Formula 1 Discussion - And favourite driver?

[Coccxys]

Current rumour doing the rounds is "yet another shitty street track" Madring cannot be ready in time for the 2026 GP after multiple delays and will be replaced by Imola.

I really hope so and I really hope it puts FOM off these constant shitty poorly thought out street races.

 

[ForTheHoard]

Saw this going around social media and it makes a lot of sense to me.


Asked Grok about the validity of the Interlagos stuff and it checks out.

Spoiler: Grok

Yes, the FIA did investigate and confirm the use of illegal devices by multiple Formula 1 teams during the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix weekend at Interlagos. These were not broadly described as "hidden" in official terms but were covert modifications to skid blocks (also called skid plates) on the cars' underbodies, designed to evade plank wear regulations. The FIA detected suspicious data patterns, conducted inspections, and ordered teams to remove the devices before qualifying and the race. No disqualifications or penalties were issued retroactively for the Brazilian GP results, but the incident prompted a new technical directive to ban such practices, with further changes slated for 2026 regulations.This controversy emerged from performance discrepancies observed between the sprint race and qualifying, where some cars ran unusually low without excessive plank wear (a key compliance check under F1's ground-effect rules). The plank—a wooden reference board on the car's floor—must wear within limits to ensure cars aren't scraping the track illegally, as excessive wear can lead to disqualification (e.g., Lewis Hamilton's 2025 Chinese GP case).

 

[Coccxys]

It's not like they went that hard to hide it. They put out a whole TD about it, as I said above. The media just didn't shout about it like it normally does.

Generally if they're issuing a TD and not any penalties then the device is likely not strictly illegal but a grey area and they are clarifying that they consider it the wrong side of that line. That is very likely the case here.

 

[Mantis Toboggan M.D.]

It's not like they went that hard to hide it. They put out a whole TD about it, as I said above. The media just didn't shout about it like it normally does.

Generally if they're issuing a TD and not any penalties then the device is likely not strictly illegal but a grey area and they are clarifying that they consider it the wrong side of that line. That is very likely the case here.

Which would mean that a big part of the McLaren's performance edge came from its lower ride height if they did this the entire year. It would explain it's big operating window and great performance; the 2025 McLaren is an easy car to set up and drive.

 

[Kyria the Great]

Which would mean that a big part of the McLaren's performance edge came from its lower ride height if they did this the entire year. It would explain it's big operating window and great performance; the 2025 McLaren is an easy car to set up and drive.

Well I'm in the camp that it's not illegal till it is and Id do the same as their metal coating alloy allowed them to run their cars much lower and have better down force. The rules at the end of the day isn't about what is in the rulebook, it's about what isn't in them.

 

[Coccxys]

Which would mean that a big part of the McLaren's performance edge came from its lower ride height if they did this the entire year. It would explain it's big operating window and great performance; the 2025 McLaren is an easy car to set up and drive.

It will be interesting to see how much it hurts them in the remaining races, especially since they clearly miscalculated in Vegas so will have to be even more compromised with the set up to avoid another DSQ.

 

[Not A Bunny]

Logging my predictions early because it's a holiday weekend and I got things to do:

Verstappen smells blood in the water. Max for the pole and win.

Team Mercedes is invigorated by the win in Vegas. If they don't finish out the podium, they both at least end up in top 5.

McLaren contrarywise is demoralized. Norris is probably holding up better than Piastri, who's had a run of bad luck since probably Baku. Norris will be lucky for a top 5 finish. Piastri, lucky for top 10.

I'm going to eat my words on this, but something tells me Leclerc is due. I think he's at least in sniffing distance of the podium. Hamilton has written off the season, "Lift and Coast" is now less a strategy than it is a philosophy.

Wildcard for top 5 is Hadjar. I think he wants to prove to the bosses he's good enough to be a stable Driver #2 for Max.

 

[Kyria the Great]

Logging my predictions early because it's a holiday weekend and I got things to do:

Verstappen smells blood in the water. Max for the pole and win.

Team Mercedes is invigorated by the win in Vegas. If they don't finish out the podium, they both at least end up in top 5.

McLaren contrarywise is demoralized. Norris is probably holding up better than Piastri, who's had a run of bad luck since probably Baku. Norris will be lucky for a top 5 finish. Piastri, lucky for top 10.

I'm going to eat my words on this, but something tells me Leclerc is due. I think he's at least in sniffing distance of the podium. Hamilton has written off the season, "Lift and Coast" is now less a strategy than it is a philosophy.

Wildcard for top 5 is Hadjar. I think he wants to prove to the bosses he's good enough to be a stable Driver #2 for Max.

Merc going to get podiums would greatly help Max's chances which is possible because their car is the 2nd best car on the grid. Though Norris shouldn't be counted out yet.

