F1 2024 Discussion

3TrueFans

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The Haas’s just did a 1:32.0 and 1:32.1 on their first laps each just for reference. Still slower but not 5 seconds back slower.
 
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Drew0311

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I know it won't happen but is anyone else rooting for Mercedes to just blow everyone away and Ferrari to be slow this season? Just so Hamilton has to go join a slower car next year? I like Hamilton but my brain always roots for the team/person I feel got slighted.
 
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cycloneman003

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I know it won't happen but is anyone else rooting for Mercedes to just blow everyone away and Ferrari to be slow this season? Just so Hamilton has to go join a slower car next year? I like Hamilton but my brain always roots for the team/person I feel got slighted.
Mercedes didn't want to pay him, or give him a long term deal, and they gave him a dog of a car the last two seasons. Hard to make them out to be the victim or ones who got slighted IMO.
 

Drew0311

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It's honestly just dumb. Can he just sell to Andretti, a guy who will actually, you know, try to put a competitive car out there?


Exactly. Even if he sells now he made a ton of money. The price of teams has gone up so high. At least sell 50 percent to Andretti and let them run it. Now you have a team in place that will compete. The best thing about Williams is she knew that she was outmatched and was willing to sell the team. She did it for the good of the sport and the Williams team (And a boat load of money) but besides that. She made the decision because she understood she was not getting it done. I respect that.
 

Drew0311

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Mercedes didn't want to pay him, or give him a long term deal, and they gave him a dog of a car the last two seasons. Hard to make them out to be the victim or ones who got slighted IMO.


True but they gave him a great car many years before that. I know it's business and not loyalty but sometimes it's nice to see someone work through the problems.
 

cycloneman003

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True but they gave him a great car many years before that. I know it's business and not loyalty but sometimes it's nice to see someone work through the problems.
They had a great partnership for ages, they gave him a great car and he delivered the results. It sounds like he was willing to work through it, but they wouldnt go beyond 1 year with an 2nd year option nor pay him what he was worth on the open market. Whereas he wanted 3 years and to get into the next regulation set.

So I guess my point is that I don't think either is the bad guy in the situation really? Merc didn't want to commit huge dollars long term to an aging driver and are likely planning on a Russell/Antonelli lineup soon. Hamilton wanted to get paid and feel like he was wanted as part of a project into the next regs. They kind of both got what they wanted, but it leaked out early and made it look worse probably.
 

3TrueFans

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At what point is it so embarrassing that Gene Haas just sells? I mean if they are 3 seconds off pace, that is so bad.
They're not going to be 3 seconds off pace. If it's not them at the back it'll just be Kick Sauber or Alpine or Williams, the Alpine in particular looks awful so far.
 

DesertClone1

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There's a glimmer of hope for Haas, if they can get the tire deg issue from last year fixed, i'm a little optimistic about it. Sauber and Haas will be battling for the bottom. Maybe Alpine, but they usually get stuff figured out.
 
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BryceC

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They're not going to be 3 seconds off pace. If it's not them at the back it'll just be Kick Sauber or Alpine or Williams, the Alpine in particular looks awful so far.

Yeah... maybe Otmar wasn't so bad.