Anyone else here watch F1 racing?

[E.H. Ruddock]

The streak is finally over

[Ello Sailor]

One of the most exciting races I've seen in forever. Russell vs. LeClerc and later Norris were absolutely sick duels.

Everything is more fun without RB at the top.

[Anders]

Russell crashing at the end was a real shame. Fun race.

[Ello Sailor]

Yep, gutted for Russell.

I do like that he constantly pushes though. He's an entertainer.

[96583UP]

amazing race

really intense

props to Sainz and Lando

tough luck for Russell

[Anders]

"Here is every team on the grid and which of their drivers are confirmed 2024 runners:

Red Bull
Max Verstappen (Contract until end of 2028 season)

Perhaps the most secure of all drivers on the grid as Verstappen and Red Bull’s partnership currently looks like a match made in heaven.

With a title-winning car beneath him, the Dutchman has looked unstoppable and put pen to paper on a five-year extension in March 2022.

Sergio Perez (Contract until end of 2024 season)

In theory, Perez’s place should be as secure as Verstappen’s but given the tensions towards the end of 2022 and the arrival of Daniel Ricciardo as a third driver, that position is not looking as confirmed as it once was.

For now though, Red Bull are sticking with their man having handed him a new contract shortly before the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix, which was won by the Mexican.

Ferrari
Charles Leclerc (Contract until end of 2024 season)

Charles Leclerc committed his future to the Italian outfit in December 2019 with a staggering five-year deal that also tripled his pay, in what was the longest ever contract ever given to a Ferrari driver.

Leclerc and Ferrari will be hoping the Monégasque has at least one title come the end of his current deal.

Carlos Sainz (Contract until end of 2024 season)

The future of Ferrari is secured with Sainz having signed a new contract in the 2022 season following an impressive debut campaign with the team.


The deal, which the Spaniard signed in April 2022, is set to expire at the end of the 2024 season.

Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton (Contract until end of 2025 season)

Hamilton and Mercedes sure made us wait for it, but on the eve of the 2023 Italian Grand Prix, finally the announcement came that Hamilton will race on with the team under a deal running until the end of 2025.

George Russell (Contract until end of 2025 season)

In the same announcement, Mercedes also confirmed a contract extension of the same length for Hamilton’s compatriot and team-mate Russell, meaning their line-up for F1 2024 and beyond is set.

Alpine
Esteban Ocon (Contract until end of 2024 season)

Ocon was rewarded for his upturn in form in 2021 when he was handed a three-year deal by Alpine with the French team showing their faith in him.

The security of Ocon has been a welcome tonic given the nature of the other seat at the team.

Pierre Gasly (Contract until end of 2024 season with option of one-year extension)

Gasly made the move from AlphaTauri to Alpine in 2022 after weeks of speculation and has secured his short-term future in the sport with a two-year deal.

There is also the option for a one-year extension should Gasly impress with the French outfit.

McLaren
Lando Norris (Contract until end of 2025)

After significant improvement year-on-year, Norris decided to commit his future to McLaren.

While others doubted his faith given McLaren’s current standing, Norris was confident they were on course to achieve the goal he had set himself – winning races and fighting for World Championships.

Oscar Piastri (Contract until end of 2024)

Perhaps not wanting to have a repeat of the Alpine fiasco involving Piastri, McLaren have given him a two-year deal despite him being a rookie in the sport.

Regardless of his first year in F1, McLaren will likely keep faith with the Australian but Piastri need only look at his predecessor Daniel Ricciardo to see that the team are not afraid to pull the trigger.

Sauber
Valtteri Bottas (Contract until end of 2025)

In what will be the first season without Alfa Romeo as their partner, Sauber, will have the comforting and familiar presence of Bottas in their car.


It is also a comforting position for the Finn having signed a multi-year deal with the team in 2021 instead of the usual one-year deals he was given at his previous team Mercedes.

