The Official F1 2023 silly season *contains speculation*

[Pflanzgarten]

Ricciardo is in a bad place really, did you see the interview with sky after the race yesterday?

You can tell he’s none committal on the red bull position as he needs some time away from the sport to sort his head out.

There is the distinct possibility he understands his main role there would simply be to hold Checo’s feet to the fire.

[Muzzer79]

HustleRussell said:

I find it hard to square Ricciardo's decision to take the development driver role at Red Bull, considering his career arc so far.

I can understand it.

Teams are valuing experience much, much higher than they used to. They can't risk a crasher due to the cost cap and the stakes are much higher as a result.

Consequently, if you find yourself out of F1, there are now more avenues back in. We've seen this with Ocon when he left Force India, Alonso when he left McLaren and now Hulkenburg when he left Renault.

Couple this with the short memories that people have and if another driver is underperforming or there's a fall out (not necessarily in the team you're the third driver for either) then a guy who has won multiple races, is still around and is available looks all-of-a-sudden very appealing.

I'd have bet my bottom dollar that Hulkenburg wouldn't have found his way back to a full-time F1 drive, talented as he is. He's a shining example of this phenomenon.

[vaud]

Pflanzgarten said:

Ricciardo is in a bad place really, did you see the interview with sky after the race yesterday?

You can tell he’s none committal on the red bull position as he needs some time away from the sport to sort his head out.

There is the distinct possibility he understands his main role there would simply be to hold Checo’s feet to the fire.

I think he needs to go and have some fun - hence my Dakar comment.

[Killer2005]

https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-1/f1-mo...

Honda back in 2026.

[PhilAsia]

Pflanzgarten said:

Ricciardo is in a bad place really, did you see the interview with sky after the race yesterday?

You can tell he’s none committal on the red bull position as he needs some time away from the sport to sort his head out.

There is the distinct possibility he understands his main role there would simply be to hold Checo’s feet to the fire.

There is keeping Checo in check, but more importantly I feel is that the continuing Max Bull controversies over the past two seasons (and we will see what happens with the 2023 spending, post submission) requires someone like Ric as their media friendly face to distract and deflect from all the BS.

Perhaps I am reading too much into it as normally RB do not give a st, but Max on the podium in AD looked awkward and Horner in interviews looked extremely uncomfortable lately - imo.

[llewop]

PhilAsia said:

There is keeping Checo in check, but more importantly I feel is that the continuing Max Bull controversies over the past two seasons (and we will see what happens with the 2023 spending, post submission) requires someone like Ric as their media friendly face to distract and deflect from all the BS.

Perhaps I am reading too much into it as normally RB do not give a st, but Max on the podium in AD looked awkward and Horner in interviews looked extremely uncomfortable lately - imo.

good - they should be awkward and uncomfortable and that should continue well into 2023, certainly until the 2022 cost cap certificates come out (or not...)

But here is my speculation for 2023: If the new RB is anything less than a similar class of the field that this year's car was (Checo should have cake walked to 2nd, exceptt the team were so heavily favouring Max even after mathematically no one was going to catch him) they will quickly put it down to the 'unfair and harsh penalty' for their cost cap deal.

[Pflanzgarten]

llewop said:

But here is my speculation for 2023: If the new RB is anything less than a similar class of the field that this year's car was (Checo should have cake walked to 2nd, exceptt the team were so heavily favouring Max even after mathematically no one was going to catch him) they will quickly put it down to the 'unfair and harsh penalty' for their cost cap deal.

And if it is just as good?

“Well, after all the draconian and frankly unfair sanctions they levelled at us, the team did an amazing job at still beating the competition. In fact, it actually proves we did absolutely nothing wrong under the cost cap as our performance hasn’t been affected and shows we were completely innocent.”

[/horner]

[llewop]

Pflanzgarten said:

And if it is just as good?

“Well, after all the draconian and frankly unfair sanctions they levelled at us, the team did an amazing job at still beating the competition. In fact, it actually proves we did absolutely nothing wrong under the cost cap as our performance hasn’t been affected and shows we were completely innocent.”

[/horner]

sadly, if it turns out that way, I suspect you'll be prophetic.

[KaraK]

Pflanzgarten said:

And if it is just as good?

“Well, after all the draconian and frankly unfair sanctions they levelled at us, the team did an amazing job at still beating the competition. In fact, it actually proves we did absolutely nothing wrong under the cost cap as our performance hasn’t been affected and shows we were completely innocent.”

[/horner]

So spot on that I could hear Whinger Spice's voice

[ajprice]

It looks like the China 2023 race will be cancelled because of COVID policies, and won't be replaced in the calendar. So the 24 races are down to 23 and there will be a 4 week gap between Australia and Azerbaijan https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/63713326

[satfinal]

I think a few weeks ago I caught wind of Baku wanting to move and take up China's spot. We'll see though.

[Deesee]

satfinal said:

I think a few weeks ago I caught wind of Baku wanting to move and take up China's spot. We'll see though.

I’d take Baku twice, as it’s a street circuit you could run it in reverse with a few tweaks to the barriers.

[Diderot]

Deesee said:

satfinal said:

I think a few weeks ago I caught wind of Baku wanting to move and take up China's spot. We'll see though.

I’d take Baku twice, as it’s a street circuit you could run it in reverse with a few tweaks to the barriers.

