F1 2022 thread - see post 1 for rules

Over the course of the year, there were several decisions that were debateable.

Even in the last race, Hamilton benefited from staying in front.

While you don't win a race in the first corner, but can lose it. You are not winning a championship in the last three laps. There were 1000s before.

How would people feel about the FIA bringing in a weighted penalty system, so that any infringement that would normally cost a team like Williams a one place grid penalty would cost Mercedes-Benz 3 places, a 10 second penalty for Bottas would be a 30 second penalty for Hamilton etc.

Time gaps from the last session. Basically it's a farce that Lewis Hamilton can win a Grand Prix after a 24 place penalty while any other team on the grid would struggle to get back into the lower point scoring position. He needs to be kept to a stricter standard and be taken down harshly if they put a toe out of line.

I don't agree with the idea of weighted penalties at all. Bigger penalties for everyone is the way to go. The 5-10s penalties are meaningless if you have one or two very dominant teams. Hopefully the pack will have closed so this conversation becomes irrelevant but they used to give much harsher penalties in the past that actually meant something. Hamilton in Spa 2008 springs to mind. 25s penalty that dropped him from 1st to 3rd. Grosjean got a race ban after Spa 2012.

F1 to remain at Imola until 2025.

How about an actual weighted penalty.

Instead of grid penalty. The car has 5kg or other such number of weights added to the minimum weight of the car and driver.

I do think Mercedes did step over the line with the amount of engines they used last year. The penalty isnt enough for them, even the commentators mention how drivers get out of the way when the likes of Lewis or Max for that matter are coming through as thats not who they are racing, so any driver starting at the back knows he will meet little resistence, even Mclaren and Ferrai were getting out of the way last year along with Alpine...so maybe a non safety engine replacement (so a crash etc would be allowed a change) over and above allocated engines for the season might result in a 1 lap penalty, would probably mean still a top 10 finish but its an actual penalty.

Lol you have to joking right?

Maybe it's lost in translation but the Corriere newspaper in Italy reported about Mercedes having no side pods. I presume it means a very skinny side profile rather than no side pods at all.

Heading to Zandvoort, first race and can’t wait!

There shouldn't be any complaints that the safety car isn't going fast enough anymore.

Last pre-season test will be at Bahrain tomorrow the 10th (Thursday) until the 12th (Saturday). First qualifying session of the season will be on the following Saturday.

The rumours about Mercedes sidepods sounded ridiculous but some reputable journalists are picking them up so it must be coming from somewhere. Not long until we find out anyway.

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