[M5Rick]

British media bias against MAX.

[M5Rick]

Here's an interesting piece from ex-Benetton driver Johnny Herbert, warning trophy breaker Lando N not to join RBR partnering him as MAX would simply wipe the floor with him
https://racingnews365.com/norris-war...ore-better-not

[M5Rick]

All sorts of predictions coming on who could challenge MAX this coming season and none other than Christijan Albers suggesting that LEW may be the only person. Oh well, nothing new there but maybe he could have added Charlie also to thicken the plot.
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...hallenge-2024/

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

All sorts of predictions coming on who could challenge MAX this coming season and none other than Christijan Albers suggesting that LEW may be the only person. Oh well, nothing new there but maybe he could have added Charlie also to thicken the plot.
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...hallenge-2024/

According to the latest 'AI prediction computer , MAX has 65% chance of winning his 4th World Title in a row.

The toughest competition will not come from Mercedes or Ferrari , but from Lando Norris in his McLaren.

But as we know , sometimes computers really s@ck !

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

According to the latest 'AI prediction computer , MAX has 65% chance of winning his 4th World Title in a row.

The toughest competition will not come from Mercedes or Ferrari , but from Lando Norris in his McLaren.

But as we know , sometimes computers really s@ck !

NOR will probably be quicker than he was before spurred on by PIA in whatever the '24 McLaren is called and he is still chasing his first win so Brown will arrange that PIA is the back up, lets hope Checo should come in to even things out.

[dfox]

Merc will be a complete mess at the beginning of the season with a new car. McLaren was already there at the end of the season so no doubt they're going to be fighting for wins.

I'm just curious where Checo and Ric land at the end of the season... Is Ric just done? Does Checo move teams? Lawson to AT, or straight to RB? Should be more driver movement at the end of 2024 than there was this season.

[Car-Addicted]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

ex-Benetton driver Johnny Herbert, warning trophy breaker Lando N not to join RBR partnering him as MAX would simply wipe the floor with him

Max in a Red Bull would either wipe the floor with any driver he is partnered with or Red Bull's cost cap would get hammered with broken cars. No driver looking for a future in Formula One should consider that position. That is why it is perfect for drivers like Cheko and Ricciardo who are milking the last few drops from their F1 careers. Two bulls in a china shop will break three times as much as one bull. Any one think Horner is not aware of this? At some point Red bull will have to look at a Max replacement but that is why they have a Red Bull Driver Academy. But I suspect the Max replacement is in carting somewhere and not Liam Lawson who I expect to take Daniel Ricciardo seat. Let the beatings begin.

[Car-Addicted]

Tis the season for predictions:
Max Verstappen will win his 4th World Championship but not with the ease of 2023.
Red Bull will win the Constructors’ Champion thanks to supporting points from Checo Perez who retires from F1 at the end of the season.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will finish in the top five in the drivers championship and 4th in Constructors’ Champion.
End of the season Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur gets moved to WEC.
McLaren will take second in Constructors’ Champion thanks to Oscar Piastri strong back up of Lando Norris.
Lando Norris wins first Grand Prix and finishes third in the championship points.
Lewis Hamilton will win several races and will finish second in the championship points.
Alex Albon and Williams will win at least one Grand Prix and finish in the top ten in the championship points.
Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin will win at least one Grand Prix and finish in the top ten in championship points.
Nico Hulkenberg will make a podium but Haas will continue to disappoint, Guenther Steiner sells stake and becomes F1 commentator with 5 second delay.
Logan Sargeant will be replaced mid season.
Andretti Global and General Motors with power from Renault will announce official entrance in 2026.
Alfa Romeo / Stake will be the leading source of F1 memes in 2024 or until Stake bounces a check.

[Roman]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

Lewis Hamilton will win several races and will finish second in the championship points.

[dfox]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

Alex Albon and Williams will win at least one Grand Prix and finish in the top ten in the championship points.

I mean, I like the guy and all, but he's just not there and neither is the car...

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

Max in a Red Bull would either wipe the floor with any driver he is partnered with or Red Bull's cost cap would get hammered with broken cars. No driver looking for a future in Formula One should consider that position. That is why it is perfect for drivers like Cheko and Ricciardo who are milking the last few drops from their F1 careers. Two bulls in a china shop will break three times as much as one bull. Any one think Horner is not aware of this? At some point Red bull will have to look at a Max replacement but that is why they have a Red Bull Driver Academy. But I suspect the Max replacement is in carting somewhere and not Liam Lawson who I expect to take Daniel Ricciardo seat. Let the beatings begin.

