'If Hamilton was serious, the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard'

08:43, 20 Jul 2023
33 Comments

F1 analyst Peter Windsor laughed at a suggestion made by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. The driver suggested that teams should only be allowed to work on their car from a certain date. Windsor makes mincemeat of that suggestion on his YouTube channel.

It feels unfair to Hamilton that Red Bull can already shift its focus halfway through the season to next season's car. According to the Mercedes driver, this allows the Austrians to maintain their lead. He feels it would be fairer if all teams were only allowed to work on the new car from a certain date.

'Ridiculous proposal'

Former Williams manager Windsor must be laughing at his compatriot's idea. "I think it was a joke to upset Red Bull. It must be." And if he wasn't, the analyst doesn't have a good word to say: "If Hamilton meant that, it really was the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard."

According to Windsor, it is unfair to implement such a rule. "Just because one team is doing so well, they can focus on the next year. And that's with a budget cap. Without [the cap], they might not even have started working on the next car."

Large gap

Mercedes is currently second in the constructors' championship, 208 points behind Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton is currently fourth in the drivers' standings. He is 134 points behind leader Max Verstappen.

33 Comments
Raoul 20 July 2023 at 13:30+ 2588

I miss some users here making ridiculous claims.

Alwaysangry 21 July 2023 at 04:09+ 1173

Confirmed by my paddock sources.?honk honk

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MabMav 20 July 2023 at 13:17+ 9040

This is the problem Max,Lewis and Seb all share.... Previous multiple championship winners drivers like Senna,Schumacher,Fangio,Hakkinen, Prost etc....didn't have the opposition handicapped by testing limitations. Teams could throw as much testing and money at trying to catch-up. It diminishes what they have achieved and or will achieve,untill we get back to some sanity. What drivers have achieved after 2009 can not be compared to what came before that. But,it has to be a show.....whoop,whoop.Bring the glitz the glamour and let's all forget that this used to be a sport. People always say how if they had a time machine they would go back in time,another a baby dictator with a pillow or play the lottery,knowing the winning numbers. Not me, I'd get a ticket to the 71 Italian GP,right across the finish line....

Alwaysangry 20 July 2023 at 12:18+ 1173

The ignore user feature is very nice.

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Mavric 20 July 2023 at 12:25+ 19032

@alwaysangry vegan makes everyone week with all the bs they come out with

Alwaysangry 20 July 2023 at 12:40+ 1173

They do it to themselves. If you don't feed trolls they vanish. Engagement is fun. But arguments based in fact are more entertaining.

mpplc 20 July 2023 at 11:22+ 10240

Good on Windsor to point that out.

Denzel 20 July 2023 at 11:35+ 4862

Hopefully Lewis will back track his way out of it by saying he was kidding. From a guy who wants to "educate people " Phew

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VeganWarrior 20 July 2023 at 09:38+ 52497

Lewis and Mercedes are being smart , they ways play this game, tell the FIA to intervene for the benefit of all and if they don't, then Mercedes will go ahead and work on the 2024 car . Thats so from PR perspective they can't be accused of cheating or gaming the system. I did share my opinion that, it does make sense to have a set date to allow teams move focus to the 2024 car, simple prevents the current season from fizzeling out prematurely. But since the FIA will not regulate, 2024 testing is in full swing, like Toto and Lewis mentioned.

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Ludizapoli 20 July 2023 at 10:03+ 7253

@Vegan Likewise Max and RB. They play the game smartly with the new engine rules. If something changes, ok, and if not, continue working on the engine. Everyone does the same.

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VeganWarrior 20 July 2023 at 10:40+ 52497

@Ludizapoli, unfortunately you're trying equate a regulation request VS and agreed regulation. But let's put your mind at ease: https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-technical-chief-red-bull-2026-rules-fears/ Pat symonds Symonds, F1’s chief technical officer, has scoffed at that. “Teams spend a large part of their budget on buying alarm bells,” he told Motorsport.com. “We had exactly the same with 2022, that it won’t work, and we [the teams] have been through it all before and we know what we’re doing. “The 2026 car in my mind is no bigger a change than the 2022 one. I would argue that it is actually a bit less aerodynamic [a jump]. Yes, it got more active components in there but there’s nothing magic about active aerodynamics. I’m quite confident.” Red Bull and Ferrari’s concerns lie in part with the fact that F1 has yet to decide the 2026 chassis regulations, although Symonds says FIA head of aerodynamics Jason Somerville is working on those plans. “There are some impressive drag targets but Jason and his guys are there with it,” added Symonds. “So yeah, I think we can do it. “And the team’s alarm bells, and talking about Max who has driven it in the simulator: he hasn’t driven what’s there. I know that, because we are obviously months ahead of where they are.” https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-technical-chief-red-bull-2026-rules-fears/

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Ludizapoli 20 July 2023 at 10:51+ 7253

@Vegan You shouldn't have bothered to explain, because it wasn't questionable, but just a way of both teams, in their clever lobbying. Just that.

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VeganWarrior 21 July 2023 at 09:55+ 52497

@Ludizapoli, I know right ✅

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Ludizapoli 21 July 2023 at 09:43+ 7253

@Vegan Go ahead, I don't mind. It's so silly it's endearing.

