Good month, bad month - December 2023

GOOD MONTH

Suits you sirs
Despite its team boss’s woe-is-us protestations, Williams’ special Gulf livery plus its Stars ’n’ Stripes Austin trim cut a pretty sharp look – helped by Albon continuing to star.

Up-Swing
Golf wants some grand prix magic: F1 drivers will be enlisted in Swing to Survive, a live Netflix crossover vehicle with PGA stars broadcasting Nov 14 – showing racing’s massive appeal now.

Fighting talk
Good to see Pérez strike back against retirement talk, vowing to fight – just has to beat Verstappen every now and then. Easy, right?

Oscar winner
Piastri’s season has been turbocharged following the McLaren upgrade. Best rookie since Hamilton.

To the point
After one of the most difficult debut F1 seasons in years, Logan Sargeant scored a point at long last in Austin! Can he save his seat at Grove?

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BAD MONTH

Shameless Formula
F1 teams’ predictions of the immense suffering they’ll endure if Andretti joins has been embarrassing – Williams boss Vowles saying ‘no’ to the American team, but ‘yes’ to its engine partner GM took the biscuit.

Stroppy Stroll
Being Alonso’s team-mate is a tough gig for sure – but Lance’s recent tantrums haven’t exactly quietened his rich-kid racing brat image.

Less than fine
The FIA announcing that its lunch money subs (driver fines) will now go up to $1m smacks of a Balestre-throwback era.

Desert trip
Lusail made use of a new Mario Kart-style bogey ‘pyramid kerbs’ on many apexes – which predictably meant Pirelli tyres began to fall apart at just the sight of them.

On the skids
Just when it looked in Austin like Mercedes might mount a challenge to Verstappen, Hamilton found himself disqualified on technical grounds…