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2026 Formula One Season Thread
- Thread starter The-Real-Deal82
- Start date
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CWallace
macrumors G5
No. 5th, 7th and 6th across the three sprints held so far.
pachyderm
Suspended
Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
pachyderm
Suspended
All of Ferrari's 16 wins at Silverstone
Charles Leclerc finally ended his win drought last weekend at the British Grand Prix, returning Ferrari to the top step at Silverstone once again.
Glideslope
macrumors G3
I think he does. He clearly fumbled the decision last year. George’s seat was his to take. I don’t buy the argument that his loyalty to Dieter on his death bed was a factor. I think it was about money and his GT3 team. Toto was rumored to be offering $50 million USD a year. Max earns close to $100 million USD with endorsements at Red Bull.
My guess is he will stay at Red Bull, and activate his exit clause next year for 2028 availability, or simply leave. However, two more seasons at $100 million USD can go a long way growing Verstappen Racing. I’d be interested to know what Mark has offered to stay through 2030.
Time will tell.
Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
To be fair I’d do it for a lot less! But I might not be as quick (as any of them!).
CWallace
macrumors G5
With Max suffering two rear-wing-induced crashes in two races, the FIA is now looking into the "macarena" wings on safety grounds.
www.the-race.com
Gary Anderson's column in The Race was dedicated to a technical dive into how the wings operate and he notes that in order to meet the Straight Mode activation timelines, these wings operate significantly faster than more traditional wings - roughly five times as quickly. He believes that this is impacting the airflow re-attachment to a level that the driver has effectively no time between the airflow re-attaching and the driver needing to start turning and if they get it wrong, they risk not having minimal rear downforce.
www.the-race.com
My guess that Red Bull's design has an issue that makes the airflow re-attachment worse than Ferrari's and Max is getting caught out by it in certain corners whereas Isack is not - because Isack does not have Max's talent.
McLaren has also developed a "macarena" wing, but have yet to run it.
Two 'Macarena' F1 wings subject to FIA safety probe
The FIA is in safety talks with Red Bull and Ferrari over the designs of their 'Macarena' revolving F1 rear wings
www.the-race.com
Gary Anderson's column in The Race was dedicated to a technical dive into how the wings operate and he notes that in order to meet the Straight Mode activation timelines, these wings operate significantly faster than more traditional wings - roughly five times as quickly. He believes that this is impacting the airflow re-attachment to a level that the driver has effectively no time between the airflow re-attaching and the driver needing to start turning and if they get it wrong, they risk not having minimal rear downforce.
Gary Anderson: The real reason Red Bull has a high-speed crash problem
Red Bull's flip-over F1 rear wing isn't the main problem causing Max Verstappen's offs
www.the-race.com
My guess that Red Bull's design has an issue that makes the airflow re-attachment worse than Ferrari's and Max is getting caught out by it in certain corners whereas Isack is not - because Isack does not have Max's talent.
McLaren has also developed a "macarena" wing, but have yet to run it.
pachyderm
Suspended
" @Apple fanboy might be the fastest on the grid if he could just get the car into gear...' David Coulthard prolly...
Glideslope
macrumors G3
With Max suffering two rear-wing-induced crashes in two races, the FIA is now looking into the "macarena" wings on safety grounds.
Two 'Macarena' F1 wings subject to FIA safety probe
The FIA is in safety talks with Red Bull and Ferrari over the designs of their 'Macarena' revolving F1 rear wings
Gary Anderson's column in The Race was dedicated to a technical dive into how the wings operate and he notes that in order to meet the Straight Mode activation timelines, these wings operate significantly faster than more traditional wings - roughly five times as quickly. He believes that this is impacting the airflow re-attachment to a level that the driver has effectively no time between the airflow re-attaching and the driver needing to start turning and if they get it wrong, they risk not having minimal rear downforce.
Gary Anderson: The real reason Red Bull has a high-speed crash problem
Red Bull's flip-over F1 rear wing isn't the main problem causing Max Verstappen's offs
My guess that Red Bull's design has an issue that makes the airflow re-attachment worse than Ferrari's and Max is getting caught out by it in certain corners whereas Isack is not - because Isack does not have Max's talent.
McLaren has also developed a "macarena" wing, but have yet to run it.
The Red Bull design opens the opposite direction of Ferrari. There has been some speculation on this……
Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
If I could get in I’m not sure there would be any room for the seat.
A friend of mine got to sit in Lewis’s Mercedes a few years back when he was visiting the Red Arrows.
Glideslope
macrumors G3
Caught the Red Arrows at Jones Beach on July 5th. Nice tight display as always........ 😉
Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
So we sponsor them at work so I’ve been their guest at Riat and also been to their training sessions.
Equally it could be possible that Alsono leaves AM, maybe they tire of Stroll's antics.. 2 seats open, and a miracle, the team starts gaining traction... Then Red Bull really have a dilemma..
