Formula 1 & Motorsport 2022: Shrive to Survive

[Kevin S]

As Netflix's hottest new drama gets ready to drop season 3, filming for season 4 is soon to get underway. New props, new locations, and some changes to the cast are all lined up. But there's still a mystery about the dramatic events at the climax of the 2021 season. The star man of recent years has been screwed over, and an investigation is underway. Given that people are investigating themselves, I don't think much of a confession will be forthcoming.

So, back to the real (?) sporting contest. Folk are seemingly reading into Hamilton's lack of Instagram posts in the last month a sign that he will drop the retirement bombshell. I can't see it myself. Mercedes and he will play tough with F1 and the FIA but I'm sure he'll be on the grid in March.

[Wouter D]

A Mercedes owner in my neighborhood found their car keyed the morning after last season's denouement. F1 fandom in the Netherlands is by now way beyond what is healthy.

[jason voorhees]

Not sure how Masi survives. My guess is the day Masi is axed is the day Lewis announces he's back.

Wonder if the reports on Ferrari aren't the same hype as every year.

[Kevin S]

More pressingly, the WRC starts later this week with Monte. The cars are now hybrids and M-Sport have changed from a Fiesta to a Puma. They've also got Loeb for some of the races.

https://www.fia.com/news/wrc-rallye-...lo-fia-preview

[Incandenza]

As Netflix's hottest new drama gets ready to drop season 3, filming for season 4 is soon to get underway.

One behind...season 4 is the next one to come out.

[Incandenza]

Not sure how Masi survives. My guess is the day Masi is axed is the day Lewis announces he's back.

Wonder if the reports on Ferrari aren't the same hype as every year.

Interesting how the day after Sky and the BBC reported that Hamilton was still seriously considering walking away that the FIA said that their investigation would be finished by early February.

[Third rate Leszno]

More pressingly, the WRC starts later this week with Monte. The cars are now hybrids and M-Sport have changed from a Fiesta to a Puma. They've also got Loeb for some of the races.

https://www.fia.com/news/wrc-rallye-...lo-fia-preview

And the Puma livery is pretty nice, if it weren't for the massive RB logo. I'll waffle on about rallying some more when I have time.

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/m-spo...r-puma-rally1/

[Third rate Leszno]

To no great surprise, the British round of the WRC has fallen through for 2022. The FIA had left a slot open in August for a proposed closed roads event in Northern Ireland, but the NI Government funding couldn't be agreed in time and Motorsport UK pulled the plug as they couldn't take the risk of underwriting it. They'll try again next year.

[Kevin S]

Ah, bugger, that's a shame. Are we thought to be going back to Wales in 2023?

Monte shakedown is tomorrow. Here's something to whet the appetite:

[Third rate Leszno]

Ah, bugger, that's a shame. Are we thought to be going back to Wales in 2023?

No, it's NI or bust at the moment. There's talk of wanting to rotate the event around the UK in future years (realistically just Wales and Scotland, I can't see an English event being viable due to the lack of forest blocks large enough to stage a WRC round) but that's all dependent on devolved administrations stumping up the cash and Wales had already decided they weren't prepared to do that in 2020, even though they had a deal in place to hold the event (before Covid intervened anyway).

[Kevin S]

Fingers crossed that something comes together in the not too distant future then.

Stage 1 is rolling and Ogier means business.

[Kevin S]

Gah, I need to unfollow all WRC accounts and people on Facebook and Twitter to avoid the spoilers!

If you're lucky enough not to know the result - or even if you're unlucky enough to know it - here are the highlights from Monte '22 in three 25 minute videos:

https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/events...ip-monte-carlo

[ursus arctos]

https://twitter.com/poppy_haze/status/1489452793203200002?s=21

[jason voorhees]

I guess they don't wave red flags these days in Russia?

Shades of the 1975 Silverstone ending - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9mXWqLjGd8

[Third rate Leszno]

Several observations to make there...

The first car to go off is one of the safety cars that run ahead of the competitors to check the route - wtf was he doing going so quick that he bins it? And secondly, having binned it, it's surprising (from a UK rallying pov) that the organisers didn't go and put extra warning tape on the corner before letting the first car in.

The next bloke to roll seems very unhappy when the third car rolls into his car - but was anyone waving the cars down? There's not really a flag system in rallying (maybe at a couple of major junctions, but not every bend) but spectators usually wave down following crews if someone is off, and the crew have to put out the warning triangle they carry in the car with them.

There are people visibly slowing cars by the time the last one goes flying in, albeit right on the corner - is there anyone further up the stage? If so, that driver is an absolute cock for not lifting off and could've killed people.

Good corner though, as a spectator if you manage to find a place like that it's a massive buzz (providing no one gets hurt).

[ursus arctos]

https://twitter.com/tariqpanja/status/1494307078856486917?s=20&t=lE23VvlvI0YyG5yZtkd5WQ

[jason voorhees]

So long. You'll be remembered for #F1xed.

[Incandenza]

Jacques Villeneuve qualified in one of the spots for open teams at the Daytona 500.

[Incandenza]

https://twitter.com/ChrisMedlandF1/status/1496824996932595720

[jason voorhees]

That boy became quite a hero is his old age.

[diggedy derek]

Vettel is a true renaissance man.

[RobW]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...formula-one-f1 given the GP to Turkey apparently.

[longeared]

The Russian Grand Prix has been axed in an unusually quick and decisive move for F1. They had to do that really given the way Putin puts himself front and centre in the event - say what you like about some of the places they visit but you don't get other leaders having half the main stand to themselves or standing on the podium with the drivers. Even the obvious sportswash races in the Middle East go about things more discreetly and carefully. It may also be a factor that Sochi is a rubbish circuit and the city and country doesn't exactly go out of its way to welcome the sport and the attendees.

Haas have major sponsorship from a Russian owner and they removed the branding for the final day of testing today, they've issued some quotes suggesting they are going to attempt to extract themselves from the deal. Nikita Mazepin's drive is also in some doubt as a consequence, although there would be reasonable grounds for removing him anyway on the grounds he is a shit driver and a sex pest. Given that its Haas you'd assume they'd be looking at the Ferrari Academy for a potential replacement, although the obvious next cab on the rank there is Robert Shwartzman who is, erm, Russian.

[Kevin S]

In all the excitement of F1 testing and removal of the Russian GP I'd forgotten that it was Rally Sweden this weekend on the snow. Full highlights are up on Red Bull TV.

[Incandenza]

Uralkali removed as Haas' title sponsor and Mazepin's contract has been terminated. He put out a statement saying that this was a unilateral decision and he was willing to sign any sort of statement saying he didn't support the war--clearly he doesn't know or doesn't want to face the reality that his contract was never about his driving, but just the money that he brought to the team.