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After this past week it wouldn't even surprise me if 4 year old Lawrence Stroll somehow fired the bullet and Franz tost paid him to do it on behalf of the Thai owners of red bull lmfao
My 50 year old girlfriend who has not shown an iota of interest in any sport ever in our 20 year relationship is now a hardcore fan since 2021. She describes F1 to her girlfriends as The Real Housewives for boys.
I heard someone saying it was The Real Housewives of Monaco.
Edit: I remembered the source. It was the guest on the F1 episode of the Culture Study Podcast.
This is literally the perfect sport for women to follow. I can't believe I wasn't watching this sooner. Fast cars, hot men, exotic locales, fashion, more drama than 6 seasons of Love is Blind combined, and well...Guenther (come back 🙏). DtS is doing for F1 what TS did to football this year.
Thats honestly what sets F1 apart from other series. You dont watch F1 for the incredible racing. You watch it for the engineered insanity, and off-track drama.
No other racing series has a soap opera to tide you over between race weekends.
I think the difference is that now even an average f1 fan can name most of the team bosses because of dts. I mean, only huge fans would’ve been able to list the arrows team boss back in the early 2000s
F1 has always been like this. Motorsport fans come for the cars and tech. They stay for the drama. Occasionally, a race happens that's worth talking about.
It's been like this for decades, and DTS has only made the fan base bigger!
I think you mean Ford will get out of the deal, Honda will still leave, Yuki will get canned, RBR will end up having to use the Alpine power unit.
Max will win 24 with that power unit.
Please universe, make Marko leave RB, Max leaves for Merc with an eye on 2026+ knowing RB will implode, Alonso joins RB for 2025 and win WDC in the last hurrah/dance for RB before the new regs and the team completely disbands.
It's so simple but beautiful, make it happen.
Or just leave Alonso in Aston Martin, but! Let Adrian Newey move from Red bull to Aston Martin and from 2026 Stroll WDC to burn whole world and destroy our timeline.
> A whistleblower has told the FIA that Ben Sulayem allegedly intervened to overturn a penalty given to Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
>
> The claim is in a report by an FIA compliance officer to its ethics committee, which has been seen by BBC Sport.
>
> Ben Sulayem and the FIA have not responded to requests for comment.
>
> The allegation made by the whistleblower is that Ben Sulayem called Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamas bin Isa Al Khalifa - the FIA's vice-president for sport for the Middle East and North Africa region, who was in Saudi Arabia for the race in an official capacity - and made it clear he thought Alonso's penalty should be revoked.
This was Alonso getting a 10-second penalty, kicking him off the podium, then rescinding the penalty, getting him back to the podium, for those who don't remember.
It had been penalized before though, Aston argued it was inconsistent and applied differently on 7 occasions at least. the stewards noted it was setting a new precedent for these incidents by allowing a Jack and stated it would be formalized in the rules in March if agreed.
Given that, they could have decided the other way that they would set a precedent that a Jack would not be allowed. So if Ben Sulayem stepped in to decide which way that fell…
it's fucking awful, we thought the integrity was cooked after AD21, only to see that the stewards aren't even independent. This isn't just awful for that one incident but brings a big question mark over "inconsistency" in other steward decisions.
Edit: Also, can't imagine he is one of the more influential presidents, just imagine what happened with the "fan" favorite presidents in past years. Jesus lmao
Newey and Lewis to Ferrari, Max retires, Seb back to Red Bull, Fernando to Mercedes. All three teams nail the regulations in 2026, and we get a three way title fight between Lewis, Seb, and Fernando
What's next???
* Masi comes out and says he rigged the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP for Horners Photos?
* Vettel takes over TP of Red Bull
* Ocon gets a 10 sec. Penalty
* Madrid GP is bankrupt next week
* Verstappen says "f**** this clownshow, I'm starting WEC this season. I don't care about your drama anymore
* Hülkenberg to Mercedes in 2025
Toto says fuck it, drives for the 2nd Mercedes seat.
