Modern Vespa

I didn't even bother to watch it. Monaco may be a great love-in for those who attend, but it's not racing IMHO if you can't overtake without inviting a smash-up.

It is all about TV air time exposure for the sponsors.

You know that's a thing with the Monaco GP, right?

Running the race through the streets of Monaco continues only because of history and glamour.

Current cars simply can't pass anywhere on the streets.

With tires changed during the red flag, there was no chance of undercutting or a screw up on a pit stop, so no drama after Charles beat Piastri to the first turn.

And no chance for Ferrari to get the strategy wrong.

So another boring Monaco GP.

It surprised nobody.

Regardless, I was very pleased to see Charles win at home in his Ferrari.

And to see Max and Red Bull look mortal.

2024 might turn out to be a competitive season.

Bill

The only reason its Boring is Monaco has long out grown its use and should be removed from the race calendar, the only reason its not is the revenue it produces.

78 laps to equal the 200 miles at lower speeds, One DRs, tight bends in the much longer modern race car and narrow track, the circuit's crap

The points gap is closing on max.

All the way to the finish line without a Red Bull insight

And with Newey now out of play the teams beginning to struggling setting the car up to track conditions, that showed in FP.

This is Red Bull's problem
"It's also not something new. I mean, we have had this problem since 2022. Of course, for the last two years, I think we had a car advantage, so then it gets masked a little bit, because we gain in the corners where the curbs and the bumps are not that much of a limitation, but with everyone catching up, naturally, when you're not improving your weakest point, yeah, you get found out. And that's what happened this weekend," said Max after qualifying in Monaco.
Max Verstappen's own words.

The RB20 performance wise has plateaued, others will now play catch up, as per Adrian Newey's statement.

Boring, NOOoooo All's looking good on the Horizon

I enjoyed it, but I also like golf. And having a live, out-of-tune brass band play the national anthems...priceless.

Controversial, but I watched the Indy 500 afterwards and found Monaco much more interesting visually to watch - even though the Indy had overtakes and Honda engines going pop every few laps.

The scenery and track layout in Monaco (hairpin etc), the helicopter shots etc were great even if the track action was more like a chess game.

TV coverage doesn't really show just how narrow the streets of Monaco are and it can't convey just how fast the speeds at Indianapolis can be.

To watch live Indianapolis beats Monaco, but Spa beats everything.

As a casual fan and causal hater of Red bull's annual dominance I really hope Ferrari can continue to take some regular podiums and *maybe* take the constructors championship. Would be a hoot.

Yeah, that's not going to happen as soon as we get back to racing circuits with fast and medium speed corners the Red Bulls will dominate again.

McLaren and Ferrari will nip at the heels for the rest of the season and Mercedes Benz will get their act back together eventually but Verstappen will continue to dominate.

Next year will be when things will be turned on their heads again.

There's talk of Binotto joining Aston Martin. Whatever.

Did anyone see Oliver Bearman overtake Kimi Antonelli during the F2 race at Monaco ?

Just sayin Jean.

As an Edit, this is what happens when you have small, agile cars that can overtake.

Yup. We need xxxx want smaller cars and 12 teams. If not for 12 teams Alonso wouldn't (likely) be in F1. Started with Minardi.

So the racing in F2 is better because the cars are as nimble as hell and they don't rely on sparks and turbos to race I think I see an alternative to a budget cap.

I think you know what it is.

The cars also look better. Just sayin.

I keep seeing stories of Sainz going to Williams.

If this is true, what are we missing ?

But the existing 10 teams only want 10 now that F1 is getting popular.
Minardi or RB is still one of the 10.

You guys who want smaller cars can always watch F3 at Macau.
If one is minted Monte Carlo is the only place to moor one's super yacht.

I've been mulling this as well. The F1 driver market is very much a game of Tetris, with early contract decisions having substantial knock-on effects for every contract that comes after it.

I think Sainz is highly deserving of a prestigious seat, being one of maybe the top 4 or 5 drivers on the grid, but various other issues (unrelated to him) are keeping him from that goal.

I think this video sums up the situation fairly well:

I feel that in the drive to promote Hybrid Power Units F1 has lost it's essence.

