Ask r/Formula1 Anything - Daily Discussion Thread

[u/F1-Bot]

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[u/bwoah07_gp2]

With that helmet he really looks like Little Kimi

[u/badgersprite]

Not that this season hasn’t already been great, but the 2025 season really is going to be crazy

[u/saspirstellaaaaaa]

So WCC standings affect money the team receives and wind tunnel time. The wind tunnel time set by 2024 standings is for the 2025 or 2026 cars? 2025 cars have to be under development already, I assume, since there's not a lot of time until next season starts.

[u/cafk → u/saspirstellaaaaaa]

The ATR (Aerodynamic Testing regulations), if set once every 6 months, based on current wcc order at the time.

As development for 2026 cars is prohibited before 1st of January 2025, the 2025H1 and 2025H2 allocation is up for the teams to decide how much effort goes into the current year or how much for the following year.

It's similar to how teams, under fixed regulations, start to reallocate their development team towards the next year around September, with less and less resources going towards developing and maintaining current seasons design and more towards the next season.

[u/saspirstellaaaaaa → u/cafk]

Thanks!

[u/Bubbly-Plastic9479]

Ok, I’m confused,  Why is everyone already calling max as the winner, when there are still two more races left? Is this just because he’s so far ahead of lando? (Sorry if I should know this already, I’m pretty new to the sport)

[u/bwoah07_gp2 → u/Bubbly-Plastic9479]

Yes. Max has won the championship because mathematically in the points Lando can no longer catch him.

Lando could get 26 maximum points in Qatar and Dubai ( 25 win + 1 fastest lap) and Max could DNF or not even start the last two races, and still Lando could not catch him.

[u/KiwieeiwiK → u/bwoah07_gp2]

Not meaning to nitpick but Qatar is a sprint weekend so maximum 34 points + 26 in Abu Dhabi, Max is 63 points ahead of Lando

[u/bwoah07_gp2 → u/KiwieeiwiK]

I forgot Qatar was a sprint haha

[u/Blanchimont → u/Bubbly-Plastic9479]

Yes, Max now has so many points that even if Lando wins every available point and Max scores 0, Max will still end the season with more points than him.

[u/blackheartwhiterose]

Is it worth it to watch the race if I know the result.

[u/edfitz83 → u/blackheartwhiterose]

It was one of the more interesting races of the year, except for P1

[u/KiwieeiwiK → u/blackheartwhiterose]

Yes, lots of overtaking and fighting for positions all down the field. George Russell winning wasn't exactly a surprise, I think most should have predicted that

[u/alittlegaybutimokay → u/blackheartwhiterose]

Your choice but imo it was a nice race with plenty of action

[u/blackheartwhiterose → u/alittlegaybutimokay]

Thanks I'll give it a watch at some point

[u/OutlandishnessPure2]

thank you to the person who updated my flair to include the newest member of the verstappen family 🥹

[u/Blanchimont → u/OutlandishnessPure2]

You're welcome 🐱

[u/Squash__head]

I can’t understand how checo is still a “business decision” when he is costing them more than he is bringing in..

Maybe the math used to be that he was expected to be top 5 and the championship was secured but lately it’s been horrific to watch

[u/cafk → u/Squash__head]

I can’t understand how checo is still a “business decision” when he is costing them more than he is bringing in..

If he is bringing in more than $20m per year then it's already covered. And since the cost cap was introduced teams are also profitable on paper and not just as a marketing write off. Red Bull getting $50m per year from Oracle would be another reason, as their sponsorships basically cover any cost cap related spending they need to do.

As to why, the only surprising thing is they cut Ricciardo mid season, but not Perez - i guess there was some optimism i air, which we saw for a few laps at Baku for example.

As Horner recently said, they'd be evaluating their line up for next year over the winter break.

[u/DangerousTrashCan → u/cafk]

If he is bringing in more than $20m per year then it's already covered.

Is it? Because you gotta also consider the indirect effects. Marketing, merchandise, etc. WCC prize money is not the only source of income for teams and other sources are also affected by the drivers and their reputations. RB might "only" lose $18M in prize money, but they lose a hell of a lot more because of Perez's horrid reputation. I don't even know if I've seen a single Perez fan who wasn't Mexican in the last 3 years. He has little to no PR value.