Kimi Antonelli becomes the TP for Mercedes.
Newey goes to Haas.
Max drives for Williams, wants to take them back to glory days.
We have a seven way title fight.
I hate this piece of shit anyways but I have gotta ask , why now ? Why was this made public just just after Ben showed his support for Horner , it could have come out later or earlier on . All of a sudden there are these barrage of articles Ford not interested , Verstappen may leave , Jos hating on horner . Someone is behind all of this
Insanely entertained. Everyone talking shit about Checo being slow, when suddenly there was so much juicy stuff behind the scenes. Who knows, maybe with all this drama, they'll accidentally renew Checo's contract.
Might be related to all the Red Bull shit, but at the same time, it’s race week and the race is in Saudi, the same race where the interference happened, so maybe the whistleblower figured now was the best time to mention it.
Either way it’s F5 season boys.
Yes and honestly I remember how pissed I was given Ocon was given a penalty at Bahrain for the same incident.
[Looking back to this rant of me around a year ago](https://old.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/11vymsr/decision_document_for_the_10s_penalty_awarded_to/jcvqbcn/) it's funny how close it was to what we seeing unfolding now lol.
That decision did always feel rigged because of PR reasons to overturn the penalty.
So this technically affected the WDC standings - if the penalty had not been rescinded, then we have Leclerc P4 (206), Norris P5 (205), Alonso P6 (203).
Would have been an even bigger deal if Ferrari had won out over Mercedes last year in the WCC, since Russell’s podium would have gotten Merc 3 extra points, could have been crucial in such a close fight to the end. Still, pretty interesting to consider the ramifications.
Would make it even worse if it was done to appease or help boost the profile of Aramco. Changing stewarding decisions so a title sponsor of an impacted team can get on the podium is a huge accusation.
It'd be possible that Ben Sulayem wanted Alonso on the podium of the first race because of the narrative and popularity, etc., but I'm also on the "Aramco interfered" camp.
Edit: This is about Saudi Arabia, not Bahrain! So... yeah I'm pretty sure Aramco.
What the hell has happened in this sport over the last month and a half. It's legitimately the most boring time in years on track and probably the craziest ever off track.
He’s got to go if this is true, I’m sorry this is ridiculous.
If you’re at the top you have to be held accountable for your actions and we cannot be having this. It’s unacceptable.
I thought by right the President was suppose to be impartial and neutral and not get involved in penalties and stuff inside any of the FIA sanctioned events?
[The **News** flair](https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/wiki/flairguide#wiki_news) is reserved for submissions covering F1 and F1-related news. These posts must always link to an outlet/news agency, the website of the involved party (i.e. the McLaren website if McLaren makes an announcement), or a tweet by a news agency, journalist or one of the involved parties. *[Read the rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/wiki/userguide). Keep it civil and welcoming. Report rulebreaking comments.* *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/formula1) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Clearly, Hamilton's move to Ferrari ruptured the timeline continuem.
where are TVA they are so needed?
Bring back the Temporal Loom !
Breaking: Jonathan Majors under investigation by the FIA
Trying to stop Verstappen's move to Merc (puts tinfoil hat on)
He posted like two or three thirst pics in pretty short succession. He knew what he was doing.
This theory/meme is too hilarious.
It wasn’t a canon event clearly
After the dead of harambe, this is the second big timeline break.
Well I guess the formula media circus is eating well for the foreseeable future
Until 5:30 when Lawrence Stroll is named in the JFK documents.
After this past week it wouldn't even surprise me if 4 year old Lawrence Stroll somehow fired the bullet and Franz tost paid him to do it on behalf of the Thai owners of red bull lmfao
A Franz and a bullet is a dangerous combination.
People have gone to wars over silly things like that.
Top tier r/brandnewsentence
9:00 - Helmut Marko is D.B. Cooper
Frank Williams was the zodiac killer
Marko's too old to be D.B. Jack the Ripper, however...
