🏁 Papaya Prevails

🏆️🏆️🏆️🏆️Max Verstappen [437]: Announced last week that he’s got a baby on the way with partner Kelly Piquet. Had a wholesome quote when asked about becoming a dad, saying he’s already a “bonus dad” to his step daughter. In classic Max fashion, when asked about his 8 penalty points on his license going into 2025 he responded: "Maybe I'll make sure I get to 12 points when the baby is born. Then I can go on paternity leave."

🥈 Lando Norris [374]: Drove a flawless race to bring home the title: “It feels incredible, not just for myself but for the whole team…I’m so proud of everyone – it’s been a lovely journey…For us to win a constructors’ after 26 years is pretty special.” Added that he learned a lot battling Max this year and has eyes on the WDC next year. 

🥉 Charles Leclerc [356]: On just missing out on the WCC: “I knew that on Lap 1 I had to take all the risk possible to gain as many places as possible… This was achieved but unfortunately we were just starting too far back to do anything better than what we’ve done today. I think we’ve done the maximum.” Was going to be tough after getting the penalty for taking a new battery.. even though Max did his best to help them out.

4️⃣ Oscar Piastri [292]: Had a tough outing but was happy with taking the ‘ship: “It was a pretty miserable race for myself…the biggest thing today is we clinched the championship and it’s a massive credit to everyone at McLaren…couldn’t be prouder of them all…Very, very happy with the year’s work and obviously today was tough, but nice to seal the deal.” Classic understated Oscar.

5️⃣ Carlos Sainz [290]: Delivered a strong result in an emotional last race with the team. He’s already on to testing with Williams, going fastest in the first morning testing session this week. ““If I have the right car and my target is from next year onwards, focus together with Williams to get back to where we belong together.”

6️⃣ George Russell [245]: Paid tribute to last race with LH with a special helmet. Said that Lewis deserved to beat him last weekend. “He has not only been an incredible team mate, but someone that I looked up to when I was karting and racing in junior formula. He is not only the greatest driver of all time but is the type of person that every racing driver should aspire to be.”

7️⃣ Lewis Hamilton [223]: The end of an era: “It's been the greatest honor of my life, so I think when I knelt next to [the car] it was just about giving thanks, firstly thanking my own spirit for continuing to push, and thanking everyone that powered and built that car. I'm proud of everyone."

8️⃣ Sergio Perez [152]: Says his DNF “sums it up” after a rough 2024 campaign, which saw no top 5 finishes since Miami. On his future: “I think we know how difficult this year has been so I think it’s just a matter of discussing what’s best for everyone going forwards. We’ll see what happens.”

9️⃣ Fernando Alonso [70]: Looking ahead to 2025 after a tough 2024 season: “I think we had some difficulties this year, more than last year, and the team [were] responding well to those adversities and to those challenges.”

🔟Pierre Gasly 📈 [42]: Hit his goal this weekend of P6 in Constructors and P10 in the drivers. “I’m so happy, it was a very long season.” Low key great season for Gasly after the team had a horrid start. He also caused $0 in damage from inchidents this year. Surprised Williams didn’t try to sign him.

11. Nico Hulkenberg 📉 [41]: Proud of the team’s progress and consistent points scoring this year. “It was real fun to be part of the process, fun to be part of this team – I’ve really enjoyed myself these two years and leaving happy and with a smile.” Something tells me 2025 at Sauber will be less smiling and more frowning.

12. Yuki Tsunoda [30]: On the bad start that killed his race: “I’m 99% sure the clutch was stuck, never in my life have I had anti-stall at the start and just can’t move at all. I don’t think I did anything wrong.”

13. Lance Stroll [24]: “Yeah, we were racing, but [I’m] looking forward to some time off and [to then] come back next year.” Oh Lance. Maybe Newey will light a fire under him next year.

14. Esteban Ocon [23]: Laura Muller is set to become his race engineer at Haas - the first woman to ever hold the position in the sports 75 year history.

15. Kevin Magnussen [16]: On earning the fastest lap of the race (which is now the circuit lap record): “I think they just wanted to let me feel the car one last time on low fuel and new tires…Formula 1 cars in these conditions…it’s phenomenal.” Reflecting on his career: “I wanted to win, I wanted to be champion. I didn’t manage that but on the other side, I was a small kid dreaming of Formula 1 25 years ago and I managed to get 10 years in the sport that I desperately dreamt of competing in. That’s been a real privilege.”

16. Alex Albon [12]: On not quite having enough to score points last weekend: “Honestly, the tires held on but the temperature didn’t. With the track cooling down, I basically couldn’t drive quick enough to keep the temperature in the tires. In the last 10 laps, the tires got colder and colder and I died.” Clarification to ease your mind: He didn’t actually die.

