Niels Wittich Leaves

[Altrezia]

Sandpit Steve said:

So who are they going to bring in for the poisoned chalice as the next race director?

The current Formula 2 RD is a guy called Rui Marques, or will they bring someone from FE or WEC?

WEC is Freitas, so doubt it'd be him again.

[BrettMRC]

Probably be Jos Verstappen!

[TheDeuce]

andygo said:

I'm guessing MBS will take up the position as he loves being in charge..

If certain rumours/complaints are to be believed, it apparently is effectively MBS who has the final word sometimes.

And by 'word', I suspect more accurately he let's his desires and opinions be known in a way that gives whoever officially has the role plenty to think about.

It's hard to pinpoint precisely where the corrupt influence over race decisions is introduced and how, but I'm in no doubt it exists.

[Wills2]

snotrag said:

I've never seen a press release that stinks of 'A Meeting without coffee and biscuits was held' than this.

His face didnt fit, or perhaps he knows too much and was about to shake things up.

Collect your things from your office, dont come back....

To be fair how do you get the job in the first place if your face doesn't fit? It must have done until it didn't, and that the interesting bit of the story.

[BrettMRC]

Would be great to get some hidden cameras into those coffee and side of desk conversations.

[Wills2]

TheDeuce said:

If certain rumours/complaints are to be believed, it apparently is effectively MBS who has the final word sometimes.

Clip of Balestre showing it was ever thus.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jxSjt3wU3s

[simon_harris]

Wills2 said:

TheDeuce said:

If certain rumours/complaints are to be believed, it apparently is effectively MBS who has the final word sometimes.

Clip of Balestre showing it was ever thus.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jxSjt3wU3s

Sadly very true, at least when Bernie was doing it he had the grace to be subtle (for the most part)

[Wills2]

simon_harris said:

Wills2 said:

TheDeuce said:

If certain rumours/complaints are to be believed, it apparently is effectively MBS who has the final word sometimes.

Clip of Balestre showing it was ever thus.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jxSjt3wU3s

Sadly very true, at least when Bernie was doing it he had the grace to be subtle (for the most part)

It is great watching him in action though, Ayrton! My decision is the best decision.

[Oldwolf]

According to Sky

F2 and F3 race director Rui Marques has been named as the German's replacement from next week's Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Linky:
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13253161/n...

[TheDeuce]

Oldwolf said:

According to Sky

F2 and F3 race director Rui Marques has been named as the German's replacement from next week's Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Linky:
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13253161/n...

No pressure on him then... straight into one of the most watched and media heavy GP's on the calendar.

At least MBS wouldn't dare try and influence anything to do with the Vegas GP

[Sandpit Steve]

TheDeuce said:

Oldwolf said:

According to Sky

F2 and F3 race director Rui Marques has been named as the German's replacement from next week's Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Linky:
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13253161/n...

No pressure on him then... straight into one of the most watched and media heavy GP's on the calendar.

At least MBS wouldn't dare try and influence anything to do with the Vegas GP

An event that was a total st-show last year, with the track not finished and the sessions having to be postponed untiil the middle of the night so they could fix it.

[TheDeuce]

Sandpit Steve said:

TheDeuce said:

Oldwolf said:

According to Sky

F2 and F3 race director Rui Marques has been named as the German's replacement from next week's Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Linky:
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13253161/n...

No pressure on him then... straight into one of the most watched and media heavy GP's on the calendar.

At least MBS wouldn't dare try and influence anything to do with the Vegas GP

An event that was a total st-show last year, with the track not finished and the sessions having to be postponed untiil the middle of the night so they could fix it.

Indeed. And I was being tongue in cheek - remember that there were allegations of MBS meddling in it last year? But it's OK, he investigated himself and it turned out everything was fine.

[geeks]

Sandpit Steve said:

So who are they going to bring in for the poisoned chalice as the next race director?

The current Formula 2 RD is a guy called Rui Marques, or will they bring someone from FE or WEC?

