2022 F1 News and Prediction League

[Big Boy]

In F1 driver terms, Lewis Hamilton is quite a porker - it doesn't seem to have done him any harm. Or has he put some of those lbs on during the close season?

[pharvey]

In F1 driver terms, Lewis Hamilton is quite a porker - it doesn't seem to have done him any harm. Or has he put some of those lbs on during the close season?

Hit the "Comfort Food" after the end to last season - it's clear from this season's performances!!

[Nereus]

There is some info here, but not the direct effect of fuel weight on speed:

HERE IS WHY F1 DRIVERS ARE WEIGHED

https://onestopracing.com/why-f1-drivers-are-weighed/

[pharvey]

This could certainly benefit Mercedes - hence the objections from the Scuderia and Red BS.... Time will tell.

Formula 1: FIA Refuses to Back Down on 'Bouncing' Controls

"Formula 1's governing body has resisted pressure from teams to back down on its moves to limit the 'bouncing' of cars.

Title contenders Red Bull and Ferrari were among those to object to the FIA's attempts to control the amount cars can demonstrate the phenomenon.

But an FIA statement said: "It is the responsibility and prerogative of the FIA to intervene on safety matters."

The measures will come into force at the Belgian Grand Prix, which will take place from 26-28 August.

The FIA's commitment to the topic was confirmed at a meeting of F1's technical advisory committee on Thursday.

The governing body is to introduce a metric which will determine the maximum amount of bouncing that is permitted by each car.

Teams will have to make set-up changes if their car exceeds the limit and could face disqualification if it does so during qualifying or a race.

In addition, the FIA has taken measures to limit the flexibility of the cars' floors after it came to the conclusion in its measurements of the cars' bouncing in recent races that some teams had found ways to flex their floors beyond expected limits."

Full Article (and an interesting read) @ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/62177972

[pharvey]

Seriously, WTF??!!

"Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton will be forced to sit out of the opening practice session for the French Grand Prix with Mercedes deciding to run reigning Formula E champion Nyck de Vries.

For 2022, all 10 F1 teams are required to run a ‘young driver’ in two FP1 sessions during the year.

A rookie driver is defined as someone who “may not have participated in more than two F1 World Championship Races during their career”."

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1008051/1 ... t-practice

The idiots who run F1 these days.....

[pharvey]

Apologies, way late on parade this week!!

Race Results: -
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HHF Standings: -
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[Bamboo Grove]

I've fallen 4,5 points behind Pharvey in the last two races. All I can say is like Leclerc after his recent crash: "Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

[pharvey]

All I can say is like Leclerc after his recent crash: "Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

Certainly not the best of days for the Scuderia, but positive from Mercedes. Crashappen walking away with it now unfortunately........

[pharvey]

Well, best of luck to him.....

Sebastian Vettel: Four-time World Champion to Retire From Formula 1 at End of 2022 Season

"Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel is to retire from Formula 1 at the end of this season.

The 35-year-old said the decision had been "difficult" and that he had "spent a lot of time thinking about it".

The German said he would "take more time to reflect on what I will focus on next" at the end of the year. He said spending more time with his family was a priority.

Vettel will leave the sport as one of the most successful drivers in history.

Only Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio have won more world titles than Vettel, and only Hamilton and Schumacher have more than his 53 race wins.

He added: "Today is not about saying goodbye. Rather, it is about saying thank you - to everyone - not least to the fans, without whose passionate support F1 could not exist.""

https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/62330316

[pharvey]

By Crikey - difficult to know what to take from "Free Practice".... All over the place!

I've decided to make my picks pre-qualifying, but it's shot in the dark stuff!!

FP3 had cars spinning on an ice track, Mercedes suffering more-so as for some reason simply couldn't get any heat into their tyres.....

To add to an F1 Engineer's nightmare, Race Day will provide different conditions from today and Qualifying.

All adds to the excitement though!!

[Phyton]

Great George Russell P1, and retired Sir Lulu P7.

Hope we have a nice race.

[pharvey]

Pretty much a What the Feck Happened FP and Quali.....

Russell takes Pole, Red BS in 10th and 11th - the only things unsurprising are the comments from the "Habitual Hamilton Hater" phyton....
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Could all make for an exciting race tomorrow..

[pharvey]

Well, you can take nothing away from Crashappen (despite his constant whining) or Red BS - superb race strategy and deserved winners.

Tyre management and race strategy were interesting for all teams involved (not to mention the weather), BUT what in Hades are the Scuderia doing? Their tactics are and have been very questionable to say the least throughout!! Yet again they have killed Leclerc's chances on Race Day and handed Crashappen victory - a decent fight would have at least been a plus!!

Massive from Mercedes taking 2nd and 3rd (especially after Friday's session(s)) and hopefully this points towards a much closer season for them next year against Red BS and co. If the Scuderia continue in the same vein though, I can see Mercedes putting them into 3rd in the Constructor's Championship this season let alone next (quite somthing considering the advantage Ferrari have had this season over the Silver Arrows)!

