2023 Season

[Hawkwood]

Lopping off a couple of races from the schedule could be a nice bit of money saving...

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

Lopping off a couple of races from the schedule could be a nice bit of money saving...

But holding races is what makes them money.Sanctioning fees,tv contracts etc
Guaranteed that 24 number is somewhere in every new tv contract they sign and they will lose money for every race below 24 that they don’t hold.
I think 24 is pushing it for the team members in particular but there’s no way they can go back to 20 even if they wanted to.

[S griffin]

The fact of the matter is F1 has become too big for it's boots and as a result we've ended up with way too many races. I'm sure if they could keep costs under control, then they could do with less races

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Alan52

But holding races is what makes them money.Sanctioning fees,tv contracts etc
Guaranteed that 24 number is somewhere in every new tv contract they sign and they will lose money for every race below 24 that they don’t hold.
I think 24 is pushing it for the team members in particular but there’s no way they can go back to 20 even if they wanted to.

Spot on.

Do you want more races? No.

Do you want less money? Errr....

(A bit like:

Do you want more teams? Sure, no problem.

Do you want less money? Errr....)

[bathurst77]

Always surprising to see fans saying they want "less" of what they love.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

Always surprising to see fans saying they want "less" of what they love.

Not heard of the saying 'Less is more'?

[dsg]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Not heard of the saying 'Less is more'?

Only by people who have less.

[Derwent]

Perhaps quality over quality?
Why on earth should Baku have a GP and not France?

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

Always surprising to see fans saying they want "less" of what they love.

It's the concept of "Too Much". Too much is bad for you. https://youtu.be/XewVicFzRxw

I'm all for more of what I love. Bashing out a load more Grand Prix doesn't achieve this. It actually reduces my love for it.

But it is obvious why they do it. Obviously it generates more income, even if revenue per unit drops the volume will outweigh this. Obvs.

Doesn't mean I'm not turned off by this.

[Sandgroper]

OK so whats the driver market gossip after this weekends events?

Gasly
Danny Ric
Mick Shu

[Skam85]

Originally Posted by Sandgroper

OK so whats the driver market gossip after this weekends events?

Gasly
Danny Ric
Mick Shu

Gasly Alpine
Danny Ric Reserve but Gunther seemed to suggest the ball is in Danny's court for a Haas drive
Mick Shu seems to be between him and Hulk for the second Haas assuming DR doesn't want it

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by Alan52

I think 24 is pushing it for the team members in particular but there’s no way they can go back to 20 even if they wanted to.

When teams have 500+ research and development personnel, to say they cannot afford an extra 60-80 personnel for a second set of race mechanics, race engineers & logistics is farcical.

There is no reason why the race crews cannot be divided into two sets with 12 race meetings each.

One worries merely that the F1 teams would rather, selfishly, spend their budget cap on R&D for go fast bits than two sets of race crews... Almost as if car performance is their number one priority [ruddy garagiste spirit showing up those inefficient contintental teams ].

Originally Posted by ScotsBrutesFan

What do you perceive as waste that can be cut ?

There's 6 days of pre-season testing that are not strictly necessary. Those could be cut, saving two race meetings worth of effort. Go straight to the first race with untested vehicles, much more uncertainty and excitement.

Banning testing encourages teams to invest in advanced dynos (e.g., $40m AVL dynos) and car-in-the-loop simulators, so the use of dynos and simulators could also be banned.

The majority of cost, after all, goes to non-racing activities like research and development. Improving and making continual prototypes being far more expensive than mass production. Just racing cars themselves, and using the same parts for years and years particularly, however can be quite cost controlled (refer Indycar or F2). There were, if I am not mistaken, huge economies of scale with the Cosworth DFV being both mass-produced and used for nearly 15 seasons of F1 racing. So such economies of scale would be the goal.

Teams also have huge motorhomes which are unnecessary and could be banned.

Pitstops could be reduced to 6 personnel like F2 instead of 20 personnel. Easy saving there.

Tyre blankets will be banned in 2024, but that could be brought forward.

Gearbox and engine changes during the race meeting could be banned, as now they are now not just building the car on Thursday with an older engine and older gearbox, but then rebuilding it again on Friday night with the different race engine and race gearbox. This is unnecessary.

Lots of things where saving could be done.

[crmalcolm]

Haas confirm ‘solid, reliable racer’ Nico Hulkenberg for 2023

Less than half an hour after announcing Mick Schumacher’s exit, Guenther Steiner named Nico Hulkenberg as the German’s replacement for the 2023 season.

[S griffin]

The Hulk's back! Now they have two experienced drivers next year, so it should be good. Feel a bit sorry for Mick though, but that's the business of motorsport

[steve_r]

Mick has had 2 seasons, and has occasionally shone but not often enough and occasionally messed up, which is understandable for a rookie. 1st season must have been difficult in what was by far the worst car, with no experienced teammate to help.

