The Official F1 2023 silly season *contains speculation*

[HustleRussell]

alisdairm said:

Quick and dirty comparison between now and 10 years ago:

2023
4 Middle East
10 Europe
4 North America
1 South America
4 Asia/Australasia

2013
2 Middle East
7 Europe
2 North America
1 South America
7 Asia/Australasia

I was looking through it yesterday and thinking that in terms of the circuits it’s not too bad a calendar. Also judging by this, the distribution of races by continent / region isn’t all that bad.

Ditch Saudi Arabia or Qatar for a race in Africa, shore up Spa and ensure that there’s a French and German Grand Prix, and I’m reasonably happy with how it’s gone.

[Pflanzgarten]

HustleRussell said:

ensure that there’s a French and German Grand Prix

Where though? France lacks a decent track and as much as I love the Nürburgring, I'm not convinced the GP track brings out good races unless the weather is inclement.

Spa is an easy trip for German supporters, maybe they could race there twice

[andburg]

The teams have so much data on regular tracks its unreal, they'll know ever single bump on the tarmac.

This is why rotating calendars make sense, even if the track isn't great by not racing there every year you're adding a bit more uncertainty to the mix.The teams need to work harder to understand the track as they might not have been there for 2+ years and with a completely different car. Even using existing tracks every year I'd like to see layout changes every year to mix things up where possible

[ajprice]

https://twitter.com/McLarenF1/status/1620818057387...

[patmahe]

Pflanzgarten said:

HustleRussell said:

ensure that there’s a French and German Grand Prix

Where though? France lacks a decent track and as much as I love the Nürburgring, I'm not convinced the GP track brings out good races unless the weather is inclement.

Spa is an easy trip for German supporters, maybe they could race there twice

I must be the only person who liked Magny Cours when they used to race there, lots of high speed direction changes and a hairpin for overtaking, lots of good racing there over the years.

[vaud]

patmahe said:

I must be the only person who liked Magny Cours when they used to race there, lots of high speed direction changes and a hairpin for overtaking, lots of good racing there over the years.

It was a great track in it's time, but may be too narrow for modern cars. Oh and it's in the middle of nowhere with few hotels or supporting logistics... competing with the likes of Las Vegas.

[Pflanzgarten]

patmahe said:

Pflanzgarten said:

HustleRussell said:

ensure that there’s a French and German Grand Prix

Where though? France lacks a decent track and as much as I love the Nürburgring, I'm not convinced the GP track brings out good races unless the weather is inclement.

Spa is an easy trip for German supporters, maybe they could race there twice

I must be the only person who liked Magny Cours when they used to race there, lots of high speed direction changes and a hairpin for overtaking, lots of good racing there over the years.

Fair enough, that's no more insane than my irrational love of Hungaroring.

[PhilAsia]

vaud said:

patmahe said:

I must be the only person who liked Magny Cours when they used to race there, lots of high speed direction changes and a hairpin for overtaking, lots of good racing there over the years.

It was a great track in it's time, but may be too narrow for modern cars. Oh and it's in the middle of nowhere with few hotels or supporting logistics... competing with the likes of Las Vegas.

I'd far rather be in rural France than the glitzy Last Vaguearse tbh...

[vaud]

PhilAsia said:

I'd far rather be in rural France than the glitzy Last Vaguearse tbh...

Me too but it’s not great for fans to get to.

[MissChief]

PhilAsia said:

vaud said:

patmahe said:

I must be the only person who liked Magny Cours when they used to race there, lots of high speed direction changes and a hairpin for overtaking, lots of good racing there over the years.

It was a great track in it's time, but may be too narrow for modern cars. Oh and it's in the middle of nowhere with few hotels or supporting logistics... competing with the likes of Las Vegas.

I'd far rather be in rural France than the glitzy Last Vaguearse tbh...

That's the issue, it's really in the middle of nowhere with very little supporting infrastructure. It's a poor choice.

[patmahe]

MissChief said:

PhilAsia said:

vaud said:

patmahe said:

I must be the only person who liked Magny Cours when they used to race there, lots of high speed direction changes and a hairpin for overtaking, lots of good racing there over the years.

It was a great track in it's time, but may be too narrow for modern cars. Oh and it's in the middle of nowhere with few hotels or supporting logistics... competing with the likes of Las Vegas.

I'd far rather be in rural France than the glitzy Last Vaguearse tbh...

That's the issue, it's really in the middle of nowhere with very little supporting infrastructure. It's a poor choice.

True, the infrastructure would never have impacted me as I only ever watched it on TV, the narrowness also wouldn't suit today's monster cars I guess, pity as the layout itself I always thought was pretty good and lent itself to good racing but since when has that mattered in F1

[HustleRussell]

Pflanzgarten said:

HustleRussell said:

ensure that there’s a French and German Grand Prix

Where though? France lacks a decent track and as much as I love the Nürburgring, I'm not convinced the GP track brings out good races unless the weather is inclement.

Spa is an easy trip for German supporters, maybe they could race there twice

I would rather have a Grand Prix at Paul Ricard than none at all. I don't think it's that bad if you discount the way it looks- I can count eight circuits on the 2023 calendar which I'd swap for Paul Ricard.

[KaraK]

HustleRussell said:

Pflanzgarten said:

HustleRussell said:

ensure that there’s a French and German Grand Prix

Where though? France lacks a decent track and as much as I love the Nürburgring, I'm not convinced the GP track brings out good races unless the weather is inclement.

Spa is an easy trip for German supporters, maybe they could race there twice

I would rather have a Grand Prix at Paul Ricard than none at all. I don't think it's that bad if you discount the way it looks- I can count eight circuits on the 2023 calendar which I'd swap for Paul Ricard.

A circuit made for radio if there ever was one. The layout's "ok" I guess.. but the stupid colour banding just makes my eyes and head hurt when trying to watch.

[vulture1]

Are we all forgetting the great racing thst happened at the nurbergring on its return during covid.
Narrow track or not it worked very well.

We need a German GP imo and the French well there just isn't a decent track that matches decent facilities.

[Deesee]

vulture1 said:

Are we all forgetting the great racing thst happened at the nurbergring on its return during covid.
Narrow track or not it worked very well.

We need a German GP imo and the French well there just isn't a decent track that matches decent facilities.

Nurbingring GP circuit was brilliant with the t/hybrids, its like the cars were made for such a circuit.

[thegreenhell]

Weather played a part there, as always.

Any race anywhere can be remembered as exciting if the weather is unsettled or there's a safety car in the last third of the race. It's the races where neither of those things occur that we get dull races, at some tracks more than others.

[Deesee]

I’d say the ‘ring GP circuit is up there with Silverstone/COTA/Suzuka for these turbo hybrids, they all seem to come alive there.

Brazil and Spa have always been class.

& yes Northern European weather does have its advantages for changeable conditions..

[Jodele]

PhilAsia said:

I'd far rather be in rural France than the glitzy Last Vaguearse tbh...

The locals pronounce it Lost Wages...

[Puddenchucker]

Red Bull to partner with Ford for 2026 engines?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/64506082

[Leithen]

Puddenchucker said:

Red Bull to partner with Ford for 2026 engines?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/64506082

Porsche Ford to stick a badge on an F1 engine?

Surely not? That's what Cadillac was accused of intending to do....