Formula One: 2023 Season News and Discussion Thread
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Formula One: 2023 Season News and Discussion Thread
Now that the grid is settled, barring any off-season changes. Starting the 2023 thread
2023 Grid is set, in alphabetical order
Team | PU Provider | Driver | Number
Alfa Romeo-Ferrari: Valtteri Bottas (77) / Guanyu Zhou (24)
AlphaTauri-RBPT: Yuki Tsunoda (22) / Nyck de Vries (TBA)
Alpine-Renault: Esteban Ocon (31) / Pierre Gasly (10)
Aston Martin-Mercedes: Fernando Alonso (14) / Lance Stroll (18)
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc (16) / Carlos Sainz Jr (55)
Haas-Ferrari: Kevin Magnussen (20) / Nico Hulkenberg (27)
McLaren-Mercedes: Lando Norris (4) / Oscar Piastri (81)
Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton (44) / George Russell (63)
Red Bull Racing-RBPT: Max Verstappen (1) / Sergio Perez (11)
Williams-Mercedes: Alexander Albon (23) / Logan Sargent (21)
2023 Grid is set, in alphabetical order
Team | PU Provider | Driver | Number
Alfa Romeo-Ferrari: Valtteri Bottas (77) / Guanyu Zhou (24)
AlphaTauri-RBPT: Yuki Tsunoda (22) / Nyck de Vries (TBA)
Alpine-Renault: Esteban Ocon (31) / Pierre Gasly (10)
Aston Martin-Mercedes: Fernando Alonso (14) / Lance Stroll (18)
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc (16) / Carlos Sainz Jr (55)
Haas-Ferrari: Kevin Magnussen (20) / Nico Hulkenberg (27)
McLaren-Mercedes: Lando Norris (4) / Oscar Piastri (81)
Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton (44) / George Russell (63)
Red Bull Racing-RBPT: Max Verstappen (1) / Sergio Perez (11)
Williams-Mercedes: Alexander Albon (23) / Logan Sargent (21)
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HTR TL-S (04-22-2023)
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24 Race Calendar (Spring Race weekend round number in bold/red, 6th sprint TBA)
Round | GP | Circuit | Date
Pre-Season Testing: 2/23/25: Bahrain
1: Bahrain Grand Prix | Bahrain International Circuit | 3/5/23
2: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix | Jeddah Corniche Circuit | 3/19/23
3: Australian Grand Prix | Albert Park Circuit | 4/2/23
4: Chinese Grand Prix | Shanghai International Circuit | 4/16/23
5: Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Baku City Circuit | 4/30/23
6: Miami Grand Prix | Miami International Autodrome | 5/7/23
7: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix | Imola Circuit | 5/21/23
8: Monaco Grand Prix | Circuit de Monaco | 5/28/23
9: Spanish Grand Prix | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | 6/4/23
10: Canadian Grand Prix | Circuit Gille Villeneuve | 6/18/23
11: Austrian Grand Prix | Red Bull Ring | 7/2/23
12: British Grand Prix | Silverstone Circuit | 7/9/23
13: Hungarian Grand Prix | Hungaroring | 7/23/23
14: Belgian Grand Prix | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | 7/30/23
15: Dutch Grand Prix | Circuit Zandvoort | 8/27/23
16: Italian Grand Prix | Monza Circuit | 9/3/23
17: Singapore Grand Prix | Marina Bay Street Circuit | 9/17/23
18: Japanese Grand Prix | Suzuka International Racing Course | 9/24/23
19: Qatar Grand Prix | Lusail International Circuit | 10/8/23
20: United States Grand Prix | Circuit of the Americas | 10/22/23
21: Mexico City Grand Prix | Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez | 10/29/23
22: Sao Paolo Grand Prix | Interlagos Circuit | 11/5/23
23: Las Vegas Grand Prix | Las Vegas Street Circuit | 11/18/23
24: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Yas Marina Circuit | 11/26/23
Round | GP | Circuit | Date
Pre-Season Testing: 2/23/25: Bahrain
1: Bahrain Grand Prix | Bahrain International Circuit | 3/5/23
2: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix | Jeddah Corniche Circuit | 3/19/23
3: Australian Grand Prix | Albert Park Circuit | 4/2/23
4: Chinese Grand Prix | Shanghai International Circuit | 4/16/23
5: Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Baku City Circuit | 4/30/23
6: Miami Grand Prix | Miami International Autodrome | 5/7/23
7: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix | Imola Circuit | 5/21/23
8: Monaco Grand Prix | Circuit de Monaco | 5/28/23
9: Spanish Grand Prix | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | 6/4/23