Zhou Guanyu (Contract until end of 2024)

Having kept his nose clean during his second season in the sport, as well as providing performances of a similar level to the more experienced Bottas, it’s no surprise that Sauber have opted for continuity for 2024 by keeping Zhou Guanyu onboard.

Audi’s influence on the team will soon kick in, will things remain as amicable between Zhou and Bottas as the allure of a factory drive with the German marque becomes a more tangible future?



Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso (Contract until the end of 2024 season)

In what could be the final contract of Alonso’s incredible career, the Spaniard is set to race his final season in 2024 – but he may want to be put his retirement on hold if Aston Martin can continue to make great strides forward.

Lance Stroll (Rolling contract)

In regards to his Aston Martin stay, it’s hard to say much more about Stroll than his dad owns the team but, well, his dad does own the team so expect to see the Canadian on the grid again in 2024.

Haas
Kevin Magnussen (contract until end of 2024)

Nico Hulkenberg (contract until end of 2024)

Haas have opted to stick with the devils they know and retain both Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg for the F1 2024 season. Having trialled two rookies in seasons past with Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin, the American outfit are seeing the true value of working with experienced drivers.

AlphaTauri
TBC

TBC

Red Bull’s sister team are another who currently have no drivers secured for 2024. Nyck de Vries signed on for the 2023 season following Gasly’s move to Alpine while Yuki Tsunoda had his contract extended by a year in September 2022.

Before hiring De Vries, AlphaTauri were interested in IndyCar driver Colton Herta so may well make another move provided he can earn the required superlicence points.

Williams
TBC

Alex Albon (Contract until the end of 2024 season)


The Thai-British driver impressed enough in his first season back in the sport that Williams rewarded him with a new deal through until the end of the 2024 season"

[Anders]

"Auto, Motor und Sport reported on Monday that it expects AlphaTauri to announce next weekend in Japan that Tsunoda will be awarded a fourth season at the racing stable. According to the German magazine, confirmation that Ricciardo will stay on will also follow within some time, leaving no place for Lawson.

Timo Glock, former F1 driver and current analyst, praised Lawson in his column today, in particular. The German sees the New Zealander as a serious candidate to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull Racing in a year and a half's time. In that case, however, Lawson must have driven in the AlphaTauri next season, something that does not appear to be happening."

[96583UP]

Tsunoda better hope another Japanese driver never emerges otherwise his seat is toast

guy must have finished half the races this year

[Anders]

Ayumu Iwasa is a Red Bull academy driver, and top three in Formula 2.

[Anders]

[96583UP]

Williams should dump Sargeant and sign Lawson

Sargeant is a bum

that crash in Suzuka quali was beta styles for this late in the season

Lawson looking pretty stronk by contrast

[96583UP]

Max seems primed to take the W again this week but excited to see what the McLarens can do...

[Anders]

Very impressive by McLaren.

[Ello Sailor]

Lawson looking pretty stronk by contrast

Kid absolutely shreds.

What a race. Starting to love Suzuka. It just promotes ambitious driving. Duels were breaking out all over the shop.

[Ello Sailor]

Very impressive by McLaren.

What a turnaround they've had. I didn't expect to enjoy the tail end of this season so much, seeing as Max is a foregone conclusion. But it's been legitimately exciting.

[Anders]

Agreed. Was a decent race.

[Anders]

[Anders]

Didn't see the race yesterday, timing was just off. I almost always see the races.

Lewis and Charles got disqualified after the race. Another Verstappen win. Logan Sargeant ended 10th after the disqualifications, and got his first point of the season and his F1 career.

[96583UP]

i didnt see it either. wild. good for sargeant, but he is still a bum

what a turnaround for McLaren. never would have imagined at the beginning of the year it would be like this

[Ello Sailor]

The race was actually pretty intense. Hamilton sounded dejected on team radio, expecting Max to drive off into the sunset, but Merc had to reassure him that he was actually closing the gap at times. Meanwhile Max is having car issues and blowing the fuck up at the pit wall every time they tried to talk to him while he was braking. Shit was wild.

The disqualifications were very unfortunate.