Depending on how the RB 20 performs,which is promising from reports, I see the points difference between Checo and Max shortening with either Norris or Charlie being the dark horse in finishing third in the championship. Either Checo may continue for '25 or Ricciardo may come in spite of what Alan Jones said

[RealBenM]

I am biased but I think Checo will struggle in the first few races and by mid season he'll be dropped in favour of Ricciardo, Liam Lawson will get his AT seat.

I also think McLaren will get a win this season and be challenging Red Bull strongly at least early on, but it's 50-50 whether it'll be Norris or Piastri that gets that win. Piastri has closed the gap to Lando markedly and has shown he is a little better under pressure than Norris.

Ferrari will be up there early in the season too, I suspect, and Merc will take a few races to find their feet with the change in direction.

Can't bloody wait to see how it all unfolds.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

Tis the season for predictions:
Max Verstappen will win his 4th World Championship but not with the ease of 2023.
Red Bull will win the Constructors’ Champion thanks to supporting points from Checo Perez who retires from F1 at the end of the season.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will finish in the top five in the drivers championship and 4th in Constructors’ Champion.
End of the season Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur gets moved to WEC.
McLaren will take second in Constructors’ Champion thanks to Oscar Piastri strong back up of Lando Norris.
Lando Norris wins first Grand Prix and finishes third in the championship points.
Lewis Hamilton will win several races and will finish second in the championship points.
Alex Albon and Williams will win at least one Grand Prix and finish in the top ten in the championship points.
Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin will win at least one Grand Prix and finish in the top ten in championship points.
Nico Hulkenberg will make a podium but Haas will continue to disappoint, Guenther Steiner sells stake and becomes F1 commentator with 5 second delay.
Logan Sargeant will be replaced mid season.
Andretti Global and General Motors with power from Renault will announce official entrance in 2026.
Alfa Romeo / Stake will be the leading source of F1 memes in 2024 or until Stake bounces a check.

My friend , your prediction about LEW is overly optimistic and (too)! brave .

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

NOR will probably be quicker than he was before spurred on by PIA in whatever the '24 McLaren is called and he is still chasing his first win so Brown will arrange that PIA is the back up, lets hope Checo should come in to even things out.

Helmut Marko got a new 3 year Red Bull contract

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Helmut Marko got a new 3 year Red Bull contract

That's at least 3 more championships for a happy MAX then

[Car-Addicted]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Helmut Marko got a new 3 year Red Bull contract

Helmut Marko is 80 years old, he is closer to visiting Dietrich Mateschitz than he is seeing Max win championship # 7.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

Helmut Marko is 80 years old, he is closer to visiting Dietrich Mateschitz than he is seeing Max win championship # 7.

80 is the new 70 now

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Update !
The 2024 RB20 failed in the first crash test ....'
The nose of the car didn't absorbed the frontal impact enough .
The RB20 nose is a super-lightweight design and sorter than the RB19 .

Adrian Newey is busy at this moment . Too bad !
But , as he said : It won't be slow....

Marko responds to the alleged failed crash test.
https://racingnews365.com/marko-reac...-red-bull-rb20

[dfox]

RB18 didn't pass either, if I recall correctly.

[M5Rick]

^ Probably.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

Helmut Marko is 80 years old, he is closer to visiting Dietrich Mateschitz than he is seeing Max win championship # 7.

I'm pretty sure , you know what they say about an old 'fox ...'

The same goes for an old monkey , no need to teach him how to make fugly grimaces...

[M5Rick]

^ Marko is ageless when it comes to advising what is best for the team, his lifelong race experience makes him 'da man' and is sanctioned by MAX, after all it was he who noticed something different and replaced error prone Kvyat with him.
His job now will be to guide Checo to move up to MAX more to score some more 1-2's for the team than they did last season.
With the threat of Norris and McLaren being quicker (and also Charlie in the yet unknown SF-24?) it was seen before at times with PIA pushing him, Checo will be asked for a little more from the team...and not to stuff the 20 into a wall with a crane lifting in