Another very niche stat from this weekend is that Sainz was the first driver to win an F1 race having missed the previous one since Gerhard Berger in 1997.

Proposed 2025 F1 calendar

February 19-21 – Pre-season, Bahrain

March 9 – Australia

March 23 – Japan

March 30 – China

April 13 – Bahrain

April 20 – Saudi Arabia

May 4 – Miami

May 18 – Imola

May 25 – Monaco

 

https://speedcafe.com/teams-told-australia-...lendar-emerges/

Fernando Alonso put the upgraded Aston Martin fifth on the grid at the Japanese Grand Prix

 

But team-mate Lance Stroll is having "one of those weekends", having struggled to P16 on the grid:

interesting race, glad Sanz made #3, Alonso also doing great

Was an interesting race, especially from a strategy perspective.

 

I see people are piling on Danny Ric for the crash. I'd rather see how his pace is over the next few races.

Great to see Yuki make the top 10 - although I think he was helped by Hulkenberg being bogged down on the restart

Sainz still the better Ferrari but Leclerc did a good job on the strategy

Bravo to Mercedes as well for their choices - great to see Russell with a strong(er) end after the last race!

 

 

Surely Stroll and Sargeant should have their days numbered. Stroll was just poor and Sargeant seemed to be on better pace until his mistake. Then he was in no man's land (story of his life...)

Edited April 8, 20241 yr by Herbs

Ignoring the crash Ricciardo is getting schooled by Tsunoda this season, they need to get Lawson in the other car pronto.

Ignoring the crash Ricciardo is getting schooled by Tsunoda this season, they need to get Lawson in the other car pronto.

 

Being schooled more than Stroll & Sargeant?

The only reason you have one of the oldest drivers on the grid in the Red Bull second team is because there's a chance he'll soon be in the main team, and there was so much talk pre-season about whether Ricciardo would replace Perez. At the moment, Perez has done what Red Bull want him to do in 3 of 4 races, whilst all Ricciardo is doing is proving his McLaren form wasn't unlucky or unrepresentative.

Being schooled more than Stroll & Sargeant?

 

Thar's irrelevant and not related. Stroll has a lifetime contract as long as Daddy is in charge and Sergeant is only in the sport because he's American.

The only reason you have one of the oldest drivers on the grid in the Red Bull second team is because there's a chance he'll soon be in the main team, and there was so much talk pre-season about whether Ricciardo would replace Perez. At the moment, Perez has done what Red Bull want him to do in 3 of 4 races, whilst all Ricciardo is doing is proving his McLaren form wasn't unlucky or unrepresentative.

 

Yep and I myself thought he would retake that seat eventually but it's clear now he's not gonna get his best form back again. Perez has done well so far this year but let's remember he started last year even better and ended it basically a meme.

I think with Perez he's previously fallen to pieces after winning a couple of races and being talked up for the title and spoken about how he wants to beat Max, probably putting too much pressure on himself. It now feels a bit like he's realised and admitted his place and more at peace with it, in which case he might be more consistent in doing what Red Bull want him to do. At the moment it's looking close to 0 chance he gets replaced by Ricciardo, so RB may as well get Lawson in early after his performances last year.

 

As for Sargent, I've become convinced he only got a second season because of Antonelli. Mercedes will want him in F1 next year and that's the likely seat lined up for him whilst he's not yet ready for the main team, Williams probably thought it was pointless having a different driver for this in-between season, especially as no other drivers became available. They've proven they're not really behind him with the Aus decision and he's not exactly done anything in Japan to make them think they might have got it wrong.

Edited April 8, 20241 yr by RabbitFurCoat

There's still a small glimmer for Ricciardo, in that Horner remains an admirer of his and will vouch for him, as would Max. And the other factor is that Daniel likes a car that handles in a very similar way to how Max does. Sharp at the front end and looser in the rear. Their driving styles are quite similar, which would suggest he could still perform in the Red Bull, if given a chance. Whether those in the team would be willing to take that gamble is a big if though and only another test would give them any inidicators but that's not really possible.

 

As for Stroll, there are still a fair few rumours that daddy may be looking to sell for the right price rather than admit defeat.

Alonso has signed on for a further two years at Aston Martin, which will reunite him with Honda engines once again.

 

Probably a smart move given his options right now.

GP2 Engine!

Provisional 2025 calendar released, only notable afference to this season's is Australia being restored to its traditional place as season opener.

Yes! Always love an Aussie GP opener.

Marca are reporting that Sainz to Mercedes is as good as a done deal.

 

 

Reports elsewhere are also suggesting that both Renault and Red Bull would be willing to sell their teams (RB in the latter example) for the right terms.

 

Meanwhile, Andretti Global are pressing ahead with their plans for 2026 by opening a state of the art facility in Silverstone, and F2 team Prema have announced they will field two cars in next years Indy championship rather than look to F1.

Blimey, that was an action packed Sprint Quali! Shame the Sprint itself is a 4AM :lol:

Was the cause of the grass fire in FP1 ever revealed?

First Practice:

 

1st Lance Stroll (CAN) [Aston Martin] 1:36.302

2nd Oscar Piastri (AUS) [McLaren] 1:36.629

3rd Max Verstappen (NED) [Red Bull] 1:36.660

4th Sergio Perez (MEX) [Red Bull] 1:36.690

5th Nico Hulkenberg (GER) [Haas] 1:37.101

6th Kevin Magnussen (DEN) [Haas] 1:37.118

7th Esteban Ocon (FRA) [Alpine] 1:37.213

8th Alexander Albon (THA) [Williams] 1:37.229

9th Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) [RB] 1:37.238

10th Valtteri Bottas (FIN) [Kick Sauber] 1:37.530

11th Zhou Guanyu (CHN) [Kick Sauber] 1:37.626

12th Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) [RB] 1:38.006

13th Charles Leclerc (MON) [Ferrari] 1:38.090

14th Carlos Sainz Jr (SPN) [Ferrari] 1:38.284

15th Logan Sargenant (USA) [Williams] 1:38.286

16th Lando Norris (GB) [McLaren] 1:38.630

17th George Russell (GB) [Mercedes] 1:38.806

18th Lewis Hamilton (GB) [Mercedes] 1:38.839

19th Fernando Alonso (SPN) [Aston Martin] 1:38.936

20th Pierre Gasly (FRA) [Alpine] 1:39.276