F1 2022 thread - see post 1 for rules

Yeah Haas Automation is a machine tooling company and is a brand in and of itself that's emblazoned across the car, in the same way that Red Bull is a brand and Mercedes is a brand. People were talking about Andretti coming in and saving the team but Gene Haas' net worth is actually more than that of the Andrettis, and he's advertising his company on the car, something the Andrettis couldn't do as their only business is the racing team.

Now F1 sponsorship is almost certainly not producing a good return on investment to Haas Automation so obviously there is a need for a proper title sponsor, but they have the money to tide over for a while.

I wouldn't be too critical of Haas for accepting the Uralkali sponsorship. Nobody predicted a couple of years ago that the world would be where it is today. And they were no more shady than the various cryptocurrency sponsors that adorn a lot of F1 teams these days. Rich Energy though, I've no idea how there weren't huge red flags stopping them committing to that deal.

I'm not sure Haas were doing low fuel glory runs so much that the track conditions were much more favorable in the evening when they had the track to themselves. Headline lap times can't hurt in sponsorship negotiations but I imagine no potential sponsor will put pen to paper until they see what happens in competitive conditions - something that is less than a week away.

Serious boy who cried wolf vibes from Merc...or should I say...the team who cried Wolff?

I'll be off then.

I'd be fairly sure the Haas time was a classic, low fuel glory run by a team in need of a new title sponsor. They used the track conditions like temperature and rubber to actually get all the way to the top.

They're probably at the back again this year so they probably needed every advantage available to get to the top of the times. Ko chance Haas is anywhere near the top. Total glory run.

I'd love to see Haas do well.

Lewis Hamilton to compete in the 2022 season as Lewis Hamilton-Larbelestier, after his mother's surname.

At 37 years of age.

35 years after his parents split.

After 16 seasons in Grand Prix racing.

Let no one ever utter in this thread again that Hamilton isn't an attention seeking little tw....

^ This. Very personal decision, previous poster makes themselves look very foolish trying to ridicule it.

I agree with this. People forget that Haas have a track record as a decent midfield team. Last year was unusual in that they put no effort into the car as they built for 2022. They also hit some difficulties with Rich Energy not paying out before that so had some rocky times.

But before then they were consistent point scorers. With full focus on the new car for the last two years and an injection of Uralkali cash when it mattered I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see them up there again, getting in amongst Aston and Alpine. They have a vastly superior driver pairing to Alfa and Williams too which has got to count for something.

They certainly did not get any wins not in F1 anyway not even a podium there best position was in 2019 when they got 6th in Australia and that was with Magnussen by the way. So definitely a good call on Haas bringing him back.

You might be thinking of Grosjean in the Lotus - very similar livery to the Rich Energy Haas he later drove. They got a couple of wins and regularly fought for podiums. Eventually bought out by Renault and are now the Alpine team. (They were owned by Renault previously too before their independent period)

You are 100% right! Maybe it was the couple of beers in me clouding my memory but that was exactly it! The fact he want in to drive for haas put the nail in the coffin of my bad memory haha

Because clearly Mazepin is a bad driver relative to Mick. Why affect the decent driver?

To put the matter to rest?

Yeah they needed to build a new chassis because Grosjean broke one in the big accident he caused. The new one was a few kilos lighter. Mick got that one. Mazepin found out about it and wanted it. Haas said the weight made negligible difference In handling or speed but mazepin needed something to blame for his huge lack of pace.

Mazepin Snr first threatened to pull funding unless they swapped, then agreed to fund the building of a new, lighter chassis. He drove it for a race or 2 and broke it in a crash in practice (Qatar, i think), so he had to go back to his old, heavier chassis.

Look, mazepin was a pay driver. Not the first and certainly not the last. He was crap and only got ahead due to definite supply of money from his father. Lance Stroll with slightly less speed and a lot less charm. He's gone now and been replaced by another pay driver with a lot of experience. If KMag can make up the money then its a good result for Haas.

Daniel Ricciardo is all clear.