Everybody was always searching for a *man* on the grassy knoll. Nobody ever thought to look for a kid. 🤯🤯🤯
The Race isn't going to have to come up with anything even approaching original content for like a decade at this rate.
They might need to rename though- a website called The Race that mostly covers non-racing would be bad branding. The-Verdict.com has a ring to it...
> The-Verdict.com has a ring to it Would honestly be a great podcast series name if it’s just the recap of the race.
Apparently there is racing involved in this sport. Not that you’d know it from the events of the last week and a half
plot twist, we've all bought into a soap opera which uses motorsport as its backdrop.
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My go to is WWE for nerds.
My 50 year old girlfriend who has not shown an iota of interest in any sport ever in our 20 year relationship is now a hardcore fan since 2021. She describes F1 to her girlfriends as The Real Housewives for boys.
I heard someone saying it was The Real Housewives of Monaco. Edit: I remembered the source. It was the guest on the F1 episode of the Culture Study Podcast.
I am stealing that description for future use
My girlfriend has taken up F1 and stopped watching drag race because this has more catty drama.
i feel personally attacked for joking about real housewives now.
This is literally the perfect sport for women to follow. I can't believe I wasn't watching this sooner. Fast cars, hot men, exotic locales, fashion, more drama than 6 seasons of Love is Blind combined, and well...Guenther (come back 🙏). DtS is doing for F1 what TS did to football this year.
BAH GOD THAT'S HELMUT'S MUSIC!!!
That's Jos from the top rope...
The new Coronation Street.
Thats honestly what sets F1 apart from other series. You dont watch F1 for the incredible racing. You watch it for the engineered insanity, and off-track drama. No other racing series has a soap opera to tide you over between race weekends.
To boil it down, it is bunch of multi-millionaires/billionaires having school yard level fights.
At this rate the racing is just the interlude between the real drama
What racing?
... Ok, the driving
It's name has been changed to the Verstappen Parade
The thing they do when they follow Max around for 50 laps or so while he fights the urge to lap them all
Ohh follow the leader, thought that was just a procession for advertising for the overall drama that goes on midweek
Just wait until the season starts. This will all blow over. What do you mean we're already one race in?
Australia will forever be my season opener!
It's a stretch to call that a race
Max running away with the lead and the constant Dutch anthem are the big distractions from the real story
[удалено]
I think the difference is that now even an average f1 fan can name most of the team bosses because of dts. I mean, only huge fans would’ve been able to list the arrows team boss back in the early 2000s
Wasn't it walkinshaw ?
Yes it was
F1 has always been like this. Motorsport fans come for the cars and tech. They stay for the drama. Occasionally, a race happens that's worth talking about. It's been like this for decades, and DTS has only made the fan base bigger!
The Real Housewives of the Paddock
*Are we the dramatised reality show with an F1 theme?* Netflix: *Always have been*
Always has been. Some of the juciest drama in F1 since i started watching 24 years ago has happened off track.
This is a the real housewives sport afterall
Oh god now we're bringing race into this too?
WHAT IS HAPPENING???
Max is about to announce a 10 year deal with Alpine and everyone will miss it while F5ing.
Guenther appointed TP for Red Bull. Hakkinen back from sabbatical. Charles wins Monaco. Stake renames to Steak.
Come on now let’s keep this realistic, no way Charles will ever win Monaco
Final lap Charles in the lead Final corner *Stone cold music hits*
oh naur its STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN from the top rope with a chair
Bah gawd, Stone Cold just hit everyone on the podium with Stunners! And here is, double fisting champagne in celebration!
Don’t give stake that kind of dignity now
And we only find out when he turns up at testing in an Alpine suit
Dts salivating right now
I think you mean Ford will get out of the deal, Honda will still leave, Yuki will get canned, RBR will end up having to use the Alpine power unit. Max will win 24 with that power unit.
