F1 2024 season

[Metal Biker]

Thing with the Mercedes era, it was a lot better when Rosberg was there. There was at least a competitive championship to be had even if it was just the one team.

The issue currently is it’s more like the Hamilton Bottas era where one driver is so much quicker than the other.

Bottas proved he could be just as fast as Hamilton, winning 10 races for Mercedes, but he was also never encouraged to challenge, unlike Rosberg, as they didn't want another uncomfortable situation like in 2015-16.

After that Hamilton had no challengers; Bottas was pushed to 'second driver' status, Max and Red Bull were nowhere near, Vettel pushed with Ferrari in 2017 but they soon fell by the wayside and overall those years were just dull. 2018 to 2020 were practically pointless as nobody was catching Mercedes (2019 particularly).

Now nobody is catching Verstappen, so titles 2,3 and most likely his 4th are practically gimme's, just like Hamilton's 5,6 and 7.

 

[meltonblue]

Bottas proved he could be just as fast as Hamilton, winning 10 races for Mercedes, but he was also never encouraged to challenge, unlike Rosberg, as they didn't want another uncomfortable situation like in 2015-16.

After that Hamilton had no challengers; Bottas was pushed to 'second driver' status, Max and Red Bull were nowhere near, Vettel pushed with Ferrari in 2017 but they soon fell by the wayside and overall those years were just dull. 2018 to 2020 were practically pointless as nobody was catching Mercedes (2019 particularly).

Now nobody is catching Verstappen, so titles 2,3 and most likely his 4th are practically gimme's, just like Hamilton's 5,6 and 7.

Bottas himself said that only happened the season he was leaving though, he was encouraged to challenge every other season and had said after he left he struggled because he wasn’t as quick as Hamilton was.

I agree he was closer than Perez is to Verstappen but I just said it was more like the Bottas era than the Rosberg era. Both of them weren’t as dominant as one driver is now. Bottas beat Hamilton in qualifying a third of the time and that didn’t lead to a competitive championship, Perez must be considerably lower than that.

 

[Metal Biker]

Bottas himself said that only happened the season he was leaving though, he was encouraged to challenge every other season and had said after he left he struggled because he wasn’t as quick as Hamilton was.

I agree he was closer than Perez is to Verstappen but I just said it was more like the Bottas era than the Rosberg era. Both of them weren’t as dominant as one driver is now. Bottas beat Hamilton in qualifying a third of the time and that didn’t lead to a competitive championship, Perez must be considerably lower than that.

The point being... nobody could touch Mercedes, just as no-one can get close to the Red Bull's. Since 2010 there has only been two winners of either the Drivers or Constructiors; Red Bull or Mercedes, and, 2021 aside, it's mostly been a runaway victory for the no.1 driver of each team (2016 aside).

So if people are aware of this, why is it only now that people are highlighting it as some sort or 'recent issue'? The only time I remember any sort of variety was from 2004-2010 where we had five different drivers' champions and four different constructors' champions. Basically, the complaint is getting old.

 

[meltonblue]

The point being... nobody could touch Mercedes, just as no-one can get close to the Red Bull's. Since 2010 there has only been two winners of either the Drivers or Constructiors; Red Bull or Mercedes, and, 2021 aside, it's mostly been a runaway victory for the no.1 driver of each team (2016 aside).

So if people are aware of this, why is it only now that people are highlighting it as some sort or 'recent issue'? The only time I remember any sort of variety was from 2004-2010 where we had five different drivers' champions and four different constructors' champions. Basically, the complaint is getting old.

I don’t think they are are they, the complaints always been there from some quarters going back further than the last 15 years or so, it just varies sometimes on who’s doing the complaining

I’m agreeing with you though. Was just making the point that in a world where one team is overly dominant, it’s good to at least have some competition within the team from time to time, or even better a proper challenge like Hamilton Rosberg.

 

[Slipper One]

I don’t think they are are they, the complaints always been there from some quarters going back further than the last 15 years or so, it just varies sometimes on who’s doing the complaining

I’m agreeing with you though. Was just making the point that in a world where one team is overly dominant, it’s good to at least have some competition within the team from time to time, or even better a proper challenge like Hamilton Rosberg.

I’d agree with you there.

I’m a big Max fan, phenomenal driver, Red Bull a phenomenal team with a phenomenal car. All the stars are aligned.

Having said that and enjoying their success at the same time, purely from a spectator aspect I would like to see more competition to make it more interesting. Not so much within the team, but more so from other teams.

The TV coverage on Saturday hardly featured Max.

It’s up to the other teams to improve and become more competitive, but as they do that, unfortunately for them, so do Red Bull.

 

[crooky]

The point being... nobody could touch Mercedes, just as no-one can get close to the Red Bull's. Since 2010 there has only been two winners of either the Drivers or Constructiors; Red Bull or Mercedes, and, 2021 aside, it's mostly been a runaway victory for the no.1 driver of each team (2016 aside).

