2025 F1 Season (spoilers will be discussed)

[stangmx13]

I liked that race. The 2 diff races within a race and the strategies were something new. And I half expected Lando to choke, creating a lot of tension for the last 10 laps or so.

Smaller cars won't accomplish much around Monaco without other drastic changes. The cars are unable to get close enough to pass into the "best" passing zones. The draft isn't powerful enough. DRS isn't powerful enough. Following another car loses too much time because the cars are too aero dependent. Etc etc. FormulaE has a ton of passing because they can follow on the bumper and have Attack Mode, not because the cars are 30cm narrower. Plus, Gabby passed around the hairpin

I bet FIA/F1 don't change anything (else) for next year's race. The 2026 cars get a whole new form of DRS and get a push-to-pass. This will likely change the racing dynamic a lot and maybe in unexpected ways. I do kinda hope they keep the 2-stop just for shits. But if all that still doesn't work in 2026, I hope they change the track for 2027.

 

[Climber]

Personally, I think that they should bring back fueling the cars, that had all kinds of strategic factors.

 

[stangmx13]

Im glad the Stewards had some balls to give George more than the minimum penalty for cutting the track. Intentionally doing the illegal thing is worse than unintentionally. And both of those are worse than doing something not-illegal such as backing everyone up.

George and Merc should have kept their mouths shut when he cut the track. Maybe then he would have only received a 10s penalty and maybe could have scored 1pt.

 

[Racinfrk]

This race was just wrong (and I am one of the only ones who usually likes Monaco). I applaud them for trying something different, but when you have teams purposely slowing up the field (blocking), then there should be some penalties. I know it is not illegal, but there should be a rule about pace (there used to be a percentage rule in qualifying where if you were not within certain percentage of the fastest lap time, you did not get to race). This rule was in place for safety reasons. I think they should implement something similar at Monaco. What Albon was doing was dangerous and almost caused 2 wrecks (he was over 5 seconds per lap slower). I do not blame Russell for doing what he did, but (as you said) he should have kept his mouth shut. When he said over the radio that he would accept the penalty, it made the stewards issue a harsher penalty.

 

[stangmx13]

A rule about pace during the race is near impossible. Say you do 105% like old QP rules. 105% of what? Of the QP time isn't possible because of the fuel load. Of the leader at that lap? What if he's on diff tires? What if you are trying for a 1-stop and he's doing 2-stop (at normal tracks)? What if he's conserving tires? What if he decides to drop the hammer before pitting? And even with 105%, Albon and Sainz still could have done their strategy. Lando was doing 1:14 and Williams were doing 1:19. 105% is mid 1:17, which probably still enables the strat as they had plenty of laps to build gaps. Do 103% and even Hamilton was outside that plenty of laps.

There's purposeful slowing of the field in every single F1 race. We normally call it "conserving tires". Sometimes we call it "saving fuel". The drivers are never going flat out in the race. Normally, they all conserve approximately the same amount or pass if there's a large enough discrepancy. Monaco just brought out the extreme and highlighted it really well.

Here's some data to help come up with a solution:

F1 Tempo

Explore and compare Formula 1 lap times and telemetry using F1 Tempo!

www.f1-tempo.com

 

[Climber]

I think everybody watching the race knew what they were doing, it was obvious. If the stewards couldn't tell what they were doing, they shouldn't be stewards.

That track is notoriously hard to pass on, it's one of the few where such a rule should be considered, but after somebody has already done it, they should ensure it doesn't happen again.

 

[GAJ]

Despite being my least favorite "track" it was a more interesting Monaco race than usual for me.

 

[stangmx13]

I think everybody watching the race knew what they were doing, it was obvious. If the stewards couldn't tell what they were doing, they shouldn't be stewards.

That has nothing to do with it.

Rules need to be written down and very specific to cover the exact use-case. You can't write down such a rule. Go ahead, try. Then see what sort of can-of-worms it opens and how it negatively affects other parts of the race.

Say the rule says "Blocking or intentional backing-up of the driver behind is not allowed". Oh really? Now any time someone blocks an attempted pass, I complain to the stewards. Any time the car in front of me is going slower than I want, I complain. Any time the car in front is conserving tires, I complain. All of those are now against the rules. If you add "except in the cases of attempted passes or conserving tires", now everyone just says they were conserving tires or blocking a pass. Try to prove they weren't.

 

[Racinfrk]

I understand what you are saying, it would be very difficult to "police". However, there has to be some way to keep teams from backing up the field to benefit their teammate (rules for Monaco only). When there is a dangerous situation happening because of this, it should be addressed.