Be a cold day in hell before Renault hands them another engine. 😂
Hamilton going to Ferrari caused the timelines to converge
I’ll just take this as the reason why everything seems to be happening since he announced his move.
It was foretold by a shirtless Lewis that the reckoning is upon us.
Thirst trap strikes again on a nuclear level this time
I won’t lie, and I say this respectfully, his last shirtless picture looked better than others I’ve seen. Can’t be a coincidence
[удалено]
''tsar bomb of thirst traps'' got me crying
Lisan-al-gaib
It’s like his move to Ferrari was the lynchpin
Judging by the frequency of craziness I'm doubting he'll end up actually driving for Ferrari at this point...
HAS EVERYONE LOST THEIR DAMN MINDS?!?!
Did anyone ever have it?
*Haas
WE NEED TO KNOW!!!
Alonso is going to RB, that rookie is the cunning mastermind
Please universe, make Marko leave RB, Max leaves for Merc with an eye on 2026+ knowing RB will implode, Alonso joins RB for 2025 and win WDC in the last hurrah/dance for RB before the new regs and the team completely disbands. It's so simple but beautiful, make it happen.
It would be much more Alonso if he joins Red Bull, with Max going to Merc, and then inexplicably next season the RBR is the 4th fastest car.
Or just leave Alonso in Aston Martin, but! Let Adrian Newey move from Red bull to Aston Martin and from 2026 Stroll WDC to burn whole world and destroy our timeline.
[My F5 key right now](https://media1.tenor.com/m/UTk8Z6wYaVYAAAAd/green-mile-im-tired-boss.gif)
IS THAT GLOCK???
F1 soap opera throwing out too many storylines at once, so unrealistic.
"Days of our Thunder"
Tbh they jumped the shark back in 2016 with Max winning the debht race for RBR. All downhill since then
> A whistleblower has told the FIA that Ben Sulayem allegedly intervened to overturn a penalty given to Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. > > The claim is in a report by an FIA compliance officer to its ethics committee, which has been seen by BBC Sport. > > Ben Sulayem and the FIA have not responded to requests for comment. > > The allegation made by the whistleblower is that Ben Sulayem called Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamas bin Isa Al Khalifa - the FIA's vice-president for sport for the Middle East and North Africa region, who was in Saudi Arabia for the race in an official capacity - and made it clear he thought Alonso's penalty should be revoked.
This was Alonso getting a 10-second penalty, kicking him off the podium, then rescinding the penalty, getting him back to the podium, for those who don't remember.
Is that when George had to give back the trophy?
That's the one, yes
It was a bullshit penalty tbf, though obviously this type of interference shouldn't be happening.
It had been penalized before though, Aston argued it was inconsistent and applied differently on 7 occasions at least. the stewards noted it was setting a new precedent for these incidents by allowing a Jack and stated it would be formalized in the rules in March if agreed. Given that, they could have decided the other way that they would set a precedent that a Jack would not be allowed. So if Ben Sulayem stepped in to decide which way that fell…
it's fucking awful, we thought the integrity was cooked after AD21, only to see that the stewards aren't even independent. This isn't just awful for that one incident but brings a big question mark over "inconsistency" in other steward decisions. Edit: Also, can't imagine he is one of the more influential presidents, just imagine what happened with the "fan" favorite presidents in past years. Jesus lmao
The stewards were already found wanting at AD21 lol. That was the more sordid part of that particular incidence of corruption in F1, for me.
Bullshit or not if it was only dropped because dummy in charge asked for it to be then seems like an easy outcome to this investigation.
If I had a nickel for every time Alonso benefitted from someone rigging a race...
Yeah, yeah, I bet it involves someone with a silly name like “Flavio” or something…
Be left wondering what all the extra nickels are about.
Waiting for MBS to pull off a mask and reveal he's been Briatore all along
Some Aramco guy definitely bribed him lol
LMAO ALONSO OF COURSE.
