Inexperienced Pocket book from the Islander Bar and Grill – joeblogsf1

I had a couple of hours to kill in MIA on the return from Mexico Metropolis (it’s cheaper when you don’t fly direct) and I used to be pondering the Mexico F1 weekend, as I munched my manner by some Cuban spring rolls. It struck me that Islander may be seen as “I slander” and that one of many themes of the Grand Prix had been defamation, largely in relation to social media and the way poisonous a world it may be. This got here up within the post-race press convention.

 “I believe it’s simply the game is extra well-liked so there are extra folks watching, so extra persons are writing,” stated Max Verstappen. “I believe it’s simply that. It’s not nice that they’re allowed to jot down these sorts of issues so I hope we will give you a sort of algorithm that stops folks from being keyboard warriors. As a result of these sort of folks… they’ll by no means come as much as you and say this stuff in entrance of your face, as a result of they’re sitting in entrance of their desk or no matter at house, being upset, being pissed off, and so they can write no matter they like as a result of the platform lets you. That may be actually damaging and hurtful to some folks and it’s not the way it ought to be. Social media is a really poisonous place.”

Lewis Hamilton was additionally fairly vocal on the topic.

“Social media is getting increasingly more poisonous because the years go on and we must always all come off it, in the end,” he stated. “Psychological well being is such a outstanding factor proper now. So many individuals are studying the feedback, the stuff that folks say, and it’s hurtful. Thankfully I don’t learn it, however the media platforms must do extra to guard folks, notably younger youngsters and girls. For the time being they don’t seem to be doing that so I believe this can simply proceed.”

And Sergio Perez agreed.

“They don’t perceive that we’re additionally human beings. And I believe this has obtained to cease,” he stated. “And, clearly, as a sport, we have to even be accountable of what we put up, by ourselves. All of us have plenty of followers so it’s crucial that we attempt to get the game in the appropriate manner as a result of System 1, it’s an incredible sport and has nice values, however has to do extra in that regard.”

I couldn’t agree extra. One can’t put up something with out somebody taking offence, or gnashing their digital enamel. The opposite day, I noticed a tweet which prompt that researchers at Stanford College, a really tremendous establishment, had give you what they thought-about to be the picture of God. All of it sounded not possible and the picture appeared so much like Fernando Alonso. Actually, it appeared so like Fernando that I concluded that it was a faux story however, simply to make sure, I did a bit of browsing on the internet and found that the picture had nothing to do with Stanford and was merely a 3D rendition of Alonso that one should buy on the internet, if one feels the necessity to half with cash to personal a  non-fungible token.

I’ve all the time struggled with NFTs as a result of whereas I perceive that a picture may be thought-about particular and helpful, while you purchase a digital piece of artwork, you might be getting completely nothing half from a picture that anybody who is aware of the way to use a display screen shot can even have at house. For those who purchase a portray you might be no less than getting some canvas, wooden and paint.

I assume it’s nearly perception, just like pondering {that a} little bit of paper is as helpful as a bit of gold.

Anyway, I tweeted that it was an NFT and never some spiritual experiment that appeared like Alonso and my phrase: “It’s not God, it’s simply Fernando” quickly appeared on a digital teeshirt as a result of Fernando followers thought this was a very good meme. Then, in fact, I obtained some responses from spiritual varieties saying that there’s just one God and that it’s disrespectful to match Him (why not Her?) with Alonso as a result of the bible is stuffed with exhortations to keep away from and/or destroy gods apart from the one talked about within the “Good Guide”. Gods, within the improper palms, are troublesome (I’d higher © that one).

Anyway, Mexico Metropolis is all of the fault of an Aztec deity with the easy-to-remember identify of Huitzilopochtli, who stated that one of the best place for the tribe to settle could be after they noticed an eagle, perched on a prickly pear cactus – in a lake – and consuming a snake.