10: Canadian Grand Prix | Circuit Gille Villeneuve | 6/18/23
11: Austrian Grand Prix | Red Bull Ring | 7/2/23
12: British Grand Prix | Silverstone Circuit | 7/9/23
13: Hungarian Grand Prix | Hungaroring | 7/23/23
14: Belgian Grand Prix | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | 7/30/23
15: Dutch Grand Prix | Circuit Zandvoort | 8/27/23
16: Italian Grand Prix | Monza Circuit | 9/3/23
17: Singapore Grand Prix | Marina Bay Street Circuit | 9/17/23
18: Japanese Grand Prix | Suzuka International Racing Course | 9/24/23
19: Qatar Grand Prix | Lusail International Circuit | 10/8/23
20: United States Grand Prix | Circuit of the Americas | 10/22/23
21: Mexico City Grand Prix | Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez | 10/29/23
22: Sao Paolo Grand Prix | Interlagos Circuit | 11/5/23
23: Las Vegas Grand Prix | Las Vegas Street Circuit | 11/18/23
24: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Yas Marina Circuit | 11/26/23
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HTR TL-S (04-22-2023)
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3 US races & a US driver on the grid, hopefully Williams brings some upgrades to brings some midfield competitiveness.
#5
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103 days to race day....
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civicdrivr (11-29-2022)
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Meet me in Daytona 1/27 Steve for the Rolex
Trending Topics
#8
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How the 'scars' of Spa 2021 could fundamentally change F1 cars
Nooooooooooo, these rear wheel arches look awful
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egads, ^^^ Looking like China is going to be the first casualty of the FIA's decision to run the extended calendar next year.
#10
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The Secret to Formula 1's 1000 BHP Engines
MB really came out with a great advantage in 2014 with their power unit with the split turbo MGU-H and their TJI. By 2022 it seems like the competition has caught up.
#11
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Ross Brawn shortlisted to replace Mattia Binotto at Ferrari
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/101796...inotto-ferrari
Somehow I doubt this, he promised his wife no more team principal roles after Brawn GP.
Somehow I doubt this, he promised his wife no more team principal roles after Brawn GP.
#12
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Binotto's Ferrari Exit: The Full Backstory
Interesting backstory to the current political environment at Ferrari
https://racingnews365.com/binottos-f...full-backstory
https://racingnews365.com/binottos-f...full-backstory
#13
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https://www.crash.net/f1/news/101796...inotto-ferrari
Somehow I doubt this, he promised his wife no more team principal roles after Brawn GP.
Somehow I doubt this, he promised his wife no more team principal roles after Brawn GP.
#14
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Interesting backstory to the current political environment at Ferrari
https://racingnews365.com/binottos-f...full-backstory
https://racingnews365.com/binottos-f...full-backstory
Some people are born on third base and go through life thinking they hit a triple.
#15
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Ferrari confirm Mattia Binotto has resigned as Team Principal
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...lHUDG87aF.html
Binotto always seemed a little too casual for a team principal, especially at Ferrari. Curious if his replacement will be.
Binotto always seemed a little too casual for a team principal, especially at Ferrari. Curious if his replacement will be.
#16
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Wondering if Leclerc>Mercedes-speak was the straw. Granted, there’s a whole pack of straws in play here. 🤔
#17
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Tangentially related to Ferrari, and for those that don't follow football:
The entire board of Juventus resigned yesterday due to financial fraud. This includes Maurizio Arrivabene (ex-Ferrari team principle) and Andrea Agnelli. Deliciously corrupt the Agnellis and everything they touch.