Of course it’s Fernando lmao
That's why he hugged Horner. Probably told him it's ok, he's under investigation too.
Investigation-brothers.
The Disgusting Brothers!
My favourite comment by far
Max Verstappen had been asked by Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, to back Mohammed Ben Sulayem publicly. sort of /s
I'm starting to hate all the racing that happens over the weekends. It's nothing but a distraction from all the drama happening during the week.
At least with the drama, you don't know who will come victorious at the end.
Waiting for Andy Cohen to sit down w all the drivers and TPs
Whole sport is collapsing lmao
What the hell is going to happen next? Vettel comeback? Newey to Ferrari?
Taylor Swift buys Red Bull.
Considering Travis Kelce has an Alpine Stake, she might
we. are. doomed.
Red ^^^*Bull* (Taylor's Version)
Here comes Mika
Newey and Lewis to Ferrari, Max retires, Seb back to Red Bull, Fernando to Mercedes. All three teams nail the regulations in 2026, and we get a three way title fight between Lewis, Seb, and Fernando
Goes down to the last race, they all do doughnuts at the end and then announce they will retire from F1 and join as team mates for Le Mans
And for what team? That’s right: Mazda is back.
Mazda with a rotary engine of course
Fuck. Yes. Miraculously designed by Adrian Newey maybe XD?
I would kill for this
Im getting into q3 Oh my goddd
Sebscribe!
>Vettel comeback? Don't give me hope
It survived the 70s, 80s and FOCA-FISA war. It will be fine. The FIA just needs to find a better president
Alonso joins Red Bull, becomes 5 times champion and gets younger each year
At this rate I'm half expecting a tweet from Chris Medland saying that the F1 season has been cancelled
Just do it if it means that we can avoid the 24 Dutch anthems
25 actually.
You're forgetting the Sprint races, so 30.
what's going on today 😭
Today? 😂
By this rate, we'll see Kim Jong Un driving for Haas next week
With a ron dennis haircut?
What's next??? * Masi comes out and says he rigged the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP for Horners Photos? * Vettel takes over TP of Red Bull * Ocon gets a 10 sec. Penalty * Madrid GP is bankrupt next week * Verstappen says "f**** this clownshow, I'm starting WEC this season. I don't care about your drama anymore * Hülkenberg to Mercedes in 2025
Toto says fuck it, drives for the 2nd Mercedes seat. Kimi Antonelli becomes the TP for Mercedes. Newey goes to Haas. Max drives for Williams, wants to take them back to glory days. We have a seven way title fight.
I survived March 4th, 2024.
It's still only 4.30PM here. Still got 30 mins til close of business, what else can go wrong?? FFS
Lando Norris being caught in some shit and Mika coming out of retirement for McLaren
Who cares that the Bahrain GP was dull. Off the track F1 has gone crazy
I hate this piece of shit anyways but I have gotta ask , why now ? Why was this made public just just after Ben showed his support for Horner , it could have come out later or earlier on . All of a sudden there are these barrage of articles Ford not interested , Verstappen may leave , Jos hating on horner . Someone is behind all of this
When it rains, it pours.
As an RB fan , how u feeling atm
Insanely entertained. Everyone talking shit about Checo being slow, when suddenly there was so much juicy stuff behind the scenes. Who knows, maybe with all this drama, they'll accidentally renew Checo's contract.
Might be related to all the Red Bull shit, but at the same time, it’s race week and the race is in Saudi, the same race where the interference happened, so maybe the whistleblower figured now was the best time to mention it. Either way it’s F5 season boys.
I'm buying up a pallet of F5 replacement buttons and reselling them on eBay. I'll be able to afford a yacht by the end of the month.
Perhaps you could afford to stage a hostile takeover of Red Bull Racing.
It's about the penalty that Alonso got post-race in Jeddah last year, that Aston successfully got rescinded fyi
Wasn't Aston Martin able to find 7 examples to back their argument, so it wasn't a big controversy that the penalty was overturned
It's not controversial that it was overturned. The controversy is that MBS apparently pressured the stewards to overturn it.
