Meanwhile Mohammed Ben Sulayem is busy making the likes of Sepp Blatter look as clean as whistle by comparison.

The woman who accused team principal Christian Horner of inappropriate behaviour has been suspended by Red Bull.

 

Allegations of inappropriate and controlling behaviour had been made against the 50-year-old, which he denied.

 

After an internal investigation, Red Bull's board dismissed the complaint last week.

 

"The company cannot comment on this internal matter," a spokesperson said.

 

A day after Red Bull dismissed the complaint, an anonymous email including messages purporting to involve Horner were leaked.

Interesting development.

 

How trustworthy are these ‘leaked emails’. Are they legit or is this just something that could have been invented?

Who needs exciting races when ALL the drama is happening off track.

That is certainly a twist

 

 

 

Interesting development.

 

How trustworthy are these ‘leaked emails’. Are they legit or is this just something that could have been invented?

 

 

Easily faked with photoshop if you wanted to but a forensic analysis would reveal that. No one involved has commented on their content or legitimacy but they've not commented on anything at all so no idea if they're disputed or genuine.

 

 

Sainz out of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Oliver Bearman is his replacement.

Get well soon Carlos.

 

Unbelievable opportunity there for Bearman, has anyone ever made their F1 debut in a Ferrari? :o

 

Also means he'll be the first Briton to race for Ferrari since Nigel Mansell in 1990!

Edited March 8, 20241 yr by Dobbo

Get well soon Carlos.

 

Unbelievable opportunity there for Bearman, has anyone ever made their F1 debut in a Ferrari? :o

 

Also means he'll be the first Briton to race for Ferrari since Nigel Mansell in 1990!

Clay Regazzoni is the most obvious one, followed by Arturio Mezario

oh Sanz's bad luck continues :(

No penalty for Norris' jump start because the sensor wasn't working :lol: so even if he had floored it Maldonado-Spa 2012 style he'd have gotten away with it.

 

We've had our Villa vs Bournemouth goal line tech fail equivalent!

That was a great debut performance from Bearman, let's hope he doesn't go the way of De Vries if he gets a drive next season (given the parallels so far are eerily similar).

What do we make of KMags drive?

What do we make of KMags drive?

Technically, nothing wrong with his drive, illegal pass on Tsunoda aside. Unfortunately, the penalty system allows a driver to break the rule and still hold up another on purpose negating the intent of the penalty. Other than the aforementioned, Magnussen drove within the rules by holding everyone up.

Was it unsporting? Arguably.

Would I prefer drivers didn't do it? Yes.

Was it funny? Yes.

Would it have been an issue if he hadn't illegally passed Tsunoda? No. And this is the real issue. Intentionally breaking a rule by illegally passing a car, only to then take the penalty and further obstruct said car is not something we want to see and not in the spirit of the sport.

 

A preferred punishment to the 10 second penalty is a pit-lane drive through (not a stop-go and must not be used as a pit stop). Cars behind are released and guilty party loses roughly equivalent time. Failure to do so within 3 laps is a black flag.

Edited March 11, 20241 yr by Severin

He should have been ordered to let Tsunoda back past, a time penalty is futile in these situations. Same with Max at Vegas last season, forced Leclerc off the track at turn 1 to keep the lead then just took the 5-second penalty and drove away.

 

I do think the 10-second penalty for the contact with Albon was way too harsh though, wouldn't put the blame on either rival there it was just a super narrow part of the track.

Edited March 11, 20241 yr by Dobbo

Albert Park as a track is also quite unique: it's a street circuit, but then it has gravel traps as well. So, anticipating plenty of red flags, particularly during F3 and F2 sessions. Hopefully F1 will be free of stoppages.

I dunno, last years crazy 3 red flag race was pretty entertaining as far as current regs F1 goes.

Hulkenberg podium - to make up for the one he almost got last year…..

Williams confirm that Logan Sargeant will be withdrawn from the Australian GP.

Bloody hell, not the first time Williams have been caught out by lack of preparation.

 

I suppose at least Logan doesn’t have the risk of being outshone by a one race replacement!