The entire board of Juventus resigned yesterday due to financial fraud. This includes Maurizio Arrivabene (ex-Ferrari team principle) and Andrea Agnelli. Deliciously corrupt the Agnellis and everything they touch.
#18
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
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thoiboi (12-02-2022)
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Which one of those clowns is the chief strategist?
#20
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https://www.crash.net/f1/news/101802...l-ferrari-boss
Agree with this article in that Binotto did not fire certain people (primarily race strategy and performance engineering people) when clearly mistakes were made over and over again in 2022. There have been successful team principals that came from a technical side of F1 (Brawn, Chapman, Forghieri,...) but lately the most successful have been more from a pure management background (Wolff, Horner,...).
Friend of mine met Arrivabene at the Canadian Grand Prix in the Ferrari suite party few years ago, said he looked like a classic Italian movie star or polished team principal (smooth talker).
Agree with this article in that Binotto did not fire certain people (primarily race strategy and performance engineering people) when clearly mistakes were made over and over again in 2022. There have been successful team principals that came from a technical side of F1 (Brawn, Chapman, Forghieri,...) but lately the most successful have been more from a pure management background (Wolff, Horner,...).
Friend of mine met Arrivabene at the Canadian Grand Prix in the Ferrari suite party few years ago, said he looked like a classic Italian movie star or polished team principal (smooth talker).
Binotto’s lack of “ruthlessness” was a key reason for the breakdown in trust with Ferrari chairman John Elkann, Sky reported.
"Binotto was a legacy of [ex-CEO] Sergio Marchionne,” the Calciomercato report says.
“The late Sergio did not dote on [ex-team principal] Maurizio Arrivabene.
“But John Elkann never got on Binotto. They were like water and oil. And everyone knew it."
"Binotto was a legacy of [ex-CEO] Sergio Marchionne,” the Calciomercato report says.
“The late Sergio did not dote on [ex-team principal] Maurizio Arrivabene.
“But John Elkann never got on Binotto. They were like water and oil. And everyone knew it."
Last edited by Legend2TL; 12-01-2022 at 10:23 AM.
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Already reading that Binotto may be in talks with Audi
#22
Whats up with RDX owners?
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I read rumors that he might be joining MB as well - Audi would be interesting though. I don't think he'd be TP though. I think he'd go back to an engineering director role.
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Mick Schumacher to join Mercedes as reserve driver for 2023
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...rCrPv9ueX.htmlSo, a future Mick/Russell MBZ team?
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civicdrivr (12-15-2022)
#24
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
#25
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MB better have plenty of spare chassis' and parts for Mick driving their cars in 2023
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Chief F1 Fan (12-16-2022)
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#27
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What do F1 drivers need to know in order to ride a MotoGP bike?
#28
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Look at that column for race start (GMT). It's completely skewed to Europeans. There are only two races that start before 6am Europe, which are Suzuka and Melbourne. However, for some reason, F1 can't push LV's start time forward by at least one hour to 9pm local, or 5am GMT. Ridiculous.
Preposterous that there is going to be a race in the US and I'm not going to watch it live.
End rant.
#29
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I'd bet the majority of viewership comes from Europe, so from that perspective, I get the scheduling. You'd have a massive dropoff if it were a Sunday night race (Monday morning GMT) in LV.
#30
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In other news:
https://www.autoweek.com/racing/form...l-for-f1-team/
Andretti/Porsche?
https://www.autoweek.com/racing/form...l-for-f1-team/
Michael Andretti is hoping the green light for his Formula 1 team aspirations will be "a nice Christmas present."
The head of the Andretti Autosport empire and former McLaren F1 driver is trying to convince F1, the FIA and the existing teams to approve an 11th team entry. It would be financed in part by Group 1001—a financial services company that already sponsors Andretti's NTT IndyCar Series team via the Gainbridge brand.
