F1 2023: Saudi Arabian GP - Jeddah (Mar 19)

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

2022 ?
The main reason why Mercedes is failing again is by Wolff's stubbornness ...
They saw last year that the 2022 W13 zero-sidepod design wasn't working and the car was bouncing like a jumping kangaroo !
Even their Mercedes FIA mole-saga didn't helped them to slow down MAX and the Red Bull team .
Wolff wasn't afraid to use corruption to get inside information about the RB18 car and Red Bull's budget cap .
It was a true shame for motorsports !

2023 ?
And they did it again , and again the W14 is not competitive with the zero-sidepod design .
The Mercedes team shot in their own foot . Twice ! By stubbornness...
Currently there is no other way out and they must use the W14-B spec car .
Hopefully they can make the B-Spec competitive , but I'm pretty sure It's already too late for Mercedes because that takes time .
And the FIA budget cap regulation won't help them neither.
Wolff's stubbornness is not cheap !

IMHO . The Mercedes W14-B spec car is 'again a big Mercedes gambling game...
Too bad for the 'black arrows

You could say the 'black arrows' are in the kitty litter again. RB's 18B spec car was a continuation from a successful car and was always going to be a mk2 success but the B spec from the unwieldy 14 will be difficult for them to bring it on par with the Ferrari never mind the RB19.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

You could say the 'black arrows' are in the kitty litter again. RB's 18B spec car was a continuation from a successful car and was always going to be a mk2 success but the B spec from the unwieldy 14 will be difficult for them to bring it on par with the Ferrari never mind the RB19.

Sure my friend . Even with the FIA help ,the Mercedes W14-B Spec car is .......

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Sure my friend . Even with the FIA help ,the Mercedes W14-B Spec car is .......

Just like we know that Ethan Hunt's antics like jumping onto the speeding Eurostar is poppycock in reality

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Sure my friend . Even with the FIA help ,the Mercedes W14-B Spec car is .......

On the other hand it's mission : possible for RB as they've announced that two upgrades are in line for their cars in the next three races to further dismay the nearest three teams.
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/18740...ree-races.html

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

On the other hand it's mission : possible for RB as they've announced that two upgrades are in line for their cars in the next three races to further dismay the nearest three teams.
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/18740...ree-races.html

Yeah I know . That's what MAX said in one of his interviews :
We still are having awesome upgrades in our pipeline ...
F1 is a world of never ending improvements

Interesting :
Red Bull was the only team to complete the race with two sets of the soft tyre and one set of hard tyres. All other teams needed two sets of the hard tyres to finish the race.

That said enough , while Ferrari is seeking desperately to fix their extreme tyre wear..

"Power is nothing without control" !

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Yeah I know . That's what MAX said in one of his interviews :
We still are having awesome upgrades in our pipeline ...
F1 is a world of never ending improvements

Interesting :
Red Bull was the only team to complete the race with two sets of the soft tyre and one set of hard tyres. All other teams needed two sets of the hard tyres to finish the race.

That said enough , while Ferrari is seeking desperately to fix their extreme tyre wear..

"Power is nothing without control" !

RB P Zero.

[M5Rick]

Appears there's some turmoil at Ferrari with key people leaving and may also include Ferrari race director Mekies after Fred apparently vetoed a deal for him to work alongside Domenicali. Sparks indeed since Fred joined.
https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-rum...f-mass-exodus/

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

It's a bit like blaming the rest of the field when you finish last

What will be the next Perez excuse for masking that he ain't as talented and skilled as Verstappen ? Blaming Verstappen for driving too fast for him (alike slow(er) neighborhood kids on cycles shouting "Hey wait for me !" during a race for fun) ?

If Perez truly crashed deliberately in the final stage of the Monaco 2022 Q3, he sealed his exit from Red Bull at the end of this 2023 season (maybe it's even his last season in F1).

We don't know what happened back then, but likely there have been internal meetings of dismissing Perez sooner or later, with in the end the compromise that, although Perez has apparently made and confessed a cardinal sin of cheating on Verstappen in Monaco (resulting into Perez compromising Verstappen's chance for a pole position lap + facilitating race victory on that hard-to-overtake street circuit), the incident would be kept confidential but Perez' days at Red Bull are numbered (his contract expires at the end of this 2023 season - no extension news for the time being). In the meantime it's all keeping up appearances of one happy family before cameras, on social media and during PR events, while internally the Verstappen-Perez relationship seems to be broken beyond repair. A matter of keeping it professional.

As we recall, at the Brazil 2022 race, the volcano of disgruntlement erupted down at camp Verstappen, the Monaco incident was leaked via Dutch press (by a journalist with access to the inner circle of Verstappen's father) and never formally denied by the Verstappens, and even culminated with Verstappen's mother emotionally lashing out on social media to Perez with a delicate accusation about his private life. All that terribly sounded like a deep divide, even some cold war between them. Ever since, Perez should not expect getting any 'favors' from Verstappen. Verstappen will not answer "Hey wait for me !" calls. And in 2024 someone else will be Verstappen's team mate.