Hungarian F1 Results: -
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HHF Prediction League: -

Congrats to BG on the Yellow Cap this Round!!
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Note: - We're now heading into the Summer Break, so next up will be the Belgian Grand Prix on the 27th of August.

[PeteC]

Fernando Alonso to join Aston Martin in 2023

https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/62376428

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso is to drive for Aston Martin from 2023 on a multi-year contract.

The 41-year-old Spaniard, who has raced for Alpine since 2021, will replace Sebastian Vettel following the German's retirement at the end of the season.

Alonso, F1 champion in 2005 and 2006, returned to the sport in 2021 after a two-year hiatus racing elsewhere.

"I still have the hunger and ambition to fight to be at the front," Alonso said.

"Aston Martin is clearly applying the energy and commitment to win and it is therefore one of the most exciting teams in F1 today.

"No-one in F1 today is demonstrating a greater vision and absolute commitment to winning, and that makes it a really exciting opportunity for me.

"I want to be part of an organisation that is committed to learn, develop and succeed.

"We all appreciate that there is much to be done to get to the front, and that we must apply all our energies in working together to find performance.

"I intend to win again in this sport and therefore I have to take the opportunities that feel right to me."

The move has come as a surprise within F1 - and is a blow to Alpine, where Alonso has been outperforming team-mate Estasban Ocon this season, although he is behind the Frenchman in the championship as a result of a series of reliability problems.

Alpine chief executive officer Laurent Rossi said at the French Grand Prix 10 days ago that the team were "discussing with [Alonso]; we are building scenarios for him".

Rossi added: "Fernando is a legend of the sport, but also a legend of the Renault group. For us, he is the champion."

In a statement Alpine said: "Fernando has always been, and always will be, part of the Renault and Alpine family and we're proud and privileged to have shared so many on-track moments together."

The word in F1 is that there had been a hitch in negotiations between Alpine and Alonso over the length of his contract, with the driver wanting a firm two-year deal and the team preferring an option clause after next season.

Aston Martin wanted Vettel to stay and had offered him a contract for next season, but they had also had informal exploratory chats with Alonso in case the four-time champion wanted to stop.

When Vettel made his decision, Aston Martin moved quickly.

The likelihood is that Alonso has signed a two- or three-year deal with options after each year that give him more certainty than he was being offered by Alpine.

On the face of it, the move is a backwards step in terms of performance for Alonso, as Alpine are well ahead of Aston Martin this season.

But Alonso's self-confidence will assure him that he can add significant performance to the car, and he has noted the string of senior hires the team have made in recent times, including recruiting former Red Bull head of aerodynamics Dan Fallows as technical director.

Next year's car will have Fallows' fingerprints on it as he joined the team earlier this year, in time to feed into development.

Aston are also building a state-of-the-art new factory at their Silverstone base. The design and race team will move into the first stage of it by the spring of next year, before two further buildings, including a wind tunnel, come on stream later.

Aston Martin team owner and executive chairman Lawrence Stroll said: "I have set out to bring together the best people and develop the right resources and organisation to succeed in this highly competitive sport, and those plans are now taking shape at Silverstone.

"It seemed natural therefore to invite Fernando to be part of the development of a winning team, and we very quickly established in our recent conversations that we have the same ambitions and values, and it was logical and easy to confirm our desire to work together."

Team principal Mike Krack said: "I have witnessed the excitement in the engineering team and throughout the whole organisation at the opportunity to work with Fernando. We know that nearly everyone can learn from someone of Fernando's calibre and experience. We are confident that he will inspire everyone to lift their game.

"We are on a journey to create a winning organisation, and it is clear that Fernando will accelerate our progress and bring us to a performance in which we can take pride."

Alonso's team-mate in 2023 will be Stroll's son Lance.

[pharvey]

Fernando Alonso to join Aston Martin in 2023

It's been mentioned that the fall out was a disagreement over contract extension - Alpine offering a year (with possible option), Alonso wanting a minimum of 2 years guaranteed. But my personal feeling is Alonso's relationship with Ocon isn't the best and obviously Alpine see Ocon as the longer term future. Aston Martin have made no secret of their admiration of Alonso and have obviously been prepared to offer a "multiple season" deal.
Obviously something amiss at Alpine after they announced Australian driver Piastri would be replacing Alonso, only for Piastri to say he had not signed a contract and would not be driving for them next season. There seems to be some legal wrangling as Alpine are hinting towards "contractual agreements"......
Then comes Mark Webber (Piastri's manager), McLaren and Ricardo - Webber wanting Piastri to take Ricardo's seat,,,,,

Ricardo has certainly had a season to forget - will he even have a seat in 2023?