2023 Season

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Out of curiosity - why would getting invoiced direct (as opposed to any other arrangement between supplier and customer) make any difference?

Made in house or partly subbed out is much, much cheaper.

The Haas model is cheap overall but spares are expensive.

Standard manufacturer model, adopted by Dallara, is cost-effective chassis followed up by massively profitable spares and consumables.

[AndreasDavour]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

Clearly Haas has brought Hulkenberg back to allow him to extend one of his most famous records out of the reach of others. That is his 179 race starts without ever standing on the podium.

I think I posted somewhere here on this forum that I don't expect we will see Hulkenberg back in F1 as a regular driver. I honestly am shocked by Haas doing this. Not that Mick is the right answer, but I do think Hulkenberg is the wrong answer. But for Haas' sake, I really hope I am wrong.

Richard

Hulkenberg is, which I find extremely puzzling, very popular. I wonder why. A few funny radio calls doesn't make a race driver, do they?



Steiner apparently said they have decided they need experience and drivers which can help drive development. Maybe Hulkenberg is one of those guys who is very uninspiring as a racer, but gives good feedback?

[Adam43]

He comes across as a decent guy. If that helps makes you popular maybe all is not lost.

As for driving. He’s decent enough pedaler. I see your point, is there no one else. I suppose if you are after experience, probably not. Or at least there is a lot of similar talent in that category.

[Born Racer]

He's difficult to rate because he hasn't had any outstanding results. He's always seemed a safe pair of hands for points (apart from when in really high positions on occasion when something has always gone wrong, although he's had that happen through no fault of his own too). Apart from the rare greats and the poor by F1 standard drivers, so many are difficult to rate, so I can only give Haas the benefit of the doubt and say that they are right to put him alongside Magnussen. It's certainly not a Mazepin approach. For what it's worth, he also comes across as a decent guy.

In any case, going back to the point about decent drivers hard to categorise, even they can blow hot and cold. Look at Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull and Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren.

[S griffin]

I think people also love him for being the underdog. Perhaps the best driver never to get a podium in F1, although that could still change

[AndreasDavour]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I think people also love him for being the underdog. Perhaps the best driver never to get a podium in F1, although that could still change

If his popularity is the underdog thing, he'd better not getting too good results then!

[Skam85]

Haas just don't want a driver that's going to split the car in half every 6 races so they can spend the repair bills on development. Kmag and Hulk are these drivers. Mazepin and sadly as likeable as Mick is, are not.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Skam85

Haas just don't want a driver that's going to split the car in half every 6 races so they can spend the repair bills on development. Kmag and Hulk are these drivers. Mazepin and sadly as likeable as Mick is, are not.

I agree with this. And if I'm absolutely blunt about it - everyone wants ti like Mick. But right now, he just isn't that good.

[crmalcolm]

Chinese GP to be cancelled because of the country's Covid policies

'China's return to the Formula 1 schedule will be cancelled next year as a result of the country's Covid policies, BBC Sport has learned.

Formula 1 has not visited China since 2019, but was due to return for the fourth race in 2023 on 16 April.

China's zero-Covid policy has led F1 to conclude the race cannot go ahead.

The key sticking point is that F1 staff would not be given exemptions from quarantine requirements in the event of suffering a Covid-19 infection.'

[chillibowl]

from the above article: The sport is not expected to seek to replace China with another race, so the calendar will be cut to 23 races - still an all-time record but one event fewer than F1 had originally planned.

still to many races imo but i can appreciate the symmetry of 23 races in 2023!

[chillibowl]

Alonso already in the AM...didnt realize Alpine had given him an early release.

Alonso never seems to leave a team on good terms so i cant imagine how angry he is at Alpine for what he must consider another wasted season in F1?

[E.B]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

Alonso already in the AM...didnt realize Alpine had given him an early release.

I think that is why he is in a logo / sponsor free (other than the AM badge) plain green car and is wearing a logo free helmet, and I daresay overalls as well. So as not to upset existing sponsorships he is contractually tied to until end December.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

Alonso never seems to leave a team on good terms so i cant imagine how angry he is at Alpine for what he must consider another wasted season in F1?

Everyone lives in Fernandos head rent free. When he leaves AMR it'll be spectacular.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Everyone lives in Fernandos head rent free. When he leaves AMR it'll be spectacular.

haha right! already have my popcorn ready!

[peebee2]

There’s a lot of people thinking and hoping Fernando vs Larry will be the battle of next season.