OK this all may be speculation and innuendo, but it remains to be seen whether this season there will be signs that Verstappen and Perez still can genuinely get along on a personal level (away from cameras).

[GuidoK]

Yeah plenty of video's revealing that the q3 monaco crash of Checo might have been intentional.
An F1 driver looking at the telemetry during the crash would know in an instant; they look at telemetry all day long when they're not racing and can spot even 1/10 difference in throttle or braking right away.
Anyway lots of interesting driver to choose from next year to replace Checo if needed.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Artemis

What will be the next Perez excuse for masking that he ain't as talented and skilled as Verstappen ? Blaming Verstappen for driving too fast for him (alike slow(er) neighborhood kids on cycles shouting "Hey wait for me !" during a race for fun) ?

If Perez truly crashed deliberately in the final stage of the Monaco 2022 Q3, he sealed his exit from Red Bull at the end of this 2023 season (maybe it's even his last season in F1).

We don't know what happened back then, but likely there have been internal meetings of dismissing Perez sooner or later, with in the end the compromise that, although Perez has apparently made and confessed a cardinal sin of cheating on Verstappen in Monaco (resulting into Perez compromising Verstappen's chance for a pole position lap + facilitating race victory on that hard-to-overtake street circuit), the incident would be kept confidential but Perez' days at Red Bull are numbered (his contract expires at the end of this 2023 season - no extension news for the time being). In the meantime it's all keeping up appearances of one happy family before cameras, on social media and during PR events, while internally the Verstappen-Perez relationship seems to be broken beyond repair. A matter of keeping it professional.

As we recall, at the Brazil 2022 race, the volcano of disgruntlement erupted down at camp Verstappen, the Monaco incident was leaked via Dutch press (by a journalist with access to the inner circle of Verstappen's father) and never formally denied by the Verstappens, and even culminated with Verstappen's mother emotionally lashing out on social media to Perez with a delicate accusation about his private life. All that terribly sounded like a deep divide, even some cold war between them. Ever since, Perez should not expect getting any 'favors' from Verstappen. Verstappen will not answer "Hey wait for me !" calls. And in 2024 someone else will be Verstappen's team mate.

OK this all may be speculation and innuendo, but it remains to be seen whether this season there will be signs that Verstappen and Perez still can genuinely get along on a personal level (away from cameras).

Positive ..
Checo crashed deliberately in the final stage of the Monaco 2022 Q3 !
IMHO. Checo won't get a new Red Bull contract . This means Checo's exit .

[M5Rick]

^ It's certainly suspicious at that particular moment, if true I believe he should leave for damage caused and time wasted in set up and repair, also impact of cutting into RB budget which would anger Horner and Marko even more.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Yeah plenty of video's revealing that the q3 monaco crash of Checo might have been intentional.
An F1 driver looking at the telemetry during the crash would know in an instant; they look at telemetry all day long when they're not racing and can spot even 1/10 difference in throttle or braking right away.
Anyway lots of interesting driver to choose from next year to replace Checo if needed.

From last year. The past can help in understanding the future (Verstappen-Perez relationship during this 2023 season).

Originally Posted by Artemis

The allegation in the tweet posted by Dutch F1 reporter Erik van Haren was already bold (see here).

But his Telesport TV interview is a bomb shell: he unreservedly claims that Perez deliberately crashed in Q3 of the Monaco qualies of May 28, 2022. No cautious "maybe", "probably" or "possibly", but "100%", "fact" and "pure intent" (also explicitly denying that his claim is "suggestive").

Quick translation of a couple of things the Dutch F1 reporter said/claimed:

• when Verstappen was radioed to let Perez pass during the final lap of the 2022 Brazil race, the reporter "already knew for sure at that moment" that Verstappen would refuse "and that has everything to do with Monaco earlier this year";
• he claims that a couple of weeks ago, "I believe in Mexico" (the Mexico race weekend of Oct 28-30, 2022), Verstappen was internally asked whether under such (hypothetical) scenario he would let Perez pass, but Verstappen "re-iterated" that he would refuse to do so "because you know why"; Red Bull internally "knew" that Verstappen would definitely not change his mind on this subject and that "what happened in Monaco is not forgotten";
• he said that, after Max Verstappen secured the 2022 WDC title in Japan (Oct 9, 2022), Jos Verstappen told his newspaper that "also for him, Monaco was the turning point";
• he added that during the Azerbaijan race weekend (June 10-12, 2022; the next race after the Monaco race weekend of May 27-29, 2022) he was "by chance standing next to Red Bull" and he heard Helmut Marko ask where Perez was; after returning from the press conference, Perez was escorted upstairs where he was "summoned to explain" ("op het matje geroepen" is a Dutch expression for being ordered to explain alleged inappropriate behavior); the reporter added: "And apparently, there, Perez has internally admitted that he had deliberately spun during the final run of the qualifications. He had P3, so it was not about pole position. He saw on his steering wheel via the delta time that he was not faster underway. He thought « I park over there » and so Verstappen - who was faster underway - can no longer pass.";
• Perez went on to win the Monaco race and the reporter claims that "Verstappen has always remembered this";
• he added: "People can say: « Suggestive ». However, we know this already since months. It's internally already known." and "The onboard images of Perez, the data, and you clearly see that only in that moment he immediately floors the gas pedal in the middle of the turn ahead of the tunnel. Yeah, that was pure intent. And this has nothing to do with speculation, again, this is just a fact and he has also internally admitted this.";
• he also said: "Inside Verstappen's mind there is a difference between helping someone and truly deliberately screwing someone. And in his view that has happened in Monaco. And you can factually construe this. And he does not forget this.";
• futhermore: "Max Verstappen is not in F1 to make friends. He's a man of principles, a pure winner. And notwithstanding that it's only about P6, he has already internally told this, and he's not gonna change his mind in the final lap at Interlagos.";
• he concluded that "regardless of everything you may think about it, I do not understand why, given that he had internally already pointed this out a couple of times, to still think that via the onboard radio he would then [you could make him] agree.";
• and finally about his claim that the incident is related to Monaco, he concluded: "Was it Monaco? He [Verstappen] replied something along the lines « You can decide that. I'm not gonna say it ». Well, I just know for 100% that that's case. He's not saying it, but we are there to disclose it to the world.".

