Formula 1-2022 Season

In reply to Keith Tanner :

The world is a funny place,if Lewis races he's a mocked for picking and choosing which human rights upsets him and if he doesn't he's a crybaby.

 I don't care what any driver wears or causes they support,its the bit where they are wearing helmets that matter most to me. :)

So it looks like the race is on.  The drivers decided not to boycott the race after being warned of the consequences of not racing.  Apparently one of those consequences was that it wouldn't be easy for them to leave the country.  So, Saudi Arabia is basically holding F1 hostage.

wae said:

So it looks like the race is on.  The drivers decided not to boycott the race after being warned of the consequences of not racing.  Apparently one of those consequences was that it wouldn't be easy for them to leave the country.  So, Saudi Arabia is basically holding F1 hostage.

Unreal. Would KSA really risk that kind of publicity? If this is true, they should run this race, then never come back. 

wae said:

So it looks like the race is on.  The drivers decided not to boycott the race after being warned of the consequences of not racing.  Apparently one of those consequences was that it wouldn't be easy for them to leave the country.  So, Saudi Arabia is basically holding F1 hostage.

Source?

As terrible as Saudi Arabia is, I find that very hard to believe.

z31maniac said:

wae said:

So it looks like the race is on.  The drivers decided not to boycott the race after being warned of the consequences of not racing.  Apparently one of those consequences was that it wouldn't be easy for them to leave the country.  So, Saudi Arabia is basically holding F1 hostage.

Source?

As terrible as Saudi Arabia is, I find that very hard to believe.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/60885031

"Among the considerations, BBC Sport has been told, was the potential impact calling off the race might have - whether there could be delays in personnel or freight leaving the country, for example."

Seems like the most credible mention but a lot of other sites/Twitter/Reddit state it as more of threatening language.

In reply to johndej :

Yeah, every article I found cites the BBC Sport-not-plural-because-the-English article.  Maybe they got a scoop, maybe they made it up.  But they did give WWE some problems with that very thing a couple years ago, so it's not totally outside the realm of possibility.

z31maniac said:

wae said:

So it looks like the race is on.  The drivers decided not to boycott the race after being warned of the consequences of not racing.  Apparently one of those consequences was that it wouldn't be easy for them to leave the country.  So, Saudi Arabia is basically holding F1 hostage.

As terrible as Saudi Arabia is, I find that very hard to believe.

The Saudi's have a well oiled PR department

In reply to L5wolvesf :

So to speak

johndej said:

z31maniac said:

wae said:

So it looks like the race is on.  The drivers decided not to boycott the race after being warned of the consequences of not racing.  Apparently one of those consequences was that it wouldn't be easy for them to leave the country.  So, Saudi Arabia is basically holding F1 hostage.

Source?

As terrible as Saudi Arabia is, I find that very hard to believe.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/60885031

"Among the considerations, BBC Sport has been told, was the potential impact calling off the race might have - whether there could be delays in personnel or freight leaving the country, for example."

Seems like the most credible mention but a lot of other sites/Twitter/Reddit state it as more of threatening language.

That's insane. I hope they don't have a race there again.

But the FIA knows no hypocrisy about human rights when it comes to money. 

Ouch.  Tough day for Latifi.  The W13 looks like it is on ice for HAM.

In reply to wae :

Crazy he's so far from Russell.   Wonder if his mind is fully into the weekend, given what has gone on.

Damn, Hamilton out in Q1

z31maniac said:

But the FIA knows no hypocrisy about human rights when it comes to money. 

History of the world, right there, not just the FIA.

johndej said:

Damn, Hamilton out in Q1

I wonder if he will have "engine problems" at the beginning of the race so he can just get out.

In reply to alfadriver :

I have to wonder if RUS just has so much more experience wrangling a bad car.

I didn't see Lewis not making it out of Q1!

That was bizarre. I'm shocked he was so far behind Russell.

What I do see is Nicholas Latifi being done in F1 this year. If Williams has strong backing and they don't need his family's money I think he is done. Mazipin showed how having a so so pay driver hurts the team. That has nothing to do with politics or money. Just that the so so pay driver holds back the other driver and hurts the team. If Albon can come off the bench and out drive him straight away and he keeps piling up cars. He is all done. 

Man, the Ferraris are quick.  I bet most expected the Red Bulls to be there, but the Ferraris?  They are slightly better on used red tires than Max on fresh.

Oh, Mick!

Oh man

In reply to wae :

Oof.  I thought that was Kmag, but now see it's Mick.  Who looks a lot better this week than last week, relative to KMag.  Hope he's ok!  KMag may be the best thing that happened to his career.  

Oh man, he's still in the car. That was a horrific shunt.

That is one of the biggest hits I have seen in a long time

They are saying that section you are doing 170 mph