2024 F1 General Discussion Thread

I'd say that Red Bull is on a knife edge to maximise performance at the moment and Perez can't handle it.

I don't think George would work well with Verstappen but they might suffer it for a year or two if it means getting Verstappen. Sainz is a good stop gap for any team who is loosing a top tier driver but I think he needs to be in a high pressure team like Red Bull to do well. Mercedes are rebuilding and I don't see Sainz being part of that. I don't think anyone expected the Red Bull to start falling off so I think that changes everything in the drivers market this year.

Where is this “substantial evidence”? Haven’t seen any…nope, none. Are you sure you just don’t wish that to be the truth? 😉

As for the rest, Max has talked about retirement long before the Horner stuff, he has made no secrets of his love for other racing series. Red Bull are more than Adrian Newey as well, hence the team resigning lots of the senior technical staff, even Max himself pointed out that it’s not just down to Newey.

What significant challenges are ahead for 2025? The engines and units don’t change until 2026…

Hate to break it to you, Mercedes aren’t the top team in F1 now, Red Bull are, and have been since the last rule change. You are saying Mercedes will get the next rule change right? Based off what? They’ve only just managed to get on top of these rules after 3 seasons. I’ll agreed though that AM/Honda could be an outlier. But you’re writing off Red Bull because you want to, you’ve nothing at all to back that up, nothing.

You think Max will announce very soon? Good luck with that, want to put an actual timeframe on that?

I'll put a timeframe on it - Between September 2024 to June 2025. Anywhere in that timeframe, he'll be announced. Whether it be racing for 2025, or 2026

Where did i mention anything about Jos? You said, Horner pretty much owns Redbull. The fact you came out with such a statement leads me to believe you don;t really know what your talking about.

Anyway, Max will be gone, whether you like it or not. His da hates Horner. Max will have detested that scandal at the start of the year and the fact that Newey has jmuped ship is more than enough to suggest that Max as soon as he wins yet another WC will be out the door!!!(Although that depends on how Toto sells next years car to him)

Got my posters mixed up on the Jos thing, was on the phone. My bad.

As for my statement, Horner is integral to the RBR operation, and has full backing from the Thai group. In business terms that is a solid position to be in, so I think I know what I am talking about.

Anyway, Max will be gone, whether you like it or not. His da hates Horner. Max will have detested that scandal at the start of the year and the fact that Newey has jmuped ship is more than enough to suggest that Max as soon as he wins yet another WC will be out the door!!!(Although that depends on how Toto sells next years car to him)

Whether I like it or not…because you know for sure, do you? Max probably didn't love the scandal, but it has boiled over now, and he is winning the championship, he also knows well how RBR operate and that Newey wasn't solely responsible for the cars over the past few years, they have Pierre Wache and Paul Monaghan signed up for the next while. How you think that as soon as he wins his next title he will be out…explain that one to me.

Toto also is courting Antonelli, who he sees as the next big thing. He doesn't want another Verstappen to slip through his fingers like he did before.

In just one quote we have "Max will be gone", "enough to suggest that... Max will be out the door" and "depends on how Toto sells next year's car to him.

So in reality, you know as much about Max's future as literally anyone else on the forum.

Fair enough. Your posts read, at least partially, as "fact" rather than opinion.

I thought there was some breaking f1 news with all the replies

Toto DOES NOT need to court Antonelli. Antonelli works/drives for Mercedes. They have first pick!!!

And you can point to the fact that Max has a contract until 2028, everyday until we get to 2028. You have no idea what caluses are in that contract.

Verstappen has already said he is not going anywhere for 2025.

Red Bull also don't want Sainz and Verstappen in the same team due to the past issues their fathers seem to have with each other.

If Marc sleep on Anontelli, someone else will snap him up

Keep hoping.

Off ya pop 😘

Hmmmmm
https://racingnews365.com/toyota-working-on-return-to-formula-one

probably lies Haas , suddenly becomes interesting

The 2026 ruleset is shifting back to a more engine focused formula. And there's a new set of engine regs too.

