2023 Season

[AndreasDavour]

Originally Posted by Skam85

So why Saudi and not Qatar? USA? I could go on.

I did not say other venues didn't have issues. But, if you don't know why Saudi is a bit special, I think you should read the news. Start in 2001.

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by Alan52

If you doubt this golden age of F1 is going to continue look at the demand for Albert Park next year
-Grandstand seats basically sold out on access presales before the public on sale date
-Raceday general admission tickets sold out in a few hours after they went on sale.Expected that Saturday general admission tickets will also sell out shortly.
This far surpasses even the crazy demand for this years race.

And by the end of the week Saturday General Admission tickets have sold out too.Given the crowd on Friday this year was around 110,000 will Friday finish up being a sell out?
They sure better do something about food/drink outlets and toilets because these were ridiculously inadequate this year.Inexcusable really as they knew how big the crowd would be.

[dsg]

Originally Posted by Skam85

It would be nice to have Sepang back.

With China gone it would be nice to replace it with a race in the same region rather than with another race in Europe.

[crmalcolm]

It is being reported in a number of sources that DRS zones will be shorter in 2023, but there will be more of them at tracks that can accommodate.

[sizzle]

And another gone. Seidl off from McLaren

https://www.speedcafe.com/2022/12/13...udi-f1-effort/

[Greem]

Andreas Seidl to Sauber as a lead-in to Audi's involvement.

Andrea Stella in as new TP at McLaren.

I guess that makes it easy for the people who make door labels in Woking; all they have to do is cover an S over and they're sorted!

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

Across the pond, Indycar are really struggling for commercial relevance and sponsorship (no money for 2.4L engine plan so that's cancelled for example) while Formula One booms, even in the United States.

What's going on? Is "Drive to Survive" really that powerful? If so, why doesn't Indycar participate in their own streaming reality television show?

Yeah, not sure F1 is bringing much of that actual funding from US sources outside of US controlled business partners. I see FAR more Indy and Nascar, hell even YouTube garage and NHRA, drivers on advertising than anything from F1. Exception being on F1 weekends the Duracell Williams commercials, other than that ZERO

[S griffin]

What a merry go round of team principals we have had. Maybe it will be completed with Binotto going to Williams!

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Greem

Andreas Seidl to Sauber as a lead-in to Audi's involvement.

Andrea Stella in as new TP at McLaren.

I guess that makes it easy for the people who make door labels in Woking; all they have to do is cover an S over and they're sorted!

I always thought the silly season was all about the drivers, clearly not.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I always thought the silly season was all about the drivers, clearly not.

Interesting they all seem To have been grown up - no mentions of Gardening Leave

[Richard Casto]

Originally Posted by S griffin

What a merry go round of team principals we have had. Maybe it will be completed with Binotto going to Williams!

With all of the changes, I told my son to give it a week and he will be in charge of an F1 team. He said he wouldn't be qualified. I said... Just start at Ferrari and focus on getting pit stops right.

Richard

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Interesting they all seem To have been grown up - no mentions of Gardening Leave

Fred and Seidl are managers though, they’re not technical.

[chillibowl]

but surely even organizational information is important.

must admit i am curious how some of these moving pieces will affect how their new team's approach the budget cap, how they monitor their former teams, what they may have to say about prior year shenanigan's.

[AndreasDavour]

I really wonder how this will shake out. The last 24 hours have been crazy. If Seidl gets himself a good team principal, which I have zero doubt he will, Audi will come in like a bull. Yeah, I know there is another one in the paddock, but I expect the new one will really make its presence known. Seidl has done massive work at McLaren. Audi are for real with him as CEO.

[AndreasDavour]

As a McLaren fan, I was dismayed when I learned that Seidl would be leaving. He has always underpromised even when it looked like they were delivering, focused on what the team could do long term, and he's a great team builder.

But, while Ferrari there was no replacement signed when Binotto was kicked out, or no replacement announced at Williams, McLaren at least seems to be a functional organization as they had a guy to step up at day one. I have some hope that means the groundwork Seidl has done will stay. I really don't think that team cold afford another slump.