All-purpose open-wheel (F1, IRL) racing thread

I'm not a morning person, so I could use a little help based off the parts of the Hungaroring I did see (and remember): The part that I didn't get wasn't, "How did Ferrari F up?" It was "How did Verstappen go from 10th on the grid to first on a track where there's nowhere to pass?"

 

I think the answer is that it's not actually all that hard to pass there anymore. Between DRS and the new regulations you can make a pass in the turns 1-2-3 complex without too much difficulty. Red Bull nailed the strategy and has a faster car than Mercedes; Ferrari shot its foot clean off. That gave Max the opportunity.

 

Would have been fun if that race had been about three laps longer to see Hamilton take a shot at Max. It’s the first time this season it seemed like he may have actually had a chance to catch Verstappen.

 

My daughter told me to watch the F1 documentary on Netflix. Nearing the end of S1. Still trying to figure out who everybody is. You have to really watch closely to catch everything.

 

And things have only gotten sillier since that Tweet. Alonso is in Spain, not on some island. Alpine announced that Oscar Piastri will replace Alonso in 2023. Piastri says he will not drive for Alpine in 2023. All signs point to Piastri driving for McLaren... who already has two drivers under contract for 2023.

Wheee!

 

Which means maybe Ricciardo ends up at Alpine? Oy.

 

One projection I saw had Danny Ric in a Haas.

 

Oh gosh, I hope not. The sport is better with him in the midfield.

 

This is all complex as hell and subject to contracts and agreements we're not privy to, but...

I don't think Ricciardo can go to Haas. I believe one of their seats essentially belongs to Ferrari. Magnussen likely isn't going anywhere. If Schumacher leaves Ferrari gets to put someone in that seat and it wouldn't be Ricciardo.

As for Alpine... Danny Ric didn't exactly set the world on fire when he was there before and he has been a major disappointment at McLaren. That would seem to be his best option but I'm not convinced they would want him back. He may be screwed.

McLaren seems to have lined up four different drivers to team with Norris and they've done it while they still have a guy under contract through 2023. Odd. (And that's not even getting into the Palou mess in IndyCar.)

 

IndyCar needs to do something about that Nashville circuit. Like, come up with a layout that has absolutely nothing to do with the current version, which is straight garbage.

And Josef Newgarten having a social media meltdown with fans is not a great look after causing a wreck with an absolutely ham-handed pass attempt on Grosjean.