Red bull got ground effect right. But they have nothing to show (yet) as to how well they can create and develop an engine. Mercedes do.

Except the man who was responsible for Mercedes-Benz's all mighty power horse is now at Aston Martin in a not building engine role.

Zak Brown has been doing nothing but try to stir **** with RedBull, he's a clown. RedBull should be telling him exactly where to go

I find that hard to believe really, not calling it not real, but Brown must have a neck like a jockeys bollox to be asking them for help. I'd imagine that Honda would totally off the cards as well.

Just on this, does this mean that Renault will be dumping the engine project, must be the case?

Your opinions seems to focus solely on the current situation without looking into the deeper intricacies of F1. According to good sources such as The Race and Motorsport, Red Bull’s engine development isn’t on a positive trajectory, and there are rumors that Verstappen isn’t pleased with it. These guys are in the paddock every weekend speaking with team members. Despite being a top team at the moment, Max Verstappen won’t likely stay with Red Bull. It’s worth noting that Adrian Newey, was significantly involved in trackside setup, he has stepped back from direct team involvement, and Red Bull’s performance has already suffered as a result. It's probably not directly related but it wouldn't have helped. Max’s statement that it’s not about Newey is likely a PR move; he wouldn’t openly criticise the team. Considering Red Bull’s lack of an OEM engine and Newey’s departure, they may face challenges ahead. While I don’t hold any bias against them, it’s important to consider potential outcomes based on solid evidence. You said two weeks ago that Lewis Hamilton was done and I told you to look at the bigger picture. Opinions can differ, but sometimes its good to take a broader view. Mercedes is better positioned for the upcoming rule changes. I’m confident that Max will move to Mercedes, possibly by 2025 or at the latest, 2026. If there wasn't rumours Max was looking around, Mercedes would have signed a driver by now and Carlos would already be in a seat too.

Your opinions seems to focus solely on the current situation without looking into the deeper intricacies of F1. According to good sources such as The Race and Motorsport, Red Bull’s engine development isn’t on a positive trajectory, and there are rumors that Verstappen isn’t pleased with it. 

Proof, please. I read The Race a lot and listen to their podcasts, there has been zero mention of any of this. None.

Despite being a top team at the moment, Max Verstappen won’t likely stay with Red Bull. It’s worth noting that Adrian Newey, was significantly involved in trackside setup, he has stepped back from direct team involvement, and Red Bull’s performance has already suffered as a result.

Newey has nothing to do with trackside setup, he is a technical director. Trackside set up rests on race engineers and mechanics. He also still works for Red Bull and was at the track at the weekend. What in gods name are you waffling about?

Max’s statement that it’s not about Newey is likely a PR move; he wouldn’t openly criticise the team.

Or…and bear with me here, Max is telling the truth. Sounds more like you want to believe Max secretly hates the team he races for, makes no sense at all.

While I don’t hold any bias against them, it’s important to consider potential outcomes based on solid evidence.

Stevie Wonder could see your bias. What evidence? You have provided nothing but gossip and conjecture.

You said two weeks ago that Lewis Hamilton was done and I told you to look at the bigger picture.

He has won 1 race in 3 seasons, at a changeable race. You want to claim that he is back to his full best based off one race? Go right ahead.

Opinions can differ, but sometimes its good to take a broader view. Mercedes is better positioned for the upcoming rule changes. I’m confident that Max will move to Mercedes, possibly by 2025 or at the latest, 2026. If there wasn't rumours Max was looking around, Mercedes would have signed a driver by now and Carlos would already be in a seat too.

Let's look at the evidence shall we? The most recent rule change in 2022, how did that work out for Mercedes? And how did it work out for Red Bull? You can use google if you want to check the results.

Max Verstappen will not be in a Mercedes by 2025, he has already said he is stay at Red Bull, or is he secretly telling fibs and you know the real story?

There are no rumours that Max is looking around, none. The only ones saying it are Toto and Zak, they are trying to disturb Red Bull, such is how F1 works.

Anything else?

There’s nothing credible about that news source. A quick scan of their Instagram page and most of the news is made up.

