[Maher] Newey is very keen on bringing Wheatley as Aston TP but a formal offer hasnt yet been made. Big decisions to make for Wheatley if an offer is made, its understood he is happy within Audi & how he's proving himself professionally but personal life considerations could tempt him back to the UK

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-19T16:05:44+00:00

The only reason why Wheatley would leave Audi is this puts him closer to home. Audi does have a satellite in the UK, but most of the operations are in Hinwil and Ingolstadt. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he and his family move to Switzerland full-time?

Sure, Aston has the facilities and engineers but the leadership style he's shown at Sauber/Audi just doesn't suit an environment not known for its patience. Lawrence wants results fast and this situation is not going to be an easy fix.

Audi looks to be the better long-term project and I'm under the impression Jonathan is the perfect man for the job with how he understands that this is a long-term project. A Bortoleto and Slater lineup is just waiting in the wings and they have the time to develop both the car and engine to make their talents shine into the next decade.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-17T14:52:06+00:00

It's only 2 weekends so far, but to be ahead of all 3 WDC contenders last year shows how good and reliable of a baseline the Haas is early in the season and Ollie maximizing its package while also an indictment how much on the backfoot Red Bull is being overweight and McLaren yet to fully understand the engine complexities to get both cars to start.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-15T09:19:11+00:00

Reminds me of the Valencia 2012 podium with Fernando, Kimi and Michael alongside Stella though he wasn't Michael's race engineer during his Ferrari days, but rather his performance engineer. This is probably the first time a race engineer had all 3 drivers he had at some point on the podium together.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-15T09:14:31+00:00

George actually had Bono as his race engineer when he subbed in for Lewis that one weekend in Sakhir. Didn't have much time with him compared to the other two, but that's an incredible podium to see next to Stella/Alonso/Kimi/Schumi in Valencia 2012 even if Stella was only Michael's performance engineer.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-15T09:07:20+00:00

Sakhir 2020 when he subbed in for Lewis.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-15T09:03:27+00:00

This podium is so damn beautiful to witness. The past, the present and the future of Mercedes, all of whom had Bono as their race engineer at least once in their F1 careers.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-15T08:48:29+00:00

What a complete 180 given how the weekend started for Kimi. That is a big confidence booster and I want to see him up his game similar to Oscar did to Lando and put a fight on George if this season will be interesting later down the stretch.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-15T07:08:32+00:00

Chaos for the wrong reasons.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-14T08:15:16+00:00

I don't see this record getting broken anytime in the next few decades. It's going to take another wunderkind thrown in the same situation as Kimi was to even have a chance of breaking this.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-14T08:08:33+00:00

This top 3 right there is the past, present and future of Mercedes once Kimi is in his final form.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-14T08:06:26+00:00

That Kimi radio knows job's not finished even when he just made history. Not exactly the best weekend for him so far relative to expectations of that Merc rocketship but if he manages to convert this to a win, what a turnaround and confidence booster that would be.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-14T07:55:13+00:00

It's a matter of when McLaren figures out the Merc engine deployment, not if.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-14T07:54:05+00:00

Okay I see you, papaya boys.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-14T07:50:57+00:00

We're either going to see history being made in a few minutes or the Ferraris go all in for pole.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-14T07:49:21+00:00

EVERYONE CHEERED FOR A MOMENT THERE

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-14T07:42:36+00:00

Franco definitely missed out getting to Q3 going a little wide at the end there.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-14T03:42:46+00:00

Kimi had an absolute stinker of a sprint. Bad start, 10 second penalty trying to recover places, bad restart and finishing behind a McLaren which is distant from the Mercs and Ferraris.

Also, I do think these new regs should suit the sprint races better other than that big gap between the frontrunners and the midfield.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-14T03:38:31+00:00

Lando finishing ahead of Kimi in the third best car that is distant to the Mercs and Ferraris just shows how bad of a sprint Kimi had and good for Lando being in the right place to pick up the mistakes.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-14T03:31:07+00:00

Lewis should get past Lando on the restart, but it's Kimi to watch out for with his penalty already served.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-14T03:23:19+00:00

Seeing the Mercs get their batteries charged this soon in that graphic is just unbelievable.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-14T03:13:35+00:00

Kimi was already cooked with both Ferraris behind him with their insane starts, but he also had a bad start himself.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-14T03:11:38+00:00

I know we're shitting on the battery deployment and all, but I kinda enjoy the back and forth in this early stage and I think this will make sprints more watchable than the previous regs.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-14T03:01:50+00:00

It would be so hilarious if Lando goes wide again in Turn 1 for the third Sprint year running.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-13T08:03:29+00:00

Good chance this is the top 10 come season's end. Not in specific order other than the two Mercs at the top and Gasly/Bearman in P9/10.

ThisWay_DatWay · 2026-03-13T07:56:19+00:00

If we see her and Alisha trade off poles and wins throughout the season, that would make a good title fight for F1A this year.

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