I am disappointed - but more in the sense that I think the FIA have acknowledged a fuck up occured but we now have to trust them to rectify it and hold people responsible.
I am disappointed - but more in the sense that I think the FIA have acknowledged a fuck up occured but we now have to trust them to rectify it and hold people responsible.
Makes the whole thing seem even more farcical to the casual watcher.
1) “We would like to express our sincere respect for Max and Red Bull and their achievements” Note: not ”congratulations” 2) No acknowledgement of Red Bull winning at all. 3) Christian Horner not named in the “respect” bit. Maybe deliberate, maybe not. 4) “Regulations were applied in a new way that affected the result” and “we appealed in the interest of sporting fairness”. Very polite way of saying what we’re all thinking: “You fixed it” 5) No mention of Masi, even in passing. In my opinion, this means he’s already gone.
1) “We would like to express our sincere respect for Max and Red Bull and their achievements” Note: not ”congratulations” 2) No acknowledgement of Red Bull winning at all. 3) Christian Horner not named in the “respect” bit. Maybe deliberate, maybe not. 4) “Regulations were applied in a new way that affected the result” and “we appealed in the interest of sporting fairness”. Very polite way of saying what we’re all thinking: “You fixed it” 5) No mention of Masi, even in passing. In my opinion, this means he’s already gone.
1) “We would like to express our sincere respect for Max and Red Bull and their achievements” Note: not ”congratulations” 2) No acknowledgement of Red Bull winning at all. 3) Christian Horner not named in the “respect” bit. Maybe deliberate, maybe not. 4) “Regulations were applied in a new way that affected the result” and “we appealed in the interest of sporting fairness”. Very polite way of saying what we’re all thinking: “You fixed it” 5) No mention of Masi, even in passing. In my opinion, this means he’s already gone.
1) “We would like to express our sincere respect for Max and Red Bull and their achievements” Note: not ”congratulations” 2) No acknowledgement of Red Bull winning at all. 3) Christian Horner not named in the “respect” bit. Maybe deliberate, maybe not. 4) “Regulations were applied in a new way that affected the result” and “we appealed in the interest of sporting fairness”. Very polite way of saying what we’re all thinking: “You fixed it” 5) No mention of Masi, even in passing. In my opinion, this means he’s already gone.
"Max we congratulate you and your entire team"
Lol. Oh yeah.
Whoops! 😳
But you're right - not specifically naming Whinger Spice is almost certainly deliberate.
Sadly, the horse will have already bolted for a lot of the casual viewers who tuned in on Sunday. They will have zero interest in any statements by this point as they’d have washed their hands of the sport.
Most enthralling F1 season in many years, and they’ve blown it right at the critical point to turn people into more dedicated followers
Toto Wolff says he can give "no assurances" Lewis Hamilton will continue in F1 after Sunday's controversial ending to the Drivers' Championship.
Taken from SkySports. I've given my thoughts already in this thread, would not surprise me at all. Another thing, Hamilton hasn't said a word since Sunday and he is normally pretty lively on social media - even after defeats. Found time to get a Knighthood yday and he hasn't posted a word. I'm sure he will be hurting from Sunday, but very out of character to have not said anything. I think there's plenty going on behind the scenes still
Big game of poker going on here. Wolff knows Liberty will shit themselves at the prospect of losing their biggest star (outside of Holland Verstappen will never enjoy the same global fame - unless he joins Ferrari).
Wolff / Lewis not attending the prize giving ceremony. I was sent an email this AM saying that was due to legal advice, which is odd considering that they have 'pulled out' of the appeal.
Who can Mercedes get in short term if Hamilton retires with immediate effect?
Lando is a no go, McLaren won't stand for it IMO.
Ocon is a Mercedes boy, could they take him from Alpine and they promote Piastri?
Do they go for someone outside F1, like Nick De Vries, who is their reserve driver, and won Formula E last season, or someone else entirely?
McLaren may well not stand for it but they have Merc engines. Maybe a one year deal as a stop gap before a more high profile driver - Wolff does like Lando.
Or how is this for a wildcard. Alonso gets one year back in a top car to try and get the third and 'teach' Russell. Alpine promote Piastri a year early.
I think a fired up Alonso in a Merc would cause Verstappen a big headache.
Reckon Russel will be all over Max next year, I don't think Lewis will retire, I think he'll keep his counsel for a few months, and then win number 8, and then give it up.
Who can Mercedes get in short term if Hamilton retires with immediate effect?
Lando is a no go, McLaren won't stand for it IMO.
Ocon is a Mercedes boy, could they take him from Alpine and they promote Piastri?
Do they go for someone outside F1, like Nick De Vries, who is their reserve driver, and won Formula E last season, or someone else entirely?
I think the Ocon move seems most likely given a combo of links to Wolff, race winner/good performance this season and generally seems a good egg without ego to disrupt team harmony. Also managed to piss Verstappen off at Brazil a few years back, they'll like that! Few people tipping Alpine as a dark horse for large improvement next season with new regs, French driver in French car, Alonso not around for many more years (youd expect). Ocon might see Alpine as the better long term punt as Russell is quite clearly the future #1 with Merc
Who can Mercedes get in short term if Hamilton retires with immediate effect?