Properly, blow me down, that is precisely what a few of the Aztecs noticed in a swamp within the valley of Mexico. In order that they constructed a metropolis known as Tenochtitlan, created “floating gardens” on which to develop meals and settled right down to take pleasure in life, sacrificing folks every now and then to cease the gods from making the bottom shake, by ripping out the still-beating hearts of the victims. OK, they gave us popcorn and chewing gum as properly, however the sacrificing stuff was not a really good manner of going about enterprise.

Because of the hungry eagle, the settlement now generally known as Mexico Metropolis was based (and the Mexican flag created), though within the trendy world, the place is something however good. It’s in a flat valley at 7,000ft, surrounded by volcanos that rise as excessive as 16,000 ft. It’s sheltered from winds however has no drainage in order that when water descends from the mountains it has nowhere to go and causes floods. These situations are usually not very useful as a result of an idea known as temperature inversion implies that air air pollution is trapped and when the nice and cozy air close to the bottom does escape it creates violent thunder storms that trigger extra floods.

And that’s with out the earthquakes…

Regardless of these disadvantages, Mexico Metropolis has grown and grown. At present there are 22 million folks dwelling there (21.8 million of that are Checo Perez followers). Air pollution was actually horrible again within the Eighties however the Mexicans have achieved a good clean-up job by constructing a really environment friendly mass transit system, though the visitors remains to be fairly terrible. Mexico Metropolis is reckoned to be solely the fifth most congested metropolis in Latin America (keep away from Bogota, Lima, Recive and Santiago) – however it’s nonetheless a really congested place.

And but guests come to take pleasure in its cosmopolitan charms, its power and its historic locations. Within the outdated days, everybody in F1 used to remain on the airport lodges as a result of they had been there to race and didn’t care in regards to the fancy lodges downtown. At present they wish to keep within the wildly-expensive locations and so need to spend extra cash on police escorts and waste time getting by the visitors of their vehicles. One in every of my favorite tales of the Grand Prix weekend was that Carlos Slim Domit, the billionaire petrol head, who has funded a lot of Mexican motorsport within the final 20 years, and is basically accountable for Sergio Perez surviving lengthy sufficient in F1 to get a good seat, determined that he didn’t wish to sit in visitors and so took the metro to get to the circuit. Thankfully, this was so sudden an act that nothing unhealthy occurred…

If you wish to make mates in Mexico you don’t must study plenty of Spanish. For those who can say “Checo” and provides a thumbs-up, they are going to be joyful and proud. Nevertheless one will get the sensation that it isn’t simply Perez. Mexicans love racing. The assist for Perez is spectacular however  it isn’t fairly the identical as success-chasing supporters of Max Verstappen, who will fade someday if Max stops successful.

For Mexicans it appears that there’s additionally loads of nationwide delight in regards to the Grand Prix. It’s a nice occasion. It received the prize for being one of the best Grand Prix for 5 consecutive years between 2015 and 2019 (the award has not been made since), and the promoter has simply signed a brand new three-year deal and the longer term appears rosy. The principle focus today is to construct up the pageant (ie money-making actions) across the occasion. Already it coincides with the colorful Dia de Muertos (Day of the Useless) and so guests can mix the 2, which is able to convey extra income to the town and thus allow F1 to ask for more cash. That is precisely what Liberty Media’s imaginative and prescient of F1 is – and it’s working.

There’s a growing downside, nevertheless, with the secondary marketplace for tickets, which might get to daft costs as a result of so many individuals wish to come to the races. This presents a problem for the organisers as a result of in the event that they promote low cost tickets these will find yourself nurturing touts. One can increase the costs to squeeze out the scalpers but when the demand is powerful sufficient there’ll nonetheless be a margin for them.

The issue in Mexico Metropolis is that the Grand Prix can’t promote any extra tickets and there’s no house left for extra grandstands. The logical factor to do within the circumstances is both to take a seat again and benefit from the state of affairs, or to try to repeat the success elsewhere. With six races within the American time zones in 2023, there may be in all probability nonetheless room for another (which is able to imply one being misplaced in Europe) and though having two races in Mexico shouldn’t be a practical ambition, there isn’t a cause why the promotions firm can’t go elsewhere within the area and assist out nations that have no idea the way to do it.

