F1 2022 thread - see post 1 for rules

Wasn’t his podium last year taken away with a penalty after the race too?

Yes he did! Completely forgot about Baku

Cannot say "what a season after that" . Max and Redbull reign was supreme . It was interesting to watch Ferrari be themelves and watch Mercedes dig themselves out of a hole and actually appear to get competitive as the season went on . I enjoyed alot of races this season but it was down on the tension from last year . (< this part might have been a good thing)

While Max🤴 dominated the Drivers Championship , on a whole over the season I am starting to think Lando Norris was the second best driver all season. Carried a team really on his own , no offence or abuse directed at Danny Ric but Lando somehow always had him self towards the front . Mclaren need to take a step forward properly next year. Others will come looking for him .

Alpine/Renault had a good season in the end. I know Alonso had a lot of car problems oddly I am wondering if his driving style has something to do with it, this isn't the first team that he has gathered DNF's .I think he has the Most DNF of the hybrid era . Maybe the Mercedes powered Aston is more robust for what ever keeps happening him . Ocon is fast may be can lead a team .Gasly will have his work cut out.

Aston Did barely ok over the season, it was a big risk to change cars completely after 6 races , and 18 top ten finishes from the drivers was a decent return in the end. Unlucky not to get P6 from Alfa in the end. ( seb had 10 tops I think and stroll 8)

Alfa Did ok as well , Zhou seems like a decent driver and with a good season under his belt he and Bottas should be good for next season points finishes .

At a glance next year and 24 races , too many street circuits. They might be fun I could be wrong ( would prefer if I was wrong ) but It is a lot to ask from teams with budget caps and just time an energy . always felt 20 was the absolute max F1 should be running .

as always done posting for year see ye March 3rd 2023 for next race . It has been fun and terrible reading the comments over the season. 😁

Think Max could have done a bit more to back Charles up and help Checo, the dynamic in that team will be strange next year...I see Danny Ric as number 2 driver at some stage next year for Red bull and checo going to alpha tauri

Don't see that happening at all. The only time a driver has been 'demoted' to the junior team, a member of the junior team has simultaneously been promoted. Under your scenario, either Tsunoda or DeVris would have to be booted from the starting line-up to make way for Checo.

I reckon Checo would also rather leave the sport.

If Danny Ric manages to impress RB during his year on the sidelines, I the earliest I would see him being in the car full-time is 2024, with Checo having being bought out of his last year (just like McClaren did to Danny Ric this year). Even that I feel to be unlikely.

Stick a fiver on it and hope you're right!

Don't see Danny Ric featuring in a race seat next year but anything is possible for year after. I really do see a major fall out between checo and max.

Max did zero for checo again which is pretty short sighted. He might not run away with the championship next year and might need checo again. I can't see checo fighting quite as hard to defend for him next time.

Ricciardo will get opportunity to do some fp1 and plenty sim work. I'm sure redbull will very very quickly be able to assess where he is at versus his performance of old considering the data analysis/comparison they will be able to do.

It's a no brainer for redbull to take him on. They even admitted that the marketing side is a huge gain for them - to be able to send a driver to do demos that everyone would know as a current driver and probably the most popular driver of all is big for a team like redbull.

I don't think he is going to every grand prix next year though.

There was a fairly honest interview with Danny and the guys from Sky. Danny basically said that he won't be at every GP next year. He will be taking a significant amount of time out to get that head space. It's not like he'll be breathing down Checos neck. I'd say Checo is safe, as long as he wants the seat.

Gasly behind the wheel of the Alpine:

what is the point of the end of season test? I assume there is essentially nothing new on any car? I guess it is good to get drivers into the car of their new team where possible, but then you have the likes of Hamilton running - what is he or Merc going to get out of any runs he does in a car they will be keen to dump?

Even at RB, what would they be doing in this test that will aid them going forward? I guess the cars at the first or second test next season will be significantly diferent, so I don't get the value.

F1...please ban sponsors.

China off the calendar for 2023 according to BBC, still struggling with COVID.

This confirms what I've long since thought. The "golden age" of f1 exists only in people's heads.

It's official now

Took long enough!