F1 2026: Japanese GP - Suzuka (Mar 29)

[G30M]

Hadjar & Linblad > Max
Antonelli > Russell!

and those british dudes declaring George is the WDC winner this year at the start of the season already ... !

[GuidoK]

wow Max is not gonna be happy with this result....
That RB is all over the place. This is gonna be a very diffucult year for Max and RB.
I've said it before, but I wouldn't be surprised if this is Max' last year in F1:
1. He said 5 years ago that he's not gonna be in F1 forever
2. when these new regulations became published, he was pretty much the first driver to say (that was probably about 3 years ago) that he didn't like the regs and that it would impact the joy of driving in a very negative way
3. It looks like all his joy comes from simracing and GT racing with his team. Recent events only made that stronger...
So I think he's not even going to another team, and probably has an early opt out of his contract, especially if he leaves f1 (his contract is til 2028 I think....).

So to all the Max haters (and there are a LOT here...) you guys only have to wait another 9 months is my prediction..

[GuidoK]

Nice pole from ANT
Well done!
but again very clear...team MERC has by far the fastest car.
They're gonna dominate this year, but that was already predicted last year.

[Toad]

Qualifying classification

[G30M]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

wow Max is not gonna be happy with this result....
That RB is all over the place. This is gonna be a very diffucult year for Max and RB.
I've said it before, but I wouldn't be surprised if this is Max' last year in F1:
1. He said 5 years ago that he's not gonna be in F1 forever
2. when these new regulations became published, he was pretty much the first driver to say (that was probably about 3 years ago) that he didn't like the regs and that it would impact the joy of driving in a very negative way
3. It looks like all his joy comes from simracing and GT racing with his team. Recent events only made that stronger...
So I think he's not even going to another team, and probably has an early opt out of his contract, especially if he leaves f1 (his contract is til 2028 I think....).

So to all the Max haters (and there are a LOT here...) you guys only have to wait another 9 months is my prediction..

he's not going away from F1. too much money. he needs to pay the pilots for his jet.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by G30M

he's not going away from F1. too much money. he needs to pay the pilots for his jet.

He has enough money. He's getting paid 70 million/year or so, and I think roughly the same amount in personal sponsorship/merchandise/etc

TBH I don't think he really cares about money. His wife's rich too. (daddy Piquet>200 million, I assume his daughter is in his will....)

[Fillip]

The WDC fight this year would be really interesting.

[3798j]

What a mix in the top 10. Who knew?

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by G30M

he's not going away from F1. too much money. he needs to pay the pilots for his jet.

MAX has never raced for the money.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Nice pole from ANT
Well done!
but again very clear...team MERC has by far the fastest car.
They're gonna dominate this year, but that was already predicted last year.

Suzuka pole lap

Antonelli (2026) => 1:28.778
MAX (2025) => 1:26.983

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

wow Max is not gonna be happy with this result....
That RB is all over the place. This is gonna be a very diffucult year for Max and RB.
I've said it before, but I wouldn't be surprised if this is Max' last year in F1:
1. He said 5 years ago that he's not gonna be in F1 forever
2. when these new regulations became published, he was pretty much the first driver to say (that was probably about 3 years ago) that he didn't like the regs and that it would impact the joy of driving in a very negative way
3. It looks like all his joy comes from simracing and GT racing with his team. Recent events only made that stronger...
So I think he's not even going to another team, and probably has an early opt out of his contract, especially if he leaves f1 (his contract is til 2028 I think....).

So to all the Max haters (and there are a LOT here...) you guys only have to wait another 9 months is my prediction..

As the Bahrain race is canceled : MAX already got a (big) major RB22 upgrade package that actually was planned to get it at Bahrain.
Hadjar did not get this major RB22 upgrade package at Suzuka .

It's a new design front wing with new supports and a new nose with 2 oval holes.
The suspension got an upgrade to improve the cars balance in the fast Suzuka corners.
The RB22 Ford battery got a new upgraded electrical steering system and software to improve battery charging.
It's very clear , this major RB22 upgrade package s@cks even more (!)
I think , that's why MAX is now even more disappointed in the car. Because the prospects are hopeless (!)
Laurent Mekies confirmed already yesterday : The 2026 RB22 has a fundamental design issue...

