Good month - Bad month: January 2024
Charting the ups and downs of the F1 circus
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Good Month
Incredible Sulk
Verstappen was delightfully off-message in Vegas, calling it “99% a show”. And this after winning the F1 world title. You wouldn’t like him when he’s actually angry.
Bully’s special prize
Alonso went full Jim Bowen in Brazil, showing Pérez ‘what you could’ve won’ in the dying moments before snatching third place back.
Talking a good race
Strategy analyst Bernie Collins has been brilliant on Sky F1 coverage – certainly beats some of the old boys.
Bring on the boos
Nothing wrong with the pantomime booing for Leclerc at the Mexico end-of-race interviews. It’s supposed to be gladiatorial entertainment after all.
Big Vegas winner
Esteban Ocon might ruffle a few feathers with his elbows-out driving style, but he gets results: 17th on the grid to fourth in the Vegas race was pretty handy.
Bad Month
Speak now or…
Crofty’s catch-all irritant was immortalised with the variation ‘Lights Out and Together We Go’ in the Vegas paddock’s very own shotgun chapel. That’s why he was blurting it all these years.
Anti-Alpi-climax
Alpine’s special Vegas livery was, err, a bit more blue. Don’t get too excited guys.
Rip-off artists
F1 ejects fans from its delayed Las Vegas practice session, offers them paltry vouchers in the official race shop as compensation, and doesn’t apologise. What an own goal.
Brackley’s barn door
Mercedes had to run a huge rear wing in Brazil to make up for lost downforce courtesy of a conservative ride height after its Austin DSQ. And subsequently went backwards.
No room at the spin
F2 points leader and Sauber junior Théo Pourchaire has nowhere to go in GP racing next season, so will have to compete elsewhere – so much for F1’s ‘best drivers in the world’.
