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Post by René on Nov 16, 2022 18:56:16 GMT
 Okay, here we are, the last race of the season (finally?) . Everyone will try to end the season on a high but only a few will manage to actually do that.
The main focus will be on the battle for second in the championship between Charles Leclerc and Sergio Pérez of which we were already reminded in Brazil with the unbelievable (re)action from Max Verstappen when asked by his team to give Sergio a couple of extra points.
Honestly, I think it’s one of the most childish and selfish things I’ve ever seen a world champion do. But more worrying, the Verstappen camp has obviously taken over Red Bull in a way like trump did with the Republican Party. Horner is only in charge on paper. I mean, Red Bull pays for Max’s multi-million dollar lifestyle but somehow Max thinks he’s bigger than the team. He seemed to have grown this season but when things don’t go his way, we see another side of him. Not a good development. Also experienced guys like Peter Windsor or long time serving German journalist Michael Schmidt were baffled by Verstappen’s actions. … but, he will help Checo this weekend so all is well!  More important, this will be Sebastian Vettel’s last Grand Prix!
The 4 times World Champion will call it a day and spent more time with his family and explore other interests in life. But he is driving very well this season, actually better than in his last Ferrari years. Sebastian was sometimes called a ‘one trick pony’ during his Red Bull years but the man can certainly drive. Four world titles and third most winning Ferrari driver after Michael Schumacher and Niki Lauda! That is quite an achievement. Sebastian has also grown enormously as a man. Comparing “Multi-21” Seb to 2022 Seb is a huge difference. Maybe there’s still hope for Max… 
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Post by René on Nov 16, 2022 23:58:55 GMT
A bit of fun.  |
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Post by René on Nov 17, 2022 18:40:29 GMT
Poor Mick out, Hulk back in. That should please Chris I think? 
And Red Bull tries to smooth things over with an extra statement saying they made some mistakes in how they handled team orders in Brazil. And Checo says he did not crash intentionally in Monaco and Max says it's all bullshit. That sounds fantastic. |
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Post by chrisb on Nov 17, 2022 19:47:42 GMT
It seems a poor way to end a very long season but there again the Middle East seems to be somewhat the focus at the moment
Rene the little clips are wonderful and I will look them up on the internet as they do amuse
I have resorted to type and gone for George this weekend working on the principle that Lewis will probably win
Seb has really matured into a real legend and all round good guy who has not rested on his laurels in my opinion but I am still confused as to why Aston Martin have signed Teflonso
Well Rene I am really pleased to see the Hulk back where he belongs and think Haas will be a formidable team but I also feel a bit sad for Mick and hope he gets a decent ride somewhere
My word what is going on at the fizzy drinks lot and where is Helmut? Or have I missed something? I understand Max’s Mother is now saying Checo is having an affair or something, that will go down well,
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Post by René on Nov 17, 2022 20:40:25 GMT
Rene the little clips are wonderful and I will look them up on the internet as they do amuse They are super funny. Very well made. |
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Post by mikael on Nov 19, 2022 8:36:33 GMT
A bit of fun.
Highly amusing - and some real gold nuggets among the lines! Like:
"Once you are a two times World Champion, you are among the greats. Four times Champion, Seven times Champion; they are not great - it's all the car ...”  |
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Post by René on Nov 19, 2022 11:42:15 GMT
A bit of fun. Highly amusing - and some real gold nuggets among the lines! Like:
"Once you are a two times World Champion, you are among the greats. Four times Champion, Seven times Champion; they are not great - it's all the car ...” Also the voices and accents, especially of Carlos and George and of course Toto. Very funny. |
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Post by René on Nov 19, 2022 11:55:22 GMT
Not looking good for Ferrari after FP3. Only P6 & 7 behind the two RBs, the Mercs and Lando. They need to find something or otherwise they could lose P2 in both the driver's and constructor's. That would be a very painful end to a season that started so promising.