 

[Mantis Toboggan M.D.]

Well I'm in the camp that it's not illegal till it is and Id do the same as their metal coating alloy allowed them to run their cars much lower and have better down force. The rules at the end of the day isn't about what is in the rulebook, it's about what isn't in them.

The TD regarding the expanding metal came out, it is illegal now, I'd do it too, but we don't know how the car will react when the ride height is increased, that's my point. I don't give a fuck about rule bending, I'm all for it, just have a plan for when you get caught.

 

[Coccxys]

we don't know how the car will react when the ride height is increased

Even better they screwed it on Vegas and Qatar is a sprint weekend so only 1 practice to try and get the set up right, plus a sprint weekend is harder wearing on the plank. Mclaren might genuinely be in trouble trying to get a workable set up while being comfortable they wont just get disqualified again.

Stella said in an interview they suffered a load of porpoising in the rcae that they didn’t get in any of the practices or simulations so definitely sounds like they have a problem.

 

[SargonF00t]

Even better they screwed it on Vegas and Qatar is a sprint weekend so only 1 practice to try and get the set up right, plus a sprint weekend is harder wearing on the plank. Mclaren might genuinely be in trouble trying to get a workable set up while being comfortable they wont just get disqualified again.

Stella said in an interview they suffered a load of porpoising in the rcae that they didn’t get in any of the practices or simulations so definitely sounds like they have a problem.

With the plank and skid plate, is that meant to last for the whole weekend, or do they put in a new one for just the race?

 

[Coccxys]

With the plank and skid plate, is that meant to last for the whole weekend, or do they put in a new one for just the race?

They have to use the same plank from the start of SQ1 through to the end of the GP on sprint weekends or the start of Q1 the end of the GP on normal weekends.

They put a rule in place with the changes to parc ferme on sprint weekends (ends after the sprint and a new one starts with Q1) to specify the plank couldn't be changed. Largely to prevent suicidally low cars in the sprint since it is 1/3 the race distance so would not wear as much.

 

[CEO of Autism]

Well well well

 

[Balr0g]

Kinda strange to see the Chief designer become team principal. I thought they got Newey to specifically draw the car not manage the team. Maybe Stroll will get the boot next and will be replaced by Verstappen in a few years

Also, in terms of the plank wear. The teams are basically dancing on a razor's edge when it comes to the technical regulations. And just look at how close the field ios, everyone tries to find the "big break". Of course some can again argue that Mclaren cheats (just like some LH cult members chant RedBullcheats like it's a holy prayer) but before the new TD it was legal. Just like Mclaren's brakes were legal before the FIA banned them. Or the mass dampers from Renault were legal until the FIA banned those too. Next year will be fun in that regard but you can bet your asses that teams will try to find loopholes

 

[The Grognard]

If anything, F1 should actually consider sometimes just making a white paper explaining the loophole and why it works so every team can have a shot at making their own version of it. Perhaps reintroduce some that were banned in the past as well as an explicit thing you are allowed to do every once in a while to stir up the field.

 

[ForTheHoard]

Well well well

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I know it's probably a long shot, but so much shit is changing at Aston Martin for 2026 that Fernando might have a real shot at a 3rd championship. They just need to send Stroll back to his yaucht and bring in somebody that can support my boy. Instead of reaching for Russell or LeClerc, pulling in one of the better performing rookies makes the most sense, assuming it doesn't turn into a repeat of '07 McLaren with Hamilton. Bortaletto seems like an obvious choice, but a lot of them have been impressive this year. I personally think Antonelli is a future world champion but Al-Merquades has him locked in.

 

[Pee Cola]

They just need to send Stroll back to his yaucht

The only way Stroll the Younger will leave the AM F1 team is if he decides to go and race in WEC or some other category where AM is represented.

 

[LiveFromNS]

The only way Stroll the Younger will leave the AM F1 team is if he decides.

FTFY

If Lance had a brother, he would be in the 2nd AM seat.

 

[Coccxys]

Bortaletto seems like an obvious choice, but a lot of them have been impressive this year.

He'd be insane to leave now that Audi are about to plough a shit ton of money and effort into the team. Even if they start slow he'll have a hand in driving the development and I can't imagine them being as bad as Sauber currently is.

Them letting Drugo leave is about as much evidence as you need that they have zero intention in moving Stroll on.

If anyone from the current grid I would expect Tsunoda since they're using Honda engines and Tsunoda is Honda's guy. Ultimately I still think they'll throw everything at trying to get Max to replace Alonso when he retires and Max has never really cared about his team mate being competitive or not.

 

[Coccxys]

Rumour has it Leclerc has signed a "pre-contract" with Aston for when the Ferrari is a shambles again.



Don't know how reliable the source usually is on these things though.