It's like the 2025 season all over again ....
And the Frenchman Pierre Waché still s@cks (as usual)!

RUS won't get a new 2027 Mercedes contract from Toto Wolff.
If MAX doesn't leave the F1 . Then that 2027 Mercedes contract will be for him (!)

[///M Power-Belgium]

Congrats for Antonelli's pole lap (!)
On the other hand : A pole lap in the Benz looks effortless...

[Rono63]

Max out in Q2. Out qualified by his teammate, Audi and a Racing Bull.

“Max Factor”

Like I’ve said it’s mostly the car not the driver.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Killed by Death

Will it be the year of the horse at Suzuka ?

[M3WC]

Uh…oh. Leclerc and LuLu don’t love the new regs anymore.

[Killed by Death]

Ok, I’m quickly getting pissed off

Last weekend I could select between Sky or Apple coverage. For Japan I could only find Apple which is worthless. So I just watched the highlights which was equally worthless. They basically only showed the final chicane and finish line

If no Sky for the race tomorrow it might be Zero F**ks Given for Formula 1e

It’s spring here in NC and I have better things to do with my time

[M3WC]

I like how Button was pretending not to know what Albon meant by his radio comments.

It is the same thing now being echoed by most the field. The faster you are in high-speed corners the slower your lap is(that is insane).

Superior qualifiers are being penalized for being too good. Albon is not the only one this happened to.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Suzuka pole lap

Antonelli (2026) => 1:28.778
MAX (2025) => 1:26.983

Slower 50% hybrid cars are are pile if manure.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Killed by Death

Will it be the year of the horse at Suzuka ?

Ferrari or drop with those diehards

[M3WC]

Originally Posted by Rono63

Max out in Q2. Out qualified by his teammate, Audi and a Racing Bull.

“Max Factor”

Like I’ve said it’s mostly the car not the driver.

Max can't get it through his thick head, he needs to drive slower. It is what Albon was complaining about. Same thing Leclerc said in China.

You can't attack high-speed corners. The battery needs to harvest.

[afadeev]

Super impressive job by Antonelli, good for him.
And byPiastri (3rd), Leclerc (4th) Gasly (7th), Hadjar (8th), Gabriel Bortoleto (9th). and Lindblad (10th).
All of the above measurably out-qualified their team mates!

It will be interesting to see if Ferraris can reprise monster-starts and rocket to 1st again by the first corner.

Originally Posted by GuidoK

This is gonna be a very diffucult year for Max and RB.
I've said it before, but I wouldn't be surprised if this is Max' last year in F1
[...]
TBH I don't think he really cares about money.

If the above was true, he would walk away right now.
Instead, he is sticking around to complain while getting paid, and getting out-qualified by his near-rookie team mate. Again.

I feel somewhat bad for him. But the amusement we all get from watching a few of you warship this under-performing Debbie Downer is almost worth it!

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

MAX has never raced for the money.

Oh really, then what is he racing for in F1 now?!
Answer: $$$$. Nothing else!

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

MAX already got a (big) major RB22 upgrade package that actually was planned to get it at Bahrain.
Hadjar did not get this major RB22 upgrade package at Suzuka .

Now that is interesting.
Maybe they should have installed the upgrades on Hadjar's car?!

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

RUS won't get a new 2027 Mercedes contract from Toto Wolff.
If MAX doesn't leave the F1 . Then that 2027 Mercedes contract will be for him (!)

Not true.
Russell's contract is 1+1 with second year being Russell's option (based on Merc performance guarantees), not Toto's.

The way VER is driving and behaving, I don't see many teams interested in his services. Well, maybe Cadillac.

https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/4...edes-f1-future

[M5Rick]

So the GP starts at 5AM which will read 6AM UK time after GMT switches to BST a few hours before, it's like having one hours worth jet lag for free.