Critical moment:


Innuendo, conjecture or truth ? None of us over here has info to make sound statements about this matter. But if an FIA investigation would conclude the reporter's bold claim of alleged foul play by Perez during Q3 at 2022 Monaco race weekend to be established, Perez and Red Bull risk to be in hot water. Also, if the claim is false, Perez and Red Bull could take action because of slander and reputational damage. IMHO the FIA should look into this - it's about basic principles of fair play and sportsmanship.

2006 Monaco race weekend: Schumacher DSQ'd by Race Stewards regarding the controversial qualification incident at the Rascasse corner:

Originally Posted by Artemis

Uh-oh, what happened in Monaco, didn't stay in Monaco. Gloves are off now down at camp Verstappen.

Out of the blue, responding to an Instagram post lambasting her son about the Brazil race, Verstappen's mother interfered in the discussion with a - subsequently deleted - reply calling out Perez for cheating on his wife in Monaco: "and then in the evening cheating on his wife". If that post is legit, then it seems that the divide is running deeper than perceived so far.

Is Verstappen's wrath caused either by Perez compromising his Monaco Q3 purple sectors lap as a result of a controversial spin OR Perez winning the Monaco race the next day OR Perez allegedly cheating on his wife after the Monaco race OR all of that OR none of that ?

For sure Marko, Horner and media trainers will have some extra home work this week.

[Rono63]

What do you guys think of letting Ricardo fill the Red Bull seat in 2024 then try to get Leclerc?

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Rono63

What do you guys think of letting Ricardo fill the Red Bull seat in 2024 then try to get Leclerc?

From what RIC performed at McLaren ? No way !

But I think that Nico the Hulk has a very good chance to replace Checo ..

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Rono63

What do you guys think of letting Ricardo fill the Red Bull seat in 2024 then try to get Leclerc?

If Checo at least stays up with Max then no and with Merc and Ferrari not at their best then it should be straightforward for him. What happens at the end of the year with regards to his contract is in the lap of the gods.

[a5m]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

If Checo at least stays up with Max then no and with Merc and Ferrari not at their best then it should be straightforward for him. What happens at the end of the year with regards to his contract is in the lap of the gods.

The old gods or the new?

I think Checo is perfect as a #2. Having almost lost his drive and to then be in a top team he'll be fine with Max being #1. And with whatever happened in Monaco it's even easier for them to bend him to their will. I think they've gotten past the Monaco incident and he'll be sticking around for 2024. Especially since Max screwed him in Brazil and he lost out to Leclerc so they're "even" now. Just my $0.02.

[Bongoxxx]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

OMG !!!

I just LMFAO !!!

Thank you my friend for making my day

His jet was short of fuel - they had to make sure they were under the cost cap

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Bongoxxx

His jet was short of fuel - they had to make sure they were under the cost cap

As we know , the whole situation was betrayed by a well-known Mercedes FIA 'mole .

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

As we know , the whole situation was betrayed by a well-known Mercedes FIA 'mole .

Still working undercover in Paris with a disguise

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by a5m

The old gods or the new?

I think Checo is perfect as a #2. Having almost lost his drive and to then be in a top team he'll be fine with Max being #1. And with whatever happened in Monaco it's even easier for them to bend him to their will. I think they've gotten past the Monaco incident and he'll be sticking around for 2024. Especially since Max screwed him in Brazil and he lost out to Leclerc so they're "even" now. Just my $0.02.

I think there will be peace now in the RB camp and if Checo wants to prove something he should do it on the track with no more funny business like at Monaco.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

I think there will be peace now in the RB camp and if Checo wants to prove something he should do it on the track with no more funny business like at Monaco.

Jeddah last year : The tragedy , the walls ...This track is so damn tricky and bloody dangerous !

#Rat-Trap !!!

[///M Power-Belgium]