17. Daniel Ricciardo [12]: The rumors are flying - eight figures are allegedly on the table for a return to motorsport in Australia’s Supercars series, or even NASCAR, or even the GM F1 bid. Take it all with a grain of salt, as they say. Never really liked that phrase tbh. Oh here’s one I found: “Sip it, don’t chug it.” Yeah, that’s the ticket.

18. Ollie Bearman [7]: Currently hibernating until March.

19. Franco Colapinto [5]: Wasn’t satisfied with his last few races but says he’s “very happy for the opportunity, and hopefully I can come back in the future.”

20. Zhou Guanyu [4]: Rocked a special helmet for his teammate bestie in his last GP. These two would be P1 if points were awarded for teammate friendship.

21. Liam Lawson [4]: Insists Abu Dhabi was “one of my better races” despite the DNF. We actually had really, really good pace throughout the race…even if I’m running out of the race or a lap down, I’m going to push anyway because I’m trying to show something while I’m in the car.” Rumor is he’s shown enough to become Max’s teammate.

22. Valtteri Bottas [0]: On crashing out of the race: “this is not the way I want to finish, which is why I’m not done yet.” He’ll have to serve a five place grid penalty if he does eventually find himself in an F1 seat again.

23. Logan Sargeant [0]: Will compete in the European Le Mans Series for IDEC Sport co-run by Genesis ahead of it’s 2026 WEC entry - which could put him in line for the WEC project.

24. Jack Doohan [0]: A mistake free P15 finish ain’t too bad a debut: “Happy to finish in the same pace as others on the same strategy towards the end of the race, so just looking forward to taking this all in next season.”

🏆️ McLaren [666]: TP Stella gave credit to the late Gil de Ferran as an instrumental person in turning the team around: "Gil has always been on my side. He was my advisor, my personal consultant and if we implemented a culture, if we created a belief, if we were able to increase the standards to the level that was required, this is also because Gil was part of the process."

🥈 Ferrari [652]: Will supply GM/Cadillac with engines on a “multi-year” deal starting in 2026. The new squad plans to eventually build their own, but may not be ready in time for their 2028 target.

🥉 Red Bull [589]: Christian Horner predicts a “massively close” battle at the top in 2025 and says the “biggest winner will be F1.” I think us fans will be winners too, Christian.

4️⃣ Mercedes [468]: Toto to Lewis: “Whatever the future holds, just remember we will always be your people, because every dream needs a team.” Put that on a poster.

5️⃣ Aston Martin [94]: Alonso is contracted through 2026 - where he’ll turn 45 mid-season. He’s treating the first year of new regs like it will be his last. But I’ll believe the retirement when I see it.

6️⃣ Alpine [65]: TP Oakes on getting Doohan in early: “I have a lot of admiration for him [Ocon], but I think also we have to do what’s right for us. And getting Jack in the car earlier, it’s a big advantage when we look to next year.”

7️⃣ Haas [58]: NYT Feature: How the team is climbing out of F1’s doldrums. TP Komatsu called 2024 “Very positive, uplifting, successful, enjoyable.”

8️⃣ VCARB [46]: Citing confusion on their team name, they’ve said they’ll be embracing the “Racing Bulls” moniker next season. Everyone tried call you that! Why didn’t they just say that in the first place instead of insisting it was “RB”?

9️⃣ Williams [17]: Prepared to make sacrifices on 2025 car to focus on 2026. It’s the smart long term move. Will also be easier if they have less crashes next year…

🔟Kick Sauber [4]: After Mattia Binotto said he wouldn’t have signed Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari TP Vasseur shot back: “I am not sure Hamilton would have gone to Sauber! I am happy that so many people have time to comment on our choices. I am focused on our work, because when I was at Sauber, I was not talking about Ferrari." Point Fred. Solid Zinger.

• Post-season testing underway: Half the grid is already right back at it in post-season testing, running alongside rookies and reserve drivers. The sessions are particularly valuable for testing the latest tire compounds from Pirelli.

• Turn 1 Brake Down: The great @dr_obbs on X breaks down the telemetry data of NOR, PIA, and VER to explain what went down on opening lap spin 🔽 

• Work of Interest: Max will complete his community service for swearing by working with the Rwanda Automobile Club, in the country where the FIA Awards Ceremony will be held on December 13th.

• App of the Year: F1TV earned the crown in Apple TV’s annual awards. I gotta support this, I highly recommend checking it out, I have it for Roku. It’s ~80 bucks for the year and has every session, quali, race live, plus pre and post shows, and tons of other content. Worth every penny. And they’re not even paying me to say that!

Quick Question (My answer)

FORZA FERRARI !

Thanks for sticking with PLP through the riveting 2024 season. We’ll be back in a few weeks (see ya next year! har har har) to check in on all things off season.