Group 1001 CEO Dan Towriss downplayed rumors that Formula 1 as a block is opposed to Andretti's team debut.
"I think a lot of times, the quotes that get pulled out don't really tell the full story," he told the Indianapolis Star newspaper. "There's a lot of conversations going on and we're not trying to get out in front of anything or use the media as a tool to influence anything. They have an expectation on approach and decorum that people should take in dealing with them and we respect that."
Also involved in Andretti's F1 bid is Guggenheim, owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, which is said to be backing the new Andretti factory and willing to pay the $200 million entry fee for a Formula 1 franchise.
The green light from Formula 1, therefore, may now be looming.
"We're hoping in the next couple weeks," Michael Andretti said. "That would sure be a nice Christmas present."
He also revealed that even after Red Bull team owner Dietrich Mateschitz's recent death, the Alpha Tauri team is definitely "not interested" in selling its team entry to Andretti. "But we're working every day," said Andretti, whose father Mario was F1's 1978 world champion. I'm still confident. We're getting close. We haven't gotten the okay yet, but we're getting really close.
"We want to do something that's never been done before. We want to be in all forms of auto racing, from Le Mans to Monaco to the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500."
The head of the Andretti Autosport empire and former McLaren F1 driver is trying to convince F1, the FIA and the existing teams to approve an 11th team entry. It would be financed in part by Group 1001—a financial services company that already sponsors Andretti's NTT IndyCar Series team via the Gainbridge brand.
Group 1001 CEO Dan Towriss downplayed rumors that Formula 1 as a block is opposed to Andretti's team debut.
"I think a lot of times, the quotes that get pulled out don't really tell the full story," he told the Indianapolis Star newspaper. "There's a lot of conversations going on and we're not trying to get out in front of anything or use the media as a tool to influence anything. They have an expectation on approach and decorum that people should take in dealing with them and we respect that."
Also involved in Andretti's F1 bid is Guggenheim, owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, which is said to be backing the new Andretti factory and willing to pay the $200 million entry fee for a Formula 1 franchise.
The green light from Formula 1, therefore, may now be looming.
"We're hoping in the next couple weeks," Michael Andretti said. "That would sure be a nice Christmas present."
He also revealed that even after Red Bull team owner Dietrich Mateschitz's recent death, the Alpha Tauri team is definitely "not interested" in selling its team entry to Andretti. "But we're working every day," said Andretti, whose father Mario was F1's 1978 world champion. I'm still confident. We're getting close. We haven't gotten the okay yet, but we're getting really close.
"We want to do something that's never been done before. We want to be in all forms of auto racing, from Le Mans to Monaco to the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500."
#31
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Sure, but that's shortsighted thinking, because that doesn't help grow the US market.
#32
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Agreed.
#33
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https://www.grandprix.com/news/publi...-vegas-gp.html
Translation: Not for the plebs.
The general public will not play a massive role in the inaugural Las Vegas GP next November.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has already warned that tickets will be unprecedentedly expensive for the event that will include a run down the fabled 'Strip'.
The sport's owners, Liberty Media, have spent a reported quarter of a billion dollars on buying actual land for the event - with Wynn Resorts said to be offering an all-access ticket package for $1 million a pop.
MGM, meanwhile, is spending about $25 million on tickets for special hotel-race packages for guests and plans to build its own grandstand, according to Sports Business Journal.
As for the public, only three-day tickets are available - starting at a minimum of $500 but rising to an eye-watering $8,000 for hospitality packages.
Las Vegas GP CEO Renee Wilm, who is also a Liberty Media executive, confirms that "not a massive amount of tickets" are being made available to fans because "we are so heavily pre-subscribed".
Tom Reeg, CEO of casino company Caesars Entertainment, said: "The demand for that particular event is well beyond what we were expecting and you saw as we rolled out rates, the pricing reflects that."
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has already warned that tickets will be unprecedentedly expensive for the event that will include a run down the fabled 'Strip'.