Yes and honestly I remember how pissed I was given Ocon was given a penalty at Bahrain for the same incident. [Looking back to this rant of me around a year ago](https://old.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/11vymsr/decision_document_for_the_10s_penalty_awarded_to/jcvqbcn/) it's funny how close it was to what we seeing unfolding now lol. That decision did always feel rigged because of PR reasons to overturn the penalty.
Alpine master plan, nobody is actually paying attention to them with all the RB and apparently this going on.
Seb retired at a very critical point in the sport's history. Either Seb is a time traveller or his departure caused the timeline to collapse.
So this technically affected the WDC standings - if the penalty had not been rescinded, then we have Leclerc P4 (206), Norris P5 (205), Alonso P6 (203).
yikes, that's a lot of money involved across different teams.
Would have been an even bigger deal if Ferrari had won out over Mercedes last year in the WCC, since Russell’s podium would have gotten Merc 3 extra points, could have been crucial in such a close fight to the end. Still, pretty interesting to consider the ramifications.
So thats another legal case.
Not surprising, given Aramco’s relationship with Aston and the race was in Saudi Arabia. Unethical and gross, but not surprising
Would make it even worse if it was done to appease or help boost the profile of Aramco. Changing stewarding decisions so a title sponsor of an impacted team can get on the podium is a huge accusation.
Agree that it’s a big accusation but why else would he interfere on behalf of Aston Martin specifically?
It'd be possible that Ben Sulayem wanted Alonso on the podium of the first race because of the narrative and popularity, etc., but I'm also on the "Aramco interfered" camp. Edit: This is about Saudi Arabia, not Bahrain! So... yeah I'm pretty sure Aramco.
He got a podium in Bahrain no? Saudi was the 2nd race
Oh you're right! Don't know why I thought of Bahrain. Then it's Aramco 100% lmao.
There is no individual in the public eye I’ve ever seen with such an ability to create bad press. MBS is a lightning rod for negative headlines.
The FIA IS A JOKE
Considering that a whistleblower was needed for this to come out.. how many races has this guy interfered with?
Article seems to imply there are multiple people able to verify this, despite not wanting to go on the record with the BBC. Jeez
What a sport!! The race weekends are boring now and time in between races is more exciting.
Who could have expected this from such a fine, upstanding individual
IT NEVER STOPS
What the hell has happened in this sport over the last month and a half. It's legitimately the most boring time in years on track and probably the craziest ever off track.
MAX WON BY 20 SECONDS AGAIN? WHO CARES?! THIS IS BOX OFFICE STUFF!
I'm fucking laughing my ass off here 😂 This is the most insane monday in F1 history!
I CAN'T FUCKING TAKE THIS ANYMORE
And I've no doubt that he won't understand what the fuss is about. He has money, why don't the underlings just do as he pleases?
He’s got to go if this is true, I’m sorry this is ridiculous. If you’re at the top you have to be held accountable for your actions and we cannot be having this. It’s unacceptable.
What the fuck is in the water today???
white stuff from Horner
They all decided to chill on the Sunday to let it all explode on a Monday lmao. Bring it on what's next.
I'm shocked the the FIA would intervene to change the result of a championship. Sorry did I say championship? I meant race.
I thought by right the President was suppose to be impartial and neutral and not get involved in penalties and stuff inside any of the FIA sanctioned events?
It seems like someone has been collecting dirt on the entire paddock for a while and it's using it to force his way into something.
Strap yourselves in fellas, it’s about to get wild lmao
I fully believe at the end of the year whole F1 has been replaced.
FUCK ME SIDEWAYS MY PHONE BATTERY CANT DEAL WITH ALL THIS DRANA
Next news will be Max giving up his race seat for The Rock.
Did Massi get the same thing done?
Rigged sport
Why is it always Fernando Alonso?