Formula 1 2021-2022 Off-Season and Mid-season break threadFormula 1

[UltimateYosh]

Of course Fittipaldi would at least temporarily be his replacement, as he is their reserve driver.

 

[Veinz]

I keep seeing Gio will take the seat.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Can't see anyone other than Pietro getting the seat. He'll have been doing a lot of work with Haas behind the scenes on the new car, they have the new sim etc so makes sense that he would step up. Gio is also contracted to Penske in FE and Haas' image today prepping for Bahrain was, not so subtle in depicting Fittipaldi in the car.

 

[Veinz]

Well they aren’t going to post a pic of the 21’ car in Russian flag colors that’s for sure. 😆

I wonder how much money he brings in. AND if Uralkali paid up front already. Sorry Dmitry, no refunds.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Helmet Marko at it again

Helmut Marko partly blames Lewis Hamilton for Michael Masi departure

Helmut Marko feels Lewis Hamilton needs to take partial responsibility for the decision which led to Michael Masi being axed as race director.

www.planetf1.com

 

[Jimlaad43]

I almost don't want to watch Drive to Survive just because I know we're going to have to suffer Karenian Horner giving his narrative without anyone being able to refute his claims...

 

[ThePotatoKing]

 

[Liquid]

Yep.

 

[McLaren]

Helmet Marko at it again

Helmut Marko partly blames Lewis Hamilton for Michael Masi departure

Helmut Marko feels Lewis Hamilton needs to take partial responsibility for the decision which led to Michael Masi being axed as race director.

www.planetf1.com

What the **** did that old fool think Hamilton was gonna do? Come out and say, “Nah, I know how things went down but I don’t want Masi removed”?

Staying silent and collecting his thoughts, & spending time to himself was the best thing he could’ve done. Actively getting involved or sharing his disdain for the way things played out would’ve riled up way more drama.

Edit* As far as Mazepin goes, money got him in, no money now obviously gets him out. I’m guessing he’ll try to find a seat in some GT series or something post-war.

 

[Terronium-12]

Lol, Mazepin. Not the best driver on the grid by any means and he certainly had a penchant for being...aggressive in the lower formula, and showed sparks of it last year.

My point? Lol. It's the first thing I said.

 

[Touring Mars]

Excellent decision by Haas on both counts.

 

[Rossell2]

The only decision that could've been made tbh.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Expected and the only outcome that could happen.

I do however, think it's being reported badly. BBC running an article saying Mazepin has been sacked as a result of Russia invading Ukraine, but really it's going to be much more to do with Uralkali being dumped and due to them and his dad funding the seat, he had to go.

Whilst I think F1 fans will unanimously agree he didn't deserve to be on the grid anyway, I don't think this is the way anyone should have to lose their seat.

 

[EngieDiesel]

Whilst I think F1 fans will unanimously agree he didn't deserve to be on the grid anyway, I don't think this is the way anyone should have to lose their seat.

If you can't pay the rent, you get evicted by the landlords. As you said, it's not so much a political statement as it is a business decision, and I have a feeling that even if Russia hadn't been kicked out of the financial clubhouse, the deflating value of the ruble would have made UralKali unable to hold up their part of the deal and caused a contract termination anyway.

Also, Motorsport U.K. have already said they would not allow Russian or Belarusian drivers to compete at the British GP regardless of what the FIA decided, and other countries are probably going to follow suit the longer the war goes on, so it's not like Mazepin was going to be able to drive a full season regardless.

 

[Carbonox]

So long, sucker.

Too bad the sexual assault and repeated unsportsmanlike conduct wasn't enough to flush him out in the first place. Even a single season in the worst car imaginable was more than he ever deserved.

 

[SuperDiscoDaz]

Possibly the most unusual stat ever but Mazespin has had more spins in race weekends in F1 than races started

 

[Northstar]

It sounds like nobody ever explained to Nikita that he wasn't in F1 on merit.

https://racer.com/2022/03/05/mazepi...-to-race-as-a-neutral-was-completely-ignored/

 

[Liquid]

I do however, think it's being reported badly. BBC running an article saying Mazepin has been sacked as a result of Russia invading Ukraine, but really it's going to be much more to do with Uralkali being dumped and due to them and his dad funding the seat, he had to go.

I've had the same argument with some hard left people I know. It's a disgrace that he's been sacked because he's Russian when in actuality, his sponsor has been dropped.

No Money = No Drive

Simple as. He was a crap driver anyway.

 

[EngieDiesel]

It seems Mercedes will forever remain the only constructor to have won a Russian GP, which is a depressing thought.

At least we'll have this cringe-worthy image to remember it by.

...I wonder if Lewis still has that hat.

 

[Grayfox]

From what the youtube channel "The Race" have said.
HAAS are fully funded for this season and Uralkali provide 1/5 of their budget

Is it a big loss for HAAS? not that much, will other teams sponsor them?
Hard to say on that.

 

[MagpieRacer]

From what the youtube channel "The Race" have said.
HAAS are fully funded for this season and Uralkali provide 1/5 of their budget

Is it a big loss for HAAS? not that much, will other teams sponsor them?
Hard to say on that.

A disruption more than a blow. If they've built a decent enough car it won't take much to attract that 1/5 back.

 

[Grayfox]

A disruption more than a blow. If they've built a decent enough car it won't take much to attract that 1/5 back.

They do have a famous name as well, their actions may have some positive PR as well.

 

[NLxAROSA]

China and Russia. Two races we thought we'd never get rid of from F1, but it took a Pandemic and an abhorrent Invasion to remove them respectively.

Now to work on Saudi Arabia

Well, so far we've had:

Pestilence: China
War: Russia

So it's gotta be Famine or Death for the next one then.

 

[EngieDiesel]

A disruption more than a blow. If they've built a decent enough car it won't take much to attract that 1/5 back.

From what I've been reading today they've apparently had offers come in from other interested (and likely funded) drivers from the moment it became obvious UralKali wasn't going to be able to make payment, so it's really kind of a moot point.

 

[Dan Hill]

Possibly the most unusual stat ever but Mazespin has had more spins in race weekends in F1 than races started

Or that Mazepin finished 21st in the championship behind Kubica who only did 2 races.

 

[Famine]

Well, so far we've had:

Pestilence: China
War: Russia

So it's gotta be Famine or Death for the next one then.

I've been trying, but petrochemical dollars are tough to fight against.

 

[Blitz24]

I've been trying, but petrochemical dollars are tough to fight against.

I suggest recruiting @TB to assist you in your noble quest.

 

[TB]

I suggest recruiting @TB to assist you in your noble quest.

I'm only good for really short side missions.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Rich and Uralkali. What will be next?



Also, it's...

 

[Samus]

Christian Horner accuses Mercedes of 'bullying' behaviour leading to Michael Masi's removal

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner accuses rivals Mercedes of "bullying" behaviour resulting in the removal of race director Michael Masi.

www.bbc.co.uk

"Was it right to fire him based on pressure that was placed on him from a rival team? That for me was wrong," Horner said.

Does this man suffer from hypocrititis and short memory or something?