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VeganWarrior 21 July 2023 at 09:06+ 52497

@Ludizapoli, yip that's exactly the point Redbull signed off on the 2026 regs and now want them changed, glad we could agree on the hilarity of that ?

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Ludizapoli 21 July 2023 at 08:24+ 7253

@Vegan I was just talking about that. A typical example.

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VeganWarrior 21 July 2023 at 03:31+ 52497

@Ludizapoli, yip its hilarious. That a team can sign off on regulations....and then a few months later ....what you know those regulations I signed off on they are terrible. Its hilarious ?,

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Ludizapoli 20 July 2023 at 17:05+ 7253

@Vegan I said it was funny.

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VeganWarrior 20 July 2023 at 16:19+ 52497

@Ludizapoli, what regulation is Lewis and Mercedes seeking to change ?

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Ludizapoli 20 July 2023 at 13:53+ 7253

@Vegan Both sides are seeking changes for their own benefit.

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VeganWarrior 20 July 2023 at 13:41+ 52497

@Ludizapoli, I am unclear as to your point, as the discussion is regarding : "@Ludizapoli, but it is , the request for a regulation vs a request to change regulation you agreed too, very different."

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Ludizapoli 20 July 2023 at 12:37+ 7253

@Vegan It's funny to see how some people think that their idiotic interests are less stupid and more valuable than other people's idiotic interests.

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VeganWarrior 20 July 2023 at 11:00+ 52497

@Ludizapoli, but it is , the request for a regulation vs a request to change regulation you agreed too, very different. One is lobbying, as the FIA will say great new rule let's see. One is simply idiocy, FIA I know I agreed to this ,but now I don't please change the regulations.

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kingpeppermint 20 July 2023 at 11:17+ 4389

@VeganWarrior +5209720-07-2023 08:38 You can try an stupid comment all the ways you like it still is an stupid comment. First of the ''it's not fair argument'' Red Bull is an easy example, or you known Mercedes when they where already ahead by miles on the grid, but an other example, Haas sacrificed their '21 car to get an good car into the new regulations so they almost immediately started on the 22 car in 21. Was that unfair? have they gained an unfair advantage? Then in regards to the fia, this wasn't regulated to begin with so your ''they only said it to see of the fia will regulate is nonsense. The recent rule adjustment about teams using other activities like supercars or sailing was an grey area this is not an grey area. (and an obvious response to Mercedes) Then in regards to your set date thing, if we look at this season Aston Martin was out there with the top guys in the beginning, but they didn't bring enough updates or the updates lacked they desire effect with as result they aren't in the front anymore. So that tells two things, 1. an costumer team can challenge a factory team. 2. if you don't update you will fall behind 3. base car where you start the season with is very important. What it also says and shows is that what you say is already happening without your suggested rules, if the field is a bit closer at the start of next season no team will have to luxury to exclusively start to work on the next seasons car

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VeganWarrior 20 July 2023 at 11:29+ 52497

@KP, we have moved on the FIA has not regulated teams as Mercedes invited them to, and all teams can simply work on their 2024 cars . I shared my concerns about how a season may fizzle our prematurely due to teams shifting focus, and it's fair point I belive, but as you correctly pointed out teams have already given up on a season to work on the next seasons car. I am yet to see how boat tech is being used in F1, I know the RB17 tech and the Valkyrie tech are certainly closer to F1 usage than sail boats, but I mean ground effect could be tested on a boat i guess. Did you read my article link to Amus they have nice explanation as how teams have cheated. Thanks for your post .

Denzel 20 July 2023 at 11:32+ 4862

Thats the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard.

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VeganWarrior 20 July 2023 at 11:42+ 52497

Oh dear "Denzel +313720-07-2023 13:30 As ludicrous as your inner sanctum made up stories? Oops"

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Koosdlrey 20 July 2023 at 09:24+ 5714

His comments and suggestions often (may) come back to bite him. This is another example.

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Mavric 20 July 2023 at 08:55+ 19032

Lewis is a big joke with what he say .teams cant start on new cars .ok then lewis you started with your new w14b this year for next .bit 2 face .but when you were winning and start new car nothing said .

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Bret 20 July 2023 at 09:57+ 43891

"If Hamilton meant that, it really was the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard." He always talks without thinking or analyzing.....thats his biggest weakness. For e.g. during the silverstone race, he was unable to pass lando while he had softs vs lando who was on hards...and he termed mclaren as the rocketship right after the race. He didnt take the time to analyze the data and realize that he had more straight line speed than Lando and should have passed him with superior tyres.

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JD_F1 20 July 2023 at 13:17+ 1158

This is the core of Hamilton. He will not credit the driver are rarely does. He will always make sure to promote their car as the reason that he is losing a championship or races

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Bret 20 July 2023 at 17:44+ 43891

That is sad.......hopefully with time, he will be wiser.......

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JD_F1 21 July 2023 at 19:08+ 1158

He'll be too busy making music no one is interested in I suspect. I admire him as a driver, that's it.