Didn't see any of today's race, and looking at the result it doesn't seem like one to bother catching up with, the only moves in the top 8 due to a retirement

Didn't see any of today's race, and looking at the result it doesn't seem like one to bother catching up with, the only moves in the top 8 due to a retirement

And Leclerc finishing ahead of Perez, but you're right that it's not worth watching for the race, although it was worth seeing the farewell to Seb

Abu Dhabi Review:

 

 

Best driver: Verstappen

Worst driver: Latifi

Best team: Ferrari

Worst team: Williams

Best overtake: Can't recall a good one

Worst overtake: Perez on Hamilton

Best moment: Vettel's 'speech'

Worst moment: Hamilton holding up Perez

Best thing about the race: Vettel

Worst thing about the race: Unremarkable

 

And the race in a sentence - Auf wiedersehen Sebastian.

Worst moment: Hamilton holding up Perez

 

Karma for last year :D

Best driver: Leclerc [very impressive to split the Red Bulls and get that P2 in the standings]

Worst driver: Schumacher [desperate move]

Best team: Red Bull

Worst team: Haas

Best overtake: Alonso double-overtake

Worst overtake: Schumacher on Latifi

Best moment: The intriguing battle for P2

Worst moment: Hamilton's first mechanical DNF since Austria 2018!

Best thing about the race: By Abu Dhabi dead-rubber standards it was quite decent

Worst thing about the race: No more races for 105 (104 now) days

 

And the race in a sentence: Max rounds off the season in typically dominant style, we won't be seeing any more action for a while!

 

 

There were also a lot of spooky similarities to last season's race! Hamilton cutting turn 7 on lap 1 after a late lunge from behind, Hamilton holding up Perez then retiring, last year Perez held up Hamilton then retired. Schumacher & Latifi came together in both races. Tsunoda outdrive Gasly all weekend, just like last year's race.

Karma for last year :D

It certainly felt like it

2023 Chinese Grand prix is expected to be cancelled. No news on if any race will take its place

 

 

https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/63713326

Don't think we're ever going back there.

Had seen that they were not expecting to replace it but we’re trying to beg the Azeris to bring their date forward to avoid a huge gap in the calendar

 

 

Wouldn’t be a huge loss never to go back to China. One of many states that should be axed from the calendar along with all of the 4 (!!!) Middle East Grand Prix and Hungary.

Mattia Binooto has stepped down as Ferrari team principal following their disappointing season end.

 

 

Personally, although the team made mistakes with strategy too often, it must be said both drivers must take some of the blame for far too many dropped points as well and perhaps if their engine had been a little more reliable they wouldn't have had to turn the power down for half the year - which inevitably cost them too.

 

It'll be interesting to see who steps in, and the popular name being cited is Ross Brawn - who is conveniently, very recently available.

Leclerc only made 2 major mistakes tbf. Although he needs to take a leaf of Sainz's book and go against the team sometimes instead of blindly following their strategic orders.

 

I heard that Fred Vasseur is in the mix too. But honestly Ferrari reminds me so much of Man United, whereby no matter how many times they change the guy in charge it won't brick them back to championship-winning ways.

As expected,

 

Next year's Chinese Grand Prix has been cancelled by Formula 1 because of "ongoing difficulties" with Covid.

 

 

Please let this mean Portimao returns (if anything just so it's on the video game again next year!)

Which track would you choose to replace China?

 

I'm hoping that it will be Portimao.

 

 

There are already more than enough races and it doesn't need replacing, though it'd be a shame to have a four week gap so early.

There are already more than enough races and it doesn't need replacing, though it'd be a shame to have a four week gap so early.

They're currently trying to move Azerbaijan to shorten the gap

I would love to have Portimão permanently replace China or one of the Sand Prixes

Patrick Tambay, the French driver who won 2 Grand Prix and raced for McLaren, Ferrari and Renault (among others) had died aged 73.

 

He was a true gentleman racer and I always rather liked him

Sprint races confirmed for 2023:

 

Baku

RBRing

Spa

Losail

COTA

Interlagos

 

I hadn't realised the Qatar GP was just being held at Losail again, I thought they were building a new track.

 

Baku could be absolute chaos albeit not quite as much as the 2-lap 2021 shootout. The others are decent picks, COTA should be interesting.

 

Formula 1 will continue to race in the Netherlands until at least 2025 after the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort signed an extended contract.

 

The deal adds races in 2024 and 2025 to the initial three years agreed with F1.