Lando is a no go, McLaren won't stand for it IMO.
Ocon is a Mercedes boy, could they take him from Alpine and they promote Piastri?
Do they go for someone outside F1, like Nick De Vries, who is their reserve driver, and won Formula E last season, or someone else entirely?
McLaren may well not stand for it but they have Merc engines. Maybe a one year deal as a stop gap before a more high profile driver - Wolff does like Lando.
Or how is this for a wildcard. Alonso gets one year back in a top car to try and get the third and 'teach' Russell. Alpine promote Piastri a year early.
I think a fired up Alonso in a Merc would cause Verstappen a big headache.
I love the Alonso idea Damo. Fernando has said this season how much he respects George , would be an excellent one year stopgap if it came to that.
This is actually very powerful stuff from the Totonator. Right from the heart (he's even dressed like he is in mourning which actually made me LOL). But he explains it so well.
As fans/viewers people are upset that the credibility of the sport has been questioned. But imagine if you are a driver, engineer, staff member etc….
You’ve spent pretty much three quarters of the year away from your family for the sport and you know full well that your performance merits a championship in a fair world. I’d struggle to get over that as well.
This is actually very powerful stuff from the Totonator. Right from the heart (he's even dressed like he is in mourning which actually made me LOL). But he explains it so well.
This is like watching an origin story for a Bond villain.
Who can Mercedes get in short term if Hamilton retires with immediate effect?
Lando is a no go, McLaren won't stand for it IMO.
Ocon is a Mercedes boy, could they take him from Alpine and they promote Piastri?
Do they go for someone outside F1, like Nick De Vries, who is their reserve driver, and won Formula E last season, or someone else entirely?
McLaren may well not stand for it but they have Merc engines. Maybe a one year deal as a stop gap before a more high profile driver - Wolff does like Lando.
Or how is this for a wildcard. Alonso gets one year back in a top car to try and get the third and 'teach' Russell. Alpine promote Piastri a year early.
I think a fired up Alonso in a Merc would cause Verstappen a big headache.
I love the Alonso idea Damo. Fernando has said this season how much he respects George , would be an excellent one year stopgap if it came to that.
Yeah this has made me want to see it happen. After the way the second half of his career went I would love to see him get another shot at the title.
This is actually very powerful stuff from the Totonator. Right from the heart (he's even dressed like he is in mourning which actually made me LOL). But he explains it so well.
Turn the volume up at 0:07 when he pauses? Little parp Toto?!
The whole thing is an utter fix of Fifa Sepp Blatter levels and World Wrestling World Federation standard of refereering. Credability of Formula One is in pieces. I have just watched a replay - are not Red Bull and Verstappen embarrassed ? Abuse of rules - only 5 cars unlapped. Mickey Mouse Federation of formula one.
Comments
Appeal Withdrawn
Deals being done in the background.
I am disappointed - but more in the sense that I think the FIA have acknowledged a fuck up occured but we now have to trust them to rectify it and hold people responsible.
i was watching after race coverage on sky and none of the ex racers or commentators thought there was anyone else that could/would want to do the job
1) “We would like to express our sincere respect for Max and Red Bull and their achievements”
Note: not ”congratulations”
2) No acknowledgement of Red Bull winning at all.
3) Christian Horner not named in the “respect” bit. Maybe deliberate, maybe not.
4) “Regulations were applied in a new way that affected the result” and “we appealed in the interest of sporting fairness”. Very polite way of saying what we’re all thinking: “You fixed it”
5) No mention of Masi, even in passing. In my opinion, this means he’s already gone.
Taken from SkySports. I've given my thoughts already in this thread, would not surprise me at all. Another thing, Hamilton hasn't said a word since Sunday and he is normally pretty lively on social media - even after defeats. Found time to get a Knighthood yday and he hasn't posted a word. I'm sure he will be hurting from Sunday, but very out of character to have not said anything. I think there's plenty going on behind the scenes still
Like @MummysLittleSoldier says - a tonne going on behind the scenes.
Wolff / Lewis not attending the prize giving ceremony. I was sent an email this AM saying that was due to legal advice, which is odd considering that they have 'pulled out' of the appeal.
This is going to run and run.
Lando is a no go, McLaren won't stand for it IMO.
Ocon is a Mercedes boy, could they take him from Alpine and they promote Piastri?
Do they go for someone outside F1, like Nick De Vries, who is their reserve driver, and won Formula E last season, or someone else entirely?
Or how is this for a wildcard. Alonso gets one year back in a top car to try and get the third and 'teach' Russell. Alpine promote Piastri a year early.
I think a fired up Alonso in a Merc would cause Verstappen a big headache.
I love the Alonso idea Damo. Fernando has said this season how much he respects George , would be an excellent one year stopgap if it came to that.
This is actually very powerful stuff from the Totonator. Right from the heart (he's even dressed like he is in mourning which actually made me LOL). But he explains it so well.
As fans/viewers people are upset that the credibility of the sport has been questioned. But imagine if you are a driver, engineer, staff member etc….