Anyway, the rationale the brand new contract is brief, is as a result of there may be an election in 2024 when the mayor of Mexico Metropolis Claudia Sheinbaum will get to the top of her time period of workplace. It appears like she goes to face for the presidency and so the Mexico Metropolis might get federal funding once more and maybe return to being the Mexican GP.

Perez is so well-liked in Mexico that his father Tono thinks it might win him votes in he presidential election and he says he standing for the position. This won’t occur as a result of he’s in the identical celebration – known as MORENA – as Sheinbaum and International Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who’re in all probability a bit of extra engaging to voters than Perez’s dad, enthusiastic although he could also be…

Mexico will sooner or later must search for a brand new driver to assist as a result of Perez is coming as much as 33 and whereas he’s eight years youthful than Fernando Alonso and will, in principle, go on perpetually in F1, there might come a degree at which Purple Bull will suppose {that a} teen may do a greater job. You possibly can cheer till you might be hoarse, however Sergio is nowhere near Max’s tempo. He’s strong, he’s older and (maybe) wiser, however there might come a day…

Mexico does have Pato O’Ward, who’s 9 years youthful than Perez and a really bouncy particular person. He’s below contract to McLaren in IndyCar till the top of 2025 and is similar age as Lando Norris, which is 2 years outdated than Oscar Piastri, whereas Alex Palou is 2 years older. So, McLaren has an possibility that would someday make Mexico joyful. A profitable driver could make the game very talked-about in their very own nation. We have now seen that in Spain (with Alonso) and in Germany (with Michael Schumacher), nevertheless it doesn’t all the time work as a result of Sebastian Vettel by no means appealed to German followers in the best way that Michael did. I’ve requested plenty of Germans about why that is the case and the reply appears to be a category factor. Michael was a working class hero, who rose to fame at a time when Germany wanted figures to unite round. All of it occurred simply after the reunification of East and West and, so they are saying, that is what made him such an enormous phenomenon. That, and plenty of victories…

At present we’ve got China’s Guanyu Zhou however the Chinese language are usually not but getting excited. Issues are a bit of sophisticated as a result of I sense a brand new sort of warning in F1 about China. The 2023 race goes to be known as off due to the zero-COVID coverage. The Chinese language management can’t let F1 bust all the principles with out it stirring up bother and that’s the very last thing that they need. So the race must go and perhaps in 2024 they’ll get spherical to easing the lockdowns and getting on with life.. On the identical time I really feel that the view of China is altering. It’s not seen the funding alternative it as soon as was and plenty of Western firms are winding down their operations. China’s failure to sentence Russia’s assault on Ukraine has not gone down properly within the West and President Xi’s combative angle in the direction of Taiwan is worrying. F1 reduce all ties with Russia quickly after the invasion of Ukraine – and would seemingly do the identical if Taiwan was attacked.

However, worse than that, there’s a wariness about China that the management has created. I’m certain they don’t give a monkey’s about F1, nevertheless it might imply that F1 will moved its targets to locations in Asia the place it’s simpler to do enterprise. Sure, China has 1.4 billion folks, however India has about the identical… Maybe if the Indians can eliminate their purple tape and F1 may look once more. Maybe not.

Subsequent 12 months, in all probability, we can have American Logan Sargeant making an attempt to do the identical factor with the USA. Colton Herta appears to have disappeared from the scene and I’m advised that he has simply been signed to an unlimited new contract ($7 million) which is unparalleled in Indycar. Maybe if there may be ever an Andretti F1 workforce Herta may make F1, however proper now it’s all somewhat uncertain.

F1 continues to construct within the US and this week on the SEMA Present in Las Vegas, the main automotive commerce present, Williams F1 goes to be current. Subsequent weekend there might be a launch celebration for the Grand Prix in Las Vegas.