Mercedes had a front row lockout and were running comfortably in first and second while it was dry. They didn't win thanks to the mixed weather, that turned an easy win into a more difficult one. They had a dominant car around Silverstone and the only issue they had was when their drivers struggled to deal with the rain on track, just not as much as McLaren's strategists struggled to deal with it in the pitlane.

They also had the fastest car in Canada but blew it. Russell gained from Norris and Verstappen colliding at Austria but he was able to pick up the pieces by being well ahead of both Ferraris along with the other Red Bull and other McLaren.

On any given weekend it looks like a toss up between Mercedes and McLaren as to who will have the best car for the conditions and track layout, but they are undoubtedly both ahead of Red Bull right now, with Max and the strategy team the only ones keeping them in contention.

Adrian Newey has already stepped back and is now primarily attending races, which I believe is common knowledge. He also provides advice on trackside matters, another widely known fact.

Widely known really? Care to share them at all? He is still working for RB but in a reduced capacity. Even at that, they haven't lost speed or anything due to him, it is more to do with other teams catching up and being consistent.

While I appreciate that your opinions are based on firsthand observations and statements from drivers and team principals, it’s important to acknowledge that Formula 1 is inherently dynamic. Inconsistencies and volatility can surprise us, even when things seem straightforward. For instance, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell recently won the last two Grand Prix races, a development that you probably would have said was impossible a month ago. 

Not sure what you are trying to say here at all, are you implying that you know the workings of F1 more than us? Speaking highly of yourself there, especially when you are getting the even the basics about the dates for the rule changes kicking in totally wrong.

Russell and Hamilton won races based on different circumstances, they were not on raw pace at all.

Lighten up. You don’t need to finish each paragraph with an overt remark to try and disprove my opinion.

Thanks for the advice.

Listening to the Sky Sports coverage from Silverstone, both Ted Kravitz and Martin Brundle mentioned Newey’s involvement in trackside matters.

I think they were referring to him walking around with his notebook, which he has done for years taking notes on rivals. He has no input on car setup though, that is done by trackside engineers.

Now, I don’t claim to know more than anyone else—I’m just offering an opinion, like the next person. However, it seems that your focus in this thread is to correct everyone when things aren’t currently happening. You dismiss speculation, rumors, and projections in your comments and appear to lean heavily toward Red Bull in your analysis.

Yes I generally dismiss rumours or speculation when there is no evidence, much like you did to that tweet above. I am leaning towards what I see and not rumours based out of nothing, which is what you seem to be doing. You have leaned very much against Red Bull as well, I remember your posts about the Horner stuff earlier this year.

Regarding the 2026 rule changes, I’m not sure where the confusion lies. Perhaps there was a misunderstanding in my previous statement.

There was, you said 2025.

As for Russell’s victory, Max’s aggressive driving style played a role. Had Max not collided with Lando, the outcome might have been different. But he did, and Russell capitalised on it.

You are making my point for me with that. Thanks.

Lewis’s win at Silverstone was fair and square. He had a competitive car, second only to the McLaren, and his tire management skills in changing conditions are unmatched. Max’s success over the past two years is undoubtedly tied to having the best car. That’s how racing works—performance matters. However, I encourage you to consider that Red Bull’s dominance is shifting, and Max is exploring other options. In my opinion, he might leave Red Bull for Mercedes in 2026. Of course, differing viewpoints are essential, and I don’t intend to play moderator—I’m just engaging in the conversation! 

I never said he didn't win fair and square, I said there were changeable conditions at the race, which there were. You are saying that Lewis won because of his unmatched tire management, but in the next sentence Max's success is tied only to the car…you are you don't have a little bit of bias there? Look at what Max is doing and compare that to Perez, that shows the level that Max operates on. Yes he has a fast car, but he is the best driver on the grid right now, and that is not just down to the car.

And another rumour I see, do you know if Max is exploring options? Last I checked, he extended his lead in the championship over the last 3 races and scored the most points of anyone in the triple header. Going to Merc would be a step back in performance.