As the chassis have to be bigger to accommodate them the cars have become less interesting to watch, unwieldy to drive and less exciting as they sound about as dull as Touring Cars.

Single Seaters should be light, noisy, nimble and stupidly powerful with huge wings and the be all over the place while struggling for grip.

Does anyone remember Can Am ? Lets have some of that way of thinking.

I have a video for everything.

You'd think that the sensible choice would have been Audi but I can see it going Williams way once we know what their secret weapon is.

Their secret weapon is James Vowles, who at least talks a good game. Time will tell if it is just talk or whether he can fundamentally change Williams for the better, but early signs (in the form of Alex Albon re-signing) are positive.

At the time, Minardi was dead last.

I want 12 teams on the grid and 24 drivers in the top class. With four more drivers we would already be seeing, more regularly, Bearman, and Lawson, and others like Doohan, Antonelli, plus ?.

Regarding value, it could slip if they aren't careful.

How would qualifying go with 24 cars, it is already very difficult in Q1
And Sainz to Williams, has to do with the Mercedes in the back, Mercedes itself says that they are getting a great engine and we have seen what that can lead to.
That is also the reason that Max could go to Mercedes in 26

At the time, Minardi was dead last.

I want 12 teams on the grid and 24 drivers in the top class. With four more drivers we would already be seeing, more regularly, Bearman, and Lawson, and others like Doohan, Antonelli, plus ?.

Regarding value, it could slip if they aren't careful.

That was an awesome overtake, but the crazy thing is the F2 cars aren't really smaller than F1 - they just have a lot less grip! They're 1.9m wide (F1 2024 is 2m wide) so 100mm narrower (4").

F2 cars are also 5284mm long, whereas F1 cars are usually quoted as greater than 5m in length.

So they're pretty much in the same ballpark in terms of car size.

EDIT: The F2 cars are also apparently virtually the same weight (didn't expect that!!). F1 2024 = 798KG. F2 2024 = 785KG.

It was done with 24 cars for many years, as recently as 2012.

It's a fair point about the F2 cars not being much smaller than the Full Fats but if that's the case why do they look so much better on the track rather than the top tier lumbering beasts ?

F2 cars look and sound like real pure racing cars that are as loud as hell and not the dull knocking sound that we have become accustomed to.

I believe that the new cars that are coming in 2026 will be smaller but I feel that the spectacle has to change such as to move away from a platform to promote Hybrids and to get back to simple, hard core racing with cheap fast cars that aren't fitted with gimmicks to overtake each other.

I know that I'm pissing in the wind here but when they keep banging on about costs why not just make the cars cheaper by simplifying it while giving the fans a better show ?

Ocon dropped by Alpine for 2025.

Who didn't see that coming ?

12 years very different cars almost no street tracks

Because Detroit was soooo good.

Announcing this publicly and so close to Monaco is personal! If he's speaking to any other teams, they can immediately drop a few million off the contract price knowing that he doesn't have a stable backup plan.

Not sure if we'll see him on the grid next year. People speak about Haas being an option, but Kmag is surely the better option for them.

I don't think that we'll see him in a top F1 seat again. Not unless Mercedes Benz can pull some strings.

He has an uncanny habit of really pissing off his team mates so that may well prevent him landing a seat with, well anyone if we're honest.

The trouble is with the Alpine seat is that no one wants it so I can see someone like Schumacher filling the vacancy as there won't be any negotiations to be had and he'll be grateful for the step up.

Perez signs a 2 year extension.

^^^^Well that's quashed one silly season rumor^^^^

Need to know what Sainz is up to now.

Sainz to Alpine.

You heard it here first.

(The previous post came from the rectal database).

Jack Doohan given some time in the car for the Free Practice in Canada.

Personal ? Probably.

Jack deserves it.

So does Ocon.

More than Mick ?

I am officially Meh on Mick. I initially wanted him to succeed, was rooting for him even, but he did not redeem himself at Haas.

I get that. He used to crash crap cars.

I'd suggest that if you wanted to get the best out of the car I'd pick the guy with the most experience, plus he already works for your other team.

It's as if they are rubbing Ocon's nose in it