I was just looking at an overhead view of Monaco (I have also been there on a non race weekend) and it would be very hard to reconfigure the track to make passing possible and keep the "important" bits (the hairpin, tunnel, swimming pool chicane, etc) that make Monaco iconic.

This is a one off track that is for the drivers to showcase their talent/guts. I understand that passing is (and probably will always be) next to impossible, but if they are not pushing, then IMHO it is not a race, but slow driving around the streets (not much chance for driver mistakes).

 

[Climber]

You can write it to be intentionally going slower through at least one lap. There is always a way.

I've always thought that with the advent of video technology getting better, that officers should be able to give out a ticket for 'driving like an asshole' or the proper phrase. We all know what it looks like, and with video proof the judge could see that the driver was in fact driving like an asshole.

 

[stangmx13]

Dangerous driving is already covered under the regs. Even with George's whining, the stewards had no problem with how Albon and Sainz performed.

The chairman on the GPDA gave some good ideas on how to modify Monaco for a potential increase in passing. His best idea was to move the chicane 80m further down track and open the exit a tiny bit. This makes the braking zone longer and makes it harder to defend because the bumps aren't right in the braking zone. Opening up the exit a tiny bit keeps Tabac a difficult corner. The harbor would need to add new pylons and move where a couple of boats park, ie completely possible with how much $$ everyone has over there.

 

[Akira-R]

I would like to believe that a larger battery capacity, and Push to Pass would make things a lot more interesting in Monaco. If it doesn't, maybe we convert the race to something like Isle of Mann. Balls out 3 lap time trial.

 

[Holeshot]

That race was another snoozer. FWD to the crashes and then to the last 5 laps. If it wasn't for overly rich people going to be seen, and have no idea what they're looking at, F1 would be slotting in behind Mud Bog races. They're gotta figure out how to make the racing more interesting and the cars stronger (for side/side action). Indy's push to pass is a better solution than DRS. Stage racing is also a good way to get the pack together again, etc.

Palou is winning everything this year in IndyCar; wonder if F1 will give him a look.

Methinks he protests too hard.

Totally agree. Palou is the real deal and while Spanish national, he's like O'ward with this English and culture...pretty Americanized. I can see him on the GM team possibly...and I hope so. I like Alex a lot.

 

[Racinfrk]

Interesting thoughts on how to change Monaco for more passing.....

How to change the Monaco F1 circuit to save the grand prix

F1 circuit designer and former racer Alex Wurz drew up potential changes to the Monaco track that he thinks would create overtaking opportunities in the Principality

www.yahoo.com

 

[Dmitriy]

Technically they can charge the team with the same thing Renault got charged for crashgate:

16.05.2007
CHAPTER XI
PENALTIES
151. Breach of rules
Any of the following offences in addition to any offences
specifically referred to previously, shall be deemed to be a breach
of these rules :

c) Any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the
interests of any competition or to the interests of motor
sport generally.

 

[GAJ]

This is how the teams finished last year's Spanish Gran Prix.

Ferrari may end up about the same, but the others, not so much.

1	1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	66	1:28:20.227	25
2	4	Lando Norris	McLaren Mercedes	66	+2.219s	19
3	44	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	66	+17.790s	15
4	63	George Russell	Mercedes	66	+22.320s	12
5	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	66	+22.709s	10
6	55	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	66	+31.028s	8
7	81	Oscar Piastri	McLaren Mercedes	66	+33.760s	6
8	11	Sergio Perez	Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	66	+59.524s	4
9	10	Pierre Gasly	Alpine Renault	66	+62.025s	2
10	31	Esteban Ocon	Alpine Renault	66	+71.889s	1

 

[Racinfrk]

Well, with the new "Flex" rules going into effect this weekend, it may spice things up a bit. Ferrari has been very vocal that they have been waiting for this weekend as their car was already within the new rules and others will probably suffer. I guess we will see what happens.

 

[Climber]

My first thought about 'flex' rules is that they are always flexible in Max's favor.

 

[Lights_Guy3]

Interesting start, weird finish, not much interesting went on for the middle 50 laps.

I thought it was lame that Aston Martin wasn't able to field a second car. Let them at least start from the pit lane.

I can't wait for Climber's commentary!

 

[Climber]

A lot of tire changes, was that imposed?

Max played the intimidation game on Norris on the start, limiting his radius into turn 1, I hope Norris plays the same game back on him later in the season, whining sure to follow.