Formula 1

[Geezertronic]

I'm looking forward to seeing how Ferrari utterly fail to capitalise on this!

Well predicted

 

[najaB]

Just saw that Fernando is taking Vettel's seat!

 

[D365]

Just saw that Fernando is taking Vettel's seat!

He’s fallen into the Ricciardo-esque trap of switching teams every two years. From a competitive standpoint, I’d be very surprised if Alonso has chosen this move on his own.

 

[DarloRich]

He’s fallen into the Ricciardo-esque trap of switching teams every two years. From a competitive standpoint, I’d be very surprised if Alonso has chosen this move on his own.

AM have offered him a multi year deal. Alpine offered him a 1+1 deal AND Le mans team leadership ( according to the street word) but he wants to stay in F1.

 

[JD2168]

The move of Alonso to Aston Martin enables Oscar Piastri to take the second seat at Alpine alongside Ocon instead of loaning him to another team.

 

[D365]

The move of Alonso to Aston Martin enables Oscar Piastri to take the second seat at Alpine alongside Ocon instead of loaning him to another team.

Piastri @ Alpine now confirmed.

 

[Darandio]

Or maybe not, Piastri has just denied it and said he won't be driving for them next year.

 

[Pete_uk]

That's interesting!

 

[D365]

To think I thought that nothing could top Ferrari’s shambles this month.

 

[Domh245]

I'm getting terrible flashbacks to Indycar not more than a month ago! A promising young driver whose surname starts with P, announced as driving for a team only for said driver to announce that "actually, no" and for McLaren to be involved (or implied!).

For full points, I hope the Alpine press release also has a fake quote attributed to Oscar!

 

[D365]

For full points, I hope the Alpine press release also has a fake quote attributed to Oscar!

Alpine didn’t provide a quote at all!

 

[Domh245]

Alpine didn’t provide a quote at all!

Perhaps they learnt from the fallout from the Palou situation then!!

 

[najaB]

Peter Winsor has a theory on what's going on, it might come down to Alpine not looking at their calendar:

 

[D365]

Peter Winsor has a theory on what's going on, it might come down to Alpine not looking at their calendar:

Without having watched the video yet. Is that Alonso timing his departure announcement to coincide with Piastri's contractual deadlines..?

 

[DarloRich]

The Alpine situation is comedy gold! Piastri must think he has a better gig to go to. I assume that is McLaren after they boot Ricciardo out.

 

[najaB]

Without having watched the video yet. Is that Alonso timing his departure announcement to coincide with Piastri's contractual deadlines..?

Pretty much, yes. Alpine made their announcement a day too late.

 

[birchesgreen]

The Alpine situation is comedy gold! Piastri must think he has a better gig to go to. I assume that is McLaren after they boot Ricciardo out.

An interesting choice he's made if so, its by no means a given that McLaren will be ahead of Alpine in a year or so.

 

[D365]

Alex Albon has now been confirmed at Williams with a multi-year extension and an amusing tweet to accompany the announcement:

I understand that, with my agreement, Williams Racing have put out a press release this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. This is right and I have signed a contract with Williams for 2023. I will be driving for Williams next year.

 

[Bungle73]

Alex Albon has now been confirmed at Williams with a multi-year extension and an amusing tweet to accompany the announcement:

That joke has been doing the rounds. Jason Plato put out this earlier….

·I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have not put out a press release this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. This is correct, I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine in 23. That’s a relief. I’m nearly 55

https://mobile.twitter.com/jasonplato/status/1554572519746818048

 

[greatvoyager]

Finally confirmed Ricciardo leaving McLaren at the end of the year.