I dont think that this is the last we will see of him in F1. If I were Mercedes, I would employ him as reserve driver ahead of Ricciardo.

Hulkenburg has always been a good driver. Has 3 years of only sporadic F1 appearances done him any harm, or will he slot straight back in I wonder?

[BertMk2]

Hulkenberg and Magnussen

That means that every race we can relive the "suck my balls" comment

[chillibowl]

Lol

I suspect he is not coming back as a pay driver either which is awesome and while my personal preference, would prefer to see seats at this end of the grid going to new and/or younger drivers, i also don’t want that seat going to a rich kid with minimal talent.

Not a knock on Mick as I thought he always put in maximum effort always and still have hope that his determination will see him back…but rightfully so this is a tough sport.

[seanyb505]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Hulkenberg and Magnussen

That means that every race we can relive the "suck my balls" comment

We can't ask for anything more of 2023 lol

[Richard C]

Clearly Haas has brought Hulkenberg back to allow him to extend one of his most famous records out of the reach of others. That is his 179 race starts without ever standing on the podium.

I think I posted somewhere here on this forum that I don't expect we will see Hulkenberg back in F1 as a regular driver. I honestly am shocked by Haas doing this. Not that Mick is the right answer, but I do think Hulkenberg is the wrong answer. But for Haas' sake, I really hope I am wrong.

Richard

[Greem]

£2 million a season to race in FIA F2, and you get passed over for a safe pair of hands.

I like Hulkenberg, but I think this is wrong. The pathway to F1 is blocked by people who've already had a go and been found wanting. Hopefully he'll prove us all wrong, Haas will build a Brawn 001-alike and Hulk will win the WDC.

There again...

[Beau2]

I find this to be a totally bizarre backwards step by Haas. Schumacher Jr has been ok imo - just as good as any other rookie that has come into the sport in the last 2-3 seasons. Sure, he hasn't set the world alight but nor have Zhou Guanyu, Tsunoda etc.
I actually think Haas have let Mick down this season, particularly in the mid-late part where they seemed to be making strategic mistakes at every race where Mick was ahead of Magnussen. He'd easily done enough to get himself another season and Magnussen is no slouch either.
However, it was pretty obvious that Mick was going as soon as Steiner started making toxic comments at the mid-point of the season, and frankly I think Mick is better not being in that environment. Sadly, Haas are destined the fail and picking Hulkenberg just demonstrates their lack of ambition or long term plan.

I can understand them wanting to replace Mick, but why not try out another young talent instead? To me it makes no sense at all to bring Hulkenberg in, he's been proven to be solidly average and is likely slower than Mick on pure race pace. This just feels like a massive missed opportunity to A) Develop Mick or B) Bring in another young driver.
Magnussen & Hulkenberg is just completely uninspired and is really not much different at all to Magnussen & Grosjean - who lets not forget both got replaced because they were neither good nor rich enough.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Beau2

I find this to be a totally bizarre backwards step by Haas. Schumacher Jr has been ok imo - just as good as any other rookie that has come into the sport in the last 2-3 seasons. Sure, he hasn't set the world alight but nor have Zhou Guanyu, Tsunoda etc.
I actually think Haas have let Mick down this season, particularly in the mid-late part where they seemed to be making strategic mistakes at every race where Mick was ahead of Magnussen. He'd easily done enough to get himself another season and Magnussen is no slouch either.
However, it was pretty obvious that Mick was going as soon as Steiner started making toxic comments at the mid-point of the season, and frankly I think Mick is better not being in that environment. Sadly, Haas are destined the fail and picking Hulkenberg just demonstrates their lack of ambition or long term plan.

I can understand them wanting to replace Mick, but why not try out another young talent instead? To me it makes no sense at all to bring Hulkenberg in, he's been proven to be solidly average and is likely slower than Mick on pure race pace. This just feels like a massive missed opportunity to A) Develop Mick or B) Bring in another young driver.
Magnussen & Hulkenberg is just completely uninspired and is really not much different at all to Magnussen & Grosjean - who lets not forget both got replaced because they were neither good nor rich enough.

I think there thinking is reverting back to what they were doing when they had Magnussen and Grosjean. Which was to have two relatively experienced (but not top or promising new) drivers in which they would not need to "hold hands" or do any other "driver development" tasks. It seems to be a relatively short term focus issue. Maybe do like before which is focus on the car (development, feedback, etc. and take the driver out of the question.... Hulkenberg is a very known quantity). And they want MORE than just what Magnussen gives them in this area.

Richard

[Skam85]

Mick did make some very very costly (points and dollars) mistakes though.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Skam85

Mick did make some very very costly (points and dollars) mistakes though.

I believe damage costs were a substantial amount, and thus issue. Especially as Haas get invoiced by Dallara direct.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Especially as Haas get invoiced by Dallara direct.

Out of curiosity - why would getting invoiced direct (as opposed to any other arrangement between supplier and customer) make any difference?