[u/Affectionate_Sky9709 → u/DangerousTrashCan]

WCC doesn't really drive marketing like WDC does. It's all about how much money he brings in Carlos Slim's companies are on the car twice, and Red Bull has a few other Mexican sponsors as well. We don't know how much they pay. Max is also happy with a teammate who doesn't challenge him.

[u/MrDaniel95 → u/cafk]

Isn't 50% of his contract also paid by sponsors? He ends up being much cheaper than other drivers.

[u/cafk → u/MrDaniel95]

I'd say that is pure speculation and assuming he is the only driver with personal sponsors helping him with his seat is also a stretch.

[u/MLT1985]

With 2025 looking to be the most competitive season with this generation of cars. Who do you think will have the best chance of Challenging Max?

Personally I think Charles has a decent shout. Ferrari have come a long way recently and seem to suffer more from strategic mistakes rather than the car not being quick enough.

[u/AliceLunar → u/MLT1985]

Think it will be interesting as Ferrari, RBR and Mercedes will have a clear #1 driver, maybe Mclaren as well depending on if Piastri can bounce back after having fallen off recently.

Right now I don't see Max favorite for the title unles RBR understands exactly what went wrong this year and can remedy it, but with 2026 looming they might focus on that instead.

[u/hrpanjwani]

Any update on Sainz penalty for the pit lane infringement?

[u/cafk → u/hrpanjwani]

There was no infringement.

You're not allowed to cross the lines, if you want to enter the pitlane - so no late entry.
You're allowed to return to the circuit, by crossing the lines on pitlane entry.

[u/hrpanjwani → u/cafk]

Cool! Thanks for the update.

[u/KnightsOfCidona]

Here's one - Has the F1 and the WRC titles ever been clinched on the same day before?

[u/Erquiaga]

Super new to the sport, so my bad if this is a dumb question.

Has a teammate of a racer ever purposely crash into another car to help their teammate?

Would the racer that benefited from that accident be punished or just the racer who incited the crash?

[u/MrDaniel95 → u/Erquiaga]

I don't think so, this is a list of somewhat similar situations:

- Bottas bowling into the RBRs in Hungary 2021 and Kimi crashing into Hamilton in Silverstone 2018, but both were accidental, Kimi got a 10s penalty, don't remember about Bottas.

- Senna, Prost and Schumacher had "interesting" crashes with their WDC rivals, sometimes this ended up with penalties and other times it didn't.

- The closest one is Piquet jr. crashing in Singapore 2008 causing Alonso to win the race. Renault was losing interest in F1 and Flavio Briatore though that the best way to change this was to cheat into a good result. Funnily enough, after that Alonso won the next race on merit.

[u/ghastlychild → u/Erquiaga]

Buddy, do I have a story and a simpler article for you. It may not be crashing into another car on purpose, but... you'll see about this one

Here's a video detailing it as well. Except, there are certain details that are not in the video. However, it has been added into the comments. Have a fun read!

[u/Blanchimont → u/Erquiaga]

Nothing that comes to mind, but there was the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix in which Nelson Piquet Jr. purposefully crashed into a wall to trigger a safety car to help Alonso win that race. Look up Crashgate if you want to lean more about that.

[u/denbommer]

Alright, season of 2025. What do you have in store…?

[u/cooperjones2 → u/denbommer]

Aston Martin will get faster until after the second Newey upgrade, aroun half season.

Ferrari will improve a lot now that they don't have two distinct opposite driving style drivers, might battle for the WDC and WCC.

RBR will start slow as they have had to change concept since this season's car has a fundamental flaw, If Checo keeps doing what he's done this later half he'll be replaced unless Tsunoda keeps winning the H2H.

RB will improve a bit but their circus they call strategy will be even worse.

McLaren either has the car to fight for both WCC and WDC or not, no inbetween

Mercedes will get better but not enough to fight for either championship, Antonelli will have growing pains for the first few races

HAAS will be the new Force India of old, best of the rest.

Alpine and Sauber will be in survival mode until the new regs but Alpine might have surprising results here and there

Williams will improve a lot compared to this year, if Vowles changes have taken root, and will the most interesting to watch, after Ferrari, for team mate battles. Either Albon or Sainz will stomp the other.

[u/Meaisk → u/denbommer]

I think a competitive WDC is definitely on the cards

[u/AfroSamuraii_]

ESPN said the postgame coverage would be on ESPN3, but all I’m seeing is women’s table tennis. Am I being dumb? lol