I'll give it a bash, to be fair, the rate they are going through these people, I'll probably get that chance sometime next season

[Nova Gyna]

TheDeuce said:

Sandpit Steve said:

TheDeuce said:

Oldwolf said:

According to Sky

F2 and F3 race director Rui Marques has been named as the German's replacement from next week's Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Linky:
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13253161/n...

No pressure on him then... straight into one of the most watched and media heavy GP's on the calendar.

At least MBS wouldn't dare try and influence anything to do with the Vegas GP

An event that was a total st-show last year, with the track not finished and the sessions having to be postponed untiil the middle of the night so they could fix it.

Indeed. And I was being tongue in cheek - remember that there were allegations of MBS meddling in it last year? But it's OK, he investigated himself and it turned out everything was fine.

Says a lot about the fella when the section on ‘controversies’ gets more inches on his Wikipedia page than anything else.

[oyster]

Wills2 said:

TheDeuce said:

If certain rumours/complaints are to be believed, it apparently is effectively MBS who has the final word sometimes.

Clip of Balestre showing it was ever thus.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jxSjt3wU3s

One of the finest pieces of television/movies I've ever seen.

[TheDeuce]

Nova Gyna said:

Says a lot about the fella when the section on ‘controversies’ gets more inches on his Wikipedia page than anything else.

There isn't a whole lot interesting to say about him. He wouldn't be in the position he is in, nor would most of us even know his name had the ME not effectively bought into F1, amongst other forms of motorsport. The way I see it, if the ME is to be spending billions on the sport, then in return they wanted one of their men on the inside at a very senior level - hence, MBS.

[entropy]

Sandpit Steve said:

TheDeuce said:

Oldwolf said:

According to Sky

F2 and F3 race director Rui Marques has been named as the German's replacement from next week's Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Linky:
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13253161/n...

No pressure on him then... straight into one of the most watched and media heavy GP's on the calendar.

At least MBS wouldn't dare try and influence anything to do with the Vegas GP

An event that was a total st-show last year, with the track not finished and the sessions having to be postponed untiil the middle of the night so they could fix it.

In the end it produced the race of the 2023. Lots of overtaking and plenty of slipstreaming.

[Bo_apex]

TheDeuce said:

Nova Gyna said:

Says a lot about the fella when the section on ‘controversies’ gets more inches on his Wikipedia page than anything else.

There isn't a whole lot interesting to say about him. He wouldn't be in the position he is in, nor would most of us even know his name had the ME not effectively bought into F1, amongst other forms of motorsport. The way I see it, if the ME is to be spending billions on the sport, then in return they wanted one of their men on the inside at a very senior level - hence, MBS.

We can probably be grateful that China did not buy F1.

At least the ME is gradually adopting Western traits. Whether that's good or bad remains to be seen, but it should lead to a greater chance in alignment of values.

[TheDeuce]

Bo_apex said:

TheDeuce said:

Nova Gyna said:

Says a lot about the fella when the section on ‘controversies’ gets more inches on his Wikipedia page than anything else.

There isn't a whole lot interesting to say about him. He wouldn't be in the position he is in, nor would most of us even know his name had the ME not effectively bought into F1, amongst other forms of motorsport. The way I see it, if the ME is to be spending billions on the sport, then in return they wanted one of their men on the inside at a very senior level - hence, MBS.

We can probably be grateful that China did not buy F1.

At least the ME is gradually adopting Western traits. Whether that's good or bad remains to be seen, but it should lead to a greater chance in alignment of values.

Approx. once per year I agree with something you've said Bo, and this is it for 2024


Yes, it's inevitable that having 'bought' into F1 so heavily, despite it being for reasons of sport-washing, that the increasing exposure to western sport will (very) slowly cause some shifts in the values in the ME. Any two cultures that exchange anything, or simply observe one another, will adopt parts of each another culture, generally taking on board parts of what works well elsewhere, whilst tutting about that which does not.

[White-Noise]

Volatile times for the FIA, we are something like approaching 3 of 4 years term of MBS being in charge from what I can see?