2024 F1 Thread

Wow @Ausbt that would have been an amazing race to attend! Thanks for sharing :)

I visited Suzuka in May last year (obviously not for the GP) and it was a great experience. The connected theme park and museum are worth checking out too, but I’d hate to try those on a GP weekend.

Have also been to Spa (back in 2010 or 2011) and chanced upon a round of the Dutch GT Championship. Got in for free and roamed the circuit, pit complex etc. seeing Eau Rouge in person is something else!!

The only F1 race I’ve attended was the 2013 US GP (second running at COTA). Great experience and a good circuit as a spectator.
 
Bit a of mini trip report of sorts: I was lucky enough to be at Monza last weekend and it was as you can imagine, epic. This was the tail end of five amazing weeks in Turkiye, Greece, Croatia and Austria.

So accom was Milan Thursday through Mon, it had been booked a long time back. I hadn't been to Monza-town itself before but that would definitely be the place to stay if you can get accom - the town was lovely with a real party atmosphere throughout the various squares. Naturally this reached fever pitch on Sunday night after Ferrari's win, with roving musos and people dancing and waving flags! Additionally of course, Centrale station in Milan was a mess of disorganisation but I was fully expecting that - hey, it's Italy.

Seats were Parabolica stand C and I was comfortable with the AUD$700 spend via Granprixevents.com particularly with how hard it has been to get grandstand tix in Melb. Met one US bloke who was scammed via StubHub and apparently many more were. Steel benches and hot days, but hey when you are at the Italian GP who cares right? One tip for the benches would be a blow-up pillow/pad.

As anticipated queues for food & bev (one to pay; one to receive) were a bit nuts. The biggest queues of all were for the free water refills which given the heat were required. With 25 mins to the race I and about 2,000 people seemingly were trying to squeeze through 4 turnstiles with scanned entry until the gate staff just relented and opened the fence, thank goodness. You know in Italy they will attempt to enforce the rules but after a while it's "non e problemo, mi arrendo" and they give in. Speaking of queues, the shuttle bus after qualifying was the single worst I've ever been in. Felt like 5,000 people corralled through your typical gate system and it was just so hot over the hour it took to reach a bus. After the GP I simply walked back to Monza and it was a really lovely 30 minute walk through the park, and featuring a Peroni stand at the Castello Reale!

Obviously an exiting race with PIA looking good for those 39 laps. But, the opportunity to witness a Ferrari victory is very special. Post-race we made our way to the grid and it was manic down there. Surface of the track billiard-table smooth, checked out the old banking and soaked up the atmosphere. All-in-all it was of course an amazing event and I feel so lucky to have been there. This is the second of the 'big 3' for me, having been to Silverstone previously and very much looking forward to getting to Suzuka. I mean I could have also been at Suzuka this year in fact - found a single ticket and had some accom lined up and (having been made redundant in Feb) I had the time available. Oh well, maybe next year. Next challenge is getting back into a grandstand at Melb as the GA tix from this year just didn't cut it.

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What a wonderful experience. Beautifully written and I get the excitement the way you explained a magic day. I have decided (for various reasons recently) life is too short. I am going to (try and) buy a hosp ticket for our family for next year in Melb. As accommodation not a cost will be online at 10 am on the 10th next Tuesday. 🤞🏻
 
What a wonderful experience. Beautifully written and I get the excitement the way you explained a magic day. I have decided (for various reasons recently) life is too short. I am going to (try and) buy a hosp ticket for our family for next year in Melb. As accommodation not a cost will be online at 10 am on the 10th next Tuesday. 🤞🏻
I’m open to being adopted… 😜
 
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A few interesting tidbits from bbc.com/f1

Adrian Newey is off to Aston Martin. Adrian Newey: Aston Martin confirm signing of Formula 1 designer
Newey said he was "hugely inspired and impressed by the passion and commitment" of team owner Lawrence Stroll.

McLaren are going to prioritise NOR. McLaren ask Oscar Piastri to back Lando Norris F1 title bid
"Even when I said to Oscar: 'Would you be available to give up a victory?' He said: 'It's painful, but if it's the right thing to do now, I will do it'.
 
A few interesting tidbits from bbc.com/f1

Adrian Newey is off to Aston Martin. Adrian Newey: Aston Martin confirm signing of Formula 1 designer


McLaren are going to prioritise NOR. McLaren ask Oscar Piastri to back Lando Norris F1 title bid
Wow!
Did not see Aston Martin as Adrian’s destination under papa Stroll. That will be an interesting dynamic; he is an engineering genius and Lawrence….
Not sure what I think about NOR - think Oscar is a much better driver in the long run
 
A few interesting tidbits from bbc.com/f1

Adrian Newey is off to Aston Martin. Adrian Newey: Aston Martin confirm signing of Formula 1 designer


McLaren are going to prioritise NOR. McLaren ask Oscar Piastri to back Lando Norris F1 title bid
I guess Newey to Aston has been (arguably) the season's worst kept secret. There's something about Stroll Senior that I really dislike, but I have to give credit where it's due in that he's putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to building a Championship-contending team. And a Newey/Alonso combination is certainly tasty!

There's also news floating around of Stroll seeking to poach Verstappen for 2026 with a view to parachuting Lance into the WEC team (which would be a logical - and clean - departure that allows Stroll Jr and Sr to save face). Watch this space? 🤔

As for McLaren prioritising NOR? Well, we knew it was going to happen. And PIA will comply as a good team player, but I guarantee he'll be aiming for this to be the first and last season in which he needs to do that!
 
Wow!
Did not see Aston Martin as Adrian’s destination under papa Stroll. That will be an interesting dynamic; he is an engineering genius and Lawrence….
Not sure what I think about NOR - think Oscar is a much better driver in the long run

I think the fact that since the Williams family sold out to venture capitalists, Aston Martin is the only team whose owner is directly involved with the team. He saw this as a positive.
 
If you're not on site, how to watch... I've had to watch on my ph sometimes so tomorrow I thought I'd try the new Brisbane casino, 12m screen!
"...Sports Bar is positioned high above the Brisbane River, wrapped with floor-to-ceiling glass, and equipped with two 12-metre plus mega LED screens and stadium-like sound quality..."
 
So what happened with Papaya team rules? NOR nowhere near pole!
This will be a good opportunity for PIA to race as he wishes - and a nice start time 9pm for us to tune in. Hope you are enjoying JessicaTam!
I reckon PIA will be required to sit on the grid after the start until NOR gets to him. Then PIA can support him from 18th. 🤣 🤣
 
Stunning pic. Will we get a trip report on Baku?

Also a good result in his first F2 race by young Aussie Christian Mansell (who just finished 5th in F3).

Started the F2 sprint in reverse grid pole, led for about 6 laps before ending up in 8th. Fellow rookie Mini ended up in 3rd.
 
That was one big smash on the start line. Fortunate Marti's car flipped back the right way.

Always problematic when a car stalls at the start.
 
Stunning pic. Will we get a trip report on Baku?

Also a good result in his first F2 race by young Aussie Christian Mansell (who just finished 5th in F3).

Started the F2 sprint in reverse grid pole, led for about 6 laps before ending up in 8th. Fellow rookie Mini ended up in 3rd.
Some musings:

F1 are keen to promote zero net emissions by 2030. Then I come to the Baku race. No recycling bins. Plastic containers abound. I even had to throw away (not just remove) the lid from my water bottle. Effectively negating the ability to reuse it. If F1 are serious, which I hope they are, then they need to build some compliance into their contracts with the host cities.
 

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