Sargeant’s state of affairs stays unsure, which is a bit of ridiculous. The hole between the penultimate System 2 race assembly and the finale is an enormous 10 weeks (from September 11 to November 20). That is one among variety of flaws that System 2 suffers from: it’s costly and the vehicles are usually not all the time dependable and so the championship may be impacted by mechanical failures, which isn’t what you need when one is making an attempt to develop one of the best drivers and technical points distort the outcomes. Secondly, the hole on the finish of the 12 months implies that a variety of present System 2 drivers want to attend till after the final race to see whether or not they qualify for an F1 tremendous licence or not. They don’t wish to decide to returning to System 2 in 2023 as a result of there isn’t a actual level in doing one other season if one finishes properly within the championship, however as they don’t know the place they’ll end, they can not commit. Felipe Drugovich has already received the 2022 title, having collected 241 factors to date. This implies he can’t be caught by the second-placed Theo Pourchaire, who has solely 164 factors. There may be most rating of 39 factors for an F2 weekend, which implies that Pourchaire shouldn’t be protected in second place as a result of Sargeant (135), Jack Doohan (126), Jehan Daruvala (126) and Enzo Fittipaldi (126) might all beat him. There are 5 different drivers who may have the ability to overtake Sargeant for third place, in the event that they rating most factors and he fails to attain: Liam Lawson (123), Frederik Vesti (117), Ayumu Iwasa (114), Juri Vips (110) and Dennis Hauger (98).

So there are 10 drivers who might end third within the championship. Sargeant must be fifth to qualify for his licence and thus have the ability to take up the Williams F1 drive that’s on supply to him.

The issue with that is that whereas the drivers wait to see what’s going to occur, the 2023 drives are starting to refill with drivers who know what they should do. The identical mistake is being made once more in subsequent 12 months’s calendar.

The paddock chatter in Mexico was largely about the fee cap, till the selections had been handed down, after which it ceased to be information and sank beneath silently the waves.

There was a little bit of speak following the Audi announcement that it’s leaping into mattress with Sauber, a shock to no-one. What’s fascinating about that is that the announcement stated that Sauber will “undertake the planning and execution of all race operations through the 2026 System 1 season”. Reducing by the waffle, because of this Audi is hedging its bets, however you’ll be able to perceive why. If a producer is available in with full branding there’s a danger that if all of it goes improper, the corporate will look unhealthy. Toyota is an effective instance of how to not do it. Mercedes dived in head-first in 2010 when it acquired Brawn GP however Brawn was the World Championship-winning workforce on the time, whereas Sauber is nowhere close to reaching that.

Previous to that, again within the Nineties, Mercedes hid behind Sauber earlier than turning into Sauber-Mercedes in 1994.

When Sauber was purchased by BMW on the finish of 2005 the workforce remained BMW Sauber, somewhat than being a straight BMW workforce, but when issues had gone higher it might need been reworked, however evidently the sporting bosses had over-promised and the BMW board determined it was losing its time and give up.

The opposite large query for the time being is what’s going to occur with Audi’s sister model Porsche, which hoped to enter F1 in league with Purple Bull.  In latest days there have been rumours that Porsche might purchase into Williams. This isn’t critical. Williams’s homeowners have proven no intention, regardless of a number of approaches, handy over management. Williams want to have producer assist in 2026 – however Porsche doesn’t have an engine and, so they are saying, doesn’t presently have the capability, the folks nor the time to construct an engine for 2026.

Therefore the Purple Bull deal…

Porsche does have some data of F1 engines as a result of again in 2017 the VW govt board commissioned  the agency to construct a prototype F1 engine. This was going for use from 2021 onwards however the impression of the VW diesel scandal shifted the group in the direction of electrical motorsport. The dynos that Porsche had deliberate to make use of had been offered to Purple Bull.

