Last Week in Formula 1 (November 18 - 24, 2024)
Featuring Max’s new cat, the out-of-the-blue probable arrival of the Cadillac F1 Team, and one slippery Las Vegas Grand Prix…
The Formation Lap
Gather ‘round racing friend, for the latest batch of team updates, driver buzz, technical adventures, and trackside stats is ready and waiting for you…
Throttle & Tread’s fourteenth edition of Last Week in Formula 1 has arrived.
Before leaving the garage, you can catch up on last week’s issue here.
If you’re a rookie ‘round these parts and wondering what you're in for, Last Week in Formula 1 is a weekly feature courtesy of Throttle & Tread recapping the most recent interesting and important goings-on in the Formula 1 world.
In the perfection-seeking spirit of F1, Last Week in Formula 1 and Throttle & Tread are in a constant state of development. So any feedback you have on what’s covered, the format, or anything I missed is welcome in the comments.
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Now let’s get down to business…
The Las Vegas Grand Prix
Qualifying:
P1. George Russell
P2. Carlos Sainz
P3. Pierre Gasly
Grand Prix:
P1. George Russell
P2. Lewis Hamilton
P3. Carlos Sainz
Throttle & Tread’s Reaction:
I was beaming after Gasly’s shock P3 quali lap, filled with smug satisfaction and anticipation for what would surely be an excellent race for my fantasy squad—one that would have all-but-guaranteed my taking P1 this year. But alas… Given how rare engine failures are these days, you can imagine my shock and disappointment at hearing his panicked cries of “no power, no power!” before seeing smoke billowing out the back of his stricken Alpine.
Fantasy league highs and lows aside, while I don’t much care for the city of Las Vegas or all the pomp around this grand prix, I daresay the circuit is 2/2 in producing entertaining race weekends. George vanishing from sight took away any hopes of a thrilling battle for the lead, but watching Lewis scythe through the field was a joy, and I always enjoy the races where, visually, you can see that (most of) the cars are attacking, rather than managing.
Personal highlights from Las Vegas include:
Yuki-san getting the better of Lawson (yes, I have a favourite)...
Not seeing George on screen as he peeled off into the distance…
Pierre Gasly’s dynamite quali lap—such a shame about his engine…
Lewis backing up his claim that he had the car for pole by steaming from P10 to P2, giving George something to think about for a moment…
And Max awkwardly responding to being told “he’s in Las Vegas” by Terry Crews during his post-race interview with a deadpan, “Yes, I am.”
The Drivers’ Mutterings & Musings
Okay, most important bits first:
Please meet Max’s new cat, Donatello.
Now, moving on…
Tension between the drivers and FIA is continuing to escalate:
Charles said he found out about Race Director’s Niels Wittich firing through social media. KMag—quoted in the comments here—said this ‘regime’ feels like an us vs. them situation, as opposed to being listened to and heard in the past. And George is “a little bit surprised” that there’s been no FIA response to the GDPA letter regarding “driver misconduct (AKA: swearing), and that the drivers are fed up with the FIA’s poor excuse for leadership.
On the bright side, drivers seem impressed with new (interim?) Race Director, Rui Marques—who is apparently doing the hard yards that weren’t before and actually listening to the drivers, then implementing their feedback. Bravo!
Alas, I appear to have jumped the gun last week in reporting that Zhou would benefit from his old Ferrari Driver Academy ties in becoming one of The Red Team’s Reserve Drivers next year. According to Giuliano Duchessa—always a reliable source—there’s no chance for Zhou, and Arthur Leclerc will be one of the team’s RDs (along with Reddit favourite, Antonio ‘Italian Jesus’ Giovinazzi).
After yet another Q1 exit—his tenth for Red Bull in just 3 seasons and as many as McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes combined this year—the monkeys are leaping onto Sergio Pérez’s back once again. Given these comments from Sith Lord Christian Horner and a post-Abu Dhabi meeting having been scheduled by Darth Helmut Marko, I daresay his 2025 seat isn’t a certainty.
Surely, Red Bull can’t keep tolerating his woeful under-performance…
Now assuming Checo does get shitcanned for 2025, who would his replacement be? Young Franco was in the conversation, but interest in him has cooled in recent weeks thanks to his run of rookie mistakes.
The Teams’ Twistings & Turnings
In one big moment of holy hell, out of the blue, Formula 1 suddenly seems likely to grant entry to a slightly tweaked Andretti team for 2026—allegedly joining as the Cadillac F1 Team (but run by the Andretti crew).
Warm up that F5 key dear reader, an announcement is expected this week.
2024 might not be finished quite yet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start marking your 2025 calendar. The F1, F2, F3, and F1 Academy 2025 calendar has been released. Huzzah, there’s only one summer break!
While not perfect, I’m heartened to see that over the past couple of seasons we’ve been moving closer and closer to a logically regionalised schedule. With rumblings like these slipping out here and there, 2026 should be better still.
Feel like a cup of tea? I gotchu: Toto Wolff has revealed that every F1 Team Principal except Christian Horner signed the document in support of Susie Wolff back when the FIA launched a baseless investigation against her.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been a big fan of Freddie Vasseur’s Ferrari—and the philosophy he’s cultivating is a big part of why.
Technical Tidbits
Update fiends, unite! Here’s the FIA’s official update submissions for Vegas.
Here’s the inside scoop on F1’s new driver cooling device (hint: it’s a shirt!).
The FIA have doled out a new Technical Directive banning skid block protection, which enabled teams to run lower and lower and lower (in pursuit of more almighty downforce). Supposedly, ~50% of the teams have been doing this—which I imagine will bring about some performance surprises as ride heights are forced to be raised to prevent illegal floor plank wear.
This Week in Formula 1 History
Estoril, 1995. A young Michael Schumacher steps behind the wheel of a Ferrari for his first official test with the Scuderia—the beginning of a fairytale racing career that I don’t think anyone predicted in full or saw coming.
Paddock Playtime
If cars going round in Las Vegas whetted your appetite for close quarters fast car battles, check out this compilation of ‘epic’ street circuit overtakes.
Are you a fan of behind-the-scenes things and stuff? If so, McLaren have been kind enough to give you a glimpse inside the role of an F1 sim driver.
My oh my, Silverstone circuit blanketed with ice is a pretty sight.
Spa-Francorchamps in the snow is rather gorgeous too, if I may say so.
Are you a fan of Formula 1? Probably. Do you like magic tricks? I dunno, but if so, watch as magician Shin Lim stuns the grid with her paddock magic.
The Final Lap
Aaaand that’s a wrap on the fourteenth edition of Last Week in Formula 1.
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed your time and learned a thing or two along the way. What did you love about this issue? What did I miss this week?
Let me know in the comments.
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Until next week,
Signed,
Throttle & Tread