Max should leave, it is a business, no one cares about you in corporate, no friends there.. The only friend you have is the money you earn.. Graveyards and deathbeds are for women's pink cover bodice ripper novels... Not F1..
Max should leave, it is a business, no one cares about you in corporate, no friends there.. The only friend you have is the money you earn.. Graveyards and deathbeds are for women's pink cover bodice ripper novels... Not F1..
Glideslope
macrumors G3
Nice assignment.👌 It’s been decades since I’ve been to RAF Fairford. Way back in my prime I’d stop off at RAF Mildenhall on the way to the sandbox. I can only remember Fairford for RIAT. Always enjoyed my brief stays. Very professional crews and groundies.
CWallace
macrumors G5
Now that MBS has formally welcomed Christian Horner back into the F1 fold, now we just need to wait to see where he ends up and in what role.
Renault don't want him at Alpine, but their veto power (which they have exercised against Horner) expires in September so if Briatore still wants him (and I imagine he does), that is probably the most-likely option.
Newey was against Papa Stroll hiring him at Aston Martin earlier this year, but with the team in absolute free-fall at the moment, they could absolutely use someone like Horner in a senior role behind the scenes. Should Newey give up (or be forced to give up) the Team Principal role, Jonathan Wheatley is still believed to have in inside track for that job, but Horner could slot in as CEO to help build-up the brand and work as a liaison between AM and Honda.
Renault don't want him at Alpine, but their veto power (which they have exercised against Horner) expires in September so if Briatore still wants him (and I imagine he does), that is probably the most-likely option.
Newey was against Papa Stroll hiring him at Aston Martin earlier this year, but with the team in absolute free-fall at the moment, they could absolutely use someone like Horner in a senior role behind the scenes. Should Newey give up (or be forced to give up) the Team Principal role, Jonathan Wheatley is still believed to have in inside track for that job, but Horner could slot in as CEO to help build-up the brand and work as a liaison between AM and Honda.
Never a dull day in the Drama Llama land of F1.. One day your the bee's knees, then you are out like last nights pizza box, then all of a sardine, back like someone loves you... F1 is never dull...
Glideslope
macrumors G3
I saw this yesterday. Absolutely incredible. All those resourses.........
Horner would be a valuable hire if AMR is staying with Honda for the foreseeable future. His Honda roots are deep. Their B-Spec should be back to form.
I am wondering, in this silly period between weekends of drama, where is China? All I see is more and more Chinese owned/named cars on the road.. A new stealership being built and open almost one a week.. Yet there are no Chinese brands in F1???
Maybe AM or William's should look to China for some sort of power unit? Just idle thoughts waiting for "lights out...."
Maybe AM or William's should look to China for some sort of power unit? Just idle thoughts waiting for "lights out...."
headlessmike
macrumors 68000
Chinese brand BYD (Build Your Dreams) has been rumored to be eyeing an F1 entry, either by buying Alpine or as a partner similar to Toyota with HAAS.
CWallace
macrumors G5
They have also been linked with Christian Horner entering as a new team, since there is still one spot still available per the current Concorde Agreement.
I really don't see the attraction for Mercedes with Max. They have two very good drivers on much less money who are currently leading the championship. Antonelli is clearly a driver who will be extremely sucessfull and Russell is showing what a fighter he is in the last few races. Max brings quality, expense and potential drama to a team that is currently very stable.
I also think a driver of Max's calibre should stay and help develop the car back into a success, not run to a team that has already developed a very good car. Lewis has made a lot of positive changes at Ferrari and they are getting back to the top, and that is what all great drivers do. Stick it out Max and get back in the fight I say!
I also think a driver of Max's calibre should stay and help develop the car back into a success, not run to a team that has already developed a very good car. Lewis has made a lot of positive changes at Ferrari and they are getting back to the top, and that is what all great drivers do. Stick it out Max and get back in the fight I say!
Max would be foolish to be a 1 car driver, that is about the dullest life anyone could have, maybe he enjoys plain rice cakes and plain white toast dry, and drinks water without the sparkles...
At least Lewis has tried other teams, which is good, new blood and new ideas.. He will make the best/worst decision, and this is his right.. I would love to see him in a new team, AM, or Williams, or BYD or whatever the 12th team is..
Red Bull is done, they are a tired team, Max would not be a great fit going forward, you need 2 newbies, 2 guys that can develop with the team, and not an older driver with ideas from the past..Like saying faxing was better than emailing.. [In some ways it was...hard to have a fax war via email..]
At least Lewis has tried other teams, which is good, new blood and new ideas.. He will make the best/worst decision, and this is his right.. I would love to see him in a new team, AM, or Williams, or BYD or whatever the 12th team is..
Red Bull is done, they are a tired team, Max would not be a great fit going forward, you need 2 newbies, 2 guys that can develop with the team, and not an older driver with ideas from the past..Like saying faxing was better than emailing.. [In some ways it was...hard to have a fax war via email..]