What a back to back Baku?

[Deesee]

Diderot said:

Deesee said:

satfinal said:

I think a few weeks ago I caught wind of Baku wanting to move and take up China's spot. We'll see though.

I’d take Baku twice, as it’s a street circuit you could run it in reverse with a few tweaks to the barriers.

What a back to back Baku?

There’s enough time to ship the equipment from Saudi (or Aus)
, to Kyalami, Istanbul, Fuji.. for example..or just take the trucks to Portimau, Mugello or even the ‘ring.

Big gap in the calendar.

[Pflanzgarten]

Deesee said:

Diderot said:

Deesee said:

satfinal said:

I think a few weeks ago I caught wind of Baku wanting to move and take up China's spot. We'll see though.

I’d take Baku twice, as it’s a street circuit you could run it in reverse with a few tweaks to the barriers.

What a back to back Baku?

There’s enough time to ship the equipment from Saudi (or Aus)
, to Kyalami, Istanbul, Fuji.. for example..or just take the trucks to Portimau, Mugello or even the ‘ring.

Big gap in the calendar.

Unfortunately they're just looking at bringing forward the Baku race by a week leaving 3 week/2 week gaps.

[Diderot]

Pflanzgarten said:

Deesee said:

Diderot said:

Deesee said:

satfinal said:

I think a few weeks ago I caught wind of Baku wanting to move and take up China's spot. We'll see though.

I’d take Baku twice, as it’s a street circuit you could run it in reverse with a few tweaks to the barriers.

What a back to back Baku?

There’s enough time to ship the equipment from Saudi (or Aus)
, to Kyalami, Istanbul, Fuji.. for example..or just take the trucks to Portimau, Mugello or even the ‘ring.

Big gap in the calendar.

Unfortunately they're just looking at bringing forward the Baku race by a week leaving 3 week/2 week gaps.

Shame, I really enjoyed Portimao and Mugello. Nurbs, Hockenheim, Kyalami, Fuji, Estoril. So many good options.

[PhilAsia]

Deesee said:

satfinal said:

I think a few weeks ago I caught wind of Baku wanting to move and take up China's spot. We'll see though.

I’d take Baku twice, as it’s a street circuit you could run it in reverse with a few tweaks to the barriers.

Shame Latifi is not around to sort that out. Stroll?

[MissChief]

Diderot said:

Pflanzgarten said:

Deesee said:

Diderot said:

Deesee said:

satfinal said:

I think a few weeks ago I caught wind of Baku wanting to move and take up China's spot. We'll see though.

I’d take Baku twice, as it’s a street circuit you could run it in reverse with a few tweaks to the barriers.

What a back to back Baku?

There’s enough time to ship the equipment from Saudi (or Aus)
, to Kyalami, Istanbul, Fuji.. for example..or just take the trucks to Portimau, Mugello or even the ‘ring.

Big gap in the calendar.

Unfortunately they're just looking at bringing forward the Baku race by a week leaving 3 week/2 week gaps.

Shame, I really enjoyed Portimao and Mugello. Nurbs, Hockenheim, Kyalami, Fuji, Estoril. So many good options.

Portimao is a great track for driving, I'm not so sure it's great for F1 cars.

Mugello showed that, in it's current form, it's wholly unsuitable for modern F1 cars. It's basically as good as flat out from turns 5 to 10 then after 12 to 15 and then even 15 isn't much of a lift either. It's been 'overpowered' by modern F1 and it's clear that while it's great as a Bike circuit, it's not a great F1 circuit. Check out Lewis's Pole lap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzkFH5AAk5Y

Edited by MissChief on Tuesday 22 November 23:08

[vaud]

And Daniel R has signed to RB as 3rd driver...

https://twitter.com/F1/status/1595403601752514560

[entropy]

MissChief said:

Portimao is a great track for driving, I'm not so sure it's great for F1 cars.

Mugello showed that, in it's current form, it's wholly unsuitable for modern F1 cars. It's basically as good as flat out from turns 5 to 10 then after 12 to 15 and then even 15 isn't much of a lift either. It's been 'overpowered' by modern F1 and it's clear that while it's great as a Bike circuit, it's not a great F1 circuit. Check out Lewis's Pole lap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzkFH5AAk5Y

Edited by MissChief on Tuesday 22 November 23:08

Mugello was great and exceeded expectations. I don't think many were confident of producing a decent race because the corners would be too quick for F1 but there was good overtaking into Turn 1 and there would have been tyre management involved as well in the race so it wouldn't have been completely flat out.

Casanova and Arrabiatta demonstrates just how awesome the cornering abilities of modern F1 cars are. Very few corners on the current calendar do this along with undulations of some significance.

Mugello is wide enough for decent racing and the run off is big enough and arguably needs slight revisions after Stroll's massive shunt.

You could make the argument that F1 has outgrown other tracks. Silverstone is super quick with minimal braking just to help with turn in more than slowing down in the quick stuff, Copse has been flat out for about 20 years now.

Saudi Arabia has demonstrated current F1 cars are just too quick for that particular circuit configuration.

Zandvoort, arguably, shouldn't have top class F1 status but its there to appease the new generation of F1 fans/Max Verstappen era. There's no denying current F1 cars have outgrown the Dutch track. Its narrow and quick and surrounded by armco - a bygone era when the speeds were lower.