So if people are aware of this, why is it only now that people are highlighting it as some sort or 'recent issue'? The only time I remember any sort of variety was from 2004-2010 where we had five different drivers' champions and four different constructors' champions. Basically, the complaint is getting old.

It's a recent issue because people are fed up with one team, within a season, whether it be Red Bull or Mercedes totally dominating every race.

Pre 2010 you would see teams winning consecutive championships but they wouldn't dominate the whole season like they do now.

Pre 2010 teams would have their strong races and weak races due to the greater differences in cars at the time. Now because the sport has standardized so many parts of the car and restricted so many development avenues it means that once you have a good car, it's a good car at almost every circuit in comparison to your rivals.

I've posted this before and now added the 2023 season.

Look at how many more seasons were contested championship battles before 2010.

1990 - Contested
1991 - Contested
1992 - Dominated
1993 - Dominated
1994 - Contested
1995 - Dominated
1996 - Dominated (team mates)
1997 - Contested
1998 - Contested
1999 - Contested

6 x Contested
1 X inter team battle
3 x Dominated


2000 - Contested
2001 - Dominated
2002 - Dominated
2003 - Contested
2004 - Dominated
2005 - Dominated* ish
2006 - Contested
2007 - Contested
2008 - Contested
2009 - Contested

6 x contested
1 X sort of dominated
3 x Dominated

2010 - Contested
2011 - Dominated
2012 - Contested
2013 - Dominated
2014 - Dominated (team mates)
2015 - Dominated
2016 - Dominated (team mates)
2017 - Dominated
2018 - Dominated
2019 - Dominated

2 x contested
2 x inter team battle
6 x Dominated

2020 - Dominated
2021 - Contested
2022 - Dominated
2023 - Dominated

1 X contested
3 x Dominated

 

[meltonblue]

I’d agree with you there.

I’m a big Max fan, phenomenal driver, Red Bull a phenomenal team with a phenomenal car. All the stars are aligned.

Having said that and enjoying their success at the same time, purely from a spectator aspect I would like to see more competition to make it more interesting. Not so much within the team, but more so from other teams.

The TV coverage on Saturday hardly featured Max.

It’s up to the other teams to improve and become more competitive, but as they do that, unfortunately for them, so do Red Bull.

Yes agree and it’s always been the same in terms of it’s up to the other teams to improve. Id just like to see Perez (or someone partnering Verstappen) more competitive too, given the RB is so far ahead of the others right now.

 

[ken tali]

Quite dissapointed in Aston Martins pace in the first race ,had higher hopes for them after the start of last season. Hopefully they can develop the car better this season.

 

[Metal Biker]

It's a recent issue because people are fed up with one team, within a season, whether it be Red Bull or Mercedes totally dominating every race.

Pre 2010 you would see teams winning consecutive championships but they wouldn't dominate the whole season like they do now.

Pre 2010 teams would have their strong races and weak races due to the greater differences in cars at the time. Now because the sport has standardized so many parts of the car and restricted so many development avenues it means that once you have a good car, it's a good car at almost every circuit in comparison to your rivals.

I've posted this before and now added the 2023 season.

Look at how many more seasons were contested championship battles before 2010.

1990 - Contested
1991 - Contested
1992 - Dominated
1993 - Dominated
1994 - Contested
1995 - Dominated
1996 - Dominated (team mates)
1997 - Contested
1998 - Contested
1999 - Contested

6 x Contested
1 X inter team battle
3 x Dominated


2000 - Contested
2001 - Dominated
2002 - Dominated
2003 - Contested
2004 - Dominated
2005 - Dominated* ish
2006 - Contested
2007 - Contested
2008 - Contested
2009 - Contested

6 x contested
1 X sort of dominated
3 x Dominated

2010 - Contested
2011 - Dominated
2012 - Contested
2013 - Dominated
2014 - Dominated (team mates)
2015 - Dominated
2016 - Dominated (team mates)
2017 - Dominated
2018 - Dominated
2019 - Dominated

2 x contested
2 x inter team battle
6 x Dominated

2020 - Dominated
2021 - Contested
2022 - Dominated
2023 - Dominated

1 X contested
3 x Dominated

You've basically just proved the entire point. F1 goes through periods where teams dominate, changes are made and then the title is contested. It's been that way going all the way back to 1990 and before. We're in the 'dominate' period again. 2025 should see the title being contested once more.

 

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

You've basically just proved the entire point. F1 goes through periods where teams dominate, changes are made and then the title is contested. It's been that way going all the way back to 1990 and before. We're in the 'dominate' period again. 2025 should see the title being contested once more.

The regulations in 2025 will be pretty much the same as this season, it looks like no teams have made inroads into the gap that Red Bull enjoys at the moment, I think Red Bull will dominate next year as well. 2026 the engine regulations are changing with a simplified power unit. Ford providing power units for Red Bull will provide an unknown and also Audi entering the Sport will shake it up again.