The sport's owners, Liberty Media, have spent a reported quarter of a billion dollars on buying actual land for the event - with Wynn Resorts said to be offering an all-access ticket package for $1 million a pop.
MGM, meanwhile, is spending about $25 million on tickets for special hotel-race packages for guests and plans to build its own grandstand, according to Sports Business Journal.
As for the public, only three-day tickets are available - starting at a minimum of $500 but rising to an eye-watering $8,000 for hospitality packages.
Las Vegas GP CEO Renee Wilm, who is also a Liberty Media executive, confirms that "not a massive amount of tickets" are being made available to fans because "we are so heavily pre-subscribed".
Tom Reeg, CEO of casino company Caesars Entertainment, said: "The demand for that particular event is well beyond what we were expecting and you saw as we rolled out rates, the pricing reflects that."
#34
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I'm hopeful for some insider access
But not holding my breath.
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Vegas, bullshit race
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my next job?.?....
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Hihopes (03-02-2023)
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^^^ that's not saying much bc Miami is a bullshit track too
#39
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https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...rown/10412480/
The introduction of a budget limit from the start of 2021 was driven by a desire to level up the playing field and ensure that the big-spending squads did not have an unfair advantage.
With the system now up and running, Brown reckons some thought should be given to unleashing more innovation in the technical rules.
He suggests that, with there being no danger of a spending war erupting, F1 chiefs should not be so strict with other regulations.
“I think we are over-regulated while under the cost cap,” said Brown. “If you've got the cost cap, I'd almost go the other way: which is: do what you want. If you want to have six wheels, have six wheels. But this is how much you have to spend.”
Brown believes that giving team more freedom to look at left-field ideas would help drive new ideas in the series, and ensure the cars looked different.
“I don't know why the regulations have to be as tight as they are,” he said. “I think if you've got a cost cap, then there should actually be some more technical freedom within the cost cap as you are governed.
"I think then you'd see more innovation and more risk-taking. The cars would look even more different.
"At the moment you've got two governances: everything has to look exactly like that, and you cannot spend more than that. Just stop the spend and do what you want.”
F1 and the FIA have been clear, however, that one of the reasons the current technical regulations are so tight is that they need to ensure teams don’t design cars in a way that hurts the racing.
Asked if there was a danger with his plan that the spectacle could be hurt, Brown said: “It could. But I think it would bring out more innovation. And I think everyone would learn from each other.
“It was like when Brawn did the double diffuser [in 2009]. They got a great head start but, by the end of the year, it was balanced out. So I think you could get that.
“I also think that's a fascinating part of the sport. But that would be the risk.”
With the system now up and running, Brown reckons some thought should be given to unleashing more innovation in the technical rules.
He suggests that, with there being no danger of a spending war erupting, F1 chiefs should not be so strict with other regulations.
“I think we are over-regulated while under the cost cap,” said Brown. “If you've got the cost cap, I'd almost go the other way: which is: do what you want. If you want to have six wheels, have six wheels. But this is how much you have to spend.”
Brown believes that giving team more freedom to look at left-field ideas would help drive new ideas in the series, and ensure the cars looked different.
“I don't know why the regulations have to be as tight as they are,” he said. “I think if you've got a cost cap, then there should actually be some more technical freedom within the cost cap as you are governed.
"I think then you'd see more innovation and more risk-taking. The cars would look even more different.
"At the moment you've got two governances: everything has to look exactly like that, and you cannot spend more than that. Just stop the spend and do what you want.”
F1 and the FIA have been clear, however, that one of the reasons the current technical regulations are so tight is that they need to ensure teams don’t design cars in a way that hurts the racing.
Asked if there was a danger with his plan that the spectacle could be hurt, Brown said: “It could. But I think it would bring out more innovation. And I think everyone would learn from each other.
“It was like when Brawn did the double diffuser [in 2009]. They got a great head start but, by the end of the year, it was balanced out. So I think you could get that.
“I also think that's a fascinating part of the sport. But that would be the risk.”
#40
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Maybe not 6-wheelers, but I think opening up some latitude on the 'formula' would shake things up.