Ricciardo to leave McLaren at end of season

Daniel Ricciardo will leave McLaren at the end of the season, with the team expected to confirm the signing of fellow Australian Oscar Piastri.

www.bbc.co.uk

Daniel Ricciardo will leave McLaren at the end of the season.
The team said they and the Australian had "mutually agreed" the split, but McLaren admitted they had precipitated the move.
The announcement is expected to be followed by confirmation that McLaren have signed Australian Oscar Piastri, the Formula 2 champion and Alpine reserve.
McLaren said they would confirm their 2023 driver line-up "in due course".

 

[jfollows]

In other words, McLaren kicked out Ricciardo but threw enough money at him because they terminated his contract early that he agreed to take the money and leave as they wanted.
I wish one of my former employers had done this to me!

 

[DarloRich]

In other words, McLaren kicked out Ricciardo but threw enough money at him because they terminated his contract early that he agreed to take the money and leave as they wanted.
I wish one of my former employers had done this to me!

This kind of thing happens all the time - Mclaren have paid off an employee. It is hardly unknown.

Ricciardo wasn't producing the goods.

 

[D365]

This kind of thing happens all the time - Mclaren have paid off an employee. It is hardly unknown.

Ricciardo wasn't producing the goods.

I’m sad that his McLaren career has to end this way, but at the same time I find the anti-McLaren froth absolutely hysterical. ”Not building the car for Ricciardo”, ”produced a lemon of a car”, ”favouring the Brit” and above all ”Monza 2021” are my favourites. If it wasn’t for the Twitter mobs that follow their chosen drivers religiously, nobody would bat more than an eyelid.

 

[birchesgreen]

I think drivers have always had their rabid fans and teams have often faced their collective wrath, just that its much easier to do nowadays!

 

[greatvoyager]

In other news, looks like Audi have announced they will be joining Formula 1.

Audi confirms Formula 1 entry from 2026 as sport welcomes Volkswagen brand

Audi confirms entry as engine manufacturer from 2026; Fellow Volkswagen brand Porsche also expected to join; Audi expected to have link-up with Sauber, who currently run under the Alfa Romeo banner; Watch the Belgian GP live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend

www.skysports.com

Audi confirms entry as engine manufacturer from 2026; Fellow Volkswagen brand Porsche also expected to join; Audi expected to have link-up with Sauber, who currently run under the Alfa Romeo banner​

 

[DarloRich]

The improv comedy troupe that is Ferrari F1 managed a new skit today: putting the wrong tires on Leclercs car then telling everyone!

Utter clowns. Tune in tommorow for even more laughs as they fuel the car with vino or forget to fit the steering wheel!

 

[JD2168]

Max Verstappen cruised to victory in today’s Belgian Grand Prix despite starting 14th on the grid. Charles Leclerc finished sixth, he was on for a fifth until a late attempt at fastest lap cost him a pit lane speeding penalty cost him the spot to Alonso. Alonso had been involved in a first lap incident with Lewis Hamilton from which Lewis retired.

The Belgian Grand Prix also agreed a new one year deal for the race to run in 2023.

 

[KashmireHawker]

Watched it with a few thousand, at the big screens by the main stage at The Silverstone Classic after completing another fun weekend of being a Race Maker and it’s safe to say:

- Max is on another universe and massive credit to him and Red Bull for a magnificent title defence - which will be done with 5 races to go
- Ferrari’s entire management and strategic team need the sack
- Lewis was spot on to take responsibility
- Albon is a superb defensive driver and fully deserved his point
- And Seb shouldn’t retire yet, after a lovely drive to 8th and shows that the Aston does have potential to extract!

Also glad that Alpine v McLaren over Oscar Piastri goes to the Contract Recognition Board tomorrow, so that this saga can be put to rest and that he and Riccardo can sort there future’s out as quickly as possible.

 

[htafc]

The Belgian Grand Prix also agreed a new one year deal for the race to run in 2023.

Brilliant news. Don't know what I'd have done had it gone. Mind you, perhaps only a year's reprieve...

 

[greatvoyager]

It was a dominant win, and Ferrari are really throwing this title away. I dread to think what will happen if they mess up at Monza.