The Formula 1 Thread

[yankspurs]

Probably best filed under what a load of bollocks and TBH surprised that given the source is Twitter you actually believe this

I'd wait until it's a confirmed story and not hidden under the deliberately vague 'reports that'.

Not sacked. But suspended. So a firing is probably the next step. Red Bull are truly garbage.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Probably best filed under what a load of bollocks and TBH surprised that given the source is Twitter you actually believe this

I'd wait until it's a confirmed story and not hidden under the deliberately vague 'reports that'.

It wasn't far off the mark:

Red Bull suspend woman who accused Christian Horner of inappropriate behaviour

The woman who accused team principal Christian Horner of inappropriate behaviour is suspended by Red Bull.

www.bbc.com

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

It wasn't far off the mark:

Red Bull suspend woman who accused Christian Horner of inappropriate behaviour

The woman who accused team principal Christian Horner of inappropriate behaviour is suspended by Red Bull.

www.bbc.com

Indeed, on this occasion it wasn't far off. On this occasion. But I stand by my point that the kind of thing you posted would be far better being ignored and wait until you get the actual story from an actual news organisation. Call it what you like, me having a bee in my bonnet, being an old fashioned fart, just being a tosser............ But 'reports that' on Twitter is by far generally unsound and shouldn't be given oxygen because it just encourages the spreading of fibs

 

[Dirty Ewok]

They delay the start of the second practice session for "loose drain covers in pit lane".....

Sky shows pit lane.... Not a human near a drain cover for the entire length of the pit.....so guessing some sheik's helicopter is late getting to the track.

 

[Dirty Ewok]

Sainz out for the GP, Ferrari call up Ollie Bearman to drive

 

[Wig]

Imagine being an 18 year old kid and being called up to drive for Ferrari in F1. I know he's their reserve driver and all, but what a story. Hope he does well!

 

[Dirty Ewok]

Man, the Alpine cars really look to be absolute pigs this year....

 

[TheHodFather]

This is interesting.....


Imagine dropping Max and letting him go to say.....Merc.....just to keep Horner so that they can keep Newey

TBF if I was running an F1 team I would do anything to keep Newey. The guy's a genius and he's more important than any driver.

 

[1961beavera]

Looks like Horner may be winning the early rounds.

Max Verstappen backs Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko amid possible suspension

Max Verstappen backs Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko after it emerges the Austrian could be suspended from his role.

www.bbc.co.uk

Noted in the article that Honda have asked for more details, even though they are moving away it shows that this has been controlled from within RB.

Also looking at some of the pictures from last weekend with CH and Geri, she does not look particularly happy to be with him.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Looking like Helmut Marko leaked (or was part of the leak) the WhatsApp chats, and he could be suspended by Red Bull in the coming days.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

 

[tobi]

Looking like Helmut Marko leaked (or was part of the leak) the WhatsApp chats, and he could be suspended by Red Bull in the coming days.

So he's the one who wants Horner gone.

Power struggle.

 

[TheHodFather]

It's all getting quite weird now, isn't it? I mean, Helmut Marko's 80 years old. He can't seriously think he's going to be made team principal at that age, surely? So presumably he wants his own yes man in instead, but who would that be? Verstappen Snr? If the rumours are true that Newey is in Horner's corner, as it were, then I think the Verstappens might be in for a bit of a rude awakening in terms of where they stand in the grand scheme of things.

The other thought that occurs to me (as crazy as it sounds given their dominance) is that Max actually wants out of that deal he signed that runs until 2028. Maybe he doesn't have the confidence that they'll be able to deliver on the powertrain side as well as the chassis when the new rules come in? It's a big ask for an independent team to develop their own engine and I'm struggling to think of a team who've done it successfully. You've got McLaren and Aston Martin who are actual car manufacturers but they still buy in their F1 engines because building a good F1 engine is hard and requires a lot of resources.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

It's all getting quite weird now, isn't it? I mean, Helmut Marko's 80 years old. He can't seriously think he's going to be made team principal at that age, surely? So presumably he wants his own yes man in instead, but who would that be? Verstappen Snr? If the rumours are true that Newey is in Horner's corner, as it were, then I think the Verstappens might be in for a bit of a rude awakening in terms of where they stand in the grand scheme of things.

The other thought that occurs to me (as crazy as it sounds given their dominance) is that Max actually wants out of that deal he signed that runs until 2028. Maybe he doesn't have the confidence that they'll be able to deliver on the powertrain side as well as the chassis when the new rules come in? It's a big ask for an independent team to develop their own engine and I'm struggling to think of a team who've done it successfully. You've got McLaren and Aston Martin who are actual car manufacturers but they still buy in their F1 engines because building a good F1 engine is hard and requires a lot of resources.

Mercedes is the logical step for Max - if he wants out at Red Bull - due to powertrain issues in 2026.