Ferrari have stopped developing the F1-75 several races ago, this not to shift focus to 2023 but because they reached the ceiling of the cost cap. I am very curious to see what the Red Bull figures look like after this season. They were so convinced they did nothing wrong in 2021 so how would it be any better this year?
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Post by René on Nov 19, 2022 20:20:46 GMT
Well, after all not a bad qualy. Closer than I expected and Ferrari quite competitive. Good they beat the Mercs and I’m sure Charles will beat Checo tomorrow. Yes, much more confident now. Forza.  Very good session from Sebastian Vettel. So happy for him it went so well. The man can drive, no argument there. Let’s hope he has a good last race. |
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Post by René on Nov 20, 2022 10:06:43 GMT
It's very interesting to see how many tributes there are for Sebastian Vettel and special events organized by F1 and his team and also his former teams Red Bull and Ferrari. I don't believe a driver has ever been honored like this before and directed his own farewell like this. The recorded farewell speach and this weekend a diner with all the drivers. It's unique and Seb is clearly very popular throughout the paddock.
This is a nice one from Charles, very sincere.
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Post by René on Nov 20, 2022 18:30:25 GMT
Well, that’s that. Final race of the season and a finish that most people can live with I guess. Max in the RB18 in a league of his own and brilliant Charles finishing the season in a very deserved second. The Mercedes revival was short lived so Ferrari also secured second in the constructors.
Some nice racing throughout the field and an on-form Sebastian ending his career with a point and some good overtaking maneuvers. Bye bye Seb!
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Post by Carl on Nov 20, 2022 23:06:39 GMT
It's curious that Sebastian Vettel seems, over recent years, to have grown into greater maturity at the same pace as his aggression and success have diminished. While undoubtedly a great driver, during his early years of great success he was also a real jerk whose role model was another. A champion presents a trophy to young Vettel in 1994 -  That was the year of Schumacher's maiden championship, which he won by ramming Damon Hill at the final turn on the last lap at Adelaide. It's become a cliche that, as baseball great (and consummate jerk) Leo Durocher once declared, "nice guys finish last", but it may now be more true as corporate involvement and competitive pressure within our sport increases and the emphasis on character-building aspects is ignored or even ridiculed. ----------------
"Too bad!" - Sebastian Vettel in defiance of a team strategy he'd earlier accepted - 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix "Someone doesn't want me to win" - Lewis Hamilton after engine failure at Malaysia in 2016 “I told you already last time, you guys don't ask that again to me, OK? Are we clear about that?" - Max Verstappen refusing last week at Interlagos to assist a teammate who had earlier assisted him. These are world champions...
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Post by robmarsh on Nov 21, 2022 9:40:54 GMT
Sad I admit Carl, compared to Fangio, Jim Clark, JYS etc but I think it starts at a young age and is encouraged. This "My team mate is my worst enemy" attitude sprung up in the 80s and probably stems from fathers giving advice to their children when karting which is a totally me vs the rest sport.
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Post by René on Nov 21, 2022 9:51:58 GMT
… which begs the question, is Charles too nice?
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Post by chrisb on Nov 21, 2022 9:52:41 GMT
I watched the highlights and couldn't help but feel that had Max allowed Checo to take the lead at the start the fizzy drinks would have finished the year 1st and 2nd, so much for team spirit, wonder what the after race celebrations were like and if there is likely to be any consequences from this.
One thing that really struck me was how crxp I felt the circuit was, almost a grown up scale model of a toy circuit, money as we know talks louder than anything else and a rather damp squib end to a season, I couldn't get excited by the circuit and it just feels devoid of any character and lets not talk about DRS
Carl, I think your point is well made and again I would look at the money involved and how it could be responsible for such a ruthless and selfish approach to motor racing and perhaps life, certainly the above references seem to highlight me first approach and to blazes with anyone else.
Seb has matured brilliantly and there are some great pictures of him on various 70's Suzuki's wearing minimal protection and a great comment from Team Suzuki praising Seb for his choice of bike but not his wearing shorts - have a great retirement Seb and hopefully we will be hearing a lot more from him in the future.
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