilton, but on the track.  Otherwise, he is "the driver who was given a title".

Mercedes would obviously like Hamilton back - he is the face of the team, and gives them the best chance to re-claim the driver's championship.  I don't know who they would bring in to pair up with Russell, I assume they have a reserve driver, but it would not be ideal, to start with two new drivers.

On the social media standpoint, Mercedes focused their messaging at the end of 2021 toward saying goodbye to Bottas, and the early part of 2022 to teasing the new car, and Russell.  Barely any mentions of Hamilton at all, which I am sure is their way of giving Hamilton some space to figure out his future.

Personally, I hope he comes back.  He is still a great driver, and I think a good person also.  But, I would understand if he was ready to walk away also.
Click to expand...


I respect how Lewis has handled the controversy. In the current over-saturated media environment, sometimes saying nothing can speak the loudest.

I fully expect Hamilton to be at the test sessions next month but if he retires, a Russell-Nyck de Vries pairing would be interesting.  The new technical specs may diminish the value of continuity a little.

 
The inquiry parameters were released today, but the timing is going to be awkward since they won’t release anything until close to the season, and after the pre-season testing.  So, Lewis’ decision may already be in the works, as I think Mercedes will want their 2nd driver in both preseason testing sessions. 
 

I think I read today the Toto has his meeting with FIA next week, so that may give him some guidance on how the inquiry will play out. 

 
Eephus said:
Aston Martin team principal Otmar Szafnauer has left the team he'd been a part of since the Force India days. He was linked with a move to Alpine late last season.
Click to expand...


Follow-up on Aston Martin:

Aston Martin have appointed former BMW motorsport boss Mike Krack as team principal.

The move is part of the restructuring of Aston Martin as they seek to become one of the leading player in F1.

Krack joins Aston Martin after gaining extensive experience in motorsport management at BMW and Porsche. He has also been an engineer in F1 for Sauber.

The 49-year-old said his new role was "a challenge that I plan to embrace with energy and enthusiasm".

***

Aston Martin chairman and owner Lawrence Stroll said: "We are hiring brilliant new people every week. Our new factory build is coming along very well.

"We have a fantastic roster of superb sponsor-partners. We are about to embark on year two of our five-year plan, the objective of which is to win Formula 1 World Championships.

 
Sinn Fein said:
Aston Martin chairman and owner Lawrence Stroll said: "We are hiring brilliant new people every week. Our new factory build is coming along very well.

"We have a fantastic roster of superb sponsor-partners. We are about to embark on year two of our five-year plan, the objective of which is to win Formula 1 World Championships.
Click to expand...


I think it's more likely that Aston Martin is out of F1 by year five than world champions.

 
State of the team Address from Zak Brown 

https://www.mclaren.com/racing/team/the-year-ahead-zak-brown-2022/

Interesting thoughts from McLaren - who kind of straddle the haves, and have-nots, in F1. (tl;dr - some teams have been too powerful within the governance, and that has led to inconsistent applications of regulations. Also, he is not a fan of "A" teams and "B" teams, (i.e. McLaren does not have a "B" team with whom they could share technical experience, and learn from the "B" team, and with the smaller "B" teams often pressured to vote in the interests of the "A" teams.)

Otherwise hopeful that the re-set will make for a more competitive year within F1.  Also notes the acquisition of the IndyCar team last year excitement for that series as well.

 
Brown held a press conference in addition to the release above.  A few related tidbits:

1. Sprint Races - there has been an agreement in principle to expand the Sprint Races from 3-6, but money squabbles threaten to derail any sprint races for this season.  One team (presumably Mercedes, but could be Red Bull or Ferrari) wants to increase the cap $5M to cover potential damage to cars in the Sprint Races.  Smaller teams balk.  Need to get 8 of 10 teams to agree.  Probably a compromise in there - but no Sprint races until they agree

2. Abu Dhabi - just one of several bad calls - lays a lot of the blame at the feet of Mercedes, Red Bull, and FIA - for allowing all the communication between teams and race director.

"He said Abu Dhabi "felt like a pantomime audition" as the Mercedes and Red Bull team bosses Toto Wolff and Christian Horner lobbied Masi for decisions to be made in their favour in conversations that were broadcast on television.

"It was probably good for TV that the mic was open," Brown said. "But we see it created some habits that have created some decisions that maybe weren't the right decisions."

Brown said the FIA needs to be seen to have conducted a thorough inquiry that explained what happened and why, what went wrong and what it is doing to make sure it does not happen again."

3. Hamilton - thinks the competitive nature will bring Hamilton back, but won't be shocked if Hamilton walks away.

4. VW/Porsche - thinks VW will get into the series with the Porsche arm, and will partner with Red Bull.  Says McLaren had talks with VW, but they remain committed to Mercedes engines through this cycle - ending in 2025.

 
Eephus said:
Can't wait for the car launches so team principals can whine about something new
Click to expand...


I think Brown is pretty reasonable - albeit his perspective in representing McLaren is definitely biased towards the smaller teams.

I do think Mercedes and Red Bull were each as much to blame for Abu Dhabi as Masi.  And, I think an important first step to regaining control is to eliminate conversations from the team principals and the racing director (and fire Masi).

As for the sprint races - not sure why there is not an easy compromise - set up a $5M extension to the budget that can only be utilized for repairs/replacements of cars damaged in Sprint races.

Also, to your main point,  I think the start of the year is going to be fascinating - since nobody really knows how it will play out. I already assume that the top teams will be sandbagging true performance in the first two test sessions.  So, I don't think we will learn much until the first race weekend.  Up to then, all of the stories will remain: Hamilton, Abu Dhabi, and New Regs.

I would caution to be careful what you wish for - I expect the teams that did not get the engineering right to be full of complaints about the new regulations...

 
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