 

[TheHodFather]

Mercedes is the logical step for Max - if he wants out at Red Bull - due to powertrain issues in 2026.

Yes, it's funny how this has all blown up shortly after Lewis announced his switch to Ferrari, isn't it? I think we may have solved the mystery - Max wants out of his long contract because he wants Lewis's seat at Mercedes as he views them as a better long-term bet given the rule changes. And he wants it sorted sooner rather than later because he doesn't want Mercedes bringing in another top driver to replace Lewis, as that would at best mean he had to deal with a properly competitive teammate, and at worst could block his path to a move there entirely.

 

[yankspurs]

TBF if I was running an F1 team I would do anything to keep Newey. The guy's a genius and he's more important than any driver.

Ferrari should be blowing up his phone. They have the drivers talented enough to rack up the titles with a good car & proper strategy.

 

[TheHodFather]

Ferrari should be blowing up his phone. They have the drivers talented enough to rack up the titles with a good car & proper strategy.

Depends on how the team's structured really. I recall reading that Newey is not necessarily an easy person to fit in to a team - the article basically implied he was a fair way along the spectrum without actually saying it - and that Red Bull have created a unique set-up for him whereby he gets to do the things he's interested in and just leave the things he's not interested in to others.

He was at McLaren previously under Ron Dennis (who was a complete control freak) and that didn't really work out well due to McLaren (well Ron, basically) trying to shoe-horn him into a "standard" chief designer role.

Agree on the drivers at Ferrari, though. Personally I think Leclerc is as good as Verstappen.

 

[yankspurs]

It's all getting quite weird now, isn't it? I mean, Helmut Marko's 80 years old. He can't seriously think he's going to be made team principal at that age, surely? So presumably he wants his own yes man in instead, but who would that be? Verstappen Snr? If the rumours are true that Newey is in Horner's corner, as it were, then I think the Verstappens might be in for a bit of a rude awakening in terms of where they stand in the grand scheme of things.

The other thought that occurs to me (as crazy as it sounds given their dominance) is that Max actually wants out of that deal he signed that runs until 2028. Maybe he doesn't have the confidence that they'll be able to deliver on the powertrain side as well as the chassis when the new rules come in? It's a big ask for an independent team to develop their own engine and I'm struggling to think of a team who've done it successfully. You've got McLaren and Aston Martin who are actual car manufacturers but they still buy in their F1 engines because building a good F1 engine is hard and requires a lot of resources.

What Marko doesn’t understand is that’s just a BS line from the Verstappens. Personally think none of this saga will be over even if Marko stays on & Horner gets canned. Idk if it’s a regulation issue either. Dont think we are ever going to know what Max actually thinks & don’t think Max would ever do what he wants. Jos controls that boy. He’ll do whatever Jos wants. And I think it’s Jos starting all this shit because he wants the job. Horner being extraordinarily horny just gave Jos an opening to exploit. On the Red Bull side of things, the allegations are the only reason RB looks a mess right now with an internal power struggle over backing Horner & causing sponsors & Ford to second guess their ties with Red Bull. If Max goes to Mercedes, chances are Jos would inevitably start some shit with Toto.

 

[TheHodFather]

What Marko doesn’t understand is that’s just a BS line from the Verstappens. Personally think none of this saga will be over even if Marko stays on & Horner gets canned. Idk if it’s a regulation issue either. Dont think we are ever going to know what Max actually thinks & don’t think Max would ever do what he wants. Jos controls that boy. He’ll do whatever Jos wants. And I think it’s Jos starting all this shit because he wants the job. Horner being extraordinarily horny just gave Jos an opening to exploit. Even If Max goes to Mercedes, chances are Jos would inevitably start some shit with Toto.

Yeah if the rumous that is was Marko who leaked the messages are true, I suspect he may well have been played by the Verstappens

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

What Marko doesn’t understand is that’s just a BS line from the Verstappens. Personally think none of this saga will be over even if Marko stays on & Horner gets canned. Idk if it’s a regulation issue either. Dont think we are ever going to know what Max actually thinks & don’t think Max would ever do what he wants. Jos controls that boy. He’ll do whatever Jos wants. And I think it’s Jos starting all this shit because he wants the job. Horner being extraordinarily horny just gave Jos an opening to exploit. On the Red Bull side of things, the allegations are the only reason RB looks a mess right now with an internal power struggle over backing Horner & causing sponsors & Ford to second guess their ties with Red Bull. If Max goes to Mercedes, chances are Jos would inevitably start some shit with Toto.

It could all be a distraction from the lack of competition on the track, but F1 could definitely use a re-set, that brings 3-4 teams into the championship mix.

So - It would be great to see:

Mercedes: Verstappen and Russell
Red Bull: Checo and Alonso
Ferrari: Hamilton and Leclerc
McLaren: Norris and Piastri