Formula One 2024 Season Motor Sport

[Franco Pinion]

The Grand Prix Drivers' Association has written an open letter to FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, with F1 drivers urging the sport's governing body to treat them like adults, following Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc being punished for swearing in interviews.

"There is a difference between swearing intended to insult others and more casual swearing, such as you might use to describe bad weather, or indeed an inanimate object such as an F1 car, or a driving situation.

"We urge the FIA president to consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in a public forum or otherwise.

"Further, our members are adults. They do not need to be given instructions by the media about matters as trivial as the wearing of jewellery or underpants."

Do you agree with the GPDA's open letter?

 

[Black Sheep]

Valtteri Bottas will be the new Mercedes reserve driver for next season. Smart appointment, especially if it does end up being too early for Antonelli. Plus Mercedes know him very well.

 

[Franco Pinion]

So with the Sauber news about Bottas and Zhou leaving, and Bortoleto in, and if Colapinto goes to RB with Lawson to Red Bull.

We could have Antonelli, Lawson, Doohan, Colapinto, Bortoleto and Bearman all having rookie or near-rookie seasons in F1 next year. Which is pretty incredible and must be unprecedented.

And the other thing that means is there are going to be so many red flags and safety cars next year

Definitely a stark generational shift happening.

Exciting times potentially really, the grid has been mostly stable for the last few years so new blood coming in and hopefully tearing it up is good.

 

[Scotty G]

A busy few days for F1 news...

• Neils Wittich 'steps down' from his role at F1 race director, with some rumours saying he's been pushed and other sources saying he's another high ranking FIA official that has fallen out with Bin Sulayem.
• Alpine have confirmed they'll use Mercedes engines and gear boxes next year - I would expect some team name change in line with sponsorship next year too.
• Dan Fallows has left his role as Technical Director at Aston Martin. They say he'll remain within the group, but I imagine he'll just be seeing out a notice period. I would expect him to join a midfield team next season.

 

[Franco Pinion]

Guanya Zhou will be the Ferrari reserve driver for 2025. The Chinese driver will bring his Formula 1 experience to the team's simulator program. Zhou returns to the Ferrari environment, where he was part of the Driver Academy for several years.

 

[Ghost]

Technische Direktive sorgt für Ärger: FIA verbietet Unterboden-Schutz

Diese Technische Direktive hat es in sich. Die FIA verbietet mit sofortiger Wirkung spezielle Schutzplatten, die rund 50 Prozent der Teams über den Skid-Blocks angebracht hatten. Red Bull wies den Verband darauf hin, dass diese Praxis illegal ist.

www.auto-motor-und-sport.de

Ferrari, Mercedes, and Haas have been named as having to change their floors. Red Bull and Mclaren did not use it.

This technical directive is quite something. With immediate effect, the FIA is banning special protective plates that around 50 percent of the teams had fitted over the skid blocks. Red Bull pointed out to the association that this practice is illegal. It's the big issue with the ground effect cars. How deep can I drive without the skid blocks in the underbody wearing out too much due to contact with the road surface? The critical value for the screws that fix the floor panel to the car is one millimeter. Anyone who exceeds this will be disqualified, as Mercedes and Ferrari did at the 2023 US GP.

Because the downforce of the cars is heavily dependent on the height of the vehicle, the teams have come up with every conceivable trick over the last three years to protect the fastening screws as well as possible. They have experimented with insulating material between the base plate or with bolts that have a certain amount of play to cushion the impact from the track.

Red Bull discovered the trick first

The latest trick was to provide the skid-blocks, which are used for measurement by the FIA inspectors, with special protection. This applies above all to the fastening screw in the rear area of the base plate. Everyone wants to drive as low as possible in order to gain downforce. Around 50 percent of the field believed they had found a loophole in the regulations. Red Bull was the first to discover the so-called protection skids among the competition. These are said to include Ferrari, Mercedes and Haas. World Championship opponents McLaren, on the other hand, like Red Bull, did without this practice.

What are the consequences of the ban?

Red Bull pointed out to the FIA that the trick was illegal if the rules were applied precisely and that a protest would have to be expected if there was no clarification on this issue. And this came promptly. A week before the Las Vegas GP, all teams received a letter. In a technical directive, the FIA announced that the protective skids in question were not permitted. This assessment applies with immediate effect. Ferrari would have liked to move the date to the Qatar GP, but were unable to get their way. The teams affected now have a problem that is all the greater when the aerodynamics are specifically designed for extremely low ground clearance. Because no one can risk the skid blocks rubbing off too much, the relevant teams have to raise their vehicle height to a safe level. And that could cost one or the other a lap time.

 

[Snoops]

General Motors is reportedly set to become the 11th team on the grid starting in 2026, with an official announcement expected soon.

This expansion could shake up the driver market, as those without a seat for next season begin to position themselves for this new opportunity.

 

[Son Of Jack]

With the Drivers Championship now decided, the battle for the Constructors between Ferrari and McLaren is going to be great to watch for the last two races. Be nice to see either team win it but I favour Ferrari more simply because I can't stand Zak Brown.

Sergio Perez has fecked up the Constructors for Red Bull this season, he was needed to get big points consistently and has failed big time.

 

[Dylan]

Verstappen's best WDC, in my opinion. The first time he didn't have the best car for the majority of the year and he was under some pressure during the middle part of the season.

 

[Ginger Ted]

Helmut Marko is quoted as saying that Perez's future decisions will be made in the next couple of weeks.

It would seem that Perez might only be holding on to his seat because of the money he brings to the team. With Red Bull failing in the constructors championship, they might be losing out on more money than the considerable sums Perez brings with him. I wonder if Tsunoda or Lawson bring any sponsorship with them.