When Audi introduced its F1 plans, its boss Markus Duesmann was requested if Audi and Porsche might collaborate, the apparent factor to do if one is being cost-efficient. However that will be far too straightforward for a fancy firm like Volkswagen. Audi doesn’t wish to work with Porsche. It’s a flimsy argument to say that they can not as a result of integrating chassis and engine is unattainable. For those who take a look at the technical rules about energy unit mountings, these should encompass six studs connecting to the survival cell. The exact nature of the principles consists of coordinates of the place the studs have to be positioned, which implies that totally different engines can be utilized with totally different chassis. This was created to make it potential to vary engines with out enormous prices being concerned and so integration is so much simpler than it’d seem.

Since Duesmann made these remarks a few months in the past, a lot has modified: the Purple Bull-Porsche deal has fallen aside, however Porsche boss Oliver Blume has taken over because the boss of VW Group, whereas nonetheless retaining his position at Porsche. Which means Blume is Duesmann’s superior. Properly, that’s the idea. Logically, if he went to the VW board and prompt that Porsche and Audi share the identical expertise, it will be completely logical for that to occur. You possibly can argue that this isn’t the best way that Porsche does enterprise, however then badging a Purple Bull engine was in no way a Porsche sort of technique.

Wants should.

The straightforward (however troublesome) resolution is for Porsche to be given no matter Audi has. One can stick a unique badge on the cam covers and who will know the distinction? Clearly Porsche would then must put money into folks and equipment in order to develop alongside its personal path, however this could be a very good place to begin.

Nevertheless, in terms of VW politics, nothing is ever easy…

Cash shouldn’t be the difficulty.

Cash is a matter in some components of F1, notably the cryptocurrency companies, following on from the catastrophic lack of investor confidence within the sector final summer time. Bitcoin has tumbled from $60,000 to $20,000, whereas Ferrari sponsor Velas has seen its market cap tumble from $1.2 billion  in January to simply below $100 million. F1 sponsor Crypto.com has additionally been struggling and has not too long ago laid off round 30 p.c of its employees and has cancelled an enormous sponsorship cope with UEFA.

Conversely, the extra conventional cash switch companies equivalent to Haas’s new sponsor Moneygram or the likes of PayPal and Western Union are booming, together with a string of newer cash switch companies.

F1 is known for issues and discovering options, so maybe we’ll see some new names popping up quickly.

The opposite day Alejandro Soberon, the race promoter in Mexico, got here up with a superb idea about F1 and the setting. F1 is busy making an attempt to persuade everybody that it may well attain zero emissions by 2030. It is a good thought, however it’s fairly meaningless if one doesn’t depend the emissions created by F1’s spectators. One can attempt to get folks to make use of mass transportation programs (as Carlos Slim did in Mexico) or one can attempt to persuade them to change to emission-free vehicles. However, if one thinks about the issue, one can already argue that System 1 is carbon impartial. How? Properly, Soberon argued, if one solely counts the folks attending occasions, you might be lacking a trick. F1 is accountable for them, certain. However F1 can be accountable for preserving folks at house to look at races, somewhat than going out on Sundays to have drive within the nation, picnics, purchasing journeys and so forth. So one wants solely to discover a approach to measure how many individuals keep at house due to F1 and work out the environmental injury prevented and one can shortly see that the variety of spectators will shortly be outnumbered by the variety of TV viewers.

Staying house is one thing that increasingly more media F1 media are actually doing, which implies that a lot of the protection comes from individuals who use what’s spoon-fed to them, or copy what those that nonetheless journey are producing, though clearly they don’t pay for it. Which means the travellers foot the payments however publications received’t pay what they used to. Anybody who travels the world for the time being is aware of that the prices are actually horrendous. Flights are double what they was, lodges (notably at F1 races) are off the clock. Rent automotive costs are bonkers. That is the price of F1’s success, the results of the pandemic and companies making an attempt to make again what they misplaced.

This could get you down typically. I see all of the followers on my social media feeds and I ponder the truth that if all them had been to buy a subscription to the JSBM e-newsletter (http://flatoutpublishing.com/jsbm/) simply as soon as, not solely would they get a singular information each week for a 12 months – rather more than seems within the Inexperienced Pocket book – however I’d then by no means have to fret about F1 prices once more.

Ah, in an ideal world, the place social media was a constructive factor…